St. Nicholas Catholic Church : Site News

Let Yes mean Yes and No mean No

2010-08-02T00:00:00-05:00

Lwanga Center Director Retires

2010-07-12T00:00:00-05:00

Lwanga Center director to retire after decade of service

By Jennifer Brinker | jbrinker@stlouisreview.com

Jane Wexler Brown

If there's anything to be said about the legacy that Jane Wexler Brown is leaving at the St. Charles Lwanga Center, it's that she worked tirelessly to ensure that the African-American Catholic community in St. Louis was seen as more than just a segment of life in the Church.

After a decade of service as executive director, Brown, 74, recently announced that she will retire Aug. 1. The archdiocesan agency, located in North St. Louis, provides spiritual and leadership development for the African-American Catholic community and beyond.

In an interview earlier this week with the Review, Brown said her decision to step down was based on a desire to enjoy her retirement years and spend more time with her family, including her husband of 55 years, Andrew. The Browns are members of St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Parish in North St. Louis.

Over the years, Brown said, she has enjoyed the support and a good rapport with staff and friends of the center, as well as the pastors of the center's 10 sponsoring parishes in the North City Deanery.

"It can easily be compared to a nurturing family working together to accomplish God's purpose," she noted.

Brown came on board with the Lwanga Center in the early 1980s, first as a volunteer board member and later as board president for several years. She had previously worked for three and a half decades, 19 of them in a managerial role, with the Accounting Services Department at Washington University in St. Louis, an experience she said "laid the foundation" for what was to come in her role at the Lwanga Center.

Under her leadership, evangelization has been a priority of the center. Through activities such as Bible study, marriage preparation, a grief ministry, youth events such as the annual Kujenga retreat, and others, opportunities are provided for Catholics to become more engaged in their faith. In 2003, Dominican Father Art Cavitt joined the staff as a minister of evangelization and spiritual adviser. Brown estimated that between 3,500 and 5,000 people yearly participate in the center's activities.

Those evangelization efforts have extended beyond center-sponsored activities, too. In 2005, when the Northeast County and South City deaneries underwent parish consolidations, Brown was involved in several listening sessions that offered an opportunity for Catholics to voice their concerns and hopes for the future of those parishes in the archdiocese.

"It's so important, when any type of change comes along, to get people involved right up front," she said, "which is exactly what happened at those two listening sessions. They were very candid expressing what their expectations were, what they saw as a welcoming parish. It breaks down the barriers and removes fears a person might have."

In 2003, Brown oversaw the center's move from its former location on Northland Avenue in North St. Louis to a nearby location at Carter and Shreve avenues, between St. Elizabeth Mother of John the Baptist Parish and St. Louis Catholic Academy. At the time of the move, Brown said the new location would provide more usable space and an ability to expand services. "It's a hand-in-glove situation," she said.

Under her tutelage, the center has hosted several other events, including an annual testimonial dinner and fundraiser, a Mass to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and its Model of Justice Award for youths, and a Mass in honor of the center's patron saint, St. Charles Lwanga and his companions who were martyred in Uganda in 1886.

Brown said she's never felt any adverse challenges in her work. "Never one day did I wake up and say, 'Oh, I have to go there.'" She also gave much credit to her husband Andrew, who she said has been a constant support and her best friend.

As for the future of the Lwanga Center, Brown said she hopes it will "position itself so that it has the strength to operate effectively in the new millennium. And again, providing leadership training that is reflective of the African-American community, but still with that sense of collaboration" with the greater archdiocese.

"That's for the benefit of building up the Kingdom of God on Earth," she said. "Collaboration is just how we operate daily here at the center."

Norman Williams appointed interim director

Norman Williams, a longtime staff member with the St. Charles Lwanga Center, has been appointed to serve as interim director of the center. His appointment is effective Aug. 1.Williams, 76, has been a member of the Lwanga Center staff since 1990, most recently as director of development and administration. Previous to that, he had served as a volunteer with the center. Williams and his wife, Linda, are members of St. Alphonsus "Rock" Parish in North St. Louis.

Last month, the archdiocese announced that it would undertake a collaborative review of Lwanga Center through consultation with the center's board of directors, the priests of the North St. Louis Deanery and Archbishop Robert J. Carlson. Additionally, a search committee, led by Vicar General Msgr. Vernon Gardin, will be formed to find a new executive director for the center.

Mass of Thanksgiving

A Mass of thanksgiving for Jane Brown's service to the St. Charles Lwanga Center will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at St. Alphonsus "Rock" Parish, 1118 N. Grand Blvd. in North St. Louis. All are invited.

A reception and presentation will be held afterward. For more information, call Corliss Cox at (314) 367-7929.

Archbishop Carlson: 5th Commandment demands respe

2010-07-07T00:00:00-05:00

Archbishop Carlson: 5th Commandment demands respect for life

Posted on July 6, 2010 - 9:10am

Archbishop Robert J. CarlsonGod’s law in the Old Testament is clear and unambiguous: You shall not kill. Jesus is even more demanding: Every one who is angry is liable to judgment.

Sins against the Fifth Commandment are easy to commit. Any time we think, speak or act out of anger or hatred or jealousy or revenge, we abuse God’s commandment that we respect His most precious gift, the gift of life — especially human life.

Human life is sacred because, from its beginning until its natural end, it involves the creative action of God. The Fifth Commandment forbids direct and intentional killing as gravely sinful. God alone is the Lord of life. No one has the right to end arbitrarily what God has begun, and sustained, through the gift of His love.

In the account of Abel’s murder by Cain (Genesis 4:8-12), Scripture reveals the presence of anger and envy in humankind, consequences of original sin, from the beginning of recorded history. God declares this as wicked, and He asks the question to be answered over the ages: “What have you done?” Today this question is asked not only of those who kill someone, but also of those responsible for violence, anger, hatred and vengeance in any form.

It is a shame that there are so many violent words expressed between members of the same family day in and day out. Anger and intolerance are also pervasive in our Church and in society. Such attitudes are destructive and sinful. They are of the Evil One and not of God.

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Archbishop Carlson

Global Count of Catholics of African Descent: 270 MILLION *

2010-06-30T00:00:00-05:00

Global Count of Catholics of African Descent: 270 MILLION *

Today the 270 million Catholics of African descent represent almost 25% of the one billion Roman Catholics throughout the world in more than 59 countries.

AFRICA	141 Million
Angola	8.0
Benin	1.6
Burkina Faso	1.4
Burundi	4.0
Cameroon	3.9
Central Africa Republic	0.8
Chad	0.8
Democratic Rep. of Congo	28.0
Ethiopia	0.5
Gabon	0.8
Ghana	2.3
Ivory Coast	2.9
Kenya	7.5
Malawi	2.8
Mozambique	4.2
Nigeria	34.0
Rwanda	3.8
Senegal	0.5
South Africa	3.0
Sudan	3.8
Tanzania	10
Togo	1.3
Uganda	10.0
Zaire	3.0
Zambia	3.0
Zimbabwe	1.1

LATIN AMERICA	105.9 Million
Brazil	65
Columbia	20
Ecuador	1.5
Guatemala	.2
Honduras	.2
Mexico	12
Panama	2
Venezuela	5

CARIBBEAN & NORTH AMERICA	21 Million
Cuba	4
Dominican Republic	8
Haiti	6
United States	3

U.S. Statistics of Black Catholics

1300 Parishes

250 African American Priests

300 African American Sisters

380 African American Deacons

Research done by the Catholic African World Network. The principal resources used were: The World Christian Encyclopedia edited by D. Barrett; The 2004 Catholic Almanac edited by Matthew Brunson, D.Min.; The African American Secretariat of the U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference; the Internet and global in the field research. Contact: CatholicAWN@aol.com

*The count is based on millions and fractions of a million. Countries listed above have at least .2 million count of Catholics of African descent, while other countries not listed have less than this number. The racial conventions used to identify 'African descent' vary throughout the world. Also not accounted for are the emerging Asian populations of African descent.

© The Catholic African World Network, 2005

US African American Catholic Bishops

2010-06-30T00:00:00-05:00

US African American Catholic Bishops

Most Rev. Moses B. Anderson, S.S.E. (Retired) (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. Leonard J. Olivier, S.V.D. (Retired) (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Gordon D. Bennett, S.J. (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Edward K. Braxton (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. John H. Ricard, S.S.J. (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Dominic Carmon, S.V.D. (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. Guy Sansaricq (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Wilton D. Gregory, S.L.D. (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. J. Terry Steib, S.V.D. (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D. (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. Elliott G. Thomas (Retired) (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. Joseph Howze (Retired) (Click to View Bio)	Most Rev. Martin D. Holley (Click to View Bio)
Most Rev. George V. Murry, S.J. (Click to View Bio)

Pope Benedict XVI Creates Council for New Evangelization

2010-06-30T00:00:00-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI Creates Council for New Evangelization

Posted on June 30, 2010 - 10:16am

Pope Benedict XVI has created a new pontifical council dedicated to a renewed evangelization.VATICAN CITY (Zenit.org) — To ward off secularization in nations where the Gospel put down roots centuries ago, Benedict XVI is creating a new pontifical council.The Pope announced the newest Vatican dicastery today, as he was celebrating vespers for Tuesday's feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.

This council—dedicated to a "renewed evangelization"—will be the 12th of the Roman Curia. There are also nine congregations.

"Man of the third millennium also desires an authentic and full life, he has need of truth, of profound liberty, of gratuitous love," the Holy Father said before announcing the new organization. "Also in the deserts of the secularized world, man's soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

The Pontiff cited his predecessor, Pope John Paul II, in affirming that the mission Christ entrusted to the Church is still far from completion, and that it requires strong commitment.

"There are regions in the world that still wait for a first evangelization; others that received it but need more profound work; others still in which the Gospel put down roots a long time ago, giving place to a true Christian tradition, but where in the last centuries—with complex dynamics—the process of secularization has produced a grave crisis of the sense of the Christian faith and of belonging to the Church," Benedict XVI observed.

And he announced: "In this perspective, I have decided to create a new organism, in the form of pontifical council, with the specific task of promoting a renewed evangelization in countries where the first proclamation of the faith already resounded, and where Churches are present of ancient foundation, but which are going through a progressive secularization of society and a sort of 'eclipse of the sense of God,' which constitutes a challenge to find the appropriate means to propose again the perennial truth of the Gospel of Christ."

The Holy Father did not announce who will be the president of the new dicastery.

Summer Jobs 2010 - Sign Up NOW!!!!

2010-06-17T00:00:00-05:00

Missouri Summer Jobs Program

With the success of last year’s summer employment program that that helped over 7,000 Missouri youth develop invaluable career skills, and the continuing need to help get young Missourians to work, Gov. Nixon is providing a similar program for 2010. The Missouri Summer Jobs Program will provide young Missourians on-the-job training and work experience with top-notch employers across our state.

If you are a young person between the ages of 14-24* or an employer willing to give someone the chance of a lifetime please sign up on the simple electronic forms on this website.

* Specific income eligibility guidelines apply: See Youth Signup tab.

Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian

2010-06-17T00:00:00-05:00

Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian
| Print Version | Discuss Online

Youth Article Index

About St. Lawrence

Abstinence Education

Notre Dame's First Black Valedictorian

Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist: Two Sacred Sacraments and Blessed Acts

Who Am I

My life serving in the African American Catholic Community

African American Young Adult Ministry is an act of Social Justice

It's Time to Walk the Walk

Your talents: Gifts from God and a call to action.

A Purpose-Driven Life

Not My Own

Abstinence Saves Lives

Our Forgotten Children

"Prayer Changes"

Pro-Life Pilgrimage

If You Don't Know Where You're Going, Any Road Will Take You There

Transitioning from High School to College

Examination of Conscience

PRE-CANA

Archdiocese of New Orleans's IMANI Team

Youth Article Index

(WBBM) -- History is being made at the University of Notre Dame this Spring.

In the 161 years the University of Notre Dame has been awarding degrees, never had there been an African-American as valedictorian. Until this year.

She's Katie Washington of Gary, Indiana. She carries a 4.0 GPA majoring in biology and minoring in Catholic Social Teaching.

According to the Northwest Indiana Times, Washington plans to continue her studies at Johns Hopkins University and follow in her father's footsteps into medicine.

Washington says she's humbled by the honor of being named valedictorian.

More information from Notre Dame University:

Katie Washington, a biological sciences major from Gary, Ind., has been named valedictorian of the 2010 University of Notre Dame graduating class and will present the valedictory address during Commencement exercises May 16 (Sunday) in Notre Dame stadium.

Washington, who earned a 4.0 grade point average, has a minor in Catholic Social Teaching. She has conducted research on lung cancer at the Cold Spring Harbor labs and performed genetic studies in the University's Eck Institute for Global Health on the mosquito that carries dengue and yellow fever. She is the co-author of a research paper with David Severson, professor of biological sciences.

Washington directs the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir at Notre Dame, is a mentor/tutor for the Sister-to-Sister program at South Bend's Washington High School and serves as the student coordinator of the Center for Social Concerns' "Lives in the Balance: Youth Violence and Society Seminar."

Upon graduation, Washington plans to pursue a joint M.D./Ph.D program at Johns Hopkins University.

Juneteenth

2010-06-17T00:00:00-05:00

June 19th, 2010

JUNETEENTH

Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves' day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Texas was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas, particularly the Hill Country, where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice. Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston's Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of "General Order No. 3":

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth.

Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year.[9] Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities' increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings - including Houston's Emancipation Park, Mexia's Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin

Preparation beginning for implementation of 3rd Edition of Roman Missal

2010-06-17T00:00:00-05:00

Preparations beginning for implementation of 3rd Edition of Roman Missal

Posted on June 17, 2010 - 9:42am

By Kevin Kelly (Kansas City Key) — Mark the date: Nov. 27, 2011, the First Sunday of Advent.

That's the target date for full implementation of the English translation of the Third Edition of the Roman Missal, which received Vatican approval on March 25.

Parishioners will see many changes in both the prayers priests will say, and in their responses, said Father Richard Hilgartner, associate director of the U.S. bishops' Secretariat for Divine Worship.

Speaking to some 115 priests and parish liturgy directors at a May 13-14 workshop at Visitation Parish in Kansas City, Father Hilgartner said that the change most parishioners will notice will be the response to "The Lord be with you."

"And also with you" is out. "And with your spirit" is in.

That is a much closer translation to the Latin "Et cum spiritu tuo" and a response that dates to the early Church and the fourth century writings of St. John Chrysostom, Father Hilgartner said.

Continue Reading on the St. Louis Review website »

Keep the LORD's Day Holy

2010-06-17T00:00:00-05:00

The Third Commandment requires us to keep the Lord's Day holy

Submitted on June 16, 2010

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By Archbishop Robert J. Carlson

Lisa A. Johnston

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath day to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work (Exodus 20:8-10).

The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27-28).

I'm not going to sugar coat the truth. Too many Catholics ignore their solemn obligation to attend Mass every Sunday. Parents who fail to bring their children to Mass on the Lord's Day sin twice — by failing in their Sunday obligation and by being a source of scandal for their children.

This is a serious problem for individuals, families, parish communities and for the whole Church. Sunday Mass is not optional. It is an essential requirement for all of us, and unless we have a serious reason, there is simply no excuse for missing Mass on the Lord's Day. If through your own fault you miss Mass on Sunday, you are committing a serious sin. You should not receive holy Communion until you have gone to confession.

The Sunday eucharistic celebration, which may begin with the anticipated Mass on Saturday evening, is at the heart of the Church's life. Sunday is that special day when we celebrate the Lord's passion, death and resurrection (the Paschal Mystery) until He comes again. It is here that we are fed with the Bread of Life. It is here that we prepare ourselves for discipleship and service during the coming week. If we fail to worship God on the Lord's Day, we betray our baptismal promises and we neglect our responsibilities as disciples and as stewards of the mysteries of God.

What could be more important than being with the Lord, and with our parish family, on the first day of each week? Surely our excuses fail miserably when compared to the opportunity to hear God's Word proclaimed and to receive Christ's gift of Himself in the Eucharist! Too many of us are letting the precious gift of faith slip through our fingers by our lazy and sinful ways — missing Mass regularly and excusing ourselves for reasons that are unworthy of faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.

Wake up, brothers and sisters! Our salvation is at stake, and the evil one is only too happy to entice us down a path that leads to hell.

While we're at it, we should also talk about unnecessary work on Sunday. Our contemporary culture makes Sunday a part of "the weekend" with virtually no special significance. Now, most retail businesses are open on Sunday, and as a result many people have to work on the Lord's Day. This has had a profound impact on family life. It's hard enough these days to gather the family together for meals and for family time. Now even Sunday dinner is disappearing as an anchor for family life.

The Church teaches that God's action is the model for human action. If God rested and was refreshed on the seventh day, we should do likewise. We should especially make sure that the poor, and those who work to provide for our basic needs and for the luxuries we enjoy, also have the opportunity to rest and be refreshed. In the Jewish and Christian traditions, the Sabbath (the Lord's Day) exists to bring everyday work to a halt — reminding us that there is more to life than working and earning our daily bread. For us, the Sabbath is, or should be, a day of protest against the servitude of work and the worship of money and material things (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2172).

The Third Commandment warns us not to neglect our solemn Sunday obligation. But it also reminds us that the Sabbath (the Lord's Day) is a gift from God that provides us with wonderful opportunities to be refreshed and renewed as we face life's difficulties week-in and week-out. That's why our Lord reminded the Jewish leaders, and all of us, that the Sabbath is for us — a gift to be cherished and enjoyed as we worship God together and as we let Him strengthen us in His service.

Gathering together each week to keep holy the Lord's Day is not optional. It's what's expected of each one of us. Sunday Mass should not be a burden. Celebrating the Sunday Eucharist with our parish community and, indeed, with the whole Church allows us to worship God, to learn about our faith, to open our hearts to the Word of God, to receive the Bread of Life at the table of the Lord, and to be strengthened for the work we must do during the coming week.

Let's remember to keep the Lord's Day holy — for the salvation of our souls and for the good of our families, our society and our Church.

Catholics to join other Christians in Global Day of Prayer

2010-05-21T00:00:00-05:00

By Joseph Kenny, Review Staff Writer

Archbishop Robert J. Carlson is encouraging Catholics of the archdiocese to join other Christians in the Global Day of Prayer from 4 to 6 p.m. on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, at the Chaifetz Arena 1 S. Compton Ave. on the St. Louis University campus in Midtown St. Louis.

Hundreds of thousands of Christians worldwide are expected to be meeting Pentecost Sunday in similar venues to pray.

"Since prayer with other Christians is described as the very 'soul' of the ecumenical movement encouraged by the fathers of the Second Vatican Council, it is fitting that we, who profess the fullness of the Christian faith, provide leadership in uniting in prayer with other believers in Jesus," Archbishop Carlson and Lawrence J. Welch, director of the archdiocesan Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, wrote in a letter to parish pastors.

This year's Global Day of Prayer will focus on the Lord's Prayer, which will be the template for the prayer service. The observance at the Chaifetz Arena will incorporate various styles of prayer to praise Our Lord, Archbishop Carlson and Welch noted. "Christians will be praying that God will transform the St. Louis metropolitan region according to His will."

Begun in Africa, Global Day of Prayer is observed in more than 220 nations and is considered the largest prayer meeting in history. The event intends to encourage all who follow Jesus Christ to unite in repentance and prayer and to collaborate as God's instruments for the blessing and healing of nations.

Archbishop Carlson and Welch said it is fitting to prepare for the event with prayers during the days before Pentecost. "As we seek to grow in unity with those who are separated from us in the faith, it is necessary to pray for the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that we might give a common witness to the St. Louis metropolitan region and the world." [Continued on the St. Louis Review website »]

For more information visit www.praystl.org or call the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at (314) 792-7162.

St. Nicholas Presents the Winneba Youth Choir

2010-05-19T00:00:00-05:00