Fortnight for Freedom to focus on bearing witness to Gospel’s truth

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Jun 22, 2015

Catholics around Arizona and the nation have been called to observe the period from June 21 through the Fourth of July as the Fortnight for Freedom to celebrate and pray to protect religious freedoms.

The Fortnight’s focus this year is the “freedom to bear witness” to the truth of the Gospel. The Fortnight was originally conceived as a prayerful response to the 2012 HHS mandate that required employer-covered insurance to include contraception, which violated the rights of Catholic institutions as well as businesses owned by Catholics.

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Fortnight for Freedom in the Diocese of Phoenix

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted invites the faithful to pray for religious freedom on the following days:

Sunday, June 21: 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Bishop Olmsted will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, 6351 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix. Also livestreamed online.

Monday, June 22: Feast of St. Thomas More
Bishop Olmsted will celebrate Mass at Noon at St. Mary’s Basilica, 231 N. 3rd St., Phoenix.

Wednesday, June 24: Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist

Sunday, June 28: 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Monday, June 29: Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul

Saturday, July 4: Independence Day
Bishop Nevares will celebrate Mass at 8:30 a.m. at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral, followed by the Rosary for Religious Freedom.

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The Fortnight is celebrated at a time when the liturgical calendar celebrates great martyrs who kept the faith in the face of political persecution, including Ss. Thomas More, John Fisher, John the Baptist and the Church’s first martyrs, Peter and Paul.

“Religious freedom is not only that of private thought or worship,” said Pope Francis in an address to participants at a conference on international religious freedom and the global clash of values in June 2014. “It is the liberty to live, both privately and publicly, according to the ethical principles resulting from found truth.”

Religious freedom directly affects the Church’s ability to operate in the public arena, said Ron Johnson, executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, which represents the five bishops of Arizona.

Specifically, “This pertains directly to our charities.” Catholic Charities has been forced out of business with regard to adoption and foster care in such places as San Francisco, Illinois and Boston because the Church will not violate tenets of faith in placing children with same-sex couples, Johnson said.

“That puts the Church in a terrible position because serving the poor and vulnerable is part of our faith,” Johnson said.

Maureen Adams, president of the Phoenix chapter of Legatus, an organization of Catholic business leaders, said that the underlying premise of the Fortnight for Freedom is to “pray and fight as soldiers of Christ to retain one of the greatest benefits upon which our nation was founded…the free exercise of religion.

“Religious liberty is under attack. We have to call to action all believers. Our insidious enemy is religious intolerance of the present day.”

Dr. Billy Chavira, who has an OB GYN practice in the Valley, agreed.

“Having some involvement in the democratic process in our country is important, but the most important thing all of us can do as Catholics and Christians is to pray. … We can pray and come together as a people for the protection of our religious freedoms and the protections of our consciences.”

As an employer of 10, Chavira wasn’t obligated to provide insurance under the HHS mandate. But just to ensure he wasn’t participating in providing contraceptive services, he allowed his employees to purchase health insurance on their own while raising their salaries “so we were not being unjust to them.”

Johnson said that religious freedom is just as important today as it’s always been.

“Our country was founded on the notion of religious freedom. That’s why it’s part of the very First Amendment of our Constitution,” he said. “The sad thing is we’re seeing the public opinion eroding on this to some extent. We’re seeing public policy being taken in a direction that does not respect religious freedom.”

That said, people of faith have seen one great victory since the first Fortnight: the Supreme Court’s 2014 Hobby Lobby decision that allowed closely held private businesses to stay out of the HHS mandate.

Because of this ruling, similar lawsuits brought by the Little Sisters of the Poor and the University of Notre Dame, among other Catholic institutions, figure to be winners as well, Johnson said.

“The logic would seem to hold that if it applies to private businesses that it would apply to these nonprofit organizations as well,” Johnson said. “I am optimistic. But those cases are still in progress.”

— By Mike Tulumello, The Catholic Sun.

Kino graduates answer call to serve

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Lindsay Wantland

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Jun 22, 2015

Graduating students from The Kino Catechetical Institute gathered at St. Mary’s Basilica June 4 to receive their diplomas after two years of study. There were 71 students from 28 parishes. (Billy Hardiman/CATHOLIC SUN)

The catechesis he received from the Kino Catechetical Institute left a lasting impression on Estevan Sandoval.

“Baptism is wonderful and we hear about the faith every Sunday of our lives, but it has no meaning until you have the education that goes with it,” Sandoval said.

Sandoval is one of 71 students to graduate this year from the Kino Institute, which was capped with Mass at St. Mary’s Basilica June 4. He said he plans to take the knowledge he gained and use it actively within his parish, St. John Vianney in Goodyear, by helping launch its first men’s fellowship group.

“We want to try to bring in a spiritual way the masculinity of God’s Church back to His Church,” Sandoval said.

EN ESPAÑOL: Graduados del Instituto Catequético Kino responden a la llamada a servir

The students were awarded diplomas for completing two years of study at the Kino Institute. “Our courses are meant to be a systematic, comprehensive overview of the doctrine of the faith, both what Catholics believe and more importantly, why we believe it,” said Steve Greene, director of the Kino Institute.

Greene went on to explain the need for well-catechized Catholics is crucial for the Church today. “As society and the Church part ways further and further on the truth about the human person, faith and the value of religion, it really falls on us to form ourselves well as Catholics, so that we’re able to articulate and defend the faith with confidence and charity, in whatever way the Holy Spirit is going to call us to do that,” he said.

Kino Catechetical Institute

Are you feeling called to a deeper understanding of your Catholic faith? Kino Catechetical Institute offers a dynamic education in Church teaching to help you articulate and defend your faith with confidence and charity. All Kino programs are offered in both English and Spanish. Applications are currently being accepted for Fall 2015.
Info: (602) 354-2300

Students at Kino take 14 courses during their two-year formation, each course lasting approximately five weeks. In addition to these courses on the doctrine of the faith, there are also four courses, each spanning two days, which cover the methodology of catechesis.

Josefina Mata, another graduate and St. Jerome parishioner, said she actually never planned to attend Kino. “Two years ago, I was waiting at the diocesan chapel for an appointment that I had, and then Sr. Celia was passing by and she grabbed my hand,” Mata said. “She asked me ‘Are you planning to come to Kino?’ and I was so afraid that I told her no. She grabbed my hand and said ‘Yes, you are coming to Kino.’”

Coinciding with the Year of Consecrated Life, the Kino Institute encourages its participants to see they can lead a life consecrated to God, regardless of their specific vocation.

“When you look at consecrated life and really seeing yourself as set apart for service under the mission of the Church, I think that’s a call that should echo with all Catholics,” Greene said. “For our students, even if they’re already married and have kids, that can mean setting some part of themselves, maybe a particular gift or talent, or maybe just time they have available, to the service of the mission of the Church.”

Fr. David Sanfilippo, vicar for priests, presided over the graduation ceremony and encouraged the graduates to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, saying, “May God bring to completion the good work He has begun in each of you.”

Year of Consecrated Life met with renewed joy

By

Gina Keating

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Jun 22, 2015

The Year of Consecrated Life proclaimed by Pope Francis in November has ignited a ground- swell of interest and support.

The global focus is threefold: the renewal of men and women in consecrated life that encompasses sisters, brothers and priests; thanksgiving among the faithful for their service; and an invitation to young Catholics to consider a religious vocation.

Locally, the Diocese of Phoenix has hosted many meetings, celebrations and dialogues for consecrated and laity alike.

“It’s going very well and has been a great year so far,” said Mercy Sister Anthony Mary Diago, the director of the Office of Consecrated Life for the diocese. “We are blessed to have so many different apostolates in the diocese. It’s really been an opportunity for us to share the Good News and how we contribute to the life of the Church in Phoenix.”

Sr. Anthony Mary had barely started her new job when the Vatican announced plans to focus the year on those dedicated men and women whose vows of poverty, chastity and obedience serve to illuminate heaven on earth.

Sr. Anthony Mary started using social networking tools such as a Twitter account and a blog in January to build relations with readers, and connect them more intimately with the works of the religious in the diocese.

On her blog, www.phxconsecratedlife.com, she shares her adventures at events like the Religious Night of Appreciation Evening in May, a visit with the Crosier Fathers and Brothers, a vocations presentation to 50 home-schooled children and a visit with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará at St. Anthony Parish in Phoenix.

“I’ve had really good feedback and good responses,” Sr. Anthony Mary said about the blog. “I try to go to a different order every week or attend a function.”

In addition, Sr. Anthony Mary started a monthly FIAT Discernment Morning for women at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The first meeting allowed 15 young women to learn more about consecrated life and sisters from five different religious communities that included the Missionaries of Charity, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the Daughters of Charity, the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma and the Parish Visitors.

In his Apostolic Letter to all consecrated on the occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life, Pope Francis wrote about three aims of the year: to look to the past with gratitude, to live the present with passion and embrace the future with hope.

“Together let us thank the Father, who called us to follow Jesus by fully embracing the Gospel and serving the Church, and poured into our hearts the Holy Spirit, the source of our joy and our witness to God’s love and mercy before the world,” Pope Francis stated.

Being set apart for God in service of Him and His Church is what it means to be consecrated.

At Most Holy Trinity Parish, the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) priests and religious say a special consecration prayer together each day.

Sr. Mary Claire Strasser, SOLT, said she believes there is a longing in every heart to be ‘set apart’ for God and that “all people are called to be disciples, some just in a more radical way.”

“I think the Year of Consecrated Life should also be an invitation to get to know a religious on a personal level,” she said. “It is also an invitation to encourage holy vocations, an openness to religious life and mission work.”

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Year of Consecrated Life resources from U.S. Bishops

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Covenant House gives street kids respite from ‘bullets, bullies, perps’

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Catholic News Service

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Jun 22, 2015

Formerly homeless youths who live in Covenant House facilities around the U.S. pose for a photo at the Library of Congress in Washington June 16. (CNS photo/courtesy Covenant House)

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The inner cities of America are full of youth that call the streets home.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 5 percent to 7 percent of American youth become homeless in any given year. These kids face sexual and emotional abuse, human trafficking, hunger and mental illnesses.

One agency that helps them is Covenant House, a shelter system for homeless and trafficked youth that provides them with education, job training, health assistance, pastoral and crisis care.

Last year the agency, which was founded under Catholic auspices in 1972 and today operates in 27 cities in six countries, served over 56,000 youth last year alone under the guidance of the current president and CEO, Kevin Ryan.

“The fact that we reach 56,000 homeless and trafficked young people every year and give those kids the opportunity to leave the streets and break the gangs, the guns, the bullets, the bullies, the perps, the predators, and find a bridge to opportunity and find real promise in their lives is a real legacy,” said Ryan.

Cheryl Anne Davis, a young woman who has been assisted by Covenant House, spoke to Catholic News Service about what confronts homeless youth on a daily basis.

“Some of the obstacles that you face are that you are broke, you do not have any money. You do not have any resources or connections. You have people putting doubt in you. You have suicidal thoughts,” she said.

She spoke to CNS during a June 16 event at the Library of Congress in Washington that brought together about 40 formerly homeless youth helped by Covenant House programs in the nation’s capital as well as in New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Atlantic City and Newark, New Jersey. Some in the group currently live at a Covenant House residence and others now have housing of their own.

“You have thoughts of not wanting to be around people because it is embarrassing (to be homeless). There are times when you cannot take a shower or a bath, or you do not have toiletries,” Davis continued. “You do not have the necessities you need to get by. I know that when I was homeless it was hard for me to be able to finish school.
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Why are teens homeless?

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“You have to take into consideration that your education is being jeopardized, as well as your housing, as well as your overall sanity. It’s a lot of things that you go through,” she said, “and so I guess you just need to have faith and have a strong belief that you will surpass your obstacles.”

Davis was homeless for almost three years, and because of Covenant House, she has now met her goals of obtaining affordable housing and getting a driver’s license. She is now pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English.

Another formerly homeless youth, Christopher Hall, said he “had experiences as far as sleeping on buses, trains and even staked out at some vacant homes sometimes. It’s been a journey.” The hardest part for Hall was when his family abandoned him.

“I felt like I was lost and that life was over,” he told CNS. He was homeless for two years.

He found Covenant House through a friend, and they helped him confidence-wise, allowing allowed him to see his own potential.

Dajanee, a formerly homeless young woman, who identified herself with one name, expressed similar sentiments about the struggles of finding places to eat, sleep and shower, as well as the inability to take care of her daughter. Covenant House assisted her in obtaining her GED, and they offered her an internship which eventually turned into a part time job. She is currently working for Covenant House as an accounting clerk.

“My goals are to become a sign-language interpreter. I want to open my own business as far as a sign-language school for kids. I also want to run my own day care, and my own hair salon. I have big goals,” she said.

Tom Manning, a fundraising and public relations employee of Covenant House New York, feels there are too many success stories to choose just one to talk about.

“We have so many because we have been doing the work for 43 years, so kids who came into Covenant House when I was first working are now board members! There are success stories all across the country. Our kids are doctors, teachers, social workers etc.,” he said.

Ryan said he is inspired by all that the Covenant kids have accomplished.

“The least interesting thing about the kids at Covenant House is that they are homeless. They are artists, athletes, musicians, mathematicians, readers, writers and interns. They inspire me,” he said. “These young people are crossing a bridge from homelessness to hope, and I get to sit ringside to some of the most miraculous transformations of the human spirit, and I deeply love this work.”

The relationships formed and the assistance given at Covenant House are based upon mutual trust, because if the kids do not trust the employees at Covenant House they will not make it through the program. Those programs also don’t exist without generous contributions, and fundraising is an ongoing challenge, according to Ryan.

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“We have outreach teams that go around and a lot of what they do is they’ll see kids on the street, and most kids won’t hop in the van and say, ‘I’m coming!’ on the first night, but they’ll take a sandwich or a coat in the winter, and so when they see that we are out there every night the trust starts to build,” he said. “That’s when we can begin to transform their lives, when they come in and start to believe in themselves.”

— By Abbey Jaroma, Catholic News Service.

Children’s reading: books to pray, learn with all summer long

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Catholic News Service

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Jun 21, 2015

The following books are suitable for summer reading:

“The Ten Commandments” by Sophie Piper. Paraclete Press (Brewster, Massachusetts, 2015). 48 pp., $14.95

This interactive and creative book cube will entertain and inform toddlers and older children. Little readers will learn the Ten Commandments by manipulating the sturdy folds and looking at the bright illustrations. Older children will be engaged by the hands-on experience and can even use the open-and-find folds of the cube as a way to quiz and remember God’s law handed down to Moses. Part toy, part biblical learning tool, this one is sure to be a favorite for busy hands. Ages 3-7.

This is the cover of "Big Tractor" by Nathan Clement. (CNS) — This is the cover of “Big Tractor” by Nathan Clement. (CNS)

“Big Tractor” by Nathan Clement. Boyds Mills Press (Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2105). 28 pp., $16.95

Author and illustrator Nathan Clement’s style of simple storytelling using high frequency words paired with brightly colored graphic illustrations will delight toddlers and beginner readers in this book about a tractor. In the story, a farmer revs up his tractor and prepares, plants and harvests crops throughout the seasons. And when it’s all done, there’s even time for fun on a hayride. Ages 2-5.

“You Nest Here With Me” by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple, illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Boyds Mills Press (Honesdale, Pennsylvania, 2015). 40 pp., $21

Snuggle up with your little one and enjoy this sweet bedtime story. Rhythmic rhymes and soft watercolor images describe where different breeds of birds nest with their babies. From mountain peaks to sandy beaches, mother birds stay with their chicks, and children will be reminded throughout the book that their home is wherever love is. Ages 3-6.

This is the cover of "The Yes" by Sarah Bee. (CNS) — This is the cover of “The Yes” by Sarah Bee. (CNS). Click image for book trailer.

“The Yes” by Sarah Bee, illustrated by Satoshi Kitamura. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2015). 32 pp., $16.

In this quirky story accompanied with equally interesting illustrations, a big Yes seeks out a Where to go. But Nos keep getting in the way, building obstacles and threatening the Yes with distractions. Yet with each step along the way, the Yes overcomes the loud and obstructive No’s and reaches his Where. Shy and overly cautious children will benefit from this unique book’s message of believing in yourself and ignoring the naysayers and inner “no.” Ages 4-8.

This is the cover of "I Forgive You: Love We Can Hear, Ask For, and Give" by Nicole Lataif. (CNS) — This is the cover of “I Forgive You: Love We Can Hear, Ask For, and Give” by Nicole Lataif. (CNS)

“I Forgive You: Love We Can Hear, Ask For, and Give” by Nicole Lataif, illustrated by Katy Betz. Pauline Books and Media (Boston, 2014). 28 pp., $10.95

Forgiveness is challenging for adults, let alone children. But by using descriptive rhymes and pictorial stories told with bright watercolor images, author Nicole Lataif and illustrator Katy Betz have succeeded in explaining the complex task of giving and receiving forgiveness in this Christopher Award-winning book. Readers will learn that forgiveness feels so much better than anger although it can be hard to achieve and take a long time. And, most importantly, God always forgives and loves us. Ages 4-7.

“Before I Sleep I Say Thank You” by Carol Gordon Ekster, illustrated by Mary Rojas. Pauline Books and Media (Boston, 2015). 21 pp., $ 14.95

In this bedtime story, a young boy and his mother reflect on the day’s events and blessings. They tell each other one opportunity that they missed to help someone, several things they enjoyed throughout the day and five moments for which to thank God. At the end, the young boy and his mother say, “Thank you, God, for all you have given us today.” The book is not just a nice story, but a good way for parents and children to pray together. Ages 4-7.

This is the cover of "The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch" by Chris Barton. (CNS) — This is the cover of “The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch” by Chris Barton. (CNS). Click on image for book trailer.

“The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch” by Chris Barton, illustrated by Don Tate. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2015). 50 pp., $17.00

There’s no time like the summertime for a refresher on American history. “The Amazing Age of John Roy Lynch” would make a nice addition along with a smilier book, “Henry’s Freedom Box” by Ellen Levine, to a lesson on slavery and the Reconstruction era. John Roy Lynch was a boy from Mississippi who fought for his own freedom and eventually the freedom of others as an elected state and House representative. He never lived to see a peaceful, unified nation, but during his lifetime he never stopped fighting for those goals. As illustrator Don Tate points out, the intentionally colorful and whimsical illustrations wonderfully accompany this story of a particularly cruel and dark part of American history. Ages 7-10.

“The Wall People: In Search of a Home” by Joseph J. Di Certo, illustrated by Alan McCuller. Mountain Press Publishing Company. (Missoula, Montana, 2015). 141 pp., $14.

Preteen readers will find adventure, excitement and a little bit of magic in this story about a clan of people who live within the walls of New York City apartment buildings. Although fully human, the people hide from the outside world for fear of being treated like science experiments and pets. Relying solely on God’s grace and strong family ties forged through tradition and cooperation, the people work together to survive a desperate relocation of their homes and lives. Readers can draw parallels to the many moral challenges society faces today — struggling migrant families, helping one another despite differences, and faith in God — while enjoying an engaging story. Ages 10-14

“Heart of a Lion: A Story of God’s Grace and a Family’s Hope” by Derek and John Paul George. Liguori Publications (Liguori, Missouri, 2015). 164 pp., $14.99

John Paul George’s life is a refreshing story of endless love, faith and hope. Diagnosed with a debilitating and usually fatal heart condition, George has spent his entire young life fighting for survival. With the help of courageous parents and a remarkable faith, he has lived to share his story of endurance through the challenges of a fatal diagnosis, surgeries and everyday missed opportunities. Now, as a young man, he sees why God saved his life — to become a priest. Teenagers will find inspiration in this easy-to-read book about a challenging and meaningful life. In George’s words, “I can’t change who I am, but I can change the world as I am.” Ages 16 and up.

— Reviewed by Regina Lordan, Catholic News Service.

Day 1: What is Religious Freedom? [VIDEO]

By

The Catholic Sun

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Jun 21, 2015

Welcome to this series of daily reflections from the Diocese of Phoenix marking the Fortnight for Freedom — a time when the Catholic Church’s liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power.

We invite you to give the Lord a few minutes a day for fourteen days for religious freedom.

Gators go global this summer to meet pope, study medicine, represent state

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The Catholic Sun

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Jun 20, 2015

Several ‘gators’ from Xavier College Preparatory are traveling the globe this summer to share their knowledge and talents and gain global insight.

Ecuador

A small group of Xavier students are headed to Quito, Ecuador next week for the school’s annual immersion service trip at the Working Boys’ Center. A CNN reporter found out about the journey and will be checking in with the teenagers, especially as they encounter Pope Francis during his trip to South America. Readers can follow the Gators’ journey via the school blog.

Boston

Carolyn Blake, sophomore at Xavier College Preparatory (courtesy photo)

Carolyn Blake, a sophomore, is among 240 delegates headed to a Global Youth Summit on the Future of Medicine June 21-27 at Brandeis University in Boston. Students will gain hands-on learning, attend lectures and network with the leaders and innovators in the global medical community.

“We are in the midst of the most significant and fundamental change in health care delivery in our lifetime and young people who start now will be the future leaders in the field of medicine,” Dr. Steven Goldstein, chairman of the summit said in a statement.

Victoria Jordan (photo courtesy of Xavier College Preparatory)

Japan

Victoria Jordan, a junior, will serve abroad as a Youth Ambassador this month. Jordan will be among four Phoenix youth representing Arizona and the U.S. when they travel to Himeji, Japan through Phoenix Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program.

A student from Japan will spend time with Jordan in Phoenix later this summer. There are 26 teenagers traveling as youth ambassadors to nine of Phoenix’s Sister Cities during summer vacation.

Religious and civic leaders weigh in on pope’s new encyclical

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Catholic News Service

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Jun 19, 2015

An evening sky is reflected on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park in this September 2014 photo. The river is a critical resource, supplying water to 30 million people and thousands of acres of farmland. Pope Francis' long-anticipated encyclical on the environment was released at the Vatican June 18. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) — An evening sky is reflected on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park in this September 2014 photo. The river is a critical resource, supplying water to 30 million people and thousands of acres of farmland. Pope Francis’ long-anticipated encyclical on the environment was released at the Vatican June 18. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec)

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Leaders of various faith traditions and civic leaders joined their voices with Catholics June 18 in praising Pope Francis’ encyclical “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home” and its emphasis on caring for and protecting all of creation.

Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society of Hinduism in Reno, Nevada, said in a statement that Hindus might not agree with the entire encyclical, but they appreciated the pope’s emphasis on linking care of the natural world with justice for the poor.

He also said he hoped the document would help shape the public policy, change people’s behavior and inspire other religious leaders to come forward to support care of the environment.
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The Catholic Sun‘s coverage of ‘Laudato Si,’ the pope’s newest encyclical

U.S. bishops on environmental justice

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In a statement to Time magazine, Imam Mohamed Magid of the Islamic Society of North America said that this Ramadan, Muslims should heed the pope’s call to care for the earth.

“People of all faiths can come together for this cause because the concept of stewardship on Earth is a shared belief,” he said. “Appreciating the blessings bestowed upon us by our Creator is a value that we all take great care to respect.”

In advance of the document’s release, the Dalai Lama similarly showed support at least for the main message of the encyclical, saying in a June 15 tweet: “Since climate change and the global economy now affect us all, we have to develop a sense of the oneness of humanity.”

A group of rabbis similarly did not specifically address the encyclical but June 17, a day before the pope’s document was released, 360 of them signed a “Rabbinic Letter on the Climate Crisis,” calling for vigorous action to prevent worsening climate disruption and to seek eco-social justice and tying in this responsibility to faith experience.

Mohler said sections of the document will “please and displease all sides in our ongoing discussion about climate change and the care of creation. This is a conversation that will not end with Laudato Si’.”

This is the cover of the English edition of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home." The long-anticipated encyclical was released at the Vatican June 18. (CNS photo/courtesy U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops) — This is the cover of the English edition of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home.” The long-anticipated encyclical was released at the Vatican June 18. (CNS photo/courtesy U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops)

The Rev. David Beckmann, a Lutheran pastor and president of the Christian anti-hunger organization Bread for the World, praised the encyclical for underscoring the “collective moral responsibility of the Catholic Church and all peoples to address climate change” and for drawing “a clear link between changing global weather patterns and hunger.”

“Pope Francis has laid out a convincing moral argument about why we must confront climate change. Especially how it impacts the poor and most vulnerable among us,” he said, stressing that climate change is increasing hunger throughout the world and the poorest “continue to suffer the most.”

President Barack Obama also commented on “Laudato Si’, on Care for Our Common Home,” saying he deeply admired the pope’s decision “to make the case — clearly, powerfully, and with the full moral authority of his position — for action on global climate change.”

He said he shared the pope’s view that “we have a profound responsibility to protect our children, and our children’s children, from the damaging impacts of climate change” and he said he looks forward to discussing this issue with the pope when he visits the White House in September.

“As we prepare for global climate negotiations in Paris this December, it is my hope that all world leaders — and all God’s children — will reflect on Pope Francis’s call to come together to care for our common home,” he added.

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, gave the encyclical a mixed review in his June 18 statement. He described it as “a very interesting document” and said he agreed with the pope’s emphasis on care for creation as a theological issue.

But he also said the pope’s “central claims about climate change have more to do with the current scientific consensus than with theology,” adding that there is currently “no alternative to dependency on fossil fuels.”

St. Joseph Mission in Mayer celebrates centennial

By

The Catholic Sun

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Jun 19, 2015

St. Joseph Mission in Mayer celebrated its centennial with a Mass on June 7. (Photo courtesy of Carla Foster) — St. Joseph Mission in Mayer celebrated its centennial with a Mass on June 7. *(Photo courtesy of Carla Foster)*

MAYER — Church history that dates back at least 100 years is bound to be a bit sketchy. Catholics in Mayer chose the best date they could to celebrate its centennial.

Arizona had barely been admitted to the Union when, according to some records, Ish Davis of Mayer (near Prescott) donated land for a Catholic church in the town in 1913. Other records indicate the church may have been active as early as 1908. A formal blessing came a decade later.

What parishioners and area residents know for sure is that Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted joined them June 7 for Mass, Adoration and celebrations commemorating the establishment of St. Joseph’s Mission on Highway 69 at least a century ago.

Bishop Olmsted gave thanks for those who first brought the faith to the area and kept it alive all these years. He said it is the presence of God the Father in the Eucharist that allies Catholics from around the world with one another.

“From St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome to St. Joseph’s in Mayer we share the same mystery of God’s glory and power” offered to us in the Eucharist, Bishop Olmsted said in his homily.

The Gospel of the day (Mark 14) underscored the depth of Christ’s love for us with the telling of the first Eucharist just prior to Christ’s death on the cross.

“Christ wanted to leave us his presence that is the Eucharist, not just as a historical event, but as an eternal one, outside of time. By becoming human, He emptied himself of his glory…and entered into the brokenness of humans,” Bishop Olmsted said.

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted celebrates the Centennial Mass, joined by other priests at the altar. P — Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted celebrates the Centennial Mass, joined by other priests at the altar. *(Photo courtesy of Carla Foster)*

St. Joseph’s Mission began to take shape when Sara Bell, widow of town founder Joseph Mayer, donated $800, and two carpenters from Prescott were hired to build the church. Fr. L. Rousell, its first priest, also established churches in Humboldt and Congress. Bishop Henry Granjon of the Diocese of Tucson — which at the time encompassed the entire state of Arizona — eventually blessed St. Joseph church May 13, 1918.

Weekly Mass in the 1970s saw a scant 40 people in attendance. It was in that era when a Society of St. Vincent de Paul store was established. In 1983, the Society provided $42,000 to the building fund for a new church. A further $10,000 came from the Bishop’s Charity and Development Fund.

Fr. Phillip Reiser, known as the builder priest, oversaw the construction of the new church. The first Mass was at midnight on Christmas 1983. An Adoration Chapel was added in the early 2000s.

Management of the mission has rotated among various parishes and today it is in the care of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Camp Verde with SOLT Fathers Alphonsus Bakyil and Alvin Cayetano providing sacraments.

— Mary Dahl

Wake Up The World: Q&A with Sr. Cecilia Schlaefer, CSA

By

Joyce Coronel

-

Jun 19, 2015

Sr. Cecilia Schlaefer, CSA, was born into a family of musicians and has spent her 75 years of religious life sharing the joy of music with students, retirees and parishes. At 93, she’s still active serving others. (Joyce Coronel/CATHOLIC SUN)

[dropcap type=”4″]P[/dropcap]ope Francis declared that a Year of Consecrated Life be celebrated throughout the world, a time dedicated to the faithful whose vows of poverty, chastity and obedience serve to illuminate heaven on earth. To help mark this occasion, The Catholic Sun is featuring each month members of religious communities who serve the Diocese of Phoenix.

Sr. Cecilia Schlaefer has been a Sister of St. Agnes for 75 years. At age 93, she is still going strong and serving others in spite of having suffered eight heart attacks earlier in life. She has a doctorate in musical arts and taught music, Latin and English for decades in Catholic grade schools and high schools. She plays trumpet, piano, organ, guitar, violin and many other instruments.

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Religious community: Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes

Community charisms: Missionary zeal, serving God’s people with simplicity and love as teachers, nurses and missionaries

Community founding: Aug. 12, 1858

Current role: Teacher, musician, chaplain

When she first heard God’s call: Age 3

Final vows: Aug. 15, 1947

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These days, with the permission of her pastor, she brings Communion to the residents in the retirement community where she lives in Mesa. She’s currently teaching two Bible classes and plays music to entertain residents in eight nursing homes. “Retirement? What’s that mean?” Sr. Cecelia joked with The Catholic Sun.

The Catholic Sun: When did you first realize God was calling you to religious life?

Sr. Cecilia Schlaefer: I was 3 years old. I got to church and then we all went to the front pew. And we sat down and I heard the voice say, “Cecilia, I want you to be My spouse.” I touched [my sister] Mary and I said, ‘Mary, what’s a spouse?’ She said, “Quiet. We don’t talk in church.” She shut me up for the next 18 years. I never told her about it.

I ran home and my mother was ironing and I said, “Mama, what’s a spouse? She said, “Well, Daddy and I are spouses to each other. Why do you ask?” I said,” Jesus asked me to be His spouse.”

Tell us about your service as a religious sister.

I was a teacher and I’ve been to Nicaragua 14 times as a guest musician and started four marching bands down there. Our sisters were assigned there. We have the virtue of obedience. Wherever we were sent, we go. I taught music in every grade plus high school. I love teaching. I love to impart what I know. In three or four of the parishes, I had a grade school and a high school to take care of. I’m used to working hard and I loved every minute of it. The joy comes from Jesus, the presence of God. What’s greater? I talk to Him all day long and He tells me what to do.

What has been the most fulfilling about your life as a Sister of St. Agnes?

I was in union with Jesus all my life and nobody could ever take that away from me. He and I had something going and I knew it and I wouldn’t tell anybody. It’s a spiritual thing.

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