THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD
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For The Bulletin Of day, and begins the second part of his good
16 May 2021 news, the Acts of the Apostles, with another
account forty days later. Perhaps Luke is
using these two accounts to stitch together
the farewell reality of Jesus in His glorified
humanity and the mission of the church, His
Body, which in His Spirit, must continue
His presence and work in the world. Luke
addresses the Acts of the Apostles to
“Theophilus” (“Lover of God”), perhaps a
patron of the early Christian community.
Gathered today around the World, we are
also the intended readers, all called to be
“lovers of God.”
Mark narrates that Jesus is risen. He has
appeared to His followers during forty days
– a biblical number symbolic of both
fullness and transition – and has instructed
them about the promised coming of the Holy
Spirit. He explains this coming in baptismal
terms. Water had been the baptismal
THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD medium of the Baptist, but this new baptism
will be in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
From Father Robert So the disciples wait for this unimagined
While the 1969 reform of the church’s and unimaginable outpouring, still captive to
liturgical calendar retained the Feast of the curiosity about times, dates, the possible
Ascension in the Easter Season, the integrity relationship of Israel to the kingdom about
of the fifty post-resurrection days, the which Jesus has so often spoken, and an
“Great Sunday,” has been restored to the implied hankering for knowledge of their
status it enjoyed in the early church. The own positions in this kingdom. Jesus
Ascension is one of the many-faceted Easter deflects their desire for such answers into a
jewels that crown the liturgical year, and concern for mission – the witness to Him
today’s reading reflects this light. In favor that the disciples will be called and
of this integrity, in most places the feast of empowered to give beyond Jerusalem,
the Ascension has been transferred from the beyond Judea and Samaria, to the very ends
forty day interrupting marker of “Ascension of the earth. The disciples are still a
Thursday” to the Seventh Sunday of Easter, wounded community, wounded by Judas’
and symbolically the Paschal Candle is no treachery, by Peter’s betrayal, and by their
longer extinguished on the Ascension but cowardice. Yet it is in the midst of such
continues to be lit until Pentecost Sunday. failure, false expectations, and incorrigible
personal ambitions and wishes for quick
In their different ways, all the gospel writers solutions, that Jesus will call them to
want us to appreciate the threshold moment mission.
of Jesus’ exaltation into haven. Luke ends
his gospel with one account of the ascension
of Jesus happening on the evening of Easter
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For some reason, the Lectionary omits verse Today’s psalm incites us to “sing praise to
14 from today’s reading of the “longer God, sing praise.” What are you currently
ending” (and third post-resurrection praising God for in your own life?
appearance of Jesus) of Mark’s gospel. It is
considered an inspired but later addition to In the gospel we hear that Jesus, seated at
Mark 16:8 for the comfort and strengthening the right hand of God, continues to “work
of the communities on mission. And so as with” the disciples as they preach and do
we gather liturgically around the table, we good works. How do you experience Jesus’
may not realize that Jesus’ commission to go presence working with you in ministry?
and proclaim the Good News of His
resurrection to the whole of creation is also
given to the wounded Eleven “at table.”
Nor do we hear how Jesus upbraids them for
their lack of faith and stubbornness –
something that is surely a great consolation
for ourselves as wounded, struggling
disciples in whom the flame of missionary
desire can flicker or even be extinguished.
Yet like the Eleven, we are also people
entrusted with the mission of proclaiming
the gospel now that the physical presence of About Liturgy: Already…But Not Yet
Jesus has ascended to heaven and is no We celebrate now Jesus’ ascension and will
longer with us. We too are sent to do new soon celebrate the coming of the Spirit at
wonders, speak new words with the fire of Pentecost. Jesus’ death and resurrection
the Spirit on our tongues, offer new healing earned for us a new life and a “New
to our sisters and brothers, and cast out Jerusalem,” but we’re not there yet. Jesus’
contemporary “demons” from ourselves and ascension and the arrival of the Spirit show
others. And all this continues to be “in the us that same thing – where He has gone, we
name of,” in the personal power of Jesus one day hope to follow – but not yet.
into Whose Body we are baptized. “Already not yet” is one of the overlooked
paradoxes of our Christian faith. This odd
in-between time is hard to wrap our heads
around. To wit: most of us view heaven as
the ultimate and final destination of our
souls, but that’s only because that’s what it’s
been for 2,000 years. Your grandparents or
even parents might have had to memorize
this answer form the Baltimore Catechism
once upon a time: “God made me to know
Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this
In the first reading, Jesus instructs the
world, and to be happy with Him for ever in
apostles to return to Jerusalem and “wait for
heaven.” But wait – isn’t that ultimate goal,
the promise of the Father.’” What promise
as recited in the Creed every Sunday, the
of God’s are you waiting on to be fulfilled?
resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come?
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It feels, sometimes, as if our church has lost our parish is to invite everyone to wear
that sense of expectation after all this time. something RED to contribute to the energy,
Do we, like the early apostles might have, the enthusiasm, the environment, of this
glance up at each passing cloud and wonder, great day. I hope you will join us in this
is this the one that is bringing Jesus back to tradition.
us? When will Christ come again? Is it
today? Am I ready? These are the sorts of
things we pray over at the end of each
church year and into Advent as well – but
this is also a perfect time to re-examine our
lives and our faith. Are we ready? How can
we be more ready? How can we more
deeply reflect on these serious questions?
On behalf of all of us, I extend the best of
wishes to Ray and Shelli Daviess on the
occasion of their Fiftieth Anniversary of
Marriage and to Werner and Roseanna
Hoch on the occasion of their Fifty-sixth
Anniversary of Marriage. May God
continue to bless you with the best of health,
much happiness, and the deepening of your
love. Congratulations!
Dr. Andrew Currier appointed
superintendent of schools for
The Sanctuary Candles for this entire year Oakland Diocese
have been provided through the generosity Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, has appointed
of Terry Pedras in Loving Memory of her a longtime Catholic educator as
Parents, Alfredo and Elena Avelar. superintendent of diocesan schools.
Dr. Andrew T. Currier, currently president
of Archbishop Riordan High School in San
Francisco, who will begin work as
superintendent on July 1. Currier holds a
doctorate in philosophy from The Catholic
University of America and a master’s degree
in education from the University of Notre
Dame. Currier has served for 19 years in
Catholic education with over 13 years in
Catholic school leadership, including in
Florida, the Washington, D.C. area and
Pentecost Indiana, in addition to being president of
Next weekend, 22-23 May, we celebrate the Riordan since 2017. "I am impressed with
conclusion of the Easter Season and the Dr. Currier’s record at Riordan High School
Great Fifty Days. One of the traditions of — which has grown and expanded under his
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leadership,” Bishop Barber said. “We are
fortunate to have found a very capable new
superintendent who shares my vision for
improving the Catholic identity of our
schools, and who is open to new models
required for the survival of Catholic
education in this 21st century.” During
Currier’s tenure as Riordan’s president he
supported enrollment expansion, athletics
facilities upgrades, and focused on Catholic
identity and programming. Currier has also
served as principal at other Catholic schools Justice Corner by Carolyn Krantz,
which underwent transitions, and has served Pastoral Associate
in the superintendent’s office for the There is a pattern in the universe that many
Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. He has philosophers have written about: Order,
fluency in Spanish and French, and is a Disorder, Reorder, or Construction,
member of the Order of Malta, which Deconstruction, Reconstruction. Our lives
provides medical care to the needy in the seem to follow this pattern. Man and
Bay Area. He also volunteers at his parish, woman construct a marriage, then children
Notre Dame des Victoires in San Francisco, come along and deconstruct whatever plans
and for the Order of Malta in the Bay Area. they had, then they set about reordering their
lives to the new reality. We are in such a
“I am grateful to Bishop Barber for the historic period. COVID deconstructed the
gracious invitation to serve the Catholic world as we knew it. Now we have the
schools in the Diocese of Oakland,” Currier opportunity to bring our creative
said. “Bishop Barber's vision for missionary imagination to reconstruct a better world, to
discipleship, transcendent Mass experiences build a world with more love, to make better
for students, with teaching and learning patterns for the good of all. These patterns
imbued and animated by the corporal and will demand sacrifice. With climate change
spiritual works of mercy, is inspiring and a real reality, we will have to re-pattern the
absolutely necessary for successful Catholic way we do things. With the advent of zoom
schools. I really look forward to partnering and other technological advances, we will
with pastors and school leaders on finding have to reorient our methods of
new ways to share the Good News of Jesus communication. We are in for a radical
Christ with our students and promoting the rearrangement.
good work being accomplished in the
Diocese of Oakland.” The Diocese of Spiritually, we could call these times,
Oakland’s school system serves 48 Catholic “Apocalyptic.” Theologians define this term
schools in Alameda and Contra Costa in a new way these days, not as the “end
counties. There are 39 elementary/middle times,” but as a time that reframes reality in
schools, including six in the Lumen Christi a radical way, a time that uses our
Academies, and nine high schools. Every imagination to build a better world for
year more than 700 students receive need- everyone. Yes, we will have to make some
based tuition grants through the FACE changes. We will have to give up our “gas
(Family Aid – Catholic Education) initiative. guzzlers” for electric. We will have to ration
and clean up water reserves. We will have
to band together with neighbors of all colors
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to make improvements. We can think of this work. This is an “Apocalyptic” time. Let us
and complain or we can see it as an rejoice that the Risen Lord is with us and go
opportunity for human ingenuity. forth to imagine and then create a better
world.
The feast of the ascension is also this kind of
time. The disciples had just gotten over the
horror of the crucifixion. They had tried to
absorb what it means that “Death has no
more victory over us.” As Christ ascended,
they stood there dumbfounded until the
angel reminds them, “Why do you stand
there looking up to heaven? This Jesus will
come in the same way.” No need to wish for
Him. He is with us always. We just have to
put on our “Ascension glasses” to see His
Presence. So get busy! Go out into the
whole world and preach the Gospel of love!
Reconstruct the world in His Name. No
time to pine over what was. We must spend
our energy rebuilding the world around us.
For older people, this is hard. We have
memories. We liked the way things were,
but the message of this Gospel does not
leave us time for living in the past. “Why
do you stand here?” Get busy constructing a
better world.
So our task this week is to imagine a better
world, then take one step to make it happen.
It may be a world where there is no hunger.
Then I join the Food Bank to help that
happen. Or it may be creating a world where
babies are welcomed and loved. Then I call
“Birthright” and offer to help. Or it may be Justice Corner #2
ensuring that all have a good education. by Carolyn Krantz, Pastoral Associate
Then I call up the local school and Where is home? Most of us have moved
volunteer. There are so many ways we can several times in our life. Sometimes we
use our imaginations and create. But the have found a place that we enjoy.
first task is to connect with the Risen Lord Sometimes it feels strange for a while until
in prayer and listen to the urgings of His we get acclimated, but we are always
Spirit. Find that unique place where He searching for a place that feels comfortable
wants you to build His kingdom. He will and safe. Sometimes that is in the heart of a
come in the same way, flooding our friend. Sometimes it is in a job that we like,
imaginations with ideas, filling our where there is like companionship. Then in
imaginations with new ways for His Spirit to older life we learn that home is in our own
hearts when we are at peace.
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In the Christian Scriptures, we learn that Interfaith Housing, now called Hope
home is when “we remain in Him”, where Solutions, is leading an effort to build Tiny
we are wrapped in the oneness of God's love Home communities to give the homeless a
for us, where we feel the presence of His safe place and access to resources. In the
Spirit. In the morning when you find a few future we may be called upon to assist this
minutes to pray, imagine yourself wrapped effort, to bring the feeling of home to these
in the blanket of His Presence. “We have wanderers, to wrap them is His love.
come to know and to believe in the love God Currently, one can go on the website to see
has for us,” says the Epistle. The world may volunteer opportunities. They range from,
be chaotic and threatening, but we “do not building projects, providing furnishings and
belong to the world.” We are wrapped in groceries gift cards, to helping Kids with
His love. When we find that place of silence homework, etc.
in our hearts, we know we are home. But in
our noisy world, it takes a while to come The Disciples felt God's all-embracing love.
into that silence and remain there. In our Let us embrace our homeless with His love.
hearts we are called upon to give an This love “consecrated them in truth.” The
affirmative response to the Transcendent truth is, that the world has been stingy with
Reality that is this God of love. Then we are the lives of those living in a tent on the river.
really “home.” The disciples wandered the world telling all
about a God Who loved us so much that He
We must reflect that love by being of died for us made a home for us in His heart.
service, by creating a brotherhood and With tenderness and mercy, let us go forth to
sisterhood in our families and in our create a world where all have a home with
communities. So many people have become us and in God.
“lost” during the pandemic. As we look at
our families, is there one person who needs
to be wrapped in God's love this week, a
person who is feeling lonely and afraid, who
needs to find that calm center? Can you be
that for them? Can we cherish them in a
special way this week?
As we look at our community in Antioch,
we become aware that there are many
homeless encampments in our town. These
are people gathered together for protection Each week our parish is blessed with those
and sleeping in tents. They are people with
who volunteer in various ways to help us
no permanent home. There the feeling of
home is always threatened. They are along accomplish our mission. Among those
the river and along the Pittsburg-Antioch volunteers are those who come every week
Highway and many other spots. Some are to clean and prepare the church and
veterans, some have alcohol and drug bathrooms for the weekend and week ahead.
problems, some have PTSD and other Our thanks to Jun Bajet, Al Cosce, Carole
mental illnesses. They are our brothers and Miller, Angela Bueno, Rose Salamanca,
sisters. It doesn't matter how they got there, Jean Rogers, Mency Osborne, Finian
they are on our doorstep. Contra Costa Anyanwu, and Steve Rojek.
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From Grand Knight, Chip Sharpe,
Knights of Columbus
I'd like to acknowledge several knights who
pitched in over the last week.
Steve Rojek, Brian McCoy, and I
responded to a short fuse request from
St. Vincent de Paul to help them run a Covid
Vaccine Clinic last Thursday. They serviced
dozens of citizens, many homeless, at their
Pittsburg facility. It was an honor to be a
part of it.
Cardinal Luis F. Ladaria, S.J., the prefect of
Bill Saunders, Walter Schlueter, Joe the Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Stahl, Jack Goncalves, Ron Yarolimek, Faith, has sent a letter to Archbishop José H.
and myself cleaned up Contra Loma Gomez, the president of the U.S. Conference
between Putnam and Buchanan. It took us of Catholic Bishops, that may lead to a
less than an hour. reconsideration of the plan of some
bishops to get the conference to approve a
Lastly, Steve Rojek ran the Mary Project document regarding “the worthiness to
over the weekend, collecting parishioner receive Communion” of Catholic politicians
donations of baby items for Birthright of who support legislation permitting abortion,
Brentwood. Helping him were PGK Dave euthanasia or other moral evils.
Simpson and current Chancellor Bill
Stuhlreyer. The letter, dated 7 May, comes as a response
to a letter on 30 March from Archbishop
Thanks Brothers for your charitable service. Gomez to the C.D.F. in which he informed
the congregation that the U.S.C.C.B. was
preparing to draft such a document.
Vatican sends letter to
Cardinal Ladaria thanked the archbishop for
U.S. bishops: Don’t this information and for assuring him that
the U.S.C.C.B. plans to send the draft text to
rush the debate on the C.D.F. “for an informal review, prior to
its submission to the body of bishops for a
Communion, vote.” He concluded by saying the C.D.F.
asks that the cardinal’s letter “be shared with
politicians and all the bishops of the United States.”
abortion Cardinal Luis F. Ladaria, S.J., has sent a
letter to Archbishop José H. Gomez that
may lead to a reconsideration of the plan of
some bishops to get the conference to
approve a document regarding “the
Gerard O’Connell, Vatican Correspondent worthiness to receive Communion” of
for the Jesuit Publication, America Catholic politicians.
10 May 2021
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Cardinal Ladaria begins the letter by the episcopate and the larger church in the
responding at length to Archbishop Gomez’s United States.”
request that the C.D.F. make available a
copy of a letter from then Cardinal Joseph Furthermore, the cardinal said, “the
Ratzinger to former cardinal Theodore formulation of a national policy was
McCarrick in 2004 on the subject. Cardinal suggested during the ad limina visits only if
Ladaria explained that since it was “in the this would help the bishops to maintain
form of a private letter to the bishops” and unity.” He added, “The congregation notes
Cardinal Ratzinger had stipulated that “these that such a policy, given its possibly
principles were not intended for contentious nature, could have the opposite
publication,” the C.D.F. would respect his effect and become a source of discord rather
wish. than unity within the episcopate and the
larger church in the United States.”
At the same time, Cardinal Ladaria
acknowledged that the principles contained Cardinal Ladaria said the C.D.F. had then
in the letter may assist the bishops in advised the U.S. bishops to take certain
drafting their document, but they “should important steps before drafting any
only be discussed within the context of the document, including engaging in “extensive
[C.D.F.’s] authoritative doctrinal note” of and serene dialogue” in two stages. It said
2002: “On some questions regarding the such dialogue should take place first among
participation of Catholics in political life.” the bishops with the aim of reaching
He said that text predates Cardinal agreement on the doctrinal issues so as “to
Ratzinger’s “personal communication” and maintain unity” in the conference and in the
“provides the teaching of the Magisterium church in the United States.
on the theological foundation for any
initiative regarding the question of the After doing that, it said the bishops should
worthy reception of Holy Communion.” conduct a similar dialogue with the Catholic
politicians “within their jurisdiction who
In the letter from Cardinal Ladaria, a copy adopt a pro-choice position regarding
of which was seen by America, he recalls abortion legislation, euthanasia, or other
that the issue of a U.S.C.C.B. document on moral evils, as a means of understanding the
Catholic pro-choice politicians and nature of their positions and their
worthiness for reception of Communion, had comprehension of Catholic teaching.”
been raised during the 2019-20 ad limina
visits of the U.S. bishops to Pope Francis. “Any statement of the conference regarding
He said the C.D.F. had then “advised that Catholic political leaders would best be
dialogue among the bishops be undertaken framed within the broad context of
to preserve the unity of the episcopal worthiness for the reception of Holy
conference in the face of disagreements over Communion on the part of all the faithful,
this controversial topic.” rather than only one category of Catholics.”
“The congregation notes that such a policy, Once these two stages of dialogue have been
given its possibly contentious nature, could completed, Cardinal Ladaria said the
have the opposite effect and become a bishops’ conference “would then face the
source of discord rather than unity within difficult task of discerning the best way
forward for the church in the United States
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to witness to the grave moral responsibility learn from one another and to preserve unity
of Catholic public officials to protect human in the Universal Church.”
life at all stages.”
The counsel from the congregation seems to
The C.D.F. letter also lays down important suggest clearly that the drafting of a
markers if the bishops choose to go in this document as envisaged by the U.S.C.C.B.
direction. First, it said that if the conference president is something that cannot be rushed
decides “to formulate a national policy on and would inevitably take time, and it would
worthiness for Communion,” that “such a have to reflect “true consensus” among the
statement would need to express a true bishops, something that cannot be taken for
consensus of the bishops on the matter, granted now.
while observing the prerequisite that any
provision of the conference in this area
would respect the rights of individual Francis officially
ordinaries in their dioceses and the
prerogatives of the Holy See.” creates Catholic
Cardinal Ladaria said the C.D.F. “advises” ministry of catechist,
the U.S.C.C.B. that “any statement of the
conference regarding Catholic political open to men and
leaders would best be framed within the
broad context of worthiness for the reception women
of Holy Communion on the part of all the 11 May 2021
faithful, rather than only one category of by Joshua J. McElwee
Catholics, reflecting their obligation to
conform their lives to the entire Gospel of Parish
Jesus Christ as they prepare to receive the Vatican
sacrament.”
Significantly, in a comment that challenges
the U.S.C.C.B. position that abortion is “the
pre-eminent” moral issue, Cardinal Ladaria
told the conference’s president that “it
would be misleading if such a statement
were to give the impression that abortion
and euthanasia alone constitute the only
grave matters of Catholic moral and social
teaching that demand the fullest
accountability on the part of Catholics.” Maura Buckley, a teacher of deaf people and a
catechist from Dublin, Ireland, speaks at a 2009
Cardinal Ladaria concluded by telling conference on "The Deaf Person in the Life of
Archbishop Gomez that as they draft the the Church" at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Paul
Haring)
statement the U.S. bishops should make
“every effort...to dialogue with other
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on May
episcopal conferences [in other countries] as
11 formally created a new official ministry
this policy is formulated in order both to
in the Catholic Church for those who teach
9
the fundamentals of the faith to children and catechists should receive "suitable biblical,
others, opening the position to "men and theological, pastoral and pedagogical
women of deep faith and human maturity." formation" to succeed in their roles.
The pope also asked national bishops'
Instituting a new ministry of "catechist" with conferences "to render effective" the new
the apostolic letter Antiquum ministry and determine "the necessary
ministerium ("Ancient ministry"), the pontiff process of formation and the normative
said those who already serve as teachers of criteria for admission" to the role.
the faith in places across the world
experience a spiritual calling to do so and Francis' opening of the new ministry of
are often leaders in their communities. catechist to both men and women comes
shortly after the pontiff made explicit in
"The Spirit is calling men and women to set January that Catholic laywomen can also be
out and encounter all those who are waiting formally installed in the church as lectors
to discover the beauty, goodness, and truth and acolytes (often known as altar servers).
of the Christian faith," said Francis,
explaining his decision to officialize the Although women in many U.S. Catholic
ministry in the document. dioceses already served in those roles, the
church's canon law had technically only
"It is the task of pastors to support them in allowed for their service on a temporary
this process and to enrich the life of the basis and according to the whim of the local
Christian community through the bishop.
recognition of lay ministries capable of
contributing to the transformation of Francis has struggled throughout his eight-
society," said the pope. year papacy to better include women in the
Catholic Church's leadership structure and
In the Catholic Church, a catechist is ministries, and has repeatedly reaffirmed
someone who teaches the core principles of Pope John Paul II's ban on women's
the faith. In earlier centuries, catechists were ordination to the priesthood.
often priests or members of religious orders
but they are now frequently lay persons who Last year, the pope disappointed those
volunteer or are sometimes employed at campaigning for the church to return to the
Catholic schools or parishes. practice in early centuries of the faith of
ordaining women as deacons, declining to
With the new document, issued motu answer a request from the Synod of Bishops
proprio (on the pope's own initiative), lay for the Pan-Amazon region on the issue.
catechists can be officially instituted into
roles as ministers for their local dioceses and In the new document, the pope said that the
receive recognition for what the pope termed early Christian community "was
a "stable form of service rendered to the characterized by many different forms of
local Church." ministry carried out by men and women
who, obedient to the working of the Holy
Francis said the Vatican's Congregation for Spirit, devoted their lives to the building up
Divine Worship and the Discipline of the of the Church."
Sacraments "will soon publish" a rite of
institution for the ministry, and that
10"At times, the charisms that the Spirit The pontiff ended his letter by asking that
constantly pours out on the baptized took on bishops and priests cooperate with laypeople
a visible and tangible form of immediate serving in the new role, quoting from the
service to the Christian community, one Second Vatican Council document Lumen
recognized as an indispensable diakonia for Gentium: "Pastors... know that they were not
the community," said Francis, using a Greek established by Christ to undertake by
word that can mean "service." themselves the entire saving mission of the
Church to the world.
Although Pope Paul VI's 1973 apostolic
letter Ministeria quaedam had "They appreciate, rather, that it is their
envisioned that national bishops' exalted task to shepherd the faithful and at
conferences could ask the Vatican to the same time acknowledge their ministries
formalize the ministry of catechists in their and charisms so that all in their separate
regions, the ministry had never been ways, but of one mind, may cooperate in the
universally instituted before. common task."
At a Vatican press conference May 11
presenting Francis' new letter, Italian
Archbishop Rino Fisichella said the
formalization of the ministry of a catechist
"signals an important innovation."
"The institution of a ministry by the Church
is confirmation that the person invested with Joshua J. McElwee
that charism is performing an authentic Joshua J. McElwee is NCR's Vatican
ecclesial service to the community," said correspondent and international news editor.
Fisichella, president of the Pontifical His email address
Council for the New Evangelization. is jmcelwee@ncronline.org. Follow him on
Twitter: @joshjmac.
But the archbishop also said it was
"obvious" that not everyone who is currently
serving as a catechist will be formally
installed into the new ministry.
"Of primary importance is the vocational
dimension which implies a willingness to
serve the Church where the bishop considers
it most beneficial," said Fisichella.
"Ministries are not conferred for personal
gratification, but for service to be rendered
to the local Church where the bishop deems
the presence of the Catechist necessary."
Francis said in his letter that his institution
of the new ministry of catechist would go
into effect immediately.
11Tuesday, 11 May 2021 [It’s important to] consider that this derives
from the Bible itself. One of the loveliest
books in the Hebrew Bible . . . is the Song of
Fr. Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Solomon, also called the Song of Songs or
From the Center for Action and the Canticle of Canticles. . . . It is the story
Contemplation of a bride and bridegroom, their passion for
one another, their devotion to one another,
and their (strongly hinted at) passion as
physical lovers.
Historically, the Song of Songs has been
read as a kind of allegory: the two lovers
symbolize the caring relationship between
God and Israel, or Christ and the Church, or
Christ and the individual believer. This is
where the mysticism of love comes in. . . .
Week Nineteen: Mystical Marriage
Elizabeth of the Trinity [1880–1906] serves
The Great Love Song as a wonderful modern example of a bridal
mystic. She entered the Carmelite order at
age twenty-one and died only a few years
later, but her legacy of letters and other
Carl McColman has written many writings reveals a deep sense of God’s
accessible books on spirituality, the mystics, presence in her life, a presence luminous
and contemplative prayer. Here he explores with love. As she wrote in one of her letters,
a biblical book of “bridal mysticism” and “I feel so much love over my soul, it is like
also offers an example of a modern mystic an Ocean I immerse and lose myself in: it is
who experienced this kind of union with my vision on earth while waiting for the
God. face-to-face vision in light. [God] is in me, I
am in Him. I have only to love Him, to let
“God is love” (1 John 4:16) may be the myself be loved, all the time, through all
single most important verse in the entire things: to wake in Love, to move in Love, to
Bible. . . . Is it any wonder that many of the sleep in Love, my Soul in His Soul, my
great Christian mystics are renowned as heart in His Heart, my eyes in His eyes. . . .”
lovers of God? This can take a variety of [1]
forms: for some, being God’s lover is very
ethereal and philosophically abstract; but for Elizabeth prayed that God would make her
others, an embodied, physical, even erotic soul his heaven. In doing so, she recognized
quality characterizes their mysticism of love. the heart of the mystery: that heaven is not
There is even a term—“bridal mysticism”— just a place we go after we die, it is a state
for the many mystics (both female and male) into which we are invited now.
whose experience of profound love of God
was so deep and all-encompassing that it led
to a spiritual sense of being “married” to
God. . . .
12received minor orders on their way up the
Francis is redesigning clerical ladder. While he was at it, Paul
suppressed the major order of sub-deacon,
the church with new now fondly remembered mainly by
Tridentine Mass aficionados. The
lay ministries subdiaconate was the final step in the now
12 May 2021 abandoned cursus honorum (course of
by Phyllis Zagano honor) before the major order of deacon.
Theology By the late Middle Ages, no one became a
Vatican cleric (through tonsure) and entered
the cursus honorum unless he was on the
way to priesthood. No matter the history of
women deacons. No matter that the
diaconate was a once functioning reality. No
matter that some 37 popes were deacons
before becoming bishops of Rome. That all
ended anyway with Gregory VII, an
archdeacon at the time of his 1073 election.
Gregory insisted on priestly ordination prior
to his episcopal consecration.
Pope Francis gestures as he addresses more than In the present, Francis, whose seeming
1,000 diocesan leaders, both clergy and laity, resistance to some requests of the Amazon
May 9, 2019, at the Basilica of St. John Lateran, synod has caused not a small amount of
the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome. Seated heartburn, is working quickly to restore the
next to the pope is Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, church as a functioning and cooperative
vicar of Rome. (CNS/Remo Casilli, Reuters) body of believers.
When Pope Francis said he did not want to While Francis did pass over some requests
clericalize the laity, he meant it. Now, while of the Amazon synod, notably for married
too many bishops have their cinctures in a priests and women deacons, he has set a
knot over who can approach Communion, laser focus on function, rather than
the 266th successor of St. Peter is functionality. His beautiful Querida
redesigning the church. Amazonia, in response to the Amazon
synod's final document, reminded the whole
It all began with the Second Vatican church that Canon 517.2 recognized parish
Council. Then, in 1972, Pope Paul life coordinators — some religious, some
VI suppressed the minor orders in response secular, some men, some women, some
to the windstorm that was the council, married, some ordained deacons — who
instead creating two "installed" lay hold parishes together, maintaining them as
ministries: lector and acolyte. vibrant communities. He wants them
recognized, professionalized and paid.
For men.
Installed lectors and acolytes were to take up It is not about who can do everything, like
the duties once performed by the lectors, the medieval priests who essentially
porters, exorcists and acolytes of the arrogated to themselves the duties of all the
medieval church, who by modern times
13other orders — major and minor — ensuring availabilities required for actual catechesis
that their priesthood was the principal seat may be better found among the laity.
of power. It is about the members of the
whole church picking up their baptismal Lay ministry is real ministry, and the focus
promises and running with them. here is on the Gospel. It is about synodality.
It is about evangelization. Without these,
Consider this: on Jan. 11 this year, Pope there will be no church.
Francis opened to women the "installed" lay
ministries of lector and acolyte, previously
restricted to men (mostly men training to be
deacons and priests).
Then, just the other day, Pope Francis
responded to an idea that sat untouched
since the council and established the
installed ministry of catechist. The Phyllis Zagano
pope called for "men and women of deep Phyllis Zagano is senior research associate-
faith and human maturity, active participants in-residence at Hofstra University, in
in the life of the Christian community, Hempstead, New York. Her most recent
capable of welcoming others, being book is Women: Icons of Christ, and her
generous and living a life of fraternal other books include Women Deacons: Past,
communion." In so doing, he put his finger Present, Future. Study guides for the book,
on the failures of "twinned" or "yoked" which is also published
parishes, where one pastor and his personal in Spanish, French and Portuguese, are
staff manage multiple communities, which available for free download
in and of themselves are essentially at sites.hofstra.edu/phyllis-zagano/.
leaderless.
Francis' ecclesiology prefers communities of
believers gathered around the Gospel and
the Eucharist with everyone participating.
He sees many flowers in the church's fields:
lectors, acolytes, catechists, pastoral life
coordinators, deacons and priests, all in
particular churches led (not managed) by
bishops.
Of course, someone has to coordinate the
(hopefully paid) ministries at every level,
but the smaller the parish the greater the
coordination. This motu proprio document
on catechists does not eliminate ordination
as necessary for sacramental ministry, but it On behalf of all of us I wish to extend our
expands the notion of evangelization. Yes, heartfelt congratulations to Ralph and
the ordained can evangelize, but the specific Gloria Ramirez as they celebrate their 70th
training, skills, personalities and Anniversary of Marriage. For those of you
who join us for our 10:00 a.m. Sunday
14Eucharist, they always sit in the first pew of everything under control. When the
the main bay of pews, on the right side. distribution concluded, we were able to
They have been a blessing not only to us but supply 159 families with desperately needed
also to Good Shepherd, Holy Rosary, and food; that meant we were able to assist a
St. Bonaventure parishes. For many years, total of 603 people. Many volunteers came
they were involved in facilitating the RCIA from the previously closed distribution site
Process at Good Shepherd. They are the at the employment office.
proud parents of seven children. We ask
God’s richest blessing upon them as they Thank you again to all the volunteers that
mark this milestone in their Covenant of came and made this a very successful and
Marriage. memorable Friday.
Bishop Robert
Barron's 'beige'
version of Vatican II
14 May 2021
by Massimo Faggioli
Theology
Vatican
Last Friday was probably the largest food
distribution at St. Ignatius of Antioch that I
can recall! The folks from the food bank of
Contra Costa-Solano set up the course
through the parking lot for cars to follow.
When we started around 3:20 p.m. we had
approximately 40 cars lined up and the cars
kept on arriving. There were 20 volunteers
directing and filling the trunks of cars with
boxes of various items along with fresh
vegetables. Bishops fill St. Peter's Basilica during a meeting
of the Second Vatican Council. (CNS/Catholic
The best part was that no one had to get out Press Photo)
of their car. Some cars were collecting for
more than one family and most for their own Robert Barron, auxiliary bishop of Los
family. There were so many cars we had to Angeles since 2015, is the most popular and
extend our normal volunteering hour until influential cyber-evangelist in American
5:00 p.m. Catholicism. In 2000, he also founded Word
on Fire, an interesting experiment of web-
Having such a large number of helpers was based Catholic apologetics and retrieval of
truly a blessing. Overall, the food bank had
15the contribution of key thinkers relevant for
theology and the church.
One of the latest editorial initiatives of Word
on Fire is the elegantly designed volume The
Word on Fire Vatican II Collection,
published in March. The book includes, in
this order:
• The opening speech of the Second Vatican
Council by Pope John XXIII, Gaudet Mater
Ecclesia, of Oct. 11, 1962; Pope John XXIII leads the opening session of
• The complete texts of the four constitutions the Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's
(Dei Verbum on divine revelation, Scripture Basilica Oct. 11, 1962. (CNS/L'Osservatore
and tradition; Lumen Gentium on the Romano)
church; Sacrosanctum Concilium on the
liturgy; Gaudium et Spes on the church in Other choices made by Barron are less
the modern world); convincing, for example, the decision to
• The closing address of Vatican II by Pope publish the texts of the four constitutions in
Paul VI of Dec. 7, 1965; English using the official Vatican translation
• An afterword by Matthew Levering; (which is available also online for free). It is
• A glossary of key terms and figures; true that there is still no consensus on which
• "Frequently Asked Questions" about English translation is the best one, the last
Vatican II. one (by Austin Flannery in 1996) now more
than 25 years old. But the Vatican
The texts of the four constitutions are translation is notoriously a little careless in
interspersed with long excerpts from the some passages, besides sounding evidently
post-conciliar popes (including Paul VI) gender noninclusive (more in English than
commenting on key issues raised by in the original Latin).
particular paragraphs of the constitutions.
The order in which the four constitutions are
The book opens in a promising way, with published is not explained by the editor, but
the choice to publish Gaudet Mater it seems to be more theological than
Ecclesia, which is hermeneutically historical, with the choice of Dei Verbum on
important to understand Vatican II in the revelation being the first. But when Vatican
intention of the pope who called it, John II actually opened in 1962, the conciliar
XXIII. That speech plays an important role debates started — and for precise reasons
in the statements of Pope Francis on the having to do with the strong consensus
interpretation of Vatican II. around the need for a reform of the liturgy
— with the schema De Liturgia leading
to Sacrosantum Concilium, the first of the
four constitutions, promulgated in December
1963.
16significant cultural and ecclesiastical events
of the twentieth century." Actually, Vatican
II was the single most important event for
Catholicism in four centuries, since the
Council of Trent.
This book is a response against the new
enemies of Vatican II, the Catholic "rad-
trads," but without forgetting Barron's other
polemical objects. Here Barron in the
Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Robert Barron in introduction again: "I and Word on Fire
St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Jan. 27, 2020 stand firmly with Vatican II and hence
(CNS/Stefano Dal Pozzolo) against the radical traditionalists. And we
stand firmly with the Wojtyla-Ratzinger
It's from the introduction that Barron shows interpretation of the council, and hence
his intention: responding to traditionalists' against the progressives."
assault against the legitimacy of Vatican II,
which has been rampant for a few years now This is a false equivalence. The
in Catholic blogs and the internet. This anti- hermeneutics of Vatican II by the radical
Vatican II narrative had a surge since the opposition against the very legitimacy of the
paraschismatic attempt by Carlo Maria theology of Vatican II is significantly
Viganò, former apostolic nuncio to the different than that by progressives in favor
United States who tried to unseat Francis of an expanded interpretation of Vatican II
in August 2018, turned later into a bizarre according to the spirit of Vatican II (as
narrative on contemporary Catholicism that questionable as that appeal can be
Viganò and his followers see as a sometimes).
catastrophe made possible by the teachings
of the council. The intention to recover Vatican II is
laudable and begins from undisputable fact
Barron has talked about this surge of anti- that Barron recognizes: "I believe that the
Vatican II cyber-traditionalism in this last documents of Vatican II are still widely
year, especially in his lecture "Pope Francis unread, and if they are read, often
and Vatican II" for the Napa Institute retreat misunderstood. The needful thing, I am
in 2020. convinced, is a robust and enthusiastic
reappropriation of the texts of Vatican II. I
In the introduction to The Word on Fire hope that this book represents a contribution
Vatican II Collection, Barron lays his cards to that project."
on the table: His intention is to respond to
the traditionalists' assault: "A fresh
controversy has broken out, this time
prompted by 'traditionalists' who claim that
Vatican II has betrayed authentic
Catholicism and produced disastrous
consequences in the life of the Church."
Barron calls, with an understatement hard to
understand, Vatican II "one of the most
17freedom, which is not published in the
volume, and the Syllabus of Errors by Pius
IX (1864), which denied religious liberty to
non-Catholics (among other things).
It remains to be explained why, if they are in
continuity, Dignitatis Humanae never
quotes the syllabus nor Pius IX. In this way,
understanding the historical development of
Pilgrims attend a candlelight vigil in St. Peter's the Catholic tradition becomes impossible.
Square at the Vatican Oct. 11, 2012, to mark the
50th anniversary of the opening of the Second As an alternative to the battles between
Vatican Council. (CNS/Paul Haring) Scholastic and ressourcement theologians
around Vatican II, Levering encourages "a
The problem is that the texts of Vatican II ressourcement Thomism in which the two
are not just the four constitutions presented sides make a good faith effort to find good
in this volume: There are 12 more of them. things to say about the other side." But this
Someone who would start to learn about approach narrows down drastically the
Vatican II from this volume would have no spectrum of legitimate voices and excludes
way of knowing that. It is true that the four other significant streams in the global
constitutions belong to a higher category of Catholic Church today.
conciliar teachings, but this assumption has
been relativized in the post-Vatican II Some of the replies in the nine pages of
period, and not just by progressive FAQ at the end of the volume provide
theologians, but also by popes, if one looks, effective talking points against anti-Vatican
for example, at the role of the II traditionalism, but the real enemies seem
declaration Nostra Aetate on non-Christian to be still on the other side.
religions in the pontificate of Pope John
Paul II (not to mention Francis). For example, a quotation from Cardinal
Robert Sarah explains that the polemical
The interpretive stance that dominates the target of this operation is not really a
whole volume is "the hermeneutic of defense of Vatican II, but a defense of an
continuity," inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, idea of Catholic doctrine as absence of
but in a particular American version change: "Those who make sensational
dismissive of historical nuance. announcements of change and rupture are
false prophets. They do not seek the good of
The afterword by Matthew Levering, a the flock. They are mercenaries who have
prolific author and editor of volumes been smuggled into the sheepfold. Our unity
defending the "hermeneutics of continuity," will be forged around the truth of Catholic
expands with some context on the other doctrine. There are no other means."
documents of Vatican II and grants that the
declaration on religious liberty provides
"valuable doctrinal development." At the
same time, Levering also tries to highlight
the continuity between Dignitatis Humanae,
the Vatican II document on religious
18ecumenism does not even figure in the
glossary.
Moreover, if in the theological interpretation
of Vatican II one does not include the
discontinuities of documents like Dignitatis
Humanae on religious liberty and Nostra
Aetate on non-Christian religions, the whole
"good Catholic conservatives vs.
progressives as false prophets" narrative
becomes a caricature.
Pope Paul VI presides over a meeting of the
Second Vatican Council in St. Peter's Basilica at
the Vatican in 1963. (CNS/Catholic Press Photo)
The history of the magisterium teaches us
that not all changes are ruptures, and not all
material continuities with the previous
tradition ensure continuity with the Gospel.
It is also misleading to say that "the same
magisterium that gave us the ecumenical
council of Vatican II also gave us Pope
Benedict XVI's motu proprio [Summorum
Pontificum on the 'traditional Latin Mass']," At St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia
almost implying that the teaching of a Sept. 27, 2015, Pope Francis blesses a sculpture
commemorating the 50th anniversary of "Nostra
general council like Vatican II and the motu
Aetate," the Second Vatican Council Declaration
proprio of a pope are on the same level of on the Relationship of the Church to Non-
authority. Christian Religions. (CNS/Paul Haring)
A book like this tries, with commendable This volume provides one more evidence of
courage, to take a stand against radical the de-theologization of the Catholic
traditionalists (finally!). But at the same leadership in the context of the "culture
time, it functions as a symptom of the crisis wars." The silence of the volume on the
that made "rad-trads" emerge in the first conciliar teaching on religious liberty
place. corresponds to the almost totally legal and
constitutional, nontheological argument of
The problem is not the anti-progressive the U.S. bishops' campaign for religious
move underlying this book, but the liberty in the last 10 years. This is Exhibit A
theological myopia that prompts the move. for the mutual estrangement between
The theological interpretation offered here is Catholic hierarchy and sound historical-
made possible only by the silences on other theological scholarship.
aspects of Vatican II: This makes it
impossible to know not just Vatican II, but Barron's and Levering's preference for Hans
also the post-Vatican II church. The Urs von Balthasar over Bernard Häring fits
conciliar decree on ecumenism is barely understandably with their theology, yet
mentioned, only in the afterword, and
19Häring was a very active participant of contributed in terms of overall narrative to
Vatican II, while Balthasar was absent. the interpretation of Vatican II.
Much less acceptable is the presentation of Francis' teaching is absent, but it would have
Vatican II as an ecclesial and theological made sense, given the professed intention of
event that seems all enclosed within the the volume, to mention especially Francis'
European and North American hemisphere. decisions about traditionalism (see, for
In the glossary of key figures there are no example, the abolition of the Pontifical
Latin American, African or Asian Commission Ecclesia Dei in 2019).
participants, and their contribution to the
council (for example, to the liturgical Francis is in good company with the best
debate) is not considered. To miss the fact English-speaking scholarship on Vatican II
that Vatican II was a global Catholic event in the last two decades: There is no mention
means missing a key historical-theological of the works of Joseph Komonchak, John
point with catastrophic consequences. O'Malley, Ormond Rush, Richard
Gaillardetz, Gerald O'Collins and Catherine
Clifford. (Full disclosure: Levering falsely
accuses one of my books, the one on liturgy
and ecclesiology, of "rejecting the letter" of
the council.)
Fulton Sheen seems instead to offer much
more insights to the editors of this volume.
Bishop Sheen participated in Vatican II but
spoke only once at the council and left no
significant trace in the conciliar corpus.
Bishops are pictured on the steps of St. Peter's
Basilica following a meeting of the Second
It is fine to look for a popular and pastoral
Vatican Council in 1962. (CNS/Catholic Press
Photo/Giancarlo Giuliani) voice like Sheen to try and make sense of
the turbulence of the post-conciliar period
In the glossary of key terms, among the for the audience of Word on Fire. And I
most conspicuous absences there are understand that for Barron, it is much more
religious freedom, non-Christian religions, difficult to do, in the 21st century, what
Judaism, Islam. The absence of religious Sheen did in the 20th century in a much
liberty from the book explains only up to a more religion- and church-friendly cultural
point the absence from the glossary of Jesuit and media system.
Fr. John Courtney Murray, the most
important U.S. Catholic theologian at
Vatican II.
Pope Francis is included in the excerpted
comments on the four constitutions, but that
is all. This book reacts to what happened in
the Catholic cyberspace in the last few
years, but does not register what Francis has
20healthy and necessary Vatican II centrism.
That intention has real merit.
But this work actually expresses an
extremist centrism that remains friendly to
nonschismatic traditionalism and risks being
indifferent to the interpretation of the
readers of today, almost 60 years after the
beginning of the council. This deepens the
problem of connecting the teaching of
A bishop speaks with two laywomen during a
Vatican II with the church and world of
meeting of the Second Vatican Council in St.
Peter's Basilica at the Vatican in 1962. today, including the present pope.
(CNS/Catholic Press Photo/Giancarlo Giuliani)
Barron is a theologian and founder of a
But it is indefensible the total absence of Catholic movement, but he is also a bishop
women from this volume, both in terms of for the universal Catholic Church, and a
their contribution to preparation and celebrated one. As a pastor, a little more
celebration of the conciliar event (they were generosity toward conciliar hermeneutics
there, even though not as voting members) would be in order, even if they do not
and to the hermeneutics of Vatican II. From exactly match his taste. With this kind of
this book, one gets the impression that the defense of Vatican II, Barron, ironically,
council was and has to remain strictly a male serves up a version of the "beige
business. The only three women mentioned Catholicism" he has complained about
are St. Catherine of Siena, St. Bridget of elsewhere.
Sweden and St. Edith Stein, to whose care
Europe was dedicated by John Paul II.
As I have written elsewhere, I believe that
Catholic theology, especially in the English-
speaking context, has left Vatican II in
something like a no man's land between an
anti-Vatican II traditionalism and a post-
Vatican II and post-institutional Massimo Faggioli
progressivism. For the former, Vatican II is Massimo Faggioli is professor of theology
too modern to be Catholic; for the latter, and religious studies at Villanova
Vatican II is too Catholic to be modern. This University.
is at the root of the intellectual and
theological crisis of U.S. Catholicism today.
The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection is
the most important effort of a U.S. Catholic
bishop to defend Vatican II, but Barron
presents a Vatican II that is safe for a certain
kind of traditionalism. This collection of
texts and commentaries wants to recover a
21In May 2020, the Dicastery for Promoting
Catholic action on Integral Human Development declared a
Special Laudato Si' Anniversary Year to
environment set for mark the fifth anniversary of Francis' 2015
encyclical "Laudato Si', on Care for Our
massive Common Home." Bookending the year have
been two Laudato Si' Weeks, sponsored by
multiplication this the dicastery and other Catholic
organizations.
Laudato Si' Week
Laudato Si' Week 2021 begins May 16 and
Inspiration, runs until May 25. The time frame coincides
with the date, May 24, 2015, when Francis
presentations, signed his first solo encyclical and the first-
collaboration: Get ready ever papal document centered on the
environment.
for May 16-25
14 May 2021 This year's Laudato Si' Week pulls its theme
by Brian Roewe from part of the pope's appeal in the
document's introduction: "For we know that
things can change." The events will
celebrate the church's progress so far in
acting on the landmark encyclical, with the
goal of launching a massive multiplication
of Catholic engagement around
conservation, sustainability and changing
the current trajectory of global warming.
Christina Leaño, associate director of the
Global Catholic Climate Movement, one of
the partner organizations, said the theme is
Children plant trees on the feast of St. Francis in both an acknowledgement of environmental
October 2019 in Indianapolis. Laudato Si' Week work undertaken by Catholics already and
2021 is May 16-25. (CNS/Courtesy of an invitation to advance those efforts even
Indianapolis Archdiocese's Creation Care further.
Commission)
"We've seen the tremendous initiatives, all
The Vatican's celebratory year for Pope the work that Catholic institutions have done
Francis' encyclical on ecology is coming to a around the globe, and individuals, because
close, but organizers hope its end will mark of Laudato Si'," she said.
the beginning of a major movement within
the global Catholic Church to turn its Salesian Fr. Joshtrom Kureethadam,
message about preserving creation into coordinator of the dicastery's ecology and
actions to create a more sustainable world creation sector who's been at the center of
for all. planning the Laudato Si' Year, told
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