VOTF “Cards”

Thank you, Susan

Recently, Susan Troy resigned her place as founding Chair of the Prayerful Voice Working Group.

Before we were “Voice of the Faithful”, we were pray-ers. When the group that would become VOTF gathered in St. John’s late in January 2002, it was Susan Troy who made our transition seamless – from our stunned places in the pews to the tentative margins of voicing our concerns to the global arena of responsible Catholicism. The scope of the abuse crisis was only barely known to us in 2002. When we came together to fathom our way through what we were learning, we began in prayer. It was never otherwise. And woe be to the one who momentarily digressed at a meeting’s beginning (if Susan didn’t “get” you, Sr. Betsy did)!

Members will recall their own appreciation of Susan’s gifts to Voice of the Faithful – many of which have become a standard in VOTF affiliates all over the world. As Catholics often note when traveling, there is great joy in walking in to a Catholic Mass being offered in another language and knowing exactly where you are. In VOTF Australia, Ireland, Canada, and coast-to-coast in the U.S., traveling VOTF members can find the same immediate comfort level in the prayers, liturgies and healing services that gave VOTF such a powerful and enduring prayerful voice.

Thank you Susan Troy for your enduring voice.


Get well, Fr. Jim!

Fr. Jim Sullivan is a fierce VOTF supporter and has been an active member of the Rockaway, New York affiliate – even at 86 years old! His "sphere of influence" reaches all over Long Island and then some; two years ago, he was awarded the VOTF-NJ Priest of Integrity Award. Fr. Jim suffered a mild stroke recently and is recuperating at home. While many in VOTF may never have met him, many did meet him at a VOTF meeting or convention. Many more remember him for his long ministry. Fr. Jim is the quintessential pastor, termed an “aging giant” by Dick Ryan in his book Holy Human. Just to give you the flavor of being around Fr. Jim, Sr. Cathy Kelly shared the following vignettes from his hospitalization following the stroke:

“Referring to the patient opposite him, I tried to encourage Jim with the fact that the man was totally ‘out of it’ and had no idea what was going on. Jim said, ‘Well, I'm not out of it, but I don't know what's going on, either!’"

“In answer to his question about what and why the IV, he was told it was a sodium chloride solution to help bring his blood pressure up to normal. ‘Why don't they just ask me about the Catholic hierarchy? That would do it a lot faster.’”

Your prayers and good thoughts will no doubt be felt by Fr. Jim.

[For a little more about Fr. Jim, check the VOTF New Jersey website and this National Catholic Reporter article.



In the Vineyard
November 30, 2006
Volume 5, Issue 21 Printer Friendly Version (PDF)


Page One

Diocese/State Watch

VOTF “Cards”: A “Thank you!” to Susan Troy as the founding chair of VOTF Prayerful Voice resigns; and “Get Well!” to Fr. Jim Sullivan, VOTF Rockaway, NY.

COMMENTARY

Dissent: Watching our Language" - Editorial

“Thomas Merton on Ecclesial Reform and Renewal” - (second installment) – Fr. Patrick Collins, VOTF

Servants of the Gospel; Servants of the Church” VOTF vice-president Sally Vance-Trembath and VOTF secretary Gaile Pohlhaus

BOOK Review: David Gibson’s The Rule of Benedict


Structural Change Working Group

Voice of Renewal/Lay Education

Prayerful Voice

Goal 2 - Priest Support


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