The Catholic New World - News Digest





		08/19/01 Updates Vote finalizes Sabina agreement The Southside Catholic Conference voted Aug. 9 to approve rules about safety, racial taunting and game forfeitures to ensure that St. Sabina's grade-school athletes would participate in the league. Officials of the independent conference took the action on rules they had hammered out in an Aug. 1 meeting. Board members from 21 of the league's 22 schools voted. St. Sabina's initially had been turned down for membership and then, once admitted, sought to withdraw after some coaches said they might forfeit their games at the school for safety reasons. LTP head named John A. Thomas has been named the new director of Liturgy Training Publications, an archdiocesan agency which is an internationally recognized publisher of liturgical materials. He replaces Gabe Huck, who served as LTP director for 24 years. Thomas, who will report to Bishop Joseph Perry for liturgical guidance, previously was director of marketing and sales for Paulist Press, Mahwah, N.J. People news Daughters of the Heart of Mary Sister Anita Baird, director of the archdiocese's Office for Racial Justice, is the new president of the National Black Sisters' Conference. She was elected at the recently concluded first national gathering of the organization in Charlotte, N.C. Claire Howard of Bethlehem, Pa., has been elected president of the Chicago-based USA Council of Serra International, becoming the first woman president in the 62-year history of the organization. News: Stem-cell debate continues after decision Days after President Bush's decision to authorize federal funds for embryonic stem-cell research only on existing cell lines, the debate promised to continue in the courts, in Congress and in Catholic and pro-life circles. Vatican says Archbishop Milingo to reconcile; wife begins fasting The Vatican said Zambian Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, who married in a ceremony performed by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon three months ago, has decided to reconcile with the Catholic Church. But three days later the archbishop's 43-year-old Korean wife announced that she had begun a fast until death unless she and her husband were reunited. God, gangs and gunfire Twenty-Sixth Street runs through Pilsen/Little Village, arguably one of Chicago's major business districts. The neighborhood is a bustling, thriving community throbbing to a Latin beat and pervaded with the sweet aromas of burritos and beans. On this day-not long after a gang shooting in the area, Father Matt Foley looks up and says, "Something's going on. Look at all the gangbangers on the street. The gangs are not just shooting at rivals," he says. "One member is killing another." 'Sharing Christ's Gifts' has pledges of $77 million Chicago-area Catholics already have pledged $77 million to their parishes and the archdiocese as part of Sharing Christ's Gifts, the capital campaign with an overall goal of $220 million. The Knight shift Police, firefighters form K of C councils Chicago, birthplace of the fire pole and the Snorkel, where hydrants first got the name "fireplugs,'' just became home to the first Knights of Columbus council for firefighters and paramedics. "We're definitely one of a kind,'' said Chicago Fire Department Chaplain Father Thomas Mulcrone, a member of K of C Council 12911. The new council will officially receive its charter and install its founding officers Aug. 24 in a ceremony at St. Gabriel Church, 4533 S. Wallace St. Bible makes happy campers St. Walter Parish played host to children from pre-school to sixth grade for this year's summer Bible camp, July 30-Aug. 3. Eighty children signed on, including many from other parishes, such as neighboring St. Cajetan, St. Bernadette and Most Holy Redeemer in Evergreen Park and Incarnation in Palos Heights. Reconnecting 'good' and 'sport' A research and education center at the University of Notre Dame is trying to reconnect the word "good" with the word "sport.'' Cooking and collecting Priest plans unique cookbook Most children who pop their heads into the kitchen have only one question: "What's for dinner?" But for young Kenneth Fleck, the question always was: "Can I help?" So his mother would put him to work, frosting cakes, frying pancakes or other tasks suited to a small boy. By the time he was in eighth grade, he was cooking on his own. Following is the upcoming schedule for the statue of Our Lady of the New Millennium, along with phone numbers for information: Aug 19-26: St. Joseph, 17951 Dixie Highway, Homewood, (708) 798-0622 Aug 26-Sept 2: St. Emeric, 4330 W. 180th St., Country Club Hills, (708) 798-0757 Sept. 2-9: Holy Ghost, 700 E. 170th St., South Holland, (708) 333-7011 Sept. 9-16: St. Cajetan, 11234 S. Artesian, Chicago, (773) 238-4100 Sept. 16-23: St. Catherine of Alexandria, 4100 W. 107th St.,Oak Lawn, (708) 425-2850 Sept. 23-30: St. Fabian. 8300 S. Thomas, Bridgeview, (708) 599-1110 Sept. 30-Oct. 7: St. Christina, 11005 S. Homan Ave., Chicago, (773) 779-7181 St. Domitilla Church, Hillside Movie Reviews: The U.S. Catholic Conference's Office for Film and Broadcasting judges films according to artistic merit and moral suitability. 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Bagman for charity — You may call it “duck doo-doo” but Wisconsin’s Father Dominic Roscioli calls it God’s providence. Back in 1985 when he returned to his mother’s house in Kenosha’s “Little Italy” to die from cancer, drug houses, porn shops and poverty were common sights in their beloved “old neighborhood.” Instead of dying, “Father Dom’s” cancer went into remission, and he came up with an idea. It ultimately involved actor Paul Newman, recycled cranberry skins, Ocean Spray executives and duck manure. He couldn’t make lemonade out of that recipe, but he made excellent compost. Last year when he marketed it, gardeners in three states flocked to buy “Father Dom’s Duck’s Doo,” a soil food that is great for every bloomin’ thing. Newman couldn’t mix his food line with compost, but his company designed the bright yellow package with Father Dom’s face and a haloed choir of yellow ducks. The product is fine, clean, with no smell and retails at about $5 for a 20-quart bag in 40 outlets here, including Fertile Delta (W. Diversey), Pioneer (Villa Park), Sid’s (Palos Hills) and Busy Bee (Crestwood). A portion of every bag sold benefits the ongoing grass-roots nonprofit regeneration of Father Dom’s neighborhood. (The drug dealers were the first to go.)

Chicago connection — Parishioners Linda Feldman, Laura Knop, Monique Kofoid and Christopher Wayland are extras in Julia Roberts’ newest flick, “America’s Sweethearts.” They were top bidders for an auction item at St. Clement’s (W. Deming) ball. The movie’s first assistant director, Geoff Hansen, donated the unique auction prize.

Bragging rights — A drive down Illinois Street in the arch, reveals scaffolding still hugging the steeple of Assumption, “the little church behind The Mart.” Visitors are agog at the interior renovation now complete. There are freshly-occupied high rises, condominiums and lofts in the parish. Not long ago Assumption could count just 12 registered families; today there are over 400. About 1899 Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini and her sisters started its grade school for Italian immigrant kids. In 1905 she opened Columbus Hospital in the old North Shore Hotel facing Lincoln Park. It became the site of a fine medical center operated by the sisters. While the hospital is in the process of being sold, its National Shrine and chapel will remain. It is open from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. daily at 2520 N. Lakeview and will also continue to house the saint’s room and artifacts the way it was the day she died in 1917. Illinois State Knights of Columbus are funding its preservation. . . . Want some Bridgeport history, up close and personal? Then visit historic St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church ( 1039 W. 32nd St.). Three paintings circa 1893 from its St. Joseph Shrine have been cleaned and restored by the Art Institute of Chicago and are on display during August at ground level before being reinstalled in the shrine. The Blessed Mother paintings are still in process of restoration.

Marking milestones — St. Giles (Oak Park) parishioners have arranged for 75 hours of Eucharistic adoration as part of their 75th anniversary commemoration on the vigil of the feast of St. Giles. Adorers have pledged an hour or more from Aug. 29 through Sept. 1. Cardinal Edward Egan, an alum of the class of 1946, will preside at a special Mass at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 1 to mark the festivities. A reception follows. . . . Sister Rose Maria Gouveia professed her final vows as a Sister of SS. Cyril and Methodius on July 28 at St. Simon the Apostle Church (S. California). An active alum of St. Simon’s and Maria High School, she was given permission to make her profession outside her community’s motherhouse in Pennsylvania. The parish is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. . . . Walter Ousley of St. Paul of the Cross Parish (Park Ridge), busy director of operations for Catholic Charities here, has been appointed to the 23-member Board of Directors for the Child Care Association of Illinois. Its not-for-profit agencies provide help for abused and troubled kids and families. He’s been with Charities since 1973.

Wags’ corner — John J. Lyons of St. Juliana (N. Osceola) saw a new backpack for kids: “It has room for a cell phone, a pager, lap top and even some space for a few books.”

Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, 721 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60610 or via e-mail to: [email protected]

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