12-18-07
Greetings!
I'm a big fan of sports, including college football (Go Badgers!). This year, Tim Tebow, a sophomore at the University of Florida, won the Heisman Trophy—given to the best college football player each year. Tebow had an amazing season---what is even more amazing, is that the doctors recommended that he be aborted because he would be born with disabilities.
Mother of Heisman Trophy Winner Tim Tebow Rejected Doctor's Advice to Abort Him
Heisman thanks God in award acceptance speech
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
NEW YORK, December 11, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won U.S
. college football's highest honour yesterday. If his mother had followed her doctor's advice when she was carrying him, he would be just another abortion statistic.
Tim's parents, Bob and Pam Tebow, moved to the Philippines in 1985 to conduct a Christian missionary outreach. While pregnant with Tim, Pam contracted amoebic dysentery through contaminated drinking water. Her doctor told her that the medications she needed to recover would result in irreversible damage to the child she was carrying. She was advised to have an abortion.
She refused.
Tim was born healthy and robust in 1987. His mother described him as "skinny, but rather long." Today he stands six-foot-three, weighs 235 pounds, and has been described as a physical and athletic phenomenon.
Tim was fortunate to be born into a family that has strong roots in their faith and a deep understanding of the precious gift that each life is not only to them, but also to the world.
The untold numbers of children saved from abortion, or even surviving abortion, that have brought their talents. skills and contribution to the world, like Tim Tebow, are a resounding testament to pro-life work.
In his acceptance speech Tim said, "I just (want) to first start off by thanking my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who gave me the ability to play football, gave me a great family and support group and great coaches and everything around me."
We're famous! Via the Dec. 2nd issue of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Travel Section"
Indoor indulgence
10 winter treasures to warm mind and body
By DONNA MARIE POCIUS
Special to the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Dec. 1, 2007
Truth be told, it gets cold - very cold - during a Wisconsin winter. So cold, in fact, that some of Wisconsin's less adventurous residents barely venture outdoors unless it is absolutely necessary.
Whether you can't stand the cold or merely want a break from outdoor activtiies, Wisconsin offers many indoor places to visit, too. Here are 10 ways to come in from the cold, along with ways to get more information.
……………………
Soothe the soul
St. Peter Catholic Church, Stevens Point, has a lower level space called Kolbe Hall. It's named for St. Maximilian Kolbe and features a carved image of the saint. The Polish priest suffered in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II.
As you enjoy this quiet time, note that the St. Faustina Room displays a new stained-glass window depicting St. Kolbe, St. Faustina, Pope John Paul II and more imagery. The late pope conducted mass when he visited St. Peter Catholic Church as a cardinal in August 1976.
www.saintpetercatholic.com or (715) 344-6115
Donna Marie Pocius, a Wisconsin-based freelance writer, writes about travel, decorating, the arts and business. Contact her at donnamarie@dcwis.com.
Archbishop Dolan to Lead Relief Services
WASHINGTON , D.C., DEC. 13, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Archbishop Timothy Dolan of Milwaukee has been appointed chairman of Catholic Relief Services, the overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. episcopal conference.
Cardinal Francis George, president of the U.S. episcopal conference, confirmed Monday that Archbishop Dolan, 57, will succeed Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, Florida, who has served as a member of the board for the past 12 years, and as board chair since 2001.
"We are excited to welcome Archbishop Dolan as our new board chair and look forward to his leadership in our mission to assist the world's poor," said Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services. "With his guidance, we will continue to work in the spirit of Catholic social teaching to promote the sacredness of human life and the dignity of all people."
Timothy Dolan was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and ordained to the priesthood in 1976. He was named rector of the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 1994, and named auxiliary bishop of St. Louis in 2001. He was named archbishop of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2002.
Note---Archbishop Dolan, on top of his duties in Milwaukee, is also the current administrator of the Green Bay diocese. It reminds me of a statement Bishop Listecki recently made, "since being named bishop of LaCrosse I have been in two states…..tired, and more tired."
A tale of 2 heroic priests:
Paraguayan Hero-Priest Dies at 93
Known for Keeping Peace During Civil War
ASUNCION, Paraguay, DEC. 12, 2007 (
Zenit.org).- Known as the priest who managed to turn back militants without any bloodshed during Paraguay's civil war, Monsignor Heriberto Vazquez died at 93, a national hero.
The priest died Dec. 4 in San Jose de los Arroyos. When he was ordained at age 23, he was the youngest priest in Paraguay. His people affectionately referred to him as Pa'i (father in Guarani) Vazquez.
Father Vazquez became famous because during the civil war which the country endured in 1947, he took upon himself the pacification of the opposing families warring among themselves.
During those armed confrontations between fellow citizens, he was pastor of Villa Real de la Concepcion, cradle of the revolution. "When the militiamen came to take the city by violence, the young Father Vazquez, before preaching, went out to them on foot, and turned them back to their homes without any shedding of blood," Pizzurno explained.
During his 70 years of priestly ministry, aside from his duties as pastor, he worked in education. In San Jose people still remember how he rode his bicycle, and with a megaphone, invited people to participate in the Eucharistic celebrations.
"Monsignor Vazquez's works," declared Pizzurno, "are examples of a life worthy of admiration, ultimately because of his high spirit of cooperation and fighting for the needy, a vocation which always identified itself with his priestly beginnings."
And he concluded: "With justified merits he is the spiritual father of the communities of Concepcion, San Jose de los Arroyos and Caacupé, where he left deep footprints of love."
(What a beautiful description of someone as seen in the last sentence…"where he left deep footprints of love." Amen.)
ANKARA , Turkey, DEC. 16, 2007 (Zenit.org).- An Italian priest was stabbed in the stomach at the end of Mass, the latest victim of violence against Christians in Turkey.
A police spokesman told the Reuters news agency that Capuchin Father Adriano Franchini, the superior of the Custody of Turkey, was expected to survive. Three people were arrested as suspects.
The stabbing occurred in the Bayrakli parish church, in Izmir.
Today's incident is another in a growing number of attacks against the tiny Christian minority in Turkey. Another Italian priest, Father Andrea Santoro, was killed in Trabzon in February, 2006. In January, a Christian journalist, Hrant Dink, was killed in Instanbul. And in April, three Christians were killed at a Bible publishing house in Malatya.
Turkey wants to be a member of the European Union, but many Church and secular leaders are asking better protection of the Christian minority before the request is granted. Only 0.2% of the nation is not Muslim.
Have a Blessed Christmas!
God bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
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