Pastoral Resources
August 2021
Neither the priest who consecrates nor the deacon who serves at the altar is a worthy minister of Christ, who willingly humbles Himself in love for His people. Celebration of the Eucharist and continuing devotion offer clergy an opportunity to participate in the humble nature of our Lord.
Rev. David Songy, O.F.M.Cap., S.T.D., Psy.D., explores the connection between sacramental identity of priests and deacons and its practical expression in the celebration of the Eucharist and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.
July 2021
Created Anew by the Body and Blood of Christ: Source of Our Healing and Hope
March 2021
Deacon James Keating reveals the diaconate’s state of affairs and offers innovative and practical formation advice.
The article comes from the March/April 2021 issue of The Deacon and features an interview with Deacon James Keating. In the article, Deacon Keating offers some observations and insights regarding diaconal formation.
March 2021
Committee Goals: to grow the spirituality of the Presbyterate both individually and collectively, to encourage priests to speak about their spiritual life, and to encourage priests to gather and offer mutual support for one another.
March 2021
The annual event was held this year on Tuesday, March 16, 2021 at St. Michael’s Cathedral from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and took advantage of the Season of Lent for an opportunity to come together to renew our relationship with the Lord through prayer, works of penance and charity.
Speaker: Fr. Robert S. White, CSS
January 2021
Deacon Art Miller interviewed by St. Anthony Messenger
No more documents.
No more commissions.
Deacon Art Miller says what the Church needs to do to confront racism is to act.
January 2021
The great crisis, which has been unveiled during the COVID-19 pandemic, is that so many of the faithful are not prepared to embrace their mission as a domestic church.
For several months during the pandemic, households have been separated from regular sacramental ministry of their churches. Consequently, families were often left to their own devices to pray, to engage the liturgical year as a household, and to celebrate the Lord’s day without the public celebration of the Mass. Most families did not know where to even begin.
Deacons are in a unique position to lead married couples to a deeper understanding of their call to be the domestic church.
December 2020
Now online is the Vatican’s website on Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Fratelli Tutti.
Promoted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and communicated in an announcement today, the site can be visited at www.fratellitutti.va or by entering the Dicastery’s homepage, www.humandevelopment.va.
Here is an Overview of the Website.
December 2019
On September 30, 2019, on the liturgical memorial of St. Jerome, Pope Francis announced that the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time would be celebrated as the Sunday of the Word of God. The inspiring full text of his Apostolic Letter, “Aperuit illis: Instituting the Sunday of the Word of God” is contained herein. In its inaugural year, this Sunday will fall on January 26, 2020.
September 2019
It is not uncommon to wonder if a behavior we are engaging in or witnessing is a habit or an addiction. This question can become particularly complicated when the behavior does not involve substance use. Understanding what addiction looks like for substances and activities, such as internet usage, is necessary for knowing when therapeutic interventions may be needed.
July 2019
Catholic Current is a valuable, time saving tool allowing you to spend less time planning and more time sharing information and evangelizing in your community. It gives your parish/organization access to an incredible online library filled with relevant, reliable content that supports the liturgical calendar and more. From prayers to “facts of faith” to video and social media graphics, you’ll find everything you need. It has been available by subscription for several years. Now It’s FREE.
March 2019
At the March 9 gathering of deacons, a panel of men and women serving in prison ministry shared their experience and insights. The panel included: Deacon Bill Toller, Deacon John Leary and his wife Donna, and Deacon George Morrell.
April 2019
Since I myself had served in a position of responsibility as shepherd of the Church at the time of the public outbreak of the crisis, and during the run-up to it, I had to ask myself – even though, as emeritus, I am no longer directly responsible – what I could contribute to a new beginning.
Thus, after the meeting of the presidents of the bishops’ conferences was announced, I compiled some notes by which I might contribute one or two remarks to assist in this difficult hour.
My work is divided into three parts.
In the first part, I aim to present briefly the wider social context of the question…
In the second part, I aim to point out the effects of this situation on the formation of priests and on the lives of priests.
Finally, in the third part, I would like to develop some perspectives for a proper response on the part of the Church.
February 2019
A Liturgy Preparation Aid for Lent, The Sacred Paschal Triduum, and The Easter Season 2019
January 2018
Pope Francis’ letter to the US Bishops invites all those connected to the ministerial priesthood to a deep conversion of heart, a reorientation of our life and ministry in the image of Christ “who came not to be served but to serve” (Mk 10:45), and a communal discernment on new ways of accountability and leadership in the church.
December 2018
The quality of being grateful is a foundational component of daily social exchange and can carry deep meaning. Giving thanks … enhances feelings of optimism and well-being in general.
October 2018
An old Irish proverb says, “It is in the shelter of each other that the people live.” Indeed, we are created to depend upon one another and walk together in suffering. But when family members or friends approach life’s end, we may not know how best to “shelter” them. Here are some concrete ways we can compassionately care for them. (Spanish Version)
October 2018
Killing the Pain, Not The Patient: Palliative Care vs. Assisted Suicide
Assisted suicide is in the news and on lawmakers’ agendas. Supporters call it “aid in dying” and claim it is just another option for ending intolerable pain as part of end-of-life care. But assisted suicide is radically different from end-of-life care and the practice of palliative care, the healing art of relieving pain and other distressing symptoms for patients who are seriously ill. Inf act, these two agendas are at war with each other. (Spanish Version)
September 2018
Liturgical Resources in Response to Clergy Sexual Abuse – resource from FDLC “In Every Age, O Lord, You Have Been Our Refuge” – Liturgies and Prayers in Response to Recent Events.
In the wake of the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report priests and deacons have asked for resources that will help us and our parishioners to understand and address what is going on in the Church. The Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC) has created a very helpful resource for parishes and communities to use in response to clergy sexual abuse, cover-ups, and mismanagement in our Church.
A PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCH
Heavenly Father,
In every age, you have been our refuge.
Yet again and still, we stand before you
asking for your protection on your holy Church.
For the victims of abuse and their families,
pour out your healing and your peace.
August 2018
the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People Essential Norms, Statement of Episcopal Commitment (Revised June 2011)
In light of the global attention being given to the grand jury report on the priest sex abuse scandal in PA, it is important that our deacons and priests have access to this document and be encouraged to become familiar with the Charter.
From the preamble…”with this 2011 revision of [the Charter], we re-affirm our deep commitment to creating a safe environment within the Church for children and youth. We have listened to the profound pain and suffering of those victimized by sexual abuse and will continue to respond to their cries.”
August 2018
You may find this article to be an excellent resource in light of the ongoing priest sex abuse scandal.
August 2018
Here is a letter that Bishop asks you to share with your parish communities. Please consider sharing at all Masses as well as post on your parish websites and social media platforms.
The letter will be publicly available at 10am Saturday, but Bishop wanted you to have it in advance.
August 2018
His Holiness Pope Francis has written this letter to the People of God in response to the clergy abuse crisis. The Committee for the Continuing Education, Formation and Support of Clergy is sharing this letter with the deacons and priests of the diocese for personal reading, study, reflection and discussion at deanery meetings. Pope Francis’ letter and Bishop Rozanski’s letter of August 17, 2018 are excellent resources for homilies, discussion with parish leaders, pastoral councils and parish organizations.
July 2018
Suicide Prevention…
Learning more about suicide can help us build the courage to face this issue head on, ultimately saving lives and helping heal those we serve.
Suicide remains a major taboo subject in our society – a forbidden, uncomfortable conversation no one wants to have. Yet it is the second-leading cause of death among 15-34 year-olds and the tenth leading cause of death for all ages in the United States.
July 2018
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1968 approval by Blessed Pope Paul VI for the bishops of the United States to renew the permanent diaconate as an active, permanent order of ministry.
Watch this Section – for articles and information about the diaconate and the 50th anniversary that can be shared with your parishes.
June 2018
Resources for Liturgy, Preaching, and Taking Action
June 2018
‘Giving the Best of Yourself’ (The Vatican’s New Document on Sport)
‘A document about the Christian perspective on sport and the human person’
April 2018
This resource provides context for reflection on Pope Francis’s latest apostolic exhortation and offers a summary of its main sections. Discussion questions and a prayer are also included.
April 2018
Introducing the 104-page document, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (“Rejoice and Be Glad”), Francis says his “modest goal” is “to re-propose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities.” He reminds believers that “the Lord has chosen each one of us ‘to be holy and blameless before him in love’” and that “the call to holiness is present in various ways from the very first pages of the Bible.”
October 2017
Catholic Energies was developed to complement the Catholic Climate Covenant’s education and advocacy work. Dan Last, Catholic Energies chief operating officer, said the program emerged in 2016 from hundreds of conversations with pastors, parish staff members and organizational leaders about the need for practical steps on behalf of the environment.
November 2017
The good news is that Bible study is already happening in every parish. As the pastor prepares the weekend homily, as lectors practice to proclaim the Word, as catechumens gather for faith formation, as religious educators instruct the young, as those who attend daily Mass offer their faithful attention, as parish leaders quietly use the Scriptures in their personal prayer—the Catholic faith community is reaping the rewards of Bible study. No parish has to invent the concept of Bible study from scratch, for it already exists. What parish leaders can do is create opportunities for guided and more purposeful explorations of Scripture.
November 2017
There are multiple ways in which Scripture can be made an integral part of both worship and catechesis. This article offers a few ideas to consider and is useful for catechists or or as a bulletin insert.
January 2018
Here is a checklist that pastors, pastoral councils, principals, and parish catechetical leaders can use to examine the role that the Word of God plays in the life and mission of the parish community.
January 2017
“We are called, then, to draw near to the poor, to encounter them, to meet their gaze, to embrace them and to let them feel the warmth of love that breaks through their solitude. Their outstretched hand is also an invitation to step out of our certainties and comforts, and to acknowledge the value of poverty in itself.”
June 2018
NFPC offers resources to raise awareness in our communities