Description
The author of this book was Monsignor James W. Peterson who passed away on May 13, 2013 at the age of 89. He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in Erie, Pennsylvania in 1947. Monsignor Peterson’s first assignment was to Blessed Sacrament Church, Erie and then to Gannon University from 1947-1975. While at Gannon, he taught English for seven years, and was appointed Director of Religious Activities and Chairman of the Theology Department. While at Gannon, he additionally served as Chaplain at the Erie County Prison, as Diocesan Vocations Director, and was instrumental in bringing to Erie the Christian Family Movement, the Foundation for International Cooperation, the Serra Club and the Cursillo Movement. He was also Spiritual Director at Saint Mark’s Seminary. In 1975 he was named pastor of St. Teresa Parish in Union City. In addition to his pastoral work, he founded Maria House Project, a non-profit corporation which continues to provide small group living for men in need of growth in community for healing from drug and alcohol addiction, from the effects of imprisonment, and from homelessness. He also helped to establish the Avila House retreat center in Union City. In 1985, Monsignor Peterson took up residence at St. Stephen of Hungary Church, Erie and was assigned to special ministry to the marginalized. In this capacity, he worked in Catholic Charities especially in Spiritual Counseling. He served as the head of the Diocesan Office of Special Ministries and Trustee of Maria House Project, which today includes six houses with thirty to thirty-five residents, and the Greg Leopold Prayer Center. From 1992-1995 he served as chaplain to the Holy Family Monastery, Erie. He was well known as a lecturer, retreat director, spiritual director and friend to the almost friendless. In addition to this book, he authored “Leisure of the Holy Spirit,” and “The Sweep of Saint John’s Gospel.”
