a column of benevolent gossip
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Rules of the road —
Back in mid-June the media called them “The Pope’s 10 Commandments for Drivers.” They were dismissed like they’d been borrowed from AAA. But when you read them in context with the Pontifical Council’s beautiful document that accompanies, “The Pastoral Care of Road Users,” you feel enriched. Never realize the scriptural aspects to maneuvering that SUV or Taurus? The text has some innovative ideas, including Jesus’ own words that he is “the way, the truth and the life.” The document says, “For the faithful, the road also becomes a path to holiness.” It reminds us of Old Testament and New Testament references to traveling and journeys, like the holy family’s trip to Bethlehem, Christ’s constant travels in his public life; the journeys of the apostles told in Acts. Then there are parables like the good Samaritan, and the prodigal son who set off “for a distant country.” The whole report is at www.zenit.org. Just search for 10 Commandments of the Road. Here they are: 1. You shall not kill. 2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm. 3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events. 4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents. 5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination and an occasion of sin. 6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fit condition to do so. 7. Support the families of accident victims. 8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness. 9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party. 10. Feel responsible toward others. (If you’d like a copy of the road rules, send a SASE to Clips’ address below.) -
Ayuda por favor? —
Alicia Torres, who works in the Hispanic outreach of our Respect Life Office, is looking for Hispanic volunteers to get involved in the arch’s pro-life apostolate. Father Claudio Diaz, in the Office for Hispanic Catholics, and Mary-Louise Kurey, director of the Respect Life Office, would like to build a network of informed women and men. Then through prayer and education they can reach out to other Hispanic parishioners in defense of life from fertilization until natural death. Call Alicia at (312) 751-5355. -
Lingo lessons —
Just is time for the rebirth of the Latin Mass! “Carpe Diem,” described as a “zero-hour Latin I class for motivated 8th grade boys looking for a challenge,” is being offered at St. Rita High School (S. Western). It’s said, Latin boosts verbal skills and scores on tests like the ACTs or SATs and increases the ability to think analytically. Students who choose to study Latin I in 8th grade may begin Latin II in their freshman year at Rita’s. Classes will meet from 7-7:40 a.m., Monday-Friday, Aug. 27-May 23 on the regular school calendar. Call (773) 925-6600 for more info. . . . St. Patrick High School (W. Belmont) on the other side of town, will begin a class in Introductory Chinese, something few schools offer. This year’s enrichment class will meet before school every other day during the school year, focusing on the language and culture of the Chinese people. A native of China, who is currently a Chicagoan, will teach the class. It’s a handy tool in the business world— China has the world’s fastest growing economy. -
Tender loving care —
Artist Pat Rankin recently restored a statue of the Marian patron of Queen of Martyrs Parish (Everg r e e n Park). Time and weather demanded renovation of the statue on 1 0 3 r d Street. So impressions for replacem e n t pieces, foll o w - u p sculpting, m o l d i n g , casting and mixing of special compounds, cleaning and sealing has made her good as new. A prolific Chicago artist/sculptor in many media, Rankin also did the master drawings for the stained glass windows at Sacred Heart Church (Palos Hills) and the Mother Maria Kaupas mosaic at St. Casimir’s (W. Marquette). His latest statue of Jesus calling for the children, is at St. Kieran Church (Chicago Heights). The Rankin family worships at St. Hedwig’s in Bucktown. He can be reached at [email protected], or (708) 387-9748. -
Religious recycling —
What savvy south suburban parish spotted an article in a local paper that a nearby public school was being torn down to build a new one? The big news: the school was selling off everything not cemented down. So “St. Smarty’s” moseyed over last month, and for a nominal sum, got enough furniture and teaching aids to satisfy all their parochial school needs for some time to come. With the 10 like-new tables and 78 desks they acquired, St. Smarty’s was able to replace their old desks and tables in kindergarten and get desks for grades 1 through 3. To top it off they got computer tables, overhead projectors and screens for each classroom. It was a fourhour effort with plenty of happy parish volunteers to help transport the treasures. -
76 Trombones? —
There was a post- 80th birthday celebration for Pope Benedict May 25-27 in Rome. The International Association of Friends of Sacred Music presented a musical parade, involving 16 marching bands from Austria and Germany. They filled the streets with “folklore, music and joy.” After a Mass in St. Peter’s on May 25, and a march down the surrounding streets, the bands formed a circle in St. Peter’s Square and played Beethoven’s “Hymn to Joy” for the Holy Father.
Send your benevolent gossip to Church Clips, 640 N. LaSalle St., #390, Chicago, IL 60610; or e-mail to [email protected].
Issue of July 22 – August 4, 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
Conference of airport chaplains
The National Conference of Catholic Airport Chaplains (NCCAC) hosted a chaplain training and certification course July 16-20 at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Father Michael Zaniolo, chaplain at both O’Hare and Midway airports, is also the president of the NCCAC. Chaplains and associate chaplains from Atlanta, Cleveland, Memphis, Orlando and Washington, D.C. attended the weeklong conference.
Chaplains must participate in this training before becoming a Certified Airport Chaplain. For more information on airport chapels, visit www.airportchapels.org.
Black Catholic congress in NY
More than 2,000 black Catholics from nearly 100 U.S. dioceses traveled to Buffalo July 12 for the start of the 10th National Black Catholic Congress. The theme of the July 12-15 congress was “Christ Is With Us: Celebrating the Gifts of the Sacraments.”
On the agenda were sessions looking at the ways the sacraments are related to the congress’s eight core principles: Africa, Catholic education, HIV/AIDS, parish life, social justice, racism, spirituality, and youths and young adults.
“Congress X wishes to reflect on these principles through the prism of the seven sacraments. The principles arise from our baptism and anointing, our birthright in the Roman Catholic Church,” said Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry of Chicago, chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on African-American Catholics, after he officially called the congress to order.
The first National Black Catholic Congress was held in 1889, and subsequent congress events were held every two years until 1894. After a hiatus lasting nearly a century, the congresses resumed in 1987, and since then have been held every five years.
News Digest
Protestant groups react to document
Several Protestant organizations reacted with dismay to the Vatican’s recent document on the identity of the church, but the Vatican’s chief ecumenist, an Orthodox leader and a Swiss bishop said that, by clarifying its position, the Vatican actually is helping ecumenical dialogue.
The document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church,” was released July 10 at the Vatican.
Cardinal Kasper reflects on ‘An Invitation to Dialogue’
Cardinal Walter Kasper, the president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, offered this July 11 reflection on “The Declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – an Invitation to Dialogue.”
A first and quick reaction among Protestant Christians to the declaration of the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith “Responses to Some Questions Regarding Certain Aspects of the Doctrine on the Church” has been one of irritation. But a second, quiet reading will show that the document does not say anything new. It explains and, in a brief summary, clarifies positions that the Catholic Church has held for a long time. Therefore, no new situation has developed. Nor is there any objective reason for outrage, or the feeling of being offended. Every dialogue presupposes clarity about the different positions. Our Protestant partners are the ones who have recently spoken about an ecumenism of profiles. If this declaration now explains the Catholic profile and expresses what, in a Catholic view, unfortunately still divides us, this does not hinder dialogue, but promotes it. …
Attorneys to gather for Red Mass Seek entries for Lawyer of the Year
On Sept. 30, Catholic attorneys and jurists from the Chicago area will gather at Holy Name Cathedral for the annual Red Mass, a tradition that dates back to when England was Catholic and the liturgy would mark the opening of the British law courts.
Nominations for “Catholic Lawyer of the Year” explaining why the nominee would be a good candidate for the award can be sent to Grogan at the Archdiocese of Chicago Pastoral Center, P.O. Box 1979, Chicago, IL 60690 or by email at [email protected]. Nominations must be received by Aug. 15
The annual Red Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 30 at Holy Name Cathedral.
Criticism of papal document will not kill interfaith ties, offical says
The head of the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs expressed confidence July 9 that any Catholic-Jewish tensions arising from misunderstandings of Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic letter on the Tridentine Mass will be overcome by a 40-year history of dialogue.
“Our relationships with the Jewish community are deep and abiding, building on the friendships formed over the last 40 years,” said Father James Massa, executive director. “We will be able to overcome any tensions arising from misunderstandings of the ‘motu proprio.’”
Archdiocese plans pilgrimage to WYD
Students 16 or older, young adults and adults can join the archdiocesan Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry on a 12 day pilgrimage to Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008.
World Youth Day is a weeklong spiritual journey where pilgrims from all over the world unite to share their faith. It includes prayer, song, concerts, drama, sharing, liturgy, catechesis, and an unforgettable vigil and closing mass with the Holy Father.
Praying for, with immigrants
Parishioners at Holy Family Parish in Waukegan gathered July 16 as the Waukegan City Council was preparing to uphold its decision to allow police officers to be trained to initiate deportation proceedings against immigrants who commit serious crimes.
While supporters and proponents of the measure demonstrated near city hall, Father Gary Graf, the pastor, invited people to a prayer service in hopes of helping everyone to live as neighbors.
Museum offers look at John Paul’s relationship with Jews
Walking into the Loyola University Museum of Art’s exhibit on Pope John Paul II and his relationship with the Jewish people is following the footsteps of Karol Wojtyla, from his childhood in Wadowice, through his university and seminary years in Krakow, into his ministry as priest and bishop and pope.
Through it all, visitors meet his Jewish friends and neighbors and follow their fates. Wadowice, the exhibit points out, is halfway between Krakow and Oswieciem, or Auschwitz.
