Introducing Deirdre O’Neal, of Naperville, IL: Deirdre was recently elected to the National Representative Council when Region 7’s representative retired for health reasons. This is Deirdre’s statement.

I have been a strong supporter and an active member of VOTF since its inception, having attended the first national VOTF convention in Boston in July of 2002. What a great and awe-inspiring event that was! I had become convinced that the Church could only be purified and reformed if the laity took a much more active role in Church governance. I returned to the Chicago area to start a VOTF affiliate in Chicago-metro area and the “Chicago-West” VOTF affiliate was formed that fall. After a year, I decided to form a group closer to home and co-founded the Joliet Diocese VOTF in September of 2003, now under the leadership of Stephanie McElliglott and Paul LeFort. After the energizing July 2006 convocation in Indianapolis, Indiana, I was motivated to try to “carry the message” about the importance of Church reform and am currently an active member in the Joliet affiliate.

I feel that Voice of the Faithful has been called into being by the Holy Spirit to fill a particular mission at this point in Church history.

Page One

Letters to the Editor

COMMENTARY

• “Silence: Less Is More” – Carolyn Disco, VOTF NH

• “Making Lemonade” – Jim Post, VOTF president

• “They get it!” – Donna Doucette, VOTF Paulist Center, MA

• “There’s Love and there’s love” – readers’ reflections on “Deus Caritas Est”

• “VOTF: Remaining a Voice of Hope” – Fr. Tom Doyle

• UPDATE: “Elect Our Bishops? Why Not?” VOTF Bridgeport, CT

Archives