September 16, 2013, Volume VII, Number 37

FEAST OF SAINTS CORNELIUS and CYPRIAN Monday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Feast of Saint Robert Bellarmine – Tuesday, September 17, 2013Feast of Saint Hildegard of Bingen - Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Feast of Saint Januarius – Thursday, September 19, 2013Saint Andrew Kim and the Korean Martyrs–Friday, September 21

Feast of Saint Matthew – Saturday, September 21, 2013YEAR OF FAITH - Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013

http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Question of the WeekFor Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 22, 2013 “No servant can serve two masters.” How do you serve God? How do you describe the God you serve? Using the image of God from last week’s gospel of the Prodigal Son and this week’s Gospel, how are you “audaciously extravagant and shamefully excessive” when you deal with your colleagues, your workers, your family? What do you hold back? In holding back, are you serving a Master other than God?

NCCL News

Denver Archbishop Asks Faithful to Pray for Flood Victims

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila is asking the faithful to pray for those affected by the extensive flash flooding and heavy rains that hit northern Colorado. Upon learning of the death of several persons, the Archbishop stated “I am praying for the souls of

those victims, for their families and all people who are being affected by the flooding. I ask all people of good will to join me in prayer. Through the local parishes in the affected areas, Catholic Charities stands ready to assist those in need." The pictures are of Canyon Mouth before and after.

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One Good Catechist is Worth a Hundred Outstanding Preachers

Father I. Michael Bellafiore, a Jesuit priest and instructor in theology at The University of Scranton, wrote a piece entitled 10 ways to revitalize the Catholic Church for On Faith for The Washington Post. Here is #3. If you care to read his complete article and discover Father Michael’s other nine ways, please go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/09/10/10-ways-to-revitalize-the-catholic-church/.

3. A pope once said that one good catechist is worth a hundred outstanding preachers. Yet there are wealthy parishes that expect directors of religious education to work as unpaid volunteers! Catechism needs to be taken more seriously as a ministry. In many parts of the world, the minister whom Catholics see the most is their catechist, not their pastor. Parents must be willing to be trained and work as catechists. More adult Catholics must also take responsibility for handing on the faith. This also includes shouldering ministries that care for the least, such as visiting the sick.

Catechetical Sunday – September 15, 2013 – Ideas for ADVENT

This year, the Church celebrated Catechetical Sunday on September 15, 2013, with the theme Open the Door of Faith. Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists were called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an

opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

This year’s NCCL reflection journal was edited by Michele Harris and the reflections were written by nine different NCCL members. The reflection book is entitled WELCOME! Open the Door – Pass through the gate – Seek the Christ. Sample pages from each of the writers are available on the NCCL Homepage (www.NCCL.org). There are limited copies left. Prices have been reduced by $1.00 per book. These prices are in effect until all copies are sold. Order now as supplies are limited. Order forms and quantity discounts are found on the NCCL homepage (www.NCCL.org)

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CL Weekly has featured several pieces each week from June 3 – September 16. This concludes our series on Catechetical Sunday materials. You can carry this theme throughout the year. This week we feature a:

Retreat by Thérèse Bermpohl, MA, Director, Office for Family Life, Diocese of Arlington. This Advent/Christmas Retreat Forming Families as the True Domestic Church can be downloaded at http://tiny.cc/ggevxw.

Bishop Dale Meltzer’s Advice to Catechists, 2013

Dan Pierson, editor of eCatechist secured a very thoughtful and inspiring reflection from Bishop Dale Melczek, Diocese of Gary, Indiana for the readers of www.eCatechist.com.

He has shared it with all of us and invites you and your catechists to sign up for eCatechist.

Recognizing Years of Catechetical Service

I had the opportunity to participate in the first annual appreciation brunch in the Diocese of Baton Rouge this past Saturday. Since there had never been diocesan recognition for the service of parish catechists and catechetical leaders, Rhonda Parenton and the staff of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis decided, as part of the Year of Faith, to recognize the service, and therefore the faith, of DREs, Youth Ministers, RCIA coordinators, Adult faith formation coordinators and catechists.

Nearly 100 catechists were recognized for 20 or more years of service. I had the privilege of meeting and sitting at table with Mrs. Laura Nelson, who at 89 years old had been a catechist for 57 years and Mrs. Cherry Riggs who had been a catechist for 50 years and a DRE for 31 years. Bishop Robert Muench was most gracious and appreciative in his affirmation of those present.

I also had the privilege of seeing the wood carving of The Holy Family that was used on the program cover and is on display in the Administration Building of the diocese.

Pope Addresses Non-Believers in Open Letter to Italian Newspapers

In a letter addressed to the founder of the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica”, Pope Francis gave his personal experience of discovering faith to non-believers. The Holy Father’s letter was in response to several questions on how the Church responds to

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those who do not share the faith in Jesus which was published on July 7th. “I feel it is very positive , not only for us individually but also for the society in which we live, to pause to dialogue about a reality that is as important as faith, which refers to preaching and the figure of Jesus,” the Pope wrote.

Pope Francis also gave his own personal experience of faith and encounter with Jesus Christ in his life. “Faith, for me, was born from an encounter with Jesus. A personal encounter that touched my heart and gave me a direction and a new meaning to my existence,” he wrote.

“But at the same time it was a meeting that was made possible by the community of faith which I lived in and through which I found access to the intelligence of the Sacred Scripture, to the new life that flows like gushing water from Jesus through the Sacraments, to the fraternity with all and to the service of the poor, true image of the Lord. Without the Church, I believe, I would not have encountered Jesus, while being aware that the immense gift that is faith is preserved in the fragile clay vessels of our humanity.”

Concluding his letter, Pope Francis emphasized the Church’s missions to announce Jesus Christ despite its shortcomings. “The Church, believe me, despite all the slowness, the infidelity, the mistakes and the sins that may have been committed by those who belong to her, has no other meaning or aim other than living and bearing witness to Jesus,” the Pope wrote. If you desire the complete letter by Pope Francis you can read it online.

Treating Kids' Cancer With Science And A Pocket Full Of Hope

It’s just another example of how the media contains stories and examples that we can use in teaching religion. Friday I was listening to Morning Edition on NPR to an inspiring story about Dr. Jim Olson who was telling a story of how he decided to work with children. “A 7-year-old girl he was caring for died, and the loss tore at his heart.” Then he talked about what happened next

and how that changed his career decision.

"They actually tracked me down, and came up and gave me a beautiful warm hug," Olson remembers. "And they said, 'Her death to us was as beautiful as her birth, and the reason for that was because of the words you shared with us as we went through this. And we just want you to know that you have a gift, that when medicine doesn't go the way you want it to, that you can still help families recognize a life doesn't have to be 90 years [long] to be beautiful.'

"And so I sat there and thought about that for a long time, and I realized that this was a gift that I had," he says. "And not many people would recognize the gift, or have it or want to share it. But for me it felt like a calling of sorts."

From that “calling” or one might say vocation, has come a life’s work. His calling fits the definition of Frederick Buechner who defines a vocation as “the one in which your deep gladness and the world’s deep need meet.” You can read/listen to the interview at Life after death

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(http://tiny.cc/bzqg3w). The following exchange is full of faith and hope and understanding about what a child needs to know when (s)he is dying.

Olson remembers the day he had to tell Kathleen and her husband that Hayden's tumor had come back, and it was going to take his life.

"Their response to that was remarkable," Olson says. "I went up to see how they were doing, about 20 minutes later, and Hayden was lying in his bed. His parents were on the other side of the curtain that separated his bed from the rest of the ICU. And they were saying to Hayden, 'This is just like when you're going to be dead. I'm still here, you're still there. We just can't see each other.'

"Then they would open up the drapes," Olson says. “‘See, I'm still here, you're still there.' Close the drapes. 'See I'm still here, you're still there. That's what it's going to be like after you die.' And I've never seen a family do such a beautiful parenting move in my life."

Pope Reflects on Virtue of Hope Versus Optimism

Pope Francis reflected on the virtue of hope “Hope is a gift from Jesus; hope is Jesus himself and bears his name, the Pope said. “But it’s not the kind of hope that you find in a person who usually looks at a half full glass that’s simply optimism and optimism is a human attitude that depends on many things.”

“But hope is a different thing, it is not optimism. Hope is a gift, a gift of the Holy Spirit and for this Paul says: “It never deludes.” Hope never deludes, why? Because it is a gift that is given to us by the Holy Spirit. But Paul tells us that hope has a name. Hope is Jesus. We cannot say, “I have hope in my live, I have hope in God,’ No. If you do not say: ‘I have hope in Jesus, in Jesus Christ, the Living Being, who comes now in the Eucharist, who is present in His Word’, that is not hope. Its good humor, optimism, [but not hope.]”

The Holy Father reflected on the Gospel of the day which recounted Jesus’ healing of a man with a paralyzed hand, as well as the Pharisees criticism of curing on the Sabbath. "Jesus, the hope, rebuilds everything. It’s a constant miracle. Not only did He do miracles of healing, so many things: those were only signs, signals of what he is doing now, in the Church. The miracle of rebuilding everything that He does in my life, in your life, in our lives. To rebuild. And this that he rebuilds is the very reason for our hope. And 'Christ, who rebuilds all things the most wonderful things of Creation, is the reason for our hope. And this hope does not disappoint us, because He is faithful. He cannot deny himself. This is the virtue of hope."

Emphasizing the need for hope, Pope Francis addressed the clergy in particularly, noting that while it is sad when one finds a priest without hope, it is truly beautiful when “we find one who arrives at the end of his life “not with optimism but with hope.” Concluding his homily, the Holy Father told the faithful to look at Our Lady as a model of one who finds great hope in Her Son. “It’s that hope that renews all. May the Lord give us that grace,” he said.

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FREE Professional Development Webinar – THIS Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Ave Maria Press, in partnership with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the National Association for Lay Ministry, and National Federation of Priests' Councils presents a series of free, online workshops on professional development for parish ministers. This webinar

Spiritual Formation for Catechists is offered on Tuesday, September 17 at 3:00 pm EDT. You can register at PDW-09-17-2013 (http://tiny.cc/ycpf2w). For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars .

The Spiritual Formation of Catechists: 10 Simple Ways to Transform Volunteers into WitnessesTuesday, September 17, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

The General Directory for Catechesis outlines a variety of ways in which a catechist should be formed, but above all, it says, catechist formation "nourishes the spirituality of the catechist," so that his or her work is born out of a personal "witness of life" (GDC, 239).

In this webinar for catechetical leaders, parish DRE/CRE's, and diocesan leaders in evangelization and catechesis, Jared Dees, creator of the popular website TheReligionTeacher.com , presents ten simple ways for ongoing spiritual formation of catechists.

The purpose of these catechist formation ideas will be to transform catechists from well-meaning volunteers and generous parents into passionate witnesses of the Gospel.

Good Press: For Marathon Victims’ Family, Priest a Consoling Presence

This is one of the best pieces about a priest that I have found in the secular press. The Boston Globe did a feature they called a sympathetic look at a pastor. It’s a reminder of what we love and desire in a good priest. The Boston Globe offers a moving profile of a priest who faced multiple challenges in the wake of the Marathon bombing in April. You can read the article at Boston Globe (http://tiny.cc/h1h92w).

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Pope Reflects on 'Criminal' Side to Gossip

Francis said that someone who speaks ill of his neighbor is a hypocrite who lacks the courage to look to his own shortcomings. Pope Francis focused on the fact that gossip has a “criminal” side to it, Vatican Radio reported. Every time we speak ill of our brothers, we imitate Cain’s homicidal gesture, the Holy Father explained.

The seed of Pope Francis’ homily was Jesus’ thought provoking query: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” Jesus speaks to us about the opposite of humility, the Pope observed, “of that hateful attitude toward one’s neighbor when one becomes a 'judge' of his brother." In this context, the Pope pointed out, Jesus uses a strong word: “hypocrite."

“Those who live judging their neighbor, speaking ill of their neighbor, are hypocrites, because they lack the strength and the courage to look to their own shortcomings. The Lord does not waste many words on this concept. Further on he says that he who has hatred in his heart for his brother is a murderer. In his first letter, John the Apostle also says it clearly: anyone who has hatred for his brother is a murderer, he walks in darkness, he who judges his brother walks in darkness."

Thus, every time we judge our brothers in our hearts – or worse still when we speak ill of them with others, we are Christian murderers, the Pope said. “A Christian murderer. ... It’s not me saying this, it’s the Lord. And there is no place for nuances. If you speak ill of your brother, you kill your brother. And every time we do this, we are imitating that gesture of Cain, the first murderer in History.”

And the Pope added that in this time in history when there is much talk of war and so many pleas for peace, “a gesture of conversion on our own behalf is necessary”. “Gossip," he warned, "always has a criminal side to it. There is no such thing as innocent gossip." And quoting St. James the Apostle, the Pope said the tongue is to be used to praise God, “but when we use our tongue to speak ill of our brother or sister, we are using it to kill God," ... “the image of God in our brother”. 

Some may say, the Pope commented, that there are persons who deserve being gossiped about. But it is not so. “Go and pray for him! Go and do penance for her! And then, if it is necessary, speak to that person who may be able to seek remedy for the problem. But don’t tell everyone! Paul had been a sinner, and he says of himself: I was once a blasphemer, a persecutor, a violent man. But I have been mercifully treated. Perhaps none of us are blasphemer – perhaps… But if we ever gossip we are certainly persecutors and violent. We ask for grace so that we and the entire Church may convert from the crime of gossip to love, to humility, to meekness, to docility, to the generosity of love towards our neighbor”.

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BISHOPS ENDORSE CRS WORK FOR POOREST, MOST VULNERABLE

Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the U.S. bishops' overseas humanitarian aid agency, is deeply committed "to Church teaching in fulfilling its mission of mercy," the U.S. bishops' Administrative Committee said in a September 11 statement the first day of its annual fall meeting in Washington.

The bishops strongly endorsed the 70-year-old agency after critics "raised allegations about CRS' adherence to Church teaching and its identity as a Catholic institution" and questioned its pro-life credentials, the statement said. "Last year, CRS served more than 100 million people in 91 countries," the bishops said.

"Those making these public critiques, albeit, we hope, in good faith, do not speak for the Catholic Church and we advise the Catholic faithful to exercise caution and consult the CRS website for clarification before endorsing or giving credence to the groups' critiques." The bishops "urged the Catholic faithful to continue to support Catholic Relief Services."

"The U.S. Catholic bishops stand firmly behind CRS in its commitment to promote and defend human dignity and the sacredness of every human life from the moment of conception until natural death, and at every moment in between," the bishops said. "Its service around the world makes us all proud," the bishops added. The full statement can be found at http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/catholic-relief-services-collection/support-for-catholic-relief-services.cfm

Pope Francis Celebrates the Church as Loving ' mamma '

Pope Francis gave pilgrims attending his weekly public audience Sept. 11 what he called a "homework assignment" to find out the date they were baptized and celebrate it every year. "How many of you remember the date of your baptism?" the pope asked the crowd in St. Peter's Square, and then acknowledged a relatively small show of hands. "Our baptismal date is the date of our birth in the church," he said. "When you go home today, look hard for the date of your baptism, so you can celebrate it and thank the Lord for this gift."

The pope's remarks came during a talk on the subject of the church as mother, for which he mostly used the informal Italian term mamma. "One doesn't belong to the church as to a company, a party or any other organization," he said. "The link is vital, like that one has with one's own mom, because the church is really the mother of Christians."

"A good mom helps her children come out of themselves, and not stay comfortably under the maternal wings, like a brood of chicks stays under the wings of the hen," he said. "The church, like a good mother, does the same thing: accompanies our growth, transmitting the word of God, which is a light that shows us the path of the Christian life; administering the sacraments."

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"Do we love the church as one loves one's own mom, knowing also how to understand her faults?" the pope asked. "All moms have faults, we all do. But when one speaks of mom's faults, we cover them up, we love them. The church has its faults, too," he said. "Do I love it that way, like my mom? Do we help it to be more beautiful, more authentic, more like the Lord?" As children of a common mother, members of the church are equal before God, the pope said: "All of us, pastors and faithful, live the maternity of the church."

"Sometimes I hear, 'I believe in God but not in the church,'" he said. "But the church is not only priests: we are all the church. And if you say you believe in God and don't believe in the church, you are saying you don't believe in yourself, and this is a contradiction."

FREE Professional & Spiritual Development Webinar – Sept. 17 or 18

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation: Teaching and Celebrating the Gift of Christ’s Peace

In every age the followers of Jesus have recognized the need for mercy and forgiveness. The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation offers us the healing and peace that the world cannot give. How do we reawaken in Catholics today the value and importance of the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation? How do we prepare children for this sacrament? How might this sacrament stir the hearts of believers and nurture mature discipleship in today’s culture?

Click here to register for this Webinar, This Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 1:00 pm

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/176242382 This Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 7:00 pm

https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/648690534 A certificate of attendance will be offered at the conclusion of the presentation. Fr. Ron Lewinski is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and pastor of St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish in Mundelein, IL. He also serves as an Archdiocesan Dean and President of Frassati Catholic Academy, the first Archdiocesan Catholic Middle School.

Society's Future Is Rooted in Young, and in Elderly, Says Francis

The Pope commented that for the Christian community, the family is “a path for generations through which faith, love and fundamental moral values are transmitted, as well as concrete solidarity, hard work, patience, and also plans, hope, and future. All of this - which the Christian community lives in the light of

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faith, hope and charity - it has never kept to herself, but every day it becomes leaven in the dough of society, for the greater common good.”

“Hope and future”, writes the Pope, “presuppose memory. The memory of the elderly gives us the support we need to continue on our path. The future of society ... is rooted in the elderly and the young: the latter because they have the strength and youth to carry history forward, and the former because they are the source of living memory. A population that does not take care of the elderly and of children and the young has no future, because it abuses both its memory and its promise”.

In his message, Pope Francis reiterated that we cannot ignore the suffering of many families caused by a lack of employment, housing problems, the fractures that may develop within a family or a marriage, and “the violence that unfortunately lurks and does damage inside our homes”. However at the same time, he concluded, we must remember the “simple, but beautiful and courageous witness given by many families, who experience matrimony and parenthood with joy, illuminated and supported by the grace of the Lord, without fear of facing the moments of the cross that, lived in union with the Lord, do not obstruct the path of love, but rather make it stronger and more complete”.

What does it mean to be Human? Where does the “Soul” Come In?

Jad and Robert devoted the whole hour of Radiolab to “humans and robots who are trying to connect, and blur the line.” It was a fascinating piece especially when about half way through they started talking with the inventor of the Furbee and what it meant to be human. It was only towards the end that there was even a mention of the word “soul”. Earlier this year, I had included a piece about the difficulty some children are having between

deciding what is alive and what is not alive. This conversation and experiment went even farther as you can tell from the blurb about this program. If interested you can listen to Radiolab at http://www.radiolab.org/2011/may/31/. Here is the blurb.

We begin with a love story--from a man who unwittingly fell in love with a chatbot on an online dating site. Then, we encounter a robot therapist whose inventor became so unnerved by its success that he pulled the plug. And we talk to the man who coded Cleverbot, a software program that learns from every new line of conversation it receives...and that's chatting with more than 3 million humans each month. Then, five intrepid kids help us test a hypothesis about a toy designed to push our buttons, and play on our human empathy. And we meet a robot built to be so sentient that its creators hope it will one day have a consciousness, and a life, all its own. 

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FREE Professional Development Webinar – Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Ave Maria Press, in partnership with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the National Association for Lay Ministry, and National Federation of Priests' Councils presents a series of free, online workshops on professional development for parish ministers. This webinar 5

Ways to Bring Your Parish to Life using the First Spiritual Exercises is offered on Tuesday, September 24 at 3:00 pm EDT. You can register at PDW-09-24-2013 (http://tiny.cc/s3482w). For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars .

5 Ways to Bring Your Parish to Life using the First Spiritual ExercisesTuesday, September 24, 2013 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EDT

Presented by Michael Hansen, S.J.

This Webinar will give you the top five ways to use the first Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola in your parish. After a short general introduction, the methods are explained.

1. You will learn, through points and practice, the power and simplicity of the prayer form of the Ignatian "Spiritual Exercises."

2. You will be guided through the powerful dynamic of a week of these exercises made together--a resource of real grace in the hands of the Holy Spirit.

3. The map of a First Spiritual Exercises retreat will be explored, revealing the full transforming experience of giving a retreat on daily life in your parish. The book of The First Spiritual Exercises offers four such retreats.

4. You will experience particular exercises for sacramental preparation, marriage enrichment, personal healing, and deep reconciliation. Whether you are involved in RCIA, adult faith formation, or marriage preparation and enrichment, you will hear how great traditional methods of prayer can be taught in refreshing and engaging ways.

5. You will be taken on a tour of an unmatched collection of Ignatian prayer helps, aids, and tools. With these your parish ministry will have greater depth and effectiveness, for when you use them, you bring people face to face with their personal God. You will feel holy desires rise in you, and you will become a more effective co-worker with Jesus in your parish.

The webinar will end with question and answer time. Fr. Michael may bring both clarity to understanding the First Spiritual Exercises and the experience that comes from seven years of real world road testing in parishes. Fr. Michael is the author of several books that you can purchase through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore: The First Spiritual Exercises: A Manual for Those Who Give the Exercises, The First Spiritual Exercises: Four Guided Retreats, The Gospels for Prayer, and The Land of Walking Trees: Reflections for the Chronically Ill.

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James DeBoy, Past President, Donates Files, Church Documents & Books to NCCL

Recently James DeBoy, President of NCCL, from 1991-1993, stopped by the offices to donate three boxes that include some of the history of the organization as well as some books and documents that I have not seen in our collection. Jim was president at the 57th annual meeting in Pasadena when the new structure and new name (NCCL) were fully implemented. A copy of the Commemorative Booklet dated April 20, 1993, was included in his donations. In our conversations, he mentioned that one of his best decisions was naming Fr. Jim Uppena, as chair of the transition. While in Green Bay, I was privileged to have worked with Fr. Jim, who ironically, had recently

called the national office to update his membership profile. These are two of the people upon whose shoulders we stand and they still care about catechesis and NCCL. We are truly blessed.

Three books worth mentioning that I found in the treasures are The Art of Teaching Christian Doctrine by Johannes Hofinger, S.J. whom the annual Hofinger conference is named after and two books of Catechism Stories by Rev. F.H. Drinkwater. I was surprised to discover that the importance of using stories in religious education was already being emphasized in 1948, the year I was born. The stories, in fact, are “arranged to fit an abbreviated form of the English catechism.”

Geeky Goodness: Excellent Advice From The " Godmother of Silicon Alley "

Red Burns was a renowned educator and technology advocate who pushed for more creative uses of modern communications. She also co-founded the celebrated Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP) at NYU. She left behind a legacy of passion, and some very good advice. Here are just a handful of some imparted wisdoms she gave in her opening remarks to new NYU students. These are some of her hopes for you.

That you combine that edgy mixture of self-confidence and doubt.That you have enough self-confidence to try new things.

That you have enough self doubt to question.That you think of technology as a verb, not a noun; it is subtle but important difference.

That you remember the issues are usually not technical.That you create opportunities to improvise.

That you provoke it. That you expect it.That you make visible what, without you, might never have been seen.

That you communicate emotion. That you create images that might take a writer ten pages to write.

That you look for the question, not the solution. That you are not seduced by speed and power.

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That you don’t see the world as a market, but rather a place that people live in — you are designing for people, not machines.

That your curiosity knows no bounds. That you understand what looks easy is hard.

That you can laugh at yourself. That you are kind. That you engage and have a wonderful time.

The Investigator: Inspiring New Film Opened on Friday, September 13, 2013

Inspired by true events in Rich Romano's life, "The Investigator" is a new film that's changing lives. The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg describes the film as “a moving and thought-provoking film about one man’s journey to investigate his faith and return to Christ.” The Investigator opened this past Friday at numerous cities across the United States. Visit the website (http://www.theinvestigatormovie.com/Default.aspx) for a two (2) minute preview as well as ticket information. Dr. Caroline Cerveny, SSJ-TOSF, President, Interactive ''For those who are like the doubting apostle Thomas, you will explore a way to investigate the resurrection of Jesus through the character of Police Sergeant James Buanacore, a

twenty-year veteran investigator. Overall this is a heartwarming story, of personal transformation that will touch adults as well as adolescents.''

Police Sergeant James Buanacore, a twenty-year veteran investigator, starts the most important investigation of his life when a drug bust goes tragically wrong, forcing James out of the job he loves and into retirement. When James' wife Stephanie has a miscarriage, he is devastated and begins to question his previously strong faith. Depressed and angry, James isolates himself until his famous brother encourages him to take a job as a criminal justice teacher and baseball coach at a Christian high school. With his cop mentality challenging his students, James struggles through experiences with an unsupportive principal, a guidance counselor with a secret and rebellious students. But when his best option seems to be quitting, a student challenges him to begin the investigation that will change his life, and those of his students, forever...the investigation into the homicide of Jesus Christ.

Look at Jesus: Just Read the Gospels More

This video begins with the question, “What do you want [your grad children] to know about Jesus?,” To which N. T. Wright responds, “Just read the Gospels more.” Often Christians read the Gospels as the optional “chips and dips” at the beginning of the meal, but treat Paul’s epistles as the “red meat of Pauline theology.” If you are intrigued by his statement, you may wish to

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watch this interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO2VBoyruIM. If you find this worthwhile, there are many more items available at The Work of the People (http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/).

There Need To Be More Teachers Like Her

When she found out one of her students was suicidal, Mrs. Reifler changed her curriculum in a huge way. The message in this short video “Good teaching isn’t about getting students ready for a lucrative job; it’s about encouraging them to choose a good life” contains an important message for every catechist as well as every teacher. Watch Good Catechist is Good Teacher.

Are You Gonna Stay? Listen to the Children

Children can give us unexpected wisdom, we just have to listen to them. Watch this video and find out why children think we should go to church. Check out this short video at Church is... (http://tiny.cc/umwb3w).

Affirmation of Life and Motherhood

Bryan Reising’s wife Linda, who works for First Choice Pregnancy Services found this YouTube that affirms life and affirms motherhood. It’s from Britain’s Got talent and I think you will agree it is very powerful. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOZS_Vq6eKw&feature=share

The Day I Stopped Saying Hurry Up

When you’re living a distracted life, every minute must be accounted for. You feel like you must be checking something off the list, staring at a screen, or rushing off to the next destination. And no matter how many ways you divide your time and attention, no matter how many duties you try and multi-task, there’s never enough time in a day to ever catch up.

That was my life for two frantic years. My thoughts and actions were controlled by electronic notifications, ring tones, and jam-packed agendas. And although every fiber of my inner drill sergeant wanted to be on time to every activity on my overcommitted schedule, I wasn’t.

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You see, six years ago I was blessed with a laid-back, carefree, stop-and-smell-the roses type of child.

So begins a reflection by Rachel, creator of the blog "Hands Free Mama" who is committed to "letting go...to grasp what really matters." This beautiful blog post describes how her daughter taught her to stop saying "hurry up" and to live a life more centered on the things that really matter. Here is the moment of metanoia. If you care to read her blog on this topic, please go to

http://www.handsfreemama.com/2013/07/16/the-day-i-stopped-saying-hurry-up/.

Then one fateful day, things changed. We’d just picked my older daughter up from kindergarten and were getting out of the car. Not going fast enough for her liking, my older daughter said to her little sister, “You are so slow.” And when she crossed her arms and let out an exasperated sigh, I saw myself—and it was a gut-wrenching sight.

I was a bully who pushed and pressured and hurried a small child who simply wanted to enjoy life.

My eyes were opened; I saw with clarity the damage my hurried existence was doing to both of my children.

The iCatechist: Effectively Using Your iDevices

Here is what Caroline Cerveny, SSJ recently posted on SlideShare. Even though it is only the PowerPoint, you may find it helpful.

Check out Workshop for the Orlando Diocesan Catechist Formation Day.

Good Lesson for Media Literacy

On Wednesday the New York Times ran an article about a statement that Archbishop Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, made stating that Catholic leaders are open to discussion about one of the church’s touchiest issues — celibacy for priests – saying that it’s not formal church dogma and therefore could be changed. “Celibacy is not an institution but look, it is also true that you can discuss [it] because as you say this is not a dogma, a dogma of the church,” Parolin told El

Universal, a Venezuelan newspaper. He said the church needs to “reflect the democratic spirit of the times and adopt of collegial way of governing” the flock.

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The headline for this article read Vatican leader open to talks on priests having   sex . While the headline may have sold papers, it definitely does not accurately portray the content of the story. This is a good example to show students how a headline can create a false impression that is passed on as if it was the truth. Parolin added that “It is possible to discuss and reflect on these topics that are not defined faith, and consider some modifications, but always in the service of unity and according to God’s will.”

The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways

Members of NACMP have started reading and discussing this book by Meredith Gould. Meredith reminds us that social media isn't one-size-fits-all. Older generations gravitate to social media that is more "wordy" and younger generations gravitate to those that are more image based. One reviewer said “Meredith explains in understandable terms the best practices pastors and others should consider in developing their social media strategy. If you're re-evaluating what you're doing with social media or even if you're just beginning to consider dipping your toes in

the water, you'll find this book to be a wonderful companion and resource.” You may wish to know that Meredith insists that virtual community is, in fact, "real" community. You can order The Social Media Gospel: Sharing the Good News in New Ways from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore. For more information, check out her website http://www.meredithgould.com/.

Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other

This book is very informative. Sherry Turkle makes some bold statements that raise questions in my mind and some that I am surprised are even debatable, but that was before I listened to the Radiolab previously mentioned in this newsletter. I am glad she insists we have the obligation to question the principles behind new inventions. I appreciate her sense “that the touch of a human hand is indeed different from a robot's, that a handwritten letter is different from a text, that thinking and remembering have value even when it seems there's no more time for them.” I also appreciate her defense of solitude. Turkle quotes children

and adults who hesitate to use the phone because it seems awkward and intrusive, an idea affirmed in this year’s edition of the Beloit freshmen class which appeared in a previous issue of this newsletter. You can buy Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, Kindle Alone Together at the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love

This is the capstone book in a trilogy that includes Christ in Evolution and The Emergent Christ. If you have read and enjoyed the writings of Pierre Teilhard De Chardin, you will enjoy this book. Two of my favorite quotes are “We need a religious imagination that ignites our energies to move beyond mediocrity and fear, one that anticipates a new future of planet life” and “The good news of Jesus Christ is not so much what happens to us but what must be done by us.

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The choices we make for the future will create the future. We must reinvent ourselves in love.” You can buy The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution, and the Power of Love or Kindle The Unbearable Wholeness of Being at the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

GRATITUDE – An Infographic

Gratitude helps us cope with adversity, but that’s certainly not its only benefit. For more reasons why to practice gratitude, check out this infographic created by Here’s My Chance.

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Knowing Jesus and His Message – Conociendo a Jesus y su Mensaje

This is an excellent resource. Immediately following the Learning Session on this resource at the NCCL Conference and Exposition in San Diego, the NCCL Bookstore sold over twenty (20) copies of the book in English and Spanish.

Based on the protocol used to evaluate elementary religion series, the book used fifteen standards for Pre-K and K

through Grades 7 & 8. Included with the binder is a CD with all the materials available for duplication. This is an ideal help for any elementary catechist regardless of the series you might be using. Check out the following and use the Order Form.

PREFACE - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/nysql) EXPLANATION - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/xuvw8) Standards - Explained (http://tiny.cc/65wmc) Normas y Fundamentos (http://tiny.cc/zfrg2) ORDER FORM - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/9j0mb)

Looking For A Good Book?

Stop by the NCCL Bookstore. Purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, and other products on Amazon through the NCCL Bookstore (http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20) helps support this valuable online ministry.

If you are an on-line shopper and you frequent Amazon.com, please enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore as the organization benefits from every purchase you make. It’s an ideal way to support our ministry. Just go to our Home page (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Store tab or click on http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20 and it will take you directly to our bookstore. It doesn’t matter what you buy, as long as you enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore, we get a percentage of your purchases.

We are just building our bookstore and adding titles every day, so if you have any suggestions for books you believe should be available through our bookstore, please drop NCCL a note. All books mentioned in CL Weekly are available at the NCCL Bookstore.

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