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Voices, Voices Everywhere!

East - Central - South - West

VOTF EAST

VOTF New Jersey
Submitted by Maria Cleary

Our most exciting event this month came via our November speaker, Anthony Padovano. A noted theologian, writer and educator, Dr. Padovano kept our membership spellbound as he recounted for us the history of the American Catholic Church. Many of us were stunned to learn about our democratic roots, and the first American Bishop John Carroll. He was a visionary leader who championed a “Constitution of the Clergy,” giving priests voting privileges in determining their ministry and their leaders, and the “American Trustee System” giving the laity an active voice in their parishes.

We are so anxious that all our VOTF family know these facts and learn more about a system that was once ours as American Catholics. Please visit our Web site at www.votfnj.org to read Dr. Padovano’s entire speech.

new jersey Our Newark Affiliate is well into its planning stages, and we’re making our first inroads into the Metuchen Diocese. Our Structural Change Action Committee is working on a “white paper” that focuses on the “Future of Ministry” in NJ. And finally, after an extended tangle in red tape, we’ve gotten our 501(c)3 status. Our lesson was: persevere!

We send hearts full of Christmas blessings to our VOTF brothers and sisters around the world, and our prayers for a New Year that is abundantly graced by the Spirit as we continue the work we are privileged to do.

Merry Christmas from NJ VOTF!

VOTF St. Thomas More, Durham, NH
Submitted by Lorraine Graham

On November 20th, St. Thomas More Parish Voice of Durham, NH coordinated with our pastor Fr. Dan St. Laurent a prayer service in support of victims of sexual abuse, "Healing the Body of Christ." Fr. Dan sent invitations to all area Christian churches in order for the service to be ecumenical. There were four reflections on what the crisis had done to affect the lives of each speaker: a UNH student, a parishioner who'd left the Church and recently returned with her children, a VOTF member representing NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse, and our pastor, a priest for 28 years. Their messages were very moving and heartfelt and an eye-opener to some in attendance. Our choir participated and we felt we reached some parishioners who had not really tuned in before. Our program stated that the service was sponsored by STM Parish Voice and we distributed VOTF material at the rear of the church and also at a coffee get together afterwards for good fellowship and conversation and, hopefully, education.

Special thanks to Lynn Holmes and Barbara Troxell who coordinated with Fr. Dan our prayer service in support of victims of sexual abuse "Healing the Body of Christ" and all who participated from area churches last Thursday. We offer a prayer of thanksgiving this season for the example of patience, courage, truth, concern and persistence that has been demonstrated by the actions of so many of the faithful during the past year. The grassroots involvement of VOTF members has been a sign of hope for our Church.

VOTF St. Anselm, Framingham/Sudbury, MA
Submitted by Bill McQueeney

We have created what we are calling Forum for Healing. Each month we are addressing one of the goals of VOTF with a speaker or other activity.

On October 30th we were blessed by a talk from Church historian, Pat DeLeeuw of Boston College and on December 11th at 7:30 pm, we will hear from our old friend Olan Horne. Olan Horne is a founder of the Survivors of Joe Birmingham. He will address at least one survivor/victims’ perspective of the settlement and perhaps more importantly a view of how healing can occur.

On January 31st we are having a dinner celebrating the lives and dedication of 10 priests who have served or are serving St. A's in one capacity or another. In the February through May period we anticipate hosting David O'Brien from Holy Cross College, Mary Jane England from Regis College and Paul Baier of Survivors First.

We receive outstanding support from our pastor, deacon and pastoral associate and many, many members of our community.

VOTF West Philadelphia, PA
Submitted by Judy Clifford

The Western Philadelphia Suburbs Affiliate formed in 2002 primarily with members of one parish. At the present time, our affiliate attracts people from a number of parishes but not enough from any single parish to form individual parish voices. We meet once a month, generally to hear a speaker. For example, last month a member of a parish pastoral council described how councils are formed and operate in the Philadelphia Archdiocese. We publicized the survey on the Parish Pastoral Council, which VOTF's Structural Change Working Group created. At another meeting, we heard a painful story of abuse from a victim/survivor. VOTF is not welcomed on Church property, nor has the distribution of flyers outside of churches been allowed but, recently, we have been permitted to put notices of our meetings in the parish bulletin. That was quite an accomplishment!

The outrage of Boston Catholics has not been replicated here. However, the work of a grand jury taking testimony on clergy sexual abuse has been extended. The report may ignite some passion in a Catholic community that seems to think the sex-abuse problem does not affect the Church in Philadelphia. They may be surprised! At the local level, the laity is still pretty much content to “let Father do it,” that is, make all the decisions, and Father insists on doing it. However, there are exceptions. There are a few priests trying to develop lay leadership – they see the writing on the wall in the priest shortage. So in an area where we bump up against a stone wall at every turn, our job is to set out goals that we can accomplish and keep the torch burning. The VOTF conference at Fordham University was a morale booster. The appalling stories of victims and gross behavior of clergy constantly remind us that if we don't “keep the faith and change the Church,” who will?

VOTF RI
Submitted by Mary Freeman

The VOTF of Southern RI held a prayer service last month entirely assembled by lay people. A few things were taken from different articles published in In the Vineyard and on the Web site but the bulk of it was written by our own members. It centered on VOTF’s three goals. Candles were lit throughout the service. Now we light them and read the invocations at all of our meetings. A copy of the service is available in AppleWorks. If other affiliates would like to have this, we would be very happy to share it. Contact mfreeman13@cox.net.

VOTF Northshore, MA
Submitted by Vince Guerra

The Christian Education-Faith Formation group at VOTF-Northshore, a VOTF affiliate based at St. Rose of Lima parish in Topsfield, Mass, recently launched a new collaborative, tri-affiliate lecture series along with affiliates Lynn Area VOTF and Seacoast VOTF. This program is designed to provide needed spiritually-reinforcing information about Catholicism, helping interested Catholics understand their faith and the institutional Church. The six-part program, entitled “The Living Christ, We His Disciples" was held at St. Rose of Lima on Sunday, October 26 and again November 2 when Rev. Michael Heim, Ph.D., theology professor at Boston College, spoke eloquently on the humanity and divinity of Jesus. He offered numerous insights into our Lord in a most scholarly and inspiring way and left the enthusiastic audience exuberant and most appreciative of what it had experienced in each of his one-hour presentations. At the refreshment period, he was greeted with great admiration and the crowd departed obviously very pleased as were the sponsors.

The next two-part segment of this collaborative Faith program will be hosted by the Lynn area VOTF at St. Mary's Church in Lynn in late January-early February '04. Father John Baldovin of the Weston Jesuit School of Theology will speak on Incorporation into Christ via Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist as these fit into the community of Faith. The fifth and sixth presentations are scheduled for late March-early April and will be hosted by the Seacoast VOTF, based at Immaculate Conception Church in Newburyport. The themes will focus on scriptural understandings and will be announced in more detail at a later date in the calendar on the Web site. Further meetings are planned for 2003-2004. Open attendance is always encouraged and it is hoped that the cooperative efforts of the three affiliates in this part of the state will foster further growth of our organization and enlightenment of its members.

VOTF Westford/Chelmsford, MA
Submitted by Lauren Franceschi - What We Have Learned Over the Past Year: Some excerpts and recaps of members’ comments.

“The Spirit will not be denied. The fact the Cardinal Law left is evidence that the Spirit is at work through our participation in VOTF. The support of the VOTF membership has kept many of us faithful. Through tragedy we sometimes wonder where the Spirit is but at some point we realize He has been there all along.”

A member thought back to a childhood experience with the Sisters who taught her in grade school. She understands the intimidation the victims of clergy sexual abuse must have felt because at one time it seemed that adults would always side with the clergy and the nuns. She believes that there are many cases that we will never hear about because so many victims will not speak up.

A member realized the responsibility in being a Catholic adult. “We take on responsibilities as adults in all other area of our lives but as Catholics many people remain children. We need to change this and be adults in our Church.”

One member realized how it feels to be dehumanized for his beliefs but, like Jesus before Pilot, we need to stay the course.

Heroes don’t come in the shape expected; VOTF has been a good experience.

“It is nice not to be alone.” A member was told at a young age by her father that the clergy and sister can be wrong. That stayed with her. Historically, the Church hierarchy reminds her of Boardrooms. They are running the show while the rest of us are out living the faith. Together we can do something.

“If this had happened 25-30 years ago we may not have stood up like we have. It has all happened in God’s time. This is an act of God.”

A member reminded us of the work of St. Catherine of Sienna who fought the Church over injustice.

A member said that he has realized that this crisis is as important to many others as it is to him.

Another said he thought that once the hierarchy learned the true depth of the sexual abuse that they would fix it. He was shocked to see that not a single bishop has called for the resignation of any bishop who is known to have been involved. He realized that he has taken his faith for granted. We can’t sit by and watch it unfold. We need to figure out what to do next.

VOTF Winchester, MA
Submitted by Bob Morris

There were several highlights for our group this month. On Saturday evening, November 8, some 70 members and nine area priests gathered for our second pot-luck supper honoring priests of integrity. Many thanks are due to our Priests’ Support group for organizing this highly successful event. Thanks are especially due to Mary Brown, Marie Doyle, John and Mary Deyst, Christina Hurley and Clare Keane.

On Monday, November 24, we welcomed four survivors of abuse -- Jean Crotty, Kathy Dwyer, Steve Lynch and Dale Walsh -- for round-table discussions with our members. The discussions focused on the "Call to Reform the Archdiocese of Boston (9/2003)", presented to the Representative Council in September. The presence of the survivors once again brought home for us what brought us together in the first place. (See additional details under Survivor Community news.)

Another highlight in November was a presentation on November 17 by Barbara Penkala, the Religious Education Coordinator at St. Eulalia's in Winchester, regarding the Archdiocesan Virtus program. Several members of the parish "CAPS" team were present as well, and participated in a lively and informative discussion regarding parish safety.

VOTF Harvard, MA
Submitted by Joann Helhowski

St. Theresa, the Little Flower (Harvard, MA, Worcester diocese) is a small parish and continues to have a small but energetic VOTF group. We sponsored three activities over the Fall in the spirit of the three VOTF goals. Our first activity was a fundraiser selling the New England fall gardening staple (mums) to support victim and survivors’ organizations. This fundraiser, held after each Mass, gave all parishioners an easy opportunity to show their support for the victims of the clergy abuse. It was a huge success and the profits realized enabled us to provide contributions of $300 each to Survivors First, The Linkup, and SNAP.

Our second activity was hosting a talk “How to Solve the Church Crises: Ordinary Catholics Must Act” by Dave O’Brien. With pleasure we were able to host this inspirational speaker and were joined by members from other parishes in our vicinity. Our final fall activity was a celebration of “Priesthood Sunday.” At each of our Masses, different parishioners shared their thoughts and feelings on the importance of priesthood in their lives. During the Reflection after Communion there was a meditation hymn on priesthood and we drew the full parish community into the celebration by offering a blessing over our pastor as a representative of all the priests in our diocese. We concluded each of the Masses with the handout to all members of a special prayer card for the vocations of priests.

VOTF Greater Lawrence Affiliate, MA
Submitted by Louise Gosselin

A Greater Lawrence Vicariate VOTF Affiliate was recently formed by joining St. Michael of North Andover, St. Augustine of Andover and St. Robert Bellarmine of Andover. The intention was to share resources and widen membership in the greater Lawrence area. Emilie Gilbert, Dave Dlesk and JoAnne Nowack have agreed to chair the affiliate.

The Greater Lawrence VOTF Affiliate sponsored a well-attended Mass of Rededication and Reconsecration on October 29. Over 120 people were in attendance. The group has also created an Affiliate Lending Library and has plans to purchase tapes, videos and books. Speakers are being contacted for presentations after the new year as part of the Affiliates’ education goal. The next scheduled meeting is December 9. All meetings take place at St. Michael Church in North Andover from 7 to 9 p.m.

VOTF West

VOTF East Bay, San Francisco, CA
Submitted by Peter Davey

Our original November 4th meeting with our new bishop Bishop Allen Vigneron was postponed to and took place on Monday, November 24th. After VOTF led an opening prayer, the four members of the Steering Committee (SC) made short, introductory statements.

After Tom Kirk made some straightforward comments about lack of detail available in Diocesan Annual report, Bishop Vigneron said he would talk to the Finance Council. The bishop did encourage all of us to make contact with various Councils but especially, the Pastoral Council.

The bishop stated that the fact that VOTF is bringing Catholics together is a good thing. However, he cannot endorse us or give us "privilege" status because if he did this, he would have to do the same for every group that may be championing various issues. We brought up the timely issue of celebration of Eucharist vs. shortage of priests. The bishop stated the solution was in the renewal of the Church and the need to recruit. There are plenty of candidates out there but they are not "hearing" the call. The bishop wanted to know where VOTF stood regarding "hot button" issues such as ordination of women and optional celibacy. We stated that as pointed out on the National VOTF website, VOTF is not taking any position on these issues and that we have no argument with Church Doctrine. However, to be honest, members do have questions and have expressed anger at the Church's closed mind on these topics. The bishop stated that although celibacy is an "instruction," ordination of women is Church Doctrine. If we want to go down either one of these roads, it is a dead end!

We asked the bishop if there was anything he considered heretical in our brochure. He stated that he took no position on it and that if a pastor has a problem with it, tell him to call the bishop’s office.

VOTF is happy that the bishop did not ban us from meeting at parishes. He encourages all laity to assume their role and responsibilities as articulated by Vatican II, i.e., get informed and get involved in transforming society. We invited Bishop Vigneron to attend any of our meetings in the future as they are always posted on our Web site. The bishop led us in a closing prayer.

Two of our East Bay Steering Committee members met in San Francisco last week with Ed and Peg Gleason to introduce Robert Kaiser who has agreed to speak to VOTF at our Spring Symposium, University of San Francisco (USF), March 28, ' 04. Kaiser is currently Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Leo T. McCarthy Center for Public Service and the Common Good at USF.

VOTF South

VOTF Bay Area, FL
Submitted by D. Esteva

Our affiliate has had several interesting presentations at the last few general meetings. Deputy Donald Jordan of the Hillsborough Sheriff's Office gave a very factual and interesting slide presentation on sexual abuse and ways of protecting children, and recognizing signs of abuse. Roger J. Girard, a licensed mental health and sexual abuse counselor, stressed the elements of power and control in sexual abuse. Fr. Alan Weber, Vicar General of our diocese, talked to us about the organization and administration of the diocese. And most recently, our pastor Msgr. Harold Bumpus talked about Voice of the Faithful Goal #3 and what in his opinion could be done at the diocesan level. He concluded by saying that he could visualize Voice of the Faithful working in tandem with bishops and pastors to achieve many things.

We are happy to announce that a meeting of the Steering Committee with our bishop Bishop Lynch has been scheduled for December 16th. We look forward to this meeting. Following is the agenda we submitted to Bishop Lynch:

  1. Resumption of plans for a diocesan synod.
  2. Organization of associations of parish finance committees and parish councils at the deanery and diocesan levels.
  3. Election of parish council members and elimination of "executive sessions" where they exist.
  4. Establishment of a summer internship for a seminarian at Prince of Peace Church.
  5. Resumption of plans for listening sessions with our bishop.

Another recent undertaking was a visit by Jim and Anne Marie Lydon, Chairpersons of the committee on Goal #2 to the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary at Boynton Beach, FL. They returned from their overnight trip with feelings of kinship for the seminarians and faculty. They highly recommend the rest of us to plan a visit there. Keep the faith; change the Church.

VOTF Louisville, KY
Submitted by Paula Radmacher

Our new member committee has decided that we should have our introductory meeting just prior to the full membership meeting rather than on a different night. We are gathering for about 45 minutes to explain the goals and the types of activities in which we are currently engaged, then we will go on to the business meeting.

Goal 1: We are developing plans for a one-day retreat sometime in the Spring. Goal 2: The first dialogue session with our priests was attended by 10 clergy and nine members. Topics included needs, expectations and ideas to promote healing. Members found it to be a positive experience. Goal 3: The broadness of the topic is challenging and members are focusing on small steps. Committee members will be working on a letter to be sent to the Archbishop.

VOTF CENTRAL

VOTF Chicago Archdiocese, Il
Submitted by Terry O’Connor

60 Seconds through the Archdiocese and Beyond on 12/4/03

  • VOTF-Archdiocese Dialogue Team offers their gifts to Cardinal George to launch a Chicagoland plan to support dialogue, change and healing in the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Cardinal is apparently not ready for such a meeting with VOTF. Through the Vicar General, he indicated, “he is not saying yes and he is not saying no” to such a meeting.
  • VOTF-Parish Affiliates congratulate Cardinal George for meeting personally with victims of sexual abuse and offering approximately $ 25,000,000 in financial settlements. However, they assert that the bishops and cardinal need to do more by taking the leadership role in dialogue with the laity in the Archdiocese.
  • VOTF-Parish Affiliates continue to cite support for Priests of Integrity as one of several keys to goal # 3 (systemic change) in the Archdiocese of Chicago, as well as, in the United States.
  • VOTF-Dialogue Team sees a network of 175 parishes as not enough to get the attention of Cardinal George. We all need to increase effort to expand our memberships. Friends can join quickly via a Google ‘Voice of the Faithful’ search.
  • Action for Renewal springboards off Father Richard McBrien’s presentation to schedule a January 27th evening with Judge Ann Burke, Chairperson of the National Lay Review Board on the Sexual Abuse Crisis. This will take place at Holy Family, Inverness. Watch for VOTF flyers announcing the event.
  • Action for Renewal is in the planning stage of a Forum for Priests of Integrity (next spring). Details to follow after the preliminaries and structure of the Forum are more defined.
  • On a sad note, we have been advised by SNAP that apparently, “the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois and the Christian Brothers have asked a Judge to overturn the new law on the statutes of limitations for cases of sexual abuse in Illinois as unconstitutional.” Also mentioned in the SNAP release, “Catholic leaders from Chicago’s St. Laurence High School, also Christian Brothers, have made the same request.” Both, allegedly, are defendants in two entirely different cases – just when we thought we had reached the bottom in Chicago! For additional information contact: snapblaine@hotmail.com
  • Celibacy on unofficial agenda: “There are different venues that might be possible,” said Cardinal George, adding that he had promised to raise the issue after being urged by about 115 Chicago area priests who wanted optional celibacy and about 175 others who thought it should at least be discussed. “I think it has to be discussed, I’m not sure this is the venue.” For additional information contact: theinen@journalsentinel.com

Peace be with you and have a great Christmas season.
Voice of the Faithful-Chicago Archdiocese Coordinator at: toconnor847@mynex.net

VOTF Cleveland/Akron, OH
Submitted by Tom Byrne

The Cleveland/Akron Diocese affiliate has initiated a Priest Sounding Board with strong support in accordance with Goal #2. Fr. Robert Wendelken, Pastor of St. Rita parish in Solon, Ohio will initiate and help coordinate its formation within the diocese. Both John Bongiovanni and Tom Byrne supported the St. Christopher Parish Voice Affiliate meeting on November 22 and clarified VOTF goals and mission statement.

VOTF St. Mary’s, Ann Arbor, MI
Submitted by Anne Laurance

St. Mary’s Student Parish of the Diocese of Lansing formed a Voice of the Faithful group in November 2002 and has been meeting monthly since that time.

St. Mary’s is the parish at the University of Michigan and carries pastoral responsibility for all Catholic students at that institution, a number that approaches 8,000 young adult Catholics. It is the consciousness of this responsibility that continues to energize the VOTF members at St. Mary’s. In this knowledge, the group made the decision to limit the outreach of the group to persons who come to St. Mary’s for worship and to minister with the parish.

Early in the work of St. Mary’s VOTF, one of the members held a meeting with the Diocesan Chancellor as well as the Moderator of the Curia. This meeting was most cordial and positive. The purpose was to explore ways in which parish leadership could facilitate transitions when pastoral changes were to be announced by Diocesan officials. The suggestion was that the Diocesan Pastoral Council be the vehicle for working with Parish Pastoral Councils to help in this process. The questions raised in this discussion are under review at the present time.

The group agrees that, in the main, the Diocese of Lansing has handled cases of sexual abuse well. There are several ways in which screening is done among which is that of fingerprinting all who work with children in the Diocese.

This St. Mary’s VOTF group has produced a brochure that has been presented to the parish by the Administrator. The brochure is designed to publicize help by service agencies to anyone who has a problem with sexual abuse. Persons who have suffered abuse reviewed the text in order to keep “victim” language at a minimum. Faculty of the University of Michigan School of Social Work have screened the piece as well as two attorneys with experience in this area. The brochure is now at the stage of a first printing.

 

 

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In the Vineyard
December '03
Volume 2, Issue 13

Page One

VOTF Election Update

Survivor Support News

Protecting Our Children Working Group

Priests' Support Working Group

Lay Education Working Group

Parish Voice News

Events, Opportunities & News

On the Road with VOTF

What Do You Think?

Prayer of the Month

Printer Friendly Version

In the Vineyard Archives

Our postal address is VOTF,
Box 423,
Newton, MA
02464-0002

Donations can be sent to this address or through our Web site

For an overview of press coverage of VOTF, click here.

 

Have you received your VOTF quarterly? If not, please call the VOTF office at 617-558-5252 and request the fall issue. Submissions for the quarterly are gratefully considered. Please contact Peggie Thorp at leaderpub@votf.org.

REMINDER: To contact an affiliate in your area, just go to the VOTF Web site at www.votf.org and click on Parish Voices for a menu. Choose "Directory," identify your state by region, click appropriately and you're there.