National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy

1337 West Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois 60622-6490 312/226-1890 Fax 312-829-8915

In November, I traveled to the fall meetings of Region I in Brighton, MA, Region V in Memphis, TN, Region VIII in St. Paul, MN, and Region IX in Omaha, NE. Members came together to share resources, discuss the agenda suggested by the Board of Directors and plan regional projects. Region I discussed it’s annual New England Pastors Conference and Region VIII began planning for it’s 1998 bi-annual Summer Symposium.

Registrations for the 1997 convention are beginning to come into the National Office. Scheduled for February 3-6, 1997 in Orlando, Florida, the theme is Preaching and the Art of Storytelling. Register soon and encourage others to join you.

Officials at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel have informed us that the block of rooms reserved for NOCERCC convention participants will be made available to the general public after January 1, 1997. The availability of accommodations after that date will be extremely limited. The hotel is expected to be sold out during our convention week. So, make your reservations by January 1!

Paul J. Murray, CFX

R.P.I. convocations were held in the Dioceses of Lansing, Michigan (September 30 - October 3), Kansas City, Kansas (October 7-9) and Saginaw, Michigan (October 28-30). Convocations are planned for the California Dioceses of Monterey, (November 21-22), Fresno (January 20-23) and San Bernardino,

(January 29-30). For information about scheduling RPI convocations in your diocese or province, contact the National Office. Financial assistance is available.

The American College, Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium and the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Studies (REAPS) of Sacred Heart University of Fairfield, CT are jointly sponsoring a program on August 3-16, 1997 entitled INNER SABBATH: A Pilgrimage for Church Professionals and Others to Reclaim a Vigorous Life of Faith. The presenters will include: Rev. John Gallen, S.J., Dr. Doris Donnelly, Dr. Anthony Cemera, Rev. Jan Kerkhofs, S.J., Dr. John Dick, and Msgr. Gregory Smith.

Contact: Sacred Heart University - REAPS, 5151 Park Ave., Fairfield, CT 06432-1000; 203-371-7867; FAX 203-374-9968.

The Maryknoll Mission Institute announces its 1997 programs: Discerning The Angels of Our Churches, February 18-20, Walter Wink; Worship and Mission: The Gift of the Gospel AD GENTES, March 9-14, John Kaserow, M.M.; Unforeseen Challenges of Inculturation, March 17-21, Stephen Bevans, S.V.D.; The Parables of Jesus, May 11-16, Dr. Kenneth E. Bailey; The Challenge of Religious Fundamentalism, June 1-6, Dr. Scott Appleby.

Contact: Admissions Administrator, Maryknoll Mission Institute, Rogers Building, #529, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0311; 914-941-7575; FAX 914-923-0733.

Vincent M. Bilotta, Ph.D., President of Formation Consultation Services, has a schedule of programs on “Ongoing Conversion of the Heart” for 1997. The mission of FCS is to provide initial and ongoing formation opportunities for clergy, religious and laity particularly in the area of intimacy with oneself, others and God.

For information about the programs and dates, contact: Formation Consultation Services, Inc., 16 Linden St., Whitinsville, MA 01588; 800-410-3663; FAX 508-234-0956.

Mercy Center of Colorado Springs offers both individual and group mini-sabbaticals from three to thirty days for men and women who are in search of their personal growth and healing. Other programs include: CONSCIOUS CELIBACY: Common Sense Life Skills for Personal Happiness, December 14-20, 1996; ANGER WORKOUT: Resolving Grief, Fear, Anxiety, January 5-18, 1997.

Contact: Mercy Center, Inc., 926 N. Farragut Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80909; 800-637-2904.

Regina Tours announces the following familiarization trips for priests, deacons, and religious brothers: Holy Land, January 7-13, 1997, $399.00; Greece-Footsteps of St. Paul, January 31-February 5, 1997, $499.00. Contact: Regina Tours, 401 South St., #4B, Chardon, OH 44024; 800-228-4654.

It is my distinct honor to announce that Reverend Walter J. Burghardt, S.J. will receive the third annual President’s Distinguished Service Award. Established in 1994, this award is presented to a person, who, in the view of the President of NOCERCC, is one whose service of the Gospel and Church exemplifies NOCERCC’s mission and goals.

An eminent patristics scholar who celebrated his 82nd birthday last July, Father Burghardt is a senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center in Washington, D.C., where he founded and continues to direct the program, Preaching the Just Word. This program involves a five day retreat-workshop experience designed to sharpen preaching skills through a broadened sense of biblical justice.

Father Burghardt is also co-editor of the periodical The Living Pulpit and co-editor of the Ancient Christian Writers series. He is the author of some 20 books and 250 articles, which have appeared in more than 60 periodicals. Twelve of his 20 books are collections of his homilies. For 44 years, Father Burghardt was with Theological Studies as managing editor or editor-in-chief. He was recently named by Baylor University (Waco, TX) as one of the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world.

Father Burghardt has accepted this award and I have invited him to join us at the convention on Tuesday and give an acceptance-presentation at the banquet.

I am also delighted to announce that we recently received a grant from Patricia M. Klugherz, the President of Biblical Journeys, Inc., a long-standing Associate Member of NOCERCC. Thank you, Pat, for responding to this request. This special gift and your continued support of NOCERCC are deeply appreciated!

This financial gift will be used as scholarship money for the registration fee of the annual convention. For the next four years, a scholarship will be awarded to one committee member or additional person who comes to the convention with the director of continuing education/formation. Please contact the National Office before December 15 if you wish to apply for this scholarship for the 1997 convention.

The NOCERCC Task Force to develop and produce a print and video resource for use by priests in understanding intimacy, sexuality and boundary issues held another productive meeting in Chicago on October 28-29. The working title of the resource is: Priestly Relationships: Freedom through Boundaries.

This print and video resource will consist of two articles (to be used as preparatory materials), a program or resource guide, and a 30 minute video which will address ministerial and social situations with priests in six vignettes. Father John Heagle (Co-Director of TARA Center in Seattle) examines healthy boundaries in his article and the article by Father John Keenan, SSS (Director of Trinity House in Chicago) offers another look at aspects of priestly spirituality. Options on how to use the resource, discussion questions, and a reflective exercise that could serve as a self-assessment option regarding the issues addressed in the resource will be included in the guide. Our goal is to have the resource available for distribution by June 1997.

The Catholic Coalition on Preaching (CCOP) consists of thirteen national organizations with a deep interest in the continuing development of Catholic preaching. From the establishment of the Coalition in 1989, NOCERCC has been an active member. The CEOs of the member organizations of CCOP will meet in Chicago on November 23-24.

The goals of this meeting are to explore future directions for the coalition, put an organizational structure in place, and discern the leadership for the new structure. As I prepare for this meeting, I welcome your thoughts and ideas about our continued involvement in the coalition.

Focus #2 in our Organizational Directions is “to explore ways to work toward a more comprehensive priestly formation, particularly working with the Seminary Department of NCEA.” In order to begin this exploration, I have scheduled a meeting on November 23 with Reverend John F. Canary, Rector of the University of St. Mary of the Lake-Mundelein Seminary, Reverend Norman E. Bevan, C.S.Sp., President of Catholic Theological Union, and Reverend James Walsh, Executive Director of the Seminary Department of the NCEA. I will update you on this meeting in the January 1997 issue of NewsNotes.

During October 12-15 at the Jesuit Retreat Center in Los Altos, California, the Executive Committee held its fall meeting and met with the 1998 Convention Planning Committee: Board member, Thomas Powers (Albany), Robert Miller (San Bernardino), and Michael Murphy (San Diego) to begin preparations for our 25th anniversary convention. We scheduled these meetings in Los Altos so the Executive Committee could enjoy an information and dialogue session with members of Region XI during their fall meeting.

Congratulations to the following members who were recently elected or re-elected to serve on the NOCERCC Board of Directors: Rev. Stephen Feehan (elected from Region III to fulfill the unexpired term of Rev. Glenn Whitman), Rev. Thomas M. Mullin (elected Alternate from Region III to fulfill the unexpired term of Msgr. Walter E. Nolan), Rev. J. James Offutt (elected from Region IX to fulfill the unexpired term of Rev. Ronald Chochol), Rev. Kenneth Lohrmeyer (elected Alternate from Region IX to fulfill the unexpired term of Rev. Patrick Rush), Rev. Michael Crosby, O.F.M. (Religious), Rev. Thomas M. Powers (re-elected from Region II), Mrs. Judith Kollar (elected Alternate from Region II), Rev. Roy Persich, CM (re-elected from Region XI), and Rev. Michael Lastiri (re-elected Alternate from Region XI).

As they conclude their service as member or alternate for the Board of Directors, we extend our sincere thanks to Rev. Patrick Donahoe, T.O.R., Msgr. Walter E. Nolan (Alternate from Region III) and Rev. Patrick Rush (Alternate from Region IX).

Finally, the 1997 convention, Preaching and the Art of Storytelling, is fast approaching. We look forward to seeing many of you in Orlando, Florida for another exciting and valuable convention. Remember: there is a special drawing during the business meeting. Meant to raise $30,000 for the endowment fund, the ticket sales so far are slow. Only 71 of the 350 tickets have been sold. Two $2,500 prizes will be awarded. The sellers of the winning tickets are also winners, each receiving $100. You need not be present for the drawing to win and the donation is tax-deductible. If you have not already done so, I hope you will sell or buy one ticket. Tickets need to be sold by January 31. Thanks to those who have already responded.

Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M.

Men Vowed & Sexual: Conversations About Celibate Chastity was produced by the CMSM in 1993. Six video tapes and discussion guide may be borrowed.

First Things First an audio tape by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, may be borrowed.

Shadow on the Family: AIDS in Religious Life was produced by the CMSM and the Catholic Health Association in 1989. One video tape and leaders guide may be borrowed.

40,000.00

10,000.00

Rev. Bert Gohm

Rev. Bob Hofstetter

Rev. Bill Connell

Rev. H. Gerald Bordelon

Bro. James Ebaugh, O.F.M.

Rev. Mark Sochner, O.F.M.

Rev. Kenneth Johnston

Mr. George A. Ski

St. Aloysius Church, Detroit, Michigan

Sr. Maureen Therese McGroddy, R.S.H.M.

St. Anthony of Padua Church, Eunice, Louisiana

Congregation of the Mission (Germantown)

Society of the Divine Word/USA

Rev. Gerald Hanley

Rev. Don A. Piraro

Rev. Charles Cicerale

Rev. Jim Kuhns

Our Lady of Fatima Church, Spokane, Washington

Rev. John MacInnis

Rev. Donald Snyder

Region VI Directors

Rev. Walter Hyclak

Dr. Vincent Bilotta

Saint Meinrad School of Theology

Rev. Thomas Nash

Mrs. Patricia Klugherz

Rev. Gerard Schmitz

St. Wencelaus Knights of Columbus, Dickinson, ND