The USA Council of Serra International recently announced that Msgr. James Bartylla has been named Serra Chaplain of the Year for 2009 for Region 7.
Day: October 1, 2009
October invites us to respect the lives of the unborn
Gianna Jessen appreciates God’s precious gift of life more than most persons because she survived an abortion. A toxic saline solution was injected into the womb of her frightened 17-year-old mother in order to induce a chemical abortion intended to end Gianna’s life.
The abortion failed. Eighteen hours later, she was born. Gianna had severe injuries that led to cerebral palsy. But she was alive. A startled, compassionate nurse called an ambulance that sped her to a hospital. Since she weighed only two pounds, the hospital placed her in an incubator. Eventually Penny, the generous mother of 56 foster children, adopted her. Gianna credits Penny and Jesus with saving her life.
Appointments (Oct. 1, 2009 edition)
Bishop Robert C. Morlino has announced the following appointment, effective September 24, 2009:
Parish cooks up faith and family
MADISON — Erika Frederick never guessed the path to family and faith would be paved with peanut butter and marshmallows.
But when she capped her work on the Our Lady Queen of Peace cookbook with a cooking class for her kids and some of their friends, she found the connection. As the children dug in to mix and form “Crispy Cereal Roll-ups,” she saw them learning lessons of working as a team, sharing values, and building memories.
Violence begets violence
On September 11, James Pouillon was shot multiple times and killed while protesting abortion outside a high school in Owosso, Mich.
According to reports, the suspect in custody, Harlan James Drake, admitted to police that he had also killed Mike Fuoss earlier that morning and that he had intended to murder a third man against whom he held a grudge, but was arrested before he reached his last victim.
The violence didn’t end with his arrest. The Associated Press reports that Mr. Drake was hospitalized Saturday night after an attempt on his own life in the county jail. Nor is that the end of it. Some angry people are already calling for the death penalty, yet another act of violence.
Princeton Catholic school pays tribute with a Night in New Orleans
PRINCETON — What does a Catholic school in the small town of Princeton, Wis., have in common with the large southern city of New Orleans, La.?
St. John the Baptist School in Princeton believes it shares with New Orleans “a great love for our way of life and a desire to preserve it for future generations,” says St. John School parent Mary Soda.
“St. John is a nurturing environment, based on Catholic values, respect for life, and serving others. We have small class sizes, high curriculum standards, and more spirit than you can pack into a Mardi Gras Parade,” she said.
Remembering papal visit to the heartland
It doesn’t seem possible that it has been 30 years since Pope John Paul II made his historic visit to rural Des Moines, Iowa. As a young reporter, I was among nearly 350,000 people gathered on a hillside to welcome the Holy Father. It is an experience I’ll never forget.
As the pope celebrated Mass and preached to the throngs of people, it reminded me of what the Sermon on the Mount must have been like. I really felt the presence of Jesus in our midst that day in October of 1979.