The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) traveled to the Diocese of Allentown Sept. 15 to celebrate Mass at the National Centre for Padre Pio in Barto.
Archbishop Timothy Broglio also is the head of the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS), which serves members of the Armed Forces around the world.
It was the second in a series of daily Masses during a Novena at The Centre leading up to the Feast of St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio). Other scheduled celebrants include Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, archbishop emeritus of the Archdiocese of Louisville, Ky.; Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn; and Bishop of Allentown Alfred Schlert, who will celebrate Novena Masses at The Centre Sept. 19 and 20, and on the Feast Day, Sept. 23.
A saint who sets a great example for us has brought us together today, Archbishop Broglio told the 200 people gathered in The Centre’s chapel, as well as those watching online and listening to a Catholic Radio simulcast.
“We are not the thousands at his beatification and canonization, but we are eager to profit from his teaching so as to be effective missionary disciples, and to hear at the end of our pilgrimage, as he did, ‘Come, good and faithful servant. Enter your master’s joy.’”
The USCCB brings together the spiritual leaders of America’s dioceses and archdioceses to make decisions about pastoral, liturgical, and public policies designed to promote the greater good of the Church. Archbishop Broglio was elected to a three-year term as president in 2022.
AMS was created by Pope St. John Paul II. It serves the U.S. Armed Forces at more than 220 military installations in 29 countries, patients in 153 veterans’ hospitals, and federal employees working abroad in 134 countries – in total, about 1.8 million people.
Assisting Archbishop Broglio in the Mass were Father Allen Hoffa, Pastor of Holy Guardian Angels, Reading, who was master of ceremonies, and Deacon Christopher Kinsella, who is assigned to Most Blessed Sacrament, Bally.
More information on the Novena can be found at https://www.padrepio.org/event....
Photos by Paul Wirth.
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