The Catholic New World: News Digest & Church Clips 8/1/04

Issue of August 1, 2004

UPDATE:

Holy Family jazz

Holy Family Parish, 1080 W. Roosevelt Road, whose church survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, will celebrate its diversity and outreach with an Aug. 20 jazz festival.

The 7 p.m. festival will benefit Holy Family parish’s outreach and ministry programs. Performers will include Ernest Dawkins and the “Live the Spirit” ensemble, the Dave Miller Group and “My Damn Butterfly,” a six-member a capella women’s ensemble.

For information: www.holyfamilychurchchicago.info.

Churches gird for pilgrimage

A nine-day novena to Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, a popular Latin American Marian devotion, is being sponsored Aug. 7-14 by St. Francis de Sales Parish, 10201 S. Ewing Ave.

The church, designated a sanctuary for a replica of the saint, is preparing to host thousands of pilgrims during the event.

The novena will be at St. Francis de Sales each day except Aug. 7 and 12, when it will be at St. George Parish, 9546 S. Ewing Ave.

On Aug. 15, the annual celebration of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos will begin at 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Annunciata Parish, 112th and Ave. G. The procession will end at St. Francis de Sales for an outdoor Mass.

For information: (773)734-1383.

NEWS:

How the pope spent his summer vacation

Pope John Paul II has been giving advice about how to get closer to God during vacation. Fresh from his 12-day break in the Italian Alps following more time at the papal summer residence, the pope said he entrusted the vacation period to Mary, asking her to help us to appreciate it as a “propitious time to rediscover the primacy of the interior life.”

The pope also reflected on his experiences in the mountains and noted that in the midst of nature, “it is easy to feel the benefits of silence, a quality that is becoming rarer and rarer today.” John Paul II observed that today’s world has so much to offer in terms of personal contacts and information that people can find themselves without any opportunity to reflect or pray.

Jesuits celebrate Galileo at Adler

It took the church 400 years to get around to conceding that Renaissance genius Galileo was right after all about astronomical deductions.

During those centuries, a deep chasm developed between faith and science. The silencing of astronomer Galileo Galilei by the Catholic Church during the 17th century often serves as a focal point of that rift.

Hoping to ease this 400-year spat, “Galileo’s Sons,” a documentary film about the Jesuit astronomers who work for the Vatican Observatory, will premier at Chicago’s Adler Planetarium Aug. 16.

‘Ranger rosaries’ heading for U.S. troops

Teri Yovanovich has been praying for more than a year for the safety of her brother, a military policeman in Iraq.

Now she has found a second way to show him her love; she has made him a rosary, one that will blend in with his military uniform.

More than 100 people from nine parishes joined Yovanovich at St. Margaret of Scotland Church recently to put together what are called Ranger Rosaries. They are made of parachute cord and plastic beads and crosses.

‘Living Water’ refreshes Catholic AIDS ministers

HIV and AIDS connect to the Christian story of salvation at many levels, offering believers an opportunity to witness the transformation of death into new life and see the saving grace of God.

That was the central message of Dominican Father Timothy Radcliffe to the more than 150 participants at the 17th annual National Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry Conference July 16-19 on Loyola University Chicago’s Lakeshore Campus.

“God says who God is to the little ones, the crushed and the marginalized,” Radcliffe told the group, which included people living with HIV and AIDS, family members, loved ones and those who minister to people affected by the virus. “They’re the ones we have to listen to, and many of them have AIDS.”

Family issues more than same-sex marriage

Divorce, welfare, economy all vital

As Congress headed toward its summer recess in July, most of the marriage-related talk focused on efforts to revive the stalled Federal Marriage Amendment, which would amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

But as the U.S. bishops made clear in their 2003 statement on “Faithful Citizenship: A Catholic Call to Political Responsibility,” marriage- and family-related issues of concern to the Catholic Church go far beyond the same-sex marriage question.

Interreligious gathering promotes paths to peace

Dominican Sister Joan McGuire and Jason Renken regularly meet with members of other religions in the Chicago area, but in July they had the opportunity to meet with people from all over the world.

McGuire is director of the archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. She and Renkin, on the agency’s staff, attended the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Barcelona, Spain, July 7-13. Nearly 8,000 members of dozens of different religions from 75 countries gathered for discussions that focused on the theme “Pathways to Peace.”

Mother Teresa Project: prayer to end abortion

In 2003, Priests for Life launched an initiative to encourage parishes to “spiritually adopt” abortion clinics and pray for their closure. The Archdiocese of Chicago endorsed the program, calling it “The Mother Teresa Project.”

Parishes were asked to say rosaries, participate in holy hours and offer daily prayers for the end of abortion in their communities.

St. Bede the Venerable pastor resigns post

Father Brian Lisowski has resigned as pastor of St. Bede the Venerable Parish, Chicago, following what archdiocesan officials termed “an incident of serious and inappropriate personal conduct” outside the parish.

Health section

Heart of the mission: Help, care for those who need it

About two years ago, Elvira Somoza started noticing problems with her vision. She was thirsty all the time, too, no matter how much water and soda she drank.

Somoza, who has four grown children and seven grandchildren, had a good idea of what the symptoms meant. A quick check on blood glucose meter that belonged to her comadre—someone like a godmother—confirmed it. With a blood sugar level over 400, she knew she had diabetes.

But Somoza didn’t want to go to the doctor; her husband had just lost his job of 18 years and the family no longer had health insurance.

A day in the life of a chaplain

Many words nearly describe Deacon Jack Smith. “Caring and compassionate” is an understatement. “Workaholic” can give a sense of negativity to his daily routine.

But those come close to capturing Smith in his work as a chaplain at Holy Family Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Des Plaines. Add “dedication” and the picture is more complete.

Smith is a full-time chaplain at Holy Family Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Des Plaines—a five-floor, 298-bed facility offering a variety of care, including assisted living, rehabilitation and support for memory loss.

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a column of benevolent gossip

Morning Offering hits the charts — Due to the overwhelming response for a copy of The Morning Offering in readable type with a copy of the pope’s intentions for the year, Clips had to place another order with the Apostleship of Prayer. Please be patient. They will be coming your way as soon as they come our way.

Milestones — Little Company of Mary Sister M. Joseph Casey, was honored recently for 55 years of service. She’s the most tenured employee in Little Company of Mary Hospital’s history. She says she remembers the sisters when, at the age of 3, she visited her brother in the hospital. As Jeanette Casey, age 14, she began her career at the hospital as a nurses’ aide. Casey’s home parish was Little Flower and she graduated from Mercy High School before entering. Her master’s degree is from Columbia University in New York. Today she’s patient advocate in the hospital’s emergency department.

‘They have finally arrived!’ — Planned Parenthood’s promo also says it is, “proud to offer yet another T-shirt in our new social fashion line.” And what’s the T-shirt’s slogan? “I Had an Abortion.” P.P. brags euphemistically that the T-shirt “asserts a powerful message in support of women’s rights.” Strangely they don’t sell T-shirts boasting: “I Killed a Baby Seal.”

Nothing ‘changes’ — Yikes! There are still some money-changers in the temple. Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church in London just collected a bunch of pennies to help restore the old church. But now it’s seeking “old coins or notes lying at home.” They want out of date UK coins and money of countries using the euro. “You can also buy foreign coins at a bargain rate. If you’re going to Barbados, we’ll sell you 50 dollars for the price of 45” says their bulletin.

People and places — Pope John Paul II is back from a vacation in the Italian Alps and he has “a slight suntan.” When the pope is on vacation, they say only a couple thousand people show up for his informal audiences! . . . Comboni Missionaries serving in the arch (and around the world) are preparing for the canonization of their founder, Daniel Comboni. The first bishop of Central Africa, Comboni, known as the Apostle of Africa, died in Sudan in 1881 at age 50. The ceremonies will take place in Rome Oct. 5. . . . Aug. 1 marks the 60th anniversary of the heroic but tragic Warsaw Uprising of 1944, fought on the city streets in Poland. (Not to be confused with the equally heroic/tragic April 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising where Nazis killed 20,000 Jews.) The Soviet army watched the two-month battle from the city’s outskirts without offering assistance. The Nazis killed over 200,000 Poles in the melee, nearly all Catholics.

Parish potpourri — What newly assigned pastor here earned scouting's highest honor as a youth? It's not in their handbook, but Eagle Scouts probably make good pastors/ leaders. Those 21 different badges they have to merit also mean they'll be cool and collected in emergencies, like when pipes break. Lots of astronauts have been Eagle Scouts. So was Hank Aaron, the home run king. Even Donald Rumsfeld and Michael Moore achieved the honor, but not from the same troop. . . . Jake Soukup is the winner of this year’s bat boy/girl raffle at St. Alexander’s (Palos Heights) parish picnic. He’ll be honorary bat boy at the Aug. 31 White Sox vs. Oakland A’s game.

Bowser briefs — Benedictine Sister Joan Schneider is probably one nun who would accept the excuse: “My dog ate my homework.” She figures sometimes homework is better for your pooch than some dog snacks. She’s developed 100 percent natural “Nutri-Bits” in her kitchen. Available in peanut butter or liver flavors, her additive-free treats are on shelves at Target and Petco stores and elsewhere. The snacks, loaded with garlic, are low in fat, so vets like them especially for doggies with heart, kidney, or digestive problems. Profits from sales add to retirement funds for the sisters at her monastery in St. Paul, Minn., who have German shepherds and German shorthairs.

No biz like show biz — Allison Melville, 17, of St. Mary’s (Buffalo Grove), came up with an idea to spark a parish’s usual summer doldrums: “Let’s put on a show!” Without any help from Judy Garland or Mickey Rooney, Melville, fellow teens, parish school teachers, the school band and Buffalo Grove High School’s orchestra presented their first-ever parish variety show last month. It was a hit! . . . Megan Grochowiak, 20, of St. Josaphat Parish (N. Southport) donated hours of unselfish love to teach Irish dance to 25 developmentally disabled adults from Misericordia Home. A student at DePaul, Megan choreographed and modified some steps for their recent performance which was in full Irish costume at the home. Not a dry eye in the room.

Art meets faith — Gratia Plena Art Gallery opened June 2. It is the the lifelong dream of Chicago-based artist Joyce Looby. In 1997 Looby was diagnosed with cancer and there have been some bleak times since then, but she’s trusted “in God’s plan.” A Mass was celebrated at the opening by Father Tom Norris of St. Thomas the Apostle Church (S. Kimbark). Looby, who studied in England, has taught art to abused and neglected kids at Maryville Academy. Gratia Plena Gallery is at 2125 W. Belmont. Hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays, (773) 472-3264.

Send your benevolent gossip to:
Church Clips
721 N. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
or via e-mail.

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