April 2020, Vol. 38, No. 4
The official publication of the Diocese of Austin
En Español: Páginas 19-22
Bishop: May we keep our eyes fixed on the Lord By Shelley Metcalf | Editor
Image courtesy St. Mary Parish in Caldwell
On March 17, out of pastoral concern for the people of Central Texas and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Joe Vásquez suspended all public Masses and liturgies throughout the diocese until April 8. There is the possibility, given the uncertainty of the COVID-19 situation and recent shelter-in-place orders, that the suspension of Masses could be extended, the bishop said on March 23 when the Catholic Spirit went to press. Thus the faithful are asked to visit the diocesan website at www.austindiocese.org for up-to-date information. “While I hoped we would be able to continue to celebrate public Mass, I made this decision after prayerful discernment and in light of recent recommendations from public health officials,” Bishop Vásquez said in the letter to the faithful. Parishioners are also encouraged to visit their parish website regularly for updated information and spiritual nourishment. In the decree that suspended Masses, Bishop Vásquez also dispensed the faithful from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays or other holy days of obligation. Catholics are asked to make a spiritual devotion such as a spiritual communion, praying the liturgy of the hours, praying for the sick, reading Scripture or participating in devotionals such as praying the rosary (see story on Page 3). The bishop has asked priests to offer daily and Sunday Masses privately in their parish sanctuaries. So the faithful may stay connected to their parish community, he asked that parishes make these Masses, especially Sunday Masses, available on parish social media. Masses are available via television, radio and the internet (see Page 3). “Parishes are encouraged to develop various ways of building spiritual community through social media and small Christian groups,” the bishop said.
As long as the law allows, churches should remain open during normal parish hours for private prayer and devotionals, the bishop said. Bishop Vásquez asked priests to use their prudential judgment as they help the people of God navigate this difficult situation. Priests are to continue to offer reconciliation and the anointing of the sick as the law allows. He encouraged the priests and the faithful to observe public health advisories regarding social distancing and ordinances regarding the number of people that can gather in one place. “As priests, our primary duty is to care for souls and, despite this change, we remain called to go out and serve the people of God,” the bishop said. The bishop canceled confirmation Masses through the beginning of April. Those Masses will be rescheduled. Homebound ministry with holy Communion has also been suspended, though the bishop advised clergy that holy Communion should be taken to those who are gravely ill. The bishop advised that religious education programs should follow the local school district closures. Catholic schools should follow the directives of the diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. The bishop shares in the hopes, griefs and anxieties of the Christian faithful during this time of uncertainty, he said. “I ask that we continue to pray for the strength to persevere by God’s grace, remembering to keep our eyes fixed on the Lord,” he said. The diocese asks that the faithful remember their neighbors in need during this stressful time. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul Diocesan Council of Austin is in need of non-perishable items, toilet paper, Kleenex, toiletries and laundry detergent are some of the most needed items. They can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 901 W. Braker Lane in Austin. For more information, visit www.ssvdp.org. Visit www.austindiocese.org for updates.
Bishop’s Interview
Spiritual communion
Be aware of the signs
Español
Anointing of the sick helps spiriutally strengthen those who are sick. PAGE 13
When Mass is suspended, we can receive Jesus spiritually.
Would you know if your child was experiencing sexual abuse?
Mantengamos nuestros ojos fijos en el Señor.
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VOICES
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
THE MISSION OF THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
A REFLECTION ON COVID-19
As the official newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin, the Catholic Spirit is dedicated to providing information, education and formation for the Catholic community of Central Texas. This mission calls for the newspaper: • to provide readers with an understanding of our Catholic faith and traditions; • to be a primary source of information on Catholic issues relevant to the community; • to be a unifying element for faith communities, both rural and urban, throughout Central Texas; • to show respect for and appreciation of all cultural groups and traditions; • to emphasize topics affirming the Catholic community and life, while acknowledging the humanity of the community and examining, with courage, topics that challenge and encourage growth in the faith.
Stay home; we are all in this together
HOW TO SUBMIT INFORMATION Deadline for submission of articles or information for the Catholic Spirit is the 10th of the month for publication in the following month’s edition. Deadline for the May issue is April 10. Submit material in one of the following ways: • E-mail to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org. • Mail to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723 Catholic Spirit has unrestricted editing rights.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription rates are $12 for one year. To subscribe, send a check payable to Catholic Spirit to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723. Members of a parish in the Austin Diocese may receive the newspaper for a reduced rate. Contact your parish staff for more information.
ADDRESS CHANGES Send all address changes to Catholic Spirit, 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB, Austin, TX 78723. Please include your parish’s name and city. If receiving duplicate copies of the Catholic Spirit, call (512) 949-2443 or e-mail catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org.
STAFF Publisher: Bishop Joe S. Vásquez Editor: Shelley Metcalf Assistant Editor: Christian R. González Advertising: Shelley Metcalf Spanish translation: Gina Dominguez Columnists: Emily Hurlimann, James Janknegt, Hosffman Ospino and Gustavo Rodriguez Correspondents: Kira Ciupek, Ricardo Gandara, Enedelia J. Obregón, Carla Smith and Mary P. Walker Catholic Spirit subscribes to Catholic News Service (CNS) and is a member of the Catholic Press Association. Catholic Spirit cannot be held liable or responsible for the content of any advertisment appearing within these pages. Advertisements are solely the responsibility of each advertiser. Misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be directed to the advertiser or to the Better Business Bureau. Copyright 2020 by the Austin Diocese. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any editorial content, photograph, art or design is prohibited without written permission of the publisher Catholic Spirit (ISSN 0896-2715) is published 11 times annually (monthly except one issue in July/August) by the Austin Diocese. Bishop Joe S. Vásquez (publisher) 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB Austin, TX 78723 Periodicals Postage Paid at Austin, Texas.
POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Catholic Spirit 6225 E US 290 HWY SVRD EB Austin, Texas 78723
By the Editorial Board of Our Sunday Visitor
These are strange days. As Americans, we are used to our freedom, which allows us to do what we like, when we like it — even to our own detriment. No questions asked. So, when we find ourselves in this time of restricted freedom, it feels deeply unfamiliar, upsetting and even wrong. But as the fight against the invisible threat of COVID-19 rages around us, here we are: inconvenienced, restricted and, for some of us, alone. And the best thing we can do for ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors is to stay put. This means that many of our regular routines will have to change as much as humanly possible. It means that conveniences we have come to know, love and expect as our birthright will be severely limited. It means that we will not be able to lead with “I want” but rather “we need.” For Catholics, this is both innate and inconceivable. It’s innate in that loving our neighbor as ourselves goes to the very heart of what it means to be a Christian. We are meant to put “we need” — the common good — ahead of “I want.” At this moment in time, we are called to restrict our own actions — in every possible way — for the good others, especially the most vulnerable. The spread of the disease is exponential, and even those who have mild symptoms — or no symptoms at all — may greatly harm others. In an episode of The New York Times podcast, “The Daily,” Donald McNeil Jr., a Times reporter who has covered infectious diseases for decades, explains clearly what’s at stake. “Do you have a parent? Do you have a grandparent? Do you want to be the vector that carries that disease to them? Do you know anybody and love anybody who’s older and might be frail? You don’t want your last memory of that person being that you gave them the virus that killed them. You’ll kick yourself for the rest of your life if you did that.” That should be enough to make any person of goodwill understand what is at stake — and act accordingly. But, yes, some restrictions we now face are
inconceivable. In an attempt to do the least harm, most public Masses have been canceled. To say this is painful for many who have come to expect and rely on receiving Jesus daily or weekly (CNS photo/courtesy Little Sisters of the Poor) during the celebration of the Eucharist is an understatement. It seems unfathomable that, in the midst of Lent, with Easter approaching, we might be physically separated from our Lord. It is our consolation, then, that the Lord is never separated from us. We are reminded that where two or three are gathered, he is there with us. For those reading this newspaper, that includes you. You are a part of our community, and Jesus is present with you at this very moment and always. You are not alone. In her comments at the White House briefing March 16, Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, said: “The only thing we have right now is the amazing ingenuity and compassion of the American people. “We’re appealing to all Americans to take ... steps to protect each other and to ensure that the virus doesn’t spread,” she added. “They will only work if every American takes this together to heart and responds as one nation and one people to stop the spread of this virus.” Because of a deadly virus, we are unable to participate in Mass in this country and around the world. We likely will reach a point where we won’t even be able to enter churches. Do not let these drastic measures be in vain. Stay home if you can. Keep your families home. Take every precaution. We are all in this together. Each one of us has a responsibility to the common good, and every decision we make has the potential to impact both ourselves and others — for good or for ill.
OBITUARY Deacon John Franklin died March 17 at the age of 88. He was ordained a permanent deacon in 1998 and served Sacred Heart Parish in Elgin. He ran the Elgin Soup Kitchen for many years and was awarded the Brick of the Community Award by the Greater Elgin Chamber of Commerce in 2004. The rite of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Cross Catholic Church Cemetery in Yorktown on March 23. ADVISORY The Catholic Bishops Abuse Reporting Service, or CBAR, became operational March 16. Approved by the U.S. bishops in June at their spring general assembly, the reporting mechanism meets the requirements established by Pope Francis in “Vos Estis Lux Mundi” (“You are the light of the world”) to have a way of receiving reports of sexual misconduct by a bishop. To report abuse, visit www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse.
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Uniting ourselves with Christ through spiritual communion By Shelley Metcalf | Editor
As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, Bishop Joe Vásquez has suspended all public Masses in the Diocese of Austin through April 8. The bishop’s decree added that the faithful are “dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays or other holy days of obligation … and are asked to make other acts of spiritual devotion such as a spiritual communion, praying the office, praying for the sick, reading Scripture or participating in devotionals such as praying the rosary.”
Spiritual communion is an expression of one’s passionate desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist and to unite oneself to God through prayer. Those who are unable to attend Mass, thus unable to receive the Eucharist, are invited to spend time in prayer, giving thanks to God and praying for the needs of the world and their personal needs. • To begin, turn off the television/ radio/phone and sit in quiet. • Turn your whole attention to the Lord. If family members are present, gather them together to pray. • Pray: My Dearest Jesus, I believe that You are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot, at this moment, receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen. Other ways to unite oneself to God: • Read the Bible, the daily readings are available at www.usccb.org in English and Spanish; or • Pray the Liturgy of the Hours using the Laudate or the iBreviary app
for mobile devices, which includes prayers, daily readings, etc.; or • Participate in Mass by watching it on television or listening on the radio. Many parishes are streaming Mass via the internet. Stay connected to your parish website for details. EWTN offers Masses online at www.ewtn. com as does Relevant Radio at www. relevantradio.com. See the box below for details on Masses that are offered via television, radio and the web in our diocese. Stay connected with the diocesan website at www.austindiocese.org for details about COVID-19 closures and other updates.
Mass is available through several television, internet, radio and subscription outlets in the Diocese of Austin. All times are Central.
Television, Cable, Satellite
Radio: Air, Satellite
Web
EWTN: Spectrum, Grande-Austin-Digital, AT&T U-verse Digital, C-Band, DirecTV, DISH, NewWave, Northland Cable-Digital Check local listings for channel number. Weekdays: 7 & 11 a.m., 3:30, 6 & 11 p.m. Sundays: 7 & 11 a.m., 11 p.m.
EWTN: SiriusXM, Ch. 130 & streaming online Daily: 7 a.m.
www.catholictv.org/masses/catholictv-mass www.watchthemass.com/ Sundays: 9 a.m. English, 3 p.m. Bilingual Monday–Saturday: 9:30 a.m. Monday–Friday: 7 & 11:30 p.m. and On Demand
EWTN En Español: Spectrum Check local listings for channel number Weekdays: 7 a.m., 3 p.m. Sundays: 7 & 11:30 a.m., 3 p.m. KNVA: CW-Austin, AT&T U-Verse: Channels 1012 & 12 (SD) DirecTV: Channel 54 Dish Channel, Grande: Channels 812 (HD) & 12 (SD) Northland Channel 112 (HD), 12 (SD) Over the Air: Channel 54 Suddenlink: Channels 715 & 12 Spectrum: Channel 12 Sundays: 8:30 a.m. KWTX-TV, CBS-Waco, from St. Louis Parish, Waco Sundays: 9:30 a.m.
Relevant Radio: Austin-970 AM Daily: Noon Weekdays: 7:30 p.m. Sundays: 9 a.m. Radio Encuentro: Austin-1560 AM Daily: 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. KEDC: FM 88.5 Bryan-College Station Weekdays: Noon and 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. KYAR: FM 98.3 Waco/Central Texas Weekdays: 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. KACB: FM 96.9 College Station Information pending KBMD: FM 88.5 Marble Falls
(Guadalupe Radio Network)
Weekdays: 7 a.m. Sundays: 7 a.m., 11 a.m.
KOOV: FM 106.9 Copperas Cove Daily: 7 a.m.
http://ewtn.com Livestream Daily Mass: 7 & 11 a.m., 3:30, 6 & 11 p.m. Livestream Sunday Mass: 7 a.m., 11 a.m., 11 p.m. http://ewtn.com/espanol/ Sundays: 7 a.m., 5 p.m. Weekdays: 7 a.m., 1 p.m. http://relevantradio.com/ Weekdays: 7:30 p.m. Sundays: 9 a.m. http://redcradio.org/ Weekdays: 9 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays: 7 a.m. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Taylor All Masses livestreamed
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Central Texans journey into the Catholic Church By Kira Ciupek | Correspondent
Candidates are usually associated with politics and presidential campaigns. However, in the Catholic world, a candidate isn’t someone you would see on a Super Tuesday election ballot. Rather, it is a person who has made the decision to become a member of the Catholic Church. Many are “reverts” returning to the church, and some are “converts” coming from other faith traditions. New Christians in need of baptism are called “catechumens.” From every walk of life, young and old, these candidates and catechumens are unique in their experiences and their stories of discovering the church. Among those entering the church this Easter in the Austin Diocese are a 27-year-old returning
to the faith of her childhood; a young mother who credits her 9-year-old daughter for converting her; and a Protestant pastor and his family who sacrificed ministry and parted with a thriving congregation to become Catholic. Born into a “very large Italian Catholic family,” Britnee Jenkins, 27, was baptized as a child, but she said her family didn’t attend church regularly. Britnee Jenkins “We went Christmas and Easter, and when we would visit my grandparents, but that was the extent
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The Summer Silence retreat will be held June 5-10 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Temple. Eat and pray in silence for three, four or five nights. The retreat includes various prayer experiences with the emphasis on centering prayer. Lectio Divina, Ignatian prayer and Taizé prayer are also included. Adoration and daily Mass will be available. The cost for the retreat varies. The Daughter Returns, June 17, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Six Great Catholic Spiritualities, July 10–12
The Daughter Returns retreat will be held June 17 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Temple. The retreat will look at the parable of the Prodigal Son from a woman’s perspective, as well as our image of God (our Mother). Beverly Collin, assistant director, will facilitate this retreat. The cost is $40 and includes lunch.
The Six Great Catholic Spiritualities retreat will be held July 10-12 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Temple. The retreat will help participants discern which of the six spiritualities (Benedictine, Carmelite, Cistercian, Dominican, Franciscan, and Jesuit) fits them best. The cost is $275 for a single room, $225 per person for a shared room and $125 for commuters.
NEW CLASS FORMING FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION FORMATION
of my religious upbringing,” Jenkins said. Lowell Crable, the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) director at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Horseshoe Bay, said Jenkins was what he would call a “cultural Catholic.” “Britnee was actually baptized as a Catholic as an infant and always thought of herself as a Catholic, even though she had never been catechized and fully initiated into the faith. When she realized this, and that she wanted to fully embrace the faith and partake of the sacraments, she contacted us,” Crable said. Jenkins credits the Holy Spirit with bringing her to the church. “My whole life I had been told that I was Catholic, but I didn’t really know what that meant. I made the decision to go through RCIA at St. Paul Parish last August 2019. I remember walking out of the church after Mass and an elderly woman who had been sitting behind me, came up to me and asked what brought me to church. I said it was what I felt I needed to do. She said, ‘Oh, that was the Holy Spirit.’ I think that sums up how I came into the church — the Spirit brought me.” Irasema Villarreal did not grow up in a Catholic family. Villarreal and her brothers and sister went to a Protestant church with their parents until Villarreal turned 8. Today, as a mother of two, Irasema Villarreal Villarreal thanks her oldest daughter, Emma, for bringing her into the
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Catholic Church this Easter. “When Emma went to Fort Worth to visit her father, she noticed that many of her friends went to the Catholic Church. She wanted to be part of that, too. At Emma’s insistence, I started looking into it,” she said. Last fall Villarreal began attending RCIA classes at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Marble Falls. Her children started religious education classes in 2018. This Easter, Villarreal will be baptized, confirmed and receive first Holy Communion. Another catechumen being baptized and confirmed at Easter Vigil, is Janna Jackson, 42, who lives in Georgetown. Even though she grew up in a non-denominational Protestant Janna Jackson church in Oklahoma, she has been drawn to Catholicism through her boyfriend and his family, and often joins them when they attend St. John the Evangelist Parish in Marble Falls. “When I (attended Mass), I realized that it wasn’t so different from what I was used to. I enjoyed the Mass. I like the structure of it,” she said. Jason Kirklin is a candidate who will be converting from Protestantism with his entire family this Easter. Born in Muncie, Indiana, he grew up Continued on next page
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CENTRAL TEXAS
APRIL 2020
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The church welcomes many ‘home’ this Easter
Jason and Amanda Kirklin Continued from previous page
in what he calls a, “nominal Christian home.” After finishing college at Ball State in Muncie, where he met and married his wife, Amanda, they moved to Philadelphia where Jason attended a Presbyterian school, Westminster Theological Seminary. He earned a master’s degree in divinity in 2008, and then served for six years as an associate pastor at Grace Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio. In 2017, a position as solo pastor opened up at a new Presbyterian church in Waco. Jason was selected, and the family, now with four children,
moved. He said the congregation enthusiastically embraced them, and over time, the church grew in numbers and diversity. However, Jason faced an unexpected challenge. “As a Presbyterian, I was repeatedly told by other ministers in Texas that this is Baptist country, and that would be my biggest theological challenge,” he said. What came as an even bigger surprise to Jason was that many Baptists were converting to Catholicism. “The fall of 2018, I met a new graduate student from Baylor, and he said, ‘I’ve been in town seven weeks and five of my friends have become Catholic’ … I was just trying to do my job as a pastor, and that’s why I started reading Catholic theology.” Jason began reading the fathers of the church, watching EWTN’s program, “Journey Home,” and having lengthy phone conversations with Scott Hahn, a former Presbyterian pastor turned Catholic. Over time, Jason realized Catholicism made more sense to him than his Protestant denomination — a revelation that concerned his wife. “The first six months after Jason told me he was becoming convinced about Catholicism was probably the hardest time of our 17 years of marriage,” Amanda Kirklin said. “I
understood that he needed to pursue truth, but I didn’t yet understand why he felt like the truth was in the Catholic Church. We had never been on different pages about important issues before, and I felt very distant from him.” In the summer of 2018, Jason Kirklin started going to daily Mass at St. Jerome Parish in Waco. Father James Ekeocha remembers seeing him sitting quietly in the back of the chapel. “During Communion, he would not come up,” Father Ekeocha said. “One day I went to him after Mass and talked to him. He told me he was a pastor at a Presbyterian church in Waco, and had been studying Catholicism and coming to terms with the Catholic Church. He was struggling with how to communicate this with his family and church.” Over the next few weeks, Father Ekeocha and Jason met several times. “Talking to Father James was really helpful. His homilies were timely. I knew I could trust him, and I knew that I would hear wisdom from him,” Jason said. The idea of becoming Catholic began to appeal to Jason and Amanda, and rather than debate, the couple began to discuss the reasons. “First of all, the holiness of the saints about whom I read opened my
heart to believe that truth could lie in the Catholic Church. The overarching theological reason was in becoming convinced that apostolic succession was real, and realizing that the church was basically one until the Reformation,” Amanda said. When Jason informed the Presbyterian leadership the family had decided to convert to Catholicism, he was asked to resign. The next Sunday morning, instead of preaching at their church, the Kirklins stayed home with their children, ages 13, 11, 9 and 7. “We sat them down on the couch and said, ‘Daddy’s not a pastor anymore, and we are never going to our church again. We’re going to something called Mass,’” Jason said. Through the prayers and generosity of the parishioners at St. Jerome, Jason was able to find a new job and keep his family in Waco. Amanda said, “Our kids are doing okay. I think it’s been a little harder on the older two, but they have not objected to coming into the church and taking classes. The younger two took to it right away.” Jason said, “It’s hard to put into words how amazing, exciting and beautiful it is to come into the church together, as a family. It’s an absolute joy. I’m so thrilled, and just can’t wait!”
Bishop Vásquez welcomes catechumens during Rite of Election
Bishop Joe Vásquez celebrated the Rite of Election on March 1 at St. John Vianney Parish in Round Rock. This year about 315 catechumens from 51 parishes were present. The Rite of Election includes the enrollment of names of all the Catechumens seeking baptism at the coming Easter Vigil. God willing these catechumens will receive the sacraments of initiation during the Easter Vigil. (Photos by Arlen Nydam)
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ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN MINISTRY
We can, we must still do more to prevent sexual abuse By Emily Hurlimann | Guest Columnist
As I reviewed the Child Abuse Prevention Month resources several statistics jumped out at me. At least one in seven children experienced abuse and/or neglect in the past year. A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds; in 2015, an estimated 1,670 children died from abuse and neglect in the U.S.; one in four girls and one in six to eight boys has experienced child sexual abuse. Approximately 3.7 million children experience child sexual abuse each year in the U.S.; 60% of child sexual abuse victims never tell anyone. Of children who are sexually abused, 20% are abused before the age of 8; 80% of 21-year-olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder. The estimated lifetime cost per person who has experienced child maltreatment, including sexual abuse, is at least $210,012. Numbers tell us a lot, but never the whole story. There is a child behind
each of those numbers. In 2001, the first abuse awareness and prevention trainings began in the Diocese of Austin; many of us have attended several Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) workshops over these years. I am occasionally asked a question along the lines of, “This is my third, fifth or 10th class – do I have to keep doing this?” My answer is always, “Yes. Until all abuse stops, we will keep doing this.” In 2003 the first audit of dioceses was conducted at the direction of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to evaluate compliance with the “Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People.” The Diocese of Austin has passed the audit each year. During the 2018-19 school year, the following statistics were recorded. • 357 Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) Workshops were held at parishes and Catholic schools throughout the diocese. At these workshops, 12,420 priests, deacons, religious sisters
Keeping Children and Teens SAFE ONLINE Computers and mobile devices can be helpful tools for children and teens to learn and grow in faith and fellowship. Unfortunately, the digital world is also full of unsafe and explicit content. You wouldn’t hand a teen the car keys without first teaching them how to drive. The same should be true for using technology— teach them how to keep themselves and others safe while using it.
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young people. Website filters can prevent access to harmful and explicit sites and some can even alert you when such a site is accessed.
Model appropriate online behavior for young people. Children
look to their parents to teach and show them the ways to appropriately use technology. The biggest influence on what children see as acceptable or unacceptable is you.
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Limit usage of computers and mobile devices to public spaces in the home.
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Install software that can block or monitor explicit website use. Open
Not only will this help to prevent young people from accessing unsafe websites, it will also help them to develop safe browsing habits later in life.
Review and discuss the websites your child has visited and apps they have used. Oversight of your child or teen’s browsing
history and app usage can help to keep them safe online. If you notice your child has browsed an unsafe website or app, discuss why that behavior is harmful. Learn about current apps that could be harmful to children and teenagers, especially those that involve image sharing, private communication, or the illusion of privacy.
Teach your children not to share private information or images online.
Strangers posing as online friends can try to gain the trust of minors. Personal information such as name, address, and phone number should never be shared with an unknown person. Tell your children to immediately tell a trusted adult if anyone makes them feel uncomfortable.
to work to heal and protect all God’s children. • Go to YouTube and search “The Catholic Church Is Committed to the Safety of Children.” Watch the video describing the efforts that have been taken by dioceses to protect children. • Know how to report abuse, visit www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse. If you suspect abuse, use the information you know to report – it’s not their job, it’s yours! • Pray for abused children, those who rescue them and an end to further abuse every day, but especially on National Blue Sunday, April 26. • Watch the new Knights of Columbus family education video “Protecting our Children: A Family’s Response” at www.kofc.org/en/news/releases/ protecting-our-children.html (see article on Page 7). • If you have experienced abuse, or know someone who has, contact the diocesan EIM Office at (512) 949-2447. Emily Hurlimann is the associate director of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry for the Austin Diocese. She can be reached at (512) 949-2447 or emily-hurlimann@austindiocese.org.
EIM WORKSHOP
You can use the following tips to better protect young people from harm online:
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and brothers, seminarians, employees and adult volunteers were trained or retrained. • 6,672 new background checks were completed. • 10,140 subsequent background checks were completed. • Approximately 20,000 elementary, middle and high school aged youth attended a “Called to Protect” program. • 248 trained EIM Workshop and CTPY facilitators volunteered throughout the diocese. • Approximately 215 employees and (mostly) volunteers served as EIM site administrators to help coordinate EIM compliance at their parish or school. If our combined EIM efforts can prevent just one child from experiencing abuse, we will have done as Jesus proclaimed, “whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me,” Mt 18:5. There are more than 610,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Austin. Every single one of us is called to help prevent abuse and other harm from happening in our parishes, schools and communities. We can and are helping many more than one child here in Central Texas, but we can do more! April is National Child Abuse Prevention month. There are (at least) five things each of us can do to continue
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Report online exploitation of minors to public authorities. If you become aware of explicit content involving minors, such as solicitation, explicit images or videos, you should submit a report to law enforcement or through resources like CyberTipline from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
access to harmful websites, like those that include pornography, is a constant threat to
Copyright © 2019, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington DC. All rights reserved. Models used for illustrative purposes only.
All clergy, religious, seminarians, employees and adult volunteers serving in a ministry requiring EIM compliance must submit an EIM Application for Ministry (onetime only) and attend an EIM Workshop at least once every three years. Go to www. eappsdb.com/austin to submit a new application or login to your existing account to find the list of workshops and to signup (use “Forgot User ID or Password?” if you don’t recall ID/password). Contact your parish EIM site administrator (insert name) if a paper EIM application or other assistance with EIM compliance matters is needed. Workshop Notes: 1) attendees must pre-register at least 24 hours before workshop start time – walk-ins are no longer admitted, 2) arrive early - late arrivals are not admitted and 3) do not bring children to the EIM workshop. If you are a victim of sexual abuse and have concerns regarding your attendance at a workshop, contact Emily Hurlimann at (512) 949-2447 to discuss an alternative workshop arrangement.
HAVE YOU, OR HAS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, EXPERIENCED ABUSE? Bishop Joe S. Vásquez and the Diocese of Austin are committed to providing compassionate care to persons who have experienced abuse, particularly if committed by clergy or a church representative. If you have or if someone you know has experienced such abuse, contact the diocesan Coordinator of Victim Assistance and Pastoral Support at ileana-hinojosa@austindioce.org or (512) 949-2400.
REPORT ABUSE
Report abuse of a minor, elderly adult or an adult with a disability to local law enforcement or to the Texas Abuse Hotline at www.txabusehotline.org or (800) 2525400 and to the diocese at www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse or (512) 949-2447.
REPORT UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR
Report unethical behavior by a person serving in ministry to the diocese at www. austindiocese.org/other-concerns or (512) 949-2447.
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Would you know if your child was experiencing sexual abuse? By Carla Smith | Correspondent
They were among the many people convinced that sexual abuse would never happen in their family. But it did happen to Jeff and Judy Ulery’s then 10-year-old son. As if that was not enough to upend their lives, the perpetrator was a trusted friend and someone Jeff had known since his teens. The Ulerys are sharing their personal story of hurt and healing in hopes of educating parents and youth alike. “We discussed this opportunity as a family and the overwhelming consensus is that more people need to know this information so that kids can be protected,” they said. Some may recognize Jeff and Judy from the video shown during Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) workshops. They are also Catholics practicing their faith here in the Diocese of Austin. The couple learned much during the ordeal, including admittedly how naive they were about child abuse in general. Now they want to share their knowledge to protect more children. Studies show that 95 percent of perpetrators are people we know and trust. The Ulery’s son’s abuser was listed as a guardian in their will, was their nephew’s godfather, and two of his family members were godparents to other children. The Ulerys were shocked, but they have found a calling in speaking out so other families know the facts and avoid their pain. The Ulerys and experts agree that knowing typical warning signs of possible abuse and how perpetrators “groom” their victims are matters every parent should know. Child sexual abuse victims often exhibit indirect physical signs like anxiety, chronic stomach pain and headaches. There might also be emotional and behavioral signals such as withdrawal, fear, depression and unexplained anger. Other common consequences of trauma include nightmares, bedwetting, falling grades, cruelty to animals, bullying, being bullied, fire setting, running away and self-harm of any kind. These are symptoms that manifest after abuse has started so teaching children the signs of possible “grooming” beforehand are equally important to recognize.
Perpetrators want to keep everything secretive and often use techniques to test and earn the trust of their victims and their families. The Ulerys said their family was groomed for years. They warned that perpetrators are very patient as they incorporate grooming methods, such as isolating a child; touching; giving a child special attention and gifts; and generally spending increased time, money and energy on a child. It often starts small and gains momentum as trust is earned, so educating young people on what safe and unsafe behaviors look like and ways they can respond when boundary violations occur are essential. The goal is for children to recognize inappropriate behavior and react appropriately when they experience anything that is unacceptable or uncomfortable. “Our son’s perpetrator would frequently allow our kids to break family rules,” Jeff said. “One example was allowing them to ride in the front seat of the car before they were legally allowed to, which we later learned was one of the places he would abuse our son. Our children trusted him as he was a trusted family friend.” Dr. Monica Applewhite, a sexual abuse prevention and response expert and EIM programs collaborator, added that recognizing the signs of grooming and abuse should be a priority of all parents, regardless of where they live or who they are. Sexual offenders, she warned, take extra steps and precautions to ensure potential victims feel comfortable with them before any sexual contact is initiated. By taking victims “under their wing,” a predator might then accidentally touch the private parts of a victim to gauge reaction and test boundaries. They will also assess a youngster’s ability to keep secrets from their parents regarding things like cigarettes, alcohol and pornography. When asked what, if anything, they would do differently if they could, the Ulerys said they would have educated themselves better on warning signs and would have had consistent conversations with their kids regarding boundaries and safe and unsafe touching. Applewhite urged parents to have those uncomfortable but necessary
Watch for These Warning Signs of Abuse in Minors No longer wants to see a particular person they had been close to
Declining academic performance
No longer interested in activities they used to enjoy
Changes in personality Tries to get minors alone
Demonstrates aggressive behavior or constantly angry
Withdraws from family or friends
Tries to hide use of technology
Commits physical and emotional boundary violations
Allows or encourages minors to break laws or rules
Is overly interested in spending time with minors Does not believe the rules apply to them (or, does not follow rules or protocols)
Keeps secrets with minors
Gives lavish gifts to minors
Has inappropriate or suggestive conversations with minors Takes photos without approval, or asks minors to send them photos
… and These Warning Signs of Perpetrators conversations with their children. She highly recommends that parents teach their children body part names at an early age and that certain parts are private and different. Once a child goes to school, they should know rules regarding private parts and that any disrespect or violation of them should be reported. She said parents should believe any report of possible abuse. She and the Ulerys stress this is not just a “Catholic problem.” In fact, statistics show that one in four girls and one in six boys are abused. “Anyone who says child sexual abuse is a Catholic problem is woefully misinformed,” Jeff said. “This crime is happening in residential neighborhoods, organizations, schools, churches of all denominations, sports teams and the list goes on. The abuse of our youth is a cultural and societal problem.” Equally important is to hear a child who cries out for help or even subtly
mentions abuse. Speaking up and being heard is often the first step, and any doubt of authenticity is said to be almost as damaging as the abuse itself. The Ulerys firmly believe the saying “what we reveal we can heal.” “We have heard many stories from those who have experienced abuse whose parents or guardians didn’t believe them or didn’t act to protect them,” Jeff said. “A friend who was abused as a kid told me, ‘This is the greatest sin nobody is talking about.’” Through it all, the Ulerys leaned heavily on prayer, their faith community and a support group to heal the hurt. They are grateful a tragedy that could have left their lives in ruins has made their family and relationship with God stronger. “The betrayal made it very difficult to trust, but with God’s healing and the healing achieved through therapy, our anxiety is slowly improving. All in all, we are all on a healing journey and doing pretty well.”
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CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Benefits of Encountering Christ evident across the diocese As director of stewardship and development, Scott Whitaker often travels throughout the Diocese of Austin to meet with pastors and lay leaders. These days, he is also able to witness firsthand the effect Encountering Christ is having on parishes and diocesan ministries. “It’s exciting to see parishes tackle the projects they identified for their Encountering Christ campaigns,” he said. “For many of our communities, these were much-needed repairs or wished-for upgrades.” Encountering Christ, which exceeded its $85 million goal late last year, has now raised $98.5 million in gifts and pledges. Every parish and mission in the diocese participated in a series of waves during a two-year fundraising phase and will receive 30 percent of the gifts they collected up to their individual goals as well as 70 percent of any amount collected over goal. Donors were given the option of making a pledge payable over five years, and Whitaker noted that the campaign’s current fulfillment phase is equally important to the fundraising phase. “Parishes receive their Encountering share of campaign funds as parishioners fulfill their pledges,” he said. Diocese of Austin He explained that when a pledge payment is made, the parish’s share of those funds is placed in a special account. A parish is then able to request a withdrawal from its account for the projects detailed in its campaign case statement. To date, of the $31.1 million collected in cash gifts and pledge payments, $6.2 million has been returned to parishes. “Parishes are mostly using campaign funds for maintenance and updates to their facilities, which will strengthen their ability to offer encounters with Christ for years to come,” Whitaker said. “Many are also repaying debt from past parish projects, like parish halls and new
CHRIST
Parish projects, diocesan ministries depend on pledge payments Total raised
$98.5M Cash received
$31.1M
Gifts received
21,328
Unfulfilled pledges
$67.4M
Returned to parishes
$6.2M
Thank you for fulfilling your Encountering Christ pledges! churches. Eliminating these financial obligations has been important for parishes that want to move forward debt-free.” As pledges are paid, the diocese also receives its share of campaign funds, which can solely be directed toward the priorities outlined in the diocesan case. Campaign dollars are already supporting clergy, including seminarians and senior priests, he said. “I continue to be so grateful to the faithful of our diocese for embracing Encountering Christ, and for inspiring future generations through their generosity,” Whitaker said.
Projects currently underway or completed with Encountering Christ funds: • Updating security at St. Helen Parish in Georgetown with cameras, alarms and door buzzers. • Overhauling the HVAC system at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in College Station, which included installing a single chiller boiler plant for the entire campus then updating or replacing systems in the church, chapel, administration building and parish activity hall. Security system updates are also being completed.
Above, the expansion of the St. John Paul II Residence for priests is underway. Below, the upgraded parking lot at St. Louis Parish in Waco. (Photos by Scott Whitaker and Father Ryan Higdon)
• Repairing and combining two school parking lots at St. Louis Parish in Waco. This capital improvement was especially meaningful for parishioners because of the recent merging of St. Louis and Reicher schools. • Addressing facility issues, upgrading security with cameras and a passcard system, and updating the sound system at Our Lady of Wisdom University Parish in San Marcos. • Adding classroom space and religious education programs at Ascension Parish in Bastrop. • Upgrading the religious education building at Sacred Heart Parish in Waco. • Directing $1 million to the seminarian endowment to encourage vocations, offset the cost of education and formation and reduce the financial effect on seminarians, and provide additional support for the increasing number of men who enter the seminary with student loan debt. • Adding $1 million to the pension plan and trust for retired priests, which provides a steady income that retired priests use for housing and living expenses. • Expanding the St. John Paul II Residence for Priests with four additional duplexes to bring the capacity to 24.
To make a payment on a pledge to the Encountering Christ Capital Campaign, visit www.encounteringchristcampaign.org/donate.
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Family living in Rome shares how they thrive despite lockdown By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service
Looking on the “bright side” or seeking the “silver lining” of something like a lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus is not naivete, but an exercise of one’s God-given will, said a U.S. professor locked down in Rome with his wife and son. Andreas Widmer, a former member of the Pontifical Swiss Guard now teaching in the business school at The Catholic University of America in Washington, arrived in Rome with his family in early January to teach at the university’s Rome campus. It was also to be an extended time of rediscovering the city where he served in the guards from 1986 to 1988 and where he met his wife 32 years ago. Now the Widmer family, a security guard and an Italian woman who works for the Australian Catholic University program on the same site as the CUA Rome campus are locked down together or, as he put it, have formed a small community. Widmer, in a WhatsApp interview from just a few blocks away, told Catholic News Service, “We take too little advantage of our will, of our freedom in the sense that we are raising our fists against something we don’t control. And then we don’t do squat about what we actually control — yet that would make all the difference.” The Rome campus is housed in a former convent and still includes a chapel. Before the lockdown and before all the students were sent home in early March, a priest from the Pontifical North American College would come to celebrate Mass.
“But the Eucharist is in the tabernacle so we can do morning and evening prayers down there,” Widmer said March 17. “Everything we need we have. It’s an extended retreat.” Although Italy is on lockdown, people are allowed to leave their homes to buy groceries, go to the pharmacy and walk their dogs. The police can and do stop people on the streets to ask why they are out; they can give tickets to those without a valid reason for being on the street, although usually they just encourage them to hurry home. The Widmers home-school their son, Elias, 15, “so his schedule has been exactly the same as it was before,” his father said. The big difference is that he no longer has 35 university students to interact with and sit with at dinner. But his home-school program includes online, interactive courses and he uses WhatsApp and Skype for calls with friends and family. “I asked him the other day, ‘On a scale from one to 10, how worried are you?’ And he says zero.” Widmer, who teaches entrepreneurship with a focus on Christian principles, especially the proper use of human will and freedom, said dealing with a lockdown is the perfect time to exercise God-given capacities for contributing to the common good and focusing on personal growth. “No matter what, you can react, and you can make it beautiful,” he said. As his students were preparing to leave, he said he urged them to make their last days in Rome beautiful and to go home and make their 14-day quarantine beautiful as well. “You can purposely, consciously do
this,” he said. He and his family now “have this rhythm of going to visit the Lord in the Eucharist downstairs, you know, to make it beautiful.” The students were told to go home just a week before their spring break was to begin. Almost all of them had plans to travel in Europe, he said. There were tears for upset plans and lost opportunities. But, he said, he tried to explain to them how “life is, in a sense, a constant rehearsal for dying — not in a morbid way — but in a sense of losing something or ending something.” “One day God is going to demand your life from you,” he said he told the students, “and you’re going to say — just like you’re here in Rome saying — ‘But I haven’t gone to Greece yet!’“ Deciding when life will end “is not up to us,” he said, but the way each person reacts to the “little deaths” in life is. And people still have the freedom
Andreas Widmer, a professor at the Catholic University of America in Washington, currently lives in Rome with his wife and son. His family has been on lockdown for weeks. (CNS photo/Elias J. Widmer)
to decide how they will use their time in lockdown, he said. “I’m expecting us to be here four more weeks. And, so, the question is, what could you do in four weeks that you would never do otherwise or would never have the time to do otherwise?” “I’ve been working on my next book forever,” he said. “I usually write in the summer. And I’ve tried it three times, and I literally had to throw it away because it just was horrible.” Although he is now teaching his classes online and grading papers from Rome, “I suddenly have four weeks with this thing going on. I’m like, ‘OK, Lord, I get it.’ I’m just going to sit down and write a bit every day.”
New Knights of Columbus investment fund follows USCCB guidelines By Dennis Sadowski | Catholic News Service
A new financial product through the Knights of Columbus’ asset management and investment program is allowing individuals and institutions to invest funds according to Catholic values. The Catholic All Cap U.S. Index Fund is believed to be the first mutual fund comprised of common stocks with a low cost expense ratio, Tony Minopoli, president and chief investment officer of Knight of Columbus
Asset Advisors, said. Investments through the fund will adhere to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Socially Responsible Investment Guidelines. The guidelines were developed to exclude from investment portfolios companies that offer either products or services that violate Catholic teaching. The guidelines govern six broad areas: protecting human life, promoting human dignity, reducing arms production, pursuing economic justice, protecting the environment and encouraging corporate responsibility.
“This fund is for that individual or that institutional investor that is saying ‘I want U.S. equity exposure. I don’t want to think about the various sub-segments. I want something that complies with Catholic teaching and has low cost,’” Minopoli explained to Catholic News Service March 19. “The all cap fund is for people who don’t want to think about asset allocation. It’s for people who want to say, ‘I have some exposure to the stock market and (want) to do it in a way that dovetails with my Catholic faith,’” Minopoli said.
Introduced Jan. 28, the new index fund reflects about 99% of the Catholic compliant companies in the U.S. stock market at the end of 2019. Minopoli said the rollout of the fund has been slowed because of steps taken to limit the spread of the new coronavirus that have prevented field agents from becoming licensed to offer the product to investors. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors was formed in 2015 and manages more than $25 billion in assets. More information about the fund is online at www.kofcassetadvisors.org.
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If you can’t go to confession, take your sorrow directly to God By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service
Though the priests in the Diocese of Austin are continuing to offer the sacrament of reconciliation, there are those who cannot get to confession. During Mass livestreamed on March 20, Pope Francis said those who cannot get to reconciliation because of the coronavirus lockdown or another serious reason can go to God directly, be specific about their sins, request pardon and experience God’s loving forgiveness, Pope Francis said. “This is the right time, the opportune moment. An act of contrition done well, and our souls will become white like the snow,” the pope said March 20 during his livestreamed morning Mass. Pope Francis began the Mass by praying again for doctors, especially in northern Italy, where the COVID-19 pandemic still is infecting thousands and leading to the deaths of hundreds of people each day. The Italian health ministry an-
nounced late March 19 that the number of deaths in Italy had reached 3,407, surpassing by 277 the number of people who had died in China because of the virus.
“Return to your father who is waiting for you,” the pope said. “The God of tenderness will heal us; he will heal us of the many, many wounds of life and the many ugly
“Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart.” –– Pope Francis during Mass on March 20 Italy began a nationwide lockdown March 10 in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Churches are open for private prayer and priests can hear confessions if they are wearing a mask and gloves and stay more than 3 feet away from the penitent. But people are being encouraged not to leave their homes at all. The first reading at Mass March 20 was from Hosea, and it encourages people to return to the Lord with all their hearts, recognizing their sins and letting God forgive them, the pope said in his homily.
things we have done. Each of us has our own!” God welcomes every repentant sinner with open arms, he said. “It’s like going home.” Lent is a special time “to let God wash us, purify us, to let God embrace us,” the pope said, and the best place for that is the confessional. “But many people today would tell me, ‘Father, where can I find a priest, a confessor, because I can’t leave the house? And I want to make peace with the Lord, I want him to embrace me, I want the Father’s embrace.’” The pope said his response would
be, “Do what the Catechism (of the Catholic Church) says. It is very clear: If you cannot find a priest to confess to, speak directly with God, your father, and tell him the truth. Say, ‘Lord, I did this, this, this. Forgive me,’ and ask for pardon with all your heart.” Make an act of contrition, the pope said, and promise God, “‘I will go to confession afterward, but forgive me now.’ And immediately you will return to a state of grace with God.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church, N. 1452, says: “When it arises from a love by which God is loved above all else, contrition is called ‘perfect’ –– contrition of charity. Such contrition remits venial sins; it also obtains forgiveness of mortal sins if it includes the firm resolution to have recourse to sacramental confession as soon as possible.” “As the catechism teaches,” Pope Francis said, “you can draw near to God’s forgiveness without having a priest at hand. Think about it. This is the moment.”
2020 Census APRIL 2020
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Tagline Available in Multiple Languages
Lent during a pandemic: More prayer, unexpected penance
By the next week, many dioceses porary thing we are were no longer having public Masses doing for the sake of and that list continues to grow as a naanother good,” he tion is advised to stay at home to curb said of the current This Lent is one for the record the spread of the coronavirus. Bishop time of staying in books. Vásquez suspended Masses in the Dio- place to prevent Chinese Traditional Chinese Arabic Parish fish fries, prayer services, cese of Austin on March 17. Simplified coronavirus spread, Stations of the Cross, and daily and And now, with many public places adding that it could Sunday Masses are all canceled, and shuttered and a country practicing its be viewed as a period some dioceses have already announced new term of self-distancing, the sense of retreat with extra they will not have services during Holy of quarantine, although not fully imtime for prayer or Week or Easter on April 12. posed, is very real. spiritual reading. At the Feb. 26 start of Lent on This year’s Lent may not be normal, And Father Paul French Haitian Ash Wednesday, Catholics were filling but many have pointed out that the Keller, aCreole Claretian Catholic leaders say Lent during a churches in the U.S. to receive ashes. At penitential qualities tied to this health Missionary priest, pandemic can offer the faithful extra that point, only people arriving at aircrisis — suffering, giving up and soliwho is serving at St. Paul Catholic time to pray and reflect during the ports from China were being screened tude — are in fact symbolic of Lent’s Newman Center Parish in Fresno, season leading to Easter. (CNS phoand there were 60 cases of the corospiritual practice of self-denial. California, which is currently under a to by Zoey Maraist, Arlington Herald) navirus in the country, primarily from Even the very word, quarantine, shelter-in-place order, called the curmore than 40 passengers who had been means about 40, in French, and its rent situation “our opportunity to be on a cruise ship. Latin origin, “quadraginta,” is the root in the desert like Jesus, with time away to the point where everyone is giving Japanese Korean The first Sunday of Lent some of Latin words for Lent. in solitary prayer,” which hePolish described something up from mundane items to dioceses (including the Diocese of This symbolism is not lost on many. as something that “couldn’t be more time with friends and family at public Austin) had urged parishes to curtail Paulist Father Larry Rice, director Lenten.” places and the far more tragic losses of hand-shaking at the sign of peace and of the University Catholic Center at the With the halt to normal routines jobs and health. to suspend the distribution of the Pre- University of Texas at Austin, said a for many, Bishop Frank J. Caggiano In a Twitter post March 13, Father cious Blood. Bishop Joe Vásquez also number of people have compared the of Bridgeport, Connecticut, pointed Mike Schmitz, a popular evangelist, asked parishes to remove holy water notion of quarantine to Christ’s 40 days out that “at a minimum, we now have wrote, “How to do Lent right in the and to distribute holy Communion in in the desert and the 40 days of Lent. extra time to spend in prayer each midst of things like #coronavirus,” and Portuguese Russian the hand, rather than on the tongue. “We need to look at this as a temday — prayer that is sorely needed to linked his video stressing that Lent is seek eternal repose for the dead, to a time to embrace both personal penremember those who are sick and living ances and “penances that choose you,” in great fear, our health care workers which he didn’t name but referred to as who remain on the front lines of this some type of suffering. disease, and for one another.” “These weeks offer challenges we’ve “We may never again have a Lenten never had to face. We can’t attend Spanish Tagalog Vietnamese season that affords us so much time to Mass. Our routines are disrupted. We give to the Lord. Let us use this time worry about ourselves and our loved wisely and well,” he posted on Faceones. Some of us may even need to book March 17. fight the virus itself,” wrote Msgr. John Along with extra time to pray, the Enzler, CEO of Catholic Charities of current pandemic also offers a heightthe Archdiocese of Washington, in ened perspective. a March 19 column for the Catholic Sister Constance Veit, a Little Sister Standard, the archdiocesan newspaper. of the Poor, who is director of comThe priest added this pandemic munications for her order, wrote: “We “makes the current Lenten season drabegan Lent with the imposition of ash- matically different from any other in our es and the reminder, ‘Dust thou art and lifetimes, no matter how old we are,” but unto dust thou shalt return,’ a phrase he also emphasized Lent remains what it borrowed from the Catholic funeral has always been: “A time to get in better When we participate in the Census we declare that liturgy. None of us could have predict- touch with God’s love for us and do our ed how quickly we would become so we are part of “we the people” and we refuse to be best to ‘spring clean’ our souls in prepafocused on the finiteness and fragility ration for the glory of Easter.” excluded from the critical resources and political of human life — this is one of the “This year,” he added, the liturgical representation that we deserve. Everyone counts spiritual lessons of the coronavirus.” season has “also become a time to The challenge imposed by the think about how we live as a commuin the eyes of God, and so we must work to ensure spreading virus also contains a built-in nity, protect each other from illness, that everyone is counted by our government. penance that no one asked for and has and be part of the solution to a global caused some people to ask on Twitter health crisis.” He also was hopeful if they still have to give up what they Catholics would “meet these challengDiocese of Austin were going to for Lent. es, and maybe even bring about new Secretariat of Life, Charity and Justice These initial sacrifices were made and better ways of taking care of each prior to the country’s complete shift other in the years to come.” By Carol Zimmermann | Catholic News Service
As people of faith, we believe in the dignity of every person
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The cloistered life offers lessons for those on lockdown By Rhina Guidos | Catholic News Service
People often telephone Sister Maria Elena Romero, a Capuchin Franciscan Poor Clare in Wilmington, Delaware, to ask for her to pray for a personal intention, to sound out a problem, sometimes just to cry. But lately, she’s received a phone call or two with a different kind of problem: boredom. As people around the world are asked to work from home, limit their contact with others and introduce “social distancing” into their vocabulary and lives, the sheltering in place authorities are asking the public to observe is causing some to go stir crazy. But for Sister Romero, limiting contact with the world is a part of life she observes as a cloistered nun. That means that like the other dozen or so sisters who live in her Capuchin Franciscan community in Wilmington, she only leaves the confines of the Veronica Giuliani monastery for limited reasons, such as a doctor’s appointment. When it comes to limiting contact with the outside world, she’s kind of Capuchin Franciscan Sister Maria Elena Romero, in this undated photo at the Veronica Giuliani Monastery in Wilmington, Del., entered the life of a cloistered nun in 1983 when she joined the order of St. Clare. Though many are struggling with limiting contact with others as the world deals with COVID-19, this can be a time for spiritual opportunity, she said. (CNS photo/Rhina Guidos)
an expert, you might say. Her advice for those struggling with the current reality of staying in place? First, make a schedule, she said. “If you’re idle, of course you’re going to get bored,” she said in a March 16 telephone interview with Catholic News Service.
dole them out: whether it’s working from home, doing homework, or cleaning or fixing things. For those who don’t have other responsibilities, assign a productive chore for yourself or others, to stay busy until lunchtime. A family member can be assigned to prepare lunch for others or each
Likewise, at home, she said, make a list of chores or responsibilities that need to be accomplished that day and dole them out: whether it’s working from home, doing homework, or cleaning or fixing things. For those who don’t have other responsibilities, assign a productive chore for yourself or others, to stay busy until lunchtime. The day at the monastery for the Wilmington Poor Clares begins at 5 a.m. when they make their bed, get dressed for the day, then head to the chapel for prayer at 5:30 a.m. Though most may not want to get up at this hour, it’s a good idea to set a regular time to get up, start the day with prayer, give thanks, then organize work that needs to be done that day. Some would be surprised, but life inside a monastery is pretty packed with activity. Though the day revolves around a scheduled set of prayers, there are clothes and dishes to be washed, meals for 12 to prepare, finances to sort, food and supplies that need to be ordered or purchased. Each sister is assigned a chore to tackle. Likewise, at home, she said, make a list of chores or responsibilities that need to be accomplished that day and
person can take up a different task: set the table, load the dishwasher or help the person cooking to clean as lunch is prepared. People often complain that they don’t have enough time for family. Lunch as family, a novelty for many, can be a great opportunity to catch up with how children, spouses or another family member are dealing with confinement, to see how other family members are feeling and whether they can help others cope. After lunch, families, much like the nuns at the monastery, can collectively help with washing the dishes as a group and to put things away before the afternoon begins. The period after lunch can be used to rest, to read, to check in with friends or co-workers by phone, she said. Sister Romero said she has suggested to those who tell her that they’re struggling with boredom to be creative about prayer. If the home where a person lives has a patio or a yard, use the afternoon or lunch hour to eat outside or play relaxing music outdoors and meditate or pray in a garden or patio. “Changing your setting always helps, find a place to be alone and that always helps to clear your head,” she said. If that’s a struggle, the internet, via YouTube, offers many learning opportunities, including instruction on how to pray the rosary, she said. A lot of people tell her how they never learned specific prayers or to pray the rosary, so “I tell them this is your opportunity,” she said. Time also can be used for self-reflection, to ask oneself whether they’ve wronged others and to seek forgiveness, to examine fears or to make a plan of how to help
someone else who might be struggling – even if it’s just through a phone call. After a bit of rest, prayer or meditation, return to work or chores, she said. The time before dinner for the sisters includes a longer period of prayer, sometimes accompanied by reading as a community, then meditation, ending with prayer, then dinner, cleaning up, followed by what some call social time or recreation time. For the Poor Clares, this can be used as a time to build community — an important aspect for any group who lives together. Families can do much like the sisters and cook and clean up together, have a longer time to interact and check in, then play cards or board games, take part in physical activity by walking in the yard together, watch a movie or read. A family or a person can use the time to learn a new skill, including making crafts, call a friend or contact a person who might be lonely or family members they haven’t contacted in a while, or assess whether they can be of help to the community and plan how to do that. As the day heads into its last part, the sisters gather together to pray once again as a community, giving thanks to God for the day that has passed, asking for a good night’s rest. Though it’s good to keep informed, Sister Romero suggested that people carve out quiet time before bed, listen to music or pray or meditate, whatever it takes to get themselves out of the anxiety caused in a time of uncertainty, she said. She suggested that people take themselves mentally out of the “coronavirus environment,” especially if it’s causing anxiety. “Light a candle and meditate,” she said. “This is a great time to ask for forgiveness, to look inside the self and cleanse the soul.” Many have complained to her in the past that they never have time, “but here it is,” she said. “This can be a time for blessings,” she said. “But you have to take advantage of it, to see the good side of it, and then it can be a blessed time, a time to ask for mercy, to give thanks, to think about others, to reflect.” And if nothing else, then “just ask God for mercy,” she said, “but it’s Lent, we’re in a time of reflection and ask God for those things that only heaven can provide us.”
GOOD NEWS
APRIL 2020
13
BISHOP’S INTERVIEW
Anointing of the sick provides grace to face illness Bishop Joe S. Vásquez is the fifth bishop of the Austin Diocese, which is home to more than 610,000 Catholics.
Editor: Bishop, this month we are continuing our interviews on each of the seven sacraments. This month our focus is on the anointing of the sick. What is the importance of this sacrament? Bishop Vásquez: The sacrament of the anointing of the sick continues the work of Jesus Christ. The anointing of the sick is a sacrament of healing administered to care for our brothers and sisters who are seriously ill, the elderly and those facing a serious medical procedure. This sacrament offers the presence and prayers of the Christian community to those undergoing illness. Through this sacrament, God strengthens us when our minds and bodies have grown weak. God wants to share in every aspect of our lives, including when we are sick. God’s presence often comes to us through our faith community. That is why we pray this prayer in the liturgy of anointing: “Father in heaven, through this holy anointing grant (the name of the person who is sick) comfort in his/her suffering. When he/she is afraid, give him/her courage, when afflicted, give him/her patience, when dejected, afford him/her hope, and when alone, assure him/her of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.” This is a beautiful prayer of comfort and community for those who are suffering. At one time the sacrament of anointing of the sick was called extreme unction. The word unction means anointing and extreme referred to the person being in danger of death. Today the church wants those who are seriously ill to receive the sacrament and not wait until death is near. Editor: So is physical healing the primary purpose of the anointing of the sick? Bishop Vásquez: As we see in the prayer above, through the anointing of the sick the church does pray for the healing of the person, but the prayer strongly focuses on strengthening the
person emotionally and spiritually so that they do not lose hope. Through the anointing, the person is strengthened to continue to cling to Jesus in faith and to unite their illness and suffering to the suffering of Christ. Editor: What are the main parts of anointing of the sick? Bishop Vásquez: The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is administered by a bishop or priest laying hands on the sick person and anointing them on the forehead and hands as the priest prays. A person who is ill may be anointed at home or in a hospital or care facility. The sacrament may also include the opportunity for the sick person to make a good confession, and it may be followed with the reception of holy Communion. In many parishes, the priest regularly offers anointing of the sick following daily Mass. The sacrament is also available by contacting your parish priest. Editor: What is the difference between the anointing of the sick and the last rites? Bishop Vásquez: The anointing of the sick is administered to those who are seriously ill. In this sacrament, the church gives us special prayers to help strengthen a person who has been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal disease or a person who is elderly or to a person facing a significant surgery. The last rites include several sacraments (confession, anointing of the sick and the Eucharist) given to those who are near death. If the person is able to speak, they are invited to make a good confession. The saints are petitioned to come and assist this person who is near death as they prepare to encounter God in the most profound way. The person is anointed and then if the person is able, they receive the Eucharist. When the Eucharist is given to a person near death, it is called viaticum, which literally means a provision given to those who are traveling. The person receives the Eucharist because they are on their way toward God. Through these last rites, we receive the grace to accept our mortality as we complete our journey here on earth and go on to new life with God. Editor: Can you receive the anointing of the sick more than once? Bishop Vásquez: Yes, the anoint-
ing of the sick may be repeated for the person who is ill depending on the intensity of the illness. For instance, if the person’s illness grows worse, or if one is taken to the hospital, or if different treatments such as chemo must be administered, a person may again receive the anointing of the sick. Those suffering from chronic illness should be administered this sacrament, so the person suffering does not lose hope. Jesus Christ is always with those who are sick, and the sacrament reassures them of his presence, offering them hope and consolation. Editor: Only priests may administer the anointing of the sick, correct? Bishop Vásquez: Yes, the proper minister to administer this sacrament is a bishop or a priest. This comes from sacred Scripture itself. From the beginning of the church, this sacrament has been administered by the presbyters, the priests and bishops of the church. In the letter of James we hear, “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint [him] with oil in the name of the Lord.” A deacon may visit the sick and pray with them and bring viaticum to the gravely ill or dying, but he cannot administer the anointing of the sick. Family and friends should also pray with their loved ones who are sick and or near death. One of the spiritual works of mercy is praying for the living and dead. As Christians, we should provide people with our assistance through prayer. When I am ill, I find great comfort when people pray for me. We should also pray for those in the health care profession. These men
Bishop Joe Vásquez administers the sacrament of the anointing of the sick during the White Mass in 2016. This sacrament of healing and hope is administered to those who are seriously ill, the elderly and those facing a serious medical procedure. (Photo by Shelley Metcalf)
and women who care for the sick and dying need to be supported by the church because they also participate in the healing work of Jesus Christ. The most important thing about the anointing of the sick is to awaken in us the understanding that sick people need the presence of God and the church. At this fragile moment in life when one is possibly facing death, they need to be reassured they are connected to the community of the faithful, the Body of Christ. We must also remember what the church teaches about redemptive suffering. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion,” CCC, 1505. As Christians our faith assures us that though we will face death, our hope is in Jesus Christ who died and rose to save us and give us everlasting life. Editor: What is your prayer for those who are sick? Bishop Vásquez: God, our Father, listen to the cries of those who are suffering because of illness. May the sick join their pain and suffering to the cross of Jesus Christ and may he grant them restored health and healing. May the Holy Spirit soothe and comfort those who are ill and in pain. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
GOOD NEWS
14
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
EASTER SUNDAY SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad By Kevin Perrotta | Catholic News Service
This year on Easter Sunday (April 12), we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. Because of the pandemic, this year’s Easter celebration may look a little different for many of us. This is a reflection on the Scripture readings heard at Mass on Easter Sunday for those who may not be able to attend Mass or find it online or on the radio. The daily Scriptures can be found online at www.usccb.org (see “Daily Readings” calendar at right). First reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Second reading: Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6-8 Gospel: Jn 20:1-9 Jesus was put to death on a Friday afternoon, and his disciples placed his body in a nearby tomb. Early Sunday morning, two of his disciples — Si-
mon Peter and a man described as “the other disciple” — were unexpectedly roused by a third, Mary of Magdala, who arrived at their lodgings out of breath from running and delivered an astonishing report. The tomb was empty. Jesus’ body, she said, must have been stolen. Appalled, Peter and the other disciple sprinted to the tomb. Peter entered first and confirmed Mary’s report that Jesus’ body was gone. Then the other disciple entered and, the Gospel writer tells us, “He saw and believed.” What did he believe? That Jesus’ body was not stolen but restored to life? Yes, but not only that. What he believed was put into words a short time later by a fourth disciple, Thomas. The risen Jesus appeared to him, and Thomas blurted out, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas recognized that the one
standing in front of him had not only risen from the dead but had conquered death. He was not only alive again; he was the source of life. He was — as Jesus had repeatedly said about himself — the son of the Father, the one through whom all things have come into existence. A remarkable aspect of this revelation is the way it was tailored to the dimensions of the disciples. No cosmic sound and light show flattened them to the ground. At first, they just saw an empty tomb. When Jesus appeared to them, they were not blinded by awesome radiance but simply saw the man they knew. He was changed, yet very much himself. He was Lord and God, yet he remained with them as the man whose face and hands they could see, who continued to speak with the voice
they recognized and addressed them by name: “Mary,” “Simon.” Peter recounted later that he and the other disciples “ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” What could be more tailored to our human dimensions than a meal? And in a meal — indeed, in that same meal with his disciples that Jesus ate before and after his resurrection — he comes to us. In the liturgy, a human gathering, with talking and singing, eating and drinking, the risen Jesus calls us by name and seeks to reveal himself to us. Kevin Perrotta is the editor and an author of the “Six Weeks With the Bible” series, teaches part time at Siena Heights University and leads Holy Land pilgrimages. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
AN EASTER REFLECTION
At Easter, even amid confusion, the Lord makes all things new
Catholic Spirit file image
By Maureen Pratt | Catholic News Service
If Lent is a time for reflection, service and sacrifice, and drawing closer to God, Easter follows with a stunningly wonderful message of joy and love that reflects in our liturgies throughout the world. A palpable, audible “Alleluia!” sung and prayed over and over.
No matter if each note isn’t perfect, the chorus raised is magnificent! Yet, for many people, feeling uplifted might seem more forced than natural. Any number of life challenges can weigh heavily against the utter joy that is Easter, and putting aside the burdens of illness, caregiving, economic hardship or other pressures can make it difficult for those burdened to connect with the gladness permeating our faith families. For anyone who feels detached from the season’s celebration, there is, still and abiding, a particular passage in the Gospel that provides a way in to Easter joy. It speaks directly to those sorrowing, troubled or feeling there is something wrong with them if they don’t seem to be able to set aside their burdens to rejoice as easily as others do. It reaches out and brings the gift of renewed faith and presence of God’s love home to all. We sometimes forget that the disciples of Jesus did not understand what he had told them about his death and resurrection. So in the wee hours of the morning, when Mary of Magdala
and others came to the tomb, they were heavily burdened — mourning Jesus’ awful death. Joy, celebration, singing the wonders of God’s promise fulfilled — these happy emotions were far from their hearts. When they arrived at the tomb, they had even more cause for trauma — the stone was rolled away from the tomb, and Jesus’ body was missing. Mary’s words to Simon Peter and another disciple are far from joyful: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him” (Jn 20:2). And, reading on beyond the Easter Sunday Gospel, after Simon Peter and the other disciple come and see for themselves, but do not “understand the Scripture, that (Jesus) must rise from the dead,” (20:9), Mary remains “outside the tomb weeping” (20:11). Mary of Magdala’s steadfastness for Jesus reflects in her constancy. She cannot move from the open tomb, does not stop weeping; her love pours forth even as her heart must have been so very heavy. And then, Mary’s life of pain becomes something very different. Angels appear, questioning why she weeps. Then, Jesus himself appears. At first, Mary thinks he is the gardener and boldly asks that, if he is the one who removed Jesus’ body, to tell her where he laid him (20:15)!
Jesus spares Mary further sorrow. He calls her by name and instructs her to carry the news to his disciples, and she does. She has seen the Lord! He is risen! Even after seeing the risen Jesus, Mary of Magdala must have had other difficult moments. How hard it must have been, for example, to convince others of Jesus’ resurrection. But in witnessing as she did, even through tears, her life became completely wonderfully new. Sometimes, we have to sit weeping at the open tomb for a time, bringing ourselves into the presence of the mystery of our faith with the realities of life that weigh us down. All around us might be praising to the rafters, leaving us to feel a little lost. But as we remain ever-constant, the risen Jesus visits us, loves us, calls us by name. And as we witness to him, although difficulties continue, our life, too, is changed — shining new, graced with immense love and heartfelt joy.
Maureen Pratt is a popular speaker, the award-winning, bestselling author of seven books. She is a nationally syndicated columnist for Catholic News Service. Pratt’s website is www.maureenpratt.com.
APRIL 2020
GOOD NEWS
15
A FAMILY REFLECTION
In our homes: Turning our eyes, hearts to the Lord By Gustavo Rodriguez | Guest Columnist
If someone had told me on New Year’s Day we would be dealing with a global pandemic in less than three months, I would have doubted their sanity. Yet here we are, our schools are closed, Mass has been suspended for the public and social distancing is in full swing. This is a hard time for families. There are so many unknowns and life changes every day. As Catholics, we are a community of faith and hope. We now can empathize with the families that waited overnight during the Passover for harm to pass their homes. We now can empathize and begin to understand the fear Jesus felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. As we practice social distancing and anticipate the long-term effects of COVID-19, it is easy for us to lose focus. Even though times are uncertain and unpredictable, the one thing we know without a doubt is that God is with us. It is now more important than ever to continue to help our children and one another turn our attention to the Lord. We must not only share the Good News of Christ’s Resurrection, we must live the Good News with hope and joy. Though we cannot be physically present at Mass, we can still live our faith as the Domestic Church. When we celebrate the sacraments of holy matrimony or baptism, we are reminded of our role in the Domestic Church: to bring the message of the Gospel to the family. Now is a good time to start some new traditions or add a new tradition to your household. Consider implementing one or two
of these simple actions to keep prayer and faith at the center of family life. • Create a prayerful environment in the home. Remember that our faith should always begin in our homes. Buildings do not make the church; the people are the church. • Each day select a friend or family member to lift up in prayer. • Pray together before meals and before bedtime. • Dedicate a space in the home for a small altar for devotional prayer. • Enthrone the Bible in a special place in your home. • Place a picture of a beloved saint in your children’s bedrooms. Look up stories of the lives of the saints and share them with one another. • Dedicate time to pray and practice saying the prayers as a family, particularly the prayers we say at Mass (the Creed and the Our Father) and the Hail Mary, the Glory Be and the Act of Contrition. • Visit www.formed.org. This site has many movies, instructional videos, book and other resources about the Catholic faith. Pick a topic and watch as a family then discuss what you learned. Please note, this is subscription based and costs money. Many parishes offer their parishioners a free subscription. • Create a prayer garden in your yard. Work the soil together and talk about God’s creation. • Pray the rosary as a family. Take turns praying each decade. • Watch Mass online or on television or listen on the radio. After the Mass, discuss the readings and the homily. • Pray the Spiritual Communion prayer daily (see Page 3). • Read the Gospels together. Discuss the life of Jesus, his parables and
the many miracles he worked. • Pray with the Scriptures daily as a family. The daily Scriptures are at www.usccb.org. • Sing your favorite church hymns as you cook and clean together. • Find each family member’s certificate of baptism and showcase it in a prominent location. Share your memories of the day of your children’s baptisms or other sacraments. • Decorate your home with religious artwork and take an opportunity to learn about the images and stories behind the art. These are a few of the simple things that we can do to keep actively turning our attention to God. He will provide us the strength we need to endure these troubling times. For more resources about religious education and catechesis, visit www.austindiocese.org/evangelizationand-catechesis.
Gustavo Rodriguez is the diocesan director of Evangelization and Catechesis. He and his wife Natalie have two children. Contact him at (512) 949-2542 or gustavo-rodriguez@austindiocese.org.
CATHEDRAL SCHOOL
A prayer invoking the intercession of Mary Holy Virgin of Guadalupe, Queen of the Angels and Mother of the Americas. We fly to you today as your beloved children. We ask you to intercede for us with your Son, as you did at the wedding in Cana. Pray for us, loving Mother, and gain for our nation and world, and for all our families and loved ones, the protection of your holy angels, that we may be spared the worst of this illness. For those already afflicted, we ask you to obtain the grace of healing and deliverance. Hear the cries of those who are vulnerable and fearful, wipe away their tears and help them to trust. In this time of trial and testing, teach all of us in the church to love one another and to be patient and kind. Help us to bring the peace of Jesus to our land and to our hearts. We come to you with confidence, knowing that you truly are our compassionate mother, health of the sick and cause of our joy. Shelter us under the mantle of your protection, keep us in the embrace of your arms, help us always to know the love of your Son, Jesus. Amen.
Parents are encouraged to help their loved ones turn to the Lord during this time of uncertainty. (Catholic Spirit file photo)
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16
GOOD NEWS
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
FAITH THROUGH ART
Walking to Emmaus with Jesus and the disciples
By James B. Janknegt | Columnist
“Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the scriptures,” Lk 24:27. Don’t you wish someone had recorded Jesus’ conversation with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus? What a wealth of biblical insight we would have. In my painting, “The Road to Emmaus,” Jesus meets up with two of his disciples walking back to Emmaus from Jerusalem after the events of his passion and Resurrection. The empty tomb is in the top right corner of the painting. The disciples are downcast; their hope that Jesus was the Messiah has
been dashed due to his crucifixion. The disciples had not yet heard that Jesus was resurrected only that he was missing from the tomb. Jesus appeared and began to walk with them, as yet unrecognizable in his resurrected body. Jesus conversed with them, elucidating recent events in light of the Old Testament beginning with Moses and all the prophets. Many of the events in the Old Testament are pre-figurations of Jesus and his life. In my painting I included three Old Testament stories and enclose them in circles to indicate that these are the contents of Jesus’ exposition. They are from left to right in the large image above, a pull out of each image is at right. First we see Moses holding up the golden serpent to deliver the
Israelites from poisonous snakes (image 1). Jesus taught about this in John Gospel: And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” The golden snake represents the crucifixion. The second one is from the prophet Jonah: Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, so Jesus was in the tomb. Jonah is one of the clearest pre-figurations of the resurrection and appears in very early Christian art in the catacombs (image 2). And the third is from the story of Abraham taking his son Isaac to be sacrificed on the mountain (image 3). Like Abraham, God is willing to sacrifice his only son for the salvation of the world. God did not require Abraham to follow through with the death of his only son but substituted a ram. God so loved the world that he willingly substituted his son in our place, allowing Jesus to take our sin upon himself. These are only three examples; Jesus expounded on all the Scriptures, on the journey to Emmaus. Still the two disciples were not aware they were talking with the Lord. Arriving at home, they invited this stranger to stay and share a meal. At the bottom left hand corner of the painting, at supper, Jesus gives thanks and breaks the bread; their eyes are opened and they recognize him, as the risen Lord! Jesus and his Eucharistic presence opened the eyes of the disciples. Jesus, our risen Lord, is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the bread and wine of the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Just as Jesus is present in the Eucharist, he is also present in the proc-
lamation of the Word. As we listen to the Old and New Testament readings, and the Gospel reading during Mass, Jesus is speaking to us, just like he spoke to the disciples on the road to Emmaus. And just like them, “Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” The Lord is Risen! He is risen indeed! James B. Janknegt is a painter with multiple degrees in studio art. He and his wife live in Elgin and are active at Sacred Heart Parish where they help play music for Mass and lead the RCIA program. For more information about him and his artwork visit www.BCArtFarm.com.
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GOOD NEWS
APRIL 2020
17
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
Breaking the chains of poverty through Catholic education By Hosffman Ospino | Catholic News Service
When I hear that a Catholic school closes or struggles to stay open, my heart aches. There are more than 14 million school-age Catholic children in our country, 8 million of them Hispanic. If anything, we should be building Catholic schools, especially where Catholicism is growing. At the very least, we should keep those that exist open and primarily at the service of the new populations transforming the U.S. Catholic experience. When I meet people like Father Mark Hamlet from the Diocese of Austin, a sense of hope invades me. He is impressive: a dynamic pastor, a passionate preacher, a blogger, a radio personality, an advocate and an entrepreneur. He is fluent in English and Spanish and gets by in other languages. He is also a family man. Literally. Father Mark is a widower, father of six children and blessed with more than a dozen grandchildren. After the passing of his wife, Cynthia, he went to the seminary and was ordained a Catholic priest in 2010.
Father Mark’s passion for Catholic education is inspiring. During a recent trip to Austin, I met with him and learned about the organization he founded: Our Kids at Heart (https:// ourkidsatheart.com/), which serves largely as a tuition fund. The organization was established to support mostly Hispanic Catholic children from Sacred Heart Parish in Austin, living in conditions of economic disadvantage, to attend Catholic schools. More than 150 children currently benefit from this initiative. This is not just a scholarship program but a subsidy effort. In other words, the principle is to empower Catholic families to send their children to Catholic schools and pay the costs by giving them a boost. This idea of “a boost” is what makes the initiative captivating. The fund cultivates partnerships in which everyone invests: families, schools, philanthropists, the parish community and the diocese. The model challenges two often taken-for-granted assumptions. One, Hispanic families will only send their children to Catholic schools if it is completely free. Hmmm, yes and no. Free is attractive, yet even in places
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where tax credits or vouchers are available, Hispanic families are not necessarily flocking to Catholic schools. This assumption also feeds a model of economic dependence that falls short when philanthropic streams run dry. Two, Hispanic families are not interested in Catholic education. Creative and collaborative initiatives like Our Kids at Heart prove otherwise. Work with Hispanic families, engage them, make the schools truly inclusive environments, and you will see the difference. The organization introduces families, mostly immigrant, to the values of Catholic schools and invites them to send their children to these institutions. It is a process of conversion. This is the biggest hurdle to overcome, according to Father Mark. Many Hispanic and immigrant families do not see Catholic schools as their own. They think that they are completely out of reach. They often feel that they are not welcomed. When Hispanic families get involved, things change. Besides tra-
ditional philanthropic sources, Our Kids at Heart relies on the fundraising efforts of these families. Families pay first for their children’s education, the fund helps them. That creates a sense of healthy stewardship. This is a way of returning Catholic education to the poor, says Father Mark. Poverty continues to chain the lives of many Hispanics. We cannot solve that problem with Band-Aids. The chains need to be broken. Catholic schools must serve as “chain cutters.” The image reminds us that Catholic evangelization is about freedom. Yes, let us break the chains of poverty with the help of Catholic education. Nonetheless, make sure that Hispanic Catholic families participate in the process as active agents, not just as passive recipients.
Hosffman Ospino is professor of theology and religious education at Boston College.
BU LLETIN BOARD
18
Calendar of events
Mark your calendars for these events that are coming up across the Diocese of Austin. Send entries for this section to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org.
Please note: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bishop Vásquez’ calendar is not included this month. When the Catholic Spirit went to press, the events listed here were still scheduled to occur. However, these events may be canceled or postponed. Please call ahead! May 3: A Holy Hour to pray for vocations will be held May 3 from 7 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. Details: adrian-sanchez@ austindiocese.org or (512) 9492495. May 30: Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain men to the transitional diaconate at 10:30 a.m. at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park. Details: (512) 949-2430. June 1-5: All students in second through 12th grades are welcome to attend Music Alive! Sacred Music Camp from 1 - 5:30 p.m. at St. Theresa Parish in Austin. The week will include choral and instrumental music, accomplished and inspiring instructors and youth mentors, with separate tracks for strings, organ, guitar and voice. Registration:
https://sttaustin.org/sacred-music-camp. Details: (512) 451-5132 or dgirardot@sttaustin.org. June 27: Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain men to the priesthood at 10:30 a.m. at St. William Parish in Round Rock. Please continue to pray for all of our seminarians and priests. Details: (512) 949-2430. June 26-28: Married couples are invited to strengthen, renew and rekindle their sacrament of matrimony by attending this retreat weekend, which will be held at San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin. The emphasis of the Marriage Encounter ministry is on communication between husband and wife. For more information, visit www.austinme. org/apply or call (512) 677-9963 or e-mail wwmeaustin@gmail.com.
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Parish and community events
Listed below are events happening in our parishes and Catholic schools. The public is invited to these events. May 3: St. Paul Chong Hasang Parish in Harker Heights will host its annual Spring Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the parish grounds. There will be food booths, games for all ages, a live auction, white elephant sale and much more. Details: dldgp@aol.com. May 3: St. Patrick Parish in Hutto will host its Family Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the parish grounds. There will be activities for all ages include a dunking booth, ring toss, auctions and live music. Details: (512) 759-3712. May 15: The St. Louis Cougar Classic Golf Tournament will be held at TerraVista Golf Club. It begins at 1:30 p.m. with a shotgun start. Tournament benefits St. Louis Catholic School in Austin. Details: www.slcsaustin.org/cougarclassic. May 16-17: St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park will host its annual barbecue dinner and live auction beginning at 6 p.m. The annual SpringFest is May 17 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There will be food booths and games for all ages. Details: www.stmargaretmary.com.
Burse The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has completed a burse for the Clerical Endowment Fund (CEF) in honor of Father Miguel Duarte Duran, pastor of St. Margaret Parish in Giddings, and Father Walter Dhanwar, pastor of St. Martin Parish in Tours and St. Joseph in Elk. The totals for the burse as of Feb. 29, 2020, are listed below by council. Austin $1,385.00 Bastrop/Lockhart $373.00 Brenham/La Grange $427.00 Bryan/College Station $685.00 Georgetown/Round Rock $670.00 Killeen/Temple $472.00 Lampasas/Marble Falls $109.00 Waco $4,925.00 Previous Balance $7,654.04 Total $19,898.51 The Clerical Endowment Fund provides low-cost loans to parishes. Interest from the loans is used to educate diocesan seminarians. For information, contact Judy Edwards at (979) 8460617.
JOIN US at the Assembly of Catholic Professionals luncheon Guest Speaker
Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. (Fr. Tad) When
Thursday, May 21, 2020, 11:30 a.m. Where
The Hyatt Regency Town Lake, Austin Space is limited. RSVP
www.austindiocese.org/acp by May 16 to guarantee a seat and lunch
Sponsored by
Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. Director of Education The National Catholic Bioethics Center
Assembly of CATHOLIC PROFESSIONALS
ESPAÑOL
APRIL 2020
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ENTREVISTA AL SEÑOR OBISPO
La unción de los enfermos provee de gracia para enfrentar enfermedades El Obispo José S. Vásquez es el quinto obispo de la Diócesis de Austin, que es el hogar de más de 610,000 Católicos.
Editora: Señor Obispo, este mes estamos continuando nuestras entrevistas sobre cada uno de los siete sacramentos. Este mes, nuestro enfoque es en la unción de los enfermos ¿Cuál es la importancia de este sacramento? Obispo Vásquez: El sacramento de la unción de los enfermos continúa el trabajo de Jesucristo. La unción de los enfermos es un sacramento de sanación administrado para el cuidado de nuestros hermanos y hermanas quienes están seriamente enfermos, los ancianos y aquellos enfrentando procedimientos médicos serios. Este sacramento ofrece la presencia y oraciones de la comunidad Cristiana a aquellos pasando por la enfermedad. A través de este sacramento, Dios nos fortalece cuando nuestras mentes y cuerpos se han debilitado. Dios quiere compartir con nosotros en cada aspecto de nuestras vidas, incluyendo cuando estamos enfermos. La presencia de Dios con frecuencia nos llega a través de la comunidad de fe. Es por ello que oramos en la liturgia de la unción: “Padre en el cielo, a través de esta santa unción, concédele a (nombre de la persona que está enferma) consuelo en su sufrimiento. Cuando él/ella tenga miedo, dale valor, cuando esté afligido(a), dale paciencia, cuando esté abatido(a), dale esperanza, y cuando esté solo(a), asegúralo(a) del apoyo de tu santa gente. Te lo pedimos a través de Cristo Nuestro Señor. Amén”. Esta es una bella oración de consuelo y comunidad para aquellos que están sufriendo. En un tiempo, el sacramento de la unción de los enfermos fue llamado la extremaunción. La palabra extrema se refiere a que la persona está en peligro de muerte. Hoy la iglesia quiere que aquellos que están seriamente enfermos reciban el sacramento y no esperar hasta que la muerte esté cerca. Editora: Así que, ¿es la sanación física el propósito primario de la unción de los enfermos?
Obispo Vásquez: Como vimos en la oración de arriba, a través de la unción de los enfermos, la iglesia ora por la sanación de la persona, pero la oración se enfoca fuertemente en el fortalecimiento de la persona emocionalmente y espiritualmente para que no pierdan la esperanza. A través de la unción, la persona es fortalecida para continuar aferrándose a Jesús en la fe y para unir su enfermedad y sufrimiento al sufrimiento de Cristo. Editora: ¿Cuáles son las partes importantes de la unción de los enfermos y de los últimos ritos? Obispo Vásquez: El sacramento de la unción de los enfermos es administrado por un obispo o sacerdote imponiendo las manos a la persona enferma y ungiéndola en la frente y manos mientras que el sacerdote ora. Una persona que está enferma puede ser ungida en casa o en un hospital o lugar de cuidados. El sacramento puede también incluir la oportunidad para que la persona enferma haga una buena confesión, y puede ser seguida por la recepción de la Sagrada Comunión. En muchas parroquias, el sacerdote ofrece regularmente la unción de los enfermos después de la Misa diaria. El sacramento también está disponible contactando a su sacerdote parroquial. Editora: ¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la unción de los enfermos y los últimos ritos? Obispo Vásquez: La unción de los enfermos es administrada a aquellos que están seriamente enfermos. En este sacramento, la iglesia nos da oraciones especiales para ayudar a fortalecer a la persona que ha sido diagnosticada con una enfermedad crónica o terminal, o una persona que es de la tercera edad o que está enfrentado una cirugía significativa. Los últimos ritos incluyen varios sacramentos (confesión, unción de los enfermos y la Eucaristía) dados a aquellos que están cercanos a morir. Si la persona puede hablar, se le invita a hacer una buena confesión. Se pide a los santos que vengan y asistan a esta persona que está cercana a la muerte mientras que se prepara para su encuentro con Dios en la manera más profunda. La persona es ungida y entonces, si la persona puede, recibe la Eucaristía. Cuando la Eucaristía es dada a
una persona cercana a la muerte, es llamada el Viaticum, que literalmente significa la provisión dada a aquellos que están viajando. La persona recibe la Eucaristía por que está en camino hacia Dios. A través de estos últimos ritos, recibimos la gracia de aceptar nuestra mortalidad mientras completamos nuestro viaje aquí en la tierra y vamos hacia una nueva vida con Dios. Editora: ¿Se puede recibir la unción de los enfermos más de una vez? Obispo Vásquez: Sí, la unción de los enfermos puede ser repetida para la persona que está enferma dependiendo de la intensidad de la enfermedad. Por ejemplo, si la enfermedad de la persona empeora, o si es llevada al hospital, o si un tratamiento diferente, tal como la quimioterapia, debe ser administrado una persona puede recibir de nuevo la unción de los enfermos. Debe administrarse el sacramento a aquellos sufriendo de enfermedades crónicas, de manera que la persona que está sufriendo no pierda la esperanza. Jesucristo siempre está con aquellos que están enfermos, y el sacramento les confirma de nuevo su presencia, ofreciéndoles esperanza y consolación. Editora: Sólo los sacerdotes pueden administrar la unción de los enfermos ¿Correcto? Obispo Vásquez: Sí, el ministro apropiado para administrar este sacramento es un obispo o un sacerdote. Esto viene de la misma sagrada Escritura. Desde el comienzo de la iglesia, este sacramento ha sido administrado por los presbíteros, los sacerdotes y obispos de la iglesia. En la carta de Santiago escuchamos, “¿Hay alguno enfermo – entre ustedes-? Que llame a los ancianos de la Iglesia, que oren por él y lo unjan con aceite en el nombre del Señor”. Un diácono puede visitar a los enfermos y orar con ellos y llevarles el Viaticum a aquellos gravemente enfermos o moribundos, pero no puede administrar la unción de los enfermos. La familia y amigos deben también orar con sus seres queridos que estén enfermos o cercanos a la muerte. Una de las obras espirituales de misericordia es orar por los vivos y los muertos. Como Cristianos, debemos proveer a la gente de nuestra asis-
tencia a través de la oración. Cuando estoy enfermos, encuentro gran consuelo cuando la gente ora por mí. Debemos también orar por aquellos profesionales del cuidado de la salud. Estos hombres y mujeres que cuidan de los enfermos y los moribundos necesitan ser apoyados por la iglesia por que ellos también participan en el trabajo de sanación de Jesucristo. Lo más importante sobre la unción de los enfermos es el despertar en nosotros el entendimiento de que la gente enferma necesita la presencia de Dios y de la iglesia. En este frágil momento en la vida, cuando están, probablemente enfrentando la muerte, necesitan recibir confirmación de que están conectados a la comunidad de fieles, al Cuerpo de Cristo. Debemos recordar también lo que la iglesia enseña sobre el sufrimiento redentor. Como declara el Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica, “Por su pasión y su muerte en la Cruz, Cristo dio un sentido nuevo al sufrimiento: desde entonces éste nos configura con Él y nos une a su pasión redentora,” CIC, 1505. Como Cristianos nuestra fe nos asegura que, aunque debamos enfrentar la muerte, nuestra esperanza está en Jesucristo quien murió y resucitó para salvarnos y darnos vida eterna. Editora: ¿Cuál es su oración por aquellos que están enfermos? Obispo Vásquez: Dios, nuestro Padre, escucha el llanto de aquellos que están sufriendo por la enfermedad. Que los enfermos unan su dolor y sufrimiento a la cruz de Jesucristo y que Él les conceda la sanación. Que el Espíritu Santo calme y consuele a quienes están enfermos y con dolor. Lo pedimos a través de Cristo, nuestro Señor. Amén.
Para información actualizada de la Diócesis de Austin, visítenos en línea En internet en http://www.austindiocese.org En Facebook busque y siga a la diócesis en “@DioceseofAustin” y “@bishopjoesvasquez” En Instagram siga a la “dioceseofaustin” y a “bishopjoevasquez” En Twitter, siga a la @AustinDiocese
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ESPAÑOL
CATHOLIC SPIRIT
El obispo: Mantengamos nuestros ojos fijos en el Señor Por Shelley Metcalf | Editora
El 17 de marzo, debido a una preocupación pastoral por la gente del Centro de Texas y debido a la pandemia del COVID-19, el Obispo José Vásquez suspendió todas las Misas públicas a lo largo de la diócesis hasta el 8 de abril. Existe la posibilidad, dado lo incierto de la situación con el COVID-19, que la suspensión de la Misas pueda ser extendida. Por lo tanto, se pide a los fieles que visiten el sitio web diocesano en www. austindiocese.org para recibir información actualizada. “Aunque esperaba que pudiéramos continuar celebrando Misa pública, tomé la decisión después de discernir en oración y en vista de las recientes recomendaciones de los oficiales de salud pública,” dijo el obispo en una carta a los fieles. En el decreto que suspende las Misas, el Obispo Vásquez también dispensó a los fieles de la obligación de asistir a Misa los domingos u otros días santos de obligación. Se pide a los Católicos que realicen una devoción espiritual, tal como una comunión espiritual, orando la Liturgia de las Horas, orando por los enfermos, leyendo la Escritura o participando en devociones tales como el rezo del rosario. El obispo ha pedido a sacerdotes que ofrezcan las Misas diarias y dominicales de manera privada en sus santuarios parroquiales. De esta manera, los fieles pueden estar conectados a sus comunidades parroquiales. El obispo ha pedido a las parroquias que hagan estas Misas, especialmente las Misas dominicales, disponibles a través de los medios sociales. Las Misas también estarán disponibles vía televisión, radio e internet (ver gráfico en ingles en página 3). “Se anima a las parroquias a desarrollar diversas maneras en las cuales construir comunidad espiritual a través de los medios sociales y de pequeños grupos Cristianos,” dijo el obispo. El Obispo Vásquez pidió a los sacerdotes que continúen usando su juicio prudente mientras ayudan a la gente de Dios a navegar esta difícil
situación. Él, animó fuertemente a los sacerdotes a que continúen ofreciendo los sacramentos de la reconciliación y la unción de los enfermos. Animó también, a los sacerdotes y a los fieles a que observen los consejos de salud pública en lo referente al distanciamiento y las regulaciones respecto al número de gente que puede reunirse en un lugar. “Como sacerdotes, nuestro deber primario es cuidar de las almas y, a pesar de este cambio, permanecemos llamados a salir y servir a la gente de Dios,” dijo el obispo. El obispo también canceló las Misas de confirmación que estaban programadas para finales de marzo y principios de abril. Esas Misas serán reprogramadas para más tarde. El ministerio para aquellos confinados en casa, con la Sagrada Comunión, ha sido también suspendido, aunque el obispo aconsejó al clero usar su juicio prudente respecto a llevar la Sagrada Comunión a aquellos que están gravemente enfermos. El obispo instruyó que los programas de educación religiosa sigan los cierres del distrito escolar. Las escuelas Católicas deben seguir las directivas del superintendente diocesano de escuelas Católicas. El obispo comparte las esperanzas, duelos y ansiedades de los fieles Cristianos durante este tiempo de incertidumbre, dijo. “Pido que continuemos orando por tener la fuerza para perseverar por la gracia de Dios, recordando mantener nuestros ojos en el Señor,” dijo. La diócesis pide a los fieles que recuerden a sus vecinos necesitados durante este tiempo estresante. El Consejo de Austin de la Society of St. Vincent de Paul está necesitando artículos no perecederos, papel de baño, kleenex, artículos de tocador y detergente para ropa, son algunos de los artículos más necesitados. Estos pueden ser traídos de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. de lunes a sábado a 901 W. Braker Lane en Austin. Para mayor información, visite www.ssvdp.org. Visite www.austindiocese.org para obtener actualizaciones continuas. Imagen cortesía de St. Mary Parish en Caldwell
APRIL 2020
ESPAÑOL
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En nuestros hogares: Volteando nuestros ojos, corazones hacia el Señor Por Gustavo Rodríguez | Columnista
Si alguien me hubiera dicho el día de Año Nuevo que estaríamos lidiando con una pandemia global en menos de tres meses, hubiera dudado de su cordura. Y aún así, aquí estamos, nuestras escuelas están cerradas, las Misas han sido suspendidas para el público y el distanciamiento social está en pleno. Este es un momento duro para las familias. Existe tanto que desconocemos y la vida cambia todos los días. Como Católicos, somos una comunidad de fe y esperanza. Ahora podemos sentir empatía por las familias que esperaron toda la noche durante la Pascua Judía a que pasara el peligro por sus casas. Ahora podemos sentir empatía y comenzar a entender el miedo que Jesús sintió en el Jardín de Getsemaní. Mientras que practicamos el distanciamiento social y anticipamos los efectos a largo plazo del COVID-19, es fácil para nosotros perder el enfoque. Aunque los tiempos difíciles son inciertos e impredecibles, una cosa que sabemos sin duda es que Dios está con nosotros. Es ahora, más importante que nunca, que continuemos ayudando a nuestros niños y ayudándonos mutuamente a poner nuestra atención en el Señor. Debemos, no sólo compartir la Buena Nueva de la Resurrección de Cristo, debemos vivir la Buena Nueva con esperanza y gozo.
Aunque no podemos estar físicamente presentes en la Misa, todavía podemos vivir nuestra fe como Iglesia Doméstica. Cuando celebramos los sacramentos del Santo Matrimonio o el bautismo, se nos recuerda nuestro
Busquen historias de las vidas de los santos y compártanlas mutuamente. • Dediquen tiempo a orar y practicar el decir las oraciones como familia, particularmente las oraciones que decimos en la Misa (el Credo y
Es ahora, más importante que nunca, que continuemos ayudando a nuestros niños y ayudándonos mutuamente a poner nuestra atención en el Señor. papel en la Iglesia Doméstica: llevar el mensaje del Evangelio a la familia. Ahora es un buen momento para comenzar algunas nuevas tradiciones o agregar una nueva tradición a su hogar. Considere implementar una o dos de estas simples acciones para mantener la oración y la fe al centro de la vida familiar. • Creen un ambiente de oración en el hogar. Recuerden que nuestra fe debe siempre comenzar en nuestros hogares. Los edificios no hacen la iglesia; la gente es la iglesia. • Cada día seleccionen a un amigo o miembro de la familia para elevarlo en oración. • Oren juntos antes de los alimentos y antes de la hora de dormir. • Dediquen un espacio en el hogar para un pequeño altar para la oración devota. • Entronen a la Biblia en un lugar especial en su hogar. • Pongan una fotografía de un santo amado en el cuarto de sus hijos.
el Padre Nuestro) y el Ave María, el Gloria y el Acto de Contrición. • Visiten FORMED en www. formed.org. Este sitio tiene muchas películas, videos instructivos, libros y otros recursos sobre la fe Católica. Escojan un tópico y véanlo como familia y después discutan lo aprendido. Por favor noten que, este sitio está basado en una subscripción y cuesta dinero. Muchas parroquias ofrecen a sus fieles una suscripción gratuita. • Creen un jardín de oración en su patio. Trabajen juntos en él y hablen sobre la creación de Dios. • Oren el rosario como familia. Tomen turnos orando cada decena. • Vean la Misa en línea, en la televisión o escúchenla en la radio. Después de Misa, discutan las lecturas y la homilía. • Oren la oración de la Comunión Espiritual diariamente. • Lean los Evangelios juntos. Discutan la vida de Jesús, sus parábolas y los muchos milagros que Él hizo. • Oren con las Escrituras diario
como familia. Las Escrituras diarias están en www.usccb.org. • Cantes sus himnos eclesiásticos favoritos juntos mientras cocinan y limpian juntos. • Encuentren el certificado de bautismo de cada miembro de la familia y muéstrenlo en un lugar prominente. Compartan sus memorias sobre el día del bautismo de sus hijos y otros sacramentos. • Decoren su hogar con arte religioso y tomen una oportunidad para aprender sobre las imágenes e historias detrás de dichas piezas. Estas son algunas de las cosas simples que podemos hacer para mantenernos activamente volteando nuestra atención hacia Dios. Él nos proveerá con la fuerza que necesitamos para soportar estos momentos preocupantes. Para obtener más recursos sobre educación religiosa y catequesis, visite www.austindiocese.org/ evangelization-and-catechesis.
Gustavo Rodríguez es el director diocesano de Evangelización y Catequesis. Contáctelo en el (512) 949-2542 o escribiéndole a gustavo-rodriguez@austindiocese.org.
Uniéndonos con Cristo a través de la comunión espiritual Por Shelley Metcalf | Editora
Dado que la pandemia del COVID-19 persiste, el Obispo José Vásquez ha suspendido todas las Misas públicas en la Diócesis de Austin hasta el 8 de abril. El decreto del obispo agregó que los fieles están “dispensados de la obligación de asistir a Misa los domingos u otros días santos de obligación…y se les pide realizar otros actos de devoción espiritual tales como una comunión espiritual, orar la Liturgia de las Horas, orar por los enfermos, leer la Escritura o partici-
par en devociones tales como el rezo del rosario”. La Comunión Espiritual es la expresión del deseo apasionado de recibir a Jesús en la Eucaristía y de unirse a Dios a través de la oración. Aquellos que no pueden asistir a la Misa, y por ello no pueden recibir la Eucaristía, están invitados a pasar tiempo en oración, dando gracias a Dios y orando por las necesidades del mundo y las personales. Para comenzar, apague la televisión/radio/teléfono y siéntense en silencio. Ponga toda su atención en el Señor. Si hay miembros de la familia presentes, reúnanse para orar.
Ore: Mi amado Jesús, creo que Tú estás presente en el Santísimo Sacramento. Te amo sobre todas las cosas, y deseo recibirte en mi alma. Ya que no puedo, en este momento, recibirte sacramentalmente, ven, al menos, espiritualmente a mi corazón. Te abrazo como si Tú estuvieras ya ahí y me uno a mi mismo completamente a Ti. Nunca me permitas estar separado de Ti. Amén. Otras maneras de unirse uno mismo a Dios: • Lea la Biblia, las lecturas diarias están disponibles en www.usccb.org en inglés y en español; u
• Ore la Liturgia de las Horas usando el app Laudate o iBreviary para dispositivos móviles, que incluye oraciones, lecturas diarias, etc; o • Participe en la Misa viéndola por televisión o escuchándola en la radio. Muchas parroquias están ofreciendo Misa via Facebook Live así como YouTube; manténgase conectado a su parroquia para más detalles. EWTN ofrece Misas en línea en www.ewtn. com así como lo hace también Relevant Radio en www.relevantradio.com. Visite www.austindiocese.org para obtener actualizaciones continuas.
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CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Parar el abuso: Una familia comparte su historia Por Carla Smith | Corresponsal
Ellos estaban entre las muchas personas convencidas de que el abuso sexual nunca pasaría en su familia. Pero sí le sucedió al, entonces, hijo de 10 años de Jeff and Judy Ulery. Como si eso no fuera suficiente para volcar sus vidas, el perpetrador era un amigo en quien confiaban y alguien a quien Jeff había conocido desde que era un adolescente. Los Ulerys están compartiendo su historia personal de dolor y sanación con la esperanza de educar a padres y niños por igual. “Hablamos de esta oportunidad como familia y el consenso abrumador es que más gente necesita conocer esta información para que los jóvenes puedan estar protegidos,” dijeron. Algunos, puede que reconozcan a Jeff y a Judy por el video mostrado durante los talleres de Ética e Integridad en el Ministerio (EIM). También son Católicos practicando su fe en la Diócesis de Austin. La pareja aprendió mucho durante su dura prueba, incluyendo el admitir qué tan inocentes eran acerca del abuso infantil en general. Ahora, ellos quieren compartir su conocimiento para proteger más niños. Los estudios muestran que el 95 porciento de perpetradores son gente que conocemos en quien confiamos. El abusador del hijo de los Ulery fue puesto como un guardián en su testamento, era el padrino de su sobrino, y dos de los miembros de su familia eran padrinos de otros niños. Los Ulerys estaban impactados, pero habían encontrado un llamado y están alzando la voz para que otras familias conozcan los hechos y eviten su dolor. Los Ulerys y expertos están de acuerdo en que conocer signos de peligro típicos, de abuso y de cómo los perpetradores “se ganan” a sus víctimas, son cosas que todo padre debe conocer y observar. Las víctimas de abuso sexual infantil con frecuencia exhiben señales indirectas físicas como ansiedad, dolor de estómago crónico y dolores de cabeza. También puede que existan señales emocionales o de comportamiento, tales como aislamiento, miedo, depresión, y enojo inexplicable. Otras consecuencias comunes de trauma incluyen pesadillas, mojar la cama, baja de calificaciones, crueldad a
animales, bullying, ser molestado por compañeros de la escuela, jugar con fuego, escaparse de casa y hacerse daño a si mismo de cualquier manera. Estos son síntomas que se manifiestan después de que el abuso ha empezado, así que enseñar a los niños las señales posibles de cómo se ganan los abusadores a sus víctimas (conocido como grooming en inglés) antes de que el abuso se dé, es algo igualmente importante de reconocer. Los perpetradores quieren mantener todo secreto y con frecuencia usan técnicas para probar y ganarse la confianza de sus víctimas y sus familias. Los Ulerys dicen que el abusador trabajó en ganarse la confianza de su familia por años. Ellos advirtieron que los perpetradores son muy pacientes mientras incorporan métodos para ganarse la confianza, tales como el aislar a un niño, tocarlo, darle a un niño atención especial y regalos; y generalmente, invertir más y más tiempo, dinero y energía en un niño. Con frecuencia empieza con algo pequeño y va ganando inercia mientras que se va ganando la confianza, así que, educar a los niños y jóvenes sobre cómo se ven los comportamientos seguros e inseguros y las maneras en que pueden responder cuando existan violaciones de límites, es esencial. La meta es que los niños reconozcan conducta inapropiada y reaccionen apropiadamente cuando experimentan cualquier cosa que es inaceptable o incómoda. “El perpetrador de nuestro hijo, con frecuencia permitía que nuestros hijos rompieran reglas familiares,” dijo Jeff. “Un ejemplo era el permitirles viajar en el asiento delantero del carro antes de que esto les fuera legalmente permitido, en donde, después supimos, era uno de los lugares en los que él abusaría de nuestro hijo. Nuestros hijos confiaban en él ya que él era un amigo de la familia en quien confiábamos”. La Dra. Mónica Applewhite, experta en la prevención del abuso sexual y colaboradora de los programas de EIM, agregó que reconocer los signos de grooming y de abuso debe ser una prioridad para todos los padres, sin importar dónde viven o quiénes son. Los ofensores sexuales, ella advirtió, toman pasos extra y precauciones para asegurar que víctimas potenciales se sientan cómodas con ellos
antes de que se inicie cualquier contacto sexual. Al tomar a las víctimas “bajo sus alas,” un predador puede, entonces, accidentalmente tocar las partes privadas de una víctima para estimar una reacción y probar límites. También evaluarán la habilidad de un niño de mantener un secreto de sus padres respecto a cosas como cigarros, alcohol y pornografía. Cuando se les pregunta si harían algo distinto, si pudieran, los Ulerys dijeron que se habrían educados a si mismos mejor sobre los signos de alerta y hubieran tenido conversaciones consistentes con sus hijos respecto a los límites y cuándo un tocamiento es seguro e inseguro. Applewhite urgió a los padres de familia a tener esas conversaciones incómodas pero necesarias con sus hijos. Ella recomienda mucho que los padres enseñen a sus hijos los nombres de las partes del cuerpo a una edad temprana y que ciertas partes son privadas y distintas. Una vez que un niño va a la escuela, ellos deben de conocer las reglas sobre las partes privadas y que cada falta de respeto o violación de las reglas debe ser reportada. Ella dice que los padres de familia deben creer cualquier reporte sobre un posible abuso. Ella y los Ulerys ponen énfasis en que esto no es sólo un “problema Católico”. De hecho, las estadísticas muestran que una de cada cuatro niñas y uno de cada seis niños sufren de abuso. “Todo el que dice que el abuso sexual infantil es un problema Católi-
co está, lamentablemente, mal informado,” dijo Jeff. “Este crimen está pasando en vecindarios residenciales, organizaciones, escuelas, iglesias de todas las denominaciones, equipos deportivos y la lista sigue. El abuso de nuestra juventud es un problema cultural y social”. De igual importancia es escuchar a un niño que pide ayuda o que, incluso de manera sutil, menciona algún abuso. Hablar y ser escuchado es con frecuencia el primer paso, y cualquier duda de autenticidad se dice que es tan dañina como el abuso mismo. Los Ulerys creen firmemente el dicho “lo que rebelamos, sanamos”. “Hemos escuchado muchas historias de aquellos que han experimentado abuso cuyos padres o guardianes no les creyeron o no actuaron para protegerlos,” dijo Jeff. “Un amigo que fue abusado cuando niño me dijo, ‘Este es el pecado más grave del que nadie está hablando’”. A través de todo, los Ulerys se apoyaron fuertemente en la oración, su comunidad de fe y un grupo de apoyo para sanar su herida. Están agradecidos de que una tragedia que pudo haber dejado sus vidas en ruinas ha hecho a su familia y su relación con Dios, más fuertes. “La traición hizo que el confiar se nos hiciera muy difícil, pero con la sanación de Dios y la sanación lograda a través de la terapia, nuestra ansiedad está poco a poco mejorando. Dentro de todo, todos estamos en un viaje de sanación y estamos bastante bien”.
¿HA USTED, O ALGUIEN QUE USTED CONOCE, EXPERIMENTADO ABUSO?
El Obispo José Vásquez y la Diócesis de Austin están comprometidos a proveer de cuidado compasivo a personas que hayan experimentado abuso, particularmente si éste fue cometido por clero o un representante de la iglesia. Si usted, o alguien que usted conocer ha experimentado dicho abuso, contacte a la Coordinadora diocesana de Asistencia a las Víctimas y Apoyo Pastoral, escribiendo a ileana-hinojosa@ austindioce.org o llame al (512) 949-2400.
REPORTE EL ABUSO
Reporte el abuso de un menor, un adulto mayor o un adulto con una discapacidad a las autoridades locales del cumplimiento de la ley o a la Línea Directa del Abuso de Texas en www.txabusehotline.org o llamando al (800) 252-5400 y a la diócesis de Austin en www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse o llamando al (512) 949-2447.
REPORTE COMPORTAMIENTO NO ÉTICO
Reporte comportamiento no ético por parte de una paersona sirviendo en ministerio a la diócesis en www.austindiocese.org/other-concerns o llamando al (512) 949-2447.
SIGHTINGS
APRIL 2020
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Paulist Father Bruce Nieli presented a Women’s Retreat on March 2 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Horseshoe Bay. (Photo courtesy Bruce Nieli)
Catechumens and their sponsors from San José Parish in Austin participated in the Rite of Election on March 1. (Photo courtesy Rita Velasquez)
The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 2415 hosted a women’s retreat on Feb. 29 at St. William Parish in Round Rock. (Photo courtesy Mary Rutherford)
Parishioners of St. Austin Parish and families from St. Austin Catholic School in Austin helped various nonprofit organizations on Feb. 1. They sorted donations, beautified the grounds, fed residents and more throughout the day. (Photos courtesy Kristen Dempsey Pasyk)
Students at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Temple competed in the district meet for Private Schools Interscholastic Association in Seguin. The school came in first overall based on points. (Photo courtesy Renee Morales)
St. Joseph Parish in Rockdale celebrated its 140th anniversary March 7. Bishop Joe Vásquez celebrated Mass with the parish, during which eight parishioners were confirmed and several parishioners were recognized for their continued support of the parish. Cruz Garza, who has been a parishioner for nearly 87 years, was presented a blessed statue of St. Joseph. The local Knights of Columbus catered a meal after the Mass. (Photos courtesy Bonnie Holub)
Students at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Taylor participated in a talent show. There were dancers, singers, skits and more. (Photos courtesy Tessa Streit)
The sixth graders at St. Louis Catholic School in Austin have been working since August on a Project-Based Service-Learning engineering project to design assistive devices for arthritis patients. With the help of a St. Louis parishioner, the students are combining faith and STEM learning into one project to help others in need. (Photo courtesy Carrie Vernieuw) Send photos by the 10th of the month to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org. Publication is not guaranteed.
SIGHTINGS
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Archbishop Peter Sartain presented a Lenten day of prayer for priests serving in the Diocese of Austin March 3 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Temple. (Photo courtesy Bruce Nieli)
Sam Bass, a diocesan seminarian, spoke with the altar servers and their families at the annual Altar Server Appreciation event at Holy Trinity Parish in Corn Hill. (Photo courtesy Helen Havelka)
Austin Diocese 6225 Hwy. 290 East Austin, Texas 78723
CATHOLIC SPIRIT Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, Texas
More than 50 retreatants attended a Spanish-speaking retreat at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Temple on Feb. 29. (Photo courtesy Brian Egan)
Sts. Cyril and Methodius KJT Society #28 of Granger sponsored a benefit for Visitation Parish in Westphalia for their church rebuilding fund. A check in the amount of $5,330 was presented, which included a matching grant from the KJT home office. (Photo courtesy Angela Pavelka)
Members of the Ladies Altar Society of St. Anthony Marie de Claret Parish in Kyle recently traveled to the Dominican Sisters Priory in Georgetown to pray with the religious sisters. (Photo courtesy Margaret Choong)
The middle schoolers at St. Patrick Parish in Hutto learned about Mardi Gras and the meaning of the King Cake during their religious education program. (Photos courtesy Shannon Carter)
The Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians recently hosted the third annual St. Brigid’s Day Tea, a fundraiser for the St. Louise House of Austin. (Photo courtesy Marie Martin)
Paulist Father Rich Andre led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land Feb. 10-21. Many people on the trip were from St. Austin Parish in Austin. (Photo courtesy Father Rich Andre)
Send photos by the 10th of the month to catholic-spirit@austindiocese.org. Publication is not guaranteed.