The Cardinal's Column
Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I.
Finding grace in sickness and health
Cardinal George's Schedule
- June 24: 2 p.m., Cardinal’s 10th Anniversary Dinner for His People, Holy Name Cathedral
- June 26: 1 p.m., Administrative Council Meeting, Pastoral Center
- June 28: 6 p.m., Mass, Chicago Chapter of Legatus, St. Paul of the Cross, Park Ridge
- June 29: 9:30 a.m., School Mass, San Miguel Schools, Back of the Yards Campus
- June 30: 5 p.m., Mass, Knights of Malta, Catholic Charities Chapel
- July 1-7: Cardinal’s Vacation
Cardinal's Appointments
June 13, 2007
His Eminence, Francis Cardinal George announces the following appointments:
Pastors
Rev. Thomas F. Baldonieri, from associate pastor of St. Raymond de Penafort Parish, Mount Prospect, to be the pastor of St. James Parish, Highwood, effective July 1.
Rev. Thaddeus J. Bojczuk, from pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Summit, to be the pastor of St. Symphorosa Parish, South Austin, effective July 1.
Rev. Pedro Campos, from associate pastor of St. Maurice Parish, South Hoyne, to be the pastor of St. Kevin Parish, South Torrence, effective July 1.
Rev. Ricardo Castillo, from associate pastor of St. Colette Parish, Rolling Meadows, to be the pastor of St. Bronislava Parish, South Colfax, effective July 1.
Rev. John P. Chrzan, from associate pastor of St. James Parish, Arlington Heights, to be the pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Summit, effective July 1.
Rev. Thomas P. Conde, from faculty of St. Joseph College at Loyola University to be the pastor of Christ the King Parish, South Hamilton, effective July 1.
Rev. Joseph Cook, from associate pastor of St. Lawrence O’Toole Parish, Matteson, to be the pastor of St. Kieran Parish, Chicago Heights, effective July 1.
Rev. David P. Dowdle, from director, Office of Deacon Formation Program, University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, to be the pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, effective July 1.
Rev. William A. Eddy, from pastor of St. Kieran Parish, Chicago Heights, to be the pastor of St. Hilary Parish, North Fairfield, effective July 1.
Rev. Michael J. Furlan, from associate pastor of St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn, to be the pastor of the same, effective July 1.
Rev. Robert P. Heinz, from pastor of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Prospect Heights, to be the pastor of St. Norbert Parish, Northbrook, effective July 1.
Rev. Thomas J. Hurley, from associate pastor of Old St. Patrick Parish, West Adams, to be the pastor of the same, effective July 1.
Rev. James J. Kastigar, from pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Cicero, to be the pastor of St. Mary of the Lake Parish, North Sheridan Road, effective July 1.
Rev. Curtis A. Lambert, from pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, North Ashland, to be the pastor of St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish, Prospect Heights, effective July 1.
Rev. William E. Malloy, from pastor of St. Germaine Parish, Oak Lawn, to be the pastor of St. Barnabas Parish, South Longwood Drive, effective July 1.
Rev. Thomas C. McNeff, from associate pastor of St. George Parish, Tinley Park, to be the pastor of St. Jane de Chantal Parish, South Austin, effective July 1.
Rev. Peter McQuinn, from pastor of Epiphany Parish, South Keeler, to be the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, North Ashland, effective July 1.
Rev. Timothy J. O’Malley, from pastor of St. James Parish, Highwood, to be the pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Round Lake, effective July 1.
Rev. Theodore L. Ostrowski, from pastor of St. Adrian Parish, South Fairfield, to be the pastor of St. Denis Parish, South St. Louis, effective July 1.
Rev. Marcel J. Pasciak, from pastor of St. Symphorosa Parish, South Austin, to be the pastor of St. Patricia Parish, Hickory Hills, effective July 1.
Rev. Kombo L. Peshu, from associate pastor of St. Giles Parish, Oak Park, to be the pastor of St. Simeon Parish, Bellwood, effective July 1.
Rev. Patrick J. Pollard, from pastor of Christ the King Parish, South Hamilton, to be the pastor of Notre Dame de Chicago Parish, West Harrison, effective July 1.
Rev. Ismael Sandoval, from the associate pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island, to be the pastor of the same, effective July 1.
Rev. George L. Schopp, from pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island, to be the pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, North Hamlin, effective July 1.
Rev. Sergio Solis, from administrator of Our Lady of Grace Parish, North Hamlin, to be the pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Cicero, effective July 1.
Rev. Paul C. Stein, from associate pastor of Holy Name Cathedral to be the pastor of St. Sylvester Parish, North Humboldt Blvd., effective July 1.
Rev. William J. Vollmer, from associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park, to be the pastor of St. Adrian Parish, South Fairfield, effective July 1.
Rev. Paul H. Wachdorf, from faculty of University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, to be the pastor of St. Gregory Parish, North Paulina, effective July 1.
Rev. Timothy Zak, SDB, to be the pastor of St. John Bosco Parish, North McVicker, effective July 1.
Administrator
Rev. Pascal Bigirimana, from sacramental minister at Seven Holy Founders Parish, Calumet Park, to be the administrator of SS. Peter and Paul Parish, South Halsted, effective July 1.
Associate Pastor
Rev. Ignatius Anaele, from associate pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, Arlington Heights, to be the associate pastor of St. George Parish, Tinley Park, effective July 1.
Rev. Thomas Bishop, from associate pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Glenview, to be the associate pastor of St. Anne Parish, Barrington, effective July 1.
Rev. Thomas Enright, from associate pastor of Transfiguration Parish, Wauconda, to be the associate pastor of Our Lady of Ransom Parish, Niles, effective July 1.
Rev. Rodolfo Gaytan Ramirez, from associate pastor of St. Tarcissus Parish, West Ardmore, to be the associate pastor of St. Raymond de Penafort Parish, Mt. Prospect, effective July 1.
Rev. Mark Kalema, from faculty of Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, to be the associate pastor of St. Ann Parish, Lansing, effective July 1.
Rev. Armando Morales Martinez, from associate pastor of St. Turibius Parish, South Karlov, to be the associate pastor of St. Gall Parish, South Sawyer, effective July 1.
Rev. Edilberto Ramon, from associate pastor of Queen of the Universe Parish, South Hamlin, to be the associate pastor of St. Anastasia Parish, Waukegan, effective July 1.
Rev. Wayne Svida, from associate pastor of St. Christina Parish, South Homan, to be the associate pastor of St. Benedict Parish, Blue Island, effective July 1.
Rev. Tirso Villaverde, from sabbatical, to be the associate pastor of St. Bartholomew Parish, West Patterson, effective July 1.
Rev. Joseph Wilk, from sabbatical, to be the associate pastor of St. Cornelius Parish, North Lieb, effective July 1.
Rev. William Wilkosz, from associate pastor of Christ the King Parish, South Hamilton, to be the associate pastor of Incarnation Parish, Palos Heights, effective July 1.
Rev. Joseph Wojcik, from pastor of St. Jane de Chantal Parish, South Austin, to be the associate pastor of St. Louise De Marillac Parish, La Grange Park, effective July 1.
Rev. Pawel Zemczak, from associate pastor of St. Louise De Marillac Parish, La Grange Park, to be the associate pastor of St. Constance Parish, West Strong, effective July 1.
Newly Ordained
Rev. Marcin J. Bulinski to be the associate pastor of St. Linus Parish, Oak Lawn, effective July 1.
Rev. Krzysztof D. Ciaston, to be the associate pastor of St. Tarcissus Parish, West Ardmore, effective July 1.
Rev. Jorge L. Estrada, to be the associate pastor of St. Blase Parish, Argo, effective July 1.
Rev. Juan C. Gavancho, to be the associate pastor of Queen of the Universe Parish, South Hamlin, effective July 1.
Rev. Martin D. Ibarra, to be the associate pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish, South Central Park, effective July 1.
Rev. Krzysztof A. Kulig, to be the associate pastor of St. James Parish, Arlington Heights, effective July 1.
Rev. Jesus Eduardo Martinez Solis, to be the associate pastor of St. Colette Parish, Rolling Meadows, effective July 1.
Rev. Michael Oduor Sande, to be the associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Orland Park, effective July 1.
Rev. Robert M. Pajor, to be the associate pastor of St. Thecla Parish, West Devon, effective July 1.
Rev. Charles E. Musula, to be the associate pastor of St. Paul of the Cross Parish, Park Ridge, effective July 1.
Rev. George O. Omwando, to be the associate pastor of Our Lady of the Ridge Parish, Chicago Ridge, effective July 1.
Rev. Michael G. Scherschel, to be the associate pastor of St. William Parish, North Sayre, effective July 1.
Rev. Patrick M. Wangai, to be the associate pastor of Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, Arlington Heights, effective July 1.
Sabbaticals
Rev. Gary Graf, from pastor of Holy Family Parish, Waukegan, to be on sabbatical from July 1 to Dec. 31.
Rev. James T. Kastigar to be on sabbatical from July 1 to Sept. 1.
Rev. Raymond Tillrock, from pastor of St. Barnabas Parish, South Longwood Drive, to be on sabbatical from July 15 to Jan. 15, 2008.
Resident
Rev. Michael Bradley, from resident at St. Josaphat Parish, North Southport, to be a resident at St. Gertrude Parish, West Granville, while retaining his duties as a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal, effective immediately.
Rev. Joseph T. Noonan, from University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, to be a resident at Holy Name Cathedral while retaining his duties in the Office of Vocations, effective July 1.
Director
Rev. Richard Hynes, from pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, to be the director of the Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Worship with residence at Nativity of Our Lord Parish, West 37th Street, effective July 1.
Assistant Vocation Directors
Rev. Thomas Belanger, to be the associate vocation director for Vicariate VI, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish, East 72nd St., effective July 1.
Rev. Robert Fedek, to be the assistant vocation director for Vicariate I, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish, Mundelein, effective July 1.
Rev. Jacek Jura, to be the assistant vocation director for Vicariate II, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. John Brebeuf Parish, Niles, effective July 1.
Rev. Brendan Lupton, to be the assistant vocation director for Vicariate IV, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. John of the Cross Parish, Western Springs, effective July 1.
Rev. Marco A. Mercado, to be the assistant vocation director for Vicariate III, while retaining his duties as pastor of Good Shepherd Parish, South Kolin, effective July 1.
Rev. Richard Mueller to be the assistant vocation director at large, effective July 1.
Rev. Waldemar Stawiarski, to be the assistant vocation director for Vicariate V, while retaining his duties as associate pastor of St. Stephen Deacon & Martyr Parish, Tinley Park, effective July 1.
Vice Rector
Rev. Peter Snieg, from president/rector of Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary to be the vice rector of St. Joseph Seminary at Loyola University, effective July 1.
Faculty and Dean of Recruitment
Rev. Gerald Walsh, from faculty at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary and resident at St. Eugene Parish, West Foster, to be the dean of recruitment and on the faculty of St. Joseph Seminary at Loyola University, effective July 1.
Grace, God’s life in ours, is a gift from God. Finding it is a sure sign of God’s presence in our lives. It changes us, converts us, so that God can use us to change others and society as a whole. Sometimes something in itself evil, like sickness, can become an occasion for God to act in our life so that he can bring good out of evil. I had that experience this past year, when my own illnesses were the occasion for so many to turn to the Lord in prayer and when I experienced anew our relation to one another in the Lord through a vast network of prayer. Prayer opens our lives to God so that he can heal us, spiritually and physically.
God expects us, however, to cooperate with his action in our lives by setting aside time for prayer each day and by using ordinary means to protect our spiritual and physical well-being. Protecting physical health is a social and therefore a political issue as well as a spiritual exigency. Because so many people in our state do not have the protection of ordinary means to preserve good health and to cure disease, proposals have been put forward in recent years to address the issue of inadequate health insurance.
How major is the challenge? In 2005, there were 44.8 million medically uninsured people in the United States. Nationally, nearly 18,000 deaths annually are attributable to the fact that people do not seek medical care in time because they are uninsured. In our state, we fare a little better than other states. 24.7 percent of Illinois children lack health insurance, while the national average is 25.6 percent. 24.1 percent of Illinois children do not have a doctor, while nearly 35 percent of all children in the U.S. do not have one. A successful program for children (Kids’ Care) has somewhat eased the situation in Illinois in recent years, but the major challenge of providing adequate healthcare coverage for all remains.
The Church looks at this situation as a moral problem. Having access to basic healthcare is a right that flows from each human person’s inherent dignity. Rights imply duties. Whose duty is it to provide access to healthcare? Catholic social teaching tells us that we all, collectively, need to see to it that there is access to fundamental healthcare. In the United States, many employers have provided health insurance, and employees have paid deductibles and co-pays. Because of increasing costs, the percentage of employers providing health insurance has decreased, even as the employees’ contribution to their employer sponsored health plan has increased. The government also has provided access to healthcare through social programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP and veterans’ benefits. These programs, however, do not address the needs of the growing number of people not covered by their benefits. In a society marked by clear division between the rich and the poor, our faith recalls the story of the Last Judgment (Mt. 25: 31- 46) and instructs us to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first.
Every program that aims to cover the uninsured and help the underinsured carries a price tag. How will it be paid for? The Church cannot and should not offer technical solutions to this question, although the problem is before us every day in the emergency rooms of Catholic and other hospitals. These are filled with those who have no other place to turn for basic healthcare. They are not turned away, but the emergency room is not the place to address healthcare issues that should not have developed into emergencies. Catholic institutions are the largest, non-profit private provider of healthcare in Illinois and the United States. The Church follows this debate carefully because she is interested in the sick and the poor and also in the health of her own institutions.
The question of how to provide healthcare to all in Illinois has been and will continue to be debated in the General Assembly. The principle is clear, the goal is laudable, but finding the means is a political and budgetary problem of great magnitude. There are many details for Governor Blagojevich and our elected representatives to decide, but they should be applauded for their willingness to address this problem that has been before us for so long.
There is a question, finally, of health beyond institutional healthcare. A recent UNICEF report places the United States twentieth in the world in the quality of children’s health, below almost every European country but Britain. This difference runs through every economic class, the rich as well as the poor. Twenty five hundred years ago, the philosopher Plato wrote in the third chapter of the Republic that an ideal society doesn’t need many doctors, because the people are basically healthy. (He also argued that the ideal society doesn’t need many lawyers, because the people are basically just.) How we live day after day affects both our spiritual and physical health. The medical statistics tell us more than just how many sick people live here; they also indicate how well we are as a people, as a society.
I hope that God’s grace may keep us healthy in body and spirit. I pray as well that the Holy Spirit may guide our elected officials in the current debate about how to provide basic healthcare for all. God bless you.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Francis Cardinal George, OMI
Archbishop of Chicago
