Byy TARA CONNOLLY Staff writer
“Thank you for coming on this beautiful day. This has become a great tradition in our diocese,” said Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert to more than 800 faithful who gathered Sept. 30 for the Diocesan Family Festival at Bethlehem SteelStacks for a day of prayer, fellowship, ethnic foods and fun.
Bishop Schlert opened the day as principal celebrant at an outdoor Mass that featured the Tone Chime Choir of Mercy School for Special Learning, Allentown and music by the Diocesan and Cathedral Choirs.
“Thank you to all of you for bolstering each other in the faith during this troubled time,” said Bishop Schlert.
Reflecting on the First Reading from the Book of Numbers, Bishop Schlert said the reading recounts several people wanting Moses to stop Medad and Eldad from prophesying because they were not at the meeting when the Lord sent his spirit on the chosen elders. Moses refused to stop them because they had received the spirit of God despite not attending the meeting.
“Those who were seeking to do good – were actually stifling the spirit,” he said.
In the Gospel Reading, the apostles try to stop others from driving demons out of others because they were not followers of Jesus. Jesus told the apostles to refrain from stopping them because no one can perform a deed in His name and speak ill of Him at the same time.
“The apostles were downtrodden because they believed it was their job to expel demons. But in actuality, they were really stifling the spirit,” said Bishop Schlert.
“All of us, including me, if we are not careful, can allow this to occur in our everyday life if we let sinfulness go unchecked,” he said.
In his homily, Bishop Schlert also asked the faithful to examine how they approach sin when they see it in others and urged them not to turn a blind eye and to speak to colleagues, friends and family when they see them on a path to sin.
“Starting with me let’s all together resolve not to allow sin or scandal dominate our life. It must come to an end,” he said. “
“Out of love and as a community of faith, we cannot be silent in the face of sin in all of its form. We know what we must do and how to proceed,” he said.
He then offered families a sign of hope by calling seminarians discerning the priesthood to the front of the stage where they were cheered with a standing ovation.
“They are amazing and most courageous men I know. They ultimately want to serve Christ and you,” said Bishop Schlert.
“They are our forebears of our Church. Please pray for them and for others to have the courage to follow them. These men will define us in going forward,” he said.
After Mass, the festival went into full swing with music by Island Time Band, ethnic food stands operated by diocesan parishes, games and bounce house for children, a petting zoo, booth sales of religious article and information tables.
Distinguished Alumni Honored at Festival
This year’s festival also honored six alumni from each diocesan high school for excelling in their careers and providing outstanding service to the school, parish, or community.
Honorees were Joseph Fitzpatrick, Allentown Central Catholic High School; Robert and Catherine Wright, Berks Catholic High School, Reading; Michael Metzger, Bethlehem Catholic High School; George Forney, Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville; Anita Franczak Paukovits, Notre Dame High School, Easton; Robert Roche, Marian High School, Tamaqua.
John Bakey, diocesan chancellor for Catholic education, acknowledged the distinguished alumni and educators in his remarks before Bishop Schlert presented the men and women with their awards.
“Today is a great opportunity to reflect on the gift of Catholic education and remember those who have guided them along their successful journey,” he said.
Bakey also acknowledged the delegates and principals from the diocese’s 31 elementary school, three special learning centers and the six diocesan high school before they were recognized by Bishop Schlert.
“Catholic school education is truly a blessing and worth taking time to celebrate. For all students who attend our schools, we celebrate our dedicated teachers who partner with parents to provide academic excellence, Catholic values, and all the right tools for students to succeed and become the best version of themselves,” said Bakey.
All of us together must resolve that we will not allow, on this issue, or any issue of sin, silence to stand in the way of helping others bolster their spirit on the way to salvation. We are all collaborators with safeguarding the spirit of others.
Our seminarians are our road back to credibility as a clergy. They have been formed in a new way. They have the benefit of added awareness and screening during their formation. They will be the forbearers of a new day in our Church, a Church that will ensure safety for our children.
We have learned a horrible, but very valuable, lesson, unfortunately at the expense of far too many victims. But we know what we must do. We know how we must proceed. Even if silence is permitted in any other institution, it can never be allowed in our Church.
We must resolve not to be silent in the face of sin.”
