fabric ofourhomeland” andincludes theeco- today themission fieldis “woven intothe World andotherforeign places, hesaid, but the missionfieldwasdefined astheThird defined by geographic borders.” Traditionally, today isthatthemissionfield isnolonger vocation moremakes themissionary difficult the ChicagoArchdiocese, said that “what Annunciation Church inMundelein, Ill., in Father Lewinski, pastorofSt. ofthe Mary of missioninparishes. Speaking inSeattle, spoke abouttheneedtorekindle thespirit the United States, Father Ronald Lewinski ing of the Pontifical Mission Societies in In anApril 6address attheannualmeet- Father Lewinski in Parishes Spirit ofMission Rekindling the

CNS documentary service backyard.” is in our territory missionary ears and recognize that the “We have and to open our eyes Father Lewinski’s address follows. spirit among all Catholics.versal missionary Religious. Theirpurposeistopromote auni- Unionand theMissionary ofPriests and Association, theSocietyofSt. Peter Apostle, Propagation oftheFaith, theHoly Childhood Mission SocietiesconsistoftheSocietyfor to hearthecall to mission. ThePontifical spiritandreturningsionary totheEucharist bringing together those who have amis- missionaries, introducing youthtomission, the globalchurch, increasing contactswith formission,ing opportunities celebrating Rite ofChristianInitiation ofAdults, provid- could take place: preaching, bold witness, the rekindling thespiritofmissionin parishes Father Lewinski discussednineareas where the undocumented and the disenfranchised. found amongthehomeless, theunemployed, tural lifeofthelargercommunity andcanbe nomic sector, thetechnologicalworld, thecul- m mission inScottsville, some25milesfrom Raymond Berthiaume. where missioner Father we met Glenmary in Franklin, ian, to the Glenmary Ky., mission withHerb Essig,anotherseminar inCincinnati,Iwassenton headquarters Ky. atGlenmary Afteraweek oforientation HomeGlenmary Missioners in Scottsville, volunteered tospendthesummer withthe Father Ray drove Herb andme to the lege seminarian Ilege seminarian 1965 when as a col- of mission was in y first experience continued onpage 50 - 64 contents 64 61 56 49 On File Datebook Discussion BetweenPope The CatholicsWe Are Rekindling theSpiritof Number 4 Volume 41 June 2,2011 Astronauts by PopeBenedictXVIand Station and AstronautsatSpace OFM Cap by FatherDavidCouturier, Becoming by FatherRonaldLewinski Mission inParishes continued from page 49 parishioners themselves have been the mis- “Parishes must be open to Franklin. There was no church on the site, sion field. This has become more and more experiment and welcome only two trailers; one was designated for use true. experiences which may be unfamiliar,” the as a chapel, the other as our home. What I With the questions Catholics ask and by the of Dublin, Ireland, said in wasn’t prepared for was Father Ray’s charge requests they make, especially on the occa- a 2007 address titled, “The to us: sion of funerals and weddings, I often feel like Parish: A New Mission Field.” “Young men, the church has never had a I am in unevangelized territory, a foreign land. Speaking in Melbourne, permanent presence in Allen County. So it’s I take to heart the words of Benedict in Australia, Archbishop all yours. See what you can do. I’ll see you in “The Word of the Lord” when he says, “We Diarmuid Martin said there is a week.” cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal no one model of how a parish With that he left us on our own to figure life given to us in our encounter with Jesus should be run because there are so many different types of out for ourselves how we would exercise our Christ: They are meant for everyone, for every parishes, noting that in his mission that summer. man and woman. Everyone today, whether he some parishes have Coming from a well-established Polish- or she knows it or not, needs this message” very high levels of practice American parish on the South Side of Chicago (Verbum Domini, 91). and attendance while others where Catholicism was as common as the air have very low levels. we breathed, finding myself on a hilltop in Identifying the Mission Field He explained that renewal Kentucky where there was only a handful of What makes the missionary vocation more in the church “is never just a process about committees and Catholics was disarming to say the least. difficult today is that the mission field is no working groups. ... It involves My fellow novice missioner and I decided longer defined by geographic borders. While a community ... entering into that our first course of action would be to we might have defined mission territory as the mystery of the Word made canvass the area by visiting all the homes we remote, Third World and foreign, today the flesh in order to see how we could to let people know that the mission field is woven into the fabric of our can sanctify the world around Church had arrived. We were excited about homeland. Today the mission field is the eco- us.” getting started. What we weren’t prepared for nomic sector, the technological world, the The archbishop said, “Most of my generation has probably were doors that were slammed in our faces social, political and cultural life of the larger had a love-hate relationship with the words, “We don’t welcome papists community. Science and technology have with the church,” but the here, boys. We’re Christians.” become the new idols. church is where his genera- Since that first mission experience, I’ve The mission field is among the immigrant tion learned the “wonderful had many doors slammed in my face — at groups struggling for acceptance and a decent forgiveness of Jesus”; he said least figuratively — by those who claim the life. The mission field is among the homeless, it is vital to make parishes welcoming places so that name Christian. The Gospel is good news, the unemployed, the undocumented and the young people also receive this but it is also bittersweet because it inevitably disenfranchised — all who live in the com- message. requires a change of heart if we are going to munities we call home. We are sent as mis- He said parish structures live for the kingdom Jesus preached. sionaries into a society that wants to be green must be realigned to meet The first lesson I learned was not to take and preserve the forest but opts for a culture the needs of the faithful: “A my faith and my church for granted. Ever of death when it comes to saving the unborn. single parish may not have since that Scottsville experience I’ve pon- These contradictions, human needs in society the capacity and the variety stake out the fields that are ripe for a new of resources that are needed dered again and again, What does it mean to respond to the varying for me to be a missionary in this place at band of missionaries. and new spiritual needs of this time? What is the compelling message So what does it mean to say that we have people,” so resources must be I have to share? While the heart of the mes- to rekindle the missionary spirit in our com- shared among parishes. sage remains the same, the missionary field munities? It means that we have to open our The of Ireland said is always changing. And so the way I respond eyes and ears and recognize that the mission- “some would love to attribute continually changes as well. ary territory is in our backyard. It means that the decline in Mass atten- A priest for 39 years, I have tried to trans- we cannot preach a private faith that has no dance to liberal theological positions,” but in his diocese form parishioners into missioners. Sometimes connection to the society in which we live Mass attendance is highest in they’ve put me to shame by the generosity of and work. We have to commit ourselves to the more liberal areas. their own missionary zeal. At other times the the reform which the Gospel demands for the (Archbishop Martin’s address appeared in Origins, Vol. 37, ISSN 0093-609X, Origins, CNS Documentary Service, is published weekly (except biweekly during July, August and No. 14, the edition dated Sept. December's last week) by Catholic News Service, 3211 4th Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20017-1100. Copyright © 2011 13, 2007.) by Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Periodical-class postage paid at Washington, D.C. Editor, Edmond Brosnan; Associate Editor, Mary Esslinger; Layout, Emily Thompson; Director of CNS, Tony Spence. “The challenge for an evan- Editorial: (202) 541-3284. Circulation: (202) 541-3290 - www.originsonline.com. gelizing parish is to create Subscriptions: One year, $114; two years, $199; three years, $284; foreign postage additional. Single copy: $8. Back an environment of real issues: Inquire for availability and rates. Attach mailing label to change of address requests and subscription corre- hospitality strong enough to spondence. Postmaster: Send address changes to Origins, CNS Documentary Service, 3211 4th Street, N.E., overcome the innate tendency, Washington, D.C. 20017-1100. the default drive of many Documentation in Origins is selected on the basis of interest and usefulness in reference to current issues. Publication does not signify endorsement by Origins or its sponsoring body, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

50 origins sake of the kingdom. Difficult work! We have culture in which we live. And while there is to be ready for it. much in our U.S. culture for which we can be ecclesial communities to close in on themselves and huddle That’s why I’m sure Pope Paul VI said in proud, there are some values that are simply together in homogeneous Evangelii Nuntiandi that “the church is an not compatible with the Gospel. groups,” Jesuit Father Allan evangelizer but she begins by being evange- Nevertheless, in spite of what could be a Figueroa Deck said in a 2009 lized herself” (No. 15). The parish is called grim spiritual picture, the faith is alive and keynote address at the annual to mission, but it begins by welcoming the God’s people are hungry for more of what convention of the National word afresh and hearing the call to mission God has to offer. Rekindling the missionary Federation of Priests’ Councils in San Antonio. with greater urgency. Perhaps the hardest spirit begins with fanning into flame the gift conversion is moving from a religious view of faith that our Catholic sisters and brothers Father Deck, executive director of the U.S. bish- that is only concerned about one’s personal hold dormant in their hearts. ops’ Secretariat of Cultural to a spiritual vision by which I know Diversity in the Church, said myself to be in solidarity with the body of the word “evangelization” Christ, a man or woman sent on mission for “Listening to so many voices in the often is used in church circles others (cf. Lumen Gentium, No. 9, and Phil to mean mere outreach, but community, I hear cries of empti- 2:3-7). evangelization includes at least four fundamental So how can we be more missionary in par- ness, a lack of meaning or direc- components: an encounter ish life? tion, loneliness and even hopeless- with the living God (ongoing The first step is to know who you are talk- conversion), the ing to. When I knocked on doors in Scottsville, ness. Individuals are not looking of the Gospel message, trans- Ky., I learned pretty quickly where I stood with formative action on behalf to the church for answers. Young the community. I heard their assumptions of justice and peace, and ecumenism and interreligious and prejudices. I observed their behavior and adults are telling us that we aren’t dialogue. values. I learned their history and their cul- speaking their language.” He said that a “lingering ture. clericalism that distracts and After getting over the first few weeks of discourages in their God- slammed doors, my fellow seminarian and There’s a passage in Redemptoris Missio given calling to serve” and I courageously advertised an open house at that describes what I see every day in my the presence of ideological the Catholic trailers. We broke the ice with our parish: extremes in the church can hinder parishes’ efforts to neighbors over cold lemonade and cookies. “Our times are both momentous and fas- evangelize. That was the second step in our missionary cinating. While on the one hand people seem Father Deck cited a number education: building trust. to be pursuing material prosperity and to be of obstacles to achieving a I wonder if I were to go door to door around sinking ever deeper into consumerism and truly evangelizing church my parish today what kind of reaction I would materialism, on the other hand we are wit- community, including a receive. My hunch is that many people would nessing a desperate search for meaning, the lack of “regard for the role have already closed the door to the church need for an inner life, and a desire to learn women play in the church” and an “unhealthy polariza- and any institutional form of religion before new forms and methods of meditation and tion of thought” among some I ever knocked. Mass attendance is low. There prayer. Not only in cultures with strong reli- Catholics. are fewer church weddings. Religious voca- gious elements but also in secularized soci- He said that “neither so-called tions are few. Parents are no longer choosing eties, the spiritual dimension of life is being conservative nor progres- Catholic schools for their children. sought after as an antidote to dehumaniza- sive/liberal responses” can Listening to so many voices in the com- tion” (Redemptoris Missio, 38). adequately address “the wide munity, I hear cries of emptiness, a lack of This, of course, is the work of the new evan- gamut of circumstances that characterizes a multicultural, meaning or direction, loneliness and even gelization. As Pope Benedict XVI describes it, multigenerational church.” hopelessness. Individuals are not looking to it’s a ministry of reproposing the Gospel. It’s He said, “The key to a success- the church for answers. Young adults are tell- telling the good news of Jesus in a way that ful parish is precisely what is ing us that we aren’t speaking their language. leaves hearers thinking they just heard the always was: creating the con- The invitation of Jesus to a new way of Gospel for the first time. If we want to reawak- ditions whereby many diverse life has lost its appeal. Relativism, secular- en the missionary spirit in our parishes, the groups experience a sense of ism, excessive individualism and a narcis- new evangelization will have to go hand in real belonging.” sistic culture have made hearing God’s word hand with rekindling the missionary spirit. (“The Evangelizing Parish” more difficult and building community hard appeared in Origins, Vol. 39, No. 5, the edition dated June to achieve. We don’t help the situation much Where Do We Begin? 11, 2009.) if our preaching and our liturgies are lifeless The first thing we ought to do is to ask our- and parish goals have more to do with main- selves why we have parishes in the first place. “There is as great a need as taining old buildings than celebrating God’s Every parish develops its own identity relative ever for missionaries,” the U.S. gifts and creating new avenues for ministry. to its demographics. Its ministries need to bishops said in their 2005 This is the state of the union. And it’s a address specific needs. statement titled “Teaching the fine line between those in the pews and those However, the point I would like to make is Spirit of Mission ‘Ad Gentes’: outside the pews. We are all influenced by the a simple one: The parish is not an end in itself.

origins 51 It’s meant to be a greenhouse that grows dis- are three houses with a total of 33 committed Continuing Pentecost Today,” ciples. It’s meant to be a mission school pre- college graduates serving the poor and the which they adopted dur- paring missionaries for service in the world. needy. ing their spring meeting in Chicago. I’m not satisfied with a parish that boasts Since its founding in 1984, 806 young adults 75 ministries, publishes a 40-page bulletin have served one to two years at Amate House. “All Catholics, by reason of their incorporation into the each week and has the best coffee and dough- A total of 75 percent of those who worked with church at , should nuts in town for hospitality if somehow these Amate House stay in human services. Four fully participate and cooper- entry points do not activate the missionary have become priests. Six have become reli- ate in Christ’s ongoing mis- vocation. More parish activity does not nec- gious sisters. Some who have become attor- sion ‘to the nations,’” said the essarily make a more mission-minded parish. neys or doctors continue to carry over their bishops. The litmus test is whether a parish under- missionary spirit into their professional life. They called on “everyone with stands itself to be a missionary community. The Jesuit Volunteer Corps and the Peace teaching roles to guide the faithful toward a renewed In “The Word of the Lord,” Pope Benedict tells Corps are examples of young adults in service fervor in spreading the good us, “Missionary outreach is a clear sign of the to others. There’s a waiting list of missionary news by witness and word.” maturity of an ecclesial community” (No. 95) wannabes. What are we waiting for? Rich opportunities for teach- (cf. Evangellii Nuntiandi, 15). The other group of parishioners we often ing about mission in the On the positive side of things, let me say overlook are retirees who have no intention parish were cited, and the that I believe our Catholics are concerned of being assigned a rocking chair on the front bishops said “seminaries and about those in need and continue to be gen- porch. They are ready for a new adventure, a Catholic theological centers especially should weave the erous in serving the needs of others. I am new career. Many have longed to be of greater idea of authentic world mis- always amazed by the welcome and gener- service to the church and the Gospel. Do we sion into the core of their ous response to the annual mission appeal. need an Amate House for retirees? teaching ministry.” And the more descriptive the missionary is What are some practical steps we can take Mission, the bishops said, about his/her work, the more successful the to rekindle the missionary spirit? never is “an imposition upon collection. First of all, don’t presume that the faithful the free will of another; it is who gather each Sunday don’t already have an invitation to know Christ an intuitive sense of mission. In preparation or to know him better, and it is made in a spirit of respect “I’m not satisfied with a parish for this talk I asked our parish’s director of mission to do some grassroots research on toward others.” that boasts 75 ministries, pub- Interreligious relations were what people think about their mission as the one special question the bish- lishes a 40-page bulletin each baptized. Some answered very simply. For ops discussed. They said, “We example, “The mission is to make Jesus a part week and has the best coffee and always invite others to the of our everyday living.” Or another said, “The Catholic faith,” and “we also doughnuts in town for hospitality mission is to spread the Gospel, the good strive to understand — and news of Jesus. Who is he? Why did he come? value — what is positive in if somehow these entry points do their beliefs.” How do we come to believe and live through Twinning relationships not activate the missionary voca- his body, his ?” between U.S. parishes and And when asked “What does it mean to tion.” parishes in other nations also you when you hear that your pastor would were presented by the bishops like to rekindle the missionary spirit in the as a way that “whole parishes There’s something in those mission talks parish,” one respondent answered, “It sounds become more missionary.” that touches the sleeping missionary inside like the pastor feels the need to reignite the (The statement appeared in each of us. Every year following that mission- spiritual flame in the parish. He wants people Origins, Vol. 35, No. 7, the edi- tion dated June 30, 2005.) ary appeal I have parishioners asking, “What to give a darn and to feel pulsed to speak up, can I do closer to home?” Encountering a mis- stand up, jump up and not give up. Feel the sionary is the best catechesis and incentive need. Pay it forward.” “I would say that [the] issue of responding to the alien- for growing new missionaries. My grassroots research tells me that there ated, the fallen away and Young adults today are very interested in are potential missionaries ready for the call. the unchurched continues the global picture. Many have traveled far I’m concerned that we do not raise the bar to be the No. 1 challenge and wide or at least feel globally connected high enough for fear that parishioners will confronting our church and through technology. The church’s social doc- say, “There’s no way I can do that.” But we the parish,” Bishop Howard have to state our hopes and expectations. J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., trine is very appealing to young adults and is said in a 2005 speech in New a ready entry point for greater engagement. It’s true that not everyone can go to Haiti or York to the annual Diocesan They want to serve in meaningful ways and Nigeria on mission but someone can. If we Leadership Symposium spon- they aren’t afraid of getting their hands dirty. don’t give that person a mission opportunity, sored by the New-York-based The Archdiocese of Chicago established they will find it at the megachurch down the National Pastoral Life Center. Amate House as a volunteer Christian ser- street and not return to the parish. Bishop Hubbard added, “The vice organization for young adults who live We also need to take an incremental critical question, however, is in community and work in various mission approach to mission engagement. We need to how do we respond effectively opportunities around the archdiocese. There think of mission education and engagement

52 origins as a step-by-step process. The first step into are being sent to proclaim. Our message is mission for some may be taking a box of gro- not a call to just be nice. It’s not a philosophy and constructively?” Bishop Hubbard’s speech reflected ceries to a food pantry. The second step may of life that binds us together and holds us upon “the mission of the par- be talking to a recipient at the food pantry. accountable; it is the person of Jesus Christ. ish at the outset of the new The third step may be working one night at So when we walk away from the altar because millennium.” the food pantry or adjacent soup kitchen. The we are uninterested, it’s not turning our back He said that “the search for fourth step may be answering the question of on a philosophy but the person of Christ, who meaning — what does it a guest at the soup kitchen who asks, “Why issued the invitation to come and eat. mean to be human — is the are you doing all of this?” Pope Paul VI taught us in Evangelii religious question of the day, The point is that most people don’t feel Nuntiandi that “the good news proclaimed and young people in particu- lar are asking it.” ready for total immersion into mission. But if by the witnesses of life sooner or later has to However, he commented, “we we take an incremental approach we will see be proclaimed by the word of life. There is can help people connect or parishioners grow stronger and more con- no true evangelization unless the name, the reconnect with the parish fident with each step they take. I’d love to teaching, the life, the promises, the kingdom and the church only insofar see parishes and our diocesan mission offices and the mystery of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son as we have befriended and provide some concrete suggestions for this. of God, are proclaimed” (No. 22). loved them. ... The challenge of evangelization is that it’s not so much a lack of pro- Practical Examples of grams or resources that is at Rekindling Mission Spirit “The parish is not an end in itself. the heart of the problem, but 1. Preaching. The first and most obvious step It’s meant to be a greenhouse that a lack of relationships.” is to use our preaching as a catalyst for engen- Bishop Hubbard stressed “the dering a missionary spirit. In “The Word of the grows disciples. It’s meant to be centrality of Jesus for the par- Lord,” Pope Benedict says: ish’s mission,” but said, “at a mission school preparing mis- “[The homily] should lead to an under- times, unfortunately, it seems that the person of Jesus gets standing of the mystery being celebrated, sionaries for service in the world.” lost in translation.” serve as a summons to mission and prepare He said that parishioners the assembly for the profession of faith, today “must learn how to the universal prayer and the eucharistic lit- In talking to many Catholics about being enter the mystery of Jesus, urgy. ... Generic and abstract homilies that missionary, I find that many tend to be too seeing how his life, his words, obscure the directness of God’s word should timid about being an evangelizer or to take his temptations, his choices, be avoided as well as useless digressions that concrete measures to spread the good news. his facing death and his over- risk drawing greater attention to the preacher You will hear many say, “I can be a good mis- coming death related to the demands of the day, to the than to the heart of the Gospel message. The sionary if I just give good example at work or needs of God’s people and to faithful should be able to perceive clearly that in the neighborhood.” Yes, of course. the fears of our contemporary the preacher has a compelling desire to pres- But when a neighbor is thirsty for living world and society.” ent Christ, who must stand at the center of water and is in the habit of filling his/her Bishop Hubbard presented every homily” (Verbum Domini, 59). bucket out of a toxic well, at what point do four characteristics of suc- Preaching that only soothes the soul with you say, “Stop, drink living water, Jesus the cessful parishes: good liturgy pious thoughts but never goes beyond that Christ!”? Am I more inclined to give a psy- and preaching; an ability to help people deal practically hampers the work of forming missionaries. chological answer to the problem? Do I only with their life concerns; a Pope Benedict cautions us: “It is not a matter communicate a philosophy of life or do I feeling of ownership on the of preaching a word of consolation but rather introduce my neighbor to the living Christ? part of people; an alive qual- a word that disrupts, that calls to conversion We Catholics need better formation in how to ity to the parish. and that opens the way to an encounter with effectively communicate Christ. In a quality parish, all four the one through whom a new humanity flow- We have to ask ourselves what’s the differ- must be present and inter- ers” (No. 93). ence between humanitarianism and mission? related with one another, he said. I get the impression as I listen to some There’s nothing wrong with humanitarianism. preaching that it is intended for individ- But we Christians go one step further in giv- Bishop Hubbard discussed parish councils, collabora- ual consumption and fails to acknowledge ing the reason for our hope, the compelling tion among parishes, the Christ’s mandate to live as one and to wash motivation behind our love (cf. 1 Pt 3:15). In ecumenical dimension of the the feet of all. Pope Benedict again says, calling people to mission, we’re not trying to contemporary parish, polar- “One must avoid the risk of an individualistic promote do-goodism or a volunteerism that ization and the need for a approach and remember that God’s word is one accepts if one has nothing else to do. We new civility, the parish’s com- given to us precisely to build communion, to preach a vocation and mission that is rooted mitment to and other matters. unite us in the truth along our path to God” in being one with Christ and his mission. (“The Mission of the (Verbum Domini, 86). 2. Bold Witness. In addition to preaching Contemporary Parish,” Pope Benedict’s warning to avoid abstract and teaching, our parishes need to provide a appeared in Origins, Vol. 34, preaching and teaching is important. Because bold witness. Most parishes are doing good No. 31, the edition dated Jan. if we are going to train missionaries we need things. The problem is no one knows about 20, 2005.) to be clear about what the message is that we them.

origins 53 A few years ago I was given a grant 3. Rite of Christian Initiation of tunities for exercising one’s mission to study 12 parishes around the United Adults. Paragraph 75 in the RCIA out- vocation. These are parish opportuni- States. The goal was to find parishes that lines four major components to the ties and options outside the parish. were strong and vibrant, exemplary and catechumenate period: 1) catechesis; The mission director can provide an effective Catholic parishes. One parish 2) becoming familiar with the Christian orientation for mission and establish was in . St. Cecilia is an active life by association with the community; an incremental mission engagement. parish where there was a growing num- 3) prayer, worship, liturgical rites; 4) Someone may call and say, “I’m ready ber of Hispanic immigrants coming to introduction to the apostolic life and to do something. I can give two hours worship. Parishioners welcomed them mission of the church. a week.” I refer them to our mission but wanted to find a better way to inte- Catechumens preparing for initiation director, who can help that individual’s grate the newcomers into the parish. into the Catholic Church are expected to discernment for mission. We could all The parish was blessed with a signifi- apprentice with a veteran Catholic in improve our parish websites for coor- cant number of medical professionals. learning the mission of the church. This dinating mission initiatives more effec- So they decided to pool their talents and is not a matter of doing a “service proj- tively. open a well-baby clinic. As you might ect” as we often ask our confirmandi to 5. Celebrating the global church. imagine, many local residents objected do. This is intended to be a hands-on While mission can be as close as the to the idea. With perseverance, the proj- learning experience of how to be a mis- pew behind you, it’s an awareness of the ect went forward. sionary. global church that teaches parishioners I was present at a parish orientation that the church and their vocation are for prospective new parishioners. After bigger than their own parish. the pastor spoke about the well-baby “It’s true that not everyone Look around your parish church and clinic, I asked a young couple sitting next its vestibule or gathering area. What do can go to Haiti or Nigeria to me, “Do you think you will be getting you see that tells you that you belong to involved in the clinic?” They answered, on mission but someone can. something bigger than your own parish? “No, not us.” I asked, “Are you opposed In our suburban church there are three If we don’t give that person to the idea?” They responded, “Oh, no! tapestries that hang over the main doors In fact that’s why we are here. We want- a mission opportunity, they of the church above the baptismal font. ed to belong to a parish that stood for They come from South Africa and are will find it at the mega- something.” It was the bold witness of easily identified as African art. the parish that drew this young couple church down the street and At a town hall meeting someone into its community life. asked, “Why do we have African art in not return to the parish.” I found another example of bold wit- our church when we don’t have African ness at St. James Cathedral in Seattle. At parishioners?” Before I could answer the time of my parish study there were The National Catechetical Directory the question, a parishioner stood up apartments surrounding the cathedral speaks about the catechumenal para- and said, “I love those tapestries. When which were being gentrified and turned digm as the primary model for all cat- our family leaves Mass on Sunday I into condos. However, there were resi- echesis. It says, “The baptismal catechu- often point to them and say to my chil- dents in those apartments who had menate is the source of inspiration for dren, ‘Remember now, we belong to lived there for years and couldn’t afford all catechesis” (No. 35, D). Where we something bigger than St. Mary’s. Our to live there any longer under the new are falling short with the RCIA is when Catholic family includes every conti- condo conversion. it comes to offering a mission appren- nent and so Jesus wants us to serve the St. James Cathedral parish was ticeship, and we don’t have our mission world in his name.’” blessed with many attorneys. They got school in order. What about the music in your par- together and took the matter into their 4. Providing opportunities for mis- ish? The selection of devotional art? Are hands, fighting with city hall on behalf sion. It’s not enough to preach and there posters or information screens of longtime residents. Word spread teach about being missionary unless we inviting and enticing parishioners to throughout the Seattle area. The cathe- also provide some direction for where learn and share beyond our borders? dral parish was respected for its bold parishioners can channel their mission- Do you celebrate the diversity within witness. ary zeal. Mission destinations may be your parish? Does the preaching include One of the conclusions I came to in within the parish and beyond the par- concerns beyond your own town? my study of parishes was that wherever ish. There ought to be a wide range of 6. Increase contact with missionar- there was a strong and bold witness, the options so that there are opportunities ies. There’s no better way to get fired up liturgy was also strong and vibrant. And for the confident and assertive as well as for mission than to hear a missionary’s parishioners were inspired to mission for the more timid or shy. Let the oppor- story. When the annual Propagation of by the example of that bold witness. tunities stretch and challenge. the Faith appeal is made every year, we Why would anyone want to belong At St. Mary we are trying to better ought to consider arranging to have the to your parish? What does your parish broker the possibilities for mission by visiting missionary meet with parish- stand for? What difference does it make establishing a new ministry we call the ioners outside Mass. How about keep- to the larger community? Is there a bold parish mission director, who is someone ing in touch with a missionary? Can we witness calling parishioners to mission? who is familiar with all kinds of oppor- Skype or blog to further our missionary

54 origins connections? an astounding lesson that he continues “Entering into communion with How about adopting a sharing par- to teach today. His example shows me Christ in the memorial of his Pasch also ish like the small mission church that the volunteering I have done in the means sensing the duty to be a mission- in Scottsville, Ky.? It’s not a matter of past is something I need to continue all ary of the event made present in that choosing one option to feel that we’ve my life.” rite. The dismissal at the end of Mass is a satisfied our mission responsibilities. An eighth-grade girl said: “Pier charge given to Christians inviting them Let there be multiple options for mis- Giorgio Frassati inspires me to not get to work for the spread of the Gospel and sion. Can you envision a mission abroad frustrated or depressed at the dysfunc- the imbuing of society with Christian where you send parishioners as well as tional world around me. His life nearly values” (Mane Nobiscum Domine, 25). financial aid? And remember there is a shouts at me, ‘Get up and stop being In a similar vein Pope John Paul II mutuality expected here. We have much lazy! This world needs help, and you’re wrote in Dies Domini: to learn and receive from those with the one to change it.’” “For the faithful who have under- whom we have a missionary relation- See what our youth are capable of! stood the meaning of what they have ship. If our youth are going to become mis- done, the eucharistic celebration does 7. Introduce youth to mission. Begin sionaries, we have to get them started not stop at the church door. ... Once the young. Frassati Catholic Academy now. Let’s not forget we have the Holy assembly disperses, Christ’s disciples opened its doors for the first time in Childhood Association to help us. return to their everyday surroundings August 2010. It is the first region- 8. Bring together those who have a with the commitment to make their al Catholic middle school of the missionary heart and witness a mis- whole life a gift, a spiritual sacrifice Archdiocese of Chicago. The school sionary spirit. Thanks to the work of the pleasing to God (cf. Rom 12:1). They feel is named after Blessed Pier Giorgio Holy Spirit, the exercise of mission is indebted to their brothers and sisters Frassati, who was a faithful , not limited to whatever the pastor might because of what they have received in fun-loving friend and a great athlete. In suggest. the celebration, not unlike the disciples his own way he became a missionary of Emmaus once they had recognized to the poor and infirm without leav- the risen Christ ‘in the breaking of the ing home. He lived in , , and “If we do not help the faithful bread’ (cf. Lk 24:30-32) felt the need to died in 1925 at the age of 24 from polio, return immediately to share with their to see the intimate connec- which he presumably contracted from brothers and sisters the joy of meeting one of his sick friends. tion between Eucharist and the Lord (cf. Lk 24:33-35)” (No. 45). We chose him as our school’s patron Our eucharistic piety continues to be mission, we risk becoming because we were convinced that we weighted in the direction of an individu- need more appealing models for youth humanitarians cut off from al relationship with Christ and the per- of Christian discipleship. At Frassati sonal benefit of receiving the Eucharist. our spiritual roots as disci- Catholic Academy we’re committed to This is good and certainly part of our promoting mission: 1) We’ve chosen a ples.” tradition. But so too, as Pope John Paul patron, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, II tells us, is the call to mission that who embodies for youth what a young comes from the Eucharist. missionary looks like; 2) we are in the We have a dentist, for example, who To be a eucharistic people means process of developing a three-year just returned from mission work in we take the self-emptying love we have incremental plan for mission engage- Nigeria. We have parishioners who give encountered at the altar and extend that ment; 3) every Friday we hold an assem- their time to to help love by being bread broken and wine bly and invite someone to speak about the poor and elderly manage their ben- poured out for others. If we do not help their mission in the world. efits and budgets. We have a group of the faithful to see the intimate connec- In preparation for celebrating Pier young moms who provide meals, trans- tion between Eucharist and mission, we Giorgio’s birthday on April 6, we invited portation and baby-sitting for families risk becoming humanitarians cut off our students to write an essay on what in crisis. Listen to the stories of these from our spiritual roots as disciples. Pier Giorgio means to them and how people. Support them with prayer and Are there any signs of hope that we Pier Giorgio inspires them to mission. A affirmation. Offer their witness as an are making any progress? young boy wrote: example to inspire others. Yes. There are plenty of signs that the “The spirit of Pier Giorgio inspires 9. Returning to the Eucharist to hear faithful are catching the spirit of mis- me to follow and live the beatitudes no the call to mission and to be formed by sion. I love to tell the story of a bridal matter what others may say or think. the Master himself. couple at their wedding rehearsal. After His strength of character demonstrates Preaching on the Scriptures is essen- leading them through the usual routine that no matter what your station in life tial. But preaching on the liturgy is also choreography for the wedding liturgy, may be, you can help. Not always with essential for the formation of mission- the bride and groom asked me, “Father, money, but with your spirit and time. aries. We need a stronger mystagogical at what point will we take up the collec- Pier Giorgio was blessed with the will catechesis that flows from the Eucharist, tion?” I told them that we don’t usually and determination to share his love of which is the wellspring for mission. At do that at a wedding. God and especially the beatitudes. His the turn of the millennium Pope John I asked them what their intention gift of putting others before himself was Paul II said: was. They told me, “Father, we realize

origins 55 that our marriage is not just about us. Father Dennis Holly, I learned that the tunities cresting for the community As a Christian married couple our voca- doors are not slamming quite as hard of faith. We are the ones charged with tion is to the world. And so as the first or as frequently in the face of Catholics pointing out the changing social and act of our married life we would like to in Allen County. The Catholic Church cultural landscape so that our pastoral contribute to a needy mission of your is accepted now. And the mission con- leaders and ministers can serve God’s choosing.” tinues. ■ people in a more effective way. I was also touched by a young server, While forecasting is not yet a solid who after serving a funeral Mass, came (nor well-funded) practice in the to me with the $10 the funeral direc- Catholic Church, we know that the tor had given him and said: “Father, I’ve The Catholics We American Catholic experience is con- been watching the terrible destruction stantly changing. The geography of faith in Japan. Could you help me find a way Are Becoming transforms from one generation to the of getting this $10 to where it can help next. From the earliest days of “priest- someone in Japan?” Father Couturier, less churches” to our now-growing prac- I asked him, “Don’t you want to use tice of “multiple-parish pastoring,” we the money for something you need?” OFM Cap are a community that regularly, if reluc- The young boy answered, “Father, I’ll tantly, adapts to the myriad of social, serve other funerals. But right now the Young adults in America are “largely cultural and ecclesial forces that shape people in Japan need this money more uninterested in institutional religion,” us as a Catholic community. than I do.” Capuchin Franciscan Father David Tonight, as we look out over the hori- Two simple anecdotes but genuine Couturier said April 10 in a keynote zon of American Catholicism, we see expressions of being for others, which, address at the annual meeting of the some sites that are familiar to us and of course, lies at the heart of mission. Conference for Pastoral Planning and some sites that are strange. We see con- We have parishioners who travel on Council Development at the Catholic tinuity and difference, and both offer us business around the world and have Theological Union in Chicago. Father challenge and opportunity. Let’s focus been touched by the church alive but Couturier, director of pastoral planning on that horizon. sometimes struggling in every corner for the Archdiocese of Boston, said these of the earth. They’ve come home to young adults are, “by most accounts, the On the Horizon share their stories about discovering most religiously unaffiliated genera- When Catholics are surveyed, they show new dimensions to their faith. What tion in the history of the world,” and the an amazing level of continuity in their can these business travelers teach us? church must face whether it “can develop beliefs over time. Whether rich or poor, Can they be missionaries on these trips? appropriate grounding institutions that young or old, urban or suburban, lib- I have been inspired by the generous help this fast-paced generation of young eral or conservative, Catholics continue and humble gestures that some of these adults negotiate family and work in the to believe in the , business travelers have learned to make ‘hot, flat and crowded’ conditions of the the Lord’s true presence in the Eucharist on their visits. new global economy.” If the church in the and other sacraments. They continue to We can help to develop their sense U.S. cannot meet the needs of this group, hold that Mary is the mother of God, of mission by gathering these interna- it “will continue becoming a church of that God is especially present to the tional business travelers for dialogue consistently nonpracticing Catholics for poor, and that prayer and charity are and prayer. We can also move them a whom the institutional church is largely important in our everyday life.1 little further by asking them how their tangential to the high task of developing However they practice their faith, positions of power can influence the character in today’s turbulent world of regularly or irregularly, with high or decisions that are made in boardrooms family, love and business.” He stressed the low devotion, Catholics tend to hold affecting millions globally. importance of measuring “Catholic well- on tightly to their core beliefs, and it It’s been a number of years now being,” which he described as “the sense is these core beliefs that are the criti- since I knocked on doors in Scottsville, that Catholics have that Catholicism is cal markers that Catholics use to define Ky., announcing the presence of the working for them, the satisfaction they their Catholic identity. Catholics like Catholic Church in Allen County. But feel in being Catholic and the assurance being Catholic, and for the majority they the lessons I learned at an impression- they have that their church is responsive remain Catholic and identify themselves able age have influenced my zeal for to their needs and their implicit under- as Catholics sometimes despite what mission for almost four decades. standing of the mission of the church.” Catholic clergy and fellow parishioners The few seeds I planted were only a He described some efforts being under- do or don’t do.2 beginning. Others came and watered taken in the Boston Archdiocese to mea- But as we look out at the horizon those seeds. The two trailers are gone, sure Catholic well-being there. Father tonight we know there are disturbing and there is a newly dedicated church Couturier’s keynote address follows. signs starting to appear. We are begin- where Catholics gather for Mass every ning to lose a large number of Catholics. Sunday. Christ the King parish is still As pastoral planners, we are the ones In fact, the Pew research on religious the only Catholic church in Allen designated in the church to look out at affiliation indicates that Catholicism County. The growth has been slow. But the horizon, off into the distance to see in America is showing the greatest net in speaking with the pastor, Glenmary the challenges emerging and the oppor- losses when it comes to the number

56 origins of people identifying with the religion fidently name four things — the res- post-Christian era, using whatever pas- they grew up in. While nearly one in urrection of Jesus from the dead, the toral tools and ecclesial institutions that three Americans (31 percent) was raised Eucharist, helping the poor and Mary as are at hand. Catholics are changing, and Catholic, today less than one in four (24 the mother of God.8 so are the church institutions on which percent) identifies as Catholic.3 —This continuity of belief tran- they have depended. The question we In this 2008 survey, one-third of the scends a whole host of cultural and face is whether Catholics and their insti- respondents who say they were raised as social variables. It is as true in our so- tutions are changing or “becoming” in Catholic no longer describe themselves called emerging “minority” communi- the same direction, with the same vision as Catholic. We can see the scope of ties as it is and was in our more tradi- and toward similar ends. this trend if we put it in national terms. tional and long-standing communities As we look back at the founding gen- Roughly 10 percent of all Americans are across the country. eration of Catholic builders in America, former Catholics. we see a time when Catholics and their We would feel the difference this institutions seemed to be developing or hemorrhaging makes if it were not for “Researchers are telling us “becoming” in the same direction and the now-steady influx of immigrants, for the same purposes. that Catholics are develop- largely but not exclusively Latino, who Looking back to our builder gen- have kept the overall percentage of the ing a complex relationship eration, we see a powerful legacy of a population that identifies as Catholic unified mission and strong institutions. between their Catholic iden- relatively stable (at 25 percent). It is Our Catholic ancestors came to this important to note that Latinos account tity, on the one hand, and the country (largely) as immigrants with a for nearly half (45 percent) of all twofold purpose: to defend the faith in way they understand what it Catholics ages 18-29.4 an alien land and to move a generation What else do we know? means to practice their iden- of Catholics up and out of disadvantage Even with their strong adherence as quickly as possible. And they built tity in the traffic of daily life, to their core beliefs, there are equally powerful institutions to accomplish strong indications that Catholics are on the other.” those twin tasks. changing dramatically in the way they They built strong neighborhood practice their faith. churches and the largest and most suc- Research indicates that Catholics are But something is indeed changing. cessful private school network the world diverging, sometimes dramatically, on Catholics are rethinking the way they had ever known. They created a vast their attitudes toward church practice: understand the task of religion, the way complex of hospitals, orphanages and how frequently one should attend Mass, they take up their roles in the faith and charitable associations, the most effec- on issues of sexual morality, on abortion the way they apportion authority within tive network of private charity the world and homosexuality, on the discipline the community. had ever seen, one that ministered to that only celibate men can become millions of Americans every year. priests and over the church’s involve- Changes in Task, Role and Authority The builder generation left the ment in activities directed toward social American Catholics have always boomer generation that followed it justice.5 found various ways of being Catholic, with a powerful set of institutions, from Researchers are telling us that diverse forms of being authentically parochial schools to first-rate univer- Catholics are developing a complex American and faithfully Catholic, often sities in which to hone the life skills relationship between their Catholic with a blend and a mixture that wor- and character-shaping virtues needed identity, on the one hand, and the way ried the hierarchy here and in . for developmental tasks of pursuing they understand what it means to prac- American Catholics have always had a careers, dating and marrying spouses, tice their identity in the traffic of daily penchant for the practical when they raising families, building communities life, on the other. They are changing faced questions about how to live their and serving the public. their mind and their behavior when American and Catholic lives. As James No more powerful symbol of the it comes to the moral authority of the O’Toole reminds us in his latest book builder generation’s achievement can hierarchy and their commitment to the The Faithful: A History of Catholics in be found than in the fact that six of the institutional church and its policies and America: nine Supreme Court justices today are regulations.6 “Catholics have been changing from Catholic! I think our ancestors would If creedal beliefs were the only mea- the very beginning. Their experience have been stunned and would be enor- suring tool we used to understand the has been varied, not uniform or mono- mously proud that this accomplishment Catholics we are becoming, we would lithic. No one experience has been more is replicated each and every day around have a relatively simple message to tell. authentic or defining than all others.”9 the country by countless Catholics suc- Namely, Today, once again, Catholics are try- ceeding and thriving in every industry —Catholics “are happy to be Catholic. ing to negotiate what they have always and not-for-profit endeavor imaginable. They’re proud to be Catholic. They like tried to negotiate — love and family, The Catholics we have become is due in being Catholic.”7 jobs and careers, sickness and health, large measure to the supporting insti- —When Catholics are asked what is greed and generosity. But they do so in a tutions we created to scale the heights important in being Catholic, they con- postmodern and some would suggest a of social and economic prejudice that

origins 57 were pressed against us. for its part, tried to become American eration of emerging adults (ages 22-40), If Catholics demonstrated a coop- Catholics by using their inherited faith which is 50.7 percent of the adult popu- erative spirit with the clergy during the to expand freedom, opportunity and lation today, it may be this — our strong time of expansion, it was because they economic possibilities. Catholic institutions of support are out felt they could call on Catholic institu- Using the language and the images of sync with the developmental needs tions to give them the spiritual skills and of Vatican II, boomers created their own of this younger generation of Catholic theological support to do what need- very practical template of assimilation adults. ed to be done as good Catholics and and accommodation. Freedom, oppor- We have before us a generation of authentic Americans in the tricky world tunity and economic possibility would young adults who are negotiating life of American commerce. They knew that be achieved in the Catholic community and faith in a wholly different way, a Catholic institutions were enabling and across its incredibly diverse social, cul- generation for whom the polarizing emboldening them to engage and even tural, ethnic and ideological differences debates that set the builders and boom- to succeed at the pioneering and pro- if we learned how to abide comfortably ers adrift are no longer interesting or gressive tempers of the time in a way enough with our ritual and formational practical. This is a generation that is that didn’t outpace or undermine their differences. The gamble was that we being forced by the new and untested fundamental creedal beliefs. They trust- could live civilly with one another if we rules of economic engagement to delay ed that the clergy understood the times tolerated one another’s preferences and their decisions and commitments about in which they lived. styles of religious involvement. After the careers, love and family well beyond the We became a successful genera- , this meant the time that the church is structurally able tion of Catholics well integrated into creation of seven different “cultures of to engage them. the business and politics of the major Catholic living.” This generation has a new set of industrial power because the Catholic challenges in front of them which has Church provided grounding institutions to do with two overwhelming realities: precisely at the moment when Catholics “We became a successful the reinvention of work in America and needed them most.10 The church was the rules (and rising fears) governing generation of Catholics well present concretely and institutionally the “new economy.”12 present, with religious and clergy lead- integrated into the business Landscapes and seascapes change ing the way when young people were when the plates underneath shift ever and politics of the major making their decisions on what career so slightly. The recent tsunami that hit or vocation to pursue, who and when industrial power because the Japan with such brutal force, killing tens to marry, and how to raise a family. The of thousands and consuming whole vil- Catholic Church provided church provided a sense of well-being lages in the process, was the result of and projected an image of itself as a grounding institutions pre- a slight shift of tectonic plates under- confident and helpful institution. ground. It raised sea levels and ate up cisely at the moment when The builder generation created the coastlines in a matter of minutes. The institutional sources of support and sta- Catholics needed them most.” horizon in Japan looks markedly dif- bility that allowed the boomer genera- ferent today because of the earthquake tion to succeed and thrive in the com- and ensuing tsunami. plex and competitive environment of These seven cultures represented Similarly, the landscape of young the mid- to late-20th-century world of distinct ways of practicing the faith, adulthood is changing. That landscape capitalism. each one a sincere attempt at being is being rearranged by economic forces If the task of the builder generation faithfully Catholic and authentically which we rarely study and even more was to defend the faith and move a gen- American. Whether essentialist or rarely critique.13 We have already moved eration up and out of disadvantage, the existentialist, communally oriented or as a society from a largely relational cul- task of the boomer generation was a behavioral, whether motivated by God’s ture that places a priority on family and bit different. It was to sustain the faith liberation of the poor or hoping, as a faith to a new global work culture that handed on to it and extend it with the neo-essentialist, for a restoration of places a premium on work and one’s advantages of an advanced democratic basic principles and order, or whether career above all else. The landscape for society. The boomer generation faced one comes to the church steeped in young adults is changing in two signifi- the enviable challenge of keeping the today’s professional culture, each of cant ways: faith, building community across (old) these orientations took up the linger- 1. Time. The new economy demands divides and practicing justice in a new ing task of the boomer generation — more and more of our time, energy and world of freedom, opportunity and eco- to sustain the faith within the rules of attention. The ubiquity of technology nomic possibilities. an expanding democratic spirit and an makes us constantly available for work, The builder generation became emerging economic empire.11 and the boundaries between work and American Catholics by using the insti- life are constantly blurred. tutions of the faith to establish a foot- A New Landscape, A New Generation I was talking recently with an experi- hold and a claim on the American If there is a major difference between enced and enthusiastic youth minister dream, enduring enormous hardships the situation of the builder and boomer who was discussing how difficult it was in the process. The boomer generation, generations and that of the new gen- to maintain a youth ministry program.

58 origins It wasn’t a matter of means or motiva- opmental tasks of our young adults, this population of young adults and influ- tion. The parish had an ample supply of generation is choosing to devise a more ence the church we are becoming? This is both. It boiled down to a matter of time. “improvisational” of religious and a question that has been underneath my “Young people just don’t have time,” social engagement in almost everything own practice as the director of pastoral this youth minister told me. Their time is they do.17 They are not interested in the planning in the Archdiocese of Boston. consumed by “sports and AP [advanced polarized debates that occupied the Why are we fast becoming a church placement] classes,” all designed to give minds and pulpits of the builders and the of chronically nonpracticing Catholics? the promise to young students of a leg boomers. And so, the “Catholics we are I am suggesting here that the answer up and an advantage to succeed in the becoming” is less cerebral and less ideo- lies in the ordinary Catholic’s sense of highly competitive world of the market- logical and more improvisational than “Catholic well-being,” the sense that place today. builders and boomers can understand Catholics have that Catholicism is work- 2. Desire. The new economy pro- or categorize. ing for them, the satisfaction they feel in foundly changes the nature of our being Catholic and the assurance they desiring. Whereas a classical economy have that their church is responsive to reminded people, as St. Augustine once “We have already moved as their needs and their implicit under- put it so profoundly, “our hearts are rest- standing of the mission of the church. a society from a largely rela- less until they rest in thee, O God,” our What distinguishes the builder gen- new economy deftly “commodifies” our tional culture that places a eration’s experience of the institutional desire. It materializes our desires and church and that of succeeding genera- priority on family and faith turns them into products to be bought tions revolves around this experience of and sold. Our new economy substitutes to a new global work culture well-being. The builder generation knew the “infinity of goods” for the “infinity and trusted that the clergy understood that places a premium on of God,” leaving us ever more restless, and respected their challenges in the rootless and uncertain. work and one’s career above new world. They knew the clergy sym- Young people are watching as old pathized with their struggles and would all else.” economic rules (and by old I mean those respond with appropriate institutions of just a few years ago) are reworked and initiatives to support their progress. with greater demands and fewer guar- This generation of emerging young The builder generation was happy antees. A college education and even a adults is largely uninterested in insti- to be Catholic and confident in the master’s degree are no longer sure bets tutional religion. They are, by most health of their parish communities and for employment in America. accounts, the most religiously unaf- their capacity to respond appropriately With jobs and careers becoming filiated generation in the history of the to the needs of the times. Their confi- more and more of a gamble, young world. They simply don’t see how religion dence was confirmed in the great expan- people are putting off significant com- helps them get by in the turbulent world sion of parishes, parochial schools and mitments. They are delaying decisions of modern life, love and business. They church hospitals during the early part about love, marriage, family, career and probably would agree with John Wayne, of the 20th century most of all. But this settling down well into their 30s. (This who once said, “I don’t much like God confidence in ecclesial responsiveness year’s “State of Our Unions” report out when he gets under a roof!” started to wobble in the last days of the of the Marriage Project at the University Our challenge is a whole lot more builder generation and in the period of of Virginia suggests that marriage is complex than just moving “from mainte- the boomer generation, and it has more even more vulnerable in the heartland nance to mission.” The question we must or less collapsed for the generation of of America, in the conservative middle face is whether the church can develop young adults that succeeds them. part of our country than it is on the so- appropriate grounding institutions that Are Catholics today confident that called elite — liberal — coasts.)14 help this fast-paced generation of young their parishes understand the challeng- There are new rules on the super adults negotiate family and work in the es facing them and can respond appro- cyberhighway. On that roadway one “hot, flat and crowded” conditions of the priately and effectively to their pastoral lives and breathes uncertainty, diversity, new global economy.18 needs? Do they believe their parishes fluidity and continuous searching.15 If we cannot do this and do it quickly, are healthy enough to engage the tough Here is where we come in. Most of then this generation will underscore and spiritual challenges that arise in the lives the important decisions of the America make chronic what is already true about of Catholics today? we have become and of the Catholics we us — we have become and will continue Clearly we are becoming a church are becoming — those about sexuality, becoming a church of consistently non- of consistently nonpracticing Catholics, marriage, friends, careers and children practicing Catholics, for whom the insti- but until we understand the connection — are happening out of the reach of our tutional church is largely tangential to between the felt sense of well-being and congregations because most of our for- the high task of developing character in practice, we will make no difference and mational programs generally have a shelf today’s turbulent world of family, love have little influence on the Catholics we life that lasts only to confirmation and and business.19 are becoming. not much beyond.16 How can we as pastoral planners find Because our institutions of support out how well our church initiatives are Measures of Catholic Well-Being may no longer match up to the devel- responding to the needs of this emerging The issue of Catholic well-being is not

origins 59 an insignificant one in the Archdiocese of parishes.20 The study indicated that people are emotionally, spiritually, orga- of Boston, where I serve as the director many of our priests are experiencing a nizationally and socially strong enough of pastoral planning. In the past decade posttraumatic stress, a kind of stress that to engage the processes of organization- we have dealt with three major crises that some have said is comparable to that al change that are needed in the church created a “perfect storm” of pastoral pain experienced by the men and women of today. for laity and clergy alike. As you all know, City after their terrorist attack. What we are looking to develop now Boston became the epicenter of the is an instrument of Catholic well-being, clergy sexual abuse scandal that caused a tool that will help us understand overwhelming and justifiable feelings of “The first aftershock was whether Catholic life in all its dimen- rage, disgust, anger, mistrust, cynicism, sions is getting better or worse. It would the reconfiguration of par- and betrayal in and against the church. be an instrument that could track the Not all those feelings have gone ishes when the archdiocese sense of feeling good or positive about away. They are within reach, as we find being Catholic but also of being in a closed 60 parishes. ... Boston out every time a new revelation of sex- church community that is functioning ual abuse anywhere in the world points Catholics have described it effectively. back to the crimes and failures of bish- We are looking for a barometer of to me as playing ‘Survivor ops and priests here and around the Catholic satisfaction with life in the country. One 20-year old in Boston was Island’ with other Catholics, church and a measurement of the qual- recently quoted, accurately I think, by ity of Catholic experience across several voting each other off the the New York Times, “The church here aspects of pastoral life. We need to know is still reeling from it.” island.” how and whether our work and our But, this scandal was followed by institutions are meeting the needs of two aftershocks. The first aftershock our people today, whether they are seen was the reconfiguration of parishes The third calamity in our perfect as pastorally healthy, effective and help- when the archdiocese closed 60 par- storm has been the financial crisis that ful in meeting the concerns of the faith- ishes. Without judging the motives or is not tied directly to the sexual abuse ful. We are looking for an instrument of the work of those involved, it was clear scandal but to the result of other factors, satisfaction and quality of Catholic life that the timing could not have been not least of which is the drop in church across several dimensions. worse. Many Catholics who had stayed attendance, now at 16.5 percent of all Once we know how Catholics are with the church and found comfort and Catholics going to church. An infra- experiencing their Catholic lives, then solace in their local parishes during structure of parishes and church insti- we may be able to pursue the risk fac- the time of the scandal in 2002 found tutions built for 50 percent-70 percent tors to Catholic well-being, those things themselves debating and in competition participation now has to get by on the that threaten the ongoing practice of over the survival of their parishes just a resources provided by a little more than Catholic faith. year or two later. Boston Catholics have 15 percent of church attendees. I remember the research that Dean described it to me as playing “Survivor The cardinal has announced a bal- Hoge did on the risk factors facing the Island” with other Catholics, voting anced budget for the first time in eight newly ordained.21 They revolved not each other off the island. The conse- years, no small feat in a time of increased around creeds or doctrines but around quences of the reconfiguration, however suspicion, mistrust, great recession and their experience of authority, isolation well intentioned, have been deep and steep decline in church attendance. and misunderstanding in the church. painful. All of this to suggest that what is We need to know more about the well- A once-friendly rivalry for excellence needed now is a strong assessment of being of our clergy, of our lay ecclesial between parishes turned ugly and led to how Catholics are doing and how they ministers and of ordinary Catholics sit- protests, vigils and sit-ins that have last- are faring in this turbulent time. It is ting in the pews. ed six years or more and costs the arch- not enough to answer how Catholics are Beyond that, we need to know the diocese tens of thousands of dollars to believing — more so, because studies factors that promote positive change litigate in church and civil courts. While indicate that Catholic beliefs hold firm in Catholic well-being across the gen- many Catholics understood the need to over time and culture. What is changing erations, and we need to understand the close parishes and adjusted well to new is the way Catholics experience church, protective factors that might be institut- places of worship, there is no doubt that how they see and perceive the well- ed in high-risk parishes, those commu- the pace and style of the reconfiguration being of their Catholic experience. nities that for various reasons threaten a process exacerbated the hard feelings The pertinent question today is not positive experience of church. and anger of the sexual abuse scandal “how are our beliefs holding up?” but In the Archdiocese of Boston we are and made Cardinal O’Malley’s ministry “how are Catholics doing?” and “how developing several instruments that will of healing and the restoration of cred- are they faring?” And “how conducive help us know how Catholics are doing ibility all the more difficult. are our Catholic institutions for the and how they are faring in their experi- Recently, Boston University con- transformative work of faith in the post- ence of church life. It is a work in prog- ducted a study of Boston priests to see modern world?” ress. how they were doing after the sexual As pastoral planners, we build our At this point, we are developing three abuse scandal and the reconfiguration efforts on the presupposition that our distinct instruments.

60 origins The first is a straightforward Thirty- A third survey is being launched that Notes 1 Second Survey. Based on the National should help us determine the connec- William V. D’Antonio, et al., American Catholics Today: New Realities of Their Faith and Their Church Promoter Index, we look to understand tion between parishioner satisfaction (Lanham, Md.: The Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, basic parishioner loyalty. We ask the and parish health. With the aid of a new 2007), p. 23-29. 2 Ibid., p. 142-143. question, “How likely is it that you would tool called Logic Manager, we are devel- 3 “The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey,” Pew Research recommend your parish to a friend, oping tolerance levels for our sacra- Center Publications, Feb. 25, 2008, http://pewresearch. neighbor or colleague?” Consistent with mental indexes, our baptism-to-funeral org/pubs/743/ united-states-religion. 4 Ibid. national standards, we would learn how ratios and our financial stress index 5 Ibid., p. 25. deep parishioner satisfaction or attach- that will help us track parish health and 6 Ibid, p. 141-154. 7 ment to their parish is. The higher the parish distress over time. We hope to Ibid., p. 20. 8 Ibid., p. 4. score the more likely is the feeling of track the connection between a Catholic 9 James M. O’Toole, The Faithful: A History of Catholics positive connection to the parish. sense of well-being and indications of in America (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, parish distress. 2010), p 3. 10 This is the thesis that Robert Wuthnow develops We are looking for how Catholics are in After the Baby Boomers: How Twenty and Thirty “An infrastructure of par- experiencing their institutions — are Somethings Are Shaping the Future of American Religion (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007). they inspiring and motivating; are they 11 ishes and church institutions David B. Couturier, “The Ecclesial Conversion” in The supportive and helpful? Are the institu- Four Conversions: A Spirituality of Transformation, built for 50 percent-70 per- tions on which Catholics depend today (South Bend, Ind.: The Victoria Press, 2008). 12 David B. Couturier, “The Reinvention of Work in able to provide basic pastoral services, Religious Communities of Men,” New Theology Review cent participation now has especially to the emerging generation 11:3 (August 1998), pp. 22-35. 13 David B. Couturier, The Fraternal Economy: A Pastoral to get by on the resources pro- of young adults? Are our Catholic insti- Psychology of Franciscan Economics (South Bend, Ind.: tutions and initiatives on a trajectory of Cloverdale Books, 2007). vided by a little more than 15 14 W. Bradford Wilcox, “When Marriage Disappears,” The health or distress? Marriage Project, University of Virginia, 2010, www. percent of church attendees.” stateofourunions.org. 15 Conclusion Wuthnow, p. xvi. 16 Programs like Renew and Arise are filling a void in We have been asking a complex ques- adult formation but cannot keep pace with the needs To go more deeply, we have con- tion — what kind of Catholics are we of a younger generation of Catholic adults. 17 structed a second survey, the Catholic becoming? Sociologically, we know Cf. Wuthnow for a further description of this “improvi- sational” style of young adulthood. Well-Being Scale. We reviewed and that we are becoming a more culturally 18 Thomas L. Friedman, Hot, Flat and Crowded (New learned from the work of psychologists diverse community, and if nothing dra- York: Firrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008). 19 N.T. Wright, After You Believe: Why Christian Character and sociologists who have already con- matic changes, we will become a much Matters (New York: Harper One, 2010). structed effective religious and spiri- smaller ecclesial presence in America. 20 The study was conducted by James Burns, PhD, and tual well-being scales.22 We are experi- The trajectories of church attendance Brian McCorkle of the Danielsen Institute of Boston University. menting with similar questions and rates indicate smaller Catholic com- 21 David B. Couturier, “Priestly Formation, Dean Hoge approaches to theirs but directed more munities into the future. But the rate and the First Wisdom of Sociology,” Seminary Journal (December 2009). could be more severe if we don’t attend precisely to the issue of Catholic well- 22 We are using the work of Bufford, Paloutzian and being in parish settings. to the connection that exists between a Ellison for our experiment and acknowledge our sense of well-being and institutions that indebtedness to their original research. We refer read- We do this because of our under- ers to their seminal experiments in this field. Cf. R.K. standing that Catholic well-being is address the concerns we have. Bufford, R.F. Paloutzian and C.W. Ellison, “Norms for The builder generation recognized the Spiritual Well-Being Scale,” Journal of Psychology always contextual. Stated somewhat and Theology (1991), 19, p. 56-70. ■ theologically and ecclesiologically, we that Catholic institutions supported and might say that the cross can only be furthered their concerns. The boomer borne or endured within the community generation accommodated as best they of faith. Outside the church, the cross is could to the freedom and opportunities simply nightmare and existential chaos. that came into sight in their time. Discussion In this survey we may learn more Today’s emerging adults need a precisely what it is about church experi- chance to see a clearer connection Between Pope and ence that fosters a sense of well-being. between their challenges and the min- We pose statements like: istries of the church. The question is not Astronauts at Space —“I feel my parish cares about me.” about their beliefs as about the way their —“I don’t find liturgy (Mass) in my faith is practiced. Station parish inspiring or satisfying.” We need instruments that help us —“I believe my parish is concerned understand how Catholics are doing Benedict XVI and about my problems.” and how well our institutions and our We ask Catholics their level of agree- programs are motivating and inspiring Astronauts ment or disagreement with statements Catholics in the practice of their faith. like those above. We hope to discrimi- We are at the beginning of a new line Pope Benedict XVI reached out to outer nate between the experiences of men of research that we hope will help us plan space to ask astronauts how their unique and women, and distinguish the genera- more efficiently and minister more effec- perspective from the frontier of the uni- tions of Catholics living out their faith. tively to the Catholics we are becoming. verse makes them think about difficult

origins 61 questions back on Earth. In a video who collaborate in making your mis- sciences as well. hookup May 21 between the Vatican and sion possible, and to add my heartfelt From your extraordinary observation the International Space Station in orbit encouragement to bring it to a safe and point, how do you see the situation on around the Earth, Pope Benedict asked successful conclusion. Earth? Do you see signs or phenomena the astronauts how science can help in But this is a conversation, so I must to which we need to be more attentive? the pursuit of peace and the need to pro- not be the only one doing the talking. Ron Garan, USA: Well, Your Holiness, tect a fragile planet. Seated at a desk in I am very curious to hear you tell me it’s a great honor to speak with you, and front of a video screen, the pope could about your experiences and your reflec- you’re right: It really is an extraordinary see the 12 astronauts huddled before the tions. If you don’t mind, I would like to vantage point we have up here. On the camera and trying not to float away from ask you a few questions. one hand we can see how indescribably lack of gravity inside the station. The beautiful the planet that we have been group included space station crew and 1. From the space station you have given is, but on the other hand we can members of the final mission of the U.S. a very different view of the Earth. You really clearly see how fragile it is. shuttle Endeavour. The pope asked ques- fly over different continents and nations Just the atmosphere, for instance: tions of five astronauts. His first ques- several times a day. I think it must be The atmosphere when viewed from tion dealt with violence and war, and obvious to you how we all live together space is paper thin, and to think that was addressed to the Endeavour mis- on one Earth and how absurd it is that this paper-thin layer is all that separates sion commander, U.S. astronaut Mark we fight and kill each other. every living thing from the vacuum of Kelly, whose wife, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle I know that Mark Kelly’s wife was a space and is all that protects us is really Giffords, was still recovering after being victim of a serious attack, and I hope a sobering thought. critically injured in a shooting in January. her health continues to improve. When You know, it seems to us that it’s just In Italian, the pope asked Italian astro- you are contemplating the Earth from incredible to view the Earth hanging naut Paolo Nespoli how he was handling up there, do you ever wonder about the in the blackness of space and to think the recent death of his mother while he way nations and people live together that we are all on this together, rid- was at the space station, and the pope down here or about how science can ing through this beautiful fragile oasis offered his prayers to Nespoli and his contribute to the cause of peace? through the universe; it really fills us family. Nespoli thanked the pope for his Mark Kelly, USA: Well, thank you for with a lot of hope to think that all of prayers and said he was glad he was able the kind words, Your Holiness, and thank us on board this incredible orbiting to speak with his mother before she died. you for mentioning my wife, Gabby. It’s a space station that was built by the many The discussion between the pope and the very good question: We fly over most of nations of our international partner- astronauts follows. the world and you don’t see borders, but ship. To accomplish this tremendous at the same time we realize that people feat in orbit, I think, you know, that just Dear astronauts, I am very happy to fight with each other and there is a lot of shows that by working together and by have this extraordinary opportunity to violence in this world and it’s really an cooperating we can overcome many converse with you during your mission. unfortunate thing. of the problems that face our planet; I am especially grateful to be able to Usually, people fight over many we could solve many of the challenges speak to so many of you as both crews different things. As we’ve seen in the that face the inhabitants of our planet. are present on the space station at this Middle East right now, it’s somewhat It really is a wonderful place to live and time. for democracy in certain areas, but work, and it’s a wonderful place to view Humanity is experiencing a peri- usually people fight for resources. And our beautiful Earth. od of extremely rapid progress in the it’s interesting in space … on Earth peo- fields of scientific knowledge and tech- ple often fight for energy; in space we 3. The experience you are having nical applications. In a sense, you are use solar power, and we have fuel cells right now is both extraordinary and very our representatives — spearheading on the space station. You know, the sci- important — even if you must eventu- humanity’s exploration of new spaces ence and the technology that we put ally come back down to Earth like all and possibilities for our future, going into the space station to develop a solar the rest of us. beyond the limitations of our everyday power capability gives us pretty much When you do return, you will be existence. an unlimited amount of energy. And much admired and treated like heroes We all admire your courage as well if those technologies could be adapt- who speak and act with authority. You as the discipline and commitment ed more on Earth, we could possibly will be asked to talk about your experi- with which you prepared yourselves reduce some of that violence. ences. What will be the most important for this mission. We are convinced you messages you would like to convey — to are inspired by noble ideals and that 2. One of the themes I often return to young people especially — who will live you intend placing the results of your in my discourses concerns the respon- in a world strongly influenced by your research and endeavors at the disposal sibility we all have toward the future of experiences and discoveries? of all humanity and for the common our planet. I recall the serious risks fac- Mike Finchke, USA: Your Holiness, as good. ing the environment and the survival of my colleagues have indicated, we can This conversation gives me the future generations. Scientists tell us we look down and see our beautiful planet chance to express my own admiration have to be careful and from an ethical Earth that God has made, and it is the and appreciation to you and to all those point of view we must develop our con- most beautiful planet in the whole solar

62 origins system. However, if we look up, we can to live on board of the International inseriti in una comunità che vi accom- see the rest of the universe, and the rest Space Station, to work as an astronaut pagna con attenzione e affetto? of the universe is out there for us to go on the shuttle Soyuz of the station, is Paolo Nespoli, Italy: Santo Padre, explore. extremely intense. But we all have an ho sentito le sue preghiere, le vostre And the International Space Station opportunity when the nights come to preghiere arrivare fino qua su: è vero, is just one symbol, one example of what look down on Earth: Our planet, the siamo fuori da questo mondo, orbitiamo human beings can do when we work blue planet, is beautiful. intorno alla Terra ed abbiamo un punto together constructively. So our message, Blue is the color of our planet, blue is di vantaggio per guardare la Terra e per I think, one of our many messages but I the color of the sky, blue is also the color sentire tutto quello che ci sta attorno. I think one of our most important mes- of the Italian Air Force, the organization miei colleghi qui, a bordo della Stazione sages, is to let the children of the planet that gave me the opportunity to then — Dimitri, Kelly, Ron, Alexander e know, the young people know, that there join the Italian Space Agency and the Andrei — mi sono stati vicini in questo is a whole universe for us to go explore. European Space Agency. momento importante per me, molto And when we do it together, there is When we have a moment to look intenso, così come i miei fratelli, le mie nothing that we cannot accomplish. down, beauty, which is the three-dimen- sorelle, le mie zie, i miei cugini, i miei sional effect of the beauty of the planet parenti sono stati vicini a mia madre 4. Space exploration is a fascinating is capturing our heart, is capturing my negli ultimi momenti. Sono grato di scientific adventure. I know that you heart. And I do pray: I do pray for me, tutto questo. Mi sono sentito lontano have been installing new equipment to for our families, for our future. ma anche molto vicino, e sicuramente further scientific research and the study I took with me the coin, and I allow il pensiero di sentire tutti voi vicino a of radiation coming from outer space. this coin to float in front of me to dem- me, uniti in questo momento, è stato But I think it is also an adventure of onstrate lack of gravity. I shall thank di estremo sollievo. Ringrazio anche the human spirit, a powerful stimulus to you very much for this opportunity l’Agenzia spaziale europea e l’Agenzia reflect on the origins and on the destiny and I’d like to allow this coin to float spaziale americana che hanno messo a of the universe and humanity. to my friend and colleague Paolo: He disposizione le risorse affinché io abbia Believers often look up at the lim- will make return to Earth on the Soyuz. potuto parlare con lei negli ultimi itless heavens and, meditating on the I brought it with me to space, and he momenti. Creator of it all, they are struck by the will take it down to Earth to then give it Dear astronauts, I thank you warmly mystery of his greatness. That is why the back to you. for this wonderful opportunity to meet medal I gave Robert (Vittori) as a sign and dialogue with you. You have helped of my own participation in your mis- 5. La mia ultima domanda è per me and many other people to reflect sion represents the creation of man as Paolo. Caro Paolo, so che nei giorni scorsi together on important issues that regard painted by Michelangelo on the Sistine la tua mamma ti ha lasciato e quando the future of humanity. I wish you the Chapel ceiling. In the midst of your fra pochi giorni tornerai a casa non la very best for your work and for the suc- intense work and research, do you ever troverai più ad aspettarti. Tutti ti siamo cess of your great mission at the service stop and reflect like this — perhaps even stati vicini, anche io ho pregato per lei. of science, international collaboration, to say a prayer to the Creator? Or will it … Come hai vissuto questo tempo di authentic progress and for peace in the be easier for you to think about these dolore? Nella vostra Stazione vi sentite world. I will continue to follow you in things once you have returned to Earth? lontani e isolati e soffrite un senso di my thoughts and prayers, and I will- Roberto Vittori, Italy: Your Holiness, separazione, o vi sentite uniti fra voi e ingly impart my apostolic blessing. ■

ORIGINS - Now three subscription types to meet your needs!

Origins PRINT Origins ONLINE Origins PLUS 1Each week you quickly receive 2Gain online access to the full Origins 3Have it all! You receive 47 issues Origins by mail, 47 issues a year — some archives back to 1971. Our powerful search of the print edition PLUS 24/7 access 800 pages of the latest church documents. engine instantly locates information you to the fully searchable online Origins require at any given moment — for classes, archives back to 1971. servic e

“A Catholic university rejects a faith that trumps all claims of homilies, presentations, discussion groups, reason and rejects a rationalism servic e

documentary that pre-empts all claims of faith.” “A Catholic university rejects a faith that trumps all claims of CNS reason and rejects a rationalism contents describe her mission today”: fi rst, the

documentary that pre-empts all claims of faith.” principle that “knowledge is good in 277 The Role of a Catholic etc. This online archive — some 7,700 texts itself and should be pursued for its own University by Father John Jenkins, CNS sake”; second, that “there is a deep har- CSC contents mony between faith and reason”; third, describe her mission today”: fi rst, the 281 Statement on the Love principle that “knowledge is good in 277 The Role of a Catholic that “the role of community and the call University Holy Blessed itself and should be pursued for its own by Father John Jenkins, to service are central to Christian life.” sake”; second, that “there is a deep har- Mission CSC The university “must send forth gradu- by Archbishop Jerome mony between faith and reason”; third, that “the role of community and the call 281 Statement on the Love ates who will be intellectual and moral Hanus Holy Trinity Blessed to service are central to Christian life.” leaders for our time,” said Jenkins, and Mission 282 Statement on the Love now — expands with each week’s Origins The university “must send forth gradu- by Archbishop Jerome it “must continue to advance in research Holy Trinity Blessed ates who will be intellectual and moral Hanus and become a more signifi cant leader Mission leaders for our time,” said Jenkins, and 282 Statement on the Love by Cardinal Francis it “must continue to advance in research Holy Trinity Blessed in expanding knowledge and under- Mission George and become a more signifi cant leader standing.” Jenkins said that “every in expanding knowledge and under- by Cardinal Francis George department, college and institute must, 283 Theology of the Body standing.” Jenkins said that “every The Role of a by Bishop Robert Baker department, college and institute must, 283 Theology of the Body The Role of a by Bishop Robert Baker wherever possible, fi nd dimensions of wherever possible, fi nd dimensions of Catholic University their research agenda that refl ect our 292 Datebook Catholic University their research agenda that refl ect our 292 Datebook Catholic character and values.” And, he 292 On File Catholic character and values.” And, he 292 On File issue. Father Jenkins, CSC said, “as we affi rm the Catholic identity said, “as we affi rm the Catholic identity Father Jenkins, CSC of Notre Dame, we acknowledge and of Notre Dame, we acknowledge and “My presidency will be driven by a embrace the many non-Catholics who “My presidency will be driven by a embrace the many non-Catholics who wholehearted commitment to uniting are deeply committed to this university and integrating these two indispensable wholehearted commitment to uniting are deeply committed to this university and its principles.” Jenkins’ text follows. and wholly compatible strands of high- and integrating these two indispensable and its principles.” Jenkins’ text follows. er learning: academic excellence and his college will be one of the most and wholly compatible strands of high- religious faith,” Holy Cross Father John powerful means for doing good in Jenkins said in his inaugural address this country. er learning: academic excellence and his college will be one of the most Sept. 23 as president of the University So wrote Edward Sorin to his religious faith,” Holy Cross Father John powerful means for doing good in of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. “The rteligious , Father Basile Moreau in Jenkins said in his inaugural address this country. world needs a great university that can France, just nine days after arriving at the Sept. 23 as president of the University So wrote Edward Sorin to his address issues of faith with reverence snow-covered site that would become Notre and respect while still subjecting reli- Dame. of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. “The treligious superior, Father Basile Moreau in October 6, 2005 gion to intellectually rigorous, critical For 163 years it has fallen to the men and Volume 35 world needs a great university that can France, just nine days after arriving at the discussion,” Jenkins said. He discussed women of Notre Dame to fulfi ll this commit- Number 17 + address issues of faith with reverence snow-covered site that would become Notre three “Catholic principles that inspired ment. Today we renew it, and we expand it. the founding of universities” and that and respect while still subjecting reli- Dame. October 6, 2005 “still defi ne Notre Dame’s character and continued on page 278 gion to intellectually rigorous, critical For 163 years it has fallen to the men and Volume 35 discussion,” Jenkins said. He discussed women of Notre Dame to fulfi ll this commit- Number 17 three “Catholic principles that inspired ment. Today we renew it, and we expand it. the founding of universities” and that “still defi ne Notre Dame’s character and continued on page 278 print online

Special online rates for institutions such as libraries, parish staffs, schools, seminaries, etc. For more information call (202) 541-3284 or go to www.originsonline.com

origins 63 Periodicals datebook U.S.Postage CNS documentary service PAID Washington DC June 16-17 3211 Fourth Street NE - Washington DC 20017 National Faith, Justice and Civic Learning Conference. Sponsor: Campus Compact, a national coalition of college and university presidents committed to fulfilling the civic purposes of higher education. DePaul University. Chicago, Ill. http://nfjcl.depaul.edu

June 19-21 Interfaith Worker Justice National On File Conference. Theme: “Forging the Flame of Justice.” Includes June 18-19 theo- Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, and about 10,000 in . The epar- logical symposium on economic justice. Ill., presented Pope Benedict XVI chy was formed as an exarchate in 1981. DePaul University Student Center. In 2005, Pope Benedict raised it to an Chicago, Ill. www.iwj.org with two thick volumes about the life of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen at the . in Eastern Catholic June 19-24 end of the pope’s weekly general audi- churches are called . Rome Seminar for Catholic University ence May 25. The books — totaling Trustees, Administrators and Faculty close to 2,000 pages — are the posi- The Salesians of St. John Bosco Leaders: “U.S. Catholic Higher Education in a Global Context.” Sponsor: tio, the official position paper, outlin- removed two European members from Association of Catholic Colleges and ing why the Catholic Church should their duties after it was discovered one Universities. Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas. recognize Archbishop Sheen as a . belonged to a pro-pedophilia organiza- Rome, Italy. www.accunet.org Archbishop Sheen, who was born in tion and another made remarks defend- *June 20-23 Illinois in 1895 and died in New York in ing pedophilia. The Salesian headquar- Collegeville Conference on Music, 1979, was an Emmy-winning televange- ters in Rome said a Dutch priest identi- Liturgy and the Arts. Sponsor: St. John’s list. His program, “Life Is Worth Living,” fied only as Father “B” and the supe- School of Theology-Seminary, The Liturgical Press and St. John’s Music aired in the United States from 1951 rior of the Salesians in the Netherlands, Department. Theme: “Implementing to 1957. The archbishop was host of Father Herman Spronck, had both been the New Missal: Anxiety, Renewal, “The Catholic Hour” radio program for suspended. “The Belgium-Holland Opportunity.” St. John’s University. Collegeville, Minn. [email protected] 22 years before beginning his televi- province officially announced that sion career, wrote several popular books Father B no longer has permission to June 22-24 and traveled the world speaking and carry out any pastoral activity and that Annual Catholic Media Convention. preaching once his TV program went Father Spronck has been relieved of Sponsor: Catholic Press Association of the U.S. and Canada. Theme: off the air. The Congregation for ’ his office as delegate,” the congrega- “Celebrating 100 Years of Reporting Causes will study the and if con- tion said in a May 23 press release. The the Good News.” Wyndham Grand gregation members agree, they will rec- Salesian provincial of Belgium-Holland, Pittsburgh Hotel. Pittsburgh, Pa. www.catholicpress.org ommend that the pope officially declare Father Jos Claes, said that to the that the archbishop lived the Christian Salesians’ “great surprise,” Father “B” June 23-25 virtues in a heroic way. was a member of a Dutch-based asso- Annual National Right to Life ciation that advocates legalizing sexual Convention. Hyatt Regency Jacksonville relations between an adult and child. Riverfront. Jacksonville, Fla. Pope Benedict XVI has named www.NRLConvention.com Msgr. Mikael Mouradian, who is supe- Father Claes said the association is “not rior of the Convent of Notre Dame in compatible with our Salesian identity” *July 11-13 Bzommar, , as the new bishop and “we therefore condemn the mem- Annual Summer Conference on of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg bership and the opinions of Father van Addictions: “Addictions Ministry and Compassion Fatigue: Caring for the in New York for Armenian Catholics. B.” The province set up a committee to Mind, Body and Soul.” Sponsor: Guest Bishop-designate Mouradian, who was collect information about Father “B’s” House. Boston Marriott Newton Hotel. born in Lebanon, succeeds Bishop actions and statements, Father Claes Newton, Mass. www.guesthouseinstitute.org , who is 81. The New said, and a committee report “will be sent to the superiors of the Salesian *signifies new entry York-based eparchy serves about 25,000 Armenian Catholics in the United States congregation in Rome.”

64 origins