ONE FAMILY IN CHRIST — CDA 2010

Patron saint for priests motivates faithful to live a life of stewardship

Editor's note: This is the next in a new series of stories exploring the Charity and Development Appeal’s impact on Arizona’s Catholics — the diocese’s “One Family in Christ.”

As the 2010 Charity and Development Appeal builds steam, the focus on the priesthood is playing an important role.

This year’s CDA takes place during the Year for Priests, which Pope Benedict XVI declared last year. The priestly year commemorates the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests.

The Year for Priests began and will end on the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus — June 19, 2009, through June 11.

St. John Vianney, well known as the “Cure of Ars,” was a shining example of a life of service and generosity, putting his gifts and abilities at the service of God’s people. In that sense, he serves as a model of stewardship for local Catholics.

The humble saint was a 19th century priest who grew up in the shadow of the French Revolution, rife with persecution of the Church. As a child, St. John Vianney, his parents and five siblings had to travel to distant farms to attend Masses in secret.

The priests involved were risking their lives by providing the sacraments to believers. Not surprisingly, the courage displayed by the clergy made them heroes in the young saint’s eyes.

In the last years of his life, the Cure of Ars was spending up to 16 hours a day in the confessional. His personal sanctity and dynamic preaching helped revive the faith and parish life of Catholics in France.

Fr. Gregory Schlarb, vicar of stewardship for the Diocese of Phoenix, said St. John Vianney lived stewardship in an exemplary way.

“He took what little he had and he put it in God’s hands,” Fr. Schlarb said. “From that, the parish in Ars was transformed and became a beacon of light for the people of the area, the people of France and of Europe.”

Critical need

In the Diocese of Phoenix, two parishes call on St. John Vianney as their patron. CDA organizers are hoping the saint’s example of stewardship will inspire Catholics to be generous in giving to the annual appeal that helps fund 70 charitable organizations.

Fr. J.C. Ortiz, pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona, appeared in the 2010 CDA video shown at most parishes last month. In the video, Fr. Ortiz stressed how funds raised in the annual appeal help the poor of the entire diocese.

“Social service programs and organizations are critical to our community and our parishes,” Fr. Ortiz said in the video. “The CDA funds many programs throughout central and northern Arizona and assists the poor, the homeless, the unemployed, the unborn and senior citizens as well as the abused and neglected.”

At St. John Vianney Parish in Sedona, Fr. Ortiz said the faithful have answered the call to pledge to the CDA. “The people here are extremely generous,” he said. The parish is home to just under 800 Catholic families in the picturesque red-rock town.

Over in Goodyear, just west of Phoenix, Holy Cross Father John Herman is pastor of the other parish that bears St. John Vianney’s name. Home to more than 3,000 families, the parish is a thriving community that includes an elementary school run by the Salesian sisters.

Holy Cross Father Andrew Gawrych, parochial vicar of St. John Vianney Parish in Goodyear, said the saint for whom the parish was named lived a life of generous service.

“As a priest, the more I learn about St. John Vianney, the more I’m inspired to give my all the way he did. He was tireless in serving God’s people. He’s an example for all of us — not just priests — in giving what we’ve been blessed with to serve God’s people.”

Helping seminarians

Julie Nackard, the 2010 CDA co-chair, belongs to San Francisco de Asís Parish in Flagstaff and Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral. She and her husband, Patrick, spoke about the CDA at all the Masses a couple of weeks ago in Flagstaff.

“Fr. Pat [Mowrer] asked me to address why I give to the CDA,” Julie said. “The number one reason is Catholic education.”

San Francisco de Asís has a parish school, but the faithful have another reason to give to the CDA, she said.

“One of the main ways you’ve been helped by the CDA is by priests,” Nackard told parishioners. “Without CDA money, there would not be funding for seminarians and priests.”

In the 2010 CDA video, a number of priests from the Diocese of Phoenix, including San Francisco de Asís pastor Fr. Patrick Mowrer, mention the many people helped by the appeal. Seminarians are also featured in the video.

“Patrick and I say that our life has been greatly touched by priests,” Julie said. A convert to the faith, she said that during the RCIA process, she posed numerous questions to priests as she worked to understand Catholic teaching.

“Fr. Peter Dobrowski [former pastor of San Francisco de Asís] answered every question I had,” Julie said. “Giving to the CDA also helps form our seminarians.”

Ana Garcia-Hoffman, parish manager at San Francisco de Asís for the last five years, said so far the response to the CDA has been overwhelming.

“The first-week participation was astounding,” Garcia-Hoffman said. “I think this year it’s the video. It was very appealing showing the different needs up here in the north.” She said Fr. Mowrer got the crowd going when he sang an a cappella version of a song he wrote to inspire people to give to the CDA.

Mary Jean Bublitz, a longtime member of the Flagstaff parish, said the big push this year is to get 100 percent participation in the CDA.

“Fr. Pat Mowrer and Julie and Pat Nackard did a wonderful presentation,” Bublitz said. “Fr. Pat has been drumming it. It makes people realize what a worthwhile effort this is.”