Martins A+ Rewards Begins October 7

Participation in the program offers Martins Bonus Card holders a no-cost  opportunity to support the Sacred Heart Academy's educational programs.  Participation does not affect your personal gas or grocery rewards accumulated under the Martins Bonus Card program. Persons who registered their bonus card in the program last year must re-register for this school year in order for the Academy to receive credit.

The Academy's ID is 00414.

October Mass Calendar

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
	1	2	3	4	5	6
	Special Intention (Jim Jones)	Holy Souls in Purgatory	† Anna Benda	† Mary C. Willis	† Avis Pearsall	Jean Drescher Visitation 12-1 pm Memorial Mass 1 pm
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
† Matthew McHale	† Erma Dunn	Holy Souls in Purgatory	† Virginia Smith	† Tony & Joanna Cherico	† Dorothea Anderson
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
Special Intention (Helen Izzo)	Special Intention (Janine Haas)	Holy Souls in Purgatory	† Rose McFerran	† Eileen Mason	Special Intention (Harold Barlow, Jr. and family)
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
Parish Family	Special Intention (Harold Barlow, Jr. and family)	Holy Souls in Purgatory	Special Intention	† Rose Proietti	† Eileen Mason
28	29	30	31
Special Intention (Mr. & Mrs. Francis Cassidy)	† Arthur Santinelli	Holy Souls in Purgatory	† Jack Roque

Notre Dame invites Obama, Romney to Speak

The University of Notre Dame announced that it has has invited President Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney to speak on campus during their campaigns.

 Rev. John Jenkins, the school's president, and student body President Brett Rocheleau addressed letters to the two candidates and their running mates offering Notre Dame as a "forum for serious political discussion." The university said the purpose of the invitations was to provide the campus community a firsthand impression of the candidates and their messages.

The invitations to the candidates continued a long-standing tradition established in 1952 by the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, in his first year as president of the university. Republican Dwight Eisenhower and Democrat Adlai Stevenson both spoke at the school. Others who have accepted have included Richard Nixon, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Joe Lieberman.

(From  INDY STAR.com)
Full text

Middle Eastern Religious Leaders Denounce Western Interference

During an event sponsored by the Iraqi Embassy to the Vatican Sept. 24,two religious leaders, an Iraqi archbishop and a Syrian-born representative of the Melkite Catholic Church, called upon western nations to respect the people of the Middle East and trust them to solve their own problems.

Their comments came during an event sponsored by the Iraqi Embassy to the Vatican. Ali Nashmi, a Muslim professor and historian spoke on the contribution by Iraqi Christians throughout history to the preservation of both eastern and western cultures.



(As reported by the Catholic News Service) 
See Catholic News Service  for full text.

Twenty-nine Women to Serve as Experts/Observers at Synod

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI nominated 45 experts and 49 observers, approximately 30% of whom are women, for the upcoming world Synod of Bishops on the “New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith."  The synod is scheduled for October 7-28 in t he Vatican.

The experts include priests, nuns and laypeople, many of whom are professors, rectors or supervisors of catechetical or pastoral programs.  Many of the observers are leaders of religious orders, founders or leaders of lay movements or large Catholic associations, or professors or organizers of catechetical and pastoral programs.

The experts from the United States include:

Sister Sara Butler, a professor of theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill. A member of the Missionary Servants of the Most Blessed Trinity, Sister Butler was one of two women Blessed Pope John Paul II named to the International Theological Commission in 2004

  Benedictine Father Jeremy Driscoll, a professor at Rome's Pontifical Athenaeum of San Anselmo and at Mount Angel Seminary in St. Benedict, OR

 Ralph Martin, president of Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor, MI., and director of graduate programs in the new evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit

  Sister Paula Jean Miller, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist and professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas in Houston

 Edward N. Peters, who holds the Edmund Cardinal Szoka chair in faculty development at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. A professor of canon law, Peters was the first layperson to serve as a consultant, to the church's highest court, the Apostolic Signature. He is also the author of the blog, "In the Light of the Law."

The 49 observers can attend all synod sessions, participate in the synod working groups and have an opportunity to address the entire assembly. 

The U.S. observers are: Carl Anderson, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus; Peter Murphy, executive director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Curtis Martin, founder and president of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students, "FOCUS;" Marylee J. Meehan, the U.S.-based president of the International Catholic Committee of Nurses and Medico-Social Assistants; and U.S. Sister Mary Lou Wirtz, president of the International Union of Superiors General and general superior of the Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

(from  Catholic News Service -- Carol Glatz)

USCCB NOW on FACEBOOK in ENGLISH and SPANISH

In addition to the English Language Version

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has a Facebook page in Spanish 

September 16th Bake Sale

 Click to enlarge

Today was Bake Sale day It did not take long to sell out all the goodies.
It also gave an opportunity to for folks to mingle and chat about the Glorious weather of the last few days.

Pope Benedict Arrives in Lebanon

Shortly before 2 p.m. local time today, Benedict XVI arrived at  Rafik Hariri Airport of Beirut, which is named after the former prime minister of Lebanon who was killed in a bomb attack in 2005

The Holy Father was greeted by Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, His Beatitude Bechara Boutros Rai, patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites; Nabih Berri, speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, and Naguib Miqati, prime minister of Lebanon.

The Pope's arrival was covered by all major news services. Here is a sample:

Catholic News Service

Reuters

Wall Street Journal  The WSJ article includes a slide show of the Pope's arrival.

Cardinal Dolan Speeks on Religious Freedom

Timothy Cardinal Dolan delivered the opening address at the conference,  International Religious Freedom: An Imperative for Peace and the Common Good, held on the September 12, 2012 at the Catholic University of America and co-sponsored by USCCB, Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and CUA's Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies.

At the start of his address, Cardinal  Dolan offered brief comments on the killing of the US ambassador to Libya and recent protests in Egypt.:“Yesterday's events in Libya and Egypt point to what is at stake,” he said. “We need to be respectful of other religious traditions at the same time that we unequivocally proclaim that violence in the name of religion is wrong.”

Excerpts from his prepared speech follow:

All religious traditions experience religious discrimination and violence, especially when they are in the minority of a population.  Baha’is, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and others all experience marginalization and persecution, but our experience as Catholics and Christians is especially relevant and timely.  Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, makes an observation clearly validated by objective studies - Christians are the religious group which suffers most from persecution on account of its faith ....

Christians are being persecuted and killed at an alarming rate in many Muslim-majority nations.  The 2012 Annual Report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom notes that in Egypt there is “a climate of impunity in the face of repeated attacks against Coptic Christians and their Churches.”  In Eritrea there are “an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 religious prisoners and reports of torture and other inhumane treatment” of these prisoners.  In Iran the theocratic government has targeted “Baha’is, as well as Christians, Zoroastrians, and Sufi Muslims.”....

The epicenter of violence against Christians may be the Middle East, but tragically it is not confined there.  The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reports that in Vietnam last year “there were marked increases in arrests, detentions, and harassment of groups and individuals viewed as hostile to the Communist Party, including violence aimed at peaceful ethnic minority gatherings and Catholics protesting land confiscations and harassment. ...



Cardinal Dolan concluded: "Americans generally, and our Catholic people especially, need to become better informed of the systematic challenges to the fundamental right of religious freedom in far too many countries.  The first freedom, which we too often take for granted in our own nation, even as we are vigilant in its defense, is under often violent attack in other nations with terrible human consequences."


The entire speech may be found here.

Pope to Visit Lebanon

On Friday, Benedict XVI will begin his twenty-fourth apostolic trip abroad, taking him to Lebanon. On Sunday, he is due to sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in the Vatican in October 2010.
Lebanon gained its independence in 1943 and became a regional centre for trade, business, finance and tourism. The expulsion of the Palestine Liberation Organization from Jordan in 1970 was a key moment in the country's history, as the PLO's political and military center moved to Lebanon where it became a catalyst for the tensions between the various religious communities. The Civil War between 1975 and 1991 wreaked widespread destruction on the economy and infrastructures.
Beirut has five dioceses: Beirut of the Maronites (episcopal see since 1577), an archieparchy with some 232,000 faithful under the care of Archbishop Paul Youssef Matar. Beirut of the Greek-Melkites (dating from the fourth century) and Jbeil of the Greek-Melkites (suburbicarian 1881), a metropolitan see with 200,000 faithful under Archbishop Cyril Salim Bustros. Beirut of the Armenians (1928-1929), metropolitan see and patriarchal eparchy of Cilicia of the Armenians, serving 12,000 faithful and led by His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX Tarmouni, patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians. Beirut of the Chaldeans (1957) with 19,000 faithful under Bishop Michel Kassarji. Beirut of the Syrians (1817), eparchy of the patriarchal church of Antioch of the Syrians with 14.500 faithful under the care of His Beatitude Ignace Youssif III Younan, patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians.
The city also has one apostolic vicariate, that of Beirut of the Latins which has 10,000 faithful and the vicar of which is Archbishop Paul Dahdah O.C.D.

from (VIS 13 September 2012 )

Vatican Embraces Cutting Edge Communication Technology

Vatican City, Sep 8, 2012  The Vatican's publishing house, Libreria Editrice Vaticana,  has teamed up with Apple to develop hi-tech methods for communicating the works of Pope Benedict XVI to the world via eBooks and iTunes.

 Father Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican’s publishing house, said, the venture  "represents an enormous step on the international stage because, as you know, internet goes beyond space and time.

 The  eBook format  of the pontiff's latest print volume, “Prayer in the New Testament,” will be accompanied by illustrations from the Vatican’s art collections. Father Costa noted that the illustrations  in the electronic version are of great value because readers can zoom in to examine the images and compare them with the texts for their own personal meditation,”

It is reported that USCCB is collaborating with the Vatican regarding publication of an English version of the Italian language editions.
(from CNA/EWTN News)

Women's Club Bake Sale September 16

The bakers are gearing up for next Sunday's bake sale.

 Delicious cakes, cookies and assorted goodies will be available after mass in the Narthex. Plan to stop by and buy a treat for your family. All proceeds will support the purchase of furnishings for Hobert Hall.

Closing Benediction at DNC

Yesterday evening, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, delivered the closing benediction at the Democratic National Convention.
The full text of the Cardinal's prayer may be found on the Catholic Culture website

Coffee Get together

The first Sunday of the month is coffee and donut day. The Men's Club sponsors a coffee and socializing event and a brief respite from eating healthy. Since this is the middle of the Labor Day Holiday, I expected that many folks would be traveling. That did not happen. The church was packed and the donuts went fast. And as the saying goes, "A good time was had by all."

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, Mourned

Vatican City,  - Today Benedict XVI sent a telegram of condolence to Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan, Italy, on the death yesterday of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, S.J., archbishop emeritus of that diocese, at 85 years of age.
"I received with sorrow", the Pope writes, "news of the death of Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, after a long illness that he lived with serenity of spirit and complete trust in the Lord's will. I wish to express, both to the diocesan community as well as the family members of the lamented cardinal, my deepest sharing in their sorrow, recalling affectionately this beloved brother who so generously served the Gospel and the Church. I recall with gratitude his intense apostolic work extended as religious dedication, this spiritual son of St. Ignatius, experienced teacher, accredited Biblicist, and appreciated rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Biblical Institute as well as caring and wise archbishop of this Ambrosian archdiocese. Also brought to mind is his competent and fervent service given to the Word of God, opening the treasures of Sacred Scripture more and more to the ecclesial community, especially through his promotion of 'lectio divina'. I lift fervent prayers to the Lord that, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, He may welcome this faithful servant and distinguished pastor to the heavenly Jerusalem and I wholeheartedly impart the consolations of apostolic blessing to all those who mourn his loss".

Likewise, Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone sent a telegram to Cardinal Scola expressing, in his name, in that of the secretariat of state, and in that of the entire Roman Curia, deepest condolences on the death of the cardinal who "witnessed and taught the primacy of the spiritual life and, at the same time, the attentive listening to the human being in its various existential and social conditions". The secretary of state recalled Cardinal Martini as an "expert and passionate scholar of Sacred Scripture, who knew how to teach it to and meditate upon it with all those who make up the people of God and all persons in search of truth".

(from: VIS,1 September 2012 )

 In the national Catholic weekly,, America,  James Martin, S.J.wrote in the blog, In All Things:
"Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, SJ, A great Jesuit, a renowned Biblical scholar, a former archbishop of Milan, a widely read spiritual master, a popular retreat master, and a one-time possible pope, has died at age 85.  Cardinal Martini had been battling Parkinson's disease for many years.  Among the people of Milan he was known as a sensitive and creative pastor, among his readers a brilliant writer and among Jesuits a lively, warm and witty friend.  May he rest in peace with the Lord he loved and served in so many ways."

Fr. Martin  appended an article which appeared in the Catholic News Service datelined Vatican City. Here is a link to that article.

BENEDICT XVI'S MISSION PRAYER INTENTION FOR SEPTEMBER

Vatican City  - Pope Benedict's mission prayer intention for September is: "That Christian communities may have a growing willingness to send missionaries, priests, and lay people, along with concrete resources, to the poorest Churches".
(from VIS 1 September  2012)