eCatechist

Living in the Light of Christ's Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament by Archbishop Wester

On January 11, 2022 Archbishop John C. Wester, of Santa Fe released his pastoral letter Living in the Light of Christ's Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament on the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and avoiding a new nuclear arms race.

Click here to view press conference and to read the pastoral letter.

Pope Francis has made clear statements about the immorality of possessing nuclear weapons, moving the Church from past conditional acceptance of “deterrence” to the moral imperative of abolition. The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a special role to play in advocating for nuclear disarmament given the presence of two nuclear weapons laboratories and the United States of America’s largest repository of warheads located within its boundaries. He therefore believes the archdiocese has a unique role to play in encouraging a future world free of nuclear weapons. Archbishop Wester states, “The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has a special responsibility not only to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but also to encourage its active implementation.” He goes on to “...invite us to have a conversation together about what it means to follow the risen, nonviolent Jesus who calls us to be peacemakers, put down the sword, and love everyone, even the enemies of our nation.”

To Dance With God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration by Gertrud Mueller Nelson

Originally published in 1986, To Dance With God is a classic for family spirituality and catechesis.

"Gertrud Nelson has written a book on ritual that is one of a kind. Her exquisitely written volume covers the history, psychology and spirituality of ritual in general and Christian ritual in particular. Enlivened by pithy and insightful examples, many of them drawn from her own family life, Ms. Nelson penetrates to the heart of the meaning of ritual and ceremony in a fresh way. She manages to escape the trap of many writers on this subject—superficial piety—and makes relevant for the modern reader the importance of ritual for connecting us to the meaning and flow of life." John Sanford

Table of Contents

Review from Spirituality and Practice

As we go about our lives, commonplace experiences can become vehicles of the Divine Presence. The mysteries of life are conveyed "through bread, wine, ashes, earth, water, oil, tears, seeds, songs, feastings and fastings, pains and joys, bodies and thoughts, regressions and transformations." Such is the incarnational and sacramental vision of Gertrud Mueller Nelson who has been involved in Montessori education, Jungian studies, and liturgical art. Bill Moyers has said in praise of To Dance with God that it "has been an important book in my life for some time now."

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Paulist Press

Amazon

Amazon

For Another Voice: Reflections about Contemporary Christian Belief and Practice by Jack Dick

 

My focus on For Another Voice is to try to speak clearly about accurate historical, theological, and biblical information. Not just my opinions but information drawn from reliable documented primary sources. I acknowledge as well that I am not infallible. 

So for Lent 2022 I would like to explore the history and contemporary significance of “the seven sacraments.” I hope you will find it an interesting and worthwhile historical journey. As I have said before, our understandings do change. Church doctrines and theological understandings do change. Some have to change. Catholic sacramental doctrines are still shaped by the viewpoint of medieval Aristotelian Scholasticism. 

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People who wish to subscribe to Fur Another Voice shoukd send a request to:  jack.dick@kuleuven.be

 

Jack Dick Biography

John A. DICK (“Jack”) is an American (born and raised in Michigan) who has lived in Belgium for thirty-eight years. He holds licentiates in historical theology from the University of Nijmegen and the Catholic University of Leuven (K.U.Leuven) and doctorates in religious studies (PhD) and historical theology (STD) from the KU Leuven. He was also a student at The American College from 1965 to 1968.

Among books Jack has written are: The Malines Conversations Revisited (1989);  From Malines to ARCIC (1997) with A. Denaux; Aggiornamento?: Catholicism from Gregory XVI to Benedict XVI. (2013) with J. Mettepenningen and K. Schelkens. His most recent book, published this year, is Jean Jadot: Paul’s Man in Washington.

For thirteen years he was Director of Continuing Education and Director of Academic Formation  at the American College of Leuven. He was the third person to hold the Chair for the Study of Religion and Values in American Society at the KU Leuven. For thirty years he has taught courses about religion and values in American society at the KU Leuven and the University of Ghent. For several years he was a staff member at the KU Leuven European Centre for Ethics. 

He is currently retired but teaches two classes a week about trends in U.S. society at SENIORAMA in Leuven, and he regularly writes and speaks, in Europe and the USA, about Christianity, fundamentalism, and religious trends in the United States.

 

 

Amazon

From the Author

Review from LaCroix International

 

Ignatius of Loyola: Finding God in All Things

From Jesuits in Britain

STEP from Notre Dame

Join thousands of Catholics who have deepened their understanding of the faith by completing online courses created by Notre Dame theology professors and other theologians. STEP online courses are well-suited for catechists, school teachers, lay ministers, deacons and other adult Catholics who seek distance learning that is intellectually-rigorous and faithful to the Catholic tradition.

Register for individual classes or sign up to earn a Certificate of Catholic Theology in five areas of study. Trained and knowledgeable facilitators lead the courses.

Online courses range between four and eight weeks long, with most being six weeks in length. Students read texts and watch video lessons before posting weekly assignments, sharing reflections in discussion forums and participating in real-time online discussions with classmates.

See the complete list of courses in English here- https://mcgrath.nd.edu/online-courses/step/courses/ and the complete list of courses in Spanish here- https://mcgrath.nd.edu/online-courses/camino/course-catalog/

Theology 101: Vatican II by Dr. Massimo Faggioli

 

The Second Vatican Council or Vatican II (1962-1965) was the most important event in the history of the Catholic Church since the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent (1545-1563). But is it still relevant? It is a fact that Vatican II took place in a now distant past: during the optimistic world of the 1960s, from the perspective of a very Euro-Western theological culture, and by an all male, celibate council. But Vatican II is still very relevant for at least three reasons.

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From Daily Theology

"I Encourage You to Read the Bible..." by St. John Chrysostom

“I encourage you to continue constantly in the practice of reading the divine Scriptures. And don’t let anyone make excuses like, ‘I’m too busy with politics.’ ‘I’m a businessman.’ ‘I’m a skilled worker. I must get on with my job.’ ‘I’ve got a wife.’ ‘I’m raising kids.’ ‘I’m responsible for a household.’ In other words, ‘I’m a lay person; it’s not my business to read the Bible. I’ll leave that to professional Christians like monks, nuns, priests and theology students.’ What are you saying? It’s not your business to pay attention to the Bible because you are distracted by thousands of concerns? But that’s the very reason why you need to read the Bible! The more worries you have, the more you need the Bible to keep you going!”

—St. John Chrysostom 
Homily

Please visit www.faithAlivebooks.com and learn more about the The Catechist's Guide to Reading the Bible Series.

www.faithAlivebooks.com

The Gospels as Catechetical Documents

The Gospels were not written to convert outsiders but as catechetical documents to deepen the faith of those who have already committed themselves to Jesus and his community by adopting his vision the world, his values for living in it and the vocation to continue his mission of bringing the Good News to others.

p. 2 So What's the Good News?

Online Lessons for "Work of Mercy" from Diocese of St. Cloud

The Diocese of Saint Cloud, in it’s effort to encourage reflection on the Year of Mercy, is providing a monthly online "Work of Mercy" catechetical lesson. It’s purpose is to offer an online learning resource for small faith-sharing groups, parishes, schools, and families. It serves as one model of how catechesis can be done simply online simply.

Work of Mercy

It follows the Msgr. Francis Kelly’s familiar Ecclesial Method:

1. Preparation - Each lesson starts with a prayer and a general Works of Mercy video, with a reflection question(s)
2. Proclamation - Each lesson will repeat the Works of Mercy each month, each linking to it’s lesson as it is released
3. Explanation - This step addresses a specific Work of Mercy with links to other resources as well as text and embedded video
4. Application and appropriation - Reflection questions and suggested activities for families, groups, parishes and schools
5. Celebration - Closing prayer

 

Five Myths About Christmas

By James Martin, SJ in the Washington Post.

How To Read the Gospel of Luke - Thinking Faith

The Feast of St Luke occurs on 18 October – why do we read the gospel that bears his name? Perhaps it is to make more sense of the readings we hear at Mass; to deepen our knowledge of our Christian faith; or to experience a masterpiece of world literature and to savour its narrative. Peter Edmonds SJ suggests a way for us to approach our encounter with Jesus and his story in Luke’s Gospel.

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Guided by the Spirit

 

‘The feast of Pentecost is a celebration of the mysterious movement of God in our lives through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.’ Sr Teresa White came across a useful analogy that can help us to contemplate the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, which she reflects on ahead of Pentecost Sunday.

 

Continue Reading from Thinking Faith

Tips for Reading the Bible

Mary Elizabeth Sperry, Associate Director for Utilization of the New American Bible for the USCCB offers ten tips for reading the Bible.

Bible Is for Catholics

1) Bible reading is for Catholics.

2) Prayer is the beginning and the end.

3) Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition.

4) The Bible isn't a book. It's a library.

5) Know what the Bible is - and what it isn't.

6) The sum is greater than the parts.

7) The Old relates to the New.

8) You do not read alone.

9) What is God saying to me?

10) Reading isn't enough.

The Joy of the Gospel: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis

 

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
EVANGELII GAUDIUM
OF THE HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
IN TODAY’S WORLD

Link

Why We Can't Stop Loving Saints

Video and Podcast

People of God: Pope Francis's Continuing Catechesis on the Creed

 

Today I would like to briefly highlight another term with which the Second Vatican Council has defined the Church, as "the People of God " (cf. Dogm. Const. Lumen Gentium, 9; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 782). And I do so with some questions, on which everyone can reflect.

1. What does it mean to be "People of God"? Firstly it means that God does not belong specifically to any people; because it is He who calls us, summons us, invites us to be part of his people, and this call is addressed to us all, without distinction, because God's mercy «wants salvation for everyone» (1Tm 2:4). Jesus does not say to the Apostles and to us to form an exclusive group, an elite. Jesus says: go and make disciples of all Nations (cf. Mt 28:19). Saint Paul states that in the people of God, in the Church, "there is no longer Jew nor Greek ... since you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28). I would also say to those who feel far away from God and the Church, the one who is fearful or indifferent, who thinks he can no longer change: the Lord calls you to join his people and does so with great respect and love!