Issue of January 18, 2004

Racial Justice Week in the Archdiocese of Chicago is Jan. 19-25. The third annual “Dwell in My Love Sunday will be Jan. 25.

Racial Justice Week is the outgrowth of the pastoral letter on racism issued by Cardinal George, “Dwell in My Love,” which he issued April 4, 2001, on the 33rd anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The pastoral letter called on the faithful to seek a conversion of the heart and seek to eradicate racism in society.

Heart of Mary Sister Anita Baird, director of the archdiocesan Office for Racial Justice, has provided parishes and schools with information to develop resources to celebrate Racial Justice Week and continue the effort to end racism.

In addition, she said that on Sunday, May 2, Cardinal George will host the “Catholics United for Racial Justice Unity Rally” in Lincoln Park, across North Avenue from the cardinal’s residence.

 

Faiths celebrate unity services

A series of ecumenical prayer services will herald the 2004 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

In addition to the main celebration, a public prayer service, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary, four other events will mark the week, Jan. 18-24.

The Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman, Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ, is scheduled to preach at the Friday service which is sponsored by the Ecumenical Millennium Committee, a group of 16 churches which includes the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Other ecumenical services are: 5 p.m. Jan. 18 at St. Alphonsus Liguori Parish, Prospect Heights; 7 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Church of the Holy Spirit, Schaumburg; 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at Holy Family Parish, Inverness; 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University, Evanston.

For more information, call (708) 660-9168 or (312) 751-5325.

 

 

NEWS:

St. Gelasius Church to remain

Decision won’t avoid fight over landmark status

The Archdiocese of Chicago will not move forward with plans to raze St. Gelasius Church, the 80-year-old Woodlawn structure that has become a cause among local architectural preservationists.

Instead, the Institute of Christ the King-Sovereign Priest, an organization of priests and brothers with its U.S. headquarters in Wisconsin, will move in and use the church for daily Mass, according to archdiocesan attorney James C. Geoly.

 

Bringing faith to civic life

‘Faithful citizenship’ a ‘moral obligation’

As the political season heats up, parishioners at St. Thomas of Villanova in Palatine, St. Linus in Oak Lawn, and several other parishes across the archdiocese will have very little excuse not to register to vote in time for the March 16 primary.

Their parishes have worked with the National Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice to sign people up to vote after weekend Masses.

The election—which will give those who choose a Democratic ballot an opportunity to vote for a nominee for U.S. president and voters of both parties a vote to nominate a U.S. senate candidate—is approaching quickly, and its results could have public policy implications on everything from the right to life to health care to immigration policy for years to come.

 

Building unity on ‘life principles’

D.C. march, rally Jan. 22 presses for change on Roe v. Wade

To observe the 31st anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion virtually on demand, sponsors of the annual March for Life have chosen “Build Unity on the Life Principles” as the theme for the Jan. 22 rally on the Ellipse and march to the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court buildings in Washington.

 

Local events will mark anniversary

Several activities will take place throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago during the week of Jan. 20-24 marking the 31st anniversary of Roe v. Wade Jan. 22.

Many parishes will host prayer vigils on Jan. 22, to remember the 42 million lives lost to abortion and raise in prayer the women and men who are suffering from the decision to abort their child.

 

Back abortion: no Communion

New St. Louis archbishop tells LaCrosse legislators

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke has formally notified Catholic lawmakers in the La Crosse Diocese that they cannot receive Communion if they continue to support procured abortion or euthanasia.

The four-paragraph canonical notification, published in the Jan. 8 edition of The Catholic Times, the La Crosse diocesan newspaper, called upon Catholic legislators in the diocese “to uphold the natural and divine law regarding the inviolable dignity of all human life.”

 

Audit finds most dioceses complying with charter

By the end of 2003, nearly 90 percent of U.S. Catholic dioceses were in compliance with the bishops’ national policy to protect children and respond to clergy sexual abuse of minors, according to the first national audit report released Jan. 6.

On most elements, the report said, 98 percent to 100 percent of audited dioceses were judged to be in compliance with the 17-article “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People” adopted by the bishops in June 2002.

 

Audit report offers nationwide recommendations

Washington (CNS) — The nationwide audit of sexual abuse policies and practices of Catholic dioceses went beyond assessing each diocese’s current performance against the standards of the bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”

As a result of their meetings with bishops, diocesan personnel, abuse victims, law enforcement and social service personnel and other interested persons, the independent auditors came up with a substantial list of nationwide recommendations to improve the church’s response to the sexual abuse issue in the future.

 

Dioceses working on goals; one cites ‘pastoral’ problems

Several dioceses not in compliance with aspects of the U.S. bishops’ sex abuse policies and practices said they are working to implement them.

A statement from the Diocese of Lincoln, Neb., though, said that while it was in compliance with most of the areas that auditors focused on it had “serious pastoral reasons” for not being in compliance with everything that the auditors sought.

 

Religious communities forming sex abuse prevention programs

The fight to end clergy sex abuse of minors stretches into religious orders and communities as they adapt the U.S. bishops’ policies to their special situations.

As part of coordinated efforts, religious leaders have produced a training video that includes interviews with victims of child abuse and hired a national organization to make spot checks on how well religious communities implement prevention programs.

 

Poverty, fear of being poor climb

More Americans, especially children, are living in poverty, and more are afraid they will one day become poor, according to leaders of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. But they might not be as concerned as they should be.

The campaign’s annual “Poverty Pulse” survey found that 56 percent of respondents fear that they will some day suffer the effects of poverty, an increase of 5 percent from the previous year.

 

Pope urges Iraqis to ‘take reins,’ build a democracy

Age, infirmity brings change to Ash Wednesday tradition

Pope John Paul II will skip a traditional Ash Wednesday liturgy this year in a historic Rome church, the latest schedule cutback caused by the pontiff’s declining health.

The Vatican announced that instead of traveling across the city to place ashes on the foreheads of the faithful the pope will do so at the Vatican. In the meantime, the pope gave his annual “state of the world” address to diplomats in which he urged the international community to help Iraqis “retake the reins” of their country and establish a democracy that reflects their aspirations.

 

Catholic educators praise Bush plan

In an address to more than 250 Catholic educators Jan. 9, President Bush stressed the importance of voucher programs and urged the Senate to pass a bill to “make school choice in Washington D.C., a reality.”

Archdiocesan superintendent of school Nicholas Wolsonovich was among the participants.

The president made his remarks in the East Room of the White House to educators attending a Jan. 8-11 symposium in Washington celebrating the centennial of the National Catholic Educational Association.

 

Woodlands Academy marks century looking back, ahead

A hand-written document detailing a rugged life and many of the obstacles that had to be overcome is one of the unexpected treasures discovered during the planning for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart, Lake Forest.

The centennial observance began Jan. 9 with a ceremony at the school’s chapel. Students, alumnae, parents, administrators, teachers—past and present—gathered to reminisce, pray and recognize the educational contributions made by Woodlands Academy and its staff. A special celebration liturgy will be May 22.

 

What adults can learn from teens

Today’s young people believe abortion is wrong

Entering high school, I had little or no knowledge of life issues, but didn’t feel lacking. Just trying to figure out who I was, who my real friends were and how to cope with a wide range of pressures occupied most of my thoughts, leaving little time to contemplate life-and-death topics like abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment.

By the time I graduated from my Catholic high school, however, I believed that while abortion wasn’t good, it was necessary for women to achieve equality. This boiled down to the philosophy that I was “personally opposed to abortion, but couldn’t force my beliefs on others.” (Catholic Illinoisans recognize this as the explanation all-too-frequently espoused by politicians who used to be pro-life, but changed their minds after calculating that opposing abortion would lose too many dollars for their pricey political campaigns.)

 

Elementary, high schools link with universities, form CAN

A group of 16 Catholic elementary and secondary schools, mainly on Chicago’s Northwest side, and three universities are collaborating on a new model of education.

The group, Catholic Area Network (CAN), is sharing its resources to enhance and enrich Catholic education in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

Putting theory to the test

New St. Martin de Porres principal has big plans

When Resurrectionist Father Paul Sims completed his doctorate in educational administration, he wrote a dissertation on how to select a new school principal.

Then he set about getting some practical experience.

Sims, who has spent more than 10 years in the leadership of Chicago-area Catholic high schools, becomes the first principal of St. Martin de Porres High School in Waukegan this month.

 

On a spiritual quest ... to the local cineplex

Suburban parish sponsors discussions, outings to find messages in the movies

For movie fans, Frodo and Neo are well-known names, quickly associated with a great story and lots of action. But connecting movie characters with a discussion about the Paschal mystery? That association may not be so obvious to most people, but it makes sense to the members of the Young Adult Ministry at Holy Family Parish.

“Twenty- to 40-year-olds are movie people,” explained Paul Jarzembowski, director of Young Adult Ministry at the parish. “People experience their spirituality where they live their lives, and for us, movies are a big part of our culture.”

Heart of the School winners

14 archdiocesan teachers honored for dedication, skills, service

Fourteen Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic elementary and high school teachers will be honored Jan. 22 for their accomplishments in a 10:30 a.m. ceremony at St. Andrew Elementary School, 1710 W. Addison St., Chicago.

The 14 Catholic school teachers will be presented with “Heart of the School Awards for Teacher Recognition” by Nicholas M. Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools.

 

Making a choice for kids

Loyola program helps 15 young adults choose to teach, serve in Catholic schools

Meghan Miller originally thought she would work in public relations. It was her college major. But life experience has a way of changing minds, and Miller decided to teach instead.

“I changed my mind after doing a public relations internship with a nonprofit organization,” said Miller, a fifth- and sixth-grade teacher at St. Paul/Our Lady Vilna School in Pilsen. “I became disillusioned with the business side and found more satisfying working with the children the organization helped.”

 

Catholic school supporters take their message to Springfield

When Catholic school supporters join with their counterparts from other non-public schools for a March 3 rally in Springfield, Richard Guerin, principal of St. Bede the Venerable School in Chicago, will be there with a busload of his friends.

So will St. Patrick High School Principal Joseph Schmidt, with about two dozen parents, teachers and students.

Guerin said he tries to attend every lobbying day in Springfield to remind legislators what Catholic schools do for the community at large—not just the tremendous educational value they provide for families that choose to use them.

 

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