We need to pray for our parishes. We need to pray for vocations. And we need to pray
for the Catholic Church in America....As Hibernians we continue to protect the True Catholic Faith.
Many people of various ethnic backgrounds helped build the Catholic churches and
Catholic Schools in the Philadelphia and Camden Dioceses. St. John Neumann Bishop
of Philadelphia and many of our ancestors helped build the Catholic Churches and Schools in the Camden and Philadelphia Dioceses . St. John Neumann , and
the ancestors of Philadelphia and South Jersey were simple,humble, hardworking people who came from poverty. These people were of the true Catholic Faith. Many of
of these immigrants came to South Jersey and Philadelphia after facing famine, death ships, and religious persecution
from their own country. Other immigrants came over to escape poverty in order to live the American Dream . However,
when they came to America they were faced with religious and racial persecution. Some people in our area were
even killed and injured protecting the faith.
It is very normal to be alarmed when you hear that
recently across the country there has been many Catholic Churches and Schools closing down forever. Many dioceses are
facing bankruptcy which means they could lose churches, halls, and even cemeteries. First the scandals and now this.
It seems that the good priests , sisters , parishioners and victims are being punished all over again. It's especially
painful to those victims who remained silent in regards to abuse and remained with the Catholic church. Their parishes
should remain open. Yes, there is a shortage of priests. We need to seek other alternatives as well.
We have so many good holy priests from Africa, Italy, Ireland, India, etc. We should see about keeping them
in our dioceses and trying to get more holy priests.
It so important to preserve the spiritual and historical integrity of Philadelphia and South Jersey.
In Philadelphia, some of these parishes were built before the revolutionary war. Great
people like Commodore John Barry, Captain Rossiter, Thomas Fitzsimmons and others who instrumental in the War of
Independence and the formation of the new Republic helped build these churches.
Out in the farm fields of Salem County were the first Catholics of the Camden Diocese.
St. Joseph's in Woodstown Parish area had the first baptismal registry on October 5, 1743 in Alloway by Father Theodore Schneider S.J. from St. Joseph's Willings Alley,
Philadelphia. "Father Farmer" also known as Ferdinand Steinmyer, S.J continued the spiritual journey until
the Revolutionary War. In 1899, St. Joseph's was reinstated as a parish where it is still standing
today. There are beautiful rare stained glass windows which depict many Saints including Our Lady of Knock and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, soon to be a Native American Saint.
In South Jersey, there are parishes which survived
the KKK. These parishes predate the existence 69 year old Camden Diocese. Before
the Catholic church was built and not too far from the Revolutionary War battlefield in National Park, NJ, Mass was held
in the Muldoon/Rossiter home while the Ku Klux Klan was outside burning crosses and terrorizing them. When the quaint
rural church was built, the Muldoons/Rossiters donated a Crucifix which hung over the altar. Many years later
someone wanted to make changes to the parish. They removed the Crucifix from over the altar and placed it in a different
part of the church. Shortly after, the church accidentally caught on fire. Everything but the Crucifix. When
the church was repaired, the Crucifix was placed back over the altar where it belonged. This was a true miracle from God.
Maybe some things are not meant for change.
We must protect all of Christianity (Catholic and Protestant) Today, ant-Catholicism and anti-Christian hatred exists without any apologies. Also, there are new immigrants, the
Hispanics who are facing religious and racial discrimation in our area.
After going to St. Mary's Jubilee Shrine & Rosary Garden in Malaga, NJ for
a mini pilgrimage, I was spiritually inspired. For more information about the Shrine www.stmarysmalaga.com May God, Our Lady of Knock and Guadalupe,
St. John Neumann of Philadelphia, St. Brigid of Ireland, St. Padre Pio, and Blessed
Kateri Tekakwitha protect all of Christianity.
TAKE CATHOLIC ACTION BY WRITING YOUR CONCERNS AND SUGGESTIONS TO:
Monsignor Gabreile Caccia, Assessor
Apostolic Nunciature
3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20008-3687
USA
(He is US diplomatic representation to the Vatican. He will forward the info to our
Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI
"Your honesty and frankness will expose you to problems, but your work should not stop for it means
the world to so many people."
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India
