The CatholiCity Message
Volume III, Number 6 – February 25, 1999
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
We were overwhelmed last week with your responses to the last CatholiCity Message on the subject of Confession. Twenty times the usual comments, and in fact. Let's start with a prayer.
1. THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES
"Dear relatives in heaven, going all the way back, through all the generations, through all the wars and kingdoms and tyrants and benevolent rulers who fill the history books, all the way back to the twelve Apostles, back to Jesus Himself–to all of you who are now enjoying your eternal reward in heaven, after having successfully passed our Priceless Faith down through salvation history to our grandparents and parents so that we could be baptized, we ask for your intercession. You who now converse directly with Jesus, watch over us, and our spouses, and our children. Be with us so we can be with you. Amen."
2. FATHER SCANLAN "RETIRES."
We've just been sent a press release stating that Fr. Michael Scanlan, TOR, is retiring as president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He's not exactly heading for the golf course, however, because it also related that he will be taking on the position of chancellor, which includes fundraising work, representing the University, hosting the FUS EWTN television show, and working at summer conferences and F.I.R.E. rallies. We suspect that more than a few of CatholiCity Citizens have had their lives touched by Franciscan University in some, way, shape, or form over the years. He has certainly touched our lives here through the University, his speaking, his writing. In fact, he was one of the speakers at the 1991 conference where the Mary Foundation first began giving away free recordings. We've always been struck by his warmth, his open mind, his willingness to explore a new idea, and especially his gift for making us feel like we were'nt bothering him (even though we probably were). We know he'll end up reading this when some of you guys forward this to him, and he's the type who would be embarrassed, and be the first to say that Jesus was behind all the successes of his life, and that he did nothing more than help others do the real work. Exactly, Fr. Mike, exactly. You've been a model and inspiration for all of us here at the Mary Foundation and CatholiCity over the years for just those reasons. We hope your "retirement" as chancellor is fruitful and long lasting. Franciscans don't play golf, anyway (though we imagine they would happily be caddies).
Praise others in public. Criticize others in private, if at all.
The harder you work, the luckier you get.
Success is largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.
Never, never, never, never give up.
Two stonecutters were asked what they were doing. One said, "I'm cutting this stone into blocks." The other said, "I'm part of a team which is building a cathedral."
I will speak ill of no man, and speak all the good I know of everybody.
3. WHERE CATHOLICITY STANDS
Just the other day, we read the firsthand account of a man who moved from Australia (or was it New Zealand?) to Alabama to marry his wife. That's about as big a culture shock and distance one can find in English-speaking countries. He met his wife through CatholiCity! There have been other marriages, too, from relationships fostered the services we provide here. And conversions. Deepened prayer lives. Men are learning how to fast, or pray with their families. CatholiCity Citizens never cease to amaze us. For the past two years, practically all our new ideas (and many others we just can't afford to implement) have come from you.
It's hard to believe that CatholiCity came "this close" to shutting down forever in September of 1998. You saved it by giving us a financial war-chest to pay for the few modest salaries, T1 line, and other costs of running such a large endeavor. There is still nothing like it on the Net for Catholics. Someone emailed us the other day and asked us to give you an update. Well, we guess we just did. We have enough to get us through to September.
4. FATHER SEE JOHN
The priceless contributions of Fr. C. John McCloskey continue as he adds new jewels regularly to McCloskey's Perspectives and plugs us wherever he goes. In fact, his article "Recovering Stray Catholics," which was published in CatholiCity months ago, is featured in the latest edition of Envoy Magazine. What started as a "sidelight" have now become integral parts of this online apostolate. Check out Fr. McCloskey's classics at:
http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/
But we could always use more financial help, and even if we have enough to get us through the Summer of 1999, we'll be facing the same dilemma at the end of this coming summer, when our 2nd Annual "Tax Drive" begins. That's just the way it is. We're not complaining. We're thankful to God that enough of you saved us last year with your prayers and financial sacrifices.
Of course we would add more services if we had more resources and hire another programmer. Stuff like that. We just wanted to let you know that when the Tax Drive starts in 1999, it's going to be life or death for the City again. If you just assume that "somebody" else will save us, we won't survive. If you want to relive those scary few days in September, or if you're new to CatholiCity and you're wondering what in the fazzoli we're talking about, pay a visit to the CatholiCity CatholiCity Message Archives and read the Messages from September 2, September 3, and September 9th: starting with September 2, 1998.
We were on the edge of the precipice. We really were. It gives us chills, especially when we think about all the souls who have been helped here since you, the Citizens, saved your city.
That's about it for this week. we've got some exciting "free offers" and specials for CatholiCity Citizens lined up for the next few weeks, so stay tuned. You guys are the best!
Yours in Christ,
Your Friends at CatholiCity
