August 11, 2009
The National Pastoral Life Center (NPLC) is a great resource for parishes. Recently they announced a new conference for and about Parish Life Coordinators. The conference is titled “Extraordinary Pastoring” and will be held in Michigan on January 25-28, 2010.
NPLC took the lead many, many years ago, under the direction of the late Msgr. Phil Murnion, in sponsoring the first-ever gathering of parish life coordinators. It is good to see them continue to provide much needed resources in this area, especially with a stellar list of speakers.
For those who may be unaware, Parish Life Coordinators is the term that has evolved to cover those individuals (whether lay, religious sisters or brothers, or deacons) who are responsible for a parish which has no resident priest-pastor. Many other terms were used in previous years, from lay pastors to parish coordinators. With the work of the bishops’ conference in the areas of lay ministry and pastoral practices, much discussion and reflection led to the selection of the term “parish life coordinator” as a consistent one across the US.
This conference will be invaluable, not only for parish life coordinators, but also for priests responsible for parishes with pastoral life coordinators and for diocesan staff with such parishes.
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August 6, 2009
On August 4, the US Senate confirmed Miguel Diaz as the US ambassador to the Vatican. What makes this appointment so intriguing is that Diaz is a Catholic theologian, the first-ever to be appointed to this position. Often, diplomats have a political career history. Although Diaz was active in President Obama’s campaign, serving on the Catholic advisory group, he is by training and practice a theologian.
Until now, Diaz has been employed as a professor of theology at both St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN and at the College of St. Benedict, also in Minnesota. He was born in Cuba and is also the first Hispanic American to serve as ambassador.
It should be fascinating to watch the dialogue between the Vatican and the US during Diaz’s term. His ability to understand and apply theological language to our political actions should be a big plus all around. Stay tuned…
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July 31, 2009
The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in August or September 2009:
8/1/2009 – 8/1/2009
NAfIM – National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry
NAfIM Annual Membership Meeting
Cleveland , OH
A membership organization of parish ministers, diocesan leaders, university professionals, parents, and persons with mental retardation, intellectual disability and other developmental differences. NAfIM’s mission is to lead the Catholic community to the full inclusion of persons with Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD).
8/1/2009 – 8/4/2009
NCADDHM – National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry
NCADDHM 2009 National Conference
Notre Dame, IN
The professional association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry. The mission of NCADDHM is to promote the full participation of Hispanics in the Church and society.
8/11/2009 – 8/15/2009
LCWR – Leadership Conference for Women Religious
2009 LCWR Assembly
New Orleans, LA
The association of the leaders of congregations of Catholic women religious in the US.
9/12/2009 – 9/18/2009
NCDVD – National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors
2010 NCDVD Convention
Milwaukee, WI
The professional membership organization of those who work in diocesan vocation offices. The mission of NCDVD is to promote priestly vocations by supporting diocesan vocation directors in their work.
9/20/2009 – 9/23/2009
ICSC – International Catholic Stewardship Council
ICSC 2009 Annual Conference
Dallas, TX
An association of organizations, including parishes and dioceses, focusing on the concept of holistic Christian stewardship. ICSC’s mission includes encouraging the growing professionalism of diocesan stewardship and development programs as well as that of parish-centered stewardship programs.
9/20/2009 – 9/23/2009
NCDC – National Catholic Development Conference
NCDC 2009 Annual Conference
Arlington, VA
An association of organizations involved in fundraising to support religious, educational or other charitable activities. NCDC’s mission is to provide educational opportunities, training and networking in the area of fundraising.
9/24/2009 – 9/27/2009
NCCW – National Council of Catholic Women
NCCW – 2009 General Assembly
Jacksonville, FL
An organization of parish and diocesan based Catholic women’s organizations. NCCW’s mission is to support, empower and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service.
9/24/2009 – 9/27/2009
CALGM – Catholic Association for Lesbian & Gay Ministries
CALGM Annual [Inter]National Conference
Las Vegas, NV
A network encouraging pastoral care with lesbian and gay Catholics and their families. The organization provides a network of communication regarding Catholic lesbian and gay ministry, provides educational resources and models of ministry, and encourages the participation of lesbian and gay Catholics with the Church.
9/26/2009 – 10/1/2009
NCDVD – National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors
2009 NCDVD Convention
Newark, NJ
The professional membership organization of those who work in diocesan vocation offices. The mission of NCDVD is to promote priestly vocations by supporting diocesan vocation directors in their work.
9/27/2009 – 9/30/2009
DFMC – Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference
DFMC Conference 2009
Chicago, IL
A membership organization for diocesan fiscal managers. DFMC’s mission is to promote the spiritual growth, the exchange of ideas and information, and the development of professional relationships among its members.
9/27/2009 – 10/1/2009
ANSH – Asociación Nacional de Sacerdotes Hispanos en Estados Unidos
XX ANSH Convention
Chicago, IL
The organization of Hispanic priests in the US. The mission of ANSH is to promote unity, collaboration and support for Hispanic priests in the US, to serve as the official voice for Hispanic priests at the national level, to support the ministry of priests within the Hispanic community, and to participate in the development of the Catholic Church in the US.
9/29/2009 – 10/2/2009
CCC – Catholic Cemetery Conference
CCC 60th Annual Convention and Exposition
Chicago, IL
The organization that helps Catholic Cemetery staff enhance their skills in caring for the deceased and comforting their loved ones through ministry, education, network and service opportunities. Members come from the US, Australia, Canada, Italy and Guam.
Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.
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July 22, 2009
Before President Obama met Pope Benedict XVI in July 2009, Catholic media reported that the President’s staff had been busy searching for a gift to give the Pope. They finally settled on a liturgical stole that was a relic. For 18 years, the stole had covered the remains of St. John Neumann at St. Peter’s Church in Philadelphia. This was a very appropriate gift, especially since St. John Neumann was the first US Bishop to become a saint. The Redemptorists, who had recently made changes to the tomb, were honored to have the stole serve as the gift.
What then, people wondered, would be the Pope’s gift to the President? The Vatican’s newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, recently published the answer. The Pope gave the President several gifts. In addition to rosaries and pontifical medals, the Pope gave a mosaic of St. Peter’s and an autographed copy of his latest encyclical, Caritas in Veritate. These also are very appropriate gifts and in line with gifts given by the Pope in similar circumstances. But then the Pope added another gift. He gave the President a copy of last year’s Instruction on bioethics, Dignitas Personae. The thought behind this last gift was that the document would help the President to better understand the Catholic Church’s position on these matters. Bioethics is an area of disagreement between both, especially when focused on abortion.
During last May’s controversy when the University of Notre Dame invited President Obama to speak at its commencement, University President Fr. Jenkins said that he believed it was important to both illuminate “issues with the moral and spiritual wisdom of the Catholic tradition” and to serve as a place where “people of good will are received with charity, are able to speak, be heard, and engage in responsible and reasoned dialogue.” The Pope’s cordial welcome of President Obama was certainly an example of this. The meeting between the Pope and the President marked the face-to-face beginning of a dialogue. Let the dialogue continue.
Leave a Comment » | Encyclical Letter, Medical Ethics, politics, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican | Tagged: Catholic, Pope Benedict XVI, president and pope meet, president at the vatican, president obama | Permalink
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July 8, 2009
On July 7, 2009, the eve of the G-8 meeting, Pope Benedict XVI released his latest encyclical letter titled “Caritas in Veritate” or Charity in Truth.
The Pope begins his encyclical by reminding us that love is the driving force which leads people to justice and peace. “Charity is at the heart of the Church’s social doctrine.” The Pope then makes the case for the necessity of linking charity to truth. “Truth needs to be sought, found and expressed within the ‘economy’ of charity, but charity in its turn needs to be understood, confirmed and practised in the light of truth.”
The introduction ends with this timely comment, given the current economic crisis. “The Church does not have technical solutions to offer and does not claim ‘to interfere in any way in the politics of States.’” However, the Pope concludes, the Church does have a responsibility to preach truth and the promotion of human dignity in all aspects of society.
The encyclical is divided into six chapters:
1) The message of Populorum Progressio (Pope Paul VI’s encyclical issued right after the close of Vatican II)
2) Human Development in Our Time
3) Fraternity, Economic Development and Civil Society
4) The Development of People, Rights and Duties, the Environment
5) The Cooperation of the Human Family
6) The Development of People and Technology
The Pope reminds us that we do not work alone and that we can accomplish nothing without God. He ends the encyclical with the words from Paul’s Letter to the Romans, “Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honour.”
It would be interesting to see what the G-8 meeting results would be if the leaders truly put Paul’s words to practice.
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June 19, 2009
Still looking for a last minute gift for Dad for this Father’s Day? Look no further. Catholic Charities USA is offering a Father’s Day e-card in English or Spanish.
The way this works is as follows. When you sign up for the e-card, you make a donation to Catholic Charities in honor of your Dad. Then you personalize a card provided online by Catholic Charities and it is sent to your Father. It’s easy and quick to do. And your donation can make a profound effect in the lives of the poor and vulnerable served by Catholic Charities. Give it a try!
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June 9, 2009
The Vatican has a new website called Pope2You.net The site has a link to a Facebook page where you can send a prayer for the sick, send a virtual postcard to others, download messages from the Pope, and sign up for future emails. Notably missing is the “wall” where visitors can write comments and interact with each other.
The site also offers links to send video and audio downloads of Vatican news to your iPhone or iPod Touch.
A link is also provided for the Vatican’s YouTube channel which was launched earlier.
Another link on the site offers an intriguing format. The link is for “WikiCath” which the site claims is an interactive way, using wiki-technology, to read the Pope’s message on the World Day of Communication. This section breaks up the message into parts and provides links to background information on key words and phrases. I am reminded of the North American Commentary to the Code of Canon Law which also provides background information to key parts of each canon. So often you learn much more from reading the commentary than just reading the Code alone.
WikiCath amazingly invites comments. Currently, when you click on the comment button, an email message appears indicating that your comments will be sent via email, and thus won’t be posted. The Italian bishops’ conference is helping the Vatican to work with this site.
I have to smile as I watch the Vatican start to use new technology for communication. I think it’s great! I smile because it is such a cautious, exploratory attempt. And I have to be honest in admitting that I am also a “newbie” in some of these technology areas and thus also tread cautiously when trying these technologies. Every step forward is definitely welcome. The challenge will come, in my opinion, in the missing step that so many young people around the world take so easily. That step is opening up one’s site so that visitors’ comments are visible to all, and thus encourage interaction.
Not everyone is ready for this step and I can’t blame them. I still don’t totally understand the allure for young people of posting their daily lives and friends’ comments on a site that is open to the public. Yet, it would definitely be intriguing to visit a Vatican site where the public could post comments and interact on any given topic. Maybe we’re not ready for that yet. But given these first steps using Facebook, YouTube, WikiCath, and the iPhone, one can only hope.
Leave a Comment » | bishops, Catholic, Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican | Tagged: Catholic, facebook, new technology, new vatican website, pope2you, vatican communication, wiki, wikicath, you-tube | Permalink
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June 5, 2009
News reports of the murder of the doctor who performed late-term abortions are now highlighting the stories of some his clients. One woman learned in her third trimester that her child had a tragic illness and would not live more than a day after birth.
Families who find themselves unexpectedly in a similar situation are faced with shock, sadness and grief. As they approach what should be a joyous event — the day of birth, they know that it will also be a time of devastating sorrow.
An organization that donates its talents to help these families heal is Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. This foundation coordinates over 7,000 photographers worldwide who volunteer their time to come to the hospital or hospice and take heirloom portraits of the child during it’s too brief life. The photographers then give the photos on a CD to the family as a keepsake of their child. All services are provided for free.
Parents find that with time, the photos help with the healing process. The portraits honor and cherish their baby and help them share the child’s spirit with others. As the song on the organization’s website poignantly describes, these parents find that ”we say hello at the same time we say goodbye.” The photos help their child continue to be a part of their lives in the future.
When a family finds themselves in this paralyzing situation, learning that their child will never be able to come home from the hospital, as Catholics we need to be there for them. Trying to stop a tragic late-term abortion delays the child’s death and the means of death, but it still doesn’t address the real and sudden needs of the family. These families need more. They need others to journey with them. They need to be assured that their child’s brief life has meaning. They need faith and they need hope.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep is not Catholic nor religiously affiliated. But what it does for families in time of grief can be called nothing short of ministry.
Leave a Comment » | Catholic, Children, Disabilities, Hope, Medical Ethics, parenting, Prolife, Volunteer Opportunities | Tagged: Catholic, healing for parents of child with terminal illness, late-term abortion, now i lay me down to sleep, photography before death of child, Prolife | Permalink
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May 29, 2009
The following Catholic organizations will be hosting a conference in June or July 2009:
5/31/2009 – 6/3/2009
ACHTUS – Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the US
ACHTUS 2009 Colloquium
Chicago, IL
A membership association of Roman Catholic Hispanics who possess a doctoral degree in theology, Scripture, ministry or general religious studies and are actively engaged in the North American Hispanic religious experience. The mission of ACHTUS is to promote research and critical theological reflection with the context of the US Hispanic experience.
6/3/2009 – 6/5/2009
DISC – Diocesan Information Systems Conference
2009 DISC Conference
New Orleans, LA
An organization of diocesan information systems managers, as well as others involved in the use of electronic technology for the work of the Catholic Church. DISC’s mission is to provide data processing expertise and professional service to the local and national church as well as to encourage networking of information and ideas among its members.
6/4/2009 – 6/7/2009
CTSA – Catholic Theological Society of America
2009 CTSA Annual Convention -
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The official membership organization of Catholic theologians (professionals with a degree in theological or related studies and who are or have been actively engaged in teaching and research.) CTSA’s mission is to promote studies and research in theology, to relate theological science to current problems, and to foster a more effective theological education.
6/7/2009 – 6/9/2009
CHA – Catholic Health Association
2009 CHA Assembly
New Orleans, LA
The official membership organization of Catholic health care sponsors, systems and facilities. The mission of CHA is to support the Catholic health ministry’s pursuit of the strategic directions of mission, ethics, and advocacy.
6/25/2009 – 6/28/2009
NACFLM – National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers
NACFLM Conference 2009
St. Paul, MN
The membership association for family life ministers. This includes a variety of ministry areas including singles, marriage prep, respect life, interchurch/ecumenical marriage, families in crisis, separated/divorced, widowed/bereaved, older adults, and special needs families. NACFLM’s mission is to offer support and professional enrichment for those who minister to and with families, to be a voice and advocate for families, to promote the development of family life ministry and to foster a family perspective in Church and Society.
7/1/2009 – 7/5/2009
Tekakwitha Conference
2009 Tekakwitha Annual Conference
Raleigh, NC
A membership organization open to all clergy, religious, all Native People, and all women and men ministering with Native Americans. The mission of the Tekakwitha Conference is to unify the Native Catholic voice, presence and identity while respective the diversity, to empower Native Catholics as Church, and to deepen and affirm Native Catholic identity and pride in their culture and spiritual traditions.
7/6/2009 – 7/10/2009
NPM – National Association of Pastoral Musicians
2009 NPM National Convention – “Sing to the Lord!”
Chicago, IL
The membership organization for anyone who recognizes and supports the value of musical liturgy. This includes choir directors, organists, guitarists, pianists, instrumentalists, presiders, cantors, and choral groups. NPM’s mission is to foster the art of musical liturgy.
7/27/2009 – 7/29/2009
CSWNA – Catholic Social Workers National Association
2009 CSWNA Conference
Louisville, KY
A national professional association of Catholic social workers. CSWNA’s mission is to promote the implementation of Catholic social teachings in social work practice while supporting competent professional social workers living out their baptismal call by being the hands and feet of Christ.
Visit the ActiveParishioner.com Calendar for more details and future events.
Leave a Comment » | Catholic, Catholic Associations, Catholic Conferences, Healthcare, Hispanic ministry, Music | Tagged: achtus, annual meeting, Catholic, cha, conference, conferences, convention, cswna, ctsa, disc, nacflm, npm, tekakwitha | Permalink
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May 21, 2009
This Sunday, May 24, 2009 has been designated by the Vatican as the 43rd World Day of Communications. Pope Benedict has issued his message to media & communications professionals titled, “New Technologies, New Relationships. Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.”
The Pope jumps right in by focusing on digital communications and the amazing potential to promote human understanding and solidarity. He notes that people want to connect with each other and that this is “rooted in our very nature as human beings.” In fact, this innate desire mirrors God’s relationship with us.
Media tools can do much to help us connect with each other, to understand and to provide support for each other. “These networks can facilitate forms of co-operation between people from different geographical and cultural contexts that enable them to deepen their common humanity and their sense of shared responsibility for the good of all.”
The Pope concludes his message by asking young people, who take so naturally to the digital realm, to evangelize cyberspace by bringing their Christian values to this new area.
Leave a Comment » | Blind, Pope Benedict XVI, Radio, Vatican | Tagged: Catholic, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope's Message to Media, World Day of Communications | Permalink
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April 27, 2009
The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life released a study on April 27, 2009, titled, Faith in Flux – Changes in Religious Affiliation in the US.
The report identifies several interesting statistics for Catholics in the US.
Childhood practices and commitment appear to be pivotal in influencing whether a person remains a member of their childhood faith. A total of 46% of current adult Catholics who were raised Catholic say that they had very strong faith as a child and 96% worshiped weekly as a child. In addition, 71% attended religious education as a child and 25% attended Catholic high school.
Examining the reasons why individuals chose to become former Catholics is also of interest. A total of 71% of former Catholics who have become Protestant cite that their spiritual needs were not being met as the reason for leaving. Nearly two thirds of former Catholics who are now “unaffiliated” cite that their reason for departure was that they stopped believing in Church teaching. About 60% named teachings on abortion and homosexuality. About 50% named teachings on birth control. And about 40% identified issues related to the Church’s treatment of women. Interestingly, about 71% of former Catholics say that they “just gradually drifted away from [their] religion.”
Currently, 10% of American adults are former Catholics. In general, the population that has grown the most is that of “unaffiliated” individuals. This group, however, is very diverse. Catholicism has lost the most members to this group. However, Catholicism also has a 68% retention rate of childhood members which is equal to or higher than other faith traditions.
Interestingly, the changes are often made at a young age. Approximately 48% of former Catholics who are now unaffiliated made that choice before they were 18 years old. An additional 30% became former Catholics between age 18 and 23. These statistics indicate the importance of not ignoring your youth and young adults within the Catholic community. If we do ignore them, there is a good chance that they may choose to no longer be Catholic.
Leave a Comment » | Catholic, Catholic Identity, Children, Former Catholics, Teens, Young Adults | Tagged: april 2009, Catholic, faith in flux, Former Catholics, membership, number of catholics, pew report, retention of catholics, trends in catholicism | Permalink
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March 23, 2009
Pope Benedict XVI has released his message to young people worldwide for the 24th World Youth Day (WYD) in 2009. The theme of the message is “We have set our hope on the living God” from 1Tim 4:10. Not surprisingly since 2009 is the year of St. Paul, the Pope speaks of St. Paul as a witness of hope.
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