EDITORIAL

2010: Time to move forward

Last year at this time we wrote about the hardships many people faced in 2008. At the time, we as a country were just catching our balance after sustaining a series of punches in the form of home foreclosures, job losses, sky-high gas prices and a vicious, polarizing presidential election cycle.

We had hoped that 2009 would give us a break from the calamity. Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the year 2009 that we were ready to move on.

While last year wasn’t as much of a roller-coaster ride as the year before it, there are still thousands upon thousands of people right here in Arizona who are reeling from the economic crisis and in serious need of our help.

So for 2010, we look back on our own advice as a guide for the coming year: We can’t sit idle and dwell on the past, because January and February are busy months — especially for Catholics, as we are called to bring Christ’s saving message to our brothers and sisters in the community. We’re called to live a life of service to our neighbor and to raise our voices in defense of those who have none.

And we’re already being put to the test: Last week the world witnessed one of the worst natural disasters in recent history as a massive earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti. Estimates of those killed in the earthquake range from 50,000 to 100,000, with more than 3 million people injured or left homeless from the disaster.

People from all over rushed immediately to assist with donations and relief aid. It is only through God’s good graces that organizations like Catholic Relief Services exist and were able to respond immediately to the crisis. As the details and depth of the tragedy continue to unfold, we encourage Catholics to keep an eye on Haiti, as well as keep its people in thoughts and prayers.

Locally, the coming weeks and months offer some important opportunities for Catholics to get the year off to a good start.

On Jan. 18, we honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica. Last week we asked for God’s blessing upon our lawyers, judges and lawmakers at the annual Red Mass, also at the basilica.

This year’s Catholic Schools Week, celebrated Jan. 31-Feb. 6, focuses on the benefits of investing in a faith-based education. There is no better investment than the education of a child in moral, disciplinary, faith and knowledge matters, according to the National Catholic Educational Association.

Never has it been more important than now to increase your support for  the Charity and Development Appeal, which gets underway in February. The CDA funds more than 70 agencies, charities, parishes, schools and ministries throughout the state, truly making it the heartbeat of the diocese.

Perhaps the most high-profile event each January is the annual pro-life rally, which marks another year of abortion on demand. It’s estimated that since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Roe v. Wade, 51 million lives have been taken from us. There are several ways to get involved.

The first event, “A Eucharistic March and Rally for Life,” takes place Jan. 22 at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. The evening kicks off at 7 p.m. in the Arizona Room of the Memorial Union building where participants will join together in song and worship.

A performance of “The Vitae Monologues Drama” by Epiphany Studios promises to engage the audience with a powerful narrative of the trauma caused by abortion as well as the healing that’s possible. The evening will also include testimonials from people who have experienced firsthand the devastation caused by abortion.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted will then lead a eucharistic procession up “A” Mountain, followed by a night of adoration at the All Saints Catholic Newman Center.

On Sunday, Jan. 24, pro-lifers will come together again in Phoenix for a special 11 a.m. Mass led by Bishop Olmsted at St. Francis Xavier Parish. At 1 p.m., a rally at Steele Indian School Park will commence. Various civic and religious leaders, including Bishop Olmsted, will address the crowd.

There is a lot going on in the coming weeks and months that requires us to focus on what it is we’re called to do as Catholics. Get out, pitch in and celebrate all the wonderful opportunities to make a difference in our community and in the lives of the faithful.

This year may be just as rough as the last one. But it’s time for us to move forward in our mission of serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, because they need our help — indeed, we all need help.

We’re looking forward to seeing you out there.