March 10, 2014, Volume VIII, Number 10

FEAST OF SAINT DOMINIC SAVIOMonday of the First Week of Lent, March 10, 2014

Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebastea – Tuesday, March 11, 2014Feast of Saint Teresa Margaret Redi – Thursday, March 13, 2014

Feast of Saint Matilda – Friday, March 14, 2014

Question of the WeekFor the Feast of the Second Sunday of Lent, March 16, 2014“And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone.” Have you ever had an experience where you rubbed your eyes to see if it was true? When’s the last time an experience took your breath away? What would it have been like if you had been told “Do not tell the vision to anyone…”? Can you look at ordinary aspects of creation and be so spellbound and in awe that you want to say, “It is good that we are here.” What stops you from having a profound experience of Christ every day? One that you desperately want to share.

NCCL NewsMembership Type and Membership Level – Work on NCCL Database/Website

NCCL has begun to make some changes to its membership database in order to simplify the renewal process for individual members of NCCL and to avoid confusion with NCCL's Membership Types. The membership Level of “Single” has been created to replace the Levels of “Associate”, “General”, and “Professional”.  This change in Membership Level does not affect a person’s Membership Type which still remains at either Associate, General, or Professional. You may receive an email to this effect but remember that your Membership Type has not changed. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office. We apologize for any confusion this may cause.

National Catholic Sisters Week, March 8-14, Part of Women's History Month

As part of National Women's History Month, the inaugural National Catholic Sisters Week kick off took place on Saturday, March 8 with a SisterStories storytelling event hosted by award-winning journalist and CEO Soledad O'Brien at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minn. Celebrating the lives and legacies of Catholic sisters, National Catholic Sisters Week will run March 8-14 and is designed to shine a national spotlight on Catholic sisters, raising awareness of their immense influence on young women.

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"National Catholic Sisters Week will showcase the many facets of religious life for women today," said Sister Mary Soher, OP, co-executive director of the Hilton Sisters Project National Catholic Sisters Week. "Sisterhood offers a 'third way' – an alternative option to single or married life – for those interested in becoming part of a nurturing community with other like-minded women dedicated to a life of service and prayer. We want to celebrate and honor that third option and shed light on what it means to be a sister today."

National Catholic Sisters Week is part of a larger SisterStory program initiative, supported by a three-year, $3.3 million grant the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation awarded to St. Catherine University in late 2013. Led by Soher and co-executive director Molly Hazelton, SisterStory focuses on building personal relationships between sisters and young women. Through the course of the program, more than 100 college women across the nation will be paired with sisters for one-on-one interviews to capture their oral histories via video, photos and blog posts. As part of the inaugural kick-off weekend at St. Catherine University, 40 sister/student pairings from across the United States will come together for a weekend of learning, prayer and fellowship.

"There are more than 51,000 sisters in the United States today," said Hazelton. "They're doctors and artists, and leaders in everything from social justice to education. We want to bring their stories to the forefront, encourage young women to take the time to get to know them and be inspired by them, and share their experiences."

A centerpiece of the SisterStory program will be a robust social and digital media hub (https://www2.stkate.edu/ncsw/home), which will house the oral histories, along with web-based curriculum modules for middle school, high school and college women. Everyone is invited to

participate in National Catholic Sisters Week through local community events and outreach, volunteer opportunities and social media. National Catholic Sisters Week will also feature community-submitted content on its Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest channels.

Catechetical Leadership

Diocesan and parish catechetical leaders will find so many great learning and networking opportunities at the 2014 Conference, it will be difficult to choose!  Beginning with the ride to the hotel all the way to specific sessions for diocesan or parish catechetical leaders, there are numerous opportunities to share ideas, make lifelong friendships and find affirmation in your ministry.  The animated table discussions at mealtimes are one of the best parts of the conference! 

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A few of the highlights you don’t want to miss include the first public presentation of research findings from a national study of religious education in Catholic parishes with Hispanic Ministry by Hosffman Ospino, PhD; a session by Fr. Joe Kempf, well-known author and speaker, on strategies and principles for those who are asked to speak about faith; and a presentation exploring the connection between leadership and Christ’s threefold ministry as priest, prophet and king with Jonathan F. Sullivan, Director of Catechetical Services for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. Register NOW.

English Translation of Pope Francis' Corriere della Sera Interview

"To paint the Pope as if he is a sort of Superman, a sort of star, I find offensive. The Pope is a man who laughs, cries, sleeps peacefully and has friends like everyone else. He is a normal person." Here is the first English translation of Pope Francis’ interview with Ferruccio de Bortoli that appeared Wednesday in Corriere della Sera. The text, “In an Interview with Corriere della Sera, Bergoglio Talks About His Revolutionary First Year at the Head of the Church," has been published by kind permission of the newspaper's

director." You can read it at Pope Francis' Corriere della Sera Interview .

FREE NACMP Pre-Conference Offerings

Planning for your NCCL trip to St. Louis? Don't forget the free NACMP Pre-Conference Offerings. Join us on Sunday, May 18 for:

NACMP 2014: Energize, Evangelize, Catechize...All 'ize' on Media and Technology!

At 9:00 am we will explore tools and methods that can help us all Evangelize, Energize, and Catechize.

Then join us at 1:30-4:30 pm for a retreat/presentation: "Poverty, Prayer and Faith"  with Gerry Straub, founder of Pax et Bonum Communications, Inc (http://paxetbonumcomm.wordpress.com/). While the morning session emphasizes tools, this retreat will look at the content of the Gospel message through Gerry's eyes... and through the lens of his camera. He will focus on poverty in the worst slums on earth and people who are living examples of the self-emptying love of Christ.

These sessions are free to NCCL's conference attendees. Contact Tim Welch at cem.twelch@stcdio.org if you have any questions.

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Leadership Institute Webinars - Conversion and Encounter

This presentation offers a reflection on how God patiently and constantly seeks us and draws us to an intimate relationship with Him. In considering our response to God's invitation to conversion and encounter, we look at three great figures in the Catholic Church: Servant of God Dorothy Day, St. Edith Stein, and Blessed John Newman. Their stories will be presented against the backdrop of Newman's words: "Persons influence us, voices melt us, looks subdue

us, deeds inflame us." Listeners are invited to ponder how these three stories speak to all of us and touch our hearts. How can their journeys inspire and encourage all of us as we strive to grow closer to God? Listen to Dianne Traflet Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | | © 2014. Go to Spiritual Life.

Dr. Dianne Marie TrafletDianne Marie Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., is Associate Dean and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST) at Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.  The founder and co-director of the Seminary's Institute for Christian Spirituality, Dr. Traflet received her BA from Montclair State University and her JD from Seton Hall University School of Law. She practiced law for four years while earning her MA in Catholic Theology and Pastoral Ministry from the Institute for Advanced Studies of Catholic Doctrine at St. John's University in New York.  She then

studied at St. Thomas Aquinas University (the Angelicum), Rome, where she earned a licentiate and a doctorate in Sacred Theology, focusing on the life and work of St. Edith Stein.

Dr. Traflet has given numerous presentations, retreats, and days of recollection here in the United States, as well as England, Ireland, Canada and Italy, emphasizing the spirituality of Edith Stein, as well as related topics in spiritual theology.  She is the author of Saint Edith Stein: A Spiritual Portrait.

Announcing a New Name!As March and Lent get underway, we are pleased to announce that the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is now the Catholic Climate Covenant.  This change is a long time in the making.  Since 2009 when the Catholic Climate Covenant/St. Francis Pledge initiative was launched, we realized that would be some confusion between the CCCC and the CCC.  The name change is a way to formally dispel this confusion.

In addition, through the consultation of some of our major stakeholders, it was agreed that the new name better reflects our purpose as a faith-based organization.  The

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term “Covenant” is more in keeping with what we are trying to convey: a set of deep and abiding relationships with one another, with the Earth, with our creator.  For a more thorough reflection on our name change, click here.  

Here are several creation care resources available for your consideration for your Lenten journey:

- Lent 4.5 is a seven-week faith formation program which inspires and informs Christian communities on how to use the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving to protect God’s creation, embrace Gospel justice and nurture spiritual fulfillment. It offers practical

opportunities for people of faith to apply the values of Christian Simplicity to their everyday lives. The Passionist Earth and Spirit Center has “scholarship” funding available for its Lent 4.5 program.

- The Care for Creation Committee in the Archdiocese of Washington has published its 2014 Lenten Caring for Creation Calendar . The resource suggests spiritual reflections and sacrificial actions everyone can consider during Lent. These are ways to help you grow in your commitment to be a wise steward of God’s Creation now and for future generations.- The Lenten Energy Fast booklet produced by the Marianist Environmental Education Center is available here .   This resource includes the science of climate impacts, Scripture from Sunday Lectionary (Cycle A), reflection and prayer suggestions to guide the reader through the Lenten Season in consideration of climate justice. It features Catholic Social Teaching on the Environment and quotes from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Popes Francis and Benedict.   Included are suggestions for an Energy Fast and Forty Ways in Forty Days to cut personal energy use.   Suitable for individuals or communities.

FREE Professional Development Webinar– THIS Tuesday, March 11, 3:00 pm EDT

Ave Maria Press, in partnership with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the National Association for Lay Ministry, and National Federation of Priests' Councils presents a series of free, online workshops on professional development for parish ministers. This webinar

Reclaiming Francis: 10 Lessons Parish Workers Can Learn from the Saint and Pope is offered on Tuesday, March 11 at 3:00 pm EDT. You can register at PDW - 03-11-2014 (http://tiny.cc/93elbx). For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars .

Reclaiming Francis: 10 Lessons Parish Workers Can Learn from the Saint

and Pope Presented by: Msgr. Charles Murphy,

author of Reclaiming Francis: How the Saint and the Pope are Renewing the Church , Eucharistic Adoration: Holy Hour Meditations on the Seven Last Words of Christ, and The

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Spirituality of Fasting: Rediscovering a Christian Practice

Date: March 11, 2014Time: 3 p.m. EST

Msgr. Charles Murphy, who has served as pastor of four parishes, distills from the examples of the saint who was commissioned to "Rebuild my Church" and of the pope who took his name ten practical ways we can rebuild the Church in our day.

These lessons include a conception of ministry that focuses on one-on-one, personal witness. The lessons also re-emphasize the freshness and beauty of the Gospel, its central teachings, and a preaching that is more sharply

focused upon a call to conversion of heart.

Bishops to Celebrate Mass at US-Mexico Border

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Migration, joined by bishops on the border, will travel to Nogales, Arizona, at the end of this month to tour the U.S.-Mexico border and celebrate Mass on behalf of the close to 6,000 migrants who have died in the U.S. desert since 1998. The purpose of the March 30-April 1 trip is to highlight the human suffering caused by a broken immigration system, an aspect of the national immigration debate which is often ignored.

“What we fail to remember in this debate is the human aspect of immigration – that immigration is primarily about human beings, not economic or social issues,” said Bishop Eusebio Elizondo, auxiliary

bishop of Seattle and chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration. “Those who have died – and those deported each day – have the same value and innate God-given dignity as all persons, yet we ignore their suffering and their deaths.”

The trip follows the example of Pope Francis, who, in his first trip outside of Rome, traveled to the Italian island of Lampedusa to remember African migrants who have died attempting to reach Europe. During that trip, Pope Francis spoke about the “globalization of indifference” toward migrants and decried the “throwaway culture” that disposes of human beings in the pursuit of wealth.

“The U.S.-Mexico border is our Lampedusa,” Bishop Elizondo said. “Migrants in this hemisphere try to reach it, but often die in the attempt.” Bishop Elizondo continued: “We exhibit

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our own indifference when we minimize or ignore this suffering and death, as if these people are not worth our attention. It degrades us as a nation.” 

The bishops on the USCCB Committee on Migration will be joined by Cardinal Seán O’Malley of Boston, and several border bishops. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tucson, Arizona, will host the delegation. “Hopefully by highlighting the harsh impact the system has on our fellow human beings, our elected officials will be moved to reform it,” Bishop Elizondo said. The Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. followed by a press conference at 10:30 a.m., April 1.

Video Contest Gives Young People Platform to Share Pro-Life Views

For years, film has been instrumental in showing the truth about the humanity of the unborn child and the reality of abortion. Pro-life advocate Lila Rose and her group Live Action have utilized new media like YouTube to share investigative videos filmed undercover inside abortion facilities. Rose’s videos have received national news coverage for highlighting issues like late abortions, sex-selection abortions and malpractice by abortion facilities.

Film is a powerful educational tool. Moving images have the ability to convey emotions, tell stories and share ideas unlike any other medium. With the advent of YouTube, we all have the

ability to become amateur filmmakers.

The National Right to Life Video Contest provides young people (ages 15-25) the chance to make a video promoting a pro-life message. The 2014 contest asks entrants to make the case, “Why our laws need to protect innocent life” in a video lasting between 30 seconds and 3 minutes. Entries can be uploaded to YouTube the links then submitted on the website: http://nrlconvention.com/video-contest-submission/

Showcase your creativity and present a new perspective on the issue of life. Your film can be comedic or serious in nature. The 2013 winning film, called “A Mother’s Dream,” featured a post-abortive woman envisioning what her life would have been like had she not gone through with the abortion. When it aired at the 2013 National Right to Life Convention, there was utter silence after the film ended.

The deadline for submissions is April 1st. For additional information, please visit: http://nrlconvention.com/video-contest/ or email stateod@nrlc.org. The top five finalists receive free entry into the LifeFest Film Festival in Hollywood, California. The winning submission will be shown at the closing banquet of the 2014 National Right to Life Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 28, 2014.

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Archbishop says 2015 meeting can help transform families, communities

Philadelphia Archbishop Charles J. Chaput led a news conference with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to announce they will lead a delegation March 24-26 to meet with Vatican officials to plan the international event. They also will have an audience with Pope Francis.

Throughout the news conference, speakers told of their confidence that the pope will visit Philadelphia in September 2015 and vowed to personally convince him to make his first

pastoral visit in North America to the city for the conclusion of the eighth World Meeting of Families. "I plan to extend to the holy father a warm, vigorous and hopefully very persuasive invitation to visit our state next year," said Corbett, who added Nutter and other members of the delegation also would "sell" the pope and Vatican officials on making a papal visit. "It's only in Philadelphia that folks talk about trying to 'seal the deal' with the pope," Nutter quipped.

As excited as the interested Catholics in the audience were about the prospect of the pope attending the event next year, Archbishop Chaput kept the focus on family life. The World Meeting of Families "has the power to transform in deeply positive ways not just the spirit of Catholic life in our region but our entire community," he said. "We will talk about problems families have today, but we want to be very positive about the family," Archbishop Chaput said. "We hope to have all kinds of ways of helping families avail themselves of grace and holiness."

Caritas Launches Prize for Women Working to End World Hunger

Caritas Internationalis and the Fidel Götz Foundation are launching the Women Sowers of Development Prize to honour the role of women in solving world hunger. The award was launched on 8 March to mark International Women’s Day at the inaugural Voices of Faith event in Rome.

President of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, said: “The Women Sowers of Development Prize aims to recognize best practices of women in agriculture. By celebrating them, we come closer to ending global hunger.”

Women produce about half of the world’s food, but own only two percent of all land. In every region, they have less access than men to resources. If the opportunities were level, women could raise their farm productivity by 20%-30%. Globally that would lift 100-150 million people out of hunger. And when women do control additional income, evidence shows they spend it on food, health, clothing and education for their children.

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The 2014 Women Sowers of Development Prize consists of two prizes of €10,000 each. One category is aimed at programs supported by Caritas national organizations. The other is aimed at bodies outside the Caritas network. The winner will be announced on 16 October, World Food Day.

At the first ever Voices of Faith storytelling event, 11 remarkable women will share their personal stories demonstrating how their faith has positively impacted their life, greater society and the world. Voices of Faith aims for a connection of ideas from a female perspective that can build a better future.

Association of Catholic Publishers Honors William Sadlier Dinger

William Sadlier Dinger, President of William H. Sadlier, Inc., was honored by the Association of Catholic Publishers during the recent Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership in Baltimore, MD with their 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award. Other honorees include Barbara and Jim Campbell and Paul Henderson.

"The 2014 Association of Catholic Publishers (ACP) awardees represent the commitment and vision that have led to the growth and strengthening of catechesis in the dioceses, parishes, and schools in the

United States,” noted Mike Raffio, ACP board member.

White Papers: Catechetical Sunday Theme: God’s Gift of Forgiveness

NCCL invites all members to develop a WHITE PAPER around God’s Gift of Forgiveness using the lens of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation: Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel). Cardinal Richard Marx of Munich and the Council of Cardinals (C8) spoke recently concerning Evangelii Gaudium giving an insight into Pope Francis’ thinking. He said the Pope was concerned with a “holistic evangelization which includes culture, society, politics and economy” and not one that only concentrated on catechesis and sacraments. Yet, throughout the Exhortation there is a call

to conversion and to joy in every aspect of a disciples’ life.

It is our hope you will contribute a scholarly work to educate our members and to assist all in understanding how theory might be translated with “new ardour, methods or expression” (Lineamenta for The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith) that change disciple’s lives through parish life and sacrament catechesis. Mary Ann Ronan, an NCCL Past-President, retired PCL, currently doing contract ministry in Adult Faith Formation at

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St. Thomas More in Glendale, AZ is serving as chair. All submissions and questions may be directed to her at ronanfaith4@gmail.com. More information and requirements are below.

CALL FOR WHITE PAPERS: God’s Gift of Forgiveness

NCCL invites you to submit a white paper between now and March 15. Submissions are to be 5,000 words or less. Each paper will be reviewed by a committee for possible acceptance and posting on the NCCL Conference Website for members to read. Two Learning Sessions have been scheduled on Thursday, May 22 at 8:00am (#511) and 9:30am (#611) to reflect and share insights within the papers.

THEME AND OPTIONS

The topic: God’s Gift of Forgiveness through the lens of Evangelii Gaudium. Please submit a theological paper addressing the Gift of Forgiveness and its impact on the themes of the Exhortation (pg. 16-17 #17).

The paper should focus on:

the “holistic evangelization” and the Gift of Forgiveness as a new approach for catechesis in First Reconciliation preparation, or

address the Exhortation in the light that it leads disciples

to a meaningful reconciliation as a parish community in the Penitential Rite or

in the celebration of Reconciliation in the parish community with an eye to joyful missionary spirit.

REQUIREMENTS

Please develop your paper using the theme: God’s Gift of Forgiveness using the lens of the Apostolic Exhortation. It is to be clearly written; theologically positions need to be supported by ample references to one or more of the following sources: Sacred Scripture, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Vatican II documents especially Lumen Gentium, The National Directory of Catechesis, patristic writers, the saints and other Church documents.

Remember, the maximum length is 5,000 words. Each paper will be reviewed by the committee. The selected papers will be announced in late March and the authors will be invited to share their work at the 2014 NCCL Conference in St. Louis, MO. May 17-22, 2014. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2014. Please submit them electronically to chair: Mary Ann Ronan at ronanfaith4@gmail.com.

Mia: Have A Happy, Holy Lent My Everybodies.

Hello my peoples, I had a really big perplex a few days ago. It made me feel sadly.

You see I have this friend. Her name is Graciepoodledog. We have been friends since puppyhood. Often we have sleepovers at each other’s house and we like to play together.

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And thens, I have me, my Nanny Lyn. Mia Papa (Fr. Tom) gave me Nanny when we livdid in Oshkosh. Nanny Lyn thinks I am the bestest, beautiful, most of the smartest, good, snuggly and talented of dogs. And, I am telling you all this real humble like – because it is true. But now the perplex starts. One day I introduced Graciepoodledog to Nanny. Well Nanny kinda liked Gracie, so there were times when Gracie and I went to Nanny’s together. While we are there we would do fun things like rummage sales and hotdog eating.

Well a couple of weeks ago Gracie and I were at Nanny’s for a play day, and then my Mia Papa came. He said “OK Mia, time for us to go.” Oops, he forgot to call Gracie too! Buts then only I went. Gracie got to stay there, right next to Nanny.

So I have been feeling kind of huffy puffy. Gracie is at Nanny’s, she is getting to eat out of my dog dish, and sleep in the big bed with my Nanny, and play with my toys and take rides in my car. How can Nanny do this to me? How could she forget about me? I thought she loved me. Now Mia Papa was over listening to my complaints, so he called me over for a “little talk.” Oh boy “little talks” means Mia Papa is going to tell me how I could be a better dog.

“Mia” he said. “Do you believe Nanny Lyn likes you?” “Oh Yes”, I waggled.

“If she takes care of Gracie, does that mean Nanny does not like you anymore?”

“Well no, I guess not. But you see Mia Papa, it really hard. It’s hard to believe Nanny loves me when she is far away. When I hear about Gracie at Nanny’s house it makes me wonder if Nanny is remembering me?”

Mia Papa laughed at me and said, “If I were to call Nanny right now, and tell her you were coming for a visit, what would happen?” “Oh she would dance all around and say “Yippee skipee Mia’s coming” I said.

Then Mia Papa told me he understood how I was feeling, because you humans kind of think about God the same way. When you are doing things like praying, or going to Confession or you are at church, you feel close to God. But then you have days when God feels farther away, sometimes because you do things called sins or others times because you feel so sad, or bad things are happening to you, that you forget God is right there. Instead of reaching out to Him you sit in a corner and think “God does not love me anymore.”

Well that gave me so much to think about that I needed a nap! When I woke up I decided I needed a second opinion on all this God being close and loving everybody stuff, so I lookdid for Fr. Peter.

He was busy working on a homily, but he saw me staring at him, so he said “Whatcha need Mia?” He is a good listener that way. So I asked him if Jesus loved him. “Oh yes” he said. Well since I knew Jesus loved my Mia Papa too, so I asked Fr. Peter which one of them God liked the best.

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“Well me of course, said Fr. Peter, “especially when I am doing the good things God intended me to do, and He loves Fr. Tom best of all, especially when he doing the good things God intended him to do. And you know Mia, God’s love is soooo big, he loves all the people as his very favorites, especially when they are doing the good things God intended them to do.”

So it’s settled then I thought. God loves Mia Papa and Fr. Peter and all of the St. Peter Staff and all of the St. Peter People and well… just everybody, the best. And now that we are having Lent– I am using these days to try real hard to love everybody best too, and stop being all jealousy when other bodies have good things happen to them.

And as for my Nanny, I can happily share her with Graciepoodledog, cause let’s face it – no matter what, I will always be Nanny’s favorite!

Mia

Catholic Teaching on Chastity, Family Life, and Human Sexuality Education

The course Catholic Teaching on Chastity, Family Life, and Human Sexuality Education will be offered through the University of Dayton’s VLCFF program starting on Sunday, April 27, 2014 and will last for three weeks, ending on Saturday, May 17, 2014. The course will be facilitated by Daniel S. Mulhall. This asynchronous course examines the Catholic Church’s teaching regarding chastity, family life, and human sexuality education. While of particular interest to teachers and catechists charged with teaching these topics, the class will be of value to anyone interested in the topic. Students who have taken the course recommend it highly and

have encouraged that it be offered to all Catholics interested in their faith.

The course is presented online and is self-contained: all course materials are included; there are no books to buy. The cost of the course is $30 for participants from partner dioceses and $70 for those from non-partner dioceses. See web site for more information on partner dioceses. To register for the course, go to https://vlc.udayton.edu and create a student profile. You can follow the directions from there. A certificate is award for the successful completion of the course, along with 1.5 Continuing Education Units, which is equivalent to 15 clock hours. For more information contact Dan Mulhall dmulhall@rclbenziger.com or Richard Drabik rdrabik1@udayton.edu at the University of Dayton.

Vatican Office Calls For Religious To Be Joyful, Francis Pens Reflection

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As the Catholic Church prepares to launch a year in honor of priests, brothers, and sisters in religious orders around the world, the Vatican office in charge of the effort called on the religious to express joy in their vocations. Launching a new letter directed to the estimated 900,000 men and women in orders globally, the Vatican's office for religious asked them to be "expressions of great joy in the world."

"We want this to be something that we do all together," said Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, speaking to a packed audience of religious at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. "This is a time for togetherness, for unity in diversity." The event Wednesday was held to launch a new letter, titled "Rejoice," for religious to reflect on as the year begins

Braz de Aviz is the prefect of the Vatican office, formally known as the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Pope Francis announced in January that the Vatican would dedicate 2015 to religious life, with the hope that the religious would "wake up the world" with their testimony of faith.

Explaining the letter at the event, congregation under-secretary Adorers of the Blood of Christ Sr. Nicla Spezzati focused on its third part, which is a series of questions for reflection for religious written by Francis. "In this third section are placed all of the questions that Pope Francis has made to consecrated men and women and their relations in the church," said Spezzati. "We want for this to be the deepest reflection so that we can reflect on the style of the letter."

"Pope Francis is the one who sends this letter," she said. "His hopes and dreams in these few pages ... reveal themselves as if they were in a mirror." Braz de Aviz said the year for religious will open on Nov. 30, 2014, the first Sunday of Advent. It will close on Feb. 2, 2016.

The Bible Reduced to Minimalist Posters

The Bible is often referred to as the Word of God. In reality, it is significantly longer: around 775,000 words spread across 66 different books, when all is said and done. How do you distill the word of God down into a single cover, then? If you're Joseph Novak, you don't: you create a minimalist cover interpreting each and every one of the Bible's many books.

A Presbyterian pastor who moonlights as a graphic designer, Novak describes his Minimum Bible as a "visual diving board" into the text of the Old and New Testament. Composed of 66 minimalist posters, the project is Novak's attempt to distill each book of the Bible into a single symbolic design.

Novak wants his posters to encourage people to think more deeply about the Bible. Consequently, his designs tend to encourage multiple interpretations. In addition to encouraging people to think more deeply about the Bible, Novak hopes that the Minimum Bible might inspire some increased design awareness among Christians. “I’d love for a publisher to recruit some designers and make a version of the Bible that offered some modern design – sculpture, print and mixed media – to symbolize and interpret the biblical text,” Novak says.

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There is no need to purchase the posters, though you may, but you can view them by going to his website http://www.minimumbible.com/. If you are interested in a specific book of the bible, then go to The Old Testament http://www.minimumbible.com/old-testament.html or The New Testament http://www.minimumbible.com/new-testament.html. It is very fascinating and you can read the original article as it appeared in Fast Company at The Minimum Bible.

Son of God – Review by John Muldrig of Catholic News Service

Here are excerpts of John Muldrig’s review of Son of God. If you care to read the full review, please go to Son of God Review.

As the first wide-release film in nearly 50 years to focus on the life of Jesus as a whole, "Son of God" (Fox) represents an epochal event for believing moviegoers.

Though not the most powerful mass media treatment of its subject -- that accolade continues to belong to Franco Zeffirelli's 1977 television miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth" -- director Christopher Spencer's reverent but uneven screen version of the Gospel story ranks as a worthy revival of the Hollywood biblical epic.

The screenwriters, led by Nic Young, find an efficient entree into their narrative by entrusting it to an aged St. John the Evangelist (Sebastian Knapp) during his exile on the island of Patmos. This is theologically helpful because the opening lines of the Beloved Disciple's Gospel, as recited here, describe the Incarnation, a mystery without which all that follows could easily be misconstrued.

…Thus Judas (Joe Wredden), Caiaphas the high priest (Adrian Schiller) and Pontius Pilate (Greg Hicks) are all assigned believable motives, while Morgado succeeds in blending messianic vision with very human pain in a thoroughly compelling way -- one that accords, moreover, with the scriptural account.

Catholic viewers will also appreciate the unqualified acknowledgement of St. Peter (Darwin Shaw) as the leader of the Apostles as well as scenes highlighting Mary's (Roma Downey) closeness to her son. And, though the portrayal of the Last Supper seems somewhat noncommittal as to the meaning of the Eucharist, a rough-and-ready celebration of the sacrament is shown to be the chosen moment for the Lord's first post-Resurrection appearance to the Twelve.

…Despite such shortcomings, as produced by Downey, Mark Burnett and Richard Bedser, Spencer's picture offers some solid catechesis and an easy introduction to the Lord's earthly biography. That's all the more valuable given the erosion in religious literacy our society has experienced since the appearance of "Son of God's" most recent -- yet far distant -- predecessor, George Stevens' 1965 Gospel drama "The Greatest Story Ever Told."

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…The film contains strong gory violence. The Catholic News Service classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Clinging on to Jesus

Just sitting around the house singing Clinging on to Jesus.

Where else could I go but your loveNow I surrender all to the one who gave it all for me, King of heavenIn a world that steals me from my life Who am I to think that I can run away forever

So I'm clinging onto Jesus, I'm trusting in his waysI will run the race to heaven, I'll hope in better daysNow I'm picking up the pieces, My heart is in your handsYou have turned my mourning to a life of praiseIn Jesus

Caught up in Your love on the crossNow I surrender all to the one who gave it all for me, Christ redeemerIn a world that fills my pride of life Who am I to think that I can lie asleep forever

Jesus, JesusBlessed redeemer saviourShelterCome let your glory shine

 Praise God and Thank Him: Biblical Keys for a Joyful Life

Praise God and Thank Him will provide a scriptural understanding of praise and thanksgiving, along with how to practically apply both into your own life. You will learn:

How to develop a vocabulary of praise How to praise God in the midst of adversity How a thankful attitude can change your day How thanksgiving dispels fear and anxiety

You can order Praise God and Thank Him: Biblical Keys for a Joyful Life from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Building Strong Families

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There are few more important endeavors than helping parents raise their kids to be the people God calls them to be. Live Catholic is a new product designed to help you empower parents to take an active role in helping their children—from toddlers to teens—grow in faith.

Four short videos and the accompanying reproducible handouts will accommodate flexible Church programming needs, while the leader’s guide helps the facilitator lead meaningful group discussions. Topics are

Faith Sharing and Praying at Home Creating a Faith Environment in the Home Faith Conversations Missioning Faith

A Cyclone Named Francis: The Pope Who Came from the Ends of the Earth

Zenit states they thought long and hard on how to increase the diffusion of news, knowledge, information and interviews that they collect daily from Rome. “It is safe to say that we have seen and heard things that no one can possibly imagine. Not about scandals, rather the revolution of good. We have seen conversions of heart that are moving and unimaginable. “

“We cannot keep these experiences to ourselves; for this reason we recount them through books. In this way we will face the most diverse themes, through information, interviews, stories and testimonies. “ The news is manifold; the books will be published in print and e-book format.

You can order A Cyclone Named Francis: The Pope Who Came from the Ends of the Earth from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Knowing Jesus and His Message – Conociendo a Jesus y su Mensaje

This is an excellent resource. Immediately following the Learning Session on this resource at the NCCL Conference and Exposition in Cleveland, the NCCL Bookstore sold over fifteen (15) copies of the book in English and Spanish.

Based on the protocol used to evaluate elementary religion series, the book used fifteen standards for Pre-K and K

through Grades 7 & 8. Included with the binder is a CD with all the materials available for

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duplication. This is an ideal help for any elementary catechist regardless of the series you might be using. Check out the following and use the Order Form.

PREFACE - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/nysql) EXPLANATION - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/xuvw8) Standards - Explained (http://tiny.cc/65wmc) Normas y Fundamentos (http://tiny.cc/zfrg2) ORDER FORM - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/9j0mb)

Looking For A Good Book?

Stop by the NCCL Bookstore. Purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, and other products on Amazon through the NCCL Bookstore (http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20) helps support this valuable online ministry.

If you are an on-line shopper and you frequent Amazon.com, please enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore as the organization benefits from every purchase you make. It’s an ideal way to support our ministry. Just go to our Home page (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Store tab or click on http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20 and it will take you directly to our bookstore. It doesn’t matter what you buy, as long as you enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore, we get a percentage of your purchases.

We are just building our bookstore and adding titles every day, so if you have any suggestions for books you believe should be available through our bookstore, please drop NCCL a note. All books mentioned in CL Weekly are available at the NCCL Bookstore.

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“FOLLOW” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NCCLonline – What’s going on in your catechetical environment?

Feedback/Comments should be addressed to: lnagel@nccl.org

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