Bishop Persico shares statement to St. Leo Parish community in Ridgway
RIDGWAY-- The Most Reverend Lawrence T. Persico, Bishop of Erie, addressed the Ridgway Parish at the Saturday evening Mass and directed that the following letter be read at the Sunday Masses.
“I traveled to Ridgway for Saturday evening’s Mass on this first weekend of Lent because I am aware the community of St. Leo in Ridgway has experienced significant anguish and dissension in recent days. As Bishop, this causes me great pain.”
“I came to bring encouragement and to give you insight into what it means to minister in the Church. But most of all, I came to address the importance of unity within the Parish for the good of the community.”
“While it is inappropriate to discuss details of what was handled as a private matter between a parishioner and his pastor, I want to offer a broader commentary on the responsibilities placed on all of those who serve in ministry.”
“First, I want to emphasize that all are welcome to worship in the Catholic Church. None of us is perfect. None of us is without sin. We belong to the Catholic Church and to the St. Leo Parish for this very reason. We recognize our need for God, and want to grow closer to him through
Jesus Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit.”
“Even though we are not perfect, the Church does have expectations for those who serve in public ministries. It is my responsibility as your Bishop, and Father Pino’s responsibility as your Pastor, to ensure those expectations are met.”
“Those who minister have an obligation to live in accordance with the Gospel and with the teachings of the Church. This is not new to those of you who serve. Many employees and volunteers in the Diocese of Erie sign a form indicating that they understand and embrace Church teachings.”
“As we move forward, I can not express strongly enough how important it is for this Parish to make unity a priority. Recent events have put a strain on unity here, as have the ongoing struggles of division within this community that have come to my attention this week. It must come to an end.”
“I can think of no better time than the season of Lent-a time for sacrifice and reflection-for us to step back from the emotions of the moment and to recommit ourselves to living in charity, in truth, and with respect for each other. I don’t expect my being here to resolve every issue and misunderstanding. It will take time, patience, generosity, and charity. But I do hope my visit with you demonstrates my care and concern for the welfare of this Parish and for you as individuals.”
“I know that asking people to pray is sometimes received as a meaningless response. But I do not subscribe to that belief. We need to turn to pray for everyone who has been impacted by the current situation. In addition, charity and kindness must guide our comments, both in person and online. We need to support each other in our common efforts to live in the Gospel, to understand that each member of our community has unique personal challenges, and to encourage each other in our love for Christ and for his Church.”
“I am not sure, yet, what the next steps might be for this community. I came here in a spirit of accompaniment, to encourage unity and to exercise my responsibility to teach. I also came here in an effort to determine what steps can be taken to assist the Parish and the wider community going forward.”
“In the meantime, I will continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will bring wisdom, understanding, and peace to our Parish community. I invite you to do the same.”