July 16, 2012 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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Page 4 The Catholic Register, July 16, 2012 THE CATHOLIC REGISTER SERVING THE DIOCESE OF ALTOONA - JOHNSTOWN Published Bi - weekly at Logan Boulevard Hollidaysburg PA 16648 Phone (814) 695 - 7563 FAX (814) 695 - 7517 Subscriptions: $8.00 Parish Based $18.00 Individual Periodical Class Postage Paid At Altoona PA and other mailing offices. Postmaster send change of address to: 925 South Logan Boulevard (USPS 094 - 280) Member Publication Of The Catholic Press Association Publisher: Most Reverend Bishop Mark L. Bartchak Editor: Rev. Msgr. Timothy P. Stein Manager: Bruce A. Tomaselli Secretary: Frances M. Logrando Another Perspective By Monsignor Timothy P. Stein Worthy Of Veneration And Of Imitation Point Of View Jesus and His mother were invited to a wedding celebration in Cana and they went. You, whether single or married, vowed or ordained, are invited to a wedding celebration in Loretto. Hopefully, you, too, will go! We don’t know who the bride and groom were in Cana, but Jesus’ presence there was never forgotten. When the bride and groom were in need, Jesus provided for them abundantly. They were so blessed by His presence. You’re wondering if Jesus will be at the celebration in Loretto on Sunday, July 29? Yes, of course. So what is happening on July 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies in Loretto? It is a Mass honoring married couples from all over the Diocese. Our shepherd, Bishop Mark, will be presiding at the liturgy, and everyone is invited to pray with and for our married couples. Jesus will be there. You will hear him speaking to your heart and the hearts of all present in His Word - - the Holy Scriptures. You will know Him in the bread and wine through which He gives His whole entire self to us. You will meet Jesus in the priest and in the people. These are the ones who cherish and nurture the life of God given to them in Baptism, and follow His way of love. And Jesus will be there in a special way in the married couples present. That could be you or your siblings, parents, cousins, friends, or fellow parishioners. For in this Sacrament of Marriage, husband and wife, in their love, mirror the love that Jesus has for His Bride, the Church. The stronger the love between spouses, the better able we are to catch a glimpse of Jesus. Yes, Jesus will be there. Will you? Come, because every Mass is a banquet of love between Jesus, the Bridegroom, and we, His people, His bride. Go now and mark your calendars for Sunday, July 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Alleghenies next to the Basilica of Saint Michael The Bureau Drawer By Susan Stith Come To The Wedding Feast In Loretto the Archangel in Loretto. Invite friends and relatives. Consider this an informal anniversary celebration, even if the actual anniversary date is months away! Invite your dear ones to come along. Come early and picnic on the beautiful lawn, or visit the historic Prince Gallitzin Chapel House (open Sundays 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.). Bring a lawn chair. If it rains, Mass will be in the Basilica. Refreshments are available afterwards compliments of World Wide Marriage Encounter. The news that Mother Mary Angeline Teresa McCrory, foundress of the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm has been found to have lived a life of heroic virtue and been granted the title “Venerable” is particularly welcome here in the Diocese of Altoona – Johnstown. For almost 50 years, since the day when Mother Angeline Teresa came herself to Hollidaysburg to be present for the opening of Garvey Manor, her spiritual daughters have served lovingly here, among us. Many of us in this local Church have known on a personal level, the tender loving care that the Carmelite Sisters provide on a daily basis to the residents of Garvey Manor, and to the families of the residents. My Grandfather Ferramini was cared for at Garvey Manor for almost six years; I was able to see and experience for myself the difference that the Carmelite Sisters make in the lives of the elderly. I had the privilege of recently spending a pleasant Friday afternoon with the five Carmelite Sisters now serving at Garvey Manor and Our Lady of the Alleghenies Residence, adjacent to the Diocesan Administration Center. We met to talk about Mother Angeline Teresa. The gracious, hospitable Sisters spoke with love of their foundress, recalling her as a simple, humble woman of God, a loyal daughter of the Church, someone who always put the needs of others before her own. The Sisters spoke of Mother Angeline’s devotion to her Carmelite vocation. Many years ago, I was invited to give a day of reflection to the Sisters at Garvey Manor, and in doing some research for my talks to the community, I learned that the white mantle that the Carmelite Sisters wear at Mass honors the tradition that the first Carmelite was the Old Testament prophet, Elijah. Wearing the white mantle reminds the Carmelites that theirs is a prophetic vocation. And when it comes to the care of the aged and the infirm, Mother Angeline Teresa and her Sisters have truly been prophets! Mother Angeline Teresa was formed in the religious life by the Little Sisters of the Poor. That French – founded community had, during the early days of Mother’s religious life, a strong devotion to the customs and traditions of the Motherhouse. Mother Angeline Teresa saw clearly that those customs would have to be adapted when caring for elderly people in the United States. Her vision of what homes for the aged could and should be like led her to found her Carmelite community, where residents (never “inmates” or “patients”) would live in a homelike environment, treated by the Sisters as members of their own families, with an emphasis on loving hospitality for everyone who passed through the doors of one of their homes. Mother Angeline was both prophet and pioneer in the care of the elderly. Many of the things that she incorporated into her homes are now legislated as being required means of care by federal and state regulatory agencies. This great woman of faith made a difference, not only for the aged people of her own time, but for the elderly who live in her homes - - and other care homes - - today. But what makes Mother Angeline Teresa worthy of veneration is not her pioneering, prophetic stance for quality care for the elderly and the ill. What makes her worthy of veneration is that in the midst of that very active apostolate she remained a woman of faith, a woman of prayer, a woman in love with God and with God’s holy people. She is a woman worthy of imitation and emulation. If our prayer is as fruitful in good works as was hers, we will have helped her memory live on, and like her will have done much to build up the Kingdom of God.
The Catholic Register, July 16, 2012 Page 5 School Choice Success! By A.B. Hill School choice advocates are celebrating a victory in Harrisburg! Governor Tom Corbett signed the tax code bill that expands the existing Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, eliminates the delay for some companies that wish to contribute, and creates another category of tax-credit supported scholarships called EITC 2.0 targeted at students in neighborhoods with perpetually underperforming public schools. Both EITC 1.0 and EITC 2.0 programsare funded by companies that contribute to scholarship organizations in exchange for a tax credit. The longstanding EITC 1.0 program has helped tens of thousands of students attend the school of their choice, including Catholic schools. The EITC 2.0 program will help thousands more by creating special scholarships particularly for income eligible students in the lowest performing 15% of public schools. This legislation also authorizes school districts to elect to establish their own scholarship grant program, using the state subsidy, for students who want to attend nonpublic schools or public schools in other districts. “It took political courage in a tough budget year to invest in educational reforms for low and middle income families,” said Dr. Robert J. O’Hara, Jr., executive director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference (PCC). “But the students and parents who will benefit are grateful to legislators and the governor forthe chance to pursue a better futureimmediately.” The state budget allocates $100 million for EITC ($25 million more than last year) and another $50 million for the new EISC program. Sean McAleer, PCC’s director of education, commended Governor Tom Corbett, Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, Senate President Pro Tem Joseph Scarnati (R-Jefferson), Senate Majority Leader Dominic Piliggi (R-Delaware), Sen. Jeffrey Piccola (R-Dauphin), Sen. Anthony Williams (D-Philadelphia), Speaker of the House Sam Smith (R-Indiana), House Majority Leader Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), Rep. Jim Christiana (R-Beaver) and Rep. Mike Vereb (R-Philadelphia) for their leadership. “But the real champions of school choice are the members of ourCatholic Advocacy Network,” he said. “Thousands of concerned parents, teachers, parishioners, taxpayers and studentstook their civic responsibility seriously and contacted state lawmakersin support of school choice.” The Bishops of Pennsylvania declared school choice to be a defining social justice issue of our society. This expansion of EITC moves Pennsylvania one step closer to a system of education that truly reinforces that parents – not the state – are the primary educators of their children. Who Qualifies For Scholarships? EITC 1.0 scholarships are available to students with a household income of $60,000 per year plus $12,000 per dependent. So a family of four making up to $84,000 per year may qualify for an EITC scholarship Next year the base income increases to $75,000 per year and $15,000 per dependent. These scholarships are available to all families, regardless of where they live. EITC 2.0 or EISC scholarships are reserved for students who live within the geographic boundary of one of the 15% lowest performing public schools.Families earning less than 185% of the federal poverty line (or about $43,000 per year for a family of four) and families in certain financially distressed school districts are given a priority. Scholarships may be awarded up to $8,500 ($15,000 for special education students), but not to exceed actual tuition and fees. What Companies Can Get A Tax Credit? Companies that do business in Pennsylvania and pay certain taxes (search “EITC” at www.newpa.com for a complete list) may receive a tax credit for their contribution to a scholarship organization. The tax credits awarded to businesses will be equal to 75 percent of their contribution amount, which can be increased to 90 percent upon the business committing for two years. Businesses may receive a maximum credit of $400,000 this year and $750,000 next year ($200,000 for Pre-K contributions). All companies compete for the tax credits by submitting their applications on the same deadline (July 1). A lag-period for pass-through entities has been eliminated. When Does The Program Start? Immediately. Students may apply for scholarships now to attend the school of their choice this fall. Who Do We Thank? School choice advocates should thank Governor Tom Corbett and Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, but also these local lawmakers. If your legislator is on this list, visit, call, write or email him or her through the Catholic Advocacy Network at www.pacatholic.org. Legislators From Our Diocese Who Voted For School Choice Representatives Richard Allen Geist Dick L. Hess Photo By Monsignor Timothy P. Stein SCHOOL VISIT: Bishop Mark L. Bartchak engaged in a question and answer session with students when he visited Altoona Central Catholic School in January. Jerry A. Stern Bryan Barbin Frank Burns Kerry A. Benninghoff Senators John N. Wozniak Richard A. Kasunic Jake Corman John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (A. B. Hill is Communications Director of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference – the public affairs arm of Pennsylvania’s Catholic bishops and the Catholic dioceses of Pennsylvania. Stay up-to-date with Catholic news and issues at www. pacatholic.org, www.facebook. com/pacatholic, and www.twitter.com/pacatholic.)
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Page 7 and 8: Illinois Catholics Rejoice That Arc
Page 9 and 10: Q. Recently, my wife and I attended
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July 16, 2012 - Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown

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