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Msgr. John
Seidenschwang Council [11836] |
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35 Dartmouth Street | |
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Garden City, NY, 11530 | |
516-324-4869 |
Our Pastor
Monsignor Thomas J. Harold
BY MSGR. THOMAS HAROLD
Msgr. Thomas Harold, pastor of St. Anne’s parish, Garden City,
was in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, April 27, 2014, when Popes John
XXIII and John Paul II were canonized. Here is his report from Rome:
We have just returned from the Second Sunday of Easter Mass and the
Rite of Canonization on this Divine Mercy Sunday. A historic day and once
in a lifetime experience for all the Church and for all us pilgrims who
made the voyage from all different parts of the world. As Pope John XXIII
and Pope John Paul II were canonized by Pope Francis, in the presence of
Pope Benedict XVI, all of us at St. Peter’s and in the surrounding
streets realized it was a day of special significance, not only for our
Church, but also for the faith of each of us. It was a day of vibrant
faith, encouraging hope, and love for the Lord and these two great saints
who were so significant these past 50 years to our lives of faith.
The day began ominously with thick gray clouds and the threat of rain.
Only a few drops came before heavy rains that have now come in the early
evening. From the streets in all directions, the pilgrims in the very
early hours began the trek to St. Peter’s. Some carried sleeping bags.
Because the crowds were so large and forward progress became so slow even
a mile away from our destination, the temptation to turn back was strong.
Creative paths to St. Peter’s were sought. Some jumped fences or scaled
walls, police whistles shrilly calling them back to supervised and safer
ways. Our group of four, now split into two pairs, both fully determined
to arrive at their desired spots, decided to cross to the other side of
the Tiber and take a circuitous route. Soon, I and a fellow pastor found
ourselves behind St. Peter’s in a high speed traffic tunnel, whisking
dignitaries to a specially determined gate. Although we were more like the
hundreds of thousand pilgrims, we did have blue tickets that allowed us to
enter the same gate. Quickly we were ushered into the square by volunteers
and police who numbered in the thousands.
Soon we found ourselves with about 5000 other priests in a section
about 300 yards from the altar where Pope Francis would celebrate Mass.
This long, windy odyssey to our seats was a first sign this day that God
wanted us at this Mass. Caught in a throng of the Polish faithful at 7:30
a.m., it seemed we would never get to St. Peter’s. We were assured
earlier in the week by beautiful and kind Sister of Mercy that Saint John
Paul never forgets his priests. Sister’s words proved true despite the
struggle of the early morning walk. The priests in this section were from
many different places, many much younger than myself and many from Poland.
It is true that our new saint has inspired many vocations. May he continue
to do so.
St. Anne parishioners, Jon and Lilly Schwieger began their journey at
5:00 a.m. After their circuitous route, which also included a double
crossing of the Tiber, they located themselves on the Via Della
Conciliation, the main avenue leading directly into the Square. Jon and
Lilly were in the midst of a large group of pilgrims, including religious
sisters, South American pilgrims, and French youth. Able to see directly
into the Square, they were assisted by large television screens and a
strong sound system. Jon remarked about the enthusiasm of the youth,
marked by their singing, and the reverence of everyone during the liturgy
which so paralleled the Sunday Mass of his home parish.
Jon noted that this papal liturgy was shorter than the Easter Vigil
liturgy at St. Anne’s. Perhaps Francis’ brevity of homily might
encourage the local pastor! Jon commented,” The Mass book given to all,
with its many translations, allowed all to follow easily and made us all
feel as one in our participation. Language was no barrier.” Unity and a
sense of oneness has been a theme of this pilgrimage and today’s
liturgy.
After prayerful preparation for the celebration, the Rite of
Canonization and Eucharistic Celebration began with a Litany to the
Saints. As part of the preparation, the crowd enthusiastically greeted
Pope Benedict XVI. During the litany we greeted Pope Francis who came at
the end of the procession. Pope Francis greeted us as we are greeted at
every Mass. Cardinal Angelo Amato then offered three direct and simple
petitions to Pope Francis asking that JohnXXIII and John Paul II be
enrolled among the Saints. Led by Francis, we prayed to God and invoked
the Holy Spirit to be with us in this “matter of such importance.” For
the Honor of the Blessed Trinity, the exaltation of the Catholic Faith and
the increase of Christian life, Pope Francis declared and defined two of
his predecessors as Saints. After the presentation of the saints’
relics, the pilgrims sang in jubilation and thunderous applause followed
again as Francis concluded the rite: Decernimus - “We so
decree.”
What a great and historical moment. Two popes of the lifetime of many
of us present become Saints. Our present pope and his living predecessor,
joining together in this celebration of the Eucharist at the Table of the
Lord, lead us in rejoicing at this sacred event.
Still, the entire Liturgy was so familiar. The Mass at St. Peter’s
today, the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, the Octave Day of
Easter celebrated exactly as this Mass was celebrated in parishes all over
the world. The presence of the Risen Lord proclaimed in the gospel; the
gift of faith given to Thomas who doubted; the gift of peace given as the
Lord breathed on the disciples. How both John XXIII and John Paul II
allowed the Holy Spirit to work through them in their leadership as Vicar
of Christ; in Vatican Council II; in the love, respect and defense of
human life; in freeing people from tyranny and oppression. How Benedict
brought the Holy Spirit of wisdom to the world in his writings and in his
discernment for himself and the Church at the close of his Petrine
ministry. How Francis has sought to allow the breath of the Risen and
Glorified Lord to bring the joy of the Gospel in these first months of his
papacy. And how Francis weaves today’s Gospel themes of forgiveness and
mercy into his daily words.
Today is a day to be inspired by the holiness of our two new Saints.
Today is a day to be challenged by the words and example of Francis. Today
is a day to give thanks and praise to God for the gift of Easter, the gift
of new life, the gift of mercy, the gift of personal holiness given by
these two men to the whole world, the gift of our two new saints and the
gift of our Church and all who serve and lead our Church.
As I stood and prayed with thousands of fellow pilgrims, how grateful I
am for their faith and reverence, their joy and jubilant song and flag
waving, their patience with one another as we stood in enormous lines, and
our coming together in the name of the Risen, led in prayer by our Holy
Father Francis as he sanctified our past and reminded us again of the need
for faith, mercy and forgiveness as we seek to love and live lives filled
with the breath of the Holy Spirit as our pilgrimage of faith and life
continues. I am grateful for the grace and many prayers of this
pilgrimage.
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