By TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer
“I wanted to have Evening Prayer for the young adults in the diocese to remind you about what I said to you when I became bishop. That is, you are the treasure of the Church and the future of the Church,” said Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert Oct. 13 during Solemn Vespers for young adults at Holy Ghost, Bethlehem.
Bishop Schlert presided at the service, which is one of five extended prayers that comprise the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office.
“Vespers is far too infrequently celebrated. It’s real gem in liturgical praise and worship. It is a great joy to be here with you this evening,” he said.
By offering praise to God at these designated times, the Church heeds St. Paul’s exhortation to “pray without ceasing” and in this way consecrates all time and activity to God.
“When we come together for Liturgy of the Hours, we pray for the universal Church and pray together for the needs of the Church,” said Bishop Schlert to an estimated 50 young men and women.
Acknowledging what he called a “rather turbulent” time in the Church, he told the young adults that God has given the Church their youthfulness, hope, joy, desire to build up the Church and enthusiasm.
“We live in a time in the Church where the Church has something to offer you and you have something to offer the Church,” said Bishop Schlert.
“Each one of you is a living stone that the Church needs to travel back on the path to holiness,” he added.
He affirmed that the Church recently walked away from its call to universal holiness but looked to the saints and Pope Paul VI for their unwaveringness during crisis.
“Pope Paul VI was steadfast as a successor of Peter despite so much pressure within the Church and outside the Church,” he said.
“We have something to give,” he said. “The Church offers you stability in life that is sometimes fraught with noise and clutter.”
In turn, Bishop Schlert told the young adults that their joy, enthusiasm and ability to want to grow in holiness is what they give to the Church.
“I encourage you to offer to the Church all of the gifts that you have,” he said.
Among other gifts, Bishop Schlert told the young men and women that their ability to speak to their peers can bring about considerable growth in the diocese.
“We must go out to our brothers and sisters on the peripheries,” he asked.
According to Bishop Schlert, the persons on the peripheries can be right in front of them.
“We don’t have to go great distances for peripheries. The peripheries can be very close to us. It can be our coffee buddy, the person sitting next to us in class or a sibling,” he said.
“It is our call to accompany them back to a life of holiness. That path must ultimately lead to the truth.”
Even in the darkest times, he told the young adults, it is critical for them to reinvigorate and rediscover the Church.
“That’s why you are our future. You weren’t tainted by its unholiness,” said Bishop Schlert.
Unlike his generation, he lauded the young men and women for returning to devotions, praying the rosary, Eucharistic adoration and 40 Hours.
“My generation put those things aside. You are living at a time of rediscovery. As painful as the events are, these events and scandals will lead us back to holiness of life,” said Bishop Schlert.
“The Holy Spirit led us back to an awareness of holiness. We understand the central role of the Blessed Mother as a mother, guide and intercessor. We rediscovered the Holy Eucharist, bringing converts and new vocations to the Church.”
Bishop Schlert then pointed to the young adults as his “greatest hope” and announced the formation of the Commission for
Young Adults for him to listen to regarding their needs and desires.
“The Church needs to embrace you and offer you stability and holiness that the world can’t offer,” he said.
Among the young adults participating in Vespers were Angela Quaglio, 21, and Molly Carnish, 20, students at DeSales.
Quaglio said she was interested to hear Bishop Schlert’s message and was glad to learn that he has a great deal of faith in her generation.
“He mentioned that we should think of a person in our life who could use a spiritual guide to accompany them and bring them closer to their faith. This really resonated with me. I feel that young adults owe it to each other to work together to bring each other closer to God,” she said.
“We can only do this together, and that is why programs and events such as the Vespers Service are so important. I loved experiencing the service with so many other young people, and it made me feel like the Church is in good hands,” said Quaglio.
Carnish, a member of the DeSales’ Liturgical Choir, who spoke with Bishop Schlert during the social, said his message to young adults was very encouraging.
“He views us as the future and even formed a new committee of young adults to help advise him in young adult affairs and to better bridge the gap between the two generations,” she said.
“Bishop Schlert kept thanking us. It was a lovely service and I am thankful for the opportunity I received to sing at it with my peers.”
