The Southwest Kansas Register November 13, 2011 Page 9

+ Reverendo John B. BrungardtObispo de Dodge City

El Kansas Rural Family Helpline es una línea tele-fónica de ayuda sin costo para la población rural de

Kansas. Es un programa de servicio directo dedicado a ayudar con las necesidades de las familias rurales de Kansas. Este programa provee ayuda emocional, con-sejos competentes, referencias calificadas de manera confidencial directamente a familias rurales que estén pasando por dificultades emocionales, médicas, finan-cieras o legales. Estos servicios también se encuentran disponibles en español. Nuestro número telefónico sin costo es el 1-866-327-6578.

El Kansas Rural Family Helpline

La Voz CatóLiCa

Por DaviD MyeRsSouthwest Kansas Register

Vean las fotos en la Página 3.Nota del editor: Gracias

Especiales a Norma Álvarez por su función como intérprete y por su ayuda en producir esta historia.

Las puertas grandes de la Catedral de Nuestra Señora

de Guadalupe se abrieron y entró una pareja joven, Francisco Orozco y María Rojas (en México las mujeres casadas muchas veces guardan su nombre de soltera) con dos niños, un niño de 10 años, Francisco, y un niño de tres, Randdy, que dentro de poco tiempo iba enfrentar a una cirugía de corazón para despejar una arteria que estaba bloqueada.

Juntos, se arrodillaron en el Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y oraron por un éxitoso resultado de la cirugía y por valor para aguantar los días que seguían.

Era domingo, el 2 de octubre, y en el espacio de adoración en la catedral, el Obispo John B. Brungardt acababa de terminar su primera de varias sesiones semanales sobre la oración

mientras la pareja oraba sólo a unas yardas retiradas.

“Fuimos al doctor el viernes y nos dijeron que necesitábamos ir a Tulsa el lunes y tener la cirugía el miércoles,” explico María Rojas, la mamá de Randdy. “Nos dijeron que tenía que tener la cirugía lo más pronto posible porque tenía una arteria del corazón bloqueada. Así que fuimos a la iglesia a orar.”

Después de decir sus oraciones, la pareja se puso de pie y salió del santuario tranquilo que estaba alumbrado con velas. Entonces vieron na cara amistosa, Norma Alvares, la directora de educación religiosa de la catedral.

“El obispo estaba saludando a la gente que asistió a su sesión de oración,” Norma explicó. “Caminaron hacia mí y preguntaron si el obispo podía darle una bendición a su hijo, ya que iba a tener una cirugía y no estaba bautizado.

“El obispo me dijo a mí, ‘Este niño necesita ser bautizado,’” Norma explicó. “¡Así que bautizó al bebé! Yo tenía la cámara de mi teléfono y tomé una foto. Fue real-

mente algo. Fue un milagro que el obispo estaba ahí y que ellos estaban ahí.”

“Estábamos muy conten-tos,” dijo la mamá de Randdy. “Nunca pensamos que el obispo se ofrecería a hacer eso por mi hijo. Para nosotros fue como una bendición o un milagro ya que la nocheanterior estábamos comentando que nuestro hijo tenía que tener una cirugía del corazón y aun no estaba bautizado.”

Unos días después, el niño fue sometido a una exitosa cirugía del corazón en Tulsa. El procedimiento incluyo colocar una incisión de tres pulgadas en la espalda de Randdy y después quitar la sección de la arteria que estaba bloqueada y reconectar la arteria. Debido a la gravedad de la cirugía, la operación tenía que ser realizada en menos de 30 minutos.

Randdy estuvo en el hospital por cuatro días y ahora ya está de regreso en Dodge City donde su recuperación ha ido tan bien que muy feliz se disfrazó de ninja.

“Sentimos tanta gratitud y alegría,” dijo María con una gran sonrisa.

Encuentro bendito lleva al bautismo de un niño días antes de ser sometido a una cirugía del corazón

Randdy Orozco

“Estábamos muy contentos. Nunca pensamos que el obispo se ofrecería a hacer eso por mi hijo. Para nosotros fue como una bendición o un milagro ya que la noche anterior estábamos comentando que nuestro hijo tenía que tener una cirugía del corazón y aun no estaba bautizado.”

CIUDAD DEL VATICANO (CNS) -- La resurrección de Cristo no es

un mero símbolo de vida y renovación, sino que es una verdadera fuente de amor que conquista las fuerzas de la muerte, dijo el papa Benedicto XVI.

“El abismo de muerte se llena con otro abismo todavía más profundo, que es el amor de Dios, por lo que la muerte ya no tiene poder sobre Jesu-cristo ni sobre aquellos que, por medio

de su fe y bautismo, están unidos a el”, dijo el papa durante la Misa memorial del 3 de noviembre.

El papa celebró la Misa en la basílica de San Pedro en memoria de los 10 cardenales y 118 obispos que murieron durante el año pasado.

En su homilía, el papa Benedicto dijo: “El fruto del árbol de la cruz es una vida nueva y eterna, árbol que flo-rece y da fruto debido a la luz y fuerza

que viene del sol de Dios”. Para contrarrestar la fuerza negativa

del pecado, una fuerza más grande es necesaria, dijo. La respuesta es la fuer-za de un amor que viene directamente del propio corazón de Dios, que revela el último significado de la creación y que renueva y guía a sus hijos por el camino recto, dijo el papa.

La fuerza de resurrección que da la vida no es un mero símbolo, sino una realidad, dice el papa

David Myers/SKR Foto

(Parte 2 de 3)

Compasión. Mi lema episcopal, “lleno de compasión,” describe al padre en la

historia del hijo pródigo (Lucas 15:20). Compasión significa “sufrir con.” Una madre sufre con su hija enferma, un padre sufre cuando su hijo es intimidado o un sacerdote sufre con una familia afligida que ha perdido a un ser querido. ¿Pero qué tiene que ver la compasión con el uso de las nuevas traducciones de nuestra Santa Misa empezando este adviento?

Unos católicos están sufriendo durante este tiempo de preparación para las nuevas oraciones en la Eucaristía. La fuente y la cima de nuestra vida, la Santa Misa, está cambiando. Cambio. Algunos de nosotros no nos

gusta esta palabra. Nos gusta la rutina, la familiaridad, la consistencia. Sin embargo un sinónimo de “cambio” es “conversión.” Somos llamados a la conversión, cambiar nuestro paso al paso de Jesús, de nuestro camino al Camino, la Verdad y la Vida (vea John 14:6). Nuestro amoroso Señor, por medio de su Iglesia, nos está llamando a la conversión durante este tiempo de “nuevas palabras, pero la misma Misa.”

¿Cómo mostramos compasión a los que están teniendo problemas con este cambio? Sufrimos con ellos escuchando con atención y amor sus preocupaciones. Con compasión animamos a los músicos mientras ellos aprenden los nuevos arreglos. Tenemos paciencia con la carga del sacerdote, mientras lucha con estas nuevas

oraciones. Unimos nuestro sufrimiento y el sufrimiento de otros a nuestro compasivo Jesús, quien nos dio la Eucaristía en la Ultima Cena poco antes de sufrir el supremo sacrificio. Oremos estas nuevas palabras con un corazón compasivo. Jesús nos ayudará. ¡Él nos ama más de lo que podamos pedir o imaginar!

Compasión y el nuevo Misal Romano

Page 10 November 13, 2011 The Southwest Kansas Register

The Reading Room

“Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor and Laughter are at the Heart of the spiritual Life” by James Martin, s.J. Harper-

One (san Francisco, 2011). 247 pp., $25.99.

Reviewed by BRian WeLteR Catholic News Service

“Between Heaven and Mirth” uses biblical pas-sages, personal anecdotes and saints’ stories to show the importance of humor to the spiritual life. The book shows the psychological side to belief, and humor’s role in healthy spirituality. It is an easy read that moves quickly along.

Jesuit Father James Martin discusses joy, and its relationship to humor. He highlights Pope John XXIII, who was famous for his lighter side, espe-cially aimed at himself: “’Dear Pope,’ wrote Bruno (an 11-year-old boy), ‘I am undecided. I don’t know if I want to be a policeman or a pope. What do you think?’

“’My dear Bruno,’ wrote the pope, ‘if you want my opinion, learn to be a policeman, for that cannot be improvised. As regards being pope, anyone can become the pope. The proof is that I have become one. If you are ever in Rome, please stop by and I will be glad to talk this over with you.’”

The author makes the point that such humor can fight the vice of pride. Humor can also provide a welcoming atmosphere, as it often reduces tension and stress, making people feel at home when they are strangers. A well-timed witty remark can relieve the stress of a given situation.

The book’s many anecdotes show that religious people, even saints and popes, can be remarkably funny and good-humored. Visitors to Thomas Merton’s monastery could never pick him out, because he was always laughing and smiling. They assumed that such a prolific writer on the spiritual life had to be somber.

Father Martin invites us to a more joyful, joke-filled Christian life, because Jesus, too, loved to laugh and tease people, as reflected in his parables.

Father Martin adequately illustrates his argument through his many anecdotes.

By JOsePH McaLeeR Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- “The Mighty Macs” (Freestyle) is the

fact-based story of a women’s basket-ball team from a Catholic college who, through the grit and determination of their rookie coach, got a shot at the national title.

This old-fashioned, family-friendly film is “Sister Act” without the sing-ing, “Rocky” with basketballs, and “The Trouble with Angels” with Ellen Bursytn in the Rosalind Russell role of the mother superior.

The year is 1972, the feminist move-ment is picking up steam, and change is in the air. For Cathy Rush (Carla Gugino), 23 and recently married, this means searching for a role to play beyond that of dutiful housewife to her husband, Ed (David Boreanaz). A star basketball player herself, Cathy missed out on her own chance for glory, as her college eliminated the sport.

Against Ed’s wishes, Cathy takes a job at Pennsylvania’s Immaculata College (now University), run by the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The stern mother superior, Mother St. John (Bursytn), has no time for sports; she’s trying to keep the school afloat, fight-ing off appeals from the board and the church to close its doors. Impatient and irritable, she gives Cathy free rein to build a team from scratch.

This is Cathy’s big chance and, although not a Catholic, she is determined to fit in and succeed, inspiring a ragtag group of girls to become a fighting force by believing in themselves. They practice despite not having a court, with improvised uniforms fashioned from nuns’ smocks.

Cathy’s faith never wavers, as she hands out “We Will Be #1” buttons all over town. Help arrives in the form of the youngest nun, Sister Sunday (Marley Shelton). Like Cathy, she is struggling with her vocation, trying to find her place in a traditional world. She also shares an interest in basket-ball. The two bond, and Sister Sunday becomes the assistant coach, drawing out the older nuns to cheer the team on at games.

Against all odds, the “Macs” of Immaculata College make their way to their sport’s first-ever national championship game. Cathy not only saves herself and her marriage, but the fortunes of the college -- melting the cold heart of Mother St. John in the process.

Directed by newcomer Tim Cham-bers, “The Mighty Macs” is a feel-good movie offering lessons in friendship,

teamwork, trust and perseverance. For the most part, Catholicism is treated with respect, but it serves more as a colorful backdrop than a source for commentary.

Sister Sunday provides some harm-less comic relief. She lends Cathy a habit so they can qualify for free tickets on United Airlines. (“Second nun flies for free.”)

Explaining her call to the religious life, Sister Sunday expresses her love for Jesus. “That whole Cana thing?” she observes, “Jesus just wanted ev-eryone to have a good time.”

The entire family will have a good time at “The Mighty Macs.”

The Catholic News Service classifi-cation is A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

Here is the team photo from 1972: front (L-R) Maureen stuhlman, Rene Muth, Patricia Opila, Maureen Mooney, theresa shank, Denise conway; back (L-R) coach cathy Rush, Janet young, sue O’Grady, Janet Ruch, Judy Marra, manager Rene Mack. inset is Betty ann Hoffman.

The entire family will have a good time at ‘The Mighty Macs’

Marley shelton, who portrays sister sunday, and carla Gugino, who portrays head coach cathy Rush, star in a scene from the movie “the Mighty Macs.” the movie tells the story of the women’s basketball team at immacu-lata college in the Philadelphia suburbs that competed in the association for intercollegiate athletics for Women basketball championship in 1972. CNS photo/The Maximus Group

‘Between Heaven and Mirth...’ looks at theimportance of humor in spirituality

arts & EntErtainmEnt

The Southwest Kansas Register November 13, 2011 Page 11

Saints share their stories at Sacred Heart Church ‘Hall of Saints’

It wasn’t all saints, but a good number of them, who paid a visit to Sacred Heart

Church in Dodge City Nov. 1 in honor of All Saints Day.

Dressed as their favorite saint, fourth graders at Sacred Heart Cathedral School once again hosted their annual Hall of Saints.

Following morning Mass, the children, each with a sticker on their hand, lined the isles of the church. Other children, family and friends made their way around the church, gently pressing the sticker (but-ton) on the hand of the child.

Each child then launched into a brief history of which saint it was that the child represented.

at top, saints sat around the altar as Bishop John B. Brun-

gardt gave his homily. at upper right, elise Helfrich portrays

st. Margaret Mary alacoque. at far right, tyler scott por-

trays st. John of the cross as Father ted skalsky looks on. at right, nayeli villegas por-trays st. catherine of sienna.

Photos by David Myers and Tim Wenzl

around thE dioCEsE

Immaculate Conception Daughters of Isabella Circle #744, Great Bend,

recently honored two of their own with 50-year pins. Evelyn Kultgen (center),

pictured with Jeanie Hapes, regent, and Esther Thul, pictured at right, received a rose and a round of applause in apprecia-tion for their five decades of service.

At far left, past regents were honored for their service and leadership. They in-clude, front row: Norma King and Blanche Doonan, and at rear: Lorraine Rickert,

Barb Steiner, Mary Bayer, Donna Gales, Mary Tudor, Ann Lessor, Geri Menges, and Bernice Petz.

Daughters of Isabella, Great Bend, honor 50-year members

Page 12 November 13, 2011 The Southwest Kansas Register

Mary sharon Moore

Young adult/adult parish resource ...Awakening Vocations:

Vocation discernment fora 21st century world

$15/ea (bulk discounts) at:1.888.687.2046 | www.awakeningvocations.com

13-part audio series withMARY SHARON MOORE

vocational consultant &founding director of

AWAKENING VOCATIONS

13 sessions, 6-1/2 hours, one mp3 CD

Editor’s Note: This is a reflection from Kansas Church leaders on issues related to undocumented immigrants. Its purpose is to assist in the formation of consciences and to contribute to the public discussion on the topic.

Our country’s openness to immigrants is not in question. With the exception

of native peoples, we are a nation of immi-grants, many of whom came here to escape religious persecution, political oppression or poverty.

We are in fact a country famous for wel-coming immigrants. Consider the inscrip-tion on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” – this expresses what we want to say to others.

Welcoming immigrants is likewise part of our Judeo-Christian tradition. “You must befriend the alien for you were once aliens yourselves” (Deuteronomy 10:19). “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mat-thew 25:35).

What we are presently faced with, how-ever, is the need for a response to illegal immigration, issues related to people cross-

ing our borders at will, living and working here without permission.

This issue should be of concern for all peoples because of how it is related to the bigger issue of the rule of law.

As Christians, we are not indifferent to laws, the question of legality, or our duty to observe laws. Consider the biblical exhorta-tion: “Be subject to every human institution for the Lord’s sake … Give honor to all, love the community, fear God, honor the king” (1Peter 2:13, 17; cf. Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1).

The rule of law is important to who we are as citizens of the United States. It is a unifying force for a nation of people from diverse races, colors and creeds. This no-tion is even enshrined in a popular patriotic song: “America, America, God mend thine ev’ry flaw, confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.”

The basis of the rule of law is the sacred-ness of human life and the dignity of each human person. These values are enshrined in our country’s Constitution and are ideally expressed in the laws that govern us and are protected by our courts.

No one is above the law. Likewise, no person is supposed to be without the law’s protection. It is intended that laws be ap-plied fairly and equally to all people for their protection and to promote the com-mon good.

The common good can be understood as thinking not only of me, but of we as well; not only of mine, but ours too. We obey laws, which sometimes require us to deny an individual choice, and sometimes even

to forego a personal right, for the sake of the common good. Put another way, the rule of law is how love of neighbor is practiced in a social framework. Speed limits, paying taxes and immigration policy are examples of laws which promote the common good.

People must of course agree to obey the law. Without obedience to laws, selfishness reigns and there follows as a result either tyranny or anarchy; there is no peace, no prosperity.

In consideration of the above, thinking about the issue of illegal immigration, and hoping not to over-simplify the issue, there are several points for reflection.

Given the tyranny or anarchy that would result if the rule of law were ignored, obey-ing laws should be of serious concern to citizens and to undocumented immigrants alike.

Among the civil laws that govern the common good is a country’s right and duty to secure its borders and control in an orderly way the flow of immigrants.

Speaking of immigrants, every person has a right to emigrate, especially when those things needed to live in human dignity

– productive work and fair wages, food and shelter, educat ion and health care, and protection from harm – are out of reach in one’s na-tive land.

Moreover , a prosperous coun-

try, like the United States, has a duty to receive the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

But these rights and duties are not abso-lute. The right of people to immigrate and the duty of a country to admit immigrants are affected by whether or not there are adequate resources in the receiving country to be shared among all peoples.

The United States is only being respon-sible when it asks if there are enough resources available to respond to the needs of both those already in the nation’s family, so to speak, and those immigrating with the prospect of being adopted.

In this regard, exercising stewardship for the common good, deference should be given to those who are already citizens because, as they say, charity starts at home (cf. 1 Timothy 5:4).

So, what can be done in response to il-legal immigration?

We encourage voters to insist that the federal government bring about compre-hensive immigration reform. Such reform would likely include more effective ef-forts to secure our country’s borders. But a companion piece would be an improved admission process, one that does not in-volve inordinately lengthy waiting periods, which sometimes results in long separation of family members.

We also encourage voters to advocate for a practical and humane response by the federal government to undocumented immigrants who are already living here. It is just too simplistic to say to them: “What part of illegal don’t you understand?” It

also seems unworkable to deport all undocumented immigrants, telling them to go to the back of the line of applicants seeking legal en-trance into our country.

Perhaps, in keeping with the rule of law, a penalty com-mensurate with entering the country without permission could be imposed on un-documented immigrants. This could be part of a process to allow otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants to earn citizenship or gain legal status.

What else can be done?We might review our at-

titudes and actions towards immigrants. It is true that undocu-mented immigrants broke the law in com-ing or staying here without permission. But with the exception of criminal types, who should be arrested and deported, most undocumented immigrants are God-fearing, church-going, hard-working and family-oriented people, who just want to have a chance for those things needed to live in human dignity.

We should regard others without suspi-cion about their legal status, and behave towards them in a neighborly and gracious manner. In this regard, it would be wrong to take advantage of the legal status of un-documented immigrants, subjecting them on that account to poor working conditions or wages.

And why would we be anything but wel-coming and helpful, remembering our per-sonal and national stories? A yet stronger motive is given in the teachings of Jesus: “[I was] a stranger and you welcomed me … whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:35, 40). “Love one another as I have loved you,” Jesus says (see John 13:34).

Undocumented immigrants who are already living here can also contribute to turning things around, for example, by ac-cepting a penalty for entering the country illegally; obeying laws and paying taxes; and investing in life here by learning Eng-lish and the ways things are done in the United States, like flying our country’s flag on a national holiday. Such actions would not only contribute to their enjoying life and success here, but also show respect to others living here.

In this regard, the message God gave the prophet Jeremiah for the Jews living in Babylon is relevant to all immigrants, legal or otherwise: build houses, get married, have children, see their children married, and promote the welfare of the country, for upon its welfare depends your own (cf. Jeremiah 29:4-7). In essence, settle down and take part in life here.

This does not mean that immigrants for-get their native language and customs. On the contrary, our country is blessed thanks to the cultural exchange of immigrants liv-ing here. Cultural treasures, like language, customs, food, music, and festivals should be preserved in the home, churches and cultural associations.

Once again, the purpose of this re-

flection is to assist in the formation of consciences and to contribute to the public discussion on issues related to undocu-mented immigrants.

Much is at stake with the immigration is-sue, for example: the security of our nation (especially from the threat of terrorists); the vigor of our economy; the common good of our citizenry; and our country’s fame for being a place where people can find refuge and hope, just to name a few.

The issue of immigration is a matter of prudential judgment. As such, it is possible for people of good will to disagree on how our country’s immigration policy should be reformed. Any difference of opinion notwithstanding, perhaps we can agree that something must be done.

Furthermore, while we may propose different answers for immigration reform, there is no reason why we cannot engage in this dialogue with mutual respect and reasonableness.

Whatever is decided, the way forward for our country’s immigration policy should uphold the rule of law, protect and promote the common good, and give as much attention to duties as to rights (for example, securing the country’s borders and ensuring an application process that is fair and speedy).

All this will hopefully enable us -- citi-zens and immigrants -- to live together as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Rev. Barry BrinkmanDiocesan Administrator, Diocese of Salina

Most Rev. Michael O. JackelsBishop of the Diocese of Wichita

Bishop Gerald L. MansholtBishop, Central States Synod, Evangeli-

cal Lutheran Church in America

Most Rev. John B. BrungardtBishop of the Diocese of Dodge City

Bishop scott J. JonesResident Bishop of the Kansas Area of

the United Methodist Church

Most Rev. Joseph F. naumannArchbishop of the Archdiocese of

Kansas City in Kansas

A reflection from Kansas Catholic Bishops, Protestant leaders‘What can be done in response to illegal immigration?’

But with the exception of criminal types, who should be arrested and deported, most undocu-mented immigrants are God-fearing, church-go-ing, hard-working and family-oriented people, who just want to have a chance for those things needed to live in human dignity.