sto ry

L
a cuaresma y la pascua son tiempos de
“crecimiento en Dios”. Estos dos tiempos de
la liturgia nos ayudan a recordar que Dios
siempre está extendiéndonos una invitación:
“Mira que estoy a la puerta y llamo: si uno
escucha mi voz y me abre, entraré en su casa y comeré
con él y él conmigo” (Apocalipsis 3, 20).
Helpful hints
to grow closer to God
Do you have a petition for Bishop Sartain’s prayer list? You may send it to him at:
Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Joliet; 425 Summit St., Joliet, IL 60435-7193.
L
ent and Easter are seasons of “growth in God.”
They help us remember that God is always issuing an invitation to us: “Behold, I stand at the
door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, then I will enter his house and
dine with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
From the bishop
How does one accept God’s invitation and strive to know him better?
How does one become God’s intimate friend? I would like to share
some simple points I offered during
my recent Lenten Online Retreat
(www.dioceseofjoliet.org):
•S
peak to God. Carrying on a
conversation with God in prayer,
the same kind I have with close
friends, gives me the chance to tell
him what’s in my heart and on my
mind. As in all friendships, honesty
is required. Why lie to God?
•L
isten to God. Prayer is much
more than getting things off my
chest. It also involves quietly giving
God the opportunity to respond.
As St. John of the Cross once
remarked, God speaks his everlasting word in silence. In our noisy
world, we must not forget that
silence can be much more intimate
than speech.
•R
ead what God has to say. This
is another way of saying, “Read
the Bible.” The Bible recounts
what God has revealed to us about
himself through creation, history,
prophecy, and, most especially,
through the Son – his perfect selfrevelation. And, as Rabbi Abraham
Heschel once wrote, the Bible is
also God’s book about humanity. We learn both about God and
about ourselves by opening the
sacred Scriptures.
•L
earn the faith. Faith has an
objective component: the truths
we are to believe. By studying the
Church’s teaching, we give heart
and mind to God.
• Become true disciples of God’s
Son. The Father sent the Son so that
we could abide in the deep intimacy
they share. “Father, they are your gift
to me … I made known to them your
name and I will make it known, that
the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them” (John
17:24,26). Jesus is the way, and giving
our lives in discipleship takes us to
the bosom of the Father.
•C
all on the Holy Spirit. From
the beginning to the end of time,
whenever the Father sends the Son,
he also sends the Spirit, because
their mission is inseparable. The
Spirit keeps us faithful and makes
intimacy with God possible.
•S
eek out the presence and
action of God. The sacraments are
the public worship of the Church,
but they are first and foremost the
work of Christ. If we want to know
God better, we look for opportunities to be where he is at work, especially the sacraments of Eucharist
and penance.
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
• Love the
Mother of
God. As the
first disciple,
the Blessed
Mother gives
us the best
example of
giving oneself
to God, and
she is our
powerful
intercessor.
She presents
our need to
Jesus (“They
have no more
wine”) and
directs us
to him (“Do
whatever he
tells you”).
How
does
one accept
God’s invitation and
strive to
know him
better? How
does one become God’s
intimate
friend? I
would like to
share some
simple points
I offered during my recent
Lenten Online Retreat.”
•M
ake
friends
with the
friends of
God. Reading the lives and writings of the saints reminds us that
we are surrounded by great witnesses who inspire us to live faith
to the full. Likewise, surrounding
ourselves in daily life with friends
who share our love for God helps
us stay the course.
I hope these basic “growing steps”
are of help to you. All we need do is
place ourselves at God’s disposal. He
will enter our hearts, feed us, and
give us far more than we could ever
have asked for!
Christ is our hope!
Bishop Peter Sartain
Christ is our Hope
April 2009
¿Cómo uno puede aceptar la
invitación de Dios y esforzarse en
conocerlo mejor? ¿Cómo uno puede
convertirse en amigo íntimo de
Dios? Me gustaría compartir algunos
puntos muy sencillos, que he
ofrecido recientemente en el Retiro
de Cuaresma a través de la Internet (www.dioceseofjoliet.org):
•H
ablar a Dios: Tener una
conversación con Dios en oración,
de la misma manera en que yo
converso con amigos cercanos,
dándome la oportunidad de decirle
que Él está en mi corazón y en
mi mente. Y como en todas las
amistades, se requiere honestidad.
¿Para qué mentir a Dios?
•E
scuchar a Dios: Orar es mucho
más que sacar cosas de mi pecho.
Significa también dar a Dios la
oportunidad de responder. San
Juan de la Cruz una vez dijo
que Dios dice su eterna palabra
en silencio. En nuestro ruidoso
mundo, no debemos olvidar que
el silencio puede ser mucho más
íntimo que hablar.
•L
eer lo que Dios ha dicho: Este
es otra forma de decir: “Leer la
Biblia.” La Biblia nos cuenta que
Dios se ha revelado a través de la
creación, la historia, la profecía y
especialmente a través de su Hijo
– su perfecta auto-revelación.
Y como una vez escribió Rabí
Abraham Heschel: La Biblia es
también el libro de Dios sobre la
humanidad. Nosotros aprendemos
sobre Dios y sobre nosotros
mismos abriendo las Sagradas
Escrituras.
•A
prender de la fe: La fe tiene un
propósito concreto: las verdades
que nosotros debemos creer. Ya
sea estudiando las enseñanzas de
la Iglesia, dándole a Dios nuestro
corazón y nuestra mente.
•B
uscar la presencia y acción
de Dios: Los sacramentos son la
pública adoración de la Iglesia,
pero ante todo y sobretodo,
ellos son la Misión de Cristo.
Si nosotros queremos conocer
mejor a Dios, debemos estar en el
lugar donde Cristo está actuando,
especialmente en los sacramentos
de la Eucaristía y de la Penitencia.
•A
mar a la Madre de Dios: Como
la primera discípula, la Madre
Bendita nos da el mejor ejemplo
de darse uno mismo a Dios, y ella
es nuestra poderosa intercesora.
Ella presenta nuestras necesidades
a Jesús (“Ellos no tienen vino”) y
pide que nosotros lo obedezcamos
a Él (“Hagan cualquier cosa que Él
les diga”).
• Convirtiéndonos en
verdaderas discípulos del Hijo
de Dios: El Padre envió al Hijo
para que nosotros pudiéramos
conocer la profundad intimidad
que ellos comparten. “Padre, ya
• Hacer amigos con los amigos
que me los has dado … Yo les
de Dios: Leer las vidas y los
he dado a
escritos de
conocer tu
los santos,
¿Cómo uno
Nombre y
nos recuerda
puede aceptar
se lo seguiré
que estamos
dando a
rodeados
la invitación de Dios y
conocer, para
por grandes
esforzarse en conocerlo
que el amor
testigos, quienes
con que Tú me mejor? ¿Cómo uno
nos inspiran
amas esté en
a vivir la fe
puede convertirse en
ellos y también
totalmente. Del
amigo íntimo de Dios?
yo esté en
mismo modo,
Me gustaría compartir
ellos” (Juan 17,
rodeándonos en
24 y 26). Jesús
la vida diaria
algunos puntos muy
amistades
es El Camino
sencillos, que he ofrecido con
que comparten
y ofreciendo
recientemente en el
nuestro amor
nuestras vidas
por Dios, nos
al discipulado, Retiro de Cuaresma a
ayudará a
Jesús nos
través de la Internet.”
mantenernos en
llevará al
el camino.
regazo del
Padre.
Espero que estos “pasos de
• Apelar al Espíritu Santo: Desde crecimiento” básicos, sean de ayuda.
Todo lo que necesitamos hacer es
el comienzo hasta el final de los
ponernos a la disposición de Dios.
tiempos, siempre que el Padre
¡Él entrará en nuestros corazones,
envía al Hijo, también envía al
nos alimentará y nos dará mucho
Espíritu Santo, porque su misión
es inseparable. El Espíritu nos
más de lo que nosotros podríamos
mantiene fieles y hace que la
pedir!
cercanía con Dios sea posible.
¡Cristo es nuestra esperanza!
¿Deseas que el Obispo rece por alguna intención en especial que tú tengas?
Escríbele a: Lista de Oraciones del Obispo Sartain. Diocese of Joliet, 425
Summit St. Joliet, IL 60435-7193
Obispo Peter Sartain
Cristo es nuestra
Esperanza
Abril 2009
Liturgical Calendar: St. Francis of Paola, hermit April 2 • St. Isidore, bishop and doctor of the church April 4 • Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion April 5 • Holy Thursday April 9 • Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion April 10 • Holy Saturday April 11 • Easter Sunday the Resurrection of the Lord April 12 • Divine Mercy Sunday April 19 • St. Anselm, bishop and doctor of the church April 21
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Joliet
Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain
PUBLISHER
Doug Delaney
Director of Communications
Associate Publisher
April 2009 • Volume 2: Issue 3
Carlos Briceño
Editor
– Amy Kiley
Amy Kiley
STAFF WRITER
Table of contents
Oliva Cervantes
Miguel Moreno Spanish Translators
16
FAITH Publishing Service
Rev. Dwight Ezop
CHAIRMAN
Patrick M. O’Brien
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Elizabeth Martin Solsburg
DIRECTOR OF CUSTOM PUBLISHING/
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Joanne Eason
DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE SERVICE
Vicki Bedard
Director of Sales and Marketing
Jillane Job
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Patricia Oliver
SECRETARY
Patrick Dally
Saint Vincent Ferrer
Feast Day: April 5
Patron Saint: Brick makers, builders, construction workers, plumbers and tile makers
Canonized: 1455
Meaning of Name: From the Latin vincere, “to conquer.”
Claim to fame: Born in Valencia, Spain, in 1350, Saint
Vincent’s parents were distinguished for their virtue and
alms-deeds. They made it their rule to distribute alms
whenever they could. At age eighteen he entered the Dominican Order during the time of the Great Schism – the
church’s division under multiple popes. He received his
doctorate at Catalonia, followed by five years of preaching
at the Cathedral in Valencia. In 1394 Cardinal Pedro de
Luna set up a papal court in Avignon and named himself
Benedict XIII. He offered Vincent many church positions
– even that of cardinal. Saint Vincent refused them, taking
only the role of de Luna’s confessor. Saint Vincent campaigned fruitlessly to end the schism and relinquished his
duties to de Luna four years later to become a missionary.
He spent the next 20 years preaching throughout Europe
about sin, death, God’s judgments and eternity. Saint
Vincent’s sermons were so powerful that many people
returned to their Catholic faith.
Why he is a saint: Saint Vincent lay dying when he saw a
vision of Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic.
As a result of this vision, he was miraculously cured. He
began preaching about the last judgment and the need of
penance. Because of this, Saint Vincent came to be known
as the “Angel of Judgment.” Though he spoke only his native
Spanish, people of all languages were able to understand
what he said. His biographers believe he had the ability to
speak in tongues to communicate the word of God.
Best quote: Saint Vincent’s favorite saying was, “Whatever you do, think not of yourselves, but of God.”
How he died: Saint Vincent died at the age of 69 from a
fever. He asked for the passion of Christ to be read from
all four Gospels because it was the Wednesday before
Palm Sunday, April 5, 1419.
Saint of the month
Portraying Jesus:
Stations of the
cross liturgical
dramas bring Good
Friday to life
The Angel
of Judgment
ART DIRECTOR
Lynne Ridenour
20
22
Finding
God’s mercy
in the confessional
Divine Mercy Sunday
a time for love
and peace
RCIA brings
a mother and
daughter to the faith
what you’ll
get out of
this issue
6 In the know with Fr. Joe What happened to Jesus
between the cross and the resurrection? – Father Joseph Krupp
7 F
act or fiction The Catholic Church is opposed to all forms of stem cell research. – Doug Culp
8Parenting journey I hate my son’s lip ring! How can I
get him to take it out? – Dr. Cathleen McGreal
8 Money tip Don’t panic. – Ted Zale
9 Marriage matters Concerns about financial management – Tom and JoAnne Fogle
10 Theology 101 Wedding liturgies.
9
– Elizabeth Solsburg
24 Year of St. Paul The Holy Spirit within allows us to live in
Christ. – Catherine Upchurch
26 Culture To live again: Forcing bulbs and branches reminds
us that a new life with the Lord is coming. – Patricia Majher
27 Work life I lost my job – now what? – Nick Synko
26
28
28 Reflexiones de fe La Pascua es un tiempo de conversión. – Miguel Moreno
31Last word Finding hope in suffering. – Carlos Briceño
Abby Wieber
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Derek Melot
PROOFREADING
Father Bill Ashbaugh
Dcn. Tom and JoAnne Fogle
Father Joseph Krupp
Dr. Cathleen McGreal
Tim Ryan
El Ángel del Juicio
San Vicente Ferrer
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Tom Gennara
Phillip Shippert
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
InnerWorkings
PRINT MANAGEMENT
Christ is Our Hope is a membership publication of
the Catholic Diocese of Joliet, 402 S. Independence
Blvd., Romeoville, IL 60446-2264. Published monthly
except for February and August. Gift subscription rates
are $15 per year. Individual issues are $2.50. Send all
subscription information and address changes to: Christ
is Our Hope magazine, 402 S. Independence Blvd.,
Romeoville, IL 60446-2264; (815) 834-4060 or
email [email protected]. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to Christ is Our Hope magazine,
402 S. Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL 604462264 ©Christ is Our Hope magazine, Diocese of Joliet.
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Hope magazine may be published, broadcast, rewritten
or otherwise reproduced or distributed in whole or in part
without prior written authority of the Diocese of Joliet and/
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the Christ is Our Hope magazine editorial offices at the
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To submit story ideas and news
Send emails to: [email protected]
For subscription information
Please call (815) 834-4060
Fiesta: 5 de abril
Patrón de Fabricantes de ladrillos, constructores, trabajadores de la construcción, plomeros y fabricantes de losas
Fecha de Canonización: 1455
Significado del Nombre: Del latín vincere, que significa
conquistar.
Es conocido por: Nació en Valencia, España en 1350.
Sus padres fueron muy virtuosos y conocidos por sus
obras de caridad. Ellos hicieron como regla de vida, el dar
limosna cada vez que podían. A los dieciocho años, entró
a la Orden de los Padres Dominicos, durante el tiempo del
cisma de Avignon. San Vicente trabajó mucho y sin éxito
para terminar con el cisma. Pasó veinte años predicando
por toda Europa sobre el pecado, la muerte, los juicios de
Dios y la eternidad. Los sermones de San Vicente fueron
tan elocuentes que mucha gente regresó a la fe católica.
¿Por qué es santo?: Vicente estaba moribundo cuando tuvo una visión de Cristo, San Francisco de Asís y
de Santo Domingo. Después de esta visión, él se curó
milagrosamente. Inició una predicación sobre el juicio final
y la necesidad de la penitencia. Debido a esto, San Vicente
pasó a ser conocido como el “Ángel del Juicio”. Aunque
San Vicente hablaba en español, su lengua materna,
personas de todos los idiomas pudieron entender lo que él
decía. Sus biógrafos creen que él tenía el don de hablar en
lenguas para comunicar la Palabra de Dios.
Frase más conocida: El dicho favorito de San Vicente fue:
“En todo lo que hagan no piensen en ustedes, sino en Dios”.
Cómo murió: Vicente Ferrer murió a la edad de 69 años
de una fiebre. Pidió que le leyeran la Pasión de Cristo de
los cuatro evangelios, porque fue el miércoles antes del
Domingo de Ramos, el 5 de abril de 1419.
St. George, martyr; St. Adalbert, bishop and martyr April 23 • St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr April 24 • Feast of St. Mark, evangelist April 25 • St. Peter Chanel, priest and martyr; St. Louis Mary de Montfort, priest April 28 • St. Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor of the church April 29 • St. Pius V, pope April 30
Santo del mes
12
GRAPHIC DESIGNER/WEB MASTER
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
Dear Father Joe:
What happened to Jesus between
the cross and the resurrection?
Send your questions to: “In the Know with Fr. Joe” FAITH Magazine,
209 Seymour Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 or e-mail [email protected].
In the know with Father Joe
A
Q
A
Did Jesus
raise himself from
the dead?
Let’s start with
Scripture on this
one. First, Romans
10:9: “For, if you
confess with your mouth that
Jesus is Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will
be saved.” Ok, here Saint Paul
shows us that God the Father
raised Jesus from the dead.
Now, let’s look at Romans
8:11: “If the Spirit of the one
who raised Jesus from the
dead dwells in you, the one
who raised Christ from the
dead will give life to your
mortal bodies also through
his Spirit that dwells in you.”
Here, Saint Paul tells us it
was God the Holy Spirit who
raised Jesus from the dead.
But wait! There’s more!
Now, let’s look at two passages from the Gospel of
John. First, John 2:19-21:
“At this the Jews answered
P
R
Querido Padre José: ¿Dónde
estuvo el alma de Jesús durante
los tres días que Él estuvo en la
tumba?
Nos gustaría pensar que algunos de esos días,
Él hubiera estado en Toledo … ¿quién sabe?
Retomando la seriedad, el Catecismo habla
directamente de esto en los numerales 631-637.
Voy a resumir lo mejor que pueda, lo que allí encontré.
Primero, necesitamos entender que Jesús, de hecho, murió:
“Jesús conoció la muerte como todos los hombres y se reunió
con ellos en la morada de los muertos” (632). Lo que le sucedió
a Jesús el Viernes Santo, no fue algo como la muerte, sino que
fue la muerte misma. Eso fue importante, por lo que la muerte
le permitió hacer a Jesús.
Como Hijo de Dios, murió como Salvador, no simplemente
como otra persona más que muere. La idea es esta: Las
muertes que ocurrieron antes del “evento de Jesús”, guiaban a
la gente a una vida después de la muerte, que se llama hades,
donde allí “estaban privados de la visión de Dios” (633). Este era
el caso para las personas buenas y malas que habían muerto.
Sin embargo, sabemos que la vida después de la muerte era
fact or fiction?
Embryonic stem cells are harvested from human
embryos via extraction of their inner cell mass.
This destroys the human life contained in the embryo,
which would otherwise continue its eventual development
into an adult human being.
The church’s opposition extends to embryonic stem
research on embryos created through the process of in
vitro fertilization. In his 1995 encyclical The Gospel of
Life, Pope John Paul II wrote: “Human embryos obtained
in vitro are human beings and are subjects with rights;
their dignity and right to life must be respected from the
first moment of their existence. It is immoral to produce
human embryos destined to be exploited as disposable
‘biological material’” (1, 5).
Proponents of embryonic stem-cell research argue that
the possible good that can be derived from this type of
research justifies the destruction of these embryos, especially of those “extra” embryos resulting from the in vitro
fertilization process. However, the church says this type
of “a good end justifies an evil means” argument violates
one of the most fundamental principles of morality and
denies the inherent value and dignity of human life.
– Doug Culp
diferente para personas buenas y malas, como lo demostró la
historia de Lázaro. Jesús dijo que Lázaro fue llevado por los
ángeles “junto a Abraham”, y que el hombre rico estaba “en
medio de los tormentos” (Lucas 16, 22-26).
Entonces, antes de Jesús, todos los que morían iban a
hades, un lugar donde no podían ver a Dios. Las personas que
habían rechazado a Dios, tenían una experiencia allí distinta a
los que habían seguido y amado a Dios. Cuando Jesús murió,
fue a ese lugar y salvó a todos aquellos que habían conocido,
amado y servido a Dios. Recuerda: “Jesús no bajó a los
infiernos para liberar allí a los condenados ni para destruir el
infierno de la condenación, sino para liberar a los justos que le
habían precedido” (633).
P
R
¿Jesús se
resucitó a
sí mismo?
Vamos a empezar con las Escrituras. Primero, en
Romanos 10, 9: “Porque te salvarás si confiesas
con tu boca que Jesús es Señor y crees en tu
corazón que Dios lo resucitó de entre los muertos.”
Bueno, aquí Pablo nos demuestra que Dios el Padre resucitó a
Jesús de la muerte.
Ahora, leamos Romanos 8, 11: “Y si el Espíritu de Aquel
que resucitó a Cristo de entre los muertos está en ustedes, el
mismo que resucitó a Jesús de entre los muertos dará también
vida a sus cuerpos mortales por medio de su Espíritu, que
habita en ustedes.” Aquí, Pablo nos dice que fue Dios, Espíritu
Santo, quien resucitó a Jesús de la muerte.
Pero, ¡espera! ¡Hay más! Ahora, vamoos a examinar dos
pasajes del Evangelio de san Juan. Primero, Juan 2,1821: Los judíos intervinieron: “¿Qué señal milagrosa nos
muestras para justificar lo que haces?” “Jesús respondió:
‘Destruyan este templo y yo lo reedificaré en tres días’. Ellos
contestaron: ‘Han demorado ya cuarenta y seis años en la
construcción de este templo, y ¿tú piensas reconstruirlo en
tres días?’ En realidad, Jesús hablaba de ese Templo que es
su cuerpo.”
Y Juan 10, 17-18: “El Padre me ama porque yo doy mi
vida para retomarla de nuevo. Nadie me la quita, sino que
yo mismo la entrego. En mis manos está el entregarla y el
recobrarla: éste es el mandato que recibí de mi Padre.”
Cuando leemos estos pasajes, ¡parece que Jesús se resucita
a sí mismo de la muerte! Entonces, ¿cuál es correcta?
Todas – la asombrosa y misteriosa Trinidad Dios
actuando para resucitar a Jesús de la muerte.
¡Disfruta otro día en la presencia de Dios!
En el saber con Padre José
Strangely enough,
we think at least
some of those
days he was in
Toledo ... who knew? Seriously, though, the Catechism
directly addresses this in
sections 631-637. I will
summarize as best I can
what is found there.
First, we need
to understand
that Jesus
did, in
fact, die.
“Jesus,
like all
men,
experienced
death,
and in his
soul joined the
others in the realm
of the dead” (632). What
happened to Jesus on Good
Friday wasn’t something akin
to death, but actual death.
That is important because
of what that death allowed
Jesus to do.
As the Son of God, he
descended into death as
the savior, not just another
person who died. The idea is
this: All death that occurred
before the “Jesus event” led
people to an afterlife realm
called Sheol, where they were
“deprived of the vision of
God” (633). This was the case
for both the good and the bad
who had died. However, we
do know that the afterlife was
different for the good and the
bad, as is shown in the story
of Lazarus. Jesus said Lazarus
was at “Abraham’s bosom,”
and the rich man was “in torment” (Luke 16, 22-26).
So, before Jesus, everyone
who died descended into
Sheol – a place where they
could not see God. The
people who rejected God
had a different experience
there than those who followed and loved God.
When Jesus died,
he descended
into that
place and
delivered
those
who
knew,
loved
and
served God
from Sheol
into heaven.
Remember, Jesus,
“did not descend into hell to
deliver the damned, nor to
destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who
had gone before him” (633).
The Catholic Church
is opposed to
all forms of
stem cell research
The facts:
The Catholic Church is against only those
forms of stem-cell research that involve the
destruction of human life, i.e. embryonic
stem-cell research. The church is not opposed to adult stem-cell research, which is
morally permissible.
Fact or fiction?
Q
Where was
Jesus’ soul
during the
three days
he was in the tomb?
and said to him, ‘What sign
can you show us for doing
this?’ Jesus answered and
said to them, ‘Destroy this
temple and in three days I
will raise it up.’ The Jews
said, ‘This temple has been
under construction for 46
years, and you will raise it
up in three days?’ But he
was speaking about the
temple of his body.”
And John 10:17-18: “This
is why the Father loves me
because I lay down my life
in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me,
but I lay it down on my
own. I have power to lay it
down, and power to take
it up again. This command
I have received from my
Father.”
When we read these passages, we see Jesus raising
himself from the dead! So,
which one was it?
It was all three – the wonder and the mystery of our
triune God working to raise
Jesus from the dead.
Enjoy another day in
God’s presence!
Doctor Cathleen McGreal is a psychology
professor and certified spiritual advisor.
Exploring issues of identity
During adolescence and early adulthood, individuals explore
different aspects of identity. A person might enter college as a
chemistry major, but a geology course might steer him or her in a
new direction. Likewise, aspects of physical presentation change.
• This time of transition in the lives of young adults can be
somewhat disconcerting because they are at the helm now, not
you. Trust in the “navigational charts” that you have provided
throughout their first 18 years. Don’t try to take control of their
ships!
• New friends come on board as key people in your child’s life.
Remember that when it comes to issues of clothing, physical
appearance and music, these college friends are more knowledgeable than you!
• Responding with “I told you so,” doesn’t help when
adult children struggle with the consequences of
their choices. Many of life’s lessons are learned
through bad decisions and typically it’s best
not to “rescue” your children. But, a little
bit of emotional support goes a long
way!
Our Catechism notes that adult children gain the right to make their own
choices while parents drop down to
the role of trusted advisors (CCC, 2230).
How can I get him
to take it out?
Though he knew I objected, the
first thing my son did when he went
to college was get his lip pierced.
Looking at that lip ring marring his
handsome face is making me crazy.
How can I get him to take it out?
Parenting journey
Q
A
Generational differences in body art
Researchers studying cultural rites of passage talk
about tattoos and piercings that are used to mark
those who have left childhood and entered
into maturity. In our society, there aren’t traditional
markers that let us know when this transition
takes place. In fact, each cohort has its own
preferences for the body art, hair styles and
clothing it finds attractive. Inevitably, control over body image passes from parent to
adult child.
• Your son honored your wishes until he
was out of your home. Perhaps he will
agree to take out the lip ring during family meals and some of the family photographs when he comes home to visit.
– Doctor Cathleen McGreal
Don’t panic.
Money tip
Ted Zale, a veteran financial counselor, guides you through
economically troubled times.
O
minous headlines about layoffs.
Soaring prices at the pump.
“For sale” signs and plummeting
stock markets. Everywhere you
turn lately, you see a test of your
financial faith. Never fear. Here are commonsense tips to survive the current money crunch:
Tracking your 401(k) or
IRA is a daily roller-coaster
ride that leaves you queasy
more often than not. You’re
not alone. First, quit obsessing. Take the stock market
ticker off of your computer’s
desktop and find a new
hobby. Second, remember
you’re in it for the long haul
and, while periodically
reviewing your investment mix is
smart, yanking
your money
out of the
market during
troubled times
usually isn’t.
One plus to plunging prices:
You’re snapping up shares at
bargain prices, which pays off
when fortunes turn, Zale said.
“You can’t time the market
for both the tops and the
bottoms,” he said. “You must
set a plan down on paper,
do an asset allocation so you
are diversified and build your
wealth based on it. Getting in
and out of the market
is not normally
profitable. Having a longterm plan
increases
your chance
of success
significantly.”
L
Larry and Elaine have been married for just over a year. They are
both working full time and have
no children. Larry is an accountant, and Elaine manages a retail store. They have very different styles of financial management,
an issue that has become a regular
source of argument and irritation in
an otherwise happy relationship.
I’m getting really concerned
about our financial situation. I know we’re both only
26, but we do need to think about our future.
We’re both hoping to be blessed with children,
and that’s a huge financial responsibility. Not
only do we have to consider what it costs to raise
them, but there’s also college. We also need to be
financially independent in our retirement. I realize it’s
a sacrifice, but it’s prudent to be saving 25 percent of
our monthly income. Elaine seems to think we can just live
paycheck to paycheck and worry about the future when it
comes. That’s what her parents always did, and now they’re
paying for it with financial hardship. This is causing a lot of
tension in our marriage.
I honestly don’t understand why Larry is
so upset. We’re only 26. We have great
jobs, and this is the time we should be
able to enjoy our lives a little. We’ll have to settle down
soon enough, and I don’t see why we shouldn’t splurge a
little now. My parents always believed in living in the moment – one day at a time. After all, you don’t really know
what the future will bring. I agree with Larry that this is
causing a lot of trouble between us. I feel as if we argue
about it all the time.
Larry and
Elaine
should
use
financial planning seminars,
budgeting guidelines and
other information to address
the practicalities of their
divergent attitudes toward
money. Still, their fundamental need is to tackle the underlying philosophy about
finances and stewardship.
They can address this
spiritually, and I would suggest Larry and Elaine consider Benedictine spirituality
and its focus on modera-
tion, stewardship and
stability. Stewardship is the
godly use of our resources
– including our time and
money. Both of these things,
like all our material possessions, are on loan from God.
It is our responsibility to
manage them well and care
for them, without developing an unhealthy sense of
ownership over them. It is
also our responsibility to
use our resources to feed
the hungry, clothe the naked
and shelter the homeless, as
Jesus asked us to do.
Larry and Elaine should
Your marriage matters
I hate my
son’s lip ring!
• Lip, eyebrow and tongue rings usually come out when a
person decides to update his or her image or gets a job
that requires a different look. It’s as unlikely that you could
convince a college student to remove a piercing as it was to
prevent it in the first place!
• Your own reaction is in your control. Instead of letting the
piercing “make you crazy,” concentrate on other characteristics when you’re together: his twinkling eyes, sense of humor
or quick wit.
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
Concerns about
financial management
Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help
prepare couples for marriage.
ask themselves whether
their purchases and material possessions are things
they need or fulfillments
of excessive desires. Is
Elaine’s spending preventing them from giving to the
poor and supporting their
parish? Is Larry’s desire to
save prompted by a desire
to prudently plan so they
will have enough to raise a
family and not be a burden
to their children, or is he
hoping to live lavishly later
in life?
This couple will benefit
from prayerfully considering their responsibilities as
stewards of God’s creation,
discussing with each other
how they will manage their
finances in order to do so,
and then living a Christian witness of charity and
moderation. If they focus
on their common goals in
this regard, their arguments
should cease and their relationship will improve.
Romance Tips:
1. Hide a note or surprise in your
spouse’s suitcase before a business
trip. It’s like sending along a little
bit of yourself.
2. Bring home a small souvenir when
you travel. Your spouse will know
you were thinking about him or her.
Time Tips:
Volunteer Together. Volunteering as
a couple provides an opportunity to
share the joys and blessings of being
and working together for a common
goal.
Money Tip:
A couple should have ongoing family meetings to discuss the philosophy, direction and evaluation of their
financial plan. Yearly at least, quarterly at best. One financial chat early
in your marriage won’t cut it. Not
only do our circumstances change in
life, but so do we.
Good Marriage Tip:
First thing after rising in the morning,
verbally say to your spouse, “I will love
you and honor you all the days of my
life.” Now live it because actions speak
louder than words!
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Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
Wedding liturgies
Column by Elizabeth Solsburg, Illustrations by Bob Patten
Theology 101
W h y d o w e
d o t h a t ?
The kiss (or handshake) of peace:
Liturgist:
The liturgist is a
person specially
trained in the
form and rubric
of the church’s
public worship.
The liturgist is expert at selecting
appropriate music, prayers and
petitions. Usually,
the liturgist is also
responsible for
training the other
lay ministers
who assist at
Mass – lectors,
altar servers,
extraordinary
ministers of holy
Communion and
others.
1. A famous folk figure in
Near Eastern culture,
who is described in
Numbers as a charismatic prophet who
spoke oracles from
God.
2. Led the Israelites after
the death of Moses.
3. Genesis, Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy.
4. According to the
Bible, there were ____
plagues.
5. The book(s) of the Bible
that deal(s) with the
social organization of
Israel based on the 12
tribes.
6. T
he book(s) of the
Bible that recount(s)
the story about the
enslaved Israelites, their
deliverance, and their
covenant with God.
7. The book(s) that
contain(s) mostly cultic
laws written by priests
during and after the
return from exile.
8. T
he book(s) with the
theme or main message
that the people will succeed or fail depending
on how they follow the
Law.
a.Numbers
b.Deuteronomy
c.Joshua
d.Leviticus
e.The Pentateuch
f. Ten
g.Exodus and
Deuteronomy
h.Balaam
they have received from their parents. They may elect
to process down the aisle on the arms of both their
parents and symbolically bid them farewell at the
steps of the sanctuary.
The presider leads the assembly in prayer and
gathering, and the Liturgy of the Word follows. The
couple selects the readings, which reflect their understanding of the nature of marriage and faith. The
presider usually offers a brief homily emphasizing the
points of the readings.
The bride and groom then stand before the assembly
and, in response to the presider’s questions, consent
to the marriage they are about to undertake. They join
hands and turn to each other, speaking the vows that
unite them as husband and wife. They are married at
the moment they have finished speaking – before the
rings are exchanged or the final blessing imparted.
If the wedding takes place in the context of the
Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist follows. The sharing
of Communion reflects the unity of the couple and of
the entire congregation as members of Christ’s body.
The priest or deacon then blesses the couple
and prays for them to have a rich and fruitful
life together; he enjoins them to be witnesses of
Christ’s love to each other, their children and the
whole community. They go forth as a visible sign
of covenant – their fidelity to each other mirrors
God’s fidelity to each of us.
W h a t ’ s t h e
s e a s o n ?
Feast/
Solemnity/
Memorial:
Solemnities are
the church’s
most important
celebrations.
Some are part
of the universal church
and some are
particular to a
specific country,
parish or
religious order.
For example, St.
Patrick’s Day is a
solemnity in Ireland. Feast days
are slightly less
important celebrations, usually
in memory of a
specific saint.
Memorials are
celebrations of
other saints and
events – some
of them are
commemorated
by the whole
church and
some by smaller
groups. The liturgical color for
solemnities and
feasts is usually
white or red for a
martyr.
This month
the church
celebrates the
“solemnity of
solemnities”
– Easter.
Miter:
The miter is the tall peaked hat that bishops
wear. Its two shield-shaped halves are said to
represent the Old and New Testaments. Two
strips of fabric called lappets hang down the
back. Originally, the lappets could be tied around
the chin to prevent the miter from falling off
while the bishop was on horseback. The miter
is laid aside while the bishop prays. Underneath
the miter, the bishop wears a zucchetto, a skullcap which was originally devised to keep hair oil
off the miter.
Sacrarium:
T
he vessels used for the consecration of
the bread and wine receive special treatment when it is time to clean them. They
are washed in a sink called a sacrarium
that is located in the sacristy (the small room near the
sanctuary where the priest vests). The sacrarium’s
drain flows directly into the ground rather than into the
sewer or septic system.
What’s in the church?
Why do we pause
in the middle of Mass
to shake hands or hug
the people around us?
This gesture arises from
Christ’s injunction to reconcile with each other
before laying our gifts at the altar. We are symbolically making peace with any one of our sisters and brothers against whom we may have a
grievance – before we join them in the ultimate
act of unity: Communion. The kiss of peace has
its origins in the earliest days of the church. Saint
Justin Martyr speaks of it as early as the second
century: “When we have completed the prayers,
we salute one another with a kiss, whereupon
there is brought to the president bread and a cup
of wine.”
Who’s in
the
s anctuary?
In the days of the early church, at least some of
the Apostles were married. We know Peter had a
mother-in-law, for example. Marriage was principally
a legal institution, but Christians began to see the
parallels between the committed love of a man and
woman with the love of Christ and his church. It was
not until the 12th century that the church recognized
marriage as one of the sacraments.
A Catholic wedding ceremony takes place within the
assembly of believers and is unique because it is not
administered by a priest or deacon. The ministers of
the sacrament are the bride and groom themselves; the
priest or deacon acts as the church’s official witness.
The wedding can
A Catholic
be embedded in a
Mass or be part of
wedding
a Scripture service.
ceremony takes
Generally, couples
in which one person place within the
is not Catholic
assembly of believchoose the latter option. It is structured ers and is unique
because it is not
around the Liturgy
of the Word and
administered by a
the nuptials, but
priest or deacon.
does not include
The ministers of the
the Liturgy of the
Eucharist.
sacrament are the
A procession bebride and groom
gins the liturgy and
themselves”
is often somewhat
more elaborate than
for other liturgical celebrations. Some brides still
choose to be “given away” by their fathers, a tradition rooted in the custom of the bride’s father and
the groom exchanging money for a wife in front of
a magistrate. Other couples choose to highlight the
partnerships they are undertaking and the nurturing
The time of Moses
What’s he wearing?
T
he sacrament of marriage
reflects God’s love for
his people. It is therefore
beautiful and appropriate that it takes place
within the community of believers in the
sacred space of worship – the church.
This understanding of marriage, however, has evolved throughout the years.
Bible quiz
Answers: 1:h; 2:c; 3:e; 4:f; 5:a; 6:g; 7:d; 8:b
10
12
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
to reconciliation since the second
grade. I didn’t remember how the
process went or anything. I just went
and said I wanted to be closer to
God, and the priest forgave me of
my sins. He said you can do the act
of contrition or talk to God. I felt so
guilty because I didn’t know the act
of contrition. I couldn’t remember
it. I remember bits and pieces, so I
talked to God in front of the priest. I
felt so good. I felt completely fine. I
felt free.
G
in the confessional
oing to the sacrament of reconciliation can be
difficult. Some people are embarrassed about
their sins and others are unwilling to accept
God as loving and merciful. But the graces one
receives after admitting one’s weaknesses and
failures are abundant due to God’s great love and mercy for
us. Carlos Briceño interviewed several people from around the
diocese regarding the sacrament.
did. But over time God was able to
take from me that which I wanted to
hold onto. In the end, he did replace
it with many more wonderful things
than I could have ever imagined. He
also opened my heart to remind me
of how deeply he loves me and only
wants what is best for my life. It all
began with the simple act of opening
my hands.
Suzette Horyza, a parishioner at
St. Isidore in Bloomingdale:
“Open your hands.” It was the
most unusual penance I had ever
been given. I wasn’t sure I’d heard
the priest correctly. I had confessed
my sins, and that is what he gave me
as my penance. I won’t be confessing
details, but suffice it to say my issue
was not being able to let go of something that ultimately was not part of
Ashley Torres, a senior at St.
Francis Catholic High School in
Wheaton, talks about a reconciliation experience during a recent
retreat:
During reconciliation, I sat in
the pew, and I was thinking about
everything and trying to connect
with God, and I had a weird urge to
get up and go to the front and get in
line for reconciliation. I hadn’t gone
God’s plan for me. Father said, “You
can’t let it go. You must let God take
it from you.” With that, I was told
to open my hands and ask God to
take from me that which I couldn’t
release and replace it with something
much better. I imagine I looked sort
of funny leaving the confessional
with my palms open, facing upward.
I kept waiting for something magical
to happen. At that moment, nothing
Story and photography by Carlos Briceño
Carolyn Griffith, a junior at St.
Francis Catholic High School in
Wheaton, talks about a
reconciliation experience during
a recent retreat:
God’s mercy is a gift you’re given,
but you have to be able to accept it.
And it’s kind of like a mystery gift;
you don’t know what it is until you
experience it.
to kind of work on and tell them,
“How do we help you move beyond
this sin because we’ve now gotten to
the why?” So that there’s healing and
growth and grace, and it’s not going
to be the same confession seven
months from now with the exact
same issues. The same grocery list.
Farther John Balluff, pastor at
Immaculate Conception in Gilman, St. Peter in Piper City and
Immaculate Conception Mission
in Roberts:
There is an element of justice. In
order to be forgiven of sins, it does
require the confession of them.
Mortal sin requires us to talk about
it. This is the process that Jesus puts
us through for our own good. Mercy
is actually manifest in the difficulty
of doing it. Sometimes we just wish
God would just fix things without
bothering us about it. But he doesn’t.
He establishes a pathway that invites
us to be part of the process by a
serious examination of conscience
and by thinking about what went on
and how we participated in it and by
talking about it to someone else.
Father Bill Dewan, pastor at
Holy Family Parish in Shorewood:
Some helpful hints – step one:
we’re supposed to look at our sins
and examine our consciences. Step
Beth Cartner, director of chiltwo: I ask people to go deeper. One
dren’s formation at Holy Spirit
of the things I ask them to do by
Catholic Community in
going deeper is to take a look at
Naperville:
their “grocery list” of sins. A grocery
Last year, the mother of a secondlist is when they say, “I did this four
grade girl with special needs was very
times; I did that six times.” I ask
concerned with how her daughter
them to ask themselves: “Why am
would handle celebrating the sacraI so impatient with the kids?” It’s
ment of reconciliation for the first
one thing to say I’ve been impatient
time. I assured the mother that her
with the kids 75
daughter would
God’s mercy is a do well, as I had
times in the last
two days. But
gift you’re given, seen the excitement in her durit’s another thing
but you have to be able
ing the retreat.
to ask yourself
On the evening of
why. I think that, to accept it. And it’s kind
the celebration,
when we ask and of like a mystery gift; you
I caught sight of
begin to start
the young girl as
getting insight in don’t know what it is until
you experience it.”
she came out of
how to answer
the reconciliation
the why, then we
room. As soon as she saw her mother,
start talking about – which I think is
her arms went straight up and with
at the heart of the sacrament – yes,
clenched fists, and she yelled, “I did
forgiveness, but something more
it!” After they embraced, the young
complete. A sense of wholeness,
girl led her mother to the baptismal
growth, healing. Ask the why and
font to bless herself before leaving the
probe your hearts before you come
worship space. The sheer joy on the
to confession. I now have something
Feature story
Finding God’s mercy
Father Burke Masters (photo
left), diocesan vocation director, was baptized as a Catholic
when he was 18. The act wiped
away his original and personal
sins until that point. He talks
about why it took him a long
time before he could work up
the courage to go to confession:
Honestly, I was scared to death to
go to confession. I was always raised
that you just take your sins straight
to God. My mother was raised
Baptist, and my father in the United
Church of Christ. We never really
practiced anything. But that was the
theology behind it. I know the Catholic Church teaches at least once a
year you have to go to confession. It
actually took 10 years for me to go to
confession after becoming Catholic.
One, because I was afraid. I didn’t
understand the theology behind the
sacrament, and I didn’t know how to
do it. That frightened me. I always
pictured myself going in there and
getting yelled at because I didn’t
know the Act of Contrition or the
format. Finally, I went on a Cursillo
retreat, and the head of the retreat
knew the priest who was coming
in and knew my situation and said:
This priest will walk you through it;
I really encourage you to go. I finally
got up enough guts to go. He walked
me through the sacrament. For the
first time in my life, I felt forgiven.
[One point] that came out was I need
to name my sins out loud and to another person. Once you bring those
to the light – obviously this person
is a representative of Christ – it no
longer had power over me. The second thing that was very powerful for
me was hearing the words of absolu-
tion from Christ through the priest.
I walked out of there feeling like a
different man. From that moment
on, I knew the importance of confession. Not that it’s easy to go. I still
sometimes get nervous like anybody
does. But there’s great beauty in it.
As a confessor now, I know how difficult it is for someone to walk in the
confessional. My estimation of those
people, whether I know them or not,
always skyrockets because it’s such
an intimate encounter with them and
with Christ as a confessor.
13
14
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
A reconciliation
pocket guide
face of this young
girl was the face of
Jesus for all of us
to see.
Cathy Truesdale, a parishioner
at St. Petronille in Glen Ellyn:
I had a faith-filled experience with
the sacrament of reconciliation a few
years ago that made me realize how
important and life-changing it can be
online:
What a God
moment that
was for me. What a holy
encounter. No lecture.
Just the holy truth: you
have confessed your sin;
you are sorry; you are
forgiven.”
to finally confess a sin and be free from
guilt. I had always believed that guilt
was not from God, but I felt guilty and
was afraid to confess a specific sin that
I had held onto for years. I just couldn’t
bring myself to confess it; it was just
too embarrassing. Then finally one day
I realized that to be rid of the guilt, I
needed to confess the sin. I needed the
holy encounter. However, I couldn’t
possibly do it face to face – how humiliating. It doesn’t matter. What matters
is doing it. I thought it all out. I picked
a priest I thought wouldn’t lecture me.
I went into the confessional, and I told
him it had been a long time since my
last confession, and then I let it out and
guess what? He said something, like, “I
don’t really think God cares so much
about what we have done in the past. I
To read more perspectives, visit www.dioceseofjoliet.org.
think he cares more about how we are
living our lives right now.” What a faithfilled response! What a God moment
that was for me. What a holy encounter. No lecture. Just the holy truth: You
have confessed your sin; you are sorry;
you are forgiven.
Father Timothy P. Andres,
O.Carm, from St. Joseph Parish
in Joliet:
After the Eucharist, I believe the
sacrament of reconciliation is God’s
most direct way in which he touches
the hearts and souls of his children.
When I hear confessions, my heart is
touched on a regular basis by people’s
spiritual depth and hunger, for their
desire to love God in the midst of daily
struggles and weaknesses and their
concern for those whom they have
sinned again, either intentionally or by
indifference. The one truth that I will
try to communicate to each penitent is
that God can and will forgive any sin
as long as we are truly sorrowful and
promise to amend our lives. I sometimes feel that my fellow Catholics do
not believe this. Or that they believe it
in their heads but not in their hearts.
All of us need to know that Christ’s
sacrifice on the cross set us free – that
nothing can separate us from the love
of God, which comes to us through
Jesus Christ, if we let him. Cut out of the magazine with scissors in order to act as a handy guide in church
Definition of sins:
Mortal sin is a deliberate and free choice of something known to
be seriously wrong that destroys our friendship with God and separates us from him. All of the following three conditions must be
met for a sin to be mortal: It must be something serious; it must be
done with sufficient knowledge of its gravity; and it must be done
with sufficient freedom of the will. Venial sin is a minor offense
against God’s law that hurts our relationship with God but does not
destroy it.
Step-by-step guide to confession:
Pray to the Holy Spirit for self-knowledge and trust in the mercy
of God. Examine your conscience; be truly sorry for your sins; and
resolve to change your life. Go into the confessional. You have
the choice to kneel at the screen or sit to talk face-to-face with the
priest, who should welcome you kindly and warmly. Then make the
sign of the cross and say “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. It
has been ____ weeks/months/years since my last confession.”
Confess your sins openly and candidly. Tell the priest of all
mortal sins and the number of times each was committed, and
then you may confess some of your venial sins. (Although it is not
strictly necessary to confess venial sins, the Church recommends
that you do.) If you do not know whether a sin is mortal or venial,
ask the priest. Then listen to the priest for whatever counsel he
may offer. If you have any question about the faith, how to grow in
holiness, or whether something is a sin, feel free to ask him. Then
the priest will assign you a penance.
Pray the Act of Contrition when the priest tells you. Do the act
of penance the priest assigns you. If you are anxious or unsure of
what to do, take this guide with you or tell the priest, and he will
make it easier for you.
Act of Contrition:
“O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you, and I
detest all my sins because of your just punishments, but most of all
because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving
of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no
more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.”
Hints for a good examination of conscience
•D
o I seek to love God with all my heart and with all my soul and
with all my strength? Do I put anything or anyone above God?
Do I pray daily?
•H
ave I had any involvement with the occult, witchcraft, Wicca,
Ouija boards, séances, tarot cards, new age crystals, fortune telling or the like? Have I put faith in horoscopes?
•H
ave I received Communion in the state of mortal sin?
•H
ave I abused the sacrament of reconciliation by lying to the
priest or deliberately not confessing a mortal sin?
•H
ave I denied a truth of the faith out of concern for the respect or
opinion of others?
•H
ave I used God’s holy name irreverently?
•H
ave I blasphemed God, the church, Mary, the saints, or sacred
Take away guide
Father Ryan
Larson, parochial vicar at
Saints Peter
and Paul Parish in Naperville:
During my
sophomore year
at Iowa State University, I went to
confession while
on a retreat for
college students.
It was the first
time I had gone
since 8th grade,
and really the
first time in my
life I’d ever seriously prepared for the
sacrament. In some ways I really had
no idea what I was doing. I was so
nervous trying to remember what I
was supposed to say at the start and
how long it had been since my last
confession, almost as nervous as I
was about telling a stranger the worst
things I had done. I was almost 20
when I made that confession, and
since I hadn’t gone since I was in 8th
grade, what I basically did was sum
up in a few minutes everything I had
done wrong during the entire time
I was a teenager. And amazingly the
priest didn’t breathe fire; he didn’t yell
at me. It was all incredibly easy. It was
the first time I had ever really brought
my sins out into the light that way, and
once I did it wasn’t that hard of a thing
to get through. Of course I’ve been to
confession plenty of times since then,
and the gifts of receiving this sacrament are always so much greater than
any difficulties involved in going.
places or things?
•D
o I try to keep Sunday as a day of prayer, rest, and relaxation,
avoiding unnecessary work?
•H
ave I deliberately come late or left early from Mass without a
good reason?
•D
o I honor and respect my parents?
•H
ave I deliberately hurt my parents?
•D
o I treat my children with love and respect?
•D
o I support and care for the well-being of all family members?
•H
ave I neglected family duties?
•D
o I honor and obey my lawful superiors?
•H
ave I deliberately harmed anyone?
•H
ave I had an abortion or encouraged an abortion?
•H
ave I attempted suicide or seriously considered it?
•H
ave I abused drugs or alcohol?
•H
ave I led anyone to sin through bad example or through direct
encouragement?
•A
m I faithful to my spouse in thought and action?
•H
ave I used artificial contraception or been sterilized?
•W
as I married outside the church without proper permission of
the church?
•H
ave I engaged in sexual activity with anyone of either sex as a
single person?
•H
ave I deliberately viewed pornographic magazines, videos or
internet websites?
•H
ave I masturbated?
•H
ave I used impure language or told impure jokes?
•D
o I dress modestly?
•H
ave I stolen or accepted stolen goods?
•H
ave I deliberately destroyed the property of others?
•H
ave I cheated anyone of what I owe?
•D
o I gamble excessively?
•D
o I share what I have with the poor and the church according to
my means?
•H
ave I pirated materials: videos, music, software?
•H
ave I lied? Have I sworn falsely?
•H
ave I plagiarized or been academically dishonest?
•H
ave I gossiped? Have I revealed secrets or confidential information without good reason?
•H
ave I ruined the good name of others by spreading lies or maliciously revealing their faults and sins?
•H
ave I deliberately and consciously permitted sexual thoughts
about anyone besides my spouse?
•D
o I guard my imagination and senses?
•H
ave I watched shows, plays, pictures or movies that contain
impure scenes with the deliberate intention of being aroused by
them? Am I responsible about what I read?
•A
m I envious of the possessions, abilities, talents, beauty, or success of others?
•D
o I love my neighbor? Is there anyone whom I do not love or
refuse to love? Have I wished harm or misfortune on anyone?
•D
o I forgive from my heart those who have hurt me? Do I harbor
hatred or grudges? Do I pray for my enemies?
•H
ave I ridiculed or humiliated others?
•D
o I seek to help others in need?
•D
o I love myself as God loves me? Do I care for my physical,
emotional, and spiritual health?
•D
o I forgive myself for my sins after bringing them to God in the
sacrament of reconciliation? – Knights of Columbus
15
16
17
Cover story
Lily Garcia-Medina (Mary) shields Ezequiel Fernando Valdivia (Jesus) while
Carlos Medina (soldier) looms with a chain at St. Isidore Parish in Bloomingdale.
18
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
“I
something I couldn’t fath To Lily García-Medina, playing Mary in
om as a mother of children
her parish’s Good Friday
myself.”
drama meant embracing
Fellow parishioner Joe
a mother’s anguish. That
Byrnes saw the Stations
was hard for the parishiofrom a different perspecner of St. Isidore Parish in
tive – literally. “Being up
Bloomingdale. She said she on the cross is a pretty
rarely finds herself unable
powerful thing,” the 43to control situations and
year-old said. “Physically
that she has no children.
carrying the cross was an
She explained how she
interesting experience too
learned to empathize with
because it was heavy. I
the Mother of God: “It
could feel it kind of digging into my shoulders.”
focuses a lot on prayer,
In the Diocese of Joliet,
and we all had group or
teenagers are often the
individual prayer so that,
actors grappling with the
the day it happened, you
intensity of portraying
don’t just read or act, but,
characters like Christ and
in truth, you try to feel
Mary. Each year several Jowhat the person felt at the
liet city partime … It
ishes band
wasn’t just
The pain
together for
a play, but a
and
the Good
portrayal of
Friday
the Passion
sorrow that I felt
of Jesus.”
Crosswalk
when playing
Gwen
(which
Jesus could only
Sanborn,
celebrates
38, told
its 20th
have been a tiny
a similar
anniversary
fraction of that
story. She
this year).
which he had to
played
In it participants
walk
Mary at St.
truly deal with.
with a cross
Raphael
That is something between
Parish in
that many haven’t churches,
Naperville
where
and said:
experienced and
youth per“It’s witthat I will never
nessing her
form skits.
forget.”
son die in
In last
a brutal
year’s
way, and no parent would
Crosswalk, Kyle Jelinek,
ever, ever want some17, played Jesus for St.
thing like that to hapPaul the Apostle Parish.
pen to her child. But, at
He recalled, “What was
the same time, she does
difficult was understandshow strength because she
ing how Jesus could have
knows that she has to.”
submitted so humbly to
Sanborn added, “It’s
the will of his father. The
Representando
la Pasión
Para las personas de San Isidoro en
Bloomingdale el Vía Crucis, “no solamente es
una obra, sino una representación de la pasión
de Jesús”. Esto es lo que dijo Lily GarcíaMedina, 24, quien hizo el papel de la Virgen
María en la parroquia.
“Se enfoca mucho en la oración,” explicó. Dijo que, “todos
hicieron oración en grupo o individualmente para que ese día no
solamente, leyeran o actuaran sino que trataran de sentir lo que
la otra persona vivió en ese tiempo”.
“[Traté] de sentir que acababa de perder a un hijo. Las
lágrimas que tenía, no eran actuadas … Imaginaba que tenía a
mi hijo muerto en los brazos … Me olvidaba el poema, porque
quería decir mis propias palabras por el dolor que estaba
sintiendo”.
La experiencia fue emotiva también para Ezequiel Fernando
Valdivia, 32. Él hizo el papel de Jesús, y dijo que, ahora, conoce
al Hijo de Dios, “como un ser amoroso, como una persona
humilde… Fue un honor de
tratar de representarlo”.
Las
Para participantes en otras
parroquias de la diócesis, los
lágrimas
sentimientos fueron similares.
que tenía, no
Kyle Jelinek tiene 17 años
eran actuadas ...
y representó a Jesús en la
parroquia de San Pablo el
Imaginaba que tenía
Apóstol en Joliet. Él dijo:
a mi hijo muerto en
“Simplemente representando
los brazos.”
el papel [de Jesús] me volvió
humilde cuando pensaba en
cuán difícil debió ser para Jesús soportar su condena inocente
… El dolor y la pena que sentí cuando representé a Jesús,
pudo haber sido solamente una parte muy pequeña de lo que
Él tenía que sufrir. Eso es algo que muchas personas nunca han
experimentado – y que nunca voy a olvidar”.
Otra participante de la misma parroquia, Patricia Nonnie de
17 años, dijo: “No hay un amor más grande que el de Jesús en
la cruz.”
St. Isidore, Bloomingdale, parishioners Daisy Lara (Veronica) and Ezequiel Fernando Valdivia (Jesus)
gaze at a cloth bearing the image of Christ.
pain and sorrow that I felt
when playing Jesus could
only have been a tiny fraction of that which he had
to truly deal with. That
is something that many
haven’t experienced and
that I will never forget
… My reverence for the
passion and death of Jesus
grew tremendously.”
In a Crosswalk skit that
reached back to the Old
Testament, Patricia Nonnie, 17, played Eve for
St. Paul’s. “It is extremely
painful to watch the crucifixion. It humbles me to
know that Jesus endured
all the horrific events
– from the agony in the
garden of Gethsemane, to
the scourging at the pillar,
to the road to Calvary, to
finally the crucifixion – all
because he loves me,” she
reflected. “He endured all
that pain just so I would
be able to spend eternity
with him, and there is no
greater love than Jesus on
the Cross.”
Stories and photography by Amy Kiley
“Let us direct our gaze today toward Christ. Let us
pause to contemplate his cross. The cross is the source of
immortal life, the school of justice and peace, the universal
patrimony of pardon and mercy. It is permanent proof of an
oblative and infinite love that brought God to become man,
vulnerable like us, even to dying crucified. His nailed arms are
open to each human being and they invite us to draw near to
him, certain that he accepts us and clasps us in an embrace
of infinite tenderness.” – Pope Benedict XVI, Good Friday 2008
Historia de Portada
Cover story
tried to feel like I had just lost
a son. The tears I had, they
weren’t acted … I imagined
that I had my dead son in my
arms … I forgot the script
because the words I wanted to say were my
own words due to the pain I was feeling.”
19
20
Left: Maria Klamczynski
prays with her Divine Mercy
Statue.
Feature story
21
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
corded the message in notebooks, later published as
The Diary of Saint Faustina.
Bryan Thatcher, founder
of the Eucharistic Apostles
of The Divine Mercy, summarized the message. “The
short version is just love,”
he said. “It’s that God loves
us right where we’re at,
and his greatest attribute
is mercy, and he just wants
people to turn back to him
and trust in his mercy.”
Christ (who is The Divine
Mercy) showed Sister Faustina an image of himself to
paint and said he desired
the creation of a feast day
for his mercy. He also told
her, “Encourage souls to
say the chaplet that I have
given you” (Diary, 1541).
Those orders came to
pass, and Sister Faustina
became a saint.
Divine Mercy Sunday
a time for love and peace
The Message of
The Divine Mercy
The Divine Mercy
story began in Glogowiec,
Poland, with the birth of
Helena Kowalska in 1905.
She came from a large,
poor family and received
only three years of education. In 1925 she entered
the Congregation of the
Sisters of Our Lady of
Mercy and began working
in the convent’s garden and
kitchen. She took the name
Sister Maria Faustina.
While living in the community, Sister Faustina
began receiving visions
and revelations from Christ
containing the Message of
The Divine Mercy. She re-
Story by Amy Kiley | Photography by Carlos Briceño and Amy Kiley
1541).
Thatcher noted that
the message and chaplet
could bring about widespread peace like Maria
experienced. “It’s such a
message right now because
everybody’s afraid; everybody’s anxious; everybody’s
discouraged,” he said. “You
can’t have any of those things
if you trust in God because
trust in the Lord is the antidote.”
“Coming from his heart were
two rays of blood and water.”
With the blood representing
the Eucharist and the water
The Image of
representing baptism, he
added, “It calls us to lead a
The Divine Mercy
sacramental life.”
On February 22, 1931,
The Klamczynskis have a
Christ appeared to Saint
statue of
Faustina
the image
and asked
in their
her to
home.
paint
“This lady
what she
had a
saw – Jestatue just
sus as The
like it and
Divine
we passed
Mercy.
by and we
Since
smelled
she was
the roses,”
not an
Maria
artist, she
said. That
worked
caught
on the
the atproject
tention
with
of her
Eugeniusz
The image hangs at the SancKazihusband,
tuary of The Divine Mercy in
mirowski,
Zbig.
Chicago.
who
“[There
finished
were]
the painting in June of 1934. 3,000 people and I asked a
Thatcher described the
lot of people, ‘Did you smell
Image of The Divine Mercy:
roses?’ and they said, ‘No,
no,’” he recalled. Believing
the smell came from heaven,
he felt driven to obtain a
similar figure.
The couple has taken seriously the sacramental message of the image too. They
attend Mass and receive
Communion regularly. Divine
Mercy Sunday
On the same day Pope
John Paul II canonized Saint
Faustina (April 30, 2000),
he declared the first Sunday
after Easter Divine Mercy
Sunday. Thatcher explained,
“The Lord said, on that day,
the floodgates of heaven are
open, pouring out graces on
all sinners.”
This month the feast falls
on April 19. The day is a
time to remember the Message of The Divine Mercy as
a way of life – not just words
in a diary. Thatcher said,
“That’s the hard part – living
the message – and it’s really
all about love. Everything
has to be done out of love for
God.”
How to Pray
the Divine Mercy
Chaplet
• ( 1-5) Start with the Sign of the Cross, Our Father and
Hail Mary and Apostle’s Creed.
• ( 6) Pray: “Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood,
soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son, Our Lord,
Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the
whole world.”
• ( 7) On the ten small beads of the rosary decade, say:
“For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us
and on the whole world.”
• (8) Repeat this for the remaining decades, saying the
“Eternal Father, I offer you ... ” on the large beads and
“For the sake …” on the small beads.
• ( 9) Conclude by repeating three times: “Holy God, Holy
Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and
on the whole world.”
Source: www.thedivinemercy.org
How to pray
M
idnight … 1 a.m. … 2 a.m.
… The hours ticked by and
Maria Klamczynski could not
sleep. She worried about her
three boys, who had begun
driving and spending time
away from home – away from her watchful care.
She crept downstairs and prayed, “Eternal
Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and
divinity of your dearly beloved son, Our Lord Jesus
Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the
whole world … For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.”
As she contemplated her trust in the Lord,
peace came over her. She went back upstairs
– and fell asleep.
The prayer that had calmed Maria’s maternal
anguish was part of the Message of The Divine
Mercy. This month, on Divine Mercy Sunday,
the church honors that message and how
it has brought love and peace to countless
people like Maria.
The Divine
Mercy Chaplet
The Divine Mercy
Chaplet (see page 19) was
the prayer that brought
peaceful sleep to Maria
Klamczynski, a parishioner
at Divine Mercy Polish Mission in Lombard.
About three years ago,
the prayer brought her
family much more than a
night’s rest. Maria’s brother
was dying of lung cancer
and his faith was struggling. Maria recalled being
more worried about her
brother’s soul than his
life, so, when visiting, she
would suggest, “Let’s say
the Divine Mercy Prayer
together.”
Her brother came back
to his faith shortly before
his death. “We were able
to bring a priest over to
him for confession, so he
did confess. He did receive
Communion,” she said.
“The very last day [he was
alive], the whole family got
together … I just got tears in
my eyes and I was nervous
and I started the Divine
Mercy Prayer,” she recalled.
She said the prayer helped
her come to terms with her
brother’s eventual death.
After all, Saint Faustina
had a special love for the
dying. The Lord had told
her, “Whoever will recite
[the chaplet] will receive
great mercy at the hour of
death … When they say this
chaplet in the presence of the
dying, I will stand between
my father and the dying person, not as the just judge but
as the merciful savior” (Diary,
Christ
Is Our
Our Hope
Hope/ /April
April2009
2009/ /www.DioceseofJoliet.org
www.DioceseofJoliet.org
Christ Is
23
RCIA
But, “go back” Paula did when
Susan sought out the cathedral’s
RCIA program and became a catechuSusan
men. Then the mother-daughter duo
Susan grew up learning little about
embarked on a faith journey together
Catholicism. She recalled, “I knew
– with one joining the church and the
the Our Father … and that was from
other returning to it.
going to funerals.”
Paula said she attended almost
She and her aunt sometimes talked
every class with her daughter and
about Christianity but not Catholithat Susan and she were some of the
cism specifically. As for discussing the most vocal attendees of the class. “I
issue with her mother, Susan noted,
definitely had a lot more questions,”
“We didn’t really ask Mom about the
Susan confirmed.
church because we knew it was a sore While Susan was learning about
subject.”
Catholicism, Paula was
Then Susan enrolled
relearning about her
In
at the University of
faith. “It was kind of a
St. Francis in Joliet,
essence, reawakening. It was a
long process for me bewhere a practicing
Susan brought
Catholic teacher incause I had been away
me back into the
spired her. “[He] kind
so long,” she said. She
of put a little Catholichurch … I’m sure recalled a retreat with
cism into finance,”
that has to be the Susan that prompted
Susan said.
her to question her
Lord’s plan.”
That caused Susan
beliefs and once again
to begin contemplatencounter the Apostles
ing her beliefs and how she wanted
Creed.
to express them. Still, “There was
When Holy Week came, Susan’s
never one moment when I had an
Catholic boss gave her the whole
epiphany and I just knew, ‘I want to
week off so she could attend the varibe Catholic,’” she said. Instead, the
ous liturgies. Paula was “in awe” of
desire to become Catholic came to
the Chrism Mass, where she and Suher gradually.
san represented their community. For
During that same time frame,
Susan, the feet washing Holy ThursSusan said, life dealt her a number
day was moving. She also recalled
of blows. Her brother had enrolled
the Easter Vigil: “My mom took the
in the military, and the family was
brown robe off me and put a white
worried about his safety. Meanwhile,
robe on me … I thought I was going
Susan’s own career plans – first to
to cry, but I didn’t.”
be a nurse and then to join the Navy
Paula noted, “The only thing I was
– fell through. “Everything that I
thinking is that my mother has got to
was trying I wasn’t getting anywhere, be smiling.”
and everything I tried to attempt – it
seemed to backfire on me,” she said,
Post-baptism
adding, “It was time to try something These days, Susan said she misses
else.”
the Eucharist if she skips even one
That “something else” involved
Sunday Mass. “It’s Christ, and it’s a
attending periodic university liturgift,” she said. In fact, she said, she
gies and finally asking her mother to
prefers to receive Communion without
attend Christmas Eve Mass with her.
touching it – out of respect for Christ.
Susan recalled, “I just knew it was a
Even now, she noted, sometimes, “I
big Mass – that it would be a really
can’t believe that I’m in church … It
pretty one.”
feels like an out-of-body experience.”
Paula went with her daughter, and
After a three-decade absence, Paula
it was the first time she had attended
is back in the pews each Sunday too.
a non-funeral, Catholic liturgy in 31
“In essence, Susan brought me back
years. “It was a good feeling, but I still into the church,” she said. “I’m sure
wasn’t ready to go back,” she said.
that has to be the Lord’s plan.”
Feature story
22
Left: Susan and Paula Howard stand
before the font at St. Raymond Cathedral
in Joliet – where Susan was baptized.
RCIA brings a mother and daughter
W
to the faith
hen 22-year-old Susan Howard decided to become Catholic, she discussed the
matter with a practicing Catholic, the ministerial staff at her university and the Rite
of Christian Initiation (RCIA) leader at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet.
She took typical steps to begin her initiation journey, but then she made an
atypical choice. For her guide, Susan chose a woman whose painful experience
had caused her to stop attending Mass 31 years earlier. Less typical still, the woman Susan chose as
her guide was her biological parent – her mother, Paula Howard.
The unlikely choice changed the lives of both women.
Paula
Paula, 56, was born and raised Catholic. Her mother was a strict practicer, who
enrolled the children in Catholic school
and brought them to Mass each Sunday.
Paula celebrated the sacraments within
her parish community, sang in the guitar
Mass choir and helped out on Palm Sun-
day. “Even after my mother passed away, I
kept going to church,” she said.
When Paula and her now-husband
decided to marry, they asked Paula’s
Story and photography by Amy Kiley
long-time pastor to preside over the sacrament. He agreed – but only if the couple
submitted paperwork from their families.
That created problems for Susan, whose
father objected to the union. “[My pastor]
knew, and he wasn’t budging,” she said.
“It just really turned me off … I was really
hurt.”
With just a few witnesses, the couple
ended up marrying at a Presbyterian
church the day before Thanksgiving.
Paula never returned to Mass, except for
funerals, and she chose not to seek baptism her three children or to raise them in
the faith.
24
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
25
The Holy Spirit within allows us
to live in Christ
Catherine Upchurch is the director of the Little Rock Scripture Study. This article was originally published in the Arkansas Catholic
newspaper and was reprinted with permission. For more information on the series on St. Paul, go to www.littlerockscripture.org.
W
hen Paul speaks of his
experience of God, he
most often talks about
Jesus the savior, or he
speaks of the risen Christ
who reveals God’s plan for salvation. And yet,
Paul’s writings are filled with an appreciation
for the Spirit as well.
Year of St. Paul
one’s possessions means nothing. “Love is patient, love is
kind. It is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated
... It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13:4, 7).
By its nature love requires relationships. It is there that
the Spirit of God animates us, shaping our dispositions and
informing our actions. In this way, the gifts of the Spirit
build up the body of Christ.
As Christians, we recognize that, through the waters of
baptism, we are sealed with the Spirit. This gift of God is
ritualized in our tradition using the elements of water, oil
and light. The Spirit given in baptism actually enables us to
Fundamentally, the Spirit originates in God and in Christ
embrace our life in Christ and our bond of unity with the
and is an expression of their love. In Romans 5 Paul speaks
community of believers (Ephesians 4:1-6).
of the virtues of faith, hope and love, and he says in verse
The Spirit of God is difficult to describe or to envision.
five, “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts
It has been depicted as a dove, no doubt because, at the
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” Later, in
baptism of Jesus, it descended on Jesus in this form (Matthew
verse nine, we read, “Whoever does not have the Spirit of
3:16; Luke 3:22). It is associated with fire and wind as when the
Christ does not belong to him.”
followers of Jesus experienced the power of the Spirit as
Belonging to Christ, what Paul calls living in Christ, is
they gathered in confusion and fear in the upper room after
living in response to the Spirit of God who has been given
Jesus’ crucifixion (Acts 2:1-4).
to us. In fact, Paul reminds believers that we are temples
Perhaps it is best, though, not to settle on one portrait of
of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in us. It is the
the Spirit. Given how Paul
indwelling Spirit who gifts
describes the fruit of the
us for life in community and
Belonging to Christ, what Paul
Spirit, I think he might even
then allows us to see the
calls living in Christ, is living in
prefer that we see the Spirit
fruit of such living.
response to the Spirit of God who has
when we look at the lives
Among the most easily
of those who possess the
recognized passages from
been given to us. In fact, Paul reminds
Spirit.
Paul’s writing is the teachbelievers that we are temples of God
In Paul’s letter to the
ing about spiritual gifts:
church at Galatia, he draws
“There are different kinds of and that the Spirit of God dwells in us.”
a contrast between those
spiritual gifts, but the same
Spirit ... To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is who live by the Spirit and those who live according to the
flesh. For Paul, the “flesh” refers to those attitudes and
given for some benefit” (1 Corinthians 12:4, 7).
behaviors that stand as obstacles to our relationship with
He goes on to name such gifts as wisdom, knowledge,
God. In various places in his correspondences, he lists
healing, mighty deeds, prophecy, discernment of spirits,
everything from sexual impurity to jealousy to bad temper
tongues and interpretation. The key to appreciating these
and rebellion against one’s parents (Galatians 5:19-20; Romans 1:24gifts is that they are “given for some benefit,” a benefit that
31; Colossians 3:5-10).
is not usually personal, but communal.
In contrast, those who live by the Spirit produce its fruit:
The body of Christ is built up and thrives in good health
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness,
when the variety of gifts is esteemed just as each part of a
physical body is valued and necessary (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). A life marked by
these virtues gives evidence of the Spirit and paints its own
12:12-26).
beautiful and unique portrait.
While it is true that all gifts are valued, their worth to the
community is governed by how they are employed. Chapter In Paul’s earliest existing correspondence, he admonishes
13 of First Corinthians measures all gifts against the greatest the church, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). This
gift of God’s loving presence is an invitation to fullness of life,
of spiritual gifts, which is love.
and becomes the instrument of unity and hope in our world.
Without love, speaking in tongues is just the sound of
Paul would have us fan the flame of God’s Spirit.
cymbals clashing. Without love, even giving away all of
26
Forcing bulbs and branches
reminds us that a new life
with the Lord is coming.
I
A prayer to plant by
Dear Lord, like the bulbs we plant, we descend into the depths
of darkness to await your return. In the solitude of our souls,
we reflect on our sins and repent for them. We make sacrifices
in your name and are strengthened by them. You breathe life
into us and around us, and sustain us through this solemn
season. We look for you, we long for you, our resurrected
savior, our reborn king. Amen.
Column by Patricia Majher | Photography by Philip Shippert
Culture
•Q
uestion # 1 – What
do you want to do to
get a new job?
• Question # 2 – What
do you know you must
do, even though you do
not want to do it?
We then work together to answer
each question on separate sheets of paper. Next, we set aside the answers to question #1. Everyone wants to do what they want
to do. However, when it comes to career detour situations,
the challenge is that you have to do what you gotta do, even
though you do not want to do it.
To successfully make a career transition, everything
depends upon how committed you are to performing those
Naperville parish
welcomes guests
from China
Saint Elizabeth Seton Parish
in Naperville welcomed 22
Chinese officials last December
as part of a program sponsored
by the 21st Century Institute.
That Oak Brook-based group
aims to connect people of
various nations and is presently
networking between the US
and the Asia-Pacific region.
The delegate group had
come from Beijing and the
Mandarin provinces, and its
members represented governmental and cultural entities.
Members of the parish
community explained the Mass;
gave a tour of the church;
described parish and community interactions; and answered
questions about the church.
Parishioners discussed the
church’s charitable efforts both
within the Naperville community and within the nation of the
guests. The parish had sent
funds to China to help Catholic
Charities aid earthquake victims there.
The delegates asked about a
poster in the church narthex that
displayed names and pictures
of parishioners serving in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Parishioners
said the community prays for the
safety of those in the military.
With the help of an interpreter, the cultural exchange continued as parishioners learned
from the Chinese delegates
about their home country too.
now what?
Nick Synko can be reached at
[email protected]
“gotta do” activities that, at first, seem like a significant stretch.
Of course, the more routinely you work your way through
such challenges, the more naturally you become comfortable
with the new you. It literally becomes easier to be the
new you than the old you.
In each of these situations, we find that
wisdom, experience and the Holy Spirit
provided solid answers to that second
question. In their hearts, people know
what needs to be done.
How did the people mentioned
earlier fare? The engineer took out
loans, returned to school and is
now a nurse. The divorced dad
working as a traveling sales representative scaled back his lifestyle
to fit his new local job and reduced
income level. The widowed mom
is now working as an administrative
assistant after taking several valuable
computer skills classes. The ballet dancer
relocated, took an entry-level job as a customer service representative and, in just a few years,
greatly increased her initial income.
Different stories, yet there is a common outcome of a successful career transition. You, too, may learn to truly believe
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.” – Nick Synko
New chaplain for Latin
Mass Community
Father Joseph Valentine,
FSSP, has become the
diocese’s chaplain of the Latin
Mass Community. Bishop
Peter Sartain appointed him
to the position last fall in response to a 2007 letter from
Pope Benedict XVI. The document allows broader celebration of Latin liturgies (using
the 1962 Roman Missal of
Blessed John XXIII) in areas
where the faithful express
interest in the liturgies and
trained clergy are available.
“I think sometimes we
lose sight of our history and I
think there’s something to be
gained from praying as our
ancestors have for centuries,”
Father Valentine noted. He
said people are attracted to
the continuation of ancient
practices and that cross-generational participation in the
Masses has been growing.
Still, Father Valentine said
participating in a Latin Mass
requires adjustment – not only
of words and gestures – but
also to a more introspective
mode. “If you want to listen to
a Beethoven symphony, you
have to work at it a little bit,”
he said.
Valentine is a member of
the Priestly Fraternity of Saint
Peter, which specializes in
the celebration of the Latin
Mass. Locations and times for
diocesan Latin Masses are at
www.jolietlatin.org.
– Amy Kiley
Local news
1 Pick a pot of any material that is at least twice as tall as the bulbs
you’re using – that way you’ll be sure to have room for the roots
to develop properly. Wash the pot and place a shard over the
drainage hole to prevent the soil from washing out.
2 Using a porous potting mix – made of equal parts vermiculite,
peat moss, and packaged potting soil. Fill the pot halfway, then
place the bulbs on top as close together as possible. Lightly add
more soil to cover the bulbs, letting their “noses” stick out.
3 Place the potted bulbs in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator. Don’t store fruit and vegetables in the crisper at the same
time; they give off ethylene gas that can damage the bulbs.
4 Water the bulbs every two or three weeks or whenever the soil
dries out. When roots are visible through the drainage hole and
stems are about two inches high, the bulbs are ready to remove
from the refrigerator.
5 Place the pot in a cool, sunny room, ideally at a temperature of
55 to 65 degrees. Warmer temperatures may cause the plants
to have weak stems.
6 Keep the soil moist and give the pot a quarter turn every day to
keep the stems straight as the plants turn toward the light. Within
days (for the shorter flowers), blossoms will open and beautifully
illustrate the lasting lesson of the resurrection. Singing together a
verse or two of an Easter hymn such as “The Strife Is O’er” is a
fitting way to mark the occasion.
A
What does the mechanical engineer do when he
comes to understand his engineering career is the
major cause of significant and long-term job dissatisfaction? What does the recently divorced dad
do now that his travel schedule is no longer possible? What
does the stay-at-mom do when her spouse suddenly
passes away? What does the professional
ballet dancer do when ...? As I work
with individuals who hit their career
crossroads, the simplest of exercises
is where we begin. We ask two
questions.
I lost my job –
Work life
One way to underscore this lesson is to coax spring bulbs to bloom
– a process called forcing – before the snow even leaves your lawn.
The process is so simple that a child can do it; in fact, we
encourage you to share this activity with a child you love. This is
a simple and pure way to explain the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
All you need to gather are bulbs, soil enhancements and a pot
with a drainage hole.
There are many types of bulbs you can plant. Amaryllis bulbs are
the easiest; they don’t require a dormant period. And narcissi do
well with just two weeks in a cool, dark place. Other bulbs require
a bit more time to rest; crocuses, grape hyacinths, and freesias will
need four to six weeks, tulips and hyacinths eight to ten weeks, and
daffodils about 12 to 14 weeks.
Q
I was laid off almost a year ago
from my job in an auto plant. I
haven’t been able to find a job
anywhere. I’m only 42 and I need
to support my family. What can I do?
T. Gennara
To
live again
n the dark days of winter, when the light
is low and Lent is upon us, it’s easy to
allow despair to overtake us and to forget that this season of self-reflection and
repentance will lead us to a new life with
the risen Lord.
27
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
28
Christ Is Our Hope / April 2009 / www.DioceseofJoliet.org
29
La Pascua es un tiempo
de conversión
L
Miguel Moreno es el Director de la Oficina Diocesana del Ministerio Hispano.
Usted puede comunicarse con él a [email protected].
a Pascua cristiana: frente a
la generosidad y al sacrificio,
siempre deben estar presente la
gratitud y la conversión.
La Virgen María Peregrina
Con el Pueblo Hispano
Oración de la Conferencia
Teológica
Poderoso y Eterno Dios, Padre nuestro,
en tu gran amor nos diste a tu único Hijo
como Salvador, el Cordero de Dios que
quita los pecados del mundo;
en tu sabiduría escogiste a la Virgen
María para ser la madre de tu Hijo, y
Él se la dio a la Iglesia como Modelo y
como Signo del Poder de tu Gracia.
De una manera especial, María se ha
dado a conocer al Pueblo Hispano
para guiarnos a tu Hijo, Jesús. Ella
es la pobre y humilde sierva, quien
confió solamente en su Señor. Ella es la
primera y mejor discípula, quien se dejó
envolver en el Misterio de la salvación
en Jesucristo.
Con compasión y bondad, ella abre su
corazón para que podamos volvernos a
ti, y nos enseña a mantener nuestros ojos
puestos en Jesús.
¡Ella nos une a ti!
Ella nos enseña que las personas de
cada nación, son tus hijos e hijas y, por lo
tanto, ¡Nuestros hermanos y hermanas!
Que en tu Plan de Salvación, siempre
valoremos su misión, mientras le pedimos su amorosa intercesión, y mientras
te alabamos por siempre con vidas de
amor, fidelidad y paz.
Te damos gracias, Padre celestial, por
tan bondadosa y amorosa Madre.
Te lo pedimos por nuestro Señor Jesucristo, tu Hijo, que vive y reina contigo
en la unidad del Espíritu Santo y es Dios,
por los siglos de los siglos.
¡Ella fortalece nuestra esperanza!
Amén.
Reflexiones de fe
El salmo 114 nos dice que, “el Señor es clemente y misericordioso, lento a la cólera y rico en piedad.” Nadie duda de
esto, menos en este tiempo donde su “Amor” se manifiesta en
la entrega generosa de su único Hijo. Esta entrega que recordamos y celebramos cada Pascua, debe suscitar en nosotros, debe
sembrar en nosotros la gratitud y la conversión. Es decir, ser
agradecidos con Dios y tomar la firme y convencida decisión,
de mejorar nuestra vida, poniéndola tal y como Dios la quiere.
¿Estás dispuesto hacerlo? Más de uno duda al responder, porque
sabe bien, que se está pidiendo tanto, que se tiene miedo en
comprometerse a algo que le va a costar mucho cumplir. La Pascua es un tiempo de gratitud y de conversión. La
gratitud brota siempre de un corazón humilde, de alguien
que sabe, que necesita de Dios y de los demás. No todo lo
que tenemos lo merecemos; sin embargo, Dios nos permite
que gratuitamente lo recibamos. ¿Cómo debe responder el
ser humano a los actos de generosidad? Indudablemente que
con la gratitud. Y aquí estamos, agradeciendo a Dios por su
amor manifestado en su Hijo, quien – como dice el Credo
- “por nosotros, murió, fue sepultado…[y que por nuestro
bien] resucitó entre los muertos”.
El Hijo de Dios se ha sacrificado por nosotros y la respuesta
del creyente debe ser la conversión. ¿Qué debo hacer yo para
mejorar mi vida? ¿Qué es aquello que no me permite sonreír en
plenitud? ¿Qué es aquello que entristece mi vida? ¿Cuáles son
mis comportamientos que llenan de infelicidad o tristeza a otras
personas? El sacrificio de Jesús en la cruz nos llama a cambiar
esta forma de vivir. Por supuesto que nosotros podemos hacer
que nuestra vida sea un canto de alegría y esperanza para todos.
Junto a la alegría y al compromiso que se despiertan en
la Pascua, quisiera compartir con todos, que la Oficina
del Ministerio Hispano está organizando una Conferencia
Teológica con el tema, “La Virgen María Peregrina con el
Pueblo Hispano”. Esta Conferencia Teológica que se realizará el sábado 27 de junio en el Centro Pastoral San Carlos
(402 S. Independence Blvd., Romeoville), contará con la
participación de nuestro obispo Mons. J. Pedro Sartain y del
obispo auxiliar de la Arquidiócesis de Detroit Mons. Daniel
E. Flores. Junto a ellos, nuestro hermano Tony Meléndez,
quien bellamente canta y alaba la grandeza de Dios, tocando
la guitarra con sus pies, estará también compartiendo con
nosotros su testimonio de vida católica y su amor por la
Virgen María.
La mayoría de los boletos para este evento se han distribuido a través de los líderes parroquiales. Sí estás interesando
en participar, por favor, llámanos al (815) 834-4037; apenas
tengamos un boleto disponible, te lo estaremos haciendo llegar. Para este evento, nuestro obispo Mons. J. Pedro Sartain ha
preparado una oración que nos invita ya, a reflexionar en ese
peregrinaje que la Virgen María realiza con la Iglesia, especialmente en la comunidad hispana. Les invito a recitar conmigo
la siguiente oración y a pensar en la grandeza de Dios:
1
30
the top-10 recent Catholic
news events
World news
Bishops offer Web
resources for Lent
4
New Syrian
Catholic patriarch
installed in Lebanon – Former head
of the Syrian Catholic
Diocese in the U.S.
and Canada, Patriarch Ignace Joseph
III Younan, was
installed as patriarch
of the Syrian Catholic
Church in Beirut.
Cardinal Justin
Rigali criticizes
President Obama’s
executive order promoting embryonic
stem cell research
– He says the decision
is “morally wrong
because it encourages the destruction
of innocent human
life, treating vulnerable human beings as
mere products to be
harvested.”
lication, Catholic
Household Blessings
and Prayers. The
celebrate section
focuses on the two
sacraments emphasized during Lent
– reconciliation and
baptism.
The website is located at www.usccb.
org/lent. To listen
to Bishop Sartain’s
Lenten reflections, go to www.dioceseofjoliet.org
U.S. Bishops’ pro-life official
concerned over threat to
“conscience protection
regulation”
Operation Andrew dinner: Bishop
Peter Sartain and other priests from the
diocese dine and discuss the priesthood
with young men high school age or older.
May 7, St. Daniel the Prophet Parish,
101 W. Loop Rd., Wheaton, from 6-8
p.m. RSVP at least three days prior to
Father Burke Masters at (815) 8344004 or at [email protected].
Franciscan anniversary musical
celebration: To celebrate the 800th
anniversary of Franciscan Order, a
Franciscan ministry for performing
arts in Chicago, called Chiesa Nuova,
will present a concert on June 26 and
27. It will be at Lund Auditorium in the
Performing Arts Center, Dominican
University, 7900 Division St., River
Forest. The featured work will be the
oratorio, Dialogue of Francis and
Clare, by Father Robert Hutmacher,
O.F.M. The role of Saint Francis will be
sung by world-renowned bass-baritone
Alan Held, and mezzo-soprano Stacey
Eckert will sing the role of St. Clare.
Tickets are $40-$50. For tickets or
more information, call (312) 2260983 or visit www.chiesanuova.org.
Discernment retreat: The Joliet Area
Vocations Association will sponsor a
discernment retreat for vocations for
young adults – males and females from
18-35 – on June 14 from 10 a.m.
until 5 p.m. at the Portiuncula Retreat
House, 9201 W. St. Francis Road, in
Frankfort. Call (815) 834-4004 for
more information.
Catholic women’s retreat: Women
from across the diocese are invited to
join women from the Cathedral of St.
Raymond in Joliet for a retreat on May
15-17 at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat
House, 420 W. County Line Rd., Barrington. Contact Liz Sallese at (815)
436-9010 or Ann McDaniel at (815)
577-7254.
The U.S. Bishops have posted web
resources to help Catholics observe
the season of Lent. Video resources
include meditations on the crucified
Christ, and Michelangelo’s Pietá – and
an excerpt from Come to the Water,
an hour-long documentary about the
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
(RCIA).
Resources include sample chapters
from the U.S. Catechism on prayer, the
sacraments, the passion and resurrec-
Ordination to the priesthood: Three
seminarians – Deacons Dindo Billote,
Alejandro Flores and Matt Nathan – will
become ordained to the priesthood on
June 6, 11 a.m., at the Cathedral of St.
Raymond, 604 N. Raynor Ave., in Joliet.
Deirdre McQuade, spokesperson on
abortion and related issues at the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops, commented
Feb. 27 on reports that the Obama administration is moving to rescind a federal regulation that implements longstanding federal
statutes protecting conscience rights in the
health care profession.
“Efforts to nullify or weaken any
conscience protection will undermine our
national heritage of diversity and religious
freedom, reduce patients’ access to
life-affirming health care and endanger
the national consensus required to enact
much-needed health care reform” McQuade said.
“The administration says it will open
a new 30-day comment period so
Americans may voice their concerns. We
encourage participation in this process by
all committed to the sanctity of human life,
the freedom of conscience and the ethical
integrity of our healing professions,” she
added.
6
7
8
Lepers’ apostle
to be declared a
saint – The Vatican
set the date for
the canonization of
Blessed Damian de
Veuster. The famous
“leper priest” will be
canonized
Oct. 11.
Catholic philanthropist offers
millions to save
lives – Retired
Catholic businessman Raymond B.
Ruddy has given
away millions to
fund pro-life causes,
abstinence education and efforts to
end the HIV and
AIDS pandemic.
Vatican celebrates
its 80th anniversary – The Vatican
City State was
established Feb. 11,
1929, to guarantee
that the Holy See
and the pope could
freely carry out their
spiritual mission of
confirming Christians in the faith and
guiding the Universal Church.
5
Pope to visit
the Holy Land –
Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert confirmed
that Pope Benedict
XVI will visit Israel
in May.
9
More than 900
massacred in
Congo – Troops of
the guerilla Lord’s
Resistance Army
have massacred
more than 900
people since Christmas in the northeastern Democratic
Republic of Congo.
10
Catholic commission to rally support for rebuilding
Zimbabwe – The
Catholic Commission for Justice and
Peace in Zimbabwe
will use its nationwide network to rally
support for rebuilding Zimbabwe after
the formation of a
unity government.
31
Finding hope in suffering
Carlos Briceño is the editor of Christ is our Hope magazine.
I
have some
sad news to
share: My
sister recently
announced
she has breast cancer.
Readers of this column
might remember that, in the
October issue, I wrote about
Nancy, my eldest sister, and
her battle with cancer. It
resulted in her death.
Now that my second sister
is sick, my faith tells me that,
no matter how much she
suffers and no matter what
she goes through, Jesus will
always be there for my family
and her.
If I didn’t believe in him as
our savior, then I do not think
I would be able to function
or think properly because I
probably wouldn’t be able to
deal well with these kinds of
twists and turns in life.
However, Jesus’ death on
the cross and his subsequent
resurrection revealed his love
for me. Equally important, it
revealed Christ’s true power:
submitting himself to God’s
will, which required great
faith, despite the suffering he
went through.
Recently, I read about a
great example of faith in action that has helped inspire
me in my faith. I share it to
pass on the inspiration:
Michael Dubruiel wrote a
blog and books about the
Catholic faith. He was married to Amy Welborn, another
well-known Catholic author
and blogger. He died on Feb.
3, 2009, after collapsing in a
gym while working out.
His sudden death shocked
his wife, and she has written
online about her grief (http://
amywelborn.wordpress.
com/). There’s one entry that
really caught my attention.
Welborn writes about how
her daughter picked up a
Bible several days after Michael’s death and came upon
chapter five in the Gospel
of Mark. It deals with a man
who is possessed by demons
and lives among the tombs.
Jesus drives out the demons,
and the villagers come and
see the healed man. Then,
they turn to Jesus and say to
him: “Leave us.”
Welborn wrote: “The reason
that has resonated with me so
much over the years is that I
think it characterizes so much
about the spiritual journey.
Mine at least. Grace surrounds
us. The witness of good, holy
people surround us – joyful.
The fruit of love is as clear as
day, the spoiled fruit of selfishness and indulgence is also
as clear as day. The power of
Jesus is right here. He waits,
in love. And we say, more
often than not, fearful of the
changes, fearful of what will be
lost, ‘Leave us.’”
She goes on to say her
life now has a void. Her best
friend – her husband – is
gone.
“But in this moment I am
confronted with the question, most brutally asked, of
whether I really do believe all
that I say I believe. Into this
time of strange, awful loss,
Jesus stepped in. He wasted
no time. He came immediately.
His presence was real and
vivid and in him the present
and future, bound in love,
moved close. The gratitude
I felt for life now and forever
and what had prepared us for
this surged. I was tempted to
push it away for the sake of
propriety, for what is expected,
for what was supposed to be
normal – I was tempted to say,
‘Leave me,’ instead of accepting the Hand extended to me
and to immediately allow him
to define my life. But I did not
give into that temptation, and
a few hours later I was able
to do what I dreaded, what I
thought was undoable, to be in
a mystery that was both presence and absence and to not
be afraid. To not be afraid for
him, and for the first time ever
in my entire life – to not be
afraid for myself, either.”
Welborn’s faith inspires me.
This Easter season, when our
thoughts turn to the resurrection, my prayer to Jesus is,
“Thank you for not leaving me
or my family. Thank you for
the hope you give us in dying
on the cross and rising again.
Thank you for being present
in the Eucharist. And, thank
you for the grace to face each
day with hope and faith in
your will.”
For my sister’s cancer
– the disease that has been
plaguing my family – I have
other words: “Leave us.”
Last word
tion of Christ. The
website features a
question-and-answer section on the
RCIA and the Easter
triduum, from Holy
Thursday through
the Easter Vigil.
Resources for
prayer has a tutorial
on the rosary; text
and audio versions
of the Stations of
the Cross; and a chapter on Lenten
prayer from the 2007 USCCB pub-
Things to do:
Things to do
Nancy Pelosi
meets with the
pope – Benedict
XVI met privately
with U.S. Representative Nancy
Pelosi, speaker of the
House, on Feb. 18
and told her that all
Catholics, especially
those who are lawmakers, must work to
protect human life at
every stage.
3
Top ten
What in
the world?
Pope sends condolences for South
Korean cardinal –
Benedict XVI sent his
condolences at the
loss of South Korea’s
first cardinal, Stephen
Kim Sou-Hawn, the
retired archbishop of
Seoul. He was one
of the nation’s most
revered religious
leaders and an outspoken champion of
human rights.
2
32
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