Faith Helps Athlete Beat Cancer Thirsts for Sisters Adorers of the Spirituality, Precious Blood Prayed for Author Says
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Vol. XXXVIII, No. 42 Indianapolis, Indiana 50¢ Inside Archbishop Buechlein . 4, 5 Editorial. 4 From the Archives. 31 Marriage Supplement . 11 The Question Corner . 25 CCriterionriterion Sunday & Daily Readings. 25 Serving the Church in Central and Southern Indiana Since 1960 July 30, 1999 Generation X Faith helps athlete beat cancer thirsts for Sisters Adorers of the spirituality, Precious Blood prayed for author says Mike Kaufman to recover By Mary Ann Wyand By Susan M. Bierman Generation X researcher and author Tom Beaudoin of Boston studies the When Mike Kaufman learned last cross-over influences of faith and popular November that he had testicular cancer he culture on young adults. was sure he was going to die. Beaudoin earned national recognition The 21-year-old Indiana University athlete with his book Virtual Faith: The has taken a lot of hard knocks playing rugby Irreverent Spiritual Quest of Generation over the years, but he didn’t know if he was X and now is in strong enough to beat cancer. demand on the Despite his doubts, Kaufman says he never speaker’s circuit lost his faith in God. and as a recruit- “When this happened it was like another ment consultant cross for me to bear in my life. It was some- to groups as thing that I was ready to take, because I knew diverse as reli- that God was going to be with me during this gious orders and whole time,” he said. the U.S. military. Jackie Brames, a registered nurse who works As a member with Kaufman’s oncologist, Dr. Lawrence H. of Generation Einhorn, at the IU Cancer Center in India- X—the 20-some- napolis, said one of every 500 men in the world thing and 30- Tom Beaudoin are stricken with this disease each year. something Americans who are the primary Brames said the type of cancer Kaufman pool for religious vocations and military was diagnosed with is a rare form that is most service—Beaudoin talks easily about the prevalent among men ages 17–35. She said it challenges of growing up in an ever-chang- is highly curable depending on the stage in ing world saturated by sophisticated media which it is diagnosed. and state-of-the-art technology. “Mike’s was diagnosed at a fairly early During a keynote presentation at the stage,” she said. Benedictine Vocation Directors’ Kaufman, a junior majoring in business, Conference July 16 at the Benedict Inn said when he was first diagnosed he believed Retreat and Conference Center in Beech he was supposed to die. Grove, Beaudoin shared insights gained “I thought there was going to be a lot of from sociological research and personal stuff going on in the future and God was giv- experiences with “my generation.” ing me a way out,” he said. Currently a Ph.D. candidate in religion Learning he had cancer was particularly and education at Boston College, Beaudoin crushing because Kaufman and his girlfriend, completed a master of theological studies Bridget McCarthy, had begun talking about degree at Harvard Divinity School and co- marriage. founded Xairos, a Christian Gen X min- Kaufman, a member of Christ the King istry based at the Paulist Center in Boston. Parish in Indianapolis, said he knelt down and Between speaking engagements, he is began praying for his soul. He told God it was writing a book with a post-Vatican II all up to him. theme and playing in a rock band. In Photo by Susan M. Bierman “But I want to stay here and suffer on earth Indiana University rugby player Mike Kaufman thought he was going to die after he was August, Beaudoin and his wife, Jennifer, some more. I want to suffer longer on earth diagnosed with cancer last year. are moving to Atlanta so she can pursue a because I know that all the pains that I have doctorate at Emory University. like simple back pains wouldn’t happen in Precious Blood. Like many Gen Xers, Beaudoin likes heaven,” Kaufman said. Sister Joan Milot of The Sisters Adorers of Mike Kaufman marries relaxing with music and video games. He Kaufman said he, his friends and his family the Precious Blood in Lafayette, said Mother Bridget McCarthy. See admits to being “a product of popular cul- began praying to Mother Catherine Aurelia, Catherine’s cause for sainthood is currently The Criterion Marriage ture” and enjoys discussing both positive Supplement, Page 11. foundress of The Sisters Adorers of the See MIKE, page 2 and negative aspects of American society See GENERATION, page 3 Heaven is an intimate relationship with God VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Heaven is It is possible to get a taste of heaven that God “cannot be enclosed in heaven,” not a place, but an intimate relationship on earth, he said. that he hears human prayers, intervenes in with God that can be experienced par- Through the sacraments, especially the human history and that, “through grace, tially on earth, Pope John Paul II said. Eucharist, and through acts of self-giving believers can ascend” to God’s presence, Heaven “is not an abstraction nor a in charity, the pope said, one can experi- the pope said. physical place amid the clouds, but a liv- ence some of the happiness and peace The New Testament teaches that Jesus ing and personal relationship with the which will reach its culmination in final, is the way to heaven for all men and Holy Trinity,” the pope said at his July 21 complete communion with God. women. Through his death and resurrec- general audience. “If we are able to enjoy properly the tion, all who believe in him were made The pope’s talk focused on God’s good things that the Lord showers upon “citizens of heaven,” he said. judgment and mercy which, he said, is so us every day of our earthly lives, then we “Therefore, after the journey of our great that the only people who will be have begun to experience the joy which earthly life, participation in complete condemned to hell are those who actively will be completely ours in the next life,” intimacy with the Father passes through turn away from God. the pope said. the Pascal mystery of Christ,” the pope “When this world has passed away, Pope John Paul said the idea of heaven said. those who accepted God in their lives and as a place in the sky came from Pope John Paul told visitors at the were sincerely open to his love, at least at metaphorical biblical language contrast- audience that care must be taken when the moment of death, will enjoy that full- ing the dwelling place of humanity and trying to describe heaven because what- ness of communion with God which is the the dwelling place of God. ever descriptions people come up with goal of human existence,” the pope said. But the Old Testament makes it clear “always remain inadequate.” † Page 2 The Criterion Friday, July 30, 1999 After McCarthy’s call, the Sisters of that God would heal him. MIKE Adorers of the Precious Blood in “When he [Kaufman] would talk about continued from page 1 Lafayette, in their home base in Canada his faith and trust in God you could hear and all over the world, began praying to the depth and conviction in his voice that under investigation following a miracle in Mother Catherine for a miracle for with God’s grace he would beat this can- Canada. It is believed that through Kaufman. cer,” Erdosy said. Mother Catherine’s intercession, a woman “If nothing else, all those prayers were Kaufman added that his faith in God was healed of an incurable disease. Sister working on my soul the whole time,” was strong before his cancer diagnosis Joan said if the incident in Canada is Kaufman said. and that his relationship with God has approved by the Church as a miracle, then Brames said patients who have a grown stronger since. Mother Catherine will become Venerable strong belief or faith tend to do a little “This illness has given me an abundant Mother Catherine. At this point, Mother better. trust in God,” he said. Catherine is considered a servant of God. “There is a strong connection between The 6-foot-2, 305-pound Indiana Kaufman and the others started pray- faith and medicine,” she said. University student isn’t your stereotypical ing to her because they realized miracles Following the initial surgery in rugby player. must be performed through Mother Cath- November, Kaufman has had monthly “Whenever the team goes on tours, I erine’s intercession for her to become a check-ups and so far there has been no try to find a church,” said Kaufman, a saint. indication that the cancer has returned or graduate of Cathedral High School in “I told God I am just a vessel and if he spread anywhere else in his body. Indianapolis. wanted a healing miracle to be performed If cancer is found during a check-up, The Indiana University junior is a retreat through me that’s fine with me,” Kaufman Kaufman will receive chemotherapy at leader for his peers, organizes a group that said. that time. prays the rosary, and believes strongly in During this time, Kaufman prayed to Kaufman said there’s only a 15 percent eucharistic adoration. Kaufman attends God only through Mother Catherine chance that the cancer will reoccur and, daily Mass prior to rugby practice at because if there were a miracle, he would with each month that passes, the likeli- St. Paul Catholic Center in Bloomington.