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Issue of April 30, 2006
The following items are condensed. For the complete article, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 655-7777.
NewsUpdate
Stem-cell funding draws criticism
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s controversial move to spend $10 million for embryonic stem-cell research drew quick criticism.
“It’s a sad state of affairs when the governor can get away with awarding $10 million of taxpayer money to fund research that some find immoral,” said Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois following the governor’s April 24 announcement. “There are no rules to ensure that the money is spent properly and there is not a conflict of interest.”
The church opposes embryonic stem-cell research because it involves the destruction of the embryos. It encourages research using other stem cells which have been helpful in medical cases.
Uninsured Week
“Cover the Uninsured Week,” May 1-7, will raise awareness of the nearly 46 million Americans who are living without health coverage. The church, through the Catholic Health Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, has worked for access to affordable health care for all Americans.
Catholic health institutions plan enrollment and health fairs, prayer and liturgy services, and lectures. For more information, visit www.covertheuninsured.org.
Syro-Malabarians to build church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Community in Chicago will break ground for its own church July 1 in Bellwood.
Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath, the bishop of Syro-Malabar Diocese of North America, will lead the ceremony. The new church will cost approximately $7 million and is expected to be completed in July 2007. The Syro-Malabar Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in communion with the Church of Rome. The church began and is still centralized in India.
Mater Christi sets shrine rededication
Marking the 50th anniversary of the Mother of Mothers Shrine at Mater Christi Church, North Riverside, Bishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller will preside at a rededication ceremony at 3 p.m. May 14.
The statue is being cleaned and repaired, and a backdrop constructed. The statue, carved in Italy, depicts the Blessed Virgin and Christ Child looking upon a modern-day mother and infant.
People News
Mary Iannucilli has been named the new assistant superintendent for high schools in the archdiocese effective July 1. She has been principal of Seton Academy, South Holland for seven years and also served as principal at Lourdes High School and as a consultant for the Office for Catholic Schools.
Talk May 12 on postpartum woes
A forum on postpartum disorders will be held May 12 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Our Lady of the Wayside, 432 South Mitchell Avenue, Arlington Heights.
This goal is to increase awareness of postpartum disorders and to provide clinicians, pastors, parish staff and nurses with information. Speakers will include Cardinal George. This conference is sponsored by Advocate Healthcare Parish Nurse Ministry, the Archdiocesan Women’s Committee, Catholic Charities, Elizabeth Ministries, Family Ministries, Jennifer Mudd Houghtaling Foundation, Office for Councils and the parish. For information, call (312) 751-8364.
Oldest St. Xav student
For Bess Friedheim, who will graduate from St. Xavier University in May, peer pressure is not a problem. At 82, Friedheim is “peerless” among her fellow students.
“When I walk through the doors of the school, I feel happy,” she said. “I don’t feel like I’m 82. I get a shock when I look in the mirror.”
‘Birthday’ pope seeks peace
Vatican City (CNS) — Celebrating the first Holy Week and Easter of his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI called on individuals and nations to turn away from their sins and accept the love, truth and peace offered by the crucified and risen Christ.
After presiding April 16 over Easter morning Mass amid thousands of flowers and blossoming trees in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict solemnly offered his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city of Rome and the world), and prayed for peace and justice in the most troubled areas of the world.
While a couple of people at the morning Mass held signs wishing the pope a happy 79th birthday, there was no repeat of the sung wishes that had filled St. Peter’s Basilica at 1 a.m. when the Easter Vigil ended.
‘Rights activist’ Peggy Roach dies
Peggy Roach
Human, civil rights activist
Peggy (Margaret) Roach, 78, ardent human rights supporter, died April 20, in the Waukegan home she shared with her sisters, Helen and Jane Roach. She was so closely aligned with the civil rights movement that she received one of the pens President Lyndon Johnson used to sign the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Though best known for her co-ministry with Msgr. John J. Egan, who died in 2001, Ms. Roach was involved in race relations before they began their collaboration. In 1961, she was administrative assistant at the Catholic Interracial Council of Chicago. After a move to Washington, D.C., in 1962, Ms. Roach was Social Action Secretary of the National Council of Catholic Women. In 1963, she was active in organizing the National Council on Religion and Race in Chicago. She marched in Selma, admitting the next day that she had been “frightened to death.”
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a column of benevolent
gossip
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And the winners are — Curtain’s going up May 4 on the 18th annual Awards for Excellence presentation by The Theatre School at DePaul University. The fund-raiser gala at Chicago’s Four Seasons Hotel will once again showcase distinguished artists for their professional accomplishments. This year’s recipients include two-time Tony winner, actor Brian Dennehy (“Death of a Salesman” and “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”); Tony Award-winning actress and star of “The Cosby Show,” Phylicia Rashad; and DePaul Theatre School alumna Judy Greer (“American Dreamz” and the recurring role of Kitty on TV’s “Arrested Development.”). Host and emcee for the evening will be Broadway director and another DePaul Theatre alumnus, Scott Ellis (“Twelve Angry Men”).
On a mission — The Serra Club of West Suburban Chicago will present a $3,000 award from the Ayres Foundation to Father Joe Noonan, of the arch’s vocation office for his program “What Is My Vocation?” Serra (not to be confused with The Sierra Club) is dedicated to fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It’s named for the “Apostle of California,” the great Franciscan missionary/pioneer Blessed Junipero Serra who founded nine missions (future cities) in the Golden State. When he founded California’s first mission in 1769, Serra was 56, asthmatic, with a chronic sore on his leg, and walked thousands of miles in his zeal for souls. For more info on suburban Serra Clubs, call (708) 386-2173.
Milestones — Project Love, the “charitable” arm of Illinois Citizens for Life, celebrates its 10th anniversary in April. It provides financial grants to pregnant women and needy new mothers referred to them from crisis pregnancy centers in Illinois. Contact Eileen McGleam at (630) 963-8039 to help in any way. . . . The Saint Sebastian Players are concluding their 25th anniversary season with a romantic comedy. As parishioners of the old St. Sebastian Church, Halsted at Wellington, they staged “Godspell” there in 1981. Two cast members, Libby Larkin and Jim Masini, thought the show must go on and on and on. And it has. Talented non-parishioners also joined the troop. When the church closed in 1990, they moved to St. Bonaventure’s church basement and have maintained a three-play season ever since. They’re good, and their productions are versatile, from Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde to Neil Simon and David Mamet. The ticket price you couldn’t beat. Bob Randall’s “6 Rms Riv Vu” runs through May 21, at 1625 W. Diversey, call (773) 404-7922.
Pope JPII updates — To mark the first anniversary of John Paul II’s death, Polish athletes, including military men and disabled persons, lit a torch from the candle next to the beloved pope’s tomb, beneath the main level of St. Peter’s Basilica. Then they carried it to cities that were symbolic for John Paul II’s life, like Assisi, the shrines of Loreto and Czestochowa, and his birthplace, Wadowice. They called it “Lolek’s Torch,” a reference to the nickname relatives and friends used to call him. The torch arrived in time for a ceremony at Krakow’s cathedral April 2. . . . Artist Kenneth-Michael Kaminski of Chicago, is the leader in religious and renaissance art- style blown-glass ornaments today. He says his designs have been inspired by the art and architecture of the Vatican, coupled with passion for his faith, and devotion to Pope John Paul II. After attending a Mass in the pope’s private chapel, he was inspired to form his own company called Michaelis. He has designed a whole collection of blown-glass ornaments honoring JPII in various vestments, and has since expanded the line to include angels, Madonnas, creches, saints and more. Artisans in Poland hand-paint them. Kaminski says the pope knew of his work “and the sisters in the papal household love them.” His remarkable variations can be seen on line at www.michaeliscollection.com for the serious collector, or call (219) 628-5594.
Parish potpourri — St. Nicholas Parish (Evanston) may be having an unusually upscale “rummage sale” this year. One donated item is a pearl white 1998 Lincoln Continental with leather seats and moon roof, 129,000 miles, tagged at $4,100. . . . Kindergartner Gabriella and sixth-grade brother John Nowobilski of St. Albert the Great School (Burbank), were chosen by the Polish Consulate to meet the president of Poland, Lech Kaczynski, on his first visit to the United States last February.
More memories of Father Lord — Earlean Zoll from St. Christopher’s (Midlothian) is in her 80s. She remembers being in a sodality called the Children of Mary in New Orleans in 1938 for the Eucharistic Congress and singing Father Lord’s “An army of youth.” She also recalls Cardinal George Mundelein being present for the celebration. . . . Former Chicagoan, Father Vincent Sheehy, pastor today of Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Venice, Fla.) reads The Catholic New World. He emailed to report he sang the song in 1948 as a 13-year-old student at Our Lady of Lourdes School (N. Ashland), “taught by the wonderful Sisters of Charity, BVM.” His dad was a Chicago police officer for many years and his cousin happens to be our present Chief of Police Phil Cline.
Send your benevolent gossip to:
Church Clips
721 N. LaSalle St.,
Chicago, IL 60610
or via e-mail.
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Movies at a Glance
Capsule reviews of movies from the U.S. Catholic Conference's Office for Film and Broadcasting, judged according to artistic merit and moral suitability.
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