Author Archives: Miller

Mother of the Church

Many, many years ago, when I was merely 4 years old, I had an experience of my mother’s protection and love that still fills my eyes with tears today.

My mother had a soft, lamb’s wool bath robe that was salmon in color. When I was sick, or frightened, or just in need in some loving, my mother would wrap me in her arms under the folds of this soft robe. She would rock me and hum folk songs of Ireland that her mother had taught her. I never learned the words to these songs, but their melody hummed through her lips, as well as the softness of her robe, always brought me consolation. As I grew, this magical robe became the means through which I would defend the world from the attacks of an evil dragon, as joyfully played by my brother.

St. Rose of Lima School Celebrates Anniversary with Centennial Mass

Students, faculty, parents and graduates of St. Rose of Lima School in Thomasville celebrated the school’s 100th anniversary during a Mass and a dinner in York on April 27. The centennial was highlighted by Mass celebrated by Bishop Ronald Gainer.

The school was founded in September of 1919 by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and originally located adjacent to the parish church in York, a few blocks from the fairgrounds. In 2001, St. Rose of Lima School moved to its current location in Thomasville, a suburban area west of the city.

Enrollment Management Workshops Give School Leaders Concrete Ideas for ‘Advancing the Mission’

The more than 80 school leadership personnel attending enrollment management workshops at the Diocesan Center in Harrisburg this spring are returning to their schools with concrete suggestions for bolstering enrollment, retention and image.

And they couldn’t be more excited about putting these examples into action.

Exemplary Service and Growth Result in Consecutive Double Star Award for Knights at Holy Infant Parish

A flourish in membership numbers and a dynamic quantity of activities have earned the Father Edward Gerrity Council #10474 of the Knights of Columbus a prestigious accolade from the Supreme Council: the Double Star Council Award.

The award is given to councils that exhibit service to the Church and community, increase members’ awareness of the fraternal benefits of the organization’s insurance program, and double their quota for new membership.

God-Given Talent, School Support are Keys for Student’s Spot in Carnegie Hall Performance

For Antonio Centenera, an eighth-grader at St. Patrick School in Carlisle, the way to get to Carnegie Hall is more than just practice.

A combination of natural skill, support at home and encouragement in school and extracurriculars has led the 14-year-old student to earn a spot performing this June at the world-renowned New York City venue.

Antonio’s audition for the American Association for Development of the Gifted and Talented earned him a gold medal and a performance spot in the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall on June 23. He’ll be one of 16 pianists in eight age groups to share that honor.

Catholic Kite Day at St. Teresa’s

Students from St. Teresa of Calcutta School in the Adams Deanery ran across the fields of the school’s Conewago campus on April 12 for Catholic Kite Day. The outdoor activity was the culmination of a STEM lesson in which students from both campuses – grades K-3 at Conewago and grades 4-8 at McSherrystown – designed and built kites. Rainy skies held off for most of the afternoon’s kite flying session, which included a repair station for solutions to resume flight.

Mary: Trust, Hope and Strength

Some time ago, I came down with a case of the shingles at a place on my body where the sun doesn’t shine. I had always heard that this virus was very painful. In reality, I had no idea how painful it actually would be.

On the second day after my diagnosis, as the rash blossomed, the pain was horrible. I could not sit, stand or even lie down. I could not pray. All I could do was finger the beads of my Rosary, allowing the tears to stream down my face. I prayed, “Dearest Jesus. How, as a human, could your body withstand all the suffering and the pain and the sins of all humanity for all time on the cross?” As I said these words out loud, I burst into tearful sobs. His response to me was deeply profound.  I heard a gentle whisper, “I could because my mother stood near me.”

New Catholic Meditation App Breaches Secular Digital Market

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

How many times have you prayed the words? Innumerable. But with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul, have you truly entered into them?

A new app makes that possible. Named “Hallow,” it offers guided meditation sessions over the course of five 10 or 15 minutes that lead users through prayer, calmly and carefully, step-by-step.