OUR CATHOLIC FAITH IN THE POLITICAL WORLD - June 22 - 24, 2020 - Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
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OUR CATHOLIC FAITH
IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
June 22 - 24, 2020
Vatican II Prayer
Here we are, O Lord, Holy Spirit,
we stand before you, hampered by our faults,
but for a special purpose gathered together in your name.
Come to us and be with us and enter our hearts.
Teach us what we are to do and where we ought to tend;
show us what we must accomplish, so that, with your help,
we may be able to please you in all things.
May you alone be the beginning and catalyst of our judgments,
who alone with God the Father and his Son possess a glorious name.
Do not allow us to disturb the order of justice,
you who love equity above all things.
Let not ignorance draw us to what is wrong.
Let not partiality sway our minds or respect of riches or persons
pervert our judgment.
But unite us to you effectually by the Gift of your grace alone,
that we may be one in you and never forsake the truth.
Inasmuch as we are gathered together in your name,
so may we in all things hold fast to justice tempered by mercy,
so that in this life our judgment may in no way be at variance
with you, and in the life to come we may receive
an everlasting reward for deeds well done. Amen.
Every session of the Second Vatican Council began with the prayer Adsumus, the first word of the Latin original
meaning, “Here we are,” which has been historically used at Councils, Synods and other Church gatherings for
hundreds of years, being attributed to St. Isisdore of Seville (c. 560-4 April 636). As we celebrate the Year of Faith
alongside the Year of Grace, this prayer invites the Holy Spirit to operate within us so that we may be a community
and a people of grace.
2
6/26/19 Mass Music
PRELUDE A Place Called Home Michael Joncas
3
2020 virtual ASSEMBLY AGENDA
(All times are in ET Eastern Time)
MONDAY, JUNE 22
12:45 PM Zoom Orientation (All times are in ET Eastern Time)
1:00 PM Retreat Introduction – Part 1 – Sr. Carol Zinn SSJ
“Living the Gospel in the Public Square”
3:00 PM Break
4:00 PM Retreat Part 2
6:00 PM Break
7:00 PM Assembly Opening
Vatican II Prayer
“A Place Called Home”
State of the Association President Fr. Greg Barras
Introduction of the AUSCP Leadership Team
Self-Introduction of Leadership Team Candidates
Election Process
TUESDAY JUNE 23
1:00 PM Keynote Address – Mr. John Carr
“Faithful Citizenship in 2020”
Participant Interaction
3:00 PM Break
4:00 PM Keynote Address – Sr. Carol Keehan DC
“Our Faith, Church Teaching and Legislation”
Participant Interaction
5:55 PM St. John XXIII Award & Acceptance – Sr. Carol Keehan
4
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
1:00 PM Keynote Address – Archbishop John Wester
“Priest, Pulpit and Politics: Proclaiming the Gospel In Today’s Society”
Participant Interaction
3:00 PM Break
4:00 PM Contemporary Summary – Sr. Simone Campbell SSS
“Practical Action in an Election Year”
5:00 PM St. John XXIII Award & Acceptance – Fr. Les Schmidt, Glenmary Home Missioner
5:15 PM Business of the Association
Financial Report - Fr. Lee Bacchi
Work Group Activity Summary
AUSCP Leadership Election Results Announced
Announcement: “10th Annual Assembly 2021– St Paul, MN June 21 – 24
“Where do we go from here?”
5Speakers the Senior Vice President for Mission Integration for Plante
Moran Cresa Company working with Congregations as they
Dr. Carol discerned the future of their mission and charism and the
ZINN SSJ fully living of religious life during these transformational times.
Currently Dr. Zinn serves as the Executive Director of the
Living the Gospel in the Public Square Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Dr. Carol Zinn, a Sister of St. Joseph from
Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, PA has ministered
in the formal and non-formal education Mr. John
profession. She has taught on all levels (pre-K through
post-graduate) and has worked in the areas of educational
CARR
leadership, religious education, sacramental coordinator, and Faithful Citizenship in 2020
music minister. John Carr, the longtime director of the U.S.
Dr. Zinn earned a BS in Education from Chestnut Hill bishops’ domestic and international policy
College, PA; a Master’s in Theology from St. Bonaventure programs, retired from the USCCB policy office
University, NY; and a Doctorate in Curriculum Development in 2012. He accepted a fellowship at the Kennedy School of
and Education Foundations from the University of North Government at Harvard University.
Carolina-Greensboro. She was also a research fellow at According to CNS, he said he and others have long said “we
Episcopal Divinity School and Harvard University on the sometimes feel ‘politically homeless,’ alienated from polarized
topic: Leadership and Transformation. politics and false choices that ask us to choose between defense
Dr. Zinn worked in grassroots-based international movements of the unborn and protection of the poor, between Catholic moral
as consultant and facilitator. In particular, she worked on the principles and the church’s social teaching, between promotion
United Religions Initiative and the Earth Charter. She works of economic justice and protection of religious liberty.”
with multi-sector and multi-issue groups in helping people
deepen an understanding of global realities, local efforts,
and the connections inherent. Dr. Zinn also worked as the SR. CAROL
Education Program Director for Global Education Associates,
a non-governmental organization working to further global
KEEHAN DC
systemic change. Our Faith, Church Teaching, and Legislation
Dr. Zinn served as the main representative for the Sister Carol Keehan, DC, is a member of
Congregations of St. Joseph, an NGO in General Consultative the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent
Status with the Economic and Social Council at the United de Paul. From 2005 until her retirement
Nations. She represented over 15,000 Sisters of St. Joseph in 2019, she served as the ninth President and CEO
who live and minister in 57 countries. of the Catholic Health Association of the United
States, overseeing all activities of the organization that
In this capacity she participated in UN meetings on the includes some 620 hospital affiliates.
topics of Human Rights, Eradication of Poverty, Environment,
Peace and Disarmament, Education, Sustainable Sister Carol was awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Development, Women, Children and Healthcare. She also by Pope Benedict XVI. For her dedication to “carrying
spent time with individual congregations and provinces in on the healing ministry of Jesus Christ she was named
helping them connect their particular efforts and energies one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in
to the global issues and concerns. This aspect of her work the World for 2010.
took place in retreat settings, congregational/provincial America Magazine reported her thoughts on U.S.
assemblies, chapter gatherings, and community meetings. health care at the time of her retirement.
Dr. Zinn served on her Congregation’s leadership team and in
the Presidency of LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women
Religious) for a 3 year term, 2012-2015. She served as
6Archbishop John
WESTER
Priest, Pulpit and Politics: Proclaiming the
Gospel in Today’s Society
Keynoter Archbishop John C. Wester is the
episcopal moderator of the AUSCP. He was
ordained a priest in San Franciso in 1976, serving in parish
and school positions. He was ordained as auxiliary bishop in
1998, serving as episcopal vicar for clergy and vicar general
for the archdiocese. He was installed as Bishop of Salt Lake
City in 2007, then as Archbishop of Santa Fe in 2015.
Sr. Simone
CAMPBELL SSS
Practical Action in this Election Year
Sister Simone Campbell is the Executive
Director of NETWORK.
Sister Simone has served as Executive
Director of NETWORK since 2004. She is a religious
leader, attorney and poet with extensive experience
in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. In
Washington, she lobbies on issues of economic justice,
immigration reform, and healthcare. Around the
country, she is a noted speaker and educator on these
public policy issues.
During the 2010 congressional debate about healthcare
reform, she wrote the famous “nuns’ letter” supporting
the reform bill and got 59 leaders of Catholic Sisters
to sign on. This action was cited by many as critically
important in passing the Affordable Care Act.
7State of the consuming scheduling.
We acknowledge and appreciate the organization, creativity,
Association and commitment Sr. Jackie, OSF brings to AUSCP.
May peace and stability reign in your hearts and souls. We are completing one full year under our new governing
We open our State of the Association of the United States system. Bob Bonnot is Executive Director, Sr. Jackie Doepker,
Catholic Priests and Friends with an acknowledgment of OSF, is Executive Secretary, Gregory Barras is Chair, Bill
COVID-19 effecting and affecting our lives. We cry out with Spilly is Vice-Chair, Lee Bacchi is Treasurer, Louis Arceneaux,
the deaths of over 100,000 of our neighbors and friends, CM, is Secretary, Kevin Clinton is Chair Emeritus. This form
along with suffering and pain of the loss of daily relationships, of leadership enables the Executive Director to do much of
income, routines. the research and communication that drives the efforts of
our organization. This is presented to the Core Team and
We address the need to look at this situation through the lens Leadership team to discern if this fulfills the mission and vision
of faith. Where is God in the midst of this pandemic? What of our organization. It is working well as we continue to learn,
is God asking us to learn through our losses? Where are the to grow and to adapt.
miracles emerging as we willingly “shelter in”, wear masks,
gloves for the good of others? How are we called to see Christ As we grew to an awareness and acceptance that a physical
in each other as we “Love God with all our heart, all our mind, Assembly was not possible this year, we quickly looked to
all our strength and love our neighbor as ourselves”? Informational Technology as an option to meet. Gradually,
what we are experiencing unfolded. We are able to meet after
This is a compelling time of understanding and living our faith. long hours of learning, planning, and relearning.
As in any prayer of lament, this is centered in HOPE.
In January, AUSCP was invited to participate in a forum at
What follows are the accomplishments of our organization over Boston College addressing seminary formation and needed
the past year. Much of this is the result of your prioritizing changes for the future. Bob Bonnot represented AUSCP.
issues of significance. Through our working groups and the The conclusive, suggested changes give much credibility
Leadership Team, these are the results. to the white paper “Confronting the Systemic Dysfunction
Our 2019 Assembly, for the first time, was framed in of Clericalism”, published by the Clericalism working team
contemplative prayer. Led by Sister Suzanne Giblin, CSJ, we facilitated by Louis Arceneaux, CM. [Louie was part of this
were introduced to “go in and go deeper” and “to listen to the group but Kevin chaired and led it. Louie led the Seminary
Holy Spirit”. She held some 270 attendees in silent prayer for formation WG that sent recommendations to our Bisops] Many
five minutes at key times. It was powerful and profound. of their conclusions mirrored what was reported in this paper.
From this, we experienced rich sharing after each presentation We do make a difference.
which resulted, at the end of the Assembly, prioritizing six Growing from past experience and wisdom, AUSCP needed
working groups: Clericalism, Women’s Status, Immigration, to enter the Informational Technology age of communicating
Priests’ Issues, Climate Change, Our Catholic Faith in the more broadly and diversely. We engaged the marketing firm
Political World. Surprise of the Spirit! of Lionfish to teach us and introduce us to the continuum of
These groups have met throughout the year using Zoom. social media. Almost instantly, we reached a broader public
Each group has a summary report. Take some time to read audience through facebook, emails, texting, twitter and many
and reflect on the ongoing activity. Consider joining one of more avenues.
the working groups where your interests and wisdom can be From this we were advised to consider a new AUSCP
expressed. BRAND. We grappled with a new name that would express
These working groups, initially, were scheduled by Sr. Jackie a contemporary, broader, more inclusive vision and mission.
Doepker, OSF at the main office. Over time, it became After much prayer, discernment, and discussion, during
apparent that this took much of her time and interrupted her our January retreat, consensus was to stay with AUSCP.
other responsibilities. Through the efforts of Kevin Clinton, SPELLING IT OUT -- A-U-S-C-P – IS AWKWARD AND
a separate Zoom license was obtained and he is teaching HARD TO REMEMBER FOR MANY, SO WE APPROVED
facilitators of the working groups how to schedule their own pronouncing it ausp, silent c, AS IN ‘AU-SPICIOUS, Try it.
meetings on this new Zoom site, relieving Sr. Jackie of time The more it is used, the more comfortable it gets.
8Along with this, an enhanced logo has been created. Built MARK YOUR CALENDARS: WE WILL BE MEETING IN
from the previous logo, it has brighter, attractive colors and MINNEAPOLIS NEXT YEAR, THE THEME, NOT YET FINALIZED
uses symbols that communicate and focus our mission and FOR OUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY, IS “WHERE DO WE GO FROM
vision. HERE?”. OUR AIM IS TO PRESENT A FINALIZED THEME
Paul Leingang, Director of Communications, along with DURING THE ASSEMBLY.
Lionfish, have enhanced our website to include past white Come and see, come and be a part!!!!!
papers and all of our Assemblies’ presenters, and business
reports. More will be added in the future. Paul continues
to strengthen our website by making it more accessible to
anyone interested.
A difficult piece of data. AUSCP has some 1200 members
and over two hundred friends. However, there are some
670 members who are delinquent in their membership
dues. Kevin Clinton is now our MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR
AND facilitator of the Membership working group. They are
creatively and imaginatively reaching out to these members,
attracting them to pay their dues and become more active.
Their success continues as more members are responding.
They are using the KISS principle. Personal invitations are
the most effective.
Good News! We remember the wonderful contribution of
Clarence Williams, CPPS, liaison of the NBCCC, National
Black Catholic Clergy Caucus. He had to resign due to
illness. Fr. Jeffery Ott, O.P., pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes
parish, in Atlanta, is our new liaison. We look forward to
learning and growing with him and the NBCCC.
With joy and gratitude we surpassed our appeal goal this year.
$167,000 was received from 480 donors. These were gains
over the $150,000 and 450 donor goals originally set.
In closing, we look forward to selecting five of the eight men
who are willing to be a part of the Leadership Team. Take
time to read and reflect on their biographies. And VOTE.
This is our ninth Assembly. We move into our tenth year
of “dialogue, contemplation, and prophetic action”. AS we
look forward, AUSCP has as one of its continuing priorities,
SYNODALITY. This concern of Pope Francis calls for
increased attention, participation, and presence of the laity
in roles of leadership where their wisdom and expertise can
make a difference. Through our Friends we hope to increase
this presence and participation. Vatican II inspired synodality
over fifty years ago. In this tenth year of service, we continue
to be a prophetic voice. We strive to be attentive to the needs
of priests and the Church. We continue to be open to the
Holy Spirit, to listen, and to act.
9Working Group Orleans conducted listening sessions with representatives
of parishes on the topic of clericalism; there was also a
Reports session for the seminarians on the topic. The Archbishop
of New Orleans and the Rector of the Seminary received
PRIESTLY FORMATION AND CLERICALISM copies of the document. The rector was urged to make use
My presentation on the working groups, Priestly Formation of the document in the listening sessions. Lay participants
and Clericalism. The working group on Priestly Formation offered many suggestions regarding clericalism during
finalized a document on recommendations for changes in these sessions. Members of our committee distributed this
Program of Priestly Formation, 6th edition (PPF6). These document to clergy and laity they judged would be interested.
recommendations were sent to the USCCB committee A group from AUSCP and two lay Friends were invited to lead
working on the revision of the PPF. We sent a copy to the clergy of Lexington, KY in a convocation program. Due to
Cardinal Tobin who was in charge of the committee; we the coronavirus, this convocation has been postponed until
tried unsuccessfully to have a meeting with him. The PPF next year. However, work continues on that project.
was revised and a PPF6 was approved by the USCCB at Action we recommend is that members of AUSCP make use
their annual meeting November 12, 2019. This document of the document in doing what you can to rid our Church of
still needs approval from the Vatican and we have seen clericalism. The document can be found on our website or
no acknowledgement of that as of May, 2020. Since we will be found shortly.
have not seen the revised edition we do not know what
effect if any our proposals had on the revision. We do know Louis Arceneaux, C.M.
that our recommendations received public notice in both
America magazine and the National Catholic Reporter.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND CHURCH IN THE POLITICAL WORLD
Louis Arceneaux had an article on the topic published and
highlighted in Today’s American Catholic magazine. We Introduction: I write this Annual Report as the new facilitator
also know that a group of theologians at Boston College of the combined Climate Change and Church in Political
and elsewhere worked on their own recommendations and World Work Groups. Mike Allison and I were to be Co-
had access to our document. Much that they included in facilitators, but Mike has had to step back because of health
their document reflected our own concerns. The action concerns. I have an understanding of the work the Political
that we recommend is that members of AUSCP continue to World WG; unfortunately, I am not totally familiar with the
advocate for ongoing improvements in the formation of clergy, Climate Change WG. I hope this report properly reflects the
particularly in terms of studies being carried out in setting work of the merged group.
of lay students, women and men, that greater involvement Respectfully,
of women on faculties and in formation programs and that Mike Bausch
candidates be formed to serve collaboratively with other
A. Background of the two Work Groups:
Church members and not to be seen as separate from and
above other members of the Church.The document can still • Climate Change WG – Their work over the last couple
be found on our website. of years, includes promotion of Laudato Si’, Catholic
Climate Covenant, Eating Choices, World Day of Prayer
The Clericalism working group served as a followup to
for Creation and much more.
the publication of the document on Clericalism that
members of AUSCP published. Our task was to promote • Church in the Political World Work Group - This WG
the dissemination of that document and urge that it be had been working on a Congressional Luncheon at
studied and applied in parishes, seminaries and wherever the June Assembly and a Public Action in downtown
the Church is present. Copies of the document, Confronting Baltimore that would have included short addresses
the Systemic Dysfunction of Clericalism, were sent to every on Climate Change (Crisis) and Immigration, both are
bishop in the United States and to seminary rectors and issues the AUSCP is addressing during this Election
others involved in priestly formation. We also published a Year.
concise one page presentation of the core of the document
and made it available to AUSCP and anyone interested
in using it. Anecdotally, Notre Dame Seminary in New
10B. Issues currently working on as we move ahead as the priority is to preach on immigrants and the current situation
Climate Change/Church in Political World Work Group of migration in the United States and the world and to
connect immigration with Catholic teaching concerning
• Homily/bulletin materials usable at the parish level - the dignity of all human life. The fourth priority is to
Presently collecting articles and resources; working on advocate for justice for immigrants on the local, state and
a circulation plan. federal levels of government both by parishes and dioceses.
• Climate Change website page – Routinely adding to Finally, the fifth priority is to create welcoming church
the website. communities in which immigrants and asylum seekers are
welcomed, and even to the point of offering sanctuary if
• September 1 World Day of Prayer for Creation -
possible and appropriate. Over the past year the group has
Materials being added to the website.
discussed how we are living out and how we can promote
• The 9/1-10/4 and beyond Season of Creation Meatless each of these priorities.
Mondays – Committee will add materials to the
One of our members has committed to oversee the
website.
“Immigration Corner” on the AUSCP website. Members
• The Challenge - One of the challenges we face as an discussed actions on the border in cities such as El
Association is leading our membership and others to Paso, Texas and Brownsville, Texas. Discussion also
our website; there is a wealth of information available, included visits to detention centers and ICE facilities in
how do we promote our website? various states. The Immigration Work Group developed
C. We are working with a number of other national a letter with documentation from Catholic teaching
organizations to promote the Laudato Si Care for our which requested that the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life
Common Home Campaign (LS-COCH) and have agreed to: Activities, the Bishops’ Committee on Migration and the
USCCB President and Vice President include the “migrant
• Identify our constituency to promote the Campaign
and refugee dimension of respect for life in all of your
• Ask our membership to reach out to priests, teaching and educational materials going forward.” Bob
encouraging them be involved in the Campaign, doing Bonnot helped to write the final version of the letter and it
so across the country (140+ dioceses represented). was sent out on behalf of the AUSCP.
• We will make this campaign a focus of our annual
spring letter to all the bishops of the U.S.
GOSPEL NONVIOLENCE
D. The current virus problem is temporary; climate change
The AUSCP Gospel Nonviolent Working Group, submitting
is permanent; both are life issues in the election year which
the following 2020 report, will continue in process in 2021
we need to address.
and until the Parousia when violent conflict will be laid to
rest.
IMMIGRATION In the meantime, since the 2019 Assembly we three active
At the AUSCP Annual Conference of 2019 in St. Louis the members. Harry Bury, Bob Cushing and Bernie Survil have
Immigration Work Group was formed. At the Conference with other AUSCP members
the work group met and decided on six priorities 1) Canvassed the Chicago Archdiocese with the
concerning immigration. From these six, the Immigration invaluable help of AUSCP members Ken Fleck, Len
Work Group developed five priorities. The first priority is Dubi and Michael Ahlstrom to build support for
to promote education, including of ourselves, on domestic initiating the beatification of Ben Salmon, and then
and international issues of migration. This priority includes getting over 100 to preview A HIDDEN LIFE, the story
studying what is happening at the border, by the federal of Blessed Franz Jaegerstatter, Austrian Catholic
government, the Catholic Church and other religious bodies resister to an unjust war. This took place in Downtown
and reflecting on what Catholic documents have been Chicago on December 11, 2019.
written concerning migration. The second priority is to
report on and to participate in the outreach which is taking
place on a parish and diocesan wide basis. The third
112 ) AUSCP members Bob Cushing and Bernie Survil native tongue. Therefore, the dicastery chose to standardize a
attended the Evidentiary hearing for The Kings Bay common English translation as well as “latin-izing” the diction
Plowshares 7 nuclear resisters and then their trial in and grammar used. This has caused priests and people to
September, 2019 in Brunswick, GA, coincidently the hear awkward and sometimes incomprehensible liturgical
scene of the recent murder of a young black jogger. texts.
3 ) Since December, 2019 to the present, initiated a While priests and bishops struggle with long conditional
conversation with the over 90 AUSCP members who clauses and at times words that communicate awkwardly
either list Gospel nonviolence as an issue for them, or mystify, there has been no effort at consultation or re-
or who had endorsed the above-mentioned petition evaluation of the Roman Missal. Both the Roman dicastery
to Cardinal Cupich regarding Ben Salmon. Two Zoom and the USCCB bishop’s committee on Divine Worship
conferences have been attended by up to 33 AUSCP remain firm in maintaining the status quo.
members and FRIENDS. Two things are cause for hope and may cause the AUSCP
AUSCP members Simon Carian and John Haegle Work Group to reactivate.
took upon themselves the task to draw up concrete 1. Pope Francis’ issue of Magnum Principium which
ways the Working Group can move forward with reiterated the responsibility of each national
recommendations to the AUSCP Leadership Team. conference of bishops having the primary
AUSCP member Neil Pezzulo’s experience as a responsibility for translating liturgical texts into the
member of The Conference of Major Superiors of language of the people.
Men (CMSM), Justice & Peace Committee, was part
of the discerning as well as comments from DOZENS 2. Cardinal Sarah who heads the Congregation for Divine
of AUSCP members. The final document tilted Worship is turning 75 years and is due to retire. There
“ARTISANS OF PEACE” has been entrusted to the is hope that a new head of the Congregation will
AUSCP Leadership Team. understand the difficulties generated by the translation
method and return the challenge of liturgical text
A minority report To Artisans of Peace from some translation to the national conferences who, with their
GNV Working Group members will be available for priests, are ordained to preach the gospel in a way
those requesting it after the 2020 Assembly. It will be that people can understand.
structured around the experiences of the Church in El
Salvador and Guatemala in the 2nd half of the 20th Kevin Clinton—AUSCP Chair Emeritus
century and around the witness of Americans Military
Chaplains Fr. George Zabelka (World War II) and Fr.
WOMEN IN THE CHURCH
Paul Dorbal (Iraq War and Occupation), as well as the
peace witness of Fr. Harry Bury (Vietnam War to the The association’s working group on Women in the Church has
Present ) been reviewing ways to make various types of groups aware
of the document of the same name approved at the 2019
assembly. We are developing an online four-part discussion
ROMAN MISSAL TRANSLATIONS PROBLEMS—RESISTANCE TO guide on four of the topics in the document and suggesting
CONSULTATION discussion questions for each: Women and Scripture; Women
More than seven years ago an AUSCP Work Group in History. Too, we are developing short video presentations
contacted the Roman Office of Cardinal Sarah (head of the on each topic, which could be viewed by parish, school, and
Congregation for Divine Worship). In a letter delivered using other groups for purposes of discussion. Our hope is to have
official diplomatic channels we articulated problems priests on-line packets and videos geared to various age groups and
are having with Roman Missal translation. A response came levels of education by the end of the year.
from the secretary of Cardinal Sarah, Archbishop Roche.
He referred to the Roman Missal English translation as “the
new Latin.” The dicastery was aware that when it came to
translating into the vernacular, many world languages bishops
were translating primarily from English translations into their
12ISSUES IN PRIESTHOOD
2020 Nominations to
We were very happy to see the notable participation in the
AUSCP Survey Monkey about Priest Issues. There were the AUSCP Leadership
almost 400 responders, representing over 200 dioceses and
religious orders combined! The Survey, based on the priorities Team
we all raised at last year’s Conference, was sent out to all NOMINEES: Simon Carian, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Ordained
members of AUSCP so that we would hear straight from you 2013; Michael Hickin, Diocese of Fargo, ND, Ordained 1997;
what you are thinking and what you see Priest Issues to be. Walt Jagela, Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston WV, Ordained
We provided 37 Issues and asked each person to select the 1994; Aidan McAleenan, Diocese of Oakland, Ordained 2005;
top 10 as Issues for themselves. Charts in the Survey Report Neil Pezzulo, Glenmary Home Missioners, Ordained 1999;
with the information we received will be sent to all members. Tulio Ramirez, Yarumal Missionaries, Ordained 1990; Norman
You will see that we chose the responses with the highest Supancheck, Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Ordained 1968;
ranking (the top 10) as the primary ones to be addressed. Bernie Survil, Diocese of Greensburg, Ordained 1967
All Ranked Issues are still listed and please note that all
the write-in sections are included in the report too. Judging
from the large number of responses it was clear that you Simon
wanted to speak and we wanted you to see what you said.
We can take pride in what we as a gathering have created.
CARIAN
ARCHDIOCESE OF SANTA FE; ORDAINED 2013
Thanks for your participation. Please read all of the results,
including the write-in’s, and consider how you can participate 1. What strengths do you bring to the
in responding to them. As you read them you will see how Leadership Team of the Association of US
our present and future Work Groups and the Leadership can Catholic priests?
determine what you consider important for future planning. . I very much believe and am committed to the values
We are ready to start the next stage: action. The responses espoused by the AUSCP and believe in its power for good
need to be categorized into similar groupings, prioritized and and change in the world and in the church. It is an amazing
then acted on to continue our mission of being a “Pastoral group and I want to be able to support it if I can and however
voice of Hope and Joy on behalf of our Church and the I am best able. In particular, I would like to see it continue
world”. We are more than just a Conference. By the grace long into the future. As a relatively newly ordained priest (I
of God we are dynamic members of God’s chosen royal have been ordained 7 years) I would love to work with and
priesthood to proclaim God’s glorious works. learn from everyone else on the team first and foremost
while at the same time perhaps being able to offer ideas
Fraternally submitted by Priest Issues Work Group 2019-20 and suggestions of bridging the gap with younger clergy so
that our membership can continue to grow. I really enjoy the
camaraderie and passionate commitment to social justice
of the AUSCP and so want to help it thrive and continue
especially among younger priests as well. We younger priests
are the people who most stand to benefit from listening to
the experience and wisdom of the AUSCP and from the
friendships it fosters!
2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those
gifts or qualities?
Since being ordained, I have done a lot with campus ministry
and Hispanic ministry, and have been the pastor now of
two different parishes, including my current parish which
serves three Native American Pueblos. In particular, I care
very much regarding all issues of social justice, care of the
poor, immigrants, refugees, all those oppressed. I am in the
13process of finishing a doctoral dissertation which focuses Two, having served two stints as a seminary faculty member
of Augustine’s care of the poor and Christ’s identity with (Josephinum 99-03; NAC 09-14) and two parish assignments
the poor in his writings. I am also interested in aspects of in rural communities with multiple parishes, I have a
inculturation, welcome, and openness in the liturgy; in my perspective on the dynamic tension between formation and
current assignment, I have worked with tribal leaders to bring ministry and some of the disconnect between the needs of
in as many elements as we can of traditional Native American the people and the training we give the clergy. This mix of
religion and culture into our celebrations. I organized an ministries has given me a platform combining academics and
LGBTQ support group which was very successful at my pastoral effectiveness as I imagine the shape of the Church in
previous parish and, in the line of Fr. James Martin, sought future generations.
to build a bridge with that community–an issue I think very Three, I was present in Rome for the election of Pope
important for the whole church. While it’s true that I haven’t Francis. When he bowed and asked for the people’s blessing
served all that long, yet I feel the last seven years have given I was there. The whoosh of the Holy Spirit’s presence was
me some sense of the issues and challenges we face as palpable. I would’ve loved him even without that experience,
priests trying to proclaim Jesus’ gospel of universal love, but thanks to it, I warmly welcome his agenda for Church
heeding the cry of the oppressed and of all those in need. reform and am eager to do my part to unite my witness with
his.
Michael
HICKIN Walt
DIOCESE OF FARGO, ND; ORDAINED 1997 JAGELA
1. What strengths do you bring to the DIOCESE OF WHEELING-CHARLESTON WV,
Leadership Team of the Association of US ORDAINED 1994
Catholic priests? 1. What strengths do you bring to the
Love for the Church. Affability, a get along attitude. Prioritize Leadership Team of the Association of US
a contemplative experience. Highly value continuing Catholic priests?
education. Desire for the Church’s ongoing purification and I believe I bring the strengths of listening leadership to the
reformation. A vision of the Church in line with the efforts put team. I believe I have a keen sense of listening to people and
forth by Pope Francis. truly summarizing what they are attempting to say. I spend
2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those much time listening to garner what a person is going through
gifts or qualities? and needs to let go of for their well-being. I also believe
Honestly, seeking leadership positions is something I’ve my recent Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership with
avoided. What is motivating this move is an increasing sense emphasis on Servant Leadership will assist the Team and
of isolation within my own presbyterate. As I witness a drift myself to be better ministers among and for the people we
towards a deplorable clericalism, the need to reach out and serve. My 25 years of various ministry opportunities within the
find like-minded brother priests has become more urgent. church and outside the church have molded me into who I
The AUSCP position-statements capture well many Gospel am today. Broad vision and all encompassing!
values I should like to champion. 2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those
As for my priestly experiences, I’ll name three. One, gifts or qualities?
friendship with Jesus–that daily struggle to see the world and I have been a pastor to a Campus minister and went on to
its people through his eyes and serve them with his heart. It’s instruct at higher educational institutions that have enabled
not a matter of claiming this friendship, but the experience of me to embrace, listen and, observe for the greater good. The
deepening its intensity each and every year. Without this, the variety of experiences I have had, as an ordained person
priesthood would lose its hold on me. I’m ‘into’ the priesthood has given me broader vison of people and their experiences
primarily because it is a web of relations grounded in this within and outside the church.
primordial relationship with my closest friend.
14AIDAN JOHN Lastly I believe we need to work towards engaging the
MCALEENAN “People of God” in celebrating and exercising their ministry
in parish life and especially in parishes that do not have
DIOCESE OF OAKLAND, ORDAINED 2005
access to a permanent priest or deacon. As a new immigrant
1. What strengths do you bring to the to the United States of America in 1986 I found myself in the
Leadership Team of the Association of US difficult place of having no papers for five years. I worked
Catholic priests? hard on this issue of immigration reform and I continue to do
I have served in many multicultural environments and love to so. Last month my parish became the first in the Diocese of
celebrate the diversity that is our church. I have served as Oakland to declare its self a sanctuary church. I look forward
the pastor of St. Columba Church in Oakland California for to working with all church members at looking at different
these past eight years. ecclesiology’s that continue to work toward building the
kingdom of God.
St. Columba is an African American community that
celebrates African American Spirituality in the context of an 2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those
increasingly multicultural demographic. Social Justice is gifts or qualities?
at the very heart of our community. I love people and I am I worked for Mercy Housing Inc. for 15 years in San
aware of my gifts and talents and look for complementary skill Francisco and in the state of California. I worked in many
sets to help create a viable parish, and community teams in multi-ethnic communities and served the poorest of the poor.
ministry. I am a Vatican II priest at heart and I join with Pope In my last five years before going back to seminary I was a
Francis in his happy ministry of reinvigorating our church. supervisor of 10 different formerly homeless facilities (with
In my first ministry at Christ the King parish in Pleasant Hill, supportive services) from San Diego to Sacramento.
(2800 families) I successfully helped form ten ministries I find it easy to identify the gifts and talents of others and love
that continue to this day. One was to train the leaders and to see them flourish and grow. For example in my parish a
the leaders train others. I believe that if you leave a parish former Franciscan priest and a nun preach on the regular
and the ministry continues then one has done a good job. preaching schedule and on Good Friday the women of the
2 examples .. Grief Peer Ministry, and collaborated with a parish preside, preach and lead the community in prayer.
parish team to create a parish based Cursillo Week-end
Retreat that we named ChristLight. I am open to the Spirit of God working with all of God’s
People! Last year I led a retreat weekend for our local
In my current assignment here at St. Columba I remodeled Baptist church using “Living Your Strengths”. If someone
our parish church acting as my own contractor and saved had told me thirty plus years ago that I, a Roman Catholic
$1,000.000.00. When the Bishop came to bless our church from the north of Ireland, would be preaching in Baptist and
he told me I had a problem. I asked what that might mean. Methodist Churches in faraway California I would have said it
He said “Fr. Aidan you seem to think it’s easier to obtain was inconceivable and yet here I am.
forgiveness than permission”. I said “well bishop I just saved
a million and you are $114 million in debt so I suggest you I love my faith and I love the church, the People of God! I can
not worry about it too much. Anyway you are a Jesuit you be an asset to the leadership of the AUSCP or if not then I
should understand that philosophy.” I love our sacred liturgy am happy to help in whatever capacity I can to forward our
but I also love to be innovative, and bring technology into groups mission within the church in North America.
the worship space whenever possible. I see technology as Peace brothers!
a positive gift and so have installed a high end audio video (www.stcolumba-oak.com, Facebook, & www.youTube.com
system which is used to great effect. These innovations help St. Columba channel)
us in our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint and be faithful
to our St. Frances Pledge.
I previously served two terms on the Board of Catholic
Charities of the East Bay, (Diocese of Oakland) and currently
serve on the Board of Oakland Community Organization
which is the founding organization for PICO national.
15Neil and as such I have become involved in the local communities
PEZZULO where I have lived. This takes on different roles, depending
on the community and the local needs and of course
GLENMARY HOME MISSIONERS, ORDAINED
1999 an invitation to participate. Many of these invitations to
participate from local people have come to me because I
1. What strengths do you bring to the am a priest and bring a different perspective to situations.
Leadership Team of the AUSCP? As a religious priest, I often bring a different perspective to
The task of any leader or leadership team is to articulate, situations than a diocesan priest. At the AUSCP there is room
seek consensus and understanding and work toward future for both experiences of priesthood and a common bond that
goals of a project or organization. This does not function in we need to honor and celebrate.
a vacuum and must invite people to participate and actively Over the years, I have attempted to balance my time and
contribute to achieving the goals of the immediate project or efforts between direct service and advocacy. While serving on
the larger organization. Ultimately, it is about inclusion and local, regional and state wide boards, such as food pantries,
encouragement and building relationships. community actions agencies, legal services, environmental
My desire to be in service to and for something larger than and immigration rights groups I have spoken for and served
myself is my strength. people who for various reasons could not advocate for
themselves.
Having served on leadership teams for over thirty years, I
bring experience and an understanding that each person on During the eight years I served as the 1st Vice President of
the team brings different experiences and expertise, as does The Glenmary Home Missioners I was part of the national
each person in the organization. Everyone has something to board of the CMSM (Conference of Major Superiors of
offer and one’s offering is likely not the same as mine. Men) and chair of the JPIC committee for seven years.
This combined with the various projects and ministries of
Before I entered Glenmary I worked as a salesman and
Glenmary has offered me an opportunity to see a “long view”
manager, mostly in retail however direct sales as well. At
of issues and projects.
times, I have managed over 200 people and millions of
dollars in sales. The goals and objectives of the AUSCP are in line with the
goals and objectives I hold as a religious and what hear from
Since entering Glenmary I have served on the leadership
other religious order priests. There is room for cooperation if
team for missions in Arkansas, Kentucky and currently
we work together.
in Tennessee. I also served for eight years as the 1st Vice
President for the Glenmary Home Missioners.
My experience is my strength. Much of leadership involves Tulio
recognizing, articulating and encouraging the “gifts” and
offerings of others and inviting them to participate. My ability
RAMIREZ
YARUMAL MISSIONARIES, ORDAINED 1990
to invite people to meaningful cooperation is my strength.
1. What strengths do you bring to the
I honestly do not have a specific leadership style, it depends Leadership Team of the AUSCP?
on the situation and the ultimate goals in front of me however,
I strive to be inclusive and participatory. My flexibility and • Broad missionary mindset of our priesthood
ability to adapt to the situation is my strength. • Diversity - A native of America Latina (Colombia)
2. What in your priestly experience specifically support those among Latinos-as in NYC
gifts or qualities? • Three years of experience with the AUSCP Leadership
As a missionary Priest, particularly in rural parts of the United Team
States where the Catholic population is small (often less than 2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those
2% of the total population), I have expanded my idea of what it gifts or qualities?
means to be a Priest and what is the role of the Priest in society. • Priestly Assignments: 6 1/2 years in Kenya; 9 years in
I view the local church/parish as the launching pad into the Ethiopia; 14 ½ years in The Bronx, NY; 3 years on the
community, rather than the destination for the community AUSCP Leadership Team (LT)
16• I joined AUSCP in 2015 and I found it most surprising several service organizations. He was honored by the L.A.
that two assemblies later I was nominated and elected Archdiocese for many years of working with youth and was given
into the Leadership team. It was to bring and guarantee several honors from Boy and Girl Scouting.
some diversity into the association. The facts that I was Author of autobiography: “When Love Calls, A Memoir of Great
Hispanic, a missionary priest from South America, “with Devotion”
an accent”, with The Bronx being my only experience
of USA as a country and as a church gave way to this.
It has been a terrific experience of teamwork, synodality and Bernie
synodality learning, and camaraderie. I have learned a lot and SURVIL
I appreciate how much I have been listened to and valued. DIOCESE OF GREENSBURG, ORDAINED 1967
For those of us who are active pastors, it is not easy to catch
STRENGTHS: Name recognition: “Bernie in
up with all the expectations and aspirations we have for the LT
2020”; Health: According to the judgment of my
work, but still it gives a fresh hand, down to earth approach to
podiatrist who examined me in February, 2020,
it.
I’m in good condition to run; Age: Given that the
There has been so much going on and more so to come within three current candidates for the highest political
the church USA, that it does not seem plausible to open our office in the USA are in their 70’s, I fit right in
views and lines of action to the universal church realities, but I with this leadership demographic which is close to the average
believe I stand for that openness. age of AUSCP membership; Work Experience: In addition to
priestly experience listed in Question 2, are: being obligated
to contribute to my family’s income by selling news-papers
Norm beginning at age 7, helping father on his routeman job from age
SUPANCHECK 9 to 13; gas station attendant at 15, busboy age 16-17; waiter-
ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES, ORDAINED bartender age 18-20; electronic factory tech’s assistant age 20;
1968 Founding Director/CFO of a private rural school system with
1. What strengths do you bring to the 2,500 students, 58 teachers in Guatemala 1991 – 1996 tied in
Leadership Team of the AUSCP? with establishing two high tropical forest reserves there in the
year 2000.
Experiences in parish work, university chaplain, high school
chaplain, Spanish and English PRIESTLY EXPERIENCE: 1) Worked pastorally in these 8
dioceses: Baltimore, Greensburg (incardination since 1966)
2. What in your priestly experience specifically supports those Indianapolis, San Salvador, Managua, Puerto Limon (Costa
gifts or qualities? Rica), Matagalpa, Nicaragua, Verapaz, Guatemala. 2) Member
Assignments to various parishes, university and high school of a priest associations in Greensburg, Indianapolis, Guatemala
and El Salvador & currently Board member and Steering
Brief Bio:
Committee member of the Association of Pittsburgh Priests.
Fr. Norm Supancheck was born June 9, 1942 in Long Beach,
3) Founding Father of the AUSCP and LT member for two
CA as the first of 7 children of Tony and Alice Supancheck.
terms, 2011-2017. 4) Chaplain Religion Teacher & Guidance
Elementary school was at St. Barnabas in Long Beach. High
Counselor at Greensburg Cath Hi School (1967-68), Cathedral
school was Queen of Angels junior seminary from 1956-60.
Hi Sch, 1970-73. 5) Identified & accompanied federal prison
Four years of college at St. John in Camarillo and four years
inmates as one of them in 2003; 6) Recipient of a canonical
at St. John Theology Seminary. In 1985 he obtained an MA
sanction from my now retired bishop.
in Applied Theology. Ordained a priest in 1968 he served in
several parishes in East LA, Placentia, Monterey Park, Fillmore, OBSERVATION: I view my candidacy as a place-holder. Upon
Santa Clarita, and now in Sylmar. For 8 years he served as reviewing the credentials of other candidates hoping that ethnic
Campus Minister at Cal State University and East Los Angeles and youthful candidates present themselves, I’m willing to
College. The last 15 years he has served as Campus Priest withdraw my candidacy before the voting, while I announce the
at Bishop Alemany High School. He is active in Boy and Girl reasons for doing so and even asking my “pledged delegates” to
Scouting, Engaged Encounter, Marriage Encounter, Retrouvaille, cast their vote for the preferred youth/ethnic candidate(s).
Encuentro Promocional Juvenil, Knights of Columbus and
172020 St. John XXIII
Awards
Les
SCHMIDT
GLENMARY HOME MISSIONER
Les Schmidt, Glenmary Home Missioner, has
served for more than 50 years as a Regional
Worker with those relegated to the margins in
Appalachia and the South. Since 1980, he has
served with the Catholic Committee of the South as Bishops’
Liaison, bringing the “cry of the Earth, cry of the poor” to
the table. In preparation for the recent “people’s pastoral”
published by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia, he held
more than 1,000 “listenings” across the region.
Les runs the Catholic Committee of the South’s Gathering for
Mission project. This program invites the voice and vision of
Pope Francis into dialogue at all levels of church leadership.
Gathering for Mission is committed to bringing its practicum
in dialogue to each diocese in the U.S. and Canada.
Les is an active member of the AUSCP.
Sr. Carol
KEEHAN
DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OF ST. VINCENT DE
PAUL
Sr. Carol Keehan is a member of the Daugh-
ters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 2005,
Sr. Carol became the ninth President and CEO of CHA,
overseeing all activities of the organization until her retirement
in June of 2019. Prior to joining CHA, Sr. Carol served in
various administrative and governance positions at hospitals
sponsored by the Daughters of Charity, including 15 years as
president and chief executive officer of Providence Hospital
in Washington, D.C.
In 2010, she was named one of TIME magazine’s “100 Most
Influential People in the World” and “Person of the Year” by
the National Catholic Reporter. Sr. Carol has been named
to Modern Healthcare’s list of “100 Most Influential People
in Healthcare” for several years, topping the list at number
one in 2007. She is known as an advocate for the poor and
vulnerable, and for her influence in increasing health care
access for all by her support of the Affordable Care Act.
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