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Volume 6 Number 24

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

•

February

21, 1997

Church Officials Consider How To Counter Muslim-Christian Violence By JOHN THAVIS VATICAN CITY (CNS)

— Across

Asia, the Middle East and Africa, recent

Christian riots in other parts of the country left several

—

episodes of violence between Muslims

Christians, destroying 12 churches and

The victims have ranged from a slain bishop in the Philippines to poor Chris-

burning hundreds of books used by semi-

But while deploring the violence, Vatican experts have been careful not to characterize

as a "religious war."

Bishop Michael L. Fitzgerald, secretary of the Vatican's Pontifical cil

each episode has local causes that

must be taken

and the Call to Continued Conversion for the Greensboro and Winston-Salem vicariates Feb. 16.

During the ceremony at Our Lady of Grace Church, 35 catechumens and 75

OSFS, pastor of St. Paul

Church and vicar for the Greensboro vicariate. A catechumen is a person who has been found ready by the community of

the Apostle

faith to take part in the next celebration

of the sacraments of initiation (baptism,

confirmation, Eucharist) at the Easter vigil. other Christian tradition and

A candidate has been baptized in an-

preparing for reception into

full

into consideration.

wouldn't see this as a reflection of a crisis in Christian-Muslim relations. "I

GREENSBORO — Bishop William G Cudin presided at the Rite of Election

candidates were presented by Father James O'Neill,

Coun-

for Interreligious Dialogue, cautioned

that

Conversion

communion of the

Roman Catholic Church, or is a Catholic who is preparing to complete their reception of the sacraments of initiation (confirmation, and/or Eucharist).

'The conversion you will be living isn't a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

It's

a day-

to-day journey," Bishop Curlin said. "I thank God for your presence here and the

work of the Spirit which is bringing you into the fullness of our sacramental life in

It is

obviously discouraging, but

under-

even more the need for talking together," he said Feb. 16. Father Felix Machado, who heads the Asian desk at the Vatican council, said the real problem was the growing lines

politicization of religions. "I don't think

Islam and Christianity,

But there is more exploitation of religious differences as religions, are in conflict.

for political gain, with

one group being

The

he said, is frequently a "majority-minority syndrome" in which tensions can easily flare up into violence. Vatican diplomatic officials were attentively studying the political and religious aspects of several events: In Jolo, a

Diocese of Charlotte Explores Options For Triad Catholic Schools Plans for triad Catholic Schools in

millennium were endorsed February 11, 1997 by pastors and principals (of the triad region) and presented to Bishop William Curlin for considerthe next

ation.

The proposal includes plans for conmore regionally located

struction of a

state-of-the-art high school,

ation of a

and the cre-

middle school on the same site Bishop McGuinness High

as a relocated

School.

A middle school room space

would create

in existing

class-

elementary-level

schools to allow for anticipated growth in the triad area.

In a Feb.

13 letter to triad area

Catholics, the Reverend Mauricio West,

Vicar General and Chancellor, said, "Each of these elements or directions is designed to provide the best option in accommodating needed expansion in relation to triad Catholic schools. Bishop Curlin will convene another meeting of the participants within the coming months to initiate a review of a number of pastoral, educational and financial issues related to this expansion project." Currently, the triad area is served by five elementary (K-8) schools: Our Lady of Grace, St. Pius X in Greensboro; Our Lady of Mercy and St. Leo in WinstonSalem; and Immaculate Heart of Mary in High Point. Bishop McGuinness High School in Winston-Salem, (9-12) is the only high school serving the region.

was shot

Muslim-dominated area

and authorities

detained two suspects linked to an extremist

—

Some 800 Chriswere left homeless in the violence, which one priest said was abetted by local civil authorities. In northern Uganda, Muslim guerrilla groups reportedly conducted three raids on Catholic missions in late January, vandalizing church structures and stealing equipment and money. In Egypt, Muslim militants tian families

— —

stormed a church charity meeting in early February and shot to death nine Coptic Christians. It was the worst violence inside a church in recent Egyptian history. Vatican officials said Bishop de Jesus' murder in the Philippines underscored the increased risk Catholic leaders are facing in some predominantly

Muslim areas.

Muslim group.

targeted by

hundred

people were killed in Borneo in January tians, attacked the

Muslim

extremists.

But as Bishop Fitzgerald pointed out, Bishop de Jesus' funeral was attended by hundreds of Muslims from the area, and the slaying was quickly followed by encounters between the local bishops and "This

is significant.

There are signs

that religious leaders are

coming

to-

gether," Bishop Fitzgerald said.

Others questioned whether the

reli-

gious aspect of the Philippines killing

may

have been overplayed and noted that authorities now think a family grudge played a part

in the crime.

Jesuit Father Thomas Michel, a

lim expert

Mus-

who knew Bishop de

Jesus

well, said the biggest single factor in the

may have been the easy access guns in the Philippines. That's a worrisome development in other parts of the world, too, he said. attack

In Indonesia, several

as indigenous Dayaks,

In places like Algeria, bish-

ops and priests have been specifically

to death outside his ca-

thedral in early February,

Muslims rioted against

narians and students.

result,

of the Philippines, Bishop Benjamin de Jesus

ful relations, local

Muslim representatives.

placed against the other," he said.

—

Christ, especially the Eucharist."

best counter the trend.

sia.

Called To

Punjab region

early February, after decades of peace-

Uganda. So far in 1997, Muslim-Christian conflicts have also erupted in Pakistan, Egypt and Indone-

KROKOS

In Pakistan's

and Christians have worried church officials and left them wondering how to

tian families in

Photo by MIKE

dead and scores of build-

ings burned.

who

are Chris-

homes and shops of

"The trend

that

find

not so

much

Muslim immigrants.

of Muslim-Christian violence, but a trend

Later, thousands of Muslims ransacked the churches, banks and shops of a Christian neighborhood outside the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. Muslim-

of availability of weapons, which in

inside For Lent, Cardinal

Asks Catholics Not To Judge Others

LENT

itself

induces people to acts of greater vio-

See

Violent,

page 3

Pope Speaks

Columns

Entertainment

Faith Alive!

News

Briefs

Parish Profile

8-9

14-15

The Catholic News

Herald

February 21, 1997

Task Force Addressing African-American Concerns By

MIKE KROKOS Editor

CHARLOTTE

— As

a result of a

issues raised. task force,

which includes mem-

bers of the African-American Affairs

Ministry's board of advisors, schools principals, board

MACS

members and

two Charlotte area has met several times since No-

administrators, and priests,

vember.

"There is still the perception that MACS does not welcome AfricanAmerican students, and that school officials don't seem to be bothered by the small number of African-American students and faculty. They also do not seem concerned about the decline of the African-American student population," said Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, vicar for AfricanAmerican Affairs. There are only three African-American teachers on the

MACS

more African-American faculty memThe superintendent visited WinstonSalem State University and North Caro-

he added. Currently 69 of the 3,631 students enrolled or 1 .9 percent of the MACS student population are African-American. That figure is down from 79 students during the 1995-96 school year, according to Dr. Charles LeBlanc, MACS faculty,

lina

A&T

"We

University last week.

JIMMY ROSTAR

GREENSBORO — Helping college grow

students

spiritually,

will also take part in a private school mi-

and culturally

and the University of North minority job fair in March," he added. To better understand African- American perceptions of the MACS system, the task force is planning to distribute a survey to all black parishioners in the 1 churches that compose the Charlotte vicariate. The group hopes to have parishioners complete the questionnaire after Mass in the next few weeks. "The survey is designed to find out why African-American (Catholics) are not putting children in the Catholic Schools system," Rev. Mr. Todd said.

task not taken lightly by Alberta

nority job fair

Carolina

at Charlotte's

Pat Murphy, principal at

Our Lady

a positive step to creating better

Catholic schools for the future. portant that

"It's

im-

continue to talk to and

understand each other, our cultural likenesses and differences, people to people."

"We need to work together,

share our

giftedness with each other, and be re-

for North Carolina Agricultural

W 0

Technical

State University

istry

provides educational resources

largely self-managed, she hopes to pro-

vide a sense of direction in

many aspects

lege since August 1994 says she has seen Catholic students "go underground"

of college

with their faith during college for a variwhy she consid-

educational process," she adds. "I try to

ety of reasons. That's ers

campus ministry

most valuable

re-

source.

"Campus

ministry

very important

encourage them to govern themselves because that's part of the life.

supplement their classroom learning by encouraging them to take leadership roles, to do hands-on things that ultimately are going to help them regardless of their

for college students, especially in an area

major."

where the faith is in a minority," she says. Throughout the Diocese of Charlotte, the ministry receives funding from the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. At North Carolina A & T and Bennett schools with all or nearly all African-descended

The group gathers for informal discussions on matters of faith, morality,

—

— Hairston has seen

sponsive to one another," she added. "I

student populations

see this as a very beneficial thing to

Catholics face challenges to their faith

all in

affectionately call

and Bennett Col-

whom they "Mama H.," the min-

students share with Hairston,

which teach and reinforce a variety of Church tenets. "We have a whole wall of books that have to do with faith and religion," the campus minister says, "as well as books that discuss Islam, Buddhism and the Protestant movement. If there are questions, I try to teach and make available to them the answers." While Hairston notes that the group

The Catholic campus minister

academically

Hairston.

of Assumption School, feels the task force

In addition to the sense of family the

Staff Writer

bers.

formal position statement issued by the Diocese of Charlotte's African- American Affairs Ministry expressing concern over the relative absence of AfricanAmericans throughout the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Systems (MACS), members of the ministry and school officials have formed a task force to address

The

Campus Ministry Provides Home Away From Home

sexuality and justice, she says, and ev-

ery

month they come together

for

Mass

with Father Frank Connolly, pastor of St. Pius X parish in Greensboro. Hairston sees a steady influx of students

Thea House, ter, where a

come into

the Catholic student cen-

and community." During the process, the schools' Catholic identity must stay at the forefront, Dr. LeBlanc noted. "We've got to

"Primarily, our Catholic students are

study areas and other amenities are fre-

coming out of northern and eastern areas where they're accustomed to large,

keep priorities in mind," he said. "Catholic modeling should take priority to all

urban, predominantly black Catholic churches," she says. "Here, they find

regional superintendent.

modeling."

obvious we do not have the percentage of African- Americans we'd like

The task force will meet again in March to tabulate the results of the sur-

themselves in a minority both in their churches as well as among other Christians on the campuses. We try to offer

what subcommittee

students a safe, comfortable place to be

quented daily. Funds from the DSA allowed Hairston to purchase a muchneeded computer recently as well. The students also look for ways to offer outreach to the local community. By participating in events which celebrate African contributions to Catholicism and American society, for instance, the students combine faith with culture. Hairston says such a form of outreach not only can enrich the community as a whole, but the students become active at their schools, in their cities and in their churches, "doing those things that will help them be participants in a parish setting, rather than just sitting in the pews." She adds that almost half of the students involved in Catholic campus ministry at Bennett and A & T are not Catholic. "They're learning a lot about being Catholic, and they're having their questions (about the faith) answered," Hairston says. "They're learning Catholicism in an informal way by getting a feel for the Church and its form of worship." For Alberta Hairston, campus ministry goes far beyond the walls of Thea House, located just across the A & T campus entrance. Seeing the ministry as an evangelical, educational and cultural outreach, she says it can provide muchneeded strength to young Catholics during a potentially turbulent period of for-

—

"It's

to," the

MACS superintendent said. "Ev-

ery person

who wants the opportunity for

a Catholic education should

have

it."

important that Catholic educa-

"It's

people who wish to make use of its services, regardless of gender or nationality. We need to

tion be available to those

look

at the

human

issue, not the color is-

the schools

vey, and to finalize

recommendations

be implemented. Schools that make up the MACS system include: All Saints, Our Lady of the Assumption; St. Ann, St. Gabriel, and St. Patrick (all elementary schools); Holy Trinity Catholic Middle School; and Charlotte

will

formed

—

be black and be them a

in addition to giving

place to call home."

—

Jebruarg 23-^Harcff

Cure of

Demoniac

They include: employment ways to increase the number

Sunday:

<w§m^)

the ftieek of

five sub-

committees to address areas of concern raised by the African-American Affairs Ministry.

they are

fairings for

task force has

to look at

who

Catholic

Catholic High School.

sue," he added.

The

and, at times, their lifestyles.

mm/

Qenesis 22:1-2 9a:10-13, 15-18

of African-American teachers and ad-

Romans

ministrators; enrollment

Mark

ways

to increase the

—

to explore

—

Monday:

to in-

clude African-American tradition, history

and culture in curriculum; cultural awareness to ensure faculty and student body are knowledgeable to the culture and needs of African-Americans; and economic equality to ensure that

—

economic inequalities deny equal opportunity for

neither social nor

admission to

31b-34

African-American

student population; curriculum

are allowed to

9:2-10

MACS schools.

noted. Dr. Michael Skube, superintendent of

member

of the

employment subcommittee, said MACS officials have begun actively recruiting

Isaiah 1:10,

16-20

Matthew 23:1-12 Wednesday:

Jeremiah 18:18-20 Matthew 20:1 7-28

know who you are — the Holy One of God!' Jesus rebuked him and said, 'Quiet! Come

Thursday:

Jeremiah 17:5-10 Luke 16:19-31

out of him!' The unclean convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him."

Friday:

Qenesis 37:3-4, 12-1 3a, 17b-28

"In their

synagogue was

man

with

an unclean spirit; he cried out, 'What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

"Historically, Catholic schools have been a great evangelizer in the AfricanAmerican community," Rev. Mr. Todd

diocesan schools and a

Tuesday:

Daniel 9:4b-10 Luke 6:36-38

(Mark

spirit

mation.

Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

1:23-26)

Saturday: ©

1997 CNS Graphic

television room, kitchen,

Micah

7:14-15,

18-20 Luke 15:1-3,11-32

"Today, to say you're Christian and proud of it is often just not the popular attitude," she says. "So it becomes important that the

Church presents

itself to

students in a friendly, approachable ner.

Through campus

see faith in action."

man-

ministry, they can

The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

Pope Encourages 'Mutual Trust' Between Teachers And Teen-agers VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Curlook upon youths with one must to

riculum revisions and new teaching methods will not improve education unless teachers are able to create an atmosphere of love and respect in their classrooms, Pope John Paul II said.

trust;

dialogue with them using open and direct language," he said.

contradictory attitudes which are a sign

But no matter how easy talking may be for some teachers, the pope said, their words will have little impact if they are not backed up by attitudes and a lifestyle proving the teacher's maturity and Chris-

of confusion in the search for a fully sat-

tian faith.

"One

often sees in teen-agers today

pope said in middle school

message

representatives of the

teachers' association

were holding

Rome

their

teachers.

national meeting in

The process of education must help them overcome their confusion and that

ary.

cannot occur unless each student feels

cause he was on his annual Lenten re-

respected and trusted, the pope told the

treat.

The pope

Catholic educators, he said, the

teachers must be committed to ensuring their professional relationship

with their

Febru-

message

"The Christian knows well future of the world

Teachers.

in late

sent a written

rather than meeting with the group be-

Union of Italian Catholic Middle School but

that the

not only awaited,

planned for and built with the posielements of the present," the pope

tive

Lead God The pope made

Rome

to a

parish, his last

weeklong Lenten retreat. Appearing fully recovered from a bout with the flu earlier in the month, the 76-year-old pontiff said Mass and spoke at length to groups of parishioners at a church on the southern fore beginning a

outskirts of

Rome.

His sermon recalled the biblical account of Noah

said.

and prompted by

the sinfulness of the people

education system, Pope John Paul asked

of that era. Yet the Bible

to collaboration

between

II said.

official function be-

others, debates a reform of the country's

commitment

Pope John Paul

marks during a visit Feb. 16

requires the offering of mutual trust and a

Will

the re-

As the Italian government, like many

Not To Destroy World

fear the world's destruction as divine retribution,

"lived in a spirit of love. This

students

Herald 3

By JOHN THAVIS ROME (CNS) — Although people continue to commit sins, we should not

major

Some 400

isfying self-realization," the

a Feb. 18

Pope Says Sinfulness

teacher and student."

the teachers to be "courageously

Whatever confusion teen-agers today seem to be experiencing, "one needs

to innovations"

open

and active participants the design of new programs.

the great flood,

makes

clear that

God

promised he would not send another flood to devastate the earth, he said.

"Through the ages of

Violent Trend Worries from page

Officials,

may be the pretext,"

Ethnic or economic factors are of-

years to prevent a recurrence of widespread conflict that marked the 1970s.

point

think we're really missing the

when we

attribute this to religious

causes, although that said.

ten key to such violence, church officials essentially involved a clash of two Indo-

There and elsewhere, it's hard to guess what would have been happening if there had been no dialogue, he said.

The armed Uganda occurred in an area long

lim issues for the Vatican from 1988 to

said.

The attacks in Borneo,

for example,

nesian cultures over territory. forays in

tormented by ethnic-based roving

militias.

In Pakistan, however, at least one

was cited: the ease of invoking religious blasphemy laws, which have been adopted over church objections. The rioting in Punjab clearly religious factor

was sparked by an accusation that Christians had desecrated the Koran, the Is-

Father Michel,

we had that

this fit

with a historical optimism, that things

were going

to continue to get better,"

said.

"Now,

ongoing Christian-Muslim dialogue, church officials said they for the

think

unexamined idea of dialogue

lamic holy book.

who dealt with Mus-

1994, said he thought the whole concept of the church's dialogue with Muslims was evolving in a more realistic way.

"Previously,

think

we understand

that

dialogue has got to be carried on in the

worst of situations,

people have continued to commit sins, perhaps even greater than those committed before the great history,

were convinced it was doing some good. Father Michel pointed to the southern Philippines, where he said Christians and Muslims have worked hard in recent

lence.

Church

at all times,"

atlieJra

Sunday Daily Masses:

—

Monday Saturday

Confession:

Saturday

8:00, 9:30,

Friday

— —

& 7:30AM &

11:00AM

—

5:30PM 12:30PM

said.

Remember

"A valid Will stands as a continuing expression of our concern for loved ones, as

HisWll

well as an ongoing commitment to the Church and the community in which we live."

B JL

12:10PM Rosary 8:45AM; Mass 9:00AM; Novena 9:30AM 4:00 to 5:00PM or by request

Rector: The Very Reverend Paul Gary

Parochial Vicars: Reverend Eric Houseknecht

Hoosock leaves

—

In Yours.

—

photo by Michael Okoniewski

ou can express your commitment to your Church by making a bequest to the Diocese of Charlotte or to your parish. Simply have the following statement included in your Will:

"I leave to the

Charlotte (or (or

Bishop William G. Curlin

Roman

Catholic Diocese of

parish, city) the

sum of$

percent of the residue of my estate) for

religious, educational

and charitable

its

works."

and Reverend Thomas Williamson 1621 Dilworth Road East Charlotte, f

NC 28203 f (704)334-2283

St.

Daniel

Church in Lyncourt, N.Y., after receiving ashes "But from the words of Feb. 12. The penitential season of Lent began in God's covenant with Noah, Latin-rite churches worldwide with the mark of the we understand that no sin cross on Ash Wednesday. can lead God to annihilate the world which he created," he said. The pope said this new vision of the world underscores the value the created world has in God's eyes and his commitment to protect it from destruction. Speaking later from his apartment window above St. Peter's Square, the pope endorsed the traditional Church approach to Lent with prayer, fasting and charity. He said prayer can take many forms, in a community or as an interior dialogue with God. Fasting should ultimately aim to make hearts more open to God, he said. Charity, the pope said, should be more than an occasional gesture. It should become an attitude of welcome and sharing with others. "It's enough to open one's eyes to discover the great many people around us who are suffering materially or spiritually," he said.

Masses: Saturday Vigil

Five-year-old Danielle

flood," the pope said.

H| Weekend

CNS

For more information on how to make a Will that works, contact Jim Kelley, Diocese of Charlotte, Office of Development, 1524 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28207, (704) 331-1709 or 377-6871.

4 The Catholic

News

Herald

February 21, 1997

The Pope Speaks

Pro-Life Corner $>

& M

Pope John Paul

Observance Of Lent Means Following God's Will, Says Pope

©•

VATICAN CITY (CNS) text

—

Here is the Vatican of Pope John Paul IPs remarks in English at his

to find priests

Facts In Brief The United States has one of the highest abortion rates among developed countries: U.S. rates of abortion are about five times those of the Netherlands.

H(espect Life Office of Chartottc (704)331-1720

ready to

lis-

word encouragement

ten and able to give a

weekly general audience Feb. 12.

The. (Diocese

of faith, and consolation." At his annual meeting with the pastors and leading clergy of the Diocese of Rome, which he heads, the pope focused his attention on efforts to strengthen the Catholic identity of Rome and its citizens in preparation for the year 2000. The program, which includes the training and commissioning of some 12,000 lay missionaries committed to home visits and distributing copies of the Gospel, will not succeed without the guidance of holy priests, the

Dear brothers and sisters, Today, Ash Wednesday, the Church begins her Lenten journey of prayer, penance and renewal in response to Christ's call to conversion: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" (Mk 1:14). During Lent we fix our eyes on the cross of Christ and ponder its message of salvation and hope. The Lenten season is a time for growth in holiness through meditation on God's word and the discipline of personal and common prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We are encouraged to show our conversion by practical solidarity with those in need. This year, as the church prepares to celebrate the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, Lent calls us in a special way to deepen our love of Jesus Christ, the incarnate son of God and the savior of humanity. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may all Christians grow in faith during this holy season and bear ever more joyful witness to the crucified and risen Lord.

pope

said.

"We are ministers of reconciliation we

and, therefore,

carry out an essential part of our mission through

ministry in the confessional," he said.

we cannot do so with sincerity and effectivewe ourselves do not first turn constantly to the

"But ness

mercy of God, assiduously confessing our

sins

and

imploring the grace of conversion," the pope told the priests.

Pope Asks Rome Clergy To Keep Churches Open As Much As Possible VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul II asked the clergy of Rome to keep their churches open

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in the following events:

February 22

February 26

10 a.m. Board Meeting The Catholic News Herald Catholic Conference

5:30 p.m.

Mass

—

much

as possible in order to

visit

Catholic Student Center

University of N.C.

Greensboro

meet the busy sched-

he said Feb. 13, must make a greater efmeet the needs, schedules and desires of our people, who often work very tiring hours and who need Priests,

fort "to

Guest Column

February 23

March

9:30 a.m. Confirmation

9 a.m.

Rev. Francis

Day

Benedict the

of Renewal for Knights and Dames of Malta new candidates Charlotte

Moor

Church Winston-Salem

Reflections

The

first

On The Third Sunday Of

litical

modeled

this

the Sinai covenant.

The ancient

First

State Legislators

Raleigh

tions or laws to be obeyed.

The Ten Commandments

Volume 6

•

Number 24

Most Reverend William G. Curlin Editor: Michael Krokos Associate Editor: Joann Keane Staff WritenJimmy Rostar Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf Advertising Manager: Gene Sullivan Production Associate: Sheree McDermott Secretary: Cindy Geppert 1524 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28207 Mail: PO Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 331-1713 FAX: (704) 377-0842 E-mail: CNHNEWS@AOL.COM Publisher:

The Catholic News

Herald,

USPC

007-393,

published by East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28207, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte and $18 per year for all other subscribers. Second-class postage paid at Charlotte NC and other cities. POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to The Catholic News & Herald, PO Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237. <S

Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1524

fall into

two groups of

not prefer any other

god

The

first

me." The

Hebrews were not yet monotneists; but for them there would be only one God, Yahweh, whom they would serve. The second is originally, "Do not make any graven image of me" (in later versions, it is reworded to refer to idols). It reflects an insight that Yahweh could not be adequately represented by any statue; the only true "image" of God was man and woman in their complementarity. The third commandment, "Do not use my name, meant that one should never pronounce the personal name of Israel's God (adonai, LORD, is substituted in worship). This also served to keep people from using

His name in curses and blessings and thus seeming to manipulate Him. The fourth, "Keep the sabbath," enjoins a weekly day of rest. The fifth is to "Honor your parents," those who stand in the place of God. The sixth commandment, "Do not murder," reflects the worst thing one could do to a fellow member of the

community. The seventh, "Do not commit adultery," has more to do with life than sex. At this time, life after death was thought of only as survival in the name and person of one's children, and this gave the man the

know who his children mandment really means "Do right to

sell

ninth,

minimalistic:

him into

"Do not is

rather

when you are

called to testify, then

you

must tell the truth. The tenth

"Do not covet (deand take) your neighbor's house (property)," spelled " out as "wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, and ass. These Ten Commandments have often been called the highest moral code of antiquity. In the rather primitive terms of 3,000 years ago, they expressed loyalty to their God by promising not to prefer other gods to Him, to practice justice toward their fellow countrymen, and to exact vengeance upon their enemies. Early Christians saw in the teachings of Jesus an invitation to interiorize these laws and concepts: Love your enemies, forgive one another, don't even be angry with another. In some respects, we have come a long way in our religious insight since biblical times, especially in our states, sire

five listed in descending order of importance.

P<y;

another was to

perjury,"

—

was followed by a historical prologue reciting benefits "who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Then follow the stipula-

February 21, 1997

worse thing you could do

The

conferred,

ews & Herald

Life

slavery.

6 p.m. Meeting with Catholic

And

commit

February 25

The Cathouc

S.J.

came the identificaam Yahweh your God." This

tion of the overlord, "I

"Do

Gignac,

covenant on contemporary po-

suzerainty treaties

is literally,

Lent: Spirit

reading (Exodus 20: 1- 1 7) contains the Ten

Commandments from Israelites

the

"The priest receives from Christ the goods of salvation on behalf of each (of the) faithful and of the entire people of God," he said. Priests must preach the Gospel in fidelity with Church teaching "without ever confusing it or substituting it with our own words or views," he added.

ules of their faithful.

Center Hickory

St.

Priests do not own the Word of God, nor the sacraments, nor the parish churches, he said.

were.

The eighth com-

not kidnap;" the next

acknowledgment of the dignity of the individual human person, in our concepts of freedom and religious lib-

our abhorrence for slavery and racism. In we seem not to have made as much progress. But our challenge is to keep growing. Our call as Christians is to follow Jesus along His way, not erty,

and

some other

literally

areas,

living as

but by becoming

did in first-century Palestine,

more and more imbued with His

and by thinking and acting ties of this day and age.

accord with

Spirit

in the reali-

Jesuit Father Francis T. Gignac is a professor and chairperson of the Department of Biblical Studies at The Catholic University of America in Wash-

ington.

Father Thomas

Keeping Promises, Taking Responsibility Whitney Lee could not decide what she wanted to be. A doctor, maybe.

on reflection, however

not to drink and drive.

brief, is just

on the back of a garbage truck. But Whitney was only four and had plenty of time to decide.

Lee.

On Super Bowl Sun-

She was killed when a 17-year-old drunk driver smashed into the car her mother, Ann Lee, was driving. Time stopped only for Whitney. Mrs. Lee also has a three-year-old son who needs her. And there is something else she must do. A promise she made to her

Whitney Lee

day, 1995,

What about

the per-

died.

daughter while the child lay in a

coma

two days: "You will not die in vain. I will not let anybody forget you, or how you died." So she leaves her Gulfport, Miss., home to tell her story. She lobbied her state legislature for tougher drunk driving laws. She has spoken out on television. Mostly, though, Ann Lee talks to for

McSweeney

young people, showing them pictures of her child, dead and alive. She begs them

One day the driver, no longer so young, will also speak on the same subject. That won't be until he finishes a 20year prison term for driving under the influence and causing the death of Whitney

Other days, she thought a country singer. Of course it really looked like fun to ride

didn't.

Herald 5

One Candle

Light

But she

The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

The judge's sentence

includes five

consequences, but insisting

with.

who was wronged?

and merciful.

son

a terrible bur-

Why should someone for-

den. Yet one is worse. When you have hurt someone, whether intentionally or as the result of bad judgment, you must feel shame.

give? Does the guilty one

Guilt

deserve

means

it?

"Forgiving

parson the unpardonable, or it is no virtue at all," said G.K. to

youth groups on the "effects of his decision" to drink and

Mark Twain said that a human is "the only animal that blushes. Or needs to." People may boast about not

Chesterton. I know that to God no one is unpardonable. Ann Lee never wants anyone to for-

drive.

playing by the rules

Command-

The judge included one other requirement with the consent of the Lees. He levied a $520 fine. Every week for the next 10 years the convicted driver must

ments. But

get her daughter and that includes the young man responsible for her death. But

years of probation. During that time he

have

will

to address

write a check for $1 and send

Lee family. And

to the

must include the no-

— or

the

a matter of simple re-

sponsibility to admit

when something

to yourself

Whitney."

need to that

morality. That's true

you can't legislate up to a point.

—

Taking responsibility for our actions is integral to being people of conscience. This young man may not need a sentence to make him remember his actions and their

receive mercy."

what you have done wrong, the next step is confession to God and God's people. Contrition calls for accountability.

been said

forgiveness she has already offered him.

"Blessed be the merciful, for they will

Once you acknowledge

tation "for the death of your daughter,

It's

your fault.

make amends,

act, to

erything possible to

You

do evright the wrong. to

Some matters are so serious, there can be no complete restitution. Whitney Lee will never grow up. Still, you need to ask forgiveness. It may not be granted. That's something that you have to live

For a free copy of the Christopher Note, "The Power of Forgive-

News

ness, "

send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New York, NY. 10017.

Father Thomas

McSweeney

director of The Christophers.

Question Corner Father John Dietzen

Turning the Other Cheek Q. In a column some time ago, you spoke of the Gospel passage about "turning the other cheek" (Mt. 5:39). My nephew asked me about this re-

and

could not give a satisfactory answer. He didn't say why he asked, but I think his children and family take unfair advantage of his generous nature. What does this commandment of cently,

Jesus really

mean?

someone

hurts us

must we keep on letting them? Shouldn't we ever, as we used to say, "give them some of their own back"? A. The verse you quote contains one of the many remarks of Jesus that seem to contradict experience and common sense.

think at least

two considerations

are vitally important here. First, Jesus is acknowledging and warning us against the danger that if we resist evil the wrong way, we become

the evil

Part of evil's insidiousness

conquers its

that

can only conquer us, not by

own strength but by enticing us to imiviolence against

tate the

tiveness,

which

life,

the very essence of

no coincidence that shortly afthe words you quote (Mt. 5:39) Jesus It is

ter

commands

us to become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, who makes the sun and rain fall on the good and the bad.

are to be holy as the Father

Lord insists, then we too must treat people, even the "worst," with kindness and compassion. If we don't, we holy, our

become

we claim

whatever kind we are never detached observers or actors. We are deeply involved personally.

our reaction becomes (as we are so often tempted), "I can be just as mean If

what

will

was taking place before

to re-

them. All the evil and vio-

in traditional

lence they stood for

ject.

To say

was

terms of temptation by the

being conquered by the infinite, perfect good hang-

devil, he almost never

ing on the cross.

tempts us directly to evil; our hearts and wills are too

last card.

much good

what

attracted to

for that to happen.

So they played their "Let him come

down from the cross now and we will believe" (Mt.

he seduces us to think we are doing the good by responding to evil and lies with our own version of lies and of disrespect for life and truth, and he has us hooked. It's what happened to Adam and Eve. • It's what happens in every sin. This theme

evil of

are," that is precisely

We become as evil

as the evil

like them.

In other words, in our response to

you

happen.

the destruc-

evil.

are fighting.

us,

the is

Sermon on

central, of course, in

the

Mount

(Mt. 5-7) and

repeated throughout the Gospels, no-

where so clearly as at the cross. The Gospel writers tell us that when all their animosity on Calvary was played out, the enemies of Jesus seemed mysteriously to realize the cosmic event that

27:42).

Show

us that your raw power

greater than ours, and

will accept

you. Interestingly, this challenge

was con-

sidered so important to the crucifixion

event that both Matthew and peat

Mark

re-

twice.

Of course Jesus refused, and by His death and resurrection proved, we believe, that

His and the Father's kind of

loving, life-giving and life-respecting

power would prevail As St. Paul sees

in the end. it,

the

maxim "Do

See Dietzen, page 13

Letters Little

Flower

Was Not The

First

There was an error in a recent edition of The Catholic News & Herald concerning the Church of the Little Flower in Revere, N.C. It was actually the third Catholic

County, not the

The following Jesuit Father

—

Church

Madison

first. is

Andrew

from the record of V. Graves:

1 886 St. John's Catholic Church in Hot Springs, N.C, was a mission of St. Lawrence Church in Asheville. 1905 Mrs. Bessie Safford, being the only Catholic in Hot Springs, feared vandalism to the church. She wrote Bishop Haid, requesting his permission to tear down the church and build a chapel next to her home. She was granted

—

permission on the condition that her gates would never be closed to the public. The chapel was built of local stone and

Church of the

Little

find this matter of great interest.

Flower."

The Rev. Edgar Holden,

Hazel Moore

O.F.M. Conv.

at-

tached to the northwest corner of her house on the west side. She used the altar, organ, and pews from St. John's. She bought stained glassed windows from France. The chapel was named "Our Lady of Loretto."

—

1931 Jesuit Father Lawrence Toups was appointed pastor at Revere. Since there wasn't a church there, he offered Mass at people's homes, and sometimes under big pine trees. He fre-

There More Than One Brand Of Catholicism? Is

Permit me to seek clarification regarding a statement in The Catholic

News & Herald some weeks

o SEND LETTERS

ago.

TO THE EDITOR

Mr. Scott Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, was referred to as a '"zealous and

flOU V\H E-ClRli

balanced communicator of contemporary

criHrfEus@flOL.con

orthodox Catholicism.'" It

leads one to

wonder

if this

sug-

gests there's a brand of Catholicism out

quently spent the night in his sleeping bag.

there that

About this time in 1 930 or early 1931, a gift of $ 1 ,000 was given to him to build a church there. It was named "The

neighborly of someone to identify the

not orthodox? If so, it'd be

ternative species. in the

feel there are

al-

many

Diocese of Charlotte that would

EZZl

CNHNEWS@AOL.COM

6 The Catholic

News

Herald

February 21, 1997

Speaker To

Missionaries Of Charity

Hickory Parish By KATHY SCHMUGGE

Superior General To Be Elected By Feb. 25

Pro-life Visit

HICKORY — The

year 1997

CALCUTTA,

is al-

India

Guest Commentary

The Subtle Mysteries Of Ordinary Time

— Mis-

(CNS)

ready booked for Barbara McGuigan,

sionaries of Charity sources in Calcutta

Hu-

say a superior general for the religious

During Ordinary Time, the thoughts

Life International. Fortunately, St.

order will be selected "definitely on or before Feb. 25."

of pastors turn to the mysteries of the

nothing like the promise of eggs Benedict

Church and of the sacred liturgy. These mysteries allow no easy answers. Here's

to turn a

a sample:

the doors (Caution: Leaving

California's education director for

man

Aloysius Church

among

her stops as she presents

two-part

retreat, "God's Plan for Love and Life," Feb.

and

March

sponsored by the Charlotte

Diocese Respect Life Barbara McGuigan

Office.

After lectures at Georgetown University and Loyola College-Baltimore, a Catholic high school retreat in Pennsylvania and taping a youth program for television, McGuigan, twice nominated a Catholic

They told UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand, that the elections will be held when the 123 electors

at the order's

ongoing chap-

ter are ready.

The congregation's

constitution al-

lows for up to four scrutinies, or ballots, and there are no set time limits, so an election date cannot be set exactly. Mother Teresa, who founded the order in 1950 and has led it since, is now 86 years old and ailing, and she is not expected to be re-elected. She was elected unanimously in all seven previous chapter elections since 1961.

The current chapter, being held at the Missionaries of Charity motherhouse in

was postponed from October Mother Teresa's heart problems,

FATHER PATRICK DALY

Why is

the various parts of

How come

Catholics can't live

without the weekly parish bulletin? Last winter we missed the bulletin a couple

of times during huge snow storms. People were positively testy. "What do you mean no bulletin? What will I read during the homily?" This mystery has a corollary. How come if everyone reads the bulletin, they can't remember it? During the week they

Woman of the Year, will come to Hickory. "We

angioplasty in five years in November.

her caliber

come

The chapter convened following

to the diocese," said

Maggi Nadol, diocesan Respect Life Co-

mandatory eight-day

ordinator.

Even

after .20 years of ministering

youth and their families, McGuigan still marvels at how the ministry has blossomed. Starting with a pro-life talk to a confirmation class and their sponsors in California, she now speaks to thousands each year, not including radio and television appearances.

to begin Feb. 2

remember

that first talk

and the

apprehension I had after saying 'yes' to the confirmation director. The more I studied abortion, the more depressed I became and the more I felt I was not the one to give this talk," McGuigan recalled.

God had

a different idea.

The

cess of that presentation launched

other speaking engagements.

suc-

many

Today she

demand, traveling as far as Canada, Costa Rica, Ireland and New Zealand with her message of God's love and mercy. "For the first few years, I concentrated my talks on abortion and the victims of abortion. But I realized that if I wanted to make a difference I needed to get at the root of the problem: abused sex," said McGuigan. Thus was born one of her retreats, "God's Plan for Love and Life," which included not only talks on is in

great

Australia,

retreat held Jan.

was postponed.

said the sisters' reluctance to elect a

successor to Mother Teresa while she is ailing was proving to be a major hurdle. The motherhouse is closed to outsiders during the chapter.

The

electors

The Missionaries of Charity

consti-

called "mother" bers, be elected

first to

God, then

If three scrutinies fail to

with only the leading two

Should a tie happen in the fourth ballot, the elder of the two sisters is considered elected and cannot refuse her election unless the chapter allows

which preaches the opposite, McGuigan is often the "David" against "Goliath." But somehow, through her genuine love of youth, her message is making a difference. For more information or to regisin a culture

ter,

call

Maggi Nadol, (704) 331-1720.

early

sion,

surprised

when

the ushers

come

to get

them? (What? Now?) We can sing six whole verses of a song, and they are still only halfway up the aisle. We have a short aisle.

those people go who church as soon as they receive Communion? Are they having a sudden anxiety attack? Do they have a plane to catch? Maybe they just want to get to the door and light the vigil candles before they are all gone? (Most likely 4.

have

Where do

to leave the

Why

do people leave dirty church? At home do they blow their noses and then just drop the 5.

Kleenexes

on the floor? I think not. What seem to do is store them up all week

tissues

they

in their purses and pockets, and unburden themselves in church. Maybe we

should put litter bags in the pews like the ones people have on the dashboards of their cars. 6. Why won't some people sing? Perhaps they don't know the words. We cleverly have hymnals. Perhaps they don't like music. Perhaps they do like music. Perhaps they don't think it's their turn. No easy answer to this one. 7. How can we get Christian charity to extend as far as the parking lot? People who have just wished each other peace moments before are cutting each other off in the driveway. These are among the mysteries of

"ordinary time."

Father Daly is a CNS columnist and pastor of St. John Vianney parish in Prince Frederick, Md.

The Franciscan Center

According

to the constitution, the

superior general must be at least

old and have been in final

40 years

vows

elections of

Mother

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they can go on to inspire others." not a popular topic

take so long to line

it.

Six councilors general are also elected through secret ballot to help manage the affairs of the congregation.

with permission from the Vatican.

Mass

will cause

members from

the previous ballot eligible for votes.

had prepared her for this ministry, "They took the time to answer all my 'whys?' I encourage parents to

Since abstinence

up for the Offertory procesand why do they always seem so

the people

absolute majority, a fourth will take place,

tions to the constitution

inspire their children with the truth so

it.

does

produce an

her parents and the Church. She added that her parents

Perhaps they

absolute majority of votes.

for a second but not a third term.

she gives the credit

just like hearing

Why

to them.

by congregation memby secret ballot with an

God's

of sexuality.

herd into a stampede.)

I've thought about putting alarms on

tution stipulates that the superior general,

least 10 years.

gift

and

nuns involved said they are sworn to secrecy concerning chapter proceedings and added that Mother Teresa is well.

the sanctity of life but the proper use of

When questioned about her success,

Missionaries of Charity sources earlier

can read 3.

6-23, but the election process scheduled

third

brethren.

no matter how long

that,

tary

undergo her

Holiday Inn. There

ther."

due to which required her

at the local

Mass take, people always blame the length of the Mass on the homily? "Ran a little long today, Fa-

call the parish office so that the secre-

someone of

brunch

alarm to sound!) Once I went to a Baptist church where they locked the doors until the service was over. We have much to learn from our separated

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The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

Herald 7

Entertainment The following are home videocassette reviews from the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting. Each videocassette is available on VHS format. Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Catholic Conference classification and Motion Picture As-

Vid eos

America rating. All reviews indicate the appropriate age group for the video audience. sociation of

"Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream" (1995)

"Carmen Jones" (1954) updated to when a soldier (Harry

Bizet's tragic opera

World War

II,

In recounting Aaron's 1954-76 base-

AWOL to

and his part in opening the major leagues for other African- American players, writer-director Mike Tollin

follow her to Chicago where he

amplifies the newsreel footage with dra-

dumps him for a by Otto

matic re-creations and informative inter-

Belafonte) falls for a pretty worker in a

Southern

parachute factory, then goes

(Dorothy Dandridge)

strangles her after she

Directed

prizefighter.

Preminger, the strong period Americana

and fine African- American cast can't the disappointment of the movie's flatly dubbed singing and stiffly staged musical numbers. Sexual situations and innunedo. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Asso-

overcome

ball career

views. Narrated by actor Dorian Harewood, the feature-length television portrait

America.

history in unusually compelling fashion

most

that

will find well

"Man and Boy"

Western about a black ex-cavalry

man (Bill Cosby) who struggles to mainArizona homestead

life from college and World War II service to being hired in 1946 by Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey (Minor Watson) as the first black player in organized baseball. Directed by Alfred E. Green, the low-budget production emphasizes Robinson's prowess on the field and his resolve to be a credit to his race, despite insults and threats by white

matized account of his athlete

bigots. Halting but sincere treatment of its

in spite of

War, with

young son trying to recover a Directed by E.W. Swackhamer, the racial dimension is

father and

himself in a dra-

era's struggle for racial equality.

stolen

horse.

handled quite well and the story has a certain gritty honesty but the plot has some gaping holes and foggy motivations, especially in a climactic shootout.

Stylized violence and

some

salty dia-

logue.

The U.S. Catholic Conference classification

A-II

— adults and

adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G general audiences.

—

The U.S. Catholic Conference

—

A-I general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. classification is

"Nightjohn" (1996) young girl slave (Allison Jones)

on a cotton plantation in the 1 830s faces the wrath of her cruel master (Beau

Don't be

left

in the dark about the

quality of movies and videos

box

1-4CCC

about a film's storyline, entertainment values and

moral qualities You'll also get the Catholic

for

each movie, in addition to

recommended

vidco-of -the- week for your family

It's

the best

way

n{F

^Oop

CfcTS

A*oUNn

Vivacious Isabel (Salma Hayek) works out of Vegas as a photographer, but drives home to Mexico once a week for dinner with her extended Catholic ily

ily as

not as stereo-

The film's vision of Catholicism may be well-meaning as well, but here faith seems mostly a matter of superstition and believing in signs and fate, hardly an accurate reflection of what being Catholic is all about. Nonetheless, the fact that Isabel takes her religion seriously and is more than Hollywood movie would

turns to prayer for guidance

the average

bother to include in

And

fam-

of parents, five brothers and assorted

warm and nurturing,

typical hot-tempered Hispanics.

Hayek's

the

its script.

movie

centered on

Isabel, a feisty personality

who

relatives.

brings Perry's bland Alex to

She believes in signs and destiny, and in fact has just broken off with her Mexican boyfriend since there were no signs

suddenly wedded to a culture where people express their emotions openly and proceed to paint his house all man-

to indicate

he was Mr. Right.

life

as he

—

ner of bright colors.

Sure the outcome is predictable and almost in the category of formula when Isabel goes into the fastest first-time la-

—

in history in a downpour at Hoover Dam, scene of their decision to marry in

bor

the first place.

But given

their believable desire to

give their rushed-into nuptials a fighting

them and be pleased by

their

largely African-American

suades her to marry him immediately and

second wedding, this time a dual religious ceremony with all parents present and

cast in a dramaportraying

then the fun begins.

accounted

the painful injustices of sla-

Her family at first wants to kill him, while his snobby parents arrive on their doorstep and assume she is merely the Mexican cleaning lady. Isabel is feeling none too sure that he married her for the right reasons and Alex is being pressured to transfer back to New York just when the baby is due. Instead of a happy family of baby makes three, divorce seems to be their

it is a picture of how a marriage can teeter on the brink but not be destroyed if both parties make their best effort to understand and compro-

very and one man's attempt to transcend

its

inhumanity.

Some

intense scenes of physical and spiritual vio-

A-II

— adults and ado-

The Motion PicAssociation of

lescents.

ture

America rating

How

turned to love in the face of constant

culture clashing.

a positive por-

of Isabel's Mexican-Catholic fam-

root for

go to the movies,

a project of

a nonviolent, easy-on-the-eyes tale of

lust

trait

an evening of soul searching, Alex per-

from

performances

the rating by the Motion Picture Association of America. Plus, you'll hear about a

family in earnest.

chance, romantics in the audience will

The U.S. Catholic Conference classification

to get free reviews

—

start a

The movie also offers

baby, but expects nothing in return. After

you and your

office attractions You'll hear

mitments and

vision production gets strong

lence. Call 1-800-3]

(CNS) Whether a from South of the border and a WASP from the Big Apple can find marital bliss in Las Vegas is the focus of Columbia's "Fools Rush In." Whether the audience can buy the ups and downs of their rocky relationship is the real question and for easy-toplease romantics the answer is yes. This

ing taught to read by the title character (Carl Lumbly) who's determined to bring the power of literacy to his oppressed people. Directed by Charles Burnett, the tele-

family will see

of leading

—

NEW YORK

spitfire

At a Vegas restaurant she bumps into transplanted New Yorker, workaholic Alex (Matthew Perry), and feels it is fate. But Isabel is embarrassed to wake up the next morning beside him not something a good Catholic girl should do. She flees and he can't locate her. Three months later she returns simply to inform him she is going to have his

Bridges) after secretly be-

DON'T SELECT A MOVIE IN THE DARK.

Has A Heart

Sentimental Date Movie

(1972)

the action centering on the odyssey of

(1950) stars as

Fools Rush In

worth watching.

racial tensions after the Civil

Robinson

—

of an individual and his times knits

tain his

"The Jackie Robinson Story"

photo from Columbia Pictures

(left),

together baseball nostalgia with social

—

ciation of

CNS

Matthew Perry and Salma Hayek star in the romantic comedy "Fools Rush In." The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-III adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 parents are strongly cautioned that some material is inappropriate for children under 1 3. Jon Tenney

PG-13

destiny.

for.

Certainly

mise for a greater good. In other words, it's a sweet date movie, one that is a bit overstuffed sentiment but with

its

heart in the right place.

Because of sexual innuendo, occasional profanity and an instance of rough language, the U.S. Catholic Conference

—

— parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropri-

The upside of director Andy comedy is the depiction of a young couple who made a mis-

classification

Tennant's romantic

take but are striving to establish a loving

cautioned that some material

and lasting relationship, honor their com-

priate for children

ate for children

under

13.

A-III

adults.

The

Motion Picture Association of America rating

PG- 1 3

— parents under

are strongly

13.

inappro-

The Catholic News

Herald

February 21, 1997

Happiness

in all

growth in happiness. Growing in

By Father Lawrence E. Mick Catholic News Service

holi-

ness means that we increasingly focus our hearts and our lives on the true source of happiness and turn away from

the wrong places yearning for more. Our hearts have the capacity for more joy than this life can provide.

Every sin

ultimately an attempt to

$10 million!" the envelope shouted at me, while the fine print quietly added "if you have and return the winning number." Almost every month my mail contains a letter promising abundant riches if I just re turn my sweepstakes entry form with the winning num"You

will receive

ber.

Many

ing

how wonderful my

to celebrate the scrutinies, we all are invited to "scrutinize" our own lives and to celebrate the sacrament of penance as a way of redirecting our hearts toward true happiness. Lent is not a time of unremitting sadness. There may be sadness and remorse over our sins, but the liturgy speaks of Lent as a time of joy. The first preface for Lent in the missal, for example, says that each year God gives us "this

mens

joyful season

be if I am the lucky winner. This kind of appeal is effective in our culture. Most people harbor a secret dream of winning big someday and

As we move

life will

lives

difficulties

happened to them. Accompanying their newly acquired wealth were headaches, ruined marriages, destroyed friendships and unexpected misery. Which merely proves the old adage that you can't buy happi

Even amid

false idols

bearing empty promises.

On Lent's third, fourth and fifth Sundays, parishes with catechumens preparing for baptism at Easter celebrate the scrutiny rites,

CNS

Illustration

by Anthony De Feo

put something or someone else in God's place, hoping to fill the emptiness within.

"God

loves us

Even amid

and cares

9 An

which are part of

some-

thing we all seek. The pursuit of happiness is even listed in the U.S. Declaration of Independence as an inalienable right given by the Creator. The problem is that we so often pursue happiness in all the wrong places. This can lead us into sin if the temptations that attract us involve sinful behavior. How does this work? The temptation holds out the hope of happiness. Though the wrong behavior involved cannot make us happy, it is nonetheless the hope of happiness that

tempts us. Curiously enough, our growth in hocan be understood as

this

and

find

life's difficulties

the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. These rites are special times of prayer that God will enable the catechumens to overcome whatever is defective and sinful in their lives and strengthen what is good. The scrutinies remind us all of the importance of facing the sin and evil that infect our lives. The first step in overcoming sin is to

admit that

home

has sometimes found a

in us.

But the scrutinies do not focus only on the negative; they also seek to strengthen "all that is upright, strong and good" in the catechumens' lives. We can only successfully turn from sin if we turn to the good. We will only find true happiness if we turn from the things that offer false hope and turn toward the source of true joy. Of course, this pursuit of happiness is a lifetime endeavor; we never quite get there in this world. We can find much happiness, and our lives will be increasingly joy-filled as we give ourselves to Christ and live according to the Gospel. Still, all the joys and happiness that we do experience in this life leave us

life's difficulties

and

sor-

rows, this joy remains at a deep level within us, for we know that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Those who know this happiness are

for us: This

deep

contents copyright

But

hard to feel any joy or happiness. At such times, we need to call to mind and cling to the fundamental truth that God loves us and cares for us: This is the bedrock of our

ness

Happiness

know more

joy.

does not mean our lives will be problem-free. There may be times when we are beset with

the winners' experiences. Apparently, some winners found that winning the lottery was the worst thing that ever

All

closer to

fully to love,

and more

only we could win," we think, "our troubles would be over." With the proliferation of lotteries, however, many reports have described

liness actually

we come

lion. "If

Vo«

pre-

the Lord and orient our

having their lives transformed. Just note the long lines of people purchasing lottery tickets when the jackpot climbs to $20 mil-

when we

pare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed."

of these letters try to tempt me by describ-

the bedrock of our

and sorrows,

this joy

joy.

remains at a

level within us."

As a popular song put it several years ago, we go "looking for love in all the wrong places." God is love, and it is to God we must look if we want to be happy. As the liturgy invites the catechu-

the big winners in the sweepstakes of life.

(Father Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a freelance writer in Dayton.)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT It would be an unhappy state of affairs if we were happy and didn't know it. Maybejhat's why many counselors encourage people contending with difficulties to take notice of every good thing happening in their lives. It's not a matter of "wishing away" people's problems or suggesting they don't need to be addressed. But every life consists of more than problems. What kinds of good things occur? Love is shown in surprising ways. Growth is witnessed unexpectedly (in someone else; in ourselves). People thought to be fearful and foolish exercise courage and good

— — —

judgment. I believe it does us a world of good if we take notice of all such "happenings. " takes practice, however. So here is a practice plan. One day this Lent, take time out in Cod's presence. Ask what good things

happened in your life today. Were you greeted by someone's uplifting smile? Were you grateful that someone else was happy? Did you sense God's action in your life? Did you complete a task you considered important? Did you handle a difficult relationship fairly well? Repeat this exercise tomorrow and the next day, identifying whatever is good in your life. Think of it as naming God's gifts to you.

— — — — —

David Gibson 7

Editor, Faith Alive!

February 21, 1997

Amazing discovery! Formula appear the happiest are those who understand what they want out of life

By Anne Hansen Catholic News Service

family is barraged daily by messages conveying the notion that the right clothes, car or computer will make them feel happy. These things may bring contentment for awhile. However, when the novelty of the pur-

It does not work to have happiness as a goal in life. For happiness is a byproduct of our interactions with

the mother of four active children and a full-time student herself. She was thrilled to sit and play with her 6-year-old and think of nothing more than what to eat for lunch.

and are moving in that direction. They express a real trust in God and a willingness to live by God's commandments.

others.

A woman I was working with in a bereavement ministry training class realized in the middle of the class that she had never allowed herself to grieve for her dead parents. The knowledge that she could still work through the grieving process even years later made her feel hopeful. She left the class with a smile. Let me propose this as a newspaper headline on happiness: Amazing Discovery Formula for Happiness: Slow down, simplify, downsize! Not particularly profound, and Wall Street will not pick it up, but

She wondered aloud why she didn't do this more often. It felt so good!

These people realize that peacefulness within their family is far more important than any material good. Their joy comes from life's simple

I listen to parents present scenarios of unruly children. They are at

want my children

of five children, I will not deny that

understand that

putting my money worries aside might

how they handle

make life more enjoyable. But would it be the key to hap-

human

God

—

their

relationships

their trust in

piness?

... it

and

that will

maybe some

families will.

ensure them a

know people I who do not lay

meaningful

(Hansen is a parent education consultant and free-lance writer in

life."

awake nights worrying about tuition or taxes.

Camarillo, Calif.)

end and will do anything to regain control and peace in their homes.

They have

their wits

the means to make just about any pur-

chase. But even they still seem to be searching for that one thing that will finally bring happiness into their lives.

So what

elusive thing

and dinner together as

all

cns

work allows

me to listen to the stories of many families. Their stories are sometimes with hurt and uncertainty. I cannot offer a formula for their success, but I can note that there is so much turmoil that they need to stop and reassess priorities and make changes. filled

families

THIS EDITION IN A NUTSHELL

comes as a sur-

An unceasing quest for

prise that their own state of mind and feelings may be causing some of the turmoil. When offered advice that includes more family time, fewer business trips

this

often

search for?

The

Herald 9

happiness

for

with her youngest daughter. This

chase wears off, then what? Being the mother

The Catholic News

and individuals that

things: family, friends, a good meal,

time to take a walk and appreciate the beauty around them. Does this sound like a cliche? Are these ideas too simplistic? I do not think so. A friend of mine laughed as she told me she had spent a whole day doing nothing but sitting on the couch

happiness

challenged by this reality: While growth in holiness goes hand in hand with growth in real happiness, looking for happiness in all the wrong places leads us away from God. What, then, is happiness? And how can happiness co-exist with the problems and perlexities of our actual circumstances?

of-

kna

stories. I want my children to understand that all the money in the world or all the things in the world will not make them happy. It is how they handle their human relationships and their trust in God that will ensure them a

meaningful

a factor of the

we constantly are

ten as possible, they are skeptical. It's reassuring, some time later, to hear the success

photo by

human condition. But in our human predicament,

life.

The peace that can co-exist with trouble By Father John J. Castelot Catholic News Service

The

desire for happiness is universal. God's people in both the Old and

New Testaments shared the basic human yearning for happiness. But, strangely, they had no word corresponding exactly to our words "happiness" or "happy."

The one word which comes close to what we mean by this elusive state is the

Hebrew "shalom." This translated as "peace,"

commonly but it means much is

In the story of Jesus' birth, the anGod in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Luke 2:14). A bit later, the aged Simeon will exclaim: "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke gels sing "Glory to

2:29-30).

Simeon had seen Christ, who

peace. Since peace is God's gift, human striving for it is fruitless on its own. The fascinating book of Ecclesiastes dramatizes of Ecclesiastes poses as Solomon: wealthy, wise, sensually indul-

connoting fulfillment, perfection. As such, "shalom" is a gift from God. Through it, we share in God's perfection. And through it we discover that peace goes hand in hand with following

gent.

All

But he discovers,

dismay, that none of these things brings him the happiness he wants. He has tried them all and found them to be "vanity" (emptiness) and a grasping for the wind. Is

9:7,9).

can arise when you've done as much as you can in a given situation, you've prayed about it and the last step is to remain

is beyond our measure of real happiness

Perfect happiness reach, but a

hopeful.

within the reach of all. And it is a happiness that can co-exist with trouble is

(Father Castelot

and pain.

FAITH

scholar, author, teacher

a Scripture

and

lecturer.)

THE MARKETPLACE is

your idea of happiness?

The author

will.

contents copyright

Here I am referring mainly to peace. Remember, peace is not just freedom from trouble. Peace is much more positive. It

days of the fleeting life granted you under the sun. This is your lot in life, for the toil of your labors under the sun" (Ecclesiastes love, all the

that

What

this truth.

more than freedom from care or trouble. "Shalom" is a strongly positive term

God's

you

to his

humanity then doomed

unhap-

piness? No. There is a happiness available to everyone, but it is not found in any of those things for which people so franti-

and definitely not in an excess any of them. It is found in a moderate

cally strive,

enjoyment of life's simple pleasures. "Go, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a merry heart, because it is now that God favors your works.... Enjoy life with the wife whom

"Being content, being with family, feeling secure, feeling loved and loving others. spiritual life isn't good, other things aren't good either." Bryan Barcaro, State College, Pa.

—

When my

"I'm happiest

when

I'm in

touch with

who

inside

and able

Women

express

that....

1995, and was happy to be there working together with women from all over the world for the betterment of women." Mary Gindhart, Philadelphia, Pa.

was able

to attend the Fourth

World Conference on

—

"Happiness means

contentment, being at peace with oneself. Serenity comes mind. The spiritual qualities are the most important, more than having the nice house, the good job." Rick Joiner, Richmond Va.

...

—

"Love. Having

somebody

love you....

Good

health would

add

to that."

— Don

Turney, Reno, Nev.

An upcoming

edition asks: Describe a time when you felt you knew what God wanted of you when you believed that God was addressing you. If you would like to respond for possible publication, please write: Faith Alive! 3211 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017-1100.

—

The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

Herald

Seattle Prelate Returns To Ministry

Treatment For Leukemia

After

By CHRISTINE DUBOIS Archbishop SEATTLE (CNS)

—

Thomas

Murphy of

resumed

Seattle

his public ministry Feb. 10

and anointing of the sick

with a Mass

James

at St.

Cathedral.

own

took the occasion to speak of his

struggle with leukemia and to chal-

lenge the idea of assisted suicide.

compassion

sion," he said. "True

the

Rosalynn Carter Works To Improve Care For Dying WASHINGTON

willingness to share the pain of others, to

be present to them, to learn from them and to recognize that human life is a gift from God. We cannot allow a court, a legislature or another human being the right to say that one human being, though fragile, sick or aging,

—

(CNS) Faced demand for as-

sisted suicide, a

former first lady Rosalynn Carter is working to improve the care of the dying.

"If the medical

has less value than

community had not

life,

with reduced kidney

human life "from the moment of conception to the moment of

this issue (of assisted suicide),"

He was

natural death," he said, "are not a matter

said Feb. 13.

hospitalized for 39 days and has been

of only privacy or only the autonomy of

She made the remarks at a press conference held in Washington to announce the formation of the "Last Acts" coalition, of which she is honorary chair. But she said it was not just the medi-

pitalized Dec.

function and acute leukemia.

recovering at

home

since then.

the individual."

The evening Mass at the cathedral marked the World Day of the Sick, an annual observance initiated by Pope John Paul

1993 for Feb.

the Feast of

Our Lady of Lourdes. homily Archbishop Murphy said that in the past he celebrated such observances as one bringing the gifts of God's word, the Eucharist and anointing to others who were sick. "Tonight, however, I come as one In his

who

also shares the

human

condition of

he said. "I join all of you who suffer from cancer or leukemia, HIV or aging, broken bones or broken spirits, emotional or physical disabili-

and

fragility

illness,"

ties."

have leukemia," he told them. need of your prayers." The archbishop administered the anointing of the sick to about 20 people and was himself among the hundreds who received it from assisting priests. He called it ironic that the last time he met with his people for an evening "I

still

Mass in the cathedral was in November when Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin of Chicago died. "That gathering provided me with the opportunity to reflect on the realities of life and death," he said. "I did not realize then that I would have the opportu-

same

nity to speak about these

realities

from personal experience.

"Our

society today finds

far too

weak

and fragile among us," he continued. "The great temptation today is to remove the aging and dying from our midst in the name of compassion or a false sense of autonomy. There is the great cry to legalize assisted suicide to protect the dy-

what they fear most:

intractable

pain, loss of control (and)

human dignity,

and financial stress. But "assisted suicide

not compas-

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candidate will coordinate

Facilities Assistant St.

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must recog-

offer their support, love

and care,"

he added. "Just as quality experiences of living call for the presence of others, the quality experience of dying requires

cal

the same."

said that as

someone with a

life-

threatening illness, he can "appreciate the possibility of death."

"However," he added, "I appreciate even more the care, love, faith and hope that family, friends and health care personnel have shared with me." He said he plans to choose "only those treatments that offer a reasonable

and financial managers regarding communication with patients and clients on death and dying. • Changes in medical textbooks, "so

community but

urgy Dr. David White, the hematologist in charge of the archbishop's treatment, said Archbishop Murphy has responded

"remarkably well" to chemotherapy but still has slight blood irregularities and is receiving weekly transfusions. The archbishop said he was looking forward to returning to limited public ministry. He said he was not aware of any plans to name a coadjutor archbishop to assist him.

Facing a life-threatening illness has given him a new appreciation of life, he

He now

wood

of a

life." •

Better training for health profes-

had failed the dying.

sionals

death," she said.

"We don't plan for "We don't recognize

counseling.

the problems that

come with

the end of

and clergy

in death

and dying

Schroeder said a 1995 study of 9,000

commis-

life."

patients in five medical centers,

Carter said her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, "hopes the Supreme Court rules against" assisted suicide, but that she agreed with an earlier comment by Dr. Kathleen M. Foley that

sioned by the Johnson foundation and

"before the assisted suicide debate and

reported in the Journal of the American

Medical Association, found experience "more pain than

and

ing will be with us."

Memorial Sloan-

New

York,

working to identify "barriers to humane, compassionate end-of-life care in the United States" and said the coalition will be

suggest ways to overcome them.

Funded by an initial $1 .7 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Last Acts coalition is made up of 72 national organizations including the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Consumers League and the National Council of Catholic

Women.

much more than good death," said Dr.

"Last Acts will be platitudes about a

necessary"

that their desires about treatment

Carter said her interest in care for the dying began

Foley, co-chief of the pain and pal-

that patients

often differ from the care they receive.

after the assisted suicide debate, the dy-

savors the splendor of a

sunset and pauses to study intricate

that death is not depicted solely as a fail-

ure, but also as the natural culmination

society at large that

Kettering Cancer Center in lit-

Standards of practice for health

•

Carter

liative care service at

a press conference before the

liative care services.

professionals, religious leaders, lawyers

self or others.

care and services such as hospice and home care, pain management and pal-

life

not have to be addressing

hope of benefit" and not those which would impose "excessive burden" to him-

said.

easy to dismiss the value of the

ing from

Instead, "such decisions

nize the value of faith, family and friends

we would

Comprehensive health insurance

•

plans that include coverage for end-of-

end of

failed in caring for patients at the

Decisions about

Among the specific reforms, he cited:

new coalition chaired by

another."

The 64-year-old archbishop was hos-

involve millions of Americans."

with an apparent rise in

father die

when

when she watched her she was 13 years old.

Her grandmother died the following year, then age 70 and her grandfather came to live with her family until his death

—

age 95.

Even now she continues to be a caregiver for her 91 -year-old mother,

who "wants me home

all

the time" in

Plains, Ga., she said.

"We all will face caregiving in one way or the other, particularly since Americans are living longer with chronic illnesses," Carter said. "I can't think of

a more noble undertaking than Last Acts, because the campaign will help people face death with the knowledge that they will be cared for on their own special and unique terms."

said.

Steven A. Schroeder, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "It will

PUT YOUR GIFTS

"You look at things and you want to take

challenge patients, families, health care

at the

hold and develop

professionals, medical educators, the

carvings in the cathedral. "It's like a

Polaroid camera," he

slowly.

"You do it with people," he added. "You don't say, 'Hi, how are you?' and

You

take

and other stakeholders

to under-

new and creative efforts to improve

often do.

care at a critical time in people's lives.

appreciate and savor the

moments

push for specific reforms across the reforms that, if successful, will board

not wait for an answer, as

clergy,

take for granted."

will

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The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

He Was When He

Unstable

Killed Priest

JONATHAN LUXMOORE Poland (CNS)

— The

convicted killer of a Polish priest

now

being considered for beatification has said

he believes he was made mentally unstable at the time of the murder by the anti-church ideology of the communist secret police.

However, he added

that

he had never

hated the Catholic Church and had visited his victim's

grave during several day-

from prison. "It was like a drug

releases

—

was a drugged

maniac, definitely not a psychologically person," said Grzegorz Piotrowksi, a former Interior Ministry

photo from Catholic Relief Services

agent.

Ethiopia gather around a bowl of rice for a meal. Catholic Relief Services sponsors Operation Rice Bowl during Lent to help alleviate hunger around the world.

even

at the risk

ideology that

of the death penalty, as

from food and drink,

demanded, I decided defend the 'firm's interests.'" In an interview with Poland's popular Super Express daily, Piotrowski said he was not fully aware of what he was doing when he murdered Father Jerzy Popieluszko with three fellow-agents

—

but abstain from "judging and condemn-

from the ministry's church-monitoring

condemning others."

ing others."

department

Common Ground

inaugurated

last

summer by

Cardinal Joseph L. Bemardin of Chicago,

Cardinal ority

Mahony urged "that a high prito adopting a far more genof charity and civility towards

be given

erous

spirit

one another." Before his death from cancer last November, Cardinal Bernardin inaugurated the Catholic

Not only

fast

Common Ground Ini-

and revitalize mainstream U.S. Catholics around their shared faith, values and mission. In his 1997 message for Lent, Car-

tiative to unite

might disagree and for a new

on individuals was justified

among

all

civility

Study and reflect on the Bible, especially passages on Jesus' patience and forgiveness in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. • Prayerfully study the sections of •the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" on the characteristic marks of the Church as one, holy, catholic and apos•

Reach out

in charity

not only to the

pressed in various columns and letters to

initiative

because "I

felt that

a spirit of harsh judg-

ment, bitterness and disunity were beginning to take hold at many levels in the

and unofficial Catholic periodicals and newspapers, on radio talk shows and even in public demonstrations pitting one group in the Church against another," he wrote.

was becoming ever more sad to see this meanness replace the ideal to which Jesus has called us," he said. "The harm to relationships within the Church itself was growing and the real public

The

Pilgnriixeagre

were also released early

with

scandal exhibited to people outside the church was becoming embarrassing."

He added

and the faces of Father Popieluszko's mourning parents had become "deeply etched" in his memory. "Shocked by the thousands of people I saw there, I began to understand what had happened," Piotrowski said. The bound and gagged body of the 37-year-old Father Popieluszko, who was

known

for his

work among indus-

workers from Poland's then-outlawed Solidarity movement, was dredged from a reservoir at Wloclawek, Poland, in October 1984. trial

St.

formal process for his beatifica-

was launched Feb.

tion

8 at

Warsaw's

Stanislaw Kostka Church, where the

priest is buried.

Preaching

at the

Mass inaugurating

the beatification, Poland's Catholic pri-

mate, Cardinal Jozef Glemp, said the pro-

would not be "straightforward or easy" and would aim at "proving through cess

proofs and testimonies" that Father Popieluszko's death "had its foundation in the Church's faith." However, he added that the Church believed all conditions had been fulfilled in the priest's case.

"An act of martyrdom must conform circumstances described by church law, meaning a persecutor who is full of hatred for God and the Church, and a persecuted person who placed God to

above

his

own

life," the

cardinal said.

former

prosecutor in the Popieluszko case, Edward Wende, told Poland's Catholic information agency KAI Jan. 3 1 that Piotrowski had written letters to several

Catholic priests, as well

as Father Popieluszko's parents, "if honest, testify that

cover a small splinter in someone else's eye without recognizing the wooden

beam this

in their

own," he

excessive zeal to

said.

others

after

Piotrowski told the newspaper: "There are moments now when, with all the power of my will, I call to the figure of Father Popieluszko, addressing him

—

intimately. But it is only a monologue from the other side, there is only silence."

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— thus

justify-

Don't miss this rare opportunity. Tinning- is critical, so call today for

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extraordinary

by which

certain people offer themselves as the

paradigms of orthodoxy

to join this

"Joined to

condemn

a prideful self-righteousness

for pilgrims

journey

Contact: Jloann

Keane

ing their lack of charity, understanding

Director of Communications

and forgiveness." He suggested that for Lent, Catho-

e-mail JSK550@AOL. com

lics

should:

which

currently ex-

not to judge or

Final call

he had

periencing internal changes."

two controversial sentence revisions. Piotrowski told Super Express that, after the murder, he had "finally sobered up" after watching Father Popieluszko's

the Most IPleverend William G. Curlin Bishop of Charlotte

He cited Jesus' warning in Scripture condemn others. "Too many people continue to dis-

secured

three other agents convicted of

the slaying

committee.

if it

to reflect society's sense of justice."

the editor in official

thought even suffering inflicted

reduced to 15 years in 1987, was freed on parole after serving just nine. However, the Supreme Court ordered him to return to jail in February 1995 after ruling that the parole order had "failed

tolic. •

peace in the state," he said. Piotrowski gave the four-hour interview after being granted six months' release from Piotrkow Trybunalski prison by a Polish appeals court, which accepted his plea to be allowed to support his family with temporary work. Piotrowski, whose life sentence was

of us."

church here in our country." "This strident spirit was being ex-

Mahony said he joined the initiative

with a feeling of higher pur-

pose.

poor and homeless, but also "to those who may differ with us so that our dialogue and conversation will reflect Jesus' call in our lives." Upon Cardinal Bernardin's death Archbishop Oscar H. Lipscomb of Mobile, Ala., succeeded him as head of the

dinal

in 1984.

"I acted

Pray "for the unity of our Catholic community, for those with whom we •

Citing the Catholic Initiative

•

television.

Warsaw graveside during 24-hour home leaves,

To Abstain From Judging Others

paid several visits to the priest's

A was so drowned

the prosecutor later

LOS ANGELES (CNS) For Lent, Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony has asked Catholics to stop "judging and

funeral

well I

healthy

For Lent, Cardinal Tells Catholics

Mentally-

WARSAW,

Children

Herald

Pole Says By

CNS

The Catholic News

Herald

February 21, 1997

Airline Officials Allege Gunfire

CPA

Caused Crash That

Circulation

JOLO, Philippines (CNS)

—

Airline

Bishop

Killed

Pope John Paul

Figures

RONKONKOMA,

described Bishop de

Show

Rise

Catholic

Due To Magazines N.Y. (CNS)

—

1997 directory, also released

Febru-

association officials alleged gunfire may

Jesus as "a true servant of peace and a

have caused a plane crash at the Jolo airport in which a retired Filipino bishop and three others died.

tireless

worker for harmony" between the region's Muslim majority and the rest

Catholic magazine circulation has fueled

- Foreign-language publications suf-

a rise in the total circulation of Catholic

fered the biggest circulation drops. Ca-

publications in the United States and

nadian foreign-language publications dropped 37 percent, from 281,500 to 177,100, while U.S. foreign-language publications dropped 15 percent, from 460,528 to 392, 128. The U.S. change was

Government officials said an investigation was not complete.

of the population.

nearly 10 percent increase in overall

Canada, according

to the Catholic Press

ary.

official

Catholics account for about 14,500

of the 624,000 people within the boundaries of the apostolic vicariate, which

Association.

Lito Juane, vice president of the Air-

serves nine parishes and two mission

11 percent

areas.

14,011,477 to 15,491,747, said the CPA, a trade association for Catholic publica-

attributable to the reclassification of a

based in Ronkonkoma, a Long Island suburb of New York. Canadian magazine circulation dropped slightly from 863,637 to 86 1 ,6 1 1 but the U.S. increase brought the total magazine circulation up to 16,353,358 from last year's 14,875,1 14, or about 9.9

per into the diocesan paper category.

craft

Owners and

Pilots' Association,

said Feb. 17 that the plane

had been

"shot at seven times" in the right wing,

Police detained a

man and

his 19-

referring to the association's independent

year-old son in connection with the mur-

investigation into the Feb. 14 crash.

der.

The day of the

crash, witnesses said

sparks could be seen

wing shortly

coming off the right

after takeoff.

Jolo residents,

According

armed bandits

The two were

ers of the

group,

Abu

said to be sympathizoutlawed Islamic extremist

Sayyaf.

Earlier, the Philippine bishops' con-

in hills near

ference denied press reports that Masses

U.S. magazine circulation went up

tions that

from 1996

from

levels,

Spanish-language Puerto Rican newspa-

But that reclassification led to a nearquadrupling in the "other diocesan newspapers" category, which skyrocketed

from 21,700 in 1996

81,700 in 1997.

Circulation held steady for Canadian

the airport occasionally fire at arriving

in the apostolic vicariate

or departing planes.

celed to bring speedy resolution to the

percent.

figures remained

killing of Bishop de Jesus.

Total circulation for 644 Catholic newspapers, magazines and newsletters

year's levels

in the

United States and Canada stands at 26,790,289, according to the CPA's tally, up nearly 6 percent from last year's

Newsletter circulation was up, too. While the Canadian number remained unchanged one newsletter with a

figure of 25,343 ,743.

12,000 circulation U.S. circulation grew 2 percent, to 3.79 million, and the number of newsletters inoreased by three, from 132 to 135.

But Renato de

Villa, Philippine sec-

retary of defense, said Feb. 18 that the

The

had been can-

national Philippine Daily In-

association's investigation should not be

quirer had reported that Masses were

taken "at face value."

canceled in mourning for the bishop. UCA News, an Asian church news

people would not jump an official investigation on the matter," he added. "I

hope

that

to conclusions until after

Bishop Retired Nepomuceno of Cotabato,

Antonio Philippines,

died in the crash the day he attended the funeral of Bishop

Benjamin de Jesus,

apostolic vicar of Jolo.

Bishop Nepomuceno, one of several

who participated in the funeral Mass, was in the plane bound for

bishops

Zamboanga when

hit a tree just after

takeoff. In addition to the 7 1 -year-old bishop,

magazine

reporter, the pilot of the

single-engine plane and an unidentified

man were

also killed.

agency based in Thailand, reported that Msgr. Pedro Quitorio, bishops' conference spokesman, said services had been moved to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel, where the bishop's remains lay

6.7 percent drop suffered

and 1995, when

between 1996

decrease in the number of U.S Catholic

Dame near

ye.ar's increase

pines declared Feb. 14 as a national day

magazines, from 254 to 250. Circulation for 167 U.S. diocesan newspapers rose just 0.2 percent, from 5,572,838 to 5,585,51 1, while the 13 Eastern-rite publications saw a drop of 0.1

of mourning and prayer for Bishop de

percent,

Jesus.

U.S. national newspapers dropped

Immaculate College of Notre the cathedral in Jolo.

The more than 1 ,200-member Catholic

Educational Association of the Philip-

Marist Brother Manuel de Leon, the

cent,

from 72,472

from 214,000

Some

member

72,361 The five .

per-

to 211,637.

of the figures were

first

pub-

schools to celebrate Mass, light candles

lished in the February issue of the Catho-

at Jolo's

and hold eucharistic adoration during the

lic Journalist,

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral for Bishop de Jesus, 56, who was shot and killed Feb. 4 as he was getting into

day, to coincide with the bishop's burial

paper.

in Jolo.

publications

lims attended the Feb. 14 funeral

—

came despite a slight

This

in the

The chapel is located compound of the Oblates of Mary

spectively.

totaled 15.1 million.

prior to the funeral.

association's president, asked

Thousands of Christians and Mus-

The jump in U.S. magazine circulation in 1997 more than makes up for the

The unchanged from last of 36,100 and 80,000, re-

national and diocesan newspapers.

FOUR GREAT NAMES

the CPA's monthly news-

A statistical summary of Catholic was included

in the

CPA's

KNOW

his car outside the cathedral.

Soldiers held back crowds the service broadcast

who heard

MITSUBISHI

on loudspeakers

Government snipers occupied the belfry, and some 2,000 soldiers were on duty in the town amid police intelligence reports that Muslim extremists planned to assassinate more outside the church.

MITSUBISHI

6951

Independence

(704) 531-3131

Christian leaders.

A liturgical dancer waved a bamboo cross holding a cassock stained with red paint,

7001 E. Independence (704) 535-4444

moving fellow bishops and other

participants to tears, reported

UCA

HYunom

News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Bishop de Jesus was wearing a cream cassock and skull cap when he was shot outside the cathedral in Jolo, 560 miles southwest of Manila. During the processional, 26 Philippine bishops and Archbishop Gian Vincenzo Moreni, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, walked under a canopy of swords raised by 60 Knights of Columbus clad in white uniforms and feathered hats.

Archbishop Carmelo Dominador F. Morelos of Zamboanga and Father Filadelfo Estrella, Philippine Oblate pro-

main celebrant, retired Bishop George Dion of Jolo, 85. In a message to Filipino Catholics, vincial, assisted the

4001

Independence

(704) 535-4455

Aprons For Alzheimer Patients

CHARLOTTE — The members

Daughters of the Americas Court Charlotte 1 1 99 are wearing "Fidgety" aprons made by the State Regent, Lucille Kroborh. The colorful aprons have buttons, velcro openings, zippers, ribons and other decorations that provide sensory stimulation for Alzheimer patients. The Catholic Daughters of the Americas will solicit funds in April for the "Safe Return Program." The program helps return memory-impaired people to safety through a national database. of Catholic

aPoiNjE

DEALERSHIPS SERVING CHARLOTTE WITH INTEGRITY FOR OVER 35 YEARS! Frank LaPointe, President Gabriel Church

Member of St.

The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

1996 Showed Increase

—

1996

—

46 missionaries were killed an increase from the previous year, according to the Vatican missionary news service that released the report in midat least

others.

a "climate of impunity" started with U.S. Presenta-

list

tion Sister Patricia

them in Zaire, said a the Feb. 20 edition of Interna-

McAleese, hacked to Ghana Jan. 8, and

ing in Africa, 19 of

death on a beach in

report in

ended with a Zairian diocesan priest, Father Pascal Kanyamanza, who died

tional Fides Service.

"The Church has always had coura-

Christmas Eve. Fides noted that the actual number of victims might be higher, because the list does not include those who are missing and feared dead. Among the missing is an African bishop.

who have given their lives

geous children

of the faith to the nations, but the past 12 months have seen an exceptionally high number of in order to carry the light

missionaries killed in action," the report

The report included without comment

said.

Last year the news service announced that in 1995, 30 missionaries were killed while abroad. In its summary for 1996, Fides named the 46 priests, religious and lay

the four missionaries

known to have been

Salvador, "favoring

part of the

which we are committed

life to

as followers of Jesus Christ.

good

the other hand, whatever

we might claim, once we bewhat we perceive as evil with

intentions

gin resisting

our own pettiness, vindictiveness, unkindness, jealousy

and

cruelty,

we have

still

— Five

exists in El

types of crime,"

warned an official at the Jesuit-run CenAmerican University. "Problems which caused so much

tified the assassins as local police offic-

A group of officers were initially ar-

ers.

rested, but

were

later released

and never

past have

De Vilanova spoke of a "total

still

not

been resolved and are still going on," said Benjamin Cuellar, head of

"We

don't seek vengeance

...

lack of collabora-

rather that the public

knows

Ramon

the truth about

tion"

in the Philippines.

fighting crime and imparting justice

institu-

rights groups say 80,000

and caring seriously obligate us to intervene when we see people act destructively toward themselves or others. As Jesus says in that same Sermon, however, we are never permitted to judge or correct others until we have first carefully judged ourselves and our motives

war, which ended in January 1992.

new

Cuellar said the

trations at the lack

of justice in her

war has

to expectations.

The

member civilian force replaced the

which were renowned for systematic human rights abuses and corruption. three existing security bodies,

university's

Human

family of Ramon Mauricio Garcia Prieto, a

young architect who was gunned down broad daylight

Rights In-

in front

of his wife and

2-year-old son in June 1994.

"We

civilian police

force set up after the end of the

The

frus-

son's case.

people died and some 9,000 more disappeared during the country's 12-year civil

free brochure answering ques-

own

These sentiments were shared by the

"must

ready been conquered by evil. Second, very briefly, genuine love

7,000-

of her

Gloria de Garcia Prieto, Mother of murdered 2-year-old

stitute.

failed to live

and

rity authorities

killing.

Human Rights InThe

on the part

of the public secu-

the university's

tions involved in

human

Archdiocese of San Salvador and the government's Human Rights Ombudsman office have all iden-

rights office of the

charged.

weeks of 1997, including Bishop Benjamin de Jesus of Jolo

(Mt.7:5).

al-

Independent investigations carried out by a national newspaper, the

suffering in the

play their proper roles," added Cuellar.

not be conquered by evil but conquer evil

way of

all

(CNS)

tral

killed in the first six

page 5

with good" (Rom. 12:21)

MIKE LANCHIN

SAN SALVADOR

Human Dietzen, from

Salvador, Official Says

years after the signing of peace accords,

The

Forty-one of the victims were work-

In El

workers and gave their countries of origin, and where and when they died. The count included three bishops, 18 priests, eight male religious, 13 nuns and four

February.

Herald 13

Number Of 'Climate Of Impunity' Remains

Missionaries Killed, Says Vatican VATICAN CITY (CNS)

don't seek vengeance

that the public

knows

Ramon's killing,"

...

rather

the truth about

said his mother, Gloria

de Garcia Prieto. The family believes Ramon was murdered by hired gunmen, among them active police officers, on the orders of an influential military chief. Despite being wealthy landowners and coffee growers, the Garcias have been unable to use

Correction:

tions Catholics ask about the sacra-

stitute is currently assisting three

The CRISM Corner in the Feb. 1 4 issue listed March 20 as the date for CRISM's "Day Tripping With Father Mo" event. The trip has been postponed until May. The date will be announced in the CRISM Corner in a future edition of The Catholic News & Herald.

ment of penance is available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St.,

doran families struggling to uncover information about the killings of their sons. In each case, police officers were alleg-

tice.

edly involved, yet the investigations have

of facing a "wall"

Bloomington, III. 61701. Questions for Father Dietzen may be sent to him at the same address.

been blocked by the authorities. According to Cuellar, these cases "call into doubt any advances so far

sue investigations into their sons' deaths.

made"

CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMPS

try,

NORTH CAROLINA Owned Roman and Directed by 1

which could "lead us back In

Catholics

show

The Vilanovas and the Garcias spoke when they tried to pur-

The Garcias have been receiving death threats, and unmarked cars constantly

into

some-

was shot ing

home on

at the foot

"I've been waiting for

come

of a ditch

Sept. 5, 1995.

come

months

for

charged with manslaughter, not homicide.

about," she said. "I have lost faith

and the justice system."

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of the Blue Ridge, surrounded by

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FOR BOYS

Two

him for alleged joy-riding. The officers involved have been

out, but nothing has

(Jhosatonga and grow

to death at point-blank range

Adriano, was found

/""> CAMP

A wholesome

have been equally frusWilliam Gaytan

his son's death

by police officers who had been pursu-

in the police

/\ place where a child can explore,

their house.

trating. Fifteen-year-old

one case, the battered body of

the truth to

FOR GIRLS

watch

Carlos Gaytan's attempts to clear up

Rosali de Vilanova's 24-year-old son,

near his

KAHDAim ^— '

said they

thing far worse than the past."

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their influence to bring the killers to jus-

the "frailty of the situation" in the coun-

Mountains of

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in the country.

Salva-

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and

crafts.

and afternoons

Campers

re-

to recre-

live in cabins

with staff persons and need to bring clothing, toiletries and bedding. The cost for each camp session is $90. For more information and applications, contact The Oratory Religion Camp, P.O. Box 11586, Rock Hill, S.C. 2973 1 Volunteer counselors are encouraged to write for a staff application as .

well.

The Catholic News

Herald

February 21, 1997

Diocesan News Briefs Ultreya

Lenten Services

HICKORY

Stations of the Cross and Benediction are Fridays at 7 p.m. at St Aloysius Church.

Community Lenten

services are

Wednesdays from 12:10-12:40p.m. at Hartzell Memorial UMC with Rev. Pat Pearce officiating. Soup and sandwiches will be served.

WINSTON-SALEM

—

Stations

of the Cross are Fridays at 7 p.m. at

Our Lady of Mercy and Great churches.

St.

Leo

the

— The Way of

GREENSBORO

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Our Lady of Grace Church. The parish Lenten Mission is March 3-5 bethe Cross is at

ginning

CHARLOTTE — Ultreya meets the

—

month at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Consolation Church. Leadfourth Saturday each

ers'

— Ecumenical

CHARLOTTE

MORGANTON

lows.

—

— Ultreya for the

SALISBURY

Salisbury and Albemarle areas meets the

Friday each month at 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church. Leaders' School last

follows.

day of reflection led by Jesuit

ASHEVILLE

— Teenagers

Peter Church,

is March 8 at St. GabFor information. Call Andrew Getz, (704) 362-5047 ext. 276.

at St.

riel.

ister for

Thomas Aquinas Church

pre-

Lenten enrichment program Fridays following 8 p.m. Stations of the sents a

Cross. Sessions last about 30 minutes,

and baby-sitting is provided. Call (704) 549-1 607 for information.

Women's

GREENSBORO

Mini Retreats The Greens-

—

boro Council of Catholic Women's mini Lenten retreats continue on Wednesdays, Feb. 26, March 5, 12 and 19 at 10 a.m. followed by coffee and light refreshments. Ladies from all parishes are wel-

come.

work

as volunteers

Joseph Hospital. Deadline to reg-

summer orientation

April

Ecumenical Conference

ASHEVILLE

— An Ecumenical

conference co-sponsored by the Diocese of Charlotte's Office of Justice and

Peace and the Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina, "Economic Initiatives: Issues of Justice and Faith," is March 15 from 9 a.m. -4 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church. Cost is $10 which includes lunch.

Mary Church sponsors a St. Patrick's Day Bridge Benefit March 13 at 7:30

line is

—

St.

Gabriel

CHARLOTTE — A

contemplative

Peter Church. Gather at the rear entrance

For details, Brown, (704) 535-3684.

to the sanctuary.

call

David

Holy Angels Bowl-a-Thon

"Angel-Bowl" fund-raiser is March 1 from 8 a.m. -4 p.m. at Major League Lanes in Gastonia. For pledging information, and other details, call Sandi Rankin, (704) 825-0435.

Newman Lecture Scheduled ROCK HILL, S.C. — Jesuit Father Richard McCormick, a theology faculty member of Notre Dame University, leads the 1997 Newman Lecture at the Oratory March 1 at 10 a.m. Discussions include dissent in the Church and physician-assisted suicide. For more information, call Sarah Morgan, (803) 327-6450, or write to the Oratory, Center for Spirituality, Box 11568, Rock Hill, SC 29731.

—

Eugene parish hosts an organ concert Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. featuring Michael Brannon and Valerie Borland. Admission is free, and a reception follows. For more details, call the parish office, (704) 254-5 193.

Landings Follow-Up Program

BREVARD —

"Living Our Cathooutgrowth of the Landings program providing adults an opporlic

Faith, 101," an

and grow

in faith, contin-

ues at Sacred Heart parish March 2 from 9: 15-10 a.m. with "Finding My Own Path

ney retreat directed by Bobbie May with Father Vincent Alagia and Rev. Mr. at the Jesuit

presented by Richard Carl Wolf, western region faith formation coordinator. For information, call (704) 883-

$100, with a

9572.

Hugo May House of

Maureen Benfield, (704) 362-5047, by Feb. 24 to register.

$25 deposit needed to reserve a space. Send deposit to Jesuit House of Prayer, Box 7, Hot Springs, N.C. 28743. Call

March 7-9

Prayer. Cost

in Faith,"

Father Alagia, (704) 622-7366, for details, or Bobbie May, (704) 327-8692, for

Health Ministry Fair CHARLOTTE The St. Gabriel Church Health Ministry's health fair is March 8 and 9 in the Fellowship Hall af-

Chubbs, Pastor of Providence Baptist Church for 3 1 years, presents "Racism A Demonic Force That Threatens the Vitality of the Church. How Do We Dismantle It?" Feb. 27 from 12: 10-1 p.m. at

retreat content.

ter all

the Franciscan Center.

for Father Stefano Gobbi, founder of the

—

Lay Ministry Program

CHARLOTTE

—

Dr.

Anthony

Tambasco, chair of the Theology Department at Georgetown University, will facilitate the program "Baptized for Mission: Lay Ministry in our Parish, our Church, our World" from 12:30-5:30 p.m. March 1 at St. Peter Church. Participants will pray and reflect on the responsibility of the laity in today's Church.

hall.

Cost

$5. Other

card and board games are welcome. For information, call Jean Konitzer, (704)

484-1986 or the church, (704) 487-7697.

Living Waters Retreats

MAGGIE VALLEY

—

lence; In the Resurrection"

"In the Siis

March

23-30 retreat directed by Glenmary Father Jack McNearney focusing on Holy Week. Cost is $250. "Understanding Yourself and Others" is an April 25-27 retreat that combines the ancient theories of Gurdjeff and the Enneagram with modern psychology directed by Wayne Scott, Ph.D. Cost is $90; couples $160. To register, contact Living Waters

Maggie 2875 1 For information, call (704)926-3833.

Valley, N.C.

Seniors' Spring Pilgrimage CHARLOTTE Seniors from St. Gabriel and St. Matthew parishes will

—

visit the

Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament

Our Lady of the Angels Monastery

Birmingham, Ala. April 8-10. Cost is $160, which includes transportation, four meals and lodging. For reservations and more information, call Lou Scharff, (704)

St.

Mountain Retreat Scheduled

cer for fourth and fifth grade girls. Reg-

Franciscan Center Presentation GREENSBORO Dr. Howard A.

p.m. in the parish

541-6855.

Organ Concert

ASHEVILLE

tunity to learn

Athletic Association offers spring soc-

istration is $45. Call

March

BELMONT — Holy Angels' annual

prayer group meets every second and fourth Wednesday from 6-7 p.m. at St.

HOT SPRINGS — A spiritual jour-

Youth Soccer CHARLOTTE The

Day Benefit

Conference on Aging is March 12 from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at St. Ann Church. The program, "Search for Meaning in Later Life: Views from Various Religious/Cultural Traditions," will focus on nine faith perspectives. Cost is $15, which includes lunch. Make checks payable to Centralina Council of Governments and mail to Centralina Council of Governments, Attn.: Gayla Woody, P.O. Box 35008, Charlotte, NC 28235. Deadfaith

14 and

Contemplative Prayer Group Catholic

St. Patrick's

SHELBY — The Ladies Guild at St.

Reflection Center, 1420 Soco Rd.,

older are needed to

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with Benediction is at St. Matthew Church following the 9 a.m. Friday Mass and lasting until the 9 a.m. Saturday Mass.

Conference on Aging

CHARLOTTE — The annual Inter-

Volunteers Needed

Father James, Devereux, pastor of St.

St.

Community

month from 1-3 p.m. at St. Matthew Church. The event includes a pot luck lunch. Baby-sitting is available. For information, call Joe and Sandy Farrelly at (704)846-2913. Ultreya for the Morganton and Hickory areas meets the fourth Tuesday each month at 7 p.m. at St. Charles Church. Leaders' School fol-

offered.

Charlotte Cursillo

Ultreya meets the fourth Sunday each

7 p.m. each evening.

Lenten Services sponsored by ParkSharon Neighborhood Churches are Thursdays from 12:30-1 p.m. at Sharon Presbyterian Church. Lunch is

School follows.

Interfaith

—

Barbecue and Flea Market

MINT HILL — St. Luke parish preannual Barbecue and Flea 8. Flea market hours are 8 a.m. -2 p.m. and barbecue hours are 10 a.m. -6 p.m. Flea market spaces are sents

its first

Market March

$20 each. For more information, or to reserve a flea market space or purchase barbecue tickets, call Kris available at

Becker, (704) 545-5666, Joy Grottle, (704) 545-4592 or the church office, (704)545-1224.

The Catholic News & Herald welcomes parish news for the diocesan news briefs. Good photographs, preferably black and white, are also welcome. Submit news releases and pho10 days before the publi-

tos at least

cation date.

MACS

School Board Openings

Marian Movement Cenacle

Masses. Booths will display information pertaining to physical, spiritual, mental and social health. A special ac-

Schools Regional Board of Education

CHARLOTTE

tivity for children will take place for chil-

9 a.m. Mass March 9. For more information, (704) 847-7014.

sitions for the

ther Francis

— Scalabrinian Fa-

Geremia of Italy,

interpreter

worldwide Marian Movement for priests, conducts a day of prayer and reflection in the form of a cenacle March 2 beginning at 2 p.m. at St. Matthew Church.

mote consecration

to the

Life In

The

Spirit

Seminar

CHARLOTTE — The Life Spirit seminar,

aimed

in the

reaching a closer

Priests

edge of the Holy Spirit continues at St. John Neumann Church from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Feb. 26, March 5 and March 12. For information, call Joe Tittl, (704) 8464649 at home or (704) 391-9537 at work.

Immaculate the Pope and

seeking applications to fill Board po1997-98 school year. The

three-year terms begin July Practicing Catholics

who pro-

Heart of Mary, fidelity to the Church, prayer and recitation of the rosary.

at the

relationship with Christ through knowl-

The Marian Movement of includes priests and lay people

dren

The Mecklenburg Area Catholic

MACS,

who have

1997. a child

intend to enroll a child in

MACS or have previously had a child in MACS qualify for Board service. Individuals having MACS committee, PTO

or other school experience are

particularly encouraged to apply

sending a resume and letter stating why you would like to serve by March 30 to: MACS Nominating Committee, 1524 E.

Morehead St.,

Charlotte,

NC 28207.

& Herald

The Catholic News

February 21, 1997

World And National News Briefs Bishop Says Peru Negotiations Open "New Hopeful Stage" NegotiaLIMA, Peru (CNS)

—

between representatives of the Peruvian government and Tupac Amaru tions

Children from the neighborhood of the besieged

Revolutionary Movement rebels represent "the beginning of a new hopeful

Japanese ambassador's residence in Lima offer free lemonade to a Peruvian

stage" of the hostage crisis in Lima, said

Bishop Miguel Irizar Campos of Callao. "We cannot be overly enthusiastic about this process, because it will take some time," said Bishop Irizar, spokesman for the Peruvian bishops' conference. "It is certainly an improvement in comparison with the stalemate that preceded

The

the dialogue."

first

policeman Feb.

"He who

me and

face-to-face

Christ."

More Books

Cardinal To Pope: Write

— The Church

photo from Reuters

— They Fund Projects

ROME (CNS) — Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo

Church Changes Needed To Reach Generation X going to have to think and act in a whole new way if it hopes to meet the needs of Generation X, said an assistant professor of religious studies at St. Norbert College. It will be a difficult task bepersons born between approximately 1965 and cause those in Generation X see Christianity "as just another home page," said the professor, Howard 1985 Ebert. This is because Christianity has become just another voice, rather than the formative voice in our society. is

—

come

Jesus

hostages.

CNS

Wis. (CNS)

thirsty

drink:

Tupac Amaru rebels took over the compound Dec. 17 and were still holding 72

meeting between Minister of Education Domingo Palermo and Roli Rojas Fernandez, a lieutenant of Tupac Amaru leader Nestor Cerpa Cartolini, was held Feb. 1 1 in a house near the Japanese Embassy in Lima. The house was rented by the Red Cross.

DE PERE,

Signs

above the stand read, "Only for journalists and police" and

John Paul

more books. With part of the

write

II to

Pope from the pope's 1994

said he has asked

royalties

book, "Crossing the Threshold of Hope," the Vatican is helping construct a home for Rwandan orphans modeled on Boys Town, said the cardinal, president of the Pontifical Council for the Family. "I told him, 'Holy Father, you must keep writing,'" Cardinal Lopez Trujillo said Feb. 1 1 at a Rome meeting on preparing for the year 2000.

Anti-Hunger Groups Launch "Hunger Has A Cure" Campaign WASHINGTON (CNS) Many of the nation's top anti-hunger organizations have joined forces in a major new campaign to end hunger in the United States

—

through public education and advocacy. Titled "Hunger Has a Cure," the campaign was launched at a Feb. 11 press conference in Washington. Benedictine Sister Christine Vladimiroff, president and CEO of Second Harvest, a Chicago-based network of more than 180 community food banks nationwide, said hunger is a disease affecting nearly 30 million Americans, including dren.

ens

"The disease

life,

a silent stalker of

American youngsters," she

increases infant mortality, breaks

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down

the

immune

at a Catholic mission for just $10 a

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difficult, if not impossible, for a child to learn." "It is a disease

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Conchita. She

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The Catholic News

Herald

February 21, 1997

St.

John The Baptist Church

With the end of the Benedictines'

parish Profile

the mountains

resident pastor, Father Vincent

which ended when Bishop Vincent Wa-

the mid-'80s, the figure had reached

Growth

ters

TRYON

— The presence of

much

has done

since the 1870s,

the

when members of the

order arrived in Belmont to establish a

monastery and college. The monastery was elevated to abbey status in 1884, and the Benedictines in 1910 were given the status of "nullius"

—

that

is,

with-

out diocesan jurisdiction.

While operating under

nullius sta-

Bendictines extended their work

tus, the

beyond

the 500-acre estate

upon which

they built their monastery and school.

One such

place was Tryon, where in

1911 they built the

first

church in their

eight-county territory.

With

less than a

dozen people

John's

St.

first

Mahoney. John Church congre-

in the St.

the late 1950s;

up the Church

to build

came

gation had been virtually nonexistent into

Benedictines in western North Carolina

in at-

was dedicated as St. John the Baptist Church in October 19 1 1 by Benedictine Abbot Leo Haid tendance, the structure

—

administered as pastor of the Tryon congregation during the rebuilding phase,

pastorate in 1944

no reports

exist stating

that the church's seating capacity of

of Raleigh dedicated the new church August 1962. About 55 parishioners

composed

the church family at the time.

Having arduously served

as a multi-

was ever filled. Still, an influx of retirees from the North visiting and moving

purpose building, the rectory had become

North Carolina mountains began in the '60s, and a steady increase in church membership ensued. Meanwhile, the rectory began serving a three-year period as a place of just worship, when on June 25, 1959 a day after the feast of St. John the Bapthe church burned. tist With tremendous help from the local community, the congregation immediately set out to build a new spiritual home. Gifts of money, materials, labor and support arrived from the area and from across the country, and with a contribution from

to the

—

the Catholic Extension Society, construction

began

January 1962. Father (now Msgr.) Joseph Kerin in

nearly uninhabitable by the mid-1960s.

new

rectory

was purchased

Growth has been steady

in 1967.

since then,

—

Church

300.

The St. John community celebrated 75th anniversary in October 1986. As part of the jubilee, a church bell, donated by parishioners including the its

was placed into the tower that had been built along with the church in 1962. senior youth group,

bell

Father Lawrence Heiney has at St. John since July

with parish organizations and programs

having been founded and developed during the past few decades. The Altar Guild, which was already well-established by the mid- 1940s, is the longestrunning committee in the parish and remains a staple of church life today, along with a variety of groups and commissions whose primary purpose is to increase parish connection with adults, children and the community. With a continued increase in the Catholic population thanks to the continued migration of northern Catholics as well as developments in roads leading to

the St. John

congregation numbered 130 in 1973.

served as pastor

1995. In an effort to provide the opportunity for parishioners to ask questions

and make suggestions about the parish, Father Heiney has begun a series of town meetings. During a recent meeting the parish council,

whose members

represent a variety of commissions, ex-

plained their groups' roles in the parish. In addition,

they discussed plans

and future of St. John the Baptist Church, the only Catholic church in Polk County and one with the tradition of a faith-filled community. for the present

—

also consecrated a bishop in 1888 by Bishop James Gibbons, then vicar apostolic of North Carolina. The congregation included the church's primary benefactors, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hallahan of Philadelphia. Benedictine Father Michael Mclnerney, the renowned architect of Belmont Abbey who designed some 500 buildings in his career, had designed plans for the church. In 1924, he began a five-year

pastorate at the

From

Tryon

parish.

founding

until the reduc-

tion of the "nullius" to

Gaston County

its

1944, St. John the Baptist Church ex-

isted as a

mission of Belmont Abbey.

In 1923, the mission's parishioners

—

numbering around 1 2 and local townsfolk directed a refurbishing project of the church and grounds. That for decades

year a rectory was built as well. Father James Manley, the only priest in the church's early history

who was

not a

St.

John the Baptist

600 Laurel Ave. Tryon, N.C. 28782 (704) 859-9574

Vicariate: Asheville

Pastor: Father

Lawrence Heiney

Permanent Deacon: Rev. Mr. Bruce Haslett

Masses:

Sat.:

5 p.m.; Sun.: 8:30, 11 a.m.

Number of

parishioners:

Number

households: 290

507

Benedictine, was pastor.

Holocaust Survivor Thanks Vatican By JUDITH SUDILOVSKY

JERUSALEM (CNS) — A Jewish woman

hidden by nuns during the Nazi

Holocaust thanked a Vatican official who met with Holocaust survivors saved by Catholics.

Lilianne Levitt and her twin sister

wanted to tell you how much I thank you because they saved me and my sister," she said. "We owe them a lot, and I thank you." Cardinal Cassidy met with the survivors while he was in Jerusalem for a two-day symposium on the future of "I

Jewish-Catholic relations.

Edward Cassidy, president of the Vatican Commission for Religious Rela-

did live up to the ideals and were willing

tions with the Jews.

people."

dinal

"There was a sister who was like a mother to us. She was not only beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside. We called her Mimi," Levitt told the cardinal Feb.

1 1

Jerusalem.

how complex

speak about the relationship of the Church with the Holocaust," the cardinal said. "Some people certainly did not live up to the ideals which the Gospel placed before them, but

see

see here there were others

to put their

own

who

lives at risk to help

Some 300,000 Holocaust

survivors

number, some

live in Israel; of that

100,000 were children during World War II, said Benny Navon. He is chairman of the board of the

Amcha

Center, which

For Nuns

organized the meeting between the cardinal and the Holocaust survivors.

Amcha

Hebrew word

that

means "God's people" and was used as a code word by Jews during the Holocaust. The center provides support to survivors and their children.

Some Jewish

were hidden by the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in a cloistered convent in Belgium from the age of 2 until they were 1 1 years old. Their mother had committed suicide, and their father went into hiding with the Dominican brothers nearby, she told Car-

"We

Official

children were spared

the fate of their parents

by hiding with

Christian families or religious orders, said

Navon. "They had a saving relationship with Catholics not as the Catholic Church, but as individual people," he said. to

show our

"We want

gratitude to the people of

moral courage." Cardinal Cassidy has been president of the Commission for Relations With the Jews since 1989 and has helped coordinate meetings and cooperative ventures involving Catholic and Jewish leaders.

He also was instrumental

in organiz-

Who

Hid Her

ing a 1994 Vatican memorial concert, where some 100 survivors of the Holocaust met with Pope John Paul II. Pope Pius XII has been criticized by Jews as not having spoken out forcefully enough against the Nazi atrocities during World War II. In predominantly Catholic countries such as Poland, almost the entire Jewish population was exterminated. Some Jews believe that many of the teachings of the

Church at the time, including that Jews were guilty of deicide, fed into antiSemitic Nazi propaganda. Some parish of opposing the Nazis, supported their actions against the Jews.

priests, instead

Research of declassified information

from the war by U.S. Jesuit Father Robert Graham on the Vatican's response to mass deportations and killings of Jews shows repeated appeals by Pope Pius XII to end the persecution.