On August 20, after overcoming economic, logistical and various other problems, the United States Region is pleased to announce the reopening of the bookstore on its Canfield property.
After the Mass, the blessing was presided over by the Most Reverend Bishop J. Bonnar, Sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, that has “That All May Be One” as his motto. He was born in Pittsburgh, PA. He received a bachelor’s degree in Social Communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. He studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, receiving his Degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1987. He was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh on July 23, 1988.
After his ordination, he held many positions within the Pittsburgh diocese until on November 17, 2020, he was appointed by Pope Francis to be the new bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown. He was consecrated and installed as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown on January 12, 2021. In 2020, he was appointed a member of the National Advisory Board for the USCCB. He is also the editor of the Priest magazine and for 12 years he was chaplain to the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL.
Three are the pillars of FAITH, PERSEVERANCE, and ENTHUSIASM, that represent the process of how this bookstore come out.
FAITH: All things are possible with God. When we received notice in February that we had only one month to vacate the premises of our store in Boardman, we found volunteers who were able to make the move in one week. During this time, I received a cup from a member of our Holy Family Institute with the famous story of the “Footprints in the Sand,” where God in the most difficult moment of your life is carrying you.
PERSEVERANCE: The volunteers helped us not only with the work of setting up the store, but also in helping us make decisions for our future. With the potential of having the Shipping Department for ST PAULS PUBLISHING coming here, we opted to return to our previous home of the bookstore. My interest was to have an apostolate for the members here in this community. Br. Dominic along with Fr. Matthew – both having bookstore experience – will be the managers of this new store. With volunteers to assist us in fixing up this building and in the daily operation of the bookstore, we have persevered in overcoming problems.
ENTHUSIASM: I received a great lesson from one of you, who told me that sometimes volunteers have more enthusiasm than some of us. This may be true, but it is also true that enthusiasm is contagious. So, this is another gift we have received from our friends.
I share a remembrance from our Founder, Blessed James Alberione who said: “Saying thank you is the greatest prayer.” So, thank all of you for your presence here today in Bethlem, first step of future apostolate. The bookstore will be open every day for a few hours and particular space will be given to books that concern current issues in the church.
Before giving the podium over to Bishop Bonnar for the blessing, I would ask Br. Dominic to unveil the plaque in memory of our opening:
ST PAULS BOOKS AND GIFTS
To the “Friends of St. Paul” and to the “Knights of Columbus Council 11369” who with their faith, enthusiasm and generosity made this reopening possible.
The Priests and Brothers of St. Paul’s Monastery
Ellsworth, OH August 20th, 2022
More than a hundred people present at Mass and at the blessing, then flocked to the lawns in front of the monastery to participate in a convivial picnic offered by the Friends of St Paul.
