Catholic san Francisco
(PHOTO BY JOSE LUIS AGUIRRE, CATHOLIC SAN FRANCISCO)
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
At Bishop-elect Robert W. McElroy’s episcopal ordination at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sept. 7, the gift of the Holy Spirit for service as a bishop is conferred on the candidate through the laying on of hands by the bishops. Here, Emeritus Archbishop of San Francisco John Quinn places his hands on the bishop-elect. Looking on are Archbishop George Niederauer and Bishop of Salt Lake City John Wester. In 1980, Archbishop Quinn presided at Bishop McElroy’s priestly ordination at the cathedral. For the story and more images, see Page 9.
Pope, Israeli president meet, express hopes for Mideast peace deal CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) – As the first direct peace talks in two years between Israeli and Palestinian leaders were launched in the United States, Pope Benedict XVI and Israeli President Shimon Peres met in a private audience. The two leaders expressed hopes that the renewal of direct talks in Washington would contribute to the reaching of an agreement that is respectful of the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples and capable of bringing lasting peace to the Holy Land and the entire region, the Vatican said. The closed-door, 40-minute papal audience at the papal summer residence Sept. 2 was cordial, the Vatican said in a written statement. Peres also met privately for 30 minutes with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican’s secretary of state, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for relations with states. The condemnation of all forms of violence and the necessity of guaranteeing better conditions of life to all the peoples of the area were reaffirmed during the meetings, the Vatican statement said. Discussions also included the role of interreligious dialogue and an overview of the international situation, it said. Church-related issues such as an examination of the relations between the state of Israel and the Holy See and those of the state authorities with the local Catholic communities were also discussed, the Vatican PEACE DEAL, page 14 statement said.
“What else could we do but come to God?” and a businessman who had relocated to Jersey City from Hong Kong. The priest was installed as the pastor of St. ORADELL, N.J. (CNS) – Sitting in his office at St. Joseph Parish July 1. Joseph Parish in Oradell on a warm August afternoon, Sifting through his 9/11 experiences, he revealed memoFather Tom Iwanowski became emotional as he recounted ries still clearly etched in his mind – fragments of commonhis memories from Sept. 11, 2001. place activities that would have been forgotten on any other But it wasn’t the events of the cataclysmic date itself that day. On that Tuesday morning, Father Iwanowski was taking brought him to tears; rather, it was an unexpected encounter his car to a nearby service station for routine maintenance. As with a woman in 2006, who gently knocked he was driving to his appointment, he saw on the door of Our Lady of Czestochowa, the mobs of people running toward the river. parish in Jersey City where he had served. “I knew something horrible had hapFive years after the terrorist attacks, she pened,” he recalled. “As I listened to the had come to the Jersey City parish to express radio and heard that a second plane hit the her heartfelt gratitude. The woman had been South Tower, everyone realized this was no in lower Manhattan that Sept. 11 and had accident. I turned my car around. I knew I been transported across the Hudson River, had to get back to the parish.” along with hundreds of others, by ferry. The first thing he did once he returned During the ensuing chaos, she wandered to Our Lady of Czestochowa was to open to Our Lady of Czestochowa, which is the church doors. He then went to the parish located four blocks west of the waterfront. school to meet with teachers. Fear already Dazed and afraid, she went to the parish had gripped the young students. The decirectory and asked to use the phone so she sion was made to lock down the school, and could contact her family. Father Iwanowski visited each classroom. “She came back to thank us,” Father By the time both towers had crumbled, Father Tom Iwanowski Iwanowski said. “She wanted to say ‘thank around 10:30 a.m., he realized the church you’ for letting her use the phone. You never know how a would now have to serve as a place of refuge, for those in the small act of goodness will ripple through the lives of others. neighborhood as well as anyone who was being shuttled across Many people were drawn to our church that day. What else the river. He sent the parish staff to buy food. After celebrating could we do but come to God and cling to one another?” noon Mass, he ran to the waterfront to observe the dreadful For Jersey City residents living near Our Lady of sights of terror stricken evacuees seeking a safe harbor. Czestochowa, the absence of the twin towers of the World By 9:30 p.m., Father Iwanowski was sitting in his quarters Trade Center is a constant reminder of the murder of 3,000 – alone, exhausted, drained. innocent people, including more than 670 from New Jersey. “The spirit of God was working in me and the parish staff Three men connected with the parish were killed: a members that day,” he said. “God used us to be the light in Cantor Fitzgerald employee; a Port Authority policeman; the darkness. We simply reacted to the situation.”
By Michael C. Gabriele
INSIDE THIS WEEK’S EDITION China’s Catholic troubles . . . 4 Mother Teresa stamp . . . . . . 5 Chilean mine “miracle” . . . 10 Youth Mass set for SF . . . . . 12 Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Suburb to subsistence: Deported pair adjusts ~ Page 3 ~ September 10, 2010
Abuser seeks freedom; victim carries on ~ Page 7 ~
Online dating’s appeal for faithful Catholics ~ Page 24 ~
ONE DOLLAR
Datebook of events . . . . . . . 21 Services, classified ads . 22-23
www.catholic-sf.org VOLUME 12
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No. 27