Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh Appointed as Catholic Charities USA's New Episcopal Liaison

From Pittsburgh-

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA), the national representatives of over 160 local Catholic Charities agencies across the country, announced today that the Most Reverend David A. Zubik, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been appointed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan as the organization's new episcopal liaison.

"Anyone who has met Bishop Zubik knows him to be a man of great faith who will be a significant contributor to our movement," said Father Larry Snyder, CCUSA President. "I look forward to his presence and guidance as we continue to live out Our Lord's call to service and justice in communities across the country."

Cardinal Dolan, acting in his role of President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, appointed Bishop Zubik to take the place of the Most Reverend Michael Driscoll, bishop of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho, who retired as CCUSA's episcopal liaison earlier this year, after years of service building strong partnerships with other Catholic organizations and support for the Catholic Charities movement across the nation. He received the organization's Vision Award in September, recognizing his lifelong commitment to serving others and sharing the love of Christ with our brothers and sisters in need.

More here-

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bishop-david-zubik-of-pittsburgh-appointed-as-catholic-charities-usas-new-episcopal-liaison-230032821.html

Why St. Nicholas Church had to go

From Pittsburgh-

My ancestors came to this country from Eastern Europe. They settled in Ambridge. Both of my Slovak grandparents, my Baba and Dzedo, emigrated from Czechoslovakia. My Polish grandfather, my Dzadza, emigrated and met my grandmother, who was born in Everson, Pa. They married. Alongside other Polish faithful, they built St. Stanislaus Church, rectory, convent and school.

At St. Stanislaus, I was baptized, made my first confession, received my first Holy Communion and was confirmed. I celebrated my first Mass as a newly ordained priest there. My paternal grandparents were laid to their eternal rest from that church. Many wonderful memories of God's grace are contained within that building for me and for many.

I also celebrated the final Mass of St. Stanislaus Parish in 1994. Because of the significant changes in Ambridge over the years, the building that was the home of my parish no longer functions as a Catholic church. But the memories are forever in my heart.

I do understand the love and devotion that we have for our churches. I do understand the pain and profound sense of loss that is being felt by those who loved the old St. Nicholas Church building on East Ohio Street. But in recent years, a thought had kept me awake at night. What if that old building collapsed onto Route 28 and killed a couple of drivers during rush hour before it could be torn down safely?

Read more: 

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/perspectives/why-st-nicholas-church-had-to-go-670193/#ixzz2Hr5jLuqL

Bishop Zubik to have surgery on back

From The Pittsburgh Tribune Review-

Pittsburgh Bishop David Zubik is scheduled to undergo his second back surgery in nine months this morning at UPMC Mercy hospital.

Zubik, 61, said Wednesday that pain in his right leg and foot has been increasing in recent weeks, making it difficult for him to walk on stairs. The ordeal has made it easier for him to empathize with people facing much bigger problems than his.

"I'm just letting this opportunity help me, I hope, to become a better shepherd," Zubik said at the offices of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, Downtown.

During the four-hour surgery, Father Ronald Lengwin, interim general secretary since July 1, will head the diocese. Zubik has cleared his schedule for the rest of January but said he expects to run the diocese from his bed while he recuperates.

Zubik first underwent back surgery in April. The initial surgery was a success, he said, and the current problems are due to a similar but separate problem. He described today's surgery as a laminectomy to shave off part of the bone near the fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae in his lower back.

More here-

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_716793.html

Pittsburgh Bishop Zubik denies cover-up of files

From The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

A victims' advocacy group Tuesday called for a federal investigation into claims that Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik ordered the destruction of records detailing pedophilia and other forms of sexual abuse by priests in Green Bay, Wis.

Zubik denied the allegations.

Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests cited a deposition given in November by a high-ranking Catholic Diocese of Green Bay official calling on U.S. Attorney James Santelle to investigate Zubik and Green Bay Bishop David L. Ricken.

"Our first concern is the destruction of criminal evidence," Peter Isely, SNAP's Midwest director, said shortly before a news conference yesterday outside the federal courthouse in Green Bay. "We want (Santelle) to order them to stop doing it. We also want him to look for possible criminal charges."

Dean Puschnig, spokesman for Santelle's office, said Santelle has agreed to meet with SNAP after Jan 1. Santelle had not seen the deposition, Puschnig said.

More here-

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_714841.html

Church apology set via prayer service

From this morning's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette-

Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will hold a prayer service April 7 to apologize to anyone who has ever been hurt by someone acting in the name of the Catholic Church.

"If you have been harmed by the church in any way, I invite you to come. There will be nothing expected of you but your willingness to pray with me. No one will bother you," Bishop Zubik wrote in his column in the Pittsburgh Catholic. The service will be held at 7 p.m. in St. Paul Cathedral on Tuesday of Holy Week.

Although most publicity about people hurt in the Catholic Church has centered on those who suffered sexual abuse, many other concerns also will be addressed in the prayer service. Bishop Zubik's column mentioned people who have been spoken to harshly by church leaders, who felt they were unjustly let go from a church position or felt picked on by a teacher in a religious education class.

He spoke of a man who approached him recently who was upset that the bishop had not responded to a letter he had written.

"I had no recollection of the matter nor any recollection that the letter ever arrived. But that really didn't matter as much as the fact that the writer was hurt. He felt ignored, even rejected," the bishop wrote.

"Unfortunately, I am sure there were times where my actions or words were the cause of hurt."

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09072/955311-85.stm

Diocese to sell roomy Shadyside mansion

I found this rather inspiring. It looks like Bishop Zubik understands the simplicty of the faith. From the front page of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh will sell a Shadyside mansion that housed five of its leaders.

The diocese has begun storing the contents of the 24-room home, which overlooks the 5000 block of Fifth Avenue.

"We're definitely going to sell it," said diocesan spokesman the Rev. Ron Lengwin. The clearing of the contents is the first step in the process. A real estate agent has not been hired.

The sale of the property -- donated to the diocese in 1949 by David I.B. McCahill -- was made possible by Bishop David A. Zubik's decision to live elsewhere. Zubik, who was installed last year, chose to live in St. Paul's Seminary.

Cardinals John Dearden, John Wright and Anthony Bevilacqua and Bishops Vincent M. Leonard and Donald Wuerl lived in the red brick home with stone trim and a stone fountain. Its Jacobethan Revival architecture has a gabled roof and a symmetrical facade with bay windows. The arched entranceway has a double glass door with decorative wrought iron over glass.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_597476.html