Pope denounces ‘racist, xenophobic’ attitudes toward immigrants
By ELISE HARRIS
Vatican City (CNA/EWTN News) - In his message for the Mexico-Holy See Colloquium on Migration and Development, Pope Francis called for a change in the way migrants are viewed, giving particular emphasis to unaccompanied children.
“Many people forced to emigrate suffer, and often, die tragically; many of their rights are violated, they are obliged to separate from their families and, unfortunately, continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes,” the Roman Pontiff stated in the July 15 message.
The Pope’s letter was read aloud during the July 14-15 colloquium by the Holy See’s Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, Christophe Pierre. Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was also present.
Twenty local youth participate in seminary Companion Camp
Eighteen local youth, three adult team members, and two youth volunteers recently took a road trip to Conception Abbey in Conception Missouri for the 2012 Companion Camp.
There, the local youth and youth from across the region (southwest Kansas had the largest number of youth attending) took part in prayerful, educational, and a good dose of fun activities. The event is designed to allow youth to peer into the life of a seminarian, at work, at play, and at study.
As well as spending time with the seminarians, participants get to chat with some of the monks.
Adult team members along for the ride included Father Wesley Schawe, Matt Perez, youth minister at St. Dominic, Garden City, and St. Stanislaus, Ingalls, and Anne Shaughnessy, director of Generations of Faith of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Volunteering were former Camp participants, Omar Ruiz and Emmanuel Jimenez -- both youngsters who had so much fun on the last camp that they wanted to serve on this one.
Other participants included: Alex Pfeifer and Ambrose Shaughnessy of Cimarron; Alejandro Ultreas, Ismael Gomez, Alejandro Sosa, Juan Manuel Gomez, Call Rankin, Jack Rankin, and Eddie Del Real, all of Dodge City; Tony Guzman of Hugoton; Benjamin Schneider of Olmitz; Luke Higgason of Otis; Jordan Mountain of Ellinwood; Trace Flax, Jagryd Briney, Trevor VanDegrift, and Milton Guzman, all of Ness City; and Carlos Schwindt of LaCrosse.
Norma Alvarez, DRE at the cathedral, and Olga Zuniga provided transportation for the two youth volunteers.
Neb. priest contributes to article linking contraception, breast cancer
By S.L. Hansen
Southern Nebraska Register
(Catholic News Agency) - In an upcoming issue of The Linacre Quarterly, the official journal of the Catholic Medical Association, an article entitled, “The Breast Cancer Epidemic: 10 Facts,” will explore the scientific evidence that connects artificial contraception to breast cancer.
Father Christopher Kubat, executive director of Catholic Social Services of southern Nebraska and a medical physician, is one of the co-authors. He was asked to contribute a small portion of the article by two of the main authors, A. Patrick Schneider II, M.D., M.P.H., and Christine Zainer, M.D.
Father Kubat became acquainted with Dr. Zainer when he was still practicing medicine in Milwaukee, before he entered the seminary. Drs. Schneider and Zainer also received contributions from Nancy K. Mullen, M.D. and Amberly K. Windisch, M.D.
“It was a collaborative effort that took considerable time,” Father Kubat said. “It’s very lengthy, and there are tons of references.”
Totus Tuus: Understanding Christ through the gift of the Church
Nearly 40 youth attend week-long event in Sharon
By David Myers
Southwest Kansas Register
SHARON -- After an absence of several years, the Totus Tuus experience for youth has once again made a splash in southwest Kansas, taking nearly 40 children and youth on a week-long adventure, examining and empowering their faith in, and understanding of, Jesus Christ.
There was prayer – intense prayer; the Rosary, a study of the Apostles Creed, and Adoration. There was instruction: the Sacraments, Marian devotion, the Mass. There was song, there was celebration …
… and there was chocolate syrup.
Bishop Davies: Lourdes shrine a light amid war, death
Lourdes, France, Jul 28, 2014 / 10:02 am (CNA/EWTN News) - This weekend, shortly before today's centenary of the beginning of World War I, an English bishop has said that the Marian shrine of Lourdes remains “undimmed” and still invites everyone to see the “light of the Gospel,” Jesus Christ.
“A hundred years ago this week, the world descended into what is now called the First World War, the second war would quickly follow and a Cold War would bring humanity to the brink of nuclear extinction,” Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury preached July 26.
“It is hard to believe how in those summer weeks of 1914 the beginnings of this whole catastrophe would be welcomed by ecstatic crowds and enjoy wide, public support.”
He said that Lourdes has “continued its clear witness to the value of every person, especially those most in danger of being discarded” despite global war and ideologies which aim to “strip human life of its value and dignity.”
Liberal parish celebrates burning of mortgage
LIBERAL -- As a cool breeze wafted through Light Park, bringing relief to more than 200 parishioners, Bishop John B. Brungardt set to flame the mortgage of St. Anthony Church.
The parishioners, some sitting in their own canvas seats, others perched in the grass on a hillside, erupted in applause.
The symbolic burning of the mortgage took place June 17, four days after the Feast of St. Anthony, and a mere eight years after the parish took on a $2.6 million loan to construct their new church.
This celebration was highly unlikely -- at least according to an early feasibility study, which stated that paying off such a loan would take the parish far longer than eight years. The fact that Bishop Brungardt, pastor Father Jim Dieker, and visiting from Washington, D.C., former pastor Father Patrick Keyes, CSsR, were celebrating the Mass, paid homage to the many hours of efforts -- hard work, tireless fundraising -- by the various committees, and from many of those sitting in the congregation.
Bishop Brungardt remarked on the “sacrifice, generosity, courage and faithfulness in our Risen Lord,” before thanking all those for their hard work.
The morning and afternoon celebration included games for the children, and a free hamburger and hotdog lunch. National Beef and Brian McMullen donated the beef, while Jose and Yvonne Morales donated the bread. Liberal Standard Supply donated the water. Walmart, Dillons and Bestmarket offered reduced prices on other items for the celebration.
The parish gratefully recognized all those who made the day possible.
Court allows 9/11 cross to remain standing at Ground Zero
By Adelaide Mena
Washington D.C., Jul 29, 2014 / 11:38 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Rejecting arguments from an atheist group, a federal appeals court ruled Monday that the iconic cross found at the site of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks may remain at the 9/11 Museum.
“The history of 9/11 would not be complete without including the impact the Ground Zero Cross had in inspiring rescue workers and Americans generally,” said Eric Baxter, counsel for the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, in a July 28 statement.
“Displaying the cross in a display about ‘Finding Meaning at Ground Zero’ is perfectly appropriate,” he continued.
The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty had filed a brief supporting the museum’s ability to display the cross, which was discovered amid piles of rubble by recovery workers in the aftermath of the Sep. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City.
Nearly 20 feet tall, the cross was formed by two intersecting metal beams from the fallen skyscrapers. It became a place of gathering and prayer for recovery workers at the site, with many people posting prayers and petitions to the structure.
Since 2011, the cross has been part of the World Trade Center Museum. In July 2011, however, American Atheists filed suit against the display, charging that the presence of the cross was offensive and marginalized them as atheists.
The suit added that the presentation of the cross led to injury “in consequence of having a religious tradition not their own imposed upon them through the power of the state.”
Bishop addresses thousands at Topeka rally
By David Myers
Southwest Kansas Register
Nobody knew what to expect in the days leading up to the Religious Freedom rally, which took place on the steps of the state capitol building June 29.
They knew the crowd would be big – several thousand – they knew it would be very hot, and they knew they were passionate about the subject.
What they didn’t know was whether the event would lean more toward protest or celebration.
On June 28, just hours before masses of people would gather in Topeka, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the health care law, part of which, the HHS mandate, had drawn so much ire.
Speakers at the rally included the Most Rev. John B. Brungardt, Bishop of Dodge City, the three other Kansas bishops and a host of others, including Gov. Sam Brownback and keynote speaker, Cathy Ruse.
Pope Francis visits with evangelicals in southern Italy
Caserta, Italy, Jul 28, 2014 / 04:27 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - During his visit Monday to an evangelical Christian community in Caserta, Pope Francis said the Holy Spirit creates diversity and unity in the Church, so that the Church lives a “reconciling diversity.”
He suggested July 28 that the path to unity may be pursued by “going to peripheries and touching the flesh of Christ.”
Pope Francis' second trip in three days to Caserta – punctuated by his return to Rome for Sunday's Angelus address – was meant to be a private meeting with his long term friend, evangelical pastor Giovanni Traettino and his Pentecostal Community of Reconciliation.
‘Sister Matilde’ to depart for Kenya after a decade of service
By Charlene Scott Myers
Special to the Register
After 10 years of service as Parish Life Coordinator of St. Alphonsus Church in Satanta, Sister Matilde Monterroso, MCMI, is leaving this town named after an American Indian Kiowa chief who died in Texas in 1878.
Sister Matilde is a Guatemalan citizen, born March 13, 1956 in the town of Mataquescuintla, Jalapa, two hours south of Guatemala City. Her father was a farmer and house builder. Her mother gave birth to ten children, eight of them girls.
“I was number five,” she said with her infectious laugh. “My father wanted boys, but my mother had the eight girls before the boys came along.”
Sister Matilde credits her grandparents with her religious vocation.
“I come from a very poor family,” she said. “Since there were so many children, I was sent to live with my elderly grandparents when I was about seven. My grandmother was a very spiritual lady, and I used to go with her to church every Sunday for Mass and every day for adoration.
“I became a sister because of her,” she added. “She was a really good person. My grandparents gave me a good example of living. I am who I am because of them.