Issue of December 5, 2004

UPDATE

Reopen school for at-risk teens

The St. John of God Center in the Back of the Yards neighborhood was rededicated Nov. 30 and reopened to serve at-risk youth.

The facility that now occupies the formerly shuttered school at 5114 S. Elizabeth, is a collaborative effort among Catholic Charities, Chicago Public Schools Second Chance Alternative School, Youth Outreach Services, Precious Blood Center for Reconciliation and Holy Cross/IHM Parish. The site houses an alternative high school, infant and toddler day care, gang intervention services, and comprehensive counseling and social services.

Catholic Charities spokesman William Sullivan said the Back of the Yards community is experiencing a rising rate of violent offenses among youth, gang membership, teenage pregnancy, and use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. The St. John of God Center is an effort to reach out to at-risk-youth, many of whom have alienated themselves from a traditional school setting, he said.

 

Student designs earn high marks

Students at Catholic high schools captured eight of the 10 finalist slots in the competition to design the 2005 Chicago vehicle sticker. The theme, “Cultural Chicago,” drew more than 500 entries from 40 high schools.

The finalists included Regina Rotondo and Kathy Zalewski, seniors at Resurrection High School; Vanessa Espaza and Jenessa Lagos, seniors at Maria High School; Jessie Krumb and Maribeth Hudzik, sophomores at Marian High School, Chicago Heights; George Swanke, senior at Notre Dame High School for Boys, Niles; and Sabeena Khan, St. Scholastica senior.

 

 

NEWS

Bishops finish annual meeting with flurry of votes

Action taken on issues including adult catechism, marriage, Spanish liturgy

Finishing up their business a day earlier than originally scheduled, the U.S. bishops concluded their fall general meeting in Washington Nov. 17 with a flurry of votes on a national catechism for adults, a multiyear pastoral initiative on marriage and a historic decision to join a national ecumenical forum.

On the busy final day of their Nov. 15-17 meeting, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops also voted to gather annual information about new sex abuse accusations against Catholic clergy and other church workers; approved three Spanish-language liturgical changes; and accepted a proposal to streamline the 2005 diocesan audits on sex abuse matters.

 

Bishops agree to continue sex abuse audits

The U.S. bishops approved a proposal to gather annual information on the number of new sex abuse accusations against clergy and other church personnel, the resolution of existing cases and the related costs of handling such cases for dioceses.

By a 137-85 vote Nov. 17, the bishops decided to include the gathering of this data in the annual audits to see if dioceses and eparchies are complying with sex abuse prevention policies.

 

Bethlehem promotes pilgrimages

Palestinian hotel owners said they hope a new Christmas initiative will return pilgrims to Bethlehem, West Bank, for the holiday.

Nine Bethlehem hotels will offer a special deal for Christmas and the two days preceding it, offering double rooms and breakfast for $99 per person, with a $49 single supplement.

 

Simbang Gabi Masses set

Simbang Gabi, the annual series of prayerful celebrations leading up to the feast of Christmas for the Filipino community, will be held at scores of parishes across the Archdiocese of Chicago and the dioceses of Rockford and Joliet beginning Dec. 15.

The novena of Masses, several of which will be celebrated by archdiocesan bishops, is a joint effort of the archdiocesan Office for Asian Catholics and Filipino community. For information, contact the parishes or the Office for Asian Catholics, (312) 751-8305.

 

Pope: Rediscover Sunday Mass during Advent

Pope John Paul II encouraged Catholics to rediscover the importance of Sunday Mass during the Advent season.

The period before Christmas is a perfect time to reflect on “the meaning of Sunday, its ‘mystery,’ the value of its celebration, and its significance for Christian and human existence,” the pope said.

He made the remarks at a noontime talk from his apartment window above St. Peter’s Square Nov. 28, the first Sunday of Advent.

 

Faith and history flow through the heart of a pastor

Cathedral parish honors Bishop Lyne

Auxiliary Bishop Timothy J. Lyne is a pastor at heart: a pastor of the people in Holy Name Cathedral Parish, where he has served for 39 years, and for the senior priests of the archdiocese.

Lyne, 85 years old and 61 years a priest, was honored by the cathedral for his service at a gala dinner Nov. 19. The morning before the event, he sat in his office, taking calls about funeral arrangements for Msgr. Bill Quinn, who had died earlier that day.

Despite having retired as an active bishop nearly 10 years ago, he retains his duties as vicar for senior priests and liaison for ecumenical and interreligious affairs, and he remains involved in the activities of the cathedral as its pastor emeritus.

 

Report from Iraq: Chicago chaplain brings the sacraments to scattered American troops

Cmdr. Brian Simpson, a U.S. Navy chaplain, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago who was ordained in 1972. He is currently assigned to Iraq. This is his second report.

 

In my first article I told about the journey to Iraq, a place that has become so much a part of the awareness of the average American that its mere mention conjures up all kinds of images. What I will tell you about next you may not have seen on the news, but it is real and it is true.

 

 

Burke says work on review board deepened her faith

Although it meant raising “holy hell” with some “recalcitrant bishops,” her work as a member of the National Review Board deepened her faith, said Justice Anne M. Burke.

Her 29-month term as a charter member of the lay board that monitors church compliance with sex abuse prevention policies transformed her into an active Catholic, said Burke, who has been interim head of the board since June 2003.

 

Confidence breeds competence

Loretto sisters bring education, encouragement to immigrants at Mary Ward Center

“Congratulations!” reads the display on the Mary Ward Center’s wall. “We are so proud of you!!!”

Lovingly mounted by the three Loretto Sisters who live and work at the center, the display bears photos of the students who come here each week to read, write and speak better English.

But it’s their smiles in the pictures that say it all.

“People feel so good about themselves, get so excited,” said center staff member Pat Pendleton. “It’s so wonderful.”

Since 1999, Pendleton and the other sisters at the center have helped hundreds of Hispanic immigrants on the South Side learn English, prepare for GED tests, master basic computer skills—and feel better about themselves in the process.

 

Puppetry offers new look, new light for nativity story

As the music begins and the tall, stylized puppets make their way up the aisle, through the audience, to the sanctuary, all eyes turn and follow them.

There, larger than life, are the characters in a story most Catholics have heard repeated since they were infants: the nativity story.

 

---

top