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PAGE 2- September 9,1976
Missionary Pleads For Persecuted South
Americans
WASHINGTON (NC) - LaSallette
Father James M. Weeks has asked the
people and government of the United
States to save thousands of political
prisoners in Argentina, including five of
his seminarians.
He was speaking a few days after his
own release from jail in Cordoba,
second largest city in that South
American nation, which is undergoing
political violence with a toll of 800 dead
this year alone.
“Right now my major concern is the
five seminarians whom I painfully left
behind,” he told reporters at the Capitol
here. Representatives Father Robert F.
Drinan and Edward Koch, both
Democrats from Massachusetts,
introduced him.
Citing a recent report by Amnesty
International, a London organization
concerned with the fate of political
prisoners around the world, Father
Drinan said Argentine authorities have
arrested and jailed without trial some
20,000 persons.
“Prison conditions are extremely
poor, and reports of torture are
widespread,” the priest-congressman
added. Besides, “Well-organized
assassins of the right-wing Death Squads
have claimed hundreds of lives,
including those of Catholic priests and
seminarians.”
Father Weeks indicated he himself
and the five youths arrested with him
Aug. 3 could also be dead save for quick
action by an American friend who
witnessed the arrests.
“That night the American, instead of
waiting three hours as told, escaped
immediately to the seminary and then
to the archbishop’s residence and by
some miracle managed to locate our
whereabouts in a matter of hours.
“I say ‘miracle’ because so many
priests and seminarians have been
threatened lately and at least nine have
been killed.”
“It is a persecution of the whole
Church, of the more progressive
members of the hierarchy and her most
committed Christians,” Father Weeks
stated.
“A true Christian cannot remain
Sisters’ Leadership Conference
BY C M. BUCKLEY
BOSTON (NC) - A United Nations
human rights officer advised the
Leadership Conference of Religious
Women that one of the primary tasks of
contemporary spirituality is to lead
mankind into the “art of communion”
in a troubled world.
Ms. Irma Garcia Mazelis of the UN’s
Center of Social Development was a
keynote speaker at the 1976 national
assembly of the Leadership Confeence
of Religious Women (LCRW). The
assembly theme was: “The New Spirit
of ’76 - A Call to Interdependence.”
Principal speakers at the five-day
assembly included Archbishop Jean
Jadot, apostolic delegate in the United
States; Sister Gertrude Foley of Seton
Hill, N.J.; and Sister Joan Chittisler of
Erie, Pa., newly elected president of the
LCWR.
Ms. Mazelis warned that current
interdisciplinary studies have indicated
humankind “has organized itself so
wastefully and ineffectively” that the
world community faces “a major and
protracted” crisis.
The UN officer pointed to
widespread violence, social injustices
and environmental catastrophes,
including drought, famine and
pestilence in several nations.
She told an audience of more than
600, including the representatives of
some religious orders of men, that
contemporary spirituality itself seems to
share in the crises enveloping the social
and economic order.
10 Million
TV Viewers
PHILADELPHIA (NC) - More than
10 million people in the United States
viewed the closing Mass of the 41st
International Eucharistic Congress from
John F. Kennedy Stadium in
Philadelphia, Aug. 8, final Nielson
survey figures show.
William Mulvey, marketing director
for Capital Cities Television
Productions, producers of the closing
Congress telecast, said the Mass was
viewed in 4,940,000 American homes.
“Part of the problem is that
contemporary spiritual writers tend to
be either concerned with the critical
defense and exposition of past
traditions, or are attracted to the
spiritual development that results from
the convergence of traditions, or are
occupied with creating spirituality
suited to spaceship earth,” Ms. Mazelis
said.
“Little has been done, however, to
bring these three dimensions together,”
she added, “yet none of them can be
dealt with adequately in isolation from
the others.”
The speaker emphasized that “to
create such skill, to teach such a
discipline,” are primary tasks of
contemporary spirituality.
She acknowledged that “our present
situation is not only a time of crisis”
but also one “when expansive horizons
of past, present and future are opening
up and when the harmonious
complementarity of socio-economic,
ecological and spiritual realities, is
becoming apparent to great numbers of
people.”
Archbishop Jadot appealed to the
leadership conference to evaluate the
role of women Religious in the modern
world in the light of traditional spiritual
values and cultural heritage.
The Vatican’s representative stressed
the need of a global concept in the
struggle against poverty and social
injustices. He noted particularly the role
women Religious have in the social
development of minority groups in
Catholic education.
Archbishop Jadot praised Lutheran
Bishop Robert J. Marshall, who said at
the International Eucharistic Congress
in Philadelphia earlier in August that
today’s Church must concentrate on
four primary areas of concern:
pluralism, heritage, faith and hope.
Noting that “faith and hope are
perennially identified with the genuine
Christian” and “many of us are sensitive
to pluralism,” the apostolic delegate
added: “It is encountering the question
of heritage that we seem to experience
the greatest difficulty.”
“There is a kind of fidelity to our
traditions which can develop into
infidelity,” the archbishop warned.
He added: “Equal value ought not to
be attributed to each feature of our
heritage. Different traditions merit
proportionate importance. But, once
this is said, we may say that all of us
stand to improve radically our outlook
on what we have inherited.”
Turning to the role of women
Religious in education, Archbishop
Jadot observed that many of the
congregations represented in the
leadership conference were either
founded or assumed responsibility “for
the welfare of the poor, ragged
immigrants that came to America’s
shores” in past generations.
He pointed out that some
contemporary studies “document the
fact that the Catholic schools in the
inner city are responding to the needs of
the poor in a tangible way with
considerable success.”
According to the studies, in the 10
largest metropolitan areas of the United
States an average of 45 percent of the
students in Catholic schools come from
minority groups. The figures range from
41 to 44 percent in New York and
Brooklyn to 43 and 46 percent in San
Francisco and Philadelphia, to 70 and
82 percent in Washington, D.C., and
Chicago.
Archbishop Jadot told the assembly
that while it may be “unrealistic” for
him to call “for a mass return of Sisters
to the schools as such,” he invited the
leadership to evaluate priorities in light
of “your admirable concern for justice
and evangelization” and in
“consultation with the People of God.”
Sister Foley, speaking on “The Call
to Interdependence: From Collectively
to Corporate Communion,” stressed
that the assembly theme “is more than a
merely felicitous logo” for a
bicentennial meeting.
“Some reflection on each of the
words can capture for us,” she told the
audience, “the full intent of this
assembly and can provide an .easy , v
mechanism for remembering its thrust
and challenge in the year and years
ahead.”
She said the words of the theme
indicate that the conference members
“intend to be women of our times and
that we are ready to listen to our times
and to bless these times as the revelation
of God.”
Recalling that one of the oldest
images of the religious community is
that of the “school of charity,” Sister
Foley suggested that it “becomes in our
time the ‘school of social justice,’ where
we become competent in the building of
an interacting in just structures that can
be models for the world community.”
Sister Chittister, new president of the
assembly, pledged that the conference
would increase communication with all
Church groups, including the hierarchy
and women’s organizations.
She described the LCWR as “a new
model of the Church, covenant of the
public word . . . please God we will
speak out loud and clear.”
silent in the face of so much kidnaping,
murder and torture . . . What can the
American people do about helping these
men and women, and indeed addressing
themselves to the larger issue?
“I would say get involved, make their.
problem our problem, learn about the
situation.
“I urge people, especially priests and
fellow Religious, to communicate the
concern to their senators and
representatives, to press the State
Department to withhold support from
those regimes that refuse to respect
human rights.”
There is a House resolution urging
stoppage of military aid to dictatorships
violating human rights. The Senate is
working on one of its own.
Another urgent move, Father Weeks
said, is to obtain refugee status in the
United States for more political
prisoners and exiles from Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile and Uraguay, whose
situation “is desperate and, at the
moment, seemingly hopeless.”
He cited a limited parole program
under the Justice Department to take a
few hundred detainees from Chile and
Argentina. But this “only scratches the
surface.”
Father Weeks has written to Attorney
General Edward Levi to tell him of the
fate of such political refugees and
prisoners, “now in the gravest danger
and who have a right to call upon our
government for humanitarian help.”
He asked Levi to expand the parole
program, thus joining congressman
Koch in similar efforts.
NUN GIVES COMFORT -- Stunned by the death of
her husband, Mrs. David Platt of Virginia Beach, Va.,
clings to his sheet-draped body, as an unidentified nun
attempts to console her. The Platt family had been
vacationing in Salem, Ohio, and were returning home
when their car was caught in a 16-car smashup on a
fog-covered turnpike near Youngstown, Ohio. Platt
had left his car to alert other motorists when he was
struck and killed by a hit and run motorist. (NC
Photo)
( AREA OF GREAT NEED ^
Baby Sitting For Handicapped
Children Changes Sister’s Life
J
BY ELIZABETH BOOKSER
CINCINNATI (NC) - Responding to
an appeal for volunteers to babysit for
handicapped children has changed the
life of 69-year-old Sister Margaret Ann
Morrisey, a retired guidance counselor
at Seton High School here.
When the Cincinnati Center for
Developmental Disorders (CCDD) issued
the appeal, Sister Morrisey advertised
the eight-week course to students at
Seton and found 13 recruits - including
herself.
After 43 years as a teacher, principal
and counselor, Sister Morrisey is leaving
one “helping” profession for another.
Upon completing the CCDD course, she
received an American Red Cross
certificate.
She has already used her newly
acquired skills with several area
children.
Although she sometimes found the
course “draining,” Sister Morrisey said
the time was worth it.
“There is such a need for people
trained in this area,” she said. “Some
parents never get to leave home because
there is no one to sit with their
children.”
The course trained Sister Morrisey to
help children with a variety of
handicaps including mental retardation,
cerebral palsy, epilepsy and brain
damage.
Because some of the children have
little control over their bodies, Sister
Morrisey was at first afraid to hold
them. Feeding a nine-year old boy with
poor muscular control however, boosted
her confidence, she said.
“When they put him in my arms I
was scared to death that he would
choke,” she said. “After other trainees
had their turn, I volunteered to feed
him again and from then on I was not
afraid of anything.”
Parents in need of sitters call
Stepping Stones Center for the
Handicapped. The agency has a list of
persons who have completed the CCDD
course and tries to find a sitter near the
family.
Arranging transportation and
contracting with the sitter for a fee are
responsibilities of the parents, according
to Sister Morrisey, who will continue to
live at Seton convent.
She admits she has never heard of
another Sister of Charity babysitting for
the handicapped, but “they do
everything else,” she said. “As long as I
feel I’m doing a job for somebody -
giving parents a break - I think it’s a
fine idea.”
She said she had no idea if anyone
would mind having a Sister as a sitter,
especially if they weren’t Catholic. One
mother of a mongoloid child however,
assured her that she and her husband
would prefer Religious over other sitters
“because we know how conscientious
Sisters are.”
Suggestions For Liturgy On Respect Life Sunday, Oct. 3
Suggestions for Liturgy
Sunday, October 3 V 1976
Introductory Rite of Blessing and
Sprinkling Holy Water
Priest:
Dear Friends,
This water will be used to remind us
of our new life through Baptism. Let us
ask God to biess it, to keep us mindful
of how he has enriched life, to keep us
faithful to the Spirit he has given us.
Lord God almighty, hear the prayers
of your people: our faith is a
celebration of life, we celebrate
creation . . . we celebrate
redemption . . .
We ask you now to bless + this water,
and to give us your protection on this
day which you have made your own.
Renew the living spring of your life
within us and protect us in spirit and
body, that we may be free from sin and
come into your presence to receive your
gift of salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Taking the sprinkler, the priest sprinkles
himself and his ministers. He moves through
the church for the sprinkling of the people.
May almighty God cleanse us of our
sins, and through the Eucharist we
celebrate make us worthy to sit at his
table in his heavenly kingdom.
R. Amen.
(As an alternate, the following Penitential
Rite may be used.)
Penitential Rite
My brothers and sisters, as we turn to
God the source of all life, let us
acknowledge our failures and ask for
pardon and strength.
Priest:
Lord Jesus, you came to redeem us so
that we might enjoy life in its fullness:
Lord, have mercy.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.
Priest:
Lord Jesus, you taught us that life is
precious, a gift of the Father’s creative
love: Christ, have mercy.
The people answer:
Christ, have mercy.
Priest:
Lord Jesus, you strengthen us on the
bread of life: Lord, have mercy.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.
Priest:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins, and bring us to life
everlasting.
The people answer:
Amen.
Background on the Scripture
Readings for the Day
Revelation is gradual. It took time;
not because God loves slowly but
because man’s understanding grows
through stages. The scripture readings
for today, from the Book of Genesis to
the Gospel of Mark span hundreds and
hundreds of years of man’s history and
growth.
With each step of understanding there
is a clearer perception of who God is
and who we are. Significantly, the initial
revelation of God is as Creator. . .
Source of life. His word is a creative
word and His creation is “good.”
Simultaneously with creation there is an
invitation to share in the mystery of
life . . . “be fruitful, multiply, fill the
earth.”
In the fullness of time, the final word
of the Father took flesh in Jesus and
revealed a new creation in Spirit and a
life that would be eternal, and an
invitation to proclaim the good news of
man’s salvation. Which is why life is
sacred and the important moments of
life are celebrated as sacraments, and
the Gospel still speaks news that is
good, a way of life that is better; an
understanding of ourselves and our God
that gives cause to celebrate and respect
life.
Commentary on Scripture Readings
Introduction to the First Reading (Gen. 2,
18-24)
In the first reading from the creation
narrative, note that human life is always
given a dignity above all forms of life.
Also “life comes from life” is
symbolized in the forming of woman
from man’s rib. But also that life as the
life that is shared has a unifying quality
as “two become one.”
Introduction to the Second Reading (Heb. 2,
9-11)
This next reading makes more
explicit this unifying and elevating
quality of life shared ... it speaks of
how, through Jesus, human life is
“consecrated,” made sacred and so we
call Jesus “brother” and God “Our
Father.”
Introduction to the Gospel (Mk. 10, 2-16)
Interestingly, the Pharisees will
question to “test” Jesus; the disciples
will question to learn the meaning of his
message. As we listen to the Gospel, is
our attitude to challenge or to be
converted?
General Intercessions
Introduction
My brothers and sisters let us turn to
God, the source of life and place before
him our common prayer
A. For the courage to defend human
life: that neither selfish judgements nor
convenience destroy it, we pray to the
Lord:
R. Lord, have mercy.
B. For the sick, the poor, the unborn
and the old: that their lives be judged
sacred and of great worth, we pray to
the Lord:
R. Lord, have mercy.
C. For the Congress and courts of this
nation: that they respect the
“inalienable right to life” that fashioned
our nation, we pray to the Lord:
R. Lord, have mercy.
D. For our parish and our families:
that the sick receive our love and
concern and those who have died be
kept alive in our memory and prayers,
we pray to the Lord:
R. Lord, have mercy.
Concluding prayer by the priest
God, you have revealed yourself as
Creator and Father to show that all life
begins with you. Hear our prayer and
help us to understand that by our lives
we must express our concern for all
creation. We make this prayer with
hearts that need to be encouraged by
the power of your grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R. Amen.
Recommended Preface
Sundays in Ordinary Time V.
Sacramentary
Blessing at Conclusion
Solemn Blessing, no. 13 or Prayer
Over the People/no. 8.
Suggestions for Music
1. “To Be Alive.” Words and music
by Ray Repp. F.E.L. Publications, Ltd.,
1925 Pontius Ave., Los Angeles, CA
90025. 213/478-0053.
2. “Anything Happens.” Gregory
Norbert, O.S.B. Weston Priory
Productions, Inc., Weston, Vermont
05151.
3. “Yaweh.” Gregory Norbert, O.S.B.
Weston Priory Productions, op. cit.
4. “The Mass Is Ended.” Words and
music by Sebastian Temple. F.E.L.
Publications, op. cit.