Denver Catholic

20 I WORLD/NATION DECEMBER 18, 2013 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Cardinal joyful at pope's 'Person of the Year' recognition BY ADELAIDE MENA WASHINGTON, D.C. (CNA/EWTN News)—Catholics from across the United States welcomed Pope Francis' selection as Time Magazine's 2013 "Person of the Year," the third pontiff to win the yearly honor since its start in 1927. Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York said in a Twitter post after the Dec. 11 announcement that he was "delighted" by the news. He elaborated in a statement on his blog, saying that Pope Francis "clearly radiates the joy that comes from loving God and caring for his people," through his actions and lifestyle. "There could be no finer choice for 'Person of the Year.'" Pope Francis was chosen "for presenting the Church's timeless truths to today's world," the cardinal said. He noted that Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Buenos Aires was largely unknown to the world before his election as pope, but "since he first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on that chilly, wet evening of March 13, Pope Francis and shares its messages of the love and mercy of God, our responsibility to care for our sisters and brothers in need, and the ever present invitation of Jesus and his Church to 'come and see.'" Pope Francis was chosen as Person of the Year from a group of prominent names. Runners-up for the 2013 recognition included Edward Snowden, the source responsible for the leaks of top-secret National Security Agency intelligence and policies; Edith Windsor, whose victory in the Supreme Court led to the overturning of the Defense of Marriage Act; Syrian President Bashar Assad for his role in the country's civil war; and the Tea Party Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). In recent years, winners have included U.S. President Barack Obama; former chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke; the "protestor"; and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. TIME Magazine named Pope Francis Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul "Person of the Year" Dec. 11. II have also been named Person of the Year, in 1962 and 1994, respectively. has captivated the world." Through his work, the cardinal contin- The iconic title has also been given to ued, Pope Francis "preaches the Gospel world figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Bishop: Christ's love conquers sorrow of Sandy Hook BY KEVIN JONES NEWTOWN, Conn. (CNA/EWTN News)—One year after the murder of 20 school children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the local Catholic bishop said that Jesus Christ's love can be victorious, even over such "profound" sorrow. Despite the bitterness of loss, the Christian faith offers "the victory of Christ's love over any and all suffering and pain," Bishop Frank J. Caggiano of Bridgeport said. "The love of Our Lord does not necessarily take away the pain, because the loss is real and profound. The sorrow is For more than 113 years your advertisers have helped support the Denver Catholic Register! The Denver Catholic Register 1909 The Denver Catholic Register 2013 The Denver Catholic Register 1964 That's right, they're your advertisers, too. Without their support, we couldn't have brought you the Denver Catholic Register for over 113 years. Help your advertisers by supporting them. Whenever you need goods or services for your home or family, check the Denver Catholic Register first. With the help of our advertisers and your support, we'll be around for at least another 100 years! www.DenverCatholicRegister.org Support Your Advertisers! profound," he told Catholic News Agency Dec. 12. "To lose a child is a wound that perhaps never completely heals. But love is victorious over all sin." The bishop strongly praised the response of parents who had lost their children. "I have been absolutely impressed, deeply impressed by the faith of the parents who I have met, who lost children and yet still remain very strong in their faith and their conviction that love will conquer." Dec. 14 marked the one-year anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School. On that day in 2012, a lone gunman, who had shot and killed his mother that morning, entered the school and gunned down 26 people before taking his own life. Bishop Caggiano celebrated a morning Mass at the local Catholic church, St. Rose of Lima, to mark the anniversary. He also blessed a memorial at the church, which hosted most of the funeral services for the shooting victims. Bishop Caggiano arrived in Connecticut to become head of the Diocese of Bridgeport in September 2013, nine months after the atrocity. He celebrated Mass in Winston Churchill, President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr. Nancy Gibbs, managing editor of Time Magazine, explained that the publication chose to recognize Pope Francis for his ability to capture public attention and renew interest in the Church. "Churches report a 'Francis effect' of lapsed Catholics returning to Mass and confession," she said in the Dec. 11 piece, noting that the increased public interest gives the pope an additional opportunity "to magnify the message of the Church and its power to do great good." Gibbs added that the pope's frank style of proclaiming Catholic teaching that does not fit neatly into either "liberal" or conservative" ideologies also differentiates him from many other public figures. "These days it is bracing to hear a leader say anything that annoys anyone," she commented. "Now liberals and conservatives alike face a choice as they listen to a new voice of conscience: Which matters more, that this charismatic leader is saying things they think need to be said or that he is also saying things they'd rather not hear?" Newtown shortly after his installation. He said that on his first trip to Newtown, he was "so deeply impressed" by the community's use of the motto, "We choose love." "It's their way of life, they really do choose love over bitterness or over anger," he added. "In that sense, I think the Catholic faith offers a great testimony that Christ's love has conquered death not only at Calvary, but in the lives of all of us." Priests at St. Rose of Lima Church were among the first people to respond to the shooting at the school, located only minutes away. The church's pastor, Msgr. Robert Weiss, played a prominent role in consoling the community. He celebrated several funeral Masses for the shooting victims. One year later, in the parish's bulletin for Dec. 15, Msgr. Weiss encouraged parishioners to "never forget that our God is a God of hope, pure love, goodness and forgiveness." The past months have posed many challenges for the parish families and communities, he acknowledged. "Tears continue to fill our eyes as we reflect on the events of that day," he said, also noting the "great strength" the community has drawn from the affected families' "courage" and "positive actions" to honor their loved ones. Obituaries, Funeral Notices, In Memoriam Let your friends in the Catholic Community know... The paper publishes each Wednesday, the deadline is Tuesday at noon for the next week's issue. To place an Obituary, Funeral Notice or In Memoriam in the Denver Catholic Register, contact Linda at: 303-715-3212 Email: linda.engel@archden.org E E

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