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Issue of March 2, 2003
Update Annual Catholic Appeal March 16 The 2003 Annual Catholic Appeal, which does everything from help fund parishes and schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods to paying for prison and campus ministries, kicks off during Masses the weekend of March 15-16. This year’s goal is $7.5 million, said Tim Dockery of the Stewardship and Development Office. Because of the Millennium Campaign, the very successful parish-centered capital campaign (see special section), many parishes did not participate in the 2002 in-pew collection for the Annual Catholic Appeal. As a result, the amount collected from the pews on the kick-off weekend last year dropped by more than half, from $1.2 million in 2000, to $500,000 in 2002. Parishes benefit from the appeal, he said, noting that the appeal funds about 12 percent of the pastoral center’s operating budget. The next issue of The Catholic New World will have more complete information on the Annual Catholic Appeal.
Youth Ministry director named Angus McDonell has been named director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago, beginning March 3. McDonell comes to Chicago from the Archdiocese of St. Louis, where he worked in the Office of Youth Ministry since 1999. He previously served in the Archdiocese of Chicago as director of youth ministry at St. Mary of the Woods Parish from 1993-95. McDonell holds a bachelor degree in theology from Seattle University, a bachelor degree in music from the University of Washington, and a master’s in music from Northwestern University. McDonell replaces Irene Friend, who is retiring after more than 40 years of ministry in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
News Pope: Make Ash Wednesday day of peace, prayer Warning that the world was drifting toward the “logic of war,” Pope John Paul II called for Ash Wednesday, March 5, to be a day of prayer and fasting for peace. The pope announced the move Feb. 23 as he appealed once again against war in Iraq. He said armed conflict in the Persian Gulf state could throw the entire Middle East into turmoil and raise tensions across the globe.
Interfaith rally at cathedral An interfaith peace rally Sunday, Feb. 23, at Holy Name Cathedral underscored the press for peace of among people of faith. It was “deja vu all over again” for Debbie Stanuch and Terry Soflak, both parishioners at Holy Name, who had protested the Vietnam War and believe this one might actually be easier to stop.
Jubilee Year promise fulfilled Continuing to fulfill its Jubilee Year promise, and in an effort to strengthen parishes, Archdiocese of Chicago officials wrote off over $27 million in debt owed to the Pastoral Center by 123 parishes and schools between January 2000 and December 2002. Officials said the debt-relief program, which is rooted in Scripture, makes parishes stronger and improves long-term viability.
Recruiting for God’s squad The 33 young men who attended a three-day retreat for military personnel interested in the priesthood did not fit into anyone’s stereotypes of what future seminarians and priests will be like. After enduring months aboard Navy ships in which he has sometimes felt quite alone in his desire to live chastely and to avoid drunkenness, for example, 34-year-old Lt. Cmdr. Jamie Brandt said his desire to become a priest has not been dampened by last year’s clerical sex scandals.
Media more interested than scholars in archive opening The early opening of Vatican archival records related to Vatican-German relations immediately prior to World War II has garnered more media attention than scholarly interest, an official at the archives said. The Feb. 15 opening of records in the Vatican Secret Archives was announced a full year earlier, but as of Feb. 14 only two dozen scholars had requested access, said Marco Maiorino, secretary of the archive’s prefecture.
A boy’s life As a boy growing up on the North Side, someone once told Dan Coughlin the surest way to avoid boredom was to become either a priest or a politician. He did even better. In March 2000, he became a politician’s priest, the first Catholic cleric ever named chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. The 67-year-old Coughlin can’t remember a time when he didn’t want to be a priest.
Ob-gyn puts faith, families first On Monday, Nov. 11, Dr. Robert Lawler, 39, an obstetrician-gynecologist for 10 years, went to the office as he does every day, and saw his first patient. It followed a silent retreat he attended in New York, held by the Legionaries of Christ. The respite gave him time to contemplate, pray and seek spiritual direction. And to his surprise, he informed his first patient, “I am no longer prescribing contraception because of medical and personal reasons.” He said he would discuss either reason with her. “It just happened. I felt very much at peace,” said Lawler, who is associated with Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. That moment was something his wife, Paula, had prayed for during their 10 years of marriage. The family belongs to St. James (Sag Bridge) Parish in Lemont.
Newman group raps colleges for ‘Vagina’ play Catholic colleges and universities should not be allowing campus productions of the “The Vagina Monologues,” a controversial play about female sexuality, said the president of the Cardinal Newman Society, an organization that promotes Catholic identity at Catholic colleges.
Sightless now can ‘see’ the universe When DePaul University astronomy professor Bernard Beck-Winchatz first ran across a Braille astronomy book for blind students, he was intrigued and impressed. “Touch the Stars,” illustrated with raised line drawings, gave blind people a way to learn about and interpret the cosmos.
Front Page | Digest | Cardinal | Observations |
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Celebration of the Celtic Arts,” 7:30 p.m. March 17, the program will include a symphony orchestra, vocalist Rita Connelly, pipes and drums, a 120-voice choir and a surprise guest. Golden Globe award-winner and Oscar nominee John C. Reilly, seen currently in box office bonanzas “The Hours,” “Chicago,” and “Gangs of New York,” will narrate. Reilly grew up in the arch in St. Nicholas of Tolentine Parish (W. 62nd St.) on the Southwest Side and began his acting career at his alma mater, Brother Rice High School, doing plays like “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Bye Bye, Birdie.”
Patricia Heaton, who plays Raymond’s wife Debra on CBS’s “Everybody Loves Raymond,” was so disgusted by the graphic references that preceded her appearance on the recent ABC prime-time awards show, she left her seat in the audience without doing her bit. She said the show “was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity, self-respect and intelligence.” The two-time Emmy winner who’s a wife and mom in real life is also one of the “Feminists for Life.”