Youths Taking an Active Role in Pro-Life Movement
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BringingNorth the Good News to the Diocese Texas of Fort Worth Catholic Vol. 26 No. 2 January 29, 2010 Capital campaign helping parishes upgrade facilities By Juan Guajardo Editorial Assistant Tucked into a corner of Good Shepherd Parish in Colleyville is the Eucharistic Chapel, an intimate space where parishioners can medi- tate and pray in front of the Eucha- rist. It’s a beautiful room, but there’s one problem: It’s too small. “Our parish is growing very fast,” said Father Richard Eldredge, TOR, pastor of Good Shepherd. “We’ve gained about 500 families in two-and-a-half years.” That growth prompted Fr. Eldredge and the staff at Good scholarships, and various other March for Life participants make their way up past the Supreme Court building in Washington Jan. 22. The annual anti- Shepherd to form a committee ministries and services. In addition, abortion demonstration marks the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the nation. (CNS photo/Peter to address the space issues at the parishes are fi nding that going over Lockley) church. What resulted was a plan to their pledges signifi cantly benefi ts build a daily chapel that would seat them thanks to the 75/25 split 130 people and ease overcrowding — until a parish reaches its goal, Youths taking an active for the 2,658 families attending the it receives 25 cents of every dollar parish. Construction of the chapel raised and the diocese receives 75 is expected to cost between $500,000 cents. After a parish reaches its goal, role in pro-life movement and $700,000, Fr. Eldredge said. 75 cents of every dollar goes to the By Laura Wright and Richard This year the event at the Wash- Fifteen alternate gathering But just coming off paying a large parish for its own projects and uses, Szczepanowski ington sports arena was more in sites near the Verizon Center were parish debt, parishioners wanted to and the diocese gets the remaining Catholic News Service demand than ever — about 10,000 set up to accommodate 8,000 more avoid getting into debt again. That’s 25 percent of parishioners’ dona- WASHINGTON (CNS) — tickets to the event were snapped pilgrims, she said. where the diocesan campaign, All tions to the campaign. Droves of pro-life youths from up in just 45 minutes when they Youths brought banners and Things Possible, came into play. “It’s a real advantage to us, we across the country lined up out- were made available through on- signs, but most of all their faith The All Things Possible campaign want to give to the diocese, because side the Verizon Center to get line ticketing in mid-November, and enthusiasm to the Verizon was initiated in 2009 with the goal the diocese has many, many needs, inside the annual Youth Rally said Christa Lopiccolo, execu- Center. Hundreds of seminar- of raising $40 million for diocesan so we’re very happy to try and help and Mass for Life sponsored by tive director of the archdiocesan ians and religious also joined needs. The money from the 4-year the diocese,” Fr. Eldredge said. “In the Archdiocese of Washington Department of Life Issues. “The the throng. campaign will support everything the meantime, they’re also very Jan. 22, forming a crowd of 17,400 youth are on fi re for pro-life,” she Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl from local parish needs to the priest good about trying to help us. I think people. said at the time. SEE YOUTH, P. 12 pension fund, Catholic school SEE CAMPAIGN, P. 2 Bishop Carmody retires; Austin Pope names Galveston-Houston administrator to succeed him auxiliary to head Austin Diocese WASHINGTON (CNS) cese since Bishop Gregory M. WASHINGTON (CNS) The eldest of six children, — Pope Benedict XVI has Aymond left in August to — Pope Benedict XVI has Joe S. Vasquez was born in accepted the resignation of become archbishop of New appointed Auxiliary Bishop Stamford, Texas, July 9, 1957. Bishop Edmond Carmody of Orleans. Joe S. Vasquez of Galveston- He was ordained a priest for Corpus Christi, and named Bishop-designate Mulvey Houston, 52, to be bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo, Monsignor W. Michael Mul- will be ordained to the episco- Austin, succeeding Arch- Texas, in 1984, and in 2001, he vey, administrator of the pacy and installed as bishop bishop Gregory M. Aymond, was named auxiliary bishop Diocese of Austin, to succeed of Corpus Christi March 25 at who was named archbishop of Galveston-Houston and him. Corpus Christi Cathedral. of New Orleans last June. ordained early the following The changes were an- At a Jan. 18 press con- The appointment was year. He was the fi rst priest of nounced in Washington ference in Corpus Christi, announced in Washington the Diocese of San Angelo to Jan. 18 by Archbishop Pietro Bishop-designate Mulvey Jan. 26 by Archbishop Pietro be named a bishop. He is one Sambi, apostolic nuncio to spoke in Spanish and Eng- Bishop-designate Mulvey Sambi, apostolic nuncio to of 27 active Hispanic Catho- Bishop Vasquez the United States. lish, with special greetings for the United States. lic bishops in the U.S. Bishop Carmody, a 76- the priests, deacons, seminar- essential to me in announcing Bishop Vasquez has been He chose as his episcopal Coast residents who fl ed year-old native of Ireland, has ians, and young people of the God’s love and the Gospel of an auxiliary for Galveston- motto “Sigueme,” Spanish to the Houston area after been a bishop since 1988 and diocese. Jesus Christ.” Houston since 2002. for “Follow me,” in refer- Hurricane Katrina. head of the Corpus Christi “No person can work in The bishop-designate told His installation is set for ence to Jesus’ words to Peter Since 2006 Bishop Diocese since 2000. Bishop- isolation and much less a young people that they are March 8 at St. William Church in the Gospel of St. John. Vasquez has been archdi- designate Mulvey, 60, has bishop,” he told the priests. “essential to the vitality of in Round Rock, which is just In 2005 he tended to ocesan vicar general and administered the Austin Dio- “Your collaboration will be SEE MULVEY, P. 2 north of Austin. the pastoral needs of Gulf SEE VASQUEZ, P. 2 Page 2 North Texas Catholic, January 29, 2010 Diocesan All Things Possible campaign enters second phase As the All Things Possible cam- computer use, adding an elevator, the Holy Sepulchre. Co-chair Debbie Phifer said she paign prepares to enter its second so that the building will be handicap In a phone interview Thursday too has been happy with the very PARISHES CURRENTLY major block of receptions, (160 of accessible, and other improvements evening, Campaign Co-chair Don positive reaction people had to the OVER GOAL: them, currently scheduled for 51 that will add both functionality and Phifer said he has been pleased campaign in the receptions she and parishes), it goes forward with years of service to the former Laneri with the very positive response Don had attended. And too, she Good Shepherd Parish, great momentum. High School building. he’s heard from parishioners said, she was especially happy to Colleyville With only a third of the par- For the second phase of the cam- and people he’s met at the parish have the opportunity to give back Holy Family Parish, ishes of the diocese having had paign, Bishop Kevin Vann has as- receptions. “We’ve had a tremen- for all the local Church has done Fort Worth the chance to participate in the $40 sembled a campaign cabinet which dous response,” he said, adding for herself and her family. Holy Rosary Parish, million campaign, contributions he will chair along with All Things that the strength of the positive Parish receptions are informa- Cisco and pledges are already edging Possible co-chairs Don and Debbie response has been even more than tional gatherings that provide an Holy Trinity Mission Parish, toward the halfway point of $20 Phifer. This campaign leadership he expected. Phifer said, “I’ve been opportunity to learn about the Azle million, and eight of the fi rst 25 team will include pastors who delighted to fi nd how encouraged campaign and ask for those in at- Sacred Heart Parish, parishes to take part in the cam- have been successful in meeting they are,” by the campaign, “how tendance to act as ambassadors for Wichita Falls paign have gone over their goals and exceeding campaign goals in excited they are; excited about the All Things Possible campaign. St. Francis Xavier Parish, for the campaign. The remaining their own parishes. They will share doing things for technology, the The receptions emphasize the per- Eastland parishes are still receiving gifts what they have learned, along seminarians, priest retirement, the sonal nature of giving. Each person St. John Parish, toward their goals. with parish chair people who have Catholic schools.” The campaign attending will receive campaign Strawn Money raised by the campaign is played a role in those successes. doesn’t just address one area of information, hear more about the St. Rita Parish, already allowing parishes to begin Also included on the team will be need, but addresses needs across case itself, and then be given an Ranger projects that will be made possible some employees of the Catholic the board, Phifer said. opportunity to ask questions. Every in part by using their share of All Center, the Catholic schools, and He pointed out the wisdom of registered family in the Diocese of Things Possible funds (See adjacent some retired priests.