BOYLE HEIGHTS --- Students and teachers past and present, as well as friends and community supporters, gathered Dec. 1 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Mary School, Boyle Heights.

San Gabriel Region Auxiliary Bishop Gabino Zavala presided at a Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, followed by a reception.

Among the participants were Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, St. Mary's class of 1955, who presented Salesian Sister Josephine Ochoa, principal, a commendation celebrating the school's achievements (see photo).

More on St. Mary's School will be featured in the Dec. 21 issue of the Tidings.

International conference examines impact of abortion on men
SAN FRANCISCO (CNS) --- While the impact of abortion on men is low on the cultural radar, there is overwhelming research, clinical experience and anecdotal evidence that men can be profoundly traumatized by the elective loss of a child whether they encouraged it, resisted it or only learned of it after the fact. This was the view of speakers at the first international conference on men and abortion held in San Francisco Nov. 28-29. Nearly 200 people from at least seven nations and 28 states gathered at St. Mary's Cathedral to hear the personal stories of men affected by abortion, reports on research on the topic, and presentations by counselors and therapists on the treatment of men suffering post-abortion grief. Organized by the Milwaukee-based National Office of Post-Abortion Reconciliation and Healing, the "Reclaiming Fatherhood: A Multifaceted Examination of Men Dealing with Abortion" conference was co-sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the national office of the Knights of Columbus.

Venezuelans vote down Chavez's package of constitutional reforms
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) --- A package of constitutional reforms proposed by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez that would have increased the president's powers and established a "socialist economy" was defeated narrowly by voters. Retired Archbishop Ramon Perez Morales of Los Teques said the Dec. 3 vote "opens a new chapter in the nation's history, a chapter which must be characterized by the word 'meeting.' Venezuela must not be the same as before." It was the first defeat for Chavez at the polls in nearly a decade. Chavez called the opposition victory "pyrrhic" and resolved to move the nation toward socialism using other means. Archbishop Roberto Luckert Leon of Coro, vice president of the Venezuelan bishops' conference, called on Venezuelans to be careful Chavez does not use other means to expand his powers. He urged the opposition to unite behind the strongest candidates for governor and municipal offices in upcoming regional elections.

Put your stamp on it: Holiday postage avoids seasonal sticking point
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- During December, when Christmas displays and the public outcry against them get almost equal billing, the tiny postage stamp dares to push the envelope, so to speak. While some towns are battling over the use of red and green lights on city buildings, Nativity scenes in parks and what to call holiday evergreen trees, the tiny adhesive squares on billions of letters and packages this December will subtly remind postal workers and mail recipients about Christmas and other religious holidays. This year the Postal Service has issued more than 2.6 billion holiday stamps. The majority of them are called "holiday knits" featuring Christmas images that look like hand-knit evergreens, snowmen, deer and teddy bears. The rest of the seasonal stamps feature the Madonna and Child and commemorate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Muslim festivals. According to a 2007 press release by the Postal Service, the Madonna and Child stamp has been a U.S. tradition since 1978.

Retired U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde, known for pro-life efforts, dies at 83
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Henry J. Hyde, the former Republican congressman from Illinois whose name became synonymous with efforts to limit federal funding of abortion, died Nov. 29 at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. The 83-year-old Catholic political figure, who underwent quadruple bypass surgery in July, died of a fatal arrhythmia. Hyde retired from politics in 2006 after 32 years in Congress and eight years in the Illinois Legislature. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, on Nov. 5.

Big, open spaces not an option for Washington, New York papal events
WASHINGTON (CNS) --- Pope Benedict XVI's trip to the U.S. next spring brings a different kind of pope to a different environment in terms of security than when millions of people were able to participate in Masses celebrated by Pope John Paul II on his U.S. visits. When Pope John Paul visited the United States in 1979, his weeklong trip included huge, open public Masses attended by hundreds of thousands of people at each venue, ranging from an Iowa farm field to Washington's National Mall. The scenes were repeated when Pope John Paul returned for a multicity tour in 1987, celebrating liturgies in the New Orleans Superdome, a California racetrack, an empty San Antonio field and other huge spaces. When Pope Benedict makes his first trip to the United States as pope April 15-20, the opportunities for the public to see him will be limited to Masses at two baseball stadiums in Washington and New York, with a capacity of probably no more than 45,000 and 65,000, respectively, and a rally for perhaps 15,000 youths and seminarians. Other events in both cities are invitation-only. One reason the liturgies with Pope Benedict won't be on the National Mall or in Central Park is simply that neither locale was available, according to communications officials with the Washington and New York archdioceses.