News - May 2010 RSS Feed

Courtesy of The Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of Covington, Ky. Published May 21, 2010.

Courtesy of The Messenger, newspaper of the Diocese of Covington, Ky. Published May 21, 2010.

Researchers around the world are focusing on gene mapping and DNA sequencing with the hope that personal genomics (the study of an individual’s genetic makeup) will help in the determination of personalized medical treatments.

As the founding chaplain of the Jacksonville Chapter, Bishop Victor Galeone says he has the highest respect for Catholic executives. The ninth bishop of the St. Augustine diocese gave the green light to start the chapter shortly after his 2001 installation. Born in Philadelphia, Bishop Galeone was raised in Baltimore. He spent 11 years as a missionary priest in Peru before returning to the United States. The bishop will mark two special dates in 2010: his 75th birthday and his 50th anniversary of priestly ordination.

In the early years of Domino’s Pizza, I was continually pressed by some of our people to diversify. Things were going well, the stores were increasing in sales every year, and new stores were opening at an ever faster clip.

Armed with the courage of his faith, Tyler Doherty is a boy who faces his battle against cancer with grace. Tyler’s prayers take the form of letters, which he daily writes and mails. The letters find their way into the hands of a postman at a crossroads in his life.

This fascinating documentary examines Pope John Paul II’s return to his homeland in 1979, less than a year after being elected pope. Nearly one-third of all Poles turned out to see the Pope in person. Polish, American and Italian scholars and leaders discuss what transpired over those nine days that moved Poles to throw off the shackles of Communism. The momentum of this visit led to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the end of the Soviet Union in 1991.

In 1957, a barefooted, rag-tag team of boys from poverty-stricken Monterrey, Mexico, defied extraordinary odds to become the first foreign team to win a Little League World Series — doing so in a perfect game, the only one in championship history.

One of the most talked about new Catholic books of the year, Fr. Calloway’s memoir tells how he went from being a drug-addicted teen wanted by the authorities in Japan to a young on-fire Catholic priest. He was a high school dropout who was institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times.

More than a cookbook, this is a resource for parents who want their children to know that they can always talk to their families. The book helps parents encourage their children’s growth in character and confidence. Father Leo takes practical ideas and a real-life approach to discussing important spiritual themes that impact busy families.

For Mother Angelica, prayer is an unceasing conversation with the Divine. Arroyo delivers a lifetime of her private prayers and devotions, allowing the reader to utter the very words that shaped her incredible life.

I recently participated in a special and memorable discussion to commemorate the fifth anniversary Pope John Paul II’s death. In fact, the moderator acknowledged that it was the best program that he had ever participated in — quite a comment given his many years of media experience.

May Catholics use a life-saving product derived from human embryonic stem-cell research? The answer may well be different depending on whether one is a researcher or a patient. The Vatican’s most recent document on bioethics, Dignitas Personae, addresses the question.

If ethics aren’t firmly woven into your human resources efforts, then please stop everything and get started on making that a reality. I recently consulted with an organization on a dicey situation that almost led to an executive-level manager being fired. While I cannot discuss that particular situation in detail, it inspired me to share my thoughts on a subject I call “experience meeting expectations” on the job.

Some believe that Vatican II was such a watershed that it’s a waste of time to read books published before the Council. That notion, however, is contrary to the Council itself. Vatican II documents are packed with references to ancient and medieval writings. After all, the Bible is an ancient writing that you wouldn’t want to drop from your reading list!

Bernardine was one of the most gifted preachers who ever lived. After his ordination he spent 12 years in prayer and contemplation before beginning an explosive ministry in his mid-30s.

The past few months have been painful for Catholics. Ever since March 25 when The New York Times published a slanted, skillfully deceptive article on Pope Benedict XVI’s handling of sexual abuse cases, a steady drip of stories has attempted to erode the Church’s moral authority.