DENVER Catholic Register Vol. LXIX No. 47 November 24,1993_____ Colorado’s Largest Weekly ^ 24 Pages 35 Cents Hospice: peace for the dying By KEITH COFFMAN For the caregivers at the Archdiocese of Denver’s Hospice of Peace, the morale of the staff is just as vital to their mission as the care provided to patients and their families. With this in mind, Ann Luke, executive director of the hospice, conducts voluntary “team gatherings” for staffers to share their thoughts on how their work affects them personally and professionally. “It’s a tribute to Ann that she doesn’t Just talk team wellness, she assures it,” said Ron Valladao, coordinator of pastoral care. At a recent gathering, staffers shared their experi­ ences on dealing with patients and their families. One 81 -year-old woman who died recently was a particular favorite of the staff. The woman had a rare opportunity to meet Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day. “The pope embraced and blessed her,” Valladao said. “It was as if he understood her pain and brought a sense of peace to her.” Sister Joan Van Leeuwen, a certified nurse’s aide, said the woman had a “childlike spirit. She insisted we dress her up for Halloween,” Sister Van Leeuwen said. “She told me she was not afraid to die, but it was what she had to do to get there.” Afterward, Ms. Luke stressed the importance of the hospice’s work and the people — both paid and impaid — who dedicate themselves to it. REMEMBERING DAD this Thanksgiving season is the family of the late George Pugh, who died on “One aspect of the richness of the Catholic com­ Good Friday, April 9,1993. His widow, Ann, seated and holding his photo, and her family were assisted munity is that so many people are willing to volun­ in the grieving process by the Hospice of Peace of the Archdiocese of Denver. Not pictured are three sons teer,” she said. “What we do is life-affirming.” and six grandchildren. J*"** Catholic Charities to build housing for migrants in Greeley By MARY GIBSON “There is a critical need for farm labor housing in housing has not been selected yet. Weld County,” said Ernie Giron, CCSN executive di­ The initial members of the board of directors of Catholic Charities and Community Services of rector. the new organization, incorporated as the Catholic the Archdiocese of Denver has announced that it has “Migrant families have had to stay in cars, sleep Charities and Community Services Farm Labor formed a new non-profit subsidiary corporation to on church lawns or be put up in community buildings Housing Corporation, also were announced. build housing in Weld County for seasonal farm because of the lack of affordable housing. It is not They are: Charles Archibeque, Greeley city workers. only a serious problem in human terms, but can ad­ councilman; Thomas O. David, retired Weld At the same time. Weld Coimty Commissioners versely impact the farming economy if farm laborers County attorney; Father Robert D. Fisher, pastor presented the organization $38,830 in seed money and their families bypass Weld County because there of St. Mary’s Parish, Greeley; Julianne T. Haefeli, from the coimty for a preliminary needs assessment, is no place to stay.” member of the board of directors of the Greeley architectural renderings, land options, legal services Catholic Charities hopes to secure a long-term loan Economic Development Action Partnership; Jerry and adminstrative costs incurred by Catholic Com­ from the Farmers Home Administration to finance the A. Kiefer, vice president. Aims Community Col­ munity Services Northern (CCSN). construction of a 40-unit complex for farm laborers lege; Sam L. Leeper, executive vice president of CCSN is a division of Catholic Charities, with and their families. Bank One, Greeley; and Shirley Rein, farmer/ offices in Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and Management and maintenance of the units would grower in the Ker.scy area. Berthoud. be assumed by Catholic Charities. A location for the (To read this article in Spanish, see page 12.) Page 2 — November 24, 1993 — Denver Catholic Register Long range planning: a Gospel tooi ‘11 planning; and Mr. Jim Mauck, secre­ ing and enhance the role of our lay- tary for Catholic Charities and Com­ people. The convocation underlined munity Services. the need for such a reflective process. The archbishop was also actively in­ We were also facing challenges in volved, along with his main consulta­ renewing our parish life and ensur­ tive bodies, like the presbyteral council ing the quality and quantity of our and the archdiocesan finance council. apostolic work — Catholic education, And then along came World for example — in a period of increas­ Youth Day. ing financial pressures. It hit us like a tornado. As a result, ne the chemistry of the planning process changed dramatically. It wasn’t put on Our planning pro­ hold, but everyone involved realized cess ... needs to keep that we couldn’t carry on a planning process after World Youth Day imtil we its priorities straight, had first lived the experience of the event, and then reflected on it and beginning with a firm gleaned its meaning for the life of the anchoring in prayer Church. Which takes time. and reflection on the It can tiike quite awhile for our hearts to engage witli the Holy Spirit and hear Word of God. what He’s attempting to teach us. Ai How, specifically, has World Third was a sense of the unique Youth Day altered the process? importance of this time, the notion James Baca/l>CR Photo It provided us with a new model. that we really are living in a “New Father Edward L. Buelt It taught us that any plamiing process Advent.’’ Nearly four months after John tive tool of preaching the Gospel. should be, in some sense, a pilgrim­ And finally, when we lemned of Paul IPs visit. World Youth Day Second, the Holy Spirit has brought age; should have a strong catechetical it, was World Youth Day itself, which (WYD) continues to enliven northern us to a key moment in the life of the content; and should be founded in we all understood would direct us, Colorado’s Church in dozens of ways Church, these last years before the third prayer united with the Universal somehow, toward the future. — from youth ministry to catechesis millennium, and pastoral planning is an Church. Our linkage with the Holy Fa­ What form will this second to parish stewardship. effective way of conforming ourselves, ther and the wider, global Church is phase of the planning process Father Edward Buelt, archdioc­ as a conununity, to the will of Christ. particularly important. take? Who’s going to be involved? esan vice chancellor and WYD’s The process also fits well with the World Youth Day encouraged us not The priests of the archdiocese are tei former executive director at the lo­ archbishop’s sense that these nine years to be satisfied with the standard mod­ central to the whole effort. They must cal level, now heads the archdioc­ between 1992 and 2001 are a kind of els of business planning, as useful as “own” whatever plan is finally ap­ esan long range planning process, “New Advent’’ in the life of our local they’ve been for other dioceses. proved by the archbishop because which has resumed in the wake of the Church. What are the local issues driving they are crucial to its fulfillment. pilgrimage. He spoke with the DCR Good foundational work was done the process? The Church Icwks to and defines in late November. on this project before World Youth Several factors have been key from priests as the key collaborators with the DCR: Why an archdiocesan Day. Where do we stand now? the beginning. We were celebrating the bishop in the community’s lil’e of faith. planning process, and why now? An extensive proposal already ex­ 25th anniversary [in 1990] of the close Anything die archbishop docs will be Father Buelt: Two reasons. ists, based on the work of Father Ed of the Second ’Vatican Council, and tlie done in concert with them. We will First, there’s a consensus throughout Hoffmann, former moderator of the archbishop called for a Convocation on also develop a core committee to en­ the archdiocese, and in fact nation­ curia; Mr. Tim McCutchcon, our sec­ the Laity to reflect on ways to deepen gage in theological reflection on the wide, that planning can be an effec­ retary for finance, administration and our understanding of the counci 1 ’s teach­ Continued on page 6 E Abortion ballot initiative enver Catholic Register A proposed ballot initiative concerns parental The training session for the Fort Collins area will involvement in a minor daughter’s decision regard­ be on Tuesday, Dec. 7 at ,St. Joseph Parish, from 7 to Charlene Scott ing abortion. The ballot initiative proposal is for an 9 p.m. Editor amendment to the Colorado Constitution which will The training session for the Eastern Plains will Frank Vecchiiirelli mandate the notice of at least one custodial parent be on Sunday, Nov. 21, at St. Joseph Parish, from 1 Advertising Director 24 hours before their un-emancipated minor daugh­ to 3 p.m. The petition signing would be designated ter undergoes an abortion. the weekends of Jan. 22-23 and Jan. 29-30,1994. This Franc'i.s X. M aier The Respect Life Office of the Archdiocese of would be a state-wide effort for all churches, both General Manager Denver will be coordinating training sessions in con­ Catholic and Protestant.