Commentary

VOTF Loses a Friend

MONSIGNOR BRESLIN, RETIRED PASTOR, DEAD AT 75  

Reverend Monsignor Lawrence K. Breslin, a retired pastor and former seminary rector, died on April 29.

Msgr. Breslin was born on Oct. 25, 1932 and was reared in Cincinnati.  He studied at St. Gregory’s Seminary and at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati before enrolling at the North American College in Rome, where he received an STL in Theology.  He was ordained to the priesthood on July 14, 1957 in Rome.

In August 1958, he began as assistant pastor at St. Agnes Parish, Cincinnati, and as a teacher at Purcell High School.  He served at St. Lawrence Parish, Cincinnati, during the summer of 1962.  Later in 1962, he began as assistant at Incarnation Parish, Centerville, and teacher at Archbishop Alter High School. In June, 1963 he began as assistant at Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Kettering, while continuing on the faculty at Archbishop Alter High School. In June, 1968 he began as Assistant “pro-tem” at Resurrection Parish, Cincinnati. 

Msgr. Breslin returned to Rome in September 1968 as assistant to the vice-rector of the North American College, and was appointed vice-rector beginning July 1, 1970.  In March, 1972, while serving in Rome, he was honored with the title of Monsignor, a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.  In December, 1974 he was appointed pastor of Saint Bartholomew Parish, Cincinnati.  In December, 1975 he was appointed pro-synodal Judge. 

He became rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati on July 1, 1978, pastor of St. Vivian Parish in Cincinnati in February 1984, pastor of Saint Charles Borromeo Parish in Dayton on July 1, 1986, and retired on July 1, 2004.  He served as Dean of the Dayton Deanery from January 1, 1991 until December 31, 1998.

Msgr. Breslin was an active proponent of the protection of children.  In July 2005, he received the national Voice of the Faithful Priest of Integrity award. 

Reception of the body will be Sunday, May 4, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Saint Charles Borromeo Church. Cincinnati Archbishop Daniel E. Pilarczyk will preside at Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5, preceded by an hour of visitation. Rev. Andrew Nelson will be the homilist. Burial will follow immediately at Calvary Cemetery, Dayton. Submitted by Kris Ward

The Odyssey of Joseph the Dreamer:

A Reflection on Those Who Dare To Dream

Genesis 37-50

Recap of the Reflection delivered by the Rev. Marek B. Bożek

Submitted by VOTF David Biersmith

[For Fr. Marek Bozek’s background and ongoing story, the National Catholic Reporter archives indicate five stories at http://ncronline3.org/drupal/?q=search/node/Fr.+Marek+Bozek. Also, several past issues of the Vineyard have reported on Fr. Bozek’s situation.]

The story of Joseph, son of Israel, is probably one of the most beautiful and meaningful stories of the Hebrew Scriptures. It is a story of a dreamer and his role in a larger picture, that of a family, a nation, and a faith community. Many of us who still consider ourselves to be dreamers can relate to this odyssey of the rejected and kicked out non-conformist, even though the glorious happy ending is not yet ours.

The reality of Joseph thrown into the pit and then again into the prison is the reality in which we all live - the reality of broken hopes and shattered dreams, the reality of deep scars and painful bruises, both on the personal and the communal level - the reality where there is very little trust and a whole lot of suspicion - the reality of Joseph in prison, facing two men whom only he could help - the reality of knowing that the price for that helpful gesture might be very high and very painful. We too, just like Joseph, need to find within ourselves and within our communities the strength and courage necessary to minister to the oppressed and the outcasts, even if we know that it will not be a welcomed ministry by those who hold ecclesiastical titles and sit in cathedral chairs.

Today, more than ever, there exists a need to minister to all those who have been abused and oppressed by the institutional Church. Today the dreamers need to come with aid to those who have been left behind in the darkness of despair. In every town and city there are countless victims of abuse by the hierarchy. And I am not talking only about those who were physically or sexually abused by the clergymen, even though their need is the most obvious. I am talking about countless men and women, who are denied full participation in the Eucharist because their spouse had left them a long time ago and they now found a new partner. I am talking about all those couples who, after prayerful discernment and serious consideration, decide to use contraception, and are told by the Church authorities that they should not receive Communion as long as they “live in sin.” I am talking about all those loving couples, whose only sin consists of loving another person of the same gender and are labeled “intrinsically disordered.” I am talking about five thousand men who left active priesthood because they chose to follow their vocation to be husbands and fathers (and who in several cases were replaced at their assignments by married Roman Catholic priests – converts from other denominations). I am talking about an unknown number of wise and holy women who recognize that they are called by God to priestly ministry but are permitted to receive only six of the Church’s seven sacraments. I am talking about all of us who are deprived of their priestly ministry.  I am talking about people who have suddenly found themselves without a home Parish, once their churches were closed, sold or demolished; and often this has been at least partially in order to pay diocesan debts created as a result of Bishops’ hypocritical and unethical mismanagement. All of these and many more are crying out and praying for dreamers to help them find a better, more just Church, as were Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker looking to Joseph in their time of need. Now it is up to the Josephs of today to respond to that genuine need of our sisters and brothers. Now we are facing a choice between remaining silent in face of the cry of God’s people or becoming involved, and thus making ourselves vulnerable once again. It is not an easy choice and no one can make the decision but oneself.

If and when you decide to get involved once again, the vineyard of the Lord will have plenty of work for you to do. I have been asked many times what can the lay people do in order to further the ideals of better, more just, and more inclusive Church. One thing we can not do at this time, is to wait for the change to come from the top. We need to finally realize that it will not happen in our generation, and I doubt it will happen within next twenty or forty years. Most priests will not decide to explicitly welcome everyone at their communion table, and most bishops will not welcome lay people becoming responsible for the temporal goods of the parishes in their diocese. It is unfortunate and sad, but true – we cannot wait for most of our priests and bishops to take these initiatives. Again – I want to make clear that I believe most priests are good men, trying their best to minister within a corrupt and broken system. However, you and I know that the far too many of them have given up on their dreams and operate now out of fear. At this time in the Church’s history, like many other times before, it is up to the lay dreamers to heed the call once directed to St. Francis of Assisi, “Rebuild my Church!”

In every city there are at least several priests who left active ministry some time ago in order to get married. Many of them are dreaming about fulfilling their priestly role once again. They yearn to celebrate the Eucharist and to minister to God’s people. If you know a dozen or two Catholics like yourself in your town or metro area, this might be the time God is calling the dreamers like you and me to establish Catholic parishes throughout our country that will offer a more just, more inclusive, more Christ-like version of Catholicism. Two dozen people dedicated to making the dream come true can make a difference. Two dozen dreamers need to find a priest who will lead them in Sunday Eucharist and preach to them the Good News of God’s unconditional love. Two dozen dreamers is enough to rent a space in some other denomination’s church or a library or any other room big enough to celebrate Holy Mass at which everyone will be welcome and celebrated as God’s child. Once you make known the existence of such an inclusive Catholic community, independent of the compromised hierarchy, God will surprise you with the number of “Pharaoh’s cupbearers and bakers” who have been waiting for someone to give them a spark of hope. But the initiative needs to come out from the lay dreamers, who are willing to make themselves vulnerable once again in order to serve those abandoned by the men in purple robes.