The Diocese of Ogdensburg Volume 66, Number 5 INSIDE ... Papers/2011/5-4...2011/05/04 · NORWOOD - Mass of Christian Burial for Kathleen Brousseau, 71, wife of Dea-con Frederick

CATHOLICNORTH COUNTRYNORTH COUNTRYThe Diocese of Ogdensburg Volume 66, Number 5

MAY 4, 2011

INSIDETHIS ISSUEWorkshop exploresevangelizing parishes l PAGE 7

Parishes care forcreation and thepoor l PAGES 10 & 11

POPE ISBEATIFIED

CatholicCharitiesannual appeal

Reflections onResurrection

On DivineMercy Sunday

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BISHOP LaVALLEY

GUGGENHEIM STAFF: Director of youth ministry announces staff.... p.4

Christians must bring hope

FULL STORIES, PAGES 14 and 16

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARINGAn image of Pope John Paul II is seenon the back of a bus outside St.Peter's Square at the Vatican April 28.Pope John Paul was beatified May 1at the Vatican, after the North CountryCatholic went to press. Full coveragewill appear in the next issue of thepaper. In advance of the beatification,papal biographer George Weigel said“Pope John Paul II deeply influencedgenerations of Catholics who knewhim in life, but his most enduringlegacy - his teaching - is somethingthat will continue to impact thechurch for centuries.” A new poll alsoshows the popularity of Pope JohnPaul II among Americans.

PHOTO BY PAT HENDRICKThis week, the Diocese of Ogdensburg celebrates the first anniversary of the ordination and installation of Bishop Terry R. LaValley as the 14thbishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Above, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan places the miter on the new bishop’s head during the April 30, 2010, cer-emony. Bishop LaValley reflects on his first year in an interview with the NCC on page 3. Parishes, schools and groups share special greetingsthroughout the paper.

Msgr. Whitmore and Father Rolheiser

write about the most important event

in the history of the world

The annual Catholic Chari-ties Mother’s Day Appeal willbe conducted May 8 in allparishes of the Diocese ofOgdensburg.The goal has been set at

$175,000. The theme for the appeal is

“You can change the World...one person at a time.”During the past year,

Catholic Charities servedmore than 20,000 people inthe North Country.Further information about

services in particular areas ofthe diocese can be found at:www.cathcharities.org

FULL STORY, PAGES 12-13

FULL STORY, PAGE 20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians arecalled to bring hope, happi-ness and life to a worldmarked by despair, sadnessand death, Pope Benedict XVIsaid. Believing in Christ andhis resurrection meansbringing new life to othersand "dedicating oneself with-out reserve to the most ur-

gent and just causes" withGod's grace and his logic oflove, the pope said April 27at his weekly general audi-ence. For his catechesis,Pope Benedict looked at themeaning of Easter andChrist's resurrection for theChristian community.

"Faith in the Risen Christ

transforms existence, work-ing in us a continuous resur-rection" in which Christiansare called to renew them-selves every day by puttingthe values Christ taught intoaction, he said. Easter can be lived every

day "by putting to death thethings of this earth and set-

ting our hearts on the thingsthat are on high," he said,echoing a passage from St.Paul's Letter to the Colos-sians. By seeking what isabove and not what is onearth, the apostle was noturging people to scorn oralienate themselves from thereal world, the pope said.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C24 Back pew

YOUNG CATHOLIC VOICE

By Erick RommelCatholic News Service

Sendai, Japan, is a citythat many Americans hadnever heard of beforeMarch's devastating earth-quake and tsunami.Sendaiwas known as the City ofTrees; now it is known asthe city closest to theFukushima Dai-ichi nuclearpower plant. For the more than 1 mil-

lion people who live inSendai and the millions ofothers across Japan affectedby the natural disaster, oneof the most powerful inhuman history, the devasta-tion wasn't something thatthey saw on the news; it wasan unspeakable horror thatthey personally experi-enced, and one that will af-fect their memories for therest of their lives.

Imagine if a natural disas-ter hit the area surroundingyour town. Think of your fa-vorite restaurant, yourschool, the field where youlearned to play soccer. Nowimagine those places for-ever altered. Would you be over-

whelmed with thoughts ofthe last words you spoke topeople you care about andwhether those words wereworthy of a final farewell? Would you be able to work

or go to class without think-ing of those who used to sitbeside you, telling youjokes? Would you be able to fol-

low your regular routine? I believe that the answer

to each of these questions isyes. No matter what hap-pens, people always find thestrength to overcome, notbecause they are uncaring,but because that's who they

are. Hideki Matsuyama isone of those who found thestrength to overcome.When the earthquake hit,

the 19-year-old sophomoreat Fukushi University inSendai was in Australia.When he returned to cam-pus, the devastationshocked him. He had to ask himself if

he would allow the disasterto overwhelm him or con-tinue as normal a routine aspossible. Matsuyama is not just a

student; he’s also a top ama-teur golfer. In 2010, he wonthe Asian Amateur Champi-onship.

That earned him a spot atthe 2011 Masters, one of themost exclusive golf eventsin the world. At first, Matsuyama wasn't

sure that traveling to theUnited States was the rightthing to do. Then he

thought of how his talentcould inspire and encouragehis country, a country thatloves golf and adores its na-tional heroes. "I decided to play at the

Masters not only for myselfbut for the people whomade me who I am," he said."The Masters has been mydream. It's their dream aswell. Doing my best here ismy obligation for them." Matsuyama made the trip

to Augusta, Ga., teeing offalongside the best golfers inthe world. During the first two days,

he played exceptionallywell. He became only thesecond amateur to make thecut since 2005, and thatmade him the top amateurin the competition. Then he showed the talent

and skill necessary to in-spire a nation. He shot thebest round by an amateur in

10 years. He was one shotoff the best round of theday, shooting five birdies --three more than TigerWoods and only one lessthan South African progolfer Charl Schwartzel, theeventual Masters champion. Matsuyama finished the

competition tied for 27thplace. With his success, no one

could fault Matsuyama forbecoming a professionalgolfer, but that's not who heis. He'll return to FukushiUniversity when it reopensnext month. He plans tostay until he graduates inthree years. He's also preparing for an-

other golf tournament, thisyear's Asian Amateur. If hewins, he'll be back in Au-gusta again next year, onceagain proving that some-times winning is more thanjust the final score.

College student inspires earthquake-ravaged city

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C news 23

OBITUARIESKathleen Brousseau

NORWOOD - Mass of ChristianBurial for KathleenBrousseau, 71, wife of Dea-con Frederick Brousseau, washeld April 26 at St. Andrew’sChurch.She died April 22 at the

Hillcrest Commons NursingHome and RehabilitationCenter, Pittsfield, Mass. Burialis in Calvary CemeteryIn addition to her husband,

she is survived by three sons,Shawn and Cara Brousseau,Albany; Michael and MargoBrousseau, Minnesota;Charles and Lisa Brousseau,Ellicott City, MD; her daugh-ter, Katherine and KevinValentine, New Jersey and hersix grandchildren, Erin, Clark,Alex, Abigail, Megan andKasey. She is also survived byher two brothers, KennethMcGowan, Norwood andCharles McGowan, Potsdam.She was pre-deceased by onegrandchild, Tyler, and her sis-ter, Theresa Gallagher.Born in Potsdam on Sep-

tember 19, 1939, to the lateKenneth and Katherine TracyMcGowan, she graduatedfrom Ithaca College with a de-gree in Physical Therapy. Shemarried Frederick Brousseauon June 10, 1967. She workedas a Physical Therapist forthe Canton-Potsdam Hospitaland was assigned to theNursing Home. She retired in2000. Mrs. Brousseau was a mem-

ber of St. Mary's Church,Potsdam and St. Andrew'sChurch, Norwood and amember of the Altar andRosary Society. Memorial donations can be

made to St. Andrew's Church.

AuSable Forks – Rita M. (Pelkey) Bashaw,83; Funeral April 27, 2011 at Holy NameChurch; burial in parish cemetery.

Brasher Falls – Cecilia A. “Sally” (White)Curtis, 84; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Patrick’s Church; burial in St.Patrick’s Cemetery.

Carthage – Mark A. McKenna, 50; FuneralServices April 29, 2011 at St. JamesCatholic Church; burial in Fairview Ceme-tery.

Croghan – James Maurice Marilley, 86;Funeral Services April 30, 2011 at St.Stephen’s Church; burial in St. Stephen’sCemetery.

Hogansburg – Simon King, 83; FuneralServices May 2, 2011 at St. Regis CatholicChurch.

Massena – Michael E. White, 57; FuneralServices April 26, 2011 at the DonaldsonFuneral Home; burial in Kateri Cemetery.

Mooers Forks – Laura Ann (Hemingway)Rabideau, 46; Funeral Services April 30,2011 at St. Ann’s Church; burial in parishcemetery.

Morrisonville – Carl R. LeClair, 89; FuneralServices April 26, 2011 at St. Alexander’sChurch; burial in Whispering Maples Me-morial Gardens, Plattsburgh.

Norwood – Ross S. Germano, 59; FuneralServices April 30, 2011 at Buck FuneralHome; burial in Raymondville Cemetery.

Norwood – Ralph J. Prevost, 85; FuneralServices April 29, 2011 at the Buck Fu-neral Home; burial in Riverside Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Elizabeth J. “Betty” Han-

nan, 85; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Mary’s Cathedral; burial in St.Mary’s Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Catherine L. (McCartin)King, 92; Funeral Services April 27, 2011at St. Mary’s Cathedral; burial in St.Mary’s Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Jenson P. Measheaw, 30;Funeral services April 23, 2011 at Fox andMurray Funeral Home; burial in St. Mary’sCemetery.

Peru – Joseph A. Alexander79; FuneralServices April 28, 2011 at St. Augustine’sChurch; burial in St. Augustine’s parishcolumbarium.

Peru – Jerome M. “Jerry” Downs, 80; Fu-neral Services May 3, 2011 at St. Augus-tine’s Church; burial in Norton Cemetery,Keene.

Plattsburgh – Dawne A. (LeClair) Can-ning, 75; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Peter’s Church; burial in St. Joseph’sCemetery, Dannemora.

Plattsburgh – June Marie Vincent, 69; Fu-neral Services April 28, 2011 at theBrown Funeral Home; burial in St.Joseph’s Cemetery, Mooers.

Saranac Lake – Elzida L. Wilkins, 91; Fu-neral Services April 27, 2011 at St.Bernard’s Church.

Ticonderoga – Mary B. (Bessett) Fortino,83; Funeral Services April 27, 2011 at St.Mary’s Church; burial in St. Mary’s ParishCemetery.

The Society For

The Propagation Of The FaithSr. Mary Ellen Brett, SSJ, Director

622 Washington St., Ogdensburg, NY 13669(315) 393-2920; fax (315) [email protected]

The following reflection is the first of two parts Writ-ten by James Franke, a native of Rouses Point and grad-uate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where hegraduated with degrees in Catechetics and Theology.James spent three summers serving on staff at CampGuggenheim in Saranac Lake. He now serves the FamilyMissions Company, a lay organization that trains andsends out missionaries to the ends of the earth to fulfilland live out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

---An early January morning, unlike the cold and snow I

had been walking through a week earlier, I find myselfarising early in the morning to begin my mission bywalking into the hot and humid jungle of the Amazon.Today I am going, with a number of religious sisters,

a priest and group of missionaries, to visit Tres Her-manos, a small jungle village a few hours away fromour mission base in Misahualli, Ecuador. Piling into the back of our truck and beginning to

drive into the jungle, we had no idea the day that wasawaiting us, what the Lord had planned. An hour later, reaching the literal 'end of the road' we

step down from the vehicles, put on our packs andbegin our hike.

The beginning of our hike seemed easy enough,trekking down a well trodden path, and making greattime, we began to think that we would surely make it toour destination within the hour. Slowly that dream ofours began to diminish and we realized the work thatwe had gotten ourselves into. The once smooth andeasy path was soon transformed into a winding and dif-ficult journey through the thickness of the Amazon,made more difficult only by the thigh-deep mud wefound ourselves wading through. What to many would have been a back-breaking blow

became for us a reason to rejoice! Songs of praise andworship began to echo throughout the jungle around usas we shouted out the glories of God. Encouraging andinspiration quotes and lyrics came to strengthen usafter the first and second hours passed and we stillseemed distant from our final stopping point. From Teddy Roosevelt saying, "Nothing in the world

is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort,pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a humanbeing who led an easy life. I have envied a great manypeople who led difficult lives and led them well." toChrist's, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must denythemselves and take up their cross daily and followme." (Luke 9:23), we began to realize that this hike wasvery much one of those crosses that Christ was speak-ing about, one of those worthwhile things that was inno way easy.

Please remember “The Society for the Propagation of the Faith”when writing or changing your Will.

www.dioogdensburg.org/missionoffice

‘He is here!’

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Editorial Office: 622 Washington Street, Ogdensburg, N.Y. 13669.

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The timing couldn’t be better!The North Country Catholic is

celebrating the first anniversaryof Bishop LaValley’s installation inthe same issue that we’re encour-aging every Catholic to make agenerous donation to theannual Catholic CharitiesMother’s Day Appeal.If I know Bishop LaVal-

ley, he’d want all the at-tention focused onCatholic Charities andnone on himself!Sorry, Bishop.We haven’t always made

a big deal about our bish-ops’ first anniversaries,but Bishop LaValley is noordinary ordinary. He’sone of us.And he’s done a magnificent job

hasn’t he?When a subscriber called to ask

– “could our parish place an adwishing the bishop a happy an-niversary?” – how could we say“no?” And how could we not open the

offer to everybody?So our pages this week are

filled with special greetings fromparishes and groups from acrossthe diocese.Right in the center, though, is a

two-page spread about the serv-ices and needs of Catholic Chari-ties.Bishop LaValley’s message in

support of the Mother’s Day ap-peal, illustrates why we feel so

blessed to have him.In very concrete terms, he tells

us how to change the world:“what it takes is each person mak-ing a choice to honor the Gospelmandate to love God and love our

neighbor,” the bishopwrote. “Our Baptismal callinvites us to understandthat charity and justiceare the foundation stonesof our lives as followersof Jesus Christ.“Catholic Charities

needs your financial andprayerful support to carryout this mission in theseuncertain times,” he con-tinued. “When it seemsthat everyone else isabandoning those in

need, that is the time for each ofus to stand up and assure thatour brothers and sisters have ac-cess to quality, professional serv-ices. “Every dollar counts,” he said.

You can change the world onekind and generous act at a time.You can make a difference in thelives of the men, women and chil-dren who find themselves in needof supportive services.”The first anniversary is tradi-

tionally known as the “paper an-niversary,” isn’t it?I bet Bishop LaValley would

agree that a nice piece of paperplaced in the collection basket onMother’s Day would be the per-fect way to mark the day.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C2 Diocesan Life

MSGR. ROBERT L. LAWLERVice President

SR. JENNIFER VOTRAW, SSJSecretary-TreasurerMARY LOU KILIAN

Editor/General Manager

BISHOP TERRYR. LAVALLEYPresident

CHURCH: OUR FAMILY OF FAITHThe Journey to Emmaus -

Word and SacramentBy Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJDirector of Evangelization

The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a very famil-iar but powerful story for the family of faith to reflect on more deeply.This story is a celebration of both Word and Sacrament that is pondered,questioned, and shared.

There are two units that reflect the general structure of the earlyChristian assembly for the breaking of the bread, which included both adiscussion and a meal (Acts 20: 7-12).

The Stranger who comes upon the disciples listened carefully to theirhopes and dreams of their expectations of a Messiah who would setthem free. Their discouragement and sad hearts were not able to recog-nize the Risen Lord in the midst of their disappointment.

Jesus had a way of drawing out the disciples’ account of how wonder-ful things had been, how hopeful they themselves had been, and howtheir hopes had been recently rekindled. Their triple statement is bal-anced by a return to immediate reality as they now saw it, how Jesus’story ended in disaster, their former hopes were scrapped, and their re-cent glimmer of hope was disappointed.

The two disciples forgot the “must be’s” as this Stranger began to healtheir hearts with helping them to remember all that was foretold byMoses and the prophets. This Teacher interpreted for them how all theseevents were scripturally founded. Thus the narrative ends ratherabruptly and the traveler began to move on.

The meal narrative began when the disciples encouraged theStranger to “stay with them” as the evening was drawing near. Again,the Stranger draws out the disciples. He accepted their invitation. Thetiming was perfect because it was the time that Christians gathered fortheir assembly and the breaking of the bread. He unfolded who He wasin the breaking of the bread. The words evoked Jesus’ Last Supper andfunctioned like a title for the whole Eucharistic formula.

The eyes of the disciples finally were opened and they recognizedHim. And the Stranger vanished from their sight. Those who open theirtable to the stranger and share their possessions and who take on a self-giving attitude of Jesus recognize the Risen Lord and hope is restored.This was the message to Luke’s early Christian community who was suf-fering persecution and could no longer recognize the Risen Lord as theyhad in the past.

The disciples’ hearts were burning with joy, excitement, and zeal asthey hurried back to Jerusalem to tell their story of what happened.Their story must be shared with the community. Thus the mission of theChurch continues.

The story of our faith is grounded in the apostolic teaching and Peter’sprimary experience of the Risen Lord.

Reflect on this story and share with someone who the Risen Lord isfor you. Do you recognize that Jesus is always with you even in the mostdifficult moments of your life? Is there someone who needs your pres-ence who is struggling or hurting?

As a family of faith, the Body of Christ, we become the presence ofthe Risen Lord for one another.

Mary LouKilian

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Ordinary charity

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C22 around the diocese

AGING IN YOUR OWN HOMELake Placid – Mercy Care for the Adiron-dacks, Will hold an an educationalforum.Aging in Place in Your Own HomeDate: May 19Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Place: Paul Smith’s College CampusSpeaker: Jonathan White, Architectural

Research and Design Associate at theCenter for Inclusive Design and Environ-mental Access. Features: The presentation will give an

overview of Universal Design, Visitabil-ity, and Resources for Home Modifica-tions. It will define the housingproblem, changing demographics, con-sequences of housing barriers, and ob-stacles to inclusive housing. Thepresentation will discuss Levels of Accessas an inclusive housing strategy and givean in-depth look at visitability. It willalso discuss housing designed for thelifespan and the IDeA Center’s homemodifications programs. There is no feeto attend the forum but pre-registrationis required by May 13. Contact: To reserve a place, please send

e-mail to [email protected] or call523-5583. Registrants will be acceptedon a first-come, first-served basis.

40TH ANNIVERSARY DINNERPlattsburgh – Champlain Valley Right toLife, Inc. is celebrating its40th year witha buffet dinner and program.Date: May 25Time: 6:30 p.m.Place: Emmaus Room at St. Peter’s

ChurchCost: $20Features: Dinner is by reservations only

and tickets will be available May 1st.Bishop LaValley will be the guestspeaker for the evening.Contact: Call or text Betty Buffett at

518-535-6640 for reservations.

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATIONKeeseville – The Keeseville Altar RosarySociety to sponsor Adoration of theBlessed Sacrament.Date: Every SundayTime: 1 p.m. to 4Place: Immaculate Conception Church.

SMA ZUMBATHONAltona – St. Mary’s Academy to have aZumbathon.Date: May 15Time: 1:15 p.m. registration; 2 p.m. to 4Place: Rainbow Banquet Hall

Cost: Adults, $10; 12 and under, FreeFeatures: Sounds by Xtreme DJ Sounds

Service. Raffles & more.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONPlattsburgh - Eucharistic Adoration isheld throughout the year every Wednes-day, Thursday, and Friday.

Place: St John's Holy Family Adoration Chapel,downstairsTime: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.Theme: “Because his faith was so

strong, [St.] Joseph’s mind and heartbowed in perfect adoration. Imitate hisfaith as you kneel before the humbleChrist.” (St. Peter Julian Eymard). Contact: For more information about

spending a special hour with Jesusweekly, or becoming a substitute, pleasecall 518-561-5083 or email us at [email protected]

CAMP BEDFORD OPEN HOUSELake Meacham – Join other Boy Scouts,Venturers, and Explorers at Camp Bed-ford’s open house and Beaver Day.Date: May 7Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Place: Located 23 miles south of Malone

on US Route 30 (3/4 mile north ofMeacham Lake State Campground ac-cess road).Features: Cleaning up campsites, trails

and other areas of the camp. Tour of the camp including visiting a campsite.Have a chance to meet the staff andGate Keepers. Enjoy lunch in the dininghall with a dish to pass and your ownplace settings.

Contact:Pre-Register the number ofyouths and adults that will attend by E-mail by May 1 with Cory Haynes:[email protected], 518-856-9656.

LIFERIGHT MEETINGWatertown - Liferight of Watertown willhold its monthly meetings on the thirdWednesday of the Month.Time: 4 p.m. Place: 312 Sherman St.Features: Liferight is a pro-life educa-

tional organization. The office hasvideos, books and educational materialswhich may be borrowed. Topicscovered: infanticide, assisted suicide, eu-thanasia and chastity.Contact: Phone 315-788-8480; website:

www.liferight.org.

INTERFAITH DAY OF PRAYERWatertown – Interfaith National Day ofPrayer to be held.Date: May 5Place: In front of municipal building

SPAGHETTI DINNERPort Leyden – There will be a spagehettidinner sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 92.Date: May 5Time: 5 p.m. to 7Place: Port Leyden Community HallCost: Adults, $6; Children, $3; under 5,

Free

ST. PETER’S ANNUAL FESTIVALLowville – St. Peter’s Annual Festival hasbeen schedule

Date: May 20-22Place: St. Peter’s Church groundsFeatures: Ontario Amusement will pro-

vide Carnival rides. There will be a specialSaturday matinee with unlimited ridesfor $12 per person from 1 p.m. to 5. Allweekend the festival will feature home-made food specialties including Shisk-abob, Clam Chowder, Fried Dough, andmore. Also “This-n-That”, a Giant BakeSale, and Games for all ages; includingBingo Friday evening at 7 p.m. The festi-val concludes on Sunday with a ChickenBarbecue with all the fixings. Take-outswill be available. Be sure to come earlybefore the Chicken runs out! Don’t leavetoo early; at 4 p.m. the drawings beginfor cash prizes totaling $2000.

SPRING SOCIALGouverneur – St. James Church to holdSpring Social.Date: May 12-14Time: May 13 doors open at 6 p.m.; May

14 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Place: St. James groundsFeatures: Bingo May 13 at 7 p.m. Rides,

games, food, fried dough all three days.

FIRST FRIDAY ROSARYMassena – Parishioners of St. Mary’sChurch haveplanned a special Rosary.Date: May 7Time: 2:30 p.m.Features: Please join us in the Rosary to

Our Lady of Fatima prayed in reparationto Her Immaculate Heart and for WorldPeace. A 15 minute silent meditation onthe Glorious Mysteries will follow. Con-fessions will be available.

POTSDAM LIFE CHAINPotsdam – Stand United Pro-Life North-ern NY at the Potsdam Life Chain.Date: May 7Time: Gather and get signs at 1:45 p.m.,

then Life Chain from 2 to 3Place: Along Market and Main Sts.Features: This will be a visual statement

of pro-life witness that abortion killschildren and our support for the sanctityof human life from the moment of con-ception. We will gather at the parkacross from the Roxy Theater on Main St.rain or shine. Contact: Dan Paladin at 262-0222 or

Chris LaRose at 403-8123

K OF C BRUNCHNorfolk – The Knights of Columbus willbe sponsoring a brunch.Date: May 8

Time: 8:30 a.m. to Noon. Place: Visitation Parish Center; Take-outsavailableCost: Adults, $6; Children under 12, $4;

Under 5, Free; Family, $16

EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONMassena – St. Mary’s Church has sched-uled Eucharistic Adoration every Satur-day.Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NOVENA FOR MILITARYOgdensburg - Notre Dame Church isholding a weekly novena for the safetyof U.S. military personnelDate: Tuesday eveningsTime : 6:30 p.m.

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONSOgdensburg - St. Mary’s is holding amonthly Holy Hour for Vocations.Date: Thursday before the First FridayTime: 8 p.m. to 9Place: Deacon Winter ChapelFeatures: Nocturnal Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament continues throughthe night, concluding with Benedictionat 7 a.m. Friday.

GUGGENHEIM CLEAN-UPSaranac Lake – The annual clean-upweekend at Camp Guggenheim is set.Date: May 13 at 5 p.m. to May 15Contact: Dick Lynch of St. Joseph’s

Church in Dannemora, at 518-492-7583or email [email protected] for more in-formation and to sign up

CAMP REGISTRATIONRegistration for the two diocesan sum-mer camp programs – Guggenheim inSaranac Lake and Sportscamp at Wad-hams Hall in Ogdensburg is openGuggenheim dates: for 12 - 15 year-

olds, Week 1, June 26 to July 1; Week 2,July 3-8; Week 3, July 10-15; Week 4 July17-22; Week 5 July 24-29; For 16-18years olds, Week 6, July 31 to Aug. 5 isgeared for 16 - 18 year olds.SportsCamp: Basketball Camp: July 3-7;

Soccer Camp: July 10-14 Features: The camp director for

Guggenheim is Casey Provost of Chazy;Michelle Rosteck of Lowville will bedi-rector of SportsCamp.Registration: may be made through the

parishes of the North Country or onlineat www.catholiccamps.orgContact: Further information is avail-

able from the Diocesan Youth Office,315-393-2920 ext. 411

The North County Catholic welcomes contributions to “Around the Diocese”. Parishioners are invited to send information about activities to:

North Country Catholic, PO Box 326,Ogdensburg, NY 13669; fax, 315-394-0670;

e-mail [email protected].

Items must be received in the NCCoffice by the Thursday before publication.

ADIRONDACK

CLINTON

FRANKLIN

JEFFERSON

LEWIS

ST. LAWRENCE

DIOCESAN EVENTS

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C diocesan life 3

By Mary Lou KilianEditor

OGDENSBURG – Unlike most newbishops, Bishop Terry R.LaValley didn’t need to spendthe first few months after theinstallation learning his wayaround North Country roads.Hie didn’t need to match

the faces and names of hispriests.No one had to convince

him of the value of Guggen-heim or the North CountryCatholic or the particularneeds of the Catholicschools.Bishop LaValley was or-

dained and installed asbishop of the Diocese of Og-densburg, April 30, 2010,just 21 years after he was or-dained a priest for the Dio-cese of Ogdensburg.As he prepared to mark his

first anniversary, BishopLaValley sat down with theNCC to reflect on the past 12months.The year passed quickly,

Bishop LaValley said, as thedays have been packed withspecial liturgies, parish visitsand countless meetings fo-cusing on diocesan, state, na-tional and internationalchurch concerns.

Times of joyBut, for Bishop LaValley,

celebrating Masses at St.Mary’s Cathedral and in thelocal parishes has broughthim the most satisfaction asbishop.“It’s wonderful to see the

faith and the excitement ofthe people as they celebratein their particular parish,” hesaid. “Each of the communi-ties has its own personality,flavor… it’s so inspiring.”Bishop LaValley is also

grateful for every opportu-nity to visit the Catholicschools in the diocese.“I know the struggles that

parents and teachers face tokeep the schools open,” hesaid. “But then you walk inthe school and see why theydo it.”“These schools are so faith-

filled as they offer an excel-

lent education,” he said.“They are all such families offaith.”The bishop has also found

great pleasure spending timewith the clergy of the dio-cese. He recently completed a

series of informal “listeningsessions” with the priestsand starts a series with thepermanent deacons thisweek.“It’s a little different to sit

down with my brotherpriests and listen to theirconcerns,” he said,” but theyhave all been so supportiveand affirming.”The bishop has seen no

downside in being a localman, a former student, in

fact, of many of the membersof his presbyterate.“My brother priests have all

been very respectful of me ashave all the people,” he said.“The people are respectful ofthe office and they all seemcomfortable around me.”

Times of painHis most painful moments

as bishop have come duringthe funerals of priests whohave long been friends.It’s also been especially dif-

ficult to close parishes, hesaid. “When I stand in thesanctuary (during a finalMass at a church) and lookout at faces of generations offamilies – whose loved oneswere baptized, married,

buried in the church – I feelsuch helplessness.“It’s so hard to tell parish-

ioners that we need to closetheir sacred space.” he said.“But we only do it when wehave no choice.“We then assure the people

that the Church is still pres-ent,” he said. “They will still receive the

Eucharist. A priest will stillbe available for pastoralcare.”

Looking forwardAs Bishop LaValley looks

ahead to his second year asordinary, one of his respon-sibilities will be to assist thepeople of the diocese toadapt to the changes in theRoman Missal.He hopes the new language

“will help parishioners tofocus on the centrality of theEucharist and re-awakenamong the faithful an under-standing of the Real Pres-ence.”“We need to embrace the

centrality of the Eucharist inour lives,” Bishop LaValleysaid. He plans to release apastoral letter in the fall,prior to the Advent imple-mentation of the Missal.“In the letter I’ll address

not only the Mass changesbut also faith in the RealPresence of Jesus,” he said.The coming year will also

bring a continuation of pas-toral planning in the diocese,the bishop said.At the end of the month, he

will preside at his first ordi-nation as seminarianThomas Higman becomes adeacon. The bishop is also encour-

aged by the number of semi-narians expected to beginstudies in the fall.But, still, he said the vital-

ity of the diocese will dependon lay people “stepping for-ward, and by virtue of theirbaptism sharing gifts thatneed to be shared.”

PHOTO BY PAT HENDRICKBishop Terry R. LaValley lifts the chalice during the consecration at his installation Mass April 30, 2010. A year later, Bishop LaValleysays that celebrating special liturgies at the cathedral have been some of his most joyful experiences as Bishop of Ogdensburg.

Happy anniversary, Bishop

Bishop LaValley will lead a pilgrimage to Catholic sites in Italy March 12-23,2012. The North Country Catholic is sponsoring the trip which will includevisits to Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Capris, Pompeii, Siena, Assisi and Rome.While at the Vatican, the group will take part in an audience with PopeBenedict XVI and visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. “The pil-grimage promises to be a time for prayer and growth in our faith as we ex-plore the treasures of the Catholic Church in Italy,” the bishop said.

More information will appear in the NCC incoming weeks.Or Call 315-608-7556 or email [email protected] for details.

On Pilgrimage with Bishop LaValley

M A Y 4 . 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C entertainment 21

AT THE MOVIES

By Kurt JensenCatholic News Service

Tyler Perry's broadlydrawn morality plays, whichinclude the stage version of"Madea's Big Happy Family"(Lionsgate), have proven sosurefire with their targetedaudience as to be critic-proof. In these earthy, over-the-

top crowd-pleasers, insultsfly, family problems aresolved, children learn todefer to adults and short-tempered Madea (Perry in amuumuu) occasionally slapswrongdoers -- to wild audi-ence cheers. But there's a warm heart

somewhere as well as ahappy ending; the playsexist in a sentimental uni-verse of their own. In motion picture form,

however, the flaws becomemore apparent, and they'renot above criticism -- norshould they be. The problem is not in the

simple plot, in whichMadea's appealingly gentleniece Shirley (LorettaDevine) learns she has ter-

minal cancer and tries togather her three adult chil-dren -- Tammy (Natalie Des-selle Reid), Kimberly(Shannon Kane) and Byron(Shad "Bow Wow" Moss) -- ather house to tell them thebad news. The grown siblings, we

discover, are all locked indysfunctional relationships,sometimes with insolentchildren, while recently re-leased ex-con Byron is alsodabbling again in the drugdealing that landed him injail. The genuinely trouble-

some parts of this adapta-tion -- which Perry bothwrote and directed -- consistof bug-eyed characteriza-tions and comments that in-voke not so much old racialstereotypes, as newlyminted ones of Perry's owncreation. These begin with Madea's

pot-smoking sister AuntBam (Cassi Davis), who sup-posedly has co-matriarchstatus with Madea as amoral force, but spends thefirst half of the film in a lit-eral haze. There's a particularly ugly

comment, moreover, aimedby Madea at husband Joe(also Perry) when she refersto him as a "silverback." Worthy messages about

spouses respecting eachother, children obeyingadults and families learningto function as a unit whilebuffeted by the stresses ofmodern life get somewhatovershadowed by all thisunsettling material. Madea, to Tyler's credit, is

never as simplistic as theAtlanta milieu in whichshe's placed. Although she has no par-

ticular religious precepts ofher own -- she explains thatshe knows God is angry ather -- she fully expects herrelatives to live up to theChristian faith they professto have, and she manages toproduce a few fractured Bib-lical quotations along theway. Such an off-kilter but en-

gaged approach to religioncould yield some interestingresults; it's too bad they'relargely lost in a flurry ofslaps upside the head. The film contains mari-

juana use, some adult

humor, fleeting crass lan-guage and slapstick vio-lence. The Catholic NewsService classification is A-III-- adults. The Motion Picture

Association of America rat-ing is PG-13 -- parentsstrongly cautioned. Somematerial may be inappropri-ate for children under 13.

CNS PHOTO/LIONSGATEDavid Mann and Tyler Perry star in a scene from the film "Madea's Big Happy Family."

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20umph over evil, always.

Mohandas K. Gandhi oncewrote: "When I despair, I re-member that all throughhistory, the way of truth andlove has always won. Therehave been murderers andtyrants, and for a time theyseem invincible. But in theend they always fall. Thinkof it, always." wrote: "WhenI despair, I remember thatall through history, the wayof truth and love has alwayswon. There have been mur-derers and tyrants, and for atime they seem invincible.But in the end they alwaysfall. Think of it, always." The resurrection, most

forcibly, makes that point.God has the last word. Theresurrection of Jesus is that

last word.From the ashes of shame,

of seeming defeat, failure,and death, a new, deeper,and eternal life perenniallybursts forth. Our faith be-gins at the very point whereit seems it might end, inGod's seeming silence atJesus' death.And what does this ask of

us? First of all, simply thatwe trust its truth. The res-urrection of Jesus asks us tobelieve what Gandhi af-firmed, namely, that in theend evil will not have thelast word. It will fall. Goodwill eventually triumph.More deeply, it asks us to

roll the dice of our lives onthat trust and that truth:What Jesus taught is true:Virtue is not naïve, even

when it is shamed. Sin andcynicism are naïve, evenwhen they appear to tri-umph. Those who genuflectbefore God and others inconscience will find mean-ing and joy, even when theyare deprived of the world'spleasures.Those who drink in and

manipulate sacred energywithout conscience will notfind meaning and life, evenwhen they taste pleasure.Those who live in honesty,no matter the cost, will findfreedom. Those who lie andrationalize will find them-selves imprisoned in self-hate. Those who live in trustwill find love. God's silencecan be trusted, even whenwe die inside of it. We can live in faith, love,

forgiveness, conscience,and fidelity in spite ofeverything that suggeststhat they aren't true. Theywill bring us to what isdeepest inside of life andlove because God vindicatesvirtue. God vindicates love. God

vindicates conscience. Godvindicates forgiveness. Godvindicates fidelity. God vindicated Jesus and

will vindicate us if we re-main faithful as Jesus did.

---Oblate Father Ron Rol-

heiser, theologian, teacher,and award-winning author,is President of the OblateSchool of Theology in SanAntonio, TX. He can be con-tacted through his websitewww.ronrolheiser.com.

Fr. Rolheiser

MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILYDeacon Brian Dwyer,diocesan director of youthministry, has announced thecamp staff for the 2010 sea-son at Guggenheim, thediocesan summer camp lo-cated in Saranac Lake.Casey Provost, of Chazy

will serve as camp directorand Allison Gratto, Mor-risonville, assistant director.The cook will be Alexa Cos-

gro, Plattsburgh.Returning staff members

are Christian Bobak, GrandIsland, NY; Jeremy Bobak,Grand Island, NY; SamanthaFazioli, Saranac Lake; EmilyGydesen, Croghan; MaryCatherine Jadlos, Platts-burgh; Erin Miner, SaranacLake; Alex Pacelli, Irving, TX;and Sam Racette, SaranacLake.The new staff members are

Rachel Daly, Peru; ReginaKessler; Whitehall, Penn.;Zack Leader, Gouverneur;Katie Sloan, Silver Spring,MD; and Eliza Zalis, Platts-burgh.The sessions for Camp

Guggenheim follow: For 12 - 15 year-olds, Week

1, June 26 to July 1; Week 2,July 3-8; Week 3, July 10-15;Week 4 July 17-22; Week 5July 24-29. Week 6, July 31 toAug. 5 is geared for 16 - 18year olds.Registration may be made

through the parishes of theNorth Country or online atwww.catholiccamps.org. Fur-ther information is availablefrom the Youth Office, 315-393-2920 ext. 411


Guggenheimstaff named


M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C20 commentary

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

The bodily Resurrectionof Jesus Christ from thedead is one of the best-at-tested events inhistory. If we can believe

anything at all inhistory, we canconfidently believethat Jesus Christwas seen alive inthe flesh by a largenumber of eyewit-nesses. St. Paul tells us

that, at one time,there were over fivehundred who sawthe Lord. These appearances hap-

pened at different times andin different places over aforty-day period. These areestablished facts, and havewithstood attacks by manycritics throughout the cen-turies.Our first reading today is

the word-for-word speech ofPeter in the streets ofJerusalem to an astonished

crowd of onlookers. At first, they think that

the apostles must be drunk-then, after hearingthe words of Peter,they are distressedand fearful, cryingout for mercy attheir culpable crime -crucifying the Lordof Life. Most amazingly of

all, five thousandpersons were bap-tized that same day,the day of Pentecost.What a stupendous

beginning for theChurch !

Going back in time to thevery day that Jesus rosefrom the tomb, the Gospeldelights us with the amaz-ing story of the Road to Em-maus. When you think ofwhat actually happened -Jesus celebrates with themthe Liturgy of the Word. Hethen joins it with the Liturgyof the Eucharist at the Inn. Let’s take a look. These

two disciples were gettingout of Jerusalem, totally de-jected, walking along withtheir heads down, gloomilytalking about their brokenhopes in Jesus, when astranger joins them, askingthem what their conversa-tion was about. When they tell him the

news, he professes igno-rance, then says, “Oh, howfoolish you are! How slow ofheart to believe all that theprophets spoke!”

Then he began withMoses, and went throughthe Scriptures, and inter-preted for them their mean-ing. Fascinated, they invitethe stranger to join them forsupper at an Inn, since it isnow nearly sundown. He agrees, and surprises

them by taking the breadand wine into his hands,and quietly says the samewords He had uttered just afew days before: “This is myBody…This is my Blood…”.

They look at one an-

other, and recognize Him inthe breaking of the Bread!Then He disappears! No wonder they hasten

back to Jerusalem, burstinginto the Upper Room to telltheir story. No wonder theycry out, “Were not our heartsburning within us as He ex-plained the Scriptures to uson the way!”.What was the reaction of

the Eleven? They greet their message

with skepticism. It was onlywhen Jesus Himself ap-peared to them that they fi-nally believed. And it took even longer

for Thomas. It wasn’t until

the Holy Spirit entered theirwhole being that they em-braced not only the event it-self, but also the sufferingand the ridicule that livingtheir convictions wouldbring. Through the grace ofthat Spirit, they grew in hu-mility, prayer, boldness andcourage.Wouldn’t it be wonderful

if we could feel that sameenthusiasm each time wehear the Word of God atMass, and experience againand again the great miracleof Eucharist? The best part is that Jesus

doesn’t disappear after-wards. He remains on ouraltars and in our hearts aswe become part of Him,and, hopefully, hasten backhome to tell our friends howgreat God is to die for us, tolive for us. And then-- to share the

Eucharist through our loveand service is really whatthe Christian life is allabout.

Third Sunday of EasterREADINGS

Acts 2:14, 22-331 Peter 1:17-21Luke 24:13-35

May 8

MonsignorPaul E.Whitmore

The well-witnessed Resurrection of Jesus

THE HOLY LONGING

By Fr. Ron Rolheiser NCC columnist

Theologians sometimestry to simply the meaning ofthe resurrection by packag-ing its essence into one sen-tence: In the resurrection,God vindicated Jesus, hislife, his message, and his fi-delity. What does thatmean? Jesus entered our world

preaching faith, love, andforgiveness but the worlddidn't accept that. Instead itcrucified him and, in thatcrucifixion, seeminglyshamed his message. We see this most clearly

on the cross when Jesus istaunted, mocked, and chal-lenged: If you are the son ofGod, come down from there!If your message is true, letthe God verify that right

now! If your fidelity is morethan plain stubbornnessand human ignorance thenwhy are you dying inshame?

God's silence can forever scandalize us: in the

Jewish holocaust, in ethnicgenocides, in brutaland senseless wars...

And what was God's re-sponse to those taunts?Nothing, no commentary, nodefense, no apologia, nocounter-challenge, just si-lence. Jesus dies in silence.Neither he nor the God he

believed in tried to fill thatexcruciating void with anyconsoling words or explana-tions challenging people tolook at the bigger picture orto look at the brighter side

of things. None of that. Justsilence. Jesus died in silence, in-

side God's silence and in-side the world'sincomprehension. And wecan let ourselves be humblyscandalized by that silence,just as we can let ourselvesbe perpetually scandalizedby the seeming triumph ofevil, pain, and suffering inour world. God's silencecan forever scandalize us: inthe Jewish holocaust, in eth-nic genocides, in brutal andsenseless wars, in the earth-quakes and tsunamis whichkill thousands of people anddevastate whole countries,in the deaths of countlesspeople taken out of this lifeby cancer and by violence,in how unfair life can besometimes, and in the ca-sual manner that thosewithout conscience can rapewhole areas of life seem-

ingly without consequence. Where is God in all of

this? What's God's answer?God's answer is in the res-

urrection, in the resurrec-tion of Jesus and in theperennial resurrection ofgoodness within life itself.

God's answer is in the resurrection, in the resurrec-tion of Jesus and in the perennial resurrection ofgoodness within life itself

But resurrection is notnecessarily rescue. Goddoesn't necessarily rescueus from the effects of evil,or even from death. Evildoes what it does, naturaldisasters are what they are,and those without con-science can rape even asthey feed off life's sacred

fire. God doesn't intervene. The parting of the Red Sea

isn't a weekly occurrence.God lets his loved ones suf-fer and die, just as Jesus lethis dear friend, Lazarus, dieand God let Jesus die. God redeems, raises us up

afterwards, in a deepermore lasting vindication.And the truth of that state-ment can even be testedempirically.Despite every appearance

sometimes, in the end, lovedoes triumph over hatred.Peace does triumph overchaos. Forgiveness does tri-umph over bitterness. Hope does triumph over

cynicism. Fidelity does tri-umph over despair. Virtuedoes triumph over sin. Con-science does triumph overcallousness.Life does triumph over

death. And good does tri CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

The Resurrection: a vindication of God's silence

In an era of rapid medicaladvances, an aging popula-tion and myriad ethical ques-tions surrounding the end oflife, the New York State Bish-ops are offering a guide toCatholics to help them asthey confront important de-cisions for themselves ortheir loved ones.Entitled, “Now and at the

Hour of Our Death: ACatholic Guide to End-of-LifeDecision Making,” the 15-page booklet explainsChurch teaching in this area,stressing the crucial moral

distinction between “ordi-nary” and “extraordinary”means of preserving life. In clear and familiar lan-

guage, the guide informsCatholics that they “are notmorally bound to prolongthe dying process by usingevery medical treatmentavailable.”Following the discussion of

Church teaching, the guideencourages Catholics to planfor the possibility of incapac-itation at a later date by des-ignating a health care proxy. A proxy form, which is in-

cluded in the booklet, can bea morally appropriate ad-vance care planning tool forCatholics to use to ensurethat their end-of-life wishesare followed in accord withtheir religious beliefs.The guide is published by

the New York State CatholicConference and was writtenwith the input of a commit-tee of moral theologians aswell as the bishops, who ap-proved the final document. The booklet is available in

PDF form atwww.nyscatholic.org. To order copies, call (518)

434-6195 or email [email protected].


May 5 – 7:00 p.m., Confirmation forSacred Heart, Massena; St. Mary’s,Massena; St. Joseph’s, Massena; andSt. Lawrence, Louisville at SacredHeart Church.

May 6 – 10:50 a.m., Mass at St.Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg;4:30 p.m., Gathering with deaconsand their wives at Holy NameChurch in Tupper Lake.

May 7 – 10:30 a.m., Mass at theDeacon Winter Chapel followed bythe Diocesan Pastoral Council Meet-ing at the Bishop’s Residence in Og-densburg; 4p.m., Confirmation at St.Joseph’s Church in West Chazy.

May 8 – 9:30 a.m., Confirmation atSt. John the Baptist Church in Platts-burgh; 2:00 p.m., Confirmation at St.James Church in Cadyville.

May 9 – 6 p.m., Confirmation forHoly Name, Tupper Lake and St.Alphonsus, Tupper Lake at HolyName Church.

May 10 – 7 p.m., Confirmation forSt. Stephen’s, Croghan and St.Peter’s, Lowville at St. Stephen’sChurch.

May 11 – 7 p.m., Confirmation forOur Lady of the Sacred Heart, Water-town; St. Anthony’s, Watertown; St.Patrick’s, Watertown; St. Andrew’s,Sackets Harbor; Roman CatholicCommunity of Brownville and Dex-ter; St. Mary’s, Clayton; and St. Johnthe Evangelist, Lafargeville at OurLady of the Sacred Heart Church.

Bishop LaValley’s Schedule

This week marks the anniversaryof the deaths of the following

clergymen men who have served inthe Diocese of Ogdensburg

May 6 – Rev. P. A. Lynch, O.S.A., 1927May 7 – Deacon Thomas R.Finnegan, 1996May 8 – Msgr. Harold J. Martin, 1958May 9 – Rev. William J. McCormick,O.S.A., 1935; Msgr. Clarence M.Devan, 2001

Rest in Peace

The Diocese of Ogdensburg hasscheduled sessions for ProtectingGod's Children for Adults. Pre-regis-tration online is required in order toparticipate. Participants may pre-register at www.virtus.org by select-ing the registration button andfollowing the directions. All em-ployees and volunteers who partici-pate in church sponsored activitieswith minor are required to partici-pate in this training. Further infor-mation: Atonement Sister EllenDonahue, phone, 315-393-2920. ext.403.Upcoming programs:May 12 - 6 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi,ConstableMay 16 - 6 p.m., St. Alexander’s,Morrisonville

Protecting God’s Children

If you have a complaint of suspectedmisconduct involving diocesanclergy, religious, employees or volun-teers, contact:Episcopal Vicar forClergy - Rev, James Seymour at 315-393-2920 or the Victims AssistanceCoordinator - Terrianne Yanulavich,7061 Rt. 9, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-0310; Tel.518-561-3100; Fax 518-561-3003; e-mail:[email protected]

To Report Abuse

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- A Mass ofChristian Burial for UrsulineSister Mary Thomas Maloney,91, a native of Constable,was held March 29 at the Ur-suline Province CenterShe died March 24 at An-

drus-on-Hudson. Burial wasin Gate of Heaven Cemetery,Valhalla.Born in Constable, she was

one of 13 children. She en-tered the Ursulines in 1937and professed final vows in

1943. She earned a bachelor’sdegree in English from Ford-ham University in 1943 anda second degree in elemen-tary education from Ford-ham in 1961.She is survived by a

brother, Henry. Two of hersisters, both of whom prede-ceased her, were Ursulines,Sister Priscilla Maloney,O.S.U., and Sister Veronica,O.S.U.She spent about 25 years

teaching in the Bronx, at St.Philip Neri School, 1941-1952; St. Jerome’s, 1953-1964; and St. Angela Merici,1964-1965.She later served in Malone

for several years as principalat Notre Dame ElementarySchool, Malone, and in herlater years was a pastoral as-sistant at Notre DameChurch and reading tutor.She also taught for a year inWilmington, Del.

Funeral held for Sr. MaryThomas Maloney, OSU

NYS Bishops release bookleton end-of-life decision making

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C 19

WASHINGTON (CNS) - - During theApril 27 National CatholicPrayer Breakfast in Washing-ton, speakers paid tribute tothe soon-to-be-beatifiedPope John Paul II and urgedCatholic participants to con-tinue his legacy of defendingreligious liberty and humandignity.

Speakers pay tribute to Pope John Paul II

Bishop William E. Lori ofBridgeport, Conn., urged theaudience of about 1,500 peo-ple, including politicians andCatholics from around thecountry, to take the messageof Pope John Paul's pontifi-cate to heart and not let it be"a flash of light that fades." In order to continue the

pope's insistence on reli-gious liberty, the bishopurged the crowd to remem-ber the plight of persecutedChristians in the Middle Eastand ask government leadersto speak out for those "per-secuted and killed for pro-claiming the name of Christ." Closer to home, he spoke

of a "subtle undermining ofreligious freedom in theUnited States," referring tohealth care provisions that"call into question the faith"of taxpayers and health careproviders opposed to abor-tions. He said U.S. Catholic bish-

ops are currently supportingthree initiatives that protectthe conscience rights ofhealth care providers. Too often, he said, reli-

gious freedom is viewed as a"carve-out" or a special grantby the state, instead of beingrecognized as an inalienableright. He said churchesshould be guaranteed morethan just their right to wor-ship when their role in serv-ing the poor and those inneed is so extensive. Whenthe church is inhibited in "itsability to deliver" services, itis "neither just nor reason-able," he said.

At nat’lprayer breakfast

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C18

BISHOP TERRY

R. LAVALLEY

INSTALLED AS 14TH BISHOP

OF THE DIOCESE OF

OGDENSBURG

APRIL 30, 2010


By Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJDirector of Evangelization

Dominican Sister PatThomas, RENEW Interna-tional and I traveled acrossthe Diocese recently to offerthe Workshop: What Does ItMean to Be An EvangelizingParish? It was a participative work-

shop dialoging with thegroup in what it means to bea welcoming parish andsome steps to begin theprocess of establishing anEvangelization Team in theparish. Sister Pat presented an

adapted form of a Survey fora Vibrant Parish recentlypublished in U.S. Catholic. The purpose of the survey

was to identify statementsthat showed whether theirparish was a welcomingcommunity. After much discussion of

the survey, the groups’ nextproject was to think aboutfour questions to begin theprocess of an establishing anEvangelization Team in theirparish: • Who?—who are the

groups in your parish—nameas many as you can.• Who welcomes?—who

from those groups would bewelcoming, one who canspeak one on one, to be in-

vited to be on the Evange-lization Team• How?—what is the best

way to contact or invite thisperson to be on the team e.g.personal contact, telephonecall, invite to lunch• Who’s Missing?—who is

sitting by the side of the roade.g. RCIA, Confirmation,Young Adults, Divorced andSeparated.Sister Pat directed the

groups to take the followingquestions back to the pastorand parish council for theirconsideration:Do you want an Evange-

lization Team? Who would beyour contact person forevangelization in your parish?What are you doing in yourparish that you could do bet-ter? The Easter season is a very

ripe time to invite the RCIAteam to continue to reach outto those who have come intothe full communion of the

Church and to continue tomake them feel welcome.Confirmation will soon be

taking place in the parishes.How do we keep these youngpeople active in the parish?These are challenging timesin the life of the Church es-pecially at the parish level. The Easter season is a sea-

son of hope. The power ofthe Holy Spirit has beengiven to the Church. As afamily of faith-a communityof believers, we ask for thegrace of the Holy Spirit tocontinue to guide us in shar-ing our stories of faith tobring others to share theirstories. Sharing our stories of faith

is the language of the heartmaking present again all thatJesus Christ did for usthrough His life, sufferings,death, and resurrection.What “Great News” we haveto share and to pass on to fu-ture generations.

Pat LaBounty and Jean Martin of the Roman Catholic Community of Keeseville; Theresa Perry, and Marjorie Boissey, St. Alexander’sMorrisonville; and Father Donald Kramberg, St. Joseph’s, Dannemora and Assumption in Redford participated in the recent work-shop “What does it mean to be an evangelizing parish?” held in sites across the diocese.

Workshop explores howparishes can be evangelizing

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C8 Diocesan Life M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1

N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C 17

PHOTO BY BETTY STEELEBishop LaValley accepts the Offertorygifts at the April 14 Chrism Mass fromtwo Catholic school students.


Residents of St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg now have the opportunity to connectwith family and friends who live out of the area, through SKYPE.Pictured is DorothyBercume video chatting with her brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Carol Berc-ume who live in Arizona. “his is one of the nicest things I’ve ever had happen to me,”Miss Bercume said. “I love seeing my brother and his wife.”

STAYING CONNECTED

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C16 World/nation

By Dennis SadowskiCatholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Two priests,one common vision of mis-sion to the world. Father James A. Walsh, a

priest from the Archdioceseof Boston who founded theCatholic Foreign Mission Bu-reau, and Father Thomas F.Price, a diocesan priest fromNorth Carolina, both envi-sioned a U.S. Catholic mis-sion to people around theworld. Their discussion during

the 21st International Eu-charistic Congress in Mon-treal in 1910 led to theirfounding the Catholic For-eign Mission Society ofAmerica -- now known as theMaryknoll Fathers and Broth-ers -- a year later with theblessing of Pope Pius X. Within a year the society

expanded to include reli-gious women, the MaryknollSisters. Soon the society ac-cepted brothers and then laymissionaries, who todayserve in 26 countries. Maryknoll is observing its

centennial and is the U.S.church’s official missionaryarm. Father Walsh, who was

consecrated a bishop in 1933in Rome, made his first jour-ney to Asia in 1917 to find amission field in China forpriests of the order. He wasgiven the mission of Ye-ungkong and Loting. Beforelong Maryknoll had mission-ary priests and sisters inJapan, Korea and the Philip-pines. In 1918, Father Price fol-

lowed Father Walsh to Chinaand was named superior tothree young priests at themission. He died in HongKong in 1919 at age 59 froma burst appendix. Bishop Walsh died at Mary-

knoll headquarters north ofNew York City in 1936 at age69, but his vision of Ameri-can service as missionariesaround the world was beingcarried out by new leaders. For his work as co-founder

of the Maryknoll society anda missionary, he is being pro-moted for sainthood by theorder. A formal presentationof his case is being preparedfor the Archdiocese of NewYork. Father Michael P. Walsh (no

relation), vice postulator ofthe sainthood cause, de-scribed Bishop Walsh as "onfire" for American foreignmissions. "The thing that set him

apart was that in a sense hehad great ambitions for theAmerican church," FatherWalsh explained. "But in an-other sense there was noth-ing ambitious about him(outside of mission work). Hediscovered a remarkabletrust that God would pro-vide." The cause for sainthood is

as much to honor the Mary-knoll society's co-founder asit is to honor the significanceof the American mission out-reach, Father Walsh added. "The church is not fully it-

self unless it is in mission,"he said. "In many ways Mary-knoll represents the signifi-cant outreach of theAmerican church." As the Maryknoll presence

grew in Asia, priests and sis-ters helped establish new re-ligious orders for women inChina and Korea. In themidst of World War II, Mary-knoll priests expanded their

ministries to South Americawith missions in Bolivia,Peru, Chile and Ecuador. Maryknoll sisters soon fol-

lowed and also started min-istries in Nicaragua andPanama before the warended. Ministry expansion contin-

ued along the way. In 1946,the order sent its first mis-sionary priests to East Africato establish a mission in Tan-ganyika. Opportunities forministry continued to growthrough the 1990s with newmissions opening in Asia,Africa, Latin America and thePacific islands. One of the first missionar-

ies in China, Father James E.Walsh (also no relation), be-came a bishop for the coun-try in 1927. He originallyarrived in China in 1918 withFather Price and ministeredthere until the death ofBishop James A. Walsh, whenhe returned to New York tohead the Maryknoll order. The Vatican requested that

he return to China in 1948because of his experienceand knowledge of the coun-try. The following year Chi-nese communists gainedcontrol of the governmentand began harassing Catholicclergy. After a decade ofstruggle, Bishop James E.Walsh was arrested and sen-tenced to 20 years in isola-tion in prison. He wasreleased in 1970, after 12years of imprisonment andreturned to the U.S. He diedin 1980 at age 90. At least two other Mary-

knollers were targeted fortheir religious work. In 1980,Sisters Ita Ford and MauraClarke were among fourchurchwomen killed in El Sal-vador during that country'slong, bloody civil war. Over the decades, lay mis-

sioners have taken on an im-portant role in the Maryknollcommunity. The first laymissioner, Dr. Harry Blaber,volunteered in 1930. Todaydozens of lay missionersserve the poor in diversecommunities around theworld.

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF MARYKNOLL MIS-SION ARCHIVESFather James A. Walsh, a priest from theArchdiocese of Boston and co-founder ofthe Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, ispictured in an undated photo.

By John Thavis Catholic News Service

ROME (CNS) -- A majority ofAmericans admire PopeJohn Paul II and believe he isworthy of beatification, ac-cording to a Knights ofColumbus/Marist poll. The poll, released a few

days before the May 1 beat-ification of the late pope,showed that 59 percent ofthose responding believePope John Paul was one ofthe best popes or the bestpope in church history.Among Catholics who

were polled, the percentagerose to 82 percent. Carl Anderson, supreme

knight of the Knights ofColumbus, said the poll re-sults illustrate Pope JohnPaul's ability to break downbarriers and reach audi-ences - including non-Catholics - in a variety ofways: through personal vis-its, defense of humanrights, his teaching encycli-cals and even his poetry. "People got to know him.

And I think in knowing him,they began to see a part ofthe Catholic Church theyhad not known before," An-derson said in an interviewin Rome April 28. "There was an authentic-

ity in the way he lived hisChristian life. And I thinkwhen people saw that, sawthat year after year afteryear, they came to admirehim," he said. The poll of 1,274 people

in the United States foundthat more than 40 percentof respondents said PopeJohn Paul made at leastsome difference in their lifespiritually. Among Catholics, 73 per-

cent said he had spiritualimpact on their lives. Fifty-five percent of those

polled said they admiredthe Polish pope a great dealor a good amount. AmongCatholics, the percentage of

admirers was 82 percent,and among those identify-ing themselves as practicingCatholics it was 89 percent.

Nearly three out of four people said Pope John Paulwas a good candidate forbeatification. The numberrose to 90 percent among

Catholics polled

Nearly three out of fourpeople said Pope John Paulwas a good candidate forbeatification. The numberrose to 90 percent amongCatholics polled. About two-thirds of those

polled said they remem-bered the late pope's trips tothe United States. Almost half the respon-

dents -- and almost three-fourths of practicingCatholics -- said theywatched his funeral in 2005. Anderson, who worked

closely with Pope John Paulon various projects, said hethought the Polish pope hadchanged the concept ofsainthood for the modernchurch. By beatifying and canon-

izing so many people fromdifferent walks of life, An-derson said, the pope madesainthood seem possible. In his own life, said An-

derson, the pope made theChristian virtues tangible."You saw what really livingthe Christian life was about:forgiving the person whotried to murder you, askingfor forgiveness and seekingreconciliation with peoplewho had been hostile in thepast, showing respect likehe did for the religious lead-ers of the world in Assisi,"Anderson said. "So all of these different

ways were, I think, shapingour view of the Christian lifeand the 'heroic virtue' of thesaint, especially the saint inour midst," he said.

Poll: Americanshave admirationfor Pope John Paul

Maryknoll history traceslong, diverse path of service

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1NORT H C O U N T R Y C AT HO L I C10 Diocesan Life

By Shawn RyanStaff writer

DANNEMORA - St. Joseph’sChurch recently hosted aconcert to benefit the area’sgrowing Community ActionMinistry. The concert featured local

vocal ensemble “AfterThoughts,” who entertainedsome 50 people with a widearray of music from showtunes to musical standards. The group, which was

started in 2009 by directorRonald Goddeau, plays forcharity events around theNorth Country to help wor-thy causes raise money. Goddeau started After

Thoughts three years ago be-cause, “I’ve had a pretty goodlife and I thought it was timeto give something back.” The group spans not just

multiple genres of music, butthe members span genera-tions as well. The group’snewest and youngest mem-ber is a senior at SaranacHigh School, while its oldestmember is in his sixties.Helping to bring this diversegroup together is the group’sDirector, Jeanette Woodruff. “I asked her to be coordina-

tor of our group because ofher ability to get what sheneeds out of us.” Says God-deau of his music director. “We play for any kind of

charity,” explains Goddeau.“We’ve played to help foodshelves, the Ausable ValleyJazz Band, spaghetti dinners,anywhere there is a need.” The cause which brought

After Thoughts to St.Joseph’s Church was a fundand food raiser for the Dan-nemora area’s CommunityAction Ministry, and specifi-cally the Ministry’s foodshelf. The Community Action

Ministry was formed fouryears ago as an ecumenicalgroup, bringing togetherCatholic and ProtestantChurches in the Dannemoraand Saranac area. “People are falling between

the cracks,” explains Father

Don Kramberg of the group’smission. “There are peoplewho are above the guidelinesto qualify for social services,but are still in need. We try tofind ways to meet theirneeds.”To date, Father Kramberg

points out, the ministry hasgiven out some $15,000 toneedy families, and this iswhile the Ministry is still vir-tually unknown. By working closely with

JCEO of Clinton and FranklinCounties, as well as other so-cial service agencies, theMinistry has already helpednumerous families in thefour years that they havebeen operational. While stillin the fledgling stage, theMinistry is in the process ofwriting a charter and pursu-ing official not-for-profit sta-tus, which they hope toachieve within the year. Along with direct financial

support and guidance toother public services, theMinistry also operates a com-munity food shelf out of theDannemora MethodistChurch. The After Thoughts

concert was directly in sup-port of the food shelf, withadmission consisting of non-perishable food items. The Ministry’s road has not

been without hurdles how-ever. As Father Krambergpoints out, just identifyingthose who are in need is notalways easy. “Once we are a little better

organized and can advertizea little, I suspect we will havesome more people comingin.” says Father Kramberg. Hepoints to fund raising as an-other major need for theMinistry, especially as thenumber of people in need in-creases.While surveying amount of

food collected for the Min-istry’s food shelf, Goddeauagreed: “There are so manypeople who need the foodshelf but don’t utilize it.Maybe they’re too proud touse it, but eventually will beforced to. The need is defi-nitely there.”After Thoughts can be

reached for charity eventsthrough Goddeau, at 518-643-2284.

Parish hosts concert tobenefit community ministry

PHOTO BY SHAWN RYANRonald Goddeau stands amid the food collected at a recent benefit concert at St.Joseph Church in Dannemora, performed by his vocal ensemble “After Thoughts.”

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Religiousleaders, including twoprominent Catholic bishops,challenged lawmakers toavoid cutting federal spend-ing on anti-poverty programsthat help the poorest andmost vulnerable people dur-ing the country's mountingbudget crisis. The challenge came April

27 as the leaders introducedthe Circle of Protection cam-paign, pointing to biblicalvalues of justice and care forthe "least of our brothers andsisters" that Congress andthe White House must up-hold as the debate over the2012 federal budget unfolds. "The poor don't have pow-

erful political voices speak-ing on their behalf so we arespeaking on their behalf. Wewant to be a strong moralvoice that speaks for thecommon good and thosewho are most poor," saidBishop Stephen E. Blaire ofStockton, Calif., chairman ofthe bishops' Committee onDomestic Justice and HumanDevelopment. "A just (budget) framework

cannot rely on dispropor-tionate cuts in service. Theyrequire shared sacrifices byeveryone," he said duringone of three nationwidemedia teleconferences intro-ducing the campaign. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacra-

mento, Calif., echoed his Cal-ifornia colleague in aseparate teleconference forSpanish-language media. Also supporting the effort

is Father Larry Snyder, presi-dent of Catholic CharitiesUSA. The campaign's introduc-

tion comes as Congress wasset to return from a two-week recess May 2. One ofthe key issues on its agendawill be the 2012 budget. As jockeying over budget

priorities evolves, Congress

also faces having to raise thecountry's $14.3 trillion debtceiling. While congressionalleaders agree it must bedone, a contingent of conser-vative House members, ledby newly elected Tea Partyrepresentatives, have saidthey will oppose raising theceiling unless significantspending cuts are promised. President Barack Obama

has set an early July deadlinefor raising the ceiling. Congressional Republicans

have said they have a longwish list of budget cuts buthave not revealed what theyare. Lawmakers of both par-ties have insisted that mili-tary spending isuntouchable. A plan for 2012 offered by

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., al-ready has been adopted bythe House. It calls for reduc-ing the tax rates for the top 2percent of the earners from35 percent to 25 percent andcompensating for the loss ofrevenues by cutting spend-ing in domestic social serv-ices and internationaldevelopment programs andembarking on a 10-year ef-fort to change the wayMedicare and Medicaid oper-ate. Congressional Democrats

have opposed the plan, say-ing it places the elderly andpoor at too great a risk. The religious coalition,

which includes leaders fromCatholic, mainline Protes-tant, evangelical, African-American and LatinoChristian churches, main-

tains that addressing thedeficit is vital to the coun-try's future, but that all areasof government spending aswell as ideas for raising taxrevenues must be on thetable. Of particular concern are

low-cost, high-impact pro-grams that often mean thedifference between a lifewith dignity and one facedwith insurmountable chal-lenges, the leaders said. Theycited programs as diverse aslow-income energy assis-tance for poor Americansand the distribution of mos-quito nets for people inmalaria-prone countries asprograms that preservehuman dignity. "Cutting the budget on the

backs of the poor ... is simplynot worthy of a great nationlike ours," said the Rev. Bar-bara Williams-Skinner of theNational African AmericanClergy Network. The Rev. Jim Wallis, presi-

dent and CEO of the evangel-ical social justiceorganization Sojourners,said the choices ahead willreveal what values the coun-try holds highest. "We have to remember that

budgets are not just about(financial) scarcity. They'reabout choices, moralchoices. Our choices reveal ...what's important, what's not,who's important, who's not,"he said. "The Circle of Protection

means if you come after thepoor, you will have to comethrough us first," he added.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1NORT H C O UN T R Y C AT HO L I C world/nation 15

AT A GLANCE

CATHOLICWORLDNCEA convention opens with New Orleans flavor, call to conversations NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- More than 7,000 Catholic educators kicked off the Na-tional Catholic Educational Association's annual convention with a New Orleansflavor April 26. After an opening speech by Boston College theology professor Fa-ther Michael Himes and a Mass celebrated by New Orleans Archbishop GregoryM. Aymond, conventioneers were ushered out of the main hall of the New Or-leans Convention Center by the rousing sounds of the St. Augustine High SchoolMarching 100, St. Mary's Academy and St. Mary's Dominican High School bandsand mini-floats topped with riders throwing beads and trinkets. "We startedwith a bang," said Lisa Taylor, associate superintendent of Catholic schools in theArchdiocese of New Orleans and local convention coordinator. "We wanted to getpeople all excited, and I think we did!" Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory,chairman of the NCEA board of directors, said NCEA has been a trusted voice inCatholic education for more than 100 years. "We recognize that our primary taskis the communication of the person and the message of Jesus Christ," he said.Archbishop Aymond, a former chairman of the NCEA board, also said educatorsmust be leaders who give direction and service in the name of Christ. He saidNew Orleans has a strong legacy in Catholic education, dating from the Ursulinenuns who arrived in 1727. He noted that the first NCEA convention was held inNew Orleans in 1913 with a much smaller crowd. "Yet in all those years, our mis-sion has been the same -- to teach as Jesus did," he said. "We honor all thosepast and those here today that carry on that ministry. ... We carry on his mission.We teach as Jesus did."

At Easter, pope prays for peace, freedom in world trouble spots VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an Easter blessing to the world, Pope Benedict XVIprayed that Christ's resurrection may open paths of "freedom, justice and peace"for troubled populations of the Middle East and Africa. The pope urged an end toviolence in Libya and Ivory Coast, assistance to refugees flooding out of NorthAfrica and consolation for the victims of the Japanese earthquake. He prayed forthose persecuted for their Christian faith, and praised their courage. He spokefrom the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica April 24 in his blessing "urbi etorbi" (to the city of Rome and to the world), after celebrating Mass for nearly100,000 people in St. Peter's Square. Broadcast to many countries and live-streamed on the Internet, it was the last major event on the 84-year-old pon-tiff's heavy Holy Week schedule. Pope Benedict said the resurrection of Christmust not be viewed as "the fruit of speculation or mystical experience." It hap-pened in a precise moment and marked history forever, giving human eventsnew strength, new hope and new meaning, he said. "The entire cosmos is rejoic-ing today," and every person open to God has reason to be glad, he said. But thejoy of Easter contrasts with "the cries and laments that arise from so manypainful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence," the pope said. Heprayed that "the splendor of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East, so thatthe light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division,hate and violence." In Libya, he said, diplomacy and dialogue need to take theplace of armed fighting, and the suffering must have access to humanitarian aid

Bishops join drive toprotect anti-povertyprograms from budget cuts


PLATTSBURGH - The St. Peter’sEnvironmental StewardshipCommittee in Plattsburghhas recently hosted and suc-cessfully completed a Fran-ciscan Action Networkprogram entitled C4C – Fran-ciscan Care for Creation.

Parish puts faith intoaction as it addresses

important ecological issues

Sheila Harrison facilitatedthe six session course, whichis an “adult formation pro-gram to prepare communi-ties to put faith into actionby addressing importantecological issues. The program follows the

direction of “St. Francis andSt. Clare of Assisi who in-spired a vision and a livingtradition that can help us torespond to our ecological vo-cation. “The C4C process intends

to inform, inspire, challenge,and invite participants to anactive response.”As a result of participation

in the program, the Environ-mental Stewardship Commit-tee will have a small batterydrive to safely dispose of orrecycle small batteries at alocal collection center.Other activities of the

group at St. Peter’s this yearhave included a fundraiser topurchase LED Christmaslights that were used to dec-orate the church, a periodic“Green Corner” article in thebulletin, and an ‘Energy Sav-ing Swap’ of donated envi-ronmentally friendly items.For Lent 350 copies of the

Archdiocese of Washington,D.C. Lenten Creation Stew-ardship Calendar were dis-tributed. Tom Metz will be a fea-

tured speaker on the topic ofsolar homes on June 5th atSt. Peter’s Church.For more information re-

garding C4C or the Environ-mental StewardshipCommittee programs, pleasecontact the Rectory at 563-1692.

Care forCreation


VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope JohnPaul II deeply influencedgenerations of Catholics whoknew him in life, but hismost enduring legacy -- histeaching -- is something thatwill continue to impact thechurch for centuries, a U.S.biographer of the late popesaid. "It's going to be several

hundred years before thechurch really takes on boardthe breadth and depth of thisman's explication of theGospel, and in that sensewe're going to be thinking,and arguing, about John PaulII for hundreds of years," saidGeorge Weigel, author of thepapal biographies "Witnessto Hope" and "The End andthe Beginning." Weigel said that six years

after the pope's death hisconnection with young peo-ple continues to bear fruit inmany ways: in priesthoodvocations over the lastdecade, in women's religiousorders inspired by Pope JohnPaul and in renewal move-ments. "I look at my own parish in

suburban Washington andsee young couples raisingCatholic families, who alltook some form of inspira-tion from John Paul II. And Isuspect this is replicated allover the world," he said in aninterview April 27.

NCC coverage of Pope JohnPaul II’s beatification will appear in the May 11 issue

Weigel, who spoke fourdays before the beatificationof Pope John Paul, said hehad devoted some 15 yearsof his life to researching histwo major biographies of thePolish pontiff. What im-pressed him, he said, wasthat the pope was an "utterlynormal human being" whomade himself completelyopen to the work of the HolySpirit. In that sense, Weigel said,

the holiness that's being rec-ognized at his beatification issomething accessible to allChristians. Throughout hislife, he said, Pope John Paulwas trying to figure out whatGod was doing in his life andin the world, and to respondaccordingly.

"I think everything he did,as a literary man, as aphilosopher, as a priest, abishop, a statesman, a pope,grew out of his radical Chris-tian discipleship," he said. "Very few of the billion

Catholics in the world aregoing to have the range oftalents that Karol Wojtylahad. Every baptized personhas the opportunity to live alife of radical discipleship.And that's our connection tohim," he said. Weigel noted that being a

saint is not about perfection. "It's about living one's life

with the intention to do theright thing and making deci-sions based on one's bestjudgment, without fear orfavor. No pope gets every-thing right. John Paul II didn'tget everything right, hewould be the first to admitit," he said. Some have questioned

Pope John Paul's beatifica-tion, saying he responded in-adequately to priestly sexabuse cases that came tolight late in his pontificate.Weigel said that criticism isoff the mark. "The way to think about

John Paul II and the priest-hood is to recognize that hewas a great reformer of thepriesthood. The priesthoodwas in terrible shape in 1978when he became pope; it wasin remarkably better shape26 years later. That's the con-text," he said. "The pope, like frankly the

rest of the Vatican, took toolong in 2002 to find out whatwas really going on in theUnited States. But once hefound out, he acted in a deci-sive way," Weigel said.


Says Pope John Paul's impactwill continue for centuries

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C12 Diocesan Life N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C diocesan life 13


PLATTSBURGH - The St. Peter’sEnvironmental StewardshipCommittee in Plattsburghhas recently hosted and suc-cessfully completed a Fran-ciscan Action Networkprogram entitled C4C – Fran-ciscan Care for Creation.

Parish puts faith intoaction as it addresses

important ecological issues

Sheila Harrison facilitatedthe six session course, whichis an “adult formation pro-gram to prepare communi-ties to put faith into actionby addressing importantecological issues. The program follows the

direction of “St. Francis andSt. Clare of Assisi who in-spired a vision and a livingtradition that can help us torespond to our ecological vo-cation. “The C4C process intends

to inform, inspire, challenge,and invite participants to anactive response.”As a result of participation

in the program, the Environ-mental Stewardship Commit-tee will have a small batterydrive to safely dispose of orrecycle small batteries at alocal collection center.Other activities of the

group at St. Peter’s this yearhave included a fundraiser topurchase LED Christmaslights that were used to dec-orate the church, a periodic“Green Corner” article in thebulletin, and an ‘Energy Sav-ing Swap’ of donated envi-ronmentally friendly items.For Lent 350 copies of the

Archdiocese of Washington,D.C. Lenten Creation Stew-ardship Calendar were dis-tributed. Tom Metz will be a fea-

tured speaker on the topic ofsolar homes on June 5th atSt. Peter’s Church.For more information re-

garding C4C or the Environ-mental StewardshipCommittee programs, pleasecontact the Rectory at 563-1692.

Care forCreation


VATICAN CITY (CNS) - Pope JohnPaul II deeply influencedgenerations of Catholics whoknew him in life, but hismost enduring legacy -- histeaching -- is something thatwill continue to impact thechurch for centuries, a U.S.biographer of the late popesaid. "It's going to be several

hundred years before thechurch really takes on boardthe breadth and depth of thisman's explication of theGospel, and in that sensewe're going to be thinking,and arguing, about John PaulII for hundreds of years," saidGeorge Weigel, author of thepapal biographies "Witnessto Hope" and "The End andthe Beginning." Weigel said that six years

after the pope's death hisconnection with young peo-ple continues to bear fruit inmany ways: in priesthoodvocations over the lastdecade, in women's religiousorders inspired by Pope JohnPaul and in renewal move-ments. "I look at my own parish in

suburban Washington andsee young couples raisingCatholic families, who alltook some form of inspira-tion from John Paul II. And Isuspect this is replicated allover the world," he said in aninterview April 27.

NCC coverage of Pope JohnPaul II’s beatification will appear in the May 11 issue

Weigel, who spoke fourdays before the beatificationof Pope John Paul, said hehad devoted some 15 yearsof his life to researching histwo major biographies of thePolish pontiff. What im-pressed him, he said, wasthat the pope was an "utterlynormal human being" whomade himself completelyopen to the work of the HolySpirit. In that sense, Weigel said,

the holiness that's being rec-ognized at his beatification issomething accessible to allChristians. Throughout hislife, he said, Pope John Paulwas trying to figure out whatGod was doing in his life andin the world, and to respondaccordingly.

"I think everything he did,as a literary man, as aphilosopher, as a priest, abishop, a statesman, a pope,grew out of his radical Chris-tian discipleship," he said. "Very few of the billion

Catholics in the world aregoing to have the range oftalents that Karol Wojtylahad. Every baptized personhas the opportunity to live alife of radical discipleship.And that's our connection tohim," he said. Weigel noted that being a

saint is not about perfection. "It's about living one's life

with the intention to do theright thing and making deci-sions based on one's bestjudgment, without fear orfavor. No pope gets every-thing right. John Paul II didn'tget everything right, hewould be the first to admitit," he said. Some have questioned

Pope John Paul's beatifica-tion, saying he responded in-adequately to priestly sexabuse cases that came tolight late in his pontificate.Weigel said that criticism isoff the mark. "The way to think about

John Paul II and the priest-hood is to recognize that hewas a great reformer of thepriesthood. The priesthoodwas in terrible shape in 1978when he became pope; it wasin remarkably better shape26 years later. That's the con-text," he said. "The pope, like frankly the

rest of the Vatican, took toolong in 2002 to find out whatwas really going on in theUnited States. But once hefound out, he acted in a deci-sive way," Weigel said.


Says Pope John Paul's impactwill continue for centuries

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1NORT H C O U N T R Y C AT HO L I C10 Diocesan Life

By Shawn RyanStaff writer

DANNEMORA - St. Joseph’sChurch recently hosted aconcert to benefit the area’sgrowing Community ActionMinistry. The concert featured local

vocal ensemble “AfterThoughts,” who entertainedsome 50 people with a widearray of music from showtunes to musical standards. The group, which was

started in 2009 by directorRonald Goddeau, plays forcharity events around theNorth Country to help wor-thy causes raise money. Goddeau started After

Thoughts three years ago be-cause, “I’ve had a pretty goodlife and I thought it was timeto give something back.” The group spans not just

multiple genres of music, butthe members span genera-tions as well. The group’snewest and youngest mem-ber is a senior at SaranacHigh School, while its oldestmember is in his sixties.Helping to bring this diversegroup together is the group’sDirector, Jeanette Woodruff. “I asked her to be coordina-

tor of our group because ofher ability to get what sheneeds out of us.” Says God-deau of his music director. “We play for any kind of

charity,” explains Goddeau.“We’ve played to help foodshelves, the Ausable ValleyJazz Band, spaghetti dinners,anywhere there is a need.” The cause which brought

After Thoughts to St.Joseph’s Church was a fundand food raiser for the Dan-nemora area’s CommunityAction Ministry, and specifi-cally the Ministry’s foodshelf. The Community Action

Ministry was formed fouryears ago as an ecumenicalgroup, bringing togetherCatholic and ProtestantChurches in the Dannemoraand Saranac area. “People are falling between

the cracks,” explains Father

Don Kramberg of the group’smission. “There are peoplewho are above the guidelinesto qualify for social services,but are still in need. We try tofind ways to meet theirneeds.”To date, Father Kramberg

points out, the ministry hasgiven out some $15,000 toneedy families, and this iswhile the Ministry is still vir-tually unknown. By working closely with

JCEO of Clinton and FranklinCounties, as well as other so-cial service agencies, theMinistry has already helpednumerous families in thefour years that they havebeen operational. While stillin the fledgling stage, theMinistry is in the process ofwriting a charter and pursu-ing official not-for-profit sta-tus, which they hope toachieve within the year. Along with direct financial

support and guidance toother public services, theMinistry also operates a com-munity food shelf out of theDannemora MethodistChurch. The After Thoughts

concert was directly in sup-port of the food shelf, withadmission consisting of non-perishable food items. The Ministry’s road has not

been without hurdles how-ever. As Father Krambergpoints out, just identifyingthose who are in need is notalways easy. “Once we are a little better

organized and can advertizea little, I suspect we will havesome more people comingin.” says Father Kramberg. Hepoints to fund raising as an-other major need for theMinistry, especially as thenumber of people in need in-creases.While surveying amount of

food collected for the Min-istry’s food shelf, Goddeauagreed: “There are so manypeople who need the foodshelf but don’t utilize it.Maybe they’re too proud touse it, but eventually will beforced to. The need is defi-nitely there.”After Thoughts can be

reached for charity eventsthrough Goddeau, at 518-643-2284.

Parish hosts concert tobenefit community ministry

PHOTO BY SHAWN RYANRonald Goddeau stands amid the food collected at a recent benefit concert at St.Joseph Church in Dannemora, performed by his vocal ensemble “After Thoughts.”

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Religiousleaders, including twoprominent Catholic bishops,challenged lawmakers toavoid cutting federal spend-ing on anti-poverty programsthat help the poorest andmost vulnerable people dur-ing the country's mountingbudget crisis. The challenge came April

27 as the leaders introducedthe Circle of Protection cam-paign, pointing to biblicalvalues of justice and care forthe "least of our brothers andsisters" that Congress andthe White House must up-hold as the debate over the2012 federal budget unfolds. "The poor don't have pow-

erful political voices speak-ing on their behalf so we arespeaking on their behalf. Wewant to be a strong moralvoice that speaks for thecommon good and thosewho are most poor," saidBishop Stephen E. Blaire ofStockton, Calif., chairman ofthe bishops' Committee onDomestic Justice and HumanDevelopment. "A just (budget) framework

cannot rely on dispropor-tionate cuts in service. Theyrequire shared sacrifices byeveryone," he said duringone of three nationwidemedia teleconferences intro-ducing the campaign. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacra-

mento, Calif., echoed his Cal-ifornia colleague in aseparate teleconference forSpanish-language media. Also supporting the effort

is Father Larry Snyder, presi-dent of Catholic CharitiesUSA. The campaign's introduc-

tion comes as Congress wasset to return from a two-week recess May 2. One ofthe key issues on its agendawill be the 2012 budget. As jockeying over budget

priorities evolves, Congress

also faces having to raise thecountry's $14.3 trillion debtceiling. While congressionalleaders agree it must bedone, a contingent of conser-vative House members, ledby newly elected Tea Partyrepresentatives, have saidthey will oppose raising theceiling unless significantspending cuts are promised. President Barack Obama

has set an early July deadlinefor raising the ceiling. Congressional Republicans

have said they have a longwish list of budget cuts buthave not revealed what theyare. Lawmakers of both par-ties have insisted that mili-tary spending isuntouchable. A plan for 2012 offered by

Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., al-ready has been adopted bythe House. It calls for reduc-ing the tax rates for the top 2percent of the earners from35 percent to 25 percent andcompensating for the loss ofrevenues by cutting spend-ing in domestic social serv-ices and internationaldevelopment programs andembarking on a 10-year ef-fort to change the wayMedicare and Medicaid oper-ate. Congressional Democrats

have opposed the plan, say-ing it places the elderly andpoor at too great a risk. The religious coalition,

which includes leaders fromCatholic, mainline Protes-tant, evangelical, African-American and LatinoChristian churches, main-

tains that addressing thedeficit is vital to the coun-try's future, but that all areasof government spending aswell as ideas for raising taxrevenues must be on thetable. Of particular concern are

low-cost, high-impact pro-grams that often mean thedifference between a lifewith dignity and one facedwith insurmountable chal-lenges, the leaders said. Theycited programs as diverse aslow-income energy assis-tance for poor Americansand the distribution of mos-quito nets for people inmalaria-prone countries asprograms that preservehuman dignity. "Cutting the budget on the

backs of the poor ... is simplynot worthy of a great nationlike ours," said the Rev. Bar-bara Williams-Skinner of theNational African AmericanClergy Network. The Rev. Jim Wallis, presi-

dent and CEO of the evangel-ical social justiceorganization Sojourners,said the choices ahead willreveal what values the coun-try holds highest. "We have to remember that

budgets are not just about(financial) scarcity. They'reabout choices, moralchoices. Our choices reveal ...what's important, what's not,who's important, who's not,"he said. "The Circle of Protection

means if you come after thepoor, you will have to comethrough us first," he added.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1NORT H C O UN T R Y C AT HO L I C world/nation 15

AT A GLANCE

CATHOLICWORLDNCEA convention opens with New Orleans flavor, call to conversations NEW ORLEANS (CNS) -- More than 7,000 Catholic educators kicked off the Na-tional Catholic Educational Association's annual convention with a New Orleansflavor April 26. After an opening speech by Boston College theology professor Fa-ther Michael Himes and a Mass celebrated by New Orleans Archbishop GregoryM. Aymond, conventioneers were ushered out of the main hall of the New Or-leans Convention Center by the rousing sounds of the St. Augustine High SchoolMarching 100, St. Mary's Academy and St. Mary's Dominican High School bandsand mini-floats topped with riders throwing beads and trinkets. "We startedwith a bang," said Lisa Taylor, associate superintendent of Catholic schools in theArchdiocese of New Orleans and local convention coordinator. "We wanted to getpeople all excited, and I think we did!" Atlanta Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory,chairman of the NCEA board of directors, said NCEA has been a trusted voice inCatholic education for more than 100 years. "We recognize that our primary taskis the communication of the person and the message of Jesus Christ," he said.Archbishop Aymond, a former chairman of the NCEA board, also said educatorsmust be leaders who give direction and service in the name of Christ. He saidNew Orleans has a strong legacy in Catholic education, dating from the Ursulinenuns who arrived in 1727. He noted that the first NCEA convention was held inNew Orleans in 1913 with a much smaller crowd. "Yet in all those years, our mis-sion has been the same -- to teach as Jesus did," he said. "We honor all thosepast and those here today that carry on that ministry. ... We carry on his mission.We teach as Jesus did."

At Easter, pope prays for peace, freedom in world trouble spots VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- In an Easter blessing to the world, Pope Benedict XVIprayed that Christ's resurrection may open paths of "freedom, justice and peace"for troubled populations of the Middle East and Africa. The pope urged an end toviolence in Libya and Ivory Coast, assistance to refugees flooding out of NorthAfrica and consolation for the victims of the Japanese earthquake. He prayed forthose persecuted for their Christian faith, and praised their courage. He spokefrom the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica April 24 in his blessing "urbi etorbi" (to the city of Rome and to the world), after celebrating Mass for nearly100,000 people in St. Peter's Square. Broadcast to many countries and live-streamed on the Internet, it was the last major event on the 84-year-old pon-tiff's heavy Holy Week schedule. Pope Benedict said the resurrection of Christmust not be viewed as "the fruit of speculation or mystical experience." It hap-pened in a precise moment and marked history forever, giving human eventsnew strength, new hope and new meaning, he said. "The entire cosmos is rejoic-ing today," and every person open to God has reason to be glad, he said. But thejoy of Easter contrasts with "the cries and laments that arise from so manypainful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence," the pope said. Heprayed that "the splendor of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East, so thatthe light of peace and of human dignity may overcome the darkness of division,hate and violence." In Libya, he said, diplomacy and dialogue need to take theplace of armed fighting, and the suffering must have access to humanitarian aid

Bishops join drive toprotect anti-povertyprograms from budget cuts


Residents of St. Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg now have the opportunity to connectwith family and friends who live out of the area, through SKYPE.Pictured is DorothyBercume video chatting with her brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Carol Berc-ume who live in Arizona. “his is one of the nicest things I’ve ever had happen to me,”Miss Bercume said. “I love seeing my brother and his wife.”

STAYING CONNECTED


By Dennis SadowskiCatholic News Service

WASHINGTON (CNS) - Two priests,one common vision of mis-sion to the world. Father James A. Walsh, a

priest from the Archdioceseof Boston who founded theCatholic Foreign Mission Bu-reau, and Father Thomas F.Price, a diocesan priest fromNorth Carolina, both envi-sioned a U.S. Catholic mis-sion to people around theworld. Their discussion during

the 21st International Eu-charistic Congress in Mon-treal in 1910 led to theirfounding the Catholic For-eign Mission Society ofAmerica -- now known as theMaryknoll Fathers and Broth-ers -- a year later with theblessing of Pope Pius X. Within a year the society

expanded to include reli-gious women, the MaryknollSisters. Soon the society ac-cepted brothers and then laymissionaries, who todayserve in 26 countries. Maryknoll is observing its

centennial and is the U.S.church’s official missionaryarm. Father Walsh, who was

consecrated a bishop in 1933in Rome, made his first jour-ney to Asia in 1917 to find amission field in China forpriests of the order. He wasgiven the mission of Ye-ungkong and Loting. Beforelong Maryknoll had mission-ary priests and sisters inJapan, Korea and the Philip-pines. In 1918, Father Price fol-

lowed Father Walsh to Chinaand was named superior tothree young priests at themission. He died in HongKong in 1919 at age 59 froma burst appendix. Bishop Walsh died at Mary-

knoll headquarters north ofNew York City in 1936 at age69, but his vision of Ameri-can service as missionariesaround the world was beingcarried out by new leaders. For his work as co-founder

of the Maryknoll society anda missionary, he is being pro-moted for sainthood by theorder. A formal presentationof his case is being preparedfor the Archdiocese of NewYork. Father Michael P. Walsh (no

relation), vice postulator ofthe sainthood cause, de-scribed Bishop Walsh as "onfire" for American foreignmissions. "The thing that set him

apart was that in a sense hehad great ambitions for theAmerican church," FatherWalsh explained. "But in an-other sense there was noth-ing ambitious about him(outside of mission work). Hediscovered a remarkabletrust that God would pro-vide." The cause for sainthood is

as much to honor the Mary-knoll society's co-founder asit is to honor the significanceof the American mission out-reach, Father Walsh added. "The church is not fully it-

self unless it is in mission,"he said. "In many ways Mary-knoll represents the signifi-cant outreach of theAmerican church." As the Maryknoll presence

grew in Asia, priests and sis-ters helped establish new re-ligious orders for women inChina and Korea. In themidst of World War II, Mary-knoll priests expanded their

ministries to South Americawith missions in Bolivia,Peru, Chile and Ecuador. Maryknoll sisters soon fol-

lowed and also started min-istries in Nicaragua andPanama before the warended. Ministry expansion contin-

ued along the way. In 1946,the order sent its first mis-sionary priests to East Africato establish a mission in Tan-ganyika. Opportunities forministry continued to growthrough the 1990s with newmissions opening in Asia,Africa, Latin America and thePacific islands. One of the first missionar-

ies in China, Father James E.Walsh (also no relation), be-came a bishop for the coun-try in 1927. He originallyarrived in China in 1918 withFather Price and ministeredthere until the death ofBishop James A. Walsh, whenhe returned to New York tohead the Maryknoll order. The Vatican requested that

he return to China in 1948because of his experienceand knowledge of the coun-try. The following year Chi-nese communists gainedcontrol of the governmentand began harassing Catholicclergy. After a decade ofstruggle, Bishop James E.Walsh was arrested and sen-tenced to 20 years in isola-tion in prison. He wasreleased in 1970, after 12years of imprisonment andreturned to the U.S. He diedin 1980 at age 90. At least two other Mary-

knollers were targeted fortheir religious work. In 1980,Sisters Ita Ford and MauraClarke were among fourchurchwomen killed in El Sal-vador during that country'slong, bloody civil war. Over the decades, lay mis-

sioners have taken on an im-portant role in the Maryknollcommunity. The first laymissioner, Dr. Harry Blaber,volunteered in 1930. Todaydozens of lay missionersserve the poor in diversecommunities around theworld.

CNS PHOTO/COURTESY OF MARYKNOLL MIS-SION ARCHIVESFather James A. Walsh, a priest from theArchdiocese of Boston and co-founder ofthe Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, ispictured in an undated photo.


ROME (CNS) -- A majority ofAmericans admire PopeJohn Paul II and believe he isworthy of beatification, ac-cording to a Knights ofColumbus/Marist poll. The poll, released a few

days before the May 1 beat-ification of the late pope,showed that 59 percent ofthose responding believePope John Paul was one ofthe best popes or the bestpope in church history.Among Catholics who

were polled, the percentagerose to 82 percent. Carl Anderson, supreme

knight of the Knights ofColumbus, said the poll re-sults illustrate Pope JohnPaul's ability to break downbarriers and reach audi-ences - including non-Catholics - in a variety ofways: through personal vis-its, defense of humanrights, his teaching encycli-cals and even his poetry. "People got to know him.

And I think in knowing him,they began to see a part ofthe Catholic Church theyhad not known before," An-derson said in an interviewin Rome April 28. "There was an authentic-

ity in the way he lived hisChristian life. And I thinkwhen people saw that, sawthat year after year afteryear, they came to admirehim," he said. The poll of 1,274 people

in the United States foundthat more than 40 percentof respondents said PopeJohn Paul made at leastsome difference in their lifespiritually. Among Catholics, 73 per-

cent said he had spiritualimpact on their lives. Fifty-five percent of those

polled said they admiredthe Polish pope a great dealor a good amount. AmongCatholics, the percentage of

admirers was 82 percent,and among those identify-ing themselves as practicingCatholics it was 89 percent.

Nearly three out of four people said Pope John Paulwas a good candidate forbeatification. The numberrose to 90 percent among

Catholics polled

Nearly three out of fourpeople said Pope John Paulwas a good candidate forbeatification. The numberrose to 90 percent amongCatholics polled. About two-thirds of those

polled said they remem-bered the late pope's trips tothe United States. Almost half the respon-

dents -- and almost three-fourths of practicingCatholics -- said theywatched his funeral in 2005. Anderson, who worked

closely with Pope John Paulon various projects, said hethought the Polish pope hadchanged the concept ofsainthood for the modernchurch. By beatifying and canon-

izing so many people fromdifferent walks of life, An-derson said, the pope madesainthood seem possible. In his own life, said An-

derson, the pope made theChristian virtues tangible."You saw what really livingthe Christian life was about:forgiving the person whotried to murder you, askingfor forgiveness and seekingreconciliation with peoplewho had been hostile in thepast, showing respect likehe did for the religious lead-ers of the world in Assisi,"Anderson said. "So all of these different

ways were, I think, shapingour view of the Christian lifeand the 'heroic virtue' of thesaint, especially the saint inour midst," he said.

Poll: Americanshave admirationfor Pope John Paul

Maryknoll history traceslong, diverse path of service

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C8 Diocesan Life M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1

N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C 17

PHOTO BY BETTY STEELEBishop LaValley accepts the Offertorygifts at the April 14 Chrism Mass fromtwo Catholic school students.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C18

BISHOP TERRY

R. LAVALLEY

INSTALLED AS 14TH BISHOP

OF THE DIOCESE OF

OGDENSBURG

APRIL 30, 2010


By Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJDirector of Evangelization

Dominican Sister PatThomas, RENEW Interna-tional and I traveled acrossthe Diocese recently to offerthe Workshop: What Does ItMean to Be An EvangelizingParish? It was a participative work-

shop dialoging with thegroup in what it means to bea welcoming parish andsome steps to begin theprocess of establishing anEvangelization Team in theparish. Sister Pat presented an

adapted form of a Survey fora Vibrant Parish recentlypublished in U.S. Catholic. The purpose of the survey

was to identify statementsthat showed whether theirparish was a welcomingcommunity. After much discussion of

the survey, the groups’ nextproject was to think aboutfour questions to begin theprocess of an establishing anEvangelization Team in theirparish: • Who?—who are the

groups in your parish—nameas many as you can.• Who welcomes?—who

from those groups would bewelcoming, one who canspeak one on one, to be in-

vited to be on the Evange-lization Team• How?—what is the best

way to contact or invite thisperson to be on the team e.g.personal contact, telephonecall, invite to lunch• Who’s Missing?—who is

sitting by the side of the roade.g. RCIA, Confirmation,Young Adults, Divorced andSeparated.Sister Pat directed the

groups to take the followingquestions back to the pastorand parish council for theirconsideration:Do you want an Evange-

lization Team? Who would beyour contact person forevangelization in your parish?What are you doing in yourparish that you could do bet-ter? The Easter season is a very

ripe time to invite the RCIAteam to continue to reach outto those who have come intothe full communion of the

Church and to continue tomake them feel welcome.Confirmation will soon be

taking place in the parishes.How do we keep these youngpeople active in the parish?These are challenging timesin the life of the Church es-pecially at the parish level. The Easter season is a sea-

son of hope. The power ofthe Holy Spirit has beengiven to the Church. As afamily of faith-a communityof believers, we ask for thegrace of the Holy Spirit tocontinue to guide us in shar-ing our stories of faith tobring others to share theirstories. Sharing our stories of faith

is the language of the heartmaking present again all thatJesus Christ did for usthrough His life, sufferings,death, and resurrection.What “Great News” we haveto share and to pass on to fu-ture generations.

Pat LaBounty and Jean Martin of the Roman Catholic Community of Keeseville; Theresa Perry, and Marjorie Boissey, St. Alexander’sMorrisonville; and Father Donald Kramberg, St. Joseph’s, Dannemora and Assumption in Redford participated in the recent work-shop “What does it mean to be an evangelizing parish?” held in sites across the diocese.

Workshop explores howparishes can be evangelizing

In an era of rapid medicaladvances, an aging popula-tion and myriad ethical ques-tions surrounding the end oflife, the New York State Bish-ops are offering a guide toCatholics to help them asthey confront important de-cisions for themselves ortheir loved ones.Entitled, “Now and at the

Hour of Our Death: ACatholic Guide to End-of-LifeDecision Making,” the 15-page booklet explainsChurch teaching in this area,stressing the crucial moral

distinction between “ordi-nary” and “extraordinary”means of preserving life. In clear and familiar lan-

guage, the guide informsCatholics that they “are notmorally bound to prolongthe dying process by usingevery medical treatmentavailable.”Following the discussion of

Church teaching, the guideencourages Catholics to planfor the possibility of incapac-itation at a later date by des-ignating a health care proxy. A proxy form, which is in-

cluded in the booklet, can bea morally appropriate ad-vance care planning tool forCatholics to use to ensurethat their end-of-life wishesare followed in accord withtheir religious beliefs.The guide is published by

the New York State CatholicConference and was writtenwith the input of a commit-tee of moral theologians aswell as the bishops, who ap-proved the final document. The booklet is available in

PDF form atwww.nyscatholic.org. To order copies, call (518)

434-6195 or email [email protected].


May 5 – 7:00 p.m., Confirmation forSacred Heart, Massena; St. Mary’s,Massena; St. Joseph’s, Massena; andSt. Lawrence, Louisville at SacredHeart Church.

May 6 – 10:50 a.m., Mass at St.Joseph’s Home in Ogdensburg;4:30 p.m., Gathering with deaconsand their wives at Holy NameChurch in Tupper Lake.

May 7 – 10:30 a.m., Mass at theDeacon Winter Chapel followed bythe Diocesan Pastoral Council Meet-ing at the Bishop’s Residence in Og-densburg; 4p.m., Confirmation at St.Joseph’s Church in West Chazy.

May 8 – 9:30 a.m., Confirmation atSt. John the Baptist Church in Platts-burgh; 2:00 p.m., Confirmation at St.James Church in Cadyville.

May 9 – 6 p.m., Confirmation forHoly Name, Tupper Lake and St.Alphonsus, Tupper Lake at HolyName Church.

May 10 – 7 p.m., Confirmation forSt. Stephen’s, Croghan and St.Peter’s, Lowville at St. Stephen’sChurch.

May 11 – 7 p.m., Confirmation forOur Lady of the Sacred Heart, Water-town; St. Anthony’s, Watertown; St.Patrick’s, Watertown; St. Andrew’s,Sackets Harbor; Roman CatholicCommunity of Brownville and Dex-ter; St. Mary’s, Clayton; and St. Johnthe Evangelist, Lafargeville at OurLady of the Sacred Heart Church.

Bishop LaValley’s Schedule

This week marks the anniversaryof the deaths of the following

clergymen men who have served inthe Diocese of Ogdensburg

May 6 – Rev. P. A. Lynch, O.S.A., 1927May 7 – Deacon Thomas R.Finnegan, 1996May 8 – Msgr. Harold J. Martin, 1958May 9 – Rev. William J. McCormick,O.S.A., 1935; Msgr. Clarence M.Devan, 2001

Rest in Peace

The Diocese of Ogdensburg hasscheduled sessions for ProtectingGod's Children for Adults. Pre-regis-tration online is required in order toparticipate. Participants may pre-register at www.virtus.org by select-ing the registration button andfollowing the directions. All em-ployees and volunteers who partici-pate in church sponsored activitieswith minor are required to partici-pate in this training. Further infor-mation: Atonement Sister EllenDonahue, phone, 315-393-2920. ext.403.Upcoming programs:May 12 - 6 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi,ConstableMay 16 - 6 p.m., St. Alexander’s,Morrisonville

Protecting God’s Children

If you have a complaint of suspectedmisconduct involving diocesanclergy, religious, employees or volun-teers, contact:Episcopal Vicar forClergy - Rev, James Seymour at 315-393-2920 or the Victims AssistanceCoordinator - Terrianne Yanulavich,7061 Rt. 9, Plattsburgh, NY 12901-0310; Tel.518-561-3100; Fax 518-561-3003; e-mail:[email protected]

To Report Abuse

NEW ROCHELLE, NY -- A Mass ofChristian Burial for UrsulineSister Mary Thomas Maloney,91, a native of Constable,was held March 29 at the Ur-suline Province CenterShe died March 24 at An-

drus-on-Hudson. Burial wasin Gate of Heaven Cemetery,Valhalla.Born in Constable, she was

one of 13 children. She en-tered the Ursulines in 1937and professed final vows in

1943. She earned a bachelor’sdegree in English from Ford-ham University in 1943 anda second degree in elemen-tary education from Ford-ham in 1961.She is survived by a

brother, Henry. Two of hersisters, both of whom prede-ceased her, were Ursulines,Sister Priscilla Maloney,O.S.U., and Sister Veronica,O.S.U.She spent about 25 years

teaching in the Bronx, at St.Philip Neri School, 1941-1952; St. Jerome’s, 1953-1964; and St. Angela Merici,1964-1965.She later served in Malone

for several years as principalat Notre Dame ElementarySchool, Malone, and in herlater years was a pastoral as-sistant at Notre DameChurch and reading tutor.She also taught for a year inWilmington, Del.

Funeral held for Sr. MaryThomas Maloney, OSU

NYS Bishops release bookleton end-of-life decision making

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C 19

WASHINGTON (CNS) - - During theApril 27 National CatholicPrayer Breakfast in Washing-ton, speakers paid tribute tothe soon-to-be-beatifiedPope John Paul II and urgedCatholic participants to con-tinue his legacy of defendingreligious liberty and humandignity.

Speakers pay tribute to Pope John Paul II

Bishop William E. Lori ofBridgeport, Conn., urged theaudience of about 1,500 peo-ple, including politicians andCatholics from around thecountry, to take the messageof Pope John Paul's pontifi-cate to heart and not let it be"a flash of light that fades." In order to continue the

pope's insistence on reli-gious liberty, the bishopurged the crowd to remem-ber the plight of persecutedChristians in the Middle Eastand ask government leadersto speak out for those "per-secuted and killed for pro-claiming the name of Christ." Closer to home, he spoke

of a "subtle undermining ofreligious freedom in theUnited States," referring tohealth care provisions that"call into question the faith"of taxpayers and health careproviders opposed to abor-tions. He said U.S. Catholic bish-

ops are currently supportingthree initiatives that protectthe conscience rights ofhealth care providers. Too often, he said, reli-

gious freedom is viewed as a"carve-out" or a special grantby the state, instead of beingrecognized as an inalienableright. He said churchesshould be guaranteed morethan just their right to wor-ship when their role in serv-ing the poor and those inneed is so extensive. Whenthe church is inhibited in "itsability to deliver" services, itis "neither just nor reason-able," he said.

At nat’lprayer breakfast


M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C20 commentary

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

The bodily Resurrectionof Jesus Christ from thedead is one of the best-at-tested events inhistory. If we can believe

anything at all inhistory, we canconfidently believethat Jesus Christwas seen alive inthe flesh by a largenumber of eyewit-nesses. St. Paul tells us

that, at one time,there were over fivehundred who sawthe Lord. These appearances hap-

pened at different times andin different places over aforty-day period. These areestablished facts, and havewithstood attacks by manycritics throughout the cen-turies.Our first reading today is

the word-for-word speech ofPeter in the streets ofJerusalem to an astonished

crowd of onlookers. At first, they think that

the apostles must be drunk-then, after hearingthe words of Peter,they are distressedand fearful, cryingout for mercy attheir culpable crime -crucifying the Lordof Life. Most amazingly of

all, five thousandpersons were bap-tized that same day,the day of Pentecost.What a stupendous

beginning for theChurch !

Going back in time to thevery day that Jesus rosefrom the tomb, the Gospeldelights us with the amaz-ing story of the Road to Em-maus. When you think ofwhat actually happened -Jesus celebrates with themthe Liturgy of the Word. Hethen joins it with the Liturgyof the Eucharist at the Inn. Let’s take a look. These

two disciples were gettingout of Jerusalem, totally de-jected, walking along withtheir heads down, gloomilytalking about their brokenhopes in Jesus, when astranger joins them, askingthem what their conversa-tion was about. When they tell him the

news, he professes igno-rance, then says, “Oh, howfoolish you are! How slow ofheart to believe all that theprophets spoke!”

Then he began withMoses, and went throughthe Scriptures, and inter-preted for them their mean-ing. Fascinated, they invitethe stranger to join them forsupper at an Inn, since it isnow nearly sundown. He agrees, and surprises

them by taking the breadand wine into his hands,and quietly says the samewords He had uttered just afew days before: “This is myBody…This is my Blood…”.

They look at one an-

other, and recognize Him inthe breaking of the Bread!Then He disappears! No wonder they hasten

back to Jerusalem, burstinginto the Upper Room to telltheir story. No wonder theycry out, “Were not our heartsburning within us as He ex-plained the Scriptures to uson the way!”.What was the reaction of

the Eleven? They greet their message

with skepticism. It was onlywhen Jesus Himself ap-peared to them that they fi-nally believed. And it took even longer

for Thomas. It wasn’t until

the Holy Spirit entered theirwhole being that they em-braced not only the event it-self, but also the sufferingand the ridicule that livingtheir convictions wouldbring. Through the grace ofthat Spirit, they grew in hu-mility, prayer, boldness andcourage.Wouldn’t it be wonderful

if we could feel that sameenthusiasm each time wehear the Word of God atMass, and experience againand again the great miracleof Eucharist? The best part is that Jesus

doesn’t disappear after-wards. He remains on ouraltars and in our hearts aswe become part of Him,and, hopefully, hasten backhome to tell our friends howgreat God is to die for us, tolive for us. And then-- to share the

Eucharist through our loveand service is really whatthe Christian life is allabout.

Third Sunday of EasterREADINGS

Acts 2:14, 22-331 Peter 1:17-21Luke 24:13-35

May 8

MonsignorPaul E.Whitmore

The well-witnessed Resurrection of Jesus

THE HOLY LONGING

By Fr. Ron Rolheiser NCC columnist

Theologians sometimestry to simply the meaning ofthe resurrection by packag-ing its essence into one sen-tence: In the resurrection,God vindicated Jesus, hislife, his message, and his fi-delity. What does thatmean? Jesus entered our world

preaching faith, love, andforgiveness but the worlddidn't accept that. Instead itcrucified him and, in thatcrucifixion, seeminglyshamed his message. We see this most clearly

on the cross when Jesus istaunted, mocked, and chal-lenged: If you are the son ofGod, come down from there!If your message is true, letthe God verify that right

now! If your fidelity is morethan plain stubbornnessand human ignorance thenwhy are you dying inshame?

God's silence can forever scandalize us: in the

Jewish holocaust, in ethnicgenocides, in brutaland senseless wars...

And what was God's re-sponse to those taunts?Nothing, no commentary, nodefense, no apologia, nocounter-challenge, just si-lence. Jesus dies in silence.Neither he nor the God he

believed in tried to fill thatexcruciating void with anyconsoling words or explana-tions challenging people tolook at the bigger picture orto look at the brighter side

of things. None of that. Justsilence. Jesus died in silence, in-

side God's silence and in-side the world'sincomprehension. And wecan let ourselves be humblyscandalized by that silence,just as we can let ourselvesbe perpetually scandalizedby the seeming triumph ofevil, pain, and suffering inour world. God's silencecan forever scandalize us: inthe Jewish holocaust, in eth-nic genocides, in brutal andsenseless wars, in the earth-quakes and tsunamis whichkill thousands of people anddevastate whole countries,in the deaths of countlesspeople taken out of this lifeby cancer and by violence,in how unfair life can besometimes, and in the ca-sual manner that thosewithout conscience can rapewhole areas of life seem-

ingly without consequence. Where is God in all of

this? What's God's answer?God's answer is in the res-

urrection, in the resurrec-tion of Jesus and in theperennial resurrection ofgoodness within life itself.

God's answer is in the resurrection, in the resurrec-tion of Jesus and in the perennial resurrection ofgoodness within life itself

But resurrection is notnecessarily rescue. Goddoesn't necessarily rescueus from the effects of evil,or even from death. Evildoes what it does, naturaldisasters are what they are,and those without con-science can rape even asthey feed off life's sacred

fire. God doesn't intervene. The parting of the Red Sea

isn't a weekly occurrence.God lets his loved ones suf-fer and die, just as Jesus lethis dear friend, Lazarus, dieand God let Jesus die. God redeems, raises us up

afterwards, in a deepermore lasting vindication.And the truth of that state-ment can even be testedempirically.Despite every appearance

sometimes, in the end, lovedoes triumph over hatred.Peace does triumph overchaos. Forgiveness does tri-umph over bitterness. Hope does triumph over

cynicism. Fidelity does tri-umph over despair. Virtuedoes triumph over sin. Con-science does triumph overcallousness.Life does triumph over

death. And good does tri CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

The Resurrection: a vindication of God's silence

M A Y 4 . 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C entertainment 21

AT THE MOVIES

By Kurt JensenCatholic News Service

Tyler Perry's broadlydrawn morality plays, whichinclude the stage version of"Madea's Big Happy Family"(Lionsgate), have proven sosurefire with their targetedaudience as to be critic-proof. In these earthy, over-the-

top crowd-pleasers, insultsfly, family problems aresolved, children learn todefer to adults and short-tempered Madea (Perry in amuumuu) occasionally slapswrongdoers -- to wild audi-ence cheers. But there's a warm heart

somewhere as well as ahappy ending; the playsexist in a sentimental uni-verse of their own. In motion picture form,

however, the flaws becomemore apparent, and they'renot above criticism -- norshould they be. The problem is not in the

simple plot, in whichMadea's appealingly gentleniece Shirley (LorettaDevine) learns she has ter-

minal cancer and tries togather her three adult chil-dren -- Tammy (Natalie Des-selle Reid), Kimberly(Shannon Kane) and Byron(Shad "Bow Wow" Moss) -- ather house to tell them thebad news. The grown siblings, we

discover, are all locked indysfunctional relationships,sometimes with insolentchildren, while recently re-leased ex-con Byron is alsodabbling again in the drugdealing that landed him injail. The genuinely trouble-

some parts of this adapta-tion -- which Perry bothwrote and directed -- consistof bug-eyed characteriza-tions and comments that in-voke not so much old racialstereotypes, as newlyminted ones of Perry's owncreation. These begin with Madea's

pot-smoking sister AuntBam (Cassi Davis), who sup-posedly has co-matriarchstatus with Madea as amoral force, but spends thefirst half of the film in a lit-eral haze. There's a particularly ugly

comment, moreover, aimedby Madea at husband Joe(also Perry) when she refersto him as a "silverback." Worthy messages about

spouses respecting eachother, children obeyingadults and families learningto function as a unit whilebuffeted by the stresses ofmodern life get somewhatovershadowed by all thisunsettling material. Madea, to Tyler's credit, is

never as simplistic as theAtlanta milieu in whichshe's placed. Although she has no par-

ticular religious precepts ofher own -- she explains thatshe knows God is angry ather -- she fully expects herrelatives to live up to theChristian faith they professto have, and she manages toproduce a few fractured Bib-lical quotations along theway. Such an off-kilter but en-

gaged approach to religioncould yield some interestingresults; it's too bad they'relargely lost in a flurry ofslaps upside the head. The film contains mari-

juana use, some adult

humor, fleeting crass lan-guage and slapstick vio-lence. The Catholic NewsService classification is A-III-- adults. The Motion Picture

Association of America rat-ing is PG-13 -- parentsstrongly cautioned. Somematerial may be inappropri-ate for children under 13.

CNS PHOTO/LIONSGATEDavid Mann and Tyler Perry star in a scene from the film "Madea's Big Happy Family."

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20umph over evil, always.

Mohandas K. Gandhi oncewrote: "When I despair, I re-member that all throughhistory, the way of truth andlove has always won. Therehave been murderers andtyrants, and for a time theyseem invincible. But in theend they always fall. Thinkof it, always." wrote: "WhenI despair, I remember thatall through history, the wayof truth and love has alwayswon. There have been mur-derers and tyrants, and for atime they seem invincible.But in the end they alwaysfall. Think of it, always." The resurrection, most

forcibly, makes that point.God has the last word. Theresurrection of Jesus is that

last word.From the ashes of shame,

of seeming defeat, failure,and death, a new, deeper,and eternal life perenniallybursts forth. Our faith be-gins at the very point whereit seems it might end, inGod's seeming silence atJesus' death.And what does this ask of

us? First of all, simply thatwe trust its truth. The res-urrection of Jesus asks us tobelieve what Gandhi af-firmed, namely, that in theend evil will not have thelast word. It will fall. Goodwill eventually triumph.More deeply, it asks us to

roll the dice of our lives onthat trust and that truth:What Jesus taught is true:Virtue is not naïve, even

when it is shamed. Sin andcynicism are naïve, evenwhen they appear to tri-umph. Those who genuflectbefore God and others inconscience will find mean-ing and joy, even when theyare deprived of the world'spleasures.Those who drink in and

manipulate sacred energywithout conscience will notfind meaning and life, evenwhen they taste pleasure.Those who live in honesty,no matter the cost, will findfreedom. Those who lie andrationalize will find them-selves imprisoned in self-hate. Those who live in trustwill find love. God's silencecan be trusted, even whenwe die inside of it. We can live in faith, love,

forgiveness, conscience,and fidelity in spite ofeverything that suggeststhat they aren't true. Theywill bring us to what isdeepest inside of life andlove because God vindicatesvirtue. God vindicates love. God

vindicates conscience. Godvindicates forgiveness. Godvindicates fidelity. God vindicated Jesus and

will vindicate us if we re-main faithful as Jesus did.

---Oblate Father Ron Rol-

heiser, theologian, teacher,and award-winning author,is President of the OblateSchool of Theology in SanAntonio, TX. He can be con-tacted through his websitewww.ronrolheiser.com.

Fr. Rolheiser

MADEA'S BIG HAPPY FAMILYDeacon Brian Dwyer,diocesan director of youthministry, has announced thecamp staff for the 2010 sea-son at Guggenheim, thediocesan summer camp lo-cated in Saranac Lake.Casey Provost, of Chazy

will serve as camp directorand Allison Gratto, Mor-risonville, assistant director.The cook will be Alexa Cos-

gro, Plattsburgh.Returning staff members

are Christian Bobak, GrandIsland, NY; Jeremy Bobak,Grand Island, NY; SamanthaFazioli, Saranac Lake; EmilyGydesen, Croghan; MaryCatherine Jadlos, Platts-burgh; Erin Miner, SaranacLake; Alex Pacelli, Irving, TX;and Sam Racette, SaranacLake.The new staff members are

Rachel Daly, Peru; ReginaKessler; Whitehall, Penn.;Zack Leader, Gouverneur;Katie Sloan, Silver Spring,MD; and Eliza Zalis, Platts-burgh.The sessions for Camp

Guggenheim follow: For 12 - 15 year-olds, Week

1, June 26 to July 1; Week 2,July 3-8; Week 3, July 10-15;Week 4 July 17-22; Week 5July 24-29. Week 6, July 31 toAug. 5 is geared for 16 - 18year olds.Registration may be made

through the parishes of theNorth Country or online atwww.catholiccamps.org. Fur-ther information is availablefrom the Youth Office, 315-393-2920 ext. 411


Guggenheimstaff named

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C22 around the diocese

AGING IN YOUR OWN HOMELake Placid – Mercy Care for the Adiron-dacks, Will hold an an educationalforum.Aging in Place in Your Own HomeDate: May 19Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Place: Paul Smith’s College CampusSpeaker: Jonathan White, Architectural

Research and Design Associate at theCenter for Inclusive Design and Environ-mental Access. Features: The presentation will give an

overview of Universal Design, Visitabil-ity, and Resources for Home Modifica-tions. It will define the housingproblem, changing demographics, con-sequences of housing barriers, and ob-stacles to inclusive housing. Thepresentation will discuss Levels of Accessas an inclusive housing strategy and givean in-depth look at visitability. It willalso discuss housing designed for thelifespan and the IDeA Center’s homemodifications programs. There is no feeto attend the forum but pre-registrationis required by May 13. Contact: To reserve a place, please send

e-mail to [email protected] or call523-5583. Registrants will be acceptedon a first-come, first-served basis.

40TH ANNIVERSARY DINNERPlattsburgh – Champlain Valley Right toLife, Inc. is celebrating its40th year witha buffet dinner and program.Date: May 25Time: 6:30 p.m.Place: Emmaus Room at St. Peter’s

ChurchCost: $20Features: Dinner is by reservations only

and tickets will be available May 1st.Bishop LaValley will be the guestspeaker for the evening.Contact: Call or text Betty Buffett at

518-535-6640 for reservations.

BLESSED SACRAMENT ADORATIONKeeseville – The Keeseville Altar RosarySociety to sponsor Adoration of theBlessed Sacrament.Date: Every SundayTime: 1 p.m. to 4Place: Immaculate Conception Church.

SMA ZUMBATHONAltona – St. Mary’s Academy to have aZumbathon.Date: May 15Time: 1:15 p.m. registration; 2 p.m. to 4Place: Rainbow Banquet Hall

Cost: Adults, $10; 12 and under, FreeFeatures: Sounds by Xtreme DJ Sounds

Service. Raffles & more.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONPlattsburgh - Eucharistic Adoration isheld throughout the year every Wednes-day, Thursday, and Friday.

Place: St John's Holy Family Adoration Chapel,downstairsTime: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.Theme: “Because his faith was so

strong, [St.] Joseph’s mind and heartbowed in perfect adoration. Imitate hisfaith as you kneel before the humbleChrist.” (St. Peter Julian Eymard). Contact: For more information about

spending a special hour with Jesusweekly, or becoming a substitute, pleasecall 518-561-5083 or email us at [email protected]

CAMP BEDFORD OPEN HOUSELake Meacham – Join other Boy Scouts,Venturers, and Explorers at Camp Bed-ford’s open house and Beaver Day.Date: May 7Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Place: Located 23 miles south of Malone

on US Route 30 (3/4 mile north ofMeacham Lake State Campground ac-cess road).Features: Cleaning up campsites, trails

and other areas of the camp. Tour of the camp including visiting a campsite.Have a chance to meet the staff andGate Keepers. Enjoy lunch in the dininghall with a dish to pass and your ownplace settings.

Contact:Pre-Register the number ofyouths and adults that will attend by E-mail by May 1 with Cory Haynes:[email protected], 518-856-9656.

LIFERIGHT MEETINGWatertown - Liferight of Watertown willhold its monthly meetings on the thirdWednesday of the Month.Time: 4 p.m. Place: 312 Sherman St.Features: Liferight is a pro-life educa-

tional organization. The office hasvideos, books and educational materialswhich may be borrowed. Topicscovered: infanticide, assisted suicide, eu-thanasia and chastity.Contact: Phone 315-788-8480; website:

www.liferight.org.

INTERFAITH DAY OF PRAYERWatertown – Interfaith National Day ofPrayer to be held.Date: May 5Place: In front of municipal building

SPAGHETTI DINNERPort Leyden – There will be a spagehettidinner sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 92.Date: May 5Time: 5 p.m. to 7Place: Port Leyden Community HallCost: Adults, $6; Children, $3; under 5,

Free

ST. PETER’S ANNUAL FESTIVALLowville – St. Peter’s Annual Festival hasbeen schedule

Date: May 20-22Place: St. Peter’s Church groundsFeatures: Ontario Amusement will pro-

vide Carnival rides. There will be a specialSaturday matinee with unlimited ridesfor $12 per person from 1 p.m. to 5. Allweekend the festival will feature home-made food specialties including Shisk-abob, Clam Chowder, Fried Dough, andmore. Also “This-n-That”, a Giant BakeSale, and Games for all ages; includingBingo Friday evening at 7 p.m. The festi-val concludes on Sunday with a ChickenBarbecue with all the fixings. Take-outswill be available. Be sure to come earlybefore the Chicken runs out! Don’t leavetoo early; at 4 p.m. the drawings beginfor cash prizes totaling $2000.

SPRING SOCIALGouverneur – St. James Church to holdSpring Social.Date: May 12-14Time: May 13 doors open at 6 p.m.; May

14 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.Place: St. James groundsFeatures: Bingo May 13 at 7 p.m. Rides,

games, food, fried dough all three days.

FIRST FRIDAY ROSARYMassena – Parishioners of St. Mary’sChurch haveplanned a special Rosary.Date: May 7Time: 2:30 p.m.Features: Please join us in the Rosary to

Our Lady of Fatima prayed in reparationto Her Immaculate Heart and for WorldPeace. A 15 minute silent meditation onthe Glorious Mysteries will follow. Con-fessions will be available.

POTSDAM LIFE CHAINPotsdam – Stand United Pro-Life North-ern NY at the Potsdam Life Chain.Date: May 7Time: Gather and get signs at 1:45 p.m.,

then Life Chain from 2 to 3Place: Along Market and Main Sts.Features: This will be a visual statement

of pro-life witness that abortion killschildren and our support for the sanctityof human life from the moment of con-ception. We will gather at the parkacross from the Roxy Theater on Main St.rain or shine. Contact: Dan Paladin at 262-0222 or

Chris LaRose at 403-8123

K OF C BRUNCHNorfolk – The Knights of Columbus willbe sponsoring a brunch.Date: May 8

Time: 8:30 a.m. to Noon. Place: Visitation Parish Center; Take-outsavailableCost: Adults, $6; Children under 12, $4;

Under 5, Free; Family, $16

EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONMassena – St. Mary’s Church has sched-uled Eucharistic Adoration every Satur-day.Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

NOVENA FOR MILITARYOgdensburg - Notre Dame Church isholding a weekly novena for the safetyof U.S. military personnelDate: Tuesday eveningsTime : 6:30 p.m.

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONSOgdensburg - St. Mary’s is holding amonthly Holy Hour for Vocations.Date: Thursday before the First FridayTime: 8 p.m. to 9Place: Deacon Winter ChapelFeatures: Nocturnal Adoration of the

Blessed Sacrament continues throughthe night, concluding with Benedictionat 7 a.m. Friday.

GUGGENHEIM CLEAN-UPSaranac Lake – The annual clean-upweekend at Camp Guggenheim is set.Date: May 13 at 5 p.m. to May 15Contact: Dick Lynch of St. Joseph’s

Church in Dannemora, at 518-492-7583or email [email protected] for more in-formation and to sign up

CAMP REGISTRATIONRegistration for the two diocesan sum-mer camp programs – Guggenheim inSaranac Lake and Sportscamp at Wad-hams Hall in Ogdensburg is openGuggenheim dates: for 12 - 15 year-

olds, Week 1, June 26 to July 1; Week 2,July 3-8; Week 3, July 10-15; Week 4 July17-22; Week 5 July 24-29; For 16-18years olds, Week 6, July 31 to Aug. 5 isgeared for 16 - 18 year olds.SportsCamp: Basketball Camp: July 3-7;

Soccer Camp: July 10-14 Features: The camp director for

Guggenheim is Casey Provost of Chazy;Michelle Rosteck of Lowville will bedi-rector of SportsCamp.Registration: may be made through the

parishes of the North Country or onlineat www.catholiccamps.orgContact: Further information is avail-

able from the Diocesan Youth Office,315-393-2920 ext. 411

The North County Catholic welcomes contributions to “Around the Diocese”. Parishioners are invited to send information about activities to:

North Country Catholic, PO Box 326,Ogdensburg, NY 13669; fax, 315-394-0670;

e-mail [email protected].

Items must be received in the NCCoffice by the Thursday before publication.

ADIRONDACK

CLINTON

FRANKLIN

JEFFERSON

LEWIS

ST. LAWRENCE

DIOCESAN EVENTS


By Mary Lou KilianEditor

OGDENSBURG – Unlike most newbishops, Bishop Terry R.LaValley didn’t need to spendthe first few months after theinstallation learning his wayaround North Country roads.Hie didn’t need to match

the faces and names of hispriests.No one had to convince

him of the value of Guggen-heim or the North CountryCatholic or the particularneeds of the Catholicschools.Bishop LaValley was or-

dained and installed asbishop of the Diocese of Og-densburg, April 30, 2010,just 21 years after he was or-dained a priest for the Dio-cese of Ogdensburg.As he prepared to mark his

first anniversary, BishopLaValley sat down with theNCC to reflect on the past 12months.The year passed quickly,

Bishop LaValley said, as thedays have been packed withspecial liturgies, parish visitsand countless meetings fo-cusing on diocesan, state, na-tional and internationalchurch concerns.

Times of joyBut, for Bishop LaValley,

celebrating Masses at St.Mary’s Cathedral and in thelocal parishes has broughthim the most satisfaction asbishop.“It’s wonderful to see the

faith and the excitement ofthe people as they celebratein their particular parish,” hesaid. “Each of the communi-ties has its own personality,flavor… it’s so inspiring.”Bishop LaValley is also

grateful for every opportu-nity to visit the Catholicschools in the diocese.“I know the struggles that

parents and teachers face tokeep the schools open,” hesaid. “But then you walk inthe school and see why theydo it.”“These schools are so faith-

filled as they offer an excel-

lent education,” he said.“They are all such families offaith.”The bishop has also found

great pleasure spending timewith the clergy of the dio-cese. He recently completed a

series of informal “listeningsessions” with the priestsand starts a series with thepermanent deacons thisweek.“It’s a little different to sit

down with my brotherpriests and listen to theirconcerns,” he said,” but theyhave all been so supportiveand affirming.”The bishop has seen no

downside in being a localman, a former student, in

fact, of many of the membersof his presbyterate.“My brother priests have all

been very respectful of me ashave all the people,” he said.“The people are respectful ofthe office and they all seemcomfortable around me.”

Times of painHis most painful moments

as bishop have come duringthe funerals of priests whohave long been friends.It’s also been especially dif-

ficult to close parishes, hesaid. “When I stand in thesanctuary (during a finalMass at a church) and lookout at faces of generations offamilies – whose loved oneswere baptized, married,

buried in the church – I feelsuch helplessness.“It’s so hard to tell parish-

ioners that we need to closetheir sacred space.” he said.“But we only do it when wehave no choice.“We then assure the people

that the Church is still pres-ent,” he said. “They will still receive the

Eucharist. A priest will stillbe available for pastoralcare.”

Looking forwardAs Bishop LaValley looks

ahead to his second year asordinary, one of his respon-sibilities will be to assist thepeople of the diocese toadapt to the changes in theRoman Missal.He hopes the new language

“will help parishioners tofocus on the centrality of theEucharist and re-awakenamong the faithful an under-standing of the Real Pres-ence.”“We need to embrace the

centrality of the Eucharist inour lives,” Bishop LaValleysaid. He plans to release apastoral letter in the fall,prior to the Advent imple-mentation of the Missal.“In the letter I’ll address

not only the Mass changesbut also faith in the RealPresence of Jesus,” he said.The coming year will also

bring a continuation of pas-toral planning in the diocese,the bishop said.At the end of the month, he

will preside at his first ordi-nation as seminarianThomas Higman becomes adeacon. The bishop is also encour-

aged by the number of semi-narians expected to beginstudies in the fall.But, still, he said the vital-

ity of the diocese will dependon lay people “stepping for-ward, and by virtue of theirbaptism sharing gifts thatneed to be shared.”

PHOTO BY PAT HENDRICKBishop Terry R. LaValley lifts the chalice during the consecration at his installation Mass April 30, 2010. A year later, Bishop LaValleysays that celebrating special liturgies at the cathedral have been some of his most joyful experiences as Bishop of Ogdensburg.

Happy anniversary, Bishop

Bishop LaValley will lead a pilgrimage to Catholic sites in Italy March 12-23,2012. The North Country Catholic is sponsoring the trip which will includevisits to Venice, Florence, Sorrento, Capris, Pompeii, Siena, Assisi and Rome.While at the Vatican, the group will take part in an audience with PopeBenedict XVI and visit St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. “The pil-grimage promises to be a time for prayer and growth in our faith as we ex-plore the treasures of the Catholic Church in Italy,” the bishop said.

More information will appear in the NCC incoming weeks.Or Call 315-608-7556 or email [email protected] for details.

On Pilgrimage with Bishop LaValley

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C news 23

OBITUARIESKathleen Brousseau

NORWOOD - Mass of ChristianBurial for KathleenBrousseau, 71, wife of Dea-con Frederick Brousseau, washeld April 26 at St. Andrew’sChurch.She died April 22 at the

Hillcrest Commons NursingHome and RehabilitationCenter, Pittsfield, Mass. Burialis in Calvary CemeteryIn addition to her husband,

she is survived by three sons,Shawn and Cara Brousseau,Albany; Michael and MargoBrousseau, Minnesota;Charles and Lisa Brousseau,Ellicott City, MD; her daugh-ter, Katherine and KevinValentine, New Jersey and hersix grandchildren, Erin, Clark,Alex, Abigail, Megan andKasey. She is also survived byher two brothers, KennethMcGowan, Norwood andCharles McGowan, Potsdam.She was pre-deceased by onegrandchild, Tyler, and her sis-ter, Theresa Gallagher.Born in Potsdam on Sep-

tember 19, 1939, to the lateKenneth and Katherine TracyMcGowan, she graduatedfrom Ithaca College with a de-gree in Physical Therapy. Shemarried Frederick Brousseauon June 10, 1967. She workedas a Physical Therapist forthe Canton-Potsdam Hospitaland was assigned to theNursing Home. She retired in2000. Mrs. Brousseau was a mem-

ber of St. Mary's Church,Potsdam and St. Andrew'sChurch, Norwood and amember of the Altar andRosary Society. Memorial donations can be

made to St. Andrew's Church.

AuSable Forks – Rita M. (Pelkey) Bashaw,83; Funeral April 27, 2011 at Holy NameChurch; burial in parish cemetery.

Brasher Falls – Cecilia A. “Sally” (White)Curtis, 84; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Patrick’s Church; burial in St.Patrick’s Cemetery.

Carthage – Mark A. McKenna, 50; FuneralServices April 29, 2011 at St. JamesCatholic Church; burial in Fairview Ceme-tery.

Croghan – James Maurice Marilley, 86;Funeral Services April 30, 2011 at St.Stephen’s Church; burial in St. Stephen’sCemetery.

Hogansburg – Simon King, 83; FuneralServices May 2, 2011 at St. Regis CatholicChurch.

Massena – Michael E. White, 57; FuneralServices April 26, 2011 at the DonaldsonFuneral Home; burial in Kateri Cemetery.

Mooers Forks – Laura Ann (Hemingway)Rabideau, 46; Funeral Services April 30,2011 at St. Ann’s Church; burial in parishcemetery.

Morrisonville – Carl R. LeClair, 89; FuneralServices April 26, 2011 at St. Alexander’sChurch; burial in Whispering Maples Me-morial Gardens, Plattsburgh.

Norwood – Ross S. Germano, 59; FuneralServices April 30, 2011 at Buck FuneralHome; burial in Raymondville Cemetery.

Norwood – Ralph J. Prevost, 85; FuneralServices April 29, 2011 at the Buck Fu-neral Home; burial in Riverside Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Elizabeth J. “Betty” Han-

nan, 85; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Mary’s Cathedral; burial in St.Mary’s Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Catherine L. (McCartin)King, 92; Funeral Services April 27, 2011at St. Mary’s Cathedral; burial in St.Mary’s Cemetery.

Ogdensburg – Jenson P. Measheaw, 30;Funeral services April 23, 2011 at Fox andMurray Funeral Home; burial in St. Mary’sCemetery.

Peru – Joseph A. Alexander79; FuneralServices April 28, 2011 at St. Augustine’sChurch; burial in St. Augustine’s parishcolumbarium.

Peru – Jerome M. “Jerry” Downs, 80; Fu-neral Services May 3, 2011 at St. Augus-tine’s Church; burial in Norton Cemetery,Keene.

Plattsburgh – Dawne A. (LeClair) Can-ning, 75; Funeral Services April 26, 2011at St. Peter’s Church; burial in St. Joseph’sCemetery, Dannemora.

Plattsburgh – June Marie Vincent, 69; Fu-neral Services April 28, 2011 at theBrown Funeral Home; burial in St.Joseph’s Cemetery, Mooers.

Saranac Lake – Elzida L. Wilkins, 91; Fu-neral Services April 27, 2011 at St.Bernard’s Church.

Ticonderoga – Mary B. (Bessett) Fortino,83; Funeral Services April 27, 2011 at St.Mary’s Church; burial in St. Mary’s ParishCemetery.

The Society For

The Propagation Of The FaithSr. Mary Ellen Brett, SSJ, Director

622 Washington St., Ogdensburg, NY 13669(315) 393-2920; fax (315) [email protected]

The following reflection is the first of two parts Writ-ten by James Franke, a native of Rouses Point and grad-uate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, where hegraduated with degrees in Catechetics and Theology.James spent three summers serving on staff at CampGuggenheim in Saranac Lake. He now serves the FamilyMissions Company, a lay organization that trains andsends out missionaries to the ends of the earth to fulfilland live out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

---An early January morning, unlike the cold and snow I

had been walking through a week earlier, I find myselfarising early in the morning to begin my mission bywalking into the hot and humid jungle of the Amazon.Today I am going, with a number of religious sisters,

a priest and group of missionaries, to visit Tres Her-manos, a small jungle village a few hours away fromour mission base in Misahualli, Ecuador. Piling into the back of our truck and beginning to

drive into the jungle, we had no idea the day that wasawaiting us, what the Lord had planned. An hour later, reaching the literal 'end of the road' we

step down from the vehicles, put on our packs andbegin our hike.

The beginning of our hike seemed easy enough,trekking down a well trodden path, and making greattime, we began to think that we would surely make it toour destination within the hour. Slowly that dream ofours began to diminish and we realized the work thatwe had gotten ourselves into. The once smooth andeasy path was soon transformed into a winding and dif-ficult journey through the thickness of the Amazon,made more difficult only by the thigh-deep mud wefound ourselves wading through. What to many would have been a back-breaking blow

became for us a reason to rejoice! Songs of praise andworship began to echo throughout the jungle around usas we shouted out the glories of God. Encouraging andinspiration quotes and lyrics came to strengthen usafter the first and second hours passed and we stillseemed distant from our final stopping point. From Teddy Roosevelt saying, "Nothing in the world

is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort,pain, difficulty... I have never in my life envied a humanbeing who led an easy life. I have envied a great manypeople who led difficult lives and led them well." toChrist's, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must denythemselves and take up their cross daily and followme." (Luke 9:23), we began to realize that this hike wasvery much one of those crosses that Christ was speak-ing about, one of those worthwhile things that was inno way easy.

Please remember “The Society for the Propagation of the Faith”when writing or changing your Will.

www.dioogdensburg.org/missionoffice

‘He is here!’

NORTHCOUNTRYCATHOLIC

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The timing couldn’t be better!The North Country Catholic is

celebrating the first anniversaryof Bishop LaValley’s installation inthe same issue that we’re encour-aging every Catholic to make agenerous donation to theannual Catholic CharitiesMother’s Day Appeal.If I know Bishop LaVal-

ley, he’d want all the at-tention focused onCatholic Charities andnone on himself!Sorry, Bishop.We haven’t always made

a big deal about our bish-ops’ first anniversaries,but Bishop LaValley is noordinary ordinary. He’sone of us.And he’s done a magnificent job

hasn’t he?When a subscriber called to ask

– “could our parish place an adwishing the bishop a happy an-niversary?” – how could we say“no?” And how could we not open the

offer to everybody?So our pages this week are

filled with special greetings fromparishes and groups from acrossthe diocese.Right in the center, though, is a

two-page spread about the serv-ices and needs of Catholic Chari-ties.Bishop LaValley’s message in

support of the Mother’s Day ap-peal, illustrates why we feel so

blessed to have him.In very concrete terms, he tells

us how to change the world:“what it takes is each person mak-ing a choice to honor the Gospelmandate to love God and love our

neighbor,” the bishopwrote. “Our Baptismal callinvites us to understandthat charity and justiceare the foundation stonesof our lives as followersof Jesus Christ.“Catholic Charities

needs your financial andprayerful support to carryout this mission in theseuncertain times,” he con-tinued. “When it seemsthat everyone else isabandoning those in

need, that is the time for each ofus to stand up and assure thatour brothers and sisters have ac-cess to quality, professional serv-ices. “Every dollar counts,” he said.

You can change the world onekind and generous act at a time.You can make a difference in thelives of the men, women and chil-dren who find themselves in needof supportive services.”The first anniversary is tradi-

tionally known as the “paper an-niversary,” isn’t it?I bet Bishop LaValley would

agree that a nice piece of paperplaced in the collection basket onMother’s Day would be the per-fect way to mark the day.


MSGR. ROBERT L. LAWLERVice President

SR. JENNIFER VOTRAW, SSJSecretary-TreasurerMARY LOU KILIAN

Editor/General Manager

BISHOP TERRYR. LAVALLEYPresident

CHURCH: OUR FAMILY OF FAITHThe Journey to Emmaus -

Word and SacramentBy Sister Mary Eamon Lyng, SSJDirector of Evangelization

The story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a very famil-iar but powerful story for the family of faith to reflect on more deeply.This story is a celebration of both Word and Sacrament that is pondered,questioned, and shared.

There are two units that reflect the general structure of the earlyChristian assembly for the breaking of the bread, which included both adiscussion and a meal (Acts 20: 7-12).

The Stranger who comes upon the disciples listened carefully to theirhopes and dreams of their expectations of a Messiah who would setthem free. Their discouragement and sad hearts were not able to recog-nize the Risen Lord in the midst of their disappointment.

Jesus had a way of drawing out the disciples’ account of how wonder-ful things had been, how hopeful they themselves had been, and howtheir hopes had been recently rekindled. Their triple statement is bal-anced by a return to immediate reality as they now saw it, how Jesus’story ended in disaster, their former hopes were scrapped, and their re-cent glimmer of hope was disappointed.

The two disciples forgot the “must be’s” as this Stranger began to healtheir hearts with helping them to remember all that was foretold byMoses and the prophets. This Teacher interpreted for them how all theseevents were scripturally founded. Thus the narrative ends ratherabruptly and the traveler began to move on.

The meal narrative began when the disciples encouraged theStranger to “stay with them” as the evening was drawing near. Again,the Stranger draws out the disciples. He accepted their invitation. Thetiming was perfect because it was the time that Christians gathered fortheir assembly and the breaking of the bread. He unfolded who He wasin the breaking of the bread. The words evoked Jesus’ Last Supper andfunctioned like a title for the whole Eucharistic formula.

The eyes of the disciples finally were opened and they recognizedHim. And the Stranger vanished from their sight. Those who open theirtable to the stranger and share their possessions and who take on a self-giving attitude of Jesus recognize the Risen Lord and hope is restored.This was the message to Luke’s early Christian community who was suf-fering persecution and could no longer recognize the Risen Lord as theyhad in the past.

The disciples’ hearts were burning with joy, excitement, and zeal asthey hurried back to Jerusalem to tell their story of what happened.Their story must be shared with the community. Thus the mission of theChurch continues.

The story of our faith is grounded in the apostolic teaching and Peter’sprimary experience of the Risen Lord.

Reflect on this story and share with someone who the Risen Lord isfor you. Do you recognize that Jesus is always with you even in the mostdifficult moments of your life? Is there someone who needs your pres-ence who is struggling or hurting?

As a family of faith, the Body of Christ, we become the presence ofthe Risen Lord for one another.

Mary LouKilian

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Ordinary charity

CATHOLICNORTH COUNTRYNORTH COUNTRYThe Diocese of Ogdensburg Volume 66, Number 5

MAY 4, 2011

INSIDETHIS ISSUEWorkshop exploresevangelizing parishes l PAGE 7

Parishes care forcreation and thepoor l PAGES 10 & 11

POPE ISBEATIFIED

CatholicCharitiesannual appeal

Reflections onResurrection

On DivineMercy Sunday

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, BISHOP LaVALLEY

GUGGENHEIM STAFF: Director of youth ministry announces staff.... p.4

Christians must bring hope

FULL STORIES, PAGES 14 and 16

CNS PHOTO/PAUL HARINGAn image of Pope John Paul II is seenon the back of a bus outside St.Peter's Square at the Vatican April 28.Pope John Paul was beatified May 1at the Vatican, after the North CountryCatholic went to press. Full coveragewill appear in the next issue of thepaper. In advance of the beatification,papal biographer George Weigel said“Pope John Paul II deeply influencedgenerations of Catholics who knewhim in life, but his most enduringlegacy - his teaching - is somethingthat will continue to impact thechurch for centuries.” A new poll alsoshows the popularity of Pope JohnPaul II among Americans.

PHOTO BY PAT HENDRICKThis week, the Diocese of Ogdensburg celebrates the first anniversary of the ordination and installation of Bishop Terry R. LaValley as the 14thbishop of the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Above, Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan places the miter on the new bishop’s head during the April 30, 2010, cer-emony. Bishop LaValley reflects on his first year in an interview with the NCC on page 3. Parishes, schools and groups share special greetingsthroughout the paper.

Msgr. Whitmore and Father Rolheiser

write about the most important event

in the history of the world

The annual Catholic Chari-ties Mother’s Day Appeal willbe conducted May 8 in allparishes of the Diocese ofOgdensburg.The goal has been set at

$175,000. The theme for the appeal is

“You can change the World...one person at a time.”During the past year,

Catholic Charities servedmore than 20,000 people inthe North Country.Further information about

services in particular areas ofthe diocese can be found at:www.cathcharities.org

FULL STORY, PAGES 12-13

FULL STORY, PAGE 20

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians arecalled to bring hope, happi-ness and life to a worldmarked by despair, sadnessand death, Pope Benedict XVIsaid. Believing in Christ andhis resurrection meansbringing new life to othersand "dedicating oneself with-out reserve to the most ur-

gent and just causes" withGod's grace and his logic oflove, the pope said April 27at his weekly general audi-ence. For his catechesis,Pope Benedict looked at themeaning of Easter andChrist's resurrection for theChristian community.

"Faith in the Risen Christ

transforms existence, work-ing in us a continuous resur-rection" in which Christiansare called to renew them-selves every day by puttingthe values Christ taught intoaction, he said. Easter can be lived every

day "by putting to death thethings of this earth and set-

ting our hearts on the thingsthat are on high," he said,echoing a passage from St.Paul's Letter to the Colos-sians. By seeking what isabove and not what is onearth, the apostle was noturging people to scorn oralienate themselves from thereal world, the pope said.

M A Y 4 , 2 0 1 1N O R T H C O U N T R Y C A T H O L I C24 Back pew

YOUNG CATHOLIC VOICE

By Erick RommelCatholic News Service

Sendai, Japan, is a citythat many Americans hadnever heard of beforeMarch's devastating earth-quake and tsunami.Sendaiwas known as the City ofTrees; now it is known asthe city closest to theFukushima Dai-ichi nuclearpower plant. For the more than 1 mil-

lion people who live inSendai and the millions ofothers across Japan affectedby the natural disaster, oneof the most powerful inhuman history, the devasta-tion wasn't something thatthey saw on the news; it wasan unspeakable horror thatthey personally experi-enced, and one that will af-fect their memories for therest of their lives.

Imagine if a natural disas-ter hit the area surroundingyour town. Think of your fa-vorite restaurant, yourschool, the field where youlearned to play soccer. Nowimagine those places for-ever altered. Would you be over-

whelmed with thoughts ofthe last words you spoke topeople you care about andwhether those words wereworthy of a final farewell? Would you be able to work

or go to class without think-ing of those who used to sitbeside you, telling youjokes? Would you be able to fol-

low your regular routine? I believe that the answer

to each of these questions isyes. No matter what hap-pens, people always find thestrength to overcome, notbecause they are uncaring,but because that's who they

are. Hideki Matsuyama isone of those who found thestrength to overcome.When the earthquake hit,

the 19-year-old sophomoreat Fukushi University inSendai was in Australia.When he returned to cam-pus, the devastationshocked him. He had to ask himself if

he would allow the disasterto overwhelm him or con-tinue as normal a routine aspossible. Matsuyama is not just a

student; he’s also a top ama-teur golfer. In 2010, he wonthe Asian Amateur Champi-onship.

That earned him a spot atthe 2011 Masters, one of themost exclusive golf eventsin the world. At first, Matsuyama wasn't

sure that traveling to theUnited States was the rightthing to do. Then he

thought of how his talentcould inspire and encouragehis country, a country thatloves golf and adores its na-tional heroes. "I decided to play at the

Masters not only for myselfbut for the people whomade me who I am," he said."The Masters has been mydream. It's their dream aswell. Doing my best here ismy obligation for them." Matsuyama made the trip

to Augusta, Ga., teeing offalongside the best golfers inthe world. During the first two days,

he played exceptionallywell. He became only thesecond amateur to make thecut since 2005, and thatmade him the top amateurin the competition. Then he showed the talent

and skill necessary to in-spire a nation. He shot thebest round by an amateur in

10 years. He was one shotoff the best round of theday, shooting five birdies --three more than TigerWoods and only one lessthan South African progolfer Charl Schwartzel, theeventual Masters champion. Matsuyama finished the

competition tied for 27thplace. With his success, no one

could fault Matsuyama forbecoming a professionalgolfer, but that's not who heis. He'll return to FukushiUniversity when it reopensnext month. He plans tostay until he graduates inthree years. He's also preparing for an-

other golf tournament, thisyear's Asian Amateur. If hewins, he'll be back in Au-gusta again next year, onceagain proving that some-times winning is more thanjust the final score.

College student inspires earthquake-ravaged city

The Diocese of Ogdensburg Volume 66, Number 5 INSIDE ... Papers/2011/5-4...2011/05/04 · NORWOOD - Mass of Christian Burial for Kathleen Brousseau, 71, wife of Dea-con Frederick

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