Annual Respect Life program packets now available from USCCB

WASHINGTON (USCCB) — The 2008-09 Respect Life Program is now available in preparation for Respect Life Sunday, October 5. This year’s theme —"Hope and Trust in Life!"— comes from Pope Benedict XVI’s homily last December 31, in which he described a lack of hope and trust in life as "the ‘obscure’ evil of modern Western society."

The theme complements key messages of the Holy Father during his historic visit to the United States in April. The Respect Life flyer emphasizes Pope Benedict’s call to U.S. Catholics "to proclaim the gift of life, to serve life, and to promote a culture of life. … the message of hope we are called to proclaim and embody …" that is at the heart of the new evangelization.

Topics addressed in this year’s Respect Life Program reflect the diversity of pro-life concerns:
• the role of conscience in voting
• advances in stem cell research: where the real hope for cures lies
• pornography
• the African American community and the culture of life
• "living wills" and persons with disabilities
• male grief and trauma following abortion

Condensed versions of the articles are available in both printed pamphlet format and full-length electronic versions on an accompanying CD and on the Secretariat’s Website. The CD, included in each packet, contains all these materials, a liturgy guide, program models, memorable pro-life quotations and more, in both English and Spanish.

In addition to materials for Respect Life Sunday, this year’s liturgy guide offers Intercessions for Life, suggested preaching reflections for Respect Life Sunday and January 22, Stations of the Cross for Life and various Blessings and Prayers for vulnerable human beings–unborn children, those with disabilities, the elderly, the dying, and those condemned to die.

Begun in 1972, the Respect Life Program brings Church teaching on the value and dignity of human life to the Catholic community and the wider public. The program combines education, prayer, service and advocacy. Respect Life Sunday is observed in virtually all of the 195 Catholic dioceses in the United States.

NOTE: The Respect Life packets may be ordered from the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities by calling toll-free (866) 582-0943, or by faxing orders to (301) 779-8596. Downloadable copies of Respect Life materials from 1996 onward are posted in English and Spanish on the Secretariat’s Website at http://www.usccb.org/prolife/programs/rlp/.

U.S. dioceses gear up for November election by promoting conscience formation, political participation

WASHINGTON (USCCB) — As the November election approaches, Catholic dioceses around the country are stepping up efforts to help Catholics understand Church social teaching and get them out to vote with a well-formed conscience.

Efforts revolve around Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the bishops’ document approved last November, and related materials that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has made available.

Learn more at www.faithfulcitizenship.org.

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for September

VATICAN CITY, (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That those who, because of wars or oppressive regimes, are forced to leave their homes and country may be supported by Christians in the defence and protection of their rights."

His mission intention is: "That, faithful to the sacrament of matrimony, every Christian family may cultivate the values of love and communion in order to be a small evangelising community, sensitive and open to the material and spiritual needs of its brothers."

Monthly diocesan newsletter available online

The Catholic Diocese of Saginaw Monthly Newsletter for September 2008 is available online.
Click here to sign up to have a newsletter message sent each month to your e-mail.

Two seminarians ordained as trasitional deacons

SAGINAW - Bishop Robert J. Carlson ordained two men as transitional deacons today during Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Transitional deacons are men who are in the final stages of their formation for the priesthood. They usually are ordained as a priest in the year following their diaconate ordination.

Those ordained today were Deacons David J. Jenuwine (pictured left) and Thai Hung Nguyen (pictured right).

Of the Diocese of Saginaw's 23 seminarians who will be enrolled this fall, five are transitional deacons. Others are Deacons José G. Parra, Christian Tabares, and Prentice A. Tipton. Parra and Tipton were ordained by Bishop Carlson in May.

Ten men also participated in the Rite of Candidacy today, publicly proclaiming their intentions to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders and publicly being accepted to their respective formation programs from their bishop.

Candidates for the priesthood included Gabriel Barrera, Thomas R. Held, Fabian F. Moncada, Robert T. Schikora, and Juan Ignacio Velasquez.

Candidates for the permanent diaconate included Daryll K. Atkinson, James W. Damitio, Stanislaw Kuczynski, Gary E. Patelski, and Michael C. Smith. The Diocese of Saginaw currently has six men enrolled in its permanent diaconate formation program.

Decades of Cathedral School alumni gathered in Saginaw during the weekend

SAGINAW - Close to 600 St. Mary Cathedral School Alumni gathered Saturday for an All-Class Reunion. Check out the the alumni blog at www.smcreunion.blogspot.com/ to see their fun and share their memories.

Second book of Pope's 'Spiritual Thoughts' series to honor St. Paul

WASHINGTON (USCCB) —Saint Paul, a new book featuring quotes and reflections of the Holy Father on the Apostle Paul will be published on August 29.

The publishing office of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has reached an agreement with the Vatican’s publishing office to launch a series of books by Pope Benedict XVI called Spiritual Thoughts.

Paul Henderson, USCCB publishing director, views the release of the Pope’s book on St. Paul as "a timely opportunity for Catholics to join the Pope and return to the Bible as the source of parish and personal renewal." He added that the book series can also "help Catholics become better acquainted with their universal leader."

Benedict XVI opened the Jubilee Year of St. Paul on June 29, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The Year of St. Paul includes a church-wide campaign to promote biblical literacy among Catholics.

"Americans experienced the Holy Father’s warm and humble demeanor for the first time last April," said Father David Toups of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, recalling the Pope’s visit to the United States.

"The book series is an opportunity for U.S. Catholics to gain access to the Pope’s personal thoughts and deep spiritual insights," said Father Toups. The books contain excerpts from a variety of Benedict XVI’s speeches and homilies.

Msgr. David Malloy, USCCB General Secretary, said the series "exemplifies our excellent relationship with the Vatican publishing office," noting that Libreria Editrice Vaticana frequently grants to the USCCB the rights to publish and distribute in the United States new and well-known titles already available in Italian.

The first book of the series featured reflections from the Holy Father during his first year as pope. After the work on Paul, the Spiritual Thoughts series will continue with other books on Mary, the Saints, and excerpts from the Pope’s second year of pontificate.

The Spiritual Thoughts book on Saint Paul will be available on August 29, and can be ordered online at http://www.usccbpublishing.org/.