lf> O 00 o 1 Osi CO CsJ i u m ¡PH ¡ 1 • ? ! 904 \ PITTSBURGH-^ -g ■ H4 C P OEPT 9 9 2 1 I V E R S BE. s b u r g h E S N E U N l i b r a r y 92 0 0 I C0 2 A L S ® I f 4 . M 3 1- (D o£ UJ a K N H I I 3 w O Q - •— O c a th o lic 1148 Year, CXLVIII No. 28 Established in 1844: America’s Oldest Cathoic Newspaper in Continuous Publication Friday. September 25. 1992 Colorful cerem ony opens sesquicentennial By JOHN FRANKO a member of the planning I Z PITTSBURGH - The Diocese committee for the Mass. “The | of Pittsburgh kicked off its atmosphere of the cathedral I yearlong sesquicentennial cel­ lent itself to a celebration." ebration with a Pontifical She pointed out the large Mass of Thanksgiving Sept. 20 gathering reflected the affec­ | at St. Paul Cathedral. tion the people of the diocese Almost 1,800 attended the have for the Church. i ceremony, one rich in color “I liked the music and the I and tradition. general set-up of the liturgy,” “I thought it was a spiritual added Cora Hill of St. Bene­ milestone for the Diocese of dict the Moor Parish, Uptown. : Pittsburgh," said Mark Petri of “It had a colorful side to it." ! St. William Church, East Bishop McDowell delivered Pittsburgh. “It was an inspira­ the homily. In it he detailed tional time for us together as the history of the diocese from a diocesan family." the French explorers who in­ Bishop Donald W. Wuerl troduced the Catholic faith to presided at the ceremony, in the area in 1754, to the instal­ the presence of Cardinal lation of Right Rev. Michael J. Achille Silvestrini, prefect of O'Connor as the first bishop, the Congregation for Oriental and the formation of the dio­ Churches. cese in 1843. Concelebrants included re­ He described the growth of tired Bishop Vincent Leonard, the diocese as it grew from 47 Observing Aux. Bishops John McDowell churches, 18 priests and and William Winter: former St. 30,OCX) people in 1843, to over the 1 5 0 th .Vincent Afchabbot Egbert 300 parishes, 760 priests and The diocese opened the Donova.n, OSB; and Bishop 829,000 people today. Sesquicentennial cele­ William McCormack, national The diocese, thé bishop bration with a colorful director of the Propagation of noted, has blossomed into one ceremony qt St. Paul ,the Faith. of the finest in the nation. He CathedraL Toj): Cardi­ They were joined by some spoke of the hundreds of nal Achille Silvestrini is 250 priests of the diocese. thousands of laity, priests, greeted by, from left. Organizations participating brothers and religious who Archabbot Egbert ,in the ceremonial procession come from the diocese and Donovan, OSB, Aux. ¡included the Papal Knights of live holy lives in every voca­ Bishop John McDowell, St. Gregory and the Holy Sep­ Bishop Donald Wuerl, tion and profession, and who Bishop William McCor­ ulcher: Knights of Malta; bless the Church and commu­ mack, and Aux. Bishop Knights of Columbus: and nity by their faithful service . William Winter; Left: Knights and Dames o f St. Pe­ “Our God does great won­ Bishop McDowell deliv­ ter Claver. ders," he added. “One of these ers his homily to the Other organizations partici­ began at the confluence of the gathering; Right The pating in the liturgy included Allegheny and Monongahela Knights of •Gob.imbus the Diocesan Choir of Pitts­ 150 years ago." present Bishop Wuerl burgh: the adult choir of the Following the eucharistie with the Quincentenary C h ip Kelsch p h o to s Church of the Assumption, celebration. Bishop Wuerl rec­ Cross. Bellevue: The choir of St. ognized Bishop McCormack Mary of the Assumption by pointing out the Propaga­ Church, Glenshaw; The Adult tion of the Faith gave Bishop Diocese to celebrate Respect L i f e M o n t h Handbell Choir of the Church O'Connor 30,000 francs of the Assumption: and the ($4,000) in which to establish By PATRICIA BARTOS legislation that is protective of show political responsibility in With the help' of Grace Carnegie Brass Quintet. the Diocese of Pittsburgh. PITTSBURGH — Parishes those who are most vulnerable dealing with the serious is­ Harding, head of the dioce­ The festivities left their He “repaid" Bishop McCor­ throughout the diocese will or have no voice to speak for sues o f today. san office for persons with mark on those in attendance. mack by presenting him with join in planning special pro­ themselves," she explained. Locally, highlights of the disabilities, the teachers “It was overwhelming,” said grams during October to cel­ One of the “misguided criti­ Respect Life Month celebra­ also will plan a project to Sister Ignatius Rooney, RSM, (Continued on page 2) ebrate the Church's obser­ cisms" of the pro-life move­ tion will include the visit by involve all the school s stu­ vance of Respect Life Month. ment and the bishops’ sup­ New York Cardinal John dents in becoming aware of The observance officially port of it is that they care only O'Connor on Sunday, Oct. 18, the needs of persons with opens on Oct. 4, Respect about children before they are when he addresses the handicaps. life Sunday. bom, Nancy Wisdo writes in Knights of Columbus at their The Rosary for Life will be banquet in the Sheraton Inn, This year's celebration an introduction to this year's organized Saturday, Oct. 10, Respect Life Program, issued Wexford. will stress the Catholic following the 8:30 a.m. Campaign for Children and by the U.S. Bishops' Secretar­ The National Life Chain, Mass at St. Philip in Craf- highlight the U.S. Bishops' iat for Pro-Life Activities. which involves an ecumenical,' ton. A school presentation is statement, “Putting Children The bishops in late 1991 is­ peaceful gathering to show also set and anointing of the and Families First: A Chal­ sued the document on putting support for the right to life, sick is slated for Sunday, lenge for Our Church, Na­ children and families first, will be held Sunday, Oct. 4, in tion and World.” which Wisdo termed "a call for Pittsburgh and other area lo­ Oct. 11. For information call The diocese's department conversion and action — a cations. Other cities through­ Cathy Huth, 922-5081. of social awareness, headed spiritual and social reawaken­ out the U.S. will join in this At Holy Trinity in Moon by Marjorie Becker, has dis­ ing to the moral and human second annual observance. Run, Fr. Robert Herrmann tributed Respect Life Month costs of neglecting our chil­ Parishes will conduct will conduct Eucharistie ad­ material to' all parishes and dren and families. Project Life days, in which pa­ oration Sunday, Oct. 18, is encouraging them to “Such criticism blatantly ig­ rishioners are asked to stop from 2-4 p.m. in the church. sponsor special prayer ser­ nores the enormous contribu­ after Sunday Mass to sign For information call Adri­ vices and other events. The tion of the Catholic Church in cards expressing their con­ enne Hoffman, 787-1630. Jim Herrm ann photo office coordinates the work providing education, shelter, cern over various legislative Members of the newly of parish Respect Life health care, social services issues. formed Respect Life Com­ Catechetical Sunday Committees. and advocacy on behalf of At Assumption School in mittee at St. Maiy o f Mercy, Parishes throughout the diocese commemorated Catechetical “Parishes are also encour­ children and families in this Bellevue, Maiy Ann Bercini, Downtown, recently passed Sunday Sept. 20. Fr. Bernard M. Harcarik, pastor of St. Mary of aged to continue to keep the country and around the junior high religion teacher, is out Respect Life material fol­ .the Assumption Church, Glenshaw, blesses catechists during members of their congrega­ world," she added. overseeing Respect Life Month lowing all Masses. The infor­ installation ceremonies. The day marked the opening of the tions up to date on the legis­ This year's Respect Life cel­ activities for the children. The mation focused on promot­ junior high students will join Church's religious education year. lative issues that affect our ebration also emphasizes the ing action in public aware­ euthanasia debate, the abor­ in the Life Chain on Oct. 5 lives, and to conduct Project ness and education, pasto­ Life campaigns to alert our tion controversy, chastity as and participate in a walk- ral care and public policy elected officials to the im­ the “counter-cultural virtue," a-thon to benefit Meals on Over $320,000 collected awareness. portance of voting for and the duty of Catholics to Wheels Oct. 27. to aid hurricane victims PITTSBURGH — The dio- Tobin, diocesan general secre­ :ese has collected $320,000 to tary and vicar general. TV station experiences difficulties - Inside late for alleviating the suffer- The money will be sent in ng caused by Hurricane the very near future to the di­ during broadcast of bishop's show I c o n s Editorial. .......... .4 rndrew. ocese most affected by the Dr. Anne Capdeville-Nam is L etters................... .5 The money represents devastating storm. The entire PITTSBURGH — Technical sesquicentennial history, was an iconographer, practicing an Entertainment..................6 unds turned in by 240 par­ amount collected for hurri­ difficulties *at KDKA-TV on shown at 11:30 p.m. that day. art form and spiritual tradi­ Bible Q u iz.........................8 ities as of Sept. 18, from col­ cane relief will be sent, with Sept.