May 5, 2014, Volume VIII, Number 18
FEAST OF SAINT JUTTA
Monday of the Third Week of Easter, May 5, 2014
Feast of Blessed Mary Catherine of Cairo – Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Feast of Saint Peter of Tarentaise – Thursday, May 8, 2014
Feast of Blessed Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger – Friday, May 9, 2014
Question of the Week
For the Feast of the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 11, 2014
“…and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.” How would you describe the voice
of Jesus? When you pray and you listen, what in God’s voice is your “Caller ID”? How many people
would you recognize if you could only hear them? How long did it take you to come to the point
where you can recognize someone because you recognize his/her voice? What advice could you
offer someone who wanted to recognize God’s voice?
NCCL News
Pope’s Tweet – Feast of St. Joseph the Worker/International Workers Day
On the day in which the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Joseph the
worker, the day when nations across the world celebrate International
Workers Day, Pope Francis reached out with this tweet: “I ask everyone
with political responsibility to remember two things: human dignity
and the common good”.
Catholic Charities Agencies Helping Storm-Damaged Southern U.S.
Catholic Charities agencies were on the ground assessing damage
after a series of storms with deadly tornadoes and massive floods
swept through the southern United States April 27-29. The storms
killed 35 people and left thousands without power while razing
homes and businesses. Arkansas and Mississippi were the hardest
hit, but deaths also were reported in Oklahoma, Iowa, Alabama and
Tennessee. Georgia residents lost power, and the Carolinas and
Florida experienced flash floods.
Patricia Cole, communications director for Catholic Charities USA, said its disaster response
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operations team has been coordinating with local Catholic Charities agencies in Oklahoma,
Arkansas, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama "where conditions on the ground are changing by the
hour." She said Catholic Charities USA had received requests for grants for financial assistance and
is staying in close contact with Catholic dioceses and agencies in the damaged areas as they assess
the needs in their communities.
St. Joseph Church in Conway, Ark., initially was used as an American Red Cross shelter, but the
shelter was closed April 29 because not enough people were using it. Parishes in the Little Rock
Diocese have been conducting their own drives to mobilize and collect donated materials. "The
long-term relief effort will take months as we assist people in obtaining replacement housing,
furniture, clothing and counseling," Patrick Gallaher, executive
director of Catholic Charities of Arkansas, said. "As needs
crystallize, we shall seek help from among our parishes."
To support Catholic Charities' disaster relief effort, visit their
website at https://support.catholiccharitiesusa.org, call 1-800-9199338, or mail a donation to Catholic Charities USA P.O. Box
17066, Baltimore, Md., 21297-1066.
Military Track
Did you know that the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA serves
1.8 million Catholics in the military worldwide? The AMS exists to serve
active duty men and women and their families by providing faith formation
and the celebration of the sacraments at chapel communities on military
installations. What happens when they retire? How do you support the
families of active duty personnel and those serving in the reserves?
Whether your parish or diocese has a military installation in the area or not,
military connected families and individuals are present in your
communities.
NCCL will offer a track of four workshops to help catechetical leaders better
understand and support the military connected people in their midst. Dr.
Mark Moitoza will talk about Welcoming Wounded Warriors Home. Donna Glaser
will engage you with her topic on Transitioning from Military Chapel Life to
Neighborhood Parish Life: Youth as Bridge Builders. Carole Eipers will challenge you
with The Military in our Midst: Can You See Us Now? José Amaya will share how
the AMS is Nurturing the Faith of Catholic Families in Military Settings. Bring a
friend! Register NOW!
In 2012, Charis Ministries recognized the great spiritual need in the military,
which holds many of our future leaders. They wanted to help these young
adults who pay the price in support of our country, freedom and way of
life. Charis formed a partnership with the Archdiocese for the Military
Services, USA in 2013 to reach people in their 20s and 30s on active duty.
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Charis retreats are peer-led. A core team of volunteers, trained by Charis, prepares the retreat team
of young adults, helping them tell their own story of faith, teaching them to lead small groups and
prayer and to minister to their peers. Retreatants experience the power of silence, the impact of the
stories of others, growth through reflection and prayer, the comfort of sharing, and the healing of
ritual and Sacrament.
Charis Ministries currently supports retreat programs at Marine Base
Camp Pendleton, bases in the Washington D.C. area and Seymour
Johnson AFB and hopes to bring on two additional installations in 2014.
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.”
Handouts for Conference and Exposition Learning Sessions – Now Available
Sr. Pat McCormack, IHM has submitted her handouts for her Learning
Sessions. Please check the NCCL website (www.NCCL.org) under 2014
Annual Conference for additions. The handouts will be posted as they are
received from the presenters. You can go to the website or click on them
right here:
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Learning Session #404, Evangelizing the Domestic Church
Thursday, May 22, 2014
Learning Session #505, PCLs - Agents of Formative Support for Parents
Pope: The Spirit Opens Mind to Comprehend All
In his first appearance in St. Peter’s Square since the canonization
of two saints this weekend, Pope Francis used today's general
audience to deliver his catechesis on the second gift of the Holy
Spirit. After discussing the gift of wisdom in the first catechesis of
this new series, this week he turned to the Spirit's gift of
understanding.
“So we can all understand things as God understands them, with
God’s understanding,” is why Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, said
Francis. “It is a beautiful gift that the Lord has given all of us. It is
the gift with which the Holy Spirit introduces us into intimacy with God and renders us participants
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in his plan of love for us.” Turning to what the Holy Spirit does, the Pontiff said, “He opens our
mind, he opens us to understand better, to understand better the things of God, human things,
situations, everything.”
Clarifying understanding’s meaning, he said: “It is not about human understanding, about an
intellectual capacity with which we can be more or less gifted.” Rather, “it is a grace which only the
Holy Spirit can infuse, and which arouses in the Christian the ability to go beyond the external
aspect of reality and scrutinize the depth of God’s thought.”
Discussing its effects, Pope Francis said that the community of Corinth knew well what this gift
“does in us.” Paul had explained to them: “‘What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of
man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him, God has revealed to us through the
Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).’” Francis said "obviously" this “does not mean that a Christian can
understand everything and have full knowledge of God’s plans: all this remains to be manifested.”
Noting that it’s “ok” to understand a situation with human understanding, with prudence, he
stressed that to understand a situation in depth, how God does, is an effect of the grace of
understanding, which is “closely connected to faith.” The Pope added, “When the Holy Spirit dwells
in our heart and illumines our mind, He makes us grow day after day in understanding what the
Lord has said and has fulfilled.”
Addressing the English-speaking present, he invited them to implore the gift of understanding, as it
will create a “new light, with fresh spiritual insight,” and through it “the Holy Spirit dispels the
darkness of our minds and hearts, strengthens us in faith and enables us to savor the richness of
God’s word and its promise of salvation.” You can read the full translation at Understanding.
Be Bold In Proclaiming Truth, Cardinal Dolan Tells Media
Cardinal Timothy Dolan offered his own observations on how to
communicate effectively, emphasizing the importance of addressing
hard issues. Pope Francis “has given us a good example. He's very
shrewd, he’s very savvy. He’s what we need. He says, 'how do we get
the message out',” the cardinal stated, noting that although “he can
stand at his window and talk,” he says that “I probably reach more
people than the 100,000 in the square if I tweet a message.”
Cardinal Dolan said that “if we are going to be effective in our ministry of communications, (then)
we are never afraid to tell the truth, even when we are dealing with bad news. What we hear over
and over again is that people want and expect utter honesty and transparency from the Church,”
highlighting that if a priest is removed from ministry or there are accusations of sexual misconduct
“our people want to hear about it first from us,” and not the secular media.
He also noted the importance of never caricaturing or stereotyping those who oppose the
Magisterium and bishops at every opportunity. Even when confronted with those who attempt to
distort what the Church says or who issue “mean, vicious, and outward attacks,” we must “always
respond in charity and love,” he exhorted. “We follow the instruction of Jesus by not responding
back to with harsh words of our own,” but by responding “cleanly and civilly.”
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Emphasizing the importance of being open to dialogue with those who seek to attack the Church,
Cardinal Dolan drew attention to Pope Francis’ simple method of communicating, expressing that
he “has communicated a beautiful message of love, of God’s goodness and mercy. Pope Francis
knows what he wants to say, and he knows how to say it,” the cardinal explained, stressing that “it’s
not part of some grand public relations agenda, designed to improve the image of the Church; it’s
just who Pope Francis is.”
In another point, the New York archbishop proposed that all communicators “bear in mind the
need always to be catechetical in our approach. We cannot underestimate people’s lack of knowledge
about our Catholic faith, both within our own flock and especially those outside of the Church.
Anything that we can do clearly, confidently, simply, succinctly, joyfully, to explain how our faith is
worth our time and effort, the simpler the better. Every diocese now needs to have trained,
competent laypeople to represent them.”
Cardinal Dolan also pointed out the necessity of “always, always put(ting) Jesus first. People have a
hunger for meaning in their lives through the truth.” Thus, “we offer them Jesus before we do
anything else. For many years those who represented us have known a lot about theology, but not
much about the art of communications,” he lamented. “We need people who know both. Who not
only know the faith, but can articulate it and send it out in a compelling, colorful, and inviting way.”
Interested in Adult Faith Formation – This One’s For YOU
Join the
Adult Faith Formation ONLINE Forum
To participate...
· Go to www.nccl.org
· Click on the Adult Faith Formation tab
· Click on Adult Faith Formation ONLINE Forum
· Select the conversation in which you would like to participate
**You must be logged in to www.nccl.org to create a topic related to Adult Faith Formation.
This is a wonderful opportunity to virtually connect with others
who are passionate about Adult Faith Formation!
White Papers Available in Preparation for the NCCL Conference & Exposition
Chair of the White Papers 2014 Committee, Mary Ann Ronan, an NCCL PastPresident, retired PCL, currently doing contract ministry in Adult Faith Formation
at St. Thomas More in Glendale, AZ, has announced the three participants in the
White Paper Learning Session #511 on Thursday morning, May 22 in the
Pershing Room.
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The three white papers accepted for presentation accepted the challenge to address God’s Gift of
Forgiveness using the lens of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation: Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy
of the Gospel). These papers reflect three distinct approaches to understanding how theory might be
translated with “new ardour, methods or expression” (Lineamenta for The New Evangelization for
the Transmission of the Christian Faith).
Attendees are encouraged to read the three papers prior to attending the Thursday morning
Learning Session #511 in the Pershing Room with a conversation facilitated by Mary Ann Ronan.
Please click on the title of each paper to download it.
“New in Expression”
For the Forgiveness of Sins, Frank DeSiano, CSP proposes a “new realm for forgiveness, one in
which forgiveness is the removal of someone from a system-of-sin, in which God is not the center
of one’s life, into a new kind of system in which believers, transformed by the Holy Spirit, adopt a
way of life as a sign of their entrance into the Kingdom of God.”
“New in Method”
The Sacrament of Conversion: Penance in the New Evangelization, Sara Blauvelt
recommends a “more holistic approach toward preparation for First Penance, from merely a means
of getting rid of sin to one which deepens our relationship with our merciful and loving God.
Penance is the sacrament of the new evangelization because it offers a new and personal encounter
with Christ and his Church.”
“New in Ardour”
God's Gift of Forgiveness, Terrie Baldwin, offers a model implemented in the Diocese of
Cleveland that began with a Pastoral Letter, This letter became the impetus for a diocesan-wide
celebration of the Sacrament of Penance “complete with a multi-media promotional campaign
specifically designed to not only offer an opportunity for the Sacrament, but to renew the faith of
the parishioners in the pews to enable them to feel confident enough to go out and witness their
loving relationship with Jesus Christ to those who had been away, and welcome them back to the
love of Jesus Christ.”
US Bishops Announce 3rd Fortnight For Freedom
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has announced that the
third annual Fortnight for Freedom will be held from June 21 to July 4. The
bishops launched the campaign of prayer and action in 2012 in the face of the
threat to religious liberty posed by the HHS mandate.
This year’s theme, “Freedom to Serve,” emphasizes the “link between religious
liberty and service to the poor and vulnerable,” according to the bishops’
conference. “This is a time when Catholics can unite themselves in prayer to the men and women
throughout history who spread the Gospel and lived out Jesus’ call to serve the ‘least of these’ in
even the direst of circumstances,” said Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, chairman of the US
bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.
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Conference staff has prepared a number of materials to assist you in celebrating the Fortnight. This
year, the bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty would like to emphasize the link
between religious liberty and service to the poor and vulnerable and has proposed the theme of
Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Serve.
During the Fortnight, our liturgical calendar celebrates
a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the
face of persecution by political power—St. John Fisher
and St. Thomas More, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter
and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of
Rome. In the secular calendar, we anticipate that the
U.S. Supreme Court will rule at some point during the
Fortnight (likely around June 30) on the Hobby Lobby
and Conestoga Wood Specialties cases, which are
challenges to the HHS mandate brought by for-profit businesses.
The Conference has prepared materials that will hopefully assist you in preparation for the
Fortnight. The materials below are already available publicly through the website
www.Fortnight4Freedom.org, so please feel free to distribute widely or provide website links:
1.
Frequently Asked Questions about Religious Liberty
2.
14-Day Study Guide on Dignitatis Humanae
3.
Litany for Liberty
4.
A series of examples of Current Threats to Religious Liberty in the U.S.
5.
A series of examples of International Religious Freedom issues
6.
Prayers of the Faithful (as part of the Call to Prayer for Life, Marriage, and Religious
Liberty)
7.
Holy Hour Template (also part of the Call to Prayer)
8.
Parish Guide to celebrating the Fortnight (including 14 suggestions)
FCH Annual Report 2013-2014
The leadership of the Federation for Catechesis with Hispanics
(FCH) has produced their first annual report to the membership of
NCCL. In her cover letter, President Maria Covarrubias affirms that
“The main purpose of FCH is to serve those who minister in
catechesis with Hispanics, including those diocesan and parish
catechetical leaders who minister to Hispanics but do not speak
Spanish or are not Hispanic.”
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Two years ago, the work of the membership resulted in the creation of six values/action plans that
continue to guide the work of the federation. These six are:
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Collaboration
Space for Conversation – Evangelization
Networking
Advocacy – Empowering
Cultural Fluency (Intra/extra/inter)
Mentoring
While all NCCL members are encouraged to review the full report, those attending the 78th Annual
NCCL Conference and Exposition in St. Louis, are especially invited to not only read the complete
report, but are also encouraged to participate in all the FCH meetings and gatherings. You can still
register for the FCH Pre-conference on Sunday, May 18th. Click FCH Annual Report.
FREE Webinar: Getting Relationships Right: Helping Young People
Search Institute has launched a major, multi-year
effort to develop strategies and techniques to build
positive relationships with kids. The institute’s first
studies have identified five common characteristics of developmental relationships through which
kids learn to strive to be their best. These qualities are
• Express care
• Challenge growth
• Provide support
• Share power
• Expand possibilities
During the Getting Relationships Right: Helping Young People Strive to be Their Best through Developmental
Relationships webinar, participants will learn practical ways to put these concepts into practice while
strengthening motivation, persistence, and other skills that are essential for success in school and
beyond. Register for Getting Relationships Right: Helping Young People Strive to be Their
Best through Developmental Relationships, a no-cost webinar presented by Kent Pekel, Ed.D.,
President and CEO at Search Institute, on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, 12PM - 1PM, CDT. To register,
please go to Getting Relationships Right. You can download the Developmental
Relationships Framework Research Update.
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Evangelizing in Our Digital Culture
Caroline Cerveny, SSJ posted this on SlideShare. Our Digital
Culture provides us with opportunities for New Evangelization.
And what is New Evangelization? A call to each person to deepen
his or her own faith, has confidence in the Gospel, and possesses a
deep desire to share the Good News. We'll explore how to share
your encounter with Jesus today in this ever evolving Digital
Culture that allows us to create and craft our message in ways never
previously imagined. You can view the slideshow at Evangelizing
in Our Digital Culture.
Faith Formation Learning Exchange
The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership has joined the following ten sponsors in
support of the Faith Formation learning Exchange.
1. Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, Fordham University
2. Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University-Chicago
3. Trinity Lutheran Seminary
4. Union Presbyterian Seminary
5. Wartburg Theological Seminary
6. Augsburg Fortress Publishers
7. Church Publishing
8. United Church of Christ Publishing
9. Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
10. Christian Education Network of the ELCA
Our participation in this ecumenical effort provides our members with an opportunity to discover
what other persons of various denominations are reading and doing to pass on the faith. The Faith
Formation Learning Exchange is a free service of Vibrant Faith Ministries in Minneapolis. They are
committed to being a catalyst for Christian congregations, communities and households striving to
practice vibrant faith in a dynamic world. The Learning Exchange is a forum where Vibrant Faith
Ministries can bring the best thinking and practices in lifelong faith formation to you as a leader in
faith formation.
Each month the NCCL Sponsor Page will be updated to include one-page announcement about any
news or announcements that would be of importance to people concerned with Faith Formation.
Check it out at www.FaithFormationLearningExchange.net. This is just another member
benefit of belonging to NCCL.
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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FREE Professional Development Webinar –Tuesday, May 13, 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,
Pope Francis on Faith and Evangelization: Insights into
Lumen Fidei and Evangelii Gaudium is offered on
Tuesday, May 13, at 3:00 pm EDT. You can register at
PDW - 05-13-2014 (http://tiny.cc/kes3ex). For a
complete listing of professional development webinars
in this series, please visit www.avemariapess.com/webinars.
Pope Francis on Faith and Evangelization:
Insights into Lumen Fidei and Evangelii Gaudium
Presented by Jared Dees, author of
The Lumen Fidei (Light of Faith) Study Guide:
A Companion to Pope Francis's First Encyclical
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Time: 3 p.m. EDT
In the first year of his papacy, Pope Francis gave us two incredible documents to
read, study, and apply to our daily lives. Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith) offers an
overview and reflection on the meaning of faith and how it is important in the life of
the Church and in the lives of individual Christians. Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the
Gospel) is a call to arms for the Christian faithful to step out of their comfort zones
and become missionary disciples and spirit-filled evangelizers.
The webinar will be divided into two parts:
First, Jared will summarize and elaborate on the key points of both
documents in a short overview that could easily be shared or adapted for
parish presentations of these documents. (Free downloads will be available
for webinar participants.)
In the second part of the webinar, Jared will point out specific ways parish
ministers can apply these documents to the way they carry out their work
as pastors, DREs, catechists, teachers, faith formation leaders, retreat
leaders, and parents.
Jared Dees, author of The Lumen Fidei Study Guide and moderator of this
Professional Development Webinar Series, will share some reflections for
Catholic faith formation and evangelziation based on these two very important documents.
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The Pontifical Mission Societies Desires Your Experience/Opinions
Please participate in an online survey that will take less than 10
minutes to complete. Your willingness to complete the survey will
help them better achieve our mutual goal of providing solid resources
and materials for the formation of children and youth. To participate,
go to the following website: www.research.net/s/ReligiousEd.
Surveys must be completed no later than May 15, 2014.
Nomadelfia: A lifestyle based on early Christians
In 1948, Italian priest Zeno Saltini founded the city of 'Nomadelfia.'
But it's definitely not your typical city. It's made up of families that take
in abandoned children. Their charism is very particular. They live the
way the first Christian communities in Jerusalem lived. There is no
private property, and all good are shared. Fr. Ferdinando is Zeno
Salitini's successor as the priest that assists this community. You can
catch a Rome Reports on Nomadelfia. You can learn more about
Momadelfia by clicking here.
Catholic Communication Campaign Uses Technology to Share the Faith
The 2014 Collection for the Catholic Communication Campaign
(CCC) will be taken up in many dioceses the weekend of May 31June 1. The collection offers an opportunity for Catholics around
the country to support evangelization through technology and
social media by supporting the production and dissemination of
high-quality Catholic content via the Internet, television, radio, and
print publications.
The 2014 Catholic Communication Campaign focuses on the
theme of faith, worship, and witness. Technology offers essential tools to aid in the practice of faith,
in worship and in opportunities for witness. “When people think of evangelization, they don’t
usually think first of communications,” said Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of Yakima, Washington,
chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ CCC subcommittee. “But in order to live the
faith, someone has to tell us about it. Whether that was our parents, grandparents, a friend, or
colleague, we all learned about the faith through communication.”
“This collection serves projects that carry out our duty to tell the world about our faith and to
strengthen and catechize the faith of our brothers and sisters,” said Bishop Tyson. “Many Catholics
around the world live in isolation and modern technology allows them to stay in touch with other
Catholics and to grow in their faith,” he said. In his message for the 48th World Communications
Day, Pope Francis says that technology is a “gift from God.” He challenges the Church to use this
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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tool to promote the faith, asking how communication can “be at the service of an authentic culture
of encounter?”
The message for this year's 48th World Day for Communications. . . emphasizes the importance
of human relationships within social social networks. Pope Francis reminds us that "communication
is ultimately a human rather than a technological achievement "Communication is ultimately a
human rather than technological achievement." When we join in these networks as authentic
witnesses of our Christian faith, we bring the light of Christ to others. More information, including
collection materials, can be found online: http://www.usccb.org/catholicgiving/opportunities-for-giving/catholic-communication-campaign/index.cfm.
Kerygma Awards Recognizes Short Film About Miscommunication
A bar, a couple and two cellphones. These few
ingredients were more than enough for the short
film "Dis-connect" to win the IV Edition of the
Kerygma Awards
To view part of the video along with a report on the film and the
Kerygma Awards, click here. You can also view some of the films
that were in contention for the award at
http://kerygmaawards.com/videos/ or watch Dis-connect
itself as well as first and second place at Dis-connect.
On Listening: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Advice to Christians
The beloved German theologian offers these words of encouragement (and admonishment) on the
sacred duty of listening. Thanks to Trent Gillis in his OnBeing blog.
The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship
consists in listening to them. Just as love to God begins with
listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren
is learning to listen to them. It is God’s love for us that He not
only gives us His Word but also lends us His ear.
So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to
listen to him. Christians, especially ministers, so often think
they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is
the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than
speaking.
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Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians,
because these Christians are talking where they should be listening. But he who can no
longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening to God either; he will be doing
nothing but prattle in the presence of God too.
This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but
spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. One who cannot listen
long and patiently will presently be talking beside the point and be never really speaking to
others, albeit he be not conscious of it. Anyone who thinks that his time is too valuable to
spend keeping quiet will eventually have no time for God and his brother, but only for
himself and for his own follies.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German theologian who died in a Nazi prison. This
passage is from his book on Christian community, titled Life Together: The
Classic Exploration of Faith in Community.
Chellé "Loyal" Lyric Music Video (Lorde "Royals" Remix)
A praise and worship remix from the "In The
Beginning" mixtape to the hit song "Royals" by
Lorde. You can download the entire album FREE
at http://chelle309.bandcamp.com/.
To listen to and watch Loyal, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImUuPFwDeHA.
Five Kids Add A Twist To This Bible Story
When kids narrate the story of the unmerciful servant from Matthew
18:21-34, the result is not entirely accurate but is entirely funny! The
adults that agreed to reenact this are having so much fun. I love it. I
was reminded of several films that were made in the 1970’s that
animated actual children’s conversations. This is well worth watching
and a good reminder of the power of a group of five telling a story
together. Watch Kids Bible Stories - Episode One.
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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Imagine Your Family Is Homeless
You'll never believe what happens when these 'homeless' people's own
families were on the streets right in front of them! Have the homeless
become invisible? Wow is this powerful! I am looking with different
eyes. Take three minutes to watch Make Them Visible.
The following image came across my desk this week. It seemed to
reinforce the message of the “Imagine Your Family is Homeless” and I
share the picture along with the words that followed. I am reminded of the phrase, “Do you have
eyes and not see.” (Mark 8:18)
IT’S NOT A BIRD.
This parrot is in fact a female model who posed for Johannes Stötter, a fine art body painter. Using
breathable paint, he spent hours painstakingly turning this woman into the image of a parrot,
brushstroke by brushstroke. The model’s arm forms the parrot’s head and beak, and her legs form
the wing and tail feathers.
Remember: always take a closer look as things aren’t always what they appear to be
Artist/photo | Johannes Stötter
Assistant | Freund Nathalie
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Collabro sing Stars from Les Misérables
Looking like a standard boyband, Collabro had a trick or two up
their sleeve. Have a look at how they surprised us all.
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob5UJS2WwQ8
Here are the lyrics.
There, out in the darkness
A fugitive running
Fallen from god
Fallen from grace
God be my witness
I never shall yield
Till we come face to face
Till we come face to face
He knows his way in the dark
Mine is the way of the Lord
And those who follow the path of the righteous
Shall have their reward
And if they fall
As Lucifer fell
The flame
The sword!
Stars
In your multitudes
Scarce to be counted
Filling the darkness
With order and light
You are the sentinels
Silent and sure
Keeping watch in the night
Keeping watch in the night
You know your place in the sky
You hold your course and your aim
And each in your season
Returns and returns
And is always the same
And if you fall as Lucifer fell
You fall in flame!
And so it has been and so it is written
On the doorway to paradise
That those who falter and those who fall
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Must pay the price!
Lord let me find him
That I may see him
Safe behind bars
I will never rest
Till then
This I swear
This I swear by the stars!
Man Acts as Human Bench for Elderly Lady Stuck on Elevator
An employee from College HUNKS Moving and Hauling service in Florida
proved that the company’s motivation “to make the world a better place” is
more than just a slogan. A student from the Art Institute of Florida was
performing a move for College HUNKS at an assisted living facility inside a
10-story building when the elevator got stuck.
“We were riding with a very nice elderly women,” said Cesar Larios. “As
soon as it got stuck the lady said she could not stand for extended periods.”
So, what did Cesar do? He created a human bench for her. “I offered to
serve as a chair,” the 23-year-old told his boss, who contacted the Good
News Network. “She was so thankful.” For a full 30 minutes he sacrificed
himself for her comfort, as shown in the photo taken by one Larios’s
workers.
“I thought this was a great example of old-fashioned service and helping your fellow neighbor,” said
Co-Founder & President of College HUNKS Nick Friedman in an email. “Our company mission is
to Move the World both literally and emotionally, and this is an example of our brand coming to
life.”
HUNKS, which stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable Students, has 52 franchise
locations and is based in Tampa, Florida. This motivated moving company doesn’t simply employ
“clean cut” college students, their training program, “HUNKS University.” teaches them how to
embody a leadership mindset and provide WOW service to keep the client stress-free.
Walking With the Enemy
Inspired by a true story, this film is an unforgettable film of love, courage, and
sacrifice. Set in Hungary during the final months of World War ll, a young man
sets out to find his displaced family by stealing a Nazi uniform to pose as an
officer. Filled with suspense and danger, he undertakes ext… Moreraordinary
measures to reroute his family and other Jews to safety by disrupting the activities
of the German occupiers. I agree with the Washington Post reviewer that “A simple
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retelling of these stories would have been more dramatic, more effective and more powerful.” Sr.
Rose Pacatte closes her review with these two paragraphs.
"Walking with the Enemy" is an intense and stirring war film that reveals several heroes
heretofore unknown to most of us, and this is a good thing. But I think the Jewishness of
the people could have been portrayed more realistically. I don't recall ever seeing a
synagogue, for example, but perhaps I missed it.
It is often said that the Jews did not do enough to defend themselves during World War II,
but the Jewish resistance was inventive and strong against the bulwark of organized and
precise genocide perpetrated by the Nazis. "Walking with the Enemy" tells the Hungarian
part of the story.
You can read her complete review at Walking With the Enemy. Watch the official trailer at
Walking With the Enemy.
Ugandan Nun Helping Restore The Lives Of War-Torn Young Girls
Ugandan Nun Rosemary Nyirumbe, recently named one of Time
Magazine's 100 Most Influential People, joined HuffPost Live to
discuss her struggle to rebuild the lives of young women who have
been affected by the war in Uganda.
Nyirumbe has been sheltering, training, and empowering young girls
who have fallen victim to infamous warlord
Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army. She told HuffPost Live's
Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani about the recent book and documentary,
Sewing Hope, that traces her journey to help these young women whose
lives have been devastated by the war.
"I discovered there were a lot of young girls who actually managed to
escape from the rebels who abducted them, trained them as child soldiers,
who used them as sex slaves," Nyirumbe said. "And a lot of them even had
children from these rebel commanders and when they returned, they didn’t
know where to go."
She continued, "I decided to make the school to become like a family where these girls could be
accepted, where they could find love and compassion, where they could be taught how to love these
children they got from painful situations. I wanted them to live again and hope."
Saint Monica's Vocational School in Gulu, Uganda, provides girls with the skills
they need to regain their independence through learning how to sew. Nyirumbe
explained that these girls have been creating purses out of trash, which symbolizes
more than just the value of working. You can watch a seven (7) minute video at
Interview. You can also order Sewing Hope: Joseph Kony tore these girls' lives
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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apart. Can she stitch them back together? from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
The Gospel of the Family
At the invitation of Pope Francis, Cardinal Walter Kasper addressed the College of
Cardinals in preparation for the upcoming Synod on the Family. In this important
and much discussed lecture on issues of marriage and family, Kasper advocates for
stronger appreciation of the particular difficulties the family faces today. By raising
challenging questions for today's Church, Cardinal Kasper joins his hope to that of
many people "that the forthcoming synod, guided by God's spirit and after
consideration of all points of view, can point out a good path that all can endorse."
You can purchase Gospel of the Family, The from the NCCL Amazon
Bookstore.
Good Saint John XXIII
Brother Mickey O’Neill McGrath does it again. This full-color book is a
collection of illustrations inspired by the life, words, and anecdotes of Pope John
XXIII- and others! Filled with whimsical drawings and short quotes, this book is
intended to be a source of five minute meditations for busy people on the run. In
the words of Br. Mickey, “May the gentle joy of our new Saint John XXIII fill
your heart with a spirit of hope and ‘aggiornamento’.” May we move ever
forward in faith, hope, and love. And enjoy my new book "Good St. John
XXIII" with your morning coffee and prayer.”
You can order this book exclusively from http://clearfaithpublishing.com/BOOKS/.
STOP YELLING At Your Kids
I found out about this book in an article entitled Why I Yell At My Kids. The
writer noted that “When we are compassionate and peaceful with our children, they,
in turn, become compassionate and peaceful in the world. And in a world filled with
strife and irritants, this is just what we need!” Here was one of her eye-opening
lines:
My kids don’t usually cower (or suddenly obey) when I yell. When I get angry or
snappish with them, they say things like “Mom, could you please use a kind
voice?” or even “I have a hard time understanding you when you talk to me like that.” Both
of these phrases they’ve stolen directly from me; it’s what I say to them when they are
demanding or disrespectful or whiney.
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You can order Is That Me Yelling?: A Parent's Guide to Getting Your Kids to Cooperate
Without Losing Your Cool from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore. You can also find out more
about the author Nurse Rona Renner.
Angel in the Waters
This is a wonderful and beautiful book! The illustrations are rich and colorful.
The story is a tremendous illustration that pre-born babies are indeed human
beings. One father wrote, “There is a part where the angel explains that beyond
the ‘outside world’ there is an ‘even bigger world’ that the angel will lead the
child into someday. That reminded me of the poem of St. Francis which says
‘Dying we are born to eternal life.’”
You can order Angel in the Waters from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.
Hail Mary
The Hail Mary is without a doubt the most often recited prayer to Mary. This
little book takes readers of all ages phrase by phrase through this much loved
prayer, while offering prayerful commentary on the actual words.
Full of Grace
The second word of the angel contains the secret of joy:
Mary, God has fallen in love with you.
You stole his heart
and he filled you with light.
You now have a new name: 'Beloved forever.'
You can order Hail Mary from the NCCL 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 ebook 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-lifechanging-event-has-brought-its-own-miracles.
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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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 640 LIKES
CL Weekly, May 5, 2014
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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
Contemplate These Changes, Especially If You Are A Digital Immigrant
I came across this in Caroline Cerveny’s slide presentation and have since found it on the internet in
a variety of places. I placed it here for those of you who don’t want to “click one more thing”. I will
also confess that I still do some of these things but I know these fifty statements, and probably a lot
more, are true for my nieces in their 20’s. See the following three pages.
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https://mozy.com/blog/infographics/50-things-we-dont-do-anymore-due-to-technology/
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