Yearly Archives: 2020

Listening from the Heart

Much of my time working in Information Technology is listening to folks describe “what it’s supposed to do” but doesn’t. Sometimes, I have to translate what people are telling me with what I know about how a computer or another technical device works. Sometimes, I have to talk them off the ledge of throwing their computer out a window – literally.

As I began writing this article, the Help Desk phone rang from an individual trying to download a file from the intranet, only to watch it disappear into cyber oblivion. He started our conversation frustrated: “I am going to quit using anything electronic that comes from the Diocese. I hate computers! You folks in IT speak a different language than most people.” I asked him to take a breath and then worked my magic. I connected with his computer and saw that he was saving the document, not just opening it. The fuming gentleman on the phone turned calm and appreciative, very thankful for the bone I threw him!

Knights in New Holland Host Marian Icon in Prayerful Support of Persecuted Christians

Offering prayers and inspiring support for persecuted Christians throughout the world, Gene Skurlak of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in New Holland turns to the Knights of Columbus’ commissioned icon of Our Lady, Help of Persecuted Christians.

“We can pray to Our Mother to end this terrible disease of persecution,” says Skurlak, a member of Council 13451 at the eastern Lancaster County parish.

Holy Family School in Berwick Celebrates Community during Catholic Schools Week

Catholic Schools Week was filled with excitement at Holy Family School in Berwick, as community support for the Columbia County school added to the week of special liturgies, visitors and activities for the students.

The first-grade class was surprised with boxes of school supplies from J.B. Hunt Transportation. The trucking company donated $1,000 worth of items through its national “Adopt a Class” program. Christopher Domanski, the parent of a first-grader at Holy Family, nominated the class to receive the supplies.

Holy Family Chapel at St. Mary’s in Lancaster Restored to 1881 Splendor

Tina Skubon, parish manager at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Lancaster, was overcome with emotion when she entered the newly-renovated Holy Family Chapel in the parish’s former convent.

“When I walked in and saw it, I cried,” she said.

“It’s beautiful and stunning, the result of a tedious effort to restore it back to its original,” Skubon said.

Parish Events Bring Pro-Life Message to Local Communities, Hold Parishioners in Solidarity with Marchers in D.C.

As throngs of people descended upon the nation’s capital on Jan. 24 for the 47th annual Rally and March for Life, Sandra Paveglio stood in solidarity with several dozen men, women and students along Lebanon’s busy noon-time thoroughfare.

Coordinating a Right to Life Rally at the intersection of Route 422 and 8th Street, where the noon bell tolls above Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Paveglio welcomed several dozen people – including students from Lebanon Catholic School – carrying signs and Rosaries as they publicly witnessed to the sanctity of human life.

Eight Diocesan Schools Receive Nearly $150,000 in Safety Enhancement Grants from the State

Eight Catholic schools in the Diocese have received a combined $147,520 in state-funded grants to enhance the safety and security of their campuses.

The grants were awarded through the Safe Schools Initiative Targeted Grant for Equipment, a project of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Its purpose is to assist schools by providing funding for security planning, purchase of security-related technology, and training in the use of security-related technology.

Philadelphia Welcomes Homes a Son as New Archbishop

Proclaiming his successor as “exactly the man our Church needs,” Archbishop Charles J. Chaput introduced Archbishop-elect Nelson J. Perez, whom Pope Francis named as the next Archbishop of Philadelphia, at a Jan. 23 press conference in Philadelphia.

He will be installed as archbishop Feb. 18 at 2 p.m. in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul. A live stream will be available at http://archphila.org/.

St. Leo the Great School Crafts a Radiant Mosaic

Smiling faces are a given welcome when you first enter St. Leo the Great School, but what is also given for your eyes to see next is a powerfully striking glass mosaic, which radiantly graces the lobby of the Rohrerstown school.

Five years ago when art teacher Kathryn Hemlick was hired, the school’s principal, Christine McLean, showed her the empty space were the school’s office once was and told the artist that a part of her labor would be to fill the empty space with an artistic project. It was the school’s 50th anniversary year when that goal was set. Today, there is a finished, beautifully fit exquisite mosaic – named the Seven Sacrament Mosaic – depicting the seven sacramental tenets of the Catholic faith in bold fashion with nearly 14,000 pieces of multiple hued glass pieces cut to every size and angle. That sheer number alone illustrates the immense amount of time and effort that was given to this roughly 6-by-8 foot masterpiece.

Students at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Adopt a Grandfather

Students at Our Mother of Perpetual Help School in Ephrata have lovingly adopted Walter Zaleskie as the “Grandfather of OMPH Catholic School Children.”

Over the last several years, Zaleskie and his family have been very generous to Our Mother pf Perpetual Help School through their support of time, talent and financial gifts. They provided air conditioning for the classrooms in the main building, fulfilled many wishes on the school’s “Wish Trees” and have been very generous benefactors of the Treasure Island Auction.

New Deadline for Catholic School Families to Apply for Neumann Scholarships is March 1

Families applying for tuition assistance through the Diocese’s Neumann Scholarship Foundation for the 2020-2021 school year are being advised of a new application deadline, March 1.

In previous years, the deadline was April 15, coinciding with the tax deadline. Pennsylvania law requires the most recent tax return to determine a family’s qualification for the scholarships, made possible through the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.