The Season of Lent in an Acceptable Time I Heard You, and on the Day of Salvation I Helped You

April 2014 | catholicvi.com

The Season of Lent In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Inside this issue

4 from the editor's desk Bishop’s Calendar

6 spotlight on youth April 2 9 reflection • 10 a.m. Deanery Meeting, Chancery, St. Thomas 10 holy week 2014 April 3 12 cover story • 10 a.m. Deanery Meeting, The Season of Lent. St. Ann Church, St. Croix • 6 p.m. Cathedral Renovation 14 journey of faith Committee Meeting, Sts. Peter Nancy Soto. and Paul Hospitality Lounge

15 saint of the month April 4 St. Bernadette: Discover the • 10 a.m. Sts. Peter and Paul Hidden Treasure. School Principal’s Meeting April 5 16 theology 101 • 6:30 p.m. Mass, Our Lady The Third Commandment: Stock.xchng©jamesclk of Perpetual Help Church Remember the Sabbath Day, to Keep it Holy. Bishop's Holy Week Schedule April 6 • 4 p.m. March For Life, St. Croix.

18 in the know with father joe April 15 • 5 p.m. Mass at St. Patrick Church I Don't Like My Pastor – Noon, Chrism Mass, St. Patrick Church, in Frederiksted. What Can I Do about it? Frederiksted, St. Croix April 8 19 spiritual fitness Holy Thursday, April 17 • Haitian Ministry Meeting, How Much Are You Really Willing 7 p.m., Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Chancery, TBA to Give up for Lent? St. Joseph Church, Mt. Pleasant, St. Croix April 9 20 special report . Good Friday, April 18 • 6 p.m Child Protection Review Board Meeting, 3 p.m., Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and 22-25 parish calendars Hospitality Lounge Mass of the Pre-Sanctified, St. Patrick Church, Frederiksted, St. Croix 25 ¡buenas noticias! April 12 • 6 p.m. Confirmation, Our Lady Holy Saturday, April 19 of Mount Carmel Church 6:30 p.m., Easter Vigil, Holy Cross PLEASE SUBMIT Church, Christiansted, St. Croix April 13 • 11 a.m. Confirmation, news, digital photography and Holy Cross Church, St. Croix advertising for the May 2014 Easter Sunday, April 20 issue of The Catholic Islander by 9:30 a.m., Mass, St. Ann Church, APRIL 7, 2014 Barrenspot, St. Croix Submit news and articles to: The Magazine of the Father John Matthew Fewel Charlotte Banks Brother James Petrait, OSFS EDITOR [email protected] Roman Catholic Diocese Lillia King WEBMASTER ADVERTISING of St. Thomas in the Submit advertisements to: Sarah Jane von Haack Virgin Islands MANAGING EDITOR Bernetia Akin PROOFREADING [email protected] Most Reverend Herbert Bevard Jenny Bis Deacon Emith Fludd PUBLISHER GRAPHIC DESIGNER CIRCULATION www.FAITHcatholic.com

2 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Faith and Reason

ur faith journey, like St. Augustine’s, exists in two worlds. Faith in the tran- scendent God above is not separate from the world of sights and sounds where Jesus walked among us and is among us, in the most holy Eucharist and at O holy Mass where we are summoned to Calvary – to His very Passion.

In the Son of God, we have the Light zon of faith and thus gained new under- light and seeing. He integrated the two of the World and the Word. We reflect standing. Augustine accepted the Greek perspectives of hearing and seeing, con- Light and Word by His saving power, in philosophy of light, with its insistence stantly guided by the revelation of God’s our own being and reflected in others. on the importance of sight. His encoun- love in Jesus. Thus Augustine developed The Light of Christ and the Word are ter with neo-Platonism introduced him a philosophy of light capable of embrac- everywhere in the sights, sounds and to the paradigm of the light, which, de- ing both the reciprocity proper to the the spiritual realities of the sacred Lit- scending from on high to illumine all re- word and the freedom born of looking to urgy. It is both eternal and unknowable ality, is a symbol of God. Augustine thus the light. Just as the word calls for a free in its completeness; for it is fathomless, came to appreciate God’s transcendence response, so the light finds a response in and yet is the very place to which our re- and discovered that all things have a cer- the image which reflects it. Augustine demption draws us. tain transparency – that they can reflect can, therefore, associate hearing and God’s goodness. This realization liber- seeing, and speak of “the word which The dialogue between faith and reason ated him from his earlier Manichaeism, shines forth within.” The light becomes, (Lumen Fidei 33): which had led him to think that good so to speak, the light of a word, because In the life of St. Augustine, we find and evil were in constant conflict, con- it is the light of a personal countenance, a significant example of this process fused and intertwined. The realization a light that, even as it enlightens us, calls whereby reason, with its desire for truth that God is light provided Augustine us and seeks to be reflected on our fac- and clarity, was integrated into the hori- with a new direction in life and enabled es and to shine from within us. Yet our him to acknowledge his sinfulness and longing for the vision of the whole, and to turn towards the good. not merely of fragments of history, re- All the same, the decisive moment in mains and will be fulfilled in the end, Augustine’s journey of faith, as he tells when, as Augustine says, we will see and us in the Confessions, was not in the we will love. Not because we will be able vision of a God above and beyond this to possess all the light, which will always world, but in an experience of hearing. be inexhaustible, but because we will en- In the garden, he heard a voice telling ter wholly into that light. him: “Take and read.” He then took up the book containing the epistles of St. Paul and started to read the 13th chapter of the Letter to the Romans. In this way, the personal God of the Bible appeared to him: a God who is able to speak to us, to come down to dwell in our midst and to accompany our journey through history, making Himself known in the time of hearing and response. Yet this encounter with the God who From the Bishop’s Desk

Wikipedia©Antonio Rodríguez speaks did not lead Augustine to reject 3 From the Editor's Desk Stock.xchng©dimitri_c

By Father John Matthew Fewel

All that I am, all that I have, all that I Reuters©MaxRossi Two Caribbean Cardinals Created hope to be, comes from you, and you On February 22, Pope Francis created 19 new cardinals in a A alone, and, is yours, O Lord my God! moving ceremony that included the participation of Pope Emer- itus Benedict XVI. Two of the cardinals created that day were Lent is a time of introspection and self-examination. Putting Bishop Kelvin Edward Felix (right), 81, from Dominica, West aside something accustomed, favored, familiar, is a spiritual Indies, Archbishop emeritus of Castries, and Archbishop Chibly method of evaluating, recognizing or acknowledging our de- Langlois (left), 55, Haitian, Bishop of Les Cayes. pendency on God. It is also an offering of ourselves to God from A ZENIT article released the next day stated: "The ceremony whom everything we have and everything we are comes. It is was the culmination of an intense week which began with the taking a practice common to daily life – of limiting something's third meeting of the Council of Cardinals and ended with the presence or influence in our life for the purpose of growth, Consistory, where cardinals from around the world spoke on health, education, financial benefit or love – and, for 40 days, the theme of the family." applying that principle to deepening our union with God. The newly created Cardinals are a tapestry of various backgrounds, Whatever we favor or love in the life we are living now is ranging from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state only there because of the eternal need God placed in every one to Cardinal Langlois, the first cardinal from Haiti, one of the of us to love only our Lord. In each of us, the tendency toward poorest countries in the world. any sort of preference is an infinitesimal glimmer of the intense Cardinal Sean O’Malley OFM Cap, archbishop of Boston desire of our souls for one and only one, satisfaction: perfect and and member of the Council of Cardinals that advises the pope complete union with our God. on the governance of the church, expressed his joy after the The holy souls in purgatory are highly favored by the yesterday’s ceremony. removal of every last vestige of the world to which we are so In a brief interview with ZENIT, Cardinal O’Malley said the Con- accustomed, habituated, and with which we are so familiar, to sistory “indicates a continual growth and renewal” in the church: behold only the glory which lay ahead, for them and for us. “The Holy Father has obviously chosen extraordinary indi- With the veil drawn back – removed forever – they behold, viduals from different parts of the globe, many of them being yet at a distance, the face of God. the very first from their regions, which is a wonderful way of While we dwell in this world, we behold the face of a crucified recognizing the universality of our church.” Savior. During these 40 days, as we await His Passion, like Him, When asked what direction the church is going with the we crucify our desires, our passions, awaiting in self-denial and selection of these new cardinals, the American prelate had no expectation the glory of Christ victorious to be revealed to us doubts of Francis' course. “I’m sure the direction will be that and in us, when, at last, we will behold Him as He is. ◊ of the joy of the Gospel,” he said. ◊ 4 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Local News

(l-r) Father Boniface Blanchard, Father Eduardo Ortiz-Santiago, Father Anthony Abraham and Father Neil Scantlebury enjoy the fraternity of their annual retreat time together. Msgr. Jerome Feudjio, vicar for priests, who plans and looks forward to the yearly priests’ retreat, but could not be present for (l-r) Father Eduardo Ortiz-Santiago, Father Kerly Francois, Father Anthony this year’s priests’ retreat, is shown Abraham, Father Wieslaw “Wesley” Bejor, CSsR, Father Neil Scantlebury here processing during opening (pastor of Holy Family Church), Bishop Bevard, Father Steve Thorne (retreat ceremonies at the Keys and Sword master), Father Louis Kemayou, Father Patrick Lynch, CSsR, Father John Benefit Gala held last month at the Fewel, Father Simon Opira and Father Boniface Blanchard. Frenchman’s Reef Marriott.

Annual Priests’ Retreat Father Steven Thorne of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia gave this year’s annual retreat to the Virgin Islands’ priests. He spoke of the reaction of St. Peter, who, at one point, said to the Lord, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” As priests, we are confronted with this hard reality and realization of our human sinful condition, and yet the Lord is not willing that we should depart from the calling He has given to us. Like St. Joseph, Father Thorne offered that our acceptance of our fatherly role comes with the Lord's continual assurances and steadfast help. Who am I? We each have a totally unique answer to that question, and yet our uniqueness finds expression in the supreme gift of rendering ourselves totally; our lives, totally; and our energies, totally – to the family of God who become our own family, as well. The retreatants enjoyed the company of Bishop Bevard for the three days. Father Neil Scantlebury and the people of Holy Family Church hosted the retreat and provided wonderful meals. ◊

Lenten Youth Retreat 35th Anniversary of On Saturday, March Independence 22, 2014, Our Lady of The St. Lucian community Perpetual Help Church celebrated its 35th anniver- hosted a Lenten youth sary of independence during retreat for ages 12 -19. the 9:30 am Mass at St. Ann The guest speaker was Church on February 23. Father Msgr. Charles Pope from Ignatius Cetoute celebrated the the Diocese of Washing- Mass. Bishop Gabriel Malzaire, ton. Msgr. Pope is the the invited celebrant, was in pastor of Holy Comfort- Vatican City for the Consisto- er, St. Cyrian Parish in ry, where Pope Francis made Washington, D.C. Archbishop Kelvin Felix Father Ignatius Cetoute a cardinal. ◊

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5 Spotlight on Youth

Chef Corey and family

Sts. Peter and Paul School Corey, Sts. Peter and Paul School’s culinary enchiladas y burritos at the Mexican cocina. Sts. Peter and Paul School administration, arts teacher, with assistance from students, Proceeds from the ticket sales will teachers, parents and staff hosted this parents, administrators and staff members. help ensure high quality and high energy year’s highly successful International Food Set up in the school’s multi-level court- education of Virgin Island Catholic Tasting Night on February 15 at Sts. Peter yard under its beautiful fire tree, the event school students in St. Thomas. To cap the and Paul School. An outstanding menu progressed into the late hours as guests festivities, the much touted cash raffle was prepared representing many nation- strolled among the kitchen booths, sampling sent home three lucky winners with cash alities: Indian, Filipino, Italian, Chinese, delicious creations such as saag and rhoti prizes of $1,000, $2,500 and a grand prize Caribbean, Spanish, Mexican and French. under the Indian flag, Caribbean callalou of $10,000. It was a most successful and The culinary efforts were overseen by Chef soup, oxtail stew and authentic and delicious enjoyable evening.

Protection of Children

The Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands is committed to protecting children from all harm. If you have knowledge of any church worker who may have abused a minor, please contact (l-r) Bria Mitcham, grade 11; Kristina Diaz, grade 12; Father John Mark, principal. the diocesan child protection coordinator, Callista Julien, at Black History Month The end of Black History Month at St. Joseph High School was 340.778 0484 or 340.772 4214. marked with a show on February 28. The show, attended by all of the students and teachers, was held in the St. Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge. Participants read poetry, sang, danced and played musical instruments. 6 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com St. Patrick School FBLA members gathered after Mass in front of St Joachim and Ann Church with Msgr. Kosak. (l-r) M. Thom- as-Lewis, C. Brow Henderson, adviser, Rosaline Estrill, parent, Amayah Estrill, president, Danielle Peter, vice president, Msgr. Michael Kosak, Daron Cole, historian, M'Kaila Caines, secretary, Joyce Caines, parent, Maria Peter, parent, Kayla Cole, reporter, Magdalene Joseph, parent, and Elizabeth John-Baptiste, principal/adviser.

St. Joseph School

The honor roll students display their certificates.

Poetry Out Loud Contest Winners (l-r): Third place: Euripide Carpio, grade 10; first place: Kristina Diaz, grade 12; second place; Julissa Moolenaar, grade 10.

Poetry Out Loud Students at St. Joseph High School entered the “Poetry Out Load” competition in the school library. Six students participated in this event sponsored by the Virgin Islands Council for the Arts, which also provided judges. Competitors each memorized and presented two poems. After the poems were read, the judges selected three students. Kristina Diaz, grade 12, received a certificate and $100 for first place; Julissa Moolenaar, grade 10, received a certificate for second place; and Euripide Carpio, grade 10, received a certificate for third place. More competitions will be held with the winners from other schools until the territory winner is selected and sent on to the national competition in Washington, D.C. The high honors students display their certificates. 7 Local News

Lenten Stations of the Cross during final stages of the renovation of Mass of Healing Beginning with the Chaplet of the Divine Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral. Altar servers Dante, Nathan and Mercy, the people of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church celebrat- Emmett Joseph, stood at foot of altar with framed pictures of the ed a Mass of Healing and prayer service on February 10. Father stations which were each held in turn. Beautiful permanent stations of Eduardo Ortiz-Santiago said the Mass and anointed several elderly the Cross will soon take their place around the cathedral interior. parishioners, along with those who are suffering through illnesses Deacon Wilfredo Acosta led the recent Friday Lenten observance. and any kind of disease. This is an annual practice of the OLPH congregation and always yields much fruit in the spirit and health of mind and body for the participants, and for all those for whom they interceded in prayer and supplication.

Catholic Charities’ April Food Drive

Please collect the following items at your church, school or workplace and bring them to Catholic Charities:

• Powdered milk, rice, lentils and beans Men’s Workshop More than 20 men attended the men’s work- • Infant formula and baby food shop led by Father William Jarema of Colorado Springs, Colorado, • Canned meat and vegetables on February 15 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.

World Marriage Day Couples from Holy Family Church were given certificates signed by Bishop Bevard. (l-r): Mr. and Mrs. Baly, Mr. and Mrs. Vanterpool, Mr. and Mrs. Casey, and Mr. and Mrs. Callwood. 8 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Reflection

to express adequately the full horror of abortion. “Murder” con- jures up only a single lethal act against an adult stranger. Abortion is far more than that:

1.) Abortion involves extraordinary violence, deliberate dismem- berment, while the child is still alive. 2.) Abortions are not typical murders: The victim is not an adult, but a helpless child. Pope emeritus Benedict XVI pointed out, in 1991, that abortion is part of “a true war of the mighty against the weak ... with the complicity of states, colossal Killing unborn children is a grave injustice and cruelty of the most means have been used against people at the dawn of their life heinous kind, wherever it takes place. In the Virgin Islands, though, ... worse than ordinary murder.” When we read of troops or it takes on an even more tragic complexion. terrorists slaughtering the weak – the very old, the very young, the very disabled – this seems more inhuman than the killing Faceless and Defenseless of vigorous adults. When a blind man is robbed of his wallet, we react more forcefully than when a sighted person has in the Virgin Islands his wallet stolen. The thief is not only wrong, but shameful. Abortion reasons shamelessly that because the unborn child is n the U.S. mainland, it is not un- dependent and helpless, he may be killed. 3.) The most horrific part of child killing is betrayal. It is worse for common for abortion providers a caretaker (a lifeguard, a nurse, a family member) to kill than for a stranger to do so, because the evil of betrayal is added to to face scrutiny, criminal charges the evil of murder. If there is a life, then there is a child; if a O and even prosecution for violating child, then a mother; if a mother, then a betrayal. any of a number of laws and regula- And not just any betrayal. Parental duties are the most funda- mental we can imagine. The killing of strangers eats away at our tions that when flouted or blatantly and criminal- community from the outside in; accepting the killing of our own ly disregarded, can bring severe penalties, even the children rots us from the inside out. Mother Teresa, in her Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech, closing of such facilities where injury and death said, “If a mother can kill her own child, what is left?” During this season of Lent, when, the entire Catholic popula- spread beyond the targeted unborn to mothers, tion of a world held captive by a culture of death ought to be a who are often underage, and often unreported powerful and united voice for Christ and the innocent unborn, make your voice heard in prayer and petition to Our Lady, Refuge victims of incest, molestation and rape. of the Poor and the Helpless, to intercede for these, the tiniest, most helpless and defenseless of her children. Give in support of Catholic Charities of the Virgin Islands and There are no reporting requirements for those committing abor- all organizations that are seeking to end this travesty of human tions here in the territory. So aborted babies do not exist politically rights. Make it a Lenten observance to fast, do penance and offer a or socially. They are not even statistics – because there are no sta- daily or weekly rosary for an end to the scourge of abortion in our tistics for them. Their unfortunate mothers, frequently underage, islands, the whole Caribbean and the world. at-risk victims of abuse, are denied critical health care oversight and protection from the unscrupulous abortion industry. Adding insult to injury: sea turtles and their eggs in the terri- Father E. Patrick Lynch, CSsR, is pastor of St. Patrick Church, tory get full protection from the federal government under the Frederiksted, St. Croix. Father Lynch also is the superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, and is the long-time head of the Endangered Species Act. Federal law provides protection to sea diocesan pro-life movement. As an educator and the top school ad- turtles and their eggs with criminal penalties as severe as $100,000 ministrator for the Diocese of St. Thomas, Father Lynch is commit- and a year in prison if you “take, harass, harm, pursue, hunt, ted to the safety, education and the rights of all young people to the shoot, wound, kill, trap or capture any marine turtle, turtle nest full benefits of the rich life for which God created them. In addition and/or eggs.” It is a most deplorable and convoluted twist of fate to the many duties which his spiritual, clerical, ministerial and professional engagements demand, he leads a monthly prayer vigil, a that unborn babies would be better off under the protection of the group that meets in front of local abortion facilities. As he relates in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service than under the U.S. Department of this article, such abortuaries, in the Virgin Islands, are actually pri- Health and Human Services – which offers them no protection. vate doctors' offices, and so are not visibly identified, as are Planned Richard Stith wrote a very powerful article, “Abortion is more Parenthood and other abortion mills on the mainland U.S. than murder.” He says that the word murder does not say enough By Father E. Patrick Lynch, CSsR 9 Holy Week 2014

Days of Holy Week

Palm Sunday is on April 13. Holy Thursday is on April 17. Good Friday is on April 18. Holy Saturday is on April 19. Easter Sunday is on April 20.

a Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. On Sunday, Masses will be at 7 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. A procession will precede the 9:30 a.m. Mass. Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be at 7 p.m. Adoration will follow. Good Friday: A three-hour service that includes the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Stations of the Cross and the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will begin at noon. Con- fessions will be heard from noon to 2 p.m. Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil Mass will be at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday: The Sunrise Mass will be at 5:30 a.m. and the Solemn Mass with Bishop Bevard will be at 9:30 a.m.

St. Joseph Church Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin on Saturday with a procession at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. On Holy Week Schedule Sunday, a procession at 6:30 a.m. will be followed by an English Mass at 7 a.m. A procession at 8:30 a.m. will be followed April 13-20, 2014 by Spanish Mass at 9 a.m. Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. Procession and Mass. Wednesday: 6:30 a.m. Daily Mass. Last Words will be prayed bilingually at Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the St. Croix 2:15 p.m., and a bilingual Celebration of Lord’s Supper will be bilingual at 7 p.m. Holy Cross Church the Lord’s Passion will be at 3 p.m. with Bishop Bevard. Adoration of the Bless- Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin Holy Saturday: Tenebrae will be at 8:15 a.m. ed Sacrament follows at 8:30 p.m. and will with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6 p.m. On The Easter Vigil Mass with Bishop Bevard continue until midnight. Sunday, Masses are at 7:15 a.m. in Spanish will be at 6:30 p.m. Good Friday: A bilingual Stations of the and at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English. Easter Sunday: An Encuentro procession and Cross will be prayed at 2 p.m. A bilingual Holy Thursday: The first of three Tenebrae Mass in Spanish will be at 7 a.m., and Masses Celebration of the Lord’s Passion will begin prayer services will be on Thursday at in English will be at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. in the church at 3 p.m. Bishop Bevard will 8:15 a.m. The Evening Mass of the Lord’s preside at Mass, which will be followed by Supper will be bilingual at 6:30 p.m. Sacred Heart Chapel the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Adoration will follow. Palm Sunday: Mass will be at 9 a.m. Holy Saturday: The bilingual Easter Vigil Good Friday: Tenebrae will be at 8:15 a.m. Easter Sunday: Mass will be at 9 a.m. Mass will be at 7 p.m. A bilingual Stations of the Cross proces- Easter Sunday: Mass in English will be at sion will begin from Sacred Heart Chapel St. Ann Church 7 a.m., Mass in Spanish will be at 9 a.m. to Holy Cross Church at 1 p.m. The Seven Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin with and an English Mass will be at 11 a.m. 10 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com St. Patrick Church Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin on Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Saturday with a procession before the Satur- day Vigil Mass at 6 p.m. On Sunday, Masses Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s will be at 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. Parishioners will meet with congregants of other denomina- mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable tions for an ecumenical procession through the streets of Frederiksted at 10:30 a.m. the power of his love to transform our lives Tuesday: Noon, Chrism Mass with Bishop Bevard. too; and let us become agents of this mercy, Holy Thursday: The first of three Tenebrae prayer services will be on Thursday at 8 a.m. The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will channels through which God can water the be at 7 p.m. Adoration of the Blessed Sacra- ment will continue until 10 p.m. earth, protect all creation and make justice Good Friday: Tenebrae will be at 8 a.m. The Seven Last Words will be prayed at and peace flourish." - Pope Francis’ 2013 Easter Sunday Urbi et Orbi Message noon, the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy will be prayed at 1 p.m., the Stations of the Cross at 2 p.m. and the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion with Bishop Bevard Holy Family Church Easter Sunday: Sunrise Mass will be at will be at 3 p.m. Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin 5:30 a.m. A second Mass will be at 9 a.m. Holy Saturday: Tenebrae will be at 8 a.m. with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6 p.m. On The Easter Vigil Mass will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, the first Mass will be at 7 a.m. A St. Anne Chapel Easter Sunday: Masses will be at 7 a.m. procession will begin from the Our Lady Palm Sunday: Celebrations begin with and 10 a.m. of Cassi Hill Shrine at 9 a.m., followed by Mass at 5 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday Mass a second Mass in the church. will be at 8 a.m. Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the St. Thomas and St. John Lord’s Supper will be at 7 p.m. Adoration Lord's Supper will be at 7 p.m. Adoration Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament will continue of the Blessed Sacrament will follow. Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin until midnight. Good Friday: Stations of the Cross at 2:30 with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 5:45 p.m. Good Friday: Stations of the Cross will be p.m. and the Celebration of the Lord's On Sunday, Masses will be at 6:30 a.m., prayed outdoors at 2 p.m., followed by the Passion at 3 p.m. 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. in English and Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m. Holy Saturday: Vigil Mass at 7 p.m. 12:30 p.m. in Spanish. Processions from Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil Mass will Easter Sunday: Mass at 8 a.m. followed by Sts. Peter and Paul School will be at 8 a.m. be at 7 p.m. an Easter egg hunt. and 10 a.m. Easter Sunday: Sunrise Mass will be in the Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the Our Lady of Cassi Hill Shrine at 5 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Lord’s Supper will be at 7 p.m. Adoration followed by Masses in the church at 7 a.m. Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin of the Blessed Sacrament will continue and 9 a.m. with a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6 p.m. On until midnight. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Sunday, the first Mass will be at 7:30 a.m. Good Friday: The Celebration of the Palm Sunday: Celebrations will begin with A second Mass will begin at 9:30 a.m. All Lord’s Passion for children will be at noon. a Saturday Vigil Mass at 6:30 p.m. On Sun- Masses will begin with the benediction of The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion for day, Masses will be at 6:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. palms inside the church. adults in English will be at 3 p.m. The Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of Holy Thursday: The Evening Mass of the living Stations of the Cross in Spanish will the Lord’s Supper will be at 6:30 p.m., Lord’s Supper will be at 7 p.m. Adoration begin from Davis Funeral Home at 4 p.m. followed by Adoration of the Blessed of the Blessed Sacrament will continue and end at the church for the Celebration Sacrament. until midnight. of the Lord’s Passion in Spanish at 5 p.m. Good Friday: The Stations of the Cross Good Friday: The Stations of the Cross Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil Mass will will be prayed at Magens Bay at 5:30 a.m. will be at 2 p.m. followed by a Celebration be at 7 p.m. Stations of the Cross will be prayed again of the Lord’s Passion at 3 p.m. Easter Sunday: Masses in English will at the church at 2 p.m. The Celebration of Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil Mass will be a Sunrise Mass at 6 a.m., 8 a.m., and the Lord’s Passion will be at 3 p.m. be at 7:30 p.m. a Solemn Mass at 10:30 a.m. A Spanish Holy Saturday: The Easter Vigil Mass will Easter Sunday: Masses will be at 7:30 a.m. Mass will be at 12:30 p.m. be at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 a.m. 11 The Season of Lent

In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation

I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time;

behold, now is the day of salvation.

Pray to your Heavenly Father in secret, confessionals – which in generations passed arguably predictable cause and effect and in secret He will hear you ... and in saw regular and frequent use by faithful relationship, has been the wholesale aban- secret He will repay you. Catholics – have been turned into mop and donment or minimization of the sacra- Over the last several decades, there has storage closets; or altered and remodeled ment of penance, or reconciliation. been a marked and ongoing transformation into larger, furnished, accent-lighted, face- In churches where more modern rec- in the Catholic Church. The change I men- to-face reconciliation rooms. onciliation rooms were built to accom- tion here is perhaps not one you might ex- Coinciding with this change, for differ- modate what seemed like a more open pect. In more churches than I care to count, ent and varied reasons, and yet linked in an and less onerous style of receiving abso-

12 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Cover Story lution from a priest, there manifested no concealed from the priest, due to simple At Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Char- vast movement toward, nor the antici- embarrassment; rendering the sacrament lotte Amalie, Bishop Hebert Bevard has had pated preference for, the newer, “friend- itself, sacrilegious. installed two confessionals, constructed in lier, non-threatening style” of confession. The reality of the intimate touch that the old style of the anonymous confession- Confessions to a priest – anonymous or takes place between the flesh of the com- al. These beautiful and ornate prayer closets face-to-face – have plummeted to such a municant and the flesh of Jesus, when holy date from the period of our cathedral’s con- low level that the standing joke about the Communion is received, worthily, or un- struction and sit invitingly, conveniently, abandonment of the practice of frequent worthily, takes on a diabolical character and most aesthetically in the narthex at the and regular confession, is that people have when received in a state of mortal sin, of front of the cathedral. stopped sinning! Oh, glory and hallelujah! the sadistic and tortuous intimacy poison- Bishop Bevard has long requested, in every The obvious, towering and truly fright- ing the touch of those hands that whipped church in the diocese, of which the Cathedral ening effects of sin in our culture put such and lacerated the sacred flesh of Our Lord, of Sts Peter and Paul is the model church, that an irresponsible and cynical fantasy to drove spikes into his sacred and tender the Sacrament of Reconciliation be offered rest, however. hands and feet, pressed in abominable before, and after, every Mass, and that these Confession, which is articulating or tell- mockery the plaited crown of thorns into times be published in parish bulletins. ing one's sins to the priest, who acts in the his sacred, sorrowing, brow, and, ultimate- person of Jesus Christ to grant absolution ly, drove the lance into his Sacred Heart. or remission from guilt, and to restore The perhaps unforeseen effect of taking the Pray to your Heavenly sanctifying grace and life to the soul, is so anonymity out of confession and turning the painful, humiliating, and difficult, when sacrament into a face-to-face encounter, at Father in secret, and there is true contrition of heart, that some- best, or a mere counseling session, at worst, times – often – just the thought of the con- has been the shying away from the intrinsic in secret He will hear fession which will be the only way of re- and inescapable awkwardness of articulating mitting the sin, if temptation is yielded to, and divulging serious sins to a priest. you ... and in secret becomes itself a marvelous deterrent and Thus have been deprived millions of sin- an aid in avoidance of sin in the first place. ners, whose forebears benefitted from the He will repay you." It is a tragedy beyond words that the aban- compassion and mercy of our Church, who donment of the sacrament of reconciliation used to, at all times, beckon poor sinners Beginning with this Lenten season, make in recent decades has led to a terrible in- to steal quietly and anonymously into that it a part of your own practice and sacra- crease in the practice of unworthy, fruitless secret room, spoken of in the Scriptures, to mental life – especially as a Lenten offering and sacrilegious holy Communions. unburden their souls of all sin, be they mor- anticipating the Passion of Our Lord in the In the novel reconciliation environment tal or venial, and be healed; all sin forsaken, coming Holy Week – to take up the most ef- that discourages, if it doesn't disallow, an- forgotten – separated from us “as far as the ficacious, laudable and holy practice of reg- onymity, mortal sins are more apt to be east is from the west.” ular, frequent and thorough confessions at your church, to a priest. Anonymous confession is your right and it is always provided for, along with face-to-face confession. If it isn’t already a part of life in your parish, begin today to re-establish and to teach the thorough examination of conscience, along with the practice of frequent and regular confessions among young people at home and, particularly, in church schools and youth groups. May the spiritual fruits of this holy season of Lent, Holy Week and the season of Easter increase the frequency and fervency of the worthy reception of the sacraments of the church by each of her fully initiated members. May these fruits be prodigious – multiplying and returning to our diocesan family for decades and decades to come, until the Lord returns for us! The two new confessionals at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral

By Father John Fewel, editor 13 Journey of Faith The message I always heard was to ‘Let go and Let God,’ and that was true … He was not letting me go."

St. Patrick Church in Frederik- she realized she needed God to sted,” she says. be a bigger part of her life. Later in life, Nancy relates, “The message I always heard she became less and less dili- was to ‘Let go and Let God,’ gent in attending Mass. As her and that was true ... he was not mother grew older, and Nancy letting me go.” began caring for her needs, Nancy started receiving more Mass again became a more pamphlets and booklets with regular practice. her charitable donations, and “My mother did not drive, those materials also helped her. so she walked to church. When She started being more active in she got up in age, I began driv- her parish by continuing in the ing her to church, and I start- choir, soon graduating to be- ed going again,” she explains. ing a song leader. Then she was Nancy was soon noticed for nominated to the parish council, her singing voice and was where she eventually served as asked to join the choir. “That’s president. the part where the Lord started Through letting the Lord working in me,” she says. Nan- work in her life, she was able cy had always enjoyed singing, to come out of her depression and found herself going to St. and blossom in her faith, help- Nancy Soto Patrick Church more often. ing herself and those around At this time, Nancy was going her. The more she prayed and through problems in her life. got involved, the more she f you meet her today, you’re likely She describes this period as one could see the change in herself. to find Nancy Soto on St. Croix of great challenge. “I was with- Today, Nancy is retired (and drawn, hurt, I didn’t want to talk thoroughly enjoying it) and in church or helping drive some to anybody other than my chil- spends more of her time at dren and my mom, they were St. Patrick’s. She’s grateful for I of her elderly neighbors to Mass. my source of comfort. I was feel- where her faith has brought Nancy has been a part of St. Patrick ing depressed, I just wanted to her, challenges and all. “The be left alone,” she admits. “That Lord has really worked on Church for many years, singing in the choir, lead- was really when I had a change me,” she says, noting that her in my life. I started to pray more journey helped make her the ing as a cantor, even serving on the parish council. often and turn towards EWTN person she is today. “It’s inspir- Though a quiet woman and unassuming, Nancy’s and all the Christian shows I ing, and humbling ... I love my could find on TV.” Catholic faith. And, like a tree faith journey is a story that many can relate to – a Going through this “des- planted by the water, I shall ert period” of her life, Nancy not be moved.” Her message story of heartbreak and, with God’s help, healing. found herself needing her faith is simple: “Trust in God, turn more than ever: “I found that to Jesus when you are unsure, “I was born in New York, Catholic education in New after I went to Communion, I ask His help – you may not get lived with my parents, three York. After my high school felt good. I was revived; I could the answer right away, but keep brothers and one sister. My graduation, my parents relo- sing when I got home; I was asking and trusting and it will mother was the very faithful cated to St. Croix with my sis- fine.” But after a few days, she be answered in His time. God Catholic who took us to Mass ter and me. When we moved was back into feeling closed off can see the big picture and He every week. I had 12 years of to St. Croix, we started to go to and hurting again. That’s when will take care of you.” ◊

14 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com By Paul McAvoy d e t t e | r n a A p e r i B l t . 1 S 6

Conflict Resolution By Dr. Gelasia Marquez, a psychologist and family counselor.

Saint of the Month Discover the iStock©monkeybusinessimages iStock©monkeybusinessimages Hidden Treasure How Can I Tell very once in a while, we are My Mom I Don't Like able to catch a vivid glimpse Surprise Visits? into the mind of God. When E this happens, we see that God’s My mom “surprised” me by flying in for a ways are not the world’s ways. visit. I had other plans for that weekend, and her unannounced trip really threw a The life of St. Bernadette (1844–1879) provides monkey wrench into them. How can I pre- us with a stunning example of this. vent this from happening again without Bernadette’s life is hardly the kind of story the world takes making her feel rejected? note of or celebrates. She was a frail child from an impoverished family in Lourdes, France, yet St. Bernadette was chosen to re- Regrettably, some parents have difficulty understand- ceive and to communicate a great treasure to humanity. ing that their adult children have the right to live their On February 11, 1858, God’s mother appeared to her, dressed own lives and make their own plans – and they must be in blue and white. She smiled at Bernadette and made the sign respected. There are two possible reactions to this situa- of the cross with a rosary of ivory and gold. She would appear to tion, and both have merits. Bernadette 17 more times, telling her to pray for sinners, to do The first reaction might consist of receiving your mom penance and to have a chapel built in her honor. with the love and respect she deserves, then engaging in Many people did not believe Bernadette when she spoke of a conversation in which you discuss how important it is her vision and she had to suffer much. However, after Our Lady to you as an adult to have your own plans, responsibilities told Bernadette to dig in the mud, from which a spring began and schedule. You can emphasize that you would rather to flow, many came to believe – because miracles happened with communicate about plans than be surprised. This allows this water. you to turn the annoyance of this situation into an oppor- St. Bernadette eventually became a nun, but she remained tunity to raise the level of understanding between you. humble and did not want to be praised. The hidden treasure that The second reaction (which does not necessarily ex- was the life of St. Bernadette managed to yield the harvest of the clude the first) is to incorporate your mother into your Marian shrine at Lourdes, which attracts more than 5 million weekend plans and appreciate your time together. Re- pilgrims each year. She was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1933. member the words of Leviticus 19:3, “Each of you revere your mother and father.” PHOTO ▶ Wikipedia© 15 Theology 101

The Sabbath: woodcut by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld from the 1860 Die Bibel in Bildern

20:10, God explains to Moses His view of what it means to fulfill this commandment: “You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates.” In other words, all are to partake of the goodness and abundance of the Lord on His day. All creation belongs to God, not us, and therefore is sacred, made holy by God just like the Sabbath. It follows, then, that no one would be excluded from the rest and benefits of this day.

The proper response Since the essence of the commandment is that God rested from His work on the seventh day and made it holy, a proper response to this gift is simply to do the same. The Catechism teaches that the Sabbath was entrusted to Israel to keep “as a sign of the irrevocable covenant.” It was a day set apart not only for rest from work, but also The Third Commandment: for the praise of God in thanksgiving for the gift of creation and His saving actions Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy on behalf of Israel. For Catholics, the Sabbath, along with the totality of the Law, prefigures and pre- have set before you life and death, the blessing pares for the Christ event, which fulfills the Sabbath and the Law. The Gospels all and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and recount that Jesus rose from the dead on your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, the first day of the week. “Because it is the ‘eighth day’ following the Sabbath, it your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to symbolizes the new creation ushered in by Christ’s resurrection. For Christians, it has (Dt 30:19-20) Hi m .” become the first of all days, the first of all feasts, the Lord’s Day – Sunday.” The celebration of Sunday, then, fulfills The gift of the Ten Commandments story of the Book of Genesis recounts not only the moral command inscribed by “is the gift of God Himself and His holy God’s creation of the world. It explains nature in our hearts to worship God, but will.” Specifically, the “10 words” are the how, on each of six days, God brought also the moral command of the Old Cov- words of God that “point out the condi- forth another aspect of the created order enant, “taking up its rhythm and spirit in tions of a life freed from the slavery of sin.” until the world was complete. God then the weekly celebration of the Creator and They show us a path of life that sums up rested from His work on the seventh day, Redeemer of His people.” This, of course, and proclaims God’s law and will “make blessing it and making it holy. occurs in the Sunday Eucharist, which “is explicit the response of love that man is The beauty of the Sabbath lies precisely the foundation and confirmation of all called to give to his God.” in the fact that the source of its holiness is Christian practice.” God, not us. It is set apart by God for God The third gift: and is thus goodness itself, so we can then The way of life Remember the Sabbath day, trust fully in its sanctity. The Third Commandment teaches us to keep it holy. Further, because God is the source, this that the way of life demands the celebration gift is about love. And it is in this love that of the Lord’s Day. “Sunday is the day on The “third word” refers to the gift of God the true richness of the commandment which the paschal mystery is celebrated ... making the Sabbath holy. The first creation comes to the fore. For example, in Exodus and is to be observed as the foremost holy 16 The Catholic Islander / March 2014 / www.catholicvi.com The gift of the Ten Bible Geography Facts Commandments 'is The Desert of Sin The Desert of Sin, also known as the the gift of God Himself Wilderness of Sin, lies between the city of Elim and Mount Sinai, according to the and His holy will.' ... Book of Exodus (16:1). It was the sight of the “grumbling” of the Israelites against They show us a path of Moses and Aaron after their escape from Egypt, and of God raining down manna life that sums up and from heaven in response. The wilderness forms a wedge be- proclaims God’s law tween the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba, tapering south to the mountains near and will 'make explicit Sinai. The area covers more than 20,000 square miles, or double the the response of love size of the Promised Land east and west of Jordan. The annual rainfall that man is called to (except in drought) is between 10 and 20 inches. Acacia, tamarisk and palm give to his God.'" QUIZ! trees are the primary trees and grow The story of the in valleys. Israelites’ journey day of obligation in the universal church.” from slavery in Egypt to Source: In addition, everyone should enjoy “ad- the Promised Land has a large http://bibleatlas.org/sin_desert.htm equate rest and leisure to cultivate their fa- cast of characters. Test your milial, cultural, social and religious lives.” knowledge of biblical figures Did you know? This means refraining from work or activi- and name this person: “Sin” in the name “Desert of Sin” ties that “hinder the worship owed to God.” does not mean “sinfulness.” Since the In the Gospels, Jesus actually was ac- This Levite was gifted word literally signifies “the moon,” cused of breaking this commandment on with eloquent speech many biblical scholars believe the a couple of occasions. One such incident is and a “golden” touch. name probably refers to the Semitic related in Matthew 12:1-8 (see also Mark moon deity, Sin, who was worshipped 2:23-28 and Luke 6:1-5). The passage tells Aaron widely around the entire periphery of us about Jesus responding to the protests (brother of Moses) pre-Islamic Arabia, the Levant and of the Pharisees against His disciples for Mesopotamia. pulling off heads of grain to eat as they walked through a field on the Sabbath. the Sabbath.” Sources: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible and Jesus reminds the Pharisees that King Da- Jesus’ response affirms that God is the Encyclopedia Biblica. vid’s men had once eaten the holy bread, sole source of the holiness of the Sabbath normally reserved for the priest, and that and that God’s intention for all creation is the Law allowed priests on Temple duty to for it to share in His goodness and mercy. break the Sabbath rest without guilt. In the story of what immediately followed shall flower even on the Sabbath, for it was Jesus then says something of utmost im- this encounter with the Pharisees over the God’s goodness and mercy that created the portance: “I say to you, something greater grain, Matthew 12:9–13 (see also Mark Sabbath. The Sabbath was created so that than the Temple is here. If you knew what 3:1–6, Luke 6:6–11, and John 5:1–8) tells we might participate in the life of God, this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’ us that Jesus is questioned upon His en- who is Good itself and therefore our great- (a reference to Hosea 6:6), you would not trance into the synagogue as to the legality est good. This is to say the Sabbath was have condemned these innocent men. For of curing someone on the Sabbath (other created so that we might have life and have the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” passages put the question in Jesus’ mouth). it more fully, which is the very aim of any Now, Mark’s version (2:27) of the incident Jesus ultimately gives us the definitive an- true act of mercy. Consequently, works of includes another statement by Jesus right swer and reveals to us the will of God on mercy also constitute appropriate activi- before the last sentence above that goes the matter: “Clearly, good deeds may be ties on the Lord’s Day. straight to the heart of the matter: “The performed on the Sabbath.” - Quotes are from the Catechism of the Catholic Church Sabbath was made for man, not man for Put another way, goodness and mercy (2168–2195). By Doug Culp, the CAO of the secretariat for pastoral life at the Diocese of Lexington, Ky. 17 In the Know with Father Joe

I Don't Like My Pastor – What Can I Do about it?

Dear Father Joe: I have some serious concerns about the way my priest is Q: running our parish. What do I do about it? And when do I go to the bishop to ask him to transfer our pastor?

These are two great questions that I It’s a tragedy. that does not work, what’s next? hope one answer will address. As How should we, as lovers of Christ, han- This is when you take the next step and people who love our faith and are invested dle these conflicts? contact your bishop. Write him a letter that in the way our local parish lives it, it is in- As we look into this, I want to share a you sign and explain what you see and how evitable that we will run into situations great quote from St. Augustine: “In essen- you have responded so far. Ask him for a where we argue or differ over something. tials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all response to your letter. If you’re feeling This actually can be a good thing. Right at things, charity.” particularly helpful, enclose an envelope the root of the problem is the fact that we So the first step, as always, is to pray. with a stamp and your address on it! all have emotion tied to our experience of If you’re a world-class worrier like I am, Like many people, our bishops are busy. the local church; if no one cared, that then whatever troubles you have with your It may take him a bit to get back with you – would be the real tragedy. priest tend to pop into your head quite make sure you pray while you wait. Right now, it seems to me we are in often. Each time it does, offer a prayer to It may be that the bishop addresses this a contentious time in the history of the God. Say something simple like, “God, I issue in private with your priest and that church. The Internet seems overrun with give this person to you.” Praying is not a you never find out the specifics. If, after a people who want to fix the church and who lack of action or a cop-out – it’s a concrete reasonable time has passed, you haven’t re- seem more than willing to sacrifice chari- response to pain. By offering the situation ceived an acknowledgement of your letter, ty, or even basic Christian ideas, in their and/or person to God, we are allowing the you may want to call the bishop’s office to pursuit of more followers for their cause. Holy Spirit to come in and start the process ensure the letter was received. At that point, of convicting and healing. you might also request a meeting to discuss After prayer, the next step is to make the issue, if it does not appear to have been As people who love sure you are avoiding gossip. There is so resolved. Remember, your goal is not to fix much talk out there, so many wounds the situation, but to be faithful to what God our faith and are that never had to happen simply because has called you to: addressing the issue. we don’t talk to each other as much as we I hope this is helpful. As both a layper- invested in the way talk about each other. Be bigger than that! son and a priest, I’ve been involved in situ- Each time you are invited to “discuss Fa- ations like these and it can be very painful. our local parish lives it, ther,” offer a simple reminder to people I pray that God will lead and guide you that talking about it won’t make it better, each step of the way. it is inevitable that we but prayer will. Enjoy another day in God’s presence! The next step is to go see your priest. Ask will run into situations for some time to talk about what is going on and ask questions when you get there. where we argue or A simple rule for your discussion can be this: You don’t know what you don’t know. differ over something. By asking questions, instead of accusing, you leave room for the truth to come out. This can actually be a By approaching this situation in the way you have, you are obeying the directive good thing ... if no one that Jesus gave us in Matthew 18. You are giving your priest a chance to explain why cared, that would be he does what he does and seeing if the two In the Know with Father Joe of you cannot reconcile and work together By Father Joe Krupp the real tragedy." with Jesus for the salvation of the world. If 18 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Spritual Fitness Spiritual Exercise There are so many ways in which we can honor the Lord this Lent and put our own relationship with Him and with others on a more solid foundation. There are many lonely, broken people who simply need befriending. They are all around you if you have eyes to see, a willing heart to listen and a willingness to be present with them – to spend time you think you don’t have so that wounds can be healed. Simply ask the Lord to show you how. iStock© Be the Lord’s servant this Lent in a particular way, to a particular person. How Much Are You Really Willing If you take up this challenge for Lent, you will become more of a to Give up for Lent? true disciple of Christ and a more generous and com- few weeks ago, I came across an article that astounded me. passionate human being. You may have seen it. In January, a 15-year-old Pakistani If you are willing to tell me of your successes and boy was on his way to school with a cousin. A man stopped failures (and there will be both), write to me at 230 and asked the boys for directions to the school they were Collingwood, Suite 240, A attending. They pointed to the school and the man went Ann Arbor, MI 48103. Your identity and the on. The 15-year-old then told his cousin that he thought the identity of those you serve will be protected, but I man was a suicide bomber and needed to be stopped. While others backed may be able to use your away, this young man challenged the bomber. He caught up to him and stories in future articles so that your example can begged him not to detonate the bomb he was sure the man was carrying. lend courage and hope to others to step out and The stranger became agitated and pulled the cord, killing himself and the love, as Christ has asked. boy. About 2,000 students were in that school, but no one there was hurt.

In an interview, the boy’s loved you.” Am I willing to put just in material ways, but by – especially the poor – before father said how proud he was others first and me second? listening, by showing respect, our own. And remember that of his son. He said, “My son Jesus gave His life for us that by demonstrating mercy and “the poor” includes those who made his mother cry, but we might live eternally. He compassion. We must see may not be financially poor. saved hundreds of mothers sacrificed everything. Are we each person’s infinite dignity, What about the disabled, from crying for their children.” really His disciples? Are we especially when they can’t see the mentally challenged, the Very few of us in life will willing to follow him through it themselves because of sin, sinner who needs forgiveness be faced with such choices, the cross – whatever form it severe hardship, tragedy or – from you? What about the such decisions. But this Lent may take – so that others may hopelessness. ostracized in your own family is an appropriate time to ask be saved – not only in this life Reaching out to others or extended family? What can ourselves: How willing am I but for all eternity? takes time – and today we just you do about generations of to sacrifice for the needs of Pope Francis has made it don’t seem to have enough feuding in your family? When others? How willing am I to go very clear that we, as Chris- time. Let’s take time this Lent are you going to end it? Who out of my way to help another tians, need to reach out to find a concrete way in is going to be the first to reach in distress? Jesus clearly told beyond our comfort zone to which we can deny ourselves out, to make a bridge, to us: “Love one another as I have meet the needs of others, not by putting the needs of others cancel debt? By Sister Ann Shields 19 Special Report

God that opens up before us. The release of the encyclical corresponded to the Year of Faith, which began on October 11, 2012 (the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church) and concluded on November 24, 2013 (Solemnity of Christ the King). The goal of the initiative was conversion and the rediscovery of faith so that all members of the church could become credible witnesses of truth.

Pope Francis’ first World Youth Day Pope Francis celebrated his first World Youth Day as pope in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 23–28, 2013. The theme for the celebration was “Go and Make Disciples of all Nations.” (Matthew 28:19) The final Mass of the event drew between 3.2 million and 3.7 million people, making it second only to the 1995 World Youth Day Mass with Blessed Pope John Paul II, held in Manila, Philippines, where the crowd was estimated between 4 million and 5 million.

Pope Francis’ Pope Francis’ first apostolic exhortation On the Solemnity of Christ the King (November 24, 2013), Year of “Firsts” Pope Francis brought the Year of Faith to its conclusion with the issuance of his first apostolic exhortation, entitled Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). The 200-plus page exhortation was issued ne year ago, on March 13, primarily as a response to the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of 2013, Proto Deacon Cardinal the Synod of Bishops (October 7–28, 2012) called by then Pope Benedict XVI to study the theme: “The New Evangelization for Jean-Louis Tauren stepped out the Transmission of the Faith.” This same synod, which began the O onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Year of Faith, had actually requested that this exhortation be written, and Pope Francis was happy to oblige. Basilica to inform the world that In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis did not attempt to address the “countless issues” surrounding evangelization or to “offer a Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, SJ, of Buenos definitive or complete word on every question which affects the church and the world.” Instead, his aim was to present guidelines Aires, Argentina, had become the first Pope that he hoped would encourage the church in a “new phase of Francis. It was the beginning of a remarkable evangelization.” Throughout his treatment of various themes, it is God’s merciful love that serves as the common foundation. God year of “firsts.” has loved each one of us first and continually seeks out every person with this message of salvation. First “firsts” Pope Francis’ election marked the first time in 100 years the Other notable “Francis firsts” conclave had arrived at a consensus on only the fifth ballot. In ad- • In June 2013, Pope Francis named a commission of inquiry to inves- dition to the selection of the papal name of Francis, the reigning tigate the activities of the Vatican Bank, also known as the Institute pontiff was the first non-European pope in modern times, the first for Religious Works. The institution has been under scrutiny for South American pope and the first Jesuit pope. years because of questions about whether some accounts might actually be fronts for money-laundering schemes. The actions by Pope Francis’ first encyclical Pope Francis led to the bank disclosing its annual report for the On June 29, 2013, Pope Francis promulgated his first encycli- first time in 125 years. cal, entitled Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). The encyclical was • In October 2013, Pope Francis called his first Extraordinary intended to complement two previous encyclicals Pope Emeritus General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme “The Benedict XVI had written on the theological virtues of charity Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangeliza- tion.” The synod will take place October 5–19, 2014. (Deus Caritas Est) and hope (Spe Salvi). In his introduction, Pope • On February 22, 2014, Pope Francis appointed his first cardinals, Francis acknowledged that Benedict XVI had nearly finished a with Pope emeritus Benedict XVI making a rare appearance at first draft of an encyclical on faith, and that he had taken up the the ceremony. Significantly, nine of the 19 cardinals come from work and added “a few contributions of my own.” The encyclical South America, Africa and Asia, including some of the poorest reflected on the origin of faith and the road to communion with places on earth, such as Haiti and the Ivory Coast. 20 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Order of Malta Virgin Islands Area

The Order of Malta is raising funds for His Excellency, Bishop Bevard’s Catholic Scholarship Program through the sale of commemorative bricks. The bricks will be installed in the Rosary Garden at Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Church. This is a great way to remember a loved one or express gratitude to God for answering a prayer. Your message will last forever.

î Call 774.2166 for information

21 St. Thomas Calendar

Catholic Daughters of America Court 2049 meets at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on the third Saturday of every month at 3 p.m.

Charismatic prayer ▶ Prayers in Spanish are offered at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Mondays at 6 p.m. ▶ Holy Family Church holds evenings of charismatic prayer on Mondays at 7 p.m.

Divine Mercy Chaplet ▶ Altar servers from Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church lead the Divine Mercy Chaplet at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Mondays at 3 p.m. Pro-life on Sundays at 2 p.m. Bound 4 Life USVI, the diocesan pro-life ▶ The chaplet is prayed at Our Lady of ▶ Presidium Mary, Mystical Rose, meets group, meets at Our Lady of Perpetual Perpetual Help Church on Tuesdays at in Holy Family Church’s classroom on Help Church every other week. There is 3 p.m. Sundays at 3 p.m. also a pro-life Holy Hour and Mass at 6 ▶ Presidium Mary, Mediatrix of All p.m. on the first Friday of the month. For Holy Hours/ Graces, meets in the St. Anne Chapel more information, visit Facebook.com/ Eucharistic Adoration Hall on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. bound4lifeUSVI or call the OLPH Church ▶ St. Therese Chapel-Divine Mercy office at 340.774.0885. Shrine has Exposition of the Blessed Magnificat Sacrament Tuesday through Friday Magnificat, an international ministry to Pro-life rosary from 8 a.m. until Benediction at Catholic women, meets at Sts. Peter and Pray a pro-life rosary at Our Lady of 5:30 p.m. (Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.) Paul Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on Perpetual Help Church on Wednesdays at and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until the first Saturday of every month at 8 a.m. 5:45 p.m. Benediction at 1 p.m. ▶ Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Men’s prayer group Rosary walk has Exposition on Tuesdays from 7:30 The Sons of Joseph and Mary meet at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral hosts a a.m. until Benediction at 6 p.m. and on Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on rosary walk on the first Saturday of every Fridays at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. month at 7 a.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. 7:30 a.m. ▶ Holy Family Church and St. Anne Our Lady of Fatima devotion Chapel have Holy Hours with The Children of Mary lead a devotion St. Joseph Workers Exposition and Benediction on Fridays to Our Lady of Fatima at Holy Family The St. Joseph Workers meet at Holy at 6 p.m., followed by Mass at 7 p.m. Church on the first Saturday of every Family Church’s Columban Hall on the month at 4 p.m. second Sunday of every month at 9:30 a.m. Intercessory Prayer Group A team is prepared to pray for the needs St. Vincent de Paul Society of all who ask at Holy Family Church on Our Mother of The Young Vincentians meet on the third Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Perpetual Help devotions Sunday of every month at 11:30 a.m. Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual The adult members meet on the fourth Knights of Columbus Help are prayed before Mass on Saturday of every month at 3:30 p.m. Both Council 6187 meets at Sts. Peter and Paul Wednesdays at: groups meet in Holy Family Church’s Cathedral’s Hospitality Lounge on the first ▶ Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral at 6:45 classroom. and third Sunday of every month at 10 a.m. a.m. and noon ▶ Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church at World Apostolate of Fatima Legion of Mary 6:15 p.m. The World Apostolate of Fatima meets at ▶ Presidium María, Arca de la Alianza, ▶ Holy Family Church at 6:50 p.m. Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church on holds meetings in Spanish at Sts. Peter ▶ St. Anne Chapel at 7 p.m. Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. 22 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates. 23 St. Croix Calendar

Adult education devotions on the fourth Sunday of each Celebration of the Word at St. Joseph Church ▶ The St. Patrick Alumni Association offers month at 3 p.m. The hour-long program on Mondays and Thursdays at 7 p.m. an After School Tutorial Program, which includes the chaplet, prayers, Adoration is coordinated by Sister Claina Letang, and teachings of the Divine Mercy by Our Mother of ICM. They are now also operating as a Father John Mark. Perpetual Help devotions Public Computer Center, which is part Devotions to Our Mother of Perpetual of the ViNGN Digital Literacy Program. Franciscan spirituality Help are prayed at: It is open to the public during scheduled The Our Lady of the Angels fraternity of the ▶ St. Patrick Church on Wednesdays at mornings to mid-day. Third Order of St. Francis shares Franciscan 6:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. ▶ The Religious of the Good Shepherd spirituality at Franciscan House on the ▶ Holy Cross Church on Wednesdays and offer adult education classes in Spanish fourth Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. Saturdays at 8:45 a.m. at the Good Shepherd Center Monday ▶ St. Joseph Church on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. through Friday. These courses include Rosary Prayer Group Rosary for the unborn Cenacle of Our Lady of the Rosary Prayer Spanish writing, English as a Second St. Joseph Church hosts a bilingual Group meets at 10 a.m Language and computer courses in English/Spanish rosary for the unborn on Windows, Word, Excel and Internet. Holy Hours/ Fridays at 6 p.m. Bible study Eucharistic Adoration Santo Niño Holy Cross Church hosts Bible studies in ▶ Holy Cross Church has Holy Hour St. Joseph Church hosts devotions to the McAlpin Hall on Wednesdays and Saturdays following the 8:15 a.m. Mass, followed Santo Niño (the Holy Child Jesus) on the at 9 a.m., following morning Mass. by Eucharistic Adoration until 1 p.m., first Saturday of every month at 4:30 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. The sacrament of reconciliation is offered ▶ Holy Cross Church has Eucharistic Carmelite spirituality during this time. The Our Lady Star of the Sea Community Adoration with confession from 11 a.m. shares Carmelite spirituality in the St. to 1 p.m. every Friday. Shepherds of Christ Associates Joseph Church Hospitality Lounge and ▶ St. Patrick Church has a Holy Hour with The Shepherds of Christ Associates meet Learning Center on the fourth Sunday of Exposition and Benediction on Fridays for prayer in the St. Michael Chapel of each month at 1 p.m. after the 8 a.m. Mass. St. Joseph Church on Wednesdays at ▶ St. Patrick Church has a full day of 7:30 p.m. and on the second and fourth Charismatic prayer Eucharistic Adoration on Wednesdays Sunday of every month at 5 p.m. ▶ St. Patrick Church has charismatic ▶ St. Ann Church has a Holy Hour with prayer in the chapel on the third Friday exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Spanish prayer and reflection of each month at 6 p.m. evening prayer and Benediction every Pray the rosary and share reflections on ▶ St. Ann Church has charismatic prayer Friday at 5:30 p.m. except First Friday, the readings of the coming Sunday Mass at in Marian Hall on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. when holy Mass is celebrated at 5:30 p.m. Holy Cross Church on alternate Tuesdays ▶ The Cenacle of Our Lady of the Rosary ▶ St. Joseph Church has a full day of at 7 p.m. Meetings are in Spanish. Intercessory Prayer Group meets at the Eucharistic Adoration every Tuesday Franciscan House on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. beginning with Holy Mass at 6:30 a.m. World Apostolate of Fatima and concluding with Benediction at 6 p.m. The World Apostolate of Fatima meets Cursillo prayer group in the chapel at Holy Cross Church on The Cursillo movement hosts a Spanish Knights of Columbus Tuesdays at 5 p.m. prayer meeting in the St. Michael Chapel Holy Cross Council 6482 meets at Holy at St. Joseph Church on the last Monday Cross Church’s McAlpin Hall on the first of every month at 7 p.m. and third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. Need spiritual direction? Sister Patricia Alexander, Cursillo Ultreya Legion of Mary W.I.F., is available for spiritual Cursillo members meet for Ultreya in the Presidium Mary, Our Lady of Grace, direction at Franciscan House Cursillo office at St. Joseph Church on meets in the Holy Cross Church rectory on Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to Thursdays after the 7 p.m. Mass. Meetings on Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. 6 p.m. Call 340.778.5773 for are in Spanish. an appointment. Magnificat Devotions to St. Gerard Majella Magnificat, an international ministry to Deacon Hyacinthe George is Pray a devotion to St. Gerard Majella at Catholic women, meets at Franciscan House available for prayer and Holy Cross Church on Tuesdays at 8:45 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month at 3 p.m. counseling at St. Ann Chapel on Wednesdays and Fridays Divine Mercy Chaplet Neo-Catechumenal Way from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. St. Joseph Church hosts Divine Mercy The Neo-Catechumenal Way leads a 24 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com St. John Calendar

Charismatic prayer Hall on Mondays and Fridays at noon. Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Volunteers are welcomed. hosts an evening of charismatic prayer on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Legion of Mary Presidium Mary, Queen of Angels, meets in Eucharistic Adoration the Guadalupe Hall of Our Lady of Mount Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church has Carmel Church on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction on Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. Men’s Fellowship

Stock.xchng©jake83 Stock.xchng©jake83 to 7 p.m. Men’s Fellowship meets the first and third Sunday of each month. All-night vigil Free Meals Our Lady of Mount Carmel holds an Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church’s Spanish Mass all-night vigil on the first Friday of each Kallaloo Kitchen: Food for the Soul feeds Our Lady of Mount Carmel has Spanish month after the 7 p.m. Mass. the needy in the parish’s Guadalupe Mass at 6 p.m. Sundays.

¡Buenas Noticias!

Eventos Mensuales Visite los sitios web de escuelas católicas • Oración Carismática • Las oraciones en español se ofrecen en el Salón de Sts. Peter and Paul School www.spps.vi Hospitalidad de la Catedral de San Pedro y san Pablo los lunes a las 6 p.m. St. Joseph High School www.sjhsvi.com

• La Ultreya • St. Mary School www.hcccstx.org Los jueves después de la misa de las 7 p.m. los cursillistas tienen su Ultreta. Las reunions en el trailer, en la oficina del Movimiento de Cursillos, y son en español.

• Legión de María • Protección de niños El presidium hispano María, Arca de la Alianza se reúne en el Salón de Hospitalidad de la Catedral de San Pedro y San Pablo La Diócesis de Sto. Tomás en las Islas Vírgenes los domingos a las 2 p.m. está comprometida a proteger a los niños de todo daño. Si Ud tiene conocimiento de algún • Nueva Misa en Español • La iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen de la isla de Saint John empleado de la iglesia que haya abusado de algún está ofreciendo una misa en español todos los domingos a las menor, favor de comunicarse inmediatamente 6 pm .El celebrante oficial es el padre Eduardo Ortiz Santiago, con la Coordinadora Diocesana de la Protección párroco de la comunidad hispana de la catedral. de los Niños, Calista Julien, al 340.778.0484 or 340.772.4214. • Oración y Reflexión • Se reza el Santo Rosario y se comparten las reflexiones de las lecturas del domingo siguiente, en la iglesia de Holy Cross los martes alternados a las 7 p.m. Las reuniones son en español. Lleva tu cámara digital a la iglesia! E-mail tus • Rosario por los no nacidos • imágenes de la parroquia o eventos de la escuela a La iglesia de San José invita a los rosarios bilingües en español [email protected] e inglés por los no nacidos todos los viernes a la 6 p.m. Esta publicación está disponible de forma gratuita a la • Santo Niño • En la iglesia de San José se rezan las devociones del Santo parroquia a la comunidad gracias a la generosidad de Niño (el Santo Niño Jesús) los primeros sábados de cada mes a nuestros anunciantes.Por favor, apoye a sus empresas. las 4:30 p.m. Durante este tiempo se ofrecen confesiones. 25 Visit the website of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands at www.catholicvi.com

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26 The Catholic Islander / April 2014 / www.catholicvi.com John Thomas Memorial Chapel Serving the U. S. Virgin Islands for over 40 years!

Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates. 27 Buying, Selling, or Renting? Call the Experts! Providing efficient, friendly and professional service for over 18 years. Toll free: (800)773-8788 E-mail: [email protected] St. Croix Web-site: www.sunrealty.vi #2 Hospital Street, Christiansted Call today: (340)773-8790

Advertise your business in The Catholic Islander! Call 340.774.3166, Ext. 213, for rates.