North Texas`explosive population growth

Transcripción

Bringing the Good News to the Diocese of Fort Worth
Vol. 30 No. 6
September / October 2014
North Texas
Texas’’ explosive
population growth
requires careful planning so new Catholics
will have churches and schools
Here’s what we’re doing to get ready...
Photo above shows area east of I-35
toward Alliance Airport in 2011.
Inset photo shows area east of I-35
toward Alliance Airport in 1999.
P. 30
Español
Photos courtesy of Hilllwood
Development Company, LLC
P. 45
P. 28
Español
P. 52
Catholic Charities Fort Worth's response to needs of
unaccompanied minors includes offering bedrooms, personal
care kits, activity and art materials, as well as recruitment and
screening of temporary foster parents
Heather Reynolds responds to questions at a news conference at Catholic Charities Fort Worth, July 17
(NTC Photo / Joan Kurkowski-Gillen)
In This Issue...
OFFICIAL ASSIGNMENTS
6 RELIGIOUS APPRECIATION DINNER
5
With some priests retiring, and some
belonging to religious orders offering
their services to new parishes, the
Bishop’s Office has issued the official
priest assignments list.
6
Deaf Ministry Coordinator Connie
Martin signs at the K of C Religious
Appreciation Dinner. The Knights
presented more than $197,000 to the
diocese, $138,000 for vocations and
$59,461 for the diocese's Deaf Ministry.
24 TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE,
LIFELONG VOCATION
RESPECT LIFE GALA WILL RAISE 26
MONEY TO OFFER COMPASSION;
FORM A GENERATION FOR LIFE
Money raised at the Bishop's 10th
annual Respect Life Gala Sept. 27 will
help us respond to those injured by
abortion; educate and train young
people who will help end abortion.
24
Seminarians Keith Hathaway, Ronaldo
Mercado, and Michael Greco were
ordained to the diaconate in July, but
the office of service it represents goes
with them for the rest of their lives.
34 ST. MARY'S RESTORATION
CHRIST'S PRESENCE REAL AT DCYC 32
A thousand youth from across the
28 counties of the Diocese of Fort
Worth spent more time in Eucharistic
Adoration than ever, and saw that their
bishop found them important enough
to be there the whole weekend himself.
34
Gold and cream walls and a Rose of
Mary Dome above the altar; a glazed
and shaded renewal of the Last Supper
at the foot of the altar; renewed
stained-glass windows, all bringing
the sacred to life in the renewed St.
Mary's,Gainesville, interior.
36 SSMN'S 365 YEARS OF SERVICE
Honored for their service to God and
others, these six sisters taught in
schools across Texas, taught music, led
their province, gave nursing care to
the ill, and ran a dispensary in Rwanda
among many other things.
NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL 44
EN ESTA EDICIÓN
En esta edición del North Texas Catholic
encontrarán la columna del Obispo
Olson urgiéndonos a preparar con
mucho celo apostólico la bienvenida
a la multitud de nuevos católicos que
están llegando al Norte de Texas; los
antecedentes del explosivo crecimientos que traerá 12 ó 15 nuevas parroquias a la diócesis en las próximas
décadas; la columna del Padre Carmelo
acerca de por qué el suicidio asistido va
contra las enseñanzas de la Iglesia y es
una ofensa contra la dignidad humana;
además información sobre la UDMC en
octubre.
PAGE 2
36
38 NOLAN PRESIDENT ERIN VADER
38
NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC
As the first layperson and the first woman
to serve as president of her alma mater,
Nolan Catholic Hgh School, Erin Vader
brings with her a background that
includes having attended, taught school
at, or been a principal of a significant
number of the Catholic schools of the
diocese.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2014
NTC writers and photographers
win most awards ever at CPA
S
PUBLISHER:
Bishop Michael Olson
COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR: Pat Svacina
EDITOR: Jeff Hensley
ASSOCIATE EDITOR:
Tony Gutiérrez
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT:
Judy Russeau
WEB DESIGNER:
Chris Kastner
CIRCULATION: Pam
Quattrochi
CONTRIBUTORS:
Michele Baker
Jenara Kocks Burgess
Jaqueline Burkepile
Jerry Circelli
Juan Guajardo
Kathy Cribari Hamer
Joan Kurkowski-Gillen
Michael McGee
Wendy Pandolfo
Nicki Prevou
Marlon De La Torre
Donna Ryckaert
TRANSLATORS:
Reyna Castelan
Pedro Moreno
REGULAR COLUMNISTS:
Denise Bossert
Jean Denton
Kathy Cribari Hamer
Jeff Hedglen
Jeff Hensley
Fr. Carmen Mele, OP
David Mills
Mary Regina Morrell
Sharon K. Perkins
Father James Wilcox
Editorial Office: 800 West
Loop 820 S., Fort Worth,
Texas 76108, (817) 560-3300;
FAX (817) 244-8839.
Circulation Office: Pam Quattrochi, 800 West Loop 820
S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108,
(817) 560-3300.
Newsmagazine (USPS
751-370) (ISSN 0899-7020)
is published bi-monthly plus
one special issue in January
by the Most Rev. Michael F.
Olson, Bishop of the Diocese
of Fort Worth, 800 W. Loop
820 S., Fort Worth, Texas
76108. For those who are
not registered parishioners
in the Diocese of Fort Worth,
subscription rates are $18 for
one year, $35 for two years,
$50 for three years. Periodical
postage paid at Fort Worth,
Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to North Texas
Catholic, 800 W. Loop 820 S.,
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Deadline for information for
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noon of the Wednesday two
weeks before the paper is
published. The NTC is published bi-monthly, the third
Friday of the month, with
the following two months as
the date of each issue.
To access current news and
information, find us at www.
northtexascatholic.org
The appearance of advertising in these pages does not
imply endorsement of businesses, services, or products.
Readers must exercise
prudence in responding to
advertising in all media.
pace needs for this issue have crowded out our usual display
of the articles and pictures bringing honor to our writers,
photographers, and editors for the awards they earned at this year’s
Catholic Press Association competition. But it would be criminal to
fail to mention the award winners and their honors after our team
of gifted journalistic professionals earned a record 20 awards at
this year’s convention in Charlotte, North Carolina in June.
We are happiest when folks who have not received recognition
in the past are honored, and we had at least five who were recognized for the first time this year, including Nicki Prevou, for her
story on Cassata High School “A Network of Support” (Second Place
among Best Feature Articles in diocesan magazines); Elaine Schad
for her Third Place Essay “Remembering Valley View’s St. John’s Parish;” Jeff Hedglen’s Second Place for the Best Regular Column in the
Spiritual Life category; and Jenara Kocks Burgess for her contributions to the Second Place package on coverage of Pope Francis’ election and transition (to which Jacqueline Burkepile also contributed);
and Sharon K. Perkins received Second Place for Best Essay with her
“Reframing the Christmas Season.”
Kathy Cribari Hamer took home the First Place honors for the
Best Regular Column on Family Life. Jerry Circelli took First Place
honors in three categories, including sharing honors with photographer Donna Ryckaert in the Best Picture Package on the investiture of the new Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre.
Juan Guajardo was honored in several categories for his coverage of St. Frances Cabrini Parish’s response to the victims of the vicious tornado that destroyed so many families’ homes in Granbury,
including two Second Place honors and one Honorable Mention,
plus another Second Place for photos accompanying another Jerry
Circelli article on “40 Days for Life” and a Third Place award for
photos accompanying Nicki Prevou’s winning feature article.
And Joan Kurkowski-Gillen took home a Second Place award
for best Personality Profile for her piece on Gary Cangemi, who
draws our pro-life cartoon Umbert, and took another Second for
best coverage of Pope Francis’ election and transition, and a Third
Place for Best Picture Package of the papal transition, sharing honors for the articles in that coverage with Juan Guajardo.
And much credit for all these honors, this particular year, goes
to the fine editing and layout work of my great friend and associate-editor, Tony Gutièrrez. Congratulations to everyone, including
those who may not have won awards. Our objective is to serve
God, his Church, and his people, and I hope we’ve all done that.
Jeff Hensley
PAGE 3
OUR SHEPHERD SPEAKS
As our Diocese continues to grow,
we are all asked to develop an
apostolic heart
Bishop Michael Olson
S
o much has happened that it is very difficult for me to admit that it has been six
months since my ordination and installation as the Bishop of Fort Worth. The clergy,
religious, and laity have overwhelmed me with
their zeal and love for their Catholic faith. My
visits to our parishes, schools, campus ministry
sites, and other ministries have reaffirmed
the warm and gracious assessment offered to
me by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the
Apostolic Nuncio, at the end of the ordination liturgy celebrated with 10,000 people at
the Fort Worth Convention Center on Jan. 29,
2014: “I will share with the Holy Father that
the Church in Fort Worth is very much alive
and flourishing.”
The scope of the Nuncio’s statement took
on new depth when I reviewed the demographic reports about current and projected
population growth within the Diocese, especially in Tarrant, Denton, Johnson, Wise, and
Parker Counties. While the numbers of people
(and of Catholics in particular) estimated to
move into the Fort Worth Diocese involves
rapid increase, our projected growth is only
staggering when we view it without faith or
hope as a problem and not as a call from the
Lord to share our faith, to spread the Gospel,
to promote priestly vocations, to reach out to
the poor, and to welcome the immigrant, and
to receive the gifts that our brothers and sisters
will offer us as we work together to establish
new parishes, schools, and to strengthen our
PAGE 4
existing ministries.
This good news of our growth in numbers
will inform and guide the pastoral plan that
is urgently required to meet the needs of our
local Church. I intend to undertake the formation of this plan through legitimate pastoral
consultation that is actionable and more than
the paralysis induced by consultative process
for process’ sake. Time is of the essence. The
formation and implementation of such a plan
can only begin after we take stock in gratitude
of the gifts that God has given us to develop
for the sake of the mission of evangelization.
This mission must drive our diocesan institutions, not the other way around.
The formation and implementation of
a pastoral plan will call all of us and each of
us to sacrifice for the sake of the spread of
the Gospel in growing areas of our diocese.
Through this discernment, God will ask
each of us — clergy, religious, and laity — to
develop an apostolic heart and to give of ourselves joyfully and generously for the sake of
providing for the pastoral needs of those newly
arrived in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Each
of us must be prepared to make sacrifices for
the sake of others. This charitable disposition
will enable us to continue to evangelize the
unchurched members of our society as well as
those of us who are initiated but insufficiently
catechized in the substance of our Faith. This
generosity must especially be directed to priorities of discipleship that include: outreach
to the poor, prayer for and active encouragement of priestly and religious vocations, and
the catechetical and spiritual formation in the
sacramental life of our youth and young adults.
The Lord is entrusting each of us with a
particular share in his mission to evangelize.
I am asking each of us to pray for gratitude
for this gift and to ask Him for his wisdom to
guide our decisions that we each will make to
work for the spread of the Gospel and for the
healthy and steady growth of his Church. How
much God has blessed us to live and to serve
Him in these times!
+ Bishop Michael F. Olson, STD, MA
Diocese of Fort Worth
CLERGY ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE DIOCESE OF FORT WORTH
by Most Rev. Michael F. Olson, STD, MA
PASTORS
PAROCHIAL
ADMINISTRATORS
Rev. Eric Michael Groner, SVD,
upon presentation by the provincial
of the Society of the Divine Word —
Southern Province in Bay St. Louis,
Mississippi, is appointed Pastor of
St. Rita Parish, Fort Worth, effective
June 8, 2014.
Rev. Mathew Kavipurayidam,
TOR, upon presentation by the
provincial of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis — Province of St.
Thomas, India, is appointed Pastor
of St. Thomas the Apostle Parish,
Fort Worth, from Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Carrollton,
effective September 15, 2014.
Rev. Augustine J. Kolapuram,
TOR, upon presentation by the
provincial of the Third Order
Regular of St. Francis — Province
of St. Thomas, India, is appointed
Pastor of St. Catherine of Siena
Parish, Carrollton, from Parochial
Vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Parish, Carrollton, effective September
15, 2014.
Rev. Antony Mathew, TOR, upon
presentation by the provincial of the
Third Order Regular of St. Francis
— Province of St. Thomas, India,
is appointed Parochial Administrator of Holy Cross Parish, The
Colony, from Pastor of St. Thomas
the Apostle Parish, Fort Worth, effective September 15, 2014.
Rev. Eliseo Hernandez, CORC,
upon presentation by the Regional
Director of the Confraternity of the
Operarios of the Reign of Christ, is
appointed Parochial Administrator of St. Matthew Parish, Arlington, effective September 19, 2014.
PAROCHIAL VICARS /
SACRAMENTAL PRIEST
Rev. Alejandro Lopez Chavez,
CORC, upon presentation by the
Regional Director of the Confraternity of the Operarios of the Reign of
Christ, is appointed Parochial Vicar
of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish,
Fort Worth, effective July 1, 2014.
Rev. Albert Francis Kanjiranthumkal, HGN, upon presentation
by the Provincial of the Heralds of
the Good News — Mother Theresa
Province, is appointed Sacramental
Priest, St. Joseph Parish, Rhineland,
and Santa Rosa Parish, Knox City,
from Parochial Vicar, St. Patrick
Cathedral Parish, Fort Worth, effective September 6, 2014.
Rev. John Antony Perikomalayil,
HGN, upon presentation by the Provincial of the Heralds of the Good
News — Mother Theresa Province,
is appointed Sacramental Priest,
Sacred Heart Parish, Seymour, and
St. Mary of the Assumption Parish,
Megargel, from Sacramental Priest
for St. Joseph Parish, Rhineland,
and Santa Rosa Parish, Knox City,
Rev. Sushil Tudu, TOR, upon
presentation by the provincial of the
Third Order Regular of St. Francis
— Province of St. Thomas, India,
is appointed Parochial Vicar of St.
Pope Francis to United Nations: Act to end the tragedy in Iraq
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis formally asked
U.N. agencies and the entire international community “to take action to end the humanitarian
tragedy now underway” in northeastern Iraq.
In a letter signed Aug. 9, but released by the
Vatican only after it was delivered, Pope Francis
told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon immediate action was needed “to stop and to prevent
further systematic violence against ethnic and
religious minorities.”
The letter was sent after militants of the Islamic State terrorist organization captured Mosul
PAGE 5
in late July and Qaraqosh in early August, killing
hundreds of people and forcing tens of thousands
of Christians, Yezidis, and other religious and
ethnic minorities from their homes.
The U.S. military began airstrikes against
the Islamic State Aug. 8 as well as airdrops of
food and water for Iraqi minorities who were
forced to flee.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi, SJ, told reporters Aug. 13 that Pope Francis
was using language in line with the development
in Catholic Social Teaching and international
ethics on humanitarian intervention and the
“obligation to protect” people facing widespread
massacres and outright genocide.
Thomas the Apostle Parish, Fort
Worth, effective September 15, 2014.
Rev. Alexander Ambrose, HGN,
upon presentation by the Provincial
of the Heralds of the Good News
— Mother Theresa Province, is appointed Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Cathedral Parish, Fort Worth,
Rev. Cruz Manuel Holguin, is
appointed as Parochial Vicar of
St. John the Apostle Parish, North
Richland Hills, from Parochial
Vicar of St. Matthew Parish, Arlington, effective September 18, 2014.
OTHER
Rev. Hector Medina, is appointed
as Supply Priest, from Pastor of
St. Matthew Parish, Arlington, effective September 18, 2014. Father
Medina will live in Arlington.
Rev. Alfredo Barba is on a leave of
absence, from Parochial Vicar, St.
Matthew Parish, Arlington, effective immediately.
Fr. Lombardi said Pope Francis was not
dictating the use of internationally-sanctioned
military power against the Islamic State or “giving specific operational indications — that is the
responsibility of the international community
to determine.”
Pope Francis, referring to the U.N.’s foundation immediately after the horrors of World
War II, told Ban: “The tragic experiences of the
20th century, and the most basic understanding
of human dignity, compels the international
community, particularly through the norms and
mechanisms of international law, to do all that
it can to stop and to prevent further systematic
violence against ethnic and religious minorities.”
“It is with a heavy and anguished heart that I
have been following the dramatic events of these
past few days in northern Iraq,” the pope told Ban.
DIOCESAN, LOCAL & STATE
John Paul II
NEWSBRIEFS
Institute opening
three new sections Diocesan Knights of Columbus raise
The John Paul II Institute, the diocesan lay ministry training program, $197K for vocations, deaf ministry
is accepting registration for its three
new English sections beginning in
September.
New sections will be held at St. Michael Parish in Bedford on the first and
third Monday evenings of the month
and at the diocesan Catholic Center on
the second and fourth Tuesday mornings of the month. There will also be an
English class that meets online.
For more information or to register,
visit www.fwdioc.org/pages/john-paul2-institute-about or call the institute’s
director, Father Carmen Mele, OP, at
817-560-2452, ext. 262.
MSU students
serve on mission
trip to Guatemala
Photo courtesy of Debbie Neely
MSU student Justin Veitenheimer
holds a Guatemalan girl.
WICHITA FALLS — Midwestern
State University Catholic Campus
Ministry Director Debbie Neely led
eight of her students joining Father
Jack McKone, pastor of Sacred Heart
Parish in Wichita Falls, on a mission
trip to Patzun, Guatemala May 13-20.
“Everywhere we went we experienced an overwhelming gratitude,”
said Neely in a talk she gave at Sacred
Heart after the mission. “We met the
hardest working people who build their
own churches with monies our diocese
provides. They take time off from their
... only source of income, to do whatever
is needed for their faith community.”
Photo by Wendy Pandolfo / NTC
Bishop Michael Olson receives a check presented by Jack Schooley, the
Knights’ Western Metroplex Chapter president (center), and Leonard Gruca,
the Knights’ assistant diocesan deputy.
By Jerry Circelli
Correspondent
ARLINGTON — The Knights of
Columbus Western Metroplex Chapter presented a check for $197,461 to
Bishop Michael Olson July 28 at its
19th annual Priest and Religious Appreciation Dinner held at St. Vincent
de Paul Parish in Arlington.
The chapter, comprising the 54
Knights councils in the Diocese of
Fort Worth, hosts the annual event
to support those who serve as priests,
deacons, sisters, brothers, and seminarians, as well as to help fund a ministry
designated by the bishop, the diocesan
Deaf Ministry.
Of this amount, $138,000 is designated for the Vocations Office and
was raised by Knights of Columbus
Council 1473 in Wichita Falls. The remaining $59,461 was raised by Knights
throughout the diocese as part of their
Texas State Charities Fund, and will
be awarded to the Deaf Ministry. An
additional $24,000 was raised during
the evening, through live and silent
auctions, and will be applied to next
year’s total check amount.
Since the annual dinner was first
held in 1996, the Knights have raised
more than $2.8 million for the Diocese
PAGE 6
of Fort Worth Vocations Office and
Deaf Ministry.
“This event is so important to us,”
said Deaf Ministry Coordinator Connie
Martin. “We are thankful for the support of the Knights of Columbus, and
we get to meet so many of our friends
that we have gotten to know through
the years.”
In accepting the major check of the
evening for the Vocations Office and
Deaf Ministry, Bishop Olson expressed
his gratitude to the Knights.
The bishop spoke for all priests
and those who have served the Church
through religious vocations, saying, “It’s
always very awkward for us who are
priests and religious because we really
spend our lives thanking God for calling
us to service, and so it’s a little awkward
sometimes when we’re thanked for it.
But we very much appreciate it.”
Regarding the growing number of
seminarians in the diocese, the bishop
said, “That is something that God is
offering us.” He asked the faithful to
“listen to the voice of the Lord and
encourage others to hear it and have
the courage to say ‘yes,’ because God is
very generous with his gift — the call to
service. And that’s what transforms us.
And that’s our mission — to transform
the world for his kingdom.”
Population expert
Steven Mosher
shares conversion
By Juan Guajardo
Correspondent
GRAPEVINE — Dr. Steven Mosher,
president of the Population Research
Institute, shared his experiences with
population control in China with an
audience of 70 at St. Francis of Assisi
Parish in Grapevine July 25.
Prior to his conversion to Catholicism and the pro-life movement, Mosher
was a social scientist who had the permission of the Chinese government to
explore, research, and study the country
without direct supervision.
“The first thing that happened was
I noticed that women in my village were
being arrested for the crime of being
pregnant,” Mosher explained.
One of the worst cases — the one
that changed him — occurred in a
small operating room where a mother
who was eight months pregnant was
given a lethal injection into the womb
that killed her baby, but not her. The
doctors didn’t want to wait for her to
begin labor, so they performed a cesarean section instead.
“By the time [it] was finished and
the now-dead baby was removed from
the body of this wounded mother ... I
knew without a doubt what abortion
was,” Mosher recalled. “So I left that
operating room pro-life and I’ve been
pro-life ever since.”
But he also found God in that operating room.
“I had up until that time been a
committed secular humanist, a moral
relativist ... there couldn’t be hell. And
then hell opened up before me as I saw
the killing of this tiny innocent, and I
couldn’t imagine a greater evil than that.
“In that setting that said evil could
exist, I had to believe to keep my own
sanity that there was ... a source of good
in this universe to offset this evil.”
All the arguments favoring population control that Mosher had previously
accepted vanished. He returned to the
U.S. campaigning to expose these abuses, and 10 years later, became Catholic.
Carolyn Bachman from Scotland,
Texas, elected to Catholic Daughters
of the Americas National Board
BILLINGS, MONTANA — Carolyn
Bachman of Scotland, Texas, was recently elected a national director for
the Catholic Daughters of the Americas (www.catholicdaughters.org) at
the Catholic Daughters’ 55th Biennial
National Convention July 16-18 in
Billings, Montana.
Bachman begins her two-year term
on Aug. 19. In her position as national
director, she will supervise Catholic
Daughter activities in several states
and work with the National Board (the
governing body of the Catholic Daughters consisting of five national officers
and eight other national directors) to
administer Catholic Daughter activities
and implement policy.
Bachman is a member of Our Lady
of Good Counsel Court 309 based out
of Sacred Heart Parish in Wichita Falls.
She joined the Catholic Daughters in
1978. She has previously served as
regent for her court and as the state
regent for Texas.
The Catholic Daughters of the
Americas is one of the oldest and largest organizations of Catholic women in
the Americas. Formed in 1903, today it
numbers 70,000 dues-paying members
in 1,250 courts (including approximately 15 in the Diocese of Fort Worth) in
the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guam,
and the Virgin Islands.
DIRECTOR OF C ATECHIST FORMATION AND
CHILDREN’S C ATECHESIS
The Diocese of Fort Worth Texas seeks a fulltime Director of Catechist Formation and Children’s
Catechesis at the Catholic Center. Main duties will
include oversight, implementation, and facilitation
of Bi-lingual Catechetical programs; administration of all Sacramental Preparation Guidelines,
Elementary Religious Education Guidelines, RCIA
for Children and Parish Directors of Religious
Education formation and assessment; and, exercise
the ability to foster the New Evangelization with
the intent of forming intentional disciples through
the use of systematic approach to the faith for
the Diocese of Fort Worth. Interested applicants
must be bilingual in Spanish/English and have
an advanced degree or equivalent in Catechetics.
The Diocese of Fort Worth offers excellent pay
and benefits to employees.
For a full job description, qualifications and
application, visit www.fwdioc.org. Position will
close on September 15, 2014.
A DMINISTRATIVE A SSISTANT — A DVANCEMENT
FOUNDATION
The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth is seeking a full-time Administrative Assistant to work as
a leased employee to the Advancement Foundation to provide clerical support to the Executive
Director and staff. Three (3) years of previous
experience in an administrative support services
PAGE 7
KJZT presents diocese with $1,716
The Catholic Family Fraternal of Texas-KJZT presented Bishop Michael Olson
and diocesan Vocations Director Father James Wilcox (FAR LEFT), with a check
for $1716.87 for the seminarians of the diocese. Members of the fraternal society contribute to the Clerical Endowment Fund in memory of loved ones or
to commemorate significant life events. Recipients are remembered in monthly
Masses for a year. Donors indicate which diocese in Texas receives the donation. This year the Diocese of Fort Worth received more than $1,500. Making
the presentation were Elsie Marak (SECOND FROM LEFT), president of the Ennis
society, and Joan Johnson (FAR RIGHT) state director for the fraternal society.
DIOCESAN JOB OPENINGS
role is required. Proficiency is required in oral and
written communication, general office functions,
and computer programs (Microsoft Word, Excel,
Publisher, and PowerPoint). Fluency in Spanish
(verbal and written) is strongly preferred. For a full
job description and application, visit www.fwdioc.
org. Position will be open until filled.
DIRECTOR OF STEWARDSHIP AND PARISH
R ELATIONS — A DVANCEMENT FOUNDATION
The Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth is seeking a full-time Director of Stewardship and Parish
Relations to work as a leased employee to the Advancement Foundation. Stewardship is a lifelong
process integral to being a Disciple of Christ, and
this position will work closely with the Parishes of
the Diocese of Fort Worth to create and manage
successful stewardship programs and campaigns. The successful candidate will hold a Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
and be a Practicing Catholic with a strong desire to
serve the Catholic Community. Fluency in Spanish
(verbal and written) is strongly preferred. Please
see www.fwdioc.org for a complete list of duties. Interested and qualified individuals should send a
résumé and cover letter (including salary expectations) to [email protected]. Position will be
open until filled.
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH MINISTRY
The Diocese of Fort Worth Texas seeks a fulltime Director of Youth Ministry at the Catholic
Center to provide a Christocentric and Comprehensive Catechetical Process for the formation
of our youth in the Catholic faith. Main duties
will include: directing and administering various
youth events, programs and conferences including
the annual Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference,
Middle School Rally, Youth Leadership Camp,
Youth 2000 retreat, etc. Oversee Safe Environment
Training for all teen leaders. Foster relationships
with parishes, schools, and youth organizations
such as Boy Scouts.
The qualified applicant must: be a practicing
Catholic; Bachelor’s degree in Theology or Catechetics (Master’s degree preferred); minimum of
5 years of catechetical experience in Youth Ministry; availability to travel and work evenings and
weekends as required.
For a full job description and application, visit
www.fwdioc.org.
The Diocese of Fort Worth offers excellent
pay and benefits to employees, including health
insurance. If interested in this challenging position, e-mail a résumé, a completed job application
and cover letter to [email protected] or
fax to (817) 244-8839. Application due date is
September 30. Qualified applicants may be contacted for an interview.
DIOCESE
Vancouver Archbishop Miller to deliver keynote address at 2014 UDMC
By Nicki Prevou
Correspondent
Archbishop J. Michael Miller
of Vancouver, former secretary of
the Vatican’s Congregation for
Catholic Education, will deliver the
keynote address at the eighth annual University of Dallas Ministry
Conference (UDMC), “Walking
Together in Faith,” scheduled for
Oct. 23-25 at the Irving Convention Center in Irving.
Archbishop Miller will address
Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation,
Evangelii Gaudium, (The Joy of the
Gospel) and its role in contemporary
Catholic ministry and education on
Friday, Oct. 24, in English during
the morning session and in Spanish during the afternoon session.
Online registration is now
open for the conference. This year’s
conference will expand into a threeday event, beginning the afternoon
of Thursday, Oct. 23. The extra
day will allow more workshops to
be offered than in previous years.
The conference, which, according to organizers, is the second largest of its kind in the United States,
is co-sponsored by the Fort Worth
and Dallas dioceses, and is attended
each year by more than six thousand
Catholics from across North Texas.
Archbishop Miller will also
concelebrate the conference’s Mass
Friday morning, Oct. 24, with
Bishop Michael Olson of Fort
Worth and Bishop Kevin Farrell
of Dallas.
Bishops Olson and Farrell, in
a jointly-written letter addressed
to all area Catholics, have invited
even greater participation at this
year’s event.
“The conference is a wonderful opportunity for ongoing formation that can rejuvenate those
working in the Church today as
we assist those we serve to more
Photo courtesy of Archdiocese of Vancouver
Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB
deeply understand their Catholic
faith and grow in spirituality,”
wrote the bishops. “We encourage
you to join the ministers from the
administrative, parish, and school
levels from throughout North Texas
at this vital three-day gathering
of ministry and faith formation.”
The Thursday afternoon
schedule at this year’s conference
will include a comprehensive class
on the use of media and new technologies as a way of evangelizing
and improving ministries within
the Church.
Special evening sessions will
also be offered on Thursday evening, designed for lectors and
extraordinary ministers of holy
Communion. According to conference materials, the sessions are
“perfect for those new to the ministries as well as veterans wanting
a refresher.”
More than 200 additional
sessions will be offered in English,
Spanish, and Vietnamese during
the conference, designed to be of
interest to priests, deacons, and
other ministry professionals and
volunteers. Continuing education
credit will be offered to attending
Catholic school educators and parish catechists.
The sessions, offered by exPAGE 8
perienced ministry leaders, will
cover topics such as faith formation,
Scripture, evangelization, liturgy,
social justice, marriage, parenting,
and family life.
Speakers will include Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, associate director of the Secretariat for Hispanic
Affairs at the U.S. Conference of
Catholic Bishops; Robert McCarty, executive director for the
National Federation for Catholic
Youth Ministry; and Catholic
blogger and bestselling author Lisa
Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.
com; among many other presenters.
According to ministry leaders
within the Diocese of Fort Worth,
UDMC offers valuable resources
for every Catholic who wants to
become more knowledgeable in
their faith and the teachings of the
Catholic Church.
“The conference is a great way
for everyone — not just those in
professional ministry — to join in
fellowship, faith sharing, and prayer
with the Catholic community of
North Texas,” said Sister Yolanda
Cruz, SSMN, Vice-Chancellor for
Parish Services. “We invite everyone to please come, to attend. Come
prepared to be extremely blessed, to
be better equipped to minister and
to live your faith and to respond to
your baptismal call.”
Registration is $57 before Sept. 25,
$75 before Oct. 10, and $100 at
the door. Exhibitor and sponsorship
opportunities are also available.
For more information or to register,
visit www.udallas.edu/udmc or call
972-721-4077.
DIOCESE
Diocese to sponsor its first Family Life Conference Nov. 1 in Grapevine
By Juan Guajardo
Correspondent
Over the years, the Diocese of
Fort Worth has sponsored conferences for married couples, for men,
for women, and even for mothers
and their daughters, and fathers
and their sons, among many others.
This year, the diocese will sponsor
a new conference: the first Family
Life Conference will be held Nov.
1, All Saints Day, at St. Francis of
Assisi Church in Grapevine.
“This is for people who are married, people who are single parents,
people who are stepparents, people
who are hurting from divorce,” said
Chris Vaughan, diocesan director of
Marriage and Family Life. “We are
trying to have this conference be
open to everyone.”
The basic idea behind putting on the one-day conference,
titled “Families: Where Saints are
Made,” was to help families and
married couples within the diocese
understand their vocations, get the
tools and information they need to
strengthen their families and marriages, and to know that they are
not alone, said Marlon De La Torre,
diocesan director of Catechesis.
“The Church is constantly —
through the Catechism and through
papal documents — exhorting
the family to realize the dignity
it possesses and the great power it
possesses,” Vaughan said. “So we
wanted these talks to be on the one
hand practical: ‘How can we do this?
How could we be better parents?
How could we lead our kids to their
vocations?’” Vaughan added, saying
PAGE 9
Photo courtesy of Ray Guarendi
Ray Guarendi
that he also wanted the talks to give
participants “something that will
help them spiritually because we
can’t do any of this without God’s
grace and his help in marriage.”
The conference goes beyond
catechesis. Vaughan and De La
Torre say they’ve noticed the attacks
on marriage and the family in their
day-to-day jobs.
Vaughan says he gets calls every
week from people who “have just
had their lives crushed by divorce.”
And De La Torre says parents call
him frequently asking, “What can
we do for our children? How can
we evangelize them?”
Hence the conference, which
will seek to answer those questions
and tackle issues challenging today’s
families and married couples, like
divorce, communication problems,
and the demoralization of human
sexuality.
The conference will feature
three keynote talks, with one presented by Bishop Michael Olson
and two others presented by Dr.
Ray Guarendi, the popular Catholic clinical psychologist, author,
EWTN personality, radio host, and
father of 10 children.
Sandwiched between the keynotes will be breakout sessions featuring topics like Natural Family
Planning, healing from divorce,
encouraging vocations in one’s children, keeping children safe on the
Internet, communication in marriage, the definition of marriage, and
talking to your children about sex.
“Some of those topics are
crucial,” De La Torre said. “These
things are just meant to be practical and hit home because the reality is these are the questions we’re
being asked, so we figured, ‘You
know what, let’s answer them in a
broader way, in a more holistic way
through this type of setting, along
with Bishop Olson being there,
and hopefully bring some solace
to people.”
Both Vaughan and De La Torre
say Bishop Olson was a big proponent of the conference.
“Bishop Olson has really expressed a care for the families of the
diocese in making sure that they are
taken care of, that they are formed
in what their role is,” Vaughan said.
“That goes to making sure that marriage preparation is done solidly …
and continuing to help those who
are already married understand the
vocation of marriage and the vocation to family life and give them the
tools they need to succeed.”
Vaughan said the diocese is providing an interpreting service and
headsets to allow Spanish speakers
to listen to the keynote talks and
various breakout sessions in Spanish.
The service is limited to 50 people
on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis.
Those interested can sign up for
the free service when they register
for the conference.
Registration for the conference
can be done online via www.
fortworthfamilylife.org, or by contacting
Irma Jimenez, administrative assistant
for the Office of Marriage and Family
Life at 817-560-2452, ext. 360. Cost
of the conference is $20 per individual
or $30 per couple.
DIOCESE
Father James Wilcox named diocese’s new Vocations director
By Tony Gutiérrez
Associate Editor
Father James Wilcox has
been appointed the new Vocations director for the Diocese of
Fort Worth. Fr. Wilcox, who was
ordained to the priesthood on
June 29 of last year, took on the
role on July 1.
Fr. Wilcox said his approach to vocations is to ensure
that parishes are talking about,
encouraging, and praying about
vocations, “so when the Lord
moves someone to discern a vocation to the priesthood or religious
life, and that person comes to our
office, it’s my job to make sure
we have a program in place that
removes any hurdles to the Holy
Spirit’s plan.”
Fr. Wilcox credits his own
family and the support he
received from his home parish of St. Catherine of Sienna
in Carrollton for nurturing his
vocation.
“Vocations really come from
the family. Families have a duty
and responsibility to always be
open to do what the Lord wants
in the lives of their children,” he
said.
“I had great parents,” Fr.
Wilcox added, saying that in his
family, “we lived our Catholic
faith. At the same time, my par-
Photo by Kathy Cribari Hamer / NTC
Father James Wilcox
ish before seminary was supportive of me throughout the discernment and seminary process. I
hope our current seminarians
would say the same thing about
their home parishes.”
In addition to his assignment
as Vocations director, Fr. Wilcox
has also been assigned to serve as
parochial administrator for a circuit of parishes that includes St.
Rita in Ranger, St. Francis Xavier
in Eastland, Holy Rosary in Cisco, and St. John in Strawn, after
having served a year as parochial
vicar at St. John the Apostle Parish in North Richland Hills.
“It’s not two mutually
exclusive positions,” he insists.
“I’m first and foremost a priest
of Jesus Christ. It’s that balance
between being and doing. I’m
always a priest, I’m always Vocations director, and I’m always a
parochial administrator. Some
of my tasks take place in Fort
Worth, some in the parish, and
some throughout the diocese.
“But just because my tasks
or locations change, it doesn’t
stop me from being. With the
wonders of technology, I can still
assist with people discerning and
seminary formation from my office in Ranger,” and, he said, in
a similar fashion, “I’m still available to parishioners when I’m in
Fort Worth.”
Even though he’s relatively
new to the priesthood, Fr. Wilcox
doesn’t consider that an obstacle.
“If the role of the Vocations
To Report Misconduct
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual misconduct by anyone who
serves the church, you may
․ Call Judy Locke, victim assistance coordinator, (817) 560-2452 ext. 201 or
e-mail her at [email protected]
․ Or call the Sexual Abuse Hot-line (817) 560-2452 ext. 900 and leave a
message.
To Report Abuse
Call the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (Child Protective
Services at (800) 252-5400
PÁGINA 10
SEPTIEMBRE / OCTUBRE 2014
director was someone who can
answer every question about the
priesthood, then someone who’s
one year out can’t do that,” Fr.
Wilcox said. “But if the role is to
help someone discern the will of
God in their life, and do that in
a way so that they’re constantly
open to the movement of the
Holy Spirit, then … I have complete trust that if the Holy Spirit
through the bishop is asking me
to take on this role, then He will
grant me the graces to fulfill his
will. This of course is only possible through a life of prayer.”
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
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Catholic Charities refugee program
helps people rebuild lives and find hope
Faustin Mupanda, a successful artist, lives far from the
violence and turmoil of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(DRC). And yet, he admits, the
painful memories of his former
life in Africa are never far from
his thoughts.
“I was a graphic artist, living in the Congo in 1995, when
I was approached by opponents
of the dictator Mobutu Sese Seko,
and asked to create a logo for
the pro-democracy movement,”
he explains. He agreed, a decision that led to long months of
imprisonment and torture in a
desolate military camp. After his
eventual escape, Mupanda lived
for four years in refugee camps in
Cameroon and Senegal. He was
granted refugee status in 2000.
Once resettled through
Catholic Charities Fort Worth
(CCFW), he quickly learned
English, moved into an apartment, obtained employment,
attended graduate school, and
adjusted to life in North Texas. A
prolific painter, his work depicts
traditional life in Africa. Each
year, Mupanda donates one of his
pieces to the CCFW Noche de
Fiesta auction, as a way of expressing his gratitude to the agency.
“Catholic Charities helped
me so much, and in so many
ways,” says Mupanda, who is now
the owner of his own graphic design company. “Most of all, they
helped me to obtain my American
citizenship. They also helped
me to bring my two sons from
Africa to Fort Worth. I always
try to show how grateful I am to
Catholic Charities for giving my
life back to me and my family.”
Nadine Maalouf, who serves
as CCFW’s program manager
for Refugee Employment Ser-
PAGE 11
Photo by Juan Guajardo / NTC
Faustin Mupanda shows off
his artwork that he donated to
Catholic Charities’ “Noche de
Fiesta.” Mupanda is an artist and
graphic designer who was assisted
by CCFW when he entered the U.S.
as a refugee from Africa.
vices, notes that approximately
600 refugees are resettled in the
Fort Worth area each year. Like
Mupanda, “The other refugees
who come here from situations
of violence and upheaval are also
so grateful for their safety. They
work hard, they pay their taxes,
they care for their children, and
they become productive members
of our community,” she says.
Maalouf and other CCFW
staff members are working to raise
awareness of the fact that the U.S.
Office of Refugee Resettlement
(ORR) is experiencing a severe
shortfall in funding. They urge
supporters of refugee resettlement services to contact their
senators and representatives to
request increased funding for the
ORR budget so that refugees can
continue to successfully support
themselves, their families, and
their communities.
For more information about
refugee resettlement, visit www.
CatholicCharitiesFortWorth.org/
RefugeeFunding.
LIGHTER & BRIGHTER
Pope Francis talks with Vatican workers during a surprise visit
to the Vatican cafeteria July 25. (CNS photo/L'OSSERVATORE ROMANO
via Reuters)
A girl plays a janggu during
a ceremony blessing the new
education center and rectory at St.
Paul Chong Ha-Sang Church in the
Flushing neighborhood of Queens
July 20. (CNS photo/Gregory A.
Shemitz)
Franciscan Sister Jane Mary Sorosiak's ceramic
murals adorn the exteriors of buildings in North
Central Ohio, close to the studio where she creates
her artwork from clay.
Sister Jane Mary has
been crafting murals
with religious themes for
38 years from her studio
on the campus of Lourdes
University. The mural of
the Holy Family will adorn
Sandusky Central Catholic
Elementary School. (CNS photo/Chaz Muth)
Fr. Adam Wikczak of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.,
tags out Fr. Matthew Bartulica at home plate during the
first Pitching Priests Softball Game July 14 at Community
America Ballpark in Kansas City. The game pitted priests
from the archdiocese against priests from the Diocese of
Kansas City-St. Joseph, Mo. More than 2,500 fans attended
the event. (CNS photo/Lori Wood Habiger, THE LEAVEN)
Pope Francis adjusts the hat of a baby
before celebrating Mass in Campobasso,
Italy, July 5. The pope was visiting the Italian
region of Molise. (CNS photo/Giampiero
Sposito, Reuters)
Youths release doves at the end of the traditional
Bastille Day parade July 14 on the Champs-Elysees in
Paris. The date marks the storming of the Bastille in
1789, celebrated as a national holiday in France. (CNS
photo/Benoit Tessier, Reuters)
www.sheepdotcom.com
PAGE 12
GROWING AS A CHRISTIAN
Three Secrets of Life
A LL OVER THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA ARE LISTS AND QUIZZES.
THE FOLLOWING APPEARED ON MY
NEWS FEED ON FACEBOOK IN THE
LAST OF COUPLE HOURS: “Which
Disney couple are you and your
significant other?”; “50 Cities you
should see in your lifetime”; “Why
readers, scientifically, are the best
people to fall in love with”; “What
grade are you mentally in?”
These lists and quizzes range
from the most bizarre to the
strangely curious to the outright
ridiculous. But the one that may
be most important is the one I received from Father Hoa Nguyen,
pastor of St. John the Apostle
Parish in North Richland Hills,
during one of his homilies when
he was celebrating Mass for the
students at the University of
Texas at Arlington: Three secrets
of life.
1) God doesn’t need us.
God is all-powerful and
He does not need us to accomplish his will, but He chooses
to use us. I sometimes think
that God made a mistake in
choosing to do it this way. I
mess up so often, and I am
sure I regularly miss “divine
appointments” that He has put
on my daily schedule. In my
finite view of things it seems
that things might go better if
He handled all these appointments. But of course, God has
infinite wisdom and using us
to do his will helps us to grow
and brings us into contact with
his grace and mercy in ways
The most important indicator
of our worth is found in the
reality that God mades us in his
image, and He loves us so much
that He died for us to set us free
from sin
we never would if He bypassed
us on the road to accomplishing his will.
2) Be a go-giver. Not a
go-getter.
This is so countercultural. We are surrounded
by a world-view that calls us
to be go-getters, to go out and
get all we can for ourselves
regardless of how it affects
those around us. But Fr. Hoa
suggests that what we really
need to be is a “go-giver.” If
you think about it, this is what
we hear at the end of every
Mass. We are told in one form
or the other to “Go in peace,
glorifying the Lord by your
life.” We are told to GO!! The
priest is not talking about us
getting out of the church so
he can take a nap, or set up
for the next Mass; no we are
being sent forth out into the
world to give what we have just
received. Being a giver instead
PAGE 13
of a getter in some ways is all
about attitude. If we start with
the understanding that all we
have is given to us by God,
then giving of our time, talents, and treasure becomes an
act of gratitude and faith.
3) It’s not what you have that
matters but who you are.
We are made in the image and likeness of God. God
knows us so intimately that,
as Scripture says, He knows
the number of hairs on our
heads (Matthew 10:30), and
He knit us in our mothers’
wombs (Psalm 139:13). We
are the crowning achievement
of creation (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 343). All of
these descriptions of who we
are reveal a richness that transcends the collection of our
possessions, actions, thoughts,
and impulses. All too often we
define ourselves (for good or
ill) by these lesser criteria, but
Jeff Hedglen is the Campus
Minister at UTA and associate
director of Young Adult Ministry for
the diocese. He is also the primary
convener of Camp Fort Worth’s
many editions. His column received
second place honors for best spiritual
life column by the Catholic Press
Association of the United States and
Canada in 2014.
the most important indicator
of our worth is found in the
reality that God made us in
his image and He loves us so
much that He died for us to
set us free from sin so that we
may live eternally in his glorious presence.
These three “secrets of life”
from Fr. Hoa, each in their own
way set a course for how we encounter the world around us, but
when taken altogether they can
impact every aspect of our lives.
Realizing that we are each called
by God to build the Kingdom
gives our lives purpose. Moving
from a go-getter to a go-giver
takes the focus off of ourselves
and trains us to see the needs in
our midst. And when we lean, not
on the temporal qualities we have,
but rather on the divine life that
has been breathed into us, we have
the power to achieve our purpose
as go-givers in the Kingdom of
God.
VOICE
Each day is a gift
Not necessarily gift-wrapped
By Kathy Cribari Hamer
A S UN-MOTHERLY AS IT SOUNDS, I MISSED MY
MIDDLE CHILD’S SECOND- GRADE SCHOOL YEAR.
It shouldn’t have happened the way it
did, because I worked in the same school she
attended. Also, Julie was a “perfect middle
child,” with both older and younger brothers
and sisters; subsequently, she tried to single
herself out among her four siblings, making
her presence known at all times.
Julie’s teacher, Peggy Crowder, was one
of St. Andrew Catholic School’s favorites,
and I was fortunate that all the children
scored a year in her tutelage. So in 1987, on
the first day of school, Julie (the pink of perfection), with her shiny ponytail, bounced
through the classroom door of the perfect
teacher. It was a match made in secondgrade Heaven.
But that’s all I remember. It went by
too fast.
Ironically, I was in charge of St. Andrew’s student yearbook, and was there daily
— to drop off and pick up my children, but
also to photograph school events, and manage a seventh- and-eighth-grade staff.
When that year ended, I felt the strangest sensation — the opposite of a “déjà vu.”
Instead of feeling something had happened
before, it was like something had never happened at all. And yet, I had all the photos to
prove it had.
While covering the school year, I hadn’t
focused on my own seven-year-old’s presence
in her classroom. She had grown up! She had
learned cursive, and made her first Communion. She was a teacher’s pet and a successful
third-grader-to-be.
When I picked up all the kids that last
day of school, I mentally scratched my head.
Hadn’t we just done this? School had just
started, hadn’t it?
I had a three-year-old at home, a kindergartener, a seventh-grader, and a high school
freshman. But it was Julie, the second-grad-
PAGE 14
‘...simply live from one
moment to another’...
er, whose year I seemed to have overlooked.
I experienced a flutter of regret, like the
almost-invisible passing of a hummingbird.
And I shall never forget that sorrow.
This summer, my daughter Meredith
said she was consciously attempting to maximize each day, concentrating, ensuring they
did something as a family, so that the summer would not “fly by.”
They crafted days of swimming, bowling, library visits, and a “family book club,”
where they each read a book and discussed
it. What a fun mother Meredith was, I
thought. She told me, “I learned from the
best, Mom.” I am not sure about that.
What Meredith was doing was “living
in the moment, ” an expression we had not
discovered in the ’80s. It is a simple concept
of focus, attention, and optimism, things we
know we should do, but in our busyness, we
often overlook.
As we journey through life, we spend
considerable time wrapping velvet bows
around red-ribbon occasions: holidays,
birthdays, history fairs, soccer tournaments,
spelling bees….
But I have learned it is not just the
big things that count. I can document the
amount of money I spent and the time it took
to hand-smock Julie’s first Communion dress.
I remember waking her up that morning, and
making hot cross buns for her breakfast.
And yet that year, when those things
happened, slipped silently through my fingers
llike the threads I used to smock her dress.
As this school year begins, we have much
to
t anticipate, both as parents and grandpare I learned, during my children’s little
ents.
years,
to make sure I am there — present. It
y
doesn’t
matter how important the event is,
d
or
o whether you are carrying a camera. What
matters
is that you click the shutter, making a
m
permanent
image in your mind.
p
In October we celebrate St. Thérèse of
Lisieux, the Little Flower, a patron saint of
our Carmelite nuns. Her feast day is Oct.
1, and she was declared a Doctor of the
Church Oct. 19, 1997.
St. Thérèse taught a simple concept: the
little way. She knew she could never be perfect, yet she knew God was infinitely forgiving and merciful. So she faced every action
— especially the smallest ones — the best
way she could. We can do that too. Each day
is a gift — not necessarily gift-wrapped. The
difference is in how we open it.
Julie, even in her invisible second-grade
year, was a huge gift to me and to our family. She taught me joy, serenity, goodness.
She also taught me to pay attention.
Earlier this summer, Meredith said she
was chatting with a colleague who remarked,
“Oh my, it is almost July! The summer is
nearly over!”
It was a frightening thought to Meredith, who replied, smiling, “No! Today is
Saturday, June 28!”
St. Thérèse taught us to “simply live from
one moment to another,” forget the past and
“take good care not to forestall the future.”
Kathy Cribari Hamer and her
husband are members of St.
Andrew Parish. Her column
was recognized as best family
life column by the Catholic
Press Association of the United
States and Canada in 2014.
VOICE
Protestant Disunity
Reflects a very different understanding of Scripture
By David Mills
THE MIDDLE AGES, THAT’S WHERE THE
PROBLEM WAS. At a conference I attended a
few days ago, speaker after speaker praised
the pure faith of the Fathers of the Church,
dissed the Middle Age for adding all sorts
of bad things to that pure faith, and then
praised the Reformation for getting back to
that pure original faith.
They didn’t yell and pound the table
about how awful the Church was at the end of
the Middle Ages. They spoke as if it was just
obviously true, the way you’d say “The Steelers
of the seventies was a great football team.”
The speakers were all conservative Protestants but for one Orthodox speaker, who
was harder on the Middle Ages than the rest
of them. Some of them are friends, and others I know and like.
They really aren’t very anti-Catholic.
They just know for sure that medieval
Christians held all sorts of man-made beliefs
and did all sorts of man-made actions that
kept them from the true Gospel. They think
of medieval Catholicism as like the kudzu
vine you see in the South, that covers a tree
till you can’t see the tree any more, which
slowly dies from the lack of light and water.
They may differ on whether the Church
was “bad, bad, bad” or just “bad, bad,” but
they know that Christianity was almost
strangled to death with overgrowth and
needed Martin Luther, John Calvin, and
their peers to save it.
Most of them thought the Catholic
Church kept at it after the Reformation
and that rather than learning its lesson, the
Church pretty much dug in its heels. The
Counter-Reformation Council of Trent didn’t
back down, and later the Church added belief
in the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption. The kudzu just kept spreading.
The one or two speakers who mentioned
the Second Vatican Council thought that there
the Church had finally said “Hey, the Protes-
PAGE 15
One of the curious things to me was that this idea of overgrown
medieval Catholicism gave the speakers a source of unity when
they really disagreed with each other almost as much as they
disagreed with the Catholic Church.
tants were right all along!” Actually reading
what the bishops said would correct this, but
I don’t think any of them had. Unfortunately,
they thought, the Catholic Church hasn’t yet
cleared away the kudzu. We might have the
Mass in modern language, but we also still
pray to Mary the Immaculate.
“The Middle Ages,” in other words, is a
way of saying “the Catholic Church today.”
I’m not surprised they think this. They
have to. If the medieval Church wasn’t
teaching so much error, there wouldn’t have
been much point to the Reformation. And if
there wasn’t much point to the Reformation,
there’s not much of a reason for the Protestant churches of today.
Fair enough, from their point of view.
One of the curious things to me was that this
idea of overgrown medieval Catholicism gave
the speakers a source of unity when they really disagreed with each other almost as much
as they disagreed with the Catholic Church.
One speaker, the most famous, thinks
everything went off the rails right after the
Apostles died, and that even the earliest
Church Fathers made big mistakes. They
were wrong about the Eucharist, what bishops are, etc. Others thought things only got
bad after 500 or 600 years. They think some
things are a necessary part of the Christian
Church’s tradition that the first speaker
thought were just wrong.
The second, for example, believed that
Jesus comes to us in the elements of the
Eucharist. They consume all the elements at
the end of their communion services and a
few of them even reserve the hosts in a tabernacle as Catholics do. The first believes that
Jesus comes to the people directly and that
the elements are just a kind of visual aid. He
thinks the pastor can take the leftover bread
home and use it to make a sandwich for
lunch. (I am not making that up.)
This seems to me a very, very big difference. It reflects very different ways of understanding the Scriptures and the Church and
very different ways of understanding what
it means to live as a Christian. Since the
Reformation these two schools have rejected
each other almost as strongly as they both
reject Catholicism, for good reason.
But now, they join together at conferences like the one I attended as if they were
in nearly complete agreement, or at least as
if the matters on which they disagree are just
trifles, like one’s preference for red or white
wine. It’s a compliment to the Catholic
Church that they find their unity not so
much in what they believe but in the fact
that they’re not Catholic.
David Mills is the author of DISCOVERING
MARY and his column, “Catholic Sense” runs
in multiple diocesan publications. He and his
family attend St. Joseph Church in Coraopolis,
Pennsylvania. He blogs at www.patheos.com/
blogs/davidmills.
VOICE
Mary’s Assumption is Unique
But the faithful will also be raised
By Denise Bossert
M ARY WAS ASSUMED INTO HEAVEN.
It’s one of the more difficult teachings
for converts to grasp. But there are ways to
approach the Assumption so that non-Catholics may come to believe.
In 1995, I wrote an article for Protestant
newspapers called “Trends in Christian Fiction” which considered the possibility that a
Christian fiction book might hit the New York
Times Bestseller List. I traveled to key Protestant
publishers — Tyndale, Crossway, Moody, Victor, and Bethany House — to interview editors.
The publishers handed me galleys, and they all
believed their books had that crossover appeal.
Only one actually did. Left Behind was on the
publishing turnpike back then, and it was among
the galleys I brought home with me after that
Chicago-Minneapolis trip. Tyndale released
the book within six months of my visit, and the
book (and subsequent series) was a huge success.
Nicholas Cage and Lea Thompson star in
a screen adaptation of that book. The movie
opens October 3, 2014. So the Left Behind
craze continues.
I have one question.
And it isn’t about whether or not the idea
of “rapture” is biblical. My question has nothing
to do with Christians disappearing when Christ
returns. I’m not going to take the time to explain
why Catholic teaching on eschatological things
is solid and Left Behind theology is Hollywood
science fiction.
No. I’m pondering something else.
Why is it so easy for people to believe that
Jesus Christ will return and “rapture” those
who love Him, leaving behind the rest of the
world, but those same people find it impossible
to believe that Jesus Christ came for his mother
and assumed her, body and soul, into heaven?
Why is that harder to believe?
When I ponder the glorious Assumption
of Mary into heaven, I have to smile. It fits. It
makes sense. A perfect and loving son would
do that if he could. A divine Son did do it because He could.
PAGE 16
With angelic shouts
and trumpet blast,
she was raised and
crowned queen.
Jesus Christ looked upon his mother, and
Love broke through the veil.
Jesus, the perfect Son of God, would not
let his mother’s body know corruption. Not
this mother who was so carefully created — so
immaculately formed.
In May, I traveled to the Holy Land. We
visited many places, but one place that stands out
in my mind is Dormition Abbey on Mount Zion.
Let me take you there for just a moment.
Step with me into the Tomb of King David.
Let’s pray there, together. Let’s think of David’s descendant, the Christ, who was given an
eternal throne.
Now, let me lead you just a few steps from
the place where David is buried. There, you will
find the doors to Dormition Abbey. According
to tradition, Mary fell asleep and was assumed
into heaven here.
There is a place in Ephesus that also makes
this claim, but many Catholic sources say Mount
Zion is more likely. And I agree.
The one who is Daughter Zion and mother
of David’s eternal heir should end her earthly life
here — and be visited by the Lord who lovingly
laid claim to his mother — right here.
Come to me, my beloved mother. Come
and see the place I have prepared.
With angelic shouts and trumpet blast,
she was raised and crowned queen. Earth was
silent. But heaven erupted with great jubilation.
Why is it so easy to imagine a silly story
about Jesus coming to Earth and Christians
across the world disappearing? Airplanes
crashing as pilots disappear into thin air. Cars
crashing as drivers disappear. Students leaving behind open books and laptops? Why is
that easier to imagine, but Mary’s Assumption
seems far-fetched?
I stood in the crypt of Dormition Abbey. I
thought of King David’s bones which were just
a few steps away. And yet, in this crypt, there
are no bones. Mary is not here. And nobody has
claimed to have Mary’s remains. Why? Because
there are no remains.
In fact, the disagreement about a possible
site for the Assumption exists because there are
no bones to settle the matter. The dueling claim
underscores the reality of the Assumption. She
is not here — or there!
Yes, Jesus Christ will return again. And
He will raise the living and the dead. It won’t
follow the plotline of a Hollywood thriller. But
there is precedent for our rising to meet the
Lord. Although Mary’s Assumption is unique,
the One who assumed his own mother will
return — for us. The dead in Christ will be
raised to new life. But the unfaithful won’t be
left behind — although they probably will wish
they had been left. Earth is preferable to eternal
separation from God. The Bible tells us we will
be divided — the faithful going one way, the
unfaithful another.
Leave the Left Behind hoopla in Hollywood.
Turn your eyes to the Holy Land, or Ephesus, or even toward heaven.. And celebrate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. What Jesus
did for Mary — in a unique and special way —
gives us hope that one day Christ will return. So
let’s model our lives after the Blessed Mother —
remaining faithful until the end.
Denise Bossert has four children
and is a member of
Immaculate Heart of Mary
Parish in New Melle, Missouri.
Her column, CATHOLIC BY
GRACE, has run in 46 diocesan
newspapers. She blogs at www.catholicbygrace.com.
VOICE
A Wealth of Excuses
No match for God
By Mary Morell
Now, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh
to bring my people, the Israelites, out of
Egypt. But Moses said to God, “Who
am I that I should go to Pharaoh and
bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
— Exodus 3: 10-11
FAMILY VACATIONS ARE INEVITABLY A TIME OF
MEMORABLE MOMENTS.
Often, the most memorable are filled
with the astute and hilarious comments of
children.
Most recently, my son and daughter-inlaw took their two young sons to a miniature
golf course near our home in Ortley Beach.
While there, the not-yet-four-year old began
to lose his patience, giving his dad a hard
time. My son and his wife, who was caring
for their nine-month-old, decided a break
was necessary, and my son took the cranky
child to the bathroom.
On the way, my son said to his little
boy, “I am not happy with your behavior.
You need to think about it and decide if you
are going to use your good behavior, or we
are going back to Nanny’s house.”
A few minutes later, when the behavior
didn’t improve, my son again told his son,
“I don’t see any good behavior. I guess we’re
going back to Nanny’s house. Is that what
you want?”
“I’m still thinking about it,” insisted my
grandson.
Leaving the bathroom with the petulant
child in tow, my son stopped him from reentering the mini-golf course and said again,
firmly. “I don’t see any change so we will get
mommy and go back home.”
After a thoughtful pause, my grandson
looked up at him and replied seriously, “My
good behavior is still loading.”
PAGE 17
History shows that the human race is
prone to excuses and often led by fear.
But Scripture teaches that the perfect
love of God casts out fear and dissolves
all our excuses into nothingness.
How my son kept a straight face after
this priceless excuse is beyond me! But the
loading seemed to finish properly, because
all was well by the time they both retrieved
their golf clubs, and the rest of the night was
a good one.
I’m sure my grandson’s retort will go
down in family history, and even adults in
the family will resort to using it, perhaps
changing the subject of the sentence to fit
some occasion — “my patience is still loading”… “my good humor is still loading”…
“my ‘I could care less’ is still loading.” The
possibilities are endless.
Children do say the darndest things,
but they are not the only masters of excuses.
We adults come up with some doozies, as
well, not only for our bad behavior but for
why we cannot follow the will of God — to
go where God leads us or believe what God
tells us.
The list of excuses starts early in Scripture and was added to by some of our most
renowned biblical ancestors — the devil
made me do it, I’m too old, I’m too young,
I stutter, I am the least in my family, I’m
tired, I’m weak, I’m a sinner....
History shows that the human race is
prone to excuses and often led by fear. But
Scripture teaches that the perfect love of
God casts out fear and dissolves all our excuses into nothingness. It is a lesson learned
by Paul who, through some very challenging experiences, came to understand that his
contentment came from his faith in Christ,
and who professes, “I can do all things
through Him who strengthens me.”
And so can we, but while we are learning the lesson there are bound to be setbacks
and a wealth of excuses along the way. So I
was thinking of maybe lightening the mood
during my next confession — “Bless me
father for I have sinned, my good behavior is
still loading.”
Mary Morrell serves as
the managing editor
of THE MONITOR,
newspaper for the
Diocese of Trenton,
New Jersey. A mother of six, she has served the
Church for more than 22 years in the fields of
catechesis, communications, and education.
SEEKING GOD’S PATH
VOCATIONS
Seek the Lord’s call in the Eucharist:
Mass, Exposition and Adoration
Father James Wilcox was ordained to the
priesthood in 2013 and serves as the Vocations
director for the Diocese of Fort Worth.
BY FATHER JAMES WILCOX
PEOPLE OFTEN SAY THAT NOBODY LIKES CHANGE.
I’M NOT SURE THIS IS TRUE. PEOPLE MAY FEAR THE
UNKNOWN THAT CHANGE BRINGS, BUT WE ARE
CREATURES OF CHANGE — ALWAYS GROWING, BEING TRANSFORMED, FALLING, RECONCILING, ETC.
My own recent transition as Vocations director
and a parochial administrator has left me to reflect
more deeply on He Who does not change. God’s
gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, is simultaneously an
immense mystery for us to explore with our hearts,
minds, and souls and a pillow of comfort for us,
especially in the Eucharist, by being a stalwart
foundation in our lives.
The beautiful prayer given during the apparitions at Fatima reminds us that Jesus Christ is
present in all the tabernacles throughout the world.
Even with the geographic vastness of our diocese,
we can immediately see how splendid the Lord is
to make Himself present to us in this intimate way.
The Eucharist feeds our lives, comforts our
souls, and strengthens our endeavors. Through the
wonderful sacrament of the altar, the voice of God
is heard — the voice that draws one to serve the
Church comes from moments of encounter with
the Lord present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
Perhaps you’ve seen the phrase, “No Priests =
No Eucharist.” This was an influential phrase in my
vocational calling. It seemed unbelievable to think of
not being able to receive the Eucharist on Sunday. I
wondered, “How can we sit by idly, while so many go
without the foundation of our lives?” This was part
of the grace planted by God on my heart to begin
serious discernment for the priesthood.
St. Cyril of Alexandria demonstrates why the
Eucharist is essential: “Therefore, the body of Christ
gives life to those who receive it. Its presence in mortal men expels death and drives away corruption
because it contains within itself in his entirety the
Word who totally abolishes corruption.”
God uses his priests to abolish corruption. Yes,
God gives us freedom to love Him and to turn away
from his love (corruption); at the same time, God
gives us innumerable instruments to live deeply in
relationship with Him. When a priest celebrates
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in persona Christi,
he provides foundational nourishment to the world
and calls forth people to an intimate relationship
with our Lord and Savior.
For those wondering about a vocation, seek the
Lord’s call in the Eucharist: Mass, Exposition, and
Adoration, and a Holy Hour in front of the tabernacle.
For those praying for vocations, ask the Lord
directly in the Eucharist “to send out laborers
for his harvest.”
For all of us in the midst of change and transition, may we find our comfort of stability in the
Eucharist — the source and summit of our lives.
Study: College choices can steer men toward thinking about priesthood
By Mark Pattison
WASHINGTON — The college experience can
influence a young man’s decision toward considering a priestly vocation, according to a study issued
in early July by Boston College.
Among the factors that have helped sway a
man’s decision to enter priestly life are access to
clergy at the college as well as access to the Mass
and other elements of Catholic life.
“College Experience and Priesthood” distills a Boston College-hosted summit last year on
priestly vocations, as well as research conducted
in 2012 by the Center for Applied Research in
the Apostolate at Georgetown University in
Washington. At the summit, attended by about
PAGE 18
90 people, including bishops and university
leaders from around the country, participants
were urged to develop a consistent framework for
inviting young men to consider the priesthood.
“It really starts with us who are clergy and
vowed religious,” said Father William Leahy, SJ,
Boston College’s president, in an address during the summit. “There is nothing as powerful
as happy, fulfilled priests and religious. That is
contagious. That attracts. If we are not happy,
fulfilled, ready to recruit others, they will not
follow us. We know that as a group, priests are
happy in their ministry.”
Fr. Leahy urged the establishment of priesthood support groups.
“Students who are thinking about priestNORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC
hood often feel isolated. If they can be part of
a group that meets once a month, have time for
prayer and conversation, and hear the vocation
stories of others, they will feel encouraged, and
can confirm a sense of direction,” he said.
Mark Gray of CARA profiled those who
pursue a priestly vocation as having been active
in a parish youth group, attended a Catholic high
school, encouraged to consider a vocation by
one or more people, personally knew clergy and
religious, and attended a World Youth Day or a
National Catholic Youth Conference. He added
high school is the period when many young men
report thinking seriously about priesthood, and
that college seems to be an “amplifier” to these
earlier experiences.
ESSENTIALS OF THE FAITH
Are we really teaching the
Catholic Faith?
BY M ARLON DE L A TORRE
H AVE YOU EVER ASKED YOURSELF
WHY YOU BELIEVE IN G OD? OR BETTER YET, SOMEONE BLUNTLY ASKS
YOU WHY YOU’RE C ATHOLIC? In
both instances the genesis of these
questions reflects a curiosity about
faith and its relevance in daily life.
From another perspective it’s an
attempt to know and understand
the meaning behind our belief
in God. This line of questioning
offers us a great opportunity to
truthfully know and understand
the “why” behind our belief in
Jesus Christ and his Church.
When we speak about our
belief in Christ, words alone do
not sufficiently provide a complete
answer. The reality is, the relationship between faith and good
works or faith and reason must
work hand in hand if we are to
adequately present a genuine profession of our faith. It’s one thing
to say “I believe,” as professed in
the Creed — it’s another to actually live out the Creed.
GENUINE MOTIVES
When someone asks you the
motives behind your belief in
Jesus Christ, what should resonate
first and foremost is your visible,
authentic living of the Gospel
message of Jesus Christ (Matthew
28:17-20). A specific term we use
to describe this way of living is re-
ferred to as the “Kerygma.” What
the Kerygma means is an authentic and faithful living out of the
Gospel message of Jesus Christ
(The Creed). Further, it is a genuine application of our Catholic
faith in daily life culminating in
an active sacramental life centered
on Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
A great biblical example of
the motive of faith is found in St.
Paul’s letter to the Romans where
he says:
Do not repay anyone evil for
evil; be concerned for what is
noble in the sight of all. If possible, on your part, live at peace
with all.
— Romans 12:17-18
Another example is Christ
teaching in the temple where He
reminds his listeners:
My teaching is not my own but
is from the one who sent me.
Whoever chooses to do his will
shall know whether my teaching
is from God or whether I speak
on my own.
— John 7:16-17
CREDIBILITY AND CONVERSION
What makes our motives
credible with respect to the faith
is that they aim at assisting others
PAGE 19
Marlon De La Torre is the director
of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort
Worth, and author of SCREWTAPE
TEACHES THE FAITH: A GUIDE FOR
CATECHISTS. He blogs at www.
knowingisdoing.org.
... For his sake I have accepted the loss of
all things and I consider them so much
rubbish, that I may gain Christ.
— Philippians 3:8
before ourselves. Many can state
the reasons to believe in God
and provide volumes of evidence
toward the existence of God and
his authority. But what pierces the
heart is that we not only believe,
but actively and visibly live out
that God has revealed Himself to
us out of love. These genuine motives of faith add toward the credibility of our walk with Christ.
Examples such as the miracles of
Christ found in Sacred Scripture,
the lives of the saints, the gift of
the Church herself as the bride of
Christ, provide ample motives of
credibility. St. John reminds us
how much God indeed loves us
through the sacrifice of his Son
Jesus Christ on the Cross (John
3:16).
St. Paul tells us that in order
to gain everything, we most lose
everything in Christ (Philippians
3:8). This reflects a credible
way to live our life in Him. The
motive behind this way of living
is a genuine intimacy with our
Lord where we actively pray on
a daily basis, culminating in our
faithful participation at Mass.
These actions in turn reflect our
active witness of the Gospel e.g.
an intention to actively engage the
world in Christ.
The great evangelist G.K.
Chesterton, who I recommend to
anyone who desires to learn more
about the relationship between
God and Man, aptly sums up the
credibility of our motives in this
way:
The truth is, of course, that the
curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of
the gloom and narrowness of a
religion, but, on the contrary, of
its liberality and humanity. It is
shorter to state the things forbidden than the things permitted:
precisely because most things are
permitted, and only a few things
are forbidden.
Father George Curtsinger, oldest priest of the diocese, dies at the age of 99
By NTC Staff
Father George Curtsinger,
the oldest priest of the diocese, passed away Thursday,
Aug. 14.
The second of eight children, George Curtsinger was
born Jan. 24, 1915, in Dallas, the
son of Eugene C. Curtsinger and
Josephine Bomba Curtsinger. In
a 1994 interview with the North
Texas Catholic, he recalled that he
had suffered from poor health as a
young child.
“I was baptized when I was
born because they didn’t think I
would make it,” he said.
His father owned a gasoline
service station and auto repair
shop, and moved the family to
the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas
in 1919. The family attended St.
Edward Church in Dallas.
His sister, Mary Rose Curtsinger Wright of Dallas, was the
youngest of the eight children.
She has fond memories, she said,
of her older brother’s “tremendous” musical talent and his generosity in sharing his deep love of
classical music.
“He was several years older
than I, and he was attending
Southern Methodist University
(SMU) and living with my grandmother in Dallas, studying piano
at the university and also teaching
piano lessons,” she recalled. “I
attended St. Edward’s Academy,
and I would walk over to my
grandmother’s house after school,
and he would give me piano lessons. I still have the upright piano
that he played.”
Having graduated in 1931
from St. Joseph’s Academy —
where he was taught by the Sisters
of Divine Providence — he briefly
attended the Jesuit religious order’s St. Charles College seminary
at Grand Coteau, Louisiana. “I
was very frail,” he later explained.
Father Curtsinger as a young
priest in an undated photo
Father George Curtsinger
“The novice master said had he
seen me, he would have rejected
me before I ever came.”
In 1945, still yearning to
fulfill his vocation to the priesthood, the young pianist joined the
Order of Discalced Carmelites in
San Antonio. Two years later, he
continued his studies in Oklahoma
City, where he lived from 1947
to 1953, and was ordained to the
priesthood as a Discalced Carmelite on Oct. 11, 1952 at Little
Flower Church in Oklahoma City.
He was incardinated into what was
then the Diocese of Dallas-Fort
Worth on Dec. 22, 1959.
The young priest first served
in the diocese as an associate
pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in
Wichita Falls, December 1956
to June 1957. He then served at
St. Anthony Parish in Longview,
June to November 1957, and as a
chaplain at St. Joseph Hospital in
Fort Worth from 1957 to 1960.
Fr. Curtsinger served as associate
pastor at Blessed Sacrament Parish in Dallas from 1960 to 1963,
and as associate pastor at St. Pius
X Parish in Dallas from 1963 to
1965. He received his first pastoral
assignment in February 1965 at
St. Michael Parish in McKinney.
In September of that year, he was
assigned to Immaculate Heart of
PAGE 20
Mary Parish in the Oak Cliff area
of Dallas, where he served until
June of 1967, when he became
chaplain of St. Joseph Hospital
near downtown Fort Worth on
South Main Street.
He later recalled that the 27
years spent in hospital ministry
were “wonderful,” years. During
that time, he lived at the hospital
in an apartment filled with his
own hauntingly beautiful photographs, the mouth-watering smells
of his gourmet cooking, and the
melodies that poured forth each
day from his Steinway grand
piano.
Catholics from around the
Fort Worth area flocked to the
hospital chapel to join him in
celebrating the Eucharist, said his
longtime friend, Jackie Berry.
“I loved to go to Mass at the
hospital, and the chapel was always packed,” said Berry. “He was
an excellent homilist. He was very
straightforward. He was so gentle,
so likable. You could tell that he
loved being a priest.”
Of special interest to many
were his formidable talents as a
photographer, added Berry, noting that her friend published a
volume of poetry by St. John of
the Cross, The Spiritual Catholic,
which he had illustrated with his
own photographs taken in Spain,
Portugal, Greece, California, and
areas within Fort Worth. “He just
had so many interests, and he was
such a gifted person. He was good
at everything. I feel so blessed to
have had him for a friend, because
I just learned so much from him,”
reflected Berry.
After the hospital closed in
1994, Fr. Curtsinger began to
serve as a chaplain at what was
then the College of St. Thomas
More in Fort Worth. He lived in
an apartment on the campus from
1994 until 2010.
“He has been a cherished
friend and my spiritual advisor for
many, many years,” said Renee
Johnson of Fort Worth, recalling
the day that Fr. Curtsinger asked
her to join him in prayer as his
beloved piano was hoisted by crane
into his new home on the second
floor of an apartment building.
“Together, we knelt down as the
piano was lifted into the air. We
were so thankful when it made it
safely inside!”
The man who was once considered too sickly to withstand the
rigors of priesthood said his final
Mass in his home for a small group
of cherished friends Sunday, Aug.
10, just a few months short of his
100th birthday. Many of his brother priests — led by Bishop Michael
Olson — and several friends came
to visit him in the hospital just a
few days later, as his long, productive life came to a peaceful end.
“In all of the years I have
known him, I never heard him
complain about anything,” said
Jackie Berry. “I visited him in
the hospital; he was still the same
docile, kind, patient person, an
example for all of us to look up to.
So many people will miss him so
very much.”
Fr. Curtsinger is survived by
sisters Teresa Rossi of Canton,
Ohio, and Mary Rose Wright of
Dallas, and by several nieces and
nephews and many close friends.
Sharing in Ministry shoots for $3 million goal
Grants will support vital ministries, help fund tuition assistance,
and a new diocesan conference center
By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen
Correspondent
While hearing confessions at a
retreat a few weeks ago, Father
Jack McKone received a thoughtful request from one of his young
parishioners.
“He asked if we could get a
community of nuns to work here,”
recalled the pastor of Sacred Heart
and Our Lady of Guadalupe
parishes in Wichita Falls. “He told
me their presence helped him feel
God’s love.”
Fr. McKone has some encouraging news to share with the
young man and other parishioners
in the Northwest Deanery of the
Diocese of Fort Worth. Thanks to
a grant from Sharing in Ministry
(SIM), the bishop’s annual appeal,
a group of religious sisters will
begin assisting pastors with Hispanic ministry in the region.
“But it’s even broader than
that,” insists Fr. McKone, dean of
the Northwest Deanery. “We have
eight priests and 22 parishes over
a rather large geographic area, and
some things are not getting done
as well as we’d like.”
By assisting with Bible
studies, catechetical formation,
Quinceañera preparation, and
family counseling, the sisters
will bring a “pastoral presence”
throughout the deanery. Housed
in a convent at Our Lady of
Guadalupe, the sisters will spend
75 percent of their time working in Wichita County but also
reach out to help parishioners at
St. Mary in Windthorst and other
rural faith communities.
“When we had a Spanishspeaking priest help with the
Masses at Windthorst, attendance
was double what it is now,” said
Fr. McKone, citing language and
“EACH DONATION to the
appeal shows our joyful
gratitude for God’s love for
us and our responsibility to
share these gifts by placing
them at the service of one
another.”
Bishop Michael F. Olson
comfort level as possible reasons
why Hispanic Catholics shy away
from Sunday services. “We know
there are people who need ministry out there. We have to do a
better job of providing a pastoral
presence to bring them back to
the Church.”
Sharing in Ministry funds
services and programs that directly impact the lives of Catholics
in North Texas. In addition to
the capital and operating grants
given to needy rural and center
city parishes and schools, the $3
million goal set for the 2014-2015
campaign will sustain a broad
range of apostolates, programs,
and ministries serving parishioners throughout the 28-county
Diocese of Fort Worth.
The Kick-off of the annual
appeal is set for Sept. 6 and 7.
Parishioners can make their SIM
pledge in church or take advantage of secure, online giving by
visiting www.advancementfoundation.org and clicking the “Sharing in Ministry” tab.
Money donated to Sharing in
Ministry helps Catholic Charities
Fort Worth carry on its mission
of helping children, families, the
poor, and displaced people living in the diocese. It also funds
a tuition assistance program for
struggling families who want
PAGE 21
a Catholic education for their
children. More than 4,000 needy
families from each of the 20 Catholic schools in the diocese have
received grants since 2006.
This year, a portion of SIM
money will help build a Diocesan
Conference Center on a threeacre parcel of donated land in
Newark. Plans include acquiring
an additional 10 acres. A building
currently on the donated property
could accommodate 50 to 75
people.
“When it is completed, the
new Diocesan Conference Center
will serve the entire Diocese of
Fort Worth with a special emphasis on day meetings, retreats,
and trainings,” explained Paula
Parrish, executive director of the
Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth
Advancement Foundation. “It will
enhance the ability of ministry
leaders and religious educators to
foster an authentic and genuine
communion in our Catholic faith.
Gifts to Sharing in Ministry will
make it happen.”
SIM will contribute $215,000
toward the project, estimated to
cost $3 million.
“Sharing in Ministry supports more than 50 ministries and
programs that provide pastoral
and administrative resources,
counseling, information, education, and formation to all parishes
and schools in the diocese,” said
Pat Miller, associate director of
the Advancement Foundation.
Each parish also will receive a
share of campaign dollars to fund
in-house needs. Ten percent of all
money collected up to the parish
goal and 50 percent of contributions over goal are returned to the
parish.
The collective nature of the
campaign reaches beyond the
scope of an individual parish and
supports many unheralded but
needed ministries.
Fr. McKone witnesses firsthand how Sharing in Ministry
makes a difference in smaller,
faith communities. In rural
Crowell, home to 20-25 Catholic
families, SIM provides for a lay
minister who prepares the church
for liturgies, like funerals.
“The church has been there
for over 100 years and is the only
Catholic presence in the county,”
Fr. McKone explained.
Sharing in Ministry also established the deanery’s flourishing
youth and campus ministry.
“Midwestern State University
has a lively, vibrant student base,
and the campus ministry there is
doing wonderful work,” he said.
Many college students don’t
own a car and have no way to get
to a parish. “They also have little
money but are in a very critical
stage of their faith life,” the priest
noted. “So campus ministry, supported by SIM grant money, is
performing an invaluable service.”
Sharing in Ministry unites all
Catholics in the Diocese of Fort
Worth for the common purpose
of furthering the mission of the
Church in North Texas. Without
it, many programs and ministries
would not survive.
Bishop Michael Olson asks
every Catholic household in the
diocese to prayerfully consider a
gift to Sharing in Ministry.
“The annual appeal is necessary for the life of the ministries
and programs receiving funding
each year,” he explained. “Each
donation to the appeal shows our
joyful gratitude for God’s love for
us and our responsibility to share
these gifts by placing them at the
service of one another.”
PAGE 22
PAGE 23
Photo by Joan Kurkowski-Gillen / NTC
Bishop Michael Olson poses with (from left to right) newly-ordained transitional
Deacons Ronaldo Mercado, Michael Greco, and Keith Hathaway.
Transitional
diaconate,
Lifelong vocation
Bishop Olson challenges newly-ordained
Deacons Ronaldo Mercado, Michael Greco, and Keith Hathaway
to always live the deacon’s vocation to serve
BY JOAN KURKOWSKI-GILLEN / CORRESPONDENT
MARKING A CRITICAL STEP IN THEIR
JOURNEY TO THE PRIESTHOOD,
THREE MEN WERE ORDAINED TO
THE TRANSITIONAL DIACONATE BY
BISHOP MICHAEL OLSON DURING
A MORNING M ASS CELEBRATED
JULY 26 AT ST. JUDE PARISH IN
MANSFIELD.
Family and friends gathered
inside the new, spacious church
to support Michael Greco, Keith
Hathaway, and Ronaldo Mercado
as they promised to “discharge the
office of deacon with humble charity in order to assist the priestly
order and benefit the Christian
people.” God willing, the men will
be ordained to the priesthood next
spring after completing a final year
of theological studies.
The word “deacon” comes
from the Greek word “diakonos”
meaning servant or minister, and
Bishop Olson reminded the candidates of the new role they assume
in the life of the Church.
“You are ministers of the Gospel. You are ministers of the sacraments. You are ministers of charity
and love,” he said, addressing the
seminarians.
Although becoming a deacon is a step toward priesthood,
the deacon’s ministry to care for
the poor, the marginalized, the
overlooked, and the isolated is not
transitional and does not go away.
“It is transitional in that it
takes root and flowers in priesthood soon to come,” the bishop
pointed out. “As Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI reminds us, every
priest continues to be a deacon. Always be aware of this dimension.”
Jesus Christ acted as a teacher
and deacon when He washed the
feet of his apostles.
“He wants us to follow Him
to be deacons and carry out his
ministry for humanity to the point
that He wants us to wash the dirty
feet of people entrusted to our
care,” Bishop Olson said. He then
urged, “This dimension seems
to be of paramount importance.
Never forget that you are deacons.”
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Deacon Michael Greco
moved to Fort Worth with his
parents, Debra and John Greco,
20 years ago. The 33-year-old
grew up in St. Michael Parish and
has a brother, Matthew, and twin
sister, Rachel. He is the first religious vocation to come from the
Greco family and will complete his
theological studies at the Catholic
University of America (CUA) in
Washington, D.C.
“It’s taken a long time to get
to this day — a long process,”
Debra Greco said, remembering
how her son attended a weekend
vocation program and took time to
think about his life before entering
Holy Trinity seminary. “We’re so
happy for Michael. It’s certainly
the Lord’s calling.”
Ronaldo Mercado’s family
was always close to the Church,
according to his aunt, Josie Capulong, who traveled from Salinas,
California, to attend the ordination liturgy. The deacon’s mother,
Seny, lives in the Philippines, and
his father, Jose, is deceased.
After moving to Vernon to
work as a medical technician, he
joined Holy Family of Nazareth
Parish where members welcomed
him and nurtured his vocation.
“My brother, Jose, would be
very happy today,” Capulong said.
“This is an exciting day for our
family. Ever since he was a boy,
Ronaldo looked up to the parish
priests.”
Deacon Mercado, 41, will
continue his studies at Assumption
Seminary in San Antonio.
“God has blessed our family
incredibly,” said Debbie Hathaway,
the mother of newly-ordained Deacon Keith Hathaway, age 26.
The St. Jude parishioner and
her husband, Rob, are also the
parents of seminarian Kevin Hathaway. Both sons graduated from
Mansfield High School and were
Eagle Scouts. Their father was a
scoutmaster.
“I’m so humbled by Keith’s
faith and that God called him,”
his mother added. “He entered the
seminary when he was 18, but the
years have gone by quickly.”
After the ordination ceremony, Deacon Hathaway will also
return to CUA.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Bishop Olson ordains Keith Hathaway to the diaconate. • Bishop Olson presents Dcn. Ronaldo Mercado
with the Book of the Gospels, exhorting him to “Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you
teach.” • Dcn. Michael Greco prepares the altar for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. (Photos by Wendy Pandolfo / NTC)
PAGE 24
Homegrown Vocation
Father Peter Nguyen, SVD, joined the Society of the Divine Word to become the first vocation from Christ the King Parish in Fort Worth
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOAN KURKOWSKI-GILLEN / CORRESPONDENT
FRIENDS AND FAMILY FILLED CHRIST THE
K ING CHURCH ON JUNE 1 TO WATCH FORMER
PARISHIONER, FATHER PETER NGUYEN,
CELEBRATE HIS FIRST M ASS. THE SOCIETY OF THE
DIVINE WORD (SVD) PRIEST WAS ORDAINED
MAY 24 IN THE CHAPEL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN
TECHNY, ILLINOIS BY BISHOP TERRY STEIB OF THE
DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS, WHO IS ALSO A MEMBER OF
THE RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION.
He is the parish’s first “homegrown” vocation to the priesthood. Christ the King was established in 1997 to serve the large community
of Vietnamese living in Northeast Fort Worth.
Before the Mass began, parishioners presented the new priest with a stole and chasuble
imprinted with the image of the Blessed Mother
holding the Christ child. At the ordination
Mass, his mother, Ann, and four siblings gave
him a chalice and paten.
“I’m so happy I could celebrate the thanksgiving Mass at Christ the King Parish,” said the
42-year-old, who was assisted at the altar by his
uncle, Father Peter Sam Nguyen, SVD, and the
church’s pastor, Father Joseph Than Van Liem,
CMC. “It’s the parish I came from, and this is
a way I could give thanks to God and to those
who have been part of my life and supported me
throughout the years of my vocation.”
A native of Vietnam who was born in 1972
— three years before that country’s civil war
ended — Fr. Nguyen’s circuitous journey to the
priesthood included religious persecution in his
homeland, moving to a new country in his late
teens, and a brief seminary stay when he was 23.
His father, Kim Trong Nguyen, was a
member of the Vietnamese Navy and escaped
to the U.S. after the Fall of Saigon. An older
brother soon followed and paved the way for the
rest of the family to immigrate.
Growing up in Saigon, then South
Vietnam’s capital city, Fr. Nguyen said large
religious gatherings, like Sunday Mass, were
allowed, but there were no catechism classes or
ministries.
“I learned about Christianity and Catholicism mostly through my parents, relatives, and
the people around me,” he explains. “There was
no religious education in the public school I
PAGE 25
Photo by Joan Kurkowski-Gillen / North Texas Catholic
Father Peter Nguyen, SVD, celebrated his first Mass at
his home parish of Christ the King in Fort Worth June 1.
went to in Vietnam. Everything was taught and
indoctrinated in secular terms. It was anti-Catholic and Marxist.”
After arriving in the U.S. in 1991, he finished high school and went to Tarrant County
Junior College. While taking college courses, he
decided to follow in the footsteps of his uncle
Fr. Peter Sam Nguyen, a Divine Word missionary, and join the congregation’s seminary in
Epworth, Iowa.
But the transition from bustling Texas city
to the isolated cornfields of Iowa proved too
much for the young seminarian, who missed his
family and warmer weather.
“It was the first time I left home. I was
homesick and bored,” he remembered. “I felt so
lonely, so I quit after half a year.”
Returning to Fort Worth, Nguyen attended the University of Texas at Arlington
where he earned a degree in engineering and
began a successful career. He also remained an
active member of Christ the King, became an
extraordinary minister of Holy Communion,
and started a youth group choir.
“I visited the sick and elderly in hospitals
and at their homes. It was through these ministries that I found my way back to a religious
vocation,” he explained.
The friendships he made at the seminary
with men who were now ordained, also remained strong through the years.
“So I quit my job as an engineer and followed God’s calling,” Fr. Nguyen continued.
In 2007, he applied to the SVD Associate Program and entered the novitiate in 2009.
He was ordained after completing a clinical
pastoral education and cross-cultural training.
After ordination, he was assigned to work in the
congregation’s U.S. Southern Province.
Many colleagues and friends from the
seminary attended Fr. Nguyen’s first Mass celebrated entirely in Vietnamese. His uncle gave
the homily.
“It’s a good feeling that the Church and
SVDs have a new member to continue God’s
mission,” said the elder Fr. Nguyen, who has
worked as a missionary in South Korea since
1993. “I’m home on leave and it coincides with
this time of celebration.”
Ordained in 1986 by the same bishop who
ordained his nephew to the priesthood in May,
Fr. Peter Sam Nguyen is also a Fort Worth
native.
“When I was ordained, [then] Bishop
Joseph Delaney was at St. George for my first
Mass,” he said.
Chi Vu, leader of the U.S. Vietnamese
Eucharistic Youth Society at Christ the King,
remembered when the newly ordained priest
was a member of the parish organization.
“He did so much for the youth group, so
it’s an honor to be here for this great occasion,”
the young family physician enthused.
A vocation can begin with something as
simple as youth group activities.
“But it has to be nurtured,” she added. “We
plant the seeds, but everyone is called to serve
and share.”
Vu never expected her old friend to become
a missionary.
“It was a surprise,” she admitted with a
smile, “but God is great.”
Respect Life Gala Sept. 27 will fund compassionate responses
to those hurt by abortion and form a generation for life
Life over the years. Arth said her
daughters are better Catholics and
pro-life advocates because of these
programs. “I don’t think they
would be as strong in their faith
life or in their understanding of
the traps out there,” she said.
She added that her daughter
Adeline is a student leader at the
University of Arizona’s Newman
Center and participates in campus
pro-life activities. “I see such a
difference in the kids who participate in these programs versus
the kids who don’t,” said Arth.
“We need these young people to
be on board. If you don’t have the
youth, you don’t have a future.”
By Jacqueline Burkepile
Correspondent
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church teaches that “human life
must be respected and protected
absolutely from the moment of
conception” (2270). The Respect
Life Office of the Diocese of Fort
Worth strives to protect human
lives through its services, which
include Youth for Life, Rachel
Ministries, and Gabriel Project.
These three major diocesan prolife programs are made possible
through the office’s biggest fundraiser of the year: The Bishop’s
10th Annual Respect Life Gala.
This year’s gala, set for Sept.
27, will feature Bishop Michael
Olson as its primary speaker. All
proceeds will go to the Respect
Life Office so the diocese can
carry out its pro-life mission.
Last year’s gala raised the
largest total in its history, bringing in approximately $160,000.
However, Respect Life Director
Michael Demma said the office
needs at least $240,000 to cover
ministry costs for the year.
“While the $160,000 seems
like a lot, we’re not making our
goal to support the small amount
we’re doing. There is a whole set
of life issues that we’re unable to
address because we do not have
the programs and the staff to do
it,” said Demma.
YOUTH FOR LIFE: “STRENGTHENING THE HEARTS OF YOUTH”
The programs provided by
Youth for Life educate and enrich
teens to become future leaders of
the Church. They are educated
in chastity and pro-life issues,
encouraging them to carry out its
mission statement to “defend life
and fight the culture of death.”
Youth for Life presents several
programs throughout the year,
including Pro-Life Boot Camp,
Lock-In for Life, and the March
for Life pilgrimage. Scholarships
are also provided for the various
PAGE 26
programs, targeted at those who
cannot afford to attend certain
events.
Hundreds of students attend
Youth for Life events throughout
the year. Coordinator Sue Laux
said she sees the impact the programs make on the teens involved.
“The kids go onto college and stay
involved in the pro-life [movement],” she said.
Lisa Arth, a parent and parishioner at Saint Elizabeth Ann
Seton Church in Keller, has one
daughter in college and another
in high school who have been
extremely involved in Youth for
R ACHEL MINISTRIES: HEALING
AFTER ABORTION
Since 2001, countless men
and women have found healing
in the Diocese of Fort Worth
through Rachel Ministries.
The program helps both men
and women heal after abortion
through the ministry’s retreats,
monthly support groups, and
other healing services. Rachel
Ministries Coordinator Betsy
Kopor said that through the
financial and spiritual support of
the annual gala, the ministry is
able to provide help and healing
for those suffering from the effects
of abortion.
“People are not prepared
for how they are going to feel
afterwards. Abortion can hinder
relationships; it can cause depression and extreme guilt, and sometimes,” leads to other serious consequences, “such as post-traumatic
stress disorder,” said Kopor. “It’s
so wonderful to know that [the
gala attendees] support our work,
and they support what we do.”
Kopor also said the Rachel’s
Vineyard retreats are their most
effective and popular healing
strategy. There are six retreats per
year: four in English and two in
Spanish. The gala helps provide
partial scholarships to those
who are unable to afford to go
otherwise.
“They say going on a weekend retreat is like six months of
therapy,” Kopor emphasized.
Forty year-old Emily (not her
real name) attended a Rachel’s
Vineyard retreat in 2010 after
having had an abortion at age
18. Following her abortion, she
felt anxious and alone. She had a
drinking problem, and it affected
all of her relationships. The retreat
assisted in saving her marriage;
she is now at peace.
“I could never forgive myself
until I went to Rachel’s Vineyard.
A lot of people are being healed. I
see the healing that this child has
brought to me and those around
me,” said Emily. “If people really knew the death and destruction that [abortion] brings, they
wouldn’t make that choice. I am
really healed from it.”
Emily is regularly involved
in the ministry and serves on the
retreat team. She wants people to
know that there is “life after that
terrible choice.”
“Betsy and all involved have
such caring hearts and they are
servants. All the focus is on healing. You watch someone go from
death to resurrection from Friday
to Sunday. You watch the life of
Christ just sink in. It’s amazing,”
said Emily. “I feel like I owe it my
life, and I know there are a lot
of women and men who feel the
same way — that their lives are
changed.”
in various situations, including
abuse, lack of the father’s support,
or even those who face temporarily difficult situations.
“We are not counselors or
social workers. We are just women
who want to help other women
through a difficult time,” said
Walters.
She added that both the
mentors and the women being
mentored are deeply impacted in
profound ways.
“They become friends, and
their spirituality is strengthened
— the spirituality they have personally and the spirituality they
share with other people through
the program itself,” explained
Walters. “Their lives are changed
forever when they see that baby is
born. They are thankful for God’s
hand in everything.”
One woman, Rosa (who
chose not to share her last name),
GABRIEL PROJECT: CARING
OUTREACH TO WOMEN IN CRISIS
PREGNANCY
Gabriel Project, another
ministry supported by the Respect
Life Office, is a parish-based organization designed to help women
in crisis pregnancy situations.
The program offers volunteer
mentors and a 24-hour hotline
for pregnant women in need. The
gala’s financial support helps the
ministry purchase needed training
materials for women who wish to
volunteer for the program.
Volunteers are called “angels”
who mentor pregnant women.
Just as Gabriel said to Mary “Do
not be afraid,” Gabriel Project
angels help women through their
difficult times through friendship
and spirituality.
Since 2003, Angela Walters,
volunteer training coordinator
and founding member of the
Gabriel Project program in the
diocese, has worked to make
sure pregnant women have the
help they need. She said Gabriel
Project helps pregnant women
PAGE 27
shared how she met a sidewalk
counselor outside of an abortion
center who convinced her not to
have an abortion and referred her
to Gabriel Project.
“I explained to her that I
didn’t have anyone else,” said
Rosa, adding that volunteers
helped her find a place to live and
helped her with her pregnancy.
“After that, they told me that they
would help me finish my high
school, and would help pay for the
things that I needed for my baby.
I’m really glad Gabriel Project
helped me. Everything that I have
and I almost have is because of
Gabriel Project. They still help me
with my baby.”
For more information or to register
for this year’s Annual Pro-Life
Gala, visit www.advancementfoundation.org, or call 817-560-2452,
ext. 118.
CATHOLICS RESPECT LIFE encourages
participation in the 40 Days for Life prayer
vigil which begins Sept. 24 and ends Nov. 2. All
are invited to be part of a peaceful, prayerful
presence on the sidewalk across from the
Planned Parenthood facility at 6464 John Ryan
Dr. in Southwest Fort Worth.
— 40 Days for Life takes a determined, peaceful approach to
showing local communities the consequences of abortion in
their own neighborhoods, for their own friends and families. It
puts into action a desire to cooperate with God in the carrying
out of his plan for the end of abortion in America.
— The 40-day campaign parallels Biblical history, where God
used 40-day periods to transform individuals, communities …
and the entire world. From Noah in the flood, to Moses on the
mountain, to the disciples after Christ’s resurrection, it is clear
that God sees the transformative value of his people accepting
and meeting a 40-day challenge.
— 40 Days for Life is a community-based campaign that draws
attention to the evil of abortion through the use of a threepoint program:
— Prayer and fasting
— Constant vigil
— Community outreach
for more info, visit 40DaysFortWorth.com
Catholic Charities Fort Worth provides shelter, certifies
temporary foster care for unaccompanied immigrants
Correspondent
Young, immigrant children, seeking refuge in the
United States from the violence in their home countries, are finding hope and
help at Catholic Charities
Fort Worth.
More than 57,000 unaccompanied youngsters crossed the
U.S.-Mexico border from October
2013 through June 2014 and that
number could swell to 90,000 by
the end of this year. However, the
number of children flowing into
the U.S. in the last few weeks has
dropped significantly.
The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement has
sent some of these new immigrants
to a Catholic Charities shelter
in Fort Worth where they find a
warm bed, nourishing meals, and
medical care.
About 200 of the unaccompanied children found a loving refuge
at Catholic Charities in the last year
and it’s estimated another 400 may
be helped by the end of the year.
At the request of the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Catholic Charities Fort Worth increased its capacity to house young
refugees from 16 to 32 beds in
June. When children arrive at the
shelter, they are usually tired, hungry, and contaminated with lice.
“The environment CCFW
is able to provide is welcoming and much more like a home.
That makes a world of difference
to these children,” said Catholic Charities Fort Worth CEO
Heather Reynolds. “One child remarked how happy he was to have
his own bed. Simple things that
many of us take for granted, mean
Catholic Charities Fort Worth CEO
Heather Reynolds speaks at Fort
Worth press conference June 20,
detailing how the local agency is
helping unaccompanied minor
immigrants. (NTC Photo / Joan
Kurkowski-Gillen)
the world to these children.”
In a July 13 letter addressed
to Catholics of the diocese, Bishop
Michael Olson explained the
Church’s position regarding the
border surge.
“It is important for each of
us to remember that this crisis
has a humanitarian character,” he
stated, adding the urgency of the
situation required a response that
was both prompt and prudent.
“Toward that goal, Catholic
Charities of Fort Worth is committed to working with other
Church and federal agencies to
protect the human dignity of
these children while promoting
the common good of the United
States in solidarity with the nations from which these children
have fled.”
As the border crisis grew,
Reynolds made an impassioned
plea for in-kind and monetary
donations to assist in caring for
youngsters arriving without a
parent or guardian. The public responded by dropping off clothing,
toys, toiletries, and games at the
agency’s headquarters. Many orPAGE 28
ganizations and families collected
coloring books, crayons, and other
small items for more than 3,000
activity boxes for the youngsters.
“For many children, this is
the first time they didn’t have to
share basic hygiene items like a
toothbrush,” Reynolds pointed
out. “This simple gesture of kindness,” she said, allowed the children to care for their own needs.”
“Blessing backpacks,” filled
with school supplies, socks, underwear, hygiene items, and small
toys, are given to youngsters when
they leave Catholic Charities’ care
for new homes with family members in the U.S.
“What Catholic Charities
experienced from volunteers and
donors has been amazing,” Reynolds said. “The generosity has had
a profound impact on our agency
and the kids that we serve.”
Playthings and art supplies
provide a needed distraction for
children traumatized by extreme
poverty and violence.
“Watching them play, laugh,
and simply get to be children, really reinforces the work we’re doing
as an agency,” she added.For the
limited number of unaccompanied
minors who cannot be resettled
with family members, Catholic
Charities Fort Worth sent out an
urgent request for foster families.
The agency’s International Foster
Care (IFC) program provides
long-term foster care for migrant
children from South and Central
America as well as young refugees
from the Congo, Ethiopia, Burma,
and Nepal.
“We need foster families to
provide safe, nurturing, culturally-sensitive homes," Reynolds
explained during a July 15 press
conference.
Community response to the
request was overwhelming. An
IFC information session held in
July, brought out more than 200
prospective foster parents.
Attorneys on staff with Catholic Charities Fort Worth will provide legal representation in court
for unaccompanied minors placed
in foster care here. But Sergio
Chacin, director of the agency’s
Immigration Services, expects the
immigration status of most youngsters will be determined by courts
in other parts of the country.
Many youngsters sent to the Fort
Worth shelter by federal authorities are eventually reunited with
relatives living on the East Coast,
in the Washington, D.C., area, or
Florida.
“We have people from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala
living in the Metroplex, but it is
not a significant population,” he
explained. “The cases won’t be
handled in courts here."
But if the need arises, a training session for non-immigration
attorneys is planned for late
August. Members of the Human
Rights Initiative of North Texas
— an organization experienced
with immigration law — will facilitate the program.
“We are organizing this training in conjunction with the Tarrant
County international law section
of the bar association," Chacin said.
According to the Pew Research Center, there has been a
117 percent increase in the number
of unaccompanied minors brought
into federal custody at the border
this year. Catholic Charities plans
to meet the needs of children
placed in their care as long as the
humanitarian crisis continues.
“The experience and expertise that Catholic Charities Fort
Worth has in child welfare has
allowed us to advocate and serve
in a child-centric manner the
most vulnerable of populations,”
Reynolds said. “Catholic Charities
feels honored to have been able
to provide shelter and care during
this time.”
Across U.S. groups focus on legal needs of unaccompanied minor immigrants
WASHINGTON (CNS) — On
both coasts of the United
States and in between, efforts are being ramped up
to try to provide legal
assistance for the flood of
minor immigrants who have
arrived in the country
without a parent.
Because immigration violations are not considered crimes,
people charged with being in the
country without permission are
not entitled to a court-appointed
attorney if they cannot afford
a lawyer on their own. Nor are
government-funded attorneys provided for people seeking asylum.
In Olympia, Washington,
July 31, the Northwest Immigrant
Rights Project, the American
Civil Liberties Union, and the
American Immigration Council
filed a request for preliminary
injunction blocking upcoming
deportation proceedings against
several children ages 10-17 whose
safety had been threatened by
gangs in El Salvador and Guatemala. Their filing asked the U.S.
District Court in Seattle to hear
a motion to certify a class action
that would expand the effort to
minors around the country who
are imminently facing deportation. The filing follows the organizations’ suit filed a few weeks
earlier asking the court to require
the government to provide legal
representation to minors facing
deportation.
Federal data in more than
100,000 cases of unaccompanied
child immigrants, compiled by
Syracuse University and current
as of June 30, found that when an
unaccompanied minor immigrant
had an attorney, 47 percent were
ultimately allowed to stay in the
United States. Of minors who
had no attorney, 90 percent were
deported.
Cheryl Little noted that the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees has estimated
that 60 percent of the minors in the current
surge can make a case for some form of
protection from deportation.
Two young girls watch television over the backs of hundreds of their
peers at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Center in Nogales,
Arizona, June 18. (CNS photo/Ross D. Franklin, pool via Reuters)
The Syracuse University
analysis found that in the closed
cases it studied, just over half the
children had attorneys. But of the
41,000 unaccompanied minor
cases still pending, only 31 percent are represented by lawyers.
Among the reasons immigration judges allow unaccompanied
juveniles to remain in the U.S. are
that they are found to qualify for:
— Asylum, granted to people
fleeing persecution;
— Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, granted to minors who
have been abused, abandoned or
neglected;
— T visas, for victims of human trafficking;
— U visas, for victims of
certain other crimes.
According to the Syracuse
analysis, the average time cases
have been pending in immigration courts is currently just under
600 days. The Justice Department
in early July announced it would
prioritize the cases of unaccompanied minors and newly arrived
families with children, putting
them of ahead older cases involving adults on their own.
Meanwhile, in Miami, Catholic Legal Services director Randy
McGrorty at an Aug. 1 press
conference, said the decision to
PAGE 29
fast-track deportation proceedings
for unaccompanied minors is an
“artificial crisis” that was created
for “political show.”
Joined by Miami Archbishop
Thomas G. Wenski and other
immigration attorneys, McGrorty
said he’s seen a 2-year-old without
an attorney put up to face a judge
in deportation proceedings.
Archbishop Wenski questioned why the Obama administration would bow to political
pressure to speed up the process
of deportation. He said there is
no need to rush to judgment,
since the children “are not really costing the government any
money.” Nearly all of them have
been turned over to the care of
relatives.
Just as “justice delayed is justice denied,” the archbishop said,
in this case “justice expedited is
also justice denied.”
“We’re not saying that every
child will have to stay in the U.S.
What we’re saying is that what
we do should be about the best
interest of the child,” Archbishop
Wenski said. “What we should
not do is short-circuit this by
making a travesty of the immigration system.”
Cheryl Little, executive director of Americans for Immigrant
Justice, pointed out at the Miami
press conference that the majority
of the current surge of unaccompanied minors are fleeing violence
in their home countries, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador,
which have some of the world’s
highest murder rates. She noted
that the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated
that 60 percent of the minors in
the current surge can make a case
for some form of protection from
deportation.
Archbishop Wenski challenged Florida’s legal community
to volunteer to represent the unaccompanied minors. McGrorty
drew parallels between the current
situation and the exodus to the
United States of Cuban children
in the 1960s, when 14,000 left
their homes in two years, and to
the 1980 Mariel boatlift when
125,000 Cubans and 25,000 Haitians landed in Florida in about
six weeks.
“Many of those were unaccompanied minors” who are now
corporate and civic leaders, McGrorty said. “I’m asking Miami to
rise once again to the challenge.
We need your help.”
The Washington-based Catholic Legal Immigration Network,
whose affiliates include diocesan
legal services offices, has many
articles about the child migrant
legal situation on its web page:
www.cliniclegal.org. Among the
materials are a webinar explaining the situation and what sorts of
legal services are available, including through CLINIC’s affiliates.
CLINIC also offers online
training, such as a course starting
in September for non-lawyers,
working through Catholic Charities legal agencies or other legal
organizations, “Representing Unaccompanied Children: What To
Do and How To Do It.”
Diocese prepares to welcome hundreds of thousands of
new Catholics into the Body of Christ in North Texas
By Juan Guajardo
Correspondent
The number of Catholics
within the 28-county
Diocese of Fort Worth
has skyrocketed, and
many more are coming to
North Texas, according to
demographers.
The burst of growth is recent.
When Pope Paul VI split the
Diocese of Fort Worth from the
Diocese of Dallas-Fort Worth in
1969, the Catholic population
was a mere 67,000. By 1986, the
diocese had doubled in size to
120,000 Catholics.
Since then, the diocese has
grown rapidly, to an estimated
720,000 Catholics today with a
million forecast for the not too
distant future.
“This is good news,” said
Bishop Michael Olson, “and it is
necessary that everyone understand
that responding to this growth is
the responsibility of every person
and facility in the diocese.”
To assist the diocese as it
prepares for and manages the
growth, expert local lay members
and diocesan leaders, along with
expert planning professionals, are
being called upon to develop a
growth strategy.
“This is not a crisis, but
rather an opportunity for everyone in the Diocese of Fort Worth
to evangelize,” Bishop Olson
observes.
Planning for growth has been
ongoing since 2009 when the diocese commissioned a study to look
at population trends, the diocese’s
demographic makeup, and to
evaluate recommendations from
diocesan and parish leaders.
Armed with recommendations from the 2009 Meitler Consultants study, the dirt has been
Former St. Mark pastor Fr. Timothy Thompson (in white shirt) lifts a shovel
beside Fr. Ken Robinson and several St. Mark parishioners breaking ground
August 3, 2013 for a new church building south of St. Mark's current site. The
move comes in response to Meitler Study projections. (NTC Photo / Mike McGee)
flying the last few years.
A new school opened in 2012
in Frisco. St. Thomas the Apostle
Parish in Fort Worth is in the process of relocating to a larger and
more central site in Saginaw. St.
Mark Parish in Denton is moving
south to better serve a growing
Catholic population. And St. John
Paul II Parish has been established to serve Denton’s university
communities.
Meitler has projected that 12
to 14 new parishes will be needed
in the next 20 years to keep up
the with the diocese’s growth. The
growth also will create demand
for new Catholic schools.
While the diocese was
without a bishop, the Meitler
Consultants updated and verified its 2009 data. The Meitler
update concluded that growth of
the diocese will accelerate, if the
North Texas economy continues
to boom.
In the face of “exceptional
growth,” the challenge is daunting: Continuing to serve the
needs of the 720,000 faithful
already here with safe and inspirational places to worship which
are adequately staffed by priests
and religious while erecting new
PAGE 30
parishes and providing the priests
and religious necessary to properly serve the new North Texas
Catholics.
“We now generally know
where parishes need to be placed,
but we need help to determine
the best location for a new parish,
[and] whether existing parish sites
need to move or be developed in
some other way,” Bishop Olson
said.
The process of where, when,
and how to start a new parish requires extensive planning,
research, and discussion to “make
sure all of the voices involved are
properly consulted.
“This effort ensures that
we line up our brick and mortar
needs with the programs for
vocations and evangelization and
outreach to the poor,” Bishop Olson explains. “We want to make
sure we don’t exclude any group
by the placement of a parish,
most especially the economically
disadvantaged.”
Because the cost of establishing or relocating a new parish or
school is in the millions of dollars,
diocesan leaders sought advice
and counsel.
The advice is coming from a
new advisory group, the diocesan
Land Subcommittee. It is developing a three-step strategy: Tackling
immediate needs, addressing
needs in the next three to five
years, and forecasting needs for
the next five to 15 years.
Supplementing the Land
Subcommittee are the renowned
Fort Worth-based demographic
and site selection experts, the
Buxton Company.
“Taken together,” Bishop Olson explains, “we are engaged in
comprehensive, practical planning
rather than incremental planning.
“We have learned that we must
think outside of the box” in providing for the spiritual needs of a
rapidly growing Catholic community, the bishop explained, “but we
cannot think outside the Church.
“We cannot start all of the
new parishes that are needed all at
once. The information from this
effort will help us to prioritize.
All the proposed parishes are
important. But which is the most
urgent, and which has the most
possibility of being successful for
growth initially?”
Buxton is a recognized
industry leader in “customer
analytics.” Since 1994, more than
3,000 organizations in the retail,
healthcare, consumer packaged
goods, private equity, and public
sectors turned to Buxton to guide
their growth strategies. Buxton
describes its service as providing
help to its clients in understanding who their customers are,
where their customers are located,
and the value each customer
brings to the organization.
“This is a company you
would use if you owned a restaurant or a retail company, a Lowe’s
or a Dillard’s,” explained Vice
Chancellor for Administrative
Services Peter Flynn. “Buxton
a parish site or establishing a new
parish for the sake of the mission
of the Church — which involves
the sanctification of God’s people,
formation in the faith, and the
living of the Good News in particular ways. My hope is for an
outcome that will inspire evangelization and help to recognize and
encourage growth and development in the life of our faithful
St. Thomas the Apostle pastor Fr. Antony Mathew, TOR, celebrates the first Mass
on the site where the parish will build its new church so the parish can serve
more Catholics as the area north of Loop 820 continues to boom. (NTC Photo /
Joan Kurkowski-Gillen)
would advise a company, ‘Here
is a growing area; where should
we have a store located?’ Buxton
specializes in doing this kind of
placement.
“The diocese is using Buxton’s vast capabilities to help
determine where our parishes, our
schools, and other diocesan facilities should be located to serve the
This past Easter, founding pastor Fr. Kyle Walterscheid celebrated the first
Easter Vigil Mass in the newly established St. John Paul II Parish, serving the
college communities of Denton. (Photo provided by St. John Paul II Parish)
members of this diocese.”
Flynn said the diocese will develop a strategic initiative for both
existing and future parishes and
sites. The preliminary plans will be
completed sometime between October and December of this year.
Bishop Olson is striving for a
“clear consensus about what is the
right next step to take in moving
PAGE 31
people.”
The growth strategy also
will become a driving force in the
diocesan Pastoral Plan.
“We must practice our faith
in a focused way, based on actionable information, so we promote
vocations and don’t leave the poor
or any other segment of our growing community behind,” Bishop
Olson said.
Christ’s daily presence in Eucharist
transforms young hearts at 2014 DCYC
BY JERRY CIRCELLI / CORRESPONDENT
•
PHOTOS BY DONNA RYCKAERT
Teens bow down in worship of Christ in the Eucharist during the 2014 Diocesan Catholic Youth Conference, held at the DFW Airport Hyatt Regency Hotel July 12.
JESUS HAD A PRESENCE THAT FILLED THE ROOM FOR
NEARLY 1,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ATTENDING
THE FORT WORTH DIOCESAN CATHOLIC YOUTH
CONFERENCE (DCYC) JULY 11-13 AT THE DFW
A IRPORT HYATT R EGENCY HOTEL.
During this year’s 19th annual gathering,
inside the 5,000-square-foot ballroom converted
into a gathering and worship space, many Catholic
youth spent more time with the Lord than they
had ever done before in a single weekend.
Christ’s presence here was in the form of the
Eucharist, before them not only during three daily
Masses, but also during a Benediction and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Friday evening.
Then, during a special Procession of the Eucharist
Saturday night, they literally followed Christ.
There was plenty of fun and games, interesting workshops, productive meetings, motivational
speakers, and inspirational praise songs, but it was
Christ who was always front and center at this
year’s DCYC. To make time for the Eucharistic events, some usual activities were not on this
year’s schedule. Although many teens admitted
they were a bit disappointed when they first heard
about the changes, they said they would not have
had it any other way after spending time with
Jesus in a manner they had never experienced
before.
“This was my fourth conference in a row, and
it was very different,” said Annette Calderon of
Sacred Heart Church in Comanche. “I liked it so
much because of Adoration. It was like the Holy
Spirit entered the room. You could feel the emotion, not coming from material things and dances,
but coming from Christ, because He is the risen
one. It was very emotional.”
During Benediction and Exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament on Friday night, youth spent
approximately one hour after Mass in both prayer
and silence, kneeling before the Eucharist exposed
on the altar in a monstrance.
On Saturday, youth followed Christ as part
of a Eucharistic Procession inside the hotel ballroom. The procession is associated with the Feast
of Corpus Christi, celebrating the gift of the real
presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
“I really liked the Eucharistic Procession because it made the conference Christ-focused,” said
Austin Tarver of St. Ann Church in Burleson. “It
gave us a chance to focus on Him this year.”
Involved in the celebration of the Masses,
Benedictions, Adorations, and special prayers were
Bishop Michael Olson, joined by several priests
and deacons of the diocese, and 16 seminarians.
In his opening remarks to attendees, Kevin
Prevou, diocesan director of Youth, Young Adult,
and Campus Ministry, said that Bishop Olson
“has really challenged us to deepen our faith experience during this conference.”
Youth leaders were quick to take on the chal-
lenge and embrace the new experience.
From atop the stage set up in the hotel ballroom, one of the DCYC emcees, Nathan Werts
of St. Stephen Church in Weatherford, told fellow
attendees, “Who doesn’t like to spend time with
their best friend and gather with people you love?
Eucharistic Exposition gives us another opportunity to be in the presence of Christ and to grow
deeper in our relationship with Him.”
In his opening homily Friday evening, Bishop
Olson discussed the DCYC theme “Transform
Me.” He told the hundreds of teens, who filled
the ballroom worship space to capacity, “We come
together here called by name, called by Jesus to
become his Church, to love Him unconditionally
as He loves us and to be transformed — transformed by his grace.”
The bishop went on to say, “To be a disciple
of Jesus and to live our discipleship means that
each one of us has to allow Him to ‘transform me,’
to transform each one of us.
“The theme is not transform myself,” the
bishop said, but instead to invite Christ into our
lives to be central to the transformation.
“Every Mass we celebrate transforms the ‘me’
in each one of us,” the bishop said. “And it transforms ‘me’ into one of ‘us.’ It transforms each and
every ‘me’ in this room into ‘us’ — the Church in
communion with Christ and our brothers and sisters, those present physically and those throughout
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Father Jonathan Wallis directs a choir of teens chanting during the July 12 Vespers service. • A young parishioner from St. Stephen in Weatherford wear
Morales from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Keller, and Elena Martinez from St. Joseph Parish in Arlington pose with a cardboard cutout of Pope Francis. • Anessa F
unborn babies at a pro-life table. • DCYC participants make hand motions during a praise-and-worship session. • Keynote speaker Jackie Francois talks to her young aud
in a Eucharistic procession July 12. • Bishop Olson holds up his conference nametag for attendees.
PAGE 32
the world.”
The theme “Transform Me” underscored
Pope Francis’ World Youth Day 2014 message. In
that message, the pope focused on the beatitude,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
“The Beatitudes of Jesus are new and revolutionary. They present a model of happiness
contrary to what is usually communicated by the
media and by the prevailing wisdom,” the pope
said in his statement. “A worldly way of thinking finds it scandalous that God became one of
us and died on a cross! According to the logic of
this world, those whom Jesus proclaimed blessed
are regarded as useless, ‘losers.’ What is glorified
is success at any cost, affluence, the arrogance of
power and self-affirmation at the expense of others. … Jesus challenges us, young friends, to take
seriously his approach to life and to decide which
path is right for us and leads to true joy.”
Locally, Prevou said he is inspired by the
pope’s message and outreach to youth.
“The pope has asked all of us to remember
how important young people are in our communities, not only for our future, but for right now,”
Prevou said. “Let’s challenge them to really take
their faith and grow, and to share it with others.”
Keynote speaker Jackie Francois underscored
the bishop’s message and was an instant hit with
her young audience. Through quick but charming wit, relevant and timely humor, along with
inspirational guitar and vocals, Francois set the
stage for some serious discussions. There was only
silence in the room when Francois set her guitar
down for heart-to-heart talks with the teens.
Francois asked youth to acknowledge and
confess their sins. Through Reconciliation and allowing God to grow in their hearts, she said, they
could follow the paths of saints. It is no secret, she
said, that saints sinned, but they learned to grow
in faith and overcome their shortcomings.
“God is calling you to be a saint, because you
are called to be with God in heaven. God is calling you to be different in the world because He
wants to transform your hearts and transform the
world for good.”
The first step, she said, involves “admitting
that you are not perfect.” Like any multi-step program for improvement, the first action in growing
closer to God requires that “you admit that you
are not perfect. You have to admit that you have
a problem. Guess what? I have a problem and it’s
called sin.”
Francois continued, “You have to admit that
you are a sinner, because that’s when God can say,
‘All right, now I can do something.’” She then led
teens in a moving song titled “Lord, I need you,”
by Matt Maher
Through the messages they heard from the
bishop, the keynote speaker, and their peers who
served as emcees, teens lined up by the hundreds
for the sacrament of Reconciliation with 25 priests
who visited Saturday evening.
While the energy, enthusiasm, and devoutness of the teens at the conference gave hope for
the future of the Church, Bishop Olson emphasized that their role in today’s Church is also
important.
“I feel a lot of hope in the present, and not
just for the future,” Bishop Olson told the North
Texas Catholic.
“I feel my responsibility to be a pastor, to help
them to learn the faith, to share the faith with others, and also to provide an opportunity for them
to strengthen each other in the faith.”
It is important, Bishop Olson said, for youth
“to be aware that they’re part of one big, universal
Church and also the local Church of the Diocese
of Fort Worth, which includes 28 counties.”
Events such as DCYC, he said, give youth
“a chance to get together and meet young people
of their own age, of their same faith. … And this
gives youth a sense of solidarity and knowledge
that they’re not alone.”
rs a T-shirt with a quote from Pope Francis on the back. • Dana Mosebey from St. Ann Parish in Burleson, Selena
Flores, Brooke Le, Lauren Le, and Lily Pichon from St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grapevine hold life-size models of
dience about Reconciliation. • Bishop Michael Olson, joined by diocesan seminarians, leads conference attendees
PAGE 33
Catholic youth
share their
experience of DCYC
I felt like Jesus was with us. I went to confession
and that was amazing. I had a priest who listened
well. He just heard everything I said.
— LETICIA ESQUIVEL, SACRED HEART, COMANCHE
I liked how Bishop Olson was here the entire
weekend. It helped show all the youth that he is
active and he is ready to help us and that he is
not concentrating only on the adults.
— AUSTIN TARVER, ST. A NN, BURLESON
This was my first conference and I was really impressed. I didn’t grow up Catholic and I feel like
this is the first time I’ve really, really been able to
connect with my Catholic faith. I don’t know if
it was the speakers, or the opportunity to go to
Confession, or all the people. I’ve never been in
a room with this many teenagers and with them
this focused. It was all just inspiring. Amazing.
Because of the passion that it ignited, I just want
to get that much closer to Christ and not let anything get in the way.
— MEGAN GATES, ST. M ARY, GRAHAM
I like how we focused on the Eucharist. The
greatest takeaway for me will be transformation,
because our theme was “Transform Me.” I think
I have been transformed. I’ve become closer to
God and I’ve just realized so much. It helps me
not to be afraid of what other people think, and
just give it all to God.
— NATHAN WERTS, ST. STEPHEN, WEATHERFORD
It’s always a heartwarming experience, because
we learn a lot of things. I get a lot of life lessons
from the speakers. I liked it when Jackie [Francois] talked about how you can only find true
happiness from God. And that’s what I’m going
to do from now on. I’m going to find true happiness from God. That’s what I’m going for.
— KYOUNGMIN LEE, KOREAN M ARTYRS, HURST
I think it’s pretty cool how a bunch of people can
come together through their faith. I learned that
if you’re not truly reading Scripture, then you’re
not getting to know Christ. I don’t usually read
the Bible, and I’m going to start doing that more
because I think it would be cool to get closer to
Christ.
— JESSICA MENDONCA, ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI,
GRAPEVINE
St.Mary's Church restoration results in
Bishop Douglas Deshotel, Auxiliary Bishop of Dallas, incenses St. Mary’s new altar, assisted by
Deacon Gelasio Garcia.
Story and Photos
NTC Correspondent
TAMMY L ANGE SAYS THE $1.4 MILLION
RESTORATION AND RENOVATION OF ST.
M ARY CHURCH IN GAINESVILLE DID
MORE THAN BRIGHTEN THE SANCTUARY ’S
AGING INTERIOR.
“It’s kind of a rebirth,” says the longtime
parishioner. “Everybody’s heart just opens up
when they see the beautiful work, and I think
it will bring more people into the church. This
is the start of a whole new chapter for us.”
Improvements to the 94-year-old church
were unveiled during a June 21 rededication
Mass celebrated by Dallas Auxiliary Bishop J.
Douglas Deshotel. Bishop Deshotel was joined
on the altar by Father Victor Cruz, HGN, pastor of the parish during its reconstruction, who
returned to his native India in July; Father
Karl Schilken, vicar general and moderator of
the curia for the Diocese of Fort Worth; and
former pastor Father James Pemberton. Fort
PAGE
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34
Worth Bishop Michael Olson was in Illinois
for his mother’s burial service and was unable
to attend.
It was the first liturgy held in the church
since the restoration project began Jan. 5.
Parishioners packed the mission-style edifice to
witness the consecration of a new altar and the
lighting of candles.
St. Mary’s restoration committee partnered with the internationally-recognized
Conrad Schmitt Studios of New Berlin, Wisconsin, to select the overall design and colors
for the new interior. The firm is known for its
ecclesial artistry and has done extensive restorations at the University of Notre Dame and
cathedrals across the U.S.
“Several parishioners asked Fr. Victor about
getting a facelift for the interior of the church,”
recalls business manager Pam Hoedebeck. “The
roof had leaked at some point, and there were water stains down the walls behind the side altars.”
Repairs to the stained-glass windows,
made and designed by the Emil Frei Art Glass
Company of Munich, Germany, were also
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needed. Among the church’s most striking
features, the windows were donated by early
church families and cost $200 each when
they were purchased in 1921. Conrad Schmitt
Studios restored the windows and replaced the
plexiglass covers with clear safety glass.
Conrad Schmitt artist Steve Chaprecek
brought the sanctuary’s original, white altar to
life. The craftsman repainted the structure, then
used glaze and a faux painting technique to
marbleize the surface. He applied 24-karat gold
leaf to an image of the Last Supper on the base
of the altar. The result is visually appealing.
“You couldn’t see it before,” Chaprecek
explained, referring to the new, dimensional
look of the ionic image. “It was all white, so
you didn’t know it was there. I used glazing
and shadowed the bodies to make it pop.”
A Dallas company repainted the large
Stations of the Cross statues created by a German artist in 1921, and the church’s dated blue
carpet was replaced with the building’s original
hardwood floors, which had been restored.
But the most stunning transformation
looms high over the altar. The once all-white
dome is now the canvas for a mural of the Rose
of Mary.
A symbol of the Virgin Mary, the illustration is traditionally depicted as a five-petal
rose in red and white. The red petals represent
the five wounds of Christ and the blood of the
Christian martyrs, and the white rose denotes
purity and virginity.
Fr. Cruz called attention to the medallion
during a brief speech thanking the congregation for its donations and support.
“As you know, one of Mary’s many titles is
the Mystical Rose of Heaven, and she is often
shown surrounded by roses, crowned with
roses, or holding a rose,” he said. “This symbol was painted on the ceiling of our church
because of its special meaning and association
with the Blessed Mother. She is our patron.”
The pastor said he wanted to make the congregation aware and proud of what they have.
“Thanks to all the skillful hands and
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An altar statue of the risen Christ extends his arms toward a mural of the Rose of Mary that now
fills the dome of St. Mary's Church.
contractors who contributed to this project,”
he added. “And thank God for making us an
instrument to complete his work.”
Parishioner Steve Schmitz spearheaded
the capital campaign to fund the restoration. A
rebate received by the parish from the diocesan
All Things Possible campaign was used as seed
money for the fundraising effort.
“There was nothing wrong with the structure of the church,” he said. “All the work done
was aesthetic.”
The co-owner of a construction company,
Schmitz said the improvements maintain the
integrity of the original craftsmanship.
“We were real sensitive not to go too far
with the murals,” he pointed out. “We have a
fairly simple mission-style church and didn’t
want to be something we’re not. The altar,
A visitor to the church greets longtime St. Mary’s
parishioner Margaret Watson.
PAGE
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35
stained-glass windows, and stations were created by German artists in 1921 and reflect the
area’s German heritage.”
The project, started in January after the
Christmas season, was completed in six months.
Buster Bezner supervised the restoration project.
“It’s beautiful,” said Bezner, as the
church’s bright lights showcased the interior’s
new paint and multihued stained-glass. “I can’t
say enough about the work that was done. It
speaks for itself.” Bezner hopes the enhanced
worship space draws people inside.
“People get pretty excited about what was
done if they come look,” he said. “Hopefully,
this will revive our faith community.”
St. Mary’s was founded in 1879 to minister to Catholic settlers arriving in Gainesville
thanks to a new railroad line.
Artists with Conrad Schmitt Studios added
decorative backgrounds to the side altars,
embellishing their work with 23-karat gold
leaf.
Janet Bayer (left) and Tammy Lange (right) dress
the newly consecrated altar with fresh linens.
Crafted in 1921 by German artists, the church’s
stained-glass windows and Stations of the Cross were
cleaned and refreshed during the restoration process.
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Steve Schmitz lights a candle
on St. Joseph’s altar during the
rededication.
Celebration of Jubilee
Six Jubilarians collectively celebrate 365 years of service to their congregation and society
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JOAN KURKOWSKI-GILLEN / CORRESPONDENT
SISTER MARY DOROTHY POWERS
STILL REMEMBERS IN VIVID DETAIL
HER FIRST DAY AS A SISTER OF ST.
MARY OF NAMUR.
The 18-year-old, who had just
finished her freshman year in college, wore a white dress and suit coat
for the afternoon trip to the convent
with her parents on Aug. 12, 1954.
“The sisters welcomed us in
and we put on black dresses and
black net veils,” recalls Sr. Dorothy
who joined the religious congregation along with 12 other girls that
day. “We came back out to greet our
Sr. Mary Michael Dittoe greets Sr. Devota
Sweeney who celebrated 75 years as a
Sister of St. Mary of Namur.
families as newly entered postulants,
then marched into the chapel for
Evening Prayer. Our new life had
begun.”
And, according to Sr. Dorothy
and fellow jubilarians, Sister Devota
Sweeney (75 years), Sister Mary
Elaine Breen (60 years), Sister Jane
Conway (60 years), Sister Joan Markey (60 years), and Sister Mary Jean
Warmuth (60 years), it’s a life full of
purpose, new challenges, and service
to God.
The six longtime members of
the Belgium-based Sisters of St.
Mary of Namur renewed their vows
of chastity, poverty, and obedience
as well as their commitment to “respond to the call of Christ” during
a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Father
Tom Stabile, TOR, pastor of St.
Andrew Parish, on June 7 inside Our
Lady of Victory Center.
Collectively, the honorees contributed 365 years of service to their
congregation and society. The Sisters
of St. Mary of Namur, known for
educating children, especially the
poor, celebrated 150 years of minis-
Jubilarians Sr. Jane Conway, Sr. Joan Markey, Sr. Mary Jean Warmuth, Sr. Elaine Breen,
Sr. Mary Dorothy Powers, and Sr. Devota Sweeney renew their vows of chastity,
poverty, and obedience during a June 7 Mass at the OLV Center.
PAGE 36
I’ve been totally filled with joy and gratitude to God and
all those who have helped me get to where I am today.
— Sister Devota Sweeney, SSMN
try in the United States in 2013.
“All of you — after all these
years — are still sharing.” Fr. Stabile
noted. “You are still giving joyfully
from your hearts in whatever way
you are able and whatever way is
needed. … You have inspired hope
and given hope. You’ve held on to
hope and you’ve helped us. We’re
grateful for that.”
The six honorees have lived,
prayed, and worked for the good of
others in different countries and in
different ways.
Sr. Devota grew up the oldest
of six children in Wichita Falls and
seemed destined to live a life dedicated to God. Born in 1921, she was so
premature, the doctor pronounced
her dead.
“My mother raised her head and
insisted I was not dead and put me
under the care of (Blessed Mother)
Mary,” the 93-year-old told the
North Texas Catholic. “As you can
see, I survived.”
A veteran educator who began
her teaching career in 1941, Sr. Devota served as a teacher and principal
at SSMN schools in Beaumont, Fort
Worth, Sherman, Houston, Dallas,
and Hollister, California. She was
named provincial superior for her
congregation’s Western Province in
1958 and again in 1973 and served
on the congregation’s General Council in Namur, Belgium from 1971
to 1972.
In 2011, the retired sister was
selected by then-Bishop Kevin Vann
to receive the Pro-Ecclesia et Pontifice
Cross, “recognizing her lifetime of
work as a member of the Sisters of
St. Mary of Namur.” Today she lives
in the OLV Center and continues to
share in the daily life of the sisters by
praying, visiting, welcoming, observing, and consoling.
“I’ve been totally filled with joy
and gratitude to God and all those
who have helped me get to where I
am today,” Sr. Devota said.
Sr. Jane Conway first became
acquainted with the Sisters of St.
Mary when she attended St. Edward
Academy in Dallas. After her family
moved to Fort Worth, she continued
her education at Our Lady of Victory Academy, graduating in 1954.
“I entered the novitiate and
spent two years in Namur, Belgium,”
recalls the talented pianist who
went on to earn degrees from the
American Conservatory of Music in
Chicago and Indiana University.
She later used those skills to
teach music at OLV Academy and
Nolan Catholic High School when it
opened in 1961. At the University of
St. Thomas in Houston, she chaired
the music department, worked in
campus ministry, and taught piano,
music theory, and liturgical singing.
Today she makes liturgies at the
Father Tom Stabile, TOR, (center) pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Fort Worth, takes a photo with Jubilarians (from left to right)
Sr. Devota Sweeney, Sr. Joan Markey, Sr. Mary Dorothy Powers, Sr. Mary Elaine Breen, Sr. Mary Jean Warmuth, Sr. Jane Conway.
convent “come alive with music” according to her fellow sisters.
“As I reflect on my 60 years in
the community of the sisters, I simply have heartfelt gratitude for the
many circumstances and opportunities which have enabled me to serve
the people of God,” she said.
Sr. Joan Markey said living a religious life for 60 years is wonderful
because, “the Sisters of St. Mary are
so fabulous, loving, and supportive.
It’s been a real joy in both the good
times and any bad times.”
A 1954 graduate of the Academy of Mary Immaculate in Wichita
Falls, a young Joan Markey was
drawn to the charism of the sisters
who operated her school. After entering the religious congregation, she
earned undergraduate and advanced
degrees in English from the University of Dallas and Rice University
and a master’s degree in library science from the University of North
Texas. Over the years, her apostolate
included working as a teacher and
administrator at SSMN elementary
schools in Texas.
“This is really where I gained a
liberal education — teaching almost
every subject across the curriculum,”
explained the seasoned educator who
taught English at Nolan Catholic High School, the University of
St. Thomas, and the University of
Tulsa.
From 1996 to 2002, Sr. Joan
served as provincial for her congrega-
tion and is currently the treasurer for
the SSMN Western Province.
Sr. Mary Jean Warmuth
taught at various SSMN schools in
Texas and California including Holy
Name, Our Lady of Victory, and St.
Mary in Fort Worth. At one point,
the Wichita Falls native took time
off from teaching to become a licensed vocational nurse and worked
at St. Joseph Hospital for six years.
She returned to the classroom to
teach computer technology at Notre
Dame School in Wichita Falls and
stayed there until retirement.
“I miss teaching a lot,” she admitted. “I would still be doing it if I
thought I had the stamina.”
Many of the young women
who entered the SSMN community
in 1954 became teachers, but that’s
not the career path Sr. Mary Elaine
Breen chose to follow.
“I’ve always loved to nurse and
care for people. As a young, 18-yearold sister, I was being trained as a
teacher, but I wanted to be a nurse,”
she explained. “I asked to go into
nursing and it happened.”
The OLV graduate began taking classes at St. Joseph Hospital in
1957 and became a registered nurse
in 1960. Her medical knowledge was
a useful resource in the Congo missions where she worked as a midwife
in the early 1960s delivering babies
and tending to the needs of orphans.
Sr. Elaine later took a course in
tropical medicine and was assigned
PAGE 37
to the congregation’s dispensary and
hospital in Rwanda, Africa.
After returning to Fort Worth
in 1968, she managed the unwed
mother program at Catholic Charities. Now retired, her love for newborns is still evident.
“I volunteer at Cook Children’s
Hospital as a Baby Buddy — something I enjoy very much,” Sr. Elaine
enthused.
Sr. Dorothy Powers’ vocation
also has an international component.
After earning a degree in Spanish
language and literature in Mexico,
she taught Spanish at Nolan and
later served as principal at Holy
Name of Jesus School in Fort Worth
and Our Lady of Guadalupe School
in Wichita Falls. The OLV graduate
returned to Mexico to co-found a
mission of the Sisters of St. Mary in
Zihuatanejo, Mexico, along with Sr.
Gabriela Martinez.
“We conducted literacy classes,
held formation classes for catechists,
prepared prayer services, and did sacramental preparation,” Sr. Dorothy
recalled.
Over the years, she has directed
faith formation programs in both
English and Spanish at several
parishes including, St. Philip the
Apostle in Lewisville, St. Maria
Goretti in Arlington, St. Joseph in
Arlington, and Immaculate Heart of
Mary in Fort Worth. She is currently
the co-director of her congregation’s
House of Formation.
Sr. Joan Markey leads the congregation
in the Prayer of the Faithful.
Sr. Mary Dorothy Powers reads the
Second Reading for the Vigil of Pentecost
from the book of Romans.
Sr. Mary Frances Serafino and Sr. Mary
Jean Warmuth present the offertory gifts.
Sr. Mary Elaine Breen shares a celebratory
moment with Fr. Stabile.
A LIFE DEDICATED TO
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Nolan Alumna Erin Vader worked at Catholic schools St. Andrew, St. Peter, and Our
Mother of Mercy before returning to her alma mater to take over as its president
BY NICKI PREVOU / CORRESPONDENT
ERIN VADER ADMITTED THAT SHE EXPERIENCED
A “KIND OF A SHOCK” WHEN SHE GLANCED AT
HER FACEBOOK PAGE ON JUNE 20, AND FOUND
HERSELF ON THE RECEIVING END OF A TSUNAMI
OF JOYFUL , CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES.
Vader,
a self-proclaimed “very proud” member of
Nolan Catholic High School’s Class of 1988,
had just been named the first layperson —
and the first woman — to serve as president
of her alma mater. The announcement of
her appointment resulted in an explosion of
delighted reactions from former students and
classmates, colleagues, and friends.
As news of her appointment spread, stories
were shared about the dynamic educator’s
vibrant, very personal brand of leadership.
Henry Giardino, 17, who is beginning his senior year at Nolan this fall, attended St. Peter
Catholic School in White Settlement through
eighth grade. He laughed with his mother,
Lisa, as they recently recalled Vader’s years as
principal at St. Peter’s from 2005 to 2010.
Photo courtesy of Erin Vader
Erin Vader, as a Nolan Catholic High School graduate,
in 1988.
PAGE 38
“She makes school a lot of fun,” said
Henry. “She has a lot of energy, and she’s really
personable. She would see me in the hallways
and she would always tell me, ‘Tuck your shirt
in, Henry!’ But she always said it with a big
smile. And when she came to a Career Day at
Nolan, she remembered me and the other kids
from St. Peter’s when we came up to her. She
knew our names right away, and she was really
happy to see us. That’s just how she is.”
His mother, a middle school teacher at St.
Peter’s, chimed in with memories of Vader as
an administrator who would go far beyond the
expected to raise funds to gain much-needed
resources for her center-city school. One year,
Vader promised she would kiss a pig if students
reached a fundraising goal.
“Of course, we met the goal, and of
course, she kissed the pig, and she made it a
huge, fun, exciting deal for the kids,” recalled
Lisa Giardino. “That’s Erin. She gives her
heart and soul to everything she does, and she
draws people in with her enthusiasm.”
Other shared anecdotes included humorous examples of Vader’s readiness to step in to
solve any problem. “Yes, as any principal of a
small school knows, it’s often our job to unclog
toilets, mop floors, be the nurse, and just do
whatever is needed, on any given day,” Vader
acknowledged, laughing as she recalled her occasional role as cafeteria cook at Our Mother
of Mercy School, an historically African-American school. She served as assistant principal at
the school from 2010-2012, and as principal
from 2012 through the past school year.
Vader is perhaps most admired by OMM
teachers and staff members for her practice of
leading daily morning devotions for the entire
school community, according to middle school
teacher Broderick Williams.
“Ms. Vader is a great representative of the
Catholic faith,” mused Williams. “I’m African
American, myself,” he said, as he spoke of
Vader was confirmed as an eighth grade student at
St. Maria Goretti Catholic School in Arlington. She
is shown here on her Confirmation day in 1984, at
St. Maria Goretti Parish.
how he and the other members of the school
community were thankful for Vader’s role in
providing the African American children of
the school with the “gift of a great Catholic
education. … She’s so determined to meet
every challenge that’s thrown at her. She is
committed to gaining every advantage for our
students that every child should have: exposure
to the arts, to culture, to technology. She has
fought for the children of this school.”
Members of the Nolan community will
likewise cherish her “outstanding” gifts of spiritual leadership, predicted Williams. “She immediately fit right in at this school when she came
here, because of her genuine spirit, her honesty,
her forthrightness, and her fairness,” he said.
Catholic education is of utmost importance
within her own family, Vader said, describing
how her mother and father and two younger sisters had all graduated from Nolan after graduating from Catholic elementary schools.
“My parents were founding members
of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Arlington,
and so our family was there for Mass every
Sunday,” explained Vader. “And, of course,
we were very fortunate to be able to go to
Mass each day as students at St. Maria Goretti
[School]. The Sisters [of St. Mary of Namur]
were on staff at St. Maria’s, and we loved them.
They have been a profound influence in our
lives, because they are such remarkable, vital
women, [offering] such amazing examples of
faith lived out each and every day. It is because
Students at St. Peter Catholic School in White Settlement gathered around
their new principal in 2005. Vader fulfilled her promise to kiss a pig if
students met their goals in a school fundraising project.
Photo by Donna Ryckaert / NTC
Principal Vader at Our
Mother of Mercy School,
shown in 2013 with firstgrader Ayden Meeks.
Bishop Michael Olson is pictured here with Vader on
Nov. 19, 2013, at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic School.
The school was the bishop’s first visit after the press
conference at which his appointment was announced.
ty relations. Nolan employs a president/principal model, which means, explained Vader, that
she will be working closely with the principal,
faculty, and staff to set the tone for the school’s
commitment to Catholic ideals in education.
In setting that tone, the new president
knows that she has a powerful and effective
ally in the person of Bishop Michael Olson.
“Ms. Vader is the right person to build
on and expand Nolan Catholic’s traditions of
evangelization, academic excellence, and service to the community,” wrote Bishop Olson,
in a statement announcing her appointment on
June 20.
Because he served as pastor at St. Peter the
Apostle Church during her years as principal
at St. Peter, Vader looks forward to resuming
what she calls “a great working relationship”
with the bishop.
“He is a teacher at heart, himself,” she
explained. “He understands and appreciates,
better than anyone, the value and importance
of education, and Catholic education in particular. I’m completely grateful to have his sup-
of their dedication that I began to think, at a
very early age, about the importance of finding
my own vocation in life.”
After earning her undergraduate degree in
English at the University of Texas at Arlington, Vader came to St. Andrew School, where
she taught from 1996 until 2005. St. Andrew’s
principal, Clarice Peninger, was a mentor and a
source of personal and professional encouragement to the young teacher, as she taught seventh and eighth grade students. It soon became
clear to Peninger that the young woman had
what she calls “extraordinary gifts” to bring to
Catholic education.
“Erin lives and breathes her faith,”
Peninger reflected. “Nobody could work
harder on behalf of the students than she does,
to show them how to integrate their Catholic
faith into every aspect of their lives.”
According to diocesan officials, Vader’s
role will include responsibility for the Catholic
dimension of the school, strategic planning,
and all business matters, including budgeting
and facility development, as well as communi-
port, and to see his enthusiasm for the school,
which is an enthusiasm that he feels toward all
the schools of the diocese, truly.”
Vader noted that the school, owned by
the diocese but administered by the Society of
Mary (Marianist) men’s religious congregation
from 1961 to June of this year, has a longstanding tradition of excellence and commitment to faith formation. She looks forward,
she said, to building upon the legacy that has
meant so much to her and to her family.
“I know that we, as a diocesan school,
will be able to distill the very best of what has
come before us, and to create something that
honors the past, while also looking to the future,” she said. “It’s definitely a time of transition for the school community, so we will have
to have a lot of patience and compassion with
one another, do our best to listen, and to keep
our eyes and ears open to what the Holy Spirit
is telling us we need to be doing.
“I’m excited,” she said, simply. “I’m feeling
incredibly blessed to have this opportunity to
serve at a place that I love so much.”
Vader, a middle school teacher at St. Andrew Catholic School in Fort Worth
from 1996 to 2005, posed with students Kyle Smith and Courtney Castillo.
PAGE 39
Vader, with her homeroom class in 2003, was a beloved English teacher at St.
Andrew School for nine years.
September 7, Twenty-third
Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Cycle A. Readings:
have several relatives and
friends who love a good fight.
I don’t mean that they engage in
physical violence, but if there’s an
opportunity to debate a controversial topic (religion and politics
come to mind), they’re in the
middle of the fray.
Not so with me. When it
comes to “flight or fight,” I’m
content to leave the room or become an unobtrusive bystander so
I can avoid getting involved.
But as I write this, I am aware
of a number of places in the world
where multitudes of people don’t
have that luxury.
has delegated to us both the power
brothers as one
and the task of binding the evils of
violence and persecution while looslove is the fulfillment would treat a
“gentile or a tax colening the burdens of oppression.
of the law.” — Romans 13:10 lector.” The normal
Who is my “neighbor”? What
human response,
is my responsibility toward him
and perfectly legal
or her? What does the law of love
solution, would
call for in this situation? How can
be to cast him out
I contribute a voice of compassion
of the community
and reason amid the insanity of
altogether.
public demonstrations, obnoxious
But throughout
blog posts, and general misinforthe
Gospel,
Jesus
ate
with
tax
mation? Is there some action I can
The United Nations reports
collectors
and
healed
Gentiles,
reand should take?
that the number of citizens forced
storing
their
dignity
through
love
The first step, according to
to flee their homes due to civil
and
kindness.
the
psalmist,
is to “harden not
unrest and criminal activity has
Whatever
one’s
political
leanyour
hearts”
to
the Lord’s voice or
climbed to 50 million — half
ings
or
opinions,
it
serves
us
well
to
toward
those
who
are suffering.
of them children — the highest
view
our
current
issues
regarding
Jesus
does
not
give
me the option
number since World War II.
refugees
and
immigration
by
asking
of
“unobtrusive
bystander”;
I am
As with the current refugee
the
same
questions
implied
in
the
already
involved
by
being
a
memcrisis at our own borders, there
Gospel — remembering that Jesus
ber of his body.
are no easy or perfect solutions,
so the responses generally range
QUESTIONS:
from moral paralysis to rancorous
What
has been your own attitude toward migrants, refugees, and
argument.
victims
of human trafficking? How is the Lord calling you to act
Today’s Gospel instructs us
to treat recalcitrant, unrepentant
according to his law of love?
September 14, Feast of
the Exaltation of the Holy
Cross. Cycle A Readings:
“Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house … to
offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
— 1 Peter 2:5
1) Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9
2) Romans 13:8-10
Gospel) Matthew 18:15-20
By Sharon K. Perkins
I
“Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence,
1) Numbers 21:4b-9
Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-38
2) Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel) John 3:13-17
By Jean Denton
common sight on televised sporting events is
the “Jn 3:16” sign. You see
it held aloft in the crowd
behind home plate or waving beside the “Go Big Red”
placard in the end zone.
Practicing Christians know it
refers to the Bible passage in the
Gospel of John that says, “For God
so loved the world that He gave
his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in Him might not perish
but might have eternal life.”
One can only assume that
the people displaying the sign are
A
well-meaning, would-be evangelists who want to give witness to
this tenet of Christian faith before
millions of television viewers.
Good idea, as far as it goes.
But non-believers and marginal
believers, while they may know
that “Jn 3:16” is a verse in the
Bible, don’t know its meaning.
PAGE 40
So just holding up this combination of letters and numbers for the
cameras isn’t a very effective way
to call people to faith.
So why don’t they just hold up
a cross? After all, it’s a universally
recognized symbol of death and
resurrection. Believers and nonbelievers, atheists and agnostics all
know what it means.
The Scriptures for this weekend call us to the “Exaltation of
the Holy Cross.” In fact, the
Gospel reading is John 3:16 —
that describes the saving grace
of this symbol: that the Son of
God paid with his death the
price to free humankind from its
sinfulness.
One look at the cross says it all.
It reminds us of our sin and
Jesus’ sacrificial act of love. It does
call us to faith.
In the Old Testament, God
similarly called people to faith
through a powerful symbol. He
told Moses to lift up an image of a
serpent to remind the people of the
serpents that were sent to punish
them for their complaints against
God. If they looked upon the serpent, recognizing the consequences
of their sins, they would be saved.
Although we rarely see the
cross held up at sporting events
for the TV cameras, Christians
aren’t shy about displaying it. It
calls us to faith in a God who is
good and loves us mightily.
One look at the cross says it all.
QUESTIONS:
What do you think of and feel when you look upon the cross? How
does it call you to faith?
WORD TO LIFE
September 21,Twenty-fifth
Cycle A. Readings:
“Seek the Lord while he may be
found, call him while he is near.”
— Isaiah 55:6
1) Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18
2) Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a
Gospel) Matthew 20:1-16a
By Jean Denton
ur daughter was not pleased
the day she found out her
dad had offered her brother a
guitar if he got a B average on his
report card.
He already had the guitar in
hand by the time she learned of
his good fortune.
“Huh! Reeeally?” she remarked in a voice loud enough
to be sure her parents picked
up her icy tone. Then she just
tossed aside all subtlety and noted
straight out to us that she’d never
been offered a nice incentive for
good grades.
We knew that as well as we
O
September 28, Twentysixth Sunday of Ordinary
Time. Cycle A. Readings:
1) Ezekiel 18:25-28
Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14
By Jeff Hedglen
learned a great life lesson in
a defensive driving class a
number of years ago.
The instructor had us each
introduce ourselves and say what
brought us to the class — why
we got a ticket. At the end of the
introductions she commented that
many said it was not fair that they
were ticketed.
She went on to say that whenever her children complained that
life was not fair, she would have
them read their birth certificate
— every word of it. Then she
would ask them: “Does the word
I
knew she had never needed any
outside motivation to achieve her
academic potential. Brother did.
The incentive actually helped him
become a more diligent student.
He also appreciated his father’s
generosity and still cherishes that
first guitar.
But all his sister could see was
that she never got an extra reward
for her grades.
The parable in this week’s
Gospel asks the same rhetorical
question my husband could have
asked our daughter: “Are you envious because I am generous?”
Most people have difficulty
with this parable. It runs counter
to our human concept of justice,
especially the commonly held
value of “a day’s pay for a day’s
work.” The landowner paid those
who worked only an hour the
same amount as those who had
toiled a full day. He realized they
needed to feed their families, too.
It would take several years’
maturity before our daughter got
over that guitar. But eventually
she recognized occasions when she
herself was the exclusive object of
her father’s generosity. Then she
understood that we provided for
each of our children according to
their unique abilities, interests,
and challenges.
Jesus’ parable reveals that God
gives us not only what is just, but
more — what we need. Isaiah
explains this divine quality of
generosity: “So high are my ways
above your ways and my thoughts
above your thoughts.”
What does one say to the
grumbling laborers, or the pouty
daughter? Isaiah says, “Seek the
Lord while he is near.” That is,
rather than being envious of another’s reward, look to God in our
own intimate relationship with
Him where his generosity is found
in gifts unique to our needs.
QUESTIONS:
When have you been envious of the blessings someone else has received?
How has God provided for you in a way that is unique to your need?
St. Paul’s letter to the
can see it clearly in this week’s
Philippians is a beautiful expresreadings. In the passage from
sion of the personification of the
Ezekiel, the people complain that
mercy of God: God emptying
God is not fair.
Himself and taking the form of
God replies by saying, basically, that it is not a human so that we all might be
saved in the name of Jesus.
his fault that we
“Remember
Mercy is a hard thing for
suffer when we
your compassion
many of us to accept. We like to
sin; try not sinand your mercy,
“do it on our own” and “pull ourning and see how
selves up by our bootstraps.” But
things turn out.
O Lord.”
when it comes to eternal life and
A perfect
— Psalm 25:6
forgiveness of sins, there are no
follow-up to this
bootstraps strong enough to pull
comes in the
us up. Instead, all we need to do is
psalmist’s response, “Remember
get to our knees and confess that
your mercies, O Lord.” I don’t
Jesus Christ is our Lord.
‘fair’ appear anywhere on that piece know about you, but when I sin I
Then everything that, in
usually say to God, “Okay, I just
of paper?” Of course it does not.
fairness,
we have coming to us is
messed up, but remember how
Fairness aside, the fact is
washed
away
in a flood of mercy.
merciful you are?”
we would prefer mercy. Yes, my
classmates and I really wished the
police officer had had mercy on
us, but instead we were facing the
QUESTIONS:
consequences of our actions.
How have you experienced the mercy of God? Have you ever felt that
This same scenario plays out
life was not fair? How did you face that?
in our relationship with God. We
PAGE 41
WORD TO LIFE
October 5, Twenty-seventh
Cycle A. Readings:
“He looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!
For justice, but hark, the outcry!”
— Isaiah 5:7b
1) Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20
By Sharon K. Perkins
n my back patio I have several pots of herbs that I use for
cooking. While I’m pretty good
at keeping them alive in spring
and fall, the intense heat waves of
summer and cold snaps of winter
tend to wipe them out, forcing me
to plant them anew each spring.
One of my favorite herbs is
cilantro, so last spring I prepared
a shallow clay pot with good soil,
a generous sprinkling of seed
and plant food, and I waited …
and waited … for the outcome.
Imagine my surprise when I
discovered a miniscule cilantro
seedling inundated by last year’s
moss roses. Although I had to
O
start over and reseed, I now have
two crops: a blooming moss rose
and a thriving cilantro plant.
This week’s first reading and
the Gospel begin in similar fashion: a vintner with the dream of a
thriving, productive vineyard, and
a caretaker of the vine who seemingly does everything right but for
whom things go terribly wrong.
In the first case, “the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the
house of Israel,” who repeatedly
disappoints the One who planted
them. The expected yield of justice is supplanted by a bitter crop
of violence and bloodshed.
In the second case, the outcome is even worse. Not only do
the tenants withhold the expected
v
vintage,
but they also assault the
owner’s servants and murder his
son for their own gain. One gets
the sense that the prophet Isaiah’s
warning is still falling on deaf
ears, and Jesus’ version of the
parable unmistakably carries the
QUESTIONS:
Have you had an experience of doing everything right but getting an
unexpectedly bad result? How can you persevere in peace and good
works despite suffering and discouragement?
October 12, Twenty-eighth
Cycle A. Readings:
1) Isaiah 25:6-10a
Psalm 23:1-6
2) Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
By Jean Denton
s I walked down the road
on a July morning, I
stopped to talk to a neighbor
who happened to be picking wild blackberries along
the fence. I don’t even know
this woman’s name, but we’ve
met on the road and exchanged
greetings for years. Although she’s
stooped with age, her quick, kind
smile and soft voice indicate a
gentle soul.
“It looks like you’ve found
some ripe ones,” I called out.
She showed me a handful of
plump berries she held in a small
plastic container. “These are for
A
“Everything is ready; come to
the feast.”— Matthew 22:4
Tom — he likes them with his
breakfast. Do you know Tom?”
Yes, I do. Tom is another older
neighbor. He’s suffering from a
terminal pulmonary disease.
My friend stood there smiling
down on her little banquet of berries and thinking of Tom.
She wore clean cotton slacks
and a pressed, sky-blue blouse
PAGE 42
pointed message that “enough is
enough.” Time for an alternate
plan of mercy — the restoration
of the Lord’s vineyard.
We who are grafted onto the
vineyard of Israel are the Lord’s
servants, and we have been given
that same vineyard to tend with
the expectation of fruitfulness.
We have been “chosen from the
world,” a privilege that also carries
a high probability of discouragement. Yet St. Paul tells us to “have
no anxiety at all” but to persevere
by Christ’s example.
God’s plan for his people
Israel may be deferred but not
thwarted entirely. He mercifully
restores life to his vineyard, where
both the ancient stock and the
new growth will thrive and bear
fruit together.
under a striped apron.
Everything in her countenance told me she was
properly “dressed” for a
generous feast offered by
the Lord as described in
this weekend’s Scriptures.
In the Gospel, Jesus
uses a parable of a wedding feast to speak to
us about being not only
willing but also ready
to receive the bountiful
goodness God has for us.
Jesus tells how a
king invites people to
a rich banquet, yet the
invitation is ignored or
rejected.
When he extends the guest
list, one attendee at the sumptu-
ous table isn’t appropriately dressed
for such a grand offering. In other
words, he is unprepared to appreciate it or use it to truly celebrate and
share in its goodness. This was not
at all what the king had in mind
for his feast. He tosses him out.
The reading from Isaiah
explains that the Lord provides
“for all people” a rich feast that
promises to destroy death forever.
That is, the Gospel points out, for
those who are prepared to accept it
properly — to celebrate and share
in God’s life.
My neighbor, seeing God’s
little feast on the side of the road,
accepted the invitation, attired
herself in love and concern for her
friend Tom, picked the ripe berries,
and joyously shared their goodness.
QUESTIONS:
How would you describe the fare at the banquet God has provided for
you? How can you prepare yourself to worthily celebrate and share these
blessings?
WORD TO LIFE
“It is I who arm you … so that toward the rising and
October 19, Twenty-ninth
Cycle A. Readings:
setting of the sun people may know that there is
none besides me.” — Isaiah 45:5-6
1) Isaiah 45:1, 4-6
Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10
2) 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
By Jean Denton
’ve always admired educators,
especially those skilled in teaching children. So I enjoy hearing
Ellen, a middle school librarian,
talk about her vocation.
Highly respected by school
administrators and her peers, Ellen
is particularly committed to inspiring a love for reading and literature
in her young learners. She’s been at
it for more than 20 years.
She especially loves her current school, a public middle
school in a low-income neighborhood. Many of her students come
from dysfunctional families or
homes struggling with poverty or
other difficult circumstances. The
I
city’s largest family shelter is in
her school’s attendance zone.
She told me that being there
gives her an opportunity to be
available in a more personal way
to individual young teens and preteens who have serious social and
emotional needs. She listens to
their troubles and tries to provide
comfort as a friend. She’s a mentor for some whose parents aren’t
capable of helping them negotiate
a teenager’s challenges of learning
responsibility and making choices.
Ellen also has enlisted friends
October 26, Thirtieth
Cycle A. Readings:
QUESTIONS:
What are your own challenges in balancing your secular involvements
with your faith life? What do you consider your most important responsibilities to God?
In Exodus we read
how God hears the cry
of the oppressed and
that we had better not
be the oppressors or
things will not go well
for us. God uses pretty
strong language to call
those who follow Him
to be compassionate as
He is.
Some might say that
the Old Testament God
is different from the
New Testament God.
In a way, they are right.
In the New Testament,
God is compassionate from afar,
as in the Old Testament, but He
also is compassionate in person —
the person of Jesus.
This personified compas-
“I will surely
hear their cry.”
— Exodus 22:22
1) Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
2) 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10
By Jeff Hedglen
s I write this, there is a war
of words, ideologies, and
policy opinions raging on news
and social media over the crisis of
women and children crossing the
border into the U.S. from Central
America.
The issue is, of course, bigger
than this current news cycle, and
it has been going on for many
years. I have been listening to
what I thought were all sides of
this issue, and I was not sure what
to think, but things crystalized
when I read this week’s Scriptures
and saw God’s opinion.
The readings kick off with
in her church community
to help provide clothing
and toiletries for individual youngsters at her school
who otherwise would have
to do without. Although
she works for a statesupported school, she feels
no conflict in responding
to a more important call
of her Christian faith by serving
those children in need.
In this weekend’s Gospel,
the Pharisees try to get Jesus to
incriminate himself by choosing between loyalty to God or
Caesar. He confounds their plot
by saying that although these are
two distinct loyalties, a person
A
this from Exodus: “Thus says the
LORD: ‘You shall not molest or
oppress an alien, for you were
once aliens yourselves in the land
of Egypt.’”
I remembered making a family tree when I was in grade school,
and I learned that my family is
from Ireland and France. Not exactly Egypt, but point taken!
PAGE 43
should be responsible to each
without forsaking the other:
“Repay to Caesar what belongs to
Caesar and to God what belongs
to God.”
In this way my friend Ellen balances two different vocations at once.
She is a consummate professional who gives her school district
everything she has as an educator:
engaging instruction, discipline,
strong organizational skills, and
careful student evaluation.
But her greater role of supporting, encouraging, and caring
for certain children in her school
community is defined by her relationship with Christ.
“I know,” she said with conviction, “that this is exactly where
God wants me to be. Being there
for these kids is something I’m
meant to do.”
sion of God tells us in this week’s
Gospel that we must do this: Love
God and love your neighbor as
yourself.
These words from God may
be hard to hear and even harder to
put into action. But the other two
readings give us some direction on
how to proceed.
St. Paul tells us to imitate the
leaders of our church and God. We
should all read the bishops’ statements on immigration and strive
to be as compassionate as God.
The psalm response shows
us how to pray. Close your eyes
and say: “I love you, Lord, my
strength.” And while you are at it,
pray for all these people who feel
the need to flee their homeland.
May the Lord, and we, have
mercy on them all.
QUESTIONS:
What can you do to fulfill the command of God to love your neighbor
as yourself? What is the most challenging part of this week’s readings
for you? How will you respond?
NUESTRO PASTOR HABLA
Con el crecimiento de nuestro diócesis,
se nos pide desarrollar
un corazón apostólico
H AN SUCEDIDO TANTAS COSAS QUE ES MUY
Al discernir de esta manera,
DIFÍCIL PARA MÍ ADMITIR QUE HAN PASADO SEIS
MESES DESDE MI ORDENACIÓN E INSTALACIÓN
OBISPO DE FORT WORTH. Los clérigos,
religiosos y laicos me han conmovido con su
celo y amor por su fe católica. Mis visitas a
las parroquias, escuelas, a los ministerios en
campos universitarios y a otros ministerios,
han reafirmado la gentil evaluación que
me ofreció el señor Arzobispo Carlo Maria
Viganò, el Nuncio Apostólico, al final de la
liturgia de ordenación celebrada con 10,000
personas en el Centro de convenciones de Fort
Worth, el 29 de enero de 2014: “Compartiré
con el Santo Padre que la Iglesia en Fort
Worth está verdaderamente viva y floreciente”.
El alcance de la declaración del Nuncio
adquirió un significado más profundo cuando
revisé los reportes demográficos sobre la
población actual y el proyectado crecimiento
dentro de la diócesis, especialmente en los
condados de Tarrant, Denton, Johnson,
Wise y Parker. Mientras el número estimado
de personas (de católicos en particular) que
vendrán a vivir en la Diócesis de Fort Worth
indica un crecimiento rápido, este crecimiento
sólo puede considerarse abrumador si lo vemos
sin fe o sin esperanza. Si lo vemos como un
problema y no como un llamado del Señor a
compartir nuestra fe, a propagar el Evangelio,
a promover vocaciones sacerdotales, a tender
la mano a los pobres, a dar la bienvenida al
inmigrante; y a recibir los dones que nuestros
hermanos nos ofrecen al trabajar juntos para
establecer nuevas parroquias, escuelas y para
fortalecer nuestros ministerios existentes.
Esta buena noticia de nuestro crecimiento
en número, informará y guiará el plan pastoral
que urgentemente se requiere para cubrir las
necesidades de nuestra Iglesia local. Intento
emprender la formación de este plan con una
legítima consulta pastoral que nos motive a
actuar y no con un proceso consultivo per se
COMO
Dios pedirá a cada uno
desarrollar un corazón apostólico
y dar de nosotros mismos alegre
y generosamente para atender
las necesidades pastorales de los
recién llegados a la Diócesis de
Fort Worth.
que nos paralice. El tiempo es lo esencial. La
formación e implementación de tal plan, sólo
puede empezar después de que, con gratitud,
hagamos un inventario de los muchos dones
que Dios nos ha concedido para crecer para
bien de la misión de evangelización. Esta
misión debe impulsar nuestras instituciones
diocesanas, no lo contrario.
La formación e implementación de un
plan pastoral nos llama a todos y cada uno
de nosotros a sacrificarnos por difundir
el Evangelio en las áreas en desarrollo
en nuestra diócesis. Al discernir de esta
manera, Dios pedirá a cada uno — clérigos,
religiosos y laicos — desarrollar un corazón
apostólico y dar de nosotros mismos alegre y
generosamente para atender las necesidades
pastorales de los recién llegados a la Diócesis
de Fort Worth. Cada uno de nosotros debe
estar preparado para sacrificarse por el bien
de otros. Esta disposición caritativa nos
capacita para continuar evangelizando a
los miembros de nuestra sociedad que no
pertenecen a la Iglesia así como a los que han
sido iniciados pero no están suficientemente
PÁGINA 44
El Monseñor Michael F. Olson, STD, MA, fue
ordenado e instalado como el cuarto obispo de
la DIÓCESIS DE FORT WORTH el 29 de enero del
2014. Fue ordenado como sacerdote en 1994.
catequizados en lo esencial de nuestra fe. Esta
generosidad debe ser dirigida especialmente
a las prioridades del discipulado, que incluye:
ayudar a los pobres, orar y activamente animar
las vocaciones sacerdotales y religiosas, y
formar catequística y espiritualmente a nuestra
juventud y a los jóvenes adultos en la vida
sacramental.
El Señor nos confía una parte especial
en su misión de evangelizar. Le pido a cada
uno orar para agradecerle este regalo y
pedirle su sabiduría para guiar la decisión que
cada uno de nosotros hará para trabajar por
difundir el Evangelio y por el crecimiento
sólido y vigoroso de su Iglesia. ¡Cuánto nos
ha bendecido Dios al vivir y servirlo en estos
tiempos!
+ MONSEÑOR MICHAEL F. OLSON, STD, MA
OBISPO DE LA DIÓCESIS DE FORT WORTH
Diócesis se prepara para dar la bienvenida a cientos de miles de católicos nuevos al Norte de Texas
Por Juan Guajardo
Corresponsal
El número de católicos en los 28
condados de la Diócesis de Fort Worth
se ha ido al cielo, y muchos más están
llegando al Norte de Texas, de acuerdo a las predicciones demográficas.
Este brusco crecimiento es
reciente. Cuando el Papa Pablo VI
separó la Diócesis de Fort Worth de
la Diócesis de Dallas-Fort Worth en
1969, la población católica llegaba
apenas 67,000. Para 1986, la diócesis había duplicado su población a
120,000 católicos. Desde entonces,
la diócesis ha crecido rápidamente a
unos 720,000 católicos hoy en día,
y se pronostica un millón para un
futuro no muy lejano.
“Esta es una buena noticia”,
dijo el Obispo Michael Olson, “y
es necesario que todos entendamos
que responder a este crecimiento es
responsabilidad de cada persona e
institución de servicio en la diócesis”.
Para ayudar a la diócesis a prepararse para el crecimiento y a manejar
el mismo, se ha llamado a expertos
laicos locales y a líderes diocesanos
para que, junto con expertos planificadores profesionales, desarrollen
una estrategia para el crecimiento.
“Esto no es una crisis, sino una
oportunidad para todos en la Diócesis de Fort Worth para evangelizar”,
observa el Obispo Olson.
La planeación para el crecimiento ha sido continua desde 2009
cuando la diócesis comisionó un
estudio para observar las tendencias
de población, la composición demográfica de la diócesis y para evaluar
las recomendaciones de los líderes
parroquiales y diocesanos.
Armados con recomendaciones
del estudio hecho en 2009 por Meitler
Consultants, en los últimos años nos
hemos sacudido el polvo.
En el 2012 se abrió una nueva
escuela en Frisco. La Parroquia de
Santo Tomás Apóstol en Fort Worth
está en proceso de cambiarse a un
sitio más grande y mejor ubicado en
Saginaw. La Parroquia de San Marcos
en Denton se cambiará al sur para
servir mejor a la población católica. Y
se estableció la Parroquia de San Juan
Pablo II para servir a las comunidades
universitarias de Denton.
Las proyecciones de Meitler indican que serán necesarias 12 ó 14
nuevas parroquias en los próximos
20 años para mantenerse al ritmo de
crecimiento de la diócesis. Este crecimiento también creará la necesidad
de más escuelas católicas.
Mientras la diócesis carecía de
obispo, Meitler Consultants actualizaba y verificaba los datos de 2009. El
reporte actualizado concluyó que el
crecimiento de la diócesis se aceleraría
si la economía en el Norte de Texas
continuaba prosperando.
En la fase de “crecimiento excepcional”, el reto causa temor: continuar
sirviendo las necesidades de 720,000
fieles que ya están aquí, para que
puedan rendir culto en lugares seguros e inspiradores, adecuadamente
provistos de sacerdotes y religiosos, al
mismo tiempo que se erigen nuevas
parroquias y se consiguen los sacerdotes y religiosos necesarios para servir
apropiadamente a los nuevos católicos
del Norte de Texas.
“Ahora, en general, sabemos
dónde es necesario erigir las parroquias, pero necesitamos ayuda para
determinar el mejor lugar para las
nuevas parroquias, y si se necesita
mover algunas ya existentes o mejorarlas de algún modo”, dijo el obispo.
El proceso de dónde, cuándo y
cómo empezar una nueva parroquia
requiere extensa planeación, investigación y discusión para “asegurar
que se consulta con todas la voces
implicadas”.
Este esfuerzo asegura que alineamos nuestra necesidad de ladrillos
y mezcla con los programas para
vocaciones y evangelización y con
el cuidado de los pobres”, explicó el
obispo. “Queremos estar seguros que
al situar una parroquia no excluimos
a ningún grupo, especialmente los
que están en desventaja económica”.
PÁGINA 45
Foto por Joan Kurkowski-Gillen / NTC
El Padre Antony Mathew, TOR, párroco
de la Parroquia de Santo Tomás Apóstol
en Fort Worth celebra la primera Misa
en el sitio donde la nueva iglesia se
construirá.
Porque cuesta millones establecer o trasladar una parroquia o
escuela nueva, los líderes diocesanos
buscaron consejo y asesoramiento.
El consejo lo proporciona un
nuevo grupo consultivo, el Subcomité
diocesano de tierras. Está desarrollando una estrategia de tres pasos:
Acometer las necesidades inmediatas, abordar las necesidades en los
próximos tres a cinco años y prever
las necesidades para los siguientes
cinco a 15 años.
Buxton Company situada en
Fort Worth, es la reconocida firma
de expertos en demografía y selección de sitios que complementará al
Subcomité de tierras.
“Todo esto junto” explica el
Obispo Olson, “significa que nuestros planes son comprensivos — incluyen todos los componentes — no
incrementales — añaden a cada paso.
“Hemos aprendido que para
proveer las necesidades espirituales
del vertiginoso aumento de la comunidad católica debemos pensar “fuera
de la caja”, explicó el obispo, “pero no
podemos pensar ‘fuera de la Iglesia’.
“No podemos empezar al mismo
tiempo todas las nuevas parroquias
que se necesitan. La información
obtenida nos ayudará a establecer
prioridades. Todas las parroquias
propuestas son importantes; pero,
cuál es la más urgente, y cuál tiene
la mejor posibilidad de crecimiento”?
Buxton es un reconocida industria líder en “analizar la situación de su
clientela”. Desde 1994, más de 3,000
organizaciones de reventa, cuidado
médico, mercancía empaquetada,
inversiones privadas y del sector público seleccionan a Buxton para que
guíe sus estrategias de crecimiento.
Buxton describe sus servicios como
ayudar a sus clientes a entender cuál
es su clientela, dónde están localizados y el valor que cada cliente trae a
la organización.
“Esta es una compañía que ustedes usarían si tuvieran un restaurante
o una tienda de departamentos, un
Lowe’s o Dillard’s” explicó Peter
Flynn, Vicecanciller de Servicios
administrativos. “Buxton aconsejaría a su compañía, ‘Ésta es un área
de crecimiento, dónde deberíamos
establecer la tienda’? Buxton se especializa en este tipo de colocación.
“La diócesis está utilizando la
amplia capacidad de Buxton para
determinar donde deberíamos situar
nuestras parroquias, escuelas y otras
instalaciones diocesanas para servir a
los miembros de esta diócesis”.
Flynn dijo que la diócesis desarrolla una iniciativa estratégica
para las parroquias, tanto las que
ya existen como las futuras y otros
sitios. Los planes preliminares estarán
completos entre octubre y diciembre
de este año.
El Obispo Olson se esfuerza por
obtener un “claro consenso sobre cuál
es el siguiente paso correcto hacia
mover una parroquia o establecer
una nueva para bien de la misión
de la Iglesia — lo cual incluye la
santificación del pueblo de Dios,
la formación en la fe y una manera
especial de vivir la Buena Nueva. Mi
esperanza es que el resultado de todo
esto inspire la evangelización y ayude
a reconocer y estimular el crecimiento
y desarrollo en la vida de nuestra fiel
población”.
La estrategia de crecimiento
también dará impulso al plan pastoral
de la diócesis.
NOTICIAS
El Papa Francisco pide una acción
internacional para ayudar a los
cristianos perseguidos en Irak
Instituto Juan
Pablo II abrirá
nuevas secciones
El Instituto Juan Pablo II, el programa diocesano para la formación de
ministros laicos, abrirá nuevas secciones
este septiembre en dos locales.
Las secciones nuevas en español
tendrán lugar en la Parroquia de la
Inmaculada Concepción en Denton a el
primero y tercer martes del mes por la
tarde, y en el Centro católico diocesano a
el cuarto sábado del mes por la mañana
y la tarde.
Para más información visite www.
fwdioc.org/pages/instituto-de-juanpablo-2-mas o llame al Padre Carmelo
Mele, OP, el director del instituto a
817-560-2452, ext. 262.
Mecanismos para reportar
conducta sexual inapropiada
Si usted o alguien que conozca
es víctima de conducta sexual
inapropiada por parte de cualquier
persona que trabaje para la iglesia,
sea voluntario, empleado, o miembro del clero, puede reportarlo de
las siguientes maneras:
■ llamar a Judy Locke, Coordinadora de asistencia para víctimas, al
número (817) 560-2452, Ext. 201, o,
mandarle un correo electrónico a
[email protected]
■ llamar al número de emergencia
para el abuso sexual: (817) 560-2452,
Ext. 900
Mecanismo para reportar abuso
Llamar al Departamento de servicios
para la familia y de protección del
estado de Texas (Servicios de protección al menor) al número: (800)
252-5400.
Una mujer y su niño huyen de la violencia de las fuerzas leales al E STADO
I SL ÁMICO en Sinjar, Irak, el 10 de agosto. (CNS F OTO / R ODI S AID , R EUTER S)
Por Cindy Wooden
CIUDAD DEL VATICANO — El
Papa Francisco les pidió a los católicos
del mundo que recen por las decenas de
miles de cristianos que habitan la parte
noreste de Irak y que fueron obligados
a abandonar sus casas a media noche
por las fuerzas militantes de ISIS, siglas
que representan el Estado Islámico de
Levante de Irak.
El Papa también “hizo una urgente
apelación a la conciencia de la comunidad internacional a fin de que se presenten iniciativas con las que se ponga
fin a la tragedia humanitaria suscitada,
y para dar los pasos necesarios para la
protección de los que se ven amenazados
por la violencia y sumidos en ella, a fin
de hacerles llegar la ayuda necesaria
para tantas personas desplazadas cuyo
destino depende de la solidaridad de
otros”, dijo el vocero del Vaticano el
7 de agosto.
El Padre Federico Lombardi, SJ, vocero, les dijo a los periodistas que el Papa
apelaba “a la conciencia de todo mundo y
de todos los creyentes”, repitiendo lo que
ya había dicho el 20 de julio, después de
que por algo similar se vieron forzados
los cristianos a salir de Mosul: “Que el
Dios de paz haga que crezca en todos
un deseo auténtico inclinado al diálogo
PÁGINA 46
y a la reconciliación. La violencia no se
destierra con violencia. La violencia se
destierra con la paz. Oremos en silencio
y pidamos por la paz”.
La noche del 6 al 7 de agosto, militantes pertenecientes a ISIS atacaron
la población de Karakosh, de predominancia cristiana y otras poblaciones de la
provincia de Ninevah, dijo el Patriarca
Caldeo Louis Sako de Bagdad. “Los
cristianos, unos 100,000, horrorizados
y en pánico, tuvieron que abandonar su
población y hogar respectivo sin poder
llevarse nada, más que la ropa puesta”.
En su apelación, el patriarca describió la escena como “éxodo, un
verdadero ‘vía crucis’. Multitud de
cristianos ve vieron obligados a caminar a pie en medio del calor abrasador
del verano de Irak” para dirigirse a la
parte de Kurdistán. “Están expuestos
a una catástrofe inhumana y al riesgo
terrible de genocidio. Necesitan agua,
comida y techo”.
El gobierno central de Irak parece
incapaz de proteger a sus propios ciudadanos, dijo el patriarca, y no existe
ni cooperación ni coordinación con el
gobierno regional.
Karakosh albergaba una cifra calculada de 50,000 cristianos. El poblado se
encuentra a unas 20 millas de Mosul,
que fue capturado por los militantes de
ISIS desde junio pasado.
Causa de santidad
abierta para
hermana que
sirvió en frontera
ALBUQUERQUE, Nuevo México
(CNS) — El Arquidiócesis de Santa Fe
ha recibido permiso del Vaticano para
abrir una causa de santidad para una
miembro de las Hermanas de la caridad de Cincinnati que ministró en la
frontera suroeste durante las décadas
de 1870 y 1880.
La Hermana Blandina Segale trabajó con los pobres y los inmigrantes
y su ministerio entre esos grupos hace
más de 140 años es igual de relevante
hoy día, dijo el Arzobispo Michael J.
Sheehan de Santa Fe.
Es la primera vez en los más de 400
años de historia de la Iglesia Católica en
Nuevo México que se emite un decreto
abriendo una causa de canonización.
Ahora que la causa de Hna. Blandina se
ha abierto oficialmente, ella ha recibido
el título de “Sierva de Dios”.
Nacida el 23 de enero de 1850
en Cicagna, Italia, su familia emigró
hacia Cincinnati cuando ella tenía 4
años de edad.
A la edad de 16 años ella entró en
las Hermanas de la caridad de Cincinnati
y en 1872 fue enviada a trabajar en los
recién adquiridos territorios de Estados
Unidos en el oeste. Llegando primero a
Trinidad, Colorado, enseñó a los pobres.
En 1877 fue enviada a Santa Fe, donde
cofundó escuelas públicas y católicas.
“Otras virtudes heroicas incluyen su
incansable trabajo enseñando y sanando
a los inmigrantes, a los marginados, a
los pobres y en defensa de las mujeres
y los niños”, dice un comunicado de la
Arquidiócesis de Santa Fe. “Ella desafió
el gobierno y la milicia de ocupación a
favor del trato justo de los nativoamericanos. Hna. Blandina ayudó a los
trabajadores ferroviarios maltratados,
encontrando tiempo para cuidar de los
enfermos mientras construía orfanatos,
hospitales, escuelas y escuelas técnicas”.
Hna. Blandina murió a los 91
años de edad el 24 de febrero de 1941
en Cincinnati en la casa madre de las
Hermanas de la caridad.
PENSAMIENTOS DE UN PREDICADOR
Porque la dignidad humana nos
prohíbe el suicidio con la ayuda médica
POR EL PADRE CARMELO MELE, OP
NO HACE MUCHO HUBO UNA CONVERSACIÓN EN LA
RADIO SOBRE EL SUICIDIO CON LA AYUDA MÉDICA.
PARECIÓ QUE TODOS LOS PARTICIPANTES ESTABAN
A FAVOR DEL CONCEPTO CON LA MODERADORA
FACILITANDO LA PRESENTACIÓN DE SUS RAZONES.
Repitieron las palabras “la muerte con
dignidad” como la clave para justificar la toma
de vida propia. Porque la práctica del suicidio
con la ayuda médica puede llevar a la sociedad a
consecuencias desastrosas, vale la pena examinar
el reclamo de “la muerte con dignidad”.
¿QUÉ ES “LA DIGNIDAD HUMANA”?
En nuestro tiempo cuando mucha gente
vive más de 80 años, a veces en condiciones
severamente debilitadas, nos preguntamos de
qué consiste “la dignidad humana”. ¿Es tener
la buena salud física, la capacidad de pensar y
comunicar, o, tal vez, una combinación de las
dos? Vamos a ver cómo la dignidad humana
puede sobrepasar estas capacidades.
Para nosotros cristianos católicos la dignidad humana proviene de ser creado en la
imagen de Dios. Por supuesto, esta condición
no involucra nada físico, al menos en la primera
instancia. Pues Dios es espíritu puro. Tiene que
ser una semejanza espiritual que compartimos
con Dios que nos hace sus imágenes. Porque
Jesucristo nos presenta la imagen perfecta
de Dios, podemos aprender lo que significa “imagen de Dios” por examinar su vida.
Entonces, ¿qué puede ser la semejanza más que
la capacidad para amar? Jesús nos enseñó el
amor perfecto cuando dio su vida por nosotros
pecadores. Nosotros, siempre limitados, no podemos amar con toda su entrega. Sin embargo,
en cuanto evitemos el egoísmo en nuestro amor,
la imagen de Dios se perfecciona en nosotros.
Sigue que la dignidad humana no es nada
estático sino cambia. Esto quiere decir que todos
tenemos una dignidad básica simplemente por
tener la capacidad de amar y que esta dignidad
crece en cuanto la persona ame como Cristo. (A
propósito, porque no somos espíritus puros sino
dependientes del cuerpo, nuestra capacidad de
amar involucra tanto el cuerpo como el alma.)
Los humanistas no cristianos hallan la
fuente de la dignidad humana por otro rumbo.
Sus razones complementan lo que creemos
nosotros y sirven como la base de un principio
universal. Porque los seres humanos pueden
reflexionar y comunicar, tienen una dignidad
que sobrepasa todas las otras criaturas del mundo. La dignidad vista en esta manera tampoco es estática sino crece con el aporte que la
persona contribuya al bien de todos. La maestra
que se dedica a sí misma para la educación de
los niños, por ejemplo, se considera que más
dignidad que el buscador de fortuna que desea
mayormente su propia riqueza.
CÓMO SE AUMENTA LA DIGNIDAD HUMANA
Porque somos seres sociales con responsabilidad de apoyar la sociedad, y no puramente
individuos singulares, se prohíbe el suicidio.
Debemos a los demás al menos nuestra existencia que sirve como prueba del valor de cada ser
humano. Cuando la vida se debilita — tal vez
por sufrir la pérdida de la memoria — seguramente queda la dignidad humana básica. Pues,
esta dignidad no es atada a la condición física.
De hecho, la persona ya tiene la oportunidad de
aumentar la dignidad por sufrir con la paciencia atestiguando aún más el valor de la vida y
también la maravilla de la virtud.
Se quiere preguntar si la pérdida de la
mente significa el término de la vida de modo
que sea lícito remover comida y bebida que
sostienen la vida física. Pero aun si la persona
no manifestara el poder de pensar y comunicar,
no es cierto que no pueda o, en otras palabras,
que el alma haya separado del cuerpo. Lo esencial en circunstancias como éstas no es que nos
preocupemos de la dignidad del enfermo sino
de la nuestra. ¡Qué no dejemos la oportunidad
de mostrar y aumentar nuestra dignidad como
personas humanas por rehusar a ayudar al
enfermo!
PÁGINA 47
El Padre Carmelo Mele, de la ORDEN DE
PREDICADORES (LOS DOMINICOS), ordenado como
sacerdote en 1980, es el director del INSTITUTO
JUAN PABLO II y de la CATEQUESIS PARA ADULTOS
HISPANOS de la DIÓCESIS DE FORT WORTH.
DOS AÑADIDURAS PARA CONSIDERARSE
Deberíamos añadir dos cosas. Primero, no
es siempre necesario mantener todo el apoyo
para sostener la vida hasta el último latido del
corazón y respiro de los pulmones. De hecho, es
posible que seguir alimentando a un moribundo le haga daño. Cuando es cierto que la vida
está por terminar, es permisible quitar la respiradora, la sonda de alimentación, u otro aparato
que se haya vuelto una carga. Segundo, aunque
no es permisible tomar la vida de otra persona
o ayudarla tomar su propia vida, si el enfermo
quiere aliviarse de dolor, se puede darle un
analgésico como la morfina aunque tenga como
efecto segundario la aceleración de la muerte.
La Iglesia ha tomado una posición fuerte
contra el suicidio con ayuda médica. Es preocupada por el destino de los hombres y mujeres
que piden tal ayuda contradictoria. Con aún
más preocupación prevé la posibilidad que muchos enfermos y ancianos sin su consentimiento
serían ultimados por la falta de la honradez de
parte de familias o médicos. Este tipo de abuso
surge como una eventualidad al momento que
una sociedad dé su espalda a la toma de vida de
una persona por otra.
Ciertamente cuesta vivir con dolor o ver
a sí mismo perdiendo la capacidad de pensar y
comunicar. Sin embargo, como seguidores de
Cristo tenemos otro motivo para hacerlo que
muestra la suprema dignidad humana. Cuando
toleramos cualquiera dificultad con la paciencia, imitamos a nuestro salvador y compartimos
con él, por la gracia divina, en la redención del
mundo. Se ha revelado este misterio en la Carta
a los Colosenses (1,24) como la implicación de
ser miembro de su cuerpo, la Iglesia.
El Arzobispo Miller de Vancouver, será este año el orador principal en la UDMC
Por Nicki Prevou
Corresponsal
El Arzobispo J. Michael Miller
de Vancouver, anterior secretario de
la Congregación para la educación
católica del Vaticano, será el orador
principal en la octava Conferencia
para los ministerios de la Universidad
de Dallas (UDMC) programada para
octubre 23-25 en el Centro de convenciones de Irving.
El viernes 24 de octubre en la
tarde en Español, el Arzobispo Miller
tratará sobre la exhortación apostólica Evangelii Gaudium, (La alegría
del Evangelio), y su importancia en
el ministerio y la educación católica
contemporánea.
Este año la conferencia se extenderá a tres días, empezando la
tarde del jueves 23 de octubre. Esto
permitirá ofrecer más talleres que en
años anteriores.
Los Obispos Michael Olson de
Foto courtesía del Archidiócesis de Vancouver
El Arzobispo J. Michael Miller
Fort Worth y Kevin Farrell de Dallas, en una carta conjunta dirigida a
todos los católicos del área, invitan a
más gente a participar en el evento.
“La conferencia es una magnífica oportunidad para que la formación
continua dé nueva vida a los que
trabajamos en la Iglesia hoy en día,
y así podamos ayudar mejor a las
personas que servimos, a entender
más profundamente su fe católica y
a crecer espiritualmente”. escribieron
los obispos. “Los animamos a unirse a
los ministros administrativos, parroquiales y educativos en esta reunión
vital de tres días de formación en la
fe y en el ministerio”.
Durante la conferencia se ofrecerán más de 200 sesiones en Inglés,
Español y Vietnamita.
Las sesiones, presentadas por
experimentados líderes ministeriales,
cubrirán temas como formación en
la fe, Sagradas Escrituras, evangelización, liturgia, justicia social, matrimonio, crianza de los hijos/parenting
y vida familiar.
Los oradores incluyen a Alejandro Aguilera-Titus, asistente
del director de la Secretaría de diversidad cultural en la Iglesia en la
Conferencia Estadounidense de obispos
católicos; El Padre Virgilio Elizondo,
profesor en la Universidad de Notre
Dame, considerado “como el padre
del pensamiento religioso del latino
en los Estados Unidos”; y el Padre
Alejandro Lopez-Cardinale, coordinador hispano de los procesos de
RENEW International y responsable
de la implementación.
“La conferencia es una gran
medio para que todos — no sólo los
ministros profesionales — se unan
en camaradería a compartir la fe y la
oración con la comunidad católica del
Norte de Texas”, dijo la Hermana Yolanda Cruz, SSMN, vicecanciller de
Servicios a las parroquias. “Invitamos
a todos a asistir. Vengan preparados
para ser sumamente bendecidos, a ser
mejor equipados para su ministerio,
para vivir su fe y responder a su llamado bautismal”.
La cuota de inscripción es $57 antes
de septiembre 25, $75 antes de octubre 10 y $100 en la puerta. También
hay oportunidades para patrocinar y
para exponer. Para más información
o para inscribirse, visite www.udallas.
edu/udmc o llame al 972-721-4077.
La Diócesis patrocina su primera conferencia sobre vida familiar el 1º. de noviembre
Por Juan Guajardo
Corresponsal
A través de los años, la Diócesis
de Fort Worth ha patrocinado conferencias para matrimonios, para
hombres, para mujeres, hasta para
madres e hijas y padres e hijos y otras
muchas. Este año, la diócesis patrocinará la primera conferencia sobre
vida familiar el 1º. de noviembre, Día
de Todos los Santos, en la Iglesia de
San Francisco de Asís en Grapevine.
Chris Vaughan, director diocesano de la Oficina de matrimonio y
vida familiar, dijo “Esta conferencia
es para matrimonios, padres y madres solteras, madrastras, padrastros,
personas divorciadas. … Queremos
que esta conferencia sea para todos”.
La idea básica que nos impulsa a
presentar esta conferencia de un día
titulada “Familias: donde se hacen
los santos,” es ayudar en la diócesis
a las familias y parejas casadas a
entender su vocación, a obtener los
medios y la información que necesitan para fortalecer a sus familias
y matrimonios, y para que sepan
que no están solos, dijo Marlon
De La Torre, director diocesano de
Catequesis.
Vaughan y De La Torre dicen
que en su diaria labor han notado
los ataques al matrimonio y a la
familia. Recibo llamadas cada semana de personas “cuyas vidas están
destrozadas por el divorcio” dice
Vaughan. Y De la Torre dice que
los padres frecuentemente lo llaman
preguntando “¿Qué podemos hacer
por nuestros niños? ¿Cómo podemos
evangelizarlos?”
Para esto es la conferencia, para
buscar respuestas a esas preguntas
y soluciones a los problemas — divorcio, comunicación y la desmoralización de la sexualidad humana
— que enfrentan hoy las familias y
las parejas casadas.
PÁGINA 48
Foto cortesía de Ray Guarendi
Ray Guarendi
La conferencia tendrá tres temas
principales, uno presentado por el
Obispo Michael Olson, y los otros
dos por el Dr. Ray Guarendi, católico, popular psicólogo clínico, autor,
personalidad de radio y de EWTN
y padre de 10 niños.
En medio de los temas principales, habrá sesiones con temas
como Planificación natural familial
(PNF), cómo sanar de un divorcio,
cómo alentar vocaciones en nuestros
niños, cómo mantenerlos seguros
en el Internet, la comunicación
en el matrimonio, la definición de
matrimonio y cómo presentar a sus
niños el tema sexual.
Vaughan dijo que la diócesis
proveerá servicio de interpretación
y los audífonos que permitan a las
personas de habla Hispana escuchar
en Español las pláticas principales y
los temas de las otras sesiones. Los
interesados en este servicio, pueden
reservarlo gratis en el momento que
se inscriban a la conferencia, ya que
solo está disponible para 50 personas.
Inscripciones para la conferencia
pueden hacerse vía Internet en www.
fortworthfamilylife.org, o llamando
a Irma Jimenez, asistente administrativa de la Oficina de matrimonio
y vida familiar, al 817-560-2452,
ext. 360. El costo es $20 por persona
o $30 por pareja.
Compartir en ministerio tiene por meta $3 millones
Por Joan Kirkowski-Guillen
Corresponsal
H ACE
UNAS SEMANAS MIENTR AS ESCUCHABA
CONFESIONES DURANTE UN RETIRO, EL PADRE JACK
MCKONE RECIBIÓ UNA ATENTA PETICIÓN DE UNO
DE SUS JÓVENES FELIGRESES.
“Él preguntó si era posible que viniera una
comunidad de religiosas a trabajar aquí. Me dijo
que su presencia le ayudaba a sentir el amor de
Dios”, recordó el párroco de las parroquias del
Sagrado Corazón y Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
en Wichita Falls.
El Padre McKone tiene buenas noticias para
ese joven y otros feligreses de la Diócesis de Fort
Worth en el Decanato del Noroeste. Gracias a una
concesión de Compartir en ministerio, la campaña
anual del obispo, un grupo de hermanas religiosas
empezará a ayudar en el ministerio Hispano a los
párrocos de la region.
“Pero va más allá todavía”, insiste el Padre
McKone, decano del Decanato del Noroeste.
“Tenemos ocho sacerdotes y 22 parroquias
en una área geográfica bastante grande, y hay
muchas cosas que no hacemos tan bien como
quisiéramos”.
Al ayudar con estudios bíblicos, formación catequética, preparación de quinceañeras
y consejería familiar, las hermanas serán una
“presencia pastoral” en todo el decanato. Las hermanas vivirán en el convento de Nuestra Señora
de Guadalupe y pasarán el 75 por ciento de su
tiempo sirviendo en el condado de Wichita, pero
también irán a ayudar a los feligreses de Santa
María en Windthorst y a otras comunidades de
fe en las áreas rurales.
“Cuando un sacerdote que hablaba Español
celebraba las Misas en Windthorst, la asistencia
era lo doble que ahora”, dijo el Padre McKone,
citando el idioma y el nivel de comodidad como
las razones por las que los católicos Hispanos
no asisten a los servicios dominicales. “Sabemos
que hay gente que necesita nuestro ministerio
allá. Tenemos que esforzarnos más para proveer
una presencia pastoral que los atraiga de nuevo
a la Iglesia.
“Compartir en ministerio proporciona los
fondos para servicios y programas que impactan
directamente las vidas de los católicos en el Norte
de Texas. Además de las concesiones de capital y
de operación otorgadas a las parroquias y escuelas
en áreas necesitadas, tanto de la ciudad como
rurales, la meta de $3 millones de la campaña
2014-2015, sostendrá una amplia gama de apos-
tolados, programas y ministerios que servirán
a los feligreses en todos los 28 condados de la
Diócesis de Fort Worth.
El inicio de la campaña anual está previsto
para el 6 y 7 de septiembre. Los feligreses
pueden hacer su compromiso en la iglesia o
en línea, totalmente segura, visitando www.
advancementfoundation.org y oprimiendo
“Sharing in Ministry”.
Dinero donado a Compartir en ministerio
ayuda a Caridades católicas de Fort Worth a cumplir
su mision de ayudar a los niños, las familias, los
pobres y la gente sin hogar que vive en la diócesis.
También financia el fondo de becas para familias
de escasos recursos económicos que se esfuerzan
por darles una educación católica a sus hijos.
Desde el 2006, más de 4,000 familias, de las
20 escuelas católicas en la diócesis, han recibido
ayuda para colegiatura.
Este año, una parte del dinero de Compartir en ministerio ayudará a construir un Centro
diocesano de conferencias en un terreno de tres
acres donado en Newark. Se planea adquirir 10
acres más. Un edificio que existe en la propiedad
donada, podría acomodar de 50 a 75 personas.
“Cuando se termine, el nuevo Centro diocesano de conferencias servirá a toda la Diócesis de
Fort Worth, especialmente para reuniones diurnas,
retiros y entrenamientos”, explicó Paula Parrish,
directora ejecutiva de la Fundación de avance de
la Diócesis católica de Fort Worth. “Aumentará la
habilidad de los líderes ministeriales y los educadores religiosos para estimular una auténtica y
genuina comunión en nuestra fe católica. Donativos a Compartir en Ministerio harán esto posible.
Compartir en Ministerio contribuirá $215,000
para este proyecto que se estima costará $3
PÁGINA 49
millones.
“Compartir en Ministerio apoya más de 50
ministerios y programas que proveen materiales
pastorales y recursos administrativos, consejería,
information, educación y formación a todas las
parroquias y escuelas en la diócesis”, dijo Pat Miller, directora asociada de la Fundación de avance.
Cada parroquia también recibirá parte de
lo que recaude la campaña para financiar sus
propias necesidades. Diez por ciento del dinero
recaudado en exceso de la meta de la parroquia y
50 por ciento de las contribuciones que excedan
la meta total, regresará a la parroquia.
La naturaleza colectiva de la campaña alcanza
más allá del ámbito de una parroquia individual y
apoya muchos ministerios no muy mencionados,
pero sí muy necesarios.
El Padre McKone es testigo de la diferencia
que Compartir en Ministerio hace en las pequeñas
comunidades de fe. En Crowell, hogar de 20 a
25 familias católicas, la ayuda de Compartir en
Ministerio permite tener un ministro laico que
prepara la iglesia para las liturgias, tales como
funerales.
“La iglesia ha estado allí por más de 100 años
y es la única presencia católica en el condado”,
explicó el Padre McKone.
Compartir en Ministerio también estableció
el ministerio juvenil y universitario en el condado. “Midwestern State University cuenta con
una vibrante base estudiantil y este ministerio
está haciendo allí un maravilloso trabajo”, dijo.
Muchos de los estudiantes no tienen carro
y no tienen forma de ir a la parroquia. “Tienen
poco dinero y, al mismo tiempo, están en una
etapa crítica en su vida de fe”, notó el sacerdote.
“Así que el ministerio juvenil y universitario, auspiciado con dinero de Compartir en Ministerio,
está prestando un servicio invaluable.
Compartir en Ministerio une a los católicos en
la Diócesis de Fort Worth en el propósito común
de extender la misión de la Iglesia en el Norte de
Texas. Sin ello, muchos programas y ministerios
no existirían.
El Obispo Michael Olson pide que en cada
hogar católico de la diócesis piadosamente se
considere dar un regalo a Compartir en Ministerio.
“La campaña anual es necesaria para la vida
de los ministerios y programas que reciben fondos
cada año”, explicó. “Cada donativo a la campaña
demuestra nuestra inefable gratitud por el amor
que Dios nos tiene, y nuestra responsabilidad en
compartir estos regalos poniéndolos al servicio
de todos”.
PAGE 50
PAGE 51
Caridades católicas de Fort Worth proporciona refugio, cuidado
a menores inmigrantes sin compañia
Por Joan Kurkowski-Gillen
Corresponsal
LOS NIÑOS INMIGRANTES QUE BUSCAN
REFUGIO EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS DE
LA VIOLENCIA EN SUS PROPIOS PAÍSES,
ENCUENTRAN ESPERANZA Y AYUDA
CARIDADES CATÓLICAS DE FORT
WORTH (CCFW).
Más de 57,000 jóvenes, solos,
cruzaron la frontera México-Americana de octubre 2013 a junio 2014,
y ese número puede aumentar hasta
90,000 para el fin de año. Sin embargo, el número de niños cruzando
la frontera ha disminuido mucho en
las últimas semanas.
La Oficina de reubicación de
refugiados del Departamento de salud y servicios humanos ha enviado
algunos de estos nuevos inmigrantes
al albergue de Caridades católicas en
Fort Worth donde encuentran una
cama, comidas nutritivas y cuidado
médico.
Cerca de 200 niños, el año pasado encontraron un refugio amoroso
en Caridades católicas, y se estima que
otros 400 podrían encontrar ayuda
durante el resto del año.
A solicitud de la Conferencia
Estadounidense de obispos católicos,
Caridades católicas de Fort Worth en
junio incrementó su capacidad de
16 a 32 camas para alojar refugiados
jóvenes. Cuando los niños llegan al albergue, usualmente llegan cansados,
hambrientos e infestados de parásitos.
EN
Foto por Joan Kurkowski-Gillen / NTC
El Obispo Michael Olson se dirige
a miembros de la prensa en una
conferencia de prensa el 15 de julio.
“El ambiente que CCFW puede
darles es acogedor y se parece más a
un hogar. Esto hace un mundo de
diferencia para estos niños”, dijo
Heather Reynolds, directora ejecutiva de CCFW. “Un niño comentó
qué contento estaba de tener su
propia cama. Cosas sencillas a las
que muchos de nosotros no damos
importancia, significan un mundo
para estos niños”.
En una carta dirigida el 13 de
julio a los católicos de la diócesis, el
Obispo Michael Olson explicó la
posición de la Iglesia respecto al flujo
en la frontera.
“Es importante para cada uno
de nosotros recordar que esta crisis
tiene un caracter humanitario”,
dijo, agregando que la urgencia de
la situación requería una respuesta
pronta y prudente.
“Hacia esa meta, Caridades
católicas de Fort Worth está comprometida a trabajar con otras agencias
eclesiásticas y federales para proteger
la dignidad humana de esos niños, a
la vez que promueve el bien común
de los Estados Unidos y solidaridad
con las naciones de donde estos niños
han huido”.
Al tiempo que la crisis fronteriza
crecía, Reynolds suplicó apasionadamente por donaciones de dinero o de
mercancía para ayudar a cuidar a los
jovencitos que llegaban sin padres o
guardianes. El público respondió
llevando a las oficinas de la agencia
ropa, juguetes, artículos de higiene
personal y juegos. Muchas familias y
organizaciones reunieron libros para
colorear, crayones y otros artículos
pequeños para entretener a los niños;
se llenaron más de 3,000 cajas para
estos menores.
En estas cajas de bienvenida los
niños tienen sus propios productos y
pueden conservarlos higiénicamente.
“Esta es la primera vez que muchos de estos niños no tienen que
compartir sus objetos de higiene
personal, como el cepillo de dientes”,
PÁGINA 52
Foto por Juan Guajardo / NTC
Heather Reynolds, directora ejecutiva de Caridades católicas de Fort Worth,
y el Padre Isaac Orozco enseñan un cuarto de terapia de juego para niños a
miembros de la prensa durante un conferencia de prensa el 20 de junio.
apuntó Reynolds. “Este simple acto
de bondad”, dijo ella, permite a los
niños hacerse cargo de sus propias
necesidades, “y los hace sentirse bien”.
“Mochilas de bendición” llenas
de útiles escolares, calcetines, artículos higiénicos, y pequeños juguetes,
se les dan a los menores cuando dejan
Caridades católicas para ir a la casa de
sus familiares en los Estados Unidos.
“Ha sido sorprendente lo que
Caridades católicas ha recibido de
voluntarios y donantes”, dijo Reynolds. “Tal generosidad ha tenido un
profundo impacto en nuestra agencia
y en los niños que servimos.
Los juguetes, juegos, y materiales para labores de arte donados a
la organización tienen un tremendo
impacto, dan distracción a los niños
traumatizados por la violencia y la
extrema pobreza.
“Verlos jugar, reir, y ser niños
simplemente, realmente reanima el
trabajo que hacemos como agencia”,
añadió.
Para el pequeño número de estos
niños que no pueden ser entregados
a sus familiares, CCFW envió una
urgente solicitud a familias que pudieran hacerse cargo temporalmente
de ellos. El programa de Adopción
temporal internacional (IFC) de la
agencia proporciona cuidado por
largo tiempo a los niños que emigran
de Centro y Sudamérica así como a
jóvenes refugiados del Congo, Etiopía, Burma y Nepal.
“Necesitamos familias que
puedan proporcionar cuidado seguro, y consciente de las diferencias
culturales, para que ayuden a estos
niños a desarrollar todas sus facultades”, explicó Reynolds durante una
conferencia de prensa que reunió en
julio a 200 familias que quizá podrían hacerse cargo de estos niños
temporalmente.
La respuesta de la comunidad
a esta solicitud fue increíble. Una
sesión informativa presentada por
IFC reunió a más de 200 familias con
potencial para ser padres temporales.
Abogados que trabajan para
CCFW representarán legalmente
ante las cortes a los niños que serán
puestos al cuidado de estas familias.
Pero Sergio Chacin, director de Servicios de inmigración de la agencia,
espera que el estado migratorio de
estos menores será determinado por
las cortes en otras partes del país.
Muchos de los pequeños enviados
por las autoridades federales al albergue en Fort Worth, eventualmente
se reunirán con sus parientes que
viven en la costa Oriental, en el área
de Washington, D.C., o en Florida.
“Tenemos gente de El Salvador,
Honduras y Guatemala viviendo en el
Metroplex, pero no en gran número”,
explicó. “Los casos no serán examinados por las cortes aquí. La crisis
fronteriza es un asunto importante —
y estamos listos y preparados — pero
no ha habido un gran incremento en
casos legales aquí”.
Pero si hay necesidad, se tiene
planeada una sesión para abogados no
especializados en inmigración, para
finales de agosto. Miembros de Human Rights Initiative of North Texas
— organización con experiencia en
leyes de inmigración — conducirá
el programa.
“A un gran número de abogados les gustaría trabajar pro bono
(trabajo voluntario, sin cobrar)”, dijo
Chacin. “Estamos organizando este
entrenamiento junto con la sección
internacional de la barra de abogados
del condado Tarrant. Si tenemos más
casos, los podemos contratar con
estos abogados pro bono.
Además de ayudar con el programa de IFC, Servicios de inmigración también ayuda a la gente que
simplemente entra con preguntas
legales a las oficinas generales de Caridades católicas. Esta última oleada
de inmigración, recientemente trajo
a Caridades católicas a una joven
madre soltera.
“Ella entró con un par de niños”, explicó Chacin. “Habían sido
aprehendidos y estaban en proceso
de deportación. Sus niños no estaban
solos, pero básicamente, estaban en
el mismo predicamento que los otros
menores”.
Según el Pew Research Center,
el número de menores sin compañía
que están bajo custodia federal en la
frontera este año ha aumentado en
117 por ciento. Caridades católicas
planea atender las necesidades de los
niños bajo su cuidado tanto tiempo
como continue la crisis humanitaria.
“La experiencia y pericia que
Caridades católicas de Fort Worth tiene en procurar bienestar a los niños,
nos permite abogar y servir de esta
manera especial a los más vulnerables
de la población”, dijo Reynolds. “Caridades católicas se siente honrada al
haber podido proporcionar albergue
y cuidado durante este tiempo”.
En todo los Estados Unidos grupos se enfocan en necesidades jurídicas
de menores inmigrantes sin compañia
Por Patricia Zapor
WASHINGTON (CNS) — En
ambas costas de Estados Unidos y
entre medio se están intensificando
los esfuerzos para intentar proveerle
ayuda jurídica a la inundación de
inmigrantes menores de edad que han
llegado al país sin un padre.
Ya que las violaciones de inmigración no se consideran crímenes,
las personas acusadas de estar en el
país sin permiso no tienen derecho
a un abogado público si no pueden
costear un abogado por su cuenta.
Tampoco se provee abogados remunerados por el gobierno para personas
que procuran asilo.
Los datos federales de más de
100,000 casos de niños inmigrantes
no acompañados, compilados por la
Universidad de Syracuse y actuales al
30 de junio, revelaron que cuando
los inmigrantes menores no acompañados tuvieron abogado, al 47
por ciento en última instancia se le
permitió permanecer en los EU. De
los menores que no tuvieron abogado,
el 90 por ciento fue deportado.
El análisis de la Universidad de
Syracuse encontró que en los casos
cerrados que se estudiaron, justo
más de la mitad de los niños tenía
abogado. Pero de los 41,000 casos
pendientes, solamente el 31 por ciento
está representado por abogado.
Según el análisis de Syracuse, el
tiempo promedio de los casos que han
estado pendientes en los tribunales
de inmigración es un poco menos de
600 días. El Departamento de justicia
anunció a principios de julio que le
daría prioridad a los casos de menores
no acompañados y a las familias con
niños recién llegadas, anteponiéndolos a casos más antiguos involucrando
adultos por cuenta propia.
En una serie de mensajes en
periódicos diocesanos y seculares
obispos de todo el país han ofrecido
varios tipos de ayuda y muchos han
PÁGINA 53
CNS Foto / Ross D. Franklin, via Reuters
Dos niñas vean la televisión en el Centro del colocación de Nogales en Nogales,
Arizona, donde había miles de menores inmigrantes el 18 de junio.
llamado a medidas legislativas y
administrativas para proteger a los
migrantes y para ayudar a prevenir
la violencia en sus países de origen
y otros problemas que han causado
las salidas.
En Miami el director de Servicios
legales católicos, Randy McGrorty,
dijo durante una conferencia de
prensa del 1 de agosto que la decisión
de los procedimientos de deportación
por la vía rápida para los menores no
acompañados es una “crisis artificial”
que fue creada para “espectáculo
político”.
Uniéndosele el Arzobispo Thomas G. Wenski de Miami y otros
abogados de inmigración, McGrorty
dijo que ha visto a un niño de 2 años
de edad puesto a enfrentar a un juez
en un proceso de deportación sin
abogado.
El Arzobispo Wenski cuestionó
por qué la administración Obama se
inclinaría ante la presión política para
acelerar el proceso de deportación. Él
dijo que no hay necesidad de apresurarse a juzgar, ya que los niños “realmente no le están costando dinero al
gobierno”. Casi todos ellos han sido
entregados al cuidado de parientes.
Igual que “justicia demorada es
justicia denegada”, dijo el arzobispo,
en este caso “la justicia expedita es
también justicia denegada”.
“No estamos diciendo que todo
niño tendrá que quedarse en los Estados Unidos. Lo que estamos diciendo
es que lo que hacemos debe tratarse
del mejor interés del niño”, dijo el arzobispo. “Lo que no debemos hacerle
a esto es un cortocircuito haciendo
una farsa del sistema de inmigración”.
El Obispo Auxiliar Eusebio L.
Elizondo de Seattle, quien dirige el
Comité de migración de los obispos estadounidenses, dijo en una columna
del 2 de agosto en The Washington
Post que el debate puede “reducirse a
una opción clara: protegerlos y darles
el debido proceso o cambiar la ley
y enviarlos de vuelta a una posible
muerte. Aunque algunos podrían
discrepar con esta caracterización,
la verdad es ineludible, como lo son
las consecuencias de vida o muerte
que enfrenta esta población más
vulnerable”.
El Obispo Elizondo observó
que el Congreso y la administración
“están retorcidos en nudos debido a
una situación que muchas naciones
de todo el mundo manejan como
algo normal. La diferencia es que
otras naciones reciben millones de
refugiados, no simplemente miles.
El Líbano, por ejemplo, país de
4.5 millones, ha recibido más de 1
millón de refugiados sirios durante
los últimos dos años ¿No podemos
hacer lo correcto con una población
mucho más pequeña”?
PÁGINA 54
In Service to the Poor
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56
cery carts full of food, she offered
a warm “God bless you,” to each
of them. She also asked them to
pray for the volunteers and those
who generously give the food.
Thankful food recipients expressed their gratitude
to Sr. Yolanda and the other
Vincentians.
“I never thought I’d be in
a position like this,” one of the
pantry visitors told the North Texas
Catholic. “But I’m very grateful
for what these people have done
for me.”
Another visitor expressed his
appreciation, explaining that he
recently lost his job and is looking
for a way to make ends meet while
searching for employment. He said
the food pantry operated by the
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
fulfills an immediate need. “It’s
been a great comfort knowing that
it’s here,” he said of the pantry.
“It’s been a great blessing to me.”
The visitor pledged to give back
and help others, as he said he has
done in the past, just as soon as he
can regain some financial footing.
In all, about 700 people
receive food from this pantry
each week, thanks to the generous
parishioners at St. Bartholomew
and the helping hands of about 75
Vincentians.
Thompson, who has been
involved with the society for about
10 years, including six as St. Bartholomew’s conference president,
said serving the local community
and honoring God are one and the
same.
“We’re a Church, and we believe that we’re called by our faith
to help others,” Thompson said.
“We’re called to help our neighbors and to help those in need.
“The primary mission of the
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
is to grow in your faith, and from
that growth in your faith comes
the need to help people. That’s
our perspective. You grow in your
faith, and you feel the need and
the call to help other people.”
In addition to the St. Bartholomew food pantry, the society
operates other food distribution
centers, including one at St. Jude
Parish in Mansfield and one at
St. Matthew Parish in Arlington. Smaller food pantries and
food closets operate out of other
churches in the diocese.
In the northwest part of
the diocese, the Society of Saint
Vincent de Paul has established
a 50-year reputation operating a
popular and practical thrift store
in Wichita Falls.
It is operated by Vincentians
from conferences at Sacred Heart
and Our Lady Queen of Peace
Churches.
Since 1957, the Saint Vincent
de Paul Thrift Store has been a
place where people have donated
household items and clothing. The
items are then resold to the public.
Profits are used by the Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul to serve
those in need. From assistance
with utility bills, housing, food,
medicine, and myriad other needs,
the society has put the funding to
good use for the past six decades.
Bob Brady, who serves as
president of the society’s Wichita
Falls District Council, said that
about 20 Vincentians staff the
store, which is open four days a
week.
Brady, quite literally, grew up
a Vincentian. Some of his earliest
recollections include traveling
around with his father on Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul home
visits. “I just tagged along,” Brady
said. He recalled many times when
the local priest would call on his
father to coordinate outreach in
the community. Brady said he was
proud of his father and the help he
offered to those who were having
financial difficulties and personal
PAGE 55
Photos by Jerry Circelli / North Texas Catholic
ABOVE: Following the morning crew’s
stocking of shelves, the afternoon
volunteers at St. Bartholomew take
over to distribute food at their Fort
Worth pantry. Vincentians include
(from left to right) Kum Ho, Richard
Friedman, Sister Yolanda Piñeda,
MCSH, Maggie Friedman, Nancy Matus,
Joyce Ho, and Patricia Crews.
RIGHT: Vincentian Dan Flores
unloads food from a truck to bring
to the society’s food pantry at St.
Bartholomew.
problems.
In high school, during the
mid-1970s, Brady began helping
his father with the heavy lifting,
often going out with him to pick
up donated sofas, mattresses,
tables, large appliances, and other
household items for the local Saint
Vincent de Paul thrift store.
The elder Brady served as
president of the society’s Wichita
Falls District Council from 1957
until he passed away in 2006. His
son was elected to the position in
2006 and carries on the tradition
of helping others to this day.
“I’m just following in his footsteps,” Brady said.
Another local Catholic, Ralph
Hassel, has a long history of being involved with the Society of
Saint Vincent de Paul and has held
many leadership positions.
He said the relationships
Vincentians have forged with their
neighbors and the humble way
they go about serving others is like
a page taken right out of Scripture.
“The way I see it,” Hassel
said, “it’s the way Christ wanted
us to relate with people. What we
have or what we don’t have doesn’t
have any relationship to who we
are. We’re showing Christ’s love
to others. And every day, they’re
showing his love back to us. That’s
really what this is all about.”
For more information on the Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul, visit:
www.svdpfw.org. Or call (817)
595-6520.
GOOD NEWSMAKER
In Service to the Poor
Modern-day lay Vincentians continue to carry out charitable acts inspired by Saint Vincent de Paul
BY JERRY CIRCELLI / CORRESPONDENT
IN THE SPRAWLING DIOCESE OF
FORT WORTH, WHICH INCLUDES
710,000 FAITHFUL, THE 580
DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED
IN THE LOCAL SOCIETY OF SAINT
VINCENT DE PAUL MAKE UP LESS
THAN .1 PERCENT OF THE C ATHOLIC
POPULATION. THEIR IMPACT ON
NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITIES,
HOWEVER, IS ENORMOUS.
These dedicated lay Vincentians work quietly and tirelessly
at 11 of the diocese’s 93 parishes
helping to feed nearly 50,000
people each year with food valued
at more than $427,000.
Last year, Vincentians personally made nearly 900 home visits
to improve the lives of about 3,000
family members. The home visits
have distinguished the Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul from
many other charitable organizations. Society members meet with
individuals in the comfort of their
own homes and apartments to assess their needs.
The Vincentians also offered
about $340,000 in financial assistance to help people with rent,
utility bills, food assistance, and
other basic living needs. Donations came mainly from Catholics
at parishes associated with Saint
Vincent de Paul conferences.
In addition, the society also
offered assistance to North Texas
families last year after tornados
damaged their homes. In the
course of their work each year,
local Vincentians travel more than
48,000 miles and donate more
than 22,000 hours of service.
“We could get even more
Photo by Jerry Circelli / North Texas Catholic
Vincentians Frank Gorg (left) and Jim Groh (right) help unload 6,000 pounds
of food with other members of the Vincentians’ St. Bartholomew chapter at
their local distribution pantry. The Vincentians work hard on a regular basis
to keep food stocked for Society of Saint Vincent de Paul food pantries. Last
year Vincentians throughout the Diocese of Fort Worth helped to feed nearly
50,000 people with food valued at more than $427,000.
done if we had more people,” said
Rozanne Veeser, Society of Saint
Vincent de Paul Fort Worth District Council president.
The local council is divided
into conferences that have been
established at 11 parishes in the
diocese.
“Ideally we should have a
conference in every parish, so the
whole diocese is covered with the
opportunity for aid if people need
it,” said Veeser. “We are trying to
serve the public, and we are trying to live the Beatitudes. So, it’s
important that we have this kind
of service everywhere.”
The conference, or parish level of the organization, said Veeser,
PAGE 56
is the “building block” of the
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
“It’s where the work gets done and
where the charity begins,” she said.
A case in point is the Society
of Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry at St. Bartholomew Church in
Southwest Fort Worth.
On a recent Wednesday
morning, just before sunrise, about
a half dozen men, most of them
retired, busied themselves for the
arrival of several pick-up trucks
being driven by fellow Vincentians. The trucks’ payloads would
contain food from the Tarrant
Area Food Bank and several local
grocery stores. Within a few hours
of the trucks’ arrivals, the men un-
loaded 6,000 pounds of food that
included breads, pastries, canned
soups, frozen meats, fresh carrots,
cabbage, grapefruit, and large
sacks of potatoes.
After they unloaded the food
and stocked the shelves at the
church pantry building, the men
headed down the road for coffee
and burritos. The work break and
fellowship was filled with a lot of
good-natured ribbing. Then they
headed off to a nearby grocery
store to pick up yet another truckload of food.
“We’re blessed,” said Ron
Thompson, president of the society’s St. Bartholomew Conference.
“Everybody is here because they
want to be. Nobody gets paid.
They’re just blessed by what they
do.”
Later in the afternoon,
another crew of about a dozen
Vincentians from St. Bartholomew
arrived to dispense the food to
those in need.
Sister Yolanda Piñeda,
MCSH, from St. Bartholomew
was among the volunteers. As the
sister held the door open for departing visitors stocked with groCONTINUED ON PAGE 55

North Texas`explosive population growth

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