OCTOBER 12, 2012 VOLUME 48, NUMBER 19 INSIDE: Page 2: Diocesan Pro-Life Mass Page 5: Dinner casts net for seminarian support Page 6: A look at the Second Vatican Council Page 19: World Mission Sunday A PILGRIMAGE TO JESUS THROUGH MARY Solemn Pilgrimage Gathering Renews Young at National People’s Shrine Prepares Faith Too By Jen Reed Diocese for The Catholic Witness Year of Faith Teenagers Rebecca Cole, By Jen Reed Andrea DeJesus and Emeli The Catholic Witness Sosa stood at the base of the steps leading up to the magnif- In the Basilica of the Na- icent Basilica of the National tional Shrine of the Immac- Shrine of the Immaculate Con- ulate Conception in Wash- ception in Washington, D.C., ington, D.C., the Blessed bright-eyed and smiling from Mother seems to hold her ear to ear. children in her mantle. “I absolutely love this ba- Encircled by some 70 cha- silica!” Rebecca exclaimed, pels and oratories that grace as she looked up at America’s the nation’s preeminent Mar- Catholic Church, home to nu- ian shrine, one can almost merous chapels that give hon- feel Mary’s loving embrace or to Mary and her role in the as they sit in the pews of the faith of various ethnic commu- Great Upper Church or kneel nities. in adoration in the Crypt “I’ve been here before, but Church. have never attended a Mass All the while, Mary leads here, so I’m really looking for- the pilgrims in this holy ward to the day,” she said as sanctuary directly to her Son, morning sun splashed over the Jesus. grand basilica. And so it was fitting that, Rebecca, Andrea and Emeli, as the Church prepared to Girl Scouts from Troop 10968 enter into the Year of Faith in Harrisburg, were among a on Oct. 11, diocesan faithful number of Scouts who offered came on pilgrimage to the service to the diocesan faithful shrine, led by Bishop Joseph on pilgrimage to the basilica P. McFadden. Sept. 29. “As we gather in this beau- They were the first people tiful basilica, we come to to greet the pilgrims arriving honor Mary as our Mother. by car or stepping off of bus- It was from the cross that es chartered from across the Jesus gave Mary to us to be diocese, handing out program our Mother,” the bishop re- books and offering assistance marked in his homily, cel- and hospitality. ebrating Mass for the bus- For pilgrims, the sight of so loads and carloads of faithful many youth willingly giving who assembled there as a of their time and talents was community of faith. an encouraging sign. Just as Mary “accompa- “Young people are embrac- nied the Lord throughout his ing the faith. They’re taking human life on this earth as time out of their schedules to he accomplished the saving connect to the Church,” said work that his Father had sent Rich Groff, Youth Minister at him to do,” Bishop McFad- Holy Trinity and St. Peter Par- den said, “she accompanies ishes in Columbia and Direc- us as we make our pilgrim- tor of Religious Education at age through this life, moving St. Joseph Parish in Mechan- toward our eternal destiny icsburg. “It’s so important that with God our Father, his Son we affirm these young people Jesus Christ, and the Holy in all the good they’re doing, Spirit, the source and giver and in their faith.” of all life.” Affirmations certainly came The pilgrimage offered in the form of expressions Catholics an opportunity to of gratitude to the Scouts, renew their relationship with said Boy Scout Matthew Jesus and to commit them- McKenna, who remarked that selves to live their faith more EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS the Scouts were there as part Bishop Joseph P. McFadden stops to pray in the Chapel of Our Mother of Perpetual Help during the fully. diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washing- of their call to service. The day offered the Sac- ton, D.C. The bishop led the diocese in the pilgrimage on Sept. 29 in preparation for the Year of Faith, “The Boy Scouts are all More GATHERING, page 10 which began Oct. 11. More PILGRIMAGE, page 9 2 - THE CATHOLIC WITNESS, OCTOBER 12, 2012 Faith and Life Bishop McFadden Leads Faithful in Prayer at York Abortion Clinic CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS A stop sign by Planned Parenthood in York sends the message of the pro-life community as they’re led in prayer by the bishop. By Chris Heisey The Catholic Witness More than 300 faithful gathered for early morning Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph P. McFadden at Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in York on Satur- day, October 6. This month marks Respect Life observances, and Bishop McFadden led a sol- emn procession on a mile-long journey to the Planned Parenthood clinic where everyone gath- ered around him in earnest prayer and recitation of the rosary. In his homily, Bishop McFadden thanked all present for their daily devotion to promoting a culture of life. “There is a sadness to us coming together today that we must pray for a society to respect life…. God has placed a conscience in all of us and it never leaves us. Abortion is the Father Paul CB Schenck, Diocesan Director of Respect Life Activi- worst sin – it is the complete rejection of life…. ties and chairman of the National Pro-Life Action Center in Wash- Let us also ask God to makes us good witnesses ington, D.C., reaches out to Planned Parenthood supporters, invit- – that is so important today.” ing them to reconsider their ideas about abortion. Clergy, Knights of Columbus and lay faithful make their peaceful message clear. Parishes nationwide participate in the annual 40 Days for Life Campaign, which calls the pro-life community to prayer, vigil and community outreach. Visit Pro-life faithful gather to pray for a culture of life during Holy Mass celebrated by www.40daysforlife.com. Bishop Joseph P. McFadden at Immaculate Conception Church in York. OCTOBER 12, 2012, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS - 3 Local Church News Fight Continues for Religious Liberty From the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference Conflicts with religious liberty have dominated the news this year. The coercive Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate re- Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, quiring private health plans including religious institutions to cover con- Once again we have come to the month of October which is designated as “Respect Life traception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs received the most at- Month” in the United States by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. This month tention, but a church-state conflict over religious childcare ministries here has been celebrated every year since that dark day of January 22, 1973 when the Supreme Court in Pennsylvania is also important. upheld the lawful killing of children in their mothers’ wombs. This decision that has allowed the Under the current law, the state Department of Public Welfare (DPW) infanticide of millions of children since its proclamation has also ushered in an era of a deeper and has blank-check authority to regulate all aspects of a church’s pre-school deeper lack of respect for all human life in many corners of our world. We see this in the increasing teaching ministry, including curriculum. Senate Bill 1134 and House Bill instances of violence and abusive behavior which has risen dramatically in our neighborhoods to 2504 would correct this overreach. the point where many people no longer feel safe even in their own homes. We see an escalation in “Church-affiliated childcare facilities do not object to regulations relat- the introduction and passage of legislation in various States that will permit individuals to terminate ing to the health and safety of the children enrolled,” said Dr. Robert J. O’Hara, Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference their own lives or the life of another because of illness, sickness or frailty brought on by the aging (PCC), “but we do object to direct or indirect regulation of our program process. We see medical science encouraging the destruction of babies in the womb because of a content, lesson plans, and staff qualifications. Simply put, we want to pur- genetic defect that they believe make these children burdens on society. The experimentation in ge- sue our religious mission without unwarranted government intrusion.” netic engineering, which carried out ethically has the capacity for great good in dealing with some Unfortunately, religious liberty advocates will have to continue their of the chronic illnesses and diseases of the human person, is often being conducted in unethical fight into the New Year. Advocates can show their support by sending ways by creating and destroying the embryos of children all in the name of scientific advancement. messages to their legislators with the Catholic Advocacy Network at During this month, I want to remind every Catholic of the clear and certain teaching of the www.pacatholic.org. Catholic Church that every human life has its origin in God and consequently has value and worth and is to be respected from the moment of conception until natural death. This teaching requires us to protect human life at every moment and to be actively engaged in promoting a culture of life in our society and our world. LARC Day of Dialogue I am heartened by the number of individuals, both Catholic and Non-Catholic, who are actively engaged in the Pro-life movement.