olph,bulletin,20100131 by Richard Smith

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Chattanooga, Tennessee Mass Intentions beginning this Saturday: Jan 30 8:00 AM +Jake Wright Jan 30 5:30 PM +Jesse Conner Jan 31 7:30 AM +Helen Dolan Jan 31 10:00 AM +Steve Metzger Jan 31 12:00 PM +Frances M. Simpson & Roberto Martinez Jan 31 2:00 PM +Olga Valdez Feb 1 8:15 AM +Harold Burry Feb 2 8:15 AM +Jeanette Richard Feb 3 8:15 AM +Sharon Enos Feb 4 8:15 AM +Don Mroz Feb 5 8:15 AM +Lloyd Smith Feb 5 5:30 PM +Andrea Oleck Feb 6 8:00 AM +Marguerite Blanford Feb 6 5:30 PM +Andrea Oleck & Helen Rogers Feb 7 7:30 AM +Milton Colosia Feb 7 10:00 AM +Jesse Conner Feb 7 12:00 PM +John Bogdany Feb 7 2:00 PM +Juan Rodriguez & Julian Varela (+Deceased) Parish Bookstore is open after weekend Masses. Sun. Jr. High Youth Group 6:30-8:00 1st & 3rd Sunday’s call Vicki at 855-2505 or 364-1480 Mon. The bulletin deadline is noon. Tues. Contemporary Choir 6:00-8:00 pm Fr. Jim Bible Study 7:00 pm. PLC no class Dec 8, class Dec 15; no class Dec 22-Jan 12 Class resumes Jan 19. Wed. Bridge Players/St. Brigid’s Craft Groups, 10-2 in the Parish Life Center. Choir rehearsal 6:30-8:00 pm Thurs. Hispanic Choir rehearsal 7:00 pm Sat. Cursillista’s after 8:00 AM Morning Mass in the Parish Office Rosary Group meets at 9:00 a.m. daily in the church. Next weekend is our monthly collection for the FOOD PANTRY. Our pantry is bare but we are able to provide. We have been able to help many families who have found themselves in temporary need of assistance during these difficult economic times thanks to your generosity. Altar Server Schedule: Sat, Feb 6 at 5:30 K. Dedmon, M. Signiski, J. Bird, S. Tucker, L. Rast Sun, Feb 7 at 7:30 Mass G. Zolkowski, M.Hutton, AJ Carreon 10:00 L. Arnt, L. DeCordova, K. Barta, J. Harris, S. Price 12:00 D. Hodges, D. Hodges, S. Mohler, M. Mohler, L. Teal 2:00 M. Espinoza, P. Acosta, A. Ubas.

January 31, 2010 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Next weekends second collection is for the Black & Indian Missions. Your support helps communities on reservations in rural areas and inner cities. Lector & Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion Schedule: Sat, Feb 6 at 5:30 S. Dorris, D. Ingram Lectors Deacon, R. Smith, A. Alisago, C. Blake, E. Buske EMHC Sun, Feb 7 at 7:30 Mass J. Trimble, J. Lubinski Lectors MJ Lee, B. Reardon, J. Reinert EMHC. 10:00 S. Fava, S. Lindner Lectors, S. Castle, M. Delaney, C. Delaney, B. Dougherty, J. Fava, C. Ingle, A. Dougherty, G. Raabe, J. Raabe EMHC 12:00 R. Christiana U. Berge Lectors M. Simpson, A. Wells, M. McKenzie, M. Pomerance, M. Williams, B. DePrez, M. DePrez, A. Gonzalez EMHC. Thank you for your ministry. If you are not able to serve please find a replacement. Many Cultures-One Faith Muchas Culturas-una fe All are welcome: No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church; no matter what your current family or marital situation; no matter what your past or present situation; no matter what your personal history, age, background, race etc.; no matter what your own self image or self esteem you are invited, welcomed, accepted, loved, and respected at… Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church

Many Cultures-One Faith Muchas Culturas-una fe Todos son bienvenidos: No importa cual es su situación actual en la iglesia Católica; no importa cual es su situación actual en su familia o matrimonio; no importa cual es su situación pasada o presente; no importa cual es su historia personal, edad, antecedentes, raza, etc.; no importa cual es su imagen o autoestima; usted esta invitado, bienvenido, aceptado, amado y respetado en la… Nuestra Señora de el Perpetuo Socorro

WHY CATHOLIC? PORQUE SER CATOLICO? Altar Servers (all children grades 4 through 8) training will be held in the church on the first Wednesday of each month form 6:00 PM-6:45 PM. Questions call Joe Reinert 706-935-8609.

OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP SCHOOL NEWS Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School is now taking applications for the 2010/2011 school year. Contact Teresa Hennen to receive a registration packet or schedule a tour 423-622-1481 or Teresahennen@catholicweb.com. Tennessee Science Olympiad: OLPH Middle School students will enter the Tennessee Science Olympiad at Chattanooga State on Feb 27. The Science Olympiad Tournament goals are to bring science to life to show how science works to emphasize problem solving aspects of science and the understanding of science concepts and to develop teamwork and cooperative learning strategies among students. Coaches are needed to work with the student’s afterschool. If interested please contact Kathy Sumrell 622-1481 or ksumrell@catholicweb.com. Congratulations to Mary Rebman. She has been nominated to play in the UTC Honors Band. Great Job, Mary. Spelling Bee Winners: Congratulations to 1st place Emalyn San Miguel (5th Grade) 2nd place, Danika Dorris (8th Grade) 3rd place Anthony Smith (7th Grade) and 4th place, Dean Magat (8th Grade). These students have qualified for the Chattanooga Area Spelling Bee on Feb 4th at Brainerd Baptist. OLPH Catholic School Annual Fund Campaign brouchures have been sent for the 2009/2010 school year. Thank you for your response. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. For more info contact Kathy Sumrell, Development Director 622-1481 or ksumrell@catholicweb.com. Sabrina Gibson 4th grade teacher is running the Scenic City Half Marathon and charity Challenge on Feb 27. She chose to raise money for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamitlon Cty. To make a donation go to www.active.com/donate/cache/SGibson52.

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Friday is First Friday. Adoration begins after 8:15 am Mass and closes with Benediction at 5:00 PM. Come pray for our families, our community, our nation, our world. Ask for harmony in our world as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. After Mass join us for a Fish Fry in the Parish Life Center. "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen." Our next Admission testing for Notre Dame High School for the 2010-2011 school year will be Saturday, Feb 27. To receive more information an application packet or to schedule a tour/shadow day please contact the Admissions Office at 423-624-4618 ext 1004 or admissions@myndhs.com. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Southeast Tennessee council for HIV/AIDS care & prevention 10th commemorative event will be Thursday, Feb 4 from 6:00-8:30 at the Chattanooga African American Museum Bessie Smith Performance Hall. Keynote Speaker is Reverend Edwin C,. Sanders, II senior Servant and Pastor of Metropolitan Interdenominational church in Nashville, Tennessee Health Ministry Do you know how to store your medicines properly? Were you aware that the medicine cabinet in your bathroom is the worst place to store medicine, due to high humidity that can breakdown certain drugs? You should think cool and dry where medicines are concerned. Don’t place pill bottles on windowsills where they can be exposed to sun’s heat. Avoid refrigerator because of the moisture unless instructed. Remove cotton in bottles as it retains moisture. Keep medicines in original bottles so you don’t get confused what the medicine is and how to take. Medicines are in specific bottles for specific reasons; brown containers are for light sensitive medicines and glass containers for medicines that can be absorbed by plastics. The hall closet a dresser drawer or kitchen cabinet away from the stove sink or dishwasher is best to store medications be sure it is out of reach of little hands. Visit the Parish Nurse link at myolph.com for current news and information.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Chattanooga, Tennessee There will be “A Prayer for Christian Unity Service” on Tues Jan 19 at St Therese of Lisieux Catho9lic Church in Cleveland at 6:30 PM. all are encouraged and welcome to attend. Ask your friends form other denominations to join us at St. Therese. The Knights of Columbus council 610 will sponsor the second annual UNITY CUP Chili Cook-off after the 5:30 Mass at OLPH on Saturday, Feb 6. All Chattanooga Area Knights priests and Bishop Stika are invited to stand together in fun and fellowship. Entry fee is $10 to enter your recipe. Cost to dine is $5 for adults. The winner will be determined by the guest voting. The winner will have their name added to the official Unity Cup Trophy. Votes can be purchased for 50 cents at the door. All proceeds will support OLPH Football team. To enter call Sam 423635-0712. Catholic Priesthood: A weekend for men exploring a vocation.” A diocesan men’s discernment retreat will be led by Bishop Richard Stika form Friday, Feb 12 through Sunday, Feb 14. The retreat begins at 7 pm Friday night and concludes with Sun morning Mass. The retreat twill be held at the Oaks Retreat Center near Greensville, TN. College students young adults and older juniors and seniors in high school are welcome to attend the retreat. To get more info or to register contact Fr. Michael Cummins at 423-9267061 or etsucatholiccenter@yahoo.com. Take a weekend to pray and reflect on God’s call for you in your life! Catholic Charities Adoption Services is looking for a loving adoptive home for a 4 year old girl and a 5 year old boy. Great grandmother is no longer able to physically care for them. For more info please contact Sandi Davidson at 865-251-0488 or sandi@ccetn.org.

Feb 1 Feb 2 Feb 3 Feb 4 Feb 5 Feb 6

Weekly Readings 2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13; Mark 5:1-20 Malachi 3:1-4; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40 2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17; Mark 6:1-6 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-12; Mark 6:7-13 Sirach 47:2-11; Mark 6:14-29 1 Kings 3:4-13; Mark 6:30-34

January 31, 2010 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time It’s not too late to make a New Years Resolution to exercise more? Join us on Mondays from 5:00-6:00 p.m. in the Parish Life Center for free Aerobics Classes. Everyone is welcome to attend this year round class. Bishop Richard F. Stika and Notre Dame High School would like to welcome you to an Open House on Thursday, Feb 4 beginning at 6:00 pm at Notre Dame High School. Come meet our Bishop learn more about Notre Dame High School and tour our facilities. Join Fr. Patrick Resen Pastor of St. Catherine Laboure in Copperhill on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Lisbon, Knock and other points in Ireland April 12-21. For info contact Dolores Maglione at maglioned@bellsouth.net. Let’s Celebrate the Sacrament and Commitment of Marriage! Bishop Stika will celebrate three bilingual masses throughout our diocese this year in honor of the sacrament of marriage! Couples have the opportunity to renew their vows during mass and continue to celebrate with family and friends at a luncheon following Mass. Mass will begin at 11:00am on Saturday, Feb 6 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Please RSVP by Feb 1 to Marian Christiana at mchristiana@dioknox.org or 802-5525. Our parish has begun to send emails to parishioners with reminders about Holy Day Masses, special events and other parish information. If you are not on the parish email list you can go to our website myolph.com look on the left hand column for eMail. List, and subscribe. If you do not wish to receive emails you can use the same site to unsubscribe. We promise you will not receive junk mail from the parish or from other sites! Come join us to celebrate marriage with an evening of dining dancing and dance lessons! The dinner and dance will take place at St. Thomas Church in Lenoir City on Sat, Feb 13 immediately following 5:30 Mass. Cost is $35/couple or $120 for table of eight. Call John & Manuela Ptacek 865-531-1719 to reserve your seats.

WHY CATHOLIC? PORQUE SER CATOLICO? The Catholic community of the US is reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti in significant and immediate ways. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) the official international humanitarian agency of the US Catholic Church is mounting a major emergency response to this disaster and has made an initial commitment of 5 million dollars for immediate use in the relief effort. Please keep those who are suffering in your prayers. If you would like to donate call 1877-HELP-CRS’ www.crs.org or send to CRS PO Box 17090 Baltimore MD 21203 The Knights of Columbus Council 6099 is having their Annual Super Bowl Pork Loin Sale. You can place your order after Mass or call the Knights Hall 423-899-9989 or email corkye@aol.com. Pork Tenderloins are $20, Chicken Strips $3 Mashed potatoes $2 and Gravy $2. All proceeds support eh Right to Life Foundation. Pick up is February 7th from 12:00 – 5:00 at the Knights Hall at 7615 Lee Highway near the intersection of Bonnie Oaks Dr. The 2010 Flower chart is in the Church Vestibule. To purchase flowers for the Altar in honor of a loved one or in celebration of a special anniversary, birthday, or any occasion sign up. We’ll contact you before the weekend Mass for your order and the occasion. Cost is $50. Notre Dame High School is teaching their students “Theology of the Body for Teens” by Jason Evert based on the teachings of Pope John Paul II and supported by the Catholic Church. Notre Dame will share this DVE Series with interested parents. The 6 week Parent Classes for the 12 chapters will cover 2 chapters each session. This is a great way to start. Anyone in the Chattanooga area that wants to learn about the book is welcome. Join us at Notre Dame High School Multi purpose room on Mondays. The lunch session is 11:45-1:15. Lunch can be purchased for $6 and requires an RSVP by the Thursday before the meeting. Evening sessions are 6:30-8:00 and snacks will be provided. Sessions are Feb 8, Feb 22, Mar 1, Mar 8, Mar 22, and Mar 29. For more info or to register contact Notre Dame 624-4618 Mary Pat Haywood 706-278-6391, Karen Schulz 877-8319 or Bucky Dearing 847-9697.

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Attention Students: Take a Stand for Life 2010 High School Oratory Contest sponsored by Chattanoogans for life, Diocese of Knoxville, Office of Justice & Peace and Marriage Prep & Enrichment Office. Research & give a 5-7 minute speech on Abortion. What is Roe v. Wade? Doe v. Bolton? How can the establishment of personhood reverse these Supreme Court decisions? What is meant by the term “personhood?” First place is $100, Second $60, Third, $40 and Fourth & Fifth $20. Contest is open to all Tennessee High School Students. Contest is Friday, February 19 at 12:30 at Notre Dame High School entry deadline is Feb 15th. ¡Vamos a Celebrar el Sacramento y Compromiso del Matrimonial! El Obispo Richard F. Stika celebrará una Misa especial en bilingües este año. Esta celebración tendrá un fin para honrar a las parejas casadas y su compromiso en el Sacramento del Matrimonio. En esta misa, el señor Obispo dará la oportunidad a las parejas de renovar sus votos matrimoniales. Las misa comenzarán a las 11 de la mañana, seguida de una recepción. Los invitamos a la Misa que será aquí en Chattanooga — OLPH Sabado, 6 de Febrero 2010 Por favor permítanos en saber cuántos años de casados tienen y si van a asistir al almuerzo. Deben confirmar su asistencia antes del Lunes 1 de Febrero con kbyrne@dioknox.org ó (865) 584-3307 mchristiana@dioknox.org ó (423) 802-5525 MASS ATTENDANCE Envelopes Offertory Children’s Funds Required Weekly Variance Year to Date Variance Diocese Haiti Disaster Relief Latin America

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1300 13,406.00 332.82 2.00 19,000.00 -5,258.18 -26,417.89 179.00 700.00 2,399.00

MOUNT OLIVET CEMETERY Chattanooga’s Catholic Cemetery since 1886. For information call David Hale, 622-0728. Please remember OLPH in your will

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK "Dividends for Life—Faith, Knowledge, Discipline, Morals" January 31 – February 5, 2010 Sunday, January 31: Kick-off • Attend 10:00 A.M. Mass at OLPH Church—OLPH students, please wear your school uniform; you may sit with your family. Students will serve as readers, altar servers, gift bearers, and choir members. Teachers will serve as Eucharistic Ministers. • A Pancake Breakfast will follow 10:00 A.M. Mass, in the PLC. Proceeds will benefit our seminarian, Doug Owens. 7 Monday, February 1: Community Day th grade students will help serve. • Service Learning/Community Outreach (requested items listed on back) K through 3 4th rd –through 6 * 1h 7' – Pet Salvation *h All students, faculty and staff—Haiti Collection/Red Cross Placement Army anCenter • Community Outreach presentation for all students at 10:00 A.M. in the school gym. Adrepresentative 8 from each organization listed above will be present to accept the th collected items. David Carroll, news anchor from Channel 3 will be covering–the presentation. Parents are invited to attend. • "FamousRo Catholics Contest" will be Monday - Thursday in the school library. nal Students in grades 4 famous Catholics. Awards will be given out Friday. th through 8 dAmerican Tuesday, February 2:Mc Student Day th may participate in • Students and faculty may wear an OLPH "spirit shirt" (from any past OLPH identifying Do 20 event, including but not limited to, festival/carnival, Ram Run, sports, physical nal education), with any school appropriate bottom. d • Volunteer Appreciation Brunch in the cafeteria after the 8:15 Mass. Ho Rally at 2:20 in the school gym. Parents are invited to attend. • Spiritual Pep us3: National Day / Crazy Hair Day Wednesday, February e • Students may come to school with a crazy hairdo!

• All students will pray the Holy Rosary, 10:00 A.M., in the church, in honor of the 150 • Letters 1b will be written, or cards will be made, by all students during Language Arts ann classes for military personnel or patients at the VA hospital. Thursday, February 4: Vocations Day / Crazy Sock Day iver • A "prayer chain" will be made during Religion classes, which may be hung in the sar the weekend of February 6 church yJim will speak to students in grades 5 • Fr.th. Holy th through of Family 8 Hall. •thFr. Mike Creson will share regarding vocations, in his vocation stories with students in grades the Kindergarten through 4 Do Friday, February th 5: Mass • Students in grades 3 .min ica Paul Church, 14 through 8 along with students from Notre Dame High School and St. Jude School. Bishop n attend 10:00Stika will preside over this Mass. Fr. Ragan Shriver, Executive th will of Sts. East Tennessee Catholic Charities, will talk to the students after Mass A.M.Director Mass at Sis about the theme of Catholic Schools Week—"Dividends for Life-Faith, Peter and ter Knowledge, Discipline, Morals." s. Rodgers, local author / illustrator, will give a presentation to students in • Phillip grades Kindergarten through 2 Par take nd ent place in the PLC; light snacks will be provided. Parents are invited to attend. • Pizza and drinks will be provided ,sfollowing the 8:15 Mass. The to all students for lunch. presentation will

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Catholic Schools I'd Choose Them Again by Elizabeth Bookser Barkley western city, my personal, moral and intellectual growth was shaped by two forces: my family and Catholic schools. Memories of both of these educational influences are positive and lasting. Even before Vatican II articulated the concept of parents as "the first and foremost educators of their children," my parents assumed that role. They were helped in that task by dedicated teachers, many of them Sisters of Charity who traced their roots to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a 19th-century leader in American Catholic education. The culture at large and in the Catholic Church has changed dramatically in the last 50 years. There are fewer religious sisters in the United States and in Catholic schools. Many public schools offer excellent curricula, supplemented by parish religious education programs and outreach to youth. The costs of all services, including education, have shot up, straining family budgets. In this Update, we'll take a look at Catholic schools today, and show why many parents, where Catholic schools are available and it works for the family, still choose Catholic schools for elementary and beyond. As my children were nearing school age, my husband and I had a difficult choice: send them to the excellent public schools in our district or enroll them in our parish school, which also has a good reputation. We chose the latter. Reflecting on my children's educational experience, my own years teaching in three archdiocesan high schools, my present position as a professor at a Catholic college and discussions with a daughter who teaches in a Catholic elementary school, I would make the same choice today. The decision is not at all related to the "siege mentality" of some who see Catholic schools as a refuge from what a recent commencement speaker called a "poisoned culture," a claim 1 do not share. Steeped in the wisdom of the Vatican II pastoral document The Church in the Modem World, 1 agree that the Church "goes forward with humanity and experiences the same earthly lot that the world does. She serves as a leaven and kind of soul for human society." Catholic schools must engage their students with the world in which they live, while at the same time helping students interpret and influence it. Catholic schools achieve these two goals because of five characteristics I have come to value. 02009, ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER PRESS, 28 W. LIBERTY St. CINCINNATI, OH 45202-6498. PHOTOCOPYING PROHIBITED. EDITOR: JACK WINT2. 0.F.M. MANAGING EDITOR: JOHN FESTER ART DIRECTOR: CONSTANCE WOLFER

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1. Shared values her commitment to values and her academic credentials, I would put her up against any teacher I've known in Catholic schools, and I don't doubt that there are many teachers in public schools like her. The difference: Staff in Catholic schools have made a commitment to embrace a common set of Catholic-Christian values. They buy into core beliefs that they bring to all their classes, not just religion classes. Here's how one of my friends defined the difference: "Catholic schools infuse faith into every part of the school day—religion class, math class, discipline, extracurriculars, everything. That idea was extremely attractive to me because I think Jesus should be the center of your life—not a subject you study for an hour every Tuesday night or something you only think about an hour every Sunday morning, but integrated throughout every activity." Christianity and the Catholic Church have always been about something larger than ourselves. Our journey toward holiness is not an isolated one; it is rooted in community. Catholic schools—their administrators, staff and other parents—are there to support children on a daily basis as they grow as students and as believers.

2. Eucharistic schools

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around much, my mother attended daily Mass at her parish and distributed the Eucharist to shut-ins. Like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose life and values have influenced my spirituality, my mother had a profound devotion to the Eucharist. She was one of the most Christlike people I have ever known, and I attribute some of her goodness to her love of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is at the heart of Catholicism, as Pope John Paul IT reminded us in his 2003 encyclical On the Eucharist and Its Relation to the Church: "The Church was born of the paschal mystery," he writes. "For this very reason the Eucharist, which is in an outstanding way the sacrament of the paschal mystery, stands at the center of the Church's life." Simply put, Catholic schools provide opportunities to celebrate the Eucharist more often. Catholic schools integrate the celebration of the Eucharist into their curricula, scheduling allschool Masses, sometimes monthly, sometimes weekly. For children in the lower grades, the faculty and older students model appropriate behavior and reverence, so that young children gradually begin to understand the rituals and the meaning of the Mass, building upon their Sunday experiences with their families. When my children were in Catholic grade school as first-graders they looked up to their eighth-grade "buddies," then later they became role models for new first-graders. One of their most important "jobs" was to sit next to their little buddies during school Mass; they took seriously their responsibility of being a reverent role model. Several recent studies of teenagers have concluded that Catholic youth are not getting enough exposure to religious practices. Among the conclusions, as analyzed by Robert McCarthy, D. Min., is that "more equals more: the more they attend Mass and participate in religious programs and groups, the more they participate and engage in religious practices, but the reality is that most do not participate." It is at these school Masses woven into the fabric of their broader education in Catholic schools that youth can "engage in religious practices" and assume leadership roles as acolytes, gift bearers,

and ministers of the Word. It is at these celebrations that they can hear interpretations of Scripture in language they can understand, and, if the celebrant is tuned into the needs of his young listeners, on themes and issues they can connect to.

3. Learning the Catholic story fictional character from a university was explaining a detail from the history of the Church to Catholics he was working with. He noted with a smile that he knew more about their Church than they did. That's like having a friend tell you all about the grandfather or cousin you're related to, but know little about. As a teacher of college students over the past decades, I know that many young people have little grasp of the history of the Catholic Church, or of the historical origin of many Church practices.But many tell me that they hope to have children and raise them in the Catholic faith. How much does this generation of parents really know about our Catholic "family tree"? I suspect many would answer, "Not much." Although Sunday homilies occasionally refer to events of the past, there's only so much history that can fit into 10 or 15 minutes, especially since most homilists rightly try to connect Sunday readings to the daily lives of their congregants. But knowing our collective history is important if we are to understand the Church today. You can't open a world or European history book without the Catholic Church inserting itself into almost every century: the origins of the papacy, the role of monasteries in preserving culture, art in Catholic spaces and the very spaces themselves, the philosophical impact of the likes of Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, or the influence of papal encyclicals on historical or modern thought. Some of Church history is nothing to boast of, but as George Santayana famously said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." More importantly, there is much we can be proud of and can celebrate as we remember. Catholic schools are places where teachers and students can break open and digest that history, acknowledging the beauty as well as the blemishes.

4. Applying faith to the world

Catholic Schools Reaching Out to the Poor the Presidential Citizens Medal, one of the country's most prestigious honors, on a Catholic educator? Because that educator, Jesuit Father John P. Foley, founded, in the words of his award citation, a network of schools In 2002 to 'provide a Catholic, college prep education to economically challenged young people in urban communities." Ninety-five percent of the students in Cristo Rey Network schools are from racial minority populations. In presenting the medal, President George W. Bush tacitly acknowledged that Fr. Foley's vision and work had met the criteria for the honor given to U.S. citizens "who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens." Although Cristo Rey is a national network, many dioceses across the United States also allocate part of their budget to support Catholic education. Some have even created foundations to raise money to support education for children in poor neighborhoods of their cities. In 1980 in Cincinnati, then-Archbishop Joseph L. Bemardin established the Catholic-Inner-City Schoois Education Fund 'with the idea that education is the best way to break the cycle of poverty" Support comes from individuals, corporations and foundations that support this ministry 'to children in poor neighborhoods as a means of overcoming their unique challenges by giving them knowledge, discipline and faith that are the cornerstones of Catholic Education." When Archbishop Bernardin moved to Chicago, he took with him that same commitment to educate the poor, inspiring local business leaders in 1986 to establish the Big Shoulders Fund to support 'the poorest and oldest Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago." In Boston, the Inner-City Scholarship Fund helps provide schooling to children from poor families, 75% of whom live below the federal poverty level, and many of whom come from single-family homes where the parent works two or three jobs. The success rates of these programs are remarkable. In the Archdiocese of New York, the Endowment for Inner-City Education boasts: "In a city where just over half of students graduate from the public schools in four years, nearly 80')/ei of the students who attend one of the (Endowment] high schools we support graduate four years later. Even more compelling, an astounding 96D/0 pursue post-secondary education." Offering a "hand up" to children In poverty is not a new idea in this country. When St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, a pioneer in Catholic education, founded her academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland, 200 years ago, one of her goals was to have a school 'devoted to the education of poor children in the Catholic faith! The only way she could realize her dream was to have a tuition-based school, or "pay school," for those who could afford it, alongside a "free schoor funded by her Sisters of Charity. Two hundred years later, that model of Catholic education is an idea that still works. III

charity in Truth in 2009 about many issuesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; including the global economic crisis, food security and the environmentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it made headlines around the world. Over the years a dozen American presidents have met with the reigning pope, and the world took note, because of the political and spiritual influence each leader brings to such meetings. The Church has been described as ?tuner et magistra. Latin words for "mother and teacher." In a world where news is sometimes limited to one-minute packages on television or headline messages delivered to computers, where will the next generation of Catholic leaders learn about the teachings and vision of today's Church? Catholic schools would be one option. Although most grade school children might not know the term encyclical (an in-depth papal teaching), they are fully infused with a set of values that can guide them as they interact with the larger culture: Catholic social teaching. Children in Catholic schoo Is would be hard-pressed to

articulate the whole body of teaching, but they imbibe core principles on a daily basis: the sanctity of marriage and the family, the sacredness of all life, a responsibility toward the poor, or the duty to care for the earth. Certainly public schools intentionally promote care for the environment and service to the community, but children in Catholic schools are consistently exposed to a core of principles that gives a moral framework for dealing with contemporary issues and tensions. As one parent of Catholic schoolchildren told me. her family values Catholic schools because of "the integration of mission, faith and social justice into the curriculum."

5. Reason and faith past few years, you could easily be convinced that religion and science, faith and reason are incompatible. That misconception has circulated for centuries, but Catholic thinkers and theologians as far back as St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas have always taught that there is no discrepancy between the two. The late Pope John Paul II understood that "reason and faith cannot be separated without diminishing the capacity of men and women to know themselves, the world and God in an appropriate way." Elizabeth Bookser Barkley, a freeIn an era when some fundamentalist Christians are rejecting science and reason, especially lance wriwr is a pralessor of English at the College of Mount St. Joseph in in their attacks on evolution. Catholic schools are places where students learn that being Cincinnati, Ohio, She contributes to a scientifically "literate" is a necessity. According to the National Catholic Educational Associati on, variety of Catholic publications. her latest book is When You Ate a Godone of the reasons parents choose Catholic schools is the reputation for high academic standards. parent (Sr. Anthony ,Vessenger Press.). As one parent told me, Catholic schools raise the bar and demand excellence in academics. ALSO THIS MONTH: I have no data to support that claim, but even if it were universally true that Catholic Key Themes of Charity in Truth schools are academically more rigorous than public schools, high academic standards would (Pope Benedict's New Encyclical) (by Kenneth A. Overberg, (NOOK) not be enough to convince me to pay tuition when NM: Day-by-Day Through Advent I could send supported by my myproperty children taxes. to a school (by Kathy Coffey) Add growth in faith to growth in intellectual development, and I see a recipe for wholeness. Psychologists have various ways of describing the moral or faith development of children into adulthood. Although the stages and labels vary, these experts tell us that children mimic their parents' beliefs in early years. then as they become more independent, they struggle to redefine their own values and morals that will lay the foundation for adult life. Just as children try on intellectual identities—one day mimicking the style of a favorite poet, the next quoting lines from a trendy movie—as they grow they also try on 1) Why should parishes "faith identities" when they confront crucial questions of life and death. What better place support Catholic schools? than a Catholic school for students to confront these questions in an environment where 2) What is the biggest they can feel safe to experience the questions and doubts that lead to a mature faith? advantage of Catholic Life is not just about facts, data and accumulation of knowledge. Life is also about education? mystery, wonder, awe... faith. Catholic schools equip their graduates to live in a complex world, with the intellectual tools to navigate its intricacies, as well as the faith 3) How has education that, in the words of Pope Benedict XVI to students, "enables people to look to the changed your life? future with hope" (address to university students, July II, 2009). As a Catholic parent and educator, I know that not every Catholic school fulfills the high expectations I have for them to demonstrate these five traits Extra copies of Catholic Update: 1000 ormore:140 ea. n 500-999: 170 ea. I admire But they alland have value. the capacity to do so. If "Christ is the reason" for our Catholic schools, 300-499: 220 ea. • 200-299: 280 ea. as signs in many Catholic school buildings proclaim, parents and parishioners whose 100-199: 330 ea. s10-99: 390 ea. money supports these schools need to hold our Catholic schools accountable for living Catholic Update 12-month subscriptions: Single: $14.00 • 2-9: $10.00 ea. out their missions. 10-99: $5.40 ea. • 100-199: $4.20 ea. Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C., in a 2008 pastoral letter, 200-299: $3.60 ea. • 300-499: $2.75 ea. 500-999: $2.15 ea. • 1000 ormore: $1.80 ea. challenged clergy, religious and laity in his archdiocese to make Catholic schools affordTo qualify forbulk rates all copies must be able and accessible to more families. His was a challenge to the Church to provide mailed to same address. Orderbytelephone 1-800-488-0488 oruse addresson front. more institutions to strengthen Catholic education. Our challenge in the parishes is to Prices are subject to change. support our Catholic schools, whether financially, through volunteer work or, when possible. by making a Catholic-school choice for our children. That way the gems that Visit our Web site at are our Catholic schools can touch the lives of more children, who are the future of the www.AmericanCatholic.org American Catholic Church. III

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PERMISSION TO PUBLISH REV, JOSEPH R BINZER VICAR GENERAL. ARCHDIOCESE OF CINCINNATI. AUGUST 7, 2009

t 0,44'11,0LIC CHARITIES ANNUAL DINNER -

GrilEvi CARING rco MM UNITY rof a

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