Announcements and Events of Note

VOTF National is pleased to announce the formation of the Saanich Peninsula Parish VOTF in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. While VOTF has individual members in over 21 countries throughout the world, the Saanich Peninsula Parish VOTF is our first official international Parish Voice affiliate. Welcome and blessings to our Canadian VOTF-PV brothers and sisters!

WORKSHOPS AND LECTURES OFFERED AT BOSTON COLLEGE

Boston College's Institute for Religious Education & Pastoral Ministry (IREPM) announces three upcoming lectures and workshops that will be held on the Chestnut Hill campus.

The three lectures are free and will be held on Wednesday evenings in March from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. To register for any of these programs, please contact Maureen Lamb at the IREPM at 617-552-8057.

On March 12 Fr. Donald Cozzens, author of The Changing Face of Priesthood, will present a lecture entitled: "The Pain and the Privilege: Reflections on the Crisis in the Priesthood in light of the Decree on Priestly Formation." Attention will be focused on the vocation crisis in Western Europe and North America, the issue of psycho-sexual maturation and formation of seminarians and priests, and the spirituality of the diocesan priest. This lecture will be held in Cushing Hall, Room 001. Cozzens is a member of the Department of Religious Studies at John Carroll University.

On March 19, Fr. Robert Imbelli, a member of the Theology Department at Boston College, will present a lecture entitled: "The Priest in the Church: Seeking the Eucharistic Center." Given the cultural revolution of the late 20th century and the abuse and leadership crisis of the new century, this lecture will address the importance of discerning anew the nature and task of its ordained ministry. This lecture will be held in Cushing Hall, Room 209.

On March 26, Dr. Thomas Beaudoin, Visiting Assistant Professor at the IREPM at Boston College, will present a lecture entitled: "No One Comes to the Father Except Through Me(dia): Ministry and Media Culture in the Light of Vatican II's Decree on the Means of Social Communication." The lecture will carefully consider the Church's relationship to the media and explore the opportunities and challenges that contemporary popular media culture offers to ministry. This free lecture is open to the public and will be held in Campion Hall, Room 303.

On Saturday, March 22 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fr. Daniel Harrington, S.J., will present a workshop entitled: "The Bible in Catholic Life Before and After Vatican II's Dei Verbum." After comparing the Bible's place in Catholic life before and after Vatican II, the session will sketch the history of biblical study, note modern developments, describe the scientific study of the Bible, and consider the main points of the Constitution on Divine Revelation. (Dei Verbum). The workshop will be held in Fulton Hall, Room 453. Registration fee is $40. To register, please contact Maureen Lamb at the IREPM at 617-552-8057.

Please continue to check the Boston College Web site for updates and recaps of the many lectures and discussions offered to the public by the Boston college initiative, "The Church in the 21st Century - From Crisis to Renewal."

Paul Kendrick from our Maine affiliate points out a Web site that readers might appreciate. Go to www.fairfield.edu/calendar/webfeatures/kolvenbach/html. There you will find a speech given in March of 2000 by Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. at Santa Clara University. Paul finds Fr. Kolvenbach's powerful message embodied in the work of VOTF.

Conference for Pastoral Planning and Council Development, 30th Annual Convention to be held March 30-April 2, 2003 in Louisville, KY. "Leadership for Today's Church: Practice and Presence" will offer news, discussion and seminars. Participants will explore the challenges of leadership in changing organizations and identify strategies for effective ministry in their own settings. Contact M. O'Rourke at the CPPCD office, 314-579-9577 or email info@cppcd.org. On-line registration and payment by credit card is available at www.cppcd.org. (From VOTF member, Mary Freeman)

Suffolk County, NY Grand Jury Report

(PDF format)

From Carolyn Disco, Merrimack, NH VOTF
The Web site below is for messages from parishioners grateful to a priest for his service. I came across it months ago and posted a letter about a former pastor. Strangely, the Web site asks for first name and last initial for any priest mentioned. I asked why and they said priests wanted it that way. I just thought this might be a good way to compliment priests of integrity with a megaphone. This alerts priests who have not spoken out in any way to the presence of their brothers willing to do so. Visit http://www.thankyoufather.com/default.html -to read sent messages and/or info@thankyoufather.com to send a message.

VOTF-Indiana warmly announces contacts and formation in every diocese throughout the state of Indiana. Holy Spirit, bless us during our formations and continued discernment. Amen. For meeting and contact information, go to the VOTF- Indiana Web site.

Major Regional Conference - Metro New York Survivors Support Conference co-sponsored by VOTF Greenwich, CT and Survivors First. Saturday, March 22, 1-5 pm, Christ Church, 254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich, CT. Contact: Tom Malarkey at tomalark@aol.com or call 914-946-7315; Anne Barrett Doyle at barrett.doyle@attbi.com or call 781-944-7010

New England Tri-State GOAL #1 Forum co-sponsored by VOTF-NH, VOTF-ME and VOTF National Survivor Support Working Groups. The Tri State Meeting is at St. Thomas More Church in Durham, NH on March 29, 1-5 p.m. Bear left in front of the church and there is a parking lot 50 yards on the right. For details, contact Andrea Johnson at andreajohnson@attbi.com or call 781-237-2417.

Conference, Boston, MA - Taking Action to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse: Strategies for YOUR Community. Saturday, April 5, 8:30am-5pm, John Hancock Conference Center, Boston, MA. VOTF is a partnership member of the Massachusetts Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Partnership, which has organized this conference. See additional details under Protecting Our Children. Additional info available at www.masskids.org.

VOTF's magnificent logo was designed by Healys' Graphic Ark. Please visit their Web site, where you can purchase many items bearing the VOTF symbol.