Owensboro, KY Permit No. 111 Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage 42301 Western Kentucky CATHOLIC Paid Western Kentucky Catholic, 600 Locust Street, Owensboro, Kentucky 42301 Volume 35, Number 5, May, 2008 Supreme Pontiff Brings Supreme Hope to Catholics in America By Tami Schneider Requested Change “Benedicto! … Benedicto! … Viva Service el Papa! … Viva!” On April 20, Yankee Stadium not only felt the rumble of the passing trains and the airplanes whiz- zing overhead, but the rumble of cheerful shouts and the whizzing of white and yel- low handkerchiefs. Pope Benedict XVI was in our midst! As the orchestra played and the choir sang, the crowd made their own music to greet the Supreme Pontiff as he visited the United States. Event organizers drew the theme of the Pope’s visit, “Christ Our Hope” from his latest encyclical, “Saved by Hope.” Pilgrims streamed in from all corners of the country, including members from each of the dioceses in the United States. They all wanted to see and support the successor of John Paul the Great and lis- ten to his message of hope for America. Cardinal Edward Egan, Archbishop Pope Benedict XVI greeted priests after the Papal Mass at Yankee Stadium on of New York thanked the Holy Father Sunday, April 20. Bishop John McRaith was present April 16 and 17 in Wash- for his presence among us and for visit- ington, D.C. to visit with Pope Benedict XVI during his apostolic journey to the ing several places in the city. Comment- United States of America. Bishop John said, “Pope Benedict XVI was very infor- ing on Benedict’s time at Ground Zero, mative, to the point, and he spoke with a great note of hope, asking American the Archbishop called it “a place of trag- Catholics to be a holier Church, to reach out to the poor and to those who search edy hallowed by [his] prayer.” The Pope, for Christ.” Tami Schneider photo in turn complimented the Church in the United States, which has grown from a crowd as it was kept private. The Pope him. Vigil with Oboro sign: Laura Ruth Edge small community, much like that of the did come out and bless those close by, but Undaunted, we took to the streets proudly holds up an Owensboro Ken- first disciples, into a vibrant presence despite their best efforts, those of us from again Saturday morning to wait for the tucky loves Pope Benedict sign during through the sacrifices of our ancestors and Western Kentucky were unable to see Popemobile to pass by on 5th Avenue. a vigil outside of the Apostolic Nuncio the enriching presence of immigrants. Hundreds of thousands of people lined the building Friday evening (April 18). Oth- His holiness reminded the multitudes streets as native New Yorkers attempted er members of an Owensboro group that the hope and future of our Church to carry on their daily lives. Hikers and and the Bivins family are in the photo. lies in the hands of our young people. bikers streamed in and out of Central Park Tami Schneider photo He invited the youth, in both English and to find police offering them only limited Spanish, to “open your hearts to God’s access to their destinations. As one officer Editor’s Note: Media companies in West- call to follow Him in the priesthood commented, “This is the public’s only op- ern Kentucky reported that residents from and religious life,” which was powerful portunity to see him.” Hand-held signs in Catholic parishes traveled to Washington, enough to draw one of the few occasions multiple languages expressed welcoming D.C or New York to see the Pope in April. of applause during the homily. He quoted and loving words to our country’s special This edition of The Western Kentucky the words of Jesus saying that in follow- visitor. Guitars, tambourines and bongos Catholic went to press the day after the ing God’s will they would perform even made joyful noise unto the Lord and His Pope left the USA. We invite WKC read- greater works than His. Vicar. ers who went to see the Pope to send in Part of the Owensboro group also at- As a resident at the Friary of the Fran- your pictures and brief stories including tempted to catch other glimpses of the ciscan Friars of the Renewal noticed, the names of people in the picture. What Holy Father during their stay in New “Everything about this visit was posi- was it like to see Pope Benedict XVI, to York. They attended a candle vigil pro- tive.” Events ran smoothly, despite high hear him preach, to witness the liturgies in cession through the streets Friday eve- levels of security. The crowd behaved person? What effects will your time in the ning (April 18) in order to receive a Papal Hispanic shows emotion: Daniel Diaz, civilly; there was an uplifting and ener- presence of Pope Benedict XVI have in blessing outside of the Apostolic Nuncio a Honduran from the Diocese of Patter- getic spirit in the air, and we were able to your spiritual life? Please send your pic- building where the Pope resided. This son, NJ expresses great emotion while celebrate the Eucharist as one large Body tures and brief articles by July 15, 2008 event, organized in conjunction with the singing “God bless America” during of Christ. As Pope Benedict returns to his for the August, 2008 WKC. Got to page 3 Sisters of Life, the Franciscan Friars of the Concert of Hope before the Papal Italian home, we can say with confidence to find the mail and e-mail address. the Renewal and others, drew a smaller Mass. Tami Schneider photo that Christ has truly visited His people. 2 The Western Kentucky Catholic, May, 2008 Vatican declares excommunication We All Have A Special Place In Our Lives For The Church has approved many books of some members of Canadian sect Mary Our Mother filled with good devotions and prayers By John Thavis Catholic News Service by this schismatic group to remain faith- about Mary’s role in our salvation as the VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican ful to the Catholic Church,” the Vatican My Dear Friends, Mother of our Savior. As we reflect on As we are all aware, the month of May has announced the excommunication of letter said. the Hail Mary in a special way, we are certain members of the Army of Mary, The Army of Mary, also known as the is dedicated to special devotions honoring called to do so with the realization that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of a sect in Canada whose teachings have Community of the Lady of All Nations, we must always follow the rules of the been deemed dangerous and erroneous has had an increasingly stormy relation- the Church. This means that, as part of Church in our theology and Mariology. the Mystical Body of Christ, she is indeed by church authorities. ship with church authorities. Although it The following Catholic News Service The Vatican’s Congregation for the was approved as a Catholic association our Mother. article concerns The Army of Mary, a It is most fitting that we all have a Doctrine of the Faith, acting with the ap- in 1975, Cardinal Louis-Albert Vachon group that began with a wholesome de- proval of Pope Benedict XVI, declared of Quebec revoked that standing in 1987, special place in our lives for Mary our votion to Mary but whose theology has Mother. Over the years, the Church has the excommunication after the Army after a committee of theologians investi- since strayed into heresy. Many good of Mary performed ordinations without gated the group’s writings. developed many devotions honoring people have been associated with this Mary and asking Mary to pray for us. church permission, the Canadian bishops’ In 2000, the Vatican’s top doctrinal group through the years, so I ask that they conference said in a statement Sept. 12. official, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger -- One of the prayers that we all know and please read the article. I urge you to as- say often is the Hail Mary. This beautiful The Army of Mary was founded in now Pope Benedict -- warned against the sociate yourselves with the many other Quebec in 1971 by Marie-Paul Giguere, “gravely erroneous” content of the Army prayer contains so many of the truths of groups that have a special devotion to our faith. As we pray the Hail Mary, we who said she was receiving visions from of Mary’s publications. Mary and are faithful to the teachings of God. The organization’s publications sug- In 2001, the Canadian bishops issued first recognize her as the Mother of Jesus: the Church. In this month of Mary, let us “ Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is gested that Giguere was the reincarnation a doctrinal note confirming that the teach- all pray that we will increase our knowl- of Mary, a claim that led church leaders ings promoted by the Army of Mary were with you. Blessed are you among women edge and love for Mary within the official and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Je- in 1987 to warn the faithful that the group contrary to fundamental doctrines of the teachings of the Church. Because of the could not be considered Catholic. church. sus.” Mary’s call was to be the Mother heretical beliefs of the group, anyone who of Jesus and to bring Jesus to us—as one The Army of Mary defied church au- It identified several specific problem continues to embrace the beliefs of the thorities earlier this year (2007) when it areas: of us.