The Catholic New World - News Digest 10/22/00





		10/22/00 This week, The Catholic New World salutes priests, deacons and religious men and women who are celebrating 25th, 50th and other major anniversaries this year. It also highlights a few of the organizations that will benefit from grants provided by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Features: New experiences for new priests On May 20, Cardinal George ordained nine new priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago. The men, ranging in age from 29 to 47, had spent years studying and preparing themselves for their new ministries. Nearly five months later, The Catholic New World asked a few of them to record their impressions of life as priests. Their answers show many of the joys and some of the frustrations they have encountered as they minister to the People of God. Full text available. Commentary: Justice for immigrants requires changes in law Maria Garcia is just one of the estimated six million undocumented workers in the United States. These workers are subject to the whims of an outdated immigration policy that fails to protect them or serve the needs of the workplace. In fact, the U.S. immigration policy is in such a crisis that, for once, the nation’s wealthiest corporations, the Federal Reserve, union leaders and grassroots advocates are in agreement: it’s time for a change. Full text available. Briefs: Catholic-Muslim studies at CTU Catholic Theological Union will launch a new Catholic-Muslim studies program Oct. 26. The program will be sponsored by CTU’s Bernardin Center and provide a forum to build mutual understanding and respect between Catholics and Muslims. “For Muslims, educating the wider Christian community about Islam is imperative for a stable and constructive relationship in the 21st century,” said Talat Othman, a member of the program’s advisory board and vice president of the Council of Islamic Organizations. The new program is a “major step” in the right direction,” Othman said. The program will offer courses, lectures, discussions, seminars, publications, workshops and conferences to help educate Catholic leaders about Islam and to foster dialogue. The Catholic-Muslim studies program will join the Bernardin Center’s Catholic-Jewish studies program, a leader in Catholic-Jewish relations for 32 years. Parish Pride: St. Stephen Protomartyr 1267 Everett Ave., Des Plaines These parishioners are so friendly they don’t mind picking up friends at O’Hare Airport—the drive is under 10 minutes! Second and third generations of its original Polish-American and Anglo families still worship here, along with neighbors who have arrived from the Philippines, Vietnam or Mexico and Central America. They blend into the warmth of this contemporary church, dedicated in 1954 and renovated some years ago. A rosewood wall behind the altar and open wood beams complement the face brick interior. Artist Jerzy Kenar created the red oak altar, ambo and baptism font. Carved candle holders and a hollowed cross for the Risen Christ above the sanctuary were fashioned by a parishioner. Top Front Page \| Digest \| Cardinal \| Interview Classifieds \| About Us \| Write Us \| Subscribe \| Advertise Archive \| Catholic Sites \| New World Publications \| Católico \| Directory \| Site Map

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Author, author — Nancy Roberts Garrity, veteran teacher at St. John Fisher School (S. Washtenaw), recalls that as a new teacher, she wanted to expose students to cream-of-the-crop-literature, but couldn’t find a textbook that included the caliber of writing that held their interest and made them want to read. She began to assemble a program herself, and, eventually, a study packet to accompany her classic reading course. Now, after five years, her dream of being a published author has been realized. Her two books, “Classic Middle School Literature Adventure” (with the novel “Call of the Wild” and four short stories) and “Mystery” (featuring the novel “The Westing Game” and four short stories) are sold in bookstores around the country.

Chiara Lubich

Ambassador for unity — Chiara Lubich, founder of the worldwide Focolare Movement or “Work of Mary,” returns to the United States to receive an honorary doctorate from Catholic University of America at the Basilica in Washington D.C. on Nov. 10. Said to be the “most influential Christian woman alive today,” Lubich will be among the featured speakers along with Cardinal William Keeler of Baltimore, at a major interreligious gathering in the capital on Nov. 12. “Faith Communities Together,” with guest speakers from major faith traditions, is being convened by Imam Warith Deen Mohammed, leader of the Muslim American Society and son of Nation of Islam founder the late Elijah Mohammed.

In the news — Cardinal Jan Korec of Nitra, Slovakia, just celebrated his golden jubilee as a priest. At age 27, while his country was under Communist rule, he was secretly consecrated the world’s youngest bishop. The outspoken prelate, “despite age and tiredness,” said recently his republic’s constitution mentions the tradition of Sts. Cyril and Methodius. But he said he regretted that fellow Slovaks were still “imprinted with the emptiness of atheism.” . . . There is a new movie about another cardinal, the late primate of Poland and mentor of Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski. “The Cardinal” will have its American premiere screening at the Polish Film Festival, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 4 and 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at the Gateway Theater in the Copernicus Foundation, 5216 W. Lawrence. The director and the movie’s star will be on hand. For tickets and info, call (773) 486-9612.

Wags’ corner - John J. Lyons, playing the cynic, says “I saw the Bears’ bandwagon the other day—in an auto graveyard.”

Keeping on keeping on - Vincent Mennella, soon to be 93, serves Mass six days a week, rain or shine, at St. William Church (N. Sayre), about a mile from his home. On Sunday he ushers! His neighbors are pretty sure Mennella is the arch’s “oldest” altar server, but wonder if he is the oldest active usher? . . . John Sylvester, 91, at Queen of Martyrs Parish (Evergreen Park) has heard the joyous cry “Bingo!” more often than he cares to count. When he became a widower in 1982, Sylvester decided to be a volunteer and has been bingo chairman each week ever since, helping to support the parish school. He also is active with the St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Vitamin C for life! — St. Marcelline Parish (Schaumburg) Knights of Columbus Council #7694 is repeating its popular Florida citrus sale with proceeds going to Respect for Life programs, like local crisis pregnancy centers. Picked fresh and shipped to the KCs, 20-pound boxes of oranges or grapefruit are $15 and mixed boxes are $18, with shipments arriving by Dec. 15. John Hammer will take orders until Nov. 19 at (847) 895-0866.

Sacred poets’ society? — The Thomas Merton Foundation invites entiries for this year’s Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred. Entrants may submit one to three poems, but deadline is Dec. 31. First prize: $500 with no fees. Mail to the foundation at 2117 Payne St., Louisville, KY 40206. For rules, call (502) 899-1952 or visit www.merton.org.

Junior Clips — Brother Rice High School junior Ryan Ephgrave has been elected to serve as Lodge Chief in the Owasippe Lodge of the Order of the Arrow, the honor society for the Boy Scouts of America. The Lodge has 12 chapters and 1,100 members in the Chicago area. One of their services is to maintain two summer camps used by Chicago-area Scouts.