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; NOCERCC@cmnonline.com

September marks the start of NOCERCC regional meetings. Region VI was held on September 2-3 in Sylvania, Ohio. This year, besides the usual sharing, members spent time planning the annual Convention of Pastors to be held January 5-8, 1998 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The theme is Pastoring in a Church in Transition: Leadership for Today and Tomorrow. Speakers will include Rev. Richard M. Gula, S.S. and Mr. John Reid. Also at this meeting the members voted to donate $3,000.00 to the Endowment Fund. Many thanks!

Region VII’s members from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin met September 11-12 at the Center for Development in Ministry in Mundelein, Illinois. Members shared resource ideas, discussed themes of future national conventions and elected Stephen DeLeers of Milwaukee to the Board of Directors.

The regional meetings scheduled for the weeks to come are:

Region XI October 13-14 Los Altos, CA

Region IV October 28 Atlanta, GA

Region IX November 3-4 Liberty, MO

Region I November 6 Brighton, MA

Region VIII November 10-11 St. Paul, MN

Region V November 17-19 Memphis, TN

The 1998 convention on February 16-19, 1998 celebrating NOCERCC’s founding in 1973 is entitled, Twenty-five Years: Continuing the Pilgrimage. It will be preceded by a two-day

workshop for new directors and committee members. Seasoned directors and committee members will also find this workshop most helpful. Circle your calendar and make your plans early. This convention promises to be a valuable and enriching experience for all. You will be receiving the brochure and registration materials for the national convention soon. If you need extra packets, please call the National Office

Although my time with NOCERCC ends in June 1998, this special ministry continues to be challenging and rewarding. I assure you that I will energetically continue my work during the nine months ahead and will do all I can to help with the transition.

Blessings on all your good works!

Financial assistance for participation in NOCERCC’s annual convention is available to one committee member or additional person who comes to the convention with the director of continuing education/formation. The award covers the cost of the registration fee. An archdiocese, diocese or religious province is limited to a single award. This financial assistance is made possible through a 1996 grant from Patricia M. Klugherz, the President of Biblical Journeys, Inc. Contact the National Office for an application form.

The thirty-seventh R.P.I. was held for the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota (September 1-4). Convocations scheduled for the fall include Jefferson City, Missouri (September 22-24), Belleville, Illinois (October 13-16) and Salina, Kansas (October 20-23). Convocations are confirmed in six dioceses in 1998. For information about scheduling R.P.I. convocations in your diocese or province, contact the National Office.

Regina Tours announces lower prices on its two Priest Familiarization Trips to the Holy Land on December 3-9, 1997 and January 8-14, 1998. Both trips depart New York’s JFK Airport and cost $399.00 per person plus tax. Tours include air, land, hotel, meals, bus, and guide.

Contact: Regina Tours, Inc., 401 South Street, #4B, Chardon, OH 44024; 800-228-4654; Fax: 216-286-4231.

The new Center for Continuing Formation at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore announces two 1998 sabbatical months:

Contact: Dr. Christa Klein, Dean, Center for Continuing Formation, St. Mary’s Seminary & University, 5400 Roland Ave., Baltimore, MD 21210; 410-864-4100; Fax 410-864-4110; e-mail: StMarysCenter@aol.com.

The National Pastoral Life Center announces dates for 1998-1999: July 12-17, 1998, Oblate Renewal Center, San Antonio, Texas; August 23-28, 1999, Marywood Center for Spirituality, Jacksonville, Florida; July 18-23, 1999, Bergamo Center, Dayton, Ohio. Contact: Sr. Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., National Pastoral Life Center, 18 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012-2404; 212-431-7825; Fax: 212-274-9786.

Weston Jesuit School of Theology invites experienced ministers to spend a sabbatical year or semester as a member of its community of faith. This flexible program offers a range of opportunities for learning, reflection and recreation, tailored to each participant’s needs. Weston Jesuit is located in the historic district of Cambridge, Massachusetts, close to many intellectual and cultural attractions.

Contact: Admissions Office WJST, 3 Phillips Place, Cambridge, MA 02138-3495; 617-492-1960; Fax: 617-492-5833.

The Seventh Annual Urban Ministry Network Conference will be held October 16-18, 1997 at the Omni Netherlands Hotel, Cincinnati, Ohio. The conference, Partnerships: The Shape of the Church to Come! links broad perspectives in plenary sessions with local projects in workshops and is designed for those who are directly involved in any aspect of urban ministry in parishes, diocesan offices and other institutions linked to and serving urban ministries. Persenters include, Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, Hon. Alexis Herman, Ms. Sharon Daly, Rep. Myron Orfeild, Rev. John Judie. Contact: Sr. Donna L. Ciangio, O.P., National Pastoral Life Center, 19 Bleecker St., New York, NY 10012-2404; 212-431-7825; Fax: 212-274-9786.

New Life Center announces three workshops: Caring for the One Who Ministers and What Questions to Ask of a Psychological Evaluation, December 3-5, 1997; Human Sexuality, Clerical and Religious Issues in Relation to the Body, Mind and Spirit, December 5-7, 1997. Workshops will be held at Mercy Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Contact: Sr. Carla Przybilla, O.S.F., P. O. Box 1876, Middleburg, VA 20118; 800-982-6216.

The new audio tape programs have been produced in collaboration with the National Institute for Clergy Formation of Seton Hall University: Challenges for Contemporary Priesthood with Fr. Stephen J. Rosetti and The Priest-Affective and Authentic, by Msgr. Andrew Cusack. Available from Alba House Communications, 9531 Akron-Canfield Rd., P. O. Box 595, Canfield, OH 44406-0595; 800-533-2522.

New Life Center for Development Series Filled with the Utter Fullness of God; Caring for the One Who Ministers, a new book by Carla Przybilla, O.S.F., Ph.D. shows that transforming one’s life requires as inward journey of heroic proportions and requires that we not only free body, mind, and spirit from the past, but that we connect with our deepest essence and fill our consciousness with truth, love and reason. Available from the New Life Center, P. O. Box 1876, Middleburg, VA 20118; 800-982-6216.

A full series of helpful tools for the preparation and celebration of the Millennium are available from the U.S. Bishops’ Office for the Millennium and Jubilee Year 2000. They include a newsletter, Jubilee 2000, a booklet, Preparing for the Jubilee Year 2000 and more. Contact: Secretariat for the Third Millennium/Jubilee 2000, 3211 Fourth Street, NE, Washington, DC 202-541-3244; Fax: 202-541-3242.

40,000.00

10,000.00

In Memory of Rufe and Bernadette Kuhns

Rev. Raymond Sheperd

Rev. James O’Leary

Region VI

Rev. Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M.

The National Federation of Priest’s Councils announces two regional gatherings entitled Middle Years of the Priesthood: A Commitment to Personal Wellness & Presbyteral Vitality scheduled for January 5-8, 1998, Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, Arizona and September 13-16, 1998 at Divine Word International, Techny, Illinois. The convenings will focus on the ministry and life issues of priests in their middle years, 40-55 years of age. Resource Persons include: James and Evelyn Whitehead, James Zullo, F.S.C. and Lea Woll, S.L.W. Contact: NFPC, 1337 W. Ohio St. Chicago, IL 60622; 312-226-3334; Fax: 312-829-8915; e-mail: nfpc@nfpc.org.

I am grateful to Paul for giving us this early notice so that we can plan for his successor to assume the duties of Executive Director in July 1998. In the meantime, Paul has assured me that he will continue his dedicated work and assist us in the transition process.

Paul joined NOCERCC in July 1993 and has contributed much to the life and mission of the organization. While saddened by this news, I assured Paul that we respect his decision. Fortunately, we have several chances to recognize Paul during the coming year.

During our meetings in July and August, the Executive Committee discussed and approved the search process and timeline for a successor. I wrote a letter to the bishops, provincials and other national organizations to ask their assistance in identifying possible candidates qualified for this position. Announcements about the position will be published in several newspapers and journals. Applications and nominations are due by November 1, and we hope to have candidates present at the February 1998 convention. The starting date is July 1, 1998.

The position of the Executive Director is an important position for the mission and ministry of NOCERCC. I welcome your assistance in identifying possible candidates by making information about this position known to your friends and colleagues.

Grants. I recently learned that two of the three latest grant proposals I submitted to organizations or institutions for NOCERCC projects were denied. I have not received word from the third organization. I am currently working on two new grant proposals and plan to re-submit one of the two grant proposals that was not funded.

Nonetheless, there is good news to report. With the sale of Duns Scotus College, our former seminary in Michigan, my province acquired money that is not needed for the friars. Grants were given to the ministries of the province (e.g., our province’s publication, St. Anthony Messenger, the high school we own and operate, establishing a fund for our parish grade schools, etc.) and within the Franciscan family (e.g., the Poor Clares, the Secular Franciscans). One million dollars was given to CTU in Chicago to endow the new Duns Scotus Chair of Spirituality.

Also, each friar of my province was offered the opportunity to select a non-profit institution to receive a grant of $10,000. I designated NOCERCC as the recipient of this grant.

The Board discussed the proposal CARA submitted at the June meeting and decided to put a hold on this study until we had a chance to speak with Dr. Dean Hoge at the Life Cycle Institute at The Catholic University of America about how our interests in this research topic might be connected with his published research.

In 1993, as part of its Project FUTURE DIRECTIONS, NFPC commissioned Dr. Hoge to survey members of presbyteral councils in about half of the dioceses in the United States, asking them for their observations, opinions and suggestions. The purpose of the study was to gain information in order to improve the effectiveness of presbyteral councils and to examine NFPC and its activities.

I spoke with Dr. Hoge about this matter and he believes that the information we are seeking can be extrapolated from the data collected in his 1994 research publication, Survey of Catholic Priests on Leadership and Priestly Life, and his 1991 research publication, A Survey of Priests Ordained Five to Nine Years, and adequately respond to our needs.

I have informed CARA that the Executive Committee decided that it seems appropriate for NOCERCC to work with Dr. Hoge regarding our research needs at this time. I will continue working with Dr. Hoge about ways to bring the fruits of his research to our membership as we assist recently ordained priests.

William Barry, S.J. and Howard Gray, S.J. addressed the theme of the assembly, focusing on the qualities of contemporary religious leadership necessary to meet the challenges of today’s needs and on the role that faith plays in leadership. John Klingler, C.S.J., Ted Keating, S.M., and Donald Goergen, O.P. presented workshops on being a spiritual leader, subtle violence in religious community and a healthy chaste life.

In conversation with many of the provincials and major superiors, they were most affirming of our mission and ministry. Likewise, I enjoyed seeing several of our NOCERCC members who are also serving on their respective provincial councils. We have 67 religious provinces or congregations as full members of NOCERCC.

I recommend an excellent resource, A Concert of Charisms by Paul K. Hennessy, C.F.C. (Mahwah, New Jersey: Paulist Press, 208 pages, $14.95). This collection of essays is an outgrowth of a study by CMSM. The essays discuss issues surrounding ordained ministry in religious life according to various perspectives - sociological, theological, historical, canonical, and monastic - as well as personal and women’s views.

Catholic Coalition on Preaching (CCOP). We are attempting to focus our efforts more directly on priests who are currently doing most of the preaching; be inclusive of all the non-ordained preachers; increase participation by bishops; consider regional conferences or preaching workshops. As President of CCOP, I have been meeting with the CCOP Executive Committee, inviting other organizations and institutions to join the Coalition, and preparing for the national conference and the general meeting of the CCOP Governing Board.

The theme of CCOP’s third national conference, Enkindle in Us the Fire ...., will be addressed through keynote presentations by Rev. Walter J. Burghardt, S.J. and Sr. Catherine Hilkert, O.P. in several preaching moments, in the fourteen interest sessions, and through the interaction of the participants. Like the 1993 and 1995 conferences, this conference scheduled at the Marriott Hotel in Cincinnati, Ohio on September 21-24, 1997 (Sunday evening - Wednesday noon), will focus on current critical issues involved in the Sunday preaching event.

The Presidents and CEOs of the Catholic Coalition on Preaching, now numbering twenty-one national organizations or institutions with a deep interest in the continuing development of Catholic preaching, constitute the Governing Board of CCOP and will meet on September 24. Bishop Sylvester D. Ryan and Bishop James W. Malone are members of the Governing Board.

The full members of the CCOP are: Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis; Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics; Conference of Major Superiors of Men; Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Dominican Leadership Conference; Georgetown Center for Liturgy, Spirituality and the Arts; Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame; Institute for Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio; National Association of Diaconate Directors; National Council for Catholic Evangelization; National Federation of Priests’ Councils; National Institute for the Word of God; NOCERCC; NCEA Seminary Department; Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association; Preaching the Just Word; Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin; St. Meinrad School of Theology; and the Western Dominican Province.

The CCOP mission statement reads: “The Catholic Coalition on Preaching recognizes the primary importance of preaching in the Catholic church and seeks to promote and energize quality preaching in the United States.”

The seven goals of CCOP are: To research the problems and corresponding needs in preaching today and provide resources in this major ministry; To sponsor workshops and programs for the shaping of effective preaching; To help to creates supportive and motivating networks of preaching throughout the local churches; To support the NCCB in their efforts to create a national consciousness about the primary importance of the preaching ministry; To influence seminaries and theology schools to intensify their focus on preaching in the formation of their candidates for ministry; To address the needs, problems and possibilities related to the empowerment of Sunday preaching on the local level; To suggest ways to involve hearers of the Word in appreciating, evaluating and developing preaching.

Bishops Committee. Ongoing formation was a major agenda items during the meeting of the Bishops’ Committee for Priestly Life and Ministry in Baltimore on September 7-8. I presented the first draft of an outline to describe a plan or curriculum for ongoing formation. It is my intention to develop a plan that directors could use or adapt. I have been working on this project since the meetings I had to “explore ways to work toward a more comprehensive priestly formation” (Focus #2 in Organizational Directions). I plan to continue this project with the establishment of a Task Force.

Anniversary Convention. Our 25th annual convention is at the Bahia Hotel on Mission Bay in beautiful San Diego, California during the week of February 16-19, 1998. The convention theme, Twenty-five Years: Continuing the Pilgrimage, will honor our founding in 1973. This special anniversary convention will focus on a celebration of the past, a renewed dedication to the present and look with hope to the future needs for the continuing education/formation of priests. Fathers Ray Carey, John Linnan, C.S.V., and Michael Himes are the major presenters.

I have invited the past Presidents and Executive Directors and our three past Bishop-Liaisons to join us. I had three anniversary mementos created to add to the festivities. While in San Diego last month, I met with the hotel staff and reviewed the newly decorated ballrooms and sleeping rooms. They are looking forward to our return visit. I hope we can have a great turn out for this special convention.

May the beauty of the fall bless us with peace.

Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M.