Please send your comments and inquiries to leaderpub@votf.org
Donations to VOTF can be made on line or mailed to
VOTF, P.O. Box 423, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464-0002
In the Vineyard DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER COPY IS 10/24

Would you like to receive the VOTF quarterly? Add your name to our mail list by calling the VOTF office at 617-558-5252. Submissions for the quarterly are gratefully considered by contacting Peggie Thorp at leaderpub@votf.org

Register! Register! Register!


Major VOTF conference Sat., Oct. 25th, 2003, Fordham University Rose Hill Campus, Bronx, NY. Share, learn, and worship together during this day-long, faith-filled event sponsored by NY, NJ, and CT VOTF affiliates, with support from VOTF national. Renowned speakers, panelists, and workshop leaders will address the crisis in the Church, healing, the role of the laity, and hope. Enjoy specially selected music and be inspired by a beautiful concluding liturgy. To learn more about the conference and to register, click here:

(http://www.votf.org/octconference/index.html)

In the Vineyard
October 2003

"God yearns jealously for the spirit he has made to dwell in us." James 4:6

Recently, VOTF president Jim Post was in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, Parish Voice leaders Mary Ann Keyes and Suzy Nauman were in Illinois and Wisconsin, and VOTF co-founders Mary and Bill Sheehan were in Ireland. Reports from all of these VOTF "apostles" are in this issue. It seems that every month some VOTF representative is somewhere in the country, or abroad, tapping into a waiting community of concerned Catholics. If we take to heart the sentiment expressed above in James, we see routinely that the Spirit is very much alive. We still don't know, anywhere in global Catholicism, where it is we are being led on our earthly mission but the signage is excellent and confidence is building that we are on the right road. We listen to the survivors and each other, we listen to and engage our priests in dialogue, we appeal to Church leadership to work with us for a healthier Church truer to the community and tone that Christ initiated. Above all, we begin and end in prayer and in communion.

Most VOTF members are well aware of the criticism routinely heaped on our movement - much of it inarticulate nonsense, some of it challenging and worthy of a response. Taken together, our critics are providing VOTF with one opportunity after another to articulate our goals, stand by our words and correct distortions. It isn't easy and it isn't quick - nor is it as important as the continuation of doing what we are doing with energy and commitment. As a People of God, we trust in the "spirit he made to dwell in us." The October 25 VOTF NY/NJ/CT conference is one of many invitations extended to that spirit and there is still time to, as coordinator Maria Coffey says, "Register! Register! Register!" Tapping into our "inner" spirit isn't a commonplace for most of us but, among other efforts (like attending the tri-state conference), our Events section can help, so please find out what might be happening in your area.

Perhaps it is an awkward parallel, but I can't help but hear the late Dr. Seuss right now - "Oh, the places you will go!" New readers - come along, your voices are so welcome. Regular readers - thank you for your company, your support and contagious good cheer. Indeed, we are going places.

Peggie L. Thorp, editor

VOTF National News

National Representative Council - the next monthly meeting of the Council will be held on October 16th at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA. Watch this space for Council updates as well as news from the VOTF National Policy Forum. The Forum is a regular conference call among officers and various affiliate representatives all over the United States.

Parish Voice Activity - Mary Ann Keyes and Suzy Nauman have returned from Wisconsin and Illinois with news of many meetings, often back-to-back, with groups of all sizes and several individual contacts as more and more concerned Catholics are looking for a role they can play in survivor and priest support as well as restoring trust and integrity to the Church.

Other developments include a change of hands in the Fall River, MA diocese. Chris Boyd has piloted VOTF through some of the stormiest seas anywhere in the VOTF family. As Regional Coordinator, his devotion and professional oversight were the very qualities needed and both will be missed. Chris' name will join many others as one of the cornerstones of our earliest days. Marie Collamore (mcollamore@msn.com) has volunteered to take on this key position. As Chris Boyd has said, "Marie is passionate and clearly has a zeal for supporting victims. I wish Marie great success in her leadership efforts, and offer my congratulations, assistance, and support during this transition."

Another MA change is afoot among the three Andover and No. Andover affiliates. Soon they will merge to become the Greater Lawrence VOTF with a long-term goal of attracting additional parishes and members from that vicariate. Mary Ann Keyes said, "There is no way to adequately thank the leaders of the three affiliates there for the work they have done in bringing the word and mission of VOTF to the members of their parishes and affiliates. Stacey Quealey and John Vellante at St. Michael's, Emilie Gilbert from St. Augustine and JoAnne Nowak from St. Robert Bellarmine - VOTF is forever grateful for the role you have played in supporting so many members as together we all seek to 'Keep the Faith and Change the Church.'"

Mary Ann and Suzy report increasing interest from the Deep South - we look forward to their voices!

National office support has been extended to the NY/NJ/CT tri-state conference on October 25, just "around the corner" (one of the conference coordinators Maria Coffey, NY VOTF Conference Chair, says, "REGISTER! REGISTER! REGISTER!" (LINK) and Cincinnati, OH will soon be reporting on their first regional conference on October 4 with Donald Cozzens as the keynote speaker on "The Scandal's Gift: The Emerging Voice of the Baptized." Watch the November issue of In the Vineyard for a recap of these key VOTF moments in "Voices, Voices Everywhere!"

 

VOTF National Elections - The Election Committee is forming and currently has representatives from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Contact Jim Walsh if you would like to volunteer your help - rwalsh1140@msn.com

Structural Change Working Group launched the Structural Change Network or SCN on September 8th as scheduled. The network now has 75 members from across the country, and in the month of September more than 125 messages have been posted in an active discussion on a range of structural change issues. The SCN provides a forum for sharing insights about the state of our Church and successful strategies to enhance lay participation at both the parish and diocesan levels.

The following excerpt provides a good example of the reasoned and thoughtful exchange of views that can take place within the SCN:

Steve Bogner of St Robert Bellarmine parish in Cincinnati, OH wrote on Sunday morning 9/21/03:

"I have heard of, but not closely followed, the New York Stock Exchange's problems resulting from Chairman Grasso's incredible compensation. Today's' New York Times has an interesting article on corporate governance - citing the NYSE as an example - that I think also applies to our Church's broken governance, and VOTF's Structural Change objective:

'In its own description of its responsibilities, the exchange proclaims that its "ultimate constituency" is the investing public. Yet those investors do not participate in selecting directors, and because of the Big Board's limited public disclosures, they have little real knowledge of how the exchange is acting on their behalf.'

Applied to the Church, it might sound like this: In its own description of its responsibilities, the Church proclaims that its 'ultimate constituency' is the People of God. Yet those people do not participate in selecting Pastors, Bishops and Cardinals, and because of the Church's limited public disclosures, they have little real knowledge of how the Church is acting on their behalf.

Limited public disclosure, no participation in selecting the leaders who govern us, and no accountability to their 'ultimate constituency' - it all adds up to a dysfunctional governance structure that is prone to excess and secrecy. I'm a businessperson, so my MBA background tends to influence my thought on this - but I think we have some great lessons to learn from failed corporate governance. And those failures could give us ideas on how to repair our Church's governance."

Susan McCoyd of Immaculate Conception Parish, Diocese of Joliet, in Elmhurst, IL responded later that morning:

"Steve, I had just finished reading that New York Times article and was thinking the same. I then clicked onto our group and saw that you also saw the similarity. That is the beauty of this group - we can so quickly see and know what others from all parts of the country, not just our own parishes, are thinking on the same subject."

In addition to launching the SCN, this month the SCWG has added a Spanish translation of the Structural Change section of the VOTF website. We also have plans to propose a monthly structural change topic for VOTF affiliates. Each agenda will include a brief educational article, and an activity in support of Goal 3. If you wish to devote one of your meetings, or part of a meeting to a consideration of structural change, check the website for some ideas. This month we suggest that individual affiliates might address the survey on the status of parish pastoral councils, which will be sent to all affiliates and individual members of VOTF during the month of October.
Submitted by Margaret Roylance

In the Vineyard submissions - For starters, welcome and thank you! It will help all of us if we follow a few simple procedures.

  • One submission per affiliate - please designate one monthly correspondent; place all of your news in one correspondence; do your best to honor the deadline; please provide contact info to accompany your submission.

  • Please put "Vineyard submission" in your subject line.

  • Please check spellings of names that might not be widely known to our readers; name the towns, states of places to which you are referring; identify by name any priest or bishop you mention, by parish or diocese if that info is available to you.

  • Please do not send flyers, forms, journals, etc. It takes forever to cut and paste to a usable format. Just summarize if that's all you have time to do - I am happy to edit. But DO write in your own unique style - we don't want to sound like ONE voice but the many voices we truly are.

  • Let us know what you like, don't like, need, don't need - this is your vineyard.

  • Have a photo of a VOTF meeting or event? Send it to Eileen Hespeler at webmaster@votf.org. Eileen says that either jpeg or gif is an acceptable format.

 

VOTF Working Group Activity

The Priests' Support Working Group is regrouping after a summer sabbatical. Our efforts will continue to be at the inter-parish level, bringing together groups of lay and clergy to meet and discover ways of collaboration and mutual support and understanding. We look forward to panel discussions and opportunities to better understand what is meant by priesthood: the common priesthood of all believers and the ordained ministerial priesthood. As we continue to support the integrity of the priesthood we hope to build stronger liaisons between individual priests and priest groups, such as the Boston Priests' Forum. We need each other now more than ever: VOTF's three goals are interdependent and will only succeed by working together for justice and healing.

We are seeking broader representation and will be soliciting names as contacts in every affiliation. Please join us, through prayer, active participation or contact Svea Fraser at sveaandscott@comcast.net.

Survivor Support Working Group - News coverage from reporter Steve Sheehan

Manchester, NH, Rally and Solidarity March
The street in front of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph was filled with over 200 survivors and supporters on the morning of September 21, 2003, demanding the resignations of both Bishop John McCormack and Bishop Francis Christian for their complicity in the cover-up of the sexual abuse of children in New Hampshire and in Massachusetts, where McCormack had worked for the Boston Archdiocese prior to being transferred to Manchester.

After a press conference at which representatives from Speak Truth to Power (STTOP), Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), The Linkup, Coalition of Catholics and Survivors, VOTF, and New Hampshire Catholics for Moral Leadership voiced their grievances, over 100 participants took to the podium to express their individual demands for the resignations of both bishops.

To conclude the ceremony, a solidarity march was conducted around the cathedral while participants held aloft posters displaying photographs of many of the survivors taken at the ages at which the abuse occurred and defining the enormity of the crimes committed.

Quincy, MA, VOTF hosts Fundraiser for The Lighthouse
The members of the Quincy, MA, Affiliate of VOTF held a fundraising gathering on the evening of September 21, in the parish hall at Saint John the Baptist Church. The members were introduced to the history and mission of The Lighthouse by Phil and Lauren de Albuquerque, co-founders, who raised the money to provide initial funding for the operation through the sale of a rental property that they owned. Phil showed a 15-minute video that he had prepared showing the physical plant of The Lighthouse and highlighting some of the programs and projects that have taken place and are planned for survivors.

The Lighthouse is a non-denominational resource and referral center that survivors may call or visit for advice on how to get the help they need in their healing journey or just to find a safe welcoming place to be among friends.

After a question-and-answer period, refreshments were offered and a raffle was conducted in which $1500.00 was raised to benefit the Lighthouse.

Many thanks to Mary Beth Kabat and all the members of Quincy VOTF for their wonderful generosity.

Musical Tribute to Survivors
On the evening of September 28 the Pickman Auditorium in Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA, was filled with the music of Bach, Schumann, Debussy, Barber, Loeffler and Messaien, raising the spirits of survivors and advocates in a musical tribute to those who have been abused by clergy.

The performance was arranged by Elizabeth Ostling, Assistant Principal Flute for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). Ms. Ostling was assisted by her mother, Joan, and her sister, Margaret in organizing the recital and the reception that followed. Performing with Elizabeth were John Ferillo and Elita Kang, both of the BSO, as well as Carol Rowland of the New England Conservatory of Music and Hugh Hinton of the Longy School of Music.

There was no admission charge, but donations were accepted for the benefit of The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (S.N.A.P.)

This writer in no way resembles a music critic. Nonetheless in my layman's opinion this performance was superb throughout and the evening was entirely delightful. Kudos to Elizabeth, her family, the performing artists and all who contributed to the success of this event.

VOTF Christmas Cards
Order your VOTF Christmas Cards, sponsored by the Winchester, MA Area VOTF! All proceeds will benefit the Lighthouse, a resource center in Boston for survivors of clergy abuse. Please place your order by October 31 if at all possible. The four designs were produced by artists in our affiliate. The back of each card will have a little information about the Lighthouse and also invite people to learn more about VOTF by visiting the national site. A PDF version of our order form with pictures of each of the cards is available on the first page of our local web-site (www.votfwinchester.org).

Voices of Survivors
In early July, 2003, more than twenty survivors came together to answer the question, "What do we want the Church to do?" Through meetings, e-mails and countless conversations we reached consensus and produced the document "Call to Reform the Archdiocese of Boston." We hope that Bishop O'Malley and other members of the Church hierarchy will use this document, informed by our horrific experiences, to create a safer environment that can begin to truly honor and protect the sacredness of all children and adults. If you would like more information, please contact Kathy Dwyer, wolfkmd@aol.com, Dale Walsh, dalewalsh@aol.com, or Ann Hagan Webb, annhaganwebb@yahoo.com. Please see the document at http://www.votf.org/Survivor_Support/reform.html

 

The Linkup Breaks Ground on Healing and Recovery Center
By Susan Archibald, President, The Linkup

The past two years have brought much progress in the crisis involving the Roman Catholic Church. We can proudly measure exposure of the issues, improved policies, monetary compensation for survivors, and empowerment of the laity. Yet one crucial area remains remiss: the compassionate outreach to survivors by the institution, and funded programs for healing and recovery.

The opportunity is obvious. There are 13 treatment centers in the United States for offending clergy. For survivors, there are none.

When a diocese learns of a priest's potential misconduct, they typically whisk the priest away to a Catholic-run treatment center so that he can repaired, renewed, and returned to a place within the Church. Could we not work with the hierarchy to provide a similar service to victims and survivors?

Leaders and members of The Linkup believe we can, and are determined to work cooperatively with church leaders to make this concept a reality.

On September 26, 2003, The Linkup broke ground and launched a $200,000 capital campaign for a healing and resource center just outside Louisville, Kentucky. The "Linkup Farm" will be a place of healing and recovery for survivors. Bluegrass, gentle breezes, and the rolling hills of the Kentucky countryside provide a peaceful backdrop for those who visit.

The two-acre site will boast a barn-like structure with meeting space, a library, kitchen, office, and an overnight suite for guests. The barn is to be surrounded by flower and vegetable gardens to be worked by visitors. Programs at the center will be focused on healing and recovery, to include: gardening, bread-making, art therapy, spiritual reconnection, lectures and peer support groups.

The "Linkup Farm" is about community. Survivors standing beside supporters, hammers in hand, to forge hope out of tragedy.

And this is just the beginning. The search has begun for larger acreage on which to construct phase two. This second phase will incorporate a working farm with long and short-term stay facilities for survivors, run by a permanent staff including survivors and mental health professionals.

Big dreams, we know. But dreams can become reality when those who care bring energy together as a team. The team is wide open, and there is a place for everyone. If you would like to be a play a part, please contact us at 502-290-4055, or visit our website, www.thelinkup.org .

The Linkup- Survivors of Clergy Abuse was incorporated in 1991, and now has over 3,000 members is the US and Abroad. Its headquarters are in Louisville, Kentucky.

Protecting Our Children Working Group -
submitted by Kathy Mullaney and Mary Irene Lanigan

Jetta Bernier's Presentation at the VOTF: Protecting Our Children Supper Meeting, Tuesday, 9/16/03, at 6:30 p.m., Parish Center of Our Lady's Church, West Concord

The twenty of us who gathered in the gracious new Parish Center at Our Lady's Church in West Concord were inspired by Jetta Bernier's presentation of the goals and the structure of the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership (MCSAPP). For years, as Executive Director of Massachusetts Citizens for Children, Jetta had called for a statewide comprehensive program for preventing child sexual abuse. As public attention was drawn to child sexual abuse within the Church, the time had come for a new approach: forming a Partnership composed of statewide agencies that address the needs of children. Jetta participated in our POC workshop during the 2002 VOTF conference. Our mutual interests prompted her to invite the Protecting Our Children Working Group of VOTF to join the Partnership.

As its first major action, the MCSAPP applied to the Center for Disease Control (which considers child sexual abuse a major health problem) for funds to support a child sexual abuse prevention program. The CDC grant intended to sponsor programs that shifted the responsibility for detection and prevention from educating children to educating adults. The MCSAPP's proposal won funding for Massachusetts, one of three states whose plans were selected. In each of the states (the other two are Georgia and Minnesota) the focus of the programs is on training adults to assume responsibility for the detection and prevention of child sexual abuse. What distinguished the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership program was its recognition that child sexual abuse is a public health problem. The funds granted to our state are currently being applied to the development of three permanent local collaboratives (pilot communities).

Jetta Bernier announced that of the several communities that presented proposals, the three selected are Gloucester, Newton, and Orange/Athol. Each either has formed or will form a local collaborative that commits to engaging the resources of all agencies that touch upon the lives of children in the community. The goal is to develop a child abuse prevention program that focuses on informing and training adults for detecting predators and knowing what to do about them. The general public needs to see child sexual abuse as a preventable public health problem. One of the communities, Newton, is now in the process of organizing its local collaborative of all the health, education, safety, and other organizations that touch the lives of children. Another, Orange/Athol, which has 5-7 times more abuse than the average community, will use data collected by the University of Lowell from courts, hospitals, DSS, and schools of the area. As part of its permanent role in preventing child sexual abuse, the state-level MCSAP Partnership will evaluate and support the local collaboratives.

MCSAPP has set for itself five broad goals, three of which focus on the selection and support of these permanent local collaboratives for child sexual abuse prevention. These are the goals:

  • To develop and maintain a strong and permanent state-level collaborative (the MCSAP Partnership) on child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention.

  • To define and implement a comprehensive perpetration prevention response to child sexual abuse through the state-level collaborative (MCSAPP).

  • To support the development of a network of three permanent local collaboratives (pilot communities) on child sexual abuse prevention.

  • To assist the local collaboratives in applying the public health model to understand the nature and scope of child sexual abuse, conditions that allow it to occur, and strategies to prevent it in their communities.

  • To implement a comprehensive perpetration prevention response to child sexual abuse through the three local collaboratives.

As the first goal indicates, the Partnership has designed for itself a permanent function in the state's effort to prevent child sexual abuse. In the fall of 2004 it will conduct a conference featuring the programs developed by the local collaboratives (pilot communities). By presenting results of the pilot programs, the Partnership hopes both to create advocates in the pilot community and to stimulate other communities to assess their readiness to undertake programs of their own. As part of Goal #2, an objective at the state level is to develop a booklet teaching parents how to protect children: for example, not being deceived by the "niceness factor," what to look for in people who take care of your children, a list of local resources. Mayors in the pilot communities have already committed to distributing the booklet to everyone in the community.

The core members of the Protecting Our Children working group were delighted to be joined by VOTF leadership and VOTF colleagues from Bridgewater, Wayland, and West Concord (our hostesses). We call to your attention two programs for child sexual abuse prevention: "Christian Stewardship of Children in the Catholic Community," developed by The Protection of Children Committee of the Concord Area VOTF; and "Safe Environment Policies and Procedures," developed by St. Zepherin's Parish in Wayland. Both are available on the POC link of the VOTF web site. We invite other VOTF affiliates to share with us their efforts, and efforts in their communities, to inform about and to prevent child sexual abuse, so we can share them with others.

We hope that some will join us for our next meeting on Tuesday, October 21st, at 7:00 p.m., St. John's Church in Wellesley. Please email us at votfprotect@yahoo.com for directions and details.

 

Voices, Voices Everywhere!

National Parish Voice has identified four U.S. regions and an international region for purposes of affiliate coordination, communication efforts and future regional definitions and representation. Please click on the appropriate region to view Regional PV Coordinators and existing affiliates:

WEST
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

CENTRAL
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin

SOUTH
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas

EAST
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia

VOTF INTERNATIONAL

VOTF New Zealand
Submitted by Mike Nicholas, VOTF Regional Coordinator, Christchurch, New Zealand

A further case of sexual abuse by the New Zealand clergy is pending. Former priest Alan Woodcock was a priest/teacher at St Patrick's College Silverstream, about 35 miles out of Wellington.

This case came to light when it was aired on one of our current affairs programs. Denis O'Hagan, the Provincial of the Society of Mary, appeared on television and was very straightforward and honest about the fact that Woodcock had been given the relocation treatment. As a result of the evidence that came out in the program, the New Zealand Police decided to press charges against him. Woodcock is currently living in London.

In the paper today it was reported that a date has been set in one of the London Court's for the extradition hearing.

VOTF Overseas - Ireland Report
Submitted by Mary and Bill Sheehan
IRELAND ON THE BRINK

Mary and Bill Sheehan, co-founders of VOTF, Wellesley, Mass. recently returned from an Ireland vacation. Before and during their trip they corresponded and met with several Irish citizens who have been in touch with VOTF. Their first meeting with an interested couple in Kinsale focused on VOTF history, goals and distribution of information about the VOTF. They were then asked to conduct a meeting of other interested Catholics in Limerick. The whole issue had re-ignited on the day of the Sheehan's arrival in Ireland on September 2, so feelings were very reminiscent of the early VOTF days in Boston.

The Limerick meeting was held on September 14, with approximately 25 people in attendance. It was conducted in the same manner as all VOTF meetings, beginning and ending with a prayer. A presentation of information by Bill and Mary Sheehan was followed by questions. Guests came from Dublin, Galway and Limerick and included a former priest, a nun, married couples and singles. Both the questions and the thoughts expressed could have been lifted from any VOTF group as they began to grapple with the crisis in its many dimensions. For the benefit of readers who may also be new to this dialogue, the Sheehans noted the following remarks and questions from the participants: .

  • Does the Church want to tell the truth?

  • I feel let down by priests/bishops - they don't listen.

  • Stop propping up the institution.

  • Need a vehicle between walking away and participating.

  • Power and money make a dysfunctional system.

  • Sentiment was expressed against giving money to Rome.

  • How do you change the system?

  • Why are so many priests involved - asked by a nun.

  • Priests are lonely and can't keep up, stated by a former priest.

  • Is the institution crumbling?

  • Long-term growth of Church not encouraging.

  • VOTF has achieved great things

  • Hope for a VOTF affiliate in and around Limerick.

The clergy abuse situation in Ireland became additionally explosive after the recent resignation of Chief Justice Mary Laffoy from the government committee on child abuse. Her lengthy resignation letter criticized the government for supposed lack of assistance to fulfill her designated job in handling abuse allegations - there are about 1700 alleged victims in Ireland. This government committee was established in 2000 and overseen by the Department of Education to handle abuse claims. However, the Department of Education is also under investigation.

Diarmuid Martin is a new co-adjutor Archbishop of Dublin (8-30-03). He is also a Vatican diplomat. In his installation address he made several important comments; (These quotes and remarks are from the Irish Catholic, Thursday, September 4, 2003.)

Addressing the victims, he said "your wounds are our wounds, and the wounds of the entire Church, and there is no way that the Church can forget that, as long as you still feel hurt." He went on to say that, "the Church must, in the first place, be a listening Church. A listening Church will become a more welcoming Church for women, appreciating the work of women in society and the family." Archbishop Martin intends to "get out and about in the diocese, by foot if necessary," to ask lay people, and priests what they thought needed to be done in the Church. He said he would be worried by any form of clericalism and hoped that "GIFTS and CHARISMA of LAY PEOPLE would help bring a transformation" in the Church, which in turn would be helped by the clergy, whom he called "his first collaborators."

The Archbishop echoed others when he noted that, "norms and procedures are not enough. We need more heart and energy to make new measures a reality…. Many priests have been wounded by what has happened and are in need of support."

Further, Archbishop Martin stated, "The Church must learn to be a different sort of Church" and "We must move forward to a different relationship between priests and people, where the Church is more one of community, where all talents are enhanced and respected."

The Sheehans learned that priests also have an organization, National Priests Conference of Ireland. The e-mail address of the Irish Catholic is editor@irishcatholic.ie.

The media in Ireland is inundated with articles about the Church crisis. Sadly, the Sheehans found widespread apathy among many Irish. It lead the Sheehans to conclude with this thought: "Thank God for the Voice of the Faithful. We are a means for Catholics to express their opinions." The rest, as in the United States, remains to be seen.

VOTF EAST

VOTF Tri-State Conference - NY/NJ/CT
Submitted by Maria Coffey, NY VOTF Regional Coordinator,
NY VOTF 2003 Conference Chair

A while back some of you had asked about the VOTF Conference to be held at Fordham University on October 25th. Here is an update. First, I know many reading this live quite far away. However, pause for a moment and give thought to a get-away Fall weekend in New York. It is truly a beautiful time of year in New York State and City. Then there are those of you who told me about busloads coming to the Rose Hill campus (my friends in Roslindale, West Roxbury, Scituate, Marblehead, and Weston)! Some helpful notes:

*As you know, the website is up and running. Please register sooner rather than later. Please promote it to your affiliates, friends and family. www.votf.org/octconference

*About those buses--Fordham has asked that we tell them the number of buses coming. PLEASE send this information to me (mmc43830@votf.org) as soon as you have scheduled a bus. They have to make arrangements for parking.

The New York Archdiocese has not banned VOTF. We have no Cardinal Law. There is no current riveting scandal attracting media attention. But many of us see the need for VOTF as even greater now than back in July 2002. Now is the tough time. We need to keep the juices flowing within a growing national organization; we need to keep VOTF, the middle-of-the-road source of comfort, hope and change-- lively and relevant. I'm sure you agree that our strong, vibrant and enthusiastic participation at this conference is a major step in this direction.

Building the Boston Affiliate
Submitted by VOTF vice-president Ann Carroll

The 45 VOTF affiliates in the Archdiocese of Boston have taken the first step toward the separation of BostonVOTF from National VOTF with the creation of a ten-person BostonVOTF Transition Team. The team will be developing the framework for a new umbrella organization for the affiliates in the Archdiocese. The umbrella organization will bring together the voices of all the affiliates in the Archdiocese's five regions (vicariates), and will have the ability, when there is a consensus, to act in a unified way for VOTF in the Archdiocese. Acting as the unified voice for VOTF in the Archdiocese, the leadership of the new umbrella organization will also seek to establish on-going dialogue with Archbishop Sean O'Malley and chancery officials.

The Transition Team consists of two representatives from each of the 5 regions in the Archdiocese of Boston, selected from the affiliates in that region:
Central Region: Ellie Harnett (St. John the Evangelist VOTF, Cambridge) and Bette McNiff (St. Catherine of Siena VOTF, Charlestown)
Merrimack Region: Maurice (Mo) Donovan (Seacoast VOTF, Amesbury) and Other rep. is TBD
North Region: Bob Morris and Louise Aleo (alternate) - (both from Winchester Area VOTF/St. Eulalia's, Winchester) and Jack Whelan (St. Pius V, VOTF Lynn)
South Region: Ben Murphy and Anne Southwood (alternate) - (both from Mayflower Area VOTF, Duxbury), and John Hynes (St. Gerard Majella, Canton VOTF)
West Region: Rich Acerra (St. Bernard's VOTF, Newton) and Lois Mastrangelo (Our Lady'sVoice, VOTF Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton)

In addition, Bob Ott, the Regional Coordinator for the Boston Central Region, has volunteered to serve as facilitator for the Transition Team. The Team meets twice a month. Additional details on the formal launch of BostonVOTF are anticipated later this year.

VOTF Paulist Center, Boston, MA
Submitted by Donna B. Doucette

At our Paulist Center VOTF meeting in September, we agreed to meet every other month and to communicate via email in the intervals. We are blessed because Voice of the Faithful is fully accepted (and embraced!) as a Paulist Center ministry. (That is not true of many parishes, where, unfortunately VOTF is held suspect.) Furthermore, the laity is already actively involved in the guidance and governance of the Center.

Because of our acceptance, and since many of our members are already very involved in the existing groups and ministries at the Center, we feel that the role of our VOTF affiliate is to inspire ALL community members to find their voices and use them, and to deepen their involvement in ministries such as the Worship Committee, Pastoral Council, Adult Education, social action groups, etc. In addition, affiliate members are also encouraged to expand their participation in Archdiocesan committees, and VOTF regional, diocesan and national working groups.

To further those efforts, VOTF members participated in the Paulist Center's annual Community Festival (Communifest) on Sept. 27/28. Communifest is an opportunity for all community members to learn more about the many lay ministries offered at the Center. The theme this year is "Nourishing the Body of Christ." It is clear that lay people will continue to play an ever more significant role in the leadership of the Church in the years ahead -- it is we who must be about nourishing the Body of Christ.

Affiliate member (and VOTF Council Representative) Ron DuBois described several VOTF and related events scheduled for September and October. Of special note was the presentation on Sept. 23 by Father Walter Cuenin, pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians parish in Newton. Fr. Cuenin was invited by the Center's Adult Education Committee to speak on "The Laity and the Governance of the Church." In his remarks, Fr. Cuenin spoke of how Vatican II had emphasized the role of the baptized and changed the way we pray; for example, turning the altar around to face the people in a dialog; using vernacular language so that the words are understood and prayed by all; and identifying the Baptized and our roles within the Church. "The way we pray affects the way we believe," Fr. Cuenin noted. One result has been that the people expect to be participants in the Church, not just observers. We expect to have a voice in the community.

In the coming months, the Paulist Center will host a VOTF Discussion Series, beginning with Paul Lakeland's book, "The Liberation of the Laity: In Search of an Accountable Church." Ron DuBois will lead the discussions. A list of the recommended chapters to read for each meeting is being circulated. If you are interested, please contact Ron DuBois at kaynron@beld.net.

VOTF Bridgeport, CT
Submitted by Jim Alvord

Reflections on a Day of Giving

Actually, it was for only a few hours. But it was an exhilarating exercise on behalf of the one hundred donors to Voice of Compassion - Bridgeport Fund. All 250 members of Voice of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport can be deeply gratified by the simple act of philanthropy that took place on Monday morning, September 8, 2003. Mary Jane Range, Affiliate Treasurer and Fund Chair, Joe O'Callaghan, Affiliate Chair, and Jim Alvord, Fund Committee member and VOTF Regional Coordinator were exceedingly proud to represent the VOC of VOTF and submit financial support to two groups aligned with Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc.

Not accustomed to distributing thousand dollar checks (let alone those to the amount of $2,500.00 each), the meetings with the charitable organizations were humbling experiences. The recipient for The Thomas Merton Center was Director Maryann Furlong. Accepting for Family Stages was Director Maria Reyes-Medina. Both organizations are located in Bridgeport and both exhibited dire need and grateful appreciation for the donations.

The Thomas Merton Center was founded in 1974 by a group of concerned individuals who saw a need for services to the economically disadvantaged people in the city of Bridgeport. The Center is located in a former church with other services available in adjacent or nearby buildings. "Feed the hungry" was the initial effort but time and circumstance have demanded other concerns, such as a medical clinic affiliated with St. Vincent's Hospital, women's groups, men's groups, family support, after school programs, prayer groups, shower facilities, and literacy volunteers. Housing support has been a continuing effort and job opportunity and preparation are ongoing concerns. A paid chef augmented by 200 volunteers oversees weekday breakfast and lunch. There is a paid staff of about seventeen for all services. In the course of the tour, it appeared that the VOC monies would be very well spent.

Family Stages is located in the building that houses the city's Health Department and provides housing and support services to pregnant and post-partum women with substance abuse and mental health problems in the greater Bridgeport area. The agency is funded by grants awarded by the federal Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to a partnership of Catholic Charities, the City of Bridgeport and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. The Director indicated that the check presented was significant. Most monies are achieved through the efforts of a New York grants consultant contracted for that purpose. The agency has approximately ten paid staff in a rent-free space.

The Merton Center has a budget of $800,000 per year. The diocese through Catholic Charities supports The Center to the amount of $100,000 (or 12 1/2%). St. Stephen's Food Pantry, claimed as a separate charity of Catholic Charities, is actually under the umbrella of The Merton Center. Family Stages is not in any way (or 0%) financially supported by Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. The chart on the diocesan website does not offer percentages of monetary distribution to the individual charities it supports other than income and expense percentages. These are indicated by asterisk (*) below for the most recent fiscal year from July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002. Full financial disclosure is important if the principles of transparency and accountability, enunciated by the bishops at their conference last year, are to be observed.

The third check for $2,500.00 is slated for the Queen of Clergy home for retired priests but has yet to be delivered due to communications problems. The "joy of giving" will continue with the distribution of this check from Voice of Compassion - Bridgeport Fund. The outcome of this gift will be made known when it happens. The Voice of Compassion - Bridgeport Fund balance presently stands at approximately $2,620.00 and is open to donations from members whenever the Spirit moves with loving compassion for the less advantaged.

Keep the Faith. Change the Church. Be attentive to the Spirit. www.ccfc-ct.org/annualreport.htm.

(*) Catholic Charities of Fairfield County, Inc. FY 2002

VOTF Winchester, MA
Submitted by Bob Morris

Our group held meetings on September 8, 15 and 22. On September 8, we welcomed Dan Burns and Mary Keefe, who blessed us with an evening of sacred song and reflection. Dan is a Deacon and Mary is the Choir Director at Holy Family Parish in Duxbury. Their talent, warmth and spirituality made for a very special evening for our group.

On September 22, Penny Kirk joined us. One of Penny's sons was abused by John Geoghan. Penny described for us how she only learned of the abuse in January 2002, as a result of which the cause of a whole series of misfortunes in her son's life became clear. Penny provided us with a different and valuable perspective on the unspeakable horror of clergy abuse. It was an unforgettable evening for all present.

On September 15, our working groups met. There are two projects currently under way in our group. First, the production of four VOTF Christmas cards. All proceeds from their sale will go to the Lighthouse, the resource center in Boston for survivors of clergy abuse. Second, on November 8 we will host our second pot-luck supper for priests, as part of our ongoing effort to support priests in a tangible manner.

As we look forward to October, two events stand out. On October 20, Professor Stephen Pope of Boston College will speak to us on, "The Church in Boston: Where Should We Go From Here?" The next week, on October 27, Revs. Robert Bullock, John McGinty, Austin Fleming and Thomas Mahoney of the Boston Priests' Forum will join us.

VOTF CENTRAL

VOTF Joliet, IL
Submitted by Deirdre O'Neal

Approximately 30 persons from a dozen different parishes attended the inaugural meeting of VOTF in the Joliet Diocese. This first meeting was fittingly held in the "Lighthouse" gathering room on Thursday, Sept. 25th at St. Thomas Apostle parish in Naperville, Illinois. We were able to hold this VOTF meeting on parish premises thanks to the hospitality extended to us by STA's pastor, Fr. Joel Fortier. We truly appreciate Fr. Joel's willingness to trust the Holy Spirit to guide him in making this decision.

The meeting was chaired by Jack Bartz who has assembled a group of six parishes to form their cluster. Jack is from St. Raphael parish in Naperville and is assisted in the Joliet diocese by Dee O'Neal, also a parishioner at St. Raphael, and Hugh Kelly, a parishioner at Ascension of Our Lord parish in Oak Brook Terrace. The keynote speaker for our inaugural Joliet Diocesan VOTF meeting was Terrence O'Connor, the Chicago-metro area regional coordinator for VOTF. Terry, a retired businessman, has been the regional coordinator for all Chicago-area VOTF groups since October of 2002. He is a member of Holy Family parish in northwest suburban Inverness.

Terry told the group briefly about his background and how he first became involved with VOTF. He then described what has been accomplished in just one year by the other VOTF groups in the Chicago area. Chief among the accomplishments of the other groups in the region was a meeting held in April 2003 at which VOTF co-founder Dr. Jim Muller spoke to about 200 VOTF members and interested others. One day after that meeting, Dr. Muller had a two-hour meeting with Cardinal George at which time he relayed many of the concerns of the Chicago-area membership to Cardinal George. Terry O'Connor told the group that, in line with VOTF's commitment to supporting "priests of integrity," VOTF-Chicago is most supportive of actions that will bring about dialogue between our priests and the laity.

After Terry O'Connor spoke, the meeting continued with questions from the floor. One of the questions that seemed to stir the most interest was whether the VOTF national office has issued any statement in support of the 163 Milwaukee priests who recently sent a letter to Bishop Wilton Gregory, the head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The letter/petition asked that the U.S. Bishops Conference hold a session at their next meeting in which the question of optional priestly celibacy would be discussed. Bishop Gregory has so far declined to present that motion.

Those in attendance then broke into three groups to discuss the three planks of the VOTF platform: support for victims of abuse; support for priests of integrity; and working for structural change in the Roman Catholic Church. At the end of these 20-minute discussion sessions, each group reported back to the whole assembly. A report will be sent to Bishop Imesch with a summary of their recommendations.

It was decided that the second meeting of our Joliet Diocese VOTF group will be held in approximately four weeks. The meeting ended at 9 p.m. with a prayer. The general consensus seemed to be that, through the grace and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we had a very successful "first ever" meeting of VOTF in the Joliet Diocese.

VOTF WEST

VOTF On the Road - Arizona
VOTF president Jim Post comments on his September 2003 trip to Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY

I recently visited our VOTF affiliates in Phoenix and Tucson (September 17-18, 2003). The reception from Arizonans was as warm as the weather itself (102 in Phoenix; only 96 in Tucson). Both dioceses have a sad history of clergy sexual abuse cases, and each is now under new leadership. This situation exists in too many dioceses and parishes. But meaningful change can come to the Catholic Church. To VOTF members who live in dioceses where bishops refuse to openly address the challenges of justice and healing, these Western dioceses offer a message of hope: "It doesn't have to be that way."

A Diocese in Transition

Our VOTF leaders in Phoenix arranged for us to meet with Sr. Mary Ann Winters, Chancellor of the Diocese. Sr. Mary Ann has served under Bishop Thomas O'Brien and Archbishop Michael Sheehan, who is currently doing double duty as bishop of both Santa Fe and Phoenix. She is likely to serve during the transition to the next bishop of Phoenix (expected later this year).

VOTF leaders Sandy Simonson, Chris Long, Jim Lawler, and I discussed the situation in Phoenix with Sr. Mary Ann. We focused on the challenge of being a "diocese in transition" and the steps being taken to respond to survivors and facilitate healing (there are 18 cases pending). Sr. Mary Ann also wanted to discuss how VOTF affiliates will be "integrated" with existing parish structures (parish councils, finance councils, and diocesan structures). We finished up on a positive note, stressing the readiness of VOTF to work with the new bishop who will face a complex agenda of problems. LINK to Rausch article.

A Model of Openness

The Diocese of Tucson had serious problems when Bishop Gerald F. Kicanis arrived from Chicago. His arrival signaled the beginning of a turnaround. I knew that important steps were being taken in Tucson, but was still a bit surprised.

The meeting with Bishop Kicanis was very constructive. The Diocese of Tucson has taken some path-breaking steps to reach survivors, operate openly, and open the doors to laity involvement. It's not Nirvana (to mix metaphors), but Tucson may be providing important lessons to the nation on these matters. Bishop Kicanis has implemented a code of conduct, new personnel policies, training, and public disclosure (see www.diocesetucson.org), including the summary report of the USCCB-National Review Board audit.

Bishop Kicanis concluded by saying that he was pleased to be "in dialogue" with VOTF and is supportive of what we are doing for the Church. As in Phoenix, we discussed how VOTF can relate to parish structures and encourage active lay involvement. I believe the bishop sees us as faithful Catholics whose efforts are good for the Church. He specifically asked for ideas to improve "structures of communication" and "structures of laity involvement". Our local VOTF members will continue the dialogue, perhaps drawing ideas from our national Structural Change Working Group.

We have wonderful people in Phoenix and Tucson. They have been working to promote VOTF and to address serious problems in each diocese. Phoenix will be "in transition" for several years to come. There is the heavy legacy of problems from Bishop O'Brien's era.

Sandy Simonson, our VOTF coordinator, has been a clear, eloquent voice for young Catholics who want the Church to serve their children and adults. While in Phoenix, I also had the pleasure of speaking at the Newman Center at Arizona State University and meeting dozens of VOTF members and supporters. This is the nucleus of an affiliate we hope will be effective in encouraging positive change.

Tucson's group is in dialogue with the bishop and has knowledgeable leaders. Terry Carden is a retired physician from Chicago who once served on accreditation teams that evaluated and certified large hospital systems. Terry is savvy about how institutions work and what it takes to effect change happen in large bureaucratic systems: persistence; responsiveness; and consistency. And prayer.

That's who we are and that's why the trip to Arizona was so encouraging. As in other dioceses, there is a "can do" attitude toward shaping change. If you become discouraged at the slow pace of change in your own parish or diocese, take heart from the experience of VOTF members in Phoenix and Tucson. And remind your bishop or pastor, "It does NOT have to be that way!"

 

Letters to the Editor
(send yours to Peggie Thorp at leaderpub@votf.org.)

"Thanks for your In the Vineyard September. I surely would have missed Msgr. Philip J. Murnion comments in NCR. But your quoting them is so right on. Also, your attitude of the Spirit being within VOTF and all we do. I feel that strongly - that God needs us to renew His/Her Church, Our Church. Many of us who are former Religious or Clergy may have been called to this new Ministry of change and reality for the Church of tomorrow. Thanks for all you do to help us keep together to do the work so needed. Peace." Nancy

"Just a word of encouragement from a member. You are doing a great job - keep it up - and keep expanding, worldwide. It is so much work, I know. I am grateful to all of you who 'run things.' I am involved vocally - writing emails to Cardinal Keeler quite often. I also let my pastor know my thoughts. He is very receptive." Ellen Young, Baltimore, MD

"Although VOTF has enjoyed a measure of success and some growth, it's ultimately doomed unless it is viewed as associated with desperately needed Church reform, and not simply with the abuse issue.

VOTF needs to aggressively address the core issue that threatens the Catholic Church, the virtual disappearance of priests.... VOTF needs the courage to act now. Otherwise, as the abuse issue recedes, so too will VOTF. David G. O'Brien, Mineola, New York

"I have come across many very hurt individuals who have been unjustly dismissed from jobs they loved in parishes and dioceses. This situation reveals a major problem, which is unrecognized in parish life. It not only applies to those on the payroll but many dedicated volunteers who are 'fired' when there is a change of management." Mary Louise

“I regret that I will be in Ireland on the day of your conference at Fordham University. However, I will be praying for the success of your endeavors and that all will be touched in the ways that they need to be touched and healed. God bless and strengthen you as you do the work of the Lord in changing our Church … its people.” Mary Flood

EVENTS, Etc.

EAST

**** National Representative Council - the next monthly meeting of the Council will be held on October 16th at Our Lady Help of Christians, Newton, MA.

**** VOTF Christmas Cards - Order your VOTF Christmas Cards, sponsored by the Winchester, MA Area VOTF! All proceeds will benefit the Lighthouse, a resource center in Boston for survivors of clergy abuse. Please place your order by October 31 if at all possible. The four designs were produced by artists in our affiliate. The back of each card will have a little information about the Lighthouse and also invite people to learn more about VOTF by visiting the national site. A PDF version of our order form with pictures of each of the cards is available on the first page of our local web-site (www.votfwinchester.org).

****James Carroll will be speaking 10/21/03 at 7:30 PM at the Parish Center for the Arts, on the corner of Lincoln St. and Boston Rd. (across from the common) in Westford, MA. This is being sponsored by the Westford-Chelmsford Area Parish Voice. All are welcome.

**** Lighthouse Movie Night Wednesday, October 22 to benefit Lighthouse, a safe house and resource center for victims of clergy sexual abuse established in East Boston by a Catholic lay couple. West Newton Cinema.

****Saturday, October 25 - Paul Lakeland, lay theologian from Fairfield University speaking on "Vatican II: Back to the Future." Rivier College, Nashua NH

****Saturday, October 25 - Tri-State Conference sponsored by NY, NJ, CT VOTF "Being Catholic in the 21st Century." (http://www.votf.org/octconference/index.html)

****Monday, October 27 - Boston Priests Forum. At St. Eulalia's Parish, 50 Ridge Street, Winchester, MA, Frs. Robert Bullock, John McGinty, Austin Fleming and John Mahoney of the Boston Priests' Forum will be speaking to the Winchester Area VOTF. Svea Fraser of VOTF will also be present.

**** October 26th - Jim Post, President of VOTF, to speak at the first VOTF of Fall River Diocese Mass for all members (& non-members). All members of VOTF, particularly those in the Fall River Diocese (as well as non-members), are invited to celebrate Mass together and hear Jim Post, president of Voice of the Faithful, speak on October 19th from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sandwich High School auditorium. This location (exit 3 of Route 6) was selected due to its availability as well as its location, about equi-distant for the South Coast PV affiliate and the Lower Cape PV in the Orleans/Brewster area. This evening presents an excellent opportunity for members from around the diocese to meet and speak with each other, and join together at the Lord's table. The cost of the auditorium will be approximately $500. Those who attend, please consider contributing about $5. JCBoydVOTF@hotmail.com,

**** VOTF of Fall River Diocese General Meeting - meeting of Fall River Diocesan Leadership Council - Please plan to attend the September 24th meeting at 7:15 p.m. meeting at the Upper Commons room at Cape Cod Community College, which is the next meeting of the VOTF Fall River Diocesan Leadership Council. This meeting is open to all. Among matters planned to be discussed will be the appointment of temporary officers handling the duties of the Regional Coordinator as outlined in previous emails (i.e., coordinator east, coordinator west, press representative, member communications).

**** Wellesley Working Group Meetings begin the SECOND Tuesday in October, the 14th. St. John the Evangelist Church, Wellesley, MA. Our Open Forum (known as our Plenary Meetings in the past) will be the 4th Tuesday, October 28 at St. John's. For further information, please contact jfmcconville@comcast.net.

**** Don't forget the Boston College "Church in the 21st Century" Program. To learn more, call 617-552-0470 or visit www.bc.edu/church21/programs/ for a full list of lectures and events.

SOUTH

****Paul Lakeland will speak on "The Crisis in the Church: The Unhealed Wound," on Sunday, October 21, 7:30 pm at Cathedral of the Incarnation, Fleming Hall, Nashville, TN. The talk is hosted by the VOTF Nashville affiliate. The presenter will be Dr. Eugene Kennedy, one of the nation's most respected authors on religious topics and a frequent contributor to the New York Times. A former priest and a confidant of Cardinal Bernardin, Kennedy is a professor of psychology at Loyola University of Chicago and an essayist, a novelist and biographer. Seating limited. Admission is free.

 

How To...

To search for timely information about Voice of the Faithful in the news media, one can go to Google's news section (http://news.google.com/). In the Search bar, type in "Voice of the Faithful" (in quotes) and then hit Enter. The articles that contain the name "Voice of the Faithful" will appear - you can choose to either see them by relevance or by date. Google News includes newspapers (both national and international), network television, local television and some magazines, so it will give a searcher a pretty comprehensive list of VOTF media hits.

If you have access to Lexis-Nexis (available in most college library systems), one can do a similar search for media hits. Depending on the program, Lexis is a little more complicated, but you can search independently by media source (i.e., if you only want to know what newspapers have said about Voice of the Faithful). Lexis requires you to choose the news source that you wish to look for. It also allows you to search in several parameters - by search terms in the full body of the text or by headline; by author; or by caption (for a picture). Finally, Lexis allows the searcher to go back several months and years.

Between the two, Google and Lexis, any individual can access the most recent media stories that mention Voice of the Faithful.

What Do You Think?

The Foreign Service Desk of the Washington Post on September 24, 2003 published an article, "Vatican May Limit Girls' Role in Mass." Among additional changes being discussed are the prohibition of liturgical dancing and applause, avoiding the use of non-Biblical readings (poetry, etc.) as well as the participation alongside priests of non-Catholic ministers/representatives. While these have not yet been formally presented to the Pope, it seems worth some discussion. What do you think? Please respond to leaderpub@votf.org. You may also want to visit the Washington Post on line at www.washingtonpost.com.

 

Imagine

Steve Krueger,
Executive Director, Voice of the Faithful

Ten years ago, I experienced a spiritual awakening in a Minneapolis Church and felt God's call. Through a series of events that only the Holy Spirit could have orchestrated, I found myself worshipping in the pews of Saint Ignatius. Soon I found myself serving in the ministries of Saint Ignatius. Then, I found myself studying the documents of Vatican II with the Jesuits and staff of Saint Ignatius. I began discovering the opportunities and responsibilities we share as a priestly people. Before long, I was sitting on the Parish Council and dreaming what for me was a strange, new dream: a dream of Church. The People of God. The Body of Christ. A dream of what Church, at Saint Ignatius and elsewhere, could be. I began to imagine a more perfect organization as a faith community doing the work of Christ, the perfect person, here on earth.

I invite you to dream this dream. Imagine that our Church, here in this parish, here in this archdiocese, here in this world, is the resurrected Body of Christ, through which we grow, die and live again. Imagine.

Imagine We are a supportive, loving family.
Imagine We seek to understand each other before seeking to be understood.
Imagine We encourage one another in our journeys of faith, whatever the cost.
Imagine We are courageous enough to ask "Why?"
Imagine We are honest enough to ask "Why Not?"
Imagine We do not judge one another.
Imagine We hasten to forgive and console.
Imagine We celebrate accomplishment but do not rest on it.
Imagine We embrace our weakness in order to overcome it.
Imagine We uphold Christ's love, values and spirituality more than religious dogma.
Imagine We reflect God's grace in this world.
Imagine We are Church.
Imagine this is what God wants for us … for you.
Imagine.

Now go to America magazine and use your imagination. Read More.

 

Litany for Creation

O let the earth bless the Lord;
O ye mountains and hills, bless ye the Lord;
O all ye green things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord;
Praise Him and magnify Him forever.

O ye waters of earth, bless ye the Lord;
O ye seas and floods, bless ye the Lord;
O ye whales and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord
Praise him and magnify him forever.

O ye birds of the air, bless ye the Lord;
O ye wolves and coyotes, bless ye the Lord;
O ye deer and forest creatures, bless ye the Lord;
Praise Him and magnify Him forever.

O ye rabbits and squirrels, bless ye the Lord;
O ye woodchucks and foxes, bless ye the Lord;
O ye chipmunks and small things, bless ye the Lord;
Praise Him and magnify Him forever.
Let us bless God, our Maker, our Creator.
Praise Him and magnify him forever.

Blessing:
Almighty God, we ask your blessing upon these animals, gathered here today. We thank you for the many ways in which they enrich our lives. Give them health and happiness and long life; bless them in the days to come and keep us mindful of our responsibility for these, too, your wonderful and beautiful creatures.