Podcasts about catholics come home

During this week's episode of St. Joseph's Workshop, Emily Lugo, M.P.S. & Fr. Stephen Ingram are joined by Deacon Ken Steponaitis, M.T.S. to explore the Lenten theme of conversion. Deacon Ken shares his touching faith journey and how a family tragedy led him to deep soul searching and an assessment of his life and faith. Together they reflect on the love and great desire that our Heavenly Father has for us to “Come Home” and be united with Him.

Search (instituteofcatholicculture.org)

ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHWHERE DID "CATHOLIC" COME FROM ?Check out our website: https://www.friendsoftheword.orgJoin our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.Friendso...Donate and support FRIENDS OF THE WORD, INC.: PAYPAL.ME/FRIENDSOFTHEWORDCATHOLICS

ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHWHERE DID "CATHOLIC" COME FROM ?Check out our website: https://www.friendsoftheword.orgJoin our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.Friendso...Donate and support FRIENDS OF THE WORD, INC.: PAYPAL.ME/FRIENDSOFTHEWORDEVANGELIZING THE WORD, JESUS!

ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCHWHERE DID "CATHOLIC" COME FROM ?Check out our website: https://www.friendsoftheword.orgJoin our community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.Friendso...Donate and support FRIENDS OF THE WORD, INC.: PAYPAL.ME/FRIENDSOFTHEWORDEVANGELIZING THE WORD, JESUS!

How do we evangelize in our own home? Katie shares great advice and resources from her experience as a mom, author, and speaker who has helped many families focus more on Christ and His Church. Katie Warner is a Catholic speaker, homeschooling mom, and the author of several children’s books including Father Ben Gets Ready for Mass and Listening for God. She is also the writer behind a popular prayer journal series including A Parent Who Prays and A Spouse Who Prays. Katie holds a graduate degree in Catholic Theology from the Augustine Institute, writes for the National Catholic Register, manages KatieWarner.com, and helps others home to the Church through Catholics Come Home. Katie lives in Georgia with her husband and fellow book-loving children. Check out her website at http://www.katiewarner.com and her books at http://www.firstfaithtreasury.com

On Wednesday, January 27, host Judy Comeaux talked with Tom Peterson, Catholic Author and host of the TV series, Catholics Come Home. They discussed his most recent book written with Ryan Hanning, PhD, The Willpower Advantage: Building Habits for Lasting Happiness. You can check out the book here! Tom said if we know who we are and how we are wired, we can come to truly understand and strive for the life God wants us to live, and thus, achieve a lasting happiness even on this side of Heaven! This book is all about getting rid of tough things in our lives that steal our happiness. Listen in for a great conversation!

We discuss two new books perfect for Christmas, first with Raymond Arroyo of EWTN then with Tome Peterson of Catholics Come Home. The Spider Who Saved Christmas The Willpower Advantage

Rediscovering your Faith is a moment of joy and hope. In this episode Frs Damian, Dominic and Conor respond to a email they received from a listener: what practical steps can we take to cultivate our relationship with God, especially if we have been distant from Him in the past.

Fr. John Nahrgang, parochial vicar, Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral continues a series on Virtues with a look a Justice. Kevin Saunders, Bible teacher, brings the Gospel to life. Tom Peterson, founder of Catholics Come Home and Virtue Media invites us to this year's Diocese of Phoenix Eucharistic Conference. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted reflects on the Presentation of the Lord in his weekly message. Today's broadcast is brought to you in part by Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes of the Diocese of Phoenix. www.dopccfh.org.

There is a great need for excellence in our lives but if that's the focus of your meaning you are going to end up pretty empty. Tom Peterson, the founder of Catholics Come Home, experienced this. Listen in as he and I discuss how he shifted focus from material to spiritual, how that shift changed his life, and how it can changes yours too! Visit Tom's website at https://www.catholicscomehome.org/

We're live with MUSIC LORRAINE HESS - “WE PREPARE”, Tom Peterson with his show Catholics Come Home, with his children’s book "Santa’s Priority: Keeping Christ in Christmas" and Dr. Landon Roussel, Louis Brown and Michael Vaca with Catholic Healthcare

Following 25 years as an award-winning corporate advertising executive, Tom Peterson’s life would radically change forever, after receiving a transforming Spiritual conversion while on a Catholic men’s retreat. Soon afterward, he founded two media apostolates: VirtueMedia (pro-life) and Catholics Come Home.

This Friday I returned for the final time to St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Los Angeles. In this talk I told my own faith journey and spoke about what I think we can do to draw the lapsed back to the Church. Catholics Come Home (Download) You can subscribe to “Theology With An English Accent” manually, or any place where good podcasts

Recorded at the SCRC Conference in Anaheim Convention Center - Tom Peterson - Sunday, October 21, 2018

A Free Talk by Tom Peterson The most entertaining Catholic recording of all-time on the subject of modern, mature evangelization. Tom Peterson, the founder of Catholics Come Home, is hilarious, insightful, and inspirational. This talk will supercharge your zeal for souls and provide you with a pitch-perfect tool for inspiring family, friends, co-workers, and Catholics in parishes in your area. more > Order free CDs of this talk for yourself and your family, and consider getting extras for your friends, fellow parishioners, and coworkers. 

Tom is the founder and president of Catholics Come Home and Virtue Media.  He's also the host and producer of the Catholics Come Home TV series, which airs worldwide in prime-time on EWTN.  He’s author of the book Catholics Come Home.   Before he started these ministries Tom had a 25 year career as an award-winning advertising executive and entrepreneur.

You most likely find time to attend Mass weekly. I'll bet you also have some Catholic friends that don't. On Sunday's Podcast we'll discuss the the “Catholics Come Home” program.

Welcome The RV disaster Pace of Society Percolator Miranda Lambert’s Automatic How Exhaustion Became a Status Symbol by Hannah Rosefield From sloth to burnout, each age remakes exhaustion in its own image. Today’s First Reading, ECC 1:2; 2:21-23 Faith Stuff Humility – Story from a Catholics Come Home e-mail Feedback Curtis Bill Wrap-up Promo – Catholic Vitamins

Tom Petersen, CEO of Catholics Come Home, joins us to discuss using our talents to evangelize to those around us.

Tom Peterson, president and founder, Catholics Come Home tells his story and shares his mission to evangelize. The Catholic Conversation is brought to you in part by Morning Star OB/GYN. Never miss a show! Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes! 4-12-16-Catholic-Convo

Fr. Carlos Gomez, pastor of St. Augustine talks about helping immigrants in parish communities. Tom Peterson, president and founder of Virtue Media and Catholics Come Home talks about GoodConfession.com. Fr. Kieran Kleczewski, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas gives us a glimpse into life at the Avondale parish. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted continues his reflection on […]

Today's topics: Tom Peterson of Catholics Come Home Summary of today's show: God has a custom-made plan to fulfill the deepest longings of your heart and Tom Peterson wants you to discover it. The founder of Catholics Come Home has a new book of the same name that lays out God's extraordinary plan for your life and joins Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines to discuss his new book as well as the unique program he developed to allow dioceses to reach out to inactive Catholics through compelling television commercials. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines Today's guest(s): Tom Peterson of Catholics Come Home Links from today's show:

Tony and Chris interview Tom Peterson, the founder of Catholics Come Home. Inspired by Pope Emeritus Benedict’s call for a New Evangelization, Catholics Come Home reaches out to inactive Catholics using inspiring TV commercials and an interactive Web site. Casting Nets and Catholics Come Home both share the goal of fulfilling the call for a New Evangelization set forth by Blessed Pope John Paul II, and we discuss the mission of CCH, the importance of using media to spread the Gospel message, and how we can invite others back to the Faith, among other things. For more information, visit www.catholicscomehome.org.

Summary of today's show: Bishop John D'Arcy, the retired bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese and a native son of Boston, died on Sunday after a brief bout with cancer. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor discuss the legacy of Bishop D'Arcy, how he lived his life to the full and as a true priest and father, and how he preached his finest homily in how he approached death and the joy he felt in preparing to stand before the Lord. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Links from today's show: Today's topics: Remembering Bishop John D'Arcy 1st segment: Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor said today that they will remember and honor Bishop Jophn D'Arcy who died Sunday morning. He was ordained in the Archdiocese of Boston and was an auxiliary bishop here before becoming bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. Fr. Chris said Bishop D'Arcy was one of the giants among the priests of the archdiocese. Scot said Bishop D'Arcy helped him when he was just starting out in the development office in the archdiocese. He was also one of our first guests on The Good Catholic Life. Fr. Chris said he'd met him once before seeing him again and the bishop remembered his name. He gave some sage advice at St. John's Seminary: Five good priests will attract 100 seminarians while five bad priests won't attract anyone. Scot said we're also keeping in prayer the father of Msgr. James Moroney, Mr. James Moroney, who also died this past weekend, and his family. They discussed how one of the seminarians in his role as deacon had a nearly disastrous accident with the Precious Blood at the funeral Mass, but managed to save the Cup from being spilled. Scot said there was a 30-minute TV special on one of the major TV stations in Fort Wayne last night and we played clips from that show. 2nd segment: Scot said it was only about one month ago around Christmas that Bishop D'Arcy had two new forms of cancer, after having beaten cancer once before. He was 80 years old. He died on February 3, the day after the anniversary of his ordination 56 years ago and on the anniversary of his first Mass. Fr. Chris said the bishop sent a letter to his people in December asking for their prayers that he could meet his end with grace and conviction. Scot said the bishop was ordained in 1957 at 25 years old, which was a young age. He was ordained a bishop at the young age of 42 years old. Scot noted that it shows how well regarded he was by his peers in the archdiocese but also in Rome. Fr. Chris said the bishop was known as a strong spiritual director at the seminary. He spent his first years as a priest at St. Mary's in Beverly. While he was there for only a short time, the people there still talk about his ministry there. He celebrated his 50th anniversary of his priesthood there and throngs turned out to see him. During the celebration he disappeared for an hour and it turned out he was in the chapel praying before the Blessed Sacrament. At the age of 52, he was named to be bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend in 1985, helping to grow the diocese and being a dedicated pastor to the people of Indiana. Now another clip from Melissa Long from Channel 21 came to Boston just after Christmas to interview the bishop and his sister, Sr. Anne D'Arcy, his last televised interview. He talked about preparing his parents to die and many of his fellow priests have come to help him die. He said this is one of the great privileges of the priesthood. Scot said what stood out for him was his mention of his love of Christ and that he was looking forward to seeing him soon. Fr. Chris said you hear the faith, conviction, and humility of the man. They noted that the D'Arcy family produced a priest and also a sister, Sr. Anne D'Arcy. Scot said it was clear that one of the reasons that Bishop D'Arcy loved to come back to his childhood home here was to be with his family and to be in his home because he loved them so much. Fr. Chris said Bishop D'Arcy was all about love. It all comes down to love. Now they played another clip from the Melissa Long interview. They noted that he built schools, renovated the cathedral and improved the priesthood. He said he loved the diocese and retirement wasn't easy. He retired in 2010, giving him time to pray and reflect and return to his ministry as a priest. He had some final words for his diocese. Scot recalled after the death of Pope John Paul II that people said his best homily was teaching us how to die. Bishop D'Arcy's best homily was his final homily. Fr. Chris said St. Paul wrote that to live is Christ and Bishop D'Arcy illustrated that truth. In the next clip, Bishop D'Arcy spoke about the renovation of the cathedral and how faithful it was to the mission of the cathedral as a place of prayer. Scot noted how much the bishop enjoyed celebrating the Mass in the renovated cathedral dedicated to Our Lady. He was particularly proud that it was a church that everybody liked. Fr. Chris said you can hear the emotion in his voice as he talks because he's saying goodbye to those he loves. The next clip, he talked about going into retirement, how difficult it was, but how he had time to pray more, to hear confessions, to preach more. Scot said it was clear he loved his priesthood. Many of the listeners were probably confirmed by the bishop. In the next clip, he was asked what message he would like to leave the people of South Bend. He said you have to have joy. You have to pray. You have to forgive. He urged the people of the diocese to be strong in their faith, to be kind to everyone, to focus on the truth. To raise their families in the faith and teach them the beauty of what God has given us in man and woman and family. Fr. Chris noted his call to be joyful and to trust that God loves you. How can you not be joyful if you trust that God loves you? Scot said he became a bigger fan of Bishop D'Arcy a few years ago when the University of Notre Dame decided to invite the most pro-abortion President in US history and he had to implement the US bishops' decree that Catholic institutions should not give honors to those who are pro-abortion. He decided to explain to the people of South Bend why he couldn't attend that commencement at Notre Dame. Next we played a clip of Melissa Long's interview with Bishop D'Arcy in 2009. Scot noted from the interview that Bishop D'Arcy received many letters of support from throughout the country for his decision. On the other hand, the response from his fellow bishops was decidedly mixed. But a month later he sat down for the interview to explain for TV the Church's position on life issues and to explain why his attendance would have sent all the wrong messages. Fr. Chris said while the graduation was going on, many of the students protested and Bishop D'Arcy went with them to pray with them and commend them for standing up for life. Scot then played a clip from Bishop D'Arcy's appearance on The Good Catholic Life back in 2011 ahead of a Lenten retreat he was going to give at St. Mary's in Beverly: Scot welcomes Bishop John D'Arcy to The Good Catholic Life. Bishop D'Arcy has been a priest for 54 years and next Monday he will return to his first assignment as a priest at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly for a parish mission. He spent 8-1/2 years and it's where the people taught him what it means to be a priest. It was an extraordinary experience. When he moved onto his next assignment in Rome, he left with a deep appreciation of what it means to be a parish priest. A parish mission and Lenten retreat is a good practice for Lent. Why should Catholics seek to attend the mission at their own parish or, if your parish isn't having one, at a nearby parish like St. Mary's in Beverly? Bishop D'Arcy said that the missions are about faith, prayer, sacrament of penance, but the real strength of them is strengthening the faith of the devout, and also reaching out to those whose faith has become weak. The key is the work of the laity in the parish to prepare for the mission, to reach out to everyone in the parish, to provide services like babysitting or transportation for the elderly. Parish missions should also tie themselves into Catholics Come Home. These large group gatherings in parishes help people to approach church in anonymity because it might make them feel more comfortable than making an appointment with a priest or even coming to Sunday Mass, at first. Likewise, if they don't go to confession that week, then maybe they will be inspired to go sometime later and return to the practice. What is the central message of this mission, which is entitled “Christ, Yesterday, Today and Forever”? During the mission, the bishop will speak of the challenges of modern life to a life of prayer; the call to repentance and penance; Eucharistic spirituality, bringing Christ to others; and what the parish will do after the mission, where the parish needs to do more work. In February, Bishop D'Arcy was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he said he is doing fine. He made sure with the doctors that he would not have any radiation treatments before the mission so that he would be strong for the people of Beverly. His outlook is good and he's more than halfway through treatment. He has received many, many letters promising prayer, both from people in Boston and those in Fort Wayne. A week on the North Shore near the ocean will be just the thing for him. His retirement has kept him busy, giving quite a few retreats for priests, bishops, and religious in various places. After the St. Mary mission on Tuesday night, he will give three talks at Blessed John Seminary on Wednesday and then return to Beverly. Then on St. Patrick's Day, he must celebrate a Mass while in Boston. The rest of the week's schedule is also full. He does miss shepherding the diocese, because you hold the diocese in your heart, but now there's more time for prayer and reading. He is adjusting very well. Scot said Bishop D'Arcy's funeral rites will begin tomorrow. The Fort Wayne-South Bend diocese has two cathedrals, one in Fort Wayne and one in South Bend. Wednesday Feb 6: Reception of the body and Morning Prayer at St. Matthew Cathedral, South Bend, will begin at 10 a.m. Visitation will be held throughout the day. Rosary will begin at 5 p.m. A Mass of Transferral celebrated by Bishop Kevin Rhoades will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday Feb 7: Reception of the body and Morning Prayer at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne, will begin at 10 am, with visitation throughout the day. Rosary will begin at 5 p.m. Evening Prayer is scheduled for 7 pm Friday Feb 8: Visitation of the body will take place from 9 am to 11:30 am in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Fort Wayne. A reception for all will immediately follow at the Grand Wayne Center. The Rite of Committal will be conducted privately with the family in the crypt of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. Scot said his episcopal motto is “His steadfast love endures forever”, referring to Christ. That exemplifies his many years of episcopal and priestly ministry. Fr. Chris said we pray that Bishop D'Arcy now sees that love face to face and joys that love for all eternity. Scot said he hopes when Bishop D'Arcy met the Lord, he heard those words: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Summary of today's show: Our usual Thursday panel of Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Fr. Roger Landry consider the news headlines of the week, including Pope Benedict joining Twitter as @Pontifex; the Holy Father's new instructions for Catholic charities to remain authentically Catholic; a new smartphone app dedicated to the Pope's words and appearances; CatholicTV moving to basic cable; a parish producing radio ads for the Year of Faith; and a new book that highlights how six saints helped one woman in the most difficult moments of her life. Listen to the show: Watch the show via live video streaming or a recording later: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Gregory Tracy, managing editor of the Pilot, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston, and Fr. Roger Landry, pastor of St. Bernadette Parish in Fall River 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: Catholic identity for Catholic charities; Pope on Twitter; Parish radio ads for Year of Faith; New book: My Sisters the Saints 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show and asked Susan Abbott how things were going for her. She said she was on retreat earlier this week at the 2nd annual Collaborators in the New Evangelization retreat. It brings together people from Boston, Providence, Washington, New Jersey, Maine. She said Monday's topic was communications and speakers included our own Domenico Bettinelli and Bonnie Rodgers of CatholicTV. On Wednesday, she had an enrichment day with catechetical leaders of the Archdiocese. Bishop Arthur Kennedy spoke to the group and hit it out of the park. Michael Lavigne also spoke to the group about resources available for the Year of Faith. Scot said one of the big stories that broke this past Saturday was a motu proprio from Pope Benedict on the Catholic identity of Catholic social service agencies. He said this document came out of the blue. Gregory Tracy said the Holy Father's letter set up new rules for Catholic charitable organizations and how they must conform to the faith. It's part of a larger effort to re-instill Catholic identity to Catholic institutions. As Catholic institutions have grown they have sometimes lost their unique identity, making them indistinguishable from secular organizations. Scot said he didn't find anything surprising in the document except that the Holy Father felt he needed to say it. Fr. Roger explained what a motu proprio is. He said they can be confusing because the words literally means “by the Pope's own action.” It can be something like this that gives new legislation. It's more than an executive order, but more like new legislation from one ruler. The Pope noted that in canon law that there's a lot in canon law for the bishop's role as governor of Catholic institutions, but not for governing charitable organizations that call themselves Catholic. This document lays out the bishop's role in ensuring the Catholicity of those groups. He wrote that the Church's charity is not just social work; we're supposed to be doing explicit work of Christian love. We hope the recipients will see that love and investigate the source of love further. The Pope also noted that parishes also are supposed to be involved in charitable work. He said St. Vincent de Paul Societies isn't the same thing. The Holy Father is calling for something with a greater dependence on the actual leadership of the parish. Many St. Vincent de Paul conferences defer to the pastor, but technically they don't have to. He said the largest point is that Pope Benedict wants to ensure that any Catholic institution is serving others, that they're doing so in Christ's name, and the bishop is making sure everyone involved in the work is respecting Catholic teaching. Fr. Roger said there's two ways the Pope could have done this, the motu proprio or apostolic constitution, which sets down new law. The latter is much more formal and would involve a lot more consultation. An example was Ordinatio Sacerdotalis from 1994 when Pope John Paul wanted to remove doubt about the Church ordaining only men to the priesthood. Susan said she sees it as good news/bad news. It's sad that things that seem so perfectly obvious and sensible need to be put down in writing. She also noted the number of times the Pope referred to the faithful. These works of charity weren't referred to as the “Church's” responsibility in the abstract, but as the responsibility of the faithful. Scot asked Greg how strongly the Church should be defining the line for Catholic practice. Greg said Americans seem to be obsessed with the ability to self-define themselves and to define what it means to be Catholic. He thinks it's important for the Church to give clear instructions. Greg said there are some people who seem to want the Church to be like the Salvation Army, whose Christian identity can be obscured for those who see their work. He said many people want to do good to be nice, but Catholics do this work to be Christ to others, to project Christ into the world. Fr. Roger said the story wasn't picked up by the mainstream media because the way it was written the significance would be lost on many and because the news of the document wasn't leaked ahead of time. Fr. Roger said the definition of the organizations addressed here go beyond Catholic Charities, but includes hospitals and schools and others. 2nd segment: Scot said earlier this week, the Holy Father announced that he was launching eight new Twitter handles, the English one being @Pontifex. This was announced on December 3. Already this week, without the benefit of one Tweet, he has 525,000 followers. He will begin tweeting on December 12. His Spanish account has another 100,000. By next Wednesday, he will have more than 1 million followers. Greg said it's a great testimony of the hunger in the world to hear what the Pope has to say. He added that this is not going to be an interactive account in general, although it's been promised the Holy Father will answer a few questions. Scot said it seems the Pope is trying to embrace this mechanism to evangelize and share our faith. By his presence he's authenticating the Twitterverse as a place for Catholic to share and embrace their faith among others. Fr. Roger said the Pope has emphasized in his recent World Day of Communications message that the Internet is a the new Aeropagus, where we share our faith. The vast majority of people who have signed up in great numbers to follow may never have listened to the Holy Father closely in the past. When the Pope launches next Wednesday, he will respond to a few questions that have been submitted via the hashtag #AskPontifex and this will be a regular opportunity. Scot wondered if @pontifex will be on t-shirts at the next World Youth Day. Susan said it will be a teachable moment as people learn that the word means “bridge-builder”. Scot said he's not a big fan of the use of Latin when the Church could use English because he wants the Church to seem more accessible. On the other hand, in this case, it could cause people to go and find out what it means. Greg said one of the considerations in choosing the handle was that a lot of the handles were taken. He said that by choosing Latin, the Pope didn't show favor to any particular language group because Latin is the common denominator of our faith. Fr. Roger said Pontifex is the technical title of the Holy Father. He is the Bridgebuilder between God and Man. To call the Pope Pontifex Maximus means we walk all over him to get to Jesus. Greg pointed out that the Holy Father said he would personally review everything that goes out and this is why the tweets will not be as frequent. Scot said Cardinal Sean is @CardinalSean, Scot Landry is @scotlandry, the Good Catholic Life is @GoodCathLife, and the Pilot is @BostonPilot. Scot said the Vatican is also releasing a new smartphone app that will include the Pope's speeches and a webcam of his public appearances. It will be available on iPhones and iPads on December 10 and later on Android. It's called The Pope App. Greg said he was particularly interested in this story, especially because of the live video feeds. He thinks virtually every public address of the Pope is recorded by someone, but not all of them can be viewed by everyone. But there are certain moments when you want to patch in. This app will even give you a reminder when a preferred event is starting. Everything will be archived as well. Scot said he's become a big fan of web streams, including those from CatholicTV. Susan said she was able to watch the press conference of Bishop-elect Deeley on her iPhone that day. Susan noted that the company behind the app is also publishing an ebook for the Year of Faith, pulling information from dioceses around the world. Fr. Roger said it seems the Vatican is partnering with private companies. He noted that the Vatican's aphorism is “We'll use yesterday's technology tomorrow.” He said people are often champing at the bit to use their technical gifts at the service of the Church. For a lot of these companies you can't get a better promo than getting the Pope to tweet. Twitter has received an incredible amount of free publicity from the Pope. At every level, this is a win-win for the Church in the world. Scot also noted the good news that Comcast has moved CatholicTV to their basic package from the premium package it was on previously. They hope the other TV providers would also make CatholicTV part of their basic packages so more people can see their programming. The folks at CatholicTV have been pushing this several years. Greg said in his own home they finally have CatholicTV available on their TVs that have analog-to-digital converters. He noted that the digital TV conversion had pushed the channel to a place that many people couldn't get it. Greg said that by adding it to the basic service, Comcast has made CatholicTV available to every customer in New England. Scot said it shows the importance of going to to sign a petition for other cable providers to follow suit. Scot said that a parish in the Diocese of Fall River has decided to air 12 30-second radio commercials on stations on Cape Cod for the Year of Faith. It's a version of the Catholics Come Home campaign but it was done just by the parish. It's the brainchild of the pastor, Fr. George Harrison. Fr. Roger said Corpus Christi has a track record of using advertising to promote coming back to the practice of the faith in their parish. Fr. Harrison wanted to expand beyond the narrow message of Christmas to the whole year of faith. He also likes the method of getting 12 parishioners of all kinds in a studio and asking them questions without scripts about why they love their faith. The Cape lends itself to this type of radio evangelization. He hopes that other Catholic parishes will follow suit. To listen to the ads, go to the website above and click on the Year of Faith logo. Also in the Anchor, Fr. Roger's column gives a testimonial/book review of a new book by Colleen Carroll Campbell. Fr. Roger said he'd read the book the same afternoon he'd read Pope Benedict's book. Ten minutes in he came to the conclusion that Campbell's book, “My Sisters, the Saints” was the better of the two books. She profiles four different crises in her life and how six different saints helped her through those difficulties.

Summary of today's show: There are many laity who serve in various roles in the Church, but some are called to a specific role as lay ecclesial ministers. These laypeople are specifically formed, authorized, and commissioned into professional ministry in parishes, schools, and the diocese. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor are joined by Dr. Aldona Lingertat of the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization and Patty O'Connor, a parish lay ecclesial minister to talk about the phenomenon and how we can support them in their efforts to build up the Church and evangelize their communities. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Dr. Aldona Lingertat and Patty O'Connor Links from today's show: Today's topics: The Calling of the Lay Ecclesial Minister 1st segment: Scot Landry pointed out that a big part of Fr. Chris O'Connor's job, when he's not co-hosting The Good Catholic Life, is helping forming laypeople for evangelization though the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization. Fr. Chris said there's lots of planning going on for the new school year starting in September. TINE is part of St. John's Seminary and is located on the old St. Gabriel's property in Brighton near the old St. Elizabeth's hospital. Fr. Chris said they're just putting the finishing touches on their new chapel. The numbers at St. John's in both priests and laypeople means they're bursting at the seams and need more space. Fr. Chris said Aldona Lingertat has been with the Master of Arts in Ministry program since it's start and now under TINE has been paired with a Master of Arts in Theological Studies as well as the certificate program. They're also gearing up for something new, but he's not yet prepared to announce what it is yet. This is all to mark the Year of Faith. Scot said today's show is about the calling of the lay ecclesial minister in serving the Church as a lay person. He said among other things they will discuss the US bishops' document of a few years ago called Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, which Fr. Chris pointed out is the same name as the conference they produce every Spring from Aldona's office, which is always about lay ecclesial ministry. Our other guest is Patty O'Connor, a lay ecclesial minister and DRE from St. Mary's in Randolph. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Aldona and Patty to the show. Scot asked Aldona about the MAM program. She said the MAM just graduated 10 students, many of whom are already working in Catholic parishes and schools, including campus ministry, directors of religious education, and general pastoral associates. Now, they're interviewing the incoming class. Scot asked what a typical class looks like. Aldona said they hope to have 20 incoming students each year. They pace themselves. The students can take one or 2 courses per semester or go full-time. If they go full-time and take summer courses, it can take two years. If they take one or 2 courses, it can take 4 to 5 years. Scot said Patty O'Connor has been director of religious education at St. Mary's. She said she grew up at the parish and went to school there. After graduation from college, she went back to teach in Catholic school as a 1st grade teacher. When the school closed she stayed on as director of religious education. She said it's one of the most diverse parishes in the Archdiocese. Scot said Randolph is a diverse town, that every language spoken in the Archdiocese of Boston is spoken there. Scot asked Aldona about the vocation of the laity in building up the Church. She said our life in Christ starts in baptism and we are called to bring Christ to the world. Through our baptism we share in that life and bring it to our families and society. Scot noted most laypeople live that calling in the secular world wherever we might work. Patty said we're called to be leaven in the world in every community that we're in and that starts with the people we see every day. Fr. Chris said in the Co-Workers document, it says: The secular nature of their calling refers to the fact that God “has handed over the world to women and men, so that they may participate in the work of creation, free creation from the influence of sin and sanctify themselves in marriage or the celibate life, in a family, in a profession and in the various activities of society.” This task is itself a participation in the mission of the Church. He said the baptismal call that we are all sent to sanctify ourselves and be active in the world. Scot said there are many roles in the Church that used to be just for priests or religious: Today in parishes, schools, Church institutions, and diocesan agencies, laity serve in various “ministries, offices and roles” that do not require sacramental ordination but rather “find their foundation in the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, indeed, for a good many of them, in the Sacrament of Matrimony.” Some of those roles are under the title of lay ecclesial minister. Some choose to build up the Church by working inside the Church. It's an important development of the Church and the transformation we hope to have in the Church will have a lot of lay involvement. Aldona points out that in Luke's Gospel Jesus sends out 72 disciples to proclaim ahead of him that the kingdom of the Lord is at hand. This is what a lay person does. Scot said people involved in volunteer ministry are not lay ecclesial ministers, but they are still vital to the work of evangelization and the life of the Church. Patty said the baptismal call is one that people in the pews still hear loud and clear, and despite their busy lives still step forward. Fr. Chris said a priest friend preaches that the Church isn't a country club or 7-11. It's not a place to get goods and leave. It's a place to be a member of a community. Each of us is called to contribute to the life of the parish. The word “parish” comes from a word meaning “to draw near” to both Christ and to the Body of Christ, all the members of the parish. Aldona said when she first talks to someone considering a degree program, they express a call to know more about their faith and be of service to their parish and the Church, but aren't sure how yet. She sees the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives as they are open to that sense of a call to serve. Scot said when it's a call to work full-time for the Church, there's a sense of community and duty. As more laypeople began to work in leadership roles, the US bishops wanted to outline what those roles might be and give guidance on how to form them. So they outline four characteristics on what makes a lay ecclesial minister: Authorization of the hierarchy to serve publicly in the local church Leadership in a particular area of ministry Close mutual collaboration with the pastoral ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons Preparation and formation appropriate to the level of responsibilities that are assigned to them So they are authorized by the bishop and announced publicly. Aldona said this is key. Many people feel called, but there's always two parts to a calling: You discern your gift and where you will give that gift. Not everyone is suited for leadership in religious education, but may be great in hospice work, for example. Scot said it also provides some confidence in what this person is teaching to make sure it's in line with the Church's teachings. Fr. Chris said the bishop is number one, he's the overseer, the conservator of the faith as the successor of the apostles. Historically, the bishop has sought out collaborators to help his ministry. The bishop is the source of unity within the diocese and with the Church as a whole. Aldona noted that their formation is human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic. In the second year of formation, they form ministerial identity. The goal is the candidate for ministry learns that the role they will play in the future is on behalf of the Church. The second characteristic is the call to leadership. It's not just anybody who works for a parish or diocese. They have a lot of delegation of authority to carry on that ministry.Patty said you grow into leadership positions and it's important to have good mentors to form you. The third is close, mutual collaboration with the ministry of bishops, priests, and deacons. You can be a lay ecclesial minister off on your own. Aldona said you're part of a body. Fr. Chris said Christ prayed that they all might be one. When there's division or separation, that creates scandal. True collaboration is the work of Christianity. The parishes that are vital are the ones where the pastor is collaborating. The fourth is preparation and formation. Aldona said the Co-Workers document gives a guideline of formation and what courses to cover. The diocese can determine who is certified after the formation program. There are also national certifications as well. Aldona is currently president of Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry. It brings together the programs for lay ecclesial ministry in the US. Scot said the preparation and formation four pillars is the same as that for the formation of priests: human, spiritual, pastoral, and academic. Fr. Chris said we do this with our seminarians on a separate track. It's also a whole person formation. They develop leadership and communications and relationship skills. The minister is to be a bridge, not an obstacle, to Christ. The spiritual formation means we have that connection to Christ that we're trying to convey. Scot talked about the lay ecclesial ministry roles most often associated with it as the lay pastoral associate, who often assists a pastor in a variety of different roles; director of religious education, director of youth ministry, director of worship/pastoral musician, school principal. At a non-parish level, there's a health-care chaplain or campus minister and other diocesan leaders. Scot has heard debate over whether a business manager is a lay ecclesial minister. He said they may not get all four pillars of the formation. Aldona said at one point there was a training program that did try to include all four pillars and there is a move toward that direction. Fr. Chris asked Patty about her responsibilities as a pastoral associate in her parish. She said she's coordinated the Arise program and the Why Catholic program. She trains and forms liturgical ministers, teach on the new Roman Missal, work with RCIA, led Catholics Come Home for her parish. Her current role came out of a discussion with the pastor four years ago when they listed the duties she wanted to take on. Scot asked if parish secretaries are lay ecclesial ministers. Patty said that in a loosely defined way, a lay person working in the church is a lay ecclesial minister in a way. She said there are circumstances in which a business manager is a lay ecclesial minister. Scot said in thinking about a secretary, he thinks it might be conditioned on how formation they have and how much leadership they have. Fr. Chris said this is a developing situation in how we define particular roles. He said the important thing is that the parish secretary is doing incredible work at the front door. In many ways she's the voice of the Church. When we are the voice of the Church, we have to be aware how we communicate Christ's love. Anyone involved in the parish is in some way a lay ecclesial minister. Aldona said there's another term that may more accurately describe the role as lay minister as opposed to lay ecclesial minister. The lay ecclesial minister is the one in leadership. Scot said as lay ministry becomes more formalized we have these kinds of discussions about the differences in different roles. Maybe we need to say these other roles do need all the formation because they are someone who represents the Church in many places. Even lay ministers don't just enter the ministry, but are approved by the pastor and trained to do the work. Scot said the standards we hold clergy too are now being created for lay ministers. Aldona said there is a national movement to develop a certification that will be portable between dioceses. The US bishops have accepted the guidelines that have been proposed and for the first time lay ecclesial ministers are requesting national certification. Scot asked Aldona on the numbers of lay ecclesial ministers and their growth. In 2005, the most recent survey, there were about 30,000 lay ecclesial ministers, defined as working at least 20 hours per week in paid positions in parishes. This year, it's up to 31,000. Patty said in the Archdiocese, there are 435 parish catechetical leaders and of them 85 are DREs and certified with graduate degrees. There are also about 100 pastoral associates, 125 Catholic school principals. Fr. Chris said he would include the teachers in the Catholic schools. Fr. Chris said he thinks Scot is a lay ecclesial minister, but Scot asks if he's received the formation he should have for that designation. He said there are many jobs in the Pastoral Center that would qualify as lay ecclesial ministry. Aldona said the 2005 survey found that the lay ecclesial ministers were raised up from inside their parishes. She encouraged anyone listening to talk to their pastor if they feel like they are called and then seek out a formation program. Patty said a former pastor continually invited her to continue her education as her children grew older. It was in 2002 that she discerned that call into the Master of Arts in Ministry program. She said the four pillars gave her a confidence and maturity. Fr. Chris said we have to address the financial situation of parishes. This is where the money in the basket goes. Pastors want to hire these lay ecclesial ministers and the ministers are due a decent salary. So the offertory in part goes to paying these ecclesial ministers' salaries. Scot said looking forward at the recommendations in the pastoral planning for pastoral service teams to serve more than one parish in most cases, it seems as more effective to group these ministerial activities in parishes together under certain leaders, probably lay ecclesial ministry. He asked Aldona her hopes for the growth of lay ecclesial ministry. She said she hopes the collaboration of these teams would go well and the transitions would go smoothly. It's a challenge to grow to serve a couple of parishes at a time. Patty said her hope with the pastoral service teams is that they be able to entice young lay ecclesial ministers, who are unable to take the jobs because of finances. If the Church can bring the resources together, that may be possible. Patty said certification calls for one to have a graduate degree appropriate for the job and letters of recommendation from the bishop and pastors, and the sending it into the pastoral planning office. There is a committee that will review them and make a recommendation. Most of the time the applicant has already done much of the work of the lay ecclesial minister. Scot said TINE offers two degrees and there are about 90 people in the MAM program. Aldona said many of the deacons have options for getting degree credit for their work. Fr. Chris noted that many of the wives take the classes with their husbands. Scot suggested a young person start working in a parish while working toward certification. Fr. Chris said Catholic school teachers receive 50% off their tuition when they apply at TINE. Patty is on the Pastoral Planning Commission. Scot said the real goal is to allow us to be better at evangelization. Pattyy said she joined in February to represent catechetical leadership. She thinks the committee has worked hard at the goal of strengthening parishes. It's now turning its focus to the other four elements focused on evangelization.

Summary of today's show: One of Bl. Pope John Paul II's major emphases in his pontificate was the New Evangelization and Pope Benedict XVI has continued that work with the establishment of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization. Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams talk with Ralph Martin, a lay member of the council and president of Renewal Ministries, about what makes the new evangelization different from the old and then discuss practical tips on how to seek opportunities to share your faith, how you might do so effectively, and why it's the call of every baptized Catholic to do so. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today's guest(s): Ralph Martin Links from today's show: Today's topics: The New Evangelization 1st segment: Scot Landry and Fr. Matt William caught up on their week and Fr. Matt said he's been out at all the vicariates in the Archdiocese to meet with priests to talk about youth and young adult ministry, to see how his office, the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults can better serve them. Scot said he's made the rounds of the meetings four times in his six years at the Archdiocese. They talked about how big the Archdiocese is. Fr. Matt commented on how even after 9 years in the priesthood and he's still introducing himself to priests he doesn't know. Fr. Matt is also planning a retreat this weekend, Friday to Monday, for teen leaders called Witness to Truth about Love, adapting the teachings of Pope John Paul's Theology of the Body for teens. About 10 of the teens will be going to the Dominican Republic this summer on a youth service trip. Scot said today's guest, Ralph Martin, has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and has been on the forefront of Catholic evangelization for decades. 2nd segment: Ralph is the president of Renewal Ministries and also director of graduate studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Scot said Detroit reminds him a lot of the Archdiocese of Boston, including its evolution over the years. Scot said both Ralph and Curtis Martin were singled out as two lay Americans appointed as consulters to the Council. Ralph said it was a total surprise. He received a call asking him to call them back in Rome. He was told he had been appointed. Ralph said we had become used to Pope John Paul II speaking about the need for a new evangelization and some wondered what Pope Benedict would do about and it was a surprise when he institutionalized it and made it as prominent as he did. The Pope also chose the new evangelization as theme of the synod of bishops in October. Ralph said the Pope is painfully of the erosion of Catholic life. Scot asked what the new evangelization is. Ralph said evangelization was traditionally preaching the Gospel to those who have never heard it before. It brings people to relationship with Christ. The new evangelization, according to John Paul II, is directed to baptized Catholics who aren't living the faith and have drifted away. His encyclical makes three distinctions in Section 33. He called for new fervor in preaching the Gospel and what the different kinds are. The fact that there is a diversity of activities in the Church's one mission is not intrinsic to that mission, but arises from the variety of circumstances in which that mission is carried out. 51 Looking at today's world from the viewppoint of evangelization, we can distinguish three situations. First, there is the situation which the Church's missionary activity addresses: peoples, groups, and socio-cultural contexts in which Christ and his Gospel are not known, or which lack Christian communities sufficiently mature to be able to incarnate the faith in their own environment and proclaim it to other groups. This is mission ad gentes in the proper sense of the term.52 Secondly, there are Christian communities with adequate and solid ecclesial structures. They are fervent in their faith and in Christian living. They bear witness to the Gospel in their surroundings and have a sense of commitment to the universal mission. In these communities the Church carries out her activity and pastoral care. Thirdly, there is an intermediate situation, particularly in countries with ancient Christian roots, and occasionally in the younger Churches as well, where entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and his Gospel. In this case what is needed is a “new evangelization” or a “re-evangelization.” Scot said one of the reasons for this falling away is that so many of us haven't been living our faith publicly as a witness as we should. Ralph said that was one of the emphases of the Second Vatican Council and it's universal call to holiness in the mission of Christ as part of our baptism. Fr. Matt said when people experience a conversion they sometimes think they are called to a religious vocation or to work for the Church as a job, but he said we also need people to be on fire in all areas of society. He said as a Church we're just beginning to help people understand that. Ralph said there's a growing understanding is that the purpose of leadership in the Church not to do the whole work of the Church, but to equip all Christians to do the work of the Lord. They need to help laypeople awaken to their participation in the work of the Church. Ralph said he was just in Rome a few weeks ago meeting with the president of the Council on the beginning of the work and getting organized. They're having lots of meetings, especially with US bishops in Rome on their ad limina visits. But the council will ultimately take their marching orders from the results of the Synod of Bishops. Ralph expects the document will continue the work begun by Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. Ralph said there will be three major events in Rome in October: the Synod, the Year of Faith, and the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the Second Vatican Council. He said each bishops' conference will send a proportionate number of bishops for a total of about 350 total from around the world. There will also be a number of experts who will give 3-minute presentations like everyone as well as auditors who will be present but won't speak. He said he thinks the result will be a recapitulation of the theology of evangelization and an encouragement to use new means. It may recommend diocesan and parish committees and offices of the new evangelization. It probably won't get very concrete. Scot asked Ralph what he thinks is working in new evangelization in the US and abroad. Ralph said it isn't programs that do the work, but people, and some people will feel comfortable with one approach and others with another. The main thing is for everyone to do something they feel equipped for. A diocese can't just mandate one thing for all parishes, but should make available a whole range of possibilities. Some parishes will do Alpha or Cursillo or Ignatian Retreats or Life in the Spirit or Marriage Encounter or anything else. Let a thousand flowers bloom. Scot said many people will know a friend or family member who hasn't practiced their faith in quite a while. What would Ralph recommend for them to propose to others to rejoin the Church actively. Ralph said it depends on the relationship and where the person is. There must be prayer and love for the person at the base. Then be sensitive what would be helpful, like inviting them to a parish mission or a parish talk on faith or coming to church with them. It might be just giving a book or pamphlet to read. Ask them what their reasons for not coming are and find answers. And a lot of times these people aren't on the timetable to be reached now so we have to be alert for a time when we can have another opportunity to invite. Ralph said a lot of times you can have a random encounter. He related an encounter he had with a man who said he didn't believe in God and so they had time to sit down and have a conversation. He knew he couldn't answer all objections in a short conversation, but he wanted to remove some of the biggest obstacles. He said he challenged the man to ask God every day for one week in prayer to ask Him to reveal himself. Sometimes we plant a seed, sometimes we water a seed that someone else has planted, and sometimes we're there for the harvest. Fr. Matt encouraged listeners to pray for the man. Fr. Matt said his seminary formation spent more time on pastoral care than on evangelization. He asked Ralph how seminary formation has implemented new evangelization over the years. Ralph said in his seminary that it's been implemented. The motto of the seminary is to prepare heralds for the new evangelization. Cardinal Adam Maida, former archbishop of Detroit, also implemented a pontifical degree in new evangelization. That was originally for laypeople, so Ralph asked to offer required courses for seminarians. They also changed their apostolic experience to include evangelization, in addition to hospital work and serving the poor. We get so consumed with those who do show up to church, we forgot those who don't and we don't have a plan to go after them. Scot asked how the priests ordained from this program impact their parishes. Ralph said they have been ordained over the past four years and they're doing things like censuses, Catholics Come Home nights, making liturgies more welcoming (training greeters and readers, etc.). Scot reiterated parishes often focus on those who are in the pews, but we need to focus beyond them to those who aren't with us. Some people may saw that they're not suited to evangelization. What can we say to them?Ralph said the Sacrament of Baptism says it unites us to the living God and Jesus is within us. What He wants to do is awaken us to the Father, to love Him like He does, and to love other people as He does. A lot of Catholics haven't awakened to the meaning of the indwelling Trinity. 3rd segment: This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Collette Lavallee in Middleboro, MA. He wins the CD “The Apostle of the Rosary: Servant of God Fr. Patrick Peyton” and the booklet “Preparation for Total Consecration” by St. Louis de Montfort. 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: Fr. Matt asked how one goes about evangelizing another person, like a random person you're sitting next to on an airplane. Ralph said he usually strikes up a purely small-talk conversation, then maybe ask a little about the person. This tells you whether the person is willing or interested in talking. If they are willing, they might ask you what you do or who you are. This is an opportunity to put on the table something about being a Catholic. That opens the door to asking about their faith background. From there just keep talking and find out where they are and maybe give your own testimony, mentioning important books or events in your life. Sometimes conversations in airplanes, he's ended up praying with someone and promising to send them a copy of a book. When he prays for God to give him opportunities, he sees them. When he doesn't pray for them, he doesn't see the opportunities. Fr. Matt said it has to be the work of the Holy Spirit, who is the animator of evangelization. Fr. Matt asked about praying with strangers and what that's like. Ralph recounted the story of encountering a family at a restaurant, talking about being Catholic. The guy later Googled Ralph, find out who he is, and emailed him, asking if they could get together and talk. Ralph and his wife went to their home, talked about their sorrows and prayed with them because they were trying to have another baby. Later, Ralph was back in the city and at a church he sat behind the man's wife and she turned around and she was pregnant. Scot said Ralph's TV show on CatholicTV “The Choices We Face” is one of the oldest Catholic TV shows. They started Renewal Ministries in 1980 and they have several TV programs and radio shows. They also work in 30 countries, including Kazakhstan and Zimbabwe, recently. They help the local Church and sometimes organize huge rallies, as a way of countering pressure from evangelicals and other Protestants. They also do training for catechists and others. They partner with local bishops and others and maintain relationships with those local churches in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. Scot asked how people would join in on their short-term missions to these other places. Ralph said people can get information and sign up at their website, as well as their other resources. Ralph said they also do parish missions and seminars in the US. They also do a major rally in Toronto every year through their Canadian branch. Scot asked for practical steps to get prepared for the Solemnity of Pentecost this Sunday. Ralph said since John XXIII the popes have been crying out for a new Pentecost. We need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. We need to encounter the Lord and recognize his magnificence, the fire for evangelization won't be there. So we should pray for the Holy Spirit to come, to remove obstacles and hesitancies. We should pray to surrender ourselves so we become a more docile instrument in the hands of the Lord. Ralph said the Cursillo movement brought him back to the Church and then went deeper through the Charismatic renewal. He encouraged people to participate in a Life in the Spirit seminar, if that seems the way for them. Fr. Matt asked him to explain the Life in the Spirit seminar and the Charismatic renewal. Ralph said Cardinal Suenens described its purpose as not being for everybody to join, but to be a witness and living voice to awaken the whole Church to recall what belongs to the Church. He's not encouraging people to join a movement, per se, but to open themselves to the Holy Spirit. Ralph noted that even the apostles, who had the best teaching from Jesus, didn't really get it until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Matt said the Holy Spirit makes a difference for the preacher, teacher, and the one who's open to the Lord. Scot said Ralph's last book was a guidebook for people on a spiritual journey. Ralph said 7 of the 33 doctors of the Church had major insights into how we make the spiritual journey and he put all their best insights together. He said people don't want to just have an emotional experience, but a steady enduring relationship with God. Scot said there's a study guide for the book so a groups in parishes can go through the book together. Ralph said there's also a video based on the book from EWTN as well. Ralph has another book coming out in September that deals with the confusion that can impede the new evangelization. He wrote it while in Rome finishing up doctorate last year. Fr. Matt said he read Ralph's book and it's a wonderful book with words of wisdom from great saints.

Summary of today's show: A new spirit of evangelization is moving across the Archdiocese of Boston and one reason for it is the Why Catholic program offered by the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life. In a series of six-week sessions spanning four years, small parish-based groups explore the Church's teachings through prayer and Scripture and apply them to their lives. Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor talk to Mary Ann McLaughlin and Janet Benestad about the genesis of Why Catholic in Cardinal Seán's vision for evangelization and how it grew out of the success of the similar Arise program. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Mary Ann McLaughlin, co-director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life, and Janet Benestad, secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: Why Catholic 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show and noted that it's the last week before Holy Week. Fr. Chris said he had a big surprise birthday party with family and friends last Saturday. Scot was able to attend. Fr. Chris' family and friends ribbed him about how he sounds on the radio. They also ribbed him about the facts he got wrong, including he was born in East Milton, not Dorchester. The seminarians are preparing for Holy Week. This Saturday they will be having a work day in the seminary, cleaning up. A handful will also be going to help the Missionaries of Charity prepare for Holy Week as well. The seminarians are also continuing with the Stations of the Cross and having a penance service this Thursday. The deacons will be practicing the Exulset, the Easter proclamation. Scot noted that both the text and music are changed this year. Fr. Chris said his vocation was fostered in experiencing Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil and seeing the story of Christ's love played out for us. The churches should be filled to the rafters. Scot said the Holy Father has asked us all to celebrate a Year of Faith starting in October, especially asking families to study the Catechism. Today we'll discuss the Why Catholic? program, which encompasses four years of study of the Catechism. 2nd segment: Scot asked Mary Ann McLaughlin about Why Catholic? She said the Office of Spiritual Development always had a focus on small groups to build up larger groups. She said when Cardinal Sean arrived in 2004, he almost immediately called in the Office and told them of his desire to bring Renew International to Boston. He was clear that we needed somebody who could provide materials in various languages. They brought in the Arise program, which was a three year program. Scot said the parishes that enrolled in Arise reported tremendous results both in numbers of participants and in what it was doing for the parishes. Mary Ann said every one had been scared about whether the program was going to work, given everything that had been going on in the archdiocese. Scot asked Janet Benestad to compare the implementation of a program like this in a big archdiocese with a small diocese, like the Scranton diocese she came from three years ago. When she arrived in Boston, Arise was already running and there was 10,000 people enrolled. Cardinal Sean had been prophetic in the desire for a program that helps people reflect on Scripture and share what was in their hearts. Fr. Chris told the story of someone who was drawn back in to practicing her faith through Arise programs. Scot asked Mary Ann about her sense of people who were reconnected to the Church through Arise. She said she heard that one of the Daughters of St. Paul was approached by a woman who had left the Church, but saw a sign for Arise and came back to check it out. Scot said Arise and Why Catholic? are both small groups that share their faith. Mary Ann said Why Catholic takes the teachings of the Church and aligning them with Scripture, giving people an opportunity to digest it all. Janet said many people who'd met in Arise groups wanted to continue their study and reflection in small groups and so they came up with the Why Catholic program. Mary Ann said the wonder of both Arise and Why Catholic, after your pray Scripture and read the Catechism, you leave the meeting with the desire to implement these beliefs in your life. Fr. Chris asked how many people are involved in Why Catholic, but Mary Ann said we won't know for sure until the end of Lent. She said they have a rough estimate of between 7,000 and 10,000. Mary Ann said this program has been done in other dioceses here and in other countries. She talked to other dioceses and had heard of so much success elsewhere. She's hearing from participants here that they like it even more than Arise. Scot noted that the Catechism often collects dust on many bookshelves, but a program like this helps to break it open for people. The Catechism has four sections and this is why Why Catholic is over four years. The sections are Prayer, the Creed, Sacraments, and Christian life. Each session starts with a section of the Catechism, a passage of Scripture, and then application of the teaching to our lives. Scot asked Mary Ann how often she encounters people who have never been taught to pray. She finds that people you least expect are grateful for any help in learning how to pray. However much accomplished we seem to be in the life of prayer, there are always new benefits to receive, new depths to lump. It has made a huge difference for people. Fr. Chris asked for an explanation of how knowing the Catechism can help the faith life. Mary Ann said knowing the Catechism is layer upon layer. You hear what the Church teaches, hear it again in Scripture, and then in faith sharing you hear people tell you what it's like to experience it in their daily life. Finally, you decide how you will implement what you have heard over the next week. Mary Ann said the group gatherings are 90 minutes. They begin with an opening prayer, then a reflection, a question, Scripture, one or two questions to allow people to respond again, and then suggestions for how they can use what's there over the following week. She said the books have imprimaturs and nihil obstat so people can trust what they're reading. Mary Ann also told stories of Arise groups going as a group to other events like The LIght Is On For You for confession or other programs. Mary Ann said the cardinal had hoped that Renew and Arise would lead people to Cursillo, to allow people to deepen their lives in a new way. Scot noted that Cardinal Sean lived a Cursillo in the first year of his priesthood and speaks often of the transformative effects. Scot shared some of the sharing questions from the first several session of Why Catholic: How do I consciously walk in God's presence? In what instances of my life have gone away to lonely place to prayer? How do I feel when I offer prayers of blessing to God? How and when have I learned to pray? Who are some saints who I pray to because of my spirituality and how have they helped me? How have we as a small group grown comfortable with vocal prayer? Fr. Chris said these small groups are helping parishioners to learn the faith stories and life stories of fellow parishioners they only knew to say hello to before. A program like this allows for a type of sharing and connection that we shows we are one body in Christ. Mary Ann said they have book after book of testimonies from people in Arise. Parents tell of going home and telling their children about their experiences and opening up a faith-based dialogue with them. She said the language groups have been remarkable. The Vietnamese came to the English training and then set up Vietnamese training on their own, She also heard that at Mass people were suddenly hearing Scripture and were moved by it. Mary Ann said many aspects are wide open. Groups can meet at church or in their homes, on any day of the week and any time of day. The flexibility allows them to meet the local needs. Some people prefer going to the church and others prefer going to their neighbor's house. 3rd segment: Scot asked Mary Ann about the training resources available for those interested in starting a group in their parish. First, Mary Ann suggested they call her office at 617-779-3640. She said Renew International offers webinars for parishes who come into the program too late for the regular training. One leader gives distance training for up to 25 people at their computers. Training sessions take place regionally prior to each six week session. The Lent session is coming to an end and in October is when the next session starts. Mary Ann said the program is parish-based so parishioners would need to go through their pastors. The spiritual life happens within communities and Renew has always worked first through the bishop and then through the priests in the parish. As pastors begin to serve more than one parish, Renew sees the opportunity to bridge across parish lines in these small groups. They do have individuals calling asking them how to join a group. They encourage them to talk to their own pastor or to pair up with a neighboring parish. Scot said he believes for the parishes that haven't done this, it's because there haven't been enough people to step forward to take the initiative with their pastors. Janet said these programs foster lay leadership in parishes. She encourages interested people to talk to the pastor and offer themselves to go to the training and do the work to bring it to the parish. Mary Ann said in the fall they will have a faith enrichment festival to allow all the parishes to come together for a prayer experience. She said she hesitates to give expectations, because you never know where things will go. Her experience is that she feels the Spirit moving in this archdiocese. This would never have happened on poor human energy. she's heard from a parish that 49 new parishioners have joined Why Catholic. Scot asked Janet to Why Catholic in context of the Cardinal's vision for the Archdiocese. She mentioned Catholics Come Home, Arise, his pastoral letters, and Why Catholic are all part of a program of extending an invitation to rediscover the Catholic faith. It's in pryer that God speaks to us in the silence. To pray in this way is an evangelizing outreach. As the Archdiocese continues to restructure the ways we hand on our faith, our parishes or pastoral collaboratives might become bigger, but small groups help us to become more connected and to realize ever more that the Church isn't just those we go to Mass with on Sunday, but so spans the world. Fr. Chris said it breaks down barriers and allows people to understand they are part of One Body in Christ. Mary Ann said those interested in Why Catholic, go to BostonCatholic.org and click on the Why Catholic logo at the bottom of the page (or lick the link at the top of this page.) Their office's phone number is also 617-779-3640. Scot also reminded everyone that tomorrow night The Light Is On For You, every church and chapel in the Archdiocese will be open from 6:30 to 8pm. More information can be found at .

Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Fr. Michael Harrington Links from today's show: Today's topics: The Light Is On For You Summary of today's show: Lent is a time when we can hit the reset button on relationship with God, to start anew in the the spiritual life and confession is a perfect way to do that. During Lent, the Archdiocese offers the initiative The Light Is On For You in which every church and chapel will be open on Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30pm for confessions. Scot Landry and Fr. Michael Harrington discuss the beauty and joy of confession and look at some of the resources and reflectiosn available about the sacrament at TheLightIsOnForYou.org. 1st segment: Scot welcomed everyone to the show and reminded Massachusetts listeners that today is an election day. He said that each Advent and Lent the Archdiocese of Boston offers The LIght Is On For You. He compared Lent to baseball's spring training as a time to return to the fundamentals. Every Wednesday evening this Lent, every church and chapel will be open for confession. Scot welcomed Fr. Michael Harrington back to the show. He said the best confessors are those who frequent the sacrament themselves. Fr. Mike said the sacrament is one of the gifts for him personally and to the whole Church. It is an expression of God's merciful love. Scot began the show with the words of Bishop Robert Hennessey as he launched The Light Is On For You this Lent. Hello. I'm Bishop Robert Hennessey. Cardinal Sean O'Malley asked me to lead an important initiative to encourage Catholics to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This initiative is called “The Light is On For YOU.” Each Wednesday evening this Lent, from 6:30-8:00pm, the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston are going to be opening EVERY church and chapel to welcome back Catholics to the sacrament of confession. Jesus once said, “Heaven rejoices more for one repentant sinner, than for 99 that never needed to repent.” Every time someone returns to the sacrament of confession, heaven celebrates and that unbelievable experience of joy becomes ours when we're forgiven. In Jesus' great parable of the Prodigal Son, we see how much the father rejoices at his child's return home. The father runs out to greet him, restores him to his full dignity as an heir, and exclaims, “My child was lost and has been found. He was dead, but has come back to life again.” This great story describes what happens in the sacrament of confession. The sacrament is God's great lost and found department for his sons and daughters. We find ourselves enveloped in God's love. We experience the full measure of Jesus' resurrection. We who are dead to sin are brought back to life again. Scot said too often Catholics view confession as the judgmental face of God on our sins. Bishop Henessey tries to change that image by looking at God as the shepherd who rejoices in finding the lost sheep or the loving father who welcomes home the prodigal son.That's how God rejoices in heaven when we return to his loving arms. Fr. Mike said he gave a talk a few years ago to parents of second graders about to receive the sacrament of first confession. A teacher approached him later and said that most of the parents had the image of the judgmental God and the priests would be harsh in the confessional. Fr. Mike told her that they were projecting an image that is no longer there. He doesn't find that image in confession any more. There is great care taken today by priests to express the Father's love and that's what the children when encounter when they go to confession. Perhaps a lot of these parents hadn't been to confession in a long time and were projecting a stereotype. Scot said going to confession, you could be preoccupied with many other things, but we should focus first on the loving face of God. Fr. Mike said if the priest acknowledges we are sinners, he is not being judgmental. We acknowledge our sinfulness in the Hail Mary. We do so in order to open ourselves to the love of the father. Now continuing with Bishop Hennessey's address: One of the great joys of being a priest is being God's instrument to reconcile one of His children to Him through the sacrament of confession. The priest sees the tremendous joy and relief that people experience in being freed from their sins. Confession is one of our greatest gifts from God. I go to confession frequently myself, not only to confess what I've done wrong, but also to receive the grace to become a better disciple, a better priest, a better bishop. I'm a sinner and I need God's grace. Confession gives us a chance to start over, to hit the reset button of our lives. It shows how forgiving and kind our God is and it helps us grow in compassion and love for others. Come to confession to receive God's mercy, for peace of mind, to deepen your friendship with Jesus, to receive spiritual healing, to increase your sense of joy, and to experience Christ's saving grace. If you say it's been too long, or God couldn't possibly forgive me, you're wrong. God's love for you is greater than all the sins you've committed or could commit. Now is the time to come and have God take away the burdens of sin and guilt that can so often weigh us down. Scot said Bishop Hennessey says it's one of the greatest joys in being a priest to see the joy of the penitent in being forgiven and experiencing God's love. Fr. Mike agreed a lot of people think God wouldn't forgive them. He's heard confession in prisons and in juvenile delinquent homes. He often heard that God could never forgiven them for what they had done, especially young 16 and 17-year-olds. He said, of course, God could forgive them. When they said God couldn't possibly forgive them, Fr. Mike challenged them that they are not greater than God. God's mercy is greater than any sin you can commit. Scot said too often we project human reactions and expectations on God. Fr. Mike said God offers us a chance to begin again, to start over. Scot asked who wouldn't want peace of mind, friendship with Jesus, healing, and joy? Fr. Mike said he's heard many people who said the high point of their spiritual conversion was the moment of going to confession. Jesus came to the world to save each one of us. He loves you so much and wants to help you now with whatever issues you face. He wants to fill you with joy, love and freedom. Every priest in every Church and Chapel in the Archdiocese of Boston will be waiting to welcome you. Please see to it that we are busy – share this message with family and friends by inviting them to come with you on any Wednesday evening of Lent, from 6:30-8:00pm. If you've been waiting for a sign to return to the Church or to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, this is your chance to reestablish and strengthen a relationship with God that will last forever. Please visit to learn more. Thank you and God bless you. Scot said Bishop Hennessey said Jesus came to save each of us individually. He loves us so much that he wants to help us with whatever issues we face. Fr. Mike said when Jesus said Father, forgive them for they know not what they do, he meant those words for each and every person. If you were the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you. Fr. Mike says in talks in parishes that God knows you, loves you, and calls each of you by name. Scot said he hears stories about confessions on Wednesdays that are scheduled to end at 8:30 and go on until 10pm. Scot and Fr. Mike played a message from Father Robert Reed, president of the CatholicTV network, on confession. Scot said he was shocked when he first heard this message at how powerful this message was, saying that confession literally saved his life. He recommended everyone go to The Light Is On For you, click on the videos link, and recommend the video of Fr. Reed to friends and family to show them a priest who would hear their confessions not judgmentally. Scot introduced a humorous video from Matt Weber about going to confession. Scot said it's a truly funny story about why he goes to confession face to face instead of behind the screen. Fr. Mike said those are the two types of people, but what's important is that you go. But what's true is you always feel so much better after confession. He talked about how he can usually guess how nervous the people coming into confession are and how much he wants to express God's love for you. Scot quoted Matt: “It's the best feeling in the world being liberated from sin.” Fr. Mike said the greatest experience is hearing confessions at World Youth Days or major youth events, hearing confessions of young people for four or five hours at a time. Given the opportunity and understanding of the sacrament, young people want to make use of it. Scot recounted the story of his daughter who went to first confession in January and will have her first communion on Saturday and how even she wants to avoid going to confess to a priest she knows. Scot recommended website and smartphone app to help you find a church to go to for confession, especially if you want to find one on your commute home. Also on The Light Is On For You website is a video that explains How to Go to Confession: Scot said it's humorous and was aimed at a young adult audience. Fr. Mike pointed out that if you are unsure in the confessional, every priest will walk you through the examination of conscience or the exact ritual for confession. The priest is there to help you in your particular needs, making you feel comfortable. Scot said he often hears people ask what happens if they forget to confess a sin. Fr. Mike said we do the best we can. We try to bring forward everything we can remember, but if we forget it honestly then it is taken up by God. Scot said he ends his confessions by saying, “For those confessions and any I can't remember…” Fr. Mike said the first step in the video is developing a good conscience. He said it is important for parents to help children develop a good conscience. Scot said some people don't go to confession, don't want to confess sexual sins. He said some priests say that it might be easier to say it in a less embarrassing way like “I've had impure thoughts” without going into detail about it exactly. On the Act of Contrition, Fr. Mike said the priest will help the penitent and the person can even just offer a personal heartfelt act of sorrow in their own words. He said the most beautiful acts of contrition have been that sort. The priest then says the prayer of absolution. Fr. Mike recited it and said it was one of the most beautiful prayers he prays: God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection of your son, has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins. Through the ministry of the church, may God grant you pardon and peace. And I absolve you of your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Last year during Lent we saw on TV the advertisements from the Catholics Come Home initiative, including this one: Scot said the message in this commercial goes back to the idea of hitting the reset button in Lent. God gives us a chance to get back in his loving embrace again today. Fr. Mike said one of the reasons he loves to administer the sacrament is how much he needs it himself. Scot said he loves that the commercial talks of life with God as an adventure.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Terry Donilon, Secretary for Communications and Public Affairs of the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: Terry Donilon, spokesman for Cardinal Seán, and the Church in the news Summary of today's show: Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell have a conversation with Terry Donilon, the secretary for communications and public affairs for the Archdiocese and the official spokesman for Cardinal Seán, who outlines his path from growing up in Rhode Island through majoring in theater in college to working for a number of Rhode Island politicians as press aide and spokesman. Terry also talks about how he left a good job as spokesman for Shaw's to come work for Cardinal Seán in some of the Archdiocese's darkest days and reflects on some of the biggest stories he's dealt with in his position. Scot, Fr. Mark, and Terry discuss whether the media is biased against the Church and then predict what will be the big stories related to the Church in 2012. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark talked about the busy week in the Pastoral Center, without about 1,000 guests total coming in to talk about pastoral planning in the Archdiocese. Fr. Mark said we have to work out these things to have the best plan for the Archdiocese going forward. Scot said one of the big differences in the Church from his days working in the private sector is that the Church has a consultative decision-making process, even though the decision is ultimately the Cardinal's. Fr. Mark said the Cardinal's personality is that he likes to hear from everyone. People said the website is being built to receive feedback from people. Scot said yesterday was the Presbyteral Council meeting. Fr. Mark has a particular role on the council as judicial vicar. They discussed pastoral planning and physician-assisted suicide. They also talked about ways parishes can collaborate. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Terry Donilon to the show. Scot said Terry has served in a variety of public relations jobs in both private sector, politics, and now the Church. Terry said his parents were both intimately involved in government and politics. They were 4 kids and his father was former head of Providence school committee and his mother was a head of a union. Scot said was a theater major in college and was heading to theater education. Terry said working in the theater prepared him well for working with the media in Boston. It opened him up in terms of communicating and having a broad background. Terry talked about singing before a legendary liturgical choir director. Terry said he wasn't as musically inclined as his siblings, but his freshman year at Emerson College, he had to take a semester off due to illness and listened to lots of singing baritones. He went back to college and got the lead in a musical. Many of his classmates have jobs in theater and entertainment today, including several on Broadway. Scot said he can't do justice to Terry's voice. It's a powerful voice. Terry said he's sung at St. Patrick's Cathedral. In 1996, he sang for Pope John Paul II in Rome. Terry worked in radio coming out of college, and worked in Providence. He met Providence Major Joe Paolino, who became a friend and brought him on staff. He went on to work for Governor Bruce Sundland and a congressman. He thinks it's important to instill in his own kids the importance of politics and public affairs. Scot said he's served pro-life Democrats. Bob Weygand was a pro-life Democrat who lost the senate race in 2000 against Republican Lincoln Chaffee. Terry said he grew tired of the political mindset after a while. He said it's more fun to be on this side of politics. He's been encouraged to put his name on a ballot, but he thinks running for office changes you. It's rare to find someone like New Hampshire Republican Ovid Lamontagne who doesn't get changed. Terry said it's a fascinating and important world, but the people involved are often insulated from the world outside politics. Scot emphasized that it's important to get beyond the slogans and understand what exactly the issue are. Scot asked Terry what it was like to work with Shaw's. Terry said it was a time of growth for Shaw's, opening stores and growing jobs. Supermarkets are job creators and an economic engine. They can totally transform a town. He said many towns are centered around these companies in their midst. Terry asked himself how he got from Shaw's to the Archdiocese. He's always been involved in the Church, it's always been important to him. He's sung in church for more than 20 years. In December 2004, he was considering what he's going to be doing the rest of his life. Five months later, he was working for the Archdiocese. If you're willing open yourself up to the Lord, he will lead you. Scot noted that the Archdiocese was going through a difficult time then, with the abuse crisis and reconfiguration. Many of his friends told him he was crazy to take the job, but they understood it was the right move for him because of his backgrounds. His daughter, who was a teen at the time, asked him why he wanted t go work with the old, stodgy institution. He said the leadership had a made a commitment to make things better and they have. He thinks it can be difficult to work here, but at the end of the day, we're better off today than we were in 2004. He said the Church is a rock in people's lives despite the tumult and they cling to it. Fr. Mark said when critical decisions are made by the Cardinal and his advisors, they do so with the best intention to do what's right and just. Terry said there are days when he wants to go crazy when he sees what some people write, but then he steps back and considers how to help the cardinal carve through the onslaught. When the history of Cardinal Seán is written, it will say he met his objective of healing the Archdiocese of Boston. 3rd segment: Looking back over his time here, Terry said the top story is how Cardinal Seán has been committed to helping survivors of sexual abuse with healing and reconciliation, as well as bolster the morale of priests and laity. Other stories included financial transparency and solvency. The archdiocese was losing about $15 million per year on its budget. Terry said the Cardinal is very handy with budgets and numbers. He dealt with it decisively and forthrightly. Terry said the Cardinal opened the Archdiocese's books more than any other diocese in the country. Terry said with Pastoral Planning, the cardinal has been working on this for a long time. The cardinal is taking an organic approach. Part of the approach is to bring more people back to Mass and so he wants to get the media to pay attention to stories like Catholics Come Home. Scot asked about the perception that the media is biased against the Church. Terry said he doesn't think the editors and reporters look for ways to attack the Church. Instead, we have a highly charged political environment with a very liberal community and high-power educational and cultural and industry organizations. This creates friction with the Church. For the most part, they have repaired a relationship with the media that was damaged, which damage including a lack of trust on the part of the public too. They repair the media relationship in order to get the message out. He said these are human beings doing this work. Obviously, at the high level they disagree with us on many issues, but we can't give up our position because we are willing to step out and speak on the issues. Fr. Mark when do you have to react defensively and when do you let it go. Terry said it's a judgment call. He said he has a wide lens of what's out there short term and long term. When someone attacks the Cardinal and the church in a slanderous and damaging way that damages what the Church stands for, they take the reporters and media to task for what they have done wrong. But he's built a mutual respect in a way that we have fewer of those moments. For the most part, we get fair and balanced coverage. We're a very large organization in this area. We are the second-largest social service organization in the state. We educate many, many children. Take those away we'd all be paying higher taxes and perhaps receive lower quality services. Terry said the media look at us and say that we have a big footprint in the Commonwealth. Terry said when he first started 20 years ago, there were no blogs, no email, no smartphones and news was generated once per day. Now the news cycle is measured in minutes. It's important to have a strong message and strong message and stay true to who you are. In this archdiocese, we have a great leader who heals, rebuilds, returns trusts, and brought back credibility. Scot said media organizations are under tremendous financial pressures. He asked how that affects the coverage of the Church when stories about scandal can sell papers or get ratings. Terry said the state of the media is that they are in a state of survival. We're seeing them change how they do things. He doesn't think that the newsroom thinks about cranking up stories to sell papers. Most credible papers and TV stations take their jobs seriously. But there's a lot of experienced reporters that have left the industry and there's a new inexperienced group that will take time to educate. Fr. Mark said sometimes it's frustrating to see the headlines are unbalanced while the story is good. Terry said the headlines can often drive what the rest of the media report. Terry said the reporters in Boston for the most part do well in not ambushing you. Fr. Mark also commented on the soundbite being taken from a long interview. Terry said people often read the Globe and Herald editorial pages and wonder how we can say that's fair coverage. Terry pointed out that editorial writers and newsroom reporters don't influence each other on a daily basis; there's competition there between them. Scot asked what will be the big stories will be in 2012. Terry said the upcoming consistory will be a big one and the 10th anniversary of the Dallas charter in June as well as the pastoral planning in the archdiocese. He thinks it will be a year of great growth for the Archdiocese. He thinks the big issue pushed by the cardinal and other Mass. bishops will be the assisted suicide ballot question. What we're learning is that the bishops have the right message and we have a right and a track record of involving ourselves in these big issues. The Church has a history of having a place in the debate. 4th segment: Now as we do every week at this time, we will consider the Mass readings for this Sunday, specifically the Gospel reading. Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you, ” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am, ” he said. “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect. John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” - which translated means Teacher -, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” - which is translated Christ -. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you will be called Cephas” - which is translated Peter. Scot said both readings are about callings. Shouldn't we able be saying, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” We're creating the space so we can hear him speak to us. In the Gospel, it reminds him that if it wasn't for Andrew finding Jesus and bringing Peter to him, we wouldn't have the first among the apostles, Peter our first Pope. Fr. Mark said we see Andrew three times in the Gospel of John. Here he meets Jesus and then goes to bring Peter to him. At the feeding of the 5000, Andrew brings the boy with loaves and fishes to Jesus. Later on he brings some Greeks to Jesus. The first time, he brings his family to Jesus, then he brings a youth, then he brings a Gentile. Scot said Andrew didn't have to do all the convincing. For us, we can say we don't have to do all the convincing. We have to bring them to Jesus and let Jesus do the convincing. Fr. Mark pointed out how St. John the Baptist sends his disciples to follow Jesus. The first words of Jesus in the Gospel of John are here, which is “Come and see.” Scot said when people have questions about the Church, we can say, “Come and see.” Come to Mass with me, share this life with us and you will see. Fr. Mark said these readings tell us that we invite the Lord to speak to us and hear the Lord say to us, Come and see. Scot said the Catholic Church is where we have met Jesus Christ and so come and see where he is.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Boston Today's topics: Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Sunday Mass participation Summary of today's show: Cardinal Seán O'Malley has issued a major pastoral letter on the importance of Sunday Mass participation. Scot Landry, Fr. Chris O'Connor, and Janet Benestad devote an hour to discussing this very personal message from the Cardinal's heart, which is also filled with intimate pastoral advice and practical suggestions for priests, parish staff, and parents, such the revival of monthly coffee hours after Mass and a link to a Mass times website for travelers. 1st segment: Scot said St. John's Seminary had their big seminary dinner last night, giving thanks for everyone who is a part of that family. The seminarians were heading out to be with family and friends for the holiday. The Master's in Ministry Formation and TINE had a concert over the weekend to pray for deceased loved ones and people sponsor particular songs in memory of the deceased. He said Bishop Hennessey told them that one of the things happening in the Archdiocese that Pope Benedict particularly wanted to know about during their ad limina visit earlier this month was the work of the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization. He asked for them to send materials to Rome to learn more about it. Fr. Chris and Scot talked about the transition to the new translation of the Mass coming up on Sunday. Priests will have to get used to reading the prayers from the books just as much as the parishioners. Next Monday will discuss how the first Sunday goes. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Janet Benestad to the show. Scot said the Pastoral Letter is the Cardinal's second this year. The first was on the Feast of Pentecost and this version is longer than the first by far. Scot said the letter begins by referring to the Thanksgiving holiday and what we put up with to attend that family celebration. Janet said it's a very personal letter where the Cardinal reminisces about his own childhood and events of his life. She said we work very hard to come together, even if the food isn't as great as we want it to be or the conversation won't be as great as it could be. But we do it because it would be unthinkable to be apart from these people. The same is true of the Mass. When we're away from the Mass, we start to feel disconnected from the Church, our parish, and the Eucharist. Scot said it's not the same when a member of the family isn't there on Thanksgiving, and it's the same when our brothers and sisters in Christ aren't present at the Eucharist, a Greek word which means Thanksgiving. Fr. Chris said St. Paul speaks of this; when a member of the Body of Christ is missing, the Body is lacking. The next section is called “Jesus' Eager Desire— Do This in Remembrance of Me”. The Thanksgiving meal of our Catholic family occurs every Sunday. The word Eucharist comes from the Greek word εὐχαριστία (eucharistia), which literally means “thanksgiving.” Jesus Himself instituted this family tradition on the night before He died. When He gathered the disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper, He told them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover meal with you.”1 He taught them the importance of humble service through washing their feet.2 Then He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and through His divine power transformed it into His own body, blood, soul and divinity. He told them, “Whoever eats this bread and drinks this blood will have eternal life.” 3 He then instructed them to, “Do this in memory of me.” 4 Since that day almost 2,000 years ago, the Church has carried out Jesus' command. As Catholics, we pray in so many ways, but Jesus told us to pray this way. This is the prayer he most wants from us. Janet said all the grace we receive flows through the Eucharist. All the grace of the work we do flows toward the Eucharist. In that section, Cardinal Seán speaks to those who might feel disconnected. If you feel spiritual, not religious, then this is for you: You recognize your hunger for God, you feel your need for the Eucharist. Please know God hungers for you. Fr. Chris the Catechism tells us the Eucharist is the apex of prayer. He is truck when Christ asks the apostles, do you believe? And they reply, where else can we go? He recalls Elizabeth Ann Seton, who converted from Episcopalian. She would pray in an Episcopal church, but would be physically oriented toward the Catholic Church where the tabernacle lamp was burning. Scot the Cardinal goes on to talk about the unhealthy individualism in the practice of Catholic faith. But Christian discipleship is never a solo flight; it is a lifelong family pilgrimage. At the heart of that adventure is the Eucharistic banquet where the Last Supper and Calvary become present. … Some people say, “Mass is boring” or “I don't get anything out of it” or “I pray in my own way.” Consider for a moment how parents would feel if their children said similar things about the family celebration of Thanksgiving or a birthday party. “I don't get anything out of the celebration” or “it's boring” or “I'll celebrate your birthday in my own way.” We would feel disappointed, incomplete, and certainly hopeful that the family would be fully reunited at the next gathering. Similarly, Jesus' eager desire is to have us all present each Sunday for His thanksgiving meal. Scot said when asks his parents what they want for birthdays or holidays, they tell him all they want is for everyone to be together. It reminds him how deeply how much his parents love their kids and grandkids. Janet said in her family, they always manage to get together, but one of her children last year was in Iraq for all major holidays and they all miss him when he's not there. St. Therese said she learned to love the Mass from watching her father's face at Mass. She loves to take her grandkids to Mass and see them experience the beauty of the Eucharist. These gifts are the most important gift we give to our children. Fr. Chris said a father was telling him that he brought his 4-year-old to Mass and after seeing the father genuflect before entering the pew, insisted that they both do the same thing together. Fr. Chris likes the words the Cardinal chose: Do this in remembrance in memory of me. On Veteran's Day we remembered the men and women who have sacrificed for the sake of freedom. How much more has Christ sacrificed for us and how much more we should remember it. Speaking of freedom, the Cardinal asks us not to take for granted the gift of the Sunday Mass. Scot once calculated that within 15 miles of his home in Belmont, there are more than 100 Catholic churches and more than 500 Masses every Sunday. Cardinal Seán recalls Roman martyrs who risked death to go to Mass and who said, “Without Sunday, we cannot live.” He then recounts the people throughout the world today who risk their lives to go to Mass on Sunday. Fr. Chris said St. Augustine said, the sacraments signify what they effect. It means that what we see happening is actually happening. When we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, it is the Lord nourishing and sustaining us. Without God, nothing happens. With God, all things are possible. The Cardinal ends this section thus: Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta often spoke about how precious each Mass is. Frequently she would instruct newly ordained priests to “celebrate each Mass as if it is your first Mass, your last Mass and your only Mass.” In other words, she implored priests never to take the celebration of the Mass for granted and let it become routine. I ask the same of every Catholic in the archdiocese. Just as we should be grateful for each day God grants us, let us anticipate and participate in each Mass as if it could be our last or our only Mass. Let us never take for granted the wonder that is the encounter we have with God each Sunday that we celebrate the Eucharist together. Scot said this is one of his favorite paragraphs in the letter. It's like a splash of cold water in the face. There have been times he's attended Mass when it wasn't like the first or last Mass he's ever participated in. Janet said she thought about it last Sunday, asking herself how that would affect how she participated. In the Eucharist, Christ is closer to us than we are to ourselves. Fr. Chris said Christ thirsts for souls. Through the Eucharist, Christ communes with us: “We have received and we have been received” in the Eucharist. 3rd segment: In the next section of the letter, the Cardinal explains the nine reasons Catholic give for coming to Mass: We desire to respond to God's love “God so loved the world that He sent His only son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”9 Jesus' love for us led Him to offer Himself on the cross for our salvation. The same saving love of Jesus leads Him to continue to give Himself through the gift of the Eucharist. The word “love” in English, particularly today, has been stripped of much of its beauty and meaning. It often is reduced to a “feeling.” In Greek, there are seven words for love and the word for the love God has for us, agape, connotes action, a self-gift. The love we want to have for God is a self-gift in return, of our time, energy, worries, hopes and joy. The Mass is the best place to thank God for the gifts besides Himself that He gives us — especially life, family, friends, faith and love. Scot said we come to Mass because we desire to respond to the love God has had for us. Janet said when we look at the story of the 10 commandments, God says to do these things because “I love you.” This notion of agape as the highest form of love is what we respond to. We desire to encounter Christ in the most profound way possible The Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy explains that Christ is present to us in four ways during the celebration of Mass: (1) in the community celebrating; (2) in the Word proclaimed; (3) in the priest presiding; and (4) in the Eucharist. Fr. Chris said Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches. We graft ourselves to the vine. We pray in the Mass for forgiveness and to be brought together in Christ. In the second way, Fr. Chris encourages people to pray before the Mass to ask God to bring us deeper into his mystery through his Word that is preached. Then recognizing that when the priest celebrates the liturgy, he is in the person of Christ. This is why he says, “Do this in memory of me.” When the priest says that he is reciting the words of Christ, but he is also giving up his own life for the community, leading them closer to God. Finally, he notes that tabernacles often have images of the pelican piercing its breast to feed the young, based on an ancient myth. Christ becomes the Bread of Life that nourishes us. By encountering Jesus in these four ways, there is no more profound way to encounter God. Scot said there is a hunger ingrained in us to meet God in heaven, but the best way short of heaven is meeting him in the Mass. With regard to Christ being present in the community, it means God is present in everyone. Fr. Chris we talk about the Church on a journey to heaven. It is both human and divine. Some people reject the Church because of scandal or the sins of individuals, but just as the cross is a stumbling block for many (how could the Lord die on the cross?), the fact that Christ dwells in the community and we are called to be his hands, feet, and mouth. Scandal overshadows Christ's indwelling. We desire to gather and pray with our parish family The celebration of Mass has horizontal and vertical dimensions. We desire to strengthen our particular family We desire to witness to our faith and provide a living legacy to our children and grandchildren Janet said Cardinal Sean makes the observation that he didn't need to bring the apostles all together for the Last Supper. Our presence to each other is the fullest expression of our Christian identity. He reminds parents that they are to be the first and best teachers in the faith for our children. Janet said she liked the story of the teacher who said she grew up in a family where going to Mass together was as optional as breathing. It wasn't imposed. It just was. “To miss Mass is to stop breathing; it is the sure path to a spiritual asphyxiation.” Children are always watching their parents and grandparents. We form our young people by the way we participate in the Mass. Children who see that their parents get to Church early to pray before Mass will want to imitate them. Children who observe parents and other adults reverently receive the Eucharist will more readily realize that the Eucharist truly is the Body and Blood of Christ. The example of parents is an essential part of preparation for receiving First Holy Communion. Children who hear from their parents how much, and why, they love Mass will be less inclined to compare Mass to television and consider it “boring.” Scot thinks that last is a very strong line. It strikes him as his kids love to watch TV and play video games. Without trying to differentiate Mass, sometimes we come to Mass expecting to be entertained. Fr. Chris said God is worthy of praise and thanksgiving. Everything we see is total gift from God and we remind our children to be thankful for his blessings. Similarly, for families to stop throughout the week, bringing their sadnesses and hopes and prayers to the eucharist and energize them and bring them together, what more could we do? At the end of the day, God will only ask us how great a Christian were we? We desire to be transformed by Christ's sacramental grace We desire to participate in Jesus' victory over death and the salvation of the world We desire a foretaste of Heaven Sports fans in Boston over the past decade have had the good fortune to celebrate many championships. Our victory parades have been incredible gatherings. No sports fan in the nation would deny that Boston knows how to celebrate victory. Wouldn't it be great if others said that about us for the way that we celebrated the biggest victory of all — Jesus' victory over death? Janet said she happened to be at Fenway Park on Father's Day when the Bruins came to celebrate the Stanley Cup with the Red Sox and she said if we could celebrate the Mass with the same energy and enthusiasm as she saw that day, how wonderful would it be? We desire to follow God's loving guidance and to commit to deepening our relationship with God Cardinal Sean talks here about honoring the third commandment to honor the Sabbath. Fr. Chris said the commandments are not suggestions. This is God's word: Keep holy the Sabbath and remember the need to rest and give God praise. The Eucharist allows is to thank the most important person in our life and give gratitude to him for the blessings he bestows on us. 4th segment: The next section of the letter is addressed to particular groups. The first is to Catholics who've been away from Mass. My dear brothers and sisters: please know that we miss you, we love you, and we hope you will rejoin our Catholic family for our Sunday Mass. Some of you have drifted away from the Church and have been waiting for a good time to return. I pray that you will consider this the time to join us on our faith journey toward Heaven. … Some of you have made a choice to stop coming to Church because you have been hurt by the actions of someone in the Church or because of a difficulty with a Church teaching. From my first day as Archbishop of Boston and perhaps for the rest of my days, I will always be asking the forgiveness of all those who have been hurt by the actions, or inaction, of people and leaders in the Church. Please do not let those experiences and memories separate you from the love of Christ and of our Catholic family and prevent you from receiving the grace of the sacraments. Scot said this comes from the deepest recesses of Cardinal Seán's heart. Janet recalled that during the launch of Catholics Come Home that Cardinal Seán said that if people aren't in the Church, he can't have conversations with them about that which hurt them or that which they disagreed with. It's a better conversation when we are receiving the Eucharist together because it brings us into communion. He addresses priests and then parish staffs and parish councils. He's very practical, asking them to put MassTimes.org in the parish bulletin in the summer for those traveling on vacation to take Christ with us. Please make lists of those we want to invite. Parish record books and censuses can be helpful. We certainly want to reach out to people who have baptized their children, brought them for First Communion and Confirmation, enrolled children in religious education, been recently married, attended funeral liturgies, and those who in the past used offertory envelopes. Please plan a major neighborhood outreach, perhaps as a prelude to a parish mission, day of recollection, or evening of prayer. … Please discuss with your receptionists, greeters, ushers, volunteers, ministry leaders and parish staff members the best practices of hospitality toward newcomers and the skills needed to invite, engage and involve parishioners in your parish life. … Ride-sharing programs can become a more important ministry at most parishes. There are many Catholics who would be grateful for a ride to and from Mass and for the company of a friendly fellow parishioner. … Coffee receptions after Masses at least monthly, weekly if possible, have been shown to deepen the sense of community. Fr. Chris said it's best practices being put forward by the Cardinal Seán. It's not just 10,000-foot theology, but boots-on-the-ground practice. It shows it's not just the priest's responsibility, but each of us has a role and a part to play. When the body is healthy and vibrant, it can't help but attract people to it. Janet said the Cardinal also speaks very directly to parents. Your good example of faithfulness to Sunday Mass, prayer and moral decency preaches more eloquently than the homily of any priest. When children see that their parents love Sunday Mass they likewise will grow to love it too. Too often parents “come for the kids” and kids come because “Mom and Dad brought me.” Articulate to your children your love for Jesus, why you attend Sunday Mass as a family and why their instruction in the faith in school or at CCD is one of the most important gifts you can give them. I ask that you live Sunday as the Lord's Day, a day that includes Holy Mass, religious instruction, leisure activities, a family meal, spiritual readings, and acts of charity. She said it's a beautiful passage and encouragement, especially for young families. Cardinal Seán is calling us back to remember Sunday as the Lord's day. The Cardinal concludes with the story of the disciples on the Road to Emmaus who rushed to tell the world that Jesus had been risen. Let us all do what those two disciples on the road to Emmaus did. Let us rush to tell the world that Christ is alive and eagerly desires our family to gather at the Lord's Table to experience God's love, to discover our identity as Catholics and to fulfill our mission together. Let us proclaim that we desire to live each Sunday with the Lord and with each other in the supreme prayer of the Church, the Eucharist, our Thanksgiving celebration.

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 Diocese of Fall River Today's topics: Assisted suicide, 7 billion people, WQOM and Station of the Cross fund drive Summary of today's show: Birth, death, and birth were the watchwords today as Scot Landry, Susan Abbott, and Fr. Roger Landry—live in the studio for the first time—discussed the news of the day, including the birth of Susan's newest grandson, November as religious education month, Cardinal Seán's strong call to leadership against physician-assisted suicide by medical professionals at the annual White Mass; and the implications of the 7 billionth child born in the world (not Susan's grandson as far as we know). 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan back to the show. She was away last week visiting her newest grandson in California. Last night she was at Immaculate Conception Parish in Weymouth which has a Catholics Come Home committee continuing the work of the program. She spoke on reconciliation. Scot said it's also the first time that Fr. Roger Landry is live in the studio after eight months coming via Skype. Scot said this week in the Pilot there is a special section on religious education. Susan wrote an article on November as religious education month. In order to read all the parish programs which may meet weekly or biweekly, they have a whole month dedicated to celebrating the good work done in parishes. Susan said religious education encompasses everything from baptism through adult faith formation. Scot said there are 400 parish religious education leaders, 12,000 catechists, and over 115,000 children in religious education. Fr. Roger said Jesus once said the greatest in the kingdom of heaven are those who keep his commandments and teach others to do the same. Our catechists are the greatest in the Church because of the example they set and the leadership they provide. The seeds they plant are seeds that will change the world. Scot said he was a substitute catechist in his own parish this past week. Susan said faith begins in the home, but it can be daunting to parents whose own formation is not as solid as they want it to be. But the first step is just being at Mass with the children, even if the parents have to split going to Mass if an infant must stay at home. The best thing you can do for your kids is to give them a relationship with Jesus Christ rooted in the sacraments of the Church. Scot said those parents who don't have a strong faith formation can supplement it by listening to Catholic radio. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. To support the work of WQOM and The Station of the Cross, which brings programming like The Good Catholic Life, please go to 2nd segment: Scot said Cardinal Seán had strong words about physician-assisted suicide when addressing doctors and other healthcare workers last weekend at the White Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral. Fr. Roger said the Cardinal is looking to medical personnel to take the lead in rejecting efforts to legalize assisted suicide. The Cardinal cited many scary statistics from Oregon, where it was legalized. It's not just those who are terminally ill who are affected. When society says some suicide is okay, we start to see a rise in teen suicides and suicides by people who are not terminally ill. Scot said the cardinal understands the treasure of the vocation of the physician. He's calling them to be both Catholic and physicians and calling them to honor their Hyppocratic oath which says “first, do no harm.” Susan said assisted suicide is a false compassion. She said advocates want depression to be re-defined so it would not be an obstacle to prescription of lethal drugs. Scot added that there is an effort to rename suicide to “aid in dying”. Scot said the petitioners are asking people to sign a petition to “help elderly people who are sick”. It's dishonest and manipulative. Scot said it's important to have Catholic radio to be able to disseminate this information. Scot said even if you sign your name to the petition under false pretenses you can't have your name removed. It's permanent. Fr. Roger said there are people who don't understand the meaning of suffering or death and so when they see someone suffering from terminal illness they have no means to understand what good can come of it. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. 3rd segment: Scot said another new story this week is the birth of the 7 billionth person. he said the real story is that half of the countries in the world aren't even having enough children to replace themselves and that population is soon going to go into a precipitous decline. Fr. Roger said this story is a litmus test for us. If we responded with horror, those people are looking at life as a leech sucking up resources as opposed to a joy to be celebrated. He said that Vladimir Putin has set a holiday in Russia for couples to stay home and conceive children because that country's population rate is slow. Fr. Roger said the sustainable population rate is 2.1 children per family. He highlighted how 18 European countries are reporting more deaths than births, how in a generation people will not know brothers, sisters, aunts, or uncles because of so many only children. Many European countries will become predominantly Muslim because Christians aren't having children. Break for Fund Drive Appeal. It's time to announce this week's winner of the WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is by Fr. James Martin, SJ, and Read Me or Rue It by Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, OP. This week's benefactor card raffle winner is Ruth Casey from Roslindale, MA. Congratulation, Ruth! 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.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Fr John Sassani, Pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Newton Today's topics: Priest Profile: Fr John Sassani; the importance of a healthy prayer life, this Sunday's Mass readings Summary of today's show: Fr John discusses his vocation story and past assignments with Scot Fr Mark, as well as the new high school forming next year in Newtown. The group also discusses the readings for this Sunday, the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. 1st segment: Scot welcomed Father Mark to the show, and said it felt like they had been together all day. They discussed that the Cardinal's Cabinet had met today, as is the custom on the first Friday of every month. Scot said they covered many important topics, especially a discussion of how to follow up on the Catholics Come Home campaign and continue to increase Mass attendance. Fr Mark added that with the wide variety of people that make up the cabinet, it adds a great wealth of opinion to the discussions. Scot mentioned that the Cardinal could not be present at the meeting but will get a full report - Cardinal Sean was at the funeral Mass for Msgr Stanlislaus Sypek this morning. Fr Mark pointed out that Msgr Sypek was still a pastor at 96 years of age - showing his legendary dedication. Scot said that people of the Archdiocese may remember Msgr Sypek from his work at St Adalbert parish and as a professor at Emmanuel College and Boston College. 2nd segment: Fr John Sassani joined Fr Mark and Scot on the show. Scot asked Fr John to describe how he heard the calling to the priesthood. Fr John explained that when he was in the 2nd grade, Fr Dick Little came to Swampscott as a new priest, and caught Fr John's attention and had great influence on his life. Fr John also said that the Sisters of St Joseph, who taught at his school, gave him a sense of what was important in their lives and how their vocations affected it. He attended St John's Prep in Danvers, and entered St John Seminary College Division when he was done with high school. He would speak with his dad, who had been a seminarian for several years in New York, and supported him greatly through his seminary years. Scot asked Fr John what things his parents did to create a culture of vocation and openness to a priestly vocation. Fr John said that his parents were people of great faith - even if they didn't say prayers before dinner every night, their faith came into play every day of their lives. Scot asked Fr John to speak about his early priestly assignments, the first of which was at Sacred Heart in Roslindale. Fr John said that while he had requested a parish north of Boston, as a second or third priest and without a school, he was sent south of Boston to Roslindale as the sixth priest and a large, thriving school. He said that being in Roslindale gave him a wide variety of experiences with different people over the three years he was there, until he was asked to do graduate studies in liturgy in Rome. Fr John said that he spent a year there, but it wasn't a good match, so he came home and served at St John's in Winthrop. Fr John continued that St John's was a great place to be and had a solid history and active parishioners. After Winthrop, Fr John was assigned to the Office of Spiritual Development along with Msgr Dennis Sheehan. They also managed St Jean's, a small parish in Newton. Fr John explained that the Office of Spiritual Development was founded by Bishop D'Arcy to help parishes renew themselves in a spiritual way. He worked during the academic year, and spent his summers at Creighton University studying spirituality. It was at this time that he and Maryann McLaughlin created the "Meeting Christ in Prayer" program, which eventually was published by Loyola Press. Scot asked Fr John what was involved with spiritual renewal at the parishes. Fr John said all of it was rooted in prayer - the sessions were about helping people experience personal prayer in a communal setting. Small group and large group sessions would follow in the parishes. Fr John explained that Meeting Christ in Prayer was an opportunity provided by the Cardinal to encourage small-group spiritual renewal leading into the year 2000. Fr John said that the goal of the program was to deepen the faith in the parish, but to instill the desire to continue growth in prayer and faith lives instead of a momentary renewal. Sometimes, Fr John said, we think other people pray better than we do, but are still willing to learn to pray better. Prayer should come to be second nature to us - we are made for God, so having a connection with Him is something everyone can do, not just monks and nuns. Fr Mark said he was struck by the thought that people think other people pray better - he said we need to remember that we are all called to our own personal relationship with God. Fr John agreed that the personal relationship is a major theme in Christian spiritual life. We are invited to work with God's grace to become the person he wants us to be through prayer, moral decisions, and our everyday relationships. Mostly though, Fr John continued, it's through knowing that God desires a relationship for us and knows who He wants us to be. Scot asked Fr John for a few thoughts about how people can pray better. Fr John said people don't take enough time to be relaxed in order to pray - most of us are used to prayers that we learned or memorized. Those are fine, Fr John said, but we need to take a few silent seconds to prepare for them. Scot and Fr John discussed that a good second step is to say what you want to say to God, and then listen for God's response. Sometimes, Fr John said, it may be a deliberate thought that comes into his head that wasn't there a moment before, other times it is being challenged by someone or something in our lives. Fr John also said that we need to develop confidence in our faith lives about our tangible experiences with God. Fr John said the last thing was to stay for a specific period of time every day in prayer, even if you think you're finished - whether it be an hour or just five minutes, having time set aside for God is important. 3rd segment: Scot asked Fr John about his transition from one of the smaller parishes of the Archdiocese (St Theresa's in Sherburn) to one of the larger parishes, Our Lady Help of Christians in Newton where he is the parish. Fr John said it was a big difference, but the neighborhood nature of the parish, active outreach, and great location made the transition great. Fr Mark noted that the parish was also beautifully renovated - Fr John agreed, and said that the open sanctuary and the Baptismal pool make it a very hospitable and welcoming environment. Scot said that Our Lady's has one of the most involved parish communities in the Archdiocese. Fr John said that one of the things the ministries offer is not just service to the larger community, but an opportunity for people to feel connected to the parish community as well. He explained that new parishioners are encouraged to find a ministry that they want to contribute to and become excited by, because it will not only be ministry being done by more people, but people in the parish getting to know one another in a deeper way. Fr John described the Bereavement Ministry that met just last night - a group of 40 people who volunteer to help families of deceased parish members plan funeral liturgies and provide support in prayer. Scot mentioned that the parish roster holds over 20 zip codes at Our Lady's, a real testament to how connected the parishioners feel they are. Some parishes seem to be very good at building a community, Scot noted, and asked Fr John what things Our Lady's does to promote this feeling. Fr John said the core of the parish being a neighborhood parish and the family nature and closeness of fellow parishioners has carried through to a hospitable community. He also said that the location of the Church and Fr Walter's reputation for welcoming people helped as well. Fr Mark noted that some people are shocked by the community - he said that at times it seems some Catholics want to go to Mass but not be talked to! Fr John said that while the welcome is appropriate and heartfelt, it's never coercive. Scot said that last week there was an announcement that Mount Saint Joseph Academy and Trinity High School will be merging, a significant moment for Our Lady's and the Catholic Community in Newton. Fr John said it was a pastoral challenge to help people along with the transition, but ultimately will allow both schools to continue providing a financially stable and academically rigorous education to the communities. Fr John said that when the announcement was made to the students, some of the young people started asking for a retreat with the students from the other school so they could start the process of integration and get to know people. Fr John said that he felt it was a clear sign that the new enterprise, while not pain-free, is full of hope and desire in the new purpose. 4th segment: Scot read the first reading from Isaiah, and Fr. Mark read the Gospel, from Matthew. Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time. First Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a On this mountain the LORD of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken. On that day it will be said: "Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us! This is the LORD for whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!" For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain. Second Reading: Philipians 4:12-14, 19-20 Brothers and sisters: I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I can do all things in him who strengthens me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father, glory forever and ever. Amen. Gospel Reading: Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, "Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast."' Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests, he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. The king said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen." Scot noted that Jesus often described Heaven as a banquet in parables, as in this Gospel reading. We all get an invite to Heaven, but we don't always receive it, and sometimes might even put to death the people sent to invite us. Fr John agreed, saying that Jesus is giving us a glimpse into the goal of Salvation History with this parable - there is the eternal feast in Heaven, but also many feasts on Earth that we are invited to as well. Fr John also noted that the king in the parable invites people a second time - very much like how we are inviting our brothers and sisters to come back to the faith. Fr Mark pointed out that there are people, like the man who wore the wrong garment, that are present at the feast but not totally into it. There are people who think they are going to Heaven, Fr Mark said, because they are walking a certain line, but there are parts of their life that are completely inconsistent. God is constantly inviting us in this life, he continued, to come back to Him. Scot said the end of the Gospel might be misunderstood as fashion advice - it may point to the lesson that we cannot just show up at the Heavenly banquet unprepared and have God accept us anyways. One of the ways we can prepare, Scot concluded, is to take part in the sacraments and receive those graces.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor Today's guest(s): Fr. Jeremy St. Martin, Director of the Archdiocese of Boston's Deaf Apostolate, and John Hunt, Executive Director of Legatus International Today's topics: Fr. Jeremy St. Martin and his ministry to deaf Catholics; Legatus' ministry to Catholic CEOs and their spouses Summary of today's show: Fr. Jeremy St. Martin tells Scot and Fr. Chris about how he came to the priesthood and the unexpected call to minister to the deaf; as well as all the ways that the Deaf Apostolate works to allow the hearing-impaired to take part fully in the life of the Church. Also, John Hunt of Legatus discusses their ministry to Catholic business executives that recognizes their unique contributions and impact on the culture. 1st segment: Scot asked Fr. Chris how St. John Seminary memorialized September 11. Fr. Chris said they had a beautiful Mass wit the amazing Scriptures for this past Sunday which challenge all of us in the area of forgiveness. Fr. Chris said he was in Washington, DC, on 9/11/01 and he was reminded of the same clear, blu skies. He reflect on praying for the victims and their families. He was also reminded of all the many people who responded to help. He saw at St. Anthony's Shrine this past weekend that they had a photo of Fr. Mychal Judge, the Franciscan priest who was a NY fire chaplain who died during the response to the attacks. Scot noted that his kids asked why we still talk about it if it happened 10 years ago? He told them that we don't want to forget, not just the evil acts, but also the heroism as well as the lesson to live life to fullest and enjoy the many blessings God has given us. Fr. Chris also said he was at Sacred Heart Parish in East Boston for a Portuguese festival of the Holy Spirit where the children receive a special blessing. Scot said one of the 23 languages the Mass is celebrated in at the Archdiocese of Boston is American Sign Language. Fr. Jeremy St. Martin is the director of the Deaf Apostolate. 2nd segment: Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Fr. Jeremy St. Martin to the show. Scot asked him how God planted the seed that led to his ordination. Fr. Jeremy said his parents became very active in the Church when he was about 6 or 7 years old. The change he saw in his parents profoundly affected him at that time. He recalls going to a new parish at the time and he wasn't too impressed by what he saw, although when his grandparents came with them, that caught his attention. While his mother and her mother-in-law were as different as could be, he saw them change in their relationship to one another during the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. This was his first experience of the Mass and he was intrigued by what was happening. As time went on, he became an altar server and got to know the elderly priest who was serving the parish in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Seeing the devotion and simple joy of the old priest, Fr. Jeremy at the time wondered if that's what God was calling him to. As he went to college, it became harder to continue to practice his faith. He had two friends who were the first in his group of friends to fall in love together and he remembered seeing them together after Mass one Sunday and realizing that they would one day be married and have children. And as he thought about it, he wondered who would baptize the children and it occurred to him that it might be him. A priest once said you have to see if you have the Health, Holiness, Head, and Heart. You don't have to be perfect in every way, but you have to be doing okay with all of them. Heart in particular is a desire for the salvation of souls. The priest then said people considering vocations should get a regular confessor. Fr. Jeremy was still discerning at this time. The confessor didn't say anything in any of their meetings for a whole year, and at the end of the year, Fr. Jeremy confronted him and asked him what he thought. He finally told him that he thought he'd be a great priest. Fr. Jeremy looked at many different religious orders because he thought he'd need that community, but he discovered in the Archdiocese of Boston that there is in fact a lot of fraternal support among the priests. He heard that you have to grow where you are planted, and having lived in Boston many years, he entered St. John's Seminary. Scot asked Fr. Jeremy what led him to want to serve deaf Catholics. He was ordained in 2002 and was assigned to St. Cecilia's in Ashland. Three years in to the assignment, the pastor told him that the archdiocese called and they wanted him to start studying for the last two years of his assignment. They wanted him to study to serve the deaf. This came out of left field. He had never had any deaf friends or family and didn't know any sign language. But now he was to become the new director of the deaf apostolate, including providing assistance to a deaf seminarian in formation, now Fr. Shawn Carey, the first deaf priest for the Archdiocese of Boston. Of course, Fr. Jeremy said Yes, but he did ask why him and he was told there was no one else and he was naturally expressive, which helps with being a deaf interpreter. IT also needs to be someone who is creative because deaf ministry is very different from regular parish ministry because there isn't a lot of institutional experience in the archdiocese. Fr. Chris said Fr. Jeremy was an undergrad at Mass. College of Art and Design and majored in applying new technology to the arts. It had a heavy emphasis on the performing arts. His training could help him manage the stage at an opera, for example, with all the technical requirements. It helped him prepare to stand before a crowd and present himself in public without being overly shy. Fr. Chris said Fr. Jeremy is often seen on CatholicTV, signing for the Cardinal or other people at major events and Masses. He asked Fr. Jeremy the greatest joys of serving the deaf community. It is seeing the community have the Gospel take root in them and share it with each other. Many of them had never heard the saving mysteries of the faith because of the isolation. At World Youth Day, they coordinated with deaf ministries throughout Canada and the US to go together to Madrid and WYD brings young deaf people from all over the world together and meet each other. It was an enormous amount of work for both the leaders and the pilgrims. They often had to be go through extra obstacles, like arriving early for special screening. It's also the case that many of the deaf have other physical challenges as well. In the end, one of the young people said that they felt like a member of the Body of Christ. For a deaf person to say that is even more surprising given that it is a Christian idiom and very abstract. Scot said Fr. Jeremy signs with such joy and it's clear he loves this ministry. It's helped Scot to appreciate this ministry and how much effort they take to include everyone. Fr. Shawn Carey signs the Mass when he celebrates it at the Pastoral Center. It's amazing how the God's will gets expressed through the bishop as the ministry seems a good fit with Fr. Jeremy's skills and temperament. 3rd segment: Scot asked about the activities of the deaf apostolate. Sacred Heart in Newton has a Mass in sign language every Sunday at 10:30 and on holy days. Fr. Chris said in regards to the directions for celebrating the Mass, sometimes they say the priest should “audibly say” something. He asked how that works. In canon law, there is a canon that goes back to the First Council of Orange that said deaf people can exchange marriage vows in clear sign, so it was a recognition that sign language is a true language in which sacramental grace can be conveyed. There's also another canon which says a deaf person can request an interpreter in confession which is interesting regarding the seal of confession. It recognizes that they are real professionals capable of being discrete. So what the Church asks of deaf ministries is that they take the responsibility for making up for what is lacking for a person who is deaf because the ordinary situation of the Church is set up for the hearing. Fr. Jeremy said some direction for Mass (“rubric”) have the priest say things inaudibly, doesn't say it, or says it audibly. Deaf ministry proclaims that which needs to be proclaimed to those who can't hear in ways that they can hear. Scot said it's interesting to observe Fr. Carey and see how clear it is what he is doing and praying at the same time that hearing priests would be praying aloud. It is a different form of language and communication, but it is indeed language and communication. It's not unlike attending Mass in another country and hearing the Mass prayed in a different language there. Fr. Jeremy said the apostolate also provides hospital coverage for the whole archdiocese, providing ministry to the sick and dying as well as to the deaf families and friends. They also provide assistance in weddings and funerals, even if it's just for those who are attending and deaf. They also provide marriage preparation and RCIA, which is a big need because many deaf people couldn't find good access to catechetical formation early in life. They also work with deaf youth. A full list of their ministries is on their website as well as many videos in which many blogs are provided in American Sign Language. 4th segment: Joining us from Ave Maria, Florida, is John Hunt of Legatus. Scot asked him about the organization as an outreach to Catholic business executives. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary year. It was founded by Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's Pizza, after a meeting with Pope John Paul II where he felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to assist in helping the laity to drive the new evangelization of the 21st century. He immediately founded the organization upon his return to the US. He saw the value of the role of business leaders in the life of the Church. They are in a unique position to have an impact for good on the culture and specifically on those who are employed them and their families, people they do business with, and their customers. Scot said John was a business CEO before working for Legatus. John said he was invited to join by a member who thought he and his wife would enjoy the monthly get-togethers. He had no idea what to expect before attending an event. The typical gathering includes the Rosary, the Mass, dinner, and a speaker. John said business people approach the issues of the marketplace and the Church in a highly structured and ordered way as they approach their business decisions, so when they are together with others of like mind who are serving the Church, you realize you are in friendly company with people in a unique position to do good for society. John said there is a sense of camaraderie. One may think of a Legatus chapter as something like a support group, in the best sense of the word. They are people who want to do the right thing and are reinforced in that desire by those they surround themselves with at their gatherings. Personally, he's been strengthened in his faith by the example he's seen in his own Chicago chapter and as executive director. There are 75 chapters in the US and outside the country. There are about 2,000 CEO members and in most cases their spouses. Spouses are full members along with their husbands or wives, so there are about 4,000 members. They hope to grow the organization by about 50% over the next few years. Scot said there Legatus chapter in Boston, in Providence, and in Western Mass. that meets in the Springfield area. The Boston chapter's next meeting is September 28 and Lou Lataif, a former executive of Ford Motor Company and a professor at Boston University. The meeting will be at the Pastoral Center in Braintree at 5:30pm. John said Lou Lataif is a longtime friend and will be a good kickoff speaker for Legatus. He said the Boston schedule through next year includes Tom Monaghan; John Garvey, president of Catholic University of America; George Weigel; Michael Novak; Tom Peterson of Catholics Come Home; Tim Flanagan of Catholic Leadership Institute; Archbishop Tim Broglio of the Military Archdiocese; and Cardinal Seán. John said interested people should take a look at Legatus as a way to enhance the CEO and their spouse's faith life. Interested people can call 781-369-5048 or send an email to .

Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Paul Blanchette and Michael Strong of Pilot Bulletins and Pilot Printing Today's topics: The parish bulletin as communications tool Summary of today's show: The parish bulletin is the primary communications vehicle for the church connecting to parishioners. Paul Blanchette and Mike Strong of Pilot Bulletins discuss with Scot how Pilot Bulletins began 10 years ago as ParishComm, their vision for serving the church through their livelihood, and how ParishComm was acquired by the Archdiocese of Boston just one year ago. Also, Scot, Mike, and Paul give their predictions for tonight's Patriots-Dolphins game and the Patriots season. 1st segment: Scot said one year on September 9, the Archdiocese of Boston purchased a bulletin-printing business called ParishComm that served about 45 parishes mainly in the North Shore and Merrimack Valley. In the past year, they have expanded their service to more than 200 parishes in their printing services and more than 60 who have their bulletins printed every week. Scot welcomed Paul and Mike to the show. Scot said Paul was on the show previously with Fr. Martin Hyatt of the St. Basil's Cursillo retreat center and Cursillo was integral to the founding of ParishComm. Paul was working in medical sales previously and wanted to find some way to serve the Church. At the same time, he had a friend who developed some parish management software called Church Mouse and Paul started representing the software locally. He found that even though parishes loved the idea, they usually said they couldn't afford it and would need to have it donated. Then they found that parish bulletin printing generated a lot of revenue that didn't make its way to the parish and so they determined to sell the bulletin sponsorships and print the bulletins to fund the parish software. The software became ParishSoft, which is perhaps the leading Catholic parish management software. Paul celebrated the 10th anniversary of starting ParishComm, which happened to be 9/11/01. Paul was in Detroit that day with the man he was working with on the software project. Paul's son was working in New York at the time and was on the phone with him when the second plane hit the Twin Towers. They had been planning to sign the legal papers to start their business, but that didn't happen. After two days, Paul and an associate rented a car to drive back to Boston. Meanwhile, in the intervening 10 years, the man he was starting the business with, David Rosenberg, has since become a priest of the Diocese of Lansing. At first, there wasn't a plan to print the bulletins themselves, but eventually they printed it themselves. Paul made his first sale in October 2001 of $354 for an advertising contract. His first church was his home parish, St. Mary in Georgetown. They installed computers and software and used the parish as the testbed. The first year they made $24,000. In their second year, they got their second church. What was difficult was that they were just a couple of guys with a fledgling business and an idea, so they trusted him. They were outsourcing the product and didn't have control of the printing. It was printed in Michigan and a bad storm could prevent a parish from having its bulletin. So Paul looked into digital printing and the quality was so much better because they could print in vivid color. But that meant lots of infrastructure costs for printers. It was difficult to get past the old habits of parish bulletins, especially getting them to use new covers every week to be attractive and to use the bulletin as a news instrument rather than just a service directory. Digital printing uses large machines that look like office copiers and have the same general functions of a color laser printer in the office. They are different from the more traditional color offset printers, but the quality is similar. Michael said he's been involved in printing and publishing since the late 1970s after high school, with a detour through military service and working in restaurants. He lived his Cursillo in 2000 and was working at the time in high-end college textbooks on a contract basis. He connected to Paul through Cursillo and was attracted to working in a faithful Catholic environment. Mike continued to work on a contract basis for the Daughters of St. Paul. Mike never expected to be able to work in a place that contribute in some small way for the parish to evangelize with such a high-quality product. It's satisfying to know that someone might bring a bulletin home that gets picked up and brings them back to church. Paul said ParishComm was a family business to begin with: Paul, his wife Christine, his son Stephen, plus a couple of guys he met on Cursillo. But it was through involvement in St. Basil's that he found people who needed work and they hired people to help. 2nd segment: Scot said one year ago, after conversation between Paul and Scot, they decided it would be in everyone's best interest for the Archdiocese of Boston, through Boston Catholic Television Center, Inc., to buy ParishComm. Cardinal Seán determined that it would be helpful to parishes to raise the bar on the quality of bulletins. Paul said there have been 15 new parishes added in the past year and there are 47 more who would like to come on board when their old bulletin printing contracts expire. Every parish is different and Paul goes out to all the parishes to find out what they need and what they'd like. Scot said Cardinal Seán was interested in having a communication tool like the bulletin that reaches more Catholics every week than any other of our communications tools. 300,000 people go to Mass every week and most pick up a bulletin. Scot said pastors tell him that fewer bulletins end up in the parking lot or on the floor because the quality is higher and people want to bring it home. Mike proofs every bulletin every week. Scot asked what is the most frequent content he sees. Mike said he sees parishes put in calendars of everything going on in the parish. He said parishes also take advantage of the full-color glossy covers with provided artwork relevant to the current week's Gospel or the time of the year. Many parishes used 9/11-related covers this week. Mike said about 35,000 bulletins are printed in a two-day span at the Pastoral Center. That's about 20% of all parish bulletins in the Archdiocese. Scot asked Paul why he was interested in becoming part of a broader archdiocesan communications effort. Paul said he came to understand that we're called to do more than make a buck for a living. He realized that there's plenty of work to do in your own backyard and while they were very strong in the North Shore where they were based, they were looking to expand. Now they're growing rapidly on the South Shore and even beyond the Archdiocese. Scot said new bulletins are being printed in the last couple of months for Boston University Catholic Community, St. Joseph in Kingston, St. Albert the Great in Weymouth, St. Thomas Aquinas in Bridgewater, Sacred Heart and Our Lady of the Assumption in East Boston, St. Ann in Neponset, and Our Lady of Lourdes in Jamaica Plain. That's a lot for just a couple of months. Paul often goes to a parish for the first week of the bulletin. He sees people wowed by the cover and then they see how the bulletin's content has changed to become more informative. Paul said the sponsors love the bulletins because the color ads project their brands better, so now it's not just a donation to the local parish, but it's a way of supporting their business to.. 3rd segment: Scot said with the acquisition of ParishComm, there was a deliberate decision to create both Pilot Bulletins and Pilot Printing, as a way to help parishes with all their printing needs. Mike said because of the 35,000 bulletins, the volume of work allows the per unit cost of printing to be much lower so they can offer printing to ministries at a much lower cost than through traditional printers, like Staples for 500 flyers. Scot said he was shocked to see the prices most parishes were paying at third-party vendors, even with a little bit of income for Pilot Printing. Mike said they can offer parishes printing in color what they're paying for black and white at Staples. They also do lots of flyers and it's not just for parishes that print their bulletins. If they can save the parish $100 for a print job, that $100 can be spent on pizza for the youth group for example. Scot asked Paul about any unusual printing offerings. Paul said they can print banners of all shapes and sizes for very reasonable prices and put just about anything on them. He said its stunning. Scot said many parishes through the archdiocese have had Catholics Come Home banners printed by Pilot Printing. Mike said he talked to a deacon who had ordered a banner of the same kind from someone else and paid $350 instead of the $89 that Pilot Printing was charging. He said the most frequently ordered items are pew cards, flyers, and posters. He just printed 1,000 posters and 1,000 postcards for Lift Ministries. They also print business cards, magnets, and just about anything else. There's a video showing behind the scenes of Pilot Bulletin. Mike is also involved in a charity called . In 1998 Mike's friend died of a brain tumor. The following year he rode the Pan-Mass Challenge,and after that started the Par4theCure Golf Tournament and then started the black-tie golf-themed Golf Ball at the Harvard Club. They've donated more than $350,000 to brain tumor research over the years. Pilot Printing does all the printing of course. Scot said there's a mutual benefit for Pilot Printing where some donors have decided to use Pilot Printing. 4th segment: Scot, Mike, and Paul talked the New England Patriots season opening today and their predictions for tonight and the season. Paul predicted Patriots win tonight 31-21 and they are in the Super Bowl. Mike said tonight the Patriots win 24-10 and their record is 13-3. Scot said Miami is difficult for the Patriots, while Miami lost a lot of home games last year. Scot thinks it will be a close game with a 4th quarter nailbiter. He picked 24-21 and said for the season will be 11-5. Scot thinks last year's 14-2 record won't be repeated because the Jets, Bills, and Dolphins will be stronger teams this year. They also have a tough road schedule. Paul predicts 12-4. 5th segment: Scot said many of the people working with Pilot Bulletins and Printing have been involved in Cursillo. Paul said he and his wife Christine have sponsored about 50 people over the past 20 years of being involved with Cursillo. Paul said being able to have his children go through Cursillo in their twenties made such a difference for them which Paul didn't benefit from until his forties. Cursillo is a three-day experience where a sponsor brings you to a retreat center. The experience removes any of the distractions of life to help them let go and start to live the moment and to really hear what the people who are sharing with them are saying about their live an the difference God has made for them. Scot said Mike has been cooking for the Cursillo retreats since December 2000, just a few months since living his own Cursillo. Mike points out that it's not just for those estranged from the Church. While some, like him, hadn't been to church for years, many are people who are already devout. Mike has sponsored several of the Daughters of St. Paul on the retreats. Priests have told him that they didn't truly living their priesthood until going on a Cursillo after 40 years since ordination. To find out more, go to the

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Joshua Phelps, Associate Director of Pastoral Planning for the Archdiocese of Boston * [Office of Pastoral Planning, Archdiocese of Boston](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Offices-And-Services/Office-Detail.aspx?id=1448) **Today's topics:** Why Catholics don't attend Mass and why they should **Summary of today's show:** Josh Phelps talks with Scot and Fr. Mark about the work of pastoral planning, part of which is looking at the reasons Catholics give for not attending Sunday Mass every week. Also, our hosts and guest look at this Sunday's Mass readings and how they relate to our need to respond to God's Word by being part of our parish community. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Mark back to the show. Today's show will discuss why people make the decision not to attend Mass. Fr. Mark wondered if when people go on vacation they will bother to go to [MassTimes.org](http://www.masstimes.org) to find a local Mass. Scot welcomed Joshua Phelps to the show. He is a graduate of Boston College and worked previously as a Pastoral Associate at St. Patrick, Watertown before coming to work at the Archdiocese in the Pastoral Planning office. He and his wife have been married for five years and they have two children. A couple of years ago, their family was featured in an episode of the CatholicTV program "House+Home". Josh said it's a surreal experience for people come up to them and say they saw them on TV. Josh worked previously in retail forecasting and moved to pastoral planning. Pastoral planning is a catch-all for helping parishes be the best they can be. It's their hope to help parishes work toward the mission of Christ. When an initiative like Catholics Come Home starts, while it's a project mainly of Faith Formation and Evangelization, it's near and dear to Pastoral Planning because they see the statistics regarding the Church in Boston. They see both the downward trends in some parishes and upward trends in others and then they dig down to find out why the differences are there. Josh said leadership, mission, and vision are incredibly important. Parishes that are seeing increases are those that take Sunday Eucharist very seriously and where people see the Eucharist as a very important part of their lives throughout the week. The mission is to live out the Gospel of Christ and build the kingdom of God in that parish. Parishes that take it seriously are the ones that see growth. Josh recently helped two parishes in Wayland to complete a merger. The parishes themselves initiated the merger between St. Ann and St. Zepherin to form one faith community as Good Shepherd Parish. It was a lot of work by a lot of people. As a result of the merge, people now say to their neighbors, "I didn't know you were Catholic," because went to different parishes. Fr. Mark said the merger isn't complete, but goes on for years. While being in the same town, they are very different communities and it needs leadership like that of the pastor, Fr. Laughlin, to facilitate that. Even though they were so different, they were able to come together in a process that both could embrace through proper planning and setting a reasonable timetable. Scot said parishes with very different cultures can come together fully. As the archdiocese continues to look at pastoral planning, this model will have great import for the future. Josh said every parish starts by asking what is in the best interest of the parish to move forward and thrive. In Wayland, they decided it was to come together as one parish and one community. Across the archdiocese, people are realizing the same thing. Fr. Mark said that in some places they maintain two parishes with one pastor, but it's easier like here where it's just one pastor, one parish council, one pool of money for the budget and so on. One of the most important statistics that Josh's office tracks is Mass attendance, which is an important metric for the pastoral needs of the parish. Catholic speaker Matthew Kelly spends time in one of his talks giving an illustration of the problem with the Mass according to people's claims about why they don't like to go to church. (Just 4 minutes in the beginning of the video below) * [Matthew Kelly's 7 Pillars of Catholicism on YouTube](http://www.youtube.com/user/DynamicCatholic#p/u/4/Syj8XHnClGM) Fr. Mark said he's most of those comments at one time or another in his priesthood. Scot said Kelly says the problem with the Mass is "me" and if we approach the Mass each Sunday with asking God to show us one new thing about how to improve ourselves, it would change everything. Josh said that instead people want to change the user experience as if that would make a difference. Scot said our culture is all about seeking entertainment and we're used to being spectators, but if we want to get the most out of Mass, we need to be an engaged participant by preparing: Reading the Sunday readings ahead of time; keeping a journal to Mass to write down one thing to make myself a better version of me and then to meditate on that throughout the week. Scot said he's never been let down when praying for God to help him to deepen his faith. * ["Catholics Who Have Stopped Going to Mass," Australian Catholic Bishops Conference](http://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/page.php?pg=livingfaith-reasons1) Scot said the Australian bishops conference commissioned a detailed study on why Catholics say they have stopped going to Mass: 1. Mass isn't a priority 2. Crisis of faith 3. Family or household related issues make it difficult 4. Changes to parishes or Mass schedule 5. Don't feel welcome because of their state in life, e.g. divorce or they have small kids. But the most important reason, 32% say, they don't feel it's important to go to Mass to be a good Catholic. Fr. Mark said people start by forgiving themselves and stop going to Confession. Then they decide they can pray on their own and don't need to follow rules that tell them where to pray. Scot said his brother, Fr. Roger Landry, that people who say they are spiritual, but not religious, really mean that they want God on their own terms, whereas a faithful Catholic would say that I want to love God on Jesus' terms. Josh said when he prays at home, he's praying by himself or with his wife and children, but when he's at Mass he's praying with the entire 1-billion person Church and even more if you include the saints in heaven. The Mass is an incredibly important part of our spiritual life. It is spiritual food for our souls. Fr. Mark said our community is less without the full community. The person not only needs the community, but the community needs them. The Church needs the full participation of the community, because without it we are less. Much of our culture is focused on individualism. We don't think of ourselves as part of a community. Scot said God created us to be part of a family and that's what each parish strives to be. Eucharist means "thanksgiving" and Scot's been thinking about how that relates to the American holiday. People will travel across the country on the third Thursday of November, even if they know it won't be the most fun or if it's a big hassle, but there's a sense that we're made to be with our family on that day. Our heavenly Father is like our parents who say all that matters is that the whole family is together on that. Scot said Cardinal Seán is writing a pastoral letter on Sunday Mass attendance and he will write about how much of the factors are within our control.  Josh said the Australian study shows that it's no one fact that pushes people out the doors of the Church. In many cases, it just happened over the course of a long period of time. Fr. Mark said he's been impressed by the people who come on the program who see a need in their parishes and participated and made it better rather than just leaving because it wasn't what they wanted at first. Scot said John Paul II described love, not as a feeling, but as a self-gift. Pope Benedict's first encyclical was the God is love. God loved us first and how do we love him back? Not through a feeling, but through an act of the will of a self-gift. Even if we're not active in a ministry, we can give of ourselves on a Sunday morning by witnessing to our community and neighborhood that this is a priority. for one thing, it's a different experience sitting in church that's packed full of people rather than a mostly empty one. Every time we make a choice to go to Mass, it makes a difference to everyone else in that church. Scot said another reason in the study was the Sundays are not distinct any more. Businesses are open, people have to work, people have to do chores, kids' sports are scheduled on Sunday morning. That makes it even more important for the Catholic to show neighbors by our witness that Mass is our priority. Those actions will make someone notice. Archbishop Dolan of New York recently wrote about threats to Sunday Mass. He said in recent years communication technologies have made it easier for us to be distracted and make church just another in a range of options on the weekend. Scot suggested that perhaps as a response it would be fruitful for Catholics to turn off TVs and computers and other distracting devices on Sunday. In his letter, Archbishop Dolan then responded to a lot of the same objections found in the Australian study. * ["Keeping the Lord's Day Holy," Archbishop Timothy Dolan's St. Patrick's Day, 2010, Letter to the Archdiocese of New York](http://blog.archny.org/?p=570) >“Sunday is our only free time together.” (Great, what better way to spend that time than by praying together at Mass). > >“I pray my own way.” (Nice idea.  But, odds are, you don't). > >“The sermon is boring.” (You may have a point). > >“I hate all the changes at Mass.” (see below) > >“I want more changes at Mass.” (see above) > >“Until the church makes some changes in its teaching, I'm staying away.” (But, don't we go to Mass to ask God to change us, not to tell God how we want Him and His Church to change to suit us?) > > “Everybody there is a hypocrite and always judging me.” (Who's judging whom here?) > >... and the list goes on. > >And the simple fact remains: the Eucharist is the most beautiful, powerful prayer that we have.  To miss it is to miss Jesus — His Word, His people, His presence, His Body and Blood. **2nd segment:** Now, as we do every week, we look forward to this coming Sunday's Mass readings to help us prepare to celebrate together. * [First Reading for Sunday, July 10, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Isaiah 55:10-11)](http://www.usccb.org/nab/071011.shtml#reading1) >Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it. * [Gospel for Sunday, July 10, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:1-23)](http://www.usccb.org/nab/071011.shtml#gospel) >On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.  And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.  And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.  It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.  But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.” >The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”  He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.  To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.  Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears,  they have closed their eyes,  lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them. >“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.  Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. >“Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.  But he has no root and lasts only for a time.  When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.  The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.  But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Josh said he sees two important aspects of the readings: The seed that is sown, which is the Word of God. The Word is perfect. And then the soil. A farmer would say there's only so much you can do with the rocky ground. He thinks of his own life and how he tries to live the Word of God superficially and he then has to uproot himself and change his life and move to more fertile ground in his life. Fr. Mark said the key is the roots. With regard to today's topic, we need an environment that isn't just a quick high, but creates deep spiritual roots. He related the story of Orpheus, whose music could seduce anyone, but when he stopped playing the people were left worse off, pining away for the music. He said the true test of a teen or college ministry is whether the young people can move on from the interesting, high energy Masses aimed at them and go to a regular Mass and remain fully engaged. Scot said the parable speaks directly to today's topic. The culture is hardened against the Word of God. When people don't understand a Church teaching, they just dismiss it rather than wonder if there might be some truth in that. He said that if we're reaching out to people to help plant the seed, but there needs to be reciprocity from that person. Even if they don't respond right away, we don't stop trying and letting the Holy Spirit work. Josh points out that the sower is actively sowing seeds, not sitting back passively. A parish should not sit back and just say that the doors are open if anyone is interested. A parish should be mission-oriented and entrepreneurial.  Fr. Mark said the deep roots he spoke about are built by spending time. We have a responsibility to bear fruit. It's not just about what can I get, but what can I give.

**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:** Fr. John Corapi; Cardinal Sean on St. Cecilia's confusion; praying for more local saints; adoration as a remedy **Summary of today's show:** Scot and Susan Abbott talk with Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy about Cardinal Seán's latest statement on the controversy at St. Cecilia's parish in Boston; Fr. John Corapi's decision to leave active priestly ministry; a call for more devotion to local potential saints; and Pope Benedict's remedy for secularism and idolatry. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Susan back to the show. This past weekend, Susan was able to spend time with her son, his wife, and their baby who were in town visiting. They're expecting again in October and she'll go out to visit them. She has four children, six grandchildren with one on the way. She's also teaching a course on catechetical methods in West Concord that ends tonight. It's a great group of people, she said.  Scot said the end of June is a busy time at the Pastoral Center, with a lot of regular committees meeting for the last over the summer. The Presbyteral Council met today with a discussion of the results of the Catholics Come Home campaign. **2nd segment:**vScot welcomes Fr. Roger and Gregory back to the program. Fr. john Corapi is one of the most recognized priests in the United States. He has decided to end his priestly ministry. Gregory was quite surprised. He first heard about it in Corapi's YouTube video. He expressed a lot of frustration at the investigation of allegations against him would take too long, that certain people in the Church wanted him gone. Scot said it was certainly his decision to stop exercising his priestly ministry. * ["Fr. Corapi announces he's leaving the priesthood," CNA/EWTN News, 6/18/11](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fr.-corapi-announces-hes-leaving-the-priesthood/) * ["Order 'saddened' by Father Corapi's decision to leave priesthood," The Pilot, 6/23/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13476) * ["Fr. Corapi's Bombshell," CNA/EWTN News, 6/20/11](http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/father-corapis-bombshell/) Susan said she knows he has a large ministry and many people credit him for their return to the faith. She was concerned that stories said the process of clearing his name was too sluggish. She knows of other priests under investigation in Boston who have lingered for years while investigations of allegations proceeded. Many waited for years while their innocence was proven. Scot was surprised that Corapi only waited for 3 months before quitting. He was stunned because he too had heard so much about Corapi's influence on people's faith. Fr. Roger said he was saddened and was moved to pray for him. He said that Fr. Corapu is violating many of the pricniples that attracted people to his ministry in the first place, including his strong masculine approach to the Christian life, manning up in difficult circumstances. When the going's getting tough, he's leaving the greatest gift that he has. The Father Corapi that so many people know would never have given up his vocation. It's a sure sign of spiritual desolation. He said that priests under investigation often don't want to get back just their name, but also to be able to minister with their people with the sacraments. Fr. Corapi said that this part of his priesthood was only 10 percent of his ministry in recent years, which is already a sign of problems. It's akin to a husband in a divorce saying that because it's taking too long, he's abandoning his kids. Scot said Corapi's superiors in the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity had said that they asked him to return to live with them in community. Corapi has lived alone in Montana, far from the community in Texas. Scot noted that Cardinal Seán says that discipleship is lived in community. Even diocesan priests have other priests that they surround themselves with. If you don't have close peers surrounding you, able to correct your destructive decisions, then you are in danger of throwing away all that Fr. Corapi has. Gregory said the quickness of the decision makes one wonder whether the loss of public affirmation that he might have become used to played a part as well as the financial loss of the sales of books and tapes for his ministry. Scot said he started to see his primary ministry wasn't the sacraments, but his public preaching and teaching. Fr. Roger pointed out that there's a difference between public teaching and priestly preaching. Priestly preaching is intimately connected with the Liturgy of the Word. Part of what made Corapi's speaking so powerful were the black clerical clothes he wore that showed him as an "alter Christus" (another Christ). He hopes that the collective power of all our prayers, together with the Holy Spirit, will bring him back from the precipice.  Scot said [he interviewed Corapi](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=12973) just weeks before he was put on leave in the Pilot in preparation for a then-planned conference in Boston. He found him extremely articulate on the Gospel. He was a great friend to the Station of the Cross, donating his speaking at conferences in 2009 and the planned conference this year. **3rd segment:** Cardinal Seán published a statement in this week's Pilot about the recent events in St. Cecilia's Church in Boston. * Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley issued the following statement June 22, in response to recent events at St. Cecilia Church in Boston. >The philosophical and political agenda of Gay Pride in relation to marriage and sexual morality is incompatible with the Church's teachings. For that reason, Father Unni rescheduled a Mass of welcome for all his parishioners to a time that would not associate the Mass with the Gay Pride agenda. >I realize that Catholics who have same-sex attractions are often criticized by their friends for coming to Mass and that the parents and friends of homosexual members of our Church are distressed that their loved ones feel rejected by their Church. We want all baptized Catholics to come to Mass and be part of our community, but we cannot compromise the teaching of the Church rooted in Scripture and tradition. >We hope that all Catholics will come to experience the love of Christ in our community and that in that love they will find the courage and strength to embrace the cross that is part of the life of discipleship. >It is regrettable that there has been so much confusion about this matter. I hope the [statement on my blog of last week](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2011/06/17/stanley-cup-champions/) and [The Pilot editorial](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13449) "A teachable moment" will help people to understand the Church's teaching. We must be a community that reflects both the love and the truth of the Gospel. Gregory said the Cardinal here is trying to underscore the Church's teaching on the love for all people, while not everything they do may be acceptable. His impression is that the Cardinal is hoping to dispel the confusion that continues to swirl around this issue. Scot said the request of the archdiocese was always to postpone the Mass so it wouldn't be confused with the Gay Pride events in June. The Mass is open to all, but is extended in a particular way to people with same-sex attraction. That isn't undermining the Church's teaching because all are called to return to Christ, with all their burdens. Scot said his last sentence brings the Catholic community together. There is a sense out there that if we're truly a welcoming Church, shouldn't we welcome everyone, almost with no standards; while others are saying we have to preach the Catechism strongly. Fr. Roger said love and truth always go together. In order for charity to be loving, it must be grounded in the truth. We can't just be grounded in sentiment and efforts not to offend people. Fr. Roger said one of the concerns of critics of the Mass was that excerpts from Fr. Unni's preaching didn't seem to be adhering to the fullness of the Gospel. He encouraged Fr. Unni to clarify his preaching. The impression for some people is that the gay idea of sexuality is being celebrated as opposed to sacrifice of the Mass. * ["Bishops urged to fight war of words to defend traditional marriage," The Pilot/CNS, 6/21/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13472) Scot said at the recent US bishops' meeting in Seattle, there was a discussion of the use of language when defending marriage. Bishop Salvatore Cordileone said the words "human rights" and "hate" are being misused, that there's a manipulation of language.  >"To be considered and labeled a 'bigot' or 'discriminator' by the government and by law has serious implications for the religious liberty of both institutions and individuals and their freedom of conscience," he said. "The video will seek to demythologize popular claims and call attention to what is really at stake." He also said there is an attempt to make it seem that same-sex marriage is inevitable. >"The good news is often undermined or covered over, but the facts remain," he said. "The myth of the inevitability of same-sex 'marriage' remains just that -- a myth." Fr. Roger said Bishop Cordileone is a real leader in the movement to defend marriage. He's very positive about culture and clear in his teaching. He's very strong in noting that in 31 of the 32 places where people have been allowed to vote about changing the definition of marriage, it has been roundly defeated. The only way it has passed is either by elites in the judicial system or elites in the legislatures who are heavily lobbied by special interests. There is a conspiracy between some of the media, the gay lobby, and other proponents of gay marriage.  Susan said words are important. She recently went to an exhibit on eugenics experiments in Nazi Europe and it was clear to her how words were used to advance horrific things. She also said the Church has to find better ways to get her message out, without relying on the mainstream media. Gregory said in Massachusetts we've had a front-row seat to this issue. The gay rights lobby has been effective in using this language of human rights. He recalls Dwight Duncan gave an interview during the marriage debate in Massachusetts. He said marriage by itself is not a right. The state can restrict marriage, for example between siblings. The state doesn't care if people love each other. The state intervenes in this issue because it has an interest in the stability of marriage for the sake of family and a stable society. Civil marriage gives an incentive to families to raise the next generation in a beneficial manner. **4th segment:** In both the Pilot and the Anchor this week is a syndicated column by Dwight Duncan, an attorney and professor, saying that there needs to be local saints, citing recent news about local causes for canonization. * [Holy Cross Family Ministries](http://www.hcfm.org/) * [Fr. Peyton's cause for canonization](http://www.hcfm.org/en/FatherPeyton/CauseforSainthood.aspx) * ["Cause of canonization opens for Opus Dei priest," The Pilot, 6/10/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13423) Duncan notes a number of local people with reputations for holiness and encourages people to pray to them for any needs in hopes of a miracle that would advance a cause. He ends his column by saying that we can learn from them and if we obtain a miracle we gain, but they are also highlighted as witnesses to Christ. Fr. Roger said only God can work miracles, but as we see in the Acts of the Apostles, He often does it through human agency. Sometimes while they are alive, but if God grants a miracle through praying to someone who is died, we take it as a sign from God that He wants other people to pray to that person and that He is lifting them up as an example to emulate. Fr. Roger notes that in Italy he remembers the thousands of saints, which contrasts with our small number. He also notes that we live in a celebrity culture, and our saints are the ultimate celebrities. They are the ones we should make our heroes and role models in the eternal hall of fame. It's a sign that holiness is possible in Massachusetts and miracles can happen in Massachusetts. Susan said she is quite devoted to Fr. Peyton, whose cause is moving forward, partly because of his promotion of the rosary. He also founded the Family Theater Productions back in 1947 and she has used many of the productions for teens. The article notes the completion of the local investigation of his cause. Moving on to other topics, Gregory noted that the annual hiatus of the Pilot for the next two weeks. While the paper is not printing, the offices will be open. They are not going on vacation, but instead as a small organization they need some time to catch up on important tasks like computer upgrades and other work that can't take place. They don't have much downtime otherwise. He also mentioned a recent story about a graduate from a local Catholic student who will serve as national leader for Students Against Destructive Decisions. Fr. Roger's editorial this week also talks about Pope Benedict's radical remedy against secularism and idolatry: Adoration. Not just once in a while, but a life that adores the Lord in practical existence. If we recognize that Jesus is truly in the Eucharist and He is in a church nearby us, and all we do to respond to the King of Kings presence is to see him for an hour on Sunday, that's living practically as if He's not present in our life. Thirty years ago, Pope Benedict described Corpus Christi processions in his hometown and how all the families would decorate all their houses and the road. The entire military arsenal in the town was brought out and fired into the air. His father explained to him that such displays are made for a head of state and Jesus Christ is the ultimate head of state. Fr. Roger said if you'd make the effort to see the President of the United States, then make the effort to go out to visit Christ in a Eucharistic procession. * [Holy Hour in honor of Pope Benedict XVI's 60th anniversary of ordination](http://vocationsboston.org/NewsDetails.aspx?ID=94)

Today's show notes are abbreviated due to a family emergency of our webmaster. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Today's host(s): Scot Landry Today's guest(s): Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston; Fr. Stephen Rock, Pastor of St Agnes Parish in Reading Today's topics: Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter, entitled "A New Pentecost: Inviting All to Follow Jesus." A summary of today's show: Scot Landry, His Eminence Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Father Stephen Rock, and Janet Benestad discuss the pastoral letter released yesterday for Pentecost. The letter addresses what Cardinal Seán 1st Segment: Scot reminded listeners that today is the feast day of St Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost items, and wished a happy feast day to all St. Anthony of Padua parishes. Cardinal Seán's pastoral letter, released yesterday on Pentecost Sunday, begins by highlighting that Pentecost is known as the "birthday of the Church" because it was the day that the early followers of Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel, fulfilling Jesus' command to go forth and baptize all nations. Scot explained that a pastoral letter is a method for bishops to guide those in their diocese in aspects of Catholic teaching, worship, or social concerns. Bishops have three responsibilities - to teach, sanctify, and govern the diocese. Issuing a pastoral letter is an important way for bishops to teach their clergy, religious, and lay people in the diocese. Cardinal Seán has written more than a dozen pastoral letters, and this is his first since 2005, and the first he has written translated into multiple languages. 2nd Segment: Cardinal Seán joined Scot via the phone to speak about his pastoral letter. Cardinal Seán said he wanted to write a pastoral letter on evangelization because it is the chief mission of the Church - and to make it clear that the Catholics Come Home initiative was about more than the television advertisements, it is about a continuing campaign to invite people to answer the call to discipleship in the Church. Scot and Cardinal Seán discussed various passages from the letter, including an analogy of a cancer researcher who would feel obligated to share a cure he found - we too should feel obligated to share the best thing we have, our relationship with Jesus, with our neighbors. Pentecost is a good time to speak about evangelization because it was the beginning of the spread of the Good News of Jesus, Cardinal Seán said, and the beginning of the mission of the Church to spread the Gospel. At this time in the Church year, we should remember that Pentecost is where this all began, and that we continue the mission to spread the faith to the next generation of Catholics. Cardinal Seán quoted Pope Paul VI, that the activities of the Church are to announce the kingdom and to invite people to follow the Lord - therefore what we do and say must be part of the work of evangelization. 3rd Segment: Scot started by highlighting that the third section of Cardinal Seán's letter says evangelization starts with each Catholic's ongoing conversion. Janet explained that we can only share what we have received - we must know Jesus to be able to share His love with others. Scot emphasized that Pentecost is not a historical event, it is today - just as Jesus is not just a historical figure, He lives with us today. Father Rock explained the process of the Envision program at St. Agnes parish in Reading. His parish has come together to grow in faith and make a plan of how they will evangelize their community as Catholics. Janet added that the Cardinal asked in his letter for us to focus both on Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy in our evangelization work - using the Latin phrase cur animarum, meaning "care of the soul." 4th Segment: Scot explained that section 6 of the pastoral letter focuses on the parish as the chief venue of evangelization. The parish is the place where most Catholics experience the Church, and has the same duty as the universal Church. Father Rock explained that sometimes we tend to become congregationalist - only seeing the Church as who is in our Catholic community in our local parish. We need to remember that we are here for the whole Church as a universal body. Father Rock said that all it takes to start a new mission in the parish is a few parishioners having a common goal and asking the pastor for his blessing.

**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:** Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, tornado in Springfield, new cause of canonization in Boston, US bishops on assisted suicide **A summary of today's show:**  **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Susan back to show. Susan said she's just back from the Sacred Hearts Retreat House in Wareham where she met with New England regional diocesan catechetical directors in a day of reflection. Scot said the Pastoral Center has been busy today because the convocation of the archdiocese's priests has been taking place nearby at Lombardo's in Randolph. Fr. James Moroney addressed them on the changes to the Roman Missal that are coming this Advent. Videos of recent workshops on the changes coming  to the Liturgy are available on the archdiocese's website. * [The New Roman Missal at BostonCatholic.org](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/newromanmissal.aspx) **2nd segment:** Scot begins by talking about the Cardinal's new pastoral letter called "The New Pentecost." He asked Fr. Landry to explain pastoral letters. It is meant to help Catholics to approach an issue from the perspective of the Catholic faith. It's a study by the author on a theme that he believes those to whom he's writing it need to react and respond to. This pastoral letter is a response of Cardinal Seán to starting in 1992, Pope John Paul II began calling for a New Evangelization of the Americas on the 500th anniversary of the discovery by European Christians. This calling to a new evangelization is meant to address those 83% of Catholics who don't regularly go to Mass very Sunday as well as those of the other 17% who have not let the Gospel fully impact their lives. Scot asked Gregory what he makes of the Cardinal releasing the document on Pentecost and linking evangelization to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit overshadowed the apostles, converting them from cowering in fear and calling them to go out and proclaim the Good News. We're also called to proclaim the Good News like the apostles did. * [Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Evangelization](http://www.BostonCatholic.org/Pastoral Letter) (Will be available on Friday, June 10) * ["Church must find more effective ways to evangelize, says pope" CNS, 5/31/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110531.htm) Susan said that she's this letter as being right up her alley in terms of using in catechesis, formation and religious education and see hiow it's applicable to her ministry. Scot said we're called to evangelize and spread the word to others. He asked Fr. Roger how important it is to make people understand this isn't just the mission of the priests or professional lay ecclesial ministers. Fr. Roger said if we're not bursting forth with the desire to share the Good News with others, we have to wonder if we've fully receive the Gospel and recognize what great news it is. Pope John Paul II said in the encyclical [Mission of the Redeemer](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio_en.html) said 15 times that the work of evangelization is the work of all the disciples of the Lord. Jesus' two great verbs are to "come" to Him, but also to "go" out into the world. Scot said there are 11 sections to the Cardinal's letter. The first one states that Pentecost is the beginning of Evangelization. Then he talks about Catholics Come Home, evangelization as the start of each Catholic's ongoing conversion; evangelization as the primary mission of the Church; the meaning of evangelization; parishes as centers of evangelization; pastoral planning & evangelization; the new Roman Missal as an opportunity for evangelization; new Church movements and communities; immediate steps we can take to evangelize; and Blessed John Paul's oft-stated desire that all may know Jesus. **3rd segment:** Scot recalled the tornadoes in the Springfield diocese last week, the four deaths and more than 200 injuries. The diocese was hit very hard as well. Susan's counterpart, Sister Paul Robelard, said it was just terrifying. The chancery building wasn't damaged, but St. Michael's Resident, a home for retired priests and religious, was damaged. The chapel was ripped out of the middle of the building. The recently restored cathedral high school was also severely damaged. * [Massachusetts diocese seeks prayers, assistance during tornado recovery," The Pilot/CNS, 6/8/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13429) There are many people still without homes and it will be a long time getting back on their feet. Scot said in the weeks prior to that was the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. His children, seeing the news, were very fearful and he assured them that we don't get tornadoes in Massachusetts, and now this happens. It left us all feeling vulnerable. Scot asked Gregory's take as a journalist. Gregory said as terrible as the devastation as the Missouri was, it didn't feel so close to home, but many of us know people in Springfield, and especially with those he works with in the diocese there. As important as reporting what happened is reporting the efforts that the diocese is making to assist those in need. Fr. Roger said people should pray. Bishop McDonnell has asked for prayers those who died in the storm, those who lost homes, those who were injured. These are our neighbors in both a literal sense and in a Gospel sense, so we could assist with monetary donations. But we also need to recall that our lives are a gift of God. It's easy to go about our lives and not recall that this could happen to us at any time. We need to be grateful to the Lord for every day he gives us. We need to respond, not with fear, but with gratitude and trust. Also, be ready, because at any time our death could come. Are we ready to face the Lord in our personal judgment? Bishop McDonnell said Catholic Charities is looking for help with immediate needs for household items, toiletries, baby supplies, and monetary donations. * ["Cause of canonization opens for Opus Dei priest," The Pilot, 6/7/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13423) On June 2 at the Pastoral Center was the opening of the cause of canonization for Fr. Joseph Muzquiz, a priest of Opus Dei, who brought the movement to the United States. Fr. Roger knows Fr. Dave Kavanaugh, the promoter of the cause and priest of OPus Dei. He said Fr. Kavanaugh told him that Fr. Muzquiz was one of the first three Opus Dei priests ordained in Spain the 1940s. St. Josemaria Escriva had asked Fr. Muzquiz to bring Opus Dei to the US. They first went to Chicago and then came to Boston, coming here literally with nothing, trusting in God. Eventually, the movement has flowered in the United States with many beautiful facilities, chapels, and retreat centers. Fr. Muzquiz was known for his incredible peace and heroic virtue. He lived the real message of Opus Dei, to become holy in the midst of your ordinary activities. You don't have to be a martyr or travel to the end of the earth. He died on June 1, 1983.  In order to be canonized, you need two miracles, so they have printed up holy cards with prayers so that people can pray for their own needs and those they love. At this stage, he is called Servant of God and they will now investigate whether he lived the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love to a heroic degree.  Gregory said this is the first cause that he has experience with that has opened in Boston. The usual practice is that the cause opens in the diocese where the person died. He said though there were about 150 people present, many of whom knew Muzquiz personally, it was a highly canonical proceeding, with the reading of testimony and the signing of documents. There was a great sense of solemnity and it showed that the process of canonization is not just superfluous, but is very rigorous and much attention to detail is paid. Susan said she's only familiar with the archdiocese's connection to the cause for Blessed John Henry Newman, but that was an investigation of a miracle that occurred here, not the opening of the the cause and investigation. Scot said it was interesting to know about the formal roles in the process: the bishop of the diocese, the postulator of the cause (Fr. Kavanaugh), the episcopal delegate (Bishop Allué), the judicial vicar (Fr. Mark O'Connell), the promoter of justice (Fr. Rodney Kopp), and notaries (Fr. Michael Medas and Fr. Dan Harrington). Now the investigation will take testimony from many people and send that along with many other items of documentation to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican for consideration. They will investigate any possible miracle and perhaps make a recommendation to the Holy Father for beatification. Fr. Roger said those looking for miracles are encouraged to go to St. Joseph Cemetery in West Roxbury to pray at the tomb of Fr. Muzquiz for that miracle. **4th segment:** In the Pilot this week is an obituary for Fr. Thomas Keane, former Air Foorce chaplain and Quincy pastor. In The Anchor this week are the obituaries of Fr. Luis Cardoso and Msgr. Edmund Levesque. Msgr Levesque is Fr. Roger's predecessor at St. Anthony's in New Bedford. When Fr. Levesque arrived in the parish in 1990, he decided to renovate the church, which is a massive church. Because he had no money, he did it himself, erecting scaffolding and washing and painting the ceilings, then sanding and repainting the pews. He started to raise money for the school by cooking the dinner at Bingo every week. He died at he was going up the steps of a church to celebrate Mass. Fr. Luis Cardoso was an immigrant from the Azores and spent his whole priesthood in Fall River ministering to Portuguese Catholics.  Also this week, both dioceses celebrated the 25th anniversaries of a number of priests. The Boston priests celebrated Mass together at the Pastoral Center on Wednesday. * List of Archdiocese of Boston priests celebrating their Silver Jubilee: * Fr. Russell Best, St. Patrick, Boston * Fr. James Butler, Senior Priest * Fr. Richard Cannon, St. John the Baptist, Quincy * Fr. Thomas Foley, Episcopal Vicar and Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership * Fr. David Michael, St. Joseph, Needham * Fr. William Minigan, St. Joseph, Malden * Fr. Gabriel Lormeus, St. Mary, Lynn * Fr. Janusz Chmielecki, OFM Conv., Our Lady of Czestochowa, Boston * Fr. Gerard McKeon, SJ, Boston College High School * Fr. Joseph O'Keefe, SJ, St. Mary Hall, Boston College * Fr. Jose Ruisanchez, Opus Dei * Fr. Kevin Sepe, St. Francis of Assisi, Braintree * Fr. Mark Mahoney, St. Rose of Lima, Topsfield * Fr. Albert Faretra, St. Joseph, Belmont * Fr. James Doran, OMV, St. Joseph Retreat House, Milton * List of Diocese of Fall River priests celebrating their Silver Jubilee: * Fr. David Andrade * Fr. Freddie Babiczuk, Jr. * Fr. Thomas Frechette * Fr. Maurice Gauvin Jr. * Fr. Timothy P. Reis Susan said she has worked closely with Fr. Foley and Fr. Mahoney in the central ministries and has worked with many of the other priests as well. Moving on to other news, Fr. Roger said the US bishops when they meet in Seattle next week will be discussing assisted suicide and will be giving us a document on it. In Massachusetts, there is a new movement to promote assisted suicide. It comes as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, advocate of assisted suicide and antagonist of the culture of life, has recently died. He said this will be short enough for most people to read and pass along. * ["Bishops' document on assisted suicide will be first by full conference," CNS, 6/2/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1102179.htm) * ["Assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian dies at age 83," The Pilot/CNS, 6/8/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13425) Gregory said The Pilot will have an article about Fr. Frank Pavone's recent visit to Hingham and will summarize his talks on the pro-life cause. Also, Fr. Tad Pacholczyk writes this week on the topic of brain death and how to approach the issue from a Catholic perspective. Susan said she's interested in the article in The Pilot on the workshop that was recently held in North Andover on the changes to the Roman Missal.  Scot points out the article in the Pilot on the status of the archdiocese's pastoral planning office. He said Msgr. Will Fay was on The Good Catholic Life yesterday to clarify some of the misreporting on pastoral planning in the media recently. The article has direct quotes from Fr. David Couterier from the archdiocese's pastoral planning office that echo Msgr. Fay's comments yesterday.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Michael Coren, columnist, television host, and Catholic author * [Michael Coren's website](http://michaelcoren.com/) * "Why Catholics Are Right" * On Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of this week, WQOM and the Station of the Cross network are holding their [2011 Spring Fund Drive](https://www.thestationofthecross.com/wqom-spring-fund-drive-2011.html). All donors over $30 will receive a Station of the Cross "Benefactor Card" and are eligible to win great daily and hourly prizes. Consequently, the recorded shows for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday as heard on this site and downloaded through iTunes will not include the Spring Fund Drive segments as heard live as they aired. **Today's topics:** Canadian author Michael Coren and his new book "Why Catholics Are Right" **A summary of today's show:** Michael Coren talks with Scot about the unique claims of the Catholic Church and why the Church is right about every major topic of morality facing our culture today, including contraception, marriage, abortion. Also, why much of what is said about the clergy sex abuse crisis goes beyond what really happened to advance an anti-Catholic agenda. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Michael Coren to the show. He is the host of the "Michael Coren Show" on CTS in Canada and a syndicated columnist in many newspapers and bestselling author of 12 books, including his latest book, "Why Catholics Are Right". Michael said Random House is the publisher, it's available in most good bookstores, a few bad ones, and on Amazon.com. Scot said it's a provocative book, in which Michael takes on almost every attack that's leveled against the Church. Why did he decided to write it? Michael said he could have written the book years ago, because the Church has been the main target for public criticism for some years. He has four children and has seen what they've had to put up with and what he's had to put up with, the things said about the Church that would never be said about other denominations, other organizations.  It's fine to criticize the Church for what it does. It's when people know nothing about Catholicism, what we believe and teach, and yet go after us on a daily basis. This ranges from what we hear on the street to alleged educated and informed civilized media, from comedy shows to PBS in-depth news shows. It's unfair. Rather than just running away and pretending, he decided to give it the title and give substance and explain for ordinary people--he's not a theologian--what the Church believes and respond to the attacks, which are always the same attacks over and over again. Intellectual and metaphorical information to attack back with. Scot quoted from the introduction: "I've seldom met someone who dislikes me because of my views on the saints and the papacy, but I've lost jobs in media because of my Catholic belief that, for example, life begins at conception and that marriage can only be between one man and one woman." Does that indicate that Catholic defense on those issues, particularly marriage, artificial contraception, abortion, and the life issues, is really what Catholics need to know to defend in the public square and at the dinner table and at the ball game. Michael said he think so, although one doesn't have to become boring about this. If you're watching a baseball game and suddenly bring up abortion, you're going to lose a lot of friends. What he's saying is that when it does come up, he doesn't people to just feel uncomfortable and change the subject.  We do need to come back with a ready defense. What he meant in that passage is that because there are those who have no religious belief that think because we believe in the sanctity of unborn life and that marriage is one man and one woman it makes us fascists and unacceptable, so we need to know some of the arguments, which incidentally aren't really religious. The Catholic Church is the vehicle that represents natural law and logic and rational thought. Arguing for the unborn and that life begins at conception are scientific arguments. We just need to articulate them. Scot notes that Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver has an endorsement of the book on the cover. Why did Michael choose the title, "Why Catholics Are Right"? Is that tied to his adult conversion to Catholicism or because it's more provocative? He could have given it a softer title, but we've passed that now. It's not called "Why Catholics Are Right and Everyone Else Should Be Beaten Up." Michael's parents were not Catholic and most of his best friends are not Catholic, but if he believes something to be exclusively true, then obviously other alternatives must be wrong. Some of the kindest words said about the book have been from Jewish and Protestant readers. He had an email from someone who said, "I don't like you and the title of this book is absolutely wrong." Michael responded, "Yes, exactly. You think I'm wrong. I think I'm right. But why is it you think you're entitled to say this and I'm not." What he says in the book is that believes the Church was founded by Christ 2,000 years ago and is the most guaranteed way of us finding salvation and spending eternity with God. If he doesn't share that, it's like a man who's found a cure for cancer, but keeps it to himself.  It is indeed a provocative title and it will grab people's attention, but we need to grab people's attention. We need people to realize that we're not this dark force that's always been on the wrong side throughout history. Scot responded that we certainly shouldn't be shy about the truth. We just launched the Catholics Come Home campaign in the Archdiocese of Boston and they have a tremendous commercial called "Epic", which talks about the Catholic Church's contributions to the world over its 2,000 years. Some folks criticized us for being too proud for showing all the things we've done and it's just conveying the facts.  **2nd segment:** Scot asked Michael why he chose to have his first chapter address the clergy abuse crisis. Michael said because it's the elephant in the room. If he'd written chapters on history of the Church and other issues, he believes readers would have been waiting the whole time to get to that chapter and while they may have been influenced by other chapters, they could be turned back by this one. So he wanted to get it out of the way right off the bat.  He took it head on. He didn't sugar coat it. Michael is the father of four children and non-Catholics think that as Catholics we're trying to hide things. It appalls him and rips away at his very being. But he's showing what *actually* happened, not what people like to think happened. He's not saying that because other people do it that it excuses this, but 2 percent of clergy at most were involved; the average victim was a 14-year-old boy so it's not really pedophilia (the vast majority of victims were boys from 12 to 16); the Church responded generally by saying we're going to move the priest, give him counseling and tell him he mustn't do it again. That seems severely inadequate, but this is what school boards were told at the time, what sports teams were told, what other churches were told. They're not criticized, but the Church is today. The Church is now the safest place for a young person to be today. The numbers now show there are 7 or 8 new cases per year across millions of people. Just look at school boards, just look at the New York City schools just last year. And often because of union influence, these teachers are keeping their jobs. It was horrible, but it says nothing about the Church. It says everything about human nature and why we need a Church. It has nothing to do with celibacy. A normal man who is deprived of a sexual relationship with a woman does not suddenly lust after a 14-year-old boy, he lusts after a grown woman. That is common sense and logic. If it was about celibacy in the priesthood, why would the numbers be higher in the Episcopalian church or in education. The family is still the most dangerous place for sexual abuse of children.  Discuss it, criticize, condemn, but at the same time don't pretend the Church is this oasis. Anywhere there is a power dynamic between an adult and a young person, tragically, abuse will occur. Scot said we were touched by the abuse crisis particularly in the Archdiocese of Boston and the chapter helped him to understand what the abuse scandal is *not* about. Michael has already talked about the fact that it is not about pedophilia. It isn't about celibacy. It's also not about the all-male priesthood. Michael said that if a man feels he can no longer be celibate, it's not very difficult for him to dress in street clothes and go find the services of woman and pay for it. Michael said he's not trying to rude or crass, but that's what people do. For a priest to deny everything he ever believed and swore to stand for and abuse a young boy means he already has that perversion in his mind. Nor is he obviously a priest of any sort of standing because even if a man has that perversion as a temptation, to in no way try to resist it. As a married man, Michael is married to a very attractive woman, but it doesn't mean he doesn't notice other attractive women. But he's faithful to his wife because he's taken a vow to be faithful to one woman for the rest of his life. A priest swears to be celibate. It's a difference one or none. You don't have to be a priest, but if you are this is what's required of you. Those churches who have married clergy or ordain women have higher abuse rates. What happened here is that anti-Catholics and very liberal Catholics who were using this to try to change Church teaching. They seemed almost more interested in hurting the Church than in helping the victims. Michael met a victim of abuse who almost brought him to tears. He said to Michael: "If I leave the Church over this, I'm allowing this man to abuse me again. I would be leaving the Church because this evil man acted contrary to all that it teaches. I'm not going to let him do that." He thought it was a beautiful statement. Scot said he also debunks another myth related to the sex abuse crisis, that saying it's just because some homosexual men became priests is also a sweeping generalization. He says, "We should appreciate that sexuality and crime have no rigid connection. Those who abuse, lie, and exploit do so because of their immorality and not because of their sexual preference." Michael said they have gay marriage in Canada and he has taken a lot of shots because marriage is one man and one woman, but he said the vast majority of gay men are appalled at the idea of someone abusing a young boy. We've all probably met priests who are gay, but they are celibate.  While the abusers were homosexual, they were homosexual criminals and perverts. It wasn't just homosexuality. We shouldn't alienate people unnecessarily. He wants to state the truth, but wants to make sure that we do it carefully because it's a nuanced position. **3rd segment:** Scot said Michael's book has a quote from former New York Mayor Ed Koch, in which he says the Left is using the abuse crisis to hammer the Church. Michael said fair-minded people outside the Church say the same, particularly in the Jewish community because many Jewish commentators have seen this directed against them. It's liberal Catholics often who are trying to us this to change Church teaching. Many attacks were against Pope Jon Paul. They weren't really about what's going on in the Church, but about bashing the Church and advancing their agenda like ordaining women. The Church can't ordain women; we're here to follow Scripture. In answer to those who say if there were women clergy there would be no abuse, Michael says look at the Episcopalians, look at school, look at the family. It has nothing to do with whether there are women around or not. These horrible abusers looked for the children they were going to abuse, vulnerable kids, unstable families.  What Scot liked about the Koch quote was he said: "The reason, I believe, there are constant assaults is that there are many in the media--some Catholics as well as many in the public who object to and are incensed by positions the Church holds," including abortion, marriage, retention of celibacy rules, exclusion of women from the clergy, opposition to birth control measures, and opposition to civil divorce. Michael said we are the one institution standing up to these attacks of decadence and materialism. We're like a mirror held up for them to see their own reflection and they don't like so we have to be smashed. They don't attack some liberal, Protestant denomination. They attack the Roman Catholic Church because we're the people who don't change with the times. Why should we? Truth is truth and not mutable. We say some things are wrong and saying things are wrong in contemporary North America is abhorrent to people.  Scot said Michael dedicated an entire chapter to Catholics and life and to the attacks against the Church on abortion. He debunks the myths that outlawing abortion would result in back-alley abortions and the notion that only women can comment on this issue.  Michael said Planned Parenthood was founded by a racists who believed in eugenics and social engineering and racial superiority. He speaks on pro-life issues in Canada very often and he has the same arguments constantly. People say, "I wouldn't have an abortion myself but I'm not going to stop someone else." When you push them to answer why they wouldn't, eventually they say it's because it's a life. So then you say, so you won't kill an unborn child, but you won't stop someone else from doing it. Then they just scream and walk away. It's not a religious argument, it's a moral and scientific one. Life begins at conception with unique DNA. There's no other viable alternative to when life begins. A child cannot survive outside the womb, but even a fully born child would be dead if left to himself. Someone hit by a car would die if someone didn't help. An unborn child doesn't look completely like an adult, but a 5-year-old doesn't look like a 30-year-old. It's an irrelevant argument. It's a separate life. A woman has a right to choose all sorts of things, but she doesn't have the right to take an innocent life. Scot said the book takes the word "choice" and says that when there's a choice it's supposed to be a choice between two positive outcomes. In this case, there's really only one.  When a rape occurs, we don't say he "chose" to rape. It's not a choice issue, it's a crime. We confuse a crime with a choice. To take a life is wrong. It also assumes there's just the woman involved. There are also three people: the woman, the father, and the unborn child. To choose to kill a child is not a choice at all.  It's not the semantics that worry Michael so much, but the notion that choice is involved--and choice is everything in North America--is loaded political language. **4th segment:** In his chapter on Catholics and life, Michael talks about a lot of the practical decisions that are happening when women and the fathers of these babies choose to abort these children that through the ultrasound and other testing seem to have disabilities. As a Church and proponents of life, we need to stand for those babies and Scot knows of 5 friends of his who were encouraged to abort their kids because of the supposed disabilities that they could identify in the womb, and when the babies were born, they were fine. Michael said that even if they're not fine, if they don't live up to the standards of 21st-century expectations, they have a right to live. We live in a society where if you don't a hit album by the time you're 14 you're a failure and your movie career is finished by the time you're 16. We have to change the culture, not kill people. The man who discovered the likely gene for Down Syndrome--because we generally find Down Syndrome during pregnancy-- was someone who believed in life, who thought this was a good thing to prepare the way for them. Now it's used to abort Down Syndrome babies. We could have a world in which we could never see a Down Syndrome person ever again. Imagine how that makes people feel who are Down Syndrome people, their parents.  A lot of children are aborted because of gender, race, and disability--black and brown, female, and handicapped. Those people who call themselves left-wing and progressive are obsessed with giving people the ability to kill the handicapped, the black, the brown, the female. That doesn't sound very progressive to Michael. Scot said Michael also takes issue with some of the points of view on population control, particularly in places like Africa for similar reasons. Michael said you often hear people say the world is overpopulated, but it's actually true that entire world's population could fit into Texas with room to spare. Africa is underpopulated, he said. He added that he lives in Canada where there are 30 million people in a vast country which could hold many more. The reason Africa has a problem of food and so on is because we maintain vicious dictators, we sell them arms, we engineer wars there. Communism has destroyed so much when it has a conquered in Africa.  Asia has a large population, but if we look at India, it's economic growth rate is 12%. If only North America could have that rate. They have produced the largest middle class in the history of humanity and can feed their population several times over. That isn't an issue. In addition, most European countries are underpopulated. This is not a valid argument. It's a way to give moral substance to abortion. We're greedy in the West. We over-consume. We could easily feed the world's population. It amazes Michael that people who will weep over a puppy or kitten, will blithely support the killing of unborn babies. Scot said he liked how he indicated how the marriage of one man and one woman was deconstructed. Michael said that the four core qualifications for marriage have been: 1. Number (between two people) 2. Gender (between a man and a woman) 3. Age of consent  4. Not too close in terms of bloodlines That's been completely blurred in recent years. Michael says in the chapter, "Anyone who speaks of uncles, aunts, communities and villages raising children have no real understanding of family life. Single-parent families exist and sometimes it is excellent and obvious that the case that not every mother/father family is a success, but to consciously create unbalanced families in which children never enjoy the profound difference between man and woman, mother and father is dangerous social engineering." The social engineering is now underway in Canada and in many places in the United States, including Massachusetts.  Michael said that in Canada, if you want to adopt a child and you're a Christian, your chances are very limited because one of the questions asked of you, generally is what would you teach your children about homosexuality. And if you say, to love everyone equally, but also to be aware of sin, there's no way you'll get a child. Michael said there are couples who adopt a child as a fashion statement. He's heard this from gay friends who condemn it because they know some of the people are adopting as a fashion statement. Meanwhile wonderful Christian people are being told they can't have a child because their beliefs are hateful. Catholic adoption agencies in Britain have closed down because they refuse to give children to gay couples. In Canada there are prosecutions under human rights legislation of people who speak out about this. It may not be the former Soviet Union, but it can be very delicate. Last week, they had a commentator on a major sports network in Canada who was fired because he opposed a hockey player who supported same-sex marriage. The company said it wasn't because of that, but all the evidence says that he was fired because he dared to say he disagreed with an athlete.  It's not just same-sex marriage, it's the consequences. Now they say, We're not going to let you oppose it. We're going to punish you if you speak out. Scot said one of the major challenges to Catholics and non-Catholics who believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman is we're attacked with the label that we're homophobic and that the Church itself is homophobic. Michael said the term is meaningless because it literally means "disliking someone because they're like yourself." Anyone who hates another person because of their race or gender or sexuality is speaking against Catholic teaching. We do not believe that. There are gay Catholics who are heroes of the Church because they realized that this is not God's teaching. Though they may have this inclination but they accept that they will have to be celibate. He's not downplaying this. He's met those who have left that lifestyle and they can do it. He believes we can be more subtle than the Evangelical approach which is that you can change. Sometimes people can't change, but they can stop acting in a certain way. The Church is complex on this issue. It says that your loved and made in the image of God, but you're more than just your sexuality.  For someone to have a relationship based on lust and against the natural law is wrong. It goes against the status quo. It's not about gay people so much. We're told whatever you want to do, its okay. You're fulfilled if you have fun.  Go to any university and you'll find most of the perversity doesn't involved gay people. It's hypersexualized kids who because of the use of contraceptives and modern pressures society have turned young women into 19-year-old boys. **5th segment:** Contraception was the life issue where the avalanche of all these other life issues really started. Michael talks about that in his chapter on Catholics and life. He wrote: "It's hardly a surprise that subjects such as contraception and abortion lead to such anger and frustration because they are directly personal and they involve the most intimate and immediate forms of gratification and pleasure. ... The sexual fanatics are those who obsess about sex and believe it to be morally neutral and have no inherent value. The Catholic Church believes that sex is so wonderful that it contains values as well as virtues." Michael said what we call "The Pill" (which is a misnomer because pills make you better; the contraceptive pill alters the body chemistry with unknown consequences for women who starting taking it at 14 and 15 for their entire lives) has links to cancer and depression. Taking something that will stop the body from behaving naturally and normally, how can that be good for anyone?  Until 1930 every major Protestant church disagreed with contraception as well and when these churches allowed this to happen it really signaled their decline. We do not believe as Catholics that every act of sex has to lead to a child. We believe that to aggressively prevent the possibility of life occurring is anti-Godly. The Catholic Church teaches a form of family planning that is extremely successful and that empowers the woman. Some women talk about women's liberation, but artificial contraception is really about guys who want something and can use contraception to get it more easily.  Since we've had the complete availability of the Pill and the condom, if the argument is that people are happier now, it still wouldn't be right. But look at the statistics: Every year since the Pill and condoms have been easily available we've had increased numbers of STDs, so-called unwanted pregnancies, abortion, sex-linked depression and worse and worse. It was meant to be the dawn of a great new age, a new heaven, but it's become a new hell. Near the end of his book, Scot said Michael saved some of his concluding remarks for hypocrites. He wrote: "To give hypocrites their most descriptive titles--politicians, powerful people, and even ordinary men and women who claim to be Roman Catholic, but behave as if they weren't--being Catholic does have a culture context and while many people struggle and evolve in their Catholic faith, the mere fact of being born of Catholic parents in a Catholic country is not enough. Being Catholic is not the same as being Jewish, for example, in that Judaism has a secular aspect and there are Jewish people who describe themselves as atheists who are still to a large degree accepted within the Jewish community." It's very important to distinguish between Catholics who live their faith from those who claim they're Catholic but they're willing to run from Catholic values and beliefs when it's convenient for them. Michael joked that in Boston we've never had any politicians who've been hypocrites or anything. Michael said you don't have to be a Catholic, but if you're a Catholic, you have to be Catholic. These politicians who claim they are Catholic, but when it comes to politics they have to represent everyone, well they don't apply that to all sorts of issues. They speak from their own opinion over and over again. They're being dishonest. They think that if they're pro-life or speak up in favor of marriage, they careers won't advance. It's so often about sex. They don't say, "I can't represent Catholic teaching on the poor," but when it comes to sexuality they feel they can't offend people. Particularly on the abortion issue, they sellout. It's politicians, but it's other people as well. It's even more true in Canada than in the United States. Most of their prime ministers since the Second World War have been Roman Catholic and yet  they have such an anti-Catholic political culture in that country. But in the US, when President Obama was asked about abortion, he said it's above my pay grade and he wasn't pushed on that. What he said was horrible. What he was really saying was that he didn't want to address the issue because it might lose him some votes.  When Catholic politicians contradict Catholic teaching on fundamental Catholic issues should be denied the Eucharist, not as a punishment, but because their souls are in danger. If they are receiving the sacraments and they're not in full standing with the Church, if they're denying Catholic teaching, they're in real trouble. There are consequences to this. Any good pastor--a bishop or priest--would say, "I can't do this. You're welcome at Mass but it's something we need to talk about." But people are frightened, particularly in places with a large Catholic population, like Boston. "If I do that, he's a very popular figure, and I could be in trouble." The Roman Catholic hierarchy has some wonderful men in positions of influence, but for some time we've had those who want to be comfortable. Catholics haven't always been accepted in the US, but they want to be comfortable within the American culture. Well, Catholic truth is far more important than being accepted for a while in any culture.  Scot said it seems like one of the purposes of the book was to start the conversation on a lot of these issues. Michael ends the book: "Catholicism is as important now as it every was and perhaps even more necessary in a world that appears to prefer confusion to clarity, and to long for feelings instead of facts. All sorts of people have interesting and valuable ideas and deserve to be heard. Catholics particularly so, because Catholics are right."  Scot said he thinks that the Catholic perspective in the public square does need to be heard. Michael said there's so little alternative. We face enormous threats outside North America with jihadist Islam and inside with decadence. There is no other institution, no other ideology to save us. Secular humanism won't save us. Liberal ideology won't save us. The Roman Catholic Church has always had the answers, but we do need to articulate them in a way that people can understand and appreciate. He hopes he's done that in this book.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Boston * ["Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States" (USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis](http://www.usccb.org/evangelization/goandmake/eng.shtml) * []() **Today's topics:** Evangelization as an inward and outward activity **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Fr. Chris talk to Janet Benestad about evangelization and the strategy put forward by the US bishops in their document "Go and Make Disciples". **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Chris back to the show. Last Wednesday, Fr. Chris helped with the graduation of the Master of Arts in Ministry program. There were 16 graduates. Bishop Dooher gave the commencement address and he talked about evangelization. He told them that what they learned there, they now have to spread to others. Some of them are working in parishes, one is a Boston Symphony Orchestra member, and another is a chemist. It shows that the work will be done not just in parishes but in homes and places of work. One of the 16 is the hundredth graduate of the program. Laypeople and deacons formed at the heart of the Church. Fr. Chris has also been with the men at Norfolk state prison, who are always listening to the show. Fr. Chris celebrates Mass. Sometimes he will also speak afterward. He will also hear confessions.   Scot said there is now a Boston Bruins flag flying outside the Pastoral Center today in honor of the Bruins playing in the Stanley Cup finals against the Vancouver Canucks. Walking through Boston yesterday, he saw a Bruins flag at City Hall and the State House, so he's happy to see it here. Fr. Bryan Parrish, who works in the Pastoral Center, said the flag was donated by one of his parishioners.  It's a great time to be a Boston sports fan. Scot pointed out that the flag flies between the Vatican flag and the US flag, temporarily replacing the Massachusetts state flag. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Janet to the program. Janet has been at the archdiocese for several years and before that in the Diocese of Scranton. She started in Scranton 12 years ago in a similar role, overseeing religious education, youth and young adult ministry, prison ministry, hospital ministry, cultural diversity, and more. Her secretariat was reconstituted prior to her joining her team because Cardinal Seán had wanted a new focus on evangelization and faith formation. Janet said both parts are vitally connected. Faith formation helps people come to know Jesus in a systematic, while evangelization is a broader effort. It helps people understand that everything they do is connected in some way to the love of God. Fr. Chris said the great gift of the Eucharist is God's abiding presence. In coming to Eucharist and hearing the Word of God proclaimed we are sustained. We can't give what we don't have and how can we share if we don't know Jesus. Evangelization often has a sour taste in the mouth in our culture. It's too often described as proselytization, which is forcing the faith on others or manipulating. Janet said to be a witness is to not engage in propaganda, but to be a living mystery, to live in such a way that life would not make sense if God did not exist. It is the message of Jesus Christ, given in the Gospel and preached with conviction and all of the power of the Holy Spirit. Scot said Henri Nouwen's definition is "one beggar leading another beggar to the bread." The person who evangelizes doesn't have all the "food", all the answers, but knows the way. You just have to lead people to Christ. Fr. Chris said it complements the idea of the Body of Christ, that there's no one person who can communicate all of the faith to another. This is why we have all the saints, who shared the faith in their own way, just as we do. The word some basic words in our faith. Evangelium means Good News in Latin. We are passing on the Good News handed to us by the Apostles and disciples and successive generations. Janet said in the early days of the Church there were no seminaries, no parochial schools, no Catholic colleges, no CCD. The faith was alive in the people who had experienced it directly from Jesus or the Apostles. We don't keep good news about movies or restaurants or the like to ourselves, but we hesitate to share the most important good news. The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles on Pentecost and they couldn't help but share the Good News, despite the fear they had been under before that. Scot said if we think we're not capable of being evangelizers, if we need more courage or understanding, we can pray to the Holy Spirit for those gifts. Fr. Chris said another image is the lamplighter. The lamplighter lights one lamppost at a time and soon the whole street is alight. We can be like the lamplighter to our family and friends. About 20 years ago the US Bishops Conference issued a document on evangelization. It says that evangelization is both inward and outward. Janet said in order to evangelize one has to grow deeper in the faith, to pray, to become active in the community. That's the first step of evangelization. The document says one reason for evangelization is so that people can experience the grandeur with which they are made.  Fr. Chris quoted John XXIII: The goal for every person is to get to heaven and bring as many people with us as we can. We have to become holy ourselves. People should know we are Christians as soon as they interact with us. Ghandi said he would become a Christian if he ever met one. Scot said God created each of us with a unique set of gifts. Every person ever created has a unique set of gifts and God has an eternal destiny and a purpose for using those gifts. By being connected with that, we will increase our sense of joy and love in this life and the next. **3rd segment:** We witness to Christ by our actions, by willing to talk about it in any way we know, and by asking or inviting people to join with us in our faith. Scot said the outward direction of evangelization comes the great commission of Jesus: Go and make disciples of all nations. This is the name of this document. Janet quoted Fr. Mark O'Connell in a homily saying to children that they can be evangelists. He told them that when they go to school on Monday and talk about their weekends, tell others they went to church. Everyone is called to evangelize. Every person has a story of faith. Tell that story. Articulate it as best you can and then live it in everything you do. Fr. Chris added that forgiveness is an important element. When we forgive it's a response to God's forgiveness for us. All of the components of our live are opportunities to evangelize. How many times is there an opportunity to show God's love and mercy to people we encounter every day.  Scot said people tell him they don't evangelize because they fear or have received a hostile reaction. Certainly nearly everyone who has evangelized has received such a reaction at one time or another, even Jesus. Fr. Chris said, looking at TV, people have no problem exposing the craziest, most intimate details of their lives, yet we fear to reveal who we really are. Pope Benedict XVI has established a new pontifical council to promote evangelization. For many years, the Church saw evangelization as going to foreign lands that have not heard the Gospel, but today we have to re-evangelize ourselves. Pope Benedict says every Catholic should buy a catechism and know what it says. The Pope has said we need to use all the forms of media to get the message out. Then build on the things that have worked to spread the good news. Scot asked Janet for ideas to overcome fear of hostility to our witness. First, remember it's not an argument or debate. Lead people to love. Second, listen first before speaking and preach through the actions of your love and concern. When a person leaves the Church, our concern for them does not end at the church door. Our concern for them lasts beyond their hostility. It can be a kind word or gesture and care and charity. Recognize that the person's soul is in a process of conversion. Scot had interviewed Fr. John Corapi and was struck by the humber of men who had come back to their faith because of his talks. Fr. Corapi said it's up to the Holy Spirit to convert. Our job is  to invite. Second, pray for the person we're inviting and then praying after the invitation. Third, connect them as much as possible to the Church. Don't stop trying, but don't force ourselves on them. Let them know we really care for them, we want what's best, and we're not pushy. * [Fr. John Corapi interview in The Boston Pilot, 2/18/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=12973) Fr. Chris said we have to be able to say, "this is why my faith is so important to me." Be ready to give a defense of our faith in three sentences. What's essential about my faith? Why is it important to me? Scot said God's plan of salvation includes us being a vessel of reconciliation and invitation. Men who think about the priesthood often think of all their flaws that would prevent them from being a good priest. Yet it's our flaws which others could see in us which makes our faith seem accessible. God chooses the weak and makes them strong. **4th segment:** There were several goals in the USCCB document: 1. To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others 2. To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith. 3. To foster gospel values in our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ The first goal includes many programs of renewal and conversion, particularly our rite of Christian initiation programs. Pastors have been telling Janet that people in the parishes are growing deeper in their faith as a result of Catholics Come Home. Scot said this document does a great job at explaining what evangelization in the big picture, to express the goals, and then to get very granular in giving tactics for how every parish and family can experience this renewal. 1. To foster an experience of conversion and renewal in the heart of every believer, leading to a more active living of Catholic life 2. To foster an experience of conversion and renewal in every parish 3. To make the evangelizing dimension of Sunday Eucharist more explicit 4. To foster an appreciation of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist and of all the sacraments, the sacred signs of our Catholic life 5. To foster a greater appreciation of the power of God's Word in our worship 6. To foster an even deeper sense of prayer among our Catholic people  7. To foster a renewed understanding of the faith among Catholics 8. To foster a sense of discipleship among Catholic adults and children  9. To foster active and personal religious experience through participation in small-group and other communal experiences in which the Good News is shared, experienced, and applied to daily life 10. To foster a sense of the domestic church within households in which families, individuals, and groups reside 11. To promote and develop a spirituality for the workplace  12. To foster greater appreciation of cultural and ethnic spirituality Many of these have to do with the Sunday Mass. Fr. Chris said the Mass is one of the principle places we go to be renewed with the Lord. The document talks about encouraging Eucharistic adoration and about sacramental preparation. The Church re-introduces us to our faith in the preparation, even if we've baptized other children already, for example.    Scot focused on the suggestions for the domestic church. * cultivation of daily prayer and times of prayer in the home; * establishment of times of family sharing; * home-based rituals shaped by the liturgical year; * formation of groups of parents, families, and households to develop spirituality in the home; and * adaptation of new and meaningful faith practices within the family in view of the decline of family prayer. Janet said some people don't quite know how to live the Christian faith together with their family. Start by praying together as a married couple. Then when children come, pray with them, and get them used to the idea that spiritual life is not something we do in private, but which we do as a community. Scot's brother, Fr. Roger Landry, says his best seminary was the domestic church of his home where he learned so much of his faith.  Fr. Chris said he heard about kids who write to the bishop about their confirmation sponsors and how often it's someone in their lives who have witnessed to their faith. It's all the little moments of passing on the faith, taking the opportunities that are there. It takes effort to carve out time for prayer, but how will we know Jesus if we don't. The second goal of the document is "To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic faith."  Some of the strategies are: 1. To make every Catholic institution, especially our parishes, more welcoming  2. To help every Catholic feel comfortable about sharing his or her faith and inviting people to discover Christ in our Catholic family of believers  3. To develop within families and households the capacity to share the Gospel 4. To equip and empower our active Catholic members to exercise their baptismal call to evangelize 5. To use special times in parish and family life to invite people to faith 6. To cultivate an active core of the baptized to serve as ministers of evangelization in their parishes, dioceses, neighborhoods, workplaces, and homes 7. To effectively invite people to our Church 8. To design programs of outreach for those who have ceased being active in the Church 9. To design programs that reach out in particular ways to those who do not participate in a church community or who seek the fullness of faith   Janet said many of our parishes have become more welcoming through Catholics Come Home, creating ministries of welcoming, putting explanatory and welcoming materials in the pews, making the churches more accessible to those who might be uneasy about coming. As institutions become more aware of their Catholic identity, they become better witnesses to a culture that is somewhat hostile to them. Scot said many Catholics leave the Church for evangelical churches because they are welcomed there, by joyful people. There are too many Catholic parishes where someone could attend every week and no one would ever know their name or speak to them. Fr. Chris noted that the Pastoral Center is open every weekday for Mass at noon and on Thursdays for confessions, which is welcoming.  Some of the strategies of the third goal are: 1. To involve parishes and local service groups in the needs of their neighborhood 2. To foster the importance of the family 3. To develop groups to explore issues of the workplace and lay spirituality  4. To encourage Catholic witness in the arts and in the American intellectual community 5. To involve every Catholic, on different levels, in areas of public policy 6. To involve the Catholic Church, on every level, in the media 7. To involve Catholics, at every level, in questions of economic systems  The Church has a lot to offer the culture. Janet said the document is forward-looking on Catholic social teaching. We respect the dignity of the human person which is a fundamental teaching of our faith. Every Catholic is called to bring to every part of their life the mindset of a Catholic, the Christian idea of society founded for the common good. Fr. Chris recalled Pope Benedict saying even for someone who doesn't believe, it's better to follow the Ten Commandments because everyone's rights will be protected. Scot said the third goal encompasses the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Paul Soper, Pastor of St. Albert the Great Parish, Weymouth * [St. Albert the Great Parish, Weymouth](http://www.atgweymouth.org/) **Today's topics:** How an astrophysicist becomes a priest; helping Catholics cope with reconfiguration; Catholics Come Home; St. Albert the Great Parish **A summary of today's show:** Fr. Paul Soper joins Scot and Fr. Mark to talk about being an astrophysicist who became a parish priest; the remarkable response of a parish to being closed; and how his current parish became an example of helping Catholics come home. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mark back to the show. Fr. Mark said that as it's Friday of Memorial Day weekend, we might be the only people left in the building. A very special event happened in Fr. Mark's family yesterday. His sister Margaret Mary graduated from Harvard University with a Master's degree and intends to become a teacher in the inner city. It's a great time of year. Scot said Cardinal Seán said at the ordination Mass last weekend that they were holding a rapture party. He used it very cleverly, poking gentle fun at those claiming the end of world would be last week. Fr. Mark was at St. Athanasius in Reading this week for a talk on issues related to the work of the tribunal, especially related to marriages and annulments.  **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Fr. Paul Soper to the show. Fr. Paul grew up in St. Jerome's Parish in Weymouth. The pastor when he was a teen was Fr. Dan Quinn, very open and loving man and effusive in his love of God and the Church. One day, he asked Fr. Paul at 15 years old to think about being a priest. Fr. Paul said he wanted to be an astronomer. He made him promise to consider it briefly before doing anything final. Fr. Paul went to college and began to apply for graduate schools, but yet had been feeling something gnawing inside him. He went to St. Paul's, Cambridge, to speak to a priest there about these questions coming up. He thought it was just to honor the promise and put it to rest, but it lead to him deciding this was a serious call. His family was supportive, but probably not very surprised. His parents were very wise and their reaction was wanting to support him if that's what he wants to do. They later told him he was very pleased, but didn't want to influence his decision. Scot asked about those who want to pit science against faith. Fr. Paul has a degree in astrophysics. He asked Fr. Paul how studying science affected his faith. The Psalmist says the heavens proclaim the glory of the Lord. He doesn't look to science to lead him to direct conclusions about God. But go outside on a starry night to observe the immensity of the universe to observe how glorious they are, and yet they are entirely incapable of knowing what they are and why they were created. If he can study the star, and it can lead him to glorifying God because of it, then he's helping it to fulfill its purpose. Fr. Mark said some scientists cannot connect their faith to their livelihood. They can't measure God and so eliminate him from their belief. Fr. Paul said science asks questions about what and how, but is very poor at asking questions about why. The scientific method is harsh, demanding, rigorous and limited. Questions of why are really fundamental questions. They go well with the how questions. For example, the Big Bang can be investigated as to the how, but the why question which goes hand in hand with it, needs to be investigated in the chapel and in prayer and in Scripture and human interrelations. The universe is pulsing with meaning that cannot be investigated by the scientific method. One of the astronauts Pope Benedict spoke with last week said you can't help but pray when considering the fragility and beauty of the earth. Fr. Paul said one of the beautiful unfoldings with human history, with each age new ways have come forward for us to be able to understand our relationship with the Lord. In the 20th and 21st century has brought a deepened understanding of mathematics and physics. Scot said in his own life, when he went from working in marketing to the seminary, they couldn't how someone could go from the "devil's work" to the Church. How did scientists react to his entering the priesthood? Fr. Paul said he was able to continue his work with a team of scientists and they continue to research and publish papers together. He is the only religious person in the group, but they are respectful and intrigued and fascinated by the questions that are raised. One of the men died a couple of months ago and he was a self-described "religious junkie". They would often talk about religion. He was Jewish but he was fascinated by the questions. Fr. Mark said he gets a kick out of the papers Fr. Paul publishes because he can't read them because they are all very scientific. Among the academic credentials mentioned, Fr. Paul's always says St. Albert, Weymouth. Fr. Mark said in seminary that Fr. Paul has never flaunted his intelligence. He is a wonderful man who do anything for anyone, Fr. Mark said, and is his greatest friend. Academically, moving to seminary was a surprising transition, said Fr. Paul. He went from problem sets and computer programs to writing papers and doing lots of reading. He had a close group of friends in college who were very supportive and in the seminary he experienced the same. The best part for him was the community, which has continued to stay in touch. Fr. Mark said Fr. Paul was the only seminarian with a computer at the time. they started out with 42 classmates of whom 21 were ordained, 11 of whom were for Boston. Scot said that rate is not uncommon. Fr. Paul said seminary is a place of discernment, where one discovers whether they have a vocation to the priesthood. There is a particular vocation to being a seminarian as well, which some of the men who left might have had. It is a vocation of hope and is a vocation in and of itself within the Church. One of their classmates who left is now Fr. Tony Medeiros, rector of Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Boston. **3rd segment:** Fr. Soper has served in many parishes and at campus ministry at UMass Lowell. He has covered all five regions of the diocese. Most priests stay primarily in one region or another. Fr. Mark said he and Fr. Paul made a commitment that whatever the cardinal asks, they will do. They do not ask for assignments. Scot said that's not unlike Cardinal Seán who's taken on one difficult assignment after another as a bishop. Scot asked him what it's like to serve in many different parishes. Fr. Paul said it's been a great adventure, in part because never having chosen any of them, and so each one is a great surprise. He's grown in each place he's been and he's been happy there, making wonderful friends. In 2004, he was pastor at St. Alphonsus in Beverly and not long after, during Reconfiguration, the parish was designated for closing. Fr. Paul said it was a parish that took the concept of stewardship very seriously. They had wonderful leadership in that. Every Sunday after the prayers of the faithful, the parish would say together the stewardship prayer of St. Ignatius of Loyola. >Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more. When reconfiguration came and they saw themselves as a small parish surrounded by large parishes, they brought to the committee considering it that they offered to be closed. This occurred after many meetings within the parish. He had come to Beverly from St. Anthony, Revere, and an opportunity had arisen at that parish to build a church in a remote area of the Dominican Republic. The parishioners at St. Alphonsus decided that if they were to close their own parish, that they would go to the Dominican Republic and explore the idea of building a new parish there. They worked with an architect and decided to build a beautiful place, not just something inexpensive and easy to build. They had many parish fundraisers that raised $30,000. They managed to sell every piece of furniture from the rectory for this purpose. They brought many sacred goods, including statues, altar linens, vestments, nativity sets, etc., from Beverly to the new church called San Alfonso, which opened about 8 months after St. Alphonsus closed. They ended up having to carry them up a mountain because the rains prevented the truck from climbing the hill. Scot said it's very far from the common reaction of those whose parishes were closed. Many people were attached to their parishes and wanted to hold one, but this reaction was to become giving. Fr. Paul was very moved by what he saw. On the day they closed the church they had a procession around the church, finishing with the St. Ignatius prayer. There were tears of sorrow, but also tears of sacrificial love. From there he went to Bl. Mother Teresa Parish in Dorchester and the St. Albert in Weymouth. St. Albert also suffered a lot from reconfiguration and gone through a lot of pain. The parish closed for 10 months and the parishioners had stayed and then it reopened. Fr. Paul said when he arrived at St. Albert, Fr. Larry Borges had been taking care of the parish after it had settled into the idea of being opened again and trying to normalize itself. They're maintaining the enthusiasm and zeal of fighting to stay open while doing all the ordinary things a parish does. During the time it was closed, extraordinary lay leadership come forward. The parish continue to function in many ways and those leaders stayed after it reopened. It provides a model for how parishes should function in coming days when priests become to rare to do the things priests don't need to do. Lay leadership brings a depth to parish life even if there were many priests available. Fr. Paul said there is no paid janitor. They have volunteers who take care of that. They have volunteer pastoral associates. They just had a big spring cleanup. Part of that is because they don't have huge financial resources, but they also don't need them because they have an activated lay leadership. Scot said stewardship is giving time, talent, and treasure and time and talent are more important. Fr. Paul said it's healthier for a parish to have people who love the parish to do those things, than to hire someone to do them. Scot said the painful chapter of St. Albert's history was a source for a unique way to launch [Catholics Come Home](http://www,catholicscomehomeboston.org). Fr. Paul said last fall, as they were planning for Christmas, the parish council considered what does a welcoming parish look like. They were already doing many significants part of that. After every daily Mass and Sunday Mass, they would have hospitality in the parish hall. Another aspect of being welcoming would be welcoming to those who were coming for Christmas Masses. The parish council wrote a letter to explore the reasons people might have left the Church and sympathized with those reasons and then told the people that they would be missed. They put the letter in the hands of every person who came to the church on Christmas. They also decided to have Ash Wednesday as a focus for Catholics Come Home and decided to have the church open for 24 hours that day. Well over 1,000 people came through the doors of the church. They had welcoming teams of at least 4, but often many more. As people came through the door, somebody met them, walked them up to where the ashes were being given, talked to them, gave them a prayer card, and invited them to come back on Good Friday. They heard many confessions. Many meetings with people who came through the door, including many would be candidates for RCIA.  Fr. Paul said they believe it was a great success. **5th segment:** Each Friday we look forward to the upcoming Sunday's Gospel to reflect on it and prepare for the Sunday homily. * [Gospel for May 29, Sixth Sunday of Easter](http://www.usccb.org/nab/052911.shtml#gospel) >Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father,  and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Scot recalls to himself that this is before Pentecost and Apostles must have heard this as a complicated riddle. He finds it moving that Jesus talks about leaving them a second time and He must have known their fear about being "left orphans". Fr. Paul said the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church connects with evangelization. The Spirit is a gift given to the Church, not for the Church, but rather for the world. We weren't given the Spirit not for ourselves. We are to carry the Spirit out to the world. We can be comfortable inside our walls, but we need to move beyond them to bring the Spirit to those places. The disciples at Pentecost never went back to the room in which they had been hiding in fear. They go out into the world. Scot said the first and primary Advocate is Jesus. We should ask prayers of God in the name of Jesus. So he's giving us another Advocate, which is the Holy Spirit. Fr. Mark said this is how God loves us. How do I love God? Fr. Mark thinks of C.S. Lewis in [Mere Christianity](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060652888/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0060652888) who said don't sit there and manufacture feelings. Think of how you would show love to God and go do it. God loves us by giving us the Spirit we can rely on and which is enough for us. The Holy Spirit can answer any question in our heart. Scot said Jesus repeats himself. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments and then says it again at the end that if we love Him we will do it. With repetition, Jesus is driving home the point. How do I love Jesus? Do I keep His commandments?  Fr. Paul said Jesus gives us the example of true love. The Commandments are precious and we need to long to follow the commandments. Realistically we do that better sometimes and poorly other times. But Jesus didn't just teach us, didn't just tell us what to do. He also saved us. He died to hold us up when we don't do what He told us to do. Jesus himself is the commandment. He dies for those who won't do what you want them to do. Pope Benedict's first encyclical was "Deus Caritas Est" (God is love). Love is not just a feeling; it's an action. Fr. Mark says you see in Fr. Paul's parishes that by the actions of his parishioners they show love. Loving others is to the good of our enemies ahead of our own good, said Fr. Paul. * [Some of Fr. Soper's scientific papers](http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=%22paul+d.+soper%22&btnG=Search&as_sdt=0%2C22&as_ylo=&as_vis=0) That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guest, Father Paul Soper. For our co-host, Father Mark O'Connell, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Wrentham **Today's guest(s):** Sister Terry Rickard, President of Renew International, Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Mary Ann McLaughlin, Co-Director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life and Director of Arise: Together in Christ * [Renew International](http://www.renewintl.org/) * ["Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us": A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States](http://www.nccbuscc.org/education/ourhearts.htm) * [Arise: Together in Christ](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) * [Why Catholic?: Journey Through the Catechism](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/whycatholic.aspx?pid=464) **Today's topics:** Adult faith formation and the new program called Why Catholic? **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Fr. Chip talk with Sr. Terry Rickard, Janet Benestad, and Mary Ann McLaughlin about adult faith formation and the new program in the Archdiocese of Boston called "Why Catholic?" that will take parishioners through the Catechism. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Chip as a substitute co-host for Fr. Matt Williams who is traveling. He has been pastor at St. Mary's for three years as of May 1. He's working hard to try some new things, bringing people closer together and bring people back to God. He also co-hosts the movie review show Spotlight with Fr. Bill Kelly on CatholicTV. He's been a big fan of movies as long as he can remember. They've completed their second season of the show. Scot said they'll be speaking today about the centrality of adult faith formation in the Archdiocese of Boston and specifically about the new program following on Arise and Catholics Come Home called Why Catholic? Fr. Chip said he's excited to hear about these programs coming from the archdiocese because not every parish has the resources to do it all on their own and re-inventing the wheel. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Sr. Terry and Janet to the show. Scot said most of what Renew does is helping dioceses and parishes with adult faith formation. Renew came out of the renewal of the Second Vatican Council and focuses on the methodology of small groups. They have worked in 24 countries and 160 dioceses in the US over the past 30 years. Currently they are working in 51 dioceses. Scot said there are about 176 dioceses in the US. Scot said to Janet that the US bishops wrote in a document about 10 years ago that adult faith formation is central to the mission of the Church. Janet said Bl. John Paul wrote in [Catechesi Tradendae](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae_en.html) about this centrality for the first time. Our parishes do a good job educating and forming children, but we haven't done as well at ongoing formation for adults. Scot said he was surprised to read in the US bishops' document: >The Church wisely and repeatedly insists that adult faith formation is "essential to who we are and what we do as Church" and must be "situated not at the periphery of the Church's educational mission but at its center." While most Catholic parishes place a high priority on the faith formation of children and youth, far fewer [Catholic parishes] treat adult faith formation as a priority. Fr. Chip said it's important that we do it, but we're not doing it. We're so focused with our limited resources on forming children that we let parents and other adults slip through the cracks. He did a formation series last fall on Church history and it was sporadically attended. But that can't be discouraging because people do tell him they want such formation. We just have to find what works for them. The US bishops said well-formed adults are our next generation of catechists and other volunteers within the parish. Sr. Terry said such programs are not just informational transferral, but information for transformation of the person. At Renew they start where people are at and as people gather in the small groups, they start with prayer, then read the Word of God, and then apply it to their lives. Fr. Chip asked Sr. Terry how do you involve young parents, with everything that they have going on in their lives? She said you can't do adult faith formation without evangelization and you need evangelization strategies. The strategies of inviting are important. Part of Renew's success is that the groups can meet at any time, any day. You can have many groups with a variety of times. Scot said the US bishops' document talks about the characteristics of a spiritually mature faith: frequent reading of the word of God, sacred writings of our tradition, and the official documents of the Church; involvement in the community life and mission of the Church; personal prayer; participation in the works of justice and service to the poor; and the fulfillment of our human obligations in family and society through the active practice of love for God and neighbor. It goes on: >A living faith is a searching faith-—it "seeks understanding." Adults need to question, probe, and critically reflect on the meaning of God's revelation in their unique lives in order to grow closer to God. A searching faith leads to deepening conversion.  Janet said so much of the confusion about the faith is that when people hear what the Church says about a controversial issue, they just shut down rather than to study and learn and understand. Taking seriously the practice of faith within the community and taking seriously the formation of conscience are fundamental to faith. Adult faith formation takes seriously the obligation to give answers or help people seek answers. The Church wants you to question what she says, but not to just stop there. Find the truth and be open to the truth wherever it is found. Doing this in a group is a way to help each other find their way.Sr. Terry said the methodology of the small groups is to see, judge (based on the truth of Scripture and Tradition, applying it to our lives), and then turn it into action. Scot said research tells us that those who are most engaged in the parish are those who have one of their best friends in the parish and so faith-sharing groups can nurture acquaintances into friendships and deepen friendships even more. **3rd segment:** Scot said the Bishops' document talked about six dimensions that good adult faith formations programs would include: knowledge of the faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer, communal life, and missionary spirit. The idea is to pick one or two at a time and grow a little bit in the different seasons of our lives. Fr. Chip said missionary spirit and communal life often get left behind. People pretty much know how to pray and people come to Mass, but when he talks about going out and proclaiming faith in what they say and what they do, they balk at that. People like to keep their faith in a box on a shelf and take it out for a time on Sundays. The Church tells us you can't do that. He talks about community all the time to stress that Church is a place to come any time. Scot said there are 5 different places for learning: in families, large groups, individual and self-study, and individual activities. Scot would add programs of the various Catholic media. Scot asked Sr. Terry why small group faith formation has proven to be so successful. Sr. Terry said when Renew was founded in New Jersey, the two priests who began it had been active in the Catholic family movement and the RCIA and both of those had been successful with small groups. If we're bringing in people through RCIA, then we want the parishes to have that same experience of small group faith-sharing. Scot said that in his professional experience as a manager, he's found that people have different learning styles and he's had to adapt to other learning styles. Sr. Terry said small-group learning is so good because our faith is communal and is essentially lived together. Renew is also exploring new media, just starting podcasts and webinars and creating a [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/RENEWIntl).  Scot asked Janet about her hopes for Why Catholic? This will be the opportunity to get the Catechism into the hands of thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese and the small faith-sharing groups will help people overcome their discomfort at approaching a new document. Why Catholic? begins with the last section of the Catechism on Prayer because they've found it to be most effective. Fr. Chip said the new [YouCat](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586175165/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1586175165) youth catechism would be effective  for adults as well as youth. Janet agreed because it gives a beautiful treatment of the topics covered by the universal Catechism. She said the new [US Catechism for Adults](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574554506/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1574554506) would be suitable as well. YouCat is in a question and answer format that works well for some people. Janet said Pope Benedict wrote the introduction for YouCat and it's an explicit invitation to those who may have been away from the Church. **4th segment:** Scot welcomes Mary Ann McLaughlin to the show. Mary Ann led ARise and now leads the Why Catholic? program. Why is it a good followup to Arise. She said small groups has proven to be an essential experience to the life of the Church. She said Cardinal Sean confirms that one needs to be immersed in the community when learning the language of faith, just like immersion helps one learn a foreign language. The small community in faith-sharing gives us a place to learn that language of faith. Of course, the Church has always had small groups: Cursillo, prayer groups, Bible studies. Gathering in community is the nature of the Church. Scot asked Sr. Terry for an overview of Why Catholic? They are starting this week with informational sessions on the program for pastors and parish leaders. Similar to Arise, parishes will have teams of 8-12 people to prepare and get the word out. In October, there will be a training on implementing Why Catholic? In January, there will be a small community leader training on the first book, Prayer, which is actually the fourth pillar of the Catechism. They've found that people are open to learning about prayer and an deepening the relationship with God opens them to more. They will do six weeks in the spring and then another six weeks in the fall. In the second year, they will study the Creed. The third year, the sacramental life of the Church. The fourth year, the moral life of the Church. Scot said each of the semesters is structured as six lessons. Mary Ann said the lessons start with an opening prayer, then a reflection of a human experience, then a Scripture, then questions to jumpstart faith-sharing, then an invitation to act. The invitation to act has worked to cause people  to think about what has just been prayed and taught and to ask how it works in their life. What starts individually often ends up becoming the groups asking what they can do together.  Sr. Terry said each small group has about 8-12 people meeting in someone's home. There is a one trained leader. The sessions are 90 minutes. Some people do a lectionary-based prayer in between the six-week sessions.  **5th segment:** Welcome back. It's time to announce the winner of the weekly WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is a copy of the book “[Synergy: Science Reasons with Atheists](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040342/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1601040342),” from BrideGroomPress.com. Historian and theologian Steven Kellmeyer has assembled over 50 of the most common questions about science and faith in order to lay out the clear, concise answers you have been looking for. This week's winner is **Ann Bouchard of Nashua, New Hampshire**. Congratulations Ann! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org.  For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for our weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **6th segment:** Scot said Cardinal Sean has sent a letter to all pastors about Why Catholic? and encouraging them to take part. Scot said that Renew working with an archdiocese is able to take a good program and make it available to every parish and in many different languages for many different cultures. In Boston, for the first time they'll make the materials available in Chinese for Why Catholic? Scot asked her what the group leaders do and how they can let their pastors know they're interested. The pastor works with the pastoral council to come up with the names of people who would be willing to be leaders. The parish leader then goes to training sessions where they receive tools and support from the archdiocesan office and Renew directly. The small group leaders also go to regional training sessions. Fr. Chip asked if it's beneficial for a parish to have a professional staff be the local leader? Sr. Terry said most of the time the leaders are volunteers, but if a parish has a staff member like that, then they should be at least on the team. They don't want to overburden religious ed directors. Mary Ann said people can learn about Why Catholic by calling 617-779-3640 or by going to the website of BostonCatholic or Renew International (see above). That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guests, Sister Terry Rickard, Mary Ann McLaughlin, and Janet Benestad. For our co-host, Father Chip Hines, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful evening!

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Wrentham **Today's guest(s):** Sister Terry Rickard, President of Renew International, Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Mary Ann McLaughlin, Co-Director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life and Director of Arise: Together in Christ * [Renew International](http://www.renewintl.org/) * ["Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us": A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States](http://www.nccbuscc.org/education/ourhearts.htm) * [Arise: Together in Christ](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) * [Why Catholic?: Journey Through the Catechism](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/whycatholic.aspx?pid=464) **Today's topics:** Adult faith formation and the new program called Why Catholic? **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Fr. Chip talk with Sr. Terry Rickard, Janet Benestad, and Mary Ann McLaughlin about adult faith formation and the new program in the Archdiocese of Boston called "Why Catholic?" that will take parishioners through the Catechism. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Chip as a substitute co-host for Fr. Matt Williams who is traveling. He has been pastor at St. Mary's for three years as of May 1. He's working hard to try some new things, bringing people closer together and bring people back to God. He also co-hosts the movie review show Spotlight with Fr. Bill Kelly on CatholicTV. He's been a big fan of movies as long as he can remember. They've completed their second season of the show. Scot said they'll be speaking today about the centrality of adult faith formation in the Archdiocese of Boston and specifically about the new program following on Arise and Catholics Come Home called Why Catholic? Fr. Chip said he's excited to hear about these programs coming from the archdiocese because not every parish has the resources to do it all on their own and re-inventing the wheel. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Sr. Terry and Janet to the show. Scot said most of what Renew does is helping dioceses and parishes with adult faith formation. Renew came out of the renewal of the Second Vatican Council and focuses on the methodology of small groups. They have worked in 24 countries and 160 dioceses in the US over the past 30 years. Currently they are working in 51 dioceses. Scot said there are about 176 dioceses in the US. Scot said to Janet that the US bishops wrote in a document about 10 years ago that adult faith formation is central to the mission of the Church. Janet said Bl. John Paul wrote in [Catechesi Tradendae](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae_en.html) about this centrality for the first time. Our parishes do a good job educating and forming children, but we haven't done as well at ongoing formation for adults. Scot said he was surprised to read in the US bishops' document: >The Church wisely and repeatedly insists that adult faith formation is "essential to who we are and what we do as Church" and must be "situated not at the periphery of the Church's educational mission but at its center." While most Catholic parishes place a high priority on the faith formation of children and youth, far fewer [Catholic parishes] treat adult faith formation as a priority. Fr. Chip said it's important that we do it, but we're not doing it. We're so focused with our limited resources on forming children that we let parents and other adults slip through the cracks. He did a formation series last fall on Church history and it was sporadically attended. But that can't be discouraging because people do tell him they want such formation. We just have to find what works for them. The US bishops said well-formed adults are our next generation of catechists and other volunteers within the parish. Sr. Terry said such programs are not just informational transferral, but information for transformation of the person. At Renew they start where people are at and as people gather in the small groups, they start with prayer, then read the Word of God, and then apply it to their lives. Fr. Chip asked Sr. Terry how do you involve young parents, with everything that they have going on in their lives? She said you can't do adult faith formation without evangelization and you need evangelization strategies. The strategies of inviting are important. Part of Renew's success is that the groups can meet at any time, any day. You can have many groups with a variety of times. Scot said the US bishops' document talks about the characteristics of a spiritually mature faith: frequent reading of the word of God, sacred writings of our tradition, and the official documents of the Church; involvement in the community life and mission of the Church; personal prayer; participation in the works of justice and service to the poor; and the fulfillment of our human obligations in family and society through the active practice of love for God and neighbor. It goes on: >A living faith is a searching faith-—it "seeks understanding." Adults need to question, probe, and critically reflect on the meaning of God's revelation in their unique lives in order to grow closer to God. A searching faith leads to deepening conversion.  Janet said so much of the confusion about the faith is that when people hear what the Church says about a controversial issue, they just shut down rather than to study and learn and understand. Taking seriously the practice of faith within the community and taking seriously the formation of conscience are fundamental to faith. Adult faith formation takes seriously the obligation to give answers or help people seek answers. The Church wants you to question what she says, but not to just stop there. Find the truth and be open to the truth wherever it is found. Doing this in a group is a way to help each other find their way.Sr. Terry said the methodology of the small groups is to see, judge (based on the truth of Scripture and Tradition, applying it to our lives), and then turn it into action. Scot said research tells us that those who are most engaged in the parish are those who have one of their best friends in the parish and so faith-sharing groups can nurture acquaintances into friendships and deepen friendships even more. **3rd segment:** Scot said the Bishops' document talked about six dimensions that good adult faith formations programs would include: knowledge of the faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer, communal life, and missionary spirit. The idea is to pick one or two at a time and grow a little bit in the different seasons of our lives. Fr. Chip said missionary spirit and communal life often get left behind. People pretty much know how to pray and people come to Mass, but when he talks about going out and proclaiming faith in what they say and what they do, they balk at that. People like to keep their faith in a box on a shelf and take it out for a time on Sundays. The Church tells us you can't do that. He talks about community all the time to stress that Church is a place to come any time. Scot said there are 5 different places for learning: in families, large groups, individual and self-study, and individual activities. Scot would add programs of the various Catholic media. Scot asked Sr. Terry why small group faith formation has proven to be so successful. Sr. Terry said when Renew was founded in New Jersey, the two priests who began it had been active in the Catholic family movement and the RCIA and both of those had been successful with small groups. If we're bringing in people through RCIA, then we want the parishes to have that same experience of small group faith-sharing. Scot said that in his professional experience as a manager, he's found that people have different learning styles and he's had to adapt to other learning styles. Sr. Terry said small-group learning is so good because our faith is communal and is essentially lived together. Renew is also exploring new media, just starting podcasts and webinars and creating a [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/RENEWIntl).  Scot asked Janet about her hopes for Why Catholic? This will be the opportunity to get the Catechism into the hands of thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese and the small faith-sharing groups will help people overcome their discomfort at approaching a new document. Why Catholic? begins with the last section of the Catechism on Prayer because they've found it to be most effective. Fr. Chip said the new [YouCat](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586175165/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1586175165) youth catechism would be effective  for adults as well as youth. Janet agreed because it gives a beautiful treatment of the topics covered by the universal Catechism. She said the new [US Catechism for Adults](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574554506/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1574554506) would be suitable as well. YouCat is in a question and answer format that works well for some people. Janet said Pope Benedict wrote the introduction for YouCat and it's an explicit invitation to those who may have been away from the Church. **4th segment:** Scot welcomes Mary Ann McLaughlin to the show. Mary Ann led ARise and now leads the Why Catholic? program. Why is it a good followup to Arise. She said small groups has proven to be an essential experience to the life of the Church. She said Cardinal Sean confirms that one needs to be immersed in the community when learning the language of faith, just like immersion helps one learn a foreign language. The small community in faith-sharing gives us a place to learn that language of faith. Of course, the Church has always had small groups: Cursillo, prayer groups, Bible studies. Gathering in community is the nature of the Church. Scot asked Sr. Terry for an overview of Why Catholic? They are starting this week with informational sessions on the program for pastors and parish leaders. Similar to Arise, parishes will have teams of 8-12 people to prepare and get the word out. In October, there will be a training on implementing Why Catholic? In January, there will be a small community leader training on the first book, Prayer, which is actually the fourth pillar of the Catechism. They've found that people are open to learning about prayer and an deepening the relationship with God opens them to more. They will do six weeks in the spring and then another six weeks in the fall. In the second year, they will study the Creed. The third year, the sacramental life of the Church. The fourth year, the moral life of the Church. Scot said each of the semesters is structured as six lessons. Mary Ann said the lessons start with an opening prayer, then a reflection of a human experience, then a Scripture, then questions to jumpstart faith-sharing, then an invitation to act. The invitation to act has worked to cause people  to think about what has just been prayed and taught and to ask how it works in their life. What starts individually often ends up becoming the groups asking what they can do together.  Sr. Terry said each small group has about 8-12 people meeting in someone's home. There is a one trained leader. The sessions are 90 minutes. Some people do a lectionary-based prayer in between the six-week sessions.  **5th segment:** Welcome back. It's time to announce the winner of the weekly WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is a copy of the book “[Synergy: Science Reasons with Atheists](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040342/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1601040342),” from BrideGroomPress.com. Historian and theologian Steven Kellmeyer has assembled over 50 of the most common questions about science and faith in order to lay out the clear, concise answers you have been looking for. This week's winner is **Ann Bouchard of Nashua, New Hampshire**. Congratulations Ann! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org.  For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for our weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **6th segment:** Scot said Cardinal Sean has sent a letter to all pastors about Why Catholic? and encouraging them to take part. Scot said that Renew working with an archdiocese is able to take a good program and make it available to every parish and in many different languages for many different cultures. In Boston, for the first time they'll make the materials available in Chinese for Why Catholic? Scot asked her what the group leaders do and how they can let their pastors know they're interested. The pastor works with the pastoral council to come up with the names of people who would be willing to be leaders. The parish leader then goes to training sessions where they receive tools and support from the archdiocesan office and Renew directly. The small group leaders also go to regional training sessions. Fr. Chip asked if it's beneficial for a parish to have a professional staff be the local leader? Sr. Terry said most of the time the leaders are volunteers, but if a parish has a staff member like that, then they should be at least on the team. They don't want to overburden religious ed directors. Mary Ann said people can learn about Why Catholic by calling 617-779-3640 or by going to the website of BostonCatholic or Renew International (see above). That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guests, Sister Terry Rickard, Mary Ann McLaughlin, and Janet Benestad. For our co-host, Father Chip Hines, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful evening!

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor**Today's guest(s):** Dr. David Franks, vice-president of mission for the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at the [Theological Institute for the New Evangelization](http://www.tine.org) at St. John's Seminary* [Pope Benedict's Homily for the Easter Vigil, April 23, 2011](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110423_veglia-pasquale_en.html)* [Pope Benedict's "Urbi et Orbi" (the City and the World) message for Easter 2011](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/urbi/documents/hf_ben-xvi_mes_20110424_urbi-easter_en.html)* ["Pope contrasts Easter joy with suffering humanity," (Zenit)](http://www.zenit.org/article-32410?l=english)**Today's topics:** Pope Benedict's messages to the world on Easter; Pope John Paul II's influence**1st segment:**  Scot welcomes back Fr. Chris. Recalling the celebration of the Triduum, Fr. Chris said many different people come to the liturgies of the Triduum from outside the seminary. Scot was on the Dan Rea show on WBZ Radio last Friday to talk about Catholics Come Home and answer caller questions about the Church.At the seminary on Holy Thursday, they traditionally select the men in their 3rd year for the foot washing. On Saturday night, they had transitional deacon Quang Lee sing the Exsultet. Scot said they hope to have the transitional deacons on the shows leading up to the ordination next week.Scot said in this show, they plan to talk about the Holy Father's messages on Easter, the major ideas and themes. The messages are for everyone, not just those gathered in St. Peter's Square.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Dr. David Franks back to the show. Last Saturday, the Holy Father's homily follows--as in every Easter Vigil Mass in the world--the service of light, the Exsultet, and the readings of Salvation History. He begins:>The liturgical celebration of the Easter Vigil makes use of two eloquent signs. First there is the fire that becomes light. As the procession makes its way through the church, shrouded in the darkness of the night, the light of the Paschal Candle becomes a wave of lights, and it speaks to us of Christ as the true morning star that never sets – the Risen Lord in whom light has conquered darkness. The second sign is water. On the one hand, it recalls the waters of the Red Sea, decline and death, the mystery of the Cross. But now it is presented to us as spring water, a life-giving element amid the dryness. Thus it becomes the image of the sacrament of baptism, through which we become sharers in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Fr. Chris said it is a beautiful opening and it captures this image of light. "Lumen Christi, Deo gratias", "The Light of Christ, thanks be to God." You see not just the Paschal candle, but the lights of hundreds of followers. And then the image of water to welcome into the faith, new believers, to have it happen because Christ's side was pierced for them and us. It's also an image of the Church being born. The Church is more than just stone and mortar, it's living human souls.David said fire and water is also a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Fire and water can be lifegiving, but they can also be dangerous in the natural world. But in Jesus Christ, what can be destructive toward human good are lifted up and used for the good of humanity. Scot said they are basic elements of creation and capture our imagination.Scot said his 9- and 7-year-olds were struck by the third reading of Pharaoh's chariots being drowned in the Red Sea and asked if God was being mean. David said St. Paul points out to the Romans, we aren't talking about the eternal destination of the Egyptians, but the plan of liberation God has set in place. If we work with God then it is to our benefit, but if we array ourself against God, we should realize that no force of darkness can overcome the power of God's love.Fr. Chris said that as soon as the Paschal candle is illuminated, it shatters all darkness. It reminds us that the smallest candle can overcome all darkness. All Christians are called to be salt and light in the world. The light of Christ shatters sin and darkness once and for all.>The Church wishes to offer us a panoramic view of the whole trajectory of salvation history, starting with creation, passing through the election and the liberation of Israel to the testimony of the prophets by which this entire history is directed ever more clearly towards Jesus Christ. In the liturgical tradition all these readings were called prophecies. Even when they are not directly foretelling future events, they have a prophetic character, they show us the inner foundation and orientation of history. They cause creation and history to become transparent to what is essential. In this way they take us by the hand and lead us towards Christ, they show us the true Light.Fr. Chris said God is afoot, He is present in our world now. He is still calling us and unveiling His mystery to us. This past week, the Holy Father said there are three things if we want to be holy: the 10 commandments, the Sunday Mass, and daily prayer. Those 3 things coupled with God's grace can lead us to the path to sanctity. This unfolding of God's love for us continues for us today.David said God is on the move. This is what gives our lives a sense of mysterious promise. There is something powerful and good that is coming. Anytime we pray, God is on the move transforming our lives.Scot said he loves that he said the Church offers us in this reading a panoramic view of salvation history.  Jesus was the fulfillment of promises made over a period of thousands of years. Fr. Chris said we are all on a trajectory toward heaven. We need to remind ourselves what our final end is. Fr. Corapi said in a homily that if we had a natural end, then it would be enough to be good enough. But we have a supernatural end and we must be more.The Holy Father then says the Creation account is included because "The sweep of history established by God reaches back to the origins, back to creation." David said the other world views in our culture would have us believe we don't come from a loving God, but a result of randomness. Is it a matter of God's loving directed plan for our lives? That's the claim of the Church.Fr. Chris said in Christoph Schoenborn's book ["Loving the Church"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0898706769/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=0898706769) where he refers to us as "creatures" which reminds us that we are God's creation. Ultimately, God does not need us, but He desires to share His love with us. There is one God who is worthy to be praised for the gift of life and creation. When you see a newborn child, you know there is nothing random about that at all.**3rd segment:** Continuing the Holy Father's homily. >The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week. After six days in which man in some sense participates in God's work of creation, the Sabbath is the day of rest. But something quite unprecedented happened in the nascent Church: the place of the Sabbath, the seventh day, was taken by the first day. As the day of the liturgical assembly, it is the day for encounter with God through Jesus Christ who as the Risen Lord encountered his followers on the first day, Sunday, after they had found the tomb empty. The structure of the week is overturned. No longer does it point towards the seventh day, as the time to participate in God's rest. It sets out from the first day as the day of encounter with the Risen Lord. This encounter happens afresh at every celebration of the Eucharist, when the Lord enters anew into the midst of his disciples and gives himself to them, allows himself, so to speak, to be touched by them, sits down at table with them. This change is utterly extraordinary, considering that the Sabbath, the seventh day seen as the day of encounter with God, is so profoundly rooted in the Old TestamentThe Holy Father is reminding us that because of what happened on Easter that Sunday becomes the central moment in our life as Christians. Every Sunday is a little Easter and we should be reminding ourselves that the centrality of our faith is rooted in Christ's death and resurrection.David said Pope Benedict is saying a radical shift should be noted here. There is nothing to account for such a radical change unless the resurrection is true. He's also saying that Christians don't exist on the same rhythm as the rest of the world. On the day of Christian rest, we don't lie down, but we get up to serve and love on another on a new level. Scot said we should be starting each week and each day in the presence of God. The wisdom of our Church is that we start the week this way and we should model our lives this way.Fr. Chris asked how we get out of bed in the morning and establish the rhythm of our day. And Sunday is the anchor for each person that establishes how we will live each week. When Pope Benedict talks about the centrality of the Sabbath becoming the first day, it shows the need to order our lives so that Sunday takes a priority for us. >We celebrate the definitive victory of the Creator and of his creation. We celebrate this day as the origin and the goal of our existence. We celebrate it because now, thanks to the risen Lord, it is definitively established that reason is stronger than unreason, truth stronger than lies, love stronger than death. We celebrate the first day because we know that the black line drawn across creation does not last for ever. We celebrate it because we know that those words from the end of the creation account have now been definitively fulfilled: “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen 1:31). Amen.Fr. Chris said Pope Benedict is reminding us that we have a lot to give and thanks and praise to the Lord for. We are sharing in the newness of life that only Easter can bring. If we die with Christ and live with Christ, we shall rise with Christ (St. Paul). David said the emphasis is on human suffering, that we remember that it is the Cross that Jesus has overcome. That "black line" has caused immense suffering the world. Pope Benedict said the suffering is real, but Jesus Christ has risen to today and everything is different. Scot said see how much good is brought out of love today because of Easter.**4th segment:** Now considering Pope Benedict's Urbi et Orbi message, delivered from the central window of St. Peter's Basilica overlooking St. Peter's Square. He does this once per year. Fr. Chris said it means "City and the World". It's a reminder that he is both Bishop of Rome, but also leader of the Catholic Church and speaking to every person of good will in the world. It's a powerful message. As soon as he finishes the Easter mass, he proclaims this message from the place where he was proclaimed as pope upon his election. He traditionally highlights his concerns and requests for prayer for the world. This location is only used for this purpose and for papal elections.>Right down to our own time – even in these days of advanced communications technology – the faith of Christians is based on that same news, on the testimony of those sisters and brothers who saw firstly the stone that had been rolled away from the empty tomb and then the mysterious messengers who testified that Jesus, the Crucified, was risen. And then Jesus himself, the Lord and Master, living and tangible, appeared to Mary Magdalene, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and finally to all eleven, gathered in the Upper Room (cf. Mk 16:9-14).Fr. Chris said we do rely on the testimony of others that Christ has died and rise, but just as important is the witness of the martyrdom of those who died for preaching the Risen Christ. David said it is important that the Good News is passed on from one witness to another so that we are all taking part in God's plan of salvation. It is part of the plan of salvation that Christians testify to it and that it passed on from person to another.Scot said he loves that the Holy Father brought in modern communications, that witnessing can take place using all technologies and methods both old and new. We share the Good News in every way we communicate with others. Fr. Chris said that bringing children to Church, living the faith and sharing it with children, is part of that. All the technology doesn't matter if people aren't willing to tell others about the message of Christ.>The resurrection of Christ is not the fruit of speculation or mystical experience: it is an event which, while it surpasses history, nevertheless happens at a precise moment in history and leaves an indelible mark upon it. The light which dazzled the guards keeping watch over Jesus' tomb has traversed time and space. It is a different kind of light, a divine light, that has rent asunder the darkness of death and has brought to the world the splendour of God, the splendour of Truth and Goodness.David said that every time in our lives that something beautiful happens that is the light of Christ erupting into creation. That's what we want to communicate in a life of holiness. The more we love well, the more the light will enter the world.Fr. Chris said that because it is supernatural light, it permeates all darkness.Scot takes away from this the emphasis that this is a real historical event. Christ entered history, He really died, and He really rose from the dead.>“In your resurrection, O Christ, let heaven and earth rejoice.” To this summons to praise, which arises today from the heart of the Church, the “heavens” respond fully: the hosts of angels, saints and blessed souls join with one voice in our exultant song. In heaven all is peace and gladness. But alas, it is not so on earth! Here, in this world of ours, the Easter alleluia still contrasts with the cries and laments that arise from so many painful situations: deprivation, hunger, disease, war, violence. Yet it was for this that Christ died and rose again! He died on account of sin, including ours today, he rose for the redemption of history, including our own. So my message today is intended for everyone, and, as a prophetic proclamation, it is intended especially for peoples and communities who are undergoing a time of suffering, that the Risen Christ may open up for them the path of freedom, justice and peace.Fr. Chris said here you see the contrast of the pilgrim Church, that one day we will arrive at eternal life, but before we get there we still encounter suffering in the world. This is why Christ redeemed us, so that we could trust in the fact that one day all would be well.David said Christ explodes the depths of suffering from the inside. We think of the horrific victims today and in history when we consider the Victim on the Cross. It is the light of God and true love that will convert all things to life.Scot said the Holy Father mentions specific peoples in the Middle East and in Japan and others who are struggling. Regardless of what they're battling, Christi is their answer too, because he will lighten the load and carry the burden.Fr. Chris said faith takes on a context lived in the lives of people who are suffering. It's in our times of suffering and sadness that we go right to the Lord that He is our only hope in the midst of the human condition.>Dear brothers and sisters! The risen Christ is journeying ahead of us towards the new heavens and the new earth (cf. Rev 21:1), in which we shall all finally live as one family, as sons of the same Father. He is with us until the end of time. Let us walk behind him, in this wounded world, singing Alleluia. In our hearts there is joy and sorrow, on our faces there are smiles and tears. Such is our earthly reality. But Christ is risen, he is alive and he walks with us. For this reason we sing and we walk, faithfully carrying out our task in this world with our gaze fixed on heaven.  Happy Easter to all of you!David said this is so moving because Pope Benedict is reaching into all of our lives to say that there isn't a pain there that Christ hasn't touched and hasn't given a new purchase on a life of Divine Love. This is why we need to tell everyone we meet that Jesus Christ is alive and that changes everything.Fr. Chris said there is also the idea of finishing the race and running it well. Christ is the trailblazer before us and we follow behind him on this path to the Father. The Cross is the ladder to the heavens. We can't get there on our own. We need the gift of Jesus' cross.Scot said he loves what it says that we carry out our lives, walk behind Jesus with our gazes fixed on heaven. It gives us something to think about at our next hour of adoration.**5th segment:** Now considering the influence of Pope John Paul on the lives of the hosts and guest.Scot said he's never met someone who would become Blessed. He met him twice up front. Scot pointed out that Pope John Paul is being beatified for his virtues and holiness, not his papacy.David said he was raised a Baptist in Arkansas, and it was the presence of John Paul in the world that partly drew him to the Church eventually. There was an intense holiness that drew him in. His first-born son is John Paul and his second son is Benedict. He asks for prayers for his wife and their third son who is to be born next week.Fr. Chris said he has Polish heritage and growing up in a Polish section of Dorchester, he saw the excitement and joy of the Polish people at his election. He met Pope John Paul along with his Aunt Judy and it was an awesome experience of being in the presence of someone holy and who believed and drew close to Christ Jesus. He was also struck by his love for the Blessed Mother. John Paul lost his own mother at an early age and she became a real mother for him. John Paul was responsible for the image of Mary that was put up on the wall of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St. Peter's Square.John Paul's press spokesman said his great virtue was being truly present for each person who came before him. Scot and his brother were privileged to go to Mass in the pope's chapel in the apostolic palace. They were able to ask him to pray for their great aunt who was dying and he stopped them to pray for her right at that moment. He was able to tell her that Holy Father had prayed for her by name.Fr. Chris said he was often struck at World Youth Days by the young people who felt like the Holy Father had looked at them personally. He drew people in to himself and pointed them to Christ.David's favorite works of John Paul is the Theology of Body because it was so revolutionary to the way we talk about the faith in the modern world in the context of the sexual revolution especially. Scot said the way the Theology of the Body was taught in the weekly audiences was a way to teach this because some officials did not want him to write a book about sex. Thus it was "written into the record" as it was.Fr. Chris said the seminarians today are generally those who were inspired by Pope John Paul II, especially from World Youth Days. He also helped to revolutionize how seminary formation takes place.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell**Today's guest(s):** Fr. Richard Erikson, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Colbe Mazzarella, founder and organizer of the Way of the Cross for Life on Good Friday.    * [Archdiocese of Boston's Annual Report for 2010](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/annualreport)* [Life Matters TV show](http://www.lifematterstv.org/)* ["Way of the Cross for Life tradition continues" (The Pilot, 4/2/2004)](http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=1603)* [Way of the Cross for Life - Meetup](http://www.meetup.com/Way-of-the-Cross-for-Life/)**Today's topics:** Fr. Richard Erikson's role as vicar general and moderator of the curia; the Archdiocese's balanced budget; and the Way of the Cross for Life**A summary of today's show:** Fr. Erikson tells Scot and Fr. Mark what the vicar general and moderator of the curia does and then talks about the milestone of the Archdiocese's balanced budget, which is a foundation for the future of the church in Boston. Colbe Mazzarella discusses her founding of the Way of the Cross for Life as a spiritual component of the pro-life movement. Then a discussion of the first Gospel for Palm Sunday.**1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mark back to the show. Fr. Mark was in Washington DC with the Canon Law Society of America. He is a member of the board of governors. There are thousands of members. Tomorrow, as the judicial vicar, he is the chaplain of the Catholic Lawyers Guild, and on the Saturday before Palm Sunday they have a day of recollection. Fr. Ed Riley will lead the day. All Catholic Lawyers and judges are welcome at the Pastoral Center tomorrow. Scot asked why the annual Mass for lawyers is called the Red Mass. Fr. Mark said it has medieval origins. It connects with the robes that the priests wore during that Mass, which were red.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Fr. Richard Erikson to The Good Catholic Life. Scot asks what Fr. Richard's job entails. He was asked by Cardinal Sean to take on the job five years ago and even then he didn't have a full understanding. Vicar comes from the word vicarious. So his job is to take Cardinal Sean's vision and make it reality. His job is to reflect the mind and the heart of the bishop. He said Cardinal Sean has an enormous mind and an enormous heart. He has the heart of a shepherd. There are a number of vicars general in the Archdiocese. The auxiliary bishops are also vicars general and Fr. Mark says that Fr. Rich's role is unique because of his job as moderator of the curia. The curia are all those who work in the Archdiocese, those who work in the Pastoral Center and all the priests. He is the pastor for them.Fr. Mark asked what are the privileges of his role. Fr. Rich said he has the privilege of working in Christ's name to bring Christ to others, to build the kingdom of God in the Archdiocese. It is also a responsibility of leadership as well.Scot said that on his first day of work, Fr. Rich talked with him about the ministry of development, and Fr. Rich talks about the ministry of administration. Fr. Rich is also an Air Force chaplain. What does it mean to have a ministry of administration? He says it's difficult not to be a parish priest. He had imagined he would spend his life in parishes. Everything we do in the Pastoral Center i service to others, to parishes, to hospitals, to others in carrying out the mission of Christ. Even though he spends a lot of time in meetings and writing memos and looking at budgets, all of it is service to Christ and the Catholic community. Scot noted that he was astounded when he learned how big the Archdiocese is, how many ministries there are, how many organizations. Fr. Rich said what even more impressive than the scope of the operations is the dedication of the people on the staff and the hours people spend and the devotion and commitment. He didn't know before he became vicar general that there were 144 communities in the archdiocese. His parish encompasses 1.8 million people. He's learned that there are wonderful people who devote their lives to Christ and the Church with great sacrifice, day in and day out. It includes people who also work in administrative positions.Fr. Rich had enumerated four pillars he hoped that all ministries would embrace: Service, outreach, communication, and coordination. The most important person in the archdiocese today is the person who will ring a doorbell looking for a priest, a prisoner seeking ministry, a child receiving First Communion. In outreach, we are about what happens outside this building in the parishes of the archdiocese. Communication: To get the message of Christ, we make the best use, particularly through the Catholic Media secretariat using modern means. Coordination: The Archdiocese is very complex with a need for many different departments, like benefits, payroll, legal, etc., plus coordinating with the five regions of the archdiocese and all the vicariates and parishes within them.**3rd segment:** For the first time in Cardinal Sean's tenure, the Archdiocese has achieved a balanced budget for central ministries. Fr. Rich said its extraordinary given the challenges Cardinal Sean had. He began with a $15 million deficit. The Knights of Columbus had given loans to help, but the loans had up to $3 million in interest payments. To get here has required a great deal of sacrifice. First, there is the generosity of the people of the Archdiocese of Boston, sticking with the Church through the darkest hour of our history. Second, there is the great work of the staff in the Annual Catholic Appeal, which is to the archdiocese what the weekly offertory is to parishes. Third, the work of Jim McDonough, the chancellor, and his staff, bringing the best practices of finances and administration to the archdiocese. The sacrifices have included most painfully reductions in staff. The people in the Pastoral Center are doing more with less. Fr. Mark asked about future signs of hope. Fr. Rich said he sees the balanced budget is something to be built on. We have made remarkable strides in evangelization over the past few years through the [Arise](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) program and [Catholics Come Home](http://www.catholicscomehomeboston.org) and the [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org). These wouldn't happen if we didn't have our financial house in order and didn't have t he generosity of our people.Scot said one of the headlines for him that he didn't see in the secular coverage is the amount of information that's there and how transparent there is. No other diocese comes close. Fr. Rich said trust is so important in a diocese so devastated by the abuse of minors and what the Church did not do in relation to those crimes. Transparency is one more indication of the Cardinal's desire to earn the trust of the people of the Archdiocese.Fr. Mark said both the cardinal and the chancellor speak with optimism of the Improved Financial Relationship Model. Fr. Rich said Scot had the vision of a new relationship in terms of finances and stewardship between central ministries and the parishes of the archdiocese. Scot saw that the model for fundraising in the archdiocese needed improvement. The model is to increase offertory giving at the parish level--which has already seen great success--and then to have a fair share by each parish in its contributions to the central ministries. It's not about increasing what central ministries receives. It's about dividing the pie more fairly. It's not about money, but it's about relationships. The 30 parishes in the first phase have a far greater connection to central ministries and far greater sense of the Universal Church.Fr. Rich has [written about Holy Week](http://pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13236) in the Pilot this week. It's about Palm Sunday. As a priest he looks forward to next week for the opportunity to focus on our journey with Christ. The article looks at the Passion of the Lord and the fact that the Lord is with us. He encourages everyone to make the time to be with Christ next week.**4th segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark are joined by Colbe Mazzarella. She started the Way of the Cross for Life. Back in the 80s she heard about a Walk for Life on the West Coast and 24 years later it continues. There are three processions: one in Boston with Cardinal Sean; another in East Boston; and the original that used to start in Brookline. they used to walk between three different abortion clinics, but they've all since closed. That procession is now in Allston in front of Planned Parenthood. They all start at 9am.The Boston route starts at Government Center and all the stops are at churches. The Paulist Center is next to the State House, St. Anthony Shrine, St. James in Chinatown, and Holy Cross Cathedral. They saw two stations per stop and do readings.This is not a protest. There are no signs or anything. They carry a cross and a statue of Our Lady.Fr. Mark said when he did this in Rome, there is something invigorating about crossing the street with a big crowd of people witnessing to Christ. Colbe said it's about making reparation, like Jesus walking through the streets of Jerusalem, getting mixed reactions, being a witness. East Boston starts at Most Holy Redeemer. The Allston way stays in front of Planned Parenthood. The East Boston procession ends at the Madonna shrine in Orient Heights.At the cathedral, Cardinal Sean leads the last two stations and leads a consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The procession at the cathedral ends at noon and people usually stay for Good Friday services.Scot asked about the pro-life movement not being just about politics, but is about prayer and sacrifice as well. Colbe said politics is a means to an end. They're trying to help mothers and fathers and babies live a good life and end up in heaven. They're concentrating on the spiritual side of things. On Good Friday, Christ is pierced for what we do wrong. It's not just about women who've had abortions, but for all of us who may have failed to help someone in a crisis pregnancy or otherwise were silent. It has the spiritual goal to be in union with God. Christ asked us to take up His cross and follow Him.Fr. Mark noted that Colbe has eight children. This is a family friendly event. They take two hours to walk what would normally take 20 minutes. There are people with strollers and others walking with a cane.Scot asked how people could do something like this in their town? She said they've had others who've done Ways of the Cross for Life as far as India. She has a booklet that she can send or email anyone. Email her at [ccmaz@aol.com](mailto:ccmazz@aol.com).Colbe said that after 24 of these Ways of the Cross for Life, she knows that she has served Christ. It's not a great burden to organize it. Pick a time or place and invite others. Emphasis is on prayer, not on confrontation.**5th segment:** Scot, Fr. Mark, and Colbe consider the Gospel for Sunday. Because the Palm Sunday includes all of the Passion which is very long, they will consider the first Gospel that is read at the beginning of Mass.April 17, 2011 Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Gospel of the Procession of the Palms (Matthew 21:1-11)>When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once.”>>This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.” >>The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” >>And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”Holy Week begins an understanding of Jesus as king, connecting to the Old Testament. Fr. Mark said he connected it with Colbe feeling sent to do something. Likewise, the disciples are sent and the result is the glory of Jesus. We do our part for the Lord and and Christ does the rest. We lead people to ask the question, "Who is this Jesus?"Colbe says she loves that we are in different roles within the crowd of different roles at different times in our lives. Scot said that in the Holy Father's new book, Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection, he dictates it to the entrance to Jerusalem. He says hosanna is understood that it is connected to the coming of the king. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord would fulfill the messianic promises. Kings of the day controlled the means of transportation. The people understand that Christ at least believes he is the new king, but he is a king unlike what they were expecting, a king of peace, of simplicity, of the poor. Fr. Mark said they were ready to cheer the king they thought he was, but they abandoned him when he wasn't what they thought.The Holy Father also says the Palm Sunday is an anticipation of what the Church does each day in her liturgy. The Church sees the coming of Christ again and again in the bread and wine. The Church greets Him as one who continues to come. As a pilgrim, He comes to us and take us in His ascent to the cross and resurrection to the New Jerusalem.Fr. Mark said it is a perfect time to come home to the Church, to walk with Christ into the glories of Jerusalem. Don't wait for Easter. Come Palm Sunday with us on the journey.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Tom Peterson, founder and president of CatholicsComeHome.org and Janet Benestad, Cabinet Secretary for Faith Formation & Evangelization* [Catholics Come Home](http://www.catholicscomehome.org)* [Catholics Come Home Boston](http://www.catholicscomehomeboston.org)* [Boston Herald, "Prodigal parishioners return to church"](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_0410prodigal_parishioners_return_to_church_boston_archdiocese_reaches_out_to_halt_plummeting_mass_attendance/srvc=home&position=0) (April 10, 2011)**Today's topics:** The genesis of the Catholics Come Home initiative, its implementation in Boston, and ways Catholics can participate**A summary of today's show:** Tom Peterson, founder of Catholics Come Home, and Janet Benestad, secretary for faith formation & evangelization, tell Scot about the origins of the Catholics Come Home campaign, where Tom's inspiration came from, how the acclaimed commercials came about, and the best ways that local Catholics can share their faith with others to invite them back to the Catholic Church.**1st segment:** This CatholicsComeHome.org initiative is the largest outreach effort of the Archdiocese of Boston in more than a generation.  It took 2 years of planning, fundraising and coordination.  Many of you have seen the commercials on television and heard them on WQOM.  They are outstanding presentations of our faith.  Hopefully you also saw the front page story in yesterday's Boston Herald, which featured an interview with Cardinal Sean and several Catholics that have returned home to the Catholic Faith. Catholics Come Home features several commercials.  The most frequent one you'll see on TV is called EPIC. Let's listen to that now.**2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Tom Peterson and Janet Benestad to The Good Catholic Life. We just listened to the “Epic” commercial from CatholicsComeHome.org. Scot said he can say that he's never heard a more powerful 300-word description of the Catholic Church.  It still gives him chills when he hears it and watches the commercial on TV. There are so many powerful lines.Scot asked Tom to talk about the development of that commercial and some of the scenes. He said it was a byproduct of a retreat experience he had on a Marian men's retreat where he asked God how to serve him. Tom felt God calling him to use his advertising talents to spread the Good News. The first diocese he worked with was Phoenix. Epic puts the 2,000-year history and accomplishments of the Catholic Church in a an easy-to-grasp and attractive format. Our Catholic story isn't being told properly by the secular media and it's about time that we take the Good News and bring it to the ends of the earth in a positive, enriching and beautiful way.Scot asked how challenging it was to boil the 2 millennia of history down to 120-seconds and then 30-seconds? Tom said that with God all things are possible. He said there were many attempts that ended up in the wastebasket, but these successful ones are inspired by the Holy Spirit. He had a lot of good people who contributed to the development. A lot of it is based on the book "[How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895260387/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0895260387)" and to boil it down wasn't easy,. but it hits on the high points of the major accomplishments and most beautiful things about our Catholic faith. When you hear the commercial, it's great, but when you see it, there's something special that happens in the soul.Scot asked how many locations it was shot in. Tom said it was shot all around the world. Rome was the central point, with the Holy Father and [St. Paul-outside-the-walls]; other locations around the United States as well. Some locations were real with people indigenous to that area and others were created or re-created to help save costs, such as the Tongan baptism or the Mexican fiesta or the African Mass. Brought together the wide diversity of the Church. They did lots of focus group testing to ensure that people liked the ads and that Protestants wouldn't be offended by the message, that former Catholics would feel invited, that current Catholics would feel proud, and people of no faith would feel invited. They heard over and over that it was authentic, that the images were beautiful, that they taught people things they didn't know before, such as that Jesus founded the Church and that the Church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit brought forth the Bible.Scot said he loves the scene from Rio de Janeiro of the statue of Christ the Redeemer as well as the unbroken succession of Popes. What are Tom's favorite scenes? He loves the scene of the aid worker wearing a crucifix working in the Vietnamese jungles, helping a young child. Also when the Holy Father is smiling and waving at the crowds. The Blessed Mother, to show she is the mother of our Church, the picture in St. Peter's Square. There are many stories related to the filming as well, things that happened that shouldn't have happened. For instance, they were able to get permission to film with a 40-foot robotic crane in St. Peter's Square, even as an unknown production at the time. Now Catholics Come Home is so well-known in the Church, but at the time to be laypeople apart from the hierarchy of the Church trying to put together TV commercials advertising the Catholic faith, must have seemed crazy to some. Tom said it is his God-given gift of tenacity and he never doubts God. He always seems to come through. God chooses the unlikeliest people to accomplish so much. Many people in important positions came to believe in what they were doing.The words of the commercials are very moving as well. Scot asked Janet what her favorites are. His is "For centuries, we have prayed for you and our world, every hour of every day, whenever we celebrate the mass. " Janet's favorite is "We are Catholic. Welcome home." Every day here in the Pastoral Center and in our parishes we pray for those who strayed from the Church so that people who are away from the Church can find their way back.Scot said it is amazing to consider that the Church prays for the world every minute of every day for two millennia. Tom said the words come from a lot of uncredited heroes who have given him little nuggets of inspiration over the years he's been developing the commercials.Tom and his team at CatholicsComeHome.org customized the “Epic” commercial with some Boston scenes for our campaign here. Janet said there was a scene of real Portuguese fishermen on the Boston Fish Pier. They saw the priest walking by and asked him for a blessing and that's the scene in the commercials. Another favorite is the scene recorded in front of St. Bernard Parish. The director of Catholics Come Home in Boston, David Thorp, died very suddenly in January and he happened upon the idea of showing the priest sharing a donut and coffee with a homeless person in front of the church and David stood in as the homeless person.Scot said David's best description of the work of evangelization came from Henri Nouwen: "Evangelization is one beggar leading another beggar to the bread." David did not come across as an expert, but just as someone sharing the faith in his heart.There's also a scene in front of Fenway Park with a sister and children. Localizing the commercials brings the experience of the faith home to Bostonians. The fourth local scene is the Charles River with Harvard in the background. There are many students in Boston and Catholic students have been taking Catholics come home to heart. Also, we see the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mission Church, in Roxbury.Scot asked Tom how the commercials also restores the morale of Catholics who are still in the pews, but who have been hanging their heads after the events of the past decade. Tom said he hears over and over again that it makes them proud to be Catholic and they want to be more involved in the Church. In the season of Lent, during the Mass, as the priest raises the chalice, recall the names of those who have strayed from the Church and give them over to the Precious Blood of Jesus.Scot said that when people see the commercials they get excited about it and they want to share it with others. That's why the commercials are online at CatholicsComeHome.org and CatholicsComeHomeBoston.org. Tom said their website has three sections: for practicing Catholics, for lapsed Catholics, and for non-Catholics with resources for each of those groups of people. He remembers priests telling him that their confessionals were full after the commercials aired in their dioceses, some people who were away for as many as 30 years.The second most-frequently aired commercial from CatholicsComeHome.org is called Movie, which is a story of conversion.  Let's listen to the Movie spot now.  **3rd segment:** – Scot noted that this “Movie” spot is quite different from the “Epic” spot. It seems like it is intended to reach a different audience than Epic. No matter what you've done in your life, there is good news because Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it. His favorite line, the best line of invitation he's heard in the Catholic Church: "If you've been waiting for a sign, this is your chance to begin an adventure with God that will last forever." Tom said we serve a God of do-overs. But we do have to accept His mercy. We have know we can be forgiven.It's an upbeat commercial, but it could have been very somber and a real downer. The setting is like Purgatory where people are reviewing their life, which is right out of the Book of Revelations. But halfway through the commercials is all kinds of Divine Mercy theology. The Sisters of the Reparation gave an Advent mission at Tom's parish and spoke at his parish of Divine Mercy. The next day they were supposed to complete the commercial and he changed the second half of the script. It reminds us that it is Jesus' mercy that saves us all.Scot said the Movie spot is visually different. It opens with scenes of sin, but halfway through it turns. At first it was a much different emotional experience from Epic. Tom said Movie has a different audience than Epic. Epic is for people who were once practicing Catholic and it connects with their memories of the faith. Movie is for non-Catholics who say a personal relationship with Jesus is paramount, which we agree with especially through Communion in the Mass. It's also for agnostics or atheists, telling them that there is a God who loves them and wants to have a relationship with. He wrote the line: "If you're looking for a sign, this is it" for them because we have a generation that is looking for signs.Janet said this commercial is about conversion, which is timely during Lent. We all have faults and failings, and Movie evokes a sense of responsibility and the great solace that it is all put right through Christ.For the Movie ad, they had a group of actors and actresses. There was a scene of a wife cowering as her husband belittled her and then later another scene of them celebrating an anniversary. This mirrors our own lives of high points and low points. The actress who played the wife called Tom later to admit that she had been a lapsed Catholic, but the experience brought her back to the Church. So many people have come back to confession in other dioceses, one of the primary ways people can help those coming back is through [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org), helping people reengage through sacramental confession that brings them the redemptive work of Christ. Priests like to tell people that they will not be shocked or upset at any sins they hear, but that they are thrilled to see people lifted of the spiritual weight and burden. The people hear the audible voice that tells them that they are forgiven. In our human nature, we need to hear that out loud.Tom said not only inactive Catholics are coming back, there are also many Catholics who go to Mass every week who are coming back to confession.**4th segment:** Catholics Come Home is a lay apostolate, created by lay people. That is significant. Tom said Pope John Paul encouraged people in a document called [Christifideles Laici](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici_en.html) to go out into our workplaces and neighborhoods to bring Christ to others where bishops and priests don't go. We're supposed to go out and spread the Good News of Jesus. As laypeople we can say, "I know how you feel. This is how I came back." Others in our communities know we can relate to them. The secular media also sees this as not just the bishops trying to fill their pews, but is the work of all Catholics.They started in Phoenix in 2008 and have gone coast to coast. More than 200,000 people in the first dozen dioceses came back to the practice of the faith. The largest increase in Mass attendance has been 18% and the average is 10%. By the end of this Lent, they will have reached 40 million people. In Boston, the commercials will air 2,500 times. But Jesus would do this for one person. It's not about the numbers.Janet said that participating in the ministry of welcoming can do as much for the people welcoming others home as it does for those who do come home. People say it's strengthening their faith. It's an opportunity to open a conversation to talk about why we go to Church.The culture tells us that faith is a private matter and should remain private, which discourages people from sharing their faith. Tom said a pastor told him to pray every day and ask Him to lead us to a person every day that he can share his faith with. It's not walking up to strangers. It's about being open to the conversation when the natural opportunity comes up. Sharing the joy and peace that comes from being part of the Church and worshipping Christ as part of the Catholic community.For a person who just has a hard time getting the right words, Janet said we can just invite someone to come to a talk or program or social occasion at the parish or to come to Mass on Sunday. People are less apt to say No because they're responding to your personal invitation.Scot said people in this archdiocese should take responsibility for asking just one person to come to Mass and then to pray that this person will be receptive to the Holy Spirit. Tom suggested inviting someone to breakfast and going to Mass first. Put a bumper sticker on your card or give someone a Catholics Come Home business card that is available.Be willing to respond to someone who asks on Monday morning, "How was your weekend?" to say, "I went to Mass with my family and it was great." Janet said we are walking advertisements for our Church.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Erika Bachiochi, Joanie Kingsley, and Kathleen Sotell * [Erika Bachiochi's website](http://erika.bachiochi.com/) * [Erika's book "Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0819883204/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0819883204) * [The book at Pauline.org](http://www.pauline.org/WomanSexandtheChurch/tabid/418/Default.aspx) **Today's topics:** A discussion of the new book "Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching" as well as a general roundtable on women in the Church. Also, our regular Friday feature looking at the upcoming Sunday's Mass readings. **A summary of today's show:** Erika Bachiochi talks with Scot and Fr. Mark about her new book and her own journey from pro-choice radical feminism to an embrace of the authentic feminism of the Catholic Church, which isn't anti-woman and misogynist after all. Also a look at the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Lent.  **1st segment:** Happy April Fool's Day! Scot asked Fr. Mark if he's had any pranks pulled on him and he said if there have been, he hasn't noticed. He also said his parents are celebrating their birthdays this week. It's also opening day for the Red Sox who are traveling to Texas. Put it on the TV, turn down the volume and turn up the radio with WQOM! This weekend are two events we've been talking about lately including the Eucharistic Congress in the North End tonight and tomorrow and the Faith and Family Mom's Day Away in Stoneham tomorrow and the weather isn't going to hold them back. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Erika Bachiochi, Joanie Kingsley and Katherine Sotell. Scot said Erika's book is a great service to the Church and anyone that wants to understand Church teaching and why it makes sense.  The book discusses Church teaching on abortion, premarital sex, marriage, contraception, infertility treatments and the priesthood. Erika first points out that the book was co-written by many women who each took a chapter said her motivation for the book was a widespread assumption, even in the pews of the Catholic Church, is that the Church's teachings are misogynist and that no serious, self-respecting woman would embrace them. She saw this played out in the media during the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, in which nearly every pundit was a dissident Catholic disputing the Church's teachings. It was very frustrating for her, having come to see these teachings as found in authentic feminism. She knew that lots of data from secular academics was corroborating the Church's teachings. Even many of the Church's theologians believe the Church's teachings are against women. One of the most difficult teachings for women to swallow is the all-male priesthood. She did a lot of research on her own to make pro-woman arguments for Catholic teaching that doesn't necessarily rely on theological arguments because there are many people who aren't interested in theological arguments. She found scientific, biological, psychological data that shows that straying from the Church's teachings actually hurts women. Erika said that while the book is often placed among books on the Theology of the Body, Pope John Paul's exploration of theology of how God created man and woman, this book is very different because it takes a step back, almost as a prerequisite for TOB. Many people need to embrace the Church's teachings before approaching TOB and this book is for them. The target of the audience is people who are estranged from the teachings of the Church. It's philosophically an apologia for the Church's teachings. She wants to be clear that when she says the book is filled with data, it is not dry and full of statistics. It is a readable book. It's for both the average reader and academics. Scot said it's important for Catholics who are looking to return to the Church, they need to know that the Church is not against them. Erika said Pope John Paul has gone to great lengths to promote an authentic feminism, but many still don't believe it. As an example of something that seems impossible, but does help women to flourish is the chapter in her book on premarital sex. It not only talks about the pitfalls for women, but lays out a beautiful alternative in chastity that isn't just pro-woman, but is an articulation of what self-mastery--for both women and men--can look like. Women have allowed themselves to be purchased at very little cost. Women today don't require much of men before premarital sex. Now there can be a new sexual revolution of self-respect. They also know now that premarital sex harms women more than men because of the hormone [oxytocin](http://www.oxytocin.org/oxytoc/). Women need to take their bodies back and their emotions back to prepare for lifelong marriage without all the baggage of premarital sex. Joanie was powerfully affected by the book and by hearing Erika speak. She was inspired to host another event for her to have a new audience hear her message after hearing Erika's witness about her life and growing up. It's nice to see and hear how powerful and wonderful our great Catholic faith is as a story of redemption and forgiveness. This isn't just a story for Catholic women, but non-Catholics and men and everyone. As a mother of college-age kids, she sees this as pressing issues, because the culture out there wants to take their souls away from God and from what is true. If her words can help one person, it's a success. Kathleen said she realized as she heard Erika for the first time that Erika is the person who needs to get the message out that the Church is not anti-woman. Scot quoted Archbishop Fulton Sheen: "There aren't 10 people in the world who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they think the Church is." This applies equally to people's perceptions about the Church's teachings. Many see the Church as the Church of No, but the Church is a Church of Yes to life, beauty, and truth. Fr. Mark said getting the facts into people's hands is key. He said it took him 19 years of priesthood to get the facts on Natural Family Planning, for example, and that changed everything. **3rd segment:** Scot and Erika talked about her journey as a teen and college student. Her background is that her mother was married and divorced three times in her childhood. In her teen years, she dabbled in alcohol and drugs and acting out in other ways as well. They brought them to her knees at a young age, which she's grateful for now, but was very difficult then. As a college athlete she had difficulty just performing in the midst of the life turmoil. While she was never actively suicidal, she had two close friends who did take their lives. At college, her despair and depression turned her outward toward radical feminist causes at Middlebury College in Vermont. She thought, as many did, that changing external environments, like politics, would bring her internal peace. She found herself taken by secular feminism, because of its sophisticated construction of their worldview, especially since she never even knew any serious Christians at that point. One bright spot was that she had left behind drinking and casual physical encounters, but believed being strongly pro-choice was important for her. She had serious beliefs that it would help poor women and ethnic minorities. But when she started to work with poor women and their children, she started to question her pro-abortion assumptions. What she had been hearing from pro-abortion women's organizations that abortion was necessary to help poor women out of poverty and it seemed absurd that this rich nation's only answer to poor women was for them to rid themselves of their children. That epiphany along with intense prayer brought about an intellectual conversion. She started distancing herself from her feminist friends because of her changing views and because of her own need to pray just to make it through the day. At one point she went to a Catholic lecture intending to debate the Church as being sexist, but was awestruck by what he said and ended up at a Newman Center on campus. Although much of what they were saying was foreign to her, she was very moved. She was so scared that she went back to her dorm room and prayed to God seriously and over the next month she entered into the Catholic community on campus. Erika had been jumping from one Protestant church to another and asked God to guide to the right church, but not the Catholic Church. She encountered a Catholic priest and asked him why he was Catholic. "Because it's the easiest road to heaven," he said. She thought this was preposterous because she always thought the road to heaven was difficult, but she found herself in Mass week after week. She began to drill over months and years on every question about becoming Catholic and Christian. Scot said it's important to be ready to offer an answer for why we are Catholic ("Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope." 1st Letter of Peter 3:15) The important answer will be unique to us, but it can be a profound moment for the person who hears it. Later, she went to graduate school for theology and then law school; she got married and had a baby while in law school. These were also difficult times, but she was steeped in prayer and kept responding to God, to be His instrument. We are all called to be quiet and ask Him what he wants to do. Fr. Mark asked if a college student comes up to Erika and asks her why be Catholic how would she respond. She would ask them about the emptiness they might feel in their life. Most people feel like there's a sense we can't live up to our ideals and potential. We all feel that way, but God gives us the strength and peace to live up to that through the help of grace. Scot asked her how difficult is to be out there of talking about the decisions she made in her past, especially as a mom. Her children aren't old enough to read what she writes, but she is more opaque about it when writing. When she's speaking live, she's more open about it because they won't be there to hear it. She hopes that as they grow she will be able to explain to them in terms they understand. Being prayerful allows her and her husband to be prudent. Joanie said she hopes at the gathering in Wellesley next week at which Erika will speak that people will be able to take away hope that their lives can change and the great value we have in the Catholic Church and our faith. Scot said it's important that as a Church we take the great work that Erika and the other authors of the book and get the word out. Kathleen said  Erika will speak April 7 at the Wellesley Country Club from 9am-12. It is free. They request that people RSVP at [paxtibi123@yahoo.com](mailto:paxtibi123@yahoo.com) and tell them how many people will be coming in your party to ensure that there will be enough seats for everyone. Continental breakfast will be provided free of charge. Both men and women are welcome. 75 people have responded and they can accommodate up to 200. They encourage even people are who are questioning or who are on the fence or are truly seeking.  Scot said most adult Catholics in their life have had a time in which they didn't understand why the Church teaches what she teaches on a particular issue. While the book is great, it's also different to hear the information live. It's one thing to know what the Church teaches, but also the why of Church teaching, and not just the theology of why. Pauline books also have a study guide for parishes and small groups. **4th segment:** * [Sunday's Mass readings](http://usccb.org/nab/040311.shtml): 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 Scot said he's often felt that to get the most out of Mass, we need to be prepared. That's true of all meetings we might have at work or big presentations.  “The more you put in, the more you'll receive.” The better the preparation, the better the experience.So on Fridays, Father Mark and Scot and their guests will look to the upcoming Sunday readings and help us all prepare for the messages we will hear on Sunday. Fr. Mark read the optional short version of the following Gospel reading: >As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. >His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don't know.” >They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” >Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” >So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man's disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. >When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” >Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,' so your sin remains. A powerful reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent. Scot said we all have blind spots in our lives, including biases and prejudices, even to how we are formed not to see the world as God sees it. Fr. Mark said the Gospel and last week's Gospel about the woman at the well is perfect for both Catholics Come Home and what Erika is talking about. The woman and the blind man both come to a gradual understanding of Jesus and a gradual coming to faith. Meanwhile the Pharisees who see the exact same evidence are stubborn and refuse to believe. They are the real blind men. This goes along with what Erika was saying. Erika said what jumped out at her was the Pharisees' reaction to the blind man's former sin. Our own culture doesn't forget people's sin either. In our society we hold up the bare minimum as if it is the ultimate in holiness. We don't see our own sins--even venial sins--as any kind of fault that needs to be confessed and dealt with. Joanie said she found it impressive that a religious leader would affect sinlessness in the face of the sinner, when in fact we all struggle with the help of grace. Kathleen was struck by the concept of both physical blindness and spiritual blindness. She thinks of the Gospel of John as a book of light and that Jesus is always portrayed as the Light. She hopes that Erika's talk will spread the Light for people to see the Church truly. Scot said his favorite line is where they shoot the messenger and then throw him up. This is a summation of how people often treat those who bring the truth when it's unwanted and unlooked-for.

  **Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** LeAnn Thieman, author of "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith", Fr. Bill Schmidt, pastor of St. Patrick Parish in Stoneham, and Mike Alex, founder of MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com, the Catholic online learning platform. * [MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com](http://www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com) * [LeAnn Thieman's website](http://www.leannthieman.com/) * ["Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935096230/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1935096230) * [St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham](http://www.catholic-church.org/st-patricks/) **Today's topics:** Lenten mission at St. Patrick Parish in Stoneham; MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com; A look at this Sunday's readings for Mass **A summary of today's show:** LeAnn Thieman, author of "Chicken Soup for Soul: Living Catholic Faith", and Fr. Bill Schmidt of St. Patrick Parish, Stoneham, discuss "the most unusual parish mission" you'll attend coming up next week at Fr. Schmidt's parish. Mike Alex tells Scot and Fr. Mark about  MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com, the most advanced online learning platform for Catholics. Finally, Scot, Fr. Mark, and Mike discuss this coming Sunday's Gospel reading for Mass on the woman at the well and the Living Water that Christ promises her. **1st segment:** Fr. Mark's week included a talk in Stoneham at Fr. Schmidt's parish on annulments. Also a cabinet meeting today at which Cardinal Sean announced that Chancellor Jim McDonough's term was renewed for another five years. Fr. Mark said the chancellor is also the finance officer for the archdiocese. The term that was renewed was actually for finance officer. Only two diocesan roles have terms that cannot be abridged except for grave reasons. The other is Fr. Mark's job as Judicial Vicar. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome LeAnn Thieman by phone from Colorado and Fr. Bill Schmidt by phone from Stoneham. LeAnn gave an overview of the sessions she'll be giving at the mission next week. She'll start by sharing her story, starting in 1975 with Operation Babylift, to bring 300 Vietnamese orphans out of the midst of the war in Vietnam with the approval of President Ford. On Tuesday, she'll speak on caring for ourselves as well as we care for others, caring for our bodies and our minds. She shares stories from her 12 Chicken Soup books she's written. One of the tools is the tool of forgiveness. On Wednesday, she'll talk about living the Catholic faith as the spiritual balance to the topic of the night before: What we can do to stand up for our faith and to take pride in it. She promises that attendees will march out proud of being Catholic and excited about sharing it. Fr. Schmidt said Lent is a privileged time during which busy people who don't often have time for prayer want to do something special. It's not easy to carve out three nights in a row, so it's a special opportunity. This is the sixth year they've had a parish mission in his 10 years as pastor. 800 people come at least once over the 3 nights. Fr. Mark asked what the Chicken Soup for the Soul books are. LeAnn explained that each has 101 true stories all on a particular topic, such as adoption, fathers and daughters, nurses. Part of LeAnn's own story during Operation Babylift is that she found a little boy who she then adopted as her own. It's amazing, she said, how she still gets emotional as she tells the story, even though she has told it so many times. * [Operation Babylift](http://www.adoptvietnam.org/adoption/babylift-index.htm) Fr. Schmidt said after the last mission, where they heard Fr. Tom Nestor, Bishop Hennessey, and Fr. Jonathan Morris, someone on the parish council asked if a woman could give the mission. Father had a friend in Colorado who had heard of LeAnn and her captivating and motivating story and his experience of her talk at a diocesan dinner in Pueblo, Colorado. Fr. Mark noted that St. Patrick's has undergone renovations and expansions. Six years ago, Cardinal Sean dedicated the renovated and enlarged church, which includes many elements from parishes that have closed. **3rd segment:** Continuing the discussion of the upcoming Lenten mission at St. Patrick's. Scot asked LeAnn for highlights of her talk on Wednesday, which will talk about all the good the Church does. LeAnn said the Church is at the forefront of medical care, helping the poor, educating children and she is awe of all the church does. At the end of her talk on Tuesday night addressing the need to care for ourselves, there is a call to the sacrament of reconciliation. Even when she talks to secular audiences, people thank her for giving them permission to forgive others and to forgive themselves. Fr. Mark asked how parish missions today differ from the fire-and-brimstone missions of old. Fr. Schmidt recalled the missions of his youth which include a confession talk describing hell in stark terms. Now the talks speak of God's love and mercy and forgiveness. He added that they are looking for more priest-confessors to accommodate everyone. LeAnn said it should be the most unusual mission people will have attended, because she intends to have lots of fun and to share how much she loves Christ and His Church and her faith. She hopes that anyone who comes will invite someone else. Fr. Mark said this sounds like it fits perfectly with the Catholics Come Home initiative. Fr. Schmidt said anyone who is interested is very welcome even if they're not members of the parish. LeAnn's books will be on sale at the mission and she will be autographing them. The parish is right at the intersection of Route 128 and 93 and is convenient to many people who will be commuting home from Boston. **4th segment:** Mike Alex joins the show, visiting from the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas. He hopes to catch his Kansas University Jayhawks in the NCAA tournament if they win tonight in San Antonio and go on to the Elite 8. It is an act of providence that MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com came together. In 2002 he had been asked by his bishop to help build a new Catholic high school. As part of the mission he was given, then-Archbishop Keleher told Mike, "If we fail to pass on the faith from this generation to the next, we're failing in one of our most important missions as Church." To ensure the quality of instruction at the school, Mike created a relationship with a program called [School of Faith](http://www.schooloffaith.com/) to help train and form the faculty of the new high school. Many other schools in the region were interested in taking part but there wasn't enough space for them in the training classes. Meanwhile, he had a friend who was converting to Catholicism, and it turned out that this friend had an online platform and company that teaches 275,000 nurses across the country to pass their boards. He'd just sold the company and was looking for a new challenge. Mike proposed to take some of the Catholic content and create a new platform with a new way to catechize folks. At first, it was supposed to be local, but it was so robust that people sought out Mike's company to provide their content. National publishers started to see the innovation and interactivity of the program and now they have Ascension Press, Midwest Theological, Ignatius Press as partners, and many more who would like to get their content on the system. Catholic learning is moving online because of the convenience today. Scot notes that our own [CatholicTV](http://www.catholictv.com) has the best online on-demand Catholic TV programming in the world. MyCatholicFaithDelivered is so far ahead of everyone else with online learning, it's as if there isn't a second place. An advisory board of bishops oversee the content to ensure its fidelity to Church teaching. Every class has an imprimatur. All the publishers are considered orthodox. The Faith Foundations program received the first online imprimatur. An imprimatur is a statement, authorized by the bishop of a diocese, that a work is free of doctrinal error. Fr. Mark asked who the target audience is. Mike said the initial thrust is adult formation, catechist certification, and teacher certification. There are many adults, catechists, and teachers who may not be well-grounded in the faith and are in need of assistance. They also have a first through eighth grade series and a high school series for children, but the main thrust is in teaching adults. Scot said we've heard several times over the past week on The Good Catholic Life about the new Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's seminary and their very flexible classes and programs. But there are those who might not have the time even for the certificate program that is one Saturday per month for six months. Mike said his website offers learning that is available at any time and locations and includes a lot of interactivity. It offers the flexibility they might need. Mike said there are different costs for each course. Mike's friend paid the millions of dollars to create the system, so the current prices are just to keep the website self-sustaining. There are also free lessons available to try out the platform. The mission is to spread the teaching of the Church worldwide--they are in the middle of Spanish translations for their biggest programs. Mike met today with people from around the Archdiocese of Boston who have teaching that would make good content, as well as meeting with our own Catholic Media group who can help create the materials in partnership with MyCatholicFaithDelivered.com Mike said Boston has technical capabilities that other dioceses don't have, and he's excited to bring Boston's content to more people across the country. Scot points out that this is a well-crafted, high-quality video with quizzes and links that bring students to even more resources on the Internet. The programs are interactive and not static. People have responded that they find it meaningful and worthwhile. They've have 3 to 4,000 who have registered to date and another 3 to 4,000 from various dioceses that they are planning to bring online through next September. **5th segment:** As we do each Friday, we look at this coming Sunday's readings to help us prepare for Mass. * [This Sunday's readings for Mass](http://www.usccb.org/nab/032711.shtml) >*Gospel* (John 4:5-42) >Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. >A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” —For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.— Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink, ‘ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” >Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.' For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one speaking with you.” >At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?” They went out of the town and came to him. Meanwhile, the disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” So the disciples said to one another, “Could someone have brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘In four months the harvest will be here'? I tell you, look up and see the fields ripe for the harvest. The reaper is already receiving payment and gathering crops for eternal life, so that the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For here the saying is verified that ‘One sows and another reaps.' I sent you to reap what you have not worked for; others have done the work, and you are sharing the fruits of their work.” >Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. Many more began to believe in him because of his word, and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.” Scot said it's a long reading but so worthwhile to read the long one. Living water is a theme and Christ calling people is another theme. Fr. Mark said at this time when we're asking people to look at the faith again in Catholics Come Home, it resonates with us. Fr. Mark sees a whole journey in there that goes hand in hand with Catholics Come Home. Scot noted that the woman went to the well at noon because she was ashamed to be around the others who went in the morning. Jesus knew why she was at the well at that time and chose her purposefully. People often doubt that Christ would choose them because they were so unworthy, but he chooses those the world would not choose. Mike noted how  the woman's perception of Jesus as she interacted with him became clearer. At first, He was just another Jewish man, then she saw him as a prophet, and finally she asked him if He is the Messiah. We can go through this same progression in our Lenten journey to continue to deepen out perception. Also, where the water in Jacob's well is so difficult to find and the Living Water of Jesus is easy at hand because He gives it to us freely. But, Scot said, we should thirst for the water. During Lent we ask ourselves if we thirst for everything God is waiting to give us? Do we ask for more than God has already given me? Fr. Mark said we need to remember who Christ is asking to bring his message, the most unlikely messenger: A woman, a Samaritan, an adulteress. But she was called to be an evangelist to the city. Scot said it was her notoriety that might have made her the best messenger to a particular people, that God would work through her. Fr. Mark noted that we should follow the bucket. She comes with the bucket, notes that Jesus doesn't have a bucket and leaves without it. She comes as a laborer and leaves as an evangelist. Mike noted that conversion comes through a process of interacting with Jesus, but it involves a longing and a desire to have a relationship with him. Often in Lent we think of Lent as a Good Friday experience, but the readings of the past two Sundays have been so hopeful and uplifting as a precursor sign of the hope of Easter. Scot noted that because today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation, people are not bound to Friday meatless abstinence although Scot and Fr. Mark recommend the abstinence as a way to remain penitential.  

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Drs. David and Angela Franks and Dr. Aldona Lingertat of the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary/ * [TINE](http://www.tineboston.org) * [St. John's Seminary](http://www.sjs.edu) * [TINE on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theological-Institute-for-the-New-Evangelization/173683042661394) * [Photos from press conference launching TINE on March 17](http://www.flickr.com/photos/bostoncatholic/sets/72157626161918993/) * [Co-Workers in the Vineyard Conference](http://sjs.edu/News/2011CWITV.html) **Today's topics:** The new Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary and a new degree and certificates for laity, deacons, and religious that join the existing Master of Arts in Ministry program. **A summary of today's show:** The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary is preparing laypeople, deacons and religious to become energetic and knowledgable evangelists and missionaries within their own parishes and out in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces to bring about the new evangelization envisioned by Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Seán. **1st segment:** Is God calling you to serve the Church as a professional lay minister or catechist? Or is God calling you to receive strong adult faith formation to know, share and defend the faith? If so, than today's program is meant for you as we'll be discussing the exciting new Institute at St. John's Seminary for Adult Faith Formation. Fr. Chris said last week that they had the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner at St. John's Seminary, including Irish song, Irish cheer, and limericks that poked fun of the faculty. On St. Joseph Day, he had Mass with the Missionaries of Charity and lots of zeppoli throughout the day. It's an Italian pastry. Scot said his wife had her birthday this weekend, so he was able to break his Lenten diet as planned. He also wished a happy birthday today to Maria Bain, station manager for WQOM. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Aldona Lingertat and David and Angela Franks from TINE. David explained that St. John's has gathered immense resources to train men for the diocesan priesthood, so St. John's has made available these resources to laypeople who want to serve the Church. For the past decade that has been available through the Master's in Ministry and now the institute further expands the offerings of those resources. St. John's feels it's crucial to make these resources available to support the new evangelization. Angela said St. Patrick's feast day was chosen to launch because he was an evangelist and missionary to a hostile culture and we live in a society and culture that is hostile to our faith. Scot also pointed out that as St. Patrick is the patron of the archdiocese it ties the work to the archdiocese. Fr. Chris concurred and added that they hope it also offers resources for other dioceses in the region as well. A seminary is the heart of the diocese, he said. Aldona said the program students are all active in their parishes. The program makes sure the students are already active or asks them to become so first. They also offer a course in the basics of the Catholic faith as well. Scot noted that many Catholics, through no fault of their own, sometimes have not studied the faith as adults because formal religious instruction ended at confirmation. Angela said they found many people who come to their programs haven't read the Catechism. Scot said being part of a community while learning the faith is more fun and rewarding than studying alone. Aldona said there's an excitement in finding other people who care as much about the faith as you do. It helps grow and deepen your faith. Scot finds two significant aspects to the name. First, that it is an institute at the seminary and, second, that it is for the new evangelization. Fr. Chris said it responds to Pope John Paul II's call for a new evangelization marked by a newness in ardor, method and means. Pope Benedict has picked up on that theme and created a curial office dedicated to this work. It focuses not just on the missions abroad, but also on places where the Gospel has been proclaimed but the faith has been dimmed. Re-presenting the Gospel in ways accessible to today's culture. David said that calling it an institute means that the intention is to grow it larger. It is important that it is a theological institute, because a failure in theological work in recent years has led to a breakdown in communicating a straightforward belief in the divinity and resurrection of Christ and his mission in the world. The theological institute makes the riches of the faith available and says the seminary is here to empower the people to take hold of the means of theological communication, that you don't have to wait for some theologian to speak, but you can make the Gospel known in the world.   Aldona said it is beneficial to have laypeople and religious study side-by-side in many cases with seminarians because when the students go out in to parishes the priests know that they have received solid instruction and a foundation for ministry. **3rd segment:** Discussing the Master of Theological Studies for the New Evangelization program. Angela said it is different from the Master of Arts in Ministry, which is is a ministerial degree. Many students were asking for an academic degree. The whole-person formation of MTS is toward evangelizing the world, as opposed to parishes and the church sphere in MAM. She said it is an innovative degree, one of only a few programs of its type in the country. David said that Vatican II said it was up to laypeople to evangelize and transform the world. The MTS degree takes theological, human, and apostolic formation and empowers the students to go out into their homes, workplaces, the political arena, and the marketplace. The MAM program is better for those looking to work in the Church, while MTS is about going out into other professions. Angela said the whole-person formation goes beyond simply providing books and syllabi and instruction in the classroom. It acknowledges the need to nourish the vocation through spiritual formation and social formation and other ways that lead the person to the kind of depths they need to have the rich vocational role to play.  Fr. Chris made the distinction between education and formation. A typical university is concerned with the mind, but the institute is concerned with the mind and soul. Aldona added that they are teaching for belief. In most schools, people learn things, but not so they can believe. But TINE is educating for a believing community. David spoke of the Friday colloquia for the MTS. They get together once per month on a Friday night to discuss great works of literature, art, music, philosophy and more. There's a dynamism of ideas as the substance of the evening. They will engage these cultural treasures at a personal level. It's more relaxed than a classroom setting. Angela said the tasks of evangelization require practical experience in working with others and so literature can help one to gain life experience through understanding the insights that people before us have had. The MTS classes will meet evenings on Tues, Wed, Thurs, 5pm-9:30pm. Taking classes full-time, the program should take 2 years. It is intended to allow people who have regular jobs to take part. **4th segment:** Now discussing the Master of Arts in Ministry program, which has been in place in the archdiocese for more than 10 years. Fr. Chris said the people who enroll in MAM are moms, dads, people with full-time jobs committing to this additional work in order to serve the Church. Right now, in one class, he has a mechanic, a court stenographer, and a pastoral associate in a parish. Aldona said they are approaching their 100th graduate. After they graduate, students often go into professional positions in parishes that are open to laity, including director of religious education, Catholic school teacher, high school and college campus minister, pastoral associate, health care ministry and chaplaincy. Some continue in their regular jobs outside the ministry, but become involved part-time or volunteer in their parishes. Scot said pastoral planning surveys show there is a trend that parishes are going to need even more lay ministers in the future. Aldona said there's a new trend as well that shows a number of adults who are ready to retire, who are still young and healthy and energetic, who want to still study and serve their parishes. There are MAM students who go full-time, but most students take 3 or 4 years. There is no pressure on students to complete on a particular schedule. Scot said he has noticed a spirit in the MAM program and that the students are very close. Aldona said the classes have been built into a schedule that allows a lot of interaction. Classes take breaks at the same time, they have breaks for evening prayer. There are required monthly evenings where they have dinners and prayer together. Students stay in touch after graduation. She said the typical workload requires 4-6 hours per week of study outside of the 1-2 classes per semester. They also have scholarship money available for tuition. She encourages interested people not to let money be an obstacle. Fr. Chris said they are seeing pastors supporting pastoral ministers in the parishes by paying for tuition. There also audit options available for those who aren't interested in the degree. Aldona said she sees the auditors even doing all the papers. She believes auditing is mostly due to finances, not time commitment. This Thursday, March 24, at 149 Washington Street, Brighton, will be an open house, starting with evening prayer at 7pm and then a presentation afterward, a time for questions, and then meeting faculty and students. **5th segment:** In addition to the degree programs, there are 4 catechetical certificate programs, some meeting on evenings and some on Saturdays. This is the main avenue for reaching large numbers of laypeople. They are geared to those who want to get a formation in the faith, grounded in the Catechism, so that they are able to communicate the love of Jesus Christ to the world. They have had the program for about 2 years. One track has been for catechesis, teaching the faith, and apologetics, knowing and defending the faith. This fall, one Saturday per month for eight months, there will be two programs on catechetics and the basics of the Catholic faith. On the Saturdays they will have classes, small group sessions and the rest of the whole-person formation. They want Catholics to feel they can go out and talk about the truths of Jesus Christ and the Church without being defensive or nervous. Before and after the programs, they survey students about their comfort levels sharing their faith and afterward they always see students agree that they look forward to opportunities to evangelize in the world. Scot said these programs meet a real need to learn the faith at a low cost, $300 or less, and without a large time commitment. Fr. Chris said the seminary's goal is to help people to know the love of Christ and this helps people to come to know what the faith is all about. It acknowledges that the faith is attractive and the truth is attractive. The catechetical certificate is aimed at DREs and catechists by providing practical skills in addition to theological instruction. The Catholicism certificate is for people who just want to learn more about their faith with the same sort of theological content, but aimed at helping them share their faith with friends and family. Parents are encouraged to attend the catechetical certificate to educate their own children.   As Cardinal Sean advances initiatives like Catholics Come Home, he needs an army of Catholics who know their faith and are energized to evangelize. There will be a free Biblical study seminar on the Mondays of June, 7-9pm this year with Prof. Cecilia Sirois. This year the topic will be on the women of the Old and New Testament. They are planning a graduate certificate for teaching Scripture in parishes. Next spring, they will offer certificate on the New Evangelization. It is a more advanced level after the basic certificates. It will focus on explaining the tough issues that come up, including the hard teachings on sexuality, reservation of priesthood to men, and other controversial and misunderstood issues in the Church. Fr. Chris said the wonderful thing is that TINE will be going out to parishes around the archdiocese to bring the good news of TINE to the people in the pews. On April 8, TINE is holding the Co-workers in the Vineyard conference, whose topic is the parish of the future. It will include several keynote talks, breakout talks, and Mass with Cardinal Seán. On April 9, from 1-3pm, St. John's Medieros Classroom, chaplains from prison ministry will speak on the ministry and how one can support the ministry even for those who don't feel called to go into prisons. Fr. Chris said it is part of the corporal works of mercy.                                                                    

  *Due to technical difficulties, the first 15 minutes of today's program are not available in the stream and podcast. Much of the content is available in the show notes below. We apologize for the error.*  **Today's hosts:** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell, Judicial Vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Boston. **Today's guest(s):** Bishop John D'Arcy, bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend, Indiana and a former auxiliary bishop of Boston;,and Fr. Michael Harrington, director of the Office for Cultural Diversity and Outreach and assistant director of the Office for Vocations of the Archdiocese of Boston. * [Tribunal](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Tribunal.aspx) * [Office of Vocations](http://www.vocationsboston.org) * [Office of Cultural Diversity and Outreach](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/OutreachandCulturalDiversity.aspx) * [Cardinal Seán's Blog](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org) * [Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend](http://www.diocesefwsb.org/) * [St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Beverly](http://www.stmarystar.org)   **Today's topic(s):** The importance of Lenten retreats and missions; Cardinal Seán's Lenten message to Catholics in the Archdiocese of Boston; Listener questions about Lent and Lenten practices. **A summary of today's show:** Today's hosts and guest discuss Cardinal Seán's Lenten homily on Ash Wednesday and its call for Catholic to use this time to take stock, to "update our obituary," and to make sure that we're always moving forward in the spiritual life. Lent is also a perfect time for the work of evangelization that is Catholics Come Home. This initiative is one of the spiritual works of mercy to which we are commended during Lent. Bishop John D'Arcy also recalled his years as a priest and then bishop in Boston and then talked about how Lenten missions and retreats are a spiritual aid to Lent, as well as a work of evangelization and a renewal of the parish. Finally, Scot, Fr. Mark, and Fr. Michael answered some common questions about Lent, especially those surrounding the practice of fasting. **1st segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark recalled their experience of Lent as children, giving up meat on Fridays. Fr. Mark then gave a brief summary of his life and vocation as a priest. As judicial vicar, he is "the canon law guy." The Metropolitan Tribunal's main focus are marriage cases and annulments. They also do some criminal cases, financial cases, and even cases related to saints. In future broadcasts, they will delve into those subjects more. One day he came back from lunch and said he'd had a great lunch of chicken noodle soup. His secretary reminded him that it was a Friday in Lent. Another worker in the office, who happened to be Jewish, came in then and called out, "Look, I've got my tune sandwich. It's Friday in Lent." So, the Jewish woman remembered Lent, but the priest did not. **2nd segment:** Scot asked Fr. Michael Harrington what his hopes are for Catholic radio. He said St. Paul would be doing the same thing if he were here today, using every means to reach out to people.  Scot, Fr. Mark, and Fr. Michael considered the following clip from Cardinal Seán's homily for Ash Wednesday: > Lent is such a special time in our year.  It is a time of new beginnings, of reviewing our lives in the light of the Gospel, to deepen our conversion and to draw closer to God and to one another.   > The ashes on our forehead are to remind us that we are pilgrims in this world.  One day death will end that pilgrimage and we will have to render an account of our stewardship.  How did we use our talents, our treasure, our time?  Did we make this a better world by our love and generosity?  If we have been living selfish and self-absorbed lives, Lent is an opportunity to clean up our obituary, to change the direction of our life.  Change is never easy.  We need a lot of help and we need a plan.  Lent first of all, must be a renewal in the life of prayer.  There can be no growth in faith and holiness without prayer.  Each day we need time and space for God.   > Hence, our first Lenten resolution should be about our prayer life.  Daily reading from the Gospels and the Scriptures can be a very important way to deepen our prayer life, to find direction and encouragement in the Word of God.  Jesus wants us to know His voice and to ponder His words in our heart. Scot highlighted the Cardinal's admonition that "Lent is a time to clean up your obituary." It received a laugh from the congregation, but it is very true. Fr. Michael said what he heard was that we all need a plan of life. We can't just spontaneously enter into the spiritual life, because we won't grow. The plan of life leads to spontaneity. Fr. Mark said what he heard was that the Cardinal wants us to come out of Lent as better people than how we entered. We need to make a conscious effort to pray every day of Lent. Scot said the Cardinal was basically saying that if you do only one thing during Lent, you need to grow in prayer: "Jesus wants us to know His voice and to ponder His words in our heart." Fr. Michael: "By our prayer, it all becomes God's work, not our work." What suggestions would Fr. Michael have for people to enter into Lent. He said, the most important thing is to just do something. To start something. Fr. Mark said, that if busyness in prayer gets in the way, we need to focus. We need to quiet the brain and quiet all the stuff going on around us, so we can hear God speak to us.  We have a very busy life, Scot said. But we need to make an appointment with God, even if it just for 10 or 15 minutes. He asked the Fathers what they think are the best times to pray. Fr. Michael said early mornings are best because it's before everything gets hectic and it also sets the tone for the day, placing his time before God. Fr. Mark said he recognizes how the morning is best for others, but for him the end of the day is best because his examination of conscience is where he meets God the most. In his homily, the Cardinal said Jesus is just as concerned with the "how" as much as  the "what" of our faith practice. Fr. Michael tied it in with the Cardinal's words that we should not settle for mediocrity in our life. We should strive to be great. The Cardinal also said, Standing still is going backwards in life. Either we go forward or we fall back. Scot said that just showing up is not enough. Lent can help us establish new habits to grow in faith and to break old habits that are not helping us move forward in prayer. Fr. Michael: "Lent is a matter of the heart." The voice of Christ speaks in our heart. When we seek Him, we find He's been seeking us. **3rd segment:** This Lent, Cardinal Sean has launched the largest outreach initiative in more than a generation for us in the Archdiocese of Boston.  It is called Catholics Come Home.  Let's listen now to the conclusion of his Lenten message where he asks us all to incorporate Catholics Come Home into our practices this Lent.   > In the past, we have often asked our Catholics to practice the corporal works of mercy…to feed the hungry, provide clothes and shelter, visit the sick and prisoners.  This is part of who we are as the Catholic Church…why we are involved in Catholic Charities, Saint Vincent de Paul, Catholic Relief Services, Health Care, Orphanages and soup kitchens and shelters and cemeteries.  But we sometimes forget that these are also spiritual works of mercy; to instruct the uninformed, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted and to pray for the living and the dead. > I consider the Catholics Come Home initiative as a Spiritual Work of Mercy.  It expresses our concern about people's interior life, their relationship with God, their spiritual hunger.  We want people to know Christ and His love, because we believe that in Christ we find the answers to life questions and come to eternal happiness. > The Church exists to evangelize and this Holy Season of Lent is a special time of opportunity.  And so as the Prophet tells us, “Sound the trumpet, proclaim a fast, gather the people and invite the Family to come home”. Fr. Mark said evangelization is Cardinal Sean's passion and we've had so many distractions since he's come here and this is finally a time for him to focus us on this, his passion. Scot said, Boston is often an example around the country for our works of charity, but we haven't yet distinguished ourselves for our evangelization. Fr. Michael said the Cardinal tied together the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. As Catholics, they are not optional. Fr. Michael recalled a new pastor telling him that his goals for his new parish were to find out of the parish was living the works of mercy. The corporal works of mercy are to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. The spiritual works of mercy are to correct sinners, instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, comfort the sorrowful, bear wrongs patiently, forgive injuries, and pray for the living and the dead. Basically to care for people's physical needs and the needs of their soul. The Church exists to bring Christ to the world around us, not just in our actions, but to be deliberate in speaking the Gospel. Fr. Mark said that what strikes him about Catholics Come Home is that we are reaching out to our own people; it's a new focus for evangelization. The Cardinal has asked us to pray for those who will receive an invitation and those of us who will invite, then to do the inviting, and then to be welcoming in our parishes. If we see someone new at Mass this Sunday, reach out to them, introduce yourself, and welcome them. **4th segment:** Scot welcomes Bishop John D'Arcy to The Good Catholic Life. Bishop D'Arcy has been a priest for 54 years and next Monday he will return to his first assignment as a priest at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Beverly for a parish mission. He spent 8-1/2 years and it's where the people taught him what it means to be a priest. It was an extraordinary experience. When he moved onto his next assignment in Rome, he left with a deep appreciation of what it means to be a parish priest. A parish mission and Lenten retreat is a good practice for Lent. Why should Catholics seek to attend the mission at their own parish or, if your parish isn't having one, at a nearby parish like St. Mary's in Beverly? Bishop D'Arcy said that the missions are about faith, prayer, sacrament of penance, but the real strength of them is strengthening the faith of the devout, and also reaching out to those whose faith has become weak. The key is the work of the laity in the parish to prepare for the mission, to reach out to everyone in the parish, to provide services like babysitting or transportation for the elderly. Parish missions should also tie themselves into Catholics Come Home. These large group gatherings in parishes help people to approach church in anonymity because it might make them feel more comfortable than making an appointment with a priest or even coming to Sunday Mass, at first. Likewise, if they don't go to confession that week, then maybe they will be inspired to go sometime later and return to the practice. What is the central message of this mission, which is entitled "Christ, Yesterday, Today and Forever"? During the mission, the bishop will speak of the challenges of modern life to a life of prayer; the call to repentance and penance; Eucharistic spirituality, bringing Christ to others; and what the parish will do after the mission, where the parish needs to do more work. In February, Bishop D'Arcy was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and he said he is doing fine. He made sure with the doctors that he would not have any radiation treatments before the mission so that he would be strong for the people of Beverly. His outlook is good and he's more than halfway through treatment. He has received many, many letters promising prayer, both from people in Boston and those in Fort Wayne. A week on the North Shore near the ocean will be just the thing for him. His retirement has kept him busy, giving quite a few retreats for priests, bishops, and religious in various places. After the St. Mary mission on Tuesday night, he will give three talks at Blessed John Seminary on Wednesday and then return to Beverly. Then on St. Patrick's Day, he *must* celebrate a Mass while in Boston. The rest of the week's schedule is also full. He does miss shepherding the diocese, because you hold the diocese in your heart, but now there's more time for prayer and reading. He is adjusting very well. **5th segment:** Now we answer listener-submitted questions about Lent: 1. What do we have against meat and can we substitute lobster for meat? Back in the day when the practice started, meat was for the privileged and fish was for the poor, so it was an attempt to connect everyone to the poor. Technically, lobster would be in the letter of the law, but it's not in the spirit of sacrificing for the poor. 2. Why aren't Sundays part of Lent and does this mean we can "cheat" on Sundays? Fr. Mark says this is a disputed question. He's of the opinion that Lent includes Sunday as far as sacrifice goes, but Sundays are mini-Easters and a time of feasting; we do not fast. Scot says he's always been taught we don't need to fast on Sundays. Fr. Michael agreed with Fr. Mark. 3. Why does the Church use Lent and Easter as the time to prepare those entering the Church through RCIA? Lent is a baptismal retreat, according to Pope Benedict and Cardinal Sean. While we may be used to focusing on Good Friday throughout Lent, but the Church's liturgies have always been about Lent being a time of rebirth and purification. Fr. Michael said Lent is a time of detaching ourselves from the world and clinging to the things of God. 4. Do any drinks violate the fast? Certainly a bunch of chocolate milkshakes or half of refrigerator of fruit in a smoothie would violate the spirit of the law. Fr. Michael said we need to look at what we're trying to accomplish. Scot noted that the purpose of the fast is to notice the effects of the fast, so if we're drinking so much that we don't feel the effects that might not be in the spirit of the fast. 5. Are the stations of the cross experiencing a renewal in popularity? Fr. Michael sees more parishes bringing back regular stations of the cross throughout Lent as well as regular Eucharistic adoration, prayer the Rosary before Mass, and other devotions that bring vibrancy to the Church. Scot noted that many devotions went away as the Church adjusted post-Vatican II and now we're bringing those back, especially among the young. Fr. Michael noted all the young people who will come to the Eucharistic Congress. [The Archdiocese of Boston's 4th annual Eucharistic Congress for Youth and Young Adults](http://eucharisticcongress.org/), April 1 & 2, North End of Boston  

Today's hosts: Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's topic(s): Pope's message for Lent, a Pakistani martyr, the Pope's new book, Bishop Chris Coyne from Boston, ultrasounds for life, the Church using the media to spread the message, and WQOM, Boston's new Catholic radio station.Today's guest(s): Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese, and pastor of St. Anthony of Padua parish, New Bedford; Greg Tracy, managing editor The Boston Pilot; and Maria Bain, station manager for WQOM 1060 Boston. A summary of today's show:Pope Benedict's message for Lent 2011 dominates talk of world news, while the example of a martyr for the faith in Pakistan gives us cause to reflect. We celebrate one of our own being ordained an auxiliary bishop for Indianapolis, as well as the donation of an ultrasound machine to promote the cause of life. 1st segment: Scot introduces Susan Abbott as his co-host. She is the director of the Archdiocese of Boston's Office for Religious Education. She reflected on the launch of Catholics Come Home on Ash Wednesday. "It was an amazing experience. When I saw [the TV commercial] on the big TV at the press conference, it took my breath away," she said. "You want people to know the beauty and goodness of the Church." She found the whole day to be emotional and uplifting with a sense of hope despite the difficulties that surround us. 2nd segment: Greg Tracy and Fr. Roger Landry join the program to discuss news from around the world. First up for discussion is Pope Benedict's message for Lent 2011. Pope Benedict is emphasizing our baptism in his Lenten message. Fr. Landry says the ashes of Lent remind, marked as a cross on our foreheads, recalls our baptism when a cross is marked on our foreheads with holy water and holy oil. The more we can enter into our rebirth through baptism, the more we can enter into Christ's death and resurrection. As a father of 10, the experience of baptism is familiar for Greg Tracy. Baptism is the door through which all other graces flow. The other children get excited as well, seeing the beauty of an experience we don't begin to fully understand until much later in life. It is unfortunate that baptism is often the forgotten sacrament. The rite of Election for those being prepared to be received into the Church at Easter will happen this weeked at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. Susan Abbott says she loves the pope's words that in baptism, we are claimed for Christ. Baptism is not a date, but a way of life. The RCIA is a school for baptism. Fr. Landry says Lent is like baseball spring training. The multimillionaire ballplayers are getting back to the fundamentals of baseball. We do the same thing in Lent by getting back to the basics: taking the time to pray, learning how to deny ourselves in order to say no to temptation and say yes to God, learning how to love one another as Christ has loved us. We put God first in prayer, put others second through almsgiving, and ourselves third through fasting. The Holy Father this week commented on the murder of Pakistani government minister Shahbaz Bhatti, the only Catholic in Pakistan's government. The Pakistani Catholic bishops are moving to have him recognized as a martyr for the faith. Greg says that this is just the latest of numerous incidents of anti-Christian violence that seems to be escalating throughout the world. Fr. Landry says we are, first, called to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters. Second, we are called to work with our own government to work for the right to religious freedom everywhere. Third, we should elevate the example of the great martyred heroes of the faith. Bhatti had said beforehand that he would probably die for his work for his Christian brothers and sisters. A Pakistani bishop of Greg's acquaintance once remarked at how empty he found American Catholic churches. In Pakistan, people are literally dying to get to Mass, yet with our freedom to worship so many do not. The Boston Pilot:  3rd segment: Continuing the discussion with Greg Tracy and Fr. Landry, we turn our attention to national news. Last week, Bishop Chris Coyne was ordained an auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis. He is a former spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston and was Greg's boss. Greg recalls the difficult times of the abuse scandals and how then-Fr. Coyne was always a straight shooter, who always said what he knew and if he didn't know, he would say that. Bishop Coyne said at his ordination that bishops are called to be no-nonsense and to "be who we are called to be." It is unusual for an auxiliary bishop to come from outside the diocese in which he is ordained (except for certain Spanish-speaking bishops). Fr. Landry says there are two schools of thought: Some say it's great to promote from within because they know the place and the needs, but others say an outside bring a fresh perspective. We're starting to see more bishops being appointed from outside the diocese for that fresh perspective and a cross-fertilization of best practices from other places in the Church. Bishop Coyne also said that we can never lose sight of the fact that the Church is about the work of evangelization. All that we do as Christians must be performed in light of this truth. 4th segment:Turning their attention to local news, Scot, Susan, Greg, and Fr. Landry, The Pilot has a story about the donation of a new ultrasound machine to a pregnancy help center in Brighton. A private donor and the Knights of Columbus donated a machine that will be housed at St. Elizabeth Medical Center for the use of the nearby archdiocesan pregnancy help center. Seeing the baby on the ultrasound machine can really have an impact on people saying, "I'm not just aborting a fetus, but that's my child in there." Fr. Landry says it has an enormous impact on those who participate in abortion. The late Bernard Nathanson was an abortionist until he saw an unborn child on an ultrasound and began his rejection of abortion. He recorded an ultrasound of an abortion to make his powerful documentary "The Silent Scream." Susan said her involvement with the pro-life movement goes back many years, and the Knights of Columbus have always been big supporters of life. "Bravo to the Knights for all you do." With all the local media outlets present at the launch of Catholics Come Home, as a journalist, Greg said it was a joyous moment. It is great to have all the media turn out for something positive for a change, as opposed to covering a negative development. There were tough questions to be sure, but they were appropriately handled and Cardinal Seán shined. Scot reflected that to have all the media there for the biggest evangelization effort in a generation is awesome to understand that the Church believes the media is a huge tool for evangelization. Fr. Landry said the Pope has been calling us as a Church to join in the new Aeropagus, the place in the city of Athens where the Gospel was preached to the Gentiles. He called the entire Church to take advantage of this gift of the Internet, the new media, and the digital continent. The message is the same, but the means we use is constantly changing. 5th segment: Scot talks with Maria Bain, station manager of WQOM. She's been making parish presentations throughout the archdiocese and has been invited to over 80 parishes. The goal of Catholic radio in Boston is not just evangelize, but also to help parishioners become more involved in their parish and to reconnect lapsed Catholics. The Good Catholic Life, as a locally based radio program, helps WQOM to connect with the local market in a significant way. The Station of the Cross network is also preparing for a listener conference at the TD Garden in Boston on August 6 with Fr. John Corapi. Tickets are available online and through Ticketmaster. There are even opportunities for some to have dinner with Fr. Corapi. All proceeds will benefit WQOM. Discounts are also available for groups. One of the priorities for WQOM right now is to find a benefactor who will donate office space of at least 1,000 square feet within 20 miles of the transmitter in Natick. Ideally, it will have room for offices, a studio, some conference rooms, and even a chapel. Interested parties should contact Maria at 617-939-5207 or email .  

www.TheGoodCatholicLife.com Date: March 9, 2011 Today's hosts: Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams Today's topic(s): Catholics Come Home Boston, the debut of The Good Catholic Life, Ash Wednesday Today's guest(s): Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Archbishop of Boston; Tom Peterson, founder and president of Catholics Come Home; Janet Benestad, Secretary of Faith Formation & Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston; and Jim Wright, founder & president of The Station of the Cross. A summary of today's show:The Archdiocese of Boston marks Ash Wednesday with the launch of the Catholics Come Home initiative. Cardinal Seán and Tom Peterson talk to Scot and Fr. Matt about their hopes for the initiative and discuss the TV commercials that will be airing on every major channel in the Boston area throughout Lent. 1st segment: Two of the commercials, "Epic" and "Movie", were aired and each participant gave his impression of the ads and their favorite images and messages.     Tom Peterson shared that in other diocese where the initiative has launched and the commercials have aired have seen hundreds and thousands of people return to church and even for those who were in the pews every Sunday, many returned to the regular practice of the Sacrament of Confession. Even some of the actors who worked on the commercials had experiences that brought them back to the Church. Fr. Matt described what it is like to hear the confession of someone who has returned to sacrament after a long absence. He quoted the Scripture which says that heaven rejoices when one lost sheep returns. We give them a message of hope, where Jesus does not come to condemn, but to receive. "This is the big fish we're looking for," he said, referring to a Catholic who comes home. "We are so happy to see them." Cardinal Seán said he launched campaign as a complement to Catholics Come Home. He said Lent is a baptismal retreat for Catholics, a time to renew our baptism. "Jesus invited us to clean the inside of the cup, too," he said. It is a time to learn how to be loving and forgiving to others, as the Lord is to us. Where better to learn forgiveness than in that sacrament. The cardinal gave his advice on Lenten resolutions. The Gospel speaks of prayer, almsgiving, and fasting. Some people today speak of giving up smoking or going on a diet, which isn't bad, but Lent should have a spiritual meaning. We should set aside time for prayer and reflect on the Word of God. The discipline of Lent and giving things up, like sweets or television, is useful in itself. It's an opportunity for us in our society, who often live a very soft life, to identify with the sufferings of others. Segment 2: Janet Benestad talked about the scenes in the "Epic" commercial that were localized for Boston. She knew that it would have an affect on people in Boston who see it. Our late colleague David Thorp, who was director of the CCH effort in Boston and who died tragically in January, was himself in one of the scenes, playing a homeless man helped by a priest. Other scenes include students near Harvard walking along the Charles; a sister and children in front of Fenway Park; Mission Church in Boston; and fishermen by Fish Pier in South Boston receiving a blessing from a priest. Cardinal Seán has asked all Catholics to share their faith and offer an invitation. Tom Peterson gave tips for how people should feel comfortable in sharing their own stories, where they have found hope and answers in their faith. "I know how you feel. I felt the same way too, but I found in my life that the faith has..." Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. We will win hearts and minds with love, not debates. He asked all to pray everyday for the Holy Spirit to give us opportunities wherever we may be to share the Gospel, to recognize the moment, and to have the courage. Every Wednesday we will announced the winners of the week's WQOM Benefactor Raffle. The winners this week are Paul & Elaine Mongeon of Woonsocket, RI. They will receive a copy of the "Diary of St. Marie Faustina Kowalska" (Divine Mercy In My Soul). To enroll in the raffle, go to and click on the link to "Benefactor Card". Segment 3: Jim Wright, founder & president of network, which includes WQOM. The new radio station, which began on November 1, 2010, has been very successful in Boston, including a very successful fund drive in December. The Station of the Cross is sponsoring a conference with Fr. John Corapi in Boston next August at the TD Garden. If it sells, it could be the biggest gathering of Catholics in several decades. Jim is confident that the event could sell out. He encourages both individual and group sales. The Station of the Cross is looking for a benefactor who can donate about 1,000 square feet of office space for WQOM, ideally within 25 miles of Framingham where the transmitter is located. Contact WQOM via their .  

Reverend J. Brian Bransfield is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  Fr. Bransfield joins us today to discuss his new book, . He currently serves at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as Assistant General Secretary and Executive Director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis. Fr. Bransfield received his doctorate in moral theology from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family. Prior to his current appointment, he served as professor of Moral Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. He is a noted national speaker and retreat director. A Colorado atheist sees a television commercial produced by the folks at and is led to God's truth and the one, holy and apostolic Church. invites you to learn about Catholics Come Home and perhaps share a message of faith with others. "Change the world." It's a phrase we hear a lot! But what does it really mean? In this week's teen moment, talks about how changing the world begins with changing our hearts. Our takes a look at catechesis for the deaf. This episode of Catholic Moments is sponsored by , the Leading Catholic Singles Community.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email . Links for this Episode: Music by The Handbook for Catholic Moms:  , , or , , , Subscribe to the | Subscribe with