Issue of October 12th– October 25th
Our faith offers guidance in times of financial worry
It’s the talk in the office, on the train, in the store, among friends and family. What will be the fallout of the economic crisis and what does the future hold? There is a near palpable sense of fear and worry among people today.
Will my retirement money be OK? What about our investments? We’ve saved money for our children’s college fund but now it’s dwindling. What do we do? Is my job safe?
Teaching the teachers
So you want to be a catechist in the Archdiocese of Chicago?
You’ll be joining more than 10,000 volunteers — yes, all of them are unpaid — who live their faith by sharing it with up-andcoming generations.
Parishes throughout the archdiocese have gotten their religious education classes under way for the year and have more than 100,000 children enrolled, according to the Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry. Exact numbers for this year are still being compiled
Local Christians call for religious freedom in India
The violence against Christians far away in India hits home here in Chicago. Several hundred Indian-American Christians gathered at the Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral in Bellwood on Sept. 28 to raise awareness about the Christians murdered and terrorized in the Indian state of Orissa over the past month. Hindu extremist mobs have murdered Christians, vandalized churches, destroyed homes and burned convents, orphanages and schools.
Christians from several denominations gathered outside the church not to cry for revenge but to plea for an end to the violence and a restoration of peace in the region.
St. James: Limestone jewel atop the hill
When Father Irenaeus St. Cyr came on horseback 175 years ago to celebrate the first Mass in the Sag area in rural Illinois, probably no one realized that they were participating in a historic moment.
That unusual Eucharist offered in a log cabin situated on an Indian trail was the beginning of the oldest Roman Catholic church building in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The log cabin soon became the first St. James Church at Sag Bridge. After 20 years, workers on the Illinois canal, who became the first parishioners, moved the cabin up the hill to land donated by John Sullivan and James Murphy and started building a church made of yellow limestone.
Crowd kicks off ‘40 Days for Life’ prayer vigil
About 150 people gathered on Chicago’s Northwest side to pray during a kickoff for the “40 Days for Life Chicago Campaign” vigil on Sept. 24.
Organizers are asking volunteers to pray for the sanctity of life round-the-clock for 40 days, until Nov. 2. It’s part of a national campaign taking place in 170 cities in the United States.
“We already have 34 of the 40 days covered,” said Mary-Louise Kurey, director of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Respect Life office, noting it will be hard for volunteers to show up at 2 or 3 a.m. when the weather gets chilly.
Facing infertility: A journey of faith, hope and love
As the church in the United States marks Respect Life Month, we explore the tough issues surrounding conception
October is Respect Life Month. For many years, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has dedicated October to promoting the sanctity of human life from the moment of conception until natural death. Abortion and euthanasia involve the deliberate killing of innocent and vulnerable human beings. They are direct attacks on the foundation of justice and therefore are at the focus of the bishops’ concerns.
Other life issues addressed during Respect Life Month include: embryonic stemcell research and human cloning, vaccines derived from the tissue of aborted babies, capital punishment, artificial reproductive technologies and the promotion of chastity, post-abortion healing, and morally acceptable fertility treatments. The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of Chicago addresses these matters through education, public policy involvement, prayer and pastoral care programs.
Congratulations to our Jubilarians
In the following pages, readers will meet hundreds of men and women who have been called to dedicate their lives to God and his people as members of religious congregations.
Each congregation has its own charism, from the Poor Clares, who live in cloistered monasteries and live lives of prayer, to the many teaching and nursing orders. Listed with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate is Cardinal Francis George, who entered the order 50 years ago, and served as a college professor and a leader of the congregation before Pope John Paul II appointed him first a bishop in Yakima, Wash., then an archbishop in Portland, Ore., and finally cardinal archbishop of Chicago.
This issue of the Catholic New World is dedicated to those celebrating their 25th and 50th anniversaries of religious life. Some who are celebrating other anniversaries – 60th, 70th and even 75th – also are listed because they were not included in our April issue, when most of their peers were honored.
We honor and thank all of them for their love and service.
‘Underground’ captures young Catholics’ attention
If you think eucharistic adoration and rap or hard rock can’t mix, think again. Catholic Underground has come to Chicago.
Originally founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal as a cultural apostolate, Catholic Underground — an evening of eucharistic adoration, music and fellowship for college students — is a direct response to a call begun by Pope John Paul II and continued by Pope Benedict XVI — that the Gospel must be in conversation with culture. How can we best accomplish this goal? By integrating Gospel values into music, art and culture while maintaining the integrity of the mysteries of faith.
Bishops and brides-to-be — For the past year, the U.S. Bishops have operated a Web site featuring “resources for living happily ever after,” at www.ForYourMarriage.org. It’s designed for “engaged and married couples and couples in serious relationships.” Last month’s book review on line was about marriage in later years. But for today’s bride, the site has “ Sarah’s Blog.” She’s a 22-year-old young woman preparing to marry Daniel next May.
Polly attended Mass for the first time this month, accompanying us to a special liturgy in honor of the Feast of St. Francis in our church parking lot.
Polly is our 3-year-old dog, a whiteand- tan short-haired 45-pound female of uncertain heritage and somewhat excitable temperament.
Springfield Dominican Sister Elyse Marie Ramirez has served as the Office for Religious’ coordinator of religious vocations ministries since Sept. 1, managing the Chicago Archdiocesan Vocations Association (CAVA) and working to support the Office for Religious.
She accepted the position following the Aug. 14 death of Sister of St. Joseph Peter Mary Hettling, who was co-vicar for religious in charge of religious vocations ministry. Ramirez, who worked part-time in the office before Hettling died, also spent six years as vocation director for her congregation.
