For The Bulletin Of and in the stranger. Though some who November 22, 2020 claim to know Jesus are surprised that they did not see Him in the face of the poor, this is to their own perdition. Even more, those who did not or do not know Jesus receive their heavenly reward precisely because they did the will of God; they fed the hungry and in so doing they were feeding Jesus. They gave drink to the thirsty and in so doing they were giving drink to Jesus. Jesus does not say that it is as though He is present in these people. No, He is them: “I was hungry and you gave me no food.” “What you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.” Again, Jesus does not say, “It’s as though you did not do for me.” He identified with the poor and the lowly, for THE FEAST OF CHRIST THE He is them. KING There are no excuses on the part of those From Father Robert who claim to have known Jesus. They Like climbing to the top of Mt. Everest, cannot say that the poor were not working, today’s gospel is the pinnacle of Jesus’ or they deserved to be poor, or they should teachings in the Gospel of Matthew. This is get a job. Those who claim to know Jesus not a parable, but instead the interpretive but have not acted on behalf of the poor are key to Jesus’ teachings earlier in the gospel. sent off to eternal punishment. “Depart Now what Jesus said in the Sermon on the from me, you accursed.” We now see Mount, that “not all who call Lord, Lord will clearly how not everyone who cries Lord, enter the kingdom of heaven,” becomes Lord will enter the kingdom, but only those clear. This story also foreshadows His who do the will of my father. Indeed, this resurrection appearance and promise in the chapter and this particular teaching is at the closing line of the gospel, “And behold, I am root of the Catholic Church’s “social with you always, until the end of the age.” gospel.” It is why the church established hospitals, schools, food pantries, social In the gospel story, we are two days from services, and so many other ministries. Passover when Jesus will be handed over to Faith in action, rather than faith alone, is the be crucified. All that remains between this church’s credo. And it is not enough to rely teaching and the Passover meal Jesus will on others, the church at large, to perform celebrate with His disciples is His anointing this ministry. It is the obligation of anyone at Bethany by the woman with an alabaster who dares to call himself or herself a jar of perfumed oil. So, this teaching about disciple of Christ. Indeed, those who do not how we will be judged is the crescendo of know Christ but still perform these actions Jesus’ message. will inherit eternal life. These sober words conclude Jesus’ teaching ministry and are a Jesus’ promise to be with us always is clarion call to all who would seek to follow fulfilled in that He is present in the hungry, Him. the thirsty, the naked, the ill, the imprisoned,

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time for personal reflection on how we have, or have not, grown in our understanding and living out our following of Jesus.

In the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, God says “I will rescue my sheep from every place where they were scattered.” Thinking about our parish community, who is missing? How might you reach out to them?

How have you experienced God’s shepherding care during this past year? In this past year, how have you practiced the

corporal works of mercy? Living The Paschal Mystery It is a bold thing to identify with Christ. How would you like to incorporate the From the Sermon on the Mount with the corporal works of mercy into your life in the Beatitudes, to this concluding teaching of coming year? Jesus on judgment, being a follower of Christ is not for the faint of heart. Self- How have you grown as a disciple of Jesus sacrifice, love of the other, and service are in the last year? In what areas is there still central to the identity of a Christian. How room for growth and development? What mortally dangerous it is then to call oneself goals are you willing to set for yourself? Christian, to claim the role of disciple, without performing the actions required by one. It would be better not to claim the title at all.

Essential Matthean themes are expressed in this story: doing versus merely saying, is one. Doing the will of God – caring for the poor and for the stranger – is not merely about performing kind acts but is the basis About Liturgy: Living The Liturgy of salvation, for Christian and non-Christian How fitting in this year when we celebrated alike. As we live the paschal mystery, let us All Saints on a Sunday and proclaimed the keep before us the awesome call and beatitudes that we hear on this Christ the responsibility to express our faith in action, King Sunday what Pope Francis calls its not merely words. companion reading – “The Great Criterion,” th from the end of the 25 chapter of As we come to the last Sunday in Ordinary Matthew’s gospel. From the saints who Time, Matthew’s “School of Discipleship” gave us real human examples of comes to close. This last teaching or discipleship, to Jesus’ own words describing standard of conduct becoming a disciple is, what makes us recognized by God as perhaps, the most challenging. As we bring disciples, we conclude the liturgical year this Liturgical Year to a conclusion, it is a with a clear message: “Jesus affirms that mercy is not only an action of the Father, it

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becomes a criterion for ascertaining who His could not be filled. The Pie Company is true children are…Love, after all, can never doing everything they can to have our orders to just an abstraction. By its very nature, it ready before Christmas. indicates something concrete: intentions, attitudes, and behaviors that are shown in Please watch for additional information in daily living.” (Pope Francis) the next couple of weeks. Thank you to all who have so generously supported this This gospel is the key that interprets the fundraiser by our Knights of Columbus. entire liturgical year we have just celebrated. We have no clearer image for what true faith looks like. As we prepare to enter a new liturgical year, with all its seasons, solemnities, and feasts, let us remember that the liturgy must be lived in our daily lives through concrete acts. Living the liturgy we celebrate each week is not a metaphor but a rehearsal for daily life: “We may think we give glory to God only by our worship and prayer, or simply by following certain ethical norms. It is true that the primacy This coming Thursday morning, belongs to our relationship with God, but we November 26th, at 9:00 a.m., we will have cannot forget that the ultimate criterion on for you on YouTube the celebration of Holy which our lives will be judged is what we Eucharist marking Thanksgiving Day. Due have done for others. Prayer is mot to the recent changes in COVID cases, our precious, for it nourishes a daily liturgies have been suspended once again. commitment to love. Our worship becomes pleasing to God when we devote ourselves Following one of our great traditions, the to living generously, and allow God’s gift, homily will be given by students of our high granted in prayer, to be shown in our school Confirmation Program. concern for our sisters and brothers” (Rejoice and Be Glad #104). Also, for your convenience, there is an envelope in our Envelope Packet for Thanksgiving Day which can be dropped off at the locked mailbox to the right of the front gate of the church, or can be dropped off at the rectory in the mail slot in the garage door.

My prayers and blessings go out to each of you and your families this Thanksgiving.

Please remember that Eucharist means Today was scheduled for picking up your “thanksgiving.” holiday pies from our parking lot between 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Unfortunately, this has been postponed due to a problem with a delivery at the company, and the orders

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The New Liturgical Year: Advent Next Sunday, November 29th, is the beginning of our new Liturgical Year and the First Sunday of Advent. The principal symbol of this brief four-week season in preparation for the Christmas Feast is the Advent Wreath. The wreath is made of St. Nicholas Festival Dinner fresh evergreens and is decorated with three This year, because of the pandemic, our purple candles and one Antique Rose St. Nicholas Festival Dinner will also go candle. Each week, a candle is lighted to “virtual” with a “Drive Up, Drive Through” symbolize the thousands of years that dinner catered by Zandonella Catering. humanity waited for the Savior to be born in time. The Antique Rose Candle on the third Each dinner will be individually boxed and week reminds us that the season is now half- ready to place in your car when you drive way through and the Christmas Feast draws up. The cost is $30.00 per person. There near. will also be raffle prizes. Please see the flyer in the bulletin or attached to my Insert My hope is that you will bring the Spirit of for all the details and the reservation form. Advent into your home by creating an Advent Wreath and placing it either in the This event takes place on Saturday evening, center of your dining room table or on a December 5th, from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m. in our table in your family or living room. Fresh parking lot. St. Nicholas will be present to evergreen wreaths are readily available from bless you and wish you the “Peace of Costco or from a Christmas Tree lot. Christmas.” Many thanks to Marla Plurkowski and the Members of our Candles can be placed within or around the Social Events Committee for making this outer part of the wreath. Ornaments and year’s observance and celebration possible. ribbons in the colors of the season can be added to adorn the wreath. Advent prayers are available on line and can be prayed before your evening meal, lighting the appropriate candle(s). At Christmas, many families add a fifth candle, all white, in the center of the wreath at Christmas to symbolize Christ, the Light of the World, has come and then all candles continue to be lighted through the Christmas Season.

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requirements to inform our decisions. The following guidelines apply to Masses, weddings, funerals, baptisms, confirmation, quinceañeras and other sacraments and rituals.

It is not permissible to have indoor worship with a congregation at this time. However, I would like our churches to remain open for From Grand Knight Chip Sharpe individual private prayer outside of Let me acknowledge the four Brothers who scheduled worship times. answered the call to join me distributing bark in the rectory backyard today: Brian The three options we have for worship at McCoy, Bill Saunders, Joe gonna-be-a- this time are: Knight-someday-soon Stahl, and Steve 1. Virtual (preferred) Rojek. 2. Outdoor, seated or standing 3. In car, in the parking lot It was heavy work, and we got a little more than halfway done before we ran out of gas. The safest option, by far, is to livestream Look for an announcement soon when we Masses, and encourage the faithful to make will go at it again to finish the project. a “spiritual communion” from home.

(Many thanks for your work in caring for the Holy Communion may be distributed Rectory landscaping. outside of Mass, preferably at the church doors or somewhere else outside. Care Gratefully, Father Robert) should be taken to protect the sacrament from the wind and rain.

Updates for Worship in the Diocese of Mass may be conducted in the parking lot, Oakland, effective November 18, 2020— with people remaining in their cars, but they A letter from Bishop Barber must exit the car to receive communion. Dear Fathers, Deacons, Seminarians,

Chancery, Parish, Cathedral and CFCS Obligation to attend Mass remains lifted until Staff: further notice, and the distribution of the

Precious Blood is suspended indefinitely. As you have seen from the news reports, as of 18 November, the Governor has placed Outdoor Mass may be held, as long as chairs Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the or standees remain at least 6 feet apart, and Purple Tier category, along with 39 other all wear masks. counties in the state. The rising number of infections, hospitalizations and deaths from I ask priests to continue offering Mass for Covd-19 made this change necessary. your people daily in your church, even if the

faithful may not be present. Our first consideration since this crisis began has always been the spiritual and I have written the attached article for The physical health of our faithful. We rely on Catholic Voice to be published November 23, medical professionals and government

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2020 to encourage the faithful and stress the This morning, let's look at the conference's importance of the Domestic Church. Please public agenda and especially at the elections post on your websites. of new committee chairs. Your average Catholic in the pew may not care who leads Our Lady, Health of the Sick, you have the Communications Committee at the U.S. always come to the aid of the Church in Conference of Catholic Bishops, or the Pro- times of plague, pestilence and Life Activities Committee, but it matters a danger. We pray to you now to intercede lot to the direction the conference will take for us with your Son. in the years ahead.

Be assured of my continued prayers, Overall, one question has hung over the conference's meetings for seven years now: Michael C. Barber, S.J. Will the U.S. bishops continue to resist the Bishop of Oakland direction Pope Francis is trying to steer the church or will they engage his evangelical vision? Bishops' conference The first order of business will be addresses elections: why they matter from the papal nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, and from the conference and what they portend president, Archbishop José Gomez of Los Nov 16, 2020 Angeles. Pierre is a diplomat and Gomez is by Michael Sean Winters one of the most mild-mannered people you could ever want to meet, so I do not expect fireworks in either address. Yet both men must address the recent report about former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.

Of course, both must recommit the church to eradicating the scourge of clergy sex abuse, but it will be interesting to see how much either or both of them acknowledge the indictment of the clerical culture that report contained: a pope none-too-curious about the veracity of serious allegations about a prospective cardinal, bishops willing to lie

A bishop casts his vote during last year's fall to protect a friend and mentor, a diplomat — general assembly of the U.S. Conference of I am talkin' about you, Viganò! — who did Catholic Bishops in Baltimore Nov. 11, 2019. not carry out an investigation when (CNS/Bob Roller) requested, only to later complain that he was the only one trying to hold McCarrick The U.S. bishops' conference begins its accountable. virtual plenary session this afternoon. On Friday, I looked at what I thought they The most important vote is likely a foregone should be discussing today and tomorrow. conclusion: It has been almost two decades Sadly, if they do have that discussion, it will since the bishops did not elevate the priest likely be mostly during executive session.

6 currently serving as associate general Committee. The candidates are New York secretary to the top job, and I anticipate this Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Miami year will be no exception: Msgr. Jeffrey Archbishop Thomas Wenski. The committee Burrill will likely be elected general should be disbanded, so I would vote for secretary. He will be a significant Wenski: The one time I was invited to speak improvement over the current general to a bishops' committee meeting, Wenski secretary, Msgr. Brian Bransfield. nodded off during the presentation that preceded mine. If we can't abolish the Bransfield's hauteur is infamous and his committee, better to have a chair who nods willingness to indulge the worst instincts of off during meetings. the culture warriors on the staff has been pronounced. Burrill is conservative, to be For the record, I rearranged my presentation sure, but he is a pleasant man with a solid on the fly, placing climate change right at Roman education. the top, so I could rouse the slumbering archbishop by saying, "Climate change is The Committee on Priorities and Plans is urgent! Poor Archbishop Wenski! His whole one of the most important committees at the archdiocese is going to be underwater if we conference — its members select the do not make progress on this issue!" He did nominees for committee chairs among other not nod off for the rest of my brief talk. responsibilities — and here the bishops face the worst of choices. The Committee on Pro-Life Activities shows one of the more obvious ideological Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the cleavages of any race this year. Denver Archdiocese for the Military Services was Archbishop Samuel Aquila is a culture the longtime assistant of Cardinal Angelo warrior out of conviction, while Baltimore Sodano, the former Vatican secretary of Archbishop William Lori is only a culture state who came out of the McCarrick report warrior when it suits his purposes. Lori is by looking good, but if there was a similar far the better communicator, so I expect he report on Legionaries of Christ founder will get the nod. Fr. Marcial Maciel Degollado, I suspect Sodano's record might not be so clean. Speaking of communications, the bishops Bishop Daniel Thomas of Toledo, Ohio, was have two excellent choices for the ordained a bishop by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chairmanship of the Communications and it is my firm belief that Rigali ruined Committee: Bishop Christopher Coyne of everything he touched. Burlington, Vermont, and Boston Auxiliary Bishop Robert Reed. Both men would bring Still of the two, I would vote for Thomas. competence and experience to the job. At least we have no reason to think the pope has a personal dislike for him. Elisabetta Although Coyne has all the responsibilities Piqué's biography of Pope Francis indicated that go with being an ordinary, his diocese that while still in Argentina, the future pope has only 118,000 Catholics, and Reed is made a play on words about Broglio's name, pastor of a parish as well as a regional vicar. saying, "He is the one who cheats you." I would give the nod to Coyne, who has The death of Bishop George Murry of some non-New England experience, having Youngstown, Ohio, last year has left a served in Indiana as an auxiliary bishop vacancy for chair of the Religious Liberty

7 when Archbishop Daniel Buechlein of ideological divide. Bishop Thomas Daly of Indianapolis was gravely ill. Spokane, Washington, faces Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer of Atlanta. I called The Doctrine Committee also presents two attention to Daly recently when he criticized fine choices, Bishop Daniel Flores of a speech by San Diego Bishop Robert Brownsville, Texas, and Bishop Brendan McElroy about faithful citizenship. It was Cahill of Victoria, Texas. I am partial to like watching a rowboat attack the Nimitz. I Flores from our years together in the am in favor of giving Daly some theological "smokers' caucus" during coffee breaks and education, not of putting him in charge of a his participation in the Catholic committee tasked with education. I do not Conversation Project, where he mingled know Hartmayer, but people who do say he easily with young theologians of various is a moderate in terms of ideology but a ideological backgrounds. But I have heard pastor at all times. If the bench picks Daly good things about Cahill, too. over Hartmayer, the nuncio should ask to give a second talk and announce apostolic For the Committee on National Collections, visitations of the whole country. the clear choice is Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Missouri. He faces Bishop A press release from the conference stated James Wall of Gallup, New Mexico, whose the bishops will discuss the challenges posed interest in the arts does not overcome the by the pandemic. Here, too, we will see impression he is stuck in the past: Wall which way the wind is blowing. As I said that during their ad limina visit with mentioned Friday, through most of the Pope Francis, when the pope asked what spring, the bishops did what was asked of they would talk about, Wall brought them — as did most Americans — by up Humanae Vitae. Now, I love Humanae shutting down public liturgies. Only a few Vitae as much as the next guy, but I do not have been waving the flag of religious think it would be at the top of my list of liberty, clamoring for the right to ignore things to discuss with Pope Francis. public health regulations.

I do not know the two candidates for the The bishops as a body must understand that Committee on Cultural Diversity. Detroit pursuing a religious liberty angle in facing Auxiliary Bishop Arturo Cepeda is running the pandemic represents tossing aside 2,000 against Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge years of theological tradition about the Rodríguez-Novelo. The chancery in Denver relationship between the faithful and civil has served as the Pentagon for the culture authorities. I need scarcely add that none of wars for 30 years, but sometimes in a large the bishops are experts in public health. archdiocese, it is the Latino auxiliary who The nation is heading into a long, grim breaks the rule. It makes sense that both winter. Our national Nero in the White nominees are Latino, given the demographic House is tweeting about election fraud while changes in the church, but the discussion of the number of new cases, new racism will need to be led by an African hospitalizations and more deaths soars. If American because the experiences of the the bishops ignore the common good for any two groups are often quite different. reason, they will be endorsing functional euthanasia. Of all the contests, the race for chair of the Education Committee represents the clearest

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The official agenda lists some other topics but, overall, the agenda seems thin, given My dream: farewell to the challenges the church and the nation poverty and its causes face. Maybe that is better. Maybe it is best Nov 16, 2020 for the bishops to think about how they are going to approach the culture in the next few by Sandra Wiafewa Agyeman years, and what kind of confreres they want leading the committees that will chart that course.

Maybe they will have time to think, too, about this fact: This time last year, their ad limina visits were in progress but it is still far from clear that the American hierarchy supports the Holy Father. He, remember, told them in 2018 that they should consider canceling their meeting and go on retreat. They held the meeting anyway, but they eventually did have a group retreat. They

will need many more such retreats if they Residents wait for relief goods at an evacuation are to recenter themselves on the saving center in Manila, Philippines, Nov. 13, ministry that has been entrusted to their care following Typhoon Vamco. Five tropical storms as successors of the apostles. or typhoons have hit the Philippines in a three- week period, including the strongest typhoon [Michael Sean Winters covers the nexus of since 2013 and the biggest floods since 2009. religion and politics for NCR.] (CNS/Reuters/Lisa Marie David)

I believe the dawn is close, but the wait seems eternal. Close it is, because every single day there are lots of concerted efforts to curb the situation. Eternal the wait — because no matter how much effort the world puts in, so much is undone and smiles of hope fade into silent despair. Will we ever wake up one morning, look at the world and with humble pride and an irresistible smile, and sigh, "Yes! We have bade poverty farewell?" And herein lies our eternal wait.

All around the globe, the endless work to eradicate extreme poverty rolls on — to ensure that children in every corner of the world have food, water and a safe shelter. Unfortunately, our world is overwhelmed with so much poverty that many wake up with a cloud of gloom blotting out the hope that "there is hope for the future." In any

9 case, who would dare think of the future agricultural sectors are poorly educated when the present is marked with hunger, about their rights. The problem here thirst, homelessness and a global pandemic? wouldn't be that the poor are lazy; it is that There seem to be more questions than they are faced with systems and structures answers, but we know that poverty lingers that don't offer equal opportunity. on. Capitalism — whether good or bad — still Poverty may have become a canker because remains the economic model for most we have entrenched it as a human attribute, entrepreneurship. It drives innovation and or at least a societal necessity. Somewhere I boosts productivity. That is why capitalist saw this quote: "It is not your fault that you businesses dare to operate on the global are born poor … but if you die poor, it is level. I find the idea of foreign investing your biggest fault." What did that mean? I kind of consoling yet abusive. I see job decided it meant that our mind-set is our opportunities for the local people, but first failure in the fight against poverty. globalization thrives at the expense of the poor. Investors set up their businesses in But who would choose poverty? There are developing countries where salaries are on a several tricycle drivers on the streets of daily or monthly basis rather than an hourly Manila who work right from cockcrow till basis, presupposing low salaries. In the end dusk, and for what? How much are they we have poor people making money for making? Many believe the poor are not multinational firms owned by the already smart enough, hardworking enough or just rich. So globalization only serves as a fuel to are not choosing the right career. With this stoke the fires of capitalism. kind of thinking, would anyone want to give to others what they deserve or to share the Living in a system with no socially inclusive public wealth equally? To me, the essence of policies that share the benefits of economic capitalism is "grab for myself as much as growth with more of the population, many possible from the limited wealth — at are pushed into poverty in their home whatever cost." countries. It seems to me that inadequate government structures leave citizens today For capitalists, business is set up to make under colonization, this time under their profit and minimize wages. There is no own leaders. regard for worker effort and efficiency. Through the greed of a few capitalists, In its April 17, 2019, issue Global businesses make huge profits, but the Finance reported on the world's poorest worker is stuck in poverty. Workers are not countries, describing the actions of employed: rather they are contracted for a dictatorial and corrupt governments as few months and laid off. Essential benefits "activities that turn any rich nation into a which a person needs for human dignity — poor one." Bad laws and regulations, are shelved. government bureaucracy and the concentration of national wealth in the hands With the desire of the business owners to of cronies leave the rest of the masses in increase productivity and profit through abject poverty. Therefore, no matter what cheap labor, the labor force is left with only effort the people put in their work, they what business agreements allow, especially cannot generate enough income. when workers in both industrial and

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I think it is unfair when government salary abilities to participate and function in their structures create huge inequality between own development are hampered. citizens in white-collar and blue-collar jobs, because skilled laborers and small-scale I think about how poverty could be farmers have the hardest work. When the eradicated from our world. Because I dream minimum wage is so low that the monthly of a better world, a world where people can salary can barely support a family, it is develop a positive mentality about the discouraging to even enter the job market. sufferings of the poor, a world where When the family is large, then a lot is at business owners would take into stake, and young families are forced to consideration the welfare of the laborers reduce the number of children they have. who help them make their profits, a world where our leaders in government and private With the world population at over 7.7 sectors remove the barriers that fuel the billion, it seems natural that the pressure on unjust distribution of national wealth. global wealth might make poverty inevitable — it's not surprising that some of the I dream of a world where families know densely populated countries are also the how much they have and how big a family world's poorest. It is one reason why they can handle. I dream of a world where the Millennium Development Goal One, an the tears of every child are tears of joy and initiative of the U.N. to eradicate extreme sufficiency, not the tears of hunger. I dream poverty and hunger, has not yet been of that morning, when upon waking up, I achieved. can proudly beat my chest and say, "Yes, we have said goodbye to poverty." I dream of a world where the "church for the poor" does not bandage the struggle of the poor with long talks, but partners with global non- governmental organizations seeking to eliminate poverty. I dream of a world where all see that globalization needs a structural change and that developing countries do not bend their regulations just to attract foreign investors, to the detriment of their citizens. I can dream, can't I?

[Sandra Wiafewa Agyeman (Ofia) is a Ghanaian member of the Missionary Sisters I always wondered why the poorest people Servants of the Holy Spirit. She is currently often seem to be those with the most attending the Institute of Formation and children. The United Nations Population Religious Studies in the Philippines.] Fund (UNFPA) says that "poverty in influenced by — and influences — population dynamics, including population growth, age structure, and rural-urban distribution." So countries with large populations tend to be the least developed. The country and its people don't just lack income and basic necessities, but their

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vehicle to attack his enemies and call for the Please press 'mute' to the pope's resignation. US bishops Nov 16, 2020 Asked about this during the press conference by Michael Sean Winters that followed the event, Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Accountability Military Services said it was not the conference's job to "hand slap" bishops. What Broglio fails to see is that this is precisely the problem at the heart of the McCarrick report: the fact that there was no effective fraternal correction before it was too late. Even when St. Pope John Paul II decided to believe McCarrick's denial that he had done anything wrong, McCarrick's own letter admitted he had shared beds with seminarians. In what moral universe is that OK?

Turns out it is OK in the moral universe of Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, to the United States, speaks during U.S. Illinois. He whined that "unfortunate" media Conference of Catholic Bishops' fall virtual accounts of the McCarrick report painted the meeting, held Nov. 16. (NCR screenshot) late Polish pontiff as culpable in the promotion of McCarrick and cited every bit The first day of the plenary meeting of the of mitigating evidence to diminish the United States Conference of Catholic pope's responsibility. But the overwhelming Bishops was disappointing in virtually every fact of the report is that John Paul II made a regard. Indeed, the only good idea to come promotion he did not have to make, he chose from this virtual meeting was the image of the problematic candidate when there were some bishops who had neglected to unmute other candidates, and then bestowed the red themselves, talking with no sound. It is a hat on him. John Paul II cannot evade metaphor for the conference at this moment responsibility for the promotion of Theodore in time: Their mouths move but they have McCarrick through the ranks of the nothing to say. hierarchy.

If you wanted to write a short story about You can't say that out loud because … why? the reception of the McCarrick report by the Let me guess. The people will be U.S. bishops, you might call it "The nuncio scandalized? We have heard that excuse that dare not speak his name." There were a before. dozen or so interventions in the public discussion of the McCarrick report, no The McCarrick report details a culture that bishop mentioned the name of Archbishop is allergic to candor and uninterested in Carlo Maria Viganò, and not one bishop getting at any truth that might make anyone apologized for testifying to Viganò's uncomfortable. That report itself was an "integrity" when the disgraced former exercise in candor and an invitation to the nuncio used the McCarrick scandal as a

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U.S. bishops to continue in that spirit. They Gomez failed to denounce the policy of declined. functional euthanasia pursued by the present occupant of the White House. I wish Gomez What did we watch at Monday's meeting? were my parish priest: He is gentle, kind, Perhaps it was different in the bishops' thoughtful. But the times require dynamic executive session, but in public session we leadership, and I do not think he has that in saw a lack of frankness, feigned politeness, him. the diplomatic manner of the body, all of those things that served to cover up The elections for committee chairs showed McCarrick's sins and now keep the bishops that moderates are still not able to get from acknowledging John Paul II's sins and elected by this body. The most egregious the sins of the hierarchic culture itself. Many choice was the election of Bishop Thomas spoke in the passive voice: "Mistakes were Daly of Spokane, Washington, to lead the made." Occasionally, someone would say Committee on Catholic Education by a something harsh, provided the target was margin of 139 votes to 103 votes for Atlanta unnamed. For specifics, we got only Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer. I was niceties. pleased that Baltimore Archbishop William Lori was chosen to lead the Committee on The current nuncio, Archbishop Christophe Pro-Life Activities over Denver Archbishop Pierre, missed an opportunity to apologize to Samuel Aquila: Lori will be sane and he is the bishops and to Catholics throughout the smart. country for the failure of his predecessor to bother to investigate allegations against The choice of Broglio to continue as chair of McCarrick when he had the chance. Pierre's the Committee on Priorities and Plans leaves talk was fine so far as it went, but it did not me dumbfounded. The McCarrick report rise to the occasion. I was surprised he did painted a picture of a highly dysfunctional not offer a more forceful defense of Pope Vatican curia in the 1990s, which is when Francis and the current pontiff's decision to Broglio worked at the heart of it. In every do what his predecessors refused to do: hold contest, the more conservative prelate won. bishops accountable to the same sex abuse No one in public session mentioned the U.S. standards as priests, punish covering up sex presidential election, nor the fact that we are abuse as harshly as the abuse itself, and about to witness the inauguration of only the mount an investigation that lets the chips fall second Catholic as president. I suspect they where they may. consider the fact that President-elect Joe Biden does not toe the line on abortion and Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, who some other issues is a rebuke to themselves: was elected president of the conference last If they can't persuade someone as faithful as year, gave his first presidential address, and Biden, what does that say about their powers it fit the tenor of the meeting. Speaking of of persuasion? Given what we know about the pandemic, Gomez said, "As we know, the politics of some of the brethren, perhaps people's faith in God has been shaken. At it is better Biden's name was not mentioned. the heart of their fears are fundamental There was a time when the U.S. bishops' questions about divine Providence and the conference was a model for the rest of the goodness of God." world, an ongoing exercise in effective collegiality that resulted in a forceful public witness to the Gospel. That time has passed.

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On Nov. 10, the Vatican released its [Michael Sean Winters covers the nexus of findings, and as the U.S. bishops kicked off religion and politics for NCR.] their virtual meeting on Nov. 16, discussions of the McCarrick report took center stage — if only for 45 minutes. Big questions but brief discussion of McCarrick More than a dozen U.S. bishops spoke during the open session about the report, report at US bishops' raising questions that included concerns about the process for selecting bishops, meeting unanswered questions about McCarrick’s Nov 16, 2020 finances, the psychological and sexual by Christopher White health of priests and bishops, and both the progress and remaining challenges of Accountability transparency and accountability.

The bishops’ earlier private discussion of the report in executive session lasted 90 minutes, but the public comments were just under half of that time. During his first-ever presidential address to the conference, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez said that in light of the report, “we again want to express our deep sorrow and pray that [abuse victims] might find healing and hope.”

Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron, vice president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic “Let us also renew our commitment today to Bishops, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez, protecting children and vulnerable adults USCCB president, and Msgr. Brian Bransfield, and to eliminating this scourge of abuse outgoing USCCB general secretary, converse from the church,” he said. Nov. 16, in the studio at USCCB headquarters in Washington. They were in the studio for the During the general discussions, Bishop bishops' fall general assembly, convened Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, Illinois, virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic. pushed back against the (CNS/Screen Grab) report’s findings that it was Pope John Paul For more than two years — and over the II who had continually advanced course of three semiannual meetings — the McCarrick’s career and ignored advisers on U.S. Catholic bishops awaited the Vatican’s both sides of the Atlantic who cautioned release of its report on former Cardinal against promoting McCarrick. Despite the Theodore McCarrick, who in 2019 was report offering a clear paper trail of the late removed from the priesthood by Pope pope’s decision-making, Paprocki rejected Francis after revelations of his serial abuse the idea that John Paul was “somehow of minors and seminarians. culpable for all of this.”

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He said the executive summary of the report Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth, Texas, “ignored some critical facts” and said that it said that there are ongoing questions about was reasonable for the pope to rely on the McCarrick’s financial contributions and that counsel of his advisers who believed the “organizations and clerics should be McCarrick’s denials. named” if they accepted contributions from the former cardinal. Over the last week, many Catholic observers have raised questions as to whether John Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City, Paul II’s rush to sainthood was prudent, and Missouri, recommended more lay in a Nov. 13 editorial, NCR said that for the involvement both to support and hold sake of abuse victims, no more schools or bishops accountable, and Archbishop churches should be named after him. Bernard Hebda of St. Paul-Minneapolis said that while the church has talked openly Bishop William Wack of Pensacola– about the abuse of minors in recent years, Tallahassee, Florida, said that upon reading that the abuse of vulnerable adults in the the report, he has reflected on the autonomy church “don’t get that same attention.” of bishops and the challenges that presents. The McCarrick report, he said, “allows us “We are really beholden to no one,” he said, the moment to speak of it.” adding: “We must correct a brother when we see him doing something that might be Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich said that in wrong.” laying bare four decades of institutional decision-making, including its failures, the “People knew, people whispered about report represents a “watershed moment” for things,” he said of McCarrick, but “very few the church. people confronted the offender directly.” He suggested that the bishops “go on record as a conference” commending Pope Francis for its release, while also calling out the nearly two dozen U.S. bishops who sided with the former Vatican ambassador to the U.S., Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, who has accused Francis of shielding McCarrick from discipline and called for the pope’s resignation.

“We have to make sure that we never again have a situation where anyone from our conference is taking sides ... with those Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, calling for his resignation,” said Cupich. Illinois, speaks during the bishops' virtual “That kind of thing really has to cease.” meeting. Paprocki pushed back against the report’s findings that put much of the blame for McCarrick's promotion to Washington on Pope John Paul II. (NCR screenshot)

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Facing the grief of pandemic stress and pain: sharing notes from a workshop on the psychological impact of

COVID-19 Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez speaks Nov 16, 2020 Nov. 16, at the headquarters of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington by Joyce Meyer during the bishops' virtual fall meeting. (CNS/Bob Roller) Coronavirus Spirituality At a press conference following Monday’s conference, Gomez said that Cupich’s suggestion of a statement of gratitude and support on behalf of the conference to Francis was a good idea.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to understand why people are making comments,” said Gomez of the bishops who supported Viganò, but he declined to say whether they would face any sort of correction.

“It would be difficult two years after the fact to go back,” added Archbishop Timothy Broglio of the Military Services. “It’s not the role of the conference to hand-slap different bishops for comments they might For more than nine months, families around have made.” the globe have been struggling with the impact of COVID-19, and the current rise of “In these situations when we don’t have all infections and deaths worldwide are of the knowledge,” he said, “it would be alarming. Already worn out from the wise just to comment on things just a little stresses of isolation, fear and grief, people bit less.” are being required to continue the struggle to survive and live peacefully with all the extra [Christopher White is NCR national demands of work or no work, school or no correspondent. His email address school, less income or no is [email protected]. Follow him on income. Psychological stresses have Twitter: @CWWhite212.] become more apparent, with little relief in sight.

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Having family members or close friends die there alone. How do we grieve these losses of COVID-19 has added even more burden that have touched so many families and to the stress levels. I discovered this communities? My family, as did many other personally when in July, my brother, families here in the U.S., gathered family Roger, died from COVID-19. Even though and friends together virtually to grieve and he lived only a few hours away from me and celebrate Roger's life. But how many people one of my other brothers, we could not go to around the world have such resources even be with him, nor could our other siblings or for this? Very few, in fact. his adult children and grandchildren who were even further away. Even though his So, what happens to our grief when it stays wife, Madeline, lived only a few miles from buried within, when we are not even aware the hospital, she was prevented from being of it? How can we manage the pain with him in the intensive care unit. mentally and physically? These and other questions about the impact of COVID-19 Ordinarily, we would have gathered around were addressed in a webinar by Sr. Jacinta them. Now, the shock of having to stay Ondeng, a School Sister of Notre Dame in away threw all of us into confusion. How Nairobi, about the psychological impact of could we let Roger know we were with him the coronavirus pandemic. emotionally and spiritually? How could we let his family know we were with him? While I was unable to attend the original These questions circled within each of us, webinar, I am conveying key points covered leaving us with feelings of emptiness. in her presentation. The webinar on Oct. 31 was hosted by The Leadership Guild of Tangaza University, sponsored by Conrad N. Hilton Foundation in partnership with Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya (AOSK) in Nairobi. More than 120 sisters from 20 countries registered for the webinar, though many more benefitted as participants shared it among their congregation members.

Ondeng began by reminding us of the disease's history, beginning first in China in late 2019. She noted that most of us worldwide were sympathetic to China, thinking that the virus was only in that

Madeline and Roger Meyer on their country. Shock ensued as infection spread wedding day in 2018. Sr. Joyce Meyer's country by country and our foggy denial brother Roger died this year, on July 7, from disappeared. Early concerns were health COVID-19. (Provided photo) precautions and food security, but we were convinced the virus would pass. When the At the time of his death, the hospital allowed World Health Organization in Madeline to stand behind a window to be March declared it a global pandemic, it felt with him as the ventilator was removed, but like an unbelievable reality. Everywhere it was small comfort for her as she stood strict restrictions were put in place, health

17 education began and both international and hear Ondeng suggest that it could be as long national travel ended. We all stayed home as 2024, when I thought the pandemic — or were supposed to, except for front-line lasting through 2021 was depressing workers. enough. But, whenever the end time will be, we need to recognize and accept that where Our lives all underwent huge disruption, we are is the "new normal." both at home and at work. Anxiety, fear and blame, then domestic violence increased as food and basic needs could not be met. Children and vulnerable adults became even more vulnerable. Not surprising, young women became targets, and unwanted pregnancy became all too common. Now, many of these women will never continue with their education, a huge tragedy for any country and will put the U.N. Sustainability Goals further behind.

These disruptions exposed stories of deepening poverty and worsening abuse. We had hoped these conditions and COVID- 19 would soon pass, but now, Ondeng reminded us, the predicted second wave is upon us. The WHO, governments, researchers and individuals are working hard to contain it, but uncertainty reigns. In a recent webinar about the psychological impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Sr. Jacinta She encouraged us to envision COVID Ondeng, a School Sister of Notre Dame in holistically as one bio-psycho-social and Nairobi, explained about how psychological spiritual condition. Even those of us not stress has health, social and even spiritual infected by the virus have had our health effects. (Provided screenshot) affected because of the stress and anxiety, and have experienced collective and As ministers of the Gospel we need to be not individual grief. Not only have our bodies only models of this acceptance, but also reacted — internal organs, headaches, companions to others to help them stomach issues, tight muscles — but our understand and accept this new reality. We personal and social psychological well-being need to continue following the guidelines are also threatened. Feelings of fear, panic, and encouraging others, seeking and passing depression, anger, even suicidal ideas, have on information only from reliable sources, surfaced as families struggle with economic and monitoring the use of social media, concerns, domestic violence, isolation and which can lead to anxiety and distress. spiritual issues. Because stress and anxiety can evoke memories, even dreams, of past traumas, we Uncertainty is weighing on us all, need to help ourselves and others to put such wondering how long these conditions will experiences into perspective, to integrate last. I was personally surprised to them into our histories so that they do not spill over into the present.

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I was particularly touched by the part of I also liked the practical suggestions she Ondeng's presentation that dealt with shared from Robert Wicks' book, Bounce, resiliency in light of our responsibilities as Living the Resilient Life. His suggestions Gospel ministers, especially her comments included finding laughter in daily events, on the importance of learning and practicing practicing gratitude and noticing goodness skills of resiliency. Resiliency is not around you. It emphasized the importance of something innate. It needs to be exercised. paying attention to bodily needs like sleep, Ondeng defined it as the "process of food and drink, leisure and/or hobbies. And adapting well in face of adversity, trauma, lastly, learning to slow down or pace tragedy, threats or significant stress." ourselves as well as "letting go" of It takes practice to "bounce back," and controlling every situation. The Serenity requires strengthening our inner resources Prayer could be helpful here. and will power, relationships with family and friends and our spirituality. When these Ondeng also referred to one of my favorite are weak, we can be at risk of psychiatric authors, Viktor E. Frankl, who survived conditions and disorders. These words several concentration camps, including would not be foreign to many, even most, of Auschwitz. His book, Man's Search for the sisters gathered, as I have witnessed Meaning, had a huge impact on my life. resiliency as one of the greatest strengths of Meaning is a healing source for life, he sisters living and working in unbelievable says. We can see this same idea lived out in conditions of adversity, trauma, tragedy and the desert experience of the Jewish people, threat around the world — and not just or in Mary, who feared for her son when she surviving but thriving. They are the best witnessed forces working against him examples and companions to those they leading him to death. serve. Frankl learned that work, love and right attitudes are essential for meaning and resiliency. No matter where we are, we can choose our responses. Find work, no matter how insignificant it might look on the outside, don't withdraw, keep relating to others, help build community, articulate to someone what you are feeling and seek help when you need it or someone suggests it.

There are various therapies that can be helpful. One that Odeng described is cognitive behavior therapy. The therapy teaches techniques to identify reactions of fear, anxiety and sadness or other strong feelings, to understand why they happen, and suggests skills to handle them, along with correcting unhelpful beliefs like self- Based on writings of Viktor E. Frankl, author of blame, or thinking nothing good can "Man's Search for Meaning" (GSR graphic) happen.

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She finished her presentation with a How do we put on the mind of Christ? How challenge to find meaning by following do we see through his eyes? How do we feel Pope Francis' call to, "Heal Our World." In through his heart? How do we learn to this audience, he exhorted all of us to live respond to the world with that same out day by day our Catholic social teachings wholeness and healing love? That’s what so that we leave no one — nor even the Christian orthodoxy really is all about. It’s Earth — behind. not about right belief; it’s about right practice. . . . [Joyce Meyer is a member of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Jesus uses one particular phrase repeatedly: and is GSR's liaison to women religious “the Kingdom of Heaven.” You can easily outside of the United States.] confirm this yourself by a quick browse through the gospels; the words jump out at you from everywhere. . . . Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation So what do we take it to be? . . . [Jesus] From the Center for Action and says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is within Contemplation you” (that is, here) and “at hand” (that is, now). It’s not later, but lighter—some more subtle quality or dimension of experience accessible to you right in the moment. You don’t die into it; you awaken into it. . . .

The Kingdom of Heaven is really a metaphor for a state of consciousness; it is not a place you go to, but a place you come from. It is a whole new way of looking at the world, a transformed awareness that literally turns this world into a different place. . . The

hallmark of this awareness is that it sees no Week Forty-six separation—not between God and humans,

Jesus and the Reign of God not between humans and other humans. And

these are indeed Jesus’s two core teachings, underlying everything he says and does. . . .

The Kingdom as Consciousness When Jesus talks about this Oneness . . . . Wednesday, November 18, 2020 what he more has in mind is a complete,

mutual indwelling: I am in God, God is in In his letter to the Philippians, Paul offers a you, you are in God, we are in each other. puzzling injunction to the new Christians. His most beautiful symbol for this is in the He writes, “Let the same mind be in you that teaching in John 15 where he says, “I am the was in Jesus Christ” (2:5). CAC faculty vine; you are the branches. Abide in me as I member Cynthia Bourgeault explores how in you” [see John 15:4–5]. A few verses developing this kind of “Christ- later he says, “As the Father has loved me, consciousness” is the key to understanding so I have loved you. Abide in my love” Jesus’s teaching on the “Kingdom of [John 15:9]. . . . There is no separation Heaven.”

20 between humans and God because of this mutual interabiding which expresses the Richard Rohr's Daily indivisible reality of divine love. . . . Meditation From the Center for Action and No separation between human and human is Contemplation an equally powerful notion—and equally challenging. One of the most familiar of Jesus’s teachings is “Love your neighbor as yourself” [Matthew 22:39] . . . as a continuation of your very own being. It’s a complete seeing that your neighbor is you.

There are not two individuals out there . . . there are simply two cells of the one great

Week Forty-six Life. Jesus and the Reign of God

The Reign of God as Community Thursday, November 19, 2020

The world has suffered much from the various forms of Christian colonialism. Yet the Reign of God is an alternative to domination systems and all “isms.” Jesus teaches that right relationship (i.e., love) is We are grateful to the following parishioners the ultimate and daily criterion. If a social who came on Monday morning to help fold order allows and encourages strong and stuff envelopes with the mailing of my connectedness between people and creation, Pastoral Letter, which hopefully you have people and each other, people and God, then all received by now. The volunteers are: you have a truly sacred culture: the Reign of God. It is not a world without pain or Bernice Campbell, Clem Bushman, mystery, but simply a world where we are Rowena Cayaban, Claudia and Tony connected and in communion with all Gumina, Carole Miller, and Vince and things. Kathy Augusta. Many thanks!

The Kingdom is about union and communion, which means that it is also about mercy, forgiveness, nonviolence, letting go, solidarity, service, and lives of

love, patience, and simplicity. Who can doubt that this is the sum and substance of Jesus’ teaching? In the Reign of God, the very motive for rivalry, greed, and violence has been destroyed. We know we are all part of God’s Beloved Community.

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Author, activist, and community organizer Christian, but his truth about right Lisa Sharon Harper describes it in this way: relationship and his proclamation of the Evidence of the presence of the Kingdom of power of powerlessness will save the world God is thick wherever and whenever people from self-destruction. stand on the promise of God that there is more to this world—more to this life—than Gateway to Action & Contemplation: what we see. There is more than the getting What word or phrase resonates with or over, getting by, or getting mine. There is challenges me? What sensations do I notice more than the brokenness, the destruction, in my body? What is mine to do? and the despair that threaten to wash over us like the waters of the deep. There is a vision Prayer for Our Community: of a world where God cuts through the O Great Love, thank you for living and chaos, where God speaks and there is light. loving in us and through us. May all that we There is a vision where there is protection do flow from our deep connection with you and where love is binding every relationship and all beings. Help us become a community together. [1] that vulnerably shares each other’s burdens and the weight of glory. Listen to our hearts’ Jesus did not come to impose Christendom longings for the healing of our world. like an imperial system. Every description [Please add your own intentions.] . . . he offers of God’s Reign—of love, Knowing you are hearing us better than we relationship, non-judgment, and forgiveness, are speaking, we offer these prayers in all where the last shall be first and the first shall the holy names of God, amen. be last—shows that imposition is an impossibility! Wherever we have tried to force Christianity on people, the long-term Economy of Francesco results have been disastrous. The Gospel imagines an inclusive, flourishes in the realm of true freedom. sustainable world But it is a freedom we must choose for Nov 20, 2020 ourselves. It is almost impossible to turn by Brian Roewe away from what seems like the only game in town (political, economic, or religious), unless we have glimpsed a more attractive alternative. It is hard to imagine it, much less imitate it, unless we see someone else do it first. Jesus is that icon of the more attractive alternative, a living parable. Jesus has forever changed our human imagination, and we are now both burdened and gladdened by the new possibility. There is good news to counter the deadening bad news, but one first has to be turned away from a conventional way of understanding. The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is seen from I do not think that Jesus ever expected that the Rocca Maggiore, a fortress on top of the hill the whole world would become formally above the town of Assisi, Italy, in May 28, 2013. (CNS/Octavio Duran)

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What would a global economy that puts into our dark world," and for pledging to people and the planet first look like? work toward a post-pandemic global economy "that is inclusive and sustainable, That's a central question more than 2,000 one that can help us to behave as brothers young economists and entrepreneurs from and sisters living in a common home." 120 countries are exploring this week at the Economy of Francesco, a three-day virtual Turkson referred to St. Francis as an conference centered in Assisi, Italy, and example of the universal love for humanity hosted by the Vatican at the invitation of and for all of creation that is needed to Pope Francis. overcome divisions in the world and a consumerist and throwaway culture. Healing The conference, which began Thursday, the world, he said, requires the creation of aims to formulate a new economic vision, good companies, good jobs and good wealth one that deemphasizes growth and profit and — all of which begin with an economy that prioritizes justice, equity and caring for the serves the people, rather than the other way poor and the common planetary home. around.

Among the participants are Nobel Prize- "We also need to produce 'good goods,' winning Bangladeshi economist Muhammad meaning goods that truly serve people and Yunus, Indian physicist and environmental respect the environment. It is this whole activist Vandana Shiva, Brazilian liberation process that can generate 'good wealth,' one theologian Leonardo Boff, philosopher and that goes beyond mere material profit, one economist Sr. Cécile Renouard, and that promotes integral human development economist Jeffrey Sachs, director of the while caring for our common home," United Nations Sustainable Development Turkson said. Solutions Network. But the majority of participants are under age 35, tuning in from Brazil from Brazil, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United States and elsewhere across the globe.

The conference is being live streamed, after the coronavirus pandemic made it impossible to hold a large in-person gathering in Assisi, as originally planned. On the first day, a small group of young people led the online proceedings from inside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. "We have accepted the shared commitment to reanimate the economy," said Catalina Cardinal Peter Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery Hinojosa of Ecuador. for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, right, addresses participants of the In his introductory remarks, Cardinal Peter Economy of Francesco conference, on its first Turkson, prefect of the Dicastery for the day, Nov. 19, while a small group of young Promotion of Integral Human Development, people, left, led the online proceedings from thanked the participants for "bringing light inside the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. (NCR screenshot)

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Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi said encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our the story of St. Francis giving up his Common Home." possessions and inheritance reflects his understanding of money as not an idol, but "We need to correct models of growth as a tool "to build a beautiful economy, rich incapable of guaranteeing respect for the in meaning and gift, which cannot exclude environment, openness to life, concern for anyone and which, on the contrary, must the family, social equality, the dignity of aim for the good of everybody, and workers and the rights of future especially of the poor." generations," the pope said at the time. When the conference was first planned, "He was a genuine change maker, an organizers anticipated upwards of 2,000 'economist,' without knowing it," Sorrentino young participants gathering in Assisi for said. reflection, relationship building and collaboration. But the coronavirus pandemic Francesca Di Maolo, president of the Assisi- upended those plans and pushed the based Seraphic Institute, which works with conference from March to November. children in with severe disabilities, said the Organizers hope to bring people to the pandemic has exacerbated inequalities historic Italian town in autumn 2021 for a present in the current economic system that follow-up event. harm the most fragile the most. She encouraged participants to "dream of a Even with most participants not physically better world" and develop an economy of present, the conference still found ways to inclusion rather than exclusion. transport them to the birthplace of St. Francis. Videos between conference "There will be no development or progress sessions took attendees on virtual without caring of the most fragile members pilgrimages into the streets and sites of of society. You can change the current Assisi, including the Sanctuary of the economic system," Di Maolo said. Spoliation, where the saint was baptized, and the Rivotorto Sanctuary, where he Francis — who throughout his papacy has embraced a leper. Over the next two days, critiqued economic systems that further the conference will also visit the Church of inequality, writing in Evangelii San Damiano, the Basilica of St. Clare and Gaudium "such an economy kills" — is the Palazzo Monte Frumentario. scheduled to address the participants in a video message on Saturday. Before the opening session, he tweeted, "The earth and its poor urgently demand a sound economy and a sustainable development."

In May 2019, on the feast of St. Joseph the worker, Francis invited young people to Assisi to enter a "covenant" of global change to "reanimate" a new economy "attentive to the person and to the environment," recalling the concept of integral ecology outlined in his 2015

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GDP, which have been used by politicians and governments as the reference point for what to do."

In the months before the conference, participants held nearly 30 preparatory conferences in what they dubbed 12 "thematic villages," each focusing on a specific aspect. Among them: work and care; finance and humanity; agriculture and justice; energy and poverty; policies and Catalina Hinojosa of Ecuador, left, during the happiness; and women for economy. Economy of Francesco conference, Nov. 19, 2020 (NCR screenshot) Felipe Witchger, one of the co-conveners of

the U.S. hub, told EarthBeat before the Sessions on the first day touched on topics conference began that it represented the first such as food insecurity, ecological and time he had heard the church articulate how social transition communities, and ways to social and environmental crises are reimagine development based more on intertwined with economic issues. fulfillment than on profit.

The 34-year-old founder of the Community In each, young entrepreneurs, economist and Purchasing Alliance in Durham, North students conversed and shared ideas with Carolina, said that the dominant view in more seasoned experts who offered mainstream economics is neoclassical and feedback. "rooted in a very reductionist view of human

potential," particularly in U.S. culture. In the session on human flourishing, young participants shared their ideas of ways that "It's that individual entrepreneur that makes about: a mapping tool that highlights what it on Wall Street or in tech, and make unites rather than divides; focusing success for themselves and family. And it development on smaller and mid-sized cities lacks the kind of community, common good to provide greater opportunities and prevent seeking the wholeness that I believe our overcrowding in large metropolises; and a Catholic tradition enriches us with," Children's Flourishing Index as an Witchger said. alternative to typical market indices like gross domestic product. On Friday, Nov. 20, Nobel winner Yunus

will speak about finance as viewed through Responding to the ideas, Sachs, who has the lens of integral ecology. That same day worked on the Global Happiness Index, said will conclude with a 24-hour marathon on it's critical to measure what's important to the Economy of Francesco's YouTube people and their security and welfare. channel where participants in 20 countries "If all we're doing is measuring what is will each share stories of local projects and happening in the marketplace right now, experiences inspired by the conference. we're going to [not] see what's happening to human well-being, and to environmental Other sessions during the final two days will well-being," he said, "which is why we have include a panel on socio-ecological a crisis of our national income accounts and

25 responsibility featuring Boff, Shiva I've been catching myself singing and there's discussing bottom-up development, and a a surprising theme to the songs. reading of Francis' latest encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, in light of women's role in the Considering the state of things, there's a lot economy. of reasons why silence might make more sense, why a somber state might be more appropriate than song. In recent weeks, the COVID-19 crisis has become so deadly that morgues cannot keep up. It remains uncertain whether there will be a smooth transition of political power after the recent election in the United States. Every day, my heart is heavy with grief and concern, as I pray for someone else who is experiencing homelessness or is unemployed, imprisoned, sick, dying or now deceased. Plus, I Panel discussion on Nov. 19, the first day of the continue to be challenged by the ongoing Economy of Francesco conference (NCR need for reconstruction, for the building of a screenshot) society not based on the evils of systemic

racism and environmental degradation; it's [Brian Roewe is NCR environment big, overdue work. correspondent. His email address is [email protected]. ] I feel helpless and lost, I am not sure how to

help. It's a lot, and I am discouraged and

overwhelmed. Hope in hard times is an Yet, I am singing. When I am out on walks element of our prophetic and washing the dishes, I am humming. vocation When I pause in prayer, lyrics come to the front of my mind. It took me a while to Nov 20, 2020 notice that the songs had something in by Julia Walsh common, but now I know: I am singing Advent songs. Spirituality Advent is not insensitive to the realities of hardships and suffering. The hope of Advent simply insists that God's goodness gives us the equipment needed for the ongoing struggle.

It's technically offseason, I know, but Advent music makes complete sense. The sacred season of Advent acknowledges the

26 darkness and suffering. It is a season of things God is doing, much more than I am naming our longings, a time to lean more grieving or scared. deeply into our trust in God, into the promises of our faith. God knows about On the other hand, it makes complete sense hardship. God has helped humanity through that hopeful conversation and energy is hard times before. Advent is all about abundant in my circles: I am a Franciscan remembering, groaning and naming our Sister, a Catholic sister, a woman religious. dreams. Those of us who have professed the vows of consecrated celibacy, poverty and obedience Most importantly Advent is about hope — proclaim hope by our lifestyle. We have fierce hope. It's a joyful counting-down-the- chosen to be prophetic in our hope, to point days hope; it's party preparation and excited out promise and realities beyond what anticipation. We know that God's goodness everyone can see. always gets to have the last word, so we get ready to celebrate. Like Easter, Advent Our vows have formed us into expresses total confidence in God's countercultural disciples. Hope is the goodness based on experience. And yet foundation and fuel of this life. As people of Advent is not insensitive to the realities of prayer and service, we willingly go into dire hardships and suffering. The hope of Advent circumstances and insist that God's goodness simply insists that God's goodness gives us will be triumphant — all situations have the equipment needed for the ongoing potential. It may seem foolish, but that's the struggle. Christian hope is powerful. point. The hope we have is for realities beyond what may be obvious to others. We Still, hope may be the hardest Christian don't give up on anyone or any situation. We virtue to cultivate, especially during hard insist that evil never gets to have the last times. The other day I spoke to a friend on word. Our actions, attitudes and prayer life the phone. She was heartsick and crying, anticipate the arrival of the reign of God. discouraged and overwhelmed because of When I was younger, hope was like a the pandemic. She admitted it was really synonym for optimism, a cheery sentiment hard for her to feel hopeful, that she wasn't that became Pollyanna in the midst of sure she had any hope. She also told me that hardship. Everything will be better! Upbeat she hasn't heard anyone talking about hope, attitudes became equated with a false notion that she hasn't read anything about how to that I was entitled to endless joy. This was have hope. the "Field of Dreams" mentality ("If you build it, he will come") that knew nothing I was surprised, because in my circles, hope about tough times or eternal truths. True seems to be thick. A few weeks ago I hope, though, is totally different. attended a virtual fundraiser called Keep Hope Alive . The theme of the recent In her essay "Rediscovering Hope," National Religious Vocation Conference Dominican Sr. Michaela Martinez expounds convocation was "2020 Vision: Focus on on how St. Thomas Aquinas defined hope in Hope." In my own prayer life, I have felt an the Summa Theologica: "First, hope is emergence of refreshed hope and triggered by a future good — a good not yet imagination arrive, along with a tender obtained. Second, by a possible good — a excitement; I am often wondering what good good that can be obtained. Third, by a

27 difficult good — a good that, while possible, can only be obtained through difficulty." Richard Rohr's Daily In other words, hope needs difficulties to Meditation exist, to be pointed toward the future. In From the Center for Action and each hard moment, the struggle is the energy Contemplation of hope.

Speaking of the present moment, for contemplative Christians there is a tension between the ever-constant and all-holy now and the promise of the future. Hope is the bridge in this tension. The prophetic hope of our vocation is the stuff of heaven: hope is the energy of now and not yet. In prayer and

discipleship, hope hallows the heartache and activates a sacred imagination. We're here Week Forty-six and it is hard but it is holy, and we are Jesus and the Reign of God

heading somewhere mysterious and it is holy too.

Yet, we are faced with a dilemma, a The Kingdom's “Common Sense” challenge: How do we proclaim hope to Friday, November 20, 2020 those who are plagued by fear, grief and discouragement? What message do we have My friend and colleague Brian McLaren has for people like my friend, crying on the thought deeply and practically about what phone, and feeling hopeless? Jesus means when he speaks of the “Kingdom of God.” He views it as I wonder if there's a way we can groan in the synonymous with the Gospel itself. hardship while we point to the goodness of God, to the promises of eternity. I am not Jesus proposed a radical alternative—a exactly sure how, but I think Advent profoundly new framing story that he songs might help. called good news. News, of course, means a story—a story of something that has [Sr. Julia Walsh, Franciscan Sister of happened or is happening that you should Perpetual Adoration, is a retreat director, know about. Good news, then would mean a speaker, educator, activist and award- story that you should know about because it winning writer who blogs brings hope, healing, joy, and opportunity… at MessyJesusBusiness.com. Follow her on Twitter: @juliafspa.] The term kingdom of God, which is at the heart and center of Jesus’ message in word and deed, becomes positively incandescent in this kind of framing. As a member of a little colonized nation with a framing story that refuses to be tamed by the Roman imperial narrative, Jesus bursts on the scene with this scandalous message: The time has come! Rethink everything! A radically new

28 kind of empire is available—the empire of stability, government, policy, domination, God has arrived! . . . Open your minds and control, maybe even vengeance on rebels hearts like children to see things freshly in and threats of banishment for the this new way, follow me and my words, and uncooperative. But on Jesus’ lips, those enter this new way of living. At every point, words describe Caesar’s kingdom: God’s the essence of his kingdom teaching kingdom turns all of those associations subverts the “common sense” of the Roman upside down. Order becomes opportunity, Empire and all its predecessors and stability melts into movement and change, successors: status-quo government gives way to a revolution of community and Don’t get revenge when wronged, but seek neighborliness, policy bows to love, reconciliation. domination descends to service and sacrifice, control morphs into influence and Don’t repay violence with violence, but seek inspiration, and vengeance and threats are creative and transforming nonviolent transformed into forgiveness and blessing. alternatives.

Gateway to Action & Contemplation: Don’t focus on external conformity to moral What word or phrase resonates with or codes, but on internal transformation in love. challenges me? What sensations do I notice in my body? What is mine to do? Don’t love insiders and hate or fear outsiders, but welcome outsiders into a new Justice Corner by Carolyn Krantz, “us,” a new “we,” a new humanity that Pastoral Associate celebrates diversity in the context of love for It is hard to believe that we are at the end of all, justice for all, and mutual respect for all. the liturgical year. The feast of Christ the King offers us an opportunity to renew our Don’t have anxiety about money or security faith. Christ is King. He is “in charge.” No or pleasure at the center of your life, but matter how difficult our year has been, no trust yourself to the care of God. matter what has happened personally or in the world at large, He is King. But His Don’t live for wealth, but for the living God manner of being King is to serve, to offer who loves all people, including your love to all. enemies. Look at the ways we have been loved Don’t hate your enemies or competitors, but throughout this year. We have been love them and do to them not as they have embraced by doctors and nurses who have done to you—and not before they do to served us without rest. We continue to have you—but as you wish they would do for food cheerfully provided by farm workers, you… meat packers, grocery clerks and for half of us, by non-profits who work day in and out The phrase “kingdom of God” on Jesus’ to deliver food. We have had a difficult lips, then, means almost the opposite of election and have seen poll workers and what an American like me might assume, ballot counters work their fingers off to living in the richest, most powerful nation insure the democracy. We have had police on earth. To a citizen of Western civilization officers and firefighters continue their jobs like me, kingdom language suggests order, to keep us safe. We have priests and

29 ministers of the Gospel learn how to live- stream and zoom so that the message of the It is a time to remember the things we have Gospel continues. We have been loved this in common, to name them with relatives and year! friends. All are equal. All have rights as human beings. All have the treasure of life. Recently, I was present for a zoom When we start from the things we hold in conference for the Ursuline Associates. We common, it is not so difficult to have prayed Psalm 23, “The Lord is my constructive arguments about our shepherd...” Each person picked a phrase differences. that stood out to them, like “He restoreth my soul.” We held that phrase in our hearts. I recently received an article about the work “Surely goodness and kindness shall follow of John Courney Murray, S.J., a great me all the days of my life.” We need to theologian who lived from 1904-1967. He count our blessings for the year 2020. insisted that “constructive arguments among responsible citizens is a great tool for Yes, there have been difficulties and until deepening national self-understanding and the vaccine comes, it looks like more to creating a society of justice, peace and come, but we have the promise of a vaccine unity.”* Can we risk such discussions based which will lessen the pandemic. The first on love and listening during these holidays? reading says, “I will rescue them from every Can we treasure the opportunities when they place where they were scattered when it was present themselves? Can we link our arms cloudy and dark.” And in the second with Christ the King and move forward in reading, “The last enemy to be destroyed is faith not fear when they do? death,” words that give us courage in these COVID times. Christ is King when things *Article by Fr. James Bacik, Nov. 11, 2020 are cloudy and dark. He makes the Sun to at [email protected] shine. He destroyed death by His resurrection of which we are a part. We Parish Perspective by know that those who have died in faith are a Peter Degl’Innocenti, Pastoral Associate part of His kingdom. His love covers the Dance Instructions earth. Do we recognize it? Do we help I like to dance. I used to like it a lot more bring it about? when I was younger and had copious amounts of energy to exhaust. To tell the The interesting point about the gospel is that truth though, I’m not very good at it. I’ve neither the blessed or the accursed recognize got rhythm but my wife tells me I change it the actions of service: “I was hungry and three or four times in a single dance. Like you gave me food, thirsty and you gave me the line William H. Macy has in the movie drink,” etc. So, at the end of this difficult Wild Hogs, “The music moves me, but it year, now is our chance to recognize the moves me ugly.” There are many things in love before us and to acknowledge the Sun life that are analogous to dancing. They (Son) present in our lives. I am not making follow the pattern of one step forward and light of the grief and difficulties of this year. two steps back. “Grief is the price of love,” say spiritual writer Valerie Kaur. But, now in this time of The whole world has been learning to dance Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, is the to a new tune I like to call the Covid Two- time to rejoice in His constant presence. Step. How the dance is performed really

30 depends on where you are in the world. Some countries have no rules to the dance, and it may be likened to the wild frenetic gyrations of the 1960’s or an epidemiological tribute to Doris Day’s “Que sera, sera…whatever will be will be…” Not a very good approach to the issue. We here at St. Ignatius of Antioch take a much more serious view of what is happening around us.

As a church we are always mindful of the lives of others. Usually that means the poor, the dispossessed, and the marginalized. We now have to face the fact that anyone at any moment may be susceptible to the virus. We were making great strides forward in recovering from tight restrictions. From online Mass only to outdoor Mass to indoor Mass; one two three, fast like a tango. Then boom! Now we switch direction, again like a tango and it’s three steps back. But the music hasn’t stopped. The dance is not over. In fact, composers are in the wings writing new music in the form of vaccines.

We must follow the guidelines we are given no matter how tired we are of the dance. We will take steps forward again. We don’t know when. In that regard it’s like a square dance, it’s up to the caller to tell us what to do next. For now, it’s no “swing your partner” it’s all “doe-see-doe” (no contact). For the sake and safety of our Church and the community we patiently wait for our next step forward again. There is great progress and hope ahead. The claimed effectiveness of the vaccines being produced is very high and will assuredly save many lives.

This dance has not been easy to learn. Many toes have been stepped on. In the end we may all realize that this has been nothing any of us could have just waltzed through.

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