Formed In Faith
Sharing the Word through Faith Formation, Archdiocese of Louisville
Planning for Year-Round RCIA
Because baptisms have been postponed, this may be the first time you have had catechumens in your RCIA process in the summer. And the anxiety and grief caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is causing some new seekers to inquire about becoming Catholic right now. “But we don’t have a plan for that!” you might be thinking. Well, just like learning how to work from home, use new technology to keep connected, or catch up on important but not urgent projects, now is the time to learn some new RCIA skills. In this community chat, we are going to talk with Leisa Anslinger about making a plan for a continuous (year-round) RCIA process.
We are suffering a crisis of imagination in the church and world
Unsplash/Belinda Fewings
One common refrain I have heard frequently (and even said myself) over the last six weeks of the pandemic shutdown has been: “I could never have imagined something like this!” This is a sentiment that makes perfect sense to me. Our current reality is one that is hard to anticipate in its particularity — pace epidemiologists that actually predict such realities for a living — and even confounds the creative minds of brilliant novelists like Stephen King.
As I have reflected on this line and feeling for the last few weeks, I have found myself considering the importance of imagination and the dangerous lack of it in our church and world today.
Click here to continue reading this article by Daniel P. Horan from the National Catholic Reporter.
Renewal of the Consecration of the United States of America to the Blessed Virgin Mary May 1, 2020
On Friday, May 1, Archbishop Gomez will lead the country in a prayer which consecrates the United States to Mary, Mother of the Church. Canada, too, has chosen this day to offer prayers and to consecrate their country to Mary, Mother of the Church.
“This will give the Church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell, and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus,” said Archbishop Gomez in a letter to the U.S. bishops. Each year, the Church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May. “This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he continued.
Archbishop Gomez will lead a brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration on Friday, May 1 at 3:00 pm EDT and has invited the bishops to join in from their respective dioceses and asked them to extend the invitation to the faithful in their dioceses for their participation.
RESOURCES FOR THIS MAY 1 PRAYER
The USCCB releaseD an official text for the prayer of consecration.
- You may access these at http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/consecration.cfm (Scroll down to find the PDF’s)
- PDF of Presider Text and Worship Aid – English http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/upload/consecration-usa-mary-mother-of-church.pdf
- PDF of Presider Text and Worship Aid – Spanish http://www.usccb.org/about/communications/upload/consecration-usa-mary-mother-of-church-spanish.pdf
- For more information, please visit, http://usccb.org/news/2020/20-65.cfm
| U.S. and Canadian Catholic Bishops to Seek Intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, for Strength in Struggle Against COVID-19
usccb.org U.S. and Canadian Catholic Bishops to Seek Intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, for Strength in Struggle Against COVID-19 |
- For additional information and a link to the Facebook feed: https://lacatholics.org/consecration/
Does this change the liturgical texts on May 1?
No, the day remains the memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker. Indeed, many bishops are also offering Masses that day for those whose employment has been impacted by the coronavirus. Please see The Roman Missal for May 1 and The Lectionary for Mass, no. 559. The gospel for the day is proper.
How should we be praying in the entire month of May?
Certainly, the Easter Season and its rich Mass texts should be the focus of our liturgical prayer. The Sundays of Easter, especially, provide rich fodder for reflection on the sacraments of initiation, most especially the Eucharist. These so-called ‘Masses for the Neophytes” (cf. RCIA 247) are so rich that they may be used even when initiation has been celebrated outside the usual times (ibid.).
The Pope, Archbishop Gomez, and the bishops of the USA, have encouraged us to increase our devotional prayer during the month of May – a month traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pope Francis has encouraged the daily recitation of the rosary. In addition, the USCCB will make a downloadable holy card available for private prayer.
Does this change the liturgical texts for June 1?
No, the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church is celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost. This year, that falls on Monday, June 1. The Mass texts for that day remain the same (see Lectionary no. 572A or no. 1002 ).
A note from the USCCB Liturgical Year Calendar for 2020:
“8. In a decree dated February 11, 2018, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments inscribed the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church in the General Roman Calendar to be observed on the Monday after Pentecost, taking precedence over an obligatory Memorial that coincides with it. Thus, June 1, 2020 shall be observed as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, and the Memorial of Saint Justin, Martyr, is omitted.”
Does this change the fact that the USA recognizes Mary, the Immaculate Conception as our patroness?
This prayer entrusts the country to Mary, Mother of the Church during the pandemic. This does not change the fact that our official national patroness is Mary, under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Our national patronal solemnity remains December 8.
Witness- a Two-Week Virtual Event from NCCL
Join NCCL for a 2-week virtual event May 13-15 and May 19-21 featuring networking, professional development, workshops, resources, and opportunities for prayer. This virtual gathering will remind us of our mission and equip us to be bearers of hope, healers of hearts, and companions in pain. Let us be a witness to the Good News that is Jesus Christ. For more details, click here.
Schedule of Events
Witness will offer a variety of content that is both pre-recorded and streamed live. Participants will have the opportunity network and engage with others via Chat Rooms, Discussion Groups, and Lounges. Our Virtual Exhibit Hall enables participants to check out resources from our vendors and partners.
Check out the tentative schedule of events here.
Download the PDF
Learn more about Witness and download a flyer.
Full access to Witness is available for just $75. This includes all keynotes, workshops, lounges, and discussion groups. With full access, you are able to join our event in real-time or access content at a later date.
Not Sure? A portion of each days events will be offered for free!
Virtual Gatherings and Faith Formation Opportunities from LTP
The following virtual gatherings are free and open to all: parish staffs and parishioners, the elect, catechumens, and candidates.
At Home with the Word: A Weekly Easter Retreat
- Thursdays at 8:00pm ET / 5:00pm PT
- Cost: Free
- Register here: org/s/gatherings
Similar to our Holy Week Virtual Retreat, our retreat leaders will present a short reflection breaking open the opening Collect Prayer, the First Reading, the Psalm, the Second Reading, the Gospel, and a hymn of the week. This weekly retreat will afford you the opportunity to reflect and meditate on God’s Word before tuning into your parish’s live-streamed or pre-recorded Sunday liturgy.
How Deep the Mystery: Adult Faith Formation on the Mass
- Presented by Joyce Ann Zimmerman, CPPS
- Thursdays at 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT beginning on May 7th, 2020
- Cost: Free
- Session Topics and Registration Link: org/s/gatherings
These four sessions are directed to deepening our everyday living of our Eucharistic celebrations. Each session will include a reflection by Sr. Joyce Ann followed by an opportunity for questions by the participants. After the live-streamed session, participants will have an opportunity to download some reflection materials based on two books published by Liturgy Training Publications: How Deep the Mystery: Meditating on the Words of the Mass and Silence: Everyday Living and Praying.
Earth Day- April 22, 2020
Good morning campers. Hope everyone is well.
Tomorrow is Earth Day. Please recall Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s invitation to consider the great gift of our earth. Plenty of time in the coming weeks to plant a wildflower garden.
https://cclou.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CCL_WildflowerGardenGuide.pdf
Peace to all, 
Mark Bouchard
Parish, Schools, Advocacy Relationship Manager
Catholic Charities of Louisville
2911 S. 4th Street – Louisville, KY 40208
www.cclou.org – mbouchard@archlou.org
502.637.9786 ext. 314
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage
Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage is a beautiful, 30 minute contemplative documentary. This film cinematically walks through the locations of the Holy Week story, re-presenting the most important days of human history. Immersed in the real and sacred places of the Holy Land, the pilgrim faithful is brought tangibly nearer to the story, the landscape, and the reality of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Triduum draws Catholics and those with open hearts and minds to experience a deeper understanding of these events and places, and offers rich meditations for the pilgrimage of daily life. Now more than ever, as many of us are confined to our homes, journey along this spiritual pilgrimage and be drawn more deeply into the life and love of God.
Click the image to watch the video.
‘Triduum: A Spiritual Pilgrimage‘ is the Augustine Institute’s gift to the world this Holy Triduum – available on FORMED and free for everyone through Easter on Facebook. The content is made possible by the support of viewers.
Office Closed for Triduum
Our office will be closed for the observance of the Sacred Triduum.
We will return Easter Monday, April 13.
Many blessings to you on these most holy of days.
CRS Rice Bowls
CRS Rice Bowl- a message from Mark Bouchard from Catholic Charities Louisville.
Many have asked us about how to collect Rice Bowls this year as parishes and schools are likely to remain closed through the rest of the Lenten season. Families may turn in their Lenten gifts at:
· English https://support.crs.org/donate/change-life-lent-0
· Spanish https://support.crs.org/donate/cambia-una-vida-esta-cuaresma
Remember – CRS Rice Bowl supports hunger and poverty alleviation efforts both around the world through CRS (75% of gifts) and also here in the U.S. (25% for local diocesan efforts). This global/local connection is important as communities in the US and around the world are both struggling with the economic impacts of COVID-19.
· The CRS Bi-lingual Facebook Group offers a virtual community space where people can share about their Lenten journeys and see examples of how others are maintaining Lenten spirituality during social distancing.
o Bi-lingual https://www.facebook.com/groups/129660724343779/
Mark Bouchard
Parish, Schools, Advocacy Relationship Manager
Catholic Charities of Louisville
2911 S. 4th Street – Louisville, KY 40208
www.cclou.org – mbouchard@archlou.org
502.637.9786 ext. 314
Archdiocese of Louisville
USCCB
Formed In Faith 