December 9, 2012 - Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church

THE SECONDSUNDAY OFADVENTNativity of Our LordCATHOLIC CHURCH & SCHOOLHIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:We have a great opportunityfor you to learn about OurLady of Guadalupe! On OurLady’s feast day, Wednesday,December 12, Nativity’s highschool Religious Educationprogram will be hostingBritney Lane, who will speakon this topic. All high schoolersare welcome to join us inWeibel Hall from 6:30pm to7:30pm. Don’t pass up thisunique opportunity!DECEMBER9OurLady of GuadalupeFeast day: December 12

LITURGICALSCHEDULEMass Times:Weekend Masses:Saturday 4:30pmSunday 7:30am,9:30am, & 11:30amYouth Mass 5:00pmDaily Mass:Monday-Thursday 7:30amFriday & Saturday 8:00amFirst Friday of the month: 12:00pmSacrament of Penance:Saturday 8:30am & 3:00pmSunday 30 min. prior to each MassPARISHOFFICE900 Midway Blvd.Broomfield, CO 80020Office Hours:Monday-Friday8:00am-5:00pmwww.nool.usPhone: 303-469-5171Fax: 303-469-5172School: 303-466-4177PLEASE NOTE!Send allbulletin informationto Jacquie Fankell atj.fankell@nool.us.Readings for this Week:Sunday: Baruch 5:1-9; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6Monday: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 5:17-26Tuesday: Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14Wednesday: Zechariah 2:14-17; Luke 1:26-38Thursday: Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:11-15Friday: Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19Saturday: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Matthew 17:9a, 10-13Next Sunday: Zephania 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18PastorFr. Michael Carvill, ext. 114m.carvill@nool.usParochial VicarFr. Diego Garcia, ext. 110d.garcia@nool.usIn ResidenceFr. Gabriele Azzaling.azzalin@nool.usFr. Accursio Ciaccio, ext. 121a.ciaccio@nool.usDeaconsRichard A. Medenwaldt, ext. 106r.medenwaldt@nool.usLeonard “Buz” Onesky, ext. 106l.onesky@nool.usDirector of Admin. ServicesDavid Hazen, ext. 111d.hazen@nool.usBusiness ManagerKyle Hubbart, ext. 108k.hubbart@nool.usSchool PrincipalKathy Shadel, ext. 119k.shadel@nool.usDirector of Faith FormationMark Thomason, ext. 104m.thomason@nool.usDevelopment DirectorIlene DuBey, 303-641-3667i.dubey@nool.usDirector of Religious EducationDiane Irby, ext. 103d.irby@nool.usDirector of MusicTad Koriath, ext. 123t.koriath@nool.usParish RegistrarMerrilyn Sikora, ext. 101m.sikora@nool.usBusiness Office AccountantCarol Sullivan, ext. 109c.sullivan@nool.usAdministrative Assistant - Front DeskBelinda Marquez-Salgado, ext. 100b.marquez.salgado@nool.usFaith Formation Program AssistantKyla Dahlquist, ext. 105k.dahlquist@nool.usIT SpecialistPaul O’Brien, ext. 115p.obrien@nool.usPastoral Communications AssociateJacquie Fankellj.fankell@nool.usPromoter of Works of CharityMaura Johnsonm.johnson@nool.us

THIS WEEKAT NATIVITYMASS INTENTIONSSunday, December 97:30am †Jim Reichert by the Day Family9:30am People of the Parish11:30am †Dorothy O'Donnell by Tom O'Donnell5:00pm †Marilyne Foreman by the Foreman FamilyMonday, December 107:30am †Bubby Clark by the Foreman FamilyTuesday, November 117:30am †Cleve & Louise Thielen on their 100th wedding anniversaryby Bette DeanWednesday, December127:30am †James Vincent Arnold, Sr. by Julianne Arnold-KoleThursday, December 137:30am In thanksgiving to St. Lucy by Grace MartinezFriday, December 148:00am †The Jones Family by Elizabeth HiserSaturday, December 158:00am †Nicole Jankowski by Leo Jankowski4:30pm Intentions of 4:30 ushers by Bette DeanSunday, December 167:30am †Jerry Tigges by the Tigges Family9:30am People of the Parish11:30am †David T. Smith, Jr. by the Fay Family5:00pm †Sal Gagliano by the Foreman FamilyPrayers for the Sick:We pray for all who are sick, especially for Kate Sweeney.For our deceased relatives and friendsthat they may speedily attain the blessedness of heaven and rejoice inthe eternal treasure of God’s glory and God’s love. We pray especiallyfor Deacon Joe Kaiser and Margaret Frances Bartz.Collection Counters This Week: Mike Wasserburger,Susan Lucero, Kim Hofmann, Melanie DillsSacristy Laundry This Week: MaryAnne HammettCollection Counters for Next Week: Dan Buchtel,Judith Quinlan, Shannon Spinuzzi, Denise FritzWEEKLY SCHEDULESunday, December 9Pancake Breakfast 8:30am, 10:30amBlood Drive 8:30amInside Islam 8:30amRCIC 11:30amBaptism 12:45pmCL School of Community 3:30pmMusic Rehearsal 3:30pmHigh School Youth 6:00pmMen’s Basketball 6:30pmMonday, December 10ENDOW 9:00amCenacle Prayer Group 1:00pmCounseling 4:00pmWomen's Guild Meeting 7:00pmTuesday, December 11ENDOW 8:30amReligious Education 4:30pmEPIC 6:30pmReligious Education 6:30pmBaptism Class 7:00pm3rd Year Biblical School 7:00pmCanticle 7:00pmWednesday, December 12ENDOW 8:00amLACE 8:00amReligious Education 4:30pmChildren's Choir 5:30pmReligious Education 6:30pmVenturers of the Star 6:30pmHigh School R.E. 6:30pmRCIA 6:30pmChoir Rehearsal 7:30pmThursday, December 13Mary Jane's Bible Study 8:00amENDOW 10:00amAdoration 12:00pmHoly Hour 5:00pm; Benediction 5:45pmKnights of Columbus 6:45pm1st Year Biblical School 7:00pmCentering Prayer 7:00pmConfessions 7:00pmFriday, December 14PTO Meeting 9:00amLiving Waters Prayer Gathering 7:00pmSaturday, December 15MASH 6:45amCenacle Prayer Group MMP 8:30amSunday, December 16Inside Islam 8:30amRCIC 11:30amBaptism 12:45pmMusic Rehearsal 3:30pmChristmas Caroling 6:00pmMen’s Basketball 6:30pm

FROM THE DESKOF OUR PASTORDear Parishioners,As you are reading these words, I expect to be sitting somewhere five miles over theAtlantic Ocean, returning from my trip to Rome where I participated in the episcopalordination of my dear friend and superior, Fr. Massimo Camisasca. The Fraternityof St. Charles Borromeo was born in 1985 with a desire to live, as missionary priests,the intensity of life which we had encountered in the Communion and Liberationmovement, joining in the great mission to the New Evangelization that John Paul IIinvited the whole Church to take up.From the very beginning, Fr. Camisasca was the leader and guide of this experience of priestly life. Over thepast 30 years, he has watched over it as it has grown to be present in 30 countries on four continents and hasreceived the fullest recognition by the Church as a Society of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right. Fr. Camisascahas written many books, which have proved useful to many priests and laypeople. He has also been a presenteron Italian television programs, and was the principal Italian commentator during television coverage of thedeath of John Paul II.Pope Benedict's loving but firm insistence that he accept the episcopal nomination presented us with theopportunity to make--as is typical in the Christian life--a sweet sacrifice. While we'll miss Bishop Camisasca'sdaily involvement in the guidance of our fraternity, we very willingly offer him to the service of the UniversalChurch. And while he will always remain our founder and therefore a fundamental reference point for us,we will now go forward to the election of his successor, an event which will require me to travel to Rome onceagain at the end of January. Please pray for our fraternity as we make this significant adjustment which has also,ultimately, necessitated the upcoming departure of Fr. Diego.Sincerely in Christ,Fr. Michael

UPCOMING EVENTS& ANNOUNCEMENTSSacrament of Penance Schedule: AdventSaturdays 8:30am & 3:00pmSundays 30 minutes prior to each MassThursdays during holy hour 5:00-6:00pmDecember 13: 5:00-6:00pm & 7:00-8:30pmDecember 20: 5:00-6:00pm & 7:00-8:30pmOPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTHUPCOMING FAITH FESTIVALNativity will be holding a family-friendly holy hour on December 18 and 19 from 5:30-6:30pm. OnDecember 19, holy hour will be followed by an Advent social. All parishioners are welcome to join us!IMPORTANT DATES - MIDDLE SCHOOL- NO Venturers of the Star on the following dates:- December 26- January 2- Caroling hosted by the high school youth:December 16following the 5:00pm Mass- Faith Festival:December 18 & 19, Advent Social on the 19th- Middle School Lock-In:January 20-21- Mountain Madness:February 15-17, 2013Registration deadline: December 7IMPORTANT DATES - HIGH SCHOOL- NO High School Youth with Fr. Michael onthe following dates:- December 23- December 30- Caroling hosted by the high school youth:December 16following the 5:00pm Mass- Faith Festival:December 18 & 19, Advent Social on the 19th- High School Religious Education:December 12 - Britney LaneJanuary 9 - Kyla Dahlquist- Epiphany Party: January 6VENTURERS OF THE STARFr. Accu is leading a middle school group onWednesdays from 6:30-8:00pm in the Frassati House.All middle school students are welcome to join usas we sing songs, play games, and encounter Christ!However, please note the holiday cancellations above.FR. MICHAEL'S HIGH SCHOOL GROUPFr. Michael is leading a high school group on Sundaysimmediately following the 5:00pm Mass in RyanHall. Pick up will be at 8:00pm at the Church.The group will include food, games, and discussion.However, please note the holiday cancellations above.IMPORTANT CONFIRMATION INFORMATION!!CONFIRMATION AUDIT: We will be sending anaudit between December 15 and January 15 toall people signed up for Confirmation, which willlet you know what paperwork you have in andwhat paperwork you still need to submit.REMINDER: The majority of you aresigned up for the WRONG FLOCKNOTEGROUP. Sign up for CONFIRMATIONCLASS OF 2013, or you will not know whatis going on with regards to Confirmation!

INSIDE ISLAM: A GUIDE FOR CATHOLICSCome join us for a four-part presentation on Islam forCatholics by John Lay with reflection and discussion ofthe 100 questions from the book Inside Islam: a Guide forCatholics by Daniel Ali and Robert Spencer.When: Sundays 8:30am to 10:00amWhere: Location to be announcedQuestions: emmausinstitute.org/inside-islamSession 3: questions 51–75, December 9, 2012Session 4: questions 76–100, December 16, 2012RCIA: NEXT SESSIONWednesday, December 12, 6:30-8:30pm, Weibel IIScripture: Second Sunday in Advent, Cycle CTopic: The Mass - “Eucharist” by Fr. Michael HimesIf you are interested in gaining more knowledge ofand being formed more fully in your faith, RCIA is theplace to come. If you have been baptized but have notmade your First Eucharist or Confirmation, RCIA isa good place to begin. For more information contactDeacon Dick at ext 106.LACE: LITERARY ANALYSIS CAN ENLIGHTENThis month's discussion will be focused on the bookthat inspired the movie October Sky. Rocket Boys, writtenby Homer H. Hickam is a message of hope deliveredby a group of boys in a small town in the 1960's.Believing anything was possible, they had dreams oflaunching rockets into outer space. Please join us inMurphy room after the 7:30am Mass on WednesdayDecember 12. For more information please call Elaineat 303-404-9519 or Ann at 303-451-5219.Fr. Michaelʼs Thursday Holy Hour Catechesis:• Holy Hour is held every Thursday from 5:00-6:00pm.LEARNING OPPORTUNITIESMEN’S RETREAT OPPORTUNITYMen, please join us for a weekend of reflectionand growth on March 22-24 at the YMCA of theRockies in Estes Park. Catholic evangelist and speakerThomas Smith will be our retreat director. His websiteis www.gen215.org. Contact Craig McBride atcraig.mcbride@comcast.net or call 303-579-9949. Financial assistance is available. Makes a greatChristmas gift for husbands and sons!LENTEN BIBLE STUDYWe will offer “Walking Toward Eterniy” by Jeff &Emily Cavins as a Lenten Bible study, on Tuesdayevenings 6:30-8:30pm from January 29, 2013 toMarch 19, 2013. The walk will include the virtues oflove, humility, forgiveness, prayerfulness, faithfulness,sacrifice, and thankfulness. Cost: $16 for materials.Watch for signup opportunities in January 2013.NATIVITY WORKCENTERThe WorkCenter provides networking assistance tothe unemployed and underemployed and is looking fora team of volunteers that have experience in any ofthe following areas: career exploration, cover letters &thank you letters, resume writing & critique, financingyour education, how to conduct an informationalinterview, how to prepare for a job fair, how tosuccessfully market yourself, internships, interview tips,job search strategies, or salary negotiations. If you arewilling and able to help us or if you are an employerseeking to hire and would like to work in cooperationwith the Nativity WorkCenter, please contact Merrilynat m.sikora@nool.us or at 303.469.5171, ext. 101.MARY JANE'S BIBLE STUDYThe concluding class for Mary Jane's 1:00pm study on Fr. Rolheiser's Our One Great Act of Fidelity will be onTuesday, December 11. Do come.• This includes adoration as well as confession.• Holy Hour begins with evening prayer, which is immediatelyfollowed by a catechetical session taught by Fr. Michael.

PLEASENOTE!Because of the Christmas holidayschedule, the next few bulletins mustbe submitted earlier than normal.• To have an item in the bulletin on Sunday, December 16, you mustsubmit it to j.fankell@nool.us by Monday, December 10 at noon.• To have an item in the bulletin on Sunday, December 23, thedeadline is Friday, December 14 at noon.• To have an item in the bulletin on Sunday, December 30, thedeadline is Thursday, December 20 at 5:00pm.• To have an item in the bulletin on Sunday, January 6, thedeadline is Friday, December 28 at noon.All bulletin items must be submitted to Jacquie at j.fankell@nool.us.SERVICE OPPORTUNITIESPRODUCTS OF THE MONTH:underwear & socks for men & womenWOMEN'S GUILDThe next meeting of the Women’s Guild will be onMonday, December 10, 2012, at 7:00pm in Weibel IIHall. A candle/ornament exchange party will be themain event of the evening after a brief meeting. Let’ssurprise each other with a unique candle or ornament!All women of the parish are invited and encouragedto attend. Refreshments will be served. For moreinformation call Nicki Battista at 303-469-0670.CATHOLIC WORKER SOUP KITCHENNativity's days to assist at the soup kitchen are the 2ndand 5th Wednesday of every month. We leave theparish at 1:50pm, but some people meet us there at2:35pm. Serving time is from 2:45-4:30pm. Clean uptime is 4:30-5:00pm.Nativity's next scheduled days are December12, January 9 and January 30.Contact: Margaret Hayes 303-257-8771A PRECIOUS CHILDA Precious Child assists children in the metro Denver area during times of poverty and misfortune by discretelyand compassionately providing life's most basic essentials. They provide clothing, shoes, school supplies, sportsequipment, books, toiletires and other essentials that have an impact on a child's self confidence and academicsuccess. They are located right here in Broomfield! If you would like to volunteer, please visit their website atwww.apreciouschild.org or stop by at 557 Burbank St. Unit E, Broomfield. In addition, we have a donationbin downstairs by the parish office. They are currently in need of children's pants, sizes 3T-16.Christmas Giving OnlineThis holiday season, we thank everyone who hassupported Nativity of Our Lord this past year withtheir time, talent, and financial contributions, and welook forward to support from all of our parishionersin the year ahead. If you need a convenient way tomake regular offerings or if you plan to make anadditional Christmas gift before the end of the year,we encourage you to check out our electronic givingoptions. As the pace of life speeds up, especiallyaround the holidays, you may find electronic giving amost welcome way to make contributions.Visit our website at www.nool.us and click on the Online Giving button.

PROJECT RACHEL POST ABORTIONHEALING HOTLINE: 303-388-4491 ext. 153Open 24 hours to women and men.PRAYERLINE: Call John & Jeanne Hoiland with anyprayer requests. 303-466-6355COUNSELING SERVICESBecky Kusick, M.A., L.P.C., offers counseling servicesthrough Nativity. Becky has a Master’s Degree inClinical Psychology and is a licensed ProfessionalCounselor. She has worked in the field for over 20years. Becky works with couples, children, and adults.For more information or for an appointment,call 303-907 6499.FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIESNATIVITY YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS PARTYWe will have our Christmas party on Saturday, December 15 at 7:00pm. It is going to be an ugly sweaterChristmas party! Wear your best ugly Christmas sweater and bring a gift for the white elephant gift exchange!Bring a drink to share and we will provide the appetizers. It will be at Matt & Lisa Prindiville’s home: 1386Dexter Street Broomfield, CO 80020. Please RSVP to lisa.prindiville@yahoo.com.HEALING OPPORTUNITIESWHY ARE BAD THINGS HAPPENING TO ME?A Stephen Minister can help you realize that Godalways cares. A Stephen Minister is a trainedvolunteer ready to listen in a non-judgmental waywhile maintaining strict confidentiality. Through aone-on-one caring relationship, those who are hurtingreceive the love and care they need to support themthrough difficult times. If you are going through hardtimes due to the loss of a loved one, unemployment,depression, addiction, divorce, financial burdens, orany other reason, call today and ask for a StephenMinister who will suport you as you work throughyour problem. Please call 303-469-5171, ext. 113and leave a confidential message. Your call willbe returned within 48 hours.OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE PARISHST. LOUIS EARLY LEARNING CENTER• Provides early learning education for childrenages 3-5• Before and after school care from 7:00am-6:00pm forpreschool through 8th grade• Offers half-day programs from 8:15am-12:15pm andfull-day programs from 8:15am-3:15pm• Two day (Tu/Th), three day (M/W/F) and five day(M-F) programs available for all classes• Nutritious hot lunch included every day at noadditional costPlease contact Gina Jors, ELC Director, at 303-665-0606 with any questions.BINGO NIGHTSts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church (3900 Pierce St.Wheat Ridge, Colorado 80033) will be having Bingoon Saturday, January 5, 2013 downstairs in the BigMac. Concessions begin at 6:00pm and Bingo starts at7:00pm. With questions, call (303) 424-3706 ext. 10.ATTENTION CATHOLIC SINGLESInterested in joining an excellent Catholic singlesorganization? The Catholic Alumni ClubInternational has a group in Denver dedicated tosocial, cultural, civic, and spiritual relationships in aCatholic setting. For more information, please visit ourwebsite http://www.caci.org/cac/colorado.html or email us at cacofco@hotmail.comCATHOLIC YOUNG ADULT SPORTS (CYAS)CYAS offers year-round recreational sport leagues &events for 18-39 year olds. Currently registering for:Broomball: Wednesdays 7:00-10:00pm, January9-February 6Wiffleball: Sundays 1:30-2:30pm January-FebruaryEarly team registration deadline is December 15 andlate deadline is December 29.For more information or to sign up go to: www.CatholicYoungAdultSports.com. If you havequestions contact Paul at 720-988-9632.Please visit our website, www.nool.us, for more information and sign up for Flocknote!

HOLY FATHER’SGENERAL AUDIENCEDear Brothers and Sisters,POPE BENEDICT XVIST. PETER'S SQUAREWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2012Let us proceed in this Year of Faith bearing in our heartsthe hope of finding all the joy there is in believing and ofrediscovering the enthusiasm of communicating the truthsof the faith to all. These truths are not a simple messageabout God, a particular piece of information on him. Onthe contrary they express the event of God’s encounterwith human beings, a salvific and liberating encounterwhich fulfils the deepest aspirations of the human heart,the yearning for peace, brotherhood and love. Faith leads tothe discovery that the meeting with God enhances, perfectsand exalts all that is true, good and beautiful that exists inman. So it happens that while God reveals himself and letshimself be known, man comes to realize who God is and inknowing him, discovers himself, his true origin, his destiny,the greatness and dignity of human life.Faith makes possible authentic knowledge about God whichinvolves the whole human person: it is a “sapere”, that is,a knowledge which gives life a savour, a new taste, a joyfulway of being in the world. Faith is expressed in the gift ofself for others, in brotherhood which creates solidarity, theability to love, overcoming the loneliness that brings sadness.Thus this knowledge of God through faith is not onlyintellectual but also vital. It is the knowledge of God-Love,thanks to his own love. The love of God, moreover, makesus see, opens our eyes, enables us to know the whole ofreality, in addition to the narrow views of individualism andsubjectivism that confuse consciences. Knowledge of God istherefore an experience of faith and at the same time entailsan intellectual and moral development; moved in our depthsby the Spirit of Jesus within us, we go beyond the horizons ofour own selfishness and open ourselves to the true values ofexistence.Today, in this catechesis, I would like to reflect on thereasonableness of faith in God. The Catholic Tradition,from the outset, rejected the so-called “fideism”, which isthe desire to believe against reason. Credo quia absurdum (Ibelieve because it is absurd) is not a formula that interpretsthe Catholic faith. Indeed God is not absurd, if anything heis a mystery. The mystery, in its turn, is not irrational but isa superabundance of sense, of meaning, of truth. If, lookingat the mystery, reason sees darkness, it is not because there isno light in the mystery, but rather because there is too muchof it. Just as when humans raise their eyes to look at the sun,they are blinded; but who would say that the sun is not brightor, indeed, the fount of light? Faith permits us to look at the“sun”, God, because it is the acceptance of his revelation inhistory and, so to speak, the true reception of God’s mystery,recognizing the great miracle. God came close to man, heoffered himself so that man might know him, stooping to thecreatural limitations of human reason (cf. Second VaticanEcumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution, Dei Verbum,n. 13). At the same time, God, with his grace, illuminatesreason, unfolds new horizons before it, boundless and infinite.For this reason faith is an incentive to seek always, never tostop and never to be content in the inexhaustible search fortruth and reality. The prejudice of certain modern thinkers,who hold that human reason would be as it were blocked bythe dogmas of faith, is false.Exactly the opposite is true, as the great teachers of theCatholic Tradition have shown. St Augustine, before hisconversion sought the Truth with great restlessness throughall the philosophies he had at his disposal, finding themall unsatisfactory. His demanding, rational search, wasa meaningful pedagogy for him for the encounter withthe Truth of Christ. When he says: “I believe, in orderto understand, and I understand the better to believe”(Discourse 43, 9: PL 38, 258), it is as if he were recountinghis own life experience. Intellect and faith are not foreign orantagonistic to the divine Revelation but are both conditionsfor understanding its meaning, for receiving its authenticmessage, for approaching the threshold of the mystery. StAugustine, together with so many other Christian authors,is a witness of a faith that is practised with reason, thatthinks and invites thought. On this same track St Anselmwas to say in his Proslogion that the Catholic faith is a fidesquaerens intellectum, where the quest for understanding isan act inherent to believing. It was to be St Thomas Aquinasin particular — strong in this tradition — who challengedthe reason of the philosophers, showing how much new andfertile rational vitality comes from human thought grafted onto the principles and truths of the Christian faith.The Catholic faith is therefore reasonable and fosters trust

in human reason as well. The First Vatican Council, in theDogmatic Constitution Dei Filius, said that reason is able toknow with certainty that God exists through the Creation,whereas the possibility of knowing “easily, with completecertainty and without error” (DS 3005) the truths thatconcern God in the light of grace, belongs to faith alone. Theknowledge of faith, moreover, is not in opposition to rightreason. Blessed Pope John Paul II, in fact, in his EncyclicalFides et Ratio, sums it up in these words: “human reason isneither annulled nor debased in assenting to the contentsof faith, which are in any case attained by way of free andinformed choice” (n. 43).In the irresistible desire for truth, only a harmoniousrelationship between faith and reason is the right roadthat leads to God and to the person’s complete fulfilment.This doctrine is easily recognizable throughout the NewTestament. St Paul, in writing to the Christians of Corinth,maintains, as we have heard: “Jews demand signs and Greeksseek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumblingblock to Jews and folly to Gentiles” (1 Cor 1:22-23). God infact did not save the world with an act of power, but throughthe humiliation of his Only-Begotten Son. Measured inhuman parameters, the unusual ways of God clash with thedemands of Greek wisdom. And yet, the Cross of Christ hasa reason of its own which St Paul calls: ho logos tou staurou“the word of the cross” (1 Cor 1:18). Here the term logosmeans both the word and reason and, if it alludes to theword, it is because it expresses verbally what reason worksout.Hence Paul does not see the Cross as an irrational event,but as a saving factor that possesses its own reasonableness,recognizable in the light of faith. At the same time he hassuch trust in human reason, that he is surprised that manypeople, in spite of seeing the works brought about by God,persist in refusing to believe in him. In his Letter to theRomans St Paul says: “ever since the creation of the worldhis invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, hasbeen clearly perceived in the things that have been made”(1:20).about the cosmos, as we see it. The true good of humanity,accessible in faith, unfolds the horizons within which theprocess of its discovery must move. Consequently research,for example, at the service of life and which aims toeliminate disease, should be encouraged. Also important areinvestigations that aim to discover the secrets of our planetand of the universe, in the awareness that the human being isnot in charge of creation to exploit it foolishly but to preserveit and make it inhabitable. Thus faith, lived truly, does notcome into conflict with science but, rather, cooperates withit, offering the basic criteria to promote the good of alland asking it to give up only those endeavours which — inopposition to God’s original plan — produce effects thatare detrimental to the human being. For this reason too it isreasonable to believe: if science is a precious ally of faith forunderstanding God’s plan for the universe, faith, remainingfaithful to this very plan, permits scientific progress always tobe achieved for the good and truth of man.This is why it is crucial for human beings to be open to faithand to know God and his plan of salvation in Jesus Christ.In the Gospel a new humanism is inaugurated, an authentic“grammar” of the human being and of the whole of reality.The Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “God's truthis his wisdom, which commands the whole created orderand governs the world. God, who alone ‘made heaven andearth’ (Ps 115:15), can alone impart true knowledge of everycreated thing in relation to himself ” (n. 216).Let us trust, therefore, that our commitment to evangelizationmay help to restore a new centrality to the Gospel in the lifeof untold men and women of our time. And let us pray thatall may rediscover in Christ the meaning of existence and thefoundation of true freedom: without God, in fact, men andwomen lose themselves. The testimonies of those who havepreceded us and dedicated their lives to the Gospel confirmthis for ever. It is reasonable to believe, and the whole of ourexistence is at stake. It is worth expending oneself for Christ,he alone satisfies the desires for truth and goodness that arerooted in every human being’s soul: now, in time that passes,and in the never ending day of blessed Eternity.St Peter likewise also urges the Christians of the diaspora toworship: “in your hearts reverence Christ as Lord. Alwaysbe prepared to make a defence to any one who calls youto account for the hope that is in you” (1 Pt 3:15). In anatmosphere of persecution and with a pressing need to bearwitness to faith, we believers are asked to justify with wellgroundedreasons their adherence to the word of the Gospel,to account for the reason for our hope.The virtual relationship between science and faith is alsofounded on these premises concerning the fertile connectionbetween understanding and believing. Scientific researchleads to the knowledge of ever new truths about man andAPPEALI am following with serious concern the escalating violencebetween the Israelis and the Palestinians of the Gaza Strip.Bearing both the victims and those who are suffering inprayerful remembrance, I feel it is my duty to state onceagain that hatred and violence are never a solution toproblems. Moreover, I encourage the initiatives and effortsof all those who are seeking to obtain a truce and to furthernegotiations. I also urge all the Authorities of both Partiesto make courageous decisions for peace and to put an endto this conflict that is causing such negative repercussionsthroughout the Middle East, persecuted by so many clashesand in need of peace and reconciliation.