Cleveland Catholic bishop and breakaway congregation continue talks

Members of the Community of St. Peter take communion during a Sunday Mass. Catholic Bishop Richard Lennon says the group has separated itself from the governance of the diocese. The community says it was forced away.Plain Dealer file

CLEVELAND, Ohio –Talks continue between Bishop Richard Lennon of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and representatives of the Community of St. Peter, a congregation that left the diocese after the bishop closed their church.

The two sides met earlier this month to discuss the community’s secession and the setting up of its own worship space in a renovated warehouse, actions that led to the excommunication in March of the group’s pastor, the Rev. Robert Marrone.

During the 11/2-hour meeting on May 3, Lennon told the representatives — members of the community’s board of trustees — that Catholic worship outside the authority of the diocese is a violation of church teachings, according to a report of the meeting in the community’s recent newsletter.

Trustees and the bishop agreed to keep details of the meeting private. But The Plain Dealer obtained a copy of the newsletter sent to update members of the congregation.

The report quoted Lennon as saying, “joining in the liturgy at the community is not evil, but it is not an act in union with the Catholic church and was outside the authority of the bishop.”

The bishop, according to the report, continued, “in Catholic theology, communion with the bishop is vital as the bishop is the direct successor of the Apostles.”

The newsletter reported that the trustees were presenting the bishop’s statements to the community for feedback and a collective response to the bishop sometime in June. No date has been set for the next meeting with Lennon.

The meeting was the first between Lennon and the trustees since he closed their church, St. Peter Catholic Church, in downtown Cleveland in 2010 as part of a diocesewide downsizing.

That same year, Marrone and more than 300 St. Peter’s parishioners, determined to stay together and keep their priest, set up a nonprofit group, the Community of St. Peter, and rented commercial space in a century-old building on Euclid Avenue at East 71st Street.

They have been celebrating Sunday Mass, baptisms and other sacraments in the space since then, despite warnings from Lennon that their salvation was at stake.

About five months after the breakaway church formed, Lennon threatened Marrone with punishment through church law, saying he must cease his unauthorized Masses and resign from the community.

Faced with remaining faithful to his congregation or to his bishop, Marrone wrote to Lennon: “It is my decision to remain in my present position with the Community of St. Peter.”

When Marrone read the letter during a Mass, the congregation of more than 300 jumped to its feet in applause and shouts of “Bravo!”

In March, Lennon declared Marrone excommunicated, saying “Father Marrone’s recent actions have been in direct defiance of the church’s teachings and authority.”

Marrone did not publicly respond to the bishop’s declaration. He could not be reached Monday to discuss the meeting between his board and Lennon. A spokesman for the diocese had said earlier that the bishop would not talk publicly about the meeting.

In his excommunication edict, Lennon referred to Marrone’s congregation as “a group which has separated itself from the governance of the Diocese of Cleveland.”

But community members dispute that and take issue with being described as a breakaway community.

During the meeting with Lennon one trustee told the bishop, “We are not a breakaway community, but rather a thrown-away community,” the newsletter said. “We do not have dispute with Catholic doctrine or teaching.”

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: momalley@plaind.com, 216-999-4893

Class of 2013: Graduates ready for college

Students graduating from Catholic high schools will be ready for the challenges they face in college. (Photo illustration by Mick Welsh/CATHOLIC SUN)

Nearly 1,100 students are expected to graduate from the six local Catholic high schools this month. They will do so wholly prepared for higher education, grounded in their Catholic faith and instilled with a desire to serve their community.

“I believe our schools are ‘Catholic’ first,” said MaryBeth Mueller, superintendent of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Phoenix.

“Our schools provide a rich Catholic culture and environment which fosters the student’s learning in their faith and academics, as well as offering the student a wide range of service activities and co-curricular offerings such as athletics, drama, student council, retreats, and clubs,” she said.

Administrators agreed.

“In a nutshell, it’s the environment, the expectations and the teachers,” said David Sorkin, assistant principal at Seton Catholic Preparatory High School in Chandler.

Local Catholic school graduates tend to leave with two to 10 credits above the state requirement. Carol Caruso, college counselor and chair of the counseling department at Bourgade Catholic High School, pointed to the partnership between the schools and the parents.

She noted that peers and faculty members also encourage students to do their best and to strive for the best higher education that they can attain.

“Not going to college would not be acceptable,” said Andrea Gonzalez, a Bourgade student.

She is among the 60 percent of her peers who are first-generation college-bound students in their families. Gonzalez plans to use college, and possibly graduate-level work in clinical psychology, as a stepping stool to becoming more successful.

Classmate Jake Lambros, a life-long Catholic school student, has a similar mindset.

“I kept thinking about a degree and what a college degree does for you in terms of job offers,” said Lambros, who plans to study business administration. “I want to be able to have a stable, successful job.”

Catholic school seniors are also encouraged to take ownership of their futures. The “College 101” class at Bourgade even goes as far as teaching students how to do laundry and grocery shop for the best deals.

Brophy College Preparatory upholds its commitments to forming students for that next step through their “Graduate at Graduation” or “Grad at grad” profile. Administrators expect graduates to be intellectually competent, religious, loving, committed to doing justice and open to growth.

St. Mary’s High School operates with a similar mindset, providing not just information to pass a test, but formation to know and love the truth.

“Students graduating from St. Mary’s High School are prepared for college through our commitment to virtue formation, ensuring the discipline necessary to excel in all aspects of academic and professional life,” a statement from school administration said.

Some 99 percent of local Catholic school graduates pursue higher education.

Michael Fernandez, a 2008 alum of Notre Dame Preparatory, earned a degree in International Marketing and Global Business from the University of Arizona May 10. He went there on full scholarship and recently told his father that the years of tough finances and long commutes to his Catholic high school were completely worthwhile. Fernandez insisted his father track down his high school counselor to say “thank you.”

Notre Dame recognized 42 seniors for success in the Summa Cum Laude and Honors programs. That meant students upheld high grade point averages — 3.75 and 3.5 respectively — in at least 13 advanced placement and honors courses.

Xavier College Preparatory offers an advanced level of science and math classes for seniors, which gives them a foretaste of college. More than 185 of Xavier graduates already earned an average of 30 hours of college credit.

Sr. Joanie Nuckols, BVM, vice principal for academics at Xavier, can easily list the top 12 reasons Catholic school graduates are prepared for college. Right after the rigorous academic requirements came a focus on the written word.

“Writing across the curriculum prepares the students for critical expression and interpretation in every academic discipline which requires specific skills,” Sr. Joanie said.

Local Catholic high schools routinely produce competitors and winners in the National Merit Scholarship contest. Graduates also leave with thousands, if not millions of dollars in merit-based scholarship offers from schools.

Offers are still coming in, but in late April, local Catholic schools reported $7 million to $17.4 million in scholarship offers to various universities.

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Category: Local News, News

Catholic Mass – 5/12/2013 (Seventh Sunday of Easter)

Melissa Gorga Celebrates Daughter Antonia’s First Communion: Picture

A family affair! Melissa Gorga and Joe Gorga of the Real Housewives of New Jersey feted daughter Antonia, 7, with a huge party to celebrate her first holy communion on Saturday, May 11.

Melissa, 34, showed nothing but pride for her daughter, tweeting pictures of Antonia’s communion day look — a white, custom-made Elena do Vale dress, complete with a veil. 

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“Look at my baby girl!” Melissa wrote.

The Bravo reality star, who famously feuded with sister-in-law Teresa Giudice during the show’s third and fourth season, looked just as stylish for the big day. Wearing a cream-colored dress paired with camel-colored heels, Melissa posed happily with husband Joe and their three kids together — Antonia and sons, Gino and Joey. 

After the church service, fellow housewives Jacqueline Laurita, Caroline Manzo, Joe’s cousin Kathy Wakile, and other party guests were on hand to celebrate at the Manzo family’s Brownstone catering hall.

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The party — complete with a DJ, dancing and a photo booth for guests to take pictures in — was a fun-filled day for Antonia. 

Noticeably absent from the communion celebration was the Giudice family, but Melissa told Us Weekly two days before the bash that there’s a drama-free explanation.

“Gabriella [one of Teresa's four daughters) is making hers [communion] at the same time, same church!” she said. “We’re both having parties at the same time, so unfortunately, we’re not going to each other’s parties.” 

She continued, “Nobody wants to re-dress their kid another day, and go through the party a week later. Nobody really wants to do that. It just happened to land this way.”

Melissa explained that her in-laws, (Teresa’s parents) had plans to make it to both girls’ parties, so neither Antonia or Gabriella would miss out. 

PHOTOS: At home with a real housewife

“Joe’s parents are coming to both, yes,” she told Us. “They’re going to come to both of our parties. It’s not because we’re not getting along. It’s not that!”

In fact, Melissa hinted to Us that things between she and Teresa have been steadily improving.

“I’m gonna make sure I go over, and see Gabriella and give her a hug and a kiss before [the church service],” she said. “Hopefully we can get the girls to get a couple pictures together!”

The fifth season of RHONJ premieres Sunday, June 2.

Louisiana Board of Regents Funding Boosts Loyola’s Commitment to Catholic …

The Rev. Stephen Duffy, Ph.D.

This investment in Catholic studies will benefit the community and the state for years to come.

New Orleans, LA (PRWEB) May 14, 2013

Further distinguishing Loyola University New Orleans as an important center for the study of Catholicism, the Louisiana Board of Regents announced it is contributing $400,000 to support the university’s scholarly activities and programming in that field. The funding will match a private donation of $1.3 million to endow The Rev. Stephen Duffy Chair in Catholic Studies at Loyola University, the South’s largest Catholic, Jesuit higher education institution.

“The Duffy chair will not only strengthen the intellectual infrastructure of Loyola, it will distinguish Louisiana as a center for scholarship and innovative public programs that promote dialogue across religious and cultural borders,” said Loyola President the Rev. Kevin Wm. Wildes, S.J., Ph.D. “This investment in Catholic studies will benefit the community and the state for years to come.”

The chair is named for the late religious studies professor, the Rev. Stephen Duffy, Ph.D., who died March 2007. Duffy taught at Notre Dame Seminary for more than 20 years before serving on the faculty at Loyola from 1971 to 2007. He received Loyola’s highest honor for faculty as the Dux Academicus Award winner in 1999.

Years before he passed away, Duffy included Loyola in his estate plans in order to establish an endowed chair for Catholic studies. “It was important to Fr. Duffy that his gift would ensure that study of Catholic theology would continue to take place at a high level at Loyola,” said Robert Gross, Loyola’s director of planned giving.

The chair is currently held by Jesuit and nationally known scholar, the Rev. Edward Vacek, S.J., Ph.D., and is the first endowed chair in the humanities field at Loyola. In addition to teaching theology courses, Vacek also holds free, public lectures on religion and Catholicism. Loyola’s focus on religions and Catholic studies aims to prepare students to be informed, ethically-minded and socially conscious citizens.

“The College of Humanities and Natural Sciences is honored by this deserved recognition from the Louisiana Board of Regents. Fr. Duffy was very important to our college. His dedication to teaching and the study of Catholic theology were transformative for our students,” said Maria Calzada, Ph.D., dean of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences. “We are extremely happy that Fr. Vacek will continue his legacy.”

For media interviews, please contact the Office of Public Affairs.

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No to Novena

This is a syndicated post from The Curt Jester. [Read the original article...]

One of the problems I have with novenas is being able to remember to pray them during each of the nine days of if you are doing a novena of novenas during that time frame. So last Friday being a traditional day of starting a novena I remembered that I had recently seen an iOS app designed for novenas and so purchased it. Simply called Novena and priced at $2.99.

There are many ways a mobile application could help with praying a novena as far as scheduling goes. Unfortunately this app came up with none of these ideas. No push notifications. No scheduling. Nothing to track what day of a novena you might be on.

Neither was I impressed by the design of the app. Apparently not much effort went into design and it only worked in portrait mode in one orientation. Being a universal app for the iPhone and iPad it at least supported both platforms. Yet on the iPad the menu was apparently the same as for the iPhone or so just took up a small area at the top right part of the screen.

On the plus side novenas were grouped in several ways that could be useful in finding the one you want. You could also favorite one to easily come back to later. The artwork seems to have been taken from German holy cards and I did like the look of these cards and they did give the look of the app some consistency. Once selecting a novena you were presented with the individual novena and you could select or swipe to a history of the saint involved.

One nice feature was that for each image you could select Symbols to show a text overlay explaining some of the symbolic components in the image.

Overall I was disappointed by this app for missing obvious features and having a poorly designed interface and menu. So if anyone knows of an iOS novena app with push notifications and/or some form of scheduling please let me know.

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Jeffrey Miller (341 Posts)

Pope Francis Canonizes Victims of Medieval Islamist Violence; NBCNews …

In their ongoing effort to attack the Catholic Church, it seems not even something as uncontroversial and routine as the pope canonizing new saints can happen without the liberal media find some way to work in an attack. Witness Claudio Lavanga’s May 12 post at NBCNews.com headlined “A saint-making record is also a diplomatic headache for Pope Francis.” [h/t Creative Minority Report]

“Pope Francis canonized more than 800 Catholics in Saint Peter’s Square Sunday – the largest number to be elevated to sainthood at once in the history of the Catholic Church,” Lavanga noted. But alas, “The choice of some of the new saints was also striking, touching on the already-fragile relationship between Christianity and Islam” because the “new saints included hundreds of laymen from the southern Italian port town of Otranto who were slain in the 15th century by the invading Ottoman Turkish army after they refused to convert to Islam.” 

After giving readers a brief history lesson into the invasion in 1480, Lavanga groused that Pope Francis’s “choice to highlight their sacrifice may put a strain on the already fragile relationship between the Catholic Church and Islam.” So who did Lavanga cite to substantiate that claim? Well, no one, it turns out.

You’d think that Lavanga could have found at least one diplomat from a Muslim nation who found fault with the pick, but no. Lavanga had squat.

Well, that’s not true, exactly. What Lavanga did have was an attack on the pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, whom the media loved to attack as reactionary and as having an antipathy towards Muslims (emphasis mine):

[W]hy risk creating yet another inter-faith row with a celebration which some in the Muslim world may be seen as a provocation?

The answer is that it wasn’t Pope Francis’ choice in the first place. The decision to canonize the hundreds of Otranto martyrs was rubber-stamped by his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, on Feb. 11 – the same day he announced his resignation.

It was a departing act of a pontiff that had become concerned about the mounting discrimination suffered by Christian minorities living in the Middle East in the wake of the Arab spring.

Pope Francis shares his predecessor’s concern. “By venerating the martyrs of Otranto” he said at Sunday’s canonization mass, “We ask God to protect the many Christians who in these times, and in many parts of the world, are still victims of violence”.

The Vatican’s relationship with Islam took a nosedive in 2006 when Benedict – now the Pope Emeritus – enraged Muslims by quoting the 14th-century byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiogolos, who said: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.”

It was an uncomfortable parting gift for his successor, who now faces an uphill struggle to rekindle ties with Islam.

Again, Lavanga had nothing to back up his claims, nothing to prove the narrative he wished to engrain into the reader’s imagination. Nor did Lavanga consider that the newly-canonized saints might be of great comfort to persecuted Catholics all throughout the world, regardless of whether they live in Muslim countries or not.

When Francis became pontiff, the liberal media saw glimmers of hope that he might be the liberal reformer they’d long hoped for. That appears to not be panning out, but the pontiff’s humility and kindness to the poor and marginalized in society has seemed to inoculate Francis from harsher criticism.

But as this piece shows, to the extent that Francis follows in Benedict’s footsteps, the liberal media will resurrect specious and unsubstantiated charges that conform to a left-wing narrative.

Steve’s sharing the sounds of his faith

Published: 19 May 2013

Evangelising: US speaker and worship leader Steve Angrisano singing in Brisbane last week

US speaker and worship leader Steve Angrisano finished his Brisbane-exclusive tour this week.

EMILIE NG caught up with Steve before his Monday night concert, Set Free, to chat about music, life and being a Catholic missionary

IF there was one word to describe Catholic musician Steve Angrisano, it would be “alive”.

He is a man who lives off the joy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and, as a result, is alive and full of the love of Christ.

The Texan embodies the great motivation of Blessed Pope John Paul II, who proclaimed, “We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”

Steve’s principal ministry is sharing the Catholic faith using music and storytelling (specifically with the aid of his Takamine guitar) which he calls “a product of the new evangelisation”.

“I think the new evangelisation gives it a name, and it calls us to new methods, and new approaches to share our faith, but it’s the same faith,” he said.

“The faith is not changing at all, but we are finding ways to reach out to people and allow them to experience it.

“I think what I’m doing is very much a fruit of that spirit that’s moving in the larger Church, and I feel very blessed to do this.”

Last week, Steve brought his energetic and moving ministry to parishes and youth leaders across Brisbane archdiocese.

His performances are a blend of prayers, music, and hand actions, but the most compelling part is his stories, which range from the 12-year-long miracle adoption of his third child, to witnessing the Sisters of the Disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ publically evangelise at a diner in Amarillo, Texas.

His busy schedule as a married man with three kids doesn’t allow much room for extended overseas trips, and his loyalty to his family meant he could only manage a Brisbane tour.

“The truth is, my own son is graduating this year and this weekend is a pretty big weekend for him, and he’s winning some pretty big awards back home,” he said.

“There was a possibility to go to Sydney for the weekend but I didn’t want to miss the things from my own family, so just kept it to Brisbane this time.”

At his live performances and workshops, there’s an immediate sense of Steve’s humility before God, not only from the stories he shares, but also from the prayerfulness of his music.

For Steve, his concerts are not about him, but about increasing his faith experiences.

“If you really don’t engage with your heart, and you just kind of do your thing and then leave, you’re really just having a near-faith experience, that is, you’re around people who are really experiencing it,” he said.

“I try really hard not to do that, but to really engage – to pray when everyone’s praying, or to sing when they’re singing.

“I feel very blessed that there’s a richness in my faith that comes from being in all these big events that people are gathered so it is definitely real significant faith experiences for me.”

The future for Steve lies in Nashville, where he will spend some time recording his new album, due out in November.

“It takes about three trips for me to finish one and about every three years or so, so we’re right in the midst of one now,” he said.

Erie Snapshot: First Communion a milestone for young area Catholics

The pews were packed at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in Lawrence Park as 18 third-graders shuffled just outside the front doors in dark suits and white dresses. When the music began inside, each child, carrying a gift to the altar, walked past family and friends snapping photos to begin their first communion service.

Religious education facilitator Geri Hadlock, 53, worked with the group for months preparing the youngsters for the service.

“Prior to their first communion, they receive a blessing during the service, but now they can participate fully. We tell them they need to be reverent, that this is just the beginning and we’d like to see them every Sunday,” Hadlock said.

“They all ask, ‘Will it taste different?’ when we tell them the consecrated bread and wine is the body and blood of Christ,” Hadlock said.

“We also try to pair kids with Eucharistic ministers that are family members — the kids think that’s a big deal when they’re offered the cup by a grandparent or an aunt or uncle.”

While reading from Acts, chapter 4, Miracle Froehlich wore the same dress with long lace sleeves that her mother DeAnna, 31, wore back in 1988. Miracle, so named because of her early birth, told her mom she loves being able to wear the dress.

After the children took the host and cup, they stood together for group photographs, as loved ones captured the moment.

More than 400 Erie-area children celebrated their first communion this year.

Daily Readings for Thursday, April 25, 2013

Reading 1, First Peter 5:5-14

⁵ In the same way, younger people, be subject to the elders. Humility towards one another must be the garment you all wear constantly, because God opposes the proud but accords his favour to the humble.

⁶ Bow down, then, before the power of God now, so that he may raise you up in due time;

⁷ unload all your burden on to him, since he is concerned about you.

⁸ Keep sober and alert, because your enemy the devil is on the prowl like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

⁹ Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that it is the same kind of suffering that the community of your brothers throughout the world is undergoing.

¹⁰ You will have to suffer only for a little while: the God of all grace who called you to eternal glory in Christ will restore you, he will confirm, strengthen and support you.

¹¹ His power lasts for ever and ever. Amen.

¹² I write these few words to you through Silvanus, who is a trustworthy brother, to encourage you and attest that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

¹³ Your sister in Babylon, who is with you among the chosen, sends you greetings; so does my son, Mark.

¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17

² for you have said: love is built to last for ever, you have fixed your constancy firm in the heavens.

³ ‘I have made a covenant with my Chosen One, sworn an oath to my servant David:

⁶ Who in the skies can compare with Yahweh? Who among the sons of god can rival him?

⁷ God, awesome in the assembly of holy ones, great and dreaded among all who surround him,

¹⁶ In your name they rejoice all day long, by your saving justice they are raised up.

¹⁷ You are the flower of their strength, by your favour our strength is triumphant;

Gospel, Mark 16:15-20

¹⁵ And he said to them, ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.

¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.

¹⁷ These are the signs that will be associated with believers: in my name they will cast out devils; they will have the gift of tongues;

¹⁸ they will pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed should they drink deadly poison; they will lay their hands on the sick, who will recover.’

¹⁹ And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven; there at the right hand of God he took his place,

²⁰ while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.

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The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible published in 1985. The New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) has become the most widely used Roman Catholic Bible outside of the United States. It has the imprimatur of Cardinal George Basil Hume.

Like its predecessor, the Jerusalem Bible, the New Jerusalem Bible (NJB) version is translated “directly from the Hebrew, Greek or Aramaic.” The 1973 French translation, the Bible de Jerusalem, is followed only “where the text admits to more than one interpretation.” Introductions and notes, with some modifications, are taken from the Bible de Jerusalem.

Source: The Very Reverend Dom (Joseph) Henry Wansbrough, OSB, MA (Oxon), STL (Fribourg), LSS (Rome), a monk of Ampleforth Abbey and a biblical scholar. He was General Editor of the New Jerusalem Bible. “New Jerusalem Bible, Regular Edition”, pg. v.

Ten Commandments | Books of the Bible | Buy a Bible

May 12th, 2013

Reading 1, Acts 7:55-60:
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus … Psalm, Psalms 97:1-2, 6-7, 9:
Yahweh is king! Let earth rejoice, the many isles be glad! Cloud, black cloud enfolds him, saving … Gospel, John 17:20-26:
I pray not only for these but also for those who through their teaching will come to believe in … Reading 2, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20:
Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me, to repay everyone as their deeds deserve. I am … Read More

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