Summer 2009 Paulist Fathers: Giving the Gospel a Voice Today Vol. 14 No. 3 WHAT’S LAITY: Associates explore Paulist charism ............ 3 BIG QUESTION: Fr. Desiderio begins new ministry ...6 HAPPENING: GOOD NEWS: Proclaiming Christ 2009 is on ........... 4 SERVICE: Paulist serves God and country in Navy .... 7 President’s Message Celebrating the Paulist mission The Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan has been the site of many celebrations during its 151-year history, but not many could rank as high as the liturgy on the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul on June 28, which officially closed the Holy Year of St. Paul the Apostle. During the homily, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, papal representative to the United Nations, spoke of the rich legacy of faith given to us by Paulist Today/Stefani Manowski our patron and the Archbishop Celestino Migliore, papal nuncio to the United Nations (center) is joined on the altar by Paulist example provided by priests during a Mass commemorating the conclusion of the Holy Year of St. Paul June 28 at the Church of St. our founder, Servant Paul the Apostle in New York. of God Father Isaac Hecker, CSP. In this issue of Paulist Today, we see Holy Year of St. Paul ends examples of the Paulist community in Church of St. Paul hosts celebration weekend in New York action, continuing St. Paul’s legacy and living out the mission given to us by By Stefani Manowski by Pope Benedict XVI officially ran Father Hecker more than a century and from June 28, 2008 to June 29, 2009 to a half ago. The Holy Year of St. Paul the Apostle commemorate the 2,000th anniversary The Paulist Associates, laymen and came to a prayerful and joyous of the birth of the apostle to the gentiles. women committed to enfleshing the completion as papal nuncio to the United “What have we learned about St. Paul Paulist charism in their daily lives, gathered in June for a retreat in Columbus, Ohio. Nations Archbishop Celestino Migliore from this holy year?” the archbishop It was a time of prayer, faith sharing celebrated Mass commemorating the asked during the homily. “The event and delving deeper into the work and feast of Ss. Peter and Paul June 28 at [in Damascus gave Paul] a totally new meaning of the three-pronged Paulist the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in vision of life, of his life. … Looking at Continued on Page 2 Manhattan. The holy year declared Continued on page 2 Washington, D.C. Washington, Giving the Gospel a Voice Today Voice a Gospel the Giving Paulist Fathers Paulist Permit #919 Permit Washington, D.C., 20017 D.C., Washington, PAID 3015 Fourth Street NE Street Fourth 3015 North American Paulist Center Paulist American North Office for Media Relations Media for Office U.S. Postage U.S. PAULIST FATHERS PAULIST Non-Profit Org. Non-Profit 2 Paulist Today - Summer 2009 NY festivities end holy year Continued from page 1 life with the eyes and mind of Jesus meant everything and everybody looked new to him. “Jesus trusted Paul with the highest task: to witness to him,” Archbishop Migliore continued. “What can we learn from St. Paul today? Like St. Paul, we can not ignore the forces of culture that challenge us. It is our culture; we need to engage it. … There is no greater Paulist Today/Stefani Manowski gift of love that exists than sharing the Father Gilbert Martinez, pastor of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York, welcomes the hundreds of truth with others.” people gathered June 26 for an evening of music, dance, Scripture and reflection to begin the weekend of About a dozen Paulist priests were festivities marking the end of the Holy Year of St. Paul. on hand to concelebrate the Mass, defines the Paulist charism, Father director of music at St. Paul; “The Color including Paulist president Father Duffy was joined in the chanted vespers of Rain sung by Broadway performer John F. Duffy. The church of St. Paul of the solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul Kevin Greene; dance performed to the Apostle was founded by Servant of by the Episcopal Monks of Holy Cross Vivaldi’s “Concerto D minor” by Shayne God Father Isaac T. Hecker, CSP, and Monastery on the evening of June 29. Staley and Brandon Mason; Dorsey’s has continued under the pastoral care The Masses and vespers were the famous “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” of the Paulists for 151 years. highlights of an entire weekend of sung by Broadway performer Terry A second Mass to end the Holy Year celebrations to end the holy year. Burrell; a reading of St. Paul’s letter to the was celebrated that evening at St. Paul, The Church of St. Paul the Apostle Colossians by actress Florencia Lozano; celebrated by Father Jerome Murphy concluded its series of readings of the a reflection by St. Paul pastor Father O’Connor, OP, who followed Mass with letters of St. Paul June 26. The evening Gilbert Martinez, CSP; with “Comments a talk titled, “The Story of St. Paul.” included Bach’s “Fugue in E flat” by Father Isaac Hecker, CSP” performed In the spirit of ecumenism that performed by Cleveland Kersh, interim by actor Adam Kyle Harper. New, historic Paulist ministries keep charism shining brightly Continued from Page 1 reading the signs of the times by studies at the Catholic University of mission: evangelization, reconciliation and preparing an online conference titled, America and reside at St. Paul’s College, interfaith and ecumenical dialogue. By “Proclaiming Christ 2009: Sharing the both in Washington, D.C. the end of the weekend, the 66 associates Gift of Our Catholic Faith.” Coming I ask your prayers for these men, and attending were even more inspired to help this fall and on the heels of the first for the new novice class assembling at “build a future brighter than any past.” online conference in 2008, this apostolic St. Paul’s at the end of the summer. And This edition of Paulist Today also initiative aims to give people on the may we thank the Lord not just for the includes stories about a ministry in which diocesan and parish levels the skills to Paulists but for all the women and men various Paulists have engaged over the evangelize effectively. who in various ways carry on the vision years as we meet Navy chaplain Father The Paulists are being enriched of Father Hecker throughout North Tom Hall, CSP; and a new initiative as as three men – Craig Campbell, Yao America and beyond. Father Frank Desiderio leaves Paulist “Jimmy” Hsu and Anthony Rosado – Productions to begin a reconciliation complete their novitiate year by making ministry based on the film “The Big their First Promises as a Paulist Aug. 1; Question: A Film About Forgiveness.” they will now continue their process The Paulist National Catholic of discernment of a possible call to Very Rev. John F. Duffy, CSP Evangelization Association is again the priesthood as they begin academic President of the Paulist Fathers Published by Contact Us Missionary Society Phone: 202-269-2521 of St. Paul the Apostle Web: www.paulist.org Office for Media Relations E-mail: [email protected] Paulist Today 3015 Fourth Street NE Editor and Production Washington, D.C. 20017 Stefani Manowski Paulist Fathers Giving the Gospel a Voice Today Paulist Today - Summer 2009 3 Associates explore Paulist charism By Stefani Manowski “We come here with a spiritual thirst because we are called,” session leader Katherine Murphy-Mertzlufft, a They came from the four corners of North America Columbus associate of nine years, shared with the group. because they were called. They were called to be, called to reach out, called to bring peace and called to unity. Called to reach out This common call is what drew 66 Paulist Associates The sessions that followed focused on the three main for a weekend retreat June 12-14 to the St. Therese Retreat parts of the Paulist charism, the first being evangelization. Center in Columbus, where Focusing on the writings of the Paulist Fathers staff the St. Paul and Father Hecker, St. Thomas More Newman the retreatants pondered Center at The Ohio State in large and small groups University. about reaching out in faith. “This is our time,” said Session team member Father Frank DeSiano, Karl Brown shared with the CSP, director of the Paulist group, “We all have gifts we Associates. “This is our time can share, gifts that can be to connect with (Paulist an extension of ourselves. founder) Father Isaac … We find our mission Hecker, to find out how his and hope I being with spirituality resonates within others. We are all called our own hearts, and how we to evangelizers, to openly can be a gift to the Paulist engage in discussion community as Paulist with others what is truly Associates.” important to me and my The Paulist Associates faith.” were formed in 1998 in order to allow lay people, Called to bring peace including non-Catholic “St. Paul is considered the Christian men and women, apostle of reconciliation,” to have a more intimate said session leader Bob connection with Paulist Cannon. “So as Paulist spirituality and charism by Paulist Today/Stefani Manowski Associates, we are called to making a commitment to Terry and Ralph Modica, Paulist Associates from Florida, participate in a reflection proclaim the Good News embody the ideals of the ritual during the Paulist Associates retreat held June 12-14 in Columbus, OH. with our daily lives, within Paulists in their daily living.