“Pray for the issues facing the Church and invoke God’s holy name,” Bishop Nelson Perez said to members of the Cleveland Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies. About 150 members and guests gathered for the 64th annual bishop’s awards banquet on Oct. 20 at Guy’s Party Center in Akron.
Ruth Carbone received the 2019 President’s Award for dedicated service to the parish, deanery and diocesan Holy Name Society.
The Robert O. Miller Spirit Award was presented to Janet Pearl and Eric Russell.
Vic Scigliano received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award and Susan Moynihan was presented with the 2019 John M. Kovach Award for service to at least three of the four levels of the Holy Name Society – parish, deanery, diocesan and national.
The Silver Medallion Circle Award went to Father William Bouhall, pastor of St. Thomas More Parish in Brooklyn. The award recognizes a member of the clergy who has made a contribution to the Holy Name Society. Father Bouhall was honored for his efforts to revitalize the Holy Name at St. Thomas More.
The Bronze Medallion Circle Award, which is presented to a lay person for contributions to the Holy Name Society, was awarded to Frank Leone for his work with the society at St. Monica Parish. He constructed an outdoor shrine to the Blessed Mother, is a regular volunteer at parish events, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist, a server at funerals and more.
The bishop shared remarks with attendees, explaining that throughout history there has been a creative tension between the Church and society. In Rome, he said there are popes everywhere, with many buried in the churches. “Each lived in a particular time. They all had issues in their time,” he said, noting that all came and went – both the popes and the issues of their time.
When people look back on our time, the bishop said they likely will refer to our heresy as “radical subjectivism -- I decide everything.” He said this began with the Roe v. Wade decision that permitted abortion. “If I can decide what life looks like, everything is fair game,” Bishop Perez said.
Now, 40 years later, in some places assisted suicide is permitted. Marriage used to be between a man and a woman, but that’s not necessarily true any longer, either, the bishop said. And male or female identity used to be a matter of biology, but that also has changed.
“There is a tension with fundamental Christian values,” he said, adding that we want to be the ones who decide many of these issues now. “Freedom serves the common good. Religious freedom is being challenged daily, and the separation of Church and state also can be challenged.
“The right of religious liberty is an innate right given by God. The state doesn’t give us our rights – God does. The state protects those rights,” Bishop Perez said.
"Thank you for your love of God and the Church and thank you for what you do,” he added.
Jerry Bacher, president of the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, said this year’s national Holy Name convention was hosted by the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York, where Bishop Perez served as an auxiliary bishop before being appointed bishop of Cleveland.
“Our bishop is held in high regard there,” Bacher said. He talked about a pastoral letter – “Ya Gotta Believe” -- issued by Rockville Centre Bishop John Barres that referenced the World Series winning 1969 New York Mets, also known as the “Miracle Mets.”
“You gotta believe in what our beliefs are,” Bacher said. He also announced that the 2020 national Holy Name Society convention will take place Sept. 23-26 in Cleveland. “Remember, the Holy Name Society is a Catholic organization whose mission is to enhance the spirituality of all members,” Bacher added.
Father Thomas Haren, pastor of St. Monica Parish in Garfield Heights and spiritual director of the Cleveland Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, also delivered remarks reminding attendees that we shouldn’t be ashamed of our Catholic faith. “We need to defend our faith. Don’t be afraid to talk about your religious values and beliefs. Don’t be afraid to defend your faith,” he said.
Father Haren also was recognized for his 31 years as spiritual director of the diocesan union. He also serves as associate spiritual director of the National Association of Holy Name Societies’ Region 6 – Ohio and Michigan.
Officers of the diocesan union are Jerry Bacher, president; Father Haren, spiritual director; Charles Williams, first vice president; Victor Nemec, recording secretary; Robert Miller, treasurer; William Skladany, marshal; Gary Mann, program chairperson; Susan Moynihan, spiritual apostolate; Robert Fitzgerald, vocations apostolate; James Nugent, parish apostolate; Peter Carbone, family apostolate; Jim Joyce, corresponding secretary; Michael Pindrock, assistant convention coordinator; Ruth Carbone, supplies officer; David Deschler, speakers bureau; Joseph Leone, project director; Joseph Moynihan, Region 6 vice president and Edward Briggs, immediate past president.
Deanery presidents are Victor Nemec, east; Cheryl King, northwest; Jerry Bacher, southwest and Peter Carbone, southern.