Penitential Season of Lent We Look at Ways in Which We Can Observe the Church’S Traditional Practices of Prayer, Fasting and Alms- Giving
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The CatholicWitness The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg March 3, 2017 Vol. 51 No. 4 s we enter the penitential Aseason of Lent – the 40-day period of preparation for Easter – Penitential Season of Lent we look at ways in which we can observe the Church’s traditional practices of prayer, fasting and alms- giving. In our Lenten journey, prayer life can include regular or daily atten- dance at Mass, deeper reflection on the Scripture readings, and ponder- ing the Stations of the Cross. Lent is also a time to return to the Sacra- ment of Penance and Reconciliation in preparation for the celebration of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resur- rection. Without making room for God’s word in their heart, people will never be able to welcome and love all human life, Pope Francis said in his Lenten message. “Each life that we encounter is a gift deserving acceptance, respect and love,” he said. “May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, so that we can rediscover the gift of God’s word, be purified of the sin that blinds us and serve Christ present CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS A woman receives ashes during Ash Wednesday Mass celebrated at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg last year. The in our brothers and sisters in need,” penitential season of Lent calls us to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Pope Francis said. Father Haviland This Lent, CRS Rice Bowl Opens Was ‘Always Available Path to a Culture of Encounter to Parishioners’ Catholic Relief Services By Jen Reed The season of Lent is marked The Catholic Witness by many traditions among Catholics in the United States. Father William T. Haviland, Symbolized by its ubiquitous a priest of the Diocese of Har- card board box, CRS Rice risburg for 54 years, died Feb. Bowl has been a tradition for 22 at the age of 80. generations of Catholics. Be- The funeral Mass was cel- ginning in 1975 as a response ebrated Feb. 28 at Queen of to a growing famine in Africa, the Most Holy Rosary Church CRS Rice Bowl today shines in Elysburg. Burial was in the a light on the Catholic com- Priests Circle at All Saints munity’s commitment to poor Cemetery in Elysburg. and vulnerable families – our Father Al Sceski, who brothers and sisters. Their lives forged a friendship with Fa- are improving in meaningful, ther Haviland while they re- Father William T. measurable ways through the sided together for nearly five Haviland humanitarian programs and years at Queen of the Most services provided by Catholic Holy Rosary Parish, recalled the late priest as a hardwork- Relief Services (CRS) and the ing laborer in the Lord’s vineyard. Catholic Church around the “He was dedicated to the Church and to the priesthood,” world. said Father Sceski, currently pastor of St. Joan of Arc Par- This year, CRS Rice Bowl ish in Hershey. “He took his role as pastor very seriously. provides a path for Catholics in He loved the Church, and he preached the Gospel in sea- the United States to build what JIM STIPE/CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES son and out of season.” Pope Francis calls “a culture of Evelina Banda with her son, Steven, 16 months old, in Ndombi The two first met when Father Haviland retired as pas- encounter.” By visiting www. Village, Zambia. Evelina is learning about nutrition and hygiene tor of St. Monica Parish in Sunbury in 2010 and took up crsricebowl.org and follow- through the CRS FANSER project. “Food and Nutrition Security, More FATHER HAVILAND, page 6 ing the daily Lenten calendar, Enhanced Resilience” (FANSER) aims to improve food security and nutrition among pregnant and lactating women and children under two sharing the weekly stories of in Petauke district, Eastern Zambia. hope, and making the meatless meals, participants will follow ers, this daily proximity to their ideas,” the pope said. “We love a personal journey that leads to share of troubles and their little people.” us seeing ourselves in the faces acts of heroism: this is what en- “CRS Rice Bowl is about peo- of our neighbors, cultivating a ables you to practice the com- ple and the hope we have for each spirit of global solidarity and mandment of love, not on the ba- other. It’s about our ability to en- sis of ideas or concepts, but rather encountering God’s love anew. counter our neighbors no matter Pope Francis told Catholic on the basis of genuine interper- leaders that the “ability to see sonal encounter.” where they live, to love them as yourselves in the faces of oth- “We do not love concepts or More RICE BOWL, page 5 The 2 - Catholic Witness • March 3, 2017 Invitation Letter from Bishop Gainer to the 2017 Diocesan Men’s Conference Dear Brothers in Christ: I would like to extend to you a personal invitation to register for, and attend, the annual Diocesan Men’s Con- ference on April 1, 2017, at Bishop McDevitt High School. The theme for this year’s conference is “Fools for Christ: Men Called to Glorify God through His Catholic Church.” Given the theme, it is especially appropriate that this con- ference takes place during the midst of Lent, the chief peni- tential season of the liturgical year and preparation for the Paschal Triduum. St. Paul reminds us, “The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” [The First Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verse 18]. I am pleased to say that Dr. Peter Kreeft, one of the fore- most Catholic authors and speakers in the country, will be keynoting the event. I am quite familiar with Dr. Kreeft’s work. I have read several of his books and have seen him speak on several occasions. I have admired his work for many years. This is the 6th Diocesan Men’s Conference overall, and I am pleased to say that it is an annual event. The confer- ence has grown each year to this point. Last March, 925 men attended the Men’s conference. It is our hope that more than 1,000 men will attend this year’s conference. It has been a privilege for me to spend time with the attendees at this conference the past three years, as well CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS as to celebrate Mass and hear Confessions. This year, it Representatives from First National Bank, Capital Region, presented a check in the amount of $69,000 will be my pleasure once again to celebrate Mass and to on Feb. 16 for the Diocese of Harrisburg’s Neumann Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial provide one of the more than 35 workshops. There will also assistance to families in the diocese who want to choose a Catholic school education for their children. be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, good music, food, Donations are received from businesses’ participation in Pennsylvania’s Educational Improvement Tax and fellowship. Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs. Shown from left in the photo are Each of us has an indispensable role to play in our fami- Father Edward J. Quinlan, Diocesan Secretary for Education; Greg Conrad, First National Bank, Regional lies, among our co-workers, and in Christ’s Mystical Body, Banking Executive, Capital Region; Tony Sacco, First National Bank, Regional Market Executive and which is the Church. We need God’s grace and we need to President, Capital Region; Bishop Ronald Gainer; Shane Harvey, First National Bank, Treasury Manage- help and support one another so that we can be the men ment Sales Representative, Capital Region; Sue Davis, First National Bank, Market Manager, Capital Re- that God has created us to be. From time to time we need gion; and Troy Erdman, First National Bank, Commercial Banker, Capital Region. For information on how to be renewed. The Men’s Conference is a prime opportu- your business can contribute to the Neumann Scholarship Foundation via the EITC and OSTC programs, nity for just such personal renewal, inspiration, instruc- contact Paula Lasecki, Director of the Diocesan Development Office, at 717-657-4804 or plasecki@ hbgdiocese.org. tion, and fellowship with the Lord and with each other. I thank all who support the Men’s Conference, including our priests and deacons, the Men’s Conference Committee, and the parish captains who are assisting and encourag- ing the men in our parishes to attend this conference. If The Harrisburg Diocesan Guild you have not yet registered, I heartily encourage you to do of the Catholic Medical Association and so. I look forward to spending an enjoyable day together on April 1. May God bless you and all your loved ones with The St. Thomas More Society His grace, peace, and mercy! of Central Pennsylvania invite all Catholic physicians, lawyers, judges, healthcare workers, Your Brother in Christ, Bishop Ronald W. Gainer legal professionals, medical students and law students to a Lenten Day of Reflection Saturday March 25, 2017 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Diocese of Harrisburg 4800 Union Deposit Road Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710 Guest Speaker and Celebrant: Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, D.D., J.C.L. “To be Zealous for the Lord” The morning includes Mass, confessions, Adoration and light refreshments. Free-will offering will be accepted. For planning purposes, RSVP by March 18 to: [email protected] Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Harrisburg “Soup, Salad, Lunch is complimentary, although a free- will offering will be taken to benefit the and Sermon” Lenten Lunch Adoption Program.