May 22, 1998 by Catholic News Herald

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News & Herald

Volume 7 Number 36

Serving Catholics in Western North Carolina in the Diocese of Charlotte

Lay Ministry Graduates Eager To Share By

— Carl and Leslie

and choir member at Christ the King Church in High Point, said she

echist

way to get Members

for a

re-educated about their

1998

hours of lay ministry training. Jane Ray, who has served as a cat-

Editor

CHARLOTTE

Brown were looking

22,

of Christ

l\/linistry

MIKE KROKOS

May

found the training

faith.

to be invaluable. "It

of Good Shepherd Church in King, they spent the past four years serving on the

was important

parish council and working in youth

deepen

continuing education as Catholics; thus they joined the Diocese of Charlotte's

understanding of the traditions of our church, where we come from, where we are, and where we might be going in the future," she said.

Lay Ministry Training Program.

"I also

wanted

ministry.

Still,

they

felt

they a need for

"Bringing Christ to people

Brown

to teach."

On May

16, the

Browns and 92

be a part of

to I

deepen

wanted

my own

per-

sonal prayer life. This was a good springboard for that." In his homily. Bishop William G. Curlin urged the graduates to bring people the love of Jesus Christ. "To-

very explained. "That's why we decided to be a part of this (class) and get energized

important to us," Carl

for

program because

the

day you are saying,

oth-

life

and

gifts

ers received certificates at St. Gabriel

are yours, Jesus," the bishop added.

Church acknowledging them as graduates of the Lay Ministry Training Program. The class is the fourth group to graduate, bringing the total number of individuals who have participated in the program to 406.

"Make Him

As one of the directives of the

ministry.

Jane Ray of Christ the King Church in High Point receives her degree upon completion of the diocesan lay ministry program from Bishop William G. Curlin. Also shown is Mercy Sister Mary Timothy Warren, Office of Lay Ministry director. and religion

grow in faith," Sisler Timothy added. Over the last two years, graduates

"The academic program was de-

87 Diocesan Synod, the lay ministry

certification as catechists

program was designed for men and women who desire to grow in compe-

teachers.

signed to help participants appreciate and understand more fully that they are

have given readily of their time, meeting on designated Saturdays each month. Courses offered included: In-

and the marketplace, said Mercy Sister Mary Timothy Warren, Office of Lay Ministry director. The program is also

called to and gifted for ministry by vir-

troduction to Ministry; Introduction to

tue of their baptism, be affirmed in their

present ministries (both in the church

Scripture; Christology; Church & Church History; Social Ministry;

a prerequisite for individuals entering

and marketplace), explore their giftedness and how their gifts may be used in response to their baptismal call, and

Vatican II Documents; Liturgy & Sacraments; Prayer; and Christian Morality. The classes totaled more than 100

to others in their families, the church,

permanent diaconate, and for individuals who want to be upgraded in their

the

promise

you have

will leave this

that

church and

take the light of Jesus into your par-

your community, and the world." class of 2000 begins training with classes offered at three

ish,

The

in the fall,

1986-

tence and confidence as they minister

you

faith,

the foundation of your

sites:

St.

Barnabas

Arden,

St.

Gabriel in Charlotte and Our Lady of Grace in Greensboro.

For more information, contact Mercy Sister Timothy Warren, Ojfice Ministry, 1123 S. Church St., Lay of Charlotte, N.C. 28209, or (704) 370-

3213.

See related photo, page

Priest Officiates At Historic Disinterment By

MAUREEN McGUINNESS

ALBANY,

N.Y. (CNS)

— Neither

military rules nor church rituals gave

much guidance

to Father Leo Joseph O'Keeffe during the recent historic disinterment ceremony of the remains of the Vietnam Unknown. A priest of the Albany Dipcese, Father O'Keeffe is a colonel in the Army and command chaplain of the military district of Washington. He delivered the prayer at the brief ceremony held May 14 under sunny skies in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. While there were no precedents to guide him. Father O'Keeffe knew what he wanted to do. "I wanted a dignified, appropriate and brief prayer," he told The Evangelist, Albany diocesan newspaper in a

telephone interview.

45-second prayer he hoped to reach out to people of many faith traditions. "I wanted to be sensitive to Christians, Jews as well as (other) non-ChrisIn his

tians." the chaplain said. "I tried to

weave

the basic idea of the Lord's Prayer with the nation's motto."

The disinterment ceremony is the only one ever held, the chaplain said. "It's never been done before and it will never be done again," he said, adding that inall service personnel now have

DNA

formation listed in their medical records

remains can be identified. The remains of the Vietnam Unknown were removed so that they could be tested since recent evidence indicates the remains are of one of nine combatants killed in May 1972 at An Loc, 80 so that

all

child

come

of being a young man during the Vietnam War era. A native of Glens Falls, which is in the Albany Diocese, he remembers a number of childhood classmates as well as two college classries

who were killed in Vietnam. Had he not been in the seminary afgraduating from Fordham in 1965

mates

miles north of Saigon.

The

come back has

a place where their remembered," he said. "People pay honor to the people who put their lives on the line, who were willing to pay the ultimate price." Father O'Keeffe, who will complete 20 years in the Army in July, has memodid not

DNA tests have the potential to

allow one family to have certainty to the

ter

Unknowns is an many families, the

where he had been commissioned as a second lieutenant through Army ROTC, he too may have gone to Vietnam. "I would have gone by '67," he said. "Why the Lord called me to be a priest still is a mystery." The priest said there were many contrasts in the crowd assembled for the ceremony at Arlington. "As I looked out at people I saw congressional Medal of

"Every mother or father whose child

See Disinterment, page 2

fate of their

loved one, the priest said.

The chaplain foolproof

said

way of

dog tags

aren't a

identifying a soldier.

"Whether a submarine like the Thresher, or an airplane crew lost at sea, or on a battlefield where a person is literally blown apart, we carry dog tags but even steel disappears,"

The Tomb of

said.

the

important place for chaplain said.

The

coffin of

serviceman

an unidentified U.S. removed from the Tomb

Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery May 14. The remains were exhumed for high-tech identification tests. of the

The Catholic News

& Herald

May

Sanction Concerns

Disinterment,

In India

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

— A U.S.

exempt humanitarian and development aid if the U.S. government imposes restrictions on India because of ministration to

its

nuclear

tests.

Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick, chairman of the U.S. bishops' International Policy Committee, also said that the United States' moral credibility in urging India to forgo nuclear weapons

depended on U.S. willingness

to ratify

the comprehensive test ban treaty.

Archbishop McCarrick' s letter to National Security Adviser Samuel Berger, dated May 15 and released May quoted the U.S. bishops' 1993 pastoral letter, "The Harvest of Justice is Sown in Peace." In that letter, the bishops said "an active commitment by the United States to nuclear disarmament and the strengthening of collective security is the only moral basis for temporarily retaining our deterrent and our insistence that other nations forgo these weapons." Archbishop McCarrick told Berger he shared "the dismay of the Clinton

But he said the government must "take due care to avoid imposing burdens" that the poor "can scarcely bear." "It is regrettable that India has diverted scarce resources to develop weap-

many others

at the

decision of the Indian government to test

nuclear weapons."

May

own

lis

reteiit tests, India

CDUiitriei wHli

said.

still

vision of nonvio-

tragic to witness India destroy

heritage of liberation and na-

tional identity.

"We have

admired the great

reli-

gions of your nation and their traditions

of nonviolence.

was with your

leader-

CNS

photo from Reuters

an Indian Army

exhibit look

ship that we, along with others, had

Visitors to

hoped

over an exact-scale replica of the

to bring our

world into a

truly

peaceful era," the council said.

"Where now

world find a voice of peace on behalf of those people

The number of nudear weopofis

missile

h^ af

Prithvi

in April.

An Indian goverrmient statement said May

the three underground nuclear tests

oipabilHiBS.

conducted

Bombay

and those nations who stand in the threat of your nuclear weapons?" it asked. Speaking as "the only nation that has experienced the hell and destruction of nuclear weapons," the Japanese group wrote that India's blasts have damaged "the fragile efforts" toward "the future destruction of all nuclear weapons."

1 1

fests

will the

has been added to the shoft

kmnvn nucbsr weapons

945-1 996i....

said.

war and the

"When

the soldiers

came home

present in

VA hospitals."

While his career has taken him around the world, he said he has always had priestly responsibilities. "In my 20 years as an Army chaplain I've always been a pastor," he said. "I always have a parish on Sunday and that parish connects me. It keeps me in touch with where people really are." He said he enjoys participating in baptisms, first Communions, and weddings but also finds he does a lot of counseling. "The military is a dangerous business," he said. "It's stressful and challenging but the Army has been very good to me." Father O'Keeffe, who has served in Korea, Hong Kong, Panama and Somalia, said he has become convinced over the past two decades that living in the United States is a blessing. "Until you go overseas you have no concept of the poverty and lack of opportunity," he said. "We take so much for granted. I've seen what war does and seen what poverty

is.

We are

so blessed

as a nation."

Pokhran, a desert region in the north-

western state of Rajasthan, demonstrated India's capability to manufacture nuclear

Test!

Loftiest

Unlttdf^rtii

11192

Susda/SoiielllirtiMi

715

France

21ft

1996

UiMlQnQ^nt

1991

ChiM

1996

weapons. On May 13, India performed two more nuclear tests in the same region.

Pentecost Readings for the week of May 24 - 30, 1998 Sunday Acts 7:55-60 Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20 John 17:20-26 •

Monday Acts 19:1-8

John 16:29-33 Tuesday

"They were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the

Acts 20:17-27

John 17:1-11

sky a noise like n strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to ihcm tongues as of fire,

which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit...." (Acts

Thursday Acts 22:30; 23:6-1 John 17:20-26

2: 1-4)

Pentecost iMbM(Midli«Srw»tt)

is-

from World War II and Korea it took two weeks to come home so they had time to transition. The effects (of Vietnam) are

Singh, the council said, "As a nation with

its

for the

he added. "What lingers are the effects on the soldiers who fought in the war for 1 2 months and then were discharged. "It was kill or be killed and then be transformed into a civilian and face the people and protests," Father O'Keeffe

Indian ambassador to Japan, Siddharth

lence,

tie,"

"The passion

sues that divided us have been resolved,"

12 letter addressed to the

Mahatma Gandhi's

man with long hair standman with a crew cut wear-

ing a suit and

government aid is vital for large numbers of India's most vulnerable people." Meanwhile in Tokyo, the Japanese bishops' Council for Justice and Peace said India had destroyed its heritage by conducting the nuclear tests, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand.

Nuclear Nations With

ing next to a

ons of mass destruction when so many of its own people suffer intolerable misery," the archbishop said. "Nevertheless, U.S.

In a

Honor winners. Green Berets with combat awards, a

19,

administration and so

page

fronn

Archbishop Urges U.S. To Exempt Aid bishops' official urged the Clinton ad-

22, 1998

commemorated

Friday Acts 25:13-21

John 21:15-19

May 31. Saturday Acts 28:16-20,30-31 John 21:20-25

May

The CathoUc News

22, 1998

& Herald 3

To Transfer

Letter Of Intent Signed

Ownership Of SL Joseph's Hospital ASHEVILLE

— The

Sisters of Mercy

of North Carolina and Memorial Mission Medical Center have jointiy signed a letter of intent to transfer ownership of St. Joseph's Hospital to Mission St. Joseph's Health System. The purchase price to be

Mercy

paid to the Sisters of

approxi-

mately $90 million.

The

and enable

tion

to continue to

community benefits, Stevens

make

and required by the

tion in 1995, its

Improved access

•

to care

•

Better control of costs

•

Continuing high quality

Mercy

Mission

St.

president of

ration, directed

the North Carolina Regional

Community

volunteers. St.

of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.

"When we came to Asheville nearly 100 years ago, we came with the intention

transaction does not include St. Joseph's

are shifting our mission

fo-

cus to meet the broader needs of improving

community health. Our commitment community is moving in a slightly

to this

different direction, but

it's

continuing in a

strong and very meaningful way." All proceeds from the transfer of ownership will

to the Sisters of

Mercy of

North Carolina Foundation and substantially all

of the proceeds will be earmarked to ad-

dress unserved and underserved health, social

and human needs

western North

Carolina, especially with respect to children, the elderly

women,

and those who are poor.

Chairman of the Board of Mission Joseph's John S. Stevens said,

plaud the

"We

sisters' significant health

complishments

in the past

St.

especially gratifying to

stantially all of the

health system

Hospital.

The state required the new health

system to document that it would save nearly $75 million in its first five years of operation.

The combined

know that sub-

ownership for the its

opera-

Diocese of Charlotte Lay Ministry Program graduates are pictured with Bishop William G. Curlin after receiving their diplomas May 1 6 at St. Gabriel Church in Charlotte.

Laity Say They're Looking For Their Place In The Church By BILL BRITT church MUNDELEIN, (CNS) — For Some Hinojosa today.

Public Advantage.

Since the establishment of the collabo-

overlapping services and departments have been consolidated at Mission St. Joseph's and services to the community have been expanded. The new Mission St. Joseph's has nearly met its fiveyear savings requirement after two years of operation.

said, the laity's

think,

role

a play, act or skit would bomb. But that is the position lay Catholics find themselves in as members of the

experiences at church and in their ordi-

church, according to several speakers at

ditional spiritual resources

a national laity conference held at the Uni-

tual direction,

sics,

versity of St.

Mary

of the Lake in

Mundelein.

6-8

Lay parishioners and rehgious from Canada met May Center for Development in Mindiscuss the mission of the laity in

generally not understood, affirmed

a fundamental difference between lay

nary

lives.

He added that some also think that tra-

The seventh annual

sciousness on the part of the In

many

nance needed

also noted that the focus at the

meaning in the "The laity body of Christ connected to

laity

who

most

totally neglected the

church.

members of

are the

who

are

the

most intimately

the world," said Juan

which sponsored the conference.

some impressions

to discuss

people have about

how

sion and vocation

the laity's mis-

understood

in the

shifted

II,

toward affirming those

serve the pastoral task, but al-

laity in the

role in the mission of the church

velopment of a practical in their ordinary lives,"

"A valid Will stands as

"/ leave to the

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." Bishop William G. Curlin

Charlotte (or

NC 2S203

Roman

Catholic Diocese of

parish, city) the

sum of $

percent of the residue of my estate) for religious, educational and charitable works."

(or

r0 \)^^ k-12^i

For more infonnation on how lo make a Will that works, contact Jim Kelley, Diocese ol Cliarloite. Office of Development, 1123 South C hurch St., Charlotte, NC 28203, (7(M) 370-3301

its

the de-

which and serve God Hinojosa said. spirituality

will enable people to find

statement included in your Will: na M;3()AM

OI'M or In rc(iuest

mission of the

world.

"The primary pastoral task wliich is called for by the centrality of the laity's

or to your parish. Simply have the foUowing

at www.stputricks.or}f

seen as

Vatican

ou can express your coniinitment to your Church by making a bequest to the Diocese of Charlotte

Charlotte,

transform the world in

parish and diocesan level, following

In Yours.

our website

laity.

parishes, worship

ineffective in providing spiritual suste-

"Salt and Light

Remember

Visit

issue of lay responsibility, purpose and

He went on

1621 DUworth Road East

generally

a general lack of mission focus and con-

the light of the Gospel, he added.

the world.

stitute,

Parochial Vicar: Reverend Walter Ray WiUiams

retreats, spiri-

of the World" conference addressed the

Hinojosa, director of the Hillenbrand In-

Rector: The Very Revereml Paul Cimy

— —

discernment

not serve the needs of the people, and there is

at the

or supported by the church, and that there

across the country and

istry to

ration,

ac-

111.

be effective they need to know their lines, understand their motivation and receive clear direction. Without these bators to

hospitals will

required by the terms of the Certificate of

century and

would streamline

strategic

the Sisters of

continue to be subject to the state oversight

funds they receive will

a single

its

by Mercy. The State of North Carolina issued a Certificate of Public Advantage in December 1995 which approved the collaborative agreement between St. Joseph's Hospital and Memorial Mission Hospital. Assets were not merged, and the Sisters of Mercy retained ownership of St. Joseph's direction are currently being evaluated

ap-

be earmarked for the needs of Western North Carolina."

Having

Health Services; options for

care ac-

we look forward to their expanded community service and influence in the future. It is

terminating procedures or assisted suicide

and

we opened an acute care hospital. Today, we feel that the losis sanitarium. In 1938,

practice of not performing abortions, Ufe-

being well

a need for health care and built a tubercu-

met.

by a board of community Joseph's wUl continue its

on any of the premises currently owned by St. Joseph's. The ownership transfer process wiU require due diligence, regulatory approval and the approval of the Catholic Church and is expected to take several months. The

of starting a school. Instead our sisters saw

need for acute medical care

Joseph's will continue as

a not-for-profit community-owned corpo-

RSM,

Sister Rosalind Picot

state in

regulatory review under the Certificate

of Public Advantage process:

Sisters' decision to redirect their

cess of mission evaluation, said

would

the three goals that were part of its forma-

from acute health care to a broader mission was the result of an ongoing proefforts

produce

said. It

easier for the system to achieve

& Herald

4 The Catholic News

May

22, 1998

The Pope Speaks

Corner

CPror^/oife

Pope John Paul

— Here

VATICAN CITY (CNS) of Pope John Paul general audience

11' s

May

the Vatican text

remarks in English

weekly

at his

the deaths of

many

people,

along with enormous destruc-

13.

tion, carrying the

sisters.

pope

country

along dangerous paths," the

Dear brothers and

In our continuing preparation for the Great Jubilee of

"You matter. matter. It is the hardest thing in theology

the

Year 2000, we begin today a

reflection

on the Holy

said.

"All of our

human and

Christian solidarity goes to

Spirit, to

whom this

The Holy

year

that noble nation at this

particularly dedicated.

and identity are gradually

Spirit's action

The Hebrew word "ruach" breath of God. This breath was

revealed in sacred Scripture.

to believe."

refers to the life-giving

active at the moment of creation and continually sustains and renews created reaUty. In the Old Testament, "ruach" often indicates the action of God's spirit, who guides the

— G.K. Chesterton

people.

The

spirit

weak men into the charisand descends in a more permanent

transforms

matic judges of Israel

way on the kings. God engages in dialogue with his people "by

piscopal Gafencfar

his spirit

through the former prophets" (Zee

Isaiah foretells the birth of

Lord would

rest,

one on

derstanding of the Spirit as person and as

Bishop

WilJliaiQi

G. CurlTa will

take part in the folowing events:

26—

May

10 a.m.

Committee Meeting

Priests Personnel

Diocesan Pastoral Center, Charlotte 5 p.m.

Dinner honoring Capuchin Father Robert Grix St. Matthew Church, Charlotte

May

— 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

gift.

Already

Old Testament emphasized two marks of the Spirit: and his great power. Nothing that is good, true and holy in the world can be understood without reference to the spirit of God. I warmly welcome to this audience the ecumenical groups from England and Wales and the Lutheran visitors from Denmark. I extend a special greeting to the priests and laity from the Diocese of Thamarasserry and to the Brothers of St. Gabriel from India. Upon all the Enghshspeaking pilgrims and visitors, especially those from England, Wales, Denmark, India, the PhiUppines, Austraha, Thailand, Canada and the United States of America, I invoke the abundant blessings of Almighty God. the

his absolute transcendence,

Board Meeting Foundation of the Roman Catholic

Pope Prays For Calm, Dialogue In Indonesia VATICAN CITY (CNS) Pope John Paul H prayed

—

Diocese of Charlotte

Diocesan Pastoral Center, Charlotte

7, 12).

whom the spirit of the New Testament un-

thus pomting to the

cakn and dialogue in Indonesia after demonstrations riots claimed hundreds of Uves. During his midday address May 17 at the Vatican, the pope said he had been following the events in Indonesia "with profound concern." "The violence of these past few days has provoked for

and

May

— 7 p.m.

Participation in the

Novena to the Holy Spirit Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Monroe

May

— 5:30 p.m.

May

Church Denver

Ministry in a Place of Business

— 12:30 p.m.

Patrick Cathedral, Chariotte

The Catholic

News

& Herald

May 22, Volume 7

•

1998

Number 36

Most Reverend William G. Curlin Michael Krokos Associate Editor: Joann Keane Staff Writer:Jimmy Rostar Hispanic Editor: Luis Wolf Production Associate: Julie Radcliffe Publisher:

1123 South Church St., Charlotte, NC 28203 PC Box 37267, Charlotte, NC 28237 Phone: (704) 370-3333 FAX: (704) 370-3382 E-mail: catholicnews@charlottediocese.org

St.,

After poUce violently broke up student demonstra-

and economic reforms

more demonstrations paralyzed Indonesia's chine-gun bearing troops were called

May

capital.

12,

Ma-

and a rioting and looting rampage resulted in the deaths of some 500 people. President Suharto, who has ruled the country for 32 years, promised to reverse partially the recent heavy increase on fuel prices and to make changes in his Cabinet, which has been criticized widely. Student groups, however, said they would continue their protests, demanding wide-ranging reforms in the govenmient and the economy. in,

Pope Reminds Paulines To Keep Media Projects Faitiiful To Church (CNS) Pope John Paul H

—

VATICAN CITY minded members of

the Society of St. Paul,

re-

who came

into conflict with the church last year, to

remain faithful to the magisterium in their media projects. Speaking at the end of the order's general chapter meeting May 15, the pope said modem society needs "evangeUzers capable of guiding with attention and sympathy, but ready also to offer authentically evangeUcal responses, endorsed by the guarantee of full communion with the church and with its pastors." Mass media are considered the Paulines' charism. Among thek Italian pubhcations is the glossy which, with sales of more magazine FamigUa Cristiana than 1 million copies a week, is second in popularity only

—

to the television guides.

007-393,

downsized a few years first, he said, "it He went on interviews and kept getting reself

first

everybody."

thing you see

when you

you

enter the store

to leave a petition there.

hurt."

jected.

published by

Roman

Catholic Diocese of Charlotte, 1123 South Church Charlotte, NC 28203, 44 times a year, weekly except for

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

open each day with prayer for the people who have left messages in the box. Detje is a deacon at St. Joseph's Church in Brookfield, Conn., and for the past 11 years he has served as formation director in the Permanent Diaconate Program of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn. He named his store "Stephanos" after the first deacon and martyr, St. Stephen, and the small wooden cross called the "Stephanos Cross" that many early Christians wore. To avoid identification by those persecuting Christians, "they wrapped the cross in leather thongs and hung jewelry from the thongs" Detje explained. Detje, father of two, served in the National Guard, had an advanced degree in accounting and had worked 27 years with the same company when he found him-

He came to believe,

as a psychiatrist told him,

that

downsizing after

long-time position leaves a

"permanently

person scarred."

said that his father, a convert to Catholicism,

had taught him to value commitment and not walk away from life because you were "dealt a hard time." So, he

new path. With encouragement from

started to visualize a

Detje and his staff Marie Paradise and Terry Earles

Mail:

USPC

this store is for

a "prayer box," inviting

Secretary: Jane Glodowski

The Catholic News & Herald,

know The

Editor:

the

sured."

tions caUing for poUtical

ago. At

Out of bad news often comes good news. When a person gets downsized after 27 years of service, that's bad news. But finding a shop that is unusual enough to write home about is good news. "This is a ministry, not just a business," Tony Detje, owner of Stephanos Christian Bookstore in Bridgeport, Conn., said. "If somebody needs a place to come and talk about God, we're here. We'll stop and talk. It doesn't matter what religion anyone is. We want people

Confirmation St.

mo-

"We pray that

Antoinette Bosco

Spirit

said.

with dialogue and mutual respect for persons and laws, the common good of the Indonesian people will be as-

The Bottom Line

Confirmation

Holy

ment," he

teacher, he

loved

a Christian

and

began

— books,

to focus

his wife Isabelle, a

on something he always

specifically spiritual ones.

started

book mail-order business and did exhibits He soon became a regional

sales at local churches.

representative for the Liturgical Press of Collegeville,

Minn. After two successful years, he took a deeper plunge. He got a small business loan from a community bank, found a place with reasonable rent and, in December 1996, Stephanos was bom. Although it is a Christian resource center, he emphasizes that "people of all religions come here and are welcome. In most social situations, people avoid talking about religion." In this store he hopes they are finding "a place to open up about their religious beliefs."

;

May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

Light

One Candle

Father Thomas

Of Flags, Flowers, And The Fallen As

come

the barbecues

rolling out

on decks and driveways, convertible tops come down, big sales are touted at the local mall, and cut-offs and tee shirts are retrieved from somewhere back in the closet Memorial Day, the dividing line between spring and summer, signals

—

the kickoff of the season.

With there

all

the shopping and picnics,

may be reason to fear that the meanDay is getwe are to find it, we must

ing and purpose of Memorial ting lost. If

start in a cemetery and a httle history. There are 24 cities north and south that lay claim to being the place where Memorial Day originated. But as a native Pennsylvanian, I have a special fondness for the assertion made by the vil-

—

lagers of a quaint

community

situated in

Centre County, Pennsylvania, just off Route 322, in the picturesque foothills of the Alleghenies. There a small marker by the side of the road boasts: "Boalsburg

& Herald 5

— Birthplace of Memorial Day."

McSweeney

mon

They

grief.

According to their account, it happened in October 1864, while the Civil War was still raging, a full two years earlier than Waterloo, N.Y., which was

gether in that

sanctioned as the "official" birthplace

because its 1866 observance was so "well planned and complete." But, in Boalsburg, they say that Memorial Day was bom in a tiny Pennsylvania graveyard where a proud mother and a grieving daughter met to scatter flowers over the final resting places of a brave son and a gallant father. Mrs. Elizabeth Meyer's son Amos, who was a private, had fallen on the last day of battle at Gettysburg. He had enlisted in the Union Army at the outbreak of the war and fought bravely. The young girl, Emma Hunter, was still reeling from the death of her father. Dr. Reuben Hunter, a Union Army surgeon. Timing was everything. They met at the cemetery on a Sunday afternoon and began sharing their stories and com-

other

the Revolutionary

knelt to-

little

ously took a few flowers to

clude

the other loved one's grave.

war or peace,

Their sympathy for one an-

as civilians.

seemed to Ughten their

Day story goes that before the

two

each other, they agreed to meet again on the same day the following year in order to honor not only their own two loved ones, but others who might have no one left to kneel at their left

They discussed their plans with friends and neighbors, and the following year every grave in the little cemflags.

was decorated with flowers and Not a single one was neglected.

Since the first Memorial Day, the service has grown to embrace the men who fought in gray as well as in blue, finally to include all heroes men and women who have made the supreme

—

sacrifice in all

American

as soldiers or

conflicts

Memorial

losing not only

its

purely military significance, but also

its

when

all

place as the one day in the year

of us pause collectively in tribute to those

who have walked these paths before, all who lived and died trying to build a better future

and a better world.

We don't have to decorate a grave or

lonely graves.

etery

all

Increasingly,

burdens.

women

began to inwho have died, in

years, respect

The

War

Desert Storm. And, over the

burial

ground, and each spontane-

march in a parade to mark the significance of this holiday. But we can stop long enough in our long weekend to acknowledge that Memorial means we should remember and be truly grateful.

—

Father Thomas

McSweeney is diand a CNS

rector of the Christophers columnist.

from

Question Corner Father John Dietzen

The Bread We

Q. ticles.

for

Communion

look forward to your arquestion concerns the host

receive at

Communion.

In our area we receive a very small white wafer, and have been always taught to let it melt in our mouth and say a prayer. When I visit my son 's family, the host is a larger round host, which looks like it is made from whole wheat. I feel uncomfortable seeing everyone walking back from the altar looking as if they're chewing.

A. Your question may appear some, but it has significant implications that are worth consider-

trivial to

ing. First, the

teaching you

remember

was at one fime not unusual. When I was in elementary school, in fact, we were told it was a sin to let the host touch one's teeth. At very least, these sorts of strange teachings never had real foundation in Catholic doctrine or authentic practice.

Jesus told the disciples several times that his Eucharistic body was to be their food, which they were to eat. The church's rules about the nature of bread for the Eucharist reflects that belief. Regulations in the General Instruction on the Roman Missal, for example, require that the bread used in the Eucharistic celebration "appear as actual food" (No. 283). In other words, it should look and taste like bread people actually eat. There's nothing at all unusual in this rule. A fundamental principle in

the theology

and celebra-

tion of the sacraments is

ter,

—

wagestures, bread, words

that the signs

— should

reflect as

genu-

common. honor as

and wheat, with no added ingredients, and still

inely as possible the reality

son's parish are

They attempt

well as possible the requirement that Eucharisfic bread be made only of wa-

oil,

ter

they signify.

"appear as actual food," as

Dirty baptismal water

or gummy oil, for example, while perhaps valid for the sacraments, are, to say the least, inappropriate and defective sacramental signs. Similarly, bread which no one

real bread.

free brochure answering ques-

tions Catholics ask about the sacra-

ment of penance

available by send-

would otherwise recognize

ing a stamped, self-addressed envelope

isn't

as bread what the church urges for the celebration of Mass. As one child first communicant said when asked whether he believed the bread is now Jesus, "I

believe

it is

Jesus, but

don't believe

was bread." The hosts you experience

Father John Dietzen, Box 325, Peoria III. 61651. Questions for this column should be sent to Father Dietzen at the same address.

your

Family Reflections Andrew & Celebrating Life and Love

Yesterday

celebrated

daughter's 16th birthday.

have to be patient with us as we try out our wings as parents entering another phase of our life child, will at times

our

A milestone for

cycle. She's the trailblazer

who

Andrea and us, she's entered into a new phase of life at the age of sixteen, and

we commemorate our embarking on the journey of parenthood sixteen years ago. For Andrea it is a time of looking ahead

tually the party is for us, too.

new

privileges and responsibilities.

For us

it has been a time of looking back, reminiscing and reflecting. In both purviews, God's grace empowers, the Spirit

orchestrates,

and Jesus shows us the way

teaches

(dating and driv-

our lives that

willingness to be the clay

ebration of faith.

that time

first

and circumstances

first

year, her

birthday party

was a cel-

Still

molded,

faith

the clay being

we plan the upcom-

Ac-

into a loving family. Feel-

ing party as a celebration of

Her friends and our family and friends will be there to celebrate our milestones. While discussing details of the affair, we found

ing that "molding" in our

16 years of parenthood, and the community of family and friends who have shaped our family life. We are still comforted, encouraged and empowered by them and many more. With the excitement we remember from

ourselves reminiscing

for her.

how Andrew's

family hosted Terri' s 16th birthday party. Our friendship having spanned three decades, there

a sense of inter-

lives.

ing) are what's in store for Andrea, and

probably what she's looked forward to most. She will need to rely on her good judgment in both. We will need to trust her and give her the appropriate space to try out her wings. Andrea, being our first

what it would take to be good parents. It was our

would mold through

about family transition.

We're planning a party

relatedness arriving at this point in our

to live.

The "double D's"

all

Terri Lyke

also

remember

the party

(over)planned for Andrea's

first birth-

was as much a party for us as it was for her. Then we celebrated God's

day.

too

deliverance from the fears

have children.

we had about

We feared we didn't have

lives then,

we had reason to

celebrate.

Present were friends

who were

also

new parents along with their babies. They were people who had stepped out in faith with us. Sharing our stories, our hopes and fears, we felt very connected with

them. They comforted us. Present in our lives were our Marriage Encounter com-

munity who were role models for us. Their stories encouraged us. And there were our family members and friends who were emodonally invested in our small family circle. They empowered us. Overjoyed by the gift that Andrea was in

Terri 's 16th birthday party so

many years

ago and the celebration of faith so much a part of Andrea's first birthday party, today we celebrate life and love, and 16 years of grace from God. "We remember;

celebrate;

Andrew umnists.

believe!"

Terri Lyke are

CNS

col-

& Herald

News

6 The Catholic

May

Asian Synod's Final l\/lessage Calls For 'Missionary Spirituality' By JOHN THAVIS VATICAN CITY (CNS)

— The

Synod of Bishops

on hfe are made by contraception, and abortion. We must save

saults

sterihzation

for Asia said church growth on the continent wiU depend on a "missionary spirituahty" that combines a sense of service with the duty to proclaim

the family,"

Christ.

rily

said.

must take an interkey social problem areas: ecological damage, which it said was primasaid the church

est in other

a product of "unbridled greed"; the

The synod's five-page concluding

harmful effects of economic globalization;

message, issued May 13, described the synod as a time of grace and as a foundaIt said the monthlong

the pohtical regimes that have denied ba-

assembly

fate of millions of migrants

tion for the future.

showed

Illustrated challenges, but

also

Asia and some of them

that "particular churches in

much

are very

alive,

manifest an extraordinary dynamism."

message emphasized that "all Chrishave the duty to proclaim Christ." It said the synod discussed many creative ways to present Christ in Asia as "the personification of God's love and forgivethe

tians

ness."

Most ity,

importantly,

said, evangeliza-

deep missionary

spiritual-

rooted in Christ, with special empha-

sis on compassion and harmony, detachment and self-emptying, soUdarity with the poor and the suffering, and respect for the

integrity of creation."

The message

said the bishops felt that

which has a key

Uturgy,

role

m evangeU-

be participatory and "take more and more into account the local culzation, should

tures." It

said the church,

which

a small

minority in most of Asia, must continue its

dialogue with other rehgions, such as

Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam,

at-

titude of respect for the spiritual values of

longstanding

tiiese

some Asian

countries; the ex-

and refugees

throughout the continent. It

called for alleviation of the "crush-

ing burden" of the foreign debt for coun-

On the central issue of evangelization,

tion "calls for a

sic rights in

pansion of the weapons industry; and the

faiths.

Asia and elsewhere. The message emphasized that Catholic lay people should take the lead in addressing and correcting these problems. It said there were many signs that the laity are being empowered by the Spirit for an even greater role in the coming millennium, which it said could be called "the Age of the Laity." For that reason, their formation especially in the church's social teaching is extremely important, tries in

—

said.

Asia should foster critical thinking, so that students can analyze social forces and identify situations in which people are exploited, the message said. It said Catholic media, including press, television, radio and Internet sites, can have a prophetic role and help the church become the voice of the voiceless. The message highlighted the greater awareness of women's equal dignity and equality with men and said if the church is to be a credible sign of women's respect, it must encourage dieir active participation as "equally responsible for Christ's mis-

all,

sion of love and service." While the synod dealt with pastoral problems, the message highlighted the many positive aspects of church life in

and

Asia, including a high number of vocations,

"We consider our faith as the greatest treasure

and would

like to share

with

fully respecting their reUgious beliefs their

freedom,"

The message cited a number of social problems in Asia, on family values.

'The family

in particular the attack

the

birthday.

events."

neighborhood and care for

who

to the children as

an "elderly priest."

"This morning, dren,

thought, 'You, too, were once

he told parishioners after

like this,'"

"Now

Mass. are

when I met the chil-

a peer of those

more elderly." The pope told young people

parish,

He prayed

most endangered

Christ,

"where people

the church is quite active in this continent,"

said.

the places of joy and suffering, in cel-

ebrations and in the daily unfolding of

"Do not be discouraged

donism, materialism and greed. Direct as-

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assures us that the Consoler, the Spirit sent

Jesus,

you,

be elderly, just as I do not forwas once young." his homily. Pope John Paul

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'Traditional family values are being

overturned and replaced by egotism, he-

Sat.

would follow

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During

"So let us be confident. The spirit of Lord is obviously at work in Asia, and

the

countries and targets the poor of the

Mon.-Fri.

live,

said.

some

For

that they

the Spirit's lead as they evangelize

in the

"Do not forget that one day

too, will

who

their hurt-

and young people ad-

are alone

dicted to drugs.

Pope John Paul described himself

The greatest reason for hope is Jesus

to discriminate against the girl child in

ing neighbors, especially the elderly

record of social service by church institu-

institution in Asia. Population control tends

Third World,"

they seek to spread the Gospel in their

young people it was important for him to remember he was once young, but it was also important for them to remember they will grow old. The children of Assumption Parish on the northeast outskirts of Rome sang "Happy Birthday" in Italian to the visiting pope May 17, the day before his

increasing lay activity and the impressive

tions.

—

ROME

(CNS) On the eve of his 78th birthday. Pope John Paul II told

the deep religiousness of Asian Cathohcs,

said.

People They'll Age

At the same time, it said, for Christians,

Birthday,

Pope Reminds Young

get that

The church's schools

such dialogue "will include the desire of sharing the saving message of Christ."

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May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

& Herald 7

Entertainment

Men" Sequel A

"Little

Disappoinment Without

Any Fresh

Insights

HENRY HERX NEW YORK (CNS) — The joys By

and tribulations of those

in a rural

boarding school in 1871 Massachusetts are retold in Louisa May Alcott's "Little

Men"

smoking, swearing and gambling. After a series of incidents, the of which almost

Dan is

to dealing with

(Legacy).

Naturally,

This sequel to "Little follows Jo March

Women" (Mariel

last

bums

sent to a school

the place down, more accustomed

rowdy youths. runs away and rewho give him one

Dan

turns to the Bhaers,

chance. But a nasty student steals

last

Bhaer (Chris Sarandon) and they open a school for children who

some money and makes it appear that Dan is the culprit. How the innocent Dan is exonerated

are willing to learn.

provides the tale's heartwarming conclu-

Hemingway)

after she marries Profes-

sor Fritz

One

CNS

of the school's benefactors

saves Nat (Michael Caloz), a Boston street urchin,

from

him to the Bhaers

arrest

by sending

as a prospective stu-

dent.

Nat, a likable boy violin like a virtuoso,

who is

plays the

sion.

Robert Bedford and Scarlett Johansson star in the romantic drama 'The Horse Whisperer." The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-ll adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 parents are strongly cautioned that some material may be inappropriate for

succeeds as period piece but the story any dramatic life.

children under 13.

Though Nat

grateful for

gets

little

fails to

give

—

do but ap-

Dan holds

comes convmcmg. The story is admittedly sentimental and the situations are much more artifi-

the opportunity and, after a bit of haz-

pear as a proper waif,

ing, fits in easily with the other pu-

ter

pils.

ster

Soon, however, his fellow street urchin and best friend, Dan (Ben Cook), shows up and seeks admittance

rough.

to the school.

flair

ing and without any fresh insights into

lic

The kindly Bhaers take him in without knowing that Dan, unlike Nat,

part.

these 1871 characters.

Broadcasting.

The other young actors perform well enough but their roles are one-dimensional and the school setting rarely be-

gerous

a scrappy pickpocket with decid-

edly bad habits, such as drinking.

the cen-

of attention as the troubled young-

who is the proverbial diamond in the

cial than the

Young Ben Cook manages tray a sympathetic

scamp but

to por-

lacks the

of a young Mickey Rooney in the

Thefollowing are home videocassette reviewsfrom the U.S. Catholic Conference Officefor Film and Broad-

Videos "As Good As

casting.

Each videocassette is available on VHSformat.

Theatrical movies on video have a U.S. Catholic Conference classification and Motion Picture Association ofAmerica rating. All reviews indicate the appropriate age group for the video audience.

Gets" (1997)

Acerbic comedy in which a misanthropic author (Jack Nicholson) tries to rejoin the

human

race after

falling in love with a tolerant wait-

ress (Helen

Hunt) and befriending a

—

is A-IV adults, with The Motion Picture Assoof America rating is PG-13 are strongly cautioned that some

classification

reservations. ciation

parents

material

may be

—

inappropriate for chil-

Brooks, the thin plot begins with the mean-spirited humor of Nicholson's

(Madeleine Carroll)

nasty, self-centered sociopath, then

despite his lead in a

mushy

as he attempts to reform,

but the proceedings are overlong and only sporadically amusing. Stylized violence, sexual situations, recurring

rough language and occasional profanity. The U.S. Catholic Conference

Broadway musical

falling in love with star

(Dick Powell),

new show which

pokes fun at her stuffy family. Directed by Roy Del Ruth, the on-again, offagain romance meanders amiably through an uneven collection of Irving Berlin songs, with AHce Faye and the Ritz Brothers notable in supporting roles. Romantic complications. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. "A Rat's Tale" (1998) Disappointing family fantasy in which a pair of enterprising rats save their community from a new rodent poison by finding an antidote in the flowers of a long-lost magical garden hidden in the subterranean rock beneath

—

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNICATION CAMPAIGN

But the

—

parental guidance suggested.

results here are disappoint-

Herx is director of the U.S. CathoConference Office for Film and

Because of a bloody fist fight, a dangame with a knife and a few curse words, the U.S. Catholic Conference

Manhattan. Directed by Michael F. Huse, the German production mixes American actors and live-action settings with beautifully crafted German marionettes and studio backgrounds, but the thin story of talking animals and magical powers is too belabored to hold much interest or charm. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-I general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G general audiences. "Rose of Washington Square"

— —

(1939)

"On the Avenue" (1937) Musical fluff about a socialite a

family interplay of "Little

sociation of

—

adults and The Motion Picture AsAmerica rating is PG

classification is A-II

adolescents.

—

Women."

dren under 13.

broke homosexual artist (Greg Kinnear). Directed by James L.

turns

photo from Touchstone Pictures

Rodney Gibbons from a script by Mark Evan Schwartz, the result is an uneven dramatization which Directed by

In a romantic melodrama loosely paralleling events in singer Fanny Brice's life, a promising vocalist (Alice

Faye) marries a suave crook (Tyrone

Power), becomes a Broadway

star

thanks to a former partner (Al Jolson), then sticks by her weak-willed husband

when

he's sent to prison. Directed by

Gregory Ratoff, the Prohibition-era sudser is saved by Faye's cheerful singperformance and Power's handsome insincerity. Romantic complications. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. "Stowaway" (1936) ing, Jolson' s enthusiastic

—

After her missionary parents die in war-torn China, a little girl (Shirley

Temple) makes her way to Shanghai, winds up by accident on a U.S. -bound ocean liner and helps a rich idler (Robert Young) and an earnest maiden (Alice

Faye) find true love after they wed to adopt the child who otherwise will be deported. Directed by William A.

hokey vehicle relies enon the child star's appeal as a spunky orphan who is fluent in Chinese, sings like a professional and Seiter, the

tirely

knows more proverbs than Charlie Chan. Convoluted romantic complications. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. "Tin Pan Alley" (1940) Standard musical in which struggling song publishers (John Payne and Jack Oakie) in 1915 New York get singing sisters (Alice Faye and

—

Betty Grable) to plug their songs, but Grable soon leaves to become a star,

and Faye follows after the overly ambitious Payne breaks her heart, all four are reunited as the boys go off to fight in Wodd War I. Directed by Walter Lang, the soggy romance is bolstered by the colorful then

period backgrounds, enjoyable songs

and a running gag with Oakie struggling to find words for a tune which becomes "K-K-K-Katy." Romantic complications. The U.S. Catholic Conference classification is A-II adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association of America. finally

—

The Catholic News

& Herald

May

The top

22, 1998

changes in

six

Catholie-Jevdsh relations against Judaism, termed by scholars the "teaching of contempt" and dating back to the fathers of the church in the second century, has virtually disappeared. ics

X he world's bishops voted over-

But now there are dozens of institutes for Jewish-Christian studies at Catholic colleges in the United States alone, along with departments of Jewish studies at other Christian

whelmingly "placet" ("it pleases") when a short document titled In Our Time (Nostra Aetate) was placed before them for final action. That was

CNS

phot

6. Proliferating, too, have been Holocaust centers. In Washington, the

U.S. Holocaust Museum regularly hosts groups of Catholic high school students for visits which are part of Holocaust study programs in their schools.

Catholic teachers

numerous commu-

Oct. 28, 1965, during Vatican Council

II. The document would forever change the church's perception of its relationship to non-Christian reli-

nities with Holocaust museums are taking advantage of

gions.

lila educatio al opportunities. The pope has called this "the century of the

Section 4 of that document, the section around which the rest of it was built, concerned the relationship between the church and the Jewish people the people on whose history, as the document acknowledges, the salvation history of all humanity is erected. It is amazing, in retrospect, that it was felt necessary in such a document to devote one of the total of 15 sentences (in Latin) to affirming the fact that Jesus, Mary and the apostles were Jews, and that their Jewishness was part of the divine plan. So this is the first point on my "top-six" list of the changes in Catholic-Jewish relations over the past three decades: 1. The acceptance by Catholics that Jesus was a Jew a pious, obser-

'Shoah' (Holocaust)."

—

The 1998 Vatican statement on the "Shoah," affirms this strongly. It expresses the church's repentance for what was done and not vis-a-vis the done Jews in this century and those preceding it by Christians on all levels of the church. All in all it can be said that Vatican Council H's call for a renewal of attitude toward Jews and Judaism is being imple-

—

vant Jew. Before

the

council, Jesus' Jewishness, while not denied, was hardly mentioned in Catholic

preaching

and

teaching. Today, this is a key element in Catholic educational mate-

here

mented. Much remains to be done. But the beginning

now

are hundreds

has been quite im-

of local parish/synagogue

dialogue groups meeting

on a regular basis in U.S.

This is a historically simple yet theologically pregnant point. For if Jesus adhered to his ancestors' faith

mous Jewish

Jews

for the sake of

have proliferated. The first such institute ever was estab-

—

thing.

Given the nearly 2,000 years of history in between those visits, this one man's "small step" was indeed a "giant leap" for humankind. Studies of Catholic textbooks pro-

duced since Vatican Council II reflect the remarkable nature of the change in what is actually taught about Jews and Judaism. An entire structure of polem-

and even secular universities where Christian and Jewish scholars learn from and with one another. 5. Also, there now are hundreds of local parish/synagogue dialogue groups meeting on a regular basis in U.S. dioceses. Never before have so many Catholics been involved directly with Jews for the sake of mutual spiritual enrichment. The active involvement of the Christian dialogue

laity in

Jewish-

vital to its long-

pressive, thanks in large part to the personal interest of Pope John

Paul

II.

(Fisher is the associate director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. His book with Rabbi Leon Klenicki, "Pope John Paul II: Spiritual Pilgrimage, Texts and Documents 19791995," Crossroad, 1995, received a

National

Jewish Book

Council

Award.)

term success.

Christian studies

and

In 1986 the pope bishop of Rome visited the Great Synagogue of Rome and prayed there with its people. It was the first time since St. Peter that a bishop of Rome had done such a

mandated. 4. Centers and

institutes of Jewish-

enrichment."

and practices of our Jewish neighbors today is relevant to how we understand our own Catholic life and faith. We need dialogue with the Jews to understand who we are as Catholics. Of no other religion, as the pope has reiterated, can this be said in quite the

—

"deicide"

charge of collective guilt for Jesus' crucifixion is no more, as Vatican II

mutual spiritual

faith

more accurate portrait of Jewish faith. The infapositive,

dioceses. Never before

tradition, then the

same way.

It has been replaced by a more

have so many Catholics

been involved directly with

rials.

—

lished in the United States at a Cathouniversity, Seton Hall in New Jersey, in the mid 1950s, with a couple following in Europe in the 1960s. The vision of mutual spiritual and

lic

academic enrichment between Jews and Christians embodied by these small institutions remained isolated to a few pockets of hope until the mid-1970s.

When I returned to Detroit after completing my doctoral studies in Judaica at New York University's Institute of Hebrew Studies (where I was

non-Jew in the was asked to teach

often the only

classroom), I courses in the Hebrew Bible at the major seminary but only after some close scrutiny to make sure that my faith had not been tainted by the experience of learning how the Jews understand the Scriptures their ancestors wrote!

—

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"The spoiled seeds of anti- Judaism and anti-Semitism must never again be allowed to take root in any human heart. " Those words concluded the the "Shoah" (Holocaust) from the Vatican Commission for Religious Relations With the Jews. Earlier, in October 1997, Pope John Paul II spoke similarly: "The church firmly condemns all forms of genocide as well as the racist theories that have March 1998 document on

inspired and claimed to justify them," he said; to genocide's moral malice "is added, with the 'Shoah,' the malice of a hatred which does violence to God's salvific plan in history." Coupled with their unequivocal rejections of anti-Semitism and antiJudaism, the same documents called on Catholics to become more aware of their faith's

Hebrew

roots.

The pope cautioned that "those who consider the reality that Jesus was a that his milieu was the Jewish world to be simple contingent cultural facts ... misunderstand the meaning of the history of salvation" and "do damage to the very truth of the incarnation." And the Vatican commission asked Catholics to bear in mind that "the Virgin Mary and the apostles belonged to the Jewish people" and "that the Jews are our dearly beloved brothers.

Jew and

David Gibson, Editor, Faith Alive!

May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

Ours By Father Paul Catholic

News

XAnnuj Lunciation

Lee

Service

Parish in Washing-

ton works with the Washington

Hebrew

Congregation and nearby

Alban's

St.

Episcopal Parish to celebrate an annual Kristallnacht service. It commemorates the terrifying night in November 1938 when the Nazis in Germany and Austria seized and destroyed property owned by Jews, escalating the violence against Jews that would lead toward the Holocaust.

a dialogue of

Theologians and Scripture scholars for years have appreciated the unique spiritual kinship of Christians and Jews. Yet, on a parish or grassroots level this spiritual kinship is still largely an untapped treasure. Most of the popular Jewish-Christian endeavors seem to have focused up to the present time on correcting the negative: prejudice; misunderstanding; the

venom of racism. One successful endeavor, the Bearing Witness program for Catholic educators, deals with anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and other contemporary issues. It is a pilot program c

Vf nee we recognize that the one God is

mysteriously at work in each of

us,

have a renewed

will

life and interreUgious

local

affairs ofiBce

and the

board of rabbis.

On two

occasions, local priests

and

rabbis met to reflect on the progress of Catholic-Jewish relations as illustrated by the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. The priests and rabbis also discussed pastoral concerns and procedures related to mixed marriages. Another example is a recent joint fund-raising banquet to help in creating a lectureship on Jewish studies at The Catholic University of America. Finally, recent events involving priests and others to mark the 30th anniversary of the Vatican Council II document calling for improved interreligious relations demonstrated that the vision of improved Catholic-Jewish relations is still refreshing. Washington, as the nation's capital, of-

a unique setting for interfaith events. 'Three Women From Jerusalem," a program at the Finnish embassy, was such an event held earlier this year. The program involved a poignant conversation among three mothers representing Islamic, Chrisfers

respect for people of other faiths, especially our spiritual brothers

and

cal

sisters of Judaism."

)pyright

celebration of food, wonderful conversa-

music, inspiring talks and

tion, exquisite

shared prayer.

by the Anti-Defamation League, the Archdiocese of Washington and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. In addition, the Washington archdiocese's Office for Ecumenical

and InterreUgious Affairs organized a priests' tour of the

that

was

Holocaust

Museum

well received.

Ecumenical and interreUgious dialogue more than an exchange of theological

However, worthy as such efforts may be, I believe parishes can do more than

ideas. Dialogue involves the sharing of life,

counteract the negative. Aren't there opportunities for positive formation through thoughtful education and interaction between Catholics and Jews?

action

and

religious experience.

The Archdiocese

Washington

Almost every religious group is represented in the area. The potential

blessed. for

mutual enrichment and common

growth

FAITH

There are several local examples of this.

One

the Priest-Rabbi

Forum

organized

by the Washington archdiocese's ecumeni-

great.

THE MARKETPLACE

Describe a program in your parish or diocese that promotes Jewish-Christian understanding.

esus was a Jew. So were Mary and Joseph. So were the apostles and the early Christians. The New Testament shows how they observed the law, attended the S3magogue on the Sabbath and made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for feasts such as Passover and Pentecost. In those days there was no New Testament. For Jesus and the early Christians, the Scriptures were what later would be called the Old Testament. For the early Christians, including Paul and the evangelists, the Book of Psalms was the basic hymnbook for worship as well as their prayerbook. For us, the Book of Psalms is still the basic worship hymnbook. The Old Testament, like the New Testament, is part of the Christian Scriptures. Think of the Mass. On most Sundays and weekdays, the first reading is from the Old Testament. The second reading and the Gospel reading are from the

New

and Jewish traditions, and sharing a common hope for peace and imderstanding tian

in their ancestral city.

Christians and Jews long lived with mistrust, perceiving each other as a But shouldn't our efforts now focus, as Pope John Paul II suggested, on how they can be "a blessing to each other" (April 6, 1993)? Joint Scriptxire studies, inviting each other to interfaith Thanksgiving Day services or Seders at Passover time, threat.

have proven helpful. Once we recognize that the one God

(Father Lee

director of the Office for

Ecumenical and InterreUgious Affairs in the Archdiocese of Washington.)

Remember

that Jesus of

Nazareth was a Jew. That is why antiSemitism or anti-Jewish sentiment has no legitimate place in Christianity. Anti-Semitism represents a rejection, even hatred, of our own faith heritage. Sometimes people try to justify antiSemitism, accusing the Jews of killing Christ.

Who killed

Christ?

Human beings, both gentiles and Jews, killed Christ. In the Passion accounts, Pontius Pilate and the Roman soldiers represented the gentiles. The high priests and the leaders of the people represented the Jews. Instead of pointing to the Jews, we should point to ourselves. The Jews did not kill Christ. We killed Christ. Blaming the Jews, we use them as scapegoats, denying our own part in the death of Christ.

Denial can be a powerful escape mechanism! (Father LaVerdiere, a Blessed Sacrapriest, is a Scripture scholar and

ment

senior editor of Emmanuel magazine.)

Testament.

In our liturgy, the reading from the Old to the readings from the

Testament points "Usually during the Lenten season we have an interfaith lecture series, a four-week series sponsored by the American Jewish Committee and the archdiocese with other Christian institutions.... This year's theme was 'The Prophets.' We also have a Catholic clergy-rabbi dialogue that goes into a number of difficult topics like intermarriage and how we explain each other's traditions to our communities." Father Vincent Heier, St. Louis, Mo.

—

"We have the Interfaith Lay Dialogue Project, cosponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Jewish Community Relations Council. It's been in place for 15 years, involving Catholic, Protestant and Jewish people

who meet

...

and and Jews." beliefs

once a

week

traditions,

for six

weeks. Discussion covers the basics of the

and the history of the relationship between Christians

— Sister Josephine Case, IHM, Philadelphia, Pa.

"We have a Jewish-Catholic scholars dialogue group ... of about 15 each from the Catholic and Jewish communities.... It's an ongoing permanent group that meets every two months. Agendas vary; there have been discussions on Scripture, law, current issues like the recent Vatican document (on the Holocaust)." Sister Joan McGuire, OP, Chicago, 111.

—

An upcoming edition

asks: Do you think a better understanding of a particular past time period would help Catholics today better understand their own times? If you would like to respond for possible publication, please write: Faith Alive! 3211 Fourth St. N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017-1100.

Testament. These New Testament readings interpret the Old Testament reading in light of the Gospel. As Christians, our personal identity comes from our relationship to Christ, the Son of God. But that does not mean that we should deny the Jewish roots of our faith. St. Paul was a devout, zealous Jew. Through Jesus, the Son of David, he re-

New

>•<

beginning with Abraham and Sarah. Jews have a very special relationship

Nutshell

remarkable change in teach about

how we

Vatican Council II's call for a renewal of attitude

toward Jews and Judaism is being implemented, though

disciples.

early church, we who are Christians also trace our roots to the Jewish people living in Judea, Galilee and elsewhere. Through them we are related to their ancestors, the Israelites. Ultimately, we can trace our roots to the early Hebrews,

Catholic textbooks since Vatican Council II reflect

Judaism.

lated to his Jewish heritage. Through Jesus, the Son of God, he related to the church. As Christians, our roots are in the early church, in the circle of Jesus' first

Through Jesus of Nazareth and the

mysteriously at work in each of us, we have a renewed respect for people of other faiths, especially our spiritual brothers and sisters of Judaism.

will

to Christians.

Over the years, the people of these three Washington communities have gotten together and enjoyed each other's company and friendship, even as they commemorated this solemn event. The gathering is a

& Herald 9

much remains to

be done.

Christians have roots in the early church. And through Jesus, Christians also trace their roots to the Jewish people.

10 The Catholic

News

& Herald

May

22, 1998

People In The News Mordecai Waxman First Rabbi To Get Papal Kniglithood Rabbi BALTIMORE (CNS) Mordecai Waxman, for more than 30

Edgar Gutierrez, coordinator of the office's Project for the Recovery of the Historic Memory, said May 1 1 that the murder investigation carried out by the

years a tireless promoter of CatholicJewish dialogue, was made a Knight Commander of St. Gregory the Great May 5 at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. He was the fifth Jew and the first

attorney general's office has been "de-

—

and called the

ficient"

Suspends Death Sentence Of Christian

Pakistani Court

MULTAN,

Pakistan,

(CNS)

Pakistani court has suspended the death

Pope John Paul H, Cardinal William H.

phemy until his appeal is heard in The case gained prominence

Keeler of Baltimore draped the goldtrimmed, enameled medallion of the order around Rabbi Waxman' s neck in ceremonies at the end of a meeting of the National Catholic-Jewish Consultation. The rabbi and the cardinal co-chair the consultation.

Kung Foundation Cautiously Welcomes Release Of Bishop, Priest

—

WASHINGTON Cardinal

(CNS) The Kung Foundation welcomed

the release of an imprisoned under-

ground Chinese bishop and a

priest,

but

"from a house arrest

said the transfer of the bishop

labor detention center to

can hardly be called a true release." The foundation's May 10 statement added that Bishop Thomas Zeng Jingmu of Yujiang, who has spent more than 30 years in jail, "is very sick at present." It added that Father Lu Genyou of

Baoding was also released, but said details were not available. The priest was arrested April 5 while preparing to cel-

ebrate

Mass

in a private

home. The

sentence of a Christian accused of blasJune. after

Bishop John Joseph of Faisalabad, Pacommitted suicide to protest the death sentence. On May 12, the Multan section of the Lahore High Court suspended the lower court's sentence against Ayub Masih, who had been condemned to death for blasphemy after being accused of speaking favorably about British author Salman Rushdie's book, "The Satanic Verses." Ayub's defense, which requested the suspension, presented documents showing that he had studied the Koran, Islam's holy book, for years and holds no hostility toward Islam.

kistan,

Bishops Vote For Three-Country Papal Trip To Conclude Synod VATICAN CITY (CNS) Most

—

members of the Synod of Bishops for Asia want Pope John Paul II to visit citAsian countries to formally conclude their work. But if time and health limit him to just one ies in three different

city, the

ing

bishops suggested a wide-rangcities, including Jerusalem,

list

Hong Kong,

Calcutta, India, and

Ma-

statement also urged the release of other

nila, Philippines. Participants in the

imprisoned Catholics and non-Catholics in China.

April

Archbishops Urge Voting In Peace Agreement Referendum DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS)

Irish

—

Ireland's four archbishops urged voter participation in the

upcoming

referen-

dum on

the Good Friday peace agreeto end the Northern Irish conflict. important that people read the text of the agreement for themselves and try to come to a responsible judgment. We

ment "It is

ask

all

people. North and South, to use

their vote after careful

and prayerful

consideration of the contribution which

each of us has to make to a just and lasting peace on our island," said the archbishops from the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland. Both jurisdictions were to hold referendums on the agreement May 22. The church leaders said it was not their role to support "any political viewpoint or to tell people how to vote," but that bishops had "a duty to place Gospel values before our people" when they were considering how to vote.

Guatemalan Church Workers Murder Investigation Flawed GUATEMALA CITY (CNS)

Call

—

The

investigation into the murder of Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera of Guatemala City is "flawed" and could lead to the crime going unpunished, warned a leading member of the archdiocesan

Human Rights

Office.

19-May 14 synod session were

asked to suggest possibilities for a papal trip that

would include

the publica-

tion of the pope's post-synodal apos-

topped the counwith 40 votes. Thirteen of those recommend the pope visit

tolic exhortation. India

try list

voters

Bombay. The Philippines came in second with 30 votes, including 22 for Manila. Although the political situation China would make the third choice difficult to visit, 25 synod members

—

included

their

list.

Father John Pollard To Leave National Catechetics Post WASHINGTON (CNS) Cardinal Francis E. George has named Fa-

—

ther

John E. Pollard,

first

director of the

U.S. bishops' Office for the Catechism, to

head

newly created Chicago

archdiocesan Department of Education.

The appointment

takes effect Aug. 15.

Father Pollard, 50, has been on leave

from the Chicago Archdiocese for the past six years to serve the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and U.S. Catholic Conference. He was the USCC Department of Education representative for catechesis and leadership development for education from 1992 until 1995, when he was made head of the newly formed NCCB Office for the Catechism.

Donations To

Catholic Charities By NANCY HARTNAGEL WASHINGTON (CNS) — Frank

—A

papal equestrian order, to which nonCatholics have been admitted only in recent years. Acting on behalf of

l\/lemorial

official in charge.

Otto Ardon, "incapable and negligent."

rabbi to be enrolled in the 167-year-old

A Final Sinatra Wish:

Sinatra, considered

by many

the century's

greatest popular singer, personally requested that, in lieu

of flowers at his death, people

make donations to Catholic Charities agencies and a children's center named for his spokeswoman. The singer, known as "OF Blue Eyes" and "the Chairman of the Board," died of a heart attack May 14 in Los Angeles. He was 82, and had been in failing health

wife, according to a family

since a heart attack in January 1997.

A private funeral Mass was set for 20 at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills, Calif. Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony was

May

be principal celebrant for the invitaMass and for a vigil service the

tion-only

The spokeswoman said would be private.

night before. burial

In a statement May 15, Catholic Charities

USA

said

"is

extremely grateful to

the Sinatra family for recognizing the

good

CNS file

photo from Reuters

Legendary entertainer Frank Sinatra thanks the audience during his 80th birthday celebration on Nov. 19, 1995 at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Sinatra died May 1 5 in Los Angeles at the age of 82.

work of our agencies nationwide." Susan V. Weight, deputy assistant of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, said the agency is "deUghted that they've remembered us."

been

set

address

is:

special post office

box has

for responses, she said.

CathoUc

Charities, P.O.

The

Box

53330, Los Angeles, CA 90074-3330. "The Sinatra family as a whole has always been very supportive of all charities and especially Catholic ones because they're Catholic," she told Catholic News Service May 15. "This way, his memory can live on in the good works Catholic Charities does. It's wonderful." Sinatra also had asked that donations be directed to the Barbara Sinatra Children' s Center at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The center, founded by Sinatra and his wife in 1986, treats and counsels abused children.

Over a six-decade career, Sinatra sustained fame and success, first as a radio and big band singer, later as a movie actor and TV entertainer, and always as a recording artist. He made 60 movies and, in addition to recording countless hit singles,

re-

The

singer's first marriage to

valid in the eyes of the church.

In a 75th birthday tribute in 1990,

George W. Hunt, then ediAmerica magazine, celebrated the

Jesuit Father tor of

perfection, not of Sinatra's

life, but of his work, which he called "that of the greatest popular singer of our century." "I can honestly say that no other stranger has provided so much continual and renewable pleasure in my life as has he," Father Hunt wrote in his column in America.

He praised Sinatra' s voice for its tonal quality

and musical phrasing, which he

called "unique in

its

you took the time

to write this lovely trib-

75th birthday, and it a very special one! Appreciate your love and support." ute in honor of

made my day

truly

gaming interests, and was a regular at the White House during the Kennedy and Reagan years. Bom Dec. 12, 1915,inHoboken,N.L, Sinatra was baptized a Catholic, and be-

charities worldwide.

cause of the presiding priest's confusion, was christened Francis Albert instead of Martin Jr. Despite three earher marriages, his 1976 marriage to Barbara Marx subsequently was validated in a private ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York, Catholic News Service reported in 1979. He had been photographed receiving

Communion at St.

Patrick's that year,

which prompted questions about Cathohc

status.

his

smoothness, sense of

nuance and expressiveness." Sinatra wrote back, saying how much he enjoyed the column. In a letter published in the Feb. 2, 1991, issue of America, the crooner said, "I was deeply touched that

corded more than 50 albums. His records won 1 1 regular and special Grammy s. The entertainer also survived allegations of links to organized crime and casino

Nancy

Barbato was annulled by the Catholic Church, CNS reported, and his subsequent marriages to actresses Ava Gardner and Mia Farrow never were recognized as

Throughout his career, Sinatra reportedly contributed

more than $1 billion to He was a benefactor

for individual Catholic churches, includ-

ing St. Louis in Cathedral City, Calif, his

mother's parish, and Holy Family in Las Vegas, which had been meeting in a casino until Sinatra and others put on benefits to raise

building funds.

Sinatra received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1971 and was to receive the Sons of Italy Foundation Humanitarian Award May 21 at a gala in Washington. He received the Presidenfial Medal of Freedom from

Reagan in 1985. The singer is survived by his wife and

President

three children.

May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

& Herald

Our Lady of Mercy Students Assist Habitat for Humanity deGUZMAN

By SUSAN

houses, then return them to Habitat to

—

WINSTON-SALEM As part of a recent service project, Our Lady of Mercy School seventh graders used their and craftsmanship

creativity

be sold

to benefit

had

that the students

money themselves to purchase birdhouses. To acquire 15 houses,

the

sides, and a tail on the back. Habitat offered the finished birdhouses at the auction in three different ways. Some of the birdhouses were

houses at the Habitat for Humanity Annual Birdhouse Sale and Auction held

bake

May

OLM

The

Donna

school secretary

their bird-

Mullen

worked in pairs, "A lot of cooperative learn-

said.

The

worked very well together, sensing each other's strengths and weaknesses," she added. One birdhouse had a carnival theme: ing took place.

birdhouses for $5 each. The fee covers

and

groups buy, paint and decorate the

students

A second group was ofA third

starting at $25.

fered in a silent auction format. set

was sold

acrylic paint, they

OLM art teacher Deidre Mullen.

Habitat sells unfinished, preconstructed the cost of the materials. Individuals

and paint

classes to design

the front,

available for direct purchase with prices

students had two 90-minute art

houses. With few guidelines and lots of

Kronner suggested the birdhouses as a fun and worthwhile art project for students to

purchase additional

science equipment for the school.

FamiUar with Habitat's fund-raising events,

which netted $130. The extra

sale,

money was used

mouth on

the seventh graders decided to hold a

on a second. Anbody with its body on the

other was designed like a cat's

raise the

the poor of the area. Students sold bird-

April 30

A roller coaster was painted on one side, a cotton candy booth

at the auction.

Mullen said

at a live auction.

national, nonprofit organization

that utilizes volunteers to help build

homes for ity homes

Human-

the poor, Habitat for are worth

$65,000 and

sold to carefully screened applicants with

20-year interest-free mortgages. The Forsyth County Chapter of Habitat has

been

in existence for 13 years and has never had a buyer foreclose on his or her

Employment Opportunities — Religious Studies Department:

Chairperson

Charlotte Catholic High School, a diocesan school with 800 students,

seeking experienced, energetic

full-time person to serve as Chairperson of the Religious Studies Department, teach religion part-time

and

on established Campus Ministry Team. Must have Master's Degree

ser\'e part-time

Theology or

Religious Education from a Catholic college or university. Send resume, transcripts, letter or recommendation and request for an application to Charlotte Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road,

Charlotte,

28226.

Organist needed for the weekly 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass and Holy Catholic liturgy would be beneficial.

The instrument

are

made

St.

for Habitat for

Day Masses.

Salary

Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, 525

If interested,

Camden

ston-Salem. For more information, call

St.

Win-

Susan deGuzman is a parishioner at Leo the Great Church in Winston-

Salem.

Roman

Familiarity with

negotiable.

Members

are needed for a diocesan choir to iielp celebrate

please

the ordination

Drive, Statesville,

28677. (704) 872-2579.

Davis,

Mass of Rev. Misters Dean Cesa, Christopher

Matthew Leonard and Peter Pham. Mass

]une 6

Youth Minister: Vibrant, growing, diverse parish seeking qualified, talented, dedicated leader to coordinate

high school ministry.

work collaboratively with

Part-time position to

existing spiritual, social and service components.

resume

.send

Mark Catholic Church

St.

10 a.m.in Sl John Neumann Church on Idlewild Rd.

sr.

Prefer previous youth ministry experience.

interested, please call Dr. l^rry Sti'atemeyer,

Please

r7041 334-2283,

27603.

ext.

NC.

Wihiiington.

scckmg

a full-lime person for youth ministry.

responsibilities for grades 6-12 in Ihc 2000-family parish: projects, social events,

and

jr.

upon and expand

staff to build

Search Committe, Sacred Heart Cathedral. 226 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh,

to:

Director for Total Youth Ministry

Primary

Religious education classes, retreats, service

and recruiting, training and supporting volunteer teachers and leaders. Will work

closely with Director of Religious Education. Bachelor's Degree required with religious education back-

ground and experience preferred.

good standing with

practicing Catholic in

great enthusiasm for

working with youth required. Salary commensurate with experience and education. Send cation with resume to

Wilmington,

TYM

Search Committe,

28403 by July

St.

of appli-

letter

Mark Catholic Church. 1011 Eastwood Road,

1998.

Pro viding Healing

& Christian Service

Faith Formation: Director of Faith Formation,

St.

Thomas Aquinas

experienced, creative, enthusiastic person to lead

exceeds 1200. Median age of the parish

Catholic Community,

seeking a knowledgeable,

1800+ family parish program.

its

young; parish

in religious

Responsibilities

education and/or theology required, five years experience

parish administration or equivalent. Salary

May

to:

28213 or fax

Office of Faith Formation,

to:

(704)549-1614

attn: Sister

Thomas Aquinas

Parish, 1400 Suther Road, Chariotte,

Ever since

St.

Joseph Hospital was founded in 1948

commensurate with education and experience. Send resumes

St.

North Carolinians for 50 Years

Student enrollmenl

vibrant and fast-growing.

include organization of classes 1-9, sacrament formation, recruitment of volunteer teachers/assistants

and parent formation.

Liy

Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh and Dr. Francis

Owens of Southern

Margaret Straney.

been to serve

Pines, our purpose has

Director of Religious Education at Ashevlile Catholic School: This the

a full-time position for the 1998-99 academic year with responsibility for the adnvinistration of

ACS

degree field

faith

formation program which includes a variety of faith-filled objectives and outreach.

Religious Education in the Catholic faith or a related field

of Catholic religious education

beneficial.

ideals of the Catholic Faith as outlined in the

Some

preferred.

documents of Vatican

St.

to:

DRE

Search Committee, Asheville Catholic School, 12

— Pianist:

Culvem

Therese Catholic Church, 217 Brawley School Rd., Mooresville,

of our comi-nunicies,

enter our second half-century of service with a

renewed commitment

to that mission.

Our

recent

affilia-

and as directed by the Diocese of

The

based on experience and educational background and includes a diocesan benefit package.

Organist

rhe health care needs of the residents

experience in the

Applicant must be committed to implementing the

Chariotte, and to working with the staff, students, and parents in a collaborative manner.

resume

Street, Asheville,

28115.

Two

salary

with Catholic Health East will allow us to do an

tions

Send your

28804.

even better job of ministering through caring.

Whether your

choir rehearsals

health care needs involve long-term

and Masses per week; rotate Saturday evenings with director. Eligible for lay retirement plan; budget for conferences and materials.

resume and salary history

Additional income from weddings. to Brett Ballard, Director

Position begins immediately.

of Music Ministry

at the

above address.

Send

"/.ite

Intern will develop Catholic

Campus

Ministry

Wingate University,

LIMEX

will be sent

upon receipt of resume.

increased annually); health insurance; I

$2000

Colleen McDermott, Director of

Charlolle,

LIMEX

28203-4003.

tuition grant for

Campus

Benefits:

Rm/Bd; $400/mo

LIMEX. Send resume and

Ministry, Diocese of Chariotte,

Phone: (704) 370-3212.

letter

August, 1998:

Drama and

Please send resume and request for application

first

housing or retirement

of St. Joseph: the name you can

living,

trust.

123 South Church

Full-time Spanish and Pan-time Spanish, Business/Computer, Physical Science,

Part-time Counselor.

chink

—

Charlotte Catholic High School has the following teaching positions and counselor position open begin-

Part-time

serve, pri-

day health

stipend (to be

cover

E-mail: campusmin@charlottcdioeesc.org

Catholic High School, 7702 Pineville-Matthews Road, Charlotte,

assistance, hospice, adult

(Loyola Institute of Ministry ex-

Teaching Position: ning

duty nursing

care, child care, senior

tension program), a four-year graduate program leading to Master's Degree in Religious Education application to

St.,

health care in the 24 counties

a Baptist insti-

through collaboration with the local parish and the Catholic students, staff and faculty. Require-

ments: practicing Catholic; Bachelor's Degree; enrollment

June

home

Ministry Intern:

Full-time position. tution,

care,

Phone:

(704) 664-3992.

Campus

paint

Humanity.

the Habitat office at (336) 765-8854.

available to the public at Habi-

Humanity headquarters

Other responsibilities would include accompanying and adult

a Johannus organ from Holland.

contact Rev. Fr. Peter Fitzgibbons,

birdhouses

The money raised from this event goes into Habitat's building fund, which is used to purchase construction materials. Any birdhouses which do not sell tat for

Organist:

choir.

Our Lady of Mercy School students

home.

28226.

to:

Charlotte

St Jose PH OF iHE Pines 1-800-581-9257

12 The Catholic

& Herald

News

May

Interreligious The Office of

Faith

Formation presents

Forming Disciples, A Communal Task Mary Margaret Swogger

Dr.

An overnight experience of prayer, stories, and conversation over wine and cheese facilitated by the dynanntc Dr. Mary Margaret Swogger Dn Swogger who holds the record for attracting the greatest number of people

our diocese

conferences

mm In

to these

back by popular

demand. She received her doctorate St. Mary's Seminary and us at least

She brings

Indonesian Protests YOGYAKARTA,

— Four days

Indonesia (CNS)

after a student activist

was

killed at a protest rally, religious leaders

Yogyakarta called for an end to violence against activists demanding change. The seven local Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Hindu, Confucian and Javanese in

mysticist leaders gathered

May

12 at

St.

Albert the Great Church parish hall and issued a seven-point statement that also

backed pro-change demonstrations staged in campuses throughout Indonesia. The day of the meeting, six student activists were shot to death in clashes with security forces during protests at Trisakti University, a Catholic institution in

years of experience as

a parish DRE.

The May 12 statement, which the newly formed Yogyakarta Forum for the Solidarity of Believers called a "moral

appeal to

all

believers,"

300 religious and

was read to some

rights activists also

present at the meeting.

"We

her gentle but profoundly stimulating fashion. Dr.

Swogger

will

share the

common

pressed by the students.

concern ex-

respect the

who voice out the people's grave

deal with the issues connected with the formation of disciples.

students

What does

concern," said Father Joseph Suyatno Hadiatmojo, coordinator of the forum.

"skill

this

issue?"

task

Or,

demand

of us?

there a prior but

Group Backs

Jakarta.

from

University, Baltimore.

22, 1998

the challenge purely a

more foundational

issue of

An Indonesian man waves his country's as mobs loot and burn Chinese shops in central Jakarta May 14.

flag

Religious leaders, including Catholics,

met May 12 in support of pro-reform demonstrations and demanded an end to the use of violence against protesters.

June 26-27, 1998

The other representative of the CathoUc Church was Father Ignatius Jayasewaya, episcopal vicar of Semarang Archdiocese, which includes Yogyakarta. Abdul Muhaimin, who spoke for Yogyakarta' s Islamic religious leaders,

cording to the Yogyakarta forum, has cre-

Catholic Conference Center, Hickory

read the statement's point denouncing

ated widespread fear among civilians,

the military's use of violence to quell

"pesantren," or Islamic boarding school.

have been affected by the economic crisis in the country. Noting broad popular support for the student rallies, the forum urged the government "to magnanimously respond to the demands" for reforms. Some 10,000 people attended the

In their appeal, the religious leaders

funeral of Gatotkaca, the first fatality in

spirituality?

What

spirituality flows

from an authentic experience

of the Sacraments of Initiation?

Begins Friday at 6:30 p.m.

activist opposition.

"We demand

Ends Saturday celebrating Mass with

stop

Name

its

Address

government

Muhaimin, head of

violence against the students, ac-

who

stated that the killing of Mozes Gatotkaca, a Christian protester who was

the crisis-spurred rallies in Yogyakarta.

allegedly clubbed to death by security

Muslim

officers at a

that the

repressive actions against stu-

dents," said

Very Rev. Mauricio West at 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration required Registration due by June 1 2, 1 998

The

May

8 rally, and the severe

After the Christian burial service, activists

asked for another

ser-

vice to be done in Islamic rites, saying

injuries suffered

by many other activists prompted them to urge the government

that the late activist

to stop the repression.

all faiths.

had died for the cause of reforms demanded by compatriots of

Diocese of Phone

Charlotte

Friday night event

Saturdoy

ONLY

5.00 per person)

{Wiih wine

and cheese)

Commuter

rates

(Including meals

(S30.00 per person)

and break.)

Lodging and Meals

(Fri./Saf.)

Sgl:

tl|r0ugi|

(S60.00 per person)

With

Dbl: {$48.00 per person)

Father Mauricio West TrpI:

{$44.00 per person)

Quad: {$40.00 per person)

Roommate

Vicar General

and Chancellor

Blarney;

Send more

infornnation

requests:

Send name, address, and phone number to: Joann Keane

Make Pat

to: Office of Faith Formation and mail to 123 South Church St. « Charlotte, NC • 28203-4003

checks payable

Onaindia «

should have any questions, contact us at (704) 370-3244

Director of Communications

Diocese of Charlotte 1123 South Church Street Charlotte, NC 28203 Or E-mail: jskeane@aol.com

May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

& Herald

Belmont Abbey College Holds Annual Commencement BELMONT

— With

friends looking on,

family and Belmont Abbey Col-

In his welcome, the college president told the graduates their growth since their

lege President Robert A. Preston lauded

the nearly 150 seniors across the church piazza the college's 120th

year at the Catholic college had "as-

first

who marched lawn May 9 at

tounded" professors.

commencement.

"The distance traveled might be four more years in length, but it can only be

measured

Ught years in terms of inteland development," he said.

lectual maturity

Belmont Abbey graduates and honored guests took center stage on a day when their achievements were recognized. Many onlookers hooted and cheered, and some sounded air horns, as

members of the Class of 1998 crossed the stage.

Belmont Abbey senior Tucker Rollins

Heam

of Charlotte was recog-

nized as the class valedictorian. Fellow senior James Robert Coates of Gastonia

was named the Abbey Person of the Year. Senior Kelly Gallagher of Charlotte was also recognized. She received not one, but two diplomas: one from Belmont Abbey in political science, the other

from

Winthrop University in music. To earn the degrees, Gallagher completed 73 classes and 183 credit hours in four years. The senior received both diplomas from her father, Robert Gallagher, chairman of the Behnont Abbey Board of Trustees. Two retiring Belmont Abbey College faculty members were honored for their

"The distance traveled might be four or more years in length, but it can only be measured in light years in terms of intellectual maturity and development," Belmont Abbey College President Robert A. Preston told members of the Class of 1998.

years of service to the Catholic institution.

Benedictine Father Anselm Biggs received

Graduating Belmont Abbey College seniors prepare to be led out by the Loch Norman Bagpipe Band (foreground). he retired after 64 years Abbey. James Dubil, aswas hon-

special recognition;

of teaching

at the

sistant professor of mathematics,

ored for his 15 years of service.

Mary Cook,

retired assistant to

Belmont Abbey College's presidents for 26 years (from 1954-1980), and Roger Regelbrugge, president and chief executive officer of Georgetown Industries in

the recessional

member of the Belmont Abbey College Board of Trustees, reCharlotte and a

ceived honorary doctor of laws degrees.

Retired Archbishop Daniel W. Kucera of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa, received an honorary doctor of hu-

mane

letters.

also delivered the

baccalaureate Mass.

ily at the

Natural Famiily Plammiing Iii'lrodiiiictory Glasses l^e Ckmce for a EeMikj Msirmge yeryMecti\e^

Medicsilj Sale^ Morally Aee^table^ Easy to Learti'^laespaisjFe^ Frometes intimacy

To sign up for a City

Sept l)cc.

Chitrtoae

class,

please contact the individual listedJor the desired date.

Time

Location

Method

Fee

Contact PersoB

l:M)-<)pm 7.?0-'*pin

SIO SK» SIO

/u.n Mines

CSS CSS R«^ional OnSce CSS Regional OITice

Crcghton

(T)

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Frieda Ashworth

Sl(t

Cathy Tepper

(704) 4*4-0997

SO SIO SO

Maria MuP.oz Cathy Tepper

Date Jbiw2<T} .

Regional Office

Wpm

Creghton

May May

14 (Th;

7:.iO-9

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730-9:30pm

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July

7-8

(1 h.

9 iTh)

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(Sat)

(Th) Sept U) (Th) Aug..s:i 13

(M)

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30-9: 30pm

CCl^

Matt-KwChjreh

Crcighton

CCI CCI

MalCicw Church Matliew Church

Mines

Maria

Maria Mjf.o-!

Cathy Tapper

CCL

Maria

Muf Tepper

Crcghton

Mmi Muf 0/

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Pisloral Ccnici

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sio so so

Cathy Tepper Maria Muf.oz

Dec 10ah> Cirover

By Appoinlmenl

Moorcbvilb

Mav

7:30-9:30pm contact Fneda

AsHvk

Church MmihcM, Church

CCI.

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(Couple 10 Couple League)

rlh

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Couple League

Mjna

Mufloz

Charlrtic (;70^}

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& Mtrv Beth

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Nov. 12 (Th)

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Ocl 12 (M) Nov. 1 (\V) 1

Natural Famii) Piaaning Prori^rs

Mufoz

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Creighton

Church

Si Mattlicw

Aj-.n

Man.i

CtTightod .Model Ann Mines Ashfivilk

Muf oz

(

0997

S28 1 258-8S07 Maria Perkiru SalisbtiPi

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7-8;30pm

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Junt 5 (F)

7-8:30pra

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ScpL4(F) Ocl 2 (F)

7-8:30pra

Church

Billings

hciesc Church

Bilimgs

St Thcrcsic

7-8:30pm

St Thercse

Church Church

Billmgs Billings

$H) SIO $10 $10

Jav Hamth'Dn Jay

(704)633-9551

Hamthon

Jay Hamilton Jay

Cathy Tepper

lamihon

Chariottc

(704) .364-3348 Salisbiir>-

By Appointment

StElCliVllx

August 7(1-) Nov. 6 (F)

7-8:30pra

St. Philip

Church Church

Billings

"-8:30prn

Dec 4(F)

7-8;30pm

St Philip Church

Billings

contact

Mana

Per^in

(Crciphion Model)

704.633.9551

Maty Lynn Lawler Philip

Billings

$10 $10 $10

Jay Hamilton

Charlotte

Jay iiamtllon

(704) 34: -2280

Jay Hamilton

Woomb Win«on-Salcm

May 20 (W)

7:30

June 17 (W)

7:30

(W) August 19 (W) Sept 16 (W) Oct. 21 (W) Nov. 18 (W) Dec 16 fW)

7:30 -9pin

July 15

-9pm 9pm

7:30

-9pm

7:30

-9pm -9pm -9pm

7:30 7 30

9pin

St Ixo Church St. Leo Church St txo Church

CCL CCL CCL

Leo Church

CCL

St Leo Church St Church

Leo Church

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CCL CCL CCL CCL

$0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0

Mary Beth Young Mary Beth Young Mary Beth Young Mary Bclh Young Mary Beth Young Mary Beth Young Mary Beth Young Mary Beth Young

Model (BilMngs Ovulation) Jay & Canncn Hamilton Moor CSV ilk States vitie (704)66.3-6411

Natural Family Ptanning Program Catholic Social Services

1123 South Church Street Charlotte,

2ft203-4003

704.370.3230/704.370.3377 (FAX)

hom-

14 The Catholic

News

& Herald

May 22,

1998

Diocesan News Briefs purchase of a new organ for the new Immaculate Conception Church building, scheduled for completion this fall. Living Waters Retreat

MAGGIE VALLEY — "Discerning

Your Vocation to ReUgious Life" is a June 1-5 retreat encouraging the exploration of being called to religious life in the Catholic Church. Individual and group prayer will focus on Scripture, art and movement to illustrate various aspects of God's work in participants' lives. Cost is $150. "Contemplative Prayer According to the Cloud of Unknowing" is a June 7-13 retreat exploring the basic theological and historical backgrounds of centering prayer and contemplative prayer. Cost is $220.

To register,

get

more information

receive a retreat schedule, write to the

Living Waters Catholic Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters Lane, Maggie Valley,

Members of the Our Lady of Mercy School kindergarten class show off handmade Easter bonnets in this recent photo from Winston-Salem. Sporting their new headgear, the children led an Easter parade around the school.

Ordination Celebration MOUNT HOLLY Father John Vianney Hoover of New Creation Monastery invites you to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of his ordination May 24 at St. Joseph Church on Highway 273, six miles north of Belmont Abbey. Mass will be celebrated at 4 p.m. with an outdoor picnic (bring your own). For more in-

—

formation, call (336) 699-4005.

"Schola Cantorum" Performs

—

REIDSVILLE The "Schola Cantorum CaroUnae Borealis" sings at the 1 1 a.m. Mass at Holy Infant Church May 3 1 Music will be provided for the Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. .

Among

piece,

Spring Barbecue

MONROE — Our Lady of Lourdes

hymns

are the Gregorian

"Veni Creator Spiritus." Vacation Raffle

SYLVA — St. Mary Church is con-

NC 28751, call (704) 926-3833,

or send a fax to (704) 926-1997.

the

chant version of "Ave Maria" and "Salve Regina," Ramondi's "O Sacrum Convivium," and a "Schola" original

ducting a raffle for an all-inclusive, week-long vacation at a Sandals resort. Tickets are $5 each or six for $25, and

May

The drawing

and

how trends in medicine influence the

its second annual spring barbecue June 13 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Call (704) 289-2773 for ticket information. Novena of the Holy Spirit MONROE Our Lady of Lourdes Church hosts a nine-day novena to the Holy Spirit beginning May 22 and lasting until May 30 at 7 p.m. daily. The tradition of the novena was established by the apostles when, at Jesus' direction,

tion,

law.

A question-and-answer session will

they gathered in prayer to await the Holy

efits,

follow the presentation. For more infor-

Alive in the Spirit Seminar "Alive in the Spirit," a seven-week seminar on a fuller life in the Holy Spirit, is at St. Matthew Church Mondays from June 8-July 27. Cost is $5. To register, call Lisa Gray at

days leading up to Pentecost. The Second Vatican Council emphasized the honor and duty, especially of laypeople, to pray to and invoke the Holy Spirit in every phase of life. The novena events will include hymns, prayer. Scripture, intercessions and guest homilists each night. Call (704) 289-

The Catholic News & Herald welcomes parish news for the Diocesan News Briefs page. Good photographs are also welcome. Submit news releases and photos at least 10 days before the publi-

(704) 543-0489.

2773 for more information.

cation date.

Parish hosts

Veterans Benefit Seminar The Rev. Ralph

ARDEN

—

Medical Law Presentation CHARLOTTE — Dana Cody, a law-

Neagle Post 1914, Catholic War Veterans of the U.S.A. hosts the Fourth Annual Veteran's Benefit Seminar at St. Barnabas Church May 28 at 7 p.m. for all veterans, their families and other in-

yer and executive director of the Life Le-

terested persons. Several presenters will

pertinent life issues including bioethics

offer information

on veteran compensa-

pension programs, survivors' benscholarship and educational assistance, and more. For more information, call (828) 667-5722.

Pentecost Celebration

BREVARD — Sacred Heart Church celebrates Pentecost

young people

by confirming 27 Brevard Music

in the

Center's Strauss Auditorium

10 a.m. Mass.

May

31 at

A covered-dish meal follows the

gal Defense Foundation in California,

from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Cody

mation, call Marie

—

Members

CHARLOTTE

will speak

(704) 341-5961.

—

Spirit in the

sale until

30.

Church St.,

Sylva,

(828) 586-9499, 22 Bartlett

28779.

Women's Bible Study WINSTON-SALEM A women'

—

Bible study group begins the 10- week Little Rock Scripture Study series

"Women in the Old Testament" June 1 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Joseph's House. For more information and to register, call Anne Gannon

at (336)

768-9360.

Jubilee Retreat GREENSBORO "The Motiva-

—

Choir IVIembers Needed

CHARLOTTE

wiU

speak at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 4207 Shamrock Dr., on June 14

are

be held May 3 1 For tickets or more information, call or write to St. Mary will

are

tional Gifts of the Spirit"

a Jubilee re-

X Church par-

Around The Diocese

needed for a diocesan choir to help celebrate the ordination Mass of Rev.

treat

Dean Cesa, Christopher Davis, Matthew Leonard and Peter Pham June

Child care will be provided. For details, call (336) 272-4681.

6 at 10 a.m. in St. John Neumann Church, 845 1 Idlewild Rd. If you are interested in singing, call Dr. Larry Stratemeyer, (704) 334-2283, ext. 22.

Vacation Bible School

the results of the recent Triad Catholic Schools Facilities Survey. Meetings are

GREENSBORO St. Paul the Apostle and First Lutheran churches present a vacation Bible school June 1519 from 9 a.m. -noon for children age 3 through fifth grade. Call (336) 294-4696

May 26 in Greensboro at the Holiday Inn Four Seasons/Koury Convention Center in the Guilford Ball Room (use the south lobby entrance of the convention center); May 27 at Holy Family Church in Clemmons; and May 28 at Immacu-

Messrs.

Retrouvaille

CHARLOTTE program

— Retrouvaille

for married couples that brings

hope, teaches communication on a feel-

June 6

ish center.

in the St. Pius

Hannah Hammer

facilitates.

—

for

more information. Single Again Catholics

—

in bereave-

GREENSBORO The Single Again Catholics group meets regularly for spiritual and social events in Greensboro. Call Mike Bohen at (336) 373-7358 or Isabella Syracuse at (336) 294-9595 for more information. Benefit Concert HENDERSONVILLE Zoltan Marczi, director of music ministry at Immaculate Conception Church, and the Immaculata Youth Choir are featured at

con-

a benefit organ concert at First Baptist

gregations are in the St. Gabriel Church

Church, 312 5th Ave. W., on May 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling (828) 891-1497. Proceeds will be applied towards the

ing level, helps couples realize that their

problems are not unique, helps couples identify their values and priorities, and teaches couples to start anew. The program begins July 24. For further information, call Nick or Irene Fadero in Charlotte, (704) 544-0621, or (800) 470-2230.

Bereavement

l\/linistry

CHARLOTTE ment

Training

— Basic bereave-

training sessions for those inter-

ested in

becoming involved

ment ministry

in their parishes or

Fellowship Hall on May 28, June 4, 1 and 25 from 7-9:30 p.m. Cost is $15. To register, call (704) 362-5047. ext. 201.

—

Triad Schools Survey Results

A series of town meetings will be presented May 26-28 in the Triad to present

late

Heart of

Mary Church

High

Point. All meetings are 7-9 p.m.

For more

information, call Joann Keane, (704) 370-3336.

Estate Planning Seminars CHARLOTTE St. Matthew Church is hosting an estate planning seminar on June 8 at 7:30 p.m. The focus will be on the will as one of the most important documents you'll ever sign. For details, call the parish office at (704) 543-7677. HICKORY St. Aloysius Church hosts an estate planning seminar June 9 at 7 p.m. The focus is on the will as one of the most important documents you'll ever sign. Call the parish office for more information at (828) 327-2341.

—

Newman Singers To Perform The Newman Singers, a liturgical and concert group from the Newman Cathoin Iowa City, Iowa, perform several concerts in the Diocese of lic Student Center Charlotte later this month. The Singers have toured the country for the past 15 have recorded nine collections of liturgical music. They will perform years and May 30 and 31 at St. Luke Church in Mint Hill at all weekend Masses and at a special 6 p.m. performance

accepted. For for

May

31.

more information on

Winston-Salem,

call (336)

Admission

is free,

and donations will be

the Asheville concert, call (828) 254-5193;

722-7001; and for Mint

Hill, call (704)

545-1224.

May

The Catholic News

22, 1998

World And National News Bishop Cummins Says Calls To Limit Citizenship Disturbing

WASfflNGTON (CNS) tempt to make

— Any

at-

more difficult to become

is unacceptchairman of the U.S. Catholic bishops' Migration Committee in a statement issued as Congress considers proposals to tighten the process. Bishop John S. Cummins of Oaltland, Calif., chairman of the Migration Committee,

a naturalized U.S. citizen able, said the

said calls to restrict access to U.S.

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

bishop and area non-Catholic religious leaders signed a joint statement

May

will

acter, enrich

our communities, are grate-

adopted homeland and eager become full-fledged citizens." Several

ful to their

introduced in Congress this session

bills

would make

difficult to

become

a naturalized U.S. citizen.

Detroit Religious Leaders Join In

Opposing Assisted Suicide DETROIT (CNS) Detroit Cardi-

—

nal

Adam J.

Maida, the local Chaldean-

rite

7 calling

warning

life

a gift

from God and

that acceptance of a "right to

die" could lead eventually to "a duty to die."

a signing

ceremony and press

conference, the cardinal was joined by

Bishop Ibrahim N. Ibrahim of the Chaldean Eparchy of

St.

Thomas

the

Apostle, based in Southfield; the presi-

Briefs

— Charter

and direct sales of medical goods after the U.S. government slightly relaxed some restrictions May 13 in the 36-year-old embargo. President Clinton had announced in March that the changes would take place. His statement fied the move to the impact of Pope John Paul II's visit there in January and the U.S. government's interest in facilitating the Catholic Church's relief efforts in Cuba. Although the actions have been broadly welcomed by relief agencies and much of the Cuban-American community, some quesfioned whether the U.S. government's regulations and schedules for such flights

overwhelming majority of immigrants and refugees in this country are of good moral charsidering evidence that "the

Guard's chief of chaplains, the guard currently is experiencing a desperate shortage of Catholic chaplains. To minister to nearly 83,000 professed Catholics in U.S. guard units, there are only 65 priests, he said. Forty-five percent of Catholic guard members are in Hawaii, with another 20 percent in Illinois, where there are no Catholic chaplains. Cuba Charter, Humanitarian Cargo Flights Set To Resume

citi-

zenship are particularly disturbing con-

& Herald

flights

Cuba may resume

accommodate

the

demand. The

changes include resumpfion of passenger charter flights from Miami to Cuba; resumption of direct cargo flights for humanitarian supplies; simplification of procedures for the sale of medicines and medical goods; and permission for family members to send relatives in Cuba up to $1,200 a year. Better Records Needed On

CNS

photo by Carlos Lopez

in Belfast encourages citizens to vote "yes"' on the May 22 peace referendum for Northern Ireland. Voters will go to the polls in both Ireland and Northern Ireland to decide whether to accept the April 1 0 peace settlement.

A double-decker bus

26 murder. In

letter sent to

Carlos Catu

adequate investigation could tarnish the memory of the heroic efforts of more

leftist candidate for mayor in the town of San Juan Comalapa, the group

than 100 Catholic priests and nuns

that identifies itself as "Jaguar Justiciero"

died to protect others.

Avenger" warned: "We are sending you a little of Bishop Gerardi's blood, who we killed on Sunday night ... the same day that you were presented as

Vatican Officials Criticize New EU Genetic Legislation VATICAN CITY (CNS) Vatican officials criticized new European Union legislation on genetic and embryo re-

Otzoy, a

or "Jaguar

candidate for the Marxist, Leninist,

Com-

who

—

who

munist Paily of Guatemala." Priest On Anti-Springer Crusade Says Faithful Must Combat Evil KENNER, La. (CNS) Father Michael Pfleger is a Chicago priest who loves to take on impossible causes. Take Jerry Springer, for instance. Please. During a powerful address May 9 to the second annual Catholic Men's Conference at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Father Pfleger pledged that his battle against the king of raunchy daytime television would end in victory for those who are willing to stand up for Christian morality. "Somebody said about me, 'He is really crazy,' but you don't know how crazy I am," Father Pfleger told hundreds of men from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Father Pfleger and other church leaders in the Chicago area have been waging holy war

Memorial Day. Those covered by

co-chairs the joint panel charged with

against Springer's nationally televised

body, such as sequences of genetic material, could be subject to patents in the European Union's 15 member-states. But it prohibits human cloning, the modification of human reproductive material, and the commercial or industrial use of human embryos. Before it goes into effect, the law must meet the approval of a council of European ministers and be ratified by the parliaments of all European Union states within two years.

include the elderly, children, people with disabilities and refugees who

fixing the suicide law, said the public and

show, which originates in Chicago, beits sexual and violent content.

Terror As

dent of the Michigan Board of Rabbis;

and Lutheran bishops; and Presbyterian and American Baptist local Episcopal

A Muslim

leaders.

cleric

unable to

Assisted Suicide

mittee of the

Partially Restores Food Stamps For Immigrants

Senate

WASHINGTON

(CNS)

— Food

stamps for 270,000 legal immigrants would be restored under a bill passed overwhelmingly by the Senate May 12. In a 92-8 vote, the Senate passed an agriculture research funding

bill that

included

restoring food stamps to about one-third

tor-assisted suicides.

assisted suicide, including Catholic of-

have long asked for more open records so that abuses can be prevented. They argue that elderly people, poor residents and disabled people may be coerced into hastened deaths by relatives or the health care establishment. Oregon's law, passed in 1994 as a voter ficials,

of the legal immigrants whose benefits

initiative,

were eliminated

thal

haul. til

after

the

in the

1996 welfare over-

A House vote was not expected un-

bill

have lived in the United States since before Aug. 22, 1996. They were among about 900,000 legal immigrants who were made ineligible for food stamps as part of the 1996 welfare law. A broad coali-

—

A comOregon Legislature may call

more public information about docThose troubled by

for

later date.

Oregon,

Lawmakers Say PORTLAND, Ore. (CNS)

at-

tend the ceremony because of an Islamic

holy day was to sign the statement

allows doctors to prescribe lemedication to terminally ill patients.

State Sen.

Ken Baker,

a Republican

medical researchers need to know more about the patients who ask to die and the doctors who decide to help. •Death Squad Claims Responsibility For Bishop Gerardi's Murder

SAN SALVADOR

(CNS)

—

men and women

former death squad that operated during the late 1980s and early 199Gs has claimed responsibility for the brutal murder of Guatemala Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera and has threatened to continue the killings. Meanwhile, a church official has called for an "ur-

National Guard have been

gent investigation" of the activities of

activated to serve the country and their

clandestine criminal groups and has warned of the "climate of terror" in the country. Church workers associated with

tion of churches, immigrant-rights orga-

nizations and service agencies pushed for benefits to be restored.

Army

National Guard Desperately Short Of Catholic Chaplains ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) For

—

361 years, the civilian of the

Army

states in times of crisis ters,

— wars,

disas-

emergency missions. But what hap-

pens when there is a crisis in the National Guard? According to Father Donald Hill, a colonel who is the Army National

the

Guatemala Archdiocese's Human

—

cause of

Human

search as not providing sufficient pro-

human dignity. The measure May 1 2 by the European Parliament regulates the commercial use of tection of

passed

such research, including matters such as copyright, industrial application of laboratory findings and species of plants and

animals that should be exempt from research.

—

legislation specifies that re-

man

Communion Joy Turns To Man Opens Fire In Church First DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS)

First

Rights Group Asks Pope

To Investigate Rwandan Genocide VATICAN CITY (CNS) A human rights groups has asked Pope John

The

search on isolated elements of the hu-

—

Communion joy turned to terror in a suburban Dublin parish when a gunman

involvement of two bishops and about 30 priests and nuns in Rwanda's 1994 genocide. African Rights, a group based in London, said it faxed its request through the Vatican Secretariat of State May 13; two days later, it had yet to receive any acknowledgment of the letter. The Vatican press office May 15 said it would have no comment on the letter or its contents.

opened fire in a church packed with children and their families. The offertory procession had just concluded at St. Joseph Church in Ballymun May 16 when Peter McCann, 24, walked in and fired two shots into the air. As children, parents and teachers dove for cover, McCann turned the gun toward anti-drug activist Larry O' Toole and shot him in the chest. The bullet missed O'Toole's heart, and he was recovering in a hospital. O'Toole had been sitting beside his

African Rights said justice for the vic-

8-year-old granddaughter, Laura,

tims required investigations into allega-

was about

Paul

to establish a special

commission

to investigate the possible

and the punishment In addition, it said, an in-

Rights Office report they have received

fions of complicity

death threats since Bishop Gerardi's April

of the guilty.

ion

when

to receive her first

the attack occurred.

who Commun-

& Herald

News

16 The Catholic

May

Iowa Trappistine Nuns To Found Monastery In Norway

Good Connections

Agency

who can support themselves and who By STEVE McMAHON DUBUQUE, Iowa (CNS) — An have a novitiate to receive new members. Iowa community of Trappistine nuns

back

bringing Cistercian monastic

Sister Kathleen O'Neill,

who is

stay-

ing in Iowa, said that for several years the

a part of northern Europe that has been

community had been considering making

since the Reformation in the

a foundation "out of a desire to spread our

without

life

16th century.

life,

Early in 1999, the 28 Trappistine nuns at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey south of Dubuque will send five of their members to found a monastery in Trondheim, Norway, where Lutheranism is

the

main

"It's

the

religion.

an adventure, a movement into

unknown

for the foundresses

who

are

going into something they have no idea

how

will

Fitzpatrick,

work

Mother Gail abbess of the Iowa community

whose nuns

are

out," said

members of the Order of

Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

"We know there will be many difficulties and adjustments," she told The Witness, newspaper of the Dubuque Archdiocese. "There's a lot of unknown in the

something new."

to give birth to

"The discernment process was amazingly peaceful," she said.

"And we're

normal bunch of human beings who don't easily agree on anything," she added with a laugh. A contributing factor was that the Iowa community had no room for new members. They either had to create more space at the Dubuque abbey or send out part of the community to found a new abbey.

Mother

Fitzpatrick

said

the

community's discernment involved "a very deep prayerful movement." With the help of an outside facilitator, she said,

we were

strong majority felt that

called to

The

make

a foundation."

bishop. Sister O'Neill said, "is

very engaged in ecumenical dialogue,

whole project."

The foundresses, all 50 to 60 years Rosemary Durcan, the superior, Marjoe Backhus, Elizabeth Simmons, Gilchrist Lavigne and Nettie Louise Gamble. They will be joined by Sister Ina Andresen, a Norwegian who

very open to Lutherans, not looking to

entered the Cistercian Order in France

The foundresses will not support themselves by making candy, the industry that sustains Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey. Instead, they will concentrate on a cottage industry such as making soap or candles or growing herbs.

old, are: Sisters

and always felt called to bring Cistercian life back to her homeland.

Mother Fitzpatrick said the Iowa in 1964, had

community, founded

"reached a point of maturation" and had

raise the

wait

much

longer, we'll be

too old," she said.

A new

foundation becomes an au-

tonomous abbey when it has enough members who are perpetually professed.

who

are not Catholic."

To prepare, they also are learning the

the vitality to found an independent ab-

bey. "If

numbers of the Catholic Church

expense of the Lutherans." She said it is "an opportunity for an ecumenical witness, to be a prayer place for other at the

Christians

Norwegian language. Two parish volunteers from Trondheim will spend part of the summer in Iowa, working with the nuns on their language skills.

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22, 1998

Easing Overseas Adoptions By TIM

FUNK

—

Just before their

wedding anniversary,

ninth

in July 1994,

Bea Staub of Charlotte flew to Russia to meet their new baby daughter. In January 1997, they went back this time, to pick up their new baby son. Danielle is 4 now; Dylan turns 2 this month. And Bea and Pat mostly gush when asked how it's working out bePat and

tween them and "I

their adopted kids. never could have given birth to

one recent morning as Dylan waddled over for a hug and Danielle called for "Papa" to come and play. "They're happy little kids." For both adoptions, the Staubs went

better children, Bea, 36, said

through Charlotte's Catholic Social Services, which works with Moscow-area orphanages and the Russian courts. At a time when TV newsmagazines are ex-

posing the wrong way to adopt foreignborn children ABC's "Primetime Live" reported last month on a scheme in Louisiana to pay impoverished Russian women for their babies the Char-

—

lotte

agency

getting a reputation as a

place to go to do

the right away.

57 Russian children and five Chinese kids last year. Clients include non-Catholics and couples from as far away as Massachusetts and Michigan. "It seems like every out-of-state placement we make has a ripple effect," said Carol Meyemecks, director of the agency's international adoption program. "I'm amazed. We've gotten calls from Colorado. Utah, California. We don't advertise (out of state). We're not looking to become a huge program. It's always through word of mouth." About half the adopting families are from North Carolina. It

facilitated the adoption of

—

went international in 1993, when Meyerriecks and agency director Elizabeth Thurbee made their first trip to Russia. Now, they go every six months, to visit with orphanage staff members, accept referrals and videotape the children. Still, even by-the-book foreign adoptions can be risky. Often, the medical history of the child's family is sketchy. And there's sometimes no way of telling what kind of care the child got before arriving at the orphanage. Adopting a child from Russia or China can also be expensive. The Charlotte agency charges a family $1,500 to do a home study and $3,000 to place the child and offer support through his or her 1 8th birthday. Add to that the cost of the adoptive parents' trip to Russia airfare, hotel, translators, legal fees and a family could spend $17,000. But those who have gone through it, or are about to, say it's worth it. Tom and Jane Politte of Charlotte already have four children ages 18, 17, 14, 12. But on May 5, they were scheduled to go into a Russian courtroom and adopt two kids a boy, 7, and a girl, 10. Tom has already bolted two more seats in the family van. "We can go out and get a new car or we can get two new children," he said. "It's not that important for us to have a new car... But we feel there's an opportunity to do some good for these children." It

The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE

—

Charlotte Catholic Social Services

— —

—

Pat Staub, 42,

phy studio with lotte families

who

runs a photogra-

his wife, said the Char-

who have adopted Russian

children get together for picnics and

—

Christmas parties to celebrate. Adopting Danielle and Dylan, he said, "has been the best experience of our lives. Bar none." This article

reprinted with permis-

sion from The Charlotte Observer.

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