| SEPTEMBER 2014 W · PDF fileFAITH ACTION IN BRINGING CHRIST ... love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their rec-ompense, ... to give of our time

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T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E C A T H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M E M P H I S

W W W . C D O M . O R G | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4

T H E M A G A Z I N E O F T H E C A T H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M E M P H I S

FA I T HA C T I O NI N

BRINGING CHRIST TO THE WORKPLACE

F E AT U R E S T O R Y

Five ordained to priesthood for the

Catholic Diocese of Memphis

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W O R K L I F E

I am not the office maid

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The Magazine of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD, D.D

PUBLISHER

Suzanne Avilés EDITOR AND

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Angelica Beller ADVERTISING/CIRCULATION MANAGER

September 2014 • Volume 2: Issue 1

Kayla KoenigsknechtGRAPHIC DESIGNER

InnerWorkingsPRINT MANAGEMENT

Carlson Productions | Tom Gennara Dr. John Tyler (cover) | Philip Shippert

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

FAITH West Tennessee (USPS No. 096070) is published monthly 10 times per year except for February and August by the non-profit organization, FAITH Catholic.

FAITH West Tennessee is the diocesan publication of the Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, serving more than 65,000 Catholics in West Tennessee. Periodical Postage paid

at Memphis TN 38101 and other offices. POSTMASTER: Send address

changes to FAITH West Tennessee, P.O. Box 341669, Memphis, TN 38184-1669. Serviced by Catholic News Service - Faith West Tennessee – March 15, 2012

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your life7 work life

8 parenting journey

8 conflict resolution

9 your marriage matters

10 culture

your faith 12 in the know with father joe

14 spiritual fitness

16 theology 101

your stories18 feature story Five ordained to priesthood for the Catholic Diocese of Memphis.

20 feature story Magnificat Day comes to Memphis.

21 praying for perspective A just wage.

22 cover story Faith in action.

26 parish heritage The Catholic heart of West Tennessee.

28 local news

22C O V E R S T O R Y

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contents

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The Spanish translation of this article is available at www.diolaf.org/AConline.

Bishop J. Terry Steib, SVD

THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT:

THOU SHALL NOT STEAL

T he Seventh Commandment, as found in the Book of Exodus, simply

says: “Thou shall not steal” (Ex. 20:15). And perhaps it is as simple to do as

it is simple to say. Most of us would not walk into someone’s home and help

ourselves to the furniture in their rooms, or the belongings in their closets, or

even the food in their refrigerator without their permission. Most of us would

not take the money or credit cards in the wallet or purse of another person

without their approval. To do so would be stealing—robbing another person

of what is properly theirs.

The Seventh Commandment is about unjustly taking or keeping the belongings of one’s neighbor. It is about doing wrong to our neighbors with respect to what is rightfully theirs. The Seventh Commandment asks that we be just and charitable in the care of earthly goods and that we have respect for the right to private property.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us: “In the beginning God entrusted the earth and its resources to the common stewardship of mankind to take care of them, master them by labor, and enjoy their fruits” (No. 2402). This is called the universal destination of goods. Even though we have the right to private prop-erty which we have acquired through work or received from others by way of gift or

inheritance, we exercise this ownership con-scious of the fact that the original gift of the Earth belongs to the whole of humankind.

As simple as the Seventh Commandment is, there are many ways to violate this com-mandment: employees who do not do a just day’s work, or employers who cheat their employees out of wages earned; merchants who charge unjust prices and look for unjust profits; dealers who give light weight or short measures, or who misrepresent goods; inves-tors who speculate rashly or gamble with the money of others; individuals who borrow without the intention or the slightest hope of being able to pay back.

The prophets of the Old Testament were deeply concerned about stealing from the

This far by faith

Faith West Tennessee / September 2014 / www.CDOM.org4

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from the bishop

poor. Listen to the prophet Amos: ….”Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land…. The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: never will I forget a thing they have done!” (Amos 8: 4, 7).

Hear the words of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah: “For I, the Lord, love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their rec-ompense, an everlasting covenant I will make with them” (Isaiah 61:8).

And Jesus summed up his love for the poor when he said: “The king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the king-dom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me’” (Matthew 25:34-36).

Is it any wonder that the Catechism focuses our attention on love for the poor? Is it any wonder then why it is important to give to others and to avoid the sin of taking from others? Throughout the gospels, Christ asks us to be generous to others in need, to see his presence in the poor. This is why the Cor-poral Works of Mercy are presented to us as signs of our generosity, self-denial and selflessness. This is why we are asked to share food beyond our basic needs with others, to share the extra clothing that may be in our closets, to give of our time to visit the sick and imprisoned.

St John Chrysostom says: “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs” (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in

Lazaro 2, 5: PG 48, 992).

BE NOT AFRAID

St. Hildegard of Bingen

Feast Day: Sept. 17

The lives of saints are so instructive, in part, because they teach the basic truths of God’s will for us in often vivid fashion. The life of St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098–1179) is no exception.

St. Hildegard was a Benedictine abbess in Germany. Although she has never been formally canonized, she was declared to be a doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012. She was one of the first great German mystics and a real “renaissance” woman. She produced 69 musical compositions; wrote 400 letters to popes, emperors, abbots and abbesses; authored two volumes of material on natural medicine and cures; invented a language; wrote Gospel commentary and hagiography; produced three volumes of visionary theology; and composed perhaps the oldest sur-viving morality play, Ordo Virtutum (Play of the Virtues).

At the same time, her story stands as a dramatic exhorta-tion to trust God and to courageously persevere in doing his will, even in the face of opposition. For example, in 1136, St. Hildegard was elected to lead her monastery community. She felt compelled by God to move the mon-astery from a well-established stone complex to a more impoverished temporary edifice. However, the move was opposed by the abbot under whose authority the monas-tery operated.

Then, St. Hildegard fell victim to an illness that paralyzed her. No one could move her, including the abbot. St. Hildegard attributed the condition to God’s unhappiness at not fol-lowing his will regarding moving the monastery. The abbot relented and granted his permission for the move, and she recovered shortly thereafter.

At another time, St. Hildegard hesitated to obey God’s directive, with equally severe consequences. She received visions throughout her life and had always been cautious about sharing them with others. At 42, however, she re-ceived a vision in which God instructed her to record all that she saw and heard. When she failed to do so out of fear, she again became physically ill until she complied.

In the end, her physical health was tied directly to her willingness to “be not afraid” when it came to obeying the will of God. It is a lesson we would all do well to learn – and live.

saint of the month


yourlife

noontime irritation. Unless your office is the lunch-room, you’ve got bigger fish to fry. Take a deep breath and offer it up.

3. Depersonalize it. Recommend that a CLEAN UP YOUR OWN DISHES notice be posted at the sink. Courtesy can’t be legislated, but a policy can be enforced. What he didn’t learn from his mother can be required by his employer.

4. Grow through it. Your fear of small conflicts is limiting you as a human being. Unless Sam is prone to fits of rage and violence, why not simply ask him to clean up? Step out of your comfort zone and be forthright. If you make this a habit, you’ll be a healthier and happier co-worker.

You also can grow spiritu-ally. Every irritation in life is an opportunity to grow in virtue. And virtue is the key to happi-ness and becoming like God (St. Gregory of Nyssa). How he does it, I don’t know. But amaz-ingly, the Lord, in his goodness, perfectly orchestrates life’s diffi-culties for our benefit – to make us holier. In everything God works for the good for those who love him. (Romans 8:28-29)

So if he doesn’t change, you can. With God’s grace, you can either learn to be at peace with his mess, or clean it up with a smile. The Lord is with you, and he loves a cheerful giver. In either case, you can’t lose.

One of my co-workers keeps leaving dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink of our lunchroom. We have a dishwasher, but he never seems to be able to get the dishes into it. I’m sick of picking up after him, but I can’t stand the sight of the dishes after a while. How do I handle this?

How about offering him the standard grocery checkout options: Paper or plastic?

Here are four op-tions, starting with the worst:

1. Resent it. Resentment is a common practice in the workplace. We’re too afraid to deal directly with felt injustices and too small-minded to overlook them. So we simmer with a subtle anger that bubbles up in three ways: COM-

PLAINT (Has anyone seen Sloppy Sam today?); PAYBACK (Sorry I didn’t get that report you needed, Sam. Maybe tomorrow …); and SELF-PITY (I’m sick of picking up … can’t stand the sight …).

Sounds like your current approach. Not fun.

2. Get over it. At the end of your career, will the dirty dish problem rank among your top 10 challenges? You’re dealing with an annoyance, with which life is filled. Granted, it’s the worst type – recurring and certain – but still just a

Qa

work life

I am sick of cleaning up my co-worker’s dirty dishes –

I am not the office maid Jim Berlucchi is the

executive director of the Spitzer Center, whose mission is to build cultures of evangelization (www.spitzercenter.org).

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the ties of parents and siblings? Consider how they met, as well. Have they been enjoying each other’s company at high school because they are both in band? Are they member of the yearbook staff or the church youth group? Or did they meet

at the mall when she was shopping and notice a physical attraction? Take the depth of their relation-ship into account.

Pray for wisdom when guiding your children: “She speaks with wis-dom, and faithful instruc-tion is on her tongue.” (Proverbs 31:26)

Our 15-year-old daughter is interest-ed in an 18-year-old who also likes her. I’m a bit concerned

about the age difference – what is an OK difference in ages?

If your daughter met her friend 10 years from now, then the age difference would seem insignificant.

But during adolescence, three years make a difference.

Monitoring activities. Your daughter and her friend are at different develop-mental levels. He is about to step into the adult world, whether at college, in the military or in a full-time job. Although his parents will continue to play a key role in terms of advice and support, he is going to be regulating his own behavior on a day-to-day basis. Your daughter, on the other hand, still needs to have her choices and activities monitored. Teens sometimes wonder why parents have to check up on them: “Don’t you trust me?” Although we do trust our adolescents, it is still important to make sure the choices

parenting journey

they are making are positive ones. When it comes to your daughter’s activities, you need to know where she plans to be and what other people will be there. If a friend has a party, then it is important to know if a parent will be there, too. Your family rules about various situa-tions and the consequences for breaking the rules need to be clear. This type of parental monitoring might seem stifling to someone who is learning what it is like to be an independent young adult, but it is exactly what a 15-year-old needs.

Relationship choices. What are the expectations that your daughter and her friend have for their relationship? Listen to your daughter carefully as she explores her feelings. Are they part of a larger group of teens who share the same interests? Liking each other in these types of activities is different than a longing for couple-time alone with one another. Does he feel comfortable coming to your home and shar-ing a meal with family? Or does he encourage her to break away from

Dr. Cathleen McGreal is a psychology professor and certified spiritual director.

Dr. Gelasia Marquez is a psychologist and family counselor.

My son ‘unfriended’ me. I’m hurtMy 22-year-son, who is away at college, “unfriended” me on Facebook because he didn’t want me reading his posts. I am really hurt and feel as if perhaps I should stop helping financially. What do I do?

Your son appears to be going through a “rite of pas-sage” from being an ado-lescent who needs supervi-sion to becoming a secure, independent young adult. This period involves different tasks, among them they learn

to speak up for themselves, develop social confidence in establishing and maintain-ing social relationships and how to regulate their emo-tions. These three elements will contribute to his sense of autonomy in life.

I have no doubt that your son is beginning to exercise his rights of privacy, own respect and independence by creating a boundary between him, his friends and you. Acknowledge this fact as a positive step and let him know your apprecia-tion for this sign of maturity and growth. Proverbs 22:6 offers some wisdom: “Train the young in the way they should go.” It’s not always easy but, “even when old, they will not swerve from it.”

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conflict resolution

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She’s 15, he’s 18 – should they date?


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WHAT DO THEY DO?T

SHE SAYS: HE SAYS:

Deacon Tom Fogle and JoAnne Fogle help prepare couples for marriage.

nique we have found useful is to start with a short prayer to the Holy Spirit asking for guidance and to be open to new ideas. Fol-lowing a short prayer, share with each other your own upbringing and what your parents expected of you – for example, did you get paid (our least preferred method) for good grades or was there some other form of brib-ery (oops – we meant to say “enticement”) used? Did they instill in you the importance of striving to do your best by explaining the role your grades might play later on for you if you desire to go to college, or how good grades might help you achieve a scholar-

ship? Discussing these components will help you get in touch with the feelings behind the issue and will lead to a solution both

of you can be comfortable in supporting. Only after

Sam and Sally prepare themselves and are in touch with their feelings should they approach their children about the topic of good grades.

your marriage matters

“ The kids are trying hard enough in school.”

Sally says: Sam is putting unrealistic demands for grades on our kids – if they don’t get straight A’s, he “motivates” them by taking away privileges. I was a B student myself, so I don’t think this is fair. We are arguing constantly about it.

“They need to bring home perfect

report cards.”Sam says: The only way our kids will get ahead is by work-ing hard and getting top grades. I would think Sally would be behind me 100 percent on this. In the current economic climate, only the cream of the crop will

survive.

here are many facets to this issue that need to be taken into consideration, but two are immediate: the impact on the child and the impact on Sam and Sally’s relationship. The for-mer is not about perfect or good grades – rather the impact

on the child is the constant arguing between the parents over the issue.

Too often, we see parents who tend not to care about their children’s successes, so it is very commendable that both parents wish only the best for their children and are tak-ing an active role in helping them achieve that. In setting the standards however, both Sam and Sally need to be realistic about their children’s abilities and capabilities, and not make an artificial presumption that only top grades produce the cream of the crop. Even though Sam is taking an active interest in his children’s potential and is serious about his fatherhood role, his actions may be doing more harm than good. The words of Colossians 3:21 are most appropriate: “Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they may not become discouraged.” Con-stant arguing between Sam and Sally is not conducive to healthy children or a healthy marriage relationship. The greatest gift Sam and Sally can give to their children is to be in agreement with each other on the expectations they have for their children. It sounds like Sally and Sam came from different backgrounds. Sally feels

she is being realistic and believes one does not need to have top grades in school to be successful. Sam’s perception is derived from being in the work force and he believes that only those with top grades rise to the top and land decent jobs. Sally and Sam should discuss their feelings about setting standards of achievement for their children, the best way to achieve those standards and what compromise they can support in uni-ty. St. Paul encourages us to, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but [also] everyone for those of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4) These sensitive discussions are best held behind closed doors – not in front of the children or within their range of hearing – and in a calm, non-anxious manner. When discussing sensitive or polarizing issues, a tech-

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“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” These words of hope articu-late Blessed Teresa’s mission, when she was called by Jesus to “serve the

poorest of the poor and live among them and like them” in the slums of Calcutta, India. For her, it was more than just giving them food to eat and clothing to wear. It was about making her fellow sisters and brothers feel loved no matter how ap-palling they may have appeared or in what squalor they lived. She spread a message of hope that they, too, are children of God.

Committed to God by her vows of poverty, she lived like the poor she served; she dressed like them, slept like them and, yes, even ate what they ate. I ponder sometimes what the world would be like if ev-ery one of us took her simple message to heart and worked to let everyone we encounter feel happier. In our world, we measure achievement in material ways. How much we make, how much we have and how much we know are what seems to matter most. How much we love does not often rank as highly. But even here, thousands of miles from the slums in which she worked, Mother Teresa’s simple life and example give us hope. If she can do it, so might we. In reading about the Indian people and environment she adopted as her own, I became surprisingly intrigued by the customs and culture of the region. I happened upon a recipe for a humble, but very tasty, food com-monly sold by vendors in the streets of Cal-cutta (now Kolkata). The kathi roll (or kati roll), which origi-nated there,

is made up of multiple fillings rolled up in various Indian flatbreads. I cannot be sure Mother Teresa ever sampled one, but I imagine she might have, given its popularity in that region. They are simple but wonderfully delicious, and something to keep in mind for celebrating her feast day, which is Sept. 5. After some experimenting in the

kitchen, here is a version of a chicken kathi roll with green cilantro chutney. I can affirm that if you make a

bunch of these to share with family or friends, they will leave happier.

Chicken kathi rolls

2 pounds boneless chicken breast cut in small pieces

3 cloves minced garlic1 large red onion, sliced thin

1 cup diced tomatoes 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon butter1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon cumin½ teaspoon paprika

½ teaspoon chili powder½ teaspoon coriander½ teaspoon turmeric

¼ teaspoon cinnamonpinch of ground cloves

salt and pepper to taste4 eggs, beaten

6 store-bought parathas or chapati bread (8-inch flour tortillas can be substituted if you’re not near an

Indian market)

Green chutney

Large bunch of fresh cilantro (washed and stems removed)

3 green chilies, seeded 1-inch piece fresh ginger (roughly chopped)

1 teaspoon cumin seeds½ teaspoon salt

1½ teaspoons extra virgin olive oil3 tablespoons lemon juice

2 tablespoons water

Begin by making the green chutney. Blend all of the above ingredients in a food processor or blender into a thick sauce-like consistency. This can be done the night before and stored in an airtight container. In a large zipper/freezer bag, combine chicken, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and dry spices. Seal bag and give it a few shakes until the chicken is completely coated.

Set aside (this also can be done ahead of time and refrigerated). In a large non-stick frying pan, heat butter, add onions and cook on medium to high heat for 5 minutes or until they start to look transparent. Add marinated chicken pieces and cook for 8-10 minutes or until juices run clear (occasionally stirring). Add salt and pepper to taste and turn heat down to a simmer. In another

nonstick skillet, heat Indian flat bread on high for 1-2 minutes. Before flipping, spread one tablespoonful of beaten egg over the bread. It’s OK if some of the egg runs off. Carefully flip and cook for another minute. Place the heated flatbread egg side up and add the chicken filling and tomatoes. Drizzle with a tablespoon of green chutney. Roll it up and enjoy!

Michelle DiFranco is a designer and the busy mom of two children.

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Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Photography by Philip Shippert 11

yourfaith

If you’d like to submit a question for Father Joe to

consider in a future column, please send it to: joeinblack@

priest.com. Father Joe is unable to personally answer questions.

Faith West Tennessee / September 2014 / www.CDOM.org12 Faith West Tennessee / September 2014 / www.CDOM.org12

in the know with Father Joe

thing only: Our eternal union with him in heaven. Because of this, he will never allow anything that will lessen the possibility of our union with him. He even will, in his pure all-consuming love, allow us to experience temporary pain in anticipation of eternal joy. Check this out:

“The more we believe that God hurts only to heal, the less we can believe that there is any use in begging for tenderness. A cruel man might be bribed...But suppose that what you are up against is a surgeon whose intentions are wholly good? The kinder and more conscientious he is, the more inexorably he will go on cutting. If he yielded to your entreaties, if he stopped before the operation was complete, all the pain up to that point would have been useless. (C.S. Lewis, Mere

Christianity)

That same love that fills us with joy also presents to us the gift and possibility of faith: Do I believe that God is all good and all-powerful? If so, then whatever petition I am offering to God with tears in my eyes also is a statement of surrender:

“God, you love me and you see my pain. Help me to believe you are in charge and saving me.” This really is the root of it: Beyond the obedience is a call to surrender and trust. We pray because God said to. We pray because God can, at times, be swayed. But most of all, we pray because this puts us and our needs in the pres-ence of Love in a remarkable and mystical way. In this, we allow him to use those circum-stances to bring us closer to him and save us. Because of the way God exists, he can be individually present to us at every moment. Each prayer, each petition, each heart rendering cry to God is heard individually by a God who experiences us as the only thing in creation at every moment of our existence. What better thing could we ever do than place our needs with him? Enjoy another day in God’s presence.

aQ Dear Fr. Joe: Why do we ask God for

things? Doesn’t he just do what he wants and what is best for us?

What a great question! The answer to this can

help us understand God and his workings a bit better, as well as ourselves. Let’s dive right in. The first thing we’ve got to establish is that God wants to hear our petitions. That means asking God to do something. Look at 1Timothy 2:1:

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people …”

There are many other pas-sages where we are command-ed to offer our petitions: Mark 13:33, Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18 and Romans 12:12 – clearly, God wants us to offer him our needs and wants. Yet, at the same time, we understand we don’t always get what we ask for – we know sometimes, when we ask God, we don’t feel like we receive. So why ask for what we want? I hope the first part of this gives you at least some of the answer: We should do so be-cause God said to. If nothing else, we offer our needs and petitions to God because he

said we should. There is how-ever within that idea an even deeper truth for us to explore. As with everything else, it starts with God’s love. Like any lover, God wants to hear our voice. He desires that we pour out our hearts to him, not because he doesn’t already know our hearts, but because each time we reveal them we are offering ourselves freely to God, which is a gift he craves. This brings us to the ever-present wild card of God’s incredible and indulgent love for us. He is simply consumed with love and affection for us. Jesus proved this by his life, death and resurrection. God can, it seems, be swayed by our hunger, our woundedness, our frailty and our cries for help. Like the father with the “no candy before dinner” rule, God seems more than willing and able to slip us a Double-Stuf Oreo when his heart is moved to do so. At the same time, God’s love for us is, in the words of Scripture, “as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like a blazing fire, like a might flame.” (Song

of Songs 8:6) This love is so deep and rich that it is pointed toward one thing and one

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spiritual fitness

Y O U R F A I T H

A daily prayer of thanksgiving

The AngelusFaith West Tennessee / September 2014 / www.CDOM.org14

Sister Ann Shields is a renowned author and a member of the Servants of God’s Love. Questions can be addressed to Sister Ann Shields, Renewal Ministries, 230 Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103T.

Gen

nara

For more complete teaching:

A free booklet, “Captured by Mercy” is available by

calling 1.800.282.4789.A CD, “Captured by

Mercy” is available for $10. Order by writ-

ing Renewal Ministries, Att: Jan Sauter, 230

Collingwood, Suite 240, Ann Arbor, MI 48103.

(Check payable to Renewal Ministries)

“Welcome the Spiritual Gifts” by

Peter Herbeck is a free booklet. Order by calling

1.800.282.4789.

Last month, we spoke about the Morning Offering, which

has long ago fallen into disuse. Have you begun to recite

it daily? You will be amazed at the perspective it begins to

give you on your daily activities. I encourage you to make

that short but powerful prayer a part of your daily life.

This month, I want to look at another prayerful exercise that can help you recall that you are truly living in the presence of God. It will elicit thoughts of thanksgiving and hope as you go throughout your day. For centuries, the members of the Catholic Church recited the Angelus prayer daily. Often it was prayed at 6 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. – in the fields, at your desk, in the kitchen, wherever you were. The idea was to frame the day with a prayer of thanks for God’s greatest gift – the Word, the Son of God.

The more we incorporate this prayer into our daily schedule, the more conscious we become of God’s presence, of his great love for us, of our call to render him thanks for the unspeakable gift of his mercy. In praying this prayer, I remind myself that I am not alone – that the God who gave me his only Son, is with me.

This prayer will increase your faith. It is a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. It is also a prayer in which we ask God to make us worthy of his promises! We pray, “Be it done unto me, according to your word…”

Mary’s prayer can become ours. “May we (you and I) be made worthy of the promises of Christ.” Make that petition your own. Another suggestion for this month:

List from Scripture the promises that God makes in the Gospels. God never lies. His promises are true. Remember that as you read and pray. Perhaps you want to begin by reciting the Angelus once a day at one of the three times recommended: morning, noon and night. Then add a second and a third time in your daily routine as you are able in the months to come. It’s like a little oasis in the middle of the desert of frantic activity. It helps you to

recall the presence of God and be grateful. It is good and important to learn from the wisdom of the Church. Don’t discard something just because it is old. Remember what the Scripture tells us about the wise steward who learned how to take from his storehouse both the old and the new. (cf Matthew 13:52)

The AngelusThe Angel of the Lord declared to Mary: And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary,

Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Behold the handmaid of the Lord: Be it done unto me according to Thy word.

Hail Mary ...

And the Word was made Flesh: And dwelt among us.

Hail Mary ...

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:

Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made

known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the

glory of His Resurrection, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.

15

What does the Church mean when it says that the sacred Scriptures are inspired?Seminary professors talk Scripture

In plain terms, the notion of the sacred Scriptures as inspired means that what is in the Scriptures is what God wants to be there, i.e. the Holy Spirit is

behind the human words through which

God communicates to us. Because of this inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the human words that comprise the Scriptures are trustworthy in regard to both faith and the moral life and contain the revelation of who God is to us, and of who we are in relation to God and to each other. – Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L.,

When the Church speaks of the inspira-tion of sacred Scrip-tures, it affirms that these writings have God as their source, and that they reveal knowl-

edge of God that, left to ourselves, we humans could never attain. One biblical text, 2 Tim 3:15-17, provides a founda-tion for the concept of inspiration when it states that the sacred writings “are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” It also employs a rarely used Greek word, theopneustos, which literally means “God breathed” or “God inspired,” when it states that “All Scripture is inspired by God.” The “fact” of the inspiration of sacred Scriptures has been affirmed from the beginning of the Church by both the Eastern and Western Church Fathers. At the same time, it is not clear from their writings how these early Christian writers understood inspiration, i.e., how it actually takes place. The Church has made clear that any ultimate definition of inspiration must consider the very real contributions of both its divine and human authors. Further, the Church has eliminated three inadequate definitions of inspiration because they fail to recognize this balance of divine – human coopera-tion, namely mechanical dictation, mere assistance and subsequent approbation. Mechanical dictation, often depicted in stained-glass windows as an evangelist writing on a scroll as an angel whispers in his ear, places too much emphasis on God, while reducing human cooperation to mere passivity. Mere assistance, on the other hand, describes inspiration as the Holy Spirit merely protecting a human writer who writes freely from error. This definition overemphasizes the role of human contribution at the expense of the divine. Finally, subsequent approba-tion states that a book of sacred Scripture

Father Robert Schoenstene, S.S.L., is an assistant professor in the department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation, University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mun-delein Seminary

Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D., is a profes-sor in the department of Biblical Exegesis and Proclamation at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary

theology 101


When the Church speaks of the inspira-tion of sacred Scriptures, it affirms that these writings have God as their source, and that they reveal knowledge of God that, left to our-selves, we humans could never attain.

Catechism quiz

Q: The word of God and its interpretation form such an

inseparable connection that one can-not stand without the other. “Working together, each in its own way, under the action of the Holy Spirit, they contribute effectively to the salvation of souls.” What are the three pieces that make up the word of God and its interpretation?

A: Sacred tradition, sacred Scripture and the magiste-

rium of the Church (CCC 95)

is inspired only upon its acceptance by the Church as a sacred text. Again, this definition elevates the role of the human community while almost ignoring alto-gether the active role of the Holy Spirit throughout all the stages of the text.

Having said what inspiration is not, the Church is now thinking more about the whole process of inspiration. It explores this matter in the 1993 document, “The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church,” issued by the Pontifical Biblical Com-mission. In particular, it recognizes that a believing community passes down traditions that capture faithfully their experience of God, and that subsequent generations also experience these as compelling and pass them on until even-tually the traditions reach the written form that we now call sacred Scripture. – Elizabeth Nagel, S.S.D.

What is an ecumenical council?

An ecumenical council gathers the bishops from the whole Catholic Church to discuss and settle issues dealing with Church doctrine and practice. The word ecumenical itself comes from the Greek, meaning “the inhabited world.” It originally referred to the Roman Empire. The first “ecumenical” council was the Council of Jerusalem and is recorded in the Acts of the Apostles. It addressed the observation of biblical law by, espe-cially, Gentile converts in the early Christian community. It is generally referred to as the Apostolic Council rather than by the name of ecumenical.

There have been 21 ecumenical councils

1. First Council of Nicaea (325)2. First Council of Constantinople (381)3. Council of Ephesus (431)4. Council of Chalcedon (451)5. Second Council of Constantinople (553)6. Third Council of Constantinople (680-681)7. Second Council of Nicaea (787)8. Fourth Council of Constantinople (869-870)9. First Council of the Lateran (1123)

10. Second Council of the Lateran (1139)11. Third Council of the Lateran (1179)12. Fourth Council of the Lateran (1215)13. First Council of Lyon (1245)14. Second Council of Lyon (1274)15. Council of Vienne (1311-12)16. Council of Constance (1414-1418)17. Council of Basel, Ferrara and Florence (1431-1445)18. Fifth Council of the Lateran (1512-14)19. Council of Trent (1545-1563)20. First Council of the Vatican (1870)21. Second Council of the Vatican (1962-65)

What was Vatican II?

Vatican II is a com-mon way of referring to the Second Council of the Vatican, or Sec-ond Vatican Council. The 21st ecumenical council derived its name from the fact that it was held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It opened under Pope John XXIII on Oct. 11, 1962, and closed under Pope Paul VI on Dec. 8, 1965. The primary concern of Vatican II was to address the relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. As Bishop Christopher Butler, OSB, put it, Vatican II represented the Church’s attempt to study and under-stand itself. This undertaking involved the two dimensions of understanding the Church in itself through a looking back to the Church’s roots in Scripture and tradition and an understanding of the Church in relation to the world.

17

yourstories

FIVE ORDAINED TO

PRIESTHOOD

FOR THE CATHOLIC

DIOCESE OF MEMPHIS

S T O R Y B Y S U Z A N N E AV I L É S

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y C A R E Y C A S A D A N D

W I L L I A M G . H I G G E N B O T H A M



J une 7, 2014, marked a most memorable occasion for the Catho-

lic Diocese of Memphis, and for the five seminarians ordained

to the priesthood in service to the diocese. The Ordination Liturgy at

the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception was attended by nearly

1,000 faithful from parishes throughout West Tennessee, along with

families and friends of the newly ordained from near and far. Bishop

J. Terry Steib, SVD, the principal celebrant, was joined by nearly 70

priests; and 20 permanent deacons were vested. The Diocesan Choir,

organist and symphony ensemble led the congregation in traditional

chants and sang classical arrangements written in four parts—all of

which added an angelic element to a spirit-filled liturgy.

In his homily, Bishop Steib spoke of the role and call of the vocation to the priesthood, a role rooted in the Old Testament. “Moses directed his people to assemble 70 elders… men you know… from among the people …” (Numbers 11: 16-17) As an aside, Bishop Steib quipped, “We don’t have 70, but we have five.” As he reviewed the role of the priesthood, he explained that the vocation is a calling and “not a role that one chooses on one’s own.” He charged the men to live a life of prayer and authenticity, noting that parishio-ners need a priest who is absorbed in prayer and, thus, knows God. And as Jesus prayed for his Apostles, Bishop Steib also prayed for the new priests that God “consecrate them in the Truth.” (John 17:17)

HE CHALLENGED THE NEWLY ORDAINED

MEN TO BE PRIESTS WHO ANNOUNCE:

• “The promise of God when hope is gone;

• Love when hatred abounds;• Justice when oppression shows

its face;• Joy when tears run freely;• God when we are less than human.”

IN HIS EXHORTATION, PRIOR TO THE

PRAYER OF CONSECRATION, BISHOP

STEIB ASKED THE CANDIDATES TO BE

RESOLVED TO:

• “Care for the Lord’s Flock;• Preach the Gospel and Catholic faith;• Celebrate the sacrifice of the eucha-

rist and sacrament of reconciliation faithfully and reverently;

• Implore God’s mercy on his people;• Be consecrated for the salvation

of God.”

THE NEWLY ORDAINED ARE:

REVEREND ALBERTO MAURICIO ABELDAÑO FLORES, graduate of St. Meinrad Seminary located in Indiana, appointed associate pastor of Holy Rosary Church, Memphis.

REVEREND ROBERT DALE BALLMAN, graduate of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, appointed associate pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cordova.

REVEREND YOELVIS ALOYSIUS GONZALEZ, graduate of Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, appointed associate pastor of St. Michael Church, Memphis, and St. James Church, Memphis.

REVEREND DAVID MICHAEL ORSAK, graduate of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, appointed associate pastor of St. Ann Church, Bartlett.

REVEREND JOSE CRUZ ZAPATA TORRES, graduate of Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin, appointed associate pastor of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Memphis.

A reception held after the Mass was hosted by the generous parishioners of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

19

MAGNIFICAT DAY COMES TO MEMPHIS

R eaders of Magnificat devotionals are familiar

with the publication’s distinctive combination of

classical art, scripture and points in Catholic culture.

In an effort to share the love of Christ, the publishers

of Magnificat are coming to Memphis. Three local men,

Father Paul Watkins, OP, Steve Denegri and Andrew

Bowie, are orchestrating efforts to bring the Magnificat

Day of Faith to town.

These three men are not just believers in Christ, they also share tremendous faith in Memphis. To bring together Catho-lic culture and Memphis, they founded an organization named Lumen Civitatis (“Light of the City”) with the mission of shar-ing Christ through the arts, liturgy and teaching. When talking about their plans to evangelize through sacred art, they use words such as “splendor” and “richness.” They ably list ex-amples from around Memphis and beyond of stained glass, paintings and three dimensional pieces which elevate the mind and inspire the heart. They are also quick to mention people whose faith inspires others.

For Andrew, some of his inspiration came from a place he refers to as being “infused with Catholicism.” Originally from Memphis, Andrew left the city to study at Duke and Auburn. Afterwards, he had the opportunity to live in Rome for 10 years, and describes the setting as one full of Catholic thought and culture. While there, he studied with Jesuits and Dominicans. This last association eventually led Andrew to meet Father Paul Watkins, who lives in Memphis.

For Steve, members of the Fishers of Men have been a source of inspiration. The many friendships in the group and strong faith in Christ led him to consider how he might evangelize given his particular interest and talents. “Fishers,” as they are informally called, challenge each other to make a difference in the world. In its simplest form, Fishers is a men’s Catholic fellowship. Weekly meetings offer men an op-portunity to study scripture and talk about faith, frustrations, family life and their future in the context of Catholic teaching. Fishers meetings have generated a variety of spin-offs; the best known is the annual Men’s Morning of Spirituality which in 2014 drew an audience of more than 1000. Steve and An-drew believe the response to MMOS indicates that Memphis is ready for more. And in conversations between the two, the idea of Lumen Civitatis took root.

Knowing of his interest and knowledge in Catholic culture, Steve and Andrew approached Father Paul Watkins about helping them with some ideas. As a professor at Christian Brothers University and as a homilist at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Father Watkins regularly shares faith perspectives and uses the arts as an aid to make his points. In his experience, people understand a homily at a deeper level when art is used to illustrate. Fortunately, St. Peter Catholic Church in Memphis is full of quality art. The conversations of the three men on art, literature, history, theology and philosophy, led to the idea for a Magnificat Day of Faith in Memphis—the third of four planned dates. Two previous Magnificat Days have been celebrated in Philadelphia and Orange County, California. More information on the Memphis event is available at www.lumencivitatis.org and facebook.com/lumencivitatis.

Left to right: Steve Denegri, managing director/co-founder; Father Paul Watkins, O.P.- V.P. marketing/co-founder; Andrew

Bowie, president/co-founder



M y kids laugh at me and, worse, they often moan

or even whine at me, but the truth is I just hate

driving in to and out of the typical fast food drive-thru.

I’m not sure when, where or why my distaste began,

but they all know I’d much prefer to battle an inside line

of customers than an outside line of cars.

Perhaps it’s because … the following is a true story. Giving in to my wife’s request, I pulled up to a neighborhood squawk box the other day and was greeted with, “Good afternoon, hxwkljkl kljvklvj kjskfskl?”

“Excuse me?”“Would you bnbn kljelgj yqwueyqu?”We looked at each other and I took a chance. “No thank you,”

I replied (though not entirely sure exactly what I had no-thank-you-ed.) “But I would like to get one large unsweet tea with extra lemon and some Splenda and one large Diet Coke? That’s all.”

Now it was his turn: “Excuse me?”“A large Diet Coke and a large unsweet tea with a lot of extra

lemon and three packs of Splenda would be great.”“Extra what in your tea?”“Lemon.” Though the smart-alec in me might have said

“Mustard,” but I knew it would only lengthen the process.You know those silent few moments when you’re not sure

if they even heard you – I used those to glare at my wife.“That will be $1.56 Drive on around.” Which is code for,

“Yeah, you’re stuck in that line but it’s what they tell us to say.”Just $1.56? I thought to myself. This can’t be good. As we

progressed from the fourth to the third car in line, I noticed that one of the workers had stepped out from within to hand-deliver some of the easier-to-fill orders as quickly as possible.

Ah, there was hope … though soon to be dashed.Turns out our car had been randomly selected to endure the

entire oval, whereupon at the finish line a nice-looking young man flashed open the window with a big grin and in his most polite voice offered, “Two cheeseburgers, right?”

“Nope, sorry, not us.” Oddly, ironically, I could tell that some-how I had just become the one who had ruined his day.

Simultaneously, the wandering parking lot worker arrived at our car window and asked, “Did ya’ll have some unsweet tea?”

“We did actually, but we also had a Diet Coke,” ruining yet his day, too.

So there we were, all staring at one another – the husband with the cash, the wife with the Diet Coke craving, the window

prayingF O R P E R S P E C T I V E

worker with the cheeseburgers and one more with half an order.The inside employee disappeared behind the window taking

with him the bill for our tea and my $5 bill.Upon his return, he offered – and I kid you not – “Look, here’s

what we’re gonna do. You’re gonna pay for the two cheeseburg-ers because I gotta charge these to somebody. You’ve already got the tea and I’m going to get you a free Diet Coke. You’ll actually save some money that way. What do you think?”

He had confused himself now but he was in effect asking me to solve his apparently unresolvable dilemma for which my play-ing along seemed his only hope.

Not that I cared what it cost me at this stage, but believe it or not, he was right. So I bought the two cheeseburgers I never got, eased his pain and saved 27 cents in the process.

He seemed happy and relieved though not on the path to any managerial echelon.

And then, the very next day I read about the city of Seattle voting for the institution of a $15 minimum wage.

I had to laugh—and cry. Because he, and others like him, are the reasons so many turn against what is already a very conten-tious (and not so bad) proposal.

Sadly, there are so many other laborers who report faithfully, work tirelessly, and perform intelligently—for a wage that places them barely above the poverty level. These folks need and de-serve such a raise. Badly. And this guy’s just killing ’em.

Most of us think of the Seventh Commandment as nothing more than a prohibition against stealing from others. Simply, if I don’t take their stuff, then I’m good to go with the Big Guy.

True, there is that—the letter of the law. But what of the spirit of the law? And there’s always a spirit of the law.

Our Catechism interprets this commandment as also requiring the need to “arrive at a just wage.” And let’s be honest, seldom does the employee get to do the “arriving.”

So it falls to me as one of those who pays wages. I am apparently charged with comprehending and following this unwritten, between-the-lines, come-on-you-ought-to-know-this piece of God’s tablets.

So someone tell me—what is that wage exactly? “Just” for whom? Is it about skill? Avail-ability? Budget? Fairness? And a thousand other questions for which there are no simple replies.

And most importantly, what happens if I can’t actually read what he never actually wrote?

Dear God—we ask your patience—after all, we strug-gle with the parts you actually did write down. Amen.

George Valadie is president of Notre Dame High School in

Chattanooga, Tenn.

A JUST WAGE

21

FA I T HA C T I O NI N BRINGING CHRIST

TO THE WORKPLACE

DR. NICK PESCE, PHYSICAL THERAPIST


C O V E R S T O R Y B Y S U Z A N N E A V I L É S

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D R . J O H N T Y L E R

C O V E R S T O R Y B Y S U Z A N N E A V I L É

P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y D R . J O H N T Y L ED

U

H O T

O V E R

H G Y

Y

2323


25

P A R I S H H E R I T A G ET h e C a t h o l i c h e a r t o f W e s t T e n n e s s e e

PP PPPP P HP P HHH P HPPPPPP HPPPP P HPP P HPP HP HPP HPP HPPP O T OO T OO TO T OOO TO T OOOOO TO TT G R AG R AG R AG R AG R AAAAG RR P H YP H YP HPPPP B Y B Y D R .D RR .RRRD R .D R .D RDD R .D R .D RR .RR .D RD RD RDD RD RD RD RD R .DD RDD J O J O J O J O J OJ OJ OJ OJ OJ O J O JJ OJJ OJ OOOJ OJ OJ OJ OOJ OJ OJ OJJ OJJ OOJ OOOOJ H NH NH N H NH NH N H NHH NHH NHHHHHH NNHHH T Y LT Y L E RE RE R


T h e h e a r t o f a n y C a t h o l i c d i o c e s e i s i t s c a t h e d r a l . Founded in 1921, Immaculate Conception parish was established during the tenure of Bishop Thomas Byrne. At that

time, the idea of a separate diocese in West Tennessee was not on the horizon. However, Providence must have had a

hand in the naming and eventual building of the beautiful church which now stands as our cathedral. The dedication

of the parish to Our Lady under her title Immaculate Conception, pairs nicely with our national patroness.

The parish began with church services held in what is now the elemen-tary school building. By 1927, under the su-pervision of the pas-tor, Monsignor Dennis J. Murphy, a domed over-crypt structure was built. That served the congregation until plans for the church were fi-nalized. The Roman-esque Spanish colonial revival façade complet-ed and dedicated on July 31, 1938, blends nicely with the stately homes that line Central Avenue.

During the 1940s, the second pastor, Monsignor Francis Grady, supervised the completion of the interior embellishments. The third pastor, Monsignor Merlin Kearney, served the parish for 27 years and founded Immaculate Conception High School for Girls.

In 1971, when Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, he selected Immaculate Con-ception as the cathedral and appointed the Most Rever-end Carroll T. Dozier as the first bishop.

During the 1980s and 1990s, improvements included adding a stair gallery and amphitheater. Under Monsignor Thomas Kirk, the lower level of the church, Marian Hall, was modernized. Most recently, the cur-rent rector, Monsignor Valentine Hand-werker, oversaw the renovations to the interior which were completed in 2001 and dedicated on December 8, 2001.

The renovations are intended to en-hance the experience of the celebration of the Mass. At the entrance of the ca-thedral stands an elaborate baptismal font with accompanying pool which is surrounded by salvaged marble from the original Communion rail. The font reminds all Christians of their baptisms.

Many pre-renovation details of the church remain, including numerous

stained glass windows and the Stations of the Cross. Windows of par-ticular note are the rose window above the choir loft and the west and east transept windows, one of Jesus Christ the Sacred Heart and the other of the Woman of the Revelation.

Biblical and Church histories are depicted throughout the cathe-dral. Symbols from both the Old and New

Testaments line the upper nave walls, 15 on the east and 15 on the west. Six of the Church fathers who lived be-tween the fourth and seventh centuries are also repre-sented on the nave walls.

The renovation brought light into the cathedral in several ways. Pews and wood floors are lighter in tone. Looking upward, the main ceiling is painted a muted peach tone with six-pointed gold stars covering it. All of these elements encourage visitors to look up to see the dome featuring the Twelve Apostles. Nearby the proscenium arch bears the soothing text: “Come to me all ye who labor and are heavily burdened and I will

refresh you.” The apse dome is filled with a gorgeous rendering of “Immac-ulate Conception” by the 17th centu-ry Spanish painter Bartolomé Esteban Murrillo. Finally, on the west side of the altar stands a Eucharistic Chapel containing the Tabernacle.

There are many more facets to the Cathedral’s beauty including the mu-rals on the front walls and the fur-nishings in the sanctuary. Outside, the depiction of the Nativity above the main entrance is worthy of note. Weather permitting, the exterior also offers a lovely Meditation Garden on the east side of the cathedral. One could spend an afternoon visiting the cathedral, both to pray and to admire.

Beverly Pangle Scott has written three books on matters

of faith that are available on Amazon. A retired educator, she worked as a teacher and guidance counselor. She and

her husband of 40+ years have two daughters.

27

yourcommunityShoplifting Divine “Fire”

S tealing is wrong. Greek mythology tells the story

of the titan Prometheus who pilfered sacred fire

from the gods, assuming a right to something he did

not possess. For his punishment, Zeus banished him

to an eternity of torture. From the Judeo-Christian

perspective, we believe that one of the reasons the

Lord God placed the tree of the knowledge of good

and evil in the Garden of Eden (Gn 2:17), later forbidding

Adam and Eve from taking from it, was to reiterate

a simple, but essential, principal to them: You are

creature, not creator. The pride of our first parents in

later seeking to be creator rather than creature is akin

to the Promethean theft of sacred fire from the gods.

In doing so, man listens to the serpent who assures

him that he too can become divine, deciding on what

is good and evil (Gn 3:5). This shoplifting of divine “fire”

from God ultimately has lethal consequences for us

and others, as God himself attests to Adam and Eve:

“From that tree you shall not eat; when you eat from

it you shall die” (Gn 2:17).

Though often disputed, perhaps no other figure has had a greater long-term impact on Western culture than the Greek philosopher Plato (d.348BC). While Plato lived 350 years before Christ, he, along with Socrates and Aristotle, had a sharp comprehension of how personal virtue and vice impacts society. The Greeks clearly understood man to be social by nature, meaning he matures and becomes fully what he should be, namely a virtuous person, within community and with others. Were he alive today, Plato would unapologeti-cally rebuff the modern secular notion that “what I do in the privacy of my own home is my business!” He understood private decisions to have direct consequences on the larger communal whole of society, or what the Church under-stands simply as the Common Good. Under the inspiration of saints such as Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic Church took this insight of the Greek philoso-phers and wove it into the fabric of Christian tradition. As Catholics, then, we understand that both personal virtue and sin have direct and enduring consequences on the culture at

large, thereby negating the secular claim that private acts “in my own home” are “my own business.” When we rationalize evil privately, and then expect others to reinforce that evil, we are stealing fruit from the tree of good and evil, an act we were deliberately prohibited from doing (Gn 2:17). Conversely, one’s private faith decisions also have an impact on others. For example, the faith of a parent eventually has direct consequences on the larger whole of the family and parish. Likewise, the personal prayer life, or lack thereof, of a parish priest ultimately has dramatic consequences for the people within his parish. Simply put, they will either experience the decayed fruit of his lack of prayer or the vivifying fruit of his personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Contrary to popular belief, the Catholic Church does not simply give prohibitions of behavior (e.g. prohibiting the use of artificial contraception, abortion), but instead enables her members to actually think about how they are thinking (sentire cum ecclesia). When we “think with the mind of the Church,” we are not tempted to steal “fire” from God by try-ing to be a god, but rather we adopt a position of authentic obedience and humility in the simple recognition of the fact that “there is a God and it is not me.” When we justify intrinsically evil acts, such as artificial contraception, eutha-nasia, and adultery, we rationalize the theft from God of a right that belongs to him alone; namely, to be the authentic judge of good and evil. Catholics think with the mind of the Church because when we do so we are actually think-ing with the mind of Christ, as he associates himself with the Church as his genuine body (Acts 9:4; Eph 5:23). To be clear then, the Catholic Church is not an “organization,” though it does include organizational bodies, but rather an organ-ism, as the living Body of Jesus Christ present within the world. In thinking with the Church we are thinking with Christ, and, in turn, we avoid the moral pitfalls of shoplifting divine “fire” from him.

Rev. Benjamin P. Bradshaw, www.frben.com


Katherine Walsh, SALUTATORIANNikki Shah, VALEDICTORIAN

CORRECTIONPhotos of Nikki Shah, Valedictorian, and Katherine

Walsh, Salutatorian, of St. Benedict at Auburndale were mislabeled as being graduates of St. Benedict Academy. We apologize for any confusion caused by not using the

school’s proper name.

– FWT Editor

The Path Not Taken

H ow many times have we looked back on

events in our lives and reflected in retrospect,

“I wish had chosen to take advantage of this

opportunity.” So many of those opportunities

can be accomplished so simply, and we wonder

how we did not fully utilize the precious time God

has given to us. I can recall this summer feeling

particularly lazy and refusing a request from my wife

to take a walk with her on a beautiful morning,

only so that I could watch a sporting event on

television. Fifteen minutes after she left, I regretted

that decision and wondered why I had passed up

on a rich opportunity for one that was not nearly

as gratifying. On a larger scale, how often do we

pass up on opportunities to make a significant

difference to those around us, and take paths of

least resistance? More importantly, failing to pursue

these opportunities deprives us of the chance to grow

as people and do good. During the course of our lives,

we are constantly confronted with forks in the road

on our journey to eternal life. What paths do we take?

The great American poet Robert Frost commented on life’s paths chosen in his poem “The Road Less Traveled” and to quote the last stanza of the poem:

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

In the Scriptures in a very similar way, Jesus presents to us through the following common passage the opportuni-ty to follow him by choosing the best path to eternal life:

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

If we view our lives as a series of forks in the road for which we must make choices, how do we approach each fork that we encounter? When Jesus came to the ultimate fork in his life deciding whether to endure the pain and suffering of dying on the cross or to have his Father rescue him, he chose the path that would lead to the salvation of all of us. In our lives, we will not have to face forks in the road of the magnitude Jesus had to face, and thankfully, when we choose a path that is not in keeping with the will of God, new forks will be presented to us that will allow us to return to a path that would provide us with the best opportunity to follow Jesus. In fact, we are fortunate that many of the forks that we will be facing may contain two right paths. Additionally, even if we take numerous wrong paths, because Jesus took the ultimate path to our salvation, we can continue to enjoy redemption by returning to the right path.

It is my hope that every path you choose brings you closer to God’s salvation, but as baseball great and humorist Yogi Berra once stated “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Dr. John Smarrelli Jr., president, Christian Brothers

University

29

Catholic Social Teaching: “…each of us is called

to do our part as consumers to ensure that the

economy works for everyone.”

Terry Hash, a very active member of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Memphis, recently earned the honor of representing Fair Trade through Catholic Relief Services’ (CRS) training. In March 2014, she attended training at the CRS headquarters in Baltimore and studied the what, where and how of Fair Trade products, philosophy and services.

“Fair Trade’s key points and Catholic Social Teaching line up completely,” Hash explains. Both the Catholic Church and Fair Trade reject any justification for substandard wages, or for exploiting people as in the case of child and slave labor. Catholic Social teaching refers to “the dignity of work” which underscores the right of everyone to engage in productive and positive activities which help them to become self-suffi-cient. “Fair Trade is especially empowering to women,” Hash adds. She gives the example of Divine Chocolate, Inc., a co-operative of cocoa farmers in Ghana. Women make up a very large percentage of the farmers and workers who grow cocoa for and operate the business of Divine Chocolate. Hash also sites a connection between Catholic Relief Services and Fair Trade in which adults with disabilities are taught to sew and are paid to create garments.

Fair Trade’s practices ensure that suppliers and sellers are paid fair prices for materials grown or produced, that working conditions must be safe and humane, and cooperatives must operate under a democratic process. In addition, farmers and artisans certified by Fair Trade must use processes and materials that will not damage the environment. For example, farmers in Nicaragua apply organic farming methods, skills often taught to them by CRS personnel.

“Fair Trade is built on a firm foundation of stable, long-term, mutually beneficial trading relations between cooperatives of artisan and farmers and Fair Trade organizations that buy the things they create. The Fair Trade organizations don’t change

suppliers from one year to the next in search of lower prices; they work in partnership with the same producers year after year after year.” (Fair Trade

Handbook, Catholic Relief Services. 2008.)

Founded in the 1940s, Fair Trade has a long track record of helping partners to establish sound accounting and banking processes. In addition, Fair Trade can offer access to credit lines which help to build and grow businesses over time. The financial model and mentoring provided by Fair Trade reflects both good stewardship and Christian ideals of dignifying people by helping them to improve their lives. And Fair Trade offers a long-term commitment to people who work with them, setting up a strong buyer-supporter connection.

Although Fair Trade may sound far and away from Memphis, it is not. Local outlets which sell Fair Trade products include Whole Foods and the First Congregation Church at 1000 S. Cooper Young which operates a weekend market featuring Fair Trade products. Finally, a third way to have access locally is through planned events offered by ambassadors such as Hash.

Recently, Hash and her daughter Christine introduced Fair Trade to numerous people at a booth they set up at the 2014 Italian Festival and another they set up at Holy Spirit Church. The two ladies can also help with scheduled fundraisers and have begun reaching out to members of the Catholic commu-nity about benefit events and consignment sales. As well as facilitating sales, Hash is available to talk about our Church’s teaching on Social Justice and faith in action.

Hash explains that she has been inspired by Pope Francis, and cites an example of how Fair Trade fits the guidance offered by our Holy Father when he said, “Every economic … action must set about providing each inhabitant of the planet with the minimum wherewithal to live in dignity and freedom, with the possibility of supporting a family, educating children, praising God and developing one’s own human potential.”

If you would like to take the first step for your school, par-ish or group, and want to purchase or sell first-rate quality products found through Fair Trade, contact Terry Hash at 901.849.0983 or [email protected].

FAIR TRADE OPPORTUNITIES IN MEMPHIS


S E P T E M B E R P R I E S T B I R T H D AY S

Rev. William F. Burke.............................09/06

Rev. R. James Murphy...........................09/12

Rev. James Martell................................09/21

Rev. Kevin Bravata................................09/22

Rev. Bryan Timby..................................09/28

The Most Reverend

J. Terry Steib, S.V.D.,

announces

the following

appointments

Reverend John Lydon OP, Member of the Order of Preachers, Southern Dominican Province of St. Martin de

Porres, has been appointed Parochial Vicar, St. Peter Church, Memphis,

effective Aug. 1, 2014.

Reverend Augustine DeArmond, OP, currently Parochial Vicar at St.

Peter Church, Memphis, has been appointed Pastor, St. Peter Church,

Memphis, effective Aug. 1, 2014.

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY 2014

This year, the Church will celebrate Catechetical

Sunday on September 21, 2014, and will focus on

the theme “Teaching About God’s Gift of Forgiveness.”

Those whom the community has designated to serve

as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned

for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful

opportunity to reflect on the role that each person

plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith

and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical

Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate

themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

You can find resources on the theology and history

of the Sacrament of Reconciliation along with material

to help you to prepare for the sacrament at

www.bit.ly/1pHOplh.

31

The Catholic Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee

5825 Shelby Oaks DriveMemphis, TN 38134-7316

www.CDOM.org

Documents

| SEPTEMBER 2014 W · PDF fileFAITH ACTION IN BRINGING CHRIST ... love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their rec-ompense, ... to give of our time