July 9, 2012, Volume VI, Number 28 FEAST OF SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND COMPANIONS Monday of Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Saint Benedict – July 11, 2012 Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawks) – July 14, 2012 Question of the Week For the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 15, 2012 “So they went off and preached repentance.” Is repentance a code word for success? Where does repentance take you? Is repentance synonymous with conversion? What do you have to offer when you cannot take any material possessions with you except what you are wearing? Does this contribute to your ability to share the power of faith in Jesus Christ? NCCL News The theme for 2012 Catechetical Sunday is "Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization." The Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis has prepared a variety of materials to assist catechists and Catholic school teachers to better understand and embrace Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to be evangelists. The resources will assist parishes in celebrating Catechetical Sunday, not only in September, but also throughout the 2012-2013 year. These materials are provided free of charge. These resources can be found at Catechetical Sunday 2012 Resources (http://tiny.cc/m10nfw ).
Transcript
July 9, 2012, Volume VI, Number 28
FEAST OF SAINT AUGUSTINE ZHAO RONG AND COMPANIONSMonday of Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Saint Benedict – July 11, 2012Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawks) – July 14, 2012
Question of the WeekFor the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 15, 2012“So they went off and preached repentance.” Is repentance a code word for success? Where does repentance take you? Is repentance synonymous with conversion? What do you have to offer when you cannot take any material possessions with you except what you are wearing? Does this contribute to your ability to share the power of faith in Jesus Christ?
NCCL News
The theme for 2012 Catechetical Sunday is "Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization." The Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis has prepared a variety of materials to assist catechists and Catholic school teachers to better understand and embrace Pope Benedict XVI's invitation to be evangelists. The resources will assist parishes in celebrating Catechetical Sunday, not only in September, but also throughout the 2012-2013 year. These materials are provided free of charge. These resources can be found at Catechetical Sunday 2012 Resources (http://tiny.cc/m10nfw).
We are featuring a Teaching Aid this week entitled What is "New" About the New Evangelization? by Fr. James A. Wehner, STD, Rector/President of the Pontifical College Josephinum. You can download the PDF at http://tinyurl.com/7522f7r or by simply clicking on the title above.
As in past years, NCCL will sell printed copies of prayer cards, family commitment cards, posters, and certificates in English and Spanish. Check the NCCL website
www.NCCL.org for more information on ordering your Catechetical Sunday materials. This year’s reflection journal was written by Michele Harris and is entitled Open the Door of Faith. Help your organization and order your
This week we would also like to highlight two additional resources.Bulletin Inserts: Adolescent Catechesis: A Catechesis That Engages Youth for Discipleship by Fr. John J. Serio, SDB, Principal, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Takoma Park, Maryland. You can download the PDF at http://tinyurl.com/cwhfd26 or by simply clicking on the title above. Leadership Institute website: Track III - New Evangelization features ten webinars. You can check out all of them at http://tiny.cc/aaiigw or by clicking on Track III above. This week we are featuring a more in-depth presentation from the bulletin insert. It is entitled Reaching Adolescents with the Good News: A Relational Approach to Discipleship by Michael Theisen. You can listen to the webinar at http://tinyurl.com/cavjatz or simply click on the title above.
The description follows:How does the Church effectively connect, engage, and proclaim the Good News of our Catholic faith with teens today in a manner that moves them toward discipleship? This presentation will discuss some important principles and strategies to assist parish leaders in apprenticing young people into serving as agents of evangelization.
Year of Faith postings for NCCL Website NCCL will be posting Year of Faith plans from parishes and dioceses on the NCCL website. If your committee or Forun has discussed the Year of Faith from an NCCL perspective, or if someone on your committee has plans for the Year of Faith, please email the information to NCCL Board member Joanie McKeown at [email protected]. We'll post links to websites, outlines of plans, introductory articles, worksheets, etc., along with a byline crediting you (or your parish, diocese, committee, etc) for the materials you are sharing. By allowing others to see your plans you'll be helping other parish and diocesan catechetical leaders as they develop their local plans so that across the country, in parishes large and small, we'll have vibrant celebrations of the Year of Faith.
Reflecting on Bishop Fulton Sheen's Legacy: Highlights Emphasis on Prayer
Following the Vatican announcement last week that Archbishop Fulton Sheen was declared to have lived a life of heroic virtues and has the title of “venerable” the U.S.-based Maximus Group held a press conference to allow journalists to find out more about how his cause for sainthood is progressing.
Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Illinois, who initiated the diocesan inquiry into the life and virtue of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, spoke to the reporters at the press conference. “I know I speak for all the clergy, religious faithful of the Diocese of Peoria and I think of much of the United States and even great parts of the world that we are so happy that
His Holiness has declared Fulton Sheen venerable,” the bishop stated.
“Fulton Sheen went door to door here in Peoria evangelizing. He preached and talked relentlessly. When he moved down to the world stage, he was a pioneer in using the media to announce the good news. And maybe most importantly, he was a man of holiness, of intense daily prayer and that is an example that I believe all the Church needs to imitate in these days,” Bishop Jenky explained.
Monsignor Richard Soseman, the coordinator of International Outreach for the Archbishop Fulton John Sheen Foundation, was also present. The fact that Archbishop Fulton Sheen lived Christian virtues in a heroic way is no surprise to those who knew him, he said. “He convinced people of God's love for each individual person and that no person -- no individual should be lost, should be considered less important because of reasons of race or color or creed or because of political considerations or any other agenda that people may have -- that God loves each one of us that He loves each one of you,” Monsignor Soseman said.
Later on in the press conference Bishop Jenky stated that one of the greatest gifts to the Church from Archbishop Sheen was his “example of prayer especially adoration before the Eucharist and his preaching and teaching about prayer. He constantly preached to the clergy of his diocese and clergies throughout the country and clergy throughout the world that perhaps even for the most hardworking priests the most important hour in their day would be the time of intimate prayer before Christ in the (sacrament).”
Bishop Jenky said it was hard for him to think of anyone who spoke more eloquently about the need for prayer than Fulton Sheen. “But more than his words, this is something he lived everyday of his life and everyday of his priesthood,” he added.
Year of Faith: Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013
"…They called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith..."(Acts 14:27). In the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that God has opened the door of faith for the early Church. But did you know that God has opened the door of faith for each one us and he invites us to step through the threshold into a deeper relationship with him.The upcoming Year of Faith is an opportunity for every Catholic to turn towards Jesus Christ, encounter him in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and rediscover the Faith and Church.
With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011,Porta Fidei. . . , Pope Benedict XVI declared that a "Year of Faith" will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. . . (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.
The upcoming Year of Faith is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta Fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.
If you go to http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/index.cfm, you will find videos (http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/videos.cfm) and links to a variety of resources to help you renew you baptismal call by living out the everyday moments of their lives with faith, hope and love. Their Q & A (http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-
evangelization/year-of-faith/questions-answers-year-of-faith-2012.cfm) will help you better understand what the Year of Faith is all about.
Religious Liberty is 'a foundational right,' says Archbishop Chaput
Defending religious liberty is part of the bigger struggle to "convert our own hearts" and "live for God completely," Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput said July 4 in Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. “The political and legal effort to defend religious liberty -- as vital as it is -- belongs to a much greater struggle to master and convert our own hearts, and to live for God completely, without alibis or self-delusion," the archbishop said.
Archbishop Chaput began his homily with a quote from Paul Claudel, a French poet and diplomat, who once described the Christian as "a man who knows what he is doing and where he is going in a world (that) no longer (knows) the difference between good and evil, yes and no. He is like a god standing out in a crowd of invalids. ... He alone has liberty in a world of slaves."
The archbishop talked about the idea of freedom of conscience, of knowing right and wrong, equating it with the greater idea of liberty. Archbishop Chaput said Claudel "spoke from a lifetime that witnessed two world wars and the rise of atheist ideologies that murdered tens of millions of innocent people using the vocabulary of science. He knew exactly where forgetting God can lead."
The modern indifference to morality and the growing sense of moral relativism Blessed John Paul II warned of in the 1993 encyclical "Veritatis Splendor" ("The Splendor of Truth") can be countered with the values both Americans and Christians hold. Drawing on the day's Gospel, Archbishop Chaput pointed to Jesus' words: "'Render unto Caesar those things that bear Caesar's image, but more importantly, render unto God that which bears God's image' -- in other words, you and me. All of us."
"The purpose of religious liberty is to create the context for true freedom," he said. "Religious liberty is a foundational right. It's necessary for a good society. But it can never be sufficient for human happiness. It's not an end in itself." He continued, "In the end, we defend religious liberty in order to live the deeper freedom that is discipleship in Jesus Christ. What good is religious freedom, consecrated in the law, if we don't then use that freedom to seek God with our whole mind and soul and strength?"
Archbishop Chaput closed his homily by urging listeners to, "fulfill our duty as citizens of the United States, but much more importantly, as disciples of Jesus Christ."
Cardinal Wuerl echoed Pope Benedict's warning of "radical secularism" that threatens to divorce Christians from their freedom of conscience. “The Holy Father's answer to this radical secularism is, as he explained, 'an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity,'" the cardinal said. He concluded with "This call to action should not end with the 'fortnight,' however, and as heralds of the new evangelization, each of us is called to deepen our own appreciation of our faith, renew our confidence in its truth and be prepared to share it with others."
Social Media to Promote Vocations
Look no farther than this USCCB website for a variety of videos and social media ideas http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/vocation-tools-in-social-media.cfm. "God's loving care for all people in Christ must be expressed in the digital world not simply as an artifact from the past, or a learned theory, but as something concrete, present and engaging." Pope Benedict XVI, Message for 44th World Day of Communications, May 16, 2010.
Catholic-Jewish Dialogues Explore Jewish Take On New Testament
The semi-annual consultation of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops/National Council of Synagogues (USCCB/NCS) discussed the publication of Amy Jill Levine and Mark Zvi Brettler's book, The Jewish Annotated New Testament (Oxford, 2012) at their May 22 meeting in New York City. Bishop Denis Madden, auxiliary of Baltimore, and Rabbi David Straus of the Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania co-chaired the meeting.
"The publication of Levine's and Brettler's comprehensive work on the New Testamen, The Jewish Annotated New Testament represents an important milestone in Catholic-Jewish relations," said Bishop Denis Madden, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs. "Never before has a group of Jewish scholars made so learned and technical a reading of the New Testament. Clearly, this new effort reflects the progress we have made since the Second Vatican Council in mutual respect for each other's sacred Scriptures."
Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of USCCB, joined the meeting to extend his greetings and welcome to all the participants. He made brief remarks on the central importance of Catholic-Jewish dialogue and, in particular, of the work done between the USCCB and National Council of Synagogues. He thanked all of the members present for their continued dedication. You can read the entire press release at http://www.usccb.org/news/2012/12-125.cfm.
Caritas Video Details Food Crisis in West Africa
The international Caritas network is insisting that now is the critical moment to help the starving populations of West Africa's Sahel region. The network produced an 8-minute video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB2g-pASdCc&list=UUN7MvrHoSqI5RjV-urE1usw&index=3&feature=plcp),
which reflects the crisis facing the people, but also the way in which Caritas is helping them with short-term survival and prospects for a better future.
The charity organization explained that more than 18 million people in the Sahel region don't have enough food. "A bad harvest last year and high food prices have caused a widespread food crisis across Niger, Mali, Mauritania, Chad, Senegal, parts of Nigeria and Gambia. Caritas has been warning since the start of the year that urgent action needed to be taken to save lives and safeguard future development. Now is the critical moment with food stores all but gone and people worn down by months of having nothing to eat."
Walking with God in America
This is a wonderful collection of exquisite scenes and unique places in our country. The quotes of scripture and from former presidents and notable people scattered throughout the pages remind us that this country was founded by people who not only acknowledged God but who loved God and wanted America to be a "beacon of light" for the rest of the world. When photographer and author Ken Duncan traveled through all fifty states to capture America, he discovered more than mere physical beauty. He witnessed spiritual beauty and heard inspiring stories. Some of the stories are like modern day parables. Others are just
good stories or funny anecdotes. You can order this book for a bargain price of $10.00 at Walking With God in America: Experiencing God's Blessings in the Beauty of America.
Catholicism 'a part of who I am,' says children's music performer
Children's music performer Lucky Diaz says his Catholic faith is "a part of who I am." "I was an altar boy. I went to parochial school my whole life," he said in a telephone interview from Tulsa, Okla., where he had just finished a morning performance. "From the ages of 6 or 7, I wanted to be a priest," he added, noting his parents were probably disappointed he didn't go to a Catholic college.
Diaz and his Family Jam Band just released their third CD, "A Potluck," for kids and their parents. For Diaz, it really is a family
band. His 8-year-old daughter, Ella, sings with the band when she can, and Diaz's wife, Alisha Gaddis, is part of the group. "When we met, she was doing a lot of theater, she's a Broadway actress, commercials, television work and film and stuff," Diaz told Catholic News Service June 22. "I was doing session guitar work for 'American Idol's' Justin Guarini. I played in Darlene
Love's West Coast ensemble, but she hadn't played on the West Coast for a while." he recalled. "I started doing this kids thing on my own. Alisha said those are pretty awesome songs, you should record them. ... She's a great performer. She really connects with the kids. ... It's really fun to do this with your wife." Diaz and said that when he and Gaddis got married, "my mom was super-excited that we got married in the church. It was a super-big deal," he said. "It's a part of who I am." Yu can purchase individual songs or the album at A Potluck.
Knowing Jesus and His Message – Conociendo a Jesus y su Mensaje
This is an excellent resource. Immediately following the Learning Session on this resource at the NCCL Conference and Exposition in San Diego (15) copies of the book in English and Spanish were sold.
Based on the protocol used to evaluate elementary religion series, the book used fifteen standards for Pre-K and K through Grades 7 & 8. Included with the binder is a CD with all the materials available for
duplication. This is an ideal help for any elementary catechist regardless of the series you might be using. Check out the following and use the Order Form.
PREFACE - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/nysql) EXPLANATION - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/xuvw8) Standards - Explained (http://tiny.cc/65wmc) Normas y Fundamentos (http://tiny.cc/zfrg2) ORDER FORM - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/9j0mb)
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