LOS ANGELES --- The archdiocesan Victim/Survivor Assistance Ministry Office is offering the Trauma Recovery Groups for adults who were abused in childhood, said Holy Child Jesus Sister Sheila McNiff, office director.
"These groups help individuals learn how to integrate their feelings, thoughts and behaviors," said Sister McNiff. "This model encourages effective living in the present. Healing occurs at the level of processing and integrating feelings, thoughts, perceptions and behaviors."
The program is a series of nine weeks meeting on Wednesday evenings, 7-9 p.m. The program is funded by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at no cost to participants.
Applicant interviews for those interested in this psycho-educational program begin March 26. In May, a Psycho-educational Recovery Program will be offered on two Saturdays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. For information on these programs, call (213) 637-7650.
Cesar Chavez Mass scheduled March 25 at Cathedral
LOS ANGELES --- The Seventh Annual Mass in memory of legendary farm worker labor leader Cesar E. Chavez will take place March 25 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple St. in Los Angeles. The liturgy will celebrate Chavez' legacy and commitment to the struggle for justice and dignity for all low-wage workers, including immigrants. Farm workers affected by the recent citrus freeze are in need of support. Donations of canned food and boxed/bagged food will be accepted. For more information, call (213) 637-7465.
LMU presents 'Catholic in Hollywood' forum March 27
LOS ANGELES --- Loyola Marymount University will open its new Catholic in the Industry series with "Catholic in Hollywood: A Forum for Cinema & Television" March 27, 7:30 p.m. at LMU's Sacred Heart Chapel. Open to the public, this free event will feature a panel of entertainment industry leaders discussing how they live the "LMU Mission" in Hollywood.
Panelists include: LMU theology student, Remi Aubuchon, writer and executive producer of "24," "Summerland," "Lyon's Den" and "Wildfire"; Loyola Law School alumnus, Ara Keshishian, talent agent at Creative Artists Agency; LMU alumnus, Ted Kroeber, producer of feature films including "American Gun," and "Four Sheets to the Wind"; and Sharon Arnett, vice president of post production at Vin Di Bona Productions.
Jesuit Father Robert Scholla, university trustee and rector of the LMU Jesuit Community will moderate the event which will be hosted by John Flaherty, interim director of campus ministry; Teri Schwartz, dean of the LMU School of Film and Television; and Michael McNaught, head sacristan and chair of the "Catholic in the Industry" steering committee. Additional information is available at http://ministry.lmu.edu/forum or at LMU's Campus Ministry office, (310) 338-2860.
Catholics launch fight against loosening abortion laws in Mexico City
MEXICO CITY (CNS) --- Catholics and civic organizations have launched a campaign against a Mexico City proposal to legalize abortion during the first three months of pregnancy. The proposal "has awoken the conscience of civil society in this city," said Armando Martinez, president of the College of Catholic Lawyers in Mexico City, at a March 18 press in Mexico City's Metropolitan Cathedral. Martinez said the proposal would violate the Mexican Constitution, and he pledged to file a challenge before the nation's highest court if it is approved.
Abortion in Mexico is currently permitted only in cases of rape; however, in Mexico City, it is also allowed if the mother's life is in danger. Lawmakers said they will discuss the bill in coming weeks. But it is expected to be approved with the support of the city's majority, left-leaning Democratic Revolution Party.
Martinez said the Mexican College of Catholic Lawyers has united with other civic organizations to form the "We Are Life" coalition, which has been organizing a protest for March 22 in front of the city assembly. The coalition also has been planning to lead a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe March 25 to pray for the bill's defeat.
Martinez's announcement follows numerous statements from the Catholic Church criticizing the bill. The Mexican bishop's conference has called on the city assembly to "reaffirm its respect for life." The Mexico City Archdiocese said in a statement that city legislators are drafting laws "that go against human dignity."
The nation's ruling National Action Party has opposed the bill; one of its top officials has called it a "murderous law." However, Victor Hugo Cirigo, head of the Democratic Revolution Party in the assembly, has vowed to push the bill through, telling the press that "no church or religion will impose its will on the city."
Scripture, song and prayer mark religious start to anti-war protests
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Scripture readings were interspersed with testimonies from a U.S. soldier, Iraqis and the mother of a slain National Guard sergeant at a crowded prayer vigil March 16 that kicked off weekend anti-war protests in Washington and around the country. With nearly 3,000 people packed into the Episcopal Church's National Cathedral and hundreds more in overflow space at other churches, Catholic, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Mennonite, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ, Quaker and Seventh-day Adventist leaders set the stage for a late-night march to the White House in bitter cold wind and snow. After walking just under four miles to the White House from the cathedral, participants carrying battery-operated candles prayed for peace. Dozens who refused police orders to keep moving were arrested in planned acts of nonviolent resistance. The next day, thousands of protesters gathered near the Lincoln Memorial and marched to the Pentagon for an anti-war rally. At the National Cathedral, the focus of several "witness" reflections, as the program described them, was on the moral grounds for opposing the war.
Bishop Wester installed as head of Salt Lake City Diocese
SALT LAKE CITY (CNS) --- In a joyful afternoon ceremony that included nearly 60 bishops, archbishops and cardinals from across the country, Bishop John C. Wester was officially installed as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City March 14. Archbishop George H. Niederauer of San Francisco, the eighth bishop of Salt Lake City from 1995 to 2005, presided over the installation of Bishop Wester, who had served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of San Francisco since 1998. Celebrated in both English and Spanish, the Mass centered on readings from the Book of Exodus, the First Letter of John and the story in the Gospel of John about Mary Magdalene's discovery of the empty tomb and her encounter with the risen Jesus. In his homily, Bishop Wester spoke of the many people who had formed him and helped prepare him for this day, including his father, the late Charles Wester. Bishop Wester told the crowd at the installation ceremony, "I am called to see and hear Christ through you. For you I am a bishop. With you I am a Christian."
Austrian bishops announce details of pope's September trip to Austria
VIENNA, Austria (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI will visit Austria Sept. 7-9 to celebrate the 850th anniversary of Austria's most important Marian shrine, the Shrine of Our Lady of Mariazell, the country's bishops announced. Pope Benedict will arrive in Vienna Sept. 7, lead a prayer service in the city center and then meet with government authorities and members of the diplomatic corps in the Hofburg Palace. The morning of Sept. 8, the pope will travel to Mariazell where he will celebrate Mass in the square outside the shrine's basilica. Later, he will hold an evening prayer service with priests, seminarians, deacons and members of religious orders. Back in Vienna Sept. 9, the pope will celebrate Mass in St. Stephen's Cathedral. After an afternoon visit to the ancient Cistercian Abbey of the Holy Cross outside Vienna and a meeting with city leaders, he will return to Rome, the bishops said.
Iraqi bishop: Four years of war brought increased spiral of cruelty
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --- Four years of war have brought an increasing spiral of cruelty and killing to Iraq, and left the country in a state of chaos, said Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad, Iraq. The war also has prompted a massive flight of Catholics and others from the country, leaving behind a shrinking Catholic minority, he said. Bishop Warduni made the comments to Vatican Radio March 19, the fourth anniversary of the U.S.-led bombing and invasion of Iraq. "Before the conflict broke out, I said that God does not want war in Iraq. Even then one could see that the consequences would be terrible," the bishop said. "And in fact, the cruelty and the killing have increased from day to day. Children, youths, the old, the sick, we are all suffering, because the world is not thinking of what's good for the Iraqi people," he said. "Everyone is thinking of their own interests and so the Iraqis have been forgotten. Terrorism is increasing, and with it the number of orphans and widows," he said. |