Archbishop Kurtz for President

Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville and formerly a priest of the Diocese of Allentown, was elected President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for a three year term. 
Archbishop Kurtz lived as a resident priest in our Cathedral parish for many years (1976 - 1988). He is remembered fondly by so many people for his outstanding kindness and pastoral charity. Bishop Barres said, "the election of Archbishop Kurtz to this important leadership post by his brother bishops across the country is a point of pride for all of the faithful in the Diocese of Allentown where he served so faithfully for so many years."
Let us pray that he may have abudant grace to fulfill this important office. 

Pastor's Corner, November 10, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This past week all the active diocesan priests met for our annual convocation in Hersey, PA. This was the first year that all the priests gathered at one time. The situation necessitated reducing daily Mass here at the Cathedral to one during those three days. I am grateful to Fr. Kosek, a Barnabite priest, for filling in for us.

You may have seen in the AD Times an article about the decreasing number of diocesan priests. Of the 127 active priests, 119 are assigned within the diocese and 100 of them are assigned to the 104 parishes throughout the diocese. Over the next five years, taking into consideration the number of scheduled ordinations, and possible retirements, deaths and those who might leave the priesthood, the number of diocesan priests in parish ministry could decrease to 80.

These are projected numbers. But what will the actual numbers be? I would suggest that much will depend on our prayers and active support for priests and for vocations to the priesthood. What are you and I doing to change the projected loss into an actual gain?

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker

Pastor's Corner, November 3, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The fullness of divine faith is found in belief in Jesus Christ. St. Augustine, the Pope reminds us in Lumen Fidei, says that even Abraham and the patriarchs were saved by faith in Christ Jesus, not who had come but who was yet to come.

In Jesus we see the full face of God. In Him we see the ultimate manifestation of divine love. “Christian faith is thus faith in a perfect love, in its decisive power, in its ability to transform the world and to unfold its history” (LF, 15). The clearest proof of this love is in the death of Christ on the Cross.

The self-giving and salvific love of Jesus as seen on the Cross “is something I can believe in; Christ’s total self-gift overcomes every suspicion and enables me to entrust myself to him completely” (LF, 16).

In this way, faith is inextricably linked to love. Faith in Christ involves a personal relationship with Him, “clinging to him in love and following in his footsteps along the way” (LF, 18). Faith is a gaze at Jesus but also taking on His eyes, His way of seeing things. Faith involves seeing life through the eyes of our beloved.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker

Pastor's Corner, October 27, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

In the encyclical Lumen Fidei (“Light of Faith”) Pope Francis says that the history of Israel shows us the temptation of unbelief in the form of idolatry. In the desert, while Moses is in long conversation with a mysterious and hidden God, the rest of Israel decides to make a golden calf and worship it.

It seemed better to Israel to worship an idol whose face they could see directly rather than renounce the physical sight of God in order to see him with the eyes of faith. The Pope reminds us that “faith by its very nature demands renouncing the immediate possession which sight would appear to offer” (LF, 13).

“Idols exist,” the Pope continues, “… as a pretext for setting ourselves at the center of reality and worshipping the work of our own hands” (LF, 13). Faith, on the other hand, “breaks with idols to turn to the living God in a personal encounter” (LF, 13).

The temptation to idolatry is very much alive today. A certain scientism causes us to think that reality is only what we can see and touch in the physical world. Idolatry is putting ourselves and/or the work of our hands at the center of reality. Faith means a entrusting of oneself to the Lord who is merciful love.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker

Pastor's Corner, October 20, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

In chapter 1 of Pope Francis’ encyclical Lumen Fidei the Holy Father gives us a beautiful reflection on the faith of Abraham and of the People of Israel.

Faith is a journey and, if we are to understand what faith is, we need to follow along the path that others have taken. In Abraham we see that faith takes on a personal dimension. He does not see God but hears his voice. The divine voice tells Abraham to leave his land (thus he experiences a kind of “exodus”) and “enter into the horizons opened up by God’s word” (LF, 9).

Israel too is taken on a journey by God. They are freed from their misery in Egypt and led into the desert. Thus, the Pope says, “Faith becomes a summons to a lengthy journey leading to worship of the Lord on Sinai and the inheritance of a promised land” (LF, 12).

I think we can all identify in some way with Abraham and Israel. Faith in God is indeed like a journey and it can sometimes take us away from what we want and point toward a new horizon. We have to be trustful and courageous as Abraham and Israel in order to follow the light of faith.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker

Pastor's Corner, October 13, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 
Today I begin a series on Pope Francis’ new encyclical Lumen Fidei (“The Light of Faith”). As the titled indicates, it is a profound meditation on the all-important virtue of faith. 
 The Holy Father begins his letter by pointing out that the Church speaks of faith in terms of light. Jesus himself says that he has come as light into the world (cf. John 12: 46). The light of faith is even better than the sun for faith can cast light “on all of human existence” (LF, 1). 
 In our world some see faith as simply an illusory light which prevents man from “setting out in quest of knowledge” (LF, 2). But reason alone, the Church teaches, is not enough to answer all the questions that confront the human heart, especially questions about the future. 
 Faith, “born of an encounter with the living God” (LF, 4) is capable of guiding us through the journey of life, answering our questions, and becoming a star for the future. It is a virtue that is like a mother who gives birth to divine life in us and a gift that “lights up our way to the future, and enables us joyfully to advance along the way on wings of hope” (LF, 7). 
In Christ, 
Msgr. Baker

Pastor's Corner, October 6, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This evening we begin our Forty Hours devotion in the parish. This is a special time of prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. I know that God will bless each and every one of us as we honor Him in the Holy Eucharist.

One of the things I love most about Forty Hours is that is helps us fulfill one of our highest callings – to adore. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “adoration is the first act of the virtue of religion” (CCC, 2096). When we adore, we acknowledge God as our Creator, Savior and “Master of everything that exists” (CCC, 2096).

At the same time, when we adore God we recognize our own status as a lowly creature who is completely dependent on God for everything. We are really nothing without Him. To adore is to make oneself humble. To adore helps us be more grateful. To adore frees us from turning in on ourselves or turning to the things of the world as idols of worship.

During these next three days I hope you might have some time to spend with Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, adoring and worshipping Him with great love.

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker