Pray for Archbishop Niederauer!

His Excellency had to have double-bypass surgery this morning. He was vacationing in Southern California with his long-time friend Cardinal William Levada.

From Catholic San Francisco:

Archbishop Niederauer recovering from heart surgery
August 29th, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 29 -- After experiencing some chest discomfort over the weekend, San Francisco Archbishop George Niederauer was taken to the emergency room at Long Beach Memorial Hospital Aug. 28 by Cardinal William Levada, the archdiocese announced. They had been in the final days of their vacation in Southern California. The archbishop was given an angiogram and his doctors recommended he stay overnight at the hospital for observation.

This morning, at the recommendation of his cardiologists, the archbishop underwent successful cardiac double bypass surgery. Cardinal Levada has relayed the doctors’ report that Archbishop Niederauer is doing well and is in good condition in the intensive care unit at Long Beach Memorial. "We are encouraged by this initial report," the archdiocese said in a statement. "However, the doctors have informed us that the next 24 hours are critical. Prayers are requested from the priests, deacons, religious and laity of the archdiocese."

Dear Lord, be with His Excellency and may he recover soon!

"Stay calm Marine, someone will be here to help, God is with all of us this day!"

The Catholic Caveman has a very moving Memorial Day post about the Venerable Father Vincent Capodanno, a Chaplain who served in the Navy Chaplain Corps.

Fr. Capodanno "the grunt padre" was a posthumous recipent of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Wikipedia describes Fr. Capodanno's final actions on this earth:

"At 4:30 am, September 4, 1967, during Operation Swift in the Thang Binh District of the Que Son Valley, elements of the 1st Battalion 5th Marines encountered a large North Vietnamese unit of approximately 2500 men near the village of Dong Son. The outnumbered and disorganized Company D was in need of reinforcements. By 9:14 am, twenty-six Marines were confirmed dead and another company of Marines was committed to the battle. At 9:25 am, the commander of 1st Battalion 5th Marine requested further reinforcements.

Father Capodanno went among the wounded and dying, giving last rites and taking care of his Marines. Wounded once in the face and having his hand almost severed, he went to help a wounded corpsman only yards from an enemy machinegun and was killed. His body was recovered and interred in his family's plot in Saint Peters Cemetery, West New Brighton, Staten Island, New York.

On December 27, 1968, then Secretary of the Navy Paul Ignatius notified the Capodanno family that Lieutenant Capodanno would posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor in recognition of his selfless sacrifice. The official ceremony was held January 7, 1969."

The Wikipedia article also says that the Bachelor Officers Quarters at the Naval Shipyard (right here in San Francisco) is "Vincent Capodanno Hall." The hall was dedicated in 1969. Fr. Capodanno's cause for Canonization is ongoing. He was declared a "Servant of God" on May 21, 2006.

Below is a "Soldier's Bible" from 1941, with a dedication on the frontspiece from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Click on the image for a larger version.



May Father Capodanno watch over our men and women in the military this day and every day.

Cardinal George? Are you There? Hello?

By now this is all over the Catholic blogosphere. Fr. Pflueger or whatever the hell his name is. Reminds me of Jim Jones.





Posted by Gibbons J. Cooney

Salesians Hard Hit in Haiti

A report from earlier today from the Agenzia Info Salesiana:

“We have been hit very hard,” says Fr Ducange Sylvain, appointed the new Superior of the “Blessed Philip Rinaldi” Vice Province of Haiti last December, referring to the situation of the Salesians.

In a short and dramatic communication Fr Sylvain gives a picture of the situation a few hours after the earthquake measuring 7.0 on the scale, which struck Haiti yesterday afternoon local time

The house of Port-Au-Prince Enam and the foundations nearby the “Saint John Bosco” Institute such as the Work of the Little Schools of Father Bonhem, entrusted to the Salesians, and the “Lakay”, suffered the greatest damage in the city. The Salesians from the centre are injured. Brother Sanon died under the ruins and sadly over 200 pupils are still buried there.

The Provincial House and that of Fleuriot, both in Port-Au-Prince, have been severely damaged; two young Salesians in formation who were at the university are still missing.
At the house of Carrefour-Thorland a part of the building and the reception centre collapsed but the Salesians are safe. At Gressier class-rooms collapsed.

At Petion-Ville the buildings suffered serious damage.

Fr Harold Bernard has been rescued from the ruins alive.

“It is a very difficult situation,” Fr Ducange Sylvain concludes. The emergency rescue services and the Salesians themselves are concentrating on trying to pull survivors from the rubble, in particular the more than 200 pupils at Port-Au-Prince Enam. Archbishop Joseph Serge Miot, the archbishop of Port-Au-Prince, died under the rubble."

The previous post has the CRS link, where you can help.

"Total Devastation"

The situation in Haiti is catastrophic. According to news reports, there are thousands of casualties. The Archbishop of Port-au-Prince is one of the victims, as are many Catholic clergy.

From the Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns of the Archdiocese of San Francisco:

How to Help:

Donate via phone: 1-877-HELP-CRS
Donate online: https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?df_id=3181&3181.donation=form1
Write a check:

Catholic Relief Services
P.O. Box 17090
Baltimore, Maryland 21203-7090
Memo portion of check: Haiti Earthquake