News - December 2009 RSS Feed

I have the great blessing to spend several weeks with my grandkids down in the Outer Banks of North Carolina every year. The house is packed with little ones (and not-so-little ones) who constantly amaze me with their astute observations and inquisitive natures.

Inspired by the true story of the U.S. Marine who volunteered to escort the remains of 19-year-old Lance Corporal Chance Phelps, who was killed in Iraq, to his small hometown in remote Wyoming, Taking Chance is one of the most poignant new movies honoring the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Lt. Col. Michael Strobl (Bacon) makes it his mission to ensure that his fallen brother is laid to rest with the proper respect.

Based on the memoirs of the oldest Fatima seer, Lucia dos Santos, the film dramatizes the true story of three young shepherds who experienced six Marian apparitions in 1917, which culminated in the Miracle of the Sun on Oct. 13.

This is the remarkable true story of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American boy from a broken home. He only comes to realize his worth and potential when a well-to-do Christian family takes him in.

After several years of designing buildings, a young William Baer set his sights on building with “living stones.” The Baltimore native graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in architecture. Following a brief career as an architect, he served as a lay campus minister in Maryland and Michigan. He discerned his priestly vocation and was ordained for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis in 1996. For the past 11 years he has served as the Twin Cities Chapter’s chaplain and rector-president of St. John Vianney College Seminary in St. Paul.

Cristina Poo was packed and ready to go on a much-anticipated trip to the Holy Land. Right before she was to leave, she received an unexpected phone call from her sister who explained that her cancer had spread.

As Catholic business leaders, we all want what’s best for our employees and our business. As this year draws to a close and we prepare for a new calendar year, one thing that we’re all dealing with is health care.

Despite scientific advances in gene therapy and enhancement, the 2008 Vatican document Dignitas Personae (DP) expresses concern for the use of these technologies. First, let’s look at what these terms mean. Numerous diseases have a genetic base, either causing or pre-disposing one to disease. Gene therapy aims to address such abnormalities by modifying the gene/genetic complement that is functioning abnormally.

The Economist marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall with the headline “So much gained, so much to lose.” As we celebrate the collapse of Communism, who would have imagined that in less than one generation we would witness a resurgence of socialism throughout Latin America and even hear the word socialist being used to describe policies in the United States.

One of the most frequent comments I hear from our chaplains when I interview them for this magazine is, “Legatus members sure love their priests.” And for good reason. Chaplains have become friends with Legates, and they bring Christ to them through the sacraments.

Jesus warned against the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees who exalt themselves and covet the seats of honor in public. They use their authority to bask in praise while oppressing the common believer.

John Bosco’s father, a peasant farmer, died when John was two. When he was nine, John had the first of many powerful dreams which would influence his future vocation. In this first dream, he was surrounded by fighting and blaspheming children. He tried in vain to pacify them, at first by argument and then with his fists. A mysterious lady suddenly appeared, saying, “Softly, softly … if you wish to win them! Take your shepherd’s staff and lead them to pasture.” The children were transformed into wild beasts and then into lambs. From that moment, John wanted to be a priest and help poor boys.