Armed With Faith

U.S. MILITARY ARCHDIOCESE, June 23 — A Boston College Jesuit, Father Daniel Sweeney, has compiled a pocket-size book of prayers and Catechism lessons specifically for men and women serving in the military that is already in its third edition.

The 64-page waterproof booklet, designed to fit in the pocket of a battle uniform, is being distributed free of charge by the Knights of Columbus in conjunction with the military archdiocese.

The book includes prayers, devotions, sacramental theology, catechetical information and hymns, along with a brief outline of just-war theory in the Catholic tradition.

There are 200,000 copies already in circulation and a Spanish-language edition is under development.

Simple Advice

ASSOCIATED PRESS, July 1 — Holy Cross Father John Jenkins became the 17th president of Notre Dame University on July 1.

He told the Associated Press that he would be guided by “great advice” from Father Theodore Hesburgh, who served as Notre Dame's president for 35 years beginning in 1952.

“He said, ‘Look, be thoughtful, take in all the points of view, take in all the evidence you can, then make the best decision you can, then don't worry about it. Don't listen to the criticism, don't listen to the praise, just make the best decision you can,’” Father Jenkins said. “That's what I'm going to do.”

Venerate Truth

THE BURLINGTON FREE PRESS, June 28 — Canadian Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Vatican secretary for Catholic education, was the speaker at commencement exercises culminating St. Michael's College's centennial celebrations in Colchester, Vt.

He spoke on fidelity to the truth to 458 students who received bachelor's degrees and 58 who received master's degrees with some 3,000 parents and friends on hand for the celebration.

The former president of the University of St. Thomas in Houston urged the graduates to “venerate the truth … and bring that reverence to every future endeavor.”

Parents Banned

THE TIMES, June 24 — A school board in Glasgow, Scotland, which has the highest teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease rates in all of Western Europe, has blocked parents from removing their children from an explicit sex education program supposedly aimed at curbing the problem.

A group of Catholic parents, which has filed suit to reverse the ban, argues that teen pregnancy and other problems actually stem from programs like Glasgow's graphic sex-ed curriculum.

The Times’ coverage highlighted that the Tory health spokesman in the Scottish parliament, Dr Nanette Milne, is opposed to forcing children to take classes over the objection of parents.

Stepping Down

HILBERT COLLEGE, June 25 —Sister Edmunette Paczesny, the president of the college in Hamburg, N.Y. since 1975, will retire at the end of the 2005-2006 academic year.

A Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph for the past 50 years, Sister Edmunette, 72, said she thinks “it's time for a new leader.”

During her tenure, Hilbert moved from a two- to a four-year institution, increased its undergraduate degree programs from five to 12, dramatically increased its enrollment and added such academic innovations as a forensics training lab.