This week, The Catholic New World debuts a new special section, Exciting Senior Perspectives for the Mature Catholic, with features and stories designed to appeal to older adults.

Cardinal Mahony Column

News

Bishop raps Free Choice Group

The campaign by Catholics for a Free Choice to end the Vatican’s permanent observer status at the United Nations is reminiscent of “other episodes of anti-Catholic bigotry,’’ the head of the U.S. bishops said May 10.

Chicago’s very own to shepherd New York

Oak Park native and one-time priest-in-residence at St. Jerome, Bishop Edward Egan has been named by New York archbishop by Pope John Paul II.
Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, apostolic nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment in Washington May 11.
On June 19, Bishop Egan will be installed as Archbishop of New York. Full text available.

A distinguished vitae

Archbishop-designate Egan is a Chicago-area native and canon lawyer who served 12 years as a judge in the Roman Rota, the church’s central appellate court. He also served as a New York auxiliary bishop for three years under Cardinal O’Connor and was archdiocesan vicar of education there before he was named to head the Bridgeport Diocese in 1988.

Ericson here first: Heyerdahl

Acclaimed navigator Thor Heyerdahl said a document in storage in the Vatican’s archives gives evidence that Leif Ericson, not Christopher Columbus, was the first European to travel by boat to the New World.

Coping with gambling’s effects

The expansion of gambling in many states can take a toll on many who participate, including senior citizens, warn counselors and others who are concerned about the issue.

Third secret linked to assassination attempt

Pope John Paul II, ordering the publication of the so-called “third secret of Fatima,” believes part of it was a direct reference to the 1981 attempt on his life, said the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano.
Cardinal Sodano, the highest-ranking official of the Roman Curia, said May 13 that the almost 80-year-old pope asked him to make “the solemn announcement” of the secret’s contents at the end of the pope's Mass in Fatima, 19 years to the day after the assassination attempt.

Features

Making time for the children

Seniors give time—and more—at St. Maria Goretti

When it comes to the difficult tasks of opening lunch packages and cutting up their food, the preschoolers at St. Maria Goretti Children's Center don't have to look far for help. Senior citizens from the parish make time every day to help the children with breakfast and lunch, and they also make time to share stories, play and talk with the children. Full text available.

The changing faces of maturing Catholics

As Baby Boomers start to turn 55, it's getting harder and harder to tell a senior citizen just by looking.
As groups like the American Association of Retired Persons define "senior citizens" at younger and younger ages, Americans are living longer, and in better health, than ever before.
That means many 65-year-olds, once considered the standard retirement age, now have more in common with 55-year-old workers than they do with people of 85 or 90, who have reached the age when more of them begin to suffer from failing health and disabilities.
Many older adults work well past their 65th birthdays, at their jobs or as volunteers in schools, churches and community agencies. Full text available.

The Interview

‘Happier Days’ possible for senior America

This week, Catholic New World staff member Michael D. Wamble talks with actor Tom Bosley, who is raising awareness of depression in senior citizens. Full text available.

Commentary

Remember the past, move to the future

James Lund and Mary Heidkamp write: With the specter of Elian Gonzalez looming over all, we have noted the 25th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam and the 30th anniversary of the Ohio National Guards killing of four young people at Kent State. We also saw demonstrators take to the streets of Washington to protest policies of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and have watched in horror as the civil war in Sierra Leone, widely regarded as the most brutal conflict ever, threatened to catch fire again in all its savagery.
These are stark and sometimes chilling reminders of the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the era of globalization.

Some reflections on Fatima message

Father Louis J. Cameli writes: Pope John Paul II has shared the third secret of Fatima with the whole church. The secret had to do with him and his ministry in the church. There was no need to share it widely before now. Full text available.

Briefs

Cardinal speaks on religious leadership

Cardinal George will speak on “Interfaith Religious Leadership: Mobilizing Faith Communities Around Urban Justice” at the 36th annual meeting of the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs at noon June 8. The meeting and luncheon will be at the Bederman Auditorium, 618 S. Michigan Ave. Cost of the kosher luncheon is $45. For more information or to RSVP call Robin Grant Feuchtwang at (312)663-0960 ext. 311 by June 1.

Parish Pride
St. Peter Damian Church
109 S. Crest Ave., Bartlett

Meet the westernmost parish in the archdiocese. St. Peter Damian turned 50 in 1999, but its families are young and growing. The multi-purpose, nine-sided building built in 1980, designed by parishioner Carl Colombo, still holds five classrooms for religious ed in its balcony area.This is a welcoming parish of blue- and white-collar workers, that draws significant numbers of worshippers from DuPage, Kane and Cook counties.

Church Clips

Winging it — When American Airlines inaugurates its first direct flight from Chicago to Rome on June 1, Father John Jamnicky, Catholic chaplain at O’Hare Airport Chapel, will be aboard as a VIP guest. He will be heading for events at St. Peter’s, including Mass with the Holy Father, launching the Jubilee Year event dedicated to Migrants and Itinerant People, June 1-3. Besides Jamnicky, the 20,000 invited guests will include some 370 other airport chaplains, 25 from as far away as China. “All People on the Move” will include 8,000 migrants from the Philippines, 4.000 emigrants from Italy, 1,000 from Africa and 500 from Sri Lanka, hundreds more from Latin America, India and Japan. They’re expecting 200 refugees, 1,000 other immigrants who live in Rome and 200 foreign students. Add 1,000 seafarers, 750 Nomads, hundreds of circus and carnival people and 1,000 marching bands. The Holy Father knows how to throw a holy party!

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