The following is the full text of the homily preached by Msgr. Edward Breen on the occasion of the Mass celebrated Feb. 24 by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Tablet.

Today we come to celebrate a very special Eucharist – like every Eucharist it is especially an action of thanksgiving to God but we call it special because we are celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Tablet – the Catholic newspaper of the Brooklyn Diocese. For me personally, The Tablet has been an object of conversation at our family dinner table for three quarters of that time. We recognize the name of Pat Scanlan, its managing editor for 51 years. We know he was an usher at our parents’ wedding (I’m told he would be called a groomsman). We connected names like Chet Beatty, Claude Becker, Mae Scanlan and Loretta Heffernan with The Tablet.

Msgr. Edward Breen, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of Fatima, East Elmhurst, delivered the homily at The Tablet’s 100th anniversary Mass Feb. 24 at St. James Cathedral-Basilica.

My father and Pat Scanlan had become close friends during the 35 years Dad was the full time secretary of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in our diocese. Indeed, it was very rare at that time that two Catholic laymen were full-time employees in the Catholic Church. For that reason, many of them became a small family support group. Dad’s work was much behind the scenes where the charitable activity of the Vincentians was often arranging for clothing and housing for the needy, especially during the years of the Depression and the Second World War.

The only name we associated with the St. Vincent de Paul Society was Frederic Ozanam who founded the group in 1833. Since the individual members never tried to make known their personal names when we were children, Dad had us praying that Ozanam would someday be canonized as a saint and ironically that did happen in the summer of 1976 and my brother insisted that Ozanam’s name be included in the Litany of the Saints at Vincent’s Episcopal ordination.

On the other hand, Pat Scanlan was never bashful about his Catholic faith and soon everybody in the diocese and the whole United States knew what issues he was concerned about. In The Tablet, he publicized threats to the Catholic Church in Mexico. The role of Franco opposing Communism in Spain, the issues raised by Father Charles Coughlin on his radio broadcasts and the television coverage of all the speeches given by Senator Joe McCarthy at that time. For many years, Pat Scanlan made clear where he stood on these news stories.

The year 1968 introduced a number of events, which would affect The Tablet in the following 40 years. Pat Scanlan, the Managing Editor for half a century, was succeeded by Donald Zirkel with the title of Editor. This appointment was approved by the board of directors, previously all priests of the diocese but now including religious and laymen and women. Then in 1979, Robert Adams was elected as Associate Publisher. More and more, the challenges of the post-Vatican II era were reflected in the stories featured in The Tablet. Likewise, pressure could be felt from the impact of the growth of the new Diocese of Rockville Centre, which included two of the four counties previously attached to Brooklyn. Later in 1985, Ed Wilkinson became the editor and then Frank DeRosa who originally had been a writer for The Tablet and then director of the diocesan Public Information Office, was eventually elected as the Associate Publisher for The Tablet. Carefully and thoughtfully, Ed and Frank have guided The Tablet to this 100th anniversary.

While we give thanks for all that has been accomplished in this century, we do not think it is the end but rather as a new opportunity to serve the Church in Brooklyn. It is interesting to note that the liturgy of this Sunday gives us a clue as to how The Tablet might respond to this.

The Scripture readings for today are designed to accompany the catechumens and candidates who are preparing to enter the Catholic community at the Easter liturgy. The Gospel story of the Samaritan woman at the well highlights her openness to receive the water, which promises New Life like the waters at baptism. It reflects the thirst of the people during the exile in our First Reading and recalls the love of God poured out over us as we are reminded in Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

On the First Sunday of Lent, those preparing to join the Catholic community at Easter celebrated the Rite of Election with Bishop DiMarzio at Christ the King High School in Queens. Now for three weeks in the middle of Lent, they will participate in their parishes in ceremonies called scrutinees.

From top, John Woods, left, former managing editor of The Tablet and now editor of Catholic New York, chats with long-time Tablet artist John McAlinden; The Tablet’s anniversary cake; Bishop DiMarzio congratulates associate publisher Frank DeRosa on his 50th year with the Diocese of Brooklyn.

Inspired by today’s readings, they are encouraged to reflect on what the Church teaches and perhaps have a ritual, which the Creed is presented to them. It may even be an opportunity for those who have been inactive or alienated from the Church to renew their own faith at this year’s Easter Vigil. I am reminded of someone who told me he had a friend who claimed he left the Church because he was still a Baltimore Catechism Catholic.

Today, I would present with the Creed a copy of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults; I would call it a new and improved catechism. Three features of this text are very much reflected each week in The Tablet. First, contrary to the question-and-answer pattern of the Baltimore Catechism, this book has pages of instruction, interspersed with doctrinal statements and occasional thoughts for meditation on Church teaching, sacraments and daily Catholic life. Each week, The Tablet has many articles reflecting on Church teaching beginning with Bishop DiMarzio’s column discussing topics like education, various challenges to family life and concern and compassion for the needs facing many migrants in our diocese. Moreover, The Tablet will always have articles not only about concerns in our diocese but also of interest to Catholics throughout the world.

Second, this new adult catechism also has pictures and biographical sketches of prominent Catholics who have influenced the Church in our country. When I see names like Bishop Sheen, Father Peyton and Cesar Chavez, I know they would be familiar to people who have been reading The Tablet for many years.

Third, another feature of this catechism are questions in each chapter for discussion – encouragement to probe the implications for Catholic life today. Some might even say that the Readers’ Forum in The Tablet not only permits discussion but even stimulates vigorous debate.
In short, each issue of The Tablet provides much for readers to reflect on and relate to their everyday Catholic experience. Every Lent, the Church not only recalls the story of the Resurrection but shares an experience of renewed faith in the Risen Lord.

We see the Church responding to the jubilee message of John Paul II not to invent a new program, but to be committed to a new evangelization in our day. As we give thanks for the history of The Tablet, we are hopeful that it will continue each week to share in this evangelization. We trust that the second century of The Tablet will not only add further pages for our archives but perhaps also include cassettes of programs on The Prayer Channel, which the staff of 1908 would have found fascinating. Bishop McDonnell approved the concept of a Catholic newspaper but Bishop DiMarzio finds himself not only with a fine Catholic newspaper but also a Catholic television station.

Today, we give thanks for everything involved in The Tablet’s history and committed to making a contribution to the new evangelization in our time.