By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service — 11/14/14
“Faith always has been transmitted best through example, but with young people constantly bombarded by images of all kinds, living models of truth and love are more important than ever.” Pope Francis addressed this to parents and other adults during his daily Mass at the Vatican on November 14 .
“We each have a responsibility to give the best that we have,” the Pope added. “The best that we have is the faith. Give it to them, but give it to them through your example.”
Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, left, and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., on Monday at the bishops’ annual fall general assembly Baltimore (CNS/Bob Roller)
The Extraordinary Synod of 2014 – on the challenges of marriage and family life today — ended on October 18 in Rome, about three weeks ago. Major commentaries, assorted strong and different opinions, and widespread media reports prove that this synod of bishops was extra-ordinary in numerous ways.
On this blog, OLFE recently noted the Synod’s accomplishments:
https://formedinfaith.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/five-things-the-synod-just-did/
This week the entire body of U.S. Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will meet in Baltimore. The Most Reverend Joseph Kurtz, the Archbishop of Louisville, and the President of the Conference, will chair the conference.
Speeches and analyses will touch on pressing issues and themes such as the new evangelization, religious freedom, God’s forgiveness and mercy, the “culture of encounter,” Catholic education, the Latino presence in the U.S. Church, some revised liturgical rituals, and other matters.
As noted in National Catholic Reporter, the American bishops also intend to engage the wider Catholic community in reflection and dialogue on last month’s Vatican gathering. How they will proceed with that engagement remains an open question.
On Monday, Archbishop Kurtz delivered the President’s opening address.
An NCR on-scene reporter, Vinnie Rotondaro, said “He quoted Pope Francis four times, citing the Holy Father’s call for the church to ‘go out into the streets’ and encouraging bishops to be ‘joyful messengers of challenging proposals.’ He referred to children as ‘gifts.’ He mentioned the . . . ‘good work’ of Catholic Relief Services and the Church’s ‘schools, hospitals, and social service ministries’.”
The Archbishop added that the USCCB is still waiting for a final, approved English translation of the Synod’s relatio document. This will summarize the discussions in Rome and serve as a guide for a global, Catholic discussion on family issues until Fall 2015.
Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington D.C., another attendee at the Synod, met the media at a USCCB press conference after Archbishop Kurtz’s address.
“The next step is to receive . . . instructions from the Synod office,” Cardinal Wuerl noted. “We will be meeting in two weeks’ time to work out some sort of process” for getting laity involved in post-synodal dialogue
Cardinal Wuerl then reiterated the concept of “meeting people where they are” in the world.
“The next step is going to be the actual process, actually engaging all of our Catholic faithful,” the Cardinal concluded.
Archbishop Kurtz’s Presidential Address — November 10, 2014
http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/usccb-general-assembly/2014-november-meeting/usccb-general-assembly-2014-november-presidential-address.cfm
USCCB November 2014 General Assembly Presidential Address
USCCB November 2014 General Assembly Presidential A…
Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz, Archbishop of Louisville President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Address to the USCCB General Assembly on Nov…
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Some thoughts and reviews from participants at this event…
What I found the most intriguing:
“Presentation was ‘excellent’. I felt the ‘energy’ from Nancy. Very inspiring!”
“The fellowship I felt immediately.”
“I loved the connections between Baptism and Reconciliation.”
What I will take from this day:
“Better understanding of how to share benefits of the sacrament with/in my class.”
“Oneness with God, oneness with each other… we are made for union and unity.”
“Positivity- sharing love and forgiveness with others.”
Thank you to Nancy Bird for a wonderful presentation! https://www.facebook.com/nancybird.rclbenziger
Thank you to RCL and Ken Richard for supporting this event. http://www.rclbenziger.com/Pages/Item/2034/Ken-Richard.aspx
Be sure to check the Office of Lifelong Formation and Education Professional Development Catalogue for upcoming events. http://www.archlou.org/departments-and-services/agencies-facilities/office-of-lifelong-formation-and-education/professional-development-catalogue/
“All Christians and men of good faith are therefore called upon today to fight, not only for the abolition of the death penalty – whether it is legal or illegal and in all its forms – but also to improve the conditions of incarceration to ensure that the human dignity of those deprived of their freedom is respected.
“And this, for me, is linked to life sentences. For a short time now, these no longer exist in the Vatican penal code. A sentence of life (without parole) is a hidden death penalty.”
-Pope Francis
We, here in Louisville, welcome back Archbishop Joseph Kurtz after the conclusion of the Synod last weekend.
What does the final report of the Synod on the Family mean for the church?
Clink the link to below to find out what Fr. James Martin had to say about the final report from the Synod.
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville and President of the USCCB in Rome at the Synod.
http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-groups-work-to-fine-tune-document-on-family
“Listening, accompanying, respecting, valuing, discerning, welcoming, dialogue are words repeated throughout the new document being discussed by the synod of bishops in Rome this week. Words of condemnation and marginalization were avoided….”
Click the link below for more of the article from Thomas Reese.
http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/synod-document-offers-new-style-being-church
http://ncronline.org/news/vatican/synod-releases-document-new-tone-calling-mercy-listening
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz serving as (one of) two moderators of the first round of discussions.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/americans-help-moderate-synod-discussions-87525/
http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=172243
http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-on-family-midterm-report-presented-2015-syno
“This Sunday at Mass my daughter asked me why there was a red light at the front of the church when all the other candles were white. She was captivated by the glow of the sanctuary light. I explained that it was a special light that is always lit when Jesus is at home in the tabernacle. She found the idea that Jesus is there right now reassuring. …”
Click on the link below to continue reading…
http://faithinourfamilies.com/2014/10/03/love-by-the-sanctuary-light/