Catholic New World

News Update

Charities’ program recognized

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Lake County Services is one of four recipients sharing a $35,000 Basic Human Needs Award presented by the Lake County Community Foundation.

This is the first year of the Basic Human Needs Award, which is made to organizations that have demonstrated exceptional effectiveness, innovation and creativity in addressing the most basic human challenges of hunger, homelessness and access to quality medical care. The foundation’s goal is to celebrate collaboration and encourage others to work together when thinking about solutions to persistent problems.

Thinkers probe Islam, Muslims

A workshop called “10 Things Thinking People Ought to Know about Islam, Muslims and the Current Global Context” will be offered from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 8 at The Well Spirituality Center, 1515 W. Ogden Ave., LaGrange Park.

Co-sponsored by the anti-racism team of the Sisters of St. Joseph, presentations by professors Scott Alexander of Catholic Theological Union, and Inamul Haq of Benedictine University, will challenge participants to think outside the box. The program is offered at no cost to the public.

News Digest

Pope says too much wealth, greed could compromise salvation

Too much wealth and greed could “seriously compromise” one’s salvation, Pope Benedict XVI said, adding that the real treasure humanity should strive for is Christ.

It is a thing of “wisdom and virtue to not set one’s heart on the things of this world, because everything passes, everything can suddenly come to an end,” he said before the Angelus prayer Aug. 5.

While one’s earthly possessions and material wealth can be a necessity that are good in and of themselves, they are “not to be considered an absolute good,” he told those gathered in the courtyard of the papal summer residence south of Rome.

Young people attracted to Gospel, Jesus

Contrary to what many may think, young people are strongly attracted to Jesus Christ and the Gospel, Pope Benedict XVI told thousands of Spanish youths.

The pope urged some 5,000 pilgrims from Youth Mission of Madrid to continue to help their peers discover they are all loved by God and that his is “the only love that never fails and never ends.”

Three parishes in Waukegan join forces

Holy Family, Immaculate Conception and Queen of Peace parishes in Waukegan came together as one Catholic community in a Mass celebrated by Cardinal George Aug. 12.

Father Gary Graf serves as pastor of all three parishes. The three also produce a common bulletin and send members to a common pastoral council and a common finance council. However, each maintains its own parish committee and facilities committee.

Making McGivney a saint?

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the second highest ranking official at the Vatican, told members of the Knights of Columbus that he is taking a personal interest in the beatification process for the order’s founder, Father Michael McGivney.

“I hope this recognition (of sanctity) will arrive soon, and I’ll personally work on this, so that this day will come soon,” Cardinal Bertone said during his homily, delivered in Italian, at the Aug. 7 opening Mass of the Knights of Columbus’ 125th annual national convention at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville.

Vigil asks for higher health care wages

Responding to charges from a union that Resurrection Health Care underpays its support staff and overpays its top executives, a spokesman for the Catholic health system said its wages for entry-level workers “are comparable to, if not better than, most other area health care organizations.”

Brian Crawford, senior director for system public relations, said in an Aug. 6 statement that Resurrection Health Care “recognizes that paying fair wages is a broader social issue for our entire country and we are committed to continue to do our part to advance workplace justice and to respect the dignity of work.”

Airport chaplains minister to a flock on the move

Can you find holiness at an airport? Father Michael Zaniolo thinks so.

Zaniolo has been an airport chaplain at Midway and O’Hare International airports in Chicago for six years, so he’s spent a lot of time meeting travelers from around the world and workers at the two airports.

From what he has seen, Father Zaniolo said, the presence of a chaplain and a chapel can bring comfort amid the stress and worry that travelers and workers often face.

Dominicans offer ‘example of vitality’

Nashville, Tenn. — Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the second highest ranking official at the Vatican, pointed to the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville as an example of the vitality of the Catholic Church in the United States.

Cardinal Bertone, who is secretary of state, was in Nashville to attend the 125th annual national convention of the Knights of Columbus. He took time out to celebrate Mass for the Dominican Sisters at their motherhouse Aug. 8, the feast of St. Dominic.

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