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http://www.silive.com/opinion/editorials/index.ssf/2009/12/wheres_the_compassion.html
Staten Island Advance Editorials
Where’s the compassion?
By Staten Island Advance Editorial
December 08, 2009, 6:15AM
The Archdiocese
of New York may have its reasons for stripping a seriously ill Staten Island priest of his authority to perform his clerical
duties and ordering him out of his parish and back to his native Philippines.
But whatever they are, they can’t possibly outweigh the damage that’s been done to its image by this seemingly
heartless decision.
The Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari, a priest for 33 years, has been a popular fixture at
Staten Island’s oldest Roman Catholic parish, St. Peter’s in New Brighton,
over the past six years, where he’s known as Father Pablito or simply, “Father Pabs.”
But Father Pabs is a diabetic suffering from acute kidney disease, which has left him blind
in one eye and requires weekly dialysis.
In the midst of all this, the Archdiocese’s Office of Priest Personnel recently wrote
him a letter ordering him not to say mass or administer the sacraments, and to vacate the St. Peter’s rectory by Dec.
1. The Archdiocese cited his illness and the need for weekly dialysis for ordering him to return to the Philippines and rejecting his bid for a permanent assignment
to St. Peter’s.
In light of his situation, “the rectory is not the appropriate place for you to live,”
the Rev. Thomas P. Devery wrote to Father Maghari.
A spokesman said that the Archdiocese has been in contact with church officials in the Philippines who indicated they would welcome Father Maghari
back. The spokesman also suggested that his medical care is the responsibility of his home diocese.
“The bishop understands his condition. He’s ready and prepared to care for
him,” the spokesman said.
But Father Maghari doesn’t want to leave. He’s grown attached to St. Peter’s
parish.
”I’m
feeling like somebody who really belongs to the community,” he said.
What’s more, he said that his home parish in the Philippines is poor and wouldn’t be able to afford the cost of his dialysis
treatments. There, dialysis “is only for the rich,” he asserted.
Supporters on Staten Island agree.
“He was essentially given a death sentence,” said Diane Larsen, a Graniteville
resident who met Father Maghari at a doctor’s office. “He’s not going to be able to live much longer.”
Father Maghari has left the rectory, as ordered, but for the past several days has been staying
with St. Peter’s parishioners. But he misses his work as a priest, however compromised it was because of his medical
condition.
“It’s shocking because we always felt as Catholics, the Archdiocese will take care
of you no matter where you come from,” said Roberta Thompson of St. George, who has been a parishioner at St. Peter’s
for the past two decades.
“He was a good priest,” she added. “To be thrown out like this kind of threw
us for a loop. They’re not practicing what they’re preaching.”
Another parishioner, Sharon Mortenson of New Brighton,
said, “It’s crazy, it really is; you can’t take the roof away from over his head . . . I feel personally
they could do a lot more to help him.”
So do we. Shipping out a sick priest because he requires expensive medical treatment looks
for all the world like a cold, calculating business decision, not anything the Catholic Church, of all institutions, should
countenance.
Perhaps Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who has a well-deserved reputation for genial compassion,
ought to have a talk with his bean-counters.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Diabetic Priest Forced To Leave His Church In St. George
By: Bree Driscoll
12/5/2009 6:34 PM
A St. George priest is being stripped of his duties and told to return to his native
Philippines because of his health problems,
even though his doctor says he is healthy enough to go back to work. NY1's Bree Driscoll filed the following report.
For more than six years, Father Eusebio Maghari has called the St. Peter's Church
Roman Catholic in St. George his home, but the New York Archdiocese says it's time for him to go.
"We made the determination having reviewed his medical records, having reviewed
the parish situation," said New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling. "Really, it would be impossible for Father to
get the kind of care remaining in the parish at St. Peter's."
The priest, who has lived with diabetes for the past 17 years, must now undergo
dialysis three times a week, but his doctors cleared him to return to work during the treatment.
Yet the archdiocese sent Maghari a letter saying he must move out of the rectory
as of December 1 and return to his native Philippines.
"If you send me to the Philippines
you are sending me to die," said Maghari. "After six years, more than six years of service, this is what you are doing to
me? I think I can still be productive."
When he fell ill, Maghari was in the process of completing the incardination process
to become part of the New York Archdiocese to stay here permanently. Archdiocese officials say until that process is complete,
he still belongs to the diocese of the Philippines
and is ultimately their responsibility.
"So we want what is best for Father. We trust in his local bishop to do what is
best for him, to make sure that he gets the care that he needs," said Zwilling.
Maghari said his dialysis treatments would be very expensive in the Philippines and that he would not receive the same level of
care that he is getting in the city.
"Dialysis in the Philippines
would cost a person - three times a week - more than $1,000 a week," said Maghari.
Meanwhile, parishioners said they want Maghari to stay at St. Peter's.
"Oh, he is wonderful. He is a friend. I have known him for many years," said parishioner
Ana Obiedo.
Maghari said while he continues to heal he will stay with members of the community.
With few options left, he has turned to prayer.
Ailing priest rises above his plight
Banished from
St. Peter's rectory, 'Father Pabs' trusts in God and kind friends
Friday, December 18, 2009
By DEBORAH YOUNG
STATEN
ISLAND ADVANCE
STATEN
ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rising and dressing in the
solitude of his niece's West Brighton home, the Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari carefully dons
his collar and clericals, the outward emblem of his calling for the past 34 years.
He's headed
just a block away, to Richmond University
Medical Center, for dialysis,
which he receives three times a week.
But Rev. Maghari
-- Father Pablito or Father Pabs, to friends -- is a priest without a parish, stripped by the Archdiocese of New York of his
priestly privileges and responsibilities.
The treatment
for his kidney disease is not painful, said the 59-year-old priest, smiling and speaking about his situation with compassion
and openness.
But what does
hurt, he said -- without a hint of bitterness in his voice -- is that he has been disowned by the Archdiocese: Earlier this
month archdiocesan officials booted him from the rectory at St. Peter's R.C. Church, New Brighton, where he had been living
for the past six years and instructed him to return to his native Philippines for expensive medical treatment -- a journey
he said would be tantamount to a death sentence, since he cannot get the care he needs there.
"If it were
for some other reason that I caused some problem in my diocese, they could send me to the Philippines right away. But I have not caused any problem. I am sick," said Father
Maghari.
He spends his
days receiving visitors, priests and some parishioners who have heard his story and arrive with small donations for him.
Absent health
insurance and the small salary he drew from the Archdiocese, he depends on the gifts to pay for food. A social worker helped
him secure Medicaid to pay for his treatment.
"The Lord will
not abandon me. He will be by my side wherever I am, I still have faith in Him," said Father Maghari, who was a vicar overseeing
a number of churches and thousands of Roman Catholics in the Philippines when he was asked to leave for St. Peter's in 2003
for a three-year stay. He continued with the parish as the request was extended.
"Of these troubles
that have [been] imposed on me, I don't want to blame anybody. I just would like if people would come to their senses."
The city's Filipino community -- many of whom
are devout Catholics -- have rallied around the priest and will hold a fundraiser for him tonight at the Manhattan Consulate
and another one tomorrow night at an Upper East Side church.
"With prayers and hard work we'll be able to help
him," said Troi Santos of Queens, who is organizing the effort. "We would like to focus on
helping him. I don't know much about the agreements between the dioceses. I leave that with the other groups to deal with."
in the Philippines, and under canon
law it is the responsibility of that diocese to care for him.
While a priest from another region lives and works in a parish here, he receives health insurance, salary and other
benefits. When Father Maghari fell acutely ill in October, the Archdiocese paid for his care and rehabilitation in a nursing
home.
"Given his current illness and physical limitations, a decision was reached that Father Maghari could no longer fulfill
his duties as a 'parochial vicar' -- that is, as a priest serving in a parish, doing the full schedule of masses, sacraments
and other pastoral duties," said Joseph Zwilling, a spokesman for the Archdiocese.
"Also, given his needs for special meals, and other care, a decision was reached that he could not be properly cared
for in a rectory. This was conveyed to Father Maghari and to his bishop, and he was given sufficient time to get his things
in order so that he might return home."
But Father Maghari said, despite his treatments, he is able to move around with ease, and could perform his priestly
duties.
"I was called to be a priest. I answered to be a priest. I would like to be a priest forever," said Father Maghari,
who as a child used to walk with his mother every day to church in his town in the Filipino province of Antique.
After his mother died when he was in the fifth grade, he told his father he wanted to become a priest. At the age of
13, Father Maghari began preparations for the priesthood in the seminary down the street from his home. He was ordained 12
years later, at age 25.
"We never heard anything other than the fact that it's a health issue," said Sharon Mortenson, a parishioner at St.
Peter's who hopes to organize a fundraiser for the priest in the near future.
She said Monsignor James Dorney, the co-vicar of Staten Island's Catholic churches and Father Maghari's superior at
St. Peter's, has been sympathetic to his former colleague's plight -- but only to a point.
Monsignor Dorney could not be reached by a reporter for comment.
"Right now I would say it's a dead issue, he's out of the parish, they're looking for somebody to replace him," she
said. "It's 'Next! Move on.'"
Deborah Young is a news reporter for the Advance. She may be reached at young@siadvance.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/parishioners_support_ailing_st.html |
Parishioners support ailing Staten Island priest
December 06, 2009, 3:14PM
STATEN
ISLAND, N.Y. -- At the 9 a.m. mass this morning at St. Peter's R.C. Church, the handful of parishioners in attendance listened
to a sermon about the rewards of living virtuously, as light filtered through the chapel's glorious stained glass windows
depicting Jesus and his sacrifices.
But the comforting rituals of faith did little to ease worshipers'
questions about a decision by the New York Archdiocese to dismiss the Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari - the priest who for the
past six years presided over the 9 a.m. mass at the New Brighton
Church.
Father Maghari, who suffers from acute
kidney disease and requires expensive treatment was apparently told by church authorities he must return to his native Philippines.
"It's crazy, it really
is; you can't take the roof away from over his head," said Sharon Mortenson, of New Brighton, one of many parishioners who
have banded together around the 59-year-old spiritual leader they refer to as Father Pabs or Father Pablito.
After being ordered out of the rectory by Dec. 1, the priest this weekend took shelter in the home of a parishioner, said
Ms. Mortenson. "I feel personally they could do a lot more to help him," she said.
Father Maghari
is on dialysis every week, has lost sight in one eye and is on a strict diet. The medical care for his treatment costs roughly
$1,000 a week, he told the Advance last week.
The Archdiocese sent a letter to the ailing priest
stripping him of his authority to say mass and administer the sacraments, such as baptism and marriage.
"He can perform his duties when he feels good," said Ms. Mortenson, adding she was approached by the Rev. Maghari one Sunday
in October after mass, with the request she take him to Richmond University Medical Center for emergency care. His health
has since deteriorated, she said.
A church spokesman explained last week that since Father Maghari
is still officially a member of his Philippine diocese, his care is the responsibility of its bishop, the Most Rev. Jose Romeo
Lazo. The spokesman has yet to be reached today for comment on any updates.
Parishioners said they
appealed to Monsignor James Dorney, co-regional vicar of Staten Island who is also at St. Peter's R.C. Church. He assured them he would do what
he could, they said.
The priest presiding over mass today, the Rev. Joseph Javillo, said he was
unaware of the controversy.
"It's shocking because we always felt as Catholics the Archdiocese
will take care of you no matter where you come from," said Roberta Thompson, of St. George, who has been a parishioner at
St. Peter's for the past two decades.
Although her faith remains intact, she said the decision
to oust a sick man from the job he has done for the past 33 years, has made her skeptical of church politics.
"He was a good priest," she said. "To be thrown out like kind of threw us for a loop. They're not practicing what they're
preaching."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Archdiocese washes its hands of ailing Staten Island priest
December 03, 2009, 6:52AM
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A priest at St. Peter’s R.C. Church in New Brighton is fighting
for his health and vocation after the Archdiocese of New York ordered him back to his native Philippines because he’s
ill with kidney disease.
The Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari, 59, said the archdiocese’s Office of Priest Personnel
told him he cannot stay at the parish because he requires dialysis every week, has lost sight in one eye and is on a strict
diet.
Given the situation, “the rectory is not the appropriate place for you to live,” the Rev. Thomas
P. Devery wrote to Father Maghari.
Father Maghari’s illness also makes him ineligible for permanent assignment
to St. Peter’s, the letter said.
But the priest, a diabetic who has been at the New Brighton church for about
six years, said his poorer home diocese in the Philippines wouldn’t be able to afford the dialysis treatment he requires.
“It costs $1,000 a week,” he said. “It is only for the rich.”
If forced to return,
Father Maghari said, “Slowly, I’ll get sicker and sicker.”
“He was essentially given a death
sentence,” said Diane Larsen, a Graniteville resident who met Father Maghari in a doctor’s office and is among
those who have advocated for him. “He’s not going to be able to live much longer.”
Archdiocesan
spokesman Joseph Zwilling contended that Father Maghari is still officially a member of his Philippine diocese, and that his
care is the responsibility of its bishop, the Most Rev. Jose Romeo Lazo.
Zwilling said the archdiocese has been in
touch with Bishop Lazo about the situation.
“He indicated he would welcome Father Pablito back,” he said.
“The bishop understands his condition. He’s ready and prepared to care for him.”
Church authorities
also have stripped Father Maghari of his authority to say mass and administer the sacraments, such as baptism and marriage,
while within the archdiocese.
But Father Maghari, a priest for 33 years, said he shouldn’t be prevented from
performing his duties simply because he is sick.
“That is the happiness of my priesthood, a gift from God,”
he said. “I cannot forsake it.”
Father Maghari fell ill in August and was told his kidneys were failing,
but said that these days, “I don’t feel I am sick. I can carry on serving the church.”
He also said
that he loves his work at St. Peter’s and has learned a lot during his time there.
“I’m feeling
like somebody who really belongs to the community,” Father Maghari said.
Zwilling said members of the Office
of Priest Personnel met with Father Maghari while he was temporarily staying at Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation
Center , Castleton Corners, and that in their judgment, “he would not be able to function as a priest.”
Father
Maghari was told he would have to leave St. Peter’s by Dec. 1, but he was still there yesterday when he spoke with the
Advance. Parishioners have offered to put him up in their homes, he said.
“Maybe tonight I will be sleeping in someone’s house,” he said. “I
would be a nomad.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hoping
to reverse his dismissal, parishioners rally around ill Staten Island priest
December
07, 2009
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At the 9 a.m. mass
this morning at St. Peter's R.C. Church, the handful of parishioners in attendance listened to a sermon about the rewards
of living virtuously, as light filtered through the chapel's glorious stained glass windows depicting Jesus and his sacrifices.
But the comforting rituals of faith did
little to ease worshipers' questions about a decision by the New York Archdiocese to dismiss the Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari
- the priest who for the past six years presided over the 9 a.m. mass at the New Brighton Church .
Father Maghari, who suffers from acute
kidney disease and requires expensive treatment was apparently told by church authorities he must return to his native Philippines
.
"It's crazy, it really is; you can't take
the roof away from over his head," said Sharon Mortenson, of New Brighton, one of many parishioners who have banded together
around the 59-year-old spiritual leader they refer to as Father Pabs or Father Pablito.
After being ordered out of the rectory
by Dec. 1, the priest this weekend took shelter in the home of a parishioner, said Ms. Mortenson. "I feel personally they
could do a lot more to help him," she said.
Father Maghari is on dialysis every week,
has lost sight in one eye and is on a strict diet. The medical care for his treatment costs roughly $1,000 a week, he told
the Advance last week.
The Archdiocese sent a letter to the ailing
priest stripping him of his authority to say mass and administer the sacraments, such as baptism and marriage.
"He can perform his duties when he feels
good," said Ms. Mortenson, adding she was approached by the Rev. Maghari one Sunday in October after mass, with the request
she take him to Richmond University Medical Center for emergency care. His health has since deteriorated, she said.
A church spokesman explained last week
that since Father Maghari is still officially a member of his Philippine diocese, his care is the responsibility of its bishop,
the Most Rev. Jose Romeo Lazo. The spokesman has yet to be reached today for comment on any updates.
Parishioners said they appealed to Monsignor
James Dorney, co-regional vicar of Staten Island who is also at St. Peter's R.C. Church . He assured them he would do what
he could, they said.
The priest presiding over mass today,
the Rev. Joseph Javillo, said he was unaware of the controversy.
"It's shocking because we always felt
as Catholics the Archdiocese will take care of you no matter where you come from," said Roberta Thompson, of St. George, who
has been a parishioner at St. Peter's for the past two decades.
Although her faith remains intact, she
said the decision to oust a sick man from the job he has done for the past 33 years, has made her skeptical of church politics.
"He was a good priest," she said. "To
be thrown out like kind of threw us for a loop. They're not practicing what they're preaching
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Photos - Staten Island Advance | syracuse.com
Eusebio Pablito Maghari,
stripped of his parish privileges at St. Peter's R.C. Church , now lives with his niece in her West Brighton home and still
goes for ...
connect.syracuse. com
http://outside. in/staten- island-ny/ tags/Kidney
News about Kidney in Staten Island , New York
, NY
Supporters decry decision by archdiocese to relieve clergyman with acute kidney disease of his duties and
to say he must return to his native Philippines . »
Archdiocese Boots S.I. Priest Because He Needs Dialysis
The Archdiocese of New York is asking a priest at a Staten Island church to go back to his "native
Philippines because he’s ill with kidney disease," the Staten
Island Advance reports. Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari, who has been at the church for six years, says that that he
was told he can't stay on because of his health issues (diet and lost sight in one eye) and required weekly dialysis—a
letter told him "The rectory is not the appropriate place for you to live."
Maghari
says that if he goes back to the Philippines , "Slowly, I'll get sicker and sicker," because the diocese there wouldn't be
able to afford his treatment. (One of his parishioners added, "He was essentially given a death sentence.") And he's upset
that he's been stripped of his ability to perform sacraments like baptisms and marriages, telling the Advance, "That is the
happiness of my priesthood, a gift from God. I cannot forsake it.”
However,
the Archdiocese of New York says Maghari isn't a member yet (he's still officially part of his diocese in the Philippines
; of course, his illness has made him ineligible to permanently be at St. Peter's) and said it felt "he would not be able
to function as a priest." Spokesman Joseph Zwilling said Maghari's bishop in the Philippines "indicated he would welcome Father
Pablito back. the bishop understands his condition. He’s ready and prepared to care for him," telling
the Daily News, "We want what's best for Father Pablito." Still, Maghari says, “I’m feeling like
somebody who really belongs to the community."
By Jen Chung in News on December 4, 2009 9:04 AM
http://www.thetreeo fliberty. com/vb/showthrea d.php?p=832034
http://www.nydailyn ews.com/ny_ local/... from_post. html
Ailing priest removed from Staten Island parish
BY Christina Boyle cboyle@nydailynews. com
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Friday, December 4th 2009, 4:00 AM
An ailing priest has been removed from
his job in a Staten Island parish and ordered to return to his native Philippines after taking time off for lifesaving dialysis.
The Archdiocese of New York said it cannot take responsibility for the Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari's welfare after
he suffered kidney failure as a result of his diabetes in September.
Church officials claim he can no longer perform
his godly duties at St. Peter's Church - and he was terminated from his post as assistant priest Tuesday.
Maghari,
59, said he is fit to work and hopes to fight the move to send him home because dialysis treatment in the Southeast Asian
nation is too expensive.
"I can't go home to the Philippines without a kidney transplant," he said. "Dialysis is more
than $1,000 a week."
The archdiocese said the decision to wash its hands of Maghari is not malicious, but routine
when a priest goes to work in a different parish and becomes sick.
It says St. Peter's parish is unable to cater to
Maghari's dietary and medical needs and mobility issues, and it is his bishop's duty to care for him.
"We want what's
best for Father Pablito," said Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the archdiocese
http://www.democrat icunderground. com/discuss/ duboard.php? az=view_all&address=275x7041
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rug (1000+ posts)
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Fri Dec-04-09 12:56 PM
Original
message
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I've had bosses like this.
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An ailing priest has been removed from his job in a Staten Island
parish and ordered to return to his native Philippines after taking time off for lifesaving dialysis.
The Archdiocese
of New York said it cannot take responsibility for the Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari's welfare after he suffered kidney failure
as a result of his diabetes in September.
Church officials claim he can no longer perform his godly duties at St.
Peter's Church - and he was terminated from his post as assistant priest Tuesday.
Maghari, 59, said he is fit to work
and hopes to fight the move to send him home because dialysis treatment in the Southeast Asian nation is too expensive.
http://www.nydailyn ews.com/ny_ local/2009/ 12/04/2009- 12-... |
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hedgehog (1000+ posts) |
Fri Dec-04-09 01:56 PM
Response
to Original message |
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1. I've been wondering if the real reason the USCCB is
voicing opposition |
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to the Health Care Reform Bill is that the Catholic Church as an
amployer would have to provide health insurance to its employees. |
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rug (1000+ posts) |
Fri Dec-04-09 02:56 PM
Response
to Reply #1 |
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I don't think that's the main reason but it's likely to be driving
their decision. |
plime.com : world : All Links : Low Bandwidth Version
Eusebio Pablito Maghari,
who has been at the church for six years, says that that he was told he can't stay on because of his health issues (diet and
lost ...
world.plime. com
Rev. Eusebio Pablito Maghari,
who has been at the church for six years, says that that he was told he can't stay on because of his health issues (diet and lost sight in one eye ...
Readers comments http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2009/12/archdiocese_washes_its_hands_o.html Archdiocese washes its hands of ailing Staten Island priest By Tom
Wrobleski 12/3/2009
Posted by grantmom
December
03, 2009, 2:25PM
No
matter how the Advance came to know about Fr. Maghari's story, the story is despicable. Why should this injustice be hidden
away???
He
was good enough to help out the Archdiocese for 6 years when it needed him; now it's the Archdiocese's turn to do the right
thing for him.
Posted
by festivus
December
03, 2009, 7:03AM
Compassion?
Charity? Loving thy neighbor? The Dioceses should ask themselves "What would Jesus do?" If they answer honestly, this priest
will be taken care of here in NYC.
Posted
by yrustupid
December
03, 2009, 7:03AM
What
would Jesus do?
Posted
by NoRemorse
December
03, 2009, 7:19AM
The
church is the most corrupt and uncaring place I have ever seen.
Posted
by getsane
December
03, 2009, 5:23PM
They
need the money to pay off victims of child raping priests.
Posted
by splicing2
December
03, 2009, 7:28AM
Here's
what my solution would be; Replace Joseph Zwilling with Father Maghari.
Why
does the archdiocese need to employ a spokesman when they can get a priest to perform the same function?
Posted
by cr50l
December
03, 2009, 7:31AM
simple
solution here - to all who attend and donate to their parishes - your parish christmas gift and any monies you would give
every sunday beginning this sunday - send it to Father Maghari. Send the rotten creeps in the archdiocese a strong message
- NO MONEY FOR YOU!
I guess they can't afford to help this poor priest due to the numerous lawsuits that are likely swept
under the carpet for the priests who can't keep their hands to themselves.
BOYCOTT YOUR PARISH FOR ONE MONTH - SEND YOUR
DONATION TO FR MAGHARI?
Where's Dorney hiding now????
Posted
by anyonesneighbor
December
03, 2009, 7:04PM
Perhaps
diverting the donations to him would maybe turn some heads to the severity of his problems. Poor man!
Posted
by micro
December
03, 2009, 7:33AM
So,
the Philippines have better hospitals, nursing homes and rectory's than we have in New York City ? We can't produce enough
of our own clergy, so we welcome this priest and use him for six years. Then, when his health takes a sudden turn, we show
him the door. Brilliant. That's gratitude and priestly fraternity! Great way to inspire vocations!
Crap-heads!
This
priest became ill taking care of us, literally on the other side of the world from his home. Now it's our turn to care for
him. If we have such a severe shortage of priests, then there should be no problem in finding Fr. Maghari a rectory near a
hospital, or a room in an assisted living facility for priests. Diocesan officials had better rethink this stunning lack of
charity and public relations disaster.
It
doesn't say much for the clergy when the laity start fighting the clergy to care for the clergy. Shame.
Posted
by dazz08
December
03, 2009, 7:36AM
It's
come down to the bottom line. Maybe if he were in a parrish that had larger tithing, he would be able to stay.
Posted
by SImutt
December
03, 2009, 9:09PM
What
the parish "takes in" has nothing to do with it -- it's not St. Peters kicking him out, it's those "caring people" in the
NYC Archdiocese.
Posted
by Avg-Joe
December
03, 2009, 7:49AM
Sounds
to me like the Archdiocese has bought into the New Health Care Reform Package.
This
is just another example the not practicing what is being Preached. As a Catholic, I will not be dropping my envelope in the
basket this Sunday, Instead I will be dropping it off to Fr. Maghari over at St. Pete's.
Just
a question: They had the money for the new building and football field at the High School over on Henderson Avenue , but the
cost of saving this man's life is too much? Now that's the Holiday Season! I'm so glad that the powers that be over at St.
Pat's in Manhattan are showing us how to "Keep Christ in Christmas". The new ArchBishop must have attended the Semeniary of
the Borges.
Posted
by grtfulguy
December
03, 2009, 8:05AM
This
is one of the reasons that if you go to Sunday mass, (not holdays) the majority of the poeple are over 50 (except for little
children that are usually forced to go" The Catholic Church hierarchy should read more closely the new testament and become
more SPIRITUAL rather than religious. I am one of those (over 50) that does attend mass regularly for meditation and prayer
and many times keeps the organized religon out of it.
Posted
by grantmom
December
03, 2009, 8:13AM
@
Tom Wrobleski: Has a fund been set up to accept donations to assist Fr. Maghari? Would love to help out. . .
Thank
you for making us aware of this story, as disturbing as it is.
Posted
by quippian
December
03, 2009, 8:13AM
Once
again the Church demonstrates its compassion and caring. If in some strange universe they feel it is necessary to send him
back to the Phillipines, I do not understand why they have the authority to strip him of his powers to function as a Priest
in the Diocese. As someone else just posted What Would Jesus Do? It is harder and harder to accept the Church.
Posted
by noche159
December
03, 2009, 8:15AM
avr
joe your IQ is below average. The football field and the gym at St. Peter's Boys HS which had nothing to do with the parish
was paid for by the parents and alumni of St Peters Boys HS not the catholic church
Posted
by oxfdblue
December
03, 2009, 8:21AM
Guess
the Archdiocese's health insurance program threatened to raise their rates.
That's
what is probably really behind this. Yup, we have no health insurance crisis at all... none at all.
Posted
by mothermayi
December
03, 2009, 8:37AM
In
the season of Advent, when we celebrate the birth of Christ born to parents that were turned away from the Inn- we watch our
spiritual leaders turn away one of their own in his hour of need.
Posted
by siperson
December
03, 2009, 8:45AM
I
guess he would have to be here illegally to get the medical help. Oh wait a minute -- the Church helps those individuals in
order to hopefully get more converts! Talk about two-faced. This priest should camp himself on the doorstep of the Pope!
And
why can't he officiate at Mass, communicion, baptism? Is there something missing here?
Posted
by wonk53
December
03, 2009, 8:50AM
This
is just another example where the New York Archdiocese and the Catholic Church do not appear to be on the same page.
While
the Catholic Church, including the American Catholic Church, are advocating for universal health care and immigrant rights,
the New York Archdioces continues to come off as protectors of the status quo.
I
suggest that before priests are asigned in the Archdiocese that they work and live among the poor.
Posted
by mustangchick
December
03, 2009, 8:55AM
Ahh
the good ol Catholic church! Yet another reason I'm proud to be Protestant.
Posted
by stillred
December
03, 2009, 8:55AM
This
just affirms that I made the right decision in leaving the Catholic Church, and incidently St Peters , in 1965. "What would
Jesus do"? He would throw up His hands in disgust at what is being done by the Church in His name. And He would do everything
He could to help one of His own. You know, I thought nothing could surprise me any more about the Catholic Church, but this
one just turns my stomach.
Posted
by mejustme
December
03, 2009, 9:01AM
This
is why I turned away fromt he Catholic Church in the first place.
Blessings
father may the Spirit watch over you, you have been forsaken by the ones you trusted all your life.
Par
for the course!
Blessed
Be!
Posted
by siguy1974
December
03, 2009, 1:59PM
What
a load of hypocrisy and BS there is here. Typical of fallen away Catholics, they seize on any transgression committed by a
clergy member to justify their break with the Church, when in fact the roots of their apostasy lies in their desire to live
sinful lives. Would you move to another country or become an anarchist because individuals in our government commit criminal
acts? Of course not, so how illogical is it when these pea-brained hedonists point out some offense by a priest and say "That's
why I left the Church!"?
Posted
by Uncle_Vito
December
05, 2009, 6:20AM
Siguy...you're
completely wrong on this issue...practicing Catholics did NOT leave the church to live "sinful lives", nor are they "pea-brained
hedonists". Hedonism is the pursuit of personal pleasure and believers feel that pleasure is the only thing that's good for
anyone. Apparently, the child-abusing priests fall into this category, deriving personal physical pleasure while inflicting
pain upon the children they abused. It's they who have become hedonists, not those former followers. Before labeling all posters
as hedonists, perhaps you should look up the true meaning of the word and to whom it applies.
Posted
by enigma79
December
03, 2009, 9:12AM
Staten Island is all about what can you do for me. And if a person
is useful she/he is kept on. Once the person is no longer useful she/he is cast aside like a piece of garbage despite the
good that was done as a result of their presence.
Posted
by prclunker
December
03, 2009, 9:21AM
Why
isn't he on Medicaid?
Posted
by sdyanks10
December
03, 2009, 9:22AM
What
a wonderful story.
And
the church wonders why it has a difficult time filling their Sunday masses?
Posted
by whylivehere
December
03, 2009, 9:32AM
Why
doesn't the Vatican sell a painting or a vase or something and take care of this guy.
2000
years of tax free money. Where is it all?
Posted
by siguy1974
December
03, 2009, 9:36AM
Technically
the Archdiocese is correct. The priest technically works for another archdiocese. If one of your landscapers fell ill on your
lawn, would you pay for his hospital visit? And I wonder how many of you tearing down the Church for this also post nasty
comments on other silive stories about how outrageous it is to pay for the health care of illegal immigrants. Still, the Archdiocese
handled this in a ham handed, brutal way and at least ostensibly unchristian manner. At the same time we have priests preaching
heresy from the pulpit, we have priests who don't do a darn thing except mumble through Mass on Sunday, we have priests with
gay lovers and the Archdiocese does nothing. Whoever is running PR for the Archdiocese should be fired.
Posted
by sylann
December
03, 2009, 9:42AM
The
Archdioces will bail out pedophile priests, but refuse to help a fellow priest because of an illness?? Where is the love of
thy fellow man? Shame on them!!!!!
Posted
by turgonelf83
December
03, 2009, 2:53PM
The
Archdiocese does not bail out pedophile priests...or even those who are wrongly or falsely accused. Read the link to see what
happens to them..its actually kind of against civil law. http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/charter.pdf
Posted
by grantmom
December
03, 2009, 9:47AM
Zwilling's
got to go. Why is such a cold, uncaring person representing the Archdiocese?
Posted
by cort121
December
03, 2009, 9:48AM
Christ
made the lame walk,the blind see and raised the dead.But the diocese of NY, Like Pontious Pilate, washes its hand of a sick
Priest. How about one months tuition from all S.I.catholic schools be donated to the sick priest. I have a better idea .How
about a tuition strike until they Take Care of this sick Priest?
Posted
by sitruth
December
03, 2009, 9:50AM
He
should be on medicaid, getting his treatments. Someone is screwing this up.
Posted
by turgonelf83
December
03, 2009, 2:47PM
He
can not be put on medicaid..he's not a citizen.
Posted
by writergal
December
03, 2009, 9:51AM
As
a practicing Catholic who attends Sunday mass here, I find this story so disturbing. . . .the archdiocese is using bureaucratic
nonsense (they're good at that) to keep this man from getting treatment in New York. . .with a phone call to his bishop in
the Philippines, and stroke of his pen, Archbishop Dolan ("Smilin' Tim") could "incardinate" this priest into the NY Archdiocese,
and then he'd be "eligible" to receive care here. . ..
all
good Island Catholics should think of writing and and calling Archbishop Dolan on behalf of this priest, and ask the archbishop
to step in. . . .it would be an act of mercy, but especially at this time of the year -- here's a chance for Dolan to set
an example for his flock
Posted
by ronpaulfan
December
03, 2009, 9:56AM
If
you are as appalled by this as I am, please call the NY Archdioscese and tell them (212) 371-1000 Ask for the communications
director. I just called and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them The parish that I am from and that until this priest
is given the care here I will no longer be contributing on Sunday, or making a Christmas Donation, or any other money that
they ask for . I also told them that I will call the Advance and ask for another story, not only to collect money for this
priest , but to suggest to every other parishoner of every other parish on Staten Island to stop donating on Sunday, and for
Christmas. To instead help this priest financiallly.
Posted
by liberty816
December
03, 2009, 9:56AM
This
is absolutely shameful...not only have they stripped away his dignity by not allowing him to say mass, they have handed him
a literal death sentence. They would, and have, given those pedophiles more compassion and protection. What is $1000 a week
to the NYC archdiocese or the Vatican with all its riches. Where are they in this? Catholic priests take a vow of poverty
and celibacy to serve the church, don't they? Maybe they should be aware that after they have given up so much, they will
get thrown away when they get sick?
Posted
by rjm118
December
03, 2009, 10:37AM
Ahhh,
the Catholic Church....condemning the world for its sins but still being the hipocrytes they always have been.
Nice to
see some things will never change and this is just one reason people turn their backs on Catholicism.
Very sad.
Posted
by zodiacmindwarp
December
03, 2009, 10:52AM
Bring
back Father Ralph from St Clare
Posted
by geewhiz3
December
03, 2009, 11:19AM
Micro,
you made an excellent point. When we don't have enough priests of our own, priests like Fr. Maghari come from half a world
away to fill a void for us and just when he needs help, the Church is effectively turning it's back on him. Very disgraceful
and very sad.
Posted
by willwrk4food
December
03, 2009, 11:43AM
How
disgusting - the church is the most corrupt organization in the world and they should be ashamed of themselves.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Comments (20) [rss]
[1]| SP
This is Christian compassion?
December 4, 2009 9:36 AM
[2]| Snoopy
Can't take care of their own? It looks like another religion is on the road to oblivion. Boo Hoo Not.
December 4, 2009 9:38 AM
[3]| hunter.blatherer
Death Panels!!1!one!1
Children molested by priests; hey, no problem man! Wait, um, kidney disease; uhhh, we've gotta have
a talk. Also.
December 4, 2009 9:48 AM
Kevin Walshreplied
to comment from hunter.blatherer
Now, that's more like it. It didn't take a whole 28 responses to get to pedophilia this time when
Catholic priests show up in a news item, like it did the other day.
Much better showing today, Gothamist fans. Let's try for #1 next time shall we?
December 4, 2009 11:40 AM
hunter.blathererreplied
to comment from Kevin Walsh
My comment wasn't about priests. It was about how the institution apparently has less tolerance for
illness than for victimizing minors.
December 4, 2009 12:28 PM
[4]| Boogie Down
He's no longer profitable to the corporation known as the RCC.
December 4, 2009 9:59 AM
[5]| hotstepper
sickness means that you are weak. and jesus hates weakness just as much as he hates the beelzebub
and hipsters.
December 4, 2009 9:59 AM
[6]| felixthecat2
The church hates puppies and now this. It's all connected. Those who have no compassion for other
species have no compassion for their own
December 4, 2009 10:07 AM
[7]| MT
I guess they blew all their cash on protecting the pervert priests and now they don't have any left.
December 4, 2009 10:15 AM
[8]| casey shain
classic. move the pedophile priests from one parish to another, sometimes promoting them in fact,
but when a priest is ill, toss 'em aside like so much medical waste. the christian compassion must have overfloweth and dribbled
down the side of their robes like so much jizz on a peepshow cubicle floor.
December 4, 2009 10:54 AM
hotstepperreplied
to comment from casey shain
graphic. BTW i think catholics prefer the term "evil fluids" over "jizz".
December 4, 2009 11:18 AM
[12]| NannyState
Where's the story? The Catholic Church has had the same healthplan for 2,000 years: pray to a fucking
saint.
December 4, 2009 12:52 PM
[13]| Spirit of 76
This is either a test of his faith or punishment for an unforgivable sin. We'll never know which because
God never actually tells us anything.
December 4, 2009 12:56 PM
[14]| Snoopy
Help is on its way. I just received an email from a former Nigerian minister that is going to deposit
$53,000,000 in my bank account because he can't take it out of his country by himself. This will go a long way to paying some
of my past due bills.
When I get the money I will pay for this poor man's medical bills.
December 4, 2009 1:13 PM
NannyStatereplied
to comment from Snoopy
My Nigerian minister needed help with $100 million. I think you got gyped.
December 4, 2009 1:51 PM
Snoopyreplied
to comment from NannyState
Damn! It just goes to show you that no one can be trusted today. And to think I was going to donate
half of what I received to the church to help out with their medical insurance payments to Saint Jude.
December 4, 2009 2:01 PM
NannyStatereplied
to comment from Snoopy
Well maybe just a little less than half, right?
December 4, 2009 2:24 PM
Snoopyreplied
to comment from NannyState
OK OK I must admit I have expenses that need to be drawn down from the initial profit, but I promise
the donation will be in the high five figure bracket.
December 4, 2009 8:36 PM
chlynreplied
to comment from Snoopy
Five figures, as in 000.00?
December 5, 2009 4:07 PM
Snoopyreplied
to comment from chlyn
Well kind of in that bracket, except when they come by with a collection basket on the end of a pole
when I am sitting in the pew minding my own business, I will take a few samplings of the deposited envelopes just to see how
much I should throw in.
As I remember these dudes came by twice in a Catholic ceremony. Talk about jerking people off without
sex. Madonn.
December 5, 2009 11:19 PM
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Readers Comments @
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/12/parishioners_support_ailing_st.html
Posted by FEDUPwNY
December 06, 2009,
1:54PM
Advance, you neglect
to mention whether anyone has taken up a collection for his care. I would be happy to contribute something towards his care
-- which the rich Catholic Church has neglected to do. This is just another example of why several of my Catholic friends
no longer have anything to do with the Church and its beaurocracy.
Posted by abcdefg123456
December 06, 2009,
2:35PM
I have been a dialysis
nurse for almost 20 years, I have seen EVERY walk of life from EVERY continent, rich and poor receive treatments, Get Medicaid,,,you
will have EVERYTHING paid for!!! How DARE the Catholic Church turn their back on a man who had dedicated his life to Jesus
and spreading His word. It's DISGUSTING and heartbreaking. This poor priest has to live at a parishoner's house.??? We let
illegal immigrants reside here who are too "ill" to return to their countries because they will die. This man is too ill to
make a 14 hour flight home. And the Cathilic Church wonders
why nobody goes to church anymore,,,,Practice what You preach you,,,Keep Christ in Christmas,,,,kick out a sick Priest and
send him to his death??? What Would Jesus Do??????
Posted by inwood
December 06, 2009,
3:16PM
Once again. the Roman
Catholic Church which champions workers rights does not support one of their own. It happened to Catholic School Teachers
and now to a member of the Clergy.
What a bunch of hypocrites!!!
Posted by iLoveOakwood
December 06, 2009,
4:09PM
What a disgrace!
In the past, the Church has paid for therapy and other forms of "treatment" for priests who molested children in their parishes,
yet when a priest who is - by all accounts - a good and sincere pastor falls ill, they want to send him packing! Plainly said,
this is an outrage. I hope the Church leadership reconsiders and helps this poor man.
Posted by angelize
December 06, 2009,
4:29PM
Doesn't anyone GET
IT??
The Catholic Church
is in existance for ITSELF!!
Which is why I am no longer a Catholic!
Can anyone say HIPOCRITE?
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
7:37PM
Angel Eyes,
I can say "hipocrite',
but we still spell it HYPOCRITE.
Posted by cr50l
December 06, 2009,
5:16PM
Reverend Javillo
- i thought priests weren't supposed to LIE. You sir are a liar. Msgr Dorney, shame on you for doing what you do best, hiding.
May this man's poor deteriorating health be on both your heads, along with the crappy archdiocese. I have stopped my donations
to my church (both envelopes) and I would like to send a check to Father Maghari, but I don't know where to send it to I don't
trust anyone in St Peters rectory. SI Advance, please get
some more information. There are alot of staten islanders who would like to help this man.
DORNEY ITS TIME TO GO.
Posted by abcdefg123456
December 06, 2009,
5:28PM
Don't blame Msgr.
Dorney, He is a wonderful man, I know him personally and I'd hate to think he has a hand in this, he is just a peddlar among
thieves.
Posted by grantmom
December 06, 2009,
6:26PM
See this NY1 report
about Fr. Maghari's plight:
http://ny1.com/9-staten-island-news-content/top_stories/?ArID=109971
The report states
that Fr. Maghari's doctor maintains that he is well enough to work while receiving dialysis treatments.
Can any of his supporters
from his parish let the public know how we can help him? Granted, this may be difficult, because you probably are not permitted
to publicize your efforts!
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
7:30PM
When the story first
broke, I was as outraged as most. That was because I posted based on sketchy verbal reports without reading the story, and
was missing vital details. There is some background in the stories here which people need to know, before their good will
is taken advantage of by Fr. Maghari.
To the medically
trained eye, Fr. Maghari's diabetes evidently was not controlled, which led to the neuropathy causing the blindness, and to
the renal failure. These things don't just happen, as anyone with diabetes or a diabetic in the family would know. This was
the end result of self-neglect.
Priests know that
they are responsible for looking after their own health. In my parish we have two diabetic priests who are scrupulous in their
management of blood sugar and diet. Fr. Maghari evidently was not, and this is what has resulted. If on the other hand he
was, then the diabetes is not controllable, and he needs to go home.
Next, Fr. Maghari
came here to do a job. Through his demonstrated lack of self-care, he has not been able to help, to do the job that he was
hired to do by the Archdiocese. It is known that Fr. Maghari was on track to become a permanent priest of the Archdiocese,
no longer answerable to his bishop in the Philippines
as he is now as a visiting priest. He had some more years to complete that process.
But, as Fr Maghari
has demonstrated that he is lacking in the ability to care for himself, an absolute MUST for men without wives and families,
it would be absolutely criminal for the archdiocese to put him back in a rectory here in significantly weaker condition and
risk his doing this or worse to himself.
Diabetic self-care
is a discipline, one which Fr. Maghari clearly lacks. Plainly stated, lovable as he is, he is a danger to himself. The people
of the Philippines love their clergy and
care for them very well. He is not being sent home to die. There are several groups in the Philippines, especially the Knights of Columbus, who would pay for his treatments
in the unlikely event that hospitals or his Bishop would not cover the cost.
Then there is the
following issue. When married people exchange vows, we promise fidelity to each other. We have very high expectations of our
spouses that they will keep those vows. When a priest is ordained, he vows RESPECT and OBEDIENCE to the Bishop and all of
his successors. That respect and obedience are just as non-negotiable for a priest as fidelity is for a married person. When
serving as a visiting priest, the Bishop of the diocese gets the same respect and obedience as the Bishop in the home diocese.
Our Bishop has made
a decision, in Fr. Maghari's best interest. Rather than showing respect for that decision and obedience to the Bishop, Fr.
Maghari has decided to do neither. He broke his vows.
As of December 1,
Fr. Maghari is no longer employed by the Archdiocese. Having demonstrated disrespect and disobedience by misrepresenting his
responsibility for his condition, and by misrepresenting the prospects for his survival back home-all in TV and newspaper
interviews, he has killed his prospects of ever returning here to become a permanent member of the Archdiocese.
He has no need to
stay with people on the Island. He has a home diocese.
To be clear, it seems
that Fr. Maghari has not been accurate in his assertions by:
1. Not telling HOW
it is that he came to get this ill.
2. Suggesting that our clergy are sentencing him to death.
3. Claiming that there
would be no way to get dialysis back home.
4. Taking money from Staten Islanders when he knows he can get Medicaid.
Given all of that,
it is monstrous for this Priest to whip up a fury against our priests and Bishop with omissions of his responsibility in this,
and outright lies about his access to dialysis back home. It is equally telling that he has been openly defiant of our Bishop's
authority. We don't need such a visitor ruining the good names of good men in our clergy who have served us long and well.
That includes Msgr. Dorney who is in his late 70's, working well past retirement age as both pastor and co-vicar of Staten Island.
Through his illness,
Fr. Maghari has shown his true colors. He cares for no one but himself, and will lie to the good people of this Island and destroy the good names of brother priests to have his way. If people collect money for anything,
it should be for two plane tickets.
One for Fr. Maghari
to go home.
The other for his
replacement.
Posted by smithwinston
December 07, 2009,
4:34AM
MICRO
You are absolutely
correct. I believe that the media, The Advance, is well behind Fr, Maghari because it advances the anti-Catholic agenda of
many who are well known to be hard Liberals pushing for the complete submergence of Catholic culture under the swamp of the
modernist, humanist state.
Consider that the
person who first broke this story, Tom Wrobleski, is a POLITICAL EDITOR. Why was he interested in this matter? Who contacted
the Advance about this?
I am not saying Mr.
Tom Wrobleski is masking a hidden Anti-Catholic bias, by coming to the defense of a poor servant of Christ, but Micro's break-down
of the Father Mahari's statements and disobedience to the Bishop is not what one would expect from a priest. A political editor,
Tom Wrobleski, is not who one would normally expect to write about this. Additionally, the details of this circumstance are
seriously anemic, and the public reaction, virulent.
Maybe I will make
a few phone calls and find out what is really going on, as we cannot depend of our local paper to properly investigate a story
like this without appearing totally biased.
Posted by iLoveOakwood
December 06, 2009,
7:59PM
Interesting post,
micro. The plot thickens. If Fr. Maghari did in fact become this ill through self-neglect as you suggest, I suppose the next
question should be why did the Church allow a man in his deteriorating condition to travel from the Philippines as a visiting priest? Furthermore are we to suppose that Fr. Maghari
came here in order to receive treatment at the expense of U.S citizens rather than his fellows at home?
If self-neglect
is in fact the cause of his current health crisis, his competence to lead others should certainly be called into question,
but whatever the circumstances, I wish that the Church would be more forthcoming about the what is really going on. They've
bought themselves enough trouble in the past by concealing information. Transparency would suit them better.
Posted by noche159
December 06, 2009,
8:31PM
the point he not
that is sick, Priest service where they are told to service. PERIOD!
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
8:55PM
ILoveOakwood,
Good questions. I've
been involved in the Church for decades and have some close priest friends. The Archdiocese really can't discuss most of the
details (and I only got what was published in the Advance) because it is a matter of professional and legal confidentiality.
Fr. Maghari knows this, which is why he is taking advantage of the situation by speaking out, knowing that the Archdiocese
can't counter the lies without violating confidentiality.
To come here, Fr.
Maghari had to demonstrate that he was in good health. He isn't anymore, and as Fr. Devery the Priest Personnel Director was
quoted in his letter to Fr. Maghari, the rectory is not suitable for him. That's where he got into this health mess.
Ultimately Priestly
ministry has as a component the same considerations as most employer-employee relationships. Fr. Maghari is no longer fit
to do the work from a health perspective, the doctor's letter notwithstanding. (anyone, especially a priest, can get a doctor
to say they are fit for light duty.)
Then there are the
issues that we simply do not, and will not know because of confidentiality issues.
I return to the ultimate
issue of fitness: RESPECT and OBEDIENCE. We've had enough homegrown renegade priests in the Church. We don't need to import
them. Fr. Maghari has trashed good men such as Fr. Devery, Msgr. Dorney, and Joseph Zwilling, all because he disputes their
judgment. He has trashed them knowing that they must remain silent. In so doing, he shows contempt for the authority of Archbishop
Dolon, whose authority is vested in them to make decisions that are in the best interests of all concerned.
Why would New York wish to keep such a man? This period of service before becoming
a permanent priest of the diocese (called incardination) is kind of like dating and courtship before marriage. It's a time
for each to assess the other before that lifetime commitment is made. If this is how Fr. Maghari acts now, how would he act
when this officially becomes his home diocese?
The ugliest assertion
of all is that Father Devery and the Priest Personnel Board would knowingly send a brother priest home to a certain death.
We don't need such
manipulative men here, turning us against our clergy. I suspect that's why his Bishop was happy to see him go, and wasn't
quoted as using enthusiastic language to bring him back home.
Posted by iLoveOakwood
December 06, 2009,
9:33PM
micro, what a disturbing
account! If what you say about Fr. Maghari is accurate, then it is a shame for all involved.
As to the problems
with confidentiality versus transparency, it would serve the Church better if they would respond to what is happening, if
only to reject the criticism. It would be more politic to tell the public that, although the Church is not at liberty to discuss
the details, the criticism is without foundation - or something like that. When there is evasion or no response at all, right
or wrong people draw their own conclusions.
Posted by wisegray
December 06, 2009,
10:00PM
Micro, you are foul
and loathsome excuse for a human being. You are a mouthpiece (or the posterior) for a church which is basically a corporation.
If the Church is so silent about this, as you say, how do you know so much about his neglect of his illness and charge him
with disrespect of his superiors. The last time I heard reasoning like that, it emanated from the Communist and Nazi mind.
You are just a heartless s..t
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
10:07PM
ILoveOakwood,
Yes, it's a very
disturbing story. Great men like Msgr. Dorney, and Father Devery who was also a pastor here, just can't comment. It looks
worse on the news when a reporter presses them further and they have nothing to say.
Go back to Tom Wrobleski's
original article and read what was NOT said.
Fr, Maghari's Bishop
did NOT say that he lacked the money to obtain treatment for Fr. Maghari. If he did, you can bet THAT would have made it into
the story.
Fr. Maghari's Bishop
did NOT order him home. He just left the door open. Why?
Fr. Maghari did NOT
claim that he tried to secure funding for treatment back home, but failed.
Fr. Maghari did NOT
accept any responsibility for his predicament, or offer any explanation at all.
Let's look at what
DID happen.
Fr. Maghari was placed
with a beloved elder priest and regional Vicar, MSGR. Dorney, who would be the ideal mentor in acculturating Fr. Maghari to
the US, NY, the Archdiocese, and Staten Island.
To say the least, he was not thrown to the wolves.
If Fr. Maghari lacked
a car when he arrived, he certainly was placed in a Parish next to the point of origin for 95% of all bus routes, the SIRT,
and the Ferry. St. Peter's is a beautiful parish (church AND people).
Fr. Maghari was placed
in Clove Lakes
for Rehab when he took ill, and assessed at the end of the rehab process.
Fr. Maghari was given
ample time to get his affairs in order so as to facilitate his transition back to his homeland with family and friends who
would provide more of a nurturing and supportive network for him. He simply could not get the same here.
People from the Archdiocese
DID come to help Fr. Maghari when he took ill.
I trust the senior
clergy to understand what it takes to effectively serve the rigorous duties of parish life. They know damned well better than
a doctor what is involved. They made a determination that the workload would not be enough for Fr. Maghari.
If he wants to stay
here as an inactive priest to receive the same treatment he could be getting back home, fine. Stay with friends and apply
for medicaid. (He didn't pick up on that in 6 years in St. George?)
Why did he have to
get ugly and attack the decency and honor of the senior clergy whose job it is to do what is best for him, the parish, and
the diocese? Such unnecessary and uncharitable ugliness was entirely uncalled for.
Certainly Fr. Maghari
had to know that once he went public with this ugliness, he had no chance of staying here as a priest in New York. So what was this about?
Seems to me like a nasty tirade from a deep-seated
selfishness and ugliness. It was calibrated for maximum damage to the senior clergy of the Archdiocese, as he exited the stage.
Having thus inspired the comments on these threads, so very needlessly, I say good riddance!
Posted by wisegray
December 06, 2009,
10:10PM
Micro, your self
importance and self-appointed judgment puts you right in the center of the story. Go join Cliff and Norm on their stools
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
10:26PM
wisegray,
commies and nazis
eh? Okay.
Lots of ad hominem
attacks, no input of your own.
Self-important? And
wisegray is supposed to be what? A Humble self-assessment?
Isn't your weekend
pass up?
Posted by wisegray
December 06, 2009,
10:34PM
Why don't you become
a real micro and vanish
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
10:57PM
wisegray,
Threads are for people
to post their thoughts and observations after having read the news stories with a critical eye. They offer their insights
based upon their knowledge and life experiences. I've learned much from people on these threads.
Then there are the
trolls who come out and only offer sarcasm and ugly epithets aimed at those with whom they disagree, never offering a serious
or substantive contribution to the discussion. You seem to think that doing so makes one self-important. I've been reading
these threads for years, and posted very little. That's be cause I believe that God gives us two eyes, two ears and only one
mouth for a reason.
Looking back over
your posts, you tend to have some very good insights. You also tend to get very ugly needlessly. Why spoil a great mind's
offerings with such needless lack of civility? You show it when you want to. Why not here?
If you read the original
article by Wrobleski and my comments, you'll see the answers to where I get the idea that this was self-neglect. A diligent
diabetic does not let things get to the point of neuopathic blindness and renal failure. And yes, I have a trained eye.
I welcome your substantive
comments, because I've seen your history of posts. I also apologize for my earlier response to you.
It won't be hard
to vanish. I'm nowhere near as tall as I would like to be.
Posted by ggooh
December 06, 2009,
11:08PM
"If people collect
money for anything, it should be for two plane tickets. One for Fr. Maghari to go home. The other for his replacement."
OK, I probably missed
something...why do you say a plane ticket "for his replacement?"
Posted by micro
December 06, 2009,
11:12PM
ggooh,
Priests are being
brought here from various countries to help with our shortage of domestic vocations. One for his replacement was meant to
point to another priest to come and fill the slot he has vacated.
Posted by scatmandoo
December 07, 2009,
12:14AM
I know or understand
little or nothing about the workings or machinations of the catholic Church.
However: One point
I would like to raise regarding Micro's post is that many many many people living in the US and receiving public and private health care have health problems that result
largely from self neglect.
Posted by savenorthsi
December 07, 2009,
12:21AM
I've personally met
Father Pabs over the years. He is a sincere and honest minister of the Church. He is a good person.
Some corrections
and questions: A plane trip home to the Philippines looks to be from 24 to 26 hours, with a stopover
for re-fueling. That's a long trip for a sick person. Medicaid is for citizens or those in the process of getting citizenship.
Father Pabs isn't a citizen. Can the Church petition him for citizenship so he can apply for Medicaid? Or, better yet, doesn't
the Church have some sort of medical insurance for its staff? Are Priests on their own for health insurance? And given that
Father Pabs has had zero health insurance while here serving in the USA
for over 6 years, how could you put so much blame on him for his health problems if he had no access to affordable health
care in the first place!
Something is really
wrong here with letting visiting Priests go uninsured over long term stays in the USA, and then blaming them for a health crisis that could have been averted possibly
if this servant of the Church had decent access to decent health care!
My family wants to
give a charity donation directly to Father Pabs. Please, SI Advance, give us details on who to make the check out to and where
to deliver such a check.
By the way, the issue
of kidney dialysis for non-citizens is a very serious health crisis issue in the USA. Many non-citizens go from charity hospital to charity hospital for the required
3 time a week intervention, often going from state to state after their welcome has been worn out at any given charity institution.
It's a health crisis mess compounded by the citizenship issue mess compounded by the high cost of modern medical care.
Posted by icant
December 07, 2009,
2:44AM
Micro - You are a
judgmental POS. You got from this story that it is HIS fault he's sick?? BS, you're a mouth piece for the high and mighty
robed ones at the church. It is because of sanctimonious, hypocritical bastar#$ like you people are staying away from the
church. Not to mention our collection dollars going towards million dollar settlements for perverted priests. The priest presiding
over today's mass had no clue what is going on?, add liars to the list. Shame on you and your cronies at this church.
Posted by sunsetmom
December 07, 2009,
4:14AM
I agree with savenorthsi's
wise, intelligent, and compassionate assessment of this sad situation.
SI Advance, are you
going to publish something for the many of us who would like information about how we concerned readers can help Father Maghari?
Posted by wisegray
December 07, 2009,
4:47AM
Americans are very
compassionate and believe in helping people in distress in this life and not the next unknown one. If we are commanded to
help the least of our brethren, why not this dying priest? Micro, did you ever think the priest may help his parishioners
become better people by helping him? The Church should not be a bottom line operation, and the posts should make you realize
that the Church will never get the supporting vote on this. Micro, I appreciate what you say about my mind, and I apologize
for my ugliness, but this priest should make us feel humble. Despite what that crackpot Michael Moore thinks, we have superior
health care and the priest would die from benign neglect in Manila.
Posted by micro
December 07, 2009,
5:10AM
wisegray,
Thanks for the apology.
Again, you have mine as well. I understand what you are saying, and have no interest personally in seeing this priest deported.
My sole objection is to the hatchet job he has done on the senior clergy who no doubt believe that he would be better off
being supervised by loved ones back home.
Should he wish to
stay in the US, there is nothing stopping
him from applying for medicaid to receive his treatments. In this, we are a very noble people. Close to 20 million illegal
immigrants get their healthcare in this manner. Fr. Maghari is far from being here illegally. He also could petition any number
of other dioceses or religious orders, most notably the Benedictines, for temporary accomodations The simple truth is that
the Archdiocese cannot employ this man as he is, and a typical rectory is simply not suitable for placement. He needs close
care and supervision.
In the end, this
story is simply about his medical condition making him unfit for the rigors of parish ministry. He's too ill to keep up. If
he wishes to stay with friends here and apply for medicaid, he's more than free to do so. He is not in need of donations for
his treatments. He doesn't need to set the people of this Island against good and holy priests
such as Msgr. Dorney and Father Devery. His doing so had nothing to do with dialysis and everything to do with not being kept
on in employment.
Take Care.
Posted by micro
December 07, 2009,
6:00AM
icant,
"Micro - You are
a judgmental POS. You got from this story that it is HIS fault he's sick?? BS."
Well, if you knew
anything about diabetes, you would know that the blindness and kidney failure come from poorly controlled glucose. Here are
two links to educate yourself on the matter.
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/kidney-disease-nephropathy.html
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4567456_diabetes-cause-blindness.html
Don't let me get
in the way of your hatred of the Church. I'm sure that you believe you have good reason, If your reasons for hating the Church
are as well informed as your mistaken notion that I lack the medical training or insight to see the obvious in this case,
then you are walking around needlessly enraged. I'll let the "POS" crack slide, chalking it up to understandable passions.
Merry Christmas.
Posted by icant
December 07, 2009,
6:41AM
Micro- I did not
say I hated the church, you have a reading comprehension problem. I am not outraged either. The church cannot "employ" him?,
I thought the preisthood was a calling from God, not to be likened to Wal-Mart. You are not a POS, just a horses ass. The
only hatchet job here is yours.
Posted by smithwinston
December 07, 2009,
7:08AM
For a guy who is
"Not outraged either", you called Micro "a P.O.S., and a "Horse's A**".
For a guy who does
not "hate the church", you refer to her clergy as "mighty robed ones", which is at the very least, belligerent and mocking
of the church.
For a guy who understands
that being a priest is "a calling from God", you forget that priests are human, and subject to human weakness. Thus, being
a priest does not mean that one is infallible, as you've pointed out in mentioning the "perverted priests".
I support the underdog
just the same as the next man, but I have to understand there are multiple agendas at work in this story, and that a priest
must obey his superiors.
Posted by smithwinston
December 07, 2009,
6:51AM
This story has become
exactly what it was intended to be, an indictment of the Holy Roman Catholic Church, disguised as a human interest story.
The intended or unintended result is anger and the usual attack statements, involving non-Catholics and liberal Catholics
alike.
I must say in fairness,
I do not think that Mr. Wroblewski is anti-Catholic, I have not seen any evidence of that in his work. I think he genuinely
wanted to raise the alarm, but is the church wrong here?
In presenting this
story as such, and without making it clear there is a limited degree of information from church heirarchy permitted, those
without any sense of the often bad reality of human nature, see it as David vs. Goliath, and victim vs. criminal, event, and
of course, the evil Catholic church, is once again showing its "true colors".
Fr. Maghari's desperation
and demons, and the publics conditioned response to anything the church does as instantly bringing up or involving the sexual
abuse problems, hypocrisy, and massive wealth, shows how the Catholic church needs the prayers of the faithful now, more than
ever before.
As for the true colors
of the Catholic church, here is a video showing the best of what the Catholic church represents:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs6qZd_xP1w
Posted by yrustupid
December 07, 2009,
7:09PM
Smitty, give us a
hand here. What, in your goofy right-wing opinion, WOULD Jesus the community organizer do?
Posted by spcls41
December 07, 2009,
7:07AM
To abcdefg12345
Msgr Dorney is a
very popular and well respected priest throughout staten island - and is the vicar for the police and firefighters too. he
has the power to DO SOMETHING about this and all he needs is to take a stand and this priest will have plenty of money and
what he needs to be taken care of. all Dorney has to do is say the word. But in true Dorney behavior - he is hiding again.
he has done this with school issues too. i had two daughters go through the high school - a few years back there was a racial
incident about to explode - he did nothing and would not support the principal - and he left the school - went to Moore. Dorney
is doing what the church is famous for - the catholic church two step. I respect him as a priest but nothing more. he should
be ashamed of himself
December 07, 2009,
7:31AM
icant,
You really shouldn't
hold back. You really need to learn how to say what's on your mind and not sugar coat your feelings.
So, all you are good
for is talking like gutter trash. You have had multiple posts and added nothing to the conversation except revelation after
revelation of your ignorance and crude vulgarity.
Yes, Priesthood is
a calling from God. So far the only thing you've gotten right, so there's hope for you. However, you are wrong in suggesting
that priests are not employed. They are.
They receive a paycheck
which is taxed the same as yours or mine. They receive medical benefits and pay co-pays and deductibles, the same as you and
me. They are employed by a Diocese and have a Priest Personnel Director. They get vacation time, etc. When they retire, they
collect Social Security, which they have paid into from their paychecks.
Further, priests
who work in institutions such as prisons, colleges, the military, etc. get paychecks that are the same as any lay employee
of comparable rank. They collect pensions, etc.
But I suppose you
knew all that already.
How would you like
to be a parishioner in Fr. Maghari's parish, and show up at the rectory door needing a priest to come and give Last Rights
to a family member about to die and be told that he's too sick to come out right now and that the other priest is out at another
parishioner's home?
I trust the senior
clergy to understand he workload and its requirements, and to staff the rectories with men who are up to the job. From all
of your disparaging comments, it seems that you do not trust many priests at all, except this one who feeds your hatred and
suspicions with his half-truths and omissions about his brother priests.
Get Well Soon.
Posted by chickinsi
December 07, 2009,
7:48AM
Another good reason
why I am not part of any "organized" religious group.
No thank you. I'll
keep my PERSONAL relationship with God. It works for us.
Posted by thelog
December 07, 2009,
10:30AM
What an embarrassment
for the Catholic Church. They at least owe the church members an explanation for this.
Posted by sdyanks10
December 07, 2009,
10:53AM
Micro-
You clearly have
an insightful view into this situation- and if his deteriorated health condition is indeed due to self neglect, does it mean
that we should just write him off?
Do we deny health
care to those who end up with lung cancer due to smoking?
Do we deny health
care to those who end up with AIDs because of unprotected sex?
Neglect or not, it
should be considered an ethical duty to care for him, regardless of how he ended up there.
Posted by siguy1974
December 07, 2009,
11:06AM
Hmmm- and would all
of you big talkers and Catholic bashers pay for the medical bills of a landscaper who hurt himself while mowing your lawn?
Or the mailman who had a heart attack while delivering your mail? Hmm? I thought so. The Advance is making this out to be
worse than it is. This priest works for the Philipino archdiocese. That's where he belongs. The Archdiocese may have been
able to handle this is in a better way, but I have a feeling they tried many other avenues before resorting to the measures
they eventually employed. I also have a feeling that Father is a bit of a troublemaker, seeing as how he ran to the media
to create scandal for the Church.
Posted by micro
December 07, 2009,
3:27PM
sdyanks10,
My initial reaction
to verbal reports was about as bad as the most outraged posts on this thread. Then I read Wrobleski's article.
The Archdiocese already
HAS aided Fr. Maghari substantially in medical and economic terms. But allow me to ask you a few questions.
Do you think that
Christian charity is a one-way or a two-way street? Specifically, what do you think Fr. Maghari's obligations are to himself?
What are Fr. Maghari's obligations to the senior clergy who have hosted him in this diocese and worked hard to assist him
in the process of becoming a permanent member of the NY clergy? Should he be demonizing them, taking advantage of people's
lack of knowledge of the fact that he has a bishop and a diocese where he can receive his treatments? What are Fr. Maghari's
obligations to the people of his parish and the Island?
Creating scandal
where one does not exist has added fuel to the fire of people whose faith already has been shaken by the scandal of a tiny
minority of our priests.
In sowing scandal
and fracturing people's trust in their senior clergy, in shaking their faith needlessly, Fr. Maghari has demonstrated that
he thinks only of himself. That isn't the charism of a priest. Priests protect their people's faith. They don't shake it.
They live their vows of RESPECT and OBEDIENCE to their bishops.
In terms of obligation,
Fr. Maghari is under the authority of his bishop back home. Why has nobody questioned why it is that his bishop has not directed
him to come home? Certainly staying here would defray the expense for the Philippine diocese, but our clergy have made the
determination that Fr. Maghari is simply not up to the job. He needs to go home.
Fr. Maghari lost
me when:
1. It became evident
that he has accepted no personal responsibility for his own health or the consequences of letting his diabetes go.
2. He embraced media
assistance in portraying him, falsely, of being a victim of a callous senior clergy having made the decision to condemn him
to an early death.
3. He shook the faith
of good people on this Island, and beyond by such an ugly, calumnious portrayal.
4. He persisted in
his disrespect and disobedience of the bishop's authority here.
Staten Islanders
need only think of some very good priests they have encountered along the way. They didn't at all resemble Fr. Maghari.
Posted by rtnilnd
December 08, 2009,
10:49AM
The Cathloic Church has caused more war and suffering
under the banner of religion than any other institution. The Crusades were all about riches and power. The Inquisition - a
good way to eliminate "enemies" of the church by torturing and branding them heretics. Lets not forgot the Popes blind eye
to the treatment of jews by the Nazis and Fascists during WW2. I won't even touch on all the Sex Scandals.
Posted by tesel55
December 09, 2009,
12:29AM
micro.. hopefully
what happened to fr. maghari will not happen to you..
if you are catholic..
hopefully not... because this is not what Jesus taught us to do.
if we can help
undocumented people how much more a priest who came here legally with the approval of the Catholic Church of the Archdiocese
of New york.
it is a shame
to the Catholic Church particularly to the Archdidoces of New York.
i am a priest itself..
and this is what i hate in Catholic Church Politics..
WE ARE JUST GOOD
IN PREACHING AND ASKING MONEY... BUT IN REALITY.. WE DO GIVE NO SERVICE TO OUR OWN PEOPLE.... ESPECIALLY TO OUR OWN BROTHER
PRIEST..
WE ARE JUST GOOD
AS THE HYPOCRITES OF JESUS TIME... NOT IN GERENAL THOUGH. BUT IN THE CASE OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK... ALL I CAN SAY.. YOU ARE ONE OF THEM.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU...
Posted by joanm
December 13, 2009,
9:54PM
Although I am not
Roman Catholic, I am married to one, and he is a regular attendee of St Peter's. As a (former) neighbor of St. Peter's, the
church and Msgr Dohrney were as good a neighbor as you could hope for. Father Pablito has done so much for the church, including
attracting the Filipino parishioners who are (it seems to me) the most vital community of parishioners there. As I said, I
am not Catholic but my understanding of the way the church worked was that men entering the priesthood gave up their lives
to serve the church and, in return, were taken care of by the church. St Peter's has certainly had senior clergy in the past
who were taken care of.
As a diabetic, it breaks my heart to see what has happened to Father Pabs. But, to the hardhearted
comments that I've read, you are speaking out of ignorance. Taking care of your diabetes delays the side effects, it does
not necessarily prevent them. Diabetes is an incurable disease with devastating results to everyone who has it, either sooner
or later. Certainly, Father Pablito could have taken better care of his diabetes, but diabetes is an expensive disease. God
help those of us who are diabetic and cannot afford the treatment we need.
I am appalled at the lack of compassion and
Christian charity being shown towards Father Pablito by the diocese. This is NOT the way to get people to be involved in the
church. It is also NOT the right thing to do. It is hard to hear this story and not think about the churches that have been
closed down so that the money saved could protect pedophiles - who the church asked us to feel compassion for because they
are "sick".
Since Father Pablito is fighting for his life here, I wouldn't expect him to do anything else. Would any of
you?
I want to know, where the next step up is? Who has the power to help this situation?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Readers Comments http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2009/12/hoping_to_reverse_his_dismissa.html
By Deborah E. Young
12/7/2009
(5
total)
Posted
by noche159
December 07, 2009, 8:55AM
one has to wonder is this concern or the Advance's Catholic Bashing
excuse, why not the contiunied developments of the couple that were killed on New Dorp Lane , I have seen alot of great preist
who were well liked get tranferred out of my parish
Posted
by salminor
December 07, 2009, 8:58AM
I wish the good father well, and hope that he finds the support that
he needs to maintain his life.
The Catholic church in New York is on a steady decline, and this decision
by the church hierarchy, clearly displays the lack of Christianity that exists in the corrupt and faltering church. More effort
was put into sheltering pedophile priests then has been put into supporting this sick man.
I
guess the scripture, "whatever you do for the least of My brothers, so you do unto Me. " does not apply in the New York Archdiocese
Posted
by lowtalker
December
07, 2009, 9:11AM
"They're
not practicing what they're preaching".. Really?! Ya don't say! Maybe now folks will realize church isn't what they say it
is. Obviously all church is, is "BIG BUSINESS". They plan to discard one of their 33yr priests as trash to die in the Philippines
because he is costing them too much free donated cash? Where is all the holy love and open arms now? I hope no one ever returns
to this church just to show their support for this poor priest. also, I wouldn't recommend going to another church because
it's all the same song and dance. Wake up people.
Do
you really have to pretend some invisible man is watching you and judging you to do the right thing??
Posted
by rollie47
December
07, 2009, 11:50AM
It
appears that our good church allowed this priest, and others like him, to serve our community during a time when there just
aren't enough American priests to serve the flock (I wonder why). His services were appreciated by the Archdiocese in a superficial
way. Asking him to leave now is about money and nothing else!!! Perhaps, the Catholic church needs to examine their conscience.
Posted
by siguy1974
December
07, 2009, 11:03AM
Hmmm-
and would all of you big talkers and Catholic bashers pay for the medical bills of a landscaper who hurt himself while mowing
your lawn? Or the mailman who had a heart attack while delivering your mail? Hmm? I thought so. The Advance is making this
out to be worse than it is. This priest works for the Philipino archdiocese. That's where he belongs. The Archdiocese may
have been able to handle this is a better way, but I have a feeling they tried many other avenues before resorting to the
measures they eventually employed. I also have a feeling that Father is a bit of a troublemaker, seeing as how he ran to the
media to create scandal for the Church.
http://shipoffools.com/mystery/2009/1675.html
|
1675: St Peter's, Staten Island,
New York, USA |
|
|
|
Mystery Worshipper: Clandestine Christian.
The church: St Peter's, Staten Island, New York, USA.
Denomination:
Roman Catholic, Archdiocese of New York.
The building: The congregation first celebrated mass in a gun factory in April 1839. Their first church was dedicated
in 1844 and served until the 1890s, when it was destroyed by fire. The present structure of Romanesque and Gothic design was
laid out in 1900 by the architectural firm of Harding & Gooch, noted for several commercial buildings in lower Manhattan. The church is still today possibly the most magnificent and
largest edifice on Staten Island. Situated high on a hill, it is clearly visible from New York Harbor and
has served as a reference point for sailors at sea. The bell tower somewhat resembles that of London's Houses of Parliament. Inside, the vaulted ceiling was constructed in such a way
that no pillars are necessary, thus affording an unobstructed view of the sanctuary from every pew. The interior is resplendent
with stained glass and appointments in the style of the Italian Renaissance.
The church: In its early days, St Peter's
parish was governed by a succession of rather colorful pastors, one of whom was the nephew of Elizabeth Seton, the first native-born
United States citizen to be canonized, and another of whom ran off to join
the California gold rush and was later struck by blindness.
Today, St Peter's is one of the leading Roman Catholic parishes on Staten Island. They sponsor
a men's and boys' choir and are active in such charitable works as clothing drives, etc. They administer a grammar school
and high school as well as a cemetery. Masses are held Sundays at 9.00am and 12.00 noon, with a 5.00pm anticipated mass on
Saturdays, as well as at various times throughout the week.
The neighborhood: The bulletin and several websites
give the address of St Peter's as New Brighton, but it is actually still within the limits
of St George, the Staten Island neighborhood closest to Manhattan.
The ferry is within walking distance, and most of the houses near St Peter's are historical landmarks, some displaying breathtaking
architecture. This is a place of steep hills, which, along with the Victorian houses, make it a sort of a poor man's San Francisco. Little bodegas are within walking distance, as is the
center of St George, with little shops and restaurants, a lovely historic theater, a pharmacy, and other amenities. St Peter's
bells toll the hours except at night. There is a terrific view of Manhattan
across the water, and the harbor is quite busy with huge cargo ships escorted by cute little tugboats. But there is also a
view of the chemical tanks of New Jersey, just one of the many contradictions that are Staten
Island, the "forgotten borough" of New York City. A concise
history of Staten Island can be found in an earlier Mystery Worship report. In recent years the borough has become more suburban and urban, as unbridled and quite ugly development continues to encroach
upon the rural and rustic setting that the island once enjoyed.
The cast:
The
Revd Pablito C Maghari, parochial vicar ("Father Pabs"), was celebrant and preacher. He was assisted by a team of lectors
and eucharistic ministers identified only as M. Smith, A. Philip, R. Bradshaw and L. Kronenthal.
The date & time: Solemnity of Christ
the King November 23,
2008, 12.00 noon.
What was the name of the service?
Sunday Mass.
How full was the building?
Around 50 people, something like one-eighth full.
Did
anyone welcome you personally?
Two said hello to me upon entering (the same two people
who later took up the collection), but they didn't hand me anything or point out the necessary books.
Was your pew comfortable?
Comfortable enough. It was a polished
wooden pew, unpadded, with connecting (folding) kneeler.
How would you describe
the pre-service atmosphere?
There was a bit of talking, mainly from the cantor, who
was setting up his guitar paraphernalia.
What were the exact opening words of
the service?
The cantor said "Good morning" and welcomed us; then the priest began
with "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
What
books did the congregation use during the service?
Daily Missal and a service
book/hymnal entitled Breaking Bread 2008.
What musical instruments were
played?
Acoustic guitar.
Did anything
distract you?
It was a little distracting to hear the standard hymns played with
acoustic guitar instead of organ, but it was pleasant enough. The priest had a slight accent that I couldn't place (Filipino,
I later learned) and that distracted me, along with a highly reverberating sound system. There also was a small disturbance
when someone came to sit directly behind me, and then got up and found another seat. There were so many empty seats –
what was the problem?
Was the worship stiff-upper-lip, happy clappy, or what?
A standard novus ordo eucharist, but with the hymns and sung parts of the mass accompanied
by guitar. There were no acolytes or servers. The psalm was sung responsively with the cantor, and the Lord's Prayer and some
other parts were sung. The priest chanted the parts of the liturgy that are usually chanted, but there were no bells or incense.
The congregation seemed engaged, as much as possible, and not bored, although many did not join in the singing. The guitarist
was very good. The hymns were standard, not some silly type of folk mass stuff. It was pleasant, but different. At the exchange
of peace, everyone just nodded and gave a conservative little wave of the hand – no getting out of the pews to shake
hands, something I've never cared for much.
Exactly how long was the sermon?
10 minutes.
On a scale of 1-10, how good was the preacher?
6 – Father Pabs (I suppose
he must like to be called this) was an interesting looking man who could be mistaken for a Japanese actor, with a thick mop
of black hair in a Beatle haircut. He was very enthusiastic, used expansive hand gestures and was a bit loud sometimes, I
believe to wake up the rather sleepy congregation. He didn't rely on notes, which was nice. Even though it was a short homily,
he did seem a bit unfocused although his material was sound.
In a nutshell,
what was the sermon about?
He spoke of Christ as victor, king, judge, and the one
who is coming. As the liturgical year ends and a new year begins with Advent, we must lead Christ-centered lives.
Which part of the service was like being in heaven?
After
communion there was quiet – no guitar, no children fidgeting, no one talking, only some shuffling and clunking of the
folding kneelers. It was a good atmosphere for prayer.
And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
Alas, a little child couldn't be restrained for
long during that peaceful silence after communion. The tyke seemed to have quite a bit to say that he must have been holding
in for some time.
What happened when you hung around after the service looking
lost?
There was no coffee hour, and as everyone was leaving it didn't seem worth
it to hang around acting lost. Father Pabs was busy meeting with people and I didn't get to talk to him.
How would you describe the after-service coffee?
No coffee
hour that I could see.
How would you feel about making this church your regular
(where 10 = ecstatic, 0 = terminal)?
4 – There really doesn't seem to be much
of a community. I can do without the coffee hour, but I like to be in a church with organ and choir. The men's and boys' choir
must sing at the earlier mass – why is it that the early service is always the traditional one?
Did the service make you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes.
Being in a lovely church, to pray in silence and sing pleasant hymns, with a Christ-centered homily.
What one thing will you remember about all this in seven days' time?
Father Pabs
and the nodded peace. |
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(Notes by M.E. Embry website has photo of the church)
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Ship of Fools in 300 words
Ship of Fools
was first launched in 1977 as a studenty print magazine, but sank in 1983 after ten issues. It was raised again on April Fool's
Day 1998 as a website, and quickly grew into an online community as well as a webzine.
"We're here for people who prefer
their religion disorganized," says the Ship's editor and designer, Simon Jenkins. "Our aim is to help Christians be self-critical and honest about the failings of Christianity, as we believe honesty can
only strengthen faith."
Regular features include the Mystery Worshipper, the Caption Competition, and Gadgets for God. Ship of Fools has also run a number of projects, including The Ark, an online gameshow, and Church of Fools, an early experiment in online 3D church. The Laugh Judgment, our investigation into funny and offensive religious jokes, prompted journalist Julie Burchill to say of us: "If one must
choose a modern symbol of what is so good about Britain, I would choose Ship of Fools."
Alongside these is a thriving
online community, including the famed Heaven, Hell and Purgatory bulletin boards, where shipmates debate everything from "Religion and Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "The status of Mormonism"
to "Hitchcock and Catholic Guilt". Over 13,500 people joined the boards in its first ten years online.
Ship of Fools'
co-editor is Stephen Goddard, who met Simon Jenkins at theological college in London in the late 70s. "As committed Christians
ourselves, we can't help laughing at the crazy things that go wrong with the church, and we're also drawn to those questions
which take us beyond easy believing. In the end, we want to make sense of the Christian faith in today's complex world."
Fully
independent, Ship of Fools currently attracts more than 150,000 unique visitors a month accessing more than 2.5 million pages. Iconoclastic
and debunking but also committed to the ultimate value of faith, Ship of Fools attracts readers more interested in searching
questions than simplistic answers. |
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