Chaldean patriarch: current state of Iraq is 'chaos'
by Elise Harris
Vatican City, Jul 17, 2014 / 05:54 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako of Iraq has written a letter urging government officials to “waste no more time” in electing new leaders, and lamented the grim possibility of finding a peaceful solution to conflict.
“Only the president of the parliament was elected and later, maybe next week, there will be an election for the President of the Republic and also the prime minister,” Patriarch Sako told CNA July 16, following the July 15 election of Salim al-Jubouri as the new speaker of Iraq’s parliament.
“But you know many cities are not controlled by the government. It’s really a chaos.”
Salim al-Jubouri’s election marks the end of a three month deadlock in Iraqi elections, which has remained drawn out in wake of the attacks insurgents with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) have made to seize a sizeable amount of territory in north-western Iraq.
‘Antolina’ to ring from new heights
LIBERAL -- The Church bell of St. Anthony of Padua Parish has been placed in its new perch. For many years, it rested on the ground by the back door of the old church building on First Street, and then by the back door of the new church on 15th street, moving to the front door and finally finding its home in the heights.
The bell was rescued from the old St. Peter and Paul Church in Kinsley when that parish was closed. The old chimney of St. Anthony school building has been converted to a bell tower thanks to the work of the pastoral council, and parishioners, Jack Call, Daniel Zuniga and his companions, and Alfredo Zapien, known as “el Marro”, the hammer, (for good reason) and his workers. Also, Doug Call with RSCrental company furnished a forklift to pour the concrete.
Women speak out against 'extreme' abortion bill
Washington D.C., Jul 16, 2014 / 05:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - A federal bill to remove almost all abortion regulations is drawing strong opposition from critics who say that it would be devastating to health and safety of both women and their children.
U.S. Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.), a registered nurse of over 40 years, expressed “grave concerns” about the negative effects that the proposal could have on health and safety standards.
In a July 15 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Black warned that the bill – entitled the Women’s Health Protective Act – is actually harmful to women.
“Abortions not only pose serious physical health risks, but endanger a women’s mental health as well,” she said.
Sports with the Seminarians
In June and July, seminarians Juan Salas, Jacob Schneider and Tylan Rickets gathered in Dodge City, Garden City and Great Bend, where they enjoyed sports activities with local youth -- from basketball to Frisbee golf.
The annual event allows the youth to enjoy time with the seminarians, learning that their lives are not only about study.
Besides trying for a point, the only challenge came when a saucer went into a creek in Dodge City. One of the boys finally took the plunge and fished out the saucer.
Director of Priestly Vocations, Father Wesley Schawe, also attended, as did Becky Hessman, Coordinator of Vocations, and a host of adult participants.
Catholics in Holy Land pray for peace, reconciliation
By Antonio Anup Gonsalves
Jerusalem, Israel, Jul 11, 2014 / 02:29 pm (CNA/EWTN News) - Under the back and forth of Israeli airstrikes and Hamas rockets, concerned Catholic migrants from India are praying for peace in the Holy Land.
“So far, the migrants are safe and no casualties have been reported,” Fr. Tojy Jose, OFM, head of the Indian Chaplaincy in the Holy Land, told CNA July 11.
“Migrants and tourists are apprehensive about the current situation, especially the newly arrived ones: for them it’s a new and terrifying experience.”
The community of Indian emigrants in the Holy Land have entrusted their protection to Mary, the “protector and patroness” of the Indian chaplainsy, Fr. Jose said.
Since July 7 Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip have fired hundreds of rockets on Israel, and the Israelis have responded with a comparable number of airstrikes on the Gaza strip.
House panel’s food aid cuts in farm bill
called ‘unjustified and wrong’
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A proposed $16 billion cut in the nation’s Supplemental Nutritional and Assistance Program is “unjustified and wrong,” said a joint letter from the chairman of the U.S. bishops’ domestic and international justice committees, leaders of Catholic Relief Services and the National Catholic Rural Life Conference.
The cuts in SNAP, once known as food stamps, “will hurt hungry children, poor families, vulnerable seniors and struggling workers,” said the July 10 letter, addressed to Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Okla., chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., the committee’s ranking Democrat.
“At this time of economic hardship and continued high unemployment, the committee should protect essential programs that serve poor and hungry people. To cut programs that feed hungry people in the midst of economic turmoil is unjustified and wrong,” the letter said.
“A just farm bill requires shared sacrifice by all but cannot rely on disproportionate cuts to essential services for hungry, poor and vulnerable people,” it said.
Dominican Sisters of Peace
celebrate years of service, devotion
This year, the Dominican Sisters of Peace (formerly the Great Bend Dominicans) celebrate a year of Jubilee, commemorating significant profession anniversaries of 70 Golden and Diamond Jubilarians. Six of these Sisters made their original professions of vows in Great Bend.
Golden Jubilarians
Sister Kathy Goetz, OP
(50 years professed)
When she entered the convent from St. Joseph Parish in Hays in 1962, Sister Kathy Goetz could not have imagined the blessings religious life had in store for her. In her early years, Sister Kathy taught at various schools in Kansas, including St. Magdalen in Wichita, St. Joseph in Scott City, and St. Dominic in Garden City. At the young age of 30, Sister Kathy was made motherhouse coordinator and later was named novice director. Earning a certificate in theological studies from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley (California) in 1980, Sister Kathy began a ministry in accompanying individuals on their spiritual journeys, which she has continued in various roles since. She served in Canton, Oklahoma, ministering to the pastoral needs of Cheyenne and Arapaho Native Americans, then ministered for seven years as pastoral care director at Mount Joseph Senior Care Center in Concordia. She went on to serve in spiritual direction at the House of Contemplation (Liebenthal), in pastoral ministry at St. John Evangelist Parish (Hoisington), and as director of Associates for her congregation. When the Great Bend Dominicans united with six other congregations to form the Dominican Sisters of Peace in 2009, Sister Kathy moved to St. Catharine, Kentucky, where she served until recently as pastoral minister to her elderly and infirm Sisters at Sansbury Care Center. In August, she will assume the role of Hospitality Coordinator at Heartland Center of Spirituality in Great Bend.
Nigerian archbishop calls for government rescue of schoolgirls
by Elise Harris
Vatican City, Jul 14, 2014 / 05:24 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Amid government reports that the nearly 200 girls kidnapped in Chibok could be home soon, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama has called the country’s leaders to follow through with their promises.
“At the conclusion of the National Council of States Meeting…there was news that it will just be a matter of time before the girls are released,” Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama told CNA July 11.
“That is good news, we hope. But we will have to see how far it goes, how concrete that news will be. As I said there’s a lot of promises,” but “promises are not enough, we just want to see concrete action and the fruit of whatever the government is doing along with the international community.”
Archbishop of Jos, Nigeria and spokesman for the country’s Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Kaigama gave his comments following the conclusion of Nigeria’s July 8 National Council of States Meeting.
Convening for the second time this year, the meeting was attended by President Goodluck Johnson, along with the nation's vice president, former heads of states, governors of the 36 states including Abuja’s minister, former and present Chief Justices of the Federation, the Senate president, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Inspector General of Police.
Learning to lead; learning to serve
Diocesan staff, parishioners, graduate from
two-year ‘Tending the Talents’ program
By DAVID MYERS
Southwest Kansas Register
To be a better servant, one must learn to be a better leader.
Two years ago, the Diocese of Dodge City embarked on a journey called “Tending the Talents,” designed to help participants recognize how they could be stronger leaders, and thus better servants.
The program culminated Aug. 2 with a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Dodge City in which dozens of participants received a certificate of graduation. The program was presented by the Catholic Leadership Institute, which had recently completed the program for priests, “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds” in the Diocese of Dodge City.
Pope's audience with elderly to explore vocation of old age
by Elise Harris
Vatican City, Jul 14, 2014 / 09:04 am (CNA/EWTN News) - Organizers for the first-ever audience to be held between a pope and the elderly population have revealed that a central reflection will be the active vocation of the aged in the Church and in society.
“We have given 20 years of life to old people now (in Western countries), but 20 years to do what? This is the big question that this meeting wants to share with everyone,” Fr. Andrea Ciucci of the Pontifical Council for the Family told CNA July 11.
“There is a particular vocation of elderly and grandparents in society and in the Church.”
Entitled “The Blessing of a Long Life,” the event will take place Sept. 28 in St. Peter’s Square. The square will open at 7:30 a.m. with the official celebration beginning at 9 a.m. The day will culminate with an audience and Mass at 10:30 presided over by Pope Francis.