PITTSBURGH Option-Purchase Signed for St. Fidelis' Sale Pope
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t e < \ l CO ■ A H J i/> < PITTSBURGH > h - C L t/i H- MÍ, \ </) \ oC aC O l UJ r *> > - o O “ 1 -J X -4 JJ O Lil H I stillili slu-d in I S 44: \nn*rica‘s ( )ldost ( 'alboli« \o\s sjiaprr in ( uni inmoiis l’id>li< alinn 143rd Year. CXLIII No. 45 21 cents Friday. February 5, 1988 Official Bishop: *It has been a real j o y . * My dear Brothers and Slaters: As I look back on my four years as Bishop of Pittsburgh one word emerges which expresses the common thread that unites my life with God and His people. That word is Mission — "T o spread the Good News of God’s love.” That Mission of Jesus Christ is never a solitary effort. It is an Invitation to solidarity, a unity that la inclusive of all peoples, o f all ages, and in all walks of life. It has been a real Joy to share In the Mission of Jesus Christ with the people of the Church In Pittsburgh. I express my gratitude to Almighty God for the Joy that has been mine these past four years. To my fellow bishops, Bishop McDowell, Bishop Bosco, now in Greensburg, and especially my esteemed predecessor. Bishop Leonard, I express sincere gratitude for your unwavering support and acceptance. To my brother priests and deacons, to my Religious Sisters and Brothers, and to my seminarians, I extend my prayers of thankfulness and encouragement for your will ingness to sacrifice yourselves for total service of God’s people. To married couples and families, who comprise the majority of the People of God in the Diocese, I thank you for the ways In which you strive to be faithful to each other and to your larger parish families. The grounds o f the former S t Fldelts College and Seminary In Her to an exclusive purchase-optton agreement The Capuchins have To sisters and brothers of the single vocation, I am appreciative man, Butler County, may have a new owner as the jSt Augustine owned the 152-acre site for over 115 years. of the witness you give to the Mission of the Church In the con Province o f the Capuchin friars and a California developer enter in- tributions of service you make in the workplace and in the neighborhood. I am in a special way grateful to the youth, the children, infanta, and especially the handicapped children, for being even today builders of the vibrant Church of tomorrow. Option-purchase signed for St. Fidelis’ sale I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the senior faithful, whose prayers and often unnoticed sufferings united to Christ’s The St. Augustine Province of chasers exercise the option, the grounds. However with declining Fr. Degenhardt said that a Crucifixion and Resurrection are significant contributions to the the Capuchin Friars, head sale will be finalized within the enrollments and increasing costs, variety of agencies and interested Mission of the Church. quartered in Lawrenceville, has following 60 days. the college closed at the end of the parties, including state and To my brothers and sisters of other Christian persuasions and announced that It has signed an According to Fr. Gervase 1979 term and the high school federal corrections departments, to those of the Jewish community, I am indebted for your will exclusive option-purchase agree Degenhardt. vicar provincial of the following year. Following the nursing homes and a hardware ingness to work together to arrive at a deeper understanding of ment concerning the St. Fidelia the St. Augustine province, the high school’s closing, a retreat company, did show interest in the and respect for all in human family. College and Seminary property in property covers slightly more center was established on the property, but for various reasons As I prepare to leave Pittsburgh, "the moat livable City." for Herman, Butler County. than 150 acres. The property, grounds. nothing had come to fruition until Philadelphia, “ the City of Brotherly Love” , I beg your forgiveness The province recently signed an located approximately 35 miles With the closing of the high recently. He said that the Clottls for my shortcomings and ask your prayers for my new ministry. option-purchase agreement with north of Pittsburgh, includes four school and college, the province are Interested In developing the While my departure from Pittsburgh fills me with sorrow, I am Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ciotti of major buildings and two smaller felt the facility was too large and property for a conference center comforted by the trust In the loving Providence of God whose will California and the Ciotti Family ones. too costly to maintain. In 1983, and a health care facility. I strive to follow and by the many Joyful memories of my life in Trust, according to an announce The Capuchins have held the the provincial chapter, the Father said that Clotti learned Pittsburgh. ment released by the Capuchins. Herman property for 115 years. highest authority of the province, about the property from a Please be assured of a continued remembrance In my prayers The purchasers have 60 days to The province had maintained a authorized the sale of the that God our loving Father may always bless you and Mary, the exercise the option. If the pur- high school and college on the property. (Continued on page 3) Mother of Jesus and our Mother, may draw us nearer to each other In the Mission of the Church, "spreading the Good News of God’s love." Sincerely yours In Christ, Pope meets with Central American leaders VATICAN CITY (NC) — Pope In San Jose. Costa Rica, Jan. peace plan become a reality. Ortega told the pope of the John Paul II met privately with 29, Nicaraguan government and It was the first meeting between "prospects that are developing in several key players In the Central Bishop of Pittsburgh rebel representatives ended a two- Ortega and Pope John Paul since compliance with the proposals" of American peace process as day meeting at a Catholic a 1983 visit to Nicaragua was the Central American peace plan. Nicaraguan talks got under way seminary and agreed to meet marred by demonstrations during Navarro-Vails said. in Costa Rica. RETIREMENT again Feb. 10-12 in Guatemala. a papal Maas. The half-hour Ortega “ asked that the Holy See Within three days the pope con Auxiliary Bishop Bosco Vivas private meetftig In the papal Bishop Bevilacqua has approved the retirement of the Reverend encourage this process," he ducted separate meetings with Robelo of Managua said he found William J. Erkens. effective February 8, 1988. library was conducted in Spanish, added. ♦ Nicaraguan President Daniel "good will on both sides to seek a without aides or translators. Ortega; Cardinal Miguel Obando cease-fire in Nicaragua" In the The pope In turn expressed hib- Bravo of Managua, Nicaragua, near future. Although the pope received hope for peace in the region, who has mediated his country's "There was what we would call Ortega privately, thus eschewing Navarro-Valls said, “ underlinibg. Morgan-Lee named director talks; and Salvadoran Archbishop a verbal cease-fire,” he said. the elaborate protocol and ex the necessity that It is attalnçsf Arturo Rivera Dam as. who has At the Vatican, an official who change of speeches of a formal through a fair dialogue, respec served as a mediator for peace declined to be identified said Pope visit by a head of state. Vatican ting the rights and fundamental of Black Catholic Ministries talks in his country. He also met John Paul was Interested in spokesman Joaquin Navarro- liberty of all.” with Honduran Foreign Minister deepening the process of negotia Valls afterward gave a summary Fr. Theodore Rutkowski, head Carlos Lopez Contreras. tion and reconciliation in Central of topics discussed. (Continued on page 2) of the diocesan Secretariat for America. Clergy and Pastoral Life has nam ed Dr. Veronica Morgan-Lee direc Although Cardinal Obando Duquesne pastor dies, was 67 tor of Black Catholic Ministries ef Dr. Morgan-Lee T a b i n s i d e Bravo declined to give details of fective Feb. 1. his Jan. 27 meeting with the Bishop Bevilacqua tells how he pope, Ortega told reporters Jan. Fr. Daniel J. Szczyglel, 67, pastor of St. Hedwlg Parish. Duquesnt.- Dr. Morgan-Lee assumes the would like to be remembered as 29 that the pope supports the since 1967 died Feb. 2 in the Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh. post after being named acting the tenth bishop of the Diocese of Central American peace plan and Bom In Everson, Fayette County, on Nov. 27, 1920, he was the* director last May. In addition, the Pittsburgh in a special supple sovereignty for the people of the son of the late George and Rose Szczyglel. He attended Scottdaie 15-year-old diocesan program has ment in this edition. Other region. High School, and St. Vincent College and Seminary, Latrobe. been Incorporated Into the bishops also comment about the Ortega, who described his con Ordained for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on June 15. 1947 by the Secretariat for Clergy and office for Black Catholic Ministries Archbishop-designate of versation with the pope as "very late Bishop Hugh Boyle. Fr. Szczyglel served at the following Pastoral life under the central ad into the Secretariat for Clergy and Philadelphia, in addition hla new frank" and “very constructive," parishes: St. Hilary In Washington, St. Adalbert on the South Sldet ministration of the diocese. “coat of arms” is displayed and added that the pope reinforced ef "W e are happy to welcome the (Continued on page 3) explained plus more.