NorthBringing the Good News to the Diocese Texas of Fort Worth Catholic Vol. 22 No. 18 November 3, 2006 Pope says Christians can be missionaries to those near and far By Cindy Wooden Converted and saved by love, VATICAN CITY (CNS) — All every Christian is called to pro- Christians are called to be mis- claim “the good news that God sionaries, sharing the good news is love and, in this way, save the of God’s love in their families, world,” the pope said. workplaces, or in far-off lands, Because mission is a matter of Pope Benedict XVI said. sharing the love of God, every “Mission starts from the Christian can and must be a mis- heart,” the pope said during his sionary, he said. midday Angelus address Oct. Missionary work is not lim- 22, which was World Mission ited to traveling far away to Sunday. proclaim the Gospel to people “The love that moved the who have not heard the message, Father to send his Son into the he said. Missionary work also world and [moved] the Son to can be striving to make one’s offer himself for us to the point family life holy, living one’s DEDICATION OF BASILICA CHAPEL — A girl participates in the dedication of Our Lady of La Vang Chapel at the Basilica of dying on the cross, that same professional life “with a Chris- of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington Oct. 21. The chapel was a gift from Vietnamese- love was poured by the Holy tian spirit,” or dedicating one’s Americans. See story p. 15 (CNS photo/Matthew Barrick, courtesy of the National Shrine) Spirit into the hearts of believ- life to God in the priesthood or ers,” he said. religious life. SIM grants help parishes, schools with Bishops from Americas discuss limited resources make necessary repairs threats to life, U.S. border fence By Joan Kurkowski-Gillen problem the whole time I’ve been Correspondent here,” she says in frustration. By Cindy Wooden early October. Charlene Hymel might be Thanks to Sharing in Ministry, VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The In addition to denouncing the only person thankful for the the Annual Diocesan Appeal, breakdown of families and threats to human life, council ongoing drought in North Texas. relief is on the way. St. Rita is one threats to human life, from abor- members — from North and Cloudless skies mean one thing of a dozen schools and parishes tion to the death penalty, are South America as well as from to the St. Rita School principal: slated to receive a capital grant challenges that Catholics in the the Vatican — also offered a harsh There won’t be any rain leak- to help with costly repair work Americas must confront, said a assessment of plans to construct ing through the roof and into or building projects. The SIM group of bishops meeting at the a fence along the U.S.-Mexican classrooms. campaign is currently underway Vatican. border. “When it starts to rain, my in the Diocese of Fort Worth with The council of bishops charged On Oct. 23, Congress sent the husband and I come to the school a goal to raise $2,600,000 for a with monitoring and promoting bill authorizing construction of to set out buckets,” the dedicated variety of critical and immediate follow-up to the 1997 Synod 700 miles of fencing to President administrator explains. “In one ers in the fi fth grade classroom. needs of the local church here in of Bishops for America and to George W. Bush, who signed it hallway, the water trickles down Fortunately, the school was able the 28 counties of the diocese. To Pope John Paul II’s 1999 post- Oct. 26. the wall and makes a puddle.” to salvage the units. date, $1.7 million is committed synodal document, The Church “The wall along the United During the last downpour, a “I’ve been principal [for] four toward the goal. in America, met at the Vatican in SEE BORDER FENCE…, P. 16 leak in the roof soaked comput- years, and I’ve been fi ghting this SEE SIM HELPS…, P. 8 Speakers at Canon Law convention say there’s room for improvement in church consultation FORT WORTH (CNS) — Paul II’s 2001 apostolic letter, various lay and priests’ councils There’s room for improvement Novo Millennio Ineunte (At the helping diocesan bishops, and in church consultation, said Beginning of the New Millennium). fi nance and pastoral councils speakers at the annual conven- In it the late pope called for aiding pastors. tion of the Canon Law Society strengthening a “spirituality of “Truly, the Code of Canon Law of America. communion” by effectively using proposes perfect structures for The Code of Canon Law pre- the structures of participation consultation,” Cardinal Rodri- scribes various structures for and consultation provided for guez said. However, they will church consultation, but they are in church law. be effective only if those who not always effective in practice, In an Oct. 9 keynote address, request and offer advice have the speakers said during the Oct. Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Mara- the ability to listen, especially to 9-12 meeting in Fort Worth. diaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, “listen wisely,” he added. VATICAN NEWSPAPER — Pope Benedict XVI reads the Vatican newspaper, The theme of the convention, identifi ed consultative bodies Msgr. John Strynkowski, for- L’Osservatore Romano, in this 2005 photo. The newspaper’s editorial views “Consultation in the Life of the on all church levels, from the mer executive director of the U.S. correspond to Catholic teaching and positions taken by the pope. An exhibit on Church: In Service of Commu- Synod of Bishops and College of bishops’ Secretariat for Doctrine the 145-year history of the Vatican newspaper is currently on display in Rome. nio,” was inspired by Pope John Cardinals assisting the pope, to SEE CONSULTATION…, P. 13 See story, p. 24 (CNS photo/L’OSSERVATORE ROMANO) Page 2 NORTH TEXAS CATHOLIC, November 3, 2006 Diocesan We thank God for our increase of vocations, and those who will respond to God’s call to serve the Church Dear Friends in the only of the glory of the Risen Savior, more aware of the need for a fuller but that the Church is truly universal appreciation of the truth of peace. At Diocese of Fort Worth, Isaac Orozco, and is not congregational or even the same time, I ask for an increase national. This is simply illustrated by s Thomas Kennedy, of prayers, since peace is above all using the term “The Catholic Church a gift of God, a gift to be implored we Jonathan Wallis, in the United States” or the “Catholic incessantly….” and Ray McDaniel Church in France” rather than the We are very proud of the fact that go “American Church” or the “French Isaac Orozco was ordained to the A will be ordained to Church” for example. transitional diaconate at St. Peter’s further the priesthood next Nov. 11 is worthwhile considering, Basilica in Rome on Oct. 5, and on into the as well. We know this as Veterans’ summer, giving us Nov. 4, Thomas Kennedy, Jonathan month of Day or Armistice Day. It is the day Wallis, and Ray McDaniel will be the largest priestly when the treaty which ended World ordained to the transitional diacon- Novem- War I was signed. Peace treaties ate. They will be ordained to the Bishop Kevin W. Vann ordination class for were signed on Nov. 11, tradition- ber, we priesthood next summer, giving us our diocese ever! We ally, because this is the feast day of the largest priestly ordination class have more opportunities in St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin of for our diocese ever! We thank the thank the Lord for Tours had been a soldier who gave Lord for their willingness to say yes the church’s calendar for their willingness to say up his military career, and later be- to his call and for all who nurtured refl ection and living of our came the bishop of Tours in France. and supported that call, including yes to his call and for He founded the fi rst monastery in their seminary communities in Rome Faith. all who nurtured and France and is the patron of soldiers, at the North American College and wine producers, and France. Assumption in San Antonio. Please For example, Nov. 9 is the an- supported that call.... On this day, it would be well to keep praying for a generous response niversary of the dedication of pray in gratitude and support of all in our diocese to the call to serve the the Basilica of St. John Lateran in “The Mother and Head of all of the of the men and women of the armed Lord as priests and religious. Rome. The land, owned by the Lat- Churches of the City and the World.” forces who have served our country Finally, as I mentioned in my last erani family, was given to Pope St. This makes it the Cathedral of the both here and overseas. I think of column, November is the month Sylvester, and here, on this prop- Bishop of Rome, and in that sense, it my own father and his generation of all of the faithful departed. This erty, on November 9, 324 A.D. the outranks even St. Peter’s Basilica! who served in the Second World would be an ideal month to visit our Basilica of the Most Holy Savior and What we are reminded of by this War.