Day: November 19, 2014

On
Francis X. Rocca, Catholic News Service

Pope will visit Philadelphia, attend World Meeting of Families

Pope Francis arrives to lead an audience at the Vatican recently. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said he would attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia in September of 2015, making it the first confirmed stop on what is expected to be a more extensive papal visit to North America.

The pope made the announcement November 17, in a speech opening an interreligious conference on traditional marriage.

“I would like to confirm that, God willing, in September 2015, I will go to Philadelphia for the eighth World Meeting of Families,” the pope said.

Announcement expected

The announcement had been widely expected, since Pope Benedict XVI had said before his retirement that he hoped to attend the Philadelphia event. Popes typically fulfill their predecessors’ publicly known travel plans, as Pope Francis did in July 2013, when he attended World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro.

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who was in Rome for the families meeting, told Catholic News Service the announcement was “a surprise in the sense that it was announced so early; you know usually they don’t make these announcements — four months out is the typical and here we are 10 months away, and the Holy Father said he is coming to Philadelphia.”

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On
Chris Lee

St. Mary’s President Dr. Frank Byrne announces plans for retirement

MADISON — After 10 years of mission and values-driven service, Dr. Frank Byrne announced recently that he plans to retire from his position as president of St. Mary’s Hospital on January 30, 2015. However, he will remain a member of the board of directors of St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation.

Under Byrne’s leadership, St. Mary’s nearly doubled in size with the 2008 completion of its expansion project. St. Mary’s and Dean began their journey toward HIMSS Stage 7 status with the transition to Epic’s electronic health record system.

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On
Mary C. Uhler, Catholic Herald Staff

Don’t shop on Thanksgiving: Spend the holiday with family and friends

Shopping is one of my favorite pastimes. Just ask any members of my family. They know I’m ready to shop at the drop of a hat — or any object, for that matter!

But when it comes to shopping on Thanksgiving Day, it’s another story. I have been resenting the encroachment of “Black Friday” — the name given to the day after Thanksgiving — onto the holiday itself.

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On
Donna Larkosh

Wide variation in ‘brain death’ criteria in U.S.

To the editor:

Most of us are aware that there is a dichotomy of thought in our world concerning what determines the beginning of life. But is there an awareness that there is also a dichotomy of thought in the determination of what ends life?

Did you know that the use of neurological criteria to declare “brain death” was motivated by the desire to harvest the beating heart and other vital organs for transplantation and to remove life support from patients to keep from overcrowding intensive care units of hospitals?

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On
Kevin Wondrash

National youth choir seeks singers

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. — The National Catholic Youth Choir (NCYC) is seeking high school singers to audition for the 2015 camp and multi-state tour. The choir is led by Axel Theimer and founding director Fr. Anthony Ruff, OSB.

Catholic students entering grades nine through 12 in fall of 2015 are encouraged to audition.

The camp and tour will take place from June 15 through June 30, 2015. The camp is based in Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minn.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Reduction to a ‘singleton’ baby

In my capacity as theologian, teacher, and culture commentator, I’ve been reading articles on ethical matters for years and have grown relatively inured to the expression of even the most outrageous points of view.

But a few years ago, I came across a piece that was so shocking that I was compelled, as I read it, to put the magazine down several times and just shake my head in disbelief.

‘Reducing’ a pregnancy

It was an article in the New York Times Sunday Magazine called “The Two Minus One Pregnancy,” dealing with the phenomenon of “reducing” (love the Orwellian language) a pregnancy from two children to one.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

A thankful attitude helps us appreciate our blessings

Sometimes we appreciate more fully what we have when we see what others don’t have; yet, they are more thankful than us who have much more.

Matt Hasselbeck learned this the hard way. He was a Boston College sophomore who was going nowhere in football. Worse yet, he got in his coaches’ doghouse when he volunteered for the missions in Jamaica during spring break.

Gratitude amidst poverty

When Matt saw the poverty in the missions, he experienced cultural shock. At a prayer meeting, he heard someone enthusiastically thank God for his blessings. The person was George McVee, a leper who was so disfigured that Matt avoided him. He wondered what George had to be thankful for. He had no money, nose, feet, or hands; yet, he was thankful. His gratitude helped Matt to appreciate his cornucopia of blessings.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Birth parent support group starting

MADISON — Catholic Charities’ Post Adoption Resource Center will be sponsoring a birth parent support group for parents who have voluntarily placed their child up for adoption. The adoption did not have to occur through Catholic Charities in order to attend.

The support group will take place on Mondays from Dec. 1 through Dec. 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at 1810 S Park St. Suite 200 in Madison. The support group is free, safe, and confidential.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Solar Energy Open House at CMC

MADISON — The Catholic Multicultural Center (CMC) invites you to a “Solar Energy Open House” on Monday, Nov. 24, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the CMC, 1862 Beld St. This bilingual event is FREE and includes dinner.

Through interactive displays, energy activities, and presentations, this fun for all ages event will allow you to learn about the CMC solar panel project, find resources for installing solar energy at your home or business, and help you learn how to save money by conserving energy.

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