If you want to really know someone…

Headshot of Bishop Bonnar. Photo by Michael Houy
Photo by Michael Houy.

Life has its ups and downs. I experienced that in a literal way a few months ago on a sunny Friday afternoon. Thanks to the kindness of one of our permanent deacons who is a professional pilot and needed flight hours, I got to fly with him in an eight-passenger two-engine jet to Lunken Field (Cincinnati Municipal Airport) for lunch and then return to beautiful Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport in Vienna the same day. Another deacon and his father joined us. 

I was blessed to serve as his “First Officer,” so to speak, which amounted to sitting next to him and wearing the headset as he communicated with air traffic control. I must confess that I have a new-found appreciation for the air traffic controllers who direct the traffic in the skies and keep all those who fly safe. I also understand more fully the term “autopilot,” as more and more it seems planes can almost fly on their own, thanks to their many nifty instruments and cute gadgets. Nevertheless, I was grateful to be seated next to a trained pilot.

What I really appreciated most about that day was the view from high in the sky. I got to see a lot of our diocese from above. It was like having a panoramic view of our portion of the Lord’s vineyard, as I saw Youngstown, Warren, Kent, Canton and Massillon from a new perspective. We cruised at 26,000 feet enroute to Cincinnati and 23,000 feet to the Mahoning Valley. The flight time was about 35 minutes each way, and the weather was picture-perfect, a great day for flying. Would you believe it if I said that we were in Canton airspace in 10 minutes? That sure beats the hour-long drive from Youngstown to Canton that I make frequently. But despite the amazing view and the short travel time, I will gladly settle for my automobile.

Believe it or not, I behold even more of our diocese here on the ground, through the annual ritual of our diocesan appeal—One in Hope, One in Mission. You see, when people donate to the mission of Catholic Charities and our diocesan ministries, they are encouraged to share what they want me, as their bishop, to pray about for them. This sharing enables me to see inside the hearts of our donors. I receive these petitions and prayerfully read over them and then place them in my private chapel so that every time I celebrate Holy Mass, I am reminded to lift up their handwritten cares and concerns.

It has been said that if you really want to know about someone, ask them how they pray or what they pray for. I want you to know that our people care deeply about others. The prayer petitions revealed common concerns like world peace, the protection of human life, greater harmony in our country and the health and well-being of family members and friends—especially those facing illness, disease or surgery. 

There were prayers for reconciliation and peace among estranged family members. The one petition echoed by many was for family members and friends who, for whatever reason, have stopped coming to Holy Mass, or worse yet, no longer practice the Catholic faith. I could feel the aching loss of these petitioners wanting their loved ones to come home to the Church. I believe that this is a prayer many of us pray every day.

There were also prayers for our Church, including priests, parishes, seminarians, vocations, the elderly and youth. And many of the donors asked that I pray for the poor souls in purgatory. 

Experiencing this view of the hearts of our people is humbling and inspiring to me. People still believe in the power of prayer, which can move mountains and change hearts. In this “Celebrations issue” of The Catholic Echo, I celebrate the prayerful hearts of our donors, who not only demonstrate their love for the Church through their monetary gifts but also through their prayer intentions. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for helping us to be One in Hope, One in Mission, and One in Prayer. If I may, I ask you to pray with me my petition from the lips of Jesus, “That all may be one.”


La vida tiene altos y bajos. Yo lo experimenté literalmente hace unos meses durante una soleada tarde de viernes. Gracias a la amabilidad de uno de nuestros diáconos permanentes quien es un piloto profesional y necesitaba unas horas de vuelo, conseguí volar con él en un jet bimotor para ocho pasajeros a Lunken Field (el Aeropuerto Municipal de Cincinnati) para almorzar y luego regresar el mismo día al hermoso Aeropuerto Regional de Youngstown Warren en Vienna. Otro diácono y su padre nos acompañaron.

Tuve la bendición de servir como su “Primer Oficial”, por así decirlo, lo que equivalía a sentarse a su lado y usar los auriculares mientras se comunicaba con el control de tráfico aéreo. Debo confesar que tengo un nuevo aprecio por los controladores aéreos que dirigen el tráfico en los cielos y mantienen seguros a todos los que vuelan.

También comprendo mejor el término “piloto automático”, ya que cada vez más parece que los aviones casi pueden volar por sí solos, gracias a sus numerosos instrumentos ingeniosos y lindos artefactos. Sin embargo, agradecí estar sentado junto a un piloto capacitado.

Lo que más aprecié de este día fue la vista desde lo alto del cielo. Pude ver mucho de nuestra diócesis desde arriba. Fue si como tuviera una vista panorámica de nuestra parte de la viña del Señor, ya que pude ver desde el cielo, Youngstown, Warren, Kent, Canton y Massillon. Navegamos a 26,000 pies en camino hacia Cincinnati y a 23,000 pies al Valle de Mahoning. El tiempo de vuelo fue de 35 minutos de ida y 35 de vuelta, y el clima estaba perfecto, un gran día para volar.    ¿Creería usted si le digo que estuvimos en el espacio aéreo de Canton en diez minutos? Eso sin duda supera el viaje de una hora de manejo desde Youngstown a Canton que yo hago frecuentemente. Pero independientemente de la maravillosa vista y el corto tiempo de viaje, me conformo feliz con mi automóvil.

Lo crea o no, veo aún más de nuestra diócesis aquí en el terreno, a través del ritual anual de nuestro llamamiento diocesano: Uno en la Esperanza, Uno en la Misión. Verá, cuando la gente dona a la misión de Caridades Católicas y a nuestro Ministerio diocesano, se les alienta a compartir por lo que ellos quieren que yo, como su obispo, ore por ellos.

Este compartir me permite ver dentro de los corazones de nuestros donantes. Yo recibo estas peticiones y en oración las leo y luego las pongo en mi capilla privada para que cada vez que celebro la Santa Misa, recuerde levantar sus preocupaciones e inquietudes escritas a mano.

Se ha dicho que si uno realmente quiere saber sobre alguien, pregúntele cómo ora o por qué ora. Yo quiero que usted sepa que nuestra gente se preocupa profundamente por los demás. Las peticiones de oración revelan preocupaciones comunes como la paz mundial, la protección de la vida humana, mayor armonía en nuestro país, la salud y bienestar de los miembros de nuestra famlia, especialmente aquellos enfrentando enfermedades, dolencias o cirugías.

Había oraciones por la reconciliación y la paz entre familiares separados. La única petición de la que muchos se hicieron eco fue por los familiares y amigos que, por cualquier motivo, dejaron de asistir a la Santa Misa o, peor aún, ya no practican la fe católica. Podía sentir la dolorosa pérdida de estos peticionarios que deseaban que sus seres queridos regresaran a la Iglesia. Creo que esta es una oración que muchos de nosotros hacemos todos los días.

También había oraciones por nuestra Iglesia, incluyendo sacerdotes, seminaristas, vocaciones, los ancianos y los jóvenes. Y muchos de los donantes me pidieron que orara por las pobres almas del purgatorio.Experimentar esta visión de los corazones de nuestra gente es una lección de humildad e inspiración para mí. La gente todavía cree en el poder de la oración, que puede mover montañas y cambiar corazones. En este “número de celebración” de The Catholic Echo, celebro los corazones en oración de nuestros donantes, quienes no solo demuestran su amor por la Iglesia a través de su donación monetaria sino también a través de sus intenciones de oración. Gracias, hermanos y hermanas, por ayudarnos a ser Uno en la Esperanza, Uno en la Misión y Uno en la Oración. Si me lo permiten, les pido que oren conmigo por mi petición de los labios de Jesús: “Que todos sean uno”.

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Picture of Bishop David J. Bonnar

Bishop David J. Bonnar

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Most Reverend David J. Bonnar was installed as the sixth Bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown on January 12, 2021. He received a bachelor degree in Social Communications from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome receiving a Bachelor in Sacred Theology (STB) in 1987 from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. As a priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Bishop Bonnar served as parochial vicar at Saint Vitus Parish, New Castle; Saint Rosalia Parish, Greenfield; and Saint Thomas More Parish, Bethel Park. He served as chaplain at Central Catholic High School and as Director of Vocations, Director of the Pre-Ordination program, Director of the Permanent Diaconate program and Rector of Saint Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh. In 2009, Bishop Bonnar was appointed pastor of Saint Bernard Parish, Mt. Lebanon and from 2018 also served as administrator of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Scott Township. In 2020, he was named pastor of Saint Aidan Parish, Wexford. On November 17, 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis appointed him the sixth Bishop of Youngstown. In addition to his ministerial assignments, Bishop Bonnar has also served on the Diocese of Pittsburgh Post-Ordination Board, Clergy Personnel Board, Seminary Admissions Board, Chair of the Permanent Diaconate Admissions Board, Chair of the Priestly Formation Board, and Chair of the Priesthood Candidate Admission Board. Since 2014, Bishop Bonnar has been the editor of The Priest magazine and in 2020 was appointed a member of the National Advisory Board for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. For 12 years Bishop Bonnar was also chaplain to the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers professional football team.
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