Why the bishop of Dallas sheltered a family on Ebola watch
Dallas, Texas, Oct 21, 2014 / 02:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - When a Texas family feared to have contracted the Ebola virus was recently placed under quarantine, they found refuge from Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, who offered them shelter in the name of Christ.
“I was asked by reporters this morning why I said yes to the request from Mayor Mike Rawlings and Judge Clay Jenkins to offer housing for Ms. Troh and her family,” stated Bishop Farrell in an October 20 blog post, saying that he asked himself “what would Jesus do?”
“I knew that we had to help. Certainly, the Catholic Church has a long period of helping those in need, and Ms. Troh and her family were and remain in need.”
Archbishop Gomez' response to physician assisted suicide
Los Angeles, Calif., Oct 16, 2014 / 11:18 am (CNA) - Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles voiced concern this week over the physician assisted suicide case of 29-year old Brittany Maynard, saying her story fills him with sadness.
“We know that God has a plan of love for every life. But we also know that within his plan, people can find sickness and suffering that seems to have no reason, no justification,” Archbishop Gomez stated in an October 14 column, featured on The Tidings and at CNA.
Although from California, Brittany and her husband moved to Oregon after she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer; Oregon is one of five states that has legalized physician assisted suicide.
Doctors predict that Brittany has a few months left to live, but she plans to kill herself with an overdose of pain medication before the cancer becomes too advanced.
Georgina Paz is new administrative
assistant to Bishop Brungardt
Mrs. Georgina Paz is the new administrative assistant to Bishop John Brungardt.
Georgina’s primary duty is to assist Bishop Brungardt with scheduling and coordination of administrative, parish and diocesan events and activities.
As administrative assistant to the bishop, she will serve as the contact person for those wishing to communicate with the bishop.
“I will also assist the administrative staff with planning and support functions,” she said. “Given the fact that I’m bilingual, I will also work with the staff and their ministries to help with translations.
“Regardless of what position I have, I hope to positively help the Diocese of Dodge City with its mission.”
Georgina was born in Chihuahua, Mexico to Jose and Emma Hernandez. She has two younger brothers, Leonardo and Jose.
She moved to Dodge City in 1993; she graduated from Dodge City High School in 2003, and from Colorado Technical University in 2009 with a degree in business administration.
Prior to starting with the Diocese of Dodge City on May 31, she served as a personal banker and bank teller at Landmark National Bank for five years. She married Rene Paz in 2007.
“I have been at the Catholic Chancery for three weeks now, and I really enjoy the pleasant environment,” she said. “I have been blessed because I have always been surrounded by wonderful people that I love dearly, and the people here at the chancery are not the exception.
“I’m very excited to meet different people from across the diocese who have one common goal, and that is to spread the Catholic faith.”
Georgina Paz can be contacted at (620) 227-1531 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Priest returning to Iraq: ISIS threatens the whole world
By ELISE HARRIS
Rome, Italy, Oct 16, 2014 / 04:59 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - An Iraqi priest who has chosen to return to his city, which lies just six miles from ISIS-controlled territory, said that in the midst of an increasingly desperate situation, the help of world powers is greatly needed.
“The only solution is to return the people to their homes. This is the only solution. How to do it, this depends on the great international powers, because the world needs to intervene,” Fr. Ghazwan Yousif Baho told CNA Oct. 4.
ISIS “is a full threat not only for the Christians of Iraq or our brother Muslims, or this fundamentalist current, but it’s a threat for the whole world. So the world needs to intervene in one way or another.”
Fr. Baho is the parish priest in Alqosh, Iraq as well as a guest professor at the Pontifical Urbanianum University in Rome, where he teaches two months out of the year. While in Rome, he also serves as pastor in the city's Sts. Joachim and Ann parish.
Asia Bibi's death sentence sparks outrage from Pakistan's Christians
Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Oct 16, 2014 / 05:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - The Lahore High Court's rejection on Thursday of Asia Bibi's appeal against her death sentence, passed by a lower court, has dismayed Christians and others in Pakistan.
Bishop Rufin Anthony of Islamabad-Rawalpindi said Oct. 16 that the decision was “heartbreaking.”
Bibi, a Christian, was convicted under Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws in 2010. She allegedly made derogatory comments against Muhammad while arguing with a Muslim woman.
She has denied the allegations, and says the case stems from an argument she had with a Muslim woman over a pot of water. During his Nov. 17, 2010 General Audience address, Benedict XVI urged that she be granted “complete freedom … as soon as possible.”
Her lawyers intend to submit her case to Pakistan's Supreme Court within the allotted 30 days.
St. Joseph Parish, Scott City, celebrates 100-year anniversary
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
One hundred years ago March 11, Bishop John J. Hennessy stood inside a newly constructed wood-frame church at Washington Street and Starr Avenue in Scott City, a sapling of a community standing young but strong on the Kansas plains.
Inside the church, a fire burned in an iron stove, keeping the congregation of six families – 23 members strong – warm against the winter chill, as the bishop of what was then part of the Diocese of Wichita dedicated the new Catholic church.
Outside stood at least a few patient horses tied to buggies, as well as a couple of autos – maybe even one or two with the brand new “automatic starter”, invented after the “crank” caused one too many injuries.
Why care about the Synod in Rome?
By Deb OHara-Rusckowski
Catholic Womanhood
An “Extraordinary General Assembly Synod” focused on the family has convened in Rome. What does this mean? Why do Pope Francis and the bishops feel this is needed?
If you simply listen to popular media networks you might be lead to believe that “the Church is finally going to get their doctrines/teachings regarding abortion, contraceptives, family planning, and same-sex marriages in line with 2014!” However, that would be an inaccurate misunderstanding. The Secretary of the Synod, Archbishop Bruno Forte, clearly stated “the doctrine of the Church is not up for discussion,” but rather we hope to improve the pastoral applications of church teachings.”
So, should this really concern the everyday layperson like you or I?
Father Don Bedore celebrates first Mass
Father Don Bedore celebrated his first Mass Sunday, May 29 at his home parish of St. Lawrence in Jetmore. Concelebrants included the Most Rev. Ronald Gilmore, Father Dan Mindling, Father Dermot Tighe, Father Anthony Suellentrop and Father Benjamin Dande. Deacon Dwaine Lampe assisted. After Mass Father Bedore, his family, parish family, and many friends concluded the day with a special lunch. Photos by Jessica Shuler
'Jesus Calls Women!'
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
On the freshly mowed lawn of the back yard of the Catholic chancery -- under a deep blue sky as a statue of Mary stood nearby at the base of a towering tree -- some 22 girls and young women from across the diocese learned that Jesus is calling them by name to a particular vocation.
“Our approach in the prayer and in the whole evening was to affirm the fact that Jesus does call women to follow him,” said Sister Karen Salsbery, CSJ, one of three women Religious who spoke at the “Jesus Calls Women” gathering June 22. Also speaking were Sisters Arlene Vasquez, MCDP, and Rocio Maldonado, MCMI.
October, the Beautiful
By Sr. Joan L. Roccasalvo, C.S.J. / The Way of Beauty
October invites us to her fall fashion show. Throughout the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world, she primps before us decked out in a litany of spectacular colors. Her wardrobe appears in hues and tints like vivid greens and subtle chartreuse, in scarlet, cranberry and Indian reds, burnt sienna, pumpkin orange, coral, and peach, goldenrod, canary and pale yellows, and finally golden amber. Then toward the end of the month, her leaves gracefully descend to form a carpet beneath our feet. Here is a feast for the eye, a feast for the entire person that prompts exclamations of wonder.
Decked out for Contemplation
During October, we see before our very eyes nature’s order, logic, harmony, and beauty. Where all this comes from is expressed in the poem, “God’s World,” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the first stanza appearing below and the final, later on: