Denver Catholic

CATHOLIC LIFE I 3 DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER I JANUARY 15, 2014 ia: Baptismal gown binds five generations in faith d BY NISSA LAPOINT When a child enters the Radosevich family, they're asISHOP signed a number. Denver resAquila idents Paul and Jennifer RaUnivi- dosevich's 3-month-old twins porter became No. 98 and No. 99. Along with the number ollins comes the privilege of taking the ocese part in the family's rich faith traer's dition, which includes wearing Faith the family's antique baptismal age to gown—consisting of a dress ine of and slip—when christened. "Everyone has a number," dy of upe in said 36-year-old Jennifer RaCity. dosevich, whose children were baptized last month at Most Precious Blood Church in Denver. "My son wore the slip and my daughter wore the dress. It's just one of the pieces that ties family together." Five generations of children in the family from Peoria, Ill., to Los Angeles have entered the family of Christ wearing the same handmade white cotton gown dating back to 1882. The Radosevich's children, Sophia and Lucas, were the first of the family to be baptized in Denver. Father Patrick Dolan received them into the Church on Dec. 29, the feast of the Holy Family. "It was really striking that they're being baptized into the family of the Church … not just into our immediate family, but PHOTO BY ROBERT LINN/DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER THREE-MONTH-OLD Sophia, left, and her twin brother, Lucas, each wear a part of the family's antique baptismal gown, dating back to 1882. The twins were baptized at Most Precious Blood Church in Denver last month. into this rich tradition of faith," Radosevich said. The "keeper" of the gown, Anne Brennan who lives near Seattle, is No. 38. She said the tradition began after Maggie Schneider Oberer was baptized Dec. 10, 1882. "I don't think it was planned," said 49-year-old Brennan. "It started out with the Schneider family." Joseph Schneider Jr. had all seven of his children baptized in the gown in Illinois. Brennan was later baptized in 1954 at Sacred Heart Church in Idaho. She had her five children Join archdiocesan pilgrimage to Rome for canonization of John Paul II, John XXIII BY ROXANNE KING There is still time to join the upcoming archdiocesan pilgrimage to Rome to witness the canonization of Popes John Paul a, Page 12II and John XXII, but those interested must act quickly as registration deadline is Jan. 25. The historic canonization of two modern-day popes is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a special moment of grace for the Church, organizers said. The Denver Archdiocese and its newspapers, the Denver Catholic Register and El Pueblo Católico, are co-sponsoring the April 25-May 3 pilgrimage to the canonization, which will take place in Vatican City. The nine-day trip will include daily Mass and visits to sacred and historic sites in Rome, Assisi and an optional one-day excursion to Naples and Pompeii. Sacred sites pilgrims will visit include St. Peter's Basilica, the heart of the Roman Catholic Church built above the crypt of St. Peter and home to the tomb of John Paul II and the incorrupt body of John XXIII, as well as visits to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the major split up more than once." The gown is delivered with the family's baptismal registry and a scrapbook with black and white photos and newspaper articles chronicling the gown's journey. Inside is a message to each receiver: "With this dress comes the prayers and hope of your ancestors. Welcome to the family. God bless you and keep you safe." The gown has linked the many members of the family, some of whom have never met in person. "I've never met (Jennifer) or her husband, but here we are talking on the phone. The gown links us together," Brennan said. "(It's) a treasure we have that holds us all together. We have that one faith together. We all have that in the sacrament of baptism, really, whether wearing the gown or not." The gown has become a symbol of the family and reminder of the Church's communion of saints. "We pray in this community of saints. I think this makes (the communion) much more tangible," Radosevich said. She will fill the next page of the scrapbook with her children's baptism story and photos of them in the well-kept gown. "I'm feeling blessed to be a part of it," she said. "There's no price to put on it." baptized in the lace-trimmed gown. "It's been all over. There's been times the gown was needed on other sides of the country at the same time, and they didn't have Nissa LaPoint: 303-715-3138; express mail where you could overnight it," Brennan said. nissa.lapoint@archden.org; www. "The dress and (slip) have been twitter.com/DCRegisterNissa Join bishops in '9 Days for Life' novena BY DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER BLESSED John XXIII, above left, convened the Second Vatican Council, which was a huge turning point for the Catholic Church. Blessed John Paul II, right, implemented the council and reached out and engaged the rest of the world with the Church in a way no previous pope had. basilicas of Rome and the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi where the founder of the Franciscan order is interred. Historic sites to be visited include the oldest road from Roman times—the Appian Way—the Roman Forum and Colosseum, the Pantheon and the catacombs where the early Christians hid. A general audience with Pope Francis, if he is available, is also planned. Cost is $3,695 per person (land only cost $2,495). Optional trip to Naples and Pompeii is an extra $85 per person. See a photo gallery of sites to be visited at www. DenverCatholicRegister.org. For more information, or to register, call Faith Journey's at 1-877-7324845, ext. 100, or email info@myfaithjourneys.com. In prayerful recognition of the 41st anniversary of Roe v. Wade Jan. 22, the U.S. bishops have announced a 9 Days for Life novena to coincide with the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. The bishops note that since 1973, "more than 55 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and the lives of millions of their parents have been shattered." Since then, tens of thousands of pro-life supporters have gathered each year in Washington, D.C., to mark the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and to prayerfully protest the legalization of abortion. This year, Catholics across the country are able to participate in the event by joining in the nine days of "prayer, penance and pilgrimage." All Catholics are encouraged to participate in the nine day program—from Jan. 18 to Jan. 26— which includes specific intercessions, reflections and suggested acts of penance, reparation and charity for each day. An act of reparation is a prayer or devotion with the intent to repair the "sins of others." The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Every offence committed against justice and truth entails the duty of reparation, even if its author has been forgiven" (2487). Participants can follow the program online (www.9daysforlife.com or scan the QR code), download an interactive app, or sign up to receive daily reminders via text or email. To sign up for text messages, text "9Days" to 99000. You will receive a link to new novena content each day via cell phone.

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