June 30, 2014, Volume VIII, Number 26
First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, Monday, June 30, 2014
Blessed Junipero Serra, Tuesday, July 1, 2014
St. Oliver Plunkett, Martyr, Wednesday, July 2, 2014
St. Thomas the Apostle, Thursday, July 3, 2014
St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Friday, July 4, 2014
St. Anthony Zaccaria, Saturday, July 5, 2014
Question of the Week
For the Feast of Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 6, 2014
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” Physical rest is
essential, but what do you do when your spirit is weary? How do Jesus and your Catholic faith help
you find rest deep within you? What new practices – of prayer, reception of the sacraments, quiet
adoration, etc – might help you to rest in Jesus’ loving presence?
Saint of the Day: St. Elizabeth of Portugal
Source: http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1434
At her birth in 1271, Elizabeth’s father, Pedro III, future king of Aragon, was reconciled with his
father, James, the reigning monarch. This proved to be a portent of things to come. Under the
healthful influences surrounding her early years, she quickly learned self-discipline and acquired a
taste for spirituality. Thus prepared, she was able to meet the challenge when, at the age of 12, she
was given in marriage to Denis, king of Portugal.
She was able to establish for herself a pattern of life conducive to growth in God’s love, not merely
through her exercises of piety, including daily Mass, but also through her exercise of charity, by
which she was able to befriend and help pilgrims, strangers, the sick, the poor—in a word, all those
whose need came to her notice. At the same time she remained devoted to her husband, whose
infidelity to her was a scandal to the kingdom.
He, too, was the object of many of her peace endeavors. She long sought peace for him with God,
and was finally rewarded when he gave up his life of sin. She repeatedly sought and effected peace
between the king and their rebellious son, Alfonso, who thought that he was passed over to favor
the king’s illegitimate children. She acted as peacemaker in the struggle between Ferdinand, king of
Aragon, and his cousin James, who claimed the crown. And finally from Coimbra, where she had
retired in the monastery of the Poor Clares after the death of her husband, she set out and was able
to bring about a lasting peace between her son Alfonso, now king of Portugal, and his son-in-law,
the king of Castile.
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Comment: Elizabeth was not well enough to undertake her final peacemaking journey, made all the
more difficult by the oppressive heat of the season. She would not, however, permit herself to be
dissuaded from it. She answered that there was no better way to give of her life and her health than
by averting the miseries and destruction of war. By the time she had successfully brought about
peace, she was so sick that death was imminent. After her death in 1336, her body was returned to
the monastery at Coimbra for burial.
The work of promoting peace is anything but a calm and quiet endeavor. It takes a clear mind, a
steady spirit and a brave soul to intervene between people whose emotions are so aroused that they
are ready to destroy one another. But Elizabeth had a deep and sincere love and sympathy for
humankind, almost a total lack of concern for herself and an abiding confidence in God. These were
the tools of her success. Where are your peace-making efforts needed today?
NCCL News
Announcement from the NCCL Board: To avoid any confusion in titles as the Board prepares to
start the search for the new Executive Director, the titles for Bill Miller and Joanie McKeown have
been changed to Interim Co-Administrators. Their responsibilities remain the same as announced in
May.
Challenge: $3370 more! within the Next 15 Days!
At the NCCL Awards Luncheon $4425 was contributed to the Echo the Promise campaign for the
professional development of NCCL members. If another $4425 is raised by July 15, 2014, the entire
$4425 will go into the restricted endowment account to be distributed after it reaches $100,000. The
other $4425 will be available for use by the Constituency Forums. $3370 more is needed to reach
the goal. The names listed below in boldface are the new contributors from this week.
Thanks to all of you! To donate online, go to www.nccl.org and click on the Echo the Promise logo.
Join those who have already contributed.
Susan Abbott
Diane Ahlemeyer
Jane Alfano
Jose Amaya
Leisa Anslinger
Cheryl Antos
Constance Armstrong
Mary Beaudoin
Jan Benton
Debbie Betz
Nancy Bird
Archbishop Leonard Blair
Sara Blauvelt
Judith Brusseau
Mark Buckley
Linda Buckley
Teri Burns
Sara & Randy Carey
Patsy Carlson
Beth Cartner
Mary Fran Cassidy
Sr. Caroline Cerveny
Fr. Ronald E. Cochran
Cathy Cornue
Christen Cota
Maria Covarrubias
Lori Crawford
Joyce Crider
Lorraine Deluca
Pattie Dougherty
Harry Dudley
Jane Ehrlich
Christina Emilian
Freda Epperson
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
Greg Erlandson
Jim Fage
Nancy Ferrari
Brian Garcia-Luense
Gina Garroway
James Gill
Sr. Dorothy Giloley, SSJ
Elizabeth Girton
Donna Glaser
Sr. Jeanne Goessling,
SSND
Mary Green
Maureen Grisanti Larison
Toni Grojean
Essie Hans
Mary Theresa Heneghan
Marinell High
Michelle Hochrein
Carol Ann Hunt
Brigid Johnson
Sr. Ann Marie Kanusek
Jim Kemna
Jim Keusenkothen
Agnes M. Kovacs
Leslie Krauledis
Angela Laesch
Teresa Locke
Fr. David Loftus
Bea Madden
Sr. Mary Caroline
Marchal, SC
Sr. Carol Markus
Sr. Theresa Markus
Sr, Hilda Marotta, OSF
Page 2
Barbara McAtee
Ela Milewska
Jayne Mondoy
Joanie McKeown
Claire McManus
Beth McNamara
Carol & Monroe Nichols
Suzanne Nelson
JoAnn Paradise
Rhonda Parenton
Sr. Betty Paul, SP
Paulist Evangelization
Ministries
(Frank DeSiano, CSP,
Ken Boyack, CSP,
Ryan Multer)
Mary Jeanne Pazin
Karen Pesek
Gary Pokorny
Bryan Reising
Peter Ries
Barbara RomanelloWichtman
Mary Ann Ronan
Jo Rotunno
Thomas Ryan
Rosa Maria Salazar
Sr. Kieran Sawyer
Wendy Scherbart
Jeanne Schrempf
Patti Schwartz
Deborah Scopacasa
Sr. Margaret Anne
Spagno
Julianne Stanz
Carol Stone
Linda Stryker
Michelle Tomshack
James Tucker
Valerie Vogel
Mary Jo Waggoner
Michael Wagner
Cathy Walz
Sharon Ann Weidelman
Al Weilbaecher
Mike Westenberg
Elizabeth Winkel
Frank Zolvinski
Special Offer from Visual Dynamics Publishing: ends July 15
Visual Dynamics Publishing is once again supporting NCCL’s ECHO THE PROMISE campaign
by making a $5.00 donation to NCCL for any one copy or $15.00 for any three of these titles. Go to
www.vdpublishing.net to purchase and Visual Dynamics will make the donation to NCCL.
$10.95
$9.95
$12.95
Did you attend NCCL’s 2014 Annual Conference in St. Louis?
Please complete the online evaluation which will assist NCCL in planning our 2015 Annual
Conference and Exposition: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/nccl2014
2015 Annual Conference & Exposition, May 18-21, Buffalo NY
Encounter the Joy of the Gospel!
¡Descubre la Alegria del Evangelio!
Three keynoters for the 2015 conference were announced this week:
Br. Mickey McGrath and Jerry Galipeau on Encountering God in the depths of our souls
through art and liturgy – the beginning of evangelization and source of ongoing transformation.
Bishop Richard Malone on the Spirituality of Leadership within the ministry of
evangelization and catechesis
“Save Me A Place”
Special Price until July 14, 2014: $269 for NCCL Members Only
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Catechetical Sunday materials available from NCCL
This year’s theme "Teaching About God's Gift of Forgiveness" / "Enseñando sobre el regalo del
perdón de Dios" focuses on the beautiful message of God’s love and compassion.
Our 2014 NCCL catechetical pin, which is 1” in diameter,
expresses several paths of God’s Forgiveness:
… the cross through which we receive eternal life and its
reminder of the sinner crucified with Jesus who recognized his
need for forgiveness.
… the white area surrounding the cross suggests a victory
wreath of forgiveness, but also bandages that aid in healing that
unbinds us and sets us free.
… “Ephphatha” (“be opened”) which is embossed on the cross.
“Ephphatha” is heard in the final rite of the Elect before their
initiation as their eyes and ears are blessed to hear and profess
the Word of God. “ ‘Ephphatha – Be opened,’ sums up Christ’s
entire mission.” Pope Benedict XVI, September 9, 2012.
NCCL’s 2014 reflection journal is a great mystagogical gift for all parishioners, especially those
participating in RCIA and adult formation, catechists, parents preparing their children for
sacraments, and all those who desire to think more deeply about their faith. This resource offers
meditations for Sundays, Holy Days, and liturgical seasons, as well as questions to contemplate and
suggested ideas to act on your faith. A simple, yet insightful book to foster weekly discipleship for all
ages. This year’s reflection journal is a Special Memorial Issue remembering Lee Nagel.
Posters, certificates, Catechist Prayer Cards and Family Commitment Cards are also available
from NCCL. Help your catechists and parents to reflect on their roles, by virtue of their Baptism, in
handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday pins, reflection books,
and other materials may be viewed and ordered here: Catechetical Sunday 2014
Discipleship For Confirmation and Beyond
Discipleship for Confirmation and Beyond is a new electronic
program designed to supplement your parish's Confirmation
preparation. Led by nationally-renown religious educator, Dr.
Mike Carotta, in partnership with NCCL, it includes four Core
sessions for candidates, one Elective, and four Parent sessions.
Dr. Carotta presented information on this process at NCCL’s
Annual Conference in May 2014.
During July and in early August, Dr. Carotta is offering to NCCL member dioceses a free 90 minute
in-service for parish confirmation teams and leaders. It’s not too late to sign up for a “July Night”
as you start planning your upcoming Confirmation programs. The only costs to the diocese are
Mike’s travel and lodging (rectories will do!). There is no stipend or fee for the in-service, itself.
Several dioceses have already scheduled in-services, so don’t delay!
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Heartfelt Thanks from Fr. Bob Hater
At NCCL’s Annual Conference this year, we surprised Fr. Bob Hater by honoring his many years of
service to the catechetical community and 40 consecutive years of attending NCCL’s Annual
Conference. During the Awards Luncheon, each table, in turn, called out a number from 1 to 40.
Everyone at the table stood, blew bubbles into the air (a modern way of lifting our prayers of
gratitude and joy to the Lord), and presented Fr. Bob with a card. Below is a letter of appreciation
from Fr. Bob.
Dear Joanie McKeown, William Miller, and NCCL Members,
After the NCCL Meeting in St. Louis, this year, I planned to send my heartfelt thanks to the
entire membership for the wonderful testimony that you gave me at the annual meeting. The
environment of the bubbles, the energy in the room, and the testimony cards will remain with
me. Before sending my words of appreciation, I heard that Lee Nagel died. Almost
immediately, I decided to wait a while before thanking you. I did this out of tribute to him
and all that he did for me personally and for many other people. He certainly was a
remarkable man.
Since that time, his death has afforded us the occasion to stop and reflect on what is really
significant in life and to better appreciate the important role we play in the catechetical
ministry. As Pope Francis put it, we are "missionary disciples".
Going through the cards given to me at the NCCL Meeting was overwhelming. I took my
time reading each of them, some more than once. They left me with a sense of gratitude and a
deep feeling of humility coming from all the kind expressions that you wrote. As I reflected
on them, it became clearer that all our actions, regardless of how simple they are, can provide
a opening for others to better appreciate the compassion of an all good God.
My prayer for all of us is that in our catechetical ministry, regardless of whether it is our
home, school, or parish, the love we share might grow deeper as we live our life in imitation
of Jesus who shows us the way.
May Lee Nagel's spirit inspire us on our journey!
God bless you!
Fr. Bob Hater
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Wednesday’s Catechesis: On Belonging to the Church (excerpt)
“We are not isolated and we are not Christians as
individuals, each one on his own. No. Our Christian identity is
belonging! We are Christians because we belong to the
Church. It is like a surname: if the name is “I am Christian,”
the surname is “I belong to the Church.” It is beautiful to
note how this belonging is expressed also in the name that
God attributes to Himself. Responding to Moses, in the
wonderful episode of the “burning bush” (cf. Exodus 3:15),
He describes Himself, in fact, as the God of the Fathers. He does not say: I am Omnipotent …, no: I
am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. In this way, he calls us to enter into this
relation that precedes us. God’s relation with His people precedes us all, it comes from that time.
Our thought goes with gratitude, in the first place, to those who have preceded us. No one becomes a
Christian on his own! Is this clear? No one becomes a Christian on his own. Christians are not made
in a laboratory. A Christian is part of a people who come from afar. The Christian belongs to a
people called Church, and this Church makes him a Christian on the day of Baptism, and then in the
course of the catechesis, and so on. If we believe, if we are able to pray, if we know the Lord and
can listen to His Word, if we feel Him close and recognize him in the brethren, it is because others,
before us, lived the faith and then transmitted it. If we think well, perhaps how many dear ones pass
before our eyes at this moment: it might be the face of our parents who asked for Baptism for us;
that of our grandparents or of some relatives who taught us to make the sign of the cross and to
recite our first prayers. I always remember the face of the Sister who taught me the catechism. Or
the face of the parish priest, of another priest, of a Sister, of a catechist who transmitted to us the
content of the faith and made us grow as Christians … See, this is the Church: a great family, in
which we are received and learn to live as believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus.
We can live this journey not only thanks to other persons but together with other persons. “Do it
yourself” does not exist in the Church. How many times Pope Benedict described the Church as an
ecclesial “we”! There are those who think they can have a personal, direct, immediate relation with
Jesus Christ outside the communion and mediation of the Church. They are, as the great Paul VI
said, absurd dichotomies. It is true that to walk together is demanding, and sometimes it can be
exhausting: it can happen that a brother or a sister causes one a problem, or gives scandal … But the
Lord entrusted his message of salvation to human persons, to all of us, to witnesses; and it is in our
brothers and our sisters, with their gifts and limitations, that He comes to meet us and makes us
recognize Him. And this means to belong to the Church. Remember this well: to be a Christian
means to belong to the Church.”
Dear friends, let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, Mother of the
Church, for the grace not to fall into the temptation of thinking that we can do without others, that
we can do without the Church, that we can save ourselves on our own, that we are laboratory
Christians. On the contrary, we cannot love God without loving our brothers, we cannot love God
outside the Church; we cannot be in communion with God without being so in the Church, and we
cannot be good Christians without being together with those who seek to follow the Lord Jesus, as
one people, one body, and this is the Church. Thank you.
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/audience-address-on-belonging-to-the-church
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Prayer
Beliefs
Issues
Media
Bible
Bookstore
Free for myUSCCB members. Not a member? Sign up today!
Pastoral Planning for the New Evangelization
Date: 7/15/2014 3:00-3:45 PM ET
Intended for: Pastors, Deacons, Diocesan Directors of Religious Education, Parish
Directors of Religious Education, Parish Council Members, Evangelization Team
Leaders and any ministry leader who wishes to promote the New Evangelization in
parish life.
Description: The USCCB is preparing a Pastoral Planning Guide for the New
Evangelization and a New Evangelization online Toolkit to assist dioceses and
parishes in enhancing and enriching their parish ministries and culture to fulfill the
call of the New Evangelization.
What is the New Evangelization?
How can my parish plan for and implement the New Evangelization better?
What is the next step we can take?
Join Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wisconsin, chairman of the USCCB
Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, Dr. Peter J. Murphy, Executive
Director for the USCCB Secretariat on Evangelization and Catechesis, Fr. Frank
Donio, S.A.C., D.Min., Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center in Washington,
D.C., and Jeannine Marino, JCL, Assistant Director for the USCCB Secretariat on
Evangelization and Catechesis as they discuss these questions and more.
The Pastoral Planning Guide for the New Evangelization offers a roadmap for
dioceses, parishes, schools, and Catholic associations who wish to begin or continue
their journey on the New Evangelization; a journey that has as its outcome Jesus
Christ and an invitation to Christian discipleship. This Live Event will walk diocesan
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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and parish leaders through the Planning Guide, its strategic planning process and
present a cohesive picture of how faith, worship and witness are all integral and
connected components of the New Evangelization.
Reflecting on July 4th
A few quotes from the early leaders our country to help us in our reflections:
George Washington, 1st U.S. President: "While we are zealously performing the duties of good
citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion. To the
distinguished character of Patriot, it should be our highest glory to add the more distinguished
character of Christian." --The Writings of Washington, pp. 342-343.
John Adams, 2nd U.S. President: "Suppose a nation in some distant Region should take the Bible
for their only law Book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there
exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to
justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward
Almighty God ... What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be." --Diary and Autobiography of John Adams, Vol.
III, p. 9.
Benjamin Franklin: Signer of the Declaration of Independence: "Here is my Creed. I believe in
one God, the Creator of the Universe. That He governs it by His Providence. That He ought to be
worshipped. That the most acceptable service we render to him is in doing good to his other
children. That the soul of man is immortal, and will be treated with justice in another life respecting
its conduct in this.” --Benjamin Franklin wrote this in a letter to Ezra Stiles, President of Yale University on March 9, 1790
James Monroe, 5th U.S. President: "When we view the blessings with which our country has been
favored, those which we now enjoy, and the means which we possess of handing them down
unimpaired to our latest posterity, our attention is irresistibly drawn to the source from whence they
flow. Let us then, unite in offering our most grateful acknowledgments for these blessings to the
Divine Author of All Good." --Monroe made this statement in his 2nd Annual Message to Congress, November 16, 1818.
A Song That’s a Prayer: “God Bless America”
Too often, when people sing this, they skip the introductory lines which call the song a
“solemn prayer”. Here is the original radio performance by Kate Smith from November
1938. http://www.youtube.com/watch?list=RDb1rKQReqJZg&v=b1rKQReqJZg
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Source: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/prayer-resources.cfm
Looking For A Good Book? If you use Amazon.com, please enter through the NCCL
Amazon Bookstore; NCCL will benefit from every purchase you make. Go to www.NCCL.org; click
on the Store tab or click 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.
Please “LIKE” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NCCLonline
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CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
Page 9
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)
Feedback/Comments on this issue of CL Weekly should be addressed to this week’s writer, Joanie
McKeown: jmckNCCL@email.com
CL Weekly, June 30, 2014
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