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News Digest

Issue of January 4 – January 17, 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

Leadership Day set for Feb. 7

For those who are active in their parishes - or who would like to be - Parish Leadership/Evangelization Day 2009 on Feb. 7 will offer an opportunity to learn about their faith, meet archdiocesan officials and network with leaders from other parishes.

More than 90 workshops in English, Spanish and Polish are planned for the daylong event at Maria High School, 6727 S. California Ave. The theme this year is "Unity in Diversity: The Church Speaks to the World." The day also includes a keynote address by Hector Antonio Molina Jr., founding director of the Archdiocese of St. Louis' Office of the New Evangelization, a lunchtime question-and-answer session with Cardinal George and a closing Mass celebrated by the cardinal with homilist Deacon Harold Burke- Sivers, founder of Aurem Cordis. The day is organized by the archdiocese's Office for Councils and Office for Evangelization. For information, call (312) 534-8364 or visit www.archchicago.org and download a registration brochure.

'Screwtape' extended

"The Screwtape Letters," an adaptation of the best selling novel by C.S. Lewis about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, has extended its run at The Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., through Feb. 15.

Adapted for the stage by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, "The Screwtape Letters" is set in an office in hell. The plot follows an ironic senior devil, Screwtape - who is equal parts charming intellectual, urbane psychologist and cutthroat psychopath - and his secretary, Toadpipe, as they train an apprentice demon, Wormwood, on the fine art of temptation.

"The Screwtape Letters," which opened Oct. 2, is produced by Fellowship for the Performing Arts, whose mission is present theatre from a Christian worldview that engages a diverse audience.

For information or to buy tickets, call The Mercury Theater Box Office at (773) 325-1700 or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for students and groups of 10 or more are also available.

News Digest

U.S. Catholics receive strong dose of encouragement from Pope Benedict's visit in April

U.S. Catholics were repeatedly encouraged to find renewed hope in Christ during Pope Benedict XVI's April 15-20 visit to the United States. Whether the pope was addressing international or religious leaders, youths or those Catholics who filled baseball stadiums in Washington and New York, he continually reiterated the trip's theme, "Christ Our Hope," and earnestly spoke of a "new springtime" for the church in America.

The pontiff, in his first visit to the United States as pope, celebrated Mass at the ballparks in both cities and spoke at the White House, the General Assembly of the United Nations and at churches in Washington and New York.

He also departed from his planned itinerary for a private meeting with victims of the clergy sexabuse crisis.