The Catholic Connection
Febuary 2018

In This Issue
Archbishop's Tweets

Do you follow Archbishop Kurtz on twitter? Here is a sampling of his tweets this month:

February 11
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Wonderful Mass of Confirmation at Ascension Church this AM.
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February 9
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Not all 81 youth confirmed at St Albert the Great Parish could fit into the photo but each has the dignity of a son or daughter of God filled with the Holy Spirit
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February 9
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Inspiring RiceBowl Luncheon at Presentation Academy highlighting Catholic Relief Services & sponsored by Catholic Charities of Louisville #CRSRicebowl
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February 7
@ArchbishopKurtz:
I am very proud of my niece, Nancy Jo Nicholas, and her efforts for safety & peace in the world. Read her article at abqjournal.com #abq via @abqjournal

February 4
@ArchbishopKurtz:
May God continue to bless Bishop Mark Spalding, the 12th Bishop of Nashville, with the governing Spirit.

February 4
@ArchbishopKurtz:
So pleased to confer Ministry of Lector upon Robert Hale, Archlou sem, & his classmates at Mt St Mary of the West Seminary in Cincinnati last evening.
pic.twitter

January 30
Read my blog for a wonderful reflection on the gift of Catholic education by Megan Culver at @stcatherineacad in New Haven, KY. A great read during Catholic Schools Week. Read here #CSW18


Archlou Happenings:

Be low is a list of upcoming
archdiocesan events: 

2/14/18

Fridays
2/16/18-3/23/18
1:00 p.m.
Catholic Cemeteries Stations of the Cross

2/16/18 7:00 p.m.
Conversations with Archbishop Kurtz

2/16/18-3/30/16

Parish Fish Fry Schedule
 

2/18/18 2:30 p.m.

3/3/18 8:30 a.m.
Share the Journey Immigration Workshop
(See link for cost/registration)
 
3/10/18 8:30 a.m.
Catholic Women's Conference
(See link for cost/registration)
 
3/10/18 5:00 p.m.
31st Annual African American Catholic Leadership Awards Dinner
(See link for cost/registration)



Renewed Hope
Getting Ready for the Second Inning
By Richard Lechleiter 

In November 2014, Archbishop Kurtz, Dr. Brian Reynolds, School Superintendent Leisa Schulz and I together publicly announced "A New Day" for Catholic education in central Kentucky. The short message that day was this: tuition assistance for families in Catholic elementary schools was going to DOUBLE in the fall of 2015!

At the time, the Catholic Education Foundation was granting annually about $1.3 million in tuition assistance to support nearly 1,500 students. Now, through the generosity of all 110 of our parishes - whether they have a school or not - the Archdiocese would add another $1.3 million per year to this effort.

Indeed, what a day it was in November 2014! Transformational, in fact.
Fast forward to September 2017...The Foundation - along with all of our funding partners - announces that Catholic elementary school tuition assistance funding for the upcoming school year will reach an all-time high $6.5 million and will assist a record 3,000 students.
In a word, WOW!!

What had been five decades of declining Catholic school enrollments was now stable. No more school closures or consolidations. In fact, thanks to our archdiocesan team, our Catholic elementary schools grew from 37 to 40. Fear and worry about this treasured community asset have been replaced by renewed hope, energy and confidence. Our home-grown slogan - "The Answer is YES!" - has been embraced as a mandate to invite and help any family who needs us.

There's even the possibility that the Kentucky legislature will adopt tuition tax credits to open the gate for thousands of low income families across the Commonwealth to access a private school of their choice.

For Catholic education in central Kentucky, the impossible dream is taking shape.

A donor recently asked, "Do you think this thing has reached its peak?" I turned to him, laughed, and said, "The first inning's still going - hang on for the second!"

The deadline for tuition assistance for the 2018-2019 school year is February 28, 2018. To apply, click here.

Richard A. Lechleiter is the President of the Catholic Education Foundation.

Doctors of All Faiths Welcomed at White Mass Ceremony 
 
 
Below is a great article about the White Mass, courtesy of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. The article appeared in the December 2017 edition of the GLMS' publication, Louisville Medicine.

Louisville physicians and health care workers were celebrated at the annual White Mass by Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz at the Cathedral of the Assumption on October 22. Dozens of physicians and health care workers sat in the pews, listening to readings and songs before reciting the White Mass Pledge provided by the St. Joseph Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. (Click on link below for the full text of the pledge).

While the White Mass Ceremony dates back to 1932, it is a relatively new phenomenon in Louisville. The St. Joseph Guild, a collection of Louisville physicians in the Archdiocese, was chartered in 2013 and was quickly instrumental in the ceremony becoming a tradition in the city.

"We were fortunate, because we had a lot of support from the Catholic Medical Association at the national level," said St. Joseph Guild Past-President Dr. Scott Hedges "They provided us with the oath we took and gave some suggestions about ways to approach the archdiocese."

Dr. Hedges continued, explaining that the archdiocese was very supportive of a White Mass for doctors as well as a Red Mass for judges and attorneys. "The archbishop supports these professions from an ethical point of view. There are many pressures in medical practice, which can make it tough to live an authentic Christian life. Anything we can do to provide support for collegiality, for folks to get to know each other...that's a good step."

St. Luke, author of the New Testament books 'Luke' and 'Acts', is the patron saint of physicians, surgeons and students. Therefore, the White Mass is celebrated on or near October 18, St. Luke's feast day.

At this year's White Mass, Archbishop Kurtz addressed all, both healthcare professionals and parishioners attending their regular Sunday Mass. "This is an occasion for the church to pray in gratitude, and that God would continue to inspire the wonderful work that is being done. I want to extend ... Read More
Archbishop Kurtz Recommends Lenten Resources
 
As we await Ash Wednesday, watch Chancellor Dr. Brian Reynolds interview Archbishop Joseph Kurtz about Archbishop's recommendations for Lenten reading and spiritual practices .




To view other segments from February's
Conversations with Archbishop Kurtz , click here.
Resources & Recommendations
 
This month, we're highlighting some helpful and timely resources for Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. We encourage you to check out the resources below and get involved!
  1. Recommended Reading: As we approach Ash Wednesday, click here to read a beautiful reflection in Commonweal Magazine. Bellarmine University theology professor, Dr. Gregory Hillis, writes about a burial at the Abbey of Gethsemani.
     
  2. Bishop of Nashville: Archbishop Kurtz ordained our own Bishop J. Mark Spalding as the twelfth Bishop of Nashville on February 2. Click here to see his homily at the ordination on this blog.
     
  3. Lent: Click here to check out Lenten programs, opportunities for Reconciliation, and Ash Wednesday Mass times as well as local fish fries.
     
  4. Catholic Women's Conference: Women of the Archdiocese are invited to the third Catholic Women's Conference on March 10 at Saint Patrick Parish. To sign up, click here
     
  5. Legislative Initiatives
Death Penalty: Call Kentucky legislators at 1-800-372-7181 to ask for support of Senate Bill 54 and House Bill 155, which abolish the death penalty. Both bills remove the death penalty as an option for punishment for persons convicted of crimes now eligible for the death penalty. In an audience last year, Pope Francis declared the death penalty "contrary to the Gospel." He said, "however grave the crime that may be committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it attacks the inviolability and the dignity of the person." For more information on this issue, see the webpage of the Kentucky Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty here.

Scholarship Tax Credits: Call your legislator today at 1-800-372-7181 or email here and let them know you support Scholarship Tax Credits (House Bill 134 and Senate Bill 36). These scholarships help low-and middle-income families afford the cost of K-12 nonpublic school tuition or other important educational services. Every student, no matter their family background, deserves to learn in the environment that best serves their needs!

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