
On July 31, 2002, at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Pope John Paul II declared Juan Diego’s canonization. Juan Diego, a poor Indian peasant and widower, became the Church’s first saint indigenous to the Americas. The Holy Father called this saint “a simple, humble Indian” who accepted Christianity without giving up his identity as an Indian. Members of Mexico’s 64 indigenous groups were present.
The Virgin Mary first appeared to Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill on December 9, 1531. The most famous part of this story centers on beautiful “winter time” roses gathered in his tilma (outer cloak) that were transformed miraculously into an image of Our Lady. Later in life, Juan Diego lived near the small shrine that had been constructed at Tepeyac. Stories refer to him as a holy, compassionate, and giving catechist who taught by word and especially by example.
Reflection: God called St. Juan Diego to play a key, evangelizing role in spreading the Good News to the people of Mexico. Overcoming his own fear and the doubts, by God’s grace, this small and humble Indio showed that the Good News of Jesus is a gift given to all people, in all cultures. Pope John Paul II used the example of St. Juan Diego to urge Mexican lay men and women to accept their responsibility for doing the New Evangelization and witnessing to the Gospel of Christ.
Did you know that Butch Ekstrom of OLFE and Dr. Brian Reynolds, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, have each served for more than 10 years on the Board of Directors for the Catholic Youth Foundation USA (CYF-USA)?
Last Thursday through Saturday, they attended — as CYF Board Members — the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, (NCCYM) at San Antonio, Texas. Sponsored by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, the NCCYM is the largest conference in the country for adults who minister to and with Catholic youth. About 2000 came together for NCCYM’s three days of keynote talks, workshops, prayer and worship, resource exhibits, and ministry networking.
The CYF-USA is the financial development arm of the Federation. It raises money and then distributes it — via grants, scholarships, and awards — to Catholic youth on local, diocesan, and regional levels and to promote effective and innovative youth ministry work to assure a faithful future.
Butch, Brian, and other Foundation board members oversaw a major $$ collection at the closing Mass of the NCCYM. They also put together a fundraising Pinata Raffle during the conference.
For more information please visit the following websites:
Last week was a busy week here at OLFE. Our staff worked on multiple activities. To see what Maureen Grisanti Larison, Consultant for Adult Formation and Initiation, organized continue below. Continue to the next post to read about what Butch Ekstrom, Association Director of Faith Formation, was doing last week .
Wednesday, 12/3, the Faith Club held their annual Christmas Dinner and Dance.
The Archdiocesan Faith Clubs exist to meet the catechetical needs of adults (18 years of age and older) with developmental or intellectual disabilities. These clubs are sponsored by the Office of Lifelong Formation and Education. Maureen Grisanti Larison, one of the consultants from OLFE, works with facilitators to nurture faith formation and provide a social environment at the meetings. These facilitators lead groups at 5 different parishes once a month. During the club meeting members learn more about heir Catholic faith, make new friends, socialize, and engage in service activities. There are three large events during the year at which the 5 individual clubs come together to celebrate; the Christmas Dinner and Dance is one.
For more information about the Faith Club contact Maureen at the Archdiocese of Louisville Office of Lifelong Formation and Education, 502-448-8581 Ext. 1308 or email mlarison@archlou.org.
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
http://www.cruxnow.com/life/2014/10/23/pope-francis-blasts-supermax-prisons-as-torture/
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