DAILY BREAD for the SOUL New Monthly Provides Prayer Resource for Laypeople
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WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 18 DECEMBER 16, 2011 Leaven photo by JD Benning Benedictine Sisters Irene Nowell (left) and Susan Barber look over a copy of “Give Us This Day,” a prayer resource to which the two nuns have contributed. DAILY BREAD FOR THE SOUL New monthly provides prayer resource for laypeople TCHISON — In a lot ly prayer,” said Brother Aelred. “The idea [for ‘Give Us This Day’] of ways, the new pub- The prayer resource “Give us This had been floating around St. John’s lication “Give Us This Day” is a monthly publication de- [University] for five or six years, but Day: Daily Prayer for signed for daily spiritual reading. we didn’t settle down and do serious Today’s Catholic” is like It includes morning and evening planning until the middle of 2010,” the manna that fed the prayers for each day, as well as essays, said Sister Irene. Achildren of Israel during the Exodus. features on saints and other holy per- As sort of a trial balloon, the editors It’s heaven-sent, delicious and sons, daily people’s Mass parts with put together a four-day sample edition spiritually nutritious — but what is it? readings and reflections, the order of and handed out copies in March 2011 How, exactly, does one de- Mass, the liturgical calen- at the Los Angeles Religious Educa- scribe it? STORY BY dar, prayers and blessings, tion Congress. People reacted to it so “That’s a very good and “lectio divina” (medita- well that Liturgical Press decided to question,” said Brother JOE BOLLIG tive reading). launch the first issue in August 2011. Aelred Senna, OSB, associ- It’s compact — just a Part of the marketing strategy was ate publisher of Liturgical Press, an shade bigger than a paperback book to distribute a generous amount of apostolate of St. John’s Abbey in Col- — and easy to stuff into a purse or a complimentary copies. People really legeville, Minn. “We do struggle with pocket. It averages about 400 pages. seem to like the resource. exactly what to call it.” Sister Irene Nowell, OSB, of Mount “One of the things that is delight- It’s not a missalette, Mass guide, St. Scholastica in Atchison, is one of ful about this is that it has really taken For information or to subscribe, prayer book, collection of spiritual six editorial advisers for “Give Us This off,” said Sister Irene. “We’re getting go to the website at: www. essays, magazine, aid for meditation Day.” She is also the Scripture editor lots and lots of subscriptions, and they giveusthisday.org. To subscribe, or breviary. It’s kind of like a spiritual for the morning and evening prayers are coming in really rapidly.” go to “Subscribe Now!” on the Swiss Army Knife: a portable bundle and the author of some of the reflec- Liturgical Press was unable to pro- left or right sides of the home of tools in one handy package. tions. vide current or projected sales num- page. Discounts are available “In fact, the best thing we’ve come Another Atchison Benedictine, Sis- bers. for both the print and digital up with is calling it a ‘prayer resource,’ ter Susan Barber, writes the interces- editions. For gift subscriptions, a resource that supports people in dai- sions for morning and evening prayer. See “PUBLICATION” on page 4 call 1 (800) 858-5450. 2 LOCAL NEWS THE LEAVEN • DECEMBER 16, 2011 THE LEAVEN • DECEMBER 16, 2011 SECOND FRONT PAGE 3 LIFE WILL BE VICTORIOUS Holy Spirit, not democratic process, guides selection of bishops ‘A WONDERFUL SURPRISE’ fter Pope Benedict dations and can either ratify or amend them. The congregation then sends its Archbishop NAumANN’s AXVI’s pastoral visit to recommendations to the Holy Father, weekly cAleNdAr Hispanic and Latino bishops offer hope to immigrants and migrants who ultimately selects and appoints all the United States in the fall By Joe Bollig bishops. The pope, of course, is free to Dec. 18 Leaven staff of 2007, I was watching a appoint any of the three recommended Gathering of Covenant Community The letter was signed by Arch- candidates or to choose someone — Savior Pastoral Center bishops Jose H. Gomez of Los television program, fea- KANSAS CITY, Kan. — It was a gift entirely different from those who have Angeles and Gustavo Garcia-Siller that was as unexpected as it was wel- turing a panel of pundits, been proposed. Dec. 19 of San Antonio; Bishops Gerald The fact that those serving in the come. This process is generally the one Meeting with Catholic Housing of R. Barnes, San Bernardino, Calif.; analyzing the impact of the House of Representatives must run for Thirty-three Hispanic and Latino employed by the church throughout the Wyandotte County Alvaro Corrada del Rio, apostolic office every two years results in the bishops issued an open letter, outlin- Holy Father’s trip. world, although there are variations in administrator of Tyler, Texas, and members of Congress being in a con- ing pastoral concerns and thoughts some places because of: 1) historical Dec. 23 newly named bishop of Maya- stant election mode. Consequently, they about immigration law, to all immi- At one point, a Jewish panelist, after agreements; 2) the youthfulness of the Christmas Mass and lunch for guez, Puerto Rico, in July; Felipe have to be very sensitive to constituent grants and migrants on Dec. 12, the expressing his admiration for both church in a nation; or 3) the current chancery staff de Jesus Estevez, St. Augustine, Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II, reaction, militating against making political situation. For instance, when feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fla.; Richard J. Garcia, Monterey, commented that he gave the College of tough but necessary decisions that are Poland was under Communist rule, the “It’s a wonderful surprise,” said Calif.; Armando X. Ochoa, bishop Cardinals high marks for its selection good for the long-term health of our church, in order to be able to ordain Father Patrick Murphy, CS, animator of El Paso, Texas, who has been nation. of leaders for the Catholic Church. He bishops, allowed the government the rchbishop eleher s for archdiocesan Hispanic ministry, named to Fresno, Calif.; Placido Our political system also suffers from ability to veto candidates. The Holy A k ’ on Dec. 12. “I wasn’t expecting this. Rodriguez, Lubbock, Texas; Jaime noted that both popes were impressive weekly cAleNdAr — not just because of their remarkable the need to defeat members of the other Spirit can work through great obstacles. And I’m also happy they chose Soto of Sacramento, Calif.; James political party. Consequently, we often Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of intellectual abilities, but because of their For instance, the Polish Communist Dec. 17 A. Tamayo, Laredo, Texas; Daniel experience gridlock in government Guadalupe, to release this letter.” moral integrity. He admired that they leaders permitted the appointment “The Catholic Way” program taping E. Flores, Brownsville, Texas; lived in a manner consistent with what because neither party wants the other of Karol Wojtyla (the late Pope John The significance of the letter’s tim- Fernando Isern, Pueblo, Colo.; Ri- to gain credit for solving major na- ing is that Our Lady of Guadalupe they taught. Then, he quipped: “Maybe Paul II) as archbishop of Krakow, after Dec. 18 cardo Ramirez, Las Cruces, N.M.; tional problems, e.g., the reform of the was the primary evangelizer of the our nation ought to look into this vetoing several others candidates. They Federal prison Mass and Joe S. Vasquez, Austin. method of selecting our leadership?” economy or immigration. viewed Wojtyla as an intellectual they Hispanic people of Mexico, said Fa- Other signers included: Aux- Sometimes, I am asked by people: ther Pat, and her feast day is of spe- At the time of the pope’s visit in the could control. Confessions — Church of the iliary Bishops Oscar Cantu, San How does one become a bishop? Re- cial significance to Hispanics. autumn of 2007, we were about at the The method for the selection of bish- Nativity, Leawood Antonio; Arturo Cepeda, Detroit; same point as we are now in a presiden- cently, Pope Benedict XVI appointed a ops throughout history has varied and “To wake up and find out that this Manuel A. Cruz, Newark, N.J.; new apostolic nuncio (ambassador) to letter has been released by the His- tial election cycle. It seems every elec- evolved over time. Obviously, the selec- Dec. 19 Rutilio del Riego, San Bernardino, the United States, Archbishop Carlo Ma- panic bishops of the United States tion year there is a certain level of disap- tion method is not an element of defined Confessions — St. Michael the Calif.; Eusebio Elizondo, Seattle; ria Vigano. The appointment of a papal will mean a lot to people,” he said. pointment in the quality of candidates doctrine that is essential to the church’s Archangel, Leawood Francisco Gonzalez, Washington; standing for office. Personally, I have nuncio for a nation is extremely impor- integrity. We know of examples in the In their statement, the bishops Eduardo A. Nevares, Phoenix; tant, because a significant component of said they wanted “those of you who great admiration for those who serve early church where some great bishops Dec. 20 Alexander Salazar and Gabino the nuncio’s responsibility is to identify lack proper authorization to live and in public life for the right reasons. It is a were chosen by public acclamation, e.g., Women’s prison Mass Zavala, Los Angeles; Octavio Cis- good candidates to serve as bishops.