EVENTS, ETC.
*****REGISTER NOW FOR THE NEW ENGLAND VOTF
CONFERENCE IN WORCESTER, MA ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13
“It's Not History - It's Time For Renewal"
will be the theme of a full-day conference sponsored
by the New England affiliates of Voice of the Faithful
at the Worcester Centrum on Saturday, November 13, 2004.
The Conference derives its name from a statement last
February by Bishop Wilton D. Gregory, the president
of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
regarding the John Jay report, which documented over
4,000 ordained abusers and more than 10,000 victims.
Bishop Gregory remarked, “The terrible history recorded
here today is history.” As most of us realized at the
time, that was a highly inappropriate characterization.
At best the John Jay report was only one short chapter
toward a full description of the still-unfolding first
major Church crisis in the twenty-first century. There
is much more to be experienced, much more to be told,
much more to be repaired.
In the wake of this devastating betrayal of trust by
religious leaders, the Conference asks, How can the
Church renew itself? What must the bishops do? What
part must priests play? What more will be required of
the laity? We will conclude with a liturgy of hope,
healing and renewal. Come join us.
Featured speakers include Fr. Thomas Doyle; authors
and journalists Jason Berry, David France and David
Gibson; leaders of survivor support organizations (Sue
Archibald, President, Link-Up, David Clohessy, Executive
Director, SNAP, Bill Gately, Co-Director, New England
SNAP); former Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Tom
O'Neill; Paul Lakeland, Eileen Flynn of St. Peter’s,
Kathleen Kautzer of Regis College, Paul Lakeland of
Fairfield of Fairfield University, David O'Brien and
Fr. Bill Clark of Holy Cross, and Gaile Pohlhaus of
Villanova; Fr. Robert Silva, President of the National
Federation of Priests' Councils; and Catharine Henningsen,
Publisher of SALT. A Priest of Integrity award will
be conferred on a New England priest who has courageously
stood up to the power of the institutional Church on
behalf of survivors of clergy sexual abuse. This priest
will celebrate our closing Mass.
For further information, and to register for the Conference,
please visit the
Web site. Seating
is limited -- register soon! For further information,
or if you'd like to help out in any way, contact Bob
Morris at rmorrisvotf@aol.com.
***** Winchester area VOTF to host John Allen, Vatican
Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter,
author and CNN Vatican analyst in Rome on Sunday,
October 17, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Eulalia’s Church, 50
Ridge Street, Winchester
*****HEADS UP – The Boston College initiative The Church
in the 21st Century will feature John Allen speaking
Monday evening October 18 on "How Rome Views
the American Church," 7:00 p.m., Gasson 100, Sponsor:
The Church in the 21st Century Information: 617-552-0470.
***** OCTOBER 19 - PAULIST CENTER ADULT EDUCATION
– “STRUGGLING TO STAY ALIVE IN THE CHURCH” presented
by Joseph T. Kelley, Ph.D. on Tuesday, October 19, 7-8:30
in the Paulist Center Library at 5 Park Street in Boston.
The focus of the discussion will be the rich spiritual,
sacramental and intellectual traditions of Catholicism
that can provide insights into faith commitment.
Joseph T. Kelley is the author of Faith in Exile:
Seeking Hope in Times of Doubt and Vice President
for Mission at Merrimack College.
Freewill offering of $10 suggested to maintain high
quality programming. The Program open to all, regardless
of ability to pay. Copies of Faith in Exile will be
available.
The Paulist Center is handicap accessible; parking
validation is available. Paulist Center phone is 617-742-4460.
*****November 7 - A Faith Formation Program
for Adult Christians: The Living Christ, and We His
Disciples, sponsored by The Voice of the Faithful
Affiliates of The North Shore, Lynn and Seacoast Areas
in collaboration with Boston College, Department
of Theology. Francine Cardman, Ph.D., Associate Professor
of Historical Theology and Church History at Weston
Jesuit School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, will speak
on “Living Faith I: Christian Spirituality through the
Centuries, “ 6:30 – 8:00 P.M. at St. Rose of Lima Church,
Topsfield. Sunday, November 14 – “Living Faith
II: Lay Spirituality: The Promise of Vatican II” 6:30
- 9:00 P.M. at St. Rose of Lima Church Hall, Topsfield.
***** Sunday, November 14, 2004 - “Are the Wounds
Healing?” VOTF president Jim Post will be a panelist
at a Symposium to Assess the Catholic Church’s Progress
Towards Healing and Reconciliation within the Sexual
Abuse Scandal sponsored by the Voice of the Faithful
Affiliates of the Baltimore-Washington Region. Location:
The National 4-H Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut
Ave., Chevy Chase, MD. Speaker - Prof. David
O’Brien, Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies,
College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA; Panelists
- Jim Post, President, Voice of the Faithful; Barbara
Blaine, Founder & President, Survivors Network of those
Abused by Priests (SNAP); Rev. Donald B. Cozzens, pastoral
theologian, psychologist and author. All are Welcome
– Reception to Follow. A donation of $10 will be requested
at the door For further information: Judy Miller 301-330-4211
or Joe Maher 301 963-8165.
*****DISCOUNT FOR VOTF MEMBERS by the Mind/Body
Medical Institute to participate in a unique opportunity.
This year’s two-day program is “The Enhanced Importance
of the Integration of Mind/Body Practices and Prayer.”
It will be held on Saturday and Sunday December 11-12,
2004 at the Westin Copley in Boston, MA. Visit www.cme.hms.harvard.edu/spirituality
for registration information and program details. The
program is offered by Offered by: Harvard Medical
School, Department of Continuing Education, The Mind/Body
Medical Institute, The George Washington University
Medical Center, The George Washington Institute for
Spirituality and Health (GWish). Course Directors
are Herbert Benson, MD and Christina M. Puchalski,
MD. Web site is www.mbmi.org The deadline for enrollment
is December 1, 2004.
***** Sunday, December 12, 1-9:30. Come join
Fr. Laurence Freeman, world renowned expert on the history
and practice of contemplative prayer, for a day of quiet
in the midst of a busy season! Location: Upper Noyes
Hall, Andover Newton Theological School. The program
will include a simple dinner. Fee: $40; $20 for students,
seniors, and unemployed. Please register as early as
possible so that we may plan for dinner. This retreat
is co-sponsored by The Empty Bell, Andover Newton Theological
School, and the RUAH Spirituality Institute. For additional
information, go to http://www.ruahspirit.org/fall2004/meditation.html
Voice
of the Faithful, VOTF, "Keep the Faith, Change the Church,"
Voice of Compassion, VOTF logo(s), Parish Voice, and
Prayerful Voice are trademarks of Voice of the Faithful,
Inc.
Voice
of the Faithful is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization.
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