Issue of May 13 ^th–May 26 ^th, 2007
The following items are condensed. For the complete articles, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 655-7777.

News Update

Notification act not amended

The Catholic Conference of Illinois applauded the Illinois House of Representatives’ April 27 decision against House Bill 317.

The bill would have allowed minors in Illinois to seek an abortion without the knowledge of their parents. Illinois is currently the only state in the Midwest without an active parental notification law, but progress has been made on implementing the 1995 Parental Notification Act.

In response to the defeat of the bill, Bob Gilligan, the executive director of CCI, stated, “The General Assembly wisely decided that parents need to be involved in their daughter’s lives and that no nurse, doctor, or social worker can assume the parental role or responsibility.” Abortion is a significant medical procedure that can have long-lasting medical and emotional after-effects and young women should not be left to deal with that alone.

Focolare-Muslim 10-year dialogue

The Muslim community and the Focolare Movement will celebrate “10 Years on the Journey of Universal Brotherhood,” May 19, at North Kenwood Oakland Charter School, 1014 E. 47th St. Registration is 10 a.m., with a program until 4 p.m. that includes a potluck lunch. Cost is $10 for adults over 18.

The day’s speakers will include Christians and Muslims from the Midwest sharing how they have lived dialogue in the past 10 years. It commemorates Focolare founder Chiara Lubich’s appearance in the Malcolm Shabazz Mosque in Harlem, in May 1997, as the first woman invited to communicate her spiritual experience to 3,000 members of the Muslim American Society.

For more information, call the Focolare at (773) 285-2746.

News Digest

St. Raphael the Archangel Parish formed in Antioch

Worshippers will be able to begin attending Mass at the Archdiocese of Chicago’s newest parish, St. Raphael the Archangel in Antioch, by the middle of summer, said its pastor, Father John Jamnicky.

St. Raphael is leasing a farm at 2101 E. Route 173, about a half-mile east of Route 45, until it can build a permanent church on 40 acres it received from the archdiocese closer to the intersection of routes 173 and 45.

Mission Chicago takes on ‘Year of Spirituality’

Catholics in the Archdiocese of Chicago will have the opportunity to observe the “Year of Spirituality” with a series of one-day “missions” in English and Spanish.

The series begins May 30 with two offerings. Father Alberto Rojas, who is on the faculty at Mundelein Seminary, will offer “The Meaning of Being Created in the Image and Likeness of God” at 7 p.m. at St. Victor Church, 553 Hirsch Ave., Calumet City. Franciscan Father Fernand Cheri, who ministers in the Belleville Diocese, will offer “Songs of the Soil and the Soul: The Spirituality of African Americans Expressed in their Music and Song” at 7 p.m. at St. Dorothy Church, 450 E. 78th St.

Teaching kids to enjoy giving

Children should learn early the importance of giving not just money but time and talent to those in need.

In her book “Raising Charitable Children,” Carol Weisman includes examples of the many ways that parents can instill the values of giving in their children.

Bishop as teacher: Retired auxiliary offers graduate course

One of a bishop’s primary roles is that of a teacher, and the bishops do teach through homilies and on other occasions. In addition, they are responsible for seeing that the faith is taught correctly.

But to actually teach—as in standing at the board in front of a room full of students for class after class after class—is more unusual for bishops, whose days are normally filled with far too many other responsibilities.

Except, that is, for Bishop John Gorman, who retired as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2003.

Summer Scripture school will focus on ethics

Priests, deacons and lay ministers can spend a week this summer learning about “The Bible and Ethics,” especially as seen in the Old Testament, the Gospel of Matthew and the works of St. Paul.

This year’s Summer Scripture Seminar will take place from June 24-29 on the campus of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Faith lives of young adults focal point of conference

Young adult Catholics gathered on Loyola University’s Lakeshore Campus April 28 for FOCUS, a conference focusing on faith, relationships, personal growth, and work.

After a two-year break, organizers said attendance was down, but those who showed up said the event was fulfilling.

Volunteer inspires students at Notre Dame HS

Jalana Boyd always thought about becoming a teacher but instead she went into marketing, what she thought would be a more “glamorous” profession. After working for seven years in marketing she decided to give teaching a chance.

“I wanted to do something that was a passion of mine—empowering and uplifting others,” Boyd said.

Cabrini Retreat Center celebrates 50 years

Before the second Vatican council, youth retreats were much different than they are today. There was no lively music, no witness talks by youth and no small group sharing. In the 1960s and 70s, youth retreats became more interactive and lively.

The Cabrini Retreat Center in Des Plaines was one of the first retreat centers in the Archdiocese of Chicago to host youth retreats, beginning in 1969. The center is now the only retreat center in the archdiocese whose primary focus is on youth.

Schools of service: Students offer help to their communities

Carmel High School in Mundelein takes service and community outreach so seriously that it requires all of its students to do 40 hours of community service each year, ending with 160 hours of volunteer work by graduation.

“This policy is a long-standing one going back to the 1980s,” said Carmelite Father Robert Carroll, Carmel’s principal. “We believe it is a response to our baptismal call to serve others. If we are going to be Catholic with conviction, then this has to be a part of what we do.”

The “Outside Ministry” program has its own office inside the school. Lists of possible service sites line the office windows and walls.

Program focuses on formation of Latino Youth leadership

RESPETO is a Latino Youth Leadership Formation program geared toward high school-age Mexican American youth. RESPETO (“Respect” in English) is the title and underlying theme of this yearlong program developed by Auturo Chavez and Mary Baez-Chavez of San Antonio.

Catholics consider creation

“How did we get here? How did the universe begin? How has life developed on earth?”

In the complex culture of the United States, we find varying answers to these fundamental human questions in the fields of creationism, intelligent design, and evolution, and in the creation stories of the biblical book of Genesis. As Catholics, how do we choose the answer most meaningful for us?

Chinese Catholics find welcome at St. Therese

St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church looks more Italian than Asian from the outside, despite the dog statues guarding the entrance.

Inside, there are Indonesian images, gold on black lacquer, and Chinese characters painted at the tops of the pillars.

They read “Together in Christ, we are one happy family.”

That is the goal for Father Paul Limin Wang, a priest from the Hunan Province who will receive his doctorate in ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago May 17.