March 12, 1999

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March

Volume

m

12,

NEWS

Number 27

t

8

1999

Serving Catholics

& in

IC HERALD

Western North Carolina

in

the Diocese of Charlotte

ln$id Pope John Paul

Saint Patrick

II

not only

beatifies

converted the whole country

10 people

by his preaching and wonderful

...Page

3

miracles, but also cultivated this vineyard with

so

fruitful

a

Pro-life

benediction and incense from

leaders

heaven, as to render Ireland a

gatherfor

most flourishing garden

in

the

conference church of God and a country ,

.Page

7

of saints.

"Butlers Lives of

Priest

remembers

the Fathers, Martyrs

an J Other Saints"

baseball hero ...Page

Local

16

News

Diocesan Support Appeal to close

March 20-21 ...Page

14

New members appointed to

MACS board ...Page

15

fvcry Week Editorials

& Columns ...Pages

4-5

Entertainment ...Pages

Ireland

is

10-11

different

A commentary ...Pages

8-9

Photo, right, by Joann S. Keane

2

The Catholic News & Herald

Ihe World

March

Britf

in

mother church to undergo

U.S.

lease of

historic restoration

army

officers

1999

12,

abducted by

mother church of Catholicism in the United States will undergo a major

communist rebels near Davao City.

"Our primary role is to serve as a communication channel. The official communication has been suspended,

historic restoration that archdiocesan

so there

leaders say will bring the old cathedral

bishop Fernando Capalla of Davao told UCA News, an Asian church

BALTIMORE

—

(CNS)

The

back to its original, 19th-century design. Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore announced that the archdiocese has selected two New York-based architecture firms to develop a master plan for the restoration of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in

Holy Door Hammer A young visitor to the

downtown Baltimore.

CRS begins joint effort to stave off starvation in North Korea

Pope John Paul II will open the door on Christmas Eve this year to mark the start of the Jubilee Year

BALTIMORE

(CNS)

—

2000.

agency, as well as

New

last

time the

Patrick

CNS

PHOTO BY Nancy Wiechec

dioceses and the apostolic nunciature to Indonesia

had donated $50,000 to

assist the refugees, but further funds

tion for the Evangelization of Peoples,

on

for talks

es-

would open

that

major communica-

a

tions channel with Vietnam's

commu-

government. Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls confirmed March 4 that a delegation headed by Msgr. Celestino Migliore, Vatican undersecretary of state, would meet Vietnamese officials in Hanoi to discuss diplomatic relations and other nist

church-state issues.

Missionary news agency says millions fleeing Indonesia violence

—

VATICAN CITY

(CNS) More than 2 million Indonesians were fleeing an island in panic amid violent clashes between Christians and Muslims, a Vatican agency reported. Local

3

The

I

if it

sign the treaty. Archbishop

A

mid-March

Leahy, D-Vt., outlined

to treaty compliance even

Vatican delegation was traveling to in

J.

new

would move the United States closer

were needed, the news agency Fides, operated by the Vatican's Congrega-

tablishing diplomatic relations, a step

for the

1

legislation he plans to introduce that

E.

Vietnam

— Amid

(CNS)

March

spokesman for the U.S. Catholic bishops urged the United States to join the ban. At a meeting with journalists and landmine survivors on Capitol Hill, Sen.

man

(CNS)

active.

treaty to ban land mines, a

75,000 metric tons of wheat donated by the United States. North Korea has been suffering from a chronic food shortage as a result of floods, drought

VATICAN CITY

is

WASHINGTON

ternational will oversee distribution of

—

Army

global celebrations

In-

and a failing economy.

Vatican, Vietnamese officials to discuss diplomatic relations

People's

Land-mine ban treaty takes effect, archbishop urges U^. to sign

CARE, Mercy

World Vision and Amigos

Corps,

The

Thailand,

in

also issued to

Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz of Tagum, whose diocese the communist-led

ceremony took place was in 1983.

emergency food distribution in famine-stricken North Korea. A consortium made up of CRS, the U.S. bishops' overseas relief and development

Arch-

in place,"

in

St. Peter's Basilica.

Catholic

no link

news agency based March 1. A pass was

Vatican Museums looks at a hammer used by a pope to open the Holy Year Door of

Relief Services and other charitable groups have joined forces to oversee

is

March 2.

Hispanic ministry directors promote dialogue LOS ANGELES (CNS) About

reported

—

70 diocesan directors for Hispanic ministry from around the nation met in Los Angeles to discuss the process that will lead to Encuentro 2000 in Los Angeles next year. Bishop Gerald R. Barnes of San Bernardino, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Hispanic Affairs, said that "this is not going to be a Hispanic Encuentro, along the lines of the last three 'encuentros' for Hispanic ministry." Instead " this is

an appeal from all the bishops of the United States to all cultural and ethnic groups to initiate a multicultural dialogue at the parish level" leading to

Episcopal, calendar ,

Encuentro 2000, he added.

Bishops vote

call

on Salvadorans to

in presidential

elections

SAN SALVADOR

(CNS)

—

Bishops called on Salvadorans to vote responsibly and asked for a good turnout in the March 7 presidential election, the second since the end of the Central American nation's civil war seven years ago. "As Christians we must not only fulfill our obligations with God, but also our civic duties," said the Feb. 27 message from the Salvadoran bishops' conference.

"But it is not sufficient just to place our vote. It is also necessary to exercise and fulfill this obligation with a conscience and as an act of responsibility," the bishops said.

Philippine army permits clergy to negotiate officers' release CITY, Philippines

McCarrick of Newark,

does not

Theodore

N.J., chair-

of the bishops' International Policy Committee, welcomed the antiland-mine pact as an "important step toward a more peaceful and humane world" and urged the United States "to join the 134 other nations that have already signed the treaty."

Vatican Radio to increase programming for Holy Year pilgrims

VATICAN CITY

(CNS)

—

To

reach Holy Year pilgrims with spiritual messages, commentary and practical advice, Vatican Radio plans to increase programming in five languages during the year 2000. Church officials plan to encourage pilgrims to arrive in Rome carrying a portable

—

—

radio even a cheapie so they can tune into one of two special channels for news and other programs in English, Italian, French, Spanish and Portuguese, said Jesuit Father Pasquale Borgomeo, Vatican Radio's general director.

DAVAO

(CNS)

— The Philippine army

issued

conduct passes to two bishops

safe

and two priests to work out the

re-

Diocesan, planner Upcoming

3635 Park Rd., today through March 18. Each day includes Mass and Scripture sharing at 9:30 a.m., and Liturgy of the Word at 7:30 p.m. Dominican Father Michael Burke of the De Porres House in Raleigh, facilitates. For de-

Associate Editor: Jimmy Rostar

Bishop William G. Curlin will take part in thefollowing events: March 13 11:00 am Deacon Recommitment Celebration St. Patrick Cathedral, Charlotte

Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf

March 15

Chrism Mass Choir. The chrism Mass is celebrated March 30 at 1 1 a.m. in St. Patrick Cathedral by Bishop William G. Curlin

Production Associate: Julie Radcliffe

Installing seminarians to the ministry of Lector St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, March 17 12 noon

and priests serving the diocese. Choir rehearsals are March 21 and March 28 from 4-5 p.m. at the cathedral. If interested, call Dr. Larry Stratemeyer at

maculate Conception Church, 208 Seventh Ave., presents "The Passion of the Lord" today, March 20 and March 2 1 at 7 p.m. For details, call (828) 693-6901.

Melodye Micere 17 Stewart, a featured speaker at the Mil-

(704) 334-2283, ext. 22.

lion

March Volume 8

12, •

1999

Most Reverend William G. Joann S. Keane

Publisher: Editor;

—

Number 27 Curlin

Advertising Representative: Cindi Feerick

Secretary: Jane Glodowsl<i St., Charlotte, NC 28203 Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382

1123 South Church

Mail:

P.O.

E-mail catholicnews @ charlottediocese.org :

The Catholic News & Herald, USPC 007-393, is published by Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for Christmas weel< and Easter week and every two weeks during June, July and August for $1 5 per year for enrollees in parishes the

of the

Roman

Catholic Diocese of

Charlotte and $1 8 per year for

all

other

Second-class postage Charlotte NC and other cities.

subscribers. paid at

POSTMASTER: ,

L

/ '^7^' -l^^o

\

A

^ _^^ ^ ^ z

corrections to Herald, P.O.

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address News &

Charlotte,

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News & Herald is

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—

PA

Supreme Court Justice Scalia, Mecklenburg Bar Association 7:00

pm

Soup and Substance Program, Barnabas, Arden

—

St.

18 10.00 am - 1:00 pm Day of Reflection for Parish Catechetical Leaders, Catholic Conference Center, Hickory 6:00 pm Diocesan School Board Mass, Commissioning, and dinner

March

CHARLOTTE — Singers

are invited

to participate in the

March 14 CHARLOTTE Mass

is

— A charismatic

celebrated today in

St.

Patrick

Cathedral, 1621 Dilworth Rd. East, at

4 p.m. Prayer teams are available at 3 and a potluck dinner follows Mass in the school cafeteria. For de-

tails, call

Carol at (704) 527-5277.

16 HENDERSONVILLE

BELMONT

—

Im-

—

Woman March

in Philadelphia in

1997 and a Charlotte Post columnist, discusses literature of the "Harlem Renaissance" at 7 p.m. today in Grace Auditorium, on the third floor of St. Leo Hall on the campus of Belmont Abbey Q)llege. For details, call (704) 825-6890.

8

HENDERSONVILLE

—A

series

p.m.,

1

tails, call

of natural family planning classes taught by the Couple to Couple League begins today from 7-9 p.m.

15

Josie at (704) 527-4676.

CHARLOTTE

treat/mission

is

— A Lenten

at St.

re-

Ann Church,

The Sympto-Thermal method

is

March

1999

12,

In

Pope John Paul

beatifies

II

including Spanish By

JOHN THAVIS

Catholic

News

—

Spanish civil war.

Celebrating Mass in St. Peter's the pope said the

7,

were men and women

new "blesseds" who had encountered found meaning

Christ and thus

in their

own

lives.

"Despite the trials of their lives, they did not harden their hearts, but listened to the voice of the Lord, Holy and the

them

Spirit filled

with God's love," he said in a ser-

mon.

The pope

pre-

over the two-hour liturgy sided in

front of

20,000

some

people

from various parts of Europe and beyond. The newly

German lay woman known for

"Despite the

were

nuncio to Cuba By

slain.

Pope John Paul

tered to other prisoners before his

death by ing squad.

The pope beatified

listened to the voice of

SchafTer,

Spirit filled

them

God's

love."

age 43

in

Balife

a suc-

cession of physical accidents and disease.

She had wanted to be a missionary, but in the end accepted her infirmity as a

— Pope John Paul

Mary Ann Dowling at

(828) 696-2357. day of reflection for

parish catechetical leaders, with Bishop

William G. Curlin as the featured speaker, is today from 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Catholic Conference Center, 155rTrinity Lane. The gathering also Mass and discussion of

II

way of

sanctification.

Her

CNS

A

who

Barre hangs over Pope John Paul II as he celebrates the beatification of Father Barre and nine others in St. Peter's Basilica March 7. Father Barre, a 17th-century priest, advocated the right to education for all.

up small instructional programs for children in low-income set

areas of 17th-century France.

He pro-

moted the principle of the right to education for all, based on human dignity, and respect for the profession of teaching. He also convinced authorities to create flexible school schedules, so working-class children could continue to help out at home.

The pope, speaking to pilgrims in

potluck dinner. Art will be on display to celebrate the feast of St. Joseph. For details, call Sheryl Oligny, (828) 2980336, or Denise Vish, (828) 645-6990.

CLEMMONS

—A

children's spring

and summer clothing sale is today from 9 a.m.-l p.m. and March 20 from 9-1 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 4820 1

includes prayer,

Kinnamon Rd. Items

next year's retreat. Participants are encouraged to bring Bibles. To register, send name, address, parish, and phone number to Faith Formation Office, Attn. Pat Onaindia, 1 123 S. Church St., Charlotte, N.C. 28203-4003. Include $5 (checks payable to Faith Formation Office) if you wish to purchase lunch.

HIGH POINT A healing Mass is celebrated today at 7:30 p.m. in the chapel of Maryfield Nursing Home, 1315 Greensboro Rd. 19 ASHEVILLE The Catholic Association of Family Educators, a homeschool support group, meets today at

maternity, infant and children's cloth-

—

—

6:30 p.m.

in the liasemcnt of the Basilica of St. Lawrence, 97 Haywood St., for a

ing, toys,

available include

and baby equipment. Select

items will be offered at half-price March 20. Proceeds will benefit parish and children's programs. For more information, call (336) 945-4948.

GREENSBORO The Family Life and Liturgy commissions of St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2715 Horse Pen Creek Rd., hosts a family Lenten meal today at 6:30 p.m. followed by stations of the cross or a prayer service.

—

Children's activities are also available.

For

294-4696.

Catholic Camporee for all Catholic Scout troops.

Cub packs, and individual Scouts or details, call (336)

HICKORY

—

The annual

PHOTO FROM Reuters

tapestry depicting French Father Nicolas

grave has been a pilgrimage site since her death in 1925.

Also beatified was Father Nicolas Barre,

—

(CNS) named an expe-

II

pointment March 6.

The pope made his first pastoral visit to Cuba in January 1998.

Since then, Cuba's government

also

Anna who died

marked by

with

fir-

varia after a

at

the Lord, and the Holy

Service

rienced Vatican diplomat, Mexican Archbishop Luis Robles Diaz, as his new apostolic nuncio to Cuba.

As nuncio, the Vatican's equivalent of an ambassador, the 61-year-old Archbishop Robles is expected to play a key role in ongoing negotiations with the communist government of Fidel Castro on church rights and freedoms in the Caribbean country.

The Vatican announced the ap-

time, during which he minis-

own

News

VATICAN CITY

a

trials of

JOHN THAVIS

Catholic

In beatifying Spanish Father Vicente Soler and companions, the pope said they had died not for any ideology but for the glory of God. In 1936, Spanish republicans forces rounded up the group and executed most of them in the street. Blessed Soler was held for

harden their hearts, but

taught. For details and location, call

—A

Mexican archbishop new

war, when more than 7,000 priests and religious

their lives, they did not

her faith in suffering and a French priest who taught among the poorer classes in the 17th century.

The ceremony brought the number of beatifications by Pope John Paul II to 819, which represents more than one-third the total number beatified since the church established saint-making rules in 1588. The pope has also proclaimed 280 saints, compared to about 300 canonized by all his predecessors since 1588.

Since his election in 1978, Pope John Paul has turned new attention to the martyrs of the 20th century.

Among those declared blessed have

HICKORY

war martyrs

civil

beatified included a

Pope names

the faith during the Spanish

faith in the

March

10 people,

been more than 200 killed for

Service

Pope VATICAN CITY (CNS) John Paul II beatified 10 people, including seven priests and a lay brother who gave their lives for the

Basilica

civil

The Cathohc News & Herald 3

the News

St. Peter's

Square

after the

Mass, said

the newly beatified showed how to conquer selfishness and transform one's

life

into a gift for

God and

oth-

their

example encourage us toward that holi-

to take solid steps

ness to which we are through baptism," he said.

all

called

Conference Centhrough March 21. Biblebased activities and Mass are included.

For details, call Jim Nass, (704) 542units

is

at the Catholic

ter today

7083, or Joe Vari, (704) 846-5155.

—

A support group for persons who are widowed, separated, divorced, or with new or unresolved grief meets today in the Fellowship Hall of St. Mary Church, 22 Bartlett SYLVA

St. Call

(828) 586-9452 for details.

Catechist train-

20 CHARLOTTE

—

ing covering five certification modules

is

today at from 8 a.m.-7: 15 p.m. at St. Matthew Church, 8015 Ballantyne Commons Parkway. Also offered are two youth min-

trainmg sessions. Cost for catechist is $2.50 for one or two sessions, or $5 for three or more. Cost is $2.50 for one youth ministry session, or $5 for two.

For details and to register, call Mary Betii Feeser, (704) 370-3247.

Rehearsals for the band and choir that will perform at the closing liturgy of the diocesan youth conference in April are held today at istry

ti-aining

CLEMMONS

—

diplomatic corps

in 1967, he Vatican embassies in Honduras, South Africa, Lesotho, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka and Colombia.

The Vatican did not say when Archbishop Robles would arrive in Havana.

worked

ers.

"May

has freed some political prisoners and made other concessions on religious activities, but has not altered its policy of complete control over the church's public role.

Archbishop Robles, who succeeds Italian Archbishop Beniamino Stella as papal envoy to Cuba, has been nuncio to Uganda since 1991. Before that, he was nuncio to Sudan, a country where the government has been frequently accused of discrimination against Christians.

After joining the Vatican's in

Holy Family Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd.,

from

1

:30-4 p.m. Singers and in-

strumentalist are welcome. For details and to R.S.V.P., call Carolann Darling at (336) 998-9842.

2 1 MAGGIE VALLEY Organizers of the 52nd Women's Cursillo

—

Weekend

invite interested persons to

attend the closing today at 4:30 p.m.

Finger foods and paper plates are requested for quick clean-up. For details, call Teresa Sanctis at (704) 541-6850.

23 GREENSBORO "Reading the Bible with the Fathers of the Church" is the theme of an adult education presentation today from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the activity center of Our Lady of Grace Church, 2205 W. Market St. Jim McCullough, the parish's director of religious education, facilitates. For details, call (336) 274-0415.

—

Please

mbmit

notices

Diocesan Planner at to publication date.

of events for the 10 days prior

least

4

The Catholic News & Herald

March

& Columns

Ediforials

Yet anotiier book on prayer — from me believe it might have been St. Augustine, or

Ipossibly Oprah, Bill Gates or Sears, who

The Pope

—

On the

first

Lighter Side

observed that prayer is like a gift from God and you not only don't have to have a receipt to return it, you can use it your whole life and still get your original investment back even if you are entirely satisfied. And it was a gift to begin with.

Speaks

All warranties

— implied or written —

as well as

coupons accepted.

The same

Pope, at audience, encourages

end to Ethiopian-Eritrean dispute JOHN THAVIS

By

News Service (CNS) - Pope John Paul encouraged Ethiopia and Eritrea to put a Catholic

VATICAN CITY

II

bloody border conflict and abide by the terms of an accord drafted by definitive halt to their

the Organization of African Unity.

The pope, speaking at his weekly general audience at the Vatican March 3, welcomed the news that after weeks of fighting, both countries indicated they would agreed to the peace plan, which was formulated last fall.

"I applaud this wise decision, and I accompany it with fervid prayers. This is the only way to bring an end to this fratricidal war, to calm souls and to promote a new style of government and harmony on the African continent," the pope

said.

The most

wave of fighting began in early February. Although news organizations have not been able to verify events on the borrecent

der, Ethiopia claimed to territory,

which

it

have gained substantial

considers

its

sovereign land.

not entirely true for books on prayer which are selling like hotcakes, some actually being better digested if you pour maple syrup and butter on them.

There are so many brands of prayer out there now it boggles the imagination: centering prayer, Taize prayer, meditation, labyrinth walks. Scripturebased prayer, "lectio divina," contemplation, devotional prayer, movement prayer, chanting prayer, musical prayer, charismatic prayer, blue-plate special prayer (OK, OK, I made that one up).

Reflecting deeply, this leads one to a clear theological, sociological and even logical conclusion: There are a lot of people out there writing books about prayer.

This, in turn, makes you realize it is a great time to jump on the bandwagon and write one while the market is hot unless, of course, one is gainfully employed and has responsibilities.

As we all know, Catholics are a great market because we like to name, categorize, subdivide, methodologize and in general plant the flowers in a very straight row. (If Jesus and the apostles showed up at a parish liturgy, we'd probably pepper them with questions about Vatican Council II.) Yes, I admit it. I do have an idea for a book on

DAN MORRIS CNS Columnist

is

—

meaningful. That alone books, I'm sure.

is

good

for selling lots of

The title would be "Fire Engine Prayer: Recognizing That Life Is Full of Prayer All the Time, Even at PTA Meetings."

So

far

here are some of the preliminary chapter

— "Call-the-Emergency-Room Prayer: That Kid Home."

—and "Panic Prayer: God, Have Jammed on

titles:

It's

a.m.,

I

Me

the

Slam Into That

Pickup."

— Can You —"Prayers of Thanksgiving: "Silent Prayer:

ful

My (Grand)Child

Believe

How

Beauti-

Is?"

Thank You God

Homeowners' Insurance Cover Exploded Water Heater."

for Letting the

the

I am going to have to flesh these out a and throw in a little Latin here and there. But with a good illustrator and the right typeface, I'm

Granted,

little

half-way there.

Comments are welcome. Write Dan Morris

would need illustrations to fill a lot of the pages. And it would be good to use huge print and put only a few words on each page to create the wonderful effect that the words are, therefore, more it

1

Still Isn't

Brakes, Please Don't Let

prayer.

Admittedly

1999

12,

Christie Ave.

No. 222, Emeryville,

Calif.

at

6363

94608; or

e-

mail: cnsuncle@yahoo.com.

Eritrea has asked the United Nations to con-

demn

Ethiopia for aggression. estimated 1 ,000 people have been killed over the past year in flare-ups along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border.

In his regular audience talk, the pope spoke of the unique father-son relationship between Christ and God, one that was evidenced in Christ's own frequent invocations to God the

An

Economy

ment with option to purchase." Translated, this means the customer can return the merchandise and

of Faith

cancel the renewable one-week or one-month lease at any time. By making the last payment, or paying off

the balance early with costly stipulations, the customer in effect exercises "the option to purchase."

RTO

^^^H

^^^^^

Father.

Thanks to Christ's sacrifice on the cross, all people can share in an intimate relationship with God, the pope told some 25,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

"Our filial relationship with the heavenly Father depends on our courageous faithfulness to Christ, his beloved Son," he said.

Pope urges

U.S. Christians to

—

urged U.S. Christians to take educational and political

human

action against increasing attacks

life.

"The choice

in

favor of

life is

on

not a

demand of a just and moral society," the pope said in a letter to Cardinal William H. Keeler of Baltimore. Cardinal Keeler, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee for Pro-Life Activities, was presiding over a March 3-5 conference in Washington on emerging technologies involving life and death.

The conference was co-sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Family.

private option but a basic

S.

RAUSCH Guest Columnist

Buying a Piece of tiie American Dream the showroom of my local rent-to-own (RTO)

Instore

work

against attacks on life (CNS) In a strongly worded pro-life message. Pope John Paul II

VATICAN CITY

FATHER JOHN

the Heritage model Corolla classic two removable leaves and four white oak The ticket on the table reads, "Manager's sits

dinette with chairs.

Special, $11.99, 61 weeks."

What

usually sells in 78

weeks has been reduced to 61, because the dinette was previously rented and slightly scratched. The dinette,

whose

sticker price asks $365.70, will sell if purchased through 61 weekly pa3Tnents for $731.39, but with sales tax and insurance the cost will jump to $833.42!

The RTO business represents a $4.5 billion industry with over 7,500 outlets. The industry claims it provides a valuable service by offering furniture, appliances, TVs, VCRs and stereos for short-term rental, many times to low income folks with bad credit or no credit at all. To its disadvantaged customers RTO sells a piece of the American dream one week

at a time.

But, critics charge that

argues this kind of transaction

is

not covered

by the federal Truth in Lending Act, which requires disclosure of the annual percentage rate (APR.) The

RTO trade group, the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, revealed that only 25 percent of RTO customers manage to complete the course of payments to own the merchandise.

In addition, "add-on" fees increase the price of the merchandise. A liability damage waiver (LDW) added to the rental fee acts like insurance against damage from lightning, fire, smoke, windstorm, theft or flood. Charges at other RTO places might include processing and delivery fees.

The use of sophisticated advertizing and confusing tactics aimed at the most economically vulnerable people in society raises moral questions. Customers expect to own something in the end, but RTO gives no credit counseling or budgeting advice to help potential customers avoid losing money.

Also, the denial that the bulk of the payments represents de facto interest distorts truth and supports a culture of the lie. "Ethics in Advertising," a statement issued by the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, bluntly states: "It is morally wrong to use manipulative, exploitative, corrupt and corrupting methods of persuasion and motivation."

Besides legislation to regulate RTO transactions so usury and consumer protection laws apply, com,

RTO preys on

the unso-

phisticated poor through exorbitant prices, uncon-

munity groups are promoting consumer education.

ventional contracts and "add-on"

The

Typically a low wage worker buying a TV with 78 weekly installments at RTO will pay twice or three times the original price. RTO structures its contracts as shortterm leases to evade usury and most consumer protection laws. local RTO contract reads: "This is a 'week-to-week' or 'month-to-month' rental agree-

My

fees.

Central Appalachia People's Federal Credit Union, which offers financial counseling and low interest loans, published an article in its newsletter entitled "The Rent-to-Own Scam." As a result, sev-

were spared seeing the RTO truck loaded with their bed, dinette and TV, driving their piece of the American dream back to the showroom. eral folks

March

12,

1999

alone in recognizing the needs of the immigrants and the contemptuous treatment of them. He helped

One

Light

them integrate

Candle

FATHER THOMAS

J.

McSWEENEY Guest Columnist

"Dagger John" Hughes: Irish in America

On being

From

1820 to 1920

five million Irish

immi-

grants entered the United States. The infapotato blight and famine of the 1840's turned a

mous

trickle into a flood. The overwhelming majority were young men and women, single and Catholic.

Many who would call America home experienced a "devotional revolution"

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

practicing their faith was,

for them, a visible expression of all It

was only natural

it

meant

to be Irish.

that they should search out church

leaders for guidance and hope.

For a

full

quarter of the

nineteenth century, Irish immigrants looked to John

Hughes, the first Catholic Archbishop of New York, as their champion. Indeed, Hughes was himself an immigrant from Annaloghan, County Tyrone, Ireland. He set his heart and his will on helping his fellow immigrants carve out a place for themselves by assuring them an equal share in the civil and religious freedoms promised by the United States Constitution.

This was no easy task. From his early days as a priest in Philadelphia to his death in 1864,

Hughes

used his considerable oratorical skills to assert a Catholic presence in what was then a profoundly anti-Catholic America. In this he became both beloved and controversial. According to his current successor John Cardinal O'Connor, "He was almost

tionalized anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic sentiment.

Then, rather than haggling over government subsidies for Catholic schools, he created a separate, private

system of parochial education. Again and again, Hughes encouraged naturalized citizens to exercise their growing pohtical clout at the ballot box.

The story of "Dagger John" is a pointed reminder of how much has changed and how much hasn't over the years. Protestants and Catholics are no longer at each other's throats. In fact, despite faith differences, ecumenical pursuits are common. Signs that say "No Irish Need Apply" are long gone and Irish-Americans have dug their roots deep in this country of ours.

The trouble is that if you substitute different

names and

Communion.

their culture.

A fellow

volunteer said

If they haven't gone

it is

and

nationalities

beliefs

you

find that

many

of the old problems have not gone away. Fear, even hatred, remains for people who are different. The only

thing that has changed

is

the

"Them" and

the "Us."

Historian Lawrence McCaffr-ey observes that the Irish "loved the United States because it had rescued them from poverty and oppression, and gave them

freedom, dignity, and hope for the future." Everyone deserves hope.

Happy

St. Patrick's

Day.

Question

before communion?

Q. During the summer J drive Mexican migrant workers to Mass on Sundays. I noticed that only very few to

Lenten

into society."

Archbishop Hughes was dubbed "Dagger John" because of his tactical skills in defending his flock. It was an age when nativism was strong and all immigrants suspect. In 1844 he responded to threats of violence against Catholic churches by stationing armed parishioners around the buildings. Hughes warned: "If a single Catholic church is burned in New York, the city will become a second Moscow!"

Stubbornly determined, aggressively opinionated, he was as capable of working with the political system as against it. When all soldiers were required to attend Protestant services, whatever their beliefs, Hughes negotiated changes. He was influential in secularizing the fledgling public school system, which had institu-

When must confession come

went

The Catholic News & Herald 5

Ediiorials & Columns

Corner

part of

to confession, they don't

feel "worthy" of the Eucharist.

Another volunteer said Catholic Church not to take

going

it's

in the

Catechism of the

Communion

unless recently

FATHER JOHN DIETZEN

to confession.

I couldfind no reference in the catechism to this kind of link between reconciliation (penance) and the Eucharist. Are

CNS

Columnist

many American Catholics bending church rules when they Communion without "suitablyfrequent" confession?

receive

A. Let's look first at some church regulations about these two sacraments as we find them in canon law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

While Catholics are formally obliged to receive the Eucharist only once a year, during the Eastertime if possible,

we are strongly urged to receive this

sacra-

ment each time we participate in the Mass (Catechism, 1388; Canons 919-920). This simply recognizes the

Communion by all the faithholds in the liturgy of the Eucharist at Mass.

Confession of grave (serious) sins in the sacrament of reconciliation is required at least once a year. This would follow, of course, from the obligation of annual significant place that holy

ful

Communion,

since

anyone conscious of grave

sin

must

receive the sacrament of reconciliation before receiv-

ing the Eucharist (Catechism 1457; Canon 989).

Thus, confession of nonserious (venial) sins is not strictly required in church law at all. I say "in

church law" deliberately because reception of this sacrament with some frequency is clearly essential for our spiritual life and growth as Catholics.

It is not possible to discuss this at length here. The catechism spells it out thoroughly in its long treatment of "The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation."

Then what

explains the frequent, though not

universal, belief you describe in

Mexico, which can be

duplicated in other Latin American countries and

other parts of the world?

Many reasons contribute. A major one, however, seems to be that much of the colonization and evangelization of these mission countries took place during the time when a heresy (or set of heresies) called Jansenism had enormous influence on European Christianity.

Centuries earlier, a strong movement toward frequent, even daily. Communion had begun to expand in the church. By 1562, the Council of Trent was urging people to receive Communion at every Mass they attended.

During the 1600s, however, Jansenism, which affected France in particular, took a puritanical, extremely rigoristic attitude toward Catholic spirituality and the sacraments. Frequent Communion was one of its targets. No one, it was said, should receive Communion without perfect contrition, which a confessor would guarantee by delaying Communion at least a week.

Only the urgent appeal of Pope Pius X in 1905 for frequent, daily Communion gave a death blow to this attitude. Unfortunately, by this time the Catholic people of Mexico were suffering a ruthless persecution which continued well into the 1 900s. Many were martyred.

For this and other reasons, education in matters of faith was all but impossible, and Mexican people were isolated from these kinds of developments that were enriching other areas of the Catholic world. Inevitably, this affected the Catholic culture of the country and the way of viewing eucharistic Communion.

Reflection

FATHER JOHN ALLEN Guest Columnist

Alongside Christ on a journey of faith Stations of the Cross have been part The of Catholic tradition centuries. for

St.

Francis of Assisi, who lived in the 13th century, is credited with starting this practice. On a trip to Jerusalem, in an effort to bring peace between Christians and Muslims, he was admitted to an audience with the Sultan who governed the area. He tried his best to convert the Sultan te Christianity. Despite his great respect for Francis, the Sultan did not convert and sent Francis on his way.

In the months that St. Francis was in Jerusalem he liked to walk the path that Jesus had walked centuries before on his way to the cross. Since Francis knew the New Testament almost by heart, he would recite the passages that had to do with Jesus' crucifixion. He prayed deeply over those scenes as he went from spot to spot in what we call the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Suff ering.

On his return to Italy he began the practice of setting up wooden crosses along the paths where he walked so that he could still meditate on the way of suffering. He may have erected 25 to 50 crosses. As other people adopted his way of meditating they settled on 14 crosses, from the Judgment before Pontius Pilate to the Burial in the Tomb.

Over time the Franciscan Friars were entrusted with the privilege of erecting the Stations of the Cross in all the churches throughout the world. The custom continues to this day of prayerfully meditating on the passion and death of our Lord while walking the way of the cross.

One of the most vivid memories of my childhood is the Stations of the Cross made on the Fridays of Lent in the parish where I grew up.

The words prayed on those Fridays were the ones written by St. Alphonsus Liguori more than 250 years ago. His meditations continue to

guide us in our prayer to Jesus as we accompany him to Calvary each Lenten season. They can remind us again this Lenten season of the call of our Holy Father in preparation for the new millennium to "undertake a journey of authentic conversion" and a return to the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance. With St. Alphonsus we can pray as we follow Our Lord in the mysteries of his suffering, death and resurrection: My Lord, Jesus Christ, You have made this journey to die for me with unspeakable love; and I have so many times ungratefully abandoned You. But now I love You with all my heart; and, because I love You, I am sincerely sorry for ever having oflfended You. pardon me, my God, and permit me to accompany You on this journey.

You go to die for love of me; I want, my beloved Redeemer, to die for love of You. My Jesus, I will live and die always united to You. Father John Allen

is

Parochial Vicar at

Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

St.

6

The Catholic News & Herald

People

Indian archbishop names postulator for Mother Teresa

CALCUTTA,

in

March

the News will oversee the

—

including the National Jesuit News,

America magazine, Company magazine and the Sacred Heart Program. Father Widner, 56, is currently on the staff at the Milford Spiritual Center in Ohio and has been a priest for 30 years and a Jesuit

pope waived the five-year

waiting period before the process can begin. Archbishop D'Souza told Vatican officials that Missionaries of Charity Father Brian Kolodiejchuk was scheduled to reach the eastern Indian metropolis of Calcutta in midMarch to begin the process, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. Father Kolodiejchuk is the superior of a Missionaries of Charity house in Rome.

for 13 yeai-s.

Group

MINNEAPOLIS

CNS

renamed the Peter S. and Carolyn A. Lynch School of Education to recognize a more than $ 10 million gift to the Jesuit-run school from the financier and his wife. Peter Lynch, a 1965 graduate of Boston College and a

Irish

A woman

PHOTO FROM Reuters

arms

strolls past a wall of graffiti

showing support for

Irish

Republicans in west Belfast in January. The graffiti is an IRA response to the turning over of weapons as spelled out in the peace accord. Britain was to hand over home-rule powers to Catholic and Protestant Northern Irish parties March 10, but issues over disarming IRA extremists have yet to be resolved.

member

—

is

friend Jesus.

"I

—

(CNS)

Julio

eager to learn about his like to be here," he said,

Corazon community

—

VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul II encouraged the Vatican's top communications officials to draw up

Cesar Ibarra

gesturing around the room where his church youth group meets. "I want to learn more about my faith." The 12year-old parishioner of the Sagrado.

College's School of Education will be

Pope encourages communications council to prepare ethics document

iieips Hispanic youtiis put center of tiieir lives

Clirist at

Boston College to rename education school for benefactors BOSTON (CNS) Boston

of its board of trustees, is vice chairman of Fidelity Management and Research Company. Carolyn Lynch is president of the Lynch Foundation, which funds innovative programs in education and social services.

communications minis-

try of the Jesuits in the United States,

India (CNS) Archbishop Henry D'Souza of Calcutta has appointed a postulator for the sainthood cause of Mother Teresa.

Earlier, the

1999

12,

a

document on

"ethics in

communica-

moral guidance to media professionals. "In a field where cultural and financial pressures can sometimes blur the moral vision which should guide all human realities and relationtion" to offer

Council for Social Communications March 4. The pope said the mass media are potentially very creative, but without ethical reflection they can "spread destructive countervalues."

Former editor gets Jesuit communications post WASHINGTON (CNS) The Je-

ships, this task represents a challenge,"

the pope told

members of the

—

Pontifical

Conference USA in Washington has named Jesuit Father Thomas Widner as its new director of communications. He suit

at St. Stephen in Minneapolis is a member of the parish youth ministry team, called Friends of Jesus. Its purpose is to help young people put Jesus at the center of their

Adrian Hernandez, part-

said

lives,

time youth ministry coordinator.

Father

Norman Perry of

Anthony Messenger dies CINCINNATI (CNS) Franciscan Father Norman Perry, St.

—

award-winning columnist and editor of St. Anthony Messenger, died March 1 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati. He was 69 years old. He died of diabetes, kidney and- heart complica-

He had undergone surgery for colon cancer in mid-February. His funeral was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tions.

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The Catholic News & Herald 7

from fhe Cover

Conference participants get crash course WASHINGTON

(CNS)

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Dioc-

from esan and around the country got a crash course national pro-life leaders

in life issues

ranging from

for the

dying March 3-5 in Washington.

With talks by six cardinals, the leadership convocation at the law school of

The

technology that do not diminish the

ture of death can be defeated with col-

sacredness of the

Catholic University of

Msgr. Thomas Hartman, director of radio and television for the Diocese of Rockville Centre, N.Y., who appears with Rabbi Marc Gellman, senior

Temple Beth Torah

rabbi at

promoting

tions

tives of other Christian denominations.

life."

Convened by Cardinals John O'Connor of New York and Bernard

F.

conference's first day traced the

of Boston in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the Family,

history of feminism and abor-

life

but

on

Speakers

to kill infants,

some

right

and when the law

places says

it is all

right to

in kill

the feeble, the dying, that's' teaching a set

of moral

O'Connor

values,"

said

in

one

Cardinal of the

Historian Elizabeth FoxGenovese of Emory University

movement's claims that easy access to abortion would liberate American women, it has "degraded the status of women

an expert

demon; this is diabolical, what's happening in our country, this cul-

AIDS,

is

a

it

Patricia

conference's first talks.

"This

in

has elevated

it."

Funderburk Ware, teen pregnancy and

said adults

who

are buy-

"And it can only be driven out by prayer and fasting."

Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo,

ing into the culture of death are failing the next generation.

"The greatest tragedy of the sexual revolution has been

president of the Vatican's council on

the

the family, called the culture of death "a disturbing and spreading phenom-

said.

ture of death," he added.

enon" that is especially "manifest in the legal execution of the unborn child

womb." message Pope John Paul II in the

In a

to the gathering,

hailed the confer-

breakdown of the family, the breakdown of marriage," Ware Adults who accept the tenets of the sexual revolution "are placing not only themselves but their children at risk," she added.

But many of the

CNS

voted to very specific and sometimes quite technical aspects of the spectrum of life issues from the vast array of new reproductive technologies to U.S. efforts to spread their family planning agenda

culture, saying that even if its content

worldwide to

were cleaned up, "it would still undermine moral values, it would still threaten the

in end-of-life situations.

But

a pair

television as the

who

often appear

"God Squad"

on

told the

convocation's sessions were de-

A

effective palliative care

Jesuit genetic researcher called

on the Catholic Church and the procommunity to help spread the

life

word about advances

in

reproductive

we

life,

it and have to work as

can't simply point to

despair," he said.

we can

to

"We

change

it."

out as available only to those afford them."

On

who

Law

can

close. Cardinal

News

Service that

he found the convocation "very en-

couraging."

the international front, speak-

"Everything we hoped for has

world faces a population problem, but not one of overpopulation. "It is a problem in many parts of the world of underpopulation, of looming depopulation," said Steven W. Mosher, president of the Populaers said the

Remember

'/4

said. The next step who attended, he added, is to back home and see "how some-

been achieved," he for those

take

...

HisTOD

told Catholic

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PHOTO BY Nancy Wiechec

Boston Cardinal Bernard Law addresses a gathering of life ministry leaders in Washington March 4. Speaking about euthanasia and assisted suicide, Cardinal Law said pro-life efforts should include "medically sound and morally acceptable treatment of pain."

ence as "another sign that in the United States of America the Gospel of life has found fertile ground in which to grow and bear fruit."

Critic and radio talk show host Michael Medved blamed television for much of the deterioration in American

very existence of the family."

tries, population is increasing only because of lengthening life spans.

Convocation participants devoted a half day to the dangers of euthanasia and assisted suicide, the role of doctors as patients near death, and the need to expand hospice care and improve pain management at the end of life.

"All too often, the availability of pain control is not sufficiently known or utilized," said Cardinal Law. "Appeal for compassion for the pain-ridden patient is often the most compelling reason why some misguided but well-intentioned people support euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. Pro-life efforts should certainly include a medically sound and morally acceptable treatment of pain."

Dr. Walter R. Hunter, associate national director of VistaCare and a nationally known expert on hospice care, urged those concerned about the dangers of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia to work in their own communities "to change the way we care for the dying."

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago closed the meeting by calling on participants "to create a culture worthy of people made in God's image

impact of the sexual revolution on today's

more than

money

Mosher said the total population already has begun declining in 16 European nations. In 55 other coun-

tion, as well as the

said that despite the feminist it is all

its

away."

the

of Life." the law says

movement "by taking

monuments to ourselves, monuments to God's gift of

teens.

"When

And, he said, pro-life advocates can help end the population control

not against science, it's against science being used badly," said Jesuit Father Kevin T. Fitzgerald, a research associate at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. "It's against medical advances being held is

should be

and the law school, the convocation had as its theme, "In God's Image: Called to Build a Culture Life Activities

tion Research Institute.

person.

"not

J.

the U.S. bishops' Committee for Pro-

in

human

Melville, N.Y., said organiza-

America had a strongly Catholic flavor.

But speakers and participants also included Jewish leaders and representa-

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The Catholic News & Herald

8

March

Special

By TIMOTHY

J.

MEAGHER

"When

Irish

Eyes Are Smiling,"

"Who Threw

12,

1999

the

Overalls in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder," "Mother

Ireland

The

different now.

is

Irish are different too. It is not

just the prosperity, the software ex-

boom

plosion, the building

in Dublin, the

Machree." They took out green ribbons and buttons

on

Day. They lined the streets of South

St. Patrick's

New York

Boston,

City and Chicago and other cities

and towns to watch

lines of police

school bands and Irish club

liigh

and firemen and

men march

by,

and

they ate corned beef and cabbage that evening.

replacing the pubs. It

tfes

more.

something

is

the other changes that the eco-

It is

mnic boom has helped cause: fundamental hanges in the culture, even in the national identity

ofthe Irish.

It

is

notjust a change in

tone,

a new confidence, or energy

there

is

— though

that.

And

they saw themselves on stage or

in the

movies: Pat O' Brien as "Fighting" Father

Duffy or Jimmy Cagney as George M. Cohan. As those movies made clear, they were special in another way. The Irish knew they were different from other American Catholics because they were, they believed, the best American Catholics, the most faithful to

most

the church, the

loyal to the na-

meaning of being Irish. As Fintan O'Toole, columnist for the Irish Times suggested: "the fixed points on the compass of life

They were models, exemplars of being American and Catholic to the "newer races," to use James Michael Curley's phrase, like the Poles, the French Canadians and the Italians. And as any

Church, nation,

people of these groups, especially the Italians, can

tion.

changes

It is

For many It

in the

family — have "been

Irish

Americans

land remain fixed,

home

that the

remain

as

static,

be

difficult.

of us that Ire-

just as

we demand

memory. There

in

American world, this American Catholicism reached its peak.

Irish Americans presided over a Catholic Church booming with construction, a blizIn the 1950s this Irish

Mayor Richard Daley who was very disappointed

story about the famed

of Chicago

never tired of reminding them

Irish

fact.

militant

a

is

remember, the of that

or neighborhood of childhood

once was

it

unsettled."

may

this

many

has been important for

—

new yellow

zard of

brick churches, schools

and hospitals. And few doubted

when he

visited Ireland and couldn't any thatched roof, white-washed cottages. If Irish Americans seemed to need this myth of the

certain past, a core of ethnic au-

meant

the Irish themit,

for

American

Irish

One

of the most important

and

reasons for this was the decline of Catholic Protestant tension and

needed

us,

change,

We

should not surprise

it

have changed,

too, radically

the last three decades.

way

And

rivalry in America. allels

us.

sus of what

As

n

a

it

Irish

meant be an

Irish

American.

not so

d

It is that,

was

consensus

anchored

that affords

maybe

centuries,

though

in

two important poles of Church and nation. Irish the

Americans were

as a full-fledged partner of the

European Union and an active trader in the world economy, Ireland is free from economic dependence on Britain. Even more, peris now haps, Ireland wealthier, on a per capita baIreland is now sis than England. Suddenly

cenit

new agreement

that helps.

much of the tury,

the

Ireland in decades,

through 20th

much

the best prospect for a just peace in Northern

Ire-

in

One

for Irish identity in Ireland, Fintan O'Toole points out, is the demise of the "overwhelming other 'England' by contrast with which Ireland could be defined." It is

there are striking

America changed over the last 30 years and Ireland is changing now.

In the 1950s there was something of a consen-

parallels in the

There are par-

with the Ireland of today.

of the most important recent changes

over

wealthier,

fiercely "mili-

on a per

to the people of the Republic

capita basis than

tantly," as they liked to say,

of

Ireland,

England

no

Catholic, just as in Ireland. But

England. Suddenly

to the

longer seems so important,

was the United Americans were fierce American pa-

people of the Republic of

and the defining contrast of Irishness and Englishness has lost much of its meaning.

here, the nation

States of America. Irish

triots,

verging, their critics

seems so important,

they were American

many

own

and the

and Englishness has lost much of its meaning.

however, Irish Americans understood that they were a special kind of American Catholics. They were Catholics,

Irish in their

England no longer

defining contrast oflrishness

claimed on jingoes.

If

Ireland,

way.

of them written in

They had

New

In America, too, the de-

fining

contrast

most American upeconomic progress

also disappeared in places. Irish

helped undermine that oppo-

own

songs,

York's Tin Pan Alley:

sition.

This upward mobility picked up enormous

momentum

in the

1940s and 1950s with the broadly

war and government programs like the GI bill. Irish Americans moved up occupational ladders into new jobs and out distributed prosperity brought by the

Photos by Joann Keane

between

Catholics and Protestants has

ward their

and Catholics

in

America. John F. Kennedy's election

and subsequent martyrdom meant new acceptance of Catholics by Protestants; the

Vatican Council encouraged

and the

to

the walls separating Protestants

Civil'

Rights

movement undermined

in-

tolerant attitudes and dis-

crimination of any sort.

cracked and crumbled.

poor

tradition

a

be

was what we were buying.

Yet if it pains some of us to see

as they were, they

1

to

it

took

down

tants;

on what

it

finally break

War.

In the next decade, the

suburbs. Yet

movements and events of the 1960s

reach by Catholics to Protes-

1960s, the consensus

thenticity, then

new

the climactic

tion at the high point of the Cold

rural idyll as a touchstone of a

selves did little to dispel

Irish

Americans' commitment to the na-

find

of old neighborhoods into

new

out-

March

12,

The Catholic News & Herald 9

1999

Special business, Coca-Cola and General Motors. This demise of Catholic and Protestant rivalry meant that Catholics no longer felt embattled.

Many, even devout Irish Catholics, no

longer

the need to identify so fiercely

felt

many

with Catholicism just as

Irish in the

Republic of Ireland toda}' no longer

feel

the need for an intense, anti-British nationalism.

And

so the old consensus on American identity shattered

Irish

1960s as the old consensus of

in the

become America in the '60s American writers turned on

Irish identity in Ireland has

"unsettled" today. In

some

Irish

their past.

"The

Fiction

rent In

in

most cases,

it

the 1760s to the 1980s," notes,

cities

now became harder, even

to hold the line of Anglo

impossible

Saxon Protes-

tant privilege. Irish Americans are

now

one of the most successful groups in the nation and are well represented at

the top

le\'els

of com-

such as those great old icons of American

panies

time yields perspecti\'e.

"spurred by anger and bitterness at the perceived

As Fanning

American writing marked by eager con-

wished "to exorcise aspects of their

points out,

"Irish

own

that they found disturb-

demnation of the

ing and embarrassing." Something of the same fero-

ethnic dimension of

cious rejection of an older Ireland characterizes

experience has given

writing by some Irish

way

upbringing and family

where banks or corporations had been closed to Irish,

From

ence and note that

oppressions, distortions, and injustices of their cu ture," they

some northeastern and Midwestern

Cathohc

As Charlie Fanning, author of in America: Irish American

Voice

Irish

Yet many

life

in Ireland today.

Americans were not ready to dispose so quickly of their ancestral past and ethnic identity.

Irish

Some clung to

the old fixed poles of militant

American Catholicism, more convinced than ever of its rele\'ance to their lives. Others, howex er, sought new meanings for their Irish American identity or combined these new meanings with older ones. They found their Irishness 1960s and trons, in

who

kept

it

Irish

that they can explore.

This

isn't just a

return to the past.

on in

free to

confidence.

The

step

University of America, hundreds of students turned out on a Friday night for a poetry reading in Irish by the famed Irish poet Nuala Ni Domhnail and this is Washington, D.C. where there is plenty to do on a

Irish

youth

language

so

long hemorrhaging

its

They can

identities change.

and

its

prosperity

it

has produced,

Brian

"Dancing

at

poverty

earlier

of the 1960s was not

American culture and idenhad changed. It had changed at the turn of the century when a new generation of American-born

Yet

if the Irish feel less

theless,

culture and identity, an identity

more comfortable

natives, than the Irish culture

and identity of their immigrant parents. And it had changed in the early 19th century, when a torrent of poor Catholic Irish immigrants fleeing famine and the revival of widespread anti-Catholic nativism

overwhelmed the

efforts of Protestant and Catholic ex-rebels of '98 to forge a non-sectarian Irish

ant dance by at

its

own

experi-

it

as

of Friel's play, after

less forced

all

we do our own

all,

here.

The

comes from the exuber-

of the sisters at the heart of the play,

once both an assertion of Irish traditional culture

and

a thrilling

testament to a kind of human defiance,

courage and dignity midst hardship. Ireland

is

differ-

ent now, and the Irish are different now, but they

remember while they change. Maybe change

is

not

such a bad thing, then.

Timothy J. Meagher is director ofthe Centerfor Irish Studies at

The

ington, D.C.

ponder

embattled and

as

understand the past's riches and search,

title

American Catholic

two of the Agnes

sisters,

to cling to the old formulas of the past, they, none-

probe and appreciate

Irish first forged the militant

play, as

Mundy

and Rose, set out on a journey to a lonely existence impoverished immigrants in London.

tity

also

new

cruel constraints in

end of the

their cousins across the sea?

American identity.

Irish America might

its

streams of migrants

heartbreaking fashion at the

The decade

American

in

edy of that

the first time that Irish

to them,

poor so

Lughnasa," evokes the trag-

overdue.

learn first that the meanings of group

4>

are

now, too

a nation so

Friel's play,

has produced, are long

Americans learn anything from them understand the changes

among

so,

are long overdue.

new prosperity and the confidence and the freedom that

past to help

taking place

And

freedom that

youth in

five

Irish

we

that search with

and the confidence and the

streams of migrants overseas, the

it

America,

overseas, the

Friday night.

own

With

hemorrhaging

long,

are packed.... For a nation so poor

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

So can

our identity,

in

Irish.

For in

bookstores. Classes in

dancing or the

make

can the

theaters; Irish

and books ofpoetry

American

Catholic

in

way; Irish movies in

American

language are

now gone

flourish on Broad-

novels

Classes in step dancing or

their

what

ultimately, an appreciation of

culture and older story enriches our present.

Protestants and Catholics

Irish

packed. Recently, at

an accep-

It is

tance of change but with a searching, probing and,

Today Irish plays

American bookstores.

Irish

escape, but

expansion of possibility"

the old antagonisms between

novels and books of poetry

the

must condemn and

as a source for the "creative

To-

movies

American theaters; in

understand their ethnicity not as a "destructive alienation" that they

alive here

Irish plays flourish

Broadway;

cans writers today. Fanning continues,

audience be-

its

few, hardy, largely immigrant Irish pa-

the 1940s and 1950s.

day

expanding

after, vastly

in the

more balanced

rendering of ethnicity." Irish Ameri-

discovery of Irish culture.

music became big business

Irish traditional

yond the

in a

to writing that fea-

tures a fuller,

Catholic University of America in

Wash-

10 The Catholic News & Herald

March

Read ngj

12,

1999

Books

Polish publisher releases

poems

60-year-old By

JONATHAN LUXMOORE Catholic

WARSAW,

News

Service

Poland (CNS)

after seeing

—

A

Polish publisher has released a collection

of poems written by Pope John Paul II as a university student six decades ago.

Leszek Sosnowski of Krakow's

1

Ephesians ,5:8-14

3)

John 9:1-41

A

"This student

—

my

young man's

In one poem, "Morning Hymns," Wojtyla expresses his sense of foreboding before World War II. "I

am David, I am a shepherd/ And I

sing songs of entreaty,/That you might show compassion to a Piast/ And allow

our harvest to be brought

when

the great Goliath rises

stroy

my youth/Then

I

/And up/To de-

in

...

beg you, Sion,

Moria:/ Come down and help us!"

In another piece, the future pope reveals a struggle over the Christian faith.

"I came through the deepest trough of failure and doubt, through a vast well of denials. And then one of the spirits came down to me, an angel rich with the Word, and he said to me: Believe!

"And people came to me, and spells came to me, and it was then I started to see. And my faith was strengthened so much, that today it's stronger than ever it was when I merely seemed happy, but was eaten from inside and

consumed by

insects."

In a Feb. 19 interview with Catholic News Service, Sosnowski said the pope had consented to the publication

full

Among

Bujak, as a "sensational literary discov-

"stunning maturity of reflection" and "richness of language."

the poetry of a

Krakow

ofjoy, enthusiasm, clar-

other items, "Renaissance

Psalter," includes a full version of

Wojtyla's

ery" that revealed the

any author."

is

and gratitude," Sosnowski said.

"Later, after his terrible burden of wartime experiences, he couldn't write the same way. Preparing for priesthood, he shut the collection up in a drawer and never returned to it. It was only at our proposal that he agreed to have it printed," he said.

brochure from Bialy Kruk pubpoems, printed with pictures by photographer Adam lishers described the

By

He

who

poem

to his mother, Emilia,

died in 1929,

when he was

8.

"Over your white grave/ 1 kneel in sorrow./Oh how long ago it was /How small it seems today!

"Over your white grave/O mother, my extinguished love!/My mouth whispers powerlessly:/ Grant her eternal rest."

In an editor's introduction, Skwarnicki said Wojtyla had not yet

—

decided to become a priest when writing the poems.

However, his vocation was clear in the poetry's "divine, sacral style," Skwarnicki added.

"Reading the Psalter, we glimpse the spiritual history of a future archbishop of Krakow and bishop of Rome," Skwarnicki, a Catholic journalist, said.

"We should stress the exceptional depth of feeling revealed by this young poet, the richness of imagination and intensity of religious experience expressed in his sonnets, hymns and rhapsodies," he said.

Asked how he would use profits from the book, estimated at $ 1 70,000 on the first day, Sosnowski said the pope's personal secretary, Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, had recommended donating part to "some hospital or children's home," but stressed that Pope John Paul had laid down no conditions and was not expecting an honorarium, t

didn't

dan LUBY know he was

thought himself

blind.

He

sharp-eyed realist whose vision wasn't clouded by fuzzy logic masquerading as mercy.

Among the many things he saw with crystal clarity was the moral and emotional cowardice underlying divorce. He knew that some people had to grit their teeth to stay with a partner who was a drunk or unfaithful. But experience as a priest had led him to conclude that most people who got divorced were simply too lazy or too selfish or too immature to stay with it. At the first sign of trouble they ran home to mamma or off with a new partner.

It took a tragedy in his own family

to

a

show him

He cringed to remember his harsh judgment, his scalding words.

His eyes were opened. He began to see not only vows dissolved, commitments undone, but also heartbreak and disappointment and loss.

Seeking less to judge than to heal, he found himself looking more generously on other failures, including his own. His eyes were opened to the mercy of God in a new and deeper way.

Sunday's story of the man born blind is not only about an ancient miracle. It is also a call to recognize blindness in our own hearts and to seek the healing power of God's love. stances.

a "letter of blessing" to the editor,

Marek Skwarnicki, and "waited impa-

whom

of others

sister's face the faces

he had sternly admonished against divorce, regardless of the circum-

6-7, 10- 13a

2)

lisher said the entire print-run of 10,000

copies sold out a day after publication.

Samuel 16: lb, Psalm 23:1-6

the Believers" (1998).

He added that the pontiff had sent

ity

months before the German invasion of Poland in September 1939. The pub-

Fourth Sunday of

14,

Lent. Cycle A. Readings: 1

company's earlier work.

"Renesansowy Psalterz" ("Renaissance Psalter"), was launched Feb. 1 8 at a Warsaw press conference and includes lengthy unpublished poems written

March

earlier editions of his

1)

tiently like

by the then-Karol Wojtyla more than

two

poetry issued by Bialy Kruk, "Songs of a Hidden God" (1997) and "Births of

Bialy Kruk publishers said the 78year-old pontiff" consented to the publication privately after admiring the

five

Word to Life

by pope

Questions:

What

are .some "blind spots" in

your life which others have helped you to discover? What is one thing to which our society is blind; how can you help heal that blindness?

his blindness.

His sister came to him with news of her divorce. She had tried, she sobbed, but she simply couldn't take it any more. He

unheard of that anyone ever gave sight to a person

"It is

was stunned.

His conviction that only moral slackers got divorced

blind this

from birth. If man were not

from God,

crashed headlong into his certainty of her courage and commitment, and in the impact, his eyes were opened. He saw in his

he could

never have done such

a thing.

"

— John 9:32-33

Weekly Scripture Readings for the week of Mar. 14 • 20, 1999 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13, Ephesians 5:8-14, John 9:1-41; Monday, Isaiah 65:17-21, John 4:43-54; Tuesday, Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12, John 5:1-3, 5-16; Wednesday, Isaiah 49:8-15, John 5:17-30; Thursday, Exodus 32:7-14, John 5:31-47; Friday, 2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14, 16, Romans 4:13, 16-18, 22, Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24; Saturday, Jeremiah 1 1:18-20, John 7:40-53 Sunday,

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The Catholic News & Herald 11

1999

tntertainmcnt NEJV YORK (CNS)

Video

— The following

home

are

videocas-

reviews from the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting. Each videocassette is available on format.

sette

VHS

Reviews

Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Catholic Conference classification

and Motion Picture

Association of America rating. All

reviews indicate the appropriate age' group for the video audience.

"The Bridges at Toko-Ri" (1954) Korean War melodrama from the James A. Michener novel about a lawyer (William Holden) recalled to active service as a jet pilot on an aircraft carrier (commanded by Fredric March) out to destroy the heavily defended target of the title. Director Mark Robson does equally well with the shipboard camaraderie (notably Mickey Rooney, Earl HoUiman and Charles McGraw) as with the short visit of the pilot's wife (Grace Kelly), all of which strengthens the emotional impact of

the 16th-century setting and costumes provide a fairy-tale atmosphere for proceedings built around a spunky, self-sufficient heroine who takes the lead in the action, with often amusing and, at times, heartwarming results.

Some stylized violence, menace and crude language. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents.

The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG parental guidance suggested.

"Polish Wedding"

—

—

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN

the pilot's final mission.

Tense wartime action

and a scene in a unisex Japanese bathhouse. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

"Ever After" (1998) Medieval romance from the Cinderella story of a young

—

Frenchwoman (Drew Barrymore) whose wicked stepmother (Anjelica Huston) has raised her as little more

,

headed by a baker (Gabriel Byrne), his unfaithful wife

(Lena Olin), their unwed pregnant daughter (Claire Danes), her cop lover (Adam Trese) and assorted other family members. Writer-director Theresa Connelly's thin script focuses on the wife's preoccupation with love, sex and motherhood as mirrored in the experiences of her daughter, with the rest of the clan serving mainly as comic relief

and the ribald treatment of sexual

than a servant until her wit, beauty and intelligence win the heart of the

bemused crown prince (Dougray Scott), though many complications intervene before the traditional happy ending. Directed by Andy Tennant,

(1998) Muddled tale of a Polish-American family

scenes laboriously overdone.

Numerous

sexual situations, ethnic stereotyping,

some

The U.S.

Catholic ConA-IV adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 profanity.

ference classification

—

parents are strongly cautioned that

some

Own a Home?

—

is

may

material

be inappropriate for

children under 13.

CNS

Robert

De Niro, as mob

PHOTO FROM

"Analyze This" boss Paul Vitti, and Billy Crystal,

Warner Bros.

Vitti's reluctant

comedy "Analyze This." The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-IV adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R restricted. analyst, star in the

—

—

TV programs of note Monday, March 15, 9:30-10 p.m. EST (CBS) "Payne." Debut of a sitcom based on the British "Fawlty Towers" series starring John Larroquette and JoBeth Williams as married owners of a California coastline inn.

Tuesday, March 16, 6:30-7:40 p.m. EST (Cinemax) "The McCourts of New York." Documentary sequel about an impoverished Irish family immortalized in the best-seller, "Angela's Ashes," which follows the experiences of the four brothers when they settle in New York.

Wednesday, March 17, 8-9:30 p.m. EST (PBS) "Michelangelo: Self Portrait." Special offering a look at the supreme Italian Renaissance artist and his tremendous influence on the development of Western art as well as his life and artistic e\'olution.

March 19, 8-9 p.m. EST (Sci-Fi) "Farscape." Debut of an hour from the Jim Henson Co. and Hallmark Entertainment in which a freak occurrence catapults a contemporary astronaut (Ben Browder) to the other end of the universe which is in the throes of an intergalactic conflict.

Friday,

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The Catholic News & Herald

March

THANKS TO YOU. CAT

» w n

SERVICES IS BK HELP AND HOPE TO OF HURRICANE On like to

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take this opportunity to extend a most heartfelt thank you.

As

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With your continued support, efforts such as these lives

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society in Central America and the United States

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Supplies from

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•

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©

1999

Catholic Relief Services, Inc.

12,

1999

March

12,

The Catholic News & Herald 13

1999

the News

In

Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun dies at 90

Retired ARLINGTON,

tice

Harry Blackmun,

Jus-

90, author

Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry

of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legaHzed abortion, died March 4 at Arhngton Hospital in the

Roe

Blackmun, who had retired from the high court in 1994, died following complications from the hip replacement surgery he had undergone nine days earlier.

He fell at his home and broke his hip a day before the operation.

Appointed by President Nixon in 1970, Blackmun wrote

v.

The Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops later that year described

Wade

March is

4.

seen here

"This opinion of the

the decision to legalize abortion "was a

most

resignation April 1994.

6,

to protect the

fails

human

basic

—

right

life," the bishops "Therefore, we reject

CNS

PHOTO FROM Reuters

remembered

denying unborn

attorneys, parental rights and even baseball, but it is the abortion decision

children the most basic civil liberty

that will be his legacy.

the right to

best

—

life."

The Roe

"History will remember Harry

for

said.

Blackmun as the architect of the tragic U.S Supreme Court decision. Roe vs.

Wade," said a statement from David O'Steen, executive director of the Na-

tion,

and

its

Wade

companion

Doe

case,

vs.

Bolton, permitted abortions through all

Right to Life Committee. "It is a tragedy for someone to go to his grave tional

nine months of pregnancy.

Roe, which said women had a con-

stitutional right to

re-finance your

home

at

They quoted Pope John XXIII's 1963 encyclical, "Pacem in Terris," which said that "if any government does not acknowledge the rights of man or vioits orders completely lack lates them ...

opinion threw out most state restrictions on aborvs.

end their pregnan-

decision of the court, not

There were seven In

the right to

this decision of the court."

number of significant opinions

subject.

neous, unjust and immoral."

court his

sary of Roe decision, tens of thousands of pro-lifers rally at the Ellipse near the White House to protest abortion and then march to the Supreme Court.

And in the years since 1973, Blackmun said he had received more than 60,000 pieces of hate mail on tlie In 1983, on the 10th anniversary of the decision, Blackmun emphasized in an Associated Press interview that

the court's decision as "erro-

Blackmun

announcing

vehement and sometimes

violent debates and protests.

decision making abortion legal, died

during his 24 years on the court, covering tax law, advertising by

Want to

to

Blackmun, author of the landmark 1973

Washington suburb of Ar-

lington.

a

cies, generated more than 20 years of judicial and legislative adaptation, in addition

Va. (CNS)

— Retired Supreme Court

judicial force."

The

bishops also criticized the

court for failing to understand "scientific evidence" clearly showing the fetus to be of "compelling value" as a person.

1994,

nounced

my

decision.

votes."

when Blackmun an-

his decision to retire,

he

reit-

erated his belief that the opinion was correct.

"I think it's a step that had to be taken as we go down the road toward the full emancipation of women," he

said.

Upon Blackmun's retirement, Paige Cunningham, president of Americans United for Life, said that, as the author of Roe, the justice "leaves a legacy of the most radical abortion law

Western Hemisphere." months on the court, Blackmun reversed his long-held supin the

In his last

Each year on

Jan. 22, the anniver-

port for the death penalty, saying he would oppose it in all cases because he felt it was being applied unfairly.

a better rate?

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14 The Catholic News & Herald

March

Around the Diocejt

Bishop Emeritus donates book collection to Belmont Abbey College

—

BELMONT Bishop Emeritus Michael J. Begley, founding bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte, has donated his personal book collection to Belmont Abbey College. About 20 boxes of books were received Feb. 27 from Bishop Begley, who served as Charlotte's bishop from 1972-1984. Now living in High Point, Bishop Begley has a long and supportive relationship with Belmont Abbey, and is a friend of many of the monks who have lived and served there, including Abbot Emeritus Walter Coggin. As Bishop Begley requested, the book collection will reside in the Abbot Vincent Taylor Library on the college campus of the Benedictine institution. The collection will be catalogued this summer.

Maryfield employees honored at awards banquet HIGH POINT Sixty-seven employees of Maryfield Nursing Home and Maryfield Acres Retirement Community were honored Feb. 18 for their cumulative 821 years of service, commitment and dedication to the residents of the nursing home and retirement community. Also honored were five sisters of the Poor Servants of the Mother of God, the religious community that founded Maryfield. During the awards banquet, Maryfield administrator Sister Lucy Hennessey presented the Service in the Spirit of Love Award to Annie Quick, a 14-year employee credited for humility, dependability and a

—

friendly smile.

By

Charlotte Catholic High School football coach receives award Charlotte Catholic High School football coach Jim CHARLOTTE Oddo was recently named one of Delaware's all-time top 50 athlete. He was invited to a celebration commemorating the 50-year anniversary of Delaware's former athletes of the year. Oddo was an all-state offensive guard and linebacker at Wilmington High School in Delaware. In 1957, he was named Delaware's athlete of the year. Later that year, he was a member of North Carolina State University's championship football team. He plans to

—

return for his 26th season as Charlotte Catholic's football coach this

fall.

Good Shepherd Home Health names new hospice manager Ernie Zapetis has been named the new hospice manHAYESVILLE ager for Good Shepherd Home Health and Hospice Agency. He has served as a

—

medical social worker for Good Shepherd for the past 3 1/2 years. He has also volunteered with C.J. Harris Community Hospital's Hospice Program, and served as hospice coordinator for MartinTyrrell Washington District Health Department's Roanoke Home Care Hospice. Zapetis received his bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, and earned his master's at East Carolina University in Greenville. He is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Inc., and received the 1997 Medical Social Worker of the Year Award from the North Carolina Association of

JIMMY ROSTAR

giving ministries providing rays of light to those in the diocese with some type of spiritual or material hunger.

Associate Editor

—A

CHARLOTTE

late-winter

mix of precipitation grayed the skies over most of the Diocese of Charlotte

In his

recent days, but

in

a spiritual as well as a practical standpoint.

gion are letting

received the light of Christ, and were

your

their light shine

light

through enthusiastic support of the

challenged to 'walk always as children of the light,'" he said.

"The DSA gives us a way to live out that challenge in our lives," the bishop added. "It is a way to be Jesus for others and to see and help Jesus in our midst."

Parishes who exceed their assessed Diocesan Support Appeal goals retain that extra funding. "Those who do not meet their goal are required to pay the balance through parish funds.

With 49 percent of the goal already pledged, Rohrman said Appeal

annual Diocesan Support Appeal.

The appeal, which funds 35

multi-cultural, educational, social service, and voca-

began ends March 20-21 with Appeal Sunday Weekend. The theme of this year's appeal is "Let Your Light tional ministries of the diocese, 7. It

Shine!".

.1

and associate director of the diocesan Office of Development. "This year's theme is certainly one that people could relate to, and by giving to the Diocesan Support Appeal, people are in many ways giving to Jesus by being 5,

The

Catholic

News &

Maniii Schaii:. O.F.M.Cap. Aqiiinus Cluin h. Charlotiv

Fr.

Jimmy

S

Rostar, associate edi-

by calling (704) 370-3334, or by sending e-mail to jtrostar@charlottediocese.org.

tor,

— Every Time.

United Mailing Service,

Celebrating

5th

Loving Your Pets'

liic»

(704) 392-2805

inns

(704) 392-2807, fax

Our modern 50,000 square foot facility allows

Visit

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— with our emphasis on

Anima

Pineville

Contact

On Time

Anniversary!

with

she explained.

Pledge cards will be available in1 the pews for parishioners who have ye to give. "Appeal Sunday Weekend is a final opportunity to encourage people to prayerfully look at their call, as dis ciples of Jesus Christ, to be a light for^ others and to contribute in whatever way they can," Rohrman said. level,"

pus ministry. Catholic Social Services, Hispanic ministry, faith formation, Retrouvaille, seminarian training, and lay ministry are but a few of the life-

our^

St.

ners will have an opportunity to hear from a lay witness from their parish, who will speak about the Diocesan Support Appeal on a very personal

rector of the Diocesan Support Appeal

Since Feb.

"On the day of our baptism we

Sunday Weekend is a powerful reminder of the good that comes from the works of the campaign. "Parishio-

As of March 9, $1.43 million of the $2.94 million goal had been pledged by parishioners in the diocese.

"I am encouraged; that's 7 percent ahead of where we were at this time last year," said Barbara Rohrman, di-

Herald has presented readers with various stories of how the Diocesan Support Appeal affects the lives of many: The permanent diaconate, cam-

Care. He serves on the pastoral council at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Ernie Zapetis Hayesville, and has taught social work classes part time at Western Carolina. He and his wife, Debby, have two children and one grandchild. "Hospice workers are not hired but called," Zapetis said. "This is a true vocation for me. I look forward to serving as the hospice program manager, hopefully building hospice awareness in our community and expanding our services."

in the Feb. 5 issue,

the 46-county re-

Let

a light for others."

Home

column

Bishop William G. Curlin noted the importance of the annual appeal, from

parishioners across

Feb.

Is

1999

Diocese lets light shine as annual appeal nears closing

In brief...

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March

12,

1999

The Catholic News & Herald 15

Around Ihe Diocese

Mecklenbuig Area Catholic Schools greet future, new members ByJOANNS. keane Editor

CHARLOTTE

—

ture change

When

the Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools Board meets in May, a new membership will be introduced along with a new board structure.

The change in constituency is a natural

is

at the

onset of the 1991-92 school year.

Since the inception of MACS, it a review would

was determined that

take place in five years. This analysis

would examine the effectiveness and efficiency of the school system, half a

decade into

progression as boards go; the struc-

its

As

part of the long-range

strategy for the school system launched

operation.

MACS

1^

WASHINGTON (CNS) —

Catholics nationwide are being asked to sign a "jubilee

New

to act for justice.

Those who take the pledge will promise "as disciples of Jesus in the new millennium" to: "Pray regularly for greater justice and peace.

"Learn more about Catholic social teaching and its call to protect human life, stand with the poor and care for creation.

"Reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender and dis-

— — — abling conditions.

— "Live work, the marketplace and the family — "Serve those who are poor and vulnerable, sharing more time and — "Give more generously those need home and abroad.

— "Advocate public that protect human promote human digpreserve God's creation and build peace.

— "Encourage others work greater and peace." justly in

life,

political arena.

school,

talent.

to

in

at

policies

life,

nity,

to

charity, justice

for

Suggested uses of the jubilee pledge include distributing it at Masses, through religious education programs and in parish schools and through other activities.

The kit contains a poster in English and Spanish and color and black-and-white brochures and information on ordering more copies of the materials. It also includes resources for parish councils, educators, social concerns committees, liturgists,

them incorporate the pledge into their efforts.

"The jubilee pledge aims to help Catholics think beyond Y2K computer problems and look at where their faith leads them as they near the third Christian millennium," said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, 111., chairhomilists and others to help

man

of the millennium subcommittee.

stitution

of Americain Washington, accepted a

diocesan invitation to review the Catholic education structure and organization serving Mecklenburg County.

Through a consultative process with pastors, principals, teachers, parents and diocesan personnel, became

fully

immersed

James Hawker, Vicar for Education. "There is comfort in acknowledging so many persons on varisaid Father

who

ous levels that the

MACS

grow and

labored selflessly so regional system might

develop," he said. "The con-

tributions of these generous people

have enabled

MACS to realize so many

enviable achievements. Their dedication has borne fruit."

MACS

said, allows

The challenge, he man-

to adapt in a

ner ensuring a timeless vision will be

implemented

in a

timely manner. of Schuttloffel's

The summation

report "stressed an adaptation within structure and organization," said Father Hawker. One conclusion called for a

revamped school board.

This reconstituted MACS board would serve as a consultative body to Dr. Michael Skube, superintendent of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Charlotte.

After the decision to restructure the board, Mercy Sister Lourdes Sheehan, from the National Catholic Educational Association, was invited to share expertise regarding the com-

Blackmun,

At the Catholic Conference Center 9-1 0am for coffee

in

Hickory

Classified

Sandra Breakfield (704) 370-3220 ^|v^-"'^

Ministries

send form and $7.50 fee (includes lunch)

to:

1123 South Churcli Street

NO 28203

Name

Phone

Address

Regional Coordinator of Elder Ministry for the

High School Teachers: Charlotte Catholic High School is hiring certified teachens in Math, PE/

vide on-site assistance to Catholic parishes within

1999-2000

the designated region. Bachelor's degree desired

For an application, please send re7702 Pineville-Matthews Road,

and travel required throughout the 46 counties of the Diocese, 30 hours per week ($16K-2lK) plus full benefits. Send inquiries/resume to: Gerard Carter, Catholic Social Services, 1 123 South Church Street, Charlotte, NC 28203-4003. Dead-

school-certified counselor for the

.school year.

sume

to school at

Charlotte,

NC

28226.

Office Assistant: Persona! financial planner needs responsible, articulate person interested in investments. Variety of tasks from customer service to filing to updating computer records. Part-time, flexible schedule of 25 hours per v\eek in Charlotte (SouthPark) ofTice. Fax resume to Cynthia Anderson, CFP (704) 556-0445.

Parish

Make checks payable

to

Catholic Social Services.

Registration deadline: April 15

Group

registration

lonns and directions to the Conference Center and with Club leaders.

are available at cliutvh offices

Morganton/Hickory, NC area. Selected candidate will contribute as a team member to development of elder programs and activities, will engage in ecumenical cooperation on elder issues, and pro-

Health, Engli.sh, Religion, Part-time Spanish, and

@

City

$7.50 per person.

Contact Joann Keane, editor, by call-

ing (704) 370-3336 or by sending e-mail to jskeane@charlottediocese.org

Elder Ministry: Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Charlotte, NC has an opening for a

BUSINESS OPPORTUNmES

a

Seniors' Spring Fling, Catholic Social Services

Chariotte,

MACS

or Fax to (704) 370-3377.

and danish

Sponsored by Catholic Social Services Elder register,

—

with the machinery of death."

Blackmun was born in Nashville, 111., and was raised in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He won a scholarship to Harvard, where he earned highest honors as a mathematics major before going to Harvard's law school.

He returned home to Minnesota to practice law in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis for nearly 20 years. He served for nine years as general counsel of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. In 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower appointed him to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Blackmun is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and three daughters. *

he filled with fellowship. Mass with Fr. Ed Slieridm, music, lunch with friends, games, crafts, bingo, door prizes, and more...

To

—

In several death penalty appeals reviewed by the court during his final term,

will

call

tion," said

from page 13

Wednesday, April 21, 10:00 - 3:30 pm

For more informaBon,

occasions for further consultaSkube.

This past Saturday, the newly appointed MACS board met for the first time, gathering for an all-day workshop conducted by Sister Lourdes.

"She took the board beyond MACS in scope," said Skube. "We wanted to introduce the board to national issues and organizations, and show how we can benefit with on a local level resources beyond our own diocese."

The current MACS consultative board is an 1 1 -member group selected from diverse backgrounds. Seven represent each of the schools.

"They come with the understanding of issues facing their specific schools," said Skube. Four members are appointed at-large. "In this instance, three of the positions were filled by people from the previous board who reapplied," added the superintendent.

Board members were appointed to staggered terms of one, two and three years. The returning board members will fulfill one-year terms as they assist in the transition, said Skube.

Appointed to the MACS board beginning in 1999 are: Cynthia Beamon, Anne Carter, Patrick Hughes, Stephen Immel, Dennis Jacobs, Ralph McMillian, Richard Menze, Sheila Passenant, Joan Stretch and Kim Villarreal. eral

to overturn sentences, but was overruled each time by a majority of the justices.

"The death penalty experiment has failed," he wrote. "I no longer shall tinker

pring Fling Your day

new con-

and bylaws for the MACS board, Sister Lourdes returned on sev-

Blackmun voted

come

Come from

position of a consultative board. "In

addition to helping us draft a

the intricacies of the rapidly growing school system.

"Dr. Schuttloffel's report incorporated both comfort and challenge,"

Millennium," designed to help pastors and parish staffs plan activities leading up to the year 2000, went to 18,000 parishes in February.

The pledge is being promoted by the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee on the Third Millennium and several other bishops' committees to mobilize Catholics for the

five-year

into

pledge for charity, justice and peace" as parishes prepare to start the third millenniunx Kits titled "Jubilee Pledge for Charity, Justice and Peace: A Catholic Com-

mitment

its

ulty

Schuttloffel

Catholics urged to sign jubilee pledge for justice

approached

Mary Ann Schuttlotfel, a facmember of the Catholic University

mark. Dr.

Receptionist: Bi-lingual (Spanish and English) person; part-time, (25 hours/week) M-F 12:005:00; friendly, comfortable with people; minimal office skills required with willingness to learn more. Send resume to B. Bazluki, Catholic Social Services, 1123 S. Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203

line:

March

15, 1999.

High School Football Coach: Bishop England High School C, is accepting applications for the position of Head Football Coach. The school High School, in

a coeducational Catholic

Charleston,

S.

has an enrollment of 875 students and has just relocated to a new campus. Salary and benefits are

commensurate with experience and credentials.

Applicants should submit a letter of application, resume and a statement of educational philosophy to: David Held, Bishop England High School, 363 Seven Farms Dr., Charleston, SC 29492-7534.

The Catholic News & Herald

16

In

By PAUL QUIRINI

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

born.

Salesian Father

former

recalls another

"Once when he was standing on

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

the steps of Sts. Peter and Paul Church he was spotted by several children and,

56-game hitting

they ran to him," Father Oliveri recalled. "He could not have been more gracious to them. His role model for

streak.

"Hopefully, there will be nobody who's going to break the streak," Father DiMaggio said. Growing up with the name Joe DiMaggio was an honor, but it put a great deal of pressure on him whenever he stepped inside the

the

went up

cisco,

show in New York City or a ball game at Madison Square Garden, I would get the best seats in the house," he said.

Father DiMaggio saw Joltin' Joe play ball in person, but he later would

During

Visa and American Express cards to prove that he wasn't kidding about his name, and the priest and the ballplayer shared many laughs and shook hands after the game.

"He was wonderful, always a gentleman," Father DiMaggio said.

Sharing a name with the Hall of Famer is quite a thrill for Father DiMaggio,

the Garden, the two

Joes actually sat next to each other, and Father DiMaggio recalled the sur-

Yankee

he

my name's Joe DiMaggio.

said, "Hi,

Clipper's face after

What's yours?"

Father DiMaggio pulled out his

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools

and he owes

his sporadic

celebrity to the

While

Mecklenburg Area Catholic Schools

emphasize

traditional

environment, today's programs and

A

If

All Saints

Catholic School

Our Lady of

program make

C-atholic

St.

School

Catholic School

more

you value

MACS

370-3273.

all

life

and a

a great

my name

him. He was truly a gentleman, and I don't think there will be another like him," he said.

Joseph DiMaggio, the

Paul baseball

was born

"I've life

with

United States from Sicily.

and

in

lot of

fun

my name because He was truly a

gentleman, and

I

don't

tress

in divorce in 1944.

The chancery office of the San Francisc Archdiocese said at tb time of DiMaggio's mar-

I

riage to

Monroe

that he

had incurred automatic

in

think there

another

will

like

be

him."

Father Joe DiMaggio

to the

excommunication

ac-

cording to Article 124 of the decrees of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore.

1898

The DiMaggios moved ily,

had a great

and a

of him.

Calif., on Nov. 25, 1914 to Giuseppe Paolo and DiMaggio, Rosalie

who immigrated

marriage to a Dorothy Arnold in Catholic ceremony ende^J

earlier

with because of

lot of fun

their fam-

story

which eventually included nine

Contributing

to

this

was Dan Morris-Young

in

San

Francisco.

after-school care

Catholic schools in

attractive

May 5-14

than ever.

ihea-; values,

Adriii.s.^ions

the

Assumption

Ann

are anything but old

state-of-the-art high school, before-

Charlotte

St.

facilities

as Joltin'

Marilyn Monroe. Hi had

"I've

Christian values in a secure

a nevv' transportation

planned Catholic funeral.

The last public announcement about his status came shortly after his Jan. 14, 1954, civil marriage to actress

moments of

man known

Martinez,

and

DiMaggio's status in the Catholic Church remained unclear despite his

Joe.

player,

school.

it."

April 10, 1998.

a bas-

prise on the

PHOTO FROM Reuters

Italian-American baseball legend Joe DiMaggio, whose 56-game hitting streak endures as one of the most remarkable records in baseball, died March 8. He was 84. DiMaggio is shown tossing out the first pitch at Yankee stadium

called for tickets to a

to him.

"He was

i

CNS

much closer ketball game at

parish, said,

An example of his shyness, according to the New York Times, wa how "in his rookie year with the Sa: Francisco Seals baseball team in 1933] he was a sensation. He hit in an in credible 61 straight games. San Francisco had four newspapers then, and they all spelled his last name wrong^ He was too shy to say anything about

to bat in

DiMaggio said. As he got older. Father DiMaggio found out just how cool it was to share Joltin' Joe's

get

DiMaggio's

man."

if I struck out, which I usually did, people would say, 'Joe DiMaggio struck out,'" Father

I

exceptional."

terribly shy and terribly private

a

high school,

name.

"Every time

young was

Father John K. Ring, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Fran-

batter's box.

I

Oliveri,

parochial

kind."

greatest baseball players of all time and to have met the legendary center

"Every time

Armand

vicar at San Francisco's Sts. Peter and Paul Parish from which it was reported DiMaggio would be buried March 11, remembered the baseball great as "a fine gentleman, rather reserved and very^

Clipper March 8, the priest spoke with Evangelist, newspaper of the Albany Diocese, about what it has meant to have the same name as one of the

the

1999

North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco the year Joe was

The

fielder with

12,

children, to the

One good Joe

News Service Joltin' ALBANY, N.Y. (CNS) Joe DiMaggio is gone, and one of many fans who will miss him is Father Joe DiMaggio, pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Johnstown, N.Y., in the Albany Diocese.

Following the death of the Yankee Catholic

March

the News

Office

.

}t) grign

^{fgrimage

Gabriel Catholic

School

Join Father Anthony Marcaccio on a pilgrimage to the shrines of Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

For more information: E-mail or send your name, address and phone numtx;r

Joann Keane, The Catholic News '

1

123

S.

Church

St.,

Charlotte,

to:

& Herald NC 28203

e-mail: jskeane@char!ottediocese.org