I (VI CO CM PITTSBURGH^ «f l/l in h(/> < H- CL 01 CJ UI o* > CO □ o eg 3 o z o o Ui us at >- z 3 ■a at 1/1 CO < LU(/i l/l <0 QC3 3 1 — «0 03 O h o M s a *4 o -I a _i a. cafiolic ‘Coming home’ to Church By JOHN FRANKO Jesus can transform all hand­ across the United To see Tony Melendez is to icaps into gifts." States and to seven receive an inspiration. Melendez displayed the foreign countries. He in Canonsburg 'W M i Bom without arms, he uses wide range of his talent, as a has appeared on w By PATRICIA BART08 his feet to play the guitar — musician and an entertainer. numerous national St. Patrick Parish In Canonsburg has taken a bold and he plays with a passion He held the audience spell­ shows including "The approach to winning back lapsed Catholics and to few can equal. He has per­ bound with Eric Clapton’s Today Show," “Good building support for the diocesan reorganization formed before hundreds of “Tears in Heaven," but drew Morning America," program. thousands. He has played for laughs with his ironic rendi­ and “The 700 Club." ■ J S t' The parish has Pope John Paul II on three tion of “Reach Out and He also performed the m occasions. launched a large- Touch." National Anthem E o H I scale evangeliza­ Melendez displayed his tal­ He bantered easily with the before game five of tion push that will ent locally during “A Celebra­ audience, which included the 1989 World Series Bishop Donald Wuerl presents a gift to tion of Life," July 24 at extend for several many people in wheelchairs. in San Francisco. Tony Melendez. With them are Dr. years and involve Duquesne University. Spon­ He recalled his first meeting Melendez recorded Rosemarie Cibik, diocesan secretary guest speakers, sored by the diocesan with Pope John Paul II, and his first album of for education (left), and Grace Harding, parish missions Department for Persons With the anxiety he felt when the contemporary Chris­ dkector. Department for Persons with and outreach Disabilities, the program Holy Father asked him to con­ tian music in 1989. Disabilities. efforts, according marked the final monthly tinue his ministry to others. His autobiography, A observance of the diocesan Photo by Jim Herrmann to Fr. Ken Myers, “I started getting nervous Gift of Hope, was published Melendez described the joy who has served as Sesquicentennial celebration. because it seemed to be so in 1989, and a Fr. Ken Myers meets with parishio­ “Today was truly a celebra­ made- he has felt since his marriage ners active in evangelization work parochial vicar at much," he said. “How can I do for-television movie based on three years ago. But he said St. Patrick for four tion of life," said Mark Petri, a this? I asked, I’m Just one his life will air in the near the hardest thing he has faced at S t Patrick in Canonsburg. From program volunteer. “It was an years. man." future. in life is not the loss of his left are Beatrice Rydle, Fr. Myers, affirmation of how the love of Florence Fetsko and Joseph and The parish was Melendez has traveled Despite his success, he arms, but the fact that he is Lisa Cerenzia. recently merged displays a genuine humility, unable to have children. with St. Genevieve If you can get inspired by “The fact I don"t have arms as part of the diocesan reorganization to form a new a guy who plays the guitar doesn’t bother me. because St. Patrick Parish. With an estimated 11,OCX) parish­ without arms, it goes way I've always been like this," he ioners and 3,500 families, it Is the largest In the dio­ beyond me," he told the said. “It’s you guys out there cese, with Fr. Philip Przybyla as the new pastor. audience. "It comes from the who are the odd ones." However, weekend Masses attract an average of Lord. I am the tool; He is the Later in the program, the just 2,500 persons — some 25 percent of the total —■ boss." (Continued on page 2) reflecting what Fr. Myers sees as “real spiritual lethargy." He explained that “we want to work for the return Anti-Catholic groups plan of fallen-away Catholics and get them back to the sacraments.” trip to World Youth Day More than a year ago, the parish began a monthly By MIKE AQUILINA goes to hell, Madrid said. day of prayer, on the day before each first Friday, for When hundreds of thou­ the return of former Catholics to the Church. The Christians Evangelizing sands of youth travel to Den­ Catholics moved its head­ program includes a noon prayer service followed by ver in August to hear exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, with parishio­ quarters from Louis­ the Good News from ville, Ky., to Littleton, ners signing up to spend blocks of 30 minutes during Pope John Paul, % the day in prayer in the church. Co., to better coordi­ they’ll hear some not- nate efforts for World A basket sits before the St. Patrick statue inside so-good news from Youth Day. the church and parishioners place the names of his self-declared San Diego-based fallen-away friends and family members inside. ❖ enemies. Catholic Answers is Parishioners then pray for the return of those people, At least three fun­ Fr. Myers explained. planning its own cam­ damentalist anti-Catholic paign, to counter the funda­ “The effect of the prayers was immediately felt In organizations are planning mentalist proselytizing with the confessional,” Fr. Myers said. Photo by extensive campaigns to pros­ reasoned biblical argument. He added that “people who had been away 20 or 30 Mark Dowdell Hommerding elytize Catholic young people “We’re sending more than years were coming to have their marriages blessed or Christ the Word through Whom the world was made — He can at World Youth Day, accord­ 100 volunteers," he to petition for annulments.” be the real subject of a family tour through the Carnegie Science ing to Patrick Madrid, vice explained. “They’re mostly The sad part, he added, was that many people for Center (below). See story, page 7. (Window above. Holy Trinity president of Catholic young people, well trained in years had assumed they were ineligible to participate Answers, a lay evangelization apologetics. They’ll do one- in the sacraments. “Often they just need to sit down organization. on-one evangelization of the; and talk to a priest,” he said. “For these groups, World anti-Catholics. They’ll also, “It was people praying that motivated other people. Youth Day is the opportunity advise young Catholics who It’s a powerful spiritual tool. We wanted to ground of a lifetime," Madrid said. might be unprepared for the that work in prayer," Fr. Myers added. “The future leadership of the challenge.” Another facet of the long-range evangelization effort Church in this country — Catholic Answers is plan-; at St. Patrick is restructuring of the baptism prepara­ future priests, religious and ning to distribute 300,000 tion classes. Parish couples now help in presenta­ lay leaders — will be gath­ copies of a booklet, ’Pillar of tions and later maintain contact with the new parents ered in one place, one big Fire, Pillar of Truth,’" Madrid as a means to keep the new families in contact with target." added. “We’d like to place the parish. The three groups are Mis­ one in the hands of every St. Patrick is also overhauling Its census system, sion to Catholics, Alpha and Catholic there." Madrid’s he added. The sheer size of the parish makes It Omega Ministries, and Chris­ organization is sending impossible for the priests alone to reach each home. tians Evangelizing Catholics. advance copies of the book­ Fr. Paul Cwynar, former parochial vicar, had begun Mission to Catholics is led let, free of charge, to any changing the process, seeking not Just names and by a fallen-away Catholic Catholic youth groups that addresses, but to determine how willing these parish­ priest who now teaches that request it. ioners would be to get Involved in parish life. Photo courtesy of Camegie Science Center anyone who dies a Catholic (Continued on page 2) In its initial stages the census resulted In forma­ tion of an active pro-life group, founded by Fr. Cwynar. “We want to train active parishioners and teams to Catholic school, students shine at ARC awards visit the homes of those who are not practicing the faith," according to Fr. Myers, By PATRICIA BARTOS Kim Lieb, executive director of St. “We might also want to do a door-to-door census” St. Anthony School for Exceptional Anthony, accepted the award which using these parishioners, especially in light of the Children won the education award of honored the school for its success in reorganization, he said, adding that “the most effec­ the Association of Retarded Citizens at converting to an inclusive education tive way to get people back to the Church is through the organization’s annual “Awards of focus. St. Anthony formerly was personal contact.” Excellence” dinner at the Hilton Hotel, located in Oakmont, with all students Another element is the parish’s RCIA program. Fr. Downtown, recently. studying on campus. Myers explained he had been involved In the program Also honored were three Catholic The school opened its first satellite for his entire four years at the parish. school students who took top honors program in 1986 at St.