Feb. 9: (morning) Bishop’s Administrative Council, Chancery

          (afternoon) Presbyteral Council; Diocesan Consultors, Chancery

Feb. 10: (evening) Catholic Charities Dinner, Walnut Creek

Feb. 11: (morning) Mass, World Day of the Sick, Cathedral

Feb. 11-12: Parish visitation, St. Rose of Lima, Crockett

Feb. 13: (afternoon) Welcome Mass, Bishop Cirilo Flores, Diocese of San Diego

Feb 14-20: San Francisco Province Bishop’s Retreat, Los Altos

Feb 21: Alliance of Catholic Healthcare meeting, Sacramento

Feb. 22: 12:10 p.m. Ash Wednesday Mass, Cathedral

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Lux Gloriosa: 3 days of music, art

If you’re planning to attend the first night of Lux Gloriosa — the annual diocesan celebration of prayer, art and music —plan on participating wholeheartedly. The first Cathedral of the Diocese of Oakland is going to be recalled in a prayerful, loving and spirit-filled way.

	Lux Gloriosa Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m.: Those Who See Light; Prayer & Reflection Admission: Free-will offering Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.: Marirose Jelicich, Sacred & Secular Design Admission: Free-will offering Feb. 10, 8 p.m.: The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir Admission: $20 in advance; $25 at the door; Children under 12, free Tickets: www.ctlcathedral.org

The Rev. E. Donald Osuna has planned an evening of choral music, worship and remembrance in the style of Oakland’s first cathedral, St. Francis de Sales. Father Osuna served at St. Francis de Sales from 1967 to 1986. During his time there, the cathedral became known internationally for its leading-edge liturgies and music.

Father Osuna’s own compositions, including “How Awesome Is this Place!” and “Those Who See Light” will be among the evening’s musical offerings.

John McDonnell, who directed the choir at the first cathedral, as well as the choir for the dedication of the Cathedral of Christ the Light and for the farewell Mass at the departure of the diocese’s third bishop, the Most. Rev. Allen Vigneron to Detroit, has assembled a choir of 36 to sing at the Feb. 8 event. There will be ample opportunity for participation from the singers in the pews as well.

Former ministers of the cathedral have been invited to attend. Father Osuna said the Rev. William Cieslak, OFM Cap, will be present. Of Father Cieslak’s influence on the cathedral in the 1980s, Father Osuna wrote in his book, “His expertise, enthusiasm and ingenuity provided the cathedral community with inspired worship year after year.”

Sister Maureen Delaney, SNJM, who headed the outreach to the neighborhood ministry at the Frist Cathedral, will attend the evening of prayer and reflection.

The Most Rev. John Cummins, Bishop Emeritus of Oakland, will offer reflections during the celebration in the Cathedral of Christ the Light. A reception will follow in the parish hall, where Father Osuna will sign copies of his memoir of the first Oakland Cathedral, “How Awesome Is This Place!” The Cathedral Shop will have a table in the hall offering books for sale.

The second event will be a talk by Marirose Jelicich, who is one of several artists who have created the sacred art and furnishings for the Cathedral. She will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 9. A reception will follow in the parish hall.

Free-will offerings will be collected at the first two events.

The festival closes on Feb. 10, when members of choirs from the Diocese of Oakland will join the Oakland Interfaith Gospel choir for an 8 p.m. concert featuring traditional and contemporary Black gospel music and spirituals. Tickets, $20 in advance, are available at www.ctlcathedral.org. Tickets are $25 at the door. A reception will follow.

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Real bones in figure A life-size figure created out of real bones and colored wax is one of eight anatomical figures commissioned by 18th-century Pope Benedict XIV to teach the general public and artists about the human body. The figures, created by Italian physician-sculptor Ercole Lelli, are in the Poggi Museum in Bologna, Italy. CNS photo/Poggi Museum

Pope to visit Mexico, Cuba

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI will meet with Cuban President Raul Castro, Mexican President Felipe Calderon and bishops and Catholics from the region when he visits Mexico and Cuba in late March. He will also greet bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as pray at the shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre in Cuba.

It will be his third visit to the Americas after the United States in 2008 and Brazil in 2007.
In Mexico, he will have a special meeting with children and a vespers service with bishops from Latin America, and in Cuba he will make a private visit to the shrine of Our Lady of Charity of El Cobre.


Religion in trouble

VATICAN CITY — Christianity and even religious belief are in grave danger across the globe, risking oblivion, Pope Benedict XVI said. “Across vast areas of the earth, faith runs the danger of extinguishing like a flame that runs out of fuel,” he said. The world faces “a profound crisis of faith, and a loss of a sense of religion constitutes the biggest challenge for the Church today,” he said. The pope said the renewal of faith has to be a priority for all members of the Church and said he hoped the upcoming Year of Faith, starting in October, would further such effort.

‘Corruption’ downplayed

VATICAN CITY — Insisting on the Holy See’s continuing commitment to transparency and rectitude in economic affairs, the Vatican’s spokesman downplayed references to “corruption” in a letter apparently sent to Pope Benedict XVI by a Vatican official who is now apostolic nuncio to the United States. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Vatican Press Office, criticized as “partisan,” “partial and banal,” an Italian television news program, which, on Jan. 25, broadcast portions of letters addressed to Pope Benedict and Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State. The letters were apparently signed by Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano and written when he was the secretary general of the commission governing Vatican City.

Treaties take stand

VATICAN CITY — The Vatican has signed three international treaties supporting the fight against the illegal drug trade, financing terrorism and organized crime. By signing onto these international legal instruments Jan. 25, the Vatican “confirms its intention as well as its effective and practical commitment to collaborate with the international community in a manner consistent with its nature and mission, with a view to guaranteeing international peace and justice,” wrote Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Vatican secretary for relations with states.

Call to evangelization

VATICAN CITY — Evangelization must never be a marginal concern for the Church, Pope Benedict XVI said. From bishops to religious and the lay community, “All elements of the great mosaic of the Church must feel themselves strongly called on by the Lord’s mandate to preach the Gospel, so that Christ may be proclaimed everywhere,” the pope said in his message for World Mission Sunday. The annual observance will be marked Oct. 21 at the Vatican and in most countries.

Silence communication key

VATICAN CITY — Amid the deluge of information and nonstop chatter in today’s media, the Church needs to help people find safe havens of silence, Pope Benedict XVI said. Far from being the enemy of calm and quiet, social media and the Internet can lead people to virtual sanctuaries that offer silent reflection, thoughtful dialogue and true meaning in life, he said. “Attention should be paid to the various types of websites, applications and social networks which can help people today to find time for reflection and authentic questioning, as well as making space for silence and occasions for prayer, meditation or sharing of the word of God,” he said in his message for the 2012 celebration of World Communications Day.

Pope warns of U.S. threats

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI warned visiting U.S. bishops that “radical secularism” threatens the core values of American culture, and he called on the Church in America, including politicians and other laypeople, to render “public moral witness” on crucial social issues. The pope spoke Jan. 19 to a group of U.S. bishops.

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