December 7, 2001 by Catholic San Francisco

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Pop e J o hn Paul II kisses a baby at the start of his weekly general audience Nov. 28. The pop e waves as he departs the audience. Story on p ag e 6.

Mixed message

Mass going drops but Catholics value identity, p op e

By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (GNS) - A major new poll of American Catholics shows that while only a little more than half go to Mass every week, 89 percent say their Catholic identity is important to them , and 90 percent think Pope John Paul II ÂŚ is doing a good job . Across the board, those surveyed agreed with basic tenets of the faith , and overwhelmingly said they believe the pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals. While majorities agreed with church teaching on most of the moral issues raised in the survey, those who attend Mass at least weekly were much more likel y to support those teachings. Slight majorities said they disagreed with the church 's celibacy requirement for priests and its ban on women priests.

Catholic leaders urge ban on cloning ~ Page 5 ~

American Catholics also tend to be satisfied with their own parishes, pastors and bishops, according to the poll of 1,508 Catholics nationwide. Eig ht percent of those polled attend Mass daily and 46 percent go at least once a week. Another 11 percent said they go almost every week, while a total of 30 percent said they go rarely, only on religious holidays or about once a month. Fifty-eigh t percent said their Catholic identity is very important and 31 percent called it somewhat important. Seventy-five percent agreed with the statement "there is something special about being Catholic th at you cannot find in other religions." Seventy-two percent said they consider it very important to stand up for and live according to their Catholic values, while 25 percent consider it somewhat important. MIXED MESSAGE, page 9

For artists with disabilities happie st p lace ~ Page 12 ~

On the Street Where You Live

News in Brief

Scholarship program aids Catholic students . . . . 7 Irish sisters in Kenya . . . . 18 Capsule film reviews . . . . 22 Classifieds

On The

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by Tom Burke

Liked the memory of Christmases past recentl y shared on KOIT-FM by morning drive host , Jack Kul p. He said the incense his mom had burning around the house had his clothes smelling so much like a Christmas tree that when he went to school peop le wanted to hang li ghts on him. Was glad to get to trade voice mails with Jack and find out he 's a Penn State grad , fellow Phill y native and very nice guy. His dad , John , a retired Methodist minister , and his mom, Dod , still live back there... Speaking of places to hear good music, aren't the Doo-Wop shows on PBS just great? Hearing those not-so-young stars of yester and other years sing the

A special Halloween Lunch at Mission Dolores Elementary School raised $600 to benefit victims of September 11 and refugee children of Afghanistan. Students also eschewed traditional treats and instead aske d for contributions to UMICEF. Holiday place mats created by students went to Meals on Wheels for use at Thanksgiving. Student Body president is Gustavo Torres. Public Relations commish is Sasha Martinez. Back from left: Fourth grade teacher Cheryl Braginsky and students, Kiana Carvaja) , Carmela Gaspar, Ayako Ogasawara ,Victori a Green , Zoe Wong. Front from left: dovante Mirabela, Daniel Campos , Ivana Solorzano , Naomi Guevara, Kimberly Chavez.

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Junipero Serra High School honored alumnus , Father Leonard Calegari , with the annual award named for the school' s patron saint at ceremonies in October. Father Calegari , ordained in 1963 and pastor of St. Peter Parish , Pacifica since 1981, is also a former member of his alma mater 's faculty. Russ Bertetta , director of development and alumni relations , said, "Father Calegari demonstrates to our students that it is possible to live your beliefs on a daily basis which is what the award is all about." From left, this year 's and former Junipero Serra Award winners, Mr. Bertetta , '67; Father Ste phen Howell, a 1963 Serra graduate and now president of the school; Gerry Forbes ,'52; Father Calegari , '52; Deacon Mike Young, '52; Charlie Keyser, '53; Nick Carboni , '59. Msgr. Pete r Armstrong, retired pastor of St. Pius Parish, Redwood City, was presente d with the school' s In Via Award on All Saints Day. The honor is given to non-alumni who have "supported the ideals of Catholic education. " Father Howell said the former director of CYO's "service to the Church " and "commitment to youth" qualified him well for the award. songs I grew up on is an incredible experience and one I am so glad public television brings our way. One chorus of Little Anthony 's Tears on My Pillow and I' m back on the dance floor at Hol y Cross Parish just outside Phill y where the ni ghts were never long enough and the air was filled with the scents of Eng lish Leather and Ambush.... Happy Anniversary to Debbie and Rick Bruni of Our Lady of Angels, Burlingame who celebrated their 25th in November.... Hats off to Immaculate Conception Academy Parents Guild on their annual Holiday Bouti que held recentl y at the Guerrero Street school. Officers are Sherrie Rubi , prez; Victoria McCarthy, veep ; Peggy Morehead , treasurer. Thanks to guild member Debbie Huelbig for fillin ' us in....A double scoop of kudos for the Men's Club of St. Catherine Parish , Buriingame who gav e up more than a coupla ' hours to help parishioners Beth and Ray Phillips with their overgrown garden that included removing two old fruit trees and some rep lanting. Among the volunteers were Tom Nichol, Bernie Livelo, Chris Scheley, Ken Viera, Darryl Mendoza, Steve Johnson, Mike Shimada, Steve Danielle. Thanks to the Philli ps for lettin ' us know about the random act of kindness.... We love hearin from ya' and it takes but a moment to let us know about a wedding, anniversary, birthday or other special or entertaining event. Just jot down the basics and send to On the Street Where You Live , One Peter Yorke Way, SF 94109 or e-mail it to tburke@catholic-sf.org. However you get it here, please don 't forget to include a follow-up phone number. You can reach Tom Burke at (415) 614 -5634....

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The St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco celebrated its mission to the poor at the annual Brennan Award Dinner at St. Mary's Cathedral on Nov. 19. Honored on the occasion were, from left, Ed Dollard and Rita Semel, shown here with SVDP executive director, Louis Alessandria. Also honored for its support of SVDP was Gap, Inc. More than 200 people were part of the occasion that also remembered local police and fire fighters . Officers of the San Francisco St. Vincent de Paul Society include Tony Peligrino , St. James Parish, president; Andrew Whelan, Most Holy Redeemer Parish, vice-president; Thomas Mullaney, St. Emydius Parish, secretary; Dan Ryan, treasurer. Dinner co-chairs were Joanne Murphy and Sharon McCarthy Allen.

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Father Woods 'retires'

Archbishop Levada marks 40th jubilee of ordination Dec. 20

Priest-p ilot to continue Nazareth House ministry By Tom Burke Father Warren Woods is retired but hardly slowing down. The priest can be found daily in ministry to the residents of San Rafael's Nazareth House, where he lives and is chaplain , and nearly as often at the yoke of a six-passenger airplane he owns with several tellow flyers. He is never without a smile in his voice. "When I was a little kid there were only three things that ever came into my mind to be when I grew up," Father Woods said. "One was to be priest. The other was to be a radio announcer and the third was to be a pilot." The St. James Elementary alumnus is glad to have achieved all three, priesthood by vocation, pilot by avocation , and announcer as homilist and guest on many radio programs. Father Woods said when he "got to the seminary" he didn't even know how to serve Mass. "They had to teach me," he said. "My family and relatives loved the Church very deeply and seeing the joy the Church brought to them I guess I wanted to help bring that joy to others." About his iriinistry to the more than 140 residents at Nazareth House, Father Woods said, "I enjoy it very much and look forward to continuing. These people are part of my family. The Poor Sisters of -Nazareth are wonderful and dedicated and I don't know what we'd do without the staff." Father Woods', mom, Maude, and her sister, Evelyn Klein, shared a residence at Nazareth House until Mrs. Klein's death in 1990. Mrs. Woods died in 1991. "I always promised to help out here for the wonderful way the sisters treated my mother and my aunt ," he said. Father Woods said he got a close look at the inner workings of Nazareth House when he was a resident of its "extended care" facility after injuring his knee at San Jose's St. Joseph Cathedral a year ago. "I saw first hand how loving the sisters and staff are to the people here," he said, raising his right wrist to show how he still wears his patient bracelet to remind him of the experience. "I have nothing but adrniration for them." Father Woods was pastor of Blessed Sacrament parish in San Rafael from 1972 to 1990. He says he still maintains con-

Archbishop William J. Levada will celebrate the 40th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood with a Mass at 12:10 p.m. Thursday , December 20, in St,. Mary 's Cathedral , Geary Boulevar d and Goug h Street. A reception will follow in St. Francis Hall in the lower level of the cathedral. All are invited to atten d the Mass and reception. Archbishop Levada was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in St. Peter 's Basilica in Rome on December 20, 1961. He was ordained an auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles on May 12, 1983, and appointed Archbishop of Portland , Oregon, Jul y 1, 1986. Archbishop Levada was appointed coadjutor Archbishop of San Francisco on August 17, 1995, and became the seventh Archbishop of San Francisco on December 17, 1995.

Father Woods stands by Advent Wreath in sanctuary of Nazareth House chapel.

tact with members of the parish, which closed in the mid-90s as part of the Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan. "We have a luncheon twice a year," Father Woods said, adding, "I love the people at St. Monica's, too." He served as pastor of the Richmond District parish from 1990 until his move to Nazareth House two years ago. Father Woods, who has been flying for 47 years, said, "It's more than a recreation," pointing out the "many men and women I have met who have supported me in my priesthood." After almost half a century of flying, Father Woods said he's "still reading and learning" about it. "It keeps the mind active," he said.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS 1902-2002 (|ra |= ^g j § p San Francisco Council #615, Knights of Columbus ^lp ^ ^M/ Invites y ou to be its guest at a banquet luncheon celebrating the lOOth ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL'S CHARTER Saturday Noon, January 19, 2002 CATHEDRAL OF SAINT MARY OF THE ASSUMPTION Gough and Geary Streets, San Francisco Celebration of the Mass - 12 Noon Champ agne Recep tion - 1:00 PM Banquet Luncheon - 1:30 PM Council Members and Widows of Council Members — No Charge Ladies and Friends - $30.00

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Last summer, a group including Father Woods, Msgr. Eugene Boyle of the Diocese of San Jose, and Father Dan Cardelii of the Diocese of Oakland and also a pilot , flew a three-week tour of 11 states. The plane with a capability to fly as high as 30,000 feet and go 180 miles and hour rarely flies above 10,000, "You can't see anything from that high, " Father Woods said. Father Woods said he has flown to all of the United States except Hawaii, and also winged it to Mexico, Central America and Canada, Father Woods, who celebrated 50 years as a priest last year, FATHER WOODS, page 10

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Amendments to France 's 1999 Social Solidarity Pact would make gay unions legal and recognize a gay spouse as step-parent of a partner 's children. Vigne said that, in opposing the law, the church was reaffirming the rights of the family. "It isn 't a question of whether the law should recognize homosexual rights, but whether a group of homosexuals should claim family status," she said.

Pakistan Catholic leaders ask p resident to p rotectminorities

MULTAN, Pakistan — Leaders of Catholic religious orders in Pakistan wrote President Pervez Musharraf urging him to protect relig ious minorities in the country. In their letter, the Major Superiors Leadership Conference also asked that the country 's education system be revised to highlight the contributions of minorities to the nation . The letter urged Musharraf to order a judicial inquiry into the killing of 16 people inside a Catholic church in Bahawalpur Oct. 28 and to ban groups that support ten-orism, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand . Noting their appreciati on of the Pakistani president 's "support to the Christian community " since the massacre, the superiors expressed hope that his efforts would "bring about a solution to the problem of discrimination toward religious minorities. " The religious leaders said the president 's cooperation in the war against terrorism has shown "the world community that Pakistan is a courageous country " but the conflict is "making life insecure in Pakistan for all our people, especiall y Christians."

Europ ean bishops warn against excesses in terrorism crackdown

WARSAW , Poland — Catholic bishop s of the European Union have warned governments that a p lanned crackdown on terrorism could endanger the traditional protection of human rig hts in Europe. The bishops said they were "concerned that legislation rushed throug h in response to the current terrorist threat could lead to the erosion of such protection ." The statement said the bishops were worried that the European Union 's proposed anti-terrorism measures could "inadvertentl y encourage discrimination " against the "most vulnerable members " of society, including asylum-seekers and ethnic minorities. "The freedom and independence we enjoy in Europe are not shared by many peop le in other parts of the world , and the absence of democratic means of (expression) can provoke fanatical extremism ," the statement said. In its statement , the Commission of the Bishops ' Conferences of the European Community said it welcomed the European Union ' s "rejection of any equation of groups of fanatica l terrorists with the Arab and Muslim worl d ," but believed more also should be done to foster dialogue among religions. The commission represents around 800 bishops from the European Union 's 15 member states.

Pop e p romises to work to break deadlock in Orthodox dialogue

VATICAN CITY — The Catholic Church is read y to do everything in its power to restart theolog ical talks stalled for more than a year, Pope John Paul II told Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarc h Bartholomew of Constantinop le. "The difficulties encountered in recent years by the international mixed commission for theological dialogue must be analyzed and overcome," the pope said in a message to Patriarch Bartholomew. Recent commission work has been stymied by disagreement over the theological and canonical status of Eastern Catholic churches, which share Orthodox traditions but are in communion with the pope. The papal message was delivered by a Vatican delegation to the ecumenical patri archate in Istanbul , Turkey, Nov. 30, the feast of the patriarchate 's patron , St. Andrew the Apostle. The ecumenical patriarch sends a delegation to the Vatican each year for the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul , Vatican patron saints. In his message to Patriarch Bartholomew, the pope said it was important that Catholics and Orthodox proclaim Christ's message with one voice to the modern world, often marked by religious indifference and despair. The pope thanked the patriarch for his cooperation in Catholic ecumenical initiati ves, including the regular exchange of delegations for patron saint celebrations. He also noted that a delegate representing Patriarch Bartholomew participated in the October Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, which he called "a new occasion for dialogue, fraternal exchange and reciprocal recognition ."

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A police officer stands guard at All Saints Church , a Protestant church in Peshawar, Pakistan. Most churches have had government protection since the Oct. 28 massacre in Bahawalpur.

Christian leaders call for halt to building of mosque in Nazareth

JERUSALEM — Christian leaders in the Holy Land demanded that the Israeli government stop the construction of a mosque adjacent to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth . "We are surprised and distressed to see that promises and assurances given us by government representatives have not been honored and that the requests, appeals and protests of the Christian churches in the Hol y Land and throug hout the world have been treated with virtual contempt ," church leaders said in a Nov. 28 statement. While the project has been almost stagnant since the lay ing of the mosque cornerstone in 1999, construction work appears to have begun at the site recentl y. Originally slated to become an Italian-sty le piazza as part of Nazareth 's preparations for the year 2000, the area became a focus of contention after Islamic militants took over a p lot of land in front of the basilica. In their statement, the church leaders said the mosque was not welcomed by Muslim reli gious and national authorities and accused the Israeli government of supporting a marginal group of Muslims to "sow division between Christians and Muslims in Israel."

French law allowing g ay coup les to adop t draws church criticism

PARIS — French church representatives have criticized proposed law changes that would give homosexual couples the right to adopt children. Genevieve Vigne, secretary of the French bishops' family commission said the church believes "a child needs a father and mother, hi today 's society, fractured by divorce and family break-ups, this new measure will merely fuel confusion ."

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Vatican envoy says ethics needed in app roach to global warming

UNITED NATIONS — The dangers of global warming should be approached with a combination of knowledge and ethical concern, the Vatican nuncio to the United Nations said to a committee of the U.N. General Assembly. Archbishop Renato R. Martino called global warming "the great equalizer" that recognized no boundaries, nationalities or cultural divides. But directing attention especially to potential effects on the poor, the vulnerable and future generations, he called for a change from a "resource intensive" economy based on fossil fuel to one that would be "knowledge intensive." Drawing on a statement issued by the U.S. bishops in June on global climate change, Archbishop Martino urged the international community to recognize the role prudence could play in seeking a "moral good" and the "common good." "Only knowledge, together with an ethical sense of our relationship with the environment, can help to guide our efforts today and for future generations," he said.

While cremation is OK , Jesui t magazine says burial p ref erred

ROME — Even if a believer is cremated after death and the ashes scattered, at the end of time God will resurrect the person , body and soul, said an article in the Italian Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica. The article, published in late November, was written in reaction to a recent Italian law lifting the ban on scattering the ashes of a cremated body. While the Catholic Church accepts cremation as an option for those who die, it still prefers burial as a better expression of Christian faith in the Resurrection and as a sign of respect for the human body, the Jesuit magazine said. "In Christian symbolism , the body of the dead is consigned to the earth, where it decomposes and returns to life on the last day," the magazine said. It is impossible to know what form life in heaven will take, the article said, but Christians are called to have faith that the God who raised Jesus will raise them as well. "All of the rest is detail," it said.

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Furor over cloning

Church off icials , p ro-life rs call fo r ban on exp eriment to Life Committee. "Unless Congress acts quickly, this corporation and others will be opening human embryo farms." House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, called the first human embryo cloning "a four-alarm wake-up call" to the Senate to act on the House bill. "Let's be clear. Wc are in a race to prevent amoral, scientificall y suspect tinkering with the miracle and sanctity of life," he said. Along with the Catholic bishops ' conference , other organizations urging quick Senate action to ban all human embryo cloning included the United Methodist General Board for Churc h and Society, the Southern Baptist Liberty Ethics and Religious of Commission , the Kni ghts Columbus , the Famil y Research Council , Focus on the Family, the Christian Legal Society and the Christian Coalition of America. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Nov. 26 that the senator did not plan to speed up Senate consideration of the bill. Advanced Cell Technology first reported its work in the online version of Scientific American, a lay science journal. An embryo is cloned by removing the nucleus from an egg and transferring the nucleus of a stem cell into it. The egg's own nucleus has only half the chromosomes of human body cells and normally receives the other half from fertilization by a sperm. The nucleus of a somatic stem cell — a body cell capable of dividing and producing other body cells — has a full complement of chromosomes. The company 's scientists said they had no success with transfers of adult fibroblasts , stem cells taken from human skin, into enucleated human eggs. But they obtained two dividing embryos when they injected such eggs with cumu lus cells — egg-nurturing cells from the ovary which often remain attached to the egg during ovulation. "Of the eight eggs we injected with cumulus cells, two divided to form early embryos of four cells — and one progressed to at least six cells — before growth stopped ," they reported. Mature eggs and sperm, or germ cells , have only half the chromosomes of body cells. But the scientists said they used immature eggs, before the chromosomal halving, to induce parthenogenesis, or reproduction without fertilization. Of 22 human eggs chemically prodded to begin dividCLONING, page 6

"The arrogance that leads someone to believe he can take on the role of God and reduce humans to mere 'spare parts ' is an arrogance which has dangerous imp licati ons that we cannot fully antici pate ," he said . Bishop Gregory said, "The cloning procedure is so dehumanizing that some scientists want to treat the resulting human beings as subhuman, creating them solely so they can destroy them for their cells and tissues."

By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic leaders and pro-life organizations strong ly condemned the actions of Advanced Cell Technology following the company ' s Nov. 25 announcement of success in cloning early-stage human embryos. Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, 111., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops , urged a 'Human cloning . . .is to be federal ban on human cloning "without delay." condemned unequivocally, Human "Human cloning violates fundamental ethical and moral norms and is to be cloning does not treat any disease condemned unequivocall y," he said in a Nov. 27 statement. "Human cloning but turns human reproduction into does not treat any disease but turns human reproduction into a manufactura manufacturing process. ' — ing process." Cardinal Anthony J. Bevilacqu a of Bishop Wilton D. Gregory Philadelphia , head of the bishops ' Committee on Pro-Life Activities , also condemned human cloning, calling it "morally reprehensible." Noting that the House of Representatives voted to ban Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington warned human cloning last Jul y, he urged the Senate "to do the that it "has dangerous implications " of playing God and same without delay." Cardinal Bevilacqua said cloning human embryos in devaluing human life. At a Nov. 26 press conference on Capitol Hill, a vari- order to harvest stem cells from them "reduces a human life ety of political , religious and pro-life leaders called for to the sum value of cells." President Bush also condemned the company 's actions. immediate legislation to ban all cloning of human "The use of embryos to clone is wrong," he said Nov. 26 embryos. The new furor over the issue arose after a report by sci- in response to a reporter 's question at a White House event. entists of Advanced Cell Technology, a privately held "We should not as a society grow life to destroy it. And biotechnology firm based in Worcester, Mass. They said that 's exactly what 's taking place." that after more than 70 attempts they recentl y produced Bush added that "to grow an embryo in order to extract cloned human embryonic cells, two of which divided to a stem cell, in order for that embryo to die, is bad public four cells or more. It was the first public announcement of policy. Not only that , it 's morally wrong in my opinion." The House of Representatives passed the Human human embryonic cloning in the world. They said they also induced parthenogenesis in not- Cloning Prohibition Act July 31 by a vote of 265-162, banfull y-mature human eggs, getting several to divide for up to ning cloning of human embryos for any purpose. Sen. Sam Brownback , R-Kan., has introduced the bill in five days , reaching the blastocyst stage. The company 's officials say they oppose reproductive the Senate, where it is slated for a vote next February or human cloning — aimed at producing a baby — and they March, but cloning opponents said the Advanced Cell sought to obtain human embryonic stem cells solely for Technology news highlights a need to move more quickly experiments aimed at eventually turning such cells to ther- to pass a federal law banning all human cloning. "This corporation is creating human embryos for the sole apeutic uses. Do No Harm: The Coalition of Americans for Research purpose of killing them and harvesting their cells," said Ethics challenged the company 's definition, saying "The Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right term 'reproductive cloning ' is redundant. All (embryonic) human cloning is reproductive , in the sense that it creates — reproduces — a new developing human being intended to be genetically identical to the cloned subject." Cardinal McCarrick called the first creation of human clones "deeply disturbing." Featuring Jaguar, Rolls Royce , Mercedes and Lincoln Sedans. "While we must encourage the scientific community to Also Featuring Excursion and Navigator Limousines. J£ continue cutting-edge research, it must occur within ethical Seating up to 14 IWWflll Special rate for Funerals £200 & up MH K||E -J boundaries that respect all human life and the role of God New Year's Eve Rate: Umo, $100/hr + gratuity, 8 his. minimum. iilii '(M ' Corporate Rates tor Meetings, SF only $39lhr + gratuity, 6 hre minimum j ¦Hl|;i as the creator of that life," the cardinal said.

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God is loving father, not cold emperor, pope says

Pop e off ers p rayers, supp ort in AIDS battle

By Cind y Wooden Catholic News Service

VATICANCITY (CNS) — The relationship between God and those who believe in him is one of warmth and love, not cold formality, Pope John Paul II said. The relationship, he said, "is not cold like that between an emperor and his subject, but is one of deep affection like that which develops between two friends , between spouses, between parents and children." At his Nov. 28 general audience, the pope said Psalm 117, the shortest psalm in the Bible, is a concise apj)eal to the world to praise and celebrate God's steadfast love. "God 's faithful love will never lessen and will never abandon us to ourselves or to the darkness of nonsense, blind fate, emptiness or death," he said. The message of Psalm 117, he said, is that "God loves us with an unconditional love which knows no tiredness and will never be extinguished." The pope said the psalm 's call on all nations to glorify God echoes the prophet Isaiah's vision of the end of time when all peoples and nations will move together toward the temple of the Lord. "At that time, swords and lances will fall from their hands; or rather, they will be forged into plowshares and scythes because humanity will live in peace, singing its praises to the one Lord of all, listening to his words and observing his law," the pope said. The pope askedthe people at the audience to express their gratefulness to God through the way they live their lives.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II promised the millions of people suffering from AIDS in the world that the Catholic Church prays for them, will help them and supports the search for a cure. "Dear brothers and sisters ill with AIDS, do not think you are alone. The pope is near to you with affection and supports you in your difficult journey," the pope said Dec. 1 , the U.N.-declared World AIDS Day. Pope John Paul made his remarks during a Vatican meeting of Catholics who volunteer in various areas of health care. In his remarks about World AIDS Day, the pope said, "Following the example of Christ, the church considers assistance to the suffering a fundamental component of its mission and feels personally challenged by this new sphere of human suffering." Pope John Paul said Catholic health professionals and volunteers are entrusted with the task of hel ping those who are in pain experience the love and consolation of Christ. Even in countries with the best medical care and government-supported social services, volunteers are needed to give a soul to services for the sick, the disabled and the dying, he said. Personal attention , friendship, love and support bring "hope even to the bitter experience of suffering," he said. "Institutions certainly can respond to people's social needs, but none of them can be a substitu te for the human heart, its compassion, its love and its initiative ," the pope said.

Cloning . . .

bers "did not agree" with the view "that the organism produced in human therapeutic cloning experiments is the equivalent of any ordinary human embryo and merits the same degree of respect and protection ." The sidebar acknowledged that "those who believe that human life begins at conception — and who also regard activated eggs as morally equivalent to human embryos — cannot ethically approve therapeutic cloning research. For them, such research is equivalent to killing a living child in order to harvest its organs for the benefit of others." Green said most of the board, however, rejected the equivalence to an embryo argument. "We pointed out that, unlike an embryo, a cloned organism is not the result of fertilization of an egg by a sperm. It is a new

¦ Continued from page 5 ing and reproducing, they said , "after five days of growing in culture dishes , six eggs had developed into what appeared to be blastocysts , but none clearl y contained the so-called inner cell mass that yields stem cells. " Accompany ing the Scientific American report on the Advanced Cell Technology research was a sidebar by Ronaid M. Green, director of the Ethics Institute at Dartmouth College and chairman of the company 's ethics advisory board, discussing the ethical considerations behind the work. It said most advisory board mem-

Cradle of Catholicism

Pope John Paul also encouraged Catholic volunteers to use their joint action with non-Christian volunteers as the starting point for a dialogue about religious and human values. "The defense and promotion of life are not the monopoly of any one; they are tasks entrusted to all ," he said. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, also spoke to the volunteers gathered for the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 meeting sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers. He told them that social welfare and health-care systems have become so complex that they must rely on volunteers, particularl y to give adequate support and home care to those suffering from AIDS, to the elderly, to the mentally ill and to the severely handicapped. In a world seemingly torn between progress and "tragic explosions of violence," volunteers have "embraced the banner of mercy" and have dedicated their lives to building societies marked by solidarity and friendship, the cardinal said. The cardinal traced the history of Catholic volunteerism, focusing particularly on the "host of saints of charity who, in many countries, kept the fire of hope burning and anticipated the definitive victory of love." Offering Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a modern example of a Catholic committed to concrete acts of service to the sick and dying, he said, "and how many other women heroically have devoted themselves to serving the suffering." "The example of so manywitnesses of charity should move believers to live the present moment in a prophetic way and inspire volunteers to Find new forms of solidarity to give hope to the poor," Cardinal Sodano said.

type of biological entity never before seen in nature," he wrote. "Although it possesses some potential for developing into a full human being, this capacity is very limited," he added. At a hearing in Ottawa Nov. 26 on possible Canadian legislation on cloning, Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Halifax, Nova Scotia, told a House of Commons committee that while some may consider human cloning a major scientific advance, the church regards it as "objectifying human persons."

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Scholarship fund aids 155 in Catholic high schools By Kamille Nixon "Willie is precious," says St. Peter 's School Principal Vickie Butler of graduate Wilfredo Hernandez. "He's got a great future." Ms. Butler expresses gratitude that the 15-year-old is receiving a San Francisco Independent Scholars (SFIS) scholarship to attend San Francisco's St. Ignatius College Prep. He is one of 20 St. Peter 's alumni and one of 155 Catholic high school students who are now receiving the scholarships. "It's a real gift for the family," remarks the principal, who notes that Wilfredo 's older sister, herself a graduate of St. Peter 's, attends Santa Clara University, and his younger brother, Sabin , is a 6th grader at the Mission District school. "It's an economic crunch" to provide Catholic education for one's children, Ms. Butler says. The folks at SFIS, a program of the San Francisco-based , non-profit , non-partisan research organization Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy, "are incredibl y dedicated to making sure kids have the opportunity to get the education they want where they want," she says. The mission of SFIS is to help provide San Francisco's highest academic achievers, as well as students with unique talents , with the financial resources to pursue the quality education that best meets their needs, according to SFIS Director Ann Fry. The SFIS program is funded by a $1.1 million grant from an anonymous San Francisco foundation , with matched grants of an additional $1.1 million from foundations and individuals , according to SFIS Director Pamela Riley, who came up with the idea to start the program six years ago. The program receives no government money. She modeled the program after similar scholarshi p foundations in 40 U.S. cities, which differ from traditional scholarships because they are awarded directly to the family and essentially operate as a private voucher, Ms. Riley said. Of the 326 students participating in the program, 107 have transitioned from public middle schools to Catholic high schools, and 37 are continuing Catholic school students. Sixty-six other scholarship recipients use the funds for home

schooling. Many of these students are Catholic kids who use the funds to further pursuits in photography, film-making, competitive gymnastics, and even college study. The rest of the scholarship recipients go to other private schools or pursue independent study. One participant is mathematics enthusiast Brendan McWalters, a home schooler who has been taking classes at the University of San Francisco since he was 12. "The classes I was taking at the university are quite expensive ," the teenager says in an SFIS promotional pamphlet. "The money really helped me because I was able to take an extra class every semester since I started receiving the scholarship. " Independent Scholars is awarding more scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000, renewable for up to four

years, to San Francisco 8th graders to attend the private San Francisco high school of their choice or to pursue independent or home-based study. Awards go to students who exhibit impressive seventh- and eighth-grade transcripts , outstanding standardized test scores within the past year, a brilliant teacher recommendation, an extraordinary personal essay, or a unique and creative talent.

Information session Dec. 12

A general information session is scheduled for Dec. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Institute , 755 Sansome St., Ste. 450. An information session for home schoolers is planned for Jan. 9 at a time and p lace to be determined. Deadline for applications is Jan. 15. For more information call (415) 989-0833, ext. 114, or visit the Web page at www.pacificresearch.org.

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'Help ing Hands' touches thousands of lives By Evelyn Zappia It started 25 years ago in response to a simple request from Msgr. James Keane, who wanted to form a parish welcoming committee. "Make them feel they belong," he asked Novato parishioners , Maril yn McCarth y, Joyce Bonham , Claire Troy, Cecilia Smith , Gean Gross, and Carol Schlenke. "They took the concept and ran with it ," said Msgr. Keane , the retired pastor now living at Serra Clergy House in San Mateo. The six women launched Help ing Hands , a welcoming committee that grew to be a mighty good will campai gn within the parish and beyond its boundaries. Today, it touches the lives of thousands yearly. The pastor 's dream of a welcoming committee grew into an extensive list of outreach services, including providing parish directories, prayer scrolls for those facing surgery, meals for the sick being released from the hospital , weekly prayer groups , baptismal scrolls for newly bap tized parishioners , and sending flowers at Easter and Christmas to the parish shut-ins. Its primary focus is assisting parishioners in their time of grief after losing a loved one. Following a funeral , the grieving attend a free reception organized by A I . Hands. Help ing Receptions are held IrtSfflSl in the parish hall or a parishioner 's home. "It was the first of its kind ," said co-founder Maril yn McCarth y, who was one of the 13 attendees at the first meeting of Hel p ing Hands. Today, there are more than 300 mem¦

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(parishioner) speaking at local Catholic churches and non-Catholic churches to hel p guide them to success. " Mrs. McCarth y credits parishioner Carolyn Tobin for naming the program Our Lady of Loretto Hel ping Hands in 1977 , after a five-month debate. The logo was a McCarth y famil y collaboration with son Kevin drawing the churc h, and daug hter Ereann adding the hands holding the church. One of the most important aspects is "peop le realize our work is not charity, it is love , love that is respectful and share d in a quiet way, " according to Mrs. McCarth y. The ministry operates solel y on donations by parishioners , and sometimes others. Recently, Msgr. Keane received a letter from a visitor who attended a funeral reception who "couldn 't have been more pleased with the way Helping Hands supported the grieving famil y." Included with the letter was a donation. The donations get bi gger and bigger each year, according to current chairperson, Alice Musante. To date, this year's donations tally a record $17 ,000. The money will be used for tuition grants to Our Lady of Loretto school and religious education programs, collection of food for the needy — working closel y with the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Thanksgiving and Christmas outreach — and assistance for the local New Beginnings Homeless Center.

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world are wonderful , " said Mrs. Musante , "and Our Lady of Loretto is an example of that. It always rises to the occasion when needed. " "The outreach in our parish is quite powerful ," said Urseline Sister Jeannette Lombardi , who heads the parish Bereavement Ministry. Each November, Sister Jeannette organizes a memorial Mass for family members who lost loved ones during the year. "Hel ping Hands provides a nice breakfast and gathering after the Mass, " she said . "Recentl y, one man said to me, the event had quite an impact on him. He realized that everyone attending felt the same way he did. He didn ' t feel alone. He knew others were in pain and try ing to go on with their lives too." "It's a wonderful feeling knowing you are helping so many peop le," said Mrs. Thiel, who has been creating baptismal scrolls for nearly 17 years. She remembers fondly when the parishioners helped a mother with a hospital bill for a young son who had cancer. (r^ s <-

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"It's not just women but men who partici pate too, " said Mrs. Thiel, who was anxious to say her husband , Bob, updates the Helping Hands volunteer list , along with many others who help with the food pantry. "There are many people who are always present in the background continuall y giving of themselves ," said Mrs. Musante. Long-time parishioners Maureen Kenney and Ann Koniari s are working on the Christmas outreach by gathering information for nearl y 600 persons who will receive Christmas presents this year through the generosity of Helping Hands. Another aspect of Helping Hands is its support of the clergy and sisters at the parish , according to current pastor Father William McCain. He has attended many gatherings the group has prepared for special occasions of the religious such as, anniversaries , welcoming receptions and farewell parties. "They are a grand organization," Father McCain said , "and I' m very happy and proud to have them here. Their outreach is a great contribution to the community."

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Mixed messa g e... ¦ Continued from cover Ninety percent said Pope John Paul II is doing a good job of leading the worldwide church and 86 percent think their pastors are doing a good job . Eighty-three percent said the American bishops as a whole are doing a good job and that their own bishop is, as well. Sixty-two percent said they think the church should not be involved in economic or political issues. Parishes fared well, with 88 percent of respondents saying they are very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with how their parishes meet their needs. The poll is the first of a planned biannual poll of "Contemporary Catholic Trends" conducted by Zogby International in conjunction with LeMoyne College , a Jesuit school in Syracuse, N.Y. Majorities agreed with church positions opposing the use of human embryos in stem-cell research (61 percent), about the immorality of euthanasia and abortion (66 percent and 68 percent, respectively), about sexual relations outside marriage being morally wrong (71 percent), and about the infallibility of the pope in matters of faith and morals (64 percent). Fifty-three percent said they disagreed with the church's ban on women priests and 54 percent said they disagreed that Catholic priests should be unmarried. Sixtyone percent said they disagreed with church teaching that artificial birth control is immoral, and 64 percent said they disagreed with the church prohibiting Communion for Catholics who have divorced and remarried without obtaining an annulment. In response to questions about specific Catholic beliefs, between 85 percent and 97 percent said they agree with statements such as: "God has the power to answer prayers " (97 percent) ; "Mary is the mother of God" (95 percent) ; "Jesus is both fully divine and fully human " (94 percent);

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to Mass once a month , agreement with the statement dropped to 58 perc ent. All Catholics in the survey were less likely to agree with the church about whether in vitro fertilization procedures and artificial birth control are morally wrong. Given the statement "in vitro fertilization procedures are morally wrong," 44 percent of the total agreed and 50 percent disagreed. Sixty-nine percent of daily Mass-goers and 52 percent of weekly Mass-goers agreed. Asked about the statement "artificial birth control is morally wrong," 36 percent of the total said they agreed , while 61 percent said they disagree. Among those who attend Mass every day, 74 percent agreed with the statement. But 54 percent of weekly Massgoers disagreed. On other moral questions: Sixty-six percent agreed that euthanasia is morally wrong. Eighty-eight percent of those who attend daily Mass agreed with the statement, while half of those who seldom or never go to Mass agreed. The group was nearly evenly divided about the statement, "capital punishment is wrong under virtually all circumstances." Forty-nine percent agreed, while 48 percent disagreed. Sixty-five percent of those polled said they agree that rich nations should reduce debts owed to them by poor nations. Asked about the morality of discriminating against homosexuals, 83 percent said they agreed it is morally wrong. Sixty-one percent said they agree that homosexual behavior is against natural law. The poll was conducted by telephone between Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. The margin of error for overall results is plus or minus 2.8 percent. Pollsters relied on lists of peop le describing themselves as Catholic that were obtained from previous polling or on data provided by other organizations.

"Jesus rose bodily from the dead" (95 percent); and "Faithful followers of Jesus will have a similar experience after death" (85 percent). Sixty-eight percent said they participated in the sacrament of reconciliation at least once in the last year, with 21 percent saying they participate in it at least once a month. The poll also asked about people's personal faith experiences during the last year. Eighty percent said they have often felt that God has taken care of them in times of need, and 14 percent said that was sometimes their experience. Eighty-six percent said they have often or sometimes felt a special relationship with God. Seventy-seven percent said they have at least sometimes experienced the Mass as uniting them with God. A majority of those polled agree with Catholic teachings against abortion , euthanasia and the destruction of human embryos in stem-cell research, but those who go to Mass at least once a week were even more likely to agree with the church. For instance, asked whether they agree or disagree that stem-cell research involving the destruction of human embryos is morally wrong, 61 percent of the total surveyed said they agree either "strongly " or "somewhat." But when the responses were broken out according to how often people attend Mass , 51 percent of those who said they seldom attend Mass disagreed with the statement. Of those who said they never go to Mass, 55 percent disagreed with the church teaching. On the other hand, of those who attend Mass daily, 85 percent said they agreed with the statement about stem-cell research, as did 65 percent of those who go once a week and 64 percent of those who go almost every week. Similarly, although 68 percent of the Catholics surveyed said they agree with the statement "abortion is morally wrong under virtually all circumstances," 91 percent of those who go to Mass daily and 77 percent of those who go weekly agreed. Among Catholics who go

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is well known for his exhortation "Spread joy." No conversation or meeting with him is over until those in his company hear it proclaimed. "The people I' ve met have been the best part of my priesthood," Father Woods said. "I was in eight parishes as an associate and two as a pastor and now I'm at Nazareth House. In every one of those places I' ve met incredibl y wonderful priests, reli gious and lay people who have broug ht me much comfort and joy and satisfaction. They have been much more supportive of me than 1 have of them. I've learned from all the people I've met," he said, "They give you insights. I wish I had written it all down."

Father Woods, right, with six-seat twin engine 337 Cessna he owns with Father Daniel Cardelli , left, pastor, St. Isidore Parish, Danville, and several other partners.

Foster 'personal, friendly, close' ties with priests, pope tells Costa Rican bishops By John Norton Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II encouraged bishops from Costa Rica to foster a "personal, friendly and close" relationship with their priests, "to encourage them in their vocation, orient their activities, stoke their apostolic zeal and, when necessary, paternally correct them, with goodness and promptness." Bishops should select candidates to the priesthood carefully and place emphasis on their spiritual and emotional training, the pope told Casta Rica 's bishops Nov, 30 during their "ad limina" visits to Rome. He also encouraged sound doctrinal training for lay catechists and the spread of lay movements and associations.

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U.S. bishops plan to reshape Hispanic ministry By Agostino Bono Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. bishops ' Committee on Hispanic Affairs is planning to reshape Hispanic ministry, foster greater integration with other ministries and to train Hispanics for leadership roles in the entire church. New pastoral directives encourage working more closel y with other ethnic groups , training Hispanic women for leadership positions in the church and society, encourag ing more Hispanic vocations to the priesthood and permanent diaconate , and addressing social and political issues affecting Hispanics. The 32-page document , "A Pastoral Framework to Further Develop Hispanic Ministry," was approved Nov. 11 and made available later in the month to Catholic News Service. • • It offers directives for implementing the "National Pastoral Plan for Hispanic Ministry " approved by all the U.S. bishops in 1987, said Ronaldo Cruz, executive director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Hispanic Affairs. According to the document , a refocusing of efforts- in Hispanic ministry is necessary because of "the evergrowing Hispanic presence in the midst of an increasingly multicultural society. " There are about 25 million Hispanic Catholics, almost 40 percent of all U.S. Catholics , the document says. "We are growing by leaps and bounds ," said Bishop Arthur N. Tafoya of Pueblo, Colo., chairman of the

Hispanic affairs committee, in an interview with Catholic News Service after the directives were approved. The bishop noted demograp hic predictions that Hispanics may form the majority of U.S. Catholics with in a few decades. . . Leadership training needs to include Hispanic women , he said. Bishop Tafoya added that women alread y are deeply involved in church life , but the church needs to "reach out more " and "draw on that talent ." The document calls for a better understanding of Hispanic culture and faith traditions by the whole church and a more welcoming approach to minorities which allows groups to retain their ethnic identities within the church. It encourages Spanish-language training for seminarians and others preparing for Hispanic ministry and publication of important church documents in Spanish. It favors social programs involving "advocacy and action in favor of new immigrant families and young people, and for the empowerment of Hispanics and all Catholics , into the full life of the church and society." The document says recent studies suggest that Hispanics are leaving the Catholic Church at a rate of as many as 500,000 yearly. "If this trend continues it is possible that before too long, half of all Hispanic Americans will not be Catholic ," says the document. It says that currentl y 30 percent of Hispanic Americans are not Catholic , It says one reason is many Hispanics feel unwelcome in the U.S. church , comp laining of bureaucratic procedures.

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One of the happiest places on earth

Artists with disabilities thrive at Creativity Explored in Mission District Story and Photos By Evelyn Zappia

M nside an enormous building in San Francisco 's Mission District is one of the happiest places on earth — "the best place to be ," according to Amy Taub. "It 's an upbeat atmosphere filled with positive high energy, and people creating all day long, " said Ms. Taub who invites passersby to come inside Creativity Explored, and see for themselves. The 5500-squ are foot building on 16th Street is a virtual wonderland with colorful art adorning eveiy nook and cranny, including the two-story walls. The visual experience is created by 60 artists with no inhibitions, no boundaries, and no rules. Although they have been labeled by society as "disabled ," here in the studio , they are artists, and the surrounding display of skillful artistiy confirms it. "Creativity does give people with disabilities validation as artists and a community to belong to that 's bigger than their disability. It's having fun with art. It's building self-esteem in the greater world than just what happens between these walls, " said Ms. Taub, director of the nonprofit ait studio. Established in 1983, Creativity Explored began an art studio for disabled adults on Folsora Street. The group added a second studio in 1995 at 16th and Dolores Streets, making it possible to teach 125 students on a daily basis. An art major with a long history of working with the disabled, Ms, Taub sees her j ob as being able to "melt" her two worlds in a program that enhances and changes lives. "Most of .the time people tell them you can't do things, " said Ms. Taub, "Creativity is just the opposite, " The artists are given the rare opportunity to exhibit their works in the building 's newly built art gallery where they receive 50 percent or "sometimes more " of the price , with the remainder helping to fund the organization. Ms. Taub knows the personal explorations that reward each artist , and what life experiences they portray in their works. For example, Antonia, "whose Catholic faith is so important to her " usually paints a religious scene. "Recentl y, two of Antonia 's paintings of the Virgin were selected to be included in a juried art show in San Luis Obispo. It was a thrill for her and for us ," Ms. Taub said. "I love the Virgin," said Antonia, "I do talk to her sometimes." The long-time parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Daly City said , "I go to Church and get a feeling inside, then I do my painting and pick the colors. " "Being Catholic is very respectful , " Antonio continued. "My faith means a lot to me, It gives me strength. I pray a lot for peace in die world and that people will love each other," Often people will invite her to their churches. Not wanting to hurt their feelings she tells them, "If I don't make it - just keep praying for me." • The artists are very proud of what they do, and love when people watch them. "It' s their opportunity to demonstrate their ability," said Ms. Taub. Visitors, always welcome, receive warm receptions from the artists, making the environment feel like an old familiar place, once visited. Hope looks up from her painting, with eyes that reflect a gentle heart , and announces, "This painting is for my sister. It's her birthday." Loren, with beautiful gray hair and an inviting smile, motions to a visitor to come and see his work.

Sara O'SulIivan, known as "SOS , " is a magnet for happiness. Her upbeat personality doesn 't give anyone time for negativity. The parishioner of San Francisco 's Mission Dolores describes herself as "a full Catholic, " and boasts of a loving uncle, who just happens to be a priest, Daniel O'SulIivan of Santa Monica. "SOS" is a renaissance artist who works in ink, watercolor, colored pencil and acrylic paint on a vast number of materials. She has been at "Creativity " for 10 years. She loves painting birds and is gifted in capturing the attitudes of famous people in portraits, such as Elton John, Barbra Streisand and Dolly Parton. "SOS" also works part-time as the transportation aide for "Creativity, " assisting member artists, as needed, when they arrive and depart from the center. The teachers are an exceptional component of "Creativity," All are professional artists with impressive educational backgrounds, award-winning histories , international exhibitions, with works included in permanent collections at the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art . "The staff artists are incredible in their own right , " said Ms. Taub. "They honestly feel they learn as much as they teach. " Staff artist Paul Moshammer, who grew up in Vienna, Austria* describes Creativity Explored as "a perfect flow for artists who give, and get. " Ideas can come when least expected. Recently, while carrying a bundle of newspapers, he was stopped by "SOS." "What a great idea, " she said, "we can paint on newspaper." A concept he had never given much thought, became an instant success. "Sara is amazing," said Mr. Moshammer, She is very talented. She demonstrates the importance of letting go of • fear and inhibitions, which enables her to continue learning. " "You know when I realized jgst how important the work is here?" asked Ms. Taub. "One day I was observing the artists and I saw a woman who is a Chinese refugee from Vietnam, teaching a Spanish woman from Mexico who only speaks Spanish how to do Japanese brush strokes. We have a sense of community, a sense of purpose and ablending of cultures through the creative process of art. " Probably the best-kept secret by the locals in the Mission District is "Creativity " is a great place to shop for Christmas. Each December all the artwork is discounted and the residents take the opportunity to buy the art at bargain prices. "Many visitors are shocked by the quality and intensity of the art," said Ms. Taub, "It' s exciting to see the public discover what contributions people with disabilities have to make toward a broader cultural life. " Creativity Explored is funded through Golden Gate Regional Center, a non-profit that distributes states funds, which Ms. Taub said , have been "meager since 1989. " City College of San Francisco, along with grants for specific program initiatives, private and public foundations and fundraising events contribute . The organization relies not only on monetary donations but also gifts of supplies, Since the artists work in all medium; clay, buttons, canvas, paper, fabric, acrylics , beads, yarn and other art supplies, are always needed. "It takes a lot of supplies to keep so many artists creating all. day,'' said Ms. Taub:

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JjCATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO Human life : Not only p recious, but sacred Everyone seems to agree that there is a moral question involved in such scientific issues as embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. The real problem is not the question but the answer. For the ardent advocates of such research, the answer is simple. Peel away the layers of rhetoric — the polite words about moving cautiously and acting with respect — and at the center of their argument is this belief: if the research works, if it cures illnesses and saves lives, then it is morally acceptable. Outspoken advocates of such research make this position crystal clear: if it works, it 's OK. Unfortunately, this same reasoning is at times found, in a cloudy form, in the arguments of those who say they oppose the research. In a debate at a congressional hearing, Joan Samuelson, president of Parkinson 's Action Network, put the case in fav or of research using the stem cells of human embryos this way : "Scientists have made tremendous progress in the search for a Parkinson 's cure. One of the most promising lines of research involves using human embryonic stem cells to repair brain cells killed off by Parkinson 's. . . . But this potential is being squandered, and lives are being lost, as this issue is held captive in the arena of abortion politics . . . . As a consequence, the one million Parkinson ' s sufferers have a cure on hold. " David Prentice, an Indiana State University life sciences professor, presented the "opposing " view this way: "While embryonic stem cells have the potential to form adult tissues if left in the intact embryo, when removed and p laced into the culture dish they have been relatively inefficient at forming specific tissues that might be used to treat diseases. . . . There are much more promising lines of research , such as adult stem cells, which should be followed in our search for treatments for disease." Following Ms. Samuelson 's lead, scientists would go full speed ahead, creating and then destroying human embryos and using their stem cells for research and — if all goes according to plan — developing cures for Parkinson 's and other diseases. If scientists follow Mr. Prentice's advice, they will "follow more promising lines of research" and not tinker with human embryos — unless, of course, that research fails to fulfill its promise. Then what , Mr. Prentice? If all else fails, he seems to say, then go ahead and use human embryos as guinea pigs —just be sure you try something else first. There is a better reason for opposing research on human embryos. It has nothing to do with the "value"— or lack of value — of an embryo as a research tool but with the sacredness of human life. "Human life is sacred," the Catechism of the Catholic Church says , "because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains forever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end. God alone is the Lord of life from its beginning until its end: no one can under any circumstance claim for himself the right to destroy an innocent human being." The catechism goes on to say that the human embryo "must be defended in its integrity, cared for, and healed as far as possible, like any other human being." Any effective opposition to research that destroys human embryos cannot be based on arguments about the usefulness of the human embryo as a scientific tool. It must be based on the belief that the human embryo cannot be used as a scientific tool in any case. Human life is not simply precious — it is sacred. This is a hard saying, especially for people who suffer from a devastating illness or who are forced to watch a loved one suffer. No one should take it on themselves to condemn people in these agonizing situations. But in defending the sacredness of life at every moment — from conception to natural death — the Church is also defending the sacredness of the lives of people suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer 's and other diseases — people who may seem to have no "productive value." Make no mistake about it: in a society where nothing is sacred, where everything and everyone has a price, where some human lives are more valuable than others — we are all at risk. PJ

Thanks for a role model

Our whole community has suffered a great loss with the death of Dr. Joseph Donnell y. Joe Donnelly was a senior at St. Ignatius High School when I was a freshman , in 1955. At that time when I and my classmates served as altar boys in the St. John Berchmans Sanctuary Society at St. Ignatius Churc h, it was according to a schedule published over the official signature , "By order of the Prefect , Josep h R. Donnell y." His appointment to that position by the Jesuits who educated us was an early indication of the respect and trust he had come to personif y. He also was ahead of me as a student at USF, where he was in pre-dental studies and Army ROTC, a combination which led him to Georgetown Dental School and service in Vietnam. In my own calling as husband and father, Joe was my strongest role model, teaching by example which words could not capture . Despite his self-effacing and witty style of communication , there was no doubt as to the depths of his soul and the authentic goodness of his heart. His three sons, three daughters, two sons-in-law, dau ghter-inlaw and expected grandchild carry on the values he embodied, along with his wife RaeAnn who was a perfect companion for him in heading a wonderful family that has cared so much for so many. The hope and faith of that famil y will be his living memorial, along with the many lives which he has touched so profoundly and permanently. Joe 's kindness and gentleness made him an ideal dentist for even the most squeamish of patients , and it was an open secret throughout San Francisco that he performed his services in such a way as to incur the least possible expense for many patients , including a number of clergy and members of religious orders who held him in the highest esteem. It was decided that St. Ignatius church would be an appropriate location for his fun eral Mass not only because of his connection to it , but because of its ability to accommodate the many who loved and admired him. That has to be the understatement of the year. George Devine, Sr. San Francisco (Editor 's note: Mr. Devine is a contributor to Catholic San Francisco and an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco. See his interview with Giants announcer, Ted Robinson , on page 17.)

sp iritual needs of the children of this Archdiocese by printing Anne Navarro 's review of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer 's Stone " movie. In this review, Ms. Navarro stated that "Parents concerned about the film's sorcery elements should know that it is unlikely to pose any threat to Catholic beliefs ." I am not alone is believing exactly the opposite . I refer you to an article written by one of your columnists , Vivian Dudro , for St. Josep h' s Covenant Keepers (July/August 2000): "Is Harry Potter Good for Our Kids?" In fact , the entire issue was devoted to the question of Harry Potter and our children. Michael O'Brien wrote an article for Catholic World Report entitled "Harry Potter and the Paganization of Children 's Culture" as well as a book entitled "A Landscape with Dragons ". The Catechism of the Catholic Church states (n.2117): "All practices of magic or sorcery, by which one attempts to tame occult powers, so as to place them at one 's service and have a supernatural power over others . . . are gravely contrary to the virtue of religion. " Harry' Potter is just the latest attempt to make witchcraft and sorcery acceptable. I compare these attempts to a 'sugar-coated poison pill' . No one in his/her right mind would swallow an obviousl y poison pill, but coated with sugar and vitamins, and call it 'health y ' and 'natural ' , and someone could be tricked into swallowing it. So it is with a lie; the best way to get someone to believe a lie is to wrap it in some truth. The spiritual poison is the notion that witchcraft is good if the user has good intentions. This lie is wrapped in an appealingly well written story which promotes other trul y good values such as loyalty and self-sacrifice. One cannot do a bad thing to get a good result. The ends do not justify the means. Just because the stories are appealing to children , and are getting them to read , does not make the underl y ing message of 'good' witchcraft one that we want to convey to our children. Think of this issue this way: if there were a book about pre-teens using drugs , but in a responsible and good manner to help themselves and others and to defeat the 'evil' drug dealers, would we want our children reading such books? Substitute illicit sexual activity or any other immoral behavior, and you get the picture. Please take this opportunity to use your newspaper to balance out the secular/popular culture 's fascination with the occult and witchcraft by publishing some articles discussing the possible problems that such books and films as Harry Potter may pose for the spiritual well being of our children. David W. Yee San Francisco

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Harry Potter is no good for our children

I am a concerned Catholic parent of a 13 year old boy and a member of St. Cecilia's Parish. I believe that you have not served the ' "' "v. "

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Tetters welcome

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Catholic San Francisco welcomes letters from its readers. Please: ** Include your name, address and daytime phone number. >- Sign your letter. >* Limit submissions to 250 words. >¦ Note that the newspaper reserves the right to edit for clarity and length. Send your letters to: Catholic San Francisco One Peter Yorke Way San Francisco, CA 94109 Fax: (415) 614-5641 E-mail: rahealy@catholic-sf.org -. i-_is

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Turkeys p rotected, babies are not

In the November 16 San Ma teo County Times, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals complained that a man was going to sell live turkeys for the holidays.. Apparently there are laws prohibitin g torturing and tormenting animals and these live turkeys may have been mistreated. But what about pre-born human babies? It is legal to torture them, dismember them, burn them with saline solution or kill them with the partial-birth "abortion method for the whole nine month s in the womb. No one protects those cute little babies that you see on sonograms, moving around and sucking their thumbs , etc. If live turkeys have more protection than human babies , perhaps we need to go back to court. G. Gloria Gillogley San Mateo

Sp irituality

The Cosmic Christ stretches our imaginations Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was once called to Rome and asked to clarify certain issues in regard to his teachings. At one point , he was asked: "What are you try ing to do?" His answer, in effect: "I am try ing to write a Chrislology that is wide enoug h to incorporate Christ. Christ isn ' t just an anthropological phenomenon with significance for humanity, but Christ is also a cosmic event with significance for the planet." Scripture agrees. Christ is more than a person who walked this earth for 33 years, though he is that. He is more than a great teacher, marvelous miracle worker, and extraordinary moral exemp lar, though he is that, too. Christ is even more than the God-man who died for our sins and rose from the dead, though that is a crucial part of his identity. Christ, the Scriptures tell us, is also someone and something within the very structure of the cosmos itself, the pattern on which the universe was conceived, is built , and is now developing. As the letter to the Colossi ans puts it: "Christ is the firstborn of all creation [p hysical and spiritual]; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created ... all things have been created through him arid for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together." This concept implies far, far more than we normall y dare think. It tells us that Christ lies not just at the root of spirituality and morality, but at the base of physics, biolo- ' gy, chemistry, and cosmology, as well. This means that the spiritual and the material, the moral and the physical, the mystical and the hormonal , and the religious and the pagan are part of one thing, one pattern, all infused by one spirit, all drawn to the same end, with the same goodness and meaning. The same force is

responsible both for the law of gravity and the Sermon on the Mount , and both are binding for the same reason. All reality, be it spiritual , physical , moral, mathematical, mystical or hormonal , is made and shaped according to the one, same patte rn and everything — be it the universe itself , the blind attraction of atoms for each other, the relentless push for growth in a plant, the instinctual hunt for blood by a mosquito, the automatic impulse by babies to put everything into their mouths, the erotic charge inside the body of an adolescent, the fierce protectiveness of a young mother, the obsession to create inside an artist, or the genuflection in prayer or altruism of a saint — is ultimately part of one and the same thing, the unfolding of creation as made in the image of Christ and as revealing the invisible God. The fact that Christ is cosmic and that nature is shaped in his likeness means, too, that God's face is manifest everywhere . We must search for God not just in our Scriptures , in our saints, and in our churches — though these shape the boundless natu re and energies of God into principles and dogmas in a way that allows us to appropriate them as trustworthy and normative. If Christ is also the pattern according to which the universe itself is unfolding , then what 's good and what's inside of God is also manifest in the raw energy, color, and beauty of the physical, the beauty of a sunset or a symphony, which we can more easily acknowledge as religious, or the more morall y ambivalent , but undeniable, beauty manifest in the body of a movie star, the voice of a pop singer, or the colorful and lively sexual energy that bubbles inside the culture. Clear or ambivalent , everything reflects the same pattern. Finally, if Christ is the structure for the universe itself,

the question of the normativeness of Christ for salvation ('There is no way to salvation, except through Christ") poses itself differently. The famous early Christian hymn in Ephesians speaks of "a plan to be carried out in the fullness

of time to bring all things

Father

Ron Rolheiser

into one, in Christ." Christ is bigger than the historical churches, operates beyond the scope of historical Christianity (although admittedly he does operate within it), and has influences prior to and beyond human history. It is Christ, visible and invisible — the person, the spirit, the power, and the mystery — who is drawing all things, physical and spiritual, natural and religious, non-Christian and Christian, into one. As Kenneth Cragg puts it: "It will take all the religions of the world to give full expression to the whole Christ." Teilhard was right. We need a Christology wide enough to incorporate the whole Christ and our imaginations need still to be stretched.

Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, a theologian, teacher and award-winning author, serves in Rome as general councilor f a r Canada for the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Family Lif e

More than j ust lights in the early morning sky The newspapers promised a wonderful light show. The Leonid meteor shower was heading our way, and for once, the Seattl e weather was cooperating. Only trouble was, the best viewing time would be 2 a.m. Did I really want to get up in the middle of the ni ght to see a few shooting stars? I thought back to the night my dad roused us out of bed to see some astronomical wonder — a lunar eclipse, perhaps , or an unusual planetary 'conjunction , I can't remember now. I only remember standing outside shivering, anxious to get back to bed. And yet, looking back on it, I realized that he had succeeded in passing on to me his love of nature and his sense of wonder and excitement about the world around him. I glanced at my two boys, sitting on the couch huddled over an electronic game. "You guys want to see the meteors?" I asked. "This is the best chance we'll get for the next 30 years. " "Yeah!" they shouted. "Do we get to stay up late?" "No. I'll get up, and if it 's not cloud y, 111 wake you. " We logged onto the NASA Internet site and printed a sky map that showed how to find the constellation Leo. It looked complicated. Fortunately, the observation ti ps noted that you didn 't have to look directl y at the constellation — anywhere in that part of the sky would do. At 1:30 a.m., my alarm buzzed. I peeked out the win-

dow. The light fog that had settled earlier that evening had lifted. I dressed quickly and shook the boys awake. "C'mon. It 's time to see the meteors." We pulled on coats, hats , and gloves, grabbed a flashli ght, and stepped into the night. The streetlight at our corner was out, leaving a welcome circle of darkness in our front yard. The stars sparkled like jewels against the black velvet sky. We gazed east. To our right, Orion the hunter swung his club. To our left , Queen Cassiopeia reigned from her W-shaped throne . "I don ' t see anything," said Gabe. "I'm cold," added Lucas. "Just keep looking up," I said. Suddenly, a flash of light streaked across the sky. Then another. "There's one!" Lucas pointed to his left. Anotiier went straight over our heads. "Wow, there's lots of them. " Some fell quickly, others left glittering trails that hung for a moment in the sky. I felt Gabe 's little body shivering beside me. I put my arm around him. "Cold?" "Yes. But I want to stay with you ." "I'm cold, too," said Lucas. "Let's watch a little more," 1said. "They 're so beautiful." It was hard to believe that the meteors that lit our sky

were actuall y dust and debris, some no larger than a grain of sand, left by a comet that swept through our solar system 234 years ago. How many families since then had stood as we

were, eyes raised to the

Christine Dubois

heavens , capture d by the majesty of it all? The words of the psalm came to mind: "The heavens declare the glory of God." Like the candles of the Advent wreath we would soon be lighting, the small lights in the sky broke through the darkness and spoke of God 's timeless love. "Let's go in," said Lucas. "I'm freezing." I knew exactly how he felt.

Christine Dubois is a widely published freelance writer who lives with her fam ily near Seattle. Contact her at: chiiscolumn@juno.com.

The CatholicDiff erence

After Sept. 11, an attack on organized religion The statute of limitations on intellectual foolishness having expired 72 hours after the terrorist attacks on September 11, the chattering classes have been having a ball blaming the new world disorder on organized religion. Richard Dawkins, a crotchety and occasionally amusing British defender of scientific materialism , described the hijackers in these terms: "Testosterone-sodden young men too unattractive to get a woman in this world might be desperate enough to go after 72 private virgins in the next." Paul Handley of Cambridge argued that all religions teach that the "other" is evil and must be liquidated, for religion is "the symbolic or mythic expression of our tribal identity and our right to hate those of the other tribe. " Writing in the Scottish Herald, Muriel Gray fretted that the British government's proposal to criminalize the fostering of religious hatred would unfairly blunt her rhetorical sword. Would she be able to express the opinion , Ms. Grey asked, "that Catholicism is guilty of deliberate Third World social engineering that threatens women 's lives with Dark Age views of sexuality and contraception"? Chris McGillion of the Sydney Morning Herald argued that the "mind-set" of Osama bin Laden is not found among Muslims alone. McGillion quoted from a lecture given in Sydney by John D'Arcy May of Trinity College, Dublin, who

argued that bin Laden-style "fundamentalism" is also evident in "the centralizing tendencies within [my] own Catholic Church." The booby prize, however, is reseived for Peter Singer of Princeton, the "bioethicist" who proposes that parents be allowed to wait two or three weeks before deciding whether their newborn should be allowed to live. Not content that the president of the United States conduct a war against terrorism, Singer suggests that President Bush "should engage in an intensive effort to educate people around the world in the reasons why we should treat supposedly sacred religious texts as human creations, no less fallible than other human creations." Bush, alas, reads the Bible and says that his faith is an important support in his work. Thus, Singer concludes, he will be of little help in the struggle against religious extremism. The alternative? Singer proposes investment in education, because "it is possible to hope that a highly educated nation will provide a less fertile soil for religious belief." Christians, facing the facts of September 11, should be the first to recognize that what happened on that day of infamy was a manifestation of the ancient "mysterium iniquitatis," the "mystery of evil," expressing itself through a defective, indeed perverted, form of monotheism. Still, Polly Toynbee's crack in the Guardian — that "the only good religion is a moribund religion; only when the faithful are weak

are they tolerant and peaceful" — misses rather a lot of contemporary history: the religious roots of the nonviolent overthrow of communism; the profoundly Catholic character of the nonviolent revo-

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in the dictatorship Philippines; the fact that the primary warrant for tolerance in the United States, the world's most tolerant society, is biblical faith. Atheistic humanism in the 20th century was responsible for the deaths of at least 100 million, and possibly 150 million, human beings. That secularists cannot bring themselves to acknowledge the indisputable is another reminder that, in today's culture wars, being Left means never having to say you 're sorry.

George Weigei is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

LITURGY & SCRIPTURE John the Baptist: Model of a changed heart The late Raymond E. Brown , S.S., extraordinary biblical scholar and profound hearer of God's Word, never ceased to marvel at Matthew 's portrayal of John the Baptist. While John remains the premier proclaimer of repentance ("Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"), he is also the model of that change of heart he coached out of others. The readings that make up this Sunday 's liturgy of the Word would happily tease out of us the same metanoia (change of heart) so richly proclaimed and so strikingly lived out by John the Baptist, and so admired by Father Brown. Matthew authenticates John with the Old Testament Scripture and with wardrobe and diet redolent of Old Testament prophets. Matthew rehears Isaiah 40 and sees John as "a voice of one crying out in the desert , 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'" Of old these words announced the return from exile in Babylon; now Matthew employs them for us to see the return from exile as the dress rehearsal for the final intervention of God on the last day. Matthew goes on to dress and feed But Matthew presents the Baptist as a model of repenJohn in the style of Old Testament prophets a la Elijah: "John wore clothing made of camel's hair and had a tance (Tune in for next Sunday 's gospel) . John hears of the leather belt around his waist. His food was locust and non-judgmental ministry of Jesus who heals, forgives, includes, and welcomes all. He must change his tune , and wild honey." Matthew then presents John 's message as the radi- he does. Perhaps then we give a more ardent hearing to cal call to repentance it is, but couched in language that speaks of final jud gment: To the Pharisees and Isaiah, who dreams about an ideal king to come, and like Sadducees , "You brood of Vipers ! Who warned you to our Christian ancestors in the faith we hear the ministry flee fro m the coming wrath?" Please notice no touch of of Jesus and ourselves entrusted with that same style of Madison Avenue or Hallmark greeting cards here . On a ministry, "On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of roll , Matthew has John say more: "Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not Jesse (David's line), and from his roots a bud shall blosbear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the som. The spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him. . . ." This fire ." Indeed the one coming after John will bring sear- One will break down barriers and care for the marginalized ing judgment: "He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and the poor : "Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand . He will clear hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his bard , justice (God's way of setting people at rights with God), but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire ." The and decide aright for the land' s afflicted." Indeed , this One cumulative effect of this glorious and ominous imagery will usher in a new paradise of harmony and peace: "Then instills fear, regret , and awe at the immanence of divine die wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard lie jud gment. down with the kid. . . . "

Father David M. Pettingill

Second Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Romans 15:4-9; Matthew 3:1-12 This ministry of Jesus and ours has as its goal our sitting at one table as equals. Because we remember at our Sunday table God's boundary-breaking action in the death and resurrection of Jesus because we make it present, and because we eat and drink it, the energy of Jesus ' Spirit abides in us, and we can now alter our vision of ministry. Like John the Baptist, we can turn from preaching condemnation, final judgment, and fire and brimstone and embrace the boundary-breaking ministry of Jesus where inclusion is the order of the day. That is why Romans repeats over and over again in the brief selection chosen for the second reading the necessity of being in harmony : we simply cannot gather around the one table with condemnation or exclusion of sisters and brothers in our hearts. "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus , that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Welcome one another, then , as Christ welcomed you , for the glory of God." It is amazing how the Baptist repented , yes. But let's not sell ourselves short when we assemble at our Sunday table of Word and Eucharist. The Spirit that changed John's craggy heart awaits us. Questions for Small Communities: Why do we need a constant call to conversion to Jesus ' style of ministry? What improvements do we need to make?

Father David M. Pettingill is assistant to the moderator of the curia and parochial vicar at St. Emydius Parish, San Francisco.

Advent: Singing in the darkness, awaiting the light In the last column I spoke of a double dynamic, which is depicted for us in the liturgical season of Advent . The first dynamic is the reality of Christ's coming again in judgment and the second dynamic is the return of the Lord with peace for peacemakers. I spoke using the image of Jesus in his story of the ten virgins - five wise and five foolish - who are waiting to receive the Bridegroom. As we know we are too often like the foolish ones wasting time and not preparing in the time allotted. This time I will speak of the other dynamic of our Advent song. This is the tune of our "alleluia" for the coming of the light in the midst of the darkness. We are like Israel awaiting the coming of a true and lasting peace. In our Advent song we sing of our hope for the coming of the kingdom of God, which will remain forever and ever, alleluia! In our Advent we sing with Isaiah (25:6- 10) of the new life that will begin with the kingdom of God fully established. Many of us have sung of this beautiful prophecy in the gospel-type style called for in the setting of Gerard Chiussano entided "On This Mountain." (OCP, 1999) This antiphonal setting allows the assembly to sing with the strength of sure and certain hope in the eventual, unchangeable, and final realization of God's promises. On this mountain the Lord will provide. On this mountai n, the Lord will destroy death forever, and the power of hell will never prevail: God's justice and peace will sustain , for God's perfect love shall reign...Maintain justice and do what is right, for soon God's salvation shall come; God's deliverance will then be revealed." God's salvation is one of healing and peace, when leopards will really and trul y lie down with lambs - obvi-

Father Jim McKearney, S.S. ously no one will be hungry on that day, with the exception of the lion and the ox that will enjoy the same feast of hay ! (cf: Is 11:6 ff) The innocent child will be full of wisdom and lead them on their way through this heaven. With God's deliverance all will be transformed. However, we have not yet arrived at this Utopia. In our time and place we experience the ravages of war, death and self-righteousness. The lion and the ox are not yet comfortable with each other and with right reason ! The innocent child is in serious danger. With these fears ome and sad realities and in the painful darkness, the world is indeed pining in sin and sadness longing to sing of the Hol y Night when the

'.. . the world is indeed p ining in sin and sadness longing to sing of the Holy Night when the daystar makes his appea rance

and all of us fall on our knees and worship with tear-filled eyes of wonder and awe. '

daystar makes his appearance and all of us fall on our knees and worship with tear-filled eyes of wonder and awe. No, the future re-ordering of life, as we know it, is still a distant hope. It all too often seems that in our lifetime the powers of hell have the upper hand. In this we see that the first advent of our God was not enough, we still need the one to come. We are happy and joy-filled with the coming of our God, and yet we are in awe of the fact that the judgment of God will be final and the new order will begin. This means that the peacemakers will finally have their peace, and those who promote injustice will reap the just fruits of their labors. The advent of the messiah is indeed near, we feel it. We recognize that in this coming there will be jud gment for all the living and dead. In faith we know that those considered ambassadors of hell will be so jud ged. We do not want to be in that number. We prepare in light of this truth , forced to do so in the dark ni ght of our time. God is coming, of this we are certain given the light of his first coming in the dark and the cold of the night , but we, conscious of our weariness and weakness are summoned to be strong and stay awake in sacrifice, tears and prayer. These two sentiments are part of our advent song in the midst of a troubling in-between time. We experience the peace of his coming the first time and the mix of joy and awe in light of his second coming. We are not yet fully in the kingdom, and that is unsettling. We are asked to sing alleluia, but we are in a foreign land, at times oppressed b y the realities of life. Nevertheless , in light of the coming of the ju st and peaceful one, we should sing at his request. Although on foreign soil we can prepare omselves for his imminent return. By singing we will be consoled in the truth of which we sing ! Christ has come and he is coming again, very soon. Amen, so be it! Come Lord Jesus, alleluia!

Suplician Father James McKearney is director of music for St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park.

At 19 months, he has a friend in Jesus Like most people my age I'm a church hopper. There are about a dozen different parishes which might be an option for Sunday Mass. But there are four which I consider home ground: Saint Rita 's, Fairfax, where I was baptized and grew up; Star of the Sea, San Francisco, where I was married and grew up in faith; St. Monica 's, San Francisco , my regular haunt; and St. Monica ' s, Mercer Island , Washington , where I spend a great deal of time with my inlaws. With the exception of St. Monica ' s on Mercer Island , they're all older churches and essentiall y the same; long nave, high ceiling, statues , stained glass , stations of the cross, prominent crucifix and tabernacle square in the middle, behind the main altar. St. Monica 's on Mercer Island , was built in 1969 as a temporary church. It was supposed to be the school gymnasium. They never built a church. They built another gymnasium and the first gym is now their permanent church. It's a barn. I've always hated modern barn churches and theater-inthe round churhces, bereft of statues and stations and the rest. I'm no fan of reli gious kitsch, but I like to sit in the back of church and absorb the architecture and saints and stained glass. Seeing it all is a very important part of liturgy; the communion of saints, the glory of God, His bounty, our smallness and also importance in the universe. I' m fairl y tolerant of different styles. My in-laws are drawn to barn churches and they 're good Catholics. A lot of my friends like bareness and simplicity in a church and they're better Christians than me. I've always considered it a matter of taste. But this Thanksgiving I was struck with the importance of religious art in churches. It is difficult, at best, to raise a child Catholic in our increasingly secular society. I see what my younger brothers

Jack Smith and sisters enjoy watching on TV (Reality shows) and their habits and lifestyle and I wonder where they 're going. They go to Mass every week, but they have to. Don 't get me wrong they ' re great kids; much better than I was at they're age. But I worry whether the images of the culture they live in are going to overcome the culture of their baptism. Which brings me to my biggest worry; my own 19 month old son, Sean. My wife and I are supposed to be his primary educators in the faith . I hope we're up to the task and I hope the Church is there (o help us. Sean and I have a daily routine. When I get home, we walk down Geary Blvd. to Starbuck 's for some coffee. Sean, by himself , has made a ritual of this outing. We' ve got a standard , second story, Richmond district flat and when I walk to the steps to put my shoes on, he knows it 's the cue to go out. He runs to me, arms wide open, excited about the trip. But when I pick him up, he stops me before going down the steps. We've got a good deal of religious art in our home. Three prominent pieces, a wood sculpture , a painting and a print hang on the three walls of the foyer. "Uh!," Sean yells, flinging his arm out and pointing at the sculpture. I've figured out that "Uh!" means "What's that?" "That ' s Mary and baby Jesus," I say.

"Ooooh ," he says with a great smile and quiet wonderment and then flings the other arm out with a loud staccato "Uh!" at the painting on the opposite wall. "That 's Our Lady". "Ooooh." He spins around in my arms and points behind us at the print with another "Uh!" "That 's St . Michael. " "Ooooh." This routine could repeat forever unti l we walk downstairs and outside where his obsession is birds , moon, car and bus. The same thing happens at Sunday Mass at St. Monica 's, S.F. It's "Uh, Uh, Uh!," at all the stained glass and statues — up to Thanksg iving Mass at St. Monica 's, Mercer Island. Even though St. Monica 's is a gym, the current pastor Father Bowman has done his best to make it look like a church. There are stations and statues and a very prominent Christ hanging on the Cross. I found myself so grateful that day, as a parent , to be Catholic and to my four parishes and Father Bowman. Because on Thanksg iving, Sean pointed to the crucifix and said very proudl y and happily, "Jeeeze!" . The importance of Catholic churches which have maintained a clutter of religious art is seen mostly by the reaction of children. I promised to God at Sean's baptism to raise him Catholic. To do that he needs my examp le, but also the five W' s. When it comes time to explain to him the What , Where, When and Why of Jesus, I'll have a much easier time and an attentive ear because of religious art. That 's because I won't have to explain Who. "Jeeeze!" is already his friend.

Ted Robinson

Sp ortscaster's biggest thrill: Covering Pop e John Paul II

By George Devine, Sr. Ted Robinson has just finished his eighteenth year as a baseball broadcaster, and his ninth with the San Francisco Giants, following four seasons on TV with the Minnesota Twins. He will soon be in Salt Lake City covering his third Olympic Games, and he has broadcast tennis from Wimbledon. As his alma mater, Notre Dante, played at Stanford, he took up his regular duties covering the game for the Cardinals. He shared his perspectives on sports, life and faith with George Devine, Sr.,for Catholic San Francisco: CSF: You've had the duty of being objective in covering Stanford, with whom you've been associated for so long, against the school where you and your wife Mary met, and where your daughter Annie now is a freshman. Tell us about your initial decision to attend Notre Dame. ROBINSON: My mother 's two brothers had gone to school there and were huge sports fans. So my parents were sort of subway alumni and I was a big Notre Dame fan. I did not want to go there when I was a senior in high school. I was independent and stubborn, a typical seventeen-year-old. I applied elsewhere and actually was accepted at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, which has a great radio-TV program. I was also considering Cornell and Boston College. CSF: So what happened? ROBINSON: My dad said "You're going to see Notre Dame!" So he took me for a day trip . After fifteen minutes on campus I said, "This is where I want to go! This is what I want from a school!" CSF: Where did you go to school before Notre Dame? ROBINSON: I grew up on Long Island and went to public school through grade eight. Then I really wanted to go to a Catholic high school, and attended Chaminade, conducted by the Marianists, in Mineola. That was a great experience for me. I had a much greater introduction to Catholic education than I had received in the "Sunday school" experience. I had great academic and behavioral discipline under the priests and brothers there, things I hadn't experienced previously. CSF: Recently you've revisited your own collegiate choice through another generation, with your daughter Annie. ROBINSON: Yes, we recently navigated the coEege selection process with her. It was agonizing, frustrating and stressful yet extraordinarily rewarding in one way; the affirmation of her faith. She had applied to a wide range of schools, including some of the best Catholic universities in the country, such as Georgetown. When the merits

of various schools are debated, she often raises the issue of her faith and how she could continue to practice it at that school. Throughout her high school years she had been challenged to defend her faith. It has angered her to be placed in such a position, yet she now knows it has strengthened her in ways incalculable. As parents, Mary and I are ecstatic to see someone at an age where religion is often considered disposembrace her able actually Catholicism and refuse to discard it in the name of higher education. At this point of resolution in the process, we have been glad to support Annie's decision to attend Notre Dame. Every dormitory has a chapel and at least one Sunday Mass. There are crucifixes in every room and every classroom. And the Holy Cross Fathers are instrumental in so many facets of the university, as administrators, teachers and in the dorms. We were all there last weekend, and before I arrived they were at the grotto, behind the main chapel , an outdoor prayer area with candles, which is like a mini-version of Lourdes, the spiritual center of the University. While the family was there, Father Hesburgh, now in his eighties and still very much a part of the life of Notre Dame, came by and said hello to everyone. You just don 't see things like that everywhere. CSF: Do you consider the topics your daughter has dealt with to apply to many young people? ROBINSON: I think so. It's almost standard today among some folks to "pick and choose" as you follow the Catholic faith. The term "cafeteria Catholic" certainly is bandied about. I see that too much and it disturbs me. In life, it's much too easy to say, "I'm just going to pick and choose what I want and what I don 't want. I'm going to take this and not take that!" You can't be a person of faith , regardless of which faith, and not follow even things that you personally may question. No way am I saying don 't question — questioning is good. But I believe you take the faith as a whole, take it as a package. With Annie and her younger brother Patrick, we try to emphasize it, even with something as simple as the Church's rules for days of abstinence from meat. It's hard for an adolescent to understand why you can 't j ust eat a hot dog on any day you choose; it seems to many people not significant. But it's important to us that they understand that it 's a tenet of the Catholic Church and you don 't disregard it simply because you want a hot dog on a day when it's not permitted.

It doesn 't work that way. I guess that' s the point I' m try ing to make. You can apply it to the most major issues that we can find, but I try to apply it to my everyday life in the simplest terms. The kids have to understand, also, that you have to go to Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation , particip ate in the Sacraments and say your prayers, I think it's important for a family to develop a Catholic faith and a Catholic discipline together, for children to learn what comprises the faith. Mary's worked hard on that with me. CSF: Where does your family worship? ROBINSON: Due to my association with the football program at Stanford we attend Mass with the Catholic community on the campus, where there is a wonderful group of Franciscans. They are able to use the Memorial Church there every Sunday, and there is always a wonderful liturgy with beautiful music. They clearly connect with the Stanford student body which is great to see. CSF: Ted, you've covered so many sports for so many teams. What is your greatest thrill as a broadcaster? ROBINSON: The greatest thrill was not a game, but the Mass celebrated by Pope John Paul II at Candlestick Park when he visited our Archdiocese in San Francisco in 1987. 1 made a point of going to our news director at KCBS, Ed Cavagnaro, and said I wanted to be part of it. They thought I was a "sports knucklehead" doing a papal visit broadcast on what could have been my day off. But with my faith and my background I wanted to do it. I knew more about it and what would transpire in that Mass than ninety-nine percent of the people on the staff. To his credit, Ed let me do it. I anchored the papal Mass, with two priests from our own Archdiocese of San Francisco to help with explanations and interpretations. That was the greatest thrill I' ve ever had, just to be there. There is no game that could ever compete with that. I don 't imagine anything would ever top that. Games are wonderful , and it's great to be broadcasting the game when my alma mater comes from Notre Dame to play at Stanford, or be involved with a World Series championship. But nothing could match the people I saw, sixty thousand or more, falling on their knees as the Holy Father made his way through the stadium. Nothing can compare with that — nothing!

Mission to Kenya

Irish sisters fac e p overty, droug ht, disease

By Declan Walsh

Catholic News Service

KJTUI , Kenya (CNS) — The rains are late in eastern Kenya, and the Mutomo mission hospital, run by the Irish Sisters of Mercy, is down to its last tank of water. "It's just terrible ," said Mercy Sister Brigid Marnane. "Salt water is all that is left in the well , and that is good only for washing sheets and floors." The remaining precious drops of drinking water fell from the sky last March , when rainwater ran off the tin hospital roof and into tanks . Now all are empty save one. "With the help of God the rains will come soon , " said Sister Marnane. "We 're pray ing very hard at the moment. " Life has been tough in Kitui, a dry, hilly area 85 miles east of Nairobi, since the fust Sisters of Mercy arrived in 1962 from the western Irish Diocese of Elphin. Periodic drought has wreaked havoc, and in recent years AIDS has devastated the local population. The nuns , however, have faced the challenge with steely resolve. In 1964, they opened the doors of the Mutomo hospital ; programs to combat leprosy, tuberculosis and ArDS came in the decades (hat followed. The Sisters of Mercy mission to Kenya is led by the Irish. Although their numbers have dwindled rapidly in recent years — from 60 three decades ago to 30 now — many African sisters have found a vocation and are filling their places. Sister Mamane arrived three years ago from Dublin , where she had been treating victims of spinal injuries. Since then, she has spent most of her time training African sisters to replace her. "I was matron when I first arrived , then I trained one of our own in the job. Now she is matron and I am assistant. That is the way forward ," she said. A small number of young Irish religious still come to Africa. Sister Sinead Flood is 30 years old and scheduled to profess final vows in 2002. Having arrived in the early fall, she recently welcomed Irish President Mary McAleese to the hospital by performing a traditional dance alongside African colleagues. "I was asked to come here first to get a taste of missionary life," she said. "I've been thrown in the deep end ; . it 's sink or swim. But it's a good experience." The desperation of rural poverty has sent many thousands of Kitu i residents to Nairobi, where they hope to make a better life. But many end up in the sprawling slums, home to an estimated two-thirds of the city's 3 million inhabitants . Social problems such as alcoholism, prostitution and child abuse are rife in such an environment of grinding poverty. The Mercy Sisters are working in the slums, too. In the mid-1980s, Sister Mary Killeen established the Makura Promotion Center — which includes a school for 1,200 children, a remedial education facility and a com-

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3 Sister Mary Killeen greets a child in Nairobi, Kenya. munity development office — in the heart of the Lunga Lunga slum. The center was built on a glass dump filled in with soil from nearby factories. Even so, Sister Killeen had to fi ght for it. "Some of those big politicians tried to grab the plot for a factory," she said, referring to a common occurrence in Kenya whereby public officials appropriate public land for their own use. "We had a terrible fight with them but , in the end, we won," she said. A number of center graduates have notable achievements, including one student who earned a master 's degree in computer science. But for most of the students who live in cramped conditions in the tin shacks outside the center's walls, it is an achievement just to make it to the end of the normal schooling cycle. Most farnilies strugg le to make the $10 rent every month, and many pupils end up leaving school to try and find menial employment. "Some of the children are very bright, and people see school as being very important," said Irish Father Pat

O'Toole, parish priest. "But sometimes money speaks louder." Funding for the Makura center comes from a variety of sources, mostly in Europe, ranging from a group of Austrian choral singers to small apostolic groups in Ireland. Two classrooms were paid for by Ballinrobe parish in western Ireland, Father O'Toole's home area. Last year, a™ prominent Irish businessman, Denis O'Brien, donated $60,000 last year to save a neighboring school. "Maybe 4,000 ordinary people had a big hand in building this place up," Sister Killeen said. Sister Killeen left Makura in 1999 and now coordinates six projects across the city that aim to get slum children off the streets and into schools. Life in Nairobi changed her outlook on life enormously, she said. "When I came here, I expected to be working in an ordinary middle-class Catholic mission school. But working here has made me see everything differently. It makes you look at everything from the eye of a slum dweller," she said.

Iranian film blends Catholic, Muslim themes By John Thavis Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Against the backdrop of bombs in Afghanistan and Islamic tensions around the world, an Iranian movie about an unusual CatholicMuslim friendship was welcome news at the Vatican. The film features the story of an orphaned boy named Rahman, the prayer-chanter at his village mosque, who longs to know what his mother looked like. At a nearby Catholic Church, an elderly priest suggests she had the beatific look of the Virgin Mary, whose image fascinates the youth. The boy and the priest become good friends, and when the pastor has a serious accident, Rahman travels to the city to look for the dying priest's brother at a number of churches. Set in Iran, which borders Afghanistan, "Son of Maryam" brought just the right note of hopefulness to a film festival sponsored in part by the Vatican's Pontifical Council for Social Communications. "This film is not about religious propaganda on either side. It just wants to show how all believers can consider every place of worship a house of God, whether it is church or mosque," said Fereshteh Taerpour, the Iranian woman who produced the feature-length movie. "It wants to show that friendship is possible," she said. A simple objective, but not automatically accepted these days, In Iran, where conservative Muslim clerics

are resisting the more tolerant policies of the current Islamic government, a film lughlighting the Christian clergy was bound to ruffle some feathers. One of the Farsi-language advertisements for the film shows the Virgin Mary appearing above a mosque — an image that may have rankled the country's more traditional Shiite clerics. Taerpour said she decided to take her movie to the city of Qum, the theological center of Islam in Iran. She showed the film to a crowd of more than 400 people, including many theology teachers and students, and afterward answered questions about it, "They gave it a great and positive reception," she said. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami also saw it and praised it, she said, and the movie has been popular at recent film festivals in Iran and around the world. Taerpour, a vivacious 48-year-old Muslim who produced 10 earlier films in her native Iran, said "Son of Maryam" was a small attempt at dialoguebetween religions and civilizations. She said she believes her movie reflects the actual sentiments of the Muslim majority in Iran. "We really have respect for Jesus, Moses and Holy Mary.We pray to them, we accept them as prophets. And in Iran, Christians and Muslims live together, we go to each others ' religious ceremonies," she said. With sunglasses perched atop her black head scarf, she fingered turquoise prayer beads as she faced reporters during a Rome press conference Nov. 28. She was flanked by officials of the Vatican and the Italian

film industry, who organized the film festival and a related international conference of cinema experts. She said her film was low-budget by Hollywood standards, costing just $150,000 — but added that "for us that's not very cheap." Local Christians in Iran cooperated in the filming, and some priests even took small parts in the movie, she said. Another big difference between "Son of Maryam" and some Hollywood and European films is that it doesn 't deride religion, Taerpour said. "You see it in many films today — they are making fun of priests, or religions and religious symbols. I think this is dangerous. They are raining the attitude of young people toward God and toward places like churches and mosques that deserve respect," she said. "Son of Maryam" is directed by Hamid Jebelli, who also wrote the script. It has no big stars and probably will never break into the major commercial market, but it 's already picked up one international prize at a Cairo film festival. Next spring, it' s being featured at festivals in New York, Washington and Boston, Taerpour said. The Iranian producer hopes the movie also may play at one of the world's smallest and most exclusive venues: the Vatican's screening room, where Pope John Paul II sometimes views films. "I'd like very much for the pope to see this film, though I realize he has little time. I am praying for the pope and for all religious leaders who are trying to save the future of dialogue between religions," she said.

Prayer ceremony, exhibit remember 'China's Auschwitz' "Like Auschwitz symbolizes the atrocities committed during the war by the Nazis, so does Nanking symbolize the worst atrocities committed by the Japanese Army," says Akira Fujiwara, emeritus professor of history at Hitotsubashi University, as quoted on the Web site www.skycitygallery.com/japan/japan.html. Sixty years later, a poster announcing a planned Dec. 13 peace prayer says simply: "Never Forget." The ceremony, at St. Mary's Cathedral, 1111 Gough St., San Francisco, will begin at 7 p.m. and is jointly sponsored with the Cathedral by the Chinese Holocaust Museum of San Francisco and the Memorial Hall of the Victimsof the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese Invaders, Nanjing. Additionally, a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a photo exhibition will take place Dec. 16 at 6 p.m., also at the Cathedral. The exhibition will run Dec. 16 to Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will be closed Dec. 24 and 25. Nanking, or Nanjing, a city in China, was the site of what is described as "the forgotten Holocaust," in which Japanese military and medical researchers reportedly massacred thousands of Chinese men, women and chil-

Esther Madriz , justice reformer, dies

dren before, during and after World War II. Vivisection, rape, injection of animal blood or air bubbles, and exposure to anthrax, syphilis and other pathogens were some of the crimes purportedly committed by soldiers and researchers in what is described as systematic "field tests." Medical researchers as part of the Japanese Unit 731 locked up diseased prisoners with healthy ones to see how readily various ailments would spread, according to the site. Doctors put others inside a pressure chamber to see how much the body can withstand before the eyes pop from their sockets. Victims, referred to as "logs," were often taken to a proving ground called Anda, where they were tied to stakes and bombarded with test weapons to see how effective the new technologies were. Planes sprayed the zone with a plague culture or dropped bombs with plague-infected fleas to see how many people would die. Co-sponsors of the events at the Cathedral include Jiansu Provincial Information Office, the People's Republic of China; Nanjing Municipal Information Office and the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in San Francisco.

For the last five years of her life, Ms. Madriz paid regular visits to inmates at San Quentin Penitentiary. Initiall y, her visits were a way for her students to learn about the realities of U.S. prisons. Soon she began to lead Bible studies with the prisoners . "It's amazing to see how happy they look when we get there," she said. "Many take the opportunity to tell us about their problems and sadness and they feel much better afterward." Ms. Madriz was equally passionate about helping women who are victims of domestic violence and paralyzed by a fear of violent crime. Based on hundreds of interviews and relationships with Latino, African American, and white women, Madriz wrote a book, "Nothing Bad Happens to Good Girls." The book was translated into Spanish and released in Mexico. Ms, Madriz, who was teaching one class this semester at USF, died in her sleep Nov. 30. "What I do, I do because it is also a personal need," she said in a recent interview, "It's like my work at San Quentin, which not only helps the inmates, but also fulfills my whole spirit."

By Monica Leifer Esther Madriz, author, criminology professor and advocate of reform of the criminal justice system, died Nov. 30 of ovarian cancer a few hours after teaching her last class at the University of San Francisco. Ms. Madriz , a native of Venezuela, became dedicated to criminal justice reform while working for the Ministry of Justice in Venezuela in the 1970s. From this experience, she came to believe that "the judicial system is the place in society where injustices are magnified," she said. In 1985, Madriz moved to the United States to study criminology. After earning a PhD, she joined the USF sociology department as an assistant professor. In an interview in September, Ms. Madriz talked about her dedication to studying criminology as a way of reforming the justice system. "In jail, most people are black, Latino and poor. You never see a wealthy person imprisoned, because the system is designed to be more forgiving witii them. On top of that, rich people can afford good lawyers," she said.

Monica Leifer is Assistant Director of Media Relations at the University of San Francisco.

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Performance Admission tree unless otherwise noted. Dec. 8, 9: "Follow the Star" Nativity display, featuring music of the season and illuminated Christmas scenes collected Irom around the world , at St. Bartholomew Parish Center, 600 Columbia Dr.; San Mateo. Sat.4 -1 p.m.; Sun. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Call (650) 548-0684. Dec. 8: Make a Joylul Noise, a Winter concert by the San Francisco Boys Chorus al St. Dominic Church , 2390 Bush St. at Steiner, SF at 2 p.m. Tickets $15/$12. Call (415) 665-2330. Dec. 9: Concert , featuring music of the Solista Delia Chiesa String Chamber Orchestra , at St. Catherine of Siena Church , 1310 Bayswater Ave. at El Camino, Burlingame at 7 p.m. Proceeds benefit the work of former St. Catherine Elementary principal , Sister Antonella , now in ministry to poor children of Albania and seeking to convert a rundown church into a school. Tickets $10 at the door. Call (650) 344-6884. Dec. 13: Hear Novato High School Advanced Jazz Band, Mark Peabody, director , at Holiday Noon-Hour Concerts of Saint Raphael Church and Mission , 1104 Fifth Ave., San Rafael at 12:15 p.m. Suggested donation: $5. Call (415) 4548141. Hear pianist, Josephine C. Sanchez on Dec. 20. Dec 14: The choirs of St. Andrew Parish, 1571 Southgate , Daly City present "A Christmas to Remember " beginning at 7 p.m. Evening includes favorite carols , inspirational songs, and new compositions. Angelita C. Pasambe, director. Dec. 15: The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 40th and Balboa, SF with prayer and reception featuring Mexican and Maerican cuisine beginning at 11 a.m. Mass will be in English and Spanish and include music by Los Cachorros Mariachi Band. Call Carmen Smith at (415) 6684024 or 668-5108. Dec. 15: Advent Lessons and Carols with the Schola Cantorum of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi , Columbus and Vallejo in the City 's North Beach. Reception follows. Reservations required. Call (415) 614-5564 . Weekends through Dec. 9: "The Little Prince," a comic opera; and "The Cook's Pantry Tales," a play, at Dominican University 's Meadowlands Assembly Hall, San Rafael. Curtain Fri./Sat. at 7:30 p.m.; Sun. at 2 p.m. Tickets $12/$10. Call (415) 673-3131 . Dec. 16: Choirs of St. Gregory Parish, 28th Ave. and Hacienda, San Mateo, perform Non Nobis Domine , a holiday concert , at 2 p.m. under the direction of Christopher Fulkerson. Complimentary refreshments fellow. The choirs ' first CD will available for purchase. Call (650) 345-8506. Dec. 19: Lessons and Carols by the Musicians of St. Dominic's, David Schofield, conductor, at St. Dominic Church , 2390 Bush St. at Steiner, SF at 7:30 p.m. Evening includes Christmas Carols. Call (415) 567-7824. Dec. 22: The Three and a Half Stories of Christmas , a play starring Frank Runyeon, fo rmer star of As the World Turns opposite Meg Ryan, and guest star on shows including LA Law, Falcon Crest and Melrose Place. It's a new way to hear the classic Christmas tale with audience participation and caroling. Tickets $7/$5. It all happens at St. Luke Church , 1111 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City at 7 p.m. Fun for all ages. Call (650) 573-7409.

Betreats/ Oays of Recollection — SANTA SABINA CENTER — 25 Magnolia Ave., San Ralael. For fee times and details about these and other offerings, call (415) 457-7727. Dec. 14-16: Advent Poustinia , a retreat with Benedictine Bruno Barnhart. Silence , simplicity in preparation for the celebration of Christmas. Dec. 11: Monthly Day of Prayer beginning at 9:30 a.m. with Mass at 2 p.m.

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Datebooki Bush St., SF. Call Delia Molloy at (415) 563-4280 3rd Thurs. at 7:30 p.m. at Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park with Sister Toni Longo 1st Fri. at 8 p.m. at Mercy Center, 2300 Adeline Dr., Burlingame with Mercy Sister Suzanne Toolan. Call (650) 340-7452; Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park at 7:30 p.m. Call Deacon Dominic Peloso at (650) 322-3013. 3rd Fri. at 8 p.m. at Woodside Priory Chapel , 302 Portola Rd„ Portola Valley. Call Dean Miller at (650) 328-2880 1st Sat. at 8:30 p.m. at SF Presidio Main Post Chapel , 130 Fisher Loop. Call Delia Molloy at (415) 563-4280.

Social Justice/RespectLif e Sat. 7:30 - 10 a.m.: Pray the Rosary Apostolate gathers for prayer at the corner of California and Baker St., SF. Call (415) 752-4922 for more information.

Prayer/Devotions 2nd Fri.: Holy Hour for Priests at St. Finn Barr Church , 10:30 a.m. Includes talk by priest from Opus Dei with silent prayer and Reconciliation if desired. Followed by simple lunch in rectory. Call (415) 333-3627.

Blessed Sacrament Exposition Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, 24 hours everyday, (650) 322-3013. St. Sebastian Church, corner of Bon Air Rd. and Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Greenbrae, M - F 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Adoration Chapel, (415) 4610704. St. Agnes Church, 1025 Masonic (near Page) SF, Fri., 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., (415) 487-8560. Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Dr., Burlingame, M- F after 8 a.m. Mass until 7 p.m. St. Isabella Church, One Trinity Way, San Rafael , Fri,, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Our Lady of Loretto Church, 1806 Novato Blvd., Novalo, Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., 1st Fri. 9:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Sat. St. Bruno Church , 555 W. San Bruno Ave., San Bruno, 24 hours everyday. Call (650) 5880572. Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. St. Francis of Assisi Shrine, 610 Vallejo St. at Columbus , SF, Fri. following 12:15 p.m. Mass until 4:15 p.m. 2nd Sat. at St. Matthew Church, One Notre Dame Way, San Mateo with Nocturnal Adoration Society of San Mateo County. Call Jim McGill at (650) 574-3918 for times. Corpus Christi Monastery, 215 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park , daily from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (650) 322-1801. St. Bartholomew Church , 300 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, 1st Fri. from after 8 a.m. Mass until just before next day's 8 a.m. Mass.; St. Dominic Church, Bush and Steiner St., 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 6-7 p.m. each Mon. and Wed. (415) 567-7824. Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 3 Oakdale Ave., Mill Valley, Mon., 8:15 a.m. through Wed. at 7:30 a.m.; St. John of God Church, 1290 5th Ave. at Irving, SF. Mondays after 12:10 p.m. Mass, (415) 566-5610; St. Kevin Church, 704 Cortland Ave., SF, 1st Fri. following 9 a.m. Mass until 5:15 p.m. Benediction. Call (415) 648-5751. St. Finn Barr Church, 415 Edna St., SF, M-F 8:45 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs. until 9 p.m.; 1st Fri. until 7:30 p.m. Mass. Call (415) 3333627; St. Hilary Church, 761 Hilary Dr., Tiburon, M - F 7:45 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Sat. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and each 1st Fri. from 8 a.m. until Sat. at 8:45 a.m. Call (415) 435-1122; St. Mary 's Cathedral , Gough and Geary St., SF, 1st Fri. after 8 a.m. Mass until Sat. at 8 p.m.; Holy Name of Jesus Church, 39t h Ave. and Lawton St., SF, Wed. 9:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.; St. Matthias Church, 1685 Cordilleras Rd., Redwood City, 1st Fri., 9 a.m. until Mass at 5:30 p.m.(650) 366-9544

Single, Divorced, Separated

New Wings at St. Thomas More Church, SF meets on 3rd Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Call (415) 452-9634 or e-mail stmchurch@hotmail.com. Call Ron Landucci at (650) 992-4307 about upcoming social activities. Catholic Adult Singles Assoc, of Marin meets for support and activities. Call Bob at (415) 8970639 for information.

Consolation Ministry Our Lady of Angels , 1721 Hillside Dr., Burlingame, 1st Mon. 7:30 - 9 p.m.; 1st Thurs., 9:30 - 11 a.m. Call (650) 347-7768; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, James St. between Fulton and Grand, Redwood City, Thurs. 6 - 7:30 p.m. Call (650) 366-3802; St. Andrew, 1571 Southgate Ave., Daly City, 3rd Mon. 7:30 - 9 p.m. Call Eleanor and Nick Fesunofl at (650) 878-9743; Good Shepherd, 901 Oceana Blvd., Pacifica. Call Sister Carol Fleitz at (650) 355-2593; St. Hilary, 761 Hilary Dr., Tiburon, 1st and 3rd Wed., 3 - 4:30 p.m. Call Sister Colette at (415) 4357659; St. Gabriel, 2559 40th Ave., SF, 1st and 3rd Tues., 7 - 9 p.m. Call Barbara Elordi at (415) 5647882; St. Mary Cathedral, Gough and Geary St., SF, 2nd and 4th Wed., 2:30 - 4 p.m. Call Sister Esther at (415) 567-2020 , ext. 218; St. Finn Barr, 415 Edna St., SF in English and Spanish, one Sat. per month. Call Carmen Solis at (415) 584-0823; St. Cecilia, 2555 17th Ave., SF, 2nd and 4th Tues., 2 - 4 p.m. Call (415) 664-8481 . Ministry for parents who have lost a child is available from Our Lady of Angels Parish, Burlingame. Call Ina Potter at (650) 347-6971 or Barbara Arena at (650) 344-3579.

Lectures/ Classes/Radio-TV Through Dec. 21: Elder Arts Celebrations at City College Art Gallery - Visual Arts Building, 50 Phelan Ave., SF, and annual series of featuring the artwork of people over 65 years of age. Admission free. Hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon Fri. and 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. on Sat. Dec. 11, 18: Approaching the Nativity: Matthew, Luke and Francis with'Erasmo Leiva , Dominican Father Gregory Tatum and Stephen Cordova at 7:30 p.m. at the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi , Columbus and Vallejo in the City's North Beach. Call (415) 983-0405. Mon - Fri. at 7 p.m.: Catholic Radio Hour featuring recitation of the Rosary and motivating talks and music with host Father Tom Daly. Tune your radio to KEST - 1450 AM "Mosaic ", a public affairs program featuring discussions about the Catholic Church today. 1st Sundays 6:00 a.m., KPIX-Channel 5. "For Heaven's Sake ", a public affairs program featuring discussions and guests , 5 a.m. 3rd Sunday of the month , KRON-Channel 4. Both shows are sometimes preempted or run at other times, please check listings. Produced by the Communications Office of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

1479. Dec. 9: Joyeux Noel , annual holiday fashion show, luncheon and boutique benefiting Our Lady of Angels Elementary School , Burlingame at SF Airport Marriott beginning with no host cocktails at 11 a.m. and luncheon at noon. Call Lisa Larratt at (650) 342-7011. Tickets $40/$25. Dec. 9: Hawaiian Breakfast , 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., benefiting Star of the Sea Elementary scholarship program at Star of the Sea auditorium on 8th Ave., SF. Raffle , too! Tickets $7/$5 before Dec. 9; $10/$7 at door. Call (415) 751-0450 or (415) 221-8558. 3rd Wed.: Popular Spaghetti Lunch at Immaculate Conception Chapel , Folsom St. at Cesar Chavez , SF. Still the best deal in town at $6 all you can eat. Call (415) 824-1762

Returning Catholics Landings , a welcoming program for Catholics interested in returning to the Church, has been established at the following parishes: St. Dominic , SF, Lee Gallery at (415) 221-1288 or Dominican Father Steve Maekawa at (415) 567-7824; Holy Name of Jesus , SF, Dennis Rivera at (415) 664-8590; St. Bartholomew , San Mateo , Dan Stensen at (650) 344-5665; St. Catherine of Siena, Burlingame , Silvia Chiesa at (650) 685-8336 , Elaine Yastishock at (650) 3446884; St. Dunstan , Millbrae, Dianne Johnston at (650) 697-0952; Our Lady of the Pillar, Half Moon bay, Meghan at (650) 726-4337; St. Peter , Pacifica , Shirley Bryant at (650) 355-5168.

Reunions May 4, 2002: 40th reunion of St. Cecilia Elementary School's class of '62. Committee is still looking for missing classmates. Call Nancy Dito at (415) 661-2937.

Volunteer Opportunities Help a child succeed in school and in life by serving as a tutor for two hours a week at Sacred Heart Elementary School , 735 Fell St., SF, Sessions take place Mon. - Thurs. from 3:30 5:30 p.m. Help welcome in a variety of subjects.Call Doug Pierce at (415) 621-8035 or Mary Potter at (415) 876-4811. St. Joseph's Village, a homeless shelter for families at 10th and Howard St., SF, is looking for dedicated office volunteers to answer phones and greet residents. If you are interested in volunteering, call Dewitt Lacey at (415) 575-4920. San Francisco 's St. Anthony Foundation needs volunteers as well as canned goods and other staples. Non-perishable foods may be taken to 121 Golden Gate Ave. M - F from 8"30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Volunteer candidates should call (415) 241-2600 or visit the web site at www.stanthonys.org. Seeking enthusiastic men and women for the volunteer team at Mission Dolores Gift Shop. Welcome visitors from around the world, distribute brochures , accept donations and assist in gift shop sales. You'll also have a chance to practice additional languages you may speak. Call Theresa Mullen at (415) 621-8203 , ext. 30. SF's Laguna Honda Hospital is in need of extraordinary ministers including Eucharistic ministers and readers as well as volunteers to visit with residents and help in the office and with events. Call Sister Miriam Walsh at (415) 6641580, ext. 2422.

Food & Fun Most first Fri.: Join the Marin Catholic Breakfast Club for prayer, dialogue and a catered breakfast beginning with 7 a.m. Mass at St. Sebastian Church, Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Bon Air Rd., Greenbrae. Members $5/non-members $10. Dues are $15 annually. Reservations necessary. Please respond to sugaremy@aol.com or (415) 461- 0704 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Dec. 9: Holiday Faire benefiting St. Thomas More School , 50 Thomas More Way off Brotherhood Way, SF fro m 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.Crafts , ffods , activities for youngsters , pictures with Santa, fun for the whole family. Call (415) 338-

Datebook is a free listing f o r parishes, schools and non-profit groups. Please include event name, time, date, place, address and an information phone number. Listing must reach Catholic San Francisco at least two weeks before the Fridaypublication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or f a x it to (415) 614-5633.

Catholic San Francisco invites you to j oin in the following p ilgrimages

May 6, 2002

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Visit: London, Windsor, Canterbury, Salisbury, Stonehenae, Wells, Bam. Camtnp Wals^ham York. O^UuUa^

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^S& Liverpool, Dublin, Limerick, Blarney, Cork, Killamey, Ring of Kerry, Garabandal, SS^SSSU. JM? Santander, Limpas, Loyola wR fwuieB Cli f fs ' Holyhead, of Moher, Knock, Clonmacnoise, Maynooth Pamplona, Sanguesa , Lourdes \ \ -JJ TMmrsrn For information or a FREE brochure California Registered Seller of Travel • on these pilgrimages contact : SEENTECOST Registration Number CST-2037190-40 r (Registration as a Seller of Travel does not T3uKS, INC. Joe Pena - Catholic S df l Franritrn One Peter Yorke Way, S.F., CA 94109 • Ajjjgj gj gsd constitute aPProvat by the state of California) (4X5) 614-564

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Book Reviews BEST LOVED CHRISTMAS CAROLS, by Ronald M. Clancy. Christmas Classics (North Cape May, N.J., 2000). 106 pp. art book, 47 pp. songbook, 25-song CD., $39 95 HOLY PERSONAL: LOOKING FOR SMALL PRIVATE PLACES OF WORSHIP, by Laura Chester. Photographs by Donna DeMari, foreword by Thomas Moore. Indiana Univers ity Press (Bloomington , Incl., 2000). 199 pp., $29.95. Reviewed b y Maureen E. Dal y Catholic News Service These two books are so beautiful you 'll feel you have to buy them as gifts — and then you won 't want to give them away ! Ronald M. Clancy 's boxed set of "Best Loved Christmas Carols" is such a good idea it is a wonder no one ' has produced something similar. The set has three parts: a compact disc of the songs, a songbook with lyrics and sheet music , and an illustrated book about the history and messages of the songs. The CD has 25 Christmas carols recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus , Philadel phia ' s St. Francis de Sales Boy Choir, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and others. It is 75 minutes of what I would agree are the best secular and religious Christmas songs — and by that I mean no repetitive , saccharine Rudol p h and Frosty. In the songbook each carol' s sheet music and lyrics are set on one page for ease in actuall y singing them with friends and family. Last is the book of art and essays, which is a work of art itself. There are many full-color reproductions of Nativity and Epiphany paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens and lesserknown artists whose works you will recognize from holiday cards.

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Clancy chose art works that were created at the same time as the songs. So "Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming, " writte n in the 15th century, is illustrated with a page from the Salzburg Missal , a rare book in the Bayerische Staatsbibliothek in Munich , Germany. This 8-by-10 -««Mil reproduction can be ^ ' ¦ '* examined here more \ closel y than would be \ , possible even if you could hold the actual missal in your hand. S Clancy chose the illumi- ¦ nated miniature painting 1 "The Tree of Jesse, " which 1 shows the Madonna and ' Child as the flower at the tip of a swirling tree that sprouts from the chest of the sleeping Jesse. This book is full of such wonders. The second book , "Holy 1 Personal: Looking for Small I Private Places of Worship," is I also a feast for the eyes. Written ' by Laura Chester with photographs by Donna DeMari , it is a record of 26 private folk architecture chapels built by amateur architects all across the United States. A chance encounter led Chester \ to the first homemade chapel she ¦ visited soon after she converted to • "*^sB^^^^ Catholicism. That visit broug ht recommendations of more private worship spaces. Within a few weeks she had a list of private prayer spaces to visit , the outline of a book and a plan lo build her own chapel on her New England property. Chester 's record of visits begins with the chapels in the East and Midwest , moves Southwest , then deep

South , then far West. Her description s of the desi gn, construction and ornamentation of these personal spaces and the people who created them is intercut with the progress of the construction of her own small stone chapel over a year. Chester is a precise writer with a gift for describing buildings , I materials , landscape and how \ the three work together. \ The book includes dozens of glowing color photoI K graphs — some two pages I wide , others carefull y placed alongside pertinent | Jl text. DeMari is a fashion -JSH photographer and shools K I architecture like fashion , , with an eye for color, texy?B| lure anu" line and an *\ awareness of how sel", \ ting can tell a mood y| story. The pictures give \ off atmosp here so - - ; thick it is like wealher n H| II pP

and orange adobe under a piercing blue desert sky, moist dark wood log and shingle on a muf1 gjUPPW*"" " fled [line needle ground in the shade of towering damp evergreens. In a preface to the book Thomas Moore writes: "The ultimate effect of a worth y spiritual life would be beautiful lives in a beautiful world. This beautiful book is an excellent start." I agree. Daly is an associate edito r in the specia l projects department at Catholic News Service.

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Capsule Film Reviews Behind Enemy Lines

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Out Cold

Idiotic comedy in which four snowboarding buddies living in a dumpy Alaskan ski town light a wealthy Colorado ski mogul (Lee Majors) to keep the town from turning into a yuppie resort . A wafer-thin premise is broken up by amazing snowboarding stunts and lame humor in the form of disgusting practical jokes in directing brothers Emmett and Brendan Malloy 's forgettable debut. Several sexual situations and references, rear nudity, much drinking with brief drug abuse, sporadic fisticuffs and roughhousing, and recurring crude humor and language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned.

Harsh war film in which a Navy pilot (Owen Wilson) is shot down over enemy territory while on a reconnaissance mission in Bosnia and his commanding officer (Gene Hackman) must fight NATO politics to rescue him. Director John Moore pumps up a simple premise with skillfully choreographed action scenes depicting the brutality of war while attempting to comment on the importance of saving even one life despite the risks. Much battlefield and war violence with intermittent profanity and crass words and an instance of rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned.

Spy Game

Black Knight

Mediocre comed y in which a lowly During his last day at the CIA, a veteran employee (Martin Lawrence) at a medieval agent (Robert Redford) must mastermind theme park is transported back to the Middle the rescue of his protege (Brad Pitt) who 's Ages where he teams up with a has-been been captured by the Chinese and will be knight (Tom Wilkinson) and a beautiful peas- execute d in 24 hours . Director Tony Scott's ant girl (Marsha Thomason) to topple a wicked main story frames three tightly paced flashking. Except for Lawrence's zany stand-up backs about the history and relationship of comic talent, director Gil Junger 's story plods the spies with sharp observations concernalong rather predictably, offering only a few ing political intrigue and CIA one-upsmanlaughs and clever one-liners to mask the famil- ship, but the action thriller 's stiff dialogue, iar fish-out-of-water theme. An implied sexual • skimpy characterizations and manufactured encounter, some mayhem and battle violence ending are drawbacks. Some violence, and recurring crass language including a few fleeting sexuality and recurring rough lancrude sexual remarks. The U.S. Conference of guage with brief profanity. The U.S. Catholic Bishops classification is A-III — Conference of Catholic Bishops classificaadults. The Motion Picture Association of tion is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture America rating is PG-13 — parents are strong- Association of America rating is R — ly cautioned. restricted.

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Martin Lawrence appears before the court in "Black Knight '

The Devil's Backbone

Set during the Spanish Civil War, the stylish horror movie tells the story of a 10-year-old orphan (Fernando Tielve), befriended by the orp hanage 's headmistress (Marisa Paredes) and a kindl y professor (Federico Luppi), as he uncovers the ghost of a young boy who inexp licabl y vanished from the school some time ago. Effectively melding a tale of life in wartime with a standard ghost yarn , director Guillermo Del Toro is better at creating a mood than building suspense, especially in the final act, yet the film is consistently absorbing . Subtitles. A sexual encounter, some violence, a few gruesome images and intermittent rough language. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rati ng is R — restricted.

Novocain e

Quirky dark comedy about a prosperous dentist (Steve Martin) with the seemingly perfect fiancee (Laura Dern) whose wellordered world is thrown into turmoil when an alluring new patient (Helena Bonham Carter) seduces him, drawing him into a seedy underworld of sex, drugs and murder. With its theme of avarice and amoral tone, writerdirector David Atkins ' crime caper lacks sufficient humor and energetic writing, making the film very mediocre fare. A couple of sexual encounters with fleeting nudity, some bloody violence and drag content, and recurring rough language with profanity. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-IV — adults, with reservations. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops ' Office for Film and Broadcasting.

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