AD Times for July 11, 2019
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“The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord” VOL. 31, NO. 13 JULY 11, 2019 Serrans Honor Newly Ordained as Agents of Healing and Hope By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer “It’s a great time to be a priest – to be the one called by our Lord – to bring the light of Christ into the darkness that has clouded our Church this past year.,” said Father Thomas Bortz June 17 during the Ordinandi Dinner at St. Mary, Hamburg. “You three get to be agents of healing, figures of hope and instruments for renewal for the people of Allentown.” Father Bortz, pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola, Sinking Spring, was guest speaker at the celebration for the newly ordained priests – Father Giuseppe Esposito, Father John Maria and Father Zachary Wehr. Hosted by the Serra Clubs of the Diocese of Allentown “The greatest thing you get to do is feed District I-80, the dinner drew God’s people, and you get to feed them an estimated 200 guests and with the greatest gift ever.” priests. After thanking the Serrans for their prayers and support of seminarians and priests, Father Bortz said the “yes” of the newly ordained men was not to go to the seminary but to a calling to the priesthood of Jesus Christ. “Your formation gave you answers when God questioned your commitment, and the sacred chrism on your hands was you telling the world that you’re ‘all in,’” he said. “And nothing aggravated Satan more.” Recalling the terroristic attacks on 9/11, he told the guests that the prince of darkness directed the tragic day. “Three planes were hijacked, two of which successfully reached their targets. But the third failed. Passengers realized what was happening and they responded heroically. They sprang into action, and their willingness to sacrifice their lives to save others from a simi- The newly ordained priests thanking Serrans and the faithful at the Ordinandi Dinner are, from left, Father John Maria, Father Giuseppe Esposito and Father Please see SERRANS page 3 }} Zachary Wehr. (Photos by John Simitz) Program Focuses on Catholic Response to Same-Sex Attraction By TAMI QUIGLEY “Genes do not compel our sexual be- IN THIS ISSUE Staff writer haviors – we have the freedom to choose,” Father Tadusz Pacholczyk Because We Are Catholic 2 “Genes impel strongly in certain be- says while presenting “Welcoming in havioral directives, but can’t compel us,” Truth and Charity: The Church’s Au- Women’s Conference 4 said Father Tadusz Pacholczyk, present- thentic Teaching on Same-Sex Attrac- ing “Welcoming in Truth and Charity: The tion” June 22 at Berks Catholic High Summer ICF Courses 7 Church’s Authentic Teaching on Same-Sex School, Reading. (Photos by John Attraction” June 22 at Berks Catholic High Simitz) Jubilarian Sisters 8 School, Reading. Discussing the moral element, Father Clergy Golf Tournament 12 Pacholczyk said, “We’re not responsible bioethics. for born inclinations. We are responsible He writes and speaks widely on bioeth- Young Adult Profiles 15 for how we act on them. ics and medical ethics. Since 2001 he has Theology on Tap 16 “You can’t use the excuse ‘God made given several hundred presentations and me this way.’” invited lectures, and participated in debates Youth, Young Adult 17 Sponsored by Bishop Alfred Schlert, and roundtables on contemporary bioethics the morning event included a question- throughout the United States, Canada and Festival Listing 18 and-answer discussion. Europe. Father Pacholczyk is director of edu- Those attending included Bishop Pa. Legislative Recap 19 cation at the National Catholic Bioethics Schlert; Father Adam Sedar, diocesan sec- Center, Philadelphia and directs the cen- retary for clergy; and Mary Fran Hartigan, Clare House 20 ter’s National Catholic Certification Pro- diocesan secretary for Catholic life and Anniversary Mass 23 gram in Health Care Ethics. Father Pacholczyk studied for five years evangelization. He is a priest of the Diocese of Fall Riv- in Rome at both the Gregorian University “Father Tad beautifully explained the World News 24 er, Massachusetts and holds a doctoral de- and the Lateran University, where he did gree in neuroscience from Yale University. advanced work in dogmatic theology and Please see RESPONSE page 5 }} Diocese of Allentown Reduces Staff, Takes Other Cost-Cutting Measures To continue its charitable and pastoral mission throughout its five counties while freeing up funds to com- pensate victims of clergy sexual abuse, the Diocese of Allentown has cut operating costs and is reducing its office work force by 24 percent. Most of the employment reduction occurred through attrition, including a voluntary retirement program. The Diocese also has reviewed business processes and restructured some departments. In addition, it imple- mented a pay freeze for employees. as well as clergy in administrative roles. When the Independent Reconciliation and Compensation Program was announced, the Diocese said fund- ing it would place diocesan operations under severe financial stress. As a result, cash reserves are no longer Please see COST-CUTTING page 2 }} 2 THE A.D. TIMES DIOCESE JULY 11, 2019 “The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord” Because We Are Catholic As part of the Catholic Press, Priest Answers Call The A.D. Times is the official newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, serving Berks, Carbon, to Serve in Military Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill By PAUL WIRTH counties. Diocesan Communications Staff Published biweekly or triweekly After five years as a priest in the Diocese of Allentown, Father on Thursdays by James Harper soon expects to be on his way to the U.S. military, Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc. where he will provide spiritual guidance to service members in the at P.O. Box F Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. Allentown, PA 18105-1538 “The need for priests in the military is serious,” he said. “There Phone: 610-871-5200, Ext. 2264 are only 45 active duty priests to serve the whole Navy, Marine Fax: 610-439-7694 Corps and Coast Guard.” He said about 25 percent of service E-mail: [email protected] people are Catholic, but only 6 percent of military chaplains are Catholic priests. President When he was in high school at Reading Central Catholic, the Bishop Alfred Schlert now 32-year-old Fleetwood native had only two career paths in mind: military officer or priest. Having achieved the latter, his new Secretary for External Affairs assignment will combine it with the former, as a lieutenant junior Matt Kerr grade in the U.S. Navy. Bishop Schlert granted permission for the assignment despite Editor the need for priests in the Diocese of Allentown. “We cannot be Jill Caravan indifferent to the needs of the broader Church, especially as it per- tains to our men and women who selflessly serve in the military,” Staff Writers said Bishop Schlert. “Their distance from home, and proximity to Tara Connolly danger and armed conflict, make it necessary that they have access Tami Quigley to good priests. “We are very proud of Father Harper for answering this call, as Design & Production have other priests of the Diocese of Allentown. God will bless us Marcus Schneck with vocations to the Priesthood when we are generous in serving Father James Harper, left, with Archbishop the greater needs of the universal Church.” Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Advertising Contact Father Harper will be “on loan” to the military, but will remain Services, U.S.A. Lori Anderson a priest of the Diocese of Allentown and will return to ministry here after his Navy duty ends. He recently attended a weeklong Administrative Assistant retreat for potential military chaplains in Washington, D.C., which “Because We Are Catholic” tells the stories Cheryl Dano included Mass in the Pentagon chapel, constructed in the portion of the building damaged in the 9/11 attack. of how the people of the Diocese of Allentown DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN Upon final acceptance into the program and on completion of make a difference in the lives of others, MISSION STATEMENT his initial training, a likely first assignment could be with the Ma- bringing the Light of Christ to each other A Roman Catholic Family of Faith, rines or on an aircraft carrier. centered in the Holy Eucharist, faithful During his time in the Diocese of Allentown, Father Harper has and to our community. Videos of people to the Church’s teaching, bringing the served as assistant pastor at Notre Dame Parish, Bethlehem, and in the series are available Light of Christ to each other and to our St. Thomas More Parish, Allentown. This summer, while he awaits community. the call to report to duty, he is in residence at his home parish, Holy on the Diocesan website at Guardian Angels in Reading, helping with Mass and other duties. www.allentowndiocese.org/bishop-blog. POLICY STATEMENTS The A.D. Times will consider all editorial copy and photos submitted in a fair and ob- jective manner. The newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit any submission. and no future collections at parish Masses ditional financial and staff support is pro- Any advertising copy accepted does not Cost-cutting are being used to fund the Independent vided by the Diocese. necessarily reflect the views, opinions or en- Reconciliation and Compensation Pro- The cost-cutting actions took place in dorsement of The A.D. Times and/or its pub- }}Continued from page 1 gram. diocesan administrative offices, where lisher. The A.D. Times reserves the right to The Diocese of Allentown and its 96 people worked before the reductions. reject any advertising copy submitted. available to cover budget deficits. There- ministries touch the lives of hundreds Operations at parishes were not affected.