In Brief...

The Holy Father’s Intentions

Pope John Paul II has announced the following general and missionary intentions for April and May 2000:

April

That through Christians’ generous welcome, refugees and immigrants may experience God the Father’s goodness.

That the peoples of Africa, torn by discord and wars, may find in the Gospel the strength to repress any urge to revenge and violence and to open their hearts to mercy and reconciliation.

May

That Mary, Mother of the Lord, may be the model of faithfulness and generosity in following Christ.

That the Jubilee remembrance of the new martyrs may bring about a renewed springtime of missionary activity.

CUF Board Members on EWTN

Want to see CUF’s board of directors on TV? Watch EWTN.

Tim Gray is hosting a 13-week series entitled "Mission of the Messiah" that airs on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. and is replayed on Saturdays at 1:00 p.m., EST. The show, based on Professor Gray’s book of the same name (see p. ), is a compelling in-depth study of St. Luke’s Gospel.

Meanwhile, Dr. John Crosby, professor of philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville (see pp. 54-55), is hosting a 13-week series on EWTN entitled "The Philosophy of John Paul II." This fascinating look at the personalist philosophy of the Holy Father, which undergirds all his teaching, airs on Wednesdays at 4:00 a.m., Thursdays at 2:30 p.m., and Tuesdays at 10:30 p.m., EST.

And of course there’s always "Life on the Rock," one of EWTN’s most popular programs, which is hosted by CUF board member Jeff Cavins. "Life on the Rock" airs at 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. Friday, 1 a.m. Saturday, and 11 p.m. Sunday.

Who says there’s nothing good on television anymore?

For more information on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), write EWTN, 5817 Old Leeds Rd., Irondale, AL 35210, or call (205) 271-2900 , or visit its website at www.ewtn.com.

Welcome Inactive Catholics Home

In a statement issued earlier this year, Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli of Wilmington, Delaware, says that there are 17 million fallen away Catholics in the United States. "These are our sons and daughters, our spouses, our extended families, our neighbors and friends, the woman or man who works at the desk across from us—each of them a brother or sister in Christ."

Bishop Saltarelli reflects on nine of the principal reasons why Catholics no longer practice their faith, and offers practical suggestions for bringing them back home with the 45 million active U.S. Catholics.

He concluded his presentation with a special word to parents of inactive Catholics:

"I know how painful it can be for you when your children stop practicing their faith. You wonder where you went wrong, what you failed to emphasize, what you failed to explain. Instead of dwelling on what went wrong, take that energy and apply it to your prayer life.

"Often your adult child’s inactive faith can be a difficult subject for you to broach. Defensive reactions can be quick. You may have a tendency to lecture or to nag. Often the issue of Catholic practice may be tied up with delicate emotional issues between you and your children.

"Still, never give up. Pray for your inactive children and model more vibrantly your own Catholic faith for them. There can be opportunities for you to talk empathetically with your children about the benefit of returning to the Church. It requires a great deal of emotional calm, a supernatural spirit, and an intuitive sense of diplomacy and timing!

"Remember St. Monica, who never gave up on St. Augustine. She prayed for Augustine for over 30 years. During this period he restlessly tried a number of intellectual philosophies and engaged in self-centered, manipulative relationships. How painful it must have been for Monica to watch her talented son walk this self-destructive path.

"It was through Monica’s prayer that Augustine came home. We lift up our sons and daughters to the intercession of St. Monica and St. Augustine. We never give up on them."

For the complete text of Bishop Saltarelli’s statement, call toll-free 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484), or click here.

Bibles for Students

Catholic high school and college students now have a new resource for Scripture study that speaks their language. The International Student Bible for Catholics contains the official text of the New American Bible (NAB) plus over 40 articles and real-life application notes written by Paul Lauer, the editor of YOU! Magazine, a popular publication for Catholic teens.

Carrying the warning, "Use of this book has been known to cause radical positive life alterations," the International Student Bible for Catholics is the first edition of the NAB to focus primarily on reaching teen readers. With hundreds of study notes for Bible background and insight, the International Student Bible for Catholics combines the standard text of the approved NAB translation with contemporary commentary written in a style that is friendly to teens.

"The Bible is the most moving, exciting, life-altering book you will ever read," states an opening article. "Reading any other book is just a normal, natural event. But reading the Bible is a supernatural event! And that’s more than any New York Times best-seller can offer."

Topics covered in question and answer format include "Why Do I Need to Go to Church?" "Who Is the Holy Spirit?" "So Why Do We Have a Pope?" and "Why Am I So Lonely?" to name a few. Other articles discuss "The Seven Sacraments: Awesome Spiritual Treasures," "5 Reasons You Can Be Sure Jesus Is Risen from the Dead," and "3 Faith Builders when You Have Doubts."

The International Student Bible is published by Thomas Nelson, the largest publisher of Bibles and inspirational books in the English language, and a leading publisher, producer, and distributor of books, gifts, and stationery products emphasizing Christian, inspirational, and family values. For over 200 years, Thomas Nelson Publishers is committed to its timeless mission: "Honor God and Serve People."

The International Student Bible may be ordered by calling Benedictus Books toll-free at (888) 316-2640. CUF members receive a 10% discount.

Families and the Great Jubilee

Cardinal James Hickey of Washington offers the following suggestions to help celebrate the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000:

Slow the Train Down. Many families today operate at breakneck speed. Parents and children careen from one activity to the next with precious little time left over for family togetherness. I suggest that each family do an inventory of its activities and then ask some questions. Which activities are really necessary? Which ones could be dropped? How many hours (or minutes) do parents and children spend together each day? Do our work schedules rule out any meaningful family life? The Jubilee Year is a time to slow down and take stock!

Make Amends. The Jubilee Year is a time of forgiveness, reconciliation, and starting over. How many husbands and wives are "on the outs?" How many marriages are suffering from festering anger? How many children are estranged from their parents? The Jubilee Year is the right time to address such problems. In some cases it is a matter of making up, being more considerate, and opening up lines of communication. In other cases, the advice of a priest or trusted counselor may be needed. And in still other cases, when the family is truly dysfunctional, professional help may be needed. I urge you not to delay! Too many families are in crisis. Too many families are in danger of falling apart.

Pray Together. We might be surprised, even shocked, if we knew how few families say grace before meals (let alone eat together!). That’s a good place to start. Have supper together and say grace before you begin. But don’t stop there! Parents should also say morning and night prayers with their children. They should consider gathering the family together to pray the Rosary and plan together how to observe the season of Lent. If Sunday Mass attendance is spotty (or worse), the Jubilee Year is a good year to do something about that. Weekly Sunday Mass is essential. To miss Mass on any given Sunday is to risk spiritual starvation!

Be Interested in One Another. A strange suggestion, you might be thinking! Yet so many family members are isolated. Husbands and wives assume they know all there is to know about one another and stop being really interested in each other’s hopes, dreams, and fears. Too many parents don’t really know what their children are doing at school or with their friends. Sometimes parents assume all is well so long as their children don’t seem to be in trouble and their grades are reasonably good; that’s not always true! In addition, not nearly enough parents take an active interest in the faith-lives of their children. Theirs is the primary responsibility to transmit the Church’s faith to their children.

Do Something Special This Year. I’d urge you not to let this year pass without taking your family to a special Jubilee Year event. I’ve designated 10 churches and sites around the Archdiocese of Washington as places of pilgrimage. We’re planning a Eucharistic Congress in October. We’re having a variety of other "family-friendly" gatherings throughout the year. Please accept my cordial invitation to your family to participate in one or more of these events! I hope you will make a special effort to obtain the special plenary indulgence during this wonderful Holy Year.

—Catholic Standard

For more information on the Jubilee indulgence, call CUF toll-free 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484) or read our Faith Fact on the Jubilee.

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