Washington D.C., Nov 11, 2014 / 04:01 am (CNA/EWTN News) - The commemoration of Veterans’ Day offers Catholics the opportunity to pray for the souls of those who have fallen and for the consolation of those wounded, says the archbishop of the U.S. armed services.
“Veterans’ Day invites us to pause for a moment and reflect on the lives of men and women who respond and responded to the needs of our Nation,” said Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, in a Nov. 7 statement.
“As it is November, a month dedicated to prayers for the dead, we remember many members of the Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice or who died of natural causes later in life.”
The archdiocese is responsible for pastoral care and ministry to the 1.8 million American Catholic military members, veterans, Department of Defense contractors, civil service employees working abroad, and their families stationed around the world.
Colorado scientist claims to have found evidence
supporting location of the parting of the Red Sea
By ANNA MARIA BASQUEZ
Catholic News Service
BOULDER, Colo. (CNS) -- From his office in Boulder, scientist Carl Drews can pinpoint the spot where his research theorizes the biblical miracle of the parting of the Red Sea took place.
Although Drews has never been there, the Google Earth Pro imaging on his computer can zoom in on the place in Egypt where Moses and the Israelites escaped death when the waters parted, according to the Book of Exodus. His virtual “pushpin” comes back with images of what is now predominately agricultural land, with orchards, irrigation canals and grape fields indicating vineyards.
It is in the Eastern Nile Delta, between Pelusium and Qantara, and 75 miles north of the most popular theorized place in Egypt, which has been the Suez Canal. And it’s reachable on foot.
Food, blankets and hope – nuns risk lives to serve Syrian refugees
By KEVIN JONES
Beirut, Lebanon, Nov 12, 2014 / 04:27 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Near the Lebanon-Syria border, two religious sisters are among the staff members at a refugee service center working to give relief – and hope – to thousands who have fled the armed conflict in Syria.
“I keep my hope in prayer,” Sister Micheline Lattouff, a Good Shepherd Sister, told CNA at a Nov. 1 meeting with journalists in Beirut.
“I seek how to help the children, how to help the families,” she said, calling the refugees “victims in their own country.”
Sr. Micheline is director of the Social and Community Center of the Good Shepherd in Deir-al-Ahmar, a Christian village in Lebanon’s northern Bekaa Valley.
She and another Good Shepherd Sister are among the half dozen staff members who help both local Lebanese and 8,000 to 9,000 Syrian refugees who are among the millions displaced since the Syrian conflict began in 2011.
It's art, for Heaven's sake
It was art for art’s sake; a display of how local artists used God’s gifts of art and creativity to celebrate and share with others the presence of God in their lives.
More than 25 Dodge City area artists signed up for the “Prosper the Work of Our Hands” (Ps. 90:17) showing, which took place in January at the Holy Family Social Hall in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The day was organized by Sister Rose Mary Stein, OP, who also took part in the show, presenting dozens of greeting cards that she had created.
Sister Rose Mary designed the day not for artists to sell their creations, but instead for them to simply share how their God-given talents have enriched their lives, and enrich the lives of those around them.
UK pro-lifers throw rare legal punch against sex-selective abortion
By ADELAIDE MENA
London, England, Nov 12, 2014 / 10:40 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Claiming that the government has turned a blind eye to sex-selective abortions, British pro-life activists are launching a rare private prosecution against two doctors accused of promoting the illegal practice.
“Again we have seen the establishment stand silent in the face of the abortion industry, hoping that the horrors will be swept under the carpet and the problems go away,” said Aisling Hubert, a pro-life campaigner supported by the Christian Legal Centre in a Nov. 10 statement on the prosecution.
“But justice demands that something is done and that people are held to account for their actions. The law can only protect if it is enforced,” she urged.
Hubert has launched a private prosecution of Dr. Prabha Sivaraman and another, unnamed, doctor for their alleged promotion of sex-selective abortions – an illegal procedure under British law – during a 2012 undercover investigation.
Salina’s Bishop Coakley installed
as archbishop of Oklahoma City
By DOUG WELLER
The Register
Edmond, Okla. — As chief teacher of the faithful, new Archbishop Paul Coakley wasted little time instructing his people.
In his homily after being installed Feb. 11 as the fourth archbishop of Oklahoma City, Archbishop Coakley urged them “to become agents of a new evangelization.”
“The call for a new evangelization is a challenge and an opportunity for the Church today to find effective ways of announcing Jesus Christ and making him known and loved at a moment in history and in the midst of a culture that no longer considers God relevant to its pursuits and concerns,” he said.
“The Word of God must be proclaimed to all the nations… . Jesus Christ is the good news, for which every human heart is searching, and we are its witnesses. But if we are to be credible witnesses, we ourselves have to be fully evangelized,” he said.
Archbishop Coakley’s installation took place before more than 1,200 people at St. John the Baptist Church, the largest Catholic church in metropolitan Oklahoma City. More than 30 archbishops and bishops attended, as well as more than 200 priests and deacons from the archdiocese and from the Salina and Wichita dioceses.
Catholics, Muslims together condemn terrorist acts in name of religion
By ANDREA GAGLIARDUCCI
Vatican City, Nov 13, 2014 / 03:34 pm (CNA) - In a joint statement delivered Thursday, the Catholic-Muslim Forum condemned acts of terrorism, oppression, and violence, affirming it is never acceptable to use religion to justify such acts.
The Catholic-Muslim Forum was held Nov. 11-13 in Rome. It was established in 2008 for dialogue between the religions, and it meets every three years to harvest the fruit of more grassroots dialogue pursued between the forums. The group met on Wednesday with Pope Francis, who encouraged them to persevere in the path of interreligious dialogue and praised the common effort of the two religions in society.
This year’s meeting occured as an uprise of violence in the name of religion has taken place in the Middle East with the establishment in Iraq and Syria of the Islamic State, a caliphate that has persecuted all non-Sunni Muslims in its territory.
The statement of the Catholic-Muslim Forum makes four points: it condemns violence in the name of religion; address the education of young people; commits to fostering interreligious dialogue; and asks for more opportunities to together serve societies.
No more death or violence – Mexican bishops say 'enough is enough'
Cuernavaca, Mexico, Nov 14, 2014 / 12:08 am (CNA/EWTN News) - In the wake of the September disappearance of 43 students in Mexico, the country’s bishops pled on Wednesday for an end to the incessant violence entrenching the nation, and called on citizens to help build a society rooted in justice.
“The bishops of Mexico say: enough is enough! We don't want any more blood. We don't want any more death. We don't want any more disappearances. We don't want any more pain or anymore shame,” a Nov. 12 statement released by the Mexican bishops' conference read.
On Sept. 26, the students disappeared in the town of Iguala, in Guerrero state. They had been protesting in the town, and city police say they intercepted the students on the orders of the mayor, who wanted to prvent them from disrupting a speech being given by his wife. The police reportedly handed the students over to a local drug gang.
Scouts earn Religious Emblems
at 32th Annual Quest weekend
By TIM WENZL
Southwest Kansas Register
The 32th Annual Quest weekend was held on the campus of Dodge City Community College Feb. 13-15. The theme was “God – Is My Hero?” There were 13 Girl Scouts and 19 Boy Scouts and 10 adult leaders who participated in the activities.
The scouts attending Quest 2011 used the retreat weekend to work toward the requirements for religious emblems and medals. Some youths begin work on the requirements during the Quest weekend, work on service projects and other requirements throughout the year, and complete the program the following year at Quest. The award programs cannot be completed in a weekend.
On Veteran's Day, pray for those who made the 'ultimate sacrifice'
By ADELAIDE MENA
Diocese celebrates Catholic Schools Week
Catholic schools across the diocese -- and across the nation -- took a week to honor the teachers, staff, students, and parents, who make Catholic schools special.
Here’s what Chaince Schwarts of St. Joseph School in Ellinwood had to say: “... I am 14 years old, and I am an eighth grader at St. Joseph School. My favorite thing about St. Joseph is the lunch because the cooks make wonderful lunches. P.E. is fun because we get to play kick ball. Math and Science are my favorite subjects. In 8th grade science, we are building a rubber band car.”
The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week, celebrated Jan. 30 - Feb. 5, was, “A+ For America Catholic Schools.”
Events included everything from spelling bees, to “grandparent days,” to gathering items to donate to charitable causes.
On the next few pages are photos representing just a few of the events held throughout the week.
Editor’s Note: Due to coverage of Bishop John B. Brungardt’s ordination, the Register was unable to attend Catholic Schools Week events this year. The SKR appreciates the Catholic schools for submitting photos for this special section.
Sorry! Photos to come!