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News & Herald
Volume 5 Number 23 • March
Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte
Belmont Parishioners Honor Retiring Pastor
Own
Morganton, Waynesville, Charlotte,
Spencer Mountain and Belmont were among his stops, but Msgr. Burke
By CINDY WOODEN VATICAN CITY (CNS) —
Paul
first
initiatives are outdated," the
He was
meeting of Cuban Catholics.
instrumental in
formation of a permanent diaconate in the diocese, was active the
Cursillo
movement, and was one of the first priests to establish an RCIA
program in the diocese. He was also active in the Charismatic movement. At Queen of the Photo by MIKE KROKOS Apostles, Msgr. Burke Sister Mary Thomas Burke was among the guests at helped establish a the surprise retirement dinner for her brother, Msgr. perpetual adoration Thomas Burke. chapel and was instrumental in setting up the "Meals on Wheels" program. He was also the first priest to serve the
MIKE KROKOS Editor
BELMONT— Monsignor
at St.
Thomas
Thomas
But does that mean the only alternative
Mercy Sister Mary Thomas Burke,
and his younger brother, Dominic Burke of Fairfield, Conn., were also on hand for the celebration.
"This was done with such love," added Msgr. Burke afterward. Msgr. Burke, who retires March 4, arrived in the diocese of Charlotte in
1973 after being invited by then Bishop Michael J. Begley. Bishop Begley was looking for priests to lead his new diocese
and heard of Father Burke through his sister. "Msgr. Burke is one of the greatest men we've had in the priesthood in the Diocese of Charlotte," retired Bishop Begley said at last week's dinner. "His good sister, Sister Mary Thomas, brought him to North Carolina, Thank you, sister." Msgr. Burke, 71, spent the next 23 years serving the diocese. Churches in
many years of service to the Church. He has truly enriched my gratitude for his
bishop and
I
thank him."
No one knows Msgr. Burke better than his sister. "We came from a very Our mother had a profound influence on all of us," said Sister Mary Thomas, who has served as chair of the Department of Human Resources at UNC-Charlotte for the past 26 years. "We lived by her example as we were growing up." According to Sister Mary Thomas, religious family.
was a strong "He impressed the
value of education on us and the need to grow," she said. "He often said, 'An education is something you can't have taken away from you.'" A native of Westport County Mayo, Ireland, Msgr.
Thomas Burke was
ordained to the priesthood in 1953. "I became a priest because I wanted to be a missionary," he explained. "I joined the
Holy
Spirit Fathers in Ireland."
His
as a missionary led
life
world to "fall under
frustrates the aspirations of the
the
him
poor?"
pope asked.
In the letter, read Feb. 25 at the meeting in Havana and released Feb. 26 at the Vatican, the pope urged Cubans to look toward the future with hope and
century be like?" he said they should
ask themselves. "Will we be able to learn from the experiences of the past and build peaceful coexistence in the heart of each national community and among nations? Can appropriate channels be found for the longings for freedom of so many individuals and peoples of the earth?" he asked. The mission of the church, he said, is to preach the Good News that Jesus Christ is the savior of the world. But its message also has implications for the way people live, treat each other and organize themselves. The church reminds everyone of "the greatness and pre-eminence of human work and just wages. In the same
See Future, page 12
DSA Funds Programs To Evangelize Catholicism MAYBACH
just
MONROE
— The
one of the many programs run by
the Diocesan Support Appeal-sponsored
Staff Writer results are in,
and for Catholics in the Diocese of Charlotte, the prognosis is good. According to statistics from the 1995 October Count, a diocesan-wide survey of parishes, the diocese surpassed the national average in terms of parishioners attending Mass. Count results, taken from four consecutive Sundays in October, show that the number of registered parishioners attending Mass has risen to 54.3 percent,
Evangelization Commission.*In 1994, the
commission sponsored an outreach
program called "Outreach on the of Life," that attracted
more than 1,500 responses.
Invitations
find out more about Catholicism were placed in the pews of 50 parishes, and parishioners were asked to
to
SA f|^L S
}
distribute
them
acquaintances
to friends
who
and
expressed
an interest in the faith. In addition,
advertisements were run in area newspapers, and a toll-free number was set up to answer calls resulting from radio promotions.
parishioners has risen 2.5 percent.
outreach was the individual contact,
Holy Ghost Father Ed Vilkauskas,
The most
successful aspect of the
Father Vilkauskas said.
"We got
from the
1
,060
personally-
director of evangelization for the diocese
responses
and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, said the survey results were encouraging. "This is really good news," he said. "The Diocese of Charlotte has consistently been above national averages with attendance figures and continues to support that trend. Although
distributed invitations," he said. "I think
we the
are a small population as a diocese,
number of new members
in the
See DSA, page 16
Inside Friendship blossoms in
merit
badge quest
page 2
parishes and the percent of people to
attending
Mass
indicates real spiritual
Priest reflection
growth."
The October Count, implemented
See Pastor, page 16
Way
Catholic
an increase of 4.5 percent since 1994. Also, the number of registered
the children's father influence as well.
for the
By ELIZABETH
see in him such gentleness, priestliness, and goodness. I offer my heartfelt
life as
is
mechanisms of a type of heartless economic organization that does not take into account the weakest and
blind
in the
Bishop Curlin said Msgr. Burke has been a good servant of the diocese. "In the two years I've been here, Msgr. Burke has affected my life," he said. "I
pope said
21-25 national
in a letter to a Feb.
U.S. Virgin Islands.
Burke admits he should have seen it coming, but didn't. "I should have become suspicious when I heard the phone ringing again and again and again this week," he joked. Instead, Msgr. Burke was the most astounded person at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont when he was honored with a surprise retirement dinner on Feb. 23. Among the guests were retired Bishop Michael J. Begley, Bishop William G. Curlin, and a church hall packed with more than 150 parishioners and friends. Msgr. Burke's sister,
diocesan mission
that
suffocated valid individual and group
the
By
II said.
"The collective systems
new ideas for living their faith. "What will the world of the 21st
with
With the fall of Marxist political and economic systems, the Catholics of Cuba must ask themselves what kind of a religious and political future they want, Pope John
a parish the
Religious, Political Future
administrator at Holy Spirit Church in Denver.
in
1996
Pope: Cubans Must Determine
Greensboro, Denver,
was more than priest. He was
1,
four years ago by Father Vilkauskas,
is
series
page 6
2 The Catholic
News
& Herald
March
Friendship Blossoms In Quest For Merit Badge By STEVE
MATTHEWS
UZZELL
—
She was a
your illnesses, you look nice." Josephine said a sick person would appreciate your honesty and feel that they didn't look too bad. "What do you think people who are very sick are most afraid of?" Josephine asked Timothy. "Dying?" Timothy braved an answer. "No, but you're very close," Josephine told him. "They're most afraid without anyone there." of dying alone Josephine told Timothy that she always tries to laugh about things to make them better. As she talked about her son who used to earn merit badges, Timothy began to feel more at ease. to say,
bit
nervous when they settled on a date to meet each other. He was, too, but he agreed to the scheduled time. He brought a plant with red blossoms. When he shook her hand,
he held the pot "Those are pretty flowers," she said. "Are they for me?" "Oh, yes!" He remembered his gift and gave it to her. They were both unsure about what to talk about or what to say to each other, until she began to speak about things they had in common. Soon they began to find friendship and a mutual respect. They quickly gained knowledge about and admiration for each other. at his side.
These two parishioners from St. Luke parish have found new friendship, but they are separated by several years. Josephine Koenig is an older woman confined to her bed with osteoporosis and breathing difficulties. She must
"For
By JULIE ASHER WASHINGTON (CNS)
condemned the action. President Clinton also announced new economic and
men who were
political sanctions against the island-
Cuban-American
community of south Florida. "The tragic events of this past weekend involving the loss of lives and the emotional stress
who are suffering at this time as we
those
this
pray for patients, telephone them or
continue to ask for
time
liberty
Cuban people,"
The two planes were from a Cuban
Howell is a nine-year-old Cub Scout. He
Timothy's parents, John and Ellen Howell said he learned many things
by a Cuban identified as
laugh easily.
They too. it
is
talked about serious topics,
Josephine explained to Timothy that better not to tell a patient "you look
wonderful" because a sick person knows that' s just not true.
It' s
better,
she advised,
learn."
could learn from Timothy and Josephine's commitment during Lent. The hope and faith that they have gathered from one another will last well beyond the Easter season. Josephine sums up with a simple philosophy.
"We
are here for others,"
she said.
May
1991 to patrol waters
died when their aircraft were shot down
Josephine and Timothy continue to stay in contact and Timothy visited again just after Valentine's Day. Timothy said that Josephine had helped him change the way he thinks
Many
in
made
Den
you
founded
The Brothers organization was
off the coast of Florida for rafts of
Ellen Howell said.
about older people. "They've gone through a lot in life and they can help
permission for the flight, they decided to look for rafters.
________
group called Brothers to the
through scouting. "He has developed a respect for church, family, self and others and has gained a lot of self-confidence,"
and his mother, Ellen, first called on Josephine, the double generation gap was no obstacle. Josephine let Timothy know immediately that she thought he was polite and told him that his mother had done a good job teaching him manners. Timothy discovered that Josephine had a great sense of humor and could make him
government refused
Rescue, based in Opa-Locka, just north of Miami. Four men were believed to have
Dei (Children of God) pin and Bear Badge. Part of his merit responsibility was to visit someone who was sick and share his experiences with Pack 108,
When Timothy
When
Bahamian
and justice for
— Archbishop John C. Favalora
breathe oxygen constantly from a machine attached to an air tube. Timothy
All Saints School.
interned the
rafters
Cuban people.
the
liberty and justice for
exile
relief
Cuban
there.
we
as
deliver
supplies to
to
continue to ask for
he added.
6, at
to fly to the Bahamas
are suffering at
someone his own age, with visits and as
third-grade rank earning his Parvuli
A statement from the group said the planes were originally supposed
deepest sympathy go to
our deepest sympathy go to those
the
A former member of the group who showed up on Havana TV claimed Brothers to the Rescue was planning to smuggle arms to
Our thoughts and our
"Our thoughts
who
nation.
Cubans.
of our community have urged me to join in prayer," Archbishop John C. Favalora said in a Feb. 26 statement.
the idea to support a sick person, even
is at
civilian planes
in the aircraft, their
families and the
in addition to visitation, friends could
a pen pal during Lent this year.
The
Feb. 24, called for prayers for the four
downing of two U.S.
and
them regularly. From Josephine, Timothy also got
within their country s 1 2-mile air-space boundary, while U.S. officials said they were in international air space and '
—
archbishop of Miami, reacting to Cuba'
Through his experience, Timothy said he realized that visitation is wonderful for a bed-ridden patient and
write cards or letters to
1996
Miami Archbishop Prays For Downed Pilots, Cuban People
all
—
1,
jet fighter. They were Armando Alejandre Jr.,
45; Carlos Costa, 29; Mario de la Pena, third plane 24; and Pablo Morales, 29.
A
flown by the co-founder and president of Brothers to the Rescue, Joe Basulto, returned safely.
After word reached the Miami Archdiocese of the shoot-down, Auxiliary Bishop Agustin A. Roman led a prayer service at the Shrine of Our
Lady of Charity.
The Miami Herald quoted statement from
a
Havana Cardinal Jaime
Ortega lamenting the loss of life and calling for "sanity and calm so that tempers do not flare." Cuban officials said the planes were
Cubans
fleeing the regime of Fidel
More
recently the group has over Havana to drop antiCastro leaflets, and Cuban officials have Castro.
flights
would be shot
warned
that their planes
down
they did not stop.
if
Since the shoot-down, Archbishop Favalora has been "reaching out to the families," said Mary Ross Agosta, communications director for the archdiocese, in a telephone interview
Feb. 27.
"The families
are so entwined with
the Catholic Church.
We feel when such
a traumatic incident occurs, it's a time people will turn to the church. The
archbishop is very conscious of that and ... wants to be soothing, comforting and let
them know they
are not alone."
See Cuba, page 13
John of God for
tl)c toeelt
Sunday:
Josephine Koenig and Timothy Howell pose
of
aWorch 3
JKBy
17: 1-9
Deuteronomy Luke
6:
9:
4-10
36-38
together during one of Timothy's
Tuesday:
They became
Wednesday: Jeremiah 18: 18-20
visits.
Isaiah 1:
10,16-20 23: 1-12
Matthew
20: 17-28
Matthew
friends while
Timothy
Jeremiah 17: 5-10 Luke 16: 19-31
needed his assistance. After experiencing a manic episode, John was calmed by the advice and consolations of John of Avila and set himself to aiding the poor and
Friday:
Qenesis 37: 3-4, 12-13, 17-28
the sick. He is the founder of the order of the Brothers
Matthew
21: 33-43,
45-46 Saturday:
Matthew Luke 15:
Photo by
STEVE UZZELL
John was born in Portugal in the 1500s. He served as a soldier until the age of 40, when he vowed to make amends for his dissolute life. He decided to sell religious articles and books and help those who
Thursday:
was earning a merit badge.
1 Ull!" """'"""/,,,
Qenesis 12: 1-4 2 Timothy 1: 8-10
Matthew Monday:
9
-
7:
14-15,18-20 11-32
1-3,
Hospitallers.
He
is
patron of heart patients, the sick, nurses and hospitals. His feast is
March
8.
®
1
996
CNS Gra P hics
March
1,
The Catholic News
1996
Giving
& Herald
3
Market" And "The KELLEY By JIM
Today's economic environment provides powerful incentives to plan gifts to Catholic causes in the most effective manner possible.
How can you make a gift, enjoy tax savings and conserve your cash for other uses? Let's say you have a stock that was purchased years ago for $1,000 that is now worth $5,000. You would like to
We've seen one record high after another as the Dow Jones industrial
average continues to climb year.
this
Some
make
market
making a gift of $5,000 worth of you receive the same charitable deduction you would have received by making a gift of cash and you do not have to pay capital gains tax on the
analysts
stock,
predict the
Dow
will
surpass 10,000 by the year 2000!
$4,000 increase in value. Experts agree that the outright gift of appreciated property is more advantageous from a tax savings standpoint than the simple cash gift because of the combined benefits of the charitable deduction and not having to pay a capital gains tax on
Jim Kelley
While many
a gift to your parish.
In
investors are jubilant about the
financial market's performance, each
new
record high also adds to anxiety over the likelihood of these trends continuing. Many do not question if there will be a significant market correction, but rather when that
Want
keep the stock? If you would like to make
a gift but
consider another technique.
time when federal capital gains tax rates are as high as 28 percent? Or do you risk loss of your increase in value in a "correction" that may come any day?
the
You
at this
cash to repurchase shares in
in
same company on the open market. You would acquire a new "cost
basis" in the stock of $5,000. If
it
continues to increase in value, you will
At the same time, lawmakers have been discussing reducing the federal
have
less gain to report if the stock is
sold.
Or if the stock goes down
and
Do you wait for a
is
sold,
you
will
in value
have a capital loss
for tax purposes.
For information Today's economic environment
also select that time to sell?
provides powerful incentives for you as
Perhaps a better choice
a faithful steward to plan your gifts to favorite Catholic causes, your parish, or
If such are
your concerns as a faithful steward of God's many gifts, consider conserving cash and using appreciated assets to
make
your diocese
manner
a carefully planned gift
I
most effective
will
be pleased to help with
The Development
Office, Diocese 524 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28207 or call (704) 3311709 or (704) 377-6871. Jim Kelley is the Diocesan Director of Development. at:
of Charlotte,
appreciated assets.
HisWll
the
possible.
information and assistance. Write to me
your parish, or the diocese. Now may be the best time since 1986 (when another change in federal law took place) to make planned gifts of appreciated stocks, bonds, mutual funds and many other to favorite Catholic causes,
Remember
in
1
"A valid Will stands as a continuing expression of our concern for loved ones, as well as an ongoing commit-
ment to the Church and the community in which we live."
In Yours.
these sixth graders.
By
Bishop William G. Curlin
GREENSBORO
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
The Main
Branch of the Greensboro Public Library buzzed with quiet excitement as 42 students invaded its premises in their quest for knowledge. It was no ordinary visit to the library, however. This was the annual Our Lady of Grace School scavenger hunt for
The
event, held Feb. 20,
was coordinated by teacher Patty Schram and Cindy Griggs. The hunt in the library was the final step in a project which builds the students'
skills
at
finding research
materials.
"Next week these students will be doing a paper on Bosnia and I expect current information.
You
can't get that
from textbooks," said Schram. Rather than hope they know how and where to gather the information, she taught them
The scavenger hunt has been a Our Lady of Grace School for the past seven years. The annual winners receive trophies and their names tradition at
are engraved
on a plaque
that
hangs
the school. This year, every student
were Brandon Frederick and Rikki Smith. In Schram' s class they were Emily Cupito and Blair Vocci. Schram coordinated the first library scavenger hunt several years ago while teaching in Sarasota, Florida. "The first time
I
assigned a research paper to a
how he was expected to find the right information if I didn't teach him how to do it. I thought class,
a student asked
was a fair question." Schram also encourages her students to do research via the Internet. A recent assignment on World War II yielded oral histories from Holocaust survivors and veterans of that war from interviews conducted on the World Wide Web. Between the library and the latest computer technology, the sixth graders
that
of
OLG will be well prepared to tackle
definitely an exciting time
we
"This
is
live in,"
said Schram.
in
who
participated received a blue ribbon.
"Many of these students know all about this event because their older siblings
competed
in past years," said
Schram. "They look forward to
it."
Several weeks before the library the students studied about library
ou can express your commitment to your Church by making a bequest to the Diocese of Charlotte
research
or to your parish. Simply have the following
tour of the library's departments.
statement included in your Will:
skills.
On
the day of the hunt,
library staff members
gave them a brief
"The more they pay attention during do in the hunt because the staff takes them past all the materials they'll be searching for," Schram explained. On the most recent hunt, the first group of students gathered in the library lobby for final instructions from Schram. (The second group would arrive later that day with Griggs in charge.) The hunt began when the volunteer parents the tour, the better they'll
"/ leave to the
Charlotte (or
Roman
Catholic Diocese of
parish, city) the
sum of$
percent of the residue of my estate) for religious, educational and charitable works."
(or
For more information on
how
to
make
its
a Will that works, contact
Jim Kelley, Diocese of Charlotte, Office of Development, 1524 East Morehead
most correct answers won the top
awards. In Grigg's class, the winners
their next research project.
the research process.
visit,
Hi
important. Students who finished with the
MARY COYNE WESSLING
sixth graders.
you may be trampled
in the rush for the exit as other investors
ogy makes learning an adventure for
could
give the $5,000 worth of stock and use
$5,000
broke the seals on the scavenger questionnaires. While time was a factor in the hunt, accuracy was more
tools along with the latest technol-
you own securities, you may be facing a dilemma. Do you sell your highly appreciated stock and "cash in" If
reduction, though
Build Skills
With Hunt For Knowledge Hands on experience with research
to
strongly believe in that particular stock,
capital gains tax rate.
OLG Students
the increased value of the stock.
correction will occur.
your gains
Photo by MARY COYNE WESSLING Mary Robbins and Eileen Goddard search the bookshelves for clues.
St.,
Charlotte,
NC 28207,
(704) 331-1709 or 377-6871.
Susan McGrath and Amanda Cheney are ready to start their search with questionaires from teacher, Patty
Schram.
Photos by MARY COYNE WESSLING
4 The Catholic
News
& Herald
March
1996
1,
The Pope Speaks
Tro-Life Corner
Pope John Paul II
Lent Gives Christians Opportunity To Faith, Hope, Love, Pope Says
Renew
fewer* VATICAN CITY (CNS) Carolina Gutierrez,
Dear brothers and sisters, Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of Lent. During these 40 days of spiritual preparation for the celebration of the paschal mystery, Christ's
thank the
followers are called to rediscover the meaning of our
in song.
redemption and to be renewed in faith, hope and love. Lent reminds us of the grace offered to us as a sign of God' s merciful love, which invites sinners to conversion and salvation. Lent is a reminder of the emptiness of the sinful life and is an incentive to live joyfully our Christian vocation as sons and daughters of God our
especially the pilgrims
Pope John Paul
II' s
weekly general audience Feb. 21.
21 -year-old mother of three from Miami, Florida, lost the third child, yet unborn, on December 19, 1995 and her own life on February 5, 1996. Cause of death a "safe and legal abortion."
from Life Issues Forum February 9, 1996 Diocese of Charlotte
The Respect Life Office
—
Here is the Vatican remarks in English at his
from the Diocese of Niigata and to the students and faculty of Immaculate Heart College in Kagoshima. I am grateful to the young Tarumi violinists for their inspiring music. I likewise
text of
(704) 377-6871
to
God"
(2
Cor
5:20). This exhortation of St. Paul,
taken from today's liturgy, points to the true meaning
we receive at the beginning of this season of conversion and reconciliation. We are invited
honor you can give Almighty God, greater than all your
our savior.
Pope Asks Tanzanian Bishops To Continue To Help Refugees VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul
II
asked the bishops of Tanzania to continue assisting the thousands of refugees seeking safety in their country, even though it has heavily taxed the resources of their dioceses.
welcome God's gift of salvation by listening to his word, by prayer and by mortification, especially fasting and works of mercy. As the church begins the first phase of her preparation for the great jubilee of the year 2000, I pray that during this Lenten season all Christians will be inspired to follow the Lord more
of peace and security will return to those troubled countries, thus permitting the return of the refugees to
closely and to promote the
new evangelization by their
personal witness to the Gospel.
May Mary,
mother of
hope, guide us on our journey through Lent toward the
joy of Easter. I extend a warm welcome to the Japanese pilgrims
sacrifices and mortifications, is to
from England and the United invoke the joy and peace of Christ
of the ashes which to
"The greatest
States, I cordially
father.
"We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled
many choirs present for their praise of God Upon all the English-speaking visitors,
"The poorest of the poor among you are the more than 700,000 refugees from Rwanda and Burundi," the pope told Tanzania's bishops Feb. 20 at the end of their "ad limina" visits to Rome. "Please God, conditions
and lands," the pope said. Waves of refugees began flooding into Tanzania in the spring of 1994 when ethnic violence turned Rwanda and Burundi into slaughter grounds. While groups of refugees periodically have returned to their homelands, new outbursts of violence have sent them and others back over the borders. their homes
LIVE JOYFULLY because of the knowledge of His love.
Vatican
II
Advanced
Laity's
There' s an old saying that the more things change,
Juliana of Norwich
more they
the
m
^News & Herald March 1, 1996 Volume 5 • Number 23
the truth of the adage.
participate actively in this great Sacrament.
Well, a lot of things have changed in the Roman Catholic Church since Pope John Paul XXIII convened
of the lay ministry take the place of the apostles when we distribute the Body and Blood of Christ at Mass, to
Staff Writer: Elizabeth
Maybach
Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf Advertising Manager: Editorial Assistant:
Gene
the
Second Vatican Council more than 30 years ago.
It's
not
Sullivan
an
Sheree McDermott
1524 East Morehead
PO Box
St.,
Charlotte,
37267, Charlotte,
NC
NC 28207
The Catholic News
<&
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is
NC
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for
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at
Charlotte
NC
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and other Catholic
made
God and one
at
cities.
News &
.
It's
I
Members
homes and shut-ins. an awesome opportunity, not to be taken
lightly.
The Ministry of
the Eucharist
is
not the only
ministry opened to the laity after the Second Vatican
Council. The opportunity to serve God and one another is as large as the minds of the Church can take us.
Serving one another doesn't have to be within St. own parish. The Catholic youth group Joseph in East Tawas and Immaculate Heart of Mary spends one day a month working at a soup in Tawas
—
one's
—
kitchen in Alpena, 60-plus miles north of town.
The Knights of Columbus have councils
when I
receive the host in
my
communion or drink from the priest' s chalice
this in
— you and — can now
residents in nursing
after all.
and the cup to His apostles
Do
Laymen and women
easier.
weekday Mass. The urge to marvel at the change is strong, until I remember that Christ handed the bread
week and Easter week and every two weeks during June, August
the laity's role in serving
at a
Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1524 East Morehead
Charlotte,
how
think of that often
hands
28237
Phone: (704) 331-1713 FAX: (704) 377-0842 Roman
intention to review all the changes, but to
boy
altar I
Mail:
my
Nearly 60 years ago, when Sister Marie Edward trained me to be an altar boy (her term was acolyte) at St. Mary' s of Redford, she pounded home the idea that we had to watch our hands. "You must not touch the chalice or the ciborium," she said over and over again. So chilling was her description of what might happen if I didn't heed her frequent warnings, that I told my mother I didn't know if I really wanted to be
Most Reverend William G. Curlin Michael Krokos Associate Editor: Joann Keane
a return to the actual events as they unfolded in the death.
another has been
Editor:
The Church
sometimes takes a lot of study to decide whether that is true or not, but eventually a case can be made for
highlight
Publisher:
In
upper room on the night Christ began His passion and
stay the same.
It
The Catholic
Role
at the first Eucharist.
memory of me,
Christ said at the Last
Supper. The priest repeats that sentence
at
every
over
ministries.
A ministry is a lot like giving up something that is bad for you during Lent. Be honest, many of us give up something more for ourselves than for God. A ministry and we end up feeling better than is the same way
—
those to
whom we minister.
This editorial originally appeared in The Michigan
Eucharist.
I'm sure Christ didn't only mean the miracle of changing bread and wine into His Body and Blood, but also the passing of the bread and the cup to one another. The "change" then really isn't a change at all, but
all
the state, and are involved in myriad charities and
newspaper of the Archdiocese of Detroit. It Herb Boldt, former executive sports editor for The Detroit News.
Catholic,
was
written by
March
The Catholic News
1996
1,
Light
& Herald
5
One Candle
Father John Catoir
Blessed Are The Merciful God, be merciful. Mercy is love's other name. When love confronts
to
misery,
called mercy.
is
it
Mercy
is
compassionate, sensitive and kind.
God abound
is
merciful.
The
Scriptures
in quotations about His wonderful mercy and He asks us to be merciful, too. We are the carriers of His love. / desire steadfast love
man who fell into the hands of the robbers? he said, "The one who showed him mercy. " Jesus said to him, 'Go and do likewise. (Luke 10: 36-37) That is the challenge we all face. It doesn't take much imagination to see that the corporal and spiritual works of mercy are specific illustrations of the Golden Rule in action. Here then are the works of mercy spoken of in the Gospel. As a meditation of God' s love, they speak for themselves. to the
want to be especially pleasing
If you
and not
knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6) In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught us how we can be merciful, when He asked, Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor sacrifice, the
'
4. Visiting
3.
Admonishing
prisoners;
4.
Comforting the
5.
Giving
1.
3.
afflicted;
shelter to the
6.
Forgiving of injuries; Bearing wrongs patiently;
homeless;
7.
Praying for the living and the dead.
6. Visiting the
If you were in spiritual need, how would you want to be treated?
5.
sick; 7.
Burying the
Pray for the grace to be merciful. Jesus said, "Blessed are the merciful
dead. If you
were
for they shall obtain mercy."
physical need, how would you want others to treat you?
For a free copy of the Christopher
in
The Seven Corporal Works of Mercy 2.
sinners;
The Seven
Feeding the hungry; Giving drink to the thirsty;
1
Clothing the naked;
2.
Spiritual
stamped, self-addressed envelope to The Christophers, 12 East 48th Street, New
Works
NY.
York,
of Mercy .
News Note, "The Golden Rule, " send a
10017.
Instructing the ignorant;
Counseling the doubtful;
Family Reflections Andrew
Choosing A Family Lenten Project Will Deepen Faith Our family is looking for some way to walk closer with God
during Lent this year. Past practices
have been about what each person will "give up." Personal sacrifices can be a way to connect with the suffering of others, part of our Christian identity.
However,
this
year we're looking for a
serious project that will help deepen our faith as a family. Perhaps we can tend to the needs of elderly neighbor or
participate in a food drive. Two problems
for us are finding time to
finding an activity
do
it
and
we all have an interest
in doing.
The
current culture of "busyness"
has definitely affected our
life-style.
The hours of each day seem too few
to
all the things we want to do. If part of our family Lenten project was to just get rid of a few extraneous activities (or
do
Terri Lyke
"family
whenever possible. Combine a service
might find more time to attend to a family
friendly."
service project.
should provide
involvement with a fun event. Seek out projects where you can join with other families in service. Joining with other families makes service more attractive and provides
we
"in-activities") that absorb our time,
special
&
Yes,
it's
about giving something up,
but not just for the sake of suffering.
It's
about saying "no" to lesser values so we can more readily say "yes" to something more important. For example: Though we aren't ardent TV viewers, we could watch less. If we cut our family viewing time in half we would save about five hours each week. With the basketball season in high gear (we're big Bulls fans!), this might be too big a sacrifice for us. Still, it's one way to find time for our Lenten family project. As far as finding a family service activity, we found a wonderful resource
It
opportunities for every family
member
to
support for nurturing a commitment to
serve.
Weigh the commitment of
km
justice
time, resources
and energy that your family has available at this time. Select service opportunities that
are within the capabilities of the children/teens in the family.
Make
sure the project matches the needs,
interests,
skills,
knowledge and
the following guidelines for selecting a
member. Seek out opportunities in which children/teens can have an active role
family service project.
and
called "Family
Works" which suggests
responsibilities of every family
real responsibilities.
Make
sure
they can be actively engaged in the
Make
sure the service project is well organized and designed to be
service project.
Integrate fun with
and service.
Most importantly, remember
that
involvement in service has the potential to promote the self-esteem and selfconfidence of children/teens and help them develop as caring persons. Be sure to select service projects that
promote
these qualities.
We'll decide in a few days what Lenten family service project we'll do.
Maybe the Bulls will still make it to the championship without the
NBA
cheering section of our family
room for
few games. Whatever we choose to do this Lent, we will do it prayerfully, humbly and together. a
service
Question Box Father John Dietzen In Vitro Fertilization
many more of these than we
there are thought.
Is the church still against this way
of conceiving babies? I know it's different, but if it helps couples conceive, what is so bad about it? A. I
You raise many huge questions;
will try to respond briefly to a few.
Technologies of
human
life
in the
reproduction
are developing rapidly,
but at least until
now nothing
has happened to diminish our serious Catholic moral concerns about in vitro
what we're talking
one of the methods now possible to conceive a child without sexual relations between a man and woman. In this procedure, the gametes (woman's ovum and the male sperm) is
in a
involve
first
producing
new human growth occur. Soon the new embryo is transferred
stages of
to another
environment, usually the
mother's (or other woman's) continuing development.
Such
fertilization
womb,
for
number
zygotes (fertilized ova).
Some
or
all
are
is
called
womb;
in a
First,
from the time the ovum
new
is
human life has own identity and
separate its
dignity.
life.
fertilization, of course, brings in the additional questions of marriage fidelity and
Heterologous
all
of them usually
fertilized a
human
usually placed
people who are not married to each other, and homologous if the cells come from a husband and wife married to one another. The church considers in vitro, literally "in glass," fertilization morally unacceptable for at least three fundamental reasons.
the gametes
majority of human social traditions through history, sexual relations in the context of the marriage relationship are the only setting worthy of bringing into existence and nurturing new
of
but one or a few
if
the church, as well as in the vast
a
come from
heterologous
way or the other. some procedures this would involve direct killing of human life; in others it may not. At very least it wrongly places new human beings in
parental identity and responsibility.
high risk of death.
procreation of the dignity which is proper
And third, this process for initiating human life is seen as a subversion of
and natural
die one
In
the dignity and unity of marriage,
and
But even
if
the fertilization
is
homologous (husband and wife providing the cells for the new life of their
child),
The
to
it
deprives
human
it.
fullest explanation of the
church's teachings on these matters
of the integrity of natural and necessary
in the
parental relationships with children as
March 1987,
"Instruction
is
on
procedures often performed on lives begun in vitro violate "the respect and physical and spiritual reverence owed to
they
of IVF
Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation," issued by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
these lives.
an important and profound one. In the tradition and teachings of
See Dietzen, page 16
Commercial,
about.
IVF
laboratory container, where the
begun which has
fertilization. First, let's clarify
and conception occurs,
are united,
A
magazine we receive had a long article recently about in vitro fertilization. According to the author, Q.
scientific
and other
Second, IVF methods normally
come
into the world.
This aspect of the moral character may seem less tangible, but it is
6 The Catholic
News
& Herald
March
1,
1996
American Affairs Lenten Reflection Ministry Gets DSA Support my whom my African
Father Vincent Donovan
"This
By
beloved Son on
is
MIKE KROKOS
Mark
favor
rests.
17
3:
Editor
was inadvertently not included in its entirety last week. We apologize to the African American Affairs Ministry and to our readers. CHARLOTTE— Like many other it. "Too many people are unaware of its agencies, the Diocese of Charlotte's
content, purpose and direction," he said.
African American Affairs Ministry depends on funding from the annual Diocesan Support Appeal to implement its programs. In fact, 20 percent of the
The primary purpose of "the plan, Rev. Mr. Todd said, is to evangelize and educate. "For example, black saints are cited in Eucharist prayers; there have been African popes and we have black bishops," he said. "We also need to reach out to fallenaway black Catholics as well
ministry events are directly
funded by the DSA. Since 1987 the African
American Affairs Ministry has received a percentage
others
of its operating budget from
faith."
the
DSA. This
ministry used
Another goal
year, the
DSA
who are interested in the
capital in several
ways, including a grant to start the Kabuka dancers and drummers program, and money to refurbish St. Benedict's Cemetery, an African American cemetery
Belmont. "We have had three workshops with experts to help us understand the National Black Catholic Pastoral Plan and what we need to do to implement it in our own parishes and diocese," said Rev. Mr. Curtiss Todd, Vicar for African American Affairs Ministry. "We used money to in
is
to increase
among African Americans, Rev. Mr. Todd added. vocations
The multi-faceted plan
taking steps in recent years to recognize
African heritage. Approximately 99
percent of the church's
members
are
African Americans. "Every fifth Sunday,
defray the cost of hosting the regional meeting of the National Black Catholic
we hold a Harambee celebration. People from
all
Congress, and to plan for the 1997 Congress in Baltimore. We also used some of the funding for the combined Martin Luther King Jr. and Black History
take part in
it,"
Month
celebration
we
hosted."
DSA funding has been used for other
travel
The Harambee celebration, which is based on the practices and beliefs of
African American slaves, includes traditional music and several symbolic performances. It was developed through
is
celebrate that.
at the
IT
it
chance in our lifetime to celebrate Lent and Holy Week and Easter. Then we might be able to understand it more clearly, appreciate it more dearly and experience it, step by step, more
now
that
intensely.
given a glimpse of glory that awaited him at the end of his passage, before it even began. Before the blood, sweat, tears and fears of the Garden and the frightening feeling of being abandoned by God on the Friday that was to be called "Good," he needed that vision on the mountaintop. So did Peter.
Maybe we would
Some money was
the mountaintop to see the
meaning of what was going to happen to him, the "passage which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem." He saw the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) being worked out in himself.
He
The celebration allows African Americans
to reach out
and touch
"We wear
culture,
Baker
clothing,
and experience the
said.
the
and grow
Church
Our Lady of Consolation Charlotte, said DSA money
at
in
—
and St. Benedict in Winstonhave actively begun implementing part of the National Black
provided has been well-spent. Both point
in Charlotte,
meeting in Charlotte where the National Black Catholic Congress' Pastoral Plan was discussed.
Salem
to the recent regional
"The workshop increased the number of people aware of the Congress' plan and its intent," Baker said. "I think it helped
many of us."
"They've been good meetings," added DeWalt. "They've made us aware of what we' ve got to do in our parishes as the Congress' plan suggested."
According to Rev. Mr. Todd, the workshops have been a "concerted effort" to make more people in the diocese aware of the pastoral plan and how to implement
—
Catholic Congress' Pastoral Plan.
"We
need to take those three and build on that. We want to have the ministry active in some aspect of every parish and mission in the diocese," Rev. Mr. Todd said. Although there is still plenty of work to be done, Rev. Mr. Todd said things are
moving
"This ministry is helping in giving a great sense of credibility. It's helping us say that ours is a culture which has and will
f
We need that
light of Easter
might give
meaning to the sometimes grim and gloomy 40 days of penance, passion and suffering. We need that vision in our lives so often
with
filled
inexplicable suffering, loss,
disappointment and betrayal. We need that vision in our church for the. times of listlessness and downright chaos. We Easter people need that view from the top to see all the way to the end. We should celebrate the Lent of 1996 as if we are never going to celebrate
it
again.
Father Vincent Donovan is associate pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Monroe.
make
positive contributions
church and to society."
Catholics
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And
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Diane Baker and Freddie DeWalt, American Affairs
co-chairs of the African
my beloved Son on whom my
is
favor rests. Listen to him."
NORTH CAROLINA Owned Roman
traditional
Tice added. "Everyone is feeling the presence of this group. I credit this ministry with a lot of that, where the parish is starting to lay claim to itself." The success of the African American ministry has other churches turning to Our Lady of Consolation when looking for a model program to follow. "We can now share with them and also say, 'What are you doing?'" Father Tice noted. Our Lady of Only three parishes
diocese.
"This
CHRISTIAN SUMMER CAMPS
their
year' s National Black Catholic Congress.
goes to 110 households and includes articles of interest and information pertinent to African Americans in the
to the end.
church.
great deal of diocesan interest, Father
was also created for the African American Affairs Ministry. Called "The Griot, " the monthly letter
understood that the
promise made to Abraham that "all the communities of the earth would find blessing in him" would be realized through him, a true son of Abraham. Jesus needed to hear that reassuring voice which he had heard across the waters of the Jordan at the beginning of his saving ministry. He
for people interested in attending next
newsletter
for us
Jesus of Nazareth went one day
The African American ministry at Our Lady of Consolation has generated a
A
good
he
was coming
vision early in Lent so that the
aside to provide training later this year
set
is
be here" on the mountaintop on this second stop in the Lenten journey. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of being on the mountain top and seeing a vision of America in which the value and worth of a person would not be judged by the color of his skin. to
Mass." projects as well.
share with St.
Peter the feeling that "it
again
American Affairs Ministry
the African
an attempt to share who we are and have the whole Church recognize and "This
over the diocese just to he said.
to
hear
also focuses
on the church family. "This is an attempt to share who we are and have the whole Church recognize and celebrate that," Rev. Mr. Todd noted. Father Cecil Tice, pastor at Our Lady of Consolation, said his church has been its
needed
HAS BEEN SAID THAT PERHAPS IT would be better if we had just one
Editor's Note: The following article
Ages 8-17 "I will lift
up
my
• Session lengths available 2,3,4,5,6,9
eyes to the mountains, from whence comes
weeks
my help."
-
Psalms 121:1
Route 2 Box 389, Brevard, North Carolina 28712 (704) 884-6834
•
March
1,
The Catholic News
1996
epiainme nt Entert
Call'
ence Office for Film and Broadcasting. Each videocason VHS format. 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
suitable for adults,
sette is available
video audience.
"The Easter Story" (1989) Half-hour animated version of
St.
Mark's Gospel, recounting events from Christ's entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday through his passion, death, resurrection and ascension. Intended for young children, the Hanna-Barbera animation is on the same basic level as Saturday-morning cartoons, the treatment is reverential and the violence of Holy Week is shown off-screen or from a distance. Appropriate for preschoolers and those in the early grades. (Videos with Values, (800) 233-4629) that of
an entertaining combination of folk culture, popular art and spiritual insight. (Videos with Values, (800) 233-4629, $14.99)
"Jesus of Nazareth" (1977) television Award-winning dramatization of the
life
of Christ from
the Nativity through the Resurrection,
with British actor Robert Powell giving an appropriately intense performance as
by Franco Zeffirelli, the 37 1 -minute production is mounted on an
Jesus. Directed
epic scale in a realistic setting rich in
period detail that enhances the drama's
"The Fourth Wise Man" (1985) Television adaptation of Henry Van Dyke's vintage short
Wise Man,"
tells
story,
"The Other
of a fourth Magi
(Martin Sheen) who's delayed in following the star to Bethlehem, then finally catches up with it in Jerusalem some 33 years later in an encounter which fulfills his life's search for truth. Produced by Paulist Father Ellwood Kieser and directed by Michael Rhodes, the 52-minute dramatization effectively amplifies the religious dimension of the original while adding some light humor from Alan Arkin as the Magi's servant. Family entertainment with the universal theme of bettering oneself by helping others. (Ignatius Press, (800)
651- 1531, $14.95)
"God's Trombones
A Trilogy" is
credibility while being entirely faithful
nomination of a family-oriented film from Australia as best picture of 1995 "ought to be a wake-up call to Hollywood," according to the U.S. bishops' movie expert, Henry Herx. Herx, who has been reviewing movies for the bishops since 1964, made the
comment Feb.
13 after the
death penalty.
family, and it had to come from Australia," he said. Herx, director of the U.S. Catholic Conference Office for Film and Broadcasting, was especially critical of The Disney Co., saying that its late
to launch a nationwide toll-free
founder Walt Disney built up the company by "consistently producing
The result achieves
quality family entertainment."
a spiritual dimension
uncommon in most
"The current leadership is diluting the Disney name by playing around with the animation form and incorporating adult themes and references," he said. Herx commended the academy, however, for nominating three other quality movies as best picture despite his belief that "Hollywood has turned movies into an overwhelmingly adult medium." "The Postman," "Sense and Sensibility" and "Apollo 13" each
such works For all members of the family (Ignatius Press, (800) 65 1-1531, $49.95) .
"Shadowlands" (1986)
BBC television drama about Oxford professor and Christian author C.S.Lewis (Joss Ackland), a confirmed bachelor
who
late in life falls in
love and marries
American poet and admirer Joy Gresham (Claire Bloom) who is dying of cancer. Beautifully produced and warmly acted, William Nicholson's dramatization of a deeply religious love story is at times amusing, often quite moving and entirely
outlook on life, love and death. Worthwhile, meaningful viewing for all but the youngest members of the Christian in
its
$19.95)
received a classification of A-II suitable for adults and adolescents
from the
USCC film office.
classified A-I
—
educator James Weldon Johnson
( 1 87 1 938) in the oratorical style of the black preachers he heard as a youth, three of which are given dramatic readings here by James Earl Jones and Dorian Harewood. Imaginatively visualized in
clay animation,
"The Creation" conveys
the wonderments of Genesis,
"Go Down
Death" finds consolation in "going home" to Jesus and the zestful retelling of "The Prodigal Son" includes the memorable line, "Young man, your arm's too short to box with God." Ideal family viewing, the 30-minute video
—
1996 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES (clockwise) Massimo and Maria Grazia Cucionotta star in "The Postman." The film was nominated for best picture and Troisi,
Troisi, Philippe Noiret
who died shortly after the filming,
received a nomination for best
Susan Sarandon received a nomination for best actress for her role in "Dead Man Walking." The movie's director, Tim Robbins, was also nominated for an award. The film "Sense and Sensibility," based on the Jane Austen novel, received a
actor.
nomination for best picture.
is
The fmncl$can Center
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— —
all.
"The academy seems to be hearing the cry for movies to which you can take the family," Herx said. The fifth nominee for best picture, "Braveheart," was classified A-IV
poems
—
It
was classified A-III
—
suitable for adults.
Concern for movie
fare
prompted
the Catholic Communication Campaign, the U.S. bishops' media-funding effort,
movie
review line to assist parents in choosing movies and videos for the family. The toll-free
number
is
(800) 31 1-4CCC.
"The movie review important
line puts
information moviegoing choices right
about at
the
fingertips of Catholic parents," said
Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Costello of
"Babe" was
suitable for
written by African-American author-
1
reservations
because of its scenes of violence. Oscar winners will be announced March 25. Another movie with Catholic themes, "Dead Man Walking," received Oscar nominations for best actor, best actress and best director but was not nominated for best picture. It is based on a Catholic nun's book about her experiences with inmates facing the
announced that "Babe," an Australian movie about a pig, was among the five films nominated for best picture of 1 995. "'Babe' was one of the few quality movies that theaters offered for the entire
1927, "God's
a collection of
Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
to the Gospel account.
family. (Vision Video, (800) 588-8474,
(1994)
First published in
Trombones"
—
On
Family Entertainment WASHINGTON (CNS) — The with
NEW YORK (CNS) — The following are home
Vid GOS
7
Oscar Nominations 'Wake-Up
videocassette reviews from the U.S. Catholic Confer-
_
& Herald
—
Syracuse, N. Y., chairman of the bishops'
Communications Committee. "When there are quality movies, the movie line broadcasts that fact."
He called the movie line "one of the best services the church offers families."
The movie
drew 100,000 calls months, prompting the bishops to vote to continue the service at least through February 1997. In 1995, the USCC film and broadcasting office reviewed 240 films. Only 14 of them were classified A-I or suitable for the entire family, while 45 morally offensive were classified O line
in its first four
—
for
all.
Of the rest, 38 were classified A-II, 109 were A-III and 34 were A-IV, primarily because of violent or sexually explicit scenes.
8
The Catholic News
& Herald
March
All
™@death®(? violence By Father Lawrence Catholic
News
Mick Service
hatred
— —
sin in our lives). All the focus
on sin and evil takes place against the background of the resurrection. We already know the end
more powerful than
of the story: Life is
death. Even the experience of great violence and deep loss will not defeat us or impel us to respond in kind if we cling to the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection. He never gave in to the temptation to respond to violence with violence, to return hate for hate. So we are able to sing out our joy and our hope even in the face of death!
—
smell of death. Celebrating in the midst of a Christian community can and should offer such an experience. We celebrate the power of the God who is the Lord of life who gives life and sustains our lives every day. The values the liturgy reflects stand in marked contrast to the values that often rule elsewhere. The liturgy, though, is not intended as an escape from "real life," as if going to church meant entering another world distinct from our daily existence. Good liturgy confronts the reality of evil and the forces of death in our world.
—
—
(Father Mick is a priest of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio, and a freelance writer in Dayton.)
FAITH IN THE
MARKETPLACE
What single element of your values system would you
most
The
core of Christian worship is the mystery of Christ's death and resurrec-
like to insert into the
world around you?
the paschal mystery. Both dimensions of that mystery death and resurrection receive sustained attention. The crucifixion of the Lord stands as one of the clearest examples of injustice and violence in history. This totally innocent person suffered greatly and died as a victim of death's forces. All who suffer injustice and violence
—
can identify with the crucified Lord and know that he is with them. However, Christ's suffering and death is only the first half of the story. It is the stunning fact of the resurrection that sustains our celebration. Death is not the victor that it seemed. Life triumphs. No force can ultimately conquer the power of the living Lord, who dies no more. Christ's resurrection is the basis for Christian hope in the face of life's difficulties. We who follow the crucified and risen One know that God brings life out of death. Life has the final word. We first entered into the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection in our baptism. As this mystery is the core of our worship, so it should be the core of our daily living. This mystery of death and resurrection forms the pattern of our lives.
—
—
an oasis of peace. For residents of troubled neighborhoods, going to church may offer a respite from the daily struggle to survive, an opportunity to experience safety and warmth in a life marked by danger and the cold
—
—
the catechumens' coming baptism; others' past baptisms and the conversion of life this celebrates. We hear the stories of: The woman at the well (calling us to slake our own thirst with the living water that only Jesus gives). The man born blind (calling us to see ourselves as God sees us). The raising of Lazarus from the dead (calling us to allow God's grace to raise us up from the deadly power of
like
tion:
©1 996 by CNS
are especially appropriate for a focus on
baptism
E.
Angry words punctuate the air. Sirens and flashing lights cut through the darkness. The weeping of mothers over the deaths of children resonates through the night. This scenario is repeated over and over in many big cities and is not uncommon even in smaller towns. Often, a grand old church building stands in the midst of the chaos. To some, this church space seems
contents copyright
1996
1,
"Honesty, because think the world in general would be a better place if everyone were a little more Jeanne Fadel, Brooklyn, honest." N.Y. I
—
"A sense of appreciation of each other's gifts, and with each other.
a
civility in
dealing
We need to listen
without cynicism to each other, with a sense of what the other person
has CNS
"Good death
in
liturgy confronts the reality of evil
our world."
It
escape violence and kind
"if
we
photo by The Crosiers,
we do
we may
not
and
resurrection."
found in the death of sin and selfishness within us: the death of the hatred within; the death of violence.
The
forces of evil
and
and death are not just around us. We find them within us as violence
well.
When sin and self-
ishness die within, can grow in love.
Jesus'
we
example
teaches us that love, not violence, is the most
powerful force
when
it
— Ed
Stieritz,
"Caring, because if you care, everything else falls into place one Francis Olson, way or another." Fargo, N.D.
—
not have to respond in
cling to the mystery of Christ's death
We are called to embrace the cross repeatedly, knowing that God can and will draw us through suffering and even death to fullness of life. But what dying are we called to embrace? Much of the answer to that is
to offer."
Erlanger, Ky. Plaisted
and the forces of
helps us to see that while
hostility,
Gene
comes to countering evil and death. Even on the cross he prays for those
"Conscience. think if you have a conscience, you know the difference between right and wrong, and if more decisions were made on that basis it would be a better Francy Mullen, Green world." I
—
Bay, Wis.
who
crucify him, loving to the end. is a time to honestly face the want the power of evil inside us. Christ's love to purify us and enable us to overcome the forces of death.
Lent
We
There are good opportunities to focus on this in parishes during events those involving the catechumens preparing for baptism at Easter. There are, for example, what we call the three "scrutinies" with the catechumens on the third, fourth and fifth Sundays of Lent. These events invite the whole assembly to scrutinize their lives. We pray that God will help us root out whatever is sinful in us and
—
strengthen what is good. The readings for these Sundays in 1996, especially the Gospel passages,
"Love, because I've seen that give people love, they
when you return
it
to you....
And
When you
respect.
respect somebody, then respect comes back to you." Connie Hidalgo, Houston, Texas
—
An upcoming edition asks: Tell of one way to be a true peacemaker at home. If
you would
like to
respond for
possible publication, please write: Faith Alive! 3211 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017- 1100.
March
1,
1996
The Catholic News
A prayer on
"Safety for the people
a dark night
& Herald
I
most love seems an illusion tonight in the face
Jesus,
gangs, and racial violence, and loss of meaning for young people, and I lose
TV news
is over, and I have switched the lamp to sit in the quiet of a sleeping house. Most nights I find this a comforting darkness, opening me to solitude and a sense of your presence. But tonight is different. Tonight the darkness is oppressive and chilled.
hope of a solution. It makes me weary, Lord, and inclined to bad choices. Protect me in your mercy from despairing isolation. Tonight, in the dark, I can feel myself wanting to live
off
The warm beacon
like the comical statue of the three
of
puny tonight, its weakness making the darkness more menacing.
my
night took
I
to-
breath
here
sit
It
...
makes me
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
weary, Lord, and inclined
bad choices. Protect me in your mercy from
to
During a solar eclipse, sunlight extinguished, it is blocked from
isn't
view.
despairing isolation."
Another kind of eclipse
way monkeys, with eyes, ears and mouth covered: "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil." Help me remember your passion,
Help
me with such a
weight that
crime....
brutal
me remember
that you
faced death and torture, and human cruelty, and the treachery of your friends, and the abuse of power by those entrusted with the public welfare. Give me the gift of your courage, Jesus. Walk with me in this dark time, and other dark times to
away. Two stories about children have covered
such a
Jesus. Death's stranglehold must have seemed to you, at some level, beyond shaking.
the night light at the top of the stairs seems
The TV news
of
and apparent
am in the dark tonight. The
I
am
confounded by the complexity insolubility of the social problems that contribute to the rise of I
By Dan Luby Catholic News Service
a
Lead me not simply away from the
story about the discovery of the body of a
darkness, but through it. Give me the courage to confront the power of death, as you did. Give me a heart to forgive hurts and to embrace those who wound the world. Move me to act
It
little
opened with
who was
girl
snatched while riding her bike. That hit close to home, Lord. It happened right here, in my
under II
an eclipse of life's value. In The Gospel of Life, a 1995
believes:
pope
encyclical, the
blocking
life's
cited factors
value from view and
creating a culture of death that
denies the "solidarity" of the human family's members and values people only for their "efficiency, functionality
and usefulness."
In this culture:
—
"A
life
which would require
greater acceptance, love and care is
considered useless or held to be an intolerable burden."
— "A
come.
frozen.
is
Pope John Paul
today,
illness,
just
by
person who, because of handicap or, more simply, existing,
compromises the
well-being or lifestyle of those
who
are more favored tends to be looked
upon as an enemy to be resisted
or
eliminated."
and
For the pope, the forces of death are forms of violence, whether the
Especially in this Lenten time of renewal and repentance, Jesus, lead
violence of abortion or that which
friendly, familiar town.
She was only a year
me
town
—
my
younger than
for
safe,
my son.
me
to
(Luby is the director of the Division of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Forth Worth, Texas, and a
an instant to
place. Sorrow, despair, grief, rage,
Help
me to bring peace.
imagine myself in their
nial:
to the resurrection.
and mercy and truth over greed and coldness of heart and lies. Bless those who are hurting. Use
parents walking the gauntlet of cameras, glassy-eyed with grief and regret. It was the of
for healing, for justice
drives children into poverty and malnutrition.
trust in the ultimate victory of grace
They showed her
work
life,
peace and communion.
CNS
guilt, de-
photo by Mary Ann Evans
The pope encourages awareness
of the culture of death, but
doesn't encourage despair. "A
journey of love, openness and service to human life can begin," he writes.
He calls for a "mobilization new culture of life."
for
a
David Gibson
free-lance writer.)
They would be
Editor, Faith Alive!
9
my heart, Lord. Safety for the people I most love seems an illusion tonight in the face of such a brutal and sinister crime. The next story was about a teenager killed in a gang shooting in another city. It shocked me to recognize her mother on the screen, a woman I met last spring. I remember her talking about her daughter with pride and affection. Again, I imagined the hole that will be left in her heart. Jesus, I am beside myself. I am stunned by the incomprehensibility of a life so without boundaries, so empty of capacity for human connection and sympathy that it could undertake the abduction and murder of a 9-year-old child.
he
new
like a boiling volcano in
A Biblical panorama
of Jesus'
particular is that the value of
defilement....
enty-fold" (Genesis 4:23-24).
By Father John J. Castelot Catholic News Service
Murder
the topic in one of the
is
forces.
Cain was envious of Abel's success and killed him (Genesis 4:8). Not to be
Consider warfare. It is heinous enough, but already in ancient times it was aggravated by senseless brutality: the wiping out of whole populations men, women, children, even livestock. What is even worse, people tried to justify it by invoking the sanction of the deity. The author of life was made to bear the burden of others' total lack
Lamech boasted
to his wives:
have killed a man for wounding me, a boy for bruising me. If Cain is avenged seven-fold, then Lamech sev-
"I
Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk
general and of his passion and death
life
depends on
of Cincinnati in his
Anthony Messenger Press, 1615 Republic
giving
it
book, Lenten Lunches
St., Cincinnati,
in
away," writes
OH 45210.
(St.
1995.
Paperback, $7.95). The book's reflections are based on weekday Lenten Mass life wasn't comfortable or easy, the archbishop says. Jesus "wanted to make clear through his life that our worth is not in what we get but in readings. Jesus'
what we
give."
Reflection:
Cain's resentment and Lamech's vicious brutality are just two examples of the forces of death in our world. These are not abstractions, but very real
Bible's very first stories.
outdone,
life in
human
the males.... "Then the other sons of Jacob followed up the slaughter and sacked the city in reprisal for their sister Dinah's
forces of death
FAITH IN ACTION The most basic lesson
of the
"Why did the contemporaries of Jesus want to put him
to
death?
Because he wasn't just like everybody else, " writes Archbishop Pilarczyk. If Jesus was rejected, his followers may be rejected at times too, since they share his life, the archbishop observes. He asks pointedly: "If it were a statutory crime to be a follower of Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict us?"
—
of respect for
The
life!
real causes
were the forces of
death: greed and inhuman savagery. In the Book of Genesis, unbridled lust led Shechem to rape Dinah, daughter of Jacob. When later, now out
asked to marry Dinah, her brothers agreed, but on condition that all the men of Shechem's tribe be circumcised. The condition was accepted and, when the pain of the operation was at of real love for her, he
its fiercest, Simeon and Levi avenged the family honor. They "took their swords, advanced against the city without any trouble, and massacred all
They
carried off all their
wealth, their women and their children, and took for loot whatever was in the houses" (Genesis 34:25-29). The forces of death: lust, revenge, offended honor, cruelty, lack of respect for human life. Jesus countered such forces of death
by striking at their root
causes.
"But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.... Therefore, if you bring your gift to
the altar and there recall that
your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift"
(Matthew
5:23-24).
Jesus opposed the forces of death by encouraging the forces of life: thoughtful reconciliation, love. "Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). The forces of death are not abstractions, and they cannot be conquered by by becoming retaliating in kind forces of death ourselves. Violence only begets further violence, and a culture of death thrives thereby.
—
(Father Castelot
is
scholar, author, teacher
a Scripture
and
lecturer.)
9
10 The Catholic
News
& Herald
March
People David Brinkley Tapped For Christophers' Life
diocese, is
Achievement Award
NEW YORK (CNS) — Two Oscarnominated Christopher
movies were named Award winners this year,
In
Regis Philbin Treasures His Catholic Education BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CNS)
which he has headed since 1 990,
—
— 56,000 square miles compared
with Maine's 32,500 square miles. He covers that area without an auxiliary
Regis Philbin
bishop and with fewer than 100
one.
priests.
isn't just
proud of
Catholic schools. He's also named after
The
co-star of the popular "Live
with Regis and Kathie Lee" television
and veteran television newscaster and commentator David Brinkley was named
show was named
after his father's
— Regis High School,
recipient of this year' s Christophers' Life
Father Byrne, Former
alma mater
Achievement Award. In all, three films, six TV specials, seven books for adults and four books for young people were
Head Of Dominicans,
Catholic boys' school in New York. "I
Dies Of Heart Attack
think everything I am is the result of 1
named winners of Christopher awards. The awards ceremony was scheduled for Feb. 29 in
New
honored for
five
York. Brinkley is being decades of outstanding
Dominican Founder Of Israeli Peace Village Dies NEVE SHALOM/WAHAT AL-
SALAM,
Israel
(CNS)
— Dominican
Father Bruno Hussar, a convert from Judaism who sought to promote peace among Jews and Palestinians, died at age 84 following a short illness. Father Hussar was the founder of Oasis of Peace, a
community designed coexistence
among
ROME
(CNS)
—
Irish Father
Damian Byrne, head of the Dominicans from 1983
to 1992, died of a heart attack
in Dublin, Ireland, Feb. 18 at
age 67, said
a statement issued by the order's
Rome
headquarters. During his term as master-
broadcast journalism.
to foster peaceful
the people of Israel.
general, Father Byrne had to handle touchy situations regarding two Dominican theologians at odds with the Vatican: Belgian-born Father Edward Schillebeeckx and U.S. Father Matthew Fox. Overall, there were "good relations
with the Vatican," during Father Byrne's term, said Father Oscar Mayorga,
Dominican press
years of Catholic education," Philbin
The Catholic Transcript, newspaper of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Growing up in the Bronx, he attended Our Lady of Solace Grammar School and Cardinal Hayes High told
School.
He completed
his Catholic
schooling at the University of Notre
Dame in South Bend, Ind. "The values that you learn as a kid stay with you the
of your life. Certainly, those nuns and brothers and priests drummed enough of those values into us that it
rest
helped us tremendously," said Philbin, 62, an Irish-Italian Catholic
secretary.
a
in
who lives
Greenwich.
Goal Of Catholic Editorial Cartoonist
To Make
71,
still is
one of the best
at stirring the
hot
pot of political and social issues. Over a
45-year career, the
artist
has received
three Pulitzer Prizes for editorial
cartooning and published six books of cartoons. His work is syndicated by the Los Angeles Times and appears twice
at the village.
Bishop Describes Challenges Of Heading Nation's Poorest Diocese PORTLAND, Maine (CNS)
weekly in its opinion pages. Conrad The Tidings, newspaper of the Los
told
Angeles Archdiocese, that his goal is "to make people think. I don't give a damn if you agree or disagree (with the cartoon). The problem is people aren't reading enough today and so they don't know
—
Bishop Donald E. Pelotte of Gallup, N.M., may not be able to visit with his fellow Abnaki Indians in his native Maine very often, but that doesn't
— At
Catholic editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad
Jewish and Christian members. Father Hussar and the village, known also by its combined Hebrew and Arabic names, Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, were nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Father Hussar was buried on Feb.
mean there is
any shortage of Native Americans in his life. "I have contact with fellow Native Americans perhaps daily in the Gallup Diocese in New Mexico and Arizona, where hundreds of thousands of them live," Bishop Pelotte said in an interview with The Church World, Portland diocesan newspaper. The New Mexico
People Think'
LOS ANGELES (CNS)
The community was built by its Muslim,
1 1
1996
The News
nearly twice the size of the state of
Maine
1,
anything."
CNS
photo by Tod Tamberg, The Tidings
Editorial cartoonist Paul Conrad sketches out a concept in his Los Angeles studio. The artist said he wants his work to give a voice to the common
man.
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March
The Catholic News
1996
1,
Minnesota Nun Recalls Her 'Orphan —
interview with the St. Cloud Cloud diocesan newspaper.
Northern Railroad train pulled into Avon, a tiny whistle-stop in central Minnesota, to the delight of the crowd gathered at
the orphan train wasn't unique.
the depot.
were sent from
Visitor, St.
Sister Bieganek' s experience with
Of nearly 1 50,000 children in need of families who
New York to other states
orphaned and
across the country between 1854 and
homeless children from
New York City
nearly 3,300 ended up in Minnesota, she said. The Children's Aid Society in New York started the orphan trains in response to the growing number of homeless and orphaned immigrant children wandering the city s streets and straining the capacity
filed off the train into the waiting
arms of their new foster parents. Two-year-old Edith Peterson was among them. She was met by John and Mary Bieganek, a farm family from Holdingford. The Bieganeks had contacted the New York Foundling Hospital three weeks earlier asking for a little girl with blond hair and blue eyes. That little girl grew up to become a
member of Little Falls
the Franciscan Sisters of
—
Sister Justina Bieganek.
"My foster father said later that when they took me off the train, I walked directly
1929,
'
of
warehouse-style orphanages. Society secretary Charles Brace
its
believed the best place for children was
open country with farm families, she said. The arrangement gave the children food, shelter and the stability of family life, and the farmers received an extra pair of helping hands for the chores. in the
who
Sister Bieganek,
toward him," she said in an
is
at the St.
Train' Past
a secretary
Francis Music Center in Little
New York
researched her
Falls,
—
—
1
By JOE TOWALSKI
LITTLE FALLS, Minn. (CNS) On a cool November day in 1 9 1 3 a Great
The passengers
& Herald
in the 1960s,
among
origins
and her personal account
is
those in a three-volume series,
"Orphan Train Riders." She said that the New York Foundling Hospital, run by the Sisters of Charity, began sponsoring orphan trains a few
more
like slaves and servants than sons and daughters. She was one of the lucky ones. But when her foster mother died of cancer,
there was talk of sending 6-year-old Edith
back
their
The
sure the children in
program went to Catholic homes. Minnesota region around St.
central
Cloud, with
its
many
farmsteads
owned
by Catholic immigrants like the Bieganeks, became a frequent stop on the orphan train route.
Like Sister Bieganek, most of the children were not legally adopted. Instead, families signed indenture papers guaranteeing the children an upbringing in exchange for work. Not every child found a loving home, Sister
Bieganek
said.
Some were treated
New
who became
"We
years after Brace inaugurated the practice.
The nuns made
to
York. She ended up living
with an older brother and his her
new
new
bride,
foster parents.
had a small farm, a beautiful
orchard and plenty of bees," she recounted
"Orphan Train Riders." "I literally grew up on honey. My new parents were
in
wonderful couple. Church, prayer and school were very important." After eighth grade, Sister Bieganek stayed home for a few years to help care
truly a
for her foster siblings before enrolling at
a boarding school run by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls.
Impressed with their tightly knit community, she joined the order in 1 929, the same year that child labor and welfare laws ended the era of the orphan trains. It was only in 1969, with a search through the Foundling Hospital's records during a
visit to
New York, that she was
some information two years of her life. "Not knowing about your origins is more frustrating than anything that can happen able to piece together
about the
first
to a person," she told the Visitor.
From
hospital records she learned
that her father
was
a 28- year-old
New
Yorker who died six months before her birth. Her mother, Rebecca Peterson, was a 26-year-old Norwegian immigrant. In the certificate of surrender the mother listed "inability to care for the child" as
the reason for giving her up.
The records mentioned an older Bieganek was unable any blood relatives. Still, she is happy about what she could discover. "Finding part of my history in those sibling, but Sister
to locate
documents was the most satisfying
my
experience of
entire life," she said.
She and other orphan
train riders
share such stories at yearly reunions.
About a dozen
states currently host
gatherings. Minnesota's CNS
Pilgrimage/Studkr Tour to
Greece and Turkey St.
John
Daily Masses ~ Morning and Evening Prayers ~ Scripture Study Sessions ~ Licensed Tour Guides ~ First Class Accommodations ~ All Entrance Fees ~ In-land Air and Water Transportation ~ Breakfast and Dinner Daily ~ All Taxes and Gratuities ~ Round-trip Airfare from Charlotte, NC
Father Phillip Leach and Sister Margaret Harig, SND, ministers at the Hill,
will
Newman
Catholic Student Center,
be Spiritual Directors. Arrangements by
Catholic Travel Centre. Call (919) 929-3730 for information. Just four places
BLOOMFIELD, N.J.—Thousands
stay experience at religious houses have
visited the former family
Sinclair
Lewis
in
homes of
Massachusetts,
William Randolph Hearst in California, W.T. Grant in Connecticut, a London townhouse four blocks from Victoria Station or a house overlooking St. Peter' in Rome for as little as $30 per day. A little but much used directory lists these and more than 2, 1 70 similar houses in Canada, Mexico, the United States and 60 other countries sponsored by 23
—
Total Cost: $3,849
Chapel
back
the
to the early 1960s.
AlternativeAccomodations of Catholic adults seeking the simple and budget-sparing overnight or short
June 10 -25, 1996
Campus
oldest, dating
Religious Directory Offers
on a
In the footsteps of St. Paul and
such
among
photo from Reulers
Thousands of people march along Dublin's O'Connell Street Feb. 25 in a rally urging the restoration of a ceasefire and further peace talks on Northern Ireland. Simultaneous rallies were held in London and throughout Ireland, as recent bombings brought renewed calls for peace.
Join us
is
denominations. left.
Religious houses provide good food
and safe, attractively furnished rooms and surroundings. Rooms can be single or double with baths that are private, shared or down the hall. Early reservations with a guest or retreat
recommended, since the number of rooms varies widely. Daily per person costs range from $30 to $65, registrar are
most including three meals.
The
directory, Overnight or Short
Stay at Religious Houses Around the World, lists the house name, address, zip code, telephone number, type of house
and denominational sponsor. It is available from Hugen Press, P.O. Box 2286, Bloomfield, N.J. 07003 at a cost of $19.95 postage paid.
12
The Catholic News
& Herald
March
Ways
Five
All Is
To Freshen
Night Vigil
Scheduled
HIGH POINT
Relationships WASHINGTON, D.C.— When is new, it's easy to be spontaneous and search out ways to please your partner, says Cathleen Gray, assistant
love
professor of social
work at The Catholic
University of America. But after several years in a marriage,
spouses often lose the energy to
work at
romances. "It's very hard after dealing with the mortgage, the baby and cleaning the house to put on our outside self, the person we are when we go to parties, the fun sides of ourselves," Gray says. "It's hard to be spontaneous with someone
Parishioners Offer
Easter vigil
is
— "He
March
Is
Farwell
Kollithanath, pastor of Christ the
High Point
King
will participate in
know because
really
it
feels
artificial."
specializes in marriage and
Gray
relationship issues and counsels couples.
When
their consider relationships stale and dull, it's a warning sign for more serious trouble
couples
down the road. "When people get stale, they get quiet. They stop asking questions and stop acting interested and curious about their partner."
She offers these five ways to freshen stale relationships: •
"Why
Instead of asking,
can't
my
spouse be more exciting?" take the initiative and launch something new in the relationship. Make it a surprise lunch date or rent a movie you saw on one of your first dates. • When you're going home from work, have a plan. Think of a story, an idea, a compliment, something that will add to your partner's day. Women put lipstick on before they go out the door.
Men comb going
Do
their hair.
home
to
this before
your partner.
Never go two weeks without having time alone. That weekend getaway to a bed and breakfast might be out of reach now, but couples can always make time to take a walk, visit a museum, or find a pretty spot to watch the sun set. • Send a love letter. Include a note •
in
your spouse's briefcase, purse or
gym
bag. All
it
has to say
is
that you'll
be thinking of him or her during the day. • Make sure you give a hug every day. Not just hello and good-bye hugs,
warm embraces that remind you why you fell in love in the first place. When Gray talks to individuals who
but
more life to the marriage, she asks them to put 100 percent into want
to bring
revitalizing the relationship instead of
always expecting their partners to meet halfway. "After several years of marriage, we sometimes forget we have to work at it to stay in love," Gray says.
"And we
forget
how
expecting something
to give without in
exchange."
Jude for Pra yers Answered
Blessed Virgin and
St.
D.M.V.
CARDOZA
St.
Redemptorist Father Daniel
until later."
Ordained
J.
James
St.
in
his doctorate in
responsibilities in the fields of politics
himself."
and economics," the pope said. "The church and the state have their own independent spheres which are parallel, but not opposed to each other," he said. "The church and state must serve without one men and women
Nevertheless, "he
—
interfering or submitting to the other
—
way in order to serve
in a complementary
Sacred Theology in 1978. Noting that he ministered on both sides of the Second Vatican Council, Father Sharrock stated he not only accepted changes in the life and liturgy of the church introduced by the council but feels, "It (Vatican the II) was
Father Sharrock as, "a shy quiet
good."
Pope John Paul said he hoped that the Catholic Church in Cuba and the island' s government could begin "an open dialogue" that would not only help leaders of church and state outline their rights and responsibilities, but would lead to greater understanding and acceptance. The February meeting in Cuba marked the 10th anniversary of an earlier
like
doesn't
draw
to
attention
to
and needs deserves to be thanked."
For his part, Redemptorist Father Daniel Sharrock Father Sharrock said he found the people of St. Joseph to be warm, generous greatest thing that has happened to the and friendly. "I want to emphasize how church in a long time. It made people much the people of Kannapolis have consciously aware of their responsibility
made them aware
meant to me and how much I'm going to
in the church. It
miss them."
they are to have a personal relationship
Born Sharrock six.
in Rochester, is
Though
his family
to his father's
most part schools.
NY,
Father
the fifth child in a family of
—
He
moved
a lot due
—
for the work, he said he attended parochial
recalls his call to the
national church gathering to discuss
priesthood at the age of 1 2 while serving
pastoral plans and priorities.
as altar
The world has changed
boy
at a
small parish in Sulfur
And that they have to do things enhance that relationship." A seminary teacher for 20 years, Father Sharrock said, "to keep in touch" during the years he taught, he always took a parish during the summertime. The next phase of his ministry was as a retreat director, a position he maintained to
Springs, Fla. "I spent a lot of time at the
for the next 15 years.
the transformations, one
church in those days," he recalled. "I got to know the priest real well and one day
amount of
might mention the fall in Eastern Europe of a political system based on Marxist philosophy, which had an influence on nations on other continents. "This system, spreading atheism, brought great trials to the church in those
an inner sensing led me to believe that's what I was to do with my life, too. And I never changed my mind after that," he added with a smile. "I believe the Lord sets apart those he wants to serve him at an early age ... even if some don t respond
"Among
countries, since
it
that
with God.
greatly in
those 10 years, the pope said.
in
Father 1955, Sharrock earned
Carboy, pastor of
man who
common
— Members of
Joseph parish bid Redemptorist Father David J. Sharrock farewell Feb. 11, honoring the parochial vicar for two years of service as he leaves to become pastor of St. Ann Church in Sumpter, South Carolina.
way, the church feels an obligation to alert the consciences of those who exercise public office of their great
Reflecting that a considerable his ministry had been spent
giving spiritual direction to others, Father Sharrock said, "I feel the most important thing the Lord called me to do was to help
other people find their
way
to
God."
'
considered religious
profession and practice to be irrelevant
and even harmful," the pope said. "Although the condition of the church among you was not exactly the same," he said, Cuban Catholics "have experienced difficult situations."
But attitudes toward faith are in Cuba, the pope said. "The stage of atheism, mistakenly described as scientific, seems to have been overcome in your nation and, on the
changing
IN
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA
part of the people as well as public
seems to be a recognition once again of the help which Christian faith can give to the social good. "The church in your country aspires to full freedom in with every right its work of evangelization so that it can bring the message of Christ to all Cubans, using appropriate means which include those which technology offers today,"
officials, there
—
the
In Thanksgiving to the
KANNAPOLIS
Joseph, described
Future, from pagel
the
Priest
Concord and the mission, St.
the Vigil.
their
we
A Fond
To Departing By MARION
8 at 8:30 p.m. and
Nursing Home in the Adoration Chapel. Father John Murphy, pastor of Our Lady of the Highways Church in Thomasville, Father Peter Jugis, pastor of Holy Infant Church in Reidsville and Father Phillip in
1996
Risen," an
through March 9 at 6: 30 a.m. at Maryfield
Church
1,
—
pope said. Pope John Paul closed his
a prayer that
letter
with
Cuban Catholics would be
untiring preachers of the truth about
God
would be shining witnesses of the power of love to
and humanity and transform society.
that they
TRADITIONAL CAMP
ADVENTURE CAMP
Cheerio's summer resident camp offers boys and girls 7-15 the chance
Adventure Camp is a coed wilderness program for those aged 10-17, and offers activities ranging from rock climbing, rappelling, and caving to mountain biking, rafting, and
to participate in activities.
many exciting camp
Horseback riding, swim-
ming, soccer, rappelling, arts and crafts, and dance are among over 20 activities available for selection
by
campers. Boys and girls attend separate one or two week camps, or they can select a 1 week coed camp.
kayaking. Trips offer a challenging experience, enhancing confidence, self-esteem. leadership, and Campers attend one or two week sessions; all
equipment
is
Camp Cheerio, PO Box 6258 High
Point,
NC
27262 (910) 869-0195
provided.
March
1,
1996
The Catholic News
Grant To Fund Mobile Health Services ASHEVILLE
— Mission +
St.
Joseph'
Health System have received a $225,000 grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to help fund a joint project that will provide mobile health and pediatric dental services in Western North Carolina. The project is designed to help overcome transportation and financial barriers that prevent people from getting needed health and dental services. The health
component of the project received $150,000 and the pediatric dental component received $75,000. The project consists of traveling clinics that will provide medical services in Buncombe County and pediatric dental services in the 1 1 -county region of Western services
North Carolina. Social services and health education will be provided.
JERUSALEM BOMB AFTERMATH
24 and Paul
II
left is
dozens wounded. Pope John
among those
escalating violence
decrying the
in Israel.
CNS
photo from Reuters
Terminally In
III
Find Comfort
KNOW 6951 E. Independence
MITSUBISHI
531-3131
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Facing never easy, but terminally ill patients who can tap their spiritual beliefs and find comforting perspectives on their own deaths tend to experience less death
is
of their loved ones. Once diagnosed with terminal illnesses, most people explore
what death means, Smith said. "Often, their beliefs are thrown into the air like a
game of 'pick-up-stix' make sense of their own
as they try to
deaths."
This process of rethinking values
professor of social
work at The Catholic University of America, measured levels of anxiety and depression in 116 adult
and spiritual beliefs sometimes confuses family members and other loved ones. But soul-searching is necessary and
cancer patients and assessed the depths of their spiritual beliefs. Patients who never accepted death
appears to help terminally face death more peacefully.
as a natural part of their life cycles nor
found positive ways to view their deaths were more likely to be in despair and to experience high levels of anxiety and depression, she found.
Some patients
are able to find peace
in their beliefs in a higher
turmoil that will
after death, she said. Others are
comforted
memories
they'll live in the
patients
E.
Endependence
5354444
HYunooi
make
it
less effective,"
Based on her research, Smith developed a counseling plan to guide social workers as they help terminally ill
acknowledge death and resolve The model includes helping patients explore their own spiritual beliefs and find comfort rather their grief and fears.
PUT YOUR GIFTS at the
Consider
PRIESTHOOD
than threatening views of death.
P apoiN]E THE
^
DEALERSHIPS SERVING CHARLOTTE WITH INTEGRITY FOR OVER 33 YEARS! Frank LaPointe, President
Member of
St.
Gabriel Church
•
this
"It certainly will take time to see how plays itself out in our community and
in the lives
of the families
mourning the he
said.
who
are
now
loss of their loved ones,"
"There's no need for any more
in
The Diocese of Charlotte Contact Father Frank O'Rourke Vocation Director
1621 Dilworth Road East
28203 334-2283 (704)
Charlotte, N.C.
the Cuban people in the The Cuban people are one
ones on the island and the ones here against each other and that should not be. "Their blood, the Cuban blood, is what unites them. Their faith is what unites them, that's always what has to be emphasized...."
As of late Feb. 27 the search was still on for the four men and the remains of their planes. No funeral plans had been made. "Certainly there is continued hope they could be found," Ms. Agosta said.
Despite the circumstances surrounding the plane flights by Brothers
Miami
area
is
one of support for the
organization, especially in the aftermath
of such a tragedy.
"There is no mistake this association saved many, many lives" in its work to spot rafters and notify the U.S. Coast
Guard
as to their whereabouts,
Agosta
said.
"I think the pulse
down
here
is
Ms. that
having an unarmed airplane blown out of the air doesn't balance the scale in anybody's mind," she added. "It's a terrible, terrible tragedy."
Contributing to this story was Ana Rodriguez-Soto in Miami.
Employment Opportunities Director of Religious Education: New position beginning Summer, 1996, for parish of more than 1,100 families.
DRE
will administer a total
parish program, giving priority to
4100E. Independence
5354455
Archbishop Favalora blow" to the community of south Florida, especially for Cuban-Americans. called the incident a "terrible
to the Rescue, the general feeling in the
she said.
power and life
by thoughts
ill
"Nurses and social workers must think through their own beliefs about death before they begin working with terminally ill patients. Otherwise the experience is likely to produce inner
Service of Others 7001
In the transcript of an interview taped for radio broadcast,
people. Incidents like this tend to pit the
patients
MITSUBISHI
One of the missing men, Costa, is a 1984 graduate of Msgr. Edward Pace Catholic High School. He grew up in Miami. De la Pena lived with his parents, Mario and Miriam, in South Miami. The couple are active members of St. Agatha Parish, where they counsel young couples in the parish. The elder de la Pena is the church's bookkeeper.
diaspora.
Their Spiritual Beliefs
who do not. Elizabeth Smith, an assistant
to
from page 2
Cuba and
distress than those
FOUR GREAT NAMES
13
animosities between the Cuban people in
—
(Above) An Israeli policeman passes the covered bodies of four people who died in a powerful bus explosion in Jerusalem Feb. 25. Hamas militants claimed responsibility for the blast, which killed
Cuba,
& Herald
K-12
and vocal skills important for weekend Masses, school Masses, weddings, funerals and choirs using "Worship" and "Gather" hymnals. Oldest Catholic Church building in Georgia.
catechesis, youth ministry and adult
Romanesque
education. Master's degree or equivalent preferred. Faithful to the teachings of
1862 Jardine Tracker Pipe Organ on Organ Historical Society's
the Magisterium of the Catholic Church.
"exceptional historic merit" list. 1,100
style,
with fully restored
downtown
Salary based on experience. Send resume
family
Francis by the Sea Catholic Church, P.O. Box 22239, Hilton Head
Cathedral-like qualities, ethnically
to:
St.
Island, S.C.
29925 by
May
15.
parish
with
diverse. Competitive salary history
and
demo tape (if available) to Rev. Allan J. McDonald at above address. Position
Director of Music/Organist: Roman Catholic Church of the Most
available July
Holy
Trinity, 720 Telfair St., P.O. Box 2446, Augusta, Ga. 30903 (704) 7224944. Full-time position for skilled
Part-Time Child Care Worker: Room at the Inn needs someone to work Mon.-Fri. from 3-6 p.m.
Music degree with concentration on organ/keyboard preferred. Liturgical, choral direction
Experience with infants and toddlers
organist/choir director.
1,
1996.
is a must. To apply, 525-4673.
call Tricia at
(704)
14
The Catholic News
& Herald
March
1,
1996
Diocesan News Briefs Lenten Opportunities "Soup and
—
ARDEN
Girl
and bread with a presentation by a guest speaker, follows
Wednesday
Mass during Lent at St. Barnabas Church. Mass is at 7 p.m., supper is at
Scout Sunday
MONROE — A day of recollection
Substance," a simple meal of soup
for cadets, junior and senior girl scouts
Sunday, March 10 from 1-3 p.m. Lady of Lourdes Church.
at
is
Our
BELMONT — A retreat designed to
help participants discover the spiritual
Barnabas Church are Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m. in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. An ecumenical Lenten service is Friday, March 8 at 6 p.m. at the lake pavilion at Lutheridege on Highway
meaning of dreams, called "Dreams: Visions of the Night," is March 29-31 at Belmont Abbey College. Cost is $120 if
The
service consists of a simple
meal and meditation of the Stations of the Cross.For information call
Barnabas Church
—
CLEMMONS
Lenten
Scriptures and Faith Sharing is a five-
on Lenten
reflection series
Scriptures and
how
they relate to
Groups, sponsored by the Evangelization Commission of Holy Family Church, meet weekly through Lent at various homes. Contact the church for information. The Stations of the Cross at Holy Family Church are Fridays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Vespers are Tuesdays at 7
everyday
life.
by the church office
to register.
— The
Stations
March 20 at 7 p.m. at St. Philip Church. prayer service and reception will
follow.
WINSTON-SALEM Stations of the Cross at St.
—
The Leo the
Mission Weeks
— Mission Week
Apostle Church
is
March
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are at 12 noon and at 7 p.m. CONCORD St. James Parish 9-14. Services on
—
—
CHARLOTTE A card party, sponsored by the Women' s Guild of Saint Vincent de Paul Church, is Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and must be purchased in advance. Call Doris Reinhardt at 552-2026 for tickets or more
Tuesday,
at
(704) 873-0166 for information and
The Paddy Noonan Show Noonan Show,
Fish Fry
7:30 p.m.
—
a performance presented
at St.
is
is
Friday,
and
will
March
8 from 5-8 p.m. at
be available
Our
—
Neumann Church 50+ Seniors Club St. Patrick's Day meeting and corned beef and cabbage luncheon is Wednesday, March 13. Lunch is $4.50 for members. John Trexler will entertain with Irish music. Call Ann Mclntyre at (704) 5455046 for information.
Day
party with the Separated, Divorced
and Remarried Catholics (SDR) group in Greensboro is Saturday, March 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Brenda's. Bring a covered dish, a beverage (preferably green) and a $1 donation. For directions, call Brenda at (910) 292-41 14 or Lois at (910) 855-
—
historically-inspired clothing for girls.
young
For show times and ticket
information, contact Josh
Newton
at
Parish Center. All are invited to attend.
Charlotte beach trip to Myrtle Beach and
Call the church for information.
Charleston is April 9-12. The price includes motorcoach, meals, shows and hotel room. For information, call Lou Scharff at (704) 541-6855.
—
Parish Mission Joan of Arc Church are:
March 2 at 5 p.m., March 3 at 7 p.m., March 4 and 6 at 8:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. and March 5 at 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m.
with Jesus as he moves in
from the Hosanna
Silence; in the Resurrection," directed
by Rev. James Campbell. Cost is $225. To registerfor these retreats, contact Living Waters Reflection Center, 1420 Soco Rd., Maggie Valley, JVC 28751. information, call (704) 926-3833.
CHARLOTTE — The Charismatic
Luke
—
HICKORY The Diocesan Scout Camporee Committee meets March 3 at at the Catholic Conference Center to discuss rescheduling camporee
2:30 p.m.
dates. All interested adult Scout leaders
and committee persons are encouraged For information call Frank
to attend.
Thompson
is celebrated March 10 and the second Sunday each month at 4 p.m. at St. Patrick Cathedral. Healing service is at 3 p.m. and a pot luck supper follows Mass.
at
(704) 359-5208.
Taize Prayer Services
BELMONT
— Taize
style prayer,
which consists of simple chants in English and Latin that are combined with short scripture readings and extended periods of silence, is featured at services March 6, March 27 and April 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Sisters of Mercy Motherhouse Chapel. For information, call Sister Maria Goretti
Weldon
at
(704) 825-8832 or
(704) 829-5154.
Mass
Caring Hearts Series Begins
CHARLOTTE program
ARDEN— Catholic Young Adults, and single, meets the second Saturday each month at St. Barnabas Church in the St. Lawrence Crypt For information, call Julie Doyle at (704) 274-5142. .
Healing
CHARLOTTE
Mass
—
A Mass
for
March 6 Wednesday each month at
healing mind, body and spirit is
and the
first
7:30 p.m. at
St.
Peter Church.
Home Mass With Bishop Curlin CHARLOTTE — Catholic Singles of Charlotte, a group for singles ages 21
and older, invites all singles to attend a celebrated by Bishop William G. Curlin Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. For information, call Tim at (704) 549-4265 or Kathleen at (704) 544-1634.
home Mass
— Caring Hearts, a
for spouses
and significant
others ofpeople with heart disease, begins its
Young Adults Meet
(704) 825-4161.
Feb. 26-29 at 7:30 p.m. in the
at St.
Boy Scout Camporee Meeting
a group for people ages 20-40, married
Fashion Show To Benefit Holy Angels BELMONT The American Girls Fashion Show is April 1 9-2 1 at St. Gabriel
St. Valentine's
Tuesday, March 5
Charismatic Mass
SDR Saint Patrick's Day Party GREENSBORO — A Saint Patrick'
6
Church.
of Palm Sunday through the solemnities of the Triduum into the Alleluia of Easter at the March 31 -April 7 retreat, "In the
For
1
Day Banquet and Dance
Gabriel Church. For
silence and darkness
at the door.
50+ Seniors Meet The St. John
CHARLOTTE
Walk
Feb.
festivites at the
The Paddy
information, call (704) 543-2903.
GREENSBORO— A fish fry dinner
STEVE UZZELL
MINT HILL Al Swain and Sister Jay McCann enjoy the notoriety and the
CHARLOTTE at
Photo by
—
reservations.
by the Irish Society,
information.
CRISM Beach Trip The CRISM group of the Diocese of
at St.
is
will discuss
CRISM activities. Call Pat Pekarekat(704) 873-2783 or Ann DeRiso
Parish Center. The shows, which will benefit Holy Angels, will feature
ASHEVILLE
Joseph's Feast
Day luncheon for retirees March 19. Suzanne Bach upcoming
Card Party
8471.
Great Church are Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will follow the stations.
Masses
St.
are $6.50 for adults and $4.50 for children
Apostle Church has invited members of St. John Lutheran Church to attend the Stations of the Cross Wednesday,
is
—
Church
the Apostle
Stations of
STATES VILLE— St. Philip the
Mission
Luncheon For Retirees STATESVILLE The St. Philip
Arc Church
of the Cross at Our Lady of Assumption Church are Fridays at 7 p.m. during Lent and are followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction.
STATESVILLE
Early
$80.
The Stations of the Cross at the Basilica of Saint Lawrence are Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Fridays at 1 1 :30 a.m. and 6 p.m. through April 3. Lenten Reflections by Father Benedict Groeschel are Wednesdays Feb. 28-March 27 at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the crypt.
at St. Philip the
AA.
For information or to register, call the Jesuit House of Prayer at (704) 622-7366.
Eat in or take out are available. Tickets
are Fridays during Lent at 7 p.m.
A
85. Call either of the presenters or stop
involved in
Lady of Grace Church. Proceeds will be used to build a Habitat for Humanity House. Baked fish will also be available.
ASHEVILLE — The
CHARLOTTE
1 1
for recovering
registration is requested.
March 8. Retreat D'Amato (704)
24 1 -4 1 43 and Eileen Riordan (423) 984-
men
alcoholic
"Twelve
retreat, is
Living Waters Retreats The March 22-24 retreat, "Critics' Choice," for those interested in media education, is directed by Gail Hunt Violette and Loretta Wnetrzak. Cost is
p.m.
the Cross at St. Joan of
Steps to Wholeness,"
presenters are Frances
St.
or Greg Carter at (704) 891-9658.
week
registered before
(704) 684-6098
at
"Listening to God in Dreams," is conducted by Dr. Eileen Riordan. Early retreat,
The March 15-16
Stations of the Cross at St.
25.
House Of Prayer Retreats
HOT SPRINGS — The March 8-10
registration is requested.
Dreams: Visions Of The Night
7:30 p.m. and the presentation is from 8-9 p.m.
The
Jesuit
spring session Wednesday,
March
6.
Meetings are each Wednesday through April from 7-8 30 p.m. at Mercy Hospital. Cost is $10. To register, call Sister Therese Galligan at (704) 379-5000 :
St. Patrick's
SHELBY
—A
Day Benefit St.
Patrick's
Day
Bridge Benefit sponsored by the Ladie: Guild at St. Mary Church is Thursday March 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall Tickets cost $5. Other card games an< board games are welcome. Foi information, call Pat Mullen at (704 480-7678.
The Catholic News & H-erald welcomes parish news for the diocesan news briefs. Good photographs, preferably black and white, are also welcome. Please submit news releases and photos at least 10 days before thi date of publication.
March
1,
The Catholic News
1996
& Herald
15
World And National Briefs Women
ROCHESTER, Like
of giving up something for Lent, why not do something to help humanity and
Rural Ministry Find
In
Camaraderie Amid Isolation many who
Minn. (CNS)
—
make the world a better place by writing to our troops in Bosnia,"
minister to the faithful
Franciscan Sister Christelle Watercott visits with Marion Schultz at Stevens
Community Memorial
It has pitted the Democratic Revolutionary Party against the state petroleum company Petroleos
Mexicanos, oil
Wisconsin have formed a new health partnership with a local health maintenance organization and a 28-site system. The four health care
new the partnership called Aegishealth at a Feb. 14 press conference in Chippewa Falls. "This is a joint venture not a merger
life
article in the
buyout," said David Fish, Aegishealth interim director and or
American Medical Association reported on a study involving 107 members of
Dame who
a
executive vice president of Hospital in
donate their brains to
Chippewa
Falls.
St.
Joseph
"No one
is
taking over anyone else. "Aegishealth
Most were from the Milwaukee Each of the 107 nuns had written a
science. area.
announced
—
Feb. 21 issue of the Journal of the
to
was developed
in
response to research demands of our
brief autobiography shortly before
outlining the needs and
professing final vows, and those writings
communities," Fish added. He said that
— kept congregation's archives — were analyzed both
Aegishealth has more than 500 physicians and more than 535 hospital
in the
idea density
for
and
grammatical
Researchers then compared the findings
beds for primary care, specialty care and tertiary care, and offers the region'
on
businesses and residents an alternative
complexity.
linguistic ability to assessments of
cognitive ability in the 93 nuns
who
formed three years ago by Minnesota' s famed Mayo Clinic and an Eau Claire hospital and clinic.
to an organization
were still living and to neuropathological examinations of the 14 who had died.
Catholic Hospitals Form New Health Care Partnership CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (CNS)
— Two Catholic
Meet Sister Guatemala BELLEVILLE, 111. (CNS)
Belleville Catholics
Parishioners
In
—
Sixteen people from the Belleville
hospitals in western'
TTITTTITfimiTTITTTITTITTTITTITTTITTITTTITTlTTT
Johannus Church Organs
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hymns playeb
at
tl?e
of
journeyed to Guatemala to meet the people of their sister parishes there for the first time. The people represented 1 1 Belleville diocesan parishes involved in the sister parish effort. In all, 22 parishes are in the program. In addition to meeting Guatemalan Catholics from the Diocese of Jalapa, trip leaders Father Vincent Haselhorst and Colette Kennett brought medical supplies for distribution around the diocese.
Philadelphia Gets 'Missionary'
Nuns From Nigeria, Argentina PHILADELPHIA (CNS) Two foreign-based congregations of women
—
have agreed to send members Philadelphia for the first time, according to Father Alexander J.
religious to
Palmieri, vicar for religious in the
Tota((v; wireless
from the Daughters of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Nigeria and from the Servants of the Lord and Virgin of
archdiocese
—
more than any other
the important areas of Catholic
a great benefit to our people,
a button
witness of their consecrated
systems anb fearing impaired devices
all
in
and the be
life will
this
local
church," he added.
Massachusetts Priest Urges To Bosnia During Lent A REVERE, Mass. (CNS)
Letters
On All Makes
<
.MM .MM
to
join over 4,100 dedicated women religious presently serving in this
.MM .MM
,M M
—
Franciscan preacher from Massachusetts is
.,
happy
education and Hispanic ministry will be
1337 Central Ave. Charlotte, N.C. 28205 • . v r-i irJusic&Electronics.Inc. (704) 375-8108 1-800-331-0768 -
are
welcome these two new congregations whose sisters will
certainly
Quality pianos for aforbable prices
m
"We
Matara, based in Argentina.
a great blessing to
Electronic Organ Service
sisters
are coming
Church Pianos
*
The
Philadelphia Archdiocese.
urging Catholics to write to U.S.
soldiers in
Bosnia-Herzegovina during
And
for those looking for letter-
Lent.
writing tips, Franciscan Father
Ferrara has a suggestion letters
of the
New
Bede
— read
the
Testament. "Instead
wells since Jan. 29.
have been arrested and
as
PEMEX. PEMEX
More
than 100
jailed.
Vietnam Bishops Study State Approval Of Church Quarterly HANOI, Vietnam (CNS)
—
Vietnam's bishops are studying the government's decision to allow them to produce a quarterly publication on catechetical and moral matters. The state Religious Affairs Bureau gave that permission in a Feb. 2 letter, while noting that the publication must comply with government regulations on "publishing and circulation of printed materials," UC A News, an Asia church news agency based in Thailand, reported. Thus far, government-owned publishing houses have printed only a few Catholic titles. Since modern printing and photocopying machines are now available, more titles, mostly translations of Western Catholic authors, have been published.
Planning Council For American Synod Meets At Vatican The VATICAN CITY (CNS) planning council for the special Synod of Bishops for America met at the
—
Vatican in mid-February to discuss the synod's preparatory document. A Feb. 2 1 Vatican announcement said the synod planners held their second meeting Feb. 13-15 to study an outline of the preparatory document and a suggested
of questions that would be distributed North and South American bishops, religious and church organizations. Responses to the preparatory document and the questionnaire would be used for the drafting of the synod's working document. Pope John Paul II has called for a series of synods focusing on various regions of the world as part of the Catholic Church's preparation for the year 2000. Synods already have been held for Europe and for Africa. A date has not been set for the American synod, which the pope said should examine the status of church life, cooperation between North and South and questions dealing with social and economic justice. list
Sound Systems
*
when they
Palmieri said. "The sisters' apostolates
& price push
Cloud Visitor
Diocese became part of a historic peopleto-people meeting in January
in
Catholic
St.
diocese in the United States," Father
Synthia Music Systems
*
known
Protesters have been blocking
increases the chance of Alzheimer's
had agreed
Ochoa
the confrontation.
providers
the School Sisters of Notre
parties
involved in a conflict over oil pollution in his diocese to peacefully come to
the part of everyone involved to resolve
low
An
—A
of Tabasco called for collaboration on
clinic
life.
Mexican bishop has asked the
terms. Bishop Florencio Olvera
WASHINGTON (CNS) — A study
disease later in
"A
said.
Peaceful Solution To Environmental Crisis TABASCO, Mexico (CNS)
Watercott finds it a challenge to keep people spiritually tied to the land and to their communities.
involving elderly nuns has found that in early
said.
Mexican Bishop Calls For
rural ministers, Sister
Study Involving Nuns Finds Early Clue To Alzheimer's
ability
Operation Joint Endeavor, he
Hospital in Morris, Minn, before offering Communion. Like other
CNS photo by Dianne Nordquist,
linguistic
he
from home would lift the spirits of our service people." There are more than 20,000 Americans serving in letter
Michele Rein spends a lot of her time on the road. She frequently drives the 20 miles between Harrison and Bloomville, Wis., where she performs pastoral administration duties for the Catholic parish in each town. She visits ill parishioners in hospitals up to 60 miles away. Recently, she drove 75 miles to attend a wake. "You learn to take a lot of snacks along for the ride," she said. "Time spent in the car can also be a good time for reflection." Ms. Rein' story was typical of those told by women serving rural congregations in the upper Midwest who attended a two-day conference in Rochester, "The Land and the People: Journeys of Women in Rural Ministry." About 50 women attended the ecumenical gathering. Similar programs were held in Crookston and in Marvin, S.D. in rural areas,
to
& Herald Pastor At Queen Of The Apostles Church,
The Catholic News
16
Msgr. Burke,
March Retires, from
page
"I
where he lived for 17 years teaching the was a wonderful experience seeing first generation Christians meeting the Lord for the first time," he said. "You begin to see how the power of grace works in one another." "That work was very important to him," added Sister Mary Thomas. "He was a missionary at heart. Things of this world have never meant much to "It
so great."
Msgr. Burke will still reside in Belmont. How will he spend his free time? Thanks to parishioners at Queen of the Apostles, the Msgr. can watch nearly anything on the satellite dish they presented him at last week's farewell dinner.
him."
When
"With he arrived
1996
can't go on forever," he said. "However, the needs of the Church are
1
Nigeria,
Gospel.
1,
United States, then Father Burke served the Diocese of Brooklyn, N. Y., and did relief work in Massachusetts He also worked in Michigan before being invited to the Diocese of in the
.
EWTN
"One
is
the
response of people (in Nigeria) to the Gospel and the acceptance of God as the Good Spirit. Also, how they always gave thanks. They were a very grateful
now watch
Word
Television
we
local cable," said
Chuck Martin, who
emceed
don't get on our
the event.
Sister
out from his years as a missionary.
he can
Network), which
Charlotte.
His 43 years in the priesthood have produced many memories, but Msgr. Burke said a few stand
this,
(Eternal
Mary Thomas
said she
was
not surprised by the outpouring of love
her brother received dinner. "This
at the farewell
what I've experienced
is
in every parish he's served," she said.
"His whole life has been the church and reaching out to others."
people." Photo by MIKE
Msgr. Burke has mixed emotions about retiring.
KROKOS
Msgr. Thomas Burke, retired bishop Michael J. Begley and Bishop William G. Curlin share a laugh at last week's retirement dinner for Msgr. Burke.
whereby
Dietzen, from page 5
all this
And each says of this procedure, "In conformity with the traditional doctrine relating to the goods of marriage and the dignity of the person, the church remains opposed from the moral point of view to It
DSA Funds
Evangelization
page
Efforts, from
1
that says a lot about the effects of getting
people to take an active part in reaching
homologous
out to others."
Other evangelization programs are
.
opposition to the dignity of procreation
planning stages. In May, a series called "Landings" begins that will teach church leaders new methods of reaching out to inactive Catholics and will provide in
resources for parishes to start their
and of the conjugal union" (II, 5). It needs to be clearly stated here that when IVF or any other kind of artificial human fertilization does happen, the resulting life is no less human and no less to be accepted and cared for with love.
own
evangelization classes. Another program that the
weekend
commission
planning
is
institute called
is
a
"Creating an
Evangelizing Parish" that will be a means of teaching people about evangelization efforts that can be conducted through Father Ed Vilkauskas
individual parishes.
Father Vilkauskas said the heart of evangelization
always trying in
is
to
"What we're develop leadership
awareness.
do
is
parishes, provide training for those
leaders and animating people to get
involved
in the
evangelization process."
The evangelization program is almost entirely supported
by the DSA.
"We
get
about 80-90 percent of our funds from the DSA," Father Vilkauskas said. "The money is spent on speaker fees, materials for
Such and in
'in vitro' fertilization.
fertilization is in itself illicit
for a newsletter called
intended for people
away from
is
the heart of the
of the
moral, questions.
For the reasons given, the church's
concerns about IVF and related procedures remain basically the same as they have been. They are not likely to change unless future technological developments somehow address and mitigate them.
A free brochure answering questions Catholics ask about annulments is available by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to Father John Dietzen, Holy Trinity Church, 704 N. Main St., Bloomington, III.
61701. Questions should be sent to Father
Dietzen at the same address.
we love. we most
f CS1III|Âť
CAAIP
iiicrri-mac
TIAIIWKLAIU2
cherish?"
-MORE THAN JUST A CAMP"
reach out to deepen our
"We
SUMMER OF FUN. BUILDING CONFIDENCE & MOTIVATION"
'A
programs and reference materials for
parishes. Also,
we
subsidize
many of the
programs and workshops, so participants won't have large registration fees."
The
DSA
also helps provide funds
Advertise
AN EASTER RETREAT FOR MEN The Catholic News
&
Herald
with the
has the right spot to
MONKS OF BELMONT ABBEY
reach your customers A Summer Camp For
Girls
A Summer Camp For Boys
Ages 6-16
April 4-7, 1996 contact:
Rev. Placid Solari,
OSB
Belmont Abbey H
Belmont, NC 28012 (704) 825-6702 or 825-6848
array of
own faith and to How could we not
Gospels," Father Vilkauskas said.
share what
own
who have dropped
way of life and the heart
share what
its
and human, and therefore
the faith.
"Evangelization Catholic
"Another Look."
This, of course, underlies the first and second points I made above. For us who were raised when there was only one way for a baby to be conceived and carried to term in the womb of its own mother, it boggles the mind to realize that today there are at least 30 different combinations of methods
religious
can happen.
has
In the
Ages 6-15
Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina For brochure and infcmation write or call Spencer or Dorothy Boyd 1229 Montreat Road â&#x20AC;˘ Black Mountain, N.C. 28711
(704) 669-8766