LanguageLanguage PPreferencereference More bilingual CatholicCatholic Hispanics preferprefer West Texas to attend Mass celebratedcelebrated in Spanish.Spanish. SanAngeloDiocese.org MMostost times English Most times Spanish 19% This month at www.SanAngeloDiocese.org: Check 19% throughout the months of November and December for EveryEvery time reprints of Angelus articles and Advent- and ANGELUS EnglishEnnglish 16% Christmas-related information. Serving the Diocese of San Angelo, Texas Every time Spanish Spaanish Reminder: November 30 is Volume XXVIII, No. 11 NOVEMBER 2008 46% the First Sunday of Advent Source: Pew Forum on ReligionReligion & PubliPublicc LifeLife ©©2008 CCNSNS Prayer Sharing Freedom of Choice All parishioners in the San Angelo Diocese are invited to submit their VIOLENCE favorite prayer so we might all share in the many devout and var- Act would cause ied ways we pray. A different prayer will be published in each Angelus IN INDIA issue. Email your favorite prayer to the editor, JimmyLPatterson abortion rate to @grandecom.net A Christian woman and her Submissions may also be an indi- daughter take shelter in a vidual’s prayer tradition, such as our church in the eastern city of first submission, on Page 7. Cuttack, India, Oct. 8. At least rise dramatically 52 people have been killed in anti-Christian violence in the NOVEMBER 2008 state of Orissa. The violence By Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer S M T W T F S has led to more than 20,000 mainly poor villagers taking Today we face the threat of a federal bill that, if refuge in camps and shelters. 1 enacted, would obliterate all the pro-life gains for 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (CNS photo/Parth Sanyal, Reuters) the past 35 years and cause the abortion rate to 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 skyrocket. This federal bill called, “Freedom of 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Choice Act” (FOCA) (S.1173,H.R.1964) already Killings devastate homeland of many San Angelo priests has many congressional sponsors, some of whom 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 are pledging to act swiftly to help enact this pro- 30 posed legislation. FOCA is a radical bill. It cre- Editor’s Note: Fr. George By Fr. George Varakukala Dal and the VHP (Vishva ates a “fundamental right” to abortion throughout Upcoming dates Varakukala and several other Hindu Parishad), from August 2 -- BIG SPRING – Mass at the nine months of pregnancy. No governmental priests in the Diocese of San The whole world watched of this year. There was no Prison Facilities body at any level would be able to “deny or inter- Angelo are from India. Fr. in disbelief and horror the provocation whatever from 6 -- ABILENE, Holy Family – fere with” this right. For the first time, abortion Varakukala writes this month unspeakable orgy unleashed the Christian Community. Training Workshop for Members of about the anti-Christian vio- would become an entitlement the government Pastoral and Finance Councils lence and what it is doing to on innocent, peace-loving On August 23, Swami 7 -- SAN ANGELO, Mass at Fort must condone and promote. his homeland. Christians in the State of Concho Chapel at 11 a.m. Orissa, India, by the Bajrang (Please See INDIA/12) Full Schedules, Pg. 4 (Please See FOCA/19) ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE ADDRESS SAN ANGELO ANGELO SAN TX 76902-1829 THIS MONTH IN THE ANGELUS ANGELO SAN OF DIOCESE PO BOX 1829 BOX PO From the Bishop’s Desk Catholics and their Bibles Applying basic principles to the economy We have all heard the little say- ing—“Revenge is sweet”—and there Few people think of it is an innate desire in us to want to this way, but we live in a get even with those faith-based economy. who have offended Not religious faith, to be us. “An eye for an sure, but faith nonethe- eye and a tooth for less. Religious language a tooth” a norm of without religious mean- US POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE US NONPROFIT ORG. NONPROFIT the Old Testament TX ANGELO, SAN in many ways is still ing has dominated the Byron 44 NO. PERMIT the standard of headlines in recent weeks. ethics that is "Confidence in Financial Markets applied by most Catholics have long been criticized for not following Plummets," we read. Notice that "con" people today. / the Bible as much as other Christian-based religions. is English for "cum," the Latin preposi- Pfeifer But why? And how do we overcome that stigma? As tion meaning "with," and "fides" is Latin Pg. 2 the Bishop’s October Synod looks into the Bible, we talked to local church representatives. for "faith." So con-fidence means "with Special report, Pg 3, 10-11. faith." / Pg 8 Page 2 NOVEMBER 2008 The Angelus From the Bishop’s Desk Revenge is sweet, but mercy is twice blessed By Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI being passive or submissive to an injustice. But careful gives it and blesses the one that takes mercy. examination of the norm given us by Jesus as regards Our contemporary culture teaches us to settle the We have all heard the little saying—“Revenge is revenge and vengeance enables us to see that our faith score, to get our just deserves. The problem is, we do not sweet”—and there is an innate desire in us to want to and the gospel standard of Jesus calls us to create a know where to stop. There is a certain tendency in all of get even with those who have offended us. “An eye for way to deal with offenses and not to escalate evil. us to want to take just a little extra “justice” against those an eye and a tooth for a tooth” a norm of the Old The norm of Jesus is to forgive, and to even love our who offend us. We want to hurt those who hurt us. Testament in many ways is still the standard of ethics enemies. In other words, we have to show mercy to The teaching of Jesus as regards love and mercy that is applied by most people today. those who offend us, and in God’s design, mercy ulti- requires that we de-escalate the situation while reduc- Bishop However, instead of taking revenge on those who mately triumphs. Hence, while revenge is sweet, and ing and diffusing revenge. When we do this, then we Michael D. offend us, Jesus teaches us to use non-violent resist- gives some natural satisfaction or pleasure, showing are not answering evil with evil but will be replacing Pfeifer, OMI ance which perhaps at first is interpreted by some as mercy is twice blessed, as mercy blesses the one that evil with good. DIOCESAN BRIEFS OBITUARY Fall Festival in Rowena Monday, Dec. 8 til 1 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9. The Dec. 14: 2009: March 8, May 17, Sep. 13, Dec. 6. National Hour of Unity during the event is from 11 Contact Amy at [email protected]. Deacon Simon C. Franco, Sr. November 9 p.m.-Midnight, Central time. MIDLAND-ODESSA, Our Lady of Guadalupe, ROWENA The National Night of Prayer for Life is a pro-life call Christina Nevarez, (432) 682-2581; prayer service consisting of exposition and adora- ABILENE, Holy Family Church, call Mrs. FORT STOCKTON -- Deacon Simon St. Joseph C. Franco, Sr., 85, of Fort Stockton, 86th Annual Fall Festival-Sun., Nov. 9 tion of the Blessed Sacrament, 20 decades of the Herman Blahak, (325) 692-1820. Theme: "Count Your Blessings" Rosary, the prayer of St. Michael, silent prayer passed away on Wednesday, October Flag Raising: 10:30 a.m. and hymns. 8, 2008 in Fort Stockton. The vigil serv- at Veteran's Monument The date for the National Night of Prayer for Life Scheduled Executions ice was October 10 at St. Agnes Meal 11 a.m.-2 p.m.-Turkey, Dressing & unites the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Bishop Michael Trimmings-Rowena German Style Sausage with the Feast of St. Juan Diego. It was on the The Presbyteral Council voted recently to have the Pfeifer, O.M.I. presiding. The homilist Drive Through plates to go available Feast of the Immaculate Conception (formerly cel- execution dates of Texas offenders on death row at the vigil was Deacon Julio Carrasco, Auction begins at 1:30 p.m. ebrated on Dec. 9) that Our Lady of Guadalupe, published in The Angelus each month so that the a classmate of Deacon Franco. The Games for all ages 11:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. patroness of the Americas and the unborn, first faithful in the Diocese of San Angelo can pray for Funeral Mass was celebrated on Country Store throughout the day appeared to St. Juan Diego. The National Night of them. The following offenders face upcoming execu- October 11 at St. Agnes Church. Rev. Sausage Sandwich Supper begins at 4:30 p.m. Prayer for Life bridges these two feasts to honor tion dates. Please pray for them: Thomas Manimala presided and Rev. Our Blessed Mother and to pray for the sanctity of Offender/Execution Dates Felix Okeke concelebrated at the all human life. Web site: www.priestsforlife.org George Whitaker, III, Nov. 12 Mass, and the homilist was Deacon Upcoming Cursillo Dates Denard Manns, Nov. 13 Eric Cathey, NOv. 18 Reuben Reyes. Burial was at the Fort Stockton Catholic Cemetery. Women (English) Nov. 13-16, St. Thomas, Natural Family Planning Rogelio Cannady, Nov. 19 Big Spring Robert Hudson, Nov. 20 Deacon Franco was born January 5, For more information, contact: Helping couples to deepen conjugal love and Curtis Moore, Jan.