May 2003

hunger and thirst

often exceeds the

need for food and water.

I

got my first real job in 1988, working in the School of Education at the University of Michigan. I had just purchased my first car and was able to park in one of the universitys parking structures located a short walk from the building in which I worked. My daily walk from the parking structure passed through a relatively sheltered area that was a favorite stopping place for several of Ann Arbor's homeless. In particular, I remember one man who could frequently be found sitting on one of the benches along the way. He always had a shopping cart that was filled with his life's possessions.

His hair was often disheveled and the look in his eyes told me that he had a great deal on his mind.

One spring afternoon, 1 was absent-mindedly enjoying an unexpectedly warm and sunny day while walking back to my car. Knowing the route by heart, I was startled when the homeless man appeared directly in my path, not more than a few feet in front of me. Shaken back to awareness, I stopped in my tracks. The man asked if I had a few bucks so he could buy some lunch. I had never spoken to him before, nor had he ever asked me for anything. A little shaken by his sudden appearance, alii could stammer was, "Sorry, can't help," as 1 ducked out of his The man ask£d if way and hastened to my car.

1had a few bucks 1 have been haunted by that incident ever since. 1 can still see the so he could buy man's face in my mind's eye. 1 also hear Mother Teresa's words, ~The some lunch. poor are often jesus in His most distressing disguise." I'm ashamed "Sony, can't that I didn't take the time to get the man some food. I'm also help," 1said. 1 ashamed that 1 didn't even take the time to learn his name - and so have been haunthe will always be "that man." "That man" could easily have been ed by that incijesus, hungry and thirsty. dent ever since. 1 Although I am not proud that I chose to do nothing for the man, hear Mother that incident has forever changed my sensitivity to the hungry and Teresa'S words, thirsty I encounter each day in my priestly ministry. I have also "The poor are learned that hunger and thirst can take many forms, beyond the often jesus in His need for food and water. There is also spiritual hunger and thirst most distressing that come to our doors every day. Meeting any kind of hunger or disguise." thirst takes compassion, sensitivity and a willingness to be stirred from complacency.

Cal and Irma Torres have worked for many decades to share faith in Christ and Christ's love with many of the migrant workers who call our diocese home during the summer months. The Servants of God's love and the volunteers at Emmanuel House help to provide comfort, warmth, and love for residents of limited means who are reaching the end of their lives. Kristen Hemker followed a curious path that has led her to work for Right to life, protecting the unborn. We also have a special section that looks at the hunger for both justice and peace in light of the war with Iraq. Hunger and thirst, in whatever its form, can be found in any stage of life.

While 1 can't go back and change my actions 15 years ago, I can and do still learn from that day. And so our journey in FAITH continues.

- Fr. Dwight E:op Is Editor In Chief of FAITH Mag;ulne 111\d pastor of the Catholic: Community of SLjudc, DeWin

-

_

I

'1

!

\; t:!

!'

~·~ J'lH ~

MJy 1

~J. ti.t•·,; · ".> :JS

t:

~"t.,J

•:J:J

:Jc~br

o' H.' t.l

l.'(!l P/:ly

2

<Jc :

f ''

,l •. ·.~

J.J ... r.:·, '"':

c~t I'':. M.!,)

E' [)

·:r ,Jn ;u~q·h 1:c· \'~·t:~:<

From the Bishop:

Raymond and going to Church:

Did you know that Jesus and His 'good news' is about justice? My family taught me a lot about being just. Especially, my uncle August, who was a simple man who shared his harvest with religious sisters who cared for orphans. 10

ul can't help it that God wants us to worship on the same day that sports are played.ft To go or not to go? That's the question for TV's Raymond. 16

In the know with Fr. Joe Fr. Joe: What gives the Church the authority to determine what is right and wrong?

6 The Journey: What can you do when your kids scream 'it's not fair?' 17 Work Life: After Enron, we may be more tuned in to problems at work: guide to speaking up.

21 plritual F'ltness:

Make this examination of conscience. It will help you become aware of your various relationships and find peace. 24 Last Word:

Our Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness contents

Cover

Cal and Irma are children of immigrants. After Cal witnessed the unjust treatment of some migrant workers, he and Irma have edica ted their ives to including the excluded.

31

EXCLUSIVE: A Soldier's Story:

How war changes you Gen. Steve Repichowski on war, Iraq and faith.

26

An advocate for the unborn: Why did Kristen dive into political controversy? Her faith - and she has seen the tragic impact abortion has had on lives. 18

Parents' Guide: Even though Saddam is out, you may want to still talk to your kids about war.

29

Advocates for the sick:

Pope JPII: The war is not between religions.

30

PLUS: The Vatican's Fears: What would you do if you were poor, alone and sick? Meet the Emmanuel House sisters. 20

faith Most Reverend Carl F Mengeling PUBUSHER

Rev Charles Irvin fOUNDING EDROR

Volume 4 : 1..u• 5 Mey2003

Rev

Dwi~ht

your thoughts: on war, jesus driving and

fava beans

[ -Mail· letters@faithmag.com Or M"il: Letter to the Editor, FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa, Lansing, Ml48933

Ezop

EDnoR IN CHIEF

PatriLk M O'Brien MANAGING f.DROR/CREA11V£ DIRECfOR

Alton Pelowskt ASSISTANT EDRORIWEBMASTER

jtllanejob SUBSCRIPTIONS/SECRETARY

Evelyn Weitzel SUBSCRIPTIONS

Patnck Dally GRAPHIC/WEB DESIGNER

Rev William Ashbaugh Jan DeRossett Elizabeth johnson Rev joseph Krupp Ronald Landrair Patricta Majher Cathleen McGreal Rev Daniel McKean Erin Oakley Most Rev Kenneth J Povtsh Tim Ryan Duane Ramsey Sr janet Schaeffier, OP Carolyn Smith Elizabeth Martin Solsburg cotmuaunNG WRITERS

Margaret Perrone PROOFREADING

Christine jones james Luning (cover) Philip Shippen COtmt~BunNG

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Wllyne Case David Fenech Rev Matthew Fedewa Patricia Garcia Diane Nowak Margaret Perrone james Rhadigan Ricardo Rodriguez David Rosenberg Rev. james Swtat Peter Wagner Sharon Wimple ADVISORY BOARD

Rev Cedh~a WEB MIN

Paulette Burgess Elizabeth Martin Solsburg FAITH...,.,_

Rogers Printing PRINTING

---u--.. -. . .

Famt(usPSo,...3, ... _ _ , . . . , . _

=.,co:::~~_:.~

.... ......___.... __ ,,,...,__

_._. Dear Fr. Joe and FAITH Mag - I just wanted to

else~. To try to think about jesus in the simple subjunctive maize a comment regarding the could too easily (for me, anyquestion in t/1e March 2003 way) go into j udging, secondissue sent to you about Mary's guessing, assuming about Him. "firstborn Son" and (Jesus) hav- l would much rather adopt ing other brothers and/or sisters. something lihe 'WDjD?', meaning 'What Did jesus Do?', or I have always felt tlwt you and I, and all people are her even 'What Does jesus Do?' second born. And I believe the This would also prevent misdisciples /mew that when teach- applications of the basic coning and writing tlte Bible. jo/111 cept, by sticking to the Gospel _._. Patricia Majher's and Mary at the foot of the record, as written by the cross is the example. We arc Evangelists. aalso lille FROG article (FAITH Magazine, - 'Fully Rely on God!') March 2003) reminded me of d1e brothers and sisters of recipes from my grandmother. jesus. And we have been adopt· - Ann E. Stitt She relocated here from Sicily ed by her as we arc by God. To in the 1920s and has since me, it seems only right that if .... To Everyone at FAITH passed away. l would very God the Father would adopt us Magazine, I really hope you much like to try the 'Java bean then the Mother of God would are happy now! l can barely and vegetable soup' recipe follow suit. And I feel that for have a dinner conversation but can't find the Java beans. me, by recognizing this small witlt my 15-year-old daught Does Patricia or anyone else point, it only increases my love on the day FAITH arrives at FAITH know whae in our and devotion to Mary because l because her head is buried in it diocese they can be purchased? realize her love and devotion ... and when she docs finally I live in Ann Arbor. for me. The greatest gift is to speak its things like, "Mom, -Joseph Giardini discover the love of God !11e thercs an article on the just Father. And how wonderful it is War Theory in here, we better Editor's Note: If readers to add to that discovery Mary~ save it." motherhood to all of the world Thanhs a million for every can't find fresh fava beans, I'd suggest they try canned - each and every one of us. The "Spirit-inspired" Faitltmag. fava beans. If they can't find Protestants are really missing - Mary Lou Hahn·Setta SL Mary Parish, Ch....a out I those, a substitute bean might be the lima bean; it's Thanh you and God bless

also a large, flat bean ... ...... Hello, I work at the Diocese or Rockville Centre, NY. I am the proud mother of Officer Steven Tarricone. I would lilze to profoundly thanlz Kathy Funk

(story) and james Luning (pic· tures) for the incredible story about Steven and Amanda (March 2003, cover story).

God~ blessing to all. Please let everyone lmow at FAITH Magazine I send my sincere thanks and pravers, 'J A very proud mother,

=:;:;t::;;~J'~~~:;::..=;.:.::u:•./Uno~r-&'~1 !-.:::...... {i(l~pci}J) - Unda CaHone

-POSTIMSTER:Send_ ,__to:

Fll1li. 3DD W. a.-, a-.., 111•11:a. C Colllole

ofL-.. .. _ , _ _ . , . . . . . , ...... "'l!lmt..._ ... 342-DlocOM

(817) - . - - , 1!117) ~2-2515

- H. .lher Ro1Mt1s

- Patrlda Majher

.... I was in the hospital with my aunt the other day and read the article which talked about Mary's seven sorrows (March 2003) and

how site overcame them. It also gave prayers to pray after caclt paragraph. I really liked this article and would be so appreciative if you could email it to II+ To the Editor: WWJD? me or tell me lww I could print (FAITH Magazine, jan./Feb. it off. Thanh you for your time, 2003) I never did like that acronyrnic motto, wellmeant though it may be,

- Kyleen Young

and also - as we have seen subject to abuse. My concept of 'W' meaning 'Would,' would be be different from everyone

out many articles from FAITHmeg.com. While there, sign up for FAITHhelps - it comes monthly via e-mail.

Editor's Note: You can

the problem of evil: hen is violence ok?

E

ven thought the regime of Saddam Hussein has fallen, the problem of evil still confronts us. There are any number of responses to the question of evil, many types of analysis. For instance, from whence comes evil? Why does God allow evil? And so forth. The immediate question that faces us is: How should we confront evil here and now? It's a larger question than that of the moral legitimacy of the war and occupation of Iraq. Other questions arise: 1 The death penalty - is it morally legitimate?

2 When should law enforcement officers use deadly force?

3 When should dangerous, hig~ chases be employed?

4 When should human life in a woman's womb be constitutionally protected from deliberate extinction?

These ques1ions engender debates over non-violence vs. the use of deadly force. We read in John's gospel of Jesus making whips and driving people out of the Temple. Un 3: 14-2 1) To be frank, the Prince of Peace used violence. How should we interpret that? Yet we find Jesus mute before Pontius Pilate. What are we to make of it all?

Read the rest of Fr. Charlie's artlde on FAITHmag.com discuss these questions In our online discussion forums

TEEN Online Reality Check:

how would you handle missing out on your dream job?

Y

ou've worked hard to get a promotion at work, and you don't get it.

So, what would you do: A Claim they're playing favorites and continue working - upset about not being treated fairly.

8 Quit and find another job where your abilities are appreciated.

C Congratulate the peraon who got the promotion and continue your work, just hoping you'll get the next promotion.

Ask what it is you need to do to have a better shot at the next romotion and work to improve your standing with the bosses. - l'aui ck Rln~r Is d lrccl<>r of you1h mlnlslry fnr 1h~ DloccK nf lansing Take this and other Reality Checks only on FAITHteen.com Sign up for this free monthly e-maB magazine just for teens.

-

' th

"1

•• ·: ·) 1.\;1;· "'! 1

'Than'-< yo. fur 9 1v ng tu the DSA- 01o::.csan

Sc-rv•cc~

Aprl enl

he refrain of an old song declares, "Every Tom, Dick, and Harry's name Is Jim!' If you're reading the New Testament, you certainly might agree. There's Jim - er, James, that is - the son of Alphaeus; James, the brother of the Lord; James the son of Mary, brother of Jesus; James, the brother of Jude; James the Lesser; and James, the bishop of Jerusalem. Hard to keep them all straight? Not really. They're all the same person, the saint known as James the Just.

James, whose feast day Is celebrated May 3, was called "the Just" because of his great holiness. He is the author of the Letter of James, which instructed Jewish con· verts throughout the world about how to live a james was called holy life, including the importance of good by jesus to be a works as an expression of faith. disciple some James was called by Jesus to be a dis· time after the call dple some Ume after the call of James, ofjames, son of son of Zebedee, which led to his ldentlfl· Zebedee, which cation as James "the Lesser:' He, along led to his identifiwith John and Peter, were considered pillars of cation as j ames the early Church, and St. Paul met with him " the lesser." He, about how best to carry on the mission of the along with john Church. He was one of the first to see the and Peter, were risen Christ. According to one legend, after considered pillars the Crucifixion, James said that he would fast of the early until Christ returned. The resurrected Jesus Church. He is the appeared to him and prepared a meal for him author of the Himself. letter of james, WhJie James was among the Church which instructed leaders who said that Gentile converts to jewish converts Christianity did not have to follow the about how to live Jewish laws, he chose to follow not only a holy fife. the traditional Jewish practices, but went beyond to the stricter Nazarlte vow. He did not drink wine or eat meat, he did not cut his hair or anoint himself with oil, and he never wore sandals or any clothes besides a single linen robe. Writers descnbed his knees as being as hard as camels' hooves because of all the time he spent on them in prayer.

James was martyred In the year 62. Although he had the respect of most people, some of the scribes and Pharisees were jealous of his hold over the people. He was thrown from the walls of the Temple for refusing to renounce his faith in Christ, then atoned and clubbed to death after he fell, still praying for those who were killing him. He is usually shown in art holding a book and a club. He is the patron saint of phannacists, fullers and hatmakers, all of whom use clubs in their work. - Elizabeth Johnson

what ives the

~aulholty

to tell us whats right and wrong Dear Fr. joe: What gives the Church the authority to determine what is right and wrong?

As far as I know, there is nothing on birth control, capital punishment, genetic engineering and/or cloning in the Bible.

Doesn't it just hurt the credibility of the Church when they are wrong (i.e.

Galileo)? hat a packed question! What we have here is a super-relevant question with a lot of layers, so let's get right to it.

First, let's start by making sure we are on common ground. I am teaming that there are, basically, two groups of people who ask questions such as these. The first group desires to team Gods ways so that they can follow them. The second group asks the question to co1lect "Gods opinion." They then decide if they agree or disagree with it.

My presumption is that you are in the first group. You, like holy people for thousands of years, say in the words of King David, "Teach me your ways

So, who articulates Sacred Tradition? What gives these "know-it-all theologians and bishops" the right to tell us what to do? Now, technically its not "what" gives the Church authority to determine right and wrong; its "Who." As Catholics, we believe that Jesus gave the apostles authority to interpret Sacred Scripture and Tradition and guide us in our walk withf'l"A Christ.

W Therefore, who gives them the right?

Ultimately. I, you and anyone oh Lord, so that I may walk in modem moral issues are, who accepts that the Church them." We seek what God well, modem, they are not was established by Jesus Christ when He gave Peter the teaches so that we can follow it. mentioned in Scripture. To This is the call of Catholics tackle this problem, we look keys to the kingdom. everywhere and at an times. So, at the issues that are menIn the end, I hope we take the teachings of Sacred how do we seek those ways? tioned in Scripture, and we As you know, Scripture look at Scripture and Sacred What gives these gives us clear explanation of who God Tradition and write them "know· it-all bish· into our hearts and become many moral issues. For examis, and ops" the right to pie, adultery. murder, stealing, what He people of life. I hope we see tell us what to desires for and live the words of etc. are wrong. Caring for the do? Ultimately, lowest members of society humanity. Scripture that our bodies are me, you and anyWhen we temples of the Holy Spirit and obeying God are essenone who accepts do this, a (by the way, when I got tial. God loves us passionately that the Church and intensely. All these things dear, con- dressed this morning. I was established noticed I seem to be adding (and more) are clear. sistent by jesus Christ. vision of Scripture also gtves us on to my temple ... ). I pray clear understanding of God: life emerges that points us that we see that everyone we who He is, His love for us, toward the answers to ques- meet is someone for whom tions not yet asked when and His desire that we have God laid down His life. I abundant life, and a future Scripture was written. This hope we team that the expe· full of hope. process is the beginning of rience of life is so sacred and However, seeing as though Sacred Tradttion. blessed that we want to

.,...,.. While on vacation, I stopped to fiJI my tank, but apparently, everybody else did too. When l finaJly got to a pump after a significant wait, the guy at the pump next to me said, "Crazy, isn't it, Father? It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip." I laughed and said, "I know, it's the same in my line of work."

may question

)

what is one of the worlds worst injustices?

• ""• There is no doubt that there are terrible injustices in the world. As Pope John Paul ll explains, "The social injustices of the past, unfonunately not yet overcome, are being compounded in many regions of the world by still more grievous fonns of injustice and oppression." (Eva~ ~) We may choose to hide behind ignorance or inaction, or instead diagnose and solve the problems. We asked parishioners of Holy Splrft Church, Hamburg, "What is one the worldS biggest injustices?"

"The world has been fed a lie with contraception and abortion, and young people are paying lhe price!'

Bob Christltln

make sure that the dignity and value of the human person is articulated and defended in all our decisions. l find it excellent that you brought up our past mistakes (Galileo). We need to remember these mistakes so that we can see that these nawed vessels of God still are capable of offering us a perfect vision.

Despite our past sins, the Magisterium (teaching authority of the Church) has never erred in declarations of faith and doctrine. As Dr. Cooney at Sacred Hean Seminary put it "God writes straight with crooked lines." I love that line.

It reminds me that perfect per'? ~ . ormance is not a prerequisite .:::,rr serving God. We remember our past, not so that we can be paralyzed by guilt, but so that we

can be free to accept God's gratuitous, unearned love with pure hearts. Have we made mistakes in the past?

Oh yes; we've made some doosies! Will we make more in the future? l would assume so. Will God still guide, protect and love us?

Absolutely. Blessed be the name of God. Enjoy another day in God's presence!

"For God, love and life arc so interlinked as to be indistinguishabJc. Wltere God gives His love, God gives His life. Wltcre God gives His life, God gives His love. n - Alice von Hildebrand. .)

• •• ••• •• •• •• ••• •• •• • Send your Questions to: "In the Know with Fr. Joe" FAITH Magazine 300 w. ottawa, Llln•lng, Ml 48933

Or: JoelnBiack@prlest.com

"Poverty and lhe distribution of wealth. Part of lhe world is 80 poor, and we are 80 rich: Zita Dacpano

"The fact that milions of children don't get a chance to live because of abortion: joan Hutchinson

From the Catechism: The Church's Authority

guidance of the Church's living Magisterium, "unfailingly adheres to this faith~ ishops, wHh The mission of the priests as co· Magisterium is linked to the workers, have as their definitive nature of the first task "to preach the covenant established by Gospel of God to all God with his people in men," In keeping with Christ. It is this the Lord's command.

Magisterium's task to preThey are "heralds of serve God's people from faith, who draw new dis· deviations and defections dples to Christ; they are and to guarantee them the authentic teachers" of objective possibility of prothe apostolic faHh fessing the true faith without "endowed with the error. Thus, the pastoral duty authority of Christ!' of the Magisterium is aimed In order to preserve the at seeing to it that the Church in the purity of the People of God abide in the faith handed on by the apestruth that liberates. To fulfill tles, Christ who is the Truth this service, Christ endowed Willed to confer on her a share the Church's shepherds with in His own infallibility. By a the charism of infallibility in "supernatural sense of faith" matters of faith and morals. the People of God, under the (ccc 888·890)

B

"' Interested In priesthood? Contact the Diocese of Lansing Office of Seminarians: Fr. Karl Pung (517) 342·2507.

((

He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried -

As we pmy the Creed, we quickly move from the binh of jesus to His suffering and death. There IS no mention of His life, ministry and His teachings. To us, that may seem very strange.

However. when we remember that the Creed was originally written as a defense against the heresies that plagued the early Church, it docs make sense. The frnmers of the Creed felt no need to affirm the hfe of jesus because that was not being diSputed. What was in dispute were the implications of jesus' life and mm!Stry One of the things that stands out in this aniclc of the Creed is the reference to Pontius Pilate. He has the distincuon of bemg the only person other than the members of the Trinity and the Virgin Mary to be mentioned in the Creed by name. Why would this happen? Again, the original purpose of the Creed provides the answer. Among the heresies of the early Church were that some disputed the death of]esus (and, by implication, his resurrection) as historical reality. The best way to refute this was to link the event to an actual historical figure.

1'7"\ As we look at the original words of the Creed - and their omis\..Ysion of a renection on the life, ministry and tcachmgs ofJesus - it is important to remember that even though Jesus' death and rcsur-

1 we Has the cross lost meaning to you? Explore how your . . can change by rallec:tlng on IL Before a crudftx:

•••••••••••••••••••• ...... Meditate on the cross: We pray this prayer orten during the Stations or the Cross.

The Stations help us to meditate on the meaning of the death and resurrection of jesus.

We adore you, 0 Christ, and we praise you because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.

•••••••••••••••••••• ...... Adore the cross: veneration invites us to honor the cross in an act of love. On Good Friday, the Church proVIdes a ritual that also helps do this by remember· ing the Paschal Mystery.

This is the wood of the cross,on which has hung the Savior of the World. Come, let us worship.

prey whet we believe

~

hospital or to those confined to their homes. Make them aware that they are active members of the Body of Christ through their suffering.

3 Spend some time with people 6 ways to live the who are suffering In addition to story of the cross: hospitals, nursing homes, and • ••••••••••••••••••• homeless shelters, you may find •••••••••••••••••••• ...... jesus calls His followers them in courtrooms, counseling ...... Read Galatians 2:19-21: to pick up the cross and follow centers, dining rooms, classrooms, Paul says that he has been cruc1- Him. The Son of God picked up finance meetings, cocktail parties, research labs, and your own home. the cross of human suffering fied with Christ and now Christ lives in h1m Think of the sorj esus accepted His cross and the 4 Be alert to /tow your altitude rows that you have had in your cruelty and pain mflicted on toward suffering contributes to Him, without resisting. For Paul, your daily responses. life. Pray that these unite you with Christ crucified Realize that raw, ugly suffering was the way 5 How can you use various forms our salvation was accomplished. of communication and technology He lives in you.

•••••••••••••••••••• 1 Reflect on the d!fference between to voice your support or opposition to important issues of jus !ice and ...... Begin your day by slowly accepting and taking up the cro;ss making the sign of the cross: What crosses have you accepted? human rights?

What crosses might you take up for 6 Since your mmd and heart ca Do th1s with a large gesture on go places your feet and hands your body as a reminder that all the sake of others? that you do today is done under 2 Volunteer to take the Eucharist cannot, in what ways do you to those who arc suffering in the think globally when you pray? the care of God ...... Pray a prayer rrom Mass: Take a few moments thts week to renect on the words or one of the memorial acclamations we pray during the Eucharistic Prayer: Lorrl, by your cross and resumelion you have set us free . You an: the Savior of the world.

. . When putting your chitdrcn to bed at night, sign them with the cross while saying: Remember God loves you and so do I

-Sr. janet Schaclllt:r, OP, 1111 Adrian Dominkan sister, is Associate Dlm:tor or d~e Ollitt ror Ca~cchctlcs~Rcligious Education or the Afclldioccsc or Detroit

u n i n t' - p a 1 t ' t

,

1

t: s

tl 11

t h c c r c c d : p a 1 l -f

rection are the key saving mysteries, we are indeed also saved by all the events or jesus' life.

Our lives, our work, and our ministry are linked most closely with His. jesus' lire was crucially important.

The way a person dies punctuates his or her life. It was the life jesus lived that led to the cross upon which He died. jesus' death is an exclamation point or profound love for us and unwavering obedience to the Father -the way he lived His whole life, taught us and called us to live our lives as daughters and sons or God. This important point or the mysteries or jesus' entire life is seen in the ,-,(~fact that the new mysteries of the rosary, the Myslclics of light, -......: ..; commemorate five events of jesus' ministry

about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ." (Salvifld Dolons, 19l died - The giving or jesus' lire was total gift. There was no greater way jesus could show His love for His Father. jesus was the totally loyal Son. He let the Father!; love fill His life. jesus was speaking or Himself- not just His followers - when He said that one must die to live, one must lose in order to win <t-.btk B:-1·38>. His love demanded that He give the greatest gift.

It!; easy to see why we shy away from the cross. It!; not that it!; too painful- it!; that it!; too great a sign of Jove. We don't often love that fully and maybe we're embarrassed when God does. OUt faith journey. it seems, is a gradual coming to accept the unbelievable tenderness of God. To be a member of Christ!; body is to die every day. and rise every day.

For as we die, we rise. Salvation is letting jesus bind us to Himself. He is God and with God; He is human and with us. H the power of His cross is in us, then with Him, we too are lifted to new life (U.C 628)

and was buried. We don't often think or the burial or jesus He suffered - It seems that the clement of the Creed that is as important, but it is. It is proof positive that He really dted. the most straightforward and clear is the element or life that is the most unclear - suffering. Yet, this may be the most imporThe Interesting fact is that in this instance burial was not normal. tant and consoling pan of the Creed for many of us; for who has Why? Because, sadly. historians confirm that few or the crucified not confronted suffering? Pope john Paul II writes, ~In bringing were buried at all. (cl J ohn 19.26-27, Roman.s 8.29, &\'d:ulon 12.17) ~ Radical Teachings of Jesus I!I>IJI. Q·~(~ l:f th! r!':\o:::-~; ,_;!!!ilL'> 0 ."/(ll) C rl;( If Pd VJ,t~ beCdlJ Sf~ :) :r'P ... .1y H£! rrwd a~·d i ~::w He ta1.>,r·: God tS a ' ov1r~g Fa!IH".

L;rk!! 1 : 1·13 God·s .ov c ::; !or eve ryone Mt. 2? 1·1 .-;. :r; :Hl ;n:! L::kc 10 ~9 :r; The Rergn of God

Mwk

God

1S

1,

1S

hr.r"

1 20. 2{) 3:.>

rnemful

: L~.• ~e 15:1 3::> Repent, believe th1! good new~; tl""d ;rnlate J£~:Js· irfP. o• ~£~rvlcf! · . ' Lu~c 1H 9·14 and

Mt. 2:<:l14fi ~.r:c.eot

Jp.sus - a<X:ept tbc eros;. !

LLKP. , 2 • ::l 21 ' 11 :-J 2? 30. 16 1g 31 The l ord I S prese nt 1n Hrs

by v·e H:.>ly Sp1r:t· .Job:! 14 1 ti 18 . ?5 -

C'1u·d~

:J6 1{)1 - '5 ? 11 5- 19

10 Drive

nme Reflections

. . Reflect on these questions while driving to and from work Then share them with your spouse, or friends, or m parish

5 In what situations are we tempted to abandon those who euff8l'?

6 When bad things happen to good people, how do I react to those who blame God?

groupin~:

1 What would you say to someone who said that they could not undenltand why Jesus had lo suffer and die before He roM? 2 How does an awareness of the Paac:hal Myslely (Jeeus' deeth and resurraction) help you cope with disappoillln lint, aidcnesa, or loaa? How could it, or has it helped you comfort olhens?

3 What have I learned from my pensonaiiiOITOWS and sufferings?

4 What opportunities have I had to share in another's suffering?

What have I learned from their peraonaiiiOITOWS and sufferings?

8 Thoee actions of Jeaue which evenwally led to His crucifixion and death were loving, aelf· giving, teaching of the.Father's love. Think of a time when you were pensecuted for living out ~ convictions. What was the result?

9 Jaeue taught not only through

1 The mystery of the croaa ia

that -one must die to live, one must lose in order to win:' Do you see that mystery present in your life? Have you or have others you know ever had to lose in order to win, to die in small ways in order to live?

Hia worda,·but through His actions. He taught mercy and compassion. Recall a time when you expraeaed mercy or compassion for another. What was'painful, joyful, frightening or powerful in your experience?

What did you give up and what did you~?

'10 Read the Paeaion narralives from each d the four Goepels one scene at a time. What cflffar. ances do you note? What imprasaiona of Jesua emerge?

Each year at the peal< of harvest, Uncle August opened the farm to the Carmelite Sisters. l can still sec the happy faces of these religious and their girls and boys cheerfully doing the hard work of harvesting.

Before I share some ways I began to experience 'righteousness' or 'justice,' it's good to recall some truths. Remember the beatitudes reveal jesus and His followers.

They're about who we are (being) and what we are to do (doing). All eight depend on each other.

The fourth beatitude is a 'reality check' for us. How tragic if we stop with the first three. Number four and the rest tell us that we, like jesus, cannot live in an ivory tower above and aloof from the rest of

humanity. The real poor in spirit, humble and mourners over evil in the world have a partnership in jesus' mission. The first three beatitudes set the stage for the rest.

They are the dispositions (mind-set) and spiritual power that fuel the 'doing' beatitudes. The last five depend on those three.

We learn from the Scriptures that in ~ preparing for the Messiah, the God of the Covenant is protector of rights between persons and peoples. The Hebrew word for

Top: Fourth In a series of glass mosaic panels on display at the new Michigan Catholic Conference headquarters, Lansing

Photography by Christine jones

'righteousness' refers to someone proven tme. Its scope is the entire covenanted life of a people true to God. The thankful covenant people extend God's goodness towards the neighbor, even aliens and strangers. Like Yahweh, they are advocates of the poor, widows, orphans, laborers and all who suffer injustice. jesus and His 'good news' is about justice: "As you did it to the least of my brethren ( "t.ou did it to me." His teach· _ ng on the two great commandments makes clear that Christianity does not require us to simply "render others their due as a minimum."

Rather, it demands love, which is an insatiable desire for justice. Those who are concerned about injustice, lovelessness, hard heartedness, helping the poor and weak and fighting racial and ethnic hatred encounter jesus. He will say, "Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom, for I was hungry and you gave me food ... " To hunger and thirst for justice is to seek God's goodness in our world. With all our heart we want that goodness to be in everything that hap· pens. For the real Christian, this is not optional! "Love ~ ~our neighbor as yourselP' is he Christian life. All of us can tell about the people in our lives who share God's

goodness. Here are three boys in Hammond. Each year at the peak of harvest in unforgettable people who lived jesus' teaching about August and September, being righteous. They Uncle opened the farm to opened my eyes. the sisters. They and their My earliest teacher of charges and other helpers jesus' righteousness for the descended on the 40 acres needy and hungry was my with all kinds of containers. mother. Her cheerful and They harvested all they homespun goodness became wanted: tomatoes, peppers, a legend. During the awful beans, corn, cabbage, etc.

Depression in the 1930s our Many of the sisters were from Italy and knew the art mom was a great teacher about how to be righteous in of canning. I can still see the jesus' way to the hungry and happy faces of these religious needy. We had lots of visitors and their girls and boys cheerfully doing the hard because our neighborhood work of harvesting. was close to U.S. 41 and U.S. 6, and the busy Erie During my seventh year as Railroad was not even a half a priest, I was assigned to block away. We often teach for four years in a seminary, college and high watched hungry drifters sitting on the back steps or the school, and resided in a parish. Several blocks away, yard bench eating mom's leftovers, sandwiches and along Lake Michigan, was one of the premier restauother goodies. We called them "hobos" or other rants in the Chicago region. names, but our mother saw The owners were from my them with the merciful eyes parish. It was the heyday of of jesus. annual ClO conventions Uncle August, one of with ten thousand youth. mom's brothers, worked his Fifty ClOers of our parish 40-acre truck farm until his signed up to go to Kansas death in 1969. These farms City, but they needed money. grow a variety of vegetables.

The word had hardly gone On Fridays , he drove the out when we received a loaded truck to the Blue check for them, covering Island Market in Chicago round-trip travel and hotel and sold the produce. He costs. It was from the restaualso taught us about jesus' rant owners. There were two teaching of righteousness to surprises as I arrived at their the needy. Carmelite Sisters home to thank them. The operated a home for girls in house and restaurant had the East Chicago and one for same address. There was no

Find Web video excerpts and Wl'ftlnv• of Blllflop Mengellng only on FAITHmag.com dick FAITHtoday or FArTHmedla

mansion; just a bungalow. 1 met two happy and generous people who lived simply, by choice, and as I later knew, spread Gods goodness to the needy of all kinds by sharing their wealth. That same year, a local family lost everything in a terrible fire. Help came quickly with a hdty check from thiS good couple.

Whoever needed, whatever tragedy occurred, this couple was 'Johnny on the spot." Several months before I left for my first pastorate, the wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had a truly holy and happy death.

Pope john Paul II writes in his 1987 encyclical On Social Conccm: "Preference for the poor is a special form of the primacy in the exercise of Christian charity to which the whole tradition of the Church bears \vitness. It affects the life of each Christian to the degree that one seeks to imitate Christ ...

"This preference for the poor, and the decisions it inspires in us, embraces the immense multitudes of the hungry. the homeless, those without medical care and all without hope of a bener future. To ignore them means becoming like the 'rich man' who pretends not to know the beggar Lazarus lying at his gate."

e

- Most Rev. uri F. Mrngdlng 15 the: founh bishop of lansing.

May 2003

11

FAITH Mag:~zlnc

~~

Cal recalls one Incident that, forty

the people. He returned to find that the

At times, however, Irmas love and her devotion to God were tested. "It is hard sometimes, you know, as a mother, to put God before even your children," she says, explaining the sacrifices involved in ministering to the migrant workers. Family meals were lost to their children while they tended to their duties in the evenings at the camps, and Cal spent weekends away from their home as he studied to be a deacon. Still, they followed their hearts and would not have been happy doing anything else. Their children understood this, and Irma finally came to realize this after many years of worrying.

In their living room, Cal and lnna have high school pictures hanging of their five children. As Inna shares the age of her oldest son with a slight surprise in her voice, she looks to Cal, who smiles his confirmation. Their children are now all well-educated, successful people. Cal and Irma must have imbued them with a self-confidence that comes from a loving, close-knit family. Their love is apparent, and it speaks of life as it should be good people going into the world with the strength of a loving family behind them.

The addition to their house, which is used for family gatherings, opens up outside their kitchen, which includes a large, long table.

From the beginning of their ministry.

Cal and Inna have included the excluded at their table. Describing his ministry, Cal opens his arms and says, "We tried to make sure these people know they are welcome here.

We welcomed them."

The migrant workers - especially in the early days when Cal worked with Fr. Peter Dougheny. who first took Cal along to minister to them -were once considerably more reclusive than they are today.

At one time, Blissfield alone had seventeen camps, each camp with about two hundred people plus children. As the produce farmed in the area has changed over the years, the number of workers has changed and is now a smaller number than it used to be.

Cal recalls one incident that, fony years later, still raises ire in his voice. He had staned collecting clothes and gave them to the 'leader' to distribute among the people. A leader is a man who makes the contracts with the farmers for the peoples work. He usually owns the transpon, a truck, as well. The next time Cal and Fr. Dougheny came to visit the workers, they found out that the leader of these people had sold them the clothes Cal had collected. He vowed to himself it would never happen again. Cal shakes his head ruefully as he speaks of that day long ago, thinking of how that man took advantage of the workers he had tried to help.

During the 1960s and 1970s, Fr. Bill Carotin, whom Cal considers his mentor, received the first funding for the migrant program from the diocese. It was also in the late '60s when the program staned that would eventually allow Caito be ordained \ ) a deacon, serving at St. Mary of Good Counsel, Adrian. It was a special bilingual program designed to address the needs of

Your gift to the DSA makes Important ministries like this possible. Ir you haven't made a pledge, consider doing so today by calling (517) 342-2503. Thank you.

!&rs

later, still raises Ire In his voice. He had started collecting clothes and gave them to the 'leader' to distribute among

,ader of these people had sold them the clothes Cal had collected. He vowed to himself It would never happen again.

~ Spanish-speaking Catholics. After his

ordination, Cal and the other deacons were able to give the sacraments to the migrants, fulfilling a dream of service to God. Irma heard a different calling. She became the coordinator for the Migrant Program for the diocese at the time. She put a lot of thought into the way she handled things. For instance, she knew it wouldn't do to bring a box of clothes for a large group of people and tell them to take what they wanted. This would result in chaos, and no one would get what they needed. Instead, Irma put together laundry baskets with basic supplies, like soap and food staples, and delivered them personally to each family. This way, she could assess their needs, find clothes that would fit them and treat people with greater dignity. "Regardless of what you do, each person has dignity." she says, as Cal nods in agreement.

Both Cal and Irma stress that being welcoming is the important thing.

Greeting the workers, they would C'-.-prcss \. themselves as "Catholic representatives of the diocese." Their hospitality has always been motivated by belonging to the same Church. Through building community, they made the Church a continuous presence in the lives of those they served. For instance, every spring, they would often have what Irma calls "icc-breakers," which involved playing softball and having sandwiches and Kooi-Aid, or playing bingo or another activity that would bring people together.

Each year, the work starts in June, with strawberries, as migrant families come up from Texas or Florida, and some men come from Mexico or even Central America. And the work continues, from peppers to pickles, until the apple harvest. The religious education programs for the children have to be scheduled around this. Cal and Irma explain how the migrants often did not like going out from the camps to go to Church. They always liked to stay by themselves, which was a big factor in how they were minis( 1 tered to. Now that there is a bilingual -...- Mass at St. Mary of Good Counsel, more of the migrants arc coming, Cal says.

tt.

f

At the end of the year, there is a big fiesta, and the sacraments are celebrated - first Communions, baptisms and even maniages. Irma has several poster-boards filled with pictures from the fiestas. little girls with bright white dresses and even brighter smiles; boys with their hair combed down flat on their heads, with big toothy grins and shiny blue neckties.

It is a beautiful, grand celebration. One might assume the first Communion clothes are donated, knowing how expensive they can be. Yet, Irma explains,"They would buy their own first Communion outfits. Its special. Its a special day for them, and this is something they feel they have to do.~ All the food for the fiesta used to be made by church volunteers. Now, they make an effort to have some dishes made by the people for whom the fiesta IS celebrated. "They also want to contribute to their own fiesta," Irma says. "It is better this way." She waves her hand in a little gesture, as if thiS is self-C'-.-planatoty- and it is. Its about sharing a table. We each need to bring our own gifts. ln many ways, Cal and Irma have come full-circle in their lives. Although of retire¡ ment age, Cal still is active in his ministry.

Irma shares a story about their youngest son, who grew up to have a successful career, and when he landed an overseas job, he had his parents come over to see Europe. "That was something," Irma says, "because all the doctors told me that it was either him or me when he was bom 1had a problem with Rh-ncgative blood." She continues, â&#x20AC;˘Âˇwe were supposed to die but we didn't. God saved us.

"Anyway, ... our son took us to France.

We saw all sorts of places,~ Irma says, gently pleating a napkm by her tea cup.

"But we went to this one church where they had all the Old Testament stories in stained glass.~ She raises her hands, in remembering all the light streaming through the windows. UBecause, you know, people back then couldn't read, and it was so beautiful with all the light coming in." She pauses and looks at Cal. "And it came to me how we were there with our son, you know? And with all that light shimng, it came to me, how

according to the doctors we shouldn't even be here."

One night long ago when doctors were wrong, God was right. People often see the world from a limited perspective, but Cal and Irma Torres have a talent of seeing beauty through the eyes of God. The story of Michelangelo sculpting the statue of David comes to mind. When he went to the marble quarry to look for a suitable stone, he noticed there was a superb piece of marble that had been set to the side, because it had a large flaw running through it. After thoroughly looking around, he decided he must have it, despite the flaw. Michelangelo, as a great artist, had a fine passion for his art and used that flaw to make his statue of David a masterpiece. And when asked how he sculpted such beauty, he said he only removed enough marble to reveal the statue that was already there. He saw through it to the beauty inside.

Perhaps when we sec migrant workers, we see poor people in block houses who need our charity. When Cal and Irma sec them. they see brothers and sisters in Christ who arc beautiful. ~The migrants' sense of sharing is more profound,~ they say. When they sec migrant workers, they sec ways to use their imaginations, to fire their passions, to bring them together - to unite them as community, unite them as Church. ln a way, its an an . .1)

.... Numbers: 12.5'111 of U.S. population Ia Hispanic I 3R of U.S. Catholics ... Hispanic 17t._ of the U.S. C.lhollc population growth since the1880s due to Hispanics. - -

..

Migrant Ministry: In the spring and summer, the number of faithful In the Lansing Diocese swells by 4,000·plus.

T

1 with their pastoral needs~

mIn I s t r y f o c u s

'W!!!!!!!~IIII!!!!!!!II!!!!!!!J

h~t's. ·~~;~ wr:x: •

ers travel north from wann southern states, or from California, Mexico, and South America to pick

area crops.

According to Serapio Hernandez, director of the diocesan Migrant Ministry department. the workers end up in one of 31 camps in Washtenaw, Uvingston, L.enawee, Eaton, Jackson and Ingham coun~es.

Ats Hernandez ~ Cristo Rey Parish, lansing, formed the ministry in the late 1930s or early '40s for its large Hispanic Catholic community. While the state has taken care of the workers' social needs, the Cathoic Church has done its best to provide for some of the spiritual needs of the migrants. Head of the department since 1996, Hernandez explains, "I deal mostly

Typically, the workers are in the fields six days a week. On Sundays, some of the priests, including Bishop Cart Mengeli celebrate Mass at the camps where the workers also live. "The migrant workers reflect the average Catholic. They attend Mass when they are able~ According to Hernandez, all but a very small percentage of the workers are Roman Catholic.

Because of the seasonal nature of harvesting crops, some workers have other jobs. "With skills in other areas, some retum home to go into construction or carpentry or they work in canneries or perform other labor," Hernandez explains.

Wages and living conditions vary. "Some fann owners have very good (wages) for the workers. Others do nollt all depends on the financial status of the owners. The state regulates the housing very well. The owners must have suitable housing," Hernandez stresses. He adds that the majority of migrant workers genuinely enjoy working in the fields.

Martin Espino, 17, qualifies that statement "Not all the time," he says with a hint of amusement When school is in session, he works in the fields five or six hours a day. He picks peppers, pickles, and strawberries alongside his parents,

to gp or not to go? that5 the

questioB for 1VS Raymond •• Everybody Lov8s

same day that sports are

~And I adml1111

played!' This is Raymond's first line d defense for his

I do too, especlaly the episode that deal wllh why . . doeiWl want to go to duch . . . . flmly.

0

n stage and olf, Ray

Romano ia a Calhoic.

His show is one of 8 vetry few that~ includes nMgious wcntip as a normal part d family ire. In one particular episode, the whole famiy is dreeeed and rea6j tJ leave for church when RaymonCI walks into 1he room in his Dalhrobe eating Cereal w d a bolt. iJhe v.+10ie famlly, including his rT10ihlr and father, atands there ataring at him. The reel cl the aliow is 8 elisa aiOn ci wl?j we go tJ clut.h. the excuaes we make m*J home. and a rerflinder of what cfUcti should mean to us.

Ml can't help it that God wants us to worship on the

~. Heisa

spor1s'Milar and needs to watch 1he games. His \We pOkes through that lame excuse by rerriilcf~ng him that the games ~'t start until later in the day. Raymond tails her.that she is forgetling about the Rf'8"9BI118 show tvld the pre pre-game show.

MHey, I am 8 good peraon. I don't need to go mduch m ~that I'm a goodie, goodie!' Raymond's second atlampt to defend himself is one of the moat common excuses people offer. He isla al d the goog things that he does throughout the day. He is one of the finest examplea

era vr•-• ..... "'.Th;til~

~ """~- ~:...:....

1.11

going to cludl would be redundant ctual is for those who need allenliol~t or to work out their guit for haN

they lived.throughout the week. Raymond shares the popular theory that. "I can worahip God at home - in ~ C7M"I WtrJ tvld in the P-rivacy ci ~ own heart."

Uce Ra}mcnfs -Mrs. I am aN.tlys amazid at how l:riiant an argoom moat~ think 1his is. It's ad1Jally one d the lamest argwnens that I haY& ever heard. Here's Yhy - nof.ing else in otr life wori<s ike this! Famiy Ia, rnaniage, work and aociely - all d these revolve artx.r.d aclivett living 0 relaliol L • See how lniv. ll IIIMR· ""'"' your~ or job would

last if you &ved wilh the same attilude. It COiilfliBtely misses the point and shows that we have not only lost our sense of the meaning of won!hip. bla also the Vf!lfY basics of communal life. Sunday Mass inYolves not only 8 ~ ion with our: brolhera and sistens (say that again: brolhera and sisters) in faih. bla alao 8 Communion with (U' God. lv!. ia the case in most f1R1Y epieocfe. Raymond realzas that his hunor and fBJj lnrNSI"8 v.111 not aDow hin mget past the Y.ildom and loved his ..... ~he~ up fighting

• ~

Your gift to the DSA makes important ministries like this possible.

Martin and Maria, and his brother, Marcos. He also has a little brother, Mario, and a little sister, Maggie. Martin's parents are originally from Mexico, but the family has lived in Fort Mead, Aa., the past few years.

Martin was bom in Berrien Springs, Mich.

Martin, who has been working in the fields since he was 13, goes to high school in Blissfield, near Adrian, when he is in L.enawee County. He lives at Judson Camp. Fr. Thomas Helfrich, OSFS, pas· tor of St Mary of Good Counsel, in Adrian, usually offers Mass at the camp. "My Catholic faith means a lot to me," Martin says.

Asked what he would ask God if he were granted one wish, Martin's answer is not unlike any other teen's with dreams: "That I could graduate from high school and go to colege~ - Carolyn Smith ,.... For more on Hispanic Ministry and Migrant Ministry In tha Diocese of Lansing, contact Seraplo Hernandez at (517) 342·2498.

"I can't help it that God wants us to worship on the ~e day that sports are played." This is Raymonds fii:st line of defense fnr his non-worshiping. How does his TV wife respond?

•

and begins b li9len. Rlr:,m9nd final~ looks at his y,;(e and says. "'kay, you tel me. 'Mty do you gob duth?" This C8UII8S her to~ and rellect. Her 8fWNer isn't going to oome from a book, or acmedism, txt tom her heart ·~." she answens, "I QIJe!SSI go llecause·1wart to l<rtaN that there is 80f'rding more than myself- someo11e m sornethilg grealef. Vvhen she goes to church it is an experier,ce that we caD transcendent - we rise, or are ifted abow the amalneaa of~ ae1ves m expes iaiC8 the preeenc:e of the great Other, God. This gives her &fe meaning and a P.Uf'" pose that she doesn't experiei1C8 anywhere else. She, like us, is I'Ellrinded that we have a OMor whom we WDI1Ihip, low and serve. We do not belong to our.selves, nor is there tnYthing else ,. has 8lrj grealer meaning.

Ouch -that <XJmiTlliial experience of won!hiping God - chw8 us out of our namJW, self-cenlared

and even mea litlgless existence.

"I don't know," she conlinues.

"There's something 8bout being there with all those people that ~me strength m nouiehment dtmg the week." We find

our strength and nourishment thi"QQ..Qh our~ We are a oommunal people who come togelher 10 give thailk8 and remember. Vvhen one of us

decides that I don't need to be at church we have lost the importance of us. We need you to be there, as acme clay you wil find

that you need us.

In the end, Raymond goes to d'uch..He has found meaning for himself,and his famiy. He no longer quealions ~ or says, WOo I have to?" He i'eliehes in the privilege and awesomeness of it al. Who says there's nothing goOd on television? - llr. Dan Mc:Kean Is pastor of SL Patrick parish, Brighton. l!lnd his weekly columns under FAITHtoday on FAITHmag.com

eorge EHot wrote, "Justice Is like the kingdom of God: It Is not without us as a fact; It Is within us as a great yearning!" Soon after toddlenJ start to speak, parents begin to hear the words, "It's not fair.'

Children and youth have a strong desire for life to be "fair.' This hunger for jus· tioe needs gtidance, and it can be compared to the hunger of the body.

Parents provide the •big picture" in regaro to food choices: "Candy tastes good but it doesn't give your body what it needs to stay healthy. Wny don't you help me put peanut butter on these celery sticks?" Children also need help in developing an undenltanding of justice so they see the "big picture~ ·~Comparisons with others. H Is natul'lll for children to compare themselves and their "lot In life" to others. After all, adults start mak· ing comparisons when they first set eyes on a child, saying things like, "Look, he has Uncle Brack's nosel" or "Her eyes are the same color as Grandma's." But comparisons can lead to feelings of deprivation and the all too familiar phrase, "h's not fair~ ·~ Justk:e Is not "getting what I want!' When they were preschoolers, I don't recall any of my children cry!ng out, "It's not fair - my cake is twice as big as his I• Too often, our sense of fair· ness rests on getting what we feel we deserve.

Advertising highr~ghts all the things we could buy, until these items seem like · needs" instead of ~wants~ If children eat whatever they want, when· ever they want, then their bodies become unhealthy. Ukewiae, if we try to provide al their material desires, then it is difficult for our children I"Z:i~~·~l_' to develop the Gospel's sense of justice. ~· Working as a team for justice. Parents can bu~d a team concept in regard to family resources.

For example, saying "We can't go to Disneyland because Donna needs braces," may lead to resent· ment among Donna's siblings. Instead, explain the financial decisions at the chid's level of undenltand· Children and ing. "We have money for everything our family youth have a needs, but not for everything OtM" family wants. StiN, strong desire for we get to have a vacation this year, at a camp- hfc to be "fair." ground right by a lake~ Will the children be disap- !his hunger for pointed and upset? Most ~kelyl But parents can JU~Ucc needs . . children and help them leam to cope gUidance, and tld guide thear b . . . "'ri . . disa . . can e compare with disappomtments. 88• it 15 ppoanbng, to the hunger of especialy when so many of your friends are tal<ing the body. about how much fun it is at Disneyland~ "Your word Is a lamp to gulda me and a light for my path!" (Paalm 119:105) Tl1c Catechism of tl1c Catholic Church notes that, "The education of conscience is a lifelong task!' (1784) The witness of parents living the beatitudes guides a child's finJt steps along the path of justice.

- Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a professor of psychology at Michigan State University and a cenificd spiritual director.

Mil)' 200.3

17

FAITH Magazine

Kristen says: "I grew up wH

by their own parents, w

Kristen has seen some of the tragic impact abortion has had on peoples lives.

"Women are suf.

fering physically and grieving their dead children

several years later;" she explains.

"I feel very blessed to work for something I feel so passionate about and privileged to be a part of the greatest civil rights issue of our time," says Kristen Hemker, who works as the Legislative Liaison for Right to Life of Michigan. "I was led to this job because of the organization's mission to respect and protect all human life from the moment of conception until natural death."

By Duane Ramsey I Plwtography by Christine jones

"My conviction comes from my family and my faith, n says Kristen, who was raised Catholic in Branch County near Kalamazoo. "My parents taught me to respect Gods precious gift of life through their living example and openness to God," she explains.

Kristen believes her parents' decision to practice natural family planning strengthened the love in their marriage and family.

In addition to her six brothers and sisters, her parents opened their home and hearts to several foster children who had been neglected or abused.

"I grew up with those children the pro-abortion movement refers to as 'unwanted,"' Kristen says. '!hough some of them were perhaps 'unwanted' by their own parents, we wanted them. We loved them. Each child is a beautiful creation of God's and deserves life and love. ~ Not surprisingly, her parents have been long· time advocates in the pro·life movement, too.

Her mother, Rita, served as president of the local Right to life affiliate in Branch County.

Her father, Tony, supports the pro·life cause through his involvement in the Knights of Columbus. They show by example what they taught Kristen from a very young age: •If we do not respect human life when it is most vulnerable, we cannot respect it at all.a The Hemkers adopted their youngest child, Theresa, when she was a baby. Kristen, who is 13 years older, was chosen to be her godmother. For Christmas one year, Kristen recalls receiving a framed picture of Theresa. When giving it to her, Theresa said with a smile, ul know you collect those."

After high school, Kristen went on to attend the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. There, she majored in business administration and became involved in the Students for Life organization. "It's a pretty strong group for being on a secular campus,.. she notes.

Upon graduation in the spring of 2000, she expected to go into business and likely leave her home state - but she was steered in another direction. One of her friends saw an ad for the position with Right to Life and encouraged her to apply

~

)58

children the pro-abortion movement refers to as 'unwanted! lbough some of them went pemaps 'unwanted'

mted them. We loved them. Each child Is a beautiful creation of God's and deserves life and Jove!'

~r it. Kristen reviewed the ad and learned they wanted someone with legal or legislative experience, which she did not have.

After interviewing for various business positions with several companies, Kristen found herself coming back to the opening at Right to Life. She interviewed for it and was offered the position.

Since August 2000, she has been a registered lobbyist with the State of Michigan, working with legislators, the governor and state government to support pro-life legislation.

Kristen also does public relations work for Right to Life in the Lansing area, speaking to classes and conducting interviews for newspaper articles, radio and television broadcasts. In the two and a half short years that she has worked there, she has seen some of the tragic impact abortion has had on peoples lives.

"Women are suffering physically and grieving their dead children several years later," she explains. "The men involved also suffer long-term emotional consequences."

"An important part of my job is to educate people about the life of the unborn babies," says Kristen. If people knew about the development of the life in the womb and the reality of abortion, she believes that nearly everyone would be pro-life. "I hope it's just a matter of education."

She points out that many of the founding proponents of abortion rights are now pro-life. Norma McCorvey, alias ·~ane Roc" in the Roe v. Wade case, has switched sides and is now a vocal anti-abortion activist. McCorvey went public with her identity in the 1980s, and she has wrinen an autobiographical book, Won by Love. Now ~0. she operates a ministry called Roc No More to fight for the tights of the unborn and counsel pregnant women in Dallas.

Even Dr. Bernard Nathanson - who led the movement to legalize abortion and was the director of the largest abortion clinic in the U.S. -has admitted his personal responsibility for taking thousands of innocent lives. "He now works within the pro-life movement to try to save people from repeating his mistakes," explains Kristen.

"If anything, this job has strengthened my faith," Kristen admits.

"It requires more prayer than the typical job would. Going to the Lord in prayer is so important in preparing for my job. It would be too easy to despair if I didn't go to the Lord for help."

Knowing that there are a lot of people in the legislature who support the right to life gives her hope. "Its interesting how much legislators really open up when they talk about their faith and their position on abortion," Kristen says. "There are a lot of perks in my job mostly based on faith. I get to talk about something I'm passionate about and share my faith with people."

Still, Kristen recognizes that her responsibility to defend life extends far beyond her job. "To be Christian is to be pro-life," she says. "Abortion goes against everything jesus taught." At the last judgment, she believes we will see how all of our decisions affected other people, for better or for worse. "We will see how a vote for a pro-abortion political candidate caused yet another roman to 'choose' abortion and suffer the rest of her life as a l' esult of that choice."

The picture of her sister Theresa- which is in a pink, heartshaped frame -now sits on Kristen's desk at the Right to Life office in Lansing. it serves as a constant reminder of why she's there.

Find dally changing Catholic news and features on FAITHmag.com

Acknowledging that living her Catholic faith is not always easy, she often tells herself, "We are called to love. We are called by jesus to lay down our life for our friend. That friend is an unborn child, a scared pregnant mother, a post-abortive woman or man." ;Jj

• • • maCl1SIS

over an

Unwanted' "Rregtla!lcy? there is help: Diocese of Lansing Crisis Pregnancy Centers: • Adrian CPO Pregnarq Counseling & Services (517) 263-5701 • Ann Arbor Ann Arbor Ptegnancy Counseling Center (734) 93().()()13 Problem Pregnarq Help (734) 975-4357 • Charlotte A New Beginning Pregnancy Center (517) 543-7077 • East Lansing Pregnancy Services of Greater Lansing (517) 332.0633 or (800) 223-4442 • Fenton The Listen Cenler (81 0) 629-1876 • Flnt Ant Crisis Pregnancy Services (81 0) 767-7153 Rint Pregnarq Counseling Center (81 0) 767-1262 Heartbeat of Greater Flint, Abortion Alternatives (81 0) 232-31 01 Answer Center for Women (81 0) 234-7777 Cathoi'IC Social Services of Flint (81 0) 232-9950 • Howel Pregnancy Helpline (81 0) 632·5656 • Jackson Birthfine (517) 784-9187 Cathoic Social Services (51 7) 782-2551 Center for Women Pregnancy Counsermg (517) 787-4673 • Lansing Project Rachel (800) 968-0968 Shared Pregnancy Women's Center (51 7) 484-1882 Hannah's House (517) 482-5856 Sister's Maternity Home (517) 371-3128 • Owosso Pregnancy Resource Center (989) 723-4025 Catholic Social Services (989) 723-8239 • St. Johns Beacon of Hope CPO (989) 224-0328 • YpsllanU Family Ufe Services (734) 434-3088

.,., Project Rachel: is a cathoDe mlnislry that helps women and men who have had a baumatk: experience because of an abortion.

A team of trained counselors, clergy, and support group leaders are available to those who are seeking help with abortion issues. Don't be alTaid to get the f1e\l you need to find peace. Cal Wilson Peri<oNski, program director of the Diocese of Unsing Project Rachel office, at (51n 342-2581, or toll-free (800) 968-0968. Or, visit the Web site at: home.cathollc:web.cornlprojectnchel/ Your gift to the DSA makes imponant ministries like this possible.

~ "Mary and I ad as patients' advocates," say!

the most Important thing that the sisters and

Srs. Fran DePuydt and Maty Zielinski, members of the Servants of Gods Love religious community, have taken on the challenge of their spiritual lives. And they couldn't be more delighted.

The two sisters are the founders of Emmanuel House, a residential ministry based in Washtenaw County. Their focus is on elderly men and women who have limited income and family support and who - for their own safety- shouldn't live alone. ~Some have no family, or their children can't Lake on the added responsibility of caring for them," explains Sr. Mary "So we take them in, becoming their (surrogate) sons and daughters."

One of the unique aspects about Emmanuel House is that the residents live there for free. And no one is paid. from the board members down to the kids who mow the grass in the summer.

"Everything is donated in a spirit of se!Ocss service to our residents and the Lord," she continues.

The idea for this ministry originated with Sr. Fran, a physical therapist by trnde. "I've always wanted to take care of people, to take my patients home that didn't have nice places to go to: she says. Five years ago, she shared her concerns about elder care with members of her community and with friends at Christ the King Church, Ann Arbor.

A core group studied the efforts of the Human Service Alliance of Winston-Salem, Nonh Carolina, which pioneered the idea of operating care facilities using solely volunteers. Then, after much prayer and reflection, the group decided to approach the diocese about finding suilable shelter. "We'd hoped there might be a convent or other church building that was available," says Sr. Frnn. "Instead, the bishop and his advisors agreed to purchase a house for our use, as a dcmonstrntion of the value of human life to the very end."

A real estate search uncovered a rnnch-stylc home in nonhwcst Ann Arbor that could be adapted for wheelchair accessibility. In the summer of 1999, the first of three residents moved in.

The two women admit that the first year of operntion was rough. "We had a small volunteer base then, and had to cover all the shifts with just 22 people," notes Sr. Fran.

Today, about 40 volunteers share the responsibilities. "We also learned a IOL about what the residents expected of us," adds Sr. Mary, a geriatric social worker.

From the stan, Emmanuel House caregivers - which also includes Sr. Kelly MacDonald- have tried to accommodate the needs and interests of each resident. One senior loved to play board games, for instance, and volunteers got to join in the fun.

Another senior who was wheelchair-bound was interested in vegetable gardening, so an Eagle Scout constructed raised beds to accommodate her request.

Residents who are ambulatory arc often included in shopping trips. "One woman would go to Kman every day, if we let her," jokes Sr. Mary There was even an outing to Ypsilantis 'Eivisfest' last summer.

Srs. Frnn and Mary do point out thatthcres much more to life at Emmanuel House than emenaining the residents. "Thcres cooking and cleaning and helping them with their personal needs," says Sr. Frnn. "Whatever task needs to be done on a shift, our volunteers do it, with no concern for themselves."

The medical needs of the residents are managed by each persons primary care physician. "But Mary and I act as patients'

By Patricia Majltcr I Pltotograplty by Cltristine jones aud courtesy of Emmanuel House

Fran. The residents 1\ve at Emmanuel House for free. Yet, unteers of Emmanuel House can offer is unconditional love.

~dvocates," says Sr. Fran. That means driving the residents to appointments, getting their prescriptions filled, and keeping them company if a hospital stay is warranted. And, if the end is ncar, the sisters work with hospice agencies and their own volunteers to envelope the resident in an atmosphere of compassion, concern, and respect. One resident, named Mabel, drew out the humanity in everyone who came in contact with her during her final days.

"It was amazing to go and visit with her," Sr. Mary remembers.

"Every night of the week before she died, there was a group of volunteers who would come in together and pray the rosary for her.

She had a big double bed, and there were always a couple of people on the bed with her and a stack of folding chairs nearby. People would come after work just to be there for her and help hand her off to the lord.

During an experience like this, the most imponant thing that Srs. Fran and Mary and the volunteers of Emmanuel House can offer is unconditional love. "There is something very powerful about being loved in 40 different ways by 40 different people," notes Sr. Fran.

And those people range in age from children working alongside their parents to 70-somethings who arc the residents' peers.

The two women have nothing but good things to say about their volunteer staff. "Its not always easy to work here," Sr. Mary e>.-plains.

"You may not get all the warm fuzzies you want, but our volunteers choose to love in this way. They do things they didn't think they could do, and they find God in it. Its pretty amazing."

• To recruit volunteers for Emmanuel House, the sisters periodically visit parishes around the county. "And nearly all of them have responded.~ says Sr. Fran. One example is the work of St. Joseph parish in Dexter. St. Josephs Knights of Columbus Council was instrumental in renovating an Ypsilanti home that recently opened under the Emmanuel House banner, and the Knights auxiliary led the elTon to restore the landscaping. This second house, mongaged with the diocese, took in its first resident in December 2002.

Eventually, four elderly people will live there.

Another house means another corps of dedicated volunteers must be found. Sr. Mary, who is the Ypsilanti house coordinator (Sr. Fran remains at the first house), has already planted the seed among her neighbors: "A couple of people on this block and another lady around the comer have agreed to be caregivers." She can also turn to a novice from her mmherhouse that recently Joined the caregiving elTon: Rebecca Mierendorf.

Arc there plans to open any more Emmanuel House facilities?

"Ask me again in two years; laughs Sr. Fran, citing the challenges of the stan-up phase. But both women acknowledge their gratitude to God for allmving them to serve Him in this way. · Its such a privilege to do this" says Sr. Mary. "I cannot believe He lets me do this full time. I love it."

I

ministry focus

I

~~ Emmanuel House is supported solely by donations of

' ~oney or materials and volunteer time. If you would like to

make a contribution or become a volunteer, please contact Sr. Mary Zielinski at (734) 528·9031 or at e-mail her at ehypsl@juno.com.

FA""teen Is e free online megQine for INns. Sign up on FA""teen.c.m

L

ast year was devastating for the business c:ommunJty and

the economy. Large corporations were staggered and some destroyed as the restAt of unethical business practices. W'rrj did ~ take the financial ruin of hundreds of people before these problems were exposed?

It wolid be e8Sf to simply blame ~greedy" corporate officers - but was there nobody else throughout these organizations who were suspicious enough to challenge these activities?

Before we start casting stones at anybody, however, we need to first look at our responsibility in our own wori<places. For example, there were situations early in my career in which Iwit· nessed people being treated unfairly, or leaders taking advantage of their position. I ask myself now why I dkin't at least question that conduct.

One reason, I believe, is because since these may nave not been illegal activities. I thought I just had to accept that this was the nature of the workplace. Also, I wasn't wiling to risk my livelihood to challenge it You may be able to relate to experiences as subtle as these, or possibly to We each have a those of a mucfl more serious legal nature. In responsibility to either case we can see now e8Sf it is to suc- "raise the bar" of cumb to an ethical decline in the WOI'kplace. ethical behavior It Is a tough dilemma to know when to and not to fall victim take an ethical stand In certain situa- to the temptation tions. In the July 2002 issue of Worliforcc of placing priority magazine (p. 28) Joan Dubinsky, an attorney only on our material and business ethicist, offers four standards to security. consider when faced with this challenge: ~~ If uncorrected, the practice will cause hann to an individual or the general public.

Make sure that you have your facts straight and that the practice really is one that is questionable. ~~ Be fairiy certain that by bringing the matter before an outside group, the problem can be corrected and the harm avoided. There has to be a positive gain. ~~ Weigh the personal risks that you may face if you choose to be a whistle-blower. Fonner employees can be just as powerful advocates for change.

We need to 1ruly examine our own motives and actions and challenge 0tr selves to be God's light in the wort<place. We each nave a pen!008l responsibility to "raise 1he bar" of ethical behavior and not to fal victim to lhe temptation of placing priority only on our material security. As Pope Jolm Paul II explains in his encydical The Splendor of Truda, Jesus cals us to form our conscience to make it the object of continuous conversion to what is true and good. (84) Our hunger and thifst for righteousness must extend into the wort<· place, and only then will we find true satisfaction in our jobs and our lives.

~~

- Tim Ryan Is an information 1cchnology professional in Fowlerville and has earned 3 m:JSicrs degree in pastoral Sludics from Loyola University New Orleans. He is 3 member or SLJoseph Parish, Gaines.

Md)'.200J

21

FAITH M~pzln~

sunday roadlngs

things to do •••••••••••••••••••• FAITH would like to fea· ture some "good works" your teens are doing in our annual teen issue in September. It could be a Habitat for Humanity project, neighborhood cleanup, clothing drive for the poor, etc ...

Here what you have to do: 1) Send in name of the teen, parish/school and age (phone number) 2) 75 word description of the "good work" 3) photo (will not be returned)

Send to: TEEN Good Works FAITH Magazine 300 W. Ottawa Lansing, Ml 48933 or e-mail: editor@faithmag.com Deadline: May 16, 2003 Julie Ann Barnhill will be speaking May 1 at 7 p.m. at Queen of the Miraculous Medal Social Center, Jackson.

Married with three children, Julie's hilarious delivery and authentic confessions of her own struggles and defeats have made her a highly popular motivational speaker and author. Tickets are $15 and are available at the church rectory. Call (51 7) 7832748 for more information.

All are welcome to a 10 a.m.

Mass for catholic MSU graduates and their families and friends on Friday, May 2 at St. John Student Parish, East Lansing.

The 19th Annual Fr. Mae Dinner for the benefit of

Lansing Catholic Central High School's tuition assistance fund will be Tuesday, May 6 at the Kellogg Center, Michigan State University.

Featured speaker is Ernie Harwell. For more informalion and to purchase tickets contact the Development Office at (51 7) 267-2114 or(517) 267-2109.

A Day of llme Out and Reflection is for women of all ages. Women of dte Bible for Women of Today will be held May 17, from 9 am.-3 p.m. at St Mary Church in Durand. Suzanne Kovath, storyteller, dramatist and spiritual director, will facilitate.

Cost of $20 includes continental breakfast and lunch.

Contact Catholic Charities, Diocesan Council on Women's Concerns, Mary T. Newman at (810) 72o0280. Deadline is May 9.

JustFaRh, a one-day workshop on expanding and prometing social ministry, wal be held Saturday, May 17, in Jackson. National speaker Dan Driscoll will present the JustFaith program, sponsored by Catholic Charities USA For more information, log onto the Web site justfaith.org, call Barb at (517) 342-2470, or e-mail bpott@dioceseoflansing.org.

Building Bridges, a twoday remarriage seminar, will be held May 17· 18 at the Maryville Center, Holly. The seminar is for couples preparing for marriage where one or both of the spouses have been previously married. Some of the topics covered will be: Christian

Maniage, Communication, Family of Origin, Resolving Past Relationsllips and Stepfamilics. The retreat starts at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and ends at 1 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, call the Diocese of Lansing Family Ministry Office at (517) 342-2471 .

Courage is a Catholic spiritual support group for individuals who seek to live chaste lives, but are struggling with same-sex attractions and/or behaviors. Encourage is a separate spiritual support group for families and friends dealing with these issues.

Both groups are faithful to Catholic teaching and are endorsed by the Diocese of Lansing and by the Pontifical council for the Family.

Contact (51 7) 351-3315 for the times and locations of the meetings. All contacts are confidential.

St Patrick's Parish Festive~ Brighton, will be held May 3Q-31 . Friday's events with consist of games, rides and an adult dance.

Saturday's events begin with a 5K Run for everyone followed by a pancake breakfast Once again, there will be a craft show, entertainment, bingo and raffles. For information, contact the parish office at (81 0) 229·9863.

Joseph's Family is a bereavement ministry based on the area's (Ann Arbor) hospice bereavement program, but with a Catholic flavor. Anyone 18 and older can sign up for the 5-week series. This win help participants move through the

Find out mont about whet's heppenlng In the Diocese of Lansing on Dloceseo'Lanslng.arg

~

May4

Thlnl Sunday of Easter Acts3:13-15, 17-19 Psalm 4:2, 4, 7-9 1 John 2:1-Sa L1lke 24:35-48 May11

Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts4:8-12 fl'aam 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26,28, 29 t John 3:1-2 John 10:11-18 Mlly18

Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 9:26-31 Paalm 22:26-28, 30-32 1 John 3:18-24 John 15;1-8 May25

Sixth Sunday of Easter Acts 10:25-26,34-35,44-48 PBalm 98:1-4 1 John 4:7-10 John 15:9-17 June1 The Ascrnsfon of tM l.onf Acts 1:1-11 Paalm 47t2-3, 6-9 EpheSans 1:17-23or4:1-13 or4:1-7, 1 H3 Mar1t t 6:15-20

grieving process and onto the rest of their lives. Series are on-going, and there is no charge. To sign up or to inquire further call Barb at Catholic Social Services, (517) 971 -9781 x352.

Queen of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Jackson will have a Mass of Thanksgiving, celebrated by Bishop Carl Mengeling, commemorating 10 years of perpetual adoration. This Mass will take place on Thursday, June 26, in the church, and will be followed by a dinner reception in the Parish Soci Center. For more information, contact the parish office at (517) 783-2748.

-

o t h e r

r eviews

n e w s

'\cc

G.K. Chesterton: The AposUe of Common Sense

celebrates new building in Lansing •••••••••••••••••••

A

,_.., Wrth all seven bishops of Michigan and Gov. Jennifer Granholm present, Sr. Monica Kostielney, president and CEO of the Michigan Catholic Conference, welcomed more than 200 people to the official blessing and dedication ceremony Man::h 12.

More than 40 years ago Cardinal John Dearden established the Michigan Catholic Conference, one of the first in the nation, to serve as the public policy agency for approximately two million Catholics throughout the state.

Beginning in a small house in 1963, the conference, currently considered one of the largest and most influential in the nation, now enjoys a new state-of-the-art building in the shadows of the state capitol. The $1 3 million, four-story building includes technology that will enable communication with all Michigan dioceses.

Each floor, with its own theme and artwork, is open to the public. A stained glass window from St. Mary Hospital, Grand Rapids, was restored and placed in the chapel of St Thomas More, patron saint of statesmen and politicians. The building ~ features Venetian glass mosaics of the Eght Beatitudes, created by Sr. Mary Ignatius Denay, RSM. Sr. Kostielney invites Catholics from across the state to visit the building, located at 51 0 Capitol Ave., lansing. "The foundation of this building is poured in concrete but it is cemented in faith," she said. "This is a very sacred space~

s the best short introduction to the writings and person of the English author G.K. Chesterton, The Apostle of Common Sense renews interest in one of the most prolific and beloved Catholic writers of the 20th century. A perfect initiation to Chesterton for scholars and beginners alike, this book is designed by Dale Ahlquist to acquaint the reader with 12 of Chestertons most important works.

One of the most respected Chesterton scholars in the world, Ahlquist wrote The Apostle of Common Sense to complement his highly acclaimed l3· part television series of the same name. In only 188 pages, he provides a highly accessible summary of Chestertons writings, highlighting the amazing reach, keen insight and marvelous \vit of this literary 'gianL' He systematically examines Chesterton on topics such as faith, family, history and politics. ~His 'common sense' ideas set him apart from the strange and confusing philosophies of todays world,~ says Ahlquist.

(Ignatius Press; March 2003; ISBN: 08987085n )

How to Win the Culture War: A Christian Battle Plan for a Society in Crisis

By Peter Kreeft

0

- Erin Oakley (The Catholic Times)

Three Catholic schoolchildren have created a Web based business to raise money for The Pregnancy Helpline, a Uvingston County ministry founded 26 year& ·I!QO and formerly known as Abortion Alternatives. "The lady at church was so convincing," said Chrissy Redmondi one of the creators of cathollcSchooiKid.com. "I just want to help them help more people and save babiesl" The three sisters Chrissy, Karen and Kelly - attend St. Joseph School, \ 1 ~owell, and will donate the proceeds from the business to ,'The Pregnancy Helpline, which focuses on counseling and supporting pregnant women as well as promoting abstinence in schools. Of Michigan's 83 counties, Uvingston has has the fourth highest teen pregnancy rate.

.........................

By Dale Ahlquist

1

~; ~~~~~r:;: ;t·;a·r ~ ~;c~;~i~~ ;~ •

HOW TO WIN THE CU LTU R£

Peter Kreeft, realizing this is the first step to diagnosing the causes of our sodetys troubles. He takes a direct and c Hun u" concise approach, unconcerned with politi~:~":~~ cal correctness, as he critically examines the moral relativism and apathy of today.

Essentially, this 120-page guidebook is a valuable, short course in history, civics, PETERKREEFT philosophy and Scripture, to help equip Christians for the battle of their lives.

While many Christians deny or disregard our societys war of ideologies, many others misidentify our enemies. In an eloquent, educational and entertaining explanation, we are told that the nature of this batdefteld is spiritual. Our real enemies, Kreeft point out, are not of this world. He reveals "Satan's strategy for the new millennium" in a witty essay, reminiscent of C.S. Lewis' The Screwtapc Letters.

We are then provided \vith six practical ways to confront "the culture of death,n as our attention is focused on the importance of Pope john Paul 115 teachings on sexuality. This is because ones understanding about sex - and by implication, life itself- is at the center of the culture war. Lastly, the book concludes with an insightful discussion about why sanctity is "the strongest weapon in the world" and why everyone is called to sainthood. -Alton Pelowski

WA R.

(lntervarslty Press, june 2002; ISBN· 0830823166) MCiy 2003

23

FAITH Mag;t:inc

When jesus died and rose from the dead, He appeared to the disciples in the upper room. His first wordS to them were, "Peace be with you!" The apostles needed the lords peace. They had abandoned jesus. Most of them ran away and were scattered when Jesus was arrested.

Peter, the "rock," crumbled under pressure and denied jesus three times. judas betrayed jesus and took his own life. Scripture records only one of them being present with jesus when He died. All these events had just taken place, and the Apostles were full of fear. They knew a terrible injustice - the murder of an innocent man who was the Messiah - had taken place, and they felt powerless to do anything about it. Their relationship with God and the society they were in was shattered. They needed Gods peace. ~ Peace In Hebrew Is "shalom." Some think of peace as a feeling.

But the peace of Christ is much more. God's gift of shalom would mean that the person has come into a right relationship with God, with them路 selves, with others and even with nsture and the things of the earth.

Shalom implies well-being, and hannony between ourselves and all things.

When this hannony and well being exists, God's shalom has come to us; and yas, with it comes a deep feeling of goodness, wholeness, well路being, and inner peace. .... Most of us experience moments of this well-being and harmony. A friend of mine went hunting and experienced deep peace as he sat up in his tree, looked out upon the woods and field, heard the animals

and saw the birds fly through the blue sky and sunshine. He realized his oneness with creation.

He was of the earth like Adam and the created things around him. His mind was lifted up to consider the Creator of it all, and moreover, that the Creator of it all loved him. His faith had told him that he was made in the image and likeness of God Himself. In Jesus Christ, he could even call God his Father.

Just as my friend felt the peace of God come upon him, shalom can come to us when we grow in hannony with the order God has created.

Peace also comes when we recondle with each other and treat each other with justice. Another friend was standing behind me in a crowd once, hoping to say 'hi' to me. I was late for an engagement, and I walked away. Shortly after, I was intercepted by someone else, and again my friend was close by. Not seeing him, I walked right by. My friend didn't say anything to me, but was left disturbed by my actions.

Thinking I ignored him, he was angry and upset So the next day, the retaliation began. I was given the cold treatment. Ouch I Not knowing what was wrong, I was tempted to get angry myself. By the grace of God, I brought up the behavior with my friend, because I realized our relation was no longer right The peace and well-being of our rela路 tionship had been disturbed, and I wanted to do what I could to correct it. Fortunately, after a heart to heart talk, the misunderstanding was cleared up and

reconciliation occurred. The shalom of God had been restored, and we were happy again. God wants us to experi路 ence His peace. Jesus said, "My peace is my farewen gift to you~ or our exercise this month, we will do an examination of conscience to help us become aware of our various relationships and how we conduct ourselves in them. Shalom comes when a wrong relationship is made right. It comes through acting justly, seeking what is good and walking humbly before God

and others.

.

mmy relationship with God ...

Jlltlfl. Am I honestly putting this relationship above all others? How concretely am I doing this? Am I expressing my love for God through obedience to His commandments, for as Jesus said, "He who obeys the commandments he has from me is the one who loves me~ (Jn 14:21) In my relationship with God, do I open my heart to His word in my life? Is Jesus really Lord of my rrfe? "If He is not lord of all, He is not Lord at alii" Do I give myself time to spend with God? Do I just assume God win be there for me? What about me being there - being present to God? How much do I really pray f day? Do I give God quality or just the leftovers?

Dear God, help me right what-

More spiritual reftectlon? EnJoy past columna from Fr. Bill and olher wrttera by reviewing paallsauea of FAITHhelpa, the free learning companion lo FAITH onll

othor

news

VOICES Update: Pastoral Planning Continues ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

ever is wrong in my relationship wrth you. Dear jesus, grant me your peace and righteousness.

in my relationship with myself ...

• • Do I treat myself wtlh respect? Do I try to mairiain a balance in rrrt life between prayer, woti<, rest, play and time with family? Do I honestly look at bad habits and destructive pa1tems in rrrt life? What specific things am I doing that Will help me change bad behaviool? Wdhout a specific 1f1 for change in mind, I am ~ng dishonest with myself.

Dear God, hdp me to be honest in my relatiOnship with myself. Help me

to hrww myself so that I may be humble before you. Help me to accept myself. tire goodness that is then:, and accept the bad that is there, too - not to be complacent about change, but to aclznowledgc my constant need for your grace and peace in my life. Dearjesus, grant me your peace and righteousness.

.

mmy relationship with others ...

•• Do I try to love those around me - my family, rrrt coworket'S, my neighb<n and those I meet each day - on the highway, in the grocery store or shopping centers? What kind of 1 guage comes out of my 'mouth? What do I do that shows that I am loving them? Do I treat others with respect and dignity? mtm•g.com - Sign up tod•Y·

Do I use people? Do I think of my needs or theirs? Do I want to be served or to serve? Do I ask people what they need or would be helpful to them, or do I just assume what they need? Do I give to the poor and make a sacrifice for the poor? Do I share what I have with others?

Do I know that I am my brother and sister's keepe(c' Do I fight against grave injustices against humanity such as abortion? Am I aW819 and concerned for the needs of those in other countries of the world, doing what I can to be conscious of their needs and respond to them?

Dear God, help me to be just

and merciful, hind and forgiving in all my relationships. What 1do to others, I do to you. Help me to treat others as 1would want to be treated by you Dear jesus, grant me your peace and nghteousness

in my

relationship with nature ... )JoJtl> Do I have a real conc:em for mother earth and If so, how do I conaalely show It? How do I take care of my environment?

How do I work at limiting polution, and wesa? Do I abuse nature or respect it? Do I see God's hardwork in the flings around me, and goN n gratitude and thlri8gMng b crealion? Pl"ay h Canlicle of Creation's praise of God n Daniel 3:57-86orreadGenesis 1·2.

DearJesus, may I join with all ere· ation in singing your glory. Grant me your peace and righteousness.

- Fr. Bill Ashbaugh Is pastor or St. joseph Parish, Howell

.,...,. Orientation to the first phase of implementation of the pastoral planning process took place during the month of January 2003. lnfonnation was presented at four regional meetings on how to implement the Parish Assessment Tool (PAT) in the parish. Using the PAT, each of the diocese's 95 parishes will determine how the life of the parish and its mission aligns with the seven goals of the diocesan pastoral plan.

Some important things to remember as parishes begin the process: • This is not another VOICES process; • It is critical at the very beginning for the Parish Pastoral Council to determine who receives each section of the PAT; • Each parish priority must be referenced to one of the diocesan goals, objectives, strategies or statements of the PAT; • If no commission exists in a parish to complete a particular section, a group with an interest but without a personal agenda should be selected.

Slight Changes to the Mass: General Instruction on the Roman Missal (GIRM) Updated

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ..... After Vatican II, the rlturgical book which we use for Mass, the Roman M'ISSal, was revised. It was published in two separate volumes - the Lectionary (which contains the readings for Mass) and the Sacrament.ary (the book of pmyers).

In recent years, these books have received further updating. On February 28, March 1, 6, and 11 , Bishop Menge&ng and his Office of Wort!hip conducted four wori<shops on the revised Roman Missal and its General Instruction. This doctment tels us how to prepare and celebrate the Mass. AD the priests, deacons, and lay liturgical leaders of the diocese attended the wori<shops.

You won't notice too many changes at Mass- just some changes in posture and procedures for the ministers of Communion. Your pastor will be teaching you about them in the next seveml months.

Holy Family Parish, Ovid: Teens Fast for the World's Poor ••••••••••••••••• ~· The high school youth group of Holy Family Parish, Ovid, has recendy completed a l'll.ITlber of actMties, including a 24hour fast in order to show unity INith the less fortunate. They raised a~er $550 for Catholic Relief Services to help people who are living with HIV and AIDS. The youth group also sponsored a bottle return drive, an ice aeam social and soup and bread luncheon for parishioners. The youth sold orange ribbons to parishioners, who wore them in support of their endeavor.

"Going in, you need to understand what our military is about: Defending the country, defending the freedom and fighting our nations battles. You need to understand that going in." - Maj. Gen. Steven Repichowski, United States Army, Retired.

Committed soldiers do not question their orders. Yet, they are not robots, pre-programmed to perform a function of military duty- devoid of feelings and emotions. They are our men and women, our brothers and sisters, our fathers and mothers, our daughters and sons. They are our military. who by their decision have chosen to serve, protect and defend the United States both at home and abroad. They are the most recent in a long line of endless patriots from every possible background who bear arms on

By Ronald Landfair I Photos courtesy of Gen. Repicltowslti

behalf of their country. They train, they fight, they kill and sometimes they die.

Meet Steve Repichowski. Married for nearly forty years to his wife Diana, he is father of two adult children and grandfather of three. He is a retired major (two-star) general of the U.S. Army, former General Motors engineering executive and member of the Hall of Fame in the Military Science Department of Michigan State University. His great delights in these, his solstice years, are his beloved MSU Spartans, the Detroit "The only thing Pistons and the seemingly endless "honeythat goes through do" list of chores that all married men your mind is know well. survival.

And Perhaps those parts of his story would be you are scared enough for some, but there is much more. scared like you Steve belongs to a small fraternity of people wouldn't believe. who have borne arms for his country. have You just want to seen both friend and foe alike fight and die live.

There are on the battlefield and have lived to tell out there folks about it. shooting at me "I was actually a replacement for one of wanting to kill the soldiers in the Seventh Calvary who me, trying to kill was wounded in the Battle of ldrang Valley me - and you (a battle made famous in the recent film, have to respond When We Wen: Soldiers) in the fall of 1965. to that."

That \vas the first battle for the U.S. with Nonh Vietnamese regulars and took significant casualties. I was assigned as a 'forward observer' and my job was to call in artillery fire. That means that although I was assigned an artillery battery. I was further attached to an infantry company- Alpha Company, 2nd bat¡ talion, 12th Cavalry, which was the infantry unit. I worked with Alpha Company as we worked our way through the jungles, calling in artillery fire. Basically, my job was to call in anillery fire to suppon the ground unit I was working with in the proper place, at the proper time, with the proper ordnance. The biggest problem of course was knowing where you are in relationship to the target, which was not always easy in the dense jungle with overhead canopy (trees and vegetation). You have no landmarks or anything to assist you. This was obviously pre-GPS (Global Positioning System - a method of locating oneself or targets based on satellite relayed coordinates, the method used today). We used an azimuth (a compass) and previous strikes to pinpoint the target location."

Unlike most people, soldiers in battle may not rouse from slumber by the sounds of an alarm clock. They may be stanled awake by the sounds of shouting, gunfire and thundel\:lap explosions, and are suddenly expected to perform their duty. "The first time I fired my weapon in combat was during a 'firefight' (dose shooting batlle with enemy soldiers) on February 18, 1966. It \WS terrifying. It was night. I had never been under fire before. I had only been 'in country' (soldiers' slang term meaning 'in Vietnam')

*

Numben: Crtsls emong lnql citizens? t~OCKo of U.S. edults AY th- Is â&#x20AC;˘ hu

the emotions, the memories and the knowledge that you try to for less than a month. 1 really had no idea what to ~-pect. One leave behind you. Its a minute-by-minute decision making minute, you are sleeping soundly or as best you can, given the process of life and death that you enter into. A friend or foe can conditions. Its dark and all of a sudden all hell breaks loose, appear to be either, and sometimes both, simultaneously. requiring some quick decision-making. You have to know where "Its a decision that has to be made very quickly," Steve says. your equipment is. You have to get it. You have to get to the foxhole. You have to then do what you are trained to do. 1 would "1 can understand what our military is going through in Iraq.

As people approach these checkpoints, identifying friend or foe have to locate my radio operator and make sure that he and 1 is not always easy. We had the same difficulty. 1don't really were together so that we could then communicate with the know what the resolution to all that is, or if there even is one. anillery company to call in the necessary strikes." ln both situations (Iraq and Its a guarded sleep, as it Vietnam), we are fighting in usually is the entire time you are . . . . . 'in country.' "The only thing that Tite LORD IS my light and my salvation, whom do I fem.7 TI1e LORD their country. They know the goes through your mind is sur- is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid? When evildoer-s come at me to terrain, the environment and vival. And you are scared devour my Jlcslt, These my enemies and foes themselves stumble and the people better than we do.

They fit in better than we do, scared like you wouldn't believe. fall. Titough an army encamp against me, my hemt does not fear; we stick out like a sore and You just want to live. There are Titouglt war be waged against me, even then do I trusL" Psalm 27 folks out there shooting at me thumb. The identification of friend or foe is very difficult and wanting to kill me, trying to kill a split-second decision. Making those kinds of decisionsme - and you have to respond to that. ln the night like that, hourly, daily- can you always be 100% right? I'd like to think you don't see the attacker so much as you do light flashes from their automatic weapons. As an officer working with the compa- so, but in practical terms, 1don't know if that is possible."

Even now, some things are difficult for him to recall, to discuss. ny commander we weren't on the front lines but we weren'1 The memories are too vivid, the emotions too ra\v. He stares off as •ery far behind (normally a distance of not more than thiny or ny yards). He had to be in a position to command and control he recounts a story, unheard by anyone, anywhere, including Diana, his beloved spouse. 'We received some new mtelligence ~ his soldiers, and 1 had to be there with him to coordinate the anillery fire so we wouldn't hit our own people. ml nl1trv focu• "After that night, 1 was thinking to myself that, 'You know, this was fairly serious business! These people are out there trycatholic Relief Services ing to kill me, and maybe 1 ought to reassess my position with Respond to Needs in Iraq the good Lord."' He laughs and comments, "1 think 1did that.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Up to that point, 1 had not done anything extraordinary from a ~... Catholic Relief Services supports lhe work of Caritas religious perspective. 1 mean 1 continued to go to church, tried II'BCit which is supplying medical centers, clinics and hospitals with to live my life as best 1could- basically the same things I had equipment and suppl'e and has provided training to doctors and been doing before 1 entered military service. But you get into a volunteers who wit be able to provide life-saving medical care to situation like that, and you find you might want to stand back injured civilians, should the need arise. CRS is also working with and reassess your position. 1 think 1did that. 1 really think 1 did. Suddenly, my faith became something more than just mere par1ners in Iraq's neighboring countries to prepare for the possibiJ.. ity of refugees crossing Iraq's borders. ritual. It obviously became much stronger, and 1 thought about CathoHc Relief Services has provided substantial levels it a lot more. You cenainly do a lot more praying, and in a way, of humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq since it is a conversion moment. You become much more aware of 1999, such as supplemental food programs for undernourished Gods presence - the presence of the Holy Spirit and the ties children, pregnant and lactating mothets, the elderly, handicapped that bind you. No question about that." and very needy.

Here then is the dilemma of the "soldier of faith": to stop and ORS can aa:ept contributions should individuals or cfJOCeSeS pause - to be reflective in the midst of battle invites hesitation, VYish to assist For those wishing to make a contribution, please which could in tum bring death. To do something other than ensure the checl<s are clearly marked ("Iraq Humanitarian what the soldier has been extensively trained to do in that speResponseft) and send contributions to Catholic Relief Services, cific time could bring disaster. Emotional suppression is not just P.O. Box 17090, BaiUmore, MD 21203-7090. a coping mechanism. It is perhaps the only sane response to an Please continue to keep al people affected by the war, includthenvise insane proposition. One cannot kill unconsciously; it ing the relief workers, the civilian population, and our servicemen IS by nature a visceral, first-hand ~-perience. A strong sense of and women in the region in your prayers. faith is no doubt quite necessary and obvious for ones emotionFor more information, log on to catholk:relief.org. al and spiritual survival. What is less obvious is what to do with 1crlsls; 49%· say a .majDr pt"Dblem; 17% AY 11 mlnDr pt'Dblem; ~

uy nDI a pi'Dblem at elL - Gallup Pall M•r. 2003

May 2003

27

FAITH MDgazine

I

information that there were Nonh Vietnamese in this one particumoment when it happens. There is too much happening, too lar area, a pretty good concentration of enemy soldiers. Being with many instant decisions to be made. Its not until later in the solemthe 1st Cavalry, we moved by helicopter. It is the same basic unit as nity of your thoughts that you reflect and realize what happened. the 101st that is in Iraq right now. lt was night, and we loaded up Every time I put my uniform on, I remember February 18, 1966.~ our choppers, and made this air assault into the jungle. 1 rememOnce it has been decided that we are going to war, the military ber that it was kind of a hilly area, because the helicopters couldni. mission becomes to fight it and win. Steve observes, "The debate land, so we had to jump out. We sent out a unit of about 250 on whether the conllict is just or unjust takes place prior to that. men. We walked about an hour or so into the jungle and I remem- But in truth, no one wants war less than the professional soldier. ber seeing pieces of meat hung up in a tree. Obviously, there were We are the ones who ultimately have to fight it. We are not trained enemy soldiers in the encampment there - probably for some time killers, but rather people trained in the art of warfare. I've lifted a and that was pan of their food stuffs. We get the company fanned few body bags onto the helicopters, but you don't have time to out and stan probing forward towards their base. grieve while you are there. The mission is still going on. The battle "All of a sudden, all hell broke loose (small arms shooting, is still going on. The war is still going on. You have to continue to yelling, etc.). VVe were severely function. You do your duty. Its under fire. We started calling in difficult to describe, but you are ~Ifyou know the enemy and know yourself. you need not fear the attillery fire. In combat, the shootstill there, and you have to funcing doesn't start until you get into result of a hundred battles. Ifyou know yourself but not the enemy, for tion. While you're there, the the killing zone (the area where every victory gained you will also suffer a defeaL Ifyou !mow neither time for grieving is short." you can hit what you are firing at) Finally, when asked "What the enemy nor yourself. you will succumb in every battle ... " whether its our troops walking part of you was left behindr - dlinese philosopher Sun Tzu,from his booh into theirs or their troops walking Steve pauses and then says, The An of War, written mon! than 2,500 years ago. into ours. When you hit that zone, "My innocence, my youth." that!; when everything opens up.

When asked, "What did you Because of the density of the jungle vegetation, that zone is relative- bring back?" Steve again stares off and reflects, "I think you ly close, measured in terms of yards or sometimes even feet. 1can need to ask my wife that question. One of the things I never remember the artillery fire landing so close to me that I could hear really realized, or never gave enough credit to was my wife. I the shrapnel bustle through the trees. We were hugging the ground spent a lot of time visiting my soldiers. In my last command as close as we could; even my uniform buttons seemed to get in 1had 10,000 soldiers I was responsible for. In those thirtythe way. I'm there with the company conunander, and he5 yelling four years, I missed a lot of ballgames, A strong sense doing his thing, and I'm trying to call in a strike. a lot of birthdays. To try and carry on of faith is no 'We see one guy in black pajamas break through the line. (A with some sense or normalcy, with doubt quite suspected Vietcong- the Nonh Vietnamese Army regulars norone parent there trying to do it all, is necessary and mally wore fatigue uniforms.) He gets within about fifteen or very difficult. She picked up the slack, obvious for twenty yards of where we are. Hes behind this tree that is lying on supported me and allowed me to do one's emotional the ground. We're both shooting at him. 1see him stand up. I see that. I'm not sure she got her just and spiritual him pull the safety pin out of a hand grenade. 1see him throw the reward. Maybe she will in the next survival. grenade. 1see the grenade land four feet away from me. The other life. She more than deserves it." ...) four or five guys in the foxhole with me jump out. 1did not jump out, because I knew that grenade would not detonate. 1knew it, and it didni.. It was four feet away. 1guess at that particular time you could say that the good Lord was in that foxhole with me. I really believe that. I never moved, and I just knew it wasn't going to go off. From that day forward, every time I put my uniform on, 1remembered that day. It was my re-affirmation or re-connection with the Lord, and I haven't forgotten it since that day.

"The battle went on for another two or three hours. We subsequently fought to a stalemate. 1never looked back at the grenade; it might still be laying there for all I lmow. Those battles take a tremendous amount of energy out of you, until you come back (if you come back), emotionally, physically and spiritually drained.

We consolidated our forces and spent the night there. 1couldn't stay awake. 1was drained and exhausted. You don't process the For the lal..l dally n-â&#x20AC;˘ on world eventl from â&#x20AC;˘ Catholic parspec:tlva Jog onto FAJ'llfr.q;.com

PRAY for PEACE â&#x20AC;˘ PRAY for our TROOPS

6 lips: To help your kids deal wHh war

Even though the regime of Saddam Hussein has fallen, war is always a time of uncertainty ~ and ear - especially for children. As military activity in the world unfolds, we are bombarded with unprecedented levels of vivid, graphic war images. While this may be disturbing to adults, it can leave children terrified.

Children!; biggest dread is that war will come home to touch them. For example, younger children may not understand how rar away Iraq is, or even that it is a different country. One young child heard the word, Iraq, as A RDck and was deeply confused about what exactly we were fighting. In the wake of 9/11, elementary schoolchildren may fear a terrorist attack on their schools or homes.

When you talk to children, keep the following in mind: 1 Talk to children about their fears without exaggeration and without lying.

2 Don\ promise there will never be another attack or more war.

3 Reassure children they are safe.

4 Follow through: Make sure home and school are peaceful.

By Efiz.abctlr Solsburg

• UstenJ Let your child or teen talk to you about his or her fears. Don't force conversations, though - let your child set the pace.

• Look dosely. Some children may not want to voice their fears. Pay attention to changes in behavior, such as loss of appetite, a drop in grades, inaeased clinginess or nightmares. If these are persistent, consider consulting a professional.

• Take fears seriously. A child's fears may seem illogical or unreasonable to adults - some children develop a fear of large birds because they think the Our Father ends with the words, 'deliver us from eagles~ Keep in mind that very young children may confuse fantasy and reality; they may be unable to distinguish TV news footage from a scene in a scary movie. Their fears should be dealt with calmly, not dismissed.

• Maintain a sbucture.

Keeping to a routine, such as regular family meals, attending church together on Sunday, school and homework, helps to stabilize fears and to maintain a sense of safety in daily life.

• Be tolerant. Your teen may have a different opinion about conflict than you do.

Acknowledge differing opinions, and discuss them without anger or demanding compliance with your own opinion.

You can pave the way for an understanding of peaceful reselution in everyday conflicts.

• Umit media exposure.

Young children can be truly

overwhelmed by violent images, and do not understand the repetitious nature of news broadcasts. One incident replayed on television can seem 6ke a hundred.

• •• ••• •••• ••• ••• ••• • Scripture Reflection:

'Be not afraid' Read Isaiah, chapter 43. You will recognize the familiar words of the song, Be Not Afraid. Focus on phrases that speak of Gods comforting presence in difficult times.

During the week, spend some time thinking about how God is with us in difficult times through the love of our families, the strength of our parish communities, the peace of His hand on our troubled hearts.

This can be a family reflection.

• •••••• ••• • • • •

• U you know a military family who!; had a member called up, offer to take that family's children to the movies, the zoo or the skating rink with your own children.

• Call a family meeting with your teenagers to discuss the war, particularly if you have differing political views. Let them set the agenda and listen carefully and calmly to their opinions. Be open!

• Check the USO Web site at www.uso.org for substantial ways to suppon service personnel.

• Pray for peace, pray for the safety of the troops, pray for the citizens of Iraq whose country is being ravaged by war.

Regardless of your views of the appropriateness of war, we can all agree that the goal is peace.

I From FAITHhelps: a free teaming companion to FAITH. Sign up only on

--

. -.

1

Activity: Things the whole family can do

I

FAITHmag~IRIDfW ~j:ft I~ ~llif.~·

national military chaplains meeting in Rome. He chaplains to educate soldiers in the ethical values that underlie humanitarian law and promote respect for the dignity of mili· tary adversaries and civilians.~Precisely when weapons are unleashed, the need for rules aimed at making warfare less inhuman is imperative," he said.

The pope also told the chaplains that recent worldwide peace protests against the Iraqi war showed that a large pan of humanity rejects war - except in legitimate self-defense - as a means to resolve conflicts between countries. -Jo~>n n..Yb [CNSI

How two U.S. Bishops differed on war The head of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services said in a March 25 letter to his priests that members of the armed forces should carry out their duties in good conscience because they can presume the integrity of the leaders who decided to go to war in Iraq.

•If you fight wnh the right intention - to prepare for a just and lasting peace - you will retain your humanity and protect the humanity of others," he said.

In contrast, Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas j. Gumbleton was among four dozen war protesters arrested across the street from the White House March 26. The action was organized by Pax Christl USA, the Catholic peace movement, and other gious groups. - JaluoThaYb(cNsl

lliJ>IIiJ>

Pope john Paul II said the world was experiencing a moment in which "painful armed conflicts are threatening humanitys hope for a better future." He offered a special prayer to Mary for war victims and especially for her intercession for peace.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• While addressing bishops from predominantly Muslim Indonesia, the pope expressed deep concern about the interreligious impact of the war in Iraq.

"War must never be allowed to divide world religions. I encourage you to take this unsettling moment as an occasion to work together, as brothers committed to peace, \vith your own people, with those of other religious beliefs and \vith all men and women of good will in order to ensure understanding, cooperation and solidarity." he said. "let us not permit a human tragedy also to become a religious catastrophe," he said.

At his weekly general audience March 26, the pope said his hean was weighed down by repons coming out of Iraq, and he urged Catholics to continue praying the rosary for peace.

On March 25, the pontiff sent a message to a group of inter-

Vatican officials are relieved about the fall of Baghdad: The Church ready to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq After U.S. troops took control of the center of Baghdad, Cardinal joseph Ratzinger expressed his satisfaction that the end of the war was dra\ving near. "We are very happy it turned out this way," said the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Yet, he stressed that "it was right to resist the war and its threats of destruction."

"It should never be the responsibility of just one nation to make decisions for the world, so we must still work with the U.N.," he said.

"Everybody must be involved in the reconstruction of Iraq," he said. "And we must pray for an end to the hellish situation in the Middle East."

The Holy Sec confirmed the Catholic Churchs commitment to Iraqs reconstruction. A statement of the Vatican State Secretariat expressed the hope that "Iraqis and the international community will respond to the decisive challenge for an era of peace to reign at last in the Middle East."

"The Catholic Church is ready. through its social and charitable institutions, to give the necessary help," stated a note given to journalists. "Ukewise, the dioceses of Iraq • prepared to offer their own structures to contribute to an equitable distribution of humanitarian aid," the statement concluded. - Zcnlt lliJ>IIiJ>

~· For the latest dall!f ne- on wortd events from a Cllthollc perspective log onto FAITHmJ19.com

_

. . . .nil

cl sokler ask 'why?'

II+ The death of a 42-year-old soldier in Iraq makes people question "why did this have to happen?" said the pastor of Holy Family Church in Enfield at the funeral of Marine Gunnery Sgt Phillip Jordan. Jordan died March 23 in an ambush outside An Nasiriyah. In his homily, pastor Father Francis T. Kerwan, who had been a U.S. Army chaplain in World War II, said that man has always asked God why the inexplicable happens. Even God's own Son cried out from the cross, he said, and suggested sometimes it is almost impossible to pray in such situations. The priest offered the oft-repeated adage that no man has a greater love than to lay down his life for his fellow man and told the congregation, "We are here today to witness one who did exactly that ... for the love of country, for the love of family, for the love of us~ Priest in a DetroH area Muslim neighborhood understands Iraqi feelings about war Iloilo Wrth a church situated in a

Q slim,

hborhood that is 85 percent Father Michael Ouaine, pastor of Sl Alphonsus Parish in Dearborn, said he has a good idea of how Iraqis now living in the community feel about the war.

"They dislike Saddam Hussein," said Father Ouaine. "Most are political refugees who fled to the United States because of Hussein~ However, there is a strong feeling of despair among them, he added.

"The problem is Iraq is their home. It's their home with relatives and friends there and there's a lot of fear of casualties~ • ,........, to"'" rcNs• Find out more on: FAR'Hmag.cam.

Plus: a refugee's slofy In the next Issue of FAR'H

numbers

II+ Not many churchgoing Americans say their religious beliefs have been the biggest

influence on their thinking about war.

16°k personal experience 11O,b their education

1QO,b rei'IQious beliefs .;1ted the media as the biggest influence on their thinking about the war

7°k friends and famiy According to a national survey released mid-Mardi - Jcm'IIM COl$

W

hen I was asked whether I had ever personally observed a hunger and thirst for righteousness, I had to say It was In the 1960s In the slums of Santiago, the capital of ChUe. My cousin was one of four Holy Cross priests out of Notre Dame, Indiana, who were missionaries at work in San Roque parish, six blocks wide and 12 blocks long with a population of 20,000 of the poorest people I had ever seen.

Over a period of 15 years, I visited San Roque three Umes.

The people lived in shacks and lean-tos, had no plumbing, got water delivered into a barrel from a municipal truck every two days, and were living, I learned, on an equivalence of $5 per week. Wrthin walking distance of this slum were homes of some of the elite of Chilean society, multi-storied, neat and clean, surrounded by walled courtyards with palm trees and fountains.

In the slums were the native Indians, people of mixed race and Immigrants. In the fine homes were the descendanls of the Spanish conquerors of this narrow strip of the We are the ones Andes, several dozen families who owned most who possess the of the arable land and ran the country. From the Gospel, which tells Holy Cross priest I learned that their suffering us that we are to people were hungry and thirsty for righteousness put God first in our of the elite to show, but it was slow in coming in lives ... those decades.

I saw hunger and thirst for righteousness again In the "People's Republic" of Poland, when I spent a month there, behind the Iron Curtain, in the summer of 1970. Twenty-five years before tha~ the victorious Allies at Yalta had yielded to Stalin to get Russian help against Japan and had sold Poland down the river into Stalin's hands. I saw a whole nation, with a communist government imposed upon it, resisting in every way it could devise, from sabotage to telling Russian jokes. The Poles were hungry and thirsty for righteousness that would make them free again. It would not come for almost 20 more years and the advent of a Pope from their own country.

When contemplating the fourth beatitude, we have to remember that WE are the righteous. We are the ones who possess the Gospel, which tells us that we are to put God first in our lives and then to care for and share with our neighbor as we would do for ourselves. There are non-believers who have a righteousness also, based on a respect for human nature, that prompls them to care and share. But we who are committed to the Gospel ought to be there and ready when people are hungry and thirsty for righteousness.

- Most Rev. Kenneth Povish was the third bishop or lansing ;md is now retin:d.

May 2003

31

FAITH Ma~:ine

2003 OSA poster by Marl< Lynch

.. ~--·300W Ouawa Lansing, MI 48933

www.Dioctt~~eofLanslniJdlfl

Online:

www.FAITHm~~g.com

On 1V:

The OutrNch MaN, Sunday, 10 a.m.

Flint - FOX 66 Lan1lng - FOX 47

On Radio: Ma11, 11 a.m. on WJIM 1240 AM