CrossRoads Cross Catholic Outreach’s Parish Newsletter Fall 2014

Cross Supports Pope Francis’ Call to Integral Ministry – Meeting Both Physical and Spiritual Needs of the Poor

Mount Carmel Primary School has a simple philosophy: Never turn away a young person who is willing to work hard to get an education, even if he or she can’t afford it. This is the guiding principle that helps Mount Carmel School witness a Christ-like love for the poor. Mount Carmel is located in Benque Viejo, Belize, near the Guatemalan border, and was established to help with the lack of education which trapped the parishioners in an endless cycle of poverty. The young people were too poor to enroll in school and without a diploma they had no hope of ever fi nding gainful employment or being able to support their families. Fr. John Robinson saw this tremendous need and started a tutoring program with 57 students. The school interest grew and after the fi rst academic year the people had come together and established Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grade School and High School. Nicknamed “The Miracle School” by the local people, Mount Carmel gained Fr. John Robinson has a mission approach that exemplifi es the Holy Father’s views on charity. a reputation for academic excellence and character formation. It began attracting fundamental need met.” esteem and love for each individual. desperately poor youth from across the But these meals do more than fi ll empty The mission of Mount Carmel Primary border in Guatemala as well as local students. stomachs; they meet a spiritual need deep School confi rms the importance of Today the school is nurturing the hearts and within every heart. “In treating students with this approach: “It is a Roman Catholic minds of nearly 500 students. dignity and caring about their basic need institution whose mission is to impart in Cross Catholic Outreach helps support for food, the children’s self-worth is directly children the love of God, family and country the schools through scholarships for the affected and affi rmed,” Fr. John said. by providing a cost-effective delivery of high school and meals for the children in the Inspired by Pope Francis, Cross is quality education providing the necessary grade school. similarly drawn to this integral approach skills for each child to develop into the fi nest “Giving healthy food to children who to charity. We seek to empower outreaches human being possible.” would otherwise feel hunger pain improves such as Mount Carmel Primary School Cross is privileged to help the students their chances of performing well in school,” specifi cally because they minister to the of Mount Carmel receive a good Catholic said Fr. John Robinson. “It would be naïve physical and spiritual needs of the poorest education and be nourished in Christ’s love to expect students to study effectively or of the poor. That approach is a refl ection of so they can be living testimonies of God’s pay attention in class without having that our implicit evangelization through Christ’s mercy in the communities they call home.

CrossRoads page one www.crosscatholic.org missionupdate Maryland Parish Reaches Out

The parish of St. Paul in Damascus, MD, Locally, the parish also helps at the soup in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., kitchen in Gaithersburg and hosts various is a family of faith that effectively witnesses drives for the needy, such as the Holiday Catholic social teaching to the watching Giving Project-Angel Tree at Christmas, world. For many years they have hosted an seasonal food baskets and also sponsors Outreach Priest from Cross Catholic, who Lenten Giving Programs and a Community helps grow their awareness of the work of the Service Day. The parish also hosts a food Church in the developing world, including drive and a Valentine Drive for abused a medical outreach they support in the women. Recently, working with Catholic community of El Rosario in Honduras. Charities, a collection was launched to The parish made a commitment to the provide welcome packs for unaccompanied Honduran mission after Hurricane Mitch minors. hit the area in 1998, and over the years they Fr. Joseph Pierce sums it up by saying: have helped open a health care clinic to “The grace of our community is made serve the needs of the desperate community. evident in the willingness of our parishioners The St. Paul Clinic embraces Catholic social to give of themselves for the sake of others.” their witness of the Gospel by spreading teaching and provides medical and dental St. Paul Parish is a shining example of the and living the Good News. We all should be care in this poor rural region. Parishioners call of Pope Francis to evangelize through encouraged to live the Gospel message as the from St. Paul make two trips a year to visit our missionary efforts. Cross is blessed to faithful of St. Paul Parish do through their and help at the clinic. be able to partner with them in advancing works of mercy. Orange Parish Effectively Models Catholic Social Teaching

Actively promoting Catholic social teachings is essential if a parish wants to empower its people to be a light in the darkness — a force for good in its community and the world. The parish of Our Lady of Fatima, in San Clemente, CA in the Diocese of Orange, is a fi ne example of a parish committed to living out our Catholic faith and promoting the Church’s social teaching. Having hosted a priest from Cross Catholic Outreach, they have been inspired to be more and do more for the poor internationally. The parish is also a model of service closer to home. For years, they have been involved in a program called FiSH (Fatima Serves the Hungry). This ministry, in collaboration with Welcome INN, serves The parish’s regular feeding program is a blessing to the area’s homeless and working poor. meals to the homeless and working poor in the community several times a month. ministry that creates prayer shawls for those have so little.” The program is funded through donations in need of comfort while confronting illness, Our Lady of Fatima, along with so many and involves dedicated volunteers from the loss or other life challenges. One of the other parishes in the Diocese of Orange help parish. The parish has a Social Awareness parishioners, Jim Holden, was even inspired all of us realize what gifts we have and what Leadership Team (SALT) as well. They to start the program “Fish for Life,” which takes great things we can accomplish in the world, organize a monthly food drive for the local groups of special needs children and their especially in the lives of those who need it food pantry, collect groceries from the families out for a day of fi shing and fun. most. Their relationship with Cross helps parish and then assist with the distribution Fr. Jim Ries said,“Our people truly keep them motivated to strive to do even to those in need locally. The parish also enjoy reaching out to those in need and more — and we are a better ministry because has a “Work of Our Hands” prayer shawl sharing what they have with others, who of their commitment to share Christ’s love.

CrossRoads page two www.crosscatholic.org takeaction Cross Catholic Outreach Equips Seminarians to Champion Global Missions Within America’s Parishes

With the rise in priestly vocations, Cross Catholic Outreach is committed to helping seminarians know more about the work of the in the developing nations of the world. The future of the Catholic Church is in the hands of these men, and Cross believes their role in championing global missions will be signifi cant in the decades ahead. As an outreach to these future priests, Cross visits seminaries throughout the United States (as well as the North American College in ), with the goal of better acquainting the men with the international St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park, CA, School Year 2014-15 mission of the Church. Amazing things are happening in the developing countries ministries of international parishes — our Cross also offers summer trips enabling around our world, and more should be done outreach in the seminaries does something seminarians to see and experience global to link those overseas parishes with their similar for the next generation of priests. missions fi rsthand. Through these short American counterparts, Cross believes. Our goal is to open doors — to create a but powerful visits, the seminarians gain a Of course, Cross Catholic Outreach is greater awareness of international Catholic better personal understanding of the plight also committed to evangelization and is ministries. We want to equip these men to of the poorest of the poor — an insight they guided by the teachings of Pope Francis, speak for the poor and champion the goals can share with their dioceses back home who has urged the Church to be of the poor of global missions in the parishes where and bring with them into their own priestly and for the poor. Seminary visits promote they serve,” explained Msgr. Ted Bertagni, ministry. these objectives as well. Director of Cross Catholic’s department for If you know of any seminarian who would “Our Outreach Preachers program was Church and Diocese Relations. be interested in such a trip, please have him created to tell parishioners about the mercy In addition to visiting seminaries, contact Cross at 1-800-914-2420, ext. 174. Cross Catholic Outreach Co-Sponsors International Forum

Cross Catholic Outreach will co-host a Leadership Symposium with Caritas in Veritate International USA from Nov. 5-9 in Rome. The special forum will gather together leaders from around the world to discuss the implementation of the Papal Encyclical Deus Caritas Est and Pope Sarah Francis’ Gaudium Evangelii. Cardinal Sarah, president of the Pontifi cal Council Cor Unum, and Cardinal Turkson, president of the Council for Peace and Justice, will be contributors as well. James Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, will Turkson be sharing the holistic ministry approach that Cross embodies by joining charity with evangelization. News from the symposium will be shared on the Cross website along with daily updates about topics discussed. You can follow the symposium at www.CrossCatholic.org/Rome. Cavnar

CrossRoads page three www.crosscatholic.org speakingup Cross Catholic Outreach Endorsed by Catholic Leaders Who See Value in Ministry’s Impact and Effectiveness

While the upcoming forum in Rome (see In a letter to the priests in his diocese, story on page 3) will appropriately highlight Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport the importance of global missions and characterized the value of an Outreach the new evangelization, this event should Priest’s visit this way: “We know well that only be a starting point for spreading these Pope Francis insists that our Faith, if it is critical teachings to the Catholic faithful true Faith, must translate itself into loving worldwide. To truly shape hearts and minds, action in favor of God’s poor. Most of us these messages and goals must reach the will never be able to go to the developing very heart of American parishes, involving countries personally to be able to help men, women and children in direct and PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHERZ STUDIO our brothers and sisters there with ‘hands meaningful ways. on’ projects. Here in our Diocese, we This is the goal of Cross Catholic help by giving fi nancial support to those Outreach, and it has shaped the ministry’s organizations that can. I would be pleased if outreaches since its inception in 2001. To you would keep Cross Catholic Outreach in achieve its objectives, Cross makes mission mind and heart.”

Bishop Sis

shared a similar sentiment, noting the importance of educating parishioners about global mission work as part of an effort to foster greater unity in the Church. “I express my appreciation for the work of Cross Catholic Outreach as you support the ministry of the Catholic Church among the poorest of the poor,” Bishop Sis said. “Your parish visits help to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between the people of our parishes and our brothers and sisters around the world.

Bishop Cepeda Bishop Caggiano presentations at American parishes and works Bishop Joseph Kopacz of Jackson hard to facilitate projects to help the poorest was similarly enthusiastic and encouraged of the world’s poor. It is a mission many U.S. Cross in a letter, stating: “Although we are have commended and endorsed. a mission diocese ... we are also known as “Earlier this year Pope Francis said: ‘We one of the most generous Catholic dioceses must also learn the wisdom of placing ourselves in the United States. Many of our people on the margins so that the Lord will fi nd us,’ have a strong mission spirit and understand and that is precisely the meaningful work the importance of going out of oneself that Cross Catholic Outreach accomplishes to encounter the poor and to assist them compassionately in its everyday quest of with their time, talent, and treasure. We are helping the poorest of the poor,” Aux. Bishop simpatico with your mission in life.” of Detroit said. “Be assured For two other U.S. bishops, it was Cross of my prayers and support of your work.” Bishop Kopacz Bishop Michael Sis of San Angelo ~ story continued on back panel

CrossRoads page four www.crosscatholic.org teamwork World Food Day Becomes an Effective Cross Catholic Outreach

On World Food Day, held every October, Catholic youth across America stand in solidarity with the poor who suffer from chronic hunger. Knowing that this plight touches one out of every eight people on the planet, they come together in prayer and donate their funds to help provide meals to the poorest of the poor. This special day to remember the needs of the poor has been adopted by Cross Catholic Outreach, and through the support of Catholic school children nationwide, it has become a force for positive change in communities where hunger impacts needy children most. For example, last year more than 50,000 children partnered with Cross Catholic Outreach to raise enough money to send 210,000 Vitafood meals to starving children in the developing world. These prepackaged meals, which contain protein and vitamin supplements, combat the dangerous levels of malnutrition that can lead to long-term increase awareness of the plight of the We invite your Catholic grade school physical and mental disabilities. Often poor and the importance of Catholic or high school to participate in this annual distributed by Catholic schools, the food social teaching, including the imperative to event and become a part of the great response serves another important role as well: It respond to those in need. of the Church to world hunger. helps children better focus and learn. Pope Francis has challenged our youth: For more information about this great In the end, the World Food Day event “To you young people... We have to learn to be program, call 1-800-914-2420, ext. 282 or not only helps feed children, it also helps on the side of the poor... Let us go out to meet visit our website: Catholic schools here in the United States them, look into their eyes and listen to them.” www.CrossCatholic.org/WorldFoodDay New Cross Curriculum Supports Teaching of Works of Mercy

The Holy Father recently explained to a hhelping teachers and students learn more general audience, “The Church is a mother, aabout the corporal and spiritual works of her children, the works of mercy. She has mmercy in the Catholic faith. These initiatives learned this path from Jesus; she has learned hhave been very helpful to Catholic schools that this is essential for salvation. It is not tthroughouth the country, and many are using enough to love those who love us. It is not ttheh program to supplement the religious enough to do good to those who do good to eeducation curriculum at their schools. us in return.” “Like a good mother and educator, the Cross Catholic Outreach not only CChurch focuses on the essential, and the embodies this message in its empowerment eessential, according to the Gospel, is mercy of various missionary efforts throughout the — as Jesus clearly tells his disciples, ‘Be world, but we also are committed to help mmerciful, just as your father is.’ Is it possible teach young people about the importance for a Christian not to be merciful?” asked of Works of Mercy. To achieve this, Cross Pope Francis. “No. The Christian must developed a seven-part lesson plan — a necessarily be merciful, because this is at comprehensive and systematic presentation the center of the Gospel.” of Catholic beliefs highlighting the spiritual The Works of Mercy program is available works of mercy. to any religious education institution. If you The program is now being shared with would like more information, contact Cross Catholic educators in schools and religious at 1-800-914-2420 ext. 240. The materials education programs with the goal of will be supplied.

CrossRoads page fi ve www.crosscatholic.org speakingup

Bishop Boyea Bishop Doerfl er Bishop Steib U.S. Bishops Endorse Cross to Priests in Their Dioceses ~ story continued from page 4 for the building up of God’s Kingdom Bishop J. Terry Steib of the Diocese occurs. I would recommend that more of Memphis in Tennessee brought Catholic Outreach’s desire to support the publicity be made about these joint or his endorsement back to the basics — greater mission of the Church and to develop complementary activities,” Bishop Boyea highlighting Cross Catholic Outreach’s synergy among various Catholic organizations said. “I certainly pray for many blessings effective work among the poor and the value that impressed them. For example, Cross has on your ministry as you seek to serve those of keeping U.S. Catholics informed through developed an unprecedented collaboration most in need.” the visits of Outreach Priests. with the Pontifi cal Council Cor Unum, is an “Particularly, I am edifi ed by your “I was pleased to know that Cross affi liate member of Catholic Charities USA, collaboration with the Holy See and Catholic provides direct assistance to the poor and and has special programs underway with both parishes around the globe,” Bishop John needy, especially in areas needing immediate the National Council of Catholic Women and Doerfl er of Marquette said, communicating assistance,” the Bishop said. “I am pleased to the National Catholic Educational Association. a similar view. “May God bless the efforts of endorse the work of Cross and will inform Bishop Earl Boyea of Lansing felt this Cross Catholic Outreach and may the poor the priests of the Diocese of Memphis was noteworthy and should be encouraged. see the countenance of Jesus Christ in the in Tennessee about the mission of Cross “I am very pleased that this co-working faces of all associated with this apostolate.” Catholic Outreach.”

CrossRoads

CrossRoads is published by Cross Catholic Outreach. No portion of its content may be reproduced without the expressed consent of Cross Catholic Outreach. Contact us at: 1-800-914-2420 President ...... James Cavnar Editor ...... Msgr. Ted Bertagni Comm. Director ...... Ruthie Aguilar

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