Parish Support for Catholic Exchange
Dear Tom Kyd:
Thank you for the envelopes and brochures that you mailed to me. The Catholic Scripture Study group of St Joseph Church, Spearfish, South Dakota, just finished the study of Romans. We plan to study the book of Genesis in January, 2002. We appreciate your bible study lessons and think they are superb.
I made a donation to Catholic Scripture Study in Sept, 2001. Since then, our study group decided the donation should come from the parish. In 2002 St. Joseph Church will send the donation to you. I will print the lessons and duplicate for our study group. Let me know if you have any questions.
Alvina Lenerville
Dear Alvina:
Thanks so much for the support!
With the help from kind people like yourself, we plan to make the Catholic Scripture Study even better in the future. Let us know if you need anything to help with your Bible study group.
God bless,
Tom Kyd
Catholic Exchange
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An Alaskan on Alaskan Oil Drilling
Dear Catholic Exchange:
Thank you so much for being the first publication I'm aware of to present the ANWR issue in a fair light. [“Alaskans Hopeful Democrats Permit ANWR Vote”, Politics Channel, Dec. 17, 2001.]
Objective reporting seems to be so lacking in the world of news anymore, everyone seems to be of the opinion that their job in presenting issues is to sway the masses rather than provide true information and help folks form their own, educated decisions.
Especially as a Catholic, I am proud of you that you have done so. As an Alaskan, and an oilfield worker, I truly tend to agree with the idea that we can and should develop the coastal plain of ANWR in an environmentaly safe fashion. I also believe that the American Government, which promised our State the right to drill and produce the coastal plain segment of this area in our Statehood act, has no right to go back on their word, and that other states with such huge environmental concerns should clean up their own backyards first before tossing stones our way. They have no business inflicting their will on us due to nothing more than the sheer overwhelming populations they have use of to manipulate and influence the Senate and the House.
Here locally, our diocesan newspaper has chosen sides in the issue of subsistence hunting and fishing vs. sports hunting and fishing. I cannot believe that my local Church takes sides in an issue such as this without showing fair consideration to both sides of the issue such as you have done in your oil article.
The Church has an obligation to counsel both sides of such issues to understand the other side’s views and treat them with consideration and Godliness, not to totally cast off one set of viewpoints and further widen the void between sides. They could stand to take a lesson from you and your article. I do intend to forward it to them.
Thanks again,
Chris
Dear Chris:
Thanks for your feedback and your support of Catholic Exchange. It's a pleasure serving you and our worldwide community of users.
God bless,
Tom Allen
Editor-in-Chief
Catholic Exchange
Touched by Touched by Grace
Mr. Dittman:
Thank you so much for your wonderful column today, “A Child's Wonder, a Father's Faith” [Touched by Grace, Dec. 18, 2001]. As a mother of five children who wants so much give my children the joy of Christmas that I felt as a child, you gave my feelings words without my even knowing what I felt! I have always loved Christmas, I have always loved Our Lord. I was just never sure if I could combine the Christmas I grew up with (even though it was a religious one also) without sacrificing God in the celebration of Santa. You wrote words today that seemed to say exactly what I've felt but have always worried about.
Children can enjoy the magic of Santa and progress ever closer to the wonder in the love of God for us. I don't have to worry that because we “do” Santa in our home we are denying Jesus' birth in some way. I feel like I am not even saying what I want to say. Just know that your column today brought me great joy and warmth. I thank God today for gifted writers who can put into words what some of us feel but are unable to put into words.
May God continue to bless you!
Sincerely,
Millie Greggila
Dear Millie:
Thank you so much for your kind words. It is encouraging to know that people like yourself are able to connect with something I write.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas and always!
Sincerely,
Mark Dittman
Associate Editor
Catholic Exchange
