Elects Bishop Wuerl Chairman Bishop Discusses the Angels Of
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— f O J ill l/l - 15( iS a j g n No. 40 30* Established in 1844: America^ Oldest Catholic Newspaper In Continuous Publication Friday, December 16. 1994 (NJ 'U X 3 ■ u a h u a Sti * names ‘Renaissance m onk’ Medical ‘brain as new president trust’ elects Ai 39, he’s a priest, a monk, a law James Wehner was ordained to the diaconate for yer, a certified public accountant, a the Diocese of Pittsburgh Oct. 7 in St. Peter's Basil Bishop Wuerl business professor ... And now he's ica in Rome by Bishop David Thompson of president of one of America’s top lib Charleston, S.C. Meeting following the ceremony chairman eral arts colleges. were, from left. Father Richard Mueller, a diocesan priest on sabbatical at the Institute for Continuing f |. Martin Bartel, OSB, a Benedic By JAMES McCOY tine monk and Theological Education at the North American Col priest of St. lege; Father Joseph Kleppner, diocesan director o f Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl seminarians; Bishop Thompson; Deacon Wehner; Vincent Arch has been elected chairman of the abbey, was Father Michael Caiidi, a diocesan priest pursuing board of the Pope John XXIII studies for a licentiate degree at the North Ameri appointed Medical-Moral Research and Edu can College; and Father John Lendvai, a diocesan 14 th president cation Center in Braintree, Mass. of St. Vincent priest also pursuing a licentiate degree at North In listing the new chairman’s College, American College. Deacon Wehner will be qualifications, center president Latrobe. The ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Donald Father Russell Smith cited the Wuerl June 24 at St. Paul Cathedral Oakland. appointment bishop’s catechism, The Teaching of was Christ plus “the teaching tools that announced his diocese has produced, both the Dec. 9 by resources and the people qualified Benedictine to use them." Archabbot He noted that Bishop Wuerl “has Douglas Nowickl, who is chancellor broad experience with the leader of the college, and James Murdy, ship, sponsorship and administra chaim an of the board. tion of Catholic health care. Cer Fr. Bartel will take office July 1, tainly he has a lot on his plate, and 1995. He succeeds Father John I we were very grateful that he was Murtha, OSB, who announced his able to accept the offer of our board resignation June 10 after a decade in to become its chairman.” Fr. Smith office made the announcement Dec. 1. rchabbot Nowicki said that “Fr. Bishop Wuerl has served as a Marlin's unique blending of educa member of the board since 1989. tion. experience and skill, coupled Before that, the bishop told the with a delightful wit and deep spiri- Pittsburgh Catholic, he had “served, , tuality, will insure his success in from time to time, as a consultant." leading our outstanding college into The bishop praised the center’s the next century." New Castle youth show spirit of unity: “highly competent professional staff The appointment was approved of theologians and moralists, who," unanimously by the St. Vincent Col By JOHN FRANKO he said, “research issues arising out lege Corporation Board. of the rapid technological develop Fr. Bartel said he was humbled by Mary Mother of Hope Parish In ments In the world of medicine the appointment. He praised the New Castle has known pain and today." worlj of his predecessor, Fr. M urtha, frustration in its short history. But See BISHOP on page 2 and pledged to “work diligently to parish youth are going a long way to build upon that firm foundation hasten the healing process. through the challenges which lie The new youth ministry program Angels on the air a h e a d ." has “been one of the best things I’ve Fr. Bartel earned a juris doctor seen in the parish," said Anthony degree from the University of Penn- “Bucky" Richards, youth minister. Bishop sylviinia Law School in 1989 and a “It sets a good example of how the master of business administration parish can come together.” discusses the degree from Bowling Green State Mary Mother of Hope was formed University in 1984 where he concen in 1 9 9 3 , bringing together members trated studies on management infor of two former New Castle parishes. angels of the mation systems. Madonna of Czestochowa and St. A 1984 graduate of St. Vincent Mary. The suppression of the parish first Christmas Semnary, where he earned a master was difficult for many members; a of divinity degree with highest honors small group actively opposed the Photo by Jim Herrmann Angels will be the focus on Bishop in 1984, he also earned a bachelor of reorganization. Members of the co-ed volleyball team take a break during the championship game Donald Wuerl’s weekly television business adm inistration degree in But today the spirit of unity is Dec. 6. The squad captured its second consecutive title with a win over St. Vitus. program. “The Teaching of Christ," 1978, with a major in accounting evident in the high school religious on Christmas Day, Dec. and i minor in computer science. education program, which 8 0 - 9 0 team has won the championship of World Youth Day, more than one- 25, over KDKA- He made his religious profession of students attend. The youth have the Lawrence County Deanery third of the 8 0 participants were TV at 7:30 a.m. vows as a monk of St. Vincent Arch- also joined for service projects and Catholic Youth Ministry League the from Mary Mother of Hope. In his teaching abbey on July 10, 1980, and was social activities, such as trips to past two years. “If you give them something they segment dur Se« ST. VINCENT on page 2 Cedar Point. Its co-ed volleyball At a recent deanery celebration of See YOUTH on page 2 ing the pro gram. titled “Angels In the Christmas Story," Bishop Wuerl Pitt prof looks at som e tou gh stats explains what the Church believes about angels as spiritual beings created by God who assist, support, The uneasy econom ics of C atholic parish life guide, motivate and strengthen us in our efforts to live according to the By PATRICIA BARTOS to recent studies. The study reports respondents Christians in 6 2 5 congregations — will of God. A big reason is that younger peo- devote much more of their income to and considered the most compre In the program’s interview seg As religious congregations of all ple “have not been material comforts and hensive ever on the subject — ment, the bishop and his guest. faiths face a future of declining brought up with the idea luxuries than they do in reported that followers contribute Father Ronald Lengwin, diocesan contributions, they must also study that this is a place to support of their reli more when they have a part in secretary for pastoral life, discuss the patterns of giving. contribute.” he has gious congregation. financial decision-making and are the role of the angels in the Christ Dne economist, who for almost 40 found. In 1968 members of kept informed of congregation mas scheme at the birth of Christ. years has helped clergy learn about This belief was sup the denominations finances. They also point out how some of the finances, predicts more consolida ported by findings of a studied contributed an Results of the two-year study «L ? beliefs in angels today are contrary tions, less services, less volunteer survey, “The State of average of 3.14 percent were released in November and to the teaching of the Church and help, but increasing needs of indi Church Giving Through of their income to their showed that the average Catholic address the current heightened viduals in congregations. 1992," published earlier church. By 1992 that family gives less than $386 a year, attraction of angels. \ significant cause for concern is this month which cov figure had dropped to compared to a high of $1,696 for N» The Dec. 25 program will be that “the majority of the contribu ered 25 years of contri 2.52 percent. Assemblies of God, followed by repeated throughout the following tions are coming from people well butions in some 29 Such trends indicate $1,154 for Baptists. $i,085 for week over many cable television beyond the age of 50,” according to Christian denomina a need for churches to Presbyterians and $746 for Dr. Slesinger channels in western Pennsylvania. Dr. Reuben Slesinger, professor tions, not including focus on the giving atti Lutherans. It is part of a continuing series based emeritus of economics at the Uni Catholic. tudes fif their members, the study Catholics, the lowest givers, on a catechism entitled The Teach versity of Pittsburgh. (Similar studies have shown that urged. according to the survey expressed ing of Christ co-authored by Bishop Percentages of people who con rates of Catholic giving, meanwhile, Another recent national survey, the greatest dissatisfaction with Wuerl. and on the newly issued tribute, and the amount they con have declined even more “The American Congregational Giv being left out of financial Catechism of the Catholic Church. tribute, continue to drop, according dramatically). ing Study," covering some 11,000 See DECISION on page 2 Seventy-one communities served SeeTVonpoge2 ------- World news.... What Editorial/official.... Onimnit/mmmwit is a Batertahuneat...... PtKfJir Ufe.............. priest? C i e d M ................. Around the diocese. _ ~ 4 Obituaries ........... Page 2 PITTSBURGH CATHOLIC Friday. December 16, 1994 Diocesan news A l th e facts ab o u t the D iocese of Pittsburgh Youth draw together in reorganized New directory details local WW-- New Castle parish Church after Reorganization "I hope the adults would see the about what it means to have a parish ldds’ attem pts and follow them," he come together," he said.