The Good Catholic Life

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Sister Marian Batho, Delegate for Religious of the Archdiocese of Boston * [Sisters of Saint Joseph](http://www.csjboston.org/) * [Delegate for Religious office](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/DelegateForReligious.aspx) * ["Journeying Together: Congregations of Women and Men Religious in the Archdiocese of Boston 1808-2008"](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/Vocations/Journeying_Together.pdf) * [NRVC/CARA 2009 Study on Recent Vocations to Religious Life](http://nrvc.net/study_overview/?return_url=study_overview) **Today's topics:** The contribution of religious orders to the Archdiocese of Boston **Summary of today's show:** Sr. Marian Batho joined Scot and Fr. Chris to discuss the link between the health of religious communities and the health of the Church. Also how one discerns a call to religious life, her work as Delegate for Religious in Boston, the history of religious orders in Boston, the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the future of religious communities. **1st segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Chris back to the show. Today marks the first day of summer. Tomorrow, Fr. Chris is heading to Omaha to Creighton University to visit with seminarians spending time this summer at an institute for priestly formation. They are learning [Ignatian spirituality](http://ignatianspirituality.com/). Scot noted that EWTN's program [Faith and Culture](http://www.ewtn.com/series/shows/faithAndCulture/faithAndCulture.html) with Colleen Carroll Campbell was at St. John's Seminary over the weekend filming about 10 episodes with local Bostonians. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Sr. Marian to the show. Scot asked her about call to the religious life. From when she was 8 years old, she began to think about being a sister. She liked to go into the chapels of religious communities in her neighborhood, including Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and the Columban Sisters. She went to Boston public schools, but for college went to Regis College, which is run by the Sisters of St. Joseph and she fell in love with the order. Their commitment to the students touched her. She's loved classical music since she was a child and her music teacher, Sr. Margaret William McCarthy, was instrumental in helping her in college. She was a witness of love for her vocation. Several years after graduating, Sr. Marian entered the Sisters of St. Joseph. In between, she was engaged to be married, but she felt God call her to a different path. She also had a Master's degree in finance before entering religious life. She had been on a career track through the financial services industry, particularly insurance. But in 1976, she entered religious life. Fr. Chris said Sr. Marian also works as the Cardinal's representative to the Archdiocesan Pastoral Council as well as assisting couples with marriage preparation in a local parish. She said she finds it a great blessing to work in the Pastoral Center and work for the Archdiocese for nearly 14 years. She's been the Delegate for Religious for almost 10 years and is able to meet with men and women religious nearly every day, which continues to inspire her. The Archdiocesan Pastoral Council is a consultative body to Cardinal Seán. It's like a parish's pastoral council. Cardinal Seán meets with them to seek their advice on various pastoral issues facing the Archdiocese. It includes two pastors, two deacons, a religious sister, a religious brother, and lay representatives from the various regions of the archdiocese as recommended by local pastors. As Delegate for Religious, Sr. Marian is liaison between Cardinal Seán and over 2,000 religious in Boston, as well as consecrated virgins, hermits, and men and women in discernment. She calls herself the vocation concierge. Sr. Marian gets four or five calls per month from people looking for more information. Throughout the year they have informational events. The signs of a religious vocation including having a life of prayer; they're participating in the parish and attending Mass at least weekly or even daily as much as possible; and involved in parish activities. She also looks at their interests because religious orders are involved in many apostolic works as well as orders that are contemplative. She will then help arrange a meeting with the order. Contemplative communities live in cloisters, in their monasteries, leaving only for necessary reasons, living a life predominantly of prayer. An apostolic community is involved in a variety of activities, like education, healthcare, or social justice. Generally speaking, the timeframe for final profession as a religious is between 9 and 10 years. Most communities now have a live-in experience prior to entrance. First, they get to know the community, joining them for prayer and meals. They look for a good match between the person and the community. Then they are invited to enter the community as postulant in a period of testing for one or two years. Then they enter novitiate for two years. The first year is a canonical novitiate with intense prayer and study on the community, theology, Scripture, prayer, and vows. The second year is an apostolic year where they experience the work of the community. At the end of the novitiate, the candidate asks to make first profession and the community decides whether they continue to be a good fit. Between 3 and 6 years later they make a final profession. Sr. Marian said community life is essential to religious life. The three evangelical counsels are poverty, chastity, and obedience are lived within community. Fr. Chris asked about her order's devotion to St. Joseph. Sr. Marian said her order's constitution says, "We look to Joseph as our model of justice, gentleness and humility, extending a cordial charity to all." She noted that Joseph never speaks in the Scriptures and the order tries to imitate the hidden life of Joseph in humility and care for those in need. The Sisters of St. Joseph are most known for education. They have Fontbonne Academy, Mt. St. Joseph, Walnut Park, Regis College, Bethany Hills School, and the Literacy Connection, which offers services to immigrants. They also have Bethany Healthcare Center. The Sisters also work with other communities to open a safe house for victims of human trafficking. **3rd segment:** Scot said three years ago as part of the Archdiocesan bicentennial year, a number of religious orders got together to publish a book, "Journeying Together" on the history of religious communities in the archdiocese. The book includes 125 orders of men and women. Sr. Marian said you can see the pastoral needs evolving in the Archdiocese of Boston and the evolving pastoral priorities of each Archbishop. She calls it a beautiful love story and usually gives it to discerning men and women to read. She wrote in the foreword to the book: >The following pages represent a wonderful Love Story. They speak of courageous founders, faith-filled major superiors, and devoted religious who responded generously to the invitation to come to Boston. Concerned for the pastoral care of a large immigrant population, and trusting in the providence of God, religious communities built schools, hospitals and social service agencies. Their legacy for the next 200 years is that with God all things are possible. Scot recalled the first religious sisters in the Archdiocese, the Ursuline Sisters, who had their school in Charlestown burned down by anti-Catholics. Sr. Marian noted that the orders came to Boston with limited resources and were able to build a great legacy with God's providence. Scot said it took great trust by the religious to found these institutions like schools or hospitals and believe that people would support them. Sr. Marian said it speaks of the importance of community. Praying together and living together helped the seeds of religious life blossom in Boston. When people come together as a team or community, marvelous and wonderful things happen. Scot said what made Boston stand out for the growth of the Archdiocese was the new life that religious communities breathed into Boston. Cardinal Seán in his recent pastoral letter noted that new life and growth of religious orders that will spur new growth of the Church in Boston for the future. As goes religious orders in Boston, so goes the Church as a whole. Fr. Chris asked Sr. Marian what the three Evangelical Counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience mean. Sr. Marian said to sum it up, it means that my life is not about me. In the vow of poverty, they profess that all they have belongs to the community and they own it in common. They trust the community will let them receive what they need. In the vow of obedience, they try to respond every day to the will of God as Mary and Joseph did with an enthusiastic, unqualified Yes. In chastity, it means that God is their primary relationship, which allows them to be available in all circumstances. Cardinal Seán says the vows are an antidote to the ills of society: materialism, individualism, and licentiousness. Scot said the reliance of the religious on the community deepens the bonds between them. Sr. Marian said it also affirms that what we have is not for ourselves, but to be shared. For 2010, the Boston Catholic Directory reports 1800 religious women, 500 religious priests, and about 100 religious men. That contrasts with the late 60s': More than 6,000 women, over 1,000 priests, and almost 300 men. Scot asked which era is the norm? Are we in a shortage today or was that an unusual bounty? Sr. Marian said there were many reasons for those large numbers and maybe we will never have those large numbers again. But she believes that God continues to call and while there maybe disappointment at the small number of people opting for religious life, the CARA study of religious life shows that there are many young men and women considering religious life. Sr. Marian said her concern is that we're not talking about religious life. She often hears from people considering religious life is that no one has ever invited them to consider it. Sr. Marian said the life of the Sisters of St. Joseph is inspiring and overwhelming to see the children learning in their schools, to see communities grow. Fr. Chris asked what advice she would give to parents to encourage religious vocations. She said they need to find out more about religious communities. She thinks there should be come-and-see events for families. In addition to discouragement that sometimes comes from parents, it can also come from peers. Scot said parents shouldn't necessarily ask "What do *you* want to be?", but instead ask, "What you think *God* wants you to be?" Parents can have plans and hopes for their kids, but children are a gift from God and a Catholic parent knows that a child's ultimate happiness is in their children doing what God wants them to do. He plants the seed in their minds, by pointing out priests and religious they might know and wanting to emulate them. Sr. Marian said we also have to talk about the importance of prayer and faith sharing because the language can be foreign if the family isn't praying in the home. She thinks that's where the gap is. She recalls Sr. Mary Johnson of Emmanuel College who said young people are desperately searching for what religious communities offer while the communities look for new members. They need to find ways to bridge that gap. At a recent discernment meeting, they had younger members of the communities talk about their call and she could feel the atmosphere in the room change as people began to consider God might be calling them. Teaching young people to pray can help the vocational crisis. God hasn't stopped calling. More people need to start listening. If we teach people to pray, the vocations will come as people learn to hear His voice. **4th segment:** Scot asked Sr. Marian what we have to look forward to in religious life over the next 200 years. She said God will continue to call. Bishops in our history have called religious orders forth to serve ministries and pastoral needs in the archdiocese. With Cardinal Seán's new pastoral letter on evangelization, it is a new moment for orders that are here to re-engage, for orders to come to Boston, and for new orders to form. Scot asked Sr. Marian the best way for people to re-connect with religious who have been instrumental in their lives: teachers who have taught them, for example. Anyone trying to re-connect with them can call Sr. Marian and she can try to make the connection. There are also listings of religious sisters, brothers, and diocesan priests, which are kept up-to-date. There will be more discernment weekends in the fall and then in February and April of 2012.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Jim Stenson, author and educator * [Jim's website: ParentLeadership.com](http://www.parentleadership.com) * [Father, The Family Protector](http://www.scepterpublishers.org/product/index.php?FULL=297) **Today's topics:** Being a successful husband and father; raising children **A summary of today's show:** Jim Stenson talks with Scot on the day after Father's Day about the qualities of the successful father and husband gleaned from his decades of serving and observing families, including the 4 ways that a dad's role is that of protector and the 12 pieces of essential advice for fathers. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes author and educator Jim Stenson to the show. Scot was surprised while reading Jim's books to learn that Jim is not a father himself, but he's captured so much wisdom in terms of what makes successful fathers and husbands. Jim has been a numerary member of Opus Dei since he was 18 years old and has helped started two schools, one in Washington DC and another in Chicago. He was director of the school in Chicago for 12 years. One of the principles of schools that Opus Dei tries to foster is that the people who benefit the most from the schools is the parents because parents do most of the work in raising the children. Their job is to reinforce what the parents do at home. He became interested in the dynamics of the family and has studied hundreds of families. Over the years he found in families do a good job in that they raised adults, not children. What he learned, he put into his books and into his talks to parents. He's been giving conferences since 1989 all over the world. He's written three books. His website is parentleadership.com. Jim started when he saw so many social changes take place in the family over the last several decades. For example, the father works outside the family and the children almost never see him. He saw this as a significant fact. What he tried to do was learn as much as he could and provide a job description. Increasingly he saw the role of the father as very important and misunderstood. A lot of fathers weren't sure of what their role is in their family. Too often children see their father come home and veg out in front of the TV or the computer and there's not much interaction. There isn't much to emulate. Children learn character and virtues by imitating people they admire. You don't teach virtue with lectures and talks, but by example. People in the learned wisdom by watching the father be active around the house or the farm or the shop or workshop or other family business. Too often kids just see their father in his leisure time. Jim said the less the father does to provide leadership in his family, the more the burden falls on the mother and if she works outside the home then there's a vacuum in the children's formation. Formation is everything you say and do so your children don't grow up to be the selfish heathens they were when they were very small kids. The role of the father as Jim sees it is that of a protector. The more the family is aware of that, they more they respect him and the more they learn from him. The father protects in four ways: 1. Physical: Children feel safe when the father is around. He's the strongest one in the family. Children sense that daddy loves them and his strength is their strength. 2. He protects the family against destitution. He puts his power up against problems in one profession or another. 3. He protects his wife from the arrogance and aggressive of his children, particularly in two stages of life-- from ages 2 to 5 and then later 13 to 15. The kids can be very disrespectful to their mother. His role is to step in. The wife creates the moral tone and the father enforces it. She's my wife, not just your mother. Nobody ever treats my wife with disrespect. I am honored to be her protector and that is my role from God. He's told high school boys that God has given them strength of arms, a deep voice, a beard to drive away anyone who threatens your loved ones, starting with your wife. 4. He forms their judgment and conscience, especially as entering adolescence so they can later protect themselves. Above all, integrity. Kids have to learn it. The kids see the father as expert in the world outside the family. Integrity is related to integer. It means unity. Unity of intention, word, and action. We mean what we say, we say what we mean, and we keep our word. We do not lie and we keep our promises. **2nd segment:** Talking about a father's unity of life. What makes someone successful on the job can translate to success in family. Success is the full of use of one's powers to the betterment of others. People who succeed most in business have a real clear sense of focus on the future and they get along well with people. They are known as having integrity and professionalism. A man who is successful in business has a clear vision of where his business is heading in 10 or 15 years. He looks for strengths in people and coordinates those strengths toward a team's collective endeavors. He doesn't care about weaknesses, but only what they can contribute. The team can mask weakness. He is service-oriented; he wants his people to be better as a consequence of doing their job. He is also concerned for details now while looking to the future. He doesn't waste time. He is conscious of his authority and sees it as a means of serving others. He knows that no ideal becomes reality without sacrificial effort. Every father who is serious about his job knows these things at least indirectly. Scot said he learned in business school that it's easy for men to focus so much of their mind on work because it's so tangible and measurable. But it's more difficult at home because how your kids are doing, how your wife is doing is less tangible and harder to see. There are ways to measure the tangible effects of raising the kids. Are your kids doing more and more without being told? Do they have eyes for the needs around them? Do they keep their word? Do they admit when they're wrong? Is honesty important in their upbringing? Are they behaving more and more like conscientious responsible adults? Scot said one of his favorite definitions of leadership is behaving in a way that other people want to follow you. It's important that parents lead in the home because kids need heroes to look up. Ideally parents would be their primary heroes in life. Jim said leaders have joiners, not followers. Children will follow someone who knows what he's doing, is confident, and is active. In your home, establish rules and standards. Start the rules with "we": We clean up after ourselves. We put things away when we're finished using. Say please, thank you, I'm sorry, I give your word. We don't return a car with less than a quarter tank of gas. We worship God as a family to thank Him for everything. This means that the father lives by the same rules and the children see him doing that. He's making it clear that the family is a team. Especially in a big family, all the children feel needed. The children make clear to the children that they take of the needs and the children take care of the wants. If they want something, they have to get a job to make money and buy it. Scot said good leaders in business set a vision. A good fatherly leader puts his wife first. Jim said that's part of his vocation from God. Children's attitudes toward each parent mirrors the parents' attitudes toward each other. When the wife treats her husband as the hero in the family, the kids respect him. Never belittle the husband in front of the children. He must have their respect. Part of the respect we have from other people is our reputation. It is part of the wife's job to settle her husband's reputation in the family. For example, husband and wife make decisions for the children together. The father makes clear to the children that the mother is the boss here. She's here to enforce the quality control in the house. If they mess around too much with mom, they face dad's wrath. **3rd segment:** One of the roles of parents is the religious formation of children. One way to measure being a successful Catholic dad is whether you can pass on the joys of the Catholic faith to them. Jim said children's concepts of God have much to do with their relationship with their father. They see God as someone who is powerful, strong, loving, forgiving. Everything God is, is what Dad is. The father needs to be active in his own interior life towards God. He has to have a personal friendship with Jesus Christ. Sanctity doesn't mean performing miracles. It means being a friend of Jesus and being open to whatever he asks of us. It would be natural to lead your children to that same friendship. Scot said when the father takes an active role in his faith, then it tends to take into the next generation, both with boys and girls, than if they view Catholic faith as just their mother's faith. The children expect the mother to have a stronger religious sense, because they naturally see her as mystery. Men tend to be problem solvers. One of the great secrets of married life is that men worry more than women. This is why they need friends. When a father makes it clear that his best friend is God, it shows it's not a matter of weakness turning to God. It's true for other values as well: If the father is a reader, the children are readers. If the father's interested in art and the culture, the kids are too. This pattern seems to come from the father. Fathers should take an interest in catechetical instruction. Make it clear it's not just study to pass a test. Tell them about he great sacrifices of those throughout the ages who passed on the faith. Make it clear that they will have to pass the faith on to their own children someday. The children need to think strategically. Scot said many grandparents lament that their grandkids aren't being raised in the faith. How do we avoid that same lament? Scot said Jim has taught him to make it clear that he wants his kids to know the faith so they can teach it to others. It raises the bar on how much time he spends in formation with the kids. Jim said in grandparents' generations they depended too much on institutions outside the family to educate the children. children internalize what the parents take seriously. Children won't remember the details of what you teach them, but they will remember what's important to you. Every Catholic parent should homeschool their children in the faith. Jim said psychologists have found t hat when the family sits around the table, their attention is mostly toward the father. He's the center of attention so the father can lead them all in prayer. The main prayer in the family is thanksgiving to God. In some families, the youngest children will say the prayers; they are the one who came most recently from heaven. Ask your children for prayers in important occasions. Children can't contribute much to family life, but you can tell them that their prayers are powerful and mean a lot. Make visits to the Blessed Sacrament; to have a devotion. Tell your kids: you pray for me, I'll pray for you. They associate dad with a loving relationship with God. They'll see how his strength and confidence in life came from his relationship with God. Scot said if we don't help them find heroes in the saints, they will find heroes in athletes, musicians, and actors. Jim said it's a fact that teens especially are not looking for rules to live by, but a life to imitate. That's why they watch adults so closely. Hollywood and media put up images of people who are glamorous and entertaining. Because of that, make clear to them that we are all descended from heroic people: grandparents and those before them. Also our favorite saints who stood up for the faith or did tremendous things with their lives. Teach them to be open to whatever God is calling you to. The finest way that children can honor their parents is to live by their principles. God commands us to honor our father and mother and so we can internalize their principles and religious values; to live by them all our lives. To honor me, live by what I'm teaching you. **4th segment:** One of Scot's favorite pieces of Jim's writing is a document called ["Advice for Fathers"](http://parentleadership.com/fathers.html). It has 12 things that fathers can do as a kind of examination of conscience: Don't neglect your wife. Make sure everyone understands that wife is Number 1 in the family. He knows one husband who brings home flowers every Friday to his wife to show her how grateful he is to her, but also to let kids know how much he appreciates her. Don't underestimate your children. Have high ambitions for them. Think of them as young men and women. Parents often don't think far enough ahead: what are my children going to be life in 20 years? Start looking for their positive features, which are sometimes the obverse of what annoys you. Don't treat teenagers like large children. Children grow, but teenagers change. They change remarkably, especially girls. That's the age they most need their father. Sons are looking for leadership from their dad. They are adults who have everything but experience. When teens ask, Why don't you trust me? Tell them, we trust your integrity and your good intention. We have to mistrust for now, temporarily, your judgment because you don't have enough experience. In a few years, you will have that experience. Don't ever tell your teens that the high-school years are the best part of their lives. Because it's not true. They constantly make mistakes, get into trouble. 90% of their problems is from bad judgment, not malice. Every part of life is enjoyable. It's all a matter of attitude. Life is an adventure. If you tell teens it's the best years, they will groan. Come down to your children's level, but don't stay there. Listen to them. Be patient with them. Don't become another child in the house. Don't let them treat you like an older sibling. Bring them up to your level. Get them to think like adults. Part of the father's role is to say your mother has taught you right and wrong in the family and it will be true in the outside world. Turning teaching of the family into lifetime ethics. Don't forget to praise your children and be specific about. Praise effort, not just success. You want them to try. We don't belittle people who try. We tend to specific about blame and vague about praise. Don't praise children for what comes from God--good looks, etc--but praise them for attitudes and behavior you want them to repeat.

Full show notes for today's program will be available on Monday. Thank you for your patience. Today’s host(s): Scot Landry and Father Mark O'Connell Today’s guest(s): Fr. Joseph Mozer, Judge at the Metropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Boston Today’s topics: Fr. Mozer, his work at the Metropolitan Tribunal; misconceptions about Declarations of Nullity; the Gospel readings for The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. A summary of today’s show: Scot and Father Mark O'Connell 1st segment: Scot and Father Mark welcomed Msgr. Robert P. Deeley as the new Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia as of September 1st. Before Msgr. Deeley went to work in Rome, he worked in the Metropolitan Tribunal here in the Archdiocese of Boston. Father Mark said that having Canonical training will be a good influence on Msgr. Deeley's leadership style in such a key office to the Archdiocese. Father Mark also highlighted that having good connections in Rome and a worldwide perspective on the Catholic Church will be a great help to Boston. Pilot news story about Msgr. Deeley's appointment to the position of Vicar General and Moderator of the CuriaMetropolitan Tribunal for the Archdiocese of Boston Website 2nd segment: Scot welcomed Father Joseph Mozer, a Canon lawyer and Judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal. Father Joe explained that he first heard the call to be a priest in his teens, reenforced by time spent with the Neumann Club and Catholic Center at UMass Amherst. He explained his membership in what was nicknamed the "CCC" - the "Confused Catholics Club," made up of students who were considering vocations in to the religious life, working as a volunteer, and to the married life. Father Joe said that experiencing his own parents' divorce, declaration of nullity, and remarriage helps him understand the situations that he works with in the Tribunal, as well as his outside work with Catholic Engaged Encounter. 3rd segment: Father Joe spoke about his work with Catholic Engaged Encounter, a program that prepares couples for marriage. The program uses techniques from the Marriage Encounter program, especially one called dialoguing that encourages discussion between the couple about issues they may face in the future of their relationship. Father Joe said he became involved in the program when he attended a weekend to more accurately recommend it to couples asking him about marriage preparation programs. Scot also highlighted Father Joe's favorite hobby - motorcycle riding. Father Joe explained that he first started riding as a family activity with his mother and stepfather, and enjoyed it so much that he got his own bike. He was at Bike Week in Laconia, New Hampshire on Wednesday and said that riding is his favorite way to de-stress and enjoy the road. He rides his motorcycle to work at the Pastoral Center when weather permits. Scot asked Father Mark about his hobbies, and Father Mark said he goes golfing and enjoys spending time with his friend Father Soper. Scot asked Father Joe to describe what is commonly known as an Annulment, but is known in the Church as a declaration of nullity. Father Joe explained that the crux of a valid marriage is the willingness and ability of both spouses to enter into the partnership of the whole of life that the Church understands as marriage. He explained that a Judge in the Tribunal reviews evidence presented in Declaration of Nullity cases to determine whether a marriage is valid. Catholic Engaged Encounter in BostonMore information about Declarations of Nullity 4th segment: Father Mark, Father Joe, and Scot discussed the Old Testament and Gospel readings for this upcoming Sunday. Old Testament (First Reading) for Trinity Sunday (Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9)Early in the morning Moses went up to Mount SinaiAs the LORD had commanded him,taking along the two stone tablets. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses thereand proclaimed his name, "LORD."Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity."Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord,do come along in our company.This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins,and receive us as your own." Gospel reading for Trinity Sunday (John 3:16-18) God so loved the world that he gave his only Son,so that everyone who believes in him might not perishbut might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,but that the world might be saved through him.Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned,because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. Fr. Mark's quote from Romano Guardini's "Prayers from Theology": In Christ, the depth of the hidden life of God is disclosed to us. His being, speaking and doing are completely filled with the reality of the Holy One. But from that reality emerge living figures: the Father in his omnipotence and goodness; the Son in his truth and redeeming love; and between them the selfless, the creating, the Spirit. It is a mystery that passes all understanding; and the danger of objecting to it is great. But I do not want a God who abides by the limits of my own though and how is fashioned after my own depicting. I want the real God, and know that he must exceed the bounds of my thoughts. Therefore I believe in your mystery, living God, and Christ, who cannot lie, bears witness to it. If I wish to share a common intimacy, then I must turn to other people; but, however close we may be, and however deep our love, we are always apart. You, however, find your "other" within yourself. In your own depths you hold eternal converse. In your own richness takes place the everlasting giving and receiving of love. O God, I believe in your triune life. For your sake I believe in it, since this mystery covers your truth. If it is once surrendered, your image fades in the world. But for our sake, too, I believe in it, O God, for the peace of your eternal life must become our dwelling. We are your children, O Father; your brothers and sisters, O Son of God, Jesus Christ; and you, Holy Spirit, are our friend and teacher. That is the eternal life that was ordained for us. Our hope goes out to it. Preserve me, O God, from the light ever being extinguished which shines so distantly and yet with such holiness across to me. Amen.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. **Today's topics:** New vicar general for Boston; St. Cecilia, Boston, controversy; crisis in Fatherhood; Catholic U returns to single-sex dorms **A summary of today's show:** Our usual Thursday panel discusses the Bruins' winning the Stanley Cup; Msgr. Bob Deeley's appointment as vicar general and moderator of the curia; the controversy at St. Cecilia's in Boston and homosexuality; crisis in fatherhood; and single-sex dorms at Catholic U. **1st segment:** Scot admits staying up too late for the Bruins win in the Stanley Cup. He welcomes Fr. Roger Landry, Susan Abbott, and Gregory Tracy to the show. Scot said it's amazing to him that with all the talk of a Patriots dynasty that now they have the longest drought of championships in Boston sports. Fr. Roger said he watched the game with the whole communion of saints. Fr. Roger said Bruins goalie is one of the best athletes to listen to and watch. He's un-cliched, gives everything he's thinking, doesn't say the typical things athletes will. Susan said she had a class in Concord and was convinced no one would show, but people did come. She did ask anyone in the class who could keep up with the score to keep everyone in the loop. The panel reminisced on great moments from the game. Scot is looking forward to the Bruins rolling rally on Saturday and has promised his kids they could go. **2nd segment:** On Tuesday, Cardinal Seán announced that he is naming a new vicar general and moderator of the curia. Msgr. Robert P. Deeley has been serving for the last 7 years in the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Before that he was a pastor in Quincy and judicial vicar for the archdiocese. Our current vicar general, Fr. Richard Erickson, will be granted a sabbatical in Rome, after which he will return to Boston for a new assignment. * [Archdiocesan press release on appointment of new vicar general](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=20726) * [2005 Pilot profile of Msgr. Deeley on his appointment to the Vatican](http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=1757) * [Canon Law Society of America](http://www.clsa.org/) Fr. Roger knows Msgr. Deeley. He first met him many years when the Mass. Catholic Conference brought some priests together for a program to defend marriage against the re-defintions that were being attempted. He was very impressed by his clear thinking, his hard work, and how thoroughly imbued with the teaching of the Church he is. He's also very funny. He also has a skill set for the tasks of vicar general that complements the skill set of the Cardinal. Susan took a semester course in canon law with Msgr. Deeley when she was working in a parish. She echoed Fr. Roger's comments. She's sad to see Fr. Rich leave, but thrilled for his new opportunity. Scot said the appointment of vicar general is a big deal. Gregory said vicar general and moderator of the curia is a long title. Both titles are important. The vicar general is someone empowered by the local bishop, the Ordinary, to fulfill his mandates for a particular purpose. All of the auxiliary bishops are vicars general too. The moderator of the curia oversees the central administration of the archdiocese. He is the real intermediary between the bishop and those who work for him. Scot said he has a personal connection with Msgr. Deeley. The local Serra organization has an Adopt-a-Priest program for families to be assigned priests to pray for every day. The assignments are random and Msgr. Deeley was assigned to Scot's family and they have been praying for him already. Fr. Roger said the vicar general of a large archdiocese like Boston often has to take on more work when the archbishop is asked to do even more work outside the archdiocese by the Pope. It's an important appointment for Cardinal Seán. Msgr. Deeley is past president of the Canon Law Society of America and his work in Rome has been involved with dealing with priests who have abused children. He is a national expert on this matter, which will be very good for Boston which has been dealing with this issue. Fr. Rich Erickson celebrates his 5th anniversary as vicar general and moderator of the curia in Boston today. **3rd segment:** Scot said about a week ago it was learned that there was going to be a Mass at St. Cecilia's parish in Boston to celebrate Gay Pride Month. Cardinal Seán and his team talked to the pastor to ensure that there was no misunderstanding that the Church was promoting Gay Pride. That became a cause celebre in local and national media. * The Pilot's editorial on the St. Cecilia's matter will be available on their site on Friday morning. * ["The Mass That Wasn't," Boston Globe editorial, 6/14/11](http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2011/06/14/the_mass_that_wasnt/) * ["For one priest, the choice is clear," Boston Globe, 6/14/11](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/06/14/priest_defends_inclusion_of_gays_lesbians/) Scot said the Pilot this week will have about the longest editorial ever published in the paper, entitled "A Teachable Moment." Gregory said once the news of the Mass being canceled was made public, there was a lot of confusion over what the Church actually teaches on homosexual inclinations and the promotion of the gay lifestyle. The Church does not discriminate against those with same-sex attraction, and all are welcome in the Church. However, the Church also teaches that while an attraction itself is not sinful, acting on that attraction is. All are called to chastity outside of marriage. Those acts should not be promoted or celebrated outside of the Church. Fr. Roger clarified that it's not just sacramental marriage, but all natural marriages for those who are not baptized Christians too. He was struck by hearing the common refrain that it's "important that others accept me as I am" or that "Jesus would accept me as I am." Jesus made us male and female and who we are as male and female is important. Part of the problem is that for those with same-sex attraction their sexual attraction is often placed at a very high level of their consciousness. It becomes part of their identity. Fr. Roger said when you put out the welcome mat, but don't also present the fullness of the goodness of the Church's teaching is not really presenting the whole truth, the Good News, and being welcoming. We need to have the confidence to be able to say that this particular activity is contrary to your good, contrary to God's plans for you. He also made a distinction between same-sex attraction and the gay culture. Gay means out of the closet. It doesn't mean that the person acknowledges same-sex attraction as disordered. He noted that these gay pride parades include anti-Catholic behavior and simulated sexual acts in a parade on city streets. These can be seen in a simple Google search for photos. Scot countered the Globe's editorial that claimed that Jesus would have held this Mass. He said the common view of love is that soft view of love, not the tough love of discipline, a parent who says no to a child because he loves him and wants what is best for him. Fr. Roger adds that Jesus loved the woman caught in adultery and saved her from stoning, but also told her to sin no more. He also told us that if our hand causes us to sin, to cut it off. He did not shy away from calling us out of sin. Gregory said often the understanding of sin is incomplete. Sin is not just an arbitrary rule that defines something that annoys God. Instead, sin leads to death and destruction and the rules are the way that God tells us of the dangers of sin. Susan said it all goes back to that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Everything God created is good, but when God created man and woman, as male and female, it was "very good." Scot said almost everything you need to know about Church teaching on this issue will be found in the Pilot editorial, available tomorrow. Also, Scot made a commitment that Catholic teaching will always be shared in its fullness on The Good Catholic Life. **4th segment:** In the Anchor this week, the editorial is titled, "Responding to the Crisis in Fatherhood." It links Trinity Sunday with Father's Day and God's fatherhood with human fatherhood. * [Zenit story on Cardinal Ratzinger's address in Palermo, Sicily, on the crisis of fatherhood, 3/15/00](http://www.studiobrien.com/reflections/cardinal-ratzinger-fatherhood-and-apocalypse.html) Fr. Roger said Trinity Sunday often focuses on God the Father's role in the Trinity. Cardinal Ratzinger said in 2000 in Palermo, Sicily, that the crisis of fatherhood is the most important element threatening man in his humanity. Fatherhood is not just a biological act. Fr. Roger often finds that those who come from broken homes often find it difficult to relate to God as Father, which results in many other societal problems. Many sociologists have pointed out the serious consequences of so many kids growing up without children: poverty, violence, teen pregnancy, and more. The Church needs to help fathers recognize the great mission they have. Human fatherhood comes from God the Father. We also have to understand how God relates to Jesus, His Son, and to all His children. 10 points revealed about fatherhood that Jesus reveals to us from God the Father: 1. The Father take delight in His children. 2. The Father loves unconditionally. 3. The Father cares about every one of His children. 4. The Father is generous. 5. The Father is observant. 6. The Father teaches those who are docile. 7. The Father is merciful. 8. The Father disciples out of love. 9. The Father works. 10. The Father wants to share life to the full with His children. The editorial substantiates each one of those points with Scripture. Scot said it's a good list for fathers to look at how well they are doing. Gregory said it took him five kids before he fully understood a father's mission and duty toward his children. Susan noted how poorly fathers are portrayed in the media. She also noted the awesome job that single mothers do. Scot said Jim Stenson, a local Bostonian who often speaks on fatherhood, will be on The Good Catholic Life on Monday to talk about the job description of a Catholic father. Jim Stenson says, Your job as a parent, not just a dad, is to raise an adult, not just a kid. **5th segment:** A few days ago, the president of Catholic University of America, John Garvey, wrote an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, that he would try to address binge drinking and the culture of sexual hookups by going back to single-sex dorms. * ["Why We're Going to Single-Sex Dorms," John Garvey, president of CUA in the Wall Street Journal, 6/13/11](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304432304576369843592242356.html?mod=googlenews_wsj) He acknowledges that it will be financially costly and difficult to re-balance the student body to have enough space for everyone in the available dorm rooms. He said there's a tie between virtue and the intellectual life. Scot was surprised that so many Catholic colleges don't have single-sex dorms, but was also pleasantly surprised by the general acclaim for the idea. Susan noted the statistics in the article that talked about the costs of the current culture, including depression for women who have multiple partners, health issues, and the like. Fr. Roger said those who would be happy about this are college kids who want to drink and hookup. Everyone else should be happy. Quoting Garvey: >My wife and I have sent five children to college and our youngest just graduated. Like many parents, we encouraged them to study hard and spend time in a country where people don't speak English. Like all parents, we worried about the kind of people they would grow up to be. > >We may have been a little unusual in thinking it was the college's responsibility to worry about that too. Fr. Roger hopes many Catholic parents will look to Catholic University now and that other Catholic colleges will follow suit.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Michael Harrington, director of Office of Outreach and Cultural Diversity; Lorna DesRoses, director of Black Catholic Ministries; Maria Bain, station manager of WQOM * [Office of Outreach and Cultural Diversity](http://catholicculturaldiversity.com/) * [Deaf Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston](http://catholicculturaldiversity.com/) * [Catholic Family Festival](http://catholicculturaldiversity.com/catholicfamilyfestival/) **Today's topics:** Office of Outreach and Cultural Diversity; Catholic Family Festival; WQOM updates **A summary of today's show:** Fr. Mike Harrington and Lorna DesRoses tell Scot and Fr. Matt about the cultural diversity of Boston (for example, there are 27 different ethnic groups in the archdiocese; the largest Brazilian community outside Brazil is in Boston) as well as the upcoming Catholic Family Festival on June 25. Marian Bain also updates on the latest news from WQOM. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes back Fr. Mat, who is returning from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, where he was visiting a friend who knew from seminary. He entered more deeply into the Cajun experience. On the last night of his trip, they went out to dinner where he tried turtle soup and fried alligator, all of which he thought was very good. Fr. Matt said the final game of the Stanley Cup is tonight and he has a wager with the head of youth ministry in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Fr. Matt is wagering New England clam chowder and baked beans and they're offering British Columbia smoked salmon and some Canadian bacon. Cardinal Seán and Archbishop Miller also have a wager. Fr. Matt said his friend's child was baptized Sunday on the Feast of Pentecost, which couldn't have been better timing. The night before they went to a Cajun festival with music and dancing. His friend told him about [Charlene Richard](http://www.charlenerichard.net/), who died in 1959 from Leukemia, who is called the Little Cajun saint. She offered all of her suffering for others and was known for being devoted to the Blessed Mother. There have been miracles attributed to prayers said at her tomb. Fr. Matt said they visited the tomb to sing and praise God. As they prayed, a wind kicked up to cool them off the rest of the evening from the 99-degree, 100-percent humidity weather. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mike and Lorna to the show. Scot said the Office of Cultural Diversity is the broadest ministry in the Pastoral Center. Fr. Mike said they do outreach to 27 different ethnic communities throughout the Archdiocese, from very large communities like Brazilians to very small like Japanese and some Middle Eastern. Lorna said Mass is celebrated in more than 25 different languages each Sunday. Fr. Mike started in the office last year and Lorna has worked in the office for 7 years. Scot said there are many ministries in the archdiocese that reach out to people just in English and Fr. Mike's small staff offers the same services to 27 different communities. Fr. Mike said there are rewards and joys in reaching out to these communities, which are not on the fringe, but are at the heart of the life of the Church in this archdiocese. As an example, he works with 16 different Brazilian communities to connect them to marriage prep, youth and young adult events, conferences, sacramental preparations, Masses in their languages, and other ways. On June 25, the Office is hosting the Catholic Family Festival at Malden Catholic High School from noon to 7pm. It will include a cultural gala involving 14 communities performing and singing. There will be time for families to let their kids play in various games. There will be a procession of nations, Mass with Cardinal Seán, and a international food festival. Fr. Mike said the cultural gala will honor Blessed Pope John Paul II through native song and dance from Brazil, Kenya, Vietnam, and all other parts of the world that the Holy Father went out to visit throughout his pontificate. Lorna points out that the next day is the Feast of Corpus Christi in which we are One Body. Scot said in his parish where he grew up in Lowell, it was mostly French Canadian with a few Irish. He went back a few years ago to a reunion and there's now an African community which brought new life and amazing music and joy. It's all very Catholic but different from what he's used to. Fr. Mike said seeing this vitality in worship is new to him and exciting. Lorna said it's wonderful to worship with, say, the Kenyan community praying in Swahili. At the food festival, some of the food will include Korean barbecue, Haitian yellow cake, East African chapati bread, Brazilian fish stew, and much more. For those who find it too adventurous, they will also have some hamburgers and hot dogs. **3rd segment:** Scot said there is no cost to attend the festival. Fr. Mike said there is a suggested donation of $10 for individual, $20 for families, but it is absolutely free. This is made possible because of Malden Catholic High School's generosity in donating the facility. This is the first Catholic family festival that is designed to reach out to culturally diverse families. There are many young people in these communities, which makes Fr. Mike particularly excited. Fr. Matt asked Fr. Mike why he has a passion for family festivals. When he first got involved in 2005, the Archdiocese was in a difficult time. At the time he was a state chaplain to the Mass. Knights of Columbus, and he wanted to do something for families. With the Men's and Women's Conferences starting at the same time, this was good news building up the Church in Boston. Many people said it was the first time they could go to a Catholic event as a family. Over the years, he's seen the fruits in people becoming more involved in their parishes. He hopes that ethnic groups will feel a greater part of the Archdiocese. Scot noted that many adults get energized by seeing young Catholics getting involved and having hope in the Church. Fr. Mike said a few years ago they had a relic of St. Paul at the festival and many young people prayed before it. A woman said to Fr. Mike she was very moved to see young people the age of her grandkids praying. There will be a youth festival after the family day and they will ask all youth and the young at heart to stay to pray and sing together. Scot said the cultural diversity will be akin to what Fr. Matt will see at World Youth in Madrid this summer. Fr. Mike said he's been to five World Youth Days and he's slept in many fields. Fr. Mike's been reviewing many videos of John Paul at WYD and seeing the energy and vitality. Part of what he wants to do is bring that energy and vitality to the archdiocese. Fr. Matt asked Fr. Mike and Lorna what's the recipe for finding all these faith-filled Catholics in these communities. Lorna said there are some commonalities in these various communities. She sees families bringing their children to Mass with them, passing on their faith. The young adults want to be part of their community. Fr. Mike said he sees a real desire to experience the love of God. The importance is presence. Often it took visiting the communities four or five times to really enter into and become part of these communities. The Mass with Cardinal Seán will be in English, but different choirs will sing in difference languages. There will a procession of the nations leading into the Mass, each group carrying an image of the Blessed Mother that is special to each community. A bishop from Uganda will be there. There will be 30-35 priests of various communities present and all priests are welcome. Fr. Mike said they can accommodate more than 1,100 people at the Mass. **4th segment:** Scot asked Lorna about some of the larger communities they serve. The largest community is the Brazilian, with 16 parishes where they worship. Vietnamese is another large community with 11 parishes. There are eight parishes with Haitian communities. She said the second language within the Archdiocese is not Spanish, but Portuguese, even though 36 parishes have Spanish Masses. Boston has the largest community of Brazilians outside of Brazil in the world. It is the same for Uganda and Cape Verde. Fr. Mike said communities have emerged here because those of their own community have found work and a welcome in the faith. Fr. Matt asked how many Portuguese-speaking priests we have in the archdiocese. Fr. Mike said there aren't enough priests who speak the language and they often have priests from Brazil, the Azores, and Portugal to help make up the gap. There are three seminarians who are Brazilian as well. The communities love Cardinal Seán and it's mutual. He comes alive around them. He speaks seven languages and speaks to many of them in their own language. Some have told Fr. Mike that they owe the life of their community to Cardinal Seán. Lorna said the Haitian Creole community in Boston is the third-largest outside of Haiti (Miami is #1 and New York is #2). They have been present here since the 1970s. The largest community is at St. Angela's in Mattapan and also at Brockton's Christ the King. The communities are found throughout the archdiocese. Fr. Mike said he is tremendously excited by these burgeoning communities. Any given Sunday at these communities the churches are packed to overflowing. Every Sunday is like Easter. **5th segment:** It’s time to announce the winner of the weekly **WQOM Benefactor Raffle**. Our prize this week is a copy of the book [Saints of the Bible: Exploring Scripture with Holy Men and Women](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1592763170/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1592763170), by Theresa Doyle-Nelson. This inspirational collection of 48 Biblical personalities recognized as saints by the Church includes both the famous and less well-known. Each entry features the saint's feast day and patronage, a key Scripture, reflection, and additional Scripture verses. This week’s winner is **Casey Curtin from Waltham, Mass**. Congratulations Casey! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit [WQOM.org](http://www.wqom.org). For a one-time $30 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. Scot welcomes Maria Bain back to the program. She says she's met many wonderful Catholics in Boston during her various parish presentations throughout the Archdiocese. Scot said many of us hear great responses from listeners about the value of Catholic radio in Boston. Maria said many listeners call the station to ask questions and to thank them. She shared a letter from a listener who thanked the station for changing their lives, bringing her family back to God. Scot said the voice mail at The Good Catholic Life also receives calls from listeners who want to express their joy at having the show. 617-410-6277. Scot said one of the testimonials we have heard is from Jack Shaughnessy, who has been a very big supporter of the Church's work in the Archdiocese of Boston. Fr. Matt said we have to be out there making the message of the Gospel heard to give people an opportunity to receive the gift of faith. This is an opportunity to proclaim friendship with Jesus and the joy of faith. Scot asked Maria how the spring fund drive went. The goal was $300,000. Right now they're still show about $70,000. To donate, go to WQOM.org or contact Maria directly for a pledge or donation. Scot often points out to people that the Archdiocese does not own WQOM nor does it fund the station. The Station of the Cross is a private ministry based in upstate New York that took the risk to start a station in Boston at Cardinal Seán's invitation. They are 100% donor funded. Maria has been traveling all over the Archdiocese to present at parishes. She thanks everyone who has welcomed WQOM. If a listener wants her to present at their parish, please give her a call. She relies on the invitation of the pastor, so a parishioner would work with the pastor to bring Maria to the parish. * Maria J. Bain, Station Manager, 617-916-5531, [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) Maria said the station is also looking for the donation of about 1,200 square feet of office space a little closer to Boston than their current location in Framingham. Anyone who has a lead on some space, should contact Maria.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry andFr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Deacon Jim Greer, Director of Health Care Ministry and Director of Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese of Boston * [Health Care Ministry](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/HealthCareMinistry.aspx) * [Prison Ministry](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/PrisonMinistry.aspx) * ["'You are not forgotten'; Behind bars, a cardinal's quiet prison ministry," Boston Globe (12/26/10)](http://articles.boston.com/2010-12-26/news/29324428_1_prison-joseph-druce-chaplain) * ["Responsibility, Rehabilitation, and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Crime and Criminal Justice," USCCB, 11/15/00](http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/criminal.shtml) **Today's topics:** Prison ministry and healthcare ministry; Important announcement for the Archdiocese **A summary of today's show:** Deacon Jim Greer talks to Scot and Fr. Chris about healthcare ministry and prison ministry within the Archdiocese and their vital roles in fulfilling the corporal works of mercy. Both professional chaplains and volunteers are needed for these important ministries. Also, an announcement today about Cardinal Seán's appointment of a new vicar general for the Archdiocese. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes all to the show and wishes everyone a happy Flag Day. He welcomes back Fr. Chris. Cardinal Seán made an announcement today that Msgr. Robert Deeley will become vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Archdiocese in September. He has been assigned to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 2004. He served directly under Cardinal Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict XVI. He's been a pastor in Boston and was previously judicial vicar for the Archdiocese and president of the Canon Law Society of America. * [Cardinal Appoints Rev. Monsignor Robert P. Deeley as next Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/WorkArea/linkit.aspx?LinkIdentifier=id&ItemID=20726) * Fr. Richard Erickson has served as vicar general for five years. He received a three-minute standing ovation from the staff today. Prior to this post, he was an Air Force chaplain. Cardinal Seán had asked him to return home to this challenging job. Today's guest, Deacon Jim Greer, says he has not worked closely with Fr. Rich but that they are close because of their shared military background. Fr. Chris said the Archbishop is the Chief Executive Officer and the vicar general is the Chief Operating Officer, who is responsible for how the CEO's vision is implemented. Or from the political viewpoint, he would be the vice president. In any case, he's involved with the nitty-gritty day-to-day running of the archdiocese. He ensures the Cardinal's pastoral plan is implemented. Msgr. Deeley is both vicar general--which means he has the authority to work on behalf of the Cardinal in his name--and he's the moderator of the curia--which means that he coordinates all the departments of the archdiocese's various ministries. Fr. Rich will be going on sabbatical for three months in Rome at the Institute for Continuing Theological Studies at the Pontifical North American College followed by a new assignment in Boston. **2nd segment:** Scot again welcomes Deacon Jim to the show. He asked about how he came to be a permanent deacon. Jim grew up in an Irish-Catholic family with a priest uncle. After high school, he went to the Coast Guard where he slipped away from the faith. After 10- years, he met his wife, who slowly brought him back to the Church. He remembers a mandatory meeting for his son's First Communion, where the priest said if you don't go to Church, how do you expect them to know the faith? That convicted him and he started going back to church. They moved to their present parish, where he became involved. He made a Cursillo weekend, which opened his eyes to serving God. He responded to a bulletin notice about looking into the permanent diaconate. He felt God calling him and his pastor told him to explore the movement of the Holy Spirit. He was ordained in 2006. Deacon Jim said his Cursillo was not like other people's experience. He was on a confirmation retreat a month or two earlier where he had an experience of the Spirit, but didn't understand it until he went on the Cursillo weekend and it became clear to him. He said he was scared to death of the diaconate coursework. He has an undergrad in health care administration, but didn't feel like a good student. He said he wasn't sure he was called to the diaconate right up until Cardinal Sean placed his hands on his head and called down the Holy Spirit on him in ordination. Fr. Chris asked him about the distinction between permanent diaconate and transitional diaconate. Transitional is first set of Holy Orders en route to the priesthood. Permanent deacons are usually married and are not going to become priests. They are able to provide some of the sacraments: baptism, assisting at the altar and preaching, and marriage. The unique aspect of the diaconate, Fr. Chris said, that if his wife were to die, he would remain unmarried after. Fr. Chris said permanent deacons provide a different perspective in the parish and that as we have fewer priests for the people to hear a different homilist at Mass. The restoration of the permanent diaconate is a fruit of the Second Vatican Council. We have several hundred permanent deacons in the archdiocese. Deacon Jim assists at Mass at the Bethany Chapel of the Pastoral Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with many different priests celebrating. Scot asked him what it's like to sing as part of his ministry. Singing the Exsultet at Easter has given him a confidence in singing the chants at Mass. When you sing, you are praying twice. Scot said it should encourage others to hear how everyone can sing, no matter how their voice sounds. **3rd segment:** Deacon Jim first came to work at the Pastoral Center as director of health care ministry. Prior to that he'd worked at Mass. General for about 11 years in administration. He's been able to combine that with his ordained ministry. He said there are 33 chaplains who report directly to the archdiocese with 72 healthcare facilities. The Archdiocese staffs 25 and 25 hire their own. The rest have parish support. There are 4 or 5 priests, 1 deacon, 4 or 5 religious, and the rest are lay members who are board-certified through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. Every healthcare institution is different, but most chaplains spend their time in prayer or in the presence of those who are sick and in end-of-life issues. They do a lot of ministry with family members, dealing with end-of-life. they do a lot of ministry with the staff, dealing with the trauma they see on the regular basis. Just their presence can bring a calming effect to everyone. Fr. Chris said one of the principal benefits of the priest is the sacrament of the sick. He encourages everyone listening that at any point in sickness is a good time to invite a priest for the sacrament, not to wait just until the end. Deacon Jim said a lot of older people still think of the sacrament as something just for those about to die. But we should take advantage of the healing presence of the Holy Spirit as soon as possible. The chaplains hired by the Archdiocese are in secular hospitals. The Catholic hospitals hire their own. In some hospitals, there are chaplains of multiple faiths and in others the chaplain ministers to all. Deacon Jim said his philosophy is to minister to all of God's people. Scot asked about the formation program. They want to have board-certified chaplains, which means they have to have a Master's degree in theology and four units of clinical pastoral education. One unit is 400 hours working in a facility in bedside ministry, narratives, and more to look at oneself in order to be present to others. They do their studies in many places: Master of Arts in Ministry, Boston College, Boston University, and others. To find out more information about becoming a professional chaplain, go to the [National Association of Catholic Chaplains](http://www.nacc.org/) website. In addition to professional chaplaincy, Deacon Jim thinks parishes should have a ministry to the homebound, to nursing homes, and to assist chaplains in hospitals. They do workshops for parishes around the archdiocese to train people to bring the Eucharist to the homebound. Fr. Chris said seminarians work in several of the hospitals where they encounter people of many faiths and none at all and they get into beautiful conversations as people wrestle with questions of life and death. **4th segment:** He added the coordination of the prison ministry in the archdiocese to his job coordinating health care ministry. During his diaconal formation, he did a summer internship. He begged not to be put into prison ministry because he was scared. He preferred hospitals, especially since he already worked there. When the director of prison ministry, he was asked to look into the needs of the ministry. The first time he went into prison, he was assisting at Mass and the inmates singing sounded like angels singing. It was a beautiful Mass. Then he talked to them and learned that they were not different from him and brought a new appreciation for dignity of the human person. It opened his eyes to a new ministry. Fr. Chris works in prison ministry. His prior pastor, Fr. Tom Conway, was director of prison ministry and he encouraged him to become involved. He was inspired by the prisoners at Walpole prison and meeting men who still treasured rosaries they received from Mother Teresa when she visited them in the prison when she was in Boston. Christ came not for the healthy but for sinners and he sees that there but for the grace of God go I. These are our brothers and sisters. Scot recalled Matthew 25, where Christ called us to visit the imprisoned as a work of mercy by which we will be judged at our last judgment. Deacon Jim said it's amazing to see the faith of the men, to see them receive the Eucharist while in tears. He remembers men crying as they were confirmed by Cardinal Seán and could see they understood what they were undertaking. They know their faith and they take it seriously. Fr. Chris said this radio program and this station is an incredible asset to them. Deacon Jim said the prisons are broken down into 15 state prisons and 7 county jails. There are four or five open positions at the state prisons and none at the county. The prison chaplains are hired by the state or county, so their jobs are mandated by their requirements: AA programs, bible studies, sacramental needs, bringing in priests for Mass, and coordinating volunteers. Without the volunteers, there's no way one person could touch all the people who need to be touched. The volunteers run RCIA programs, Bible studies, or just come to be present with the inmates. Many Catholic colleges have faculty who go into the prisons to teach theology courses and other degree programs. There's a lot that inmates can do to turn their lives around. We're all sinners, although theirs might be public. There is a great desire for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Fr. Chris said society has to get a handle on the drug and alcohol problems that bring men and women to do awful things. When the family breaks down, that's when society breaks down. Scot said prison ministry helps a chaplain get over the stigma of the ex-con. How do we as a Church not stigmatize someone who's made a mistake? Deacon Jim said we have to recognize that these are human beings. They are our brothers and sisters and to understand this, we can volunteer to get to know them. Even just writing letters to inmates helps because some of them have no family. For someone who wants to get involved in a letter ministry, they can contact Deacon Jim and he will coordinate with the various chaplains. Deacon Jim has visited prisons with Cardinal Seán. The cardinal's first ministry was prison ministry and he has a love for the inmates. Part of it is the recognition of the breakdown of family and other social issues. When he walks into the institution, a sense of calm falls. The men and women are thrilled to see him. He'll visit inmates who are in solitary confinement to reassure them of the love that God has for them. The chaplains all report that when he comes he brings out the love of people. They see how he interacts with people with love and inspires others to do the same. He always reminds prisoners that they are part of us, part of the body of Christ. * [Cardinal Seán's blog entry from June 2010 with photos of his visit to MCI Norfolk](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/06/25/closing-the-year-for-priests/) * [Cardinal Seán's blog entry from July 2007 with photos of his visit to Old Colony Correctional Center](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2007/07/20/) * [Cardinal Seán's blog entry from January 2011 from his visit to Old Colony Correctional Center](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2011/01/28/marching-for-life-2/) * [Cardinal Seán's blog entry from December 2006 with photos of his visit to MCI Framingham](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2006/12/22/leading-up-to-christmas/) * [Cardinal Seán's blog entry from December 2010 with photos of his to MCI Framingham](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/12/24/) Deacon Jim said it's amazing to see how much the inmates are moved that someone cares enough to come into the prison just to say hello and to share the love of Christ with them.

Today's show notes are abbreviated due to a family emergency of our webmaster. Please keep him and his family in your prayers. Today’s host(s): Scot Landry Today’s guest(s): Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston; Fr. Stephen Rock, Pastor of St Agnes Parish in Reading Today’s topics: Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter, entitled "A New Pentecost: Inviting All to Follow Jesus." A summary of today’s show: Scot Landry, His Eminence Cardinal Seán O'Malley, Father Stephen Rock, and Janet Benestad discuss the pastoral letter released yesterday for Pentecost. The letter addresses what Cardinal Seán 1st Segment: Scot reminded listeners that today is the feast day of St Anthony of Padua, the patron saint of lost items, and wished a happy feast day to all St. Anthony of Padua parishes. Cardinal Seán's pastoral letter, released yesterday on Pentecost Sunday, begins by highlighting that Pentecost is known as the "birthday of the Church" because it was the day that the early followers of Jesus began to proclaim the Gospel, fulfilling Jesus' command to go forth and baptize all nations. Scot explained that a pastoral letter is a method for bishops to guide those in their diocese in aspects of Catholic teaching, worship, or social concerns. Bishops have three responsibilities - to teach, sanctify, and govern the diocese. Issuing a pastoral letter is an important way for bishops to teach their clergy, religious, and lay people in the diocese. Cardinal Seán has written more than a dozen pastoral letters, and this is his first since 2005, and the first he has written translated into multiple languages. 2nd Segment: Cardinal Seán joined Scot via the phone to speak about his pastoral letter. Cardinal Seán said he wanted to write a pastoral letter on evangelization because it is the chief mission of the Church - and to make it clear that the Catholics Come Home initiative was about more than the television advertisements, it is about a continuing campaign to invite people to answer the call to discipleship in the Church. Scot and Cardinal Seán discussed various passages from the letter, including an analogy of a cancer researcher who would feel obligated to share a cure he found - we too should feel obligated to share the best thing we have, our relationship with Jesus, with our neighbors. Pentecost is a good time to speak about evangelization because it was the beginning of the spread of the Good News of Jesus, Cardinal Seán said, and the beginning of the mission of the Church to spread the Gospel. At this time in the Church year, we should remember that Pentecost is where this all began, and that we continue the mission to spread the faith to the next generation of Catholics. Cardinal Seán quoted Pope Paul VI, that the activities of the Church are to announce the kingdom and to invite people to follow the Lord - therefore what we do and say must be part of the work of evangelization. 3rd Segment: Scot started by highlighting that the third section of Cardinal Seán's letter says evangelization starts with each Catholic's ongoing conversion. Janet explained that we can only share what we have received - we must know Jesus to be able to share His love with others. Scot emphasized that Pentecost is not a historical event, it is today - just as Jesus is not just a historical figure, He lives with us today. Father Rock explained the process of the Envision program at St. Agnes parish in Reading. His parish has come together to grow in faith and make a plan of how they will evangelize their community as Catholics. Janet added that the Cardinal asked in his letter for us to focus both on Corporal and Spiritual works of mercy in our evangelization work - using the Latin phrase cur animarum, meaning "care of the soul." 4th Segment: Scot explained that section 6 of the pastoral letter focuses on the parish as the chief venue of evangelization. The parish is the place where most Catholics experience the Church, and has the same duty as the universal Church. Father Rock explained that sometimes we tend to become congregationalist - only seeing the Church as who is in our Catholic community in our local parish. We need to remember that we are here for the whole Church as a universal body. Father Rock said that all it takes to start a new mission in the parish is a few parishioners having a common goal and asking the pastor for his blessing.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Fr. John Sheridan, pastor of St. James and St. Thomas the Apostle parishes in Salem **Today's topics:** Fr. John Sheridan, the parishes he leads in Salem and Peabody; the Mass readings for Pentecost Sunday **A summary of today's show:** Fr. John Sheridan joined Scot and Fr. Mark to talk about his journey to the priesthood and the experience of being pastor of two very different parishes in Salem as well helping another parish with a merger. Also, they discussed the Mass readings for Pentecost and a very special saint of the day for Scot. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mark back to the show. Fr. Mark said this week he was excited to be part of the opening of the cause for canonization of Fr. Joseph Muzquiz. His role in this process is vice-chancellor and he notarizes documents for the Archdiocese. He signs many different documents, and this particular day he was the notary for that meeting. He received the Acts, signed them, sealed them, and handed them. Scot said it's must be special to be with a group of people who all knew and lived with someone who may be a saint. Fr. Mark said there were a lot of saintly people in that room as well. Scot welcomes Fr. John Sheridan to the show. Both Fr. John and Fr. Mark attended the clergy convocation yesterday, a gathering of the priests of the archdiocese. Fr. John said it's great to be with so many priests. It was like being at Chrism Mass. It's unusual for all of them to be together and share their stories. It is unusual to gather so many priests from the geographically diverse archdiocese. This meeting was about the new translation of the Mass that will go into effect this Advent. Fr. Mark said Msgr. Jim Moroney is one of the Church's experts on liturgy and he spoke about the Missal. The priests at Fr. Mark's table at the convocation agreed within the first 30-seconds of his talk that this was going to be good. Msgr. Moroney is working on a new series for CatholicTV on the Mass. Fr. Mark asked Scot to have Fr. John on the how during the Stanley Cup finals because he is the biggest Bruins fan. He predicts that the Bruins will win, that they have momentum on their side, and that they have woken up since game 3. Scot said June 10 is his favorite saint's day of the year. He asked Fr. Mark and Fr. John what the special saint of the day is. He said there isn't a St. Scot, but there is a St. Landry, whose feast if June 10. He was a bishop of Paris in the 17th century. There is also a Landry Parish (county) in Louisiana and there is a St. Landry Parish in Opelousas. * [St. Landry of Paris](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landry_of_Paris) * [St. Landry Catholic Church, Opelousas, LA](http://www.stlandrycatholicchurch.org/) **2nd segment:** Fr. John is pastor of two parishes in Salem. Scot asked him what led him to first hear the call and to respond by entering the seminary. Fr. John said he grew up in Newton in a large family with 4 brothers and 4 sisters. He was the eighth of the nine. His parents were extraordinary. He has 19 nieces and nephews and 1 great-niece and 1 great-nephew. Their Catholic faith was part of their everyday life, not just for Sundays. His brothers and sisters are very active in their parishes and active in helping their children to understand what they believe. He was an altar server at his parish Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls. Fr. Bob Connors was a great influence on him. He was struck by the examnples of the laypeople in his parish, who encouraged him to look at his faith as something that is ingrained in everything you do. That's what inspired him to look at his life and see what he could do. Pope John Paul II's visit to Boston in 1979 was the first nudge for him. The Pope's words were written on his heart, especially the call that whatever you do with your life, do something extraordinary. He'd wanted to be a sportswriter before. He says that God didn't take away his calling, just made it bigger. He went to St. Clements Hall at St. John's Seminary College in 1982. Fr. Mark and Fr. John are classmates, but Fr. Mark went to Boston College. When they first met Fr. Mark was struck by Fr. John's joy and passion. He's been ordained for 20 years. He's had many assignments: St. Joseph, Salem; St. Ann, Neponset; Marian High School, Framingham; St. Cecilia, Ashland; St. Matthew, Dorchester; St. Thomas Aquinas, Jamaica Plain; St. Benedict, Somerville; St. James, Salem; St. Thomas the Apostle, Peabody. The Salem-Peabody town line splits St. Thomas church right down the middle. Peabody residents sit on one side and Salem residents on the Salem side. * [St. James Parish, Salem](http://stjamessalem.homestead.com/) * [St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Salem](http://www.saintthomasparish.net/) Among the joys of his priesthood are the devotion that people have. This is a great time of year for First Communion and Confirmation and he loves to see the look in the eyes of the parents as they see their children receive their sacraments. He has a number of priests who live in his parish rectory, including a hospital chaplain, a senior priest, and a Nigerian priest. Fr. Mark and Fr. John talked about the joy of the priesthood to see the happy kids and be around families. Fr. John said the greatest honor he could ever have is the trust that parents give. He has worked closely with parents in all his assignments. He is pastor of St. James and St. Thomas at the same time. Scot asked him if he feels stretched between the parishes. He said he's grateful for the patience of both parishes. They are less than a mile apart, but very different. St. James is an enormous church and campus, while St. Thomas is small and picturesque. The priests who work with him is an enormous help. Each parish has its own personality and joys and challenges and driving between them helps him to adapt for the parish. Some days he feels very stretched, but other days he's just delighted. St. James also welcomed the community of people who used to be in the parish of St. Joseph in Salem that was closed. He worked for six years at St. Joseph many years ago and when he came to St. James, many of the staff from St. Joseph and people who worked at the parish now work at St. James. Parishioners brought the crucifix from St. Joseph to St. James after St. Joseph closed and on the way over the corpus broke in several places. They put the cross in St. James with the broken corpus to symbolize that they are a broken people and that Christ will heal them. A talented artist put the corpus back together and they placed the crucifix in St. James again to symbolize how the parishes have joined to become one community. * [Photos and story about the crucifix](http://stjamessalem.homestead.com/Crucifix.html) **3rd segment:** Fr. John has had many assignments helping people deal with and adjust to changes. Scot was struck by the different cultures at St. James and St. Thomas and instead of making them similar to make it easier for Fr. John, he adapts himself to each of the parishes. He thought it significant as a way to help parishes deal with change. He works with an extraordinary staff in the parishes. He relies on them for their experience of the communities and their vision for their parishes. The two parishes have different perspectives, understandings, liturgies, even though they are so close. Fr. Mark said some people say that when merging parishes there should be a new pastor, but in his case, he was a familiar presence for the parishes. Fr. John believes the Holy Spirit led him back to Salem. Much of the good from the merger was due to Fr. Larry Rondeau, who had been pastor of St. Joseph's for 24 years. He was willing to let go and let his former parochial vicar run everything. He said Fr. Anselm Nwagbara is from Nigeria and is an extremely holy priest. Fr. Louis Bourgeois is a senior priest who was former pastor of St. Ann in Salem, so people know him as well. Fr. Mark asked Fr. John how he keeps St. Thomas parish from feeling like the minor parish or an afterthought. He builds on what was already there, built up by those who were there before him. He told the staff that he wasn't there to change anything, but to build from where they were at that time. It's the pastor's job is to make sure that the job of the pastor who comes after is easy. He said the people of the parishes have many ministries and people have a remarkable sense of mission. At St. James the focus is on religious education and at St. Thomas the focus is on service. Fr. John had the unfortunate duty to close St. Joseph School at St. James. It was a difficult time, but they got through it by understanding that they were all sad about it like a death in the family, but the family remains. Fr. John said Salem was one of the centers of the abuse crisis and St. James was the bullseye. A filmmaker did a documentary on the abuse that took place there. He went to the opening of the film because he had been personally invited by the filmmaker, but not face to face. He was not the only priest there. It was difficult for him to watch. After the film, there was a question and answer period with the producer and director. The producer claimed that the pastor had been invited but did not show up, but Fr. John stood up and was willing to be recognized as such. Scot said the Church can never forget about the abuse crisis and continually learn from it and continually reach out to victims and their families. It's never going to go away, so we have to lead people through it. **4th segment:** * [First reading for Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2:1-11)](http://www.usccb.org/nab/061211b.shtml#reading1) >When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. > Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, “Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” * [Gospel reading for Pentecost Sunday (John 20:19-23)](http://www.usccb.org/nab/061211b.shtml#gospel) >On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Pentecost is one of the central feast of the Church year. The Apostles, who had been confused and fearful, were empowered with the Holy Spirit to go out and proclaim the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. Fr. John said this Sunday is one his favorite celebrations. People are making all kinds of new beginnings, new possibilities, new opportunities at this time of year. Fr. John recalls that on the feast of the Ascension was the big storm that brought tornadoes to western Mass., and so many went from looking to the sky to rush to help out those stricken by the weather. * [Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Evangelization: "The New Pentecost"](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/PentecostLetter) Fr. Mark said he got his first look at Cardinal Sean's new pastoral letter called "The New Pentecost": >Pentecost is born out of an intense experience of prayer in union with Mary and with Peter. The experience of Pentecost is one of unity and joy that transcends all ethnic and linguistic differences and is an expression of God’s universal love. He was struck by that first sentence. He'd always thought of Pentecost as something God does, but he thinks now about how Peter and the Apotles prepared for the Holy Spirit with intense prayer. Fr. John makes a connection between the tongues of fire with the fire of the Easter vigil. It is the light given to us at our baptism and we are called to spread that light to others. Fr. Mark said it is something tangible, something you feel. We have to be the new Pentecost, we have to be the new apostles through real, tangible love and feeling, through smells and hearing. We have to use all of these tools to spread the light of Christ. We don't go alone. Whatever good we're able to do is done through grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Cardinal Seán also makes a distinction between evangelization and proselytization.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Susan Abbott **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Roger Landry, executive editor of The Anchor, the newspaper of the Fall River diocese; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of The Pilot, the newspaper of the Boston archdiocese * [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org) * [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com) * Some of the stories discussed on this show will be available on The Pilot's and The Anchor's websites on Friday morning. Please check those sites for the latest links. **Today's topics:** Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Evangelization, tornado in Springfield, new cause of canonization in Boston, US bishops on assisted suicide **A summary of today's show:** **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Susan back to show. Susan said she's just back from the Sacred Hearts Retreat House in Wareham where she met with New England regional diocesan catechetical directors in a day of reflection. Scot said the Pastoral Center has been busy today because the convocation of the archdiocese's priests has been taking place nearby at Lombardo's in Randolph. Fr. James Moroney addressed them on the changes to the Roman Missal that are coming this Advent. Videos of recent workshops on the changes coming to the Liturgy are available on the archdiocese's website. * [The New Roman Missal at BostonCatholic.org](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/newromanmissal.aspx) **2nd segment:** Scot begins by talking about the Cardinal's new pastoral letter called "The New Pentecost." He asked Fr. Landry to explain pastoral letters. It is meant to help Catholics to approach an issue from the perspective of the Catholic faith. It's a study by the author on a theme that he believes those to whom he's writing it need to react and respond to. This pastoral letter is a response of Cardinal Seán to starting in 1992, Pope John Paul II began calling for a New Evangelization of the Americas on the 500th anniversary of the discovery by European Christians. This calling to a new evangelization is meant to address those 83% of Catholics who don't regularly go to Mass very Sunday as well as those of the other 17% who have not let the Gospel fully impact their lives. Scot asked Gregory what he makes of the Cardinal releasing the document on Pentecost and linking evangelization to Pentecost. The Holy Spirit overshadowed the apostles, converting them from cowering in fear and calling them to go out and proclaim the Good News. We're also called to proclaim the Good News like the apostles did. * [Cardinal Seán's Pastoral Letter on Evangelization](http://www.BostonCatholic.org/Pastoral Letter) (Will be available on Friday, June 10) * ["Church must find more effective ways to evangelize, says pope" CNS, 5/31/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20110531.htm) Susan said that she's this letter as being right up her alley in terms of using in catechesis, formation and religious education and see hiow it's applicable to her ministry. Scot said we're called to evangelize and spread the word to others. He asked Fr. Roger how important it is to make people understand this isn't just the mission of the priests or professional lay ecclesial ministers. Fr. Roger said if we're not bursting forth with the desire to share the Good News with others, we have to wonder if we've fully receive the Gospel and recognize what great news it is. Pope John Paul II said in the encyclical [Mission of the Redeemer](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio_en.html) said 15 times that the work of evangelization is the work of all the disciples of the Lord. Jesus' two great verbs are to "come" to Him, but also to "go" out into the world. Scot said there are 11 sections to the Cardinal's letter. The first one states that Pentecost is the beginning of Evangelization. Then he talks about Catholics Come Home, evangelization as the start of each Catholic's ongoing conversion; evangelization as the primary mission of the Church; the meaning of evangelization; parishes as centers of evangelization; pastoral planning & evangelization; the new Roman Missal as an opportunity for evangelization; new Church movements and communities; immediate steps we can take to evangelize; and Blessed John Paul's oft-stated desire that all may know Jesus. **3rd segment:** Scot recalled the tornadoes in the Springfield diocese last week, the four deaths and more than 200 injuries. The diocese was hit very hard as well. Susan's counterpart, Sister Paul Robelard, said it was just terrifying. The chancery building wasn't damaged, but St. Michael's Resident, a home for retired priests and religious, was damaged. The chapel was ripped out of the middle of the building. The recently restored cathedral high school was also severely damaged. * [Massachusetts diocese seeks prayers, assistance during tornado recovery," The Pilot/CNS, 6/8/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13429) There are many people still without homes and it will be a long time getting back on their feet. Scot said in the weeks prior to that was the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. His children, seeing the news, were very fearful and he assured them that we don't get tornadoes in Massachusetts, and now this happens. It left us all feeling vulnerable. Scot asked Gregory's take as a journalist. Gregory said as terrible as the devastation as the Missouri was, it didn't feel so close to home, but many of us know people in Springfield, and especially with those he works with in the diocese there. As important as reporting what happened is reporting the efforts that the diocese is making to assist those in need. Fr. Roger said people should pray. Bishop McDonnell has asked for prayers those who died in the storm, those who lost homes, those who were injured. These are our neighbors in both a literal sense and in a Gospel sense, so we could assist with monetary donations. But we also need to recall that our lives are a gift of God. It's easy to go about our lives and not recall that this could happen to us at any time. We need to be grateful to the Lord for every day he gives us. We need to respond, not with fear, but with gratitude and trust. Also, be ready, because at any time our death could come. Are we ready to face the Lord in our personal judgment? Bishop McDonnell said Catholic Charities is looking for help with immediate needs for household items, toiletries, baby supplies, and monetary donations. * ["Cause of canonization opens for Opus Dei priest," The Pilot, 6/7/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13423) On June 2 at the Pastoral Center was the opening of the cause of canonization for Fr. Joseph Muzquiz, a priest of Opus Dei, who brought the movement to the United States. Fr. Roger knows Fr. Dave Kavanaugh, the promoter of the cause and priest of OPus Dei. He said Fr. Kavanaugh told him that Fr. Muzquiz was one of the first three Opus Dei priests ordained in Spain the 1940s. St. Josemaria Escriva had asked Fr. Muzquiz to bring Opus Dei to the US. They first went to Chicago and then came to Boston, coming here literally with nothing, trusting in God. Eventually, the movement has flowered in the United States with many beautiful facilities, chapels, and retreat centers. Fr. Muzquiz was known for his incredible peace and heroic virtue. He lived the real message of Opus Dei, to become holy in the midst of your ordinary activities. You don't have to be a martyr or travel to the end of the earth. He died on June 1, 1983. In order to be canonized, you need two miracles, so they have printed up holy cards with prayers so that people can pray for their own needs and those they love. At this stage, he is called Servant of God and they will now investigate whether he lived the theological virtues of faith, hope, and love to a heroic degree. Gregory said this is the first cause that he has experience with that has opened in Boston. The usual practice is that the cause opens in the diocese where the person died. He said though there were about 150 people present, many of whom knew Muzquiz personally, it was a highly canonical proceeding, with the reading of testimony and the signing of documents. There was a great sense of solemnity and it showed that the process of canonization is not just superfluous, but is very rigorous and much attention to detail is paid. Susan said she's only familiar with the archdiocese's connection to the cause for Blessed John Henry Newman, but that was an investigation of a miracle that occurred here, not the opening of the the cause and investigation. Scot said it was interesting to know about the formal roles in the process: the bishop of the diocese, the postulator of the cause (Fr. Kavanaugh), the episcopal delegate (Bishop Allué), the judicial vicar (Fr. Mark O'Connell), the promoter of justice (Fr. Rodney Kopp), and notaries (Fr. Michael Medas and Fr. Dan Harrington). Now the investigation will take testimony from many people and send that along with many other items of documentation to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican for consideration. They will investigate any possible miracle and perhaps make a recommendation to the Holy Father for beatification. Fr. Roger said those looking for miracles are encouraged to go to St. Joseph Cemetery in West Roxbury to pray at the tomb of Fr. Muzquiz for that miracle. **4th segment:** In the Pilot this week is an obituary for Fr. Thomas Keane, former Air Foorce chaplain and Quincy pastor. In The Anchor this week are the obituaries of Fr. Luis Cardoso and Msgr. Edmund Levesque. Msgr Levesque is Fr. Roger's predecessor at St. Anthony's in New Bedford. When Fr. Levesque arrived in the parish in 1990, he decided to renovate the church, which is a massive church. Because he had no money, he did it himself, erecting scaffolding and washing and painting the ceilings, then sanding and repainting the pews. He started to raise money for the school by cooking the dinner at Bingo every week. He died at he was going up the steps of a church to celebrate Mass. Fr. Luis Cardoso was an immigrant from the Azores and spent his whole priesthood in Fall River ministering to Portuguese Catholics. Also this week, both dioceses celebrated the 25th anniversaries of a number of priests. The Boston priests celebrated Mass together at the Pastoral Center on Wednesday. * List of Archdiocese of Boston priests celebrating their Silver Jubilee: * Fr. Russell Best, St. Patrick, Boston * Fr. James Butler, Senior Priest * Fr. Richard Cannon, St. John the Baptist, Quincy * Fr. Thomas Foley, Episcopal Vicar and Secretary for Parish Life and Leadership * Fr. David Michael, St. Joseph, Needham * Fr. William Minigan, St. Joseph, Malden * Fr. Gabriel Lormeus, St. Mary, Lynn * Fr. Janusz Chmielecki, OFM Conv., Our Lady of Czestochowa, Boston * Fr. Gerard McKeon, SJ, Boston College High School * Fr. Joseph O'Keefe, SJ, St. Mary Hall, Boston College * Fr. Jose Ruisanchez, Opus Dei * Fr. Kevin Sepe, St. Francis of Assisi, Braintree * Fr. Mark Mahoney, St. Rose of Lima, Topsfield * Fr. Albert Faretra, St. Joseph, Belmont * Fr. James Doran, OMV, St. Joseph Retreat House, Milton * List of Diocese of Fall River priests celebrating their Silver Jubilee: * Fr. David Andrade * Fr. Freddie Babiczuk, Jr. * Fr. Thomas Frechette * Fr. Maurice Gauvin Jr. * Fr. Timothy P. Reis Susan said she has worked closely with Fr. Foley and Fr. Mahoney in the central ministries and has worked with many of the other priests as well. Moving on to other news, Fr. Roger said the US bishops when they meet in Seattle next week will be discussing assisted suicide and will be giving us a document on it. In Massachusetts, there is a new movement to promote assisted suicide. It comes as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, advocate of assisted suicide and antagonist of the culture of life, has recently died. He said this will be short enough for most people to read and pass along. * ["Bishops' document on assisted suicide will be first by full conference," CNS, 6/2/11](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1102179.htm) * ["Assisted-suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian dies at age 83," The Pilot/CNS, 6/8/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13425) Gregory said The Pilot will have an article about Fr. Frank Pavone's recent visit to Hingham and will summarize his talks on the pro-life cause. Also, Fr. Tad Pacholczyk writes this week on the topic of brain death and how to approach the issue from a Catholic perspective. Susan said she's interested in the article in The Pilot on the workshop that was recently held in North Andover on the changes to the Roman Missal. Scot points out the article in the Pilot on the status of the archdiocese's pastoral planning office. He said Msgr. Will Fay was on The Good Catholic Life yesterday to clarify some of the misreporting on pastoral planning in the media recently. The article has direct quotes from Fr. David Couterier from the archdiocese's pastoral planning office that echo Msgr. Fay's comments yesterday.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Msgr. William Fay, pastor of St. Columbkille Parish, Brighton, and co-chair of the Pastoral Planning Commission * [Archdiocesan Office of Pastoral Planning](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/PastoralPlanning.aspx) * [Consultation on Archdiocesan Strategic Priorities](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Offices-And-Services/Office-Detail.aspx?id=16454&pid=1448) * ["Committee to look at future of parishes," The Pilot, 2/11/11](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=12935) * ["Boston Archdiocese considers major reshuffling of parishes," Associated Press, 6/3/11](http://www.patriotledger.com/topstories/x2006832163/Boston-Archdiocese-is-looking-at-a-major-reshuffling-of-parishes) **Today's topics:** The work of the Archdiocese of Boston's pastoral planning commission **A summary of today's show:** Msgr. William Fay updates Scot on the work of the archdiocesan pastoral planning commission, the consultations they're making on the state of the archdiocese today, and what shape their future discussions may take. They also debunk some of the inaccurate representations of their work that have appeared in some media reports. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes all back to the show. He said in every organization, every one gives their input and the leaders makes choices on how to use the resources available. One of Cardinal Seán's efforts over the past few years has been getting the key stakeholders in the archdiocese to answer the question how we can ensure the archdiocese is in good shape in the future. This year, Cardinal Seán appointed Msgr. William Fay and Deacon Chuck Clough to co-chairs of a pastoral planning commission. One the phone is Msgr. Fay. Scot asked him about his path since ordination 27 years ago. Msgr. Fay said he was inspired by a bumber of holy priests. He was born at St. Theresa's in West Roxbury. His first priestly assignment was St. Rita's in Haverhill. He did graduate studies in Washington, DC, and then taught for 14 years at the seminary. In 1995, he was asked to go back to DC to serve at the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, eventually as general secretary. He has been pastor at St. Columbkille since 2006. Scot asked him what the general secretary of the USCCB does. Msgr. Fay said at the time there 380 people who worked for the US bishops and dozens of committees. Each of those committees had staff members. It was his responsibility to ensure all the staffs were doing what they were supposed to be doing and following the mandates of the committee. Scot said there aren't many priests whose experience gives them a national view of the work of the Church. Msgr. Fay said it was an amazing opportunity for him to see the Church in the US at work in 195 dioceses and eparchies with some 400 bishops, ordinaries, auxiliaries, and retired. Msgr. Fay said St. Columbkille's was founded in 1871, the cornerstone was laid in 1872, and it was built in 3 years. The first wave of immigrants in the parish were Irish. The next wave was Italians from around the town of Monte Cassino. In the 1960s, there was a wave of immigrants from Cuba and there's been a Spanish Mass celebrated every Sunday since that time. St. Columbkille's school has a unique partnership with Boston College. Msgr. Fay's predecessor as pastor worked with BC to show that they not only excel at college-level education, but could also train people to value education at all levels. They formed a corporation called the Partnership School, and this year they have an enrollment of 300 children. When they started in 2006, they had about 200. The children come from Allston and Brighton and many from struggling families. **2nd segment:** Scot said every organization needs a long-term plan. Msgr. Fay said a pastoral plan for a diocese is like a road map set out for itself. It's not just an answer to problems. You set out for yourself what the purpose and goal of an organization is. For the Church, it's obviously bringing people to communion with Christ. Scot said this commission builds on the work of a pastoral planning committee that met 2005-2007 and the archdiocesan pastoral planning office. Msgr. Fay said there was a synod in Archdiocese in 1988 that created a new pastoral plan. Re-examining that plan hadn't been done since then. When the archdiocese was re-organized in 2004 it became clear that we needed to do that. The committee led by Fr. George Evans made it clear we hadn't been as attentive to planning as we should have been. They laid out the challenges the archdiocese will face and said we need ed to get actively planning in a conscious way. Scot said the Evans committee said that too often in the Church we focus on the here-and-now, instead of putting ourselves in a better position years now as well as focusing on the true mission of the Church. Msgr. Fay said the Evans committee gave the impetus to the reinvigoration of the pastoral planning office, which took a snapshot of what's going on in the archdiocese and started to structure a response to the challenges we face. At a particular place in the process, the Cardinal asked how to take those to the next level and the pastoral planning commission was formed on February 2. Msgr. Fay said the commission includes a mixture of priests, laity, and a religious woman. While the group was familiar with each other, they didn't know each very well, but they have come together and mix well to draw the best out of one another and move forward with a concrete set of recommendations to the Cardinal. Scot said when he was the list, he knew the priests were leaders and the other members were also very strong personalities with different perspectives. He thought that if this committee could come together with a recommendation, then he'd be convinced that this was a recommendation that could be implemented well. Msgr. Fay said the people have a sense that they working for something bigger than themselves. Msgr. Fay said Cardinal Seán asked them to take stock of the resources of the archdiocese, to look at the near and far-term challenges, and put forward recommendations how the resources should be allocated so that more people will drawn into the life of Christ. Scot said it's not just financial resources, but particularly the human resources. Msgr. Fay said back in the 1950s and 60s, we had a Catholic population of 1.8 to 2 million people, 70% of whom were active. This past October, that percentage dropped to 17%. Close to 40% of parishes are struggling financially because they don't have the number of people coming and supporting the parish. There are fewer priests today than we had 40 years ago. Part of the work of planning is not just allocating resources, but proactively strengthening them, like actively bringing people back to the practice of faith, to bring young men to the priesthood. Scot said God isn't calling fewer men to priesthood, fewer men and women to religious life, or fewer men and women to married life; it's just the response is not what it used to be. Msgr. Fay said the model of vocations the Lord used was to go out, recognize who He needed, and tell them, "Follow me." Perhaps we need to go back to that model, "The Church needs you. Come and sacrifice." He suggests going to young men in high school and college and asking them to pray for 30 days for God to tell them whether they are called to the priesthood. If we call the wrong man, then six years of formation in seminary will help him discern that call. Scot said the number of priests available in the future is one factor of pastoral planning. Another is Mass attendance. Also many of our churches aren't where people are living and we've built a lot of churches for particular ethnic groups that aren't there any more. There's a need for greater offertory to support parish staffs taking on the duties that in the past would have been done by priests. Msgr. Fay said another is the drawing of the laity into the work of the Church. All of us has a call to holiness and people who are called to marriage or who discern being called in the single state, have to see how they can be engaged in the work of the Church in such a way that mission of Christ is advanced. It's not just a matter of being receptive, but being active in our vocations. Msgr. Fay said a recent challenge is that the number of lay pastoral associates we have today is not increasing as it should. He said the new [TINE](http://www.tine.org) program will strengthen catechesis, but we have to extend it to the whole lay pastoral associate in the Church. **3rd segment:** Scot referred to an Associated Press story last Friday that said the Archdiocese is considering a major re-shuffle. The sense that Scot is that it portrayed the recommendation of the commission is near final, but that isn't true. It's still in the early consultation stage. They've been consulting with the Presbyteral Council and the Cabinet. The commission has been getting a sense of the direction they should move in with a first step. They have been taking great care with the future. They created a working paper for themselves to react to. they're trying to imagine what the whole parochial life will look like. In the past, the archdiocese looked from the parish level, such as how many parishes we need. But now they're looking at the people serving the parishes and look at them as teams. How ought they ensure the parishes have what they need as they are? Scot said he has found in his experience that in this kind of process you need to consult with a wide group of people, which may lead to people disseminating the information without context. One of the ideas in this working paper is to staff 80-120 pastoral service teams who would each serve 204 parishes. Msgr. Fay wants to make clear this is not a recommendation they're making yet, but they're exploring it. Every parish needs a pastor, but how will we have enough pastors for all the parishes we have. There are 291 parishes. Should we have less, based on the number of pastors we will have? Or is it possible for a pastor to be a pastor of 2 or 3 or 4 parishes, supported by a host of people who would be responsible for the parishes. Some of t he team would be parochial vicars or retired priests or religious or priests in education. There would be deacons, lay associates, catechists and more. They would be responsible for putting together a pastoral plan for their parishes. The key would be to bring the parishes together in a creative way. Perhaps they don't need multiple religious education programs or multiple business managers. It's up to the team to see how best they would work in the parishes. They might even make a recommendation to come together as one parish, not as imposed from above, but coming from among those in the parishes themselves. He emphasized that this is just exploring whether this could work in the Archdiocese of Boston. Scot noted that many of the headlines on the stories were certainly untrue. This is not about consolidating 291 parishes into 80 to 120 parishes. Msgr. Fay said it was about pastoral teams and no parish was envisioned as closing. That number of 80 to 120 was purposefully small as well in order to engender as much discussion as possible. Scot said this is about the way pastoral efforts are realigned, not about realigning parishes. Scot asked what assets and resources would stay at the parish level and what would be the pastoral teams. Msgr. Fay said everything would stay in the parish. You can't say that one parish must forfeit assets to help a parish in the grouping that is struggling. Canon law would not allow it. They're not combining the assets of all the parishes. However, where a parish in the past might have been able to afford a particular staff, maybe three parishes could. Scot said the AP story said the plan addresses a spiral of financial distress, but the approach of the planning commission is mission-based, not a response to a crisis. Msgr. Fay said the question is whether reaching out to people and inviting them to become active Catholics is happening, and how will we step into the future and see the Church continue to grow. Scot said some people are asking whether this pastoral plan will be "Reconfiguraton II," referring to the process back in 2004. How did that inform the process of the pastoral planning commission. Msgr. Fay said the project of 2004 was a kind of downsizing, saying we can't maintain what we have. From the beginning people realized we couldn't have 350+ parishes. The difference today is that they don't want to get caught up in that question. The key issue here is to ask how we're going to bring ourselves together to focus on evangelization and use the resources we have in the future, becoming the prism by which we look forward as opposed to asking how we're going to hang on. He finds it to be optimistic and it gives him hope and enlivens his desire to be a priest here in the future. Scot has found that there is a realization that some of our parishes don't have the resources to be feel alive. No one wants to go to a big church and see it unfilled and doesn't have a pastoral staff to offer ministries. What's our vision of the parish of the future? It's certainly a place that's alive with human resources and financial resources. Many parishes have that in the short-term, but not in the long-term. Many people are not experiencing everything a parish can be. Msgr. Fay said it's their hope that as parishes group there will be real excitement and hope to grow further and become vibrant communities. The key element is the pastoral plan for the future life of the parish by the pastoral team for the life of the parish for 2, 4, and 6 years and more. There will be more than 100 local pastoral plans that tie into the archdiocesan pastoral plan. It won't be one-size-fits-all. **4th segment:** It’s time to announce the winner of the weekly **WQOM Benefactor Raffle**. Our prize this week is a copy of the book ["Images of Mary"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0867163305/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217153&creative=399701&creativeASIN=0867163305) by Fr. Alfred McBride. With insightful historical commentary and beautiful illustrations, Fr. McBride explores ten images of Mary and explains their evolution and influence. He traces her appeal through different eras and different cultures, offering a reflective journey that will help you rediscover the importance of Mary in your relationship with Christ and the Church. This week’s winner is **Aline Clermont from Dracut, MA**. Congratulations Aline! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit [WQOM.org](http://www.WQOM.org). For a one-time $30 donation, you’ll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for WQOM’s weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We’ll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **5th segment:** Scot asked Msgr. Fay what consultations have taken place and what will take place. Msgr. Fay emphasized that the people of the commission are very diverse and representative of bringing the best ideas of the whole archdiocese together. Every month when the presbyteral council meets, the commission provides an update of their work and gets feedback from them. Msgr. Fay has been consulting within his own vicariate (there are five regions in the archdiocese and each of them is broken into 4 vicariates). He brainstorms with the priests of his vicariate. He's also brought their work to the Cardinal's cabinet and they've received positive responses. For the future, ultimately every single parish will have an opportunity to weigh in on this. Then to start talking concretely about the kind of groupings they're talking about. Scot said the work of the commission will require a lot of detail work. What principles might underly a pastoral service team model? Msgr. Fay said they're still thinking about it. It will involve a balance between the groupings' sense of what they need and what the Cardinal thinks will contribute to the future mission of the archdiocese. Obviously the priest personnel board will be vital to this. The pastoral teams will come together in organic ways that the people's talents complement each other. What prayer does he ask of listeners for the work of this commission and pastoral planning? He asks everyone to pray where God wants us to be led as Church and to help us to be willing to let go of the familiar in order to be open to whatever His will may be.