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6 FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2011 | The Observer The Observer | FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2011 7

Do people of different denominations First, heaven is not a “place.” Rather, heaven is a “state is completely united with the Father and the Holy Spirit, various levels. So the fullness of heaven comes only after go to the same heaven? Or is there any of being.” Now that may, at first, sound a bit deep and heaven is a state of being fully immersed in the life of the this life when we will never lose that full union with God Q difference after death where different philosophical. But it makes perfect sense when under- most Holy Trinity. again. stood properly. Secondly, I think it’s important to know that heaven is to This also begs the question, “What is hell?” Sadly, Hell faiths go? OFather When speaking about heaven we often use language begin here and now. is simply the complete loss of God and, thus, the com- Y The simple answer to your question is pretty that implies it is some place we go to. Somewhere up Throughout our life on earth we are called to be plete separation from Him. Here and now, a “living hell” is straight forward. There is only one heaven and there! But heaven is not some location in this universe. It continually purged of our attachment to sin so as to when one lives in a state of unrepented mortal sin. In that even though it may be painful, in a sense, to be purged state there is no union with God, no joy in life and no fulfill- A everyone who goes to heaven goes to the same is, properly speaking, a state of being completely and to- walk, day by day, ever more deeply united to God. from sin, it is also joyous in that we are freed from those YO ungObserver heaven. So, no matter what your faith may be, if you go tally united with God! Heaven, in a real sense, is a person. ment. If one dies in that state, he or she remains forever unhealthy bonds. The person is Jesus Christ. Our goal in life is to enter into The deeper that unity the more we are detached from separated from God. to heaven you go to the one and only. Hope that helps! complete union with him now and for eternity. Heaven, sin and the more we share in the state of heavenly unity And lastly, let me mention that purgatory is the state of But allow me to explain a bit about the beauti- therefore, is simply the final state of complete union with right now! being purified of our sins and even our attachment to sin. ful reality of heaven and what we actually believe YO Father is written by a priest of the Diocese of Rockford. Jesus after death. It is the permanent unbreakable bond Of course, as long as we are alive in this world we will It is a process that should begin now but will be complet- Send your questions to [email protected] or log onto O about it. or unity and oneness we will share with him. And since he always be tempted and usually be drawn back to sin on ed upon death if we still have some attachment to sin. But http://observer.rockforddiocese.org and click on the Young Observer link. WriteY us at [email protected] LIKE the YOUNG OBSERVER on FACEBOOK Write us at [email protected] LIKE the YOUNG OBSERVER on FACEBOOK Write us at [email protected] LIKE the YOUNG OBSERVER on FACEBOOK

Young people carry ‘Dear young Summer a “YouCat” banner people, Can’t make ? as they leave the Church Benedict XVI’s depends ‘UnPlugged’ general audience on you! She How about La Grange? in St. Peter’s Square needs your starts at the Vatican April lively faith, 13. “YouCat” is the your creative June 22 in recently released charity and young people’s the energy of supplement to the your hope. Batavia Catechism of the Your presence . A renews, What: UnPlugged is Holy Cross copy of it will be in- rejuvenates Church’s high school summer min- cluded in each World and gives new istry. It’s open to teens from next Youth Day 2011 energy to the pilgrim’s backpack. Summit to unite northern Illinois teens year’s freshmen through this year’s (CNS photo/Paul Haring) Church. That graduating seniors. is why World

Youth Days eens from the dioceses of Rockford Mitch Streidl, the Rockford Diocese Re- When: 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays, and Joliet will gather in LaGrange with spect Life director, says the conference has are a grace, beginning June 22 and running Pope says: Don’t abandon God teens from the Chicago Archdiocese been held before for Chicago teens, but this not only for T through mid-August for a youth leadership summit next month. year Rockford and Joliet dioceses were in- you, but for vited to send representatives, too. Where: Donovan Hall at Holy because of ‘attacks of evil’ in church the entire The two-day Justice and Life Youth lead- ership summit, July 25 and 26, is for 13-18 The summit will be held at St. Cletus Par- Cross, 2300 Main St., Batavia People of God. ish, 600 W. 55th St. in La Grange. ope Benedict XVI urged young people not to aban- In the foreword, the pope urged everyone to study the The Church year-olds, who are in high schools or will be What: Games, tribes, team don their faith in God because of the “attacks of evil” catechism “with passion and perseverance” either alone, in next year. Even though the meetings are scheduled building, ultimate frisbee, bonfires, P within the church. in study groups or in exchanges with others online. To- is actively Participants will learn about how to pro- over two days, the conference isn’t set up snacks, prayer-inspiring discus- day’s Christians really need to understand their faith more as an “overnight” event, so participants will “Carry intact the fire of your love in this church every time preparing to mote the dignity of human life and develop than ever before in order to resist modern day challenges need to make their own lodging or transpor- sions, great music and maybe a that men have obscured her face,” he said in a foreword to welcome you leadership skills. Topics will include human and temptations, he wrote. tation arrangements. dunk tank (had one last year ... will a new catechism edited specifically for young people. and to share trafficking, stem cell research, immigration rights, euthanasia, domestic abuse, mate- The $25-per-person cost includes food, they do it again?) “You have need of divine help if you do not want your (CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano via Reuters) this joyful The new “Youth Catechism,” also called “YouCat,” will materials and T-shirts. Scholarships are faith to dry up as a dewdrop in the sun, if you do not want Pope Benedict XVI receives the official 2011 backpack experience rialism, relativism, pollution, chastity, and Who: You and your friends — no be included in each pilgrim backpack for World Youth Day available. to succumb to the temptations of consumerism, if you do from Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela of Madrid during a private meeting much more. sign-up, just show up. 2011 in Madrid. of faith with not want your love to be drowned in pornography, if you do at the Vatican Feb. 14. Inside the pack will be a rosary, a book of pilgrim’s you.’ The gathering is sponsored by the Arch- Info: Chicago Respect Life Cost: nope The pope said he wanted to supplement the Catechism not want to betray the weak and the victims of abuse and prayers, a city guide and a copy of YouCat, a catechism for young people, diocese of Chicago’s office for Respect Life Office, 312/534-5355, www. among other things. Spain is preparing to host World Youth Day in Madrid — Pope Info: 630/879-4750, ext.100. of the Catholic Church by translating it “into the language of violence,” he wrote. and Peace and Justice during this Year of respectlifechicago.org or young people and make its words penetrate their world.” — CNS Aug. 16-21. Benedict XVI the Teen. [email protected]. Check out World Youth Day at www.madrid11.com/en. Find out more about Justice and Life at www.respectlifechicago.org. Check out World Youth Day at www.madrid11.com/en. Find out more about Justice and Life at www.respectlifechicago.org.

uditioning for Patty Connors’ This March came the news that the the hour or so that it takes to perform, she the audience a happy Mother’s Day. She Patty described the requiem’s “tricky One of Patty’s favorite movements choir was a prelude to Russ’s chemo wasn’t halting Russ’s cancer. His life can give away all the anxieties and worries would’ve selected another Sunday to rhythms and unexpected harmonies.” The in the requiem is the last one, “Lux audition to be her husband. She expectancy dropped to six months. that she is living with so bravely.” perform, but that’s what was available and orchestra rarely plays in the same harmony Aeterna,” eternal light. It begins with a said yes to the mild-mannered there she stood, poised and elegant. as the choir, resulting in dissonance. The trumpet fanfare, “like a joyous march into Russ has lost hair, energy, weight, and, Bravely, indeed: 56 and facing what Atenor twice. meter and tempo shift often, and even heaven,” she said, and then the upper most painful of all, the ability to sing. When was likely her last Mother’s Day with her There Russ sat, son at his side, head in within the same meter, she said, you’ve got strings dive in – first violins, second They have enjoyed 15 years of marriage it came time for Patty’s choir to perform the husband, preparing to conduct a requiem his hand, eyes on his wife. She raised her 20something “triplets and duplets and quadruplets and violins, violas, each group divided in half. and music, raising a daughter and a son premiere of a requiem by Jocelyn Hagen with parts for the dead. baton and ushered in a low tremble from By Christina Capecchi while chairing their respective departments called “Ashes of Roses,” Russ knew he the cello. Soon the choir was chanting, septuplets to negotiate.” Just as soon as a “That makes six different parts playing a at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. would have to sit it out. Patty opened her heart to the rainy “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine” pattern is established, it changes. sixteenth note and each of them begins ‘Unexpected harmonies’ Sunday, receiving gifts over breakfast and an eighth note apart. It’s very challenging — she in music, he in theology. He wrote about the Mother’s Day concert ­— “Grant unto them eternal rest, Lord.” For Patty the requiem’s joy is tethered to attending the 8:30 a.m. Mass at Holy Spirit but it creates a shimmering effect.” in Mother’s Day requiem Last March came the news that Stage 4 on his CaringBridge journal. “I have a prayer Conducting the requiem consumed Patty its complexity. “It demands such absorption before slipping away to study the seven- colorectal cancer had seized Russ’s body, for Patty about this, one I have been praying and answered Russ’s prayer. “It’s thrilling to and rewards one for that,” she said. When those bows flew, you could feel movement score. bringing with it a two-year life expectancy. for a while: I pray that she will so lose herself work with so many musicians,” she told me What a brave response to life’s changing an ascent. Russ lifted his head and Patty Christina Capecchi is a freelance writer from Inver Grove He kept singing in Patty’s choir, savoring in this beautiful music, get so involved in At 3 p.m. she stepped onto the stage, the next morning. “I did lose myself in the patterns: inhale deeply, dig in your heels and leaned forward, unafraid. Heights, Minn. Write her at www.ReadChristina.com. each measure. making something beautiful happen, that for wearing black and smiling, and she wished music.” listen for unexpected harmonies.

Brought to you by The Diocesan Office of Communications and Publications Contact: sundays at 6 a.m. Is God Father Carl Beekman on WREX-TV, Channel 13 in Rockford. Diocese of Rockford Vocations Office too early? www.rockvoc.org Catch it on the Web at Calling You? Watch www.realfaithtv.com