Denver Catholic

3 DENVER CATHOLIC | MAY 9-15, 2015 Jean Finegan | 303.867.0613 Giving for the Kingdom of God ® Planning Your Will and Special Gifts WHERE THERE'S A WILL … GIVE IT A WAY. Personally – Leave a legacy of what matters to you most. Financially – Wisely manage the assets that God has entrusted to you, in full compliance with the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Spiritually – Strengthen our parishes and our Catholic community through your charitable giving. The Catholic Foundation of Northern Colorado is here to help you plan your Will, including the opportunity for special gifts that you may not be able to create on your own. As Catholic faithful, we believe our earthly treasure is a gift from God, and we can give it a way to serve the greater good. Give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven. LUKE 12:33–34 By creating a Will, you can … Give it a way. www.TheCatholicFoundation.com giving@thecatholicfoundation.com P ope Francis says it's time for Chris- tians to restore faith in the family. "The most persuasive witness of the blessing of Christian marriage is the good life of Christian spouses, and the family," the pope said in Saint Peter's Square April 29. "There is no better way of expressing the beauty of the sacrament!" Pope Francis has been centering his catechesis on the family leading up to the World Day of Families in September as well as October's Synod of Bishops on the Family. The pope observed how fewer people today are getting married. In many countries separations are on the rise while the number of children born is declining, he noted, saying that it's the children who su¤ er the consequences. "The fi rst victims, the most important victims, the victims who su¤ er the most in a separation, are children," he said. Pope Francis turned to the question of why young people are no longer getting married, suggesting that they have come to view marriage as something tempo- rary. He asked if young people prefer to live together with "limited responsibil- ity" or whether they have lost faith in marriage and the family, and why. Nearly all men and women desire a stable marriage and a happy family, he continued, but fear of failure prevents them from "trusting in Christ's promise of grace in marriage and in the family." SOURCE: CATHOLICNEWSAGENCY.COM Pope: Is the fear of failure causing young people to avoid marriage? Pope donates $100,000 to Nepal relief After a massive earth- quake devastated Nepal April 25, a Vatican council o¤ ered fi nancial assistance to the local community as a sign of solidarity. It was empha- sized that the donation is "a fi rst and immediate concrete expression of spiritual closeness and paternal encour- agement for the people and the a¤ ected areas" on behalf of the pope. Given directly to the local Church, the funds will be used to support ini- tiatives aimed at helping displaced persons and victims of the earth- quake. Since the quake ripped through Nepal, more than 7,000 people have been confi rmed dead, and the number is expected to rise. SOURCE: CATHOLICNEWSAGENCY.COM Cuban bishop says pope brings hope The announcement of Pope Francis' upcoming visit to Cuba has brought tremendous joy and hope to the people of the island nation, said a local bishop. "The fi rst word that comes to mind is 'joy.' It's a gift from God, who never ceases to surprise us," said Bishop Wilfredo Pino of Guan- tanamo-Baracoa. Cuba is one of the few countries visited by the last three consecutive popes. St. John Paul II came to the island in 1998 and Pope Benedict XVI came 14 years later. Pope Francis announced that he will come before his Septem- ber trip to the United States. SOURCE: CATHOLIC- NEWSAGENCY.COM Encounter Islam with whole truth, pope says Speaking to the bish- ops visiting Rome from Benin, Africa, Pope Francis encouraged youth forma- tion through education and the importance of intercultural and interreli- gious encounter. He added, "It is necessary to promote in your country—without of course renouncing any of the truth as revealed by the Lord—the encounter between cultures and dia- logue between religions, especially with Islam. It is well known that Benin o¤ ers an example of harmony ... however (it is) wise to be vigilant, considering the current world climate, in order to conserve this fragile heri- tage." Benin is bordered by Nigeria where the Islamist group Boko Haram has killed more than 15,500 since 2012. SOURCE: CATHOLIC- NEWSAGENCY.COM NEWS IN BRIEF One of 20 couples married by Pope Francis in a 2014 wedding. PHOTO BY LAUREN CATER/CNA DENVER CATHOLIC Vatican Notes

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