September 3, 2004 by Catholic San Francisco

Catholic san Francisco

(PHOTO BY SUSAN NEFF)

Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

San Rafael’s St. Raphael Parish opened Marin county’s first Catholic pre-school August 23. Pre-schools are in operation at several parishes in the Archdiocese including St. Paul’s and Sts. Peter and Paul in San Francisco, and Our Lady of Angels in Burlingame. From left: Mary Lessard, director; Marleny Samayoa, Zachary Martinez, Father Paul Rossi, pastor; Socorro Sandoval, Edith Yates, head teacher; Susan Flores, Jordan Mulligan.

U.S. Catholic officials worried by rise in number of poor, uninsured By Agostino Bono Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — The steady rise in the number of poor people in the United States and those without health insurance challenges the nation to a nonpartisan reassessment of its priorities, said a Catholic expert in health care issues. “These are chronic ills that have plagued our society for decades — through both Democratic and Republican administrations,” said Father Michael D. Place, president and CEO of the Catholic Health Association. Father Place was commenting on

the Aug. 26 release by the U.S. Census Bureau of its annual report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage. The report, for the year 2003, said the number of people below the U.S. poverty line increased by 1.3 million with more than 60 percent of the increase among children under 18 years of age. In terms of percentage, the number of poor increased by 0.4 percent to 12.5 percent of the U.S. population. The Census Bureau also reported a 1.4 million rise in the number of people lacking health insurance and said household POOR AND UNINSURED, page 18

"The Daffodils," a collage brush painting by last year’s kindergarten class at St. John Elementary School, took the bronze medal in San Francisco Youth Arts Festival competitions. The artwork is hanging in the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister St., through May 2005. Diane Aubry is St. John’s kindergarten teacher.

INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION Seminarians on celibacy. . . 3 New principals. . . . . . . . . . 6 First day of school . . . . . . . 9 Columnists. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Scripture and reflection . . . 14 Catholic perspective . . . . . 15

News-in-brief ~ Pages 4-5 ~ September 3, 2004

Pastoral Plan Update ~ Pages 10-11 ~

‘Hero’ movie review ~ Page 17 ~

FIFTY CENTS

Datebook . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 6

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No. 27

Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

On The Where You Live by Tom Burke This Sunday, September 5th at 4 p.m., it’s tunes and thanks as Father Paul Perry plays a dedicatory concert on the new Allen organ at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in North Fair Oaks, San Mateo County. The most generous benefactors are Shirley and Al Schwoerer of Our Franciscan Father Floyd Lotito Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in neighboring Redwood City. Al who grew up in St. Anthony’s and recalls “many happy memories there,” donated the $32,000 instrument in memory of his now deceased parents Margaret and Richard. “We are most grateful to Al and Shirley for this wonderful gift,” said pastor, Father Jim Garcia on behalf of himself and the St. Anthony’s parish family. Holding forth on the new organ in subsequent weeks at parish Masses are Larry Martin, who has played at the parish for 40 years and Javier Pacheco. Father Perry, who serves at St.

Welcomed into the Secular Franciscan Order in rites at Our Lady of Angels Church were, from left, Franz Cruz, Ruben Arcenal, Barbara Penner, Melen Rivera, Rhaniel Rivera. Capuchin Franciscan Father Camillus McRory presided.

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Most Reverend William J. Levada, publisher Maurice E. Healy, associate publisher & editor Editorial Staff: Jack Smith, assistant editor; Evelyn Zappia, feature editor; Tom Burke, “On the Street” and Datebook; Patrick Joyce, contributing editor/senior writer; Sharon Abercrombie and Jayme George, reporters Advertising: Joseph Pena, director; Mary Podesta, account representative Production: Karessa McCartney, manager; Tiffany Doesken Business Office: Marta Rebagliati, assistant business manager; Virginia Marshall, advertising and promotion services; Judy Morris, circulation and subscriber services Advisory Board: Jeffrey Burns, Ph.D., Noemi Castillo, James Clifford, Fr. Thomas Daly, Joan Frawley Desmond, James Kelly, Deacon William Mitchell, Kevin Starr, Ph.D., Sr. Christine Wilcox, OP. Catholic San Francisco editorial offices are located at One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109. Tel: (415) 614-5640 Circulation: 1-800-563-0008 or (415) 614-5638 Advertising: (415) 614-5642 News fax: (415) 614-5633; Advertising fax: (415) 614-5641 Adv. E-mail: jpena@catholic-sf.org Catholic San Francisco (ISSN 15255298) is published weekly except the Fridays after Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas and the first Friday in January, twice a month during summer by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014. Annual subscription rates are $10 within the Archdiocese of San Francisco and $22.50 elsewhere in the United States. Periodical postage paid at South San Francisco, California. Postmaster: Send address changes to Catholic San Francisco, 1500 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 1577, Colma, CA 94014 If there is an error in the mailing label affixed to this newspaper, call 1-800-563-0008. It is helpful to refer to the current mailing label.

Sebastian Parish in Greenbrae is a popular and well-known musician among his brother priests and the faithful…. It was the best of sending offs for Amanda Galli from All Souls Elementary to Mercy High School, Burlingame and Kevin Castech from St. Veronica Elementary to Junipero Serra High School. Proud folks are Mary and John Castech and Tina and Todd Galli, whose family owns the famed Galli Bakery of South San Francisco that produced the two cakes honoring the new grads. Sibs of the secondary school-bound duo are Andrew Galli, an All Souls 8th grader and Jessica Castech, a 7th grader at St. Veronica’s. Also in line to offer congrats were grandfolks Father Zachary Shore, pastor of Church of the Visitacion Parish, recently installed Marilyn and Amby Galli of All new officer’s of the parish Mothers’ Club. This is the moms 59th year as a parish Souls, Martha and Paul Castech organization said prez, Viola Rusca a “lifelong member of Visitacion” who today of St. Cecilia’s and Bernadette and lives “two blocks from the church and five blocks from the house” she grew up Joe DeLuca also of All Souls and in. From left: Viola, Gertrude Williams, treasurer; Father Shore, Patricia Andrieu, who sent in the good news. The veep; Zelda Stone, recording secretary; Florence Frey, corresponding secretary. DeLucas celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary May 25th. …Speaking of sending-offs, how about looking-backs? A plenty to do in retirement,” Ed told me noting he’ll be busy grade-school reunion for my class of ’65 is in the works for next helping at the parish as well as with organizations including the summer. Rounding up classmates will be a chore but much eas- Presidio Trust, the Young Men’s Institute and the ier methinks thanks to the Web site developed by a fellow St. Hibernians. Ed’s sister is former San Francisco Treasurer, Joe’s alum. Should you be in the throes of raising folks from the Mary Callanan….Celebrating his 70th birthday among past and have someone on board to build even a primitive Web friends and fans at the St. Anthony Foundation July 28th was Franciscan Father Floyd Lotito, the site, please go for it. It’s been a great forever – at least some 40 years assist to us. Should ya’ want worth – ambassador of the lauded a peek, go to http://stjoes65.homeagency. The priest brought meals on stead.com….It was fond farewells at Sunday to the dining room in 1981 St. Paul’s for Mary Tan who has and two years later additional services retired after 14 years as pastoral assofor the poor and homeless including a ciate at the Noe Valley parish. “We laundry and barbershop. Father Floyd wish Mary joy and happiness in the entered the Franciscans July 12, years to come,” said pastor, Father 1953 and was ordained December Mario Farana. “She always has a 17, 1960. “I’ve spent more than half home at St. Paul’s.” Mary is also a formy life at St. Anthony’s and I’m honmer “new digs” colleague having preored to share this special day with our viously served in the Religious guests in St. Anthony Dining Room,” Education office of the Archdiocese. Her proposed roster of retirement Cousins Kevin Castech and Amanda Galli he said….It only takes a moment to activities includes a trip to the Philippines and “more Giants and let us know about a birthday, anniversary, special achievement, 49ers games.”…Hats off to Ed Callanan, who attended St. or special happening in your life. Just jot down the basics and Paul Elementary and recently retired after 50 years with the send with a follow-up phone number to California Department of Industrial Relations. Ed and his On the Street Where You Live, One Peter Yorke Way, SF wife Peggy – longtime members of St. Brendan Parish - cel- 94109. You can also fax to (415) 614-5633 or e-mail, do not ebrated their 37th wedding anniversary April 8th. “I have send attachments, to tburke@catholic-sf.org.

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September 3, 2004

Seminarians voice support for mandatory celibacy By Jerry Filteau Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — At least 556 U.S. seminarians have signed a letter to the head of the U.S. bishops’ conference affirming their support for mandatory celibacy in the Catholic priesthood of the Latin rite. Gary J. Kasel of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis and Franz S. Klein of the Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., initiated the signature project last fall. They said they did so because they were concerned about the negative impact of a petition last year by a group of Milwaukee priests urging the U.S. bishops to begin admitting married men as candidates for the diocesan priesthood in the Latin rite. In the letter to Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville, Ill., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the seminarians said, “We are writing today to affirm our support for Holy Mother Church’s teaching on the place of celibacy in the priesthood. ... We, to whom the precious gift of divine grace to live as celibates has been given, yearn with all our hearts to offer this celibacy up to the Lord with undivided hearts, at the service of his church.” Kasel and Klein were classmates completing philosophy studies last year at St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul, where they initially circulated their letter after getting it cleared with their rector, Father William J. Baer. Through fellow students at St. John Vianney who knew students in other seminaries around the country, they sent letters to those contacts asking them to circulate the letter and seek signatures in their respective seminaries. They said they only worked through such personal contacts and made no effort to canvass all U.S. seminarians. Students from 12 other seminaries responded as well and Bishop Gregory received a total of 556 signatures from the 13 institutions. Father Edward J. Burns, executive director of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for

Vocations and Priestly Formation, shared information on the letter and petition results with Catholic News Service in August, shortly after The Catholic Times, La Crosse diocesan newspaper, interviewed Klein and Kasel. “This is indicative of the type of men that are responding to the priesthood today,” Father Burns told CNS. “They’re committed, dedicated, faith-filled, prayerful. And really they stand inspired by the teachings of our Holy Father.

In August 2003 more than 160 priests in the Milwaukee Archdiocese wrote to Bishop Gregory asking that the U.S. bishops begin accepting married men as well as single men as candidates for the diocesan priesthood in order to reverse the growing priest shortage and assure that U.S. Catholics will have access to weekly celebration of the Eucharist in the future. Subsequently groups of priests from several other dioceses sent similar letters; about 90 priests from the Diocese of

‘This is indicative of the type of men that are responding to the priesthood today. . . They’re committed, dedicated, faith-filled, prayerful. And really they stand inspired by the teachings of our Holy Father.’ “What we’re finding is that the Holy Father has impacted vocations around this country and throughout the world in a significant way, and they are committed to the teachings of Pope John Paul II,” he added. Pope John Paul has repeatedly reaffirmed the long-standing Roman Catholic discipline requiring celibacy of its priests. In an Aug. 23 e-mail from Assisi, Italy, where he was studying Italian in preparation for theology studies this fall at the North American College in Rome, Klein told CNS he and Kasel “did not receive a single letter responding negatively” to the contents of their letter, although some said they were not signing for other reasons. “Several seminarians thanked us for stepping up to the plate and giving us all an opportunity to express our feelings in this matter,” he wrote. “Others, however, thought that the Milwaukee priests and those who followed were not right in using a secular means (of signing petitions or position statements) to get their opinion across and did not feel that it was right for us to follow in their footsteps.”

Arlington, Va., responded with a letter in support of the Latin-rite discipline of mandatory celibacy. Bishop Gregory responded to the Milwaukee priests’ petition with a letter to Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee. In it he reaffirmed the church’s discipline and the value of celibacy as “a powerful spiritual means to draw closer to Christ.” He questioned whether relaxing

the discipline of celibacy would lead to an increase in the number of priesthood candidates. In his e-mail to CNS, Klein said the seminarians’ petition “is not meant to be a shot at the priests who have signed letters for optional celibacy. I know several of these priests personally and know that they are holy priests and very dedicated.” “This letter,” he added, “is meant to indicate only exactly what the Holy Father has spoken of as being something of great value to the type of priesthood that the Latin rite needs at this time. This important element is the grace given to those who make a single-hearted sacrifice and choose a life of celibacy.” In addition to St. John Vianney, seminaries from which student signatures came included: Bishop White Seminary in Spokane, Wash.; Cardinal Muench Seminary in Fargo, N.D.; Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Conn.; Holy Cross Seminary House of Formation in La Crosse; Mount St. Mary’s of the West Seminary in Cincinnati; and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md. Also among them were: Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Neb.; Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio; St. Charles Seminary in El Paso, Texas; St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa.; St. Gregory the Great Seminary in Seward, Neb.; and St. Meinrad School of Theology in St. Meinrad, Ind.

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September 3, 2004 members in 14 countries and includes physicians, nurses, medical technicians, dentists, psychologists, social workers and clergy. The majority of the members are Catholics in the United States. The association, founded in 1975, is divided into geographical regions, where members attend conferences, retreats and Masses, which help them carry out the group’s mission to “support, empower, and witness to the healing professions with the heart and mind of Jesus.” Jesuit Father Robert Faricy reinforced this mission during a retreat he conducted this summer for health care professionals in Temecula. He urged the participants to “ask the Lord’s help, pray daily for their patients by name, and when appropriate pray with the patients.” Father Faricy is an author and professor emeritus of spirituality at the Gregorian University in Rome. Based at Marquette University in Milwaukee, he celebrates Masses for the sick in Rome and throughout the United States.

in brief

Election materials available for students, parishes, individuals

Three-time cancer survivor to bike cross-country with Armstrong ELKRIDGE, Md. — Thirty-four-year-old Kristen Adelman knows what it’s like to fight. Whether it’s running a 100-mile race in the mountainous region of Loudenville, Ohio, as she did this June, or outracing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma three times in the past four years, the parishioner and teacher at St. Augustine in Elkridge has demonstrated tenacity, a remarkable zest for life and strong faith. “If your mind can conceive it, your body can achieve it” is the motto of the 5-foot-6-inch teacher with curly dark-brown hair and a ready smile. The next step in her journey is a cross-country bike tour with cyclist Lance Armstrong and other cancer survivors, doctors and nurses. Called the BristolMyers Squibb Tour of Hope, the tour begins Oct. 1 in Los Angeles and will conclude 3,500 miles later on Oct. 9 in Washington. Adelman, who teaches physical education, algebra and religion at St. Augustine School, was 30 and in great shape when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2000.

Nurse from Kansas sees other story at Abu Ghraib prison KANSAS CITY, Kan. — While world headlines have blared the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. guards at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, Iraq, there’s another story as well, says 1st Lt. Deanna Steinmetz, an Army nurse stationed there. The Abu Ghraib story that everybody knows, of course, is that of American soldiers, some of whom now face prosecution, taunting and abusing naked prisoners. Steinmetz, 24, who comes from Holy Angels Parish in Basehor, Kan., said there are also stories of hope from Abu Ghraib. She is part of Task Force Oasis, a medical unit from the 67th Combat Support Hospital in Wurtzburg, Germany, which was deployed to Iraq early this year to serve medical needs at Abu Ghraib. While many Iraqi prisoners openly express their hatred of Americans, Steinmetz said in an e-mail interview with The Leaven, Kansas City archdiocesan newspaper, that she went to Iraq with a commitment to treat

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Pope asks prayers for persecuted Christians (CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

WASHINGTON — Three religious organizations have produced nonpartisan materials to educate voters about political responsibility. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Catholic Relief Services and the Interfaith Alliance each has made election-related materials available recently. The USCCB released a bulletin insert that summarizes the bishops’ teachings on the role of Catholics in the public arena, drawn from their document: “Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility.” It can be ordered by phone at (800) 235-8722, or online at www.usccb.org/publishing. CRS is offering a 12-week program to guide college students through political issues addressed in “Faithful Citizenship.” Materials can be printed from the Web site, at www.crscampusconnection.org. Information also is available by calling Kevin Kostic, CRS campus ministry coordinator, at (410) 951-7430. The Interfaith Alliance, a nonpartisan, grass-roots public advocacy organization of more than 75 faith traditions, has produced an election year program, “One Nation, Many Faiths. Vote 2004,” about faith, religious liberty and pluralism. Information can be found online at www.interfaithalliance.org or by calling (202) 639-6370.

U.S. pitcher Lisa Fernandez, center, is mobbed by her teammates after they defeated Australia 5-1 to win the gold medal in softball at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, Aug. 23. Fernandez is a graduate of St. Joseph High School in Lakewood, Calif.

those prisoners just as she would any other patient — with concern and professionalism. And it’s paid surprising dividends. She recalled a prisoner who was brought to the intensive care ward vomiting blood. “I got a washcloth, started dabbing his forehead, and wiped the tears from his eyes — as my mom would do for me when I was sick,” Steinmetz said. “The patient started saying, ‘I will never forget this. ... No, no, I will not forget.’”

Asian pastoral leaders discuss challenge of a diverse church LOS ANGELES — Two California bishops spoke of their immigrant childhoods, while a third bishop from the Philippines spoke of recovering the “Asian-ness” of Christianity at a regional institute in Los Angeles. A Vatican envoy of Chinese ancestry also shared his knowledge with attendees at the Asian Pacific Institute of Ministry and Mission, held at Mount St. Mary’s College in August. About 65 representatives from Illinois, Pennsylvania, Utah, Nevada, Arizona and four California dioceses attended the institute. The ethnic communities represented included Brazilians, Cambodians, Chinese, Egyptians, Filipinos, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Koreans, Mexicans, Thais, Tongans and Vietnamese. “This is very enlightening, useful and helpful,” said Huy Ngo of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Vietnamese parish in Salt Lake City. He said the resources available in Los Angeles were “the envy of (my) small community of about 600 people from about 150 families.” Ngo said he would ask Salt Lake City Bishop George H. Niederauer to have current and future priests take classes on multiculturalism and to have some diversity training.

Christian therapists’ group adds spiritual care to medical cures TEMECULA, Calif. — Members of the Association for Christian Therapists add prayer to their care for patients and believe the spiritual dimension helps in their treatment and recovery. The ecumenical association numbers some 870

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy — Pope John Paul II called on the Catholic community to remember those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. “Even today, in some parts of the world, the faithful still continue to endure harsh trials for their acceptance of Christ and his church,” he said. “May these brothers and sisters of ours feel the full solidarity of the entire church community,” he asked Aug. 29 before praying the Sunday Angelus. The pope made special mention of the “numerous Christians who were victims of religious hatred in different nations of Europe this past century.” They, like all martyrs of the faith before them, “courageously followed in the footsteps” of St. John the Baptist, who gave his life “for truth and justice,” he said.

Priest’s murder shocks Indian church members COCHIN, India — The murder of a Catholic priest who worked with the poor in Kerala, a Christian state in southern India, has shocked church members. Father Job Chittilapilly, 71, died Aug. 28 from four stab wounds. His body was found on a porch at Mother of God Parish in Irinjalakuda Diocese, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India expressed shock at the priest’s murder. In an Aug. 29 statement, its vice president, Archbishop Jacob Thoomkuzhy of Trichur, urged the government to take urgent action to arrest the person or people responsible. As of Aug. 30, police said they had not yet identified the assailants at Father Chittilapilly’s parish, 25 miles north of Cochin. Bishop James Pazhayattil of Irinjalakuda told UCA News Aug. 30 that the slain priest worked for the poor and needy, so “his murder has put the people of our diocese in deep grief.” The bishop said Father Chittilapilly was “a good Samaritan who never had any enemies.”

Shrine’s guardian says pope believes Mary model of belief ROME — Pope John Paul II upholds the Blessed Virgin Mary as the perfect model for today’s religious believers, said the guardian of an Italian Marian shrine. “The pope insists you can learn to believe from Mary; she was fully open to God’s plan” and her decision to be part of it “was not based on a whim” but upon a firm, thoughtful choice, said Archbishop Angelo Comastri. The archbishop is papal delegate of the Italian sanctuary, the Holy House of Loreto, traditionally marked as Mary’s house from Nazareth. He will be among those welcoming Pope John Paul when the pope visits Loreto Sept. 5 to beatify three new servants of God. Belonging to a faith community is no longer automatic in today’s society, Archbishop Comastri told Catholic News Service Aug. 30 by phone from Loreto. “Today you must want to be, you must decide to be” part of a faith community, he said, “and what better than to go where it all began, to the place of the annunciation” where Mary said, “May it be done to me according to your word.”

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Sudan’s bishops ask action, less talk on Darfur crisis JINJA, Uganda — The world must stop talking about the tragedy unfolding in western Sudan’s Darfur region; it must act now to prevent more lives from being lost, said the Sudanese Catholic bishops. “We ask all concerned authorities to stop politicking. What is at stake are the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, particularly the children, the women and the elderly,” they said in a statement dated Aug. 24. The bishops, who met in Jinja, Uganda, said that some 35,000 people have died in the last year and a half and another 2 million people have been internally displaced. They said more people will die in the next few days as urgently needed relief supplies have been prevented from reaching their destinations. “There is no room for further statements, discussions or deliberation. This is a time for action to save innocent people,” the statement said.

PARIS — World War II veterans who helped liberate Paris 60 years ago joined French President Jacques Chirac at a commemorative Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral. Church leaders from the United States, England, Canada and Germany concelebrated the Aug. 26 Mass with Paris Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger. In his homily, Cardinal Lustiger urged those in attendance not to forget that France’s hard-fought freedom has yet to be shared by everyone. “As Europe builds itself as a unified entity, people all over the world are fighting for their liberty and are calling on freed people for help,” the cardinal said. At a time of growing economic disparity, the Paris cardinal asked if today “people are still worthy of the freedom others fought for.” Veterans, some with sports jackets clad with medals and others carrying French flags, filled the pews. Sixty years ago, many were fighting in the streets of Paris.

Irish cardinal says action needed on environment DUBLIN, Ireland — Effective action must be taken soon at the international, national and local levels to prevent an environmental catastrophe and growing interracial conflicts, said retired Cardinal Cahal Daly of Armagh, Northern Ireland. Speaking at the launch of his new book, “The Minding of Planet Earth,” in Belfast Aug. 23, the cardinal said: “Much of what has been done up to now is mere tokenism, given the scale of looming crisis. There must be changes of life and lifestyle, and these do not come without cost. Life in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ is relevant to the survival of life on this planet, as much as it is relevant to the salvation of souls. Christian conversion and ecological ‘conversion’ converge.”

(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

WWII vets at Mass mark liberation of Paris

Daughter of Charity Sister Sylvia Parks gives a thumbs up at the cash register after loading carts with as many groceries as possible in a seven-minute shopping spree as part of Albertson's and the Sav-on Drugs "Dash for Cash" charity program in Los Angeles Aug. 26. Four nuns participated in the effort, generating $40,000 for the local St. Vincent Meals on Wheels charity.

Pope urges youth to follow Christ’s light VATICAN CITY — Pope John Paul II invited the world’s young people to courageously follow the light of Christ in their lives, just as the three Wise Men embarked on a journey to seek the “king of kings.” In his written message for the 2005 World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, he asked young people “from every continent to follow in the spirit of the path taken by the Magi ... and to meet, as they did, the Messiah of all nations.” The Vatican released

the pope’s message Aug. 26 — 12 months ahead of time — to give young people the opportunity to prepare themselves “spiritually in an atmosphere of faith and listening to the word of God,” the pope wrote. Next year’s World Youth Day theme, “We Have Come To Worship Him,” is taken from the Gospel account of the Magi whose relics, according to tradition, are venerated in Cologne’s cathedral. – Catholic News Service

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September 3, 2004

New principals 2004–05 Jay Buckley San Domenico Middle School, San Anselmo Mr. Buckley has been teacher, administrator and coach at the elementary through college levels during his 25 years as an educator. “I am thrilled to be part of the administrative team,” Mr. Buckley, who will also teach Science at the San Anselmo school, said. “I look forward to getting to know each of the students.” His outside interests include reading, swimming and running. “His focus on curriculum, understanding of the needs of middle-schoolers, and his great sense of humor will make him a definite asset at San Domenico,” said Mathew Heersche, San Domenico Schools’ director. Angela Taylor Stuart Hall for Boys Elementary School An administrator at Stuart Hall since 2000, Ms. Taylor said she’s wanted to be a teacher since she was six years old. She especially likes the interest of Stuart Hall faculty and staff in the welfare of students. “That’s why I felt like I fit in here,” she said. “The reason I became an administrator is because I love children and I felt if I had a positive impact on their teachers, I would be able to have more of an impact on them,” the New Orleans-born educator said. She has previously served in schools in Oakland and Boston. Ken Hogarty, Ed.D. Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory School Dr. Hogarty, a 1966 alumnus of Sacred Heart High School – now Sacred Heart Cathedral - has taught at his alma mater since 1971. He calls teaching his “first source of joy” but has additionally served as department chair, program director, counselor and vice-principal. “We’ve always been fortunate in the students who have chosen to attend this school. This year’s student body will be no exception. I know, too, the time and effort many people in our community invest even beyond the classroom to make this a rich experience for the students. I hope, this year, I can make my mentors and advocates over the years proud. I know it’s an interim appointment but I’ve never been one to just keep a seat warm.” Gabriel A. Crotti Archbishop Riordan High School Born in Italy, Mr. Crotti moved with his family to San Francisco’s North Beach in 1953. He is a graduate of Noe Valley’s St. Paul Elementary School and today holds a graduate degree in counseling. He has been an educator for 35 years, 32 of them at Archbishop Riordan. “I love guiding and educating – it’s truly a calling. We have a great school – one of the best kept secrets in San Francisco and I want to let people know about us.” Mr. Crotti serves as the

school’s principal for academics. Marianist Father Tom French serves as principal for fiscal affairs. Bill Hambleton St. Dunstan Elementary School, Millbrae Mr. Hambleton was born in Southern California and grew up in Utah, later earning undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Theology at schools in Ohio and Rome. He has taught Theology at a Catholic high school in Salt Lake City as well as directed a campus ministry program at an overseas site. He is currently completing a post-graduate degree at the University of San Francisco in the area of Catholic Educational Leadership. His outside interests include skiing and jogging. Sister Chris Maggi, DC Visitacion Elementary School Daughter of Charity Sister Chris Maggi is a San Francisco native who entered religious life after earning an undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of San Francisco. She later completed a graduate degree in Private School Administration at USF. She has formerly taught at elementary schools including Visitacion and has also served as principal at an elementary school in Los Angeles. She is returning to school administration after four years in the service of her congregation as Provincial Secretary. Debbie Bell St. Charles Elementary School, San Carlos Ms. Bell moved to the Bay Area from Memphis where she has previously served as a teacher, vice-principal and principal at that city’s St. Ann school. “I am dedicated to Catholic education and I look forward to continuing my ministry at St. Charles,” she said. “I feel blessed to be part of such a welcoming community.” Sister Mary Susanna Vasquez, OP St. James Elementary School Dominican Sister Mary Susanna is a graduate of St. Anthony – now St Anthony Immaculate Conception – elementary school as well as Immaculate Conception Academy, a hallmark of the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose since its founding in 1883. “I am beginning my thirtieth year in Catholic education,” she said “I love San Francisco and it is good to be back home in the Mission.” Yvonne Olcomendy St. Robert Elementary School, San Bruno A graduate of the City’s St. Brendan Elementary School and Mercy High School, Ms. Olcomendy holds an undergraduate degree from Santa Clara University, a teaching credential from San Francisco State and a graduate degree from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. She is the “proud mother” of a

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son, Joey. “I am looking forward to serving the St. Robert’s parish community this year as principal,” Ms. Olcomendy said. Martin Young Marin Catholic High School Mr. Young has more than 30 years experience as an educator and is a former principal of Santa Clara High School in Martin Marilyn Southern California. He Young Porto holds a graduate degree in education from Chapman University. munity,” she said. After graduation from Marilyn Porto Mercy High School, San Francisco she St. Rita Elementary School, Fairfax attended San Francisco State University Ms. Porto attended San Francisco’s where she earned a California teaching St. Cecilia Elementary School. “My credential. She served as teacher and grammar school education provided a administrator at St. Hilary Elementary foundation based upon faith and tradi- School in Tiburon for 16 years. About tion, which was instilled and practiced her new role at St. Rita’s, she says, “I by my parents, school and parish com- was thrilled to be offered the position.”

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Women Religious â&#x20AC;&#x201C; New Sister and new leadership Mercy Sister Sherry Dolan marked its 200th year in 2004 professed final vows Aug. 8, with celebrations that included 2004 in rites at the congregaspecial rites on Feb. 2, 2004 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; tionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motherhouse Chapel in the anniversary of its founding Burlingame. Presiding was by St. Julie Billiart in France â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Mercy Sister Mary Waskowiak, and international closing cerepresident of the Sistersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; monies July 31, 2004 in Burlingame Region. Jesuit Belgium. The new leadership Father Donal Godfrey, celebratteam pictured at right are Sister ed Mass. Mercy Sister Suzanne Louise Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly, SNDdeN, Toolan and Dan Schutte â&#x20AC;&#x201C; comSister Kathryn Keenan, posers of pieces including I Am SNDdeN, and Sister Theresa the Bread of Life and Here I am Linehan, SNDdeN. Outgoing Lord â&#x20AC;&#x201C; shared the song leading. officers are Sister Mary Sister Sherry, who grew up in Laxaque, SNDdeN, Sister the Oakland Diocese, is managNancy Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shea, SNDdeN, and er of a Resident Ministry and Sister Virginia Unger, SNDdeN. Sister Sherry Dolan and Father Donal Godfrey. faith formation program at the The Sisters of Notre Dame de University of San Francisco and Namur are a community of nearbecame familiar with the Sisters of Mercy while employed as ly 2,000 Sisters around the world with140 Sisters in the a Human Resources director at a Bakersfield hospital. California Province. The congregation sponsors Notre Dame de Namur University and Notre Dame elementary and high NOTRE DAME SISTERS The new Leadership Team of the Sisters of Notre Dame de schools in Belmont. Sisters also serve in Archdiocesan Namur began five-year terms Aug. 1, 2004. The congregation schools, parishes and community education programs.

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Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary; Lives of the Saints; Sunday Soundbite.

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Tuesday:

Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; Catholic Book Publishers Bestsellers.

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Wednesday: Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary; Minute Meditation; Modern Physics and Ancient Faith.

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Thursday: Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary; Devotions

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Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary; Office of Film and Broadcasting.

Catholic Radio Hour is a production of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. It is brought to you in part thanks to your generous contribution to the Catholic Communications Campaign. Please be generous when asked to give at your parish. Prayers requests are welcome. You can help keep the rosary on the air by sending a donation to Catholic Radio Hour, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco, CA 94109.

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September 3, 2004

Second federal judge says partial-birth abortion ban unconstitutional By Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — A New York judge has became the second federal judge in three months to declare the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban unconstitutional. The Aug. 26 ruling by Judge Richard Conway Casey described partial-birth abortion as a “gruesome, brutal, barbaric and uncivilized medical procedure,” but said that to ban it was unconstitutional because the ban didn’t make exceptions for when the procedure might be necessary to protect a women’s health. Casey is one of three federal judges to hear appeals of the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban signed into law by President Bush last year. The law was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of the National Abortion Federation and several abortion doctors. On June 1, a San Francisco judge said the ban was unconstitutional because it violated “a woman’s right to choose an abortion” and could “force pregnant women to undergo a procedure that is less safe.” A federal judge in Lincoln, Neb., is expected to rule on the ban later this year. The three judges have suspended the ban while it is being appealed. Cathy Cleaver Ruse, director of plan-

ning and information in the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said Casey’s decision struck down the abortion

She also said the “crucial question of medical necessity” for an abortion was “never answered in this trial.”

“Roe vs. Wade once again made the unthinkable constitutional,” said Cathy Cleaver Ruse, noting that the Supreme Court decision made abortion a “constitutional right rather than an act of barbarism.” ban based on “dictates of Roe vs. Wade,” the 1973 Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. “Roe vs. Wade once again made the unthinkable constitutional,” she said, noting that the Supreme Court decision made abortion a “constitutional right rather than an act of barbarism.”

Ruse praised the U.S. Justice Department for its “vigorous defense” of the ban and also urged an appeal of the judge’s ruling in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban has been challenged for several reasons, including its lack of a clause providing an exception when

a pregnant woman’s health would be endangered by using a different type of abortion. Supporters of the ban say a health provision would have rendered the legislation virtually meaningless because of the broad definition of maternal health given by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 in its decisions to legalize abortion. The law bars a type of abortion that is usually performed in the second or third trimester. In the procedure, a live fetus is partially delivered, then the skull is punctured to sever the brain stem before the whole body is delivered. Under the law, doctors who perform such abortions, which are also known to physicians as “intact dilation and extraction,” are subject to up to two years in prison. Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice, said he was disappointed by Casey’s ruling, but also noted that it “represents only the beginning of a long legal road that will end at the Supreme Court of the United States.” “We remain hopeful that the ban ultimately will clear the constitutional hurdles,” he said. At an Aug. 26 news conference in Washington, Attorney General John Ashcroft said the Justice Department would continue to defend the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban and would appeal rulings that call the ban unconstitutional.

Survey shows support for nonembryonic stem-cell research WASHINGTON — A survey commissioned by the U.S. bishops’ pro-life office reported that U.S. adults strongly prefer federal funding of stem-cell research that does not destroy human embryos. The survey also reported strong opposition to human cloning to provide embryos for research. The telephone survey of 1,001 adults was conducted Aug. 13-17 by International Communications Research and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. It was commissioned by the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The results were released in Washington Aug. 23. Also released Aug. 23 was a separate survey by the National Right to Life Committee which reported similar results. A survey released Aug. 24 by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, however, reported that a slim majority of Americans say stemcell research is more important than preventing the destruction of human embryos. The pro-life secretariat survey asked two related questions about embryonic stem-cell research. When asked about legislation before Congress that would allow federal funding for stem-cell research that destroys human embryos, respondents were closely divided, with 46.9 percent saying they opposed such funding and 43.3 percent expressing approval.

F I N A N C E

But when respondents were presented with an alternative between funding research that destroys human embryos and that which uses adult stem cells requiring no destruction of embryos, only 23 percent supported embryonic research and 61.4 percent approved using adult stem cells. The question noted that “scientists disagree on which source may end up being most successful in treating diseases.” Regarding medical research in general, 79.8 percent opposed using cloning to create human embryos and 13.3 percent approved. Regarding human reproduction, 82.1 percent opposed using cloning “to create children for infertile couples” and 11.1 percent approved. The survey reported that opposition to government funding of embryonic stemcell research was stronger among women, low-income respondents, seniors and regular churchgoers. In response to the closely divided question on funding which did not offer the alternative of adult stem-cell research, regular churchgoers and people identifying with a religion showed stronger opposition to embryonic research than the general population. Here is the breakdown: — Among the 394 people attending religious services at least weekly, 61.6 percent opposed government funding for embryonic research and 28.8 percent were in favor.

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— Among the 878 respondents giving a religious affiliation, 48.2 percent were opposed and 42 percent were in favor. — Among the 123 respondents who said they have no religious affiliation, 38.3 percent were opposed and 52.1 percent were in favor. Richard Doerflinger, deputy director of the pro-life secretariat, said the poll shows strong opposition to cloning and embryonic stem-cell research at a time when “cloning embryos for their stem cells is the logical next step in the embryonic stem-cell research agenda.” Doerflinger said polls should not mislead the public by failing to mention that human embryonic research destroys the embryos or by “ignoring the documented benefits” of adult stem-cell research. The National Right to Life Committee survey reported that 53 percent of respon-

dents opposed federal funding for stem-cell research that destroys human embryos and 38 percent supported such research. The committee survey was conducted by Wilson Research Strategies and involved 1,000 adults interviewed Aug. 16-18. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent. The Pew survey reported that 52 percent of respondents said it was more important to conduct stem-cell research than to keep embryos from being destroyed. This was up from 43 percent who expressed the same view in a 2002 survey, Pew reported. In a breakdown for white Catholics, the Pew survey reported that 55 percent said stem-cell research was more important than not destroying embryos. The breakdown did not give the frequency of churchgoing. The Pew survey was of 1,512 adults conducted Aug. 5-10. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent.

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Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

First Day of School

Homebound, ill or incapacitated? Watch the TV Mass each Sunday morning at 6:00 a.m. with Msgr. Harry Schlitt.

PHOTO BY SUE PHELPS

The TV Mass airs on WB-Channel 20 (cable viewers Channel 13) and Channel 26 (cable viewers Channel 8). The TV Mass is supported in part by the Catholic Communications Campaign. Please be generous when asked to give at your parish.

Opening day for the 2004-05 school year at San Francisco’s St. Gabriel Elementary School was August 26. Mercy Sister Pauline Borghello, principal of the Sunset District school since 1981, gathered with a few of St. Gabe’s more than 450 students. Back from left: Alanna Lundburg, Samira Nuru, Sister Pauline, Mackenzie Murtagh. Front from left: Mishal Al-asfour, Dylan O’Halloran, Callum Watts.

Catholic San Francisco invites you

to join in the following pilgrimages FATIMA, SPAIN AND LOURDES September 26, 2004 Departs San Francisco 11-Day Pilgrimage

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Fr. Charles MacDonal Spiritual Director Visit: Lisbon, Fatima, Salamanca,

Fatima

Avila, Toledo, Madrid, Segovia, Burgos, Loyola, Lourdes, Toulouse

PHOTO BY CAROL FRAHER

* Early registration received by June 28, 2004 deduct $100.00

Mercy High School, Burlingame recently opened August 19, for its 73rd school year. Laura Held, principal, was pleased to welcome the school’s approximately 520 students. From left, juniors Maeve O’Reilly, Monica Lopez and Nicole Bordi share their summers with Ms. Held.

T R A V E L

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Fr. Michael Lacy Spiritual Director St. Bernadette

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15-Days: Oct. 18 to Nov. 1, 2004

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Visiting: Italy, Spain, Our Lady of Lourdes & Fatima

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Spiritual Director

Fr. Gino Donatelli Spiritual Director

Knock

Visit: Dublin,Clonmacnois,Galway, Knock, Croagh Patrick,Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Tralee, Slea Head, Gallarus Oratory, Dingle, Killarney, Blarney Castle, Rock of Cashel & More.

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Deadline for Reservation: Aug. 14, 2004 Information meeting will be held Aug. 8th at 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 221 Valley St., San Francisco

January 11, 2005

Presents the following tours:

THE SHRINES OF EUROPE

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ITALY

AMERICA’S TOURS 2000

DEPART FROM SAN FRANCISCO

Departs San Francisco 10-Day Pilgrimage

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Spiritual Director

October 5, 2004

October 7, 2004

www.yosemitebug.com

Father Francisco Gamez

LOURDES and the GREAT SAINTS of EUROPE

Visiting: England, Scotland & Ireland & Wales Islands

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Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

Ministry goals and strategies presented in update of Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan By Jack Smith The result of a three-year review and revision of the 1995 Archdiocesan Pastoral Plan is now being distributed to parish councils in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The original pastoral plan, “A Journey of Hope Toward the New Millennium,” was developed during the tenure of former San Francisco Archbishop John R. Quinn and confirmed and promulgated by Archbishop William J. Levada. In the Jubilee Year 2000, Archbishop Levada appointed an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) and set as its first priority a review and evaluation of the 1995 Pastoral Plan. The membership of diocesan pastoral councils is spelled out by Canon Law and “having one is highly recommended,” said Presentation Sister Antonio Heaphy, director of the Department of Pastoral Ministry for the Archdiocese. Archbishop Levada has also mandated that each parish have a pastoral council, she said. The APC is composed of about 40 members including lay representatives from each of the deaneries, ethnic community representatives, and members representing deacons, the Archdiocesan Council of Priests, Religious women and religious order priests. “It’s a pretty good representative cross-section of the Archdiocese,” Sister Antonio said. About one third of the membership rotates each year, so several dozen people have been involved in the three year review of the pastoral plan. The goal of reviewing the plan was not to invent anything new, Sister Antonio said, but to discover how well the original plan had been implemented and to prioritize its goals. Deacon Bernie O’Halloran (former chair), Sister “The original plan was a wonderful plan, but nobody monitored it,” Sister Antonio said. Antonio Heaphy, PBVM, Mary Ellen Hoffman, “Some of the APC members hadn’t even heard about it,” she said. That goal is shared by St. Matthias parishioner Jim Brunsmann who served as Secretary and Jim Brunsmann (former secretary). of the Council through two years of its work. “The committee hopes to keep the original plan alive and get the parishes to look at it,” he said. Brunsmann’s strategy for accomplishing that ments of the Church have come to the realization that people need a better formation in the faith was very practical, he said. “My focus was looking toward what can the Archdiocese feed down – for the adults’ own spiritual development and so they can pass it on to their kids,” she said. to the local level that the parishes can work with and actually implement.” One goal touching upon that aspect is strengthening the role of the family as the agent for In his introduction to the APC’s report called, “Review of the Implementation of the passing on the faith. “The role of the family as the primary educators of children in ways of Pastoral Plan and Recommendations for Future Actions,” Archbishop Levada said, “It anafaith . . . must be expanded beyond the sphere of Catholic elementary schools into total parish lyzes what has been accomplished thus far, and makes recommendations about ongoing life,” the report says. Part of that must be accomplished by assisting parents in their own “onpastoral goals in the light of today’s needs in the Archdiocese and the universal Church.” going conversion and formation in the faith.” Archbishop Levada, as president of the APC Another goal centers on educating parishsaid he hopes “the document can be a vehicle to The Jubilee Year’s proclamation “Open Wide ioners about the basic social teachings of the enhance effective communication between the Doors to Christ,” is an even more urgent Church. “Raising the level of awareness of the Pastoral Councils at the Parish and Church’s social teachings throughout all levels Archdiocesan levels, and in this way be helpful to cry today. The three goals of the United of society will make witnessing to the world a the ongoing process of good pastoral planning so States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ more effective experience,” the report says. important to the vitality of our local Church.” document, “Go and Make Disciples”, call for While the report makes numerous specific “The area that most excites me is social jusrecommendations, the core of its purpose is to a re-evangelization of the Catholic Church in tice,” Brunsmann said. That is in part because he focus and better prepare the local church for its the United States as a people of faith. believes it can be successfully and concretely primary role of evangelization, Sister Antonio said. implemented. “I think you can easily get the Because of the pervasive secular culture of That purpose is drawn from the Church’s “call to parishes involved and excited about that,” he said. transform society with the Gospel message of Jesus the Bay Area, this renewal of our Beyond identifying specific priority goals, Christ,” according to the report. “The Jubilee Year’s commitment to be in communion with the APC also spent nearly two years reviewing proclamation ‘Open Wide the Doors to Christ’ is an the successes and failures in implementing the Jesus Christ is now most critical. even more urgent cry today,” the report says, “. . original plan. It identified provisions of the .Because of the pervasive secular culture of the Bay original plan which have been successful, Area, this renewal of our commitment to be in communion with Jesus Christ is now most critical.” those which need more work, and those which should be “dropped from concern.” The main portion of the report is dedicated to prioritizing the ministry goals of the In preparation for this review, every office of the Archdiocese presented the APC a report Archdiocese. The report lists seven goals “that will require the focus of resources, time and on what had or hadn’t been done, Sister Antonio said. In addition, the members brought creativity,” and suggests strategies to accomplish those goals. their own experience “of what is happening in the parishes,” with regard to the implemenMany of the goals in the plan focus on the preparation of the laity to take on their role as tation of the plan, she said. evangelizers. “If they don’t know the faith, how can they pass it on,” Sister Antonio said. “All segPastoral plan provisions deemed successfully or moderately implemented include the focus and coordination of sacramental preparation programs and the incorporation of young adults into parish life. Provisions requiring further progress include the promotion of Scripture study and faith sharing in all parishes and better fostering opportunities and hospitality for Catholics willing to re-identify with the Church. The report also said “the funding of the Catholic School system needs to be studied . . . in order to move toward a more equitable and secure future.” Provisions dropped from concern over the last ten years since the promulgation of the original plan include creating youth councils in parishes and identifying specific parishes as youth centers. Provisions of the original plan were dropped either because they were not practical or “because the need was being served by some other means,” Brunsmann said. Copies of the report were mailed to parishes at the end of August. All pastors, pastoral staff members of parishes and all parish council members will receive a copy of the report to study. Sister Antonio, who also heads the Archdiocesan Office of Evangelization, has organized nine parish pastoral council workshops throughout the archdiocese to be held in October and November. The sessions are two and a half hours and will help parish council members become familiar with the intent of the report in an informative and interactive way. “The diocese has a vision, and the parishes need to be working together on that vision,” Sister Antonio said. Deacon Bill Mitchell (current chair), Jim Brunsmann “is looking forward to see how the parishes embrace the report in the sessions,” he said. “We need to open the avenues more between the parish pastoral councils May Lyau, and Roseanne Baron. and the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.”

CURRENT ARCHDIOCESAN PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS President: Archbishop William J. Levada, Archbishop of San Francisco. Pastoral Center Representatives Bishop John C. Wester; Bishop Ignatius C. Wang; Monsignor Harry Schlitt – Vicar for Administration and Moderator of the Curia; Monsignor Jose Rodriguez – Vicar for Spainsh Speaking; Sister M. Antonio Heaphy, PBVM – Director of Pastoral Ministry (Member, Executive Committee); Maureen Huntington – Superintendent of Catholic Schools. Dean Representatives Monsignor Fred Bitanga – San Francisco County, Pastor of St. Patrick Church. Reverend Michael Keane – Marin County, Pastor of St. Isabella Church. San Mateo County to be filled. Ethnic Communities Representatives Francis Jhung – Korean Community; Aulola Lavulo – Tongan Community (Secretary); Elizabeth Law – Burmese Community; Nellie Hizon – Filippino Community; Lorraine Vallejo – Croatian Community; Nelly Salem – Arab Palestinian Community. Deanery Representatives Mary Ann Bouey – Deanery 1; Mario Vierneza – Deanery 2; Roz Gallo – Deanery 3; Simon Tsui – Deanery 4; Elsie Foley – Deanery 5; Roseanne Baron – Deanery 6; Terry Murphy – Deanery 7; Glenen Grivas – Deanery 9; May Lyau – Deanery 10; George Schoenstein – Deanery 11. Other Representatives Doris Munstermann – Ecumenical/Inter-religious Representative (Vice Chair); Dr. Anthony Ramirez – Catholic School Board of Education Representative; Brian Cahill – Executive Director of Catholic Charities/ CYO; Reverend Piers Lahey – Council of Priests Representative; Deacon Bernie O’Halloran – Liturgical Commission Representative; Reverend Louis Vitale, OFM – Community of Men Religious Representative; Sister Anne Bertain, OP – Community of Women Religious Representative; Deacon William Mitchell – Diaconate Representative (Chair). Executive Secretary: Mary Ellen Hoffman

Catholic San Francisco

REVIEW OF ORIGINAL PASTORAL PLAN PROVISIONS ACTIONS OF THE PASTORAL PLAN THAT WERE DEEMED SUCCESSFULLY OR MODERATELY IMPLEMENTED ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Sacramental preparation programs are focused and well-coordinated. Youth and young adults volunteer their time to services of mercy and justice. Young adults are incorporated into the life of the parish. Support for the Archbishop John R. Quinn Social Justice Colloquium is strong. Family and personal counseling is being implemented through Catholic Charities.

ACTIONS OF THE PASTORAL PLAN THAT ARE STILL IN PROGRESS AND WHERE IMPLEMENTATION NEEDS TO CONTINUE ◆

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◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Catholic Schools Strategic plan needs to be funded to be fully implemented, especially in marketing our schools to those who have not been previously reached and to newly arrived populations. The funding of the Catholic School system needs to be studied and recommendations given, in order to move toward a more equitable and secure future. The promotion of Scripture study and faith sharing are not consistent from parish to parish. More has to be done to enable the parishes to provide effective and systematic adult faith formation. Those parishes which did utilize the RENEW process need to be supported in their continued efforts at small faith communities. The personnel and financial resources for faith formation of children and families in parishes and Catholic Schools need to be enhanced. A team to provide prayer opportunities and hospitality for Catholics willing to re-identify with the Church needs to be established in every parish. Candidates for the Diaconate need to be continually identified, assessed and formed.

AREAS THAT DROPPED FROM CONCERN OVER TEN YEARS ◆ ◆ ◆

Youth Councils in parishes Parishes identified as Youth Centers School endowments at every parish

Seven goals for the future of the ministry in the Archdiocese Following are the seven goals identified by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council toward which the Council requests a “focus of resources, time and creativity.” They are listed in order of priority and include selected strategies for their implementation: 1. Collaboration with and empowerment of the laity in the mission and ministry of the Church ➣ Provide educational programs at the parish, deanery and archdiocesan levels on collaboration and cooperation between clergy and laity; ➣ Establish avenues for informing and updating the laity on the Church’s teaching, using official Vatican and USCCB Documents; ➣ Empower parishioners to take an active role in the various ministries of the parish, reaching out to old and young alike; ➣ Utilize the services of the School of Pastoral Leadership (SPL) in empowering, educating and preparing the laity for roles of ministry in the parish. Expand the curriculum to include diaconate formation, more adult education programs, and lay ministry formation. 2. Vital, reverent liturgies with homilies that bridge the gospel and everyday life for parishioners ➣ Provide assistance and training to new and existing liturgy committees; ➣ Empower parishioners to take an active role in the appropriate liturgical parish ministries and provide them with the necessary training; ➣ Develop a professional interactive training program in homiletics for priests and deacons; (Vicar for Clergy) ➣ Promote the use of the forthcoming Sacramentary with liturgy committees and parish leadership.

3. Laity who know Catholic social teachings and put these principles into action in all areas of their lives ➣ Establish a social justice outreach in each parish that works for justice, life and social change; ➣ Make available, in the parish, educational programs on Catholic Social Teaching; ➣ Encourage parishioners to become involved in community social action, e.g., by providing opportunities for training of laity in Faithful Citizenship. (c.f. USCCB Document, Faithful Citizenship 1999.) 4. Better communication of the Church’s mission and ministry within our local church ➣ Develop a forum through which the laity can express their views and engage in open dialogue; ➣ Enhance communication between the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council and the local parish pastoral councils; (APC) ➣ Motivate parishioners to become familiar with archdiocesan avenues of communication, i.e., Catholic San Francisco and the archdiocesan website; ➣ Develop a process which ensures that information is current and accurate on the archdiocesan website and that a means will be provided to accept feedback on the web. (Office of Communications) 5. Strengthening the role of the family as the intergenerational agent for the transferance of the faith ➣ Assist parents to recognize their role as the primary educators in the faith development of their children;

➣ Assist parents in their on-going conversion and formation in the faith; (c.f. Document: Partners in Faith: Parish, School and Family - Archdiocese of San Francisco, June 2000) ➣ Develop a resource or referral service for families or individuals who have specialized needs and post information on available websites; 6 Enhancement of ethnic ministries to foster evangelization and faith formation among various peoples and call forth ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue ➣ Encourage an environment that fosters the celebration of ethnic diversity while at the same time nourishes parish unity; ➣ Assess the demographics of the parish in order to anticipate the emerging needs of new parishioners; ➣ Identify a parish resource that would advocate for the ecumenical life of the parish; ➣ Address evangelization as a specific focus as indicated in Section III of this document: - Areas Of Concern Identified by the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council. 7 Awakening parish communites to their role in fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life ➣ Provide opportunities to educate the parish community on religious life and priesthood; ➣ Emphasize prayer for vocations in the parish and in families; ➣ Use Catholic and secular media to promote vocations; ➣ Establish parish vocation committees.

Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

Catholic san Francisco Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper

Guest Commentary New Beginnings By Maureen Huntington As the lazy days of summer transition into the final days of August, students, teachers, and parents begin to think of returning to school. The beginning of school produces feelings of excitement, anticipation and even some sadness. Students generally are excited to be back in school. They look forward to returning to familiar surroundings and renewing friendships with classmates. For Kindergartners and ninth graders, school beginning signifies a new start in a new place. For others it means the beginning of the end as high school seniors anticipate graduation, college acceptance and moving on into a new life as an adult. Teachers look forward to meeting a new group of students. Parents look forward to their children returning to school and re-establishing the family routine. Principals and school administrators see the beginning of school differently. They have spent the past two months preparing the school facilities, curriculum and staffing for another year. Painting, cleaning, repairing, installing new features, hiring and evaluating the past year have consumed their summer. The planning and preparation needed to welcome students, teachers, and parents for another school year is tremendous and all while the principal is simultaneously closing out the last school year. Each new school year brings a new set of challenges and opportunities. Some principals are concerned that their student enrollment will be sufficient to meet budget expectations. They are concerned that the new teachers they hired will be able to provide the best Catholic instructional program possible to serve the specific needs of their students. How do we, as part of the larger Catholic community, continue to carry on the mission of the Church through prayer, service, worship and community? Our Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese are faced with many challenges. Our school communities are struggling with the effects of changing demographics. Families cannot afford to live in the city and are choosing to move to areas where housing is more affordable. Jobs and businesses are moving to other areas where costs are less. Premiums associated with health care and insurance continue to escalate causing family and school budgets and student tuition to increase each year. How do we continue to carry out the mission of our schools, maintaining a balanced, nurturing and challenging educational program and still keep it affordable? How do we attract families to our schools and support their efforts to provide a Catholic school education for their children? With rising costs and the declining population – how do we maintain a balance? How do we acquire the resources our schools need to carry on their mission? How do we sustain our commitment to academic excellence, carry on the mission of the Catholic Church, ensure a safe environment while serving very diverse student populations from various cultures and languages? We are faced with many questions, problems and challenges but no easy answers or solutions. Where and how do we begin to address the challenges? The reality is that each of us is a part of the solution and each of us holds the answer within our heart. The solutions are not simple or easy. The prize is too valuable and fragile for simple solutions. Catholic Schools are pearls of great value and worthy of great efforts to sustain, secure and preserve for future generations. Catholic Schools are a gift to the Church and a blessing to our American society. Millions of us have benefited from the sacrifices and dedication of generations past. Our challenge is to shoulder this responsibility on behalf of the next generations of students. We owe our parents, teachers, pastors and benefactors a debt that we pay forward to the next generation of children and students. Our efforts today will have a lifelong effect on families for generations to come. With the beginning of this new school year, please take some time to consider the many blessings you have received during your lifetime and consider ways that you can make a significant contribution to a child or family to secure their future. Your willingness to volunteer; or financially support a child or a classroom; or your daily prayers for the success of our students; are just some of the ways that you and I can repay our debt to those that assisted us and pay our debt forward to the next generation of Catholic families and students. To all students, teachers, parents, principals and administrators returning to a new school year – WELCOME BACK! Have a great school year! Ms. Maureen Huntington is Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

They still come I was very touched by Terry Fenwick’s conversion story in Catholic San Francisco. (Letters – Aug. 27) The present time with all the scandals is perhaps not the easiest time to join the Catholic Church. On the other hand, it is presumptuous to think that the Holy Ghost is shackled or constrained by human sin. As a parishioner at the Cathedral, I say “welcome” to Terry and her husband. We are honored to join them on their pilgrim journey. David R. Dion San Francisco

Voting for hubby I hope Therese J Borchard (Guest Commentary – Aug. 27) will take some responsibility for her (and our) future, and that she will not write in her husband’s name on the presidential ballot this November. Ms. Borchard’s husband may be a wonderful guy, and he may even meet all the criteria in her wish list for a U.S. President. But everybody has a different wish list, and in our representative democracy, all of the wish lists get thrown in together as we vote in primaries, participate in political events, make contributions of time and money, and, ultimately, vote in the general election. As imperfect as the process is (and as imperfect as the candidates are) the outcome will be even worse if good people like Ms. Borchard and the readers of Catholic San Francisco, opt out of the process. Ms. Borchard should summon in herself the very virtues she seeks in a president, particularly the part about “wrestling with the tough questions.” Choosing among imperfect alternatives is a prime example of the kind of tough question we expect our presidents to handle as part of the job. Won’t she do her job? Writing in Hubby, or dropping out all together, does not promote what she says a president ought to be looking out for — the common good for the country. I hope no reader of Catholic San Francisco will follow her example. Stephen St. Marie San Francisco

on partial birth abortions that cause suffering to the unborn as they are pulled apart and removed from their mothers womb in the second and third trimesters of a pregnancy. How sensitive is that? If Therese Borchard applauds Kerry for not being afraid to vote for abortions and stem cell research (I assume she means embryonic stem) then I am pleased that she is voting for her husband and not the Democratic candidate. Claire P. Rogus San Mateo

Kill, don’t kill? I was shocked by two recent politically biased articles: “Knights of Columbus hear Bush, approve resolutions at convention” on Aug 13, and “What Happened to the Boston Democrats?” on Aug 27. It is certainly good for us to be informed on the position of our candidates. However, these points should not let us forget a major issue that should, by far, be the center of our decision to vote for Bush or Kerry in November. We have killed and continue to kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children, and ruin the lives of millions of Iraqis based on either false or incomplete information. This has triggered a worldwide hate of our country, and may be the risk of a new worldwide war. Our president in office bears the full responsibility of this act. This alone should make us decide if we should give him another chance or place another man in the highest office of the land. I understand the opposition to abortion that is promoted through the many articles. Privately, my wife and I are opposed to it, as are Kerry and Bush. What I object to, is to present public positions as pro and against abortion or, even stronger, pro or against life. This is a fundamentalist position that calls for confrontation. As Christians, instead of being divided and fighting to the point of even killing a doctor who performs abortions, we should look at the common beliefs that we have on this issue, and work from there. As Christians, we agree that we should not kill either an innocent adult or an innocent baby. We also agree that we have free will and should respect the free will of others, even if we see its exercise as a sin. God lets us sin. This is our free choice. Why should we deny it to others? The only unresolved question is to know at what point there is a human being in the womb of a woman. To have a human being, we need a life vehicle supplied by the parents. But we also need a God-given soul. When God grants a soul is the question which divides “pro-life” and “prochoice” advocates. Certainly science today doesn’t have the answer. I do not know of any instrument that can detect the soul. God is the only one who truly has the answer. Bernard Bouyssounouse Novato

L E T T E R S

Strange sensibility The guest commentary, “Looking for a Candidate” by Therese J. Borchard is more of a comedy piece. She wants a Catholic President with the faith sensibilities of John Kerry. How sensitive is he to the teachings of the Catholic Church? He opposes the most important principle of our church, the right to life. Health care, economic security and jobs are meaningless to the 4,000 babies a day that were not given their God given right to life. He even voted to oppose the ban

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Photo bias An important election is fast approaching. We will soon decide which way our country will be going for the next four years. Recently we have been receiving messages from leaders of the Catholic Church that politicians running for office can’t be both Catholic and pro-abortion. For this reason, I was very surprised to see the very nice picture of John Kerry and John Edwards on page four of the July 30 Catholic San Francisco with no comments pro or con about how they stand on any issues. It appears that you have endorsed gentlemen who would not support human life at home, in the courts, or at the United Nations. How will Christianity survive this kind of leadership? How will our society survive? A picture is worth a thousand words. Gloria Gillogley-Acosta San Mateo

September 3, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

The Catholic Difference This past summer I had a pleasant dinner with a senior British churchman who happened to be visiting Cracow while I was teaching there. His Grace was, in many respects, an Anglican prelate straight from central casting: handsome, charming, urbane, impeccably attired, emotions under control, disclaimers always preceded by a “perhaps,” etc., etc. Earlier in the day, he had gone to Wadowice, the Pope’s birthplace, and was clearly moved to have seen the roots from which a great Christian witness had sprung. What was disconcerting about our conversation was that it never touched on theology. We discussed at length the impact on the Anglican Communion and the AnglicanCatholic dialogue of last year’s decision by the Diocese of New Hampshire (supported by a majority vote of delegates to a national Anglican convention) to ordain as the local bishop a man who has lived for years with his homosexual lover – this, after divorcing his wife in a church ceremony. My interlocutor suggested, politely, that the real problem here was one of management, or perhaps of manners: U.S. Episcopalians had rushed into this before the rest of the Anglican Communion had had a chance to adjust its thinking to more enlightened (so to speak) ways. That the Gene Robinson case in New Hampshire engaged some core theological questions, including the Church’s claim to be the bearer of moral truth, did not seem to be at the top of my dinner companion’s menu of concerns. Later in the summer I remembered this conversation when reading several reviews of, and commentaries on, the memoirs of George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and

head of the Anglican Communion. It is no offense against charity to suggest that Lord Carey is confused about several things – and, once again, they are theological in character. Carey argues that, as John Paul II has experienced more physical difficulties, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger has taken the Catholic Church in a new direction, undercutting the Pope’s heroic personal witness. The evidence for this? The 2000 Vatican document Dominus Iesus, which reaffirms the unique salvific mission of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church’s ancient understanding of itself as the most rightly ordered expression in history of the One Church of Christ. Why has Ratzinger done this? Because, Carey writes, Ratzinger is “exceedingly conservative,” a man who shows “little of the flexibility that characterized the approach of the Second Vatican Council.” Really? Dominus Iesus contains 102 footnoted citations; fifty of them are taken from the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Another thirty-seven citations are from the magisterium of John Paul II, who, as Dominus Iesus states, approved the document “with sure knowledge and by his apostolic authority.” Carey also blames Ratzinger and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for the strained relations between Rome and Canterbury over the Anglican admission of women to the ordained ministry. But this, too, makes no sense. Carey’s predecessor, Archbishop Robert Runcie, had been told in letters from the Pope and from Cardinal Johannes Willebrands (whom no one would ever style “conservative”) that Anglican approval of the ordination of women would raise extremely grave questions about the future of the Anglican-Catholic dialogue and the hope for ecclesial reconciliation. Runcie replied that there were

indeed serious theological and ecumenical issues in play – and then proceeded to make the case for ordaining women on strictly sociological grounds. Which leads to the awkward but inescapable George Weigel thought that some highranking Anglican prelates of recent vintage have suffered from a dramatic theology deficit. Lord Carey’s successor, Dr. Rowan Williams, is a formidable and well-regarded theologian. Whether he can convince his fellow bishops of the Anglican Communion to think theologically, rather than sociologically and politically, about central questions of Christian doctrine and Church order would seem to be one of his challenges. If Dr. Williams is unsuccessful – if senior Anglican figures continue to treat the Gene Robinson affair as a management problem, while others blame ecumenical chilliness on that great bogeyman, Cardinal Ratzinger – then, before too much time has passed, many Catholics, including those fully committed to ecumenism, will sadly but ineluctably conclude that what styles itself an Anglican “Communion” is in fact a fraternity of quarreling Protestant sects. George Weigel is a senior fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Guest Commentary

Is this a saint like you? Even if you’re trying really hard, it can be a challenge for a kid to find saints to identify with. You like the young Francis of Assisi’s idealism, and the way Therese of Lisieux loved so passionately and died so bravely. When you need to forgive, Maria Goretti shows you how. When you need strength to stop griping about your moments of suffering, it helps a lot to just stop and think about the countless young people, from ancient Rome to the present, who’ve died rather than betray Jesus. But still ... At the moment, your life isn’t being threatened. You’re not in a cloister. You’re not leaving your family and starting a religious order from scratch. As much as you can see in each of these lives that is helpful, you wish you had someone to look to who lived a life a little more like your own. Have you heard about Pier Frassati? If you’re a fun-loving, friendly person with lots of energy and a passion for life, Pier Frassati, who is called “Blessed,” or one step away from “Saint,” is the guy for you. Pier (Peter, in English) was born in Turin, Italy, in 1901. Early on, it was clear he was filled with an amazing sensitivity toward the poor. He regularly gave his allowance

away to people he met on the street who were in need — even his shoes on occasion. When it came time for Pier to head to college, he rejected the path everyone expected him to follow — going into journalism or politics like his parents. He decided to study the engineering of mines. Why? Because mining was (and is) one of the most dangerous, dirtiest jobs anyone could have. Miners face the possibility of death every day in ways most of the rest of us don’t. Pier had decided that God was calling him to bring this brave group the strength and hope of God’s love, and the best way to do it was actually to plunge in and work alongside them. Pier didn’t hesitate to throw himself into political protests too, standing up for workers’ rights even to the point of getting beaten and arrested! But there’s more. Pier Frassati was not your stereotypical, serious holy guy. He loved playing practical jokes. He was into music and the theater. And he relished outdoor sports, especially skiing. He and his closest friends called themselves “the sinister ones.” Their ridiculous motto is best translated into English as “The Few, the Proud, ... the Macaroni!” Pier would lead his friends on energetic, exciting mountain-climbing trips, followed by skiing trips back down the mountains.

Pier died in 1925, and if you do the math you’ll figure out he was only 24. He had picked up a case of polio while visiting the homes of the poor, and it killed him after only a few days, but not before he had pulled out a Amy Welborn little account book filled with the names of people he helped on a regular basis and begged his family not to let these folks be forgotten. No, none of us is exactly like Pier Frassati, Maria Goretti, Therese of Lisieux, Kateri Tekakwitha or Francis of Assisi. But when you look at how different these young people were from each other and how each one found a path to friendship with God — even, in Pier’s case, in the midst of a life not too different from yours — it should give you hope that somewhere in the midst of your own life there’s a path for you too! Amy Welborn is a popular columnist and author of “The Loyola Kids’ book of Saints.”

Spirituality

Mourning our virginity In the Jewish Scriptures there’s a story that’s unique both in its capacity to shock and to fascinate. A king, Jepthah, is at war and things are going badly. Praying in desperation, he makes a promise to God that, should he win this battle, he would, upon returning home, sacrifice on the altar the first person he meets. Some days God has nothing better to do than to hear such prayers. Jepthah’s prayer is granted and he wins the battle, but, upon returning home, he is deeply distressed because the first person he meets is his own daughter, in the full bloom of youth. He loves her deeply, grieves his foolish vow, and is ready to break it for her sake. But she asks him to go ahead with it. She accepts to die on the altar of sacrifice, except for one thing (in stories that bare the soul there is always “one thing”). In her case, the one thing is this: She will now die a virgin, unconsummated, unfulfilled, not having achieved full intimacy, and not having given birth to children. And so she asks her father for time in the desert (forty days, the time it takes the desert to do its work) before she dies, to grieve her virginity, the incompleteness of her life. Her father grants her wish and she goes out into the desert with her companions (themselves virgins) for forty days to bewail that she will die a virgin. After this, she returns and is ready to die on the altar of sacrifice. There’s a rather nasty patriarchal character to this story

(such were the times) and, of course, we are right to abhor the very idea of human sacrifice, but this particular story is not historical and is not meant literally. It’s archetype, metaphor, a poetry of the soul within which death and virginity are not meant in their literal sense. What do death and virginity mean in this story? They’re metaphors inside a parable meant to teach a profound truth, namely, all of us, no matter age or state in life, must, at some point, mourn what’s incomplete and not consummated in our lives. We are all Jepthah’s daughters. In the end, like her, we all die virgins, having lived incomplete lives, not having achieved the intimacy we craved, and having yearned to create a lot more things than we were able to birth. In this life, nobody gets the full symphony. There’s a place inside us where we all “bewail our virginity”, and this is true too of married people, just as it is of celibates. At some deep level, this side of eternity, we all sleep alone. We need to mourn this, whatever form that might take. When we fail to do this, we go through life disappointed, restless inside our own skins, prone to anger, and forever expecting, unrealistically, that someone or something – a marriage partner, a family, a children, a church, a sexual partner, a friend, a career, or an achievement - can take all of our loneliness away, give us the complete symphony, and (metaphorically) consummate our lives so that we aren’t virgins any more.

Of course that’s impossible, only God can do that. Our yearnings and our needs are infinite because we are Grand Canyons without a bottom. For that reason, we all sleep alone, living in the torment of the insuffiFather ciency of everything Ron Rolheiser attainable. Recognizing and accepting this isn’t one of our strengths. Most everything inside of our culture today conspires to keep us from admitting this. No more for us the old prayer, “To thee we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.” Good for past generations, but not for us. The last thing we like to admit is tears, the helpless frustration.of our lives at times, and the incontrovertible fact of our own virginity. We suffer a lot of restlessness, disappointment, and bitterness because of this. Until, like Jepthah’s daughter, we can recognize and admit and honour how we really feel, we will forever be fighting something or somebody – usually those persons and things closest to us. ROLHEISER, page 14

JOHN EARLE PHOTO

No theology, please, we’re British

Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Scripture

Wisdom 9:13-18b; Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17; Philemon 9-10, 12-17; Luke 14:25-33. A READING FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM (WIS 9:13-18B) Who can know God’s counsel, or who can conceive what the LORD intends? For the deliberations of mortals are timid, and unsure are our plans. For the corruptible body burdens the soul and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns. And scarce do we guess the things on earth, and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty; but when things are in heaven, who can search them out? Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight. RESPONSORIAL PSALM (PS 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17) R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You turn man back to dust, saying, “Return, O children of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are as yesterday, now that it is past, or as a watch of the night. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. You make an end of them in their sleep; the next morning they are like the changing grass, Which at dawn springs up anew, but by evening wilts and fades. R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Fill us at daybreak with your kindness, that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days. And may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands! R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Rolheiser . . . ■ Continued from page 13 The daydreams of our youth eventually die, though perhaps as we get older we replay them just to feel old sentiments rather than with any kind of practical hope. Time and disappointment have done their work, we no longer look for the daydreams to come true and the dreams themselves look pretty flat in the context of our actual lives. But what cre-

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT PAUL TO PHILEMON (PHMN 9-10, 12-17) I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment; I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE (LK 14:25-33) Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” ated those dreams all those years back hasn’t changed; indeed there’s a part of us now that’s more idealistic than before and we ache just as much as we ever did, even now when we accept that daydreams don’t come true. When that happens, it’s time to go into the desert and bewail our virginity. Our capacity for genuine self-sacrifice, it would seem, follows from that. Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser is a theologian, teacher and award-winning author.

FATHER GERARD O’ROURKE

Shaking us up On this secular holiday weekend Labor Day 2004, I must confess that I was looking forward to a nice set of easygoing, laid back, end of the summer, soothing. Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time! Imagine my rude awakening by the time I got to the gospel reading from Luke’s Gospel. By that time I was really jolted out of my complacent dreaming and longing. The first Reading is from the Book of Wisdom. It is a piece, if the truth be known, that calls me on my arrogant acts of ignoring and forgetting about the “Magnificence” of God as our Counselor, as the incorruptible One in this current age of massive corruptibility and as the dispenser of wisdom in this time of confusion and limited vision. I truly needed to be reminded once again of my limitations, without the gift of the “Holy Spirit on high.” Once again I had to be reminded that all of us need the “Holy Spirit of God” to show us the “path” and to be our “Refuge” in our lives. Yes, we do need the “gracious care of God “ to “prosper our work” whatever that work may be on this Labor Day 2004! The Second Reading is about a slave, Onesimus, who came to St. Paul for refuge and then became a Christian. Philemon was a friend of Paul, a leader in his local church and the owner of Onesimus. This was the era of the Roman Empire. The Romans were the most dominant people in the world and they literally built their empire on the backs of a huge and monstrous slave system at all levels of society. Slaves were laborers, servants, technologists, teachers, financial experts, etc. and without human rights or freedoms. Slavery was totally at odds with the message of Jesus Christ. Yet, slavery existed everywhere and was accepted everywhere over most of the history of the human race. It still emerges in different forms in our world today, especially in the deadly sexual trading and bondage of young people. However, slavery is universally condemned in our world today. Thank God for the great “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” which was unanimously passed by the United Nations Assembly on December 10, 1948. It is totally appropriate that we be reminded, on this Labor Day weekend, of the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In this

Can I go to the wedding? Q. My brother and sister-in-law are Catholic. Their three children were raised Catholic but no longer attend church. Recently one son, 30 years old, who I believe has joined another church, was married in a civil ceremony. I told my brother that it would be a sin to attend the wedding, since that would seem to condone an invalid marriage. He replied that a priest told him they could attend because they could not be responsible for their adult son’s decision. They ended up going to the wedding. Can you tell me if I erred? (North Carolina) A. These are always painful situations for parents and other relatives who feel their children are doing something spiritually harmful and wrong in marrying out of the church. As a start, I must say again that my own pastoral experience convinces me that, on occasions like this, rather than cutting off the “wrongdoer,” more lasting good is accomplished when we do our best to preserve ties of love

and family relationship as much as possible. I know most parents follow this approach. Parents may strongly disagree with what their children do and certainly have the right and, depending on the circumstances, perhaps responsibility to tell them so. But they still love their children, I hope, and need to demonstrate that love by actions as well as words. Unless one is harshly rigid, there is no black-andwhite, one-size-fits-all solution for these dilemmas. Such an attitude opens the way to, among other things, rash judgment about a person’s state of soul before God. Furthermore, and maybe more important, judging from your letter it’s entirely possible your son was not entering an invalid marriage according to Catholic Church law, as you assume. Canon law (No. 1117) states that one who leaves the Catholic Church “by a formal act” is no longer bound by the obligation to be married before a priest.

context it is good for us to hear the plea of St. Paul for the release of a slave about 2000 years ago in the name of the same Christian Faith that Paul, Onesimus, Philemon and you and I share today! By the way, tradition tells us that Onesimus was released and became a Bishop in Ephesus later on! Remember the rude awakening and the jolting I referred to in the first paragraph! It really came alive for me in the Gospel Reading. It is about Jesus talking tough to us: shaking us up, awakening us up! It is a tough, all out, no nonsense assault on any complacency or mediocrity that may be lurking in our daily lives. Jesus challenges us to commit wholeheartedly to his call to love and serve the will of God without reservations or excuses. He does not want us to use our relationships, especially our close ones, to back off from, to exonerate ourselves, to minimize or to trivialize our commitment to God. From time to time Jesus uses startling language to get our attention like a Prophet or Poet. It is a literary device that he uses in this passage to shake us up especially from using our family or loved ones to release us from our obligation to love God and love our neighbor! Jesus also challenges us to carry our “own cross” and “follow” him. This is a challenge, I confess, that I have wrestled with and resisted without success for ages. Thank God, my listening to these words of Jesus has shifted. I now hear them as an invitation to be open, a call to embrace the ”cross” whatever it may be. This takes away the hard labor and the slavish attitudes that you and I may have about living our lives as Christians. It may also get us back in touch with and experience the comfort and the reassurance in the words of Jesus to us all; “Come to me all you who are weary, troubled and overburdened and I will refresh you and give you rest” – (Matt 11:28-30) May our holiday weekend be a time to heal our weariness, to lighten our burdens, to give rest to our tiredness, to expel our boredom and to renew our spirit for the work ahead. Father Gerard O’Rourke is Director Emeritus of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

QUESTION CORNER Dietzen Father John

Exactly which behaviors might constitute such a formal act are not clear at this point, but it is widely held that one such act would be officially joining another denomination. The church’s flexibility here is another evidence that we cannot be God’s surrogate in judging others. Being faithful to what we believe is one thing; making our personal peace and serenity depend on what someone else does is something else entirely. Keeping this in mind can help our tranquility and holiness immensely.

September 3, 2004

Catholic San Francisco

Guest Commentary

A Catholic perspective on free trade In their far-reaching pastoral letter, Economic Justice for All, the U.S. Catholic bishops offered a visionary and prophetic perspective on the global economy. They taught that “every economic decision and institution must be judged in light of whether it protects or undermines the dignity of the human person.” MORAL ASSESSMENT In articulating this Christian vision of economic life, the bishops referred to the Second Vatican Council’s seminal document, Gaudium et Spes (the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World), and Pope John XXIII’s encyclical, Mater et Magistra: “The dignity of the human person, realized in community with others, is the criterion against which all aspects of economic life must be measured.” Expressed in a more explicit way, the bishops, at the very outset of their pastoral letter, stated flatly: “Every perspective on economic life that is human, moral, and Christian must be shaped by three questions: What does the economy do for people? What does the economy do to people? And how do people participate in it?” In nearly two decades since its promulgation, the moral insight and wisdom of the Catholic bishop’s economic analysis and ethical evaluation have not been well heeded by the market players from government and business alike. In direct contrast to Catholic teaching, from the Americas to Asia and around the world, the gap between rich and poor has escalated steadily. Women and children continue to be exploited. Rainforests disappear. Fish stocks are depleted. Natural resources are ravaged. Environmental pollution abounds. And, the dignity of God’s people is defamed on every side by neo-liberalism’s economic flagellation. Constituent to globalization are the so-called “free trade” agreements. “If allowed to take root, [the proposed Free Trade Areas of the Americas (FTAA) agreement] threatens to make more extreme the poverty, injustices, and inequalities that we suffer in our countryside and our cities, and to subordinate our nations once and for all to the interests of the U.S. corporations.” This was the conclusion of an international conference on free trade held in Havana earlier this year, which drew more than 1,200 participants from threedozen countries in North, Central, and Latin America. Conference participants included not only scholars in theology, economics, political science, engineering, and other professions, but also politicians, environmentalists, labor leaders, elected officials, Church workers, health workers, and others. Most significant were representatives from the working classes and the poor themselves including the working poor, indigenous peoples, farm workers, factory workers, the underemployed, and the jobless. Their multitude of personal stories and individual testimonies provided firsthand witness to the daily lived experience of millions. The subsequent socio-political and economic analysis and moral evaluation produced a very important critical assessment of the proposed FTAA. CRITIQUE OF FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS One of the strongest criticisms of the proposed FTAA is that it has been constructed without the participation of the people who will be most affected by it. It was written by corporate attorneys without public knowledge or input. Like the ten-year old North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the proposed FTAA clearly favors corporate profits above and beyond the social needs and human rights of citizens and irrespective of a sustainable environment. As Nobel laureate and former World Bank Vice President Joseph Stiglitz recently warned, “Economic policy is today perhaps the most important part of America’s interactions with the rest of the world. And yet the culture of international economic policy in the world’s most powerful democracy is not democratic.” The free trade agreements also transcend democratic legislation. The less than analytical U.S. media typically confines the debate over free trade to the sole issue of tariff reduction. Officially the free trade goal is “to lower tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade and investment.” Thus, local laws that protect the quality of water, require just wages for employees, give preference to wood harvested in an environmentally sustainable way, or protect domestic jobs, can be judged as “state interference,” and can be struck down as a non-tariff barrier. NAFTA’s Chapter 11 section on investment specifically accords private investors and corporations the right to challenge environmental, worker safety, and health regulations. In short, “free trade” means freedom from any democratically established laws that do not maximize the profit of international corporations. Free trade policy and practices facilitate the privatization and deregulation of energy, health care, education, and water supply. These services will no loner be seen as the necessities to which every human person has a right. Rather, they become commodities to be traded for profit. Society’s poor and marginalized often are forced to go without life’s necessities. Thus, free trade agreements undermine the ability of governments to fulfill their responsibility to ensure basic services to all their people. Free trade agreements like NAFTA not only cost U.S. jobs, but also do not provide good employment opportunities in developing nations. The U.S. Department of Labor certified that by the end of 2002, about 525,000 workers

lost their jobs as a result of NAFTA. Other studies put the figure as high as 3,000,000. While Mexican unemployment rates may have dropped, for example, poverty has increased and minimum wages fell 25 percent. Thus, while free trade may be good for profits, it is bad for workers. As an AFL-CIO report concluded, “Globalization has spawned a race to the bottom for workers in both developed and developing nations alike.” Free trade impacts almost all sectors of society including workers, small farmers, small business owners, environmentalists, women’s organizations, unions, indigenous rights groups, members of religious communities, international solidarity groups, government employees, and many others. Yet, the free trade emphasis on market supremacy meets the needs of only a select few. Instead, free trade ought to balance the needs of business, communities, and democratic governance. A further criticism of NAFTA as representative of free trade agreements concerns the investor-state suit provisions. They are nothing short of a blatant departure from both domestic and international legal norms. First, they provide corporations with the right to directly enforce an international treaty to which they are neither parties nor under which they have any obligations. Second, they allow private industry to oppose long standing U.S. laws that have nothing to do with commercial contracts and everything to do with public policy. And third, they create substantive legal rights concerning expropriation and national treatment that go far beyond those available to local citizens and small businesses. Trade and investment agreements, as part of globalization, are crucial to both developed and developing nations, with the potential to benefit both business and people alike. Trade agreements must meet everyone’s needs and respect everyone’s human rights. Unfortunately, current trade agreements emphasize market supremacy over and above the needs of the greater community. What is needed are trade agreements that seek to alleviate poverty by educating the poor, offering opportunities for living wage jobs, and make long-term social development a top priority. Trade agreements must also protect the environment and offer incentives to innovative businesses seeking new, eco-friendly methods of production. ALTERNATIVES TO THE FTAA Pope John Paul II, together with many religious, economic, political and academic leaders, has continued to provide critical analysis and moral assessment of the economic impact of globalization. The singular popular response heard from almost all sectors is: “So, what’s the alternative?” The basis for a realistic alternative to the proposed FTAA is found both in sacred scripture and in contemporary Catholic social thought. In particular, as already noted, the U.S. Catholic bishops teach that “every economic decision and institution must be judged in light of whether it protects or undermines the dignity of the human person.” In short, “the dignity of the human person…is the criterion against which all aspects of economic life must be measured.” Today, an alternative to the FTAA does exist. It was developed by the Hemispheric Social Alliance (HSA) in response to the proposed FTAA. The HSA is a coalition of labor unions, environmentalists, family farmers, economists, scholars, and other coalitions representing more than 100 organizations throughout North, Central, and Latin America. It was created in 1999 to facilitate information exchange and joint strategies and action towards building an alternative democratic model of development in the face of the currently proposed international trade agreements within overall economic globalization. The Alternatives for the Americas is a document of the HSA guidelines that would make the economic integration process of hemispheric globalization more inclusive, democratic, environmentally and culturally sustainable, and equitable. Fully consistent with Catholic social teaching, the plan proposes economic development based on democratic citizen participation, local control over resources, and the reduction of economic and social inequalities. It proposes a more responsible proactive role for the state and increased regulation of the economy both nationally and internationally in the pursuit of social justice, public services, and public security. With the economic purpose to achieve a just and sustainable development, the Alternatives proposal affirms that trade and investment should not become ends in themselves, but rather the instruments (means) to promote economic justice for all. The Alternatives delineates in detail three main guiding principles: democratic participation, the role of the state, and the reduction of inequalities. The document affirms that local communities affected by economic policies should be involved in drafting, approving, and monitoring those policies. These include creating a national development program, free trade policies, development projects, mining, biodiversity, and so forth. Policy development should be a widely participatory process utilizing broad-based consultation. Local community rights to veto or reject a project must be respected and honored.

The document further affirms that the sovereignty of states should be preserved by any trade agreement such that states can exercise authority to maintain citizen well being. Such responsibilFather ity would include: to Kenneth M. ensure that social needs supercede corporate Weare, Ph.D interests, especially regarding education, housing, and health care; to control investment hazards to workers, the environment, and the national development plan; to promote just and sustainable development; to ensure that the export market not sacrifice the domestic market; to evaluate and define rules and regulations of free trade agreements within frameworks of national development plans; and, to protect natural resources including small family farms. Finally, in order to reduce social and economic inequalities, the following alternatives are proposed: promote improved standardization of rights and laws, including the use of insecticides, emissions and transfers of pollutants, and labor standards; institute a tax on revenues from international financial transactions to endow investment in education, health, and job training; forgive foreign debt; promote aid to developing countries; compensate women and various racial and ethnic groups previously exploited; recognize indigenous rights to land and resources. In accord with Catholic social teaching on the economy, the proposed alternatives to the FTAA also include directives on the following categories: human rights, labor, investment, agriculture, gender, environmental protection, and immigration. Human rights should be promoted by economic integration. These rights constitute civil, political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights including rights specific to women, children, and indigenous peoples. Labor issues should be included in trade agreements. Basic workers rights should be guaranteed, ensuring adequate social assistance to those negatively impacted by globalization. Labor standards and living standards should be improved. Investment should be productive rather than speculative, transfer appropriate technology, and should create high quality employment. Governments should have the right to curtail investments that do not further development or are detrimental to human labor and environmental rights. Agriculture should have high priority in trade agreements. To ensure food security, nations should have the right to protect or exclude various food stuffs. Property rights need to be respected. Small-scale farming needs special protection regarding land conservation, appropriate technology (including biotechnology), agricultural research, credit, and subsidies. And, trade agreements must improve the standardization of financial assistance for agriculture. Women from all levels of society should be included and engaged in trade debates and negotiations. Trade agreements should ensure that women have equal access to needed resources such as credit, technological training, and land. Likewise, laws and policies should provide assistance to promote education, technological training, and skills development for women. Environmental protections should be prioritized over corporate interests. Trade agreements should recognize government rights to direct investment towards environmentally sustainable activities, prohibit the privatization of natural resources, and eliminate policies that subsidize fossil fuel energy. Finally, all trade negotiations should address immigration issues. Governments should grant amnesty to undocumented workers, demilitarize border zones, and support international subsidies for regions and countries that are major exporters of labor. In conclusion, the challenge is not insurmountable. The change of priorities requires a change of heart. And a change of heart brings a change of mind. When the world’s economic leaders are converted to see every man, woman, and child as brothers and sisters, then the genius of our human history and the insight of our moral wisdom will guide our transformation from an economy of the few to an economy of the many. It is then that we will have begun to build the road to an economic justice for all. Father Kenneth Weare, Ph.D., a Catholic moral theologian, teaches social ethics at the University of San Francisco and serves as Administrator at St. Rita’s Parish in Fairfax. Currently he is co-authoring a book on globalization.

Catholic San Francisco

Food & Fun Sept. 3: Catholic Marin Breakfast Club gathers for Mass and special presentation. Featured speaker is Jesuit Father Joe Daoust, president of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley who will speak on Empty Churches, Empty Pews. The morning begins with Mass at 7 a.m. in St. Sebastian Church, Bon Air Rd. and Sir Francis Drake Blvd., Kentfield. Breakfast and presentation follow in parish hall. Reservations required to Sugaremy@aol.com or (415) 461-0704 daily. Members $7, others $10. Dues $20 per year. September 8th and subsequent 2nd Wednesdays: Monthly breakfast meetings of the Catholic Professional & Business Club. New members are always welcome! Join us on our new day and in our new location, SF City Club at 155 Sansome (at Bush).Today’s speaker is Tony Hall, former SF Supervisor and current Head of Treasure Island Development Authority. Presentations discuss the challenges all adults face when striving to live their vocations as Catholics in the working world. Monthly meetings include a full breakfast beginning at 7:00 a.m. Speaker program begins at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $20 for members, $27 for non-members. Membership dues are $45 annually. Call (415) 614-5579, or visit the website at www.cpbc-sf.org for more information. Sept.9: Curtain up on the 150th year of service of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. A year of celebration commences November 13th with a theatrical interpretation of the Sisters’ history in Ireland and San Francisco. Dancers, singers, and actors, especially women, are being sought to appear in the production. This call is for people of all ages and abilities. Auditions will take place September 9th at 7:30 p.m. at 281 Masonic Ave. cross street Turk 3rd floor, SF. Bring a song to sing without accompaniment. Rehearsal schedule to be announced. Sept. 10: Celluloid Dreams, join Presentation alumnae and friends for the annual Presentation Alumnae Silent Auction at the Irish Cultural Center. Friday, Sept. 10, at 5:30 p.m. Many exciting movie related items to bid on as well as great meal and complimentary wine. Tickets are $50 per person. Call Helen Harwood at (415) 422-5015. Sept. 11: Luncheon and Bingo in St. Cecilia Lower Church benefiting the League of Sacred Heart Altar Society $20 per person. Call Rose Marie at (415) 753-5680. Sept. 12: Palmdale Spectacular VII, a day benefiting the Sisters of the Holy Family at their Palmdale Estates, 159 Washington Blvd, Fremont. Enjoy silent and live auctions, scrumptious food and entertainment. Tickets $75 per person. Call Linda Micciche at (510) 624-4581. Sept. 13: 12th Annual Capuchin Seminarian Golf Tournament at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, Menlo Park. Format is 18-hole Scramble with check-in at 10 a.m. followed by lunch, shotgun start at noon and hosted cocktails and dinner at 6:30 p.m. Prices are $260 for golf with cart and dinner. Dinner only is $50. For tickets and information, call Mike Stecher at (650) 3424680 or Anne Hahn at (650) 692-5044. Sept. 16: Garden Luncheon benefiting San Mateo County Pro-Life Council at noon in the gardens of the Draeger home, 259 Bridge Rd. Hillsborough. Featured speaker is Dawn White from Heritage House in San Jose, a resource for pregnant women in need. Tickets $20 per person. Call (650) 342-1600. Sept. 18: East Meets West, third annual luncheon and auction benefiting the Viet Blind Children Foundation, Sept. 18th at St. Matthew Parish auditorium, 9th Ave. at El Camino Real, San Mateo. Doors open at noon to silent and live auctions as well as raffles for cash prizes and other fun. For ticket information, please contact the foundation at (415) 713-2481 or (408) 296-6557. Visit the Web site at www.vietblind children.org. Sept. 19: Celebrate the 10th anniversary of St. Ignatius Parish, 650 Parker Ave. at Fulton, SF. Mass at

The Lourdes Grotto at St. Anne’s Home is 100 years old Sept. 18th. To mark the occasion, the Little Sisters of the Poor announce a Marian Walk-a-Thon from St. Ignatius Church to St. Anne’s Grotto, which is modeled after the famed site in France where Mary appeared to Bernadette. All are invited to join in this mile and a half walk for the intentions of today’s world including respect for life, healing and peace. Walk starts at 4 p.m. with Mass at 5 p.m. and reception after. Those unable to walk are invited to enjoy the procession on the grounds of St. Anne’s, 300 Lake St., SF. Call (415) 751-6510.

September 3, 2004

Datebook

Young Adults Office of Young Adult Ministry: Connecting late teens, 20s and 30s, single and married to the Catholic Church. Contact Mary Jansen, 415-6145596,jansenm@sfarchdiocese.org. Check out our website www.sfyam.org for a list of events around the Bay Area. Sept. 18: Fall Fest, Choices: What’s God Have to Do With It? at the University of San Francisco with keynote, workshops, exhibits, Mass, dinner and dance. Bishop Jaime Soto of Orange is among the speakers. Registration is $50 before Sept 3 and $60 at the door. Contact for registration, 415-614-5594, www.sfyam.org.

Retreats —— VALLOMBROSA CENTER ——

Marie Velasquez and Jessie Saavedra recently completed preparation for First Eucharist at St. Finn Barr Parish Special Needs Center and received the sacrament at St. Emydius Church in June. Congratulating the first communicants are St. Emydius pastor, Father Bill Brady and catechist, Cathy Collins. The Department of Religious Education and Youth Ministry has announced a special needs retreat for parents, caregivers and special needs individuals September 11th at the Sunset District’s St. Gabriel Parish. “All are invited to come,” said Social Service Sister Celeste Arbuckle, director. Call (415) 614-5652. 10 a.m. features voices from parish choir as well as singers from the University of San Francisco. Reception and brunch follows. All are welcome. Call (415) 422-2188. Oct. 16: Late Night Catechism!! Nonie Newton-Breen, an alum of Chicago’s famed Second City comedy troupe, is Sister!!! Buckle your seatbelt and settle in for this rollicking entertainment coming to St. Stephen Parish, 601 Eucalyptus next to Stonestown Mall, at 7p.m. Tickets are $35 per person. Enjoy a front row seat and a “meeting with Sister” for $10 more. Group discounts are available. Call (415) 681-2444, ext. 26.

Respect Life/ Family Life Sept. 8 – Oct. 13: Relationships and Prayer From the Heart, a Wednesday morning and evening conference at St. Sebastian Church, Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Bon Air Rd., Greenbrae. Meets 10 – 11 a.m. and 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Theme is Recognizing Your Unique Sacred Gift. Facilitator is graduate psychologist and St. Sebastian parishioner, Andra Dhein. Class includes prayer, scripture, centering meditation. Registration is $30 per person. Call (415) 925-0487. Sept. 11: Annual Memorial Mass sponsored by SFFD and SFPD at St. Monica Church, 24th Ave. at Geary, SF at 10 a.m. All are welcome. Sept. 11: Film and television star, Jennifer O’Neill, is featured speaker for the 2004 Respect Life Conference of the Archdiocese of San Francisco. The event takes place Sept. 11th, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco. Also on the program is Wesley Smith of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide. Tickets $20 per person. Contact the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns at (415) 614-5567. In the evening, Ms. O’Neill will speak at St. Sebastian Church, Greenbrae on behalf of the Marin County Respect Life Program. Contact Vicki Evans at (415) 945-0180. Sept. 18: Would you like to deepen your marriage relationship? Marriage Enrichment Workshop at St. Peter Church, 700 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica, 9:15 a.m. – 4 p.m. $40 per couple includes lunch, book and expenses of presenting couple, Anne and Bob Herendine of Salinas. Call (650) 359-6313.

TV/Radio Mon – Fri., KVTO 1400 AM, 7:30 p.m.: Catholic Radio Hour features rosary, music and commentary with Father Tom Daly. Sunday 6 a.m.,WB Channel 20/Cable 13 and KTSF Channel 26/Cable 8: TV Mass with Msgr. Harry Schlitt presiding. 1st Sun, 5 a.m., CBS Channel 5: Mosaic, featuring conversations on current Catholic issues. 3rd Sun, 5:30 a.m., KRON Channel 4: For Heaven’s Sake, featuring conversations about Catholic spirituality.

Reunions Nov. 5, 6, 7: Reunion Weekend Celebration for Notre Dame High School, Belmont honoring graduates from classes of ’54, ’59, ’64,’ 69, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ‘ 99. Weekend features are Nov. 6 luncheon at 11:30 a.m. and all alumnae are invited to Nov. 5 lunch as well as Mass and Brunch on Nov. 7. Call the Development Office at (650) 595-1913, ext. 351. June 25: “It’s been a long time but it’s coming,” said St. Agnes Elementary alum, Sam Coffey, about upcoming reunion for all former students of the missed and now closed SF school. Please contact Sam at coffey@eesclaw.com; Leanne Guth Chapman at chapman@stanne.com; Jana Serezlis at janaser@hotmail.com. If without Internet access, contact Leonor Pokorny at St. Agnes rectory at (415) 4878560.

Prayer Opportunities/Lectures Oct. 1 – 3: Return to Me, a Holy Spirit Conference at St. Mary’s Cathedral Conference Center, Gough and Geary Blvd., SF. Opens with Mass at 7 p.m. Fri., Bishop Ignatius Wang presiding. Call Ernie Von Emster (650) 594-1131. Speakers include Father Joe Landi. Fees are $20 per day or $30 for both days. Sept. 11 and subsequent 2nd Sat.: Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur offer Saturday Morning Prayer 9:30 – 11:30 at their Province Center, 1520 Ralston Ave. across from Ralston Hall on their university campus in Belmont. Call (650) 593-2045, ext. 350. This year’s theme is the Beatitudes: Becoming Beatitude People.

250 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park. For fees, times and details about these and other offerings call (650) 325-5614. Presentation Sister Rosina Conrotto, Program Director. Sept. 10, 11: Unconditional Love and Forgiveness, a workshop with protestant minister, Rev. Charles Allen Lingo. Will offer participants the actual practice of unconditional love and forgiveness toward themselves and others. Methods learned in the workshop have proven successful toward changing human relations where change is imperative. Rev. Lingo has previously led this process in Europe, India, Brazil and additional locations in the U.S. Oct. 8 – 10: A retreat with Father David Pettingill

Single, Divorced, Separated Separated and Divorced support groups meet 3rd Sat. at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral, call Pat at (415) 492-3331; and 1st and 3rd Wed. at 7:30 p.m. at St. Stephen Parish Center, SF, call Gail at (650) 591-8452. Catholic Adult Singles Assoc. of Marin meets for support and activities. Call Bob at (415) 897-0639 for information.

Meetings 2nd Wed.: Men’s Evening of Reflection: Being Catholic in the Modern World at the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, 610 Vallejo St. at Columbus, SF beginning at 7 p.m. Call (415) 983-0405. Courage, a Catholic support group for persons with same-sex attraction, meets Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Call Father Lawrence Goode at (650) 322-2152.

Taize Prayer 3rd Wed. at 7:30 p.m. with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in their Province Center Chapel, 1520 Ralston Ave., Belmont across from Ralston Hall on the campus of their Notre Dame de Namur University. Call (650) 5932045, ext. 350 or www.SistersofNotreDameCa.org. 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. 2nd Fri. at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter Church, 700 Oddstad Blvd., Pacifica. Call Deacon Peter Solan at (650) 359-6313. 3rd Fri. at 8 p.m. at Woodside Priory Chapel, 302 Portola Rd., Portola Valley. Call Dean Miller at (650) 631-2882 1st Sat. at 8:30 p.m. at SF Presidio Main Post Chapel, 130 Fisher Loop. Call Catherine Rondainaro at (415) 713-0225

Datebook is a free listing for 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 Friday publication date desired. Mail your notice to: Datebook, Catholic San Francisco, One Peter Yorke Way, S.F. 94109, or fax it to (415) 614-5633.

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September 3, 2004

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‘Hero’ combines action with storytelling Another ‘aesthetically arresting’ epic by acclaimed Chinese director, Zhang Yimou By David DiCerto Catholic News Service NEW YORK — An enigmatic swordsman must defeat three rivals in order to bring lasting peace to a war-torn land in the visually stunning “Hero.” Combining spectacular martial arts action sequences with multilayered storytelling, director Zhang Yimou has crafted a piece of epic filmmaking as dramatically involving as it is aesthetically arresting. Set in ancient China during an age known as the “Warring States Period” — when the country was divided into a patchwork-quilt of seven feudal kingdoms — the fable centers on the far-reaching ambitions of a determined warlord (Chen Dao Ming) obsessed with conquering the other six states and uniting them under his hegemony. The ongoing power struggle has left the land devastated by unending bloodshed; it has also made the king a constant target of assassins, in particular a notorious trio of three legendary killers: Sky (Donnie Yen) and the famed duo-ofdeath, Broken Sword (Tony Leung ChiuWai) and his lover, Snow (Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk). To anyone who can best the three would-be-assassins in mortal combat, the king has promised wealth, titles and a private audience. As it turns out, the man who finds himself sitting within spitting — or stabbing — distance from the grateful, but suspicious, soon-to-be first

Emperor of China is an anonymous country sheriff known only as Nameless (Jet Li). Part romance, part revenge tale, “Hero” is actually told in reverse, with Nameless recounting his victories over the treacherous triad through flashbacks. Ripping a page from Akira Kurosawa’s 1950 black-and-white classic, “Rashomon,” the film then retraces its narrative footprints, retelling the same events from different perspectives — each shot using a different dominant color scheme — though until the end viewers are not sure which version is true.

Coloring the truth — literally — “Hero” is a sumptuous symphony for the eyes, with crimson crescendos and diminuendos in hushed hues of ice blue. Yimou has already proven skillful in mastering human drama and emotional intimacy, having directed such quietly alluring films as “Raise the Red Lantern” (1992) and “To Live” (1994). But here he demonstrates that he is equally adept at action sequences, imbuing the gravitydefying sword duels with a visual elegance akin to Ang Lee’s “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000). The film boasts several breathtakingly beautiful

martial-arts centerpieces, each more intoxicating than the last, including blade ballets in a golden grove of trees erupting in peak autumnal splendor, above a placid mountain lake and in a palace chamber amid flowing emerald banners. Beyond its cinematic bravura, “Hero” is buttressed by timeless themes of love and honor, inspired by a mix of history and myth. Despite its stylistic swordplay, the film, in extolling dovish self-sacrifice over hawkish aggression, becomes a poetic polemic against the obscenity — and futility — of war. Late in the film, a most unlikely pacifist asks, “Is the sword the only answer?” In posing the question, Yimou echoes the Christian call for peace, challenging viewers to reject violence. In one scene, the king studies a scroll of Broken Sword’s calligraphy, hoping to turn insight into his would-be-assassin’s artistry into an advantage on the battlefield. Hopefully viewers contemplating this film will, in turn, walk away similarly enlightened that the heart is mightier than the sword — a most valuable lesson in these turbulent times. Subtitles. Due to recurring stylized martial arts violence, an implied sexual encounter and a ritual suicide, the USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is AIII — adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents are strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

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September 3, 2004

Catholic leaders praise Nobel Prize-winning poet Czeslaw Milosz By Jonathan Luxmoore Catholic News Service WARSAW, Poland — Catholic leaders praised Nobel Prize-winning poet Czeslaw Milosz, a Polish Catholic who spent years in the United States. Milosz died at his home in the southern Polish city of Krakow Aug. 14. He was 93. He was buried in Krakow after an Aug. 27 funeral Mass. Pope John Paul II, who first received the poet after Milosz won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1980, corresponded with him. The pope was reported to have drawn on Milosz’s work for his 2003 poetry collection, “Roman Tryptych.” During the funeral Mass at Krakow’s St. Mary Basilica, Archbishop Jozef Zycinski of Lublin said, “Expressing the mood of his heart, this poet warned young people against the bitter taste of success — he taught them how to live in a world divided between grief and hope.” “Like a contemporary (St.) Augustine, he searched and doubted, laughed and suffered, vividly participating in the

Poor and uninsured . . . ■ Continued from cover income was stagnant, except for Hispanic households which saw their income drop by 2.6 percent. This was the third consecutive year that the annual Census Bureau report showed an increase in the number of people below the poverty line and without health insurance. “The increased number of those living in poverty and the continuing rise in the population living without health care coverage are not partisan issues,” Father Place said in an Aug. 26 statement. “As a nation, we must examine our priorities that allow this situation to exist and continually worsen,” he said. Father Place noted that the census figures showed that many of the uninsured are gainfully employed but their employers cannot or do not offer affordable health benefits for workers and their dependents. This is the third year in a row that Census Bureau fig-

great struggle between God’s city and a purely human city,” the archbishop said. He said Milosz’s burial alongside other leading writers in Krakow’s Wawel Cathedral was a “symbolic extension of his spiritual mission,” which had given fellow Poles “a program for creating spiritual beauty and rebuilding endangered hope.” In a message to Cardinal Franciszek Macharski of Krakow, Pope John Paul said Milosz had asked him in his last letter to evaluate his attempts to write “with the thought of not departing from Catholic orthodoxy.” He added that the poet had admitted “changing perspective with time,” after believing in his youth that it was “unacceptable for a poet to seek a pope’s blessing.” “Over his coffin, I should like to quote my reply,” Pope John Paul continued. “You write that the focus of your concern has been not to depart from Catholic orthodoxy in your creativity. I am convinced such an attitude by a poet is decisive. In this sense, I am pleased I can confirm your words that we both aspire to the same end,” he said.

Born in 1911 in what is now Lithuania, Milosz founded a literary youth group in 1931 and later studied in France. During World War II he joined the Polish resistance under Nazi occupation. After the war, he served temporarily as Poland’s cultural attache in Washington before obtaining political asylum in 1951. His first major work, “The Captive Mind,” published in 1953, criticized the passivity of Polish intellectuals. It was followed by two autobiographical works, “The Seizure of Power” and “The Issa Valley.” In 1960, he became Slavic language and literature professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where he won the Nobel Prize in 1980, the year Poland’s Solidarity movement emerged. Milosz was one of the icons of the Solidarity movement. His work was published for the first time in Poland in 1981. In the 1990s, after returning to Poland, he worked closely with Krakow’s Catholic Tygodnik Powszechny weekly. Milosz received honorary citizenship from Lithuania in 1992 and Poland’s highest state medal, the White Eagle, in 1994.

ures report “that the increase in uninsured is primarily due to a decline in employment-based coverage,” said Father Place. The Census Bureau reported that 45 million people are uninsured, representing 15.6 percent of the population. In 2002, the uninsured represented 15.2 percent of the population. Hispanics have the highest rate of uninsured, 32.7 percent, unchanged from 2002. Father Place said Census Bureau figures show that 6.3 million people have been added to the uninsured category in the past four years. Barbara Stephenson, communications director of the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Campaign for Human Development, noted that if all the people below the poverty line where placed in one state it would probably be the most populous state in the country. “This is disheartening, disturbing and disappointing,” she told Catholic News Service Aug. 27. “The country is not doing a good job in attacking the root causes of poverty.” The Census Bureau said 35.9 million people were below

the poverty line in 2003. California, with the largest state population, had 35.1 million people in 2002. Stephenson noted that poverty is often concentrated in urban areas which many Americans never visit to see how poor people live. “We are warehousing the poor,” said Stephenson, noting that many CCHD programs are aimed at getting people involved with the poor “to see them as persons, not statistics.” The Rev. David Beckmann, a Lutheran minister and president of Bread for the World, called the Census Bureau figures “troubling” and asked presidential candidates to focus more on “ending the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger.” He criticized “the lack of serious debate during the election cycle about how to help the people struggling to lift themselves out of poverty.” The poverty line is determined by the income an individual or family must have to provide basic needs. The Census Bureau calculates this by monitoring the cost-of-living index. For 2003, it calculated the poverty line at $9,393 for someone living alone and at $18,810 for a family of four.

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Contact: Chair, Search Committee for Campus Minister, Schools of the Sacred Heart, 2222 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94115. Fax: (415) 563-3005. E-mail: heart@sacredsf.org For a complete description see “careers” at www.sacredsf.org.

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Catholic San Francisco

September 3, 2004

Vatican delegation returns Kazan icon to Russia as goodwill gesture MOSCOW — An icon held sacred by Pope John Paul II has been returned to Russia, the country of its origin, as a gesture of good will intended to help bridge the long-standing divide between the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches. The ornate relic, an 18th-century copy of the Mother of God of Kazan, was delivered to Patriarch Alexy II, head of the Russian Orthodox Church, following a liturgy Aug. 28 in Assumption Cathedral on the grounds of the Kremlin. The icon was placed on a pedestal to the right of the altar in the legendary gray limestone church, where Patriarch Alexy marked the feast of the Dormition of Mary, the Byzantine equivalent of Mary’s assumption into heaven. “This sacred image traveled a long and difficult path across many countries and cities of the world. Catholics and Christians of other confessions prayed before it,” the patriarch, wearing a vibrant blue robe embroidered with gold, told several hundred Orthodox faithful. For more than a decade the icon — which was spirited out of the country following the Bolshevik Revolution — hung over the desk of the pope, who had hoped to deliver it personally, but Patriarch Alexy has resisted such a visit. Instead some 5,000 people gathered Aug. 25 in the Vatican’s audience hall to see off the 12-inch-by-10-inch relic, which was delivered in a special wooden case, sealed with wax, by a Vatican delegation headed by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick of Washington also was part of the delegation. The patriarch said that the homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary in both churches “reminds us of ancient times and undivided churches.” He added during the three-hour ceremony that he hoped that the overture by the pope “attests to the firm wish of the leadership of the Vatican to return to sincere relations of mutual respect between our churches — relations that would be devoid of hostile rivalry, but would fulfill the wishes to help each other in brotherhood.” Pope John Paul sent a message to Patriarch Alexy. “Despite the division which sadly still persists between Christians, this sacred icon appears as a symbol of the unity of the followers of the only-begotten Son of God, the one to whom she herself leads us,” the message said in part. The Mother of God of Kazan is one of the most revered — and most copied — icons in Russian

Insurance Services Al Zeidler Insurance Agency Allied/Chubb/Fireman’s Fund/Travelers

(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)

By Bryon MacWilliams Catholic News Service

Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, holds the Mother of God of Kazan icon during a ceremony at Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin in Moscow Aug. 28. Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II thanked Pope John Paul II for the return of the icon, saying that it signified a "step in the right direction" toward resolving tensions between the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Orthodoxy. According to legend, when a fire almost completely destroyed the city of Kazan in 1579, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a young girl and told her to dig in the ashes of her burned home; the girl found the icon, and it became one of the most revered Russian images of Mary. It has been credited with working many miracles, including the repulsion of an invasion by Poles

in the 17th century, and was said to be cherished by Peter the Great. The original, which, like the copies, shows the faces of Mary and an infant Jesus beneath a gilded silver cover inlaid with precious stones, vanished in 1904 — exactly 100 years ago — from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan in what is now St. Petersburg.

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