Summer 2008 Commemorative 150th Anniversary Edition Vol. 13 No. 3 INSIDE: ORDINATION: Steven Bell is newest Paulist priest ... 8 MILESTONES: Meet this year’s jubilarians .......10-11 CELEBRATING 150! Paulist community gathers in D.C. for sesquicentennial revels The Paulist 150th Anniversary Convocation Convocation celebration work professionally on our staffs, parishioners, was held June 19-21 at the Catholic University in June on the campus Paulist Associates and other friends. Not just of The Catholic Paulists but so many others have been inspired of America in Washington, D.C. The convocation University of America by the vision of Isaac Hecker and how it has was three days of faith, fellowship and fun. From in Washington, D.C., been enfleshed during these past 150 years to the kickoff barbecue dinner held at St. Paul’s allowed us to give want to continue to bring that alive. This fact College/North American Paulist Center to the thanks for the ways was also underscored at the closing banquet 150th Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine in which the Lord has when awards were given to certain laity who of the Immaculate Conception and gala dinner that ministered through have been leaders in the church in fostering followed, the convocation served to commend our community; Paulist mission directions. the Paulist priests, associates, collaborators and furthermore, in There were other key moments. Perhaps particular through the presentations by the the most emotional was the liturgy friends on past accomplishments and springboard four keynote speakers and the response of commemorating our deceased Paulists. the community into the next 150 years of Paulist the panelists we were called to reflect upon Because of the creative work of Paulist history. Following is a message from Paulist where the Spirit is calling us to make our student Tom Gibbons, C.S.P., we were able president Father John F. Duffy, C.S.P. unique contribution in the service of the to see a video which included a picture of church today as Paulists. every deceased Paulist. Having entered the s you will see in the various articles in What has been accomplished and what community in 1969, I knew many of them A this latest issue of Paulist Today, these will occur in the future is not just the work of personally and called to mind how they indeed have been blessed days for the the Paulists. For me one of the highlights of served the mission of the community. th Paulist community. The 150 Anniversary the gathering was the presence of those who Continued on Page 2 Landover, MD Landover, Permit # Permit Washington, D.C., 20017 D.C., Washington, e Y a r 0 5 s 1 o PAID g f n M 3015 Fourth Street NE Street Fourth 3015 i t i n a r i s b t North American Paulist Center Paulist American North e r l y e C • • 1 Office for Media Relations Media for Office 8 8 0 5 0 8 2 • U.S. Postage U.S. • P s a PAULIST FATHERS PAULIST r u e l i h s t t a F Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit 2 Paulist Today - Summer 2008 150th Anniversary Convocation Coverage – Thursday BBQ kicks off festivities Song and laughter begin 150th Convocation The Paulist 150th Anniversary Convocation, Father Frank Desiderio, C.S.P., president of held June 19-21 in Washington, D.C., began with Paulist Productions in Los Angeles, also hosted a welcome barbecue dinner at St. Paul’s College/ a screening of the production company’s latest North American Paulist Center. Participants had the documentary titled “The Big Question: A Film chance to see old friends and make new ones. About Forgiveness.” Paulist first consultor Father Frank DeSiano Photos: Denise and Owen Warfield led grace, and the crowd of approximately 250 was entertained by two performances of the Roamin’ Collars. The Roamin’ Collars were a folk group of Paulist seminarians that performed at college campuses throughout the U.S. in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Seven former Roamin’ Collars led what turned into a sing-a-long featuring tunes from Simon and Garfunkel and other classic favorites from the era. Paulist Today 150th celebrates past, launches future Published by Continued from Page 1 Redemptorist Brothers who share a Common The presence of Cardinal McCarrick, who Heritage with you.” st Fat li he Paulist Fathers u r Pa s • • 2 presided and preached at the anniversary Finally, the days in Washington allowed 8 0 5 0 8 8 1 Office for Media Relations • • C liturgy, was most appropriate. He has long- us to recognize publicly our Paulists who are e y l r e t b s North American Paulist Center r i standing ties with our community over many celebrating significant priestly anniversaries. a n t i in M g f 1 o decades beginning as a young priest in New And we began our next 150 years with the 50 Years 3015 Fourth Street NE Washington, D.C. 20017 York City. There was also a wonderful gesture ordination to the priesthood of Steven Bell, of friendship from the provincial of the C.S.P. Indeed they were blessed days that we Redemptorist community from which Father were fortunate to spend at St. Paul’s College, Contact Us Hecker and his companions departed to begin The Catholic University of America and Trinity Phone: 202-269-2521 the Paulists. They presented to us a beautiful College. Web: www.paulist.org icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, inscribed as follows: “Congratulations on faithfully E-mail: [email protected] preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ Editor and Production for 150 years. May God’s Abundant Grace Stefani Manowski continue to Bless the Paulist Fathers - Your Father John F. Duffy, C.S.P., President Paulist Today -Summer 2008 3 150th Anniversary Convocation Coverage – Friday Discussing the issues O’Brien, Appleby lay out challenges facing today’s Paulists By Christopher Gaul to help bring about a re-birth of “Americanist” Photos by Owen and Denise Warfield ideas in the tradition of their founder. Dr. Appleby’s challenge to the Paulists, both The convocation began in earnest Friday priests and laity, underscored the “superb” job morning, June 19, with stimulating and they do as a collaborative clergy-lay ministry, challenging presentations from two celebrated but asked, “So what is the problem?” speakers, David J. O’Brien, biographer of “If the Paulists are doing what the church Friday morning prayer Paulist founder Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, should be doing – offering reconciliation, and R. Scott Appleby, professor of history at the healing and the possibility of forgiveness and University of Notre Dame. the act of receiving forgiveness,” he said, “it is As Dr. O’Brien noted, the anniversary also true that the church at large is not perceived celebration was so important “because the as first and foremost an agent of reconciliation; Paulist heritage is at the very center of American lamentably, it is frequently these days a sign of Catholic history,” while Dr. Appleby pursued division, scandal, low morale, (and) ‘decline.’” the theme of a search for both a usable past and For a missionary society “of relatively modest “a glorious future” for the Paulists. size and means,” Dr. Appleby asserted that the In tracing the history of Father Hecker and the Paulists need “to extend your influence even early Paulist Fathers as they struggled with the more deeply and broadly in church society.” condemnation by Rome of Father Hecker’s so- In any case, Dr. Appleby said, the challenge called “Americanism,” Dr. O’Brien reminded is succinctly articulated by a staff member of today’s Paulists, priests and laity that Father the Paulist Center in Boston who, on the Paulist Hecker’s “way of being Catholic in America arose Web site video, comments: from his understanding that freedom required a new “If we could only find a way to replicate (the strategy, aimed at winning personal conviction and Paulist ministry), it could be a powerful force offering the world credible, persuasive Catholic for our church and society.” Friday morning prayer ways of thinking about the great issues of the day.” That challenge needs to be met not only by the Catholicism to Father Hecker was “about diminishing number of ageing Paulist Fathers but everybody and everything,” Dr. O’Brien said, by their growing number of Paulist lay associates “not a subculture but an instrument of the Holy and collaborators, Dr. Appleby insisted. Spirit to bring about the unity of the human The Paulist Fathers know that their lay family with God, and one another.” companions in mission possess “not only faith And then he turned to more contemporary and dedication commensurate to your own, but times. Criticizing, among other things, what he skills and expertise which you do not possess, called the “remarkably passive reaction of most through no fault of your own.” Catholic elites, clerical, religious and lay” to the “Hey guys,” Dr. Appleby smilingly told the sexual abuse crisis and the “equally remarkable” Paulist Fathers present, “they can’t forgive sins absence of organized support for Catholic social or consecrate the Eucharist, but they can do a teaching, Dr. O’Brien challenged today’s Paulists lot else.” Friday panel discussion David O’Brien R. Scott Appleby 4 Paulist Today - Summer 2008 150th Anniversary Convocation Coverage – Friday ‘Marked with the sign of faith’ Deceased Paulists remembered at special 150th convocation Mass By Christopher Gaul Photos by Owen and Denise Warfield The vision and mission of Paulist founder Father Isaac Thomas Hecker and Paulist history was invoked as the Paulist family came together Friday afternoon, June 20, for a Memorial Mass in honor of deceased members of the 150-year- old order held in the Pryzbyla Center of The Catholic University of America.