Evangelist N30c

NOVEMBER 24, 2011Volume LXXXVI • Number 4

www.evangelist.org

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Senior Lifestyles

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D I O C E S E O F A L B A N Y

A special section focuses on issues of interest to senior citizens: Pages 5-15

Advent BeginsRev. John Rosson of Cooperstown begins a seriesof reflections for the weeks of Advent: Page 4

ADVENT ARRIVES

BY ANGELA CAVES T A F F W R I T E R

While many localCatholics roast turkeysthis Thanksgiving, onegroup will reflect on thesacrifices their ances-tors made for the free-dom to practice theirreligion.

The VietnameseApostolate, based out ofSacred Heart parish inAlbany, will celebrate

the feast day of the Vietnamesemartyrs — a date observed onNov. 24 each year.

The Vietnamese Americans,many of whom are refugees whoemigrated to the Albany Dio-cese, said the coincidence indates will enhance the meaningof Thanksgiving for them.

“What a great way to givethanks,” said Thuy Nguyen, whofled Vietnam and moved to theCapital District more than 30

years ago at theage of 17.

She will attendthe Mass beforeeating a tradi-tional AmericanT h a n k s g i v i n gdinner: “I just feel

so happy and so sacred that thetwo days match up.”

Thanksgiving is a Vietnameseholiday, too, though it’s usuallycombined with other holidaysduring Tet, the week-long LunarNew Year at the end of January.

“They’re thankful for theirlives, for their safety. If they makeit to America, it’s a miracle,” saidRev. Quy Vo, a native of Vietnamwho serves as associate pastor atBlessed Sacrament parish in

Albany and occasional ministerto the Vietnamese Apostolate.

“It’s a day of rememberingboth the living and the dead,”Father Vo added. “The way weexpress we’re thankful is to go tochurch and pray for them.”

Sunday Masses in theVietnamese language are cur-rently offered a maximum ofonce a month for the 75 familiesin the apostolate, which spansmore than 10 counties in theDiocese. To attend a Marian cel-ebration, a group of VietnameseAmericans from eastern U.S.states, including New York, trav-el to Buffalo each year.

This is the first time in more

LITURGY PLANNED

For Vietnamese Catholics,Thanksgiving coincideswith martyrs’ feast day

The Mass for the Vietnamese martyrs’ feast day will beheld Nov. 24, 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Heart Church inAlbany. For information, call Father Vo at 482-3375.

A 2006 TRIBUTE TO THE VIETNAMESEMARTYRS, HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF

CALIFORNIA (CNS PHOTO/TIM RUE)

VIETNAMESE CATHOLICS, SEE PAGE 17

AS THE BEGINNING of Advent approaches, Stacia and Kevin Malone decorate an Advent candle with 10-year-olddaughter Nina during a family faith formation and Advent-wreath-making session at St. Lucy/St. Bernadette parish inAltamont. For more photos, see page 3. (Nate Whitchurch photo)

WHAT DO CATHOLICS WANT?RELIGIOUS FREEDOMBY CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Washington — Current andpast members of the U.S.Commission on InternationalReligious Freedom urgedCongress Nov. 17 to keep therights-monitoring agency aliveand said its work must be givenhigher priority in foreign policy.

The commission’s congres-sional mandate technicallyexpired Nov. 18, but an exten-sion until Dec. 16 was includedin the “minibus” continuingappropriations resolution ap-proved by the House andSenate and signed by PresidentBarack Obama.

Legislation to authorize thecommission still faces a sepa-rate vote before the continuingresolution — intended to keepthe government operating dur-

NON-VIOLENCEINITIATIVESBY PETER FINNEY JR.C A T H O L I C N E W S S E R V I C E

New Orleans — Churchesand faith-based groups need tocollectively pressure publicofficials to use initiatives thathave been proven to reducemurder and violent crime inseveral U.S. cities, a NewOrleans pastor told the PICONational Gathering of ClergyNov. 15.

The Rev. Antoine Barrieresaid high rates of violent crimeare tied to low-quality publiceducation, “mass incarceration”of African-Americans andLatinos, and ex-offenders’ limit-ed access to decent jobs afterthey leave prison.

His comments wrapped up

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, SEE PAGE 21 NON-VIOLENCE INITIATIVES, SEE PAGE 18