Celebration of Caring 2011

Details: 28 January 2011

On Jan. 20, the Universal Church celebrated the memorial of Pope St. Fabian who was described by St. Cyprian as "incomparable." He was a local farmer who traveled to Rome after the death of Pope Anterus in the year 236. During the election of the next Holy Father a dove was seen to have flown down from above and landed on his head. Taken as a sign of divine providence and of the Holy Spirit, he was elected as the next Vicar of Christ.

After his ordination, according to some accounts, he baptized Emperor Marcus Julius Philippus. Nevertheless under the reign of Emperor Phillip, the Catholic Church experienced a brief period of peace. It was during this time, Pope Fabian did much to build up the Church while defending the truth. Unfortunately, the next emperor was not cut from the same mold and restarted the persecution of Christians which involved their arrest, torture and death. Pope St. Fabian was arrested and put to death Jan. 20 in the year 250. Though it was a dark era, the one true faith spread throughout the Roman Empire. Catholics would have to wait another 63 years for the Edict of Milan which decriminalized Christianity.

Each year Catholic Social Services gives the Cor Christi (Heart of Christ) award to someone who demonstrates through their actions the love of Jesus Christ to their neighbor. This year, I am elated to announce that someone who chose Pope St. Fabian as their patron saint will be receiving the Cor Christi award - Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz. Many of you know of the many good things he has done not only for our diocese but for the Universal Church.

Under his guidance and leadership as President of the Board of Directors of Catholic Social Services, we have conducted our first-ever capital campaign entitled Expanding the Works of Mercy, which has allowed us to do just that – assist more needy individuals and families across the 24,000 miles of the Diocese of Lincoln. I and all of us in the Diocese of Lincoln owe him a debt of gratitude for these and the countless other things he has done for us. For one thing, as many seminaries across the world have contracted or closed, he has built St. Gregory the Great Seminary, which educates seminarians in our diocese and others across the nation. Attempting to list all of his other accomplishments would be far beyond the scope of a column like this.

That said, I hope you are able to attend our annual Celebration of Caring Banquet Sunday, Feb. 20 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. The social hour starts at 4:30 and the dinner and program at 6 p.m. In addition to giving you an update on the activity of the agency over the past year, I will be sharing some new and exciting news. In addition, there will be great food and a little entertainment. Please join me if you can at the Cornhusker Hotel Feb. 20 and together we can thank Bishop Bruskewitz as he accepts the 2011 Cor Christi award. For those who cannot attend, please keep him and his intentions in your prayers!! St. Fabian, help us all imitate the love of the heart of Christ!!