Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Sector of the Oblates of St. Joseph (USA Province) Christmas 2020 ContaCt InformatIon Oblates of St. Joseph Religious Residence and Chapel of St. Joseph 1880 Route 315 Highway - Pittston, PA 18640-6100 Telephone: (570) 654-7542 ~ Fax: (570) 654-8621 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.osjseminary.com Facebook: http://www.osjseminary.com 2020 Christmas Message Dear Friends of the Oblate Family, Last New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019, I well remember sitting on the chair in the living room of our provincial residence in Santa Cruz, CA, and watching the ceremonial ball drop from Times Square in New York City, ringing in a new year and a new decade, 2020. There was that “joyful expectation” in my heart pondering what the new year would bring to me personally, as well as for our country, our Church and our world. I offered a silent prayer while watching the jubilant celebration asking God to grant us a year of peace, joy and a renewed hope for our broken and torn world. Little did I or any of us imagine that just two months later we would be entrenched in a worldwide pandemic with the Coronavirus infecting the lives of millions of people and families in our country and throughout the world, bringing many to their mortal end. In a short time our world changed drastically as we were mandated to mask up, create social distance, live in isolation and no longer go about our daily routines. The harsh reality of our church doors being closed left us in a state of despair and a hungering for our Eucharistic Lord as often we took for granted our daily or weekend participation at Holy Mass, restricted now through viewing it on an impersonal television or computer screen. My friends, each of you has your story to tell with your own personal pain, sadness, worry and despair of this year, 2020. Our world and our lives have been shaken to the core as the effects of this pandemic will most likely change us forever. As I pen these words, the statistics and news reports are still staggering wondering if we will ever emerge. Despite this time of darkness and desolation, we, as disciples of Christ, are nevertheless challenged to live in “joyful hope”, trusting that God is with us (Emmanuel). All throughout salvation history, as recounted in the Bible, there were numerous situations on the world stage of calamity, war, destruction, immorality and decadence that could have easily disheartened anyone desiring to walk in the ways of the Lord; but, they trusted in Him, eloquently expressed in Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want...even though I walk through the valley of death, I fear no evil for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage.” It was the inspired words of this very psalm that sustained the Holy Spouses, Mary & Joseph, as they encountered numerous challenges in the early stages of their marriage and in bringing forth the Newborn Savior into our world. They faced hatred and rejection, abject poverty, the wrath of a despot king, forcing them to become refugees in a foreign land. The Holy Family, now more than ever, needs to be our strength and example. Let us embrace and mirror their faith, trusting in God in these dark and uncertain times as they were sustained from the Crib to the Cross, from Bethlehem to Calvary. Even during this holiday season we continue to feel the pain of separation from family and loved ones, but may we never feel our separation from God or allow any “distancing” from Him. It is my hope that during this Advent & Christmas season you will feel the gift of our love and prayers. The birth of the Christ Child gives us hope for a brighter tomorrow with healing, peace and unity. Let us lift up our hearts as the words of Shakespeare sums up my thoughts: “Now, God be praised, that to believing souls gives light in darkness, comfort in despair”. May your Christmas season be filled with a love and peace that the world cannot give, but can only come from the tender heart of our Newborn King. United in the Holy Family, Pictured above: left to right, seated: Father Paul A. McDonnell, OSJ Fr. Raymond Tabon, OSJ & Fr. Joseph Sibilano, OSJ. Standing: Fr. Paul McDonnell, OSJ & Fr. Jackson Pinhero, OSJ Rector Father Raymond Tabon, O.S.J. Celebrates 60th Anniversary Of Ordination to The Holy Priesthood Despite this year 2020 being a time of world crisis, there are still joys and blessings mixed in among all the fear, sickness and sorrow that the COVID pandemic has brought into our lives. As we near the end of this unforgettable year, we have cause to rejoice in the 60th anniversary of the priestly ordination of our beloved, FATHER RAYMOND TABON, OSJ. Father Ray is a native of the Philippines, born January 23,1929, completing his seminary formation and studies in both the Philippines and Italy. He was ordained an Oblate priest on December 17, 1960 in the chapel of the Missionary Fathers of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy, by His Excellency, Ettore Cunial. Father Ray has served in numerous capacities within the OSJ congregation throughout his sixty years of service, most notably as the international novice master in Italy from 1981 - 1986. Many of his novices are now serving in leadership positions within the congregation throughout the world. Our jubilarian also faithfully served in all of our former parishes within the Greater Pittston area: Our Lady of Mt. Carmel & St. Rocco’s, Pittston; St. Anthony of Padua, Exeter; and currently in residence at the Oblates of St. Joseph, Laflin. Fr. Ray is known for his availability to the people for the Sacrament of Confession and spiritual direction. He continues to be an inspiring example for his fellow Oblate confreres and the faithful because of his humility and deep spirit of prayer. Congratulations, Fr. Ray, and may Jesus, our Eternal High Priest, continue to bless you as His loving and faithful servant! Father Ray pictured with his seminary classmates in Rome, Italy. (left) “Do this in memory of Me.” (below) The newly ordained priest placing his hands over the gifts to be consecrated. (above) Father Ray offering one of his priestly blessings to one of our Oblate Benefactors. (right) Pictured above: left to right, seated: Fr. Raymond Tabon, OSJ & Fr. Joseph Sibilano, OSJ. Standing: Fr. Paul McDonnell, OSJ & Fr. Jackson Pinhero, OSJ Message from the Superior General of The Oblates of St. Joseph The Year of St. Joseph concludes December 8, 2020 Dear Confreres and Friends, In consideration of the current times marked by anxieties caused by the spread of the coronavirus and the threats to which families are exposed, and responding to the concern of the confreres, I decided to extend the celebration of the Year of St. Joseph until December 8, 2020. This date also marks the 150th anniversary of the Quemadmodum Deus decree (8.12.1870) with which Pope Pius IX proclaimed St. Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. It is our hope that, through our commitment and the intercession of the Patron of the Universal Church, the spirit of faith will be renewed and the world will find peace. St. Joseph “silent teacher fascinates, attracts and teaches not with words but with the shining testimony of his virtues and his firm simplicity” (Document of Aparecida, 274). His vocation is hidden in the light of the mystery of the incarnate Word, and which the Gospel between a few lines, trace his figure by passing. As the spouse of Mary and a father of Jesus, he participates closely in the work of the Redemption and through him, Jesus entered into the Davidic lineage and becomes the heir of the messianic promises. In the continuation of the Year of St. Joseph, the “Josephite lexicon”, that appears in the Gospels and which traces the vivid portrait of our Saint, should inspire us. The reading of this essential vocabulary favors spiritual growth and spurs our apostolate: • “Waking up from sleep” (Mt 1.24; 2.14) of the habit and opening our eyes to the essence of our vocation and mission. • “Getting up” (Mt 2:13; 20) from mediocrity or falling, means rising to take a path that it is impossible to do in sitting or lying down. • “Do not be afraid” (Mt 1,20) but trust in God even when he invites us to take steps that seem too big for us. • “To grow in age, wisdom and grace” (Lk 2.40), abandoning the comfort zone and living the vocation with gratitude and consistency. • “Doing” more than speaking, following the example of the one who without wandering and without twisting his nose “did” (Mt 1,24; 2,24) as the angel ordered him. •“Say yes” to God always also “in the night” (Mt 2:14) and not only sometimes and, mainly, “during the day”, that is, when it is comfortable. •“To become righteous” (Mt 1:19) by mending the day after day existence on the light of the Word of God. •“Guarding” (Mt 2, 14) one’s neighbor and creation without forgetting to guard one’s heart, inner life and contemplative silence. •“To seek Jesus” (Lk 2:44) in the Scripture, in the poor, in history and to have a fixed appointment to find him every day in the temple (cf. Lk 2:47). •”Calling Jesus” (Mt 1:21) means invoking his holy name and praying “ad invicem,” that is, for each other.