Catholic Accent
The
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Volume 54, No. 25
On the Journey
of a Lifetime with
the people of the
Diocese of
Greensburg, Pa.
Welcome,
Bishop-elect
Malesic!
Appointment coverage
pages 9-12
Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic and Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt stand at the Pastoral Center offices in Greensburg April 24. Photo by Mary Seamans
ADDRESS LABEL
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Page 4
Pages 6-7
Communities of Salt
and Light Awards
are presented.
Sister of Charity describes journey to
her religious vocation.
Page 8
Seton Hill University inaugurates
Dr. Mary Finger as 10th president.
The Catholic Accent
Bishop-Elect Malesic
9
Thursday, May 7, 2015
‘A SIMPLE PARISH PRIEST’ AND ‘DISCIPLE OF JESUS’
Media gather around Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic as he answers questions after the introductory press conference April 24.
ELISA ESASKY/FOR THE CATHOLIC ACCENT
Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic introduced to Diocese of Greensburg
By Jerry Zufelt
EDITOR
Near the end of the press conference where he was introduced as the
fifth bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg, a reporter asked Bishop-elect
Edward C. Malesic why he thought
he was chosen for the position.
The bishop-elect paused, then said
quietly with a smile, “I have no idea.”
After the laughter from reporters
and diocesan priests and employees subsided, Bishop-elect Malesic
answered seriously.
“I have had a lot of experiences in
life that might help with the qualities the Holy Father was looking for
in a shepherd for the Diocese of
Greensburg: campus ministry, being
a pastor, and I have a degree in canon
law,” he said.
“I, personally, see myself as a
simple parish priest; that’s all I have
ever seen myself as,” the bishop-elect
said. “I have been given great opportunities to broaden my understanding of what it means to be church.”
The April 24 press conference, held
“They say that if you want to hear
God laugh, tell him your plans.
When I answered the phone that
morning, I could hear God
laughing in the background.”
— BISHOP-ELECT EDWARD C. MALESIC
at the Bishop William G. Connare
Center near Greensburg, started four
hours after the Vatican announced
that Pope Francis had appointed the
54-year-old judicial vicar of the Diocese of Harrisburg and pastor of Holy
Infant Parish, York Haven, as bishop
of Greensburg and accepted the
resignation of Bishop Lawrence E.
Brandt, 76, from pastoral governance
of the diocese.
Bishop-elect Malesic, a native of
the Harrisburg area, talked about the
call from Archbishop Carlo Maria
Vigano, the papal nuncio, telling him
about Pope Francis’ appointment
and asking if he would accept.
“They say that if you want to hear
God laugh, tell him your plans,”
Bishop-elect Malesic said. “When I
answered the phone that morning,
I could hear God laughing in the
background.
“I admit it. I did take awhile. But
in the end I said that I trust the Lord
and respect our Holy Father, and,
with great trepidation, I say yes.”
He emphasized that he loves being
a priest, loves Pope Francis and gives
him his loyalty and devotion, and
loves Jesus.
He thanked his parents, Joseph A.
and the late Elizabeth Schatt Malesic, for giving him life and passing
on the Catholic faith to him. He also
thanked the people of the Diocese of
Harrisburg and the staff of the Tribunal, where he has worked as judicial
vicar since 2006; and the staff and
people of Holy Infant Parish, where
he has served as pastor for 11 years.
He thanked Bishop Brandt for
working hard to keep the “gem of a
diocese … sparkling during times
of change” and thanked Msgr. Larry
J. Kulick, moderator of the curia for
the diocese and pastor of St. James
Parish, New Alexandria, for hosting
him on his first day in the diocese.
Bishop-elect Malesic celebrated Mass
at St. James Parish that morning.
He described himself, as Pope
Francis has said, as a “fellow
sinner.”
“But because I am a fellow believer,
I have also received the mercy of
God — I want to proclaim that. God
is good. With God there is mercy and
redemption,” Bishop-elect Malesic
said, noting he is looking forward to
celebrating the Jubilee Year of Mercy
recently announced by Pope Francis.
“Plain and simple, I am a disciple
of Jesus,” Bishop-elect Malesic said.
“I believe that he gives life, and I believe that he gives peace. I believe he
founded the Catholic Church I love
so much. I believe that he is with us
now, and in a special way he is sending the Holy Spirit upon us to create
us anew. He is the source of my joy.”
Bishop-elect Malesic announced
that his episcopal motto will be
“Serve the Lord with gladness.”
Continued on page 12
10
The Catholic Accent
Bishop-Elect Malesic
Thursday, May 7, 2015
STATEMENTS
FROM AROUND
PENNSYLVANIA
STATEMENTS
FROM AROUND
PENNSYLVANIA
Father Malesic has served
his home Diocese of
Harrisburg with exceptional
dedication and fruitfulness
as the Judicial Vicar and as
pastor of Holy Infant Parish
in York Haven. … He has
earned the affection and
respect of all who have
been touched by his priestly
life and ministry. When he
leaves us for the Diocese
of Greensburg, we will face
a significant challenge in
needing to provide for the
offices he will vacate. We
will all miss him, his quick
wit, and his exemplary
commitment to the mission
of the Church. Father
Malesic goes to Greensburg
with our deepest gratitude
and the support of our
continued prayers and
friendship in Christ.
Above, Bishopelect Edward C.
Malesic enjoys
a moment with
Judy Francese,
a volunteer at
the St. Vincent
de Paul store
in downtown
Greensburg, as
he visits April
24. At left, he
receives a hug
from volunteer
Gloria Lecz.
Later in the
afternoon, he
toured Blessed
Sacrament
Cathedral,
Greensburg.
Below left, he
and Bishop
Lawrence E.
Brandt pray
at the Blessed
Sacrament
Chapel in the
cathedral.
— Bishop Ronald W. Gainer,
Diocese of Harrisburg
I congratulate Bishop-elect
Malesic on his appointment
as the new bishop of the
Diocese of Greensburg.
I am very pleased for
the clergy, religious and
faithful, knowing Bishopelect Malesic brings both
administrative abilities and
the heart of a pastor to his
new episcopal ministry.
Bishop-elect Malesic is
inheriting a diocese filled
with people dedicated to
their faith and their parishes.
The Diocese of Greensburg
is blessed with hardworking, generous clergy
and religious. The diocese
has met many challenges
and is well-positioned for
the future. I also would
like to congratulate Bishop
Lawrence Brandt on his
11 years of pastoral and
spiritual care of the Diocese
of Greensburg. I wish him
enjoyment and peace in
retirement. I look forward
to collaborating with
Bishop-elect Malesic as our
new neighbor to the south.
— Bishop Lawrence T. Persico,
Diocese of Erie
ALL PHOTOS
BY MARY
SEAMANS/THE
CATHOLIC
ACCENT
THE MASS OF EPISCOPAL ORDINATION AND INSTALLATION OF
BISHOP-ELECT EDWARD C. MALESIC WILL BE CELEBRATED JULY 13 AT
BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHEDRAL, GREENSBURG.
As neighbor to the Diocese
of Greensburg, and in the
name of all the faithful of
the Diocese of Pittsburgh,
I congratulate Bishop-elect
Edward Malesic as the new
bishop of Greensburg.
Bishop-elect Malesic has
a reputation for being a
very capable pastor. …
As I had the opportunity
to speak personally with
Bishop-elect Malesic upon
learning of his appointment,
I promise my prayers and
support and those of the
Church of Pittsburgh. I am
confident that he will use
his exemplary pastoral skills
to serve well the faithful of
the Diocese of Greensburg.
Thanks, too, to Bishop
Brandt for being a good
neighbor for the past 11
years. … I wish him good
health, much happiness and
deepened holiness.
— Bishop David A. Zubik,
Diocese of Pittsburgh
The Benedictine
Community at Saint Vincent
joins Bishop Brandt and
the clergy, religious and lay
persons of the Diocese in
welcoming Bishop-elect
Edward Malesic as the fifth
Bishop of the Diocese of
Greensburg. Bishop-elect
Malesic brings a wealth of
pastoral experience and
administrative wisdom from
his years of service in the
Diocese of Harrisburg. The
Benedictine community
looks forward to working
with Bishop-elect Malesic
in all of the pastoral,
educational and missionary
apostolates of Saint Vincent
Archabbey. We proudly
extend to Bishop-elect
Malesic our heartiest
congratulations, best wishes
and promise of prayerful
support as he begins
his ministry as the Chief
Shepherd of the Diocese
of Greensburg. May God
bless his leadership and
ministry with the clergy,
religious and lay persons of
the Diocese of Greensburg.
— Benedictine Archabbot
Douglas R. Nowicki,
Saint Vincent Archabbey
The Catholic Accent
Bishop-Elect Malesic
STATEMENTS
FROM AROUND
PENNSYLVANIA
STATEMENTS
FROM AROUND
PENNSYLVANIA
Father Edward Malesic’s
appointment as the fifth
Bishop of the Diocese of
Greensburg is a moment
of joy for the Church in
Pennsylvania. I’m confident
that he will carry on the
work of his predecessors
with joy and fidelity. …
He (also) possesses a keen
understanding of Catholics
in our Commonwealth and
the issues facing our Church
here. He will be a gift to
the people of Greensburg
and I welcome him
enthusiastically as a brother
bishop. As Bishop-elect
Malesic prepares to begin
his episcopal ministry, I offer
him heartfelt congratulations
on behalf of the priests,
deacons, religious, and lay
faithful of the Archdiocese
of Philadelphia. And I
pray that the Holy Spirit
will strengthen him as a
successor of the Apostles.
— Archbishop Charles
J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.,
Archbishop of Philadelphia
Along with Bishop Brandt,
the clergy, religious and lay
persons of the Diocese of
Greensburg, the Sisters of
Charity of Seton Hill extend
sincere congratulations
to Bishop-elect Edward
Malesic and welcome him
to Greensburg. We pledge
our prayerful support as he
prepares to “serve the Lord
with gladness” as the fifth
bishop of the diocese. The
Sisters of Charity promise
steadfast cooperation in
fulfilling his hope that “with
God’s help, we will do
good things together to
build up God’s kingdom
in this part of his earth and
to serve the needs of the
most vulnerable among us,
especially the poor and the
poor in spirit.” This is our
charism. We look forward
to serving the church
under his leadership. May
God bless Bishop-elect
Malesic and the Diocese of
Greensburg.
— Sister of Charity
Catherine Meinert, provincial
superior, U.S. Province, Sisters
of Charity of Seton Hill
11
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Top: Bishop-elect Malesic shares a laugh with Bishop
Brandt at the press conference. Above, during his
tour of the Pastoral Center after the press
conference, Bishop-elect Malesic talks with Msgr.
William R. Rathgeb, judicial vicar, and Kathy Polosky,
coordinator in the Tribunal; at left, he meets
Maureen Marsteller, superintendent of Catholic
schools.
COMMENTS FROM PARISHIONERS ATTENDING MASS APRIL 29
AT BLESSED SACRAMENT CATHEDRAL, GREENSBURG
Carol Zubaty, a parishioner of St.
Barbara Parish, Harrison City, said she
watched the news about Bishop-elect
Malesic on television. “He has a nice voice
and he seems kind and gentle. I think he
will be good for our diocese,” she said.
Tom Kristan, a parishioner of St. Paul
Parish, Greensburg, also thinks the new
bishop will be a good fit for the Diocese
of Greensburg. “It sounds exciting. From
what I’ve heard, he’s a very humble
man. I think he follows the spirit of Pope
Francis.”
Jane Bigi, a parishioner of Our Lady
of Grace Parish, Greensburg, is hoping
the new bishop is straightforward when
delivering his message to the people. “I’m
hoping he is going to preach the way they
did when I was young. People need to
know what sin is and about salvation. Not
every message is sweet. People need to
know the truth.”
Norma Matvey, a parishioner of
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, said it is
difficult to offer a comment until the new
bishop proves himself. “I’ve been praying
that God’s spirit be upon the selection of
the new bishop. I’m hoping he is a true
shepherd of his flock and brings back
those who are (spiritually) lost.”
— Colleen Pollock
Christian Associates of
Southwest Pennsylvania
greets with great hope
the news of the Very
Rev. Edward C. Malesic’s
appointment as Bishopelect of the Diocese of
Greensburg. We look
forward to welcoming
him to our Council of
Bishops and Executives
and working with him for
the mission of the Gospel
and the wholeness of our
communities. We deeply
appreciate the ministry
of Bishop Lawrence
Brandt, who has served
with enthusiasm on our
Council of Bishops and
Judicatory Executives and
our Executive Committee
during his tenure in the
Diocese of Greensburg.
The Diocese of Greensburg
has a long history in
Christian Associates of
Southwest Pennsylvania.
… former Bishop of
Greensburg, Anthony
Bosco, was instrumental in
the founding of Christian
Associates in 1970, bringing
Catholic and Protestant
Christians together in a
regional ecumenical agency
for the first time in the
United States.
— Rev. Liddy Barlow,
executive minister, Christian
Associates of Southwest
Pennsylvania
VISIT
WWW.DIOCESEOF
GREENSBURG.ORG
FOR:
u
COMPLETE
COVERAGE OF THE
APPOINTMENT
OF BISHOP-ELECT
EDWARD C. MALESIC
u
COMPLETE
TEXTS OF THE
STATEMENTS ABOVE
12
The Catholic Accent
Bishop-Elect Malesic
Thursday, May 7, 2015
BIOGRAPHY OF
THE VERY REVEREND
EDWARD C. MALESIC, JCL
Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic is seen on a cameraman’s monitor during the press conference April 24.
Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic introduced to diocese
Continued from page 9
While a stranger to Greensburg,
he is familiar with Saint Vincent
Archabbey, Latrobe, and St. Emma
Monastery, Greensburg, where he
has gone on retreats.
“I know that these and other
religious communities will be great
spiritual treasures for me moving
forward,” he said. “I already get the
sense that this church is blessed
with great Catholic institutions
and great people — hardworking
priests, deacons, religious men
and women, and laity who are
generous in every way possible —
people of deep, deep faith.”
He said he looks forward to
working with the diocese in the
New Evangelization.
“With God’s help, we will do
good things together to build up
God’s kingdom in this part of his
earth and to serve the needs of the
most vulnerable among us, especially the poor and the
poor in Spirit,” he said.
He pledged to listen, and asked
for patience “as I find my way
around and as I discover more of
the strengths and challenges of this
local church.”
“You will soon begin to learn my
strengths and limitations, too,”
Bishop-elect Malesic said.
Bishop Brandt opened the press
conference by expressing his
“gratitude to almighty God and
gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope
Francis” for the appointment of
Bishop-elect Malesic and welcomed him to the diocese.
Bishop Brandt said the appointment “continues the apostolic succession of bishops as successors
of the apostles which started here
with the formation of the Diocese
of Greensburg on March 10, 1951,
and the appointment of Bishop
Hugh L. Lamb as its first bishop.”
“That apostolic succession has
continued through Bishop William
G. Connare, Bishop Anthony G.
Bosco and me and will continue,
likewise, through Bishop-elect
Malesic,” he said.
Bishop Brandt said he has been
deeply moved and impressed
by the faith of Catholics in the
Diocese of Greensburg and said he
was confident that the new bishop
will find that the diocese and its
people are “exceptional in their
commitment to their faith and the
love of the church.”
“I know your new spiritual family will have a special place in their
hearts for you,” Bishop Brandt
said.
“We welcome you with open
arms and rejoice that it is you who
has come to us. I assure you of
our full support and cooperation.
Know that we accompany you with
our prayers as you assume your
new responsibilities.”
The episcopal ordination and installation of Bishop Malesic will be
celebrated July 13 at Greensburg’s
Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.
Bishop Brandt elected
diocesan administrator
Bishop Brandt accepts his election April 24 in his office.
Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt accepted his election
as diocesan administrator by the Board of Consultors
the afternoon of April 24.
Following the procedures as defined by the Canon
Law of the Church, after Pope Francis appointed
Bishop-elect Edward C. Malesic and accepted Bishop
Brandt’s resignation from pastoral governance of the
diocese April 24, the diocesan Board of Consultors
met to elect an administrator. The election took
effect immediately. As administrator, Bishop Brandt
is responsible for the care of the diocese until the
ordination and installation of Bishop-elect Edward C.
Malesic at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral July 13.
Born: Aug. 14, 1960, Harrisburg
Parents: Joseph A. and the late Elizabeth
Schatt Malesic
Hometown: Enhaut, south of Harrisburg
Home parish: former St. John the
Evangelist
Siblings: Joseph Malesic Jr. and
Margaret R. Malesic (deceased); Robert,
Hummelstown
High school: Central Dauphin East High
School, Harrisburg, Class of 1978
College: Lebanon Valley College,
Annville, three years as a biology major
Seminary: Entered the Pontifical
College Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio,
in 1981 and received a bachelor of arts
degree in philosophy in 1983 and a
master of divinity degree in 1987
Ordained: May 30, 1987, by Bishop
William H. Keeler at St. Patrick Cathedral
in Harrisburg
Parish appointments: assistant pastor
of St. Theresa Parish, New Cumberland,
and St. Rose of Lima Parish, York; currently
pastor of Holy Infant Parish, York Haven
Campus ministry: York College of
Pennsylvania; Millersville University;
Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster;
Messiah College, Dillsburg
Canon law: The Catholic University
of America, Washington, D.C., earned
licentiate in canon law in 1998
Tribunal service: auditor, adjutant
judicial vicar and secretary for canonical
services, judicial vicar; member, Canon
Law Society of America, secretary of the
Eastern Regional Conference of Canonists
Other boards, committees and
organizations: Hospice of Central
Pennsylvania, Continuing Formation
of Clergy Committee, Seminarian
Review Board, Diocesan Presbyteral
Council, College of Consultors, Bishop’s
Administrative Board, Youth Protection
Committee of the Pennsylvania Catholic
Conference