Author Archives: Miller

Project Rachel Offers Healing to Those Suffering in the Aftermath of Abortion

“I couldn’t get over what I had done. I was so broken. I begged God for forgiveness for what seemed like a million times, but never knew how to forgive myself.”

Becky Biter was in the throes of post-abortion traumatic stress, suffering from two abortions she’d had as a teenager. She knew what she had done. In the years that followed, she cried constantly, struggled to function as a stay-at-home mom, lost hope for her future, and contemplated suicide.

Conference Upholds ‘Women of Light’ against Destruction of Sexual Revolution

“You are women and this revolution has mostly been conducted in your name. We have the credibility to say, ‘It’s not working. It’s a failure.’”

This is the message Helen Alvaré shared with nearly 700 women who attended the annual Diocesan Women’s Conference, Women of Light, Sisters in Christ, on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg.

At Red Mass, Parable of Rich Man and Lazarus Offers Message on Using Gifts from God

What does a holy lawyer look like?

Bishop Ronald Gainer posed this question in his homily at the Diocesan Red Mass, celebrated Oct. 7 at St. Patrick Cathedral in Harrisburg.

The annual liturgy takes place as the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new session, and invokes the wisdom of the Holy Spirit on behalf of judges, attorneys, legislators and all who are involved in public service.

Advance Medical Directives: Planning for Your Future

Rosa* knew from experience the difficulties and expenses of watching a loved one die. She was totally devoted to her husband as he suffered and died from cancer eight years earlier. The idea of high medical bills, “tubes” and pain upset her, and even though she had not viewed her husband as a burden, she feared being one to her family.

Then, Rosa was hospitalized with a terrible urinary tract infection which made her dehydrated, weak and confused. Her daughter Teresa had been appointed as her health care agent. Teresa met with the medical staff, who helped her understand that the proposed treatments would not cause an undue burden to her mother. In fact, they would be temporary and appropriate care in Rosa’s situation. Teresa was grateful that the medications, nutrition and hydration that Rosa was given, all through “tubes,” cured her infection. Rosa is now as active as she has ever been and realizes that there are certain situations that can’t be anticipated when illness comes. It’s best not to refuse future care that may turn out to be very welcome.

A Celebration of Hispanic Faith and Culture

More than 500 faithful gathered at Corpus Christi Church in Chambersburg for the annual Hispanic Cultural Mass on Sept. 29. Bishop Ronald Gainer was the main celebrant and homilist for the Mass in Spanish. The faithful joined the bishop for a social, featuring various Latino ethnic foods, costumed festive dances and family-oriented drama productions. Father Luis Rodriguez, pastor, and Father Richard Lyons, parochial vicar, concelebrated Mass and hosted the celebratory event.

The Mass is an annual activity of the Diocesan Hispanic Apostolate, which provides spiritual and pastoral services to the Hispanic community of the diocese. It recently hosted a Couples Retreat in Spanish, focusing on the healing power of forgiveness and how to live a Christ-centered life as a family.

Listen with Your Eyes

The newness of the school year had finally worn off. The morning rituals of getting everyone ready for school and work, and the evening rituals of preparing a meal started to become a chore rather than just a part of life.

In the midst of these doldrums, an eight-year-old boy became a prophetic influence to his mom.

The two stories I shared are stories that are very close to my heart. Stories that make you wonder and reflect. Stories that demand to be told or to be read to by someone, rather than just reading them. A good story told to us by a skilled storyteller makes us actually listen.

Bishop Malesic Visits Former Parish

Members of Holy Infant Parish in Manchester were overjoyed to welcome a former pastor, Bishop Edward C. Malesic of Greensburg, on Sept. 29. The bishop visited his former parishioners during a potluck dinner before leading them in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as part of the parish’s Eucharistic Day.

‘That Man is You’ Program Helps Men Navigate Daily Demands and Challenges

A prevalent men’s ministry is growing within the Diocese of Harrisburg and attracting several thousand to its 26 weekly meetings for enlightenment and camaraderie to live as Catholic men.

Now a successful and popular program, it was initially met with a negative reaction.

Diocesan Seminarians Express Gratitude to 400 Benefactors at Fishers of Men Dinner

“We know that our future is bright and we know that these men merit your support,” Father Jonathan Sawicki, Diocesan Director of Vocations, told the crowd of 400 at the annual Fishers of Men Dinner.

The attendees filled the dining room at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg on Oct. 4 in a demonstration of their financial and prayerful support of seminarian education and formation.

World Mission Sunday ~ October 20

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This year, October 20th marks a very special World Mission Sunday, our annual, worldwide Eucharistic celebration of our shared call to mission. It takes place during an Extraordinary Missionary Month, called for by Pope Francis in honor of the 100th anniversary of Pope Benedict XV’s Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud, which emphasized the missionary call to proclaim the Gospel.

During this month of October, Pope Francis invites us – all baptized Christians – to a personal encounter with Jesus Christ through prayer, meditation on the Word of God, and pilgrimage. We move beyond the typical “heroic vision” of missionaries and reinforce the transforming relationship between faith and the world to which we are all called. Pope Francis reminds us that we are each “Baptized and Sent”; we are all the “Church of Christ on Mission in the World.”