I do my best to anticipate events and celebrations ahead of time when I pen this column each week. Labor Day is upon us and the opportunity for us as a country to remember, pray for and give thanks to God for those who labor, both inside and/or outside of their homes to support themselves and their families. We also remember and pray for those who are currently unemployed and are looking for employment and those who are working full time and are not getting enough of a wage to support themselves and their family. Prayer is always a good starting point and a source of blessing for the participant and a recipient of words and hearts that are lifted up to the Lord. Christian charity, however, also calls on us to promote fair wages for all who labor - as well as decent and safe working conditions for them.
While the latest news on the employment front in our country is encouraging toward jobs for those who can work, wages are often remaining stagnant or are decreasing for the vast majority of people. The Church urges us to support efforts to increase the minimum wage so that all persons who work a full time job, can provide for himself or herself, at least above the poverty level. I urge you to access the website usccb.org and key into the search window "Labor Day Statement" and inform yourself on the challenges that still present themselves in the most basic and important area of employment.
While most of our parishioners are retired from the work force, that doesn't mean we should not have an ongoing concern for and a willingness to act for those who are currently unemployed and those who need employment right now. To this end I remind you that annually we have the opportunity to support job-creating efforts through the "Campaign for Human Development." In our diocese this collection will be taken up on November 17-18. In advance, I ask that you be generous in helping those who are given an opportunity through this ongoing effort of our American Bishops to give people a hand-up that will lead them out of poverty to a self-sufficient way of life. With all the negative publicity about a few of our hierarchy, I'm happy to remind us all of the good that is happening through the teaching and actions of our American Bishops in this and in so many other ways!
While the latest news on the employment front in our country is encouraging toward jobs for those who can work, wages are often remaining stagnant or are decreasing for the vast majority of people. The Church urges us to support efforts to increase the minimum wage so that all persons who work a full time job, can provide for himself or herself, at least above the poverty level. I urge you to access the website usccb.org and key into the search window "Labor Day Statement" and inform yourself on the challenges that still present themselves in the most basic and important area of employment.
While most of our parishioners are retired from the work force, that doesn't mean we should not have an ongoing concern for and a willingness to act for those who are currently unemployed and those who need employment right now. To this end I remind you that annually we have the opportunity to support job-creating efforts through the "Campaign for Human Development." In our diocese this collection will be taken up on November 17-18. In advance, I ask that you be generous in helping those who are given an opportunity through this ongoing effort of our American Bishops to give people a hand-up that will lead them out of poverty to a self-sufficient way of life. With all the negative publicity about a few of our hierarchy, I'm happy to remind us all of the good that is happening through the teaching and actions of our American Bishops in this and in so many other ways!
Firstly, let me say that my heart and my prayers (and I trust yours) go out to all victims of sexual abuse that were revealed in the Grand Jury report from Pennsylvania last week. Any and all who have suffered as the result of abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy or anyone, need help and healing from wounds that are deep and long-lasting. I echo the response of Pope Francis, including his call for accountability on the part of the offending parties and the hierarchy, and anyone else who were (or who are) not taking steps to hold perpetrators of such crimes against God and humanity responsible - steps that could, hopefully, stop them from offending again. I do also want to say in the face of all the negative publicity and conclusions reached by the Pennsylvania Grand Jury and some in the press, that the United States Conference of Bishops adopted "The Charter For the Protection of Children and Young People" in 2002 which set in motion, procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by the clergy and other Church personnel. It also includes guidelines for Reconciliation, healing, accountability and prevention of future acts of abuse. I encourage you to go to usccb.org and enter in the search box "The Charter For . . ." and see how strongly the bishops have come out to protect minors from abuse at the hands of clergy or anyone. Vigorous mandatory training for clergy and other church personnel, especially those who work with minors, (that includes criminal background checks) is designed to identify those whose past history would immediately disqualify them from working with minors. It also helps more people be alert to signs of grooming or abuse itself. This training has been in place in our diocese and throughout the country for many years and has provided verifiable results. In this, the Catholic Church in the United States IS determined to keep our young people safe from all sexual predators who would do them harm and make everyone aware that such behavior should, AND HOPEFULLY ALWAYS WILL be met with swift action and severe consequences whether the offender is a clergyman or anyone else. The fact that only two cases of clergy abuse of minors since 2002 were uncovered by this grand jury and both were handled properly by church authorities, speaks loudly in Pennsylvania and in other places, that the Catholic bishops of today and the Church as a whole, are determined in an ongoing way to protect God's children and hold accountable any and all who offend. While statistics say that only 1% of all Catholic clergy have been shown to be guilty of these terrible crimes (though this is indeed a tragedy for all those who were victimized and obviously affects their faith and the faith of some believers. I ask your prayers for the 99% of priests who, though sinners as we all are, continue to be faithful in their ministry to children and all of God's people for their benefit and for the glory of God.
My column this week is an addendum to my homily last weekend in which I shared some of the life story of St. Clare of Assisi who was a disciple of St. Francis of Assisi. She abandoned a life of wealth and privilege to follow Christ in simplicity of life. Along with St. Francis she founded an order of Sisters, the Poor Clares in Assisi and was their first Abbess for over 42 years. On the same weekend that I preached about St. Clare (during which we celebrated her feast day (August 11), I read from my book, "Padre Pio's Spiritual Direction for Every Day" and the following was what was there for August 12. After reading it, I hope you reflect on how God's power is at work continually and at all times through those like St. Clare who put their trust and hope in Him.
The following was written by St. Padre Pio to one of his spiritual children, Graziella Pannullo:
Recalling the wonders of that time of St. Francis and St. Clare, I think of the beloved first female disciple of the seraphic father in the deep and solemn silence of the austere refectory . . . .
One day there was only one loaf of bread left in the convent, and it was lunchtime. Although the sisters had overcome their hunger pains, they could not ignore the imperious necessities of life forever. Sister Cecilia, in the refectory, explained the situations to the holy abbess, who ordered the loaf be cut in two: one half for the brothers who were keeping watch in the monastery and one half for the sisters. She instructed that the half loaf for the sisters be divided into fifty portions, the number of sisters . . . But when the devoted daughter responded that the ancient miracles of Jesus would be needed in order to divide the small half loaf into fifty parts, St. Clare responded, "Proceed exactly the way I instruct you."
The obedient daughter hurried to fulfill her command, and Mother Clare hurried to Jesus in prayer with pitiful sighs for her daughters. By divine grace the half loaf multiplied in the hands of the one who broke it, and each sister had a copious portion.
The following was written by St. Padre Pio to one of his spiritual children, Graziella Pannullo:
Recalling the wonders of that time of St. Francis and St. Clare, I think of the beloved first female disciple of the seraphic father in the deep and solemn silence of the austere refectory . . . .
One day there was only one loaf of bread left in the convent, and it was lunchtime. Although the sisters had overcome their hunger pains, they could not ignore the imperious necessities of life forever. Sister Cecilia, in the refectory, explained the situations to the holy abbess, who ordered the loaf be cut in two: one half for the brothers who were keeping watch in the monastery and one half for the sisters. She instructed that the half loaf for the sisters be divided into fifty portions, the number of sisters . . . But when the devoted daughter responded that the ancient miracles of Jesus would be needed in order to divide the small half loaf into fifty parts, St. Clare responded, "Proceed exactly the way I instruct you."
The obedient daughter hurried to fulfill her command, and Mother Clare hurried to Jesus in prayer with pitiful sighs for her daughters. By divine grace the half loaf multiplied in the hands of the one who broke it, and each sister had a copious portion.