I read your excellent editorial (An Advent call to racial justice) Dec. 11. It was one of the best.
All of the media, rightfully so, mentions the race issue, but never, ever mentions what precipitated each of the incidents. It is culture. It points up to the root causes. In the two publicized cases, an illegal action was in progress. The police showed up. The contempt for police and law and order fueled the conflict. Don’t place blame here because we allow millions of people to do the same. In the case of the man who died after police reportedly put him in a choke hold, many police were present and they strongly desired to show the perpetrator “who is boss.” They attacked and tried to throw the man to the ground so they could cuff him. Overreaction: I am sure that a little patience could have resulted in hand-cuffing without injury. Attitudes need to be changed.
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) that would allow parents to use public funds to help pay for some non-public school education options will be discussed at a meeting in Davenport next month.
The meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more about ESAs and will be held Jan. 7 from 7- 8 p.m. in the Assumption High School auditorium in Davenport.
ESAs would allow parents opting not to enroll their child in a public school district or charter school to receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with multiple uses (with restrictions). Those funds could cover private school tuition and fees, private instruction, tutoring or training, and higher education expenses at an Iowa college or university.
“We believe it is time to make sure parents of K-12th-grade students have a maximum number of options during this critical time in their child’s educational development,” said Trish Wilger, executive director of Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education and Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education.
“All Iowans agree that a quality education is vitally important and Iowa Advo-cates for Choice in Education believes parents are best suited to choose the most effective educational method for their children,” she said.
Key components of ESAs:
• An Education Savings Grant (ESG) would be deposited to each pupil’s Education Savings Account (ESA) equal to 100 percent of the average per-pupil state aid.
• Parents would apply through the Department of Education. The Department of Management would administer the program.
• Qualified expenses would be identified and would include tuition, fees, curriculum materials and other related expenses.
• ESAs may be opened for those in nonpublic schools or those who are homeschooled.
• Fraud protection would be built in via insurance/ surety bonds, audits, vendor approval, debit card administration or other options much like many existing state programs with debit or payment cards.
Wilger and Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, said they hope to have an ESA bill introduced in the next legislative session. “We know it may take some time to get an ESA bill passed,” Wilger said.
Chapman said, “If the bill were to pass as drafted, it would help level the playing field for parents who don’t have enough money to make changes in their child’s current education setting or are struggling to keep their children in a Catholic school. I think the meeting will be a great opportunity for parents and supporters of Catholic schools to learn more specifics about Education Savings Accounts and the political outlook in the legislature.”
Julie Delaney, principal of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School in Davenport, said, “ESAs have the potential to make a Catholic education affordable for every family in the state of Iowa and eliminate the cost barrier. It is important for parents and interested stakeholders to learn as much as possible about ESAs so they can promote the program at a grass roots level with legislators.”
Speakers at the Jan. 7 meeting will be Wilger, Chapman and Eric Goranson from Iowa Association of Christian Schools.
The three will address ESAs, tax credits available to nonpublic school parents and supporters, transportation for nonpublic schools, textbook/technology funding for nonpublic school and regulations on nonpublic schools.
El haber nacido sin brazos no fue impedimento para que el guitarrista Tony Meléndez, tocara la guitarra al Papa Juan Pablo II y ganará su admiración. En marzo, él compartirá su música y mensaje de esperanza con los fieles de la diócesis de Davenport.
CNS/Don Blake, The Dialog
Tony Meléndez, quien nació en Nicaragua, realizará dos conciertos bilingües llamados: “Canción de Esperanza” en la parroquia de San Patricio en Iowa City el 6 de marzo a las 7:00pm y en la parroquia Santa María de la Visitación en Ottumwa, el 7 de marzo a las 7:00 pm.
Miguel Moreno, coordinador diocesano del Ministerio Multicultural, dijo que los conciertos serán fuente de inspiración tanto para fieles de la comunidad anglo e hispana. “En medio de nuestras debilidades y dificultades, creemos que nuestra vida es muy difícil; pero la presencia, la vida, el mensaje y la música de Tony son útiles para decirnos que tenemos una razón para seguir viviendo y trabajando. Esa es la esperanza que a veces necesitamos “.
Nació sin brazos porque a su mamá le recetaron el medicamento Talidomida que ahora se prohíbe durante el embarazo, a Meléndez se le puso brazos artificiales cuando era niño. Sin embargo, él se deshizo de ellos, porque no se sentía cómodo, según narra en su biografía de la página web: “Yo podría usar mis pies mucho mejor.”
Comenzó a tocar la guitarra y la armónica cuando era un adolescente, tocando con sus pies en lugar de sus manos para hacer las notas musicales.
En este tiempo, también comenzó a participar en la Iglesia Católica. El consideró la vocación al sacerdocio, pero le dijeron que no podía ya que él no tiene manos. Él decidió canalizar su deseo de servir a Dios en el ministerio de la música, utilizando su talento como guitarrista y compositor en la Misa y los eventos relacionados con la Iglesia. Las peticiones para que el tocara se incrementó hasta el punto en el que él estaba tocando hasta en cinco misas de un domingo cualquiera.
En 1987, la noticia de su talento llegó al Vaticano y Meléndez fue invitado para tocar la guitarra al Papa Juan Pablo II. Meléndez recuerda que el Papa Juan Pablo II lo besó en la frente después de su presentación y le
entusiasmo para llevar un mensaje de esperanza a todas las personas a través de su música.
Desde entonces, se ha presentado en The Today Show, Good Morning America y entonado el Himno Nacional en la Serie Mundial de béisbol. Meléndez y su esposa, Lynn, viven actualmente en Branson, Missouri.
Moreno cree que Meléndez llevará alegría y esperanza en sus presentaciones. “Él también tiene el mensaje que debemos disfrutar de la vida y disfrutar de todo lo que tenemos. Todo lo que tenemos es un milagro “.
Las entradas pueden adquirirse llamando a la Oficina del Ministerio Multicultural al (563) 888-4217; ó al 319-621-5183 para Iowa City y al 641-208-2146 para la presentación en Ottumwa. Los boletos cuestan $ 8 por adelantado ó $ 10 en la puerta. Moreno anima a la gente a comprar los boletos con antelación, ya que el cupo es limitado.
I was first introduced to Called and Gifted about four years ago. I had signed up to take the sessions at St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Davenport. I went to the first few meetings, took my inventory, and then stopped attending. I told myself that I was too busy to go to the sessions.
Jacobsen
Over the next several years, I became involved in a variety of ministries and events at St. Paul’s. I would be at church so much that some people asked if I had a room there to sleep in. Eventually, I knew that I was getting “burned out.” I was afraid to say “no” to anyone who enlisted my help because I thought they were asking me to do these things because God was calling me. I reached the point at the beginning of this year that I couldn’t continue on this road. I wasn’t getting the fulfillment that I originally had from doing some of these ministries. I didn’t feel I was being effective with some of these ministries, either.
Then this spring, through the nudging of the Holy Spirit, I read the article about Called and Gifted in The Catholic Messenger. It was laid on my heart that I needed to finish the program. I took my inventory again and nothing was a huge surprise to me, or so it seemed. The charism (or spiritual gift) that had the highest score was knowledge. I immediately thought, “That is so true.” I had spent the last five years taking Ministry Formation Program (MFP) classes through the Diocese of Davenport. I also love to read books on the Catholic faith. The problem was that I had focused on outside knowledge, such as what I had been learning in MFP and reading about in books, rather than self-knowledge. As I had my interview and progressed through the rest of the Called and Gifted program, I learned a lot about myself. I had grown up without much affirmation and affection. I had hidden my true self and built up walls around me. I didn’t know who I truly was. I thought I had to please everyone.
Through the help of the Called and Gifted program, I have received a lot of healing and affirmation and have developed greater self-awareness. I have allowed myself to become vulnerable, which has helped me to heal and be able to hear God more clearly. I know what my charisms are. I am open to exploring the ways to use these charisms. I know that I am a beloved, chosen, special daughter of God. I am individually designed for a purpose. I know that God has a plan for me that will help me to use the charism of knowledge as well as some of my others charisms, such as service, teaching and encouragement. I continue to pray and discern how God is calling me to use my gifts. I am more open to the Holy Spirit and the nudges that I receive. I am also learning to discern what God wants me to do instead of saying “yes” to everything. It is a much better use of my time and gifts. I also don’t have the “burned-out” feeling that I once had. I get affirmed and am more effective in the ministries that I am doing now. I truly feel more fulfilled. I am joyful, energized and excited as well as open to what path God is leading me on.
Looking back to when I first started Called and Gifted, I realized that I was not ready to complete it at that time. God wanted me to start healing before I would be able to finish.
(Tracey Jacobsen is a member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, Davenport and the spouse of Deacon Candidate John Jacobsen.)
(For information about beginning a Called and Gifted program in your parish, please contact Nikki Gartner at jngartner@ aol.com or call (563) 370-3360.)
The Catholic Messenger will not publish an edition Jan. 1. The next issue will be dated Jan. 8, 2015. The Diocese of Davenport and Catholic Messenger offices are closed for the holidays. The Messenger will reopen Jan. 2 and the diocesan offices Jan. 5.
CLINTON — A terminally ill 6-year-old girl from Utah is getting her wish fulfilled — a houseful of Christmas cards — thanks in part to the generosity of students at Prince of Peace Catholic School.
We want “to make her feel better,” said Prince of Peace first-grader Rylan of Addie Faucett, whose Christmas wish has gone viral on the Internet.
Addie
The students and teachers do not know Addie personally; religion teacher Allison Schultz first heard about Addie’s wish through Facebook. In the post, Addie’s mother, Tami, wrote, “We have been told this will be her last Christmas. I am asking everyone who sends a Christmas card to send one to Addie. Let’s send Addie a lifetime of Christmas cards!”
According to the Facebook page, Addie has an inoperable brain condition that has already affected her motor skills and growth. She will likely lose her mental capacity and memory before passing away.
Schultz said her own 6-year-old daughter immediately wanted to help. Schultz considered the idea of making the card initiative a school-wide project and other teachers were supportive of the idea. Additionally, two sets of parents offered to pay for postage. “I think everyone who’s read (Addie’s) story has been touched in some way. Spreading some Christmas cheer by making cards for Addie and her family is just one small way to make a difference.”
Lindsay Steele Prince of Peace first-grade teacher Heather Dehner helps students Sade and Rylan make cards for Addie Faucett, a 6-year-old in Utah with a terminal illness. Addie’s wish for a houseful of Christmas cards has gone viral on the Internet.
Elementary, preschool and daycare students at Prince of Peace created individual cards during the week of Dec. 8. Middle school students created and signed one giant card and high school students made a banner.
Principal Nancy Peart said the project served as an opportunity to “help students understand the true Christmas spirit and how to give and support others as young Christians.”
Elementary teacher Heather Dehner believes the card-making helped the students learn about the joy of giving. “They’re so focused on what they’re going to get (for Christmas) that it’s nice to get them focused on somebody else. It’s nice to give them a lesson on giving back to somebody else. I think they understand and feel good about it.”
In addition to the cards and letters, students and teachers have been praying for Addie. As a private school “we’re allowed to pray, and they ask to pray for her,” Dehner said.
Schultz said, “The more people who know her story means that there are more people praying. Our school believes in the power of prayer.”
Peart said the freedom to teach and express Christian values in the classroom is “one of the joys of Catholic school.”
According to Addie’s Facebook page, the family has received thousands of cards since she made the request earlier this month. “I hope every single one of you know how amazing you are and how thankful we are for all your coming together and making Addie’s Christmas wish come true,” wrote her mother.
Several elementary students expressed feeling good about doing something to help Addie. Dehner said, “They talk about her all the time.”
Bishop Martin Amos’
Schedule for January
4-12 OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Region IX Bishop’s Retreat, Prince of Peace Abbey
15 DAVENPORT — Priests’ Personnel Board, St. Vincent Center
17 DES MOINES — Midwest March for Life
18 DES MOINES — Dr. Carolyn Woo, president of CRS, Institute for Social Action
20 DAVENPORT — Presbyteral Council, St. Vincent Center
22 DAVENPORT — St. Ambrose University Board of Directors reception
23 DAVENPORT — St. Ambrose University, Board of Directors
25 HILLS — Blessing of new addition, St. Joseph, 10 a.m.
26 DAVENPORT — Humility of Mary Convent, Mass
28 DAVENPORT — Propagation of Faith meeting, St. Vincent Center
31 SOLON — Confirmation, St. Mary, 5 p.m.
