North Texas Catholic Bringing the Good News to the Diocese of Fort Worth Vol. 24 No. 15 November 7, 2008 Synod message says each Catholic should MACC own – and use – their own copy of the Bible evolves into By Cindy Wooden Catholic Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — Devotion college to the word of God must lead Catholics to prayer, concrete SAN ANTONIO (CNS) — acts of charity, unity with other What began in 1972 as the Mexi- Christians, and dialogue with can American Cultural Center all people of good will, said the has evolved into the Mexican world Synod of Bishops. American Catholic College. In their final message to The board of directors held a the world’s Catholics, the 253 press conference Oct. 24 to an- members of the synod said each nounce the unanimous decision Catholic should have a copy of to expand the mission of the the Bible, read it, and pray with 36-year-old institute by offer- it regularly. ing a fully bicultural, bilingual “Every home should have its ministry formation program own Bible and safeguard it in that can lead to a bachelor’s or a visible and dignifi ed way, to master’s degree in Catholic pas- read it and to pray with it,” said toral ministry. the synod’s message, released “This is a day to say ‘thank Oct. 24. you’ to Jesus Christ and Our And, like Jesus who came to Lady of Guadalupe,” said Bishop proclaim hope and salvation, Michael D. Pfeifer of San Angelo, “the Christian has the mission chairman of the board. “We are to announce this divine word of going from an institute that offers hope by sharing with the poor Pope Benedict XVI celebrates Mass as the culmination of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible in St. certifi cates to a college awarding and the suffering, through the Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Oct. 26. (CNS photo/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO, via Reuters) degrees in pastoral ministry.” witness of faith in the kingdom By the year 2020, it is expected of truth and life, of holiness and president of the Pontifi cal Council the bishops also insisted that world,” the message said. Hispanics will represent more grace, of justice, and love and for Culture and principal drafter “veneration and love for the word The bishops said the fact that than 50 percent of U.S. Catholics. peace,” the synod said. of the message, told reporters that of God” is “the principle and Christians and Jews both recog- This shift has occurred already “Authentic hearing is obey- “if the word of God is love, then source of a fi rst and real unity” nize and love the Old Testament in Texas and many other states ing and acting. It means making one who has read and prayed over that Catholics share with other calls them to an “intense encoun- among Catholics under the age justice and love blossom in life,” the word must incarnate love. It Christians. ter” with each other. In learning of 25. the message said. must lead to communion, solidar- “This bond must always be more about Judaism, Christians “This is both a source of hope It is not enough to explain ity, and dialogue.” reinforced” through joint work can learn more about Jesus and and a challenge,” said Archbish- the word of God to others, the Nearing the end of a synod on biblical translations, the dis- his disciples who were Jewish op José H. Gómez of San Antonio. bishops said, but people must that featured for the fi rst time a tribution of Bibles, shared prayer, and can enrich their understand- “There are many challenges that let others see and experience the major address by the spiritual dialogue, and study about differ- ing of the Bible by studying Jew- we must address if we are to pass goodness of God through the leader of the world’s Orthodox ing approaches to interpretation ish traditions of interpretation, on our Catholic faith and our good that they do. Christians, Ecumenical Patriarch and “the common witness of the they said. country’s core values to future Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, Bartholomew of Constantinople, word of God in a secularized SEE FOR CATHOLICS, P. 9 SEE MACC, P. 21 SIM has raised more than two-thirds of its $3 million goal Cassata High School, central city and rural parishes to benefi t from gifts By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen signments added to his physical one-on-one attention, small class gone; I’m feeling better and look- physical improvements is one of Correspondent problems. “I was in desperate size, and independent study, ing forward to college.” the objectives of the annual dioc- When Cassata High School need of a place where I could Cassata gives young people the Taylor is just one of the 270 esan appeal. Since its inception 26 President Sal Espino tells sup- be comfortable and study at my opportunity to earn the academic students who receive guidance years ago, Sharing in Ministry has porters the school makes a dif- own pace.” credentials they need to attend and support each year at Cassata. distributed more than $12 million ference in the lives of students, Cassata offered the perfect college and pursue a career. Located in an historic building in capital and operating grants he’s talking about kids like Zane solution. Founded in 1975 as the After graduation next May, that once housed Laneri Catholic to worthy recipients. It also pro- Taylor. Cassata Learning Center by Sis- Taylor plans to attend a university High School for boys, Cassata vides the fi nancial lifeblood for Before enrolling at the Hemp- ter Mary Bonaventure Mangan, in California, Montana, or Austra- hopes to continue its educational a broad range of ministries and hill St. campus, the 17-year- SHSp and Sister Mary Venard lia where he’ll study architecture. mission in an updated, remod- apostolates in the diocese includ- old, who suffers from a chronic Fulbright, SSMN, the alternative “The administrators at Nolan eled building. A $35,000 capital ing Catholic schools, mission out- stomach ailment, missed more school serves the needs of at-risk suggested Cassata to me, and grant from Sharing in Ministry reach, faith formation programs, than a month of classes at Nolan students who have trouble suc- I’m glad they did,” says the will pay for an overall assess- and Catholic Charities. Catholic High School. ceeding in a traditional classroom high school senior. “Cassata’s ment of current facilities. Sal Espino says the capi- “The work really piled up,” setting because of illness, learn- flexible morning or afternoon Helping rural and center-city tal grant Cassata is receiving Taylor says, recalling how the ing disabilities, family problems, class schedule allows me to work Catholic schools and parishes couldn’t come at a better time. stress of completing missed as- or failing grades. By providing around my illness. The stress is complete repair work and make SEE CASSATA, P. 9 Page 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, November 7, 2008 Diocesan Feast of St. John Lateran honors the mother church of all churches in the world, the cathedral of Rome Dear Brothers and On May 7 2005, life… Presiding in doctrine and presiding ur fi rst popes and less than two weeks in love must in the end be one and the Sisters in the Lord, after celebrating the same: the whole of the Church’s teaching O bishops never had an Mass of Inauguration leads ultimately to love. And the Eucha- ov. 9, we cel- opportunity to preach and for his pontifi cate, rist, as the love of Jesus Christ present, is Pope Benedict XVI the criterion for all teaching. On love the ebrate the dedi- celebrate the mysteries of the celebrated the Mass whole law is based, and the prophets as cation of the faith in beautiful cathedrals, of Possession of the well, the Lord says (cf. Matthew 22:40). N Chair of the Bishop Love is the fulfi lment of the law, St Paul Basilica of St. John Lat- but they did have the of Rome at the wrote to the Romans (cf. 13:10). Basilica of St. John The celebration of this feast of the eran in Rome. opportunity to offer their lives Lateran in Rome. In Dedication of the Lateran Basilica his homily he gives as a sacrifi ce for their faith in Jesus Christ. becomes a celebration of our unity in It is a major feast and even takes us a glimpse of the Christ as Roman Catholics, through precedence over the Sunday liturgy signifi cance of the our unity and love for the Holy Fa- this year. Many of us might say, priests, deacons, and faithful were chair of St. Peter in Rome: “Who is St. John Lateran??” Actu- tortured and killed during the fi rst ther in Rome. ally this title refers to the cathedral centuries. Back then believers would …the Successor of Peter has a special Pope Benedict brings his homily to church of Rome, dedicated to the meet in secret locations and at times task. It was Peter who, on the Apostles’ a close reminding us all that no mat- Most Holy Savior and St. John the in private homes. If found by the Ro- behalf, made the fi rst profession of faith: ter where we are born, we are all in a Baptist. The site for this basilica was man authorities, they would either be “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living special way Romans: God” (Matthew 16:16). This is the task of originally the site of the palace of killed on the spot or be arrested to be Dear Romans, I am now your Bish- all Peter’s Successors: to be the guide in the Lateran family, given to Pope tortured and martyred at a later time.