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THE CATHOLIC
MIRROR
The primary task of a diocesan newspaper is to “serve the truth with courage, helping the public see, understand
and live reality with the eyes of God.”
- Pope Benedict XVI, Nov. 25, 2006
Vol. 47, No. 11
Diocesan “Encuentro”reaches out to Hispanics
By Kelly Mescher Collins
Staff Writer
Reaching the Hispanic
community is a priority for the
Diocese of Des Moines.
That’s why it is hosting
this year’s Encuentro Diocesano,
an event to engage the Hispanic
community. The free event will
be held on Sunday, Nov. 17 from
8 a.m. – 6 p.m. at St. Francis
of Assisi Parish in West Des
Moines, and focus on both adults
and youth in separate sessions.
After the general opening session
youth will meet in the parish hall
and adults in the school gym,
said diocesan Hispanic Ministry
Coordinator Mayra Moriel de
Bañuelos.
This event is putting the
focus on family, faith and God.
“One of the things that
we see [with Hispanics] is that
you have to work a lot in order
to be able to live well [in the
U.S.],” said Moriel de Bañuelos.
“[Many] have to have one or two
jobs. Sometimes it’s difficult to
find a moment to grow in faith.”
The speakers at the
Encuentro event will focus on
growing as a family in the United
States while nurturing their faith.
The speakers include
Lucia Lozondo, an immigration
attorney who has made it her own
personal mission to evangelize to
working families. Other speakers include Jaime
Torres, who works with youth
for the Diocese of Little Rock,
Arkansas and sings Catholic rap
music. Torres works with high
risk youth and will share his own
personal story of falling into
drugs and gangs. At 3 p.m. there
will be a session in English called
“Defending the Faith.” Relics
from six Mexican martyred
priests will be on display for this
session.
Marisol Guerra, who
is originally from Honduras, is
now a parishioner at St. Anthony
Parish in Des Moines and also
teaches at St. Anthony School,
Cardinal Turkson attends
World Food Prize events
Encourages dialogue, ethics and understanding
have differences.
He
was
warmly
received at both presentations,
receiving standing ovations
from both groups.
He came to engage in
“The Church promotes
conversations about hunger.
listening,
dialogue, patience,
Cardinal Peter Turkson,
respect
for
the other, sincerity
president of the Pontifical
and
even
willingness
to review
Council for Justice and Peace,
one’s
own
opinion,”
Cardinal
came to Des Moines for the
Turkson
said
at
the
Borlaug
World Food Prize. He talked
Dialogue.
“The
Church
with scientists, researchers,
encourages,
orients
and
enriches
policy makers and students.
discussion and debate.”
He also made time to talk with
This is particularly
those who have concerns about
important
when there are
genetically modified food and
differing
opinions,
he said.
family farms.
During
his
keynote
To both groups, he
address,
Cardinal
Turkson
said
brought the same message: they
Cardinal
Peter
Turkson
of
Ghana
(center)
getting
a
tour
of
the
he
had
never
before
received
so
must engage in conversation
Hall
of
Laureates
with
Bishop
Richard
Pates
(left)
and
Ambassmuch
mail
regarding
one
event
and dialogue.
Cardinal
Turkson dor Ken Quinn, president of the World Food Prize Foundation. as he had for the World Food
delivered the keynote address 900 people from more than vision that respects human Prize’s Borlaug Dialogue, which
at the World Food Prize’s 60 countries to Des Moines. dignity and strives for the influenced his decision to attend.
Cardinal
Turkson
Borlaug Dialogue luncheon Research must be done with common good, he said.
expressed
support
for
Oct. 16, which drew more than ethics and a clear long-term
Praising Dr. Norman
biotechnology when it is married
Borlaug, who founded the World
to ethics, compassion, morality
Food Prize, Cardinal Turkson
and prudence.
said the scientist left a rich
“In Catholic thought,
legacy.
‘nature’ is neither sacred nor
Recently, there have
divine, neither to be feared
been vocal concerns about
or to be revered and left
a number of issues related
untouched,” he said. “Rather, it
to agriculture research and
is a gift offered by the Creator
production to feed the world’s
to the human community to be
hungry.
entrusted to the intelligence
Cardinal
Turkson
Cardinal Turkson presented the Newman Lecture at Drake
and moral responsibility of
visited a group with such
University’s Sheslow Auditorium on the Vocation of a Busimen and women. Therefore it is
concerns, Occupy World Food
ness Person. He took photos with Father Mark Owusu of St.
legitimate for humans with the
Prize, and encouraged them to
Catherine of Siena Parish in Des Moines and Drake Universicorrect attitude to intervene in
have conversation and dialogue
ty students.
Continued on page 10
with the people with whom they
By Kelly Mescher Collins
Staff Writer
November 15, 2013
plans on attending the event.
“[I’m most looking
forward to] learning a little
about what the diocese is about
with regards to the Hispanic
community and getting to meet
new people and learning about
other [Hispanic] cultures as
well,” Guerra said.
To learn more contact
Moriel de Banuelos at 515-2375011 or Hispanic Youth Ministry
Coordinator Luis Salinas at 515237-5051.
Dowling
student breaks
world records; eyes
Olympics
By Kelly Mescher Collins
Staff Writer
There’s a newcomer to
Des Moines who has been breaking
power lifting world records since
age 10. Dowling Catholic High
School freshman Evan Pittman
has broken 53 world records in
power lifting thus far, and over
100 U.S. records, said dad Hal
Pittman. “Honestly, it feels great,”
said Evan Pittman of St. Augustin
Parish, who recently moved from
Tampa, Florida with his family.
“I love it when I break world
records [because] of the amount
of effort I’ve put into working out
and training.”
But he’s not stopping
there – he’s going after the
Olympics. And he’s training for
not just one but two Olympic
sports – springboard diving
and the bobsled and skeleton.
Evan has competed in numerous
springboard
diving
events,
including the Junior Olympics,
where he placed second. And
he’s also gone to Park City,
Utah (where one of the two U.S.
training facilities exist) to train on
the bobsled and skeleton. Evan
is hard-pressed to pick a favorite
sport though.
“I’ve been working
really hard with diving, but I’ve
also really tried to work on the
speed and strength training,”
Evan said.
Continued on page 10
2
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
Diocesan News
www.dmdiocese.org
In the Heartland with Bishop Pates
Brokering dialogue
Earlier this year, Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson, President
of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace in Rome, was invited to deliver a keynote address
at the annual Borlaug Dialogue of
the World Food Prize. This event
was recently conducted Oct 1517 in Des Moines.
At the time of the invitation, the recipients of this year’s
edition of the World Food Prize
had not been announced. The
Cardinal accepted, in principle,
knowing that the World Food
Prize was in the forefront of addressing the significant problem
of world hunger.
Eventually, those to receive the prize were made known
– three prominent scientists who
had been instrumental in the development of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. The
winners included individuals who
worked in the industry that was
the target of criticism by some.
The announcement of
the prize winners stirred reaction
especially by a local group known
as the Occupy World food Prize.
This group organized a program
to coincide with the WFP activity in Des Moines. Following the
lead of WFP, this group also invited Cardinal Turkson to speak
at their gathering.
To everyone’s surprise,
Cardinal Turkson accepted both
invitations. It seemed quite unusual since OWFP had taken a
negative stance regarding GMOs,
as well as corporations involved
in agriculture. Positively, they
supported the family farm emphasizing organic farming.
Cardinal Turkson came
to Des Moines for both events
and delivered a consistent message on behalf of the Catholic
Church. The Church, he stressed,
is supportive of scientific study
that advances the cause of human
betterment. Enormous progress
has been made by the likes of
Norman Borlaug in alleviating
hunger and human suffering on
By
Bishop
Richard
E. Pates
the face of the globe.
At the same time, scientific development must be conscious of the moral implications
of its outcomes. The truth the
Cardinal conveyed is that every
human act is moral in nature and
must be evaluated in light of this
reality. Thus, criteria for the implementation of scientific findings need to incorporate prudence
as well as an understanding as to
how such can affect different categories of recipients especially
the poor in developing countries.
While profit-taking is legitimate,
does it not need be adjusted as it
seeks to elevate the poor and give
them sustained hope?
The Cardinal stressed
that he had accepted invitations to
both groups to promote dialogue
and inclusion seeking to advance
the common good. He purposefully refrained from demonizing
one group at the expense of the
other.
It seems to me that such
a stance is aligned with the vision
of Pope Francis and the contemporary response expected of a
faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus.
Oftentimes, two opposing groups
so dig in their heels in promoting
their particular cause that truth
which normally resides in varying viewpoints, does not emerge
to be effective and life-saving.
Energy is wasted in stubborn insistence on one’s position which,
in reality, most likely contains
only partial truth.
The Des Moines Register editorial staff highlighted the
Cardinal’s position in its Sunday,
Oct. 20 edition:
“A rose to Cardinal Peter K.A. Turkson of Ghana for
THE CATHOLIC
MIRROR
Bishop Richard E. Pates
Publisher
[email protected]
Anne Marie Cox
Editor
[email protected]
Kelly Mescher Collins
Staff Writer
[email protected]
The Catholic Mirror (ISSN
0896-6869) is published
monthly for $18 per year by
the Diocese of Des Moines,
601 Grand Ave., Des Moines,
Iowa 50309. Periodicals postage paid at Des Moines.
POSTMASTER: Send
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MIRROR, 601 Grand Ave.,
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PHONE: (515)237-5046
E-MAIL: mirror@dmdiocese.
org
DIOCESAN WEBSITE:
www.dmdiocese.org
Friday, November 15
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Saturday, November 16
Des Moines – Reception and dinner
with Encuentro Committee and
speakers, Pastoral Center, 7 p.m.
Sunday, November 17
Des Moines – 5th Anniversary
Mass, St. Peter Vietnamese Catholic
Community, 10:30 am
West Des Moines – Hispanic
Encuentro, St. Francis of Assisi; 9
a.m. greetings; 5 p.m. Mass
Tuesday, November 19
Des Moines – Diocesan Executive
Committee meeting, Pastoral Center,
1 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20
Des Moines – Andrew Dinner, Christ
the King Parish, 5 p.m.
Thurs. - Sat., November 21-23
Indianapolis – National Catholic
Youth Conference
Friday, November 22
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Sunday, November 24
Des Moines – Concluding celebration
of the Year of Faith, St. Ambrose
Cathedral, 10:30 a.m.
Indianola - Call Received Answer
with Love (CRAWL), Simpson
College, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26
striking a delicate balance between the contentious poles of
the debate over genetically engineered foods. Cardinal Turkson, president of the Vatican’s
Pontifical Council for Justice and
Peace, was in town last week for
the World Food Prize events. Besides speaking at the Borlaug Dialogue, he met with Iowa farmers
and activists who oppose genetically modified organisms and
what they see as increasing corporate domination of agriculture.
Although he shares concerns of
those activists, he politely declined to be recruited by one side
of the debate or the other. “I’ll
refrain from demonizing anyone,” he told the activists. “Not
one group, not another group. I’ll
rather seek to fashion openings
which would allow us to talk,
negotiate, convince.” That spirit
of dialogue was precisely the aim
of the late Norman Borlaug, who
launched the Green Revolution
and the World Food Prize.”
Surprisingly, at the conclusion of his presentations to
each of the OWFP and WFP audiences Cardinal Turkson received
standing ovations. May we respond to His Eminence’s courage
and gift by being advocates of the
age-old dictum of Aristotle: “In
Medro stat virtus.” “In the middle stands virtue.”
A Blessed Thanksgiving
Very best wishes are
extended to all in the Diocese
of Des Moines for a blessed and
Happy Thanksgiving.
As families and individuals, we recount the continuing
accompaniment in our lives of
a generous and sustaining God,
who introduces fresh favors to us
with the coming of each day.
As a diocesan community we have certainly shared in
the Lord’s goodness. In particular we rejoice at the ordination
of three new priests and a continuing corps of 20 seminarians.
From the material side, we are
grateful for the generosity of ever
so many in enabling the “sharing
God’s Gifts” capital campaign
to be thus far highly successful. May our appreciation for
all God’s gifts inspire commitment on our part as missionary
disciples, agents of Gospel Good
News in our times.
Bishop visits Asia on behalf of U.S. bishops
Photos by Virginia Farris
Bishop Richard Pates on Oct. 20-30 made a trip of solidarity
to Myanmar, Cambodia and East Timor in his role as chair
of the U.S. bishops’ Committee for International Justice and
Peace. Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao hugs
Bishop Pates after presenting him with a tais, a traditional,
handwoven scarf used in Timor Leste to welcome visitors.
Top right: Bishop Pates holds a young orphan girl living with
the Sisters of Charity in Phenom Penh, Cambodia. Right:
Bishop Pates tours agricultural and microfinance projects
arranged by Catholic Relief Services in PoeYarWel village,
Myanmar. The trip was an opportunity to learn about local
conditions in order to more effectively advocate for the priorities and initiatives of the Church in those countries.
Bishop’s Schedule
Des Moines – Diocesan staff
Thanksgiving gathering, Pastoral
Center, 11:30 a.m.
Des Moines – Christ the King
auctioned dinner, Bishop’s residence,
6 p.m.
Thursday, November 28
Des Moines – Thanksgiving Mass,
St. Ambrose Cathedral, 10:30 a.m.
Thurs.-Fri. November 28 – 29
Pastoral Center offices closed for
Thanksgiving holiday
Friday, November 29
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Sunday, December 1
Des Moines – Andrew Dinner, All
Saints Parish, 5 p.m.
Monday, December 2
Des Moines – Vocations Department
Meeting, Pastoral Center, 7:30 a.m.
Des Moines – Diocesan Building
Commission
Meeting,
Pastoral
Center, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, December 3
Des Moines – Diocesan Executive
Committee meeting, Pastoral Center,
1 p.m.
Des Moines – Andrew Dinner, St.
Theresa Parish, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, December 4
Des Moines – St. Thomas More
Center, Advisory Board, Pastoral
Center, Noon
Thursday, December 5
Des Moines – Holy Family Barn Bash
auctioned dinner, Bishop’s residence,
6 p.m.
Friday, December 6
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio,
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Des Moines – Catholic Charities, No
Room at the Inn, Pastoral Center, 6:30
p.m.
Saturday, December 7
Des Moines – Mass for participants
of Hispanic Lay Formation program,
St. Ambrose Cathedral, 4 p.m.
Sunday, December 8
Des Moines – Present Christmas
story at Catholic Charities No Room
at the Inn, Pastoral Center, 1:30 p.m.
Mon., Tues. December 9 – 10
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Conference
of Catholic Bishops’ International
Justice and Peace Committee
meetings
Wednesday, December 11 and
Thursday, December 12
St. Paul, Minn. – Visit of Des Moines
seminarians, St. John Vianney
Seminary and St. Paul Seminary
Friday, December 13
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio,
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Des Moines – Dowling Catholic
auctioned visit, Governor’s mansion,
Terrace Hill, 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 14
Grand River – Mass of Installation
for Father David Polich, St. Patrick
Parish, 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 15
Mt. Ayr – Mass of Installation for
Father David Polich, St. Joseph
Parish, 8 a.m.
Osceola – Mass of Installation of
Father David Polich, St. Bernard
Parish, 10:30 a.m.
Osceola – Spanish Mass of
Installation of Father David Polich,
St. Bernard Parish, Noon
West Des Moines – Serra Club
Bishop’s Dinner, Des Moines Golf &
Country Club, 6 p.m.
Monday, December 16
Des Moines – Bishop’s Council
meeting, Des Moines Club, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 17
Des Moines – Diocesan Executive
Committee meeting, Pastoral Center,
1 p.m.
Chicago – Visit Mundelein Seminary
and Seminarian Mark McGeary, 5
p.m.
Wednesday, December 18
Chicago – 50th anniversary of priestly
ordination of Cardinal Francis
George, Holy Name Cathedral
Friday, December 20
Des Moines – “In the Heartland with
Bishop Pates,” Iowa Catholic Radio,
Des Moines; KVSS, Omaha, 10 a.m.
Friday, December 20 – Sunday,
December 22
Griswold – Bishop’s Vocation
Discernment Retreat, Creighton
University Retreat Center
www.dmdiocese.org
St. Peter Vietnamese
Catholic community
celebrates five years
joy to work with them,” Father
Schoemann said. “They are
creative, self-starting, respectful
and they live this in strong
connection with their faith and
parish life.”
Diocesan
Chancellor
Sister Jude Fitzpatrick’s skills
were also tapped to help the
parish get up and running.
“I think it’s just a
remarkable community,” she said.
“They have been so welcoming
of the traditional, original St.
Peter parishioners, none of whom
are Vietnamese. All of them are
thrilled that their parish is alive
and well.”
Parishioners
include
both Vietnamese and Anglos,
and Masses are offered in both
Vietnamese and English.
“It is the reason the
church’s logo is ‘Two Cultures,
One Mission,’” Father Chu said.
“This wonderful relationship has
made our church grow fast in five
years, both material facilities as
well as spiritually.”
The five year anniversary
celebration will be held at the
church Nov. 17 in conjunction
with the 25th anniversary of the
canonization of 117 Vietnamese
martyrs by Blessed Pope John
Paul II, Father Chu said.
The day will include
a procession at 10 a.m., a
Eucharistic celebration at 10:30
and a reception afterwards. Learn
more at www.stpeterdesmoines.
org.
By Kelly Mescher
Collins
Staff Writer
When Our Lady of the
Americas Parish was getting
ready in 2008 to close one of its
two worship sites, the former
St. Peter Church in Des Moines,
Bishop Richard Pates had an
idea for a specific segment of the
diocesan population.
He offered the worship
site to the Vietnamese community
of Des Moines to have a parish
of their own, similar to Our
Lady of the Americas Parish in
Des Moines, which serves the
Hispanic population.
Father Ly Chu was
named the pastor.
Because of his 40-plus
years of experience, retired priest
Father Bob Schoemann was
asked to mentor Father Chu and
help get the parish started.
“It is quite a large
undertaking to take that challenge
and to learn to be a pastor with
all of its administration in such
a short time,” Father Schoemann
said. “And Father Ly was
adjusting to culture change in the
United States.”
Though five years have
passed since its inception, Father
Schoemann continues to help the
parish by offering suggestions
and guidance for parish activities.
It’s a role he enjoys.
“They are very personal,
gracious and this makes it a
Diocesan News
The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
Father McCann passes away
year.
By Kelly Mescher
Collins
Staff Writer
Retired diocesan priest
Father Arthur McCann passed
away on Nov. 1, the feast day of All
Saints. His funeral was Monday,
Nov. 4.
Father McCann was
born in Creston, and attended
Creston High School and Creston
Junior College before attending
Loras College and Mt. St. Bernard
Seminary in Dubuque. He also
studied at Creighton University in
Omaha and the Jesuit School of
Theology in Berkeley, Calif. He
was ordained on June 3, 1962.
During his years of
service, Father McCann was a
teacher at Dowling Catholic High
School and St. Albert High School
and as executive coordinator of
Catholic Schools in Creston. He
served the parishes of St. Anthony,
St. Augustin and St. Pius X Parish
in Des Moines over the years, and
also served St. Boniface Parish
in Westphalia, Holy Spirit and
Immaculate Conception Parishes
in Creston. Father McCann also
received clinical pastoral education
at Methodist Hospital in Rochester,
Minn. before being appointed to the
Des Moines Hospital Chaplaincy.
Father Ken Gehling, a
chaplain at Mercy Medical Center
in Mason City, joined the seminary
at Loras College in 1955, the same
year Father McCann did. They
went through Loras College and
Mt. St. Bernard Seminary together
and became close friends. Though
Father Gehling and Father McCann
worked in different dioceses, they
made a point to visit several times a
“[Father]
Art was a very
gregarious
person,”
Father
Gehling said. “He
loved to travel,
loved to eat, loved
to play tricks
on people. He loved people and
was very good with people. He
enjoyed all aspects of life. During
his retirement he volunteered as an
usher for the community theaters in
Des Moines.”
Father Vince Rosonke,
pastor of St. Boniface Parish in
Waukee, was mentored by Father
McCann when he was associate
pastor in Creston in 1975. He
admired Father McCann’s abilities
with others.
“He was an excellent
health minister,” he said. “He
was very sensitive to people’s
illness and family when someone
was deceased. He was very
compassionate and knew the right
things to say.”
Father Gehling agrees.
“I will remember his
concern for me as a friend,” he said.
“Whenever I had some problems,
he would always follow up with
me and see how I was doing. The
fact that the church was full for
his funeral is a testimony of the
work he did with the people of Des
Moines.”
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The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
Opinion
Deacons in the clink;
taking Jesus behind bars
They have been doing so for about five years.
When the permanent diaconate
“Scripture tells us about visiting prisoners,
was re-established at the time of Vatican
but we sometimes forget to do that,” he said,
II, it was thought that the deacon would
noting that the women are “very appreciative”
exercise a ministry of service; the word
of the efforts he and Sandy make. “All of
deacon comes from the Greek diakonia,
them are very excited about receiving the
meaning service. One form of that service
Eucharist.” There are numerous inmates
is to God’s people who are incarcerated.
needing catechesis and if he lived closer to
For the past five years Deacon
the prison he would like to establish an RCIA
Tom Maly has been ministering to inmates
or adult faith program there.
By Deacon
of the Polk County Jail. “Deacon Dan
“One inmate told me it was her week’s
Mike Manno
McGuire got me interested in the ministry
highlight,” said Deacon Dick Ziller, who
and for a while we would alternate going
just retired from active prison ministry at
to the jail one day each week; but now that
Mitchellville and who was instrumental in
getting Deacon Kunze involved. Working with his wife, Connie,
he has retired from active ministry, I go every Monday.”
Deacon Maly spends Mondays making the rounds of new who helped the women form a choir, Deacon Ziller spent nearly
inmates. There he will identify inmates who would like to receive 20 years ministering at Mitchellville once a week.
“It was extremely rewarding,” he said, adding that
reconciliation and will forward those names to the two priests who working with his wife was a good example for the women. “Many
regularly visit the jail, Fathers James Kiernan and Chris Reising.
Working the Pottawattamie County Jail is Deacon Bob never had a good relationship with men, and seeing a strong,
McClellan. He got involved during a mentoring project while loving relationship was a good example for them.”
“There are a couple of things we do; first we get them in
in diaconate formation and began working with the jail shortly after his ordination in 2010. Helping with the ministry are three touch with the sacraments. Then we remind them that they are still
laymen that go to the jail every Friday for Scripture study. He children of God and he still loves them,” said Deacon Maly.
then follows up on Sunday evening with a Liturgy of the Word.
All the deacons agree on one thing: they need help. And
“This is the time when I can apply the Scriptures to [the that help need not come from the ordained. There are plenty of
inmates’] lives. I tell them that they are, in effect, in a Lenten opportunities for lay volunteers to assist with this ministry.
season; it is a time to take stock of their lives; look at where they
Deacon Mike Manno serves St. Augustin Parish in Des Moines and
are and where they are going.”
Deacon Reinhold Kunze and his wife, Sandy, work with has a radio show on Iowa Catholc Radio called “Faith on Trial.”
women at the Women’s Correctional Facility at Mitchellville.
In celebration of
Thanksgiving, we are
thankful for...
Take a break with
Deacon Mike
Cathy Evans
Holy Rosary Parish, Glenwood
“I am grateful for my granddaughter and all of my family.”
Nancy Schaben
St. Peter, Defiance
“I am thankful for my family,
my community, my job and my
health.”
When you’re shopping this Christmas,
think Fair Trade first
As the holidays approach, many
small loans and training. Fair Trade helps
of us spend time searching for the perfect
provide a market for their products so they
gifts for families and friends. Wouldn’t you
can become self-reliant.
love to be able to give a gift that improves
“We observed these talented artists
the lives of our brothers and sisters across
create beautiful pieces of artwork, several
the globe who struggle to provide food,
that are now hanging in my home. It was
shelter and clothing for their families? You
such a joy to meet the artists, see their
can make an impact right here in Iowa by
outdoor studios, and watch them create the
By
purchasing Fair Trade products.
pieces I will treasure for a lifetime.” said
Buying Fair Trade items is an easy Theresa Dunbar
Phillips.
and fun way to reach across the world and
Haitian crafts as well as textiles,
support the human dignity of a small farmer
carvings, jewelry and Christmas décor are
or artisan who may not have all the resources that we take for easy to purchase through CRS’ fair trade partner SERRV. There
granted. The Fair Trade system provides a fair market for their is an online catalog with descriptions of the handcraft and the
goods, and helps them to provide for their families with dignity people who made them.
and respect.
“Fair Trade provides each of us the opportunity to make
What exactly is Fair Trade? When you hear the words a world of difference in the lives of our global brothers and sisters
“Fair Trade” think: “Honest reward for honest labor.” Fair by creating a market that allows us to trade on our values by
Trade products are items that have been produced within a set supporting economic justice for all people. Lives are transformed
of standards that assures a fair wage and ethical treatment of simply by living out our faith through our Catholic social
workers, among other standards that are reviewed by a Fair Trade teachings,” explained Kathy Regan, CRS Fair Trade ambassador.
organization.
Fair Trade gifts are gifts that give twice. Find catalogs, crafts,
A Des Moines diocesan delegation saw Fair Trade chocolates and coffee at www.CRSFairTrade.org.
artisans in Haiti If you are interested in learning more, contact CRS Fair
earlier this year. Trade Ambassadors Colleen Biegger 515-226-3377 or Kathy
Victim Assistance
“ W e Regan 712-246-8089.
Advocate
talked to people
Catholic Relief Services is the official international
whose
homes humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United
The diocese’s Victim Assistance Advoand
businesses States.
The
cate is a staff member at Polk County
were
destroyed
agency
alleviates
Victim Services. She helps victims of
in the earthquake s u f f e r i n g
sexual abuse of minors by clergy through
of 2010,” said and
provides
a complaint process and in seeking supBruceanne
Phillips,
assistance
to
port and counseling services. She can be
reached at 515-286-2024 or
of Holy Trinity people in need
[email protected]
Parish.
in 91 countries,
A
s without regard
Consejero sobre
part of the long- to race, religion
Asistencia de Víctimas
term
recovery, or
nationality.
El Consejero sobre Asistencia de Víctimas es
Catholic
Relief For
more
un empleado de Polk County Victim Services.
Services
is
working
i
n
f
o
r
m
a
t
ion,
Ella ayuda a víctimas de abuso sexual por
with
partner
please
visit
parte del clero durante el proceso de la queja
organizations
to
crs.org
or
y buscando servicios de apoyo y consejería.
help
artisans
and
crsespanol.org.
Pueden comunicarse al 515-286-2028 o en
coffee
farmers
[email protected].
start up again with
Guest Column
Luis Salinas-Mendoza
St. Bernard Parish, Osceola
“I thank God for our bishops and
priests, for their courage to defend the religious freedom and
their support for a comprehensive
immigration reform; to bring us
together as one family.”
Kim Oanh Vi
St. Peter Vietnamese, Des Moines
“I want to share my gratitude for
everything I have been blessed
with - family, friends, co-workers,
and continued support from
everyone.”
Rhonda Brown
St. Mary of Nazareth, Des Moines
“I am thankful for my husband
andmy children because they
bring a lot of joy and purpose to
my life.”
www.dmdiocese.org
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
Opinion
5
Music helps us reflect on the great mystery
The Diocese of Des Moines will
celebrate the end of the Year of Faith with
performances by the Drake University
Music Department of Hodie, a cantata for
Christmas, by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
This concert, to be presented on
Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday,
Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at St. Ambrose Cathedral,
will feature all four of Drake’s choirs,
three student soloists, a faculty/student
orchestra, and the Heartland Youth Choir.
More than 300 performers will be
involved in the concerts.
Hodie is an electrifying and
inspiring piece written by one of England’s
greatest composers. It uses texts from
Scripture, vespers for Christmas Day, and
poetry by Thomas Hardy, George Herbert,
John Milton, and William Drummond.
Written in 1953, the piece includes
a plethora of exciting sounds, from the
pure voices of a children’s choir to the
scintillating timbre of brass, percussion,
piano, organ, and harp.
The richness of the texts and music
have a great deal to speak to Des Moines
area residents and, particularly, to people
of faith. Hodie is a beautiful reflection
on the Incarnation, using Scripture as its
textual basis. The children’s chorus sings
passages from the nativity narratives of
the Gospels of Luke, John, and Matthew.
Vaughan Williams carefully chose poetry
Year of Faith
By Dr . Aimee
BeckmannCollier
to illuminate and expand those Scriptural
passages and the result is a piece of great
dramatic power, reflection, and celebration.
Curiously enough, Vaughan
Williams was an atheist. But he had
huge respect for the institutional church,
believing that it was the keeper of tradition,
the builder of a sense of community, and
the principal way, in his day, for ordinary
people to experience “good music.”
He spent a great deal of his life
writing music with religious texts and he
even served as the editor of the English
Hymnal. Vaughan Williams believed
that music is for everyone, not just elite
and highly sophisticated listeners and
performers.
I’ve always been attracted to his
ideas about the essential nature of music
in human experience and, in Hodie, find
that his choice of texts and the music
he composed for them to be deeply
meaningful.
The concerts, scheduled for the
weekend of the Church’s observance of the
feast of Christ the King and the close of the
liturgical year, will provide the opportunity
to celebrate the end of the Year of Faith and
to look forward to the beginning of Advent.
The performances are sponsored
in part by St. Ambrose Cathedral and the
parishes of Ss. John and Paul in Altoona,
Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny
and St. John the Apostle in Norwalk.
Gilchrist/Jewett
Lumber
Company (Rick Thompson, chief
executive officer of Gilchrist/Jewett
and a trustee of St. Ambrose Cathedral)
has supplied all the materials to build a
platform to accommodate the 60-member
orchestra and carpenters from Ss. John and
Paul Parish have provided the expertise
and labor to build the platform.
Tickets for the concert are $15
for non-students and $5 for students of any
age. They can be purchased at the Drake
Fine Arts Box Office, 515-271-3841. Box
office hours are Monday-Friday, noon to 6
p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. A
limited number of tickets will be available
for purchase at the door.
A pre-concert discussion will
take place before each performance, Nov.
23, 6:30 p.m.; Nov. 24, 2 p.m. in the St.
Ambrose Cathedral Parish Center. The
celebration of Christmas in our culture is
particularly worthy of reflection, given that
many people of no particular faith, like
Vaughan Williams, are attracted to ideas
that orbit around the feast, such as peace
and love. The pre-concert panel discussion
will not only talk about the music and
texts of Hodie but will also address the
issue of “What is it about Christmas?” and
the larger context in which the cantata is
situated.
As we close the Year of Faith,
in which we have tried to become more
prayerful and aware of God’s grace and
action in our lives, and as we begin the
season of Advent, Hodie can not only
excite us with amazing sounds and engage
us with stimulating words but also help us
to reflect deeply on the great mystery of
Emmanuel, God with us.
Dr. Aimee Beckmann-Collier is the director
of Choral Studies at Drake University and
the conductor of the Hodie performances.
She directs music for diocesan liturgies
and is a member of St. Catherine of
Siena Parish/Drake University Newman
Community. Dr. Beckmann-Collier can
be reached at aimee.beckmann-collier@
drake.edu.
The liturgy we celebrate is both earthly, heavenly
When I was in middle and high
school, I had names for the parts of Mass
that I didn’t share with anyone. Our walk
through the Mass now brings us to the
Preface and the Holy, which I always
thought of as The Long Prayer. The Long
Prayer comes before The Even Longer
Prayer, and is followed by That Song
We Sing Every Single Week. When I
discovered its name was “preface,” I can
remember thinking that we were really in
for a long haul.
This prayer and its accompanying
hymn of praise, the Sanctus (Holy), form
an important part of the Eucharistic Prayer,
and there’s a reason they are a part of every
single Mass. The Preface situates us in the
particular season or feast of the Church,
and changes seasonally or daily. It reminds
us that we are part of a heavenly and an
earthly banquet, and it invites us to partake
of that sacrificial feast. The Sanctus which
follows is the heavenly hymn of praise
first recorded by the Prophet Isaiah (see
Chapter 6), which we on earth now sing
with the angels and the saints.
Maybe it’s a Spirit-driven
coincidence, then, that we arrive here in
Lift Up Your Hearts
By Kyle
Lechtenberg
the month of November. This is the month
of All Saints and All Souls, of our nation’s
celebration of harvest and Thanksgiving,
the month when our Scriptures turn toward
the ultimate fulfillment of the reign of God
in Christ and in heaven—now and at the
end of time. These cold November days,
as the earth prepares for the dormancy
of winter which is followed by spring’s
new life, are a natural time for us in the
Northern Hemisphere to recall our loved
ones who have died. They are “our
brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep
in the hope of the resurrection, and all who
have died in [God’s] mercy” (Eucharistic
Prayer II). They are innumerable saints
whose dwelling with God the Church’s
faith proclaims, and our loved ones whose
lives of discipleship and faith have left us
lasting expressions of God’s love.
And they celebrate the Eucharist
with us.
Father Ken Gehling, a retired
priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque,
gave a beautiful homily at Father Art
McCann’s recent funeral Mass on Nov.
4 at St. Theresa Church in Des Moines.
The two were lifelong friends, and Father
McCann’s death on All Saints Day gave
those who knew him added opportunity
to reflect on the communion of saints and
the Eucharist we celebrate. Father Gehling
reminded us that the liturgy we celebrate is
both earthly and heavenly, and those who
celebrated with us in earthly life continue
to worship at the Eucharistic feast in their
heavenly life. Perhaps this reality is why
so many spouses, having lost their lifelong
companion at the Lord’s Table, weep
bittersweet tears at the first occasions of
attending Mass and receiving Communion
without him or her. This loved one is, in
the feast of heaven and earth, close yet
distant.
“Indeed for your faithful, Lord,
life is changed not ended, and when this
earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal
dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.
And so, with Angels and Archangels, with
Thrones and Dominions, and with all the
hosts and Powers of heaven, we sing the
hymn of your glory, as without end we
acclaim: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of
hosts…” (Preface I for the Dead, Roman
Missal Third Edition).
May this month of November
Eucharistic remembrances lead us to pray
for and with our loved ones and the whole
communion of Saints, that we might
glorify our gracious God and become
more holy in God’s presence.
Next month’s column will look
at the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Vatican
II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, set
forth for the whole Church on December
4, 1963. How will you commemorate this
landmark occasion?
Kyle Lechtenberg is the director of the
diocesan Office for Worship and can be
reached at [email protected].
Rings are reminders of God’s love and fidelity
I remember the early weeks of
my marriage, when wearing a ring was
still very foreign to me. I would tap my
hand on the table and listen to the loud clap
that my ring produced as it hit the wood. I
would stare at the ring and often play with
it (much to the annoyance of my wife).
I’d read its engraving, “Signum Crucis” a
dozen times each day.
My wife, Kara, had the words
“Signum Crucis” (Sign of the Cross)
engraved on the inside of my wedding ring
to remind me always that I received my
ring “in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” When she
placed the ring on my finger, she offered
Invited to Joy
By Adam
Storey
it as a sign of her
love and fidelity, and then she sealed the
gift with the sign of the cross. This is a
beautiful image of how in marriage our
love becomes entwined with, and perfected
by, God’s love.
Even though I’ve become
accustomed to wearing my wedding ring,
it remains a powerful sign of the divine
and human love that was exchanged on my
wedding day. Culturally, we often think
of the ring simply as a sign of the couple’s
commitment to each other, and while this
is true, it goes much deeper. The ring is
a sign of God’s pledge to man, a sign of
his faithfulness and support, hence the
inclusion of the sign of the cross. On our
wedding day we make a radical gift of
ourselves to our spouses, and in a sense
we commit to more than we can handle!
That’s precisely where God comes in. I
could never love Kara in the way she truly
deserves, and so even as I promise to do
so, I beg for God to help me. I know that
God will be faithful in his support, and I’m
reminded so by the ring that I wear.
It’s worth taking the time to reflect
on how often God has sustained his people
in the midst of great trials and struggles,
and to remember that our living God is
doing the same thing today! The rings we
wear are constant reminders of that love
and fidelity, as well as of our spouse’s yes,
but also of God’s!
Adam Storey is the diocesan director of the
Marriage and Family Ministry Office. He
can be reached at [email protected].
www.dmdiocese.org
Diocesan News
Altoona parish kicks off 30th anniversary year
Ss. John and Paul Parish
in Altoona is celebrating its 30th
anniversary this year.
Kicking off festivities
was the installation and blessing
of a new sculpture, the Risen
Christ. The sculpture now sits
in the prayer garden outside
of the church, said Father Tim
Fitzgerald.
“A prayer garden would
be a hearkening to the gospel
story in John chapter 20 of Mary
Magdalen, who encounters the
Risen Christ in the garden,” he
said. “So we used that gospel
Retreat for deaf
community draws
from four states
Father Michael Depcik
A priest was at the front
of the room with a slideshow
presentation and videos.
He was surrounded by
about 35 people from five states
who came to hear what he had to
say.
And a vistor could have
heard a pin drop.
The retreat, “We Are
Called to be Saints” was led by
one of only a few deaf Catholic
priests in the world, Franciscan
Father Michael Depcik, for the
deaf community.
Individuals from across
Iowa plus Nebraska, Wisconsin,
Illinois and Minnesota traveled
to St. Catherine of Siena Catholic
Student Center in Des Moines
Oct. 25-27 for the retreat.
“It was truly a wonderful
weekend for all of us and I
enjoyed every moment of it,”
said Father Depcik afterward. He led the retreat using
American Sign Language, which
he also used to celebrate Mass.
Father Depcik uses a
video blog “Father MD’s Kitchen
Table” as a means of reaching
people who may not have access
to a priest who speaks with sign
language.
“It is my hope that the
diocese will consider having a
priest who knows sign language
to minister to deaf people in Des
Moines,” he said following the
retreat.
Organizer Dee Cordero
said Father Depcik was insighful
an shared stories of saints
and people who experienced
challenges and remained faithful
to God.
“We
all
were
tremendously encouraged to
take up our individual crosses,
follow Jesus faithfully, and begin
to make changes in our daily
choices so that we can love God
and develop our relationship to
him,” she said.
She is grateful for a
grant from St. Catherine of Siena
Foundation and Peggy Chicoine
for helping to make the retreat
possible.
passage with the dedication.”
The
sculpture
was
created by Wiktor Szolstalo,
the artist who also designed the
Crucified Christ and Holy Family
pieces at Ss. John and Paul.
Szolsatolo said he wanted this
piece to reflect Christ’s warmth
and humanity.
“[Jesus] is almost ready
to smile,” he said. “I wanted
people to cheer up a little bit
[upon seeing it.] Cheer up folks
and move on. Let’s keep going.”
The sculpture blessing
was in conjunction with the
parish’s Fall Fest, which included
a parish meal, silent and live
auctions, bingo and activities for
kids, said Ann Moyna, chair of
the parish life committee.
In October the parish
had a special senior luncheon for
members 70 and older. In February they will have a 30th Anniversary Dinner and Dance. Moyna
said she is looking forward to
these activities bringing the older
and younger parishioners together. “It’s just a nice reminder of the
30 years,” Moyna said.
The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
7
Catholic Charities
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
“Poverty
in a world of
plenty”
In the month of October, an
average of seven families called St.
Joseph Emergency Family Shelter each
day to see if a room was available. Last
year, an average of 400 people came
through the doors each day at St. Mary
Family Center for food, clothing,
infant formula or diapers. Today,
approximately 12 million refugees live
in camps in countries other than their
own waiting for a chance to start a new
life.
Pope Francis, as part of an
explanation of why he chose the name
Francis upon election, refers to these
mounting needs as the “scandal of
poverty in a world of plenty”.
Today, approximately 46.5 million
people in the U.S. live in poverty.
(Census.gov) A family of four earning
$23,492 a year, or $11,720 for an
individual, are considered to be living
in poverty.
For Catholic Charities in the
Diocese in Des Moines, a social service
organization working with poor and
vulnerable populations since 1925, the
The Homeless
395 -
challenge is to stay in tune with the realtime needs of the people while being
innovative in the approaches it takes to
make changes systems that are keeping
people in poverty.
A current strategy being used by
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of
Des Moines to help people living in
poverty is to offer a combination of basic
needs assistance and empowerment
opportunities.
“If families don’t have a place to
live or food to eat, that becomes their
number one priority and thinking
beyond those basic needs becomes
extremely difficult if not impossible,”
says Leslie Van Der Molen, program
manager of Catholic Charities’ Poverty
Reduction Programs. “By providing
basic necessities like food and shelter,
we help stabilize the situation and can
assist families in developing a plan for
what’s next.”
That is where empowerment
programming like the Hispanic
community
outreach
program
computer classes comes in.
Photo by Jody Tramontina
Jose Arias, an immigrant and native
Spanish speaker, was at Catholic Charities
office for assistance and learned about the
computer class offered by the Hispanic
Community Outreach Program. At that
time, Jose was working as a janitor at a Des
Moines area hospital and was looking to
advance to a higher position. The computer
class was a perfect fit for his professional
aspirations and helped him to advance
his skills in Microsoft Office programs, a
prerequisite for the better paying and more
stable employment. Upon completion
of the computer class, a desk job at the
hospital opened and he got the job.
“The skills he learned at computer class
were the right fit,” said Mireya Ramirez,
Hispanic Community Outreach Program
Coordinator and computer class instructor.
The Hungry
The Immigrant
The Refugee
Average number of people
that come through the doors each day
at St. Mary Family Center.
Number of students that
graduated from computer classes last
year.
102 -
208 - Average number of refu-
2,268 - Number of volunteer 4,665 - Number of people
200 - Number volunteers donated
*For more information about populations served by Catholic Charities
including counseling services, adoption, domestic violence and sexual
assault programming go to www.
CatholicCharitiesDM.org.
Number of families
that stayed at St. Joseph Emergency
Family Shelter last year.
hours donated at St. Joseph Emergency Family Shelter last year.
400 -
“And, when he finished the class, he came
back and became a volunteer and a great
example for the other students.”
Catholic Charities is unique in the
social service field not only because of
the array of social issues it addresses, but
more so because their key tenets come
from Catholic social teaching, says Nancy
Galeazzi, executive director of Catholic
Charities, Diocese of Des Moines. “Our
Catholic social teaching reminds us that
the basic moral test of a society is how our
most vulnerable members are faring. That,
along with our deep belief of the life and
dignity of the human person, fuels our
work and keeps us on track,” said Galeazzi.
On track to transform lives and work
towards justice amidst the “scandal of
poverty in a world of plenty.”
who received personal care items at St.
Mary Family Center last year.
to the Hispanic Community Outreach
Program empowerment classes, including computer, citizenship and nutrition
classes.
gees resettled by Catholic Charities,
Diocese of Des Moines last year.
because we all need a li
The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
“Poverty in a World of Plenty”
- Pope Francis
Fundraising Reception
Fri., Dec. 6, 5-8 pm
Join us for our annual fundraising reception for St. Joseph
Emergency Family Shelter and Poverty Reduction Programs.
The evening includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, words from Bishop
Richard Pates and a special lighting of the Giving Tree. Tickets start
at $50 online at CatholicCharitiesDM.org or 515-237-5078.
Poverty Simulation - Sat., Dec. 7
Two sessions: 9am-Noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
This hands-on experience shows participants what it might be like
to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month
to month and the realities faced by the poor. Cost $15.
Pre-registration is required online at CatholicCharitiesDM.org or
515-237-5019.
No Room at the Inn Open House
Dec. 8, 1-4 p.m.
Choirs, nativity displays, live nativity, Christmas treats and the
Christmas story read by Bishop Richard Pates and Bishop Emeritus
Joseph Charron. New this year – Information about volunteer and
service projects for all ages. Admission is a personal care item to
lay under the Giving Tree. Cash donations are also welcome at the
event or CatholicCharitiesDM.org.
All events held at 601 Grand Ave. Des Moines | www.CatholicCharitiesDM.org | 515-237-5045
Volunteers, Service highlights of
No Room at the Inn Open House Dec. 8
They say it is better to
give than to receive and on
Sun., Dec. 8, you and your
family are invited to do both.
Catholic Charities will
host the 9th annual No
Room at the Inn Open
House, a poverty awareness
event held at the Catholic
Pastoral Center, 601 Grand
Ave. in downtown Des
Moines from 1-4 p.m.
The open house will feature choirs and a unique display of nativities, a reminder
that, like the holy family on
that fateful night, many people find there is “no room at
the inn” at crowded homeless
shelters.
This year there will also
be a number of opportunities to learn about how you
can join in efforts to reduce poverty in Central and
Southwest Iowa.
“No Room at the Inn,
with the nativities and
Christmas music, really
moves people,” said Trish
Radke, Director of Communications and Events at
Catholic Charities. “In the
past, we focused heavily on
that reflection piece, but this
year we want to move people
to action as well.”
Catholic Charities serves
nearly 25,000 people each
year, efforts that include not
only a full and part-time staff
of more than 70 people, but
nearly 400 volunteers and
hundreds more parishes,
businesses, groups and individuals collecting items
for people served through
Catholic Charities outreach
programs.
Here are some highlights
of volunteer and service information one might pick up
at the No Room at the Inn
Open House:
For Parishes & Groups
When refugees comes to
the United States after being
forced to flee their homeland because of persecution,
many arrive with little to
no belongings. Parishes and
groups assist Catholic Charities in providing basic household items and furniture like
pots and pans, sheets and
blankets and other items.
Learn about ways your parish or group can participate
in collecting items such as
these and furnish an apartment for a refugee family.
For the new retiree:
Are you available one
or more days for a couple
hours between 10 a.m. and
3:30 p.m? Join the volunteer crew at St. Mary Family
Center, 1815 Hubbell in Des
Moines. Boxing food, sort
ing donations and administering the clothing closet are
just a few ways volunteers
help serve between 300-400
people each day.
For more information
on these or other volunteer
and service ideas go to www.
CatholicCharitiesDM.org.
Pictured below:
Left: Volunteers at St. Mary
Family Center last year during the Christmas rush.
Right: Lisa Flyr and Jenn
O’Tool from Holy Trinity
Parish bring household donations for the Refugee Resettlement program.
ittle help along the way
Stress and
the holidays:
Therapists offer positive
ways to manage stress
and enjoy the season
The holidays are upon us as are
the emotions evoked by the sights,
sounds and smells of the season.
Among our many emotions, stress
seems to be a common theme this
time of year, say therapists at Catholic
Charities Center for Life Counseling.
“The holidays are a very emotional time for people,” said Deb
Newman, director and clinical therapist at Center for Life Counseling.
“And often when there is high emotion, there is high anxiety. What’s
important is that we cope with this
stress and anxiety in a positive way.”
Newman
offers
several ways to reduce stress during
the
upcoming
holidays:
1. Give yourself permission to set
limits on what you can and can’t
do. If you can’t make it to all of
the holiday parties you were invited to, allow yourself to attend the
ones you can and be ok with that.
2. Exercise and eat right. Your physical and mental well-being is interconnected so it is important to be mindful of how many Christmas cookies
and glasses of wine you partake in.
3. Be clear with yourself about your
plans and intentions and communicate them clearly to your family and
friends. If you plan to spend Thanksgiving with your in-laws and Christmas at your Mom’s, communicate
that to everyone involved ahead of
time. If someone resists, remember
that it is ok to be kind but stay firm.
In addition to taking care of yourself during the holidays, it is important
to enjoy the time with your family,
and of most importance, to remember the meaning of the holidays: give
thanks, prepare for Christmas through
Advent, and celebrate the birth of Jesus
Christ at Christmas. Happy Holidays!
10
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
Cardinal Turkson and hunger at World Food Prize
Continued from page 1
respectful listening, by a genuine
desire to learn from the other,
indeed from all the stakeholders,
that the better and truly enduring
sustainable solutions will be
found.”
He participated in an
interfaith prayer service to end
world hunger during his visit to
Des Moines.
Rev. David Beckmann, president
of Bread for the World, said at the
prayer service that progress has
been made to end world hunger
and work should continue.
“This is holy work,” he
said. Beckmann is a 2010 laureate
of the World Food Prize.
The purpose of the Borlaug
Dialogue is to have open
discussions
about
feeding
hungry people now and feeding
the 9 billion people expected
to populate this world by 2050.
The soaring growth in population
presents challenges – a need
to double the world’s current
food supply with little increase
in farmable land. Increasingly
volatile weather patterns further
add to the uncertainties.
“We are facing the
single greatest challenge in all
human history,” said Ambassador
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Ken Quinn, executive director of
the World Food Prize Foundation.
“Can we sustainably feed 9
billion people who will be on our
planet in the year 2050? We have
to do this basically on the land
that’s available now for farming,
because the other option is that
we cut down the forests and
rainforests and try to grow food
there.”
While in Des Moines,
Cardinal Turkson also met with
the National Catholic Rural
Life
Conference,
presented
the Cardinal Newman Lecture
at Drake University and met
with Iceland’s President Olafur
Grimsson.
He attended the World
Food Prize Laureate Award
Ceremony and dinner at the Iowa
State Capitol.
To learn more about
the World Food Prize, visit www.
worldfoodprize.org.
Cardinal Turkson presented
the Newman Lecture at Drake
University’s Sheslow Auditorium on
the Vocation of a Business Person
while in town.
He said “‘Vocation means
a calling: a calling which comes
from God our creator. Creation and
everything created is purposely
willed by God. Therefore, the
meaning of everything that exists is
determined with reference to God.”
“All human activity that
affects man, his existence and his
world, must be related to God and
be seen as a contribution to and
a continuation of God’s work of
creation by man, who is created in
the image and likeness of God,”
Cardinal
Turkson
continued.
“Businesspeople and entrepeneurs
should see themselves as called by
God to exercise their necessary and
important skills and activities in
order to assist in continuing God’s
work of creation.”
Just before
an interfaith prayer
service
to
end
world hunger on
Wednesday
night,
there was a brief
welcome from local
Africans for Cardinal
Peter Turkson in a
courtyard adjacent
to
St.
Ambrose
Cathedral.
Children
sang, children and
adults alike wore
ethnic garb and there
were lots of smiles
offering a warm welcome to the
cardinal on a chilly night.
Arosa Kidane, a fifth
grader who attends religious
education at St. Ambrose
Cathedral Parish, enjoyed singing
in the Eritrean choir for the
cardinal.
“I saw the cardinal from
Africa,” she said afterward. “He
is like me. He looks like me! I got
to sing in my language for him.”
Cardinal
Turkson
was “down to earth. He’s just
amazing,” said Mercy Issa,
originally of Liberia.
Cornerstone
Family
Church Rev. Grace Swett, from
Kenya, and All Nations Assembly
of God Pastor Issac Oyibo, from
Nigeria were all smiles after
greeting the cardinal.
“We feel God has
elevated Africa in a place it hasn’t
been and we give God all the
glory,” said Rev. Swett.
“We should do this more
often,” said Pastor Oyibo. “Iowa
Africans will come together and
celebrate Africa in a much bigger
way.”
The vocation of
business
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Cardinal draws warm welcome
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Iowa Catholic Radio • Box 838 • Des Moines, IA 50304
515-282-PRAY (7729)
www.IowaCatholicRadio.com
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“The staff of Iowa Hospice were all so wonderful.
 I don’t know how Mom and I would have gone through this
without their support. They are angels of mercy.”
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• Medical care provided by doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational and
speech therapists.
• Home health and homemaker services such as bathing, grooming and changing bed
linens. Additionally, respite services may be provided to relieve caregivers.
• Medical social workers to address family-life issues, work demands, and financial needs.
• Massage and music therapy, provided by board-certified therapists, can be used to
express emotions, calm and comfort.
• Chaplains, clergy, counselors, and hospice volunteers offer emotional and spiritual
support. Bereavement counseling, support groups and classes are also made available
to families on an ongoing basis.
• Durable medical equipment, supplies and medications related to the terminal diagnosis
to aid in patient care and comfort.
• Hospice-trained volunteers to serve as helping hands, companions and sympathetic
listeners.

Priest celebrates silver jubilee

Serving 95 of Iowa’s 99 counties
5650 NW Johnston Dr., Suite E • Johnston, IA 50131
515-276-6696 • 800-HOSPICE
www.iowa-hospice.com
Franciscan Father Tom Kunnel, pastor of St. Mary Church in
Red Oak and St. Patrick Church in Imogene, recently celebrated his
silver jubilee in the priesthood. His celebration in Imogene was Oct.
12 with a 4 p.m. Mass followed by a dinner in the parish hall. His
celebration in Red Oak was Oct. 13 with a 10:30 a.m. Mass followed
by a cookout.
Guests included friends and former parishioners from
several states. Clergy in attendance included Bishop Richard Pates,
Father Nicolas Tudu from Germany and Fathers Ranjan Ekka and
Vincy Illickal from West Virginia.
The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
The Diocese of Des
Moines has begun disbursing to
parishes their share of “Sharing
God’s Gifts” capital campaign
funds.
In October, more than
$2 million was given to 31
parishes and funds associated
with St. Thomas More Center, St.
Albert, senior housing, Catholic
Charities, clergy residences
and more within the Catholic
Foundation of Southwest Iowa.
The diocese disburses
funds on a quarterly basis based
on what has been received for
parishes that have reached 70
percent of their pledged goal.
St. John the Apostle
Parish in Norwalk received its
first disbursement, which will
go toward debt reduction, said
Father
J o h n
Ludwig.
T h e
parish
owes $1
million
on
its
building
and has
designated all funds that come
in from the capital campaign to
help pay off the debt, thereby
saving some money on interest
payments.
The capital campaign
has been helpful. “The saving
grace of it is that 50 percent
comes back to the parishes,” said
Father Ludwig.
“For us, it’s worked out
really well,” he said.
Fundraiser tries new things in Iowa
When
Cameron
Nelson,
of
northeast
Tennessee, came to Des
Moines last April to help with
the capital campaign “Sharing
God’s Gifts,” she wasn’t sure
what to expect but said the
hospitality has been great.
People gave her tips
on what to see at the Iowa
State Fair, where to find the
farmers’ markets and “all
the things that are unique to
Iowa,” she said.
Pete
and
Dana
Wenstrand, of St. Mary Parish
in Shenandoah, extended
hospitality to her, inviting her
to stay with them while she’s
working in the far southwest
part of the diocese. She’s
been staying with them every
Monday night for the last
few weeks and had a first-time
experience there.
“The past two weeks,
we’ve gotten through our
meetings a little early so I’ve
been able to go into the fields
with them and combine and see
part of harvest,” she said. “I got to
drive the combine last week when
we were harvesting corn. I’m
from northeast Tennessee, where
there’s not a lot of farmland.
It’s something I’ve never had to
experience before and it’s really
cool.”
Ankeny land donor
passes away
Fern Riggenberg of
Ankeny passed away Sept. 20
at Bishop Drumm Retirement
Center.
Riggenberg
and
her deceased sister, Mary
Riggenberg, both grew up
on farmland in Ankeny and
lived there until moving to
the Bishop Drumm retirement
community. They donated 30
acres of that farmland to the
diocese – now the future location
of St. Luke Catholic Church,
school and eventually senior
housing.
“The land itself is a
prominent spot in that it has a
general rise up and the church
will be on a higher point than all
the area around it,” said pastor
Father Larry Hoffmann.
Their gift will positively
impact thousands of lives.
“We are extremely
appreciative of their gift of the
land,” he said. “That’s just a
major generous contribution that
enabled us to get the whole thing
started.”
Construction on St.
Luke parish hall will begin in the
spring. Cameron Nelson with Dana
Wenstrand harvesting corn.
Monday, January 20, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
American
Americ
an Friend’s
Friend’ss House • Cost:
Friend’
Cost:: $25.00
Cost
$25.00
$25
Grand
Avenue
(4211 Gr
Gran
and Av
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venue Des
Des Moines,
Moines,
Moine
s, Iowa)
Iowa)
Iow
CItY is made possible by the Larry and Kay Myers
Interfaith and intercultural Ambassador Initiative.
Capital campaign disbursing funds
11
DMARC
INTERFAITH
YOUTH
JUSTICE
CAMP
For more information, contact the DMARC office at
515-277-6969, or [email protected].
Des Moines Area Religious Council • 515-277-6969
3816 36th St., Ste. #202 • Des Moines, IA 50310-4710
www.dmreligious.org • www.movethefood.org
Learn about social justice in our community and
how YOU can make a difference! The day-long
camp includes:
• Tour of DMARC Food Pantry
• Tour various worship spaces
• Tour community outreach organization
• Expert speakers
• Games
• Small & large group sharing
• Prayers from various faith traditions
Registration forms are available through the
DMARC office or online. The event is facilitated
by the Center for Social Ministry, an organization
that provides poverty awareness/justice
education programming in Des Moines.
This Christmas, give a gift
that is impossible to wrap.
A Gift of Hope
It is easy to make a donation to Catholic Charities in a
loved one’s name this Christmas. Donations will help provide shelter for homeless families, food and clothing for
the children, the elderly and families struggling to make
ends meet, professional counseling services and... Hope.
CatholicCharitiesDM.org
How to give a gift of hope
in a loved one’s name this
Christmas:
ONLINE:
www.CatholicCharitiesDM.org
BY MAIL:
Mail this form & donation to:
Catholic Charities, Gift of Hope
601 Grand Ave.
Des Moines IA 50309
ANNOUNCE YOUR GIFT
Go online to
CatholicCharitiesDM.org to
print a special Gift of Hope
tribute card to tuck in your
own special card or wrap up in
a box.
Gift of Hope Donation Form
__ $25 __$50 __$100 __$250 __$500 __Other $____
Name ______________________________________
Address ____________________________________
City, St, Zip _________________________________
Phone ______________________________________
Email ______________________________________
Please bill my credit card:
__ American Express __Mastercard __Visa __Discover
Account # ___________________________exp. ___/___
Signature ____________________________ Date ______
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
12
Catholic Foundation of Southwest Iowa provides financial benefits and oppourtunities
The
Catholic
Foundation for Southwest Iowa,
created about 18 months ago,
is busy sharing with parishes
all the different investment
opportunities and benefits of
pooling their resources with the
foundation.
“We’re very excited
that we’ve had great interest so
far,” said Mark Reed, director of
Institutional Advancement.
He has visited about
half of the diocese’s 81 parishes
to talk with pastors, Finance
Save the Date!
Holiday Hop Craft Bazaar
Saturday,11/23/2013
St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winterset in conjunction with other Winterset churches is once again
holding its annual Holiday Hop Craft Bazaar. Doors will
open at 8:30AM. Breakfast and hot lunch will be served
for a free will offering. Lots of unique craft items such as
antique postcard pillows, doll furniture, Christmas items,
kitchen items, furniture, baked goods and lots more.
Get a card at your first stop, get it
punched at each stop and have a
chance to win a door prize. Plan
on spending the day shopping in
Winterset at all the craft fairs and
enjoy some savings in town as
well. MasterCard and Visa will
be accepted.
Councils and other about
using the foundation for their
investments.
The Finance Council
for St. Michael Parish in Harlan
decided to move funds that had
not been earning much interest
in the bank to the Catholic
Foundation.
The council hopes to
earn more than the interest rate
the parish is currently earning on
certificates of deposit, said Father
John Frost, the pastor.
Father John Dorton,
pastor of three Shelby County
parishes, said one of his parishes
has decided to put a bequest into
the Catholic Foundation rather
than a savings account or money
market account so it can earn a
better return. Reed is expected to
visit the parish soon to move the
process along.
The parish made its
decision based on several benefits
of the Catholic Foundation: it has
access to investment vehicles
that only larger pools of funds
can tap into; it has professionals
investing the funds; and the
parish can have access to its
money when it needs it.
“They want him to help
them get the ball rolling to get the
endowment started,” said Father
Dorton.
Another key benefit to
the foundation is that it’s a vehicle
for investing dollars consistent
with Catholic values, said Dennis
Purdum, the foundation’s vice
chair.
Since its establishment,
the
foundation
has
its
infrastructure in place, its
investment advisers in place and
completed its first-year audit.
“I think it’s going very
well,” he said. “It’s meeting our
expectations.”
St. Ambrose Cathedral
Parish placed its resources with
the Catholic Foundation, said
Father John Bertogli, rector.
He said it’s a good opportunity
for all the parishes because
the funds will be managed by
one organization, parishes will
gain some interest that can go
back to the parishes and they’re
guaranteed access to their funds.
In addition to investing
funds for parishes and schools,
the Catholic Foundation can
be of benefit to individuals and
family donors. They can access
tax benefits such as ENDOW
Iowa, make philanthropic gifts
through donor-advised funds,
and have flexibility for planned
giving.
The
Catholic
Foundation for Southwest Iowa
launched a website recently that
explains why it was formed,
its mission and how to reach
someone for more information.
The website address is www.
catholicfoundationswia.org.
Basilica of St. John Celebra�ng the 25th Anniversary of the eleva�on of St. John’s Church to a Basilica We will have an Advent recollec�on day with Archabbot Lambert Reilly, O.S.B. Saturday, December 14, 2013 talks at 1:00 & 2:00 p.m. And he will celebrate Mass Sunday, December 15th at 10:30 a.m. A potluck lunch will be held in the Mulvihill Hall a�er the 10:30 a.m. Mass. All are welcome to a�end this monumental celebra�on. 5701 Hickman Road • Des Moines, Iowa 50310-1122
phone: (515) 255-5230 • toll free 1-877-206-2220
email: [email protected]
Website: www.DivineTreasuresinc.net
The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
St. Albert
football team
overcomes
obstacles
Dowling student breaks world records
cont. from p. 1
By Kelly Mescher Collins
Staff Writer
Losing
a
starting
quarterback and about 10 more
players to injuries sounds like the
beginning of a team’s downward
spiral, unless that team is St.
Albert Catholic of Council Bluffs. The team won 10 straight
games despite being bandaged
and re-bandaged together before 12-10 loss to Ogden.
“I can’t even count the
number of injuries we’ve had
this season,” said head football
coach Kevin Culjat before the
Ogden game. “At one point in
week seven, 21 of 40 kids were
hurt. We’ve got six kids that are
definitely out for the year. It’s
really just been a roller coaster
ride.”
Because so many players
were benched due to injuries,
more freshmen played this season
than ever before.
Their faith had not gone
un-tested this season.
“If we didn’t have faith
this season, boy, we’d really be in
trouble,” Culjat said.
Prayer played a big
role. “We sit down to pray before
practice and after practice and
pray for the guys that are injured.”
They even recruited the
help of Father Paul Monahan,
who is actively involved at St.
Albert. He had been anointing
one injured player after another. Six senior
cocaptains had been working on
encouragement.
“We make sure the guys
don’t get too down,” said cocaptain Eric Johnson, a receiver
and defensive back from Corpus
Christi Parish.
“We talk to them,
encourage them,” said co-captain
Trey Bowman, a lineman from
Corpus Christi Parish. “We tell
them we believe in them no
matter what.” Undefeated Dowling
Catholic in semifinal
The undefeated Dowling
Catholic High School football
team will play West Des Moines
Valley High School in the 4-A
semifinal on Friday, Nov. 15, at
the UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls at
7 p.m.
The game will be carried
live by Iowa Catholic Radio at
1150AM, 88.5 FM or 94.5 FM. or
online at www.iowacatholicradio.
com.
also really tried to work on the
speed and strength training,”
Evan said.
He wants to succeed,
have paid off.
“He just trains and trains
and trains,” said Hal Pittman.
“He’s trained once or twice a day
every day since he was 10-years
old. He has been really focused
on his sports and getting to the
Olympics.” Evan also finds strength
and solace in God.
“There have been a lot
of times where I’ve doubted
myself and a lot of the things that
I’ve done,” Evan said. “I’ve been
able to get through all of these
things with God and praying and
thinking of all the good things that
could happen with the strength
of God. Honestly, without that
I would not be able to do any of
those things.” Student earns top
score on ACT exam
Dowling Catholic High
School senior Soren Kyhl recently scored a 36 on his ACT exam –
the highest composite score possible.
Less than one tenth of
one percent of all students taking
the ACT exam earn that score.
Kyhl is only one of
about three students from Dowling Catholic to ever receive marks
that high. He is a parishioner at
St. Pius X Church in Urbandale,
where also attended grade school.
Dowling Catholic President Jerry
Deegan said he is proud of Kyhl’s
accomplishments.
“First and foremost, it’s
his hard work and dedication
matched with his ability,” Deegan said. “He’s really applied
himself and has the ability. And
then I think [Dowling] contributes a wide variety of academics,
where he can really be challenge
and go across the spectrum in all
areas. It’s providing a strong core
and also having things that are
interesting and challenging, like
engineering, which gives another
level to deepen and broaden that
academic background.”
The ACT exam is a college readiness assessments for
college admissions.
Join veteran tour leader Father John Vakulskas for a special
Pilgrimage to Italy
&
Visit Venice, Assisi, Florence, Ostiglia
February 18 - 28, 2014
$3099 - Chicago
Cross Country results
The Iowa High School
state championship cross country
meets were held on Saturday, Nov.
2, and the Dowling Catholic High
School girls’ team left with its sixth
state championship in the last seven
years.
According to the Iowa
High School Athletic Association,
Dowling Catholic senior Karissa
Schweizer also finished second in
the individual state championship.
The Dowling Catholic
boys’ team finished in third place,
and senior Spencer Clark finished
in second for the individual title.
The St. Albert High
School girls’ cross country team
finished in eighth place and the
boys’ finished in sixth place.
said mom Rebecca Feaster,
resulting in an “aggressive
schedule.” The athlete works
out two to three hours a day on
weekdays and four to six hours
per day on the weekends.
He also finds inspiration
in one of his favorite Olympic
athletes who also trained in Des
Moines.
“Even before I knew
I was moving to Iowa, Gabby
Douglas was always an inspiration
to me,” he said. “She is AfricanAmerican like I am.”
Douglas is also originally
from Norfolk, Virginia, where
Evan lived during elementary
school and junior high. He saw
how she made great strides in a
short amount of time and feels he
can do the same.
His parents agree that
his dedication and consistency
13
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Vatican Art Museum and much more! An inspirational day in Assisi. The glories of Florence
and Venice. A day in Ostiglia, home of Moser Rides, who is a friend of Father John.
Moser Rides
For more information contact:
Father John Vakulskas Jr
Saint Andrew Church
PO Box 97
Sibley, IA, 51249
(712) 754-3311 or
[email protected]
14
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
En las tierras del corazón con el Obispo Pates
Intermediario en el Diálogo
A inicios de este año,
se invitó al Cardenal Peter K.A.
Turkson, Presidente del Consejo
Pontificio para la Justicia y la Paz en
Roma, a ser el presentador principal
en el Diálogo Bourlag del Premio
Mundial de Alimentación.
Este
evento se llevó a cabo recientemente
del 15 al 17 de octubre en Des
Moines.
Cuando
se
hizo
la
invitación, aun no se anunciaban
los galardonados de la edición de
este año del Premio Mundial de la
Alimentación. El Cardenal aceptó
principalmente, sabiendo que el
Premio Mundial de la Alimentación
está a la vanguardia al abordar un
problema tan significativo como el
hambre en el mundo.
Eventualmente, se dieron
a conocer los ganadores del premio
– tres científicos prominentes que
han sido clave en el desarrollo
de
organismos
genéticamente
modificados, o OGMs. Entre los
ganadores se encuentran individuos
que han trabajado en esa industria y
que han sido blanco de criticismo por
parte de algunos grupos.
El anuncio de los ganadores
By
Bishop
Richard E.
Pates
del premio agitó varias reacciones,
especialmente un grupo local llamado
Ocupemos el Premio Mundial de la
Alimentación. Este grupo organizó
un programa que coincidía con las
actividades del Premio Mundial de
la Alimentación en Des Moines.
Siguiendo el ejemplo del Premio
Mundial de la Alimentación, el grupo
también invitó al Cardenal Turkson a
que hablara en su reunión.
Para sorpresa de todos,
el Cardenal Turkson aceptó ambas
invitaciones. Esto era algo inusual
ya que el grupo Ocupemos el Premio
Mundial de la Alimentación habían
una posición en contra de los OGMs,
así como contra las corporaciones
que participan en la agricultura. En
lo positivo, ellos apoyan las granjas
familiares y hacen énfasis en los
cultivos orgánicos.
YOU HAVE A CHOICE,
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in Kansas, Nebraska,
Wisconsin and Iowa
We Adhere To
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We Are
Strengthened by faith,
empowered by our values and
led by our “Servant Hearts,”
we will deliver the highest
quality of care to you
El Cardenal Turkson vino a Des
Moines a ambos eventos y dio un
mensaje consistente a favor de la
Iglesia Católica. La Iglesia, remarcó,
apoya los estudios científicos que
buscan mejorar la humanidad.
Individuos relacionados con Norman
Bourlag han logrado grandes
avances en combatir el hambre y el
sufrimiento humano en la faz de la
tierra.
Al mismo tiempo, el
desarrollo científico debe estar
consciente de las implicaciones
morales de sus resultados.
La
verdad a la que se refirió el Cardenal
se basa en que cada acto humano
tiene una naturaleza moral y debe
evaluarse bajo esa realidad. Por lo
tanto, el criterio para implementar
descubrimientos científicos debe
incorporar la prudencia así como
el entendimiento de cómo puede
afectar a los diferentes grupos en
donde se aplican, especialmente
a los pobres en países en vía de
desarrollo. Aunque es legítimo el
buscar ganancias económicas, ¿no
deben ajustarse éstas buscando la
superación de los pobres y darles una
esperanza sostenible?
El
Cardenal
hizo
énfasis en que había aceptado la
invitación de ambos grupos para
promover el diálogo y la inclusión,
buscando contribuir al bien común.
Conscientemente, se abstuvo de
demonizar a un grupo a costa del
otro.
A mí me parece que esta
es una posición que se alinea con
la visión del Papa Francisco y la
respuesta contemporánea de un
discípulo fiel al Señor Jesús. Algunas
veces, dos grupos opuestos se plantan
tan firmemente promoviendo sus
causas particulares que la verdad
que reside normalmente en diversos
puntos de vista, no resulta ser efectiva
ni salvadora de vida. Se desgasta
energía en la terca insistencia en una
posición individual que, en realidad,
probablemente contiene una verdad a
medias.
El personal editorial de The
Des Moines Register hizo énfasis en
la posición del Cardenal en su edición
del 20 de Octubre:
quien lanzó la Revolución
Verde y el Premio Mundial de
Alimentación.”
Sorprendentemente,
al concluir su presentación ante
audiencias de cada uno de los
eventos, el Cardenal Turkson recibió
ovaciones de pie. Que podamos
responder al valor y a los dones de
su Eminencia siendo promotores
del antiguo dicho de Aristóteles: “In
Medio stat virtus” “En el centro está
la virtud.”
“Una rosa para el Cardenal
Peter K.A. Turkson de Ghana
por lograr un delicado equilibrio
entre
polos
contendientes
en el debate sobre alimentos
genéticamente modificados. El
Cardenal Turkson, presidente
del Consejo Pontificio para la
Justicia y la Paz, estuvo aquí
la semana pasada para los
eventos del Premio Mundial
de Alimentación. Además de
hablar en el Diálogo Bourlag, se
reunión con granjeros activistas
de Iowa que se oponen a los
organismos
genéticamente
modificados (OGMs) y a lo que
ellos ven como un crecimiento
en el dominio corporativo de la
agricultura. Aunque el comparte
algunas preocupaciones de estos
activistas, se negó cortésmente
a tomar parte en el debate. “Me
niego a demonizar a un grupo,”
dijo a los activistas. “Ni un
grupo ni el otro. Prefiero buscar
el promover aperturas que
nos permitan hablar, negociar
y convencer.” El espíritu de
diálogo era precisamente la meta
del fallecido Norman Bourlag,
Bendiciones del Día de Acción de
Gracias
Les envío mis mejores
deseos a todos en la Diócesis de Des
Moines para un Feliz Día de Acción
de Gracias lleno de bendiciones.
Como familias y como
individuos, reconocemos la constante
compañía en nuestras vidas de un
Dios generoso, que renueva sus
bendiciones hacia nosotros al llegar
cada nuevo día.
Como
comunidad
diocesana
hemos
compartido
ciertamente la bondad del Señor.
En particular nos llena de gozo la
ordenación de tres nuevos sacerdotes
así como un creciente cuerpo de ya
20 seminaristas. Por el lado material,
agradecemos la generosidad de tantos
que han permitido que la campaña
capital “Compartiendo los Dones de
Dios” haya sido al momento un gran
éxito. Que nuestro agradecimiento
por los dones de Dios nos inspire a
comprometernos en nuestro rol de
ser discípulos misioneros, agentes
del Evangelio y la Buena Nueva de
nuestros tiempos.
The Holy Land Pilgrimage hosted by Rev. Robert E. Harris 10 days Depar�ng November 10, 2014 from Des Moines
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The Catholic Mirror,November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
15
The Question Corner
Q. The announcement of the
forthcoming canonizations of popes
John XXIII and John Paul II caused
me to wonder. I thought that it
was Vatican policy not to canonize
anyone until at least 50 years after
their death. Did that policy change?
(Walton, N.Y.)
A. Yes, the policy changed. The
canonization of saints is now
governed by reforms set in place by
Pope John Paul II in 1983.
Prior to that time, the
introduction of a saint’s cause had to
wait until 50 years after that person’s
death. The thinking was that this
buffer would allow mere human
enthusiasm to cool and the fame of
genuine holiness to endure.
The downside, though, was
that witnesses to the person’s life died
off and personal correspondence and
other writings became more difficult
to assemble.
Under
the
present
guidelines, the investigation into
a person’s life usually opens no
sooner than five years after death -although popes are free to waive even
that delay, as was done in the cases
By Father
Ken Doyle
of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and
Blessed John Paul II.
Q. Is there anything wrong with a
woman writing a reflection on the
readings for the Mass each day on
her own personal blog? I am the
volunteer coordinator for Catholic
ministry at a local women’s prison
and teach an RCIA (Rite of Christian
Initiation of Adults) class for those
inquiring into the faith.I believe that I
know the basics of our faith very well,
and I am loyal to the magisterium of
the church. I know that only ordained
clergy can give a homily in the context
of a Mass, but does what I am doing
violate any rules? (Indianapolis)
A. I applaud what you are doing and
encourage you to continue it. True,
Canon 767 of the church’s Code
of Canon Law says that “among
the forms of preaching, the homily,
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which is part of the liturgy itself and
is reserved to a priest or deacon, is
pre-eminent.”
But what you are doing is apart
from the context of the Mass and is
clearly not a homily. You are simply
reflecting on the daily readings -- and
you have every right to do that; I would
think that many might benefit from
a feminine
perspective.
16
The Catholic Mirror, November 15, 2013
www.dmdiocese.org
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