Confessions Feast Days at the MALL Steve & Barry’S
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‘Christ made Abortion rate 1.31 decline himself poor Pro-life officials for you’ praise new 1.21 Pope Benedict numbers, page 2. XVI’s message for Lent, page 2. 2000 2005 www.ErieRCD.org BI-WEEKLY NEWS BULLETIN OF THE DIOCESE OF ERIE February 10, 2008 Church Calendar Events of the local, American and universal church Confessions Feast days at the MALL Steve & Barry’s St. Scholastica Our Lady of Lourdes Diocese opens chapel Feb. 10 St. Scholastica Feb. 11 Our Lady of Lourdes at Millcreek Mall Feb. 14 St. Cyril and St. Methodius By Jason Koshinskie Feb. 21 St. Peter Damian FaithLife editor You are here: Roman Catholic Chapel tthathat formerly housed American Dental into a cha- Feb. 22 The Chair of St. Peter ERIE — After Millcreek Mall shoppers browse pel ccomplete with a welcoming area, confessionals, Feb. 23 St. Polycarp the new springtime fashions at Bon Ton and sip on a a tabernacle and a reading room. cup of Starbucks coffee, they can stop by the mall’s it may also be people’s schedules that we’re not there The chapel, located just outside the concourse en- newest store and go to confession. when they are there.” trance to Bon Ton, one of the mall’s anchor stores, World Day of the Sick – Feb. 11 The Erie Diocese became the Erie mall’s newest Confession at the mall has been an idea of Bishop occupies 2,000 of the more than 2.2 million square tenant, opening a chapel on Feb. 6—Ash Wednes- Trautman’s for some time. But hearing them there feet of retail space at Millcreek Mall complex. day and the beginning of Lent—primarily for hear- during the penitential season of Lent—a time of Tim Jares, Millcreek Mall property manager, said ing confessions. prayer, good works and returning to the Lord, gave chapels have opened at other malls and properties “People often have different schedules than what him the impetus to commit to the idea, he said. owned by the Cafaro Company, which operates the the church has,” said Bishop Donald Trautman. “My idea is to go to where the people are and see mall, but not in Millcreek Mall until now. “We traditionally have had confessions Saturday if we can, by presenting this opportunity, bring them “In our other shopping centers we’ve done it be- afternoon and Saturday evening at parishes. That back to the sacrament and meet them where they fore,” Jares said. “It’s all timing when it comes to doesn’t seem to be working. There are many reasons are,” he said. for that: secularism in our culture, denial of sin. But The diocese has transformed the empty storefront See CONFESSIONS, page 4 Receiving Christ in the Eucharist, Catholics groups from several par- should in turn give their lives for others, especially ishes. People for Life those who are sick and suffering, Pope Benedict sent two buses, includ- XVI said. In his message for the Feb. 11 celebration ing more than 50 7th of World Day of the Sick, the pope asked Catho- and 8th graders from St. lics to consider “the close connection that exists George School in Erie. between the mystery of the Eucharist, the role of Other known partici- Mary in the plan of salvation and the reality of hu- marks pants as of press time man pain and suffering.” included buses from World Sick Day is marked each year on the feast Crawford County Citi- of Our Lady of Lourdes; 2008 marks the 150th an- 35th anniversary zens for Life, Hermitage, niversary of the Marian apparitions in the grotto in St. Marys, Titusville and Lourdes, France. of Roe v. Wade DuBois. In his message, Pope Benedict said, “Mary is the “It was very power- model of total abandonment to the will of God” Young people add energy, ful. There’s always some and, in following her example, Christians learn to level of it that pulls you place their entire existence in God’s hands, includ- enthusiasm to crowd in,” Landini-Grogan ing their “joys and sorrows, hopes and disappoint- said. “A few years ago it ments in an awareness that trials, pain and suffering From staff and wire reports was very spiritual. You enrich the meaning of our pilgrimage on earth.” could feel that collec- Mary is near to all who suffer, standing alongside WASHINGTON — Hundreds of young peo- tive prayer. This year it them as she stood alongside her son as he suffered, ple and adults from the Erie Diocese joined with was very energizing with the pope said. throngs of school and parish groups throughout young people learning Several parishes participated in the “Youth Stand 4 Life” diocesan bus the United States in Washington, D.C. Jan. 22 for about the march and the trip to the march. Pictured are members of this year’s trip, which included the 35th annual March for Life. long-term consequences 34 adults and students from St. Lawrence, Albion; St. Joseph/Bread of Tens of thousands of people from around the of Roe vs. Wade.” Life, Erie; St. Elizabeth and St. Thomas, Corry; and St. Stephen, Oil City. country gathered on the National Mall before A sea of color met the Another contingent of 11 students from Gannon University’s Students for marching up Capitol Hill to the Supreme Court. eye at the Verizon Cen- Life also participated in the march. This year’s march was held on the 35th anniver- ter sports arena in Wash- sary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ington Jan. 22 as more than 20,000 young people Gray introduced a long program of politicians, decision which legalized abortion in the U.S. from around the country filled all the seats for the clergy and other activists who helped warm up a “It was an interesting group. They said it was annual Rally for Life and Youth Mass, celebrated crowd shivering in freezing temperatures and light one of the higher turnouts they’ve had in a few by Washington Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl. drizzle. More than two dozen cardinals, archbish- years,” said Erin Landini-Grogan, director of In addition to the traditional rally and Mass, ops and bishops stepped onto the stage. Catholic Charities’ Parish Social Ministry/Re- youths attending this year received a special sur- Among the speakers, Rep. Christopher Smith, spect Life Office for the Erie Diocese, who went prise: a personal message from Pope Benedict XVI, R-N.J., headed a long string of politicians who Lenten calendar to Washington. “What was so interesting is that I read by the apostolic nuncio to the United States, took to the microphone to make sure participants would say half of the participants were from the Archbishop Pietro Sambi. saw the fight against abortion in political terms. For a printable Lenten calendar, visit the Erie high school and college levels. That to me was fas- In the message, the pope expressed his grati- He warned that “America’s liberal elites” were Diocese’s official Web site at www.ErieRCD. cinating.” tude for the youths’ commitment to life and said “empathy-deficient” when it comes to the unborn, org. Sponsored by Catholic Charities’ Office Gannon University, Mercyhurst College and he looked forward to his visit to the United States. turning around a phrase about Americans made of Parish Social Ministry/Respect Life, the cal- Cathedral Prep High School students were a part He will be in Washington April 15-17 and in New by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in remarks on the endar provides a Scripture verse, reflection and of the younger contingent of the rally. The dio- York April 18-20. activity suggestion for each day of Lent. cese’s annual “Youth Stand 4 Life” trip included On the stage, March for Life organizer Nellie See MARCH, page 4 ‘Of One Heart and Mind’ Pro-Life Prayer Does this situation sound for a variety of projects includ- Breakfast familiar? You live month-to- ing roofs, parking lots, furnac- month having just enough es, painting and carpeting. The official Lenten regulations from Bishop money to cover ongoing ex- “The fact that parishes re- Donald Trautman are available on the Web penses. Then one day a leak ceive some of the funds raised site, as well. develops in your older roof through the CSA is stressed and you wonder how you’re each year,” says Joseph Hoag, going to pay for repairs, let director of Stewardship and alone a new roof. Or the fur- Annual Appeals for the dio- Word of God nace unexpectedly dies, or the cese, “but it is important to carpet you’ve had for 15 years show what this really means. Msgr. Richard Sullivan, Adults who say “all” or “most” of the looks even worse and yet you It means additional income to pastor of St. Andrew in following represent the word of God. continue to say, “We’ll re- many parishes to cover proj- Erie, says grace at the OLD TESTAMENT place it next year.” ects that could not be easily 30th annual Pro-Life 55% At one time or another, costs in a parish comes from done without these funds.” Prayer Breakfast. 74% these things happen. And a the annual Catholic Services Every parish will plan to do “Jesus said if you want to move mountains, it’s prayer, NEW TESTAMENT parish is not too different from Appeal. This appeal helps the something with funds raised 54% a home. Roofs need fixing Diocesan Church of Erie with through the CSA. Each parish penance and fasting,” Janet Folger, president of Faith2Ac- 73% and furnaces and carpeting its month-to-month expenses will communicate those plans tion, said at the 30th annual Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast sponsored by People for Life in Erie.