FEEDING the HUNGRY, Page 6 the 2 - Catholic Witness • September 14, 2018
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The C150atholicWitness The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg September 14, 2018 Vol. 52 No. 18 March 2, 2018 Prayer Vigil 7:00 P.M. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Harrisburg. This will includeFeeding a live enactment ofthe the Sorrowful Hungry Mysteries of the Rosary by young Ourpeople Daily from throughoutBread theServes Diocese, similarMeals, in many Fellowship ways to the Living inWay York of the Cross. This event will replace the traditional Palm Sunday Youth Mass and Gathering for 2018. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. March 3, 2018 Opening Mass for the Anniversary Year 10:00 A.M. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, Harrisburg. Please join Bishop Gainer as celebrant and Homilist to begin the anniversary year celebration. A reception, featuring a sampling of ethnic foods from various ethnic and cultural groups that comprise the faithful of the Diocese, will be held immediately following the Mass. August 28-September 8, 2018 Pilgrimage to Ireland Join Bishop Gainer on a twelve-day pilgrimage to the Emerald Isle, sponsored by Catholic Charities. In keeping with the 150th anniversary celebration, the pilgrimage will include a visit to the grave of Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Harrisburg. Participation is limited. November 3, 2018 Pilgrimage to Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception SAVE THE DATE for this diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica in Washington,CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Our Daily Bread soup kitchen in York serves an average of 275 meals a day to the hungry. The ministry is an outreach of 60 churches and synagogues, and was formed from theD.C. York Deanery’s Additional Catholic parishes details 35 years will ago tobe assist forthcoming. those in need. By Jen Reed for the past five years as a dish washer. He also pre- churches and synagogues in the interreligious effort. The Catholic Witness viously helped with food prep. Our Daily Bread was originally located in the March 3, 2019 Closing“It is really Mass eye opening for to seeAnniversary how many people kitchenYear at the former Cristo Salvador Hispanic 2.5 million. That’s the number of total meals are in need of food on a daily basis,” said Mr. Russo, Catholic Parish. The first meal was served on Sept. served as Our DailyIn theBread afternoonsoup kitchen marks at 35 Holy a Namemember of ofSt. JosephJesus Parish Church, in Dallastown. Harrisburg.13, 1983. years of serving the hungry in the city of York. According to the United States Census Bureau’s “Sister Monica and I made enough macaroni and 2.5 million breakfastPlease and lunchjoin plates Bishop have been Gainer 2017 as report, celebrant the 12-month andper capita homilist income in thefor thischeese special to serve 400 Mass people, to but conclude12 showed up,” Mrs. prepared and served five days a week since 1983. city of York is $15,732. Thirty-six percent of its Koch recalled. It’s a soberingour statistic, year-long one that illustrates anniversary the stark population celebration. lives in poverty. Unemployment is at 8.1 Word quickly spread, and the number of patrons need people have for life’s basics of food and drink. percent. grew. More than 44,000 meals were distributed in the On any given weekday, an average of 275 Formeals more“If information:it wasn’t for the soup kitchen, www.hbgdiocese.org/150 there would be a first year. are served at Our Daily Bread, located on South lot of hungry people. On a slow day, we have about Volunteer efforts also increased. Dedicated teams George Street next to Immaculate Conception of 150 people who come in. On a busy day, we’re serv- from local faith communities are currently commit- the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish and in view of St. ing at least 300,” Mr. Russo said. ted to full support and operation for 85 percent of the Patrick Parish across the corner. In 2016-2017, Our Daily Bread served 82,710 year. Volunteers from 60 area churches and synagogues meals, nearly double the total of its first year. A group of 50 women from Yorkshire United Meth- staff the soup kitchen. On a rotational basis each “When we first started in 1983, we thought it was odist Church, for example, are dedicated to the first congregation is charged with preparing meals, serv- going to be a temporary thing,” said Paula Koch, Wednesday of every month. ing patrons, washing dishes and clearing tables. founding manager. The groups are responsible for providing a hot George Russo has volunteered every Wednesday At the time, unemployment in the city was at 10.5 lunch casserole on a specific day, delivering the pans percent. State-run mental health hospitals were of food to the soup kitchen, and then filling patrons’ closing, leaving some patients with nowhere to trays with the casserole, vegetables, bread and butter, live but on the street. dessert and a beverage. Mrs. Koch worked to establish the soup Barbara Flickinger, who coordinates Our Daily kitchen at the request of her pastor, the late Bread volunteers from Yorkshire UMC, has been Msgr. Thomas Brenner of St. Patrick Parish. serving at the soup kitchen for 28 years. The ministry began as an outreach of the nine “This is one of the things that is dear to my heart,” Catholic parishes in the York Deanery at the she said. “I was born in York city, lived downtown time, in conjunction with Catholic Charities. while I was growing up, and know of the great need.” Still, the goal even then was to involve area More FEEDING THE HUNGRY, page 6 The 2 - Catholic Witness • September 14, 2018 Q&A with Bishop Gainer ment celebrated with proper form, matter, and in- Thomas Aquinas again teaches that “…there can Dear Bishop Gainer, tention is valid. Even intention is hard to mess up, be no doubt that the wicked sin by exercising the I have heard several questions from the since it is the Church’s intention which suffices for ministry of God and the Church, by conferring the members of my parish regarding the Grand the valid celebration of a sacrament. Therefore, a sacraments.” [ST III.64.6] Conferring a sacrament Jury Report, and one question has repeat- minister who is distracted and not able to concen- while in a state of sin is itself a sin and calls for re- edly stood out: Are the sacraments admin- trate still administers valid sacraments. [ST III.64.8] pentance and conversion. istered by sinful ministers valid? Could you The good news of the sacraments is that they Likewise, those who receive sacraments should provide some guidance? don’t depend on us; they depend on Christ through Yours in Christ, be in a state of grace. The character of the person the power of the Holy Spirit. St. Thomas Aquinas receiving a sacrament does impact how fully he A Concerned Catholic taught that “the sacrament is not wrought by the or she receives the fruits of that sacrament. For righteousness of either the celebrant or the recipi- example, a person about to be confirmed should Dear a Concerned Catholic, ent, but by the power of God.” [ST III.68.8] Sacra- This is a question which Catholics and our Chris- ments confer Christ’s grace, not our own. This is be well instructed in the faith and be ready to live tian brothers and sisters have asked for centuries. why we speak of the minister acting in persona out the mission of Christian witness given in the The short answer is yes. Christi, that is, “in the person of Christ.” If sacra- sacrament. Those who marry should truly intend Around 300 A.D., the Church faced the Donatist ments depended on the worthiness of the minis- to love and honor each other for the rest of their controversy. During the persecution of Diocletian, ter, we would be in constant doubt regarding every lives [Rite of Marriage, Exchange of Consent]. many Christians suffered martyrdom rather than sacrament we have received. Thankfully, this is not Those who have sinned are called to turn from sin, betray their faith. However, there were those who the case; it is Christ who works in the sacraments amend their lives, and participate in the Sacrament escaped martyrdom by burning incense to the Ro- and guarantees their validity. The Catechism of of Penance, before giving or receiving sacraments. man gods or giving their books of Scripture over the Catholic Church sums it up by saying, “From Christ’s grace is given unfailingly in the sacra- to be burned. Both laity and clergy had denied the the moment that a sacrament is celebrated in ac- ments. The grace given depends on Christ, not on faith in the face of persecution. The question came cordance with the intention of the Church, the the minister. That grace calls the minister and the up: Are the sacraments conferred or received by power of Christ and his Spirit acts in and through recipient to be holy, as Christ is holy. these sell-outs still valid? The answer was yes. The it, independently of the personal holiness of the ministers are instruments; it is Christ himself who minister.” If you received a sacrament by a bishop, May God Bless you, works in his sacraments to communicate grace. priest, deacon, or lay person with a moral failing, Out of this controversy, the Church discerned the sacrament is still valid. that sacraments work ex opere operato or “by the That being said, ministers of sacraments should very fact of the action’s being performed.” A sacra- be holy images of Christ, whom they represent.