CrossRoads Cross Catholic Outreach’s Parish Newsletter Winter 2016

Cross Shares Tiedemann’s Compassion for Jamaica

Most people associate Jamaica with cruises or think of it as a tropical honeymoon destination, but that view doesn’t represent reality for most of the island nation’s inhabitants. The truth is, Jamaica suffers extreme poverty, and a lack of educational opportunities on the island nation contributes to the cycle of poverty plaguing its poor. Black River in the Diocese of Mandeville is one of the places where children struggle for lack of a quality education — and that’s why Cross Catholic Outreach is there to help with support and resources for Catholic educators. Cross knows that while the government is unable to properly assist the poorest of the poor, the can provide solutions and evangelize through education. As always, our ministry’s approach is to work through existing Catholic programs and those who lead them. In Black River’s case, it was Bishop Neil Tiedemann, C.P. and the leaders of the Diocese of Mandeville who stepped out in faith to open St. Theresa Basic School, and Cross is committed to Bishop Neil visits the children of St. Theresa Basic School, sharing a message of love and hope. supporting their vision and outreaches. “The hardworking diocesan teams in honor their compassionate hearts and provide. children could engage in learning and Mandeville were raising as much money The community responded in faith too. growing in their Catholic faith! as they could to fi ght poverty in their area Despite the building’s poor condition, parents Still, there are challenges and reasons through food distributions, health care enrolled their children, also believing the Lord to remain in prayer. For example, the programs, and primary and secondary would bless the mission with success. diocese needs more funding to adequately schools, but they also felt called to address And although only low salaries could be compensate the teachers and staff, so help the needs of other young children who offered, Christ-centered teachers and staff from outside of the community is needed, lacked proper preparation for school and enthusiastically signed on as well. and Cross Catholic Outreach has been asked would be blessed by experiencing the love “The strong faith of these people has been to assist with this shortfall. of Jesus,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of inspiring, and they have continued to place “We have agreed to help Bishop Neil, Cross Catholic Outreach. “Moved by his love their trust in the Lord and create an educational confi dent American Catholics will joyfully of the people, Bishop Neil and the diocese program with a spiritual emphasis at its core,” step forward to fi ll this fi nancial gap so the took a leap of faith in starting St. Theresa Cavnar said. “Together, they all prayed the Lord Lord can continue to work miracles in the School in Black River.” would provide — and he did.” young hearts at St. Theresa,” Cavnar said. Since the diocese budget was small, the Eventually, the diocese was blessed with “This transformative effort is a profound bishop had to start the program in an old, enough resources to enroll 140 young example of God’s power and compassion in dilapidated home, but the program persevered children from 3 to 6 years old, and the action — especially in this Jubilee Year of anyway, and the staff trusted the Lord would program became a joyful place where Mercy — and we want to support it!

CrossRoads page one www.crosscatholic.org takeaction San Bernardino Parish Reaches Out With Hands of Christ

St. Joseph Parish in the city of Upland, The parish is also involved California has been a model of charity with the Interfaith Council in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. The parish in Upland, working together operates “His Hands,” the largest food with other faith communities pantry in the West End Vicariate in the to help those in need. Diocese of San Bernardino. The parish demonstrates For more than 30 years, the ministry a commitment to the poor has assisted both the homeless and internationally as well. It has struggling economically. In doing so, the welcomed Cross Catholic outreach truly embodies an extension Outreach to preach about of the hands of Christ, administering overseas missions and unconditional love to those who need it supported the works of most. The “His Hands” ministry serves mercy fi nancially. Members and volunteers from St. Joseph Parish gather before food to the homeless and families. They The witness of St. Joseph one of their feeding outreaches to proclaim the blessings of God also provide non-perishable food packets Parish is a model for the and encourage those in need of hope. and hygienic packs of soap, toothpaste, and works of mercy all parishes personal care items to the homeless who are called to embody, especially in this Mercy of the Father to all. Cross Catholic is are without access to these items. It is an Jubilee Year of Mercy. Their desire to become honored to be partners with such a dynamic effort and community commitment that the “hands of Christ” to those in need speaks parish community which truly understands exemplifi es integral human development — to their commitment to the faith and their that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and the call to show mercy as we evangelize. desire to become a visible witness of the responds generously to that call. Pittsburgh Parish’s Outreaches Live Out Jubilee Year of Mercy

Pittsburgh’s Saints Simon and Jude Parish is celebrating its 60th anniversary by embracing the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Under the leadership of their wonderful pastor, Fr. Jay Donahue, the parish hosted a Cross Catholic Missionary of Mercy commissioned by Francis to better understand the full meaning of the Lord’s mercy during this special year. During the special visit, the parish extended the times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which was a true blessing for the parishioners to experience. They also used the theme of mercy to celebrate the many outreaches the parish has organized this year, and — true to the Holy Father’s teachings — this particular weekend focused on showing compassion for the poorest of the poor in our world today. Saints Simon and Jude’s has long had a commitment to social justice and their spirit of service is evidenced in the very active St. Vincent de Paul Society, which addresses Volunteers from Saints Simon and Jude Parish give selfl essly to bless the lives of others! needs in the local community in need. They also sponsor an annual mission trip mission statement summarizes their outreach This year, offered us the to Appalachia. These trips give parishioners well: “The Year of Mercy is an invitation to opportunity to encounter the incredible a hands-on experience of families in need. love, kindness, and unbounded generosity. It mercy of God, and engaging in outreach Volunteers dedicate this time during the can transform your life, your relationships, ministries further blesses this encounter with summer months to help this impoverished your work and your ability to embrace and God. What a wonderful way to celebrate the community in rural West Virginia. Their experience all of life,” (Dynamic Catholic). impact of the Jubilee Year of Mercy!

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Cor Unum Leadership & The Missionaries of Mercy Participating at the Retreat

(L to R): Missionaries of Mercy Fr. John Fischer and Fr. Bernard Olszewski; Msgr. Peter Bui of Cor Unum; Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach; Msgr. Giampietro Dal Toso, Secretary of Cor Unum; and Missionaries of Mercy Fr. Timothy O’Toole and Fr. Phong Pham. Year of Mercy Retreat Day Held for Cross Catholic Outreach Staff

Cross Catholic Outreach has been very Council Cor Unum, the Pope’s charitable involved in the Holy Father’s designated arm, invited Msgrs. Giampietro Dal Toso Jubilee Year of Mercy. We collaborated with and Peter Bui, of the , to visit the the Pontifi cal Council for New Evangelization organization’s headquarters in Florida and for the inaugural meeting with Pope Francis lead a retreat day for the entire staff and on Ash Wednesday, when six of our Outreach the Missionaries of Mercy to refl ect on the Priests were commissioned by Pope Francis importance of the Year of Mercy. Msgr. Dal as Missionaries of Mercy. Those priests have Toso spoke about the different dimensions spent this past year proclaiming mercy, of Christian Charity and Msgr. Bui outlined as well as celebrating the Lord’s personal the gospel imperatives as they relate to love forgiveness through the Sacrament of and mercy in our lives. Reconciliation in parishes throughout the The day concluded with a Eucharistic United States. This has been a time of great celebration at Our Lady of Lourdes blessing for the whole Church and for those parish in Boca Raton. Most Rev. Gerald who have embraced this call to be servants of M. Bishop Barbarito, of the Palm Beach mercy in the world. Diocese, concelebrated Mass along with In order to better join with the Universal the monsignors from and the Cross of Cross to serve the poorest of the poor Church in the spiritual aspects of this Jubilee Catholic Missionaries of Mercy. It was a day through spiritual and corporal works of Year, Cross Catholic Outreach, which has fi lled with the blessings of the Jubilee Year, mercy, not only during this Jubilee Year but had a close relationship with Pontifi cal and a renewed commitment by the staff always. “His mercy endures forever” Ps. 136.

Cross Staff with Bishop Gerald Barbarito, Palm Beach; Msgr. Dal Toso and Msgr. Peter Bui of Cor Unum; and Cross Catholic Outreach’s Missionaries of Mercy.

CrossRoads page three www.crosscatholic.org teamwork Cross Catholic Outreach Collaborates With New Dicastery Promoting Integral Human Development

Cross Catholic Outreach has a long- Within the Dicastery there will be a division standing relationship with Pontifi cal Council for charitable works and Cross will continue Cor Unum and has a strong commitment to lend fi nancial support to the Holy Father to the charitable work of the Holy Father in this reorganized department of the Roman through integral ministry which links Curia, as it carries out works of charity to charity with evangelization in the many those most in need. In the past, these funds ministries with whom we partner. have been used for a variety of outreaches, The Roman Curia is now being restructured including disaster relief. and as of January 1, 2017, the Pontifi cal Our purpose has always been to establish Council Cor Unum will be merged with the and maintain enduring relationships councils for Justice and Peace, Migrants and with all of our mission partners and our Travelers and Heath Care Ministry to form commitment to the charitable work of the a new Dicastery promoting integral human Church through the leadership of the Holy development. Cardinal , Father remains unwavering. formerly of the Council for Justice and Peace We look forward to continuing to develop becomes its new president. and model this outreach embodied this past As Cardinal Robert Sarah has pointed year in the Jubilee Year of Mercy and we will out in the past, Cross Catholic Outreach has continue to promote the works of mercy always been a model of this approach, linking among the poorest of the poor in our world. Catholic social teaching and charity with the We are blessed to be a partner in this global Church’s call for New Evangelization, and the effort promoting peace and justice through new Dicastery will be a natural partner for us. charity and love. Cardinal Peter Turkson in Africa.

We Thank Archbishop Hebda for Years of Service on Board

Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda was Cross Catholic Outreach has been blessed appointed Archbishop of the Archdiocese to have had Archbishop Hebda serve on our of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on March Board of Directors for the past three years. 24, 2016, serving as both Apostolic His background in Canon Law and service Administrator of that archdiocese since for eight years on the Pontifi cal Council for June 2015 and Coadjutor Archbishop of the Legislative Texts was especially helpful in Archdiocese of Newark since September developing our Ecclesiastical Statutes which 2013. Prior to those appointments, he were approved by Cor Unum in their Decree served as Bishop of Gaylord, Michigan, of September 18, 2015, granting Cross where he was consecrated bishop and Catholic Outreach Pontifi cal approval. installed on December 1, 2009. We are thankful for Archbishop His appointment to the Pontifi cal Hebda’s great contributions to our Council for Legislative Texts, an agency Board of Directors, and we wish him of the Roman Curia responsible for and the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and the interpretation of church law, began Minneapolis God’s richest blessings! on September 10, 1996, and in 2003 he Cross Catholic Outreach is proud of all was appointed Undersecretary of the of the dedicated and archbishops Pontifi cal Council. currently serving on our ministry board. Archbishop Hebda attended Harvard Visit www.CrossCatholic.org/OurTeam to University, where he earned a B.A. in political learn more about our current board and science in 1980. He earned a J.D. from advisory board. For more information Columbia Law School at the Parker School Archbishop Bernard Hebda about our Outreach Priest program, visit of Foreign and Comparative Law in 1983. www.CrossCatholic.org/HostAPriest.

CrossRoads page four www.crosscatholic.org speakingup Cross Praised for Its Effective Outreaches to the Poor

The Jubilee Year of Mercy brought special attention to the needs of the poor around the globe, and many U.S. parishes hosted one of Cross Catholic Outreach’s Missionaries of Mercy to learn more about the effective charitable works of the Church overseas. This year, many bishops also focused attention on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and commended Cross for the role it has been playing in missions of mercy around the globe. “I am impressed by hearing how Cross Catholic Outreach is able to reach those in most need throughout the world, especially

Cross Catholic Outreach’s disaster relief team was in Haiti within days of Hurricane Matthew’s devastating impact on the country’s south coast. The relief supplies we provided to Sister Marie allowed her to help victims in the town of Viloux — and more resources are on the way.

Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt of Grand Island shared similar sentiments, writing: Bishop Michael Burbidge “For some time now I have noted the wonderful ministry that Cross Catholic Outreach has provided to some of the those coping with the most diffi cult living poorest of the poor throughout the world. In conditions,” wrote Bishop Michael this Jubilee Year of Mercy, your ministry is Burbidge of Raleigh. “This service is all especially important as the Church strives done in the context of performing the Corporal to follow the lead of Pope Francis and refl ect and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Especially in Christ’s mercy for each of us and proclaimed this Year of Mercy, it is reassuring to know throughout the world. that your ministry works in close collaboration “Many of our people are scarcely aware with Cor Unum, the Pontifi cal Council for of the plight of the poorest people in the world-wide charitable assistance. All those world today. Thus your ministry offers the who perform this work are doing so in a opportunity for Catholics in the U.S. to be tangible way as instruments of mercy that aware of the Church’s ministry of charity and Our Lord Jesus brings to all those who seek evangelization throughout the world. Bishop Joseph Hanefeldt assistance and support. “I am happy to endorse the ministry of “Please know of my prayerful best wishes Cross Catholic Outreach in assisting those who for you and for the efforts of Cross Catholic care for the poorest of our brothers and sisters. Bishops in the U.S. have also commended Outreach,” he added. “May Our Lord Jesus Your work gives direct assistance on behalf Cross Catholic Outreach for the Pontifi cal bless your ministry, and may Mary Our of Catholics throughout the United States to canonical status it received from the Mother keep the poor throughout the world in those who need it most. Yours is truly a most Her care, both now and always.” excellent work of mercy!” ~ story continued on page 6

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Bishop Edward Malesic Bishop James Powers Bishop Douglas Deshotel

Bishops Endorse the Mission of Cross Catholic Outreach

~ story continued from page 5 us, especially in this Jubilee Year of Mercy. prayers and support for this vital work in the “I join with my brother bishops in name of Christ and in communion with His Vatican earlier this year. This honor, which supporting the good work of Cross Catholic Church and Her missionary Spirit. recognized the strong Catholic character of Outreach, and I will encourage the priests “That the Bishops on the Board of Directors the charity, also spotlighted the ministry’s of the Diocese to be open to receiving a visit work vigilantly in partnership with the Pontifi cal role in the New Evangelization so important from Cross Catholic’s outreach priests to Council Cor Unum stands as a testament toward to the Holy Father. share this witness to the works of mercy being ensuring the integrity and fruitfulness of its As Bishop Edward Malesic, JCL of accomplished in the Church.” mission linking charity with the call for New Greensburg said, “Cross Catholic Outreach’s Cross Catholic Outreach is grateful Evangelization, as the Holy Father has stressed.” Pontifi cal canonical status confi rms the Bishop Powers encourages his parishes to While the Jubilee Year of Mercy has fruitfulness of its mission in responding to host one of our outreach priests because we concluded, Cross Catholic Outreach will Pope Francis’ call not only to evangelize the know this uplifting experience opens eyes to keep the spirit of its celebration of God’s poor but to be evangelized by them. In this, the needs of the poor while celebrating the grace and compassion alive in 2017 with a they create a new standard to the integration heroic work of the Church’s priests and nuns call to action inspired by Psalm 136 — of the Church’s social teaching into the work of serving overseas. Miracles are happening in “His mercy endures forever!” the New Evangelization. Haiti, Kenya and dozens of other developing “Its mission is both spiritually uplifting and nations of the world, and the Church can be apostolically invigorating.” blessed by learning more about the signifi cant Bishop James Powers of Superior saw the ways Catholic missions are involved. same strengths in Cross and its mission, writing: For some of the bishops in the U.S., it is this C R “It is most impressive to learn the scope work “in the trenches” that impresses them ross oads of humanitarian aid shipped to the world’s most. Many know fi rsthand of missionaries CrossRoads is published by Cross poor and needy; the thousands of people who who have benefi ted from the support Cross Catholic Outreach. No portion now have safe, clean water and the number of provides. of its content may be reproduced students who are helped through the support “I appreciated learning the extent to which without the expressed consent of educational programs and activities which Cross Catholic Outreach works to cultivate of Cross Catholic Outreach. your organization is able to deliver effi ciently and encourage the human and Christian and cost-effectively to our brothers and sisters growth of people in the developing world — Contact us at: who are suffering such extreme poverty. areas where it is needed the most. I also know 1-800-914-2420 “I was also pleased to learn that Cross that Cross supports Father Glenn Meaux of Catholic Outreach’s canonical statutes were our Diocese in his mission work in Haiti,” President ...... James Cavnar approved last fall by the Pontifi cal Council Cor Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of Lafayette in Editor ...... Msgr. Ted Bertagni Unum. This is truly a testament to the Holy Louisiana wrote to Cross Catholic Outreach’s Comm. Director ...... Ruthie Aguilar Father’s call to heed Christ’s message for all of president, James Cavnar. “Please know of my

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