Author Archives: Miller

Diocesan Pastoral Council Holds Inaugural Meeting

Fulfilling his promise to involve more lay member in Diocesan operations, Bishop Ronald Gainer hosted the first meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council in early February. This board includes nearly 30 lay members, two religious sisters, two permanent deacons and two priests.

The Council is a consultative board that assists Bishop Gainer by providing advice, presenting his questions to the faithful whom the council members represent, and assisting with researching and coordinating Diocesan programs and activities. This Council also assists the faithful by presenting their concerns to Bishop Gainer, serving as a constructive means of communication between the faithful and Bishop Gainer.

Create a Safe, Sacred Space for Listening

One of the pictures I treasure from my childhood is of me when I was probably two years old. I was dressed in a bright pink frilly dress and my thin blond hair was a mass of wispy, unruly ringlets. My sister, who was ten at the time, stood holding me, dressed in the same dress as me. We were both next to a spindly cherry tree in full bloom with pink blossoms.

As the tree and I both grew, I discovered that I found a sacred place under its boughs. You see, the root system of this tree grew very close to the surface. Within its twists and turns, I found a spot that perfectly supported not only my back but also my neck and head. Under this tree, I learned how to read, how to sew invisible stitches on a hem and how to play chess. Under its boughs, I felt God’s protective love because, nestled within its root system, I discovered a safe space.

At St. Margaret Mary, Catholic Schools Week Highlighted by Mass with Bishop

Catholic Schools Week is a spirited time for students, and the celebration was heightened even more so for students at St. Margaret Mary School in Harrisburg, who welcomed Bishop Ronald Gainer on Jan. 29.

The bishop celebrated Mass in the school gym, and visited classrooms to interact with the students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

Seminarian Aaron Lynch and St. Charles Classmates Blessed by Encounter with Pope Francis during Pilgrimage to Italy

A planned pilgrimage led to an unexpected encounter with Pope Francis for about a dozen seminarians from St. Charles Borromeo in Philadelphia last month.

Aaron Lynch, a seminarian of the Diocese of Harrisburg, and his Theology III classmates were in Italy on pilgrimage as part of a formation program made possible by an endowment from the late Auxiliary Bishop Louis DeSimone of Philadelphia, who died in October of 2018.

At Our Lady of the Angels School, ‘Apostles Assemble’ to Welcome Bishop

Challenging and supporting students to do good works for the benefit of others, Our Lady of the Angels School in Columbia has adopted the theme, “Apostles Assemble” this school year.

Stemming from the popular Marvel and DC comics, the “Apostles Assemble” motto is a motivator for students to contribute and volunteer, complete with student t-shirts and a logo.

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.