October 7, 2013, Volume VII, Number 40
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY
Monday of Twenty-Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of Saint Denis and Companions – Wednesday, October 9
Feast of Saint John Leonardi – Wednesday, October 9, 2013
YEAR OF FAITH - Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013
http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html
Question of the Week
For Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 13, 2013
“Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” How often do you express your
gratitude? To whom are you most apt to express your appreciation? . . . someone you know quite
well or someone with whom you are unfamiliar (a foreigner)? How do you express your
gracefulness to the One who created you, who breathed life into you, who has always wanted
what is best for you?
NCCL News
Pope Tells Catechists to Reach Out to Others in Name of Christ
The church needs good catechists, who love Christ, live out the
Gospel in their lives and courageously go to the margins of
society to share the gift of faith with others, Pope Francis told
catechists from around the world. “Let us follow him, imitate him
in his dynamic of love, of going to others, and let’s go out, open
the doors, have the audacity to strike out new paths to proclaim
the Gospel,” he said in a 27 September talk.
The pope thanked them for their service to the Church and said
being a catechist isn’t a job or a title, it’s a vocation, an
approach to life. It starts first with being with God, getting to
know him and conforming one’s life to the Gospel - a task that
lasts a lifetime, he said. Being close to God means praying to
him, talking with him and letting him “watch over you”, he said,
which “warms the heart and keeps the fire of friendship with the Lord alive.”
Not everyone, especially busy mothers and fathers, can spend a lot of quiet time in prayer before
the tabernacle, where Christ is truly present, he said. But everyone can find some way to be and
stay with Jesus because, if not, “if there isn’t the warmth of God, his love, his tenderness in our
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 1
heart, how can we - poor sinners - warm the hearts of others?”
The second thing catechists need to do, he said, is imitate Christ by going outside of themselves
and be there for others. Receiving the gift of faith and having Christ at the center of one’s life,
“pushes us out”, compels Christians to go outside their ego and reach out “to others in Christ’s
name”.
This dynamic of receiving and then giving is like the diastolic and systolic pressures at work in
the bloodstream, he said. Without both of these forces at work, the catechist’s “heart stops
beating, he cannot live”. But this gift of faith must be total, 100 percent: “You don’t take a cut
for yourself,” he said, “This is not a bargain.”
The third thing to do is to not be afraid of striking out into the unknown, like Jonah was when
God told him to preach to the pagans in Nineveh. Jonah’s fear, the pope said, was because “he
was rigid” and thought he had the truth staying right where he was. But “God is not afraid of the
outskirts,” he said, and “is always beyond our mindsets.”
“God is creative, he’s not narrow-minded, and for this he is never rigid,” the pope said. God
“welcomes us, comes to us and understands us.” While the Gospel does not change, catechists
need to be creative and know how to change themselves, adapting themselves to the people and
circumstances they encounter.
“To stay with God it’s necessary to know how to go out, to not be afraid of going out” into the
world, he said. “If catechists let themselves be taken over by fear, they’re wimps, and if
catechists are laid back they end up being a statue in a museum, and we have plenty of them,
right?”
When a room is closed up tight, the air gets stuffy and the people inside get sick, he said. A
similar sickness occurs when Christians are closed up within themselves, their group, their parish
or their studies, he said. But Jesus did not say, “Go and make do,” he said, “Go, I am with you.”
“This is our beauty and our strength: If we go, if we go out to bring his Gospel with love, with
real apostolic spirit, with (confidence), he walks with us, goes before us.” Even though it may
seem too far away “and perhaps we are a little hesitant, in reality, he is already there. Jesus is
waiting for us in the heart of that brother, in his wounded flesh, in his oppressed life, in his soul
that lacks faith”.
Be the First to Reserve a Hotel Room for the 2014 NCCL Conference
For the 2014 NCCL Conference and Exposition in St.
Louis, the Planning Committee has determined that the
information link for hotel reservations will be posted on
the NCCL Facebook Page before it is posted anywhere
else. FIND OUT FIRST how to
register for your hotel room by
liking us on Facebook at
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 2
https://www.facebook.com/NCCLonline
Pope: How the Church Will Change
This is a second interview given by Pope Francis. It is a dialogue
between Francis and La Repubblica's founder, Eugenio Scalfari:
"Starting from the Second Vatican Council, open to modern
culture". The conversation in the Vatican after the Pope's letter to
La Repubblica: "Convert you? Proselytism is solemn nonsense.
You have to meet people and listen to them."
Francis comments that “The court is the leprosy of the papacy,"
whereupon Scalfari questions whether the Pope is referring to the Curia and Francis clarifies his
statement. "No, there are sometimes courtiers in the curia, but the curia as a whole is another
thing. It is what in an army is called the quartermaster's office, it manages the services that serve
the Holy See. But it has one defect: it is Vatican-centric. It sees and looks after the interests of
the Vatican, which are still, for the most part, temporal interests. This Vatican-centric view
neglects the world around us. I do not share this view and I'll do everything I can to change it.
The Church is or should go back to being a community of God's people, and priests, pastors and
bishops who have the care of souls, are at the service of the people of God.
You can read the full interview at
http://www.repubblica.it/cultura/2013/10/01/news/pope_s_conversation_with_scalfari_english67643118/
Nominations Needed by October 18, 2013
The LDC is seeking nominations for persons to serve a three (3) year term on
the NCCL Board of Directors. While Representative Council members will be
securing nominations from their representative constituencies, NCCL offers all
members the opportunity to nominate someone to be considered for this role.
The term for the three Board members would begin at the end of the NCCL
Conference and Exposition in 2014 and continue until the same event in 2017.
Please review the following documents along with the nomination form. Deadline is Friday,
October 18, 2013.
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Rep Council Roles and Responsibilities 2013
Process for Discerning At-Large Members - PowerPoint
At-Large Board Members - Roles and Responsibilities
At-Large Board Members Job Description
LDC At-Large NOMINATION FORM
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 3
Due to a change in practice and by request of the LDC, the NCCL Board of Directors has
approved a change in the selection process for the officer slates for 2015. To allow more time for
the LDC to create two slates for officer selection and voting in 2015, the nomination process will
begin now rather than later. As an individual member you are invited to submit the names of
persons who might be considered as a nominee for the office of president. Please familiarize
yourself with the following documents including the nomination form. Deadline is Friday,
October 18, 2013.
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Process for Discerning Officer Slates
Roles of Officers.doc
LDC Officers Nomination Form - 2015 - 2018
Pope Calls on Catechists to Awaken the Memory of God in Others
More than 100,000 pilgrims participated at the open air Mass in
St. Peter’s Square on Sunday with Pope Francis on the final day
of the World Day of Catechists. The event which gathered
catechists from all over the world was one of many events this
year to mark the Year of Faith.
The Holy Father quoted the words of the prophet Amos: “Woe to
the complacent in Zion … lying upon beds of ivory! They eat, they drink, they sing, they play
and they care nothing about other people’s troubles”. He explained that, although these are harsh
words, “they warn us about a danger that all of us face. … The danger of complacency, comfort,
worldliness in our lifestyles and in our hearts, of making our well-being the most important thing
in our lives”.
This was also the case of the rich man in the Gospel, who dressed luxuriously and banqueted
sumptuously without concern for the poor man on his doorstep who had nothing to relieve his
hunger. “Whenever material things, money, worldliness, become the center of our lives, they
take hold of us, they possess us; we lose our very identity as human beings. … The rich man in
the Gospel has no name, he is simply 'a rich man'. Material things, his possessions, are his face;
he has nothing else”.
Catechists must be those “who keep the memory of God alive; they keep it alive in themselves
and they are able to revive it in others”, like Mary, “who … sees God’s wondrous works in her
life … but instead, after receiving the message of the angel and conceiving the Son of God …
goes to assist her elderly kinswoman Elizabeth, also pregnant”, and upon encountering her, “the
first thing she does … is to recall God’s work, God’s fidelity, in her own life, in the history of
her people, in our history … Mary remembers God”.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
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“This canticle of Mary also contains the remembrance of her personal history, God’s history with
her, her own experience of faith. And this is true too for each one of us and for every Christian:
faith contains our own memory of God’s history with us, the memory of our encountering God
who always takes the first step, who creates, saves and transforms us. … A catechist is a
Christian who puts this remembrance at the service of proclamation, not to seem important, not
to talk about himself or herself, but to talk about God, about his love and his fidelity. To talk
about and to pass down all that God has revealed, his teaching in its totality, neither trimming it
down nor adding on to it.”
Finally, the Pope cited St. Paul's recommendations to Timothy, which also indicate the path of
the catechist: “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. … Catechists
are men and women of the memory of God if they have a constant, living relationship with him
and with their neighbor; if they are men and women of faith who truly trust in God and put their
security in him; if they are men and women of charity, love, who see others as brothers and
sisters; if they are men and women of 'hypomoné', endurance and perseverance, able to face
difficulties, trials and failures with serenity and hope in the Lord; if they are gentle, capable of
understanding and mercy”.
“Let us ask the Lord that we may all be men and women who keep the memory of God alive in
ourselves, and are able to awaken it in the hearts of others,” Pope Francis concluded.
Catechetical Sunday – Only $0.50 a piece, Regardless of Quantity
This year, the Church celebrates the Catechetical theme Open the Door of
Faith. Those whom the community has designated to serve as
catechists have been called forth to be commissioned for their
ministry.
NCCL still has a few remaining copies of its reflection journal
which was edited by Michele Harris and the reflections were written by nine
different NCCL members. The reflection book is entitled WELCOME! Open the
Door – Pass through the gate – Seek the Christ. Sample pages from each of the
writers are available on the NCCL Homepage (www.NCCL.org). The order
form, with the $0.50 per book price, is available on the NCCL website. Hurry,
while supplies last.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 5
Blessed John XXIII and Blessed John Paul II To Be Canonized on April 27th
In the first consistory that he has convened, Pope
Francis has announced that the canonization of Blessed
John Paul II and Blessed John XXIII will be held on
Sunday, April 27th, 2014 in Rome. You can read the
press release at
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1304099.
htm.
During his return trip from World Youth Day in Rio de
Janeiro, the Holy Father indicated Divine Mercy
Sunday, which falls on the same day, as a possible date. The Pope stated that having the
canonization in the winter would make it difficult for pilgrims with limited resources to attend.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, particularly from Poland are expected to attend the
canonization.
Several months ago, the Holy Father paved the way for the
canonization of Blessed John XXIII, authorizing the process
without the need for a second miracle. The first miracle
attributed to John Paul II was the miraculous cure of a French
nun who suffered from an irreversible and advanced form of
Parkinson’s disease. The second miracle necessary for his
canonization that was approved was the healing of a Costa Rican
woman who suffered from a brain aneurysm.
During a meeting with cardinals at the Vatican, Pope Francis said that each pope achieved
considerable international stature: John Paul II for encouraging the fall of Communism in his
native Poland and across Eastern Europe, and John XXIII for assembling the liberalizing Second
Vatican Council, which ran from 1962 to 1965. The canonization should be seen “in the context
of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, and the universally heartfelt fame that
surrounds John XXIII.”
Nominations Sought for NCCL Catechetical Award Among Others
Every year the NCCL Board of Directors chooses the recipient for its highest
recognition: NCCL Catechetical Award, at its November meeting. After
consultation with the representative Council, the Board makes the final
decision. While nominations for the other awards, Distinguished Service and
New Wineskins can be submitted as well, the final decision on those awards is
not decided until 2014. While you may have shared names with your
Representative Council member, you may also nominate as an individual. Please review the
criteria and past recipients in the following documents before choosing to nominate.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 6
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2014 Catechetical Award Nomination Form
2014 Distinguished Service Award Nomination Form
New Wineskins Award Application (diocesan level) 2013
New Wineskins Award Application (parish level) 2013
New Wineskins Award Application (diocesan level) 2013
New Wineskins Award Application (parish level) 2013
Pakistan’s Christians
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly’s lead story dealt with
Most churches in Pakistan, like Karachi’s Trinity
Methodist, are the legacy of British colonial rule. St.
Patrick’s Cathedral was built to serve Irish Catholic
soldiers in the British army.
Today’s Christians are less than two percent of Pakistan’s population. Most are descendants of
people converted from Hinduism or Islam by missionaries, generations—in some cases
centuries—ago. They consider themselves fully Pakistani. But often, Catholic archbishop Joseph
Coutts says, that’s not how they’re perceived. You can read/listen to the program at Pakistan's
Christians (http://tiny.cc/cfs63w).
FREE Professional Development Webinar –THIS Tuesday, October 8, 2013
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
Msgr. Stephen Rossetti's Thoughts on the Priesthood Today is offered on
Tuesday, October 8 at 3:00 pm EDT. You can
register at PDW-10-08-2013
(http://tiny.cc/jg682w). For a complete listing of
professional development webinars in this series,
please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars.
Msgr. Stephen Rossetti's Thoughts on the Priesthood Today
Presented by: Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti,
Tuesday, October 8, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
In this webinar, Msgr. Stephen Rossetti will talk about the challenges of
ministering as a priest today in this increasingly secular culture. He will
talk about the specific demands this secular culture makes upon the
priests and how to stand up and prosper under the stresses and pressures
the culture imposes.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 7
His new book, Letters to My Brothers: Words of Hope and Challenge for Priests, is a series of
personal letters to his brother priests, a kind of personal conversation between him and his
brothers on the state of the priesthood with all its joys and problems.
Join Msgr. Rosetti, leading expert on the state of the priesthood in the United States and the CEO
of Saint Luke Institute, in this presentation and discussion about what it means to be a priest
today. This webinar and his book are both realistic yet upbeat and inspiring
reflections on what it means to be a priest today.
This presentation is co-sponsored by SLIconnect (www.sliconnect.org), the
education resource of Saint Luke Institute. You can order Letters to My
Brothers: Words of Hope and Challenge for Priests along with his other books
Born of the Eucharist: A Spirituality for Priests and The Joy of Priesthood at
the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
Latino Religion Survey Reveals Rise In Unaffiliated & Evangelical Hispanics
Hispanics living in the United States are now
increasingly evangelical Protestants or religiously
unaffiliated as the number of Catholics among them
declines, according to a national survey conducted by the
Public Religion Research Institute.
While Catholic affiliation has dropped by 16 percentage
points (a reported 69 percent Catholic identification
among Hispanics during childhood compared to only 53
percent identifying the same as adults today), evangelical
Protestant affiliation has increased by six percentage
points in the same period to 13 percent today. In the
same amount of time, the percentage of religiously
unaffiliated Hispanics has also increased by seven
percentage points to 12 percent. Reported in the Hispanic
Values Survey, the findings show a significant shift in
the religious landscape of Hispanic Americans.
“The rise of religiously unaffiliated Hispanics is
critically important for understanding the changing
composition and political profile of Hispanics in
America,” said Dr. Robert P. Jones, the CEO of Public
Religion Research Institute, in a statement. “Many
pundits have argued that evangelical growth will lead to
a conservative shift among Hispanics over time, but the
rival emergence of religiously unaffiliated Hispanics,
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 8
who are liberal on a range of issues, serves as an important counterweight.”
The survey also showed that Hispanics have a generally more favorable opinion of Pope Francis
as an individual than they do of the Catholic Church, as 69 percent of Hispanics surveyed have a
positive impression of Francis but only 54 percent said they had a favorable impression of the
church.
Research associate Juhem Navarro-Rivera commented to The Huffington Post about the political
implications of the survey, citing the increasing diversity in the Hispanic community as
something that will have repercussions when it comes to courting the Latino vote. "When
looking at 2012 voting habits, the majority of the religiously unaffiliated voted for Obama, where
as the majority of Evangelicals voted for Romney. It's really interesting to see this political
polarization between the two groups that are growing the fastest. You are dealing with a religious
diversity that twenty years ago, wasn't there."
The survey assessed the political, religious, and economic concerns and opinions of 1,563
Hispanics living in the United States, and is being released to coincide with the celebration of
National Hispanic Heritage Month.
SADLIER Presents FREE Webinar – Christian Unity in a Polarized World
Join us on Tuesday, October 8 for this free live webinar with Mark S. Markuly, Ph.D.
 Tuesday, October 8 - 3:00 p.m.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/368202102

Tuesday, October 8 - 7:00 p.m.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/243546366
In the Gospel of John, Jesus prays for all believers, specifically asking that they receive the grace
of the unity shared by the Trinity. “Just as you are in me and I am in you,” he prays, “may they
also be in us.” It is a beautiful prayer, and a wonderful vision. Unfortunately, throughout much
of Christian history it has proven difficult, if not impossible, for many believers to achieve even
a moderate level of unity in their Christian belief. In the 20th century, Protestant missionaries
began to ask questions about the scandal of Christian divisions and what people of faith might do
about it. A little over 40 years later, the Second Vatican Council occurred and the Catholic
Church became a leading force in the world for promoting efforts at Christian unity.
Join us as Dr. Markuly explores the history of this so-called “ecumenical”
movement, both Protestant and Catholic, the new energy the Catholic effort is
receiving under Pope Francis, and the generational changes that are starting to
occur that is likely to make work toward Christian unity even more important to
the next generation.
A Certificate of Attendance is offered to all participants.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 9
Mark S. Markuly, Ph.D. is Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry
at Seattle University. He earned a Ph.D. in Education, with an emphasis in
learning theory, from St. Louis University, an M.A. in Systematic
Theology from Aquinas Institute of Theology. Dr. Markuly has lectured
nationally and internationally on topics that include issues of faith and
culture, religious education assessment, and the application of brain
research and learning theories to theological education. Markuly’s research
interests have centered on learning theory as it applies to religious and
theological education, and the role of religion and spirituality in American
culture.
Pope chooses 'encounter' as theme for World Communications Day 2014
As Pope Francis continues to talk about the importance of
authentic encounters, both with God and with other people, he
has chosen the topic of bringing people together for his first
message for World Communications Day. "Communication at the
service of an authentic culture of encounter" will be the theme of
the church's celebration of World Communications Day, which
most dioceses will mark June 1, the Sunday before Pentecost. The
pope's message for the day is expected to be released Jan. 24, the
feast of St. Francis de Sales, the patron saint of journalists.
The Pontifical Council for Social Communications, in an announcement of the pope's choice of
the theme, said it is through communication that people are able to meet and encounter others on
a meaningful level and to "express who we are, what we think and believe, how we wish to live
and, perhaps more importantly, to come to know those with whom we are called to live."
As globalization and improved technology make it easier for more people to communicate with
each other, the council said, it is important to ensure that nobody is excluded. World
Communications Day 2014, the council said, "will explore the potential of communication,
especially in a networked and connected world, to bring people closer to each other and to
cooperate in the task of building a more just world."
Can You Run Out of Empathy?
As one tried to teach the great commandments and how we are to love
our neighbors, this article might be helpful. In referencing an article by
Paul Bloom, the author, C. Daryl Cameron, writes
But according to Bloom, empathy also can do a lot of bad. It’s an
untrustworthy moral compass because it is “parochial, narrowCL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 10
minded, and innumerate.” Empathy seems tuned to only one frequency, that of a single
identifiable victim, with whom we feel some personal connection. According to Bloom, these
biases make empathy ill-suited to help us confront crises like natural disasters, genocides,
and climate change. Bloom concludes, “Empathy will have to yield to reason if humanity is
to have a future.”
According to this argument, empathy is a double-edged sword. It can tug at our heart-strings
and move us to help others, but its irrational biases can also be our moral downfall.
C. Daryl Cameron is a doctoral candidate in social psychology at the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research focuses on the causes and consequences of compassion,
and on how emotions influence moral decisions. His research has been funded by the National
Science Foundation. “In my research, I have found that the limits of empathy are actually quite
malleable. Mother Teresa once said, ‘If I look at the mass, I will never act.’ If she thought about
just how many suffering victims there were in the world, it would have been emotionally
paralyzing and prevented her from actually providing help.”
Cameron continues by stating that “if you get people to think that empathy for others won’t be
costly, they don’t show the identifiable victim effect—thus motivation seems to matter.” Hence,
motivation is important, especially when one considers that “The research so far says empathy
isn’t a non-renewable resource like oil. Empathy is more like wind or solar power, renewable
and sustainable.” You can read the complete article at
http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/run_out_of_empathy.
Cardinals Discuss Ecclesiology of Vatican II
Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office,
briefed journalists today on the meeting of the Council of Cardinals,
which is currently taking place in the Vatican. The Holy Father opened
yesterday’s meeting with an introduction and a reflection on “the
ecclesiology of Vatican Council II.” The reflection, Fr. Lombardi said,
gives “a broader theological and spiritual vision of the Church, inspired
by the ecclesiology of Vatican Council II and the implementation of its
themes”.
Some of the issues discussed by the council range from the relationship between the universal
and local Church to the role of the laity. The discussions ”form a
backdrop to the work of the Council of Cardinals." In light of
this," Fr. Lombardi explained, "they will later consider
structures of governance”.
Yesterday’s afternoon session discussed at length the Synod of
Bishops and was attended by the secretary of the Synod,
Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri. Fr. Lombardi stated that the
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 11
Holy Father touched upon a possible theme that is anthropological in nature for the next Synod:
“the family according to the Gospel.” Fr. Lombardi stated “The Holy Father also said that
prominent themes such as family and matrimonial pastoral will be the order of the day in the
activity of the Church in the near future.”
Concluding his briefing, the director of the Holy See Press Office, stated that today's meetings
focused on Curia reform and the work of the various dicasteries in the Holy See. “There have
been many suggestions and contributions. It is a long term task, and therefore one should not
expect conclusions in the short term or within these days,” Fr. Lombardi said.
SADLIER Presents FREE Webinar – Pope Francis and the New Evangelization
POPE FRANCIS AND THE NEW
EVANGELIZATION
Beyond the Legacies of Blessed Popes John Paul II
and Benedict XVI
Join us on Monday, October 14 (English) or Tuesday, October 15 (Spanish) for this engaging
presentation as Rev. Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, S.T.D. shares his reflections on Pope Francis and
the New Evangelization, Beyond the Legacies of Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
Monday, October 14 - 4:00 p.m. ET
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE IN ENGLISH.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/249605054
Tuesday, October 15 - 4:00 p.m. ET
THIS PRESENTATION WILL BE IN SPANISH.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/255691278
A Certificate of Attendance will be offered to all participants.
Rev. Allan Figueroa Deck, SJ, S.T.D. is Charles S. Casassa Chair of Catholic Social Values
and Professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount
University, Los Angeles, CA. In 1997, Father Deck founded and
served as first Executive Director of the Loyola Institute for
Spirituality in Orange, CA. In 2007, he was called to serve as first
Executive Director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the
Church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the
Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University and trustee
emeritus of the University of San Francisco. Father Deck has
authored two books, edited five others and published more than 50
articles. He was a founder and first president of the Academy of
Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) as well as of the National
Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NCCHM).
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 12
Cardinals Tell Pope: Vatican Administration Needs Total Overhaul
Cardinals advising Pope Francis on how to reform the Vatican
believe the Holy See's central government is so problem-ridden
that only a total overhaul can fix it, the Vatican said on
Thursday. The unusually stark acknowledgement came on the
third and final day of closed-door meetings between the pope
and eight cardinals from around the world who are discussing
the Vatican's troubled administration and mapping out possible
changes in the worldwide Church.
Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the cardinals
were no longer considering adjustments or changes to a 1998
constitution on the workings of the Vatican's various
departments, known as "Pastor Bonus" (Good Shepherd).
"(The cardinals) are leaning towards a constitution with very significant new elements; in short, a
new constitution," Lombardi told reporters at a briefing. The spokesman said the cardinals felt
the role of the Curia should be to serve the 1.2 billion member Roman Catholic Church "rather
than the exercise of centralized power".
There have been suggestions that some Vatican departments should be merged and others closed
in order to make the Curia more efficient and to prevent corruption. However, writing a new
Vatican constitution to replace Pastor Bonus, which runs to nine sections, 193 articles and two
appendices, will be a major task, and Lombardi said it was unclear how long it would take.
Pope Preaches, Prays, Talks, Tweets, Writes – To Make Waves on Instagram
Catholic News Service reported that the Vatican’s Instagram
account is about to kick off a new wave of posts and interactions.
Instagram users should expect to see “inspiring scenes that recall
the presence of God in our lives: Sometimes we will find objects,
or (signs) used as metaphors, or persons sharing with us the joy
of being Christians.” After a trial run that featured posting on a
regular basis, the Instagram account will now be one of the
Vatican’s “main platforms of social media communication.”
The creator of the account, Jose-Miguel Chavarria Mugica, explained the importance of an
Instagram account to the Catholic News Service. “The world is full of images that remind us of
the grace of God in our lives; situations, persons, statues, signs, little things we come across
every day,” he said. “Smartphones are the perfect tool to catch these instants of grace in a picture
and Instagram is a great and easy tool to share them.”
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 13
Pope Francis is leading the way on Twitter, however. Currently, the pope’s account @Pontifex
has 3,051,815 followers. Pope Francis was ranked as the most influential world leader on Twitter
by a 2013 study.
FREE Professional Development Webinar –Tuesday, October 15, 2013
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
is offered on Tuesday, October 15 at 3:00 pm EDT.
You can register at PDW-10-15-2013
(http://tiny.cc/9tg63w). For a complete listing of
professional development webinars in this series,
please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars.
The Spirituality of Administration: Turning Mundane Tasks into Redeeming
Work
Presented by: Ann Garrido, Author of Redeeming Administration
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT
Administration is often critiqued both by those within and without the
profession as work that takes good, fun-loving people and turns them into
anxious curmudgeons. It doesn't have to be that way.
Speaking out of her own experience as an administrator in theological
education, Ann Garrido will look at practices of administration that can be
potentially transformative, making us not only effective administrators but
holier, healthier Christians.
Participants will be invited to reassess their own daily
administrative tasks with an eye toward how they might serve not only the greater
Reign of God, but their own personal spiritual journey. You can purchase Ann
Garrido’s book, Redeeming Administration: 12 Spiritual Habits for Catholic
Leaders in Parishes, Schools, Religious Communities, and Other Institutions at
the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
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Mysteries
Thanks to Jared Dees of Ave Maria Press for recommending this CD. I
have used some of Danielle’s songs but was unfamiliar with this CD. If
you choose to listen to some of these tracks, you might also be interested
in a beautiful article entitled A Harvest of Holiness: The Theology of
Danielle Rose's Mysteries written by Brad S. Gregory. You can use
these beautiful songs to introduce each mystery of the rosary. See more
at The Religion Teacher (http://tiny.cc/fgca4w). You can order
Mysteries from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
First Cartoon of Pope Francis
In order to help Catholics around the world learn more about
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, we (www.catholiclink.com) have worked together with Catholics from around the
world produce this video in 15 languages. You can watch the four
(4) minute video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rHL4P1_GFM. The Spanish
version is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4pioDyMi88.
Vatican City Explained
There are some things in this video that were new to me. It is a
quick seven (7) minute history that I believe is accurate. Caution:
The following statement is made in the video: “Religion is
nothing if not obstinate,” which may be offensive to some.
Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPHRIjI3hXs.
Amazing Grace Like You Have never Heard It
Jojo Rock is a 9 year-old boy on a mission to stop poverty
throughout the world. To spread his message of love, he sang this
unique version of Amazing Grace with a man that was once a child
saved by others' kindness. Wow. You can watch/listen to Amazing
Grace (http://tiny.cc/yj773w). This is not an endorsement of
http://www.jojorock.com/ or http://www.compassion.com.au/ but it
is an encouragement to donate to a cause of your choice or consider
sponsoring a child from an agency you support.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 15
Told Wife to Abort Their Child with Down Syndrome-God Changed His Heart.
Heath White wanted the perfect family - and a child with Down
Syndrome didn't fit that mold. He told his wife to abort the baby, but
then he realized just how wrong he was.
You can watch the video at God Changed His Heart
(http://tiny.cc/ko6k4w)
6588
Being Kind: The Music Video That Circled The World
The 21-Day Kindness Challenge launched on September 11th. 98
countries. 6000 people. And a collective tidal wave of good that inspired
many -- including young rapper-activist "Nimo" Patel at the Gandhi
Ashram in India. Nimo wasted no time channeling that inspiration into
an infectious music video. "Being Kind" was created on super short
notice by an intercontinental crew of volunteers working out of their
living rooms. It features footage from all over the world and heartmelting appearances by the children Nimo works with in the slums. Watch,
listen, and prepare to smile big at this lyrical reminder that kindness really is
"all that we can leave behind" (http://www.kindspring.org/21day/song/).
Here are the words to the song:
Being Kind
(Verse 1)
Well my heart starts sinkin'
And I'm thinkin' what’s the reason
Why we holding back from being kind
What's the disease, but then I sense
We are fine, it'll all happen
One small step at a time
When the world is full of violence
And it needs a little kindness
I just sit in pray in silence
And God shows me the signs
Open my eyes, realize,
We are fine, one small act at a time
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 16
Last night I'm walking home
And a homeless man says 'hello'
With a smile to let me know
That he's gotta lotta hope
He says have faith, young man, we are fine
The world is kind, one small act at a time
Small acts we do together
Even though may be alone
Changes the world for the better
So we can call it home
And this is life as know
When our hearts are aligned
The magic that unfolds
One small act at a time
(Chorus 1)
Throw your hearts up
Let it fly high
Let your love for all the world
Spread Through the skies
Let it drop down
Let it all go
Spreading kindness to every
Single Living soul
Can you see your love ... for me shining through
'Cuz what you see in me, I can see in you
And soon enough, you and me ... we'll be outta time
And kindness ... will be all we can leave behind
(Verse 2)
Feeling grateful today, Never thought this day would come
Where I would feel it and say, That each and everyone one of us,
Has paved the way doing good and now we're all just moving up
When I'm kind to you, you pay-it-forward, this is how we build trust
Never had faith, but now I'm seeing you eye to eye
Wanna gift you my life, wanna spread love before I die,
Thank you God ... for finally letting me realize
When I serve man, I'm really serving you in disguise
Smiles everywhere, 'cuz now everybody's got the bug
Ain't no life, without the love, if it is, it ain't no fun,
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 17
What we gonna do now, just grab a friend give a hug
Spread it out real wide, so everyone can be touched
(Chorus 2)
Oohhh ...
All we can leave behind,
For you and I kindness is all we can leave behind
All we can leave behind
For you and I kindness is all we can leave behind
Ohhh ... Behind, Behind, When all is said and done,
Kindness is all we can leave behind
SEEING
"The ordinary... is the part of our world where beauty is interlaced in each
detail... It’s the part of our world that can knock our socks off... but so
many of us walk by everyday, never knowing, never caring... But some
see..." This lovely meditation on the blessing of vision -- both
metaphorically and explicitly -- was shot on a budget of $25 (for the prop
sunglasses), using a digital SLR and an iPhone. Watch the three (3) minute video at at:
http://www.karmatube.org/videos.php?id=3155#sthash.MFII1uKo.dpuf
Forever Young
On January 18, 1974, the world welcomed Bob Dylan’s Planet Waves album.
On it was “Forever Young” — one of Dylan’s most beloved songs, inspired
by his four-year-old son Jakob. In 2008, Dylan asked award-winning
illustrator Paul Rogers to apply his signature mid-century aesthetic in
reimagining the lyrics of the iconic anthem as a series of illustrated vignettes
for young readers. Here are the words. Not bad advice for any child. You can
watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc-a1kP7ITA. If you are interested, you
can purchase Forever Young from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
"Forever Young"
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
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Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
Chocolate Bar
Last year Dylan Siegel's best friend was diagnosed with a rare illness
called glycogen storage disease type 1B, a rare liver disorder that doesn't
have a cure. Dylan, six years old at the time, was
determined to do something about that. To the
surprise of his parents, he wrote a book -- and it
has already raised $400,000. "Chocolate Bar"
has now raised an incredible $400,000, to the
delight of researchers studying the disease. For
more information on the book, the disease, or to watch a video or two, go
to http://www.chocolatebarbook.com/
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 19
Possibly The Most Uplifting Ad You'll See All Week
This is not an endorsement for Intel but it is recognition of the
gifts and talents of those younger than us. Here’s one of those
rare ad-spots that comes from what Adweek refers to as the
“warm-and-fuzzies school of advertising.” Intel tells the story of
Jack Andraka, an award-winning 15-year-old who invented a
remarkable early-detection test for pancreatic cancer.
The spot, from Venables Bell & Partners (and director Britton Caillouette of Farm League,
himself a bone-cancer survivor), is a little self-congratulatory on Intel's part. But it's clever, too.
The ad, which proceeds in reverse chronology, might make you feel the same sort of skepticism
about Andraka that his idea met—but then you'll feel like a fool when you realize how quite
amazing his accomplishment is. Check out the story and the video at Look inside. Jack A.
(http://tiny.cc/kiqd4w).
Lily of the Mohawks: The Story of St. Kateri
We celebrated the feast of Saint Francis this past week and while he is associated
with our Climate Covenant, there is a connection between him and St. Kateri,
even though they lived in different centuries. She is known as the patron saint of
the environment. She and the Mohawk nation also had a strong relationship with
the Jesuits and so it seemed fitting that this book would appear on this feast day
as Pope Francis is in Assisi. You can order Lily of the Mohawks: The Story of
St. Kateri from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
Joseph, the Man Who Raised Jesus
We don’t know much about Joseph or how he lived out his role as father of Jesus.
Since there are no recorded words for Joseph, Fr. Gary Caster offers his insights
based on the actions of Joseph. In addition to shepherd, protector and guardian, Fr.
Caster ascribes twelve attributes, or what one might call virtues, to this Man of . . . .
You can order Joseph, the Man Who Raised Jesus from the NCCL Amazon
Bookstore.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 20
Witnesses of Vatican II tell their stories in new book
In September 1962, 70 seminarians handpicked from dioceses all over the United States boarded
the ocean liner Leonardo Da Vinci bound for Rome. They would spend their next four years
studying at the Pontifical Gregorian University. These were the best and brightest the church had
to offer, expected to distinguish themselves throughout their careers as priests, some as bishops.
It so happened that the four years of their study in Rome coincided with the four years of the
Second Vatican Council.
In a highly readable new book, Unfinished Pentecost: Vatican II and the
Altered Lives of Those Who Witnessed It, veteran columnist and editor Ken
Trainor has compiled interviews with many of these men. The result is a kind of
oral history of their experiences during the council, what they have done with
their lives in the last 50 years and how they view the church today. Of the 70
who sailed, 55 were ordained priests. Some have died and some have left the
priesthood, leaving 19 still in active or retired ministry. Oddly enough, only one
of those ordained became a bishop.
The interviews reflect the energy and enthusiasm that swept through the Vatican during those
exciting days. The seminarians did not attend the sessions of the council, but they heard talks and
had access to leading figures of the day like Hans Küng, Karl Rahner, John Courtney Murray,
and Edward Schillebeeckx.
"Most of us felt a great sense of pride in the Church that had come of age," said Msgr. Chester
Borski of the Houston diocese. "We witnessed the shift from an approach of defending the
Church by carefully reasoned apologetics to a missionary thrust of reaching out to Christians and
others in a joint effort to shape a better world." To read the complete article, go to Vatican II
Witnesses (http://tinyurl.com/okrqmlc) You can order Unfinished Pentecost: Vatican II and the
Altered Lives of Those Who Witnessed It from the Amazon Bookstore.
Don’t Forget Walter Bonam’s Request
Whenever you read a book that you believe would be of interest to another
catechetical leader, remember that “Amazon and Barnes & Noble both give
online customers the option of clicking to notify the publisher of a given book
that they would like to have it available in e-book form.” Walter can only read
books in e-book form. He’s a colleague in ministry and an NCCL member. Please
do your part. Initial request appeared in CL Weekly for January 14, 2013.
Diocesan newspaper story available at
http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/parks-home/402-life-changing-event-has-brought-itsown-miracles.
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 21
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
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.
Please “LIKE” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCCLonline – we
have over 340 LIKES
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 22
“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
CL Weekly, October 14, 2013
Page 23