The Steubenville www.diosteub.org REGISTER VOL. 76, NO. 21 SERVING 13 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST OHIO JUNE 11, 2021 News Briefs Students graduate from two diocesan high schools Bishop will celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary STEUBENVILLE — Steubenville Bishop Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton gathers with the Class of 2021 graduates of St. Joseph Central Jeffrey M. Monforton will celebrate the Feast of High School, Ironton, following the celebration of a baccalaureate Mass, June 2, at St. Lawrence O’Toole the Immaculate Heart of Mary at 10 a.m., June Church, Ironton. (Photo provided) • Story/Pages 2-3 12, at St. Peter Church, Steubenville. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is the patroness Parishioners remember the life of Msgr. Kawa of the Diocese of Steubenville. BEVERLY — Msgr. Robert J. Kawa died June 6 at the 95. He was assigned pastor of St. Bernard Parish, Beverly, Pope dedicates June prayers age of 78. in 1995. He continued in that pastorship until his retirement. He was born May 26, 1943, in Canton, Ohio. He is one He served St. James Parish, McConnelsville, as pastor for a VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While uncertainty of five children of John and Anna Irene Younger Kawa. year, beginning in 2016, along with his St. Bernard duties. in the world may deter young couples from Msgr. Kawa held a Bachelor of Arts from The In the diocese, Msgr. Kawa was director of RENEW, taking the next big step in their relationships, the College of Steubenville; a Bachelor of which fosters spiritual renewal in parishes; vocational call to marriage is a risk worth taking, Sacred Theology from The Catholic director of diocesan vocations for two years; Pope Francis said. University of America, Washington, dean of two different deaneries; elected to Marriage “is a challenging journey, at times D.C.; and a licentiate in moral theology the Priests’ Personnel Board; a consultor and difficult, sometimes even confrontational, but from Academia Alfonsiana, Rome, Italy. Worldwide Marriage Encounter presenting it is worth the risk,” the pope said. “And in this He was ordained May 17, 1969, to the team priest for about 15 years. lifelong journey, the husband and wife are not priesthood for the Diocese of Steubenville Msgr. Kawa has also served the St. alone: Jesus accompanies them.” by Bishop John King Mussio at Holy Name Vincent de Paul of Beverly, Churchtown, In a video message released by the Pope’s Cathedral, Steubenville. His first assignments Lowell and Little Hocking, and was Worldwide Prayer Network June 1, the pope of- after ordination were to St. Peter Parish, chaplain of the Knights of Columbus fered his prayer intention for the month of June, Steubenville, and as a Latin teacher at Catholic Council 4617. In addition he taught Latin which he dedicated to “the beauty of marriage.” Central High School, Steubenville. He was (File photo) to fourth- through eighth-grade students Acknowledging the belief that young people Msgr. Robert J. Kawa sent to Rome in 1971 and resided at Casa at St. John Central School, Churchtown. “do not want to get married, especially in these Santa Maria and studied at the Academia Msgr. Kawa has served as a priest for the difficult times,” the pope said that marriage and Alfonsiana until 1973. Steubenville Diocese under the leadership of all five bishops. sharing one’s life “is a beautiful thing.” On his return, he resided and taught at St. John Vianney He retired from active parish ministry June 30, 2017. Fol- “Marriage is not just a ‘social’ act,” he said. “It Seminary, Bloomingdale, from 1973-78. lowing retirement he resided in Beverly, and assisted with the is a vocation that is born from the heart, it is a Msgr. Kawa resided at St. Mary of the Immaculate Con- celebration of Masses and sacraments at St. Bernard Parish, conscious lifelong decision that requires a specific ception Church, Morges. He later served that parish as its St. James Parish, Our Lady of Mercy, Lowell and St. John preparation.” pastor. In addition, he was administrator of St. Thomas More the Baptist Parish, Churchtown. “Please, never forget! God has a dream for us Mission, Bloomingdale; pastor from 1982-92, Our Lady of A funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m., June 15, at St. – love – and he asks us to make it our own,” the Mercy Parish, Carrollton, (named a monsignor in 1987); and Bernard Church with Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton as the pope said. pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Wintersville, from 1992- celebrant. The burial will be in Byesville. At the start of each month, the Pope’s World- wide Prayer Network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention. Reaction from around the diocese Reciting his intention, the pope prayed for “What a wonderful priest. He was such a humble man.” – Diane Rauch “young people preparing for marriage with the support of a Christian community, so that they may “Father Kawa will be missed. He was a great man!” – Mel Kern grow in love, generosity, faithfulness and patience.” The Pope Video was first launched in 2016 to He was an amazing priest – Gert Schilling Bradley encourage people to join an estimated 50 million “ .” Catholics who already had a more formal relation- ship with the prayer network – better known by “Msgr. Kawa lived his life the way all of us are supposed to, he not only preached on how to live life, he its former title, the Apostleship of Prayer. actually showed by his example.” – Marguerite Stolarik The prayer network is more than 170 years old. 2 THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER JUNE 11, 2021 Students graduate from two diocesan high schools in challenging year By Dino Orsatti Championship in 2019. The valedictorian Johnson of Raceland, Kentucky. The team All-Conference; the United Soccer Editor received the Freshman and Sophomore valedictorian will be attending Seton Hill Coaches Senior Excellence Award; and the IRONTON/STEUBENVILLE — Academic Awards and was a participant University, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, Southeast Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches COVID-19 presented many obstacles in the Marshall University Academic where he will major in pre-med and will Association Academic Excellence Award. this year for educators and students in SCORES Festival. Bryce was a member be a member of the soccer team. Jared is In basketball, he received second team schools in the Diocese of Steubenville, but of the basketball, soccer and bowling a member of the National Honor Society; All-Conference and special mention All- according to Permanent Deacon Paul D. teams. In soccer, he served as captain and Spanish Club; and president of the Mu District. In baseball, he received first team Ward, director, diocesan Office of Christian received honorable mention All-District, Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society. All Southern Ohio Conference and second Formation and Schools, everyone involved first team All-District; first team South- He was a member of the Quiz Bowl Team, team All-District. Jackson is a parishioner deserved high marks. ern Ohio Conference; the United Soccer which competed in the National Cham- of St. Joseph Parish, where he is an altar “We had a plan to keep us in school with Coaches Senior Excellence Award; and the pionship in 2019 and he represented St. server. He received the Members Choice face-to-face instruction and I am grateful we Southeast Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Joseph Central High School at the Hugh Credit Union Scholarship and the Knights were able to achieve that goal. We all worked Association Academic Excellence Award. O’Brian Summer Youth Leadership Con- of Columbus Scholarship. At Marshall together, from students (pre-K through 12th In basketball, he received the Silver Certifi- ference at Marietta College in 2018. The University, he received the John Laidley grade), faculty, staff and parents, to navigate cate Ohio High School Basketball Coaches valedictorian received the Freshman and Scholarship. through the challenges that the pandemic Association Scholarship Society Award. Sophomore Academic Awards and was a brought,” said Deacon Ward. Bryce is a parishioner of St. Joseph Parish. Marshall University Academic SCORES Fifty-seven young men and women from At Marshall University, he received the Festival participant. He was a member of two parochial high schools in the diocese – Board of Governor’s Scholarship. the basketball and soccer teams all four St. Joseph Central, Ironton, and Catholic years. In soccer, he received All-District; Central, Steubenville, graduated this All-Conference honors; the United Soccer spring. Coaches Senior Excellence Award, and the Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey M. Southeast Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Monforton congratulated seniors at Association Academic Excellence Award. baccalaureate Masses at Franciscan Jared is a parishioner of Holy Family University of Steubenville’s Finnegan Parish, Ashland, Kentucky, where he is Fieldhouse, May 23; and at St. Joseph an usher, server and greeter. He received Church, Ironton, June 2. the Holzer Science Award and the Sisters Bishop Monforton told the graduates, of Charity Scholarship. At Seton Hill, he “Get to work! It’s time to adjust the sails received the Honors and Athletic Scholar- (Photo provided) from one chapter to the next. But, remem- ship; the Elizabeth Ann Seton Scholarship; Max Weber ber, the Lord Jesus will never leave you. and the Catholic High School Scholarship. Max is the son of Nick and Mary Beth He is always there for you whether you are Weber of Ironton. The valedictorian will be going off to college here, other parts of the (Photo provided) attending Marshall University, Huntington country, a trade school or the military. You Emilee Blankenship West Virginia, where he will major in must live your life as faithful Christians.” Emilee is the daughter of John and health sciences/pre-optometry.