evi ID to - H- U1 Ul a < > I- 0. b- in n *-* ►- o inat tt Ul Ul m >M _i T O D u I z o hi o z M D O co a. h w I •.u M iJ w d in IV I-lt V m t t i i i « <H«k‘' l ( :ilfcnli< V * y »|N f in t « n lw im w iNihl k iilinii Friday. December 20, 1985 £4 lth Year. CXI m ill < 0) (0 cents 0- o tr 3 N O ca u H O *-4 Q ovaalciftl a J J Û . 2,000 attend services Jesus gives us life Bishop to youths: My Brothers and Sisters In Christ. Church, community The special Joy of Christmas Is manifested in many ways. This season Is celebrated with bright lights and col­ orful displays, by thoughtful cards and beautiful hymns, will be in good hands by the exchange of gifts and the loving reunions of families and friends. We gratefully accept each one of these as a gift of God since together they help us to ex­ By STEPHEN KARUNCHAK have the entire papal message dedicated to them perience in a human fashion the more profound meaning “In the two years that I have He said the pope's message Of Christmas. The timeless spiritual truth of this season been in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, challenges young people to take Can be spoken In Just one word — ‘'Em m anuel'' — God Is that's two years to the day. I’ve their responsibilities to develop with us. never seen such a beautiful sight human life as individuals and as a In Jesus. God is Indeed with us In a remarkable as I've seen here tonight. I'm hap­ society in respect to the vocation fashion. In the person of His only-begotten Son. God Is py that so many young people of of every human person with us to love and to care and to save. It Is Jesus who the diocese have gathered here in Peace, he said, begins with the a community of faith and love." individual. When one is sure of shines in the darkness of our world. It Is Jesus who one's faith, when one has the high teaches the real meaning of our mortal existence. It Is With those words. Bishop Bevilacqua addressed more than moral values of God and the Jesus who calls us to serve one another. It is Jesus who church, and when those Christian speaks to us of hope. It Is Jesus who gives us life. 2.000 people, most of them teenagers, at the evening vesper values are brought to society and As we celebrate Christmas, each one of us can proudly services to mark the close of the to others, then, he said, there will be peace. proclaim. “I believe In God and in His Son. Jesus Christ. " diocesan observance of the Inter­ The bishop said young people Yet there Is another truth contained In the birth of this national Year of the Youth. The vesper services, sponsored by the are sought after by various child. The birth of Jesus, for all those who believe In Him. "suitors"; among them are drugs, means that the Ineffable mystery we call God can now be diocesan Youth Ministry office, were held Dec 12 in St. Paul promiscuity, advertisers, com­ found In one like us. Jesus shares in our humanity so that Cathedral. Oakland. peting ideologies, etc. we might share in His divinity. In other words what God "When I see all of you. I don't "These suitors want to bring Is trying to tell us at Christmas Is this — “I believe In have any fears for the future of you Into a relationship. They are you. ” What great dignity we have as children of God and our community and I don't have offering destruction, emptiness as brothers and sisters of Christ’ any fears for the future of our and loneliness. So tonight on church." Bishop Bevilacqua said behalf of the Holy Father, on To the priests, the religious and the laity of the Pitt­ "Our church and our community behalf of the Church and on sburgh Diocese, and to all those who are our friends and will be in good hands." behalf of Christ Himself. I am go­ neighbors, I offer my sincere best wishes and my humble Bishop Bevilacqua said that on ing to make you a proposal. 1 want prayers for a Joyous celebration of our Lord 's Birth. May Jan. 1. 1985. Pope John Paul 11 to be a suitor also. I want to claim the peace and love of this glorious event be yours forever. Issued his annual New Year's Day each and every one of you. Faithfully yours In Christ. Mother and child message For 1985. the bishop "N ot I. really, but Christ " While they were there the days of her confinement were said that the pope dedicated the Himself, who says ‘Come and I completed. She gave btrth to her first born and wrapped him entire letter to the youth of the will bring you happiness, not for a In swaddling clothes " (Lk 2 6-71. This work of the "Virgin and world, in conjunction with the one-night stand, not for a week, Child with Four Angels" is by by Gerard David, a 15th- United Nations' observance of In­ not for a year. I will give you a Bishop of Pittsburgh century Flemish painter. This National Catholic News Ser­ ternational Year of the Youth. The lifetime of happiness, an eternity. vice Christmas photo u>as taken from the collection of the bishop said it was a great honor Christmas. 1985 Metropolitan Museum of Art In New York. and privilege for young people to IContinued on page 31 Bishop says synod accomplished what it set out to do in the Church that came about because of Vatican II. Bishop Bevilac­ forms together In the community of the church." By STEPHEN KARUNCHAK qua replied. "If some believe that the synod was going to roll back Among the other issues that were discussed at the synod. Bishop Bishop Anthony J. Bevilacqua said the recently concluded ex­ Vatican II. they were seeing an illusion, a mirage. At no did the Bevilacqua was asked to comment on the proposal that an elected, traordinary World Synod of Bishops accomplished what it set out to Holy Father see the synod as an opportunity to roll back vatlray-U permanent synod of bishops be instituted. The bishop said he felt do. at no time did the bishops see the synod as an opportui fty to ol the proposal was not specific. He noted that the College of Cardinals "The synod reaffirmed Vatican II and the call for renewal." he back Vatican II. i serves as a permanent body and that a triennial synod of bishops is said. "The synod studied and made stronger the whole spirit of the "The Holy Father saw the synod as an opportunity to locjk back at held every three years. Council and its directives. Vatican II. to reaffirm and to try to remove any misinterpretations o* He added that the pope has the opportunity to meet with bishops "The synod acknowledged that the Council was the greatest event Vatican II. After 20 years, the Holy Father saw the achievements when they visit and during papal visits abroad. of the Church in this century. It expressed gratitude to God for the and benefits of Vatican II. but no one denies errors have cr«|Kt In. not As for the suggestion made by an Austrian bishop concerning the by Vatican II. but by those interpreting erroneously." | council. Everything else flows from that." role of divorced and remarried Catholics in the church. Bishop The bishop said one had to understand what Vatican II set out to The bishop said that discussion on the collegiallty of bishops wasj1 Bevilacqua said the suggestion didn't get much of a response. The accomplish before one could reaffirm It. In addition to determining one of the points of the synod "The roles of the bishops comes frorrj bishop said the church is concerned about divorced and remarried the Catholic Church’s role in the modem world. Bishop Bevilacqua their ordinations." Bishop Bevilacqua said. "Their being in col­ Catholics, but that concern must be balanced against its commit­ said the Second Vatican Council sought to Christianize the world, laboration means the unity between the bishops and the Holy ment to family life and the Indissolubility of marriage. He said the by making better Christians out of those who were and evangelizing Father, but always recognizing the special charlsm of the Holy church has compassion for divorced and remarried Catholics, but those who weren't. The council emphasized spirituality, he said, Father. that the church cannot compromise its teaching. through prayer and sacraments. "Th e collegiallty is not to see the Holy Father as set apart but to be While the world Isn't evil, he said there is a responsibility to Chris­ a part of the bishops, while recognizing that special charism." Concerning the role of women in the Church. Bishop Bevilacqua tianize it to reach all nations, all cultures and all races. Bishop Bevilacqua said the synod sought to clarify that collegiall­ said the synod handled the matter In a balanced way. He said the The synod, the bishop said, sought to reaffirm the ecumenical ty. That collegiallty, he said, means cooperation with the Holy synod discussed the important roles women have to play In the mis­ movement of Vatican II and to reaffirm the Catholic Church's rela­ Father.