IRL News Briefs, Jan. 30, 2006

Jan. 30, 2006 — Vol. 5, No. 1

On the Eve of the World Day of Consecrated Life, Pope Benedict XVI said that many saints in history were members of religious congregations.

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CONTENTS

Love is Key, Says Pope on Eve of World Day of Consecrated Life
Chinese Province Experiences Vocation Surge
Miracle Ties Syracuse Woman Forever to Blessed Marianne Cope
Josephites Priests Reach Out to Displaced Parishioners
Advertisements, Ringtones, Programs Help to Attract Vocations
Nun's Rare Illness Spurs New Approach to Life
World Needs Courageous, Caring Priests, Says Pope at Rome Seminary
Founder of Indiana Catholic Home One Step Closer to Sainthood
New IRL Book – “Holiness: The Heart of Renewal” – Is Now Available
Ten Stained Glass Images Now Available in IRL's “Sacred Suncatchers” Gift Line

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Love is the only key to understanding a life given completely to God, said Benedict XVI on the eve of the World Day of Consecrated Life. The Pope said on Jan. 29 that many of the saints of history were members of religious congregations, such as St. John of God, St. Camillus de Lellis, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louise de Marillac, St. Joseph Cottolengo, St. Luis Orione and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.

"These men and women, whom the spirit of Christ molded, making them models of evangelical commitment, lead us to consider the importance of the consecrated life as expression and school of charity," said the Pope. The Second Vatican Council emphasized that "the imitation of Christ in chastity, poverty and obedience is totally oriented to attaining perfect charity," he said.

The Church celebrates the World Day of Consecrated Life, begun in 1997, on Feb. 2, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. The Pope will preside at Mass at the Vatican, to which consecrated men and women are invited. "Together we will thank God for the gift of consecrated life and pray that it will continue to be an eloquent sign of his merciful love in the world," he said.

The Chinese province of Shaanxi is experiencing a veritable springtime of vocations, according to one of its priests. Father Stephen Chen, director of the Catholic Social Center in the Diocese of Sian, told the charity Aid to the Church in Need that 260 priests are serving some 280,000 Catholics in the central province of Shaanxi. There are eight dioceses there.

"More than 600 sisters are serving the poor, the sick and the elderly as well as working in education," he said during a recent visit to the Germany-based charity. "Young people are getting more and more interested in the faith," the priest added. "My diocese has two seminaries and a lot of vocations both to the priesthood and to female religious life.

"Over the past 20 years about 400 churches were built in the province, but still more of them are needed, especially in small villages. Sadly, many church buildings are in very bad conditions and need to be repaired or rebuilt."

The life of Katherine "Kate" Mahoney, 27, will forever be entwined with that of Blessed Marianne Cope, who died in 1918 after spending 35 years ministering to leprosy patients on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. The young Syracuse woman's recovery from multiple organ failure and cardiac arrest 12 years ago was judged miraculous by the Catholic Church and attributed to the intercession of Mother Marianne, who was beatified last May. But Mahoney wants to be sure people understand that she herself is no miracle. She was the vehicle for Mother Marianne's miracle. It is Mother Marianne's story that she wants to share. Mahoney, members of her family, her health care providers and members of Mother Marianne's religious order, the Sisters of St. Francis, recently told the story of the miracle in interviews with the Catholic Sun, Syracuse diocesan newspaper.

Josephite priests have established a Hurricane Relief and Recovery Center to locate and assist displaced parishioners from their 10 parishes in the Gulf Coast region devastated by the winds and water of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. A Dec. 11 "Gathering of Hope," held at the Federal Emergency Management Agency trailer park in Baker, jump-started the priests' efforts to find their scattered flocks. All residents of the trailer park, named Renaissance Village, were invited to a free, three-hour gospel music concert, which Josephite Father John Harfmann, consultor general of the society, hoped would bring "joy and some Christmas flavor" to the lives of the displaced persons living there. Choirs from Our Mother of Mercy in Beaumont, Texas, and from St. Paul the Apostle in Lafayette and St. Francis Xavier in Baton Rouge provided uplifting songs of praise and worship.

Although religious habits aren't seen too often on television, Wisconsin viewers saw them on advertisements this past fall during the "7th Heaven" and "Gilmore Girls" series on the WB network. A marketing study by the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity in Manitowoc showed that television programming with religious or moral messages reaches their target group of college-age women who are open to the call to religious life. The study confirmed what Sister Julie Ann Sheahan of the order's vocations office had already suspected. "Young women in contact with our vocation office have told me how decisive and selective they try to be when deciding which programs to watch or Web sites to visit," said Sister Julie Ann. "Most do make TV viewing choices based on their faith beliefs." So the sisters developed a series of six television advertisements -- to complement current radio and print advertising -- built around the community's signature line: "The world needs you. God calls you. We invite you."

Most people would not see a chronic, progressive, debilitating disease as a blessing, or call themselves "one of the lucky ones." Mercy Sister Peggy Mahoney must not be most people. Sister Peggy, director of planned giving for the Wilmington Diocese, was diagnosed in 2003 with polymyositis, an autoimmune disease marked by weakness and inflammation of the muscles -- usually beginning with those closest to and within the trunk of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, hips and back, according to the Myositis Association. She started seeing doctors in March 2002 when she had difficulty walking up a flight of steps; it took a year and a half for her to be diagnosed. "I have never had pain," she said. "I have aches, discomfort, periods of weakness." Sister Peggy feels she is lucky because she has been "forced to find that balance" in life that so many people talk about but rarely achieve.

Today's world needs courageous, caring priests who are not afraid to bring God's love to all people, especially to those languishing in poverty or struggling with difficulties, Pope Benedict XVI told members of a Rome seminary. But pastors must also be mature, lead holy lives and faithfully comply with the church's teaching authority if they are to be effective evangelizers and bring hope to the world, the pope said. The pope made his remarks Jan. 20 during an audience with some 60 members of Almo Capranica College, a diocesan seminary of Rome. "In order to respond to the expectations of modern society" and be part of the enormous task of evangelization, "prepared and courageous priests are needed, who without ambition and fear, but convinced of Gospel truth, make proclaiming Christ their first concern," the pope said.

The staff at St. Joseph's Carmelite Home for Girls has certainly witnessed growth in recent years, adding facilities for emergency care and a center for infants and toddlers. The staff is now awaiting news of a possible church honor for the home's founder. Pope Benedict XVI signed decrees Dec. 19 recognizing miracles attributed to the intercession of nine individuals. Among those now ready for beatification is Mother Anna Maria Tauscher, also known as Mother Maria Teresa of St. Joseph. The German-born founder of the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus also founded St. Joseph's Carmelite Home for Girls in East Chicago-- one of a number of facilities still in operation that she founded on a trip to America. "We're very, very happy. We've been waiting, we planned, and we were hoping for it," said Carmelite Sister Maria Giuseppe Moxley, chief administrator at the home and provincial superior for her order. "Some of our older sisters knew her, and a couple still remember her."

New IRL Book on Holiness "Touches the Heart" As it Serves to Renew Religious Life

Throughout Church history, the consecrated life has always been strictly joined to the call to holiness. Rather than deviating from this teaching, John Paul II tirelessly reinforced it and realized that without faithfulness to the authentic sources of Christian spirituality and prayer, the consecrated life cannot “stand up” to today's permissive culture.

In her new book, “Holiness: The Heart of Renewal,” Sr. Evelyn Ann Schumacher, O.S.F., examines the Holy Father's many addresses and writings to religious and other consecrated persons. This 96-page book contains the secret to the authentic renewal of the religious life as proposed by the Second Vatican Council and passionately promulgated by Pope John Paul II. It includes helpful questions for reflection and discussion for individual or group use.

Franca Salvo, of the Apostolic Oblates in Omaha, NE, a secular institute for women, said that the book "well describes the nature and mission of the gift of consecrated life." She said that it "fosters its deep understanding, is an excellent/updated tool of formation for those in consecrated life; it touches the heart!"

You may purchase the book online at www.religiouslife.com/catalog. To get the bulk rate for many books, please contact the IRL toll-free: 877-267-1195, or call 773-267-1195.

Ten Stained Glass Images Now Available in IRL's “Sacred Suncatchers” Gift Line

The Institute on Religious Life has teamed up with a local Chicago artist to create a unique religious gift line that will inspire the hearts and minds of all who see it. “Sacred Suncatchers” are perfect devotional items for any window in your house, convent or rectory because they serve as a wonderful witness of faith and a powerful reminder of God's tender love and mercy.

Each of the ten stained glass images used is an exact reproduction of a window found in some of the most beautiful churches and chapels in the country. Handcrafted, they are framed in lead and encased in clear glass for lasting protection. Comes with a sturdy chain for hanging and measures approximately 8” x 10”.

“Sacred Suncatchers” make great gifts for birthdays, feastdays, anniversaries, ordinations and for many special occasions. Available images include the Nativity, Our Lady of the Rosary, Holy Trinity, the Risen Christ, Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Joseph, the Holy Eucharist, the Crucifixion, and Pentecost. Custom suncatchers can also be commissioned for parishes, schools or other non-profit organizations, or can be used as fundraisers!

$29.95 each + S&H
For more information, or to order, visit www.religiouslife.com/catalog/suncatchers.php or call the IRL office at our toll-free number, 877-267-1195, or call 773-267-1195.

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IRL News Briefs is a periodic electronic newsletter that culls the news services to present informative, inspirational and/or insightful news items highlighting some aspect of the priestly/consecrated life and ministry.

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