The Steubenville www.diosteub.org REGISTER VOL. 76, NO. 24 SERVING 13 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST OHIO JULY 23, 2021 Bishop names Father Erickson vocations director Official Diocese of Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton assigned Permanent Deacon Stephen T. Frezza to serve as deacon at the Wintersville parishes of Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady of Lourdes. The temporary assignment is in effect until Nov. 30. Deacon Frezza will remain incardinated in the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, during his temporary assignment. News Briefs Artwork depicts Divine Mercy Father Joshua D. Erickson, pictured in the left photo, is the new director of vocations for the Diocese of Steubenville, replacing Father Michael W. Gossett, pictured in the right photo. (Photo by DiCenzo; file photo) By Matthew A. DiCenzo Father Gossett, who is pastor of Blessed Sacrament and Staff writer Our Lady of Lourdes parishes, Wintersville, reflected on his ST. CLAIRSVILLE — On July 1, Father Joshua D. tenure as director of vocations, stating: “I didn’t fully know Erickson began two new assignments. He was appointed what I was getting into when Bishop Monforton asked me to by Steubenville Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton to serve as be the director of vocations. I was excited to speak about the parochial vicar to Father Thomas A. Chillog, pastor of St. priesthood and do what I could to encourage young men in Mary Parish, St. Clairsville, and St. Frances Cabrini Parish, our diocese to think about the possibility. The actual assign- Colerain, and director of vocations for the Diocese of ment was much more challenging, but also more important Steubenville. than I initially knew.” As director of vocations, Father Erickson replaces Father Father Gossett said it was a “privilege” getting to know the Michael W. Gossett. Father Gossett served as director for seminarians and “to see them be ordained.” He added, “I will nearly seven years. To Page 3 Pope accepts resignation of Bishop Roger Foys WASHINGTON (CNS) — Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Roger J. Foys of Covington, Kentucky, and named as his successor Father John C. Iffert, currently vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Artwork depicting the Divine Mercy is Belleville, Illinois. pictured at St. Anthony’s Church in North “Bishop-elect Iffert comes to a diocese of dedicated priests, Beach, Maryland, July 15. (CNS photo/Bob deacons, consecrated religious and devoted lay faithful. I am Roller) confident that he will receive a warm welcome as he takes up his ministry among us. For my part, I pledge him my Two church statues are destroyed prayerful support and loyalty as a brother bishop and I look QUEENS, N.Y. (CNS) — Two religious statues forward to his leadership among us,” said Bishop Foys. displayed outside Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Bishop Foys was ordained in 1973 at Holy Name Church in the New York borough of Queens Cathedral, Steubenville, by Bishop John King Mussio. were destroyed in an act of vandalism in the early He served the Diocese of Steubenville for nearly 30 years, morning hours of July 17. including 20 years as vicar general from 1982-2002. (Courtesy/Twitter photo) The damaged statues included one of Mary Some of Bishop Foys’ assignments in the Steubenville Bishop Roger J. Foys and one of St. Therese Lisieux, known as “the Diocese included pastor of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Bishop-designate Iffert “brings a wonderful background in Little Flower.” A news release from the Diocese Joseph parishes, Toronto; Servants of Christ the King ministry” as well as a “great pastoral heart” and “excellent of Brooklyn said the statues were dragged 180 Fellowship Parish, Steubenville; Christ the King Mission, pastoral experience” in succeeding Bishop Foys, he said. feet from the church across, where they were Tappan Lake; St. Matthias Mission, Freeport; and Nativity Archbishop Kurtz said Bishop Foys “has served northern smashed with a hammer. Earlier in the week, on of Our Lord Mission, Hammondsville. Kentucky with great distinction, and I join with the bishops the evening of July 14, the statues “were toppled He was also the diocesan finance officer, moderator of the of the province in thanking him for his leadership and col- over but were not damaged,” the diocese said. curia, vicar for priests, coordinator of the Diocesan/Parish laboration since 2002.” “The individual involved in both acts of van- Share Campaign and director of the Office of Vocations. The bishops of the province of Louisville, which includes dalism is believed to be the same person. Both Bishop Foys, who has headed the Diocese of Covington for Kentucky and Tennessee, “have a great fraternity,” he added, of these statues have stood in front of the church the past 19 years, is 75, the age at which canon law requires and together welcome Bishop-designate Iffert and “promise since it was built” in 1937, said Father Frank bishops to turn in their resignation to the pope. The bishop him and Bishop Foys our prayerful support.” Schwarz, pastor. “It is heartbreaking, but sadly turns 76 July 27. The 53-year-old bishop-designate was ordained a priest for it is becoming more and more common these The changes were announced July 13 in Washington by the Belleville Diocese in 1997, by Bishop Wilton D. Gregory. days,” he said in a statement. “I pray that this Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio. Father Iffert will be ordained and installed as the bishop recent rash of attacks against Catholic churches Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, of Covington Sept. 30 in the Cathedral Basilica of the and all houses of worship will end, and religious welcomed the appointment of a new shepherd for the state Assumption in Covington. tolerance may become more a part of our society.” “with great joy.” The Diocese of Covington serves about 90,000 Catholics. 2 THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER JULY 23, 2021 After being released from hospital, Pope Francis prays at Rome basilica By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Ten days after undergoing intestinal surgery, Pope Francis was released from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican confirmed. In a statement released July 14, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said that after leaving the hospital midmorning, the pope visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major to say a prayer of gratitude before the icon of “Salus Populi Romani” (health of the Roman people). The pope thanked Mary “for the success of his surgery and offered a prayer for all the sick, especially those he had met during his stay in hospital,” the statement said. After praying at the basilica, the pope returned to his Vatican residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Bruni said. The pope was admitted to Gemelli hospi- Pope Francis prays in front of the tal in the early afternoon July 4 to undergo Marian icon “Salus Populi Romani” “a scheduled surgical intervention for a Pope Francis greets police officers before entering the Vatican after being at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital following his recovery from colon Rome July 14. The pope visited the colon.” surgery in this screengrab taken from a video July 14. (CNS photo/Cristiano basilica after his release from the He underwent a three-hour left Corvino, Reuters TV screengrab) hospital. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) hemicolectomy, which is the removal of the descending part of the colon, a surgery that his medical and rehabilitation therapy.” important good health care is” and that Francis visited Gemelli’s pediatric oncol- can be recommended to treat diverticulitis, During his stay, the pope continued free, universal health care, especially for ogy ward, which also is on the 10th floor, when bulging pouches in the lining of the working and spent time visiting patients the most vulnerable, is a “precious benefit and greeted the young patients, their fami- intestine or colon become inflamed or at the hospital. (that) must not be lost.” lies and the staff. infected. In his Sunday Angelus address July 11 “It needs to be kept,” the pope said. “And While Pope Francis usually takes July Initially expected to remain in the hospi- from the 10th floor balcony of his suite of for this, everyone needs to be committed as his vacation month, the pontiff led the tal for seven days, the Vatican said July 12 rooms at the hospital, Pope Francis said because it helps everyone and requires recitation of the Angelus July 18 and will that the pope would “remain hospitalized his time in the hospital gave him the op- everyone’s contribution.” celebrate Mass July 25, the first World Day for a few more days in order to optimize portunity to experience “once again how The evening before his release, Pope for Grandparents and the Elderly. Pope Francis prays for victims of German floods as death toll rises By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis of- fered prayers and expressed his closeness with the people of Germany after severe flooding in the western part of the coun- try claimed the lives of nearly 200 people as of July 19. “His Holiness remembers in prayer those who lost their lives and expresses to their families his deepest sympathy,” said a telegram sent by Cardinal Pietro Paro- lin, Vatican secretary of state, to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. “He prays especially for those who are still missing, for the injured and for those who have suffered damage or lost their property due to the forces of nature,” said the message, which was released by the Vatican July 15. A series of severe rainstorms also struck other countries in Europe, including Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland and Luxembourg, causing massive flooding and mudslides that leveled homes and buildings.