34th National Wanderer Forum…"Our Hope in God" STERLING, Virginia – In a world haunted by the images of jetliners crashing into skyscrapers, a world suffering economic earthquakes as bad as physical tremors, despair becomes more than a temptation. Yet, "at the end of the day, our only hope is Christ’s grace," said Fr. John Perricone in his Saturday evening banquet address at the 34th National Wanderer Forum.Remember Christ’s words, he urged. "Do not be afraid. I have overcome the world." Hope in these words of Christ were mirrored in several addresses and homilies throughout the National Wanderer Forum, held November 2, 3, 4 at the Holiday Inn, Washington-Dulles International Airport in Sterling, Va. The Forum theme was "Our Hope in God" and examined promising signs of hope in areas touching our lives, including liturgy, the political and pro-life arenas, and especially in the Catholics of the future now in schools and colleges around the country. Just under 200 people attended the Forum and came away with higher spirits and, as Fr. Perricone described, smiles of God’s hope. Al Matt Jr., editor of The Wanderer newspaper and vice president of the Wanderer Forum Foundation spoke on the mission of the Foundation as "Ever Loyal to the Magisterium." The Wanderer Forum Foundation, incorporated in 1965 by Alphonse Matt Sr., Laurene and Jay Conner, has served the Church through educating Catholics for over 35 years. Its 1985 "Declaration Pro Council" which was signed by 5,000 people urged the bishops to carry out the proper implementation of Vatican II’s reforms, while exposing the aberrations allowed in the council’s name. "Renewal has not only been not carried out according to the will of the Holy See, but has been twisted by those charged with carrying it out," Matt said. Through its education programs, regional forums, and published research, the Wanderer Forum Foundation has been trying to educate Catholics so that authentic reform and renewal will come forth. There are hopeful signs, he said, in the resurgence of vocations to faithful religious orders, lay activism, and an increase in sacramental life on the part of families. During his homily at the opening Forum Mass, Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., editor of Homiletic & Pastoral Review and president of Catholic Views Broadcasts, focused on Purgatory and the need to pray for the souls of the faithful departed. "God Will Save" "In times of turmoil, dissent and turbulence, hope brings us back to earth," said Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford, Ill., in his keynote address Friday evening. "Hope says ‘get over it, get a life.’ God will save," he continued. Likening hope to muscle in the body, the Bishop cautioned against letting this virtue atrophy from disuse, resulting in despair. Hope is like armor, he said, protecting and strengthening Christians in times of trouble. We look to Pope John Paul II, the witness to hope in our age, to lead the way. "Today’s struggle is not just to the strong, but to the vigilant, the active, and the brave," the Bishop concluded. In his Saturday morning talk, "Positive Trends on the International Scene," Steven Mosher, director of the Population Research Institute in nearby Front Royal, Va., voiced his hope the twin themes of God and family "are here to stay and not just a post 9/11 phenomenon, that those ideals will continue to feed several pro-family efforts around the world," such as in Peru where a pro-life doctor is now minister of health. In China, he noted, officials estimate there are 80 million Christians, compared to 5-6 million at the time of their revolution several years ago. Looking back at the 20th century, Christendom College President Timothy O’Donnell said, "We see with radiant clarity what man can do without God when he sets his heart like stone against Him." In his talk, "Young People Carrying on the Faith," O’Donnell stated, "Our age prides itself on its sensitivity, compassion, and gentleness. It tries to use the suffering in the world to attack God, to make Him irrelevant….And what did this produce? Auschwitz, Dachau, the Gulag, the killing fields of Cambodia, and broken limbs in dumpsters." All this proves is what Christ said, "Without Me you can do nothing." Winning the battle for Christ takes many forms, as the Saturday afternoon Forum speakers could well attest. William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, Dr. Charles Rice of Ave Maria School of Law and the University of Notre Dame, and former Congressman Robert Dornan spoke to a standing room only crowd about being up front, Catholic, and proud of it. In "Our National Hope: One Nation Under God," William Donohue noted that if society is to be restored, "the dissident culture" – Catholics – will have to eclipse "the dominant culture"; and since the September 11 tragedy, "there are positive signs the dissident culture is making some headway." Donohue described the Catholic League’s efforts to derail ridicule of Catholic belief and practices, whether it is a dung-smeared Madonna at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Catholic politicians mocking the faith in their campaigns, profanities on Ebay, or having a large Nativity scene in Central Park in New York City. Assessing the pro-life movement in light of September 11, Dr. Charles Rice made clear that he believes the pro-life establishment has failed because it has sought political compromise, not the service of truth first. September 11 was "a horrific thing where Satan is attacking innocent people in our country," he said, but he’s actually being doing it for four decades through the grave sin of abortion. Following the Church’s teaching is the only answer to all of this evil, he said as he concluded his talk, "Where is the Pro-Life Movement Today?" "A Meltdown of our Culture" Ever exuberant, former Congressman Robert Dornan rallied the Forum participants with his enthusiastic "Comments on the Current Crisis." "We’re in a fierce combat right now," Dornan said. "I’m talking about the meltdown of our culture." He went on to cite filthy movies and a pro-abortion Oscar-winning film as symbols of this problem. Yet he noted positive elements in society as well. "You can win pro-life victories and build a culture of life," he said, noting the successful passage over several years of the Dornan Amendment restricting abortions in the military. He urged all to pray for President Bush and "thank God that you live in exciting times!" On Sunday morning, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf discussed the impact of Liturgiam Authenticam, the Fifth Instruction on the Right Implementation of the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council. He indicated Catholics should have great hope for liturgical renewal because of this document, which he characterized as an act of executive power, demanding implementation. The proper translation of the liturgy is our right, he went on, and described how a reverent liturgy conveys the sacred to the people, who then allow it to influence their lives and society. "I would like to call very publicly for the formation of a Coalition in Support of Liturgiam Authenticam" to promote this implementation, he concluded. It should be noted here that toward this end, the Wanderer Forum Foundation is having discussions on Liturgiam Authenticam at all of its 2002 Regional Forums. In the concluding talk of the Forum, Fr. Kenneth Baker, S.J., discussed the recently concluded Synod of Bishops in Rome. Stating that the meeting was "like a communal examination of conscience," Fr. Baker noted a lot was said on the need for bishops to be men of prayer, but also that they are called "not only preserve the Gospel, but to correct errors." |