Catholic Students Take Time to Pray All Ages Welcome for Life Advocacy
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WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Feb. 6-19, 2015 | Volume 76, Number 7 ORLANDO DIOCESE PALM BEACH DIOCESE VENICE DIOCESE Mike Mombrea, 94, holds a sign and prays during an annual pro-life gathering. (LINDA REEVES | FC) Some of the more than 300 mostly young people who All ages joined Bishop Frank J. Dewane for the National March A young student at Our Saviour Catholic School reads for Life in Washington, D.C., Jan. 22. (COURTESY) the prayers on the prayer chain, written by her fellow students and teachers. (DAWN MELCHER | FC) welcome for Youths march Catholic life advocacy locally, in D.C. students take It is an annual event for life that is covered each year by the Florida Catholic. Over the years exists “In our heart, we must stand firm and say, ‘I am a common thread: each year new faces are among pro-life,’ as an expression of charity and love we time to pray the familiar faces of peaceful protestors at the an- have for life that was created by God,” said Bishop nual gathering in downtown West Palm Beach to Frank J. Dewane to those gathered for a Mass at During Catholic Schools Week, students and pray for the protection of unborn children. Mem- St. Martha Parish Jan. 24. The Mass was held just faculty at Our Saviour Catholic School in Cocoa bers of Generation X and their offspring, the new prior to a Prayer Walk for Life in front of the nearby Beach took extra time to pray for others and deep- Generation Y or Millennial Generation, stand Planned Parenthood regional headquarters, the en their relationship with Christ. Celebrated Jan. alongside members of the Greatest Generation largest abortion facility in Southwest Florida. 25-31, Catholic Schools Week celebrates the role as they carry signs with slogans such as “Life is People of all ages participated in the National schools play in providing value-added and high Sacred. Save Babies,” “Protect the Unborn,” and March for Life in Washington, D.C., and two local standard education for America’s young people. “God Is Pro-life Prayer Walks for Life in late January. Click on the ORLANDO DIOCESE above for Click on the PALM BEACH DIOCESE for more Click on the VENICE DIOCESE above for more more on this story. on this story. on this story. E-edition Pope to exclusive: farmers: Archbishop Respect Romero earth could be vulnerable beatified to climate within a change year Celebrating consecrated life WWW.THEFLORIDACATHOLIC.ORG | Feb. 6-19, 2015 FLORIDACatholic ORLANDO DIOCESE Above, Brother Randall Pinner, a postulant of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, receives the blood of Christ from Father Thomas Connery. At right, religious sisters process into the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe for the Mass for the World Day for Consecrated Life on Jan. 31. (PHOTOS BY FRANK WEBER | FC) BISHOP TO CONSECRATED MEN AND WOMEN: You are messengers of hope, joy LINDA CALDWELL We need your presence in our lives to remind us that you are the portant to me to support her. In doing that, of the Florida Catholic staff it was important to me to have a busload of witnesses to the living Gospel of Jesus Christ. So today, sisters and people here to support our priests and sis- ORLANDO | More than 500 people from ters at this event.” throughout the Diocese of Orlando joined brothers in Christ, we thank you and we thank the Lord for the gift In his homily, Bishop Noonan thanked Bishop John Noonan in celebrating the of your presence in our lives.’ the religious men and women who not lives and ministries of the religious men and only laid the foundation of Christianity in women of the diocese Jan. 31, during the Bishop John Noonan the New World and founded the Catholic Mass for World Day of Consecrated Life at schools, hospitals and parishes throughout the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, young girl in Chicago, but who also became sisters have been a blessing in his life and Florida, but who also continue to serve the Queen of the Universe. The annual event her lifelong friends. his family’s life. He participated in the Mass faithful today and will serve in the years to was deemed more special, as the Universal “The sisters have always been inspira- dressed in full regalia and the Knights come. Church celebrates the Year of Consecrated tional to me, but the greatest impact they served as honor guards for the celebration. “You, the consecrated religious of our Life: Nov. 30, 2014-Feb. 2, 2016. had on my life was through the friendships The Knights from Ascension also donated diocese, are the messengers of hope, the Helen Altieri of St. Timothy Parish in I had with them,” she said. “I remained funds to help charter a bus that provided messengers of joy and the instruments of Lady Lake was among the many who came friends with two high school teachers and transportation for Ascension parishioners peace,” he said. “We need your presence in by bus in order to be part of the celebration. my principal until they passed away. They to participate. our lives to remind us that you are the wit- Sitting on a bench outside of the basilica, were wonderful, faith-filled women and “As a Catholic and as a Knight, we sup- nesses to the living Gospel of Jesus Christ. her face lit up and her eyes brimmed with dear friends.” port our priests and our sisters, so I felt So today, sisters and brothers in Christ, we tears as she recounted the memories of the Doug Blair of Ascension Parish in Mel- called to help,” he said. “In addition, Sis- thank you and we thank the Lord for the gift Sisters of Notre Dame, who not only helped bourne and a member of the Knights of ter Immaculata (Knox) has been with our her grow in her faith and love of Christ as a Columbus said the religious priests and school for more than 50 years, so it was im- PLEASE SEE RELIGIOUS, 2 P ONTIFICAL COUNCIL: C hallenges facing women in society, Church CINDY WOODEN ture is set to explore. The cardinal announced to the press Catholic News Service The council, whose members are all that he was planning to establish within cardinals and bishops, has chosen to his office a special group of female con- VATICAN CITY | Violence against discuss the theme, “Women’s Cultures: sultants to provide women’s opinions women, cultural pressures regard- Equality and Difference,” during its and points of view on a variety of issues. ing women’s physical appearance, at- plenary assembly Feb. 4-7. A document He also noted that if priests had to titudes that subjugate women or that outlining the theme was published in follow the Jewish rules for a quorum ignore male-female differences and the late January, and four women involved for prayer —10 men must be present — Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical growing alienation of women from the in writing it joined Cardinal Gianfran- many of them Council for Culture, speaks as Monica Maggioni and Anna Church in some parts of the world are co Ravasi, council president, at a news Maria Tarantola look on during a press conference at the themes the Pontifical Council for Cul- conference Feb. 2 at the Vatican. PLEASE SEE WOMEN, 9 Vatican Feb. 2. (PAUL HARING | CNS) Feb. 6-19, 2015 Florida Catholic YOUR ORLANDO COMMUNITY 2 hether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, ‘Wdo everything for the glory of God.’ — 1 Cor 10:31 Annual appeal allows faithful to give to God’s glory My Sisters and Brothers in as he stretches out his hand and a Year of Consecrated Life. I cel- adults discern a vocation to the FLORIDA Christ, touches the leper. Jesus heals the ebrate with you those who have priesthood or religious life, mar- leper. While this act of mercy may chosen a consecrated life, religious ried life or singlehood, to offering Catholic Do everything for the glory of have seemed inappropriate to the women, priests and brothers, who retreats for our priests who labor DIOCESE OF ORLANDO God. Hebrew people, Jesus did are true examples of do- daily on our behalf to provide Vol. 76, No. 7 When St. Paul was speaking to all things for the glory of ing everything for the God’s healing mercy to those in the people of Corinth, he was en- God. glory of God. Many of need through outreach programs 50 East Robinson St. couraging them to continue their St. Paul talks about the them nurture us in our such as Catholic Charities of Cen- P.O. Box 1800 Orlando, FL 32802-1800 focus as God’s faithful people. St. Christians being outcasts faith and the gift of Our tral Florida, Bishop Grady Villas, or 407-246-4800 Fax 407-246-4942 Paul speaks about the journey of in the world in which they Catholic Appeal provides Hope CommUnity Center, your gift the Israelites, their uncertainty, lived, but warned against necessary resources for is essential to bring about the glory PUBLISHER their sinfulness, and God’s invita- their own self-righteous- the ministries, which ful- of God here on earth. Bishop John Noonan tion to return to him. ness. Their healing, like fill this role. Thank you for your faithful- In St. Mark’s Gospel proclaimed the leper’s, could only Bishop I am grateful for their ness. Let us ponder Jesus’ courage DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS Teresa Lantigua Peterson on the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary come from God if they John service in the Diocese when we consider our own gift to [email protected] Time, we encounter Jesus in the presented themselves as Noonan of Orlando.