Transcript of online session with Cardinal Roger Mahony and students from Holy Family School
Wednesday, September 26, 2001
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
In February Cardinal Roger Mahony conducted an online chat session with school children from the Los Angeles Archdiocese. This is the second time he has scheduled a private chat session, this time with Eighth Grade students from Holy Family School in South Pasadena, Calif. The Cardinal [LosAngCardinal] spoke with students logged on as Holy Family's Ed Center [HFEDCENTER].
Special thanks to Elaine Ricci (Computer Technology) and Tad Shaw (Data System Administrator) at Holy Family.
The following is a transcript from that online chat session.
RECongress:
Great,
we're all here
HFEDCENTER:
Your Eminence the children will be here shortly.
RECongress:
We
have Tad Shaw online right now
LosAngCardinal:
Is
Tad with Holy Family?
HFEDCENTER:
Yes, I am with Elaine Ricci at Holy Family School
LosAngCardinal:
Thanks,
Tad, for being with us!!
LosAngCardinal:
Do
you have a special room at Holy Family for this purpose?
HFEDCENTER:
Yes we are in the computer lab.
HFEDCENTER:
We have a projector on the PC.
LosAngCardinal:
Terrific!
RECongress:
How
many students will be with us? Do you know?
HFEDCENTER:
There will be about 35 students
RECongress:
That's
great!
LosAngCardinal:
Yes,
a good number.
LosAngCardinal:
How
are the young people dealing with the aftermath of the WTC [World Trade Center] attacks?
HFEDCENTER:
They have questions about it
LosAngCardinal:
I
find enormous insecurity, fear, and uncertainty among people--it must be very present in
children.
RECongress:
Cardinal,
where are you right now?
LosAngCardinal:
I'm
at the Cathedral residence.
RECongress:
What
is the current work on the cathedral now being done?
LosAngCardinal:
Lots
of Cathedral work--bell tower, inside, plaza, street work, etc.
RECongress:
When
will scaffolding be removed on the cross
LosAngCardinal:
The
scaffolding around the Cross will come down in October, should be all done by Nov. 1st.
RECongress:
Tad,
what is the Ed Center like?
HFEDCENTER:
The Ed Center is great; with a new computer room, science
room and multipurpose room.
RECongress:
Is
that also a computer lab at Holy Family?
HFEDCENTER:
Yes, the lab has 20 computers hooked up to the network
RECongress:
Sounds
like a great place. How new is it all?
HFEDCENTER:
Two years old now.
RECongress:
Cardinal,
are you going to have any further statements on tragedy? The Office of
Religious Education has a links page they're updating.
LosAngCardinal:
No,
I am not doing any special statements at this time--just using existing occasions to speak about
it all.
HFEDCENTER:
Your Eminence, the students have arrived.
LosAngCardinal:
Greetings
to all of you!!
LosAngCardinal:
What
grades are represented?
HFEDCENTER:
The Eighth Grade class.
LosAngCardinal:
It
is a joy to have this chat with you. Your
pastor, Msgr. Connolly, is a fine friend and a
terrific pastor.
HFEDCENTER:
First Question: Cardinal, was your faith challenged on Sept. 11th?
LosAngCardinal:
No,
it was actually my faith and my belief in God's presence in the midst of all our troubles
that gave me strength.
LosAngCardinal:
There
was an enormous outpouring of faith that day; people rushing to Churches and places of
worship. People turned to God and
prayer.
LosAngCardinal:
What
are you studying right now in your Religion Class?
HFEDCENTER:
We are studying our Catholic heritage.
LosAngCardinal:
HF
[Holy Family] parish must have had special Masses and services also.
HFEDCENTER:
We had an ecumenical Mass on Sept. 13th.
LosAngCardinal:
I
had a special Mass last Sunday for firefighters and police; it was just fantastic. They are real heroes for us, as are so many professions in our midst.
HFEDCENTER:
What do you feel about the statement On Sept 11th, the
question is not where was God but where was man?
LosAngCardinal:
Since
the creation of the world and the human race, evil has been present.
Evil arises constantly throughout our history.
But the heroism and generosity of countless
numbers countered the evil in a manner that was just fantastic.
HFEDCENTER:
How do you feel about the idea of women priests?
LosAngCardinal:
For
whatever reason, Jesus did not choose to include women as priests or apostles, even though
He included them in many aspects of the Church's life.
The Church does not believe it has been given the authority to make such a change
LosAngCardinal:
The
Church, at the same time, continues to involve women in the highest roles in our Church. My top advisors in the Archdiocese are fantastic women.
HFEDCENTER:
Do you feel the Church will ever be given that authority?
LosAngCardinal:
I
just don't know about that authority; we will have to see what the Holy Spirit does over the
coming years.
HFEDCENTER:
When did you decide to go in to the priesthood?
LosAngCardinal:
I
first thought about the priesthood in elementary school, St. Charles in North Hollywood. We had terrific priests and sisters, and their example inspired me.
LosAngCardinal:
Anyone
in your class interested in the priesthood or religious life?
We can sure use some fine new young people!!
HFEDCENTER:
We have one gentleman but he is not currently in the room.
LosAngCardinal:
Tell
him that I will pray for him, and for all the students, that they be open to God's call.
HFEDCENTER:
Do you believe we should go to war with the terrorists?
LosAngCardinal:
I
believe that we need to defend ourselves and the world against terrorists.
But that can be done without massive bombing wars.
It will take increased intelligence,
cutting off their armaments and their money.
HFEDCENTER:
Did you ever have doubts about your calling once you were in
the seminary?
LosAngCardinal:
Of
course, since the seminary is a place where you test your vocation.
But with God's grace, I was able to continue.
HFEDCENTER:
What
can we do as an Eighth Grade class to help prevent the war.
LosAngCardinal:
We
can surely pray for peace among all peoples, and pray for world leaders that they remove this
cancer from the world with the least amount of damage to innocent people.
LosAngCardinal:
We
also need to learn ourselves how to live with people from different backgrounds, and to find
peaceful ways to resolve our own disputes.
HFEDCENTER:
Can you see yourself becoming the first American Pope?
LosAngCardinal: No. There will not be an American Pope.
HFEDCENTER:
Why!!
LosAngCardinal:
How
many different nations are represented in your class?
HFEDCENTER:
More than 13.
LosAngCardinal:
How
many languages do you speak?
HFEDCENTER:
English, Spanish, French, Romanian, Chinese, Korean, Tagalo
LosAngCardinal:
Wow!!
That's terrific. We need to appreciate each other's culture and background, and learn
from one another.
LosAngCardinal:
If
you don't have any questions, I have some!!
HFEDCENTER:
How do feel about married priests?
LosAngCardinal:
These
questions are not really about how I "feel" about issues; rather, what does the Church
teach and why.
HFEDCENTER:
They all get the message.
LosAngCardinal:
The
Church has consistently had married priests.
All our Eastern Catholic Churches have
married priests, as well as celibate. Both
systems have worked well.
HFEDCENTER:
What are your main duties as Cardinal?
LosAngCardinal: As Cardinal, I am primarily responsible for the care of the people here in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. We are the largest in the USA.
LosAngCardinal:
But
each day is very different. My
duties take me all over the Archdiocese, and I visit
parishes all the time for various events.
HFEDCENTER:
Does the Church believe that married priests will not be as devoted as non-married to the Church?
LosAngCardinal:
No,
married priests must give adequate time and attention to their wives and families. Today's
celibate priests work day and night for the parishioners.
That would have to change.
LosAngCardinal:
But
it works out all right in our Eastern Rite Catholic Churches.
HFEDCENTER:
When were you ordained as a priest?
LosAngCardinal:
I
was ordained a priest in 1962--most likely before you were born!! I
have been a priest for 39 years, and I have loved every year.
LosAngCardinal:
How
many of you have seen the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels downtown?
HFEDCENTER:
18 of us.
LosAngCardinal:
That's
great! We have a website: http://cathedral.la-archdiocese.org
LosAngCardinal:
You
should check out the website. I
know that your parish has a fine website as well.
HFEDCENTER:
Why did you choose a contemporary style for the Cathedral?
LosAngCardinal:
Actually,
the exterior style of the Cathedral was chosen by the architect, Rafael Moneo, to
allow the maximum amount of sunlight to enter.
It will be impressive.
LosAngCardinal:
The
new Cathedral will be dedicated Sept 2, 2002.
After that, it will be open.
You need to come for a visit!
HFEDCENTER:
Can elementary students participate in the opening mass?
LosAngCardinal:
Since
the Cathedral only holds 3,000 we will not be able to invite students to the first day of
ceremonies. However, you will be
invited later in the week to a special
event.
LosAngCardinal:
Also,
early in 2002 you will be getting some fine educational materials on Cathedrals,
and our own. Your school will get
those.
HFEDCENTER:
What do you do in your free time?
LosAngCardinal:
Chat
with 8th graders!!
HFEDCENTER:
The best answer ever!!!
LosAngCardinal:
I
love to hike in the mountains, use my treadmill, etc.
HFEDCENTER:
What is the most impressive Cathedral you have ever visited?
LosAngCardinal:
Well,
each one is different and unique. For
example, most European Cathedrals are quite dark
inside--they have a unique feel to them. Ours will be much more light and
exciting.
LosAngCardinal:
Our
Cathedral also has a 2-1/2 acre Plaza for people to enjoy.
HFEDCENTER:
Wow!
LosAngCardinal:
A
question: we are opening a small
cafe on the property; we need a name for it!
Some suggestions already: "Holy
Grounds," "Angel Food". What do you recommend?
HFEDCENTER:
How about Soul Food!
HFEDCENTER:
Seventh Heaven gets a vote too.
LosAngCardinal:
Soul
Food is used a lot in our city. Seventh
Heaven is nice!!
Keep thinking; send your name to me since I'm giving away a prize!!
HFEDCENTER:
Where should we send the name?
LosAngCardinal:
To
me at the Archdiocese. Your staff
there has the address & email.
HFEDCENTER:
We have a student whose father you might know, Rick
Hernandez, his son says hello.
LosAngCardinal:
Yes,
they were here on Sunday night for a special dinner.
LosAngCardinal:
What
are you studying now in Catholic Heritage?
HFEDCENTER:
We are studying our personal Catholic heritages and how we
feel about the Trinity and other beliefs.
LosAngCardinal:
Is
there a textbook for this class?
HFEDCENTER:
The book is called This Is Our Faith.
LosAngCardinal:
Great!
You should get a copy of the one volume that shows the history of our
Archdiocese--fascinating way to connect your roots!
HFEDCENTER:
We have another vote for the cafe, Holy Orders.
LosAngCardinal:
Holy
Orders is good, too!! We would
like to get "angels" into the title somehow, if it works.
HFEDCENTER:
How about Order of Angels.
LosAngCardinal:
Keep
those names coming!!
LosAngCardinal:
Does
anyone know when your parish was established??
HFEDCENTER:
We have a debate as to whether it is 1927 or 1928, this is a good homework question.
LosAngCardinal:
I
think it is even earlier than that!! Find
out if your parish was first the mission of another
parish, and when. And then, when
it became a parish.
HFEDCENTER:
How about Cherub's Delight.
LosAngCardinal:
That's
good!! I'm writing them all down.
HFEDCENTER:
How do you get around our Archdiocese?
LosAngCardinal:
I
drive an Olds Bravada. It is
great for carrying all kinds of things around!!
LosAngCardinal:
Have
any of you decided to give some of your allowance to help the people in New York?
HFEDCENTER:
We have a large jug in the office that students are filling
with change to go to the Red Cross.
LosAngCardinal:
Fantastic!!
LosAngCardinal:
Any
of your families know anyone killed back east?
HFEDCENTER:
A
number of students have extended family who died.
LosAngCardinal:
Yes,
so many people across the country were touched by those deaths.
It brought us all together.
HFEDCENTER:
We have a student whose dad is a firefighter here and we are very proud of him.
LosAngCardinal:
Yes,
the firefighters are terrific! We
just had a large group here at the Cathedral yesterday
to go through the facilities.
HFEDCENTER:
How do you feel about the Islamic people?
LosAngCardinal:
The
Islam faith is a wonderful faith. All
peaceful, etc. These fanatics are not Islamic; they
just use the name to look for support.
RECongress:
We've
five minutes left, time for just a few more questions.
HFEDCENTER:
Do you believe that children's prayers are heard and seen by
God first?
LosAngCardinal:
Absolutely!
The innocence and goodness of children's prayers are incredible.
I always turn to children when I need some praying done.
LosAngCardinal:
Are
any of you hesitant to fly?
HFEDCENTER:
Some of us are.
HFEDCENTER:
Are
you afraid to fly?
LosAngCardinal:
No.
I have a great appreciation for flight crews and attendants.
The skies are really safe now.
LosAngCardinal:
There
is greater danger on the freeways than in the air.
RECongress:
We'll
have to wrap up here. Cardinal, any last comments to the school children?
HFEDCENTER:
We have a great tribute to our Faith here.
We are not all afraid!!!!!!!
LosAngCardinal:
You
are just terrific! I will pray
for you and your families.
May God bless each one of you!! And
find out about your parish history!
HFEDCENTER:
Keep praying for us and we will pray for you.
LosAngCardinal:
Thanks
so very much!! Maybe we will
connect another time!!
RECongress:
Thank
you, Cardinal
HFEDCENTER:
We look forward to it!!!!!!!!
RECongress:
And
thank you -- all of you -- at Holy Family!!
RECongress:
We'll
have a transcript up of this on www.RECongress.org
HFEDCENTER:
You're very welcome.
©2001 Los Angeles Archdiocese
(According to the 2001 Los Angeles Archdiocese
Catholic Directory, Holy Family Church was built in 1910.)
Read the Cardinal's transcripts from other Religious Education Congress online
chats
2008
2008 (Sacred Heart)
2007
2007 (St
Benedict)
2007 (St Rita)
2006
2006 (Holy Innocents)
2005
2004 2003
2002
(Bp Clark) 2001
2001 (St Jerome)
2001
(Holy Family)
2000
1999
1998 1997
1996
|
ABOUT
CONGRESS: Reviews
Themes
Sign Up Cardinal
Chat
Resources
Recordings Guidebook
Comments Search
Congress Milestones
History in Photos
Email Us |
CONGRESS HOME PAGE |
|||
|
|||
