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The Catholic New World
News Digest: Week in Summary
Issue of March 19, 2006

The following items are condensed. For the complete article, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 655-7777.

NewsUpdate

Golden Apple for OLG teacher

Third-grade teacher Jennifer L. Sime of Our Lady of the Gardens was among several Chicago-area teachers honored March 15 with a 2006 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Nicholas Wolsonovich, archdiocesan superintendent of schools, and Penny Lundquist, from the Golden Apple Foundation, surprised Sime by presenting the award to her while she was teaching in her classroom.

As one of 10 Golden Apple Award winners, Sime will receive a tuition-free fall-term sabbatical at Northwestern University, a personal computer from Apple, $3,000 and membership in the Golden Apple Academy. In addition, the winners will be honored at the annual awards ceremony May 13 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, which will also be aired as a one-hour prime-time special on WTTW



Boys-Girls Town to aid youths

Claretian Father Bruce Wellems, pastor of Holy Cross/Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, led a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony for the Girls and Boys Town Home in the Back of the Yard’s neighborhood March 4.

The home will be the first in Chicago. The short-term residential crisis center, scheduled to open this summer, will help teens stay off the streets, out of gangs and in school. The center will be the 19th Girls and Boys Town Home nationally and will help over 250 teens a year. The City of Chicago and Illinois will contribute funds to help build and operate the facility.









News

Mission Chicago: grace and forgiveness

Barron’s talks stir listeners’ souls, faith

God is not a clock-watcher. And neither is God’s grace and forgiveness just a 9-to-5 thing.

To highlight this, Catholics were treated with the opportunity to celebrate 24 Hours of Grace from 9 a.m. March 3 to 9 a.m. March 4. During the 24 hours, more than 70 priests heard confessions and administered the sacrament of reconciliation at six churches in the city and suburbs.

This event was part of Mission Chicago, which also includes the ongoing series of mission talks by Father Robert Barron.

Father Michael McGovern, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Lake Forest, one of the host sites for the 24 Hours of Grace, said about 350 people from the area attended. “We couldn’t have asked for a better response,” McGovern said.

Barron said the five other participating parishes also had “far more people than they expected” coming for confession.



Even Catholic pols must follow church teachings: bishops

Responding to a recent statement by Catholic Democrats in the House of Representatives affirming “the primacy of conscience” in their voting decisions, three key leaders of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said conscience “must be consistent with fundamental moral principles,” including the church’s opposition to abortion.

“As members of the church, all Catholics are obliged to shape our consciences in accord with the moral teaching of the church,” said a “Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life,” which called abortion “a grave violation of the most fundamental human right—the right to life.”



Christian-Jewish relations still growing stronger

‘Nostra Aetate’ started 40 years of progress, but much left to do

By Michelle Martin

Staff writer

Forty years after the Second Vatican Council adopted “Nostra Aetate,” the grandson of a Russian Jewish immigrant who feared men in Roman collars, lectures Catholic seminarians—along with Catholic lay people, Muslims and others—in a Catholic theological institution.

Catholic and Jewish scholars confer and debate, sharing their perspective on sacred Scripture, and Catholic children no longer are told that the Jews are responsible for the death of their God.

The relationship between the two faith communities has come a long way since the promulgation of “Nostra Aetate,” the Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” said Rabbi David Sandmel and Servite Father John Pawlikowski, both of whom spoke at the 11th annual Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Jerusalem Lecture Feb. 28.



Poland, Israel build on historical bonds

The people of Poland and Israel are bound together by history—both the unspeakable tragedy of the Holocaust and the thousand years of Jewish life in Poland that preceded that.

David Peleg, Israel’s ambassador to Poland, said he is committed to keeping that relationship working.

“We are trying to foster the relationship not just between the governments of Israel and Poland, but also between Polish people and Jewish people,” said Peleg Feb. 28, on a visit to Chicago. “Nazi Germany killed on Polish soil 3 million Polish Jews, plus about a million from other places. It is our obligation to build a new infrastructure for the relationship between peoples.”

In part, that is because Hitler’s plan to eliminate the Jewish people very nearly succeeded in Poland, leaving only small remnants of Jewish people, Peleg said. With relatively few Jewish people—about 30,000 registered—living in Poland, some Jews have a negative image of the Polish people.



USCCB head denies claim of sex abuse in ’60s

Bishop William S. Skylstad of Spokane, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has denied a woman’s claim that he sexually abused her more than 40 years ago when she was a minor.

Diocesan attorney Greg Arpin said in a March 8 statement, “Bishop Skylstad categorically denies the accusation.”



Lenten retreat gives pope rest

Despite troubles and tensions, Christ is with his church just as he was with the disciples caught in a storm on the sea, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Retired Cardinal Marco Ce of Venice led the March 5-11 Lenten retreat. The pope said the cardinal’s 22 meditations strengthened him and top Vatican officials.



Seniors offer gift of time to Ministry of the Arts

Any given day, a few dozen volunteers work hard at the Ministry of the Arts (MOTA), a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange. For the most part, these are senior citizens, both religious and lay, often working alongside their oxygen tanks or their walkers.

Each volunteer has a story about how they came to MOTA, which creates, produces, prints, packages, and ships a wide range of spiritual art products, as well as selling them through a retail store, catalog, and on line. The ministry works from the sisters’ motherhouse, at 1515 W. Ogden Ave, La Grange.



Feeding the hungry

Parish soup kitchen serves up warm meals for 25 years

James Johnson, 50, worked in construction; Hung Tran, 43, in solar energy. Servando Beisa, 42, arrived in Chicago looking for better opportunities.

Lack of documentation, downsizing and layoffs eventually rendered them homeless. Word-of-mouth brought them to Chicago’s Our Lady of Lourdes soup kitchen, but preference keeps them coming back.

“They serve a hearty plate that’s well prepared,” says Johnson, who has visited the kitchen for six months while he prepares for a trucking license.



Catholic comic books are faithful—no foolin’



There’s a new line of comic books out, but the “superheroes” featured in each issue don’t have X-ray vision, super strength or the ability to fly.

Instead, they have a power most parents would much rather their children read about—faith.

LA cardinal uses Lent to oppose hostility, anti-immigrant feelings

Los Angeles Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, in a Lenten message and in pre-Lenten newspaper interviews, has lashed out at anti-immigrant feelings in the United States and asked Catholics to dedicate their Lenten prayers and practices to helping immigrants.

He also said that archdiocesan priests and pastoral workers are going to continue offering services to people in the country illegally even if such efforts are outlawed.

> Front Page

Church Clips by Dolores Madlener
    
Dolores Madlener
a column of benevolent
gossip

The green and red — We just survived St. Patrick’s Day, and now gear up for March 19, with St. Joseph Tables and Richie Gomulka’s new CD, “The Sweetest Polkas, Waltzes and Obereks This Side of Heaven.” Ask brothers Father Phil Grib, who plays clarinet and sax, and Father Bob Grib on drums, members of Gomulka’s studio band. The CD is available by calling Father Phil at St. Eugene Rectory, (773) 775-6659.

13th century chic? — The beauty of stained glass windows on silk is the brainchild of Angela Coppola of Sacred Silk, Inc. in California. Her fashion statements attract Protestant, Muslim and Jewish faithful, by reproducing glass, mosaic or architectural inspirations. Catholics are partial to the replica of 21 of Chartres Cathedral’s famous windows on one square, as well as another design that captures a sense of the southern rose window of Notre Dame de Paris. They are quite a bit more than a fashion statement. The silk twill scarves range from an oblong, 12 x 60 inches, to one 25 x 35 inches. (Ten percent of the purchase price is donated to the institution inspiring the design, which has given permission to reproduce the image.) To order, call (877) 788-7455 or take a look at www.SacredSilks.com

Parish Potpourri — All the altar servers in St. Nicholas Parish (Evanston) shouted “cheese” or something for their group photo that will honor their service when it appears in the upcoming parish photo album. . . . Lenten fish frys at St. Ferdinand’s (W. Barry) have a main stage touch with entertainment featuring comics, skits and audience participation. What, no singing waiters?. . . St. Peter’s (W. Madison) is in the process of restoring its 53-year-old pipe organ. The existing 2,000+ pipes have been cleaned and balanced during the work begun in January. Another 300 pipes are being added, and the majestic instrument should be ready in time for Palm Sunday. . . . Santa Maria del Popolo’s (Mundelein) monthly all- night eucharistic vigil began two years ago with 12 people attending Mass. It has grown to over 100 attendees and Cardinal George was one of their guest celebrants. The 10 p.m. April 7 vigil Mass will be offered by Father Thomas Euteneur, president of the world’s largest pro-life organization, Human Life International.

Faithful — The Jewish Passover begins this year on April 12. One of the Passover meal ingredients is a mix of apples, nuts and wine called “haroset.” In Hebrew it means clay, and looks a little like bits of brick and mortar. They say during the Civil War a group of Jewish Union soldiers couldn’t get the fixings for haroset for their Passover, so they placed an actual brick on the makeshift seder plate. Maybe it was the first attempt at virtual reality.

Robins and other birdies — Can spring be far away when Brother Rice High School is planning a father-son golf outing for April 30 at Evergreen Country Club?

Wanna be disgusted? — Folks in Quebec have found a new snack food fad—unconsecrated communion wafers! According to United Press International, the paper-thin product’s shelf position in supermarkets is next to the popcorn and potato chips. The manufacturer now has 16 employees because the item is really moving. Once one of the most Catholic societies in North America, today some Quebecans boast they’ve eaten more of the wafers outside of church than they ever did inside.

War of words? — David Horowitz, author of “The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America,” and St. Xavier University professor of history Peter Kirstein, an outspoken critic of American foreign policy, will debate the Iraq War, 6:30-8:30 p.m. March 29 at St. Xav’s McGuire Hall, 3700 W. 103rd St., free and open to the public, (773) 298-3281. Plan on “firewords” even though it’s not the Fourth of July. . . . Jill Carroll, is a freelance reporter, who was on assignment for the Christian Science Monitor when she was kidnapped in Iraq Jan. 7. Carroll is still believed to be a hostage. Prayers continue to be said on her behalf in a particular way by the Regina Dominican High School community. Her mom, Mary Beth Alonzi Carroll, is a Regina alum from the class of 1967. Carroll could be a special prayer intention during this Lent.

Res-Ma-Tazz — Resurrection High School’s recent Mardi Gras gala raised over $80,000 in net profits. Honorary chair was Res alum and NBC 5 sports reporter Peggy Kusinski, ’81. Kusinski remains involved with her alma mater, speaking at career days and has been a graduation keynoter.

Reaching the big 5-0 — The Focolare Movement’s original Italian-language magazine, “Città Nuova” (New City), is marking its 50th anniversary. The USA version, “Living City,” is sold at many churches and by subscription. Like the other 37 editions in 22 languages published worldwide, it aims for dialogue and unity at all levels of society. Catholic and current, articles range from the environment to ecumenism.

Thought for Lent — Most of
us want to serve God, but only in
an advisory capacity.

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

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