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forward submissions to In the Vineyard to leaderpub@votf.org.
In the
Vineyard
February
2003
"Speak,
Lord, God. Your servant is listening." 1 Samuel 3:10
A
year ago this month, what started out as Jim Muller's "discussion
group" began to show signs of becoming much more than anyone might
have anticipated. Nearly twelve months later, as Voice of the
Faithful, we embrace our first anniversary in that same spirit
of wonder and with the same faith that allows us, as Michael Cook,
S.J., Th. D. says, "to trust in a promised future and to act on
that trust." The act of faith that says "I believe you" is the
very act of faith that continues to animate our commitment to
the survivors, to our priests, and to a renewed Catholic Church.
With
a brand new slate of elected officers ready to continue and build
on the work begun , VOTF finds itself invigorated by our growing
membership, by the continuing courage of the survivors and by
increasing support among our clergy . Again, you will find in
this issue the fruits of listening and caring enough to act. You
will find an underlying sense of rededication to each other and
to our Church - the Prayerful Voice plan for a Mass of Rededication
marks and celebrates that clarity. You will read the many ways
affiliates all over this country are reaching out to survivors
and church leadership, and toward educational opportunities that
will help us to protect our children. You will also note increasing
interest and success in collaborating across parish lines. As
one after another VOTFer says, "The Spirit is moving!"
Because
your response to In the Vineyard has been so strong, we
are considering a twice-monthly distribution. This will accommodate
interest in new sections - volunteer reporters covering various
VOTF-related lectures and events, and a Notes from Members section,
as you will find in this issue. We expect to add a Q&A section
so we might continue to learn together, a section for thoughtful
commentary by our readers and/or VOTF leadership including Jim
Post's speeches, and a page for your letters.
And
still, we come back to prayer as our center. The pain that is
the ongoing legacy of this crisis finds many of us seeking prayers
that resonate - some of these are ancient, some new. VOTF member
Terry McKiernan was introduced by friends, Fr. John Sassani and
Mary Ann McLaughlin, to a much-loved prayer from the 11th Century
monk, theologian and archbishop, St. Anselm of Canterbury. In
the spirit of rededication to our mission statement, Anselm's
prayerful voice, so attentive to the Spirit, offers timeless comfort.
O
my God, teach my heart where and how to seek you,
where and how to find you.
You are my God
and you are my All and I have never seen you.
You have made me and remade me,
You have bestowed on me all the good things I possess.
Still I do not know you.
I have not yet done that for which I was made.
Teach me to seek you.
I cannot seek you unless you teach me
or find you unless you show yourself to me.
Let me seek you in my desire,
let me desire you in my seeking.
Let me find you by loving you,
let me love you when I find you.*
Peggie
L. Thorp, Ed.
*John
Veltri, S.J. Orientations. Vol. 1, A Collection of Helps for Prayer.
Part 6. Toronto: B. Broughton Co., 1993. Available on-line at
http://www.sentex.net/~jveltri/bob/veltri.htm.
Links:
Representative
Leadership Council Report - covering the 1/23 Council
Working
Groups - ongoing progress reports on goal-related work
Reporters
at Large - members covering key events in Naples, FL and Manchester,
NH
Voices,
Voices Everywhere! - updates from affiliates coast-to-coast
Notes
from Members - members share information about resources supportive
of female victims of abuse and an upcoming talk by Fr. Austin
Fleming in Concord, MA.
Jim
Post's Speaking Schedule
