The Catholic WITNESSWITNESS the Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg January 24, 2020 Vol

The Catholic WITNESSWITNESS The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg January 24, 2020 Vol. 55 No. 02 OCTOBER 9, 2018Respect Life Mass Highlights Sanctity VOL. 52 NO. 20 of All Human Life By Rachel Bryson, M.S. The Catholic Witness CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS “I have seen and testi- A boy engages in a children’s Missal during the annual Diocesan Respect fied that he is the Son of Life Mass, celebrated Jan. 19 at the God.” These words spoken Church of the Good Shepherd in by John the Baptist and Camp Hill. recorded in the Gospel of John, 1:34, leave no doubt to listeners as to our Lord’s parentage. These words were also appropriate for the annual Diocesan Respect Life Mass, held on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the Church of the Good Shep- herd in Camp Hill. Bishop Ronald Gainer, homilist and celebrant of the Mass, explained to those gathered from throughout the Diocese, that these words spoken by John the Baptist as our Lord approached the River Jordan made him think of another Biblical story where John gives testa- ment that Jesus is the Son of God. “Remember at the scene Baptist leaps, six months He added what was old or 26 years old. The us resolve today to con- of the Annunciation, our in the womb, he leaps at heard in the first reading preparation of that person tinue praying and working Blessed Mother finds out the presence of the newly from Isaiah, when Isaiah began pre-born. After his to bring about a change in from the angel Gabriel that incarnate Son of God in the speaks of a mysterious conception in the womb of the laws in our land so that her older cousin Elizabeth womb of the Blessed Virgin figure who would liberate his mother. God’s plan for a culture of life, a culture is six months pregnant. As Mary. Two unborn children God’s people and bring his servant was already in of the dignity and the sanc- soon as the Annunciation proclaiming the presence them back to Him. place,” said Bishop Gainer. tity of human life, might be ends, Mary makes haste to of God in our midst. What “We heard Him say, you “Again an appropriate restored and that all life, go to the hill country where an appropriate thought as formed me as your servant reading for us to reflect on from the moment of con- Elizabeth and Zechariah we celebrate today our an- in the womb. God had a today, the dignity and sanc- ception until the moment lived, to assist her older nual sanctity of life Mass plan for this servant and tity of human life from the natural death, at every cousin. And when she en- here in our Diocese,” said He begins this prepara- moment of conception.” stage and in every condi- ters their home, John the Bishop Gainer. tion not when he’s 6 years “Let us pray, brothers tion, that each human per- and sisters, in this spe- son may be recognized as cial Mass for the sanctity God’s masterpiece in the of the life that is in each image and likeness of our IN THIS EDITION one of us, that aware- loving creator,” said Bishop Page 4: Open houses for Catholic Schools Week ness will be intensified, to Gainer. Page 5: 14,000-piece mosaic unveiled at St. respect those around us “The Respect Life Mass Leo School with a greater intensity, is an opportunity for Catho- to recognize the holiness, lics throughout the Diocese Page 7: Membership Sunday calls Catholics to share the faith the sanctity, the dignity of to commemorate every person who’s path crosses our path in life. Let More RESPECT LIFE, page 6 2 - The Catholic WITNESS • January 24, 2020 DIOCESAN NEWS New Deadline for Catholic School Families to Apply for Neumann Scholarships is March 1 Secretary for Education ships for students attend- family their full picture,” to keep families in our The Catholic Witness and Superintendent of ing a Catholic school in the Breen said. schools. inancial resourc- amilies applying for Schools, said the decision Diocese. The goal of the changes es are available. We don’t tuition assistance through to change the deadline for In addition to the new to the Neumann Scholar- ever want money to stop a the Diocese’s Neumann the Neumann application deadline, a second change ship Program is simple: to family from enrolling in our Scholarship oundation was made after consulta- to the Neumann program help families with tuition schools.” for the 2020-2021 school tion with school officials, is that school officials will assistance so that cost is “We hope and pray that year are being advised of a who wanted to “give our have increased involve- not a roadblock to Catholic the adustments we’ve new application deadline, families a timeframe that ment in awarding scholar- education. made to the Neumann March 1. works for them for enroll- ships. “In our Catholic schools, Scholarship oundation In previous years, the ment, and to know the Previously, Neumann accessibility is a value will help meet more fami- deadline was April 15, financial picture well in scholarships were awarded that we hold very dearly. lies’ financial needs as coinciding with the tax advance of the following at the Diocesan level in We want every family that best we can,” he said. deadline. Pennsylvania school year.” consultation with the wants a Catholic school Contact your school law reuires the most Breen emphasized that schools. Given that school education for their chil- for application informa- recent tax return to deter- the March 1 deadline maxi- personnel know their fami- dren to be able to have tion. For more information mine a family’s ualifica- mizes a family’s ability to lies and family situations, it,” Breen said. “We work about the Neumann Schol- tion for the scholarships, receive a scholarship for and also have additional very hard with every fam- arship Program and busi- made possible through the 2020-2021 academic sources of funding from ily. A longstanding concern ness participation, visit the state’s Educational year. After the deadline, other scholarship pro- for us has been to make www.hbgdiocese.org/ Improvement Tax Credit funds will be available on a grams, they will now have tuition affordable and catholic-schools/nsf/.) EITC Program. first-come, first-serve basis, more discretion in award- The March 1 deadline based on the school. ing the scholarships. allows the schools and The Diocese’s Neumann “The schools can now the Neumann Scholar- Scholarship oundation write one letter to a fam- Show Your ship oundation to receive administers funds gener- ily with the full amount of families’ information in a ated by the EITC program their tuition and all schol- Support more timely fashion, and for tuition assistance. Each arships and assistance, in subseuently offers par- year, the foundation gives a more clear and concise February 1 and 2 ents more time to make a 3.5-4 million in scholar- manner that shows the The St. Elizabeth Guild decision about their enroll- in support of Catholic ment or re-enrollment in a Charities will hold its Catholic school. annual “Souper Bowl With the advance dead- B G’ Sunday” soup sale on Feb. 1 and 2 at nine parishes. line, families will be asked P C Homemade soups will be available for purchase after to provide their most re- Masses at each location. cent tax return and a W-2 for the taxes they’ll file this • January 27 – Mass at Our Lady of the Angels School, Holy Name of Jesus, Harrisburg spring. Columbia, 9 a.m. Holy Spirit, Palmyra Daniel Breen, Diocesan • January 28 – Mass at Good Shepherd School, Camp Hill, Seven Sorrows BVM, Middletown 8:30 a.m. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mechanicsburg • January 29 – Mass at St. Margaret Mary School, Harris- St. Joan of Arc, Hershey burg, 10:15 a.m. Correcon St. Matthew, Dauphin • January 29 – Blessing of Chapel at Assumption BVM St. Margaret Mary, Harrisburg The article on the Sisters Parish, Lancaster, 6 p.m. St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg of Mercy that appeared in • February 2 – Mass for World Day of Consecrated Life, St. Theresa, New Cumberland the January 10 edition did St. Joan of Arc Church, Hershey, 9:30 a.m. not include the name of • February 5 – St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Visit, Wyn- Proceeds benet Catholic Charities’ Sister Joan Henkel among newood. Homes for Healing: the Mercy Sisters from the • February 8 – Diocesan Pastoral Council Meeting, Dioc- Evergreen House for women in recovery esan Center, Harrisburg, 10 a.m. Diocese who are still living. The Interfaith Shelter for Homeless Families • The author apologizes for February 9 – Annual Black History Month Mass, St. Pat- rick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 12:15 p.m. Lourdeshouse Maternity Home the omission. The Catholic Publisher: 4800 Union Deposit Road The Catholic Witness (ISSN 0008-8447, The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Harrisburg, PA 17111-3710 USPS 557 120) is published biweekly except DD, JCL, Bishop of Harrisburg Phone: 717-657-4804 Christmas/New Year and July by the Harrisburg FAX: 717-657-7673 Catholic Publishing Association, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111 3710. Executive Director for Public Relations: [email protected] WITNESS Periodicals postage paid at Harrisburg, PA. WITNESS Rachel Bryson, M.S. The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg THE NEWSPAPER OF THE [email protected] Yearly subscriptions derived OCTOBER 9,DIOCESE 2018 OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA VOL. 52 NO. 20 from diocesan revenues from POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Managing Editor: parishes.

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