AD Times for October 17, 2019
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“The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord” VOL. 31, NO. 18 OCTOBER 17, 2019 Checking in with 3 New Priests, Now 4 Months on the Job By PAUL WIRTH That didn’t happen. “It turns out I’m still me,” he Diocesan Communications Staff laughed, which seems to be fine with the people of his new parish, who have gone out of their way to make him feel The path to become a priest is a long one, filled with welcome. “I really feel like this is part of my family now. years of seminary training and personal discernment. “Being a priest in a new place requires an adjustment, Much has been written about that journey, leading up to a learning curve. I’m learning by doing, and I can tell you, the joyous day a new priest is ordained by Bishop Alfred God is giving me some divine help.” Schlert in front of his brother priests, proud family mem- In addition to his duties at St. Anne, Father Esposito bers and hundreds of well-wishers. also is assigned to celebrate Masses at Lehigh University, But what happens next? What is it like to make the tran- Bethlehem, and that’s where he ran across a pleasant sur- sition from years of preparation for the priesthood to actu- prise. ally living it, every day, in a new parish assignment? “It’s absolutely inspiring to see how many college stu- To find out, The A.D. Times paid a visit to the three dents attend Sunday Masses. It’s obvious that they really newest priests of the Diocese of Allentown – Fathers Gi- want to be there,” he said. useppe Esposito, Zachary Wehr and John Maria – to check At a time when the Catholic Church is struggling to in with them after their first four months on the job. They attract young adults, and when many people have fallen were ordained June 1. away from the faith, the Lehigh University Masses offer As with any new position, they said, being a new priest a beacon of hope. comes with a little trepidation, and with the need for some “I think the key is to establish a rapport first,” said Fa- on-the-job training. And there have been a few pleasant ther Esposito. After you have that relationship, he said, surprises. it’s easier to talk about the benefits of a life-long personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Father Giuseppe Esposito First assignment: Assistant pastor, St. Anne, Bethlehem Father Zachary Wehr First Assignment: Assistant pastor, St. Catharine of Siena, Sitting in his modest office, Father Esposito joked that Reading. he sometimes thought becoming a priest would mean a “complete transformation, in which God’s grace would Sixth-graders have a lot of questions about their faith, Father Giuseppe Esposito discusses an upcoming come flooding in and I would no longer be who I was be- event with secretary Ethel Seibert at St. Anne, Beth- fore.” Please see PRIESTS page 4 }} lehem. (Photos by Paul Wirth) Diocese Provides Update on Property Sales and Transfers The Diocese of Allentown has been selling unused the township for $252,395. Then, in 2015, the Diocese contributed the bulk of property to help provide funding for the Independent • Calypso Avenue, Bethlehem: A condo that had the proceeds from the sale of a Krocks Road, Allen- Reconciliation and Compensation Program, which pro- served as residence for rector of Holy Family town property to the pension plans. From this sale, the vides victims of clergy sexual abuse with compensation Villa, sold for $180,415. Diocese contributed $7.565 million of the proceeds to as one aspect of their healing. • Former Tribunal building, 17th Street, Allen- strengthen the lay employee pension plan, and $2.435 The Diocese set aside millions of dollars to fund the town, sold for $214,447. million of the proceeds to strengthen the pension plan program, and will provide a full accounting of the num- • Under agreement: Flint Hill Road, Upper Sau- for priests. ber of victims who received compensation and the total con Township, Lehigh County: 114 acres of This ongoing effort to strengthen the plans contin- amount paid to victims when the program wraps up its vacant land, under agreement to sell to Tuskes ued in 2016, when former Bishop John Barres directed operations and when the Independent Oversight Com- Homes. the contribution of the Diocese’s Martin Luther King mittee issues its final report. • For sale: A 53-acre tract of land near the inter- Jr. Drive, Allentown office building to the lay employ- The Diocese funded the program with cash on hand, section of Krocks Road and Route 222, Allen- ee pension plan. That contribution was completed by with land sales and by borrowing. Future lands sales town. Bishop Alfred Schlert in December 2017. will be used to pay off the loans. The Diocese is not Bishop Schlert contributed his house as part of the using parish or school assets, or current or future col- Actions to Strengthen the Pension Plans same effort to strengthen the plans. He signed over lections at Mass, to fund the program. Over the past eight years, the Diocese also has sold ownership of his house to the priest pension plan in some property, transferred some property into its pen- March 2018. Bishop Schlert had been advocating for Recent Property Sales sion plans, and taken other steps to strengthen the priest the contribution of the Bishop’s house to the priest pen- Here is a list of pending and recently completed and lay employee pension plans. Both plans are under- sion plan already while he was Vicar General, before property sales. funded. he became Bishop. • Exeter Township, Berks County: 120 acres on In 2011 the Diocese reduced some employee pen- He felt that contributing the house to the plan was Route 562, purchased by St. Catharine of Siena sion benefits by putting a new formula into effect for appropriate because the priests pooled their own mon- Parish for $941,094. future benefits. In 2014 the Diocese began increasing • Hanover Township, Northampton County: 9.9 its cash contribution to the employee plan by one quar- acres adjacent to a township park, purchased by ter of one percent each year. Please see PROPERTY page 4 }} Pope Asks Us IN THIS ISSUE Because We Are Catholic 2 to Pray Rosary Women’s Conference 3 VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Told that some people Walk Through the Mass 5 think Pope Francis isn’t exactly a fan of the rosary, Je- Come and See Weekend 6 suit Father Federic Fornos practically shouted, “What?” “Pope Francis says the rosary is the prayer of his Poverty Relief Fund 6 heart. He prays it every day,” said the international di- Stand Up for Life 9 rector of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, for- merly known as the Apostleship of Prayer. New Bioethics Column 10 Father Fornos was at the Vatican press office Oct. Bazaar Listing 13 Please see ROSARY page 16 }} 2 THE A.D. TIMES DIOCESE OCTOBER 17, 2019 “The Allentown Diocese in the Year of Our Lord” Because We Are Catholic Special Learning Center As part of the Catholic Press, The A.D. Times is the official newspaper Serves Up Love for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, serving Berks, Carbon, with Help from Local Chef Lehigh, Northampton and Schuylkill counties. By PAUL WIRTH Diocesan Communications Staff Published biweekly or triweekly on Thursdays by The folks at the John Paul II Center for Special Allentown Catholic Communications, Inc. Learning in Shillington seem to bring out the best in at P.O. Box F everyone, including a local chef who returns time and Allentown, PA 18105-1538 again to ladle out heaping servings of love. Phone: 610-871-5200, Ext. 2264 “Our students and adults are very excited when Chef Fax: 610-439-7694 Tim Twiford visits,” said Melissah Jablonski, director E-mail: [email protected] of advancement. “They all want to work with him and have their pic- President ture taken. He’s pretty much a celebrity around here.” Bishop Alfred Schlert Twiford takes time out from his duties as executive chef of Redner’s Markets to visit the special learning Secretary for External Affairs center several times a year. He and Redner’s also donate Matt Kerr special dinners for the center’s staff to sell at auction for Chef Tim Twiford with his helpers, from left, Angel, Jame- fundraising events. son and Justin. (Photo by Paul Wirth) Editor Recently the center sponsored an “Iron Chef” com- Jill Caravan petition for its volunteer appreciation lunch. Twiford and John Paul II teacher Rene Berkhammer competed, and the center’s students helped prepare the meal. Staff Writers The John Paul II Center serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a nurturing and Tara Connolly safe environment. Its mission is an expression of the Catholic Church’s teaching on the sanctity of human life. Tami Quigley “Because We Are Catholic” tells the stories of how the people of the Diocese of Allentown make a difference in the lives Design & Production of others, bringing the Light of Christ to each other and to our community. Videos of people in the series are available Marcus Schneck on the Diocesan website at www.allentowndiocese.org/bishop-blog. Advertising Contact Lori Anderson Administrative Assistant For 17th Straight Year Auditors Find Diocese Cheryl Dano in Compliance with Child Protection Charter DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN For the 17th time since the inception which the auditors confirmed. students, all of those people have also un- MISSION STATEMENT of national diocesan audits 17 years ago, Among the data the Diocese reported dergone background checks.