Events,
Etc.
VOTF
National
National
Parish Voice has identified four U.S. regions for purposes
of affiliate coordination, communication efforts and
future regional definitions and representation:
WEST
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana,
Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii,
Alaska
CENTRAL
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota,
Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana,
Ohio
SOUTH
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida
EAST
Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, District of
Columbia
Five
Steps for a Better Harvest (NMR indicates - "No meetings
required")
- TALK
to us - working/focus groups, ad hoc committees, Council
gatherings, Executive Committee, Trustees et al.,
might send in meeting dates and places.
- SEND
photos of your group, your activities, your church
- anything VOTF related. NMR
- BE
a reporter. We need coverage on legislative activity
around the country (mandatory reporting laws, statutes
of limitation work, etc.); bishop dialogue - if any,
what's happening; Council meetings coverage (pick
a month, a quarter, a year, a decade); events/talks
- upcoming and recaps.
- INTRODUCE
us - to your parish priest, your bishop. What are
they doing, not doing? NMR
- ADD
your two cents - constructive criticism is INVITED.
If In the Vineyard isn't working, is missing something,
is useless - we need to hear it. Your suggestions
for change, additions, deletions are truly appreciated.
NMR
Print
Media Coverage - Be sure to check the website at
www.votf.org for reprints and links to recent interviews
with Jim Post and articles on VOTF in Newsweek, Commonweal,
National Catholic Reporter and St. Anthony Messenger,
AND the Herald Sun in Melbourne!, to name but
a few.
VOTF
Witness at USCCB conference, St. Louis, Mo. Excerpts
from "Reflections on US Catholic Bishops' Conference"
Steven A. Krueger, Executive Director June 25, 2003.
Read
the full text here.
The
middle-American city of St. Louis was a study in contrasts
during last week's U.S. Catholic Bishops' Conference
(USCCB).
Contrast
1 - The Agenda
In Dallas last year, the entire Conference was focused
on the clergy sexual abuse crisis. In the days preceding
the St. Louis Conference, the crisis was not even on
the agenda. Only after the bishops were pressed by the
press and the public did they insert a presentation
on the topic for Saturday morning - which they then
ended early.
Contrast
2 - Task versus Ministry
Last year, the bishops were remorseful in their verbal
response to the crisis. This year, the bishops used
language that referred to the crisis as an "issue."
Their language and actions portrayed the crisis as a
task to be completed, rather than a ministry that will
define the Church in this century. Tasks are something
you put on a list and mark off when completed. Ministry
is a part of your being, strengthened by dialogue and
the need to communicate to everyone, often. What some
bishops do not understand is that the Church and the
public demand that this crisis be treated as a ministry
- a ministry for justice and healing for the victim/survivors
of clergy sexual abuse and for the entire Church itself.
Contrast
3 - The Tone
Last year in Dallas, the bishops spoke out of sincerity
and pain. This year, some suggested that the crisis
was being exaggerated, while others said that everything
that could be done was being done. Yet, many lay Catholics
and victim/survivors do not agree with this assessment
- as we know from attending the SNAP Conference and
from our own regular experiences with victim/survivors
and lay Catholics around the country.
Contrast
4 - The USCCB Conference and the SNAP Conference
While we were not allowed into the USCCB Conference,
and the media was invited to attend only a portion of
that meeting, we VOTF representatives were invited and
welcomed to the SNAP Conference. On Friday evening,
we listened to the stories of victim/survivors, many
of which focused on the re-abuse these survivors have
suffered at the hands of the Church, as they seek justice
from the Church. These courageous people are telling
us what is difficult to hear, but knowing them has brought
great consolation to us. One has to wonder what transformation
of the heart might have taken place for some bishops
if they had been there.
Contrast
5 - Ownership of the crisis versus ownership of the
solution
In Dallas and in Washington, the bishops indicated they
would take ownership - accountability - of the problem
in the preamble to their Dallas Charter and in calling
for fraternal accountability in Washington. In St. Louis,
the bishops sidestepped their accountability
by directing our attention to their solutions. In this
way the bishops presented themselves as having everything
under control. However, the "solution" to the crisis
- which occurred under the watch of many of these bishops
- starts with their accountability. In taking exclusive
ownership of the solution, the bishops only contribute
to the systemic failures of the past. The solution must
include the voices of laity, survivors, and clergy as
well - it is our Church, too. Unfortunately, neither
survivors nor representative laity was invited to attend,
let alone participate in these discussions.
The
laity must step forward and state their conviction that
nothing should take precedence over a pastoral response
to this crisis. As followers of Christ we are called
to be leaders in promoting truth, justice, and healing.
All within the Church must make an unwavering commitment
to reflect the face of Jesus at every turn down this
long road. Let us keep our bishops in our prayers as
they find the courage to meet the challenges that face
us all and that we must solve together.
VOTF East
Benefit
for The Lighthouse on July 18, 7-11 p.m.
****An invitation to Boston Area VOTF Members. Please
join us at a party to benefit The Lighthouse on July
18 from 7-11p.m. at Chelmsford Elks Hall, 300 Littleton
Rd, Road, Rt. 110) Chelmsford, MA. The Lighthouse is
a non-denominational center for survivors and victims
of clergy abuse in East Boston. It is staffed and run
by survivors. It is a safe, welcoming place for people
to go when they need information and support from others
who have survived similar abuse as they have. It is
brand new and enjoyed its public grand opening on June
7. This family night is the first event bringing people
together for the purpose of supporting The Lighthouse.
RSVP to TheLighthouse77@aol.com
so that we can reserve tickets for you! This party is
being sponsored by The Beacons of Light, individuals
from many groups that support The Lighthouse.
This party will be fun and casual with a great DJ, cash
bar and dancing. Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the
door; families $25.
June
7 Boston, MA VOTF Conference - Over 300 VOTF members,
representing 45 affiliates in the Boston Archdiocese,
gathered on June 7 for a Boston VOTF Conference. Titled,
"Awakening to the Spirit, Envisioning the Future," the
conference was held on the eve of Pentecost. The theme
of the conference was "Our Vision for Our Parishes &
the Archdiocese of Boston in 2005, And Steps We Can
Take to Make Our Vision a Reality."
The
day began with opening prayers developed for the occasion
by the Prayerful Voice committee led by Sr. Betsy Conway.
VOTF President Jim Post delivered a rousing kick-off
address on "What We, and the New Archbishop of Boston,
Face in our Church." Keynote speaker Paul Lakeland followed,
with moving excerpts from his new book, Liberation
of the Laity: In Search of An Accountable Church.
Ten
action-planning workshops made up the core of the conference.
Topics, which had been determined by affiliate responses
to a pre-conference questionnaire, included "Justice
for Survivors," "Protecting our Children," "Fostering
Collaboration Between the Laity and Clergy," "Financial
Control and Decision-Making," "Lay Education," and "Renewing
Local Faith Communities." Talented VOTF volunteers served
as the facilitators for the workshops. The action plans
developed in the workshops will be published in a post-conference
report. Conference participants also provided feedback
on a draft vision statement, which had also been developed
based on responses to the pre-conference questionnaire.
A
Franciscan to lead Boston, MA Archdiocese - see extensive
coverage on our website at www.votf.org.
Wellesley,
MA - JUNE: no working group meetings. Tues. JULY
15 and Tues. AUG. 12: 7:30-9:30 for all working groups
at St. John the Evangelist Church in Wellesley, MA.
SEPT: No monthly or plenary meetings scheduled. OCT.
14: Monthly working group first meeting; to be held
the second Tuesday of each month. MONTHLY PLENARY: the
fourth Tuesday of each month; first meeting OCT. 28
will include our 12 Western Region Affiliates: St. Bernard's,
Our Lady Help of Christians, St Ignatius, Natick Affiliate,
St. Joseph's, St. Zepherin's, St. Mary's, St. Anselm's,
People's Promise (Belmont), St. Jeremiah's, St. Paul's,
St. John's. Contact: jfmcconville@attbi.com.
A
Musical Tribute - On September 28, 2003 at 5:00
pm, a chamber music concert will be performed at the
Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall, 27 Garden Street, Cambridge,
MA. Admission to the concert will be free. Concert attendees
are asked to make a good will offering to support SNAP
(Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests).
The
program will be presented by John Ferrillo, Elizabeth
Ostling and Elita Kang of the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
Carol Rodland of the New England Conservatory, and Hugh
Hinton of the Longy School of Music. Attendees will
hear works by Bach, Schumann, DeBussy, Barber, Loefflre
and Messiaen. PLEASE HELP TO MAKE THIS EVENT A SUCCESS!
For further information please click
here or contact Steve Sheehan at: sheehan1777@aol.com
VOTF
Tri-State Conference Planned for October 25th
at Fordham Prep/University in New York City,
NY. Twenty-six
of us from NY, NJ, and CT affiliates met on June 14
on site in order to plan the event. Speakers and topics
will be publicized shortly so we ask the entire VOTF
family (and friends) to watch this space for upcoming
details. Meanwhile, mark your calendars!
The
Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry
at Boston College is offering several courses through
its summer program, which might be of particular interest
to the members of VOTF. For more information call 617
552-8440 or 800-487-1167, e-mail irepm@bc.edu
or visit www.bc.edu/irepm.html.
Among the courses being offered is "The Parish as Covenant:
A Call to Pastoral Partnership."
Well-known
writer Paul Wilkes is directing "The Boston Pastoral
Summit," October 6-8, 2003 (Monday-Wednesday) at
the Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA. "A Time of Rebirth
and Renewal" is the theme for this Lilly Endowment-sponsored
national church conference. The Pastoral Summit conference
will bring together both Protestant and Catholic pastors
and lay leaders for three days of pertinent workshops,
inspirational worship, and powerful keynote speakers
who will tackle key issues all churches face. The emphasis
at the Pastoral Summit is how to make each local church
"the best it possibly can be."
The
Boston conference comes on the heels of two other well-attended
Pastoral Summit gatherings held this year in San Antonio
in April and Indianapolis in June. The Pastoral Summit
provides-by one definition-the most diverse groups of
Christian pastors, staff and lay leaders ever assembled
in America.
"What
came through loud and clear in the resounding success
of our first two Pastoral Summits this year was that
Catholics and Protestants too seldom get the chance
to talk and learn from each other about their local
churches," said Paul Wilkes, best-selling author and
founder/project direct of Pastoral Summit. "This is
not surface talk but deep talk about what works, how
new people can be reached, what we can learn from each
other's traditions and practices, how faith can be deepened,
and how the local church can radiate light and hope
into its community."
JIM
POST will be one of the featured speakers at a workshop
entitled, "The Flowering of Lay Initiatives: Voices
Rising from the Wilderness". There will be an opportunity
to share VOTF's mission and vision in a specially planned
workshop of our making. We can also promote the tri-state
(NY/NJ/CT) conference New York on November 15th.
Please
log on to www.pastoralsummit.org
for more information, but note that not all the Boston-specific
workshops are listed in the program yet. Information
will be sent to area Parish Affiliate coordinators,
as well as being posted on the website. Opportunities
for VOTF input abound, and volunteers are needed for
help at the conference itself. Please contact Svea Fraser
at 781 237-7560, or sveafraser@comcast.net
for more information.
VOTF
Central
Chicago,
IL VOTF Action for Renewal/Voice of the Faithful is
supporting a series of discussions of interest to Catholics.
The second meeting focused on the role of the bishops
in the Church crisis. The program, "Journey to Integrity,"
is ongoing and informal. It is held at St. Thomas Becket
Parish Hall, Mt. Prospect. For information about future
gatherings, call 847-690-9970. Terry O'Connor
Dr.
Jim Muller will be in Cincinnati, Ohio on Friday,
August 8, 2003. Dr. Muller will meet with the leadership
of the Cincinnati and Dayton VOTF affiliates' leadership
teams. Cincinnati and Dayton VOTF will host a talk,
open to the public, by Dr. Muller at 7 p.m. on August
8 at St. Francis DeSales Church on Madison Road in Cincinnati.
More information is available on the VOTF Cincinnati
Coordinating Committee website at cincinnativotf@earthlink.net
or e-mail Mary Buchert at buchert@zoomtown.com.
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.
|