Connecting the People of the Diocese of Toledo Since 1934 http://www.catholicchronicle.org Fri, 09 May 2008 18:38:42 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404806/ WASHINGTON (CNS)—The age and nationality of many of the new priests to be ordained in the United States this year continues a trend of recent years as more foreign-born men in their mid-30s are entering the priesthood.The average age for this year's ordinands is 36 for diocesan priests and 39 for priests joining religious orders. About 30 percent of new priests are between 25 and 29 years of age and about 39 percent are in their 30s, according to a national study.The annual survey of new priests is conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. The survey was initially developed in 1998 by the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Vocations and Priestly Formation. Two years ago, CARA began conducting the survey for the U.S. bishops. The study of the ordination class of 2008 shows that one-third of this year's new priests were born outside the United States. The largest numbers are from Mexico, Vietnam, Poland and the Philippines. The percentage of foreign-born ordinands is nearly the same this year as last year (32 percent compared to 31 percent), but is a significant increase from the 22 percent in 1999.Of this year's 401 ordinands, 335 responded to the CARA survey; they included 242 ordinands to the diocesan priesthood and 77 ordinands to religious orders. Another 16 ordinands did not specify whether they were being ordained diocesan or religious-order priests.The report found that most ordinands have been Catholic since birth, although close to one in 10... News Articles - Current News Thu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404805/ HICKSVILLE—An intense “Christ Renews His Parish” retreat at Teresa Silliman’s parish, Hicksville St. Michael, deepened her need to grow in her faith and led her to start Secular Franciscan inquiry to see if she wanted to become a Third Order Franciscan. Teresa Silliman and Zach (Photo courtesy of Robert Silliman) Aug. 28, 2005, Ms. Silliman, one of six, made her permanent profession as a Third Order Franciscan in the small but growing St. Michael the Archangel Fraternity.Like her Third Order namesake, St. Francis, Ms. Silliman has a love of animals. She asked St. Michael pastor, Father Thomas Oedy, to do a blessing of animals for the St. Maximilian Kolbe Deanery and took her beloved dog, Zach, a 153-pound Newfoundland, to the ceremony.Three years of obedience school; a temperament evaluation to measure his behavior around people in wheelchairs, with crutches and with special needs; and a special health record form from a veterinarian qualified Zach as a therapy dog. He is certified with a national agency.Zach’s picture badge allows him to go to nursing homes, hospitals and libraries where children can read to him. Therapy dogs are now allowed to go into funeral homes, as well. The response Ms. Silliman gets when she takes Zach to nursing homes and other places is very rewarding. The residents are excited to see them when they visit almost every weekend. The joy this big, loveable dog brings into their lives brightens their faces like lighted Christmas trees!... Deanery - Saint Maximilian Kolbe Deanery Thu, 08 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404804/ VATICAN CITY (CNS)—Pope Benedict XVI appealed to the world community to be merciful and generous by offering aid and working to relieve the suffering caused by Cyclone Nargis, which killed tens of thousands in Myanmar.During his May 7 general audience in St. Peter's Square, the pope called on people to open their hearts to compassion and generosity so that with the collaboration of all who are able and want to lend help, the suffering caused by this huge tragedy can be alleviated. When the pope spoke, more than 22,000 people had been killed, 41,000 were missing and 1 million were homeless after the cyclone's heavy rains and winds of up to 120 mph swept over southern Myanmar May 3.The cyclone damaged at least three major cities, including Yangon, the capital of Myanmar and its largest city.Earlier, in a telegram sent on behalf of the pope by the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the pope had expressed deep sadness and heartfelt sympathy after hearing news of the tragic aftermath of the disaster.The pope said he was praying for the victims and their families and called for divine strength and comfort upon the homeless and all who are suffering. A copy of the telegram, addressed to Archbishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng of Mandalay, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar, was released by the Vatican May 6.The pope said he was confident that the international community will respond with generous and... News Articles - Current News Wed, 07 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404803/ CLYDE—Ronald McDonald visited Clyde St. Mary School April 11 to honor the fourth-grade students who continue to save pop-tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Children’s Charities in memory of the Sam Dailey, a student from Lakota East Elementary who died last November at the age of 15. Kay Dick, St. Mary school secretary, spearheaded the collection three years ago after hearing about the young man from her daughter, St. Mary graduate Rachel Dick, who was Sam’s teacher.Each year since then, St. Mary fourth-graders have collected pop tabs. This school year the class of four collected 75,000 tabs. Deanery - Saint Philomena Deanery Wed, 07 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404802/ WASHINGTON (CNS)—The U.S. bishops have designated May 17-18 as the weekend for the annual national collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign.In the past several years this collection was included within the Annual Catholic Appeal. This year, the collection is separate and is supported solely through a parish collection.Half of the donations remain in the Diocese of Toledo to fund local communications projects, including the Diocesan and Catholic Chronicle websites and the efforts of local Catholic Radio stations in the Toledo and Mansfield areas. The campaign also provided funds for a documentary on the ecumenical pilgrimage to Germany and Italy by Catholics and Lutherans in Northwest Ohio, and purchased new computers and software for the Catholic Chronicle.www.usccb.org/ccc (http://www.usccb.org/ccc). News Articles - Current News Wed, 07 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404801/ SAN ANTONIO (CNS)—Every diocese needs a comprehensive pastoral plan specifically aimed at young adults to reverse the hemorrhage of Catholics in their 20s and early 30s leaving the Catholic Church, a national pioneer in young adult ministry said.Father John Cusick, director of young adult ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago and the father of the Theology on Tap program, said the church needs a savvy new apologetics and satellite sites away from the parish grounds where young adults can gather to form quality relationships without feeling pressure from the church.Addressing a youth ministry symposium in April at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Father Cusick cited a recent USA Today poll indicating that 10 percent of Americans are former Catholics and said the percentage is much higher among people in their 20s and early 30s. If Catholic youth ministry is so good, where are all the young adults? They're missing in action, he said. For the moment (in their teens), they have a good sense of church, but then they fall off the end of the table. www.yamchicago.com (http://www.yamchicago.com), and www.bustedhalo.com (http://www.bustedhalo.com).Debbie Gray, a youth minister at Holy Trinity Parish, said Father Cusick's implied criticism of youth ministry was a slap in the face, but was unquestionably accurate. What he gave us wasn't just a lot of book knowledge; he's been out in the trenches with young adults for 31 years, and he knows what he's talking about,... News Articles - Current News Tue, 06 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404800/ PORT CLINTON—Sixth-grade students from Port Clinton Immaculate Conception School and their social studies teacher, Jane Drusbacky, recently traveled to Johnson’s Island in the Sandusky Bay for a first-hand look at a Civil War prison there. A sixth-grade student from Port Clinton Immaculate Conception School learns the methods involved in doing an archeological dig at Johnson’s Island. (Photo courtesy of Port Clinton Immmaculate Conception School)After eight weeks of study of the history of Johnson’s Island and artifacts, the class visited the area on the island where Civil War prisoners were buried. Dr. David Bush from Heidelberg College guided the archeological dig and explained some important facts about the people buried in this area. The class was then divided into groups where two did the digging and two were in charge of screening specimens. Students were challenged to find the most artifacts in order to win a prize. The group did such an outstanding job that everyone received a prize. Dr. Bush and his assistants read various letters written by the prisoners who were held on Johnson’s Island. This field trip was an interesting and fun learning experience.Halee Jones is a sixth-grader at Port Clinton Immaculate Conception Deanery - Our Lady of the Lake Deanery Tue, 06 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100 http://www.catholicchronicle.org/content/view/5404799/ PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, Mich. (CNS)—You can't have a college or university that happens to be Catholic; the institution's Catholic identity ought to unmistakably permeate every discipline, and its graduates ought to be willing to stand up for the church.This was part of the message delivered by Cardinal Francis Arinze, who spoke at a fundraising dinner April 16 for the SS. Peter Paul Educational Foundation. The Nigerian cardinal is the head of the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments and former president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.During his speech at the Inn at St. John's banquet center in Plymouth Township, he outlined what the Catholic faith community ought to expect of their institutions of higher learning. Not only should it be a community of scholars and students, representing different branches of human knowledge, Cardinal Arinze told the gathering of about 200 people. But at the same time it should be an academic institution in which Catholicism is vitally present and operative. The cardinal said a Catholic college or university should explain its Christian mission in a mission statement, and adhere to it by hiring Catholic educators who are experienced in living and teaching the faith as well as their respective disciplines. If a high number of its intellectual leaders are, indeed, not Catholic — how can they be expected to live and share what they do not have? the cardinal asked. It is particularly important that the Catholic... News Articles - Current News Mon, 05 May 2008 19:00:00 +0100