AUSCP

Conversations: How Do We Listen to the Spirit? — Session 2
2025-04-25 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Standing on the foundation of Vatican II teachings, how do we listen to the voices of the Spirit?
As we hear the voices of those who are marginalized, as we strive to build mutual understanding and find common ground in a polarized world, what resources can we use to resolve issues when voices differ from ours? How should science inform our teaching at the intersections of faith and science? How do we see Vatican II and synodality coming together in practical, local ways?
Please join AUSCP as we explore these questions in our final series for the Vatican II Working Group’s three-year program. We welcome your voice, even if you have not attended previous sessions. Help us hear new perspectives.
To focus our discussions on how we listen to the Spirit, we will consider two questions:

When we encounter differences, how do we embrace them synodally?
What resources do we consult?

Conversations: How Do We Listen to the Spirit? — Session 1
2025-04-23 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Online

Vice President JD Vance and the Triumph of Politics Over Religion
2025-04-03 17:30 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560
Dear Friends and Readers,
For those of you in the Toledo area, I am giving a lecture on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in the theater in the Franciscan Center on the campus of Lourdes University. It is entitled: “Vice President JD Vance and the Triumph of Politics Over Religion” and it will tell the story of Vance’s conversion to Catholicism and explain why he was rebuked by Pope Francis and Cardinal Dolan.
No reservations are necessary. General admission is $10 (cash or check only) payable at the door. Students, nuns, priests and persons with financial limitations are welcome to attend for free.
If all goes well this lecture will eventually be available on my website: frjimbacik.org
I hope this will provide another opportunity to stay in touch.
Fr. Jim Bacik

Creatively Caring for the Most Vulnerable: Stories of Female Entrepreneurship and Hope – Immigration Focus
2025-04-02 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Join us Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 3-4:30 PM EST for a Conversation in the Spirit hosted by the Women in the Church Working Group of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP). Women, bring your clergy! Clergy, bring women from your parish or ministry. The Catholic Church advocates for immigration policies based on human rights and the dignity of all people. This Conversation in the Spirit seeks input from all who desire to treat immigrants with dignity and respect. We will receive three testimonies (5-7 minutes each) prior to our small group Conversation in the Spirit.
Following our Conversation in the Spirit, we will draft and submit a summary to the USCCB Synod office and to the General Secretariat in Rome.
We need volunteers to be facilitators for synodal Conversations in the Spirit. Indicate your interest when you register. Synodal facilitators pre-call briefing is April 1, 2025 from 7-7:45 PM EST.
This conversation is dedicated to the patron saint of immigrants, St. Mother Cabrini. We want to thank our sponsors, the Executive Producers of the movie Cabrini. Suggested pre-work: Watch the movie Cabrini. Suggested post-work: Consider having a parish watch party of Cabrini and hosting a Conversation in the Spirit at the parish level.
Our Speakers
Stories from the Border: Radical Hospitality in Action Joanna Williams is the principal executive officer of the Kino Border Initiative (KBI), binational inclusive Catholic organization locally rooted in Ambos Nogales on the US-Mexico border, which has a vision of migration with dignity.

Sanctuary People Dr. Gina Pérez is a cultural anthropologist, professor, and award winning author at Oberlin College. Her new book, Sanctuary People explores sanctuary movements and practices with and among Latinas/os.

Creating Pastoral Responses to Immigrants in Need Dr. Cecilia González-Andrieu is a celebrated theologian and award-winning author committed to a faith that does justice. She is professor of Theology and Theological Aesthetics at Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles.

AI’s Sustainability and Climate Challenges: A Catholic Response to Protect Our Common Home
2025-02-19 12:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online United States
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is everywhere, and though AI presents us with exciting new opportunities and benefits, it also presents serious challenges and risks to our common home, human dignity, and the totality of the human experience.
In this webinar we will explore: 1) What does the Catholic Church teach about AI? 20 What are the challenges/risks of AI on our common home, and especially the environmental injustice impacts on vulnerable communities? 3) How do we ensure that AI serves humanity, upholds human dignity, benefits our common home, and upholds the principles of justice, sustainability, and the equitable advancement of all of humanity? 4) How should Catholics discern and respond to the climate and sustainability challenges of AI?
Panelists: Céire Kealty, Ph.D. in Theology from Villanova University. She is a frequent commentator on culture and Christianity and has explored AI’s sustainability challenges and how Catholics are called to respond. Manann Donoghoe, Senior Research Associate, Brookings Metro. Co-author of a Brookings study outlining the growing environmental impacts of AI. Scott Hurd, Vice President for Leadership Formation with Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Climate Covenant Board Chairman.

Women and Priests-Conversations in the Spirit
2025-02-05 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Online
Event hosts, the Women in the Church Working Group of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), seek to give space for listening deeply to the testimony of sisters and brothers who sometimes experience a judgmental Church instead of a listening and welcoming Church.
This call is being hosted in memory of Alana Chen.
Speakers:
Our speakers are Yunuen Trujillo, Rev. Bryan Massingale, and Joyce Calvo. Bishop John Stowe will join us for Q and A and prayer.
Yunuen Trujillo is a Catholic lay minister, faith-based community organizer, and an immigration attorney with more than 15 years of experience in young adult ministry and a leading figure for inclusive Catholic LBGT Ministry in the United States. She is a Religious Formation Coordinator (Spanish) with the Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and author of the book LGBT Catholics: A Guide for Inclusive Ministry.
Bryan Massingale is a Catholic priest, author, activist, and professor in Applied Christian Ethics at Fordham University. Fr.. Massingale has authored two books and more than 200 articles, book chapters, and book reviews. He is a co-editor of , All of Us: A New Agenda for Catholic Theology from Queer Catholics of Color (Fortress Press, 2024). He is a leading voice among Catholics advocating the full inclusion of LGBTQ persons in both society and the faith community.
Joyce Calvo’s daughter Alana Chen died from suicide on Dec. 8, 2019. Calvo continues to urge all to “stop rejecting LGBTQ+ children” She hopes her advocacy “will alert Catholic parents to beware of the devastating impact the Church can have on their LGBTQ+ children” and “persuade people speaking for the Church to abandon their misguided and dangerous attempts to alter what God has made.”
Seeking Facilitators
We need facilitators for synodal Conversations in the Spirit. Indicate your interest when you register. A one-hour virtual training session is required and a Facilitator Briefing will be held on Feb. 3 at 6pm.

Religious Liberty, Freedom, and Formation of Conscience (session 2)
2024-11-21 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
In a multicultural world, with pluralistic religious traditions, how do we understand the human right to religious liberty, as taught in Dignitatis Humanae from the Vatican II Council? What are the implications for a synodal Church that teaches religious freedom as a right but also says that all religions are not the same? Please join the AUSCP, Voice of the Faithful and others as we continue to explore these questions:

How do you experience your own conscience? How does that relate to Church teaching in a synodal age?

Religious Liberty, Freedom, and the Formation of Conscience (session 1)
2024-11-20 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Online

AUSCP Called to Serve: Catholic Women’s Stories of Opportunities and Obstacles
2024-11-20 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Join us November 20th, 2024 at 3 PM EST for an interactive webinar dedicated to St. Photini (the Woman at the Well) and hosted by the Women in the Church Working Group for Association of US Catholic Priests (AUSCP). This is the second of 3 Conversations in the Spirit between priests and women.
This webinar seeks to inspire conversation around the callings of Catholic women and illuminate path creation stories.
Testimonies:
Katie Jansen, Parish Life Coordinator
Jessica Morel, Military Chaplain
Kelly Adamson, Benedictine Oblate, Director of Residence Life Ministry University of Dayton
Dedication:
This Conversation in the Spirit is dedicated to the Samaritan Woman, also called Woman at the Well or Photini, Mother of Evangelists. Enlightened by the living water of Christ at the well, Photini, without hesitation answered the call to preach the good news. She, luminous, was seen by Jesus, called, and acted. Samaritan Woman, St. Photini, woman at the well, give us enlightened water to drink. Luminous one, care for our souls as we shed light on paths. Photini, Mother of Evangelists, illuminate open doors.
Your input on this important subject matters! Post synodal Conversation in the Spirit a report will be written up and submitted to the USCCB Synod office and to the General Secretariat in Rome.
We need Conversation in the Spirit Facilitators. Indicate your interest when you register. All facilitators are required to take a one-hour asynchronous online training class.
These Conversations in the Spirit accrue a cost for AUSCP to organize and deliver. To help support more conversations like this one, AUSCP kindly requests you consider donating to AUSCP or becoming a member or friend of AUSCP. https://bit.ly/AUSCPdonate.

Leavening Humankind: Lumen Gentium, Series Summary Review
2024-11-06 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Hosted by Fr. Bob Bonnot and presented by Dr. Joe Torma

Lumen Gentium is the first of two Dogmatic Constitutions that were promulgated by Vatican II on December 4, 1963, both now listed among the 16 documents adopted by the Catholic Church’s second Vatican Council from 1963-1965. This document merits 4 presentation sessions with discussion among us. Lumen Gentium presented the church as a mystery, as a communion of baptized believers, as the people of God, as the body of Christ and as a pilgrim moving toward fulfillment in heaven but marked on earth with

… “a sanctity that is real, although imperfect.”
Our Webinar sessions run roughly 60 minutes until formal closure, followed by 15-30 minutes continuing discussion by those interested in engaging in more conversation. There will also be a final wrap-up session as we complete our study and discussion of all 16 Vatican II Documents: four Constitutions, nine Decrees, and three Constitutions. This series will be timely and enriching as we move toward the final three Synodal sessions of Pope Francis in 2024, the Church’s pathway to 2025.

Register HERE.

This is the final Summary Review of a four-part series.

The 2024 Election: Overcoming the Threats to Democracy Posed by Authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism
2024-10-31 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560
For those of you in the Toledo area, I am giving my second lecture of this academic year on Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the theater of the Franciscan Center on the campus of Lourdes University, entitled: “The 2024 Election: Overcoming the Threats to Democracy Posed by Authoritarianism and Christian Nationalism.” The lecture will examine the history, dynamics and current strengths of these two threats and will suggest ways to counter them.
No reservations are necessary. General admission is $10 (cash or check only) payable at the door. Students, nuns, priests and persons with financial limitations are welcome to attend for free.
If all goes well this lecture will eventually be available on my website: frjimbacik.org.

Leavening Humankind: Lumen Gentium, Part 4
2024-10-23 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Hosted by Fr. Bob Bonnot and presented by Dr. Joe Torma

Lumen Gentium is the first of two Dogmatic Constitutions that were promulgated by Vatican II on December 4, 1963, both now listed among the 16 documents adopted by the Catholic Church’s second Vatican Council from 1963-1965. This document merits 4 presentation sessions with discussion among us. Lumen Gentium presented the church as a mystery, as a communion of baptized believers, as the people of God, as the body of Christ and as a pilgrim moving toward fulfillment in heaven but marked on earth with

… “a sanctity that is real, although imperfect.”
Our Webinar sessions run roughly 60 minutes until formal closure, followed by 15-30 minutes continuing discussion by those interested in engaging in more conversation. There will also be a final wrap-up session as we complete our study and discussion of all 16 Vatican II Documents: four Constitutions, nine Decrees, and three Constitutions. This series will be timely and enriching as we move toward the final three Synodal sessions of Pope Francis in 2024, the Church’s pathway to 2025.

Register HERE.

This is a four-part series with sessions on October 2, 9, 16, and 23. The series will conclude with a November 6 Summary Review.

Immigration and the Election
2024-10-17 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Online
With the election around the bend, we are offering some additional information on immigration issues. The Immigration Working Group is offering a webinar by Ruben Garcia who has been administering the Annunciation House in El Paso, Texas, for about 50 years. This center provides housing, food, and hospitality for people who have recently crossed the border at this very busy entry point. Ruben is well known for his service to the immigrants/refugees. He hears many personal stories and knows firsthand the present situation at the border. This webinar is a trustworthy fact check for us all. The Annunciation House has been the target recently by those who are against almost any type of immigration. The House almost had to shut down. It will be prerecorded, but there will be a brief time for comments and questions after the video.
Join us on Zoom on Thursday, October 17th, 1-2 pm Central time/2-3 Eastern time.
Register HERE.

Leavening Humankind: Lumen Gentium, Part 3
2024-10-16 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online

Mass of Lamentation for all victims in Palestine and Israel
2024-10-09 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Join Pax Christi USA and the AUSCP for an online Mass of Lamentation for all the victims of the violence in Gaza and Israel since October 7, 2023. Join the online celebration of the Mass on Wednesday, October 9, at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT.

Leavening Humankind: Lumen Gentium, Part 2
2024-10-09 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online

Leavening Humankind: Lumen Gentium, Part 1
2024-10-02 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Online

The October 2024 Synod in Rome: An Overview and Arguments for Ordaining Married Men
2024-09-26 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560
SYLVANIA, Ohio – Lourdes University will host Father Jim Bacik as he offers his latest lecture, “The October 2024 Synod in Rome: An Overview and Arguments for Ordaining Married Men.” The lecture will take place Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Franciscan Center of Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd., Sylvania, Ohio.
The lecture will provide an overview of the agenda and process of the 2024 Synod in Rome and will offer historical, theological, moral and pragmatic arguments for opening up the ordained priesthood to married men of proven good character – an analysis that questions the wisdom of maintaining the practice of obligatory priestly celibacy in the western church.
No reservations are necessary. General admission is $10, cash or check is accepted at the door. Students, men and women religious, and persons with financial limitations are welcome to attend for free. For more information, contact lifelong@lourdes.edu or call 419-824-3707.
Livestream the Lecture

Father Jim Bacik
Father Jim Bacik is a widely-regarded theologian, writer, lecturer and pastor who served as campus minister and adjunct professor of humanities at The University of Toledo for more than 30 years. Ordained in 1962 as a priest for the Diocese of Toledo, he served at St. Mary’s Sandusky, St. Thomas More Bowling Green and Corpus Christi University Parish in Toledo.
As pastor of Corpus Christi, he led several important initiatives including establishing a Chair of Catholic Studies at The University of Toledo; building a new church and parish facility; organizing the nationally acclaimed Christian Leadership Program; and promoting an extensive Christian Service Program for students and permanent community members. His books include Apologetics and the Eclipse of Mystery; Contemporary Theologians; Catholic Spirituality: Its History and Challenge; and A Light Unto My Path: Crafting Effective Homilies (co-authored by Dr. Kevin Anderson). He has lectured throughout the United States as well as in Australia, China, Japan, Latin America, and Russia.
In November 2014, Lourdes University established the Father James J. Bacik Archives as well as an endowed chair in theology in his name. Father Bacik holds a doctorate in theology from the University of Oxford in England and previously taught at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, and taught summer programs at both Notre Dame University and Fordham University.

The Pathway to Ecological Citizenship and Spirituality Week Two
2024-09-18 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Catholic Climate Covenant and the Association of U. S. Catholic Priests invite you to a free, virtual 2-part workshop series on how to launch the Vatican’s LAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM in your diocese, parish, school, ministry, or organization.

In the last decade, Pope Francis has led the Catholic Church to take unprecedented steps toward solving our current climate crisis. Join us to explore the overall goal of Laudato Si’, “to discover what each of us can do about caring for our common home.” (Laudato Si’ 19).
Week Two: September 18th, 3:30-5PM Pacific
Welcome: Fr. Emmet Farrell, Founder Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego
Opening Prayer: Fr. Stephen P. Newton, CSC, Executive Director, AUSCP
“A Scientific Perspective of Our Climate Crisis”
by Dr. Philip Sakimoto, University of Notre Dame Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Director, Minor in Sustainability
“A Primer on the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform and Planning”
by Dr. Christina Slentz, Director Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego

REGISTER at https://bit.ly/CCC_AUSCP_EcologicalPathway
For more information contact Fr. Emmet Farrell at emmet.farrell619@gmail.com.
“CHRISTIANS realize that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.” (L.S. 64)

Women and Priests - Conversations in the Spirit
2024-09-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Interactive webinar series hosted by AUSCP Women in the Church Working Group
Should she stay or should she go now? How could the church walk more closely with young women?
Join us September 18th, 2024 at 1 PM EST for an interactive webinar dedicated to St. Phoebe and hosted by the Women in the Church Working Group for AUSCP. Women, bring your clergy! Clergy, bring women from your parish. Julia Oseka is the keynote speaker. Julia is a Polish native and young adult synod delegate and was chosen as one of ten non-bishop voting members from the United States and Canada who will be at the upcoming Synod on Synodality in October. Your input matters!
Registration link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkcOygrTwvH9EbK-ViVi6iaKGmuWjegY-j
Call for Facilitators:
We need volunteers to be Synodal Facilitators. Indicate your interest when you register. Synodal facilitators will need to go through online training and will be a part of a pre-call briefing on September 16, 2024 from 7-7:45 PM

The Pathway to Ecological Citizenship and Spirituality: Week One
2024-09-11 18:30 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Online
Catholic Climate Covenant and the Association of U. S. Catholic Priests invite you to a free, virtual 2-part workshop series on how to launch the Vatican’s LAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM in your diocese, parish, school, ministry, or organization.

In the last decade, Pope Francis has led the Catholic Church to take unprecedented steps toward solving our current climate crisis. Join us to explore the overall goal of Laudato Si’, “to discover what each of us can do about caring for our common home.” (Laudato Si’ 19).
“CHRISTIANS realize that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.” (L.S. 64)
Week One: September 11th, 3:30-5PM Pacific
Welcome: Fr. Emmet Farrell, Founder Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego
Opening Prayer: Sr. Kathleen Warren, OSF, Director of the Office of Women Religious for the Diocese of San Diego
“The Spirituality of Laudato Si and the Challenge to Respond” by Dr. Erin Lothes, Columbia University’s Earth Institute Visiting Scholar and Senior Manager of the Laudato Si’ Movement Animators Program

REGISTER at https://bit.ly/CCC_AUSCP_EcologicalPathway
For more information contact Fr. Emmet Farrell at emmet.farrell619@gmail.com.

A conversation in the Spirit on the 2024 US Presidential Election
2024-09-07 12:00 (America/New_York) | Online
A Unique National Conversation on Faith and the Common Good
How is your faith informing your view of the coming election?
How can we talk to each other about the most consequential election in our lifetimes?
Join with other Catholics and people of faith from around the United States in a 1-hour small group facilitated conversation where all can speak and all are heard
Listen to others and offer your insights, concerns and hopes for the future of our country in a safe and sacred space for encounter.

8-Day Ignatian Directed Retreat
2024-07-27 - 2024-08-03 | Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center, 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville, MD, 21104, United States
Our Ignatian Directed Retreat will be privileged time for you to deepen your relationship with God. You will be assigned a trained spiritual director with whom you will meet briefly each day to discern the movements of God in your life as revealed through your prayer.
The “direction” of directed retreats is that of discovering and exploring your own journey in faith and life and what path better helps you go in the direction you seek and Jesus invites. Embedded in the tradition of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, your retreat is made with a retreat director-a person who supports, listens, and has made the journey before. For those who are able, daily walks with Ignatian teachings will also be available. Aside from these daily conversations and the time you set aside for your own personal prayer, your time is unstructured. Daily Mass will also be available.
This is a silent retreat. Check-in begins at 4pm, a welcome session will be held at 5pm and the retreat will begin after dinner. Guided by Paul Gallagher, Fr. Patrick Bergquist, Nancy Bickel and Dee Papania. Upon registration, please indicate your preference for spiritual director under the ‘special needs’ section of the form.

St. Phoebe Day: Clergy Info Session
2024-07-17 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Clergy are invited to an informational session to learn about celebrating St. Phoebe Day in your parish or community this September
Learn about the goals and objectives of St. Phoebe Day, hear from other members of the clergy who welcomed celebrations in their communities last year, and get your questions answered.

The Pathway to Ecological Citizenship and Spirituality Week Two
2024-07-05 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Catholic Climate Covenant and the Association of U. S. Catholic Priests invite you to a free, virtual 2-part workshop series on how to launch the Vatican’s LAUDATO SI’ ACTION PLATFORM in your diocese, parish, school, ministry, or organization.

Week Two: September 18th, 3:30-5PM Pacific
Welcome: Fr. Emmet Farrell
Opening Prayer: Sr. Kathleen Warren, OSF,
Director of the Office of Women Religious for the Diocese of San Diego
“A Scientific Perspective of Our Climate Crisis”
by Dr. Phillip Sakimoto, University of Notre Dame Dept of Physics & Astronomy, Director, Minor in Sustainability Program
“A Primer on the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Action Platform and Planning”
by Dr. Christina Slentz, Director Creation Care, Diocese of San Diego
REGISTER at https://bit.ly/CCC_AUSCP_EcologicalPathway
For more information contact Fr. Emmet Farrell at emmet.farrell619@gmail.com.
“CHRISTIANS realize that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.” (L.S. 64)

2024 AUSCP Assembly
2024-06-24 10:00 - 2024-06-27 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Hyatt Regency 401 W High St. Lexington, KY 40507 United States
The 2024 AUSCP Assembly will begin with a retreat (optional) at 10 AM on Monday, June 24, and end at Noon on Thursday, June 27.

Israel - Gaza conflict: Christian Moral Perspectives
2024-05-23 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Lourdes University, 6832 Convent Blvd, Sylvania, Ohio, 43560
Dear Friends and Readers:
For those of you in the Toledo area, I am giving my fourth and final lecture of this academic year on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room (not the theater) of the Franciscan Center on the campus of Lourdes University, entitled “Israel – Gaza conflict: Christian Moral Perspectives.” Given the complex, developing situation in Gaza, the lecture will concentrate on two general approaches: pacificism represented by Pope Francis and the just war tradition applied by Catholic Moral theologians.
No reservations are necessary. General admission is $10 (cash or check only) payable at the door. Students, nuns, priests and persons with financial limitations are welcome to attend for free.
If all goes well this lecture will eventually be available on my website: frjimbacik.org.
I hope this will provide another opportunity to stay in touch.
Fr. Jim Bacik

Vatican II Declaration on Religious Freedom -- Dignitatis Humanae
2024-05-22 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
This Declaration deals with the right of the person and of communities to social and civil freedom in matters religious. “A sense of the dignity of the human person has been impressing itself more and more deeply on the consciousness of contemporary man/people, and the demand is increasingly made that men/people should act on their own judgment, enjoying and making use of a responsible freedom, not driven by coercion, but motivated by a sense of duty.” This document has no titled segments but 15 numbered segments. It concludes: “it is necessary that religious freedom be everywhere provided with an effective constitutional guarantee and that respect be shown for the high duty and right of man freely to lead his religious life in society.”
The conclusion calls us to keep this declaration steadily in our lives. It was approved by the Vatican II Council on December 7, 1965. Have we grown in our religious freedom since 1965?
Register HERE.
Hosted by Fr. Bob Bonnot and presented by Dr. Joe Torma

The Question of Ourselves: A Convocation for Richard P. McBrien
2024-05-20 18:00 (America/New_York) | Online
The first theological questions we ask ourselves are, “Who am I?” and “Who are we?” Every other theological question comes back to these. We cannot understand God, or Jesus Christ, or the Church, or anything else unless we come to terms with the question of ourselves. – Fr. Richard P. McBrien
The Question of Ourselves: A Convocation for Richard P. McBrien

Vatican II Decree on Christian Education -- Gravissimum Educationis
2024-05-15 16:00 (America/New_York) | Online
This decree presents convictions of the Vatican II Council, listing 12 specific topics dealing with certain fundamental principles of Christian education. The topics include: The Meaning of the Universal Right to an Education, Christian Education, Parents as the primary and principal Educators, Various Aids, the Importance of Schools, the Duties and Rights of Parents, Moral and Religious Education, Catholic and Different Types of Schools, Catholic Colleges and Universities, Faculties of Sacred Sciences, and Coordination in Scholastic Matters. It is a short, but informative document. “These principles will have to be developed at greater length by a special post-conciliar commission and applied by episcopal conferences to varying local situations.” It was approved by Vatican II on October 28, 1965.
Are we doing better or worse since Vatican II? What do we need to strengthen going forward?
Register HERE.
Hosted by Fr. Bob Bonnot and presented by Dr. Joe Torma
