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The Catholic New World
News Digest: Week in Summary
Issue of June 25, 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

Former priest charged in theft

Chicago police charged the former pastor of Our Lady of the Snows with theft May 27 following an incident of financial misappropriation originally reported in 2003.

Robert Wielosinski, 52, resigned from the priesthood following a parish audit conducted by archdiocesan financial staff in 2003 in which it appeared he had taken more than $40,000 in church funds, said an archdiocesan spokeswoman. The information was also turned over to police and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.

The money was repaid and Wielosinski later left the priesthood, she said. However, police have now charged the former pastor with stealing more than $210,000 from the church and allegedly using the money for personal purposes.

He was released on his own recognizance.



Oldest Knights

Illinois’ oldest Knights of Columbus chapter, St. Cabrini Council No. 182, will celebrate its 110th anniversary July 15 with a 5 p.m. Mass at Old St. Mary Church, 1532 S. Michigan Avenue.

Cardinal George will be the main celebrant and a reception will follow the Mass. The cost for the reception is $10 per person with proceeds supporting vocations.

Founded in 1896, the St. Cabrini Council is the first and the oldest Knights of Columbus Council in Illinois. For more information, contact Gerald Baggot, (312) 326-3537 or [email protected].



News

Mission Chicago, evangelization advance faith

The archdiocese’s Year of Evangelization, which hits the halfway point in just a few weeks, has already made solid progress.

Events under the umbrella of Mission Chicago—the initiative designed to promote evangelization to everyday Catholics—have attracted the interest of thousands. And many more will be touched by other activities in the months to come.



Bishops to talk about new Order of Mass translation

Stewardship, budget also on June 15-17 agenda

The biggest church issue the U.S. bishops will face when they meet this June is a new English translation of the Order of Mass.

They will also be asked to approve a 10-year extension of the annual collection for retired religious and a plan to write a message to teenagers on stewardship.



Bishops see need to trim committee structure

Explaining plans to reorganize the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of Santa Fe, N.M., said June 2 that “every bureaucracy tends to grow” and needs periodic trimming.



St. Fidelis to close June 30; will merge with St. Aloysius

A June 25 Mass of Unity will celebrate the merger of the congregations of St. Fidelis and St. Aloysius parishes. St. Fidelis will hold its closing liturgy June 18 at 11 a.m.

Retired Bishop Raymond Goedert will be the main celebrant at St. Fidelis’ closing Mass and Fathers Francis Cimarrusti, Michael Michelini and Richard Milek will assist. An outdoor reception will follow.



Linking two worlds

CRS project helps teens learn about each other

When Ghaida Rahil, a project officer for Catholic Relief Services in Bethlehem, traveled to the United States to visit CRS offices in Baltimore, she had to drive from Bethlehem to Amman, Jordan—a 48-mile trip that took more than five hours as the petite mother of three was detained at Israeli checkpoints.

She spent the night in Amman before flying on to Paris, then catching a flight to the United States.



Holy Land Christians struggle as ‘minority’

Father Michael McGarry, a native of Los Angeles, has learned what it’s like to be part of a religious minority.

A Paulist priest, McGarry serves as rector of the Tantur Ecumenical Institute, located on the main road between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The institute hosts English-speaking scholars who are trying to “address the brokenness in the Christian family,” McGarry said.



German pontiff visits John Paul II’s homeland

Visiting Poland in late May, Pope Benedict XVI drew on Poles’ history, their tragedies and their love for Pope John Paul II to call for a future of solid faith, reconciliation and peace.

Arriving in Warsaw May 25, Pope Benedict knew the focus of his audience was on his Polish-born predecessor, and while he constantly referred to his own desire to follow in Pope John Paul’s footsteps, he emphasized that the best way to keep his predecessor’s memory alive was to believe and act as he did.



Preschool pays dividends for students, parishes

Early childhood education is not new to archdiocesan schools, but it has become far more common in recent years.

“Preschools have been an integral part of Catholic education for many years,” said Julie Ramski, Early Childhood Program director for the archdiocese’s Office for Catholic Schools. “However, interest in Catholic early childhood education has definitely surged. In the past 10 years there’s been a 13 percent increase in the number of preschool programs in the Chicago Archdiocese.”



PreK pioneer offers words of wisdom

The winds are changing at St. Andrew School. Anne Mitchell, its popular preschool teacher, is retiring. Like Mary Poppins, she leaves behind an enviable legacy. Unlike the famous nanny, Mitchell will leave in her wake a thriving preschool program.

When it began, Mitchell was only looking for part-time work at St. Andrew School. Little did she realize it would turn into a full-time job spanning almost two decades.



Music, memories, God

St. Louis Jesuits’ reunion concert a joyous sing-along

Three decades ago, five men calling themselves the St. Louis Jesuits never thought they’d change the world. They just wanted to make music to inspire, encourage worship and acknowledge God.

Three decades later, they continue to make that music. And they have changed the world.

> Front Page

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

Sweet land of liberty — Memorial Day 2006 was the 50th anniversary of a McKinley Park area parade to honor patriotism. Hosted by the Ladies Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Veterans of the William McKinley Post 231, it wound through porch-lined streets to the permanent veterans memorial site on Archer and Leavitt streets. Bob Dow, Korean War vet of St. Maurice Parish (S. Hoyne), posed his grandkids from St. Damian Parish (Oak Forest) in front of the tall flag pole. As one vet said, “Let them remember, we fight so they can enjoy freedom.”

Parish potpourri — After a century of service to Holy Name Cathedral, parishioners said farewell on June 4 to the remaining Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who once taught in both the parish’s grade and high schools. . . . The Knights of Columbus at St. Joseph Parish (Libertyville) have an ongoing project to write letters of support to parishioners’ loved ones serving in the armed forces. . . . The pastels and drawings of artist Alice McMahon White, who grew up in St. Christina Parish (S. Homan) and now lives in St. Cajetan’s (W. 112th St.), will be exhibited June 15-July 10. She’s traveled the hills of Ireland, and her show, “Green Groves of Erin,” will have a background of dulcimer music on opening night, 5-8 p.m. June 16 at the Irish American Heritage Center (N. Knox).

‘I do, I really do’ — Worldwide Marriage Encounter, a Catholic ministry to married couples, has been given the prestigious Franciscan International Award for their support of marriage. Over 10,000 couples made a WWME weekend in the U.S. last year.

A rosary grows, one bead at a time — Our Lady’s Rosary Makers are still knotting the knots. They began in 1949 because of a Xaverian brother, a teacher of French and Latin in a Louisville, Ky., high school. The message of Fatima moved him to share his talent for making rosaries with his students, forming a club. From there it became an international movement. Today Our Lady’s Rosary Makers and their friends make rosaries in all 50 states and in at least 15 foreign countries. A 103 year-old man in the Big Easy still makes them, as well as fourth-graders in Wichita, Kan. Rosaries (corded or beaded) are sent to missionaries and military chaplains without cost. What better “hobby”? You can find out “how to” and more, from www.olrm.win.net, by calling (502) 969-3864, or writing Our Lady’s Rosary Makers, 4611 Poplar Level Rd., Louisville, KY 40213.

Gourds, love ’em or leave ’em —Human nature doesn’t gravitate to a gourd like it does to a flower. Is there something wrong with us or with gourds? Joan Riise, multi-tasker at St. Gregory High School (W. Bryn Mawr) and her nature-photog husband, Lenny Feldberg, are hooked on gourds. She wrote a definitive book “This Garden Grows a Goddess” (as in Mother Nature). Everyone planting pansies right now should go to the dark side, and discover the “history, mystery and artistry of gourds.” Riise’s book is “spiritual, earthy, artistic, practical, and a must-read for anyone from the simply curious to the stalwarts already convinced of the beauty, wonder and satisfaction of gourd growing.” Feldberg has a chapter on the care and feeding of gourds for beginners and there are many intriguing photos. Get it at [email protected].

‘Just Reporting’ Dept. — An Episcopal priest in the South Bronx came up with a hip hop Mass (“HipHopEMass”) in 2004 that has had the blessing of his hierarchy. When he takes it on the road, local hip hop artists join him. Now there’s a “And the Word was Hip Hop” CD and a “Hip Hop Prayer Book.” The NY Times recently ran a story about his approach to evangelizing. Here’s a portion of the “Lord is my shepherd” 23rd Psalm: “...And even though I walk through the Hood of death, I don’t back down, for you have my back. The fact that you have me covered allows me to chill ...”

Meteors’ shower — De La Salle Institute (S. Michigan) has three student-athletes chosen for the 2006 All-Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Blue softball team. On the mound, senior pitcher Brianna Whelan tossed three no-hitters. Offensively, she finished with seven home runs. Junior shortstop Kaitlyn Bailey led De La Salle with a .515 batting average while driving in 24 runs, while Joanna Mangan paced the Meteors, who won the GCAC Blue Conference title, in runs scored (27) and RBI (25).

Politicians as saints? — While some of us tear our hair out over certain politicians’ arrogant antics, we could instead pray for them. To St. Jude, pleader of lost causes? No, to their patron saint named in 2000 by Pope JPII. He is the stellar 16th century lord chancellor of England, the late-great Thomas More.
History says the brilliant statesman
repeatedly turned down bribes and
gifts during his political career.
What a concept!

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

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