Snip:

"To be honest, this is driving me away from the church," said Karen Countryman, 63, a parishioner since she was 10.

For Denise Mungiole, moving to a new parish after 21 years is akin to a "death," a fact that the bishop is doing little to allay, she said. "This is my church, my faith," she said. "You get invested."

Pamala Messina, who grew up at Most Holy Redeemer, forced herself to go to Mass recently at St. Patrick's. She was so shaken up, she said, she left in tears.

"I want to go to St. Pat's," she said. "I can't do it."

Nothing can shake her faith, Mrs. Medany said. She will celebrate Mass -- not at Holy Angels, because she cannot set foot in there, she said, but somewhere. Nobody should be surprised, though, if she takes a piece of her church with her. Her family donated a pew decades ago to honor her brother, who died fighting in World War II.

"When you see in the papers a story about an old woman who was walking down Delsea Drive with a pew on her back, you'll know it's me," she said

From Jan. 31st paper: Read NY Times Article HERE

We are glad that the NY Times chose to profile Most Holy Redeemer in Deptford Township, but unfortunately the premise of the article is largely wrong. They assume that attendance is dwindling and that there is a priest shortage, that somehow the parishes slated to close are closing because they have financial difficulties. Those of us who are paying attention to the facts know that this is not the case. We have spoken to employess of the Diocese who work in Camden who have told us, off the record, that the the closure pattern makes no sense from a parish financial stability point of view, so something else must be going on. (We have been repeatedly told that many of the churches that are to remain open or that are seats of the mergers are among the worst off financially.) We have shown that the priest shortage is, in reality, not the case statistically and where it is not, it is being created by the Chancery in the form of priest reassignments (usually away from service to parishes) and the discouragement of priestly vocations.

Though the NY Times article seems sympathetic to parishioners and their "pain," it fails to question the basic presumptions of the mergers/closures and the motivations of the bishop who has spearheaded the travesty. Sadly, they buy all the numbers spewed by the Diocesan officials, and in this sense it is poor journalism because we've seen these "facts" regurgitated before.

The bottom line is that our parishes are a part of our Catholic history, identity, and the way we worship. A good parish should also be a community of faith, and this is nothing that should be taken for granted. It is a sad state of our Church when, even if a parish was having financial difficulties, that that would be justification enough for its forcible closure. For example, what in the world is the Bishop's Appeal for if not to support the Body of Christ?

If a community of Catholics needed to demonstrate its ability to materially support itself before building a church, then what is the point of missionaries to poor areas? What is the point of evangelism? Christ came to teach us many things, among them charity to the poor and the necessity of spreading the Faith. Christ did not come only for those who are financially solvent.* It seems to us that the current Diocesan administration is a sad example of these two basic Christian teachings. Instead of helping those in need, they say instead, "shut 'em down!"

*Luke 6:20: "Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."

Take a good, hard look. We at savestmarys are not saying we agree with all the sentiments expressed, only that this is the inevitable result of the message that is being sent by the Diocese. We are not surprised at people's disillusionment. Souls will be and are being lost.

See also: Keep Wildwood Catholic High School Alive Facebook Page and Save Wildwood Catholic High School Facebook Page

These comments are only from the last few hours from the Wildwood Catholic article. Bishop Galante, Average Joe and Jane Catholic are pissed, disgusted, fed up. Don't you care? People are leaving the church, and those who have already left are feeling justified in their decision. Don't you care? Souls are being lost. Your reputation is in the garbage bin? Don't you care? You will go down as the bishop who single-handedly destroyed the Diocese of Camden and drove people from the Church en masse. It is your job to care. Why don't you care?

Wakeup People the Catholic church has been dieing for the last few years, They have been closing churchs and catholic schools in the area for the last few years. Why would they leave WC open when they can force you to go to HOLY SPIRIT for a lot more money. I am surprised that WC was not closed years ago.

Donnachie: What was your posting about? Especially that last line? If you are a practicing Catholic you should know better than anyone how the institution manipulates the flock toward one end -- and only one end --and that is always money. The whole irony here is that the Catholic Church is the richest organized religion in the world and is now hitting on some tough times with the abuse scandal payouts but we have to believe its coffers are FAR from empty. Many of us know or have read about the Vatican's vast real estate holdings and silent partnerships around the world and the true "business" that the church really is. For hundreds of years, these male church leaders have always been dominant and controlling with little regard for the nuns (except to dictate how they should conduct themselves and their order) and other "second class citizens" (females and children)who serve in different capacities throughout the system.

From "Galante Has To Go"
With all the school and church closings in this diocese, a good businessman would realize that the next step is to consolidate the Diocese of Camden with another, larger diocese. Exactly what is the overhead of keeping Camden as a diocese? The bishop's expenses - living quarters, food, car & drivers, secretaries; the staff at Catholic Charities & Diocesan Housing; the Star Herald newspaper. Wow! We probably could have afforded to keep our schools open if the schools were given the money being used to maintain this top heavy organization.

What an absolute disgrace, the so-called Christian decision makers should be ashamed of themselves. From the start what happened yesterday at Wildwood Catholic High School was horrible. While you can understand the point of financial problems, which raises the question, how did these problems come about? What you did to these poor children and the families was anything but Christian. What it is is just another example of how mismanagement is destroying the catholic lifestyle. So to the local managing body or the Bishop, you could never imagine what it is like to get a phone call from your child, crying uncontrollably saying that they were just told that their high school is closing forever in 6 months. Knowing that after being there for three years of their life, knowing that they will not graduate from their school, the horrible feeling of not knowing where they will go, if they will be with their friends and how this is going to affect the rest of their lives. You made these decisions without any input, concern, questions from the families. I understand that decisions like this are difficult but you could have let the families know what was going on, what was being considered, to give these families and children an idea of what to expect. And what about the teachers and the school administration, these teachers were not told anything, the school administration was not told anything until yesterday about your misguided, ill-managed and totally insensitive decision. Let's talk about the financial point. These people put their heart and soul into this school. Working for less money then any other teacher would in the public sector. I do not blame the teaching and administrative staff of Wildwood Catholic for this disaster; I blame the Catholic Church administrators and the people who were responsible for the decision to close this school. Enrolment is down because tuition is too high. The powers to be would say tuition is high because enrollment is down. You should have "bit the bullet" for a while and lowered tuition to increase enrollment. Most importantly why could you not keep the students at wildwood catholic there until they graduate, or at least keep the junior class of this year there next year to graduate. Its not like the school building is going to be closed,,, you are boosting about how the grade school is moving in there and how wonderful its going to be,,,so keep these kids there and let them graduate over the next three years and then do away with the high school level. It is such a cruel, uncaring decision. Lets not give up! Facebook Keep Wildwood Catholic High School Alive

This is a direct result of problems that the Principal Barbara Byrne from Bishop McHugh School has caused. She personally drove the enrollment from 420 to 200 in 3 years. Bishop Galante refused to take action and left her there. The priests of the sending parish's did nothing also. Galante has systematically destroyed the morale of Cape May and had done gamage to the Church that will take generations to repair.

2 points here of comment. Who on earth would bus their kids to Holy Spirit/ It is easily a 45 minute to one hour ride to Absecon. The school pools from all Cape May County and if you live south of Court House the ride is easily as stated.Second the students of Wildwood Ctholic will be in for a real culture shock if they attend public school now. The culture is night and day plain and simple!!!

Welcome to the new world of the "Economics of the Christian Religious Faith". Unfortunately this, once again, shows how religion in America has less about morals,values, and faith and more a business. The bureaucracy of religion has put America's faith and values directly in its crosshairs. Is it a wonder why we have a crisis in America concerning morals, values, and faith? However, this does nothing for the youth and families of these youth of Wildwood Cathlic High School. Keep the faith even if the Camden Diocese took a non-Christian approach in announcing their decision. Merry post Christmas!Yep, run down to Wildwood, tell the school youth of the decision without their parents present, and then run right back out of town without facing the parents after school or in a nightly meeting. What Christian values and morals did this teach these youth? This community? Maybe the Camden Diocese needs to take a look at their own faith and values. Agaim, keep the faith to the students, faculty, staff, and community of Wildwood Catholic! Even if the Diocese mo longer does.

"If you want your children to lost the faith, send them to Catholic School". Fulton Sheen said this 30 years or so ago and how true it has come. The Anarchy after Vatican II- all the changes we Traditionalists feel have gone way too far- well I would not ever send my children to a Catholic School. The Catholic Schools are not Catholic anymore. We would rather homeschool our children and bring them up Catholic than send them to Catholic school and have them lose their faith. The Diocese needs to wake up, the Church needs to wake up. Liberalizing is not drawing people to the Church, it is only driving true Catholics away.

I just wanted to say how sad this is for Cape May County. Many family members and friends were proud to call this school their school. But this is no surprise given the way this bishop has continually treated area students and their families. Perhaps if he had cleaned house at Bishop Mc Hugh 5 years ago those 80 families and the subsequent 125 kids wouldn't have chosen public school over their precious Catholic school. And if he hadn't lied to the families at St. Raymond's they wouldn't have gone onto to public school. And the same goes for Star of the Sea parents this year. My family has moved out of the area-to the Southern Bible Belt in fact. The few Catholic schools are thriving and there's an enrollment wait list and tuition for elementary is nearly same as Wildwood Catholic. Proudly, we are in planning stages to build a Catholic High School here. So many Catholics are fed up with the North East and the lies and have moved. People stand in the aisles for Sunday mass. Nobody should be surprised that familes and especially children come behind the almighty dollar and concealer.

As a Catholic, I detect an insurmountable public relations problem for the entire institution that started early on when this -- the most rapidly growing religion and today still the one claiming the largest membership of any other -- employed the practice of constantly "poor-mouthing" and the "do as I say not as I do" mentality. This fund-raising strategy imploded when the abuse scandals finally came to light. Denial has always been among the leadership's most reliable tools; however, with the testimony of real live pedophilia victims over the last two decades, there's no recourse but to pay --- in millions of dollars and image. These bishops are a bunch of businessmen (Galante only pretends to care when he sits in at the parish pow-wows attended by very distraught and long-time, old-school parishioners who actually think their protests will make any difference) and not very good ones at that. But I'll betcha their retirement packages are secure -- strong and solid as the gilded walls of the Vatican.

What a total contradiction. Earlier, The Press reported that the rumors of the school closing were unsubstantiated... Who wants to bus their kids from Wildwood to Holy Spirit and who is going to pay for that transportation?

after school or in a nightly meeting. What Christian values and morals did this teach these youth? This community? Maybe the

Read Press of AC Article Here or scroll down

St. John Vianney parishioners, our prayers are with you. It is time to again stand up and voice your opposition to this evil act. Do what is necessary to make your position clear.

Here is the [poor] Courier Post article in which they mislead the reader by making it appear that St. John Vianney* is much younger than it is. Also, notice how idiotic and deceptive the reasoning is. The CP only speaks to core team members, not to those unhappy with the loss of their parish. Anyone who thinks that people in the diocese, much less SJV parisihoners, are "accepting" and in favor of this merger plan is deluding themselves.

In case you haven't already guessed, St. John Vianney is a beautiful little country parish. It is small, old, and traditional. No wonder the bishop wants it gone.

It is sad that its pastor, a priest we happen to like very much, has not supported his parishioners and the rights of the parish to its existance as stipulated by canon law and Church history. This has been the case throughout the diocese. Some care too much for the stability of their status and their standing with the bishop and not enough for the tending of their flock and standing in opposition to that which is overtly wrong.

They hope to "get people back" by closing their parish??? What kind of reasoning is that? The only people who buy this line of reasoning are some on the core teams. By doing this, they are effectively slamming the door in the face to those who ever thought of returning to the Church, but that's just as well to Galante, who has a "new church" in mind that bears little resemblance to the Church we know. Scroll down to the comments.

Snip:

The parishes -- St. Margaret in Woodbury Heights and St. John Vianney in Deptford -- are to merge Jan. 13, Galante said. The new parish will be called Infant Jesus....

The merged parish, with its seat in Woodbury Heights, will serve 3,300 families. It will be led by the Rev. Joseph T. Szolack, the current pastor of St. Margaret's.

St. John Vianney Church will serve as a worship site "as needed by the new parish," the diocese said in a statement.

St. Margaret's Parish was founded in 1961 during a period of suburban growth in Woodbury Heights. St. John Vianney became a parish in 1971.

Merger preparations began in November 2008 when a "core team," with members from each parish, held an initial meeting with Szolack. Parish members since that time have worshipped together and shared social activities, such as a carnival and pancake breakfasts, the diocese said.

"Initially there was some uncertainty as to how this would all work," said Mark Cipolone, a core team member from St. Margaret's. "Now, parishioners are accepting and looking to moving forward."

Cipolone acknowledged a desire to see the survival of St. Margaret's, which was founded in 1961, and St. John Vianney, a parish since 1971.

"Given the realities, we have to do it," he said. "We have to get people to come back."

Galante's announcement came two days after the merger of three parishes in Camden County. Those parishes -- St. Luke in Stratford, St. Lawrence in Lindenwold and Our Lady of Grace in Somerdale -- are now Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish.

The next merger is to take effect Dec. 23, when two Cherry Hill parishes -- St. Pius X and Holy Rosary -- are to become Holy Eucharist Parish.

So far, 17 parishes have merged since late July, reducing the diocesan total by nine.

Comments:

Replying to armageddon:

Bishop Galante is in the wrong pew....
He should be our next Governor......

Yes, he should merge public school districts but leave our churches and parishes alone.
12/12/2009 8:12:25 AM

Maybe the parishioners at St. Margaret are coming to "accept" it but I can assure you those at St. John Vianney, which incidentally has been there long before 1971 (as St. Agnes), are not "accepting" it. And before anyone says anything, St. John Vianney is a full parish on Sundays and in the black.
12/12/2009 12:39:37 PM

Replying to watertoo:

Maybe the parishioners at St. Margaret are coming to "accept" it but I can assure you those at St. John Vianney, which incidentally has been there long before 1971 (as St. Agnes), are not "accepting" it. And before anyone says anything, St. John Vianney is a full parish on Sundays and in the black.

It is not fair that they are closing a fully self-sufficient church like St. John Vianney. I wish that the Courier Post would interview other church goers besides core team members.
12/12/2009 1:28:02 PM

Geographically, how do they justify elderly parish members that live in Deptford traveling to Woodbury Heights? It is not around the corner!! This is one of many reasons I have left my catholic background. There is no thought to the people just to the politics!!
12/12/2009 6:16:53 PM

The obese bishop must be removed. He is uneducated and stupid. Anyone who puts money in the plate is a fool. Remember the house of charity is the bishp's home.
12/12/2009 8:06:04 PM

* The SJV website has been significantly downsized from what it once was. It was once one of the best church websites in the diocese. Guess they were told to downsize it to only the absolutely essential information. Are the parishioners being told it's time to roll over and die?

Once again, Jim Walsh ought to be ashamed of this poor excuse for balanced journalism. Link here.

"We are grateful that the Congregation, after a thorough examination of this matter, has affirmed Bishop Galante's intention in both process and substance to strengthen parish life in this area of the diocese," the Rev. David Klein, the diocesan chancellor, said in a statement.

Cute. This Fr. Klein sounds like a regular charmer.

We seriously doubt that it is even Bishop Galante's intention is to "strengthen parish life." How could it be? He is destroying long-established communities of faith. To the Catholics we know, the clear opinion is that he and his small group of supporters on the inside are intentionally killing "parish life" in the service of their own warped agenda.

It seems to us that any Catholics who disagree with the bishop's unholy agenda he'd be just as happy to see leave the Church altogether, because that's precisely what's already beginning to happen. For shame! Churches and parishes are not disposable, and Rome ought to be defending the lay faithful from continued abuses from corrupt American bishops on high. In the cases of many dioceses, (and our own diocese remains to be proven since we do not have access to the evidence), first the bishops allow the stealing of the innocence of our youth and now they perpetrate the stealing of our churches to pay for their evil acts. No matter the reason given for this horrendous injustice, it still reeks.

Continued from Part I...

As you know, this is no exaggeration as the stripping of our churches of their Catholicity has already happened. You can step into churches like this any day of the week (that is, if they are unlocked).

Here is an imaginary dialogue that the author recreated. Sadly, it's not far off. A church I attended for some time had any number of statues of saints (very large ones, too), all of which had been quite literally trash picked. Yes, all in the name of "reform." I have also been to many churches where it was difficult to find the tabernacle or where the tabernacle was removed from the altar. One of these churches was a cathedral in a largely conservative diocese. Finally, I have seen heretical religious education texts and even met one such textbook writer/publisher in a graduate level class on Catholicism. He was a guest speaker, portrayed by the professor as a poor, persecuted reformer.

"Get your tabernacle off the altar, and put it out of the way in a corner."

"But why, Your Excellency?"

"Because I tell you to!"

"I hear and I obey."

"Now smash the altar up."

"Mine not to reason why."

"Burn the altar rails."

"Why stop now?"

"Throw out the statues."

"If you say so."

"Get rid of the Baltimore Catechism. Use this textbook."

"Has Your Excellency noticed that it's full of heresy?"

"Full of heresy, full of heresy--can't you tell the difference between heresy and contemporary insights? Have it in your school tomorrow."

"I'll get it there today."

It goes on. Now we need to go on to wonder, naturally, who is being obeyed here? Such dilemmas beg the question: at what point must we draw the line at supposed "obedience?" If we know that we are being told to do something in direct contradiction to the clear teaching of the Church, what are we and what are our priests to do? This is certainly a tough one.

The author gives many examples of divergence from orthodoxy in the case of one particular contemporary bishop and remarks that, in such cases, it is crucial that the flock be protected from error: "The manifest duty of a Catholic priest submitting himself to the supreme law of charity, showing true Catholic obedience, is to protect his people from such a bishop." He cites a well known description of the life of a layman, Eusebius, in 428:

When the shepherd turns into a wolf the first duty of the flock is to defend itself. As a general rule, doctrine comes from the bishops to the faithful, and it is not for the faithful, who are subjects in the order of Faith, to pass judgment on their superiors. But every Christian, by virtue of his title to the name Christian, has not only the necessary knowledge of the essentials of the treasure of Revelation, but also the duty of safeguarding them. The principle is the same, whether it is a matter of belief or conduct, that is of dogma or morals.

The implications of all this, as told by Davies, are quite alarming. One doesn't want to believe them, yet they ring horrifyingly true. In any case, the author claims that the only real choice for priests charged with true spiritual care of the faithful is to uphold orthodoxy--the Truth--at all costs.

To be continued.

Or should I have said the "Community of Christ Our Light." Poor people, stuck with that horrendous name. Anyway, looks like the mergers aren't going so well. Shocker.

Re: "Cares deeply" (letters, Sept. 2).

I realize Bishop Joseph Galante has a full schedule. However, if he truly cares about the well-being of parishioners and has a great love for the church and its people, why wasn't he present at any one of the three Masses that were part of the closing of Queen of Heaven Parish during the weekend of July 25-26?

A shepherd should be with his flock in times of rejoicing as well as in times of sorrow. Because of my ministry at Queen of Heaven as lector, cantor and choir member, I was at all three of those Masses, fulfilling each of those ministries, and I can tell you that it was nothing short of gut-wrenching.

Hearing the sobbing of lifelong parishioners while the final prayers were being said and seeing tears rolling down the faces of grown men is something I will never forget. It would have meant so much to the parishioners of Queen of Heaven to have the bishop come, look us in the eye and tell us how sorry he was but that there really was no other solution.

Does he know what that would have meant? Maybe it would have helped to ease this incredible heartache. At the moment when Queen of Heaven needed a caring shepherd the most, he was not there.

AMY WEIRAUCH

Cherry Hill

Read it online at the Courier Post by clicking here.

We read this article from the Regina Angelorum newsletter of the nuns of Our Lady of the Angels Poor Clare Monastery in Hanceville, Alabama (EWTN) awhile back and thought it was relevant to our current situation here in the Diocese of Camden. The [anonymous] sister who wrote the article seeks to address empty, worldly, directionless "values." Here in the Diocese of Camden have heard countless arguments from the Galante Administration regarding change. They have spewed psychobabble pertaining to the alleged difficulty that we, the laity have coping with change. This kind of patronizing dribble is without merit because it fails to address the purpose of the change and merely holds up "change" as having inherent value. This type of rhetoric attempts to put the Catholic faithful on the defensive, as if they had to prove their ability to healthily cope with change by accepting the destruction of their parishes. The question remains, is the change we are expected to embrace a change toward the Good, toward God's Will, toward God Himself? What are we supposed to be changing to?

Here is the article:

We live in a culture where it has become popular to promote incomplete ideas. Choice, change and even love are raised high as banners harkening to more elevated paths. But without truth these are paths most notable for their lack of destination. Such emotionally-charged words certainly do refererence authentic aspirations in human nature, but when raised as an empty battle cry they are most unhelpful in indicating the direction of the charge.

The value of a choice is determined by what is chosen. Change is only good when what something is changed to is preferable to what it is changed from. And even love derives its beauty from what is loved. When St. Bernadette was asked what a sinner is, she replied that a sinner is someone who loves evil. It is possible to love evil, just as it is possible to choose evil and possible to change into an evil person.

Many years ago I awoke one morning, shaken by a very vivid dream. It was a dream about two Kingdoms, ruled by two very different Masters. What I remember most clearly about this dream was the conviction that I had upon waking that it would be infinitely better to be a dog in Heaven than to be the highest underling of the devil inhell. These are very different Masters.

As Catholics we do not believe that good and evil are equal forces. We do not believe that God has a real rival in the devil. God is sovereign and even the evil He permits will serve His goodness in the end. Yet, for each of us the choice between good and evil is a real one, and which we choose to love will determine not only where we will go at the end of our life but what we weill BE. Those choices are determining us even now.

We tend to view the consequences of our choices as something external to ourselves, reward or punishment, praise or blame, success or failure. It is true that our choices do have ramifications in the world around us, but we too easily forget that they also have an effect on the world within us. Our choices change us. They cooperate in making us who we are.

If I lie, I become a liar. If I steal, I become a thief. If I rejoice in ean-spirited actions, I become a mean-spirited person. To be sure, it is possible to free ourselves from sinful choices, precisely by repenting of them, but unti we do that they are a force in deterining who we are. We can deform our own characters by embracing evil and neglecting to seek the good. The potential that we have for being beautiful, shining reflections of the God Who created us can go eternally unfulfilled.

This reality is not dependent on anyone's opinion or perception. We aren't good because we are praised. we aren't good because we can convince people that we are good. We are only good to the degree that we love the good, serve the good, choose the good. Whether these choices are hidden or manifest, they make us what we are.

"The issue now is clear. It is between light and darkness and everyone must choose his side." (the last words of G.K. Chesterton)

I sometimes think Our Lady never rests! She is constantly interceding for us and sending us messages and even favors, whether it be at Lourdes, Fatima, or in somewhat smaller ways in less notable places like Malaga. She is so concerned about the spiritual welfare of all her children.

Our Lady constantly warns us about the dangers of error and secularism taught from within the Church and how we must be constantly on our guards! This is a large part of the reason why we must pray for our priests and bishops daily. Do not miss even a single day to offer your prayers for them! For many souls are entrusted to their care, and they could guide souls into the life of grace and truth or into error. It is so crucial that we know our faith so that we may not be easily misled by any person.

Please continue to pray and work for good, sound catechesis and for the church leadership, that they lead all souls in the Truth according to God's will and not their own. May God continue to bless all our parishes and keep them safe from all malice.

It is so difficult to face the reality that there are those within the Church--even within its leadership--who do not truly believe in all the Truths of our Holy Catholic Faith. It is sometimes hard to overcome selfish motives and to submit to true Church teachings, to the will of God above seeming "good ideas," and to the pope. We should all have a healthy fear of hell and desire for Heaven, our true home.

Unbelief in our eternal destiny and egoism is why we are seeing such carnage inflicted on our blessed Diocese instead of a renewed desire to evangelize and to support vocations to the priesthood and religious life!

What does Our Lady want us to do? We should pray the following prayers of reparation that were given in Fatima:

• O God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love you. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.
  

• O Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore Thee profoundly. I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ present in all the tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary I beg the conversion of poor sinners.

Our Lady, please continue to intercede for us.

These churches were built by our people so that they could be free, and so that we could be free, too.

At St. Mary's we have a truly united Catholic community. We love our church and have no desire to see it needlessly destroyed by those without God's will--not to mention history--in mind. The Catholic families who established St. Mary's long, long ago were primarily hard working, Southern Italian farming families. They didn't have much money. But they scrimped and saved what they had to give us the beautiful church we have today.

One of our parishioners' ancestors even took a horse and carriage all the way down to Atlantic City to obtain bricks and construction materials for the church. Can you imagine how long a trip that was back in those days? (Photo below: donor's list)

My own family did not help establish St. Mary's Malaga. My family comes from Sacred Heart in Vineland and St. Mary's (Union Rd, see photo below), East Vineland. My family on both sides came from the same small farming village near Genoa in Northern Italy. Neither family knew each other until they came to Vineland, both by way of New York City. I grew up hearing all the stories of hardships they had encountered.

My ancestors were so poor they sold paper flowers on the streets of New York. My great grandmother was a janitor in a school established by Mother Cabrini (ora pro nobis!) and she considered it a great privilege just to mop the floors upon which the great saint had once walked. Mother Cabrini was, of course, sent to the United States specifically to help the poor Italians in their struggles to make better lives for themselves in the New World. 

In addition to the hardships of poverty, they were badly persecuted, primarily by the Irish Catholics. What I always found ironic about this, growing up, was that one group of Catholics, not terribly long in this country themselves, would turn around and treat so horribly another group of Catholics. But the human memory is short, it seems. In any case, my family could not worship in the Irish Catholic church because they were unwelcome there.

One of my great grandmothers came to Vineland as a child as a "Fresh Air Kid." The Fresh Air Fund, which still exists, takes city kids and gives them some summer fun in the country. My great grandmother vowed that when she grew up she would move to Vineland. And that's what she did. Both sides of the family moved to Vineland and had big farms on which they raised, among other things, chickens, which my grandfather hated. (He said they were very stupid animals and did not even like to eat them. On the right is my great grandfather, Angelo.)

Apparently, on my grandfather's side at least, way back during Prohibition they did some running of bootleg liquor back and forth from NYC until it got "too dangerous." My grandfather's family also had a printing business in Vineland, which was once located on West Avenue, and later in the Industrial Park, called DeMarchi Printing. Although my grandfather dropped out of school by about sixth grade (he hated school as well as chickens), he was quite the businessman and farmer/gardener. He took over the family printing business, grew it, and much later on sold it as it got too big for him.

My grandmother was the first to attend college in our family. She went to Glassboro, although I believe it was called the "Normal School" at that time. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse in East Vineland, and I believe later at the school on Main and Oak in Vineland (see photo left). My grandparents worked very hard, were not extravagant, were nothing if not generous, and mended their clothing until it was unmendable. The money they had went to their church, their community, their family, and to charity. I owe them everything.

It was recently commented in the St. Mary's parish bulletin that we should "always cherish--and not take for granted--the many freedoms that we enjoy in this country." How ironic that after all those years of hardship and struggle to worship in peace in their own churches, that our families should once again find themselves persecuted by those who are part of the same Catholic Faith. Our families worked so hard to give us not just our Faith, but our Faith made tangible. By their own blood and sweat, they gave us churches to worship in--that was their gift to us. We do not take our freedom to worship in those churches for granted. Our religious freedom, in a very literal sense, was bought and paid for by our ancestors. May we once again have the true freedom that is the promise of this country.


Above photos: My mother Doris in her First Holy Communion dress, my grandmother Laura on the farm (she's on the far right), and a relative farming shot.

We know that the church closures are not about money. Truly, whatever is lacking could surely be found. (The Diocese owns so much unused real estate and has plenty of money.) And besides, some of the most financially viable churches in the Diocese have been slated for closure. But many persist in believing the closures are about money.

Worse still, there are priests and pastors out there who claim that if a church cannot support itself, it has no right to exist.

(Keep in mind that debt is sometimes incurred due to the necessity of paying assessments to the Diocese and certain amounts to support local Catholic schools, whether or not parishioners actually make use of or can afford tuition at these schools. Barring these two things, most churches do not have any problem paying their utility bills and maintaining their properties. We should also remember that by virtue of threatening certain churches with closure, the bishop has scared off many Catholics from the Faith or their parishes altogether, causing a great deal of confusion, despair, and decreased church attendance, all of which affect collections.)

In any case, what we need to ask ourselves is this: As Christians, should it be the case that those churches who are wealthier deserve to exist, while those who are poorer do not? What kind of an attitude is that? Is it Catholic? Is it even Christian?

In fact, it is neither. Our Lord did not recommend that the poor go out and attempt to become rich, but that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus said that the treasure of the poor would be great in heaven, and that the Kingdom of God belonged to them, that the heavenly banquet would be theirs!

The burden of coming to the aid of the less fortunate parishes in a Diocese falls upon the wealthier ones. And it is the job of the shepherds--the bishop and priests--to see to it that all the faithful have churches in which to worship. The effort to evangelize, not consolidate, should be in the forefront of all of our minds.

If it is believed that a prior pastor lacked the ability to financially manage his parish, then is it fair that the laity be forced to lose their church as a result? We of course know that this is only an excuse to do something we all know to be wrong, but the point is this: shepherds of  flocks in need should help them find ways to subsist.

Let us not delude ourselves. The role of a true pastor is not to persecute his flock, but to help them grow in Christ. He should be acting as a healer and not a henchman. No priest who plans on closing churches may be construed as a prophet unwelcome in his own country.

Let us look to St. St. John Vianney, one of the most unlikely saints of all. Thought to be a poor student, and having failed his seminary exams, he was finally ordained due only to his piety. He was sent to a teeny tiny French village called Ars:

Two decades after the French Revolution inspired massacres of 300 priests in France, there was a desperate need for priests....In a village of 40 houses, there were 4 taverns. Church attendance was very low, the farmers worked on Sunday, everyone spend their time drinking and swearing. It was a 'punishment parish' and the people laid bets on how long this new priest would last. But the new Cure of Ars surprised them all.

Someone peeked in his window and saw that he prayed all night. Others noticed that he removed all the fine furniture from the rectory and turned the parlour into a woodshed. He gave his clothes away to the poor and ate only two potatoes a day. Others reported that though his voice seemed to hurt their ears, his sermons stirred their hearts. He became part of the village life as well, visiting all the homes, and helping the villagers with their daily lives. He helped a shop owner with his bookkeeping, prescribed remedies for whooping cough, and when a tavern closed for lack of business, raised money for the owner to buy a farm, then tore the tavern down.

Twelve years later, people would say 'Ars is no longer Ars.' Everyone went to the three hour masses. The farmers prayed the rosary as they worked in the fields. When Father Vianney heard confessions, people would stand in line for hours....People travelled for miles and from around the world to make a confession to him. Sinners were converted at a few words from him. By the end of his life, he spend 16 to 18 hours a day in the confessional, and he was mobbed whenever he appeared. He heard 20,000 confessions a year, up to 300 a day.

In a country that had murdered great numbers of its priests, and discouraged the practicing of the Catholic faith John Vianney moved like a bright light, restoring faith and healing hearts....

The heroes of his youth were those priests who refused to submit to the French revolutionary government's nationalization of the Church, and risked martyrdom to celebrate Mass in secret in houses and barns of the faithful. John began to practice mortifications in imitation of these priests and as sacrifice for sinners from an early age.

When he was ordained and sent to Ars, he continued these austerities. He disposed of the fine furniture in the rectory, and used the money to help the poor of the parish. He spend hours in prayer, hours in the confessional and more hours serving the day to day needs of his parishioners.

In the entire village in which St. John Vianney lived, there were only a couple hundred people. Now a parish with 250 families is said not to have a right to exist! Oh how far we have fallen. This saint of saints and priest of priests spared nothing for his flock. What are the priests who should be imitating this great saint doing today? Busy figuring out how to close churches? We hope not. Let us pray that all priests, pastors, and bishops see the Light and heed the commands of Our Lord, to "preach the gospel to the poor."

"Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God." -Matthew 5:8

I recently purchased a children's book called The Legend of the Cape May Diamond by Trinka Hakes Noble, illustrated by E.B. Lewis. I highly recommend it not only for its wonderful storytelling, beautiful pictures, and local history value, but also because it's sort of a metaphorical tale.

As long as I can remember we collected Cape May diamonds, and we brought them home and tumbled them, made them into jewelry, collected them, etc. My dad even had one made into an engagement ring for his wife. But I had no idea of how they came to be or of their historical importance.

In this story, the Delaware River "could not tell where it was going" "high up in the old Appalachian Mountains" thousands of years ago. So the river said, "I will send my best daughters downstream to see where my journey leads...someday they will return to tell me what they have seen."

The story continues by telling the story of these "dutiful daughters of the Delaware." Though their journey was long and rough, and they were "scoured and burnished and polished by the rough river beds," though they traveled unseen along the bottom of the river, it was because of this experience that "the little stones [turned] into sparkling eyes, bright and clear, so they could see everything."

And it was because of this that the stones were held in high esteem by the Lenape people. The stone's ability to be seen through meant it "would have a higher purpose" and never be used as wampum (currency).

"And so the Lenape people made this sacred stone the symbol of loyalty and lasting friendship, because a true friend is a trusted friend with nothing to hide, just like this rare translucent stone."

Interestingly, in 1735 a large group of Lenape, the Kechemeche tribe, "decided to move further inland, away from the European settlers, but their chief, King Nummy, stayed behind. Before they left, the Kechemeche tribe presented King Nummy with a large flawless stone to pledge their enduring loyalty and friendship to him."

I'm not sure what it is about this story I find so touching. In part I think it's just deeply personal for me, for some reason. But I also think that in the story the Cape May diamond represents the human heart, and the Delaware River represents God. Our hearts should be transparent, just as our lives should be. Really we should have nothing to hide. Like these "little sparkling daughters of the Delaware" which "glisten like tears in the shallow waves because they never got back to tell the river of [their] beautiful journeys," we too are shaped by God in our lives. Sometimes the water becomes "murky, harsh, and salty." Sometimes we, too, are pushed and pulled by powerful tides, feeling as if we may be "swept out to sea, never to be seen again." But we never struggle in vain. We must trust God in His wisdom.

"Although he should kill me, I will trust in him..." Job 13:15*

All along their journey, the little stones observed many wonderful things about life in and along the river, and in their obedience remembered them saying, "This will please the river." In the end, if we keep the Faith, we will become things of great value, "precious little stones."

Here are some recent comments in response to the article regarding the bishop's 1.5 million dollar luxury estate--oh wait, no, "convent"--in Pittsgrove. As a comment of our own, it has occurred to us that undoubtedly the diocesan administration must be exerting tremendous pressure on the poor sisters at this time, who must truly feel caught between satisfying the bishop's requests and fulfilling their vow of poverty, a promise they made to God. It is outrageous that the chancery would put out a statement supposedly made by Sr. Bernadette, while no one from the media has spoken directly to her, to the best of our knowledge. There is no way of verifying that she actually said what they claim she did. Press Comments: Is Andrew Walton coming unwound? His comments are hysterical, not to mention completely contradictory. He's another way our diocese is wasting money. I wonder how much he's getting paid for his "services." Posted by: hahaha on Sun Mar 15, 2009, 11:28 PM

	How much money does Andrew Walton make that he thinks an $800,000 house is a 'modest' living arrangement? Posted by: elaine on Sun Mar 15, 2009, 11:38 PM

	Not to be mean but with all the church and school closings recently and more in the future, why do they need new nuns? What are they going to do? Posted by: theFlyingNun on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 2:32 AM

	wake up parishoners! YOU'VE BEEN DUPED!! welcome to CAMP ALTAR BOY!!! Posted by: no sin no win on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 3:58 AM

	Ahhhhhhhh...haters and cafeteria Catholics. Some things you can just go to sleep on. Posted by: Truth on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 5:13 AM

	Isn't this awful when the diocese closes St Nicholas School in Egg Harbor City and wants to shut St Nick's church! This is an outrage!!!!! Posted by: MaysLandingJane on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 6:14 AM

	As with any charity...most donated funds go to administrative costs...I am sure the 'Bishops Annual Appeal' needed a new headquarters to operate from... counting your gold in a lavish country estate seems Medival in a way Posted by: mikeyd__ on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 6:18 AM

	simple math: $8 million divided by 5 nuns = $1.6 million per nun. talk about HIGH MAINTENANCE BABES!!! Posted by: collection plate - not! on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 8:21 AM

	This purchase gives a whole new meaning to "House of Charity". But seriously, why should I give a dime? They clearly don't need my hard earned money. Posted by: Maria on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 8:30 AM

	from Kenyan grass hut to upscale rural estate. nice career move girls! ps: but do they know how use the wet bar and ice maker? Posted by: papist scam on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 8:31 AM

If you had a bunch of people giving you money every week wouldnt you spend it...They havn't spent it properly in a long time. I went to Rome on vacation a few years ago and I am getting on the plane walking to my coach seat and what do I see a priest sitting in first class. I know when I searched to purchase those seats were like $15k round trip...I have not given a dime to the church since I saw that Posted by: scam on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 8:41 AM

Why does this come as a shock to anyone? The Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest entities on the planet! They preach poverty yet acquire lavish property, jewels and artwork all the time. The vatican houses some of the most precious artworks of all time. They are not strapped for cash and never have been. They are considered to be among the larges private land holders in the world, and are estimated to have billions of dollars in banks and stocks around the world. It is one of the biggest businesses on earth. In his newest list of sins that will send you to "you know where," the pope has included accumulating vast wealth, but the Church has been doing that every day since its inception. Interesting, isn't it? And sorry, but it's not 8 million dollars, it's 800 thousand dollars. Guess the math wasn't so simple for the brain trust who thought he'd make a point. Too funny. Posted by: Really? on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 8:55 AM

	Okay, everyone get your Catholic-bashing out of your system. Just remember when you are done, that Catholics are a very devout group of people. Unfortunately, their leadership is self-serving...just like our politicians. Ever notice that no matter what the group, power corrupts? Posted by: njstorm on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 9:12 AM

	"Spirit of poverty" while living in a $1.5 million dollar home? That's kind of like saying the Bishop has a "Spirit of fasting." Greed, corruption, lies - all from the Catholic heirarchy - it is disheartening to say the least. Bishop Gallante should resign. Posted by: outraged in ocean city on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 9:32 AM

	The church is big business. The road to heaven is paved with good intentions now send me the dollars. Posted by: executioner1 on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 9:38 AM

	I am somewhat familiar with the situation, and can tell you that the sisters are not at all comfortable with the sitaution. This was all Gallante. Posted by: maverick on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 9:39 AM

If someone wants to know the excess of the hierarchy of the Catholic church in our Diocese, as well as in Philadelphia's, look at the ownership of several beachfront homes in Ventnor ... just a block from where St. James R.C. Church and school faced closings. And not begrudging just the beachfront property, but the excessive nature INSIDE those homes (yes, I have seen it firsthand). When the Diocese decided to close St. Augustine School in Ocean City, knowing full well prior to their decision that those students did NOT have another school that could take them, I knew I had given the Diocese my last time. I think Catholics in this Diocese need to express their displeasure in the only way the Diocese and the Bishop understand ... financially. That is what bought several churches at least temporary reprieves already. The religion and the faith of Catholics are strong (and yes I am one) ... its the leadership - the human element - that is flawed. Posted by: truth not rhetoric on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 9:46 AM

	There are way tooooo many empty Convents throughout the state to allow this to happen. The house should have been sold or rented for a lot of money. The Nuns are very nice people who deserve whatever they get however there are many many empty houses in this and other states for them to live in for free. Posted by: Empty nests' on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 10:02 AM

OK...so here we are with hundreds of billions of OUR dollars going out to greedy banks and business men to "save" them all. This is all OUR money and will cost us and our children for decades to come. I have a great idea. this will eliminate the current billions in debt and settle the national debt. If we just tax the Catholic church on its real estate holding in the U.S. we will raise enough cash to cancel out all the problems. All of the faithful can then empty there wallets into a brass plate on Sunday to help the churches pay there tax bills. Now the church will really now what poverty is like. We pay our tax bills every year now it is there turn. Just look around town next time you take a drive. no matter what town you live in the churches own the nicest land and the nicest homes in the nicest sections of town. Then go home and look at your home and your tax bill and just do some math and you will get an idea of the value of some of this land and structures. Posted by: njscanner on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 10:03 AM

	I am outraged by this article. There are devote Catholics who tried their best in preventing the merger from happening last year. They even poured in money from their personal savings. In return, we here about a eight-hundred thousand dollar convent. Posted by: Listen here on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 10:29 AM

This is appalling! There are many, many underused convents in the diocese. The diocese has a retreat center in Blackwood and to believe we would trust they're purchase of this property as a 'future retreat center' is ridiculous. What is it with this bishop, he comes across like the leaders of the financial institution we have bailed out. Totally out of touch with his pariashioners, he is getting bad advice from those around him They should reverse this purchase and sell this property. Posted by: uneasy catholic on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 10:44 AM

Talk about irresponsible actions. We were advised that the Bishop has increased the amount of money he wants to renovate the kitchen in the new, dynamic, vibrant elementary school in Clayton to the tune of $200,000 dollars. Andy Walton tried to justify the spending by saying the price was dropped from $1.5 million to $800,000 dollars. What he failed to mention was that the home was on the market for a year and when the recession/depression hit, it couldn't sell for the original listing price. So the "good catholic family took their money and moved south. How about the $1.7 million dollars for the sale of St. Bridget's school that went toward reducing the debt of that parish rather than helping to support the new elementary school in Clayton. There are too many instances of flagrant misuse of monies by the CEO of the Camden diocese and his constituents to print here. I wonder if they would agree to an audit of how they are spending their monies and make it an open report to the parishioners whose money they are spending. Sounds similar to the AIG scandalous use of taxpayers money with the backing of the government. We are being told by Bishop Galante that he is concerned about the number of Catholics leaving the church, well I suggest he look in the mirror to see how he is a major reason why this is happening. Posted by: mazz on Mon Mar 16, 2009, 10:58 AM

We are late in posting Fr. Romanowski's piece from last week's bulletin. Here it is.


Our Lord uses St. Mary's for the salvation of souls. In the world of the twenty-first century, we are to be at the head of the battle against Satan and his evil forces. Those forces come in many different ways. There are the aggressive ones which are the easiest to face up to, namely the pro-abortion groups. The middle group is made up of those who pretend to be persecuted, namely those whose ancestors were really persecuted. They want to take full advantage of the easy pay-offs. And the most insidious are those who pretend to be the defenders of the persecuted. They wish to "help the poor," meanwhile staying rich themselves. These are the modern Pharisees. During the war [with Satan], they are known as collaborators.

We oppose all three groups and the others of a similar caste because they all are enemies of Our Lord and His Church. This is the reason why we are extending Eucharistic Adoration starting Monday February 23rd in the year of Our Lord. Those who have been so faithful through the past twelve or so years shouldn't mind adding an hour on to the schedule, I am sure.

We are continuing to fight the good fight that St. Paul outlines for us, from whom we are the continued recipients of intercession with God. Never forget the way to fight evil is only through the Power and Glory of Our Lord, who always sends His Spirit and His Immaculate Mother to protect us and show us the way to victory here and in eternity.

Lest we forget:

• Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent at 7:00pm.
• What are Ember Days? These are days of fast and abstinence--one full meal. Meat is only allowed at the main meal except on Fridays, when no meat is allowed at all.
  
• Come to Mass or Eucharistic Adoration more during Lent and you'll continue to do so the rest of the year! 
• Marian Movement: 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm.
• Special thanks to all those who have contributed to the Save St. Mary's bake sale.
  

Praised be Jesus Christ,
Now and Forever!
Father Jerome C. Romanowski, Pastor

Below are some comments from readers of the Gloucester City News (Cleary's Notebook) entry referred to in the previous post:

my son is in St Mary's(GC) and when Annunciation closed 3 boys came over to our school and a few more to surrounding catholic schools; but most went to the public schools.The Bishop may be a good man; but he is making a horrible mistake and this will go down in history as one of the churches biggest mistakes.
He is capable of making mistakes just like the Bishops did with moving or hiding the priest who molested the children

Posted by: | February 19, 2009 at 06:32 AM

It's refreshing to see a Priest with the integrity to stand up for what is right. It's quite depressing to watch a bishop indulge his greedy desires, supposedly in the name of God, and to watch so many Priests stand by silently for fear of retribution. I understand that our Holy Priests have so much to lose if they stand up for what is right, but where is their faith that God will reward them? Thank you, Father Romanowski, for being a true servant of God.

Posted by: suzanne p. | February 18, 2009 at 04:11 PM

I fully support the Bishop. He is a man of great piety, who has taken on a task that has to be done. The personal attacks upon him are a poor reflection of our faith to the rest of the people of South Jersey. Fr. Romanowski made a promise of obedience upon his ordination. I hope he keeps his promise. I hope the people of St. Mary's in Malaga can mourn their loss and move on. The people of your neighboring parishes will welcome you. You may be surprised at the experience of becoming a new parish with these neighbors of yours. They also love Jesus, the Mass, rosary and all of those other elements of our faith. Easter followed Good Friday, even for those who doubted.

Posted by: Tom Jennings | February 16, 2009 at 10:49 AM

I totally agree, i think any bishop that spends his time trying to close churches is nothing but true evil, with so -so many things going on in the world and this is the best project or issue that he can come up with to do, are you kidding me!!!! bishop you should be a shamed of yourself, so many more things in this world that you could be doing to make it a better place , but what do you do, you aqre all for yourself , i can not believe that you are doing what you are doing why? why? why can you not be a true man of god and say why you are trying to close such beautiful parishes? just once step down from your high (*whatever you call yourself) and please really tell us all why you are doing this?????????? do you know that you are taking away beautiful things you are making no sense, do good not evil try, just be a good man and admit that you are making a terrible mistake, it truly takes a true man of god to admit anything you do wrong, we would truly respect you and understand you if you would just try to make some sense and leave the church alone, question ???? DO YOU HAVE NO FAITH? DO YOU KNOW THAT THE CHURCHeS ALWAYS PROVIDE? THEIR HAD ALWAYS BEEN PRIEST , JESUS HAD 12 MEN, HE COULD HAD THOUSANDS, MILLIONS WHY????? YOU THINK BIGGER IS BETTER??? TELL ME WHY DO YOU THINK PARENTS PUT THEIR CHILDREN IN PRIVATE OR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS ??? BECAUSE OF THE RATIO, AMOUNT THE SIZE, I LOVE A PARISH AND A SCHOOL THAT HAS ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE OR STUDENTS THIS IS FAMILY WAYS, YOU PICTURE THIS***** GREAT BIG CHURCH WITH THOuSAND OR MORE PEOPLE PEAS IN PODS YOU COME IN WOW LOTS OF PEOPLE BIGGER BASKETS WITH MONEY OVER FLOWING HMMMMMM I KNOW FAMILY LOVE FAMILY SETTINGS YOU ARE TRULY MASKING THE BIGGEST MISTAKE FOR THE CATHOLIC FAMILIES MAY GOD HELP YOU BISHOP GALANTE I WOULD NEVER WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES YOU ARE TRULY NO ROLE MODEL FOR MY CHILDREN NOT IN A MILLION YEARS YOU ARE DESTROYING THE CATHOLIC FAMILY, THING AND JUST THINK PLEASE FOR THE CATHOLIC FAITH LEAve all the ALL THE BEAUTIFUL PARISHES ALONE THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS AND WILL ALWAYS STAND STRONG, SPEAKING WORDS OF WISDOM LET IT BE!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: j zeilman | February 16, 2009 at 01:52 AM

I have to agree Galante is destorying the church in South Jersey. He is nothing more then a pawn. There were so many better qualified bishops then he was. I cant wait to the church recieves a new bishop in this diocese. At St. Mary's he transfers the incompetant associate pastor that we had and made him a pastor somewhere and has left Monsignor to tend to the parish all by himself. Monsignor would never complain but lets get real the guy almost died a few years ago and the bishop still has not appointed a new associate pastor. Galante's a joke, I wish you could recall bishops like you can politicians.

Posted by: Galante Is On The Titantic And He Should Go Down With It | February 15, 2009 at 06:44 PM

The late John Updike wrote this:

There was a time when I wondered why more people did not go to church. Taken purely as a human recreation, what could be more delightful, more unexpected, than to enter a venerable and lavishly scaled building kept warm and clean for use one or two hours a week. And to sit and stand in unison and sing and recite creeds and petitions that are like paths warn smooth in the raw terrain of our hearts. To listen or not listen as a poorly paid but resplendently robed man strives to console us with scraps of ancient epistles and halting accounts hopelessly compromised by words of those intimations of divine joy that are like pain in that the instant they're gone the mind cannot remember or believe them. To witness the windows donated by departed patrons and the altar flowers arranged by withdrawn hands, and the whole considered spectacle lustrous beneath its patina of inheritance. To pay for all this no more than we are moved to give, surely in all democracy there is nothing like it. Indeed it's the most available democratic experience. We vote less than once a year. Only in church and at the polls are we actually given our supposed value, our arithmetic of equality, one equals one.

I thought there was something beautiful about this description of what a church experience meant to one important American writer and I wanted to share it with you. (Of course, St. Mary's is open every day of the week...)

Well, I decided to look into that Cardinal Newman quote again, and it seems I hit jackpot! The mysterious quote is actually accurately attributed to him. However, the poor man is oft maligned and the quote completely decontextualized, as I suspected. How annoying is it when people misuse the words of great saints to suit their own warped purposes, like the closing of churches??? Oh, sooooo annoying! The good Cardinal Newman must be rolling in his grave.

Anyway, guess what I found? An article on EWTN written by...Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now our Holy Pontiff. Find the essay here.

In the article, our Holy Father says

It is known how Newman's insight into the ideas of development influenced his way to Catholicism. But it is not just a matter of an unfolding of ideas. In the concept of development, Newman's own life plays a role. That seems to become visible to me in his well-known words: "...to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often".
Throughout his entire life, Newman was a person converting, a person being transformed, and thus he always remained and became ever more himself.

(Continued:) In the idea of "development" Newman had written his own experience of a never finished conversion and interpreted for us, not only the way of Christian doctrine, but that of the Christian life.

So Cardinal Newman, himself a convert to the Catholic faith from Anglicanism, was referring to one's continual conversion and growth in the Lord. We are all called to conversion of life, as Benedictines know well since it's one of the vows that they take. Cardinal Newman was in no way implying that Truth somehow changes.

Today at a rally outside Holy Family Catholic Church in Sewell, NJ--in which the unholy "merger manual" was handed out and dozens of priests filed inside--a priest barked out to some of us protesters, "To live is to change. To be perfect is to change often." I responded, "Oh, did Christ say that, Father?" To which he responded, "Yes, actually. It was Cardinal Newman." I laughed audibly because I am all too familiar with the decontextualized, stock phrases whipped out of the back pocket of liberals. They like to quote well-regarded saints, etc. to justify their actions. Of course, the devil himself can quote Scripture for his purposes, as we all know. Since I must be running off to work in a few minutes I do not have long to research this phrase, but I did find this, also from Cardinal Newman. You may read the entire section here, but I will share with you one of the most relevant sections for our purposes:

For thirty, forty, fifty years I have resisted to the best of my powers the spirit of Liberalism in religion. Never did Holy Church need champions against it more sorely than now, when, alas! it is an error overspreading, as a snare, the whole earth; and on this great occasion, when it is natural for one who is in my place to look out upon the world, and upon Holy Church as in it, and upon her future, it will not, I hope, be considered out of place, if I renew the protest against it which I have made so often.

Liberalism in religion is the doctrine that there is no positive truth in religion, but that one creed is as good as another, and this is the teaching which is gaining substance and force daily. It is inconsistent with any recognition of any religion, as true. It teaches that all are to be tolerated, for all are matters of opinion. Revealed religion is not a truth, but a sentiment and a taste; not an objective fact, not miraculous; and it is the right of each individual to make it say just what strikes his fancy.

Honestly, does this sound like the kind of may who would advocate the type of liberal and superficial changes that Bishop Galante would implement? Does Cardinal Newman seem like the type of man who would advocate we change, change, change for the sake of change? Surely not. I will continue to research the "change" phrase, but I do find it odd that in fifteen minutes I cannot find it in context or with a date. The only thing I see, by and large, are liberal using this quote and attaching it to Cardinal Newman, which is of course a red flag. More on this to come.

Update 9/11/08: I again looked online for the quote and came up empty. I can find no definitive attribution to Cardinal Newman. I checked CCEL (Christian Classics Ethereal Library, for those of you unfamiliar) and elsewhere. Google gives me only a handful of references to the quote, and none of them are reliable or contextualized sources. Hmmm. I wonder if anyone said this, or if he said something like this once. I'm stumped.

This letter/article was submitted to Save St. Mary's a few days ago. We thank you for your submission.

I wrote a small piece and will send it to the Courier Post. The CP will never publish an editorial that doesn't glorify the Camden Diocese, So, I decided to share with your site too.

Can you serve both God and Mammon*?
It seems Bishop Galante thinks so.
Find Christ's answer here and the author's below.
(* Mammon: Riches, worldly interest See Luke 16:13 and Matthew 6:24)

Announcement from the Camden Diocese: Low enrollment, rising deficits force closure at end of school year of Our Lady of Guadalupe...

Here we go again!

Our Lady of Guadalupe's in Bridgeton will close at the end of this year due to low enrollment. It's no surprise that their enrollment continued to decline when you consider the atmosphere that Bishop Galante has created within the Catholic community of the Camden Diocese. How could enrollment grow with massive school closings, escalating tuition, and Church closures that demonstrate how the Diocese has turned its back on promoting our faith? The Diocese will quickly point to the declining numbers within the schools; on the other hand, one could speculate that poor decisions by a Diocese not driven by faith are at the root of the numbers decline.

Then we have the Church closures. Take a look at St. Gregory's Church in Magnolia and the prospect of this beautiful church becoming the site of yet another Super Wawa.

The beautiful St. Gregory's in Magnolia, NJ

These church closures represent a battle, Land Value vs. Faith. Sadly, I think land value is winning.

Surveyor outside St. Gregory's Magnolia.
Look out! Your church is next.

The people of the Camden Diocese need to say, enough is enough and unite to stop the damage this Diocese has done. With an apparent lack of devotion to our faith by those in charge at the Camden Diocese, how could the numbers increase in the pews or in the classrooms? Their devotion appears to be to the business of running a Diocese.

To top it all off, there is a general mistrust of Bishop Galante due to his dealings with Follieri, who is a criminal with his hands in the real-estate market.

One has to question Galante's motives in the light of his ties.

Bishop Galante on the front page of the
7/15/08 NY Post because of his financial
involvement with criminal Raffaello Follieri

For the future, my hunch is more closures will follow. In my area, watch out St. Teresa's in Runnemede. Forget about the dedication of the IHM sisters or your 80+ years of teaching our children so much more then just the academics. You are sitting on prime real estate (Black Horse Pike & Evesham).

View Larger Map

I beg you, if your number is called, don't go quietly.

Whether it's a school or church closure, it's all related. Neither closure will promote growth in the Catholic Faith. Both closures will free up real estate that could be sold for big profits. What is Galante's objective, to promote our faith or make money? Is he the right man to lead us in our faith? I think not.

In closing, Thank You Father Romanowski (St. Mary's Malaga) for proving that there is good in the churches of the Camden Diocese.

D. Lamancusa

Read article on New Orleans arrests here.

It used to be that the sanctuary of a church actually offered sanctuary, even for the worst of criminals! Now it's the Church itself that's sending in cops to arrest peaceful, Christian people.

Quote:

At least three people have been arrested today after the Archdiocese of New Orleans sent police to two occupied Catholic churches to remove parishioners who for more than nine weeks have participated in a vigil in resistance to a closure plan.

Police were instructed to arrest occupiers if they continue to resist, with Archbishop Alfred Hughes deciding "It's time to bring this to a close," spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey said.

At Our Lady of Good Counsel on Louisiana Avenue, novelist Poppy Brite and Hunter Harris Sr. were led out of the church in handcuffs and placed in a police squad car. Later, another parishioner, Harold Baquet, who had talked of having a hard-to-locate hiding spot in the building, also was arrested and removed in handcuffs..

"They broke in a door ... a 100-year-old door to get in," said parishioner Mary Alice Sirkis. "This is a very poor example of religion. Not only is it not Catholic, it isn't even Christian."

(End Quote)

Apparently the Archdiocese claims that spending the night and exercising (walking around inside) the church are both "inappropriate." Quote:

The archdiocese believes that either is inappropriate. Even though neither church contains the Blessed Sacrament, consecrated bread that Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ, the churches are still sacred, consecrated spaces, she [Comiskey] said.

How ironic! These people are keeping vigil in their church to keep it open. Who  knows? Maybe they're walking "laps" in the church to keep awake?! These people are Christians putting themselves on the line for the very sake of the Body and Blood of Christ, so that they may be in His presence and not deprived of It. Meanwhile the Archdiocese wants the church gone. Despicable.

They've even deprived one man of needed cancer medication. What in the world is the American Roman Catholic Church coming to? When I returned to the Bark of Peter years ago, never in my wildest dreams did I think that we'd be faced with the likes of this, bishops who are traitors to Christ. Pope Benedict XVI, intervene on our behalf!

Shame on Sarah Comiskey and Archbishop Alfred Hughes! You should be ashamed of yourselves! May God bless St. Henry's, Our Lady of Good Council, and all faithful Catholics in  New Orleans. You've been through enough, and you need the solace of your Faith. You know that we are in yet another moment in the history of the Church when true Christians are being persecuted for Christ's sake. Who among us is willing to suffer for the cause of Christ? Keep the Faith!

Matthew 10:16-23

Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles: But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak. For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you. The brother also shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the son: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and shall put them to death. And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake: but he that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved. And when they shall persecute you in this city, flee into another. Amen I say to you, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel, till the Son of man come.

The Example of the Holy Family


The Holy Family suffered during the painful trip to Bethlehem. They are the example to us of what it means to be a follower of Our Lord. Yes! Having the Lord of Lords within her Virginal Body enables the Pure Mother of God to sustain the perilous trip mandated by Caesar Augustus. We are sustained on our perilous journey of life by the Divine Son of God. Only with the ongoing assistance which is really his Grace enabling us to be one with Him are we able to fully enjoy the life on earth that leads to Heaven.

St. Joseph is such a model of faithful living. Despite his poverty he was able to fulfill his vocation as the foster father of the Christ Child. We can learn from his humble, holy obedience to God's will what it takes to traverse the journey that leads to eternal life with God.

God Created the Perfect Mother for His Human and Divine Son

Emmanuel means God is with us. When we appreciate His Presence in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass we can fully see the blessings that come from our celebration of Christmas. God is with us giving us the Son of God in the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Faustina tells us of the incomparable beauty of Jesus' Mother. Jesus is dependent on human care just as later He will be subject to human cruelty.

We Celebrate the Coming of Emmanuel Every Day


Deepen your devotion to the Blessed Mother by the recitation of the Rosary. Allow those sublime mysteries to be in your hearts, souls, and spirits so that you can continue to conquer the wiles of the devil.


Worship God just as the shepherds did. They stopped everything because the Lord of Life, the Truth Himself, had come into the world. Similarly, we must recognize in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass the Truth, and this Truth illuminates everything in our lives. Yes! Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The innocent Babe who attracts us by His humanity becomes real to us in the Most Blessed Sacrament. That Reality enables all of us to live in His Grace, to attain holiness on earth, and ultimately to obtain salvation in eternity.

Praised Be Jesus Christ,
Now and Forever!
Father Jerome Charles Romanowski, Pastor