Peacemaker Winter 2013 - National Shrine of Saint Rita of Cascia

The PeaCeMakeR
Winter, 2013 Publication of the
national shrine of saint Rita of Cascia
Shrine Director:
fr. Joseph Genito, o.s.a.
Development Director:
Deborah binder, M.ed.
Photography:
fr. Dan Mclaughlin, o.s.a.
Layout:
accent communications, inc.
Printer:
Gerald o’neill, fast forms
Contact us for a free subscription
national shrine of st. Rita
1166 so. broad st., Phila. Pa 19146
215-546-8333 • ritashrine@aol.com
WWW.saInTRITashRIne.oRG
Shrine Hours of Operation:
Weekdays: 7:30 aM - 5:25 PM
Wednesday: 7:30 aM - 7:30 PM
saturday: 7:30 aM - 6:00 PM
sunday: 8:00 aM - 2:00 PM
Masses:­
Weekday:
8 aM, 12 PM
Wednesday: 8 aM, 12 PM, 7:00 PM
novena after all Masses on Wed.
saturday:
8 aM, 12 noon, 5 PM
sunday:
9 aM, 11 aM Masses
Confessions: Monday-saturday
Eucharistic Adoration: Daily
shRIne boaRD MeMbeRs:
fr. Joseph Genito, o.s.a.
Executive Director
Jay agnes
John Cannon
edward Caruso
anthony DeCarlo
fr. John Deegan, o.s.a.
Dina DellaDucata
bishop Michael fitzgerald
fr. Mickey Genovese, o.s.a.
Dominic liberi
louis Presenza
Judge Timothy Rice
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IssUe TheMe:
sPIRITUalIT Y & TRaUMa
saint rita handled the trauma
she experienced from both her
husband’s murder and the death of
her sons by putting her trust in God,
with a sense of acceptance that
stands as a faithful model for all
who undergo personal tragedies.
rather than becoming embittered
and angry, or give in to fear, she
chose to believe in a loving and just
God who would accompany her
through her sorrows. in this issue
we will show some ways the shrine
and Cascia Center are involved in
carrying on saint rita’s legacy of
peacemaking and healing.
­–Fr.­Joseph­A.­Genito,­O.S.A.
Table of ConTenTs
letter, fr. Joseph Genito, o.s.a. 3
article , fr. M. DiGregorio, o.s.a. 4
2013 Peace award Recipients 7
article, “Dawn’s Place” 8
Testimonials, “Your Word To Us” 11
Pictorial, Prayer Vigil 12
article, bryan Miller 14
Prayers to st. Rita 17
article, fr. James Paradis, o.s.a. 18
Development, Deborah binder 22
Cover Photo: Prayer Vigil held near the site of a
murder of a teenager a few blocks away from the
shrine of st. Rita. fr. Joe Genito, our shrine
Director, is behind the two men shaking hands.
words from
FathEr JoE
thE EsCalatioN of violence and criminal activity in
our cities and nation is a chronic problem for humanity in
every age. Saint Rita was no stranger to violence, her
husband murdered in a vendetta. Controversy plagued
her as she tried unsuccessfully to convince her sons that
they should not contribute to violence by avenging their
father’s death. The prevailing attitude of her society
dictated that the sons avenge the father, his family
probably being the most vocal. Imagine the pressure to which Rita would
have been subjected when the family learned that she was trying to convince
her sons not to add fuel to the revengeful fire by forgiving the murderers of
their father as Jesus forgave his murderers from the Cross. Her perseverance
resulted in an eventual resolution of peace between warring families.
Nowadays, we can relate her situation
to the pressure of groups like
the NRA to squelch any attempt to
limit the sale of weapons which are
used in the many street killings in
Philadelphia and other cities. The
Cascia Center is partnering with
groups like Heeding God’s Call and
POWER (Philadelphians Organized
to Witness, Empower and Rebuild)
to confront illegal weapons sales
and other tools of violence.
In addition, the Center is involved in
working towards the reconciliation
of ex-offenders with the society into
which they are returning by helping
them to develop skills and involve
themselves in programs aimed at
gainful employment. On the horizon,
we hope to be involved in a similar
process which our last Peace Award
recipient, Judge Timothy Rice, has
advocated for many years, to rehabilitate
ex-offenders so they may
become productive members of
society, healed in spirit to respect
themselves and establish a healthy
relationship with supportive and
educative mentors.
Our work to address the trauma of
violence in spiritually healing ways is
further evidenced by our association
with Dawn’s Place, designated this
year as the recipient of our annual
Peace Award. This is a program
which helps women who have been
exploited by traffickers as prostitutes
to find their way to self-respect and
autonomy by means of education
and employment.
These and other ways on the horizon
are ways that the Shrine and Cascia
Center will continue to put the values
of the Gospel into practice. May God
bless you for your part in supporting
our work and our vision.
Fr.­Joseph­Genito,­O.S.A.
Shrine Director
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