Category: Diocese of Scranton News

SCRANTON — The University of Scranton was again alive with the sounds of joyful praise as the Holy Spirit consumed nearly one thousand devotees who descended on the Scranton campus during the Aug. 5-7 weekend. That is when the annual summer Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference of the Diocese of Scranton — a sight not witnessed since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic — took place.

Glory to God and gratitude for being able to once again gather in His Holy Name was palpable for the three-day spiritual pilgrimage, which traditionally attracts fervent faithful from across the country.

Fittingly, the 2022 Charismatic Conference theme — “O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together’’ — matched the prayerful, jubilant celebration of the masses, and it certainly was not lost on Charismatic Renewal liaison and conference coordinator Karen McLain.

“We were so grateful and excited to have this in-person conference!” McLain exclaimed, stating approximately 900 souls gathered in the Diocese that weekend. “God inhabited the praises of His people and blessed us with His presence in challenging messages from our speakers.”

“All left encouraged to take the message home to their parishes,” she added.

Fellow conference organizer, Brian Hughes, was equally elated.

“It was great seeing so many faces, new as well as familiar ones after being apart for three years,” he said. “It was a great spiritual reunion, and I’m looking forward for a bigger reunion next year.”

The gathering was nothing less than “amazing” for Cindy Cox, who proclaimed this year’s much-anticipated conference was truly “a blessing to so many people!”

Longtime Catholic Charismatic Renewal participant Cathy Best continued to be filled with a sense of joy and love throughout the weekend.

“Volunteer workers and people I didn’t know, who traveled here from out of state, greeted me with happy smiles,” Best commented, adding how the Holy Spirit touched each and every person in attendance. “I had walked in tired but the lively music ministry soon got me off my feet, giving me energy to praise.”

She concluded, “The (conference) teachings opened my mind to know Jesus and how He responds to our prayers and praise,” more than she ever realized before.

The weekend’s many inspiring speakers and uplifting music came to an all-encompassing celebratory conclusion at the conference closing Mass on Sunday, with Bishop Joseph C. Bambera as principal celebrant and homilist.

Bishop Bambera opened his homily by referring to his recent visit to Rome for the Vatican’s International Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue.

“What struck me more than anything else during my first experience leading the Dialogue was that while the differences between the Catholic Church and the Pentecostal movement are not insignificant in terms of our theological and ecclesiological understandings, our belief in the Eucharist and the sacramental life, and our style of worship, at the heart of our faith is a shared appreciation for and openness to the Spirit of God,” the bishop noted.

He added further, “It’s also fair to say…that Catholics and Pentecostals share a deep appreciation for the Charismatic Renewal that has touched our lives so deeply and that we celebrate this weekend.”

One attendee from New York City commented at the end of the conference, “Let us continue to spread the message we heard at Scranton. Victory is our praise! God inhabits the praises of His people, so let us go forth into this day with a praise on our lips and a song in our heart…making joyful melodies unto the Lord.”

HARRISBURG – The second annual Pennsylvania March for Life will take place on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.

The rally at 11 a.m. and march at noon will take place on that date because it is the first day when both the Pennsylvania House and Senate will be back in session in Harrisburg.

After we have seen a wave of exciting pro-life legislation across the states, now is a great time to continue the momentum and show our state lawmakers support for protecting the sanctity of life in Pennsylvania.

The rally will take place on the front steps of the State Capitol Building. The address is 501 N. 3rd Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120. The front steps are on the corner of 3rd Street and State Street.

The march route will encircle the Capitol Complex, covering N. 3rd Street, North St., Commonwealth Avenue and Walnut Street. The length of the march route is approximately one mile.

All are welcome to attend and no advanced registration is required.

Besides the rally and march, other events will be taking place on the same day. There will be Morning Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, 212 State Street, Harrisburg at 9:30 a.m. At 10 a.m., there will be prayer and a praise pre-rally on the main stage. There will also be another Mass at 1:30 p.m. at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral which will be concelebrated by Bishop Bambera, who will also be attending the PA March for Life.

Thousands of people are planning to attend the second annual Pennsylvania March for Life. Several organizations locally are organizing bus trips to help people attend the event.

The Diocese of Scranton is sponsoring a bus trip that will depart from Scranton and will make a pick-up in Wilkes-Barre. Seating is limited and preference will be given to college students, young adults and young families. For more information, contact Shannon at SKowalski@dioceseofscranton.org or (570) 207-2213, x1155.

The Pennsylvanians for Human Life in Hazleton will have a bus heading to the rally and march. They will begin with 8 a.m. Mass at Saint John Bosco Church in Conyngham. The cost of the bus is $15 which includes a beverage and snacks. To reserve a seat, contact Maryann Lawhon at (570) 788-5646.

Gate of Heaven Parish in Dallas is also planning a bus trip which will leave the church’s upper parking lot at 8:30 a.m. Organizers plan to pray the rosary on the trip to Harrisburg. The bus is limited to the first 50 people but if another 50 people express interest, and there is enough to fill it, they will have a second bus attend. To sign up, call Gate of Heaven Parish at (570) 675-2121.

A bus will also depart from Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, Pocono Pines, on Sept. 19. Anyone that is interested in attending can contact Stephen Gilnane at sglinane2013@yahoo.com or (570) 977-4617.

SCRANTON – Evangelization is all about spreading good news. As people of faith, when we evangelize, we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others so that they may respond to His invitation as well.

Unfortunately, research has shown that on average, 95-percent of parishioners haven’t completely welcomed Christ into every aspect of their life.

As a way to help parish leaders find ways to help others give their “Yes” to God, the Diocese of Scranton Office for Parish Life sponsored a ‘relit’ training course July 29-30 at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. Several dozen people attended the program.

“What I really want them to see is what a beautiful thing it is to evangelize and then give them the basic tools to be able to do it,” presenter Michael Dopp said. Dopp is the founder of Mission of the Redeemer Ministries and the New Evangelization Summit.

During the interactive course, Dopp said simple gestures can make a big difference for a parish.

“It starts with the way that we think about our faith. Our faith isn’t just for us. Our faith is meant to be passed onto others,” he explained.

He urged those attending to speak about what God has done in their life, about who He is and His plan for each of us.

“The crucial thing for a parish is to understand what it exists to do. A parish is there to evangelize and therefore every ministry within the parish is there to serve that mission,” Dopp added.

Father Mark J. DeCelles, Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima and Saint Nicholas Parishes in Wilkes-Barre, attended the ‘relit’ training.

“It’s about relighting that fire, that enthusiasm, to help us remember what we have to offer is Good News, what we have to offer is an invitation to what will truly satisfy us,” he said.

He appreciated the ‘relit’ program because it allowed him to take the good work his parish is already doing and discover ways to be even more effective.

“We all have gifts. We all have things that we can share,” Father DeCelles added.

Carla Preate, Pastoral Council President at the Cathedral of Saint Peter in Scranton, also participated in the ‘relit’ program.

“You have friends and family that have fallen away from the church and you try to get them to come back but it doesn’t seem like you’re doing the right thing or you’re getting through to them,” she said.

Preate said she looks forward to taking what she learned back to her parish community.

“I would like to expand this course out to others in the parish, get more people involved in the process of this new evangelization to bring former Catholics back to church,” she added.

Programming and events coordinated through the Office for Parish Life are made possible, in part, due to gifts and donations made to the Diocesan Annual Appeal.

SCRANTON – Thousands of people made their way to the Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Ann in West Scranton in late June for an annual pilgrimage that has been ongoing for 98 years.

The Solemn Novena in honor of Saint Ann, the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary, began on Sunday, July 17, and culminated with the celebration of the Feast of Saint Ann on Tuesday, July 26.

“It is such a holy place. As soon as you walk on the grounds, you can feel it. It is inspiring and a time when you can reflect on your faith,” Novena volunteer Debbie Coval said.

Coval and other volunteers were happy to see so many worshippers turn out for this year’s event.

“With all of the bad stuff going on, it’s good to see a lot of people practicing their faith,” volunteer Noah Palauskas added. “Everybody is extremely friendly here. You can come and make new friends without even trying.”

The guest preacher for this year’s Novena was Passionist Father Paul Fagan.

“Each day is more energizing,” Father Fagan said. Father Fagan preached about Saint Joseph, the son-in-law of Saint Ann, this year.

“We started with looking at Saint Joseph generally and for the rest of the Novena, we took a title of Saint Joseph each day and reflected on that,” he explained.

Carol Ann McNulty of Laflin has been coming to the annual Novena for more than 25 years. She says Saint Ann has blessed her with health, happiness, holiness and prosperity.

“When I have asked Saint Ann to intercede for my family, if it were health problems or whatever it may be, she has come through for us,” McNulty explained. “My brother who had cancer, we brought him here for the very first time when he was going through treatments. When he came, he was amazed at the size of the Saint Ann statue and he said he felt different after he left, it was like a special blessing he received.”

This year, the tradition of blessing the faithful with a relic of Saint Ann has returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“They tell you, ‘Be careful what you pray for because you may get it but not in the way you think you’re going to get it,’” Marion Kruska of West Wyoming said. “I’ve had a lot of things happen in my lifetime and I got what I wanted but it was a long haul of comfort and suffering to guide me through it.”

Guy Pelosi has been attending the Novena for decades. His mother taught him to have a deep love and respect for Saint Ann.

“I was born and raised in West Scranton. I was a member of Saint Ann Monastery since birth. I was an altar boy, a choirboy, a boy scout, I was in the Vocation Club. I worked here years ago as a porter and also worked in the kitchen washing dishes. I literally grew up here. This is my life. Our community was based at Saint Ann’s,” he explained.

When asked to describe how the Novena itself has impacted his life, Pelosi responded simply, “It is beyond words!”

The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, celebrated the Solemn Closing of the Novena on the Feast of Saint Ann.

During his homily, he discussed faith, family, gratitude.

“My sisters and brothers, open your ears and listen to the voice of God as he speaks to your heart and offers you a message of consolation and hope,” Bishop Bambera said. “Look within yourselves. See God walking with you even and particularly amid all of the hurts, the wounds, the brokenness, the guilt, the grief and pain that are yours.”

He continued, “See in the Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Jesus – God’s love poured forth for you, for me, as we are, wth the gifts of life, salvation and peace.”

As the Solemn Closing Mass of the Novena came to an end, Father Richard Burke, C.P., Rector of St. Ann’s, thanked all those who made the 55 Masses and Novena services possible, including Bishop Bambera, who celebrated the final Mass.

“Your Excellency, Bishop Bambera, we are so pleased that you are here with us tonight to bring to a conclusion this week of marvelous prayer, marvelous hope and marvelous inspiration that we’ve had from the virtues of Saint Joseph throughout these nine days,” Father Burke said.

MOUNTAIN TOP — Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, served as principal celebrant of a concelebrated Pontifical Mass of Christian Burial for Father Stephen A. Krawontka on July 26 at Saint Jude Church in Mountain Top.

A native of Poland who was serving as pastor of the parish communities of Ascension in Forest City and Saint Katharine Drexel in Pleasant Mount, Father Krawontka died July 19 at Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale.

Born in Lapsze Nizne, Poland, on March 27, 1950, son of the late Jan and Julia Nowobilska Krawontka, Father Krawontka received his early education at local public schools and graduated from Zakopane High School in southern Poland.

He attended the Papal Faculty of Theology in Krakow, Poland, where he completed his theological studies and priestly preparation, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Krakow on May 22, 1977, by Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, the future Pope Saint John Paul II.

Following 13 years of ministering as a priest in his native country, Father Krawontka came to the Diocese of Scranton in July 1990 and was appointed assistant pastor of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Dickson City.

With the consent of the Krakow Archdiocese, Father Krawontka was incardinated in the Scranton Diocese on Nov. 23, 1993, and was eventually appointed in July 1997 as assistant pastor of Saint Joseph Parish, Hazleton, where he served for 11 years.

In July 2008, he was assigned as administrator of the churches of Saint Mary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and Ascension of the Lord, both in Mocanaqua, and Saint Martha Church, Fairmount Springs. Two years later, he was appointed assistant pastor at Saint Patrick Parish, West Scranton, where he would also serve as administrator pro tem and Senior Priest.

Father Krawontka received his next assignment in November 2017 to serve as Senior Priest at the parishes of Our Lady Help of Christians, Dorrance, and Saint Jude, Mountain Top. In 2019, Father was appointed as pastor of Ascension Parish, Forest City, and Saint Katharine Drexel Parish, Pleasant Mount, where he remained until his death.

“Did you know that Father Stephen skied with Pope Saint Paul II?” was the intriguing opening line of Father Joseph Evanko’s homily for the funeral Mass of his friend, Father Stephen Krawontka, referring to the Polish priest’s close relationship with the future Pope and Saint who ordained him to the priesthood 45 years ago.

“If I did not start this homily with acknowledging Father Stephen’s connection to Pope Saint John Paul, he would not be happy,” Father Evanko continued, as he recalled Father Krawontka’s treasured photo of then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla of Krakow laying his hands on the young priest during his ordination.

“Father Stephen had a strong sense of memory and identity when it came to being the shepherd…For him, being the shepherd, as a priest is called to be, very much comes from remembering the culture of our ethnic backgrounds and identifying with whom our parents taught us to be,” Father Evanko noted. “His Catholic Polish heritage trained him with the religious dimension of respect and veneration of not just his parents but all people of faith.”

The homilist remembered that at the time of his parent’s death, Father Krawontka “was a shepherd to my family by reminding us how our faith and tradition provide hope for us.”

Referring to the funeral reading of Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Father Evanko remarked, “Father Stephen believed that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ and when we respect each other and venerate God, as the Commandments demand, we are never separated from the love of Christ.”

Father Evanko proceeded to quote parish Deacon Jim Atherton, who said of the late priest upon his recent passing, “Imagine Father Stephen was ordained by a future Pope and Saint, then came to serve the Diocese of Scranton and went home to God serving the people of Forest City. He lived out the Gospel trying the best he could with the talents that God gave him.”

“In the end, Father Stephen battled cancer…but continued to serve as a shepherd modeled in the memory and identity developed through family, faith and ordination,” the homilist remarked, concluding further, “Pope Saint John Paul II stated, ‘Freedom is not only a gift but a task to be used for the common good.’ Father Stephen you have used your gift well and your task is complete. May you enjoy the slopes of eternal life!”

Surviving are two sisters, Teresa Klapacz and husband, Peter; and Maria Olszowska and husband, Wlodek; a brother, Emil Krawontka and wife, Marta; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Interment was conducted at Calvary Cemetery in Drums, Luzerne County.

 

MOSCOW – While many parishes are busy preparing their religious education programs for the fall, students in many communities are still talking about the fun and learning that went on over the summer!

With concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic easing a little this year, many parishes hosted their normal Vacation Bible School programs.

At Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, dozens of students between the age of three up to fifth grade participated in a program from July 11-15. The theme of this year’s event was “Rocky Railway” and featured an elaborate set of props including a moving train in the parish parking lot.

“We’re celebrating the power of Jesus who has helped us through a difficult time,” Sandy Czyzyk, Director of Religious Education at Saint Catherine of Siena Parish, said. “The train, in a sense, is Jesus’ strength, power and energy.”

The staff at the parish works several months to prepare an interactive program that features bible stories, music, dancing and crafts.

“I love working with the kids. I helped teach the kindergarteners this year and seeing the little kid’s faces light up when they learn about Jesus just makes me so happy,” volunteer Carly Bajor said.

“I’ve been doing Vacation Bible School for about ten years now. What keeps bringing me back is the kids. I love coming back every year and watching them grow up, grow in their faith, make friends and be so excited to be a part of this community,” volunteer Marie LaRosa added.

Many of the students who participated say they loved the week so much, they’re already looking forward to next year.

“I liked the music,” student Nora Sullivan said.

“I learned some nice songs. At bible stories, I learned some pretty neat things,” student Lucca Gabello added.

During the week of June 27-July 1, the parishes of Our Lady of the Snows, Church of Saint Gregory and Saint John Vianney all came together to host a joint Vacation Bible School for all three communities in Clarks Green.

“On Monday, they (the students) came in all timid and shy. On Tuesday, they came running in. Mom and dad didn’t even need to bring them in, they were singing and dancing,” Sue Burke, Director of Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Snows Parish, said. “Knowing that they’re growing in their faith every day just warms my heart.”

The theme for the joint Vacation Bible School was “Spark.”

“We focused on ‘what’s your spark!’ The children were supposed to identify something that gives them purpose and how to use it for God’s plan,” Ruth Fried, Religious Formation Director at the Church of Saint Gregory, said.

The three parishes decided to host a joint Vacation Bible School because all of the parishes are located in the same deanery and their faith formation directors have been networking in an intentional way.

“God brought us together for a reason and we’re here to change the lives of these kids,” Kristin Travis, Director of Faith Formation at Saint John Vianney Parish in Montdale, said. “Saint John Vianney hasn’t had a lot of children attending Vacation Bible School the past several years and we really wanted to have them involved!”

Just like in Moscow, the students who participated say they learned a lot.

“I think it’s fun how they are able to incorporate God into all the activities that we do,” student Gretchen Duffy said.

“I think it’s good that kids from other parishes are coming together as one. A lot of these kids go to school together and know each other so it’s good for them to have a place that they can all come together at the same time,” student Eddie Scavone added.

By the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton and Catholic Co-Chair

In 1964, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council issued the Decree on Ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio, acknowledging that the restoration of unity among Christians was one of the Council’s principle concerns, reflecting the very prayer of Jesus himself. “What has revealed the love of God among us is that the Father has sent into the world His only-begotten Son, so that, being made man, He might by His redemption give new life to the entire human race and unify it. Before offering Himself up as a spotless victim upon the altar, Christ prayed to His Father for all who believe in Him: ‘that they all may be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, so that the world may believe that thou has sent me’.”

Seven years after the publication of Unitatis Redintegratio, an agreement was reached between the Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity of the Roman Catholic Church, some Pentecostal Churches and participants in the charismatic movement within the Protestant and Anglican Churches to enter into dialogue. This agreement set the stage for the first official meeting of the International Catholic – Pentecostal Dialogue that took place in Zurich, Switzerland in June 1972.

With its primary goal of fostering mutual respect and understanding between the Catholic Church and Classical Pentecostal leaders and churches in light of the prayer of Jesus that all may be one (Jn 17:21), the Dialogue has issued six reports throughout the course of the past fifty years, with each report reflecting a particular phase of discussion and prayer. Each phase, in turn, has generally consisted of six to seven years of dialogue on topics related to a particular theme of mutual interest and concern. Themes over the past five decades have ranged from “Evangelization, Proselytism and Common Witness” to “Becoming a Christian, Baptism and the Sacraments” to “Charisms in the Life and Mission of the Church,” among other topics.

In 2020, I was asked to serve as the Catholic co-chair of the Dialogue, working alongside my counterpart from the Pentecostal movement, the Reverend Cecil M. Robeck, Jr., who has been a member of the Dialogue for decades. Meeting in Rome in July of this year to commemorate its 50th anniversary, the Dialogue continued its work in the early stages of its 7th Phase, with the overall theme, Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, (translated: “the law of what is prayed is the law of what is believed”). Our specific focus for this year’s Dialogue work was “Kerygma, Proclamation and the Christian Life,” with papers being prepared by both Catholic and Pentecostal participants that served as the basis for our discussion, prayer and reflection.

For me, in addition to being involved in a discipline of Church life and ministry that has great meaning personally, I felt privileged and blessed to have been given the opportunity to work with a team of outstanding academic scholars and church leaders. Not knowing what to expect as I prepared for my first experience of the Dialogue in person, following a two-year suspension of in-person meetings due to the coronavirus pandemic, the members of the Catholic team helped to make our time together both productive and meaningful through the expertise that they shared, the depth of their faith and their kind and generous spirits. My experience with the Catholic members of the Dialogue was mirrored by the Pentecostal members, each of whom approached our time together with respect, reverence, openness and faith.

As noted in the title of my reflections, the Dialogue is truly international in its composition. Currently, it consists of seven Catholic members, who represent the United States, Columbia, Italy, Nigeria (by way of Switzerland), Hong Kong and Brazil, and eight Pentecostal members, from the United States, Canada, Australia, Ghana and Peru. Thankfully, our meetings were all conducted in English. The various cultures and lands that were represented, however, all served to provide a rich and varied perspective on Church life, worship and ministry.

Our Dialogue group spent six days working together from early morning until early evening, with a break for lunch – but no time for a siesta! Yet, despite the intense schedule, we were fortunate to participate in several notable experiences, from Sunday Mass in Saint Peter’s Basilica, to Vespers at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, to a private tour of the Apostolic Palace, conducted by the Diocese of Scranton’s own Monsignor Christopher Washington, who is assigned to the Secretariat of State in the Vatican, to an anniversary dinner hosted in the Vatican Gardens by His Eminence, Kurt Cardinal Koch, Prefect of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.

By far, however, our most noteworthy experience was to receive a personal greeting from His Holiness, Pope Francis. His words capture best not only my own personal sentiments as I reflect upon my experience leading the Dialogue but also particularly its goal within the Christian Community. “Our the past fifty years, the Commission, through dialogue and reflection, has journeyed together in order to build bonds of friendship, solidarity and mutual understanding between Catholics and Pentecostals. It is my hope that this important anniversary will strengthen these bonds and renew your zeal to proclaim, as missionary disciples, the joy of the Gospel in the ecclesial community and in society as a whole. In this way, bearing witness to the Lord’s prayer that all may be one (cf. Jn 17:21), you will be able to help our brothers and sisters experience in their hearts and lives the transforming power of God’s love, mercy and grace.”

May we as a Church continue to make the prayer of Jesus our own, that “all may be one,” so that our struggling and divided world may come to believe in the power of Jesus’ life, love and saving grace.

CARBONDALE – This year marked a special milestone for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Lackawanna County’s Up-Valley.

The faithful of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Carbondale marked their 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Feast this year.

“It’s the 50th anniversary at our Farview Street location. Our original feast was on Green Street and we moved it once the church was moved to the Farview Street location, so we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary at the Farview Street location and honoring the men that have really kept this tradition alive,” parishioner Josefa Dombrosky said.

The four-day celebration in honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Carbondale comes with a deep sense of pride.

“The Feast celebration is the heart and soul of this parish. It is a time where we showcase our delicious Italian recipes that have been passed on through generations. The Feast is a place where we come together to celebrate the heritage of the founding members of this beautiful, ethnic parish,” Dombrosky added. “The sense of pride that we carry for this church is deep in our hearts and showing it off makes us glow from inside-out.”

The celebration ended with a Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, on Sunday, July 17, 2022.

“It’s a real privilege for me to be a part of this wonderful celebration,” Bishop Bambera said at the beginning of the special liturgy.

Following the Mass, a procession of the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel took place throughout the streets of Carbondale’s west side.

For several hours, the statue visited nursing homes and residences to bring the faith out into the community.

“It is very important to our church. It’s an Italian heritage church that we are so proud of,” parishioner Lori Lee explained. “It’s a pilgrimage that we make to honor Our Lady of Mount Carmel.”

After several difficult years dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, participants say the procession was not only a perfect way to live out their faith but build community and invite people in the community to return to church.

“We want people to get back into church,” Lee added.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The oldest member of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Jozef Tomko, died in Rome at the age of 98.

The late cardinal had been hospitalized since the end of June after a fall, and he suffered further complications from COVID-19. He returned to his Vatican apartment Aug. 6 for continued care and died early Aug. 8.

In a telegram with his condolences published by the Vatican later the same day, Pope Francis praised “this esteemed and wise brother who, sustained by deep faith and great foresight, served the Gospel and the church with humility and self-sacrifice.”

The pope praised the late cardinal for his long and fruitful service and for his devotion and witness, exemplified by his praying the rosary every evening in St. Peter’s Square.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica Aug. 11, and his remains will be buried at St. Elisabeth Cathedral in Košice, Slovakia.

He served nearly 16 years as the head of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which was responsible for coordinating church activities in mission territories, especially Africa and Asia. After he retired in 2001, at the age of 77, he was appointed president of the Pontifical Committee for the International Eucharistic Congresses, until retiring in 2007.

Pope Benedict XVI continued to rely on the retired cardinal’s expertise, appointing him in 2010 to the Vatican commission studying the alleged Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In 2012, Pope Benedict appointed him and two other cardinals to lead a wide-ranging investigation into the so-called “Vatileaks scandal,” a series of leaks of letters exchanged among Vatican officials and between the officials and the pope himself. The cardinals were tasked with helping the pope understand the reasons behind the leaks and the problems they appeared to indicate.

As titular cardinal of the Basilica of Santa Sabina on Rome’s Aventine Hill, it was Cardinal Tomko who distributed ashes to the pope at the traditional Ash Wednesday Mass there.

He served that role for the past three popes, starting in 1996, and he once said he found it “truly difficult” to have to recite to each pope the formula, “Repent and believe in the Gospel!”

“He’s the one who has the full right to say that to me and everyone else,” Cardinal Tomko said.

Cardinal Tomko was born March 11, 1924, in Udavské, Slovakia. During the height of World War II, he came to Rome to finish his studies at the Pontifical Lateran University and the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned doctorates in theology, canon law and social sciences.

He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rome in 1949 after a coup led by the communist party of Czechoslovakia in 1948 meant he was unable to return to his homeland. He was vice rector and later rector of the Czech seminary, the Pontifical Nepomucenum College, between the years of 1950 and 1965.

He worked at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for 13 years, starting in 1966. He also taught at Pontifical Gregorian University from 1970 to 1978, and he served as grand chancellor of Rome’s Pontifical Urban University from 1985 to 2001.

Cardinal Tomko was named undersecretary of the Congregation for Bishops in 1974 and then secretary general of the Synod of Bishops in 1979.

He was ordained a bishop later that year in the Sistine Chapel with St. John Paul II as principal consecrator. The Polish pope elevated him to the College of Cardinals in 1985.

He co-founded a religious journal and the Slovak Institute of Sts. Cyril and Methodius, which later became the pontifical college for priests from Slovakia.

When he became head of the evangelization congregation, he traveled extensively to mission territories, and he helped support the establishment of nearly 180 new dioceses.

Despite his many responsibilities at the Vatican, the late cardinal remained active in pastoral ministry at a number of parishes in Rome. He also was active on an international level in the area of ecumenism, serving as delegate of the Holy See at the World Lutheran Federation and the World Council of Churches in Geneva in 1972. He was part of the executive committee of the Pontifical Mission Societies focusing on challenges facing consecrated life, the laity, and justice and peace.

His death leaves the College of Cardinals with 206 members, 116 of whom are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote in a conclave.