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News Digest

Issue of December 21, 2008 – January 3, 2009The following items are condensed. For the complete articles, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 534-7777.

News Update

Two schools to share one site

Notre Dame High School for Girls will close its campus at 3000 N. Mango Ave. and move into space in the existing St. Ferdinand School, 3131 N. Mason Ave., next fall. The move allows the two schools to use resources more efficiently, according to leaders at both institutions. Notre Dame is a 71-year-old college preparatory high school for girls. St. Ferdinand is a parish-sponsored co-ed preschool-eighth grade elementary school.

Each school will maintain its own faculty, administration and cafeteria. Notre Dame will occupy St. Ferdinand's third floor. The much newer St. Ferdinand building is equipped for wireless technology with modern classrooms and security monitoring. As part of the move, sponsorship of Notre Dame High School for Girls will be transferred from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur to the Archdiocese of Chicago at St. Ferdinand Parish.

Generous St. Nicholas Ball

About 1,200 guests attended the Dec. 5 Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball at the Chicago Hilton, raising more than $1 million for Catholic Charities programs that benefit 65,000 children each year.

The program was emceed by LeeAnn Trotter of NBC5 Chicago and was hosted by Cardinal George. Father Michael M. Boland, administrator, president and CEO of Catholic Charities, and the event chaircouple, Mary and Mark Hoppe, also made remarks.

News Digest

Pope addresses globalization in World Day of Peace message

Globalization works only when all can grow, said Cardinal George as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop, Dec. 12. "The moral dimension of world poverty must be addressed if we are to have world peace." Cardinal George made his comments in response to Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 World Day of Peace message, released at the Vatican Dec. 11. The message is titled "Fighting Poverty To Build Peace," and highlights the dangers of massive inequality among peoples of the world. World Day of Peace is Jan. 1.

Cardinal Dulles dies at 90; Jesuit theologian a cardinal since '01

Cardinal Avery Dulles, a Jesuit theologian who was made a cardinal in 2001, died Dec. 12 at the Jesuit infirmary in New York, Murray-Weigel Hall. A cause of death was not released but he had been in poor health. He was 90 years old. Cardinal Dulles had been the oldest living U.S. cardinal. His death was announced by the New York-based Jesuit provincial's office. Funeral arrangements were pending.