Newspaper Page Text
«
The
iGeorgiaf
±<L
Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta
♦ Vol. 22 No. 40
Thursday, November 15, 1984
$10.00 Per Year
I -
I ~
I ’
Radical Changes Needed Says Bishops' Pastoral
,> :
*
VOLUNTEERS HAPPY AT
THEIR WORK - Chris Mruk, Lisa
McBride. Valerie Miller, Lynn
Dobson, Tom Leiner, Chris Eck,
Jim O’Brien with pastoral minister.
Paul Ennis from St. Pius X High
School, share a happy
hug . . .content in their volunteer
ministry.
BY JERRY FILTEAU
WASHINGTON (NC) -
“We hope we will affect
policy,” Archbishop
Rembert Weakland of
Milwaukee said Nov. 11 as
he unveiled the first draft
of a national pastoral
letter on Catholic social
teaching and the U.S.
economy.
“We hope that policy
will be changed so that the
poor will be treated
differently,” he added to
more than 100 reporters
gathered in Washington for
a press conference
explaining the new
document.
Archbishop Weakland
heads the five-bishop
committee that has been
working nearly four years
to develop the pastoral.
The bishops of the
country were slated to
have their first discussions
of the proposed pastoral
during their Nov. 12-15
meeting in Washington.
Further revisions and
economic policies of the
current administration,
Archbishop Weakland
stressed that the document
was meant as a
non-partisan critique.
Asked by one reporter
“There isn’t any question that we have a
serious problem with unemployment. . .The
nation’s commitment to generating full
employment has been seriously eroded, if
not abandoned.”
Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan
Committee on Bishops Economic Pastoral
consultation are to
continue for the next year,
with the bishops voting on
a final document in
November 1985.
While acknowledging
that his committee’s first
draft criticizes many
to list briefly the main
conclusions of the pastoral
draft that oppose Reagan
administration policies,
Archbishop Weakland said
the committee had made
no such analysis of the
(Continued on page 7)
Teen Volunteerism Has Surfaced And Is Rapidly Growing
BY MARY BETH MARINO
There is a wonderful new “teenage craze” going on. It
has nothing to do with punk hairstyles, designer jeans or
idols like Rod Stewart and Boy George. It also has
nothing to do with drugs, alcohol, runaways or teen
suicide.
Nor has it anything to do with the “killer” or “nerds”
people.
The craze addresses the large number of teenagers who
are involved in volunteer work through their parishes,
schools and families.
The trend has grown over the last several years. Teens
have discovered the rewards of helping others while
gaining positive feelings of self-esteem for themselves.
Teen depression and suicides are a growing concern.
But there are several alternatives that can offer growth
spiritually, intellectually and physically, and give meaning
to the turbulent life of teenagers.
“Teen Volunteerism” has surfaced in the Atlanta area
in growing proportions.
Some parishes have Fast-A-Thons that enable teens to
fast for several hours over a weekend and have their hours
matched financially by sponsors. The proceeds go to feed
the poor. Another popular event is called
“Run-For-Hunger” where the teens again, compete to
feed the poor.
Blood drives are always a huge success. While helping
the parish to staff the project, teens can draw satisfaction
from knowing they are contributing their time to a
worthwhile cause.
Five parishes have formed one large group that
ministers to nursing homes, hospitals, schools and parties
as clowns. This group called the “Heartlights” are also
teaching others the art of clown ministry.
Let’s not forget all the commendable efforts of Cub
Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts that have had
pre-teens and teens involved in service to the community
for years!
There are also several hundred teenagers who are
involved in the formation of “lock-ins” or “weekends.”
These projects consist of planning spiritual retreats for
other teenagers.
The hospitals account for a large number of teen
volunteerism. St. Joseph’s hospital alone fosters a program
where the “volunteens” are literally contributing
hundreds of hours devoted to patient care, fund raising,
and planning socials for employees or patients.
The teens at St. Jude’s parish prominently stand out as
a group that has taken on the challenge of volunteerism
full speed ahead!
Sixteen teenagers ranging from 15-18 years of age,
volunteer their time to work with the handicapped.
The SPRED (Special Religious Education and Ministry
with Handicapped persons) program involves teens
teaching the handicapped about God through study and
personal sharing.
Under the supervised expertise of Toni Miralles, the
co-ordinator of the SPRED program, the teaching teens
are growing spiritually and emotionally and expressing
personal appreciation for their own physical and mental
well-being.
Martin Luther King, Sr.
The passing of Dr. King brings sadness in the
realization that we shall no longer have the blessing
of his presence among us. Yet we are consoled by
the knowledge that he goes home to his loving
Creator bringing the fruits of a dedicated life
devoted to the service of his Master, and of his
brothers and sisters in the family of God.
We shall miss the gifts of his sound judgment, his
fortitude in the face of adversity, his sacrificial
activity for the welfare of our community.
Our city, our state, our country are richer for
having known him. May his example and his
memory spur us to carry on in the service of causes
so dear to him, particularly the eradication of
discrimination and racism in our society.
Most Rev. Thomas A. Donnellan
Archbishop of Atlanta
“I had a teen who felt he wanted to work with the
handicapped,” Ms. Miralles said. “However, once he
learned he would be working with a cerebral palsey
victim, he became concerned with his capabilities in
handling the situation. Part of his help entailed changing
diapers. His older sister encouraged him to at least ‘give it
a try,’ and offered her assistance. In just a couple of
hours, the boy was not only changing diapers, but was
feeding the handicapped person as well. The teen and the
handicapped boy are now close friends and good for each
other,” Toni Miralles explained.
There are 28 handicapped members at St. Jude’s. They
come from various areas around the archdiocese to
participate in this special program.
The teens are paired up in a one-on-one situation. They
utilize twelve different books to teach classes gearing the
choice of material to the personal need of the
handicapped individual.
The teens also keep a weekly journal dialoguing the
lesson they taught, and how the student responded. They
also send home an update of the day’s lesson so the
parents can reinforce the lesson at home.
“The teenage teachers emphasize prayer and friendship
with God,” Ms. Miralles said.
In addition to teaching on a weekly basis, the group
plans a liturgy every month, goes on a big retreat weekend
once a year, and has a Valentines dance every year.
The Catholic High Schools are also giving their students
every opportunity to learn service ministry at a young age.
Marist High School’s “Campus Ministry Program,”
under the Associate directorship of Bro. Jack O’Brien, has
a Junior and Senior High School program. Bro. O’Brien
works with the seventh, eighth and ninth graders in a
program called “Damascus.”
“The Damascus program that I envision is a program
that tries to recognize students as they actually are,” Bro.
O’Brien explained. He further added that the key is to
approach the student at the right time, in the right way,
and with the right dimension of the Christian message.
“I believe faith is revealed primarily in the real world in
everyday circumstances. God tells us far more about
(Continued on page 10)