The Catholic New World - News Digest 10/15/00





		This week, the Catholic New World includes special insert sections about Young Adult Ministries and World Mission Sunday. Also, meet Maggie Daly, 22, a who recently returned from a year spent on mission in Ecuador. News: Hispanic priests talk about vocations at meeting Vocations was a principal concern at the annual convention of the National Association of Hispanic Priests, leaders reported. At the same time, members of the association, known as ANSH after its Spanish initials, emphasized their desire to work in solidarity, the leaders said. Charities see needs growing: Not all benefitting from strong economy While government reports paint a rosy picture of the U.S. economy, people working on the front lines of Catholic Charity agencies across the nation have a different view. At mock “legislative hearings” held during the Catholic Charities USA annual conference in Kansas City this month, speaker after speaker urged the national organization’s Social Policy Committee to take into the halls of Congress the cause of people left behind in the strongest economy the nation has ever known. East Timor rises from struggle for freedom A militia rampage that destroyed much infrastructure and killed more than 1,000 people last year in mostly Catholic East Timor marked a bloody end to the final chapter of nearly 500 years of colonial rule and occupation. East Timor had gained its independence, but at a heavy price. More than 300,000 people were killed or died of starvation during Indonesia’s 24-year occupation of East Timor, estimates the justice and peace commission of the Dili and Baukau Catholic churches. ‘Be with us’: Pope entrusts world to Mary In ceremonies intimately connected with the message of Fatima, Pope John Paul II led bishops in entrusting the world and its future to “the motherly protection’’ of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Today we wish to entrust to you the future that awaits us, and we ask you to be with us on our way,’’ the kneeling pope prayed to Mary Oct. 8 as he and some 1,500 bishops gathered around the statue of Our Lady of Fatima. Commentary: Serving others People are transformed when they roll up their sleeves and serve others. Serving others touches the heart and is an important part of being a Christian. It should be expected of all in the Christian community, particularly those preparing for marriage. The church has expectations of engaged couples, such as attending PreCana and Engaged Encounter to prepare for marriage. Why not include service to others among those expectations? As they experience their individual transformation, they witness the other’s as well. The relationship takes on a Gospel character. However, service itself offers little without prayerful reflection. Those who assist the engaged in their marriage preparation should assist them in such reflection so that the experience applies meaning in other areas of their lives. What better way to begin a marriage than toiling in the Lord’s vineyard and serving the people of God? —Andrew Lyke, Family Ministries Briefs: Catholic Charities gets HUD funds Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will receive a $5.7 million federal grant to add 13 units to the St. Brendan Apartments in Englewood and add a senior center, dining room and other common areas to the 52-unit building. The grant also will pay for construction of an enclosed connection with the neighboring Hayes Manor and bring with it federal rent subsidies for the tenants of the St. Brendan Apartments, said William G. Darcy, manager of residential housing for Catholic Charities. The St. Brendan Apartments houses senior citizens whose income is less than half the median for the Chicago metropolitan area. With the new subsidies, residents will pay 30 percent of their income for rent, with the rest paid by the federal government. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is among 161 nonprofit groups that received $597 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grants to create some 6,500 subsidized apartments for more than 8,000 low-income senior citizens. Divine Word Society celebrates mission The Society of the Divine Word at Techny will host a celebration of its historic ministries with African Americans on Oct. 22, World Mission Sunday. Parish ministers, parishioners and choirs from a number of African-American parishes around the country, including St. Anselm and St. Elizabeth in Chicago, will gather at 1 p.m. for a Mass at Divine Word International, 2001 Waukegan Road, Techny. Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib, a Divine Word priest, will celebrate the Mass. The public is invited. Parish pride: Immaculate Conception 2745 W. 44th St. This parish has seen a lot of history. It was in 1914 that 60 Lithuanian families in Brighton Park purchased 20 lots so their new national parish could take root—the same year Archduke Ferdinand was assassinated. Its modern second edifice, built on the site in 1963, designed by Belli and Belli, has graceful sweeping lines that relieve its strong rectangular form. The main aisle is “made” for brides. Its two major stained glass windows, that of Christ the King behind the altar, in scarlet, gold and blue, and the Immaculate Conception in blues that makes up the immense triptych at the entrance, are outstanding. Hispanics, Liths and Anglos now pray in their own languages at seven weekend Masses. Always a parish of hard-working blue collar families, devotion to Mary remains a cornerstone here, with a big parish feastday on Dec. 8. Top Front Page \| Digest \| Cardinal \| Interview Classifieds \| About Us \| Write Us \| Subscribe \| Advertise Archive \| Catholic Sites \| New World Publications \| Católico \| Directory \| Site Map

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Keeping on keeping on—
St. Francis Borgia Parish (W. Addison) is gearing up for their fall rummage sale, Oct. 24-26. What’s so unusual? Well, their women’s club has conducted two sales a year, April and October, ever since 1953. Helen Zien, chairlady since 1989, says her ladies have “endurance and enthusiasm.” She whispers, “There is junk and ah! there is junque.” . . . When the Auxiliary of St. Joseph’s Home for the Elderly in (Palatine) sets up its Granny’s Attic, craft sale, homemade bakery and “Bistro” luncheon Oct. 21-22, Frances Ryan will chalk up her 30th year as publicity chairman. She remembers when the facility opened in 1966 and how its auxiliary has seen additions like the ice cream parlor and country store added by the Little Sisters of the Poor for residents’ enjoyment. Ryan will be busy blowing out 86 candles this Oct. 19! . . . After Masses Oct. 21 and 22 at St. Giles (Oak Park) the parish will display an array of quilts and afghans that were made by parishioners this year as part of their continuing AIDS Quilt Project, The volunteer needlers started their commitment 10 years ago.

Ava Smith and Trudi Coleman
at St. Bernadette’s Rib Fest.

Taste of Chicago, look out — St. Bernadette Parish (Evergreen Park) held its sixth annual Rib Fest last month and 26 outstanding chefs competed. Blue ribbon judges included State Senator Patrick O’Malley, State Representative Jim Brosnahan, Mayor Anthony Vacco of Evergreen Park, the school principal and others. Contestants brought along secret sauces and secret methods of curing the ribs, and the team of Sam Senercha, Mark Mitchell and Joe Healy were winners! They went home with their recipes still secret—and $100.

Note-worthy news — Queen of Peace High School (Burbank) campus minister and peer ministry teacher Leanne Stoterau has left for Rome as part of a Jubilee Choir. The group of 60 singers were scheduled to tour several Rome parishes and then perform for Pope John Paul II on Oct. 11. The singers are from Vicariate 5, and include parishioners from St. Linus and St. Louis de Montfort in Oak Lawn, Our Lady of the Ridge (Chicago Ridge), St. Patricia (Hickory Hills), and St. Francis of Assisi (Orland Park). Stoterau, who is also director of music ministry for Francis of Assisi Parish, will visit the patron’s shrine while in Italy. The group will also perform a two-hour evening concert in Rome. Their repertoire includes American sacred music, spiritual and traditional hymns. . . . The “World’s Largest Organ Concert” is happening at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 at St. Barbara Church (S. Throop) in Bridgeport, sponsored by the American Guild of Organists.

Irish, don’t you know — When you think Irish Culture, look beyond shamrocks and leprechauns says the Irish American Heritage Center of Chicago (N. Knox). It will be offering the first-of-its-kind in the area Children’s Irish Education Program, 9-11 a.m. Oct. 14-Nov. 18. The year’s three six-week sessions will include fun-learning like “Gift of the Gab” (Gaelic language), “Capture the Dragon” (Celtic art), “Lords and Ladies of the Dance” (Ceili dancing), and even Irish pen pals. The cultural program is $30 for non-members. Their number is (773) 282-7035, Ext. 18.

People and places — Father Jim Presta, rector-president of St. Joseph Seminary (N. Sheridan), is happy to announce the dedication of its new Mary, Seat of Wisdom Chapel on Oct. 25. Seminarians are offering their daily rosary during October for all their benefactors, alumni and friends. The arch’s college level seminary will have open house from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 22 and Nov. 19 for young men thinking about priesthood. They can call (773) 973-9706 for more info. . . . Brother Leo Ryan, CSV was honored recently in New York City with the first Vincentian Ethic Scholars Award. Just back from leading a symposium at Cambridge University in England on American Pragmatism and the author of a new book on business ethics, Ryan calls the Viatorian Province Center (Arlington Heights) “home” these days.