New Video on the Priesthood

Sister Anna Riordan of the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother sent us this great new video on the priesthood.  You can purchase a copy by clicking here: www.eukmamie.org

Requiscat in Pace

From: www.diopitt.org
 

PITTSBURGH – Retired Auxiliary Bishop John B. McDowell of Pittsburgh died on February 25, 2010 at Passavant Hospital, Pittsburgh. He was 88 years old and had retired in September 1996 after 30 years as a bishop.

“Bishop McDowell was a giant of the Church,” Bishop David A. Zubik said, “a national figure in Catholic education, and an influential bishop in our national conference.

“We remember him most of all as a priest, bishop, friend and advisor who loved the Church of Pittsburgh, loved his fellow priests, and lovingly served the faithful for so many years as a pastor,” Bishop Zubik said.

The retired bishop was well known in Catholic education nationwide, and was a leader in educational matters for the Catholic Bishops. He was instrumental in drafting the 1972 landmark document of the United States bishops on catechesis, “To Teach as Jesus Did.”

He served the Diocese of Pittsburgh as assistant superintendent of schools, superintendent of schools and vicar for education. In recognition of his service to Catholic education, a consolidated elementary school in the South Hills area in 1995 was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School.

“Bishop McDowell has made extraordinary contributions to the work of Catholic education at the diocesan and national levels,” said Father Kris Stubna, diocesan secretary for education. “As superintendent of schools and vicar for education, the bishop guided a system of schools that educated more that 120,000 students, the peak of Catholic school enrollment locally.

“His vision and leadership provided the solid and lasting foundations we continue to build on today. I can think of no better encouragement for those of us in Catholic education than Bishop McDowell's episcopal motto: ‘To Do and To Teach.’”

Bishop McDowell also authored seven biographies on the past bishops of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He completed his last, a brief biography of Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, a month after celebrating his 84th birthday. His final book was an autobiography, completed in 2007.

Retired Pittsburgh Auxiliary Bishop William J. Winter said Bishop McDowell’s most outstanding trait was that he was “always a priest.”

He praised Bishop McDowell’s total dedication “to the work of the church” throughout his life, regardless of whether he was serving in a parish role or overseeing Catholic education.

“He really was a true pastor,” Bishop Winter said.

Born on July 17, 1921 in New Castle, Pa., the son of Bernard A. McDowell and Louise Hannon McDowell, he attended St. Lawrence O'Toole Elementary School and Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh.

He earned a bachelor's degree from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, in 1942, and a master's degree from the same school two years later. At Catholic University of America, he earned a master's degree in administration and education in 1950 and a doctorate in education and philosophy in 1952. Duquesne University awarded him an honorary doctorate of literature in 1962.

Bishop McDowell was ordained a priest in November 1945, and served as associate pastor at St. Irenaeus Parish, Oakmont. He was named assistant superintendent of schools in 1952, superintendent of schools in 1955, and vicar for education in 1970. He also served a term as head of the National Catholic Educational Association. He was also pastor of Epiphany Church, Pittsburgh, from 1969 until his retirement.

He was appointed papal chamberlain in September 1956 and domestic prelate in February 1964.

Bishop McDowell was ordained as auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Tamazuca in St. Paul’s Cathedral on September 8, 1966.

In addition to such important diocesan assignments as his leadership role in the Parish Share Program and the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh Foundation, Bishop McDowell has served on many civic organization boards. He also was the chairperson of the diocese’s 150th anniversary observance in 1992-93.

One role in particular energized the bishop’s active years — officiating at confirmation. He loved the interaction with youngsters and the chance to reach them in a special moment in their lives. He confirmed well over 100,000 young people, and continued to celebrate confirmations in his retirement years.

Bishop McDowell was always a friend to and advocate for his fellow priests, Father Ronald Lengwin, spokesperson for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, said.

“Throughout his priestly and episcopal ministry, Bishop McDowell was an excellent teacher in the classroom, in the pulpit and in many leadership roles in our local church and in the church at the national level.

“In that role he has been a mentor to many priests who will be forever grateful to him, including myself,” Father Lengwin said. “He was able to inspire and motivate people to do their best. In his great love for the church, he would do anything within his power to help any priest who asked for his assistance.

Bishop Zubik stated that Bishop McDowell “used his many God-given gifts for the good of the Church that have blessed us in so many different ways.”

Funeral arrangements for Bishop McDowell are pending and will be announced shortly.

Catholic radio network to debut (Archabbot to Celebrate Mass)

From: Post-Gazette.com

By Adrian McCoy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A new Catholic radio network is about to launch on three local frequencies. WAOB (for We Are One Body) will air on WAOB-FM (106.7), WAOB-AM (860) and WPGR-AM (1510). The frequencies formerly belonged to Sheridan Broadcasting's WAMO-FM, WAMO-AM and WPGR-AM, which were sold last year to St. Joseph Missions in Latrobe


The broadcast schedule will roll out gradually, starting Sunday with a weekly broadcast of a Mass. A partial daily broadcast schedule will launch March 19.


On Sunday, the Mass will be celebrated by Bishop David A. Zubik of the Diocese of Pittsburgh at St. Christopher of the Lake Parish in Prospect. On Feb. 28, the Mass will broadcast from St. Vincent Basilica Parish in Latrobe, and will be celebrated by Archabbot Douglas R. Nowicki of St. Vincent Archabbey. The Sunday broadcasts start at 11 a.m., and the Masses start at 11:30 a.m.


The daily broadcast schedule, which starts next month, will include prayer and teaching programming. Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt of the Diocese of Greensburg will offer the first in a series of teachings.


WAOB eventually plans to make its programming available over the Internet and through mobile devices.


St. Joseph also aims to broadcast WAOB's programming from other locations around the world.


In May 2009, Sheridan Broadcasting agreed to sell its three stations, including urban WAMO-FM, to St. Joseph. The stations have been off the air since September, when the deal closed.


The Sheridan-St. Joseph deal reflects a trend occurring across the country, with Catholic broadcasters buying radio stations in order to increase the reach of the church's message.

Ministry of Reader

As promised, here are a few pictures from the Ministry of Reader Installation.  Our Brother Maximilian, OSB and Jeremiah, OSB were installed by retired auxiliary Bishop and St. Vincent Alum, the Most Reverend William Winter of the Diocese of Pittsburgh.  Bishop Winter is a great friend of the Archabbey and Seminary and it was an honor to have him back.  Please pray for our monks in formation as well as their diocesan classmates who were installed as they continue their path towards the holy priesthood.

Thanks to Archabbey Publications for the great pictures.

Br. Jeremiah, OSB receives the Holy Bible from the Bishop

Br. Maximilian, OSB does as well 

Ministry of Reader

Congratulations to our Br. Maximilian, OSB and Br. Jeremiah, OSB who were installed to the Ministry of Reader last evening in the Archabbey Basilica.  Pictures to come.

Father Flavian, OSB

Father Flavian G. Yelinko, O.S.B., the oldest living monk in the history of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Thursday, February 18, 2010. He was 103. He was born in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, on September 2, 1906, a son of the late John and Mary (Gunther) Yelinko. He was predeceased by two sisters, Mary Willen and Elizabeth Yelinko , and four brothers, Frank, Joseph, John and Stephen Yelinko.

He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School in Palmerton. He first came to Saint Vincent at the age of 14, in 1920, to attend Saint Vincent Preparatory School, graduating in 1924. He attended Saint Vincent College, earning a bachelor of arts degree in 1929, and Saint Vincent Seminary, earning a master of arts degree in 1933. He also did graduate studies in library science at the Catholic University of America.

He entered the Benedictine Monastic Community of Saint Vincent Archabbey in 1926. He made simple profession of vows on July 2, 1927, and solemn profession of vows on July 11, 1930. He was ordained a priest in Saint Vincent Archabbey Church by the the late Bishop Hugh Boyle of Pittsburgh, on June 18, 1933. 

Father Flavian was the only monk at Saint Vincent to have attended the funeral of every archabbot in the monastery’s history (ten total) except for founder Boniface Wimmer, O.S.B., who died in 1887. He loved to tell stories, including many about the early years of Saint Vincent. A favorite was that when he arrived on campus in 1920, “the whole place had one telephone, manned by Brother Jake in the monastery. When he was mowing the lawn, there was no one to answer the phone.” In 1936, he was featured in the March 22 edition of The Baltimore Sun for catching a burglar who broke into his church to steal from the poor box. Father Flavian had been armed with only a flashlight. He served at twelve parishes, as well as in various roles at Saint Vincent College and Seminary, and helped with renovations and building construction projects at many of those sites.

At Saint Vincent Preparatory School and College, Father Flavian was the first college librarian (1927-1937). He was responsible for combining the book collections into one location, cataloguing all of the books, and establishing library hours with librarians and aides.

His pastoral experience is considerable. He was assistant pastor pro tem at Fourteen Holy Martyrs Parish, Baltimore, Maryland (1935); and Saint Mary Parish, Pittsburgh (1936). He was associate pastor at Saint Mary Parish, Erie (1937); Saint Boniface Parish, Pittsburgh (1938). The following year he served at Saint James Church in Waynesburg, Ohio, then at Saint Bernard Parish in Hastings (1940-42). He received his first pastorate at Saint Lawrence Parish from 1943 to 1945, then served as pastor of Saint Benedict Parish in Carrolltown from 1945 to 1949. As pastor there he oversaw the electrification of the tower clock in the church and the bell ringers in the school, the excavation of the school basement for the cafeteria, and the renovations of the church, as well as an addition of a church social hall. He also started a Cemetery Association there.

In 1950, he was named associate pastor of Saint Bruno Parish, South Greensburg. While pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Youngstown from 1951 to 1959, Father Flavian oversaw construction of the school there. He was then sent to serve as pastor of Queen of the World Parish, St. Marys, from 1961 to 1965, when the rectory was remodeled and new classrooms were added to the school. As pastor of Saint Gregory Parish, Virginia Beach, from 1965 to 1967, he was responsible for an addition to the school. Then he moved to Saint John Parish in Summerhill, Pennsylvania, and its mission in New Germany from 1967 to 1978, where he supervised the remodeling of the church.

Father Flavian retired on August 1, 1978, and returned to Saint Vincent. Following his retirement the former librarian was asked to establish the archives for the Seminary and set up a directory of all students who attended the Seminary. He served as Seminary Archivist from 1981 to 1985.

His other responsibilities included serving as chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Council in Barnesboro and as area chaplain of the diocesan Boy Scouts in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese. He was also co-organizer of the Catholic Periodical Index, sponsored by the Catholic Library Association.

On January 17, 2002, Father Flavian became the oldest member in the history of the Saint Vincent Benedictine community, dating back to 1846, at 95 years of age plus six months. The entire Benedictine community attended a special dinner in his honor, held on February 11, 2002. Again on his 100th birthday, September 2, 2006, Father Flavian presented a menu for his monastic community’s dinner celebration of his birthday; at the abbot’s table he raised his glass to acknowledge the toasts in appreciation of his long life.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday in the Archabbey Basilica, followed by the interment in the Saint Vincent Cemetery. Memorial contributions can be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund, Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, Pennsylvania 15650-2690.

Requiscat in Pace

Father Flavian Yelinko, O.S.B., the oldest living monk in the history of Saint Vincent Archabbey, died Thursday, February 18, 2010, at the age of 103.  May he Rest in the Peace of Christ and may he be rewarded for his many years of faithful service in the Lord's vineyard.

Pittsburgh Catholic Underground

This weekend is Pittsburgh Catholic Underground at St. Matthew's in Lawrenceville. If you are coming, bring a friend!!! 

Our Br. Elijah Joseph serves Mass for the Pope!!!

From: http://www.catholictv.com

Our Br. Elijah Joseph, OSB serving the Holy Mass of Ash Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI celebrating.

Our Br. Elijah Joseph serves Mass for the Pope!!!

Our Brother Elijah Joseph, OSB, who is studying in Rome and living at Sant Anselmo had the honor of serving Ash Wednesday Mass for our Holy Father yesterday.  Video to come.

Br. Elijah Joseph, OSB (left with candle) leads the procession from Sant Anselmo to Santa Sabina Basilica.

Photo of our Br. Elijah Joseph, OSB (copyright: Servizio Fotografico de "L'O.R.")

Ash Wednesday

From: EWTN.com

The liturgical use of ashes originated in the Old Testament times. Ashes symbolized mourning, mortality and penance. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai put on sackcloth and ashes when he heard of the decree of King Ahasuerus to kill all of the Jewish people in the Persian Empire (Esther 4:1). Job repented in sackcloth and ashes (Job 42:6). Prophesying the Babylonian captivity of Jerusalem, Daniel wrote, "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes" (Daniel 9:3).
 

Jesus  made reference to ashes, "If the miracles worked in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have reformed in sackcloth and ashes long ago" (Matthew 11:21).
 

In the Middle Ages, the priest would bless the dying person with holy water, saying, "Remember that thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return."
 

The Church adapted the use of ashes to mark the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, when we remember our mortality and mourn for our sins. In our present liturgy for Ash Wednesday, we use ashes made from the burned palm branches distributed on the Palm Sunday of the previous year. The priest blesses the ashes and imposes them on the foreheads of the faithful, making the sign of the cross and saying, "Remember, man you are dust and to dust you shall return," or "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel." As we begin this holy season of Lent in preparation for Easter, we must remember the significance of the ashes we have received: We mourn and do penance for our sins. We again convert our hearts to the Lord, who suffered, died, and rose for our salvation. We renew the promises made at our baptism, when we died to an old life and rose to a new life with Christ. Finally, mindful that the kingdom of this world passes away, we strive to live the kingdom of God now and look forward to its fulfillment in heaven. 

Almighty and everlasting God, you despise nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent.
 

Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our brokenness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.

Prayer for the President

God of power and might, wisdom and justice, through you authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment is decreed. Assist with your spirit of counsel and fortitude the President and other government leaders of these United States. May they always seek the ways of righteousness, justice and mercy. Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our country with honesty and integrity. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Prayer to St. Scholastica, OSB

Deus, qui beátae Vírginis tuæ Scholásticæ ánimam ad ostendéndam [innocéntiæ viam in colúmbæ spécie cælum penetráre fecísti: da nobis eius méritis et précibus ita innocénter vivere; ut ad ætérna mereámur gáudia perveníre. Per Dóminum. 

O God, to show us where innocence leads, you made the soul of your virgin Saint Scholastica soar to heaven like a dove in flight. Grant through her merits and her prayers that we may so live in innocence as to attain to joys everlasting. This we ask through our Lord.

Saint Blaise

From: saintvincentarchabbey.org

2 Sm 24:2,9-17; Ps 32:1,2,5,6,7; Mk 6:1-6


"With glad cries of freedom you will ring me around!"

Through the intercession of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the LORD preserve you from ailments of the throat and every kind of evil. So the priest prays over every believer using the candles blessed during yesterday's feast. With today's psalm we seek the LORD as our shelter from distress and disease. Indeed, we cry out gladly of the freedom of his love with which he rings us around. The "every kind of evil" in the prayer of blessing from today's feast is a reference to the greatest of all evils that is sin. Our responsorial psalm echoes the repentant heart of King David. His blessing came only when the LORD imputed to him no guilt and when his spirit was cleansed of guile. Indeed, his faults were taken away, and his sins were covered. Such a blessing came only because he confessed his fault and did not hide his guilt. King David did not obey the LORD and he was free to admit his sin. This repentance enabled the mercy of God to abound again in his life. The neighbors of the Lord Jesus were not so repentant and humble. They resisted and resented the Lord Jesus. They took offence at him. How do we respond to the Lord Jesus, especially when his preaching challenges us and our way of life? Are we honest enough to repent, or are we haughty enough to resist?

Why did the King feel guilty about commanding a census be taken? Joab tried to resist this order, but King David insisted. He would not attend to the wisdom of his most loyal general. Joab knew that this was the action of an insecure leader. Indeed, the need David had to find out how many men in Israel were fit for military service was a clear sign of his lack of trust. King David was not so sure any more that the LORD was with him. The King of Israel did not trust the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords! Among his own Chosen People, even with his chosen king, there was no trust in the LORD. Indeed, the people followed the king and the king arose from the people. Both were afraid. Lack of trust arises out of fear and feeds into fear. The only One King David needed to fear was the LORD. Indeed, there were consequences to his lack of trust. Through the Prophet Gad King David was given the choice of famine, pursuit, or pestilence. Notice the response of the repentant king, "I am in very serious difficulty. Let us fall by the hand of God, for he is most merciful; 
but let me not fall by the hand of man." King David, even in his fallen state knew the mercy of God and trusted in his compassion. Indeed, the LORD revealed his faithful love and generous mercy with the command: "Enough now! Stay your hand." The angel of destruction was held back in response to King David's prayer. In this prayer the LORD heard the cries of his people and the repentance of their king. Such a grace filled prayer moved the LORD's heart. His Only Begotten Son reveals the same desire to save, even when his is rejected by his own.

The Evangelist, Saint Mark, does not hesitate to inform the reader that the Lord Jesus was surrounded by misunderstanding and rejection. The leaders of the People are watching him carefully, waiting for him to make a public miss statement that could be used to condemn him in court. His family seems to fear that he is out of his mind. Now, the folks of his own home town add their voices to the chorus of rejection. They resisted his teaching in the synagogue and tried to put him in his place. They wanted to know: "Who does he think he is? We have known him from childhood! He's not so special!" The took offence at him. They were particularly unhappy with his preaching when he challenged their faith and their interpretation of the Law. This reaction is nothing new to Israel. All throughout history the People of God have resisted the preaching of the prophets and have rejected them to their own demise. The Lord Jesus is now numbered among the True Prophets who dared to speak for the LORD. These men were the mouthpiece of God, and few wanted to hear what the LORD had to say when they had already made up their mind. Just like the rebellious King David and the People of Israel, those who came from his native place and among his own kin did not accept the Father's will. The only Messiah they wanted was one who would use force to overthrow the power of Rome that dominated the world of the time. However, the Lord Jesus came to heal, using his power to heal not to lead armies. Such a lack of faith in the message of the prophets and in the teaching of The Lord Jesus amazed him so much that he was not able to perform any mighty deeds, except for curing a few sick people by laying hands on them. This lack of faith was not unlike the lack of faith King David had. Is it not like our own lack of faith? Do we really expect the Lord Jesus to work mighty deeds here among us at this liturgy? Perhaps we take offense at such a question. Perhaps because it touches a truth we would rather not face.

Friends of the Abbey to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show

The Dominican sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist have asked us to keep them in prayer as they will be appearing on the Oprah Winfrey show on February 9, 2010.  The sisters have come to St. Vincent Archabbey the past few years for our various vocation programs and we are happy to say that they have had a number of young women from our local community join their order.  Please continue to pray for religious and priestly vocations and for the sisters that God may use them to spread his Holy Gospel through their witness on February 9th.