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Priests’ Support Working Group
Report from Svea Fraser

On December 1, 2003, representatives from VOTF and the Boston Priests Forum (BPF) met to consider opportunities for mutual support and collaboration. Attendees were Fr. Bob Bullock, Fr. George Carlson, Fr. John Dooher, Jim Post, Pat McNulty, Jim Morrissey, Svea Fraser, Steve Krueger, and David Castaldi. The desire and the necessity to work together for unity and healing were affirmed by everyone. After considering our perceptions of the present landscape in the Boston Archdiocese (RCAB), and recognizing the limited time available in our busy schedules, all agreed that a tangible, simple and inclusive task is required.

Because the BPF and VOTF provide a forum for members’ voices to be heard, it was suggested that a survey mailed to all the presbyterate (the union of all priests including religious order priests) would solicit input from many viewpoints. The results of the survey could be useful for dialogue, conversation, better communication and understanding, especially if the questions are developed by both priests and laity. In addition to a commitment to keep each other informed and to continue liaising, the proposal for a survey will be shared with others in the Boston Priests Forum.

We continue to welcome all activities and suggestions for support of Goal 2. Creativity is demanded for initiatives that are not time-consuming, but that develop mutuality in order to rebuild trust, model an inclusive Church, and prepare us for the challenges that lie ahead (such as church closings and the decreasing number of priests!)

 

****DECEMBER BEST PRACTICES ****

From Westford/Chelmsford, MA – an idea to share: A Christmas project to show support for our Priests of Integrity. Our Westford/Chelmsford Area PV has initiated a Christmas project that we hope will show support and thanks for the priests in our local parishes.

  • We are arranging to have a Mass of Intention said at each of the four parishes our members are from, for all of the Priests in all of the parishes. Our members will make a special effort to attend each of these four Masses.
  • We are also collecting money for a donation to the local Lowell Catholic Charities Food Pantry from our VOTF group to be sent in honor of our parish priests.
  • We will then send all of the priests of the parishes a bottle of Gus's Honey and a VOTF Christmas card (sales of both products benefit Survivors) telling them about these gestures and wishing them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

In our 4 parishes we have some priests who support us, others who are apathetic toward us, and some who are adamantly opposed to VOTF. We hope that our gestures of prayer and charity are received with as much good will as they are sent.

 

 

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In the Vineyard
December '03
Volume 2, Issue 13

Page One

VOTF Election Update

Survivor Support News

Protecting Our Children Working Group

Priests' Support Working Group

Lay Education Working Group

Parish Voice News

Events, Opportunities & News

On the Road with VOTF

What Do You Think?

Prayer of the Month

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In the Vineyard Archives

Our postal address is VOTF,
Box 423,
Newton, MA
02464-0002

Donations can be sent to this address or through our Web site

For an overview of press coverage of VOTF, click here.

 

Have you received your VOTF quarterly? If not, please call the VOTF office at 617-558-5252 and request the fall issue. Submissions for the quarterly are gratefully considered. Please contact Peggie Thorp at leaderpub@votf.org.

REMINDER: To contact an affiliate in your area, just go to the VOTF Web site at www.votf.org and click on Parish Voices for a menu. Choose "Directory," identify your state by region, click appropriately and you're there.