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Words of Wisdom Marriage between one man and one womanEditor's View by Mary C. Uhler Can one federal judge overturn God’s natural law and the votes of nearly seven million citizens of California regarding the definition of marriage? No, I don’t think so! U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker ruled recently that California’s voter initiative, known as Proposition 8, was unconstitutional. Voters approved this proposition in 2008 by a margin of 52 percent to 48 percent. It defines marriage as between a man and a woman, thus banning same-sex marriage.
Good Deeds
Portage students win CCHD contestBy Mary C. Uhler PORTAGE -- St. Mary School in Portage was selected as the diocesan entry in the 2010 national Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) Multi-Media Youth Arts Contest. Seventh and eighth grade students created a slideshow entitled "We Are Called." Music for the slideshow was a song created on Garage Band by a St. Mary student. Seventh and eighth graders were involved in researching the many organizations in the Portage area that serve their fellow citizens in need and how these groups foster social justice. They contacted people in the community, took pictures, and found out how each group helps those in need. The students then created a slideshow using the photos and information they gathered and submitted it to the diocesan CCHD Committee. They also shared the slideshow with the rest of the student body They learned a great deal about their own community and how they can serve those in need.
FALL CONTEST Year for Priests: Thank You, God, for Father! This year's theme was "Year for Priests: Thank You, God, for Father!" The theme was selected to highlight the importance of the Year for Priests, which was declared by Pope Benedict in June. The year reminds us of the importance of the priesthood in our lives and around the world. We received hundreds of wonderful entries that highlighted the wonderful work of priests in the Diocese of Madison. Thank you to all who participated. A slideshow of the top winners from each grade, published in the November, December, and January, issues of the Catholic Herald, can be seen by clicking on the image to the right. Keep reading the Catholic Herald!
Spotlight on Youth Catholic faith a source of strength for World Cup soccer playerBy Mark Zimmerman
WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNS) -- In the fall of 1995, a thin, fast soccer player named Oguchi Onyewu, wearing No. 5 on his red- and black-striped jersey, helped lead St. Andrew Apostle Parish in Silver Spring, Md., to a 4-1 win in the Catholic Youth Organization's varsity Mid-Atlantic Championship in Washington. His team later won the regional CYO title in Philadelphia. This summer, Onyewu, still wearing No. 5, competed for the U.S. men's national soccer team in the World Cup in South Africa. Now tall and strong and built like an NFL player, the defender returned from a serious knee injury for the team's opening match against England, one of the tournament's favorites. Playing with skill and tenacity, Onyewu helped neutralize England's dynamic offense, and the United States gained a 1-1 tie that proved crucial so the team could later advance to the round of 16. The U.S. team's World Cup showing was one of its best in decades. In a July 12 interview on the day after Spain beat the Netherlands, 1-0, for the World Cup title, Onyewu spoke about his own personal journey, which has been not only a story of athletic accomplishments but also an ongoing journey of faith. Part of the parish Onyewu, who had recently returned home to Maryland from South Africa, watched the World Cup championship game, then went to Mass afterward with his brother Nonye at his family's parish church, St. Paul in Damascus, Md. After Mass, the pastor, Father Joseph Pierce, shook hands with the brothers and welcomed them home, congratulating Onyewu for what he and his team had accomplished in the World Cup. Some parents and children who had attended the Mass also walked up to the athlete afterward to shake his hand, and Onyewu smiled and chatted with them. As on many Sundays, the congregation included youths still wearing their soccer uniforms. About one month earlier at the same late-afternoon Sunday Mass, days before the opening games of the World Cup, the pastor had encouraged parishioners to cheer for, and pray for Onyewu, whom he proudly described as "one of our own." Forming life values In his interview with the Catholic Standard, Washington's archdiocesan newspaper, Onyewu said his education at St. Andrew the Apostle School in Silver Spring, which he attended from preschool through eighth grade, "helped a lot in terms of discipline ... being instilled on a daily basis with religious values and with life values." Now 28, the athlete said his Catholic faith remains a source of strength for him. In good times and in hard times, "my faith gets me through," he said. Onyewu described himself as an "avid Catholic" who goes to Mass every Sunday. His faith is important to him, he said. "I'm a firm believer in God and his ultimate plan. I'm thankful for all his blessings and for the crosses he allows me to bear. I look upon that (the crosses) as a benefit. Everything is a learning experience," Onyewu said. He credits the example of his parents, Peter and Dorothy, for their influence on him and on his two brothers and two sisters. Onyewu's father played soccer in Nigeria before moving to the United States and attending Howard University. "I am what I am and who I am because of my parents," Onyewu said. "They are avid Catholics. Their teaching molded us to be family-oriented and close to each other." Playing on an international level After playing soccer at Clemson University in South Carolina, Onyewu played professional soccer in Belgium and signed a contract with AC Milan, one of Italy's most prestigious teams. He is looking forward to returning to the Italian team after being sidelined with his recent knee injury. Onyewu, who also played on the U.S. team at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, said the 2010 World Cup was especially meaningful for him. With his family roots in Africa, he was honored to participate in the historic first World Cup championship on the African continent. "It was special, (and) I cherished every minute of it," he said. Copyright © 2010 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Diocese of Madison, The Catholic Herald Offices and mailing address: Bishop O'Connor Center, 702 S. High Point Rd., Madison, WI 53719 Phone: 608-821-3070 Fax: 608-821-3071 E-Mail: info@madisoncatholicherald.org Web site created by Leemark Communications. |
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