Pope Celebrates Christmas, Remembers Martyrs on Feast of St
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50¢ January 1, 2006 Volume 80, No. 1 www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY Serving the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend ’ TODAYODAY’SS CATHOLICATHOLIC Year in Review T C A look at 2005 through the camera lens Pope celebrates Christmas, remembers Pages 12-13 martyrs on feast of St. Stephen Community and church outreach BY JOHN THAVIS Two St. Patrick families VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Benedict XVI cel- touched by tragedy ebrated his first Christmas as pope, warning of the Page 5 “spiritual barrenness” of modern times and asking people to open their hearts to Jesus. The pope celebrated midnight Mass in a packed St. Peter’s Basilica and delivered a Christmas Day blessing to the city of Rome and to the world — Pilgrim cross “urbi et orbi.” On Dec. 26, the feast of St. Stephen, he paid trib- An exchange and look ute to ancient and modern martyrs. After his Christmas blessing, broadcast to 68 at the ongoing journey countries, he gave multilingual greetings, saying in Pages 7 and 11 English: “May the birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its true happiness lies; and may your hearts be filled with hope and joy, for the Savior has been born for us.” He said “Merry Christmas” in 33 languages, Disciples in Mission fewer than the 60 or so languages typically used by Pope John Paul II in his later years. Gone were many A reflection on of the Slavic and African idioms employed by the Polish pope. continuing discernment Pope Benedict began the Christmas events by Page 9 continuing another tradition of Pope John Paul. On Christmas Eve, he stood at his apartment window and lit a candle for peace as the Vatican’s oversized manger scene was unveiled below in St. Peter’s Square. Capital campaign A few hours later, the pope processed into the basilica, brilliantly illuminated at midnight to reflect progress the joy of Christmas. The foot of the altar was deco- CNS PHOTO FROM L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO Diocesan high schools rated with a garland of pine boughs, berries, red Pope Benedict XVI, looking over St. Peter’s Square, gives his blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the roses and other flowers. city of Rome and the world) at the Vatican Dec. 25. He urged humanity to unite against prepare for the future terrorism, poverty and environmental blight and called for a “new world order” to correct Pages 14-15 CELEBRATE, PAGE 3 economic imbalances. SECOND GRADE CLASS DONATES BLANKETS Celebrating our history Diocesan offices will be Cathedral Museum reopens in new location closed Monday, Jan. 2, in observance of the holiday studying for the priesthood and became BY DON CLEMMER friends with Father Thomas Durkin, then rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate FORT WAYNE — Pope John XXIII once Conception, whose dream was always to said that Catholics are not called to guard a start a museum for the diocese. While museum. He, of course, was calling for a Father Durkin never did start a museum, he renewal of the church and probably had did save plenty of items — especially in the nothing against actual museums. After all, wake of the Second Vatican Council — that museums have the important mission of could be preserved in a museum. preserving precious pieces of our history The museum itself got off the ground in and culture. This mission takes on even 1980 with the blessing of then Bishop greater significance for a church as steeped DON CLEMMER William McManus and due largely to the in tradition as the Catholic Church. For efforts of Father Widmann. The original Second graders from St. Vincent de Paul Catholics, museums provide the vital con- museum occupied a classroom in the old School in Fort Wayne carry blankets to Jeff text of historical time and place necessary cathedral school building, where it to better understand the role and mission of remained until 1986, when it relocated to Keplar of the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission. the church today. the basement of the MacDougal Chapel, a That is why the Cathedral Museum, space it would occupy until 2005. The second grade donated 89 blankets, under the care of director Father Phillip The museum’s newest location offers which the students had either collected or Widmann, is of such great value to the dio- plenty of space both for exhibits and stor- cese. And in its new location on the lower age, as well as a design and layout courtesy made in class. Keplar spoke to the second level of the Archbishop Noll Catholic of Stanley Rowe of S.A. Rowe Interiors, for grade classes about the work of the rescue Center, the Cathedral Museum is in a better which Father Widmann offers much praise. position than ever to carry out this work. Walking around the new Cathedral mission in providing food for the hungry The Cathedral Museum’s own history and beds for the homeless. dates back to when Father Widmann was MUSEUM, PAGE 4 2 TODAY’ S CATHOLIC JANUARY 1, 2006 TODAY’S CATHOLIC Official newspaper of the Two families and the community Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend P.O. Box 11169 Fort Wayne, IN 46856 rocked by tragedy and sadness PUBLISHER: Bishop John M. D’Arcy Overmyer to preside at the funeral Mass. ously. EDITOR: Tim Johnson Father Jack reminded me of the story of the I thank Enid Roman-de Jesus for her ASSISTANT EDITOR: Don Clemmer Holy Innocents, the feast we were to help in translating my remarks into Spanish, observe in a few days. which she did from Puerto Rico where she STAFF WRITER: Kay Cozad So it was on Christmas Monday that we was visiting her family. Through the mira- NEWS all gathered before an overflow crowd at St. cle of e-mail, she was able to return them to Editorial Department Patrick Church, somber and quiet. Once me. I also thank Maria Corona of St. PAGE DESIGNER: Francie Hogan &NOTES again, there was the painful ritual of visit- Patrick Parish and Fred Everett of our FREELANCE WRITERS: Joan Bobay, ing St. Patrick Hall and seeing a little girl in Family Life Office for helping me with pro- Ann Carey, Elmer J. Danch, Michelle BISHOP JOHN M. D’ARCY her Mexican dress laid out for burial. nunciation. We must study Spanish, those Donaghey, Bonnie Elberson, Denise The Mass was beautiful, and Father Jack of us in service to our diocese, so that our gave a stirring homily. I added some words welcome to the beloved Hispanic people in Fedorow, Sr. Margie Lavonis, CSC, at the beginning and end of Mass, which our midst may be seen by them as ever Theresa Thomas, David A.Wemhoff Beyond sadness are reprinted in a story on page 5. more genuine and truly Catholic. Their numbers are increasing, and our obligation How can one express the experience of Business Department to them increases as well. two families, members of St. Patrick Parish, BUSINESS MANAGER: Kathy Denice St. Patrick Church has welcomed immi- Fort Wayne? These terrible events, involv- What does it mean? grants for a long time. On this day, it AD GRAPHICS DIRECTOR: Mark Weber ing the killing of four children and, indeed, Philosophers and theologians have strug- belonged to our beloved Hispanics, most of BOOKKEEPING/CIRCULATION: Kathy Voirol the mother of three of these children, have gled over the centuries to understand the them from Mexico. It was a privilege to be rocked the city of Fort Wayne and our dio- power of evil. We know that there is evil in with them in this hour of great sorrow. cese during the month of December. the world. The Book of Genesis expresses it Advertising Sales I will not go over the terrible details, as the arrogance of man in the original and arch-typical sin: the sin of pride and arro- Carol Eifert (Fort Wayne area) which have been reported in the press, but I will speak of the effort of the church to gance — “You will be like gods. You will Christmas painful for you then, (260) 456-2824 respond. know good and evil.” In other words, you bishop? Judy Kearns (South Bend area) I celebrated Mass on Wednesday, Dec. and not God will determine what is good Not really. It is times like this when one (574) 234-0687 14, for three little children found dead by and what is evil. This terrible tendency is especially grateful to be a priest and to Web site: www.diocesefwsb.org/TODAY the most horrible of means, along with their lurks in humanity. The grace of baptism and know the depths of the priestly life. It is not mother, in a home only a mile or two from the Eucharist has helped humanity to over- just that you are representing Christ at such Published weekly except the last my own residence. I refer to the Rios fami- come this, as does our natural instinct to moments in the celebration of Mass. Rather, Sunday in June, second and fourth ly, three beautiful little girls dead along avoid violence. it is true what the church says of the priest weeks in July, second week in August with their mother; while their father is How does one explain violence in the — he acts and lives “in persona Christi.” and last week in December by the charged with the crime. killing of a child so loving and innocent? Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, When the priest or bishop presides at such On the evening of the terrible event, I Surely, they must have tried to cry out moments, Christ is presiding and acting.