Newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
World Mission Sunday
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Local missionaries spread ‘Good News,’ build solidarity B-Section
News with a Catholic heart
October 13, 2011
TheCatholicSpirit.com
1 year later
HONORING MARY
Strategic Plan puts more focus on collaboration and ‘best practices’ throughout archdiocese The Catholic Spirit
Dave Hrbacek \ The Catholic Spirit
From left, fifth-grader Yesima Seghen and sixth-grader Diego Vargas of St. Francis-St. James United School in St. Paul follow along during the ninth annual Children’s Rosary Pilgrimage at the Cathedral of St. Paul Oct. 7. The event, sponsored by the archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life, drew a total of 2,240 students from 20 Catholic elementary schools in the archdiocese. Leading the rosary and benediction was auxiliary Bishop Lee Piché.
One of the biggest benefits of the archdiocesan Strategic Plan announced in October 2010 has been something intangible but essential to strengthening local parishes and schools for the future, according to Father Peter Laird. archdiocesan vicar general. It’s a growing Strategic Planning appreciation that Father Laird said he has noticed among priests and laity that the church is bigger than their own parish or school, UPDATE and that Catholics are called to work together to benefit the local church as it is embodied by the 12county archdiocese. “One of the great gifts we have is parishes and identities of parishioners wrapped around parishes, and that’s a great strength,” said Father Laird. “It can also be a great weakness if we fail to appreciate this great sense of ‘communio’ [communion] we share with the archbishop and the universal church. “I think October 2010 marked a new transition in our culture in the archdiocese,” he added. It’s a transition from a “bricks-and-mortar” first approach to one that emphasizes PLEASE TURN TO PLANNING ON PAGE 11A
Today’s multibillion-dollar video game industry poses challenges, opportunities for Catholic families — pages 12A-13A
If the world were a village Almost half of the world’s 7 billion people lives on less than $2 a day. For many people, migration is the only way to escape extreme poverty, Holy Cross Father Daniel Groody told a crowd gathered at St. Catherine University in St. Paul Oct. 1 for a conference titled “Justice for Immigrants: The Theology of Migration and Framing the Message.” (See story on page 7A.) To put the problem into perspective, if the world’s population were proportionally represented by a village of 100 people:
50 people would not have a reliable source of food and would be hungry most of the time.
iStock photo
30 would suffer from malnutrition. 40 would not have access to adequate sanitation.
31 would live in substandard housing. 31 would not have access to electricity. 18 would be unable to read. 16 would have access to the Internet. 15 would not have access to clean drinking water. 12 would own an automobile. 2 would have a college education. 2 would own a computer.
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OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
How one pro-life decision changed the world
That They May All Be One Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
Steve Jobs’ young, unmarried mother made the life-giving decision to put him up for adoption instead of opting for abortion
October has been designated as Respect Life Month. As Pope Benedict XVI has so often reminded us, abortion is a violation of the social justice teaching of the Catholic Church — a lack of justice for the child who is killed; a lack of justice for the society deprived of that child’s contribution. Here is a real story about a woman who respected life, and her choice made a difference in virtually every one of our lives: In 1954, Joann Schiebel, a young, unmarried college student, discovered that she was pregnant. At the time, her options were very limited. She could have had an abortion — but the procedure was both dangerous and illegal. She could have gotten married, but she wasn’t ready and did not want to interrupt her education. Thus, Joann chose instead to give birth to the baby and put him up for adoption. And so it was that in 1955, a California couple named Paul and Clara Jobs adopted a baby boy, born out of wedlock, that they named Steven. Yes, this is the same Steve Jobs who died on Oct. 5 from pancreatic cancer. He was, as a reporter from the Washington Post commented, “The brilliant, material co-founder of Apple, who introduced simple, elegantly designed computers for people who
Archbishop Nienstedt’s schedule ■ Saturday, Oct. 15: 5 p.m., St. Paul, The St. Paul Seminary: White Mass and reception. ■ Sunday, Oct. 16: 11 a.m., St. Paul, Nativity of Our Lord: Sunday liturgy. 5:30 p.m., St. Paul, Church of St. Agnes: Dinner and presentation to youth group. ■ Monday, Oct. 17: 2 p.m., Plymouth, Providence Academy: Mass celebrating 10th anniversary of consecration of the chapel altar and reservation of Blessed Sacrament. ■ Tuesday, Oct. 18: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff. 9:30 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Comprehensive Assignment Board meeting. 10 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Videotaping for 2011 Catholic Services Appeal. 1:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archbishop’s Council meeting. 5:15 p.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Evening prayer and dinner with Office of Conciliation. ■ Wednesday, Oct. 19: 9 a.m., New Brighton, Church of St. John the Baptist: Clergy study day. 3:30 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan corporate board meeting. 6 p.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Miryam dinner. ■ Thursday, Oct. 20: 11 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Planning for Presbyteral Council meeting. ■ Saturday, Oct. 22: 4:15 p.m., St. Paul, Church of St. John of St. Paul: Sunday liturgy, celebrating 125th anniversary of parish, and dinner. ■ Sunday, Oct. 23: 11:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Catholic Services Appeal benefactor Mass and brunch. ■ Tuesday, Oct. 25: 8:30 a.m., St. Paul, Archbishop’s Residence: Scheduling meeting with staff. 3 p.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Archdiocesan Finance Council meeting. 8:15 p.m., St. Paul, Church of St. Mark: Evening Holy Hour and night prayer with pre-theology seminarians. ■ Wednesday, Oct. 26: 9 a.m., Forest Lake, Church of St. Peter: Mass and classroom visits and lunch with students. 5:30 p.m., Minneapolis, The Minneapolis Club: Legacy Award dinner. ■ Thursday, Oct. 27: 9 a.m., St. Paul, Chancery: Meeting with staff. 5:30 p.m., St. Paul, Town and Country Club: The St. Paul Seminary Rector’s Dinner.
PLEASE TURN TO WE ON PAGE 4A
The Catholic Spirit The Catholic Spirit’s mission is to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. It seeks to inform, educate, evangelize and foster a spirit of community within the Catholic Church by disseminating news in a professional manner and serving as a forum for discussion of contemporary issues.
Vol. 16 — No. 21 MOST REVEREND JOHN C. NIENSTEDT Publisher BOB ZYSKOWSKI Associate publisher
JOE TOWALSKI Editor
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Priests, brothers receive new assignments Several priests, deacons and brothers have received new appointments. Father Albert Backmann was named director of retired clergy on Sept. 1. Father Backmann, who was ordained in 1999 and retired in July, had served on the faculty at St. John Vianney College Seminary since 2009. Previously, he served at St. Bridget of Sweden in Lindstrom, Immaculate Conception in Columbia Heights and St. John Neumann in Eagan. Father Peter Laird will continue to serve as vicar general and moderator of the curia while serving as temporary administrator of St. Jude of the Lake in Mahtomedi (Town of Lincoln), to which he was appointed Sept. 9. After his ordination in 1997, Father Laird served at St. Olaf in Minneapolis and on the faculty at the St. Paul Seminary. He replaces Father Kevin Magner, who resigned as pastor of St. Jude. After his ordination in 2003, Father Magner served at Our Lady of Grace in Edina, St. Charles Borromeo in St. Anthony, St. John the Evangelist in Hopkins, St. Anne in Hamel and as canonical adminisPLEASE TURN TO APPOINTMENTS ON PAGE 4A
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“We are already one. But we imagine that we are not. And what we have to recover is our original unity. What we have to be is what we are.” Father Thomas Merton
Local News from around the archdiocese
OCTOBER 13, 2011
The Catholic Spirit
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Win-win St. Bridget estate sale a positive event for everyone By Pat Norby The Catholic Spirit
What do you get when you toss together an estate sale, a former convent and 55 kindergartners? Success. “The estate sale [Oct. 7-8] was a success on any number of levels,” said Franciscan Father Anthony Criscitelli, pastor of St. Bridget in north Minneapolis. “It’s been a win-win all around.” When the Third Order Regular of St. Francis friars, who had lived in the former St. Bridget’s convent building since 1977, moved from there into the parish rectory in 2010, St. Bridget no longer needed to use the building. At the same time, the public charter school that rents the parish school building was interested in renting more space. So, St. Bridget renovated the first floor of the old convent and, in the process, needed to clear out the clutter left behind by the sisters and friars. “First and foremost, we were able to part with a number of the big items — furniture, appliances, kitchen wares, beds, dressers and desks and washers and dryers,” Father Criscitelli said. That led to financial success: $6,000, of which a small part will go to the Franciscan community, which owned some of the items. The rest will go toward a renovation of the school kitchen, which also is used for parish funeral lunches, dinners and community events, he said.
Mary Plant, a member of St. Bridget in Minneapolis, looks over a table of religous items for sale during the St. Bridget’s Convent estate sale Oct. 7. Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
Getting to know you “One other level of success is we got to know some of our neighbors, who we don’t see, but they live in the neighborhood and are curious about St. Bridget,” the pastor said. Also, people who used to go to St. Bridget parish or school returned and shared stories about taking music lessons from one of the sisters or being invited into the convent. (St. Bridget School closed in 1995 when it merged with St. Elizabeth Seton School, which closed in 2009.) “It was very nice on that level to get to
Cretin-Derham Hall is pleased to announce its 2011 alumni/ae and community award winners. Congratulations!
Thomas Lentsch ’68 Bishop Cretin Award
Br. James Roszak, FSC ’52 St. De La Salle Award
Sarah Hietpas Gavin ’73 Carondelet Award
Bridget Manahan ’74 Hugh Derham Award
Patricia Quirk Spitzmueller ’71 Hour Glass Award
Co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet and the Brothers of the Christian Schools
Discover Your Potential/ Celebrate Your Achievements
550 S. Albert St. St. Paul, MN 55116 651-690-2443 www.c-dh.org
John ’70 and Annette Mortinson Whaley ’71 Monsignor Ambrose Hayden Legacy Award
George Lang ’60 Eugene and Mary Frey Community Award
know people who were once upon a time connected to the parish and still have some affection for it,” he said. And, for Julie Guy, director of Sojourner Truth Academy, who welcomed the kindergarteners into their new space Oct. 10, the convent provides much needed space. “We are so excited to get this additional building,” she said. “We’ve been talking about it and working on it for years.” The school, which was founded in 1999 in the St. Bridget school building, has 350 students and 60 staff members, which in-
cludes 27 licensed teachers. “Over the years, we have grown out of this building, but we have such a great relationship with St. Bridget’s that we want to stay here. This is our home now,” Guy said. “We have developed personal relationships with the staff at St. Bridget. . . . Parishioners come and help at our family events, which we have at least once a month. . . . They have always been a great resource for us. If we need something, they help us fill that need.” PLEASE TURN TO PARISH ON PAGE 23A
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
We must respect life both inside and outside the womb CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A were more interested in what technology could do rather than how it was done.” If you have an iPhone or an iPad or an iPod, or anything remotely resembling these, you can thank Steve Jobs. If you have had an Apple or Macintosh computer in the past, you can thank Steve Jobs. But at the same time, you can also thank Joann Schiebel for giving the gift of life. The theme of this year’s Respect Life program is, “I came so that all might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Here, Jesus refers not only to the hope of eternal life, but life in this world as well. Our culture and even our own government promote policies that are opposed to the true good of individuals and families (see my column of Sept. 15). The media assist this agenda by promoting a distorted view of sexuality that is “free” of any commitment to the reproductive end of the act of sexual intercourse. In this view, contraceptives are promoted as being essential to a woman’s personal good, and abortion becomes a necessary back-up measure when those same contraceptives fail. While the number of abortions in the State of Minnesota continues to fall, it has consistently risen at Planned Parenthood, which now performs 35 percent of all abortions in the state. And, unfortunately, the greatest number
“Our culture and even our own government promote policies that are opposed to the true good of individuals and families.
”
ARCHBISHOP JOHN NIENSTEDT
of Hispanic abortions has regularly occurred there as well. It has been recorded that 41 percent of abortion clients at Planned Parenthood admitted to using contraceptives at the time of conception (see Prolife Action News, October 2011). Yet, because of the Minnesota Supreme Court ruling of 1995, taxpayers like you and me continue to pay for elective abortions as well as the availability of contraceptives. Some conscientious and courageous witnesses are making a difference in this area by joining in the 40 Days for Life campaign that began outside of Regions Hospital in St. Paul on Sept. 28 and will continue until Nov. 6. Various church groups will “Adopt-a-Day” to lead prayers and to keep vigil. I will be present for the closing hour of these 40 days on Nov. 6. Of course, the respect we are called to show human life in the womb is the same respect we are called to show human life outside the womb.
Appointments CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2A trator of Holy Cross Catholic School in Webster. Father Stephan Kappler, from the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., was appointed Sept. 15 as assistant priest at Risen Savior in Burnsville. He is offering the Spanish Mass at the parish on three weekends each month. Franciscan Father Thomas Merrill was named assistant priest for St. Mark and St. Mary, both of Shakopee, and St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown, effective Oct. 1. He previously has served as pastor at Assumption in Richfield and at Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Paul. He will reside at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Prior Lake. Deacon Timothy Harrer, who was ordained a permanent deacon in 2000, was named to serve as deacon at St. Mary of the Lake in Plymouth (Medicine Lake), beginning Oct. 1. He most recently served at St. Joseph in Waconia. On Oct. 1, Father Mark Joseph Niehaus, ISP, was given the authority to minister in the archdiocese. He was assigned to the Schoenstatt Young Men’s Ministry in Waukesha, Wis., by the Schoenstatt Institute of Secular Priests. Dominican Father Brian Walker, who has been residing at St. Albert the Great Priory, was reassigned to Chicago. Dominican Brother Raymond Bryce will serve a pastoral year with Dominican Father James Spahn, pastor of Holy Rosary in Minneapolis. Immaculate Conception Brother Pascal Atanga is in residence at St. Mary in St. Paul while he completes his medical licensing examinations. OFFICIAL Archbishop John C. Nienstedt, has announced the following appointments in the
October is also, “Bullying Awareness Month,” a time to remind ourselves and one another of the inherent dignity of each person as a son and daughter of God. We must not tolerate derogatory remarks or physical abuse of persons who are
deemed “different from others.” “Might” does not make “right” and teachers, parents as well as others in authority need to be vigilant to any signs that a young person may be bullied by another or by others. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.” That applies so appropriately to the person of Steve Jobs, now gone to God. Who could imagine our world today, if he had never been allowed to be born? God bless you.
Join Other Catholics Pittsburgh Priest Hosts
H awa i i 15 Days
Departs: February 15, 2012
from
$2018*
Join your Roman Catholic Chaplain, Father Joe Codori and other Roman Catholics on the most affordable two-week, four-island Hawaiian vacation you will ever find. Your group will fly to Honolulu for five nights in Waikiki, three nights in Kona, one night in Hilo, two nights on Maui, and three nights on Kauai. Sightseeing on every island includes: a Honolulu city tour with Punchbowl Crater and Pearl Harbor cruise to the Arizona Memorial, the Wailua riverboat cruise, Iao Valley excursion & the old whaling capital of Lahaina, a Hilo orchid garden and Rainbow Falls, Black Sand Beaches, Volcanoes National Park and more! Includes all taxes, baggage handling, first class hotels, flights between the islands, and escorted sightseeing on every island. YMT specializes in Hawaii and has had its own office in Honolulu since 1967. This will be Father Codori’s third winter trip on this Hawaiian vacation. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge of the islands. Fr. Codori is Parochial Vicar at two parishes in the Pittsburgh Diocese. Add $700 for single room.
Daily Mass with your YMT Chaplain/Priest
Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Effective September 1, 2011 Appointed Rev. Albert Backmann as Director of Retired Clergy. Effective September 9, 2011 Accepted the resignation of Rev. Kevin Magner from the pastoral care of the Church of Saint Jude of the Lake in the Town of Lincoln. Appointed Father Peter A. Laird, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, as temporary parochial administrator of the Church of Saint Jude of the Lake. Effective September 15, 2011 Appointed Father Stephan Kappler (Diocese of Oakland), as assistant priest of the Church of the Risen Savior in Burnsville. Father Kappler will be offering the Spanish Mass at the parish on three weekends each month. Effective October 1, 2011 Appointed Rev. Thomas Merrill, OFM Conv., as associate priest of the Church of Saint Mark of Shakopee, the Church of Saint Mary of Shakopee, and the Church of Saint Mary of the Purification of Marystown. Father Merrill will be in residence at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Prior Lake. Appointed Deacon Timothy Harrer to exercise the ministry of a permanent deacon at the Church of Saint Mary of the Lake of Medicine Lake, Minnesota. This is a transfer from his assignment at the Church of Saint Joseph of Waconia. Granted the faculties of the Archdiocese to Rev. Mark Joseph Niehaus, ISP, who has been assigned to the Schoenstatt Young Men’s Ministry in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Departures Rev. Brian Guadalupe Walker, OP, formerly of Saint Albert the Great Priory, reassigned to Chicago. Arrivals Brother Raymond (Steven) Bryce, OP, serving a pastoral year under the tutelage of Rev. James Spahn, OP, Pastor of Holy Rosary in Minneapolis. Brother Pascal Atanga, CFIC, in residence at the Church of Saint Mary in Saint Paul while completing his medical licensing examinations.
European Pilgrimage 12 Days
Departs April 30 or May 14, 2012
from
$3098*
ROME – VATICAN – PORTUGAL – FATIMA - SPAIN – FRANCE – LOURDES – PARIS Tour the Vatican including an audience (subject to his schedule) with Pope Benedict XVI! Tour Rome’s religious highlights including St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and Rome’s first church, the “Cathedral of Rome and of the World.” Celebrate two Masses in Rome including private Mass at St. Peter’s. See ancient Rome, the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore and more! Fly to Lisbon, Portugal; visit Lady of Fatima Church, celebrate private Masses at the Basilica of Fatima and Apariciones Chapel of Fatima; and tour the Batalha monastery. Travel to Salamanca, Spain; visit the Old Cathedral and New Cathedral; overnight in Valladolid, Spain. Visit Lourdes, France; celebrate Mass at the Grotto of Lourdes. Take the high-speed train to Paris for two nights. Wednesday’s Paris highlight includes The Shrine of the Miraculous Medal with Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Thursday’s highlights include a full-day tour of Paris visiting the Louvre Museum, Eiffel Tower, Basilica of the Sacred Heart and more! Includes 10 Breakfasts & 10 Dinners.
Alaska Cruise plus a YMT Pacific Northwest Vacation
15 Days
Departs May 21; June 18; July 16 or Aug 27, 2012
from
$1898*
Daily Mass aboard Hollard American Lines ms Oosterdam . Join other Catholics on this 15-day vacation including a seven-day deluxe cruise with Holland America Line and a seven-day Pacific Northwest vacation with YMT. Your group will fly into Salt Lake City for one night. The next day enjoy a city tour of the highlights before taking a scenic drive to Jackson Hole, WY. Then see Grand Teton National Park and spend two days in Yellowstone National Park before heading to Butte, MT. Travel through Montana’s “Big Sky Country” and through northern Idaho; see Lake Coeur d’ Alene; Spokane; Grand Coulee Dam; and end in Seattle, Washington. Board the 5-star ms Oosterdam in Seattle for your 7 night Alaskan Inside Passage Cruise. Next, travel through a wondrous maze of forested-island and glacier-carved fjords, past charming coastal villages, migrating whales and calving glaciers to Tracey Arm; Juneau; Sitka; Ketchikan; and spectacular Victoria, BC on Vancouver Island! After the cruise spend one more night in Seattle, with an included city tour, then depart for home. *Price includes the seven-day deluxe Alaska cruise, seven nights hotels, lots of motor coach sightseeing throughout the Pacific Northwest, baggage handling, port charges and taxes. Based on May 21 departure. Add $300 for June 18 and August 27 departures. Add $500 for the July 16 departure. The July 16 departure includes your YMT Chaplain/Priest Fr. Walter Grabowski who is pastor of Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church in Eden, New York. This will be his 6th trip as your YMT Chaplain.
*Prices per person, double occupancy. Airfare is extra.
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OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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The Catholic Church doesn’t believe in human rights — Huh? The following is a legislative update provided by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, which advocates on behalf of the state’s bishops for public policies and programs that support the life and dignity of every human person. I found the reckless accusation, “The Catholic Church simply doesn’t believe in human rights” wedged between several other statements of supposed “facts” about the Catholic Church in the comment section of a recent online op-ed posting. Unfortunately, the sad fact is that there are many non-Catholics and Catholics alike who believe this is true to varying degrees. Jessica Zittlow To accurately address where this confusion lies, we need to approach the issue by asking the right questions. It is not “Does the Catholic Church believe in ‘human rights’?” Rather, the questions are “What is the Catholic Church’s conception of ‘human rights’?” And, perhaps in some cases, “Why do I think that it is at odds with mine?” In her essay, “The Moral Structure of Freedom,” former U.S. ambassador to the Holy See and Harvard law professor Mary Ann Glendon analyzes Pope John Paul II’s 1995 address to the U.N. General Assembly. She notes that multiple competing notions of “freedom” exist and that discourse concerning rights has become difficult because the presence of these competing visions of freedom escape notice. More specifically, the competing ideas about “freedom” differ as to how they view its relation to truth, responsibility and, most important, an understanding of the person and what constitutes authentic human flourishing.
Faith in the Public Arena
Differing dialects Glendon situates the conflicting ideas within two central forms of political discourse. The “libertarian” dialect, which emphasizes rights as “immunities”— that is, freedom from restraint — and the “dignitarian” dialect, which emphasizes that with political and civil rights come certain obligations on the part of the state toward
. . . [R]ights are envisioned not only as protected by fair procedures, but as grounded and situated in a normative framework based on human dignity.” In America today, we tilt strongly toward the “libertarian” dialect. And, as a result, discussions about how policies affect “the common good” seem unintelligible and fall on deaf ears. But recovering a “dignitarian” approach is necessary if we hope to construct a just social order, especially one that safeguards the role of the family as the first social “cell” of society.
“We should weigh the validity of ‘freedoms’ by the extent to which they support or undermine the common good.
”
JESSICA ZITTLOW
its citizens and on the part of its citizens toward one another. One basic way of looking at the tension is how we define freedom. Is freedom the ability to do what we want or the ability to do what we ought? No political system or culture takes a purely “libertarian” or “dignitarian” approach. While they vary in degree throughout the world, these “dialects” of freedom manifest themselves throughout law, economics and culture. As Glendon states: “Rights discourse of the type commonly found in countries influenced by English common law confers its highest priority upon individual freedom from government constraints. Rights tend to be formulated without mention of their limits, their relation to responsibilities, or to other rights. . . . Rather than aiming at the common good, it tends to be an end in itself. “The dignitarian rights language that one finds . . . in the social doctrine of the Catholic Church is characterized by a more nuanced dialect of freedom and responsibility.
Hearing Tests Set for Senior Citizens Announcement — Free electronic hearing tests will be given all next week Monday thru Friday from 9 am to 4 pm. The tests have been arranged for anyone who suspects they are not hearing clearly. People who generally feel they can hear, but cannot understand words clearly are encouraged to come in for the test, which uses the latest electronic equipment. Everyone, especially those over age 55 should have an electronic hearing test once
a year. Demonstrations of the latest devices to improve clarity of speech will be programmed using a computer to your particular needs — on the spot — after the tests. See (and HEAR) for yourself if newlydeveloped methods of correction will help you understand words better. Tests will be performed at one of 20 convenient Greater Twin Cities Avada Hearing Care locations.
Call 1-877-328-9161
Understanding freedom
www.avada.com ©2011 HHM, Inc. 304
The “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” and many “dignitarian” constitutions provide that the family is under special protection for the society and the state. It is worth noting that the Catholic Church analyzes marriage law in civil society with this “dignitarian” approach. A man and a woman have the right to have their marriage recognized by the state because they publicly embrace the responsibility to nurture the children that result from their union. The law helps to promote stable, two-parent households that provide a mom and a dad for a child. The right to marriage is not grounded in the legal recognition of individual romantic preferences. Rights are rooted in responsibilities — the ability to do what we ought, not what we want. As Catholics, we are called to view every question of “human rights” and public policy in these terms. We should weigh the validity of “freedoms” by the extent to which they support or undermine the common good. We must find ways to promote the “unique worth of each individual” while we honestly scrutinize how our individual actions diminish or promote broader human flourishing, and then support laws that do the latter. Jessica Zittlow is communications associate with the Minnesota Catholic Conference.
Paula Kelly
With gratitude for your dedicated service to unborn children and for their mothers, we congratulate you for your recent recognition as Champion for Life
WAKOTA LIFECARE CENTER 1140 S. Robert St., West St. Paul (651) 457-1195
Theology Day. Find out. Reflections of God in Scripture and Science Thursday, October 20, Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis 6 p.m. check-in, light meal ,6:30 p.m.-9 presentation
Humans are created to know God Nature and revelation are like two books by which humans can strive to understand creation and the Creator. This idea invites reflection not only on how the Bible and science relate to one another, but also on how their differing ways of knowing reflect human nature as created in the divine image. Vincent Smiles, Ph.D., is professor of Theology in the undergraduate Department of Theology of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. His major publications have been on the letters of Paul, but in recent years his research interests have also turned to the relationship between theology and science. His latest book, published by the Liturgical Press in 2011, is The Bible and Science: Longing for God in a Science-Dominated World.
Registration is required, free, and includes a light meal: www.csbsju.edu/sot or 320-363-3570 TheCatholicSpirit.com
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Legacy award recipient setting example for others Catholic Community Foundation to honor longtime volunteer, Susan Morrison
“One of the tenets of the Catholic Christian faith is charity, so if we can all find a way to do our part, we should do so.
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By Julie Pfitzinger For The Catholic Spirit
Longtime community philanthropist and volunteer Susan Morrison will receive the 2011 Legacy of Faith Award from the Catholic Community Foundation at the organization’s annual banquet Oct. 26. Morrison has served on the Catholic Community Foundation board of directors since 2002 and has been the chair of the grant committee since 2006. She has also been a volunteer for a variety of organizations including the United Way, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Minnesota Orchestra and League of Catholic Women. Susan and her husband, John, parishioners at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis, have helped support several Catholic schools in the Twin Cities, including St. Catherine University (Susan is a graduate of the Class of 1960), the University of St. Thomas and Cretin-Derham Hall High School, as well as many other local organizations. In 2006, the National Catholic Educational Association presented the couple with the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award. The Catholic Spirit asked Susan Morrison about her role as a philanthropist and volunteer and what she hopes her legacy is for both her family and the community. Q. Why is Catholic education such an
SUSAN MORRISON
important cause for you? I think the first reason is because I was a product of it. I attended Nativity, Derham Hall and St. Kate’s. The Sisters of St. Joseph were formative in my education. I’m so grateful for what they have done and what they continue to do. They are committed to making a difference and I believe my part is to give back. Q. What role does your Catholic faith play in choosing the organizations you support with your time and your financial resources? One of the tenets of the Catholic Christian faith is charity, so if we can all find a way to do our part, we should do so. I think it’s all about planting the seeds of human kindness. You may never know the reward or the way things will eventually turn out, but you have done your part. Q. What has been your most gratifying volunteer or service experience? There are two that come to mind right away. My involvement with the Catholic Community Foundation, especially chairing the grant committee, has meant a lot.
I have seen firsthand how creative people are in the work they do and the different ways they are trying to contribute. I had the opportunity to go to Lourdes where I volunteered as a nurse (Morrison has a nursing degree) but really just helped wherever I was needed. It was such an amazing, faith-filled and healing place. There is so much spiritual and emotional energy all around you. Q. You and your husband have four children and 14 grandchildren. What values regarding service and charitable giving do you hope to have modeled for them? I’ve already seen them do their own good work. Some of my grandchildren have helped at a homeless shelter and a few went on a church mission trip to Chicago to work in a shelter there. I’ve heard them talk incessantly about how meaningful those experiences were for them. I don’t lecture them about anything, but they are all such good kids and I see that they understand what it means to give back.
Find out how faith should influence political decisions “Catholics in the Public Square” will explore the responsibilities of Catholics in political life and how to vote your conscience when no candidate expresses Catholic views. Sponsored by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Office of Marriage, Family and Life, the conference will begin with 8 a.m. Mass Saturday, Nov. 5, at Our Lady of Grace, 5071 Eden Ave., Edina. Registration and continental breakfast begins at 8:30 a.m., and the conference is set for 9 a.m. to noon. Keynote speakers will include: Anthony Picarello Jr., counsel for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference; and Angela Pfister, assistant director of the Notre Dame Center for Ethics and Culture. Admission to the conference is free, but seating is limited, so reservations are required. Contact the Office of Marriage, Family and Life at (651) 291-4488 for more information or to register. Registration deadline is Monday, Oct. 31.
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OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Immigration part of Christian life ethic, speaker says By Julie Carroll The Catholic Spirit
Immigration is the defining civil rights issue of our time, a Holy Cross priest declared during an Oct. 1 theology of immigration conference at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. “This is what some scholars define as the age of migration,” University of Notre Dame professor Father Daniel Groody told nearly 200 church workers, activists and others attending the day-long conference, titled “Justice for Immigrants: The Theology of Migration and Framing the Message.” Approximately 212 million people around the world spend at least a year away from their homelands, he said, citing U.N. statistics. Add to that the number of internally displaced people, and the total skyrockets to a billion — one in seven people on the planet. Some are refugees, others are vicFATHER GROODY tims of human trafficking, but the vast majority of migrants leave their homelands for economic reasons. Nearly half of the world’s population — 48 percent — lives on less than $2 a day, the priest pointed out. Father Groody directs the Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture at See related Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. A nationally recognized expert on imeditorial on migration issues who has worked in page 15A Latin America and along the U.S.Mexico border, he has authored numerous books and scholarly articles on the subject and produced documentary films, including “One Border, One Body: Immigration and the Eucharist” and “Dying to Live: A Migrant’s Journey.” “This issue is comparable, I think, to civil rights issues of previous generations. So how we respond to these issues now I think will be defining and determinative of how future generations evaluate how to respond to people in this situation,” Father Groody said at the conference. Among the event’s nearly two-dozen sponsors were the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Catholic Charities and several religious congregations. Bishop Lee Piché also spoke at the event. “The Catholic bishops of this country have been deeply critical of the immigration system currently in place,” he said. “The system is broken. In fact, it would not be unfair to say that the immigration laws currently on the books are designed to fail.” “It is especially important for us as Catholics to be consistent and comprehensive in . . . our system of social morality based on inherent human dignity,” the bishop said. “In defending the right to life of the unborn, the rights of the elderly, infirm, disabled, the rights of workers in general, we cannot afford to remain silent on the rights of immigrants when their human dignity is threatened by an unjust system of laws.”
Challenging prejudices To better understand the complexities of migration, Father Groody spent time with border patrol agents in Arizona, visited hospitals and schools, and spoke with migrants as well as “coyote” smugglers who transport people across the border illegally, vigilantes, government officials, business leaders and human rights activists. “I wanted to challenge my prejudices,” Father Groody said. “To be honest, each of these groups has a truth claim that they can defend.” The Catholic Church, however, treats complicated immigration issues more broadly, he said. While Catholic social teaching recognizes a nation’s right to control its borders, it also maintains that people have the right to migrate when they cannot meet their basic needs. Christians might disagree about how best to address problems of immigration policy, but to be anti-immigrant is inconsistent with the Christian faith, Father Groody asserted. The church’s fundamental mission is “to break down
CNS file photo / David Maung
Young undocumented migrants from the Mexican state of Oaxaca look up at a U.S. Border Patrol agent after being detained in the mountains east of San Diego in February 2008. In his encyclical “Caritas in Veritate" (“Charity in Truth”), Pope Benedict XVI called modern migration a phenomenon “worthy of attention.” “Every migrant is a human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance,” he said.
“You can’t really be against abortion but against immigration, too. Somehow all of these are interconnected life issues, and they have to be understood accordingly. The fabric of life goes through all of them, and if you tear at one side, you actually tear at the other at the same time.
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HOLY CROSS FATHER DANIEL GROODY Director of the Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture at the University of Notre Dame
all those walls and barriers that divide one human being from another,” he said. “The church is always seeking to help us interconnect with each other so that we can really rediscover what it means to be a family of God.” According to Catholic teaching, a community should distribute its resources with consideration for the needs of its vulnerable members — including immigrants, regardless of legal status. This is called distributive justice, Father Groody explained. At the same time, individuals are charged with contributing to the common good to the best of their ability. Migrants and undocumented immigrants contribute to their communities, but often are denied basic human rights and protections, Father Groody said. “Those who undergo probably the most injustices today and really
suffer the fragmentation of relationships most acutely are those who are without papers, those who are the undocumented,” he added. An estimated 10 to 12 million people live in the United States without government authorization, he said. “They don’t have any legal means to cross over generally, unless they marry somebody from the United States or they can prove their lives are in danger or they have a specialized skill.” Christians should view immigration as a life issue, the priest said. “It’s really too bad when we reduce the life ethic or the right to life to just what’s happening in the womb. That’s an important piece of [Catholic social teaching], but it’s not the only piece of this. “As [the late] Cardinal [Joseph] Bernardin said, there is a seamless garment of life that goes through all of these issues, and you can’t really be against abortion but against immigration, too,” Father Groody said. “Somehow all of these are interconnected life issues, and they have to be understood accordingly. The fabric of life goes through all of them, and if you tear at one side, you actually tear at the other at the same time.”
Gospel truth When people confront Father Groody with the question: “What part of ‘illegal’ don’t you understand?” often he’s tempted to retort: “What part of the Gospel message don’t you understand?” he said. The theme of migration is interwoven throughout the Scriptures: Abram obeys God’s instruction to leave his homeland, Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt, the Holy Family journeys to Bethlehem, and Jesus sends his disciples to the ends of the earth. God himself migrated from heaven to live among us, Father Groody said. “God, in Jesus Christ, so loved the world that he migrated into the far and distant territory of our sinful and broken existence, and there he lay down his life on a cross so that we can be reconciled to God and migrate back to our homeland,” he said. “And so what we see God doing in Jesus Christ is constantly trying to PLEASE TURN TO CHRISTIANS ON PAGE 23A
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Saving lives keeps Champions for Life recipient going Annual pro-life award winners honored for service to unborn and vulnerable By Susan Klemond For The Catholic Spirit
Brian Gibson will never forget the day early in 1987 when he saw the remains of several aborted babies found in an abortion clinic’s dumpster. “The pictures are still vivid in my mind . . . and that probably is the single most significant memory I have of all the things that have happened throughout the years,” said Gibson, Pro-Life Action Ministries’ executive director who has spent the past 30 years working to end the horror he saw that day. “It more than confirmed that the work we were doing of going out to try to save lives was absolute,” said Gibson, a parishioner at St. Michael in Prior Lake who recently received an archdiocesan Champions for Life award for his pro-life work.
Dianne Towalski / The Catholic Spirit
Brian Gibson, executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, talks with three volunteers who are standing up for life outside Regions Hospital in St. Paul. From left, are Jeanette Sollom, Sue Stanich (hidden from view), both from St. Michael in Stillwater, and Mary Lou Junker from St. Mary in Stillwater.
Staying determined The archdiocese honored Gibson and six other recipients of this year’s Champions for Life awards for their pro-life contributions at an Oct. 6 luncheon at St. Peter in Mendota. About 170 of their family members, friends and others involved in a range of organizations supporting the spectrum of life attended the fourth annual event. This year’s awards, sponsored by the archdiocesan Office for Marriage, Family and Life and presented by Archbishop John Nienstedt, honor individuals, teams, youth and organizations that have made significant contributions to life issues including ending abortion, helping those suffering after abortion, and assisting people with disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease. Gibson and the following award recipients were selected from more than 50 nominations: Rachel’s Vineyard Twin
Cities, Stephanie Gockowski, Al Shimota and Paul (Terry) Creagan, Paula Kelly and Helen Murphy. Archbishop Nienstedt recognized the award winners and others working for life and urged them to continue the work in the face of continuing challenges. “We see a lot of good being done and the good is making a tremendous impact,” he said. “But, as the New Testament says, the devil is at work roaming the world, seeking the ruin of souls. And so we have to be that much more determined, that much more virtuous, that much more courageous, it seems to me, in our wanting to promote the culture of life.” The Champions for Life awards and program are meant not only to honor those who have done considerable work for life but also to inspire others who may be less involved, said Sharon Wilson, the archdiocese’s Respect Life coordinator.
■ The winner in the category of “church, school or Catholic-affiliated group” was Rachel’s Vineyard Twin Cities, which is led by Nancy Blom and offers healing retreats for those suffering from the aftermath of abortion. ■ The youth category winner was Stephanie Gockowski, a recent graduate of the University of St. Thomas whose volunteer work includes helping to lead the school’s pro-life group and serving pregnant women and the elderly. She attends the Cathedral of St. Paul and other parishes. ■ Al Shimota, 84, and Paul (Terry) Creagan, 93, parishioners of St. Edward in Bloomington who volunteer their time, care and skills at an Alzheimer’s unit were honored in the “team, couple or family” category. ■ In the adult category, Gibson received the award for full-time work, and Paula
Kelly, a parishioner at St. Joseph in West St. Paul, was honored for volunteer work with the Wakota Life Care Center, the disabled and the homeless. ■ Helen Murphy was honored posthumously for initiating the fight against the Highland Park Planned Parenthood abortion clinic and helping to establish prayer vigils. Describing their work helping the poor and vulnerable, event keynoters Dr. Peter and Lulu Daly, members of Lumen Christi in St. Paul, talked about their medical mission work in Central America with Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos (NPH) International, which cares for orphans. Drawing a parallel with the winners, the Dalys described their founding of the Holy Family Surgery Center in Honduras. “It’s just something that you involved yourself with — giving as all you award winners have done — and something that gives life,” Lulu Daly said. “I know that the NPH orphanages are places where the Holy Spirit is extremely active. We got exposed to it through our kids’ grade school and we just ran with it.”
Made in God’s image Cretin-Derham Hall sophomores Laura Bearth and Julianna Maanum received inspiration for their pro-life work at the luncheon. “It was such an amazing experience of passing the baton,” Maanum said. “It’s amazing the things that have been done for us.” Among other projects, the girls and their school pro-life club organize a day of silence and a baby shower. The awards underscore the importance of work along the entire continuum of life, Wilson said. “Number one, it starts with recognizing that we’re all made in the image and likeness of God, and once you recognize that, we treat our neighbors differently,” she said. “We treat ourselves differently. We treat the child in the womb differently. We recognize that all life is sacred.”
St. Thomas More teams with development office to implement toolkit WWW.ARCHSPM.ORG, where it can be updated and added to. St. John the Baptist in Jordan and Nativity of Mary in Bloomington are two more parishes using it this fall.
By Bob Zyskowski The Catholic Spirit
At St. Thomas More’s parish center, the windows of a comfortably furnished, living room-like meeting room look out onto St. Paul’s leafy Summit Avenue. At a middle-of-the-day meeting, the handful of parishioners gathered there never look out the windows. Members of St. Thomas More’s stewardship committee get right to business. They pray for guidance first, then wordsmith mailings for this fall’s drive, check the steps they’re taking against their timeline, and talk through each piece of the campaign to make sure they are sending the right messages to their church community. They discuss alternative ways to do just about everything. At one point, committee member Joan Williams pulls out a copy of the new archdiocesan Parish Stewardship Toolkit. She wants to see if a letter drafted by committee chairman Mike Sarafolean follows suggested language. “The last couple of years we’ve been looking for best practices in the stewardship area,” Sarafolean explained. “When (the Stewardship Toolkit) was presented last spring, we found that it was well-writ-
No urgency, but a need ten and the process well-organized and straightforward. “Plus we’ve got the advantage of support right down the street.”
Teammates approach Right down the street is the office of Mike Halloran, archdiocesan director of development and stewardship, about two miles away in the archdiocese’s Hayden Center at 328 Kellogg Blvd. Halloran is the one who crafted the toolkit with input from the archdiocesan Stewardship Committee, among others, to do one thing: advance the mission of the church. That’s the goal of the archdiocesan Office of Development and Stewardship. “We want to be seen as teammates with our parishes and donors in advancing the mission,” Halloran said, “and we’re trying to do that by providing valuable resources and services. I’ve spent much of my 11
months on the job listening to our key stakeholders — parish leaders (pastoral and lay) and donors — to identify their greatest needs and interests.” That feedback resulted in the development of the toolkit, a resource Halloran sees as akin to a playbook for a sports team. It includes elements designed to inform, involve, inspire and invite Catholics to a deeper understanding of and participation in stewardship as a way of life. Full of the nuts and bolts that have made stewardship efforts successful, it has pieces that explain the concept of stewardship, a timeline, planning and preparation recommendations, guidelines for pastor talks and lay witness testimonials, suggestions for intercessions and music in the liturgy, and much more. The toolkit comes in a three-ring binder so it’s expandable, but it’s also online at
St. Thomas More, formed when Immaculate Heart of Mary and St. Luke merged, didn’t feel a pressing need to jump at a new stewardship effort. “The community is generous,” Sarafolean said, “but like many parishes we’re experiencing changes and disruption.” He was quick to point out that the parish geography includes much more than upper-income Summit Avenue. “With the general state of the economy and the transition we’re in, we continue to need additional income. But Father Joe (pastor Jesuit Father Joseph Weiss) and others in our leadership are really interested in developing a greater sense of real Christian stewardship that goes beyond money.” Arline Datu, a member of St. Thomas More’s stewardship committee and the parish council chair, said she liked the sample bulletin announcements and commitment cards in the toolkit that enable PLEASE TURN TO BUILDING ON PAGE 22A
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Former NFL QB hands off skills, faith to Pioneer team By Dave Hrbacek The Catholic Spirit
On a recent weekday afternoon at the Hill-Murray football practice field in Maplewood, it was a little tough distinguishing the head coach from the players. On one play, junior quarterback Zach LaValle sat out while another quarterback took his place. Lavelle’s replacement took the snap, retreated into the pocket and lofted a perfect spiral downfield 40 yards, just a few feet past the sprinting wide receiver. It’s understandable that this QB might not be adjusted to the speed of high school receivers. After all, for eight seasons, he was throwing the ball to pro football wideouts. His name is Brooks Bollinger, who played in the NFL for six seasons (two with the Vikings) and, at age 33, has the youthful appearance of those he is coaching. He joined the Pioneers last spring after he retired from the game. However, at least one player believes Bollinger still has the desire to ply his trade in an NFL uniform. “You can see him suffering withdrawal,” said senior offensive tackle Dave Simmet. “You can tell he wants to be on the field just as much as every other kid [on the team]. He always says practice is his favorite time of day.”
More than football It certainly was on this day. Right after throwing the long pass, he lined up as a wide receiver on the left side. At the snap, he circled behind LaValle, took a handoff and ran a reverse around the right side. Of course, he sprinted to the end zone untouched. Who would want to tackle their own coach? Make no mistake. The players see their coach’s energy on the practice field and it’s getting contagious to the tune of a 5-1 record and hopes of getting to the state tournament this year. But, there’s more to Bollinger than football passion and Xs and Os. He has hopes for his players beyond just wins. He wants their souls. To that end, Bollinger started the practice this year of having weekly Mass on the day before a game. The celebrant is Father James Lannan, himself a former high school football player at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights who also attends games and walks the sidelines with the head coach. Father Lannan has been assigned to the school
New Hill-Murray football coach Brooks Bollinger, a former NFL quarterback who once played for the Minnesota Vikings, gives pointers to junior quarterback Zach LaValle, right, during a recent practice. Dave Hrbacek / The Catholic Spirit
as chaplain, with Archbishop John Nienstedt pushing ahead with his plan to have priests serving as chaplains at Catholic high schools in the archdiocese. Though attendance is voluntary, most of the players go to the Masses, including LaValle and Simmet, both of whom will have a lot to do with the team’s success this season. “He’s a great guy,” LaValle said of Bollinger. “From a religious standpoint, I think it’s really cool that we have team Masses. He brings us all together with the Mass. It’s team bonding. I’ve never had that on a team before.” Father Lannan has offered the concept to other varsity coaches, with a couple of takers, but perhaps none more enthusiastic than Bollinger. Yet, in his mind, Bollinger merely is engaging in the life of a Catholic school, which is what drew him to Hill-Murray in the first place. “An important component of becoming a high school coach was coaching at a Catholic school,” Bollinger said. “A big part of my job is helping these guys not only become better football players, but helping their development as young men.” One way he has done this — with Father Lannan’s help — is to teach his players to show respect on the field, both to
opposing players and, more important, to officials. He has taught them to address referees as “Sir.” After an initial adjustment, the players now are following the example of both their coach and their chaplain. “It’s kind of interesting having a priest on the sidelines,” Simmet said. “Football is a passionate game. It’s mean. Just having the presence of [Father Lannan] on the sidelines makes us think before our actions and be more respectful. “We had a lot of personal fouls in the first game. We’ve been working hard to cut back on those. That’s something Father Lannan addressed and we worked on.”
Building momentum A gentle reminder of the right way to act comes right before every game, when the team huddles around Bollinger to pray the Hail Mary. After that, they implore her for victory. Under Bollinger’s guidance, LaValle is able to do far more than just throw the Hail Mary pass. He has the benefit of learning the position from someone who played it professionally for eight seasons. (In addition to the NFL, Bollinger also played two years in the UFL.) “With Coach Bollinger being a quarterback, it’s very helpful for me,” LaValle said.
“He has just made me such a better quarterback. I’m very grateful. And, not just a better quarterback, but a better person.” This is exactly what both the coach and the chaplain are hoping for. Fostering the spiritual life of the players is one of the aims of the weekly Masses. And, the growing numbers inside the school chapel are proof that it’s working. “I think it’s building momentum,” Father Lannan said of the weekly team liturgies. “More parents are coming to the Masses because they want to be there with the kids. . . . We even had middle-schoolers show up at the last Mass, and there were a ton of parents there. It’s not a full chapel yet, but I’m hoping.” Also admiring the change in the team’s routine is school president Susan Paul, who offered the coaching position to Bollinger after he impressed her during his interview. “I asked him to pretend I’m the mom of a 10th-grader who is never going to be a superstar,” she said. “And, I just asked him what kind of experience my son would get. The answers were exactly what I think the mom of a 10th-grader would want to hear — that he would be respected, challenged, pushed. He’d know what it meant to be part of a team, something greater.”
Church not affiliated with group seeking marriage amendment defeat The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Minnesota Catholic Conference issued a joint statement Sept. 29 explaining that a newly formed group called “Catholics for Marriage Equality MN” has no recognition from, nor affiliation with, the Catholic Church. One of the group’s aims is to defeat a state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November 2012 that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. “The group misleadingly tries to convince Catholics that they can, in good conscience, support a state redefinition of marriage without undermining marriage itself,” the MCC, which represents the Minnesota bishops on matters of public
policy, said in a Sept. 29 news release. “The Catholic Church, in keeping with Catholic teaching, reason and natural law, and in concert with many other faiths, strongly supports maintaining the current, traditional definition of marriage by voting ‘yes’ for the amendment during the November 2012 election.” “Anyone can selectively piece together statements taken out of context from church documents or the writings of theologians to construct a religious worldview that suits his or her personal preferences,” Jason Adkins, MCC executive director, stated in the release. “But such a pick-andchoose cafeteria religion is antithetical to Catholicism. One of the most compelling reasons for being Catholic is that we be-
lieve in the faith given to the Apostles by Jesus Christ himself and handed on and safeguarded by their successors, the bishops.”
Bishops uphold truth Adkins added: “It is the responsibility of the bishops in communion with the pope to uphold the truth as well as encourage and support all Catholics who are trying to live their baptismal promise of believing and trusting in our one, Catholic and apostolic faith. This is especially true in the area of marriage and sexuality, where the universal moral law and Gospel values are constantly under attack in American law and culture.” Both the MCC and the archdiocese “stress the importance of respecting the
God-given dignity of all persons, which means the recognition of authentic human rights and responsibilities, while pointing out that official Catholic teaching goes well beyond what Catholics for Marriage Equality MN’s website states,” the news release said. “Homosexual persons are to be fully respected in their human dignity and encouraged to follow God’s plan with particular attention in the exercise of chastity,” Adkins said, reiterating Catholic Church teaching. He added that the “duty calling for respect does not justify the legitimization of behavior that is not consistent with moral law” for those with same-sex inclinations or heterosexuals, married or unmarried.
“Religious liberty might be supposed to mean that everybody is free to discuss religion. In practice it means that hardly anybody is allowed to mention it.” G.K. Chesterton
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News from around the U.S. and the globe
Protest in Egypt turns violent; 26 killed Most of the victims were Christians protesting against an earlier attack on a church in southern Egypt
Catholic News Service
Orthodox Pope Shenouda III declared three days of mourning, fasting and prayer for victims of peaceful protests that turned violent, and church and government leaders called for Egypt to reaffirm its commitment to religious freedom. At least 26 people — mostly Christians — were killed and nearly 500 were injured Oct. 9 as gangs armed with firebombs, sticks, swords and rocks attacked about 1,000 people staging a peaceful sit-in outside of a state television building. As the violence escalated, a speeding military vehicle mounted a sidewalk and rammed into a group of protesters, killing a number of them.
Seeking protection CNS photo / Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters
Coptic Christians carry coffins during a funeral at Abassaiya Orthodox Cathedral in Cairo Oct. 10.
too — are frightened for the future of our country. “We are accusing the army and the police who used vagabonds, a rabble force of street fighters, to attack the demonstrators,” the priest said. Hardline Salafi Muslims have initiated violent protests against the construction
of two churches in southern Egypt on the grounds that the building projects were illegal. Four churches have been subjected to arson attacks in as many months. The Christian demonstrators were protesting one such attack on a Coptic Orthodox church and were seeking greater protection from the authorities.
‘Faithful Citizenship’ reissued with new introduction By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service
A new introduction to the U.S. bishops’ document on political responsibility reminds Catholics that some issues “involve the clear obligation to oppose intrinsic evils which can never be justified,” while others “require action to pursue justice and promote the common good.” The brief Introductory Note to the 2011 reissue of “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” was signed by the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairmen of nine USCCB committees. It was approved by the bishops’ Administrative Committee at its midSeptember meeting and made public Oct. 4.
Applying moral principles The introduction says that “Faithful Citizenship,” one in a series of documents that have been issued before every presidential election for nearly 35 years, “has at times been misused to present an incomplete or distorted view of the demands of faith in politics” but “remains a faithful and challenging call to disciple-
Bishops’ committee will tackle religious liberty concerns By Dennis Sadowski
Catholic News Service
It was the worst sectarian violence since the ousting of President Hosni Mubarak in the “Arab Spring” revolt earlier this year. But several Catholic leaders said the problem had moved beyond sectarianism. “The army and the police are confronting the Copts. This is the problem,” Father Rafic Greiche, official spokesman for the Catholic Church in Egypt, said in a statement to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. “It is not a Christian-Muslim problem anymore. . . . People — not just Christians but many Muslims,
The Catholic Spirit
ship in the world of politics.” “It does not offer a voters guide, scorecard of issues or direction on how to vote,” the introduction adds. “It applies Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues and warns against misguided appeals to ‘conscience’ to ignore fundamental moral claims, to reduce Catholic moral concerns to one or two matters, or to justify choices simply to advance partisan, ideological or personal interests.” The introduction lists six “current and fundamental problems, some involving opposition to intrinsic evils and others raising serious moral questions:” ■ Abortion “and other threats to the lives and dignity of others who are vulnerable, sick or unwanted.” ■ Conscience threats to Catholic ministries in health care, education and social services. ■ “Intensifying efforts to redefine marriage” or to undermine it as “the permanent, faithful and fruitful union of one man and one woman.” ■ An economic crisis that has increased
national and global unemployment, poverty and hunger, requiring efforts to “protect those who are poor and vulnerable as well as future generations.” ■ “The failure to repair a broken immigration system.” ■ “Serious moral questions” raised by wars, terror and violence, “particularly the absence of justice, security and peace in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.”
New resources available The USCCB is launching a new website for “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” at WWW.USCCB.ORG/ISSUES-AND-ACTION/FAITHFUL-CITIZENSHIP/. It will offer a wide range of web-based and written materials and tools to assist pastors, parishes, Catholic organizations and individuals. The document with the new Introductory Note will be available in print by the end of October and is already available online: WWW.USCCB.ORG/ISSUES-AND-ACTION/ FAITHFUL - CITIZENSHIP / UPLOAD /F ORMING C ONSCIENCES - FOR -FAITHFUL -C ITIZENSHIP 2011.PDF.
Saying they are increasingly distressed over government policies that promote contraception, abortion and same-sex marriage and amount to an assault on religious freedom, the U.S. bishops have established a committee to shape public policy and coordinate the church’s response on the issue. The Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty was announced Sept. 30 by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., was named chairman of the new committee. “There is a common and factually grounded perception that religious liberty is increasingly under assault at the state and federal level in the United States, whether through unfriendly legislation or through rules and regulations that impede or tend to impede the work of the church,” Bishop Lori told Catholic News Service, explaining the motivation for forming the committee. “Hopefully, we will raise up the issue for the entire Catholic community in the United States,” he said. “We will help educate about the issue and hopefully there will be good and effective action.”
Working with others In his announcement, Archbishop Dolan said that committee members will work with a variety of national organizations, ecumenical and interreligious partners, charities and scholars to “form a united and forceful front in defense of religious freedom in our nation.” He cited a series of actions at various levels of government that pose dangers to the free exercise of religion. Specifically, he pointed to the narrow religious exemption in New York in regard to same-sex marriage, the Justice Department’s recent argument that the support of traditional marriage as defined in the Defense of Marriage Act amounted to bigotry, and the requirement by the Department of Health and Human Services that the USCCB’s Migration and Refugee Services provide the “full range of reproductive service” — including abortion and contraception — to trafficking victims in its cooperative agreements and government contracts. He also repeated the U.S. bishops’ concern about Health and Human Services regulations that would mandate the coverage of contraception and sterilization in all private health insurance plans while failing to protect insurers and individuals with religious or moral objections to the mandate.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Catholic school students ‘rake in’ money to support schools, elderly By Kathryn Elliott For The Catholic Spirit
Brilliant autumn leaves underfoot remind Jackie Warloff of her husband, who died of colon cancer in 2009. Annually since 2007, when he became sick, students from Our Lady of the Lake School in Mound, less than a mile from Warloff’s house, have descended upon her property. Tufts of grass appear as the kids rake and bag leaves from walnut and maple trees that cover her three-quarters of an acre. Their enthusiasm is a blessing for Warloff, and the fundraising campaign that leads up to the event — the Rake-A-Thon — provides for the needs of the school for a year. Typically, at this time of the year nonpublic schools around the state solicit donations for rake-a-thons, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons and service projects matching students with community needs.
Jumping in the leaves Eight-year-old John Wombacher from Our Lady of the Lake raised a chart-top-
ping $1,250 in last year’s Rake-A-Thon by knocking on doors almost every evening in October with his mom. The feat came with a glittery prize: the Golden Rake, which came with an even better prize — a $25 gift card. Wombacher said he likes meeting people around the neighborhood, but the best part is still coming. “They sometimes let you jump in the leaves, which you’re usually not allowed to,” he said. The Rake-A-Thon was begun in 1994 by Patrick McHugo, who has since retired as principal of Guardian Angels School. McHugo said the idea, which replaced the popular and familiar walkbike-run-a-thon, was met with uncertainty by some students. A community organization that had previously provided food for the fundraiser took away its support that first year, he said. After one transition year, however, the Rake-A-Thon became as popular with the
kids — who got to jump in leaf piles — as with the recipients, he said. Many of the folks who took advantage of the raking offer were seniors who lived close to the school but didn’t receive visitors very often, McHugo said. “It’s the whole idea of being the hands of Christ,” said Michael Moch, principal at Holy Name of Jesus School, which holds its first RakeA-Thon this fall. Catholic school students may hear about the Gospel of Jesus and attend parish community events for fellowship, but they aren’t always given the opportunity to practice the third prong of the school’s mission — to “live out” the Gospel, Moch said. Schools holding a Rake-a-Thon this fall include: St. John the Baptist School in Excelsior, St. Joseph Catholic School in Waconia, Guardian Angels School in Chaska, and Holy Name of Jesus School
in Wayzata. Our Lady of the Lake School in Mound spruces up about 35 lawns a year via the Rake-A-Thon. Principal Ellen Feuhling has added bold, personal twists to the fun. Last year, about 100 students each paid $5 to shoot a hockey puck at Feuhling, to add to the money raised by raking. This year, Feuhling said she might end up sleeping on the school’s bell tower as part of a fundraising incentive for students.
Keeping lakes clean Another first for students participating in Our Lady of the Lake’s Rake-a-Thon on Oct. 28 will be an educational component — clearing storm sewers as part of the “Community Cleanup for Water Quality” program run by the Freshwater Society. As students go out to seek pledges, they’ll bring an informational handout about the environmental danger of phosphorous build-up in Minnesota’s lakes. PLEASE TURN TO SCHOOL ON PAGE 24A
Planning makes an investment, now, to benefit future generations CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1A more collaboration, better use available resources and facilitating “a culture in the archdiocese driven by best practice, driven by consistency and standards, all at the service of the Gospel.”
“We are making an investment now so that it can bear fruit for future generations.
The plan to date To mark the one-year anniversary, the archdiocese has posted a Strategic Plan update on the planning page of its website at HTTP://PLANNING.ARCHSPM.ORG. Among the summary’s highlights: ■ As of October 2011, nine parishes have merged with six neighboring parishes under changes announced in the Strategic Plan. Another merger between two Minneapolis parishes — St. Philip and Ascension in Minneapolis — happened outside the Strategic Plan. Four of the remaining nine mergers have been appealed to the Holy See. (To read more about these mergers as well as other planning-related stories, visit THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM and click on “Archdiocese Planning Process.”) ■ The Strategic Plan identified 33 parishes to enter into new cluster relationships. As of July 1, 12 of those parishes either entered a new cluster or welcomed an additional parish to an existing cluster. ■ The plan identifies 25 parishes for structured collaboration, meaning they are called to examine ways they could better collaborate with neighboring parishes, including more cooperation on programming and staffing. Many of these parishes may eventually move toward a cluster. These parishes will formally begin structured collaboration in 2012, but many have already begun cooperating on programming and in other areas. ■ The effect of the parish structural changes, after implementation of all the announced mergers, including those pending appeals, is a total of 192 remaining parishes compared to 213 parishes in October 2010. ■ With regard to Catholic schools, Archbishop John Nienstedt accepted recommendations Aug. 11 from the Catholic Schools Commission he appointed to promote best practices in four areas: governance, educational excellence, advance-
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FATHER PETER LAIRD Vicar general
ment and funding models. He also named inaugural members of the Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Advisory Council, which recently had its first meeting. The council will assist the archbishop in implementing the recommendations. ■ At the school and regional level, many school leaders began engaging in a structured sustainability review process during the 2010-2011 school year. Ten Catholic schools in the archdiocese underwent urgent sustainability reviews in late 2010 due to critical issues facing their school communities. Local leaders at three of those 10 “urgent review” schools chose to close their schools at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. ■ Shared resources discussions between neighboring schools in several regions began in early 2011. The goal of these discussions is to determine how schools in a geographic area can best work together for academic excellence while strengthening the schools’ financial foundation.
Looking ahead In the next year, parishioners will continue to see a reinforcement of the idea that area Catholics, while maintaining their membership in individual parishes, are all part of one local church that encompasses the archdiocese, Father Laird said. The emphasis will be apparent when the U.S. church introduces changes to Mass when the new Roman Missal is used beginning on the first Sunday of Advent. “As we all make a transition to a new missal, I think this idea of being open to
change and finding the good in change is something that is going to constantly be manifest — certainly first in the missal, but also as we begin to make reinvestments in the archdiocese in terms of adult education and youth ministry and Latino ministry,” Father Laird said. The archdiocese has set up a vicariate structure with regional vicars to make parish visits, help with some administrative responsibilities, and facilitate better communication with priests and parishes. It has also created a Latino Ministry Advisory Council and Youth Ministry Advisory Council. The archdiocese will continue to offer parishes assistance through the archdiocesan Parish Services Team to the extent parishes need help or request it, Father Laird said.
Lessons learned From the beginning of the planning process, which was prompted by many factors, including changing demographics and a decline in the number of priests available for ministry, the archdiocese has sought to garner input from the local Catholic community. Father Laird co-chaired, with Father John Bauer of the Basilica of St. Mary, the Strategic Planning Task Force that gathered information for a year and a half before making planning recommendations to the archbishop in July 2010. During that process and after, the archdiocese garnered views from thousands of pastors, parish and school leaders, and parishioners in regional meetings held
throughout the archdiocese and through comments made via email, postal mail and telephone. Father Laird said among the lessons he learned from the strategic planning process is that one can never communicate too much. And no process is perfect, he added, noting that some parts of the local process may have deserved even more attention. “We could always do a better job of reverencing and respecting the personal experience that people have had of their parishes and to appreciate the challenge that change brings,” he said. “While that is a challenge, it also reflects an investment of the human heart in a particular place or in a particular way of doing things. And sometimes we could do better at reverencing that, even as we work toward bringing about the unity we seek.” The archdiocese continues to receive feedback about the Strategic Plan, he said, and has attempted to adjust accordingly as the plan continues to unfold. “We learned some things,” he said. “Maybe January mergers were not the best time to be doing mergers because you’re in the middle of a budget cycle and you’re at the middle of a liturgical season.” On the positive side, he added, many pastors and parishioners said the changes weren’t as difficult as they thought they might be, and the plan has created “new opportunities for them in terms of the proclamation of the Gospel and the sharing of the faith.” Father Laird said the strategic planning process has renewed his appreciation of how the church is called to respond to “the signs of the times.” “We are making an investment now so that it can bear fruit for future generations,” he said. “Just as people did in this archdiocese a hundred years ago, and 50 years ago, it’s our responsibility and also our privilege to do that now. So, in that sense, we are part of a work larger than just the archdiocese. This is really the work of the church.” Watch for more stories about the ongoing implementation of the archdiocesan Strategic Plan in future issues of The Catholic Spirit.
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Video games pose challenges, opportunities for Catho By Thomas McDonald Catholic News Service
Since Nintendo first captured the hearts, minds and thumbs of a generation of children in the 1980s, the video game industry has steadily increased in size, revenue, cultural influence and sophistication. A form of entertainment that began in the 1970s with the crude dots and lines of “Pong” has evolved into a complex creative form whose impact now ranks with that of movies, TV and popular music. The numbers speak for themselves: According to the Entertainment Software Association, 72 percent of American households have a video game machine. Consumers spent $25.1 billion on games in 2010, with those numbers projected to hit $48 billion for 2011 and $70 billion by 2012. By comparison, worldwide motion picture ticket sales for 2010 were approximately $31 billion. In studies of children ages 12-17, 99 percent of boys — and 94 percent of girls — play video or computer games, with no variables for race or ethnicity. And it’s not just the kids who are playing: The average gamer is 37 years old, with 29 percent of them over age 50. Though gaming numbers had skewed heavily male for most of the industry’s existence, by 2010, 42 percent of its audience was female. Although impressive in themselves, these raw numbers don’t speak to the issues underlying such a rapid and widespread penetration by a new medium into the American home. Just as print, radio, movies, TV and the Internet have transformed society, so, too, will games.
Cinematic sophistication Many people associate the term “games” with harmless pastimes or childish diversions, yet modern interactive entertainment can be every bit as mature, and even sophisticated, as its cinematic counterpart. The challenge lies in sorting out the diverse types of games and machines that characterize the industry’s output, so parents and consumers can make informed choices. The most familyfriendly option is the Nintendo Wii. The intuitive approach of its unique motioncontrol system — which allows people to get off their couches and make real movements — is matched by inoffensive content. Nintendo is famous for using a stable of characters such as Mario and Pokemon in clever, exciting offerings like “Mario Galaxy” and “Kirby’s Epic Yarn” — actionpuzzle games that appeal to players of every age. The Microsoft Xbox 360 and the
Reviews from a Catholic perspective Catholic News Service is launching a new video game review service. CNS will post one to three reviews a week, depending upon the schedule of game releases in the market. Three experienced Catholic gamers — Thomas McDonald, Adam Shaw and Nick Grevas — will write the reviews with attention to the ethical and moral content of the games. CNS will use the same classification system as it now uses for movies and assign a classification indicating the game’s appropriate audience — from everyone to no one at all. Game reviews also will carry the Entertainment Software Rating Board’s rating. The Catholic Spirit will publish the game reviews online at THECATHOLICSPIRIT .COM and occasionally in print.
Sony PlayStation 3, by contrast, have positioned themselves as machines for teens and adults. Their lineups are dominated by violent games and advanced sports titles, although both are trying to reach Nintendo’s family audience as well. The violent content of games has been increasing for years, driven by improved graphics and the perceived need to be more outrageous than the competition. Once a teen-friendly World War II action game, the “Call of Duty” series radically ratcheted up the level of explicit gore on display with last year’s “Modern Warfare 2.” This iteration even included a sequence in which the gamer participates in a bloody massacre of unarmed civilians. Alas, this kind of ultraviolence sells: “Modern Warfare 2” was the most successful media launch — across all genres — in history, earning $310 million in 24 hours, with final sales in excess of $1 billion. Yet gratuitous mayhem is certainly not the whole story. Many games are either free of graphic violence, or place it in a
moral context. “Bioshock,” for example, tells the complex story of a libertarian dystopia, exploring issues of bioethics, morality, responsibility, politics and the limits of personal freedom; its sometimes violent action thus unfolds within a morally consistent world.
Parent involvement is key The decision to let a game machine enter the household is one to be carefully considered by parents with young children. “We allowed the Xbox in our home when my oldest son saved up enough money to purchase it himself,” says Catholic author and blogger Danielle Bean. “We saw it as a way to reward his responsibility, and he has continued to be responsible with it. . . . . When managed reasonably, the games can be a fun way for kids to connect and socialize.” In fact, Cheryl Olson, co-author of “Grand Theft Childhood,” the seminal Harvard University study on video games and violence, found that children who don’t play games have lost out on a vital element of socialization. “There’s a potential for games to promote important school and life skills,” she explains, “such as solving problems and anticipating consequences. I remember watching my son play games such as ‘Legend of Zelda’ when he was a young teen. He had to search, plan and try different approaches to advance. You don’t get those kinds of benefits from watching cartoons or sitcoms on TV.” But games aren’t just kid stuff anymore. Take Father Shane Tharp, a pastor and high school teacher in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. “I game because I grew up gaming,” he explains, “and I continue to game because I find it soothing. “There is something satisfying about accomplishing a quest, outsmarting a puzzle, or beating a level. I credit video games with teaching me lateral thinking skills and how to work out solutions to complex problems.” Father Tharp doesn’t see any unique issues or problems for Catholics in approaching the medium: “A game’s value must be measured on its content and context. Just as a Catholic should steer clear of a film which includes sexual material or violence for the sake of being shocking or without consequences, the same would be said of a video game.” Thomas McDonald, a catechist for the Diocese of Trenton, N.J., has been writing about games for more than 20 years.
CNS photo / Reuters
“A game’s value must be measured on its content and context. Just as a Catholic should steer clear of a film which includes sexual material or violence for the sake of being shocking or without consequences, the same would be said of a video game.” FATHER SHANE THARP Archdiocese of Oklahoma City
Supreme Court signals ‘game ove for ban on sale of violent games to minors
OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Parents have options for setting limits on game content and play time Ratings systems, parental controls and ground rules can help ensure a good gaming experience for all family members By Nick Grevas Catholic News Service
The vexing issue of violence in video games had its day at the Supreme Court this summer. In a 7-2 decision, the majority ruled that video games are protected speech under the First Amendment, striking down a California law that sought to criminalize the sale of M-rated (“Mature”) games to minors. The decision was the final defeat for a law that had been challenged since its passage in 2005. Introduced by California Assemblyman Leland Yee, the law sought to designate violent video games as “harmful matter” under the penal code, making it a crime to sell such games to a minor. Read the full story at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM. — Catholic News Service
American parents are facing a problem that was never an issue for those who raised them: video games. These games are highly stimulating, have been considered addictive and have even inspired government action. California tried to protect children from the violent content in video games with a 2005 law making it illegal for retailers to sell such items to minors. The Supreme Court June 27 ruled the law was unconstitutional, but it was not unfounded. According to a 2010 survey by the Entertainment Software Association, 18 percent of all gamers are between the ages of 12 and 17, yet three of the five topselling games on the market received an “M for Mature” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board. That’s roughly the equivalent of the Motion Picture Association of America’s R rating for a film, and indicates “content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language.” So how can parents find out more specifically what’s in these games before buying them for their children? In addition to its ratings system, the ESRB provides a detailed description of all potentially inappropriate elements included in each game. Parents can access these comprehensive assessments on the organization’s website: WWW.ESRB.ORG.
Staying in control By way of a further safeguard, video game manufacturers are now designing their systems to come with parental controls that block content according to the ESRB rating. The Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii both come with parental control options that can prevent particular kinds of games from being played, via the use of a PIN-number code. For the Playstation 3 console — which lets users connect to the Web to buy games and compete with other players — the controls for the Internet browser and content settings can be found under “security settings.” Here, parents can make
adjustments to block content according to the rating on video games, Blu-ray discs and even DVDs. Parents can also set up a PIN-number system for prohibiting online purchases by entering the “account management” settings. The Wii operates on a similar platform, using a universal PIN code to access particular content. To set this code and choose what to lock, parents can go to the Wii menu at the bottom left, select “console,” then “console settings,” and the option for parental controls can be found on the second page of options. Once there, a parent can set the PIN and will be able to block the Internet channel, the messaging board channel, game content and other Wii functions.
Establishing limits “When?” and “For how long?” are two other questions parents must address, since children may show a tendency to gravitate to the video screen at inappropriate times — opting, for instance, to play baseball inside on the television rather than outside in the fresh air. Thus, the Electronic Software Association’s survey found that 80 percent of parents place limits on the amount of time their children are allowed to devote to video games. Wendy Wood — a mother of five in Goshen, N.Y., who says that video games have had an adverse effect on her children — is among them. She says the games cause chaos, fighting and “unnecessary drama” over whose turn it is to play, especially between her two boys, Ryan, 14, and Jared, 10. During the last school year, Wood only permitted the use of video games after all chores were done and homework finished. The result, however, turned out to be rushed chores and shoddy homework, she said. This year, Wood plans to implement a strict “weekends only” rule. Other popular strategies among parents include requiring an hour of reading for an hour of games, and a simple limit of one hour per day for gaming. Catholic author and blogger Danielle Bean has a policy similar to Wood’s, saying that “during the school year, the boys play only on weekends for a set period of time.” The Xbox 360 has won “high score” in the setting-limits category by including daily and even weekly time limits that can be set up by first accessing “My Xbox,” then “console safety” and selecting “turn on console safety.” This will allow parents to establish system settings by once again entering a four-digit password. Along the same lines, Microsoft includes a “Family Timer.” The company’s version gives frequent warnings that the system is shutting down, up to five minutes before it shuts down. In response to any of these notifications, a parent can enter the pass code and add more time to the daily or weekly allotment. By using various controls and consulting information provided by the ESRB, parents should be able to protect their children’s well-being against objectionable content while still allowing them to enjoy a healthy dose of age-appropriate gaming. Nick Grevas, a former intern for Catholic News Service, reviews video games for CNS. He is a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio.
“If we don't remain true in our public actions to what we claim to believe in our personal lives, then we only deceive ourselves, because God certainly isn’t fooled.” Archbishop Charles Chaput
This Catholic Life 14A
The Catholic Spirit
Opinion, feedback and points to ponder
OCTOBER 13, 2011
Church and state: Why can’t they be friends? ope Benedict XVI has made the dangers of secularism a major theme of his pontificate. And it’s a battle both sides take seriously. On the one hand, the pope warns that societies without the moorings of Analysis Christian values will be lost at sea, Carol Glatz unaware of or indifferent to the truth that anchors humanity to justice, peace, respect and solidarity. On the other side are groups and individuals that hold so tightly to the democratic tenet of churchstate separation, they don’t want any voice tied to religion to be let loose onto the public square.
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In many Western, especially European, nations, when a church leader speaks out on the ethical dimension of any issue, “immediately he is attacked as if he is interfering,” said an official at the Pontifical Council for Culture. “Your democracy becomes very selective” and intolerant when a whole sector of the community — people of faith — are denied the freedom of speech in the public realm, said Father Theodore Mascarenhas, a member of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier. The separation of church and state, which is a hallmark of a democracy, “has also gone onto the separation of God and life unfortunately,” in which religious beliefs and values are expected to be left not only out of the process of public decision-making, but out of people’s own personal lives, too, he said. Father Mascarenhas, a professor and biblicist, told Catholic News Service that Europe, seen in its frequent debates on whether to allow women to wear veils or allow crucifixes on school walls, must be careful not to fall into a kind of “Talibanization.” “The Taliban went and took off all the religious symbols of minorities in an effort to clean up,” while it imposed its own belief system on everyone, he said. Cleansing Europe of its cultural, religious symbols is “an expression of fundamentalism in a very subtle form,” too.
Ensuring a voice Meanwhile, in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, there is a genuine fear of religious groups or parties having political control and enacting repressive policies against minority groups. One key topic, in fact, under discussion at the 2010 special Synod of
The separation of church and state, which is a hallmark of a democracy, “has also gone onto the separation of God and life.” FATHER THEODORE MASCARENHAS Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier
Bishops for the Middle East was how to promote “positive secularism,” a form of separation of government and religion that still allows people’s faith to have a role in society without consecrating one religion as the religion of the state. The church supports a form of churchstate separation that ensures religions have a voice in society and that laws reflect moral values — including laws dealing with life and marriage. However, when religion becomes the primary source of a country’s laws and religious authorities have civil power, members of minority communities end up being seen and treated as second class citizens, the current Maronite patriarch, Archbishop Bechara Rai of Beirut, told reporters during the synod. These concerns show there are two very different understandings of secularism, Father Mascarenhas said. In the West, secularism is understood as the problem of God being foisted out of the public sphere; but for the East, it’s a positive state of affairs in which governments show respect and protect all religions, letting them have a voice and not treating anyone better than the others, he said. The Indian priest said an example of how this mutual respect between religion and government plays out was when the Indian government asked the Indian bishops to watch “The Da Vinci
Code” and tell them whether they thought the film should be banned, since it is against the law to offend any religion. The bishops did not find the movie offensive and allowed it to be released in theaters, he said. “A real church-state separation would be that the church can freely express and ask its followers to adhere to the principles it holds dear,” Father Mascarenhas said. Even though there may be movements trying to oppose such freedom, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and East Timor are examples of countries whose constitutions protect the right of every religion to express its beliefs in the public sphere, he said. “Asia is rather varied, but it is a God culture,” he said, “There is a mindset that can’t exclude God.” Even while communist movements in Myanmar, Vietnam and China have all tried to eradicate religion, they were never completely successful, he said. “That is why in China they had to come up with a Patriotic Catholic Church,” he said — since the communists couldn’t do away with God, they sought to control it.
Hungry for God
place we slipped, perhaps because we didn’t have the strategy to fight extreme rationalization,” Father Mascarenhas said. “The Illumination actually brought darkness because it forgot that a heart can’t rest unless it rests in God,” he said. People are hungry for God, he said, and “I find it funny that Europeans turn to Indian religions when Christianity can provide almost everything,” he said. “Show me one human situation that is not reflected in the Gospel,” he said. Not only are the human challenges of death, fear, doubt and persecution detailed in the Bible, it also spells out the solutions, too. “The answer to death is the resurrection, and the answer to doubt and anguish like Jesus felt in the garden of Gethsemane is give yourself over to the will of God,” he said. “Even the financial crisis has its answer in the Bible: It’s a question of gratuity. Had those who have sufficient means remembered Matthew 25 and the Last Judgment where they’ll be asked ‘What did or didn’t you do for those in need?’ the world would be a different place and the crisis wouldn’t exist,” he said.
The West, instead, saw a brutal severing of spirituality from the material world. “When the Industrial Revolution took
Carol Glatz is a correspondent in the Rome bureau of Catholic News Service.
This Catholic Life / Opinion
OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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More proof why church’s voice needed on immigration labama seems content to cut off its nose to spite its face on the issue of immigration. That’s the impression one gets anyway based on the consequences — which government officials should have foreseen — of the state’s new immigration law. The measure, which took effect late last month, requires public schools to inform the government about students who can’t provide proof of legal residency and mandates that police check the papers of anyone they think might not be a legal resident. Not surprisingly, schools already are reporting that some children have stopped coming to school. Farmers have lost workers to harvest crops. And, here’s the kicker: Some of these farmworkers are U.S. citizens or otherwise have permission to work here. These are the effects of a shortsighted, enforcement-only approach to immigration reform: children afraid to go to school, crops left in fields to rot, and even legal immigrants leaving town because they fear for their spouses who don’t have legal status. It should be clear that a law that provokes such fear and that could end up splitting apart families isn’t a good approach for dealing with today’s immigration challenges. But, it isn’t clear to enough people — not in a society that too often debates important issues in slogans and sound bites and that elects too many
A Editorial Joe Towalski
Alabama’s new law falls short in making meaningful fixes to a broken system
tion reform that respects human dignity by: ■ reuniting immigrant families and keeping them together. ■ allowing for an earned legalization program that is realistic and fair for undocumented immigrants already here. ■ restoring due process protections for immigrants. ■ addressing the root causes of migration.
“These are the effects of a shortsighted, enforcement-only approach to immigration reform: children afraid to go to school, crops left in fields to rot, and even legal immigrants leaving town because they fear for their spouses who don’t have legal status.
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Taking the right approach
JOE TOWALSKI
lawmakers more interested in their political futures than what’s best for the future of the country.
Voice desperately needed Our elected representatives in Washington have shown they are unable to move beyond deeply ingrained ideologies that are roadblocks to the meaningful dialogue, sensible compromise and political courage necessary to pass comprehensive federal immigration reform — an overhaul that should take into account not only border security and the realities of 21st-century globalization but also the human dignity of the people subject to the laws. So states like Alabama are attempting to pick up the slack by passing laws of their own. Unfortunately, these state laws, more often than not, miss the mark.
This is why the voice of the church on the issue of immigration is so important. Some will argue the church is overstepping its bounds when it weighs into debates over what are, in part, political issues. Nothing could be further from the truth. As the U.S. bishops have pointed out in their pre-election “Faithful Citizenship” statements, the church has an obligation to bring its convictions and concerns to the public square. That duty, protected by the Constitution, extends to issues like abortion, marriage and family life, poverty, health care, the environment and immigration policy. In recent years, Minnesota’s bishops have echoed the voices of other U.S. bishops in calling for immigra-
The church in Alabama has spoken directly and clearly about the problems with the state’s new immigration law, and a judge thankfully blocked a provision that threatened to criminalize much of the church’s outreach to undocumented immigrants. Still, the Alabama law is an onerous one, much like other so-called “attrition-through-enforcement” laws enacted or being considered in other states. An effort to pass similar legislation in Minnesota has failed in the past. Minnesota and other states would be wise to steer clear of laws that end up creating more problems than they solve; all of us should continue instead to push for meaningful reform on the national front and seek ways to welcome immigrants who are willing to work and contribute to building up our communities just as many of our immigrant ancestors did.
The death penalty: We are either pro-life all the way or not at all t was Blessed Teresa of Kolkata who said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” When I started writing to a death row inmate several years ago as part of a parish social justice project, I had only the foggiest notion that in some sense, he belonged to me and I to him. Even now, I shrink from the level of intimacy that Mother Effie Caldarola Teresa’s words imply. It is easier when people are statistics and not flesh and blood. As a Catholic, I oppose the death penalty in all cases. (The only exception to our teaching is in the unlikely event that society can’t protect itself in any other way. But our maximum security prisons and life-with-no-parole sentences take care of that.) At first, I wrote the letters to the inmate with great reserve and a little fear. After all, death row is populated by some unsavory characters, and how much of myself — even my address — was I willing to reveal? Soon, however, the letters took on a regular rhythm, and I think I forgot about the “death” part of “death penalty.” After all, don’t those appeals go on forever? No, they don’t. My correspondent nears the end of his legal journey, and he wrote to say that he may have an execution date as early as January. I was stunned. Then he stopped writing for a while. Subsequently, he admitted that he had
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Opinion
CNS photo / Michael Alexander, Georgia Bulletin
People hold a banner and signs on the steps of the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta during a vigil for death-row inmate Troy Davis before his Sept. 21 execution.
fallen apart, was sleepless, distraught and terrified. He is pulling himself together now, but I wonder: Where does he find the courage for that?
we must have no doubt.
Reasonable doubt
I wrote my letter of appeal to the fivemember Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles, and on the other end of the influence scale, Pope Benedict XVI’s U.S. envoy sent a letter pleading for Davis’ life.
Like millions of people around the world, I waited recently to see if the state of Georgia would execute Troy Davis, who was convicted of killing an off-duty police officer in 1989. To convict someone, we must overcome reasonable doubt. But to execute someone,
In Davis’ case, seven of nine eyewitnesses recanted their testimony, and there was never any forensic evidence linking him to the murder.
But in the late hours of Sept. 21, Davis was put to death by Georgia.
A fifth-grader could have made a more intelligent decision than that board. In all of this, we must never forget the victims, the walking wounded who are devastated by heinous crime. The same day that Davis died, a racist in Texas, of whose guilt there was no doubt, was executed for dragging a black man to death behind his truck. The son of the dead man did not want the execution. He apparently knew what other victims learn: Revenge and killing cannot ultimately bring the peace for which we yearn. If Americans truly want to become a pro-life nation, we have to work on our commitment to it on every level or it won’t be convincing on any level. A nation that jumps too quickly to war, tolerates domestic violence and sees far too much sexual abuse, media violence and bullying will have a hard time convincing the young pregnant mom that the life within her is sacred. We have to realize that it’s all connected. Thomas Merton said: “A life is either all spiritual or not spiritual at all.” In this case, we are either pro-life all the way — or not pro-life at all. It helps me to remember that Jesus himself died as a condemned criminal. He, who lived and died with and for sinners, urges us to ask ourselves: “To whom do I belong?” Effie Caldarola writes a column for Catholic News Service. She is based in Anchorage, Alaska.
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Commentary
/ This Catholic Life
Puppy love, whale watching and St. Francis cross the country, young married couples have settled on the perfect preparation for parenthood: a puppy. It is a trial run that delivers many of the same tussles and delights — a tiny, big-eyed creature who is named and measured and potty trained, who interrupts Netflix and upends the budget, protracting Saturday mornings and contracting Saturday nights. Someone to worry about and brag about, to snuggle and scold. Someone to put in the Christmas card. It may seem silly, but the multi-vitamin dog treats and rhinestone-encrusted collars come with the immediate miracle of getting outside yourself — committing to that pup and feeling your heart rise and fall with its every whimper. Puppy training is, indeed, parent training.
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Twenty Something Christina Capecchi
Animals stir feelings of love, awe and thanks to God or their presence
iStock photo
Part of the family Three in four Catholic households report having a pet, according to the American National Election Studies. This month we salute their patron saint, Francis of Assisi, and all the motley pets we’ve loved. We gather under the slanted sun for animal blessings, a reminder of the catholicity of Catholicism, that the stuff of home life has a place in the church — even the critters that shed. Jackie, 48, a curly-haired Catholic who has never married, cherishes her Shih Tzu. Without her, the New Jersey native says, “this house would be really lonely.” Jackie lost her male Shih Tzu in May, “after 15 and a half years of happiness and love.” Hallmark introduced pet sympathy cards in 1984, and over the years, sales have steadily increased. “Your
pet was part of the family,” reads one card, picturing an empty soft chair. “That’s what makes saying goodbye so hard.” The more hours I log in my office, the more I appreciate even passing animal encounters, like the four raccoons that cautiously descended our oak after a thunderstorm, crawling in pairs and leaning against each other. Or the tree frog that landed on the front door one August evening, mystifying with its bulging yellow eyes. Sit too long at a computer and you can forget everything outside the inbox. That’s why my family packed three binoculars and a 16-gigabyte memory card on our recent Alaskan cruise. We yearned to see some hulking mammal living among the woodland and waterfalls. Goats and moose and
bears — oh, my!
Unforgettable sight Bald eagles flew overhead, salmon swam below us. And I couldn’t pass up the opportunity for whale watching. Two and a half hours and a guarantee of a whale-spotting or your money back. I handed over my credit card and signed up. Two and a half hours later, the outlook was bleak: gray sky, gray water, biting wind and pelting rain. No whale. “This is when they toss out the battery-operated rubber whale,” someone joked. And finally, a humpback. On our side of the boat. Not far. The dorsal fin made a smooth arc, sliding from right to left. I snapped my camera repeatedly, pointing it at the whale and
lowering it to my chin so I could observe directly, without any filter. Here was a 40-ton beast in an endless ocean choosing that very moment to dip above the water. Witnessing that spontaneous act in that natural environment felt like peering behind the curtain into a secret world. You only get a few seconds, but you memorize the sight. “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures,” St. Francis wrote in his Canticle of the Creatures. We echo his words today, craning our necks to take it all in. The world is big, and we are small. Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove Heights. Contact her at CHRISTINA@READ CHRISTINA.COM.
Time to prepare for workplace talk on marriage amendment ater-cooler talk at the office often covers topics such as Sunday’s Vikings game, recently-released movies or today’s lunch menu. Between now and November 2012, however, the marriage amendment that will be on the ballot in Minnesota will undoubtedly become a greater topic of discussion. It is important for Catholics to prepare for these impromptu breakroom exchanges. Marriage is an extremely emotional topic, so any hopes for peaceful discourse are going to depend upon thoughtful preparation. While many people already have made up their minds, others are uncertain and can be swayed by a clear and reasoned explanation. The state should continue to restrict the benefits of civil marriage to couples who are oriented toward procreation.
W Faith and the Workplace Tom Bengtson
Marriage laws only have meaning among couples who are oriented toward procreation
Talking points This is the most succinct way I can think to summarize the “yes” vote position. This answer makes these points: First, the ballot measure concerns a civil question — “Which couples
laws only have meaning among couples who are oriented toward procreation.
“One reason we are debating the meaning of marriage is that many people, understandably, struggle to see the relationship between marriage and children.
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TOM BENGTSON
should get special tax and legal benefits?” — not a religious question — “Does God bless all loving relationships?” Second, it affirms the distinguishing characteristic of male/female unions — that they can, and often do, produce children. The state doesn’t grant marriage licenses to men and women because they love each other, but because they are oriented toward procreation. Of course, there are many married couples who don’t have children, choose not to have children, or can’t have children. But that’s none of the state’s business. Regardless of
whether a man and a woman have a child, man/woman couples are oriented toward procreation the same way humans are oriented toward bipedal mobility, even though many humans don’t walk on two feet — infants, some elderly, amputees and paralysis victims. Third, it makes clear the civil interest in marriage is the children far more than the people marrying. That’s why Minnesota prohibits siblings and first cousins from marrying — not because the state is concerned about the two adults, but because it cares about the children such relationships might produce. Marriage
Unchanging truth One reason we are debating the meaning of marriage is that many people, understandably, struggle to see the relationship between marriage and children. A number of cultural developments since the mid-1960s have separated procreation from marriage — contraceptive use, cultural acceptance of non-marital sex, out-of-wedlock childbirth, abortion and sterilization. Although human behavior in America has changed in the last 50 years, human nature has not, and civil marriage addresses that nature. When someone at work brings up the marriage amendment, make the case for traditional marriage. Resist the temptation to keep quiet. The November 2012 vote is an important moment; this is our time to witness as Catholics. Tom Bengtson writes about faith and the workplace. Reach him at WWW.TOMBENGTSON.COM.
“The evangelizing mission of the church is the answer to the cry ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ . . . that continues to rise from the lips of believers.” Pope Benedict XVI
The Lesson Plan The Catholic Spirit
Reflections on faith and spirituality
OCTOBER 13, 2011
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God demands that our priorities never usurp his rightful place am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me.” This prophecy of Isaiah is as crucial to proclaim now as it was during the reign of King Cyrus 2,500 years ago. Our society is one that sets forth and encourages the worship of many false gods. If you are reading this paper, you could probably list many examples of these. Power, money, possessions, sports and fame come to my mind as possible competitors to the only God. In knowing there is only one God, we must then “put first things first.” In themselves, power, money, possessions, sports and fame are not bad things. In fact, when put at the service of the only God, they can do great good in building up his kingdom! But this can only be done when God Deacon is first in our lives. Is he? Ben Hadrich We know the prophecy of Isaiah is true — there is only one God. Yet, we must go beyond knowing this fact about God to spread this Good News in our world. Indeed, Isaiah went on to explain that God prepared him so that people may know there is “none besides me.” We must: “Tell his glory among the nations; among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.”
“I
Readings Sunday, Oct. 16 29th Sunday in ordinary time ■ Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 ■ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b ■ Matthew 22:15-21
For reflection Recall a specific action and time that you placed God first and set an example for someone else.
Sunday Scriptures
Leading by living We “tell his glory” by first living our lives for God — not only in church Sunday mornings, but also in how we attend classes at school, participate in sports, carry ourselves at work and raise children. We are then called to actively evangelize — to speak about Christ and the works he has done in our lives.
St. Paul gives us confidence to do that. He notes, “For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.” We can trust that the Lord will give us power in the Holy Spirit to be convicted in our love for him, both in our words and deeds. This does not require a doctorate in theology, the persuasive skills of an orator or the charm of a movie star. It
requires only living out the reality that there is one God in our own lives and by putting him first. It is only after giving to God what is God’s that we can give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Deacon Ben Hadrich is in formation for the priesthood at The St. Paul Seminary for the Diocese of Duluth. His home parish is Holy Family in McGregor and his teaching parish is St. John the Evangelist in Duluth.
Daily Scriptures Sunday, Oct. 16 29th Sunday in ordinary time Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b Matthew 22:15-21 “We give thanks to God always for all of you.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:2 A friend and I were discussing the people who have been most important in our lives. After the obvious ones like our spouses and children, we both agreed that an overwhelming number of the people who have influenced and supported us have been members, both lay and religious, of various parishes and religious communities. While our styles of prayer and images of God have changed dramatically over the years, there has always been someone able to understand and help us through times of transition and change. Monday, Oct. 17 Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr Romans 4:20-25 Luke 12:13-21 Notice your greatest moments of joy and fulfillment. Tuesday, Oct. 18 Luke, evangelist 2 Timothy 4:10-17b Luke 10:1-9 The burdens we carry from the past become an obstacle to being truly present. Wednesday, Oct. 19 John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests
and martyrs, and their companions, martyrs Romans 6:12-18 Luke 12:39-48 Greed and fear divert our attention away from what is needed in the present moment. Thursday, Oct. 20 Paul of the cross, priest Romans 6:19-23 Luke 12:49-53 What do you feel passionate enough about to endure suffering? Friday, Oct. 21 Romans 7:18-25a Luke 12:54-59 We are responsible for making more conscious choices. Saturday, Oct. 22 Romans 8:1-11 Luke 13:1-9 Recall a time when someone was patient with you and trusted your goodness. Sunday, Oct. 23 30th Sunday in ordinary time Exodus 22:20-26 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 Matthew 22:34-40 “For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.” — 1 Thessalonians 1:5 While attending Mass at a neighboring parish on the anniversary of 9/11, I was
struck not only by the quality of the liturgy but by the way it so deeply touched people. The sound of weeping could be heard throughout the congregation as we were reminded of the terrible destruction that takes place whenever anger and hatred reigns. May we be open to the power of the Gospel to change our hearts and minds. Monday, Oct. 24 Anthony Mary Claret, bishop Romans 8:12-17 Luke 13:10-17 In the midst of pain, we tend to forget that our suffering can lead to a deeper healing. Tuesday, Oct. 25 Romans 8:18-25 Luke 13:18-21 Trust the slow steady work of God, whether in your heart or in the world. Wednesday, Oct. 26 Romans 8:26-30 Luke 13:22-30 Drop your resentments, ambitions and agendas and notice what happens. Thursday, Oct. 27 Romans 8:31b-39 Luke 13:31-35 Only love can empower us to stand firm when forces try to discourage us.
Friday, Oct. 28 Simon and Jude, apostles Ephesians 2:19-22 Luke 6:12-16 Silence and solitude help give us clarity. Saturday, Oct. 29 Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 25-29 Luke 14:1, 7-11 Admitting our self righteousness is painful but necessary. Sunday, Oct. 30 31st Sunday in ordinary time Malachi 1:14b — 2:2b, 8-10 1 Thessalonians 2:7b-9, 13 Matthew 23:1-12 “Rather, we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:7 As I watch our youngest daughter with her newborn baby, I am especially aware of the demands on the mother while nursing a child. Besides patience and persistence, it also takes a willingness to put aside other desires and be inconvenienced. Behind Paul’s tender image is the reality of the cost of authentic love. The love Paul holds for the community and the love my daughter has for her child are glimpses into the heart of God. The daily reflections are written by Terri Mifek, a member of St. Edward in Bloomington and a certified spiritual director at the Franciscan Retreat House in Prior Lake.
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The Lesson Plan
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
New prayer text hearkens back to Old Testament prophesy e continue with our examination of the Roman Canon, also known as the First Eucharistic Prayer. We have already discussed the orientation of the prayer: It is directed to the Father through Jesus Christ. We also have pointed out that the prayer calls us to offer up our own lives upon the altar, in union with Christ’s one sacrifice of love to the Father. Finally, we have meditated upon the nature of the Eucharistic Prayer as a kind of intercession, that is, a crying out to God for our needs to be fulfilled. We now jump forward several passages in the prayer and turn to the heart of the Roman Canon — the words of institution. With these words, the church remembers in a particularly poignant way the night of Our Lord’s betrayal. But it was not only a night in which evil had its Father way with the God-man. It was also John Paul the beginning of love’s definitive triErickson umph and the institution of the great memorial of Christ’s sacrifice of praise to the Father, the Holy Mass. When the priest celebrant pronounces these words, it is Catholic belief that Jesus Christ becomes present — body, blood, soul and divinity — in the sacred host. What was once bread and wine is now Christ himself, hidden under the appearance of human food. This is truly a mystery — God become hidden, little, and vulnerable, so that we might become like him and be joined to him in the worthy reception of the Blessed Sacrament. The words of institution are not magic. Magic presumes that we control what is happening. This is not the case when the words of institution are spoken by the ordained priest. Rather, it is God himself who chooses, in divine freedom, to be present among us. It is he who acts in and through the ordained priest, willing himself to be present in the consecrated host. And, this presence remains even after Mass concludes. In those consecrated hosts, and in every fragment of those hosts, the Savior remains with us, and it is right and good to honor and adore these hosts as we would adore Christ himself. Like much of the Mass, the words of institution are changing so as to better correspond to the Latin texts from which the English is translated. The new words
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Lift Up Your Hearts
Questions about the new missal?
CNS photo / Gregory A. Shemitz, Long Island Catholic
The following is the next in a series of articles regarding the new Roman Missal, which will be used in the United States beginning Nov. 27, the first Sunday of Advent.
read as follows: “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you. . . . Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.”
In November, The Catholic Spirit’s series on the Roman Missal will answer questions about the new texts and their use. If you have a question that has not been addressed in the series, you may send it: ■ By email to: CATHOLICSPIRIT@ARCHSPM.ORG. Please write “Roman Missal” in the subject line. ■ By postal mail to: “Roman Missal,” c/o The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102. Please include your name, parish and daytime telephone number.
Coming up next ■ Oct. 27 — The Roman Canon, part 4 ■ Read past articles in the new missal series online at THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.
limit those who will be saved by Christ. Rather, they follow more closely the Latin text, a text that in fact does use the phrase “pro multis,” that is, “for many.” But as the quote from the catechism makes clear, there is more going on here than simple fidelity to Latin.
Rooted in the Bible
At the end of the parable of the lost sheep Jesus recalled that God’s love excludes no one: “So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.” He affirms that he came “to give his life as a ransom for many;” this last term is not restrictive, but contrasts the whole of humanity with the unique person of the redeemer who hands himself over to save us. The Church, following the apostles, teaches that Christ died for all men without exception: “There is not, never has been, and never will be a single human being for whom Christ did not suffer.”
The expression “for many” in this context is a profoundly biblical phrase. Indeed, both Matthew and Mark place this very phrase on the lips of Christ as he institutes the Eucharist in the upper room. The expression hearkens back to the prophet Isaiah, who speaks of the suffering servant in chapter 53, a figure who “bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Here we have a key to understanding our Lord’s choice of this term “many” on the night of his betrayal, and why it is found in the Latin text. Christ is alerting the Apostles, and us, that he is the suffering servant prophesied by Isaiah, the one who sets his people free by offering up his own life. Read this chapter of Isaiah and it is hard not to see the similarities between it and the story of Christ. Indeed, this is exactly why on Good Friday this very passage is used during the somber and moving service. And so we are once again reminded of a key principle in the new translation: the many scriptural references and allusions to the sacred texts of the Bible are to be made ever more prominent and clear in the Sacred Liturgy. For those who will listen, the newly translated “for many” makes it clear that Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophesies, the long expected Savior who has come to set his people free.
As we can see, the words “for many” in the new English translation of the institution narrative are not meant to
Father John Paul Erickson is director of the archdiocesan Office of Worship.
There are, of course, a number of differences to point out between the new text and our current translation. But perhaps none are so striking as the edits made to the words spoken over the chalice of wine. “…which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins” (emphasis added). Why such a radical change from the present “… it will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven”? The church is crystal clear that Christ’s death on the cross was offered for all. We must be clear — exclusivity in salvation is not being proclaimed in the new words of institution. Paragraph 605 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
TEAM VIANNEY/ THEOTOKOS Oct. 20, Dec. 1, 2011 Feb. 2, Apr. 12, 2012 St. John Vianney College Seminary (men) Murray-Herrick Fireside Room (women) 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For age men or women in college and high school Includes Marian procession, pizza, talk, Mass and social.
Catholic Studies Overnight Nov 18-19, 2011 Come experience community life and Catholic culture at the University of St. Thomas! High school seniors are invited to: • Attend a Catholic Studies class • Stay on the Catholic men’s or women’s floor • Socialize with current students • Learn about faith-based clubs Spaces are limited. To reserve a spot contact Theresa at (651) 962-5704 or cathstudies@stthomas.edu.
Opening Speaker Oct. 20th:
Fr. Larry Richards Author of “Be A Man” Go to www.10000vocations.org or www.vianney.net/teamvianney.aspx for more information.
The Catholic Spirit
Heaven knows there’s nothing like it.
The Lesson Plan
OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Hotline to heaven: Body, bone and blood relics connect people to community of saints By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
A saint’s lock of hair, bone shards, a vial of blood, even a severed hand whose discolored fingers curl in a macabre way are venerated by many members of the Catholic Church. Others may just get the heebie-jeebies and wonder why holy people’s body parts are even put on display. But if one believes these men and women lived holy lives and accomplished extraordinary things, “wouldn’t you want a souvenir,” a way to connect and remember that person and what they’ve done, said Elizabeth Lev, art historian and professor of art history at the Rome campuses of Duquesne University and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. The relic becomes a concrete reminder that the blessed or saint’s body is here on earth and his or her soul is with God, she told Catholic News Service. “It feels like you’ve got almost like a hotline into heaven,” she said. The relic is “something we can see and touch, and it becomes our portal to a world we cannot see and cannot touch.” In the Catholic Church, relics fall into one of three categories: a first-class relic is the physical bodily remains of a saint or blessed like bones, blood and hair; a second-class relic is a personal possession, such as clothing, devotional objects, hand-
written letters or even furniture; and a third-class relic is an object that has touched a first-class relic. These small snips of cloth that have touched a blessed or saint’s tomb often end up fixed onto prayer cards.
Wales in 2009. Large crowds also flocked to see her remains during a U.S. tour in 1999. The huge turnouts sparked curiosity in the secular media and questions about why relics would attract so many, including nonbelievers.
Creating a relic In early Christian times, small holes were often made to run into a saint’s tomb or the sarcophagus so that devotional items could be lowered onto the tomb’s surface or come in contact with the saint’s relics. Creating third-class relics became very popular in the late fourth-century in Rome after Emperor Theodosius banned the sale and distribution of corporal relics. The sale of any relic is staunchly prohibited in the church and eBay has banned the sale of body parts. Demand for third-class relics of Pope John Paul skyrocketed after it became clear that he was on the fast track to sainthood. The promoters of his cause, which were giving out free third-class relics, had to state repeatedly that relics are never for sale. It would be a mistake to believe any object, even a holy object, can be a sort of “remote control” to make God do one’s bidding or fulfill some heartfelt wish, Lev said. Some saints, objects, shrines and icons seem “more efficacious” than others in connecting people to God, Lev said. But
Hunger for spiritual
CNS photo / Paul Haring
The hand of St. Francis Xavier is seen in a reliquary at the Jesuits’ Church of the Gesu in Rome Sept. 8.
it’s not the object or the site bringing grace or a miracle; it is only a channel through which God chooses to act. “God controls what he’s going to do and how,” she said. Even in the secularized West, tours of saints’ relics have been popular. More than a quarter of a million people turned out to see the relics of St. Therese of Lisieux when her remains toured cities and villages in Anglican England and
Lev said an over-secularized world that rejects the divine and embraces the finite and man-made “leaves a void in people, a hunger to know that there is more” than just life and death on earth. In the Catholic tradition and in its ceremonies and community of saints, there is a constant reminder that those who have died are still present and part of the church, she said. “The Mass itself is the most beautiful representation of this intertwining between heaven and earth,” she said. But the nature of first-class relics has changed. Most relics of modern-day blesseds and saints are now just a snippet of hair or a vial of blood. It’s inconceivable in the West today that a deceased’s hand, finger or head would be removed from the body and put on display. Paradoxically, many people today seem more squeamish or upset about the venerated body parts of saints than the bodies of living women, men and children being exploited, disrespected and demeaned, Lev said.
Cerenity Care Center and Residence – Marian of Saint Paul is a continuum of care campus that provides every level of care for you or your loved one. > Independent Living > Short-stay Rehabilitation
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“Not 100 in the United States hate the Roman Catholic Church, but millions hate what they mistakenly think the Roman Catholic Church is.” Bishop Fulton J. Sheen
Arts & Culture 20A The Catholic Spirit Exploring our church and our world O 13, 2011 Priest hopes ‘Catholicism’ series reaches multitude Notre Dame Glee Club to perform at Holy Spirit Church CTOBER
By Joyce Duriga
Catholic News Service
Television viewers across the country will get a glimpse into the rich history, culture and tenets of the Catholic faith this fall when 90 public television stations across the country air episodes of a series called “Catholicism” that was developed by a Chicago priest. The series is hosted by Father Robert Barron, who runs the Chicagobased Word on Fire ministry. It includes 10 hour-long DVDs, leader and group study guides and a 300page stand-alone book of the same title. Episodes also will be broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network. The priest’s goal was to show the history and treasures of the Catholic Church. The series was filmed in high-definition and spans more than 50 locations in 15 countries. The global media ministry Word on Fire — which aims to “educate and engage the culture” — pitched all 10 episodes of “Catholicism” to PBS, but the network opted to run four shows: the revelation, God becomes man; the mystery of God; Mary, the mother of God; and Peter and Paul as missionaries. (As The Catholic Spirit went to press, TPT, the Twin Cities PBS station announced it would not air the series. Read more at CATHOLICHOTDISH.COM)
The University of Notre Dame Glee Club will perform from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Holy Spirit Church, 515 S. Albert St. in St. Paul, to kick off the 75th anniversary celebration of the church and school. Comprised of 70 male students, the glee club is one of the oldest men’s choirs in the United States. The group performs more than 100 concerts a year, singing music that ranges from liturgical, Gregorian chants and American spirituals to Irish songs, pop, jazz and more. Ticket prices per person are $20, $30 or $80. To purchase tickets or learn more about Holy Spirit Church and School, visit WWW.HOLY-SPIRIT.ORG.
CNS photo / TriStar
Ken Bevel, left, and Ben Davies star in a scene from the movie “Courageous.”
‘Courageous’ tackles Christian-based parenting By John Mulderig
Reaching a wide audience
Catholic News Service
No money was exchanged under CNS photo / Word on Fire the agreement, Father Barron said, Father Robert Barron, who runs the Chicago-based Word on Fire ministry, is and Word on Fire will promote the pictured in a 2009 photo. Father Barron is the host of the TV series “Catholifull DVD set and program at the end cism” that will air on PBS this fall. of each episode. Father Barron, a priest of the Arch- larists, non-Catholics and disinterPeople will be more open to the diocese of Chicamessage in “Catholicism” because it ested Catholics. go and a professor “That’s why I looks like the rest of the shows they of faith and cullove that PBS is are used to seeing on television, she ture at the Univerbroadcasting it,” said. I thought that sity of St. Mary of The program airing on PBS also he said. maybe they the Lake/MunThe program lends it credibility, she said, noting delein Seminary, has a good chance that the network isn’t going to “acwould think it said he was surof reaching people cept something that is proselytizing.” was too prised PBS agreed Father Barron said the program rewho are not part to air “Catholiof the church be- veals a broad view of the church inCatholic. They cism.” cause it is a high- cluding its growing presence in “I thought that quality series done Africa and Kolkata, India. loved it right maybe they would “There is nothing out there like in an inviting away. think it was too way, said Eileen this that gives you the global, visual, Catholic. They Daily, assistant culture, history and theological side loved it right professor at the of the church,” he added. FATHER ROBERT BARRON away,” he told the “I hate the reduction of CatholiInstitute of PasCatholic New toral Studies at cism to the sexual abuse scandal. World, Chicago’s archdiocesan news- Loyola University Chicago. God knows we have problems that paper. have to be dealt with,” Father Barron The goal of “Catholicism” has al- PBS lends credibility said, but “there is so much more to ways been to evangelize the culture, “One of the biggest issues with Catholicism than our current strugand media seemed the best vehicle to evangelization is getting people not gles.” accomplish that, he added. to put up a wall before your message The priest also wants to reach peo- gets to them,” said Daily, whose More information about the series is ple outside of the Catholic Church, study includes using art for religious available at WWW.WORDONFIRE.ORG and such as fallen-away Catholics, secu- education. WWW.CATHOLICISMSERIES.COM.
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With Sherwood Pictures’ latest production, “Courageous” (TriStar), the church-based studio that made “Fireproof” and “Facing the Giants” turns its attention to the social influence wielded by fathers. The film traces the life of Christian police officer Adam Mitchell (Alex Kendrick). After the death of his daughter, Adam ponders the quality of parenting he offered her, and the missed opportunities to show his love for her. Determined to be more than just a “good enough” father to his teen son, Dylan (Rusty Martin Jr.), Adam draws up a Bible-based resolution that dedicates him to the highest standards of paternal conduct. He then convinces four colleagues from the force to join him in a public recitation of the resolution. Kendrick, who also directed and co-wrote (with his brother, Stephen Kendrick), crafts an uplifting message movie about the dire consequences of paternal neglect and the Christian principles of sound parenting. Occasional lapses into preachiness are offset by lively action scenes, pitting the patrolmen against a local gang. Catholic viewers may be sad that Javier and his family apparently abandon the religious heritage of Catholicism in favor of evangelical worship. But the ideals, sometimes pursued to an extreme, will resonate with, and perhaps inspire, audiences from a wide range of backgrounds. The film contains some gun violence and mature themes, including drug trafficking. The Catholic News Service classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
21A
Calendar
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Dining out Fish fry at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Friday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations. Chicken and rib dinner at Knights of Columbus Hall, Bloomington — Every Wednesday: 5 to 9 p.m. at 1114 American Blvd. Cost is $10.95. Call (952) 888-1492 for reservations. ‘Bandcake breakfast’ at Cretin-Derham Hall School, St. Paul — October 16: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 550 S. Albert St. Hosted by CDH band families. Features music and a raffle. Cost is $6 for adults and $4 for children/seniors. KC Benefit Breakfast at the Knights of Columbus Hall, Stillwater — October 16: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Bring an item for the St. Michael's Food Shelf. Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children 12 and under. Pancake breakfast at Immaculate Conception, Columbia Heights — October 16: 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. at 4030 Jackson St. N.E. Free will offering. KC pancake breakfast at St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Paul — October 30: 8 a.m. to noon at 2119 Stillwater Ave. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Children under 5 are free. KC pancake breakfast at St. Patrick, St. Paul — October 30: 8 a.m. to noon at 1095 DeSoto St. Cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children. Children under 5 are free.
Parish events Oktoberfest tent party at St. Pascal, St. Paul — October 14: Live band Uncle Chunk performs from 7 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. at 1757 Conway St. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include food, live entertainment, a raffle ticket and a drink ticket. This is an event for those 21 and older. Wine and beer tasting at St. Peter, Richfield — October 14: 6 to 9 p.m. at 6730 Nicollet Ave. S. Wine and beer tasting with hors d’ hoeuvres, silent and live auctions, and a pop tasting for grades 6 to 12. Childcare available. Cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Festival at Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul — October 15: 4 p.m. Mass followed by a taco fiesta, games, entertainment and more at 1801 LaCrosse Ave. Minnesota Sinfonia chamber orchestra performs at St. Olaf, Minneapolis — October 15: 7:30 p.m. at 215 S. Eighth St. Saturday Breakfast for Men at St. Helena, Minneapolis — October 15: Breakfast at 8:30 a.m. followed by Father Randal Kasel’s talk, “Mary: Mother of Courageous Men,” at 3204 E. 43rd St. Cost is $5. Make a reservation by noon, Oct. 14 by calling (612) 729-7321. ‘Angels and Demons in the Catholic tradition” at Holy Spirit School, St. Paul — October 15: 3 p.m. at 515 Albert St. S. Peter Kreeft will speak. $5 donation suggested.
2 p.m. at 187 W. Geranium St.
Don’t miss Benilde-St. Margaret hosts annual holiday shopping boutique Benilde-St. Margaret School in St. Louis Park will host its annual holiday shopping boutique Nov. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the school. The event, “Knightsbridge, A Truly Royal Shopping Experience,” is inspired by London’s upscale shopping areas. Participating merchants include: LaPochette Design, KTBoutique, R&N Woodcrafts and more. For more information, visit WWW. BSMSCHOOL.ORG/ KNIGHTSBRIDGE. Benilde-St. Margaret School is located at 2501 Hwy 100 S.
Fall Art and Architecture tour at St. Thomas More, St. Paul — October 15: 6 p.m. at the East campus church, 1079 Summit Ave. Father Joseph Weiss will lead the tour, and wine and hors d’oeuvres will follow. Suggested donation is $10. RSVP to (651) 227-7669. Author Elizabeth Kelly at St. Vincent de Paul, Brooklyn Park — October 15: 9 to 11 a.m. at 9100 93rd Ave. N. Cost is $15, register by October 7. Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance event at Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine — October 15: Follows the 4:15 p.m. Mass at 215 N. Chestnut St. Includes a chili dinner followed by guest speaker Diana Sundwall, executive director of Infants Remembered in Silence. A candle lighting service will begin at 7 p.m. Family festival at St. Austin, Minneapolis — October 16: 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 4050 Upton Ave. N. Features a ham and scalloped potato dinner, bake sale, face painting and more. Fall festival and booya at St. Mary, St. Paul — October 16: Begins with a polka Mass at 10:30 a.m. at 261 E. Eighth St. Booya, bake sale, flea market, games and more from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Annual parish dinner at St. Raphael, Crystal — October 16: 10:30 a.m. at 7301 Bass Lake Road. Features a broasted chicken dinner and pie. Take-out available. Cost is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children under 10. Homemade quilts and covers bingo at Sts. Peter and Paul, Loretto — October 16: 2 p.m. at 145 Railway St. E. Bingo card cost of $10 includes a hot meal, 20 games and door prizes. Additional cards $5. Free bike drawing for children 14 and under. ‘The Council that Changed the Church: 50th anniversary of the calling of Vatican II’ presented at St. Odilia, Shoreview — October 17: 7 to 9 p.m. at 3495 N. Victoria. Presented by theologian, author and speaker Arthur Zannoni. Call (651) 484-2777. Rummage sale at St. Cyril, Minneapolis — October 19 to 21: 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday ($2 bag day)at 1315 Second St. N.E. Rummage sale at Sacred Heart Robbinsdale — October 20 and 21: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 8:30
a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday ($3 bag day) at 4087 W. Broadway. Rummage sale at St. Peter, North St.Paul — October 21 and 22: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at 2600 N. Margaret St. Next to new sale at St. Rose of Lima, Roseville — October 21 and 22: 1 to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at 2048 Hamline Ave. Fall Harvest Tea at Visitation, Minneapolis — October 22: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4530 Lyndale Ave. S. Tickets for this traditional English Tea are $20 per person. Make a reservation by Oct. 17 by calling (612) 823-8721. Fall festival at St. Agnes, St. Paul — October 23: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 548 Lafond Ave. Features games, food and booya (eat-in or take-out). Community Caring for Life Forum at Guardian Angels, Oakdale — October 25: 7 to 9 p.m. at 8260 Fourth St. N. Panel to include Jason Adkins (Minnesota Catholic Conference), Tracie Rademacher (her abortion experience), Will Cossairt (Total Life Care Centers), and Sharon Wilson (Office of Marriage, Family and Life). Refreshments will be served. For information, call (651) 789-3181. Boutique craft fair at St. Peter, Richfield — October 29: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6730 Nicollet Ave. S. Features handmade treasures, baked goods and more. Boutique and bake sale at St. Paul, Ham Lake — October 29 and 30: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and after the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Masses Sunday at 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd. N.E.
Prayer/ liturgies Legion of Mary prayers in front of Planned Parenthood, St. Paul — Every Friday: 3 p.m. at 1965 Ford Parkway. For information, call (651) 439-9098. Rosary of the unborn at Pregnancy Choices LifeCare Center, Apple Valley — Every Thursday: 7:15 p.m. at 15026 Glazier Ave. For information, visit WWW.ROSARYOFTHEUNBORN.COM. Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at Marian Center, St. Paul — October 16: 2 p.m. at 200 Earl St. Knights of Columbus traveling rosary at St. Bernard, St. Paul — October 23:
Healing Mass at Holy Name of Jesus, Wayzata — October 28: Rosary at 6:30 p.m. followed by Mass at 7 p.m. at 155 County Road 24. Father Michael Becker will be the celebrant.
Singles Sunday Spirits walking group for 50plus Catholic singles — ongoing Sundays: For Catholic singles to meet and make friends. The group usually meets in St. Paul on Sunday afternoons. For information, call Judy at (763) 221-3040 or Al at (651) 482-0406.
School events Open house at Convent of the Visitation School (upper school), Mendota Heights — October 27: 7 p.m. at 2455 Visitation Drive For students entering grades 9 to 12. For information, visit WWW.VISITATION.NET. Open house at Convent of the Visitation School (lower school), Mendota Heights — November 5: 10 a.m. at 2455 Visitation Drive For students entering Montessori preschool to grade 5. Visit WWW.VISITATION.NET. Open house at Convent of the Visitation School (middle school), Mendota Heights — November 5: 2 p.m. at 2455 Visitation Drive For students entering grades 6 to 8. For information, visit WWW.VISITATION.NET.
Young adults Galtier Society fall educational event at St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul — October 17: 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Chapel, 2115 Summit Ave. Father John Paul Erickson, director of the Office of Worship at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis will present: "The New Missal 101."
Other events Highland LifeCare Center 2nd annual benefit banquet at Lumen Christi, St. Paul — October 15: 6 to 9 p.m. at 2055 Bohland Ave. Mary Ann Kuharski will speak. Cost is $40 per ticket or a table of 8 for $320. Visit WWW.HIGHLANDLIFECARE.ORG. ‘Why Do We Go? From Projects to People: Strengthening and sustaining healthy sister parish relationships’ at Guardian Angels, Oakdale — October 15: 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m at 8260 Fourth St. N. Event includes continental breakfast, workshops and keynote speaker Bonnie Steele from St. Joseph the Worker in Maple Grove. RSVP by October 5 to HAASLM@ARCHSPM.ORG. Bishop Lee Piché to discuss Catholics and interreligious dialogue at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul — October 25: 4 p.m. in the first-floor auditorium of the John R. Roach Center for the Liberal Arts on the St. Paul campus. A reception will follow. For information, call (651) 962-5822.
Calendar Submissions DEADLINE: The Catholic Spirit is biweekly. Items should be submitted by Noon Thursday, seven days before the anticipated Thursday date of publication. Recurring or ongoing events must be submitted each time they occur. LISTINGS: Accepted are brief notices of upcoming events hosted by Catholic parishes and institutions. Items are published on a space available basis. ITEMS MUST INCLUDE the following to be considered for publication in the calendar: • Time and date of event. • Full street address of event. • Description of event. • Contact information in case of questions. E-MAIL: SPIRITCALENDAR@ ARCHSPM.ORG. (No attachments, please.)
FAX: (651) 291-4460. MAIL: “Calendar,” The Catholic Spirit, 244 Dayton Ave., St. Paul, MN 55102.
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OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
Building relationships is part of archdiocese’s plan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8A volunteering of time, talent and treasure. “What I appreciated more, though,” Datu said, “was the delineating of stewardship and what is important. Our parish council has taken the position that stewardship is very important for the life of the community. We’re creating a community centered in Eucharist, and stewardship is gratitude for blessings God’s given and gratitude for a way of life.”
Stewardship logo a hit Committee members stay pretty focused, challenging one another’s assumptions and ideas at times. More often than not Williams, Datu, Sarafolean, Kathleen Murray and Melissa Kestner affirm one another as agreement comes about as a result of the open, frank discussion. The whole group speaks positively about the colorful logo provided in the stewardship toolkit. They’ll use it
“I like that it’s focusing on discipleship instead of finances.
”
JOAN WILLIAMS Member of the St. Thomas More stewardship committee
in their mailings for sure. The toolkit includes two reflection guides — pamphlets that explain stewardship briefly and simply — and one will go in the packet to St. Thomas More parishioners, too. “I like that it’s focusing on discipleship instead of finances,” Williams offers. Sarafolean points to the timeline as perhaps the most helpful piece in the toolkit. He and Datu both mention
that it has helped them see the importance of follow-up and accountability that make stewardship as a way of life an ongoing campaign, not just a fall effort, a “continuing presence in the parish,” as he put it. Along with the Parish Stewardship Toolkit, Halloran’s office offers corresponding support services to help parish efforts. At St. Thomas More, Sarafolean said he’s taken advantage of that support at least three times in recent months by calling Halloran for advice. Building relationships and providing services is part of the game plan, Halloran said. “The Office of Development and Stewardship is committed to be a much more externally focused teammate,” he said. Datu sees use of the resources in the archdiocesan toolkit in a big-picture sense: “I feel part of a larger movement,” she said, “something we’re all doing together in the archdiocese.”
Horn of Africa risks ‘lost generation’ due to famine and instability he said during a Vatican news conference Oct. 7.
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
Not only are millions of lives at risk in the Horn of Africa due to hunger and drought, those who escape the famine then risk becoming a lost generation due to a severe lack of stability, education and resources, said a top Vatican official. “The millions of displaced people on the move now in an effort to survive will tomorrow become refugees, illegal immigrants, without a nation, without a home, work and a community,” said Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum. “A whole generation risks being lost,”
Future depends on education The only way to guarantee a future after the humanitarian crisis abates, he said, is to create schools where skills, communities and futures are built. The cardinal launched an appeal for a school to be built in every village. “Where there is an education, there is a possible future, there will be work for tomorrow and families will form,” he said. The church has a long tradition of education and forming moral consciences, so Catholics should be especially dedicated to this initiative, he said.
Cardinal Sarah led a panel of speakers presenting ideas that came out of a Vatican-sponsored meeting with major Catholic charitable organizations on the situation in the Horn of Africa. Pope Benedict XVI, who appealed Oct. 5 for increased aid, wanted the meeting so Catholic agencies could review the current situation and look at ways the church is responding to the humanitarian emergency, the cardinal said.
Helping the most vulnerable According to the United Nations, 13 million people in the Horn of Africa are in urgent need of emergency aid, particularly in Somalia, where thousands of peo-
ple risk death. Caritas Internationalis, the Vaticanbased confederation of 165 national Catholic charities, has helped 1.1 million people in the region, especially the most vulnerable like the elderly, women, children and the disabled, said Michel Roy, the confederation's general secretary. Through its appeal campaign, Caritas Internationalis has raised 31 million euros (about $41.7 million) and was expecting to raise a total of 60 million euros ($80.7 million) to provide emergency food aid, clean water, sanitation, drought-resistant seeds, and develop water conservation systems, he said.
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23A
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
Steve Jobs valued communication, Jesuit says Catholic News Service Like Pope Pius XI, who founded Vatican Radio and built the Vatican train station, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs recognized the importance of expanding communication, a Jesuit told Vatican Radio. Jobs, 56, died Oct. 5 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. Father Antonio Spadaro, the new editor of the influential Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, told Vatican Radio that Jobs made technology part of the lives of millions and millions of people, not just technicians. “Steve Jobs had something in common with Pius XI, and that is that he understood that communication is the greatest value we have at our disposal today and we must make it bear fruit,” the Jesuit told Vatican Radio Oct. 6.
Father Spadaro said Jobs had a “great ability to believe in dreams, to see life not only in terms of little daily things, but to have a vision in front of him. Basically, Steve Jobs’ most important message was this: ‘Stay hungry, stay foolish’ — in other words, maintain the ability to see life in new ways.” The “stay hungry” quote was from a comJOBS mencement address Jobs gave at California’s Stanford University in 2005. On his own blog — WWW.CYBER TEOLOGIA.IT — Father Spadaro embedded a video of Jobs giving the Stanford commencement address and wrote about how
some of his points echoed points made by the Jesuits’ founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Jobs told the new graduates, “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” Father Spadaro said that in his Spiritual Exercises, St. Ignatius wrote that one way of making an important choice is to examine how one would go about making that decision if he knew he were about to die. “I don’t know if Jobs was a believer,” the Jesuit wrote. In the Stanford speech, he said, Jobs was “speaking simply about the interior disposition one must have when making important decisions in life, focusing on what counts. No one, believer or non-believer, can make choices in life if he thinks he’s immortal.”
Christians challenged to see Christ in the immigrant CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7A overcome those walls, those barriers, those divisions and those obstacles that negatively affect and disconnect us one from another.” “If we were to put in metaphorical language what following Christ means as a disciple, it’s about migration,” he added. “It’s a migrating with Christ as a pilgrim people.” During his talk, Father Groody shared several stories illustrating the plight of immigrants, but the words of a migrant from Mexico especially impacted him. When Father Groody asked the man what his greatest hardship was, he replied: “I’ve crossed the desert and almost baked to death. I’ve crossed the mountains and almost frozen to death. I’ve gone without food and water and stowed away in baggage compartments in buses. I’ve stowed away in train cars and almost suffocated. “Those are incredibly difficult moments,” the man continued. “But that’s not the hardest part about being a migrant. The hardest part about being a migrant is when people treat you like you’re a dog, like you’re the lowest form of life on earth, like you’re no one to anyone.” The challenge for Christians is to see
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Christ present in the immigrant, Father Groody said. “They’re hungry in their homelands, they’re thirsty in the deserts that they cross, they’re sick after having to drink even urine to survive, they’re imprisoned in detention centers, often they’re naked after being robbed at gunpoint even down to their own clothing, as they get here they’re often estranged and neglected. . . . “For us, it really is a challenge to human solidarity,” he added. “It’s saying, what they are, we are; where they are, we could be. Therefore, we are not in it alone as independent individuals; we’re in it together as a community.”
Real faces, real stories School Sister of Notre Dame Stephanie Spandl, a fluent Spanish-speaker, served as an interpreter during the conference. As a social worker at St. Paul’s MORE Multicultural School for Empowerment, which provides educational, mental health and other services to immigrants and refugees, Sister Stephanie is accustomed to hearing immigrants’ stories of crushing hardship. “I sometimes just have to push [my emotions] down so I don’t get overwhelmed, and my heart kind of has to
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Immigration resources ■ Father Daniel Groody’s website: HTTP://ND.EDU/~DGROODY
■ Justice for Immigrants, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops: WWW.JUSTICEFORIMMIGRANTS.ORG ■ Justice for Immigrants Minnesota, a coalition of religious communities, dioceses and parishes working for comprehensive immigration reform: WWW.JFIMN.ORG ■ Minnesota Catholic Conference, includes statements from Minnesota’s bishops and other immigration-related materials: HTTP://MNCC.ORG/ISSUES/ IMMIGRATION-SUNDAY
numb out a little bit,” she said after the conference. “But there are times, like here, when I get to reflect, when it opens up and the emotion comes again. So I think part of what I come away with is just that grounding and reminder of why I do what I do, the heart I want to bring to it.” “Immigrants are some of the most vulnerable among us,” she added. “I think they bring great gifts to our society, and richness. I suppose it’s because I’ve had a chance to know the real faces, the real stories, the real people that I care so deeply.”
Parish connections estabished, renewed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3A Guy was also able to purchase many items for the school at a reduced rate before the estate sale opened to the community, thanks to the generosity of Father Criscitelli, she said. “We were able to acquire some teacher desks and chairs, a lot of maintenance supplies — brooms, screwdrivers and things like that — and fans and air conditioners,” she said. “Of course, I had to shop over there.” Guy personally purchased a desk and bookcase and a “beautiful Nativity set,” she said. “My husband said to Brother David [Liedl], ‘I guess you guys saw her coming.’” Father Criscitelli said the remaining items from the estate sale were to be donated to the Bridge, which helps immigrant families acclimate to life in the area and settle into a home. Guy said that Sojourner Truth Academy would also like to open a preschool center in the old convent building. When she asked Father Criscitelli when the parish could start to renovate the second floor, he told her, “as soon as we pay for the first floor.”
“Why not recognize that from that moment, the world changed?” From a front-page commentary in L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper, criticizing the BBC for dropping the dating abbreviations B.C. and A.D. on the grounds that they might offend non-Christians
Overheard 24A
The Catholic Spirit
$18 million center to serve STA students
Quotes from this week’s newsmakers
Rice relief on the way
St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights recently unveiled plans for a new $18 million student activities center. The “Defining Moment” capital campaign reported that donors have made $11.25 million in contributions as of Aug. 29. The Among the eleCatholic Spirit ments to be included in the center are: a competition gymnasium and locker rooms, a math and science center, a fine arts suite, additional classrooms and offices, and renovations of existing locker rooms. Although high school enrollment is at the same level as when the school was built in 1965, 125 middle school students now attend the school and academic and cocurricular activities vie for space, according to a press release from the school. STA expects to break ground for the new building in spring 2012. Future facilities and improvements in the capital campaign include a new aquatic center and renovation of the Upper School and court.
News Notes
School addresses cancer St. Peter Claver School in St. Paul is recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month with several activities. On Monday of this week, students were asked to wear pink shirts along with their school uniforms. On Oct. 17, teachers will use pink, breast cancer stickers in their classrooms, and students will notice pink napkins and straw-
“Never before have we faced this kind of challenge in our ability to engage in the public ARCHBISHOP DOLAN square as people of faith and as a service provider. If we do not act now, the consequence will be grave.” — Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, announcing Sept. 30 the establishment of the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty to shape public policy and coordinate the church’s response on the issue
“Steve Jobs had something in common with Pius XI and that is that he understood that communication is the greatest value we have at our disposal today and we must make it bear fruit.”
Epiphany School a winner Father Alex Carlson, assistant priest at Epiphany in Coon Rapids, was successful in his attempt to run the Twin Cities Marathon for the first time. His time was four hours, 42 minutes and 17 seconds. He had hoped to beat Oprah Winfrey’s time in a previous marathon, which was four hours, 29 minutes and 15 seconds. FATHER CARLSON But, some trouble late in the race slowed him down. “It was a fun experience,” he said. “I started out pretty well. I ran two hours, eight minutes in the first half of the marathon. Then, I cramped up at mile 17. I would run as far as I could ‘til the cramps got too bad, then I’d try to walk them off and then run again. It was a walk-run combination from [mile] 17 on.” The good news is he reached his goal of raising $4,000 in pledges for Epiphany School. In fact, he got there before the race even started. With money still coming in, he doesn’t have a final total yet.
OCTOBER 13, 2011
— Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, the new editor of the influential Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica, comparing the late pope who founded Vatican Radio with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs who died Oct. 5
CNS photo / Joseph Okanga, Reuters
Kenyan port workers in Mombasa load rice to a Somalia-bound ship Oct. 10. The 15,000 metric tons of rice is to help in the humanitarian crisis in Somalia. See related story on page 22A.
berry milk in the lunch room on Oct. 26. Another important component of the awareness campaign is a “Tree of Life” in the hallway, on which students directly affected by breast cancer hang ribbons that signify that a loved one diagnosed with breast cancer is now cancer free. “What we wanted to do was bring awareness of, not only breast cancer, but how it affects the African American community, with St. Peter Claver being predominantly African American,” said principal Charles Vickers. “We wanted to educate, not only the students, but the school community as a whole.”
Get into Fair Trade Each October, Fair Trade Ambassadors partnered with Catholic Relief Services’ Fair Trade program celebrate Fair Trade Month by introducing Catholic communities to the latest products. More important, CRS seeks to show people how fair trade improves the lives of farmers and
their communities. Parishes can learn how to host a Fair Trade sale or fundraiser during the Sister Parish Conference, which takes place from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Guardian Angels Church, 8260 Fourth St. N. in Oakdale. For conference information, contact Bob Walz at (651) 789-3181 or BWALZ@GUARDIAN-ANGELS.ORG. Also, a Fair Trade Sale will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at St. John Neumann, 4030 Pilot Knob Road in Eagan. Thirteen fair trade vendors and authentic Honduran food will be available.
And the winner is . . . St. Therese in Deephaven was selected by the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s Parish Stewarship Education Committee as the runner-up for the Parish Stewardship Video Award. The parish will be recognized at the ICSC Conference in Florida on Oct. 25. See the video at WWW. ST-THERESE.ORG.
School raking projects helping save our lakes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11A Five leaf bags contain one pound of phosphorous, which could create more than 500 pounds of algae if dumped in a lake, Feuhling said. The problem with phosphorous is that it depletes the lake of oxygen and creates an environment where invasive species flourish, said Jeanne Prok, a program coordinator for the Freshwater Society. Leaves and runoff from parking lots and other hard surfaces don’t get filtered in a storm drain, she said. They travel directly to the nearest water source. To help protect local lakes and streams, Prok is working to provide a map of the storm drains in Mound and Minnetrista to students so they can rake them out. Prok said the Freshwater Society hopes for future partnerships with other Catholic schools doing the Rake-a-thon.
Local missionaries spread Good News, build solidarity across borders
n tio ec ge t s pa u 8- ll-o u lp ia ec sp
World Mission Sunday
The Catholic Spirit October 13, 2011
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World Mission Sunday
THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
One mission, many gifts I Mission Link Deacon Mickey Friesen
As a Kenyan bishop once said, the reason we cooperate together in God’s mission is so we may liberate the gifts of all God’s people
recently had the pleasure of meeting Liz Mach, a Maryknoll lay missioner from Pine City. Liz was home visiting after marking 35 years of mission service in East Africa as a nurse. She has delivered babies in mud huts in Kenya, risked her life while treating the injured and dying in Sudan during civil war and is working toward improved conditions for women’s health in remote tribal areas in Tanzania. Despite the risks and challenges, Liz said that her sense of call as a lay missionary has only deepened over the years. She said, “I see how true it is that we all have a missionary call. For me, it has meant leaving home. For you, it may mean staying here and responding to God’s call in your ministry at home, in your community and your service in and through the church.� She added, “I could never do what you are doing here. And I know that I depend on your prayers for me. I could never do this alone.�
Entrusted to all There is a place prepared for each of us in serving God’s mission. In his World Mission Sunday message, Pope Benedict writes, “The universal mission involves everyone, everything, and always. The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of those who have received it, but it is a gift to be shared, good news to be passed to others.
ers in works of mercy, service and justice.
God is still calling
Center for Mission
Penny Knoll of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hastings is greeted by children in Kabati, Kenya, in the Diocese of Kitui in this photo from 2008. The African diocese and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis share a partnership that has included delegation visits to Kenya and Minnesota.
And this gift-commitment is entrusted not only to some, but to all the baptized.� On World Mission Sunday, we renew our missionary vocation. We are each shaped by unique circumstances, relationships and life experiences that become the raw material for God to call us. It is important that we take our life history, our strengths and limits, our joys and pain seri-
ously. God speaks to us there. At the same time, we are not called in isolation. God’s mission is a cooperative venture. We are called in community (or communion). It may be the voice of God revealed in Scripture and worship that makes our hearts burn. It could be the voice of others who speak God’s invitation to ministry and mission. We can discover our vocation while we join with oth-
Sometimes, God calls us forth through the needs of the world. Frederick Buechner once said, “Vocation is the place where my deep joy meets the world’s deep need.� I’m reminded of when we began our partnership of solidarity with the Diocese of Kitui, Kenya. Then Bishop Boniface Lele said the reason we cooperate together in God’s mission is so we may liberate the gifts of all God’s people. He said we are all gifted and needy, and both are a blessing. One’s needs liberate the other’s gifts. We present the needs of the church and the world at every Mass in the hope that the gift will be liberated to serve the need. God is still calling us to mission. On World Mission Sunday, we renew our pledge to cooperate in God’s mission. We cooperate with Catholics around the world to give witness to Christ. We respond to God’s call coming from the needs of the poor in church and world by offering our prayer and financial support. There is a place for us at the table of God’s mission. Let us embrace our missionary call and share the gifts that only we can offer. Deacon Mickey Friesen is director of the archdiocese’s Center for Mission.
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World Mission Sunday
OCTOBER 13, 2011 • THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT
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Evangelization without solidarity with oppressed is unacceptable By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service
It is “unacceptable” to evangelize without addressing the urgent problems of poverty, injustice and oppression, Pope Benedict XVI said. To not be concerned with life’s temporal problems would be to forget the Gospel teaching to love one’s neighbor who is suffering and in need and “it would not be in harmony with Jesus’ life,” which combined proclaiming the Good News and curing people of disease and illness, the pope said in his message for World Mission Sunday 2011. The annual observance will be marked Oct. 23 at the Vatican and in most countries.
How to contribute The World Mission Sunday collection for the Society for the Propagation of the Faith usually takes place in local parishes on Oct. 22 and 23. If you are unable to contribute to the collection at your parish, you may do so online at WWW.CENTERFORMISSION.ORG.
“We cannot remain untroubled by the fact that after 2,000 years, there are still people who don’t know Christ and still have not heard his message of salvation.
”
Transformation needed In his message, the pope focused on the responsibility of every baptized Christian to announce the Gospel message to all men and women in every corner of the world. “We cannot remain untroubled by the fact that after 2,000 years, there are still people who don’t know Christ and still
POPE BENEDICT XVI In his message for World Mission Sunday
have not heard his message of salvation,” the pope said. Just as important is the cultural transformation of traditionally Christian countries that have forgotten or aban-
doned the Christian faith and are now “resistant to opening themselves up” to the dimension of religion and belief, it said. Globalization and relativism have fu-
eled the spread of a mentality and a lifestyle that “exalts the search for wellbeing and easy money and having one’s career and success be the goals of life, even at the expense of moral values,” the papal message said. Bringing the Gospel to everyone is “the most precious service the church can give to humanity and to every individual on a quest for profound reasons to live life to the full,” it said. But evangelization is “a complex process” that includes solidarity with those in need, the papal message said. Catholics are called to support foreign missions and to promote the human person, it said. Pope Paul VI underlined that it was “unacceptable that evangelization would ignore questions concerning human development, justice and liberation from every form of oppression, obviously with respect for autonomy in the political sphere,” it said. To read the full text of the pope’s World Mission Sunday message, go to WWW.VATI CAN.VA and click on “Messages.”
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
SOUTH AMERICA
ASIA
Committed to serving others at 12 years old
Still working in their 70s to raise funds for children
Katie Coldwell, 24, has been serving eight months as a missionary at a homeless shelter for children in Brazil. She made a three-year commitment. Her home parish is St. Therese in Deephaven. Coldwell is a graduate of Marquette University in Milwaukee with majors in theology and social welfare and justice. While in college, she was a house manager for Casa Maria Catholic Worker and lived and worked in a transitional shelter for women and children. She also studied in Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked with the community to provide programming for youth affected by HIV.
Gerald and Barbara Krosnowski, both 70 years old, work full time as volunteers to help raise money to feed starving children in developing countries. Currently members of Risen Savior in Burnsville, the two started their lay missionary work in 1968, developing a program for the homeless in Detroit, and have partnered with domestic and foreign missions for more than 40 years. In 2000, they established the Sonshine Foundation to support mission work and with the foundation in 2006 formed Risen Savior Missions, a charitable non-profit that serves starving children in the Philippines. RSM is an international charity that is not affiliated with or funded by Risen Savior parish.
Who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work? When I was 12 years old, I spent a few hours volunteering at a food pantry with the church youth group. Just those few hours of service left a very deep impression on me. At the end of the day, I can remember sitting next to my mom on the car ride home, turning to her, and asking, “Mom, what has to happen for me to keep doing this work? I want to do this kind of thing for the rest of my life!” From that moment, onward, I knew that I wanted to live my life serving the poor, marginalized and oppressed, just like Jesus. I wanted to follow God by being in solidarity with God’s people. Tell us a story about how a person in your mission experience has made a difference in your faith journey. Living in a homeless shelter has not been a new experience for me. But sharing [living space] with a 10-year old and speaking Portuguese 24 hours a day has certainly been new! When I arrived in my new “community” of 12 kids and one house mom, I was introduced to truly beautiful chaos. Fighting over the biggest pork chop or pulling pranks are common occurrences. Sometimes, the house mother, Maria Madelena, seems driven to the point of insanity — throwing her dishtowel in the air and jokingly pleading, “Deus me livre” (God, free me!) Despite 12 different personalities and 12 sets of different needs, Maria holds things together in order for the house to function smoothly. She has this tough-as-nails resilience and real determination to raise the children with self-confidence and faith-based values. Amidst the madness of raising 12 kids with tough backgrounds, Maria always makes time for me. She listens to my concerns and fears for the future and provides advice as I express my struggles and difficulties. She’s always preparing my favorite foods and asking me to prepare meals from home, too! We exchange ideas and stories and make good company for one another. Maria has made a difference in my faith journey, through her example of solidarity. Maria truly lives in solidarity with the kids she serves. What have you learned from the people you work with or serve? What do you believe they have learned from you? Working with kids and teens has demanded a lot of energy, but it also has been a lot of fun. I have learned two main things from these kids. The first is the incredible power of love. Love is something that is really easy to take for granted when you know what it looks like and feels like — when you have it in your life. But when you have lived your life without knowing what it means to be loved . . . the simplest of loving gestures is going to impact a life forever. I think that, in being a part of their community, I have demonstrated to these kids what love really looks like: A bedtime story, a trip to the park, kisses of praise when they do something well, conversations at the dinner table when they misbehave. I believe they have learned that you don’t have to be perfect to give love. Even the naughtiest and meanest of kids still deserves to be loved. Maria Madelena, 40, is the mother of four: three daughters and one son, 16 to 25 years old. She came to know the local missionaries by working with them at a house for children and teens who are homeless, mistreated, abused or neglected. In your work with a missionary, what work do you do together and how has trust impacted your ideas about solidarity and mission? Katie and I work together to take care of the kids in our house. I never knew a missionary personally before Katie moved into our house. I believe that trust is the key to solidarity. Through exchanging ideas, Katie and I built a relationship of trust and solidarity. Tell us about how you have helped a missionary in your country. I believe I helped Katie by talking to her and comforting her when she was losing hope. I provided hospitality and welcomed her into our house with joy! I also had a lot of patience with her as she learned the language. How is your life different today because of your relationship with the missionaries? Today, I understand better this idea of solidarity because of my relationship with Katie. Also, because of Katie’s presence in our house, I was able to learn about another culture. Cross-cultural exchange was a very good experience for me.
Who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work? Vatican II: In 1967, our pastor at St. Gerard Parish in Detroit asked my wife and I as a young married couple in our early 20s to host missionary meetings at our home for small numbers from our parish to explore how we could help and learn more about mission work and missionaries. Tell us a story about how a person in your mission experience has made a difference in your faith journey. After working with the poor and thousands of starving children and many orphan children at hundreds of our Risen Savior Missions feeding sites, you begin to realize and encounter the reality of God and see him firsthand in the eyes and smiles of poor innocent children. Jesus is truly on the front lines of Catholic missionary work and living daily with the poor. We have seen the behavior of many desperately starving 5- to 9-year-old Filipino children who had not eaten for a couple of days when they smelled the aroma of our vitamin-packed Feed My Starving Children food as it was being cooked and distributed by Risen Savior Missions in cooperation with the Philippine national Catholic Church. We brought the food into destitute villages to reverse malnutrition in the very young and poverty stricken families. We have witnessed the desperately starving 5- to 9year-old Filipino children first feed the younger children, regardless of whether there is enough or any food leftover for them to eat! When I asked them why they didn’t leave a little bit of food for themselves, these innocent children looked puzzled at me and seemed to answer in their silent stare, “Don’t you know and see how these little 2- to 4-year-old children and infants are starving? And because they are younger they should have any available food first even if there is not enough to go around?” That is when I decided and realized in my heart that we must do everything within our power and by the grace of God to save a generation of children this loving! What have you learned from the people you work with or serve? To enjoy each moment of the day you are living because life and new friendships are a treasure and a marvelous grace; each are a precious gift from God. What do you believe they have learned from you? As lay missionaries, somehow with our hands and feet we bring the gift of God’s personal love for them and his life-changing, inspiring, heavenly hope. Florinda Lacanlalay is the program manager for HAPAG-ASA Integrated Nutrition Program/Assisi Development Foundation in the Philippines. What work do you do together with a missionary? The HAPAG-ASA Integrated Nutrition Program was launched by the Pondo ng Pinoy Community Foundation under the leadership of Cardinal Gaudencio B. Rosales, Assisi Development Foundation and Feed the Children Philippines in 2005 as a Christian response to the problem of hunger, starvation and malnutrition in the Philippines in the spirit of the multiplication of loaves and fish. In 2009, we met Gerald Krosnowski of the Risen Savior Missions, who informed us of the availability of food supplements from Feed My Starving Children. Cardinal Rosales, whom Jerry met earlier, gave instruction to explore the possibility of a partnership. Since then, Risen Savior Missions’ food donations to the HAPAG-ASA program has helped thousands of hungry and undernourished children. In 2011 alone, more than 20,000 of these children and orphans will have benefited from Feed My Starving Children’s food. Talk about about how you have helped missionaries serving in your country. Doing missionary work in the Philippines is not very difficult if the mission objective of the organization or person corresponds to an identified need. In the case of the Risen Savior Missions, it matches perfectly with the objectives of the HAPAG-ASA in its intention to help the Catholic Church in responding to God’s call to feed the hungry. The church, as HAPAG-ASA partner, has always been welcoming of this kind of initiative.
World Mission Sunday 5B NORTH AMERICA
Serving in Mexico gives opportunity for mutual teaching
Living in solidarity around the globe AFRICA
Missioner shares stories, prepares others for service Kim Smolik, 38, is executive director of Franciscan Mission Service, which prepares missioners for two-years of service working with Franciscan religious in Africa and Latin America. Smolik, whose home parish is St. Pascal Baylon in St. Paul, regularly visits the missions around the world served by FMS. She is based in Washington, D.C. Who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work? My parents, Tom and Sandy Smolik, taught my sister and me the value of volunteerism through their example. Through our church and community, we volunteered together growing up. At Bethel College, I spent my spring breaks participating in Habit for Humanity projects. My desire to serve overseas and to be a part of an organization that prepares, sends and supports missioners came after I spent a summer in Guatemala studying Spanish in 1997. I wanted to bring together my love of service, education and “crossing borders.” After my summer in Guatemala, I taught in Ecuador then went to Mexico to volunteer with the Center for Global Education. After I returned to the U.S. in 2003, I worked for Catholic Charities (Twin Cities) as director of a full-time domestic volunteer program called Catholic Charities Volunteer Corps. Tell us a story about how a person in your mission experience has made a difference in your faith journey. I recently took a trip to Kenya to establish a new mission partnership for our organization. In Nairobi, I met a friar from the U.S. who has been a missioner most of his life. I spent a week traveling with him all over Kenya. Part of the journey took us to a rural area called Subukia, where Franciscan Father Joe Erhrardt served for 27 years. It’s so remote that there is no hospital to go to if you are gravely ill. If you’re in trouble, there are no police to call. The roads are so rough they are often impassable in the rainy season. But, now, thanks to the Franciscans, there are services like a clinic, a parish and other forms of outreach. Father Joe told me about an evening in Subukia when he was in the living room of the friary reading and three armed men broke in with guns. They charged in, pointed their guns in his face and demanded money. Now, Father Joe is one of the most humble, unassuming people I have ever met. However, he is over 6 feet tall, so his presence can be intimidating. He calmly rose to his feet and said to the intruders, “Welcome, peace be with you.” As you can imagine, the three men were taken aback. They said, “What? Why are you saying this to us?” Father Joe responded, “We are brothers, are we not? We are from the same community. You are welcome here.” In the end, the men took only the equivalent of $8, though Father Joe offered them more. They did not hurt anyone, and they never returned again. He had internalized the poverty of Francis and the poverty of Christ to the point that he looked at those men and saw not criminals, but brothers in need. And because he not only saw them but called them brothers, the encounter became almost a reconciliation, rather than hostility. Father Joe communicated his love in such a powerful and effective way that it broke down their wall of hatred.
Franciscan Sister Pat Forster serves as a missionary in San Rafael in Galeana, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In July 1961, she attended a retreat led by the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and learned about world mission. She said: “It was energizing and full of invitation to serve those most in need. My parents were also missionaries, serving the sisters in their needs in Alexandria, Minn., and offering hospitality to an unwed mother. We were a Catholic family with concern for others. We prayed the rosary for vocations three times a week.” Who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work? The Franciscan Sisters Congregation responded positively in sending sisters to Peru in 1962. This was a response to the papal plea (1959) of assisting the poor globally but especially, in Latin and South America. Tell us a story about how a person in your mission experience has made a difference in your faith journey. Ruperta, in the high Sierra Madre Mountains of the San Rafael parish, is a woman in serious and constant poverty. Ruperta always carries a smile, is always present for faith and church gatherings and is always ready to help the other. Ruperta walks, talks, helps and looks us in the eye with simple faith. She has no resources, but, yes, she has hope for tomorrow. Ruperta asked for help getting water in Pinal Alto and a visitor responded by sending the needed $500. What have you learned from the people you work with or serve? What do you believe they have learned from you? Jose de la Cruz also made a difference when we built a “Franciscan House” in San Rafael. Without his constant presence and advice, the house would not have moved forward. Many decisions relied on his wisdom and research. It would have been impossible for me alone as administrator of the construction. We sisters worked with each other, but we did not have Jose’s expertise. There is no end to the people in parishes who have left me grateful, teary eyed and astounded with their prayers, support and financial assistance. People understand that we are working in poverty. . . . Visitors come to be in solidarity with us, to understand the real picture of poverty, prostitution, global proportionality and education for all. Annually, we, the sisters of San Rafael, visit parishes in St. Paul and Minneapolis. This is a treasure, a gift of solidarity. We always receive warm welcomes and responses. Give examples of how the sisters have helped people at the mission. And, how have these people helped you as well as others? Laura Casas is day supervisor for “Casa Franciscana,” where 14 students live in residence. Casas has been working with Sister Colette Toenies as first Communion catechist in el Uno, Nuevo Leon and has been a catechist for 14 years. She has visited homes with Sister Mary Dumonceaux and participated in Bible studies. Laura is a leader in her village, where she is concerned for the faith life of the community. Sister Pat said Casas describes her experience this way: “Seeing the Franciscan Sisters teaching self-confidence to the resident students (ages 16-19) and seeing that already 19 students have graduated is a learning and a gift to Mexico. It is hope for the future.” Karen Vazquez, learned her doctrine by teaching the first level of catechesis called “Acceptance of our Baptism.” Karen is 17 and loves teaching the children; this has been an entrance for her into a deeper, more profound faith life. Karen also received training to be the group leader for the teens and has worked with me and others in conducting a Teen Encounter in La Casita, Nuevo Leon. The teens now come together in four different sectors monthly, they feel in solidarity with one another and with the teens in the diocese, participating also in Diocesan Teen Encounters. They also go to the mountains every Holy Week and offer Holy Week prayer services in villages without leadership. They are one with the church in solidarity throughout the world during this holy season. How is life different today because of the missionary and ministry work that is happening? Karen has been different since the Franciscan Sisters arrived because of what she learned about forgiveness, being a listener in groups, sharing faith, being a good student, working with others in collaboration, in loving and being a better person. Laura and Karen say the workshops, the liturgy orientations, the leadership training, the freeing presence, have brought people of all religions closer to God. They said: “The sisters have taught sewing classes, they have taught English, they have taught values and they live these values. The sisters have taught about church, the global church with whom we are in solidarity. Our lives are different because we feel we can grow and are growing and have someone walking with us. We are often made aware of global concerns and especially the immigration concerns of Mexico. We know we are the missionaries, we are the church.”
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
World Mission Sunday
SOUTH AMERICA
Pastor in Venezuela still learning about patience, generosity Father Greg Schaffer, 46, grew up in St. Paul and attended St. Pascal Baylon Grade School and St. Bernard’s High School. His parents are parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle in St. Paul, which is his home parish. After completing studies at St. John Vianney Seminary and St. Paul Seminary, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 1994 and served at Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Maplewood. In 1997, he was assigned to the archdiocesan mission in Venezuela and is currently pastor of Jesucristo Resucitado parish in San Felix. Tell us about who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work. My uncle, whom I was named after, Msgr. Gregory Schaffer, also grew up in St. Paul at St. Columba parish but was ordained for the Diocese of New Ulm. He has been the biggest inspiration for me to serve the Lord and his people as a missionary priest. My uncle has served the people of San Lucas Toliman, Guatemala, since 1963. I always admired my uncle as a very kind and intelligent person and always enjoyed listening to his stories about working in Guatemala as I was growing up. During my first visit to his mission in 1979 with a group of seminarians from St. John Vianney Seminary, the Lord touched my heart with a great love for the missions and a genuine interest in the priesthood.
What have you learned from the people you work with or serve? The people of my parish have taught me a lot about being patient. Growing up, I always thought I was a patient person until I came to minister here. Living in an environment where the power often goes out, computer servers regularly go off line, traffic laws are rarely enforced, high unemployment is chronic, which results in poverty, violence and delinquency among the youth, I really struggle at times with being patient! The people demonstrate great patience as they wait in lines to buy basic foods like milk and cooking oil, endless lines at the banks or to sign up for classes at the universities. They show patience while in traffic as others are driving on the sidewalk to get around the traffic jam or trying to cut in ahead. I hope I can bring the love of Christ and a sense of hope through the sacraments. Through the generosity of many individuals in the archdiocese and generous parishes like St. Joseph in Waconia, we are able to respond to some of the physical needs of the people through the parish’s soup kitchen, dentist office, medical clinic, St. Vincent de Paul’s outreach of food and medicine, scholarships and emergency assistance. But most important, our presence here is about bringing God’s love to the people, which is experienced most perfectly through the sacraments.
their homilies. I help them pronounce the words in the Gospel readings. It took Father Greg many years to be able to pronounce “sepulcro� (grave) and “murcielago� (bat). The new priests always need help finding their way around our barrios and learning where everyone lives. Giving them driving directions is always challenging because “derecho� means straight ahead and “derecha� means right turn, and they get the two words confused and they often are going straight when they should be turning.
Gladys Brito, 41, has two children — Angelo, 21, and Andreina, 20. She is the accountant for Jesucristo Resucitado and organizes all the visits of the groups that visit the mission from Minnesota. She has been a catechist in the parish for more than 25 years and has worked closely with the priests. Tell us about how you have helped a missionary serving in your country. Whenever we receive a new priest from Minnesota to work in our parish, I always help them to learn the Spanish slang we speak here and help them write
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AFRICA
Many of the reflections for this section have been edited due to space limitations. To read the full responses, and to read the following stories below, visit THECATHOLICSPIRIT.COM.
Maryknoller works with women to restore basic health and dignity Liz Mach, 58, has been a Maryknoll Lay Missioner since 1976. She grew up in Pine City and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1975 from the College of St. Catherine, now St. Catherine University. She went on to obtain a master’s degree in public health in 1991 from the University of Minnesota. She has served at Maryknoll missions in Tanzania and Southern Sudan. Who or what inspired you to start doing missionary work? I graduated from St. Kate’s and was deciding where I wanted to be working when I heard a Maryknoll priest speak about Tanzania and the need for nurses. He invited people to “come and see” and I realized this is what I was looking for. I ended up serving the first three years at the same mission in Tanzania — a place called Ndoleleji — with Father Dan Ohmann of the St. Cloud Diocese. We established maternal health-care clinics, delivered babies and taught basic nutrition and health care to women in the villages. Throughout my 35 years in mission, I have worked in the health care field with HIV/AIDS patients, women suffering from obstetric fistula and am now helping a diocese in Tanzania to end female genital mutilation. Tell us a story about how a person in your mission experience has made a difference in your faith journey. I work within the Diocese of Musoma
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and there is one parish — Rogoro — where a group of parents and girls have come together to end female genital mutilation, which is practiced in that area. The parish is supporting them through the protection of the young women who choose not to be mutilated. It is a courageous group of folks who are standing up to a cultural custom that denigrates women. I am honored to work with these parents and young women and the Sisters of the Daughters of Charity who staff the parish ministries. Bishop Michael Msonganzilla was part of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 2009 for Africa. At the synod, he raised the question regarding the termination of female genital mutilation — the first time this has been addressed at a synod. He called for raising the dignity of each woman and he continues to work for the termination of this custom within our diocese. Working with all of these folks continues to inspire me and challenge me in mission. What have you learned from the people you work with or serve? I feel that I have learned to be more non-judgmental in my life. I live in a country (Tanzania) where one third of the folks are Christian, one third Muslim and one third traditional religion. We need to live in harmony with all or there would be
RUSSIA
Maryknoll notes 100 Maryknoll, the U.S. Catholic mission movement, is celebrating 100 years of mission work throughout this year and 2012. For information about the continuing festivities, visit WWW.MARYKNOLL.ORG.
great difficulties within the country. Our health clinics within the Diocese of Musoma (where I work) are open to all. We never ask what religion people are but we welcome all. One of the things I have learned in mission is that oftentimes our presence is enough. We do not always have to “do.” Just to be there in solidarity is the most important thing.
Father Myron Effing has been serving as a missionary in Russia for 20 years. He is pastor of Most Holy Mother of God Catholic Church in Vladivostok, Russia, which is a sister parish with Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul. Father Effing and parishioner Victor Anisimov write about how FATHER EFFING the mission in Russia has affected their faith lives.
HOLY LAND The occupation in Palestine has affected the lives of Christian Brother Robert Smith, a native of St. Paul who is vice president for academic affairs at Bethlehem University in the West Bank, and his co-worker, Elsa Hazboun, who is a native of Bethlehem. BROTHER ROBERT
I feel like the degree itself is almost personalized to fit me and my interests. Professors are so willing to work with students and provide us the opportunity to seek God’s truth. Andrea Prisby ’11 Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry Program Administrator Saint Paul’s Outreach
Answer Your Call. Realize your ministry goals with a graduate degree from The Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity, which offers programs in theology, religious education and pastoral ministry.
Information Night and Course Sampler 5:15 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 8 R.S.V.P. to gradtheology@stthomas.edu or (651) 962-5063 ext. 2 For more information, visit www.saintpaulseminary.org.
Learn about your choices by visiting our website:
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THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT • OCTOBER 13, 2011
World Mission Sunday
Book shares dreams of life fulfilled in foreign lands “This Really Happened: One Missionary’s Story of Transformation,” by St. Joseph Sister Kathleen Judge; Good Ground Press; 2011; 198 pp., $15. By Terry Griep For The Catholic Spirit
As a child, St. Joseph Sister Kathleen Judge listened when her Irish immigrant father made up stories, saying: “Where should we go today, what land shall we visit?”And she dreamed about living in a land far away. When she attended school, Weekly Readers’ stories further invited her to foreign lands, particularly countries in exotic South America. So, it wasn’t such a huge step when the small-town girl from Malta, Mont., decided to join the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and then spent 40 years ministering to people in Peru and Venezuela. At least it seemed natural to young Kathleen, who emulated the early sisters who came to teach in Malta. Sister Kathleen tells her story in her book, “This Really Happened: One Missionary’s Story of Transformation,” published in 2011 by Good Ground Press. The 198-page book is written in a conversational style and reads much like Sister Kathleen talks. It is quiet, but powerful in the stories it tells. Sister Kathleen is kind and gentle as she talks about the Peruvian people, yet her pervasive message, that poverty “is a social sin when it deprives persons of their basic rights,” is direct and unrelenting.
Journey begins in Peru Her journey to Peru began in 1964, when she studied Spanish for four months in Puerto Rico. Her first assignment was in Ica, a city located in a wealthy farming area south of Lima. There, Sister Kathleen first recognized the dichotomy between faith and life in Peru. Although the school served the children of both the wealthy landowners and the poor farmworkers, the mixing of social strata stopped at the classroom door. In the book, Sister Kathleen describes these first years of mis-
sionary work as pivotal, a time when she realized that true missionary work meant meeting the challenge of the “conflict between the privileged classes and the oppressed.” After a brief period of missionary work in Venezuela and a return to the United States, in 1970 Sister Kathleen returned to “a different Peru,” a country changed by an anti-American military coup, a terrorist group and a devastating earthquake. Throughout most of the ‘70s, she served as formation director for women entering religious life, an assignment that led her to further studies, including studying Jesuit spirituality and later studying with Gustavo Gutierrez, the founder of liberation theology in Latin America. Sister Kathleen explained that liberation theology was developed in response to the fact that 60 percent of the population lived in poverty, and more than three-fourths of those people lived in extreme poverty.
A new lifestyle Those studies continued to form Sister Kathleen’s conscience and, as a missionary, she realized that she would have to disassociate herself from the policy of the U.S. government in Peru, which favored U.S. corporate growth over Peruvian citizens’ lifestyle. She also mistrusted the local church when its clerical leaders sided with the wealthy. She describes the time from 1978 until 1993 that she spent in and near Arequipa, in southern Peru, as “some of the most rewarding years of my life.” She helped lay people form parish councils, organized communication networks and set up a silk screen workshop to print posters advertising parish activities. She took part in many Peruvian religious feasts and celebrations, organized breakfast programs for the area’s poor children and set up a daycare program to help
mothers care for their children while they tried to sell small trinkets on the streets. She taught in public and private schools in Peru, and even managed to have poor children educated in the private schools.
Threats from within At that time, she and other Catholic religious, along with active Catholic lay people, faced threats from a subversive political organization called the Shining Path. The group attempted to overthrow the government by winning over the poor farm workers. It then infiltrated the professionals, including teachers, lawyers and medical personnel. Shining Path members instilled fear by destroying power lines, planting car bombs and robbing banks. They also attempted to destroy the Catholic Church in Peru. At one point, Sister Kathleen’s life was threatened and she had to leave Peru briefly, but then returned to a different part of the country where she could teach. Sister Kathleen said that wealthy landowners treated their farmworkers unjustly, and part of her mission was to seek justice for the poor. To practice the church’s teachings on a preferential option for the poor, she and other religious lived among the poor for whom they worked. Sadly, she said, when she left Peru after working 40 years for social change, the poverty level was “worse than ever.” She began to ask if there is a world plan to keep the ignorant ignorant and the poor poor. Yet, she said that the relationships and generosity she experienced in Peru have convinced her that although economically poor, the people she worked with are blessed with inner peace and freedom. Visit GOODGROUNDPRESS.COM, click on “Shop Now” and search for Kathleen Judge to order online. Also available at St. Patrick’s Guild.