Bishop Vann Leaves Solid Accomplishments As He Prepares to Head Diocese of Orange
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Bringing the Good News to the Diocese of Fort Worth Vol. 28 No. 9 November / December 2012 Bishop Vann leaves solid accomplishments as he prepares to head Diocese of Orange Bishop Vann strides through the assembly after the closing of the 40th Anniversary Mass for the Diocese of Fort Worth, August 9, 2009. Bishop Vann shepherded the Diocese of Fort Worth through seven years of explosive growth, espousing a pastoral philosophy of Communio. He will be installed the fourth Bishop of Orange, December 10. 15 26 35 Cardinal Dolan says Catholic Charities Director SQPN's Fr. Roderick three things are Heather Reynolds reflects Von Högen says attractive to new on the support Bishop Vann Catholics must have Catholics: penance has given as the agency has fun, positive, personal the pope, and Mary. responded to more needs. voice online. Pope Benedict XVI leads a meeting of the Synod of Bishops on the new evangelization at the Vatican Oct. 9. 14 CNS photo / Paul Haring 14 The New evaNgelizaTioN In This Issue... The New Evangelization is very much integrated with the Year of Faith. Both invite us to deepen our relationship Bishop vaNN expresses 4 with Christ and his Church as the first his appreciaTioN step to being able to share our faith. Bishop Vann explains how his transi- tion to being installed Bishop of the Diocese of Orange, California will work, 23 Bishop vann's legacy expresses his love of the Diocese of Bishop here for seven years, Bishop Fort Worth and its people. Vann has made an impact on the Church of Fort Worth in many areas. aDveNT aND chrisTMas 22 An overview article takes a broad view, alreaDy? 23 and on the next four pages, our writers We offer one Advent piece, but for the focus on a few specific areas. rest of the inspirational series of sea- sonal articles, you’ll have to go the NTC 28 40 Days for life-forT worTh website, northtexascatholic.org, over Now international, 40 Days for Life be- the next couple of months. 28 gan in College Station. Juan Guajardo has captured images and stories of a Bishop vaNN To orDaiN 32 few who stood and prayed at Planned Two fraNciscaN priesTs Parenthood during this year's pro-life Brother Jonathan and Brother Ron will campaign. be ordained Third Order Franciscan priests at the Province of the Most Holy Sacrament in Loretto Pennsylvania, 30 Michael Barks hoNoreD Nov. 30. They’ve been interning OMM Catholic School President at Good Shepherd and St. Andrew Michael Barks has been honored for parishes respectively. Read their his outstanding service to Our Mother personal stories. of Mercy School (among others), but he 30 wants to share the credit all around. caTholic New MeDia 35 coNveNes iN arliNgToN Bloggers and others who use the web to share the Gospel, met in Arlington 38 life of aN AthleTe recently at the first Catholic New Media Brothers Steve and Joe Prud’homme Conference to be hosted inland, away have coached Nolan Catholic to many from the East Coast. They shared in- victories and state championships, but formation and enthusiasm about their for them, the ultimate game is helping electronic outreach, an outreach em- their athletes make good decisions and braced and encouraged by the Vatican. 38 develop Christian character. Page 2 North texas CatholiC NovemBER / deCemBER 2012 Advent and Christmas, New Evangelization, and Bishop Vann is leaving... ctually, this is just a short list of the major, major items of great importance crowding (or attempting to crowd) Publisher: Editorial Office: 800 West A Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, their way into this issue. Bishop Kevin W. Vann Texas 76108, (817) 560-3300; And to make it more interesting, our associate editor, Tony Director of FAX (817) 244-8839. Circulation Office: Rita Gutiérrez, had major surgery just one week ago today. The great communications: Garber, 800 West Loop 820 news on that is, he's already home and on the mend. In a phone Pat Svacina S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108, (817) 560-3300. call just an hour ago, he said the medical personnel were sur- Editor: Jeff Hensley NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC prised at how quickly he is mending. Praise God! Prayer —and associate Editor: Newsmagazine (USPS good medical care) work wonders. 751-370) (ISSN 0899-7020) Tony Gutiérrez is published six times a year The elections approach, and all people of good will are chal- (bi-monthly) by the Most Rev. Administrative Kevin W. Vann, Bishop of the lenged to make the best decisions they can, given the informa- assistant: Judy Russeau Diocese of Fort Worth, 800 W. tion they have available. For Catholics, there is the urgent need Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas Web Designer: 76108. For those who are to inform our consciences before voting. That's why the U.S. Chris Kastner not registered parishioners Bishops created their guide to the electoral process "Forming in the Diocese of Fort Worth, circulation: Rita Garber subscription rates are $18 for Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." one year, $35 for two years, No one can coerce conscience, and no political party or $50 for three years. Periodical CONTRIBUTORS: postage paid at Fort Worth, candidate embraces all the principles of great importance to Texas. POSTMASTER: Send ad- Catholics. Michele Baker dress changes to North Texas Crystal Brown Catholic, 800 W. Loop 820 S., But in "Faithful Citizenship" the bishops make the point Fort Worth, Texas 76108. Jenara Kocks Burgess that not all issues are equal: There is a prioritizing of the issues Deadline for information for Jaqueline Burkepile the North Texas Catholic is that make some political choices unacceptable because they Jerry Circelli noon of the Wednesday two require material cooperation with evil. weeks before the paper is Juan Guajardo published. The NTC is pub- If you haven't read "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citi- Kathy Cribari Hamer lished bi-monthly, the third zenship," simply search on "Faithful Citizenship." The first thing Friday of the month, with John Henry the following two months as to pop up in your browser should be the USCCB's page for the Joan Kurkowski-Gillen the date of each issue. document. You can read the document there online or down- Mike McGee To access current news and information, find us at www. load the .pdf file of it. Wendy Pandolfo northtexascatholic.org There is a lot of good, encouraging reading in this issue Donna Ryckaert The appearance of advertis- of the North Texas Catholic, and it comes to you with the Kristin Zschiesche ing in these pages does not imply endorsement of busi- desire of our small staff and larger team of freelancers that you, nesses, services, or products. personally, will experience more and more of the love of God in regular columnists: Readers must exercise prudence in responding to your life as we enter this Year of Faith, and that your love will Denise Bossert advertising in all media. Jean Denton overflow in a way that allows you to become a bearer of the Kathy Cribari Hamer Good News. Jeff Hedglen Don't forget to catch us online at northtexascatholic.org. Jeff Hensley David Mills Mary Regina Morrell Father Isaac Orozco Jeff Hensley Sharon K. Perkins Editor Page 3 North texas CatholiC NovemBER / deCemBER 2012 OUR SHEPHERD SPEAKS With all my heart I thank you for your commitment of faith, goodness, and support These words were very prophetic for me, Many people have been asking what hap- as the above book was given to me by a good pens now in Fort Worth. After my Installa- priest friend of mine when I was sent here tion, Fort Worth will become an empty see or as Bishop Delaney’s co-adjutor in 2005, and sede vacante. The new Diocesan Administra- succeeded him at his untimely death. I did, in- tor will be elected by a group of senior priests deed, have to rise and be on my way, to follow from within the diocese known as the College Dear Brothers and the Lord where He called me to journey with of Consultors. The priest who is elected will Sisters in Christ, you as the Shepherd here in our wonderful then maintain the day-to-day activities of the diocese. These last seven years have been years diocese, but without the authority of a bishop. of great blessing for me personally as together, The diocese will then wait for a new bishop to ne of my favorite books, which is an many things have been able to be accom- be assigned from Pope Benedict XVI. Please easy read as well, is entitled Rise, Let plished as a response of faith to the Lord who begin praying, as will I, for the new Bishop of Us Be on Our Way by Pope John Paul calls us to be his people. I thank you for your Fort Worth. OII. This work follows an earlier work entitled generosity, faith, and love in so many ways. With all of my heart, I thank you for your Gift and Mystery. Both narrate, in his own On Sept. 7, the above words of the Lord commitment of faith, and your goodness and words, the life of Blessed John Paul II. Gift became a reality for me again when the Holy support to me in moments of blessing and mo- and Mystery is about his early years up to his Father’s representative to our country, Arch- ments of challenge. Your stewardship of time, priesthood ordination. Rise, Let Us Be on Our bishop Vigano, called me to let me know that talent, and treasure are helping to take the Way is the narration of his life from the time Pope Benedict XVI has named me as the Diocese of Fort Worth into a future full of he was nominated as Auxiliary Bishop of Kra- fourth Bishop of Orange in California.