Christian district or see under the supervision of a bishop
POPULARITY
25 episodes with archdiocesan
8 episodes with archdiocesan
13 episodes with archdiocesan
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2 episodes with archdiocesan
2 episodes with archdiocesan
2 episodes with archdiocesan
2 episodes with archdiocesan
2 episodes with archdiocesan
In other news: Archdiocesan priest reinstated following yearlong sexual abuse investigation; Sudden closure of Lakeview bookstore explained; Plus- Bears make final preparations for Sunday's battle against Cardinals. Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images
In other news: Archdiocesan priest reinstated following yearlong sexual abuse investigation; Sudden closure of Lakeview bookstore explained; Plus- Bears make final preparations for Sunday's battle against Cardinals. Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images
In other news: Archdiocesan priest reinstated following yearlong sexual abuse investigation; Sudden closure of Lakeview bookstore explained; Plus- Bears make final preparations for Sunday's battle against Cardinals. Photo Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images
What is the mission of married couples? Join Archbishop Smith as he discusses the sacrament of marriage in Scripture, divorce and annulment, how marriage is meant to be a witness to communion in an era of division, and his thoughts on what a couple can do when their relationship is struggling. On September 14, the Archdiocese of Edmonton launched its new pastoral priorities and our third priority is “Formation for Service to Families and Marriage.” We pray that this episode would continue the work of serving families and married couples in our community and forming all of us in a deeper understanding of God's vision for married and family life. Fact check on marriage and divorce rate. See following articles for further context on the decline of both marriage and divorce rates: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=3910005101&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.1&cubeTimeFrame.startYear=2000&cubeTimeFrame.endYear=2020&referencePeriods=20000101%2C20200101https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/divorce/divorce-statistics/#sources_sectionTo learn more about our brand-new Archdiocesan pastoral priorities: https://caedm.ca/pastoralpriorities/Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/archedmonton/Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/archedmontonFollow us on Xhttps://twitter.com/archedmontonWatch us on YouTube here!Subscribe to our email list: Upfront UpdatesUpfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek and Jenny Connelly. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, so you don't miss new episodes https://caedm.ca/window/ Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/
Today, Archbishop Smith is talking about Catholic education and the urgent need to proclaim the Gospel in our Catholic schools, especially with the widespread presence of anxiety and depression among young people. In anticipation of Catholic Education Week (Oct. 19-25), the Archbishop also speaks about what it means for Catholic schools to be “authentic” and “distinct,” the relationship between educators and parents, and advice for how to proclaim the beauty and truth of the Church's teaching on anthropology and sexuality in our Catholic schools. For more resources from the Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association on Catholic Education Week 2024, with the theme of “Testify!”: https://www.acsta.ab.ca/resources/catholic-education-weekAn overview of the 5 Marks of Catholic School Identity, which inspired much of this episode: https://www.ecsd.net/the-five-marksTo learn more about our brand-new Archdiocesan pastoral priorities: https://caedm.ca/pastoralpriorities/Watch us on YouTube here!Subscribe to our email list: Upfront UpdatesUpfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek and Jenny Connelly. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, so you don't miss new episodes https://caedm.ca/window/ Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/
Patrick Storms and Aiden Nicholas – two Archdiocesan seminarians – join us to share the tale of their attempt to walk from the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review, subscribe, and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow! Direct social media links: Facebook Instagram YouTube
We often hear about high school-age teenagers today having to deal with issues and facing challenges that many of us never had to deal with when we were their age. And the idea of working with them and accompanying them on their faith journeys can be intimidating when we think about the teen culture that can sometimes seem so foreign and inaccessible.How are we as a Church supposed to work with teens today amid all the chaos that is going on in their lives and help them to deal with the challenges facing them as young Catholics?To talk about that with us today, I'm joined by Brian Henrtize and Jeanette Gonzalez - two of the Associate Directors from the Office of Adolescent Catechesis and Evangelization.We also discuss the upcoming Archdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC), taking place on July 26-28, the largest event we hold each year for Catholic teens.Office of Adolescent Catechesis and EvangelizationArchdiocesan Youth Conference (AYC)AYC on InstagramAYC on Facebook-----------------------------------To learn about the ministries and office of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, visit us online at archgh.org.FacebookInstagramYouTube
A brief article on the school's closure may be found on the Archdiocesan newspaper's website, The Leaven: https://theleaven.org/lack-of-financial-support-leads-to-closing-of-kck-school/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hucklefather/support
What is happening in our nation? Join Archbishop Richard Smith, Deacon Larry Worthen and host Jenny Connelly for a discussion about the expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, how Christi calls us to respond to this culture of death, practical ways that people of good will can fight the expansion, and legality, of assisted suicide and euthanasia in Canada and stories of both tragedy and hope that shed light on the state of Canada's moral compass.Write a letter to your local Member of Parliament, at No Options, No Choice: https://www.nooptionsnochoice.com/english/take-actionVisit Hope and Dignity, our Archdiocesan response to assisted suicide and euthanasia: https://hopeanddignity.caedm.ca/To learn more about Canadian statistics on euthanasia and assisted suicide and Deacon Worthen's visit to our Archdiocese: https://caedm.ca/local-catholics-rally-against-culture-of-death/Christian Medical and Dental Association: https://cmda.org/Watch us on YouTube here!Subscribe to our email list: Upfront UpdatesUpfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek.Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, so you don't miss new episodes https://caedm.ca/window/ Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/
If you listen to this show regularly, you know the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is on the move. We're blessed with great leadership from Archbishop Hebda - his Pastoral Letter is all about activating each of us into the missionary disciples we're called to be, along with so many other great things happening locally. Jean Houghton, director of the Office of Mission Advancement, joined producer Kayla Mayer to talk about fueling the engine to drive all of these great works. To learn more and help fuel the Archdiocesan mission, head to the Mission Advancement page. Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review, subscribe, and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow! Direct social media links: Instagram Facebook YouTube
For more than 100 years, the School Sisters of Notre Dame have been serving the people of Minnesota. Host Patrick Conley sat down with Sr. Stephanie Spandl to explore a little of the order's history along with where and how they're serving this local Church today. The 2023 Retirement Fund for Religious annual appeal begins December 9 and runs through January 2024. To find out how you can support our local religious and consecrated men and women in their golden years, visit the Archdiocesan website. To learn more about the School Sisters of Notre Dame, visit the website for our local province. Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review, subscribe, and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow! Social media direct links: Instagram Facebook YouTube
The Advent season began on December 3rd. With only 21 days this year to prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's birth, it's even more important to enter intentionally into every day of this season of waiting and hope. Joining host Patrick Conley with tips on how to do just that, is Fr. John Paul Erickson, pastor of Transfiguration parish in Oakdale. Find additional Advent resources on the Archdiocesan website. Like what you're hearing? Leave us a review, subscribe, and follow us on social media @practicingcatholicshow! Direct social media links: Instagram Facebook YouTube
“A great river of poverty is traversing our cities."Join Archbishop Smith as he talks about why Pope Francis instituted the annual World Day of the Poor, the (strange) Book of Tobit that Pope Francis wants us to reflect upon for this year's World Day of the Poor, and what it means when Catholic social teaching talks about the “preferential option for the poor.”Links:Pope Francis letter for World Day of the Poor 2023: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/poveri/documents/20230613-messaggio-vii-giornatamondiale-poveri-2023.htmlDonate to your organization of choice: https://caedm.ca/togetherweserve/Donate to the Society of the St. Vincent de Paul through Together We Serve, our Archdiocesan annual appeal: caedm.ca/togetherweserve/Donate to Catholic Social Services: https://www.cssalberta.ca/Watch us on YouTube Here!andSubscribe to our email list: Upfront Updates Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek.
Tom Riello talked about how Tammy Peterson found God through her illness. Dillon Stein shared about his role as the new Archdiocesan director of Youth and Young Adult formation. Philip Lawler discussed his article on synod fatigue.
A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - At the Vatican, Pope Francis will mark the first days of November, a holy and significant season, with prayer and two liturgies. On the solemnity of All Saints on November 1, Pope Francis will give a short address and lead the Angelus, a traditional Marian prayer, from a window overlooking Saint Peter's Square at noon Rome time. Since All Saints' Day falls on a Wednesday this year, Francis will not hold his usual weekly general audience. For All Souls' Day on November 2, he will continue his recent custom of holding a Mass at a cemetery to pray for the dead. The following morning, on November 3, Pope Francis will preside over a Mass in Saint Peter's Basilica for the repose of the soul of Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops and cardinals who have died in the previous year. It is the pope's practice to offer this Mass sometime during the first week of November. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255871/here-is-what-pope-francis-is-doing-for-the-week-of-all-saints-and-all-souls-days An assault at a San Francisco Catholic church on Sunday led to a police pursuit that reportedly included the possible use of a pipe bomb. It happened at Saints Peter and Paul Church, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco of the Western United States. Archdiocesan spokesman Peter Marlow told CNA on Monday that the incident began after an individual received Communion but did not consume the host, and then punched a person who tried to stop him and fled. It is unclear what happened to the Host. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255869/assault-at-san-francisco-catholic-church-leads-to-police-pursuit-reported-pipe-bomb For the first time since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, the Catholic Church of the Holy Land gathered around its patriarch on the feast day of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and the Holy Land and reconsecrated the local Church and the entire land to her. On Sunday, October 29, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a Mass at the shrine dedicated to the Blessed Mother in Deir Rafat in the presence of a few hundred faithful. The feast in honor of Our Lady, Queen of Palestine and patroness of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was first celebrated on August 15, 1928. Since 1971, following the liturgical reform of the Second Vatican Council, the feast was moved to October 25, and since then, it has been celebrated on the last Sunday of the month. At the end of the Mass, the Act of Consecration of the Holy Land to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was read. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/255863/latin-patriarch-of-jerusalem-reconsecrates-holy-land-to-our-lady-queen-of-palestine Today, the Church celebrates Saint Alonso Rodriguez, a man whose humble occupation gave the world only glimpses of his extraordinary holiness. During his lifetime, Jesuit Brother Alonso Rodriguez never became a priest, published a book, or advanced professionally. But writings discovered after his death revealed a true mystic, who attended to a rich spiritual life while he worked as a doorkeeper and porter. Alonso carried bags and ran errands for 46 years. He was declared a saint in 1887. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-alonso-rodriguez-640
Archbishop Naumann reflects upon the Black Catholic experience by dialoguing with Barbara Bailey, Jonathan Goering and Andre Randle who were members of the Archdiocesan delegation to the National Black Catholic Congress along with Deacon Bill Scholl. They are all members of Our Lady & St. Rose parish which has the distinction of being a national parish which features African American spirituality. They reflect upon the heroic witness of African American Catholics who have had to forgive much in order to persevere in the sacramental life and how being a Black Catholic Christian is way more common than many Americans might think. The National Black Catholic Congress convenes a gathering every five years. Each one renews and develops their mission with a Pastoral Plan to equip the Church in American to evangelize and enhance the spiritual and physical well being of African Americans as full members the Church and society. This year the Congress XIII happened in National Harbor Maryland in the DC area with the theme of “Write the Vision: A Prophetic Call to Thrive”
Published: September 30, 2019 Meet David DiNapoli, the Director of Development for the Diocese of Portland in Maine. On today's show, Jim Friend talks with David about his role in the Diocese and some of the challenges and opportunities that he is pursuing as he leads a development office that covers 33,215 square miles with a population of 279,159 Catholics. David's office oversees the Annual Appeal and Planned Giving, and he provides support to the 55 parishes and the Catholic School system in the Diocese.We begin our show today with an interview with Brandi Holys. Brandi is a Senior Director with Changing Our World who is currently assigned to a $70 Million Capital Campaign for the Diocese of Green Bay. Brandi shares some stories about her career and what she does for fun.About David DiNapoliPrior to taking the lead Development position with the Diocese of Portland, David DiNapoli served as a Director for Changing Our World, conducting Capital Campaigns and studies with a number of Diocese and Archdiocese as well as other nonprofits. Prior to that, David served as a consultant designing & implementing a strategic planning process for all parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In the Archdiocese of New York, David provided professional stewardship education and fundraising services to Archdiocesan parishes & effectively lead numerous campaigns in the areas of increased offertory & capital campaigns. In the beginning of his career, David worked in executive management within the hospitality industry, where he oversaw the complete renovation efforts of an organization in addition to managing the entire staff.David holds a Bachelor's degree in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville and was fortunate to study abroad in Austria. During his college years, David participated in missions in the jungles of Ecuador. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin's Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin's Crosses YouTube Channel for “Today's Catholic Prayers.” Jim and Kristin offer the daily Gospel and Reflection along with the Rosary and Catholic Prayers of the day. Click here to visit the YouTube Page and subscribe. If you would like to join the Kristin's Crosses prayer group on Facebook, click here to request to join.
We're not the only Archdiocesan podcast on the block anymore! The Catholic Spirit recently launched its first limited podcast series, “Conversion: Embraced by Love” - four episodes dedicated to sharing the stories of three local converts to the faith. Here to share some more about the creation of the podcast and why it's so important to hear from converts, is Joe Ruff: editor in chief of The Catholic Spirit.
Maybe you've heard the term before: an outcome of the 2015 settlement agreement between the Archdiocese and the Ramsey County Attorney's office, an Archdiocesan ombudsperson has served as an independent resource for people with questions or concerns about clerical sexual abuse in the Archdiocese. Julie Craven, who works with restorative justice and healing at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis, will step into this additional volunteer role as ombudsperson for our local Church. Julie is joining us today to share more about what her role entails.
The National Eucharistic Congress is coming up in 2024 and you'd better start making your travel plans now! It's the first Eucharistic Congress to happen in 83 years and you and your families have the opportunity to attend. Joining us this past weekend to share more of the exciting details was Fr. Tim Tran, Parochial Vicar at St. Stephen in Anoka, and Archdiocesan point person for the National Eucharistic Revival.
In this episode of Author to Author, Patricia Hershwitzky, Ed.S., on her book Teaching the City of God in the City of Man (February 28, 2023)Teaching the City of God in the City of Man counters the lethally misleading pedagogy now infesting government schools but also shading many Catholic schools. From Aristotle to Aquinas to Augustine, to all the Early Church Fathers, the multitudes of prolific Saints, and simply wise witnesses over the centuries, this tome upholds objective truth, natural law, Divine Revelation and Will, the very cornerstones that built the model of Christendom. That evil has at times eroded the ground underneath has never touched the Rock itself. Moreover, there are great signs of renewal, and this work serves to complement those tremendous efforts. Still, much needs to be done.The secular world is awash with many worldly post graduate degree programs, some helpful but too many poisonous to the brain, heart, and soul of education which should be laser focused on preparing students to live and regenerate the good, true, and beautiful. Regressive citadels of power in government and therefore public school boards and systems threaten any Christian influence. Teaching the City of God in the City of Man is a sectional Primer developed to enable, empower and embolden all Catholic educators, including parents, to impart knowledge across all subject areas. Additionally, the Primer provides many tools and was designed to accommodate individual graduate coursework in potential 3-credit units, incorporating a plethora of sample lesson ideas and reliable reference materials. Written by a veteran Catholic educator who taught in both public and Catholic schools for twenty-three years, and principal at one Catholic school for five years, Teaching the City of God in the City of Man emphasizes the only credible mission of education to cultivate a spirit of responsible, loving, and contributory citizenship in this temporal life and attain eternal citizenship with Perfect Love in the next. The only means to fully accomplish this schooling is by integrating Faith, Hope, and Charity in all subjects and lessons implicitly and explicitly through the prism of Salvation History. It is the goal of Teaching the City of Cod in the City of Man to provide fresh facets in approaches, curriculum and instruction, and resources to complement the wonderful work already begun in the Classical education movement, teacher credential programs, and even Archdiocesan offerings. Even faithful Catholic teachers currently in the quagmire of public education can benefit. Of course, all of this must also be accomplished by recognizing and respecting the honorable and necessary objectives in various subject matter in reading, math, science, history, government, the arts, and even physical education. For all of these originated in God, the Creator, for our good and well-being. Ironically, it is the lower domain that has disfigured the inherent value of education in these areas. From the distortion of human events to the mutilation of individual dignity, contemporary studies discourage the mind and suffocate the soul. Catholic, which means universal, in its fullness, uplifts the heart towards Love and Truth, invigorates the mind and restores the soul.Teaching the City of God in The City of Man, scheduled for publication in the Spring of 2023, aims to be one more step in that direction. https://www.enroutebooksandmedia.com/cityofgod
Catholic author, leader, and executive director of the Fathers of St. Joseph, Devin Schadt joined our very own Deacon Gordon Bird to talk about the return of the Archdiocesan Men's Conference! Register for the conference at archspm.org/events.
Youth camps have been paused in the Archdiocese of Edmonton since 2019. What is the future of youth camp ministry in the Archdiocese? What communication issues and concerns regarding camps have arisen over the past five years – and how can we do better in the future? Join Archbishop Smith, Camp Director Fr. Marc Cramer, Camp Coordinator Mike Landry and our podcast host Jenny Connelly for a candid conversation about why youth camps closed down in the Archdiocese, the frustrations, grief and communications concerns that have been faced with the temporary closure of camps, transparency regarding the money spent on camps, whether the Archbishop sees youth ministry as a priority in the Edmonton Archdiocese and the long-expected reopening of Archdiocesan youth camp ministry this summer! Pray for the team of passionate and devoted individuals who are leading the way forward with the re-opening of youth camp ministry in our Archdiocese this summer.Click here to sign up for Upfront Updates to stay in the loop on upcoming podcast events and new episodes!Camp Links:Our Lady of Victory Camp WebsiteSummer 2023 RegistrationCamp Donation PageCamp Flocknote to if you would like email updates.Email Contact: camps@caedm.caCamp Ministries 2023 Relaunch PlanSave the date"Celebrate & Say Goodbye: Camp Encounter"May 27th, 2023Email judyannkramer@gmail.com if you would like to help or want more information.Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast seeking to bridge the gap between the hierarchy and the faithful by discussing the beauty, truth, and challenges of our Catholic faith. The podcast features our host Jenny Connelly, as well as Archbishop Richard Smith, of the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Alberta.Produced by Matthew BodnarekArchEdmonton Social Media Links:FacebookInstagramTwitterYoutubeWatch us on YouTube Here!andSubscribe to our email list: Upfront Updates Upfront with the Archbishop is a weekly podcast where our goal is to strengthen the relationship between the hierarchy and the faithful through informal conversations about our Catholic faith. Featuring Archbishop Richard Smith (Archdiocese of Edmonton, AB) and our host Jenny Connelly. Produced by Matthew Bodnarek.
New year, new look for Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. Doctor Jason Slattery – Archdiocesan director of Catholic education – is here to discuss the new brand, colors and why Catholic schools are so important. Follow their new social media accounts for more: Facebook @CatholicSchoolsArchSPM Instagram @catholicschoolsarchspm LinkedIn @Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis YouTube @Catholic Schools ArchSPM
Advent is such a unique time in the liturgical year: we're preparing our hearts for the birth of Christ through generosity to others, service to the needy, and care to those who could use a bit of extra love. Our consecrated religious brothers and sisters are both on the giving and the receiving end of this Advent generosity, and here today to chat about one practical way to give back is Sr. Lynore Girmscheid, Archdiocesan coordinator for the “Retirement Fund for Religious.”
Chicago Catholic editor Joyce Duriga interviews John O'Malley, longtime director of legal services for the archdiocese and now special counsel, about the formation of the Archdiocese of Chicago's policies to protect children from clergy sexual abuse that also laid the foundation for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. They discuss the history of these protections, lessons learned and today's practices.
Meet Mrs. Kitty Eisenbeil, the newest appointed member to the Review Board of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA--a position to which she brings a wealth of professional experience counseling victims of sex abuse. In this edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese, Mrs. Eisenbeil shares her insights on a problem Catholic bishops are committed to solve.
Did you know that National Religious Vocations Week is happening Nov. 6-12? We've all experienced the fruits of our Archdiocesan men responding to the call to priesthood and now's our turn to pray for them and an increase in future vocations. Joining us today is the mother of a well-known priest (and now-Bishop), Mrs. Judy Cozzens. Judy is the former president of the U.S. Council of Serra International, a group of Catholic lay men and women who vigorously respond to the call to promote and support vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life.
Maybe your family has a plan for if, God-forbid, you were to experience a devastating natural disaster – where are the family photos? What articles and heirlooms are worth extra precautionary care? With October being National Archives month, Allison Spies has agreed to chat with us about the behind-the-scenes efforts that happen in the event of natural disasters – particularly in relation to the important articles and items of our Archdiocesan history.
He is a Canadian tennis professional who has been in the industry for 43 years. He served as Director of Tennis at the prestigious Arbutus Club in Vancouver for 34 of those years. He has a Tennis Canada Coach 3 and Club Pro 2 certification and has trained all levels of players from red ball through provincial teams. As a competitor he has won nine National Senior titles and with his brother Tony was part of the top open doubles team in British Columbia for ten years. He has been selected to represent Canada and B.C. in numerous events. He also writes a column on sports and faith for The B.C. Catholic, which is the Archdiocesan newspaper in his area.
Divine Mercy, Discipleship, Devotions, and Dirt with Fr. Martin Linebach, ArchLou Vicar General What drives Fr. Martin Linebach? What's behind that intense, prayerful, quick-witted presence? How do we bring renewal to the Cathedral of the Assumption and Archdiocesan families? Hear from the Vicar General and Vocations Director of the Archdiocese of Louisville as he shares his conversion and vocation story, as well as his insights and encouragement to those he serves. Fr. Martin Linebach is also the founding chaplain of Family Renewal Project and has a huge devotion to JPII and his Theology of the Body. Erik Huff hosts this episode with his co-hosts Isaac Fox, John Sohl, and Bryan Cain. Look for Spirit & Spire on Google, Apple, Spotify, or wherever podcasts are found. Check out the teaser trailer and share this far and wide as more episodes are coming. www.SpiritandSpire.com Support Us | www.patreon.com/spiritandspire Please support our incredible sponsors! www.FamilyRenewalProject.com www.HolyAngelsLouisville.com If you would like a shoutout in an upcoming episode, contact us at spiritandspire@aol.com
A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - An American religious sister ministering in Burkina Faso who was kidnapped in April is free and safe after nearly five months of captivity, according to her congregation and the local diocese. Suellen Tennyson, 83, a New Orleans native, has served at a missionary outpost in northern Burkina Faso since 2014. She was abducted by unidentified armed men on April 5 from the small home she shared with two other members of her congregation, the Marianites of Holy Cross. Reportedly abducted without shoes, she also left behind her glasses and blood pressure medication. Sister Ann Lacour, the current Marianite congregational leader, confirmed August 30 that Tennyson is now safe and in the hands of US authorities. The FBI had issued a missing person notice for the sister, but until this week there had been no news of her location or condition. Tennyson is a former international leader of her congregation who was moved to start a missionary outpost in Burkina Faso after a 2011 visit to the country. Her congregation requested continued prayers for Tennyson's recovery, as well as privacy until she is ready to speak publicly about her ordeal. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252176/abducted-american-religious-sister-freed-in-burkina-faso The Indiana Supreme Court ruled Wednesday upholding the dismissal of a Catholic school teacher who had contracted a same-sex marriage. The Archdiocese of Indianapolis commented that the court had “unanimously protected the Archdiocese of Indianapolis' right to ensure students and families receive an authentic Catholic education.” The lawsuit against the archdiocese was filed by Joshua Payne-Elliott, a former teacher at Cathedral High School in Indianapolis. In 2017, Payne-Elliott entered a same-sex marriage with another Catholic school teacher in the archdiocese, Layton Payne-Elliott. Archdiocesan policy states that Catholic schools must clearly state in their contracts and job descriptions that teachers must uphold and support the teachings of the Church in their lives. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252178/indiana-supreme-court-backs-archdiocese-in-religious-freedom-case Former Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev's death on Tuesday revived shaky rumors that the last head of the communist and officially atheist Soviet Union was a Christian convert. While Gorbachev had been more friendly to religion than most of his predecessors, in March 2008 Gorbachev had to dispel claims he had become a Christian, saying that he has been and remains an atheist. Gorbachev and his wife Raisa had been baptized Christians in the Russian Orthodox Church, the two said in 1989, but they depicted this as part of normal family custom at the time of their births. They did not baptize their daughter. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252180/mikhail-gorbachev-s-death-revives-unfounded-rumors-of-christian-conversion Today, the Church celebrates Saint Beatrice da Silva Meneses, a 15th century Portuguese noblewoman who founded the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-beatrice-da-silva-meneses-581
On Today's Fully Alive Dawn welcomes two coworkers from the Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity to discuss the roles of their ministries. During the first half Mauro Pineda from Pastoral Migratoria shares the work of the Immigration Ministry Team and during the second half of the show, Dawn introduces her newest coworker, Danielle Bodette who manages the Catholic Campaign for Human Development(CCHD) as well as the Archdiocesan relationship to Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
As all of us Practicing Catholics in the Archdiocese (hopefully) know by now, we've been involved with a Synod for nearly three years! There've been many, many conversations had throughout the whole process which have resulted in Prayer and Listening events, formation of the Focus Areas, four unique video series, Parish Small Groups, the Parish Synod Leadership Team Consultation, and now finally, the Synod Assembly. With his foot in the door to nearly everything-Synod is Fr. Joseph Bambenek, Assistant Director of the Synod Executive Committee, and one of the champions behind all these wonderful materials and progress.
With the weather warming up, you know what that means... soon we'll be enjoying patio season, outdoor concerts, and parish festivals. Adding to the excitement is a music festival run by five of our Archdiocesan rural parishes! That's right, next weekend, on May 20th, the All Saints Music Festival will be happening at Little Log House Pioneer Village near Hastings. Joining us today to share a bit more about the “first party of the summer” is co-chair Sylvia Belford. Sylvia, thanks for joining us! https://www.allsaintsmusicfestival.com/
Caring for our retired Archdiocesan priests is a ministry that we don't often get to see, let alone participate in. For the men who've dedicated their lives to serving us in our parish communities, the Byrne Residence - a retirement home for clergy in St. Paul - is a place to rest and live in community with other retired priests. But what does it take to keep this space at its best? How might we support the men who've always been there when we've needed them? https://www.ccf-mn.org/byrneresidence/
This month our host, Jenn Delvaux, speaks with Sr. Kasia Banasiewicz, a coordinator in the Office for Evangelization. Sr. Kasia shared a few stories from family and friends in Poland helping to welcome Ukrainian refugees. Those who are able to do so, are encouraged to support the relief efforts via the Archdiocesan website and utilize some of the resources to pray for the refugees and all those affected by the war.
Did you know there is an Archdiocesan ministry that focuses on empowering Catholic women in their pursuits of education, spiritual growth, and service to the Church? It just may be the best-kept secret for women in the Archdiocese! We're talking about the ACCW, or Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women, which ministers to women of all ages—young and old—from one end of the Archdiocese to the other. As president of the ACCW, Mickey Nickelson experiences first-hand the fruits of this local ministry; and she joins us this weekend to share more about the upcoming 89th Convention, Come and See, Come and Share.
On the Solemnity of the Annunciation and at the Opening Mass for the Archdiocesan Discernment Event, Archbishop Aquila preached on Mary's "yes" to God, the model for each of our Christian lives.
Deacon Chester is usually seen participating and leading Saturday and Sunday Masses. During the week, he handles several ministries. His area of focus is pastoral care and marriage prep. He is a member of the Simon's Call AIDS Ministry and the Haiti Ministry. Chester is active in interfaith and Archdiocesan organizations and is a member of the Archdiocesan Task Force to End the Death Penalty and the National Black Clergy Caucus. He is a native of Lubbock, Texas and has been at Lourdes since 1977. He was ordained a deacon in February of 2003 at the Cathedral of Christ the King. He is married to Janis Griffin and they have one daughter, Kenya Griffin who directs the Amazing Grace dancers, and a son. He is a professional musician and has performed with the Dekalb Symphony Orchestra.
What role does sacred art have in the ways we worship? Mark Balma brings religious art to life through intricate frescos – one being commissioned by a chapel in Italy by Don Giovanni McElroy. Next, how do we introduce children to the wonder of the Blessed Mother? Alyssa Bormes shares about a new children's book that does just that! Lastly, Bill Lentsch, COO of the Archdiocese, reflects on his first two months working with the folks of our local Church. https://womenoffaithfrescoes.com/ https://catholicvineyard.com/index.php/product/the-mother-of-jesus-is-wonderfully-real/ https://thecatholicspirit.com/news/local-news/archdioceses-improvement-initiative-includes-new-position-coo/
(0:25) Mike, Mary, and Archbishop Vigneron catch up on the last month. The Archbishop talks about the opportunities for prayer, fraternity, and mutual support at the recent priest and deacon convocations, as well as his trip to the Vatican with USCCB President Archbishop Gomez of Los Angeles and their audience with our Holy Father. (6:50) As the global Church prepares for the Synod on Synodality and the Archdiocese of Detroit approaches the fifth anniversary of Synod 16, Mike asks Archbishop Vigneron to reflect on local church's synodal identity. The Archbishop talks about how listening to the Holy Spirit must be central to any synod and that participants must come together, listen to one another, and walk alongside each other on the path of discernment. (10:55) Archbishop Vigneron, Mary, and Mike look back at Synod 16 and the importance of prayer in the years leading up to it – especially during the Year of Prayer for a New Pentecost and the Come, Encounter Christ prayer and worship events held throughout the Archdiocese. Archbishop discusses some of the fruits of Synod 16, particularly that we, as a local Church, are more docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and our prayers are more ardent and less perfunctory. (15:30) Archbishop Vigneron reflects on earlier Archdiocesan synods, especially Synod 69, and how they relate to Synod 16. (19:15) Mary asks Archbishop Vigneron about the Mass for Pardon celebrated shortly before Synod 16. Archbishop says that it was vital to celebrate that Mass so that the Holy Spirit could most effectively work through us at Synod 16. (24:10) What does Pope Francis mean when he calls for us to be a more synodal church? Archbishop discusses how it's about listening together, repenting together, and working together on a shared mission. In the case of the Archdiocese of Detroit, that mission is to transform southeast Michigan into a community of joyful missionary disciples. (33:25) Archbishop talks about where he thought we would be five years on from Synod 16. Families of Parishes, although an unanticipated development, are also a fruit of that synod. (36:30) Where will the Archdiocese of Detroit be in five years? Archbishop says that we will be settled into our Family of Parishes relationships and that this way of being will have become natural for us. Our parishes will be focused on the work of outreach: to those on the margins, young adults, the “nones,” baptized but non-practicing Catholics, and all those who live within the territorial boundaries of our parishes – Christian and non-Christian. (38:30) Archbishop offers advice about what to take away from this synodal process. He encourages us to listen every day for the missionary opportunities God gives us and to look for partners to carry out that mission. Husbands and wives are natural mission partners, and it is important that they let the Holy Spirit work through them and their marriage to bring about what God wants. (41:26) Archbishop Vigneron answers listener questions about the symbols of a bishop's office, intercessions for diaconate vocations, and a synodal Archdiocese of Detroit both pre- and post-pandemic. (52:20) Archbishop Vigneron asks listeners to pray for the upcoming meeting of the U.S. bishops and closes with a prayer and blessing.
With the start of October comes new starts everywhere! Jeremy Stanbury and Jeromy Darling of Open Window Theatre join us this week to chat about their new series in collaboration with Catholic Beer Club, Art on Tap! Next, Cami sits down with Catherine Huss, entrepreneur and Creative Director of the newly-launched Siena and Co. swimwear brand. Lastly, our friends Steve Grass and Bri St. Amour with Archdiocesan Youth Day will be chatting about their upcoming festivities! Art on Tap: https://openwindowtheatre.org/art-on-tap/ Siena and Co.: https://siena-co.com/ Archdiocesan Youth Day: https://www.archspm.org/ayd21/
Todd Williamson, the director of the Office for Divine Worship, joins us to talk about a couple of upcoming Archdiocesan celebrations.
On Practicing Catholic this week, Allison Spies joins us for another round of Archdiocesan Archives – what hidden gems will she uncover this time? Next, Archbishop Hebda on the importance of your involvement in the synod process. Learn more about our archdiocesan synod at archspm.org/synod. Lastly, you may have been hearing that the archdiocesan Synod process is picking up again with small groups this fall: we'll hear from Fr. Joseph Bambenek about how prayer has been the guiding force throughout it all!
Bill Lentsch: New Archdiocesan COO by Archdiocese of St. Paul & Minneapolis
Next, here to bring us more inspirational tales from our collective past as a local church is Practicing Catholic regular, Allison Spies. She dives into the National Eucharistic Congress of 1941 - what was it? Have you heard about the one coming up in 2024?
Fr Pat Driscoll recaps his experience at the Archdiocesan retreat last week and discusses division and unity in the Church. John Monaco shares the Catholic response to Pride month. Rob McFarland breaks down the controversy surrounding the Fauci emails.
I hope you've been enjoying your monthly Cuppa Joe! Of course, I'm talking about the Archdiocesan series of talks on Saint Joseph! The next one's coming up this week and is all about St. Joseph, the Virginal Father of Jesus. Here with a taste of what to expect on Tuesday, June 1st is the next presenter, Kelly Wahlquist.
Next time on Practicing Catholic: did you know that we've approached Archbishop Heba's 5-year anniversary of his installation as our shepherd?! His Excellency will be joining us to reminisce on these past few years of leading our archdiocese. Next up, Jeremy Stanbary on Open Window Theatre's play, LOLEK – a tale of the young life of Pope St. John Paul II and his heroic resistance to the Nazi Occupation of Poland during World War II. Lastly, Allison Spies is back for another archdiocesan archives segment about the "Forgotten Bishop" of our archdiocese, Bishop Grace!
While we frequently think of Christmas as a time to reminisce, how about doing a little look back at some Easters past around the Archdiocese? Allison Spies, from the Archdiocesan Archives, is with us again with a look at Easter in the Archdiocese in ages past!
On the Way focuses on the Archdiocesan renewal movement, Renew My Church (RMC). Beth White and Jenn Delvaux, co-hosts, are joined by Rick Moreno and Valerie Jennings, two Parish Vitality Coordinators. Valerie, who serves vicariate six, shares the steps or phases parishes enter for the purpose of bringing about renewal. She also shares how parish communities work towards unification – new name, ministry unification process, prayer, etc. Rick, who serves in vicariate four, shares the vision of building the new reality, the final phase of RMC. And each share their hopes for the future. Jenn Delvaux, who serves as the Senior Coordinator in the Office for Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship (OEMD), and Beth, the director of OEMD, continue the conversation about renewal through the lens of evangelization. Jenn speaks of the intentional process of walking with pastors and leaders of evangelization in parishes. The main goal is to form missionary disciples and establish a culture of evangelization in parishes. Jenn and Beth discuss and define the various components of that culture – hospitality, listening, inviting, relationships, empowerment, prayer, witness, and mission.
HOUR 3 – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23: Archbishop Bernard Hebda talks about the five-week, online series which will give tips on growing one’s faith that is being offered in the Archdiocese of Minneapolis/St. Paul; Monsignor Stephen Rossetti gives tips on how to deal with fear. All show notes at Archdiocesan Synod/Dealing with Fear - This podcast produced by Relevant Radio
Host Bob Gilligan talks to Geno Fernandez, president of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s school board. They talk about raising money for the Archdiocese’s $1.4 million Gratitude Fund, which distributed $250 to full-time employees in Archdiocesan schools and $100 to part-time employees as a thank-you for their efforts toward in-person learning during the pandemic.
Host Bob Gilligan talks to Justin Lombardo, chief human resources and staff development officer for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Bob and Justin discuss the success of Archdiocesan schools to hold in-person classes during the pandemic.
Kaitlyn Walker and Maddie Schulte discuss the upcoming March for Life Youth and Family Conference happening January 22.
Our guests for the first ever Practicing Catholic show include our archdiocesan Director of Communications, Tom Halden, with a preview of what to look forward to from the archdiocese in 2021.
Today's Topics: 1) Gods Word - Romans 8:28-30 - For those He foreknew, He predestined. Bishop Sheen quote of the day The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2, 3, 4) Interview with Father Steve Guitron, one courageous Priest of Los Angeles
Episode 54 features two of St. Louis Missouri’s finest musicians. Both have been long-time friends of our host, John Romeri, from his days at St. Louis Cathedral. In recent years they have formed a partnership that is unbeatable and through that collaboration have produced concerts and CD recordings that are top-notch!!Scott is a native St. Louisan and has been singing since the age of 8, beginning his singing career in the Cathedral of St. Louis Pontifical Boys Choir. He earned a Bachelors Degree in Fine and Performing Arts/Music and Theatre from St. Louis University, and has studied voice with Christine Armistead at Washington University. He currently serves as Principal Tenor for the American Kantorei in Concordia Seminary's Bach at the SemConcert Series. Scott is the Executive Director of St. Louis Cathedral Concerts. Since 1993 Scott has served as the Tenor section leader for the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis Choir and Archdiocesan Choir of St. Louis. He also serves as cantor for the Cathedral Parish, as well as at major Archdiocesan events. He was a cantor/soloist for 100,000+ in attendance and a worldwide television broadcast audience for the Papal Mass in St. Louis, Missouri in 1999. He has toured as soloist throughout the United States, Italy, England, Germany, and Austria. His performances have included Verdi’s Requiem in Rome, Italy; Hector Berlioz’s Te Deum in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, and numerous performances of Handel’s Messiah. He has also performed with Union Avenue Opera and the St. Louis Muny.John Powell Walsh began piano and organ lessons in elementary school and has had a love affair with music ever since. Continuing his education through graduate school and even the Haarlem International Academy for Organists in the Netherlands. John is one of the most prominent church musicians in St. Louis. He was one of the Papal Organists for the Visit of John Paul II to St. Louis. He is featured with numerous musical organizations in St. Louis from the Bach Society to the Ronald Arnatt Chorale. He was the founder of The Archangel Players, The St. Cecilia Consort and the St. Louis Hills Arts Council. He is presently the Organist for the St. Louis Abbey and Priory School.Enjoy these two amazing musicians as they tell of their extraordinary lives as church musicians. Listen to music from their two latest CD’s.To purchase these or any of their CD’s https://www.scottkennebeck.com/buy-cd MUSIC: The Bells of St. Mary’s A. Emmett Adams CD: Angels Bending Near The EarthMUSIC: Still Still Still German Carol arr. Philip Ledge CD: Angels Bending Near The EarthMUSIC: Birthday of a King William H. Neidlinger CD: Angels Bending Near The EarthMUSIC: Little Boy Blue Reginald de Koven CD: Words to Music: Songs of Eugene FieldMUSIC: Virgin Slumber Song Max Reger CD: Angels Bending Near The EarthOriginal Air date Saturday, December 15, 2018
On the Way focuses on how our parishes and Archdiocese are reaching outward in love during the pandemic. Host Beth White is joined by Michael MacKenzie, Director of Internal Communications, to talk about the various ways the Archdiocese if communicating with the pastors, principals, parish teams, and Archdiocesan employees during this time of uncertainty. He also shares the many creative ways parishes are reaching outward in their communities to bring hope and help. For all of the latest information visit: www.archchicago.org/coronavirus
Today's guest is Crista MILLER who is the Director of Music and Cathedral Organist at Houston’s Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart where she chaired the Organ Committee for Martin Pasi’s Opus 19 pipe organ. She oversees the Celebrity Organ Series and the First Friday University of Houston Series and leads a growing Cathedral music organization, with the Schola Cantorum in high demand for large-scale, festive liturgies, including those prepared for the National Catholic Education Association, the National Winter Conference of the University of St. Thomas’ St. Basil’s School of Gregorian Chant, Church Music Association of America, various Archdiocesan offices, and for Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza’s ceremonial receipt of the Pallium from Pope Benedict XVI in Rome in 2005. She was already a guest on the podcast 3 years ago when we talked about the new organ for the organ. Recently she left a thoughtful comment about our past podcast conversation so I asked how she is doing under the quarantine. Our chat seemed to me like a perfect topic for the podcast conversation so I invited her to be a guest again and she graciously agreed. So in this conversation we talk about organist's life during the quarantine - challenges and opportunities. Enjoy and let us know how you approach those challenges and opportunities yourself in the comments bellow.
We're live with Richard Meek with the Catholic Commentator bi-weekly issue, Bishop Michael Duca with the Diocese of Baton Rouge Holy Week virtual update and Jamie Diliberto with Stations of the Cross with meditation by Archbishop Aymond and 15 other Archdiocesan priests...proceeds go to feeding the poor
Archbishop Nelson Perez was all set to bring new leadership to the Philadelphia Archdiocese - until all of his plans changed. The coronavirus pandemic has eliminated gatherings and kept 1.4 million Catholics in our region at home. Archbishop Perez talks about his very strange and unexpected start in his new job with the church. Our conversation also veers off the COVID-19 course to get his views on God, heaven, leadership and Pope Francis. Recorded at the rectory at Archdiocesan headquarters in Center City, Philadelphia on March 30th, 2020. In this podcast: How the Archbishop is coping during the coronavirus pandemic (1:10), Going back to the day in January 2020 when the church announced his appointment in Philadelphia (3:05), what he says to people whose faith is being tested by the pandemic (3:50), using religion to try to understand horrible events (4:55), using this time to reorganize our priorities (5:25), how he found out he was leaving Cleveland as Archbishop and going back to Philadelphia (5:55), the phone call he received during Martin Luther King weekend and the "are you alone?" question (6:40), his background and how it lead him to Philadelphia twice (8:35), how he used to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while serving in Cleveland and his favorite rock bands (9:50), if he considers himself a "Philly guy" and what that even means to him (10:45), what it means to be Philadelphia's first Hispanic Archbishop (11:50), how he apologized for the priest sex abuse scandal within the Catholic Church during his introductory news conference (13:30), what Pope Francis is like (15:10), the different views between himself and his predecessor, Archbishop Charles Chaput (17:05), how he supports the teachings of the church and if he believes women should ever be priests (19:00), his leadership style (19:50), what his vision of God looks like (21:45), if he ever has moments where he wishes he would be able to marry and have children (23:45), how he views the concepts of heaven, hell and purgatory (25:05), what he plans to address during his homily on Easter (26:35), what changes we might see at the other side of this pandemic (29:25), if social distancing might create new, less-desired habits (31:20), what he would say to someone with the simple question: "Will I be okay?" (32:15).
Rev. Fr. Jude Orakwe is a lecturer at the music department of Anambra State University (a.k.a. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University). He is also the founder and director of Shanahan Institute of Music of Onitsha Archdiocese (for adults) as well as of the George Handel Music Academy (for the children) of St. Joseph’s Parish Odoakpu Onitsha. He directs the Archdiocesan choir and is also the music director of St. Joseph’s Parish Choir. Fr. Orakwe has his doctorate in ethnomusicology from Indiana University, Bloomington, United States, as well as a Master’s degree in Sacred Music from the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music Rome, Italy. In this episode, we discuss Fr. Jude Orakwe’s musical initiatives in Nigeria, his personal experiences of music and faith, and also aspects of musical and liturgical inculturation. If you would like to financially support Fr. Jude Orakwe’s musical initiatives you can do so via Paypal, either at jorakwe@indiana.edu or jatomaria@gmail.com.
Dianne Burpee has been an active member of community choirs and parish choirs for many years, but in her experience, nothing quite compares to singing inside the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Its appeal is part of what’s drawing her back to the space this weekend to participate in Christmas at the Cathedral for the 17th year in a row.
Fr. Steve and Danielle interview Juliana Carlini, a nurse in the Archdiocese of Detroit and an active member of the Archdiocesan young adult community. Juliana shares her story of hiking the El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and how that experience informs her own sense of radical hospitality as she Unleashes the Gospel in her own life. Rapid Fire Questions - 0:48 Question Discussion - 04:19 Juliana's Testimony - 12:13 Discussion of the Unleash the Gospel Letter - 21:05 Reflection from Juliana and Prayer - 35:55 Episode Summary - 36:36
Fr. Steve and Danielle interview Juliana Carlini, a nurse in the Archdiocese of Detroit and an active member of the Archdiocesan young adult community. Juliana shares her story of hiking the El Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and how that experience informs her own sense of radical hospitality as she Unleashes the Gospel in her own life. Rapid Fire Questions - 0:48 Question Discussion - 04:19 Juliana's Testimony - 12:13 Discussion of the Unleash the Gospel Letter - 21:05 Reflection from Juliana and Prayer - 35:55 Episode Summary - 36:36
Kath Spencer from The Archdiocesan Office for Youth by Melbourne Catholic
Father Brian Park's Top 15 Favorite Quotes about Prayer: 1. "The greatest deception, and deepest source of unhappiness, is the illusion of finding life by excluding God" -St. John Paul II 2. "Great is the mystery of the faith!" The Church professes this mystery in the Apostles' Creed and celebrates it in the sacramental liturgy, so that the life of the faithful may be conformed to Christ in the Holy Spirit to the glory of God the Father. This mystery, then, requires that the faithful believe in it, that they celebrate it, and that they live from it in a vital and personal relationship with the living and true God. This relationship is prayer. (CCC 2558) 3. "Prayer is a vital necessity." "Prayer and Christian life are inseparable." (CCC 2744 & 2745) 4. "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (CCC 2559) 5. "The air which we breathe, the bread which we eat, the heart which throbs in our bosoms, are not more necessary for man that he may live as a human being, than is prayer for the Christian that he may live as a Christian." -St. John Eudes 6. "The sole cause of man's unhappiness is his inability to stay quiet in his room." -Blaise Pascal 7. "If you want to stop sinning, commit yourself to never stop praying." -St. Teresa of Avila 8. "Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned." -St. Alphonsus Liguori 9. "The glorious duty of man: to pray and to love…I often think that when we come to adore the Lord, we would receive everything we ask for, if we would ask with living faith and with a pure heart." -St. John Vianney 10. "Prayer makes your heart bigger until it is capable of holding the gift of God Himself." -St. Teresa of Calcutta 11. "The more you pray, the more you want to pray.... It's like a fish that starts by swimming near the surface of the water, then plunges and goes on swimming deeper and deeper. The soul plunges, is swallowed up, loses itself in the delights of conversation with God." -St. John Vianney 12. "Lord, teach me to love prayer, teach me to love what will occupy my mind for all eternity." -Blessed John Henry Newman 13. "Never cease praying." 1 Thess. 5:17 14. "We must remember God more often than we draw breath." (CCC 2697) 15. He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer, only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God." (CCC 2559)
In this special edition of Catholic Military Life, the only official podcast of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson of the Knights of Columbus joins us by telephone from his office at Supreme Headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut. Mr. Anderson is a 2017 recipient of the Medal of the Archdiocese, the AMS's highest award, in recognition of the outstanding contributions by the K of C to the Archdiocesan mission to serve those who serve The Medal of the AMS is presented no more than five times a year. For a candidate to qualify, two important elements determine the selection: (1) the candidate’s contributions to the AMS religious program must be outstanding, without recompense, over an extended period of time, and they must clearly surpass the contributions of all others; and (2) the candidate’s character, behavior, and reputation must be outstanding in all respects and motivated by religious values; moreover, the candidate must practice religion faithfully and be faithful to official Church teaching, provide a good example to others, be held in high esteem by associates, and if married, married in the Church. Under Supreme Knight Anderson’s leadership, the K of C has contributed substantial support to the AMS, including its “Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program,” a vocations partnership between the AMS and cooperating dioceses and religious communities around the country. In a Sept. 21, 2017, letter to Mr. Anderson, Archbishop Broglio explained why he had been selected to receive the medal this year: “As you know, since 1998 the Knights of Columbus have contributed more than $2,535,146 to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), in support of its many programs and services including, but not limited to, the Vocations and Co-Sponsored Seminarian Programs, the Annual Benefit, the International Military Pilgrimageto Lourdes, and most recently, to funding for the first Catholic Military Marriage Retreat. “I am grateful to you and the Knights of Columbus for your continued and generous support, without which the AMS would not have been able to finance the flourishing Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program. I am pleased to report that this fall the AMS will have 42 co-sponsored seminarians representing 26 dioceses and studying in 19 seminaries across the U.S. There is no other program like the AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarian Program and there is no other partnership like that between the AMS and the Knights of Columbus in support of the mission, ‘Serving Those Who Serve.’ “However, the partnership has never been limited to economic assistance. Brother Knights have been the backbone of so many military Catholic communities, lent assistance in discernment retreats, cooked for the annual Labor Day Gathering of co-sponsored seminarians, and manifested the virtues of Catholic gentlemen for all to admire and imitate.”
Bobby Maddex interviews Nicholas Anton and Theodore Pritsis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese about the United Nations programs that are a ministry of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the GOA.
Bobby Maddex interviews Nicholas Anton and Theodore Pritsis of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese about the United Nations programs that are a ministry of the Department of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical, and Interfaith Relations of the GOA.
Today we continue our Catholic schools series with a look at two Archdiocesan schools. Principal Paul Kristoff and Advancement Director Corinna Sbinski join us to discuss St. Michael the Archangel, an Overlea school with a 125+ year legacy. Later Principal Madelyn Ball and Enrollment Director Ed Maynard talk with us about The John Carroll School, named for Baltimore's first Archbishop.
From the Pew to the Public Square: Pursuing the Common Good, was a 2012 gathering of Archdiocesan parish social ministers, Vincentians, members of the UST community and other archdiocesan and parish ministers. Keynote speaker Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president, U.S. Operations, Catholic Relief Services, delivered a talk titled, "Moral Consciences & Good Citizenship: Forming the Faithful for Action." UST Rev. William J. Young Institute was a co-sponsor of this event.
Daniel Cardinal DiNardo's keynote presentation from the 5th Annual Archdiocesan Prayer Breakfast on July 18, 2014.
Summary of Today's Show: Scot Landry, Susan Abbott , and Gregory Tracy discuss local, national, and international Catholic news. Listen to the show: Watch a video of today's show: Links from today's show: 1st segment: Scot said that on of the main stories on the pilot this week is about the 10 men to be ordained deacons this Saturday by Cardinal Sean at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Greg noted that having only 10 men this time allows the pilot to profile a little about each of the men. Greg also noted that something new to the diaconate program is that on top of a parish assignment the deacons are also being assigned to help with a ministry here at the pastoral center. Scot congratulated all men and ask everyone's prayers. Scot said that the Pilot has several articles on the Physician Assisted Suicide issue and Cardinal Sean started a series of articles on the issue starting this week with the article on Better ways to care for the dying where he talks about Mother Theresa's care for the dying and also talks about palliative care and the way of hospice. Greg noted that today we don't want face that one day we will die and we are afraid of the unknown. Scot commented that in this article Cardinal Sean article highlights compassionate care and ways to deal with the fear of the unknown. Susan said that one of things the church does and should continue to do is to show the support that is available not only for the sick but also for their family. Scot highlighted the events and educational workshops on Physician Assisted Suicide around the Archdiocese which will be on the Pilot this week. Scot mentioned the article from the Pilot reporter Chris Pineo regarding the physician from Oregon, Dr. Kenneth Stevens, who spoke at the Pastoral Center about “the reality of physician assisted suicide in Oregon and what it means to Massachusetts.” Greg said that this presentation beings another perspective on this issue because it highlights that assisted suicide is based o an ideology and not science because killing is not care, it's a shortcut. Scot said that there are many arguments against physician assisted suicide including faith, the medical community and that they are all listed on both the Archdiocesan education website and the Committee Against Assisted Suicide website. Scot noted that effective October 22nd, Fr. James Savage is returning to St. Eulalia's Parish in Winchester after many years. Susan mentioned she met him once before because of his involvement with religious education. Scot mentioned that Boston College opened its 150th anniversary celebration with Mass at the Fenway on September 15th. Scot said that the Cardinal was overjoyed to see so many people together for Mass at Fenway. Greg said that he was there covering the story, and that it was a beautiful celebration and that the event brought together two great icons of Boston, Fenway Park and Boston College. Susan said she could not make to the Mass, but that herself, her husband and her daughter are graduates of BC and that she was able to watch it online and it looked beautiful. Scot announced that today TGCL was going to give away 3 copies of the movie For Greater Glory for the first 3 people who either post on the chat screen at BostonCatholicLive.com or sends an email to The Good Catholic Life. Scot talked about the article on the Anchor regarding the Choose Life License Plate and congratulated Merry Nordeen, president and founder of the non-profit Chose Life, Inc. for the her wonderful on this campaign. Scot said that the money raised with the license plate campaign will be deployed to help numerous pro-life organizations and that he is always inspired by lay people who work for pro-life and for the church and that he hopes to have Merry on The Good Catholic Life in near future. Greg noted that the license plate program is great because every time you renew your license plate the organization gets the donation again. Susan said that this is great campaign and you know that the money is going towards providing great resources. Scot mentioned Pope Benedict's visit to the Lebanon at the hype of the Middle East Crisis and that he thought that he was going to cancel the trip but that his visit serves as a great witness to the many Christians in the Middle East and also for the support of religious freedom. Susan said that this trip underscored the Pope's care for the country and their people. Greg said that this was an important trip and comes at the right time, as there are thousands of Christians fleeing from the Middle East because they face persecution and this is a call for religious tolerance. Scot talked about all of the publicity regarding the papyrus fragment with reference to Jesus' “wife.” Scot said this was blown out of proportion as it is a document with only a few words and from several hundred years after the death of Jesus. Susan noted that its an interesting story but does not provide evidences and that even the person bringing this document forward said that it does not prove anything. Greg said that the headlines on all of the articles he read were just an attempt to sell papers and that several articles listed many arguments that this is not credible but that it also posed the question regarding the disciplines of the Church regarding priests celibacy. Scot announced that Susan, Louise and Karla were the winners of a DVD copy of the movie For Greater Glory. Scot apologized for the technical problem that did not allow Fr. Roger to be at the show today but that he will be with us next week to talk about his trip Lourdes.
Summary of today's show: Earlier in June, Msgr. Robert Deeley and Msgr. William Fay traveled from Boston to Ugandan in Africa for the feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs for the faith who are highly revered in that country. Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell talk with Msgr. Deeley about the trip, how it came about, the story of the martyrs, and the remarkable faith of the Ugandans today, where one parish has 100,000 people and a Mass will typically last three hours. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Msgr. Robert Deeley, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: The Ugandan Martyrs and Catholicism in Uganda Today 1st segment: Scot welcomed Fr. Mark to the show and noted that the end of June marks the end of the fiscal year for the Archdiocese, which means goodbyes to people leaving and hellos to new people. Fr. Mark said they said goodbye to Sr. Peggy who was working as a judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal. Also, Mary Ryan, who worked in the finance department, is retiring after 20 years in service. Scot recalls that Mary was at the 8:15am Mass at the Pastoral Center every day. He said she worked in the Revolving Loan Fund, which functions like the Archdiocesan bank for parishes. Fr. Tom Foley's farewell Mass was yesterday. He leaves the post of Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership and is going to become an Air Force chaplain. Also, Bishop Arthur Kennedy is leaving as rector of St. John Seminary to take up a new office as vicar for the New Evangelization. Also today, Scot asked listeners to pray for Cardinal Seán on his 68th birthday. He celebrated the noon Mass at the Pastoral Center and was joined representatives of the Orthodox Church to celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Today, Msgr. Robert Deeley is joining us to talk about a recent trip he took to Uganda to talk about the Ugandan martyrs. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcomed Msgr. Deeley to the show. Scot said June 29 makes him think of the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and how it's a big holiday in Rome. Msgr. Deeley spent many years in Rome and said it marks the two great apostles upon whom the Church was founded. It's also traditional for the Pope to give the pallium, the symbol of the metropolitan archbishop's office, to new archbishops from around the world. It reminds us of the unity of the Church and its expanse around the world. There were four Americans this year, three from the Roman rite: Archbishop Charles Chaput of Piladelphia; Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver; and Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. They note that the Archbishop wears it only in his own diocese and the diocese's of his province. Moving to another topic, Msgr. Robert Deeley recently traveled to Uganda along with Msgr. William Fay at the beginning of June for the feast of the Ugandan martyrs. Msgr. Deeley went to Uganda because so many priests from Uganda come to Boston, especially to study at Boston College and other local colleges. While here, they live in our rectories and help out in our parishes. One Ugandan priest lived with Msgr. Fay for two years before returning to Uganda. Fr. Paul is rector of the cathedral in Lugazi, Uganda, and he invited Msgr. Fay and Msgr. Deeley to come and be there for the great feast of the Ugandan martyrs. Msgr. Deeley said they didn't go on safari so they saw no animals. It's a beautiful country. They visited Lake Victoria and saw the source of the Nile, which travels 4,000 miles through Africa. Scot said he was surprised that as little as 200 years ago there were practically no Christians in Uganda, but it was the martyrdom of St. Charles Lwanga and his companions in the 1880s led to the great growth of Catholicism. Msgr. Deeley said he wanted to go back a few steps. The king around 1850 wrote and asked Queen Victoria to send missionaries to impart values and morals they had. The first were Anglican and then Catholics followed. The king who succeeded the first about 6 or 7 years after the Catholic missionaries arrived was a selfish and immoral man. He murdered a group of young men who wouldn't acquiesce to his immoral demands. The youngest of them was 13 or 14 years of age. Charles Lwanga was their leader. They were burned to death. There 13 Catholics and 11 Anglicans and shrines maintained by both Catholics and Anglicans are maintained at the site of the martyrdom. The missionaries were expelled from Uganda, but the Catholic laity continue to teach and preach and catechize one another. Scot said the king gave all the martyrs the chance to renounce their Christian faith, including a few who were only baptized at the last minute, but all chose to keep their faith even though they knew they would die in a horrible way. At the time of the martyrdom, there were only about 200 Christians in the country and now there are millions, which shows how the blood of the martyrs become the seed and fertilizer for faith. Msgr. Deeley said one of the eyewitnesses recalled how the martyrs pointed to the sky as they went to their death to signal that they were going to Paradise for their faith. The celebration of this feast is a spectacular representation of the culture and faith and music and more. He said there were 1 million people at the celebration. Meanwhile, one of the bishops was here in Waltham to celebrate with a Ugandan community here as well as another in Germany doing likewise. Otherwise, every bishop in the country was there at the celebration. The Mass is celebrated on an artificial island in the middle of the lake and the people surround. People were singing in Swahili, Buganda, and Gregorian chant. The full representation of the whole Church, all ages, all vocations, was a spectacular view. Fr. Mark asked for Msgr. Deeley's experience. Msgr. Deeley said the Mass was five hours long, three hours for the Mass itself and two hours for the speeches at the end. This is the longest Mass he'd ever attended, including Easter vigil at St. Peter's. The next day he went to the funeral of a local priest and that was three hours. People love to celebrate their faith and they do it with great joy and solemnity. He said they were blessed because Maureen Heil of the Propagation of the Faith in Boston had contacted the head of the episcopal conference in Uganda who got excellent seats at the Mass on the island and they were announced as honored guests. Msgr. Deeley said the country is very poor and it's still very young at only 50 years of independence. But their hospitality is tremendous. Scot asked about the Church's role in society in Uganda. Msgr. Deeley said in the cathedral parish they have 26 outstations or parishes in villages. They visited one parish where they met the pastor and his two associates. They had a parish school and a high school, built by people from Canada and the United States. He also had 30 more outstations with 12 schools and 100,000 people all in one parish. They had tea with Bishop Matthias Ssekamaanya of Lugazi one night, and he told him that they believe that every parish needs a school and that as the outstations grow they will also become parishes with schools. The government funds some of the education. He said the vicar general of the diocese is also in charge of schools. The government's funds are limited, and they also control what you can do. The government doesn't allow the Church to take any fees whatsoever, including having children pay for lunches during the day in order to make it appear the education is completely free. There are also private schools, which aren't run by the government or the Church. Scot asked what Msgr. Deeley's sense is of the freedom of the people to live their faith as Catholics, in light of the Fortnight for Freedom. He said the Church plays an important role as the voice of the poor, the needy and families. The country is 87% Christian, 13% Muslim; 40% Catholic, 30% Anglican. The Church is a very important force for the betterment of people and building of systems that are just and honest. Fr. Mark asked how modern the area is. Msgr. Deeley said many buildings are indeed modern. They are building a new center for the episcopal conference, which the Archdiocese of Boston contributed to. He noted that they don't use metal frameworks, but wood, and then add concrete and brick and the like. He said it's a tropical climate so most places don't have windows. He said bananas are an important part of their diet, several different varieties they eat in many different ways. Back to schools, he noted the dedication of teachers in the schools. They visited a school where one classroom had 75 students. They are trying their hardest to make education and opportunity available to the children of their communities. Many of the teachers are catechists. In each of the outstations, there is a catechist who is often a teacher or other professional. When they can't have Mass with a priest, they gather for prayer and study. They try to get a priest to the outstations at least once per month. Scot said there are several thousand Ugandans living just in Waltham. He asked how his experience helps Msgr. Deeley appreciate and welcome Catholics who come to our Archdiocese from all over the world. He said he saw how the faith is central to their lives. It's not just something they do on Sunday, but their whole lives. Scot said most people living in this area wouldn't be able to say they personally someone who died for their faith, except perhaps people who've come here from other places around the world. He said he's been moved by the stories from Vietnamese priests who tell of how the martyrdom of someone they knew inspired them. Msgr. Deeley said he met a priest from Kenya who'd only been ordained a few days who was walking with his parish and they'd been walking 21 days to go to the shrine of the Martyrs. He told a story of being beaten and left by the side of a road because he'd been preaching about morality and faith. He only survived because another priest found him in time. The pilgrimage to the shrine was his way to thank God a year later. He was filled with joy and faith and was excited to go on this pilgrimage with the people of his parish. Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, and there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the netherworld on earth, for justice is undying. For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it. Gospel for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 1, 2012 (Mark 5:21–43) When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?'” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official's house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child's father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat. Scot said he was struck by the long interruption in the story of Jairus and his daughter with the afflicted woman. The message was that our faith can heal us. Msgr. Deeley said it's a good opportunity to remind us to avail ourselves of the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick before we go to the hospital. It is a healing sacrament. It can be difficult because of privacy laws to find out who is in the hospital and to visit them. He said it's not Extreme Unction anymore and it's not just the Last Rites. Fr. Mark noted Jesus' kindness, noticing the one woman in the crowd. He reached out to her with kindness and love. He also made sure the crowd knew the girl was not dead, but he told them she was just sleeping so people wouldn't treat her like a zombie. St. Mark also puts in the Aramaic words that show Jesus' gentleness in awakening the girl from death. Scot said Jesus wants us all to arise in our faith and that was the name of our program of renewal. Jesus then asked the people to give her something to eat to prove that she is alive and not a ghost. Msgr. Deeley said it's so important for us to have the freedom to work with the sick and feed the hungry because we are following the example of Christ.
Summary of today's show: Employees at the Archdiocesan Pastoral Center have a new tradition of getting out each spring to give some hands-on assistance at inner-city parishes and making a connection between the work they do at their desks and the people in the parishes they serve. Scot Landry and The Good Catholic Life team made their way to St. Matthew Parish in Dorchester today to get their hands dirty and to sit down with Denise McKinnon-Biernat, one of the organizers of the Week; Rich Durham, business manager for a number of inner-city parishes; and Gerard Lafalaise, a parishioner and volunteer at St. Angela's and St. Matthew's parishes. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Rich Durham, Denise McKinnon-Biernat, Gaspar Lafalaise Links from today's show: Today's topics: Pastoral Center Service Week 1st segment: Scot Landry said we're at St. Matthew Parish in Dorchester. He welcomed Rich Durham, business manager at many of inner-city parishes; Gerard Lafalaise, a volunteer at the parish; and Denise McKinnon-Biernat of Parish Financial Services. Denise said the objective of Parish Service Week is the give people who work in the pastoral center the flavor of working in the parishes and also providing some manual labor for parishes that need some help. A lot of the volunteers find they get more from doing this than what they give. Denise said they're promoting a culture of service. The Pastoral Center serves parishes, but often its from behind a desk, but the service week gets employees out into the parishes and face to face. Last year they were at St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Roxbury with about 35 people and this year at St. Matthew's and St. Angela's in Mattapan, they had more than twice as many. Rich said these two parishes were picked this year because they are inner-city parishes that need significant help. St. Katharine was chosen last year because they needed a lot of landscaping and exterior painting, which are very visible signs of change for the parish. Scot said many of the parishes Rich serves receive subsidies from the Central Ministries, which are supported by the Catholic Appeal. Scot asked how many parishes need that support. Rich said it costs about the same to run any parish. So a suburban parish can support a general budget, but an inner-city parish's parishioners have less they can afford to give, although they are still giving a lot as a percentage. Rich wants to ensure they have websites and Facebook pages so they have all the tools that any other parish has to make sure they feel part of the archdiocese. An example of the work being done is St. Angela's in Mattapan where they had a contractor fix a railing. That required skilled labor. But the volunteers painted the front doors of the church to give a welcoming façade. They power washed the statues in front of the church, so now there's a bright white statue of the Blessed Mother as people pull up. Scot said the exterior of the church tells people whether we take pride in our church, whether there's a lively community. We all have lists of things to do and we can help parishes with that list. Scot asked Gaspar about helping out at St. Angela's and St. Matthew's. He said he's helped out at St. Angela's for 16 years with Fr. William Joy, the pastor, and at St. Matthew's for the last few years. Gaspar is a native of Haiti. Both parishes are diverse communities. The majority are Haitian or of Haitian descent, but they also have groups from other Caribbean islands and Latin America. He said it's a fragile community too because there are many cultural concerns. The Haitian community in the Archdiocese is the largest in the country. Gaspar said both parishes gather the majority of the Haitian Catholic community in Boston. People come to the parishes from as far away as Maine for cultural devotional events. Even when people move to other communities, they come back because this is the hub of Haitian immigration. Fr. Joy is the pastor and couldn't be here because of a funeral. Gaspar said he loves Fr. Joy because he is a humble leader. He lets people express themselves and trusts people to make good decisions. He works with Fr. Joy closely and is very comfortable with him and that's why he is happy to volunteer. Scot said being a pastor in an inner-city parish is one of the most challenging but also fulfilling ministries. Rich said Fr. Joy has a difficult task. Of the two parishes, St. Angela's is much larger, but he never favors on parish over the other and ensures that he gives equal attention to all groups. There is no favoritism. He's amazed at how he's able to accommodate all the needs, whether it's culture or facilities management or language. The reason we're at both parishes this week is because Fr. Joy insisted on coming to both. They hired more professionals for St. Matthew's because the needs are greater here, while St. Angela's got more of the volunteers yet both got equal amounts of service. 2nd segment: Scot asked Denise about the many vendors who serve the Archdiocese who have donated products and services. The mulch, flowers, and some of the labor was donated by Landscaping in Bridgewater. from Weymouth donated new drywall and prep work to allow volunteers to paint seven rooms at St. Angela's. Ridgemont Construction in Quincy donated new railings in St. Angela's. Follan Waterproofing power washed the statues at the parishes. Scot said the hedges at St. Angela's were trimmed by Cardinal Sean and showed up in a photo in the Globe. Rich said it took six people two hours to weed the flower beds at St. Angela's, including removing fencing. Also the front of the rectory there doesn't get a lot of sun and so there were a lot of dead plants and trash. Even though it was general landscaping it took a lot of time. He noted that landscaping work can be tough when you work behind a desk most of the time. Thankfully, there have been no major injuries among the volunteers. Scot said there's been a broad group from the pastoral center. They came from most departments, including BCDS, Catholic Media (including Scot's flower bed planting, which he credited to Dom Bettinelli), legal services, Catholic Schools, Parish Financial Services, Facilities, Real Estate, Faith Formation, Finance. People of all ages and sizes too. Scot asked how Cardinal Sean got assigned to hedge trimming. Rich said they had to find a photo opportunity and in front of the Blessed Mother was a good idea. George Martell the photographer had a good idea to give him hedge trimmers. Scot asked what Msgr. Deeley is going to do and Rich said they're going to give the vicar general a bow saw and a ladder to trim trees. Scot noticed a sense of joy among those working. He said it's nice to get to know the other people who work in the Pastoral Center that he might not have gotten to know before. Denise said it is a community building exercise. She said last year people kept saying they couldn't wait to do it next year and happy to work beside people they didn't know before. Denise said she's sure that will happen again next year. Scot asked Gaspar his opinion on the quality of work. Gaspar said he was happy to see all that's been accomplished. He's looking forward to the impact on the parishes in terms of recognizing the support they have from outside. It will make a huge long-term impact. He said the front doors at St. Angela's look great as well. It makes a big difference from what there was before. What has been done is wonderful and he doesn't have words to express his gratitude. Rich said the biggest thing he hopes people take away from this is having seen the people who work in the parishes and seeing the facilities, they can appreciate the impact their work has on the people in the parishes. It's good to see how the parishes can struggle with limited resources and it bridges the gap. Many people see their home parish as the Catholic Church, but seeing a different parish helps people to understand the breadth of the Church. Scot asked Denise what she would ay to those who give to the Catholic Appeal and the impact their donations have for the immigrant Catholics who in many ways are the future leaders of the Archdiocese. Denise said they provide funding for the mission of these community. The Church needs to be in these neighborhoods and provide for the ministry to those who don't have the wherewithal to provide for themselves now. Gaspar said he invites long-term parishioners, those whose families have roots in those parishioners, who have moved out of state or out of town and into other parishes to come back and visit St. Angela's and St. Matthew's. The current parishioners are grateful for what they have left for this generation, which is doing its best to keep up the gift that has been handed on to them. There are a lot of challenges they are facing and former parishioners may be able to support the parishes with prayers or financial gifts. Scot said St. Matthew's probably started as serving the Irish immigrants. Gaspar said both parishes have highly mobile populations, in and out of the parish. So if someone comes from Haiti, they seek out St. Angela's to worship in Creole French. As they become more stable and learn English and get married, for example, they move somewhere else. Scot asked what communities Haitian Catholics are moving to? Gaspar said it depends on income or education. Many move to Malden, Chelsea, Brockton, Randolph or Avon. Some go to Hyde Park and Milton. A large percentage go to New York or Florida, which is a challenge to the church both financially and spiritually. People form bonds but then one person moves away, often just when they are making a little more money and could support the church with gifts a little more. Rich said both parishes have strong youth and young adults groups. That provides for a strong future. St. Matthew's has a very vibrant food pantry, in which the food is provided by a parish in the western suburbs. They serve very many families in the area. The parishes do share the sacraments, doing First Communions and Confirmations together, which is mainly for financial reasons. The business operations are run out of St. Matthew's, but the parishioners would appreciate having two offices. Scot said he prepared for today by looking at the parish websites and he was impressed by them and how they have many photos showing parish life. Gaspar is the creator and maintainer of those sites. He doesn't take the credit for the sites for himself. He said the Archdiocesan highlighted the parish's site as one of the top six parish websites, but he said the parish ministries take credit for providing the good content. The choir ministry and youth and young adult ministries are the backbone and strength of the parishes and all he does is take pictures of what they do. One of the goals of the websites was to create an online giving program and so they needed a good website for them. But it was also a good opportunity to show the good news from inside the parishes to the outside world. Scot asked Denise what else she hopes will be accomplished today. This is the largest day with over 21 volunteers today. They hope to do flower beds, trim trees and bushes, and paint the front doors to bring them back to life and make them more welcoming. They're going to work around the parking lot and clean up some areas. Rich said the front of both churches came out spectacular and people will feel very welcome with the new doors, the power washed statues, and new flower beds. He pointed out that on rainy Wednesday, volunteers painted 7 rooms in the rectory which benefits the parish staff especially. Denise said even when it rains there's a lot of work to do inside. 3rd segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers —there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place —. He said, “My brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. “For it is written in the Book of Psalms: May another take his office. “Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Judas called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the eleven apostles.
Summary of today's show: On our regular Thursday show, Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, Fr. Roger Landry, and Gregory Tracy consider the news headlines of the week, including President Obama's same-sex marriage “evolution”; rejection of a parish closing appeal by the Vatican; new priest assignments; and the 40th anniversary of monthly all-night Eucharistic adoration in the Archdiocese of Boston. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese Links from today's show: Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. Today's topics: Obama's same-sex marriage “evolution”; Parish closing appeal rejected; 40 years of all-night Adoration 1st segment: Scot and Susan talked about how she came to show from a very important meeting with Cardinal Sean and parish catechetical leaders. The bishop of a diocese is the primary catechist and they discussed how the timing of the meeting after winding down of the faith formation year helped them to listen to new initiatives coming up. Scot said today is the Feast of the Ascension and a Holy Day of Obligation in the Archdiocese. Find a church near you on your way home at . This week has also been Parish Service Week, where employees at the Pastoral Center have been volunteering at parishes in Mattapan and Dorchester. 2nd segment: Scot and Susan welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry back to the show. One of the big stories of the week has been the change by President Obama to support same-sex marriage. Fr. Roger wrote an editorial in the Anchor this week on the topic. Fr. Roger said no one was surprised by the change because his words and actions have been different over the past eight years. His Justice Department had opposed the Defense of Marriage Act as bigotry and the State Department has stopped defending the right to religious freedom in order to promote the invented right to normalized same-sex marriage and activity. Fr. Roger then focused on Obama's claim to have had his stand on marriage “evolve”. [T]he term evolution - which he has been using for two years to describe the interior ethical flux he said he was in - is clearly a loaded one. Not only does it imply a progression from Neanderthal to enlightened ideas, but it also suggests that the only people opposed to such positive development would be the same fundamentalist primitives who believe the world was created in six 24-hour periods. But Obama tried mainly to base the change on Christian faith. Most striking of all, however, is that the particular type of evolution the president said he had gone through was above all theological. “I've been going through an evolution on this issue,” the president said to Roberts, describing how politically he has gone from supporting civil unions to same-sex marriages. “I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of people, the word Marriage was something that evokes very powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth, but … at a certain point, I've just concluded that for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married. … In the end the values that I care most deeply about and [the first lady] cares most deeply about is how we treat other people … . We are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing Himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president and I figure the most consistent I can be in being true to those precepts, the better I'll be as a dad and a husband and hopefully the better I'll be as president.” Obama thought he had to give in on same-sex marriage because he thought that's what Christ would want him to do. It's clear, however, in terms of the consistent application of this lapidary moral principle, that the president still has much evolving to do. If he applied it to the victims of abortion, he would be hard pressed to desire that physicians do to him what abortion doctors do to our younger, smaller, more vulnerable fellow human beings. If he applied it to the situation of conscientious Catholics in America, he would not be trying to compel Catholic institutions, business owners and individuals through their insurance plans to fund practices they believe are immoral. He also needs to evolve toward a correct interpretation of the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule does not mean to do for others whatever they'd like, but to do for them what is for their true good, just as we'd always want others to act in promotion of our true good. The Golden Rule for parents with regard to their kids' appetites is not to feed them all the cotton-candy, chocolate and ice cream they'd like, but to make them eat their vegetables. The Golden Rule for teachers who care for their stUdents is not to give them little or no homework and easy A's, but to exercise their developing minds and even to flunk them if they fail to perform. The Golden Rule for friends of those who are addicted is not to enable or ignore their problems but to intervene forcibly to get them help, even if it be against their desires. The Golden Rule is not about others' wants, but their genuine needs. It's always linked to the truth about the good. The Golden Rule pertains to all society as well. Scot said “evolution” is a loaded term and he was offended by the implication that those who disagree with the President are not as evolved as him. Susan said if this were a different topic and a different candidate, would we say he evolved or would we say he flip-flopped. Evolution carries the implicit meaning of moving to something at a higher level and offers an unfortunate implication. Greg said it seems convenient that now when Obama's in the middle of campaign for re-election he is switching. Before he was more guarded in his positions, perhaps because it wouldn't have played very well to most people. This announcement seems to be a political inoculation for the campaign. Scot said Republicans used to be the party accused of making social issues a key part of the election, but this year it seems it's the Democrats doing it. Fr. Roger said we're seeing a little bit of desperation like with the health care bill. Certain segments in the Democrat Party are worried about losing in November and so they're trying to force the social issues forward. Fr. Roger said we have to approach these issues being confident and strong in our faith. Fr. Roger said Jesus spoke emphatically about marriage in his ministry. The roots of the meaning of marriage are found in the Book of Genesis. Scot quoted Cardinal Dolan's remarks. “President Obama's words today are not surprising since they follow upon various actions already taken by his administration that erode or ignore the unique meaning of marriage. We cannot be silent in the face of words or actions that would undermine the institution of marriage, the very cornerstone of our society,” Cardinal Dolan added. “The people of this country, especially our children, deserve better.” “I pray for the president every day, and will continue to pray that he and his administration act justly to uphold and protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Cardinal Dolan said. “May we all work to promote and protect marriage and by so doing serve the true good of all persons.” 3rd segment: Scot said two new assignments for priests were announced in the Pilot this week. Fr. Michael J. Doyle will become pastor at St. Mary of the Annunciation in Danvers, effective June 5. He had been serving as a military chaplain. Fr. Paul Aveni has been named pastor at Sacred Heart parish in Middleborough and Sts. Martha and Mary in Lakeville, effective June 5. Scot said Fr. Aveni's territory might be the largest area for any one priest to cover in the archdiocese. Fr. Roger talked about the beauty of the area around the Lakeville parish. Also in the Pilot is a profile of Fr. Kevin Deeley, the new pastor of St. Michael's in North Andover, the largest in the Archdiocese. Greg said Fr. Deeley was a Navy chaplain for many years and just returned to the Archdiocese. He seems very happy to be there. He is the younger brother of the vicar general, Msgr. Robert Deeley. He was also a high school chaplain at Matignon back in the 1980s. Susan commented on the great rewards he found as a chaplain. “[The chaplaincy] was very rewarding, in the sense that the Catholic priest is there for the sailors who are Catholic. It's like bringing the Church to them,” explained Father Deeley. “As a chaplain, we make their home parish visible to the sailors,” he said, adding that in his 16 years in military service he has realized that “we are in good hands” with our service men and women. Another story in the Pilot is the rejection of the appeal of the closing of St. Francis Cabrini in Scituate by the Vatican. Greg said this story starts in 2004 when the parish was closed as part of the Archdiocesan reconfiguration. It had a full-time 24-hour vigil of those who were trying to keep the parish open. Greg said there are two aspects to a closing. First is the suppression of the parish and second is the disposition of the building. Greg said the parish was suppressed in 2004. Parish in canon law is an entity like a corporation, but it doesn't necessarily have a building. It's typically a territorial area. It can have more than one church as well. The first appeal was to reverse the decision to suppress the parish. Then the second step was the church building itself being relegated to profane use, which means it's deconsecrated and can be used for other uses. Profane here is the opposite of the sacred. So it can have a profane or secular use, but it must be sordid. The Vatican has reversed relegation of property in other parts of the US, but in this case the appeal was rejected. Scot said it's been a controversial eight years. Most parishioners in the Archdiocese affected by closings moved on and accepted the change. About eight or nine parishes had some parishioners hold on and Cardinal Sean was committed to allowing the vigils to continue while appeals were ongoing. Scot said many Catholics in the archdiocese are calling people to move on, especially with the cost to maintain these vigil sites. Scot noted that the leaders of the Scituate vigil are the neighbors next door to the parish and so a person could reasonably conclude that they have self-interested reasons for holding out. Susan sought clarification on whether there is one more appeal, and Greg said they are appealing to the Apostolic Signatura on whether the Archdiocese followed the requirements of canon law. They can appeal twice, first to a panel of the court and then to the full body of the court. The court's decision will be based on whether lower courts acted correctly, not on the merits of the case. Scot said no one wants to close a church. We'd rather keep opening parishes, but there are greater issues and Cardinal Sean has a responsibility to maximize resources for the entire Archdiocese of Boston. Fr. Roger added that with regard to suppression of a parish, it's fundamentally whether the followed canon law to the letter. With regard to relegation, the Archdiocese has to have a grave reason for doing that and the Congregation for the Clergy has recently overturned those decisions in other dioceses because the bishops didn't give a sufficiently grave reason. We're closing a place where God has been worshipped and we have to look closely at that. In Europe, churches are maintained by the government. In Italy, every church but five are owned and maintained by the government. So you can understand why the Roman Curia might not recognize the burden on dioceses that have to pay to maintain empty churches. Fr. Roger said there's been a lot of conversation between US bishops and the Roman Curia during the ad limina visits this year. Scot said Cardinal Sean has respected the appeal process. Greg followed up on what Fr. Roger said to clarify that even in the cases where the Vatican has said the buildings can't be relegated, it doesn't mean they have to be parishes again. Scot said it's tough to make the case that there aren't enough other parishes in the area given Mass attendance now. We can hope that changes in the future, but we know you need to have a critical mass of people, priest, staff, and ministry in parish to make it feel alive and bring people back to the Church. Moving on, Scot said on June 1, the All-night Eucharistic Vigil marks its 40th anniversary at St. Mary's Chapel at Boston College with a Mass at 9pm celebrated by Fr. Ron Tacelli, SJ, and a talk by Fr. Ed Riley on the message of Fatima. Barbara Keville was interviewed for the Pilot article and she has been the force behind the 40 year tradition. “I am no theologian but I am so grateful that God uses a person like me, just a simple housewife and a mother,” Keville said. “No words can fully express the deep gratitude and joy that this apostolate has been for the past forty years. God is so good to allow this to happen. If God and our beloved Cardinal permit, we will continue these vigils for as long as possible,” Keville said. Keville also called for others to stan vigils, and offered to assist the cause in any way she can - just as she has done for 40 years. “Anybody can start a Eucharistic vigil,” she said, “If anybody wants any help in any way, I would be glad to,” Keville said. Scot said the idea of continuing one ministry for 40 years is astonishing. Susan said Barbara is amazing person and a force of nature. Fr. Roger offered public thanks to Barbara for everything she's done for the Lord and our faith. Scot said Cardinal Sean has also asked all new ecclesial movements and ethnic apostolates to join him at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on May 26, 6pm for a special vigil Mass for Pentecost. Scot also pointed out a rosary retreat by Holy Cross Family Ministries at Cardinal Spellman High School in Brockton.
Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Stephen Colella, Peter Williams, and Fr. Frank Silva Links from today's show: Today's topics: CYO Athletics Summary of today's show: Say the letters CYO to a Catholic from Boston, and they will inevitably recall the glory days of CYO athletics when hundreds of parish and parochial school sports teams competed in several sports across the Archdiocese. Peter Williams, Stephen Colella, and Fr. Frank Silva join Scot Landry to say that those glory days aren't just in the past. The annual CYO March Madness tournament is beginning and will bring 87 out of 368 teams in 11 different divisions together to be crowned the best in basketball in eastern Massachusetts. But it's not just another recreational league. Catholic athletics teaches virtues and Catholic values in an environment that helps young people to grow in faith and integrity. 1st segment: Scot said CYO Athletics is not just about the final score… It's about positive coaching, sportsmanship for children and their parents, learning to live together in a diverse community, maximizing talents, and fostering the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual strength in each of us. The programs are representative of the Christian values of respect, love, compassion and support for each other. Through sports, competition and teamwork, CYO athletics provides healthy growth and development through games, practices and the life lessons that sports teach. Scot said the Archdiocese has a version of March Madness in the CYO basketball tournament. Pete Williams is the CYO athletics director and Fr. Frank is the chaplain for CYO athletics. Stephen Colella is the assistant director of Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults, of which CYO is part. Peter said in 1963 he was appointed deanery athletic coordinator in Dorchester and since 1977 has been athletic director for CYO for the Archdiocese. Scot said CYO athletics was huge in Lowell in the early 80s when he was participating. Peter said in the 1950 and 1960s, every parish had a CYO program. Right now, there are still 350 teams in the Archdiocese. Peter said when he was a kid the parish was the hub of the community and most kids wanted to participate in the CYO. It was a time when young people were readily coming forth to be part of the Church. Fr. Frank said during his high school years CYO was known not just for athletics, but also social, spiritual and cultural programs. CYO was an opportunity for leadership development for young people. CYO councils were elected in parishes and on the deanery/vicariate level they had youth councils and then an Archdiocesan youth council. Fr. Frank served as an officer in his parish CYO and a deanery officer in the Lowell area and then served on the Archdiocesan council. He was an appointed member. Each council had committees for religious, social, athletic, and cultural activities. At the archdiocesan council level, he was appointed to the sports committee even though he'd never been involved in athletics. Peter said he was a classmate in the seminary with Fr. Frank along with Fr. Bill Schmidt, who was the chairman of the archdiocesan youth council that Fr. Frank served on. Fr. Frank said his decision to enter the seminary was affected by involvement in CYO. Those were the glory years of CYO, he said. National conventions for CYOs took place every other year and would draw five or six thousand young people from around the country. Stephen talked about growing up in Wayland and being involved in soccer and how that influenced his development as a person. He said CYO athletics ties together the natural virtues to the supernatural virtues. As you become a teammate you grow out of yourself. When you baptize sports, you realize what a powerful influence you can have on who young people can become. Scot said growing up CYO for him was just sports. Peter said the goal of CYO sports is to connect sports to the spiritual. Fr. Matt as director of Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults has done more to connect those, by for example, having a Mass for the opening of the sports year at the cathedral. Fr. Silva said growing up in the 1960s, there were still many community connections in neighborhoods and during high school, having a youth organization that was parish based created multiple opportunities to draw young people in through a variety of activities. He recalled CYO sponsoring an oratorical contest where people were invited to give speeches that culminated an oratorical contest at Boston College for the whole archdiocese. He said the Archdiocese was one of the first in the country to accept Search retreat weekends for high schools, which had many great fruits. Teen Encounter Christ programs also had a link with Search and CYO. Whatever else parish CYO programs offered, they all seemed to have athletics: golf, swimming, tennis, basketball, baseball. As we entered the 1970s, it began to change because of the culture and as youth ministry became the new model. Scot asked Peter what changed. Peter said when Msgr. John Carroll wrote his memoirs, he wrote that over 1,300 young people entered religious life out of the Archdiocese of Boston CYO program. The CYO program evolved over time and the upheaval of the Sixties and Seventies led to much of the demise of youth programs. Fr. Frank pointed out it wasn't just youth programs and it wasn't just in the Church. Peter said the athletic program has remained fairly constant and in recent time has seen a rebirth and new growth in the Archdiocese. Scot asked if it's just sports-crazy Boston or is it nationally that CYO has become athletics focused. Peter said every diocese in New England has a very vibrant CYO athletic program. Scot asked Stephen what stands out for CYO in its effectiveness. Stephen said the Catechism speaks of the value of CYO and encourages us to be involved. The anchor for CYO has always been an outreach program to bring young people into orbit around their parish. Its in our nature to want to be in these socialized settings. Even though the culture has offered substitutes, these programs remain strong. Though there may have been a heyday and a lull, we're rediscovering the value of this socialization and how powerful it can be for a new evangelization. CYO has some Velcro hooks that other ministries are missing. 2nd segment: Scot asked Peter about the March Madness tournament and the different levels and brackets. Peter said there are 11 divisions: 5th and 6th grade boys and girls, school and parish divisions; 7th & 8th grade boys and girls; junior boys; senior boys; senior girls. The grammar school divisions are the largest and the South Shore Parochial School League is the biggest one of all. Of the parish leagues, the Norwood-Westwood area league is growing large as well. These are parishes that don't have Catholic grammar schools have parish league teams, although some parishes offer both. Peter said Gate of Heaven in South Boston has been a large force in CYO over the years, both boys and girls. Our Lady's in Lynnfield is another program, and St. Margaret Mary in Westwood. St. Mary's in Franklin field 14 teams. Fr. Frank said for this age level, while they are receiving proper religious education and growing in other ways, they are also seeing how being involved in a church activity can be fun. Peter said the priests are key and he sees the kids flock to their priests and pastors. Scot asked if the parishes travel well, sending more than just parents of the teams. Peter said it's mostly family related, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Scot asked how the Archdiocese celebrates the teams in the March Madness tournament. Stephen said they build on the socialization idea and avenues of growing virtue. It's powerful to give witness that is implicit and explicit. The priest coming by to see the teams. The credibility of a teacher or priest goes through the roof when you enter their world. That opens the door to their receptivity to the Church. Once that avenue is primed, then you add prayer before the game and all the other elements. The teams that take advantage of that really begin to grow a huge ministry apart from sports. Scot said he presumes that the trash talking you see on playgrounds doesn't take place on the CYO courts. Fr. Frank said it is different, but the kids are still kids. However, the adults take a stricter line on such activity with technical fouls and if it continues coaches and priests getting involved. Fr. Frank said there have been teams eliminated from tournaments because they didn't live up to the values being promoted. Peter said the Archdiocese has participated an online course for Catholic coaches that all coaches must take. He said we are blessed by the men and women passing on these values and virtues. Stephen said national statistics shows that young people who get involved in athletics tend to avoid trouble and get themselves on a different path. Peter said during the season, to qualify for post-season play, that a team be successful in at least 70 percent of their games and from that about 30 percent of the teams end up participating. This year 87 teams are taking part out of 368 teams total. Peter said the tournament is single elimination. It is highly competitive with large crowds coming to the games. Stephen said Milton High School is where they traditionally hold the tournament. They have a very large facility. They used to hold the tournament at Catholic Memorial for about 25 years. Fr. Silva said the younger the competitors, the more inspiring and entertaining it is to watch. Stephen said as the tournament goes on the level of play becomes incredible. He also offered thanks to the volunteers who get involved, including referees and coaches. 3rd segment: It's time to announce this week's winner of the WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is the book, by Curtis Martin. This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Fr. James DiPerri, from Waltham, MA. Congratulations, Fr. DiPerri! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 4th segment: Scot asked Peter how the brackets are formed. Peter said the brackets are seeded to ensure that no one who has already faced an opponent during the season meets them again in the initial rounds. They do try to weight it to ensure balance in the brackets. Peter said his son Stephen is the tournament director this year and is responsible for creating all the brackets. Scot asked for where people can get more information. (The link to their web site is above.) Fr. Frank said what has competed with the development of CYO teams in many parishes is the development of city and town youth leagues. He said the CYO name does continue in many places with teams not affiliated with the Church continuing to use CYO. People have identified some teams as a CYO team for so long they continue to use the name. CYO has become ingrained within the psyche. Stephen said that will help CYO in the future. When you view it as ministry, you start to see what Pope John Paul said about the potential for the Church of the intersection with the culture. This is an important piece of who we are. The towns have copied a lot of what we did well. Now we need to find what new things we can do (for example, ultimate frisbee) and what things we can re-infuse with more catechesis for the future. Boston has had a rich history that will carry us forward in the new evangelization. There are so many CYO alumni who are very successful people in business and society and professional sports. Peter said we as a Church have a very difference product to offer. We're not just a recreational league. Otherwise the Church shouldn't be involved in athletics. We have a distinctive spiritual component to our athletics. Stephen said Catholic athletics is the Theology of the Body lived out in the bosy-soul union.
Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Dr. Mary Grassa-O'Neill, Superintendent of Catholic Schools, and Jim Walsh, Associate Superintendent for Finance and Administration Links from today's show: Today's topics: Catholic Schools Week: Wrapup Summary of today's show: In our last show of Catholic Schools Week, Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell welcome Mary Grassa-O'Neill and Jim Walsh from the Catholic Schools Office to give listeners more examples of how Catholic schools around the Archdiocese celebrated, including students performing in Chinese at Boston College High and a human rosary at Holy Family in Rockland. They then discussed the success of Catholic schools in Boston, including the first rise in enrollment in decades and tools for principals and pastors to use to better ensure financial viability and strategize for future success in ensuring every child who wants an education steeped in the Catholic faith can have one. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark discussed the Super Bowl on Sunday then discussed the meeting of the Cardinal's Cabinet. Fr. Mark said the meeting was very forward-looking. Fr. Mark said it's also the Feast of St. Blaise and he's been blessing many throats today. On the day after the Feast of the Presentation, on which the candles are blessed, the candles are used for the blessing. He offered the same blessing to anyone who hadn't been able to receive it today. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcomed Mary and Jim to the show. Scot asked Mary for her highlights of the week. She said it's exciting because there are so many activities. She said it begins with the special themed Masses, many of which take place in the parishes last Sunday and others which have them each day. BC High had a program this week called “Chinese Idol,” in which students performed in Chinese, to encourage them to continue to learn Chinese and learn Chinese culture. They were accompanied by an all-strings orchestra from Beijing. They offer nine levels of Chinese instruction and send students to China each year. She said we have to do more in our schools to prepare students for engaging Asian cultures in the future. Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy in Neponset also had a big Chinese celebration. Meanwhile, Holy Family School in Rockland did a human rosary, with each student being one of the prayers. St. Agatha's in Milton had a standing-room only Mass that had over 600 students plus more from the community. Trinity Catholic in Brockton had the mayor and public school superintendent come in to read to the children and they had career days. That is a big school as well with 560 students on two campuses. Mary said the National Catholic Education Association provides suggestions, but schools come up with their own ideas. Quincy Catholic Academy students learned about filmmaking and made stop-motion movies. Other schools take educational field trips. Scot said there seems to be three purposes: school spirit, highlight the Catholic identity, and market the schools to potential students. Jim said it's also an opportunity to celebrate the sense of community. Many honor and give tribute to the religious orders that founded and staffed those schools, teaching about former principals and teachers, for example. They welcome in former students as well as parents and grandparents to see what's going on in the schools. Fr. Mark talked about the connection between the pastors of the parish and the schools. Mary told a story of one child with cancer at St. Mary in Melrose who had chemo but was afraid to come back with no hair so the pastor, Fr. Sullivan, got a local barber and five classmates (with permission of their parents) and they all shaved their heads in solidarity, Fr. Sullivan too. Scot said Catholic Schools Office has three main themes: Strengthening Catholic identity, enhancing academic excellence, and giving vitality to finances. Mary said academic excellence is critical because it's using God's gifts to their fullest. Fr. Mark said not all students are Catholic and we have a mission to educate everyone. Mary said 82% of students are Catholic, and non-Catholic students know they will be asked to participate in the Catholic life of the schools. Scot said Jim also participates in Catholic Schools Week as a parent with children at Xaverian Brothers in Westwood and St. Catherine of Siena in Norwood. He talked about how his own kids took part in events at their schools. He said they had open houses for potential students and their families next year. 3rd segment: Mary told a story of how the students and teachers of St. Catherine's in Norwood lined the streets during the funeral procession of a soldier who died in Afghanistan. The students held their hands over their hearts and waved flags silently to give comfort to the soldier's family and promote the Gospel ideal of laying one's life down one's friends. Jim said there are 123 Catholic schools in the Archdiocese, 89 of them are Archdiocesan parish or Archdiocesan-related schools. Some schools are separately incorporated or owned by religious orders. All of the schools participate in archdiocesan events. The five Catholic colleges also participate and cooperate with the Catholic Schools Office. Mary said there are many Catholic school leaders and the team at CSO help focus on Catholic identity, excellence in academics, and a strong and viable business plan. She said one example of a Catholic school that's taken their help to heart is St. Agnes in Arlington. They had an assessment of their business plan and completely redesigned it so that the parish no longer has to provide financial support to the Catholic. The CSO undertook a study of the business plans and finances of all the Catholic elementary schools and came up with a snapshot of each school and a tool to help monitor and track how the school is doing over time. It gave a whole new vocabulary to pastors and principals because they're not usually trained in business. In the past, the Archdiocese would sometimes hear of a school in distress at the last minute and this tool helps the CSO to monitor schools and give assistance long before the situation gets desperate. Scot asked Jim how the CSO helps schools that are in the danger. He noted that school enrollment in Catholic schools is up for the first time in decades. Jim said schools have generally fallen into three zones, red, yellow and green. They've used this “dashboard” tool to help schools under the metrics that drive the viability of schools, keeping in mind the competitive environment for private schools. The CSO has had several workshops to teach school leaders to understand the metrics and develop a strategy. For example, they're showing schools to strategize their funds to increase ongoing income as opposed to single-time gifts. Scot said a key to a successful Catholic school is the principal and asked how they look for a good fit for each school. Mary said they have helped 45 schools find a new principals in the past few years. They help the school define the job requirements and what they're looking for, hold parish meetings, help form screening committees, and provide other assistance. Mary said our principals are very talented, especially when you see the results. Catholic school students are far outpacing their public school peers in achievement of all kinds. Yet the principals are being compensated, in general, at well below market rate. Scot said a part of the success is getting the word out about the value of Catholic education. Mary said we have to promote our own good news. Catholic school students graduate at a 98% rate, ethnic minorities do better than their public school counterparts, and Catholic school students attend college at a higher rate. Part of the reason is that our people really care about Catholic education, invest a lot of themselves, and focus on what it is they're trying to accomplish. Jim said he's proud of a number of initiatives and recommendations that have taken place in recent years. One of the first was the opening of Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton. It has a stable enrollment base and many pastoral, educational and social service programs such that the school is often the best thing happening in those kids' lives. He then spoke of Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy which has 1,300 students on four campuses in Boston's inner city. They've now create a Xaverian Brothers-sponsored Catholic high school in Lowell, which is now at capacity with a waiting list. Jim said these intiatives help build the Church in urban areas, but also help stabilize neighborhoods. He cited the example of the St. Peter teen center at Pope John Paul II that provides a place for children well into the night. Mary said Catholic schools provide benefits that surpass your expectations including learning in a Christ-centered environment that promotes a sense of teamwork, community, and caring. 4th segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Job spoke, saying: Is not man's life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle; they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again. Gospel for February 5, 2012, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark 1:29-39) On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee. Scot said in these readings, suffering is very present. In the first reading we only hear part of the story of Job, in which people doubted Job's faithfulness because he was so blessed. So the blessings were withheld and remained faithful to God. In the Gospel there was much suffering as well and those sufferers came to Jesus and were healed. Fr. Mark said the message of Job is incomplete. The completion of the message of sacrifice and the problem of pain is in the healing message of Jesus. Mary said the first reading makes her think how love of God and faithfulness comes from within. Scot said in the Gospel Jesus healed people one on one. He didn't heal whole crowds at once, but brought his love to the individual. Jim said when we are praying, our prayer sustains us in those difficulties. Often when we pray, we can recognize those who come into our lives as an answer to prayer. Our prayer life sustains us. Fr. Mark said Jesus is the busiest person around. He's got three years to do everything and people are flocking to him, but notice how the Gospel writers say he rose and went to prayer. He always found time to pray. There's no one busier than our Lord, but he finds time to pray.
Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today's guest(s): Brother Rahl Bunsa, General Superior of the Brotherhood of Hope Links from today's show: Today's topics: Advent with the Brotherhood of Hope Summary of today's show: Put away your Christmas music for now and keep Advent in the season with “A Season of Hope”, a CD of Advent music from the Brotherhood of Hope. Br. Rahl Bunsa talks with Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams about Advent as the season of hope in the Coming of Christ to restore creation to what it was intended to be and to prepare our own hearts to receive Christ ourselves. Enjoy what may be the only musical album of purely Advent music for sale anywhere and enter into the season. There's time enough for Christmas music once Christmas is here. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Matt discussed the first two nights of the God of This City tour this week. He said the tour has grown bigger and bigger each year they've done it. (Our recent show on is available for listening online or to download.) He described the talks on the two nights. Fr. Matt also mentioned that George Martell is telling the story of God of This City through photos on the Archdiocesan . 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Br. Rahl to the show. He said getting into the Advent season usually starts with listening to the Advent CD. Scot said church music helps you enter into the liturgical CDs. He asked why the Brotherhood made their first CD about Advent. Br. Rahl said Advent was their favorite season of the year, because of the theme of hope. But also they noticed that everyone had Christmas music, but not Advent music and yet there is so much very rich Advent music. Scot said his oldest son gets very upset when he hears Christmas music too early. He asks himself why can't we all wait until Christmas? As Catholics we shouldn't jump the gun on Christmas. Advent is rich in messages for us and can enrich our spiritual life and deepen our longing for Jesus. Br. Rahl said our parents and grandparents would not have decorated their homes until Christmas Eve and would have used Advent to prepare with Advent calendars and the like. Br. Rahl said of hope that all virtues are to grow in us and with hope, we are to grow in our confident expectation that Christ will come again in glory. And not just a future reality of the second coming of Christ, but also that the many promises of God in Scripture will be fulfilled, like the promise that as we grow in prayer, we will grow closer to God. Scot asked what the difference is between hope and optimism or a positive nature. Br. Rahl said it's the difference between natural hope and supernatural hope. Supernatural hope is attached the supernatural nature of God, regarding his promises and what he has said. Fr. Matt said he loves the idea of preparing for Christ. In praying the new prayers of the revised Roman Missal this week, he was struck by the opening prayer that asked God to strengthen our resolve to go out to meet him at His coming, equipped with righteous deeds. He said our society has a lot of fear at the coming of Christ, but Christians want Christ to come and save us. It's a hope-filled calling, that the Lord is faithful to his promises. He is unconditionally faithful. Fr. Matt said many people are turning to pharmaceuticals because they are not living in hope. Br. Rahl said a traditional acclamation of hope is the Greek word Maranatha, which means “Come!” Scot said there's a nice quote in the CD cover that refers to the two-fold expectation of the coming of Christ. We prepare for the general coming of Christ at the end of time, and we also prepare for our own encounter with Christ at the end of our own lives. The first song on the CD is . Scot then read his favorite verse from the song. Br. Rahl said it was the first song on the CD because of the exuberance and joy of the song. When people think of Advent, they wanted people to think of the joy of the season. He said the range of the music is everything from contemporary to chant to gospel to regular church hymns. They also had one-third of the songs as ones they wrote, one-third as traditional songs, and then one-third of traditional songs with new accompaniment. 3rd segment: Scot said he learned reading through the prayer booklet with the lyrics from the CD that in Lift up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates, “heads” refers to the tops of the gates. Br. Rahl said he wanted to point out that they had professional musicians in the studio backing up the guitar and voices. Scot said of the hymn Lift Up Your Heads that the widening of the gates for the Savior of the world reminds us of the immensity of the Coming of Christ. So we should “widen” our hearts. Br. Rahl said we can pray to ask the Lord to deepen my heart, deepen my love for you. He also suggested entering into the Church's liturgy ever more deeply and going to the Sacrament of Reconciliation to experience the Lord's rich forgiveness. Meditating on Scriptures is a great preparation. Many of the songs are direct or indirect references to Scripture. He suggested praying to the Lord to teach us to see his vision and the things of heaven before the things of this world. Fr. Matt said we're reminded how quickly time passes us by. In the midst of it, we are reminded of our mortality which then points us to our destiny and the things of eternal life. Prayer refocuses us so we remember we were made for more than this earth. Br. Rahl said the booklet for the CD was made to help people with their prayer life. It has meditations, catechesis, background, and lyrics to pray along with. The next song is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. It is the most popular Advent hymn and perhaps the only one most people can name. It's from the 9th century and people have been singing it for 1,000 years. The song on the CD transitions to another song called “Watchman, Tell Us of the Night”, which is the reference in the Scripture to the watchman looking for the coming of the king and the song is a dialogue between a traveler and the watchman. Scot said “Emmanuel” means “God with us”. We heard a clip from the second half of the song. Br. Rahl said 10% of the net proceeds of this CD are donated to The Village of Hope, an HIV orphanage in Tanzania, Africa, while the remainder supports the Brotherhood's work in campus ministry in Boston, New Jersey and Florida. 4th segment: It's time to announce this week's winner of the WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prizes this week are *, PC game for Windows XP, and a $15 gift card. This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Debbie & Chuck Papalia from North Andover, MA. Congratulation, Debbie and Chuck! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit . For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM's weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. 5th segment: Scot said we heard a clip from “Revelation Canticle” which is the last song of the CD, which he said is his favorite. Br. Rahl said it comes from the Book of Revelation and has a particularly celebratory and victorious tone to it. He said when Christ defeats Satan and the last enemy, Death, he will raise the dead to new life. Four verse from Revelation make up the entire song, from Revelations chapters 11 and 12. Scot said when you get a song like this stuck in your head, it leads to praying throughout the day. Br. Rahl said he once heard from a religious sister that when she needs to grow in confidence in certain situations, she listens to the song “I am Confident and Unafraid.” They put Scripture to good music in order to get Scripture into people's hearts and minds. Fr. Matt recalled a monsignor he knew who said he once heard that a person becomes the song they sing. when we worship God, it changes our focus and our attitude and the environment around us. When you have beautiful lyrics tied into Scripture and Tradition, it gives a way to focus on what is really true and lifegiving. Br. Rahl said he once heard from someone at the BBC who played their CD on BBC radio and told them it was a big hit. Many parents tell him that their kids enjoy the music too and even soothes troublesome children. It's good for anyone seeking to get into Advent and mature into the Lord. He said he hasn't seen any other exclusively Advent CD for sale. He thinks it's because often Christmas overshadows Advent and it's a short season and people don't have as long of a chance to enter into it. Br. Rahl said most of the songs were a regular part of the Brotherhood's prayer life long before the CD was recorded. In order to get the prayer booklet that comes with the CD, you must order the CD, but it's also available through and . Scot asked Br. Rahl why they included Alma Redemptoris Mater out of all CDs. They wanted to invoke the assistance of Mary under her title of Our Lady of Hope. She brought forth the Word and pondered the Word of God. Fr. Matt said God is always faithful to his promises and in Advent we the Magnificat and the Canticle of Zechariah which proclaim God's fidelity. These both point to hope. Br. Rahl said what he loves about Advent is that in the midst of the sadness of the world, the Lord will return and we long for that day. Advent is a season for longing for Christ to restore creation to what it was intended to be. For those interested in bulk orders, contact the Brotherhood directly via their website.
Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, Executive Editor of The Anchor, newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River, and Domenico Bettinelli of Pilot New Media Today's topics: Archdiocese of Boston's release of names of clergy accused of sexual abuse Summary of today's show: Scot was joined by Fr. Roger Landry and Domenico Bettinelli to discuss Cardinal Sean's statement today regarding the Archdiocese's release of the names of clergy publicly accused of abuse of a minor over the past 60 years, both living and deceased, the names of clergy whose public accusations against them were deemed unsubstantiated, and the website that makes all the information available to the public. 1st segment: Because our usual transcriptionist was a guest on the show today, we do not have a transcript. However, we do have the text of Cardinal Seán's open letter to the Catholic community. Cardinal's Decision Regarding the Archdiocese of Boston's Publication With Respect To Its Clergy Accused of Sexual Abuse of a Child August 25, 2011 My Dear Friends in Christ, The Archdiocese of Boston's commitment and responsibility is to protect children and to ensure that the tragedy of sexual abuse is never repeated in the Church. Since the crisis erupted in 2002, we have endeavored to regain trust by addressing the needs of survivors and those who have suffered as a result of clergy sexual abuse, investigating and responding to all allegations of misconduct involving minors, removing abusive priests from active ministry consistent with our zero tolerance policy, and creating and maintaining safe environments for children in our churches and schools. Much has been accomplished in Boston since 2002, but our work in this area is continuing, and we will remain ever vigilant. The Archdiocese is continually evaluating its policies and practices to ensure that our child protection and abuse prevention efforts are further strengthened. Consistent with that effort, I have studied suggestions that we enhance the present Archdiocesan policy with respect to sharing information about clergy accused of sexually abusing minors. This is a complex issue involving several competing considerations. On the one hand, there is the critically important need to assure the protection of children and also important considerations related to transparency and healing; on the other, there are interests related to the due process rights and reputations of those accused clergy whose cases have not been fully adjudicated, including deceased priests who were not alive to respond to the allegations. After a careful study of our present policy in light of these considerations, as well as after a chance to consult with my advisors and advisory bodies, including the Presbyteral Council and Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, I am announcing today revisions to the policy of the Boston Archdiocese with respect to disclosing names of clergy accused of sexually abusing minors. This revision comes after serious and thoughtful consideration and prayer by myself and many others. I am acutely aware of the harm that the abuse of children by clergy has caused in the lives of so many. And while I know there will be some who believe our policy changes should go further, after careful consultation and consideration of views expressed by many people and groups, I believe that the changes we are making are appropriate and I would like to share my rationale for arriving at this decision. Since 2002, the Archdiocese has had in place a vigorous policy with respect to disclosing information about clergy accused of abusing minors. First and foremost, it is the policy of the Archdiocese to immediately report to law enforcement all allegations of clergy sexual abuse of children. These notifications are made to local District Attorneys' offices, the Massachusetts Attorney General, and, when appropriate, federal law enforcement. These notifications are made whether or not the person reporting the abuse is still a minor, whether or not the accused cleric is still alive, and whether or not the allegations have been evaluated to have even the semblance of truth. Second, the Archdiocese publicly discloses when a member of its clergy is removed from active ministry pending an investigation into an allegation of child abuse. Finally, the Archdiocese publicly discloses when a member of its clergy is convicted of sexual abuse of a child as a result of a criminal process or when, after a canonical process, a member of the clergy is removed from the clerical state. In addition to these disclosures in individual cases, the Archdiocese has released extensive information about the abuse cases in Boston. The Archdiocese published, in February 2004, a comprehensive report on the number of accused priests in the Boston Archdiocese, as well as the number of victims of those priests, in the period 1950-2003.[1] This report compiled various key statistics regarding the allegations of abuse made against clergy in the Boston Archdiocese, as well as information on settlements that had been reached historically by the Boston Archdiocese. In addition to this report, the Archdiocese has published annual financial reports starting in 2006, including, among other financial information, information about the abuse settlements reached each year, the financial sources for those payments, and the related costs for Archdiocesan pastoral and child protection efforts.[2] Additionally, the Archdiocese has produced extensive documentation with respect to past allegations of clergy sexual abuse both in response to requests from law enforcement and in civil litigation. Information from those files has been summarized in a report published in 2003 by the Massachusetts Attorney General's office.[3] The policy which I am announcing today will retain our present practices and also supplement them in key respects. First, the Archdiocese has created for its website (www.bostoncatholic.org) a compiled list of names of accused clergy in the following categories: The names of all Boston Archdiocese clergy who have been found guilty of sexually abusing a child, either by the Church (canon law), the State (criminal law), or both. In the case of criminal convictions, the cleric either has been convicted after a criminal trial or has pled guilty to a crime involving the sexual abuse of a child. In the case of canonical processes, the clerics whose names are included either have been dismissed from the clerical state at the end of the canonical process, or have been assigned to a life of prayer and penance, with no ministry possible. The names of all Boston Archdiocese clergy who have been laicized after having been accused of sexually abusing a minor. Laicization under Church law is a process whereby the priest voluntarily requests that he be separated from the clerical state. The names of all clergy of the Archdiocese who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing a child where canonical proceedings remain to be completed. In each case, the cleric involved has been removed from public ministry and remains on administrative leave. The names of Boston Archdiocese clergy who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing a child, but who had already been laicized and therefore were no longer in active ministry by the time the accusations were received. The names of those deceased clergy of the Archdiocese who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing a child, but where criminal or canonical proceedings were not completed. In most of these cases, the accused priest had died before the allegations were received. This represents the first time that names of accused clerics have been compiled by the Archdiocese in a central location and a readily accessible format. Second, as to each member of the clergy whose name is listed in these categories, the Archdiocese has included in this website the following pertinent information: the cleric's year of birth and year of ordination; whether the cleric is alive or deceased, and if deceased, the year of death; for members of the clergy who are alive, their status as well as the date of any laicization, dismissal, or conviction of the accused cleric; and a link to the cleric's assignment history. This list, which is searchable, will be regularly updated as additional announcements are made in the future. Third, I have decided to publish a separate listing of the names of those clergy who have been publicly accused of sexually abusing a child where the allegations have been found unsubstantiated by the Review Board after a preliminary investigation or where the priest has been acquitted after a canonical process. In a number of cases, these priests have been returned to active ministry. The revised policy being announced today attempts to balance appropriately several considerations which bear on this matter: The Church needs to be open about clergy accused of crimes against children in order to help foster the process of healing and restoration of trust. Accused priests or deacons who have been laicized or dismissed are no longer in the clerical state and consequently no longer under the authority of the Archdiocese; to the extent they pose any ongoing risk to children, a comprehensive disclosure of their names may assist in addressing that risk. Not only must the Archdiocese honor its commitment to protect children, it must also be mindful of the due process concerns of those whose guilt has not been established. In the present environment, a priest who is accused of sexually abusing a minor may never be able to fully restore his reputation, even if cleared after civil or canonical proceedings. Reputational concerns also become acute in cases concerning deceased priests, who are often accused years after their death with no opportunity to address the accusations against them. In arriving at our revised policy in this area, I have carefully weighed these considerations. I also have considered what a number of other dioceses have done. I believe that, to the extent possible, our revised policy addresses the concerns and views that have been expressed, is consistent with if not more expansive than civil law, and best balances the considerations mentioned above. In arriving at this revised policy, there were a few issues that were particularly difficult and I would like to comment briefly on them. The first issue has to do with the listing of the names of deceased priests who have been accused of abusing a child. More concern was expressed as to this category than any other. As to deceased priests, there is, by definition, no consideration relating to child protection, and the countervailing considerations related to due process and protecting reputations become more substantial. In the vast majority of these cases, the priest was accused after he had already passed away and accordingly had no chance to address the allegations being brought against him. In a very large percentage of these particular cases, there has been a single allegation of abuse; that is not said by way of minimizing the allegations of misconduct, but rather to point out that there is little evidence on which to base a decision of guilt or innocence. It is extremely difficult to determine the credibility of these accusations, given that they involve matters that typically occurred decades ago. After consideration of all perspectives, I have decided to include in our compiled list the names of deceased priests if the criminal or canonical proceedings against that priest were completed before his death or if the priest has already been accused publicly. I emphasize that our decision not to list the names of deceased priests who have not been publicly accused and as to whom there were no canonical proceedings conducted or completed (most were accused well after their death) does not in any way mean that the Archdiocese did not find that the claims of particular survivors who accused those deceased priests to be credible or compelling. Indeed, in many of those cases, the Archdiocese already has proceeded to compensate the survivor and provides counseling and pastoral care to those individuals. Another issue which drew substantial commentary was whether a standard of “credibility” should be used to determine the listing of an accused priest. After consideration, I have decided not to rely on that term in making decisions about those accused clergy that should be listed on our website. The term “credibility” can have a variety of meanings, and, in this context, can mean anything from “plausible” but not proven, to “more likely than not” (the standard used in civil cases), to the high standard used for convictions in criminal and canonical cases (“beyond a reasonable doubt”/subject to “moral certitude”). I have decided instead to proceed by listing the names of clergy in the categories described above. Another issue to which I have given substantial consideration has to do with listing names of accused priests who are not priests of the Boston Archdiocese, but are religious order priests or priests from other dioceses. After careful consideration, I have decided to limit the names that are being published on our website to clergy of the Boston Archdiocese. I have decided not to include names of religious order priests or priests from other dioceses on our list because the Boston Archdiocese does not determine the outcome in such cases; that is the responsibility of the priest's order or diocese. I recognize that, over the years, many religious order priests and priests of other dioceses have served within the territory of the Boston Archdiocese, including in assignments at our parishes. In its 2004 report, the Archdiocese published information with respect to the number of religious order priests and priests from other dioceses who had been accused of abusing minors while serving within the Archdiocese. Archdiocesan policy is that, as soon as an accusation of misconduct is received against a religious order priest or a priest from a different diocese, we immediately notify law enforcement, as well as the superior of that order or the bishop of that diocese, and revoke the accused priest's faculties to minister within our Archdiocese. Under canon law, it falls to the superior or to the bishop to investigate and evaluate the accusation, taking appropriate canonical action. I urge the religious orders and other dioceses to consider their own policies with regard to publishing the names of accused clergy. I hope that other dioceses and religious orders will review our new policy and consider making similar information available to the public to the extent they have not already done so. Lastly, I have considered what should be done with the names of priests as to whom allegations were found unsubstantiated. I have decided to include in a separate list the names of accused clergy where the accusations have been found not substantiated after an investigation by civil authorities or by the Church if the names of those priests are already in the public domain. The Archdiocese already makes an announcement when a priest who previously has been publicly removed from ministry is allowed to return to active ministry following an investigation. However, I have decided not to include the names of accused clergy against whom allegations have been found unsubstantiated where their names have not been previously publicized. I believe it would be unfair to these clerics to release their previously unpublicized names on a list of accused priests after civil or Church processes have already found the allegations against them to be unsubstantiated. In total, 159 names of accused clerics of the Boston Archdiocese are included on the lists being published today. Of these, 22 represent cases that are still in process canonically, with the priest on administrative leave and having no public ministry. It is my wish and goal that these remaining cases be processed as expeditiously as possible. At the conclusion of those cases, additional announcements and amendments to the list will be made accordingly. To put this information in context, there have been to date a total of 250 clerics of the Boston Archdiocese accused of sexually abusing a minor. There are 91 names that are not being included on the lists published today, which can be summarized as follows: 62 names of deceased clergy as to whom canonical proceedings were never conducted or completed and who have not been publicly accused; 22 priests of the Boston Archdiocese as to whom the accusations of misconduct with a minor could not be substantiated;[4] 4 priests or former priests of the Archdiocese who are not in active ministry and are the subject of a preliminary investigation; and 3 priests who were already laicized or dismissed by the time they were accused, and who have not been publicly accused. It is important to note that the allegations of sexual abuse by Archdiocesan priests generally do not involve claims about current misconduct, but rather involve abuse occurring decades ago and before the Church adopted its current child protection policies. As described in detail in the report published by the Archdiocese in February 2004, the vast majority of the complaints received by the Archdiocese before 2004 involved incidents alleged to have occurred from 1965 to 1982, with a substantial decline in the number of incidents thereafter. More recent data, collected through 2010, confirm that same historical pattern. Only 4% of the 198 allegations received by the Archdiocese in the past six years involve child abuse alleged to have occurred more recently than 1990; over 90% of the incidents are alleged to have occurred before 1985. I do not say this in any way to minimize the abuse of minors by Boston priests, which is heinous, or the serious mistakes made by the Church hierarchy in responding to it. Nor do I seek to ignore the harm caused to survivors by these historical incidents, harm which is both current and the subject of our ongoing pastoral response. Rather I simply seek to place the problem in context and to give the faithful some confidence that the policies adopted by the Church to protect its children starting in the early 1990s have been effective. These policies include equipping children to report abuse; training our clergy, volunteers, and staff to identify and report suspected abuse; conducting annual background checks for all clergy, volunteers, and staff; and upholding the norm of zero tolerance by ensuring that no priest who has sexually abused a child will be permitted to exercise any ministry. Since 2003, approximately 300,000 children have received safe environment training through their parish schools or religious education programs. Approximately 175,000 adults – including diocesan and religious order priests, deacons, candidates for ordination at Archdiocesan seminaries and in diaconate formation, educators, employees, parents, and volunteers – have been trained to recognize and report suspected abuse. More than 300,000 CORI checks have been conducted for Archdiocesan and religious priests, deacons, educators, volunteers, and other personnel working with children. Almost 400 reports of child abuse or neglect (51A reports) have been filed with the Department of Children and Families (formerly the Department of Social Services) by our parishes and schools since these safety programs began. The majority of reports were made as a result of a child self-disclosing abuse to someone in the parish. In almost all cases, the abuse involved someone in the child's family, a neighbor, other children, or an adult known to the child. The Archdiocese will supplement the lists being published today on its website on a regular basis and will continue to make announcements at key stages of individual cases, consistent with prior policy. In addition, nothing that is being announced today undercuts the continued willingness of the Archdiocese to discuss with individual survivors of abuse information with respect to the accused priest. Despite our every effort to provide accurate and current information, in this first effort to provide a listing there will be errors and omissions. I would ask that anyone with additional information or corrections to the lists being published to contact our Delegate for Investigations at (617) 746-5639. It is my belief that in amending our policy and organizing this information on our website so that it is readily accessible, we take one more step forward in our efforts to assume responsibility for our past failures and reaffirm our commitment to assure that our present day standards protect the children of our community. We recognize that this announcement may serve as a painful reminder of the wounds many survivors carry and we invite any individual who has been harmed by clergy sexual abuse to contact our Office of Pastoral Support and Outreach at (781) 794-2581 or (866) 244-9603. Having met with hundreds of survivors, I know firsthand the scars you carry. And I carry with me every day the pain of the Church's failures. I express once again my sorrow for your pain and my apology for any way the Church and its clergy have failed you. My deepest hope and prayer is that the efforts I am announcing today will provide some additional comfort and healing for those who have suffered from sexual abuse by clergy and will continue to strengthen our efforts to protect God's children. Sincerely Yours in Christ, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. Archbishop of Boston [1] Statement of Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley Regarding Clergy Sexual Abuse in the Archdiocese of Boston from 1950-2003, available at a href="http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/News_releases_2004_statement040226.pdf">http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/News_releases_2004_statement040226.pdf. [2] Available at . [3] Available at [4] Of these 22 priests, 4 are deceased, 8 are retired or on health leave, 1 has been restricted by the Archdiocese from engaging in active ministry for other reasons, and 9 are in active ministry without restriction.
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Sister Marian Batho, Delegate for Religious of the Archdiocese of Boston * [Sisters of Saint Joseph](http://www.csjboston.org/) * [Delegate for Religious office](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/DelegateForReligious.aspx) * ["Journeying Together: Congregations of Women and Men Religious in the Archdiocese of Boston 1808-2008"](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/Vocations/Journeying_Together.pdf) * [NRVC/CARA 2009 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life](http://nrvc.net/study_overview/?return_url=study_overview) **Today's topics:** The contribution of religious orders to the Archdiocese of Boston **Summary of today's show:** Sr. Marian Batho joined Scot and Fr. Chris to discuss the link between the health of religious communities and the health of the Church. Also how one discerns a call to religious life, her work as Delegate for Religious in Boston, the history of religious orders in Boston, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the future of religious communities. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Chris back to the show. Today marks the first day of summer. Tomorrow, Fr. Chris is heading to Omaha to Creighton University to visit with seminarians spending time this summer at an institute for priestly formation. They are learning [Ignatian spirituality](http://ignatianspirituality.com/). Scot noted that EWTN's program [Faith and Culture](http://www.ewtn.com/series/shows/faithAndCulture/faithAndCulture.html) with Colleen Carroll Campbell was at St. John's Seminary over the weekend filming about 10 episodes with local Bostonians. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Sr. Marian to the show. Scot asked her about call to the religious life. From when she was 8 years old, she began to think about being a sister. She liked to go into the chapels of religious communities in her neighborhood, including Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the Columban Sisters. She went to Boston public schools, but for college went to Regis College, which is run by the Sisters of St. Joseph and she fell in love with the order. Their commitment to the students touched her. She's loved classical music since she was a child and her music teacher, Sr. Margaret William McCarthy, was instrumental in helping her in college. She was a witness of love for her vocation. Several years after graduating, Sr. Marian entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. In between, she was engaged to be married, but she felt God call her to a different path. She also had a Master's degree in finance before entering religious life. She had been on a career track through the financial services industry, particularly insurance. But in 1976, she entered religious life. Fr. Chris said Sr. Marian also works as the Cardinal's representative to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council as well as assisting couples with marriage preparation in a local parish. She said she finds it a great blessing to work in the Pastoral Center and work for the Archdiocese for nearly 14 years. She's been the Delegate for Religious for almost 10 years and is able to meet with men and women religious nearly every day, which continues to inspire her. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is a consultative body to Cardinal Seán. It's like a parish's pastoral council. Cardinal Seán meets with them to seek their advice on various pastoral issues facing the Archdiocese. It includes two pastors, two deacons, a religious sister, a religious brother, and lay representatives from the various regions of the archdiocese as recommended by local pastors. As Delegate for Religious, Sr. Marian is liaison between Cardinal Seán and over 2,000 religious in Boston, as well as consecrated virgins, hermits, and men and women in discernment. She calls herself the vocation concierge. Sr. Marian gets four or five calls per month from people looking for more information. Throughout the year they have informational events. The signs of a religious vocation including having a life of prayer; they're participating in the parish and attending Mass at least weekly or even daily as much as possible; and involved in parish activities. She also looks at their interests because religious orders are involved in many apostolic works as well as orders that are contemplative. She will then help arrange a meeting with the order. Contemplative communities live in cloisters, in their monasteries, leaving only for necessary reasons, living a life predominantly of prayer. An apostolic community is involved in a variety of activities, like education, healthcare, or social justice. Generally speaking, the timeframe for final profession as a religious is between 9 and 10 years. Most communities now have a live-in experience prior to entrance. First, they get to know the community, joining them for prayer and meals. They look for a good match between the person and the community. Then they are invited to enter the community as postulant in a period of testing for one or two years. Then they enter novitiate for two years. The first year is a canonical novitiate with intense prayer and study on the community, theology, Scripture, prayer, and vows. The second year is an apostolic year where they experience the work of the community. At the end of the novitiate, the candidate asks to make first profession and the community decides whether they continue to be a good fit. Between 3 and 6 years later they make a final profession. Sr. Marian said community life is essential to religious life. The three evangelical counsels are poverty, chastity, and obedience are lived within community. Fr. Chris asked about her order's devotion to St. Joseph. Sr. Marian said her order's constitution says, "We look to Joseph as our model of justice, gentleness and humility, extending a cordial charity to all." She noted that Joseph never speaks in the Scriptures and the order tries to imitate the hidden life of Joseph in humility and care for those in need. The Sisters of St. Joseph are most known for education. They have Fontbonne Academy, Mt. St. Joseph, Walnut Park, Regis College, Bethany Hills School, and the Literacy Connection, which offers services to immigrants. They also have Bethany Healthcare Center. The Sisters also work with other communities to open a safe house for victims of human trafficking. **3rd segment:** Scot said three years ago as part of the Archdiocesan bicentennial year, a number of religious orders got together to publish a book, "Journeying Together" on the history of religious communities in the archdiocese. The book includes 125 orders of men and women. Sr. Marian said you can see the pastoral needs evolving in the Archdiocese of Boston and the evolving pastoral priorities of each Archbishop. She calls it a beautiful love story and usually gives it to discerning men and women to read. She wrote in the foreword to the book: >The following pages represent a wonderful Love Story. They speak of courageous founders, faith-filled major superiors, and devoted religious who responded generously to the invitation to come to Boston. Concerned for the pastoral care of a large immigrant population, and trusting in the providence of God, religious communities built schools, hospitals and social service agencies. Their legacy for the next 200 years is that with God all things are possible. Scot recalled the first religious sisters in the Archdiocese, the Ursuline Sisters, who had their school in Charlestown burned down by anti-Catholics. Sr. Marian noted that the orders came to Boston with limited resources and were able to build a great legacy with God's providence. Scot said it took great trust by the religious to found these institutions like schools or hospitals and believe that people would support them. Sr. Marian said it speaks of the importance of community. Praying together and living together helped the seeds of religious life blossom in Boston. When people come together as a team or community, marvelous and wonderful things happen. Scot said what made Boston stand out for the growth of the Archdiocese was the new life that religious communities breathed into Boston. Cardinal Seán in his recent pastoral letter noted that new life and growth of religious orders that will spur new growth of the Church in Boston for the future. As goes religious orders in Boston, so goes the Church as a whole. Fr. Chris asked Sr. Marian what the three Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience mean. Sr. Marian said to sum it up, it means that my life is not about me. In the vow of poverty, they profess that all they have belongs to the community and they own it in common. They trust the community will let them receive what they need. In the vow of obedience, they try to respond every day to the will of God as Mary and Joseph did with an enthusiastic, unqualified Yes. In chastity, it means that God is their primary relationship, which allows them to be available in all circumstances. Cardinal Seán says the vows are an antidote to the ills of society: materialism, individualism, and licentiousness. Scot said the reliance of the religious on the community deepens the bonds between them. Sr. Marian said it also affirms that what we have is not for ourselves, but to be shared. For 2010, the Boston Catholic Directory reports 1800 religious women, 500 religious priests, and about 100 religious men. That contrasts with the late 60s': More than 6,000 women, over 1,000 priests, and almost 300 men. Scot asked which era is the norm? Are we in a shortage today or was that an unusual bounty? Sr. Marian said there were many reasons for those large numbers and maybe we will never have those large numbers again. But she believes that God continues to call and while there maybe disappointment at the small number of people opting for religious life, the CARA study of religious life shows that there are many young men and women considering religious life. Sr. Marian said her concern is that we're not talking about religious life. She often hears from people considering religious life is that no one has ever invited them to consider it. Sr. Marian said the life of the Sisters of St. Joseph is inspiring and overwhelming to see the children learning in their schools, to see communities grow. Fr. Chris asked what advice she would give to parents to encourage religious vocations. She said they need to find out more about religious communities. She thinks there should be come-and-see events for families. In addition to discouragement that sometimes comes from parents, it can also come from peers. Scot said parents shouldn't necessarily ask "What do *you* want to be?", but instead ask, "What you think *God* wants you to be?" Parents can have plans and hopes for their kids, but children are a gift from God and a Catholic parent knows that a child's ultimate happiness is in their children doing what God wants them to do. He plants the seed in their minds, by pointing out priests and religious they might know and wanting to emulate them. Sr. Marian said we also have to talk about the importance of prayer and faith sharing because the language can be foreign if the family isn't praying in the home. She thinks that's where the gap is. She recalls Sr. Mary Johnson of Emmanuel College who said young people are desperately searching for what religious communities offer while the communities look for new members. They need to find ways to bridge that gap. At a recent discernment meeting, they had younger members of the communities talk about their call and she could feel the atmosphere in the room change as people began to consider God might be calling them. Teaching young people to pray can help the vocational crisis. God hasn't stopped calling. More people need to start listening. If we teach people to pray, the vocations will come as people learn to hear His voice. **4th segment:** Scot asked Sr. Marian what we have to look forward to in religious life over the next 200 years. She said God will continue to call. Bishops in our history have called religious orders forth to serve ministries and pastoral needs in the archdiocese. With Cardinal Seán's new pastoral letter on evangelization, it is a new moment for orders that are here to re-engage, for orders to come to Boston, and for new orders to form. Scot asked Sr. Marian the best way for people to re-connect with religious who have been instrumental in their lives: teachers who have taught them, for example. Anyone trying to re-connect with them can call Sr. Marian and she can try to make the connection. There are also listings of religious sisters, brothers, and diocesan priests, which are kept up-to-date. There will be more discernment weekends in the fall and then in February and April of 2012.
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. **Today's topics:** New vicar general for Boston; St. Cecilia, Boston, controversy; crisis in Fatherhood; Catholic U returns to single-sex dorms **A summary of today's show:** Our usual Thursday panel discusses the Bruins' winning the Stanley Cup; Msgr. Bob Deeley's appointment as vicar general and moderator of the curia; the controversy at St. Cecilia's in Boston and homosexuality; crisis in fatherhood; and single-sex dorms at Catholic U. **1st segment:** Scot admits staying up too late for the Bruins win in the Stanley Cup. He welcomes Fr. Roger Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy to the show. Scot said it's amazing to him that with all the talk of a Patriots dynasty that now they have the longest drought of championships in Boston sports. Fr. Roger said he watched the game with the whole communion of saints. Fr. Roger said Bruins goalie is one of the best athletes to listen to and watch. He's un-cliched, gives everything he's thinking, doesn't say the typical things athletes will. Susan said she had a class in Concord and was convinced no one would show, but people did come. She did ask anyone in the class who could keep up with the score to keep everyone in the loop. The panel reminisced on great moments from the game. Scot is looking forward to the Bruins rolling rally on Saturday and has promised his kids they could go. **2nd segment:** On Tuesday, Cardinal Seán announced that he is naming a new vicar general and moderator of the curia. Msgr. Robert P. Deeley has been serving for the last 7 years in the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Before that he was a pastor in Quincy and judicial vicar for the archdiocese. Our current vicar general, Fr. Richard Erickson, will be granted a sabbatical in Rome, after which he will return to Boston for a new assignment. * [Archdiocesan press release on appointment of new vicar general](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=20726) * [2005 Pilot profile of Msgr. Deeley on his appointment to the Vatican](http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=1757) * [Canon Law Society of America](http://www.clsa.org/) Fr. Roger knows Msgr. Deeley. He first met him many years when the Mass. Catholic Conference brought some priests together for a program to defend marriage against the re-defintions that were being attempted. He was very impressed by his clear thinking, his hard work, and how thoroughly imbued with the teaching of the Church he is. He's also very funny. He also has a skill set for the tasks of vicar general that complements the skill set of the Cardinal. Susan took a semester course in canon law with Msgr. Deeley when she was working in a parish. She echoed Fr. Roger's comments. She's sad to see Fr. Rich leave, but thrilled for his new opportunity. Scot said the appointment of vicar general is a big deal. Gregory said vicar general and moderator of the curia is a long title. Both titles are important. The vicar general is someone empowered by the local bishop, the Ordinary, to fulfill his mandates for a particular purpose. All of the auxiliary bishops are vicars general too. The moderator of the curia oversees the central administration of the archdiocese. He is the real intermediary between the bishop and those who work for him. Scot said he has a personal connection with Msgr. Deeley. The local Serra organization has an Adopt-a-Priest program for families to be assigned priests to pray for every day. The assignments are random and Msgr. Deeley was assigned to Scot's family and they have been praying for him already. Fr. Roger said the vicar general of a large archdiocese like Boston often has to take on more work when the archbishop is asked to do even more work outside the archdiocese by the Pope. It's an important appointment for Cardinal Seán. Msgr. Deeley is past president of the Canon Law Society of America and his work in Rome has been involved with dealing with priests who have abused children. He is a national expert on this matter, which will be very good for Boston which has been dealing with this issue. Fr. Rich Erickson celebrates his 5th anniversary as vicar general and moderator of the curia in Boston today. **3rd segment:** Scot said about a week ago it was learned that there was going to be a Mass at St. Cecilia's parish in Boston to celebrate Gay Pride Month. Cardinal Seán and his team talked to the pastor to ensure that there was no misunderstanding that the Church was promoting Gay Pride. That became a cause celebre in local and national media. * The Pilot's editorial on the St. Cecilia's matter will be available on their site on Friday morning. * ["The Mass That Wasn't," Boston Globe editorial, 6/14/11](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2011/06/14/the_mass_that_wasnt/) * ["For one priest, the choice is clear," Boston Globe, 6/14/11](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/06/14/priest_defends_inclusion_of_gays_lesbians/) Scot said the Pilot this week will have about the longest editorial ever published in the paper, entitled "A Teachable Moment." Gregory said once the news of the Mass being canceled was made public, there was a lot of confusion over what the Church actually teaches on homosexual inclinations and the promotion of the gay lifestyle. The Church does not discriminate against those with same-sex attraction, and all are welcome in the Church. However, the Church also teaches that while an attraction itself is not sinful, acting on that attraction is. All are called to chastity outside of marriage. Those acts should not be promoted or celebrated outside of the Church. Fr. Roger clarified that it's not just sacramental marriage, but all natural marriages for those who are not baptized Christians too. He was struck by hearing the common refrain that it's "important that others accept me as I am" or that "Jesus would accept me as I am." Jesus made us male and female and who we are as male and female is important. Part of the problem is that for those with same-sex attraction their sexual attraction is often placed at a very high level of their consciousness. It becomes part of their identity. Fr. Roger said when you put out the welcome mat, but don't also present the fullness of the goodness of the Church's teaching is not really presenting the whole truth, the Good News, and being welcoming. We need to have the confidence to be able to say that this particular activity is contrary to your good, contrary to God's plans for you. He also made a distinction between same-sex attraction and the gay culture. Gay means out of the closet. It doesn't mean that the person acknowledges same-sex attraction as disordered. He noted that these gay pride parades include anti-Catholic behavior and simulated sexual acts in a parade on city streets. These can be seen in a simple Google search for photos. Scot countered the Globe's editorial that claimed that Jesus would have held this Mass. He said the common view of love is that soft view of love, not the tough love of discipline, a parent who says no to a child because he loves him and wants what is best for him. Fr. Roger adds that Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery and saved her from stoning, but also told her to sin no more. He also told us that if our hand causes us to sin, to cut it off. He did not shy away from calling us out of sin. Gregory said often the understanding of sin is incomplete. Sin is not just an arbitrary rule that defines something that annoys God. Instead, sin leads to death and destruction and the rules are the way that God tells us of the dangers of sin. Susan said it all goes back to that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Everything God created is good, but when God created man and woman, as male and female, it was "very good." Scot said almost everything you need to know about Church teaching on this issue will be found in the Pilot editorial, available tomorrow. Also, Scot made a commitment that Catholic teaching will always be shared in its fullness on The Good Catholic Life. **4th segment:** In the Anchor this week, the editorial is titled, "Responding to the Crisis in Fatherhood." It links Trinity Sunday with Father's Day and God's fatherhood with human fatherhood. * [Zenit story on Cardinal Ratzinger's address in Palermo, Sicily, on the crisis of fatherhood, 3/15/00](http://www.studiobrien.com/reflections/cardinal-ratzinger-fatherhood-and-apocalypse.html) Fr. Roger said Trinity Sunday often focuses on God the Father's role in the Trinity. Cardinal Ratzinger said in 2000 in Palermo, Sicily, that the crisis of fatherhood is the most important element threatening man in his humanity. Fatherhood is not just a biological act. Fr. Roger often finds that those who come from broken homes often find it difficult to relate to God as Father, which results in many other societal problems. Many sociologists have pointed out the serious consequences of so many kids growing up without children: poverty, violence, teen pregnancy, and more. The Church needs to help fathers recognize the great mission they have. Human fatherhood comes from God the Father. We also have to understand how God relates to Jesus, His Son, and to all His children. 10 points revealed about fatherhood that Jesus reveals to us from God the Father: 1. The Father take delight in His children. 2. The Father loves unconditionally. 3. The Father cares about every one of His children. 4. The Father is generous. 5. The Father is observant. 6. The Father teaches those who are docile. 7. The Father is merciful. 8. The Father disciples out of love. 9. The Father works. 10. The Father wants to share life to the full with His children. The editorial substantiates each one of those points with Scripture. Scot said it's a good list for fathers to look at how well they are doing. Gregory said it took him five kids before he fully understood a father's mission and duty toward his children. Susan noted how poorly fathers are portrayed in the media. She also noted the awesome job that single mothers do. Scot said Jim Stenson, a local Bostonian who often speaks on fatherhood, will be on The Good Catholic Life on Monday to talk about the job description of a Catholic father. Jim Stenson says, Your job as a parent, not just a dad, is to raise an adult, not just a kid. **5th segment:** A few days ago, the president of Catholic University of America, John Garvey, wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, that he would try to address binge drinking and the culture of sexual hookups by going back to single-sex dorms. * ["Why We're Going to Single-Sex Dorms," John Garvey, president of CUA in the Wall Street Journal, 6/13/11](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576369843592242356.html?mod=googlenews_wsj) He acknowledges that it will be financially costly and difficult to re-balance the student body to have enough space for everyone in the available dorm rooms. He said there's a tie between virtue and the intellectual life. Scot was surprised that so many Catholic colleges don't have single-sex dorms, but was also pleasantly surprised by the general acclaim for the idea. Susan noted the statistics in the article that talked about the costs of the current culture, including depression for women who have multiple partners, health issues, and the like. Fr. Roger said those who would be happy about this are college kids who want to drink and hookup. Everyone else should be happy. Quoting Garvey: >My wife and I have sent five children to college and our youngest just graduated. Like many parents, we encouraged them to study hard and spend time in a country where people don't speak English. Like all parents, we worried about the kind of people they would grow up to be. > >We may have been a little unusual in thinking it was the college's responsibility to worry about that too. Fr. Roger hopes many Catholic parents will look to Catholic University now and that other Catholic colleges will follow suit.
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Antonio Medeiros and Fr. Emanuele De Nigris, the Rector and Vice-Rector of the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Brookline. * [Redemptoris Mater Seminary](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/redemptorismater.aspx) * [Cardinal Seán's 2011 trip to the Holy Land with the NeoCatechumenal Way](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2011/02/04/visiting-the-holy-land/) * [Cardinal Seán meets with the seminarians in 2009](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2009/09/25/gathering-with-the-seminarians-of-the-neocatechumenal-way/) * [Cardinal Seán's Mass of the Holy Spirit at Redemptoris Mater, 2009](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/09/10/taking-a-boston-duck-tour/) * [Redemptoris Mater Seminary gala dinner, 2010](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/05/21/marking-the-year-for-priests-with-the-sisters-of-st-joseph/) * [The Neocatechumenal Way](http://www.camminoneocatecumenale.it/new/default.asp?lang=en) **Today's topics:** The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Boston, forming men from around the world to be missionaries right here in Massachusetts **A summary of today's show:** The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary is the least-known and newest of Boston's three archdiocesan seminaries, but it is currently forming one-third of the archdiocese's seminarians. The 18 men come from around the world to become archdiocesan priests with missionary hearts, who will serve in Boston or in the missions at the local ordinary's discretion. Also, on May 15, the RM Seminary will honor the Pope's apostolic nuncio to the US at a gala dinner. **1st segment:** Cardinal Seán often says that "vocations are everyone's business." We need to pray for vocations and to encourage young people to consider where God is calling them. We have three archdiocesan seminaries: St. John Seminary in Brighton and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, and then Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, which has 1/3 of all Boston seminarians. Redemptoris Mater Seminary is both “Archdiocesan” and “Missionary” and one of its goals is to prepare priests for the New Evangelization, both within our Archdiocese and then also in the missions. The Redemptoris Mater Seminary is preparing priests to do just that. Our Archdiocese of Boston has had a tremendous tradition of supporting the missions and the people around the world, sending many priests to the Saint James Society and to serve as chaplains in the Military. The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary is continuing that tradition and also introducing many new things to the life of our Archdiocese. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Medeiros and Fr. De Nigris to the program. Scot said he found all the priests and seminarians at RMSB to have very varied backgrounds. He noted that Fr. Tony was born in the Azores and then moved to Fall River in 1980 with his family when he was 16, not speaking any English at the time. (He now speaks 7 languages.) He came to know a priest who moved him and who inspired Fr. Tony to want to become a priest. He started the path through seminary education in 1982 and entered St. John's in 1986. He struggled during those years in the seminary to determine that this was indeed the vocation God was calling him to. He left the seminary and spent time in Rome in discernment. He attended [World Youth Day in 1989](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/youth/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_27111988_iv-world-youth-day_en.html) in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He heard John Paul II's call to young men to be holy and to follow God's call. Fr. Tony talked with his friends in the Neocatechumenal Way, which he had joined by then, who helped him to see his vocation. In 1993 he was ordained for the Diocese of Rome after attending the first Redemptoris Mater Seminary, which had been opened by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained by the Holy Father. Fr. Tony said JP2 did the greatest service to the Church by offering intense personal witness of his life, his spirit, and his courage. Later, Fr. Tony was sent to China where he was to lead a new Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Hong Kong. Fr. Tony said he learned to follow the footsteps of Christ, where Jesus walked before Fr. Tony followed. A lot of the first work involved learning the language and the culture, establishing contacts. He had to learn the Cantonese language only after he arrived. Then, moving to Taiwan, he learned Mandarin. Cardinal Seán asked Fr. Tony to come and found a new Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Boston in 2005. Cardinal Seán learned about the RM seminaries when he was an apostolic visitator to seminaries as appointed by the Vatican. He became a big fan of RMS after meeting the priests and seminarians. Fr. Emanuele was born in Italy near Turin. His parents were part of the Neocatechumenal Way and that's how he began his journey. When he was young, he used to say that he wanted to be a priest one day, but stopped saying it by the time he was 12 and thought he wanted to have a family. But later, the Neocatehumenal Way helped him discern his priestly vocation as his Christian faith matured. He was able to consider the vocation without fear that it would be something he would not like. He came to know that God wanted his happiness in his true vocation. His mother's illness after giving birth to Fr. Tony's twin sisters was also a time of discernment as he considered the meaning of his mother's suffering. Through considering the questions of the meaning of life, he began, first, to rebel against his upbringing, and then to realize how wrong he was, that God took good from the evil of suffering. Thanks to the support of his community, his catechist, and his parish priest, he stopped resisting God's will. For him it was [World Youth Day 1993 in Denver](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/youth/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_15081992_viii-world-youth-day_en.html) that was his turning point, when he emerged from his "underground" Christianity to open himself to the possibility of the priesthood. He found the strength to leave his girlfriend and his university studies in law to follow the path God had laid out. He chose the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, in which the seminarians are sent to dioceses not of their own choice, to be ordained for those dioceses. He was to be formed to be a missionary priest to the world. All Redemptoris Mater seminarians are selected by lottery to any of the 87 seminaries in the world and they will be ordained for that diocese. Fr. Emanuele was sent to the first RM seminary in the US in Newark. He didn't stay in Newark, but was reassigned to Washington, DC, because Cardinal McCarrick, who had been archbishop in Newark, decided he wanted the same RM seminary in DC. So he asked the archbishop of Newark to send 7 men to help found an RM seminary in DC. Fr. Emanuele was assigned to DC, was ordained there, he worked in a parish in Silver Spring, Md., became the cardinal's secretary, and then worked in a parish in Germantown, Md. He was sent last August to Boston to help form the 18 men at RMS-Boston, who are about a third of the seminarians for Boston. **3rd segment:** The 18 men at RMSB come from nine countries in Europe and Latin America. They use English in the formation house to help them learn the language. The name Redemptoris Mater means "Mother of the Redeemer," referring to the 30 years Jesus lived in formation in his family. It also refers to [John Paul II's 1987 encyclical](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html). The big difference in the formation of the RM seminaries is that the seminarians continue the formation of the Neocatechumenal Way. The Way is a missionary movement to help the lost sheep of the parishes to find their way back to the Shepherd. Most of the seminarians have experienced the missionaries at their own doors, inviting them to come experience adult catechesis at their parishes. The other elements of priestly formation are the same as other seminaries. The RMSB seminarians receive their academic formation primarily at St. John Seminary, but their pastoral, spiritual, and human formation at RMSB. Living in the house with men from all over the world that they did not know before leads them to learn how to live with a person, to reconcile and overcome differences, which brings a richness. They are also assigned to one of the Neocatechumenal Way communities in various parishes throughout the Archdiocese, going there several times a week, including the Eucharist on Saturday nights. It also helps them to become familiar with the Archdiocese which has become their new home. They are welcomed into the homes of Bostonians. The seminarians will be archdiocesan priests, but are open to being sent out for missionary service at the discretion of the local bishop. The men ordained through RMSB are hoping that they will be assigned to work in the missions. Fr. Emanuele said the greatest expectation, of course, is to become a priest, but they are learning that it is possible to be a missionary priest in Boston to go out and evangelize those who don't come to the Church any more. They also have the openness and desire to live the missionary vocation somewhere other than the Archdiocese as well. This isn't a sure thing, but they are to be ready to be sent at any time. They should be open to the Lord sending them out. As part of formation, the seminarians have a couple of years of itinerant evangelization experience. They learn to rely on God alone to sustain their lives and vocations. Fr. Tony said it is an essential aspect of formation. They are taken from their schooling for 2-3 years to live with a priest in a parish, working beside the priest. It introduces them to a God attuning them to the rhythm and the mission that belongs to God. During this assignment, they live in poverty and learn to lean daily on the providence of God. The seminarians are not allowed any money, and they always go two by two, as Jesus sent his disciples two by two to announce the kingdom, without any security. They have three men on this assignment right now: the Holy Land, Washington DC, and the Carolinas. At this point these seminarians are no longer in parish work, but working with Neocatechumenal Way communities as well as visiting with pastors proposing the creation of these communities in their parishes. One seminarian in his 3rd year of seminary right now had previously spent 3 years in itinerant ministry in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The history of the Church in Boston has immigrant roots. The experience of being foreigners here helps them to better understand the experience of the families of the people they will serve. The seminary is currently in a rectory of a former parish in Brookline, which was originally built for 7 or 8 people to live in. Fr. Emanuele called the experience of living in such close quarters very "formative". The amazing thing is that no complains about their living space. While there may be disagreements, there is also reconciliation. But because they hope to welcome even more seminarians, they hope to one day find a bigger space or even build a new seminary to hold more seminarians and give them a life and space more conducive to their formation and spiritual growth. He said it's very difficult to find a place of silence in the current seminary. Fr. Tony said when RM seminaries are built, they incorporate the fruit of the Second Vatican Council, and find it very important to respect the importance of beauty, as an element especially in which the environment affects a formative dimension on a person. The place itself tells him that God loves him. Paintings and artwork are very important as a dimension of objective beauty. **4th segment:** On May 15, the 2nd annual gala dinner to benefit RMSB will be held. It was hosted at the Pastoral Center last year, one of the biggest events as yet in the building. They honored John and Margarete McNeice for their support of the seminary and Cardinal Seán for his support of the New Evangelization. This year, the dinner will be held at Lantana's in Randolph. They will be honoring [Archbishop Pietro Sambi](http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2005/05-287.shtml), the apostolic nuncio to the United States, and local businessman [Jack Shaughnessy](http://catholicboston.com/index.php?content=jackshaughnessy). Fr. Tony said Archbishop Sambi is coming to show his love and respect for Cardinal Seán and the people of Boston. He is in a position of great importance for the Church in the US because of his role in helping the selection of bishops. It is an honor for the seminary and for Boston. This is his first speaking engagement in Boston since being appointed to the US in 2005. Scot said because of his responsibilities in the US, he is worth hearing live and he is a wonderful speaker. Fr. Emanuele said the apostolic nuncio has a first responsibility as ambassador of the Pope to the United States in a diplomatic role. But he also has a great role in the Church in the United States as a point of reference for the bishops of the US, being a point of contact for them. And he has a responsibility to gather the names of potential candidates for bishops to forward to Rome for the eventual selection by the Holy Father. As one of the largest bishops' conferences in the world, it is a very large responsibility. Fr. Tony said he hopes that many people can come to show their support for the seminary and for the priests of the archdiocese through both the fundraiser aspect, but also to allow many of the priests to hear Archbishop Sambi. Boston can show the archbishop that the Church in Boston is one and whole. It is open to families, left to the judgment of parents. For information and tickets, contact Mrs. Christine Ohman: 617-959-3956 or seminary@rmsboston.org
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of *The Anchor*, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of *The Pilot*, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese. * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * [Statement of the Archdiocese on the lay pension plan](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=19854) * [CNS: "Pope appeals for suspension of fighting in Libya"](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101210.htm) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/mcc.aspx) * [Centers for Disease Control statistics on sexual behavior](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr036.pdf) **Today's topics:** The Archdiocese of Boston's lay pension plan; the Pope's message for suspension of fighting in Libya; teens and abstinence and the new Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks **A summary of today's show:** Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy discuss with Scot and Susan Cardinal Sean's strong statement of support for lay archdiocesan retirees and employees and their pension plan; Pope's Benedict's plea for the cessation of fighting in Libya for the sake of the innocent; new statistics showing teens are taking up abstinence because of federal funding that started in the early 2000s; the Church's challenge to serve immigrants to the US; and then tributes to two men whose professional careers are undergoing a big change. **1st segment:** Susan has been working on her budget for the past week for her Office for Religious Education, causing her to pull her hair out. But she's also excited for Red Sox Opening Day tomorrow and they've picked a good year to start the season out of town. She also noticed a slight resemblance between our own Justin Bell and Red Sox shortstop Dustin Pedroia. Scot said many national experts are picking the Red Sox to go to the World Series. He doesn't know whether that's encouraging or whether we should be afraid of jinxing the Red Sox. Another exciting event was the blessing of a new statue of St. Patrick at the Pastoral Center, which was a gift of St. Mary parish in Brookline. If you have questions, email LIVE@thegoodcatholiclife.com or call or text 617-410-MASS. **2nd segment:** Gregory Tracy relates a very exciting event in his family's life. His oldest daughter, Carmen, received her acceptance letter to Harvard yesterday and more importantly found out that they would receive the aid so she could go. Scot reflected on his own acceptance to Harvard and how he and his brother Fr. Roger were accepted to the school and received enough financial aid to go. Susan's son also went to Harvard as well. Scot noted that St. Paul in Cambridge is an excellent Catholic community for Catholic students at Harvard. Fr. Roger remembered a Mass for their deceased grandfather in which a relative who had gone to Boston College remarked by joking that it was good he had died before seeing his grandsons go to Harvard and lose their faith. But seriously, Fr. Roger said his experience at Harvard helped prepare him to be a herald of the Good News. Scot also extended congratulations to Greg and his wife, Donis, for all their own hard work supporting their daughter. Today's front page story in the Pilot is Cardinal Sean's commitment to the Archdiocesan lay pension plan. The Pilot received a strong personal statement from the Cardinal. Scot said the archdiocesan pension plan is transitioning from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution. The defined-benefit is a promissory note that after retirement you will get X dollars every month until you die. A defined-contribution is a promise to put X dollars into the plan every month while you're working and what you receive at retirement depends on the fluctuations in the market. Defined-benefit plans have become a huge burden on organizations as markets have suffered and people have been living longer and health costs have risen. The Archdiocese has offered to transition plan participants or to offer them a lump sum payout. A former chancellor of the Archdiocese accused the archdiocese of strong-arming retirees and pension participants into accepting lump sums. * [Archdiocesan Benefits website and pension information](http://catholicbenefits.org/pension/index.htm) Scot said it is very sad for him to see this plastered on the front page of newspapers locally and nationally. Gregory said it has echoes of the pain of the sex-abuse scandal. He said David Smith said at his press conference that he had heard from many retirees about their concerns for their pensions. As a church plan, it is exempt from many legal requirements and is not guaranteed by the federal government's regulations. The Cardinal said that they never intended to give the impression that the archdiocese wanted to push people out of the plan. Scot said the Cardinal's statement points out that the pension plan has been struggling in recent years. The Cardinal said, "As long as I have breath in me, I will do everything in my power to care for the people who have given themselves in service for the Church." Fr. Roger said the statement indicates how deeply involved the cardinal is in the outcome and how wounded he is by the inference that the Church is merely trying to cut corners to achieve an economic bottom line. Instead the Church is a family and it lives by both the rule of charity and of justice. Fr. Roger thinks the Church loses every time we focus too much on the institution and not on the reality that the Church is a family and a body that Christ came to found. Susan said she has many friends who have been to these meetings concerning these pension plans. It's a very technical subject and people are uncertain. At a meeting she attended, the plan administrators said that for those who don't take the lump sum, will they be guaranteed what they were promised and they were told they could not be guaranteed. Scot said he hopes that the tension caused by this pension plan change comes off the front pages of the newspapers and people can make these important decisions in peace and with full knowledge of the factors involved. **3rd segment:** The Holy Father this week appealed for the suspension of fighting in Libya. Fr. Roger said the Pope expressed his fear that the longer that armed conflict goes on the more innocent people will suffer. In his appeal he said that even the weakest signal of an openness to diplomacy should be responded to positively to end the violence. Even if there is no intention on the part of the NATO coalition to injure civilians, innocent people are inevitably hurt in any armed conflict of this size. Scot asked why the Holy Father's statement is news, since everyone expects him to say this. Gregory said it's because the Holy Father is a moral voice for the world. There's a related statement by the US bishops weighing in on the moral issues, without telling civil leaders what to do, allowing for their prudential judgments. They speak out on behalf of the innocent, to make the moral voice heard. Vatican officials said they were confused by the haste at which these military operations were undertaken. **4th segment:** The Centers for Disease Control report that 43% of teenagers 15-19 are remaining abstinent, up from 35% in the early 2000s. Fr. Roger said we need to proclaim this news from the rooftops to encourage teens who feel like they are alone in making this choice. The CDC stats show that this is led by a disproportionately large change among teen girls. These figures correspond with Bush-era abstinence education programs promoted by his administration. Unfortunately, abstinence-only education has been cut by the Obama administration, which could lead to a rollback of these advances. Planned Parenthood programs in schools used to get 4 times the funding of abstinence education programs, but now they get several hundred percent more than that. The Office of Religious Education works with the Pro-Life Office on chastity education programs for children in religious education programs and Catholic schools. There are many well-trained educators now as well. While the federal government provides abstinence education funds, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick refuses to take it. Scot said it's offensive to him as a parent and taxpayer. Gregory agrees with Scot's outrage. He said failure to fund abstinence education fails to take into account the psychological effects of early sexual activity, but only looks at the physical and economic consequences. Scot said one of the reasons it offends him is that nationally twice as many parents support abstinence-only education in schools over Planned Parenthood programs. The Massachusetts bishops have produced information for parents on the Massachusetts Health Curriculum, letting them know that the parents can opt out their children from sex ed classes. Susan said some of the issues in the proposed frameworks for health curriculum in Massachusetts include information on how to procure an abortion and acceptance of homosexuality, among other issues that are morally troublesome. Susan said her office is distributing 35,000 of the brochures through parish religious education programs. Scot said that parents are the primary educators of their children and without these information they might not know what their children are being taught. Susan said taxpayers should also be upset that their money is going to fund these frameworks that undermine parental responsibility. Fr. Roger said his own parish either handed the brochures directly to parents or mailed them to their homes. He said most parents were very surprised what was being taught to very young children in these state curricula. Many parents are getting involved. Right now the frameworks are just recommendations for school districts, but there are attempts to make them mandatory. For anyone who wants a copy of the frameworks, they can be downloaded from our website or at the [Mass. Catholic Conference](http://www.macathconf.org) website. * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (English)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/frameworksbrochureenglish.pdf) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (Spanish)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/frameworksbrochuresspanish.pdf) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (Portuguese)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/MCC/frameworksbrochureportuguese.pdf) The Pilot also has an article this week on the changing demographics in America due to immigration and a discussion recently in Washington DC on the change it presages for the Church. Hispanics in general are 16% of the population in the country, but 25% of people under 25 are Hispanic. So the Church has to embrace these young people now or they will drift away to secularism or to any number of Pentecostal churches. Scot recalled that when the Archdiocese closed many parishes in 2004, many were originally built in the 19th and 20th century to serve particular immigrant groups and, in a way, it shows the Church did a good job of assimilating them such that the different ethnic parishes were not needed any more, at least for their original purpose of providing a faith community in exclusive to their original languages and cultures. Fr. Roger said New Bedford is 23% Hispanic, up from 15% a decade ago. That's only those who were officially counted. There are many illegals. He said his food pantry at his parish, St. Anthony, feeds many poor people from Central and South America. The Church needs to help not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual needs. In their home countries, they often only had Masses once or twice per year in their small villages, and so they are not in the habit of going to Mass regularly. It affects Mass attendance, but also all the sacraments. He said this is an indicator of the need for the Church to get its act together to help them become strong Catholics now and for the next generation. At the diocesan level, Scot said, we're trying to be responsive to growing immigrant populations as well. Susan said she has someone in her office just serving Hispanic Catholics. They have a program to train leaders in parishes in ministry and catechesis. When they offer a workshop they will get many, many people signing up. They are also very concerned about the prevalence of storefront churches taking away many Catholics. And they are working with other communities, including Brazilians, Haitians, Vietnamese and others. **5th segment:** Scot notes that today is the 66th birthday of his father, Roger Sr. After 50 years of work, he is retiring today. He is a great father who taught his children a tremendous work ethic. Congratulations to his father. Fr. Roger remembers when he was ordained a priest and in his thanks at the time, he said his father has St. Joseph's face. He learned more about being a priest from his father than from anyone else, because the priesthood is a vocation of love and hard work and he's never seen anyone work harder or love more. Now joining Scot and Susan in the studio is John Irwin. Four years ago, Scot hired him to work with the Catholic Appeal and later he moved to work to raise financial support for the health and retirement needs of priests of the archdiocese. John had a love for the Church and wanted to serve the Church. Because of a reorganization, John's job has been eliminated and tomorrow is his last day. Scot said John is one of the finest people he's worked with in the Pastoral Center. John said his work with the priests of the archdiocese has been rewarding and encourages people to visit the retired priests at Regina Cleri. * [Care For Senior Priests](http://www.careforseniorpriests.org) Scot asked John to reflect on working in the Pastoral Center. He said it's a tremendous place to work, to go to Mass every day, to say the rosary every day, in the place where you work. There's a tremendous amount of joy and positive energy from the people who work here. Scot said John holds the record of giving the most tours of the Pastoral Center. Scot thanks him for his four years of service and said we will pray for him as he looks for the next phase of his professional life.
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston. * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * [St. Thomas More College](http://www.thomasmorecollege.edu/) * [CNS, "Dancing with the saints: Retreat master says that's the key to Lent"](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101089.htm) * [The Boston Herald, "Nuns sue Archdiocese of Boston over retirement funds""](http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20110321nuns_sue_boston_archdiocese_over_retirement_funds/) * [Raymond L. Flynn, "Halting bigotry against Mass. Catholic schools"](http://www.lowellsun.com/editorials/ci_17633890) * [Pioneer Institute](http://www.pioneerinstitute.org/) **Today's topics:** Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York interviewed on CBS News' *60 Minutes*, the Pope's Lenten retreat, school choice, the Daughters of St. Paul dispute with Archdiocese of Boston over pension funds, St. Thomas More College relocation **A summary of today's show:** In a brisk review of the week's news, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York on being a "conservative" Catholic and then the ongoing response to the sexual abuse crisis; the Pope's Lenten retreat focusing on Pope John Paul II; an effort to repeal anti-Catholic laws in Massachusetts; the dispute between the Daughters of St. Paul and the Archdiocese of Boston does not undermine the mutual love and respect; and a relocation of a Catholic college to the archdiocese. **1st segment:** Susan reflected on the past week since her last appearance and how she and friends and colleagues have been reflecting on Lent and the joy in Lent. Scot said it's always a trial to keep up with Lenten disciplines and also there appears to be many more people showing up for Mass each day at the Pastoral Center. **2nd segment:** Scot and Susan welcomed Gregory Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry. First item up for consideration was an interview by *60 Minutes'* Morley Safer with Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. Fr. Roger recalled knowing then-Msgr. Dolan when Fr. Roger was a seminarian at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Archbishop Dolan was as warm, friendly, and jovial as he remembered him and seemed to win over Morley Safer with his personality. Archbishop Dolan leads the US Catholic Church in several ways, both holding the biggest pulpit in the US at St. Patrick's Cathedral and as president of the USCCB. *A clip from the show includes Safer's comments calling Archbishop Dolan a right-wing conservative. Archbishop Dolan bristles at being called right-wing, but he is enthusiastically grateful and committed to the timeless traditions and history of the Church.* Scot notes that many people like to label the Church, especially calling people who take their faith seriously as right-wing. Greg noted that there's a tendency to put everything under political labels, like "left" and "right". But that doesn't really apply to the Church, which is what Archbishop Dolan was saying. Fr. Roger noted that Christ's word is eternal and those who follow don't put their finger in the wind to see which it's blowing. People try to make the Church a political messiah, like people tried to make Christ a political messiah back in the day. We are supposed to be conservative if we define it as supporting life issues and the Church's teaching on morality, but liberal if we define it as supporting the Church's teachings on the poor, for example. As Catholics we must defy those easy labels because we are called to be both. Susan said what came to mind was the paradox people saw in Pope John Paul II, being both orthodox on the Church's teachings and so politically "liberal" on issues related to war and peace. *A clip from the interview on the Archbishop's experience meeting with abuse victims and the Church's response to the scandals. in some ways, Archbishop Dolan said, he doesn't want the crisis to be over. It needs to haunt the Church.* Fr. Roger said he heard those words, having worked with so many victims who've been wounded in the Church, and it struck him because of the awful experience of the victims, not just from the original injury but also from the lack of compassion from the Church in so many cases. All of this needs to haunt the Church, and Fr. Roger is thrilled that Archbishop Dolan gets this at a visceral level. We don't just institute a policy and move on, but take it to heart and make reparation. And then use this as something that drives us to go on in a way that serves everyone into the future. Scot mentioned to Greg that so many want to just move on from the crisis, but there are others who say we always have to remember it because those who have been hurt will be with for a long time. Gregory sees a persistent theme in all coverage of the Church that the abuse scandal is always coming up. The Pilot has often received comments from readers asking them to stop covering the crisis because if something good can come out of the revelations of the abuse, it;s that it forced the Church to confront this evil, but also to bring awareness to the problem in general to society as a whole. The Church can provide a model to society on how to deal with this. Fr. Roger noted in this week's editorial that Archbishop Dolan has been using his blog to speak frankly and plainly about the issue of abuse as well as the response to the Church, the part of the story being missed which is that the bishops have begun to get things right and create the circumstances by which young children are perhaps safer in Catholic churches than in any other institution. We shouldn't be so ashamed at what has occurred that we become a punching bag for those who want to use the evil that occurred as a way to silence the Church. * [Archbishop Dolan's blog about his airport encounter with an angry man](http://blog.archny.org/?p=1127) **3rd segment:** Pope Benedict has an annual retreat for Lent along with the Roman curia. The theme this year was on Pope John Paul II. They also heard profiles of other courageous saints under a concept he called, "Dancing with the saints". Susan said she was pleased at the reference by the retreat master's reference to the upcoming beatification of Pope John Paul II: "This beatification, which will be an event of immense importance for the church and the entire world, requires deep spiritual preparation involving the entire people of God and, in a particular way, the Holy Father and his closest collaborators.' She also is pleased that the Pope recalls for us the importance of Lenten retreats. Fr. Roger noted that Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the chaplain to the papal household, has preached the Advent retreats for the papal household for the past 32 years. He recently came to Boston to preach a night of reflection. * [Fr. Cantalamessa's website](http://www.cantalamessa.org/) Greg found it interesting that the theme was intended to help people prepare for the beatification of Pope John Paul II, especially since he only recently died. Pope John Paul II was a great believer in the potential of all people to become saints and he canonized and beatified more people than all other pope's combined and so his beatification and reflection on that now helps us to recall that vision. **4th segment:** Last week, there was a news conference featuring former US Ambassador to the Vatican and former Boston mayor Ray FLynn in which he highlighted the existence of anti-Catholic amendments to the Massachusetts constitution that hurt parents who wish to send their children to Catholic schools. It is called the Know Nothing amendment, referring to a nativist movement of the 19th century that resisted the influx of immigrants, especially Irish Catholics, and a great fear that the upstart Irish would gain power. The name comes from the fact it was a semi-secret organization. There was an 1854 amendment putting the original anti-Catholic laws in place and then another amendment in 1917 that blocked the ability to repeal the amendment by citizen referendum. * [The Know Nothing party](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Nothing) The law prevents government aid from going to Catholic schools. Fr. Roger said there is immense economic pressure on Catholic schools, especially in the inner-city. People can't afford even the $3000 tuition, which is below cost, while paying thousands of dollars in property taxes for public schools. Archbishop Dolan has pointed out that studies show Catholic schools do a better job of educating inner-city students and do it at about half the cost of public schools. He said we don't address the issue because there is still an anti-Catholic bias. When this came up in Massachusetts in the 1980s, it failed despite the fact that many of the legislators were themselves Catholics and had experienced the benefits of Catholic education, because they had bought into the secularist arguments. Susan said every Catholic should have an interest in the benefits of Catholic schools. Inside every classroom in Boston is a sign that says "Christ is the reason for this school." Also, every society benefits from a populace that is well-educated. And on a practical level, if Catholic schools didn't exist, the burden on the public schools would be enormous. They would have all those Catholic school students without any additional property tax funds. We hope to have Ambassador Flynn and Catholic schools superintendent Mary Grassa-O'Neill on next week to discuss this issue in depth. **5th segment:** On the front page of the *Boston Globe* this past Monday, we saw an article on the Daughters of St. Paul, as the paper put it, suing Cardinal Sean. At essence of the story, the Daughters want to manage their pension fund on their own and the trustees of the Archdiocesan pension plan asked for proof that they had a management plan in place as required by their fiduciary duty to those who have contributed to the pension plans. Greg noted that the issue is not a new one, but has been going on for a long time and precedes any current changes to the pension plan that are being put in place for current employees. Scot wanted to make sure that everyone understood that there remains a lot of affection between the Daughters of St. Paul and the Archdiocese of Boston. Susan said she is personally close to the Daughters. It's important to realize that there are good people on both sides, she said. Her office is planning several projects with them over this summer and in the fall. They are a cutting edge religious order, involved in the communications and the media. Susan felt that Romans 8:28 is a good verse for this situation: "We know that all things work for good for those who love God." Scot said it is tough to see a religious order you love and the Church you love being put at odds on the front page of the newspaper. Moving on exciting news that St. Thomas More College is moving from its current location in Merrimac, NH, to Groton, Mass. It will become the 7th Catholic college in the archdiocese. Greg said the better news is that their move is motivated by plans to grow. He also notes that they're not abandoning the location in New Hampshire, which will become a graduate school. Scot said more good news is that the beautiful Sacred Heart Church in Groton was sitting unused because of parish mergers and that Groton was planning to build a fire station on the property. The college is purchasing the church as its chapel. An interesting side note is that the school's main property that it's purchasing is the former estate of the J. Geils band. The town wins by getting the property for its fire station, but also preserving a large open area. The college plans to move by 2013. The school said they will be able to revive their adult faith formation programs at the new location as well. * [The life of St. Thomas More](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14689c.htm) * [A Man for All Seasons](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060665/) St. Thomas More is the patron saint of lawyers and was the chancellor for King Henry VIII and gave up his life rather than capitulate to Henry VIII on his dispute with the Catholic Church over divorce. His letters to his daughter Margaret are very enlightening. * ["A Daughter's Love: Thomas More and His Dearest Meg" by J.A. Guy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618499156/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0618499156)
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