Diocesan Assignment Changes

Here are the latest diocesan assign- Vicar at St. Joseph/St. Agnes-Ft. ment changes, effective May 25, 2009: Stockton and St. James-Sanderson has • Rev. Quirino Cornejo, formerly pastor been assigned Parochial Administrator at St. Joseph-San Angelo, has been at Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Ozona SanAngeloDiocese.org West Texas assigned Parochial Vicar at St. with its mission of Good Shepherd in Updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday Stephen’s Parish in Midland. Sheffield. • Rev. Rodney White, formerly pastor • Rev. Michael Udegbunum, formerly and as needed. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help-Ozona/ pastor at Sacred Heart-Menard/St. Good Shepherd-Sheffield has been Theresa-Junction, has been assigned as ANGELUS assigned to St. Joseph Parish in San pastor at St. Ann’s in Colorado City with its “Thinking About Angelo. mission of St. Joseph in Lorraine. Moral Absolutes” Serving the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas • Rev. Ruben Covos, formerly pastor at • Rev. Knick Knickerbocker, currently Making Sense of St. Ann-Colorado City/St. Joseph-Loraine Sacramental Minister for St. Theresa- Volume XXIX, No. 6 JUNE 2009 will enter the Military Services as a Junction is assigned also to serve as Bioethics, by Fr. Tad Catholic Chaplain for the Air Force. Pacholczyk/Pg. 6 • Rev. Felix Okeke, formerly Parochial (More CHANGES/17)

10 Commandments en Espanol -- Our Lady of Guadalupe, Midland Book says S. Angelo was among earliest Christian missions The Angelus

SAN ANGELO -- A new book reinforces San Angelo’s place as a site of one of the earliest Christian missionary works with

 Read an excerpt from Marilyn H. Fedawa’s “Maria of Agreda”/Pgs. 10-11 Native Americans in Texas. The author of the book and descendants of those Native Americans will be in San Angelo, June 20- 21, to celebrate publication of the book. Marilyn H. Fedewa, author of “Maria of Agreda: Mystical Lady in Blue,” spent years

Please See BLUE/18

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SAN ANGELO TX 76902-1829 TX ANGELO SAN

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Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer blesses a monument of the Ten Commandments in Spanish, at Midland’s Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe during a Mass and celebration in April. Photo by Alan Torre. (www.aptorre.com)

THIS MONTH IN THE ANGELUS The Sacrament of God’s Mercy Obamagate Teachable Moment One of the first gifts that the newly Much ado was All too often in risen Christ gave to His disciples during made over the our society good

His first apparition to them was the president’s things are done

US POSTAGE US PAID NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT appearance at yet go unno- TX ANGELO, SAN power and gift of forgiving sins. During 44 NO. PERMIT Notre Dame in that first marvelous apparition on the ticed. When you light of Obama’s evening of the first day of the week, the see an instance stance on life of grace, recog- risen Savior told His disciples: “Receive issues. Coverage nize it, and the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive in our Catholic share it, so the Obama are forgiven them, and whose sins you Voice, Nation joy can multiply Patterson Pfeifer retain are retained.” / Pg. 2 pages / Pgs. 8, 9 / Pg. 3 Page 2 JUNE 2009 The Angelus

From the Bishop’s Desk Confession -- the special Sacrament for receiving God’s mercy “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them.” whose sins you retain are retained.” (J.20:22-23) the cross to forgive our sins, and his Resurrection -- (John 20:23) Implied to receive this forgiveness is confession of for our justification. Only God forgives sins. sins which James makes explicit: “Confess your Christ, the Son of God, through the person of the By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI sins to one another and pray for one another that priest, forgives our sins that we humbly and sin- you may be healed.” (James 5:16) cerely confess, as we contritely and gratefully One of the first gifts that the newly risen Christ open our hearts to receive God’s pardon. In the gave to His disciples during His first apparition to Sacrament of Mercy and Reconciliation Sacrament of Penance, we obtain mercy from God them was the power and gift of forgiving sins. This gift of forgiveness of sins given by the risen for sins committed against God, and are reconciled Bishop During that first marvelous apparition on the Christ is what we celebrate in the Sacrament of to the Church which is wounded by our sins. Michael D. evening of the first day of the week, the risen Penance, Reconciliation, each time that we go to Pfeifer, OMI Savior told His disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Confession. In each Confession, we share in the Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and merciful grace that comes from Christ’s death on (Please See BISHOP/19)

DIOCESAN BRIEFS

Mother Teresa’s spiritual The application deadline for the Msgr. Albert G. Henkes and the Msgr. Lawrence J. director to speak in Abilene 2009 Parish Festival Calendar Stuebben Seminarian Scholarships is June 15, ABILENE -- Father Michael van der Peet, 2009. The Msgr. Stuebben Seminarian Saturday-Sunday, June 13-14 Anniversary Celebration & Festival Mass at 9 S.C.J., spiritual director of Scholarship is available only to seminarians ST. ANTHONY’S -- ODESSA a.m. at St. Ann's Church located at 311 W. Blessed (Mother) Teresa of attending Assumption Seminary in San St. Anthony Parish in Odessa will be have Plum in Sonora. Bishop Pfeifer will be the Calcutta, will be speaking on Antonio. The Msgr. Henkes Scholarship is its annual festival June 13-14. There will be main celebrant. and giving insights into Mother offered to those enrolled in any Roman music, food, bingo, games, volleyball and Brisket with all the trimmings including Teresa’s life and spiritual jour- Catholic seminary throughout the world. washer tournaments and a raffle. Everyone is homemade dessert will be served from 11 ney at Holy Family Abilene at Applicants who meet the criteria of each schol- invited from 1pm-10pm. a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Civic Center, 1700 N. 7 p.m., June 19. The presen- arship may apply to both. Crockett Ave. tation is titled "Blessed Mother Applications may be obtained by visiting the Friday, June 26-Sunday, June 28 Music and games for children and adults Teresa and the Dark Night of company website at: www.cliu.com or by con- OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE -- MIDLAND including Bingo, Cake Walk, Toy Wheel and the Soul.” tacting the Communications Department at 1- www.olgmidland.com more from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Brisket sand- Van Der Peet As this is also the feast of 800-292-2548. Applications may also be avail- Friday June 26, 6:00 pm – Midnight wiches at 3 p.m.; Raffle and quilt drawing will The Most Sacred Heart of able through Diocesan Vocation Directors. Jesus, Fr. Van der Peet will have Exposition of Saturday June 27, Noon – Midnight conclude at 4 p.m. the Blessed Sacrament, Litany of the Sacred Sunday June 28, Noon – 10:00 pm Everyone is invited to attend this special Natural Family Planning Heart, Benediction and Blessing. All are invited. RAFFLE PRIZES 80th Anniversary celebration especially former 1st – Trip for two to Las Vegas; 2nd – LCD pastors and parishioners. Helping couples to deepen conjugal love and Big Screen TV; 3rd – Washer/Dryer; 4th – X- For more information, contact festival coor- achieve responsible parenthood is part of the St. Margaret’s to celebrate 60 Church’s total pastoral ministry to Catholic spous- BIG LAKE -- The parish of St. Margaret of Box; 5th – Lap Top Computer. 6th-10th place dinators Mary Jean Sims, 325-387-5433 es. Fulfillment of this ministry includes both edu- Cortona, Big Lake will be celebrating the 60 prizes also awarded. home Janell Sparks, 325-277-2717 years anniversary of her existence as a parish Raffle will be held 10 p.m., Sunday, June 28. cation and pastoral care. This means “instilling on Sunday, June 21. The ceremony will start (need not be present to win) $2 per ticket. August 29, September 5-6 conviction and offering practical help to those with a thanksgiving mass which will begin at Also: Bingo, Cake Wheel, Basket Ball, ST. MARY’S -- SAN ANGELO who wish to live out their parenthood in a truly 10.30 am. After Mass, Bishop Michael Pfeifer Softball Throw, Race Track, Bean Bag Throw, St. Mary's church has begun planning its responsible way” (Pope John Paul II, Familiaris will bless the new grotto built in honor of Our Ring Toss, Jumpers, Cascarones, and More Fall Festival. The parish will host a dance, consortio, #35). Below are scheduled seminars Lady of Fatima. A meal will be served after Food: Gorditas, Roasted Corn, August 29, to kick off the festival and Family (San Angelo) and contact numbers for people mass in the parish hall. Hamburgers, Flautas, Nachos, Aguas Day will be Saturday, Sept. 5, with games for who can help you with more information: Frescas, Funnel Cakes, Tortas, Hotdogs, the kids, food booths, etc. Sunday Sept. 6 SAN ANGELO, Christ the King Retreat Rural Life Mass in Midland Co. Turkey Legs, Tripas and more will feature a meal, auction, bingo, etc. Center, (325) 651-5352, 2-4 p.m. 2009 Dates: MIDLAND COUNTY -- The annual diocesan --- Sep. 13, Dec. 6. Contact Amy at Rural Life Mass, entitled, “Seed, Soil and Oil” Sunday, October 25 Email your festival information when it is available to [email protected]. ST. ANN’S -- SONORA [email protected] is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 23. MIDLAND-ODESSA, Our Lady of St. Ann's Church is celebrating its 80th The Mass location is off of Hwy 80 and Guadalupe, call Christina Nevarez, (432) 682- County Rd. 1297, just west of Midland 2581; International Airport. This year’s Mass will focus Angelo. Registration is at 7:30 a.m. Golfers tee Rome, and will include a Papal audience in St. off at 9 a.m. Peter’s Square, daily Mass and a special Mass ABILENE, Holy Family Church, call Mrs. on the importance oil is to us every day. The Herman Blahak, (325) 692-1820 Mass celebration will be located at an oil field 1st-3rd place prizes will be awarded, as well in the catacombs of St. Callisto, Rome. near 80 and 1297 (signs will direct attendees to as contests for longest drive and closest to the The cost is $3,747 roundtrip. Pilgrimage the site; parishes will have Google maps avail- pin. Food will also be served. Entry fee is $100 organizers are also offering an optional 5-day Scheduled Executions able). Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI, will be per player. Format is a 4-Person Scramble. Southern Italy extension on the trip, from The Angelus publishes the execution dates of the celebrant of the Mass, which is hosted by For more info, contact Bud Goeble, March 18-23, 2010, for $1,599 additional. Texas offenders on death row each month so 325.944.1213; Joe Salmon in Odessa, Deposits are due June 1, 2009. Contact Lori Midland’s Our Lady of Guadalupe. A light meal that the faithful in the Diocese of San Angelo can will be served following the Mass. 432.550.2883 or 432.638.2883, or St. Ann’s Hines at Holy Angels, 325.942.8192 for info. School in Midland, 432.684.4563. pray for them. The following offenders face Seminarian Scholarships upcoming execution dates. Please pray for them: Bishop’s Golf Tournament Offender/Scheduled Execution Date: To benefit Catholic Education Scholarship 2010 Lenten Pilgrimage to Italy SAN ANTONIO -- Catholic Life Insurance is Kenneth Mosley/July 16 Funds, the Diocese of San Angelo’s Catholic Holy Angels Catholic Church in San Angelo currently offering two scholarship opportunities Roderick Newton/July 23 Schools are hosting the Bishop’s Annual is preparing a Lenten Pilgrimage to Italy, March to Catholic seminarians who have earned an Catholic Education Golf Tournament, Sept. 19, 9-18, 2010. Stops on the pilgrimage include undergraduate degree, and are now seeking 2009, at Quicksand Golf Course in San Milan, Venice, Florence, Assisi, Orvieto and financial support for graduate seminarian studies. The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 3 The Visiting Priest From the Editor The context of our Roman Catholic catechesis Camp counselor Editor’s Note: Washington archbishop renewal, particularly among our young world. Many commentators often Donald Wuerl has written a recurring adults, and an appropriate tool to help speak of a generation that has lost its series on the catechism for adults (origi- capitalizes on nally written in 2006). We will feature his with this catechesis. moral compass. writings occasionally in The Angelus. Without belaboring the negative Concomitant with this is the disin- side, it is important to highlight some tegration of the community and social a teachable By Most Rev. Donald W. Wuerl of the elements that we perhaps all structures that once supported religious Catholic News Service have faced. For example, our culture is faith and encouraged family life. The aggressively secular. This is true to heavy emphasis on the individual and moment inflight The need for the such an extent that the environment his or her rights actually has eroded the By Jimmy Patterson new United States can be actually hostile to Christian concept of the common good and its Catholic Catechism faith. ability to call people to something Returning from a week’s vacation via an all-day for Adults is some- We can begin with the fact that beyond themselves. This impacts series of flights from New England to West Texas thing I believe we social mores, particularly in large strongly on our capacity as catechists is not something anyone would nec- have all experienced. urban centers and reflected in the and teachers of the faith to call people essarily relish, but something rather There is both a nega- means of social communications that to accept revealed teaching that cannot remarkable happened during the reach the entire country, have so be changed by democratic process and tive, or downside, and Wuerl Kansas City to Dallas leg of our a positive, or upside, changed in the past years as to produce to follow an absolute moral imperative journey home last month. to what we find in our culture today. a climate that is not only secular but All too often in our world today, Both aspects cry out for a catechetical almost entirely focused on the material (Please See WUERL/13) good things happen but are left unsaid. Such is the case with Chris, a young man from Manchester, NH, who was Patterson CDA state conference convenes in McAllen on his way to The Pines Catholic The Angelus teamwork in a story she wrote, Camp in Big Sandy, near Tyler (www.thepines.org). Together We Are Strong: “Have you San Angelo Diocese Courts My wife Karen and I both noticed Chris as he made “One Faith, One Body, One Lord of ever taken a toothpick to see how eas- Olfen, Saint Monica #1262 his way to a seat behind us. He wore a Franciscan San Angelo, Santa Angela #1736 University hoody and he flashed a pleasant smile at us All” was the theme of the 46th ily it can be broken standing alone? Wall, St. Catherine of Siena #1762 Biennial Texas State Convention of Try breaking 3-4 toothpicks and see (District Deputy #3 is Tempe and we both noticed he seemed to be pleasant, a fel- the Catholic Daughters of the the strength there is in numbers. Gerngross of San Angelo); low Catholic, but we thought little more of it. Americas (CDA), April 23-26 at the Catholic Daughters are very much like Rowena, Our Lady of Grace #1734 A few moments later, two small boys, one who McAllen Convention Center. this. One member standing alone can Brownwood, Ladies of St Mary looked 8, the other who was maybe 10, got on the Outgoing State Regent Carolyn accomplish small tasks. #2565, plane alone and the flight attendant guided them to Bachmann (R), Scotland, presented the “Take three or four members with Brady, Daughters of the Sacred the first available seats she could find, which hap- Gavel to 2009-2011 State Regent their talents and ideas combined, and Heart of Mary #2566. (District pened to be next to the young man with the pleas- Elect, Sheila Martinka (L), Houston. the strength that is developed among Deputy #56 is Ruth Halfmann of San ant smile in the aisle behind us. Over the course of Angelo). Bachmann portrayed her vision of these women will be felt by many.” the next hour, as Karen and I would hear, this young man on his way to Catholic camp might Del Escritorio del Obispo have very well changed the lives of two boys, both of whom had mentioned they were on their way to their other set of parents, the products of a divided El Sacramento especial para recibir la Misericordia de Dios home. Chris introduced himself to the boys and for the “A quienes ustedes perdonen los quedaran perdonados; y a cada Confesión, compartimos en rest of the flight gave of himself freely and self- pecados, les quedaran quienes no se los perdonen, les la gracia misericordiosa que lessly. He engaged the young boys in conversation. perdonados.” quedaran sin perdonar.” (Juan viene por la muerte de Cristo en The three talked about movies, played tic-tac-toe -- Juan 20:23 20:22-23) Implícito para recibir la cruz para perdonar nuestros and paper-scissors-rock and at a few points during este perdón es la confesión de pecados, y Su resurrección para the flight, the opportunity to share more important Por Obispo Miguel Pfeifer pecados que Santiago hace nuestra justificación. Solo Dios things arose. Chris told the boys about Mary and explícito: “Confiésense unos a perdona los pecados. Cristo, el how she prays for you if you ask her, and he told Uno de los primeros dones que otros sus pecados, y oren unos hijo de Dios, por medio de la them of a time in his life when he had once made el Cristo nuevamente resucitado por otros para ser sanados.” persona del sacerdote, perdona nuestros pecados que decisions that had benefited just himself. “But,” he les dio a Sus discípulos durante (Santiago 5:16). told them, “that didn’t work out quite as well as I Obispo Su primera aparición a ellos era humildemente y sinceramente Miguel Pfeifer confesamos, mientras que thought it would, so that’s when I would make OMI el poder y don de perdonar Sacramento de Misericordia arrepentidamente y decisions that would be for God’s benefit instead.” pecados. Durante la primera y Reconciliación agradecidamente abrimos Obviously, the young man’s decision to serve maravillosa aparición en la tarde Este don de perdonar los nuestros corazones para recibir el God is a win-win-win. It’s a decision that has been del primer día de la semana, el pecados dado por Cristo perdón de Dios. En el good for God, good for Chris, and on this particu- Salvador resucitado les dijo a resucitado es lo que nosotros Sacramento de Penitencia, lar day, good for two young boys who gained a Sus discípulos: “Reciban el celebramos en el Sacramento de obtenemos la misericordia de friend even if only for an hour long flight. Espíritu Santo. A quienes Penitencia, Reconciliación, cada Dios por nuestros pecados ustedes perdonen los pecados, les ves que vamos a Confesión. En (Mira OBISPO/18) (Please See EDITOR/20) Page 4 JUNE 2009 The Angelus DIOCESAN DATES When will we receive the new Roman missal? Bishop’s Calendar 7 -- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm By Bishop Michael Pfeifer, OMI revised, many times all the different and standard prayers that are used at 9-11 -- TLC Women’s JUNE prayers that are used in the Roman Mass, is already available—although Retreat 12 -- EDEN, St. Charles – 13 -- Heart of Mercy “When will we finally receive the Missal. As specific volumes were it is not permitted to be used until the Confirmation at 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group complete English translation of the approved by the U.S.Catholic full edition of the Roman Missal is 13 -- SAN ANGELO, St. 14 -- Adoration of the rd Mary – Confirmation at 5 p.m. 3 edition of the Roman Missal?” is Bishops, these were submitted to given proper recognition. However, I Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm 14 -- SANDERSON, St. the question that has been asked me Rome for approval, or in some cases, would encourage our priests—pas- 16-19 -- Boys’ Chrysalis James- Confirmation at 11:30 Flight and the Bishops of the country over sent back to the official English toral leaders and anyone who wish- a.m. 20 -- Heart of Mercy and over again during the past couple translating body, known as ICEL, es—to go to the U.S. Bishops’ web- 15-19 -- SAN ANTONIO, Prayer Group USCCB Spring Meeting of years. My humorous reply often is: requesting changes. site to review the changes in the 21 -- Adoration of the 20 -- SAN ANGELO, San When we get it. Well, there is defi- In view of the fact that the whole Order of the Mass. I especially Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm Angelo Museum of Fine Arts nite light in the liturgical tunnel, process of translation and approval is encourage our priests to read through 23-26 -- Women’s Walk to – “The Lady in Blue” program Emmaus because the body of U.S.Catholic finally coming to an end, now is the these texts, the Prefaces, and 21 -- BIG LAKE, St. 27 -- Heart of Mercy Bishops will be voting on the final time to begin the formation of our Eucharistic Prayers, so as to get a Margaret – 50th Anniversary Prayer Group of parish – Mass at 11:30 a.m. sections of the new English transla- priests and of all the faithful to sense of the proper accents and 28 -- Adoration of the 23 -- MIDLAND – Rural tion of the 3rd edition of the Roman receive the forthcoming new Missal. cadence in proclamation. It is not Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm Life Mass at 6:30 p.m. 30-Aug1 -- Men’s Catholic Missal in November, 2009. Once Once the text has been received, merely a question of words having 25-25 -- ST.PAUL, MINN. -- Cursillo this is approved, all that remains is there will be a complete liturgical changed; in some instances the – National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers the recognitio—recognition—from catechesis on the new text. Already change in style will necessitate AUGUST 28 -- ABILENE – St. the Congregation for the Divine though there should be an opportuni- preparation to pray the text well. 1-2 -- Men’s Catholic Francis – 25th Priestly Cursillo Worship and the Discipline of the ty for a general liturgical catechesis Now is the time for providing a gen- Anniversary of Bishop Joe 3 -- Heart of Mercy Prayer Sacraments in Rome. When this hap- and discussion about the process of eral catechesis on the Liturgy. The Vasquez – Mass at 9:00 a.m. Group and 11 a.m. pens, publishers estimate that they the new translation of the Missal so U.S.Bishops’ Office will be preparing 3-7 -- Region X 28 -- ABILENE – St. will need approximately one year for as to prepare our people for the new a catechetical guide for the new Conference Vincent – 25th Priestly 4 -- Adoration of the publication and distribution of the texts. This is the purpose of this arti- Missal, and as this is available, I Anniversary of Bishop Joe Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm text. cle, to offer some explanations about encourage our parishes to publish this Vasquez – Prayer Service 7-9 -- Deacon Training and Dinner at 6:00 p.m. In the process of preparing the new the new Missal. as bulletin inserts so that our people Program English 3rd edition of the Roman It should be pointed out that the can slowly become aware of these JULY Ordo Missae—the Order of the 2009 CURSILLO Missal, the U.S.Catholic Bishops 1-2 -- SAN ANGELO, have reviewed, and sometimes Mass—which contains the more set (Please See MISSAL/17) Christ the King Retreat June 25-28 --Women's Center – Hosting meeting of English, Christ the King Texas-Mexican Bishops Retreat Center, San Angelo 3-5 -- SAN DIEGO, July 16-19 -- Men's Human life a precious gift to be defended Ordination of Antonio Ponce, Spanish, St. Mary's, Odessa OMI July 30-Aug. 2 -- Men's By Bishop Michael Pfeifer constitutional right. issue is clear: human beings deserve 6 -- SAN ANGELO, English, Christ the King Many people sensed that a seismic respect and protection from harm. Diocesan Pastoral Center – Retreat Center, San Angelo shift had occurred. The Court had The legal issue is clear: Roe v. Wade September 24-27 -- Pope John Paul II, in his Lenten Staff Mass at 8:30 a.m. and Message 2005 affirmed that “Human said, in essence, that we were a peo- is bad law. The effects are clear: Staff Meeting at 11:00 a.m. Women's English, St. 9 -- SAN ANGELO, Thomas, Big Spring life is a precious gift to be loved and ple who could not be expected to bad medicine and bad social policy. Vocations BBQ for the San October 15-18 -- Women's defended in each of its stages. The commit to care for the children we No wonder the vast majority of Angelo Deanery Spanish Cursillo, St. Mary's, Commandment, ‘You shall not kill!’ helped to create. And we began Americans believe that an unlimited 10-25 -- Rest and Prayer San Angelo October 22-25 -- Men's obviously requires respecting and quickly to make that a self-fulfilling right to abortion is wrong. Science is prophecy, as over the next decade the clear that human life begins at con- CHRIST THE KING English Cursillo, St. Thomas, promoting human life, from its Retreat Center Big Spring beginning to its natural end. It is a number of abortions skyrocketed to ception when a new human being is JUNE Anyone needing more command that applies even in the 1.6 million a year. formed. 13 -- Deacon Training information may e-mail cur- sillo.sanangelodiocese@gma presence of illness and when physical We who are Christian Americans Program weakness reduces the person’s ability Roe’s Legacy believe in an anthropology that views 15 -- Heart of Mercy il.com or call (432) 413-6136. Prayer Group to be self-reliant.” Since Roe v. Wade became the law all persons as members of a commu- 16 -- Adoration of the NECROLOGY In its 1973 Roe v. Wade and Doe V. of the land, more than 50 million nity who are made in the image of Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm JULY 2 -- Bernard Degan, CM Bolton rulings, the U.S. Supreme unborn children have lost their lives the Triune God and who have both 18-21 -- Girls’ Chrysalis Court created a new “right” to abor- and untold numbers of women have rights and responsibilities. 22 -- Heart of Mercy (2001) Prayer Group 2 -- Deacon Floyd tion. The Court made abortion legal suffered the aftermath of abortion. Therefore, we cannot endorse a 23 -- Adoration of the Frankson (1992) nationwide throughout the full nine The practice of medicine has been women’s right to abort an unborn Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm 4 -- Msgr. Charles Dvorak (1963) months of pregnancy with no mean- degraded by those in the profession child as a morally neutral decision 25-28 -- Women’s Catholic ingful limitation. who participate in destroying life. because we understand that the child Cursillo 5 -- Rev. Ray Wilhelm, 29 -- Heart of Mercy OMI (2006) And society as a whole has been also has a right to live and the com- Prayer Group 10 -- Rev. Emil J. Gerlich A seismic shift has occurred coarsened and degraded by the toler- munity has a responsibility to care 30 -- Adoration of the (1969) Roe v. Wade was a terrible water- ation and even acceptance of the for this child if the mother is unable Blessed Sacrament 5-6 pm 19 -- Rev. Msgr. Andrew Marthaler (1984) shed event for the unborn. One day, widespread taking of innocent human to rear it. we were a nation that protected the life. Roe v Wade has poisoned all it Some people would want us to JULY 22 -- Bishop Thomas J. 1-2 -- Bishop’s Meeting Drury (1992) lives of unborn human beings. The has touched. think that “legal abortion is safe, and 4 -- Office Closed – 26 -- Deacon Jose Rosales next day, seven justices of the U.S. illegal abortions are dangerous.” The Independence Day (2000) 26 -- Deacon Abel Campos Supreme Court said that throughout Legal and Moral Issue 6 -- Heart of Mercy Prayer pregnancy, abortion is a fundamental As regards abortion, the moral (Please See SACRED/17) Group (2002) The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 5 ‘We are not ashamed of our Catholic faith’ Family-oriented In preparation for the celebration of treat others. well as the epidemic of sexually transmit- Confirmation with the young people of ted diseases. Abortions are also on the the parishes of the Diocese of San Third, How can we use in our daily rise. America has made abortion a form ‘Mariapolis’ set Angelo, I write them a letter, asking them lives, the wonderful gifts of the Holy of birth control. It is outrageous. Sex out- to develop a class letter to send me Spirit? side of marriage also affects a person’s explaining their thoughts on First of all, we can do this by not being self-worth and self-esteem. We discussed for July at ASU Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, and how ashamed of our Catholic Faith. We will that the only “safe-sex” is abstinence. Confirmation can be lived in daily life. I be proud of our relationship with Jesus We also discussed the importance of SAN ANGELO -- A family-oriented also send the Confirmation class my pas- Christ. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Our retreat called Mariapolis — for youth, toral message on the virtue of chastity help us to be more like Jesus and live our CCD teachers, Johnny and Betty Vuelvas, and ask for their comments. I am enclos- lives for Him. Javier and Maria Salgado, and Lupe parents, grandparents, single people, ing here the wonderful and inspiring Bishop Pfeifer, we also read your mes- Sotelo are old-school. They are not old or religious, even infants — will be held reflections from the Confirmation class of sage on chastity. This was an eye opener. old fashioned! They are old-school from July 1-5 at Angelo State Holy Redeemer Church in Odessa. I cele- For some of us, we were made very because they emphasize the importance University, in San Angelo. The event brated Confirmation with these fine uncomfortable and for others, it was a of going to the Sacraments of the is sponsored by the Focolare Eucharist and Reconciliation frequently, young people, their priest, sponsors, par- cause for taking a deeper look into our Movement, one of the new ecclesial ents, family members, teachers, and lives and the choices we have made. especially the Sacrament of friends on April 17, 2009. I am very Here are some thoughts and questions Reconciliation. They remind us that fre- movements Pope John Paul II proud of them. that we put together after discussing the quent reception of the Sacrament of esteemed. -- Bishop Michael Pfeifer letter. Reconciliation is not out of date even “Wisdom: the Light That Comes Why does society treat us like a prize though the short lines for confessions from Loving,” is the theme of March 16, 2009 to be won or an object to be used for seems to be the norm in our churches Mariapolis this year and highlights the another’s selfish motives? Why do we today. This is a message of hope for some particular emphasis Focolare gives to Dear Bishop Pfeifer, allow this to happen to us or why do we who have lost their virginity or have been Thank you for your letter of prayer and do it to others? sexually active. God’s mercy and love living out the Gospel-mandate to love. encouragement. It is with great joy that we There are some youth that have forgot- flows through this beautiful sacrament. “Who doesn’t want a breather in this write to you and tell you how excited we ten that their body is a Temple of the We hear about a “second virginity.” The fragmented life we are leading?” asked are that our Confirmation is close at hand. Holy Spirit. We are to give glory to God sacrament of Reconciliation offers for- Victoria Robles. “At the Mariapolis I Throughout the year, we have studied with our bodies because we are made in giveness for our sins and the graces to experience what Jesus wants us to and prepared ourselves to receive this the image of God. We should not allow live a chaste life. We are given a “second have: communion with the Father; beautiful sacrament. Through the hard our self image to be distorted because of virginity” spiritually. work, support, prayers and love of our society’s immoral motives. Bishop, it is very difficult to live a communion with one another.” parents, our sponsors, our teachers and Society bombards us with so many chaste life. While the adult program is underway, our priests, we feel that we are prepared negative images of chastity that if a per- Yet it is a message that must be spoken separate age-grouped programs run to receive our Confirmation in the son is living a chaste life, he/she is a per- to us by our parents who are our first simultaneously for boys and girls, pre- Catholic Church. son to be ridiculed and laughed at. Being teachers. We must hear it from people senting in age-appropriate language and Bishop, when we received your letter chaste is not a norm, it is an out of date who truly love us and love our souls! We games, the themes underway in the you asked us to reflect on several ques- concept according to the world. It is scary must hear it from the pulpits. We must tions. to see what we are faced with in today’s show the message to our family and adult program. All presentations focus world: on-line pornography on the inter- friends by our example. We cannot be on living out the Gospel at work, at First, who is the Holy Spirit? What will net, pornography that is so easily avail- afraid to stand up for chastity and morali- school, at play. Persons staffing the the Holy spirit do for you? able, cell phone ‘sexting,’ the music we ty any more. The message must be heard nursery are committed to living this To us, the Holy Spirit is the Third Person listen to, media, famous people who view in a loud and clear voice, not in a voice “spirituality of communion” as well. in the Holy Trinity. He is God’s gift to us people and relationships as conquests. It that is muffled, distorted, or sugar-coated. Whenever the Mariapolis has been that came at Pentecost and comes to us in is difficult when there are so many nega- We know that if we turn our hearts to our baptism. The Holy Spirit is the one tive messages coming our way. God and pray, we will be able to over- held in his diocese, Bishop Michael who is strengthened in us at Confirmation. Sexuality has also become very blurred. come the temptations and the negative Pfeifer has never failed to give his The Holy Spirit will be our guide through- There seems to be no boundaries and lim- messages that the world gives us. With blessing, often traveling long distances out our lives. It is the Holy Spirit who will its. When the world has people trying to the Holy Spirit guiding us we will be able to deliver it in person. He expressed his give us courage, patience, self-discipline, change their appearance, men trying to to stop, look at the decisions that are joy that many families could be and discernment in our lives. We will live look like women and vice versa, we before us, see the consequences of our strengthened through contact with the as committed Christians in whatever voca- know that God’s gift of human sexuality actions, and make the right decision. tion we choose. has become distorted. In our world, soci- Thank you for your letter on chastity. spirituality of the Focolare. ety has conformed. Homosexuality and Thank you for not being afraid to share Second, how can we live the Sacrament same-sex marriages are becoming a com- the message of chastity and morality. For more information on the of Confirmation in our lives? mon practice. It can be very scary. Bishop, we know that Confirmation is Mariapolis, email: We can do this by being the best There is also the message of ‘safe-sex.’ not the end of our religious education and [email protected] Catholic we can be. We will make the We know that there is no such thing as formation. It is a new chapter that begins Eucharist our center and strive to grow in “safe-sex.” Birth control is not 100% in our relationship with God. our relationship with and knowledge of effective. With the message of “safe-sex,” For more information on Focolare, Jesus. We will also try to be the answer to society gives us the impression that there In Christ our Redeemer, see: the question, ‘What would Jesus Do?’ by are no consequences to sex. Yet the preg- The 2009 Confirmation Class of Holy www.focolare.org the way we live our lives and the way we nancy rate among teenagers is rising as Redeemer Church -Odessa Page 6 JUNE 2009 The Angelus Making Sense of Bioethics La sombra de Thinking about moral absolutes Obama sobre las By Fr. Tad Pacholczyk you believe they’re okay, can we both someday he will shoot me.” She then go our merry ways and live according speaks of what she had witnessed the celulas madre When Pope Benedict XVI visited the to our own morality? Clearly not, and previous day. She had seen him walk United States in April of 2008, I had the United States had to undergo a ter- out of his quarters, draw his gun, and (De la serie “Making Sense out of Bioethics”) the chance to attend the opening cere- rible civil war to address this very shoot a Jewish woman who was walk- mony at the White question. If I believe serial murder and ing by with a bundle in her hand. She Padre Tad Pacholczyk House South Lawn. rape are wrong, but you believe they’re described the woman: “Just a woman As I listened to OK, can we both go off and live on her way somewhere. No fatter, or El 9 de marzo de 2009 el Presidente Obama firmó una President Bush’s wel- according to our own positions? thinner, or slower, or faster than any- importante orden ejecutiva que incrementa coming remarks to Clearly not, since both positions cannot one else; and I couldn’t guess what she considerablemente los fondos federales para la the Pope, I was be true. had done [to provoke him]. The more investigación con células madre embrionarias humanas, caught off guard by These obvious examples illustrate you see of the commandant, the more y cruzó una línea ética significativa y preocupante. Esta one line in particular, what each of us already knows, name- you see there are no set rules that you decisión, y la retórica utilizada durante la firma, a powerful statement ly, that in the real world “relative” can live by. You can’t say to yourself, alentaron a científicos e investigadores a entrar en el that seemed almost truth doesn’t work. Suppose you and I ‘If I follow these rules, I will be safe.’” terreno pantanoso de tomar unas vidas humanas para too philosophical to Pacholczyk each drive towards an intersection with Fr. Raymond Suriani, commenting beneficiar a otras. Para sustentar su decisión, el be spoken by a United a traffic light. If it were up to you and on this famous scene from the movie Presidente Obama recurrió durante su discurso a invocar States president: “In a world where me to make up our own minds about noted how this girl was absolutely cor- el nombre de Christopher Reeve y el de otros pacientes some no longer believe that we can what color the light is, without any ref- rect: In a world of moral confusion, in desesperados por encontrar curas a sus padecimientos. distinguish between simple right and erence to its real color, there would a world of moral relativism, there can La desesperación, sin embargo, rara vez favorece a wrong, we need your message to reject certainly be a lot of accidents at our be no safety, and, consequently, no una buena ética. this dictatorship of relativism and intersections. What many fail to realize peace. She understood that in the En una ocasión escuché una historia de la vida real embrace a culture of justice and truth.” is that the moral world works similarly. “world” of that Nazi labor camp, right que me conmovió. Se trataba de un padre y sus dos The President was expressing how Many people’s moral lives are crashing and wrong had been blurred to such an jóvenes hijos. Ellos tenían un lugar en las afueras donde we live in a time of history marked by and burning because they fail to extent, that she couldn’t determine what les gustaba nadar y que acostumbraban visitar durante el moral relativism. This is the belief that respect the non-arbitrary markers of was “right” even in the mind of the verano. El padre nunca había aprendido a nadar pero los there really is no right and wrong, just the moral road map guiding our human commandant. What pleased him at one hijos sí, cuando eran más pequeños, y lo hacían más o your opinion and mine about right and journey. They’ve slipped into thinking moment might not please him in the menos bien. wrong, and we should simply “agree to that they can make up their own rules next. And if he happened to have power, El padre acostumbraba sentarse en la orilla mientras disagree” and learn to get along. That as they go along, and that it’s all rela- or to have a gun in his hand when he los muchachos nadaban en aquel lugar, que tenía una is to say: you may believe that abor- tive to their own desires or circum- wasn’t pleased, she knew she could eas- línea de boyas de color rojo brillante para indicar donde tion, same-sex marriage, and embryon- stances. ily end up being his next victim. la profundidad aumentaba abruptamente. Cada año el ic stem cell research are fine, and I In the movie Schindler’s List, much There are certain important truths padre les decía a sus hijos que no cruzaran esa línea may not, but there’s really no point in of the action takes place in a Nazi and universal moral absolutes which pues si lo hacían él no podría nadar para rescatarlos. arguing, since everything is relative labor camp. The camp commandant speak powerfully to us as humans Los muchachos obedecían fielmente año tras año, pero anyway – morality is up to me and you decides to take a young, Jewish girl to about how we must relate to ourselves, un verano en particular decidieron desafiar la autoridad to decide individually. In such a view, be his personal maidservant. At one to others, and to society. We can draw de su padre y se aventuraron a cruzar las boyas. there are no moral absolutes or univer- point in the film, this girl has a private strength from the prophetic and protec- Cuando cruzaron la línea el padre los vio y les gritó que sals, and morality shifts freely with and very disturbing conversation with tive voice of the Church, which speaks regresaran, pero ellos fingieron no escucharlo y each person’s perspective. another man, Oskar Schindler, the pro- tirelessly to us of these moral absolutes siguieron nadando aun más lejos. El papá se puso Ultimately, however, this position is tagonist of the film. With deep fear in and points out the threat to our human- nervioso y empezó a entrar al agua, que se hacía más y neither reasonable nor logical. her voice she says to him, “I know that ity posed by every agenda of rela- más profunda, cuando de pronto cayó en el desnivel y If morality were merely about your someday my master will shoot me.” tivism. empezó a hundirse. and my moral opinions, the results Schindler at first can’t believe what he Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. A cierta distancia, los muchachos vieron a su papá que would be disastrous. If I believe racism is hearing, and he does his best to reas- earned his doctorate in neuroscience agitaba los brazos en el agua, luchando por respirar y against blacks and the institution of sure her that the commandant is really from Yale and did post-doctoral work mantener la cabeza fuera y golpeando el agua con sus slavery built upon it are wrong, but quite fond of her. But she insists, “No, at Harvard. Web: www.ncbcenter.org (Mira PADRE TAD/16) Pilgrim Journeys – Regina Tours

Alexandra Morris, CDS International Specialist Consider Christmas in Rome! it’s not too early to plan your journey to the Eternal City.

Also experience Oktoberfest, S. Germany and N. Austria with a couple from St. Ann's, Midland -- a beautiful time of year and we can negotiate a good price. And consider joining me on a very personal pilgrimage to Croatia (the old Serbia) in the Spring of 2010

[email protected] www.pilgrimjourneys.joystar.com Or call Alex at 432.687.1038 The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 7

Program /------FY 2009/10 ------\ % of Budgeted Grants Own FEEs NET Assessment Budget

Clergy Medical & Assistance $ 79,416 $ - $ 15,000 $ 64,416 Clergy Education $ 100,944 $ - $ 5,225 $ 95,719 Vocations $ 128,260 $ 20,000 $ - $ 108,260 Seminarian Education $ 556,936 $ 25,000 $ 315,955 $ 215,981 Women Religious $ 3,000 $ - $ - $ 3,000 Permanent Diaconate $ 150,959 $ 10,000 $ 3,000 $ 137,959 2009-2010 Ministerial Support $ 1,019,516 $ 55,000 $ 339,180 $ 625,335 27.0% Diocese of CKRC Ministries $ 497,373 $ 5,000 $ 404,900 $ 87,473 Religious Education & Formation $ 327,542 $ 130,000 $ 42,356 $ 155,186 San Angelo Contributions & Assessments $ 155,297 $ - $ 40,415 $ 114,882 Communications & Paper $ 156,415 $ - $ 157,446 $ (1,031) Budget Tribunal $ 198,159 $ - $ 14,750 $ 183,409 University Apostolate $ 104,951 $ 35,000 $ 17,134 $ 52,816 Liturgy Office $ 21,847 $ - $ 3,620 $ 18,227 Superintendent of Schools $ 17,726 $ - $ 3,500 $ 14,226 Criminal Justice Ministry $ 39,100 $ - $ - $ 39,100 LIMEX $ 10,000 $ - $ 10,000 $ - Human Resources $ 72,736 $ - $ - $ 72,736 Ministries & Programs $ 1,601,147 $ 170,000 $ 694,121 $ 737,025 42.4%

Administrative Office $ 563,690 $ - $ - $ 563,690 Business Services $ 509,863 $ - $ - $ 509,863 Bishop's Residence $ 31,088 $ - $ - $ 31,088 Capital Renewal/Replacement $ 53,500 $ - $ 3,500 $ 50,000 Administrative & Fiscal $ 1,158,141 $ - $ 3,500 $ 1,154,641 30.6%

** TOTAL ** $ 3,778,803 $ 225,000 $ 1,036,802 $ 2,517,002 100.0%

A note from Bishop Pfeifer

My Dear Brothers generosity of the late Msgr. Louis Moeller assessment. and Sisters in Christ: who bequeathed his estate to the dio- If you have questions on the budget, I cese. This gift will enable me to reduce invite you to please call our Finance I am delighted to present to you the the 2009-2010 assessment rate from 16 Officer, Regina Bodiford, at 325-651- Diocese of San Angelo’s approved 2009- percent to 15 percent. I am keenly aware 7500. With you, let us all ask God’s 2010 annual budget. After having been of the economic crisis and how it already blessings upon our programs of ministry first thoroughly reviewed by our Ministry/ affects our parishes. I am deeply grateful that help make Christ and His message Department heads, the Diocesan Finance to all the people of our parishes and mis- present in all our communities. Council and the Presbyteral Council, I am sions for their generous support, knowing accepting this budget as Bishop for the that we are in trying economic times. I am Your servant in Christ and Mary, upcoming year. very happy to apply more than $157,000 I am particularly pleased to be able to from this special gift for the benefit of our Most Rev. Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI share with our parishes and missions the communities through this reduced Bishop of San Angelo Page 8 JUNE 2009 The Angelus Catholic Voices What Obama said is more important than where he said it

By Stephen Kent can do so without reducing those with dif- dent invited Americans of every faith and ide- "With the first pro-choice president in Catholic News Service fering views to caricature." ological conviction to 'work in common eight years already making changes to This, he said, requires the assumption of effort' to reduce the number of abortions." the nation's policies on funding abortion He came, he spoke, he left, and in so good faith. From his days as a community organizer overseas, expressing his support for the doing, provided clarity to a divisive issue "Because when we ... open our hearts in Chicago, the president recalled the late Freedom of Choice Act and moving often lost amid the fog and smoke of ran- and our minds to those who may not Cardinal Joseph L. Bernardin as a model of toward rescinding federal job protections corous argumentation. think like we do or believe what we do -- one seeking common ground and civility. for medical workers who refuse to partici- After all of the pre-appear- that's when we discover at least the possi- Cardinal Bernardin was unafraid to pate in abortion procedures, Americans ance conflict about President bility of common ground," he said. speak his mind on moral issues, Obama seem to be taking a step back from the Barack Obama's commence- Common ground sounds dissonant with said, "and yet he was congenial and gen- pro-choice position," said a Gallup com- ment address at Notre Dame, irreconcilable, which is defined as oppos- tle in his persuasion, always trying to mentary on the results. now it is more productive to ing compromise or collaboration. It bring people together; always trying to It is encouraging to believe that the focus on what he said rather describes conflicting ideas or beliefs that find common ground" (and probably not pro-life cause is positively affecting public than where he said it. cannot be brought in harmony. one to refer to the president of the United opinion by making a case for the sanctity of "While we know that the Yet it is possible to collaborate without States as an "agent of death"). life. Now it is important not to lose momen- views of most Americans on compromise, as Obama suggested. "So Obama's attention-getting views on tum by off-putting language. Kent the subject are complex and let's work together to reduce the number abortion may be influencing a change in This need for civility is as important as even contradictory, the fact is that, at of women seeking abortions by reducing public attitude toward the right to life. A a tactic as it is genteel behavior. One can some level, the views of the two camps unintended pregnancies, and making Gallup poll published the same week as be resolute in belief and provide an effec- are irreconcilable," Obama said. adoption more available, and providing his speech showed most Americans tive moral witness without being harsh. Then he set the tone of the abortion care and support for women who do carry opposing terminations for the first time The Obama speech could well be read in debate by making an appeal to each side their child to term," he said. in 15 years of surveys. Some 51 percent concert with the Gospel of the Mass of of the issue. "Each side will continue to The Vatican newspaper said Obama sought of respondents described themselves as that same Sunday to hear the direction make its case to the public with passion common ground on the divisive issue of abor- "pro-life," while 42 percent considered Jesus gave his disciples: "This I com- and conviction," he said. "But surely we tion. L'Osservatore Romano said, "The presi- themselves "pro-choice." mand you: Love one another." Time for Catholics to return to civil conversation Prayer By Effie Caldarola contributed to the general state of Catholic in many developing countries, including Catholic News Service political conversation these days, which is, Catholic countries." Sharing essentially, no conversation. If Obama is interested in the Catholic vote It was Sunday evening, and I was dashing There's yelling and pontificating, but next time around, he needs to engage us. And into our church foyer as the 5:30 Mass there's very little earnest, friendly give-and- we need to engage him. ended. take. We're scared to talk and feel bullied. My pastor asked me what I thought about I was going to sell boards What a shame. the Notre Dame invitation, and I said it was for Habitat for Humanity. This particular Sunday was the occasion of appropriate. Well, not boards exactly, but President Barack Obama's speech at Notre He disagreed. But he pointed to the fact the chance to write messages Dame. The televised scenes of middle-aged that we could agree to disagree civilly as the on boards that would be used men screaming like banshees at the presi- way Catholic discourse should be. for Habitat homes. For a $10 dent of the United States were embarrassing Amen. donation, you could write to this Catholic. The Vatican apparently has a diplomatic your good wishes on a two- Not that I don't agree that abortion is attitude toward leaders who disagree with abhorrent. But screaming and excluding church teaching. John Thavis, CNS' Vatican by-four. An additional five Caldarola spot would let you ink a those who disagree is not an American solu- correspondent, wrote in his April 3 blog that two-by-six. tion to the problem. despite two divorces and his support for Our foyer is a busy place most weekends. The National Catholic Reporter ran an interest- legal abortion, French President Nicolas parenting group was selling goodies to raise ing piece (May 1, 2009) by Michael Sean Sarkozy, a Catholic, received an honorary money for nursery toys, and the parish nurses Winters, who wrote a book called "Left at the title from the Basilica of St. John Lateran in were waiting to measure blood pressure. Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics Rome, and the Vatican did not protest. Among those of us waiting, someone sud- and How the Catholics Can Save the In another incident, Thavis reported that denly proclaimed in horror -- and with no Democrats." Pope Benedict XVI was forced to cancel a warning allowing me to slip away -- that on It's Winters' contention that Obama has speaking engagement at a secular Roman such-and-such a Catholic Web site there's a created a "Catholic problem" precisely university because of protests from students list of all the folks connected to the because he hasn't addressed Catholic con- and staff. University of Notre Dame with "ties to cerns. For example, he didn't make a case Thavis said, "The episode was viewed at the Obama." Gasp. that revoking the policy that prevented Vatican as a prime example of intolerance." Being adverse to no-win political debates, government funding of overseas family Exactly. I turned tail and walked away mid-sentence. planning groups if they provide informa- I don't agree with Obama on everything. By doing so, I probably gave notice of my tion on procuring an abortion "was mostly He's not the "seamless garment" politician opinion, which I muttered to myself as I about family planning services, and that it for whom I yearn. Prayer monument at Stations of walked over to my lumber: is precisely the absence of such services Let's talk about that. the Cross, Benedictine By not expressing my opinion civilly, I that has resulted in the high abortion rates Monastery, Kennebunkport, ME. The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 9 Obama urged to take action on conscience protection President urged to turn his words into reality by congress, cardinal, after Notre Dame speech.

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The president of the U.S. bishops' conference and two members of Congress have called on President Barack Obama to make good on something he said in his May 17 speech President Barack Obama to University of Notre Dame graduates, delivers the commencement namely that he wished to "honor the con- address in May at Notre science of those who disagree with abor- Dame. tion." In a May 22 statement, Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago said he was grateful for Obama's promise to support conscience clauses. At a May 19 press conference in Washington and in a letter sent that day to the president, Reps. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., and Chris Smith, R-N.J., urged Obama to forgo rescinding the Bush administration's conscience-pro- tection regulation. They also asked forced to support or participate in abor- "The religious and moral views of women, " he added. Obama to "commit to defending con- tion," Cardinal George's statement said, health care workers should be respected," Smith noted that he and Sensenbrenner science protections in future rule-mak- "whether through directly providing or Sensenbrenner said during the press con- were simply asking the president to make ing." referring for abortions or being forced to ference. "Workers should have the right to sure "that his deeds match his words." In his statement, Cardinal George said subsidize them with their tax dollars." refuse to participate in an abortion proce- He said the president could act on the health care professionals and institutions Earlier this year, the U.S. Department dure without the fear of losing their job words of his commencement speech by "should know that their deeply held reli- of Health and Human Services proposed or being discriminated against." stopping the efforts of his administration gious or moral convictions will be rescinding the conscience clause that In his speech at the University of to rescind current conscience regulations. respected as they exercise their right to gives federal protection to the conscience Notre Dame in Indiana, Obama called on "Protecting conscience is the truly pro- serve patients in need." He noted that rights of health care providers. people with differing views on abortion choice position and respects the diversity since 1973 federal laws have protected the The rule, which took effect two days to find common ground. of opinion in our society as well as the conscience rights of health care providers. before Obama took office, codifies three "Let's work together to reduce the num- sanctity of life," he added. Protecting conscience rights "will longtime federal statutes prohibiting dis- ber of women seeking abortions by reduc- Dr. David Stevens, president of the strengthen our health care system and crimination against health professionals ing unintended pregnancies, and making Christian Medical Association, said in a enhance many patients' access to neces- who decline to participate in abortions or adoption more available, and providing May 18 statement that if Obama is "truly sary life-affirming care," the cardinal said. other medical procedures because of their care and support for women who do carry concerned about finding common ground, He said he welcomed working with the religious or moral objections. their child to term," he said. he should meet with doctors and patients administration and other policymakers to The letter from Sensenbrenner and "Let's honor the conscience of those who would be affected" by the lack of a advance goals Obama has set out for Smith to Obama stressed that the presi- who disagree with abortion, and draft a conscience-protection clause. reducing abortions. dent should use all the tools at his dis- sensible conscience clause, and make sure He said the regulation was needed to "A government that wants to reduce the posal "to keep conscience protections in that all of our health care policies are protect doctors, nurses and other health tragic number of abortions in our society place and reduce the number of abortions grounded in clear ethics and sound sci- care professionals from discrimination will also work to ensure that no one is in the United States." ence, as well as respect for the equality of based on their religious beliefs. Good reviews: Vatican newspaper sees Obama's start in positive light By John Thavis The newspaper enjoys a degree of editorial independ- speak at its commencement May 17 and gave him an Catholic News Service ence, especially under its new editor, Giovanni Maria honorary degree. More than 60 bishops were strongly Vian, so its opinions cannot be read as formal Vatican critical of the Indiana university's invitation because of VATICAN CITY -- In a season of tension between the policy statements. Obama's positions in favor of legal abortion and embry- U.S. Catholic hierarchy and President Barack Obama, But it describes itself as "at the service of the thinking onic stem-cell research. the Vatican newspaper has offered some unexpectedly of the pope" and in practice works closely with the Vatican L'Osservatore did not report on the bishops' criticism upbeat reviews of the president's first four months in Secretariat of State. If its myriad front-page articles on in the run-up to the Notre Dame event. In its article on office. Obama were going in the wrong direction, one can be sure the president's speech, it noted the protests but empha- With Pope Benedict XVI expected to meet Obama in that the editors would feel a swift tug on the reins. sized Obama's call for "common ground," as well as his early July, it's worth a closer look at what L'Osservatore The abortion issue has been front and center in the commitment to reducing the number of abortions and Romano has had to say, and what it finds so promising U.S. bishops' relationship with Obama, especially after finding an acceptable "conscience clause" for medical about the new U.S. administration. the University of Notre Dame invited the president to (Please See VATICAN/13) Page 10 JUNE 2009 The Angelus The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 11 ‘Maria of Agreda: Mystical Lady in Blue’ Excerpts provided from chapters 6 and 7, “The clothes are the same, but not the face,” that his numbers were inflated. In writing his out that the numbers of missionaries were few, ed with dropsy—everyone with permission from the author and the they replied, describing their Lady in Blue as report, Benavides also devoted a chapter to the and they had not yet discovered all the native cured of his afflictions.” University of New Mexico Press for one- (36) time use for publication in the West Texas “not old like this, but young” “and beautiful.” incident of the Lady in Blue, an account destined populations. Angelus, June 2009: (18) to be cited, researched, and recounted by histori- “The Humana nation,” he added, had “a con------Why hadn’t they told them before? the priests ans and devotees alike from colonial days to the version . . . so miraculous, that it deserves to As a result of this event “MARÍA of ÁGREDA: Mystical Lady in asked. present. In doing so, Benavides speculated that have its story told.”(30) Benavides recounted the in 1629, and the second Blue” * *All rights reserved for this excerpted “Because you did not ask us, and we thought the Lady in Blue was the Conceptionist nun arrival of the Jumanos at the Isleta mission and missionary trek to the material, no use without permission she was around here, too,” they replied.(19) Mother Luisa de Carrión, who in addition to their renewed request for missionaries and bap- same tribal group, the by Marilyn H. Fedewa “Immediately we decided to send . . . priests,” transporting herself from Mexico seemed now to tism because of the Lady in Blue. Then he told Jumanos—inspired by their Benavides wrote. “With these same Indians as also have the power to make herself appear how he and Perea soon sent two priests, Padres Lady in Blue—may be -- guides, they departed on that apostolic mission. young and beautiful. (27) Juan de Salas and Diego Lopez, escorted by credited with spurring the After traveling more than one hundred leagues . The report created an immediate sensation. three soldiers, to follow the Jumanos to their first mission activity in the Padre Alonso de Benavides was . . toward the east, they reached the Xumana Extracts were quoted, and it was translated into encampment. (31) state of Texas, previously familiar with the Jumanos from nation, who came out to receive them in proces- Latin, German, French, and Dutch.(28) The first Before the priests arrived there, however, as relegated to the period the plains to the east. Each year, sion, carrying a large cross and garlands of flow- printing of four hundred copies was soon reported to them later by the Jumanos who between 1682 and 1793. for the previous six years, they ers. They learned from the Indians that the same devoured, and another set was printed.(29) The awaited them, the springs from which their peo- “One of the missionaries had presented themselves at Saint nun had instructed them as to how they should Jumano Indians had come a long way, from ple drank had dried up, and the buffalo had disap- stayed there . . . for six Anthony’s in Isleta, requesting come out in procession to receive them, and she being ignored for six years at the Isleta mission peared. The Jumanos said the “enemy of souls, months,” Habig declared. baptism and the establishment of had helped them to decorate the cross,” although to being celebrated in a country far across the the devil” then told them that the priests would “Established in 1632, that a mission at their encampment the priests did not see her themselves.(20) sea. not come and that they should leave.(32) A saint- was the first mission in many days’ journey away. They had Conservative estimates gauge the procession Dating his report August 1, 1630, Benavides ly spirit, however—the same woman dressed in Texas,” he said. “That’s even asked for a specific missionary, one who of eager Jumanos at about two thousand, while submitted it to the commissary general of the blue—advised them differently. Benavides wrote: where San Angelo is . . . had worked with their pueblo brothers at Las Benavides points to ten thousand, with the Indies, Padre Juan de Santander, who then added A t daybreak the saint spoke to each one of and the Indians there were the Jumanos.”(37) A --- Humanas. (12) “I didn’t have enough clerics, and neighboring tribes in attendance from the area a preface for the benefit of the king. The 111- them individually. She told them that they historic monument alongside the Concho com- Benavides may have been charmed by Sor so I continued to put off the Humanas . . . until surrounding Palo Duro Canyon. (21) While this page document covered the activities of the fifty should not go, that the clerics they had been memorates the priests’ work with the Jumanos María’s appearance, but one should note that God should send me more workers,” Benavides area was later abandoned by the Jumanos, per- friars then serving over sixty thousand searching for were drawing near. Conferring in this location in 1632 and their mission, under normal circumstances, he never would reported later to his superiors. (13) haps due to conflicts with the Apaches, the tribe Christianized natives in the impoverished among themselves, they decided to send twelve though it was an operational facility for only have seen her face. In those days, cloistered On July 22, 1629, a band of fifty remained constant in their desire for a mission. Pueblo region of the New World. One by one, very reliable captains to see if it were so. On six months. (38) nuns were protected from the sight of strangers Jumanos arrived at the mission to again (22) Three years later they led another missionary Benavides described the Native American tribes the third day out, they ran into the priests. . . . Meanwhile, in late August of 1630, by a veil drawn completely over their faces. make their request.(14) Although Benavides party two hundred leagues south of Isleta, along residing in ninety pueblos and divided into twen- The padre showed them the portrait of Mother Benavides reviewed his report — entitled the Benavides’s task at hand allowed him an excep- had not yet left, Perea—as the new custo- the La Junta de los Ríos area, and then easterly. ty-five mission districts, making sure to point Luisa de Carrión, about which they said that Memorial of 1630 — with the minister general tion, in order to compare her actual features dian—received them this time. Informed by (23) their lady was dressed like that, but was younger of the Franciscan order, Padre Bernardino de with the Jumanos’ descriptions. Too, the the archbishop’s inquiry, he was now very “The missionaries from New Mexico came all and more beautiful. . . . And always when Sienna. Sienna reassured Benavides that the Inquisition was still in full swing in Spain, and intent on knowing what had prompted their the way down to San Angelo to the confluence Indians from those tribes came to see us again, Jumanos’ Lady in Blue was Sor María de Jesús, Benavides was an officer of the Inquisition in repeated attempts. of the three Concho rivers,” said historian they looked at the portrait and talked among telling him what he knew about her bilocations the New World. Sor María, on the other hand, Why had they come? Perea asked them, Marion Habig (1901–92), who spent several themselves, saying, “The clothes are the same, to America from her own accounts eight years as a nun under vows of obedience, was obligated in a combination of Spanish and sign lan- years physically traversing Texas missions and but not the face.” . . . earlier when he had visited Ágreda. to fully satisfy his inquiries based on an order of guage.(15) their environs. A protégée of Henry Bolton, [Then] having assembled more than ten thou- --- the Franciscan minister general. Sor María was For the water of baptism, the Jumanos noted historian of the West and Southwest at the sand souls . . . with a great shout, they all On April 30, 1631, Benavides arrived in clearly intimidated. replied similarly. University of California, Habig gave an inter- raised their arms, got up on their feet, and asked Ágreda. With him he brought Padre Marcilla, Does this mean that Benavides “led the wit- At whose instruction? Perea wanted to view in 1982 with the University of Texas’ for holy baptism. . . . It seemed to the padres a Sor María’s former confessor and now the pre- ness”? Probably. know. Institute of Texan Cultures and later published great harvest of souls, with few laborers to com- siding provincial in Burgos. Together with Padre Does it mean that some exaggeration of the A woman wearing the habit urged us to his findings in 1990.(24) plete it. (33) Andrés de la Torre, they would — for two weeks truth occurred? Yes. come, they said. ------— examine Sor María’s accounts of her experi- Does it mean that the bilocations were fabri- --- Compelled by the potential of such a miracu- The priests agreed to the Jumanos’ request and ences. Benavides was immediately taken with cated? Not according to Sor María. Trembling with excitement, no doubt, lous event, Benavides left Isleta in the autumn began their sacramental benedictions at once, in her and described her later in detail: “I can assure you beyond any doubt,” Sor Perea immediately sent for Benavides, and of 1629 and arrived in Mexico City in March of an area speculated by some scholars to be with- Mother María de Jesús, Abbess now of the María wrote to a superior years later, “that the the two continued to engage the Jumanos. 1630. There he reported his findings to in present-day San Angelo’s city limits, near convent of the Immaculate Conception, is about case did in fact happen ...” (34) The one-eyed Capitán Tuerto led the Archbishop Manzo and was soon dispatched to what is now known as South College Hills. twenty-nine years of age handsome of face, very Editor’s Note: In Fedewa’s book, the numbering system for Jumano delegation. With him were eleven Madrid “to inform his Majesty . . . and our “Before they left . . . the primary captain [said] . fair in color, with a slight rosy tinge and large endnotes begins anew with each chapter, and since the mate- other Indian captains, representing neigh- father general” of the “notable and unusual . . ‘Father . . . you can achieve a great deal with black eyes. The style of her habit, as well as rial published on these two pages spans two chapters — with (16) some gaps — the numbers will not appear sequential although boring tribes and allies. things that were happening in their holy custo- God, and with this holy cross. We have a lot of that of all the nuns of that convent . . . is the they are in order. “Maria of Agreda: The Mystical “We called them [in]to the convent,” dia. ”(25) sick people: heal us before you go.’”(35) same as ours; that is of brown (pardo) sackcloth, PHOTOS: (Above) Saint Augustine Church, Isleta Pueblo, Lady in Blue,” by Marilyn H. Benavides wrote later. “Gazing at a portrait of He arrived in Madrid in August of 1630 and “They had to bring people in all afternoon, very coarse, worn next to the body. . . . Over New Mexico, site of original San Antonio Mission where Fedewa, is available for pur- Mother Luisa . . . they said, ‘A woman in simi- proceeded to write a thorough report on mission all night,” Benavides reported, “and all the next this brown habit is worn a white one of coarse Jumano Native Americans identified Lady in Blue to missionar- (17) ies in 1629. Photo by Jeanne Kendall. (Above Left): Sor chase at Trudo’s in San Angelo lar garb wanders among us . . . preaching.’ ” activities for his Franciscan superiors as well as morning until ten o’clock. There was one cleric sackcloth with a scapular of the same [material] The priests pointed to the same picture of the the king. To this day, his documentation pro- on one side and one on the other, making the and the cord of our Father Saint Francis. . . . María’s original blue cape, habit, veil, and walking stick. On or at the San Angelo Museum display in convent museum. Photo by author. Map inset: elderly nun wearing the blue cape of the vides historians with many valuable population sign of the cross, [and] saying [prayers]. . . . They wear no shoes or sandals other than boards Southwestern U.S. and Mexico, with present-day city locations of Fine Arts during June 20-21 and (shaded) state lines and names, as references to key Conceptionist nuns of Saint Clare, asking if statistics and classifications within New Mexico They instantly got up, cured of all their infirmi- tied to the feet. The cloak is of blue cloth, locations in the history of the Lady in Blue. Map by author. festivities. that was the woman. at the time, (26) although many scholars suggest ties — blind people, lame people, people afflict- coarse, w ith a black v eil. (4) All rights reserved. Page 12 JUNE 2009 The Angelus

As Sotomayor makes rounds, her history up for analysis Pro-life leaders, By Patricia Zapor groups condemn Catholic News Service murder of Kansas WASHINGTON -- As Judge Sonia Sotomayor was making the rounds of Supreme Court abortion doctor Senate offices for courtesy calls prior to nominee, The Honorable Sonia WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pro-life confirmation hearings this summer, a Sotomayor, cur- advocates universally condemned the popular exercise among commentators rently judge of May 31 murder of a Kansas abortion has been trying to define the judicial the 2nd U.S. doctor, with officials from several U.S. leanings of President Barack Obama's Circuit Court of right-to-life groups saying such extreme first nominee to the Supreme Court. Appeals. acts only hurt the pro-life cause. As a current judge of the 2nd U.S. "We condemn this lawless act of vio- Circuit Court of Appeals and a former U.S. District Court judge, Sotomayor's lence," said Charmaine Yoest, president rulings and dissents were being carefully of Americans United for Life. "The analyzed by both those predisposed to foundational right to life that our work support her nomination and those look- is dedicated to extends to everyone. ing for reasons to reject her as a potential Whoever is responsible for this repre- Supreme Court justice. on religious liberty, employee-employer year's election -- to select a person who hensible violence must be brought to One thread of reviews looks at the rights or racial discrimination. has demonstrated an abiding commitment justice under the law." handful of her opinions that have found The first few days after Sotomayor's to core constitutional values of justice, Dr. George Tiller, 67, of Wichita, their way to the Supreme Court and how nomination was announced May 26 opportunity and equality under the law." Kan., was fatally shot while serving as they fared: Five of her 232 opinions in brought a flurry of quickly released state- Keegan went on to call the nomination an usher at the city's Reformation 11 years on the appeals court have been ments based largely on impressions of "good news for people who care about Lutheran Church during morning servic- reviewed by the Supreme Court; three her rulings, background or on the fact the future of our rights and liberties." es, according to The Associated Press. were overturned. A sixth is currently that she was nominated by Obama. Meanwhile, the White House has kept A suspect in the shooting, identified pending in the Supreme Court. Charmaine Yoest, president of up a steady stream of press releases with as Scott Roeder, 51, was being held Those whose principal concern is abor- Americans United for Life, a public- praise for Sotomayor from fellow judges, without bail on one count of first-degree tion have sought clues to her judicial interest law and policy organization, said law professors, her one-time supervisors murder and two counts of aggravated temperament -- and any potential she in a statement that "for all the president's in the New York district attorney's office assault, the AP reported June 1. might have for groundbreaking decisions talk of finding 'common ground,' this and her former law clerks. In 1996, a 38-year-old man with the -- in the few cases in which she ruled on appointment completely contradicts that Until Justice Samuel Alito joined the same name was charged in Topeka, some aspect of abortion-related laws. In hollow promise." Without explaining court in January 2006, becoming the fifth Kan., with criminal use of explosives a 2002 case challenging the Mexico City why, Yoest said Sotomayor's "judicial Catholic, there had previously only been for having bomb components in his car policy, which bars foreign aid recipients philosophy undermines common ground" a majority of Protestant justices. trunk and sentenced to 24 months of from offering or referring for abortions, and called her "a radical pick that divides The first Catholic on the court was probation, the AP reported. However, she upheld the Bush administration's America." Chief Justice Roger Taney from 1836 to right to follow the policy. Neither that Other commentators just as quickly 1864. After the first Jewish justice, the conviction was overturned on appeal case nor others related to abortion clinic leapt to support Sotomayor, also with lit- Lewis Brandeis, joined the court in 1916, the next year after a higher court said protests and decided on procedural tle explanation for their conclusions. there had regularly been one Catholic evidence against him was seized by law grounds dealt directly with legal rights For instance, Michael Keegan, president justice at a time, along with one or two enforcement officers during an illegal and abortion. of People for the American Way, said in a Jewish justices and a majority of search of his car, the AP reported. statement that Obama "used this opportu- Protestants. Others are parsing what she has written nity to do exactly what he promised in last Fair Trade products best way to provide justice to millions in need By Miguel Angel Gomez ditions, and miserable environments. We Last November, the Diocese of San awareness about it. Solidarity is one of our The world is full of injustices, poverty, buy products not knowing the pain a Angelo, through the Newman Center, gave eight principles of being a Catholic yet misery, abandonment and so on. Many of worker in a third world country went me (an A.S.U. senior) the opportunity to one of the hardest to practice. Fair Trade us prefer to ignore these problems and through in making the product. We help go to Seattle to learn about Fair Trade with items are available at many grocery stores close our eyes pretending to be blind, increase the misery of those workers Catholic Relief Services at the event called and at larger "general stores." Ask sales knowing that we make fools of our- through our support in buying these prod- Students United for Fair Trade. people for assistance and make it a habit to selves. Thank God we are blessed ucts. But as consumers we have choices My purpose here is to raise awareness see what is available. Thank you for trying to live in a country like ours, thank God and the power to support "just" products. of fair trade and to motivate you, the to bring some justice to our brothers and we have the abundance of basic needs to Buying fair trade products is the best reader, to purchase fair trade products. sisters in impoverished countries. survive and the luxury to over spend. way to provide justice to those people in Supporting fair trade products gives a --- Many of our brothers and sisters in need. "Fair Trade" is an organized social light of hope to those in need of justice. Miguel Gomez is a senior at Angelo third world countries suffer thanks to our movement that empowers developing- Suffering gives us strength, strength pro- State studying International Business and support of products made where there are country producers and promoters through duces character, and character produces a Newman Center member. He is origi- unjust salaries, unspeakable working con- providing just salaries, safe working hope. I HOPE you join me in solidarity nally from Uvalde. environments and a healthy living. in supporting fair trade and in raising The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 13 VATICAN: Official paper says Obama moving away from abortion rhetoric (From 9) In fact, the day it reported on the Notre strong hope that Obama will get serious ing the nonproliferation treaty have con- Dame speech, L'Osservatore also carried a about pressing Israel on a settlement. vinced the Vatican that he is serious. personnel opposed to abortion. news story on the U.S. bishops' cam-  Middle East outreach. The Vatican  The Americas. The newspaper has That caused some discomfort among paign against the Obama administration's newspaper has said Obama's upcoming commented favorably on Obama's over- conservative Catholics, but Vian defended policy on federal funding of embryonic speech in Egypt in June represents a tures to several leftist Latin American the editorial line May 20 in an interview stem-cell research. And on May 22, the "new step by the U.S. administration states, most specifically his lifting of with the Italian daily "Il Riformista." newspaper ran a short article quoting two toward an open dialogue with the Arab restrictions on Cuba. Vian said that the U.S. president's Notre U.S. bishops who had criticized Notre world." It has reported favorably on the  Multilateralism and human Dame speech was "respectful" and left Dame's decision to honor Obama. Obama administration's opening of direct ri g hts . L'Osservatore has applauded him convinced that "Obama is not a pro- What's striking about L'Osservatore's talks with Iran and Syria, and its efforts Obama's "turn toward multilateralism" in abortion president." coverage of Obama has been its attention to encourage greater Syrian involvement the international arena, especially when it Twice, the newspaper has opined that to the wider range of issues, especially in in a regional peace settlement. comes to international organizations Obama seems to have moved away from foreign policy. The newspaper has found Disarmament. A recent shunned by previous U.S. administra- his 2008 campaign rhetoric on legisla- much to its liking: L'Osservatore story headlined "Concrete tions. When the administration tion that would enshrine abortion as a  The Israeli-Palestinian situation. hopes for disarmament" took Obama at announced, for example, that the United fundamental right and remove local limi- Three days after Pope Benedict left Israel his word when he spoke of the need to States would seek a place on the United tations on the practice of abortion. with a strong call for a two-state solution rid the planet of nuclear arsenals. This is Nations Human Rights Council, it sent a "It should be understood that based on mutual security, Obama met with a sleeper issue, one that makes few head- positive signal of change, the newspaper L'Osservatore shares the same position as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin lines in the United States but which is said. A proposal to close the U.S. deten- the American bishops who consider abor- Netanyahu with virtually the same mes- frequently on the minds of Vatican offi- tion center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, tion a disaster. It is always a necessary sage. The Vatican newspaper said the presi- cials, including the pope. Obama's steps was described as another human rights and decisive task, in fact, to promote a dent's position was in "full harmony" with toward direct talks with Russia on strate- step in the right direction. culture of life at every level," Vian said. that of the pope, reflecting the Vatican's gic weapons and his call for strengthen- WUERL: Gatherings of faithful evidence of people’s need to search for God (From 3) mative response. Often in meeting with lated in the General Directory for the faith where this is possible and cer- young people, whether in a university Catechesis that "catechesis is a responsi- tainly through the oversight of all who that is not the result of prior popular class setting, an RCIA discussion or a bility of the entire Christian community." teach the faith. By extension, this task approbation. simple conversation about the faith, I find The same directory instructs us that falls also to each priest by virtue of his However, our experiences are not all a willingness in many to explore what "Christian initiation indeed should not be ordination. darkness and gloom. On the brighter side the church brings to our world and the the work of catechists and priests alone, I hear from a number of priests that is a sense among some of our young peo- human condition that no other voice pro- but of the whole community of the faith- they regularly use the bulletin as a cate- ple that the secular, material world does vides. ful" (220). chetical tool. Their own more active not provide them sufficient answers for This openness says to me that it is not The entire faith community must be engagement in the oversight of the vari- their lives. Over and over, the phenomena a time for any of us to be hesitant to invited into both the recognition that ous catechetical initiatives of the parish is of youth gatherings from as large as speak about our faith and explain our there is a need to evangelize and catechize, another testimony to priestly teaching of World Youth Day to as modest as small beliefs. This may entail on our part a and also the commitment to participate in the mystery of faith. And still others parish programs speak of the searching more thorough study of the teaching of this effort. This is perhaps the most chal- highlight their teaching presence in the for value and direction that characterizes a Christ and his church. In this context, lenging aspect of the catechetical renewal parish utilizing the pulpit and Sunday growing number of our faithful. There is there is a welcome place today for the today. All of us together must assume liturgy homily. a hunger for God and the things of the United States Catholic Catechism for responsibility for sharing with others the Our current situation then gives us all Spirit, but it needs to be encouraged, Adults. faith that we have received and so cherish. the more reason to rejoice in the United informed and directed. In parishes I am also greatly heartened However, ecclesial catechesis is not an States Catholic Catechism for Adults as a In reaching out to the young, I have by the recognition of more and more of undifferentiated or nondirected activity. welcomed instrument in adult faith forma- experienced their openness, sense of the faithful that the work of catechesis is The bishop, as head of a local church, has tion at every level throughout the archdio- searching and desire for a clear affirmation not confined or reserved solely to clergy, the primary responsibility for catechesis cese and, most particularly, within each of the faith. The basic truths of the faith catechists and teachers. Increasingly there in the particular church. This he does by of our faith-filled parishes. often evoke in them a positive and affir- is an affirmation of the principles articu- being actively engaged in the teaching of BORCHARD: Maybe mom was onto something after all (From 15) hope and love. "Angels are here to com- doesn't like to call herself a psychic and with them like my mom did, because I fort and to teach us," she says. "All you is even afraid to say she is a healer even don't want to get the rolled eyes that my translator (if I can use that term) has pub- have to do is ask." though she says she sees things about a mom got when she commanded her kids lished a book of conversations with Byrne was brought up in poverty and person's life and helps the person to to request some heavenly help. But I'm angels. In "Angels in My Hair" (Random suffered from learning disabilities, and understand it. rethinking that, after reading Byrne's House), Irish mystic and author Lorna has had her share of skeptics. Yet she's She also refuses to "tell fortunes," curious and uplifting testimony. Fitzgerald Byrne describes her encounters won over many who were not prepared for explaining that she feels "that is too dan- Maybe my mom was on to something and conversations with angels, and in her sense of serenity and innocence. gerous." after all. doing so, offers readers a message of By rne once told a reporter that she I don't tell my kids to take their angels Page 14 JUNE 2009 The Angelus Family Mt. Washington: The scariest most beautiful place By Jimmy Patterson tion I'd made. I kinda felt sorry for her. four-row van like an excitable puppy with his head out Mt. Washington is a picturesque mountain of 6,288 the window and wind blowing in his face. Rich, our driv- NEW HAMPSHIRE -- I should probably be completely feet. It is the tallest peak in all of the northeast. It towers er, shifted into auto-guide using his finest mountain road honest with you and share a little something that happened majestically over its lesser surroundings and scientists commentator voice. Should he be talking and driving up when Karen and I were on vacation last confirm that it is consistently home to the harshest weath- a dangerous mountain road at the same time, I wondered? month, visiting New Hampshire to cele- er in North America because it is positioned at the conflu- I held down the third seat, snapping photographs as we brate our anniversary. ence of three jet streams that often converge on the moun- gained altitude. Some of the photos contained only sky. I threw out a simple suggestion to her. tain top creating horrific conditions. The highest wind Some of them had glimpses of a few peaks in the dis- How about we go to the top of Mount speed ever record, 231 mph, was recorded at the summit. tance. A couple of photos were merely of blades of glass Washington? I asked, knowing she’d But we were goin' anyway. speeding by or scenes of blackened blurry asphalt. It's refuse. The day we went to the top, you could see forever. To hard to focus in on a picture when you are lying prone in The notion of such a mind-blowing the west lie Vermont's Green Mountains and to the south- the backseat, holding your camera above your head, aim- trip, which consists of a vertical gain of east the Atlantic and the Maine coast, which could be ing at something you cannot see and hoping it will take seen earlier in the day, but not so much by the time we almost 6,000 feet, was preposterous in Patterson a good picture by itself since you are too chicken to sit my mind. My wife has never been much started our ascent, about 2:30 p.m. up and look out the window. for heights and I figured she'd turn me down flat and be The ticket taker at base camp (who has probably never Karen continued to ooh and even ahh at the appropriate spared any embarrassing moments on our way up the been to the top of the mountain if her self-assuredness places in the driver's commentary. (Should he be talking Auto Road as I navigated the way safely for her, peering was any indication) gave us a helpful tip: "They say the and driving at the same time? I wondered. Still.) I out like a bald eagle soaring bravely amid the beauty of trick to making it up and back and not being bothered by clutched at seat backs, jackets, door handles, my wife's the White Mountain landscape. the height is to just look out onto the faraway vistas and clothing, and finally my own throat as the world seemed "Let's do it!" she shot back. The sound of an exclamation see all the beauty and avoid looking down at the moun- to close in around me. point at the end of her sentence told me she was serious. tainside just below you, which is when any fear of I was OK as long as there were trees outside my win- Any hope I'd have of saving her from being humiliated heights will kick in." dow. But when the trees disappeared, so did I. And Karen with her fear of heights was gone. I figured our whole Sure enough. had a nice little laugh about it. Here I was, successful trip might be ruined because of this ridiculous sugges- My wife bobbed up and down in the second seat of our (Please See PATTERSON/16)

Your Family Ten easy ways to make summer a bummer By Bill and Monica Dodds wants more vegetables? And what good this one is a total loss and next year's Catholic News Service are flowers? Sure, the produce you don't will be nearly perfect. Absolutely no eat yourselves can be given to friends or troubles, challenges, setbacks or disap- To rephrase Psalm 118:24: "This is donated to the local food bank. And, pointments. the summer the Lord has made; let us yes, flowers will brighten up your home 7. Stall through summer 2009 rejoice in it and be glad." and make great gifts for family and because it won't be too many more But that's not always friends but ... summers before your children are off on easy to do, is it? 3. Don't plan Sunday brunch picnics their own. Summer 2009 may for after Mass. You bring food into a love- 8. Let Sunday Mass attendance slide. be a tough one for your ly park and the next thing you know there Lots of people do that, don't they? You family for any number are ants or, worse, there are yellow jackets deserve an extra day to sleep in. Your of reasons, including or other bees. And it could be hot out. kids and your spouse aren't always keen household economics! 4. Avoid at all costs the temptation to on going anyway. You're doing them a But here are 10 easy look in the newspaper or go online to favor. Hey, it's summer! Right? ways to guarantee your find out what shows, exhibits or other 9. Still employed? Point out at work summer is a bummer: events in your area are free or have a that your employer didn't schedule you 1. Assume that low, low cost. If you're not careful, for the two weeks off you really wanted. because money is tight, Monica and Bill your children will be exposed to great Do the same at home. Frequently. They joy is impossible. If Dodds music and art. Or they'll want to see need to know how hard it is being you. you can't make it to the another play or go to another (semipro) 10. When in doubt, mope. Your chil- major theme park or rent that cabin in ballgame. Worse still, they may start dren depend on you to show them how to mountains, what's the point? Never thinking about playing a musical instru- handle a variety of situations, including a mind that several trips to the local park ment, drawing, writing or sharpening summer that seems less than ideal. ANSWERS and some nights in an old camping tent their athletic skills themselves! Increase their vocabulary by demonstrating in the backyard can be sources for a lot 5. Money's not a problem? Get the what "surly" really means. 1. b, 2. c, of happy memories. (Note to self: kids so involved in organized activities On the Web: Lots of Resources 3. f, 4. e, that they don't have time to lie in the Type in "free summer fun families" on any 5. d, 6. g, S'mores can be made using the search engine and you'll find a lot of sites. microwave.) grass, stare up at the clouds and daydream. Also, check out the sites for your local news- 7. a. 2. Don't plant a small vegetable gar- 6. Pin all your hopes on next sum- paper and television stations. They can have den. Don't plant flowers. After all, who mer. It has to be better, right? Assume great ideas, too. The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 15 JUST 4 KIDS Jesus and his apostles prepare for Passover

While they were celebrating the first me." day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread His friends all shook their heads and with Jesus, one of his disciples asked denied that they would do such a him, "Where do you want us to go and thing. But they knew that Jesus would prepare for you to eat the Passover?" not have said such a thing if it was not Jesus called two of his friends over true, and they wondered which of and said to them, "Go into the city and them was the one Jesus referred to. a man will meet you, carrying a jar of Jesus continued, "One of the water. Follow him. Wherever he Twelve, the one who dips with me into READ MORE ABOUT IT: passing over Egypt to destroy the firstborn of enters, say to the master of the the dish. For the Son of Man indeed Mark 14 the household, unless the angel saw the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is goes, as it is written of him, but woe to Q&A doorframes marked with blood. my guest room where I may eat the that man by whom the Son of Man is 1. What holy day did Jesus want to pre- The disciples asked Jesus about their own pare for? preparation for the Passover celebration in Passover with my disciples?"' Then he betrayed. It would be better for that 2. What did Jesus say about the bread he today's story. will show you a large upper room fur- man if he had never been born." broke? Then Jesus took the bread, blessed PUZZLE nished and ready. Make the prepara- BIBLE ACCENT Match the sacraments with the symbols, tions for us there." it, gave it to his friends, and said, A number of feasts were established to concepts or items that go with them: The two men immediately left for the "Take it; this is my body." celebrate special events or miracles that 1. Baptism city, and everything happened exactly He took the cup, gave thanks, gave God had performed for the early Hebrew 2. Eucharist as Jesus said it would. that to them as well, and said, "This is people. The rituals that govern some of 3. Confirmation these feasts can be found in the Pentateuch, 4. Holy orders When they returned and told Jesus, the blood of my covenant, which will 5. Matrimony or the first five books of the Old Testament. 6. Anointing of the sick he told his disciples to come with him, be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, Jesus and his disciples were celebrating 7. Reconciliation and they went to the room that had I shall not drink again the fruit of the the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Unleavened been prepared for them. vine until the day when I drink it new bread, which the Jewish people call "matzo," a. Forgiveness is bread made without yeast. This seven-day b. Water Later that night, when Jesus was in the kingdom of God." festival signaled the time to harvest the c. Host dining with his disciples, he said Then Jesus and his disciples sang a d. Wedding rings grain. something that shocked them. "Amen, hymn and went out to the Mount of The connection between this feast and e. Priests f. Holy Spirit I say to you, one of you will betray Olives. Passover is explained in Exodus 12. g. Holy oil Passover refers to the angel of the Lord

Take your angels with you -- you never know when you’ll need them

By Therese J. Borchard myself into too much trouble. man, he was gone. And there was just one set of tire Catholic News Service Maybe her invocation did matter. tracks in the snow: that of the boy's car (not the tow I've always been intrigued by the presence of angels, truck). Growing up, my mom would tell me and and I'm hardly alone when you consider the popularity of Writes Anderson in "Where Angels Walk": "Angels my three sisters every morning before angel books, pins and statues. don't submit to litmus tests, testify in court or slide school, "Take your angel with you." I used to work for a religious giftware company, and let under a microscope for examination. Thus their exis- "Yeah, yeah, yeah, goodbye," we'd me tell you: Without angels, we would have had to do tence cannot be 'proved' by the guidelines we humans say. something really creative with the saints. You know, usually use. To know one, perhaps, requires a willing- She was so predictable. So convinced something besides the St. Joseph Home Sales Kit. ness to suspend judgment, to open ourselves to possibil- that a heavenly presence was beside us, The writings of bestselling author Joan Wester ities we've only dreamed about. protecting us from harm. Anderson have long inspired me. I get goose bumps "Was it an angel? Our family will never know for sure. I never gave it too much thought until every time I read her story about her son and a friend But on Christmas Eve in 1983, I heard the whisper of my older sister smashed her car into a Borchard being saved by an angel in the middle of a snowstorm on wings as a tow-truck driver answered a heavenly sum- wall and walked away unscathed, my an isolated country road in Indiana. mons and brought our son safely home." twin sister totaled her car and walked home, and I spent A tow truck appeared out of the blue and offered to pull Joan now has company, because another believer, or many a drunken night in the "ghetto" off-campus hous- the stalled car to a nearby friend's house. But as soon as ing area of the University of Dayton without getting the two boys turned around to pay the kind and generous Please See BORCHARD/9) Page 16 JUNE 2009 The Angelus PATTERSON: On top of the world, but never more scared (From 14) DAY. Yet I was certain that walked around the mountain you want me to die a half sec- after there had been no report- top with a measure of confi- ond before you?" I asked her. hiker of two of Texas' tallest ed accidents or deaths on the dence, admiring the spectacu- Fifteen minutes later, the peaks, unable to merely sit up mountain road since it opened lar views that the mountains evergreens and firs began Our Holy and look out the window. in 1861, today was the day provided and full of self-grati- popping up at the side of the Father’s There she was -- someone who that it would finally happen. fication that I had made it. road and I found I too could had once been petrified to sit And I was the victim. And then Rich walked up. again sit upright. Monthly in the mezzanine section of the We arrived at the summit "Van leaves in 5 minutes, I wiped the sweat from my Intentions Ballpark at Arlington -- bounc- and I was astounded at just you guys ready?" brow. They said the trip up ing up and down like it was the being there. Getting there was As if someone had let the air and down would be breathtak- 2009 most exciting trip of her life. one thing. Being there was out of my knees I began to ing. No one mentioned any- Rich was driving 10-15 quite another. I felt alive, wobble like a nudged bowling thing about lunch taking. JUNE mph around hair pin curves refreshed, renewed, as if I had pin. I began searching franti- "You doin' OK back there, when there was nothing out just accomplished a major cally for the nearest trail to the sweetheart?" Karen asked me. Foreign Debt Relief. That internation- the passenger side window hurdle in my life. So what if I bottom. Karen caught me in "Piece a cake," I said. al efforts to help poorer nations bring except the end of my life. By did it lying in the back seat time, poured me back into the "Ready to go again. prompt, concrete results to relieve the the time we got into his van whining like a baby that I van, and had the audacity to But between you and me... crushing burden of foreign debt. that afternoon, it was his was about to die and would ask me if I wanted to ride shot- my palms were sweatin' a little. The Church in Areas of Violence. third trip to the top THAT never see my children again? I gun on the way down. “What, That local Church communities serving areas torn by violence may be supported through the love and help offered by PADRE THAD Catholics around the world. (Para 6) mano encima de nuestros niños en embrión, perspectiva de reducir a nuestros en un intento por aliviar el sufrimiento o congéneres a partes y componentes en la JULY manos. Se dieron cuenta de que su padre se salvarse a sí mismos. Tristemente, la línea de ensamblaje del complejo industrial Christians in the Middle East. That ahogaba y nadaron hacia él. Cuando decisión del Presidente sobre las células en el negocio de la medicina. Christians in the Middle East may live their estaban ya cerca el papá les gritó que no se madre alienta este tipo de comportamiento Sin embargo, muchos ciudadanos de faith in complete freedom and become acercaran. “¡Aléjense! ¡No me toquen!”, les no ético al recurrir a una apelación Estados Unidos, parecen no estar muy instruments of reconciliation and peace. gritaba. Atemorizados, los muchachos emocional a la desesperación de los enterados de las implicaciones de la Humanity Reconciled. Through the wit- guardaron distancia, hasta que el papá dejó pacientes. El error ético del Presidente se decisión del Presidente. El Juez de la ness of the faithful, may the Church be the de luchar y empezó a hundirse dejando acentúa por el hecho de que existen Suprema Corte William O. Douglas seed and soil of a humanity reconciled to burbujas. alternativas científicas notables y sólidas, comentó en una ocasión sobre cómo la be God's one true family on earth. Al perder el padre el conocimiento, los tales como la reprogramación celular, por opresión puede irse estableciendo entre muchachos se acercaron y lo sujetaron lo una parte, o el uso de células madre de nosotros sin que nos demos cuenta: “Así mejor que pudieron, arrastrándolo a la cordón umbilical de adulto por otra, como la noche no llega en un instante, la Daily Offering Prayer orilla, donde empezó a arrojar el agua y ninguna de las cuales requiere ponerle la opresión tampoco llega así. En ambos O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart recuperar la conciencia, finalmente mano encima a un embrión humano. casos hay un momento de crepúsculo en el of Mary I offer you my prayers, works, joys expulsando toda el agua. Más tarde los La decisión del Presidente sobre las que todo parece seguir igual, y es en ese and sufferings of this day in union with the hijos le preguntaron por qué les gritaba que células madre también manifiesta un giro crepúsculo que debemos estar conscientes Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the se alejaran. Les dijo que temía que al preocupante hacia una forma de opresión del cambio que se está dando para no world. I offer them for all the intentions of ponerles la mano encima los hundiría junto aún más pervasiva y sistémica en nuestra terminar siendo víctimas de la obscuridad”. Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, con él. Sabía que una persona desesperada sociedad. El presidente Obama les está Habrá quien opine que quizá ya nos reparation for sin and the reunion of all se aferra a lo que sea, incluso hasta de sus ofreciendo a los estadounidenses la cubrió la noche. Pero tal vez todavía Christians. I offer them for the intentions propios hijos, con tal de salvarse, y él no perspectiva de recurrir al potencial de la queden algunos momentos de crepúsculo en of our bishops and of all Apostles of quería hacer eso. ciencia para oprimir, o más precisamente, los cuales los estadounidenses pueden hacer Nosotros también debemos preocuparnos suprimir a los integrantes más pequeños de retroceder la obscuridad moral que amenaza Prayer, and in particular for those rec- de manera similar cuando en nuestra la familia humana para servir a los intereses a nuestra sociedad y a nuestro futuro. ommended by our Holy Father this sociedad los científicos y pacientes de los más grandes y más ricos. Les está month. desesperados están tentados a poner la ofreciendo a los estadounidenses la Mystical Rose Catholic Books and Gifts

1317 N. 8th Street, Suite 100 Abilene, TX (325) 829-8512 Our sole purpose is to bring Jesus and Our Blessed Mother to Catholics in West Texas by offering Catholic books, statues, rosaries and other Sacramentals. All of our profits are donated to Catholic causes. Hours -- MWF -- 2:00-5:00 Sat. -- 12:00-5:00 [email protected] The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 17 MISSAL: Church ‘within sight’ of receiving results of much hard work

(From 4) achieves this aim “by its dual emphasis expression of a number of prayers. English as in Latin, this basic goal is on literal accuracy and on language con- The process used in the translation, unachievable. changes. The catechesis to prepare to ducive to reverence.” based on the Instruction, brings about a We are within sight of receiving the receive the new Roman Missal will The Instruction for the translation of deeper communion with the Church results of much hard work and dedication strongly speed up and enhance the under- the new Roman Missal from the Latin spread throughout the world not only in that has produced the new English standing of the new text once it is texts into the English is based on a num- our time, but with the Church through all Roman Missal. It is incumbent on us to received. ber of principles that assure fidelity and time. As our American English vernacu- be ready to take wholehearted possession Years of study, review and rewriting of exactness to the original. Some of these lar version of the Roman Rite is not an of this translation when it is completed texts have gone into the preparation of basic principles are:  American Rite based on the Roman one, and becomes the text we pray at the Holy the new Roman Missal. This process has the texts must be translated integrally but the Roman Rite in English, so we are Eucharist. We are, of course, ready to been guided by an important Instruction and in the most exact manner — without confirmed in our communion with all accept the new translation on the basis of from the Congregation for Divine omissions or additions in terms of their those particular churches that use this the authority of the Church, with which Worship called in Latin, Liturgiam content — and without paraphrases or authenticam — A document for the right glosses. Rite throughout the world. she gives this new prayerbook to us. implementation of the Constitution on the the translation must always be in The two dimensions of ecclesial com- Sacred Liturgy. A few years ago, at a accord with sound Doctrine. munion — communion in space and meeting of the U.S.Catholic Bishops for the kind of language should be easily communion in time — made possible reviewing some of the texts of the new understandable, yet preserve the texts’ through the medium of the Roman Rite, Missal, Cardinal Avery Dulles offered a dignity, beauty and doctrinal precision. given to us in the English translation — CHANGES very insightful analysis of the whole Many very talented and highly quali- are themselves mean more final and ulti- (From 1) process and finality of the new Roman fied people have worked hard to produce mate communion: a deeper sharing and Missal when he stated, “The central pur- the English texts that we will be receiv- communion with God the Father, God the pose of the Instruction (from the ing in the near future. We should be Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Sacramental Minister for Sacred Heart- patient with the new translation of the Menard. Congregation for Divine Worship) was to All of us know that the Second Vatican • Deacon Tim Graham, currently insure the integral transmission of Roman Missal, as it will take work to get Council called the people of God to a Pastoral Coordinator at St. Theresa- Revelation through translation of used to it, and in many cases will require full, conscience, and active or actual par- Junction is assigned also to serve as Scriptural and liturgical texts.” He point- patient instruction of the lay faithful so ticipation in the sacred Liturgy. Without Pastoral Coordinator at Sacred Heart- ed out that this guiding document they can become familiar with the new a Roman Missal that is the same in Menard. SACRED: Pray, learn, talk, serve, organize just five things you can do (From 4) ly against abortion,” they insist, “except, ter than abortion and the compelling sto- www.nccbuscc.org/prolife and of course, in the cases of rape and ries of the brave post-abortive women www.hopeafterabortion.org. fact is that abortion is more dangerous to incest.” They argue that it’s somehow who are silent need to be heard. These Communicate with others. Believing more women now than before it was “compassionate” to offer the woman vic- very special women bear witness not only in our hearts that abortion and infanticide legal. Former abortionist Bernard tim the opportunity to eliminate the to the agony and trauma of their own are evil and beneath us as a people is not Nathanson has admitted that he helped results of an attack. The ultimate ques- abortion but to the hope of healing, rec- enough. We need to speak out when we invent the story about back alley abortion tion, however, is: “What about the onciliation, and inner peace as well. can. It is in speaking with others that we fatalities. Legal is not safe. Besides, the baby?” Now what can you and I do each day to can help them to understand and touch best doctors don’t aspire to be abortion- In simple terms, two wrongs do not help love and defend human life that is a their hearts with a message of respect for ists. make a right. A second wrong only precious gift to be loved and defended in human life. Some continue to dispute, in spite of makes a bad situation worse. Abortion each and every one of its stages? Here Serve with your gifts. Programs that scientific research, that human life exists for rape cases punishes the innocent child are some concrete recommendations that serve pregnant women and children from the moment of conception. more severely that the guilty rapist. An I present for your reflection, and hope- always need extra hands. Offer to help. However, when there is any doubt that “innocent bystander,” if you will, is fully for your implementation. Help for women and men suffering there exists a human being’s life to pre- given the death sentence while the crimi- because of abortion requires special serve and protect, such doubt shall be nal has the opportunity to amend his life. What can I do? expertise. You may want to help finan- resolved in favor of the existence of a Pray every day that our nation will cially, or in other ways. human being, and when two or more The Greatest Human again respect the lives of every human Organize on behalf of life. The most human beings are in a situation in which Rights Movement being from the moment of conception to effective vehicle for building a communi- their lives are mutually endangered, all The pro-life movement is the great- natural death. I ask that at every Sunday ty that respects each and every human life available ordinary means and reasonable est human rights movement on earth – a Mass, prayers be offered for peace, for a is to establish a Parish Respect Life efforts shall be used to preserve and pro- struggle founded on unconditional love- new respect for human life, and for an Committee or similar committee. tect the life of each and every human even for the pro-abortionists – uncondi- end to abortion. Together parishioners can encourage being endangered. tional empathy for the victims, both the Learn the facts about abortion. Read prayer, educational activities, and child and his or her mother, and uncondi- Catholic magazines and the West Texas involvement in the public realm. Through The Politician’s Song tional courage. Angelus. The newsletter Life Insights, and parish Respect Life Committees we can As regards abortion, the politician’s With each passing year, the horrific other educational materials are available make a difference. song has been sung so often for so long toll on women’s lives becomes more evi- from the bishops’ Secretariat for Pro-Life that it sounds quite logical – and sadly dent. And it’s time the media stopped Activities. Also visit some pro-lifers believe it. “I’m absolute- censuring this truth. Women deserve bet- Page 18 JUNE 2009 The Angelus BLUE: Citywide celebration planned for San Angelo June 20-21 (From 1) Many people in San Angelo thought the “The Legend of the Bluebonnets,” which Angelo Museum of Fine Arts. Featuring a Jumanos no longer existed as a distinct tells the story of how every time The Lady short musical program by Jordan fol- researching the life of Sor Maria of tribe. In fact, they had gone into hiding in Blue appeared, when her blue cape lowed by brief remarks by the Jumano Agreda, a cloistered abbess in Agreda, and affiliated with the Apaches for self- touched the ground, bluebonnets sprang up. chieftain. Author, Marilyn Fedewa, Spain, who appeared to the Jumano protection. The chieftain, the tribal histo- keynote speaker. Books and CD’s will be available for sale. Indians in the San Angelo area in the rians, and several other Jumanos plan to Schedule of Events early 1600’s. be at the June celebration. Saturday, June 20 10 a.m. -- Ecumenical service, Bishop Sunday, June 21 One of the exciting results of Fedewa’s A melodious and beautiful musical 8:30 a.m. -- Mass will be celebrated in research is locating and interviewing the score dedicated to the Lady in Blue has Pfeifer; Pastor Janie Kelley, Unity Church and area pastors, at the Jumano marker, honor of the Jumanos and the artists at Jumano chieftain, Gabriel Carrasco, who been composed by Cindy Jordan (first Rio Concho Dr. (confluence of the the Carmelite monastery, at Our Lady of lives near El Paso, as well as a number known for her song “Jose Cuervo, (You Concho River near the Bell Street Grace Monastery, 15 miles outside of of Jumanos living in Redford in Big are a Friend of Mine.)” Her new CD, Crossing) Original music by Cindy Jordan Christoval, down Toenail Trail Road, turn- Bend, including the Jumano tribal histo- titled “The Lady in Blue” was recently and a children’s choir ing left CR 339 (Rudd Road). rian, Enrique Madrid. cut in Nashville and includes the song, 5 p.m. -- Book, CD signing party, San OBISPO (Para 3) donde hay división, ayudar a sanar Superando el Orgullo—“He pecado” Hoy quizás hemos perdido mucho del matrimonios y familias que están en En el Sacramento de Confesión, se les entendimiento del mal del pecado, y lo cometidos en contra Dios, y somos conflicto y dificultad. La verdad gozosa pide a los sacerdotes que sean agentes de mal que trae a nuestras vidas y nuestras reconciliados con la Iglesia que es herida del Sacramento de Confesión – la misericordia y perdón de Dios mientras relaciones con otros. El pecado es la por nuestros pecados. Reconciliación – es que Dios quiere nos ayudan a reconocer nuestros pecados, libertad de permitir que nuestra relación sanarnos más que lo que queremos ser y para abrir nuestros corazones a recibir la con Dios se pone en tensión, o aun ser El Ministro del Acto Sagrado de Dios sanados. Nuestro Padre en el cielo nos misericordia abundante de Cristo. Muchos rota. Para recibir sinceramente los frutos Unos de nuestros amigos no-Católicos ama tanto que el quería manifestar Su católicos no toman ventaja de este gran del Sacramento de Penitencia, la ponen énfasis en que ellos confiesan sus amor en una manera visible y razonable don misericordioso dado por Cristo a Confesión, antes que nada, nosotros pecados directamente a Dios. Nosotros, por pedir a su Hijo que fuera encarnado, nuestra hermosa Iglesia Católica. ¿Por tenemos que reconocer humildemente Católicos, también decimos, de acuerdo para que Dios pudiera tocarnos con carne qué? Tal vez por falta de conocimiento o nuestra debilidad y admitir humildemente con la premisa bíblica, confesamos semejante a la nuestra, ver dentro nuestros aprecio completo de la hermosura, los que hemos pecado. Si pecáramos nuestros pecados a Dios en el Sacramento ojos con ojos humanos y hablarnos con beneficios, y la necesidad de esta seriamente—pecado mortal — destruiría de Penitencia, administrada por el palabras humanas. Tenemos a Jesús, el Sacramento para nuestra vida espiritual. la caridad en el corazón del hombre por sacerdote que representa la comunidad signo que es el gran Sacramento de Otros, tal vez, sean temerosos y sean una infracción grave de la ley de Dios cristiana. Cristo ha confiado el ejercer del nuestro Dios amoroso. superados por el orgullo, faltan el valor y prefiriendo un bien inferior [1855]. poder de absolución al ministerio Si alguien quiere verdaderamente saber humildad para simplemente decir – “He Celebrando el Sacramento ofrece apostólico que Él encargó con el que bueno es Dios y como quiere enseñar pecado — necesito el perdón de Dios.” El reconciliación. Si alguien ha pecado ministerio de reconciliación. [C. 1442] su misericordia y perdón, solamente espíritu y actitud necesitada es la misma gravemente, entonces no ha de recibir la Este ministerio sigue desempeñándose hoy tenemos que leer en el evangelio acerca de del Hijo Prodigo quien cae a las rodillas Comunión, porque esto sería un pecado por sacerdotes ordenados. Como en todos la compasión, el perdón y sanación que de su padre misericordioso, confesando — aun peor—un sacrilegio. Para prepararnos los Sacramentos, Cristo designa un Cristo ha traído a la gente cuando caminó “Padre, he pecado contra Dios y contra bien para Confesión, necesitamos tomar representativo humano – el sacerdote – esta tierra. Necesitamos, especialmente, ti.” (Lc. 15:18) Luego nuestro Padre tiempo de examinar nuestras vidas para ser el ministro del acto sagrado que humildemente y tristemente arrodillarnos celestial corre, nos abraza y nos perdona. verdaderamente y honestamente con el celebramos con nuestro Dios. al pie de la cruz, reconociendo que Jesús La palabra central en que la Iglesia pone Espíritu Santo, admitir nuestros pecados, El Sacramento de Penitencia – Confesión dio su vida para perdonar nuestros énfasis en el Sacramento de Confesión es expresar nuestra pena en oración por estos – es el Sacramento de la gran misericordia pecados muriendo como un criminal en la reconciliación. Cuando permitimos que el pecados, y entonces manifestar y perdón de Dios que es ofrecido al pueblo cruz. El mismo Jesús amoroso que enseñó pecado posea nuestro espíritu, nos humildemente estos pecados a Dios por de Dios. En el Catecismo de la Iglesia perdón y misericordia durante su vida en hacemos extraños a nosotros mismos y medio del sacerdote en Confesión, y Católica, leemos: “Cristo instituyó el la tierra, todavía nos está dando la hasta a nuestros vecinos y a nuestro Dios. cumplir nuestra penitencia y resolver, con sacramento de la Penitencia a favor de bienvenida ansiosamente y con todo El perdonar y la reconciliación van juntos. la gracia de Dios, de no pecar de nuevo. todos los miembros pecadores de su corazón para la reconciliación, El perdón de Dios por nuestros pecados en La acción más importante de la penitencia Iglesia, ante todo para los que, después del ofreciéndonos sanación, perdón y paz en Confesión requiere que nosotros también es el arrepentimiento, tristeza sincera y Bautismo, hayan caído en el pecado grave el Sacramento de Confesión. Cristo no perdonemos a otros, y llama para poner un aversión por el pecado cometido junto con y así hayan perdido la gracia bautismal y está interesado en castigarnos ni en esfuerzo sincero para dedicarnos a la la intención de no pecar más. lesionado la comunión eclesial.” [C. 1446] regañarnos. En su homilía en el Estadio reconciliación. En “El Padre Nuestro” Nacional en 2008, el Papa Benedicto XVI rezamos que nuestro Padre celestial nos Paz y Serenidad de Consciencia Un Don Muy Malentendido enfatizó la gran importancia del perdone según la manera que perdonemos Todo el poder del Sacramento de Tristemente, el Sacramento de Sacramento de Penitencia para nuestra a otros. Reconciliación es juntar de nuevo Confesión consiste en restaurar la gracia de Penitencia – Reconciliación – es uno de vida espiritual: “En gran medida, la lo que fue una vez uno. Es descubrir la Dios y juntarnos con nuestro Dios en una los dones más malentendido de nuestro renovación de la Iglesia en América, y por unidad y amor que Dios quiere para amistad intima y personal. Cuando bueno, querido Padre Todopoderoso. En todo el mundo, depende de la renovación nuestra vida. nosotros admitimos humildemente y este don, Dios perdona nuestros pecados y de la practica de penitencia y en el confesamos nuestros pecados, nosotros nos llena con misericordia, y este crecimiento de la santidad que el El Mal del Pecado Sacramento también tiene el poder para Sacramento ambos inspira y logra.” El Sacramento de Confesión nos ofrece calmar violencia, para restaurar unidad el perdón de Dios por nuestros pecados. (Mira CONFESION/19) The Angelus JUNE 2009 Page 19

CONFESION (Para 18) pecado. Para habilitar crecimiento en El Buen Confesor Todas nuestras iglesias tienen tiempo gracia, deberíamos recibir este Sacramento Cuando celebra el sacramento de la especial para la celebración del Sacramento encontramos una nueva paz y la serenidad con cierta frecuencia. Al recibir el Penitencia, el sacerdote ejerce el ministerio de Penitencia – Confesión – y animo a de conciencia, esperanza espiritual, y Sacramento de Penitencia, la gracia de Dios del Buen Pastor que busca la oveja perdida, nuestros sacerdotes que recuerden a nuestra consuelo y fuerza espirituales, para es restaurada para los que han cometido un el del Buen Samaritano que cura las gente en los boletines de este tiempo ayudarnos a vivir buenas vidas Cristianas, pecado grave. La frecuente y cuidadosa heridas, del Padre que espera al hijo especial designado para la celebración de para vencer hábitos de pecado y superar la celebración de este Sacramento es también pródigo y lo acoge a su vuelta, del justo este Sacramento maravilloso. También tentación. La gracia poderosa que se nos ha un buen remedio para superar pecados Juez que no hace acepción de personas y animo a nuestros sacerdotes y otros líderes dado en el Sacramento de Confesión no veniales y nos ayuda a vencer nuestra culpa cuyo juicio es a la vez justo y pastorales a predicar y enseñar sobre el solo perdona nuestros pecados, sino predominante o tendencia al pecado, y misericordioso. El sacerdote es el signo y Sacramento de Reconciliación, Penitencia, también nos ayuda a humilde y tratar con la causa de raíz del pecado. el instrumento del amor misericordioso de que nos da la misericordia de Dios. sinceramente tratar con la raíz de nuestro Dios con el pecador. [C. 1465] BISHOP: Confession not only good for the soul, but for greater church community (From 2) with human words. We have Jesus, the The central word the Church emphasizes Peace and serenity of Conscience sign that is the great Sacrament of our lov- in the Sacrament of Confession is reconcili- The whole power of the Sacrament of The minister of the sacred act of God ing God. ation. When we allow sin to possess our Confession consists of restoring us to God’s Some of our non-Catholic friends stress If anyone wants to truly know how good spirit, we become a stranger to ourselves grace and joining us with our God in an that they confess their sins directly to God. God is and how much God wants to show His and even to our neighbors and to our God. intimate, personal friendship. When we We, Catholics, also say that in accord with mercy and forgiveness, all we have to do is Forgiveness and reconciliation go together. humbly admit and confess our sins, we find a biblical premise, we confess our sins to read in the Gospels about the compassion, God’s forgiveness of our sins in Confession new peace and serenity of conscience, spir- God but in the Sacrament of Penance forgiveness and healing Christ brought to peo- demands that we then forgive others and itual hope, and strong spiritual consolation administered by the priest who represents ple when He walked this earth. We especially calls for sincere efforts to work for recon- and strength, to help us lead good Christian the Christian community. Christ has need to humbly and sorrowfully kneel at the ciliation. We pray in the Our Father that our lives, to overcome habits of sin and deal entrusted the exercise of the power of abso- foot of the cross, recognizing that Jesus gave Heavenly Father forgive us to the degree with temptation. The powerful grace that is lution to the apostolic ministry which He His life to forgive our sins by dying like a that we forgive others. Reconciliation is given us in the Sacrament of Confession charged with the ministry of reconciliation criminal on the cross. The same loving Jesus putting back together what was once one. It not only forgives our sins, but helps us to [C.1442]. This ministry continues to be car- who showed forgiveness and mercy during is rediscovering the unity and love that God humbly and truthfully deal with the source ried out today by ordained priests. As in all His life on earth, is still eagerly and heartily wants for our life. of our sin. To enable our growth in grace, of the Sacraments, Christ designates a welcoming us to reconciliation, offering us we should receive this Sacrament with a human representative—the priest—to be healing, pardon and peace in the Sacrament of Evil of Sin certain frequency. By receiving the the minister of the sacred act we celebrate Confession. Christ is not interested in punish- The Sacrament of Confession offers Sacrament of Penance God’s grace is with our God. ment and reprimand. In his homily at God’s forgiveness for our sins. Today per- restored to those who may have committed The Sacrament of Penance —Confession National Stadium in 2008, Pope Benedict haps we have lost much of the understand- grave sin. Frequent and careful celebration — is the Sacrament of God’s great mercy XVI stressed the great importance of the ing of the evil of sin, and the evil that it of this Sacrament is also a very useful rem- and forgiveness that is offered to God’s peo- Sacrament of Penance for our spiritual life: brings to our lives and to our relationships edy for venial sins, and helps us to over- ple. In the Catechism of the Catholic “To a great extent, the renewal of the Church with others. Sin is the willingness to let our come our predominant fault, or tendency to Church, we read: “Christ instituted the in America, and throughout the world, relationship with God be strained, or even sin, to deal with the root cause of sin. Sacrament of Penance for all sinful members depends on the renewal of the practice of to be broken. To truly receive the fruits of of his Church: above all for those who, since penance and the growth in holiness which the the Sacrament of Penance, Confession, first The Good Confessor Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have Sacrament both inspires and accomplishes.” and foremost, we have to humbly recognize When the priest celebrates the Sacrament thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded our weakness and to humbly admit that we of Penance, the priest needs to realize that ecclesial communion.” [CC 1446] Overcoming Pride – “I have sinned” have sinned. If one were to sin seriously he is performing the ministry of the Good In the Sacrament of Confession, priests are — mortal sin — it would destroy charity in Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, or the A very misunderstood Gift asked to be agents of God’s mercy and for- one’s heart by a grave violation of God’s Good Samaritan, who binds up wounds, or Sadly, the Sacrament of Penance— giveness as they help us to recognize our law; turning one away from God by prefer- the father who awaits the prodigal son and Reconciliation — is one of the most misun- sins, and to open our hearts to receive the ring an inferior good to him. [CC 1855] welcomes him on his return, and of the just derstood gifts from our kind, loving abundant mercy of Christ. Many Catholics Celebrating the Sacrament offers reconcili- and impartial Judge whose judgment is just Almighty Father. In this gift, God forgives do not take advantage of this great merciful ation. If one has sinned grievously, then and full of mercy. The priest is the sign our sins and fills us with mercy, and this gift given by Christ to our beautiful Catholic one should not receive Communion, as this and instrument of God’s merciful love for Sacrament also has the power to calm vio- Church. Why? Perhaps because of lack of would be a worst sin—a sacrilege. To pre- the sinner. [CC 1465] lence, to restore unity where there is divi- understanding or appreciation of the beauty, pare well for Confession, we need to take All of our churches have special times for sion, to help heal marriages and families benefits, and need of this Sacrament for our time to examine our lives truthfully and the celebration of the Sacrament of that are in strife and difficulty. The over- spiritual life. Others, perhaps, are fearful and honestly with the Holy Spirit, admit our Penance—Confession—and I encourage whelming truth about the Sacrament of overcome by pride, lack the courage and sins, express our sorrow in prayer for these our priests to remind all of our people in Confession—Reconciliation—is that God humility to simply say — “I have sinned sins, and then humbly manifest these sins the bulletins about these special times des- wants to heal us more than we want to be — I need God’s forgiveness.” The spirit and to God through the priest in Confession, ignated for the celebration of this beautiful healed. Our heavenly Father loves us so attitude that is needed is that of the Prodigal and perform our penance and resolve with Sacrament. I also encourage our priests and much that he wanted to manifest His love Son who falls at his merciful father’s knees, God’s grace not to sin again. The most other pastoral leaders to preach and teach in a visible and sensible way by asking His confessing—“Father, I have sinned against important act of the penitent is contrition, about the wonderful Sacrament of Son to be Incarnate, so that God could God and against you.” (Lk.15:18) Our com- heartfelt sorrow and aversion for sin com- Reconciliation, Penance, that brings us touch us with flesh like our own, look into passionate heavenly Father then runs, mitted along with the intention of sinning God’s mercy. our eyes with human eyes, and speak to us embraces us, and forgives us. no more. Page 20 JUNE 2009 The Angelus

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Member Clockwise from top left ... Catholic News Service Jean Crimmins, left, and Sister Mary James, right, help their sister, S. Malachy Catholic Press Association DIOCE-ScenesDIOCE-Scenes Griffin, celebrate her 25th jubilee at the Newman Center at Angelo State in May. ... Texas Catholic News Ernest Blanco, left; S. Malachy and Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer prepare to enjoy some of S. Malachy’s celebration cake. Brownies bearing Cookies: Girl Scouts from Midland’s St. Ann’s School collected 153 boxes of cookies by asking people to donate a box to Published the first Monday following Helping Hands during this year’s cookie drive. Helping Hands is a Midland charitable organization benefiting those in need. the 1st Saturday of each month and Seven young children of St. Joseph Parish, Rowena, received First Communion on Sunday, May 3. Shown here with pastor, Father Magnus, the delivered to all registered parish- communicants included: 1st row: Haley Matschek, Kennedy Byler and Christopher Correa; 2nd row: Hannah Pullin, Taylor Halfmann, Cole Zentner and Carrie Medrano. Their teachers were Rhonda Legg, Clara Halfmann and Susan Jacob. Werner Halfmann and Stanley Schniers, representing ioners in the San Angelo Diocese. Catholic Life Insurance Union Branch #40 of Rowena presented gifts of prayer books to the communicants to mark the special day.

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Letters to the editor are welcome, and should be emailed to [email protected]. EDITOR: Grace abounds, when you see it, pass it on Letters to the editor are printed at the discretion of the editor and iden- (From 3) 2008 when Karen, our son and I crowded onto prayer that had just occurred. Subway riders, tities of the writer are subject to I wanted to chat with Chris when our plane the train after having heard Pope Benedict XVI hardened New Yorkers, had tears in their eyes. verification. Please include name, landed, but we were running late and had less address more than 50,000 at Yankee Stadium. In many ways, listening to this young camp address and phone number when than 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight Also in that car were five seminarians from St. counselor give so selflessly of himself remind- Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. As the train ed Karen and I of those moments aboard that submitting letters. to Midland. I shook his hand and told him what great picked up speed and took us further away from subway train. work I’d heard him doing. He looked at me, the holiness of the day that had just occurred in Grace abounds. Goodness is all around. And smiled and nodded gratefully, but said nothing. The House That Ruth Built, one of the seminar- when you see it, share it with others so that it To top off everything else good about this ians began singing Hail, Holy Queen. Two can multiply. young man, his humility was obviously firmly notes later, they were all singing. The subway ––– intact as well. car fell silent but for the sound of these young Chris’ actions aboard that airplane brought to men. When it was over, there was applause and Jimmy Patterson is editor of the West Texas mind the time on a New York subway in April joy at the spontaneous outpouring of song and Angelus.