West Texas PERMIT NO. 44 SAN ANGELO, TX NONPROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID US POSTAGE Animated John Paul ANGELUSANGELUS New cartoon, documentary Serving the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas recount Pope John Paul II’s Volume XXVII, No. 11 NOVEMBER 2006 life, teachings/See Page 7. Pope canonizes 4, says being a saint not for the weak By Cindy Wooden four new saints: Mexican Bishop Rafael Catholic News Service ! Learn more about these four Guizar Valencia of Vera Cruz; Italian PO BOX 1829 BOX PO new saints. Graphic/Pg. 7 Father Filippo Smaldone; Italian Sister VATICAN CITY — Presiding over the who, responding with joy and generosity Rosa Venerini; and Mother Theodore DIOCESE OF SAN ANGELO SAN OF DIOCESE ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE ADDRESS SAN ANGELO ANGELO TX SAN 76902-1829 second canonization ceremony of his to the call of Christ, leaves everything to Guerin, foundress of the Sisters of pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI honored follow him,” the pope said at the Oct. 15 Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind. two women and two men who demon- canonization Mass in St. Peter’s Square. Even in the midst of “trials and perse- strated that becoming a saint is not for Political persecution, poverty, suspicion cutions,” the pope said, the new saints the weak and fearful. and even opposition from church leaders knew that following Jesus “truly guaran- “The saint is that man, that woman were not uncommon in the lives of the teed a happy existence and eternal life.” Masses to bring St. Joseph celebrates 125 years Reconciliation Year to a close Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer will trav- Love thy neighbor el throughout the Diocese of San Caring residents of the Big Bend Angelo in November to officially bring area pour their hearts into helping to a close the Year of Reconciliation, a Mexican border town/Pgs. 8-10 year that has asked Roman Catholics in West Texas to focus on God's mercy. Pfeifer names deans for Pfeifer's schedule will take him to: At top left, a paint- ! St. Vincent Palotti, Abilene, Nov. 9 ing of the St. diocese’s deaneries ! Sacred Heart Cathedral, San Joseph Mission in Bishop Michael Pfeifer Angelo, Nov. 20 Stanton by artist ! John Griffin sits in announced November 1 deans for Midland's St. Stephen's, Nov. 21. the foreground as the diocese’s three deaneries in All three Masses will begin at 6:30 over 300 people cel- Abilene, Midland-Odessa and San p.m. and will be celebrated bilingually. ebrate St. Joseph’s Angelo. "During this year, I have encouraged 125th birthday Mass Fr. Tom Barley was named to all people, especially as a family, to take November 5. Above, succeed Fr. Hugh Wade as dean of advantage of the many opportunities to a statue remains in receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation the mission. Near the San Angelo deanery. left, Amarillo Bishop Returning deans include Rev. and Penance," Pfeifer said. "Reconciliation brings the faithful God's John Yunta, with Bernard Gully (Midland-Odessa) mercy and pardon so that we can be Bishop Michael and Msgr. Fred Nawarskas reconciled to our God and to one Pfeifer, at the cele- bration. Bottom left, (Abilene). another." Nawarskas is pastor at Abilene’s light shines through Holy Family and Gully is pastor at a window in the St. ! For more on the Joseph Mission. Far Our Lady of Lourdes in Andrews. Year of Reconciliation, left, the faithful pray. Barley is pastor in Mereta and Wall see Bishop Pfeifer’s column below and also serves as the diocesan seminarian director. Wade served as dean for several years. From the Bishop’s Desk INSIDE ... Sharing God’s mercy, honoring our merciful King Diocesan Briefs . 2 From the Editor . 2 By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI Mercy is at the heart of reconciliation Fr. Thad on Bioethics. 5 At the heart of reconciliation and forgiveness is God’s Diocesan Dates . 6 With the feast of Christ the King on November 26, 2006, mercy and love. During this Year of Reconciliation Love Thy Neighbor . 8-10 we bring closure to the wonderful Year of Reconciliation through our preaching, teaching and liturgical celebrations, Family . 12 of the Diocese of San Angelo which began with the First we have given special emphasis to opening our hearts to Just for Kids. 13 Sunday of Advent in December, 2005. As we close this receive God’s forgiveness, healing and mercy as we seek Coming of Age . 13 Year which focused on reconciliation, healing and mercy, to be reconciled with our God, with our neighbor and our- The Back Page . 16 we “confidently approach the throne of grace to receive selves. A special focus has been given mercy and to find grace for timely help” from Christ our merciful and compassionate King. [Heb.4:16] (Please See BISHOP/3) Bishop Pfeifer Page 2 NOVEMBER 2006 The Angelus The West Texas From the Editor Angelus Official Newspaper of the Outrage is not dead, it’s alive and kicking Diocese of San Angelo, Texas By Jimmy Patterson n't matter the party affiliation. and understanding but find our expressions of POSTMASTER: Send all address Illinois Senator Barack Obama, who faith sowing division; we believe ourselves to changes to: ercifully, blissfully, the campaign- many say will run for President in 2008, be a tolerant people even as racial, religious WEST TEXAS ANGELUS ing is over. No more hate. No has nailed it. He has identified our problem and cultural tensions roil the landscape. And P.O. Box 1829 Mmore name calling. No more and offered a solution in the same sentence instead of resolving these tensions or mediat- SAN ANGELO, TX 76902-1829 charges of racism. No more – something we don’t get much of today. ing these conflicts, our politics fans them, __________________________ images of Rush Limbaugh In his just-released book, “The Audacity exploits them, and drives us further apart.” mocking Michael J. Fox. of Hope,” the aspiring young politician Regardless Obama’s politics, he makes Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI No more John Kerry says we are where we are because of our important points that cannot be denied: we Publisher “botching a joke” and all of lack of empathy. We are no longer able to are a country at war with one another. America descending on identify with others who are not like us. Summing us up, Obama seems to be saying: Jimmy Patterson him like vultures on a Obama asserts that until we are able to If you don’t agree with me, then you and your simply step in another’s shoes, just for a opinion are not worth my time or trouble. Director of Communications decaying carcass. No more gay prostitutes or evangel- couple of minutes even, and see how the Don’t look for it to go away in our life- Editor Patterson ists issuing denials. No poor, the under-educated, the people living times. The Rush Limbaughs, the Sean more, no more, no more. in drug infested neighborhoods feel, we Hannitys, the Bill O’Reillys, the Air Kenneth Grimm Well, at least for another year and a half will never be able to govern equally for all. Americas, Al Frankens, network newscasts, San Angelo Standard Times when it’s time to search for the next presi- And he makes other meaningful points 24-hour news cycles, Jon Stewarts and Production Manager dent. that don’t reflect political views, but mat- Stephen Colberts have together become a What a shame that we have come to this. ters of simple common decency, something billion-dollar cottage industry. Member William Bennett wrote a book a few we are now largely void of. There is far too much money being made Catholic News Service years ago called “The Death of Outrage.” “What’s troubling is the gap between the in divisiveness to turn back now. Outrage is Catholic Press Association But outrage is not dead. Outrage is all the magnitude of our challenges and the small- not dead. Outrage is alive and quite healthy. Texas Catholic News rage. Just look at our politicians in cam- ness of our politics,” Barack writes. “The Instead, what’s dead is the respect we paign mode. ease with which we are distracted by the once had for one another and our ability to Published the first Monday following And what are we teaching our children petty and trivial, our chronic avoidance of respect one another even if we have a dif- the first Saturday of each month and through all of this? That we can bad mouth tough decisions, our seeming inability to ferent point of view. delivered to all registered parishioners whomever opposes us, make them look fool- build a working consensus to tackle any I wonder then, if this is not going away in the Diocese of San Angelo. ish, tawdry and despicable, all for personal big problem.” – and it’s not – how do we teach our chil- gain in the name of bettering our country? And ... dren about respect when it simply ceases Subscription rate for all others: Outrage is at an alltime high and it does- “We think of faith as a source of comfort to exist entirely? $10 per year DIOCESAN BRIEFS Retirement Fund Thanks THIRD CLASS POSTAGE PAID AT SAN ANGELO, TEXAS Sanderson Centennial Greetings from San Angelo! St. James Catholic Church of Sanderson, Diocesan Festival I am writing to express my profound grati- TX will be having a Centennial Celebration Printed by the Calendar tude to you for your contributions to the 2005 December 9 -- “100 Years of Existence, San Angelo Standard Times Retirement Fund for Religious.