The CatholicWitness The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg February 17, 2017 Vol. 51 No. 3 Heal us, Loving Lord CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Sts. Cyril and Methodius Sister Madonna Figura is anointed by Bishop Ronald Gainer at the Danville State Hospital during the Sacrament of Anointing liturgy held there on February 11 – the annual World Day of the Sick Bishops Launch Letter Campaign Urging Trump to Protect Religious Freedom By Carol Zimmermann and “a lot of things that the president has talked about U.S. should mean “people should be able to practice Catholic News Service and will continue to fulfill, but we have nothing on that their religion, express their religion, express areas of front now.” their faith without reprisal.” Saying “religious freedom in America has suffered A White House official told ABC News that the leaked “And I think that pendulum sometimes swings the years of unprecedented erosion,” the U.S. Catholic bish- draft on religious freedom is one of hundreds of circulat- other way in the name of political correctness,” he ops have posted an online letter for Catholics to send to ing orders that were either written by the transition team added. President Donald Trump urging him to sign an executive or the White House. The four-page draft has raised concerns among order promoting religious freedom. those who said it would legalize discrimination and The letter, found at www.votervoice.net/USCCB/ Although Spicer did not elaborate on the leaked docu- More CAMPAIGN, page 6 Campaigns, says the president can “restore the federal ment, he told reporters that freedom of religion in the government’s respect for the religious freedom of indi- viduals and organizations” with an executive order that establishes a “government-wide initiative to respect reli- Celebrating Catholic Schools gious freedom.” Individuals can sign the letter and hit a link to submit it to Trump. A leaked draft version of a potential religious freedom order was circulating in the media and among federal staff and advocacy groups at the end of January. When JEN REED, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer was asked THE CATHOLIC WITNESS about the draft Jan. 30, he said he would not get “ahead Alex Giorgione of St. Catherine Labouré of the executive orders that we may or may not issue.” School in Harrisburg He noted that there have been a lot of executive actions bows his head in prayer during Mass that Bishop Ronald Gainer celebrated there during Catholic Schools Week. See page 8 for additional coverage of the visit, and look through this edition for more news on our schools. The 2 - Catholic Witness • February 17, 2017 On World Day of the Sick, Bishop Gainer Brings Love of Christ to Hospital Patients By Jen Reed dividual, and sacred Chrism is marked in The Catholic Witness the sign of the cross on their foreheads and palms. “The precious fruits of this solicitude for According to the Catechism of the Cath- the world of suffering and sickness are a olic Church, “The first grace of this sac- reason for gratitude to the Lord Jesus, who rament is one of strengthening, peace and out of obedience to the will of the Father courage to overcome the difficulties that became one of us, even enduring death on go with the condition of serious illness or the cross for the redemption of humanity. the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift The solidarity shown by Christ, the Son of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and of God born of Mary, is the expression faith in God and strengthens against the of God’s merciful omnipotence, which is temptations of the evil one, the temptation made manifest in our life – above all when to discouragement and anguish in the face that life is frail, pain-filled, humbled, mar- of death. This assistance from the Lord by ginalized and suffering – and fills it with the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the the power of hope that can sustain us and sick person to healing of the soul, but also enable us to get up again.” ~ Pope Fran- of the body if such is God’s will. Further- cis’ message for the 25th World Day of the more, ‘if he has committed sins, he will be Sick, 2017 forgiven” (1520). Established by St. John Paul II and first th celebrated in 1993, the World Day of the In his message for this 25 observance Sick calls the faithful to pray in a special CHRIS HEISEY, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS of the World Day of the Sick, Pope Fran- way for those suffering from illness, and Bishop Gainer lays hands on Thomas Bickert of Shamokin who is a patient at cis remarked, “The gaze of Mary, Comfort for their families and caregivers. The day Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. of the Afflicted, brightens the face of the Church in her daily commitment to the is observed on Feb. 11, the Feast of Our Bernadette that the faithful must continue their vocation. suffering and those in need. The precious Lady of Lourdes. In establishing the World Day of Prayer to pray for the conversion of sinners, and On this year’s 25th observation of the fruits of this solicitude for the world of suf- for the Sick on the Feast of Our Lady of that we can be co-redeemers with Christ if fering and sickness are a reason for grati- World Day of the Sick, Bishop Ronald Lourdes in 1991, St. John Paul II called the we unite our suffering to his. Gainer visited Geisinger Medical Center tude to the Lord Jesus, who out of obedi- Church to observe it as a special time of Our Lady also instructed Bernadette, in Danville and Danville State Hospital, ence to the will of the Father became one who suffered from asthma, to “Drink of where he celebrated the Sacrament of the offering one’s suffering for the good of the of us, even enduring death on the cross for Anointing of the Sick for a number of pa- Church, and reminding the faithful to see the waters.” Though no water was appar- the redemption of humanity. The solidarity tients. At Geisinger Medical Center, he the “face of the suffering Christ” in those ent, Bernadette dug down into the mud shown by Christ, the Son of God born of also celebrated Holy Mass. who are ill. and revealed a stream that emanated from Mary, is the expression of God’s merciful World Day of the Sick is an opportu- The day is attached to the Feast of Our a fountain. Today, that miraculous water omnipotence, which is made manifest in nity to reflect on the needs of the sick and Lady Lourdes, which commemorates continues to flow, and millions of pilgrims our life – above all when that life is frail, the suffering. It is also an occasion for the Blessed Mother’s appearances to the visit Lourdes each year to receive healings pain-filled, humbled, marginalized and those who care for the sick – including young, impoverished and uneducated Ber- of body, mind and spirit. suffering – and fills it with the power of family members, health care profession- nadette in Lourdes, France, in 1858. Dur- During the Sacrament of the Anointing hope that can sustain us and enable us to als and volunteers – to give thanks for ing one of those 18 apparitions, Mary told of the Sick, a prayer is prayed over the in- get up again.” Above: A patient at the Danville State Hospital is anointed by Bishop Gainer during the Sacrament of Anointing liturgy on February 11. Left: Mary Lou Olley of Elysburg, a patient at Geisinger Medical Center, is anoint- ed by Bishop Gainer. The bell choir of Saint Joseph’s Church, Danville, provides beautiful musical rendition, during Holy Mass celebrated in Geisinger Medical Center’s research Bishop Gainer anoints Sts. Cyril and Methodius Sister Deborah Marie Borneman facility. More than 125 faithful, hospital administrators and staff attended the liturgy at Danville’s State Hospital. Many of our fellow sisters attended the liturgy at the celebrated by Bishop Gainer. hospital. The February 17, 2017 • Catholic Witness - 3 Catholics, Protestants Release Bible translations in Joint Service By Zita Fletcher Catholic News Service Five centuries after the start of the Protestant Reformation, leaders of the Catholic and Lutheran churches came together in a demonstration of unity to release new Bible translations. At an ecumenical service at St. Eberhard’s Catholic Cathedral, clergy from both churches gathered to release revised German translations of the Catholic and Lutheran Bibles. The release came as the 500th anniversary of the Reformation neared. It began in 1517 when theologian Martin Luther developed his 95 Theses challenging long-held Catholic practices. Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, president of the Ger- man bishops’ conference, emphasized the sacred Scriptures as a strong bond shared by Catholics and Protestants. “It is an effervescent fountain,” Cardinal Marx said of the Bible. “The water drawn from it does not decrease, but increases. The more we debate the Holy Scriptures, the more we experience the mystery of Christ.” During the last year, the Catholic and Lutheran translations of the Bible JEN REED, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Two men were accepted as candidates in the diocese’s Permanent Diaconate Forma- were subjected to thorough review and revision. A group of 200 people tion Program during a Mass with the Rite of Admission to Candidacy for Holy Orders from both churches participated in the revision process. celebrated by Bishop Ronald Gainer on Feb. 4 at St.