Issue of May 10th – May 23th
Parishes, schools take extra flu precautions
Early indications raised questions about whether swine flu, now called H1N1 flu virus, could be the new plague of the 21st century, or just another flu virus that the media around the world has overblown as a threat to human life.
First Communion a ‘turning point’ for children, families
As thousands of children prepared to make their First Holy Communion this spring, they learned about the Mass and the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. They practiced their prayers and they rehearsed their processions.
Meet the new priests
The Archdiocese of Chicago will welcome nine new priests May 23. The class will be ordained at 10 a.m. in the chapel at St. Rita High School, 7740 S. Western Ave. The group includes men ranging in age from 26 to 42, hailing from Mexico, Colombia, Tanzania, Poland, Indiana and here in the Archdiocese of Chicago. While some went straight from school into the seminary system, one was a Chicago police officer, another was a research analyst. All of them are looking forward to serving the people of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
JUBILARIANS
Gold and Silver Archdiocesan priests celebrate jubilees
The Catholic New World salutes the priests of the archdiocese who are celebrating their silver and golden anniversaries this year. Most of the members of the Class of 1959 were ordained by Archbishop Albert Meyer on May 7 at Mundelein Seminary, while most of the Class of 1984 were ordained by Cardinal Bernardin May 19 in Mundelein.
In May, the month of Mary, we remember her role as mother
May is the month when we honor our heavenly mother, Mary. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is still an example of wise motherhood despite her story being more than 2,000 years old. There is a particular moment in the Bible that depicts Mary in this very role. We read about her pilgrimage with Joseph and Jesus to Jerusalem as described in the Gospel of Luke (2: 41-52), during which her son gets lost and then is found after three days of anxious searching.
Carrying out Jesus’ healing commission
There is a decorative plaque on the wall of the small chapel at International Compassion Ministry in Olympia Fields that reads “Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle.” For this group, a miracle is more than just a possibility.
Pursuit of the truth isn’t pretty
The new suspense movie “State of Play” is an ode to old-fashioned journalism, boasting a stellar international cast that doesn’t disappoint: Russell Crowe (Aussie), Rachel McAdams (Canuck), Ben Affleck (Yankee) and Helen Mirren (Brit). (Jason Bateman is just outstanding in his small, sole comic relief role as an unscrupulous, two-bit middleman involved in a game that’s way over his head.)
Volunteers paint, clean at two inner-city schools
About 200 people turn out to help on Big Shoulders service day
After three hours of painting hallways and doors at St. Elizabeth’s School, Erik Olson had splotches of electric blue paint on his arms and shirt.
Planned protest turns to celebration in Broadview
Mercy Sisters Jo Ann Persch, 74, and Pat Murphy, 80, were prepared to go to jail April 30.
The sisters, and several dozen allies, including other religious leaders, planned to block the driveway of the Broadview Immigrant Detention Center on that day, to protest the lack of access pastoral care workers have to immigrants in the center.
Pope’s visit to Holy Land time to remember friendship
The forthcoming visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Israel (May 8-15) is a happy occasion for Catholics and Jews. It is also an occasion for Jews and Catholics in Chicago to not only share in that happiness but to acknowledge how the relationship between our faith communities has been strengthened by the gracious leadership of His Eminence Francis Cardinal George.
Something different — Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish (W. Belmont) is praying the “Stations of the Resurrection,” at 3 p.m. on the seven Sundays of Eastertide. The “Via Lucis” (Way of Light), was introduced by the Vatican for the Jubilee Year 2000.
I remember a little bit about my First Communion day.
It was a beautiful day in May, and I wore a white dress (of course). There were about 75 of us in the class, and we all sat in the front of church, spaced out in the pews just enough to make room for all the flouncy skirts. Or maybe they left room between us so we wouldn’t bother each other.
Father Thomas Norris, author of “The Trinity: Life of God, Hope for Humanity, Towards a Theology of Communion,” is a prominent theologian from Ireland and a priest of the Focolare Movement. A member of the International Theological Commission, he visited the Archdiocese of Chicago in late April and early May to discuss the book, and shared some thoughts about it by e-mail with the staff of The Catholic New World.
