Reading 1
Dn 12:1-3
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11
Reading II
Heb 10:11-14, 18
Gospel
Mk 13:724-32
The wonders of the 'next' world
Reflection on Sunday's readings from Bishop Robert Morneau writing for The Compass
Friday, November 13, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
ZENIT: US Bishops: Lawmakers Honored Obama's Promise
Stupak Amendment Finds Its Way Into Health Care Reform
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. bishops are praising the decision of the House of Representatives to block federal funding of abortion in the current health care reform package, and are urging the Senate to do the same.
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. episcopal conference, issued a statement on behalf of the conference Monday that thanked the U.S. House of Representatives for honoring President Barack Obama's "commitment to the Congress and the nation that health care reform would not become a vehicle for expanding abortion funding or mandates."
The House of Representatives passed the health care reform bill Saturday, which aims to extend coverage to most Americans. Pro-life lawmakers added an amendment to the plan from Representative Bart Stupak that blocks federal tax dollars from being used to fund abortions.
The Senate has yet to debate the bill, but hopes to as early as next week.
In an urgent letter sent Friday, the bishops had urged the lawmakers to keep abortion funding out of health care reform, and to "ensure that needed health care reform legislation truly protects the life, dignity, health and consciences of all."
"In an essential step," Cardinal George stated today, "the House voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm the longstanding and widely supported precedent that no federal funds will be used to pay for elective abortions."
"We will work to persuade the Senate to follow the example of the House and include these critical safeguards in their version of health care reform legislation," he continued. "We also thank the members of the House who took this courageous and principled step to oppose measures that would force Americans to pay for the destruction of unborn children, and the Democratic leadership for allowing the Representatives to vote on this amendment that protects the common good."
"The conference will remain vigilant and involved," the cardinal assured, "throughout this entire process to assure that these essential provisions are maintained and included in the final legislation."
Cardinal George told the legislators that the Church remains "deeply concerned about other aspects of health care reform as the debate now moves to the Senate, especially as it affects the poor and vulnerable, and those at the beginning and end of life."
"We will continue to insist that health care reform legislation must protect conscience rights. We support measures to make health care more affordable for low-income people and the uninsured," he added. "We remain deeply concerned that immigrants be treated fairly and not lose the health care coverage that they now have."
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.
Thank you ZENIT!
The Holy Cross Family Blogspot features regular news and information thanks to ZENIT, an international Catholic news agency. If you enjoy ZENIT articles on the Holy Cross Family Blogspot, you can show your support and appreciation by visiting their website and spreading the word. Please click on the logo to visit the site.
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 10, 2009 (Zenit.org).- The U.S. bishops are praising the decision of the House of Representatives to block federal funding of abortion in the current health care reform package, and are urging the Senate to do the same.
Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the U.S. episcopal conference, issued a statement on behalf of the conference Monday that thanked the U.S. House of Representatives for honoring President Barack Obama's "commitment to the Congress and the nation that health care reform would not become a vehicle for expanding abortion funding or mandates."
The House of Representatives passed the health care reform bill Saturday, which aims to extend coverage to most Americans. Pro-life lawmakers added an amendment to the plan from Representative Bart Stupak that blocks federal tax dollars from being used to fund abortions.
The Senate has yet to debate the bill, but hopes to as early as next week.
In an urgent letter sent Friday, the bishops had urged the lawmakers to keep abortion funding out of health care reform, and to "ensure that needed health care reform legislation truly protects the life, dignity, health and consciences of all."
"In an essential step," Cardinal George stated today, "the House voted overwhelmingly to reaffirm the longstanding and widely supported precedent that no federal funds will be used to pay for elective abortions."
"We will work to persuade the Senate to follow the example of the House and include these critical safeguards in their version of health care reform legislation," he continued. "We also thank the members of the House who took this courageous and principled step to oppose measures that would force Americans to pay for the destruction of unborn children, and the Democratic leadership for allowing the Representatives to vote on this amendment that protects the common good."
"The conference will remain vigilant and involved," the cardinal assured, "throughout this entire process to assure that these essential provisions are maintained and included in the final legislation."
Cardinal George told the legislators that the Church remains "deeply concerned about other aspects of health care reform as the debate now moves to the Senate, especially as it affects the poor and vulnerable, and those at the beginning and end of life."
"We will continue to insist that health care reform legislation must protect conscience rights. We support measures to make health care more affordable for low-income people and the uninsured," he added. "We remain deeply concerned that immigrants be treated fairly and not lose the health care coverage that they now have."
© Innovative Media, Inc.
Reprinting ZENIT's articles requires written permission from the editor.
Thank you ZENIT!
The Holy Cross Family Blogspot features regular news and information thanks to ZENIT, an international Catholic news agency. If you enjoy ZENIT articles on the Holy Cross Family Blogspot, you can show your support and appreciation by visiting their website and spreading the word. Please click on the logo to visit the site.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Holy Cross Catholic School shows appreciation for the sacrifices of our nation's veterans
In honor of Veteran's Day, the students, faculty and staff at Holy Cross Catholic School will be sporting RED, WHITE AND BLUE in place of the usual school uniform. In addition, the school has planned a special liturgy for veterans at 8 am on Friday, November 10. Mass will be followed by a social at school for all veterans from 9-10 am. All parish veterans and supporters are invited to attend!
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
The Bay Settlement Sisters' Bazaar is back
Saturday, November 14
from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
at Holy Cross School, 3002 Bay Settlement Road in Green Bay
Chance prizes, bakery, crafts, art, lunch & more. Drawing for prizes begins at 1 pm. Need not be present to win. For more information, please go to www.gbfranciscansisters.org/.
from 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
at Holy Cross School, 3002 Bay Settlement Road in Green Bay
Chance prizes, bakery, crafts, art, lunch & more. Drawing for prizes begins at 1 pm. Need not be present to win. For more information, please go to www.gbfranciscansisters.org/.
Congratulations to this week's FootballMania winners!
Our Holy Cross community had two FootballMania winners this week! One parishioner won $200 and another parishioner won $50.
You can still purchase a FootballMania ticket for the remainder of the season, although the cost of the ticket remains the same regardless of the number of remaining games. For more information, please contact Michelle Jacques at mjacques@holycrossfamily.org. Read more about how FootballMania works below.
What is FootballMania?
FootballMania is a fundraiser through CharityMania that gives each ticket purchaser a chance to win up to $500 per week for 10 weeks of National Football League.
How does it work?
Each ticket is $20.00 and is good for 10 weeks. So, once you purchase a ticket, the bottom portion needs to be filled out and returned to school. Once the ticket is returned, it is activated. None of your information is sent to CharityMania. Tickets are tracked at school. Ticket stub contact information will only be used to communicate if you hold a winning ticket!
How do I know if I won?
Beginning Tuesday, November 3-CharityMania will send money to each organization with winners! Then, if we have a winner, our school will issue a check to the winner or winners.
So, basically put--if you buy a ticket for 20 bucks, your ticket is good for 10 weeks. Each and every week you have a chance to win up to $500! Your ticket will tell you which 3 teams are "your" team that you want to score the highest points for that week.
If your team has the highest combined score the week, you will win up to $500. We are guaranteed to have some kind of winner each week.
This is a really great opportunity for our school to make an incredible amount of money! For each $20 ticket that is sold, Holy Cross Catholic School makes $15.25.
You can still purchase a FootballMania ticket for the remainder of the season, although the cost of the ticket remains the same regardless of the number of remaining games. For more information, please contact Michelle Jacques at mjacques@holycrossfamily.org. Read more about how FootballMania works below.
What is FootballMania?
FootballMania is a fundraiser through CharityMania that gives each ticket purchaser a chance to win up to $500 per week for 10 weeks of National Football League.
How does it work?
Each ticket is $20.00 and is good for 10 weeks. So, once you purchase a ticket, the bottom portion needs to be filled out and returned to school. Once the ticket is returned, it is activated. None of your information is sent to CharityMania. Tickets are tracked at school. Ticket stub contact information will only be used to communicate if you hold a winning ticket!
How do I know if I won?
Beginning Tuesday, November 3-CharityMania will send money to each organization with winners! Then, if we have a winner, our school will issue a check to the winner or winners.
So, basically put--if you buy a ticket for 20 bucks, your ticket is good for 10 weeks. Each and every week you have a chance to win up to $500! Your ticket will tell you which 3 teams are "your" team that you want to score the highest points for that week.
If your team has the highest combined score the week, you will win up to $500. We are guaranteed to have some kind of winner each week.
This is a really great opportunity for our school to make an incredible amount of money! For each $20 ticket that is sold, Holy Cross Catholic School makes $15.25.
Monday, November 9, 2009
A musical interlude by the HCCS kindergarten class
For your listening pleasure, please press the PLAY button for a musical number performed by the kindergarten class and directed by Mrs. Lee Anne Scovell at Holy Cross Catholic School. (Feedblitz readers will need to go directly to the blogspot to view the video.)
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
What's happening in Faith Formation?
WEDNESDAY, November 11
Grades 1 - 6: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Grades 7 - 10: 6:45 - 8:00 pm
SUNDAY, November 15
Sunday School: During 10 am Mass
NEXT WEEK! Youth Confirmation meeting and Mass with sponsors!
Sunday, November 15, 8:30 am - 9:45 am in the school gym. Mass to follow at 10:00 am. Remind your sponsors!
About Holy Cross Faith Formation
All children in the Holy Cross Parish Family have the right and opportunity to be educated in their faith. Children and young adults often have questions about God. The Holy Cross Parish Faith Formation program works with parents to answer these questions and to bring our young people into a closer relationship with God; a relationship which motivates them to make good moral decisions in order to live Christ-like lives. To see Faith Formation photos, click on the photo albums underneath Faith Formation Contact Information on the right hand side of the blog.
Grades 1 - 6: 5:30 - 6:30 pm
Grades 7 - 10: 6:45 - 8:00 pm
SUNDAY, November 15
Sunday School: During 10 am Mass
NEXT WEEK! Youth Confirmation meeting and Mass with sponsors!
Sunday, November 15, 8:30 am - 9:45 am in the school gym. Mass to follow at 10:00 am. Remind your sponsors!
About Holy Cross Faith Formation
All children in the Holy Cross Parish Family have the right and opportunity to be educated in their faith. Children and young adults often have questions about God. The Holy Cross Parish Faith Formation program works with parents to answer these questions and to bring our young people into a closer relationship with God; a relationship which motivates them to make good moral decisions in order to live Christ-like lives. To see Faith Formation photos, click on the photo albums underneath Faith Formation Contact Information on the right hand side of the blog.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
This week at Holy Cross Parish, November 9 - 15
Monday, November 9NO MASS
7:00 pm Choir Practice, Church
Tuesday, November 10
NO MASS
Wednesday, November 11
8:00 am Mass for the Alois Hartl Family
Thursday, November 12
8:00 am Mass for Joseph & Anna Derenne
Friday, November 13
8:00 am Mass for the Deceased Members of the Denissen/DeGroot Families, Carri & Tony
Saturday, November 14
4:00 pm Mass for the Holy Cross Parish Family and Jeff Junion 5th Anniversary of Life
Sunday, November 15
8:00 am Mass for Anton VanDenMeerendonk & Family
10:00 am Mass for Robert & Angeline Bertrand
The cupboards were bare at Paul's Pantry
Submitted by Mrs. Jo Sato
Grade 6 students at Holy Cross Catholic School were in charge of the food collection project for September. Thanks to the generosity of Holy Cross Families, we brought well over 20 bags/boxes of food items to Paul's Pantry. Mrs. Nennig's suggestion for giving a jean/packer dress day for bringing in two items really worked out great! We really Backed the Pack AND Packed the Pantry.
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
Grade 6 students at Holy Cross Catholic School were in charge of the food collection project for September. Thanks to the generosity of Holy Cross Families, we brought well over 20 bags/boxes of food items to Paul's Pantry. Mrs. Nennig's suggestion for giving a jean/packer dress day for bringing in two items really worked out great! We really Backed the Pack AND Packed the Pantry.About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
With sympathy on behalf of the Holy Cross Parish Family
Reverend Albin Vladimir Veszelovszky, O. Praem., age 88, a member of Gödöllö Abbey, Budapest, Hungary, residing at St. Norbert Abbey since September of 1951, passed into God's eternal kingdom on November 4, 2009, at St. Norbert Abbey.
Father was born Vladimir Veszelovszky in Budapest, Hungary, on the 11th of June, 1921 to Gabriel and Mary (Bozso) Veszelovszky. In June of 1939, he graduated from the Benedictine Gymnasium in Esztergom, Hungary. He entered the centuries old Norbertine Abbey of Jasow in Northern Hungary, on August 28, 1939. As the abbot invested him into the white habit of the Norbertines, he was given the name Albin. On September 8, 1943, he made his Solemn Profession. He was ordained to the Priesthood on November 1, 1944 in Budapest, Hungary.
In June of 1948, Father Albin received a Licentiate degree in Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Later that same year, he entered the United States and attended the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he received his S.T.D. in Theology in June of 1951. His doctoral dissertation was on Concelebration in the Roman Rite. Great was the joy of Fr. Albin when the Second Vatican Council approved such Concelebration, which is now widely practiced.
Father Albin served as a faculty member at Archmere Academy, Claymont, DE, and St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. In September of 1970, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar, Associate Pastor, of St. Willebrord Parish, Green Bay, WI, were he served until his retirement in 2005. He is remembered for his Hungarian accent, his sense of humor, his playful pranks, his vast knowledge of the lives of saints, his skill with languages, his adaptability, and the heart of his vocation, the pious reverence that emanated from his celebration at Eucharist.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by the members of the Norbertine Community.
The Reception of the Body/Vespers of the Dead will be held at St. Norbert Abbey on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will follow until 8:30 p.m. and will continue on Monday, November 9, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held in the Abbey Church on Monday, November 9, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. Rt. Rev. Gary J. Neville, O. Praem., will preside at the funeral liturgy. The homilist will be Rev. Gery G. Meehan, O. Praem
Ryan Funeral home, De Pere, is in charge of the arrangements.
Father was born Vladimir Veszelovszky in Budapest, Hungary, on the 11th of June, 1921 to Gabriel and Mary (Bozso) Veszelovszky. In June of 1939, he graduated from the Benedictine Gymnasium in Esztergom, Hungary. He entered the centuries old Norbertine Abbey of Jasow in Northern Hungary, on August 28, 1939. As the abbot invested him into the white habit of the Norbertines, he was given the name Albin. On September 8, 1943, he made his Solemn Profession. He was ordained to the Priesthood on November 1, 1944 in Budapest, Hungary.
In June of 1948, Father Albin received a Licentiate degree in Theology from the Gregorian University, Rome, Italy. Later that same year, he entered the United States and attended the Catholic University in Washington, D.C., where he received his S.T.D. in Theology in June of 1951. His doctoral dissertation was on Concelebration in the Roman Rite. Great was the joy of Fr. Albin when the Second Vatican Council approved such Concelebration, which is now widely practiced.
Father Albin served as a faculty member at Archmere Academy, Claymont, DE, and St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI. In September of 1970, he was assigned as Parochial Vicar, Associate Pastor, of St. Willebrord Parish, Green Bay, WI, were he served until his retirement in 2005. He is remembered for his Hungarian accent, his sense of humor, his playful pranks, his vast knowledge of the lives of saints, his skill with languages, his adaptability, and the heart of his vocation, the pious reverence that emanated from his celebration at Eucharist.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by the members of the Norbertine Community.
The Reception of the Body/Vespers of the Dead will be held at St. Norbert Abbey on Sunday, November 8, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will follow until 8:30 p.m. and will continue on Monday, November 9, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held in the Abbey Church on Monday, November 9, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. Rt. Rev. Gary J. Neville, O. Praem., will preside at the funeral liturgy. The homilist will be Rev. Gery G. Meehan, O. Praem
Ryan Funeral home, De Pere, is in charge of the arrangements.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
November 7/8 From the Pastor's Desk...
My Dear Parishioners,
In our Catholic faith, the month of November is dedicated to our beloved dead. The church calls us to remember those men and women who were part of and who deeply affected us during their time here on earth. We are asked to recall all the good they did, to remember their faith in God and Christ Jesus, and to take what was good in their lives and incorporate it into our lives. Our Book of Remembrance has been placed in our shrine/candle area, and those listed in that book will be remembered in a special way in all the Masses offered in Holy Cross Church during this month. Kindly take time to look through the pages and recall the names that are listed there and feel free to add the names of your beloved dead.
This past Tuesday the Pastoral Council met for its monthly meeting and began our parish’s preparation for the Diocesan Lenten program called “Catholics Come Home.” This program will focus on welcoming “home” those Catholics who have, for whatever reason, stopped practicing their faith. As we sing in the hymn, “All are Welcome,” we hope to create here at Holy Cross a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all who come to our church/parish. There are many ways and opportunities for a lot of people to play a role in this program, and if you are willing to give of your time, energy and talent, kindly call the parish office and give us your name and we will call upon you to play a role in this “welcoming Lenten program.”
Congratulations are in order to Jaris and Tonia Briski and their daughter Emily who bring to Church this weekend their son (and brother), Andrew, for the Sacrament of Baptism. As a parish family, we welcome to God’s holy people our newest member, Andrew Briski.
A word of Thank You for all who contributed to last weekend’s second collection for our church renewal. Your generosity and participation was deeply appreciated.
Oremus Pro Invicem,
Father Tom
Related link: 11.07.09 Church Bulletin
In our Catholic faith, the month of November is dedicated to our beloved dead. The church calls us to remember those men and women who were part of and who deeply affected us during their time here on earth. We are asked to recall all the good they did, to remember their faith in God and Christ Jesus, and to take what was good in their lives and incorporate it into our lives. Our Book of Remembrance has been placed in our shrine/candle area, and those listed in that book will be remembered in a special way in all the Masses offered in Holy Cross Church during this month. Kindly take time to look through the pages and recall the names that are listed there and feel free to add the names of your beloved dead.
This past Tuesday the Pastoral Council met for its monthly meeting and began our parish’s preparation for the Diocesan Lenten program called “Catholics Come Home.” This program will focus on welcoming “home” those Catholics who have, for whatever reason, stopped practicing their faith. As we sing in the hymn, “All are Welcome,” we hope to create here at Holy Cross a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all who come to our church/parish. There are many ways and opportunities for a lot of people to play a role in this program, and if you are willing to give of your time, energy and talent, kindly call the parish office and give us your name and we will call upon you to play a role in this “welcoming Lenten program.”
Congratulations are in order to Jaris and Tonia Briski and their daughter Emily who bring to Church this weekend their son (and brother), Andrew, for the Sacrament of Baptism. As a parish family, we welcome to God’s holy people our newest member, Andrew Briski.
A word of Thank You for all who contributed to last weekend’s second collection for our church renewal. Your generosity and participation was deeply appreciated.
Oremus Pro Invicem,
Father Tom
Related link: 11.07.09 Church Bulletin
Friday, November 6, 2009
Readings for November 8, 2009: Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading 1
1 Kgs 17:10-16
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Reading 2
Heb 9:24-28
Gospel
Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
Offering the mite
Reflection from Fr. Mark Vander Steeg, writing for The Compass
1 Kgs 17:10-16
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10
Reading 2
Heb 9:24-28
Gospel
Mk 12:38-44 or 12:41-44
Offering the mite
Reflection from Fr. Mark Vander Steeg, writing for The Compass
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Catholic Virtue Reflection: Thy Kingdom Come
During the month of November, we will study the “Thy Kingdom Come” portion of “The Lord’s Prayer."
“When looking at the world throughout history, the skeptic could easily say, ‘Jesus promised you a Kingdom and all He left you was a Church.’ What the skeptic fails to remember is that few people recognized the Son of God, when He came incarnate, as Jesus of Nazareth.
As children, we likely learned a concept of kingdoms from fairy tales. However, little of fairy tale kingdoms express the kingdoms promised in the gospels. Matthew’s gospel alone makes nearly forty references to the ‘Kingdoms of God’ or the ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ Also, in Luke 17:21 Jesus says, ‘The Kingdom is in your midst.’ Throughout Scripture we see these references to kingdom, especially in Jesus’ Parables.”
-- Understanding Our Father: Biblical reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, Dr. Scott Hahn
What is Catholic Virtue Education?
Catholic Virtue Education focuses on teaching students and their families about Catholic virtue as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. While all of the virtues, works, gifts, fruits, and prayers are intricately intertwined into our Catholic Faith, Catholic Virtue Education at Holy Cross Catholic School focuses on certain aspects each month in order to enhance learning for all students, of all abilities, in all grades.Each month a new virtue is developed, and the students are involved in defining, discussing and exhibiting that trait in their daily lives. Principal Robin Jo Jensen includes reflections on the month's virtue in her weekly parent letter to spur discussions at home. At the end of the month parents are encouraged to attend a student-directed, all-school assembly focusing on the lessons taught throughout the month.
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
“When looking at the world throughout history, the skeptic could easily say, ‘Jesus promised you a Kingdom and all He left you was a Church.’ What the skeptic fails to remember is that few people recognized the Son of God, when He came incarnate, as Jesus of Nazareth.
As children, we likely learned a concept of kingdoms from fairy tales. However, little of fairy tale kingdoms express the kingdoms promised in the gospels. Matthew’s gospel alone makes nearly forty references to the ‘Kingdoms of God’ or the ‘Kingdom of Heaven.’ Also, in Luke 17:21 Jesus says, ‘The Kingdom is in your midst.’ Throughout Scripture we see these references to kingdom, especially in Jesus’ Parables.”
-- Understanding Our Father: Biblical reflections on the Lord’s Prayer, Dr. Scott Hahn
What is Catholic Virtue Education?
Catholic Virtue Education focuses on teaching students and their families about Catholic virtue as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. While all of the virtues, works, gifts, fruits, and prayers are intricately intertwined into our Catholic Faith, Catholic Virtue Education at Holy Cross Catholic School focuses on certain aspects each month in order to enhance learning for all students, of all abilities, in all grades.Each month a new virtue is developed, and the students are involved in defining, discussing and exhibiting that trait in their daily lives. Principal Robin Jo Jensen includes reflections on the month's virtue in her weekly parent letter to spur discussions at home. At the end of the month parents are encouraged to attend a student-directed, all-school assembly focusing on the lessons taught throughout the month.
About Holy Cross Catholic School
Located on the growing northeast side of Green Bay at the historic crossroads of Church and Bay Settlement Roads, Holy Cross Catholic School is the point at which faith, community and education converge. The school educates children within the Catholic faith and provides them with opportunities to develop the values, attitudes and skills that will enable them to become vital members of the community. Holy Cross Catholic School has been in existence for 141 years and has an enrollment of 195 students in grades EC3 to 8th grade. For more information, please visit the school's website: http://www.holycrossfamily.org/.
A New Moment for Catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay
A Message From The Bishop
My dear priests, deacons, parish directors, religious, Catholic school administrators and teachers, directors of religious education, youth ministry and adult faith formation, campus ministers, catechumenate catechists, parents and all the lay faithful ...
As I write this pastoral letter regarding the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the Church to all of you, I am profoundly struck by the words of another pastoral letter written by the great apostle Paul, almost two thousand years ago:
"Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth.
From the day we heard about you,
we do not cease praying for you and all spiritual wisdom
and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God".1
I am writing to you because I sense a new moment in the opportunity to "grow in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" here in the Diocese of Green Bay. There are many new resources, outstanding documents of the universal Church and of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in this country which afford us this new catechetical opportunity.
In the last twenty years the Catholic Church has made incredible progress in the realm of religious education, which now at the behest of Second Vatican Council, we call "catechesis."2 The publication of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church3 has solidified and clarified the Church's position on our treasured tradition since the days of the early Church and the flowering of the catechetical mission of the Church over the centuries. The Catechism has been a unique gift to the Church and will continue to bear much fruit for the future. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a complete and accurate exposition of Catholic doctrine. It contains the essential and fundamental context of the Catholic faith in a full and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe, celebrate in the sacraments and live in morality always centered in prayer.
In the years following the publication and dissemination of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church in the United States, I personally have had the wonderful opportunity to see history in the making somewhat "up close and personal." In the late 1990s, I had the privilege of working at the Vatican as an official at the Congregation for Clergy, which has the responsibility for catechesis world-wide. I was in the room at the Vatican when His Eminence, Cardinal Dario Castrillon-Hoyos expressed gratitude to the Bishops of the United States, represented by Bishop Donald Wuerl, then Bishop of Pittsburgh, now Archbishop of Washington, D.C., for all of their good work in the area of catechesis. The Cardinal placed before the Episcopal Conference of the United States Bishops the challenge of producing a "National Catechism" that would serve the purpose of explaining and enculturating the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church into the Church in our country. Bishop Wuerl and the other Bishops of the executive committee of the Conference of Bishops, a bit hesitantly but gladly, accepted the opportunity to fulfill the request of the Cardinal and began the mammoth task of preparing such a volume for use in the entire United States. Little did they know that the task would be a three-year project with broad based consultation of experts, members of the Christian faithful, priests and every Bishop in the United States.
After I was ordained a Bishop, I also had the opportunity to serve as a Bishop member of the Committee on Catechesis and was able to participate in the review of the National Directory for Catechesis4 and to review, also as a member of that committee, the new national catechism as it was being written. This volume is and will be a real treasure for our Church in this country and for our Diocese now and in the distant future. The book is entitled United States Catholic Catechism for Adults5 and it was approved by the full body of Bishops in November of 2004, subsequently approved by the Holy See and then published by the Bishops' Conference in July of 2006.
The Bishops of the United States, at the request of the Congregation in Rome, have taken real initiative and leadership in providing a text that will be a close reflection of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church and yet provides a cultural context for our country that helps our people to understand and assimilate the faith. The book itself is written in a "catechetical modality" which means it includes doctrinal instruction but also stories of saints and Catholics in our tradition who exemplify that section of the teaching. There are continuous references to the Bible and to other elements of the Church's teaching as well as discussion questions to help readers in groups to understand and process the material in each chapter6.
The Bishops see this adult catechism as a tool for adults in the Church who often have not had much background to be given a consistent and faithful presentation of the teaching of the Church so that they can appropriate it into their own lives. They also envision this work being the primary text of formation for catechists in parish catechetical programs and for teachers of religion in Catholic schools, for all adult faith formation programs, campus ministry programs and the basic text or resource for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults during that intense time of conversion and preparation called the "Catechumenate." It is also strongly recommended for those involved in lay ecclesial ministry in their parishes. According to the Bishops, each household, besides having a copy of the Bible and a manual of Catholic prayers, ought to have a copy of the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults so that parents can have a ready reference for study and prayer in their home.
While the new adult catechism is readily available and easily understandable, whoever uses it may need some preparation and training in order to ensure that the overall purpose and mission is clearly and appropriately understood.
Given this background and with the publication of this pastoral letter, I am announcing that the new adult catechism, The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is to be the foundational text for all adult faith formation and catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay. This catechism will serve as the rudder on the ship of the catechetical mission of this Diocese as we "put out into the deep" of this new century and millennium. We commit ourselves to doing our very best to prepare for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, commonly called the "new evangelization" as foreseen by the Second Vatican Council, by Pope John Paul II and now by Pope Benedict XVI.
Evangelization and Catechesis
What I am really calling for here is that all of us see our relationship to Jesus Christ as the most central one of our lives and that we recognize that "conversion of mind and heart" to become more like Him every day is the true meaning and purpose of our lives. This process is often called "on-going conversion." Actually, this process of knowing and loving God is a dynamic one that begins in evangelization and grows ever deeper in the various ages and stages of our lives.
In Catechesi Tradendae7 Pope John Paul II stresses the centrality of Christ and establishes the essential link between evangelization and catechesis. "At the heart of catechesis, we find in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ. The definitive aim of catechesis is to introduce people to an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ. Only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Trinity."8 There is no separation or opposition between catechesis and evangelization9. They integrate and complement each other. Catechesis must often concern itself not only with nourishing and teaching the faith, but also with arousing it unceasingly, with the help of grace, with opening the heart, with converting and with preparing total adherence to Jesus Christ.10
"It is true that being a Christian means saying "yes" to Jesus Christ, but let us remember that this "yes" has two levels: It consists in surrendering to the word of God and relying on it, but it also means, at a later stage, endeavoring to know better - and better the profound meaning of this word.11
The history of commitment to catholic education and catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay
The primary indicator of the historical commitment of this Diocese to Catholic education is abundantly apparent in the commitment to Catholic schools and a constant effort to preserve and improve those schools, including joining together in area-wide systems. Such systems encourage our schools in their quest to serve the goals of academic excellence, strong Catholic identity, and missionary and service outreach to the community and to the world. For each and every Catholic school this has been a priority.
Fresh in the Diocesan memory of some is the leadership role of the program called The Green Bay Plan12 of 1971. I understand that in the early '70s Bishop Aloysius Wycislo and the leadership of the catechetical effort in the Diocese were endeavoring to convey through religious education the teaching and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. This program gained a nation-wide reputation. We are again at the cusp of a tremendous opportunity here in the United States and in the Diocese of Green Bay as we now have available all the resources that were not available thirty years ago: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Directory for Catechesis13, the National Directory for Catechesis and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.
With the great advances in technology today, we are in a favorable position to make our programs available to all of our parishioners and to all those needing access to our programs. Technological advances also assist our ability to access other solid programs that may be available online. Surely changes in this area will continue rapidly and increase our capacity to reach out to the faithful in a cost-effective and expeditious manner.
With all of the resources available from the Universal Church and from the Bishops of this country and with the incredible advances in technology, we are clearly at a new moment in the catechetical history of the Church in the United States and in the Diocese of Green Bay. It is incumbent upon us not to miss this opportunity but rather to rebuild a foundation that is solidly set upon the mind and heart of Jesus Christ and the Church. We must find new ways, rooted in prayer, to communicate this wonderful treasure of our faith to present and future generations.
Setting our compass to true north
In the catechetical area of the Church's life the following questions must be considered: What is true north? How will we know when and if we have arrived? These documents express the destination so beautifully, but, as the pastor of this community of faith, I would like to express it this way. Our goal is to help the whole community of faith to come to at least a basic standard of knowledge of Christ and of the teachings of the Church in such a way that the people of God is guided in living in these perilous and confusing days. The only answer to the confusion of our times is a thorough knowledge of the Truth and cooperation with the grace of God to live that knowledge to the full in preparation for the kingdom of heaven.
Today we live in a culture that is too often distancing itself from God and exalting the self to such a degree that pluralism could dilute the truth so much, thus weakening and destroying the fabric of society. It has happened before even to the greatest of nations and entire civilizations. Gratefully it has been the role of the Church to bring reform and clarity to a wavering world. Through the monastic movement after the fall of the Roman Empire, through Catholic colleges and universities in later periods of the Church's history, the Church has saved Western civilization from near extinction.
This is precisely why we need to make our Catholic grade schools, high schools and colleges to be true instruments of cultivating the development of the whole person and the promotion of the common good. This is the reason why our parish and school catechetical programs need to be strengthened - not watered down - in order to assist the next generation to take stronger ownership of their faith and their place in the world. We need to prepare the next generations to answer generously the call to holiness and to equip them for competent, courageous and even saintly and heroic witness. This is not a time to compromise with the negative trends in our culture, but it is time to counteract these trends with competence, right reason and unshakeable faith.
The centrality of prayer in catechesis
Every catechist should give students a taste of deep prayer, for this is a direct way of relating to Christ. The first "catechists" of the Church, the Apostles, implored Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." And Jesus did teach them the greatest of all prayers, the Our Father. He also brought them to the silence of the mountain where he witnessed his own prayer to them. Catechesis is learning the truths of divine revelation, understanding them and living them out in a continuous conversion to Christ through a life of prayer.
St. Anselm famously said many times, "Believe that you may understand."14 He was referring to the truths of Christ and His Church, which is His body. The food for this faith is prayer. No catechist should avoid teaching and witnessing prayer to their students. Every catechist should teach and witness prayer to students.
Coordinates as we set sail
To the Diocesan Curia:
Overall we need to immerse ourselves in the documents that I have mentioned with a study plan for ourselves that will ensure that we have a great familiarity-not just a passing awareness-with the guiding documents of our faith, especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults.
This period of study and reflection will naturally lead us to the evaluation of all of our formation programs: commissioned ministry, diaconate and seminary candidates so that these programs are teaching comprehensively the teachings of the Church. Theological opinions that are not in harmony with the teaching authority of the Church are not helpful and could even be detrimental to the faith life of the participants.
I have asked the Department of Education, which has responsibility for catechist formation and adult faith formation, to develop a program and curriculum in three parts that is primarily based on the USCCA. Continuing conversion and prayer are powerful tools for catechesis and will be treated across the entire curriculum. Over time this will be unfolded and then required as preparation for catechists in our parishes and teachers in our schools. Although this will take some considerable time to be fully planned and implemented, we hope to make it available on a broad basis throughout the Diocese through on-site training sessions as well as instruction through distance learning and interactivity through the Internet.
I have also asked our Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Director to provide service to parishes in the area of the adult catechism as they will need assistance in communicating the central importance of the USCCA for Adult Faith Formation. Resources will also be made available to the parishes regarding the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its use in the home. Preparation for the sacraments and all efforts in ministering to parents need to be reviewed and prepared in light of the USCCA.
The Bishops of the United States also provide a review process for all textbooks of religion and catechesis called the conformity review.15 This should help us in the future in choosing appropriate texts for use in our schools and parish catechetical programs.
To Pastors, parochial vicars, deacons, parish directors and other parish leadership personnel:
The Code of Canon Law requires the Bishop and the pastors to take special care for the catechetical formation of their parishioners of all ages,16 with some focused attention on adult faith formation.17 I ask all pastors and parish leadership personnel to familiarize yourselves deeply with the USCCA and to find the time to teach a class on this in your parish or to make provisions that this is well promoted if taught by someone else.
I also ask you to safeguard the teaching patrimony of the Church, for it is your responsibility as pastor and those in pastoral leadership, to make sure that the teaching in the parish is truly the teaching of the Church18. I know also that it is difficult in these busy times for parents to make religious education a priority. I realize that you may find resistance to your efforts because of the many challenges parishioners and families face due to their busy lives, but communicating the importance of authentic teaching and full participation is very important19.
I would ask that you partner with me and with Diocesan personnel to make sure that we seize this incredible moment and opportunity for the future of our Diocese and for the guidance of our Catholic families and youth. Shortcuts or easy choices will not last; we must step up to the challenge and, as the old saying goes carpe diem, "seize the day."
I have noticed in my nearly thirty years of pastoral ministry that when I am careful about teaching and preaching faithfully, clearly and with joy-great fruit flows into ministry-a success that does not flow when I may be nebulous or unclear or compromising on the great legacy we have been given to pass on.
I call upon you to remember that it is your responsibility to represent the Church in her integrity and not to fashion the Church after your own or someone else's fancy. For whatever deviation, we will be held accountable by the truth of the final judgment. Our task is to ensure that we and our teachings are in conformity with what Christ and the Church teach and live, and not the other way around. We are not making this thing up; we are mere instruments of what God wants us to do for His loving people.
We seek to go forward in faith with the Church as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council and continued in the spirit of Pope John Paul II and the present leadership of Pope Benedict XVI. Thus, the Church will be fully alive in Christ Jesus as we prepare for "His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." We must prepare for a Church that is alive with the buoyancy of the Holy Spirit. The primary way to this destination is in becoming a community of faith alive in Christ, faithful to the Church and her teachings. We are called to be a people responding generously to the call to holiness within our vocation or walk in life. Help us to embrace with great fervor the Diocesan Mission20:
DIOCESAN MISSION
The Catholic community of the Diocese of Green Bay,
through the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
and in unity with the universal Church,
boldly proclaims the Gospel of Jesus,
prayerfully worships in word and sacrament,
and compassionately serves those in need,
in order to advance God's Kingdom of justice and love.
Footnotes:
1 Colossians 1:1-6;9-10.
2 John Paul II, On Catechesis In Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae) (CT) (Washington D.C.: USCCB, 1979), nos. 1, 2.
3 The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB)-Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1992) published initially in 1992 was revised with modifications and published in 1997 and also 2000.
4 National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) (Washington, D.C.:USCCB, 2005).
5 United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) (Washington, D.C.:USCCB, 2006).
6 For a thorough understanding of the historical development of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its intended audience see the Introduction to the USCCA.
7 CT, nos. 18, 19.
8 CT, no. 5.
9 Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi) (EN) (Washington D.C.: USCCB, 1975), no. 44 for a complete treatment of the relationship between catechesis and evangelization.
10 CT, no. 19
11 CT, no. 20
12 The Green Bay Plan (Green Bay, Wisconsin: St. Norbert Abbey Press, Department of Education, Diocese of Green Bay, 1971).
13 Congregation for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 1998)
14 Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogium, in St. Anselm: Basic Writings (La Salle: Open Court Publishing, 1962), p.7.
15 The Conformity Listing of Catechetical Text and Series can be found on the USCCB website http://www.usccb.org/catechism/document/Currentlist.pdf.
16 Code of Canon Law, Latin-English Edition, New English Translation [CIC] (Washington, D.C.: CLSA, 1984), nos, 519, 528.1, 776-777.
17 USCCB, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States (OHWB) (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 1999).
18 Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis) (PO) (1965), no. 6b.
19 Challenges in Catechetical Ministry in the United States are outlined in the Introduction to the NDC pp.12-17.
20 Diocese of Green Bay Mission Statement, Approved by Most Reverend David A. Zubik, (Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2005).
My dear priests, deacons, parish directors, religious, Catholic school administrators and teachers, directors of religious education, youth ministry and adult faith formation, campus ministers, catechumenate catechists, parents and all the lay faithful ...
As I write this pastoral letter regarding the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the teaching of the Church to all of you, I am profoundly struck by the words of another pastoral letter written by the great apostle Paul, almost two thousand years ago:
"Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother,
to the holy ones and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
grace to you and peace from God our Father.
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
when we pray for you,
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus
and the love that you have for all the holy ones
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.
Of this you have already heard
through the word of truth, the Gospel, that has come to you.
Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing,
so also among you,
from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth.
From the day we heard about you,
we do not cease praying for you and all spiritual wisdom
and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,
so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit
and growing in the knowledge of God".1
I am writing to you because I sense a new moment in the opportunity to "grow in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" here in the Diocese of Green Bay. There are many new resources, outstanding documents of the universal Church and of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in this country which afford us this new catechetical opportunity.
In the last twenty years the Catholic Church has made incredible progress in the realm of religious education, which now at the behest of Second Vatican Council, we call "catechesis."2 The publication of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church3 has solidified and clarified the Church's position on our treasured tradition since the days of the early Church and the flowering of the catechetical mission of the Church over the centuries. The Catechism has been a unique gift to the Church and will continue to bear much fruit for the future. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a complete and accurate exposition of Catholic doctrine. It contains the essential and fundamental context of the Catholic faith in a full and summary way. It presents what Catholics throughout the world believe, celebrate in the sacraments and live in morality always centered in prayer.
In the years following the publication and dissemination of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church in the United States, I personally have had the wonderful opportunity to see history in the making somewhat "up close and personal." In the late 1990s, I had the privilege of working at the Vatican as an official at the Congregation for Clergy, which has the responsibility for catechesis world-wide. I was in the room at the Vatican when His Eminence, Cardinal Dario Castrillon-Hoyos expressed gratitude to the Bishops of the United States, represented by Bishop Donald Wuerl, then Bishop of Pittsburgh, now Archbishop of Washington, D.C., for all of their good work in the area of catechesis. The Cardinal placed before the Episcopal Conference of the United States Bishops the challenge of producing a "National Catechism" that would serve the purpose of explaining and enculturating the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church into the Church in our country. Bishop Wuerl and the other Bishops of the executive committee of the Conference of Bishops, a bit hesitantly but gladly, accepted the opportunity to fulfill the request of the Cardinal and began the mammoth task of preparing such a volume for use in the entire United States. Little did they know that the task would be a three-year project with broad based consultation of experts, members of the Christian faithful, priests and every Bishop in the United States.
After I was ordained a Bishop, I also had the opportunity to serve as a Bishop member of the Committee on Catechesis and was able to participate in the review of the National Directory for Catechesis4 and to review, also as a member of that committee, the new national catechism as it was being written. This volume is and will be a real treasure for our Church in this country and for our Diocese now and in the distant future. The book is entitled United States Catholic Catechism for Adults5 and it was approved by the full body of Bishops in November of 2004, subsequently approved by the Holy See and then published by the Bishops' Conference in July of 2006.
The Bishops of the United States, at the request of the Congregation in Rome, have taken real initiative and leadership in providing a text that will be a close reflection of the universal Catechism of the Catholic Church and yet provides a cultural context for our country that helps our people to understand and assimilate the faith. The book itself is written in a "catechetical modality" which means it includes doctrinal instruction but also stories of saints and Catholics in our tradition who exemplify that section of the teaching. There are continuous references to the Bible and to other elements of the Church's teaching as well as discussion questions to help readers in groups to understand and process the material in each chapter6.
The Bishops see this adult catechism as a tool for adults in the Church who often have not had much background to be given a consistent and faithful presentation of the teaching of the Church so that they can appropriate it into their own lives. They also envision this work being the primary text of formation for catechists in parish catechetical programs and for teachers of religion in Catholic schools, for all adult faith formation programs, campus ministry programs and the basic text or resource for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults during that intense time of conversion and preparation called the "Catechumenate." It is also strongly recommended for those involved in lay ecclesial ministry in their parishes. According to the Bishops, each household, besides having a copy of the Bible and a manual of Catholic prayers, ought to have a copy of the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults so that parents can have a ready reference for study and prayer in their home.
While the new adult catechism is readily available and easily understandable, whoever uses it may need some preparation and training in order to ensure that the overall purpose and mission is clearly and appropriately understood.
Given this background and with the publication of this pastoral letter, I am announcing that the new adult catechism, The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults is to be the foundational text for all adult faith formation and catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay. This catechism will serve as the rudder on the ship of the catechetical mission of this Diocese as we "put out into the deep" of this new century and millennium. We commit ourselves to doing our very best to prepare for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit, commonly called the "new evangelization" as foreseen by the Second Vatican Council, by Pope John Paul II and now by Pope Benedict XVI.
Evangelization and Catechesis
What I am really calling for here is that all of us see our relationship to Jesus Christ as the most central one of our lives and that we recognize that "conversion of mind and heart" to become more like Him every day is the true meaning and purpose of our lives. This process is often called "on-going conversion." Actually, this process of knowing and loving God is a dynamic one that begins in evangelization and grows ever deeper in the various ages and stages of our lives.
In Catechesi Tradendae7 Pope John Paul II stresses the centrality of Christ and establishes the essential link between evangelization and catechesis. "At the heart of catechesis, we find in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus Christ. The definitive aim of catechesis is to introduce people to an intimate friendship with Jesus Christ. Only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Trinity."8 There is no separation or opposition between catechesis and evangelization9. They integrate and complement each other. Catechesis must often concern itself not only with nourishing and teaching the faith, but also with arousing it unceasingly, with the help of grace, with opening the heart, with converting and with preparing total adherence to Jesus Christ.10
"It is true that being a Christian means saying "yes" to Jesus Christ, but let us remember that this "yes" has two levels: It consists in surrendering to the word of God and relying on it, but it also means, at a later stage, endeavoring to know better - and better the profound meaning of this word.11
The history of commitment to catholic education and catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay
The primary indicator of the historical commitment of this Diocese to Catholic education is abundantly apparent in the commitment to Catholic schools and a constant effort to preserve and improve those schools, including joining together in area-wide systems. Such systems encourage our schools in their quest to serve the goals of academic excellence, strong Catholic identity, and missionary and service outreach to the community and to the world. For each and every Catholic school this has been a priority.
Fresh in the Diocesan memory of some is the leadership role of the program called The Green Bay Plan12 of 1971. I understand that in the early '70s Bishop Aloysius Wycislo and the leadership of the catechetical effort in the Diocese were endeavoring to convey through religious education the teaching and the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. This program gained a nation-wide reputation. We are again at the cusp of a tremendous opportunity here in the United States and in the Diocese of Green Bay as we now have available all the resources that were not available thirty years ago: The Catechism of the Catholic Church, the General Directory for Catechesis13, the National Directory for Catechesis and the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.
With the great advances in technology today, we are in a favorable position to make our programs available to all of our parishioners and to all those needing access to our programs. Technological advances also assist our ability to access other solid programs that may be available online. Surely changes in this area will continue rapidly and increase our capacity to reach out to the faithful in a cost-effective and expeditious manner.
With all of the resources available from the Universal Church and from the Bishops of this country and with the incredible advances in technology, we are clearly at a new moment in the catechetical history of the Church in the United States and in the Diocese of Green Bay. It is incumbent upon us not to miss this opportunity but rather to rebuild a foundation that is solidly set upon the mind and heart of Jesus Christ and the Church. We must find new ways, rooted in prayer, to communicate this wonderful treasure of our faith to present and future generations.
Setting our compass to true north
In the catechetical area of the Church's life the following questions must be considered: What is true north? How will we know when and if we have arrived? These documents express the destination so beautifully, but, as the pastor of this community of faith, I would like to express it this way. Our goal is to help the whole community of faith to come to at least a basic standard of knowledge of Christ and of the teachings of the Church in such a way that the people of God is guided in living in these perilous and confusing days. The only answer to the confusion of our times is a thorough knowledge of the Truth and cooperation with the grace of God to live that knowledge to the full in preparation for the kingdom of heaven.
Today we live in a culture that is too often distancing itself from God and exalting the self to such a degree that pluralism could dilute the truth so much, thus weakening and destroying the fabric of society. It has happened before even to the greatest of nations and entire civilizations. Gratefully it has been the role of the Church to bring reform and clarity to a wavering world. Through the monastic movement after the fall of the Roman Empire, through Catholic colleges and universities in later periods of the Church's history, the Church has saved Western civilization from near extinction.
This is precisely why we need to make our Catholic grade schools, high schools and colleges to be true instruments of cultivating the development of the whole person and the promotion of the common good. This is the reason why our parish and school catechetical programs need to be strengthened - not watered down - in order to assist the next generation to take stronger ownership of their faith and their place in the world. We need to prepare the next generations to answer generously the call to holiness and to equip them for competent, courageous and even saintly and heroic witness. This is not a time to compromise with the negative trends in our culture, but it is time to counteract these trends with competence, right reason and unshakeable faith.
The centrality of prayer in catechesis
Every catechist should give students a taste of deep prayer, for this is a direct way of relating to Christ. The first "catechists" of the Church, the Apostles, implored Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray." And Jesus did teach them the greatest of all prayers, the Our Father. He also brought them to the silence of the mountain where he witnessed his own prayer to them. Catechesis is learning the truths of divine revelation, understanding them and living them out in a continuous conversion to Christ through a life of prayer.
St. Anselm famously said many times, "Believe that you may understand."14 He was referring to the truths of Christ and His Church, which is His body. The food for this faith is prayer. No catechist should avoid teaching and witnessing prayer to their students. Every catechist should teach and witness prayer to students.
Coordinates as we set sail
To the Diocesan Curia:
Overall we need to immerse ourselves in the documents that I have mentioned with a study plan for ourselves that will ensure that we have a great familiarity-not just a passing awareness-with the guiding documents of our faith, especially the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults.
This period of study and reflection will naturally lead us to the evaluation of all of our formation programs: commissioned ministry, diaconate and seminary candidates so that these programs are teaching comprehensively the teachings of the Church. Theological opinions that are not in harmony with the teaching authority of the Church are not helpful and could even be detrimental to the faith life of the participants.
I have asked the Department of Education, which has responsibility for catechist formation and adult faith formation, to develop a program and curriculum in three parts that is primarily based on the USCCA. Continuing conversion and prayer are powerful tools for catechesis and will be treated across the entire curriculum. Over time this will be unfolded and then required as preparation for catechists in our parishes and teachers in our schools. Although this will take some considerable time to be fully planned and implemented, we hope to make it available on a broad basis throughout the Diocese through on-site training sessions as well as instruction through distance learning and interactivity through the Internet.
I have also asked our Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Director to provide service to parishes in the area of the adult catechism as they will need assistance in communicating the central importance of the USCCA for Adult Faith Formation. Resources will also be made available to the parishes regarding the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its use in the home. Preparation for the sacraments and all efforts in ministering to parents need to be reviewed and prepared in light of the USCCA.
The Bishops of the United States also provide a review process for all textbooks of religion and catechesis called the conformity review.15 This should help us in the future in choosing appropriate texts for use in our schools and parish catechetical programs.
To Pastors, parochial vicars, deacons, parish directors and other parish leadership personnel:
The Code of Canon Law requires the Bishop and the pastors to take special care for the catechetical formation of their parishioners of all ages,16 with some focused attention on adult faith formation.17 I ask all pastors and parish leadership personnel to familiarize yourselves deeply with the USCCA and to find the time to teach a class on this in your parish or to make provisions that this is well promoted if taught by someone else.
I also ask you to safeguard the teaching patrimony of the Church, for it is your responsibility as pastor and those in pastoral leadership, to make sure that the teaching in the parish is truly the teaching of the Church18. I know also that it is difficult in these busy times for parents to make religious education a priority. I realize that you may find resistance to your efforts because of the many challenges parishioners and families face due to their busy lives, but communicating the importance of authentic teaching and full participation is very important19.
I would ask that you partner with me and with Diocesan personnel to make sure that we seize this incredible moment and opportunity for the future of our Diocese and for the guidance of our Catholic families and youth. Shortcuts or easy choices will not last; we must step up to the challenge and, as the old saying goes carpe diem, "seize the day."
I have noticed in my nearly thirty years of pastoral ministry that when I am careful about teaching and preaching faithfully, clearly and with joy-great fruit flows into ministry-a success that does not flow when I may be nebulous or unclear or compromising on the great legacy we have been given to pass on.
I call upon you to remember that it is your responsibility to represent the Church in her integrity and not to fashion the Church after your own or someone else's fancy. For whatever deviation, we will be held accountable by the truth of the final judgment. Our task is to ensure that we and our teachings are in conformity with what Christ and the Church teach and live, and not the other way around. We are not making this thing up; we are mere instruments of what God wants us to do for His loving people.
We seek to go forward in faith with the Church as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council and continued in the spirit of Pope John Paul II and the present leadership of Pope Benedict XVI. Thus, the Church will be fully alive in Christ Jesus as we prepare for "His Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven." We must prepare for a Church that is alive with the buoyancy of the Holy Spirit. The primary way to this destination is in becoming a community of faith alive in Christ, faithful to the Church and her teachings. We are called to be a people responding generously to the call to holiness within our vocation or walk in life. Help us to embrace with great fervor the Diocesan Mission20:
DIOCESAN MISSION
The Catholic community of the Diocese of Green Bay,
through the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
and in unity with the universal Church,
boldly proclaims the Gospel of Jesus,
prayerfully worships in word and sacrament,
and compassionately serves those in need,
in order to advance God's Kingdom of justice and love.
Footnotes:
1 Colossians 1:1-6;9-10.
2 John Paul II, On Catechesis In Our Time (Catechesi Tradendae) (CT) (Washington D.C.: USCCB, 1979), nos. 1, 2.
3 The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB)-Liberia Editrice Vaticana, 1992) published initially in 1992 was revised with modifications and published in 1997 and also 2000.
4 National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) (Washington, D.C.:USCCB, 2005).
5 United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) (Washington, D.C.:USCCB, 2006).
6 For a thorough understanding of the historical development of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults and its intended audience see the Introduction to the USCCA.
7 CT, nos. 18, 19.
8 CT, no. 5.
9 Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi) (EN) (Washington D.C.: USCCB, 1975), no. 44 for a complete treatment of the relationship between catechesis and evangelization.
10 CT, no. 19
11 CT, no. 20
12 The Green Bay Plan (Green Bay, Wisconsin: St. Norbert Abbey Press, Department of Education, Diocese of Green Bay, 1971).
13 Congregation for the Clergy, General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 1998)
14 Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Proslogium, in St. Anselm: Basic Writings (La Salle: Open Court Publishing, 1962), p.7.
15 The Conformity Listing of Catechetical Text and Series can be found on the USCCB website http://www.usccb.org/catechism/document/Currentlist.pdf.
16 Code of Canon Law, Latin-English Edition, New English Translation [CIC] (Washington, D.C.: CLSA, 1984), nos, 519, 528.1, 776-777.
17 USCCB, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States (OHWB) (Washington, D.C.: USCCB, 1999).
18 Second Vatican Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis) (PO) (1965), no. 6b.
19 Challenges in Catechetical Ministry in the United States are outlined in the Introduction to the NDC pp.12-17.
20 Diocese of Green Bay Mission Statement, Approved by Most Reverend David A. Zubik, (Green Bay, Wisconsin, 2005).
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Holy Cross Scrip Update
Just in time for the holidays, Bath & Body Works is giving a 5% bonus from its regular 13% to 18% for cards purchased between November 7 and December 4. When our current supply is exhausted, we will purchase sufficient stock in both $10 and $25 cards to satisfy your gift-giving needs!!
What is Scrip?
Purchase gift cards from the Holy Cross Scrip program for food, gas, clothing, and/or gift-giving, and Holy Cross receives a percentage from the vendors. School and Faith Formation families can use this credit toward their tuition. Scrip is available for purchase weekdays at the school office and at church after all weekend Masses. Special orders are available. Thank you for your support!
Related link:
$crip Order Form
What is Scrip?
Purchase gift cards from the Holy Cross Scrip program for food, gas, clothing, and/or gift-giving, and Holy Cross receives a percentage from the vendors. School and Faith Formation families can use this credit toward their tuition. Scrip is available for purchase weekdays at the school office and at church after all weekend Masses. Special orders are available. Thank you for your support!
Related link:
$crip Order Form
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