Off-and-on rainstorms on June 19 caused St. Cyprian Parish to move its previously scheduled outdoor vigil Mass into the church. Father George Kusy, the pastor, said normally the faithful of the approximately 700-family parish enjoy attending Mass outdoors in the parish grotto from May through October.
He welcomed Bishop Edward Malesic and Father Dan Schlegel, vicar for clergy and religious, to the parish. “I hope you come again,” he said, extending an open invitation to return.
The bishop mentioned seeing the cooling towers for the nearby Perry nuclear power plant as they drove to St. Cyprian. “I felt right at home,” he said, noting he is a native of the Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which is near the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant, the site of the nation’s worst commercial nuclear accident in March 1979.
As he began his homily, Bishop Malesic shared the story of a man who was shopping in a grocery store with his uncooperative 3-year-old son. As the man walked through the store, he stayed calm, offering reassuring remarks despite the toddler’s increasing unhappiness.
“We’re almost done, Billy,” the man said quietly as they paid for the groceries.
In the parking lot, another shopper complimented the father for the way he handled young Billy.
“I’m Billy,” the man said, adding his son’s name was Wesley.
The story drew a laugh from the congregation. The bishop then connected the father’s calm amid the storm of his son’s antics to the day’s Gospel, which told about Jesus being asleep in a fishing boat that was being tossed around on the stormy sea. The disciples were perturbed that Jesus didn’t seem to be concerned about the situation. It also was a time when Jesus was beginning to reveal himself to his followers, who didn’t yet understand the extent of his divine power, the bishop said. Then Jesus commanded the wind and water to be quiet and they obeyed.
Bishop Malesic compared the boat to the Church and noted that life can bring a great deal of turbulence including illness, financial difficulties, addiction, racism, child abuse both before and after birth and more.
“We know that God can do something to relieve the situation, but doesn’t seem like he wants to,” the bishop said. Yet, as God, he knows what is going on and how to resolve the situation.
“He is the God of love, after all, a God who is willing to sacrifice everything for us, even dying on a cross,” he added.
We can help calm the storm “by rowing together and by holding fast to our common faith,” the bishop said, noting Pope Francis gave the same advice.
“Jesus wants to be our captain and our guide. He is with us – in the boat – forever,” he added.
During the Mass, Bishop Malesic offered a prayer and blessing for parishioners Steve and Molly Sulzer, who were celebrating their 45th wedding anniversary.
After Mass, he gave a blessing to all types of fathers who were at the liturgy in recognition of Father’s Day, which was celebrated the following day.
Father Kusy and Deacon George Malec guided the bishop and Father Schlegel on a tour of St. Cyprian’s grotto, located on a portion of the parish’s 20-acre grounds.
The stone grotto, which features an altar and a statue of the Blessed Mother, was dedicated about six years ago by Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries. There is a walking path behind the grotto with Stations of the Cross and a stone replica of the Ten Commandments.