March 31, 2014, Volume VIII, Number 13

March 31, 2014, Volume VIII, Number 13

FEAST OF SAINT STEPHEN OF MAR SABA

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent, March 31, 2014

Feast of Saints Agape, Chionia, and Irene – Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Feast of Saint Francis of Paola – Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Feast of Saint Isidore – Friday, April 4, 2014

Feast of Saint Vincent Ferrer – Saturday, April 5, 2014

Listen to bishop-led audio retreats based on the readings for the Sundays of Lent in English and Spanish. The retreat leader for the Fourth Sunday of Lent is Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles.

Question of the Week

For the Feast of the Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2014

“Untie him and let him go.” What binds you? What are you so wrapped up in that you can’t recognize the promise of everlasting life? What keeps you in the dark? What is holding you back from “seeing the glory of God”? What needs to die in you so you can rise a free person?

NCCL News

Pope’s Intentions for April

Universal Papal Intention

That governments may foster the protection of creation and the just distribution of natural resources.

Evangelization Intention

That the Risen Lord may fill with hope the hearts of those who are being tested by pain and sickness.

Pope Francis and President Obama Discuss Religious Freedom, Immigration

President Barack Obama and the Vatican gave distinctly different accounts of the president’s audience with Pope Francis on Thursday, with Obama stressing their common ground on poverty and inequality but Vatican officials emphasizing sharp differences over Obama’s health care law which mandates contraception coverage.

Obama described himself as ‘‘incredibly moved’’ by his nearly hour-long session with the popular pontiff. He said the two spent the most time discussing the plight of the poor and the marginalized as well as regions of conflict and the elusive nature of peace around the world.

The Vatican, in a statement shortly after the meeting, said discussions centered on questions of particular relevance for the church in the U.S., ‘‘such as the exercise of the rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious objection’’ — issues that have fueled divisions between Obama and the church.

Contraception coverage and religious freedom have been central to the church’s objections to Obama’s health care law, which is facing a challenge on those grounds before the Supreme Court. But Obama said those discussions took place with the Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, not with Francis. “We actually didn’t talk a whole lot about social schisms in my conversations with His Holiness,” he added. “In fact, that really was not a topic of conversation.”

“I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak with him about the responsibilities that we all share to care for the least of these, the poor, the excluded,” Obama said later during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi in Rome. “And I was extremely moved by his insights about the importance of us all having a moral perspective on world problems and not simply thinking in terms of our own narrow self-interests.”

The marked difference in emphasis introduced a perplexing element to the long-anticipated meeting, which the White House has looked forward to as way to validate Obama’s economic policies. In a report on Vatican Radio the day before the meeting, the Vatican had signaled that the divisive issues would indeed be on the agenda.

Although Obama and the church remain deeply split over social issues, Obama considers the pontiff a kindred spirit on issues of inequality, and their private meeting in the Papal Library ran longer than scheduled. After they emerged to cameras, Francis presented Obama with a copy of his papal mission statement decrying a global economic system that excludes the poor. Obama said he would keep it at the White House. “You know, I actually will probably read this when I’m in the Oval Office, when I am deeply frustrated and I am sure it will give me strength and will calm me down,” Obama said.

“I hope,” the pope responded.

As Obama departed, he asked the pope, “Please pray for me and my family.” It was an echo of how Francis usually ends his meetings, asking for people to pray for him.

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly interviewed Fr. Tom Reese about the meeting between these two. “The principal focus of the meeting was talking about issues of peace, international issues, and also talking about how to help poor people, how to help the marginalized all over the world,” says Father Tom Reese, an authority on the Vatican. “This is an area where the pope and President Obama are on the same page.” ).”The principal focus of the meeting was talking about issues of peace, international issues, and also talking about how to help poor people, how to help the marginalized all over the world,” says Father Tom Reese, an authority on the Vatican and senior analyst for National Catholic Reporter. “This is an area where the pope and President Obama are on the same page.”).”The principal focus of the meeting was talking about issues of peace, international issues, and also talking about how to help poor people, how to help the marginalized all over the world,” says Father Tom Reese, an authority on the Vatican and senior analyst for National Catholic Reporter. “This is an area where the pope and President Obama are on the same page.”).”The principal focus of the meeting was talking about issues of peace, international issues, and also talking about how to help poor people, how to help the marginalized all over the world,” says Father Tom Reese, an authority on the Vatican and senior analyst for National Catholic Reporter. “This is an area where the pope and President Obama are on the same page.”).”The principal focus of the meeting was talking about issues of peace, international issues, and also talking about how to help poor people, how to help the marginalized all over the world,” says Father Tom Reese, an authority on the Vatican and senior analyst for National Catholic Reporter. “This is an area where the pope and President Obama are on the same page.” You can watch/listen/read the interview at The President and the Pope.

Catechetical Sunday 2014: Teaching About God’s Gift of Forgiveness

Committee on Evangelization & Catechesis is pleased to announce the 2014 Catechetical Sunday theme and associated artwork: Teaching About God’s Gift of Forgiveness/ Enseñando sobre el regalo del perdón de Dios. To allow diocesan and parish catechetical leadership to be able to incorporate the Catechetical Sunday theme and art into their planning for the April 2014 - March 2015 year, USCCB is happy to provide this information. The 2014 Catechetical Sunday articles in Spanish and English will be posted online for public access in April. Watch for more information and order your 2014 Catechetical Sunday materials from NCCL.

Looking ahead to 2015 Catechetical Sunday, the theme is “Safeguarding the Dignity of Every Human Person”.

Priests/Bishops Who Do Not Pray Become a Mediocrity - Not Good for Church

Pope Francis continued his catechetical series on the Sacraments, reflecting on the Sacrament of Holy Orders, during his weekly General Audience today in St. Peter’s Square. This, along with Marriage, he said, corresponds to two vocations, through which Christians “can make of their life a gift of love, in the example and name of Christ.”

Holy Orders, marked in three degrees of episcopate, presbyterate and diaconate, is the Sacrament which enables the exercise of ministry from the Lord Jesus to the Apostles, "to shepherd his flock in the power of his Spirit, according to his heart,” the Pope said. “In this sense, the ministers who are chosen and consecrated this service to prolong in time the presence and action of the one true Master and Shepherd, who is Christ.”

The Pope focused on three aspects that highlight the presence of Christ in the community, the first of which is the minister as the head of the community. Emphasizing the example set by Jesus, the Holy Father said that this aspect means placing one’s authority at the service of others.

The second characteristic of a minister is what the Pope described as a “sacramental union with Christ and the passionate love for the Church.” In virtue of the Holy Orders, the minister dedicates his whole self to the community and loves it with his whole heart: it is his family. The bishops, the priest, love the Church in their community and love it strongly. How? Like Christ loved the Church.” Comparing it to the Sacrament of Marriage, the Pope said that are both signs of the great mystery of love that brings one along the path towards the Lord.

The final aspect the Holy Father reflected on was toalwaysrekindle the gift that is always in him (the minister). The 77 year old Pontiff stressed the need for those in ordained ministry to be nourished by prayer, the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation. “A bishop that does not pray, the bishop that does not hear and listen to the Word of God, that does not celebrate every day, that does not confess regularly, the same goes for a priest who does not do these things, will lose in the long run the union with Jesus. They become a mediocrity that is not good for the Church,” he said.

The Pope called on the faithful to help their priests and bishops to pray and listen to the Word of God, which he called their “daily meal.”

Concluding his address, Pope Francis invited those present to contemplate their vocation and to take care if one feels the calling to the priesthood. “What must one do to become a priest?” he asked. “Tickets to enter are not sold; it is an initiative that is taken by the Lord. The Lord calls: He calls each one who wants to be a priest, and maybe there are some young men here, that have felt this call in their heart.”

“If one of you has felt this in your heart, it is Jesus who has placed it there! Take care of this invitation and pray that it may grow and give fruit in the whole Church.” For the full text of the Pope's address, go to: http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/on-the-sacrament-of-holy-orders.

Methods at the 78th Annual Conference and Exposition

Interested in learning more about methods you can insert into catechesis and evangelization? David Haas will walk his audience through the use of music and its influential use in both. Music is a powerful force in the ministry of catechesis and faith formation from early ages through adulthood. Music within the Liturgy is an important source for nurturing faith. Music and models for how it can be implemented will be explored and demonstrated with a particular focus for prayer and for sacramental preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and Reconciliation.

Come learn, sing, and discover resources to enliven and deepen your catechetical mission. Additionally, David will offer another Learning Session to guide the attendees through misunderstandings about the liturgy, even more so since the implementation of the revised Roman Missal. The result in many settings has been an impoverished catechesis – both in content (curriculum) and in the celebration of the liturgy itself. A more corrective and clear understanding of the major elements of the liturgy is needed as well as strategies for planning/preparation and strong mystagogia throughout the faith formation journey. This session will break these issues open and help participants to forge a new lens for how learning about the liturgy, and the celebration of the liturgy, is central to the formation of our faith. Register NOW.

Charis Ministries Invites Participation From Young Adults in Their 20’s & 30’s

Charis Ministries invites young adults in their 20’s and 30’s to a special opportunity to network and get to know other young adults in Lay Ecclesial Ministry.

On Monday evening, May 19, from 8:45 pm – 10:00 pm, in Landmark 3, “we will take time to listen to and support each other as well as have an open conversation to discuss specific needs of young adults working in ministry and resources to work through the difficult times.”

Pope Names Members of Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors

Pope Francis has named the members of the newly created Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

The commission was first announced by Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, who is a member of the Council of Cardinals, also known as the G8.

The members of the new pontifical commission are:

- Catherine Bonnet, a French child psychiatrist who works with sexually abused children;

- Marie Collins, an Irish abuse victim;

- Baroness Sheila Hollins, a member of the House of Lords and former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the British Medical Association;

- Cardinal Seán O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston and Member of the Council of Cardinals;

- Claudio Papale, a lay canon lawyer who works with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith on abuse cases;

- Hanna Suchocka, who has served as Poland’s prime minister (1992-93), minister of justice (1997-2000), and ambassador to the Holy See (2001-13);

- Father Humberto Miguel Yañez, an Argentine Jesuit moral theologian and former student of then Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Pope Francis); and

- Father Hans Zollner, a German Jesuit who serves as chairman of the steering committee of the Center for Child Protection of the Institute of Psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University.