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Issue: #37 April 2017


Opportunities spring forth this April.  

Read about the Inaugural Tegeder Talk, attend the Open Forum, explore the many articles about pressing issues facing our Church.

Read Why am I Involved?, a new section in the CCCR Newsletter.  This month, CCCR Board member Peggy Benkert shares why she is involved in church reform.  As you read this new section, we invite you to consider the question, "How may I become more involved?"  

Read on.  Reflect.  Collaborate.  Act.  Share.
 CCCRNewsCCCR News
CCCR Action Campaigns Call on Us to be Involved
Action Plan 2017 is underway. We have teams of people working on a Women's Commission for the Archdiocese, on the Eucharistic liturgy of the Mass, and on the prospects for an Archdiocesan Synod and the establishment of an Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.  We think there is a large cohort of women in our local church who have much to offer the community but are not being heard.  We think that there is something wrong when only one-quarter of parishioners go to Mass regularly.  We should stand together as a community in thanks and praise in order to grow as Christians.  We think that in order to be church we have to have built-in structures of two-way communication.  An organization without communication cannot be healthy.  So those three teams are at work.  There are beginnings in other areas of need too; we can let you know as they develop.

From one point of view, no decisions can be made on any of these issues until the Archbishop addresses them, so what is the point of the people's efforts?  Our answer to that question is this: unless we keep the awareness of our needs on the front burner, they become lost in the inertia of the status quo.  The Church becomes more and more irrelevant.  We have hope that the Archbishop will listen when we present our ideas.

If you see some energy among your fellow parishioners and friends on a project to support spiritual growth and they would like support from us, let us know.  Ask them if you can help first, and then have them email us at info@cccr-cob.org.  The Holy Spirit is moving among us and we want to be listening.  
  CoBNewsCouncil of the Baptized News
March Open Forum:   What is God Doing at Sunday Mass?    What are We Doing?  
At the March Open Forum held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017, t he Liturgy Committee discussed ritual we use at mass and what it should tell us.  People at the Open Forum shared what they experience and what they feel is missing in their experience of the Mass.  

April Open Forum:  How are we a Priestly People?  What is the Priestly Role?
The April 2017 Open Forum scheduled for April 11, 2017 at 7pm will feature  Fr. J. Michael Joncas, Tom Fisch (St. Paul seminary professor) and Jim Moudry.  They will lead the Council of the Baptized Open Forum as we explore what it means for Catholics to be a priestly people.  We will also look carefully at the priestly role in the celebration of the Eucharist.  Join us!

Date:   April 11 ,  2017
Time:   7-8pm
Place: Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
          700 Snelling Ave South
          St. Paul, MN 55116 
  AroundArchdioceseAround Our Archdiocese
Inaugural Tegeder Talk:  Women in the Church  
In keeping with Fr. Mike Tegeder's legacy of encouraging adult conversation about vital topics, the St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church will be sponsoring the "Tegeder Talks", which will be held twice a year.

The inaugural Tegeder Talk will be held on April 7 at 7pm.
Sandra Schneiders, IHM will address the topic "Women in the Church".  Schneiders is a renowned theologian, author, and professor emerita at the Jesuit School of Theology, Santa Clara University in Santa Clara University.  Her writings include:   With Oil in their Lamps: Faith, Feminism, and the Future Written That You May Believe

Registration is required.  You may register at Tegeder Talks registration.  Donations gratefully accepted at the door.

Presenter:   Sandra Schneiders, IHM
Date:   April 7 ,  2017
Time:   7pm
Place: St. Frances Cabrini Church
          1500 Franklin Ave. SE
          Minneapolis, MN 55405 
 Opportunities Opportunities:  Be Involved
Effecting change requires the investment of our gifts, whatever they may be.  Each of us has something different to offer.  We need your energy.  Read on.  Discern how you may contribute:

1.  Participate in a FutureChurch teleconference addressing complementarity in papal thought.  It is scheduled on April 5, 2017 at 7pm.  The speakers are:  Todd Salman PhD and Michael Lawler.  Register at FutureChurch teleconference signup.

2.  Register for the inaugural Tegeder Talk featuring Sandra Schneiders, IHM.  Sign up at Inaugural Tegeder Talk registration.  In honor of the late Fr. Mike Tegeder, Sandra Schneiders will give the inaugural talk entitled "Women in the Church" on Friday, April 7 at 7pm at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.

3.  Write a letter to the editor of the Catholic Spirit on an issue of interest to you.  Go to their website at:  The Catholic Spirit letters to the editor    

4. Become involved in one of the current CCCR active campaign initiatives.   Contact:   info@cccr-cob.org
WhyAmIInvolvedWhy Am I Involved?

This month, CCCR Board member, Peggy Benkert reflects on why she belongs to--why she is involved in--the Catholic Coalition of Church Reform.   There are many reasons and stories to share.  The following reflections are from Peggy Benkert:

My name is Peggy Benkert. 
 
I have been a member of The CCCR Board for approximately 3 ½ years.  I am currently serving as the secretary.  I represent The Compassion of Christ Community.
 
I grew up attending Catholic schools.  The grade school and high school I graduated from I would define as progressive.  We were encouraged to question. I have always been in tune to what I view as injustices.  My questioning and thought process led me to the question:
 
How can women have more power in the church?  Which led me to the next question:
When will women be ordained by the Roman Catholic Church?
 
In late 2011 I read an intriguing article in the Star Tribune regarding a community in The Twin Cities which had Roman Catholic Women priests.  In the summer of 2012, a friend invited me to attend a Mass at Compassion of Christ.  I was struck by how the only difference between the Mass at Compassion of Christ and my home parish was that was the Mass was said by an ordained woman priest.
 
Compassion of Christ had a representative on the CCCR board who was unable to continue on the board.  When the purpose of the board was explained to me I volunteered.  I think it is very important that the laity, including women, have a voice in the greater Church.  CCCR has given me that voice.
   
                                                    -Peggy Benkert
RRRecommended Reading  

CRS rejects new executive order on refugees - ( Catholic Relief Services, March 6, 2017).

USCCB Committee on Migration Chair strongly opposes Executive Order because it harms vulnerable refugee and immigrant families   - ( United States Conference of  Catholic Bishops,  January 17, 2017).
 
- D. L. Mayfield (OnFaith, March 6, 2017).

Cardinal Cupich: Francis giving new life to Vatican II reforms  - by Joshua J. McElwee  ( National Catholic Reporter, 
March 13, 2017).

Four years later, what to think of Pope Francis and LGBT issues  - by Robert Shine  (New Way's Ministry's Bondings 2.0 Blog , March 13, 2017).
 
Youth hold 'Meet a Muslim' events to encourage people to learn about each other  - by Travis Bubenik, 
(National Public Radio, March 11, 2017).

Priests and marriage: Pope's response not so new after all - by Junno Arocho Esteves  (Catholic Courier, March 13, 2017).
We Welcome Your Feedback
Are we meeting your information needs and keeping you informed and active in church reform?  Your time is not ours to waste.   We welcome your comments at  info@cccr-cob.org .
CCCR Strategic Focus
Empower laity to claim a meaningful role in the Church
Evolve our relationship with the Archdiocese
to collaborate
 while maintaining our integrity as an organization.