Week of fellowship, study and spiritual growth on the horizon for clergy heading to Emmaus
Anne-Marie Welsh
06/11/2024
College
NORTHWEST PA — Fraternity. Formation. Prayer.
Those are three of the priorities Father Nicholas Rouch, vicar general for the Diocese of Erie and director of the Clergy Personnel Office, kept in mind as the committee was working on plans for the upcoming Emmaus gathering for clergy in the Diocese of Erie.
And as priests and deacons attend the convocation at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa., parishioners are asked to make a special effort to pray for them and for an increase in vocations in the Diocese of Erie.
This is the 42nd time clergy will come together for Emmaus, a legacy of Bishop Michael Murphy who introduced the idea during the first year of his tenure as bishop of Erie.
Priests will gather June 17-20, overlapping for a time with the deacons, who will assemble June 19-21. Together, all clergy will enjoy one of the highlights of Emmaus: Mass and a dinner honoring those celebrating jubilee years.
“The fraternity of the priests and deacons is very important,” says Father Rouch. “We start with just the priests. We don’t get to see each other very frequently, because of the geographic size of our diocese.” Father Rouch said one benefit of the assembly is that it’s a good reminder of the importance of addressing isolation, which can happen as a result of the demands of ministry.
“Emmaus gives us a sustained opportunity to really enjoy fraternity and informal time together,” Father Rouch says. “We share the joys and sorrows of our ministry, we get caught up with each other — it’s really a shot in the arm.”
Regarding formation, the speaker for priests at this year’s Emmaus is the Most Rev. David Bonnar, bishop of Youngstown, Ohio. A native of Pittsburgh, Bishop Bonnar has been the editor of The Priest magazine since 2014.
“He has a strong focus on priestly identity and vitality,” Father Rouch says. “He plans to speak to us on living a holy, vibrant and
Photo courtesy of the Diocese
of Youngstown
relational priesthood.” Bishop Bonnar also is familiar with northwest Pennsylvania. Among many other responsibilities, he served as chaplain to the Pittsburgh Steelers for 12 years.
Formation for the deacons will include a presentation on liturgical and practical aspects of the funeral rites, presented by Father Christopher Singer, chancellor, and Deacon Tom McAraw, director of the Permanent Diaconate Program.
“Deacons have an important ministry to people who are grieving the loss of a loved one,” Father Rouch says. “Our diocese also has an aging population, so deacons are able to assist parishes and priests both with pastoral skills and with components of the funeral rites.” In addition, Dr. Jan Satterlee, a member of Holy Spirit Parish in DuBois who holds a PhD in psychology and is a spiritual director and retreat leader, will offer a talk called Who Heals the Healer from a Spiritual Perspective. Dr. Satterlee also is married to Deacon Dan Satterlee.
Emmaus always includes many opportunities for prayer and spiritual growth, ranging from Mass and adoration to reconciliation.
“It’s very powerful to pray together,” Father Rouch says. “For those of us who are so often leading prayer, it’s nice to be side-by-side, praying with our brothers.”
A final highlight of Emmaus is the opportunity created through dialogue sessions with Bishop Persico.
“This year, we invited both the priests and the deacons to submit concerns and questions ahead of time,” says Father Rouch. “We will certainly have a spontaneous conversation, but this gives the bishop insight into common concerns and allows him to be prepared with thoughtful, fuller responses.”
Please check parish bulletins to ensure you are familiar with any changes in Mass times or other activities as a result of Emmaus. What follows is the Emmaus prayer, written for the Diocese of Erie, for those who would like to offer the week of June 17 and or on an ongoing basis.
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
their ministry to the Church.
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