Congratulations to the Winners of today's tickets to the Catholic Charities' I-Cubs Game: Tom Washington and Barb Graham
Featured National Guest: Gene Monterastelli, APEX Ministries
Featured Local Guest: Kristie Arlt, Communications Director for the Diocese of Sioux City
Featured National Guest: Michael Anderson, Gear Up Iowa
Featured Catholic News: Matthew Bunson, Our Sunday Visitor
Today, Bill and Rich spoke with Matthew Bunson, with Our Sunday Visitor on the Catholic News Front. Matthew shared with us news that Spain is loosening its regulations on Abortion. Already in Spain the age of consent is now 13, but they are moving towards Abortion on demand. The Christian churches in Spain are banding together to fight the new wave of legislation, but we need to keep this situation in our prayers and strive to stay informed.
On a good news front, Our Late Pope John Paul II's cause for cannonization, which opened 5 years ago after his death with the cry of "Sancto Subito" (Saint Immediately), is moving forward. The five year waiting period was waved by Pope Benedict XVI and it is now highly likely that he will be beatified in April of 2010.
Pope John Paul II's predecessor, Pope John Paul I, who was pope for 30 days before he died has recently been submitted with cause for cannonization. He is already attributed with the miraculous healing of a banker with terminal cancer who interceded to him shortly after his death.
Benedict XVI will also be coming out with his third encyclical. So far he has blessed us with "Deus Caritas Est" (God is Love) and "Spe Salve" (Saved by Hope). His newest Encyclical is projected to be out by teh end of the month entitled "Caritas in Veritate" (Love in Truth). In this encyclical he will be focusing on social issues, particularly a look at the economy.
Gene Monterastelli also joined Bill and Rich from APEX Ministires. APEX is a dynamic duo of two jugglers who share the message of the gospel through their juggling antics, sketch comedy and other hilarious antics. A majority of the work they do is at a Diocesan level, they also perform for Parishes and retreats.
Gene and his partner, Brad, both grew up in the same parish with a dynamic youth ministry program. It left them wondering who they could give back to the community. Brad had learned to juggle early in life and Gene picked it up in college to help him study and burn off energy. When comparing notes on life during college, Gene and Brad decided they wanted to reach out as a team through their love for telling stories as well as their juggling.
Gene spoke about serving the young Church. It's easy for parishioners who see the youth minister's name in the bulletin to simply say to themselves "Oh, it's so-and-so's job to minister to the youth." Youth Ministry involves the entire parish, taking an interest in the young people and being present to them. The Youth Minister coordinates these efforts. In their juggling, Gene and Brad focus on gifted-ness and discovering the gifts you have and how to share them with the world.
You can find more information on their website: www.apexministries.com
Kristie Arlt, the Communications Director for the Diocese of Sioux City shared some exciting news. The Diocese of Sioux City is planning their 13th Annual Bishop's Dinner, which will be taking place October 11. An exciting guest of this event will be Cardinal Daniel DiNardo. Cardinal DiNardo was the Bishop of Sioux City for 5 years before he was elevated to Cardinal two years ago, and is now located in Galviston, Texas. Tickets for this event will be on sale in August.
One of the stories Kristie shared about Cardinal DiNardo was when he came back to visit Iowa right after his elevation to Cardinal. Sioux City had done several media outreaches with Cardinal DiNardo leading up to his arrival where he explained that the proper address for a Cardinal is "Your Eminence." A young girl in the line of 2,000 people finally had her turn with Cardinal DiNardo and had one question: "Why do they call you 'Your M&Ms?' Is that your favorite candy?" To which Cardinal DiNardo replied "No, my favorite candy is Snickers so I don't know why they call me 'Your M&Ms.' You can call me Fr. Dan."
Kristie also announced that there is a new Superintendant of Catholic Schools for their Diocese, Dan Ryan. He will be in charge of their 8 Catholic High Schools and 17 Catholic Elementary Schools.
Learn more by going to: www.scdiocese.org
Michael Anderson with Gear Up Iowa joined Bill and Rich for the final interview of the day. He shared with us that Gear Up's mission is to help bridge the gap of college awareness for low-income students and families. They currently reach into 31 schools and help students focus on their early education and college preparations. The unique part of Gear Up is that once these students graduate there is then scholarship money available to them to help them further their education.
The Gear Up Iowa program helps to make this nation and our state a better place by helping these students to contribute. It also helps to break the cycle of generations who haven't attended college. Michael helps students get past all those things that they think are holding them back so that they are prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
If you want more information you can check them out through: www.iowacollegeaid.gov
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