R E G I S T E R VOL. 64, NO. 15 SERVING 13 COUNTIES IN SOUTHEAST OHIO APRIL 3, 2009

T h e S t e u b e n v i l l e

www.diosteub.org

News Briefs

BRIDGEPORT — Retired Diocese ofSteubenville priest, Father Richard L.Battocletti, 81, died March 23.

He was in repose March 25 at St.Mary Church, Martins Ferry, where hehad resided after his retirement as theparish parochial vicar and continued tominister until poor health forced him togive up his assistance with liturgies andvisitation to the sick and homebound.

On March 26, a funeral Mass was cel-ebrated at St. Anthony of Padua, thechurch where nearly 56 years ago, Fa-ther Battocletti’s ordination to thepriesthood by the late Bishop John KingMussio was a first. Bishop R. DanielConlon was celebrant and homilist atthe funeral Mass.

Burial followed in St. Anthony Cem-etery, Blaine.

Father Battocletti was born July 3,1927, in Bridgeport, one of three sonsof the late Richard and Josephine Zani Battocletti Sr.

He attended St. Anthony School, Bridgeport; St. JohnCentral High School, Bellaire; Wheeling Central CatholicHigh School, Wheeling, W.Va.; St. Charles Seminary,Columbus, Ohio; St. Gregory Seminary, Cincinnati; andMount St. Mary of the West, Cincinnati.

After his May 30, 1953, ordination to the priesthood,Father Battocletti’s first assignment was to St. Mary Parish,Marietta, where he remained for four years. Other assign-ments included St. Benedict, Cambridge; St. John, Bellaire;Our Lady of Angels, Barton; and St. Joseph, Bridgeport.

While serving in those parishes, Father Battoclettialso taught in high schools associated with them:St. Mary, Marietta; Guernsey Catholic Central, Cambridge;

Father Richard L. Battocletti(File photo)

and St. John Central, Bellaire.He also served as director of

youth in Assumption Deaneryand as chaplain for St. John Hos-pital, Steubenville, the Brothers ofthe Immaculate Heart of Mary andthe Belmont County Serra Club.

In addition, he was appointed toOur Lady of Mercy Parish, Lowell;St. Paul, Flushing; Immaculate Con-ception Mission, New Matamoras;and the Hannibal Mission Station.

In 1973, Father Battocletti wasnamed pastor of St. Michael Parish,Bellaire; and then pastor of St.Adalbert, Dillonvale; St. Gabriel,Minerva; and St. Teresa of Avila,Cadiz.

He also was administrator ofChrist the King Mission, TappanLake, and St. Matthias Mission,Freeport.

While serving as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish,Brilliant, and parochial vicar of St. Peter and St. Stanislausparishes, Steubenville, he also was comptroller at CatholicCentral High School, Steubenville.

From 1980 until 1989, Father Battocletti served on theCouncil of Priests (Presbyteral Council).

He was a member of the “Pactum Marianum.”Bishop Conlon said of Father Battocletti, “During the years

I have known him, he has unfortunately been quite ill.“Ill health was apparently a constituent part of much of

his life and priesthood.“Sometimes serving as a priest of Christ involves not

only sacramental sacrifice, but also physical sacrifice, aswell.”

Father Battocletti, Bridgeport native, dead at 81

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two United StatesCatholic bishops called on lawmakers to remem-ber “the least of these” as they set priorities forthe federal budget resolution.

In a March 26 letter to both houses of Con-gress, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany,N.Y., and Bishop William F. Murphy of RockvilleCentre, N.Y., called the allocation of opportuni-ties and burdens in the federal budget “moralchoices” and asked Congress to place “theneeds of poor families and the most vulnerablein our nation and around the world first.”

The bishops, who chair the U.S. bishops’committees on international and domestic so-cial justice, respectively, asked Congress to con-sider the effects of the economic crisis at home,“as families lose their homes; retirement sav-ings disappear; workers lose both their jobs andtheir health care; and so many people are leftwithout hope or security.”

“Abroad, our major priority should be a con-tinued and strengthened commitment to effec-tive programs of relief, development and healthcare, particularly in Africa,” they added.

On behalf of the U.S. Conference of CatholicBishops, Bishops Hubbard and Murphy offeredseveral directions and concerns with this year’sproposed budget. They included reforminghealth care; funding federal child nutrition pro-grams and domestic agriculture support; restor-ing funds for affordable housing; addressingclimate change and reducing the burden of thosedisproportionately affected by it; reauthorizingthe D.C. Scholarship Program; increasing for-eign assistance; and funding for the migrationand refugee programs of both the State Depart-ment and the Department of Health and HumanServices.

The bishops also asked that Congress pass aresolution that doesn’t reduce incentives forcharitable giving.

Bishops plead for poor and vulnerable

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The CatholicChurch’s annual Collection for the Holy Landhelps maintain Christian sites in the Holy Land,provides care for aged religious who spent theirlives ministering in the land of Jesus and sup-ports projects that help native Christians remainand thrive in the region.

Cardinal Luigi Sandri, prefect of the Congre-gation for Eastern Churches, appealed for sup-port of the collection, which traditionally istaken up during Good Friday services.

Holy Land collection generosity urged

“... (T)hey brought the colt to Jesus andput their cloaks over it. And he sat on it.Many people spread theircloaks on the road, and oth-ers spread leafy branches thatthey had cut from the fields.Those preceding him as wellas those following kept cry-ing out: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is he who comesin the name of the Lord!” (Mk 11: 7-9)

Palm SundayApril 5

BELLAIRE — Many of the mines, mills and factories thatdrew people to Bellaire have closed. People have left. Neigh-borhoods have changed.

So, a lot of those people who filled the pews for a finalMass at St. Michael Church, March 22, were no longer regu-lar parishioners, but ones who came back from St. Clairsville,Cambridge, Shadyside, Canton, Ohio, and other places wherethey have moved.

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon thanked them, and all parishio-ners, who came for what he described as a solemn, sadoccasion, but also a time to give thanks for God’s blessingsthat have flowed through St. Michael’s.

Though the bishop said that any church closing is not agood thing, because “God has chosen us to be his people,we’re able to deal with this and are able to go forward.

“God is working in us, … and we are confident as (his)people. We stand in the light of Jesus Christ, and we live inhope.”

After Mass, Msgr. Gene W. Mullett, pastor of St. Michael’s,as well as St. John Parish, Bellaire, and administrator of Sa-cred Heart Parish, Neffs, hosted people at a remembrance inthe church hall. There, people shared food and reminiscedabout what it was like to have attended St. Michael theArchangel Church, organized in 1907, as they looked atmemorabilia.

Father Peter Koss was the parish’s first priest. He was

Final Mass celebratedat St. Michael Church

St. Michael Church, Bellaire(Photo by DeFrancis)

To Page 5

THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER APRIL 3, 20092

NEED A PASSPORT?

WintersvilleBridgeport

Bridgeport

Citizens of Ohio, West Virginia and PennsylvaniaCome to Jefferson County Courthouse or the Rayland Auto Title Office.

• Your Passport Photo I.D. is “FREE!”

Call (740) 283-8509 or (740) 859-0411 with questionsJohn Corrigan, Jefferson County Clerk of Courts

Rayland office open every Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.We can now transfer your license plates with an auto title transfer.

Catholic Familyland System Administrator

Systems Administrator full-time position. Located in Bloomingdale,OH.Technologies include Windows Server, Windows Clients,IIS, Active Direc-tory, Sharepoint, SQL Server,VoIP, LAN, WAN. Scripting or basic programmingexperience preferred. Applicants must have excellent troubleshooting skills, workwell in a team environment, and be self-motivated.

Please send resume to Bob Kocisko at bobk@familyland.org

BRIDGEPORT— A woman, described ashaving done her job very, very well, hasbeen named St. Joseph Central Schooldistinguished graduate for 2009.

Betty Bartosek, a native of Bridgeport,was singled out for the award March 25by St. Joseph Central Principal Daniel D.Delande after an all-school Mass.

The Mass was celebrated by Msgr.Thomas C. Petronek, pastor of St. An-thony of Padua Parish, Bridgeport, andconcelebrated by Father John F. Mucha,pastor of St. Joseph Parish and pastoraladministrator of the school.

Throughout the years, children from St.Joseph and St. Anthony parishes, as wellas former parishes in Barton and Blaine,have attended St. Joseph Central School.

As explained by Delande, the award ispresented yearly in cooperation with theDepartment of Elementary Schools of theNational Catholic Educational Associationto St. Joseph Central graduates who em-body the goals of elementary Catholicschools in their lives, are examples forchildren currently attending parochialschools and emphasize the qualities thatmake Catholic schools different. Recipi-ents have been people from all walks oflife who are well-rounded models of Catho-lic education, the principal said.

Lorlean Fialkowski, one of Bartosek’snieces, introduced “Aunt Betty” as awoman who “has always been a wonder-ful, religious example for us” and a personwho valued her Catholic education.

Bartosek was born March 23, 1926, adaughter of Andy and Hester Dolak.After graduating from St. Joseph CentralSchool, she attended nearby BridgeportHigh School. The high school and

College of Commerce, Wheeling, W.Va.,graduate spent more than 30 years in amanagerial position at an Ohio Valley in-surance company.

Bartosek said that she not only learnedthe basics of reading, writing and arith-metic at St. Joseph Central School, butmore importantly learned to know, love andserve God. While in the fifth grade, shebegan music lessons and by seventhgrade was playing the organ for Massesat her parish, St. Joseph, she said. Shecontinues as parish organist and choir di-rector. In addition, Bartosek is active inthe parish Catholic Woman’s Club and theDiocesan Council of Catholic Women,having held offices in both organizations.During her years of volunteering, Bartoseksaid she was supported totally by her hus-band, Walter, now deceased.

In 2001, Bartosek received a papalaward, the Cross “Pro Ecclesia etPontifice” from Bishop Gilbert I. Sheldonwho had requested it from Pope John PaulII. She received the award for outstand-ing service to the diocese, the bishop toldBartosek and other honorees at that time.

Bartosek also has been involved fordecades in ecumenical service with theBridgeport Christian Friendship Council,providing food for the needy, toys forchildren and scholarships for youth.

She also is a volunteer at WheelingMedical Park, Wheeling, W.Va. She hasamassed more than 14,000 hours of vol-unteer time at the hospital.

“I realize how fortunate I am,” the hon-oree said as she acknowledged the Massattendees, who included her family andfriends as well as the students and staff atSt. Joseph Central. She cautioned the stu-

dents to “do it well, from the heart and forthe love and glory of God,” no matter whatrole they take in life.

“You have many talents to give back toGod.

“One thing that will never change is thelove that God has for you,” she said.

After a reception for the award recipi-

St. Joseph Central graduate singled out for service to church, community

ent in the adjacent parish hall, Bartosekvisited the students, back in school, andpresented each with a pin designating himor her as a “child of God.” The pins hadbeen blessed earlier by Msgr. Petronek,who also delivered the homily at the Masson the Annunciation, and urged every-one, “May we become more like Jesus.”

Betty Bartosek displays the 2009 St. Joseph Central School, Bridgeport,distinguished graduate award that was presented to her by St. JosephCentral Principal Daniel D. Delande, left. Father John F. Mucha, pastor ofSt. Joseph Parish, Bridgeport, and pastoral administrator of St. JosephCentral School, second from left, and Msgr. Thomas C. Petronek, pastorof St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Bridgeport, right, join in honoring theawardee. (Photo by DeFrancis)

THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER APRIL 3, 2009 3

LIBERTY FEDERAL

SAVINGS BANK“Serving the Community Since 1896”

314 PARK AVE., IRONTON

(740) 532-2856 • (740) 886-9491www.libertyfed.comFDIC

FORT STEUBEN BURIAL ESTATES ASSOCIATION801 Canton Road – Wintersville OH 43953

(740) 266-6101

“Where the Memory of Beautiful LivesWill be Kept Beautiful . . . Always”

Pre-need planning for graves, vaults, bronze memorials and chapel mausoleum.

Fellow Catholics

1-800-VERYDRY1-800-837-9379

Joe Billante

WATERPROOFING

For a full-color brochure, please contact:Father James M. Dunfee

St. Agnes Church204 St. Clair Ave., Mingo Junction, OH 43938

Telephone: (740) 535-1491 orE-mail: stagnes1885@sbcglobal.net

Hosted by Father James Dunfee and Father Timothy McGuire

Only $2,799 including roundtrip airfarefrom Pittsburgh!

Space is limited – register early!

Visit Florence, Assisi, Sorrento, Pompeiand Rome.

ITALY PILGRIMAGENov. 3-13, 2009

J&DSince 1939

• Basement Waterproofing

• Foundation RepairFull Wall Anchors

• Free Basement Inspection & Estimates

• Day, Evening or Weekend AppointmentsShop at Home

Editor’s Note: Bishop R. Daniel Conlon has issued thecall for men who want to become permanent deacons inthe Diocese of Steubenville. Deadline for application tothe diaconate is May 1. A three-year diaconate formationprogram will begin June 1 in the diocese. However, a fewmen already serve the diocese as deacons.

STEUBENVILLE— PermanentDeacon RandallFell Redingtoncelebrated his25th anniversaryof ordination tothe d iacona tel a s t yea r andcon t inues h i sministry for theDiocese of Steu-benville, activelyserving at theApostolate forFamily Consecra-tion, Familyland,Bloomingdale,and his parish,

Triumph of the Cross, Steubenville, as well as at Massescelebrated by Bishop R. Daniel Conlon.

Born in Lorain, Ohio, on Nov. 8, 1943, Deacon Redingtonhas been married since 1966 to Mary Alberta (Mary Ellen)Havanas. Of his wife, Deacon Redington said, “Her sup-port and involvement in my preparation as well as hersupport and involvement throughout my 25 years ofdiaconal ministry was, is and will continue to be of criticalimportance to my sense of peace and to the overall effec-tiveness of my ministry.”

Prior to relocating to Steubenville in 2001, he spent 30years in education at the high school and college level.Deacon Redington has a mortuary science degree and isa licensed funeral director and embalmer in the state ofOhio. In addition, he holds degrees from Baldwin-WallaceCollege, Berea, Ohio; Bowling Green State University,Bowling Green, Ohio; and Franciscan University ofSteubenville. He was part of the permanent diaconateformation program at Lourdes College, Sylvania, Ohio,and was ordained to the diaconate in the Diocese ofToledo, Ohio, in 1983.

More than 30 years ago, he and his wife began servingsummers as missionary volunteers and served in Okla-homa, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas and Mexico. As mis-sionaries, the couple evangelized door-to-door, workedwith the poor, conducted Bible study and fed prisioners,among other things. Since 1989, the Redingtons havevolunteered at Familyland, where they now reside parttime. They, too, are residents of Rosemont Avenue,Steubenville.

He, too, has been involved in a variety of other minis-tries throughout his diaconate, such as preparing peoplefor the sacraments, visiting shut-ins in their homes, hos-pitals, nursing facilities and in prisons and directing re-treats.

In addition, Deacon Redington has served at First

Saturday Light of the World Cenacles for more than 12years, been active in youth and bereavement ministriesand the Knights of Columbus pro-life activities for whichhe was cited by the organization as Ohio’s religious ofthe year in 1998.

As he recounted his path to becoming a permanentdeacon, Deacon Redington said that he and his wife wereencouraged by a pastor in the Diocese of Toledo to entera lay ministry program. After the two-year program, mencould be invited to diaconate formation, and men andwomen could advance in catechetical or pastoral associ-ate programs. Thus, he started diaconate formation, andhis wife enrolled in the catechetical program.

Deacon Redington was incardinated as a permanentdeacon for the Diocese of Steubenville in 2002.

Though he said it is difficult to cite the most beneficialaspect of serving as a deacon, he added: “Certainly, thereis a great deal of satisfaction realized from fulfilling thecharism of the diaconate, which is service.

“Under the direction of the bishop and the parishpriests, in most cases, the deacon has a myriad of oppor-tunities to serve the body of Christ. As with all efforts toserve others, the call to suffer is ever present. I have beenrichly blessed through my efforts in each of the ministe-rial involvements. … In most cases, it was the sufferingand sacrifice involved in the ministry that called me … tospiritual growth. …

“(T) he single most beneficial aspect of being a perma-nent deacon is that being in holy orders has providedand will always provide me with the grace of ordinationto keep me close to Our Lord and to holy mother churchduring the good times and the rough times. …

“The grace of holy orders is very real, and it is whatI treasure the most in my vocation as a permanentdeacon. …”

In serving, one permanent deacon ministersmost of the time with his wife at Familyland

Deacon Randall Redington(Photo provided)

Bishop Conlon’s ScheduleApril

4 Conference with seminarians, Holy Name House ofFormation, Steubenville, 10 a.m.Passion Sunday Mass, Holy Family Church,Steubenville, 4 p.m.

5 Passion Sunday Mass, Holy Name Cathedral,Steubenville, 10:30 a.m.

6 Chrism Mass, Holy Name Cathedral, Steubenville,7 p.m.

7 Chancery staff meeting, chancery, Steubenville,9:30 a.m.Radio segment WDEO 990 AM, noonChrism Mass, St. Mary Church, Marietta, 7 p.m.

8 Tenebrae, Holy Name Cathedral, Steubenville, 7 p.m.9 Mass of the Lord’s Last Supper, Holy Name

Cathedral, Steubenville, 7 p.m.10 Celebration of the “Tre Ore,” Holy Rosary Church,

Steubenville, noonLiturgy of the Lord’s passion and death, Holy NameCathedral, Steubenville, 7 p.m.

11 Easter Vigil, Holy Name Cathedral, Steubenville, 8:30 p.m.

12 Easter Sunday Mass, Holy Rosary Church,Steubenville, 8:30 a.m.

15 Confirmation, St. Stanislaus Church, Maynard,7 p.m.

16-17 National Catholic Educational AssociationConvention, Anaheim, Calif.

FLUSHING — In this year of St. Paul, a special Mass isscheduled for 3 p.m., May 3, at St. Paul Church, Flushing.

Bishop R. Daniel Conlon will celebrate the Mass.Father Frederick C. Kihm, pastor of St. Paul Parish

and St. Mary Parish, Lafferty, invites everyone to make apilgrimage to St. Paul’s, participate in the Mass andattend an open house, afterwards.

People invited to special Mass

THE STEUBENVILLE REGISTER APRIL 3, 20094

Father Timothy J. KozakP.O. Box 969, Dept. C, Steubenville, OH 43952

4/3 384

STEUBENVILLE — The Dioceseof Steubenville has received what itconsiders to be a substantiated alle-gation of abuse of a minor child byFather John B. Nadzam.

Father Nadzam died in February2005.

The incident of abuse was de-scribed as having occurred in the1970s.

Diocesan officials, acting in accordwith the Diocese of Steubenville “De-cree on Child Protection,” notifiedlocal civil authorities when they firstlearned of the allegation.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1950,Father Nadzam served parishes inSteubenville, Buchtel, Chesapeake,Fairpoint, Dillonvale, Pomeroy andShadyside and a mission in Modocwhile in the Steubenville Diocese.

He also was a teacher at CatholicCentral High School, Steubenville,

and principal of St. Joseph CentralHigh School, Ironton.

If anyone has been abused byFather Nadzam, or anyone else con-nected to the Diocese of Steubenville,he or she should contact Msgr. KurtH. Kemo, vicar general of the Dio-cese of Steubenville, by telephone at(740) 282-3631 or through e-mail atkkemo@diosteub.org, as well as lo-cal civil authorities.

When allegations are made con-cerning child abuse, they are dealtwith in a straightforward and com-passionate manner.

We are committed to full compli-ance with state law and church policyon abuse.

At the same time, I ask for prayersfor those who are victims of childabuse and for those who are perpe-trators of child abuse, particularlywithin the Catholic Church.

Statement fromBishop R. Daniel Conlon

FULL-TIME PRIEST CHAPLAINWheeling, W.Va. — Wheeling Hospital is looking for a Roman Catholic priest

chaplain to join its Pastoral Care team. Responsibilities include sacramental needsof patients, families and staff, as well as pastoral care of non-Catholic and non-religious clients. Duties will include on-call and weekend assignments. Candidatesmust be in good standing and have ecclesiastical approval with faculties from theircurrent diocese and/or superiors. Please send resumes to: Sister Mary AnnRosenbaum, CSJ, Wheeling Hospital, Pastoral Care Department, 1 Medical Park,Wheeling, WV 26003.

Fax (304) 243-3060 or e-mail to mrosenbaum@wheelinghospital.org.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — After severalmonths of relooking at the diocesan“Decree on Child Protection,” the Dioceseof Steubenville Child Protection ReviewBoard has agreed the document is readyfor Bishop R. Daniel Conlon’s action.

At a March 24 meeting, review boardmembers formally accepted the decree, asupdated during months of study.

The multipaged document was drawnfor the Diocese of Steubenville at the man-date of the United States Conference ofCatholic Bishops who had drafted a “Char-ter for the Protection of Children andYoung People” as the result of sex abuseby some clergy, nationwide.

Msgr. Kurt H. Kemo, vicar general, whoactively participated in the drafting of thediocesan decree and an accompanying“safe environment” program that requirestraining of parents, ministers, educators,church personnel, volunteers and othersinvolved with minors as to the issue ofabuse of children, has guided the decree’sreview, said necessary every five years.

The Diocese of Steubenville decree,proposed to prevent the abuse of childrenand adolescents and to provide a systemfor handling incidents of abuse after theyoccur, became effective March 5, 2003.

Though each section of the decree wasstudied individually and then collectively

by the board, most of the members’ dis-cussion centered on the frequency fortraining and the agency or agencies thatshould conduct background checks forpeople who work with children and youngpeople.

Consensus was that clerics, employeesand regular volunteers must attend yearlyorientation on the decree and any subse-quent matters pertaining to child andyouth protection.

Background checks are to be conductedfor clerics, employees, volunteers, auxil-iary personnel and personnel furnishedthrough a third party contract on a regularbasis. The checks could be conducted atthe state or federal level, or both.

Msgr. Kemo will present the updateddecree to Bishop Conlon for eventual pro-mulgation and printing.

A revised safe environment programalso will be submitted, Msgr. Kemo said.One member of the review board, JulieSelmon, Monroe County Common PleasCourt judge, will meet with the safe envi-ronment committee, at the suggestion ofMsgr. Kemo.

During a 6:30 p.m., May 19, meeting atSt. Mary Parish, St. Clairsville, the reviewboard is expected to decide on how a newlypromulgated decree should be presentedand members’ involvement in the training.

MARIETTA —The diocesan NationalPastoral Initiative on Marriage Committeeon March 28 reviewed a draft on “Mar-riage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan”from the United States Conference ofCatholic Bishops Subcommittee on Mar-riage and Family of which Bishop R.Daniel Conlon is a member.

The committee was formed in 2008 byMichele A. Santin, director of the dioc-esan Office of Family and Social Concerns(Catholic Charities), at the request ofBishop Conlon.

Since the bishops expect to present anational pastoral initiative on marriage bythe fall, each diocese is asked to have acommittee already in place to accept thebishops’ writing, Bishop Conlon said.

In November, all of Ohio’s priests areexpected to attend a first-ever state con-vocation on the marriage initiative.

As comments on the initiative are col-lected, another draft of the document isanticipated prior to its presentation to allbishops for a vote, Bishop Conlon ex-plained to the committee as he acceptedits members’ input.

The diocesan committee’s goal is tomake the bishops’ initiative on marriageknown, Santin said. Thus, subcommitteesfor communications, catechesis and mar-riage support were formed and are ex-pected to meet prior to the next committeemeeting at 11 a.m., Sept. 19, at St. MarySchool, Marietta.

Members of the committee include:Msgr. Robert J. Kawa, pastor of St. Ber-nard Parish, Beverly; Father Daniel Heusel,pastor of St. Joseph Parish, Tiltonsville,

and St. Lucy Parish, Yorkville; and laymembers, Bill and Susie Weiss, James andTeresa “Jane” Rudman, Dave and MaryNelson, Gerry and Joan McKeegan, Timand Suzie Delaney, Robert and NisanConiker, Robert and Cindy Brown, Joe andMary Augenstein, Martha “Marti” Jonesand John Balzano.

Meanwhile, Santin announced the Na-tional Association of Catholic Family LifeMinisters in conjunction with the Univer-sity of St. Thomas and the Secretariat ofLaity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth willpresent “Becoming a Marriage-BuildingChurch” conference June 25-28 at theUniversity of St. Thomas, Center for Catho-lic Studies, St. Paul, Minn.

The conference will include keynotesaddressing the sacramentality of marriage,relationships skills, programs to enhancethe marriage relationships, as well as thebishops’ pastoral initiative on marriage andits implementation.

Among the keynote speakers are: JohnGrabowski, associate professor and direc-tor of moral theology/ethics of the Schoolof Theology and Religious Studies at TheCatholic University of America, Washing-ton, D.C.; Helen Alvare, a faculty memberat George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.,and a member of the U.S. bishops’ Sub-committee for Marriage and Family; Chris-topher West, author; and Barbara DafoeWhitehead, co-director of the NationalMarriage Project at Rutgers University,New Jersey.

Additional information on the confer-ence is available at www.nacflm.org/displayconvention.cfm.

Child Protection Review Boardcompletes examination of decree

Committee on marriage examinesdraft of bishop’s pastoral initiative