The CatholicWitness The Newspaper of the Diocese of Harrisburg APRIL 17, 2015 VOL. 49 NO. 7 Mother Maria Kaupas Center Dedicated In the Footsteps of Religious Sisters EMILY M. ALBERT, THE CATHOLIC WITNESS Representatives of the Felician Sisters, the Sisters of St. Casimir, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sisters of Sts. Cyril and Methodius– four religious congregations that have served Divine Redeemer Parish in Mount Carmel and the parishes from which it was formed 20 years ago – present portraits of their foundresses during the dedication of the Mother Maria Kaupas Center on April 12. The center, located in Mount Carmel, will serve as a home base for several initiatives and programs that focus on community service. The center is named for Venerable Mother Maria Kaupas, a Lithuanian immigrant who formed the Sisters of St. Casimir in 1907 and ministered in Mount Carmel. See pages 8 and 9 for information on the center and the history of Mother Maria Kaupas. Pope: Year of Mercy Will be Father Menniti Remembered Time to Heal, to Help, to Forgive for Focus on Poor and Vulnerable By Cindy Wooden Francis handed copies of the docu- By Jen Reed did he help out at St. Pat- Catholic News Service ment to the archpriests of the major The Catholic Witness rick’s, but he was always basilicas of Rome and to Vatican of- generous with his priestly Mercy is what makes God perfect ficials representing Catholics around Father Daniel J. Menniti, ministry to any pastor that and all-powerful, Pope Francis said in the world. a priest of the Diocese of needed coverage. Even on his document officially proclaiming the Portions of the 9,300-word procla- Harrisburg for more than his death bed, he apolo- 2015-2016 extraordinary Holy Year of mation were read aloud before Pope 61 years, passed away on gized that he wasn’t able Mercy. Francis and his aides processed into April 9 after a short illness. to help out with his latest “If God limited himself to only jus- St. Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the He was 86. In his retire- commitment. tice, he would cease to be God, and first vespers of Divine Mercy Sun- ment in active ministry, he “I will always appreci- would instead be like human beings day. had been residing in Car- ate his willingness to help who ask merely that the law be respect- In his homily at vespers, the pope lisle. Father Daniel J. Menniti celebrate the sacraments ed,” the pope wrote in “Misericordiae said he proclaimed the Year of Mercy The funeral Mass was to wherever and whenever he Vultus,” (“The Face of Mercy”), which because “it is the favorable time to be celebrated April 17 at 11 a.m. at St. was needed. He was consistently gen- is the “bull of indiction” calling a Holy heal wounds, a time not to be weary Patrick Church in Carlisle by Bishop erous with his priestly gifts,” he said. Year to begin Dec. 8. of meeting all those who are waiting Ronald Gainer. Burial was to be in St. Daniel Menniti was born Sept. 11, Standing in front of the Holy Door to see and touch with their hands the Patrick’s Cemetery on McClure’s Gap 1928, to Mose and Rosina Menniti of of St. Peter’s Basilica April 11, Pope signs of the closeness of God, a time Road. Mount Carmel. He attended the Cath- to offer everyone Father William Forrey, pastor of St. olic Slovak Elementary School, and the way of for- Patrick’s, expressed his gratitude for Catholic secondary schools in Mount giveness and rec- Father Menniti’s generosity in consis- Carmel, and studied at St. Charles onciliation.” tently serving the faithful even in his Seminary in Philadelphia and the Pon- The boundless retirement years. tifical Gregorian University in Rome. nature of God’s “He was an incredible gift and asset He was ordained into the priesthood on mercy – his will- to the people of St. Patrick’s,” Father Dec. 19, 1953. ingness always to Forrey told The Catholic Witness. “He In 1954, Father Menniti completed forgive anything – would celebrate daily Masses, as well his Licentiate in Sacred Theology and More MERCY, page 12 as weddings and baptisms. Not only More FATHER MENNITI, page 12 The 2 - Catholic Witness • April 17, 2015 World Youth Day 2016 in Poland Will Offer ‘Message of Mercy By Jonathan Luxmoore Beginning in July, a fleet of yellow “dream bus- “activating effect” on young people in Poland. Catholic News Service es,” chartered by young Catholics at Poland’s Kal- “The young have been leaving the Church here waria Zebrzydowska Marian sanctuary, is to travel – we need some shock, some impulse, to halt and A new airport, improved road and rail links, a fleet throughout Europe to publicize the celebration. reverse this trend,” Father Kijowski told KAI, Po- of dream buses and “Youth Bible” are among fea- Meanwhile, a World Youth Day cross, made in land’s Catholic information agency. tures projected for the Catholic Church’s 14th inter- national celebration of World Youth Day in Krakow, 1983, has been taken to the Jasna Gora national “I wouldn’t want to suggest we’re working out Poland, in 2016. sanctuary and the former Nazi concentration camp some vision for a Christian Poland, but we want to “It’s still 16 months to go, but the planning is well at Auschwitz. It was to tour Poland until the festival. initiate certain processes which will continue after advanced,” said Msgr. Bronislaw Fidelus, a co-orga- Father Tomasz Kijowski, World Youth Day the World Youth Day, instead of ending when the nizer of the event scheduled for July 26-Aug. 1. spokesman, predicted the event would also have an pope flies out.” “There’s huge interest abroad, and we’ve already registered large Church groups from the U.S., Eu- rope and Latin America. We’re sure the theme of Divine Mercy, chosen specially by the pope, will World Youth Day create a real openness to Christ among young par- ticipants,” Msgr. Fidelus said. Krakow, Poland World Youth Day organizers expect the 13th in- ternational event will attract more than 2 million people from around the world. July 23-August 1, 2016 Msgr. Fidelus said the program was approved March 13 by a Vatican delegation under Cardinal “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for Laity, adding that the Polish church counted on A promising spiritual journey of faith for youth ages 16-18 and their chaperones, and for young adults the five-day event to renew the faith among young ages 18-35. Catholics everywhere. Meanwhile, a Krakow official said work was un- A retreat experience in Poland July 24-26 derway to expand the city’s communication and • Czestochowa, home of the Pauline Monastery on transport network and road and rail links with Eu- top of Jasna Gorga Mountain and the image of Our rope as well as to renovate local schools to accom- Lady known as the Black Madonna modate pilgrims. “Having hosted several pilgrimages by the late • Auschwitz, the Nazi Concentration Camp and the cell of St. Maximilian Kolbe St. John Paul II to his home city, Krakow is well equipped and prepared for large-scale events like • Auschwitz II, where Edith Stein was put to death for this,” Filip Szatanik, spokesman for the Krakow being born Jewish and joining the Catholic Church City Council, told Catholic News Service. • Lagiewnki, home of St. Faustina’s Shrine of Divine Mercy “It’s also a great church city, full of sacral buildings • Wadowice, the birthplace of St. John Paul II and objects and closely linked to Poland’s Christian history. We can count especially on this side of its • Wieliczka, the site of the Underground Salt Cathedral character to make this a major promotional oppor- tunity,” he said. World Youth Day in Krakow July 26-31 with Pope Francis Launched by St. John Paul II in 1985, World Youth • Daily Mass and catechesis sessions Day is celebrated annually on a local level and every two or three years with an international gathering • Tours of historical sites, cultural programs and exhibitions with the pope. • Walking tours of Krakow in the footsteps of St. John Paul II Krakow was announced as the 2016 venue by • Stations of the Cross and the Sacrament of Reconciliation Pope Francis at the last World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. • Prayer services and addresses by the Holy Father World Youth Day will have the theme, “Blessed • World Youth Day Vigil Mass with Pope Francis, and an overnight camp out are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Mat- thew 5:7), and will follow April 2016 church-state • Sending Forth Mass with the Holy Father and clergy from around the world celebrations of the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s Christian conversion. Cost is $3,949 per person (does not include WYD fees or travel insurance), based on two or three Pope Francis is scheduled to lead a televised Way persons per room. of the Cross procession from the city’s Divine Mer- For more information, a complete itinerary and a payment schedule, contact Virginia Pereira at 717- cy Sanctuary, followed by a prayer vigil on youth is- 657-4804, ext. 327, or [email protected], or visit www.hbgdiocese.org/youth-and-young-adults/. sues near the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and a final Mass in Krakow’s Blonia Park. The World Youth Day website said the festival Local World Youth Day Events Open to All would feature a tent museum with Vatican exhibits and concerts and exhibitions at more than 100 loca- WYD 2016 Kick-Off Mass, and tions, as well as “wayside catechesis” sessions in 30 One Year until the WYD Papal Mass, languages and a “reconciliation zone” with several to include Catholic Youth Experience (CYX) hundred confessionals.