MAY 2013

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Help, prayers pour into West after explosion BY SHELLEY METCALF CATHOLIC SPIRIT STAFF

Austin Diocese 6225 Hwy. 290 East Austin, Texas 78723

Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, Texas

The small town of West, which sits at the northern edge of the Austin Diocese, has been ooded with donations, disaster response teams, volunteers, media and, perhaps most importantly, prayers since an explosion at a fertilizer plant on the evening of April 17. The explosion killed 14 people and destroyed at least 140 homes within several blocks of the fertilizer plant. Many of the dead were volunteer fire department members and EMS workers, as well as parishioners of St. Mary, Church of the Assumption Parish in West. Father Ed Karasek said the phone had not stopped ringing at the parish, where he has been pastor for nearly 25 years. The parish, which also has a Catholic school, is about a mile from the fertilizer plant and did suffer some cosmetic damage from the explosion. Father Karasek said he had talked to people from all over the world in the days since the tragedy. “I have answered so many questions, but everyone is praying for us,” he said. The diocese received a fax from Pope Francis the morning after the

explosion, as well as various letters from Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of GalvestonHouston, Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans and Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi. In recognition of the town’s Czech roots, the Cardinal-Archbishop of Prague also sent a letter to the parish. The letter from the Vatican stated, “Saddened by the news of the destruction caused by the explosion in West, the Holy Father asks you kindly to convey his heartfelt condolences to the civil authorities and the aficted families. He prays for the eternal rest of the victims and implores God’s blessings of consolation and peace upon those who mourn and all who generously aid in the continuing work of relief.” On April 19, Bishop Joe Vásquez visited Assumption Parish for an Interfaith Service of Remembrance for those who died. During the service, local Christian pastors offered their reections and their support for the victims of the tragedy. “This community has experienced a tragic event that has altered many lives. We mourn the loss of your loved ones and friends and we continue to pray for the injured,” the bishop said to the crowded church.

“What we have witnessed in these days are acts of self sacrice and compassion,” he said. “In moments such as these we see the best of what makes us human, for these acts of sacrifice and compassion are reections of our God who is real and present in each of us.” After the service concluded, the church leaders gave blessings and warm embraces to family members and first responders. “It was so touching for me

to be with the people of West during this sad time,” Bishop Vásquez commented after the service. Ericka Sammon, the principal of St. Mary’s Catholic School in West, said the outpouring of man power and resources the town has witnessed has been amazing. She knows of 10 families from the school who have lost their homes. “We have had people from Dallas and from Austin who just got in their cars and drove to

See WEST on Page 3

RESIDENTS OF WEST comfort one another after an Interfaith Prayer Service April 19 at St. Mary, Church of the Assumption Parish in West. Ofcials say 14 people died when a fertilizer plant exploded the evening of April 17. (Photo by Shelley Metcalf)

HONORING ST. JOSEPH

BOSTON Cardinal O’Malley encourages Bostonians to build civilization of love. Page 11

Altars established to give thanks to Jesus’ earthly father. Page 8

BISHOP’S

ESPAÑOL

INTERVIEW

El Obispo ordenará cinco sacerdotes el 8 de junio. Página 29

Urge lawmakers to increase regulation on payday lenders. Page 19

help,” she said. “They knocked on our door and asked, ‘What can we do?’” Sammon said the town has been blessed with large amounts of donations of household goods and clothing. “The particular need we have right now at the school is for monetary donations for the families who have lost their homes,” she said. “We want to help them

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THE MISSION OF THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT As the ofcial newspaper for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Austin, the CATHOLIC SPIRIT is dedicated to providing information, education and formation for the Catholic community of Central Texas. This mission calls for the newspaper: • to provide readers with an understanding of our Catholic faith and traditions; • to be a primary source of information on Catholic issues relevant to the community; • to be a unifying element for faith communities, both rural and urban, throughout Central Texas; • to show respect for and appreciation of all cultural groups and traditions; • to emphasize topics afrming the Catholic community and life, while acknowledging the humanity of the community and examining, with courage, topics that challenge and encourage growth in the faith; • to carry a commitment to social justice that will support the renewal of the church in Central Texas.

HOW TO SUBMIT INFORMATION Deadline for submission of articles or information for the CATHOLIC SPIRIT is the 10th of the month for publication in the following month’s edition. Deadline for the June issue is May 10. You can submit material in any of the following ways: • E-mail to [email protected]. • Mail to CATHOLIC SPIRIT, 6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, TX 78723. For additional information, call (512) 949-2443 or e-mail us at [email protected]. CATHOLIC SPIRIT has unrestricted editing rights.

HOW TO SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR Readers are encouraged to express their opinions on articles published in CATHOLIC SPIRIT. Letters to the editor provide a forum of discussion for the local Catholic community. The views expressed in the letters do not necessarily represent those of the editor or the publisher of CATHOLIC SPIRIT. Letters to the editor should be limited to 250 words. Name and full address of the writer must be provided, though name will be withheld from publication on request. We reserve the right to edit or withhold all letters. Please e-mail to [email protected] or mail to Editor, Catholic Spirit, 6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, TX 78723.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE Subscription rates are $12 for one year. To subscribe, send check payable to Catholic Spirit to CATHOLIC SPIRIT, 6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, TX 78723. Members of a parish in the Austin Diocese may receive the newspaper for a reduced rate. Contact your parish staff for more information.

ADDRESS CHANGES OR DUPLICATE MAILINGS Send all address changes to CATHOLIC SPIRIT, 6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, TX 78723. Please include your parish’s name and city. If receiving duplicate copies of the CATHOLIC SPIRIT, call (512) 949-2443 or e-mail [email protected].

STAFF Publisher: Most Rev. Joe S. Vásquez, Bishop of Austin Editor: Shelley Metcalf; (512) 949-2400, [email protected] Assistant Editor: Christian R. González; (512) 949-2400, [email protected] Advertising: Shelley Metcalf; (512) 949-2400, [email protected] Spanish translation: Gina Dominguez Columnists: Barbara Budde, Mary Lou Gibson and Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. Correspondents: Burnie Cook, Amy Moraczewski, Enedelia Obregón, Michele Chan Santos and Mary P. Walker

VOICES

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

God bless the people of West LOUIS MYNARCIK, 87, was a resident of the nursing home in West that crumbled when a fertilizer plant exploded on April 17. The people of West remain in our thoughts and prayers as they return to a “new normal.” A “normal” that now involves grieving those who died, and also giving thanks for the outpouring of support that has been shown to the town. Let us go forth rejoicing in the knowledge that at the end of time God will conquer death and we will all dance –– and polka –– together again. (Photo by Shelley Metcalf)

EIM workshops The Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policies of the Austin Diocese were established in 2002 to educate Catholics on how to help prevent sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. According to the policies, all employees and those volunteers who minister to youth or vulnerable adults in the diocese are required to complete an Application for Ministry, which permits the diocese to run a criminal background check. Additionally, all new applicants are required to attend a three-hour EIM workshop for adults within 60 days of their EIM application submission. Every three years employees and volunteers must attend an EIM refresher course or the three-hour EIM workshop. Upcoming EIM workshops are listed below. Please call the location you would like to attend at the phone number listed so that enough materials are available. For more information regarding the diocesan EIM policies, visit www.austindiocese.org or call (512) 949-2400.

Three-hour courses

May 8, 6 to 9 p.m., St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin, (512) 892-2420 May 20, 6 to 9 p.m., St. Elizabeth Parish in Pugerville, (512) 251-9838 June 1, 1 to 4 p.m., St. John the Evangelist Parish in San Marcos, (512) 353-8969 June 6, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., St. John Neumann Parish in Austin, (512) 328-3220 June 8, 9 a.m. to noon, Sacred Heart Parish in Elgin, (512) 281-3536

Refresher courses

May 9, 7 to 8:30 p.m., St. Mary Cathedral Parish in Austin, (512) 476-6182 May 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m., St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Austin, (512) 892-2420 May 21, 6 to 7:30 p.m., St. Mary Parish in Waco, (254) 753-0146 May 30, 6 to 7:30 p.m., San Jose Parish in Austin, (512) 444-7587 June 4, 6:30 to 8 p.m., Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, (254) 752-8349 June 8, 9 to 10:30 a.m., St. Louis Parish in Austin, (512) 454-0384

Msgr. Donald Frugé died April 19

Msgr. Donald Frugé died in Houston on April 19 of cancer. He was 79 years old. He is survived by ve sisters and four brothers-inlaw: Elizabeth and her husband, Roger E. Gonsoulin of Maurice, La.; Marjorie A. Frugé; Barbara and her husband, Dr. William H. Boylston; Yvonne and her husband, C. Kenneth Breaux; and Tessie and her husband, Dr. Guy K. PatterCatholic Spirit subscribes to Catholic News Service son, all of Houston, as well as many nieces and (CNS) and is a member of the Catholic Press Association. nephews. He was preceded in death by his parCopyright 2013 by the Austin Diocese. All rights reents, Daniel H. Frugé and Leah LaFosse Frugé; served. Reproduction of any editorial content, photograph, by three siblings: Daniel J. Frugé, Msgr. Edward art or design is prohibited without written permission of the D. Frugé, and Leah Jane Hodges. publisher CATHOLIC SPIRIT (ISSN 0896-2715) is published 11 Msgr. Frugé was ordained a priest on April 22, times annually (monthly except one issue in July/August) 1972, for the service of the Diocese of Galvestonby the Austin Diocese. Bishop Joe S. Vásquez, publisher, Houston. Following ordination, he served as Ju6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, TX 78723. Periodicals Postage dicial Vicar for the Tribunal in Houston. In 1981, Paid at Austin, Texas. he was awarded a doctorate in Canon Law (JCD) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Catholic Spirit, at the Catholic University of America in Washing6225 Hwy. 290 E., Austin, Texas 78723. ton. In 1986, he was given permission to move to Austin and assist Bishop John McCarthy, the

third bishop of Austin. In Austin, he served as Finance Officer until early 2002, when he retired and then moved back to Houston. Msgr. Frugé was a member and former ofcer of the Canon Law Society of America. He was also a member of Msgr. Donald Frugé the Canon Law of Great Britain and Ireland. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Memorial contributions may be made to Houston Hospice, 1905 Holcombe Blvd., Houston 77030.

May 2013

CENTRAL TEXAS

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Bishop Vásquez will ordain ve priests on June 8 BY MARY P. WALKER SENIOR CORRESPONDENT Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain Deacons Augustine Ariwaodo, Jason Bonifazi, Ventura Alejandro Caudillo, Barry Cuba and Timothy Nolt to the priesthood June 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin. While all of the deacons are united in their dedication to the Catholic faith and look forward to serving as priests in the Diocese of Austin, they come to the sacrament of holy orders from very different paths. Two are converts to the Catholic faith. Two had conversion experiences that drew them deeper into Catholicism, and one knew that he wanted to be a priest from a young age. Geography also adds to their diversity. Two of the deacons grew up within the boundaries of the Austin Diocese, while the others come from Pennsylvania, Mexico and Nigeria. Deacon Jason Bonifazi, age 33, graduated from Groesbeck High School and considers his home parish to be St. Mary in Mexia. The youngest of three boys, his parents are Michael Bonifazi and Sheli Hanson. After earning a business degree from Sam Houston State University, Deacon Bonifazi worked as a salesperson for a wine distributor in Houston. During this time, he also pursued an MBA at the University of St. Thomas. Raised as a Mormon, he felt drawn to the Catholic Church and began the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) pro-

cess at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Houston. Baptized in 2004, he quickly became active in parish life while continuing his job and graduate studies. He characterized his life as “OK,” but he was not happy. “I started questioning what God was asking of me,” Deacon Bonifazi said. He began considering whether God was calling him to become a priest. Because he was newly baptized, he was not sure if this interest was a prompting from God or his own enthusiastic response to becoming Catholic. He continued to discern this question with a priest at the cocathedral while he nished graduate school. Knowing he could not enter the seminary until he had more experience as a Catholic, he contacted the Assumptionists, a religious order that also sponsors lay missionaries. Under their direction, he went to the Philippines. After returning, he entered the seminary, about two years after his baptism. At first, Deacon Bonifazi found some aspects of seminary life challenging. Used to the “right and wrong” answers in his business courses, he had to learn a different way of thinking to study philosophy and theology. Also, living in a dorm and sharing the structured lives of seminarians was an adjustment to a man used to being on his own. Anticipating his ordination, Deacon Bonifazi said, “I look forward to being in a parish, sharing my faith, and bringing people to Christ. It is an exciting time for the church and world.”

Deacon Tim Nolt, age 46, also converted to the Catholic faith and considers St. John Vianney in Round Rock to be his home parish. His parents are Steve and Doris, and he has two younger sisters. He grew up in Lancaster, Pa., in an evangelical Christian family that emphasized sharing their faith. When he was 10, his father took a sabbatical from his teaching job, and the family went to Kenya for missionary work. While there, Deacon Nolt attended a school for the children of missionaries. When asked what brought him to the Catholic Church, he said, “It’s all about the music.” Growing up in a family that shared their many musical talents through church, Deacon Nolt received a bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Juilliard. He then came to Texas to study piano at the University of Texas at Austin, where he received a master’s degree. While a student, he taught piano to the daughter of a Catholic family. Through this family, he learned about Catholi-

looked toward town there was huge mushroom cloud,” Pustejovsky said. She immediately headed to town to help. The rst place she stopped was the nursing home, where her mother-inlaw resides. “There were so many people, young and old, who were helping,” she said. “We were lifting people in wheelchairs up and over debris. We knocked out what was left of the windows to lift people out on mattresses and get them out of the rubble.” As she was helping, she received the “code green” from Providence asking all available hospital personnel to come to the hospital. She said she knew she could not leave what she was doing, but heard stories the next day of how all of the hospital staff was lined up to help when the busses started rolling in with injured patients.

For the most part, Providence treated those with nonlife-threatening injuries. Bishop Vásquez visited with two West patients on April 19; both patients were expected to be released shortly, according to their families. The bishop returned to West on April 21 to celebrate Mass at Assumption Parish. The church was full and more than 110 Knights of Columbus from across Central Texas formed an honor guard during the Mass. At least two of the rst responders killed by the blast were members of the Knights of Columbus. The town of West has a population of about 2,800 and Assumption Parish has about 1,275 families. The parish is 120 years old and has a rich Czech heritage thanks to the Moravian and German immigrants who settled in the town in the 1870s.

Deacon Augustine Ariwaodo

Deacon Jason Bonifazi

Deacon Alex Caudillo

Deacon Barry Cuba

Deacon Tim Nolt

cism and had opportunities to play for Mass. With experiences in the “house church” movement and as a youth minister in a Presbyterian church, Deacon Nolt explained that in his “head” he was not considering Catholicism. However, he was drawn to the faith. “The Holy Spirit exposed me to Catholic liturgy. Catholics believe that Christ is present through the liturgy, and I wanted to learn more about it,” Deacon Nolt said.

After a few weeks of fervent prayer during an intense time of his life, he felt a desire to become Catholic to deepen his relationship to Christ. While waiting to participate in an RCIA program, he went on a men’s retreat. His roommate planted the seed of a possible religious vocation when he asked Deacon Nolt if he had ever considered the priesthood. After becoming Catholic in 1999, he spent the next eight years working in inforSee ORDAIN on Page 7

The Austin Diocese asked all parishes to take up a special collection for the people of West on the weekend of April 20-21. The diocese, through the work of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Catholic Charities of Central Texas, will assist the town with long-term case management needs, including the distribu-

tion of furniture and household goods when homes are rebuilt, and counseling services for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Monetary donations may be given to Catholic Charities of Central Texas at www.ccctx.org/ disaster or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at www.ssvdp.org.

WEST Continued from Page 1

with tuition and lunch fees and help them get back to normal.” Providence Hospital in Waco, a member of Ascension Health, the nation’s largest Catholic health system in the U.S., was where many of the injured were brought for care on the night of the blast. “It was a miraculous coming together of staff, and within minutes of the rst calls coming in, we were ready to go as a team,” said Brett Esrock, the president of the hospital, which treated many of the injured from a West nursing home that crumbled from the impact of the explosion. Peggy Pustejovsky, a parishioner of Assumption Parish and a radiologist at Providence, was at her home about three miles outside of West when the explosion occurred. “I heard a big boom and the lights ickered and when I

FATHER ED KARASEK blesses a volunteer re ghter on April 19 at Assumption Parish in West. (Photo by Shelley Metcalf)

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CENTRAL TEXAS

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Bishop ordains 11 men to permanent diaconate BISHOP JOE VÁSQUEZ ordained 11 men to the permanent diaconate on April 13 at St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park. Their assignments are below in order as the men appear in the group photo on the left. • Deacon John McCardle St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park (top left). • Deacon Jim DiSimoni to Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove. • Deacon Ron Sykora to St. Mary, Church of the Assumption Parish in West. • Deacon Tim Vande Vorde to St. Michael Parish in Uhland. • Deacon Dave Cardon to St. Mary Parish in Lampasas. • Deacon Pat Moran to St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in College Station. • Deacon Leroy Jan to St. Paul Parish in Austin (bottom left). • Deacon Mike Forbes to St. William Parish in Round Rock. • Deacon Jeff Cadenhead to St. Anthony Marie de Claret Parish in Kyle. • Deacon Curt Haffner to St. John the Evangelist Parish in Marble Falls. • Deacon David Ochoa to St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin. (Photos by Adriana Waldbusser and Shelley Metcalf)

CENTRAL TEXAS

May 2013

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Help for struggling marriages

Chastity events for youth feature Jason Evert

Are you and your spouse struggling with communication? Are things just not what they used to be in your marriage? Don’t give up, there is help. Retrouvaille is a program for couples undergoing difculties in their marriage. For condential information about Retrouvaille or how to register for the program beginning with a weekend on May 17-19, call 1-800-470-2230 or visit the website at www.helpourmarriage.com.

THRiVE! Youth Events will be held May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in College Station and May 18 at 9 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish and St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in Austin. All youth in seventh through 12th grades and their parents are welcome to attend. Jason Evert, an author, speaker, and host of EWTN’s “The Pure Life” and “Theology of the Body for Teens,” will be the keynote speaker. More than just abstinence education, THRiVE incorporates the Christian message of how we were created in God’s image that we might love him, give love and be loved by others. For more information, visit www.thrivetexas.org.

Cedarbrake offers several retreats A day of reection entitled “Mary, Woman of the Word” will be presented May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist will lead this day, which is for women of all ages. The cost is $35, which includes lunch. A Silent Day of Reection will be presented May 17 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake. Father Angelo Bertini will celebrate Mass and spiritual direction will be available. The cost is $25, which includes lunch. Desert Solitude, a silent retreat, begins June 6 at 3 p.m. at Cedarbrake. This is a seven-day silent retreat with centering prayer as the focus. Retreatants may choose to attend three, four or six days. The cost varies from $300 to $900. For more information or to register for any of these events, contact Cedarbrake at (254) 780-2436 or [email protected].

Upcoming ordinations Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain Craig DeYoung to the transitional diaconate May 18 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station. Bishop Vásquez will ordain Deacons Augustine Ariwaodo, Jason Bonifazi, Alejandro Caudillo, Barry Cuba and Tim Nolt to the priesthood June 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin. For information, contact (512) 949-2430 or [email protected].

Opportunities for teens and youth Servus Dei, a service-oriented retreat, will be held June 20-22 at St. Austin Parish in Austin. Servus Dei provides prayer experiences, engaging learning activities based on the life of Jesus and Catholic social teaching and introduces young adolescents to service as an integral part of Christian discipleship. For more information, talk to the youth minister at your local parish. TEC, an inter-generational retreat movement, will host its fth retreat, June 29–July 1, at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. This retreat is open to all who are 17 or older (those in high school must be in at least their junior year). The cost for the weekend is $100; scholarships are available for those who need assistance. Visit www.tec-ctx.org for more information. Cross Training 2013 is scheduled for July 18-21 at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. This retreat for ninth graders during the 2013-2014 school year is designed to prepare Catholic teens for the rigors of high school by arming them with the tools of their faith. The cost for the weekend is $185. Visit https://scan.me/k2ncvb to register. For more information on these events, contact the diocesan Youth Ofce at (512) 949-2464 or [email protected].

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THYROID & ENDOCRINOLOGY

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CENTRAL TEXAS

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Clergy, volunteers work together to ‘visit prisoners’ BY ENEDELIA J. OBREGÓN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT In recent years, several parishes have renewed efforts to minister to the needs of the incarcerated in the six prison units in Gatesville. Along with other volunteers from throughout the Diocese of Austin, they follow Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 25:36 to visit those in prison. The lack of a permanent Catholic presence in Texas prisons –– where about 18 percent identify themselves as Catholic –– created the spark for volunteers and area priests to emphasize recruitment efforts in the Diocese of Austin, said Deacon E. Generes “Doots” Dufour, head of the diocesan Criminal Justice Ministry. Six of the 15 prisons that are located in the Diocese of Austin are in Coryell County, and the parishes in the county are small, rural parishes without a lot of resources.

Gatesville One of those on the frontline is Father Timothy Vaverek, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Gatesville, which has 90 families, as well as St. Thomas in Hamilton, which has 40 families. He also ministers to the 120 Catholics in the four units in Gatesville, which has 8,000 inmates. Volunteers from the other parishes in the area are a tremendous help, Father Vaverek said. “There is no way one person can serve all these people without the support of other parishes,” he said. “Without outreach from the parishes, this cannot happen.” Deacon Dufour, who is also chair of Texas Catholic Correctional Ministers, which represents prison/jail ministries from each diocese in Texas, said the spiritual component is necessary for two reasons: Jesus asked us to do it and it is necessary for the rehabilitation of inmates who will leave prison and have to function well once they return to society. That’s what attracted John Gilluly, a parishioner at Emmaus Parish in Lakeway, to prison ministry. Gilluly is a volunteer and helps Deacon Dufour at the diocesan Criminal Justice Ministry. He rst learned of the ministry while living in Houston 15 years ago. “I did a Cursillo and saw these prayer chains,” he said. “One third of them were

white. I asked what they meant. I was told, ‘they were young offenders in prison praying for you.’ That just blew me away. They had nothing to offer us but prayers.” When he was asked to do prison ministry, it took him a year to reply. “I was skeptical at rst,” he said. “I was afraid I’d be judgmental, but God planted the seed in my heart.” He still remembers one inmate he met at a four-day KAIROS ecumenical retreat he attended in the maximumsecurity Eastham Unit in Lovelady. “This guy was in for 25 years for murder,” Gilluly said. “He said his one purpose had been to get out and take out the guy who had put him in there. After the retreat, he talked about forgiveness. It was a very moving experience.” When Gilluly retired and moved to Lakeway in 2005, he contacted Deacon Dufour to volunteer. Deacon Dufour, who has been working in prison ministry since 1986, likes to paraphrase Luke 10:2: The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.

Working together The numbers are staggering. One in nine men in Texas is either in jail or prison, on probation or parole or involved in the criminal justice system in some manner. Within the diocese, about one-fth of the 25,000 incarcerated are lapsed or cultural Catholics, Deacon Dufour said. Few people are as forgotten as those in jail, he said. There is no excusing the crimes they have committed, but they are children of God who need to be fed spiritually. The church teaches that correctional ministry begins with the recognition that the dignity of the human person applies to both victim and offender. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in their document, “Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice,” state that “We are guided by the paradoxical Catholic teaching on crime and punishment: We will not tolerate the crime and violence that threatens the lives and dignity of our sisters and brothers, and we will not give up on those who have lost their way. We seek both justice and mercy. Working together, we believe our faith calls us to protect public

JOHN GILLULY (left) and Deacon Doots Dufour staff the diocesan Ofce of Criminal Justice Ministry. They work with parishes to recruit volunteers to help minister to inmates in jails and prisons. (Photo by Enedelia J. Obregón)

safety, promote the common good, and restore community. We believe a Catholic ethic of responsibility, rehabilitation and restoration can become the foundation for the necessary reform of our broken criminal justice system.” Deacon Dufour said most people who are incarcerated have several things in common: they dropped out of school, they grew up in homes where there was abuse and neglect, they have a history of drug or alcohol abuse or addiction, there is no father present in their daily lives and they had no spiritual life. “The spiritual element is important to rehabilitation,” he said. “But they’ve had bad lives. Even when saying the Our Father we have to be careful because for many of them their fathers were a bunch of rats.”

Volunteers Byron Johnson is a distinguished professor of the Social Sciences and director of the Institute for Studies of Religion and director of the Program on Pro-social Behavior at Baylor University. He has written extensively on religion and rehabilitation in prison. In his book, “More God, Less Crime,” he argues that faith communities can help address crime, offender rehabilitation and the aftercare programs that former prisoners need. Perhaps the best known such program is the Prison Fellowship, started in 1976 by Chuck Colson of Nixon and Watergate infamy after he served time in federal prison. The Protestant ministry –– with eager ministers and their own funding –– came to Texas prisons in 1997 and launched a program called InnerChange Freedom Initiative. In a January 2012 article in “Corrections Today” magazine, Johnson noted the success of the program. A study that took six years to

complete showed that prisoners who graduated from the IFI program had re-arrest rates of 17.3 percent compared to 50 percent for those who had not participated. Recidivism is a big problem, Deacon Dufour said. Prisoners do not have the skills necessary to live in society. Through their ministry, volunteers serve as mentors who model the positive behaviors they will need to participate in society. Deacon Dufour also works with prison guards on how to promote pro-social values based in mutual respect and effective communication. “That type of training needs to go all the way up the chain of command,” he said. Father Tom Chamberlain began his prison ministry in 1998 while a pastor in Taylor and continues doing so now as pastor at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Temple. “It’s a challenge,” he said. “Volunteers have to drive great distances. It’s time consuming. And it can be frustrating …” Even though volunteers make plans ahead of time, there can be last minute changes, which may mean they are turned away when they get to the prison to work with the inmates, he said. There may be a prison-wide lockdown or a unit may be locked down or maybe the person one is mentoring is not allowed out for an infraction.

Real changes But Father Chamberlain, who often goes monthly to the women’s units in Gatesville to offer Mass and hear confessions, said he has noticed one recurring issue: sexual abuse from their father gure or partner. “They also need consistency,” Father Chamberlain said. “They always ask, ‘are you going to be here next time?’ They haven’t had consistency in their lives.” He also said that most in-

mates are genuine in their desire to change. “Some real changes happen when they go to confession,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to develop a relationship with God.” Father Chris Downey, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove, said about half of his pool of 12 volunteers visit the Gatesville units once a month. That includes the Mountain View Unit, death row for women, including two Catholics. “There is always a long line for confession,” Father Downey said. The incarcerated people are “hungry” for spiritual nourishment, he said. He and his volunteers offer the sacraments and catechesis, including condensed versions of RCIA. Retreats are also offered. “Jesus told us on the last day how we are going to be judged,” he said. “If you love Jesus, you take care of the least of our brothers and sisters. They can’t come to us, so we have to go to them. We can’t witness if we don’t visit.” Father Downey said we need to remember that none of us deserve God’s mercy: it is a gift. “What’s the difference between us and them?” he asked. “We’re all sinners. But civil laws have put them in prison. But there are crimes that are not considered to be against civil laws that are sins in the eyes of God … There are many people in jail who are free interiorly and there are many people not in jail who are not free.” For information in criminal justice ministry at the diocesan level, call Deacon Doots Dufour at (512) 949-2462 or go to www. austindiocese.org/ofces-ministries/ofces/criminal-justiceofce. For information on the Texas Catholic Correctional Ministers, go to www.TxCCm.org.

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Advancing the new evangelization with social media BY ENEDELIA J. OBREGÓN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT As the global Catholic community welcomes Pope Francis, how do we use social media to continue the new evangelization of our families, parish, friends –– virtual and physical –– and the world? That was the challenge presented to the “Catholic nerds” at an unofcial South by Southwest Interactive workshop by Austin Catholic New Media (www.austincnm.com) on March 12 at St. Mary Cathedral in Austin. About 40 tech-savvy faithful heard from social media gurus about podcasting, Facebook, Twitter, blogging and other fairly new methods of communication. Workshop presenters included ACNM founders Jason Elizondo and Chris Williston, parishioners of St. Thomas More Parish in Austin, and Cristobal Almanza of St. William Parish in Round Rock, who is the site’s executive director and designer. They shared their challenges of

launching the website and writing about their faith in an increasingly secular world. They organized in October 2010 and had their website up by February 2011. “This thing was going to be about networking,” Elizondo said about contacting other Catholics through social media. “But the Holy Spirit took over.” The organization attracted other writers, including some Catholic moms who were blogging independently. He said that thanks to regular contributions from several talented writers, the pressure of writing daily posts has diminished and has enabled each writer to post every two weeks or so instead. Father Chris Decker, president and chairman of the board for Catholic Underground (catholicunderground.com) who also serves as co-host of the site’s weekly podcast, said that before taking on any method of social media the faithful rst have to discern their role in parish life, their talents and their personal mission. It also is very important to be knowledgeable about

church teachings and to be deeply grounded in catechesis, he said. Only through prayer and discernment can a person determine if God is calling one to a certain mission or if it’s just something one wants to do. “Just because I can do something doesn’t mean I should,” said Father Decker, who is a priest for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, La. “The hunger of my heart has to be in harmony with everything else. When it’s not, that’s what gets us into trouble.” Father Ryan Humphries, managing editor and panelist for Catholic Underground, said that as Catholics, we need to ask ourselves what we can do for the glory of God with the skills as well as the faults that God has given us. Catholics with social media skills can use their God-given talents to creatively evangelize and reach those people in the pews as well as those who are not at Mass on Sundays. “I’m sick and tired of what is not working in the church today,” said Father Humphries,

a priest of the Diocese of Alexandria, La. Instead of the negative, he focused on the thought that there might be new ways that do work. “Why not use social networking for prayer requests?” he suggested. “Imagine if the Catechism could be turned into three-minute YouTube videos?” Sometimes people get so excited about an idea that they jump in before praying and discerning. “You pray,” Father Humphries said. “If God says ‘wait,’ you have to be willing to be obedient to God. Don’t stop practicing your art.” Sometimes God wants the person or the idea to mature. Father Decker said there is a myth that the church is always behind the times in embracing new ideas or technology. “The church always discerns things prayerfully,” he said. “The church is always at the forefront, but is not always quick to use it. We always discern how it is to be used. That takes time.” Among those in attendance was Alex Martinez, business

administrator at Our Lady of Wisdom Parish at Texas State University in San Marcos. He said the parish uses Twitter and Facebook to reach as many people as possible about events happening. “We’re just trying to keep up,” Martinez said. “It’s easier to reach (college students) this way.” Martinez said their 700 “likes” on Facebook give them a very general idea of how many people have access to what they post. Martinez was there with fellow parishioner Kayla Urbanovsky, who serves as the parish communications director. She said trafc was increasing on the parish website (txstatecatholic.org) as well as on Twitter (@ olwisdomtxstate). “You can update every time you need to and people can easily share stuff about our parish,” she said. “That way they know what’s going on.” That’s a plus for the parish, which is on the edge of campus and where students are in and out throughout the day, she said.

him to read it to grow deeper in his faith. “I fell in love with the beauty of the faith. The teachings are coherent,” Deacon Cuba said. He explained that after reading the catechism, he “got really into being Catholic,” and wondered if God was calling him to the priesthood. Not knowing how to become a priest, he turned to the Internet, where a website advised him that most large cities have vocation directors. He decided to track down the one for Austin. At that time, Father David Konderla was the vocation director for the diocese. “He is a good model of a happy priest. His happiness was contagious. I saw the possibility of living such a happy life, and entered the seminary after high school,” Deacon Cuba said. In addition to the responsibilities of seminary life, Deacon Cuba served in the U.S. Navy Reserve for three years. He has traveled extensively, visiting Costa Rica, which he particularly enjoyed, most of western Europe, Canada and Korea. He even speaks some Korean. After ordination, Deacon Cuba looks forward to preaching and teaching, and believes that a priest has a great privilege and responsibility in serving people in times of joy and sorrow and through the sacraments. He also looks forward to the administrative responsibilities of the ofce,

and he admits that he is a bit unusual in that regard. Originally from Abia State in southeastern Nigeria, Deacon Augustine Ariwaodo, age 36, marvels that God’s plans for his life brought him to the Austin Diocese. He considers St. Elizabeth of Hungary in Pugerville his home parish. He is the son of Monica and Matthias, who is deceased. One of six children, Deacon Ariwaodo grew up in a devout Catholic family. He has a brother and sister living in Nigeria, a sister who is a nun with the Handmaids of the Holy Child of Jesus in the United Kingdom, and another brother in London. His sister, Joy, whose name Deacon Ariwaodo says described her disposition, died in a car accident in 2003. They had a close relationship, and he believes that her prayers in heaven have helped him on his journey toward the priesthood. He is hoping his mother and all his siblings will be able to attend his ordination. Deacon Ariwaodo’s father was a primary school teacher and assistant to his pastor. “I was surrounded by different priests and nuns. I just loved the way they served people. That’s what I wanted to do,” he said. Considering the priesthood at a young age, he was especially inuenced by the stories he heard about a deceased pastor, who was known for his sanctity and selfless service.

In 2005, he received a degree in theology from the Pontical Urban University in Rome, which was afliated with his seminary in Nigeria. In 2008, he came to the U.S. to attend a friend’s ordination, and was asked to continue as a seminarian for the Diocese of Savannah, Ga., studying at St. Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pa. Shortly afterwards, he transferred to the Austin Diocese, which now feels like home to him. He expressed his appreciation for the welcome and support he has received, and he is in the process of becoming an American citizen. Hoping to return these blessings, Deacon Ariwaodo said, “I want to be an inspiring presence, a good example, just like the priest I heard about. I want to help people realize that God is present in their midst. He loves them and is closer than they could ever imagine.” Deacon Ventura Alejandro (Alex) Caudillo, age 32, was born in Mexico and came to the U.S. when he was 15 with his parents, who sought better educational opportunities for their children. The youngest of 13 children, he is the son of José and Maria, who is deceased. He hopes that his father, who lives in Mexico, and most of his siblings will be able to attend his ordination. After arriving in the in U.S., Deacon Caudillo lived in Tyler for a short time, moved to Cali-

fornia, and then came to Waco in 1998. St. Francis on the Brazos is his home parish. He graduated from Midway High School, attended McLennan Community College and received a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Texas at Arlington. Deacon Caudillo had been away from the church for a period of time, and credits God, some powerful spiritual experiences and his search for meaning with bringing him back. He became very involved with parish life, serving as a lector, a member of the RCIA team and an extraordinary minister of holy Communion. He also visited the sick and was involved in retreats and the religious education program. He believes that three things led him to listen and respond to God’s call to the priesthood: he wanted to lead a life of meaning and purpose; others asked and encouraged him to consider becoming a priest; and nally, the example of a priest he knew transformed the idea of becoming a priest into the desire to become a priest. Deacon Caudillo praised the formation process with helping the seminarians discover what God calls them to do as priests. He said that he wants “to serve others, to be there when they have difficult times and need somebody to trust, and help them know that with God, there is something better in life.”

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mation technology for the city of Georgetown, as a part-time musician and performing in a chamber group. He entered the seminary in 2007. In addition to his studies and formation for the priesthood, seminary life also gave him the opportunity to improve his organ playing skills. Although his parents had a period of adjustment to Deacon Nolt’s conversion, today they are proud that he is dedicating his life to God as a priest. “My years of discernment and formation have impressed on me how much priestly formation is a family affair. It is humbling to receive the prayers of the Christian faithful during this time,” Deacon Nolt said. After ordination, he looks forward to being part of a parish family, serving them through Mass and the sacraments, and helping them in their times of need. Born and raised in Austin, Deacon Barry Cuba, age 27, considers St. Catherine of Siena his home parish. A graduate of James Bowie High School, he is the son of Karen Cuba, and has a younger sister. During his early high school years, Deacon Cuba worked in a grocery store and thought he might continue in a management career through the store chain. A friend gave him a copy of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church” and advised

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School community builds St. Joseph altar BY MARY P. WALKER SENIOR CORRESPONDENT St. Joseph Catholic School in Bryan was established in 1894. Under the inspiration of its patron saint, the school has a rich history of educating youth and serving the community. On March 19, the feast of St. Joseph, husband of Mary, the school community set out to honor him in a special way. After talking to parents and doing some research, secondary school principal Jennifer Pelletier learned about the Sicilian custom of building and decorating an altar in gratitude to St. Joseph for his love and generosity. With many Catholics of this heritage living in the Bryan/College Station area, she felt that creating a St. Joseph altar would be a communitybuilding experience that reinforced the classroom lessons. “It is vital in our culture that the students be steeped in all the traditions of the church. They need to have a solid foundation of traditions and experiences to turn to when their faith is challenged,” Pelletier said. The custom of the altar is believed to have originated in the 1500s in Sicily. After praying to St. Joseph for rain, farmers created a three-tiered altar in thanksgiving. Prayer, feasting and feeding the poor were part of the celebration. When families of Italian and Sicilian heritage came to the U.S., they brought this custom with them. Traditionally, the altar is draped in white and decorated with statues, confectionary masterpieces and owers. Figs, plentiful in Sicily, are used in large decorated cookies. Each cookie represents a saint or religious symbol and has a spiritual meaning. Every year, families in the Bryan/College Station area

sponsor altars, and the school drew from their expertise to build their own. With ambitious plans, the students, parents, faculty, staff and members of the community went to work. Spring break was the week before the feast day, and many took their time off to come back to school to help. The gym was the only area big enough to accommodate the construction of the altar, the feast day Mass, and the traditional meal following the Mass. Boy Scout Troop 383 led the effort to put protective covering on the oor and constructed the structure of the altar. Women with years of experience patiently taught a group of middle and high school girls how to make the traditional fig cookies. Mary Cash, one of these experts, has three generations of altar memories. Her grandmother, mother and other family members created altars. She wants to make sure the tradition continues and enjoyed passing on her knowledge to the students. The intricacy of

WITH THE ASSISTANCE of the community, the students, teachers and families of St. Joseph Catholic School in Bryan constructed a St. Joseph altar in the school gym. (Photos courtesy Patty Blaszak)

McCaffrey and Father Ryan Higdon blessed the altar and celebrated Mass. After Mass, the feasting began with rituals handed

The meal itself was a delicious spiritual meditation full of symbolism. Because the feast occurs during Lent, spaghetti with meatless sauce is

“It is vital in our culture that the students be steeped in all the traditions of the church. They need to have a solid foundation of traditions and experiences to turn to when their faith is challenged,” –– Jennifer Pelletier, principal of St. Joseph Catholic High School in Bryan

the cookies required the use of specially crafted tools. “They caught on so fast. They are very creative,” Cash said. Other volunteers donated homemade cookies, pastries and cakes to ll the altar. In addition to creating the altar, the school made a special effort to be spiritually prepared for the feast of St. Joseph. Prior to the feast, they made a nineweek novena to the saint, and prayed the rosary in Italian. On the feast day, Msgr. John

down for centuries. Three students, representing members of the Holy Family, processed through the gym, stopping and asking for food and shelter. They were refused at the rst two stops. On their third try, they were invited to sit at a table and were served a festive meal. Other students, each representing a particular saint, were also served. After the Holy Family and the saints ate, the rest of the students enjoyed their meal.

the traditional main course. Bread crumbs, representing the sawdust of St. Joseph’s work as a carpenter, are sprinkled on top. Hardboiled eggs, representing new life, are added to the plate. Students bearing trays of the homemade cakes, cookies and pastries circulated through the gym, making dessert the favorite part of the meal. Junior Ellie Lipscomb represented St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer patients.

This saint has special significance for her because her mother is undergoing cancer treatment. “It was an honor to be picked as a saint and know that the school is there for students going through difcult times. It showed that the school community will help us get through these challenges,” Lipscomb said. Pelletier believes the success of this year’s altar establishes it as a new tradition at the school. Freshmen Mary Starnes was one of the students who learned to make the g cookies, and she served desserts to her fellow students. “The altar was a good reminder to me that as Catholics we have to go out and serve the community. The experience of serving strengthened my relationship with other students, and helped build up the family atmosphere in the school,” Starnes said.

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May 2013

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College students spend spring break helping others BY MICHELE CHAN SANTOS CORRESPONDENT Most people associate college students on spring break with parties on the beach. But for hundreds of Catholic college students in the Austin Diocese, spring break this year meant volunteering on a mission trip in another state or country, helping those in need. Alison Tate, the diocesan director of Youth, Young Adults and Campus Ministry, said mission trips give students the opportunity to learn about the church, as well as justice and mercy on a different level. “When students travel on a mission trip, they get involved with justice they learn about in the Gospel and in Catholic social teaching. These immersive service experiences promote justice and peace and raise consciousness of social issues on campus and among their peers,” she said. Whether they were rebuilding tornado-ravaged neighborhoods in Joplin, Mo., serving the poor in Honduras, assisting kids at an inner-city elementary school in Chicago or building houses in Belize, the students devoted their time, hard work and energy to improving the lives of others. Many campuses throughout the diocese sent students to do good works; here is a sample of what some of them did.

Joplin On May 22, 2011, a tornado struck Joplin, killing 161 people and destroying a third of the city, including the high school and St. John’s Regional Medical Center (which are both being rebuilt). The tornado caused more than $2 billion in damage. Troy Menendez, a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in mechanical engineering and an intern at St. Mary Catholic Center AGGIES from St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station spent their Spring Break helping rebuild homes in Joplin, Mo. The town is still suffering from the effects of a tornado that ripped through nearly two years ago. (Photo courtesy of Troy Menendez)

in College Station, led a group of 10 students on a trip to Joplin. “We’ve been doing a domestic mission trip every year since Hurricane Katrina,” Menendez said. “We chose Joplin because the town is still very much recovering from the tornado.” For a week, the students volunteered with Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri, doing home repair and reconstruction. “In Joplin, there are a lot of empty lots with bare basements. We helped clean some of those up,” Menendez said. “Joplin is in a semi-forested area but where the tornado struck there is not a single tree. You can still see the path of the tornado.” The students enjoyed getting to know the people of Joplin. “It was wonderful how grateful the community was, how welcoming everyone was,” Menendez said. “People would come up to us all the time and thank us for being there. I think we all admired the resilience of the people in Joplin, how they have been able to persevere.”

Honduras Father Will Straten, the associate pastor at St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station, and Rachael Cadena, a campus minister at St. Mary, led a group of 13 to Honduras. “It was an evangelization mission,” Father Straten said. “In Honduras a lot of people live in the hills in small villages. The area we went to had only one priest, who oversees 100 village missions. Because there are so many, he only gets to them two times a year. We went to do little missions in those towns.” The volunteers from A&M and another group went into the remote mountain villages to give separate programs for children, youth and adults. Some of the topics were “What is Lent,” “How to Love

STUDENTS from St. Edward’s University in Austin volunteer with the Little Sisters of the Poor in Denver during their spring break. (Photo courtesy St. Edward’s University)

and Respect One Another,” and teaching the children praise and worship songs with hand motions. Some of the students spoke Spanish and there were translators for the other students. Father Straten stayed very busy celebrating the sacraments. Because the towns do not see a priest very often, he celebrated Mass and administered the sacrament of anointing of the sick many times. He took care of many baptisms and first Holy communions as well. The greatest spiritual lesson for the students was “the realization that even though they might not speak the language they could all speak the language of love. One of our students mentioned that. You could smile, sing, color, play with the children,” Father Straten said. “To realize that even with the language barrier and cultural barrier we are still one church.”

Eleven missions The Alternative Spring Break program at St. Edward’s University in Austin was very successful, sending a total of 105 St. Edward’s students, faculty, staff and alumni on 11 different service trips, held in locations across the country and in Canada.

Liza Manjarrez, assistant director of campus ministry at St. Edward’s, said the trips provide opportunities for students to practice their faith through service. “Our four pillars are doing justice, living simply, engaging spiritually and building community,” Manjarrez said. “For at least 10 years we’ve been engaged in service to different communities. In the last ve years the program has more than doubled in size.” The alternative spring break trips were Apache Awareness –– volunteering with the White Mountain Apache Tribe in White River, Ariz.; Border Experience –– working with local groups that assist immigrants in El Paso; Entertaining Angels –– helping at-risk youth in Los Angeles, Calif.; Gulf Coast Recovery –– helping with oil spill recovery in Louisiana; Homelessness and Hospitality –– working at Andre House, a shelter for the homeless in Phoenix, Ariz.; Hurricane Katrina Relief –– building homes with Habitat for Humanity in Biloxi, Miss.; Inner City Education –– tutoring and counseling at a school in New York City; Mile High Poverty –– assisting the homeless in Denver, Colo.; Poverty in Appalachia –– volunteering with nonprots to help in the poor in Appalachia; and Urban Immersion –– doing service at local agencies and a school in inner-city Chicago. The nal trip brought students to Montreal, Canada, to work at the L’Arche Community, an organization that assists adults with mental and physical disabilities. The trips have a genuine and deep impact on the students, Manjarrez said. She organizes the trips for St. Edward’s and went on the Apache Awareness trip this year. “It’s easy to talk about Catholic social teaching from the outside. It’s so different when we can put a face to that name,” she

said. “Now, when we talk about immigration, it’s not a faceless issue anymore. When we learn about people who are homeless, students have said, ‘I know their names and their stories and their story enriches my life.’” Continued Manjarrez, “We hope they can take the lessons they learn on the trip and apply them in other parts of their lives.”

Belize Nine students from the University Catholic Center at the University of Texas in Austin traveled to Belize City, Belize, to volunteer with Hand in Hand Ministries, an international organization that helps the poor. While many Americans think of Belize as a popular cruise destination, what they don’t realize is that 65 percent of Belize’s residents live in extreme poverty. “In Belize, Hand in Hand Ministries builds houses and volunteer groups do most of the labor,” said Lindsay Wilcox, a campus minister at the University Catholic Center. Wilcox organized the trip and accompanied the students. “We did a little bit of everything –– sawing lumber, roong, painting,” Wilcox said. The volunteers with Hand in Hand purchase materials for the home and help construct it. The recipients of the houses must provide proof of ownership of a piece of land, help with the building of their home and attend classes. In the last decade, more than 180 families who formerly were living in terrible conditions have received a decent home through this program. The UT students helped an older couple build their home, Wilcox said. Programs like the Spring Break Mission Trip “are very crucial to what we do,” Wilcox said. “The students travel and have some fun and go to new places, but they go to serve.”

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Boston cardinal urges for ‘civilization of love’ BY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Even though “the culture of death looms large” today, the light of Christ the Good Shepherd “can expel the darkness and illuminate for us a path that leads to life, to a civilization of solidarity and love,” said Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley. “I hope that the events of this past week have taught us how high the stakes are,” the cardinal told the congregation at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross April 21, referring to the Boston Marathon bombings April 15 and the subsequent manhunt for the perpetrators. “We must build a civilization of love, or there will be no civilization at all,” Cardinal O’Malley said in his homily at the Mass of the Good Shepherd, which he offered for the repose of the souls of those killed in the bombings and the aftermath. Prayers were also offered for those physically injured and “for the brave men and women who saved countless lives as rst responders.” The attack left three people dead and more than 170 people seriously injured. By April 18, the FBI had identied two brothers who came to the U.S. years ago as from the Russian region of Chechnya –– Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, and Dzhokar Tsarnaev, 19. The two men terrorized the Boston area overnight April 18. While they were on the run, they fatally shot Officer Sean Collier, who was

with the campus police force at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tamerlan was shot dead by police, and by the evening of April 19 they apprehended Dzhokar, whom they found hiding in a boat in a backyard. He was severely wounded and as of April 22 remained hospitalized in serious condition. In his homily, Cardinal O’Malley talked of how Jesus, before he was crucied, said: “They will strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter.” “That is what happened to his disciples after the Crucixion, as they scattered in fear, doubt and panic,” the cardinal said. “On Easter, the Good Shepherd returns to gather the scattered; Mary Magdalene in grief, Thomas in doubt, Peter in betrayal,” he continued. “We too are scattered and need the assurance of the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for us, who comes to gather us in our scattered in our brokenness and pain, scattered by failed marriages, lost employment, estranged children, illness, the death of a loved one, soured relationships, disappointments and frustrations.” When the bombings occurred and in the days that followed “we are all scattered by the pain and horror of the senseless violence perpetrated on Patriot’s Day,” Cardinal O’Malley said. He recalled that April 14, the Sunday before the marathon and the Massachusetts civic holiday on which it always takes place, the priest saying the 11:30 a.m. Mass at

AN EARLY MORNING runner pauses April 21 to say a prayer at a memorial to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings near the scene of the blasts on Boylston Street in Boston. (CNS photo by Jim Bourg, Reuters)

the cathedral “led a special blessing for the many runners who participated in the Mass.” A week later, the congregation included some of those injured in the attack and “those who witnessed the terrible events that unfolded at the finish line of the marathon,” Cardinal O’Malley said. “Everyone was profoundly affected by the wanton violence and destruction inicted upon our community by two young men unknown to all of us,” he said. “It is very difcult to understand what was going on in the young men’s minds, what demons were operative, what ideologies or politics or the perversion of their religion. It was amazing to witness, however, how much goodness and generosity were evidenced in our community as a result of the tragic events they perpetrated,” he added. In recent days, “we have

U.S. PRESIDENT Barack Obama talks to Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley of Boston during the “Healing Our City” interfaith memorial service April 18 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. (CNS photo by Brian Snyder, Reuters )

experienced a surge in civic awareness and sense of community,” Cardinal O’Malley said. “It has been inspiring to see the generous and at times heroic responses to the Patriot’s Day violence. “Our challenge is to keep this spirit of community alive going forward. As people of faith, we must commit ourselves to the task of community building.” He urged his listeners to heed what Jesus teaches in the Gospel –– “that we must care for each other, especially the most vulnerable; the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the foreigner; all have a special claim on our love.” “We must be a people of reconciliation, not revenge. The crimes of the two young men must not be the justication for prejudice against Muslims and against immigrants,” he emphasized. “The Gospel is the antidote to the ‘eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth’ mentality.” After Mass, when asked about the fate of suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev if found guilty of the bombings, Cardinal O’Malley told reporters the Catholic Church opposes the death penalty, “which I think is one further manifestation of the culture of death in our midst.” In his homily, he reminded his listeners of the parable of the good Samaritan, a story, he said, “about helping one’s neighbor when that neighbor was from an enemy tribe, a foreign religion, a hostile group.” “We know so little about the two young men who perpetrated these heinous acts of violence. One said he had no friends in this country, the other said his chief interests were money and his career,” Cardinal O’Malley

said. “People need to be part of a community to lead a fully human life. “As believers one of our tasks is to build community, to value people more than money or things, to recognize in each person a child of God, made in the image and likeness of our Creator.” He added, “The individualism and alienation of our age has spawned a culture of death. Over a million abortions a year is one indication of how human life has been devalued. Violent entertainment, lms and video games have coarsened us and made us more insensitive to the pain and suffering of others. “The inability of the Congress to enact laws that control access to automatic weapons is emblematic of the pathology of our violent culture.” He said “the innocent victims who perished this week –– Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi and Ofcer Sean Collier, will live in eternity.” “Life is not ended, merely changed –– that is the message of Easter. As (the Rev.) Martin Luther King expressed, ‘Death is a comma, not a period at the end of a sentence,’” Cardinal O’Malley said. A private funeral Mass for Krystle Campbell, 29, was celebrated the morning of April 22 at St. Joseph Church in Medford. At the request of the family, no media were allowed inside the church for the Mass. An overow crowd lled St. Ann Parish in Dorchester for the April 21 Mass to remember 8-year-old Martin Richard and where mourners prayed for his family and for the other victims of the bombings and their families.

IN OUR WORLD

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At ordination, pope says Jesus’ voice is unique BY CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Before ordaining 10 men to the priesthood, Pope Francis prayed privately with them in the sacristy and entrusted them to Mary’s care. The private moment April 21 was a repeat of a practice he began as bishop before celebrating an ordination Mass, according to Vatican Radio. The 10 new priests –– six Italians, two Indians, a Croatian and an Argentine –– had prepared for the priesthood in one of three Rome diocesan seminaries. Pope Francis’ homily, the Vatican said, was basically the text suggested for ordinations by the Italian bishops’ conference, although Pope Francis added personal remarks and observations as he delivered it. He told the new priests they would have “the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ the teacher. Impart to everyone the word of God which you have received with joy.” The pope, who frequently mentions the wisdom and lessons he learned from his grandmother, told the men, “Remember your mothers, your

grandmothers, your catechists, who gave you the word of God, the faith –– the gift of faith.” “Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe and that you practice what you teach,” he said. “Remember, too,” he added, “that the word of God is not your property; it is the word of God. And the church is the custodian of the word of God.” In looking at the pastoral and sacramental ministry the men will be called to carry out, Pope Francis told them to “never tire of being merciful” in gathering people into the church through baptism and forgiving sins in the name of Christ and the church. “You will comfort the sick and the elderly with holy oil,” he said. “Do not hesitate to show tenderness toward the elderly.” Pope Francis told the new priests to remember they are chosen from among the faithful and “appointed on their behalf for those things that pertain to God. Therefore, carry out the ministry of Christ the priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to your own concerns, but to those of Jesus Christ.” “You are pastors, not functionaries,” he told them. “Be

mediators, not intermediaries.” The ordinations are traditionally part of the pope’s celebration of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which takes place on the fourth Sunday of Easter each year when the Gospel reading presents Jesus as the good shepherd. Reciting the “Regina Coeli” prayer at midday with tens of thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis said the day’s Gospel says the sheep hear Jesus’ voice and follow him. “This is a beautiful parable.” “The mystery of the voice is striking; from the time we are in our mother’s womb we learn to recognize her voice and that of our dad,” he said. “From the tone of a voice we can perceive love or contempt, affection or coldness.” “The voice of Jesus is unique,” Pope Francis said. “If we learn to distinguish it, he will guide us on the path of life, a path that leads us even beyond the abyss of death.” The pope asked young peoPOPE FRANCIS embraces one of the 10 priests he ple to listen carefully for Jesus’ ordained in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican April 21. voice and to ask for help in dis(CNS photo by Paul Haring) cerning his call, his plan for their lives, and then have the courage began chanting the pope’s name the greeting,” he said. “But greet in Italian –– “Francesco.” Jesus, too. Shout ‘Jesus, Jesus’ to follow him. “Thank you very much for loudly.” Young people in the square

Pope: Jesus never disppoints, never deceives BY CINDY WOODEN CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Following Jesus isn’t complicated, but it may take courage and it always requires recognizing that human beings aren’t God, Pope Francis said in two of his morning Mass homilies. The pope celebrated Mass April 20 with volunteers who work at a Vatican pediatric clinic for immigrants and for the poor, and April 22 with

the staff of the Vatican press ofce. Both Masses were held in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, where the pope lives. “Sometimes we are tempted to be too much our own bosses and not humble children and servants of the Lord,” the pope said during the April 22 Mass, according to Vatican Radio. In the day’s Gospel reading (Jn 10:1-10), Jesus describes himself as the “gate for the sheep” and talks about

POPE FRANCIS gestures as he leaves his general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on April 10. (CNS photo by Paul Haring)

thieves and robbers who try to climb over or under the fence to get into the sheepfold. Pope Francis said there is a constant temptation to “nd other gates or windows for entering into the kingdom of God, but one can enter only through that gate called Jesus.” Even within the Christian community, he said, there are “climbers,” who want to give themselves glory or choose a path to happiness that isn’t Christ. “Some of you may say: ‘Father, you’re a fundamentalist!’ No, simply put, this is what Jesus said,” the pope told the congregation. Jesus is “a beautiful gate, a gate of love, a gate that does not deceive, is not false. He always tells the truth, but with tenderness and love.” The way to show that you have entered the fold through Christ, he said, is to be living examples of the beatitudes –– “be poor, be meek, be just” –– and “do what Matthew 25 says” by feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, caring for the sick and visiting prisoners.

Pope Francis asked the press ofce employees to join him in asking God for the grace to remember always to knock at the door that is Christ. “Sometimes it’s closed –– we’re sad, we feel desolation, we have trouble knocking,” he said. “Do not go looking for other doors that seem easier, more comfortable, closer.” “Jesus never disappoints,” the pope said. “Jesus never deceives.” Two days earlier, celebrating Mass with the pediatric clinic volunteers, Pope Francis spoke about “lukewarm Christians,” who –– consciously or not –– try to build a church to their own liking, demanding it measure up to their expectations rather than trying to live up to its expectations. The Acts of the Apostles (9:31) describes the early Christian community as walking “in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit,” which Pope Francis said means living with a sense of God’s presence and in adoration of the Lord. “When we are in the presence of God, we do not do

bad things or make bad decisions. We are in God’s sight with joy and happiness,” he said. “This is the security of the Holy Spirit, that is the gift that the Lord has given us –– this comfort –– that keeps us going.” The New Testament also talks about those who knew Jesus, followed him a bit and even admired him, but decided that what he was asking was just too much. They probably said to themselves, “We have good sense, don’t we?” the pope said. “Good-sense Christians” keep their distance, he said. They become “Christian satellites” orbiting around the church, but not part of it, not committed to growing in their faith or helping the church grow. “Let us pray for the church, that it will continue to grow, unite, walk in the fear of God and with the security of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “May the Lord deliver us from the temptation of that so-called ‘common sense,’ and from the temptation to grumble against Jesus because he is too demanding.”

IN OUR WORLD

May 2013

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Pope names cardinals to advise on Vatican reform BY FRANCIS X. ROCCA CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Amid rising concerns about corruption and mismanagement in the central administration of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis named an international panel of cardinals to advise him on the latest reform of the Vatican bureaucracy. The Vatican Secretariat of State announced April 13 that the pope had established the group –– which includes Boston Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley and Sydney Cardinal George Pell –– to “advise him in the government of the universal church and to study a plan for revising the apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia, ‘Pastor Bonus.’” “Pastor Bonus,” published in 1988, was the last major set of changes in the Roman Curia, the church’s central administration at the Vatican. It was largely an effort at streamlining by reassigning responsibilities among various ofces, rather than an extensive reform. Complaints about the shortcomings of Vatican governance increased markedly during 2012 following the “VatiLeaks” of

confidential correspondence providing evidence of corruption and mismanagement in various ofces of the Holy See and Vatican City State. That affair prompted a detailed internal report, which Pope Benedict XVI designated exclusively for the eyes of his successor. The College of Cardinals extensively discussed the problems in meetings preceding the conclave that elected Pope Francis last month. According to the April 13 Vatican statement, the suggestion for an advisory panel on reform arose during those meetings. Only one member of the new panel is a full-time Vatican ofcial: Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello, president of the commission governing Vatican City State. All of the others currently serve as diocesan bishops. The group’s coordinator is Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, who is also president of Caritas Internationalis, a Vatican-based umbrella organization for national Catholic charities around the globe. The other members are Cardinal Francisco Javier Errazuriz Ossa, retired archbishop of

JOE WOLF

Santiago, Chile; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, archbishop of Mumbai, India; Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, Germany; and Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya of Kinshasa, Congo. They will meet for the rst time Oct. 1-3, 2013, the Vatican statement said, but are “currently in contact” with Pope Francis. The panel’s membership represents ve continents, with the largest number –– three members –– coming from the Americas. Three members, more than any other linguistic group, hail from English-speaking countries (counting India). Two members are native speakers of Spanish. Only one member shares the Italian nationality of the majority of Vatican employees. Both Pope Paul VI and Blessed John Paul II also named international panels of cardinals

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to advise them on curial reform. A 1986 commission of six cardinals, whose recommendations contributed to “Pastor Bonus,” included two Italians, an Austrian, a Canadian, a Venezuelan and a Nigerian. All were serving as Vatican ofcials at the time. The 15-member Council of Cardinals for the Study of Organizational and Economic Problems of the Holy See, established in 1981, also contributed to the process that produced “Pastor Bonus.” It

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IN OUR WORLD Bishops: Immigration bill on right track, changes sought 14

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

BY PATRICIA ZAPOR CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Without getting into specifics, a panel of bishops said April 22 that a comprehensive immigration bill introduced the week before is on the right track, though they alluded to some aspects they would like changed. In a teleconference about the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013, or S. 744, Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York also said the fact that the men believed by police to be the Boston Marathon bombers were immigrants is “a terribly

unjust and completely irrational argument” for suggesting immigration reform shouldn’t happen. About the same time as the teleconference, the Senate held its second hearing on the bill, with tempers aring among Judiciary Committee members over comments by some senators linking the bombings with the immigration legislation. Cardinal Dolan, the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the connection is awed for several reasons. First, he said, it’s “illogical, unfair and unjust” to label an entire class of hardworking people because of the actions of a few. Second, he said, “good, solid, fair im-

PEOPLE RALLY for comprehensive immigration reform April 10 near the U.S. Capitol in Washington. (CNS photo/ Larry Downing, Reuters)

migration reform” would make enforcement of immigration laws easier, because there would be better records of who the immigrants already here are. “We’ve been through this before,” said the cardinal. “When the Irish came, there were people who said ‘we can’t let those Irish in because of those Molly Maguires.’” He explained that the Molly Maguires were “a tiny minority of Irish who did resort to violence.” The Molly Maguires were a secret society that operated in Ireland and the U.S. and were linked to a string of violent acts in the 19th century. “What a travesty it would have been,” to deny immigration to other Irish because of a small minority, said Cardinal Dolan, adding that the angle seems to have arisen because opponents of comprehensive immigration reform “will seize on anything.” Among concerns with the bill raised by Cardinal Dolan and two other bishops on the teleconference were: • That the requirements for undocumented immigrants to participate in a path to citizenship will leave many behind, said Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Migration. He said the period of time

the bill sets out for immigrants who are in the country illegally to get green cards and naturalize –– 13 years –– is too lengthy and the cutoff date for arrival –– Dec. 31, 2011 –– “leaves too many behind.” • The bill would end a system by which U.S. citizens may petition to bring in certain family members, including siblings. • It includes requirements for certain border security goals to be met before provisions allowing people to legalize their status can kick in. Salt Lake City Bishop John C. Wester, chairman of the Committee on Communications, said 10 years of ramped-up attention to border security hasn’t stemmed the tide of immigrants. Enforcement-only approaches “don’t work if they’re not balanced by humane policies,” said Bishop Wester. • The root causes of migration should be included in the bill. “When are we going to address the push factors, people escaping poverty,” asked Bishop Wester. He said attention must be paid to helping people stay in their home countries if they so choose. Bishop Wester said the way to ensure a good immigration

reform bill passes is to “get the human story out.” “Lots of folks intentionally give wrong and bad information,” said Bishop Wester, saying facts get skewed “to foment passion and discord.” Much antiimmigrant sentiment is grounded in fear, he added, and that fear is “is put there by people who have an agenda.” Cardinal Dolan, whose academic background is in American history, said there have often been spasms of anti-immigrant fervor in the U.S., which “at its roots, very often, is anti-Catholic vitriol.” He said he sees parallels between historic anti-Catholicism and anti-Muslim sentiment today. Cardinal Dolan said he recently met with some New York Muslim leaders who wanted to learn from the Catholic story of assimilation. “They were sincere in asking,” he said, “tell us how you did it. How did (Catholics) become respected as reliable American citizens without losing the elements of their faith?” Cardinal Dolan said Catholics should be called upon to keep their antennae up for prejudices against others that mirror the struggles Catholics have historically faced.

May 2013

GRADUATION 2013

A letter from Dr. Ned Vanders, Superintendent of Catholic Schools Dear 2013 Graduates, Bishop Joe S. Vásquez joins me and the Ofce of Catholic Schools staff in congratulating you on your graduation! The landmark day will soon be here when you receive your high school diploma. Without a doubt, you will have a host of family, teachers and friends sitting in the audience proudly watching and remembering, as if yesterday, the rst day of school and all the other memories that led up to this day. Most likely, you as well will be recalling moments of your past years, and in almost the same moment, you may be experiencing a little apprehension about going forward in this new chapter of your life. As you go forth, may you come to realize the gift of your days spent at a Catholic high school and come to a fuller appreciation of Winston Churchill’s quote, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” You leave high school with a strong foundation of the teachings of Jesus Christ and a belief that you can make a difference in the world. We are most grateful to your parents and guardians for entrusting you to us; and we pray that each of you is prepared with the faith and academic foundations to sustain you throughout your journey as you move forward to make your dreams reality. You will be greatly missed! However, it will not be too very long that you, like so many others before you, will return through our doorways, as alumni or parents, to contribute to the community and life of the Catholic school. May God bless each of you in the days ahead.

Ned F. Vanders, Ed.D. Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Austin

CONGRATULATIONS To the Class of 2013 Graduates of our six Catholic High Schools: Your achievement is a great milestone! Best wishes for the future and may God bless all your future endeavors. 2IÀFHRI&DWKROLF6FKRROVDQG'LRFHVDQ6FKRRO$GYLVRU\%RDUG

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GRADUATION 2013 St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in Austin 16

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Interim Principal: Dr. Joan Wagner Baccalaureate Mass: May 31 at 6 p.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin Graduation: June 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School Gymnasium

San Juan Diego Catholic High School in Austin Principal: Pam Jupe Baccalaureate Mass and Commencement Exercises: May 28 at 6 p.m. at San José Parish in Austin

Congratulations Class of 2013! May the Lord prepare for you a blessed future, guided by the Holy Spirit and strengthened in faith and love. Talk Radio for Catholic Life

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GRADUATION 2013 St. Joseph Catholic High School in Bryan

May 2013

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Principal: Jennifer Pelletier Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation: May 24 at 6 p.m. at Christ the Good Shepherd Chapel in Bryan

Reicher Catholic High School in Waco Principal: Deacon Jeff Heiple Baccalaureate Mass: May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Parish in Waco Graduation: May 18 at 5 p.m. at Waco Hall at Baylor University in Waco

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GRADUATION 2013 Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple 18

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Principal: Dr. Veronica Alonzo Baccalaureate Mass: May 23 at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Temple Graduation: June 1 at 2 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic High School Gymnasium in Temple

St. Michael’s Catholic Academy in Austin

Interim Principal: Dr. Michael Volonnino Baccalaureate Mass: May 31 at 7 p.m. at Emmaus Parish in Lakeway Graduation: June 1 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Edward’s University Convocation Center in Austin

GOOD NEWS

May 2013

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Bishops call for restrictions on payday lending BISHOP JOE S. VÁSQUEZ is the fth bishop of the Austin Diocese. He shepherds more than 530,000 Catholics in 25 Central Texas counties.

Editor: Over the last few years, you have taken a public stand to enforce restrictions on payday lenders in Austin and in our state. Tell us about this issue. Bishop Vásquez: Yes, last year I joined the effort of a variety of groups urging the Austin City Council to pass a city ordinance to limit where payday lenders could be located and how much money they could lend. Then recently I testied in the Texas Senate on behalf of the Texas Catholic Conference and the 15 Catholic dioceses in Texas in opposition to a bill that was voted out of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee which we believed did not go far enough –– and in some places was even worse than current law –– to regulate payday and auto title lending from the worst usurious practices and from further taking advantage of the poor. Fortunately, the efforts of the

Texas bishops, along with other advocates, to impose reasonable restrictions on the payday and auto title lending industry have been heeded. On the oor of the Texas Senate, a number of much stronger amendments were added to the bill to restrict the charging of high fees and even higher interest rates on short-term loans. In particular, the bill as it passed the Senate contained provisions that require fees be included in calculating the amount of debt to be imposed on borrowers as a percentage of their income; sets a 36 percent APR, sets a 180 day maximum term on all loans, with no renancing on multipayment loans and allows cities to enact local ordinances, like the one in Austin. Even better, the Chairman of the Senate Business and Commerce Committee, John Carona, accepted the amendments and publicly committed that he will hold to those changes in any negotiations with the House in conference committee. While CSSB 1247, as amended, is not perfect, it establishes a strong rst step toward regulating and containing these predatory lending practices. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where our advocacy efforts will continue to confront an intense and

well-nanced campaign by payday lenders and their lobbyists to ght any such restrictions. Regulation is needed because the exploitation of the poor is only getting worse. A proliferation of payday and auto title lending storefronts have ooded shopping centers and neighborhoods and we are bombarded by the radio and television commercials that promise “easy” and “same-day” cash to entice desperate families in need of help to pay for medical emergencies, groceries, rent or utilities. Instead of the promise of easy short-term loans, however, nancially vulnerable families get trapped in a continuous cycle of debt of fees and interest from which they cannot escape. When combined, these fees and interest often reach annual percentage rates (APR) of more than 500 percent, some have gone as high as 659 percent. According to industry data, Texans paid more than $23 per $100 borrowed for a 14- to 30-day loan –– nearly twice the cap of $10 to $15.50 per $100 that 17 other states require. In 15 other states –– and for certain military borrowers where the federal military rate cap is strictly enforced –– payday loans are capped at 36 percent APR. In Texas, payday lenders circumvent

BISHOP JOE VÁSQUEZ as well as several other Texas bishops and Catholics from across the state gathered at the State Capitol on April 9 for Catholic Advocacy Day. The bishops and the lay people visited with state representatives with one consistant message, defending the life and dignity of every person: born and unborn, citizen and undocumented, young and elderly, persons with or without disabilities. One particular issue that the Texas bishops and the Texas Catholic Conference have been working on during this legislative session involves more regulation on payday and auto title lenders. Through more regulation, the bishops hope to reduce the exploitation of the working poor who are often forced to take out high-interest payday loans to pay for basic necessities such as medicine, groceries or rent. (Photo by Christian R. González)

the federal 36 percent rate protection by offering military families loans more than 90-days. We are not looking to force these lending outts out of business. We are merely looking to rein in the more egregious practices of bad actors. We are committed to seeing a meaningful reform bill that improves the situation for borrowers in Texas. Editor: Why is this important to the Catholic Church? Bishop Vásquez: Our basic Christian principles require us to protect and defend the poor and vulnerable. Our parishes and Catholic Charities witness the high cost of being poor every day as we assist families forced into alarmingly high debt when they take out a payday or auto title loan to cover an unexpected expense. In the teachings of our faith we have many warnings about usury and exploitation of people. Lending practices that, intentionally or unintentionally, take unfair advantage of one’s desperate circumstances are unjust. Catholic social teaching demands respect for the dignity of persons, preferential concern for the poor and vulnerable, and the pursuit of the common good. These principles, coupled with our teaching on economic justice, underscore our questioning of current payday lending practices. Studies show that minority women are the most affected by these loans when struggling to make ends meet for their families, and whom are more likely to le for bankruptcy, experience eviction and defer medical care because they are in debt to payday lenders. These are the people on whose behalf we are called to speak out because often they have no voice, and we are called to defend the poor and vulnerable from practices that will ultimately undermine their human dignity. Editor: What is your prayer for this bill as it moves in the legislative process? Bishop Vásquez: My prayer is that our state legislators would modify this bill and take into account the testimonies that have been given by the Texas Catholic Conference, other religious groups and consumer protection organizations. We need restrictions on these payday lenders and auto title lenders in our state. I pray that we will focus on the needs of the poor and vulnerable throughout our communities, and that we will stand together to protect them from being used or mistreated, especially when it comes to usurious payday lenders and auto tile lenders. I pray that people will express their resolve to increase restrictions on payday lending.

GOOD NEWS

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Mary: A loving example of faith, motherhood BY LUPE GARCIA, LPC-S, LMFT-S COLUMNIST Motherhood is a beautiful blessing, but it certainly has its challenges. Whether a woman is a mother of one or seven, an adoptive mother, a foster mother, a single mother, a godmother, an aspiring mother, or a spiritual mother, she is not alone in her journey. There are other women on this rollercoaster of emotions –– from pure joy to frustration to utter exhaustion. We learn from each other, we encourage one another and we empathize with one another. We can also take great comfort in the arms of our Blessed Mother Mary. She is the perfect role model for each of us as women, no matter where we are in our lives or what circumstances surround us. She is our refuge and advocate, and she teaches us about faith and being open to God’s divine plan. There is a natural worry that comes with the huge responsibility that is motherhood. We fear the unknown, we doubt ourselves and we are not sure if we are “ready.” However, motherhood does not have to be so worrisome if we stop trying to control every situation and instead place our trust in God. Mary demonstrated her courage and faith in God when she opened herself to God’s will. Hers was an unconventional pregnancy that had severe

consequences in her life, and yet she accepted it with an open heart. Accepting God’s will when it is not what we had planned is very difcult. No matter how children come into our lives, we have to trust that God has a plan for us and for them. Maybe a couple is not in the best nancial situation to have a child. Perhaps a woman is not married and has no idea how she will support herself and a child. Sometimes children come pre-packaged as an instant inherited family after a sibling passes away. Like Mary, we must remember that God has a plan and we need to trust in that plan and in him. We all have our hopes and dreams for our children, siblings, nieces, nephews, godchildren and grandchildren. It is certainly necessary for us to be supportive and loving yet set limits for our children. There are also times when we have to allow them the opportunity to grow into their own person and establish their own relationships. There comes a point where we have to let them think for themselves and make their own

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decisions. We can assume that Mary had at least a small personal desire to have her son just be a normal carpenter and not have to suffer and give up his life for us. However, she had the courage to put him and others before her own desires. When his time came, she moved out of the way and let Jesus go to work in his public ministry. Mary teaches us to be loving and compassionate, but also gives us an example of how to detach out of love. The most difcult yet essential lesson that Mary teaches us is her willingness to accept suffering. From the very beginning of her open “Yes” to God, she prepared herself to whatever was to come. Now, this is undoubtedly easier said than done for anyone, but she showed us that it is possible to go through agony and still remain faithful. There are few things in this world that are more painful than losing a child or watching one’s child suffer. This type of heartbreak is so personal that sometimes even sharing experiences with others who are going through it is not comforting.

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LUPE GARCIA is a licensed counselor and the director of the diocesan Office of Family Life and Family Counseling. She can be contacted at (512) 949-2495 or lupe-garcia@ austindiocese.org.

“I liked this trip so much, I’m going back!”

“Autumn Leaves” Tour Visits Historic East 14 Days

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Mother Mary exemplied the strength and courage it takes to move forward with heartbreak by relying on God’s mercy and the help of others. Mary was with Jesus at the foot of the cross, and she surrounded herself with the disciples as they tried to understand Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. In this time of confusion and grief, she relied on her family and friends –– Joseph, Mary Magdalene, the disciples whom she then viewed as her children. When we suffer such immense pain in our lives, we may be tempted to isolate ourselves, but we must remember to turn to our loved ones and let them help us deal with our pain, just as Mary did after Jesus’ death. In this month of May, let’s pray that we become more like our mother Mary, who is the epitome of motherhood. May we delve into the Gospels and learn more about Mary and her sacred motherhood to Jesus and the church. May we always turn to her for consolation in our journey as women and mothers of faith.

from

$1539*

Depart September 27, 2013 Mass Included Some Days Your Chaplain, Father Daniel Gerres, Senior Priest at St. Elizabeth’s Church in Wilmington, DE, this will be Fr. Gerres second time as chaplain on this YMT New England Tour.

Niagara Falls

Arrive in the birthplace of our Nation, Philadelphia and enjoy a sightseeing tour. Then your scenic journey begins offering spectacular and colorful vistas through Amish Country to Gettysburg where you will see the most important battlefield of the Civil War. Travel north with a stop at the Corning Museum of Glass into Ontario and aweinspiring Niagara Falls for two nights! Then head back to upstate New York where you will board a cruise through the 1000 Islands. Next, drive through the six-million-acre civilized wilderness of the Adirondack region, with a stop in Lake Placid and then into the forest area of New England: The White Mountains, including Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, then view the incredible waterfalls at Flume Gorge and enjoy a trip on the Cannon Aerial Tramway. Next drive along the New England coast to Boston, with a city tour and visit Cape Cod, exploring Chatham and Provincetown with coastal scenery and village shops. View the gorgeous Mansions of Newport, Rhode Island en route to Bridgeport, Connecticut and tour New York City seeing all the major sights of the “Big Apple.” *Price per person/double occupancy. Add $159 tax, service & gov’t fees. Airfare is extra.

*Interest rates are subject to change. Minimum guaranteed rate is 1.50% . ome ce an ntonio e as.  .1

For details, itinerary, reservations & letter from YMT’s chaplain with his phone number call 7 days a week:

1-800-736-7300

May 2013

GOOD NEWS

21

Now is the time to take better care of the Earth BY BURNIE COOK COLUMNIST Welcome to Passage of Green, a quarterly column that will focus on environmental issues and how they relate to our faith. I am Burnie Cook, a Catholic currently living in Austin and an advocate for our environment and the arts. From a young age, I felt that the planet needs our attention. My parents can attest –– I had a special quote by Charles F. Kettering hung in my room: “We should all be concerned about the future because we will have to live the rest of our lives there.” My attention turned even more so to environmental concerns as I worked for a commercial and industrial roong company that had a focus on being “green” and improving energy-efciency and sustainability. Our Catholic faith calls us to be good stewards of this beautiful planet that God has blessed us with. In the grand scheme of things, we only call this earth “home” on a temporary basis. Our true home will be in Heaven with Our Lord and Savior. However, while we are here on this earth, we have a certain re-

sponsibility to take care of it. Marty Haugen’s song “Eye Has Not Seen” in verse two poetically reminds us: “Our lives are but a single breath, we ower and we fade, yet all our days are in your hands, so we return in love what love has made.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote a pastoral statement in 1991 entitled “Renewing the Earth.” I encourage everyone to read or reread the statement as it discusses the need for us to take better care of our planet in light of Catholic social teaching. “A distinctively Catholic contribution to contemporary environmental awareness arises from our understanding of human beings as part of nature, although not limited to it. Catholics look to nature, in natural theology, for indications of God’s existence and purpose. In elaborating a natural moral law, we look to natural processes themselves for norms for human behavior. With such limits in mind, Pope John Paul II in “Centesimus Annus” urged that in addition to protecting natural systems and other species, we “safeguard the moral conditions for an authentic ‘human ecology’” in urban planning, work environments, and

family life (“Centesimus Annus,” 38). Nature is not, in Catholic teaching, merely a eld to exploit at will or a museum piece to be preserved at all costs. We are not gods, but stewards of the earth,” the bishops wrote in the statement. As stewards of the earth and especially in this month of May, I encourage everyone to spend some time in prayer with our Mother Mary. Let us pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother that she will help us to understand how we can take better care of our other mother, Mother Nature! Let us work on reducing, recycling and reusing things in our daily lives. For many being “green” is considered a passing fad, but the statistics don’t lie. If we don’t make very specific changes and take better care of the earth, our children and grandchildren will suffer. There are so many small things that can be done to better the environment. Reusable shopping bags help us to reduce the amount of pollution that plastic shopping bags cause. The city of Austin has banned plastic bags, which I applaud. It would be nice to see restaurants follow suit and

reduce the use of Styrofoam cups and take-out plates. As I go forth with this column, I will discuss some of the small steps that we can take and some of the large steps that we can take to be better stewards of the environment. Some of the resources I will be using include “The Environment” by Pope Benedict XVI and “Green Discipleship: Catholic Theological Ethics and the Environment” edited by Tobias Winright. In closing, let us seek the intercession of our Mother Mary and St. Francis of Assisi as we undertake the challenge to take better care of the Earth. BURNIE COOK and his wife Maggie are parishioners of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin. He enjoys spending time with family and friends. Aside from the environment, his other passions include marketing communications, lm, music and the arts. Look for “Passage of Green” on Facebook and Twitter.

Travel with Fr. Tom & Other Catholics!

Spain Pilgrimage Plus Fatima, Portugal & Lourdes, France

14 Days

from

$2099*

Depart September 24, 2013

Fatima Cathedral

Fly into Madrid (2 nights) to start your Catholic Pilgrimage. You’ll tour Madrid, the Royal Palace, and the Toledo Cathedral. Visit Segovia and Avila (1 night) with private Mass at St. Theresa Convent. Visit the Old and New Cathedrals in Salamanca with Mass; and Fatima, Portugal (2 nights) with sightseeing, time for personal devotions and Mass at Our Lady of Fatima Basilica. Experience Sunday Mass and tour at Bom Jesus Church and Shrine in Braga and tour Santiago de Compostela (2 nights) and visit sanctuaries, Bernadette’s House and Celebrate Mass at Chapel Lourdes - at the Grotto. Sightsee in Barcelona (2 nights) including the Cathedral, choir and Mass. Fly home Monday, October 7, 2013. Includes daily breakfast and 11 dinners, English/Spanish speaking tour director throughout! Your YMT chaplain: Father Thomas Westhoven, SCJ, from Franklin, WI. This will be Father Tom’s third European Pilgrimage with YMT Vacations. Single room add $650.

*Price per person based on double occupancy. Plus $299 tax, services & gov’t fees. Airfare is extra. For details, itinerary, reservations & letter from YMT’s chaplain with his phone number call 7 days a week:

1-800-736-7300

GOOD NEWS

22

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Catholic Campaign for Human Development The special collection for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development was taken up Nov. 17-18. If your parish nds an error, call the diocesan Finance Ofce at (512) 949-2400. For more information about this collection, visit www.usccb.org/about/catholic-campaign-for-human-development/collection/. Parish

Totals

Parish

Totals

Parish

Totals

Austin Central Deanery Austin, Cristo Rey $1,152.62 Austin, Our Lady of Guadalupe $1,031.73 Austin, St. Austin $2,553.03 Austin, St. Ignatius $3,218.42 Austin, St. Julia $378.11 Austin, St. Mary Cathedral $2,044.56 Austin, San Jose $1,910.50 Austin, University Catholic Center $20.00 Austin Central Deanery Totals $12,308.97

Ellinger/Hostyn Hill, St. Mary $273.00 Fayetteville, St. John $693.06 Giddings, St. Margaret $1,046.00 La Grange, Sacred Heart $1,299.05 Lexington, Holy Family $116.00 Old Washington on the Brazos, St. Mary $25.00 Pin Oak, St. Mary $128.00 Rockdale, St. Joseph $415.77 Somerville, St. Ann $373.59 Brenham/La Grange Deanery Totals $7,728.12

Georgetown, St. Helen $5,747.46 Granger, Sts. Cyril and Methodius $1,006.00 Hutto, St. Patrick $311.00 Manor, St. Joseph $457.30 Pugerville, St. Elizabeth $1,362.00 Round Rock, St. John Vianney $1,919.61 Round Rock, St. William $9,388.70 Taylor, Our Lady of Guadalupe $370.10 Taylor, St. Mary of the Assumption $1,211.48 Georgetown/Round Rock Deanery $24,181.53

Austin North Deanery Austin, Holy Vietnamese Martyrs $1,700.00 Austin, Sacred Heart $2,272.50 Austin, St. Albert the Great $3,195.00 Austin, St. Louis $2,759.84 Austin, St. Theresa $2,475.00 Austin, St. Thomas More $5,081.42 Austin, St. Vincent de Paul $1,692.21 Cedar Park, St. Margaret Mary $3,363.75 Lago Vista, Our Lady of the Lake $1,017.00 Austin North Deanery Totals $23,556.72

Bastrop/Lockhart Deanery Bastrop, Ascension $1,407.38 Elgin, Sacred Heart $694.14 Lockhart, St. Mary of the Visitation $2,385.92 Luling, St. John $642.81 Martindale, Immaculate Heart $416.00 Rockne, Sacred Heart $1,029.00 Smithville, St. Paul $783.00 String Prairie, Assumption $470.00 Uhland, St.Michael $378.28 Bastrop/Lockhart Deanery Totals $8,206.53

Austin South Deanery Austin, Our Lady of Sorrows (Dolores) $792.00 Austin, St. Andrew Kim $249.00 Austin, St. Catherine of Siena $4,390.52 Austin, St. John Neumann $4,516.98 Austin, St. Paul $3,411.81 Austin, St. Peter the Apostle $1,164.00 Austin, San Francisco Javier $273.00 Lakeway, Emmaus $1,769.00 Austin South Deanery Totals $16,566.31

Bryan/College Station Deanery Bremond, St. Mary $460.00 Bryan, St. Anthony $954.00 Bryan, St. Joseph $925.00 Bryan, Santa Teresa $148.00 Caldwell, St. Mary $231.00 College Station, St. Mary $1,332.52 College Station, St. Thomas Aquinas $2,390.14 Franklin, St. Francis of Assisi $302.75 Hearne, St. Mary $434.50 Bryan/College Station Deanery Totals $7,177.91

Killeen/Temple Deanery Belton, Christ the King $2,261.00 Burlington, St. Michael $182.00 Cameron, St. Monica $302.00 Copperas Cove, Holy Family $3,049.00 Cyclone, St. Joseph $214.00 Harker Heights, St. Paul Ch. Hasang $3,005.00 Killeen, St. Joseph $2,468.00 Marak, Sts. Cyril and Methodius $198.00 Rogers, St. Matthew $293.00 Rosebud, St. Ann $227.00 Salado, St. Stephen $468.00 Temple, Our Lady of Guadalupe $693.00 Temple, St. Luke $2,073.00 Temple, St. Mary $1,809.55 Westphalia, Visitation $567.00 Killeen/Temple Deanery Totals $17,809.55

Brenham/La Grange Deanery Brenham, St. Mary $2,732.65 Chappell Hill, St. Stanislaus $404.00 Dime Box, St. Joseph $222.00

Georgetown/Round Rock Deanery Andice, Santa Rosa $1,272.38 Corn Hill, Holy Trinity $1,135.50

Thank you!

Lampasas/Marble Falls Deanery Bertram, Holy Cross $98.65 Burnet, Our Mother of Sorrows $448.96 Goldthwaite, St. Peter $102.00 Horseshoe Bay, St. Paul the Apostle $1,312.50 Kingsland, St. Charles Borromeo $397.26 Lampasas, St. Mary $574.72 Llano, Holy Trinity $299.30 Lometa, Good Shepherd $155.00

Parish

Totals

Marble Falls, St. John $542.00 Mason, St. Joseph $242.27 Sunrise Beach, Our Lady of the Lake $164.00 Lampasas/Marble Falls Deanery Totals $4,336.66 San Marcos Deanery Blanco, St. Ferdinand $340.68 Buda, Santa Cruz $4,490.77 Dripping Springs, St. Martin de Porres $931.60 Johnson City, Good Shepherd $227.00 Kyle, St. Anthony Marie de Claret $2,092.36 San Marcos, Our Lady of Wisdom $206.00 San Marcos, St. John $2,597.00 Wimberley, St. Mary $1,054.02 San Marcos Deanery Totals $11,939.43 Waco Deanery Elk, St. Joseph Gatesville, Our Lady of Lourdes Hamilton, St. Thomas Lott, Sacred Heart McGregor, St. Eugene Marlin, St. Joseph Mexia, St. Mary Tours, St. Martin Waco, Sacred Heart Waco, St. Francis on the Brazos Waco (Hewitt), St. Jerome Waco, St. John the Baptist Waco (Bellmead), St. Joseph Waco, St. Louis Waco, St. Mary of the Assumption Waco, St. Peter Catholic Center West, Church of the Assumption Waco Deanery Totals Grand Totals

$260.00 $251.34 $153.00 $177.00 $28.00 $98.75 $462.31 $585.00 $400.00 $597.10 $2,230.19 $75.00 $991.83 $3,813.05 $812.85 $236.08 $764.00 $11,935.50

$145,747.23

to our sponsors at the Catholic Charities 7th Annual Benefit featuring Lou Holtz. Partner in Charity

Presenting Sponsors

Scanlan Foundation

Strake Foundation

Partner in Unity

Donald West Bennett

Cheryl and John Sauder

Partner in Faith

Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin

Dr. and Mrs. John Schneider

Mr. and Mrs. Mike L. Owens

J.R. Schneider Construction & the Kim and John Mansour Family

Giselle and Steve Rohleder

Terri and Chris Von Dohlen

Media Partners

1379 Family Sports Shop Lindsay and Mike Rosenthal Alliance Tech - in honor of Howard Blackwood Lisa and Chris Ameel The Beathard Family Ben E. Keith Beverages Molly and Paul Benson Pamela and Tom Bernhardt Laura and Steve Beuerlein Shannon and Paul Cameron & Christy and Chris Merritt In memory of Fr. Philip Chung-Jin & Mary Agnes Kim - Susan and Eric Shaffer Ann and Joe Daly & Mary and Jerry Bell Kelley and Tom Daniel Mary and Charles Dickerson & Catherine and Kevin Morse DuBois, Bryant & Campbell, LLP Kathleen and Chris Earthman Leah and John Esparza & Keili and Ted Smith Fans of Notre Dame Nina and John Faulkner Ann and Tim Finley The Frederick Gisevius Family Foundation Debra and John Gilluly Hartford Mutual Funds Erika and John D. Holmes

Kristin and Tony Holt & Robyn and Will Waldrip Imagecraft Exhibits Jackson, Kivlin and Wilson Families Corey Jackson and Melissa Cady The John G. and Marie Stella Kenedy Memorial Foundation Michael Johnson Kerri Kallus Ladies of Charity, Lake Travis Kirsten and Scott Luke Joi and Rich Martin Shannon and Terry McDaniel Audrey and Lou Munin Suzanne and Reagan Nash Mary and Will Pitts St. Austin’s Eagles Fans St. Austin’s Catholic School St. Michael’s Catholic Academy St. Vincent de Paul Stores of Central Texas Kitty and Robert Tunmire Sonia and Walter Wendlandt Laura and David Wieland

May 2013

GOOD NEWS

23

Religious women taught, served the poor BY MARY LOU GIBSON COLUMNIST There were some radical new ideas in education being introduced in the early years of the 19th century by two remarkable women – Karolina (Caroline) Gerhardinger of Bavaria and Magdalena Gabriela di Canossa of Verona, Italy. The religious congregations they founded broke new ground in how teachers were trained, how education was made more available to the rural poor and how women governed their own congregations. Karolina was born in Regensburg, Bavaria in 1797 and was educated by the Canonesses of Our Lady. She went on to become a teacher at their school. This experience led her to form a congregation of teachers to educate the poor, especially the rural poor. She wrote a Rule for this new congregation based on that of the Canonesses of Our Lady and made her religious profession taking the name of MaryTeresa. Because of her devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, she later came to be known as Mary-Teresa of Jesus. Mother Teresa became superior and established a mother house in Munich in 1837. Paul Burns writes in “Butler’s Lives of the Saints” that as the congregation grew, it took the name of the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Within 10 years, there were more than 50 houses in Bavaria. Burns writes that the Congregation’s purpose was to provide sisters to work in pairs in rural schools. Sarah Gallick writes in “The Big Book of Women Saints” that the sisters lived in groups of two or three. Mother Teresa

created a unifying central government designed to maintain a common spirit among the religious women. The new bishop did not appreciate these innovations and threatened to excommunicate her, but she persevered. When the congregation’s constitution was approved by Pope Pius IX in 1865, it allowed Mother Teresa and her successors, rather than local bishops, to govern the congregation. In 1847 Mother Teresa took three sisters to Pennsylvania answering a call from German emigrants. However, the local bishop did not welcome them, so the group traveled to Baltimore where they staffed schools founded by Father John Nepomucene Neumann. Later the sisters extended their mission to health and social care to serve Czech immigrant communities. The Congregation provided homes and night school for basic education for girls working in factories. They also started the rst kindergartens and the rst technical high schools in Bavaria. The Holy See approved the Congregation in 1854. It was also called the Poor School Sisters of Notre Dame at the time. By the time of her death in 1879, Mother Teresa had spent 46 years of her life in religious service. She was beatied by Pope John Paul II in 1985 and her memorial day is variously listed as May 8 or 10. Today, the School Sisters of Notre Dame are organized in seven provinces in the U.S. They are involved in teaching, health care and social services, and work as prison chaplains and spiritual directors. There are sisters working in South and Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacic Islands. Magdalena of Canossa was born in 1774 into a wealthy family in Verona,

Italy. Her father was the Marquis Ottavio of Canossa and her mother, Maria Teresa, was a lady in waiting to the court in Vienna. Her family status suddenly changed when her father died when she was ve. After a period of mourning, her mother remarried and left Magdalena and her three siblings in the care of their uncle Jerome. Editor Michael Walsh writes in “Butler’s Lives of the Saints” that the children suffered much from the harshness of a French governess during this time. As a young teenager, Magdalena thought of becoming a Carmelite nun and briey entered the convent, but left after a short time to come back to the family estate, which she began to manage at age 19. Yet she nourished a dream of dedicating herself to charity and did what she could to help poor girls in Verona. Matthew Bunson writes in “John Paul II’s Book of Saints” that by 1803, Magdalena was free of the affairs of the estate and began her apostolate of providing an education for every young boy or girl. Encouraged by her spiritual director, she began working in hospitals, giving alms, instructing people in the catechism and visiting the sick and destitute. Her relatives were horried, but she only did more charity even lodging two poor girls in her own home and opening a refuge and school in the poorest part of the city. She opened her rst school in 1808 with classes for girls in practical subjects as well as numbers and literacy. As her teaching and religious life unfolded, she organized her group into the Daughters of Charity in 1819. The members were dedicated to establishing schools, training teachers for rural areas and supporting women patients in the hospital.

Magdalena also opened high schools and colleges and made special provision for deaf and dumb students. She received papal approval for her congregation in 1828. Today, they are known as the Canossian Daughters of Charity. In 1831 she founded the Institute of the Sons of Charity and later a Third Order for lay people. Magdalena developed great powers of recollection and prayer in her spiritual life. There were reports of her enveloped in ecstasy on several occasions and once she was seen to be lifted from the ground. She tried to describe her mystical experiences in her Memoirs. Burns noted that she had a special devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows and that she saw Mary as “mother of charity” and constantly put that image before her Sisters. She also saw the crucied Christ in the poor, the sick and the suffering. Towards the end of her life she suffered from a painful back ailment and could only sleep sitting up. She died on April 10, 1835, in Verona. She was declared Blessed in 1941 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988. Her feast day is sometimes kept on April 10, the day of her death, but more often is listed as May 8. Today, the Canossian Daughters of Charity number more than 4,000 sisters working in 21 countries. The men’s Institute has 200 priests and lay brothers in Italy, Brazil and the Philippines. MARY LOU GIBSON is a member of St. Austin Parish in Austin. She is a retired state employee.

Are you interested in working for the Diocese of Austin, Catholic Charities of Central Texas or a local parish or Catholic school? If so, visit www.austindiocese.org.

Abortion in your past?

1-877-WeCare2 1 - 8 7 7 - 9 3 2-2 7 3 2

[email protected] www.austindiocese.org/projectrachel

To advertise, call (512) 949-2443.

24

GOOD NEWS

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

Peace is possible with the help of God BY BARBARA BUDDE COLUMNIST “So this is the invitation which I address to everyone: Let us accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection! Let us be renewed by God’s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of his love to transform our lives too; and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation and make justice and peace ourish. And so we ask the risen Jesus, who turns death into life, to change hatred into love, vengeance into forgiveness, war into peace. Yes, Christ is our peace, and through him we implore peace for all the world” (Pope Francis, “Urbi et Orbi” address on Easter Morning). In his Easter message to Rome and the world, Pope Francis asked us to pray for peace in all the places where war and violence are raging or threatening to break out: the Middle East, Africa and Asia. We may think that the pope’s words are nice but impossible. How can there ever be peace? We may

wonder how is resurrection possible in this crazy world? We are in the midst of the great season of Easter when we celebrate God’s triumph over sin, death, evil and violence. Peace is possible because God wills it, but we must cooperate with God by wanting it, working for it and praying for it. The Gospels are lled with stories of Jesus forgiving sinners, even those who killed him. There are no stories of Jesus acting violently towards others ever! Sure, Jesus got angry at the merchants and money changers in the temple, but he overturned tables, he never struck another person and he rebuked Peter for turning to violence. After the Resurrection, Jesus appeared to the demoralized and terried disciples and spoke these words, “Peace be with you.” He breathed his spirit of peace and forgiveness on them sending them out to proclaim God’s peace and forgiveness to the world. For four centuries the early Christian community rejected violence. Only at the end of the fourth century did St. Augustine articulate narrow parameters when Christians could defend them-

selves against aggressors, but only with sorrow and under strict limits. So in this age when terrorism and nuclear threats loom large, what are we to do? Pope John Paul, who saw violence and suffered it at the hands of the Nazis gave this exhortation in his World Day of Peace message of 2004: “All of you, hear the humble appeal of the Successor of Peter who cries out: today too, at the beginning of the New Year 2004, peace remains possible. And if peace is possible, it is also a duty!” Peace will remain impossible if we believe it to be. The early Christians were no different from us, their world and their hearts were just as violent, but they believed that our God who changes hearts, who forgives sins and who saves the world could act in their lives. God is here to help us and God wants to help us. We must stop thinking it is impossible; we must let God help us. Peace starts with our own conversion. We must practice seeing everyone as God’s beloved child, pray for every enemy, seek God’s grace to transform violent thoughts or words before they

become violent actions, pray for peace, and avoid television programs, movies and video games that are violent or glorify violence. Pax Christi, the Catholic peace movement, founded in the war-torn ruins of Europe in 1945, has many resources for peacemaking. Visit their webpage at www.paxchristiusa.org for information on peacemaking, books, prayer cards and more. The Institute for Peace and Justice in St. Louis, Mo., has been producing materials for families and children for more than 30 years. Visit their website at www.ipj-ppj.org. May we take Pope Francis’ words to heart and accept the grace of Christ’s Resurrection. That grace can transform us so that we can be God’s agents in bringing about a world of peace. With God all things are possible! BARBARA BUDDE is the diocesan director of social concerns. She can be reached at (512) 949-2471 or barbara-budde@ austindiocese.org.

DNR orders should be considered case-by-case BY REV. TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK, PH.D. COLUMNIST Resuscitating a patient who undergoes a cardiac arrest or stops breathing often involves multiple procedures. When a resuscitation “Code Blue” is called in the hospital (or on a TV show), something like a medical “ash mob” comes together to try to save the patient. The sequence of events typically involves a combination of CPR, airway assistance, medications and shocks to the heart when the resuscitation is performed in a clinical setting. Sometimes these interventions can seem unwarranted or extreme, and people wonder whether it would be OK to ll out a “Do Not Resuscitate” order (DNR) for themselves or for a family member. Would declining permission to resuscitate someone mean they are abandoning their loved one? Each crisis or emergency situation will have unique contours, and the question of our moral duty to provide resuscitation will vary with the details of each case. Sometimes a DNR order will be a reasonable choice; other times it will not. If a DNR order is chosen, the condition of the patient must be such that the intervention would be of no signicant benet to him or her. Sometimes out of a generalized fear of medical technology, people may decide to put

a DNR in place many years before any serious medical situation arises. Without knowing the medical particulars of their own future situations, however, this would be an unwise and ill-advised step. It can also be premature to decline a full code early in the course of a progressive disease, as resuscitation might well offer a bridge to healing or to another extended period of life. As the patient’s condition worsens, though, he or she may later decide that a full code has become unreasonable, and choose a DNR at that point. These judgments are tricky to make, because the specics of each case differ, and those specics change with time and disease progression. DNR’s should be put in place only when the circumstances warrant it, that is to say, on a case-by-case, patient-specic basis. In other words, when CPR/resuscitation can reasonably be determined to no longer offer a hope of benet to the patient or if it entails an excessive burden to him, at that time a DNR can be put into place. Some of the possible burdens that may need to be considered in deciding whether to pursue resuscitative interventions for a patient would include some of the following: the risk of rib or other bone fractures, puncture of the lungs by a broken bone (or from the trauma of lung compression and decompression), bleeding in the center of the chest, cerebral dysfunction or permanent brain damage, the small risk (about 3 or 4

percent) that the patient might end up entering a vegetative state, and subsequent complications if the patient ends up staying on a ventilator for an extended period following the resuscitation. During resuscitative efforts, elderly patients are more likely to experience complications or to have ribs break during CPR. Younger patients, on the other hand, tend to show a greater resilience and are often better able to tolerate CPR. Patients suffering from advanced cancer are also known to fare poorly following resuscitative efforts. In terms of overall statistics, when a patient codes in the hospital and all resuscitative measures are taken, patients frequently do not end up leaving the hospital, especially when they are elderly or have other co-accompanying conditions. Based on data from the National Registry of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (NRCPR), studies have determined that patients who undergo cardiac arrest in the hospital have an overall survival to discharge rate of about 17 percent. The rate drops even lower (to around 13 percent) for cancer patients. In other words, the benets are oftentimes few and short-lived, while the burdens tend to be high. There are, of course, exceptions — while many patients do not experience signicant benets from resuscitative measures, a small percentage do. So when death is imminent, and disease states are very advanced (perhaps with multiple organ failure), and assuming other spiritual matters, such

as last sacraments, have been addressed, a DNR order may not raise any moral problems. The key consideration in making the judgment will be to determine whether the benets of resuscitation outweigh the burdens. DNR orders can be misused, of course, if they are broadly construed as calling on medical professionals to abandon or otherwise discontinue all care of a patient. Even as patients may be declining and dying of serious underlying illnesses, we must continue to care for them, support and comfort them, and use the various ordinary means that they may have been relying on, such as heart and blood pressure medications, diuretics, insulin, etc. We should always seek to do what is ethically “ordinary” or “proportionate” in providing care for our loved ones, though we are never obligated to choose anything that would be heroic, disproportionate or unduly burdensome when it comes to CPR or other resuscitative measures. FATHER TADEUSZ PACHOLCZYK, PH.D. is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Mass., and serves as the Director of Education at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. For information, visit www.ncbcenter.org.

May 2013

BULLETIN BOARD NFP classes....................

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For Your Information A Discernment Dinner for single, Catholic men (ages 18 and older) with an openness to a priestly vocation and discernment will be held May 8 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Borromeo House in Austin. The evening includes dinner, prayer and a presentation. For more information, contact Father Brian McMaster at (512) 949-2430 or fr-brian-mcmaster@ austindiocese.org. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Austin (CCRA) will host its monthly Mass and a 24-Hour Pentecost Celebration May 17 at 7 p.m. at Holy Cross Parish in Austin. Father Robert Becker will celebrate the Mass. Worship will continue until the closing with the Pentecost Vigil Mass at 5:30 p.m. Musicians interested in playing during the service may contact Gary Moore at (512) 4702539 or [email protected]. For more information, contact Sabrina Perez at (512) 466-7669 or visit www.ccraustin.org. THRiVE! Youth Events will be held May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in College Station and May 18 at 9 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish and St. Dominic Savio Catholic High School in Austin. All youth in seventh through 12th grades and their parents are welcome to attend. Jason Evert, an author, speaker, and host of EWTN’s “The Pure Life” and “Theology of the Body for Teens,” will be the keynote speaker. More than just abstinence education, THRiVE incorporates the Christian message of how we were created in God’s image that we might love him, give love and be loved by others. For more information, visit www.thrivetexas.org. Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain Craig DeYoung to the transitional diaconate May 18 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station. Father Nathan Cromley, prior of the Community of St. John in Laredo, will lead a series of monthly lectures entitled Secularism in the Family at St. Mary Cathedral. The next lecture will be held May 19. Mass will be celebrated at 5:30 p.m. and the presentation will be at 6:30 p.m. in the school library. For more information, contact Celia Martinez at [email protected] or (512) 441-9914. Pax Christi Austin meets the third Sunday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Father John Payne House at St. Ignatius Martyr Parish in Austin. Everyone is welcome. Pax Christi Austin is a member of Pax Christi International and Pax Christi USA, the Catholic peace and justice movement that works and prays to create a world that reects the peace of Christ.

For more information, contact Bob Rankin at [email protected]. Diocesan ofces will be closed May 27 in observance of Memorial Day. A Discernment Dinner for high school age Catholic men will be held June 5 at 7 p.m. at St. William Parish Rectory in Round Rock. Men with an openness to encountering Christ and discovering their identity and their mission are invited to join others for dinner, evening prayer, a presentation and discussion. For more information, contact Father Jonathan Raia at (512) 600-8154 or [email protected]. Bishop Joe Vásquez will ordain Deacons Augustine Ariwaodo, Jason Bonifazi, Alejandro Caudillo, Barry Cuba and Tim Nolt to the priesthood June 8 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Austin. For information, contact (512) 949-2430 or [email protected]. Quo Vadis (Latin for “Where are you going?) will be held June 2021 at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin. This is a two-day retreat designed to help young men in high school grow spiritually and allow them to think and pray about what God might be asking them to become. The retreat is for incoming freshmen to incoming seniors from throughout the Diocese of Austin. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the themes of prayer, virtue, leadership and discernment. The retreat includes Mass, adoration, time for fun and recreation, and the opportunity to get to know other young men pursuing holiness. The retreat is staffed by seminarians preparing for the priesthood and is co-sponsored by the diocesan Vocation Ofce and the St. Thomas More Parish Vocation Committee. For more information, contact the diocesan Vocation Ofce at (512) 9492430 or [email protected]. Servus Dei, a service-oriented retreat for sixth through eighth graders, will be held June 20-22 at St. Austin Parish in Austin. Servus Dei provides prayer experiences, engaging learning activities based on the life of Jesus and Catholic social teaching and introduces young adolescents to service as an integral part of Christian discipleship. For more information, talk to the youth minister at your local parish. Cross Training 2013 is scheduled for July 18-21 at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. This retreat is for incoming ninth graders and is designed to prepare Catholic teens for the rigors of high school by arming them with the tools of their faith. The cost for the weekend is $185. Visit https://scan.me/k2ncvb to register.

All couples and individuals interested in learning about the Creighton Method of natural family planning are welcome to attend this introductory class on May 13. Register online at www. aggiecatholic.org/fccsm or call (979) 846-5717. The cost is $20. An introductory session on natural family planning will be held May 13 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin. To register contact Amanda or Ryan Ransom at ransomsnfp@gmail. com. An introductory session on natural family planning will be held May 16 at 7 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Dripping Springs. To register contact Mary Quevedo at (512) 773-8725 or email [email protected]. A series of classes on the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning will begin May 20 at 7 p.m. at St. William Parish in Round Rock. Subsequent classes will be held June 3 and June 17. The cost is $100 per couple. To register e-mail Amanda and Ryan Ransom at [email protected].

An introductory session on natural family planning will be held May 30 at 7 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Dripping Springs. Couples are invited to learn more about the different methods of natural family planning. To register contact Mary Quevedo at (512) 773-8725 or e-mail [email protected]. A class on Family of the Americas Ovulation Method of natural family planning will be held May 30 at 8 p.m. at St. Martin de Porres Parish in Dripping Springs. For more information or to register contact Mary Quevedo at (512) 773-8725 or e-mail [email protected]. An introductory class on the Creighton Model of natural family planning will be held June 3 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary Catholic Center in College Station. Couples will receive credit for premarriage preparation. The cost to attend is $20. Register online at www.aggiecatholic. org/fccsm or contact (979) 846-5717 or [email protected].

Retreats......................... A day of reection entitled “Mary, Woman of the Word” will be presented May 11 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist will lead this day, which is for women of all ages. The cost is $35, which includes lunch. For more information or to register, contact Cedarbrake at (254) 780-2436 or [email protected]. Retrouvaille (pronounced retrovi) has helped thousands of couples at all stages of disillusionment or misery in their marriage. For condential information about Retrouvaille or how to register for the program beginning with a weekend on May 17-19, call 1-800470-2230 or visit the website at www. helpourmarriage.com. A Silent Day of Reection will be presented May 17 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. Father Angelo Bertini will celebrate Mass and spiritual direction will be available. The cost is $25, which includes lunch. For more information, contact Cedarbrake at (254) 780-2436 or [email protected]. “Together in God’s Love,” a marriage preparation retreat, will be held

May 17-19 at Cedarbrake Catholic Retreat Center in Belton. Couples preparing for marriage are encouraged to register as soon as possible, as these retreats ll quickly. The weekend includes talks on faith, communication, sexuality and stewardship in the context of Catholic marriage. For registration information, contact your parish or the Catholic Family Life and Family Counseling Ofce at (512) 949-2495 or rick-bologna@ austindiocese.org. Desert Solitude, a silent retreat, begins June 6 at 3 p.m. Catholic Retreat Center in Belton This is a seven-day silent retreat with centering prayer as the focus. Retreatants may choose to attend three, four or six days. The cost varies from $300 to $900. For more information, contact Cedarbrake at (254) 780-2436 or [email protected]. TEC, an inter-generational retreat movement, will host its fth retreat, June 29 – July 1, at Eagle’s Wings Retreat Center in Burnet. This retreat is open to all who are 17 or older (those in high school must be in at least their junior year). The cost for the weekend is $100; scholarships are available for those who need assistance. Visit www.tec-ctx.org for more information.

Send in your items! CATHOLIC SPIRIT offers this page, “For Your Information,” as a “community bulletin board.” Items of general interest of upcoming parish and diocesan events, including parish social events, will be printed at no charge at the discretion of the editor. The deadline for material is the 10th of the month, with publication occurring the rst week of the following month. Material may be e-mailed to catholic-spirit@austindiocese. org or faxed to (512) 949-2523.

BULLETIN BOARD Parish and community events................................

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St. Patrick Parish in Hutto will host a Saints & Sinners After-Dark 5K and MusicFEST with Soundwave on May 4. The 5K will start at sunset and Soundwave will play at 9 p.m. at Hutto High School Stadium (Hwy. 79 and FM 685). The cost is $25 for the Neon 5K and $10 for the concert. For more information, visit www.active.com (search Saints and Sinners after-dark 5K) or www.saintsandsinners5k.com. St. Margaret Mary Parish in Cedar Park will host its 28th an-

Burse The Diocesan Council of Catholic Women has completed a burse for the Clerical Endowment Fund (CEF) in honor of Father Sae Eul Kim, associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Franklin and St. Mary Parish in Hearne. The totals for the burse as of March 31, 2013, are listed below by council. Austin Council $567.00 Brazos Valley Council $537.00 Central Council $169.00 Eastern Council $586.00 Northern Council $1,110.00 Southern Council $700.00 Temple Council $444.00 Previous Balance $2,709.71 Total $6,822.71 The Clerical Endowment Fund provides low-cost loans to parishes. Interest from the loans is used to educate diocesan seminarians. For information, contact either Father Ed Karasek at (254) 826-3705 or Mary Ann Till at (512) 353-4943.

nual SpringFest May 5 on the parish grounds.The festival will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will include international foods, live music, games for all ages, inatables, bingo, a silent auction and more. The Mobile Loaves and Fishes 2013 MLF Family 5K and Kids K will be held May 5 at Cedar Park High School in Cedar Park. The 5K will begin at 8 a.m. and the kids’ fun run will begin at 9 a.m. Early registration is $30 for the 5K and $35 on race day. The kids’ fun run is $10 per child for youngsters age 10 and under. Early registration for families is $75 per family for up to six members and $80 on race day. Early registration packets can be picked up on May 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Life Teen House at St. Thomas More Parish in Austin. To register or to become a sponsor visit www.MLFFamily5k.org. Ascension Parish in Bastrop will host its first Ascension Fiesta May 5 at 11 a.m. Activities will include bingo, a garage sale, a water slide, live music and much more. There will be fun for all ages. All proceeds will benet the parish Religious Education Program. For more information, call (512) 321-3552. The fourth annual Christ Child Society Evening for the Ladies will be held May 8 at 6 p.m. at St. William Parish Hall in Round Rock. The evening will open with appetizers, followed by a full meal, and a variety of desserts. Two live jazz bands and hula dancer will perform followed by a testimonial by a benefactor. The Christ

COURAGE OF AUSTIN

Child Society of Texas was formed May 2002 and strives for fellowship and service to our community’s youth who are most in need of spiritual, physical, emotional or economic support. All members have a respect for life and the desire to help a child. For more information about tickets, contact Rose Zavala at (512) 255-6458 and or [email protected]. The 11th Annunciation Maternity Home Banquet will be held May 9 in the St. Rita Center at St. Helen Parish in Georgetown. Registration and a silent auction will begin at 6 p.m. A live auction, dinner and program will start at 7 p.m. Sponsorships seat tables of eight and the prices are Faith ($300), Hope ($500) and Love ($1000); individual tickets are $35 each. Auction items and volunteers are need. Online registration and more information are available at www.thematernityhome.org or by calling (512) 864-7755. A Performing and Fine Arts Festival will be held May 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School in Austin. Activities include food, games, arts and crafts stations, music, dance and more. All proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Arts Funds at the school. For more information, visit www.st-ignatius.org. St. Mary Parish in Wimberley will host their annual Spring Festival May 11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. There will be music, food and fun for the whole family. The Austin Capital Area Chapter of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio will host a golf tournament May 18

Pilgrimage to Holy Land & Jordan Jan. 3–14, 2014 (12 days) $3,199 Roundtrip from Austin

Homosexuality and Hope

Host: Deacon Jerry Klement Spiritual Director: Fr. Brian Eilers, Our Lady of Wisdom in San Marcos

Call Fr. Becker: (512) 863-3041 (must dial area code from Austin)

[email protected] [email protected] www.couragerc.net

at Plum Creek Golf Course in Kyle. For more information, visit www.stmarytx. edu/alumni/ or call Gene Sekula at (512) 799-5420. St. Monica Parish in Cameron will host a Country Dance May 18 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Simon and George Memorial Hall in Cameron. The cost at the door is $8 per person. St. Mary Parish in Brenham will host its 100 Days of Summer Festival May 19 beginning at 9 a.m. on the parish grounds. Activities include a silent auction from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., a live auction at 12:30 p.m., games for all ages, a water slide and more. St. Monica Parish in Cameron will host its Mary Fest 2013 May 19 on the parish grounds. Mass and the coronation of Mary will begin at 10 a.m. A homemade enchilada dinner will begin at 10:30 a.m.; tickets are $8 per plate. Activities include live entertainment, bingo, horseshoe tournament, and games for all ages. Dolores Parish in Austin will host its annual Jamaica May 19 from 1 to 10 p.m. on the parish grounds. Activities include live music, food booths, games for all ages, a silent auction, bingo and loteria. St. Mary Parish in Hearne will host a softball tournament June 8 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hearne Little League Park. All funds raised will be used for a new parish roof. Team registration forms and rules can be picked up at the parish ofce or by e-mailing Candace at [email protected] or Amanda at amontgomery@hearne. k12.tx.us.

Tour includes: Roundtrip Air from Austin, walking where Jesus walked through the Holy Land, from Mt. Tabor to Galilee to Jerusalem, Bethlehem and the Jordan River. For more information, contact Deacon Klement at (254) 773-1561 or (254) 718-0454 or [email protected].

Pastoral support for victims of sexual abuse The Diocese of Austin is committed to providing condential and compassionate care to victims of sexual abuse, particularly if the abuse was committed by clergy or a church representative. If you have experienced abuse by someone representing the Catholic Church, please contact the diocesan coordinator of pastoral care at (512) 949-2400.

Apoyo pastoral a las víctimas de abuso sexual La Diócesis de Austin se compromete a proporcionar ayuda condencial y compasiva a las víctimas de abuso sexual, especialmente si el abuso fue cometido por el clero o un representante de la iglesia. Si usted ha sufrido abusos por parte de alguien que representa la Iglesia Católica, por favor comuníquese con el coordinador diocesano del cuidado pastoral al (512) 949-2400.

How to report an incident of concern The Diocese of Austin is committed to preventing harm from happening to any of our children or vulnerable adults. If you are aware of sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, state law requires you to report that information to local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at (800) 252-5400 or www.dfps.state.tx.us. Additionally, if the suspected abuse is by clergy or an employee or volunteer of any diocesan parish, school or agency, a Notice of Concern should be submitted to the diocesan Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Ofce at (512) 949-2400. The l Notice of Concern can be found at www.austindiocese.org (click on the link HOW TO REPORT ABUSE). Reports may be made anonymously.

Cómo reportar un caso de abuso La Diócesis de Austin está comprometida a la prevención del daño que se cause a cualquier niño o adulto vulnerable. Si usted está enterado del abuso sexual o físico y/o abandono de un niño o adulto vulnerable, la ley estatal requiere que se reporte esa información a la policía local o el Departamento de Servicios Familiares y de Protección del Estado de Texas al (800) 252-5400 o al sitio: www.dfps.state.tx.us y además, si la sospecha de abuso es por parte del clero, empleado o voluntario de cualquier parroquia, escuela u organización de la diócesis, se debe enviar un Reporte de Abuso y debe ser presentado a la Ocina de Ética e Integridad en el Ministerio de la diócesis al (512) 949-2400. El Reporte de Abuso se encuentra en nuestra página de Internet diocesana: www.austindiocese.org ( Haga click en la liga COMO REPORTAR UN CASO DE ABUSO). Estos reportes pueden ser hechos de manera anónima.

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Obispos abogan por restricciones a préstamos inmediatos Una vez en el Senado, un número de enmiendas mucho más fuertes fueron agregadas a la propuesta de ley para obispo de la Diócesis restringir el cargo de cuotas altas y los de Austin. Es pastor aún más altos intereses sobre préstapara casi 500,000 mos a corto plazo. En particular, la católicos en 25 propuesta, tal como fue aprobada por condados en el el Senado, contuvo previsiones que reCentro de Texas. quieren que las cuotas sean incluidas en el cálculo de la cantidad de deuda que Editora: En los últimos años, será impuesta a los prestatarios como usted ha tomado una posición un porcentaje de sus ingresos; establece pública para aplicar restricciones a una taza de porcentaje anual de 36 por prestamistas inmediatos en Austin y en nuestro estado. Díganos sobre ciento, un término máximo de 180 días en todos los prestamos, sin renanciaesto. miento en préstamos de múltiples paObispo Vásquez: Sí, el año gos y permite a las ciudades promulgar pasado me uní a una variedad de grupos instando al municipio de la ciudad mandatos locales, como el de Austin. Aún mejor, el Presidente del Code Austin a aprobar una ordenanza municipal que limite los lugares donde mité del Senado de Negocios y Comercio, John Carona, aceptó las enmiendas los prestamistas inmediatos pueden y públicamente se comprometió a ubicarse y cuanto dinero pueden presostener esos cambios en cualquier star. Además, recientemente testiqué en el Senado de Texas, representando a negociación con el Congreso Estatal en la Conferencia Católica de este estado y su comité de conferencia. A pesar de que la CSSB 1247, con a las 15 diócesis católicas de Texas, en su enmienda, no es perfecta, establece oposición a una propuesta de ley que un paso rme hacia la regulación y el fue aprobada por el Comité del Secontrol de dichas prácticas predatorias. nado de Negocios y Comercio, la cual La propuesta avanza ahora a la Casa creemos que no abarcaba lo suciente de Representantes, donde nuestros – y en algunos lugares resultaba aún esfuerzos continuarán para enfrentar peor que la ley actual — para regular una intensa campaña bien nanciada los préstamos inmediatos y los que se por los prestamistas instantáneos y realizan por medio del título de auto sus grupos de cabildeo, la cual tiene el y proteger de prácticas usureras y de mayores abusos a los pobres. Afortun- propósito de pelear contra cualquiera adamente, los esfuerzos de los obispos de dichas restricciones. La regulación se necesita porque de Texas junto con otros defensores, la explotación de los pobres está para imponer restricciones razonables a la industria de préstamos inmediatos empeorando. Una proliferación de y por título de auto han sido atendidos. lugares de préstamos inmediatos y a E L O BISPO J OE S. VÁSQUEZ es el quinto

través del título del auto ha inundado centros comerciales y vecindarios y somos constantemente bombardeados por comerciales de radio y televisión que prometen efectivo “fácil” y “en el mismo día” para atraer a familias desesperadas con necesidad de pagar emergencias médicas, abarrotes, renta y utilidades. En lugar de obtener las promesas de estos préstamos fáciles a corto plazo, familias nancieramente vulnerables quedan atrapadas en un círculo continuo de deudas de cargos de interés del cual no pueden escapar. Al combinarse, estos cargos e intereses, con frecuencia alcanzan tasas de porcentaje anuales (APR por sus siglas en inglés) mayores del 500 por ciento y algunas se han elevado hasta el 659 por ciento. De acuerdo con datos de la industria, los texanos pagaron más de $23 dólares por cada $100 dólares prestados a un plazo de 14 a 30 días – casi el doble del límite de $10 a $15.50 dólares por cada $100 dólares prestados que otros 17 estados exigen. En otros 15 estados – y para ciertos prestatarios militares, donde la tarifa federal militar límite es estrictamente aplicadalos préstamos inmediatos tienen como límite tasas de porcentaje anuales de 36 por ciento. En Texas, prestamistas inmediatos esquivan la protección de los límites de tasas de porcentajes de 36 por ciento ofreciendo a familias militares préstamos a plazos mayores de 90 días. No estamos tratando de que estos negocios de préstamos salgan del mercado. Estamos únicamente tratando

EL OBISPO JOE VÁSQUEZ así como otros obispos de Texas y Católicos de todo el estado se reunieron en el Capitolio el 9 de Abril por el Día Católico de la Intercesión (Catholic Advocacy Day, en inglés). Un asunto en particular en el que los obispos de Texas y la Conferencia Católica de Texas han estado trabajando durante esta sesión legislativa implica más regulaciones a los prestamistas inmediatos y sobre título de auto. (Foto por Christian R. González)

de regular las prácticas de quienes actúan mal. Estamos comprometidos a encontrar un proyecto de reforma signicativo que mejore la situación de los prestatarios en Texas. Editora: ¿Por qué es esto importante para la Iglesia Católica? Obispo Vásquez: Nuestros principios cristianos básicos nos piden que protejamos y defendamos a los pobres y vulnerables. Nuestras parroquias y Caridades Católicas son testigos de los altos costos de ser pobre diariamente a través de la asistencia a familias que se ven forzadas a adquirir alarmantes deudas cuando tienen que obtener un préstamo inmediato o a través del título de su auto para poder cubrir un gasto inesperado. En las enseñanzas de nuestra fe tenemos muchas advertencias sobre la usura y la explotación de la gente. Prácticas de préstamos que de manera o no intencional se aprovechan de las circunstancias desesperadas de alguien son injustas. Las enseñanzas católicas demandan respeto hacia la dignidad de las personas, preocupación preferencial por los pobres y vulnerables y la búsqueda del bien común. Estos principios, aunados a nuestras enseñanzas sobre justicia económica, subrayan la importancia de nuestro escrutinio de las prácticas actuales de préstamos inmediatos. Estudios muestran que mujeres pertenecientes a minorías son las más afectadas por este tipo de préstamos cuando se encuentran luchando por proveer para sus familias y también son las que más comúnmente se declaran en quiebra, son evacuadas de sus viviendas y postergan cuidados médicos por que tienen deudas con prestamistas inmediatos. Éstas son las personas por las que estamos llamados a alzar nuestras voces por que con frecuencia estas personas no tienen voz, estamos llamados a defender a los pobres y vulnerables de prácticas que minen su dignidad humana. Editora: ¿Cuál es su oración por este proyecto de reforma de ley mientras pasa por el proceso legislativo? Obispo Vásquez: Mi oración es porque nuestros legisladores estatales modiquen esta ley y tomen en cuenta los testimonios dados por la Conferencia Católica de Texas, otros grupos religiosos y organizaciones de protección al consumidor. Necesitamos restricciones para los prestamistas inmediatos y aquellos que prestan dinero por título del auto. Oro porque nos enfoquemos en las necesidades de los pobres y vulnerables a través de nuestras comunidades y que permanezcamos unidos para protegerlas de ser usadas o maltratadas, especialmente cuando se trata de abusos de prestamistas inmediatos o de préstamos de autos usureros. Rezo por que la gente exprese su resolución a aumentar las restricciones a préstamos inmediatos.

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María, un ejemplo de fe y maternidad POR LUPE GARCIA, LPC-S, LMFT-S COLUMNISTA La maternidad es una hermosa bendición, pero ciertamente tiene sus retos. Así se trate una mujer que es madre de uno o de siete, de una madre adoptiva, de una madre de hogar sustituto, de una madre soltera, de una madrina o de una mujer que aspira a ser mamá, ninguna está sola en su viaje. Hay otras mujeres involucradas en esta montaña rusa de emociones que van desde la alegría pura y la frustración, hasta el cansancio más grande. Aprendemos unas de otras, nos alentamos unas a otras y nos identicamos unas con otras. Podemos también recibir gran consuelo en los brazos de nuestra Bendita Madre, María. Ella es el modelo perfecto para cada uno de nosotras como mujeres, sin importar en qué momento estamos de nuestras vidas o cuáles son las circunstancias que nos rodean. Ella es nuestro refugio y nuestra defensa y nos enseña sobre la fe y sobre estar abiertos al plan divino de Dios. Hay una preocupación natural que acompaña a la enorme responsabilidad de la maternidad. Tememos a lo desconocido, dudamos de nosotras mismas y no estamos seguras de si estamos “listas”. De cualquier manera, la maternidad no tiene que ser preocupante si dejamos de tratar de controlar cada situación y ponemos nuestra conanza en Dios. María demostró su

valor y su fe en Dios cuando se abrió a la voluntad de Dios. El suyo fue un embarazo no convencional que tuvo grandes consecuencias en su vida, y aún así, ella lo aceptó con un corazón abierto. Aceptar la voluntad de Dios cuando ésta no es lo que habíamos planeado es muy difícil. No importa cómo vengan los niños a nuestras vidas, tenemos que conar en que Dios tiene un plan para nosotros y para ellos. Tal vez una pareja no está en la mejor situación nanciera para tener un niño. Tal vez una mujer no está casada y no tiene idea de cómo se mantendrá a sí misma y al niño. A veces los niños vienen en paquete como familia heredada instantáneamente cuando un hermano muere. Como María, debemos recordar que Dios tiene un plan y que necesitamos conar en ese plan y en Él. Todos tenemos esperanzas y sueños para nuestros hijos, hermanos, sobrinas y sobrinos, ahijados y nietos. Es ciertamente necesario que apoyemos a nuestros niños, pero al mismo tiempo les jemos límites. También hay momentos en que debemos darles la oportunidad de crecer como las personas que son y de establecer sus

propias relaciones. Llega un momento en que tenemos que dejarlos pensar por ellos mismos y tomar sus propias decisiones. Podemos asumir que María tuvo, al menos, un pequeño deseo de que su hijo fuera un carpintero normal y no tuviera que sufrir y dar su vida por nosotros. De cualquier manera, ella tuvo el valor para ponerlo a Él y a otros antes que sus propios deseos. Cuando llegó su tiempo, se quitó del camino y dejó a Jesús trabajar en su ministerio público. María nos enseña a todos a ser amorosos y compasivos, pero también nos da un ejemplo de cómo desprenderse por amor. La lección más difícil y esencial que María nos enseña es su disposición para aceptar el sufrimiento. Desde el principio de su abierto “sí” a Dios, ella se preparó para lo que pudiese venir. Esto es indudablemente más fácil de decir que de hacer para cualquiera, pero ella nos enseñó que es posible atravesar la agonía y aún así permanecer el. Hay pocas cosas en el mundo más dolorosas que perder un hijo o ver a nuestro hijo sufrir. Este tipo de dolor es tan personal que a veces el solo compartir la experiencia con otros que están pasando por ello, no nos consuela. María madre ejemplicó la fuerza

y el valor que se requiere para seguir adelante con el corazón roto conando en la misericordia de Dios y en la ayuda de otros. María estuvo con Jesús al pie de la cruz y se rodeó de los discípulos mientras trataba de entender la pasión de Cristo, su muerte y resurrección. En ese tiempo de confusión y aicción, ella se apoyó en su familia y amigos – José, María Magdalena, los discípulos a quienes ella veía como sus hijos. Cuando sufrimos un dolor tan inmenso en nuestras vidas y estamos tentados a aislarnos, debemos recordar voltear hacia nuestros seres queridos y dejarlos ayudarnos a lidiar con nuestro dolor, tal como María lo hizo después de la muerte de Jesús. En este mes de mayo, oremos para que seamos como nuestra madre María, epítome de la maternidad. Que profundicemos en el Evangelio y aprendamos más sobre María y su sagrada maternidad hacia Jesús y la iglesia. Que siempre volteemos hacia ella para recibir su consuelo en nuestro viaje como mujeres y madres de fe.

LUPE GARCÍA es una consejera certicada y directora de la Ocina Diocesana de la Vida Familiar y Consejería Familiar. Se le puede llamar a (512) 949-2495 o [email protected].

Compartiendo nuestras bendiciones Apocalipsis 7:12. El encuentro con Jesús vivo produce un cosquilleo que espontáneamente nos lleva a alabarlo por las En las historias de la Resurrección maravillas que ha hecho con nosotros, de Jesús de entre los muertos, parece con el Universo, con su amor. Este que siempre hay una constante. Los encuentro es una invitación a proclaque son testigos oculares de la Resumar al mundo que Jesús está vivo, una rrección de Cristo siempre salen con ur- invitación a compartir con mis hermagencia a dar testimonio de lo que vieron nos y hermanas a través de mi palabra –– que Jesús, el maestro está vivo. y mis acciones lo que he visto, las De la misma manera María, cuando maravillas que Dios ha hecho en mí. Y estaba embarazada de Jesús, no pudo hacemos esto porque sabemos que sino espontáneamente proclamar la ellos merecen, como nosotros, el grandeza de Dios: “Alaba mi alma la saberse envueltos por el amor incondigrandeza del Señor y mi espíritu se cional de Dios Padre en Cristo Jesús. alegra en Dios mi salvador,” Lucas De alguna manera usted y yo, 1:46-47. Tal como los Israelitas cancomo los apóstoles, somos correspontaron a Yahvé al cruzar el mar rojo y sables de la salvación de los demás. Ser verse libres de la esclavitud impuesta discípulos de Cristo nos lleva naturalen ellos por los egipcios, “Canto a mente a ser corresponsables del otro, Yahvé, esplendorosa es su gloria, somos corresponsables del Cuerpo de caballo y jinete arrojo en el mar,” Cristo. La corresponsabilidad son las Éxodo 15:1. Tal como lo haremos el obligaciones que usted y yo tenemos día en que nos veamos cara a cara con en común por el uno y por el otro, por nuestro Creador, “Amén, alabanza, toda la Iglesia, todo la humanidad. gloria, sabiduría, acción de gracias, Esta corresponsabilidad la prachonor, poder y fuerza a nuestro Dios ticamos de muchas maneras; la más por los siglos de los siglos. Amén,” obvia es dando testimonio por medio

POR EDGAR RAMIREZ DIRECTOR DEL MINISTERIO HISPANO

de la palabra del mensaje de amor de Cristo: proclamando su palabra. No está de más recordar que las acciones arrastran y que por el amor que nos tenemos unos con otros nos conocerán. Las acciones que nos ayudan a expresar nuestra corresponsabilidad por todos y cada uno de los billones de seres humanos que compartimos el mismo cielo y tierra son el cuidar los recursos naturales que tenemos –– el agua, la comida, el aire; el educarnos en los problemas y realidades de otras culturas y naciones; en ser ciudadanos activos que votan y pagan impuestos responsablemente; al participar como voluntarios en alguna organización social de ayuda para los pobres, los enfermos y los jóvenes; el orar por los menos afortunados, por los que más necesitan la misericordia y amor de Dios; al compartir responsablemente parte de las bendiciones económicas que hemos recibido ya sea en la colecta dominical o al contribuir económicamente en alguna organización que ayude a los más necesitados. Somos corresponsables cuando cuidamos

nuestros cuerpos, cuando hacemos el mejor esfuerzo por ser buenos padres, madres e hijos, cuando educamos a los más jóvenes en la fe Cristiana, cuando amamos sin reparo. Usted y yo estamos invitados con urgencia, hoy más que nunca, a proclamar que Dios está vivo, a compartir la buena nueva con todos, no porque tenga que hacerse, sino porque es lo único que podemos hacer ante tantas bendiciones recibidas, aun en medio de las cruces de dolor y sufrimiento. El ser corresponsables con los demás, nosotros mismos y la creación entera, es una forma de no olvidar lo que es importante –– el amor, que entre más se da, más se obtiene. EDGAR RAMIREZ es el Director del Ministerio Hispano para la Diócesis de Austin. Se le puede llamar al (512) 9492468 o por correo electrónico a [email protected].

ESPAÑOL

May 2013

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El Obispo ordenará cinco sacerdotes el 8 de junio POR MARY P. WALKER CORRESPONSAL El Obispo Joe Vasquez ordenará a los Diáconos Augustine Ariwaodo, Jason Bonifazi, Ventura Alejandro Caudillo, Barry Cuba y Timothy Nolt al sacerdocio este 8 de junio a las 10:30 del día en la parroquia de St. Vincent de Paul, en Austin. Aunque a todos los diáconos les une su dedicación a la fe Católica y esperan con ansias servir como sacerdotes en la Diócesis de Austin, cada uno ha venido hacia el sacramento de las órdenes sagradas a través de distintos caminos. Dos se han convertido a la fe Católica. Dos han tenido experiencias de conversión que los han llevado a una mayor profundidad dentro del Catolicismo, y uno supo que quería ser sacerdote desde muy joven. La geografía también inuye en su diversidad. Dos de los diáconos crecieron dentro de los límites de la Diócesis de Austin, mientras que los demás vienen de Pennsylvania, México y Nigeria. Diácono Jason Bonifazi, de 33 años, se graduó de la preparatoria Groesbeck y considera como su parroquia a St. Mary en Mexia. Es el más joven de tres hermanos, sus padres son Michael Bonifazi y Sheli Hanson. Después de obtener un título de la universidad de Sam Houston State, el diácono Bonifazi trabajó como vendedor para una distribuidora de vinos en Houston. Durante ese tiempo, también trabajó en la obtención de una maestría en la universidad de St. Thomas. Aunque fue criado mormón, se sintió atraído hacia la Iglesia Católica y comenzó el proceso del Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos (RCIA por sus siglas en inglés) en la CoCatedral del Sagrado Corazón en Houston. Bautizado en 2004, muy pronto se volvió activo en la vida parroquial mientras continuaba en su empleo y en sus estudios de postgrado. El decía que su vida estaba “ok”, pero no era feliz. “Comencé a preguntarme ¿qué era lo que Dios pedía de mí”, dijo el diácono Bonifazi. Comenzó a considerar si tal vez Dios lo estaba llamando a convertirse en sacerdote. Porque había sido bautizado recientemente, no estaba seguro si su interés venía de Dios o de su propia entusiasta respuesta a haberse convertido en Católico. Continuó discerniendo sobre esta pregunta con un sacerdote de la co-catedral hasta que terminó sus estudios de postgrado. Sabiendo que no podía entrar

al seminario hasta que hubiese tenido más experiencia como Católico, contactó a los Asuncionistas, una orden religiosa que patrocina misioneros laicos. Bajo su dirección, fue a Filipinas. A su regreso, entró al seminario, aproximadamente dos años después de su bautismo. Al principio, el diacono Bonifazi encontró retadores algunos aspectos de la vida del seminario. Acostumbrado a las respuestas “correctas e incorrectas” de sus cursos de negocios, tuvo que aprender una nueva manera de pensar para estudiar losofía y teología. Además, vivir en un dormitorio y compartir las vidas estructuradas de los seminaristas requirió un ajuste de un hombre acostumbrado a vivir solo. Anticipando su ordenación, el diácono Bonifazi dijo, “Espero con ansias estar en una parroquia, compartir mi fe y atraer a la gente hacia Cristo. Este es un momento emocionante para la Iglesia y el mundo.” Diácono Tim Nolt, de 46 años, también se convirtió al Catolicismo y considera como su parroquia a St. John Vianney en Round Rock. Sus padres son Steve y Doris y tiene dos hermanas más jóvenes. Creció en Lancaster, Pennsylvania en el seno de una familia Cristiana Evangélica que enfatizaba el compartir la fe. Cuando tenía 10 años, su padre tomó un año sabático de su trabajo de profesor y la familia se mudó a Kenia a realizar trabajo misionero. Mientras se encontraba ahí, el diacono Nolt acudió a la escuela para hijos de misioneros. Cuando se le preguntó qué lo atrajo hacia la Iglesia Católica, el contestó, “todo gira alrededor de la música.” Al crecer en una familia que compartía sus muchos talentos musicales con la iglesia, el diácono Nolt recibió una licenciatura en ejecución pianística de la escuela Julliard. Entonces vino a Texas a estudiar piano a la Universidad de Texas en Austin, donde recibió el grado de maestría. Mientras estudiaba, dio clases de piano a la hija de una familia Católica. A través de esta familia, él aprendió sobre el Catolicismo y tuvo la oportunidad de tocar en Misa. Con experiencias en el movimiento “la casa iglesia” y como un ministro juvenil en una Iglesia Presbiteriana, el diácono Nolt explicó que en su “cabeza” no estaba considerando el Catolicismo. Sin embargo, fue conducido hacia la fe. “El Espíritu Santo me expuso a la liturgia Católica. Los Católicos creen que Cristo está presenta en la liturgia y yo quería

Diácono Augustine Ariwaodo

aprender más sobre ello.” Dijo el diácono Nolt. Después de algunas semanas de oración ferviente durante un tiempo intenso de su vida, sintió el deseo de convertirse en Católico para profundizar en su relación con Cristo. Mientras esperaba para participar en un programa de Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos, participó en un retiro para hombres. Su compañero de cuarto plantó la semilla de una posible vocación religiosa cuando le preguntó si alguna vez había considerado el sacerdocio. Tras convertirse en Católico en 1999, pasó los siguientes ocho años trabajando en tecnología de la información para la ciudad de Georgetown, como un músico a tiempo parcial y tocando en un grupo de cámara. Entró al seminario en 2007. Además de sus estudios y formación para el sacerdocio, la vida del seminario también le dio la oportunidad de mejorar sus habilidades para ejecutar el órgano. Aunque sus padres pasaron por un periodo de ajuste a la conversión del diácono Nolt, hoy están orgullosos de que esté dedicando su vida a Dios a través del sacerdocio. “Mis años de discernimiento y formación me han impresionado sobre cuánto la formación para el sacerdocio es un asunto familiar. Te da humildad el recibir tantas oraciones de eles cristianos durante este tiempo.” Dijo el diácono Nolt. Después de su ordenación, espera con ansias ser parte de una parroquia familiar, sirviendo a través de la Misa y los sacramentos y ayudando en tiempos de necesidad. Nacido y criado en Austin, el Diácono Barry Cuba, de 27 años considera a St. Catherine of Siena su parroquia. Se graduó de la preparatoria James Bowie y es el hijo de Karen Cuba. Tiene una hermana menor. Durante sus primeros años de escuela, el diácono Cuba trabajó en una tienda de abarrotes y pensó que podría seguir una carrera gerencial a través de la

Diácono Jason Bonifazi

Diácono Alex Caudillo

Diácono Barry Cuba

Diácono Tim Nolt

cadena a la que pertenecía la tienda. Un amigo le dio una copia del “Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica” y le aconsejó leerla para crecer más profundamente en su fe. “Me enamoré de la belleza de la fe. Las enseñanzas son coherentes,” dijo el diácono Cuba. Explicó que después de leer el Catecismo, se interesó “realmente en ser un Católico”, y se preguntó si Dios lo estaba llamando al sacerdocio. Sin saber cómo convertirse en sacerdote, acudió a la Internet, donde un sitio le informó que la mayoría de las grandes ciudades tienen directores vocacionales. Decidió buscar a uno en Austin. En ese tiempo el Padre David Konderla era el director vocacional de la Diócesis. “Él es un buen ejemplo de un sacerdote feliz. Su felicidad era contagiosa. Vi la posibilidad de vivir una vida tan feliz y entré en el seminario al terminar la preparatoria.” Dijo el diácono Cuba. Además de sus responsabilidades en la vida del seminario, el diácono Cuba sirvió en la reserva de la Marina de Estados Unidos (U.S. Navy en inglés) por tres años. Ha viajado extensivamente, visitando Costa Rica, la cual disfrutó particularmente, la mayoría de los países del oeste de Europa, Canadá y Corea. Incluso habla algo de coreano. Después de ordenarse, el diácono Cuba espera con ansias el predicar y el enseñar y cree que un sacerdote tiene el gran privilegio y la responsabilidad de servir a la gente en tiempos de alegría y tristeza y a través de los sacramentos. Además, espera

con ansia las responsabilidades administrativas de la oficina aunque admite que es algo que no ha hecho con frecuencia. Originalmente del estado de Abia en la parte sureste de Nigeria, el Diácono Augustine Ariwaodo de 36 años de edad, se maravilla de que los planes de Dios para su vida lo hayan traído a la Diócesis de Austin. Él considera la parroquia de St. Elizabeth de Hungría en Pugerville, su parroquia. Es el hijo de Mónica y Matthías, quien ya falleció. Uno de seis hijos, el diácono Ariwaodo creció en una familia Católica devota. Tiene un hermano y hermana viviendo en Nigeria, una hermana que es religiosa con la orden de las Obreras del Niño Jesús (Handmaids of the Holy Child of Jesus, en inglés) en Inglaterra y un hermano en Londres. Su hermana Joy, de quien el diácono Ariwaodo dice, su nombre describía su disposición, murió en un accidente automovilístico en 2003. Tenían una relación cercana y él cree que sus oraciones en el cielo son lo que le ha ayudado en su viaje hacia el sacerdocio. Espera que su madre y todos sus hermanos puedan atender la ceremonia de ordenación. El padre del diácono Ariwaodo fue maestro de primaria y asistente de su pastor. “Estuve rodeado por diferentes sacerdotes y religiosas. Me encantaba la manera en que servían a la gente. Eso es lo que yo quería hacer.” Dijo. Considerando el Ver JUNIO en la página 30

ESPAÑOL Una creciente presencia demanda mayores responsabilidades, dicen dirigentes latinos 30

POR CAROL GLATZ CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE Consciente de las señales de los tiempos, la Iglesia Católica quiere darle la mano y abrirle los brazos a más personas y asignarl mayor responsabilidad a la creciente comunidad latina, dijo un grupo de dirigentes católicos latinos de los Estados Unidos. La elección que llevó a cabo el 13 de marzo el Colegio de cardenales de un papa originario de Latinoamérica hizo esta tarea más evidente, le dijeron al Catholic News Service tres de los dirigentes más altos de la Asociación Católica de Dirigentes Latinos, o CALL, cuyas ocinas centrales están en Los Ángeles. La elección del papa Francisco “es una señal de la importancia de los latinos y de los pueblos ‘del continente de esperanza’ como le han llamado

C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

algunos papas al continente americano”, dijo el arzobispo José H. Gómez de Los Ángeles. El tener un papa de Buenos Aires, Argentina, también “demuestra verdaderamente la madurez de la fe católica en el continente americano”, dijo. Un papa latino “hará más compactas a nuestras comunidades. En verdad muchas de nuestras comunidades hispanas o latinas se van a identicar más con la iglesia y a sentirse más unidas”, dijo Diana Vela, presidenta y directora ejecutiva de CALL. La clave será que las comunidades latinas capitalicen “este regalo de un papa latino”, que capitalicen en su creciente población y en sus propias habilidades de dirigencia, espiritualidad y cultura, de manera que se pueda beneciar a toda la sociedad, como también a la iglesia universal, dijo Tommy Espinoza, presidente de la directiva de CALL.

Espinoza, Vela y el arzobispo Gómez, quien es el cofundador y moderador episcopal de la organización, tomaron parte de un grupo de peregrinos que fue a Roma del 7 al 12 de abril, en el que también se incluyeron dos docenas de representantes de seis grupos de los 10 capítulos de los Estados Unidos. El grupo había estado yendo a Roma cada tres años, desde su fundación en el año 2007. La peregrinación de este año se hizo más especial, dijo Vela, debido a que coincidió con la elección del primer papa originario de Latinoamérica, y también a que el grupo se alojó en la casa que lleva el nombre latino de Domus Sanctae Marthae (casa de Santa Marta), que es la misma residencia de huéspedes del Vaticano en donde el ahora papa estaba alojado. El grupo tuvo la oportunidad de reunirse con el papa actual varias veces en el refectorio, y el

arzobispo Gómez celebró Misa con el papa en la capilla de la residencia. Los tres dirigentes de CALL estuvieron de acuerdo en que la presencia enorme y creciente de los católicos latinos, especialmente en los Estados Unidos, se traduce en mayor responsabilidad para conocer, vivir y compartir la fe y ser miembros activos de la iglesia. “A veces existe la tendencia de solamente realizar las cosas normales, como ir a Misa y eso”, dijo el arzobispo Gómez. “Pero yo creo que es importante que todos los latinos sientan que son una parte esencial de la iglesia de los Estados Unidos”, dijo; y por esto es que el arzobispo Charles J. Chaput de Philadelphia, el obispo Thomas J. Olmstead de Phoenix, y un buen número de dirigentes latinos de San Antonio y otras partes decidieron formar la organización CALL.

Las personas de negocios y los políticos han reconocido que la comunidad latina es vital para su continua viabilidad y éxito, dijo Espinoza. “Todo mundo quiere aprovechar algo de la población hispana (latina) pues observan cómo va aumentando. Quieren aprovecharse de su poder de compra, de sus votos y de sus negocios”, dijo Vela. Pero, además, dijo ella, “ha sido hermoso ver” cómo la Iglesia se ha dado cuenta de este cambio y “ha estado extendiendo la mano y abriendo los brazos para todos nosotros”. La meta del grupo CALL es la de establecer una red de relaciones entre los dirigentes de negocios latinos y profesionales, ayudarles a que crezcan en su fe y a utilizar sus recursos y su inuencia para llevar los valores del Evangelio a la comunidad en grande, dijo Espinoza.

Jornadas Mundiales de la Juventud esperan gran incremento ganizador. Y dijo que el comité espera unos 800,000 peregrinos inscritos para el inicio del evento, que será del 23 al 28 de julio. Miembros del comité local El Vaticano hasta ahora no organizador de las Jornadas había anunciado la fecha exacta Mundiales de la Juventud dicen de la asistencia del papa Francisque esperan que asistan hasta co, pero ha indicado que ése será 2.5 millones de jóvenes a los su primer viaje internacional. eventos que se llevarán a cabo Castro dijo que, aunque el en Río de Janeiro, tomando en registro no es requerido para la cuenta la reciente elección de un mayoría de eventos planeados papa argentino. para las Jornadas Mundiales “Hasta ahora ya tenemos de la Juventud, sí se recomienunos 200,000 peregrinos inscri- da, pues con la contraseña de tos, pero el registro dura hasta registro los peregrinos tendrán el último día del evento”, dijo acceso a transporte gratuito a Carol de Castro, coordinadora muchos de los eventos, recibirán de prensa del comité local or- un paquete de peregrino con

POR LISE ALVES CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

importante información acerca de los eventos de la ciudad. Si el peregrino en cuestión ha optado por el paquete en el que se incluyen comidas, se incluirá una lista de restoranes acreditados. Los argentinos forman el grupo mayor de extranjeros (en relación a Brasil) que se han inscrito para ofrecer sus servicios en forma voluntaria para los eventos que durarán 6 días; esto, a pesar de que dicha inscripción ya se había cerrado cuando el nombre del nuevo papa fue anunciado a nales de marzo. Aproximadamente un 15 por ciento de los 60,000 voluntarios escogidos son de la tierra

vernácula del papa Francisco. Los organizadores dicen que se espera que para el 23 de junio haya disponibles más de un millón de camas para los peregrinos, en muy diversos sitios, como casas particulares, escuelas, centros de recreación e iglesias. Los peregrinos podrán alojarse en forma gratuita a partir del 21 de julio y hasta el 31 del mismo mes, dijo Vinicius Arouca, voluntario del comité de hospitalidad. Funcionarios brasileños dicen que la seguridad pública en Río de Janeiro será más estricta de lo normal en los meses de junio y julio, pues en la ciudad se

llevarán a cabo al nal de junio las nales de la Copa Mundial de futbol soccer, administrada por la FIFA. El gobierno brasileño ha facilitado los requisitos de visa y ha exceptuado a los peregrinos de pagar impuesto de visa si prueban que están inscritos para las Jornadas Mundiales de la Juventud. La mayoría de ciudadanos europeos y latinoamericanos no necesitan visa para ingresar a Brasil; sin embargo, las personas que exhiban pasaporte de países como los Estados Unidos, Canadá, Australia y Japón sí necesitarán visa de ingreso.

sus padres quienes buscaban mejores oportunidades de estudio para sus hijos. El más joven de 13 hermanos, es el hijo de José y María, quien ya falleció. Él espera que su padre, quien vive en México y la mayoría de sus hermanos, puedan asistir a su ordenación. Después de su llegada a Estados Unidos, el diácono Caudillo vivió en Tyler por una temporada corta, se mudó entonces a California y vino después a Waco en 1998. Su parroquia es St. Francis on the Brazos. Se graduó de la preparatoria Midway, asistió al McLennan Community College y recibió una licenciatura en servicio social de la Universidad

de Texas en Arlington. El diácono Caudillo había estado apartado de la Iglesia por un periodo de tiempo y da crédito a Dios, a algunas experiencias espirituales poderosas y a su búsqueda por signicado, de haberlo traído de regreso. Se involucró mucho en la vida parroquial, sirviendo como lector, miembro del programa del Rito de Iniciación Cristiana para Adultos y ministro extraordinario de la Santa Comunión. También visitaba a los enfermos y se involucró en retiros y programas de educación religiosa. Él cree que tres cosas lo guiaron a escuchar y responder a la llamada de Dios al sacer-

docio: quería tener una vida de significado y propósito; otros le pidieron y alentaron que considerara el convertirse en sacerdote; y nalmente, el ejemplo de un sacerdote que conoció que transformó la idea de convertirse en un sacerdote en el deseo de convertirse en sacerdote. El diácono Caudillo alabó el proceso de formación ya que ayuda a los seminaristas a descubrir lo que Dios les llama a hacer como sacerdotes. Él dijo que quiere “servir a otros, estar ahí cuando tienen dicultades y necesitan a alguien en quien conar, y ayudarles a saber que con Dios, hay algo mejor en la vida.”

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sacerdocio a una edad temprana, estuvo especialmente inuenciado por las historias que escuchó sobre un pastor fallecido que fue conocido por su santidad y su servicio generoso. En 2005, recibió el título de teología de la Universidad Urbana Ponticia de Roma, la cual estaba aliada a su seminario en Nigeria. En 2008 vino a los Estados Unidos para asistir a la ordenación de un amigo y se le pidió que continuara como seminarista para la Diócesis de Savannah, Georgia, estudiando en el Seminario de St. Vincent en Latrobe, Pensilvania. Poco después, se transrió a la Diócesis de Austin, la cual siente como su hogar ahora.

Expresó su apreciación por la bienvenida y el apoyo que recibió y está en proceso de convertirse en un ciudadano americano. Esperando poder devolver estas bendiciones, el diácono Ariwaodo dijo, “Quiero ser una presencia inspiradora, un buen ejemplo, como el sacerdote del que escuchaba. Quiero ayudar a la gente a darse cuenta de que Dios está presente en medio de ellos. Que Él los ama y está más cerca de lo que se pueden imaginar.” Diácono Ventura Alejandro (Alex) Caudillo, de 32 años, nació en México y vino a los Estados Unidos cuando teñía 15 años en compañía de

SITINGS

May 2013

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THE THREE- AND FOUR-YEAR-OLDS from the St. Jerome Little Lions Learning Center reenacted the washing of the feet, participated in a Last Supper, and held an Easter egg hunt. (Photos courtesy Angie Chancellor) THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS from Sacred Heart Parish in Austin worked with the Greater Area Youth Summer Program to help youth nd summer jobs. At the end of the training, the Knights provided a meal for the youth. (Photo courtesy Lupe Perez) TEENS FROM St. Jerome Parish in Waco reenacted the Stations of the Cross in mime form.

THE CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAS of Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange held their family dinner and 47th anniversary celebration on March 10. Eleven scholarships were awarded to high school seniors. (Photo courtesy Elizabeth Kallus)

BISHOP JOE VÁSQUEZ and Dr. Ned Vanders visited St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic School in Austin. (Photo courtesy Jennifer Leasure)

ST. AUSTIN CATHOLIC SCHOOL students visited the State Capitol for the 2013 Catholic Advocacy Day. Students also wrote letters to their District Representatives. (Photo courtesy Leah F. Esparza)

ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY in Austin expanded and remodeled its weight room and developed a program that helps students with strength and conditioning. (Photo courtesy Corinne Callahan)

CYAN VAUGHN, a junior at Reicher Catholic High School in Waco, earned an Honorable Mention and a $250 scholarship for a piece of art he submitted. (Photo courtesy Suzanne Hack)

JANICE SMITH’S rst grade class at St. Louis Catholic School in Waco celebrated Pope Francis’ inauguration. (Photo courtesy Brandy Kramolis )

THE CHOIRS for Reicher Catholic High School in Waco earned various awards at the 2012-13 TAPPS Regional Music Competition. (Photo courtesy Suzanne Hack)

BISHOP JOE VÁSQUEZ conrmed 40 youth at St. John Vianney Parish in Round Rock. Also, 13 teens received the sacrament of rst holy Communion and were then conrmed. (Photo courtesy Rilla Chacka)

DURING HOLY WEEK, the eighth graders at St. Louis Catholic School in Austin hosted a Resurrection Egg Hunt for their Kindergarten buddies. Students also reenacted the Stations of the Cross. (Photos courtesy Renee Gately)

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C ATHOLIC S PIRIT

THE TEENS from St. Martin de Porres Parish in Dripping Springs performed a live Stations of the Cross for the parish on Good Friday. (Photo courtesy Allison Rice)

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCHOOL won second place for the One Act Play competition in Carrollton. They will compete at the state level on May 11. (Photo courtesy Alpa Brannam)

BISHOP JOE VÁSQUEZ celebrated Mass for the 50th anniversary of Holy Family Parish in Copperas Cove on March 10. (Photo courtesy Linda McHugh)

ST. GABRIEL’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL in Austin reenacted the Last Supper and held its 14th Annual Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday. (Photos courtesy Erika AllenWalsh)

THE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION classes at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Martindale along with students from Texas State University in San Marcos reenacted the Stations of the Cross on March 22. (Photo courtesy Father Antonio Perez) FOURTH GRADE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION students from St. Stephen Parish in Salado presented a live Stations of the Cross March 22. (Photo courtesy Laura Snyder)

ALYSSA SNYDER, a senior attending Holy Trinity Catholic High School in Temple, was awarded a Father Michael Scanlan Scholarship from Franciscan University of Steubenville. The scholarship covers full tuition for four years of study, beginning fall 2013. (Photo courtesy Laura Snyder)

FRESHMEN AT ST. MARY PARISH in Brenham reenacted the Last Supper and the washing of the feet during Holy Week. (Photo courtesy Michael Derkowski)

STUDENTS FROM SANTA CRUZ CATHOLIC SCHOOL In Buda participated in a PSIA meet March 2 at St James Catholic School in Seguin. (Photo courtesy Michele Jeanmarie)

HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL in Temple won the TAPPS 2A State Academic title. Altogether, the students took home a record CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF CEN335 awards for the season. It TRAL TEXAS’ Junior Board organized is the school’s seventh state a group of young adults to collect, aschampionship in academics semble and distribute Easter Blessing and the 10th year in a row in bags to those in need. Bags included which the school has been the food, toys and games and candy. either rst or second. (Photo (Photos courtesy Sarah Rose) courtesy Chris Mosmeyer) Send photos by the 10th of the month to [email protected].