Western Kentucky Catholic Nonprofit Org. 600 Locust Street U.S. Postage Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 Paid Western Kentucky Owensboro, KY Change Service Requested Permit No. 111 42301 Volume 33, Number 9 CATHOLIC November, 2006 The Roman Catholic Diocese of Owensboro, Kentucky Religious, environmental groups seek common ground on climate change By Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Religious voices have been speaking on environ- mental issues for quite some time, although it seems as if the volume has been turned up more in recent years. Environmental groups speak on those issues too. It’s what they do best, but what they haven’t done is seek closer ties with others. A Sept. 21 meeting in Washington brought together close to 50 people from the religious, environmental and academic fields as part of “a more conscious effort at rallying ourselves together,” according to Walt Grazer, director of the environmental justice program for the U.S. bishops’ Department of Social Development and World Peace. Grazer and the Rev. Sally Bingham, an Episcopal priest at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, jointly moderated the session. The religion-environmental link is “relatively new,” Grazer said. “This discussion is propitious.” He added, “This resurgence of religion and the environment is a good thing. ... The potential is enormous, and that’s a good thing.” Several people at the forum pointed to the Catholic Church in the United States as leading the way in the effort. Many said they took inspiration from the U.S. bishops’ 2001 statement on climate change, “Global Climate Change: Students from St. Mary of the Woods grade school in Whitesville, Kentucky vis- November 18, 2006 ited Mount Saint Joseph in Maple Mount for an environmental learning day Octo- Christ the King Parish, Madisonville, KY ber 6. MSJ Photo Time: 9am-8pm Cost: $20 per person A Plea for Dialogue, Prudence, and the Com- uted six “environmental justice grants” this year Facilitated by Tom East, Director for the Center for Ministry Devel- mon Good.” in California, Connecticut, Michigan, North opment. In it, the bishops asked, “How are we to Carolina, Oregon and the Appalachian region. The purpose of the Convocation will be twofold: 1) Conduct a par- fulfill God’s call to be stewards of creation in Projects funded by the grant range from efforts ish process that will help educate the entire parish about the goals and an age when we may have the capacity to alter to cut power-plant emissions to neutralizing the purposes/components of Youth Ministry as outlined in the U. S. Bishops’ that creation significantly, and perhaps irrevo- effect of strip mining. document, Renewing the Vision, A Framework for Catholic Youth Min- cably?” and “How can we as a ‘family of na- Getting the same conversation started at the istry, written by the United States Catholic Bishops in 1996. Out of the tions’ exercise stewardship in a way that re- grass-roots level is the challenge, Grazer said. parish process we ask that a pastoral leadership team discern and then spects and protects the integrity of God’s “Religious communities are deeply rooted in lo- invite youth and adults to represent your parish at the Convocation. 2) creation and provides for the common good, cal communities. But I think it will take time. Convene the parish representatives at the Convocation to: a) Identify the as well as for economic and social progress “The good news is that we’re very vast,” core values and core purpose of youth ministry in the diocese. b) Evalu- based on justice?” Grazer continued. “The bad news is that we’re ate current services and help identify what the priorities of the diocesan “Language or liturgy can resonate in a way very vast.” office need to be. that politics or policy discussions cannot,” Rev. Bingham illustrated the dilemma: “Am For more information contact the Office of Youth Ministry 270-683- Grazer said. I the only ordained person in this room? Am I?” 1545 or email [email protected] The U.S. bishops’ Department of Social she asked. Not seeing any reaction indicating Development and World Peace also distrib- Continued on page 6 2 The Western Kentucky Catholic, November, 2006 the monies donated to the CCHD collection are divided between the diocese (25 percent) and the rest of the United States (75 percent). This all may seem a long way from where I started this letter to It All Comes Together In Jesus you, but it really is not. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Chapter 25, we read the great story of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He lists My Dear Friends, a number of things that we should be doing. As one example, He When we think of November, we think of a number of says “I was hungry and you fed me.” People said, “When did we significant events that take place in this month. First of all, we see you hungry, and feed you or did not feed you?” Jesus was quick celebrate the feast of All Saints, which is a Holy Day of Obli- to answer, “When you do it for the least among you, you do it for gation in the United States this year since it falls on a Wednes- me.” Well, my friends, that scripture is really what All Saints and day. All Souls days are about. We become saints by seeing and treating A Holy Day of Obligation is when the Church calls us all our sister, and brothers as we would treat Jesus Christ Himself. to celebrate the Eucharist as a matter of obligation. I know that We walk together as pilgrims on our way home to be with God many do not take this call seriously, but we should. for all eternity. Have a Happy Thanksgiving. On All Saints, we give special honor to the Communion Sincerely in Christ, of Saints, which includes not only those who have been declared saints by special decree of the Church but also the vast major- ity of those who now enjoy eternal life with God, through the mercy of God, if they lived as true disciples of Jesus Christ. +Most Reverend John J. McRaith, Bishop of Owensboro This is such a special day for us to remember those who have Most Reverend John J. McRaith, D.D. gone before us, those who have helped to pass the faith on to Bishop of the Diocese of Owensboro us because of the lives they lived. We all have had many sharing their food and other necessities of people in our lives that were close to us here on earth who now life? I call attention to the roots because Bishop McRaith’s are close to us in the Communion of Saints. All Saints is a day we are now in the midst of seeking just to give thanks for their lives, for their sharing God’s gifts with ways for new people to come into this great November 2006 Schedule us, and for their continued concern for us. This is a day when nation. They come for many reasons — we celebrate the Eucharist (a thanksgiving) for them, and we many of the same reasons that brought the 1 Feast of All Saints, Holy Day of Obligation – ask the Communion of Saints to help us each to lead a life that first immigrants to this part of the world. CPC Closed will end with us joining them in the happiness of all eternity. Let us all remember our own roots, remem- 2 Mass, Staff Mtg., CPC, 9am This day honors the Saints, while giving us a chance to look ber how the first Thanksgiving took place 6 Mass, Paducah Wisdom Day, St. Thomas More Parish, at our own lives to be sure that we are following them as true and do all we can to match the goodwill of Paducah, Noon Disciples of Christ. this early nation. Perhaps a new kind of 6 Lake Barkley Conference for Educators All Saints is also a day when we pray in a special way to welcome is in order, but we must recognize 7 Lake Barkley Conference for those whose lives were taken before they had a chance to be the rights of those who now come to our Educators born and to share their gifts of grace with us. On this day, we shores and borders to be treated as we 8 Administration Cmte. Mtg., pray in a special way to find a way to end to abortion NOW would want to be treated, if we were forced CPC, 8:30am and forever. for whatever reason to seek a new country. 10 U.S. Conference of Catholic We follow this day of celebrating with the Feast of the Remember, this country prides itself on Bishops’ Mtg., Baltimore Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed, All Souls. On being a nation that offers liberty and justice 11 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore this day, the Church prays for all who, in the purifying suffer- for all. I ask that you keep the struggle of 12 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore ing in Purgatory, await the day when they will join in the immigration reform in your prayers, and 13 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore company of all the Saints. We offer our prayers, sacrifices, also that you keep faith to the fact that God 14 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore and sufferings for them on this day and every day. has given us all that we have. If we have 15 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore These are two days then that we look back at those who more than we need, He expects us to share 16 USCCB Mtg., Baltimore, have touched our lives because of their faith and we pray to that with others.