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PAGE 4 — The Georgia Bulletin, December 14, 1989 STATEMENT Immoral In his new statement on the environment, Pope John Paul II makes a specific, urgently- needed connection between our Catholic, Chris tian faith and the real world in which we live. Too often the rich, but abstract beauty of our faith is unconnected to our daily lives. The pope can make that bridge very concretely on occa sion. This is one of those moments, an inspired connection between the heart, and the rigors, of Christianity, and the facts of real life, where or dinary people take out the trash once or twice a week. His language is serious. It should be. We have landfill crises and trains full of garbage with nowhere to go. At one end of the spectrum is nuclear waste, a dilemma that for the moment is truly unsolved. Humble prayer is needed for God’s answer to that environmental crisis because our decision to use nuclear power has loosed the manmade monster of nuclear waste. Much closer to home is the mountain of trash each of our small households creates. Maybe this weekly struggle doesn’t have to be just a personal one; maybe it’s something the com munities we belong to could address. With sup port and a sense of humor, could we bring our own carts to the store and use fewer bags? Could we work at making our churches and It was my sad duty recently to deliver the homily at the funeral of William D. Kircher, an official with the national AFL - CIO and a pioneer champion of farm workers and other disadvantaged groups of workers. He was one of the most dedicated and selfless labor leaders I ever met. His death, following a long and painful illness, set me thinking about the religious significance of a life devoted to the cause of social justice — not only Kir- cher’s life but that of many other people from different oc cupations and professions with whom I have been privileg ed to work during my 50 years in the priesthood. A few years ago the U.S. Catholic bishops issued a pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching and the U.S. economy. Organized labor predictably has shown a great interest in this document which deals with workers’ needs and problems under several different headings. During the past two to three years, I have taken part in several seminars on the pastoral letter sponsored by local union coalitions. At a seminar in San Francisco, one labor (USPS) 574880 Catholic' Arc hdiocese of Atlanta Builnoit OHica U.S.A. $15.00 680 Wait Paachtroa, N.W. Canada $16.00 Atlanta, Goorgia 30308 Foralgn $17.50 Phona: 888-7832 Most Rev. Eugene A. Marino, S.S.J. Publisher Gretchen R. Reiser Editor Rita Mclnerney Associate Editor DEADLINE: All material for publication mutt bo received by MONDAY NOON for Thursday's paper. POSTMASTER: Send Change of Address to THE GEORGIA BULLETIN 601 East Sixth Street, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830 Send all editorial correspondence to THE GEORGIA BULLETIN 680 West Peachtree Street N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Second Clast Postage Paid at Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Published Weekly except the second and last weeks In June, July and August and the last week in December at 601 East Sixth St., Waynesboro, Ga. 30830 Garbage schools models of recycling? Could we find a way of acknowledging the God of Creation in the small decisions that we make while shop ping-picking one item over another, rejecting what is damaging to God’s earth, disposing of everything as wisely as possible, buying less? “Simplicity, moderation and discipline, as well as a spirit of sacrifice, must become a part of everyday life, lest all suffer the negative conse quences of the careless habits of a few,” the pope’s message for Jan. 1, 1990 says. Neglected by the Church, the ecological crisis lost a significant dimension, becoming purely political and then lately a New Age agenda item. The pope’s document restores its proper place as a Christian’s essential concern. It should spring from our love for the Creator and the Ir replaceable world He made; as a process of con version, we drop some unnecessary, manmade burdens and free our hands for God’s essential tasks. By making it his document for Jan. 1, the pope has given us an inspired invitation for the New Year, an invitation to change that can be applied right here at home. It ought to be welcome to our spirits, as we all cart out the post-Christmas debris. delegate took the floor to say that as a regular churchgoer he had never heard a homily or sermon on a labor leader's vocation. In his experience, he said, the word “vocation” was used almost exclusively with reference to priests and to men and women members of religious orders. He complained that while he did not want to sound holier than thou, he always had thought of his role in the labor movement as a vocation — a call from God to serve his fellow workers. His complaint was echoed by two or three other par ticipants and was well taken by all the clergy present. It sent me back to the text of the pastoral letter to refresh my memory about what the document says on the vocation of lay people dedicated to the cause of social justice. I found that the document touches on this matter in several contexts. For example: “It is principally through the laity that the Spirit will lead this world to greater love, justice and peace.... Holiness is achieved in the midst of the world. The constant effort to shape decisions and institutions in ways that enhance human dignity and reflect the grandeur and glory of God represents a most important path to holiness.” It seems to me that this excerpt might well have been written with men like Kircher in mind. At a time when so much attention is centered on the work of catechetical, liturgical and other lay ministries within the church — and rightly so — it is important to pay attention also to the work of lay people who are involved as Christians in what are sometimes denigrated as purely “secular” tasks, in Kir- cher’s case, for example, organizing workers into democratic unions. Bishop John Cummins of the Diocese of Oakland, Calif., head of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat on Laity and Family Life, put it graphically when he pointed out recently, “There isn’t much room behind that altar rail.” That is to say, the overwhelming majority of lay people will never be “lay ministers” in the ecclesiastical sense of the word. They will exercise their ministry, their calling or vocation, not behind the altar rail or within the sanctuary but in and through their respective occupations, be they workers, employers, bankers, professionals or what have you. William Kircher found his vocation in the labor move ment. He was a great credit to it and to the church which nourished his faith and sustained him in his struggle for peace. (Copyright (c) 1989 by Catholic News Service) The Week In Review NAMES AND PLACES — The 10th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was marked by remembrances of his ministry at Masses in New York City and an announcement that a foundation is being formed to promote his teachings. Known to the public primarily for his preaching and lecturing, much of it broadcast by radio and television, Archbishop Sheen also taught philosophy at The Catholic University of America in Washington from 1926 to 1950, directed the Society For The Propagation Of The Faith from 1950 to 1966 and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. from 1966 to 1969. He received the title of archbishop upon his retirement. THE ARCHDIOCESE of New York has formally initiated the cause for canonization of Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian who was born in slavery in 1766 and lived in New York from 1787 until his death in 1853. He is buried at Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the Little Italy section of Manhattan. Tous saint was esteemed for his charitable works, and the spirit of good will he demonstrated toward all people. 3fc sf: sfc AROUND THE NATION — Bishop J. Keith Symons of Pensacola-Tallahassee will commemorate the 450th an niversary of what is believed to be the first Christmas Mass in North America with a Christmas Day Mass at the recent ly discovered site of Hernando DeSoto’s 1539 winter en campment. The site was uncovered in 1987 when the land was being prepared for construction. Links of chain mail, boot tracks, horseshoe nails and a 15th-century Spanish coin identified the site as the location where the De Soto ex pedition spent the winter on their trek through “La Florida.” Twelve priests traveled with DeSoto to evangelize natives in the new territory. “IT WAS GREAT. It was a gala,” Sister Mary Colman said of the variety show at the Grand Ole Opry House ar ranged by Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda to raise money for a new convent to house 30 retired Sisters of Mer cy of the Union. All but four of the sisters were there in cluding “three in wheelchairs and one on crutches,” Sister Colman, conve.nt coordinator, said in a telephone interview with Catholic News Service. T)on Rickies, Vic Damone, Robert Wagner, Loretta Lynn, Kathy Mattea, Irlene Man- drell, Boxcar Willy and other celebrities, along with Lasor da, were at the Opry for the Nov. 30 show that attracted more than 3,000 people, she said. So far no money has beeen received by the sisters who have been given a 1991 deadline to replace the 1905 building in which they live, Lasorda had already raised some $50,000 by agreeing to lose weight in exchange for pledges. Sister Colman estimates $4 million to $4.5 million will be needed to build and furnish a new con vent to be built on 20 acres of land near Opryland, some 12 miles from the present site. ARCHBISHOP'S SCHEDULE SUNDAY, DEC. 17 -- 7:30 p.m. Advent Service of Readings And Carols, Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. MONDAY, DEC. 18 -- 12 noon Luncheon speaker at Buckhead Rotary Club, Anthony’s Restaurant, Atlanta. -- 5 p.m. Christmas party for shelter children, Alliance Theater, Atlanta. TUESDAY. DEC. 19 - 12 noon Luncheon speaker at Downtown Kiwanis Club, Merchandise Mart, Atlanta. - 7 p.m. Banquet speaker for military chaplains, U.S. Naval Air Station, Marietta. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 20 -- 10 a.m. Priests’ Council meeting, Catholic Center, Atlanta. -- 12:30 p.m. Christmas luncheon for Archbishop’s Office staff, Catholic Center, Atlanta. - 7:30 p.m. Officiant at Advent Penance Service, Cathedral of Christ the King. Atlanta. FRIDAY, DEC. 22 - 1 p.m. Christmas reception for Catholic Center staff, Atlanta. SUNDAY, DEC. 24 -- 4:30 p.m. Principal celebrant and homilist, Christmas Eve Mass, Our Lady of Vietnam Mission Church, Forest Park, followed by reception. - 11:30 p.m. Principal celebrant and homilist, Mid night Mass, Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. MONDAY, DEC. 25 -- 9 a.m. Celebrant and homilist, Christmas Day Mass, Marian Manor archdiocesan personal care home, Atlanta. --GRK f v ¥ Monsignor George C. Higgins The Lay Person's Vocation
