'Millennium Cross' Inspires Parish in Its Efforts to Build a New Church

Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Editorial . 4 Question Corner . 11 The Sunday & Daily Readings. 11 Serving the CChurchCriterion in Centralr andi Southert n Indianae Since 1960rion www.archindy.org April 25, 2003 Vol. XXXXII, No. 28 75¢ Eucharist greatest gift Christ gave Church, pope says in encyclical VATICAN CITY (CNS)—The Eucharist presence of Christ in the Eucharist, on the From the day he was ordained in 1946, is the greatest gift Christ left his Church, a need for validly ordained ministers for its he said, as a priest, bishop, cardinal and gift that makes the sacrifice of his life pre- celebration, and on the importance of fol- pope, “I have been able to celebrate Holy sent for all time and gives strength and lowing the Church’s liturgical norms. Mass in chapels built along mountain hope to the world, Pope John Paul II wrote Pope John Paul said he had asked the paths, on lakeshores and seacoasts; I have CNS photo from Reuters in a new encyclical letter. Vatican offices responsible for sacraments celebrated it on altars built in stadiums The pope said he issued the letter, his 14th and for doctrine “to prepare a more spe- and city squares.” encyclical, in the 25th year of his papacy as a cific document, including prescriptions of Whether in a grand basilica or a small sign of his gratitude and with the desire to a juridical nature,” on the obligation to country church, the pope said, “the share his faith in the sacrament. follow Church rules for the celebration of Eucharist is always in some way cele- The letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, on Mass and adoration of the Eucharist. brated on the altar of the world. It unites the Eucharist and its relationship to the A publication date for the second docu- heaven and earth. It embraces and perme- Church, was published on April 17, Holy ment was not announced. ates all creation.” Thursday, and the pope signed a copy of The 82-year-old pope also used the Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—his the encyclical during the evening Mass of encyclical to express how important the offering of love to God the Father— Pope John Paul II signs his new encyclical, the Lord’s Supper. Eucharist has been in his life and to offer embraces and redeems all creation and Ecclesia de Eucharistia, urging Catholics to In the letter, the pope reaffirmed the tra- a reflection on the Blessed Virgin Mary, offers it back to God, the pope said. strictly observe the traditional importance of the ditional teaching of the Church on the real “woman of the Eucharist.” See EUCHARIST, page 2 sacrament of the Eucharist. U.S.-Vatican relations Gift of ‘Millennium Cross’ inspires parish not hurt over war, says U.S. ambassador in its efforts to build a new chur ch ROME (CNS)—U.S.-Vatican relations have not been hurt by differences over the By Mary Ann Wyand war in Iraq, and the Vatican has pledged cooperation in the humanitarian and TERRE HAUTE—St. Margaret Mary rebuilding phase to come, U.S. Ambassador parishioners and visitors to the south to the Vatican Jim Nicholson said. side Terre Haute parish can reflect on Ann Wyand Photo by Mary After a series of meetings at the the birth, crucifixion and resurrection of Vatican in mid-April, the “wheels are Christ by watching “The Cross of the turning” so that Church agencies can help Millennium” rotate on a lighted, moving bring immediate relief to Iraq and aid the pedestal in the church. recovery from decades of repressive rule, The unique spiritual gift from Nicholson said in an interview with Dr. Primo and Sylvia Andres, longtime Catholic News Service on April 17. St. Margaret Mary parishioners, is a lim- “Those discussions, I’m very happy to ited edition, one-third-life-size clear say, were very forward-looking, dis- acrylic resin cross that was created by cussing ways we can work together to ful- renowned American sculptor Frederick fill the goals we have, which are to free Elliott Hart, who designed the cross in the people of Iraq and provide them with 1992. humanitarian assistance in the short term, To form the sculpture, Hart made a and the means to live as a free, self-suffi- complex mold with images of the Star of cient country,” he said. Bethlehem, Jesus crucified on the cross, “There was no looking back in any of and the resurrected Christ embedded St. Margaret Mary parishioners Sylvia and Dr. Primo Andres of Terre Haute pose for a photograph those conversations, by either party saying inside it that appear to “melt” into one by “The Cross of the Millennium” with Filipino Archbishop Diosdado A. Talamayan, second from ‘I told you so,’ ” he added. another as the cross is turned in a circle. left, of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, Philippines, and Father Ronald Ashmore, St. Margaret Mary’s Vatican officials, including Pope John Hart, an Episcopalian who joined the pastor, on July 21, 2002, at the south side Terre Haute church. Primo and Sylvia Andres donated Paul II, had argued before the war began the acrylic sculpture to the parish as part of the archdiocesan Legacy of Hope from Generation to Catholic Church during the 1970s, pre- Generation capital and endowment campaign. that there was still room for a diplomatic sented a limited edition, one-third-life- solution to the crisis in Iraq. size “Cross of the Millennium” to Pope Mary Parish to receive Hart’s ‘Cross of This close-up Nicholson said the Bush administration John Paul II at the Vatican in May 1997 the Millennium,’ ” Father Ronald view of “The respected the pope’s views. But he noted to mark the upcoming millennium and Ashmore, pastor, explained, especially Cross of the that the pope had never ruled out war as a the Holy Father’s 50th anniversary of since he was such a noteworthy artist and Millennium” moral option in the face of evil, and said ordination to the priesthood. this religious sculpture also is on display shows that Church teaching leaves it up to duly During the private ceremony at the at the Vatican. L.L.C. Photo courtesy of Chesley, Frederick elected civil leaders to determine when Vatican, the pope praised Hart’s sculp- “Good art has the ability to express Hart’s depic- that moment has come. ture and said it “represents a profound mystery with different refractions of the tion of the In the aftermath of the main military theological statement for our day.” presence of God,” he said. “This sculp- resurrection of phase of the war, he said, he has heard no Hart also created the processional cross ture is central to our faith because it is a Christ. See WAR, page 8 that was used by the pope for the 1979 cross, and it illustrates Christ’s death and papal Mass at the Mall in Washington, resurrection as well as the light of God D.C., as well as many well-known public and his glory. We can gaze at it to con- and private sculptures in the nation’s capi- template the presence of God and the tal and other cities. He died on Aug. 13, central mystery of our faith, the dying 1999, of lung cancer at the age of 56. and rising of the Lord. It’s done in a “It’s quite an honor for St. Margaret See CROSS, page 2 In good times and bad, hope is always pr esent, Archbishop Buechlein says at Chrism Mass By Jennifer Lindberg Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis brought priestly service. about 950 people together from across the Chrism oil is perfumed oil consecrated Focusing on hope in the midst of archdiocese, leaving standing room only by the bishop. It signifies the gift of the Church struggles, the war in Iraq and and people sitting on the choir loft stairs Holy Spirit and the anointing highlights individual challenges is the way to and in the narthex. the name “Christian,” which means achieve spiritual joy amidst doubts and The Chrism Mass has two purposes—the “anointed” and derives from that of Christ fears, Archbishop Daniel M. Buechelin blessing of the oils used for the sacra- himself whom God “anointed with the told an overflow crowd during the annual ments of baptism, confirmation and holy Holy Spirit” (Catechism of the Catholic Chrism Mass. orders and the special significance of Church, #1241 and #1289). The April 15 Mass held at SS. Peter and priests renewing their commitment to See CHRISM, page 8 Page 2 The Criterion Friday, April 25, 2003 forget its sacrificial meaning. intimately connected, the pope said, that In a chapter on the Blessed Virgin Mary EUCHARIST The Mass, the pope said, “makes those who share the Eucharist must share and the Eucharist, Pope John Paul described continued from page 1 Christ’s one, definitive redemptive sacri- the Church’s faith in the real presence of Jesus’ mother as “the first tabernacle in his- fice present in time” and allows people of Christ and acknowledge the unity of faith tory,” the vessel “in which the Son of God, “The Church draws her life from Christ all times to participate in it as if they had as passed on and protected by the pope and still invisible to our human gaze, allowed in the Eucharist; by him she is fed and by been in Jerusalem with Jesus. the bishops in unity with him. himself to be adored by Elizabeth” as the him she is enlightened,” the pope wrote. “The Eucharist is too great a gift to tol- Regular eucharistic sharing with other pregnant Mary visited her cousin.

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