50¢ October 10, 2010 Think Green Volume 84, No. 35 Recycle this paper Go Green todayscatholicnews.org Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend Go Digital ODAYODAY’’SS ATHOLICATHOLIC Red Mass TT CC Defending life and dignity Pages 2, 10-11 Arise women’s conference awakens Pope in Sicily women to media makeover Urges rejection to ‘path of death’ BY KAY COZAD Page 3 FORT WAYNE — Over 500 women from across the diocese gathered for the third annual women’s day of reflection sponsored by the Diocese of Fort Wayne- South Bend Office of Spiritual Development and Respect Life Sunday Evangelization in partnership with Redeemer Radio AM 1450. The day-long conference, “Arise: Catholic Cemetery memorializes Celebrating the Strength, Dignity and Hope of lives lost to abortion Women,” was held at the University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne. Page 8 The day began promptly at 9 a.m. with registration and recitation of the rosary in the auditorium of the North Campus building, followed by a special Mass, which included the Bishop Dwenger Choir, celebrated by Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who spoke to the women St. Michael Church of the feast of the Guardian Angels. “Today, Oct. 2, is the feast of the Guardian Angels. at 100 This feast invites us to think about these heavenly pro- Plymouth parishioners tectors whom God, in his loving providence, has set beside each of us,” said Bishop Rhoades. celebrate centennial of church After describing their spiritual nature and their role in the history of human salvation, Bishop Rhoades Page 9 said, “As I was thinking about this Women’s Conference, I recalled the teaching of Pope John Paul II ... on the dignity and vocation of women. Pope John Paul wrote that ‘the moral and spiritual strength of a woman is joined to her awareness that God entrusts the Anti bullying zone human being to her in a special way.’” Catholic schools He continued, “I was thinking about the similarity KAY COZAD of this mission to that of the guardian angels. God adopt initiatives Teresa Tomeo was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 2 Arise Women’s Conference held on the entrusts us to our guardian angels. And God entrusts Page 13 University of Saint Francis campus. She spoke to the 500 women from around the diocese who attended about media bias and how to affect a change for the culture. ARISE, PAGE 20 Franciscan Sisters Minor ANIMALS BLESSED FOR THE welcomed to diocese FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS and the consecrated life for 30 years. She was BY TIM JOHNSON the fourth Franciscan Sister Minor. Sister Mary Clare Smith of Riverside, FORT WAYNE — They come to the R.I., is a widow with six children and 20 Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend in the grandchildren. She was the third woman to spirit of prayer and evangelization — the join the community, and she is not the only same mission as the Catholic Church. And grandmother of the 10. Sister John Marie Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, Father Cyril Flood, a native of Woodsocket, R.I., is a Fernandes, pastor of St. John the Baptist mother of four and a grandmother of 10. She Church, Fort Wayne, and the St. John com- is a novice. munity welcomed the 10 Franciscan Sisters Sister Stella Francis Belonger, of New Minor who will be living there in Bedford, Mass., entered the Franciscan Providence House and ministering in the Sisters Minor after graduating from high TIM JOHNSON community. school and has been part of the community The sisters have varied backgrounds. for six years. The feast of St. Francis of Assisi is often Sister Mary Clement Turcotte, a native of Sister Marie Veronica Goins, a native of marked by a blessing of animals and pets. Boston, was the first to join the Franciscan Rochester, N.Y., has been a religous for five Sisters Minor. She has been a sister for 48 years. She entered after the experience of col- This blessing took place at the Cathedral years. Sister Margaret Rose Cronin, a native of the Immaculate Conception in Fort of Riverside, R.I., has been in religious life SISTERS, PAGE 20 Wayne Oct. 3 with Father Gabriel Msuya. 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC OCTOBER 10, 2010 TODAY’S CATHOLIC (ISSN 0891-1533) Reflections on Truth and (USPS 403630) Official newspaper of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 Freedom, Law and Morality PUBLISHER: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades EDITOR: Tim Johnson IN TRUTH NEWS EDITOR and STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad AND Editorial Department PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan CHARITY FREELANCE WRITERS: Lauren Caggiano, BY BISHOP KEVIN C. RHOADES Michelle Castleman, Karen Clifford, Elmer J. Danch, Bonnie Elberson, Denise Fedorow, Diane Freeby, May The following homily was delivered by Lee Johnson, Sister Margie Lavonis, Bishop Rhoades at the Red Mass on Respect CSC, Joe Kozinski and Deb Wagner Life Sunday, October 3, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne. A substantial part of this homily was also con- Business Department tained in the Bishop’s homily at the Red Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice of Notre Dame, on September 27th. AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol Red Mass — October 3, 2010 [email protected] Today the Church throughout the United States celebrates Respect Life Sunday. And FRANCIE HOGAN Advertising Sales today we also celebrate here in our cathedral Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades at the recessional for the Red Mass held at the Cathedral of the Tess Steffen (Fort Wayne area) the annual Red Mass, asking the Holy Spirit Immaculate Conception in Fort Wayne on Oct. 3. (260) 456-2824 to guide our civic officials, judges and Jeanette Simon (South Bend area) lawyers, and all those who serve in the legal unchanging moral norms. opposed to the natural law, then it is not really (574) 234-0687 profession. It seems quite providential that For its very survival, a law but rather a corruption of the law. We democracy needs a solid are rightly proud of our nation and its tradi- Web site: www.todayscatholicnews.org we are celebrating the Red Mass on Respect Video is available at Life Sunday since the defense of human life todayscatholicnews.org moral foundation. The tion of the rule of law, yet the Church reminds Published weekly except the fourth and dignity is one of the fundamental respon- natural law is the neces- us that “the very foundations of a state based Sunday in June, second and fourth sibilities of those in public office and in the sary basis for civil law. on law are undermined when the state does weeks in July and August and the first legal profession. Indeed, it is a responsibility There can be no freedom apart from or in not place its power at the service of the rights week of September by the Diocese of of us all. We are all called to be our brother’s opposition to the truth. A completely individu- of each citizen, and in particular of the more Fort Wayne-South Bend, 1103 S. keeper, to respect life, to love our neighbor, alistic concept of freedom contradicts its very vulnerable” (CDF, Donum Vitae). Calhoun St., P.O. Box 390, Fort Wayne, IN and to recognize Jesus in the least of our meaning and dignity. How often the great Two weeks ago, Pope Benedict XVI beati- 46801. Periodicals postage paid at Fort brothers and sisters. When we fulfill these Pope John Paul II reminded us that “when fied Cardinal John Henry Newman during a Wayne, IN, and additional mailing office. responsibilities, we should say as Jesus freedom is made absolute in an individualistic Mass in Birmingham, England. In his homily, taught in today’s Gospel: “we are unprof- way,” it “negates and destroys itself” and the Holy Father said that “in our day, when POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: itable servants; we have done what we were becomes “a factor leading to the destruction an intellectual and moral relativism threatens Today’s Catholic, P.O. Box 11169, Fort obliged to do.” of others.” This happens “when it no longer to sap the very foundations of our society, Wayne, IN 46856-1169 or e-mail: recognizes and respects its essential link with Newman reminds us that, as men and women [email protected]. In this homily, I would like to reflect on some fundamental principles concerning the truth.” Pope John Paul taught that “this made in the image and likeness of God, we MAIN OFFICE: 915 S. Clinton St., Fort truth and freedom, law and morality, in light view of freedom leads to a serious distortion were created to know the truth, to find in that Wayne, IN 46802.Telephone (260) of our celebration of this Red Mass and of life in society.” Of course, we see this hap- truth our ultimate freedom and the fulfillment 456-2824. Fax: (260) 744-1473. Respect Life Sunday. pening in society when the original and of our deepest human aspirations.” Cardinal BUREAU OFFICE: 114 W.Wayne St., South There is a strong tendency in our culture inalienable right to life is denied or not safe- Newman’s passion for the truth is an example Bend, IN 46601.Telephone (574) 234- to consider the moral law as something in guarded. Pope John Paul wrote in his great for us today. 0687. Fax: (574) 232-8483. conflict with human freedom, when, in fact, encyclical The Gospel of Life that “to claim The Lord calls all of us to embrace the God’s law promotes human freedom.