For The Bulletin Of day, and begins the second part of his good 16 May 2021 news, the Acts of the Apostles, with another account forty days later. Perhaps Luke is using these two accounts to stitch together the farewell reality of Jesus in His glorified humanity and the mission of the church, His Body, which in His Spirit, must continue His presence and work in the world. Luke addresses the Acts of the Apostles to “Theophilus” (“Lover of God”), perhaps a patron of the early Christian community. Gathered today around the World, we are also the intended readers, all called to be “lovers of God.”

Mark narrates that Jesus is risen. He has appeared to His followers during forty days – a biblical number symbolic of both fullness and transition – and has instructed them about the promised coming of the Holy Spirit. He explains this coming in baptismal terms. Water had been the baptismal THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD medium of the Baptist, but this new baptism will be in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. From Father Robert So the disciples wait for this unimagined While the 1969 reform of the church’s and unimaginable outpouring, still captive to liturgical calendar retained the Feast of the curiosity about times, dates, the possible Ascension in the Easter Season, the integrity relationship of Israel to the kingdom about of the fifty post-resurrection days, the which Jesus has so often spoken, and an “Great Sunday,” has been restored to the implied hankering for knowledge of their status it enjoyed in the early church. The own positions in this kingdom. Jesus Ascension is one of the many-faceted Easter deflects their desire for such answers into a jewels that crown the liturgical year, and concern for mission – the witness to Him today’s reading reflects this light. In favor that the disciples will be called and of this integrity, in most places the feast of empowered to give beyond Jerusalem, the Ascension has been transferred from the beyond Judea and Samaria, to the very ends forty day interrupting marker of “Ascension of the earth. The disciples are still a Thursday” to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, wounded community, wounded by Judas’ and symbolically the Paschal Candle is no treachery, by Peter’s betrayal, and by their longer extinguished on the Ascension but cowardice. Yet it is in the midst of such continues to be lit until Pentecost Sunday. failure, false expectations, and incorrigible personal ambitions and wishes for quick In their different ways, all the gospel writers solutions, that Jesus will call them to want us to appreciate the threshold moment mission. of Jesus’ exaltation into haven. Luke ends his gospel with one account of the ascension of Jesus happening on the evening of Easter

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For some reason, the Lectionary omits verse Today’s psalm incites us to “sing praise to 14 from today’s reading of the “longer God, sing praise.” What are you currently ending” (and third post-resurrection praising God for in your own life? appearance of Jesus) of Mark’s gospel. It is considered an inspired but later addition to In the gospel we hear that Jesus, seated at Mark 16:8 for the comfort and strengthening the right hand of God, continues to “work of the communities on mission. And so as with” the disciples as they preach and do we gather liturgically around the table, we good works. How do you experience Jesus’ may not realize that Jesus’ commission to go presence working with you in ministry? and proclaim the Good News of His resurrection to the whole of creation is also given to the wounded Eleven “at table.” Nor do we hear how Jesus upbraids them for their lack of faith and stubbornness – something that is surely a great consolation for ourselves as wounded, struggling disciples in whom the flame of missionary desire can flicker or even be extinguished. Yet like the Eleven, we are also people entrusted with the mission of proclaiming the gospel now that the physical presence of About Liturgy: Already…But Not Yet Jesus has ascended to heaven and is no We celebrate now Jesus’ ascension and will longer with us. We too are sent to do new soon celebrate the coming of the Spirit at wonders, speak new words with the fire of Pentecost. Jesus’ death and resurrection the Spirit on our tongues, offer new healing earned for us a new life and a “New to our sisters and brothers, and cast out Jerusalem,” but we’re not there yet. Jesus’ contemporary “demons” from ourselves and ascension and the arrival of the Spirit show others. And all this continues to be “in the us that same thing – where He has gone, we name of,” in the personal power of Jesus one day hope to follow – but not yet. into Whose Body we are baptized. “Already not yet” is one of the overlooked paradoxes of our Christian faith. This odd in-between time is hard to wrap our heads around. To wit: most of us view heaven as the ultimate and final destination of our souls, but that’s only because that’s what it’s been for 2,000 years. Your grandparents or even parents might have had to memorize this answer form the Baltimore Catechism once upon a time: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this In the first reading, Jesus instructs the world, and to be happy with Him for ever in apostles to return to Jerusalem and “wait for heaven.” But wait – isn’t that ultimate goal, the promise of the Father.’” What promise as recited in the Creed every Sunday, the of God’s are you waiting on to be fulfilled? resurrection of the dead and the life of the

world to come?

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It feels, sometimes, as if our church has lost our parish is to invite everyone to wear that sense of expectation after all this time. something RED to contribute to the energy, Do we, like the early apostles might have, the enthusiasm, the environment, of this glance up at each passing cloud and wonder, great day. I hope you will join us in this is this the one that is bringing Jesus back to tradition. us? When will Christ come again? Is it today? Am I ready? These are the sorts of things we pray over at the end of each church year and into Advent as well – but this is also a perfect time to re-examine our lives and our faith. Are we ready? How can we be more ready? How can we more deeply reflect on these serious questions?

On behalf of all of us, I extend the best of wishes to Ray and Shelli Daviess on the occasion of their Fiftieth Anniversary of and to Werner and Roseanna Hoch on the occasion of their Fifty-sixth Anniversary of Marriage. May God continue to bless you with the best of health, much happiness, and the deepening of your love. Congratulations!

Dr. Andrew Currier appointed superintendent of schools for The Sanctuary Candles for this entire year Oakland Diocese have been provided through the generosity Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, has appointed of Terry Pedras in Loving Memory of her a longtime Catholic educator as Parents, Alfredo and Elena Avelar. superintendent of diocesan schools. Dr. Andrew T. Currier, currently president of Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco, who will begin work as superintendent on July 1. Currier holds a doctorate in philosophy from The Catholic University of America and a master’s degree in education from the University of Notre Dame. Currier has served for 19 years in Catholic education with over 13 years in Catholic school leadership, including in Florida, the Washington, D.C. area and Pentecost Indiana, in addition to being president of Next weekend, 22-23 May, we celebrate the Riordan since 2017. "I am impressed with conclusion of the Easter Season and the Dr. Currier’s record at Riordan High School Great Fifty Days. One of the traditions of — which has grown and expanded under his

3 leadership,” Bishop Barber said. “We are fortunate to have found a very capable new superintendent who shares my vision for improving the Catholic identity of our schools, and who is open to new models required for the survival of Catholic education in this 21st century.” During Currier’s tenure as Riordan’s president he supported enrollment expansion, athletics facilities upgrades, and focused on Catholic identity and programming. Currier has also served as principal at other Catholic schools Justice Corner by Carolyn Krantz, which underwent transitions, and has served Pastoral Associate in the superintendent’s office for the There is a pattern in the universe that many Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. He has philosophers have written about: Order, fluency in Spanish and French, and is a Disorder, Reorder, or Construction, member of the Order of Malta, which Deconstruction, Reconstruction. Our lives provides medical care to the needy in the seem to follow this pattern. Man and Bay Area. He also volunteers at his parish, woman construct a marriage, then children Notre Dame des Victoires in San Francisco, come along and deconstruct whatever plans and for the Order of Malta in the Bay Area. they had, then they set about reordering their lives to the new reality. We are in such a “I am grateful to Bishop Barber for the historic period. COVID deconstructed the gracious invitation to serve the Catholic world as we knew it. Now we have the schools in the Diocese of Oakland,” Currier opportunity to bring our creative said. “Bishop Barber's vision for missionary imagination to reconstruct a better world, to discipleship, transcendent Mass experiences build a world with more love, to make better for students, with teaching and learning patterns for the good of all. These patterns imbued and animated by the corporal and will demand sacrifice. With climate change spiritual works of mercy, is inspiring and a real reality, we will have to re-pattern the absolutely necessary for successful Catholic way we do things. With the advent of zoom schools. I really look forward to partnering and other technological advances, we will with pastors and school leaders on finding have to reorient our methods of new ways to share the Good News of Jesus communication. We are in for a radical Christ with our students and promoting the rearrangement. good work being accomplished in the Diocese of Oakland.” The Diocese of Spiritually, we could call these times, Oakland’s school system serves 48 Catholic “Apocalyptic.” Theologians define this term schools in Alameda and Contra Costa in a new way these days, not as the “end counties. There are 39 elementary/middle times,” but as a time that reframes reality in schools, including six in the Lumen Christi a radical way, a time that uses our Academies, and nine high schools. Every imagination to build a better world for year more than 700 students receive need- everyone. Yes, we will have to make some based tuition grants through the FACE changes. We will have to give up our “gas (Family Aid – Catholic Education) initiative. guzzlers” for electric. We will have to ration and clean up water reserves. We will have to band together with neighbors of all colors

4 to make improvements. We can think of this work. This is an “Apocalyptic” time. Let us and complain or we can see it as an rejoice that the Risen Lord is with us and go opportunity for human ingenuity. forth to imagine and then create a better world. The feast of the ascension is also this kind of time. The disciples had just gotten over the horror of the crucifixion. They had tried to absorb what it means that “Death has no more victory over us.” As Christ ascended, they stood there dumbfounded until the angel reminds them, “Why do you stand there looking up to heaven? This Jesus will come in the same way.” No need to wish for Him. He is with us always. We just have to put on our “Ascension glasses” to see His Presence. So get busy! Go out into the whole world and preach the Gospel of love! Reconstruct the world in His Name. No time to pine over what was. We must spend our energy rebuilding the world around us.

For older people, this is hard. We have memories. We liked the way things were, but the message of this Gospel does not leave us time for living in the past. “Why do you stand here?” Get busy constructing a better world.

So our task this week is to imagine a better world, then take one step to make it happen. It may be a world where there is no hunger. Then I join the Food Bank to help that happen. Or it may be creating a world where babies are welcomed and loved. Then I call “Birthright” and offer to help. Or it may be Justice Corner #2 ensuring that all have a good education. by Carolyn Krantz, Pastoral Associate Then I call up the local school and Where is home? Most of us have moved volunteer. There are so many ways we can several times in our life. Sometimes we use our imaginations and create. But the have found a place that we enjoy. first task is to connect with the Risen Lord Sometimes it feels strange for a while until in prayer and listen to the urgings of His we get acclimated, but we are always Spirit. Find that unique place where He searching for a place that feels comfortable wants you to build His kingdom. He will and safe. Sometimes that is in the heart of a come in the same way, flooding our friend. Sometimes it is in a job that we like, imaginations with ideas, filling our where there is like companionship. Then in imaginations with new ways for His Spirit to older life we learn that home is in our own hearts when we are at peace.

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In the Christian Scriptures, we learn that Interfaith Housing, now called Hope home is when “we remain in Him”, where Solutions, is leading an effort to build Tiny we are wrapped in the oneness of God's love Home communities to give the homeless a for us, where we feel the presence of His safe place and access to resources. In the Spirit. In the morning when you find a few future we may be called upon to assist this minutes to pray, imagine yourself wrapped effort, to bring the feeling of home to these in the blanket of His Presence. “We have wanderers, to wrap them is His love. come to know and to believe in the love God Currently, one can go on the website to see has for us,” says the Epistle. The world may volunteer opportunities. They range from, be chaotic and threatening, but we “do not building projects, providing furnishings and belong to the world.” We are wrapped in groceries gift cards, to helping Kids with His love. When we find that place of silence homework, etc. in our hearts, we know we are home. But in our noisy world, it takes a while to come The Disciples felt God's all-embracing love. into that silence and remain there. In our Let us embrace our homeless with His love. hearts we are called upon to give an This love “consecrated them in truth.” The affirmative response to the Transcendent truth is, that the world has been stingy with Reality that is this God of love. Then we are the lives of those living in a tent on the river. really “home.” The disciples wandered the world telling all about a God Who loved us so much that He We must reflect that love by being of died for us made a home for us in His heart. service, by creating a brotherhood and With tenderness and mercy, let us go forth to sisterhood in our families and in our create a world where all have a home with communities. So many people have become us and in God. “lost” during the pandemic. As we look at our families, is there one person who needs to be wrapped in God's love this week, a person who is feeling lonely and afraid, who needs to find that calm center? Can you be that for them? Can we cherish them in a special way this week?

As we look at our community in Antioch, we become aware that there are many homeless encampments in our town. These are people gathered together for protection Each week our parish is blessed with those and sleeping in tents. They are people with who volunteer in various ways to help us no permanent home. There the feeling of home is always threatened. They are along accomplish our mission. Among those the river and along the Pittsburg-Antioch volunteers are those who come every week Highway and many other spots. Some are to clean and prepare the church and veterans, some have alcohol and drug bathrooms for the weekend and week ahead. problems, some have PTSD and other Our thanks to Jun Bajet, Al Cosce, Carole mental illnesses. They are our brothers and Miller, Angela Bueno, Rose Salamanca, sisters. It doesn't matter how they got there, Jean Rogers, Mency Osborne, Finian they are on our doorstep. Contra Costa Anyanwu, and Steve Rojek.

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From Grand Knight, Chip Sharpe, Knights of Columbus I'd like to acknowledge several knights who pitched in over the last week.

Steve Rojek, Brian McCoy, and I responded to a short fuse request from St. Vincent de Paul to help them run a Covid Vaccine Clinic last Thursday. They serviced dozens of citizens, many homeless, at their Pittsburg facility. It was an honor to be a part of it. Cardinal Luis F. Ladaria, S.J., the prefect of Bill Saunders, Walter Schlueter, Joe the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Stahl, Jack Goncalves, Ron Yarolimek, Faith, has sent a letter to Archbishop José H. and myself cleaned up Contra Loma Gomez, the president of the U.S. Conference between Putnam and Buchanan. It took us of Catholic Bishops, that may lead to a less than an hour. reconsideration of the plan of some bishops to get the conference to approve a Lastly, Steve Rojek ran the Mary Project document regarding “the worthiness to over the weekend, collecting parishioner receive Communion” of Catholic politicians donations of baby items for Birthright of who support legislation permitting abortion, Brentwood. Helping him were PGK Dave euthanasia or other moral evils. Simpson and current Chancellor Bill Stuhlreyer. The letter, dated 7 May, comes as a response to a letter on 30 March from Archbishop Thanks Brothers for your charitable service. Gomez to the C.D.F. in which he informed the congregation that the U.S.C.C.B. was preparing to draft such a document. Vatican sends letter to Cardinal Ladaria thanked the archbishop for U.S. bishops: Don’t this information and for assuring him that the U.S.C.C.B. plans to send the draft text to rush the debate on the C.D.F. “for an informal review, prior to its submission to the body of bishops for a Communion, vote.” He concluded by saying the C.D.F. asks that the cardinal’s letter “be shared with politicians and all the bishops of the United States.” abortion Cardinal Luis F. Ladaria, S.J., has sent a letter to Archbishop José H. Gomez that may lead to a reconsideration of the plan of some bishops to get the conference to approve a document regarding “the Gerard O’Connell, Vatican Correspondent worthiness to receive Communion” of for the Jesuit Publication, America Catholic politicians. 10 May 2021

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Cardinal Ladaria begins the letter by the episcopate and the larger church in the responding at length to Archbishop Gomez’s United States.” request that the C.D.F. make available a copy of a letter from then Cardinal Joseph Furthermore, the cardinal said, “the Ratzinger to former cardinal Theodore formulation of a national policy was McCarrick in 2004 on the subject. Cardinal suggested during the ad limina visits only if Ladaria explained that since it was “in the this would help the bishops to maintain form of a private letter to the bishops” and unity.” He added, “The congregation notes Cardinal Ratzinger had stipulated that “these that such a policy, given its possibly principles were not intended for contentious nature, could have the opposite publication,” the C.D.F. would respect his effect and become a source of discord rather wish. than unity within the episcopate and the larger church in the United States.” At the same time, Cardinal Ladaria acknowledged that the principles contained Cardinal Ladaria said the C.D.F. had then in the letter may assist the bishops in advised the U.S. bishops to take certain drafting their document, but they “should important steps before drafting any only be discussed within the context of the document, including engaging in “extensive [C.D.F.’s] authoritative doctrinal note” of and serene dialogue” in two stages. It said 2002: “On some questions regarding the such dialogue should take place first among participation of Catholics in political life.” the bishops with the aim of reaching He said that text predates Cardinal agreement on the doctrinal issues so as “to Ratzinger’s “personal communication” and maintain unity” in the conference and in the “provides the teaching of the Magisterium church in the United States. on the theological foundation for any initiative regarding the question of the After doing that, it said the bishops should worthy reception of Holy Communion.” conduct a similar dialogue with the Catholic politicians “within their jurisdiction who In the letter from Cardinal Ladaria, a copy adopt a pro-choice position regarding of which was seen by America, he recalls abortion legislation, euthanasia, or other that the issue of a U.S.C.C.B. document on moral evils, as a means of understanding the Catholic pro-choice politicians and nature of their positions and their worthiness for reception of Communion, had comprehension of Catholic teaching.” been raised during the 2019-20 ad limina visits of the U.S. bishops to Pope Francis. “Any statement of the conference regarding He said the C.D.F. had then “advised that Catholic political leaders would best be dialogue among the bishops be undertaken framed within the broad context of to preserve the unity of the episcopal worthiness for the reception of Holy conference in the face of disagreements over Communion on the part of all the faithful, this controversial topic.” rather than only one category of Catholics.”

“The congregation notes that such a policy, Once these two stages of dialogue have been given its possibly contentious nature, could completed, Cardinal Ladaria said the have the opposite effect and become a bishops’ conference “would then face the source of discord rather than unity within difficult task of discerning the best way forward for the church in the United States

8 to witness to the grave moral responsibility learn from one another and to preserve unity of Catholic public officials to protect human in the Universal Church.” life at all stages.” The counsel from the congregation seems to The C.D.F. letter also lays down important suggest clearly that the drafting of a markers if the bishops choose to go in this document as envisaged by the U.S.C.C.B. direction. First, it said that if the conference president is something that cannot be rushed decides “to formulate a national policy on and would inevitably take time, and it would worthiness for Communion,” that “such a have to reflect “true consensus” among the statement would need to express a true bishops, something that cannot be taken for consensus of the bishops on the matter, granted now. while observing the prerequisite that any provision of the conference in this area would respect the rights of individual Francis officially ordinaries in their dioceses and the prerogatives of the .” creates Catholic

Cardinal Ladaria said the C.D.F. “advises” ministry of catechist, the U.S.C.C.B. that “any statement of the conference regarding Catholic political open to men and leaders would best be framed within the broad context of worthiness for the reception women of Holy Communion on the part of all the 11 May 2021 faithful, rather than only one category of by Joshua J. McElwee Catholics, reflecting their obligation to conform their lives to the entire Gospel of Parish Jesus Christ as they prepare to receive the Vatican sacrament.”

Significantly, in a comment that challenges the U.S.C.C.B. position that abortion is “the pre-eminent” moral issue, Cardinal Ladaria told the conference’s president that “it would be misleading if such a statement were to give the impression that abortion and euthanasia alone constitute the only grave matters of Catholic moral and social teaching that demand the fullest accountability on the part of Catholics.” Maura Buckley, a teacher of deaf people and a catechist from Dublin, Ireland, speaks at a 2009 Cardinal Ladaria concluded by telling conference on "The Deaf Person in the Life of Archbishop Gomez that as they draft the the Church" at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul statement the U.S. bishops should make Haring)

“every effort...to dialogue with other VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on May episcopal conferences [in other countries] as 11 formally created a new official ministry this policy is formulated in order both to in the for those who teach

9 the fundamentals of the faith to children and catechists should receive "suitable biblical, others, opening the position to "men and theological, pastoral and pedagogical women of deep faith and human maturity." formation" to succeed in their roles. The pope also asked national bishops' Instituting a new ministry of "catechist" with conferences "to render effective" the new the apostolic letter Antiquum ministry and determine "the necessary ministerium ("Ancient ministry"), the pontiff process of formation and the normative said those who already serve as teachers of criteria for admission" to the role. the faith in places across the world experience a spiritual calling to do so and Francis' opening of the new ministry of are often leaders in their communities. catechist to both men and women comes shortly after the pontiff made explicit in "The Spirit is calling men and women to set January that Catholic laywomen can also be out and encounter all those who are waiting formally installed in the church as lectors to discover the beauty, goodness, and truth and acolytes (often known as altar servers). of the Christian faith," said Francis, explaining his decision to officialize the Although women in many U.S. Catholic ministry in the document. dioceses already served in those roles, the church's canon law had technically only "It is the task of pastors to support them in allowed for their service on a temporary this process and to enrich the life of the basis and according to the whim of the local Christian community through the bishop. recognition of lay ministries capable of contributing to the transformation of Francis has struggled throughout his eight- society," said the pope. year papacy to better include women in the Catholic Church's leadership structure and In the Catholic Church, a catechist is ministries, and has repeatedly reaffirmed someone who teaches the core principles of Pope John Paul II's ban on women's the faith. In earlier centuries, catechists were ordination to the priesthood. often priests or members of religious orders but they are now frequently lay persons who Last year, the pope disappointed those volunteer or are sometimes employed at campaigning for the church to return to the Catholic schools or parishes. practice in early centuries of the faith of ordaining women as deacons, declining to With the new document, issued motu answer a request from the Synod of Bishops proprio (on the pope's own initiative), lay for the Pan-Amazon region on the issue. catechists can be officially instituted into roles as ministers for their local dioceses and In the new document, the pope said that the receive recognition for what the pope termed early Christian community "was a "stable form of service rendered to the characterized by many different forms of local Church." ministry carried out by men and women who, obedient to the working of the Holy Francis said the Vatican's Congregation for Spirit, devoted their lives to the building up Divine Worship and the Discipline of the of the Church." Sacraments "will soon publish" a rite of institution for the ministry, and that

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"At times, the charisms that the Spirit The pontiff ended his letter by asking that constantly pours out on the baptized took on bishops and priests cooperate with laypeople a visible and tangible form of immediate serving in the new role, quoting from the service to the Christian community, one document Lumen recognized as an indispensable diakonia for Gentium: "Pastors... know that they were not the community," said Francis, using a Greek established by Christ to undertake by word that can mean "service." themselves the entire saving mission of the Church to the world. Although Pope Paul VI's 1973 apostolic letter Ministeria quaedam had "They appreciate, rather, that it is their envisioned that national bishops' exalted task to shepherd the faithful and at conferences could ask the Vatican to the same time acknowledge their ministries formalize the ministry of catechists in their and charisms so that all in their separate regions, the ministry had never been ways, but of one mind, may cooperate in the universally instituted before. common task."

At a Vatican press conference May 11 presenting Francis' new letter, Italian Archbishop Rino Fisichella said the formalization of the ministry of a catechist "signals an important innovation."

"The institution of a ministry by the Church is confirmation that the person invested with Joshua J. McElwee that charism is performing an authentic Joshua J. McElwee is NCR's Vatican ecclesial service to the community," said correspondent and international news editor. Fisichella, president of the Pontifical His email address Council for the New Evangelization. is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter: @joshjmac. But the archbishop also said it was "obvious" that not everyone who is currently serving as a catechist will be formally installed into the new ministry.

"Of primary importance is the vocational dimension which implies a willingness to serve the Church where the bishop considers it most beneficial," said Fisichella. "Ministries are not conferred for personal gratification, but for service to be rendered to the local Church where the bishop deems the presence of the Catechist necessary."

Francis said in his letter that his institution of the new ministry of catechist would go into effect immediately.

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Tuesday, 11 May 2021 [It’s important to] consider that this derives from the Bible itself. One of the loveliest books in the Hebrew Bible . . . is the Song of Fr. Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Solomon, also called the Song of Songs or From the Center for Action and the Canticle of Canticles. . . . It is the story Contemplation of a bride and bridegroom, their passion for one another, their devotion to one another, and their (strongly hinted at) passion as physical lovers.

Historically, the Song of Songs has been read as a kind of allegory: the two lovers symbolize the caring relationship between God and Israel, or Christ and the Church, or Christ and the individual believer. This is where the mysticism of love comes in. . . . Week Nineteen: Mystical Marriage Elizabeth of the Trinity [1880–1906] serves The Great Love Song as a wonderful modern example of a bridal mystic. She entered the Carmelite order at age twenty-one and died only a few years later, but her legacy of letters and other Carl McColman has written many writings reveals a deep sense of God’s accessible books on spirituality, the mystics, presence in her life, a presence luminous and contemplative prayer. Here he explores with love. As she wrote in one of her letters, a biblical book of “bridal mysticism” and “I feel so much love over my soul, it is like also offers an example of a modern mystic an Ocean I immerse and lose myself in: it is who experienced this kind of union with my vision on earth while waiting for the God. face-to-face vision in light. [God] is in me, I am in Him. I have only to love Him, to let “God is love” (1 John 4:16) may be the myself be loved, all the time, through all single most important verse in the entire things: to wake in Love, to move in Love, to Bible. . . . Is it any wonder that many of the sleep in Love, my Soul in His Soul, my great Christian mystics are renowned as heart in His Heart, my eyes in His eyes. . . .” lovers of God? This can take a variety of [1] forms: for some, being God’s lover is very ethereal and philosophically abstract; but for Elizabeth prayed that God would make her others, an embodied, physical, even erotic soul his heaven. In doing so, she recognized quality characterizes their mysticism of love. the heart of the mystery: that heaven is not There is even a term—“bridal mysticism”— just a place we go after we die, it is a state for the many mystics (both female and male) into which we are invited now. whose experience of profound love of God was so deep and all-encompassing that it led to a spiritual sense of being “married” to God. . . .

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received minor orders on their way up the Francis is redesigning clerical ladder. While he was at it, Paul suppressed the major order of sub-deacon, the church with new now fondly remembered mainly by aficionados. The lay ministries subdiaconate was the final step in the now 12 May 2021 abandoned cursus honorum (course of by Phyllis Zagano honor) before the major order of deacon. Theology By the late Middle Ages, no one became a Vatican cleric (through tonsure) and entered the cursus honorum unless he was on the way to priesthood. No matter the history of women deacons. No matter that the diaconate was a once functioning reality. No matter that some 37 popes were deacons before becoming bishops of Rome. That all ended anyway with Gregory VII, an archdeacon at the time of his 1073 election. Gregory insisted on priestly ordination prior to his episcopal consecration.

Pope Francis gestures as he addresses more than In the present, Francis, whose seeming 1,000 diocesan leaders, both and laity, resistance to some requests of the Amazon May 9, 2019, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, synod has caused not a small amount of the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Seated heartburn, is working quickly to restore the next to the pope is Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, church as a functioning and cooperative vicar of Rome. (CNS/Remo Casilli, Reuters) body of believers.

When Pope Francis said he did not want to While Francis did pass over some requests clericalize the laity, he meant it. Now, while of the Amazon synod, notably for married too many bishops have their cinctures in a priests and women deacons, he has set a knot over who can approach Communion, laser focus on function, rather than the 266th successor of St. Peter is functionality. His beautiful Querida redesigning the church. Amazonia, in response to the Amazon synod's final document, reminded the whole It all began with the Second Vatican church that Canon 517.2 recognized parish Council. Then, in 1972, Pope Paul life coordinators — some religious, some VI suppressed the minor orders in response secular, some men, some women, some to the windstorm that was the council, married, some ordained deacons — who instead creating two "installed" lay hold parishes together, maintaining them as ministries: lector and acolyte. vibrant communities. He wants them recognized, professionalized and paid. For men. Installed lectors and acolytes were to take up It is not about who can do everything, like the duties once performed by the lectors, the medieval priests who essentially porters, exorcists and acolytes of the arrogated to themselves the duties of all the medieval church, who by modern times

13 other orders — major and minor — ensuring availabilities required for actual catechesis that their priesthood was the principal seat may be better found among the laity. of power. It is about the members of the whole church picking up their baptismal Lay ministry is real ministry, and the focus promises and running with them. here is on the Gospel. It is about synodality. It is about evangelization. Without these, Consider this: on Jan. 11 this year, Pope there will be no church. Francis opened to women the "installed" lay ministries of lector and acolyte, previously restricted to men (mostly men training to be deacons and priests).

Then, just the other day, Pope Francis responded to an idea that sat untouched since the council and established the installed ministry of catechist. The Phyllis Zagano pope called for "men and women of deep Phyllis Zagano is senior research associate- faith and human maturity, active participants in-residence at Hofstra University, in in the life of the Christian community, Hempstead, New York. Her most recent capable of welcoming others, being book is Women: Icons of Christ, and her generous and living a life of fraternal other books include Women Deacons: Past, communion." In so doing, he put his finger Present, Future. Study guides for the book, on the failures of "twinned" or "yoked" which is also published parishes, where one pastor and his personal in Spanish, French and Portuguese, are staff manage multiple communities, which available for free download in and of themselves are essentially at sites.hofstra.edu/phyllis-zagano/. leaderless.

Francis' ecclesiology prefers communities of believers gathered around the Gospel and the Eucharist with everyone participating. He sees many flowers in the church's fields: lectors, acolytes, catechists, pastoral life coordinators, deacons and priests, all in particular churches led (not managed) by bishops.

Of course, someone has to coordinate the (hopefully paid) ministries at every level, but the smaller the parish the greater the coordination. This motu proprio document on catechists does not eliminate ordination as necessary for sacramental ministry, but it On behalf of all of us I wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Ralph and expands the notion of evangelization. Yes, th the ordained can evangelize, but the specific Gloria Ramirez as they celebrate their 70 training, skills, personalities and Anniversary of Marriage. For those of you who join us for our 10:00 a.m. Sunday

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Eucharist, they always sit in the first pew of everything under control. When the the main bay of pews, on the right side. distribution concluded, we were able to They have been a blessing not only to us but supply 159 families with desperately needed also to Good Shepherd, Holy Rosary, and food; that meant we were able to assist a St. Bonaventure parishes. For many years, total of 603 people. Many volunteers came they were involved in facilitating the RCIA from the previously closed distribution site Process at Good Shepherd. They are the at the employment office. proud parents of seven children. We ask God’s richest blessing upon them as they Thank you again to all the volunteers that mark this milestone in their Covenant of came and made this a very successful and Marriage. memorable Friday.

Bishop Robert Barron's 'beige' version of Vatican II 14 May 2021 by Massimo Faggioli

Theology Vatican

Last Friday was probably the largest food distribution at St. Ignatius of Antioch that I can recall! The folks from the food bank of Contra Costa-Solano set up the course through the parking lot for cars to follow.

When we started around 3:20 p.m. we had approximately 40 cars lined up and the cars kept on arriving. There were 20 volunteers directing and filling the trunks of cars with boxes of various items along with fresh vegetables. Bishops fill St. Peter's Basilica during a meeting of the Second Vatican Council. (CNS/Catholic The best part was that no one had to get out Press Photo) of their car. Some cars were collecting for more than one family and most for their own Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los family. There were so many cars we had to Angeles since 2015, is the most popular and extend our normal volunteering hour until influential cyber-evangelist in American 5:00 p.m. Catholicism. In 2000, he also founded Word on Fire, an interesting experiment of web- Having such a large number of helpers was based Catholic apologetics and retrieval of truly a blessing. Overall, the food bank had

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the contribution of key thinkers relevant for theology and the church.

One of the latest editorial initiatives of Word on Fire is the elegantly designed volume The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection, published in March. The book includes, in this order:

• The opening speech of the Second Vatican Council by Pope John XXIII, Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, of Oct. 11, 1962; Pope John XXIII leads the opening session of • The complete texts of the four constitutions the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's (Dei Verbum on divine revelation, Scripture Basilica Oct. 11, 1962. (CNS/L'Osservatore and tradition; Lumen Gentium on the Romano) church; Sacrosanctum Concilium on the liturgy; Gaudium et Spes on the church in Other choices made by Barron are less the modern world); convincing, for example, the decision to • The closing address of Vatican II by Pope publish the texts of the four constitutions in Paul VI of Dec. 7, 1965; English using the official Vatican translation • An afterword by Matthew Levering; (which is available also online for free). It is • A glossary of key terms and figures; true that there is still no consensus on which • "Frequently Asked Questions" about English translation is the best one, the last Vatican II. one (by Austin Flannery in 1996) now more than 25 years old. But the Vatican The texts of the four constitutions are translation is notoriously a little careless in interspersed with long excerpts from the some passages, besides sounding evidently post-conciliar popes (including Paul VI) gender noninclusive (more in English than commenting on key issues raised by in the original Latin). particular paragraphs of the constitutions. The order in which the four constitutions are The book opens in a promising way, with published is not explained by the editor, but the choice to publish Gaudet Mater it seems to be more theological than Ecclesia, which is hermeneutically historical, with the choice of Dei Verbum on important to understand Vatican II in the revelation being the first. But when Vatican intention of the pope who called it, John II actually opened in 1962, the conciliar XXIII. That speech plays an important role debates started — and for precise reasons in the statements of Pope Francis on the having to do with the strong consensus interpretation of Vatican II. around the need for a reform of the liturgy — with the schema De Liturgia leading to Sacrosantum Concilium, the first of the four constitutions, promulgated in December 1963.

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significant cultural and ecclesiastical events of the twentieth century." Actually, Vatican II was the single most important event for Catholicism in four centuries, since the Council of Trent.

This book is a response against the new enemies of Vatican II, the Catholic "rad- trads," but without forgetting Barron's other polemical objects. Here Barron in the Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron in introduction again: "I and Word on Fire St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 27, 2020 stand firmly with Vatican II and hence (CNS/Stefano Dal Pozzolo) against the radical traditionalists. And we stand firmly with the Wojtyla-Ratzinger It's from the introduction that Barron shows interpretation of the council, and hence his intention: responding to traditionalists' against the progressives." assault against the legitimacy of Vatican II, which has been rampant for a few years now This is a false equivalence. The in Catholic blogs and the internet. This anti- hermeneutics of Vatican II by the radical Vatican II narrative had a surge since the opposition against the very legitimacy of the paraschismatic attempt by Carlo Maria theology of Vatican II is significantly Viganò, former apostolic nuncio to the different than that by progressives in favor United States who tried to unseat Francis of an expanded interpretation of Vatican II in August 2018, turned later into a bizarre according to the spirit of Vatican II (as narrative on contemporary Catholicism that questionable as that appeal can be Viganò and his followers see as a sometimes). catastrophe made possible by the teachings of the council. The intention to recover Vatican II is laudable and begins from undisputable fact Barron has talked about this surge of anti- that Barron recognizes: "I believe that the Vatican II cyber-traditionalism in this last documents of Vatican II are still widely year, especially in his lecture "Pope Francis unread, and if they are read, often and Vatican II" for the Napa Institute retreat misunderstood. The needful thing, I am in 2020. convinced, is a robust and enthusiastic reappropriation of the texts of Vatican II. I In the introduction to The Word on Fire hope that this book represents a contribution Vatican II Collection, Barron lays his cards to that project." on the table: His intention is to respond to the traditionalists' assault: "A fresh controversy has broken out, this time prompted by 'traditionalists' who claim that Vatican II has betrayed authentic Catholicism and produced disastrous consequences in the life of the Church."

Barron calls, with an understatement hard to understand, Vatican II "one of the most

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freedom, which is not published in the volume, and the Syllabus of Errors by Pius IX (1864), which denied religious liberty to non-Catholics (among other things).

It remains to be explained why, if they are in continuity, never quotes the syllabus nor Pius IX. In this way, understanding the historical development of

Pilgrims attend a candlelight vigil in St. Peter's the Catholic tradition becomes impossible. Square at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2012, to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second As an alternative to the battles between Vatican Council. (CNS/Paul Haring) Scholastic and ressourcement theologians around Vatican II, Levering encourages "a The problem is that the texts of Vatican II ressourcement Thomism in which the two are not just the four constitutions presented sides make a good faith effort to find good in this volume: There are 12 more of them. things to say about the other side." But this Someone who would start to learn about approach narrows down drastically the Vatican II from this volume would have no spectrum of legitimate voices and excludes way of knowing that. It is true that the four other significant streams in the global constitutions belong to a higher category of Catholic Church today. conciliar teachings, but this assumption has been relativized in the post-Vatican II Some of the replies in the nine pages of period, and not just by progressive FAQ at the end of the volume provide theologians, but also by popes, if one looks, effective talking points against anti-Vatican for example, at the role of the II traditionalism, but the real enemies seem declaration Nostra Aetate on non-Christian to be still on the other side. religions in the pontificate of Pope John Paul II (not to mention Francis). For example, a quotation from Cardinal Robert Sarah explains that the polemical The interpretive stance that dominates the target of this operation is not really a whole volume is "the hermeneutic of defense of Vatican II, but a defense of an continuity," inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, idea of Catholic doctrine as absence of but in a particular American version change: "Those who make sensational dismissive of historical nuance. announcements of change and rupture are false prophets. They do not seek the good of The afterword by Matthew Levering, a the flock. They are mercenaries who have prolific author and editor of volumes been smuggled into the sheepfold. Our unity defending the "hermeneutics of continuity," will be forged around the truth of Catholic expands with some context on the other doctrine. There are no other means." documents of Vatican II and grants that the declaration on religious liberty provides "valuable doctrinal development." At the same time, Levering also tries to highlight the continuity between Dignitatis Humanae, the Vatican II document on religious

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ecumenism does not even figure in the glossary.

Moreover, if in the theological interpretation of Vatican II one does not include the discontinuities of documents like Dignitatis Humanae on religious liberty and Nostra Aetate on non-Christian religions, the whole "good Catholic conservatives vs. progressives as false prophets" narrative becomes a caricature.

Pope Paul VI presides over a meeting of the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 1963. (CNS/Catholic Press Photo)

The history of the magisterium teaches us that not all changes are ruptures, and not all material continuities with the previous tradition ensure continuity with the Gospel. It is also misleading to say that "the same magisterium that gave us the ecumenical council of Vatican II also gave us Pope Benedict XVI's motu proprio [ on the 'traditional Latin Mass']," At St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia almost implying that the teaching of a Sept. 27, 2015, Pope Francis blesses a sculpture commemorating the 50th anniversary of "Nostra general council like Vatican II and the motu Aetate," the Second Vatican Council Declaration proprio of a pope are on the same level of on the Relationship of the Church to Non- authority. Christian Religions. (CNS/Paul Haring)

A book like this tries, with commendable This volume provides one more evidence of courage, to take a stand against radical the de-theologization of the Catholic traditionalists (finally!). But at the same leadership in the context of the "culture time, it functions as a symptom of the crisis wars." The silence of the volume on the that made "rad-trads" emerge in the first conciliar teaching on religious liberty place. corresponds to the almost totally legal and constitutional, nontheological argument of The problem is not the anti-progressive the U.S. bishops' campaign for religious move underlying this book, but the liberty in the last 10 years. This is Exhibit A theological myopia that prompts the move. for the mutual estrangement between The theological interpretation offered here is Catholic hierarchy and sound historical- made possible only by the silences on other theological scholarship. aspects of Vatican II: This makes it impossible to know not just Vatican II, but Barron's and Levering's preference for Hans also the post-Vatican II church. The Urs von Balthasar over Bernard Häring fits conciliar decree on ecumenism is barely understandably with their theology, yet mentioned, only in the afterword, and

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Häring was a very active participant of contributed in terms of overall narrative to Vatican II, while Balthasar was absent. the interpretation of Vatican II.

Much less acceptable is the presentation of Francis' teaching is absent, but it would have Vatican II as an ecclesial and theological made sense, given the professed intention of event that seems all enclosed within the the volume, to mention especially Francis' European and North American hemisphere. decisions about traditionalism (see, for In the glossary of key figures there are no example, the abolition of the Pontifical Latin American, African or Asian Commission in 2019). participants, and their contribution to the council (for example, to the liturgical Francis is in good company with the best debate) is not considered. To miss the fact English-speaking scholarship on Vatican II that Vatican II was a global Catholic event in the last two decades: There is no mention means missing a key historical-theological of the works of Joseph Komonchak, John point with catastrophic consequences. O'Malley, Ormond Rush, Richard Gaillardetz, Gerald O'Collins and Catherine Clifford. (Full disclosure: Levering falsely accuses one of my books, the one on liturgy and ecclesiology, of "rejecting the letter" of the council.)

Fulton Sheen seems instead to offer much more insights to the editors of this volume. Bishop Sheen participated in Vatican II but spoke only once at the council and left no significant trace in the conciliar corpus. Bishops are pictured on the steps of St. Peter's Basilica following a meeting of the Second It is fine to look for a popular and pastoral Vatican Council in 1962. (CNS/Catholic Press Photo/Giancarlo Giuliani) voice like Sheen to try and make sense of the turbulence of the post-conciliar period In the glossary of key terms, among the for the audience of Word on Fire. And I most conspicuous absences there are understand that for Barron, it is much more religious freedom, non-Christian religions, difficult to do, in the 21st century, what Judaism, Islam. The absence of religious Sheen did in the 20th century in a much liberty from the book explains only up to a more religion- and church-friendly cultural point the absence from the glossary of Jesuit and media system. Fr. John Courtney Murray, the most important U.S. Catholic theologian at Vatican II.

Pope Francis is included in the excerpted comments on the four constitutions, but that is all. This book reacts to what happened in the Catholic cyberspace in the last few years, but does not register what Francis has

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healthy and necessary Vatican II centrism. That intention has real merit.

But this work actually expresses an extremist centrism that remains friendly to nonschismatic traditionalism and risks being indifferent to the interpretation of the readers of today, almost 60 years after the beginning of the council. This deepens the problem of connecting the teaching of A bishop speaks with two laywomen during a Vatican II with the church and world of meeting of the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 1962. today, including the present pope. (CNS/Catholic Press Photo/Giancarlo Giuliani) Barron is a theologian and founder of a But it is indefensible the total absence of Catholic movement, but he is also a bishop women from this volume, both in terms of for the universal Catholic Church, and a their contribution to preparation and celebrated one. As a pastor, a little more celebration of the conciliar event (they were generosity toward conciliar hermeneutics there, even though not as voting members) would be in order, even if they do not and to the hermeneutics of Vatican II. From exactly match his taste. With this kind of this book, one gets the impression that the defense of Vatican II, Barron, ironically, council was and has to remain strictly a male serves up a version of the "beige business. The only three women mentioned Catholicism" he has complained about are St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bridget of elsewhere. Sweden and St. Edith Stein, to whose care Europe was dedicated by John Paul II.

As I have written elsewhere, I believe that Catholic theology, especially in the English- speaking context, has left Vatican II in something like a no man's land between an anti-Vatican II traditionalism and a post- Vatican II and post-institutional Massimo Faggioli progressivism. For the former, Vatican II is Massimo Faggioli is professor of theology too modern to be Catholic; for the latter, and religious studies at Villanova Vatican II is too Catholic to be modern. This University. is at the root of the intellectual and theological crisis of U.S. Catholicism today.

The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection is the most important effort of a U.S. Catholic bishop to defend Vatican II, but Barron presents a Vatican II that is safe for a certain kind of traditionalism. This collection of texts and commentaries wants to recover a

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In May 2020, the Dicastery for Promoting Catholic action on Integral Human Development declared a Special Laudato Si' Anniversary Year to environment set for mark the fifth anniversary of Francis' 2015 encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our massive Common Home." Bookending the year have been two Laudato Si' Weeks, sponsored by multiplication this the dicastery and other Catholic organizations. Laudato Si' Week Laudato Si' Week 2021 begins May 16 and Inspiration, runs until May 25. The time frame coincides with the date, May 24, 2015, when Francis presentations, signed his first solo encyclical and the first- collaboration: Get ready ever papal document centered on the environment. for May 16-25 14 May 2021 This year's Laudato Si' Week pulls its theme by Brian Roewe from part of the pope's appeal in the document's introduction: "For we know that things can change." The events will celebrate the church's progress so far in acting on the landmark encyclical, with the goal of launching a massive multiplication of Catholic engagement around conservation, sustainability and changing the current trajectory of global warming.

Christina Leaño, associate director of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, one of the partner organizations, said the theme is Children plant trees on the feast of St. Francis in both an acknowledgement of environmental October 2019 in Indianapolis. Laudato Si' Week work undertaken by Catholics already and 2021 is May 16-25. (CNS/Courtesy of an invitation to advance those efforts even Indianapolis Archdiocese's Creation Care further. Commission) "We've seen the tremendous initiatives, all The Vatican's celebratory year for Pope the work that Catholic institutions have done Francis' encyclical on ecology is coming to a around the globe, and individuals, because close, but organizers hope its end will mark of Laudato Si'," she said. the beginning of a major movement within the global Catholic Church to turn its Salesian Fr. Joshtrom Kureethadam, message about preserving creation into coordinator of the dicastery's ecology and actions to create a more sustainable world creation sector who's been at the center of for all. planning the Laudato Si' Year, told

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EarthBeat that the year has unfolded "even The ambitious project seeks to animate beyond our expectations." Catholics at the grassroots — in families, dioceses, religious communities, schools, He highlighted numerous projects, among universities, health care centers and them a major tree-planting initiative in businesses, including farms — to meet Bangladesh, the creation of Laudato Si' seven sets of sustainability benchmarks. Gardens, countless webinars and a Living Among them: achieving carbon neutrality, Chapel installation in Rome. Religious reducing plastic use and meat consumption, orders have been among the most active, he incorporating ecological themes into said, with his own Salesian province in India liturgies and education, defending all forms committing to solar energy. of life, divesting from the fossil fuel sector and investing in renewable energy. "We're very optimistic, because as I said, we are seeing a movement from below, and as Kureethadam said the platform is intended Pope Francis often says, from the to offer Catholics a strategic way to live out peripheries," Kureethadam said. the spirit of integral ecology described in Laudato Si', at a time when the crises of Virtual events will take place each day, the coronavirus pandemic and climate including presentations by Cardinals Peter change have made more and more people Turkson and Luis Tagle, along with Laudato recognize a new way of living is necessary Si'-inspired concerts and contests. But one for the sake of the world's most vulnerable of the main events will come on May 25, populations and endangered ecosystems. when the dicastery will hold a "soft launch" of its much-anticipated Laudato Si' Action "We cannot go on like this, and I Platform. think Laudato Si' offers an alternate path," he said. The platform, announced during Laudato Si' Week 2020, will outline a series of Catholics engaged in environmental work benchmarks for Catholic organizations large have eagerly awaited the Vatican-backed and small to achieve "total sustainability" in platform as a potential game changer that the spirit of the encyclical within a seven- may move more Catholics to seriously year period. address ecological issues. Scientists say this decade is critical for dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions to limit the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.

Jose Aguto, associate director of Catholic Climate Covenant and a point person for U.S. preparations for the Laudato Si' Action Platform, described its potential as "transformational."

"It is the proverbial pebble on top of the mountain to get the big old snowball going," A beehive is seen at the Laudato Si Centre in he told EarthBeat in January. Manchester, England, Aug. 22, 2019. (CNS/Simon Caldwell)

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"Our hope is that it can be a week webinars featuring several cardinals, that inspires, as we listen to each other and numerous development officials and climate the ways that we've been bringing Laudato activists and artistic presentations Si' to life." highlighting biodiversity threats. The pope —Christina Leaño, Global Catholic Climate may also comment on Laudato Si' Week Movement during his Angelus messages in St. Peter's Square on May 16 and 24. The Vatican will hold a press conference to announce the soft launch of the platform, which is expected to further preview the initiative, debut a new website and ask Catholics to begin discerning how they might become engaged. More of the Laudato Si' Action Platform will then be rolled out on Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, at the conclusion of the annual ecumenical Season of Creation.

Since the release of Laudato Si' in June 2015, Francis has brought the church's moral Pope Francis meets Jose Gregorio Diaz Mirabal, a member of the Curripaco indigenous voice to international talks on climate community and COICA, a network of change, biodiversity loss, deforestation and Indigenous organizations in the Amazon Basin, increasing threats to Indigenous during a session of the Synod of Bishops for the communities and others who are highly Amazon at the Vatican Oct. 8, 2019. vulnerable to the impacts of a warming (CNS/Vatican Media) world. The first webinar of the week, on May 17, The pope has called Catholics and others to will focus on Catholic participation in two an "ecological conversion" based on heeding upcoming United Nations summits, COP 15 "the cry of the Earth and the cry of the on biodiversity, held in China in October, poor." As the coronavirus has surged around and the COP 26 climate conference in the globe, he has urged countries not to Glasgow in November. return to normal, but to regenerate a world that better conserves its natural resources That dialogue, which is expected to and cares for the people and creatures living highlight the church's support of holding in it. global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, will include Fr. Augusto Zampini, "Both the global catastrophes, Covid and adjunct secretary of the integral human climate change, prove that we do not have development dicastery; Christine Allen, time to wait," Francis said in an Earth Day director of the U.K.-based development message. "Time urges us, and as COVID-19 agency CAFOD; José Gregorio Díaz demonstrated, we do have the tools to face Mirabal of COICA, a network of Indigenous the loss. We have the instruments. This is organizations in the Amazon Basin; and the moment to act. We are at the edge." Ditebogo Lebea, a youth climate activist Before the Laudato Si' Action Platform from South Africa. launch event, the week will offer a series of

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The second session of the week, May 18, will spotlight strides in incorporating the A global day of creation care action on pope's environmental encyclical into May 21 will be followed the next day by a education in universities and other settings, Laudato Si' Festival featuring "Songs for and will include a representative of the Creation," where artists and musicians will Laudato Si' Research Institute at Oxford highlight threats to biodiversity across the University. globe. Winners of Laudato Si'-inspired photo and story contests will also be On May 19, a virtual event will turn honored at the festival, and the Vatican is attention to energy, the health impacts of expected to issue a message for World fossil fuels and the question of divestment. Biodiversity Day. Participants will include Cardinal Jean- Claude Hollerich, president of the Tagle, the Philippine cardinal who heads the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of Congregation for the Evangelization of the European Union, which announced in Peoples and Caritas Internationalis, will lead November it would avoid fossil fuel a closing prayer gathering on May 23, the investments, and climate activist Bill feast of Pentecost. The ceremony will begin McKibben, who has led the international Go in Assisi with a message from Archbishop Fossil Free campaign. Domenico Sorrentino, and will include a missionary-like send-off of ecological The latest joint divestment announcement by ministers, including the Global Catholic the Global Catholic Climate Movement is Climate Movement program's Laudato Si' also expected that day. animators, to spread the message of creation care. Religious orders will take the spotlight on May 20, sharing ways they have responded On May 24, Turkson, prefect of the integral to Laudato Si', including through human development dicastery, will take part the Sowing Hope for the Planet initiative led in a virtual event on the Vatican's WASH by the International Union of Superiors project, which seeks to expand access to General. Franciscan Sr. Sheila Kinsey, co- drinking water, sanitation and hygiene in coordinator of UISG's Justice, Peace and Catholic health care facilities around the Integrity of Creation Commission, will co- world. lead an international panel of women and men religious. Leaño said that organizers see the week as a way to energize, educate and ultimately give "Time urges us, and as COVID-19 people direction on specific ways they can demonstrated, we do have the tools to face take action, whether they be first steps or the the loss. We have the instruments. This is next project. the moment to act. We are at the edge." —Pope Francis "Our hope is that it can be a week that inspires, as we listen to each other and the The event will also feature the launch of the ways that we've been bringing Laudato Si' to Creation Care Prayer Network, which will life," she said. coordinate monthly intentions, retreats and other ways to connect people through prayer for the preservation of creation.

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Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, president of the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union, speaks with a refugee at an activity center for migrants and refugees near Moria on the island of Lesbos, Greece, May 8, 2019. (CNS/Cindy Wooden)

Brian Roewe Brian Roewe is NCR environment correspondent. His email address is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @brianroewe.

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord

Make Us a Gift Loving Father, you sent your Son into the world that we might see you by seeing him. He offered his life as a gift for the life of the world. On the third day, you raised him to life, a life so powerful it could never again die. Grant us the grace to offer our lives as a gift for the life of the world, so that, dying with Jesus, we might rise with him. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday, May 16, 2021 We Hope to Follow

Today’s readings: Acts 1:1–11; Psalm 47:2–3, 6–7, 8–9; risen, they could not have been eager to face persecution Ephesians 4:1–13; Mark 16:15–20. After the resurrection, themselves. But even though Jesus was gone, he had not Jesus appeared again and again over a forty-day period. He abandoned them. explained the Scriptures to his disciples, they touched him, The Ascension is a feast of joy, joy in the Father glori- and they shared meals together. Often it took them time to fying Jesus. It is also a feast of anticipation, because we recognize him. hope that we too will be raised, that we too will be taken up On the fortieth day, Jesus commissioned the apostles to Jesus because we belong to him. We hope that by believ- to preach the Gospel to all creatures and to baptize in the ing in Jesus and by living in imitation of him, we too might name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. be citizens of heaven, raised up by the Father. Sometimes it seems that these first witnesses were the Our lives become gifts to God when we die to our- lucky ones. They saw Jesus, heard his voice and teachings, selves and unite ourselves to Jesus. May our prayer be one of and perhaps even touched his wounds. Having seen, how offering our whole lives to the Father so that dying with the could they have done anything but believe? And yet until the Lord, we might rise with him. Where he has gone, we hope Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, they were afraid. They to follow. had seen what had happened to him, and even though he had This Week at Home Thursday, May 20 Peacemakers Monday, May 17 The reading from Acts portrays an event in which religious people react to Paul’s actions out of their conviction. So Transformed by the Spirit stirred up are the factions that they have a difficult time In the reading from Acts, the men begin to speak in tongues responding peacefully. Sometimes people who love the after Paul lays hands on them. Our lives should also look Church can be like this. Strong emotions arise when people markedly different because the Holy Spirit is within us. become defensive, when it seems like their ways of being in Where do you see the Holy Spirit at work in your life? When relationship with God are challenged. Yet we are called to be making big decisions, do you rely on the guidance of the peacemakers, even as we are called to speak the truth and Spirit? How can you invite God to be part of your process of give prophetic witness. Christ’s peace is received in the discerning your best way forward? Today’s readings: Acts Eucharist. How can you live out this call to make peace 19:1–8; Psalm 68:2–3ab, 4–5acd, 6–7ab; John 16:29–33. within the Church? Today’s readings: Acts 22:30, 23:6–11; Tuesday, May 18 Psalm 16:1–2a and 5, 7–8, 9–10, 11; John 17:20–26. Bearing Witness Friday, May 21 As Paul looks at the possibility of his future martyrdom, his words echo the words of Jesus before the passion. Both Our Lives as a Gift The number of times Peter declares his love for Jesus corre- focused on the people they served, the people who were their sponds to his three denials of the Lord before the crucifixion. mission. Jesus, sent by God, and Paul, sent by the risen With these affirmations, Jesus tells Peter to “feed my sheep.” Christ, both call all people into the light so that the plan of No matter what we have done in the past, God is waiting to God might be fulfilled. God is always sending us too. How redeem it. Everyone’s life can be offered as a gift to God, the are you called to “bear witness to the gospel of God’s grace”? giver of life. Today’s readings: Acts 25:13b–21; Psalm Today’s readings: Acts 20:17–27; Psalm 68:10–11, 20–21; 103:1–2, 11–12, 19–20ab; John 21:15–19 John 17:1–11a. . Wednesday, May 19 Saturday, May 22 Preparing for Pentecost Spring and New Life Consider planning a celebration for Pentecost. Gather party As spring progresses in the northern hemisphere, the natural supplies in red, the liturgical color of the day. The celebration world abounds with beauty. Take some time to walk in nature could be a birthday party, since Pentecost is often considered and experience the beauty of God’s creation. Is this a time the birth of the Church. Decorate with doves or tongues of when it is easy for you to experience God’s presence? How fire. Prayer cards could highlight the gifts of the Holy Spirit: can you take more time for listening in this way? Care of wisdom, knowledge, understanding, counsel, fear of the creation is one of our duties as human beings, to whom God Lord, piety, and fortitude. Today’s readings: Acts 28:16–20, entrusted the natural world. Is there something simple you 30–31; Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7; John 21:20–25. can do to care for God’s creation today? Today’s readings: Acts 20:28–38; Psalm 68:29–30, 33–35a, 35bc–36ab; John 17:11b–19.

© 2021 Liturgy Training Publications. 800-933-1800. Written by Kathryn Ball-Boruff. Illustrated by Kate Cosgrove. Scripture quotations are from the New American Bible, revised edition. Permission to publish granted by the Archdiocese of Chicago, on July 6, 2020.

May 11 Update

As noted last week, Dynamic Roofing is slated to replace the existing tile roof and replace it with a composition roof. We received word that we have permission to proceed and the signed contract will be forthcoming. The funding for the reroofing project does not come from our expansion funds. Several years ago, the parish established a reserve fund, setting money aside from regular income and fundraising efforts specifically for improvement projects such as this. Having this money set aside contributed to the quick approval from the diocese.

Most of the ‘underground’ work for sewer, water and drainage has been completed and has passed city inspection. The next major milestone is the pouring concrete slab which may be completed by the time of this update. Notice the big hole in some of this week’s pictures. It will hold a 750 gallon grease interceptor to prevent fats, oils and grease from flowing to the city’s sewer system.

Actual framing of the new kitchen should begin before the end of May.

An update on our Expansion Fund status will be published shortly.

May 11 Update

Underground location of 750 gallon grease interceptor system to prevent fats, oils and grease from entering the sewer system.

Grandma’s Back! $15 SUMMER FROZEN PIES FUNDRAISER ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PLACE YOUR ORDERS EARLY SALES END JUNE 13th

Purchase your summer pies today. These pies keep up to 1 year in your freezer. FROZEN PIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP IN THE ST IGNATIUS PARKING LOT BETWEEN 1:30 & 2:30PM ON SATURDAY, JUNE 26th $15 for your choice of Apple, Dutch Apple, Apricot, Blackberry, Blueberry, Boysenberry, Mixed Berry, Cherry, Nectarine, Peach or Strawberry Rhubarb 10” Pies. Apple, Apricot, Boysenberry & Peach Cobbler are also $15 each

Orders should be placed by emailing [email protected] giving your contact phone number and your pie order. You may also place your order by contacting your favorite Brother Knight from Knights of Columbus 12587 of St. Ignatius of Antioch. Knights will then email [email protected] to place your order. All profits will be used to do good deeds and help our Council meet its financial commitments. THANK YOU for your support!

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