Second Sunday of Lent
February 25, 2024
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
(Psalm 27)
Article from Mutual Support Group
A Contribution to Understanding the Bible and Homosexuality
Considered one of our major theologians, Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, C.S.J., responded to the invitation of Fr. James Martin, S.J., founding Director of “Outreach Faith,” an LGBTQ+ Resource available on line, to address the issue of homosexuality for an on-going series initiated by “Outreach” of their “Guide to the Bible and Homosexuality.” The following is her astute and deeply adept article, engaging both the tools of modern biblical exegesis and the tools handed on to us by Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., that can be used to interpret and discern official church teachings and statements. Dr. Johnson’s contribution to this on-going, controversial, and highly-discussed moral issue at the recent Synod can be found by clicking HERE.
AUSCP 2024 Pope St. John XXIII Awards
At the Assembly, it is a tradition to honor several persons, lay or ordained, who have significantly promoted the spirit of Vatican II by the witness they have given in the way they live, through their ministry, and by the way they share their spirituality. The awardees chosen for the 2024 Pope St. John 23rd Award are: Archbishop John Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, and Sr. Marge Eilerman, OSF, Pastoral Minister in Booneville, Kentucky. Archbishop Wester was featured in the February 11th bulletin, and we are featuring Sr. Marge in this bulletin.
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Sr. Marge (left) and with Sr. Norma Pimentel and other Tiffin Franciscans, working at the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, TX, February of 2020
Sr. Marge Eilerman has served in eastern Kentucky, Diocese of Lexington, for over 30 years. She presently serves in Booneville, Ky, where she established a Catholic presence for pastoral and social outreach that resulted in the establishment of Holy Family Parish there.
Prior to serving in eastern Kentucky, Sr. Marge served in education, community leadership, peace and justice ministry, and in Chiapas, Mexico, where she walked among the poor doing pastoral ministry and social outreach. As a result of her experiences in Mexico, Sr. Marge felt drawn to demonstrations against the School of the Americas (SOA) in Ft. Benning, GA, where many Central American and Mexican soldiers were trained in oppressive tactics to use against their own people. She “crossed the line” more than once which resulted in being sentenced to a year in federal prison which she served in Lexington Federal Prison. After her release, she worked for the Interreligious Task Force on Central America and the Colombia Support Network before returning to Booneville to continue pastoral work there.
Congratulations, Sr. Marge!
Calling for Colloquia and Sponsor Ideas for 2024 Assembly
It is a tradition to have small group workshops – “colloquia” – as part of the offerings at the AUSCP Annual Assembly. We are beginning to schedule these now for June 2024, and we invite input from AUSCP members regarding the topics that would be of interest to you. If you have suggestions for topics and/or who might lead the sessions, please send them to: office@auscp.org.
We are also looking for sponsors to help finance the Assembly. If you know of any organizations or sources that might be willing to be sponsors, please send the info to Fr. Steve Newton: auscpexdir@gmail.com.
Register NOW for the 2024 AUSCP Annual Assembly!
Registration is available online, or by check.
Send checks to: AUSCP, PO Box 676, Tiffin, OH 44883
Access Online Assembly Registration Form HERE.
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/
Did you renew your AUSCP Membership? Don’t Forget!
January was the month for AUSCP membership renewal. The yearly membership fee is $60 for priest members. We encourage Friends to support our work, but there is no set fee for Friends. We appreciate your membership! Please stay with us by renewing at this link at your earliest convenience, if you have not already renewed for 2024:
https://forms.donorsnap.com/
Special thanks to the 372 who have already renewed! If you are not sure if you renewed, contact us at: office@auscp.org.
| ANNUAL APPEAL
Make a donation to AUSCP as your Lenten Almsgiving! Be an Angel and support our work! Click on the Angel to donate. Thank YOU! (We have reached $81,000 toward a goal of $100,000.) ****************************** |
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Upcoming Webinars
There are several new webinars scheduled over the next few months.
Be sure to take a look below and consider signing up.
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AUSCP Zoom Discussion Series on Racism
This program is part of the three-year strategic plan to combat racism provided by the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests Anti-racism Team. All are welcome and you may invite others to join. You need not have attended previous sessions and may switch between these sessions as you wish.
Year 3 Task: Dismantle Structural and Deeply Systemic Racism in our American Society
Two sessions will be offered: Wednesday afternoons and Thursday evenings:
Wednesday February 14, 21, 28, & March 6 (2:30-4:00 PM ET) or
Thursday February 15, 22, 29, & March 7 (7:30-9:00 PM ET)
The sessions will be moderated by Rev. John Judie and Susan and Paul Sherman.
Contact Paul (sherman.paul@twc.com) to register.
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CONSTITUTION ON SACRED LITURGY
Wednesdays, February 21, 28 and March 6, 13, 2024.
4-5pm ET followed with 30-45 minutes of further discussion.
Host: Fr. Bob Bonnot Presenter: Dr. Joe Torma
Constitution on SACRED LITURGY, Sacrosanctum Concilium
Sacred Liturgy was the first Vatican II conciliar constitution developed and adopted by the Council in 1963. It established several adjustments for Restoration of the Liturgy, especially the Eucharist. This 4-part webinar offers an apt preparation … for the Eucharistic Revival the Church in America is holding during a National Eucharistic Congress from July 17-21, 2024. Other developments regarding Liturgy in the Constitution include the Mystery of Eucharist, Sacraments and Sacramentals, the Divine Office used by many, the organization of the Liturgical Year, Sacred Music, Art and Furnishings used in various liturgical places. This Webinar can help many persons to refresh their liturgical practice and spirituality.
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What is Asylum?
Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 3 pm EST / 2 pm CST
Michael Richard, the Legal Director of Immigration Services for the Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge, will offer a thought provoking webinar which will help one better understand asylum law and the reasons individuals seek protection under asylum. This a current topic as tens of thousands of individuals from around the world are seeking asylum in the United States in order to save their lives. There will be a short period for questions after the presentation. The AUSCP Working Group on Immigration is hosting the webinar.
Other Webinars and Activities that might be of interest:
Synodality: Pope Francis’ Most Significant Legacy
Sunday, March 3, 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Speaker: Austen Ivereigh, UK-based writer and commentor who has written 2 biographies of Pope Francis.
Sponsored by the Association of Pittsburgh Priests
For the Zoom link, Register at: https://www.
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Georgetown University Presents: A Listening Church in a Divided Nation
Event page and link to RSVP: bit.ly/ListeningChurchGU
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Providing Compassionate Leadership in Sustainable Development Workshop
Learn and discuss what compassionate leadership is and how it can address some of our current social problems by fostering sustainable development. Author Bob Gilleskie (see above) will focus on the characteristics of such leadership: Communication, Vision, Positive Attitude, Presence, Responsibility, Respect, and Empathy. Whether you are a concerned citizen who wants to take action or a political, economic or social leader this FREE workshop is for you. Please join us on Sun. March 3, 2024 at 1 – 4 PM at the Pastoral Center of the Roman Catholic Diocese, 3888 Paducah Dr, San Diego either in person or via Zoom. This event is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Diego and the Interfaith Coalition for Earth Justice (ICEJ).
Register here.
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Catholic Sisters Working to Eradicate Human Trafficking
Wednesday, March 6,2024,12:30 – 1:30 pm EST – Online Via Livestream
Catholic Sisters Week shines a light on the faith, spirituality, mission, and community building of women religious internationally. To recognize Catholic sisters, this dialogue will lift up their critical work to address and eliminate human trafficking, which threatens the lives, dignity, and hopes of so many vulnerable people, especially women. Human trafficking is on the rise in many parts of the world, victimizing over 25 million children and adults, with an estimated 80% in forced labor and 20% in sex trafficking. Sponsored by Georgetown University.