Anyone interested in making a donation to The Bishop Paul V. Donovan Shepherds’ Care Fund may contact The Diocese of Kalamazoo, Development Office, 269-349-8714, ext. 353.
New Mexican “Santos” to be featured in diocesan art exhibit
By David Reilly
Director, Office of Worship
Over the past several hundred years artists in New Mexico have been creating a unique style of sacred art that portrays images of Christ, Mary and the saints. The artists are known as santeros and santeras. The images they create are called Santo, the Spanish word meaning saint. This beautiful, varied and distinct art form sprang from the 16th century efforts of Spanish priests to introduce Christianity to the Native Peoples. Religious imagery played a crucial role in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus to the indigenous peoples. Since it was difficult if not impossible to import icons and religious carvings from Spain to use in all of their churches and missions the priests and the Native Americans began to carve and paint their own versions of the holy images resulting in what eventually became a unique though varied form of artistic religious expression, known as the Santo tradition.
The Assumption of Mary celebrated August 15
By Samantha Komasara
Many of us work hard to honor our mothers on special occasions. The Church is no different. In fact, she honors the Holiest of Mothers throughout the liturgical seasons. Many of the feast days mark important events in the life of the Virgin Mary. A good number of these can be traced back to the root of scripture, while others have been handed down to us solely by apostolic tradition. The Assumption of Mary, August 15th, is one such day. There really is no factual evidence regarding the date or manner of her Assumption. However, early saints such as St. Andrew of Crete, St. John Damascene, and St. Gregory of Tours have included it in their sermons. Just as a family’s history is passed through the generations, so our Church passes down the story of Mary.
The fourth Glorious Mystery of the rosary is an example of this, telling the story of the Assumption, but leaving the details to our imagination. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, however, sums up the event more definitively in paragraph 966. “Finally, the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her son, the Lord of Lords, and conqueror of sin and death.” Through the miracle of the Assumption, Jesus honored his mother profoundly; and in the year 1950, the Church did too. At this time, the Assumption was declared a dogma of the Church, which is an essential belief of our faith. However, the feast of the Assumption has been celebrated as early as the seventh century.
All throughout the life of Jesus, Mary shared in his joys and sufferings. When he was in agony, so was she; when he died, a part of Mary died along with him. The assumption of Mary is her sharing in His Divine Resurrection. In a similar way, we as Christians are called to participate in the life, death, and resurrection of our Savior. The feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin helps us to enter into this mystery more fully.
Diocese raises more than $40,000 for Operation Rice Bowl
Thank you to all the generous parishioners who participated in Operation Rice Bowl (ORB) this year. The 2010 ORB total from the 55 participating parishes was $40,400. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) received $30,300 (75%) from ORB for development projects overseas. The Diocese received $10,100 (25%) from ORB for local projects to assist the poor in the Diocese such as the Catholic Community and the Food Bank of South Central Michigan.