News Notes Membership Newsletter Winter 2009 Volume 36, No. 1 CONVENTION 2009 IN ALBUQUERQUE: A CONVERSATION The NOCERCC community gathers February 16-19, 2009 as the Archdiocese of Santa Fe welcomes our thirty-sixth annual National Convetion to Albuquerque. News Notes recently spoke with Rev. Richard Chiola, a member of the 2009 Convention Committee, about the upcoming convention. Fr. Chiola is director of ongoing formation of priests for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Springfield. He is also the Author of Catholicism for the Non-Catholic (Templegate Publishers, Springfield, IL, 2006). In This Issue: Convention 2009 in Albuquerque: A Conversation.................... 1&3 2009 President’s Distinguished Service Award....................... 2 2009 NOCERCC National Albuquerque, New Mexico Convention............................ 4 NEWS NOTES: Please describe the overall theme of the convention. Rev. Richard Chiola: The ministry of the Word is one of the three munera or ministries which the ordained engage in for the sake Tool Box................................. 5 of all the faithful. As the USCCB’s The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests indicates, each of these ministries requires a priest to engage in four dimensions of ongoing formation. The convention schedule will explore those four dimensions (the human, the spiritual, the intellectual, and the pastoral) for deeper appreciation of the complexity of the ministry of the Word. Future conventions will explore each of the other two ministries, sanctification and governance. 2009 Blessed Pope John XXIII Award.................................... 5 The 2009 convention will open with a report from Archbishop Donald Wuerl about the Synod held in the fall of 2008 on the ministry of the Word. Archbishop Basil Schott, OFM, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, is the new liaison for USCCB to NOCERCC. He will celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and help the convention participants appreciate the insight of the eastern churches into the Ministry of the Word. Requiescat in Pace................ 6 N.N.: How does human development relate to the ministry of the word, and which speakers will address this topic at the convention? R.C.: The human development necessary for the ministry of the Word is the first topic for presentation at NOCERCC People............... 7 the convention. John Paul II in Pastores Dabo Vobis (No. 43) wrote, “In order that his ministry may be humanly as credible and acceptable as possible, it is important that the priest should mold his human personality in such a way that it becomes a bridge and not an obstacle for others in their meeting with Jesus Christ the Redeemer of humanity.” Calendar................................ 7 Dr. Sara Fairbanks, OP, of Barry University will present a plenary address on the ability of our humanity to carry both human communication and the revealed Word of God. Breakouts for the human dimension of the ministry of the Word will include a session with Michael Morton from Guest House Institute. Michael will outline the emotional readiness a priest needs to engage in human communication of the Word through Continued on Page 3 Page 2 of 7 NOCERCC News Notes NOCERCC HONORS GOOD LEADERS, GOOD SHEPHERDS Established in 1994, the President’s Distinguished Service Award is presented to an individual or organization that champions ongoing formation for priests and presbyterates, supports NOCERCC, contributes to its work, and promotes its mission and goals in the public square. NOCERCC will present its 2009 President’s Distinguised Service Award to The Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) for its Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program. In 1990 Timothy C. Flanagan, co-founder of CLI, discovered his mission in life on an executive leadership retreat in Pecos River, NM. Tim felt a profound sense of calling to bring to the Catholic Church the very best in leadership and personal development programs to help people understand their purpose in life and reach their God-given potential as leaders in our world. When he returned home from New Mexico, he began to network with other Catholic leaders to share his vision. As fate (or the Spirit) would have it, Tim eventually crossed paths with Father Charles Pfeffer, then Director of the Office for Youth and Young Adults in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Although Fr. Pfeffer's office had many effective programs in place for the youth in the diocese, efforts to connect young adults (ages 21-39), while well intentioned, had been ineffective. Tim shared with Father Pfeffer his experience with corporate training programs and his vision of utilizing those corporate methods to benefit the Church. Tim made a 10-year commitment to building a leadership course for young adults; Father Pfeffer committed the services and facilities of his office and staff; and in 1991 Catholic Leadership Institute was born. For the first five years, with an all-volunteer staff, Tim and the Catholic Leadership Institute ran the Leaders Experiential Adventure Program for young adults and other parish and diocesan leaders. In the mid-90's other programs were added to continue the leadership development process for graduates. All courses use Jesus' example as the ultimate model of leadership and help participants to live their faith in all aspects of their life. In late 2003 CLI introduced the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI) to priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The PLI was the forerunner to the present day, Good Leaders, Good Shepherds (GLGS) curriculum, which is a two-year leadership-training program, designed to help priests enhance their leadership skills and empower the individuals they serve. In 2006 the Board of Directors approved a plan to allocate the organization’s resources and personnel full-time to Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. The organization realized that it could have a far greater impact by helping one shepherd who in turn could positively influence the lives of the thousands entrusted to that shepherd’s care. This impact has been felt throughout the country. "I am pleased to offer words of support and commendation for the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program, which is currently strengthening the skills of over 50 of our pastors so they can more effectively, confidently, and joyfully fulfill their administrative responsibilities. We also anticipate a "learning cohort" for lay leaders as well; it will serve as a valuable complement to the priestly leadership formation process. It should also be noted that prayer and the spiritual well-being of participants is a vital component of all aspects of the program." — Cardinal Adam Maida, Archbishop of Detroit NOCERCC President Rev. Norbert Maduzia offered this reflection on the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program: “The first cohort of priests in Galveston-Houston is approaching the fourth module of Good Leaders, Good Shepherd training. It has been a great experience and is renewing a sense of camaraderie and fraternity. It is evident that down the road we will have a greater confidence and trust in each other and therefore be better pastors and leaders within the Archdiocese. As president of NOCERCC I know that Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is spreading and is becoming the answer to a leadership model for the Church. As bishops continue to see the need for more priests, they also see the need for priests who will A session of Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in Boston. shepherd after the heart of Jesus. Because of Good Leaders, Good Shepherds the fraternity of the priesthood is being strengthened, the Church is being strengthened and the Kingdom of God is being realized in our midst.” NOCERCC News Notes Page 3 of 7 CONVENTION 2009 IN ALBUQUERQUE: A CONVERSATION (Continued from page 1) preaching and teaching. Rev. Richard Vega, president of the National Federation of Priests Councils, will be joined by international priests in a conversation on the human insight priests from other nations may provide to this ministry within the dominant United States culture and how the local culture receives this ministry of the international priest. Rev. Larry Gillick, S.J. of Creighton University will lead a session on the human developmental potential of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. In Christ, the depth of our humanity is the divine; to conduct a ministry of the Word of God is to be transformed into the likeness of what is communicated. N.N.: In breakout sessions what specific issues will be addressed, and which breakout sessions are you especially excited about? R.C.: The intellectual dimension of ongoing formation will be addressed through art, exegetical education, attention to issues of justice, and the catechetical use of the lectionary. Deacon Bill Ditewig of St. Leo University will present the plenary address. Breakouts will include a session focusing on Word and culture in dialogue with Charles Carrillo, a local artist. Dr. Diane Bergant, CSA of Rev. Richard Chiola Catholic Theological Union leads a session on the place of exegetical understanding and John Carr, executive director, USCCB, Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, will focus his breakout on the social justice context of the ministry of the Word. Albuquerque was chosen as the site for the 2009 convention because of its unique Catholic cultural mix which includes Old Spanish, Native American, and Anglo American expressions. The first day (Monday, February 16) will include two optional