Faith, science, family and service

C atholic
Trip to Holy Land
Bishop’s Message
St. Vincent’s housing opens
N O RT H E R N N E VADA
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
SERVING THE DIOCESE OF RENO
Faith, science, family and service
Diocese of Reno’s Annual
Conference set for Jan. 8-9
By Sean M. Grady
There will be one gift left to open a little
bit after the Christmas tinsel and New Year’s
confetti are cleaned up.
This time, the gift will be one of insight,
inspiration and information, given to the people
of the Diocese of Reno by the diocese itself.
As it has every year since 1983, the Diocese
of Reno’s Annual Conference will present a host
of speakers discussing ways Catholics can meld
the sacred and the secular aspects of their lives.
This year’s conference will take place Jan. 8-9
at John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks, which has
hosted the get-together for most of its 28 years.
“It is the singular diocesan-wide event for
the church in Northern Nevada,” said Monique
Jacobs, the conference’s director and co-director
of faith formation for the diocese.
This year’s theme, “Raise Your Voices! Go
Make a Difference!,” is in part a challenge to the
region’s parishioners to keep their faith an active
part of their daily lives.
“Catholics are notorious for learning things
until they’re 10, and then figuring that they’ve
been there and done that. They’ve gotten
confirmation in high school, and that’s the end
of it,” Jacobs said.
“But our hopes are that this conference offers
an opportunity for adults to reinvigorate their
faith on an adult level that is relevant to their
lives today,” she said.
This “been there/done that” mentality, by the
photo Provided by the Diocese of Reno
Vendors selling Catholic materials are part of the Diocese of Reno’s Annual Conference.
way, is the subject of a conference session Jacobs
will host Jan. 8 in the afternoon.
“Your personal faith can look as ordinary as
you do on the best and worst of days,” Jacobs
said. “How you encounter people in the store,
how you behave on the road, what your voting
preference is when you’re in the booth, how
you tip when you go out to dinner.”
The conference’s theme also is the subject of
the Jan. 8 evening keynote address by Father
Richard Fragomeni, a priest with the diocese
of Albany, N.Y., and a professor of liturgy and
homiletics at Chicago’s Catholic Theological
Union.
“He’s very well known, and a lot of people
are excited he is coming,” said Sister Maxine
Lavell, conference co-director and the diocese’s
archivist.
A typical conference draws 650 to 700
attendees from all corners of the Diocese of
Reno — which covers more than 70,000 square
miles of Northern Nevada territory — and from
Northern California, primarily the Lake Tahoe
region and Sacramento.
“That’s very exciting, because it cracks open
your faith world a little bit,” Jacobs said. “It’s
that sense that there are more people out there
who are concerned about the same things that
you are.”
As of Nov. 10, about 100 people had
registered for the conference, an average
number for this time of year.
“At this stage of the game, we’re pretty well
on track,” said Brianna Balmut, a secretary
for the diocese who is in charge of conference
registration.
“I get a burst of them in here around
Thanksgiving, because that’s the deadline for
early-bird registration.”
This year’s conference will feature a healthy
dose of science as well as theology.
Father Kenan Osborne, OFM, will host a
sessions on modern science and modern faith,
in addition to sessions on breaking through
boundaries and serving the kingdom of God in
daily life.
And Father Tad Pacholczyk, director of
education with the National Catholic Bioethics
Center, will host sessions on stem cell research
and cloning; on the medical and ethical sides of
techniques that help couples conceive; and on
end-of-life issues.
“He’s one of the main voices in the church for
these kinds of issues,” Jacobs said.
Pacholczyk, who has a doctorate degree
in neuroscience from Yale University, also
has studied the intersection of theology and
bioethics.
“He’s very well known on not just right-to-life
issues but on the right to life in the broadest
sense,” Jacobs aid. “His talks will cover the
beginning of life and the end of life, so it’s about
the respect of life all across the board.”
Other speakers include Barbara Coloroso,
a nationally known parenting expert who
See Conference on page 3
Northern Nevada Catholic is the newspaper of the Diocese of Reno • www.dioceseofreno.org
PAGE 2
CATHOLIC
N O R T H E RN
SERVING
THE
NEVADA
DIOCESE
OF
RENO
www.DIOCESEOFreno.org
IN THIS ISSUE
4
Senior members of St . A l b e r t t h e G r e a t s h a r e
Christmas memories.
6
Trip to the Holy Land i n c l u d e d s t o p s a t k e y
biblical spots.
hundred years a g o , a f i r e d e s t r o y e d S t .
11 One
Thomas Aquinas Chu r c h .
Publisher
Most Rev. Randolph Calvo, Bishop of the Diocese of Reno
Editor
M a u reen Angel
Writers
S e a n M . G ra d y, M a r t i n a B e a t t y, Sandy Isham, the Most Rev. Phillip
F. S t ra l i n g , K a t i e Wu l f t a n g e, E l i zabeth Reville, Karen Barreras, Linda
U g a l d e a n d J o h n E t c h e t o
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
Mary’s message was
one of love, acceptance
Col umnists
B i s h o p Randolph Calvo and Sister Maria, O.C.D.
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is published six times a year by the Diocese of
Reno. Offices are located at 290 S. Ar lington Ave., Suite 200, Reno NV 89501.
Telephone: 775-326-9410. E-mail: [email protected]. Web site: www.dioceseofreno.
org. Non-profit postage paid at Reno. All r ights reser ved. Reproduction in
whole or in par t without wr itten per mission is prohibited.
This issue of Nor ther n Nevada Catholic was produced by the Reno
Gazette-Jour nal Custom Publishing Group. For comments on this issue, call
775-788-6314 or e-mail [email protected]. To adver tiste, call 775-788-6246.
Letters to the Editor:
Letters to the Editor, with the writer’s name, address and daytime phone
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290 S. Arlington Ave., Suite 200, Reno, NV 89501
Letters also may be faxed to 348-8619, or e-mailed to [email protected].
All letters become the property of Northern Nevada Catholic and cannot be returned. Letters may
be edited for space and clarity and may appear in
subsequent issues.
By Most Rev. Randolph Calvo
S
ince last evening, hundreds of thousands
of pilgrims have converged on Mexico
City, while here in Northern Nevada
hundreds of people have gathered in
churches before dawn. They all have
done so to celebrate today’s feast of Our
Lady of Guadalupe, whose image is
cherished by the people of Mexico
and whose message brings a vision
of hope to all the peoples of our
hemisphere.
The Basilica of Our Lady of
Guadalupe in Mexico City has
the cloak — or tilma — of St.
Juan Diego that bears the image
of Mary. It dates back to the 16th
century, a time not long after
the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
The image on the cloak is not of
a European woman. This is not
the only thing distinctive about
it. Symbols from the Aztec culture
clothe and surround the young virgin.
Yet the picture is Christian: Its meaning
is found in faith in Jesus Christ while its
language is that of the indigenous people.
The face of the young woman also is unique:
it is neither Caucasian nor Indian but a blend of
the two. She is a “mestiza,” a woman of mixed
race, reflecting a new people born from the
encounter between the New World and the Old.
She is a bridge between the two. One race does
not dominate or destroy the other, but both
come together and radiate grace and beauty.
Many pictures of Mary portray her with the
child Jesus. Here we do not the see a baby;
rather, Mary wears a dark purplish belt high
above her waist, an Aztec symbol indicating she
is pregnant. She is carrying to this continent the
light of hope and promise — Jesus Christ.
In the story of Our Lady’s apparitions to Juan
Diego, we hear she wanted him to carry a
message to the bishop: It was to build a
church on the hill of Tepeyac. This was
done, and today a basilica is home to
the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
There was a deeper meaning,
however, to this message. It was
to be a home where all would
feel welcomed, respected and
loved. There no one would feel
estranged, afraid or denigrated.
All would share in the joy of
feeling safe and protected. All
would be treated with dignity.
This church she wanted built
was not just an edifice of stone,
but a people — the Church — in
which all are welcomed: the poor,
the rich, Europeans, Indians and
those of mixed race. There would
be no walls that separate people, North
from South, for there are no borders to God’s
love.
The image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a
powerful one, reminding us of God’s tender
mercy and love for all people. Our brothers and
sisters of Mexican heritage are not the only ones
touched by the gentle of face of the Morenita,
for it exudes love for everyone. And her message
still compels us to accord one another the
respect and dignity of all God’s children.
Victims’ Advocates
The Diocese of Reno has established special phone numbers
for the use of victims to report sexual abuse by priests or
deacons of the church while the victim was a minor. The
Victims’ Advocates listed have been assigned by the bishop to
receive these calls and assist victims and their families.
Reno/Carson area: Kathleen Shane, 775-826-6555
Elko area: Marilyn Janka, 775-753-9542
Toll free: 866-329-6009
By Sandy Isham
A
photo PROVIDED BY SANDY ISHAM
Mayor Bob Cashell (left), Bishop Randolph Calvo, Catholic
Community Services of Northern Nevada Executive Director
Peter Vogel, board president Brigid Sullivan and former executive
director Michael Ford participate in the ribbon cutting at St.
Vincent’s Residence.
occupied at 395 Gould St.
behind Renown Regional
Medical Center.
Established more than
10 years ago as a program
of CCSNN, St. Vincent’s
Residence offers both weekly
and monthly housing for as
little as $90 per week or $480
per month. The low fee makes
it possible for those who
are struggling to keep a roof
From page 1
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Make a D
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photo provided by diocese of Reno
Conference staff helped participants register at last year’s event.
they might have expected, the
organizers said.
“Some people actually have
gone into parish ministry
because of what they’ve heard
at these talks,” Jacobs said.
Even the busiest people who
serve as the event’s staff notice
its effect.
“I’m pretty busy on those
days; I’m running around, no
one can catch me,” Lavell said,
laughing. “But I see people
coming out of the sessions
who are excited about what
they’ve experienced.”
In addition to housing
for those in transition and
in compliance with federal
regulations, St. Vincent’s
Residence designated six of
its units for the chronically
homeless, mentally ill. It
works in cooperation with
ReStart and other community
organizations to provide
professional mental health
services in order for the
individuals to achieve their
highest level of self-sufficiency.
Funding for the new
building came from a State
Appropriation for Transitional
Housing, the Washoe County
HOME Consortium, the
Federal Home Loan Bank, the
Nell J. Redfield Foundation
and CCSNN.
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Conference
will host three sessions on
child rearing and teaching,
and Anna Scally, president of
Cornerstone Media, who will
speak on tying teen music to
Christian values.
The conference was started
in 1983 under Bishop Norman
McFarland at the former
Bishop Manogue High School
campus near the University of
Nevada, Reno. It always has
been a means for refocusing
area Catholics on their faith,
especially after the secularized
holiday season, the organizers
said.
And the people who attend
the conference often come out
having received more than
special-needs conditions.
St. Vincent’s Residence
also provides its residents
with support service in order
to help them become selfsufficient. Services provided
include crisis intervention
and basic-skills training
administered by an on-site
manager and monthly visits
by the CCSNN Emergency
Assistance program manager,
who is also a licensed social
worker.
Additional support services
include health care, such as
free health screenings and
immunizations provided by
the Saint Mary’s Take-Care-aVan, as well as employment
services provided by Job
Connection.
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Welcome
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
t a ribbon cutting
ceremony for the new
studio apartments
at St. Vincent’s Residence, it
was raining so hard outside
that Bishop Randolph Calvo
quipped there was no need for
holy water.
The downpour on Oct. 13
was a dramatic reminder for
everyone present of the basic
need for shelter, especially for
our downtrodden brothers
and sisters who struggle with
poverty and homelessness.
More shelter now is
available at a new three-story
studio apartment facility at St.
Vincent’s Residence, operated
by Catholic Community
Services of Northern Nevada.
The new facility will provide
safe, affordable housing for
low-income and special-needs
individuals and families. The
building contains 28 studio
apartments in addition to
the 25 rooms already being
over their heads while saving
enough money to eventually
move into more permanent
housing.
“St. Vincent’s Residence
is a safe alternative to life on
the street for individuals and
families,” said Peter Vogel,
executive director of CCSNN,
which operates St. Vincent’s
Residence.
“Many of our current and
new residents were once
homeless, and we are pleased
to be able to give them a
housing option so they can get
back on their feet,” he said.
Before moving into St.
Vincent’s Residence, people
must fill out an application,
show proof of income
eligibility and meet other
PAGE 3
St. Vincent’s adds transitional housing
PAGE 4
Spirit of Christmas past
Times were lean, but
holidays were happy
By Martina Beatty
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
G
enerations of Americans who experienced scarcity
during the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl and World
War II have a perspective on Christmas that can help
remind families today the holiday has very little to do with
material wealth, and everything to do with graciousness.
Getting creative and not overspending helped ensure that
each small gift was cherished.
Making and sharing food with
neighbors made each family’s
table more abundant, despite
droughts or wartime rationing.
Parishioners at Saint Albert
the Great Catholic Church
in Northwest Reno offered a
glimpse into this perspective
by sharing their childhood
memories of a holiday that — as
Sharon Upson Edwards said
— “was not about shopping”
but instead was “more about
families would go visiting.
Provided by Tony Rohde
togetherness.”
“People in Dayton would come visit each other,” she said,
Tony Rohde
Edwards was born on
“with boxes of cookies and cakes.”
Christmas Eve in 1936. As
Families shared what they had with relatives and neighbors,
she grew up in Reno, she regularly would spend Christmas at
especially during hard times, said Tony Rohde, who was born on
her grandmother’s house at the corner of Mayberry Drive and
a ranch outside O’Neill, Neb. in 1921.
McCarran Boulevard, where Walden’s
“My father was a rancher and he lost
coffeehouse now operates.
his land and his cattle in the Depression.
The dining table would be set
The Dust Bowl and the Depression hit him
beautifully with plum pudding and pies
all at once,” Rohde said. “We did what
made of venison mincemeat, she said.
we could, but you just made the best of
For music, her grandmother would play
it. Things were pretty scarce around our
the piano. Gifts and toys often were
house. Christmas was pretty scarce, but it
handmade; Edwards said her favorite
was always a great big day for us.”
Christmas gift was a dollhouse that her
On Christmas, Rohde said he and his
mother built.
family would attend church and then
“It was more homey,” Edwards said of
spend the day visiting neighbors and
Christmases in the 1940s.
relatives.
Christmastime brought out a
“Most of the people that we went to see,
community-minded spirit in Dayton
they were in the same boat my dad was,”
in the 1920s and ’30s, recalled Daisy
he said. “Some of them were worse off
Pagni, who was born there in 1916.
than we were, so Mother would take them
“My brother would go out and cut
eggs and milk and cream. We always had
a tree on Christmas Eve,” Pagni said.
enough food. Mother grew food, and my
“Then my sisters and I would decorate
brothers and I went hunting and brought
it with candles. There was no electricity,
back pheasants, rabbits and squirrels.”
photo By Martina beatty
you see.”
Hard times also meant people knew to
Sharon Upton Edwards
Gifts were exchanged and then
be appreciative of what they had and what
they received, Rohde said.
“At a little old country school house, there’d be a Christmas
program and we’d exchange presents,” he said. “Maybe it was
only a 25-cent thing. It was a small token, but we appreciated it.”
Some popular gifts when Rohde was young included ties
and pencil boxes; the hot gift in 1930s rural Nebraska was
the Eversharp pencil, a mechanical pencil that didn’t require
sharpening. If you received an Eversharp pencil, Rohde said,
“you knew you were at the head of the class.”
Christmas has since suffered from commercialism and
shopping frenzies that start earlier every year, Rohde said. The
long preparation time before Christmas can cause people to
spend too much.
“There are so many things people even go in debt for, for
their kids,” he said. “It’s overdone. By the time Christmas comes
around, you’ve already lost the spirit of it.
“The youngsters feel their parents owe it to them — that was
definitely one thing we didn’t think! I’m absolutely astonished
when I listen to the news and hear about all these credit cards
and things. How could people get to be thousands of dollars
in debt? I sometimes wonder what in the world they could be
thinking about.
“My grandfather once told me, ‘Never spend the last nickel
you have. If you don’t need it today, wait until tomorrow.’ There’s
always an emergency that comes up,” Rohde said. “That has
served me well.”
Rohde’s advice to parents today is to have children make a list
of gifts they would like, and then choose just one or two things
from the list. Too many presents and the debt they can bring can
spoil the charm of Christmas.
“All the toys they have today — we didn’t have things like
that,” Rohde said. “My dad would take Mother’s empty spools
of thread and make wheels for trucks. ... We never thought we
were being picked on, and my brothers and I certainly enjoyed
everything we had.”
photo By Martina Beatty
Daisy Pagni remembers the community spirit that thrived in
Dayton during her youth.
Peasant’s vision urges us to receive Good News
Sister Maria’s
column
records. He peculiarly was
well fitted for this task by
his apparent knowledge of
historical and literary methods
of the cultured world of his
own time, as well as by his
thorough familiarity with the
language of the Greek Old
Testament.
As a result of those two
streams of literary influence,
his work serves as a bridge
from the Jewish setting in
which the Gospel arose to the
Gentile world to which the
message was to be interpreted.
We are the descendants of
those first messengers who
brought the Gospel from
the narrow confines of its
beginnings in the Holy Land to
the ends of the earth.
Luke’s Gospel reading on
the third Sunday of Advent,
(Dec. 13) shows John the
Baptist at work in his role of
preparing the people for the
appearance of the Saviour. He
tells the crowds how God “will
renew them in His love.”
It is noteworthy on this
Sunday the Gospel is shown
Cathedral offers evenings of reflection on Christ’s birth
The Cathedral of St. Thomas Aquinas invites
everyone for a time of prayer and reflection on
the Incarnation, the birth of Christ.
On a night in 1223, St. Francis brought the
manger into the church for the first time at
Greccio, Italy, because the people had forgotten
the miracle of God being born in Bethlehem.
Father Tom Czeck, OFM Conv., will share the
Franciscan tradition and spirituality revealed at
Greccio. A Franciscan method of prayer will be
presented to use in this holy season of Advent
and Christmas to draw attendees deeper into
understanding the mystery of the birth of Jesus.
The program is at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at the
Cathedral, 310 W. Second St., or at 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 in Righini Hall. It will be presented in
Spanish at 7 p.m. Dec. 16.
Details: 329-2571.
as being preached to a wider
audience than the observant
Jews of the day. Tax collectors
and soldiers are seeking
salvation, and Luke is showing
them the way. Tax collectors
and soldiers, considered
sinners in that day and age, are
beginning to understand the
Good News is for them. And it
from such as these the message
For
unto
a
I dream? Am I awakening?
Where am I? Perhaps I am
now in the terrestrial paradise,
which our elders had told us
about? Perhaps I am now in
heaven?”
That same sense of wonder
can fill our hearts almost 500
years later as we hear the Good
News of salvation preached in
our day.
Let us hear the message
anew in our hearts and go
forth in the works of the
Gospel, mending brokenness,
seeking out the lonely, sharing
our lives, gladdening our
circle of friends and family,
welcoming strangers and
finding a quiet place to
contemplate the wonder of
this season.
us
is
2700 N. Virginia Street • Reno, Nevada
323-0133
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Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
known as the Virgin of
Guadalupe (Spanish: Virgen
de Guadalupe), which is
on display in the Basilica of
Guadalupe in Mexico City.
This celebration of the
inclusion of the peoples of
the Americas in the Good
News of salvation is a natural
outgrowth of the Gospel of
Luke. In the three-year schema
of the lectionary, we started
the reading the Gospel of this
evangelist as Advent began on
Nov. 29. It was Luke who took
on the task of developing an
encompassing view in which
the place of the church in
God’s over-all purpose would
be depicted.
The modifications he has
made in the re-telling of the
life of Jesus are most clear
where we have parallel events
from Mark and Matthew with
which to compare Luke’s
handling of the material.
But the special interests
and even the distinctive
vocabulary of Luke can be
detected in material that he
alone among the evangelists
went forth eventually to the
Americas and to a simple
peasant, Juan Diego.
On the fourth and final
Sunday of Advent (Dec. 20),
the liturgy recounts Luke’s
story of the journey of Mary
to her cousin Elizabeth, who
also was with child. As Mary
approached, Elizabeth’s child
within “leapt with joy”: The
unrestrained joy as the Old
Covenant’s promise gives
way to fulfillment in the New
Testament birth of the Messiah
challenges us to be ready
in our own day to celebrate
Christ’s coming.
When Juan Diego stopped
at the top of Tepeyac he said
to himself, “By fortune, am I
worthy of what I hear? Maybe
PAGE 5
Many years ago, our
theology teacher asked us:
“Why do you think the
painters of Renaissance
Madonnas made them look
very similar to the people of
that time?”
Answer: It was a theological
statement: “The Word became
flesh among us Italians.”
Today we celebrate the Feast
of our Lady of Guadalupe:
Our contemporary statement
that “the Word became flesh
among the peoples of the
Americas.”
The Feast of Our Lady of
Guadalupe (Spanish: Nuestra
Señora de Guadalupe) recalls
a famous Marian apparition
when Mary appeared to
Saint Juan Diego on the hill
of Tepeyac near Mexico City
between Dec. 9-12, 1531.
At the fourth apparition,
Mary told Juan Diego to climb
the hill, and when he reached
the summit, he was amazed to
see many varieties of exquisite
rosas de Castilla that were
blooming, long before the time
when they normally bud. He
gathered them all and placed
them in his tilma. At the
bishop’s home, he unfolded
the white cloth containing the
flowers. When the rosas de
Castilla scattered on the floor,
suddenly there appeared the
image of Mary on the cloak.
Today’s celebration
remembers this 16th-century
icon of the Virgin Mary
PAGE 6
Reno Knights, Ladies made Holy Land pilgrimage
By Most Rev. Phillip F.
Straling
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
R
eno Knights and
Ladies of the
Equestrian Order of
the Holy Sepulchre received
the pilgrim’s shell from
His Beatitude Fuoad Twal,
patriarch of Jerusalem.
The ceremony took place
Oct. 20 at the Pastoral Center
of the Patriarch, located in the
old walled city of Jerusalem.
There were 46 pilgrims
on the trip to the Holy Land,
23 being members of the
Equestrian Order of the
Knights and Ladies of the Holy
Sepulchre, including two from
Georgia. The Reno members of
the Equestrian Order planned
the pilgrimage, fulfilling one
of the goals of the order to visit
the Holy Land.
Cardinal John Foley, the
Grand Knight of the Order,
recently reminded Knights
and Ladies that by visiting the
holy places, they support the
Christians living there.
He called these Christians
“ ‘living stones,’ because of
their testimony to our faith in
the land where the Lord lived
and preached, died and rose
from the dead. We read or
see in the news almost every
day accounts of the tragic
struggle being played out in
the land our Lord made sacred
Knights and Ladies of the Equestiian Order of the Holy Sepulchre
gives tuition help to students at St. Joseph Parish School in Jordan.
photoS By the Most Rev. phillip f. straling
Bishop Randolph Calvo, left, and the Most Rev. Phillip F. Straling celebrated Mass daily at different
biblical locations as part of a Holy Land pilgrimmage.
by his holy presence. And
so, we must continue to be
instruments of his peace.”
As part of the pilgrimage,
the Knights and Ladies of the
order made a solemn entry
into the Holy Sepulchre.
Members of the order wore
their formal attire and were
accompanied by Franciscan
Friars and others on the Reno
pilgrimage.
The procession into the
Holy Sepulchre was made
using candles, incense
A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee was part of the trip.
and song. Each one in the
solemn procession, upon
entering the church, then
entered the sacred grotto,
where it is believed Christ’s
body was placed in death
after the crucifixion and the
resurrection took place.
Pilgrims on this 14-day
pilgrimage visited many
holy places associated with
the life, teaching, death,
resurrection and ascension of
Jesus. Scripture was read at
the various sites visited, and a
daily Mass was celebrated each
day at a holy place.
The Scripture readings
allowed pilgrims to associate
the text with the actual
location where the events
recorded in the scripture took
place.
It also was a time for
personal prayer and reflection.
As an example, married
couples on the pilgrimage
were able to renew their
marriage vows at Cana, and
pilgrims visiting the banks of
the Jordan River were able to
dip or step into it, renewing
their baptismal promises
at the place where John the
Baptist preached and Jesus was
baptized.
Meeting Catholics and
Christians of the Holy Land
was part of the pilgrimage
for Knights and Ladies of
the Holy Sepulchre. Projects
supported by the order were
visited, including Bethlehem
University, St. Mary Hospital
and the Seminary of the Latin
Patriarch.
While in Jordan, a visit
was made to St. Joseph Parish
School and Catholic High
School. The Knights and
Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre
support these schools by
providing tuition assistance.
It was most rewarding to
actually visit children being
aided by your contributions,
knowing you are helping
give them an education in a
Catholic school. The children’s
reaction to the visit was like
children in any school — they
welcomed the distraction from
class work by the 46 visiting
American pilgrims.
A trip to the Holy Land from
Reno is a distant one. It takes
some 17 hours in the air, not
counting time at airports.
After returning home and
recovery from jet lag, the
lasting treasure will come
when hearing and reading the
Scriptures.
Memories of having been
in those actual locations are
the blessings and grace for
everyone having made a
pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
The pilgrims visited the Garden of Olives in Gethsemane.
JustFaith explores
Little Flower council
social-justice issues gives back to world
PAGE 7
By Katie Wulftange
By Elizabeth Reville
O
who candidly share their
personal struggles of poverty
and powerlessness. It is then
the foundation of Catholic
social teaching — a person’s
dignity — becomes very real.
As well as continuing with
social-justice education,
JustFaith graduates recently
participated in the fourth
annual Carson City Health and
Human Services Homeless
Connect. They provided a hot
breakfast for the homeless
and distributed clothing and
beautifully knitted blankets,
hats and mittens, which were
donated by the Yarn Crafters
of Carson City. The Homeless
Connect was an opportunity to
network with local community
organizations that provide
assistance to the homeless and
working poor.
For further information
about JustFaith Ministries,
visit the Web site: www.
justfaith.org. For questions
about JustFaith locally, contact
Rita Sloan at rwrksloan@
hotmail.com. Also see the Life,
Peace and Justice link on the
“Ministries” tab at the Web
site: dioceseofreno.org.
O
n the first day
of school, Little
Flower School
students watched a skit, “Put
on the Whole Armor of God,”
by the student council.
Led by president
Julianna Jaime, members
of the student council read
Ephesians 6: 10-18, while
Katherine Swezey, chair of
religious affairs, donned the
belt of truth, the shoes of
proclamation and the shield
of faith, demonstrating the
importance of being ready in
both body and spirit each day.
Moderated by Carolin
Doran, the 2009-10
student council is highly
motivated and creative in its
engagement with the school
community. Each morning,
all students participate in
Pledge of Allegiance and
daily prayer led by Katherine
Swezey. Grant Haley, school
spirit chair, regularly updates
students on the progress of
volleyball and basketball
teams.
By sponsoring “$1 Free
Dress” days, the Little Flower
By Katie Wulftange
The Little Flower School student council is (from left, front row)
Lauren Schutz, Shayla Wagner, Katie Shultz and Cassandra
Johnson. In the back are Julianna Jaime and Tiana Mitts.
student council raised $250
for relief in the Philippines,
which was devastated by
recent storms. On Nov. 9,
council members donated
$150 to the Veteran’s House.
Selling school supplies
and participating in the
Parish Festival encourages
active participation of the
whole student body, led by
student council, to help our
community and the world.
Catholic Schools Week,
sponsored by the National
Catholic Education
Association, has designated
Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 as the official
recognition of the importance
of Catholic schools in the
United States.
The week’s theme is
“Dividends for Life.” Karen
Ristau, NCEA president,
said, “In these challenging
times, the theme reminds
parents that the dividends of
a Catholic school education
— students prepared in
faith, knowledge, morals and
discipline — lasts a lifetime.
There is no better way to
invest in a child’s future — or
the future of our world.”
CASINO • RESTAURANT • SPORTSBOOK & LOUNGE
13101 S. Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511 (775) 852-3600
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
ver the past three
years, JustFaith,
a 30-week social
justice and Catholic social
teaching program, was offered
in several parishes in the
Diocese of Reno.
JustFaith graduates from
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic
Community in Carson City are
continuing their social-justice
education with two programs
offered by JustFaith Ministries.
The first program is the Just
Matters module, “Crossing
Borders: Migration, Theology
and the Human Journey.”
During these eight-week
sessions, participants
seek common ground in
the complex issue of the
immigration debate through
prayer, the study of biblical
migrations, Catholic social
teaching and theological
perspectives, and personal
ancestral immigrant stories.
Through thoughtful
dialogue, one comes to a better
understanding of the reality
of why people migrate, myths
and facts about immigration,
the effects of globalization and
how to respond to the call as
Catholics to be proactive in
advocating for more just and
humane immigration reform.
The second module is
“Engaging Spirituality,” a
21-week process in which
participants practice
“the undivided life” of
Christian discipleship. They
contemplate while immersing
themselves in a world that
is burdened with poverty
and injustice. Anyone who
is involved in social-justice
issues knows the challenges of
integrating contemplation and
the call to social action.
By focusing on both
spirituality and the Gospel
message of discipleship, one
can find the balance necessary
to be a contemplative presence
and an advocate for the
voiceless in our society.
Last year, participants took
part in a six-session module,
“Prison Reform: Church of the
Second Chance.” It focused
on the factual background
for prison reform, but it was
grounded in a deep spirituality
and sense of humanity. As part
of an immersion experience,
participants visited Reno’s
Ridge House, a nonprofit
agency that offers programs
to offenders in order to
prevent future offending and
empowering them to make
positive changes in their lives.
There is no question people
profoundly are changed
through their JustFaith
Ministries’ immersion
experiences when they are
called to step outside of their
comfort zones and come face
to face with a homeless person,
an offender or an immigrant
PAGE 8
Little Flower students
honor U.S. veterans
By Karen Barreras
T
photo provided by the respect life commission
Bishop Randolph Calvo celebrates a Respect Life Mass for Diocesan Catholic school students.
Commission marks
Respect Life Month
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
By Linda Ugalde
T
he diocesan Respect Life Commission
organized activities for Respect Life
Month.
Activities included a Respect Life Mass in
October with Bishop Randolph Calvo at St.
Thomas Aquinas Cathedral, which was followed
by a rosary procession along the Truckee River.
There also was a student Respect Life Mass in
November hosted by Bishop Manogue Catholic
High School. The Mass was celebrated by the
bishop at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
Matt Schiambari, director of campus ministry at
Manogue, did a wonderful job of coordinating
the Mass, which was attended by Manogue’s
entire student body and a couple hundred
students from local Catholic schools.
The Knights of Columbus sponsored the
Respect Life poster contest to coincide with the
Mass, and winning students were awarded cash
prizes by the bishop.
High school winners were: first place:
$100, Gabriela Doyle, Manogue, 12th grade;
second place: $75, Juli Howard, Douglas High
School, 11th grade; third place: $50, Athena
Lacy, Manogue, ninth grade; and honorable
mention:$25 each, Samara Favela, Manogue,
10th grade, and David Zarubi, Manogue, 11th
grade.
Sixth- through eighth-grade winners were:
first place: $100, Carly Farthing, Our Lady of
the Snows, eighth grade; second place: $75,
Grace Bayliss, St. Teresa of Avila School, sixth
grade; third place: $50, Logan Schauer, Little
Flower School, sixth grade; honorable mention:
$25 each, Hannah Gonzales and Carlee
McElroy, St. Albert the Great, eighth grade;
Olivia Karrick, home schooled, seventh; Jack
Gurries and Wyatt Perkins, St. Albert, eighth
grade; and Dana Ramirez, Little Flower, sixth
grade).
Congratulations to all the winners, and thank
you to the Knights for your support. Posters can
be viewed online at www.renocatholics4life.org.
Save the dates for these upcoming life events:
• Jan. 9: Father Tad Pacholczyk will speak at
the diocesan conference.
• Jan. 15: Pro-Life League of Nevada’s
Friends for Life dinner, honoring the Knights
of Columbus for its unwavering commitment
to life issues. The featured speaker will be
Raimundo Rojas, Hispanic outreach director,
National Right to Life and Advocate for Life at
the United Nations.
• Jan. 16: Choose Life Rally and Life Chain
• Jan. 22: Pro-life ad will be published in
the Reno Gazette-Journal to commemorate the
anniversary of Roe v. Wade.
• Jan. 23: Walk for Life West Coast in San
Francisco. Busses will leave from our area.
Contact [email protected].
he final paragraph of
Little Flower School’s
philosophy statement
reads, “We endeavor to instill
in our students principles of
honesty, responsibility, good
citizenship and patriotism
together with the ability and
willingness to contribute to
our pluralistic society.”
Our recent observation of
Veteran’s Day exemplifies our
commitment to living our
philosophy.
Julianna Jaime, Little
Flower student body
president, presented a $150
check to KOH radio talk
show host Bill Manders,
on Nov. 6 at the Flag Store
in Sparks. The money was
raised with funds from “Red,
White and Blue” dress day
at Little Flower in honor
of American Veterans. The
money raised went directly
to the Veterans Guest House
in Reno near the Veterans
Administration Hospital.
Manders interviewed Julianna
on the air.
Little Flower parent Rick
Joseph wrote about the
importance of this donation
from Little Flower and the
activities that the school
provided to reinforce the
importance of our veterans.
“The donation you sent
helps those great veterans
more than you can imagine,”
Joseph wrote. “The cloak of
freedom that our children are
wrapped in was paid for by
those brave men and women.
It means more to me than
you can imagine that Little
Flower School participated in
such an honorable cause and
group. Before that house was
built, veterans would sleep
in their car on the streets
because they could not afford
a hotel room while they were
getting treatments.
“Little Flower continues
to make me proud to have
my children involved in
the school and receive their
Catholic education from
you and your staff,” Joseph
wrote. “The morals instilled
not only by us as parents can
also be influenced by others,
either good or bad, and Little
Flower continues to pass on
the moral values and lessons
of our church and of us as
parents.
“We met one veteran
who was maybe 30 that had
cancer. It brought back to me
the saying that one old Jesuit
would always say, ‘There but
for the grace of God go I.’
Please continue to have the
kids pray for our veterans,
young and old,” he wrote.
Mary Perry, religion
and language arts teacher,
encouraged students to
take a star and write the
name, branch of service and
years their relatives served.
This is a relevant reminder
of the scope of service
our community members
provided. Some are serving
currently and others served in
previous eras.
Eighth-grader Carly
Mendiola created a 14-minute
video in honor of Veteran’s
Day. She was helped by a
family friend with relatives
serving in Afghanistan. Carly’s
grandfathers both served
in the military. Carly said
she feels the video sends a
message we should honor our
veterans always and forever.
Students have watched the
DVD in the computer lab.
The video can be seen at
www.littleflowerschoolnv.org.
Ally Concepcion wrote a
prayer that was shared with
the school. The prayer reads,
“Dear God, this Veteran’s Day
we remember all veterans
who have died and did
not get to spend their last
moments with their family.
We honor all veterans past,
present and future. Without
our veterans, we would not be
the land of the free. Veterans
have fought for our freedom.
We salute our soldiers. God
bless our veterans.”
photo by Karen Barreras
Rick Joseph and his daughters, Mollie and Maggie, visit the
Veterans Guest House.
St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral
310 W. Second St., Reno
329-2571
Corpus Christi Catholic Community
3597 N. Sunridge Drive, Carson City
267-3200
Holy Cross Catholic Community
5650 Vista Blvd., Sparks
358-2544
Holy Family Catholic Center
37 N. West St., Yerington
463-2882
Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic
Newman Community
1101 N. Virginia St., Reno
322-4336
St. Mary’s in the Mountains Catholic
Church
Virginia City
847-9099
Sacred Heart Catholic Church Carlin
Carlin
754-6425
Saint Michael Catholic Church
14075 Mount Vida, Stead
972-7462
St. Albert The Great Catholic Church
Wyoming Avenue (At Kings Row), Reno
747-0722
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
850 W. 4th St., Fallon
423-2846
Saint Ann’s Catholic Church
3 Melanie Drive, Dayton
246-7578
St. Paul’s Catholic Church
350 Melarkey St., Winnemucca
623-2928
Holy Spirit Mission
695 U.S. 395 N, Washoe Valley
849-7764
St. Brendan’s Catholic Church
60 Nob Hill Ave., Eureka
237-5547
Immaculate Conception Catholic
Church
2900 N. McCarran Blvd., Sparks
358-5977
Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church
Mount Rose Highway, Incline Village
831-0490
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic
Church
Hawthorne
945-2020
Our Lady of Tahoe Catholic Church
West Elk Point Road, Zephyr Cove
588-2080
St. John Bosco Catholic Church
384 South Reese St., Battle Mountain
635-2576
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
Lovelock
273-2189
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
1035 C St., Elko
738-6432
HER RAISIN COOKIES
WERE FAMOUS.
SO WE MADE SURE THERE WAS
ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.
St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church
Corner of Cedar and West, Fernley
575-4011
St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church
100 Bishop Manogue Drive, Reno
851-1874
Saint Teresa of Avila Catholic Church
3000 N. Lompa Lane, Carson City
882-1968
St. Therese the Little Flower Catholic
Church and St. Jude Shrine
875 E. Plumb Lane, Reno
322-2255 or 322-0048
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church
619 Sixth Street, Wells
752-3400
During this, the Year for Priests,
proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI, the
Northern Nevada Catholic wants to honor
our Diocesan priests.
Beginning with this issue, we will honor
priests, past and present who have dedicated
their lives to the priesthood and the Diocese
of Reno. Please remember them in your
prayers.
November
• The Rev. Dominque Tambourin, Nov. 6,
1994
• The Rev. William J. Devlin, Nov. 11, 1966
• The Rev. Edward O’Reilly Cassidy, Nov. 12,
1984
• The Rev. Francis Lapinski, CR, Nov. 13,
1991
• The Rev. Luigi Roteglia, Nov. 14, 1978
December
• The Rev. Thomas Kinny, CSV, Dec. 4, 1991
• The Rev. Gregory Gilroy, OFM Conv., Dec.
10, 2003
• The Rev. Joseph Azzarelli, Dec. 11, 1987
• The Rev. Frank Murphy, Dec. 14, 2003
• The Rev. Hugh P. Smith, Dec. 16, 1985
• The Rev. John J. Gallagher, Dec. 24, 1935
• The Rev. Joseph A. Delaney, Dec. 24, 1967
• The Rev. Stuart Campbell, Dec. 29, 1986
January
• The Rev. Ernest Walter, SDS, Jan. 3, 1983
• The Rev. Cyril Town, Jan. 5, 2005
• The Rev. Daniel Keelan, Jan. 7, 1993
• The Rev. Flavio Trettel, Jan. 14, 1994
• The Rev. Harold Vieages, Jan. 16, 2004
• The Rev. Robert J. Harrigan, Jan. 17, 1976
Find that perfect, affordable
Christmas gift at…
St. Vincent’s Thrift Shop
500 E. 4th Street (at the corner of Valley Road)
Reno 775-322-9824
From traditional services to unique celebrations of life.
Whatever you need.
775-323-7189 • waltonfuneralhome.com
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0000332244
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
Our Lady of the Snows Catholic
Church
1138 Wright St., Reno
323-6894
St. Gall Catholic Community
1343 Centerville Lane, Garnerville
782-2852
St. Peter Canisius Catholic Church
225 E. Fifth Ave., Sun Valley
673-6800
In memoriam
PAGE 9
Parish listings for the Diocese of Reno
PAGE 10
Psalm guides LINCS’ single-adult ministry
By John Etcheto
T
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
he 2010 census is projected
to confirm one of the largest
demographic shifts in U.S.
history. Previously, married people
made up the majority of the adult
population. The new data is expected
to show now singles make up more
than 50 percent of the adults.
Less than 15 percent of U.S.
dioceses have a comprehensive
ministry program designed to meet
the needs of widowed, divorced and
never-married adults. The Diocese
of Reno is blessed to be in that 15
percent group. For the last four years,
LifeNetwork for Catholic Singles
has served the diocese and its single
adults.
The LINCS ministry is guided by
many factors. The most important
is contained in Psalms, chapter 68,
verses 5-6: “A father to the fatherless,
a defender of widows is God in His
holy habitation. God sets the solitary
into families. He brings out those
who are bound into prosperity.”
These verses clearly describe God’s
FEEDING THE HUNGRY:
St. Vincent’s Dining Room
and St. Vincent’s Food
Pantry fed hundreds of area
homeless and low income
families for Thanksgiving.
John Ascuaga’s Nugget
staff prepared and served
the turkey and ham meal
with the help of more than
150 volunteers. The Nugget
has donated its staff for this
event for more than 40 years.
On Dec. 4, St. Vincent’s
Food Pantry distributed
uncooked turkeys or hams
with all the trimmings to
low-income families. In
this 2008 photo, Sparks
Mayor Geno Martini (from
left), Catholic Community
Services of Northern Nevada
board member Tom Dolan
and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell
prepare bags of food for
distribution.
actions and attitudes toward single
adults. They also prescribe, I believe,
what the church is called to be
striving to do in its ministry to single
adults. What follows is my personal
interpretation of this prescription.
The beliefs presented are mine alone.
I am a convert to the church. I
spent 20 years involved in a large
Evangelical congregation here in
Reno. The last seven of those years,
I served as an ordained, full-time
single-adult pastor. When the St.
Rose of Lima parish started a singleadult group, I helped that one parish
group evolve into LINCS.
My belief is the term widows/
widowers can be applied to those
people who have become single
because of the death of a marriage
due to a divorce. Never-married
singles often are grieving the death of
the dream of 2.5 children and a house
with a picket fence. All single adults
are widows/widowers.
Psalm 68:5-6 makes five points
concerning single adult ministry
As a “father to the fatherless,”
God assumes the role of a father as
a provider, guide and teacher. Many
single adults, even those with close
families, are hesitant to turn to their
parents or children in times of need.
The Christian family provided by a
robust single-adult ministry helps fill
this void. Single adults look to their
church family to provide support in
good times and in bad.
God is “a defender of widows.”
Single adults are under attack by the
world and its obsession with secular
humanism. Even the great American
tradition of independence blocks,
at times, the development of the
healthy interdependence of Christian
community. Psychology Today
magazine has identified Nevada, and
Reno particularly, as one of the most
stressful and emotionally unhealthy
places in America for people to live.
When God sets the solitary into
families, both biological families
and families of choice, he reinforces
the concept that family units are the
building block of a healthy society.
Families work, worship and recreate
together. LINCS provides single
adults with opportunities for spiritual
growth. The “Stepping Stones
Seminar” with the Most Rev. Phillip
F. Straling is the most successful
example of that encouragement.
LINCS’ commitment to
community service helps singles
get beyond their problems and
see the tremendous need of the
disadvantaged of our community.
Last but not least, the single adults
of LINCS play together. Dinners,
musical concerts, bowling and
karaoke are some of the group’s
activities. These recreational events
are an important alternative to the bar
scene or the choice to just stay home
and be isolated and depressed.
When God “brings out the
bound,” he addresses the power
of the worldly values of sensuality,
greed and hedonism. He brings
out the bound. He does not just set
beautiful churches on convenient
street corners and wait for the single
adults who are strong enough to walk
through the door. LINCS maintains
an active marketing program to let
Catholic single adults, who may not
be regular church attendees, know
that there is a special place for them
designed to meet their specific needs.
When God calls us to bring all
single adults out, he does not say
to leave them adrift. The charge is
to bring them out into “prosperity.”
This is not the world’s definition of
prosperity, it is the prosperity of John
10:10. “I have come that they may
have life and that they may have it
more abundantly.”
As one of LINCS’ leaders, I want
to thank Bishop Randolph Calvo,
Brother Matthew Cunningham, the
diocesan staff, and the pastors and
staffs of various parishes for their
support and encouragement. A
special thanks to St. Rose of Lima
parish and Father Tom Donnelly for
taking the chance to start a singleadult ministry.
Father Larry Morrison and his staff
make an invaluable contribution with
fiscal and technological support.
For more information, go online
to www.dioceseofreno.org and click
on “ministries” and “singles.” LINCS
brochures are available at most local
parishes.
Prepare for Christmas with novena
The Cathedral of St. Thomas
Aquinas will have a novena for
families Dec. 16-24.
The Christmas novena was
started by Father Charles
Vachetta in Turin Italy in
1721. The Christmas novena
begins Dec. 16, nine days
before Christmas, and ends on
Christmas Eve. Father Vachetta
left Catholics the heritage of
a lovely Advent tradition and
his work continues to prepare
hearts for the coming of Christ
through the prophecies,
psalms and Gospels.
If you would like to enroll
your family in the Novena of
Masses and pray with us to
prepare for Christ coming at
Christmas, call the cathedral at
329-2571, ext. 100.
Learn about centering prayer
photo by Sandy Isham
A workshop on centering
prayer is offered Jan. 23 at
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic
Church in Carson City.
Centering prayer is a
method of silent prayer that
prepares people to receive the
gift of contemplative prayer,
during which God’s presence
is experienced within. This
method of prayer is both a
relationship with God and
a discipline to foster that
relationship.
The workshop is from 9
a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church.
The $20 fee includes a book
and materials. Bring a brown
bag lunch and a pillow. Call
882-1968 to reserve a spot.
Note: This article originally appeared
Dec. 22, 1909, in the Reno Evening
Gazette and Nevada State Journal.
T
historical photo
This photo shows the ruins of St. Thomas Aquinas Church after a 1909 fire.
through the entire building.
Four hose lines were played upon
the church, two from the inside and
two from the outside, but the fire had
gained great headway and despite the
great volume of water played upon
the fire, it continually advanced and
all believed that soon nothing but
a few charred timbers and a pile of
melted bricks would mark the site
of this church which had cost the
Catholics of Reno and their friends
thousands of dollars and tireless
energy to erect just over a year ago.
Volunteers ran into the church and
quickly procured altar furnishings
and pews. Father Byrne, in charge of
St. Thomas during Father Tubman’s
Ireland retreat, rescued the chalice
and other vessels from the altar,
preserving them from harm.
Remarkably, the statues of the
Blessed Virgin and of St. Joseph were
saved. These same statues were in the
old St. Mary’s Church, which burned
in 1905 and were saved from that fire
although all else was destroyed.
Soon the flames ate into the roof
directly above the high altar and the
sanctuary lamp fell with a crash.
Then without warning the roof
above the high altar came crashing
among the first to reach the cathedral.
She took her post at the organ, and
as the fire gained headway within the
church she stood her ground hoping
against hope it would survive. Finally
when she saw its doom was certain,
she bowed to the inevitable and left
her post. With tears in her eyes, she
clutched her music and ran from the
inferno.
The flames eventually made their
way to the church front and soon
encircled the twin towers which were
momentarily expected to collapse as
the walls caved in with a crash that
endangered hundreds of onlookers.
One particular thing that seemed
to impress all who saw the fire was
the big golden cross.
Although at times the building
would be clouded in smoke and
hidden by fearful flames, one golden
cross stood forth above the smoke
and fire like a signal that all was well
and that the house of God would be
saved. It blazed forth a golden light
as the reflection of the blaze struck
it and it seemed to instill hope into
the hearts of all who wanted to see
this religious edifice saved and this
gold cross seemed to tell them that it
would.
Even now that cross and all the
others on the building with the
expectation of one remains standing.
In season of plenty, remember those who go without
By Denise Bossert
T
here were times in my early
adult life when I was poor.
Poor enough that I was on
food stamps and Medicaid.
Back then, I was so ashamed of
my poverty that I drove a full hour
from home to buy groceries just so I
wouldn’t be recognized by anyone in
my father’s congregation.
I sought medical care some
distance away so that I wouldn’t
run into students that knew me as a
substitute teacher.
I remember how hard it was to
admit all of this to my fiancé. John is
from a family that believes in pulling
one’s self up by the bootstraps. They
didn’t receive government help
— ever.
What would they have thought
of me as a young mother with my
basket of food and an envelope of
color-coded food stamps? I remember
how I wanted to be almost anywhere
else when the cashier would recount
the stack of food stamps.
Or the night in the emergency
room when my daughter fell and
needed stitches. Or when my son
was born and the Medicaid stopped
because I was a full-time student.
How thankful I was when a charity at
the local hospital paid the bill in full.
Yes, I had been poor. And it was a
memory I wanted to forget. I thought
I would be able to bury the memories
if I told my fiancé about it and he said
it didn’t matter to him. John didn’t
care at all. He even laughed.
“That’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Besides, look how far you’ve come,”
he said.
That was true. I had gone on to
finish my bachelor degree, to work
as a teacher, to complete graduate
school, to pay off every school loan.
We married and bought a house.
We bought new cars. Went on nice
vacations.
But the memory didn’t go away.
I think this is a memory I’m not
supposed to forget. I think I’m meant
to bring it with me every time I go to
the grocery store.
Every time I stand in the detergent
aisle and I remember that laundry
soap wasn’t covered, and I pick up an
extra bottle for the St. Vincent de Paul
Center.
Every time I buy feminine hygiene
products for my daughters and I
remember products weren’t covered,
and I buy extra for a woman I will
never meet.
Every time I buy diapers and I
remember rinsing cloth diapers
because I couldn’t afford disposables,
I pick up an extra box for someone
else’s child or grandchild.
In the Book of Deuteronomy, God
says, “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and
decrees which I proclaim in your
hearing this day.”
God tells the people how to treat
each other, and then he reminds
them, “For remember that you too
were once slaves in Egypt, and the
Lord, your God, brought you from
there with his strong hand and
outstretched arm.”
I need to remember what it was
like to be poor and to remember
that God brought me out of poverty.
In my season of plenty, I need to let
the memory propel me along this
spiritual journey.
Denise Bossert writes for
catholicbygrace.blogspot.com.
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
he most destructive fire
that has visited this city for
months, last night completely
destroyed the Reno Wheelmen
theatre, left only the bare walls of
the St. Thomas Aquinas Church
standing, and damaged the Twentieth
Century club building.
It was shortly after 9 o’clock when
a man passing the church on Second
Street saw the fire in the Wheelmen
theatre and turned in the alarm. At
that time, the Wheelmen theatre
appeared to be doomed.
The entire fire fighting force of
the city was called out in an effort to
confine the blaze to the Wheelmen
theatre, but the structure, built
entirely of wood, became almost
immediately a mass of flame.
Suddenly a tiny flame spurted
out from the gable of Saint Thomas
Aquinas and the cornice began to
smoke. Just before the front of the
Wheelmen building crashed to the
ground with a roar, flames burst
through the slate roof of the church,
and it was discovered that the entire
attic of the religious edifice was
burning under the slate roof and
that the flames were eating their way
down. A timber struck one volunteer
firefighter on the shoulder and he
fell to the floor. Others grabbed him
and dragged him from danger. These
men were blinded by the smoke and
flames and that some of them were
not killed is a wonder.
It was a sight to impress any man
to look in through the fire swept
windows of the cathedral and see
while the conflagration was at its
height; the beautiful white altars were
wrapped in the fire’s licking lurid
flames. That altar of God doomed
to earthly destruction was slowly
reduced to ash.
A number of firemen were in the
front part of the church playing a
stream onto the balcony on which the
pipe organ stands when a portion of
the roof caved in and nearly caught
them. They rushed headlong from
the building dragging the hose with
them and one fireman shot down the
steps head first on the sidewalk as if
he had been hurled from a catapult.
The subject of the magnificent pipe
organ cannot be left without a word
concerning its devoted mistress, Miss
Ann Sunderland. For over a year, she
has made this organ speak the solemn
harmonies of the Catholic music, and
from its keyboard has directed the
singers of the Catholic choir.
Last night Miss Sunderland was
PAGE 11
This year marks 100th anniversary of church fire
Nor ther n Nevada Catholic is the Newspaper of the Diocese of Reno
PAGE 12