Denver Catholic

2 I CATHOLIC LIFE JUNE 4, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER ARCHBISHOP'S COLUMN MOST REV. SAMUEL J. AQUILA You may have never thought about it, but when the Holy Family was forced to fl ee into Egypt to escape Herod's persecution, they experienced what it is like to be alone and isolated from everyone they knew. Many people experience that same sense of isolation today because the meaning and purpose of family life is understood by so few people. On his fl ight from the Holy Land back to Rome, Pope Francis described the current situation in dramatic terms: "Today, we know, the family is in crisis, it's a worldwide cri- sis; the young don't want to marry or they (decide to) live together. The pastoral problem of the family is very large, very large." I couldn't agree with the Holy Father more. The family plays a critical role in ensuring that society fl ourishes, because it is the place where people best learn virtue and receive the formation that makes them good citizens and good future parents. The symptoms of this crisis range from attempts to redefi ne the meaning and purpose of the family to a huge growth in the number of single-parent homes to grandpar- ents having to raise their grandchildren, even though their parents are alive. The confusion and damage striking our society is very real. I have decided to respond to this turmoil by writing a pastoral letter on the family to clearly explain God's plan for the family and to encourage people to experience the happiness that can come from living it. The letter will be issued in the coming weeks and is titled "Family: Become What You Are." The title comes from St. John Paul the Great's apostolic exhortation on the family, "Familiaris Consortio." In that beautiful and important document, he states that every family fi nds within itself "a summons that cannot be ignored" to follow God's plan for it to be "a community of life and love." After explaining the mission of the family, St. John Paul issues a challenge: "family, become what you are." My letter will go into greater detail, but the call to be a "community of life and love" originates from the fact that we are created in God's image and likeness. And it is be- tween the three persons of the Holy Trinity that we fi nd the original communion of life and love. But this is far from the reality that many people expe- rience in families today. The Church must respond to the wounds caused by the breakdown of family life with mercy and truth, after the example of Jesus encountering the Samaritan woman. When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, he fi rst extended mercy by speaking to her and asking for water—something a Jewish man would not normally do. Then he invited her to ask for the "living water" he could give her, which would lead to eternal life. Finally, Jesus addressed the sinful situation she was living in by asking Why a pastoral letter on the family? DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER CIRCULATION CUSTOMER SERVICE: 303-722-4687 OR CIRCULATION@ARCHDEN.ORG Published by the Archdiocese of Denver, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 Denver Catholic Register (USPS 557-020) is published weekly except the last week of December and the fi rst week of January, and in June, July and August when it goes bi-weekly. The Register is printed by Signature Offset in Denver. Periodical postage paid in Denver, CO. Subscriptions: $35 a year in Colorado; $42 per year out of state. Foreign countries: $42 surface, all countries, 6-8 weeks for delivery; $135 air, all other countries (average). Mexico, $48 air; Canada, $55 air. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Denver Catholic Register, Circulation Dept., 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210 or e-mail circulation@archden.org. Editorial: 303-715-3215 or editor@archden.org Advertising: 303-715-3253 or dcrads@archden.org Circulation: 303-715-3211 or circulation@archden.org Online: www.DenverCatholicRegister.org General Manager Karna Swanson Editor Roxanne King Business Manager Michael O'Neill For details and to order tickets, contact your home parish. Tickets for this event are not available for purchase at Water World. Advance Discount Tickets Available for $ 27.50 Catholic Youth Day Wednesday, July 9 WaterWorldColorado.com See Aquila, Page 5 Some 300 supporters and friends of the archdiocese's His- panic Ministry gathered May 17 at the Denver Art Museum for the Las Madrinas Tribute 10th an- niversary. The event recognized six individuals and organizations that personify the spirit of "La Madrina" (godmother) through their personal dedication to Cen- tro San Juan Diego, and specifi - cally to Centro's Bienestar Family Services. Among the honorees was Sis- ter Alicia Cuarón, 75, who found- ed Bienestar in 2004 to provide social and economic help for Spanish-speaking immigrants in Denver. Also recognized were: The Madrina (godmother) Award was presented to Gracie Casias, business development offi cer for the Heritage Title Company. The Corazón (heart) Award was accepted by Franciscan Sister Rita Cammack, on behalf of the Sisters of St. Francis. The Estrella (star) Award was given to Mario M. Carrera, chief revenue offi cer of Entravision Communications Corporation. The Rebozo (shawl) Award was bestowed on Roberto Rey, multicultural outreach di- rector for AARP of Colorado. Also recognized was special guest Francisco Romero, an international artist and native of Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, and creator of "Lupita" artwork for Las Madrinas. Festivities also included a luncheon and an auc- tion, with former Denver Bronco Reggie River as auctioneer, to raise funds for Bienestar. Centro volunteers given awards PHOTO BY LORENZO CHAVEZ HONOREES at the Las Madrinas Tribute May 17. The Gabriel Project of Catholic Charities and the Offi ce of His- panic Ministry joined forces to open the fi fth Gabriel House in the archdiocese, at Centro San Juan Diego, the archdiocese's Hispanic Institute for Family and Pastoral Care. The new house, which re- sponds to the material, emotion- al and spiritual needs of pregnant women and families, opened May 13 and was blessed by Arch- bishop Samuel Aquila May 29. "The greatest poverty is the poverty that is growing among women today, especially single mothers," Archbishop Aquila said in comments prior to the blessing. "It's important for us to reach out to them." The house at Centro will bring the charity of the Church to the fastest growing portion of the See Gabriel, Page 16 Fifth Gabriel House dedicated PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER ARCHBISHOP Aquila blesses Denver's newest Gabriel House.

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