Issue of January 31, 2010 – February 13, 2010 The following items are condensed. For the complete articles, please read the print edition of The Catholic New World. To subscribe, call (312) 534-7777.

News Update

Events for Black Catholics

The archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics will host its annual Solemn Vespers Service Feb.12 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, 3121 W. Jackson Blvd. Fellowship begins at 6 p.m. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry will preside and Father Andrew Smith will deliver the homily.

The office will also co-sponsor “Order My Steps in Your Word,” an evangelization revival, Feb. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John De La Salle Church, 10205 S. King Dr. Dominican Father Paul Whittington, pastor of St. Benedict the African-West, and Father Andrew Smith, associate pastor at St. Ailbe Parish, will lead the revival. Admission is free. Bishop Joseph Perry’s office is co-sponsoring the event. For more information on either event contact the Office for Black Catholics at (312) 534-8376.

Catholic sports figures honored

Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell, former Detroit Tigers owner Tom Monaghan and the late Brian Piccolo will be inducted into the Sports Faith Hall of Fame Feb. 21, joining college football’s winningest coach, John Gagliardi of St. John’s College in Minnesota, who will be inducted as the college coach of the year.

Also to be honored at the Halas Hall ceremony are the 2010 Catholic high school and college all-star athletes, coaches and teams, who will be recognized for being exemplary role models on and off the field. For information, visit www.sportsfaithinternational.com.

News Digest

Pope convenes Irish bishops for talks on priestly sex abuse

Pope Benedict XVI has convened Ireland’s bishops for a two-day meeting at the Vatican to discuss the ongoing fallout from the priestly sex-abuse scandal in the country.

The meeting will take place Feb. 15-16, and is expected to include the heads of major Vatican agencies. The Vatican press office confirmed the meeting, but did not specify what would be on the agenda.

Pope practiced self-mortification

Pope John Paul II always took penitence seriously, spending entire nights lying with his arms outstretched on the bare floor, fasting before ordaining priests or bishops and flagellating himself, said the promoter of his sainthood cause.

Msgr. Slawomir Oder, postulator of the late pope’s cause, said Pope John Paul used self-mortification “both to affirm the primacy of God and as an instrument for perfecting himself.” The monsignor spoke to reporters Jan. 26 at the launch of his book, “Why He’s a Saint: The Real John Paul II According to the Postulator of His Beatification Cause.”