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Cardinal enjoys a homecoming in Steubenville

DiNardo visits city for Friendship Room fundraiser

A BLESSING ON THIS HOUSE — Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of the Galveston-Houston Catholic Archdiocese blessed the Friendship Room on Logan Street Friday afternoon before attending a fundraiser at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. - Dave Gossett

STEUBENVILLE — Cardinal Daniel DiNardo knew exactly how to find the Friendship Room on Logan Street Friday afternoon.

“I knew it was close to St. Peter Catholic Church so I came to the front of the church and found the Friendship Room. I spent my first two years in Steubenville before my father was offered a job in Pittsburgh. I was baptized at St. Peter Church and would visit my grandmother and go to church there. This is my hometown,” said DiNardo as he greeted invited guests in the Friendship Room.

“I came here this afternoon and to the fundraiser dinner tonight because Molly (McGovern) asked me to. Molly is a good friend of my cousin who volunteers here and then Molly came to visit me in Houston and asked me to come here,” related DiNardo.

“We have a large Catholic Worker house in Houston. I know the work they do in Houston and I was sure Molly and her volunteers are doing the same work in Steubenville. The Friendship Room brings hope to the people who are living on the edge and that is a good thing for God,” continued DiNardo.

“Some people don’t always know where their support is coming from and I am sure Molly doesn’t always know where her support is going to come from. But we all rely on God,” declared DiNardo.

DiNardo blessed the Friendship Room and then chatted with the guests before heading to the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church for a benefit dinner for the Friendship Room. More than 400 people attended.

DiNardo spoke about Jesus at the Last Supper telling the disciples, “I want you to be my friends.”

“He then washed the feet of the disciples showing them what friendship is,” the cardinal said.

DiNardo also spoke of Pope Francis’ discourse on periphery and how Bill and Molly McGovern took people on the periphery and made them the center of their concern. He said people in a community can fall through the cracks but it is up to the people of towns to take people on the margin and make them the center.

“Families need a big heart but we need to go beyond that to a bigger family. We need to go to a larger family and support those in trouble, those without parents, single moms raising children and even persons with additions; even those who made a shipwreck of their lives. Molly and Bill find those at the periphery. Will you come forward and make them (the needy) our center,” he said.

He said it is wonderful what the McGoverns have done with the Friendship Room and he challenged the community to give and do more.

“There is no reason in the world you can’t give double,” he said.

Kimberly Hahn, city councilwoman at large, talked about how the community sees people in need.

“Do we we see a prostitute or do we see a child of God, just like we are a child of God. God chose them to have an existence, whether anyone wants them,” she said

Hahn said the needy can be fed but there is a deeper need than the physical need.

“Bread can nourish the body. We need to meet the immediate needs to make people’s heart’s open,” Hahn said.

She urged those at the dinner to provide their own clothing to the needy and provide them shelter.

“The Friendship Room is there to welcome people and honor them with joy and laughter. We are a generous and caring community. I want you to keep caring. Ask God what (you) can do to reach out,” she said.

Molly McGovern told those at the dinner that she was overwhelmed and grateful for those that came to the benefit dinner for the Friendship Room. She said the Friendship Room is about all religious denominations leaving their denominations at the door and helping those in need.

McGovern she believes in Matthew Chapter 25 where God will reward those that give to the needy and cast out those that ignore.

DiNardo was born in Steubenville and raised in Castle Shannon near Pittsburgh where he attended St. Anne grade school and the Jesuit run Bishop’s Latin school before enrolling in St. Paul Seminary and Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.

DiNardo was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on July 16, 1977 and served as parish pastor, seminary professor, spiritual director, and in the chancery.

He was appointed coadjutor bishop of Sioux City, Iowa and ordained there as a bishop in October 1997.

DiNardo was named coadjutor bishop of Galveston-Houston in January 2004 and succeeded Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza on February 28, 2006 and was elevated to the College of Cardinals in November of 2007 at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Tom Gentile, who served as emcee of the dinner, asked DiNardo if he was still a Steelers fan and DiNardo responded by raising two thumbs up.

City Mayor Domenick Mucci and state Sen. Lou Gentile, D-Steubenville, presented proclamations honoring Bill and Molly McGovern.

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