0 The Message -- for Catholics of Southwestern Indiana
Magic of Words
November 15,
. By FATHER
JOSEPH L.
ZILIAK
Associate Publisher
Louie was up to visit me again today. They
had to come looking for him so he could go home
with his Dad. I don't know how long before all
that comes to an end.
We have an after-school care program here.
Students may stay after school until they are
picked up by their parents. It's a handy service
for those who wish to use it. Parents don't have to
worry about their children going home to an
empty house.
To provide a space more homelike from the
school classrooms, we offer the meeting room in
the rectory basement for the after school head-
quarters. There they have a television and VCR,
tables to do homework and other studies, snacks
to still the hunger pangs after a hard day at
school.
David and Jennifer just stopped by to say
hello, also. I took the occasion to talk about the
terra cotta figures first discovered in 1974 at Xi-
An, a former imperial city of China.
We looked at and felt a miniature soldier in
battle dress. He was a bowman. Another minia-
ture statue shows a general in his uniform. We
Our children: Be
patient, loving with them
looked also at a photo book on China that shows
the phalanxes of soldiers, horses and chariots
that are still being uncovered in Xi-An.
Historians estimate that some 6,500 figures
are in the complete area. The figures are all life
size and in full dress uniform for a complete
army. Each face is individual. Each figure was in-
dividually molded part by part, colorfully
painted and then fired.
The purpose of the terra cotta army was to
guard the tomb of King Zheng, the first emperor
of the Qin dynasty. Zheng died in 210 B.C. For
over 2000 years the emperor and defending army
rested at peace. It was covered with 15-feet of
dirt.
In 1974 a farmer was digging a well when he
came upon some clay shards. He gave them to
local historians. The rest is history as the mar-
velous and wondrous discovery was made. It is
an active archeological dig today.
We were not allowed to photograph inside
the dig area in 1986. I don't know if that rule has
been changed. It was a strange and exhilarating
experience to be there and see first hand this
eighth wonder of the world.
It is fun to share things like that with my
young visitors.
We are not far from doing some building
around here and one of the things that will
change will be thisrectory and the basement.
Our after school program will probably go back
into the school and a classroom.
I will miss my little friends stopping by as
they make visits to the nearby bathroom. Some"
times they get into trouble by staying away
long from downstairs, or if their caretakers
know where they are.
I know they will not be that far away from
wherever I end up, but it may not be as eas
'(
over for a visit. Besides, part of the allure for
them is an office filled with pictures, books, star"
ues, plants, magazines and papers that can be a :
delight for young and alert eyes and minds.
Parents, I realize that you sometimes can be
worn out dealing with your little ones, but,
please, remember how powerful you are in
eyes. They look to you for love and wisdom.
They want to learn the right things and do the
right things. Please, be patient and loving with
them. They will be a source of great joy for yoU,
Educators, ,
Continued from page 3
selves to supporting Catholic
schools, especially those
serving the poor communities
across the country, and for-
mer Delaware Gov. Pierre
"Pete" du Pont called on
Catholics to lobby for choice.
"Education ... the tradi-
tional ladder out'of this coun-
try's growing poverty and de-
spair ... eludes too many,
particularly those minorities
among us who struggle every
day to claim their place in so:
ciety," Archbishop Lyke said.
On Nov. 9, Lynne Cheney,
chairwoman of the National
Endowment for the Humani-
ties also called on Catholics
to lobby for choice.
Later that day, Diane Rav-
itch, assistant secretary for
educational research and im-
provement at the U.S. Depart-
ment of Education, said how-
ever that Catholic schools
must consider the conse-
quences and restrictions they
could face if parents were
given government funds to
send their children to private
and religious schools.
"I'm concerned about what
the implications may be
down the line," Ms, Ravitch
sai.d. "This could turn
Catholic schools into secular
schools."
Golden Jubilarians
William and Dorothy {Spahn) Martin of Cynthiana will cele-
brate their fiftieth wedding anniversary with a Mass of
Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at St. Wendel Church, St.
Wendel. A dinner for the family and invited guests will fol-
low at the Knights of St. John Hall, St. Wendel. An open
house and dance for relatives and friends will be held from 6
to 10 p.m. The couple was married Nov. 26, 1941, at St. Wen-
del Church by Father Herman Gadlage. They are the parents
of seven children, Stephen and Harry, both of Haubstadt,
Roger, Mark and Jane Ann Kiefer of Cynthiana, Father David
Martin, pastor at St. Simon Church, Washington, and Mary
Ruth lmshvr of Evansville. They have 17 grandchildren. He is
Golden Jubilarians
Wilfred and Frances (Hasenour} Tieken will celebrate.
fiftieth wedding anniversary with a Mass of
2 p.m. Nov. 29 at° St. Wendel Church, St. Wendel. A
for the immediate family will follow at Haub's Steak
An open house will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at St.
Knights Home. The couple was married Nov. 20, 1941,
James Church. Hosting the celebration are their seve
dren, David, Dennis and Gregory, all of Evansville,
Baton Rouge, La., Ronald of Washington, and Becky
and Janice Herr, both of Evansville. They have 17
dren. Tieken is retired from Tieken Construction;
tired from the Ramada Inn and is a volunteer at
Hospital.
Family
Indoor Mini Golf
Family Billiards
Table Tennis
Air
Video
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Off Green River Road
Near Sears Service Center
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479-9693
