A
Church ‘so blessed’
at its Bicentennial
By Christie L. Chicoine
CS&T Staff Writer
VILLANOVA — The Church of Philadelphia closed its yearlong Bicentennial
celebration on Sunday, April 13, with a late afternoon Mass that drew
more than 5,000 Catholics to the Pavilion at Villanova University.
“We’re just so blessed to have a Church that is true —
and stays true — to the teachings of Jesus Christ through the centuries,”
said John Monastra, 38, a husband and father of five from St. Agnes Parish
in Sellersville, Bucks County. “That’s what we’re celebrating
here,” he said.
With Monastra at the Mass were his wife, Kerry, 36, and their three sons
and two daughters: Daniel, 8; Isaiah, 6; Gianna, 5; Samuel, 3, and Maryanna,
1. Raising their children Catholic is a priority for the Monastras —
and they were grateful that the Mass highlighted the role of the family.
“We just feel so blessed to have these children, and to have the
Catholic faith to raise them with,” Monastra said. “We want
them to have that knowledge and that gift of assurance of our Savior.”
Cardinal Justin Rigali was the principal celebrant and homilist. “Our
200-year history testifies to what can be accomplished when we trust in
Jesus Christ and place ourselves at His service,” said the Cardinal.
“Spectacular” was how 81-year-old Jim Battin of Nativity of
Our Lord Parish in Warminster, Bucks County, summed up the Mass.
“It was a lesson of a lifetime and a privilege of a lifetime,”
added his wife, 79-year-old Mary Lou.
The ethnic diversity of the Archdiocese was evident throughout the Mass,
beginning with a procession that included colorful banners representing
the countries of origin of thousands of immigrant Catholics in the Archdiocese.
“I’m very proud that we’re celebrating the 200 years,
but I’m also sending prayers that all the Catholics who have strayed
away will come home,” said Buffy Red Feather Brown, a Native American
from St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in the Mount Airy section of
Philadelphia.
More than 300 priests concelebrated the liturgy, which also drew four
additional cardinals and numerous archbishops and bishops — many
of whom have Philadelphia roots. Among those traveling a great distance
home was Philadelphia native Archbishop Edward J. Adams, papal nuncio
to the Philippines.
“It was a magnificent celebration,” said another native son,
Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy
Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He is headquartered in Rome
“It was a privilege, an honor and a joy for me to be back here for
the 200th anniversary,” added Cardinal Foley, a former editor of
The Catholic Standard & Times. “I’m very grateful to the
Archdiocese of Philadelphia for everything that the successive archbishops
and all the people have done for me.”
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge of the North Carolina Diocese of Raleigh said
he cleared his calendar as soon as the date for the closing bicentennial
Mass was announced. “I know I would not be a priest today if it
weren’t for all the great experiences I’ve had in the Archdiocese,”
said the former auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and former rector of
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood. “I rejoice in a special
way today.”
Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of the Diocese of Las Vegas — a former chancellor
of the Philadelphia Archdiocese — said he was happy to help celebrate
“a great day for Philadelphia.” The tradition of the Catholic
faith here “has really led me to where I am in Las Vegas,”
Bishop Pepe added. “I’m really appreciative.”
For Bishop Joseph A. Galante of the Diocese of Camden, N.J. — a
former vicar for religious of the Philadelphia Archdiocese — the
bicentennial celebration provided “a whole kaleidoscope of memories.”
Bishop Joseph F. Martino of the Diocese of Scranton — a former auxiliary
bishop of the Philadelphia Archdiocese — said it was “wonderful
to be home” for the bicentennial. He said he was grateful for the
Archdiocese’s 200 years of history.
Numerous civic officials and ecumenical and interreligious leaders also
attended.
That the Church of Philadelphia has been a diocese for 200 years “gives
hope to people,” said Byzantine Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop of
Philadelphia Stefan Soroka. “We need this — we need to celebrate
and recognize what’s been accomplished.”
There was also representation from the West Coast. Cardinal Roger Mahony
of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a longtime friend of Cardinal Rigali,
said he was “in awe” of the great historical moment for Philadelphia,
particularly, “what people went through to build up the Church,
and how Christ has been so present to the Church ever since.”
The close of the bicentennial celebration included prayers for Pope Benedict
XVI’s April 15-20 apostolic trip to the United States. The papal
Mass Sunday, April 20, at Yankee Stadium in New York is in part an observance
of the establishment of thethe dioceses of Philadelphia, Boston, New York
and Bardstown, Ky., in 1808.
Seeing the Pope at Yankee Stadium is certain to be a highlight of 17-year-old
Joseph Rodgers’ years in the Archdiocese, he said. Rodgers, a member
of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Coatesville, Chester County, said
he believes it will be a “life-changing experience.” The Pope,
he said, “is our walking Jesus.”
Rodgers said he hopes that 100 years from now Catholics will know how
strongly committed young people in 2008 were to the Catholic faith.
Heather Rasnake, 17, a junior at Cardinal O’Hara High School in
Springfield, Delaware County, agreed. “I love going to Mass,”
she said. Rasnake also raved about the Church-related service projects
she and her Catholic peers perform throughout the year.
Dominic Zengel, 11, of St. Agnes Parish in West Chester, Chester County,
appreciated the history lesson he received at the closing Mass. The home-schooled
youngster was also happy he made archdiocesan history by his attendance.
However, he added: “I can’t go to another one, because it’s
going to be 200 years.”
View highlights of the Bicentennial closing Mass by visiting the archdiocesan
Web site, www.archphila.org.
CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468
or cchicoin@adphila.org.
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