BringingBBrriinngiginngg ttheheh GGoodooood NNeNewsewwss ttoo thtthehe DDiDioceseiococesse ofof FFortorort WWoWorthortrth VVoVol.oll.. 3300 NoNNo.. 4 MaMMayy / JuJJunennee 2201400114 Holy Week has not come to its fruitful end. We must watch our Savior’s beating and humiliation, anticipate the promise of his long awaited Read about Resurrection. Bishop Steve Berg’s ordination as Bishop of Pueblo, English p. 26; Español p. 40 In This Issue... 8 INSIGHTS FROM VATICAN INSIDER Catholic journalist John Allen will speak at TCU April 22, sponsored in part by JOSEPH PEARCE, RACIST AGITATOR 18 the TCU Catholic Community and part TO CHRISTIAN BIOGRAPHER of their response to Pope Francis’s Many people know the name of 8 challenge to serve the poor. Joseph Pearce as a noted Christian biographer of great Christian authors 9 AFFORDABLE TRANSPORTATION ranging from G.K. Chesterton and J.R.R. 9 Catholic Charities volunteer driver Tolkien to Alexsandr Solzhenitsen, but Victoria Cook poses by the van she few know his background as a racist uses to help folks get to work, school, propagandist, the lurid past he details doctor’s appointments, or the hospital. in his book Race with the Devil. Affordable transport can make the difference between being able to keep a job and not. FROM CHRIST BEFORE PILATE, 30 THROUGH THE PASSION, EASTER, AND DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, TO 20 SUPPORT FOR SEMINARIANS LIFE BEYOND THIS ONE 20 Our diocese is blessed with 31 men who This year's Easter package extends from are in formation to become priests. It takes Jesus’ betrayal and torture all the way a great commitment to serving God and to the life beyond death his sufferings his people to enter this path, and it takes and Resurrection brought us. a great deal of financial support to pay for their studies. We need each other. 22 OUR MSGR. BERG BECOMES PUEBLO’S BISHOP BERG How often does one's uncle bless the symbols of offi ce for a new bishop, as a bishop himself? How often do that many family members get to be present for their brother, uncle, or son's ordination as a bishop? Bishop Berg's ordination in Pueblo was a 22 family affair, one that involved us all. 26 ‘DEAR POPE FRANCIS’ 26 Little did the inmates who take part 23 in Catholic prison ministry at the James Allred Unit outside Wichita Falls COVER PHOTO: think they would hear back from Pope A crucifix hangs before a mural depicting the Resurrection in the Francis when their chaplain, Deacon sanctuary at St. Timothy Parish in Russell Detweiler sent a portrait of the Mesa, Arizona. (CNS photo/J.D. Long- pope by Terry Watkins. But they did. Garcia, CATHOLIC SUN) PAGE 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC MAY / JUNE 2014 A humble priest rises to the rank of bishop, a humble pope inspires hen you look at the contents of this issue, it’s hard to not come to the conclusion that it’s all about the priesthood PUBLISHER: Editorial Offi ce: 800 West W Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, and the hierarchical personages of the Church in general. Bishop Michael Olson Texas 76108, (817) 560-3300; From outlining the motivations of our seminarians and the FAX (817) 244-8839. COMMUNICATIONS Circulation Offi ce: Rita cost of preparing them for their priestly ministries, to the driving DIRECTOR: Pat Svacina Garber, 800 West Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108, urge of our oldest living priest, Father George Curtsinger, to EDITOR: Jeff Hensley (817) 560-3300. continue to respond to the needs of others with compassion. NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC From coverage of the elevation of our former diocesan ad- ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Newsmagazine (USPS ministrator, now Bishop Steve Berg, to the ranks of the hierarchy, Tony Gutiérrez 751-370) (ISSN 0899-7020) is published bi-monthly plus as he was recently installed as the Bishop of Pueblo, Colorado (a one special issue in January EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: by the Most Rev. Michael F. diocese only slightly smaller than the the state of Arkansas), to Judy Russeau Olson, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Worth, 800 W. Loop the honoring of our (still) new and saintly Pope Francis by the WEB DESIGNER: 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas TCU Catholic Community. 76108. For those who are Chris Kastner not registered parishioners And, of course, we have the tremendous event that will take in the Diocese of Fort Worth, place at the Vatican, the canonization of two popes who have CIRCULATION: Rita Garber subscription rates are $18 for one year, $35 for two years, shaped the Church, as it knows itself and makes itself known in CONTRIBUTORS: $50 for three years. Periodical the modern world — the soon to be St. John XXIII and St. John Michele Baker postage paid at Fort Worth, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send ad- Paul II. Jenara Kocks Burgess dress changes to North Texas All these examples point us to the great high priest, Jesus. Jaqueline Burkepile Catholic, 800 W. Loop 820 S., Fort Worth, Texas 76108. Were it not for his glorious example of total giving of self for God, Jerry Circelli Deadline for information for his Father and ours, and others, we would have no reason for a Juan Guajardo the North Texas Catholic is Kathy Cribari Hamer noon of the Wednesday two priesthood at all. weeks before the paper is Were it not for the wonder of a God willing to come down, Joan Kurkowski-Gillen published. The NTC is pub- Michael McGee lished bi-monthly, the third forsaking all his heavenly power to live among us, to take on hu- Friday of the month, with man flesh, to endure human suffering, to give his very life, there Wendy Pandolfo the following two months as Donna Ryckaert the date of each issue. would be no Church to serve. To access current news and Holy Week is upon us. We are about to face the harsh reali- TRANSLATORS: information, fi nd us at www. María Elizalde-Honaman northtexascatholic.org ties of the betrayal of Jesus, Jesus before Pilate, Jesus tortured Pedro Moreno The appearance of advertis- by the soldiers, Jesus on the Way of the Cross, Jesus lifted up, ing in these pages does not imply endorsement of busi- mocked by all who saw him, having been abandoned by all who REGULAR COLUMNISTS: nesses, services, or products. followed Him. Only by entering fully into the mystery of these Denise Bossert Readers must exercise days of suffering, can we be fully prepared to share in the glory Jean Denton prudence in responding to advertising in all media. and the joy of his Resurrection. Kathy Cribari Hamer But by his stripes we are made whole and risen from the Jeff Hedglen Jeff Hensley dead, He draws us all to Himself. All of us, ordained and lay, Fr. Carmen Mele, OP are called to live in his Kingdom as prophets, priests, and kings, David Mills formed in the pattern of his life. Mary Regina Morrell Jeff Hensley Sharon K. Perkins Editor Father Jonathon Wallis PAGE 3 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC MAY / JUNE 2014 Annual Vocation Day teaches DIOCESAN, LOCAL & STATE Speaker exhorts women to fifth-graders to be open to NEWSBRIEFS give thanks to God at second God’s will annual DCCW Day of Reflection By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen By Michele Baker 100 women from throughout the dio- Correspondent Correspondent cese attended. FORT WORTH — Giving Catho- Dr. William Thierfelder related the Thierfelder, who is currently presi- lic school fifth-graders the chance to story of driving through an unfamiliar dent of Belmont Abbey College in North meet priests, seminarians, and women city with an open bottle of water in the Carolina, is a father of 10 who makes religious in a casual setting is the idea cup holder of the car. When he made time to pray the Rosary with his family behind the annual diocesan Fifth Grade a sudden stop and the water bottle each night despite an extraordinarily Vo c at ion D ay, ob s er ve d t h i s ye a r M a rc h Photo by Joan Kurkowski-Gillen / NTC sprayed water all over him and his car, busy schedule. 26 at Holy Family Church. Sister Rosalyn Nguyen, CSFN, a teacher his response was not what most people “Mary’s ‘fiat!’ was extraordinary,” The Offices of Vocations and at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School in would have expected. he said, paraphrasing the words of Ven. Catholic Schools sponsor the day-long Keller, shares her vocation story. “Thank you, Jesus!” he exclaimed. Archbishop Fulton Sheen. “It reversed program to encourage young people to After years of training himself to Eden and made Mary into the new Ark start thinking about the future — par- single vocation,” the speaker added. receive all things — good and bad of the Covenant.” ticularly service to God and his Church. In closing, Fr. Wallis advised his — as coming from God, Thierfelder In an address that was at times During his homily, and later while listeners to turn to Jesus for guidance. was able to make a soggy profession of funny, personal, even startlingly aca- answering questions, diocesan Voca- In a world that tells people they can faith even in the midst of an everyday demic but always accessible, Thierfelder tions Director Father Jonathan Wallis have everything, the true road to hap- inconvenience. That attitude of grati- engaged the women with stories of faith asked the 450 fifth-graders seated inside piness is through sacrifice and service. tude was one of the ideas he imparted rooted in a spirit of thanksgiving. the church to consider what God wants “Jesus will take us down that road,” to the women gathered for the Diocesan “He brought so much to the women them to do with their lives.