Catholic New World - News Digest

News Update

Conference on 'Suicide' set

Stauros U.S.A. will host a one-day conference on "Suicide: Dying too Soon" Oct. 25 at Catholic Theological Union, 5416 S. Cornell Ave. The day will include a keynote address by former Illinois attorney general Jim Ryan, and his wife, Marie, who will talk about their son's suicide and the foundation they formed for the physical and mental health of young people. Workshops will focus on suicide prevention and care for those whose loved ones have committed suicide. Cost is $35 or $20 for students. For information, call Stauros at (773) 484-0581. To register, call (815) 332-7084.

Movements' members gather

Members of lay ecclesial movements are invited to a special gathering to celebrate Pope Benedict XVI's visit to the United States with Cardinal George.

The cardinal will share his insights into the Holy Father's visit with the movements' members at 7 p.m. Sept. 2 at St. John Vianney Parish, 46 N. Wolf Road, Northlake. Invited movements include Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo, Couples for Christ, Communion and Liberation, Focolare, Legion of Mary, Militia of the Immaculata, Neocatechumenal Way, Regnum Christi, Schoenstatt, World Apostolate of Fatima, Widows of Prayer and Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

News Digest

Vatican approves new English translations for constant parts of Mass

The Vatican has given its approval to a new English-language translation of the main constant parts of the Mass, but Catholics in the pew are unlikely to see any of the approved changes at Masses for awhile to allow for catechesis on the reasons for the revisions. The approved text, sent to the Vatican for "recognitio," or confirmation, after a June 2006 vote by the U.S. bishops in Los Angeles, involves translation of the penitential rite, Gloria, creed, eucharistic prayers, eucharistic acclamations, Our Father and other prayers and responses used daily.

Path to unity like road with no exit, cardinal tells Anglican bishops

The path to Christian unity is like a road with no exit, English Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor of Westminster told the world's Anglican bishops. Addressing the once-a-decade Lambeth Conference, which gathers bishops from the worldwide Anglican Communion, the cardinal said he was hopeful that ecumenical dialogue would continue in spite of differences between the churches over the ordination of women and actively gay men as priests and bishops.

Protesters from Holy Name plead guilty

The six anti-war protesters who threw fake blood on themselves during Easter Sunday Mass at the Holy Name Cathedral Parish Center pleaded guilty in Cook County Circuit Court to misdemeanor attempted criminal defacement of property July 21.

One also pleaded guilty to one count of battery for coming into contact with a parishioner.

Parents play vital role in children's education

Parents play a vital role in the education of their children because "the family is the basic cell of society," Cardinal Francis Arinze told families gathered at Catholic Familyland in Bloomingdale in mid- July.

"Religion is caught rather than taught, although we also need religious teaching," said the cardinal, who is prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments.

Matches made in heaven Sacramental matrimony provides 'salvific witness'

What is the Catholic understanding of marriage? In the book, "101 Questions & Answers on Catholic Marriage Preparation," authors Rebecca Nappi and Jesuit Father Daniel Kendall write: "Catholics understand Christian marriage as a lifelong partnership between a baptized man and woman lived in the context of the church community. This union forms the basic community of both church and civil society. As such it affects more than just the couple. Members of society closest to the couple include their relatives, friends, associates, and organizations such as their church community, businesses, and civil government. Just as the couple contributes to the larger society, so the various elements of the larger society pledge themselves to help the couple."

Sr. Stephanie's first semester in Tanzania

In late 2006, Resurrection Sister Stephanie Blaszczynski, former president of Resurrection High School, left the U.S. to start a school for girls in the remote town of Buturu in Tanzania, East Africa. She communicates on a laptop via satellite as it makes its way over the Indian Ocean. Below is another of Sister Stephanie's letters describing efforts to make the school, which opened in January 2008, available to girls.

Pro soccer player aims at priesthood

Professional soccer player Chase Hilgenbrinck is changing fields to pursue greater goals.

On July 14 he announced his retirement from Major League Soccer's New England Revolution team to begin studies in August for the priesthood as a seminarian of the Diocese of Peoria. He will study at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.

Snow cones for a good cause

Brittany Bosca started selling snow cones when she was 6, cranking her Snoopy snow-cone machine by hand and mixing the flavors herself.

She made $235, and didn't know what to do with it, so she took it to her local firehouse, where she knew several of the firefighters.

The firefighters suggested she donate the money to a camp for kids who have suffered from severe burns.

Now Brittany is trying to raise $18,000, enough to send nine campers to Camp I Am Me.

St. Paul Parish in Pilsen maintains heritage

The first thing visitors see at St. Paul Parish (22nd Place and Hoyne Avenue) are the twin steeples, piercing the sky 252 feet in the air, taller than everything else in this neighborhood of two-story homes, factories and warehouses.

They mark the front door to "the church built without a nail," a brick sanctuary decorated with mosaics and the life of St. Paul in stained glass.

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