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Issue: #12
January 2015
As you'll see in this newsletter (see content list to the left), the people's voice is beginning to be heard by Archdiocesan decision-makers. We need more voices to join the 1560 in 145 parishes who are already part of the Lay Network. Please ask fellow parishioners to join. Urge them to visit www.cccrmn.org to see the whole set-up and register. There's much to be done and more voices strengthen our action!
Catherine Michaud CSJ to Present at CoB Meeting
At the last meeting of the Council of the Baptized, Nancy Gotto facilitated a discussion about the evolution of consciousness and stages of spiritual development. At the Council's next meeting, Sr. Catherine Michaud will continue the conversation, including 'world view' and how it affects our personal spiritual development and that of the local Church community. All are welcome and invited to attend the
Council of the Baptized meeting - 7pm Tuesday Feb. 10, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 S. Snelling, St. Paul.
CCCR Reps Meet with Archbishop
Bob Beutel, Paula Ruddy and Mary Beth Stein met with Archbishop John Nienstedt, Auxiliary Bishop Andrew Cozzens and Fr. Erich Rutten for an hour on Tuesday Jan. 20 at the Chancery Office. Bob reports they "were received quite cordially," and the archbishop was prepared for their discussions about the Synod on the Family and CCCR's foundation and hopes. Bob concluded, "We went away feeling we had succeeded in being heard and that our activities for the Synod of the Family would be beneficial to the institutional church without being co-opted." The Archbishop agreed to have further conversations.
2015's Love and Sex Campaign
Last year we concentrated on having input into the selection of our bishops. This year we'll concentrate on gathering and sharing input with the U.S. bishops for the Synod on the Family (in Rome, October 2015). Read the position paper issued by the Council of the Baptized exploring the issues the bishops will be addressing.
Surveys Inform Bishops About Love and Sex
Pope Francis has asked all the Catholic bishops of the world to survey their people on how the Church can bring pastoral care to families, including couples who use contraception, divorced and remarried couples, gay and lesbian families, and cohabiting couples. Our archdiocese has posted a survey. Please take the survey and be honest in your responses. We'll ask the same when we send a survey of our own to you later. We believe our survey will be more tailored to the lived experience of lay people. Both surveys are important to providing information and insights to the Synod on the Family.
Will They Ever Stop Asking Me to Write to the Papal Nuncio?
Nope. He needs to hear from you, because you can help the papal nuncio make informed decisions about the kind of leadership we need in our archdiocese. 61 have reported to us that they've written to the papal nuncio. Your insights about pastors who have the confidence of the people, qualities we need in our leadership and the importance of a broad, consultative process when he next decides who he will recommend as bishops are also important. You can still write to the papal nuncio even if you didn't vote. His addresses are:
Do the Christian story and contemporary science complement or contradict one another?
Led by Michael Bayly, "Companions on the Journey: An Introduction to Evolutionary Christianity" is an interactive opportunity to learn about, reflect on and respond to this concept. Consider bringing this discussion to your parish, family or small group. The program is flexible to accommodate the time your group allows. Check it out! Contact Michael at [email protected].
