The Good Catholic Life

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor**Today's guest(s):** Joseph D'Arrigo, executive director of Clergy Funds, and Transitional Deacons Mark Murphy and Kyle Stanton of St. John's Seminary.* [CareForSeniorPriests.org](http://www.careforseniorpriests.org)* [BostonPriests.org](http://www.bostonpriests.org)* [St. John Seminary](http://www.sjs.edu)* [The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA](https://milarch.org/)* [Diocese of Manchester, NH](http://www.catholicchurchng.org)**Today's topics:** The Clergy Benefit Trust Funds and care for senior priests; transitional deacons preparing for ordination in May**A summary of today's show:** Joe D'Arrigo, executive director of the Clergy Funds, recounted his journey from a successful business career to answering the call to help shore up the Clergy Benefit Trust Funds, bringing it from $10 million deficits a few years ago to break even today. Also, the need for continued generosity from parishioners to care for their priests as retirement costs increase. Later, Transitional Deacons Mark Murphy and Kyle Stanton related their own paths to their vocation as priests and how they hope to put their life experiences at the service of the Church.**1st segment:** Fr. Chris reports that the men of Norfolk prison are listening to the program regularly and are grateful for The Good Catholic Life and WQOM. Next Monday, we will have an interview with Fr. Joseph Fessio, a friend of Pope Benedict XVI, about the Holy Father's new book, "Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection"". When he was Fr. Joseph Ratzinger, the Holy Father was Fr. Fessio's dissertation director.Fr. Chris said next week is an exciting week to be Catholic during Holy Week.Later in the program, they will have an interview with transitional deacons who are due to be ordained in May, God willing. But first, Joe D'Arrigo on how we as a Church care for our senior priests in their later years.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Joe D'Arrigo to the program. Joe has had a successful business career but a few years ago chose to get involved in an effort to shore up our clergy benefits funds. He got a call from Chancellor Jim McDonough to ask him to help with the challenge that the Clergy funds were underfunded on an annual basis in the amount of $10 million. It was a challenge and Joe was preparing to wind down his career, not embark on a new direction. He was inclined to say No, but in a conversation with one of his business partners, the partner said it would be perfect for Joe. Then later, during dinner with a friend, she said the same thing because they saw something that Joe had not seen.Joe had been involved very heavily in the works of the Church. He's been involved with the [Shrine of St. Anthony](http://www.stanthonyshrine.org/) in downtown Boston. The new guardian of the shrine at the time, Fr. David, asked for his help. He's worked with Catholic Charities Boston and in 2000-2003, he helped develop a strategic plan to re-organize Catholic charities. It is the largest non-profit organization in the state of Massachusetts. The plan laid out parameters for making decisions when issues came up and new challenges emerged. Their top priority is always the poor.Joe has always been in the benefit business, specializing in medical insurance. Over the years, he started a consulting company and sold it to a major insurance company and worked with them for a while. He left and started more consulting work, again in the benefit business.Fr. Chris asked Joe what is the state of the clergy funds is now. He said it is stabilized. He is projecting that this year there will be less than $500,000 operating deficit. If they can run a break-even budget for the next couple of years, it will be sustainable. There is an obligation on behalf of the Cardinal Archbishop to care for all of the 750 priests, including 260 senior priests, to care for all of their medical needs and provide for their retirement. Joe points out that priests don't actually "retire" in the same way that parents don't retire from being parents. Many senior priests are active in parishes. 150 senior priests live on their own and 50 or 60 live at parishes. Joe's experience is that if they can walk, they are celebrating Mass. They are not as active in administration, but are very active in pastoral aspects.Fr. Chris said many pastors and parochial vicars speak of how important the senior priests' ministry is.Scot asked Joe what it's like to work with the senior priests. Joe said they're all characters, all unique individuals. He was at [Regina Cleri](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ReginaCleriResidence.aspx) today, which is the home for senior priests. (The average age for Regina Cleri priests is 81. The challenge is that priests are living longer, which is good news, but also raises challenges of paying for their care.) They have introduced changes and any change, especially in advanced age, is difficult to manage. And during this visit, he received praise for the changes that have been made at Regina Cleri. Appreciation from the senior priests is very rewarding. While you have to make difficult business decisions, the decisions are made for the benefit of senior and active priests.On Joe's staff are four people. Maria Sullivan is the operations manager; she makes everything go. She is the go-to resource for the priests. Scot said everyone she works with in the Pastoral Center loves working with her. Joe said she does an amazing job and is totally dedicated. Joan Smith manages all of the enrollment and questions from the priests about their insurance and medical needs. The healthcare system is confusing and she helps them through that. Maria Hanlon is a nurse and she's the healthcare coordinator. She's out visiting priests all the time helping them make healthcare and end-of-life issues. She meets with senior priests to evaluate their needs. Joe said priests are very independent and like our parents, some may have cognitive issues and they don't realize it. Mary will go out and do an evaluation and maybe work with their doctors.**3rd segment:** Scot asked Joe why they had such a $10 million deficit. There was $15 million coming in and $25 million go out. About 10 years ago, medical and housing costs had not yet started to increase at a rapid pace and we thought we were flush with money. The archdiocese had not been using all the government programs available, like Medicaid and Medicare, to pay for the needs of the priests, even though they had been paying for them through their taxes. Many priests didn't even know they qualified for Medicare. Last year, they moved 60 priests to Medicare. That saved about $1.2 million alone. They brought costs down from $25 million to $17 million and increased revenue from $15 million up to about $17 million.The revenue comes from the generosity of the laity in Boston. There are three collections for the Clergy funds: Christmas, Easter, and a collection in June. They also have a Priest Appreciation Dinner (this year it is September 14.) Last year it raise $800,000 and this year they hope to raise $1 million. The first they held it in 2009, it was the largest such dinner in Boston with about 1,600 attending.The clergy funds depend on the Easter collection and the generosity of parishioners. About 18 months ago, Joe [wrote a column](http://www.thebostonpilot.com/article.asp?ID=11037) for The Pilot in which he proposed that people would want to buy dinner for their priest for Christmas with the collection. Joe had been reflecting on the role of priests in his life: the priests who baptized his children or gave them other sacraments or, most movingly, who anointed his wife in the hospital. Would he buy that priest dinner? Of course! Dinner for two in Boston would be about $100. You have to make it personal because what that priest does is personal. When it came time to call a priest to her hospital room, she asked for that specific priest who dropped everything and came to her bedside.Even though the gift goes for all the priests, he visualizes that gift benefiting that one particular priest.Scot said Catholics in the Archdiocese are so generous. In the three collections, they bring in about $7.5 million, but they really need to go up to $10 million because more priests are reaching retirement age and the costs are continuing to rise. The costs just for retired priests right now are $8.5 million.**4th segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Transitional Deacon Mark Murphy to The Good Catholic Life. He is making the final preparations for ordination in May. Right now he is at [St. Thomas Aquinas in Bridgewater](http://www.stthomasaquinas.com/home.php) for his deacon assignment. He's enjoyed his time there preaching and baptizing.Fr. Chris said he was intrigued by Mark saying that confirmation was special in preparing him for his vocation. Then-auxiliary Bishop William Murphy said to the young men being confirmed that they should consider the priesthood and that they would never be more fulfilled than if they were called to that life. It touched Mark's heart and the thoughts stayed in his mind and heart. He told his parents he was thinking about the call within a few weeks of confirmation and in his junior year in high school he told his friends. It was a particular grace that his family and friends were supportive.Fr. Chris asked if it was difficult to answer the call. In 2002, when the abuse scandal came out, was when he was intensely discerning entering the seminary, but it wasn't a deterrent. He felt it didn't have anything to do with him because he still felt he was being called by the Lord. Some told him to go to a regular college first, but his parents and priest were supportive. Scot asked him to share exactly how his parents helped and what advice he would give to other parents. They let him know it was okay to be thinking about going into seminary and that they would very happy if he chose that path. His pastor, Fr. Leonard O'Malley, was very supportive and seeing his ministry and his joy strengthened and encouraged him.Fr. Chris noted that Mark was commissioned as a [chaplain in the National Guard](http://www.nationalguard.com/careers/chaplain-corps) and a 2nd Lieutenant in 2008. Cardinal Sean had told him that it was a good idea. Mark's father was in the Army National Guard for 30 years along with other other members of his family. Knowing that this was an option was something he'd thought about and was happy the Cardinal supported him in this ministry. For two different summers, he was at the chaplain school in South Carolina in 2008 and 2009. It was interesting to be there with non-Catholics, including Jewish rabbis and Muslim imams. He hadn't been exposed to that many different faiths in his upbringing and that experience let him know he'd be comfortable ministering to non-Catholic soldiers.He's had experience doing military death notifications. He learned that it was a ministry of presence, being Christ to them, being present with them, praying with them. Scot asked what Mark can say to those who might have to give such bad news. Mark said it's most important to have that ministry of presence. He told the mother he met with that all the chaplains would be praying for her and her family and that he would be available for her if she needed him.For his priesthood, Mark is most excited to be able to celebrate Mass for the community.Scot asked Mark what it was like to go through the ordination ceremony to the transitional diaconate. It was a beautiful gift to experience that he said. He's been in seminary for 8 years so it was somewhat surreal to finally reach the ordination rite. He thought during the ceremony about his long journey to that moment and it was very moving. He focused on the ministry of the diaconate which is one of service.**5th segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Transitional Deacon Kyle Stanton to The Good Catholic Life. Kyle grew up in New Hampshire and is studying for the Diocese of Manchester. He was an atheist in his high school years and in that he felt God calling him because atheism offers no answers. It had no satisfying answer to the big questions of life. He was raised Catholic, but had rejected it. The culture of death had been trying to convince him that there was no God. Fr. Chris asked how he came to be a seminarian. Kyle said at 8 years old, he felt the call to the priesthood, and that call doesn't leave you. Even in his atheism he remembered that call and remembered being happy. He began to desire that happiness and reconsidered the call. After high school he returned to Mass. There was a newly ordained priest at his parish who befriended him and began a dialogue of faith.Kyle has been Master of Ceremonies at St. John Seminary helping to facilitate and plan all the Masses and celebrations throughout the year. He works with all the visiting bishops and priests preparing liturgies and prayer. It's a lot of work, but it's a blessing.Fr. Chris noted that transitional deacons take four or five classes and are in parishes on the weekends preaching. Kyle said he prepares for his homilies starting on Monday for the next week. He prays about the Word of God and only then goes to commentaries and the writing of Popes. He recalled that as a boy one reason he went to atheism because he didn't hear preaching on the hard questions and so he tries to address the hard questions.He knows that truth is universal and we all desire truth. He tries to bring the great education of St. John's to his preaching. People love to hear the Gospel in simple ways, even those who are very well-educated.Kyle is close to the Blessed Mother and he knows that seminarians still have a need for the feminine aspect in their lives.Kyle attended Franciscan University of Steubenville for his undergraduate years. As a young seminarian, he was exposed to young men and women, some discerning marriage, others discerning religious life, and he formed great relationships and friendships.For fun, Kyle loves to enjoy hiking and fishing back home in New Hampshire. What he looks forward to the most in his priesthood is the Mass. As a boy he knew that the only way to have Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is to have priests and he looks forward to being that priest.As Bishop McCormack approaches retirement, Kyle doesn't know who his bishop will be, he is prepared to promise his obedience and to work with whomever will be his bishop.After seminary, he will miss the close relationships with his brother seminarians and the ability to live under one roof with them all.**6th segment**: Scot and Fr. Chris talk about the men preparing to be ordained and how the seminary prepares. Today, the men are at the Pastoral Center, learning how the central ministries work and how they will fit into that structure. Scot asked when they know where they will be assigned. Fr. Chris said Cardinal Sean tells them individually at a dinner before the ordination. The seminary rector, Bishop Kennedy, provides some guidance to the clergy personnel board on the strengths of each individual.The ordination will be on Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Holy Cross Cathedral.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Tom Peterson, founder and president of CatholicsComeHome.org and Janet Benestad, Cabinet Secretary for Faith Formation & Evangelization* [Catholics Come Home](http://www.catholicscomehome.org)* [Catholics Come Home Boston](http://www.catholicscomehomeboston.org)* [Boston Herald, "Prodigal parishioners return to church"](http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_0410prodigal_parishioners_return_to_church_boston_archdiocese_reaches_out_to_halt_plummeting_mass_attendance/srvc=home&position=0) (April 10, 2011)**Today's topics:** The genesis of the Catholics Come Home initiative, its implementation in Boston, and ways Catholics can participate**A summary of today's show:** Tom Peterson, founder of Catholics Come Home, and Janet Benestad, secretary for faith formation & evangelization, tell Scot about the origins of the Catholics Come Home campaign, where Tom's inspiration came from, how the acclaimed commercials came about, and the best ways that local Catholics can share their faith with others to invite them back to the Catholic Church.**1st segment:** This CatholicsComeHome.org initiative is the largest outreach effort of the Archdiocese of Boston in more than a generation. It took 2 years of planning, fundraising and coordination. Many of you have seen the commercials on television and heard them on WQOM. They are outstanding presentations of our faith. Hopefully you also saw the front page story in yesterday’s Boston Herald, which featured an interview with Cardinal Sean and several Catholics that have returned home to the Catholic Faith. Catholics Come Home features several commercials. The most frequent one you’ll see on TV is called EPIC. Let’s listen to that now.**2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Tom Peterson and Janet Benestad to The Good Catholic Life. We just listened to the “Epic” commercial from CatholicsComeHome.org. Scot said he can say that he's never heard a more powerful 300-word description of the Catholic Church. It still gives him chills when he hears it and watches the commercial on TV. There are so many powerful lines.Scot asked Tom to talk about the development of that commercial and some of the scenes. He said it was a byproduct of a retreat experience he had on a Marian men's retreat where he asked God how to serve him. Tom felt God calling him to use his advertising talents to spread the Good News. The first diocese he worked with was Phoenix. Epic puts the 2,000-year history and accomplishments of the Catholic Church in a an easy-to-grasp and attractive format. Our Catholic story isn't being told properly by the secular media and it's about time that we take the Good News and bring it to the ends of the earth in a positive, enriching and beautiful way.Scot asked how challenging it was to boil the 2 millennia of history down to 120-seconds and then 30-seconds? Tom said that with God all things are possible. He said there were many attempts that ended up in the wastebasket, but these successful ones are inspired by the Holy Spirit. He had a lot of good people who contributed to the development. A lot of it is based on the book "[How the Catholic Church Built Western Civilization](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895260387/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0895260387)" and to boil it down wasn't easy,. but it hits on the high points of the major accomplishments and most beautiful things about our Catholic faith. When you hear the commercial, it's great, but when you see it, there's something special that happens in the soul.Scot asked how many locations it was shot in. Tom said it was shot all around the world. Rome was the central point, with the Holy Father and [St. Paul-outside-the-walls]; other locations around the United States as well. Some locations were real with people indigenous to that area and others were created or re-created to help save costs, such as the Tongan baptism or the Mexican fiesta or the African Mass. Brought together the wide diversity of the Church. They did lots of focus group testing to ensure that people liked the ads and that Protestants wouldn't be offended by the message, that former Catholics would feel invited, that current Catholics would feel proud, and people of no faith would feel invited. They heard over and over that it was authentic, that the images were beautiful, that they taught people things they didn't know before, such as that Jesus founded the Church and that the Church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit brought forth the Bible.Scot said he loves the scene from Rio de Janeiro of the statue of Christ the Redeemer as well as the unbroken succession of Popes. What are Tom's favorite scenes? He loves the scene of the aid worker wearing a crucifix working in the Vietnamese jungles, helping a young child. Also when the Holy Father is smiling and waving at the crowds. The Blessed Mother, to show she is the mother of our Church, the picture in St. Peter's Square. There are many stories related to the filming as well, things that happened that shouldn't have happened. For instance, they were able to get permission to film with a 40-foot robotic crane in St. Peter's Square, even as an unknown production at the time. Now Catholics Come Home is so well-known in the Church, but at the time to be laypeople apart from the hierarchy of the Church trying to put together TV commercials advertising the Catholic faith, must have seemed crazy to some. Tom said it is his God-given gift of tenacity and he never doubts God. He always seems to come through. God chooses the unlikeliest people to accomplish so much. Many people in important positions came to believe in what they were doing.The words of the commercials are very moving as well. Scot asked Janet what her favorites are. His is "For centuries, we have prayed for you and our world, every hour of every day, whenever we celebrate the mass. " Janet's favorite is "We are Catholic. Welcome home." Every day here in the Pastoral Center and in our parishes we pray for those who strayed from the Church so that people who are away from the Church can find their way back.Scot said it is amazing to consider that the Church prays for the world every minute of every day for two millennia. Tom said the words come from a lot of uncredited heroes who have given him little nuggets of inspiration over the years he's been developing the commercials.Tom and his team at CatholicsComeHome.org customized the “Epic” commercial with some Boston scenes for our campaign here. Janet said there was a scene of real Portuguese fishermen on the Boston Fish Pier. They saw the priest walking by and asked him for a blessing and that's the scene in the commercials. Another favorite is the scene recorded in front of St. Bernard Parish. The director of Catholics Come Home in Boston, David Thorp, died very suddenly in January and he happened upon the idea of showing the priest sharing a donut and coffee with a homeless person in front of the church and David stood in as the homeless person.Scot said David's best description of the work of evangelization came from Henri Nouwen: "Evangelization is one beggar leading another beggar to the bread." David did not come across as an expert, but just as someone sharing the faith in his heart.There's also a scene in front of Fenway Park with a sister and children. Localizing the commercials brings the experience of the faith home to Bostonians. The fourth local scene is the Charles River with Harvard in the background. There are many students in Boston and Catholic students have been taking Catholics come home to heart. Also, we see the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mission Church, in Roxbury.Scot asked Tom how the commercials also restores the morale of Catholics who are still in the pews, but who have been hanging their heads after the events of the past decade. Tom said he hears over and over again that it makes them proud to be Catholic and they want to be more involved in the Church. In the season of Lent, during the Mass, as the priest raises the chalice, recall the names of those who have strayed from the Church and give them over to the Precious Blood of Jesus.Scot said that when people see the commercials they get excited about it and they want to share it with others. That's why the commercials are online at CatholicsComeHome.org and CatholicsComeHomeBoston.org. Tom said their website has three sections: for practicing Catholics, for lapsed Catholics, and for non-Catholics with resources for each of those groups of people. He remembers priests telling him that their confessionals were full after the commercials aired in their dioceses, some people who were away for as many as 30 years.The second most-frequently aired commercial from CatholicsComeHome.org is called Movie, which is a story of conversion. Let’s listen to the Movie spot now. **3rd segment:** – Scot noted that this “Movie” spot is quite different from the “Epic” spot. It seems like it is intended to reach a different audience than Epic. No matter what you've done in your life, there is good news because Jesus came not to condemn the world, but to save it. His favorite line, the best line of invitation he's heard in the Catholic Church: "If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is your chance to begin an adventure with God that will last forever." Tom said we serve a God of do-overs. But we do have to accept His mercy. We have know we can be forgiven.It's an upbeat commercial, but it could have been very somber and a real downer. The setting is like Purgatory where people are reviewing their life, which is right out of the Book of Revelations. But halfway through the commercials is all kinds of Divine Mercy theology. The Sisters of the Reparation gave an Advent mission at Tom's parish and spoke at his parish of Divine Mercy. The next day they were supposed to complete the commercial and he changed the second half of the script. It reminds us that it is Jesus' mercy that saves us all.Scot said the Movie spot is visually different. It opens with scenes of sin, but halfway through it turns. At first it was a much different emotional experience from Epic. Tom said Movie has a different audience than Epic. Epic is for people who were once practicing Catholic and it connects with their memories of the faith. Movie is for non-Catholics who say a personal relationship with Jesus is paramount, which we agree with especially through Communion in the Mass. It's also for agnostics or atheists, telling them that there is a God who loves them and wants to have a relationship with. He wrote the line: "If you're looking for a sign, this is it" for them because we have a generation that is looking for signs.Janet said this commercial is about conversion, which is timely during Lent. We all have faults and failings, and Movie evokes a sense of responsibility and the great solace that it is all put right through Christ.For the Movie ad, they had a group of actors and actresses. There was a scene of a wife cowering as her husband belittled her and then later another scene of them celebrating an anniversary. This mirrors our own lives of high points and low points. The actress who played the wife called Tom later to admit that she had been a lapsed Catholic, but the experience brought her back to the Church. So many people have come back to confession in other dioceses, one of the primary ways people can help those coming back is through [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org), helping people reengage through sacramental confession that brings them the redemptive work of Christ. Priests like to tell people that they will not be shocked or upset at any sins they hear, but that they are thrilled to see people lifted of the spiritual weight and burden. The people hear the audible voice that tells them that they are forgiven. In our human nature, we need to hear that out loud.Tom said not only inactive Catholics are coming back, there are also many Catholics who go to Mass every week who are coming back to confession.**4th segment:** Catholics Come Home is a lay apostolate, created by lay people. That is significant. Tom said Pope John Paul encouraged people in a document called [Christifideles Laici](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_30121988_christifideles-laici_en.html) to go out into our workplaces and neighborhoods to bring Christ to others where bishops and priests don't go. We're supposed to go out and spread the Good News of Jesus. As laypeople we can say, "I know how you feel. This is how I came back." Others in our communities know we can relate to them. The secular media also sees this as not just the bishops trying to fill their pews, but is the work of all Catholics.They started in Phoenix in 2008 and have gone coast to coast. More than 200,000 people in the first dozen dioceses came back to the practice of the faith. The largest increase in Mass attendance has been 18% and the average is 10%. By the end of this Lent, they will have reached 40 million people. In Boston, the commercials will air 2,500 times. But Jesus would do this for one person. It's not about the numbers.Janet said that participating in the ministry of welcoming can do as much for the people welcoming others home as it does for those who do come home. People say it's strengthening their faith. It's an opportunity to open a conversation to talk about why we go to Church.The culture tells us that faith is a private matter and should remain private, which discourages people from sharing their faith. Tom said a pastor told him to pray every day and ask Him to lead us to a person every day that he can share his faith with. It's not walking up to strangers. It's about being open to the conversation when the natural opportunity comes up. Sharing the joy and peace that comes from being part of the Church and worshipping Christ as part of the Catholic community.For a person who just has a hard time getting the right words, Janet said we can just invite someone to come to a talk or program or social occasion at the parish or to come to Mass on Sunday. People are less apt to say No because they're responding to your personal invitation.Scot said people in this archdiocese should take responsibility for asking just one person to come to Mass and then to pray that this person will be receptive to the Holy Spirit. Tom suggested inviting someone to breakfast and going to Mass first. Put a bumper sticker on your card or give someone a Catholics Come Home business card that is available.Be willing to respond to someone who asks on Monday morning, "How was your weekend?" to say, "I went to Mass with my family and it was great." Janet said we are walking advertisements for our Church.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell**Today's guest(s):** John Monahan, host of CatholicTV's ClearVoice, recounts his journey from Dorchester to local TV news to the new Catholic newsmagazine show; talks about it's like to chase breaking news stories; and he gives tips for being a more effective communicator in business, job interviews, and even for priests giving homilies. Also, the Mass readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. * [John Monahan's biography](http://monahan-communications.com/#/bio/4541336885)* [ClearVoice on CatholicTV](http://www.catholictv.com/ClearVoice.aspx)* [ClearVoice in iCatholic magazine](http://www.catholictv.com/magazine/magazine.aspx?magazineID=65116)**Today's topics:** Former Fox25-Boston TV news reporter John Monahan's journey to CatholicTV's new magazine show, "ClearVoice". Also, this coming Sunday's readings for Mass.**A summary of today's show:** John Monahan, host of CatholicTV's ClearVoice **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Mark. Scot notes today is Red Sox opening day at home. He suggests listeners turn up WQOM, turn on the TV and turn down the volume there. Fr. Mark went to the funeral of Msgr. Daly, who had served 36 years at the seminary. He was the rector of the seminary when Fr. Mark was there in 1986-1990. He said Cardinal Seán was there as well as 60 priests. Fr. Mark said it was a beautiful turnout.Scot notes that homilist at priests' funerals is a friend of the priest. At this funeral, Msgr. James McCune was the homilist. At the end of priest's funeral, all the priests gather around the casket and sing the Salve Regina as they accompany the casket to the hearse.**2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome John Monahan to the program. Scot notes that John's voice is familiar to CatholicTV and Fox25 viewers. John grew up in Dorchester in St. Brendan's parish and went to BC High School. Studied communications at UMass Amherst. After graduation he worked at Boston University on a half-hour news show for a cable-access news show.He wanted to move to California to pursue his career in broadcast journalism. He brought resume tapes to about 10 stations in California and Oregon. He got a call from a station in Monterey, California. Fr. Mark asked how much John's natural voice opens doors? He said the voice has never been a big part of his success. TV news is so subjective that you can't guess what will grab a station manager's attention. His first job in Monterey was doing the farm report because he looked like he grew up on the farm and a Midwesterner.He never intended to move back to Boston. He had wanted to move up to a larger market than Monterey and had been focusing on Los Angeles and San Francisco. His agent sent out tapes and he happened to get a call from the station manager at WB56. When the manager found out he went to BC High across the street, he had the job. He was there for 3 years, starting out on a morning show. He moved to Fox 25 and was there for 4-1/2 years.Scot asked what his favorite stories were. John said he liked the feature stories, digging down deep and getting to know a person and telling their story. He also loved covering breaking news, the heat of the moment. He covered the infamous "shoe bomber" story, the terrorist on the plane who had tried to blow up the plane and the plane was diverted to Boston. Scot asked what it's like to cover breaking news? Is it competitive or collaborative?He said they want to get the story, but there is collaboration. You help someone else so they're not completely left behind, but you don't put your own story in jeopardy. He loved working in spontaneous situations.Fr. Mark said sometimes when he knows the story, often a reporter will blow up a small kernel into something awful. John said the reporter is always trying to find the conflict in the story, the juxtaposition, to entice the viewer and draw them in. Some stations do this to a greater degree than others. The news used to be more objective, but the competition is so fierce today.You prepare yourself for horrendous situations by preparing yourself and eventually learning to stay somewhat detached. Often there is black humor to help themselves deal with it. Scot asked if there's any kind of post-traumatic stress. John recalls a story about a Christmas tree that caught fire and killed the babysitter and three kids. He can't forget the screams of the mother on hearing what happened.Fr. Mark asked if its hard as a Catholic to cover some of the news that relate to his faith. John said he tries to put the story in its most objective light. You can't control what the anchors say, but he can control the content of the report.**3rd segment:** How did ClearVoice start? John had been talking with Fr. Robert Reed, director of CatholicTV, about the show for a while. ClearVoice is a newsmagazine show. The difference from a news show is that a news show is events of the day. A newsmagazine is more in-depth, more lighthearted, not so much about the current events. They had the CBS Sunday Morning show in mind, in-depth profiles of people and lighthearted segments.They've had 19 shows so far. He was particularly happy with the shows about Christmas time. The March for Life was a big story for them as well. They interviewed former Sen. Rick Santorum recently as well as chastity speaker Jason Evert last week.John is impressed by CatholicTV and its high quality. The environment is much nicer than when he worked in news. They have amazing technology. Their set is a wall of 24 high-definition televisions. You don't see sets like this even in secular stations. It can be one big screen or 24 individual screens or any combination.ClearVoice is aiming at a national market, not just the Boston area. Catholic TV now serves 25% of the United States and 75 cities. It's the second-largest Catholic TV network after EWTN.They get reports from Rome each from [Rome Reports](http://www.romereports.com), [H2O](http://www.h2onews.org) and [Catholic News Service](http://www.catholicnews.com), which CatholicTV has an arrangement with. Kevin NElson, the executive producer of the show, goes through all the content to choose the right stories. They broadcast on Thursday nights.John's co-host is Christine Caswell, who is also a veteran of Boston TV news. They'd known each other as acquaintances in their previous careers. Her day job manages the interns at [Boston University's school of communications](http://www.bu.edu/com/), which is how Fr. Reed got to know her.John hopes that ClearVoice becomes even more relevant to the news that is going on the week of broadcast. He's also looking for more in-depth features. He'd love to have Cardinal Seán on the show. He has a lot of admiration for Archbishop Dolan in New York. But he'd also like to interview regular local people, like the guy who plays the flute at noon Mass at Mission Church.This is the first newsmagazine on any Catholic network in North America. John said it says a lot about CatholicTV and where Fr. Reed wants to take it. It indicates the future growth of the network nationally and internationally.All the recorded shows are available at CatholicTV.com.**4th segment:** John now has his own communications consulting firm where he advises corporations on communications skills. Scot asked what are some of the ways to overcome the fear of public speaking?John said preparation is important. He was in Chicago early in his career and he still nervous about being on-air. He met this anchor who was cool as cucumber on air. When he asked the man how this guy wasn't nervous, and he told John that of course he's nervous. In fact, everyone is nervous, but many people turn that around and turn it into energy and excitement. If you've prepared enough, including practice what you're going to say, you own the words. You write it out by hand to help you remember it.Scot asked what high-level businessmen are asking for help with? John's biggest skill is taking a lot of information and boiling it down to the essential nuggets. He also helps them translate written speeches into a conversational tone and make them into a good narrative. Give it a beginning and an end that reach the same point to bring everything full circle.Fr. Mark asked what makes a good homily as a communicator? John said it's about intertwining a story with the message. Facts alone are difficult to digest, but people remember a story. Fr. Mark said some priests can't land the plane; you think they're ending the homily and then go off again. John said sometimes they don't even know they're doing it. But then keep a phrase or idea in mind so that when you get to that, you know to wrap up and end.Scot said that you have to prepare the close as much as you prepare the open and the content. John said the speaker should finish in a way that people remember what you said.Fr. Mark said he's never begun a homily with "In today's Gospel..." because by the time he says Gospel they're asleep. John agreed that you have to have something memorable to grab their attention.John mostly works with mid- to upper-level management, also sales groups. He also helps train with media management. He recently worked with Stonehill College.He also has tips for communicating during job interviews. Have a beginning, middle, and end. Who are you? What's your background, your skills, your traits? Then offer a summary. And finally anticipate what kind of questions you'll get from the interviewer and practice your answers. Scot noted that many people are humble and shy about talking about themselves so they aren't used to it. John said to find a friend or family member to act out the interview.**5th segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark will look at the Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. This the story of Lazarus from the Gospel of John* [Sunday's Mass readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/041011.shtml): Ez 37:12-14, Ps 130:1-8, Rom 8:8-11, Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45>The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was.Then after this he said to his disciples, +Let us go back to Judea.”>>When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”>>He became perturbed and deeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.”And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?”>>So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, >“Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth.>>So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.Scot said the Church wants us to reflect on this just before we attend to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus during Holy Week. John is struck by the faith of Mary and Martha.Fr. Mark said Jesus is weeping because He understands the human experience and pain and suffering. He knows that death hurts those who are left. Scot said he didn't realize before that Jesus was risking His own life going to Bethany. Fr. Mark said we remember Thomas as the doubter, but here he is the one who stands up and says, "Let's go with him to die with Him."The four days in the tomb is significant because of an ancient belief that the soul stayed with the body for three days, so St. John is conveying that Lazarus is really and truly dead.St. John is also recalling the Book of Genesis. God speaks and creation happens. Here the Word of God speaks and He conquers death. His Word is so powerful that something so impossible can happen.It's easy for us to know Jesus is divine, but when Jesus weeps for Lazarus and for the mourners, it reinforces His humanity.Jesus delays and Lazarus dies. So Lazarus' suffering glorifies God and that is a lesson for those who suffer and believes God is delaying.Jesus also challenges Martha if she believes that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. This is a question presented to all of us.

**Listen to the show:** *The online streaming and downloadable versions of The Good Catholic Life will be available later this evening.*[Subscribe for free in iTunes](http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-good-catholic-life/id425362545)**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 Diocese of Fall River; and Gregory Tracy, managing editor of *The Pilot*, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Boston* [The Anchor](http://www.anchornews.org)* [The Pilot](http://www.pilotcatholicnews.com)**Today's topics:** The Courtyard of the Gentiles; A new director for the Mass. Catholic Conference; Pope John Paul II is being beatified for his personal virtue, not his historic pontificate; and two stories of simple but heroic courage and virtue**A summary of today's show:** Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy look at the news of the week with Scot Landry and Susan Abbott, including the Courtyard of the Gentiles, a Vatican initiative to engage with atheists, agnostics, and non-believers on an intellectual level; the new director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference and one of the issues he'll be tackling: the Church's response to casino gambling in the state; why the beatification of Pope John Paul II won't be because of his historic pontificate, but instead about his personal virtue; and the heroic virtue of a young man performing a simple act of charity that captured a nation's attention and the heroic courage of an unemployed father to sacrifice a job rather than cooperate with evil.**1st segment:** Susan was at the symposium on adolescent catechesis this morning and it was wonderful. She said Bob Rice's talks were inspiring for the catechists and priests and DREs who were present. She said she was also at the New Roman Missal workshop for laity at the Pastoral Center yesterday where there were hundreds of participants. Scot said the Knights of Malta also had a gathering at the Pastoral Center for their annual pilgrimage to Lourdes.Tonight is both [Carl Anderson](http://www.thegoodcatholiclife.com/2011/04/05/program-0020-for-tuesday-april-5-2011/)'s talk at Fanueil Hall and [Bob Rice](http://www.thegoodcatholiclife.com/2011/04/06/program-0021-for-wednesday-april-6-2011/)'s talk at Theology on Tap. Tomorrow is Bob Rice's mini-retreat day for youth ministers and on Saturday is the [Co-Workers in the Vineyard](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Events-Calendar/Event-Detail.aspx?id=19836) conference.**2nd segment:** Scot and Susan welcome Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy. Fr. Landry wrote this week in his editorial about the Courtyard of the Gentiles, the Pope's outreach to atheists, agnostics, and non-believers. A couple of years ago, Pope Benedict spoke about the well-meaning atheists he'd met on a trip to the Czech Republic. Pope Benedict said we needed to recover the sense of the courtyard of the Gentiles from the ancient Jewish temple where Gentiles could come and ask questions and find out what the Jewish faith was about. There have been many outreaches since Vatican II to Jews, to other Christians, and to other non-Judeo/Christian religions, but we haven't had anything for non-believers. So on March 21 in Paris, they held this first Courtyard of the Gentiles, culminating with a live video address by Pope Benedict XVI. The next gathering will be in Chicago.Believers can have more than a little to do with the birth of atheism when we teach error or are deficient in showing the authentic face of God. Gregory said it points to the need for ongoing faith development for ourselves. He recalls meeting someone from Europe who was truly un-churched and literally knew nothing about Christianity. He and his wife took some time to explain the basics. We can never fail to reach out to those who are curious. The first step in conversion is engaging in a dialogue.Just as non-believers have nothing to fear from God, believers should have no fear of those who live in accord with their consciences, Pope Benedict said. It addresses the fear of believers sharing a conversation with those who don't share in the same belief. Susan was impressed by the Pope calling believers to task: "Non-believers challenge believers to live in a way consistent with the faith they profess."Fr. Landry said the Vatican doesn't intend for this to remain a series of itinerant intellectual events sponsored by the Vatican, but hopes that it would become a “fixture of the pastoral activity of every diocese.” It should be a place where non-believers could feel free to come and ask questions. We do a good job caring for the hungry, for those who are seeking faith, who want to enter the Church, but there are so many in our universities, so many immigrants from non-Christian--even Communist-- countries, who could be vigorously engaged.* ["Reconstructing the Courtyard of the Gentiles," Fr. Landry's editorial in the Anchor](http://www.catholicpreaching.com/index.php?content=articles&articles=20110408anchor)* [Pope Benedict's remarks to the Courtyard of the Gentiles](http://www.oecumene.radiovaticana.org/en1/Articolo.asp?c=473261)**3rd segment:** On April 5, the bishops of the four dioceses in Massachusetts appointed a new executive director for the Mass. Catholic Conference, James F. Driscoll, a resident of Scituate and parishioner at St. Mary of the Nativity in Scituate. Gregory met Jim Driscoll yesterday when he stopped by the Pilot's office. Gregory had a good impression of him and believes he will serve well as head of the conference, which is the Mass. bishops' voice before the legislators on Beacon Hill. It is the Church's major way to engage in the public square on major issues.Fr. Landry said the MCC spends a lot of time lobbying on Beacon Hill, but it also supports other initiatives such as when parishioners were being mobilized to contact their legislators on the issue of marriage in this state. So their two focuses are on lobbying--offering the Church's wisdom when it would be helpful--but also helping churches to educate and mobilize people. Driscoll has a lot of experience in state government, having worked in the state auditor's office and, before that, in the Lottery Commission.He replaces Gerry D'Avolio, who was interim director after the sudden death of Ed Saunders last year.One of the issues the MCC is advocating is for the state to do a cost-benefit analysis on the proposed legalization of casino gambling. Susan said the Church has always been an advocate for the poor and studies have consistently showed that legalized gambling always affects the poor disproportionately. Cathy Davis at the MCC said there has already been an acknowledgement that there will be a societal cost, but it has not been quantified yet, while proponents have been advancing predictions of the windfalls the casinos will produce. Studies show that 70-90 percent of profits in casinos come from 10 percents of gamblers. They also show that when casinos open, the community sees massive increases in violent crime.There have been several attempts to build casinos in the Fall River area. Fr. Landry said that unfortunately lawmakers approach the subject like gamblers: that even though everyone else loses, the luck will turn this time and they will hit the jackpot. It's often touted as a job creation initiative, but they bring the lowest-level jobs and kill jobs when customers move away from local businesses to the casinos. Casinos are seen as a panacea for what ails us, but they present us with an expensive bill.Gregory said casinos seem to be proposed every few years, and readers of the Pilot often question why the Church is opposed to casinos when many Catholic parishes offer Bingo games. But the Church says that recreational gambling can be legitimate. The difference is that casinos bring about the misery that has been talked about and are much more likely to bring about addiction.* [Executive Director of Massachusetts Catholic Conference named](http://pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13195)* [Mass. Catholic Conference](http://macathconf.org/)* The Anchor will have an article available on Friday about the casino question**4th segment:** The head of the Vatican Congregation for Saints' Causes said Pope John Paul II is being beatified not for his impact on history or on the Catholic Church, but because of the way he lived the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love. Susan said Pope John Paul II is being beatified, not for his pontificate, but for his personal holiness. When we die, we will stand before God without titles, but only as a child of God.Joaquin Navarro-Valls, JP2's spokesman, said the Pope lived and acted and related to everyone he met with the firm belief that each person was created in the image and likeness of God.Gregory said the Pope radiated holiness and even in his final days, the people saw and felt his love for them each. This was one of the reasons the people cried out for his canonization.Three steps for the cause of a saint are the consideration of the vox populi, the voice of the people, declaring his holiness; then the vox Dei, the voice of God, seen in miracles through his intercession; and the vox ecclesiae, the voice of the Church, declaring his Christian virtues and whether he lived a life of heroic faith and love. The Church looks at all his public acts and his public faith and all of his writings. At the end of the process, a report is produced and if they can say this person lived heroic faith, it is passed to the Congregation for Saints. They would send it to the Pope. If he agrees, they then look at miracles that can be attributed to the intercession of the person. There have been 250 miracles submitted for the beatification of John Paul II, but only one is accepted as representing God's certification of his being in heaven. After that, there must be a new miracle that occurs after beatification to declare a canonization.There was a miracle in Fr. Landry's own parish, Joe Amaral, who hadn't walked in decades. His story was shown on ABC's 20/20. He had prayed one day for the grace to accept the will of God for his own condition like John Paul had accepted his own Parkinson's disease. He immediately was cured and was able to walk. He had been previously on able to move about only with great difficulty and now walks with ease. He now walks door to door in New Bedford to tell people that Jesus Christ has the power to heal sins and heal ailments.* ["John Paul II being beatified for holiness, not his papacy, speakers say" (The Pilot)](http://pilotcatholicnews.com/article.asp?ID=13188)* [Joe Amaral's miraculous healing](http://www.saintanthonynewbedford.com/index.php?content=Miracle)**5th segment:** Heartwarming story from the Inner-City Scholarship Fund dinner at the end of March, which raised $2.4 million for scholarships for students from families that couldn't afford tuition at Catholic schools. The keynote was by Rudy Favard, a senior at Malden Catholic, who was profiled in the Boston Globe just before Christmas for his volunteer work helping a local family care for a disabled young boy. He goes to the family's home four days per week. He said at the dinner that through his mother's hard work and generosity of the donors at the ICSF dinner, that God has given him an education and opportunity like he has had.Susan said she likes to think that there are many Rudy's out there. She was struck in the original story by his request to the reporter that story should be more about the young boy he serves than about himself. Susan was also gratified that it seems that all the attention has not gone to his head.Fr. Landry said that what struck him was the nurse at Malden Catholic who had taken the responsibility to ask and Rudy happened to be the first she met and asked. It was the asking and knowing that young people have a lot to give. Pope John Paul II had always said that we should challenge and ask young people to give of themselves. Fr. Landry said he has often seen young people respond to being asked and you see many beautiful stories like Rudy Favard's and we are reinvigorated by the beauty of the youth who serve.This past weekend, the same Globe reporter gave an update this past weekend on Rudy and the Parker family. Rudy is very concerned at what will happen to the Parkers when he leaves. He said he would prefer that rather than receive the $5,000 scholarship he was given, that the Parkers should receive the money to help them get a handicapped-accessible house.* ["A Simple Act Elevates All" (The Boston Globe)](http://www.boston.com/community/stories_to_inspire/articles/2010/12/23/a_teenagers_simple_act_elevates_all/)* ["Families Face Next Hurdles" (The Boston Globe)](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/04/03/families_face_next_hurdles/)In the Anchor this week will be a column by Fr. Tad Paholczyk in which he tells the story of Tim Roach, an unemployed father of two in the Minneapolis area who was finally offered a very good job. But he learned that he was going to be the electrical supervisor on the work being done for a new Planned Parenthood facility being built. He refused to cooperate with the evil that would have happened there. He would have been facilitating that evil. He made a heroic decision not to sell his soul for a $70,000 salary, even with all the difficulties that would result for his family. Susan said the act of courage turning down a job is not just admirable, but is virtuous and heroic.* The Anchor will have Fr. Tad's column on its website on FridayFr. Landry finished the show by relating that his parish now has a new bulletin through [Parish Bulletins](http://www.pilotbulletins.net), part of the Catholic Media Secretariat of the Archdiocese of Boston.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams **Today's guest(s):** Bob Rice, professor of catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville, author, musician, youth minister, worship leader * [Bob Rice's website](http://www.bob-rice.com) * [Franciscan University of Steubenville](http://www.franciscan.edu) * [Bob's music on iTunes](http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=152205628) * To learn about any of the events discussed here and to register, go to the website of the Office for the [New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults](http://www.one4boston.org) **Today's topics:** Bob Rice is coming to Boston for training in adolescent catechesis, young adult ministry, and to lead a retreat for youth ministers. **A summary of today's show:** Bob Rice--professor, speaker, youth leader, musician, and author--talks with Scot and Fr. Matt about the challenge of reaching out to youth, not just to fill them with information, but to form them in a transformation and a life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ. Bob has also written a new novel that lets us walk with St. Peter through the Gospels. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Matt and noted that Fr Matt and his team at Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults have been working very hard. They had the Eucharistic Congress last weekend, the Youth Ministry Awards Dinner last night, and three more events this week. The Congress was fantastic, he said. They had more than 500 participants and they had a huge turnout from colleges. The powerful aspect of this weekend was the focus on Pope John Paul II. All of the talks drew on his teachings. See the photos on [Flickr.com/BostonCatholic](http://www.flickr.com/BostonCatholic). They had the vocation monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II, and the College of St. Mary Magdalene Choir sung during the procession through the streets of the North End. Some people who saw this were moved to tears, some were mocking, but most were awed by what they saw. Some participants were assigned to go up to the people watching and introduce them to what was going on. Last night was the Awards Dinner for Youth. They are trying to tell the story of the good news that is going on among youth in the Archdiocese. The dinner has been going on for more than 50 years, but it was reinvigorated over the past few years. Last night they gave out more than 100 awards to youth and adults. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Matt welcome Bob Rice to the show. Bob will be in Boston this week for three different events. On Thursday, 9am-3:30, a catechesis on adolescent catechesis; on Thursday night, 7 pm, City Side Bar in Brighton, Theology on Tap; and on Friday, a mini-retreat day for anyone who ministers to youth. The symposium will be for those involved in passing on the faith to young teenagers and talk about the keys to catechizing young people today. The goal of catechesis is intimacy with Jesus Christ. Many times we have a classroom stereotype of religious education, but while it can be done in the classroom, the goal of catechesis is transform lives. The heart of catechesis and how we can bring young people to conversion in any setting. He travels around the country about once or twice per month bringing this message of catechesis to people working with youth, as well as doing this as his full-time job at Franciscan University, teaching catechesis to college students who will go out and do the same. On Thursday, he will be giving three talks: Forming a Catholic worldview; dynamic and effective catechesis; and "God doesn't care about your ministry." The first talk will jump off from St. Paul in Romans where he said that the goal is that we need to transform our mind to God's will so we know what it is. So often in catechesis we train them in what to think, not how to think. We often fill them with information but we don't give them formation. Effective catechesis asks how we can gear catechesis that isn't just informational, but transformational and lead to deeper intimacy with Jesus Christ. The last talk is a wake-up call. It isn't all about us. God doesn't care what we do for Him. He cares about what we *are* for Him. Many times, as catechists, we can get caught up in replacing our own spirituality with the ministry we do and we miss the very intimacy that we're trying to lead young people to. The Theology on Tap's theme is "You're going to die and other good news." Bob said that we live in a society that tries to avoid death. We are shocked by it, even though it is the most natural thing in the world. In our faith it is not something to be afraid. God has revealed some pretty good news about it. We should be prepared for it. The everlasting life we should want to live and the everlasting damnation we should want to avoid; what is heaven, what is hell; purgatory: This is what will be covered. Bob and Scot joked that you need one or two beers to understand eschatology. Fr. Matt said the Eucharistic Congress this past weekend promoted the Theology on Tap as a great followup for participants. He said we often hear people say that they are "spiritual, but not religious." He asked Bob how you begin to address that with young adults. The big question is what they mean by "religious"? What he thinks they often mean is a focus on rituals and an experience of God that doesn't speak to their heart, and sadly every major Christian denomination, including Catholics, can be guilty of falling into a ritualism that doesn't invite people into greater intimacy. Of course, what the Church teaches is far from that. Receiving the Eucharist should be one of the most intimate things we can do. Sometimes that not the perception because we haven't reached out to young adults very well. They would rather have the unstructured one-on-one relationship with God. What we need to show, as catechists, is that God dwells among His community. The sacraments are a way to deeper intimacy with God. Theology on Tap is right in line with John Paul II's message that we need to engage the culture where it's at. He will be only speaking about what the Church actually teaches, not his speculation on what heaven is like, and it is amazing. The distinction between spiritual and religious can fade and you can become someone who is spiritually religious. Fr. Matt said he has had good conversations with both a Hindu and a Muslim and when you talk to them about the practice of their faith an how their parents practiced their faith, they have the same line as many of the Catholic young adults: "I'm spiritual, not religious. I don't need to go to a temple to worship God." It's something epidemic in Western culture. Scot asked whether it's becaue of the hyper-individualism in our culture, where people don't want to be part of a larger organization that has rules and tough requirements, as any rigorous religion would ask. Bob said another part of the equation is rampant consumerism. A lot of young people treat community like consumers. Especially with social media, we can block out people we don't like and connect with people we do like to create a false sense of community and become illiterate about communicating with each other. So we walk into a church and if we don't like the priest or we don't like the person sitting next to us, then everything in society would tells us to find a new priest, find a new person to sit next to; You can better on your own; you can customize things to yourself. This is a whole consumer market driven at young people. So it makes sense they see religion that way. They don't want to sit through a homily that's too long or listen to a homily they don't agree with. We've taught them have zero tolerance for anything that doesn't satisfy them, in any kind of relationship. (This is why we have problems getting them to marry each other.) This affects relationships in community and a relationship with God, as in the real God, not God as they would hope Him to be. Scot asked Bob if talking about the End Things helps people to put things into proper focus since our society avoids thinking about death. Bob said the more society avoids talking about death, the more of an unreal life we live. He's had opportunity to do mission work both in Mexico and Haiti, and death is very prevalent. In Haiti, you are confronted with the reality of the shortness of your life. If you think you're immortal, then you have really weird thoughts about heaven and hell. Death is final. You can have an opinion about heaven, but the only opinion that counts is the one from the only Person who died and rose from the dead. Whether you like it or not and no matter what you believe in, there is going to be a reality to heaven, hell, and purgatory. God revealed all these things in His love so we can be prepared for it. Fr. Matt thinks of his parents how were catechists for many years and he was a catechist himself and he struggled with the apathy among the young people he encountered. How does a catechist break through the religious apathy? Bob recalled that Pope Paul VI said in [Evangelii nuntiandi](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_p-vi_exh_19751208_evangelii-nuntiandi_en.html) that "Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses." Young people need to first encounter someone who has a transformed life because they have encountered Jesus Christ. Sometimes we have people in our parishes who don't feel equipped to share their witness, so they just go by the book and don't open up about what God means in their life. If the young person doesn't see incarnate what it means to follow Jesus Christ, then everything else is just academic. We also need to inculturate the language, to speak in ways that young people understand, to not be afraid of culture. We need to engage and find where God is present in it and build a Church within it. We often speak a churchy language, and don't use the elements of their own culture that points to God's love for us. **3rd segment:** Scot asked about someone who wants to be the best catechist they can be, but aren't sure how to relate to young people because they're 50 or 60 or 70. How do you equip yourself? Bob said that to start with you should go to the Adolescent Catechesis Symposia sponsored by Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults. There is a bit of training involved though. You can't approach it lightly. The [General Directory for Catechesis](http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_ccatheduc_doc_17041998_directory-for-catechesis_en.html) says, in terms of working with young people, that we need to have more of a missionary attitude toward young people than a strictly academic one. Sometimes we jump right into catechesis but we never approach them as a missionary. A missionary learns about the culture, lives among the people, speaks their language. That can be difficult, but it needs to be done first. There is no shortcut. Otherwise we read from a book and the teens are bored to tears. You need to be part of the culture: Listen to the music young people listen to, watch TV shows they watch, read the books they're reading. It is part of your homework. You don't need to watch an entire season of a show, but you can watch one episode. If you work with young people, but haven't read "Twilight" or seen the movies, you're missing out on a cultural opportunity to shgow where God can be found in that. Some people want to say that everything in youth culture is evil or wrong, but culture is made by men and women who are made in the image and likeness of God. In the Second Vatican Council document [Ad Gentes](http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651207_ad-gentes_en.html), which was about missionary work, it said we need to live among people so we can "lay bare the seeds of the Word which lie hidden among their fellows." Those seeds are in the culture and we need to help them see that. Fr. Matt said we often look at culture or the world and we say "bad". But a Catholic viewpoint looks at culture and the world and see the things that are good, beautiful and true. Working with young people to be able to see those things, how can we see instead how to use those things for good? Bob said that certainly there are things that are bad in culture, but when we critique culture, we critique the young people because they are intimately connected to it. When we can find what is good in the culture then we can say what it is good *and* bad. We can help them be more literate in understanding the messages that the media is giving them. A young person spends on average about 8.5 hours per day with media. We have to help them understand what kind of messages they're digesting. Rome itself shows how the Church didn't run away from culture, but transformed it, right down to churches that used to be places of pagan sacrifice. Pope John Paul II used to say that we need to impregnate the culture with the Word of God. Scot said he's been amazed while reading Pope Benedict XVI's comments on new media and Bishop Ron Herzog of the US bishops' conference Committee on Communication, who [said](http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/2010/11/as-great-challenge-as-reformation.html), Facebook has changed not only the way people receive and share information, but how they communicate. He asked how much of getting to understand young people involve using these new media tools? Bob said it's absolutely essential. When you have media, you have a new language which is limited. Communicating the Gospel through Facebook isn't easy. It's almost easier to communicate Shakespeare with smoke signals. There's a depth to the message that the medium doesn't allow us to connect. So we can use social media in a way that preaches the Word of God through actual relationships. We need to pull them into a place where they can experience real community and authentic teaching. But that's another stage of evangelization. We need to go where they're at first. Pope John Paul II said in [Redemptoris Missio](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_07121990_redemptoris-missio_en.html) that we need to have the media communicate Gospel values, not just merely as a preaching of the Gospel message. We need EWTN, but we also need to find a way to get Catholic values on NBC and Fox and TV shows and novels and music. Not just praise music, but we need to be thinking bigger. **4th segment:** Bob has many talents. He has released 8 albums. He said he has been blessed with music. Currently he leads all the worship music for the Steubenville summer conferences, both adult and youth. It's been a passion of his. He's planning to sing a little at Theology on Tap. Fr. Matt recalls when he was a seminarian and serving an internship at Immaculate Conception in Newburyport that Bob and Bob Lefnesky came in during the youth group's 30 Hour Famine to do a show and some comedy skits. Fr. Matt is always struck by how deeply theological and biblically based his music is, how it gives glory to God, and teaches the listener some aspect of a relationship with God. Bob said that is his aim. He loves the ancient hymns. They were just doctrine put to music and stirred the soul, because doctrine is just something about who Jesus is. Scot asked how he goes about writing songs? Bob said songs usually come to him when he's supposed to be doing something else. They just hit him. They usually start with a phrase or thought that connects to an emotion or a thought about God. He writes a lot of bad songs that no one ever hears. He doesn't sit down to write songs. Recently, Bob took on a project to write a novel about St. Peter's relationship with Jesus, "Between the Savior and the Sea". It's the Gospel story from Peter's point of view. All of the Evangelists spend a lot of time letting us get to know Peter and question is why the Gospels say so much about Peter. In all of Scripture gives us the most detailed version of what it means to follow Christ. Bob did a lot of research and even went to the Holy Land to get everything accurate, right down to the food and buildings. Scot asked how Bob integrated the words of Jesus from the Scriptures into the book? Bob anchors the book on all the Gospel stories. He would write narrative bridges between those Gospel stories. For example, when the disciples were sent out two-by-two, we don't know where they went or did, but in Bob's novel we follow Peter on his journey and see what it was like for him to preach the Gospel and heal someone and cast out a demon. But then they go back to the feeding of the five thousand. The book weaves in and out of what we see in Scripture and the narrative bridges that the Gospels don't care. He did it in a way that's faithful to Catholic doctrine and who Peter was. Ideally, it gives an accurate depiction of the Gospel stories and will inspire someone to read the Gospels themselves. The novel ends at John, Chapter 21, where Jesus calls Peter the second time: "Peter, do you love me?" Fr. Matt asked what inspired Bob to write this novel and who his intended audience is. Bob said he hopes it appeals to all ages. When Bob goes out to speak and preach, he tries to use his theatrical background to bring the Gospel stories to life. These stories tell us who God is. After doing this for a long time, he decided to try his hand at writing the Gospel stories, but in his first attempts he was stunned at how many stories he had to put in between the Gospel stories to make the narrative cohesive because the Gospel was not written in a narrative style. It took about 3 years and he's never worked harder on anything. Scot asked Bob how his devotion to St. Peter was affected by these 3 years of spending so time reflecting on his life. Bob said he was so sad as he wrote the last page because he had been walking the streets of Galilee and Jerusalem with Peter and Jesus and all the apostles. It brought him closer to all the apostles. He tried to flesh out each of the 12 apostles as individuals with all their strengths and flaws of character. It became a community which he got know and walk with. As he walked away from the book, he also had to recognize that these characters were not really the apostles. He couldn't fall in love with his own fictitious version of who he thought they were. It could have been who they were, but there's a greater depth to a person than can be found in a novel. So in his relationship with Jesus he wants Him to be bigger than the book and the words on a page. Bob didn't invent any new flaws for St. Peter beyond what is found in the Gospels. If anything he tried to show what kind of heroic virtue St. Peter had. Sometimes we think of him failing, of sinking in the water as his faith wavered, but we don't reflect on, hey here's a guy who walked on water in the first place. Here's a guy willing to fight to for Jesus in the garden and followed Jesus into the courtyard when everyone else ran away. He's an exceptional man of God who had an exceptional call, but like any of us he struggled between his divine call and his human will. Bob said he always wondered why Jesus told Peter that he would deny him three times and Peter said he would not, then turns around and denies him almost right away. As he was reflecting on the story, Bob realized that when Simon Peter was in the garden and he was swinging his sword at the high priest's servant, he was willing to give his life. It was probably ringing in his mind that he would not deny Jesus, that he would give his life for Him. And he dove in there alone. Maybe he was stunned that Jesus told him to stop and perhaps he considered that he'd already proven himself against the denial. Then in the courtyard, the encounter with the slave girl and others came as surprise: "Wait, this was the test?" We can often be geared up for the big battles in our life, but it's the small things where we fall and fail and where we end up denying Christ. We can be great Christians on retreat or in youth group, but what we do when we're alone on the computer or among friends and things go in the wrong direction? But like Peter, Christ always calls us back with love. On the mini-retreat day on Friday for people who work with youth, it is important know that it is a retreat, not training. It is a time for youth ministers to be refreshed in their own faith, to be with others in similar ministry to encourage each other and strengthen each other. It's not too late to sign up at the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults website. **5th segment:** It’s time to announce the winner of this week’s **WQOM Benefactor Raffle**. Our prize this week is a copy of [“Time for Mercy,”](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0944203841/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0944203841) a film narrated by Joseph Campanella. This award-winning video explores signs of God's mercy in our time, and takes an unflinching look at the biblical witness of God's judgement and mercy, the offer of God's mercy in Christ, and the troubles of today's world. This week’s winner is **Mary Boudreau from Norwood, MA**. Congratulations Mary! **6th segment:** Tonight is the fourth Wednesday of [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org). Every Church in the Archdiocese is open from 6:30-8:00pm tonight for Confessions. If you need to locate a church along your commute, please visit [PilotParishFinder.com](http://www.pilotparishfinder.com) or download the PilotParishFinder app for your iPhone or Android device. Since Wednesday evenings during Lent are big Confession evenings, we’ll take questions submitted by listeners on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. If you have a question, please email [email protected], text or call us at 617-410-MASS (6277). * What happens if you forget to confess a mortal sin at confession? First, you have to ask if you just forgot (you were nervous or forgot to make a list) or if it was intentional. If you just forgot, God's mercy covers that sin and you have received absolution. It's still good to talk to the priest next time in confession about it to get advice and direction. If you hold back intentionally, that sin is not forgiven. You have to be ready to let go or be sorry for that sin. You walk away with that sin still on you. You have not experienced a full reconciliation with God. You have not been restored. You still have the stain of mortal sin and you're not supposed to go to confession. The lesson of the Blessed Mother shows us how she was preserved from the stain of Original Sin to prepare her to be an immaculate tabernacle receiving the Lord. In the same way, we need to be purified from mortal sin in order to receive the Lord. Mortal sin kills us and wounds us in our relationship with the Lord. Scot said that embarassment shouldn't hold you back from confessing a sin. You will not shock the priest with anything he hasn't heard before. And then burden of a sin that you don't confess deliberately grows even greater the longer you hold on to it. God wants to relieve that burden of you and He can through the power he has given to his priests. Tonight the Light Is On For You and it's on because there is a priest waiting to help you be relieved of that burden.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Carl A. Anderson, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Karen Walters from the Catholic Leadership Institute, and Linda DeCristoforo, Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea * [The Knights of Columbus](http://www.kofc.org) * [Boston Leadership Forum](http://www.bostonleadershipforum.com) * [John F. Kennedy's inaugural address](http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jfkinaugural.htm) * [Catholic Leadership Institute](http://www.catholicleaders.org/) * [Tending the Talents](http://www.catholicleaders.org/programs_pdld.aspx) * [Good Leaders, Good Shepherds](http://www.catholicleaders.org/programs_GLGS.aspx) * [James F. Driscoll named Executive Director of the Mass. Catholic Conference](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=19944) * [Massachusetts Catholic Conference](http://www.macathconf.org/) **Today's topics:** Catholic Leadership Institute's Tending the Talents program launched nationally in the Archdiocese of Boston 18 months ago; Carl Anderson's speech this Thursday at Fanueil Hall on John F. Kennedy's inaugural address **A summary of today's show:** On today's show, Supreme Knight Carl Anderson calls John F. Kennedy's inaugural address is one of the most eloquent expressions of human rights and dignity in history and reconciles it with his famous "Houston" speech on his Catholic faith. Also, the Catholic Leadership Institute is preparing a generation of laity to assist their pastors in leadership in the Church and the Massachusetts Catholic Conference has a new executive director. **1st segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcome Carl A. Anderson via phone. On Thursday, 5:30pm at Fanueil Hall, he will be delivering an address called “Making God’s Work our Own: The Continued Importance of President John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address 50 Years Later.” Carl said the address was so inspiring for so many Americans, that "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country," became a byword. The Knights have always been proud that JFK was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. They were surprised that so little was being done in general to mark the 50th anniversary of the speech and so they set out to properly mark the event. (To RSVP for the address on Thursday please email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) or call 203-752-4483. The event is co-sponsored by the Boston Leadership Forum, which brings speakers to downtown Boston.) Scot said one of the more powerful lines is "the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." Carl said this is the main statement he will address in the speech he will deliver on Thursday. The Knights led the movement to have the words "under God" added to the Pledge of Allegiance because they hold to the truth that the rights and human dignity we possess is a gift not from the State, with discretion to give and take, but is ingrained in the human person by God, that it is intrinsic to us. These rights are superior and precede the State. There is a standard which government must measure itself by, not political power, but a moral standard. This is key to Kennedy's thinking, to his address, and to America. Fr. Chris said much of the inaugural address sounds so much like [Gaudium et Spes](http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html), the pastoral constitution on the modern world from Vatican II. You can see the relationship between the speech and Vatican II. Carl said it's not a coincidence that the speech opens with a recognition of God's authority and closes with a recognition of the duty of to provide for our fellow man under the authority of God. It's known that then-Cardinal Montini, who later became Pope Paul VI, heard and then studied the address and it may have informed his encyclicals on social justice including [Populurum Progressio](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_26031967_populorum_en.html). In the address, Kennedy said: >We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. Carl said that while JFK famously said he would not let his Catholic faith impose itself on the government of the US, his inaugural also shows that he would let his Catholic faith and its fundamental principles about the nature of Man inform how he governed. A nation is a living organism, an expression of a people with a culture and history and roots. Kennedy's address is one of the most eloquent addresses in history because of the kind of human rights it articulated. Carl feels strongly that heritage is important to pass on to our children because the lesson of the last century is that freedom is only one generation from passing away. Fr. Chris was struck by the hopefulness of the speech: "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." He sees a masterful use of words to display optimism and hope. Carl said this is the fourth pillar of his own speech this Thursday. Catholics reading JFK's speech can see a resonance with their own worldview. Scot asked how Catholics can reconcile this speech with the speech JFK gave weeks earlier in Houston in which some, including Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver, say he privatized the religious faith of public officials. Carl said in the context of the vicious anti-Catholic presidential campaign, JFK was addressing a different kind of audience before his election than those he was addressing after his election when he'd broken through that barrier. He also said both speeches should be read together to see JFK was not abandoning these fundamental issues. After all in Houston, JFK said he would not impose his religious belief on the country, but if there comes a time when his religious faith comes in conflict with the duties of his office, he would resign his office, not his Catholicism. Too many Catholics in public office today opt to resign their Catholicism. On the subject of the Knights of Columbus, in 1981 they had 1.3 million members, and now Carl noted that today they have 1.8 million members with 40 years of consecutive annual membership growth and $80 billion of life insurance in force for KofC families. Last year, local councils gave $150 million to charity. The growth continues to produce more works of charity to make our parishes and communities better. Fr. Chris said as a priest and as a seminary vice-rector he knows of the works of the Knights to support both parishes and seminarians. Carl said they are proud to support seminarians in so many countries. He said they are also proud that a fellow Knight, Sargent Shriver, started [Special Olympics](http://www.specialolympics.org/) and they continue that support. They support the [Wheelchair Foundation](http://www.wheelchairfoundation.org/) to provide wheelchairs to the poor worldwide. After the Haiti earthquake, they decided that every amputee child in Haiti would receive a prosthetic arm or leg. They are partnering with [Project MediShare](http://www.projectmedishare.org/) in Haiti. They provide food and flood assistance in Mexico and the Philippines. At the local level, they are doing what people need. If a family is struck with tragedy they are there to help. They provided $11 million after Katrina to help the Gulf Coast. There are also 70 million volunteer-hours of Knights of Columbus in parishes and communities. Men who aren't Knights already will become a better Catholic man, husband, father, citizen, and parishioner as Knights. It's a place they can increase their own spiritual life and devotional life, but also help their family and their community. Get involved and do yourself and your family a world of good. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris discuss their interview with Carl Anderson. Scot noted that the Kennedy family in recent years have been criticized for not putting Catholic teaching into practice in their public service, but the JFK inaugural speech is obviously Catholic faith being put into action. Fr. Chris said it shows that faith is not something we hide or keep in a back room, but use to bring us closer to the Lord and to our neighbor. Carl Anderson's book ["A Civilization of Love"](http://www.acivilizationoflove.com/cl/index.html) ([Link to purchase on Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GAN3GE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=catholicnetrevie&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B003GAN3GE)) articulated a lot of Catholic social teaching as a very easy read. He was clear in stressing that human dignity is a gift from God, not a gift of the State. Fr. Chris was happy to see that he wasn't afraid to take on politicians today who would compartmentalize their faith. Carl is often called the leading Catholic layman today. He has been appointed to many Vatican and Church organizations as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life (1998) and the Pontifical Council for the Laity (2002), and as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace (2003). Pope Benedict XVI has appointed him as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Social Communications (2007) and as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Family (2008). He is a member of the Board of Superintendence of the (I.O.R.) (Institute for the Works of Religion - Vatican Bank) (2009) and has served as a consultant to the Pro-Life Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) since 2002. Fr. Chris recalled how one local Knights council in one of his parishes built a handicapped ramp at the home of a young man in a wheelchair. Scot also noted that the Knights of Columbus also gives to the Church on the macro level, giving a loan to the Archdiocese of Boston when Cardinal Seán first came to Boston to help the archdiocese stay on a steady financial footing. They also paid to restore the Bernini colonnade around St. Peter's Square. (Actually it was the façade of St. Peter's Basilica that the Knights [funded the restoration](http://www.kofc.org/un/en/news/releases/detail/60212.html).) The Knights offer monetary support to seminarians so the seminarians can stay focused on their formation and studies. Fr. Chris said we often see the Knights outside supermarkets selling Tootsie Rolls to raise funds to help the vulnerable, poor, and marginalized. They are also very active in pro-life work. Scot said he plans to be at the speech on Thursday and Fr. Chris said St. John seminary is bringing its seminarians as well, not just to show support for the Knights, but also to educate and inform them on the intersection of faith and politics in the public square. **3rd segment:** Fr. Chris and Scot welcome Karen Walters from the Catholic Leadership Institute and Linda DeCristoforo, Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea. Linda and her 16 classmates are graduating today from the Tending the Talents program. Karen said the group has been learning to lead how to lead in five contexts: self, one-to-one, team, organization, and the overall Church. Growing in self-knowledge is the first step. Linda said they used a [DISC profile inventory](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DISC_assessment) to look at their own personality types and to see the variety of personality types of the people they work with, and to learn the tools to improve relationships with others. Karen said the curriculum is based on the leadership in context model. We use certain practices when we lead and we use them differently depending on the context. We need to be aware of how we're leading and what context we're in. Fr. Chris asked about conflict resolution in the training. Linda said they learned how to look at conflict pastorally, to be compassionate, and to be able to speak on what the Church teaches on whatever the conflict is about. Sometimes it means to move on. Fr. Chris asked about the time commitment. Linda said they had two full days every other month and online homework in between those gatherings. Leadership in the Church context is different from corporate leadership. The main difference is that CLI follows the model of Jesus' leadership of the apostles and that of the apostles leading the Church, plus they incorporate the teachings of saints. But they also include best practices from the corporate world. It's also not just about the outcome, but the process for how they get there, including caring for the dignity of all those involved. Linda said her favorite topic was studying her key responsibility areas for her personal life and then within her ministry. From that they were able to set goals, which gave her a better sense of her ministry and in the context of leadership. She said it was helpful for her own self to be self-reflective and then to articulate to her co-workers so that everyone is on the same page. Fr Chris said many of his brother priests rave about the Good Leaders Good Shepherds program for priests. Karen said it is the same model of leadership in context. The key difference is that in Tending the Talents there is more that takes place away from the classroom and instead takes place online. In the GLGS program there is more content about building fraternity among the priests. Tending the Talents is now in 8 dioceses with about 200 people participating. This program in Boston was the first in the country. Boston is also the first diocese to take part in all the programs of the Catholic Leadership Institute. Linda's pastor went through Good Leaders Good Shepherds and hearing him talk about it made her curious, and now that they've both been through the same process they are on the same page with the same vision for their parish. Karen said they found it important for priests and lay leaders to have this sort of formation because the unfortunate reality in the Church is we're losing more priests than we're gaining every year. The average pastor becomes pastor with less experience and has a larger parish than ever. He also needs to rely more often on the laity to help him lead. Scot said his sense is that in the old days, the seminary formation assumed many years of apprenticeship with experienced pastors. Karen said priests are formed to teach, sanctify, and govern. The first two happen very well in seminaries, but governing was often neglected. They work to cover that gap for priests and to give the skills to lay people to help them. **4th segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris discuss the appointment of James F. Driscoll as executive director of the Massachusetts Catholic Conference. He succeeds Gerry D'Avolio, who came back as interim director after the sudden passing of Ed Saunders last year. From the press release announcing his appointment, the Massachusetts bishops said: >"We are pleased to welcome Jim Driscoll as Executive Director. He is an experienced professional and dedicated Catholic who shares our common belief regarding the important role and mission of the Church. The Catholic Church in Massachusetts plays a pivotal role across a wide landscape that intersects secular society and the ministry of the Church. We seek to reach common ground on many issues, while working to advance the important positions of the Church in the areas of life, human dignity and social justice.” Scot said the Mass. Catholic Conference is the organized voice of the Catholic Church in Massachusetts on Beacon Hill. It applies Church teaching to the common good in public policy and speaks with one voice on behalf of all Catholics in the public square. Catholics look to the bishops for leadership on these social issues, including life issues, family issues, and more. They provide moral leadership and a definition of complex issues from a Catholic point of view. The four dioceses of Massachusetts are Boston, Worcester, Fall River, and Springfield. The Conference has existed since 1969. Each state has a conference of its own. Fr. Chris said Catholic social teaching is not just for Catholics but serves the common human good and respects human dignity. It challenges the State and us as Catholics to recognize the common good. Scot also wanted to mention Dan Avila, the associate director for policy and research, and Catherine Davis and Kathy Magno who also work at the Mass. Catholic Conference. They have continued all of the work of the conference during the change in leadership in the past year. Fr. Chris said they have a strong moral theology program at St. John's to help the seminarians articulate the Church's teaching. They also bring in bioethics experts from around the country to help them articulate these very complex matters. The field changes so quickly that it's a constant work of learning.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Fr. Antonio Medeiros and Fr. Emanuele De Nigris, the Rector and Vice-Rector of the Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Brookline. * [Redemptoris Mater Seminary](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/redemptorismater.aspx) * [Cardinal Seán's 2011 trip to the Holy Land with the NeoCatechumenal Way](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2011/02/04/visiting-the-holy-land/) * [Cardinal Seán meets with the seminarians in 2009](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2009/09/25/gathering-with-the-seminarians-of-the-neocatechumenal-way/) * [Cardinal Seán's Mass of the Holy Spirit at Redemptoris Mater, 2009](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/09/10/taking-a-boston-duck-tour/) * [Redemptoris Mater Seminary gala dinner, 2010](http://www.cardinalseansblog.org/2010/05/21/marking-the-year-for-priests-with-the-sisters-of-st-joseph/) * [The Neocatechumenal Way](http://www.camminoneocatecumenale.it/new/default.asp?lang=en) **Today's topics:** The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Boston, forming men from around the world to be missionaries right here in Massachusetts **A summary of today's show:** The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary is the least-known and newest of Boston's three archdiocesan seminaries, but it is currently forming one-third of the archdiocese's seminarians. The 18 men come from around the world to become archdiocesan priests with missionary hearts, who will serve in Boston or in the missions at the local ordinary's discretion. Also, on May 15, the RM Seminary will honor the Pope's apostolic nuncio to the US at a gala dinner. **1st segment:** Cardinal Seán often says that "vocations are everyone's business." We need to pray for vocations and to encourage young people to consider where God is calling them. We have three archdiocesan seminaries: St. John Seminary in Brighton and Blessed John XXIII National Seminary in Weston, and then Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary, which has 1/3 of all Boston seminarians. Redemptoris Mater Seminary is both “Archdiocesan” and “Missionary” and one of its goals is to prepare priests for the New Evangelization, both within our Archdiocese and then also in the missions. The Redemptoris Mater Seminary is preparing priests to do just that. Our Archdiocese of Boston has had a tremendous tradition of supporting the missions and the people around the world, sending many priests to the Saint James Society and to serve as chaplains in the Military. The Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary is continuing that tradition and also introducing many new things to the life of our Archdiocese. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomed Fr. Medeiros and Fr. De Nigris to the program. Scot said he found all the priests and seminarians at RMSB to have very varied backgrounds. He noted that Fr. Tony was born in the Azores and then moved to Fall River in 1980 with his family when he was 16, not speaking any English at the time. (He now speaks 7 languages.) He came to know a priest who moved him and who inspired Fr. Tony to want to become a priest. He started the path through seminary education in 1982 and entered St. John's in 1986. He struggled during those years in the seminary to determine that this was indeed the vocation God was calling him to. He left the seminary and spent time in Rome in discernment. He attended [World Youth Day in 1989](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/youth/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_27111988_iv-world-youth-day_en.html) in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. He heard John Paul II's call to young men to be holy and to follow God's call. Fr. Tony talked with his friends in the Neocatechumenal Way, which he had joined by then, who helped him to see his vocation. In 1993 he was ordained for the Diocese of Rome after attending the first Redemptoris Mater Seminary, which had been opened by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained by the Holy Father. Fr. Tony said JP2 did the greatest service to the Church by offering intense personal witness of his life, his spirit, and his courage. Later, Fr. Tony was sent to China where he was to lead a new Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Hong Kong. Fr. Tony said he learned to follow the footsteps of Christ, where Jesus walked before Fr. Tony followed. A lot of the first work involved learning the language and the culture, establishing contacts. He had to learn the Cantonese language only after he arrived. Then, moving to Taiwan, he learned Mandarin. Cardinal Seán asked Fr. Tony to come and found a new Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Boston in 2005. Cardinal Seán learned about the RM seminaries when he was an apostolic visitator to seminaries as appointed by the Vatican. He became a big fan of RMS after meeting the priests and seminarians. Fr. Emanuele was born in Italy near Turin. His parents were part of the Neocatechumenal Way and that's how he began his journey. When he was young, he used to say that he wanted to be a priest one day, but stopped saying it by the time he was 12 and thought he wanted to have a family. But later, the Neocatehumenal Way helped him discern his priestly vocation as his Christian faith matured. He was able to consider the vocation without fear that it would be something he would not like. He came to know that God wanted his happiness in his true vocation. His mother's illness after giving birth to Fr. Tony's twin sisters was also a time of discernment as he considered the meaning of his mother's suffering. Through considering the questions of the meaning of life, he began, first, to rebel against his upbringing, and then to realize how wrong he was, that God took good from the evil of suffering. Thanks to the support of his community, his catechist, and his parish priest, he stopped resisting God's will. For him it was [World Youth Day 1993 in Denver](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/messages/youth/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_15081992_viii-world-youth-day_en.html) that was his turning point, when he emerged from his "underground" Christianity to open himself to the possibility of the priesthood. He found the strength to leave his girlfriend and his university studies in law to follow the path God had laid out. He chose the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, in which the seminarians are sent to dioceses not of their own choice, to be ordained for those dioceses. He was to be formed to be a missionary priest to the world. All Redemptoris Mater seminarians are selected by lottery to any of the 87 seminaries in the world and they will be ordained for that diocese. Fr. Emanuele was sent to the first RM seminary in the US in Newark. He didn't stay in Newark, but was reassigned to Washington, DC, because Cardinal McCarrick, who had been archbishop in Newark, decided he wanted the same RM seminary in DC. So he asked the archbishop of Newark to send 7 men to help found an RM seminary in DC. Fr. Emanuele was assigned to DC, was ordained there, he worked in a parish in Silver Spring, Md., became the cardinal's secretary, and then worked in a parish in Germantown, Md. He was sent last August to Boston to help form the 18 men at RMS-Boston, who are about a third of the seminarians for Boston. **3rd segment:** The 18 men at RMSB come from nine countries in Europe and Latin America. They use English in the formation house to help them learn the language. The name Redemptoris Mater means "Mother of the Redeemer," referring to the 30 years Jesus lived in formation in his family. It also refers to [John Paul II's 1987 encyclical](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater_en.html). The big difference in the formation of the RM seminaries is that the seminarians continue the formation of the Neocatechumenal Way. The Way is a missionary movement to help the lost sheep of the parishes to find their way back to the Shepherd. Most of the seminarians have experienced the missionaries at their own doors, inviting them to come experience adult catechesis at their parishes. The other elements of priestly formation are the same as other seminaries. The RMSB seminarians receive their academic formation primarily at St. John Seminary, but their pastoral, spiritual, and human formation at RMSB. Living in the house with men from all over the world that they did not know before leads them to learn how to live with a person, to reconcile and overcome differences, which brings a richness. They are also assigned to one of the Neocatechumenal Way communities in various parishes throughout the Archdiocese, going there several times a week, including the Eucharist on Saturday nights. It also helps them to become familiar with the Archdiocese which has become their new home. They are welcomed into the homes of Bostonians. The seminarians will be archdiocesan priests, but are open to being sent out for missionary service at the discretion of the local bishop. The men ordained through RMSB are hoping that they will be assigned to work in the missions. Fr. Emanuele said the greatest expectation, of course, is to become a priest, but they are learning that it is possible to be a missionary priest in Boston to go out and evangelize those who don't come to the Church any more. They also have the openness and desire to live the missionary vocation somewhere other than the Archdiocese as well. This isn't a sure thing, but they are to be ready to be sent at any time. They should be open to the Lord sending them out. As part of formation, the seminarians have a couple of years of itinerant evangelization experience. They learn to rely on God alone to sustain their lives and vocations. Fr. Tony said it is an essential aspect of formation. They are taken from their schooling for 2-3 years to live with a priest in a parish, working beside the priest. It introduces them to a God attuning them to the rhythm and the mission that belongs to God. During this assignment, they live in poverty and learn to lean daily on the providence of God. The seminarians are not allowed any money, and they always go two by two, as Jesus sent his disciples two by two to announce the kingdom, without any security. They have three men on this assignment right now: the Holy Land, Washington DC, and the Carolinas. At this point these seminarians are no longer in parish work, but working with Neocatechumenal Way communities as well as visiting with pastors proposing the creation of these communities in their parishes. One seminarian in his 3rd year of seminary right now had previously spent 3 years in itinerant ministry in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The history of the Church in Boston has immigrant roots. The experience of being foreigners here helps them to better understand the experience of the families of the people they will serve. The seminary is currently in a rectory of a former parish in Brookline, which was originally built for 7 or 8 people to live in. Fr. Emanuele called the experience of living in such close quarters very "formative". The amazing thing is that no complains about their living space. While there may be disagreements, there is also reconciliation. But because they hope to welcome even more seminarians, they hope to one day find a bigger space or even build a new seminary to hold more seminarians and give them a life and space more conducive to their formation and spiritual growth. He said it's very difficult to find a place of silence in the current seminary. Fr. Tony said when RM seminaries are built, they incorporate the fruit of the Second Vatican Council, and find it very important to respect the importance of beauty, as an element especially in which the environment affects a formative dimension on a person. The place itself tells him that God loves him. Paintings and artwork are very important as a dimension of objective beauty. **4th segment:** On May 15, the 2nd annual gala dinner to benefit RMSB will be held. It was hosted at the Pastoral Center last year, one of the biggest events as yet in the building. They honored John and Margarete McNeice for their support of the seminary and Cardinal Seán for his support of the New Evangelization. This year, the dinner will be held at Lantana's in Randolph. They will be honoring [Archbishop Pietro Sambi](http://www.nccbuscc.org/comm/archives/2005/05-287.shtml), the apostolic nuncio to the United States, and local businessman [Jack Shaughnessy](http://catholicboston.com/index.php?content=jackshaughnessy). Fr. Tony said Archbishop Sambi is coming to show his love and respect for Cardinal Seán and the people of Boston. He is in a position of great importance for the Church in the US because of his role in helping the selection of bishops. It is an honor for the seminary and for Boston. This is his first speaking engagement in Boston since being appointed to the US in 2005. Scot said because of his responsibilities in the US, he is worth hearing live and he is a wonderful speaker. Fr. Emanuele said the apostolic nuncio has a first responsibility as ambassador of the Pope to the United States in a diplomatic role. But he also has a great role in the Church in the United States as a point of reference for the bishops of the US, being a point of contact for them. And he has a responsibility to gather the names of potential candidates for bishops to forward to Rome for the eventual selection by the Holy Father. As one of the largest bishops' conferences in the world, it is a very large responsibility. Fr. Tony said he hopes that many people can come to show their support for the seminary and for the priests of the archdiocese through both the fundraiser aspect, but also to allow many of the priests to hear Archbishop Sambi. Boston can show the archbishop that the Church in Boston is one and whole. It is open to families, left to the judgment of parents. For information and tickets, contact Mrs. Christine Ohman: 617-959-3956 or [email protected]

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell **Today's guest(s):** Erika Bachiochi, Joanie Kingsley, and Kathleen Sotell * [Erika Bachiochi's website](http://erika.bachiochi.com/) * [Erika's book "Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching"](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0819883204/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0819883204) * [The book at Pauline.org](http://www.pauline.org/WomanSexandtheChurch/tabid/418/Default.aspx) **Today's topics:** A discussion of the new book "Women, Sex, and the Church: A Case for Catholic Teaching" as well as a general roundtable on women in the Church. Also, our regular Friday feature looking at the upcoming Sunday's Mass readings. **A summary of today's show:** Erika Bachiochi talks with Scot and Fr. Mark about her new book and her own journey from pro-choice radical feminism to an embrace of the authentic feminism of the Catholic Church, which isn't anti-woman and misogynist after all. Also a look at the Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Lent. **1st segment:** Happy April Fool's Day! Scot asked Fr. Mark if he's had any pranks pulled on him and he said if there have been, he hasn't noticed. He also said his parents are celebrating their birthdays this week. It's also opening day for the Red Sox who are traveling to Texas. Put it on the TV, turn down the volume and turn up the radio with WQOM! This weekend are two events we've been talking about lately including the Eucharistic Congress in the North End tonight and tomorrow and the Faith and Family Mom's Day Away in Stoneham tomorrow and the weather isn't going to hold them back. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Mark welcome Erika Bachiochi, Joanie Kingsley and Katherine Sotell. Scot said Erika's book is a great service to the Church and anyone that wants to understand Church teaching and why it makes sense. The book discusses Church teaching on abortion, premarital sex, marriage, contraception, infertility treatments and the priesthood. Erika first points out that the book was co-written by many women who each took a chapter said her motivation for the book was a widespread assumption, even in the pews of the Catholic Church, is that the Church's teachings are misogynist and that no serious, self-respecting woman would embrace them. She saw this played out in the media during the 2005 conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI, in which nearly every pundit was a dissident Catholic disputing the Church's teachings. It was very frustrating for her, having come to see these teachings as found in authentic feminism. She knew that lots of data from secular academics was corroborating the Church's teachings. Even many of the Church's theologians believe the Church's teachings are against women. One of the most difficult teachings for women to swallow is the all-male priesthood. She did a lot of research on her own to make pro-woman arguments for Catholic teaching that doesn't necessarily rely on theological arguments because there are many people who aren't interested in theological arguments. She found scientific, biological, psychological data that shows that straying from the Church's teachings actually hurts women. Erika said that while the book is often placed among books on the Theology of the Body, Pope John Paul's exploration of theology of how God created man and woman, this book is very different because it takes a step back, almost as a prerequisite for TOB. Many people need to embrace the Church's teachings before approaching TOB and this book is for them. The target of the audience is people who are estranged from the teachings of the Church. It's philosophically an apologia for the Church's teachings. She wants to be clear that when she says the book is filled with data, it is not dry and full of statistics. It is a readable book. It's for both the average reader and academics. Scot said it's important for Catholics who are looking to return to the Church, they need to know that the Church is not against them. Erika said Pope John Paul has gone to great lengths to promote an authentic feminism, but many still don't believe it. As an example of something that seems impossible, but does help women to flourish is the chapter in her book on premarital sex. It not only talks about the pitfalls for women, but lays out a beautiful alternative in chastity that isn't just pro-woman, but is an articulation of what self-mastery--for both women and men--can look like. Women have allowed themselves to be purchased at very little cost. Women today don't require much of men before premarital sex. Now there can be a new sexual revolution of self-respect. They also know now that premarital sex harms women more than men because of the hormone [oxytocin](http://www.oxytocin.org/oxytoc/). Women need to take their bodies back and their emotions back to prepare for lifelong marriage without all the baggage of premarital sex. Joanie was powerfully affected by the book and by hearing Erika speak. She was inspired to host another event for her to have a new audience hear her message after hearing Erika's witness about her life and growing up. It's nice to see and hear how powerful and wonderful our great Catholic faith is as a story of redemption and forgiveness. This isn't just a story for Catholic women, but non-Catholics and men and everyone. As a mother of college-age kids, she sees this as pressing issues, because the culture out there wants to take their souls away from God and from what is true. If her words can help one person, it's a success. Kathleen said she realized as she heard Erika for the first time that Erika is the person who needs to get the message out that the Church is not anti-woman. Scot quoted Archbishop Fulton Sheen: "There aren't 10 people in the world who hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they think the Church is." This applies equally to people's perceptions about the Church's teachings. Many see the Church as the Church of No, but the Church is a Church of Yes to life, beauty, and truth. Fr. Mark said getting the facts into people's hands is key. He said it took him 19 years of priesthood to get the facts on Natural Family Planning, for example, and that changed everything. **3rd segment:** Scot and Erika talked about her journey as a teen and college student. Her background is that her mother was married and divorced three times in her childhood. In her teen years, she dabbled in alcohol and drugs and acting out in other ways as well. They brought them to her knees at a young age, which she's grateful for now, but was very difficult then. As a college athlete she had difficulty just performing in the midst of the life turmoil. While she was never actively suicidal, she had two close friends who did take their lives. At college, her despair and depression turned her outward toward radical feminist causes at Middlebury College in Vermont. She thought, as many did, that changing external environments, like politics, would bring her internal peace. She found herself taken by secular feminism, because of its sophisticated construction of their worldview, especially since she never even knew any serious Christians at that point. One bright spot was that she had left behind drinking and casual physical encounters, but believed being strongly pro-choice was important for her. She had serious beliefs that it would help poor women and ethnic minorities. But when she started to work with poor women and their children, she started to question her pro-abortion assumptions. What she had been hearing from pro-abortion women's organizations that abortion was necessary to help poor women out of poverty and it seemed absurd that this rich nation's only answer to poor women was for them to rid themselves of their children. That epiphany along with intense prayer brought about an intellectual conversion. She started distancing herself from her feminist friends because of her changing views and because of her own need to pray just to make it through the day. At one point she went to a Catholic lecture intending to debate the Church as being sexist, but was awestruck by what he said and ended up at a Newman Center on campus. Although much of what they were saying was foreign to her, she was very moved. She was so scared that she went back to her dorm room and prayed to God seriously and over the next month she entered into the Catholic community on campus. Erika had been jumping from one Protestant church to another and asked God to guide to the right church, but not the Catholic Church. She encountered a Catholic priest and asked him why he was Catholic. "Because it's the easiest road to heaven," he said. She thought this was preposterous because she always thought the road to heaven was difficult, but she found herself in Mass week after week. She began to drill over months and years on every question about becoming Catholic and Christian. Scot said it's important to be ready to offer an answer for why we are Catholic ("Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope." 1st Letter of Peter 3:15) The important answer will be unique to us, but it can be a profound moment for the person who hears it. Later, she went to graduate school for theology and then law school; she got married and had a baby while in law school. These were also difficult times, but she was steeped in prayer and kept responding to God, to be His instrument. We are all called to be quiet and ask Him what he wants to do. Fr. Mark asked if a college student comes up to Erika and asks her why be Catholic how would she respond. She would ask them about the emptiness they might feel in their life. Most people feel like there's a sense we can't live up to our ideals and potential. We all feel that way, but God gives us the strength and peace to live up to that through the help of grace. Scot asked her how difficult is to be out there of talking about the decisions she made in her past, especially as a mom. Her children aren't old enough to read what she writes, but she is more opaque about it when writing. When she's speaking live, she's more open about it because they won't be there to hear it. She hopes that as they grow she will be able to explain to them in terms they understand. Being prayerful allows her and her husband to be prudent. Joanie said she hopes at the gathering in Wellesley next week at which Erika will speak that people will be able to take away hope that their lives can change and the great value we have in the Catholic Church and our faith. Scot said it's important that as a Church we take the great work that Erika and the other authors of the book and get the word out. Kathleen said Erika will speak April 7 at the Wellesley Country Club from 9am-12. It is free. They request that people RSVP at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) and tell them how many people will be coming in your party to ensure that there will be enough seats for everyone. Continental breakfast will be provided free of charge. Both men and women are welcome. 75 people have responded and they can accommodate up to 200. They encourage even people are who are questioning or who are on the fence or are truly seeking. Scot said most adult Catholics in their life have had a time in which they didn't understand why the Church teaches what she teaches on a particular issue. While the book is great, it's also different to hear the information live. It's one thing to know what the Church teaches, but also the why of Church teaching, and not just the theology of why. Pauline books also have a study guide for parishes and small groups. **4th segment:** * [Sunday's Mass readings](http://usccb.org/nab/040311.shtml): 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 Scot said he's often felt that to get the most out of Mass, we need to be prepared. That’s true of all meetings we might have at work or big presentations. “The more you put in, the more you’ll receive.” The better the preparation, the better the experience.So on Fridays, Father Mark and Scot and their guests will look to the upcoming Sunday readings and help us all prepare for the messages we will hear on Sunday. Fr. Mark read the optional short version of the following Gospel reading: >As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him. We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. >His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?” Some said, “It is, “ but others said, “No, he just looks like him.” He said, “I am.” So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?” He replied, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went there and washed and was able to see.” And they said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I don’t know.” >They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees. Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath. So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.” So some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he does not keep the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a sinful man do such signs?” And there was a division among them. So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him, since he opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” >Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight. They asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How does he now see?” His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. We do not know how he sees now, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him, he is of age; he can speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ, he would be expelled from the synagogue. For this reason his parents said, “He is of age; question him.” >So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise! We know that this man is a sinner.” He replied, “If he is a sinner, I do not know. One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.” So they said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them, “I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?” They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man’s disciple; we are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.” The man answered and said to them, “This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him. It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything.” They answered and said to him, “You were born totally in sin, and are you trying to teach us?” Then they threw him out. >When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, he found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.” >Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your sin remains. A powerful reading for the fourth Sunday of Lent. Scot said we all have blind spots in our lives, including biases and prejudices, even to how we are formed not to see the world as God sees it. Fr. Mark said the Gospel and last week's Gospel about the woman at the well is perfect for both Catholics Come Home and what Erika is talking about. The woman and the blind man both come to a gradual understanding of Jesus and a gradual coming to faith. Meanwhile the Pharisees who see the exact same evidence are stubborn and refuse to believe. They are the real blind men. This goes along with what Erika was saying. Erika said what jumped out at her was the Pharisees' reaction to the blind man's former sin. Our own culture doesn't forget people's sin either. In our society we hold up the bare minimum as if it is the ultimate in holiness. We don't see our own sins--even venial sins--as any kind of fault that needs to be confessed and dealt with. Joanie said she found it impressive that a religious leader would affect sinlessness in the face of the sinner, when in fact we all struggle with the help of grace. Kathleen was struck by the concept of both physical blindness and spiritual blindness. She thinks of the Gospel of John as a book of light and that Jesus is always portrayed as the Light. She hopes that Erika's talk will spread the Light for people to see the Church truly. Scot said his favorite line is where they shoot the messenger and then throw him up. This is a summation of how people often treat those who bring the truth when it's unwanted and unlooked-for.

**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) * [Statement of the Archdiocese on the lay pension plan](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/Utility/News-And-Press/Content.aspx?id=19854) * [CNS: "Pope appeals for suspension of fighting in Libya"](http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1101210.htm) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/mcc.aspx) * [Centers for Disease Control statistics on sexual behavior](http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr036.pdf) **Today's topics:** The Archdiocese of Boston's lay pension plan; the Pope's message for suspension of fighting in Libya; teens and abstinence and the new Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks **A summary of today's show:** Fr. Roger Landry and Gregory Tracy discuss with Scot and Susan Cardinal Sean's strong statement of support for lay archdiocesan retirees and employees and their pension plan; Pope's Benedict's plea for the cessation of fighting in Libya for the sake of the innocent; new statistics showing teens are taking up abstinence because of federal funding that started in the early 2000s; the Church's challenge to serve immigrants to the US; and then tributes to two men whose professional careers are undergoing a big change. **1st segment:** Susan has been working on her budget for the past week for her Office for Religious Education, causing her to pull her hair out. But she's also excited for Red Sox Opening Day tomorrow and they've picked a good year to start the season out of town. She also noticed a slight resemblance between our own Justin Bell and Red Sox shortstop Dustin Pedroia. Scot said many national experts are picking the Red Sox to go to the World Series. He doesn't know whether that's encouraging or whether we should be afraid of jinxing the Red Sox. Another exciting event was the blessing of a new statue of St. Patrick at the Pastoral Center, which was a gift of St. Mary parish in Brookline. If you have questions, email [email protected] or call or text 617-410-MASS. **2nd segment:** Gregory Tracy relates a very exciting event in his family's life. His oldest daughter, Carmen, received her acceptance letter to Harvard yesterday and more importantly found out that they would receive the aid so she could go. Scot reflected on his own acceptance to Harvard and how he and his brother Fr. Roger were accepted to the school and received enough financial aid to go. Susan's son also went to Harvard as well. Scot noted that St. Paul in Cambridge is an excellent Catholic community for Catholic students at Harvard. Fr. Roger remembered a Mass for their deceased grandfather in which a relative who had gone to Boston College remarked by joking that it was good he had died before seeing his grandsons go to Harvard and lose their faith. But seriously, Fr. Roger said his experience at Harvard helped prepare him to be a herald of the Good News. Scot also extended congratulations to Greg and his wife, Donis, for all their own hard work supporting their daughter. Today's front page story in the Pilot is Cardinal Sean's commitment to the Archdiocesan lay pension plan. The Pilot received a strong personal statement from the Cardinal. Scot said the archdiocesan pension plan is transitioning from a defined-benefit to a defined-contribution. The defined-benefit is a promissory note that after retirement you will get X dollars every month until you die. A defined-contribution is a promise to put X dollars into the plan every month while you're working and what you receive at retirement depends on the fluctuations in the market. Defined-benefit plans have become a huge burden on organizations as markets have suffered and people have been living longer and health costs have risen. The Archdiocese has offered to transition plan participants or to offer them a lump sum payout. A former chancellor of the Archdiocese accused the archdiocese of strong-arming retirees and pension participants into accepting lump sums. * [Archdiocesan Benefits website and pension information](http://catholicbenefits.org/pension/index.htm) Scot said it is very sad for him to see this plastered on the front page of newspapers locally and nationally. Gregory said it has echoes of the pain of the sex-abuse scandal. He said David Smith said at his press conference that he had heard from many retirees about their concerns for their pensions. As a church plan, it is exempt from many legal requirements and is not guaranteed by the federal government's regulations. The Cardinal said that they never intended to give the impression that the archdiocese wanted to push people out of the plan. Scot said the Cardinal's statement points out that the pension plan has been struggling in recent years. The Cardinal said, "As long as I have breath in me, I will do everything in my power to care for the people who have given themselves in service for the Church." Fr. Roger said the statement indicates how deeply involved the cardinal is in the outcome and how wounded he is by the inference that the Church is merely trying to cut corners to achieve an economic bottom line. Instead the Church is a family and it lives by both the rule of charity and of justice. Fr. Roger thinks the Church loses every time we focus too much on the institution and not on the reality that the Church is a family and a body that Christ came to found. Susan said she has many friends who have been to these meetings concerning these pension plans. It's a very technical subject and people are uncertain. At a meeting she attended, the plan administrators said that for those who don't take the lump sum, will they be guaranteed what they were promised and they were told they could not be guaranteed. Scot said he hopes that the tension caused by this pension plan change comes off the front pages of the newspapers and people can make these important decisions in peace and with full knowledge of the factors involved. **3rd segment:** The Holy Father this week appealed for the suspension of fighting in Libya. Fr. Roger said the Pope expressed his fear that the longer that armed conflict goes on the more innocent people will suffer. In his appeal he said that even the weakest signal of an openness to diplomacy should be responded to positively to end the violence. Even if there is no intention on the part of the NATO coalition to injure civilians, innocent people are inevitably hurt in any armed conflict of this size. Scot asked why the Holy Father's statement is news, since everyone expects him to say this. Gregory said it's because the Holy Father is a moral voice for the world. There's a related statement by the US bishops weighing in on the moral issues, without telling civil leaders what to do, allowing for their prudential judgments. They speak out on behalf of the innocent, to make the moral voice heard. Vatican officials said they were confused by the haste at which these military operations were undertaken. **4th segment:** The Centers for Disease Control report that 43% of teenagers 15-19 are remaining abstinent, up from 35% in the early 2000s. Fr. Roger said we need to proclaim this news from the rooftops to encourage teens who feel like they are alone in making this choice. The CDC stats show that this is led by a disproportionately large change among teen girls. These figures correspond with Bush-era abstinence education programs promoted by his administration. Unfortunately, abstinence-only education has been cut by the Obama administration, which could lead to a rollback of these advances. Planned Parenthood programs in schools used to get 4 times the funding of abstinence education programs, but now they get several hundred percent more than that. The Office of Religious Education works with the Pro-Life Office on chastity education programs for children in religious education programs and Catholic schools. There are many well-trained educators now as well. While the federal government provides abstinence education funds, Mass. Gov. Deval Patrick refuses to take it. Scot said it's offensive to him as a parent and taxpayer. Gregory agrees with Scot's outrage. He said failure to fund abstinence education fails to take into account the psychological effects of early sexual activity, but only looks at the physical and economic consequences. Scot said one of the reasons it offends him is that nationally twice as many parents support abstinence-only education in schools over Planned Parenthood programs. The Massachusetts bishops have produced information for parents on the Massachusetts Health Curriculum, letting them know that the parents can opt out their children from sex ed classes. Susan said some of the issues in the proposed frameworks for health curriculum in Massachusetts include information on how to procure an abortion and acceptance of homosexuality, among other issues that are morally troublesome. Susan said her office is distributing 35,000 of the brochures through parish religious education programs. Scot said that parents are the primary educators of their children and without these information they might not know what their children are being taught. Susan said taxpayers should also be upset that their money is going to fund these frameworks that undermine parental responsibility. Fr. Roger said his own parish either handed the brochures directly to parents or mailed them to their homes. He said most parents were very surprised what was being taught to very young children in these state curricula. Many parents are getting involved. Right now the frameworks are just recommendations for school districts, but there are attempts to make them mandatory. For anyone who wants a copy of the frameworks, they can be downloaded from our website or at the [Mass. Catholic Conference](http://www.macathconf.org) website. * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (English)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/frameworksbrochureenglish.pdf) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (Spanish)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/frameworksbrochuresspanish.pdf) * [Mass. Catholic Conference brochure on the Mass. Health Curriculum Frameworks (Portuguese)](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/uploadedFiles/BostonCatholicorg/Offices_And_Services/Offices/Sub_Pages/MCC/frameworksbrochureportuguese.pdf) The Pilot also has an article this week on the changing demographics in America due to immigration and a discussion recently in Washington DC on the change it presages for the Church. Hispanics in general are 16% of the population in the country, but 25% of people under 25 are Hispanic. So the Church has to embrace these young people now or they will drift away to secularism or to any number of Pentecostal churches. Scot recalled that when the Archdiocese closed many parishes in 2004, many were originally built in the 19th and 20th century to serve particular immigrant groups and, in a way, it shows the Church did a good job of assimilating them such that the different ethnic parishes were not needed any more, at least for their original purpose of providing a faith community in exclusive to their original languages and cultures. Fr. Roger said New Bedford is 23% Hispanic, up from 15% a decade ago. That's only those who were officially counted. There are many illegals. He said his food pantry at his parish, St. Anthony, feeds many poor people from Central and South America. The Church needs to help not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual needs. In their home countries, they often only had Masses once or twice per year in their small villages, and so they are not in the habit of going to Mass regularly. It affects Mass attendance, but also all the sacraments. He said this is an indicator of the need for the Church to get its act together to help them become strong Catholics now and for the next generation. At the diocesan level, Scot said, we're trying to be responsive to growing immigrant populations as well. Susan said she has someone in her office just serving Hispanic Catholics. They have a program to train leaders in parishes in ministry and catechesis. When they offer a workshop they will get many, many people signing up. They are also very concerned about the prevalence of storefront churches taking away many Catholics. And they are working with other communities, including Brazilians, Haitians, Vietnamese and others. **5th segment:** Scot notes that today is the 66th birthday of his father, Roger Sr. After 50 years of work, he is retiring today. He is a great father who taught his children a tremendous work ethic. Congratulations to his father. Fr. Roger remembers when he was ordained a priest and in his thanks at the time, he said his father has St. Joseph's face. He learned more about being a priest from his father than from anyone else, because the priesthood is a vocation of love and hard work and he's never seen anyone work harder or love more. Now joining Scot and Susan in the studio is John Irwin. Four years ago, Scot hired him to work with the Catholic Appeal and later he moved to work to raise financial support for the health and retirement needs of priests of the archdiocese. John had a love for the Church and wanted to serve the Church. Because of a reorganization, John's job has been eliminated and tomorrow is his last day. Scot said John is one of the finest people he's worked with in the Pastoral Center. John said his work with the priests of the archdiocese has been rewarding and encourages people to visit the retired priests at Regina Cleri. * [Care For Senior Priests](http://www.careforseniorpriests.org) Scot asked John to reflect on working in the Pastoral Center. He said it's a tremendous place to work, to go to Mass every day, to say the rosary every day, in the place where you work. There's a tremendous amount of joy and positive energy from the people who work here. Scot said John holds the record of giving the most tours of the Pastoral Center. Scot thanks him for his four years of service and said we will pray for him as he looks for the next phase of his professional life.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams**Today's guest(s):** Andreas Widmer, former Swiss Guard to Pope John Paul II and CEO of Seven Fund* [4th annual Eucharistic Congress](http://www.eucharisticcongress.com)* [The Swiss Guard](http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/index.htm)* [Seven Fund](http://www.sevenfund.org/)**Today's topics:** On today's show, Scot and Fr. Matt welcome Andreas Widmer, who will talk about his experiences as a Swiss Guard during the reign of Pope John Paul II, his reflections as a Catholic businessman, and the witness he will give at this weekend's 4th annual Eucharistic Congress for Young Adults in Boston's North End.**A summary of today's show:** Andreas Widmer told Scot and Fr. Matt of his first encounters with Pope John Paul II as a Swiss Guard and how the Pope's holiness and attention to each person he met changed Andreas' life. Scot and Fr. Matt also shared stories of their encounters with the soon-to-be beatified pope. Also, the Eucharistic Congress this weekend is dedicated to John Paul II.**1st segment:** Fr. Matt discussed the awards banquet coming up next Tuesday for the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults that honors both youth and the adults who serve them. There is a selection process in which people are nominated for awarding. There is a high quality of people involved in youth ministry in the archdiocese. He said there will be 120 awards. Cardinal Sean will be there. Our photographer, George Martell, will be receiving an award for the many times he's recorded youth ministry events for our archdiocesan sites, including our [Flickr page](http://www.flickr.com/bostoncatholic). Fr. Matt said he's used many of George's photos advertising youth ministry events.**2nd segment:** Scot andFr. Matt welcome Andreas Widmer. He is the CEO of Seven Fund. It promotes enterprise solutions to opvoerty. Using entrpeneurship and business to help people escape poverty instead of government aid. They work mainly in Africa and Asia. The intersecition of his faith and the work of Seven Fund is encapsulated by John Paul II's statement that with work we don't just make more, we become more. True dignity comes through the pursuit of excellence in whatever we do. All the great saints have said work should be prayer.He will be one of four speakers at the Eucharistic Congress this weekend. Fr. Matt said they more than 200 registrants, which makes them ahead of last year. They encourage pre-registration, but they will still accept people at the door. It will be rain, snow, or shine. On Friday, at Sacred Heart Church in the North End, they will open with prayer and music by [Jon Niven](http://www.jonniven.com/), music minister at Life Teen at St. Mary, Dedham.The theme is "John Paul II: Be Not Afraid, His Life, His Witness, His Challenge." Fr. Roger Landry will speak on Pope John Paul II and the new evangelization. Fr. Matt is a fan of his website [CatholicPreaching.com](http://www.catholicpreaching.com). He did his graduate work in Rome on Pope John Paul's writings.Then Fr. Dan Hennessey will speak about the vocation monstrance, one of several monstrances blessed by Pope John Paul II to be sent around the world for prayer for vocations. April 2 will be the sixth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death. There will be confessions during Eucharistic Adoration. Then there will be a procession to the downstairs chapel and then adoration all night.On Saturday morning, at 10:15, Andreas will speak on "Be Not Afraid: " and then they will go into service projects all over the city of Boston. Anything from writing letts to confirmation students to visiting with the elderly priests at Regina Cleri to cleaning up a park. After that will be Mass with Cardinal Sean and then dinner provided by the restaurants of the North End. Fr. Matt expects Cardinal Sean's homily will combine Pope John Paul's preaching with the topics of the 4th Sunday of Lent.Scot said he knows Cardinal Sean enjoys meeting with young people especially, as can be seen by his creation of the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults. When he meets with the young people he appears transformed. Saturday evening, Sr. May Ann Toomey of the Sisters of Life will speak on the culture of life as defined by Pope John Paul II. The [Sisters of Life](http://www.sistersoflife.org) were found by Cardinal John O'Connor of New York to be a witness to life and to work for life.At the end of the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday is the very moving Eucharistic procession through the North End after a time of prayer music before the Blessed Sacrament. All the seminarians are there in cassock, priests and deacons and religious in their religious garb. They have bells and candles and a canopy and they're followed by 400 people. They stop at several makeshift altars through the North End and pray. It is moving to see 500 people all kneeling in prayer. People look out from apartments and restaurants to see. Fr,. Matt remembers a woman coming out of a restaurant to see and crying because she is so moved. They have street evangelizers to speak with them, not to convert, but to just invite them to be a part.**3rd segment:** Andreas grew up in Lucerne, Switzerland in a very small German-speaking village. Scot asked him how he came to join the Swiss Guard. Andreas said that from a young age he was very interested in the outdoors, scouting, the military. He heard about the Swiss Guard and decided he would join. He wasn't very religious, but thought it would be cool to become a bodyguard. Looking back, joinging was a symptom of his restlessness, feeling like he wanted an identity, feeling inadequate. He came to Rome as a 20-year-old in 1986. He went through recruit school and one of his first assignments, on Christmas Eve at the apostolic palace. From his background, Christmas Eve was the biggest day of the year and he was devastated that he would have to work. Before his assignment, he stood in line for the one phone for all 115 guardsmen to talk to his family. His father asked him how he was celebrating and he said he had to work. His mom came on the phone and started to cry, which made him cry as well. He said he loved her and hung up. He went to his assignment which was to stand in a small anteroom between the outer door and inner door to the papal apartments. He was all alone and cried for himself for about an hour. Finally he heard from his commander that Pope John Paul II would be coming out his exit to celebrate midnight Mass. He quickly composed himself and opened the door. Pope John Paul was standing there, looked at him and said, "You're new. What's your name?" He held out his hand and as their hands clasped, John Paul looked into his eyes. He knew from his red eyes that he had been upset and noted that he was away from home for the first time. That set Andreas crying again. He pulled Andreas close, thanked him for what he was doing for John Paul that night, and told him that the Pope would pray for him that night. On one of the biggest nights of the year, with one billion Catholics looking to the Pope, he became the focus of his ministry. Pope John Paul was his ultimate boss and right there in his work environment, Andreas was ministered to by his boss.In an indirect sense, John Paul helped Andreas ultimately to find his vocation. During his talk on Saturday, Andreas will get into what that means.Scot mentioned that so many people in this generation can point to John Paul II's example and witness as an inspiration for their own vocations and lives.Andreas says he has met many people over the years who met JPII, even if they were a person in the back of the crowd, that he made them feel as if they were the reason he got out of bed in the morning. This is an example for us, to make the people in our lives feel as if they are the reason we get up in the morning, especially those who are closest to us.Scot recalls going to a Mass with the Pope in 1998 on the Pope's birthday in his private chapel. He remembers asking the Holy Father to pray his aunt who was in the hospital. The Pope said, "Let's pray for her now." He pulled Scot and his brother close and prayed for her right then.Fr. Matt went with a few brother seminarians in 1999 to Rome. They were able to go to the private Mass with the Holy Father. Fr. Matt was asked to do the responsorial psalm. As they entered the chapel, he saw John Paul II on his knees in contemplative prayer preparing for Mass. Fr. Matt experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit and knew he was in the presence of a man whose holiness and love for Christ radiated from his being. The papacy itself awes us as Catholics, but when a bishop is a saint, their presence transcends the normal awe.Scot asked Andreas what he observed of the interactions of John Paul II that most people would not know. Andreas said he treated everyone the same. He would spend time with every single person who he met. Andreas started to realize that he was privileged to be part of that ministry, to experience that same ministry he experienced on Christmas Eve, to see the Pope touch the souls of so many people just like Andreas.Scot said that as a phenomenologist philosopher, John Paul believed that an encounter could change your life and this perhaps motivated his desire to travel everywhere in the world and meet everyone. He kept an intense schedule with long days. Andreas said the Pope's schedule never let up, even towards the end. Many of the very fit and young Swiss Guards said they couldn't keep up with the Pope.As an example of his treating everyone the same, John Paul instituted an audience just for the gypsies (the roma) who were treated with suspicion and disdain by everyone else.Andreas has spoken often on his experiences and has written a book called "The Pope and the CEO" to be published in September by Emmaus Road Publishing. Within a framework of his stories of Pope John Paul are nine lessons on how to order life in business as a Christian.Scot asked what it is like to speak about Pope John Paul II from a perspective that most others have not had. Andreas said it is a responsibility and privilege. Andreas said it was Scot who set him on this path in the first place. But when John Paul died, Andreas providentially in Rome the next day and was able to visit his body in the apostolic palace. He made a vow at that time to never tire of speaking of Pope John Paul II and of Jesus Christ and the message he has been given. Andreas is so excited to perhaps inspire even one person with the example of Pope John Paul II.**4th segment:** Every Wednesday we are happy to announce the winner of the **1060 WQOM Benefactor raffle.** This week the recipient will earn a copy of the [The 2011 Calendar of Indulgences](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040415/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1601040415) from Bridgegroom Press, which is entitled this year “The Beauty of Grace”. It has great photos of beautiful churches and a lot of helpful information from the Church’s liturgical calendar. This week’s winner of the Benefactor Card raffle is **Carmel & John Philippakis from Quincy**. Congratulations to Carmel and John! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit 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 our 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:** Tonight is the 3rd Wednesday of The Light Is On For You in the Archdiocese, where every parish and chapel is open for confessions from 6:30-8pm. We are taking listener questions.1. Has Andreas ever been to confession with Pope John Paul II.No, but JP2 wanted to stress that every priest is a priest, on Good Fridays he used to go to the confessionals in St. Peter icognito and he hear confessions. Scot said many cardinals and curial officials do the same thing.2. Scot said last week his son asked if he needs to memorize the act of contrition or if he could make it up on his own. Scot told him that if he doesn't use the written prayer, but could say something heartfelt expressing his contrition. So what is necessary for an act of contrition?Fr. Matt said there are numerous formulas for expressing sorrow in the rite of confession. The words should express the sorrow in the heart, asking God for mercy and the grace to go forward and sin no more.3. Has the increase of psychology and therapy led to the drop in the use of confession?Andreas said you see in popular culture--TV shows and movies-- that therapists do occupy that role, as a confessor. whether we go to confession or not, we have an innate need to reconcile with God. So if we don't go to the sacrament, we still seek some way of finding forgiveness. Without downplaying the importance of therapy, when it comes to coming clean with the Lord is confession.Two weeks ago, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York said in his blog that "we have a confessional culture in our country."* [Saint Patrick’s Day Pastoral Letter to the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of New York](http://blog.archny.org/?p=1109)>Our culture has an almost perverse delight in detailing the sins and scandals of those in the public eye. And ordinary people are eager to get in on the action! We produce an entire genre of “reality shows” which put on public display much sinful behaviour that people should be embarrassed about, not celebrated for. Seems as if everybody’s “going to confession” except in the sacrament! There are a parade of talk shows in which the troubled and afflicted share their intimate secrets with a vast television audience. People use social networks to make available to all on the internet what should be treated with utmost discretion.>We have a “confessional culture.” It seems at every moment someone, somewhere is shouting for our attention, eager to confess from the rooftops what Catholics have the opportunity to whisper in the confessional. The “confessional culture” around us shouts itself hoarse for it can confess, but there is no absolution. Sin confessed but unredeemed either leads to despair or is trivialized. We see the despair in the vast anguish that fuels an enormous therapeutic industry. We see the trivialization in the celebrity scandals that become not occasions for averted eyes, but fodder for jokes.>Our culture does not need to be taught how to confess; it needs to discover where forgiveness can be found. Our culture does not need to further expose the stain of its sinfulness; it needs to discover the only One who can wash it away. We Catholics have the blessing of teaching our “confessional culture” about true mercy, but we cannot give what we do not have! I challenge the Catholics of the Archdiocese to make a good confession this Lent and then to tell one other person – perhaps a friend or relative or colleague who has been away from the sacraments for a long time – about the liberating joy of God’s mercy!Fr. Matt said that we forget that sin does not make us happy. We go to therapists sometimes to convince ourselves that our sin does not make us unhappy.* [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org)* [Pilot Parish Finder](http://www.pilotparishfinder.com)