Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Remember that your compassion, O Lord, and your love are from of old.
In your kindness, remember me,
because of your goodness, O Lord.
(Psalm 25:6-7)
Upcoming Webinars
There are several new webinars scheduled over the next three months. Be sure to take a look and consider signing up. NB. The AUSCP Women in the Church Group is looking for more priests to join their February 7th interactive webinar. Please check your schedule and see if you can join them on Zoom.
What Happened at the Synod? The Call to Dialogue on Co-responsibility and Women’s Participation in Our Church
Hosted by the AUSCP Women in the Church Working Group
Join this special Conversation in the Spirit featuring Cynthia Bailey Manns, DMin, Bishop John Stowe, and YOU!
February 7th, 2024, 3:00- 4:30 PM EST
Why show up? What is in it for me? The Synodal Synthesis calls us to “find ways to involve the clergy (deacons, priests, bishops) more actively in the synodal process during the course of the next year” Also, it asks us “to promote a church in which men and women dialogue together.” This February 7th online gathering is a wonderful opportunity to gather with women, priests, deacons, and friends of AUSCP. Together, let us create space for the Holy Spirit to move as we live in synodality. See the exciting agenda below:
- Stories from the Synod on Transformation Witnessed: Why it matters that we all engage in conversations in the Spirit! – Cynthia Bailey Manns, DMin, Appointed Delegate to 2023 Synod in Rome, Director of Adult Learning at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Community
- Report on methodology used at the synod – Bernadette Rudolph, MA, MS Director of Facilitation and Strategic Partnerships, Cranaleith Spiritual Center
- The Synodal Synthesis and the Urgent Call for a Co-responsible Church – Maureen O’Connell, PhD, Professor of Christian Ethics at LaSalle University
- Women and the Diaconate—What is the holy spirit saying to you about women deacons? A call from the synodal synthesis for dialogue – Ellie Hidalgo, co-coordinator of Discerning Deacons
- Encounters and Conversations -The call to dialogue about co-responsibility: Why does this matter to me (as a Bishop)? – Bishop John Stowe, Diocese of Lexington
- Call to Action – Sarah Probst Miller and Father Michael Hickin
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AUSCP Zoom Discussion Series on Racism
The 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.
It is the time of Year for Membership Renewal
January is 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 those who have already renewed!
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Register NOW for the 2024 AUSCP Annual Assembly!
Eucharist: Sacrament of Encounter
June 24-27, 2024 – Hyatt Regency in Lexington, Kentucky.
Sr. Kathleen Storms, SSND – Contemplative Facilitator
Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. – Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky; President, Pax Christi USA
Retreat, 10 AM – 3 PM, Monday, June 24;
Fr. Michael Driscoll
Diocese of Helena, Montana; Professor Emeritus, Theology Department, University of Notre Dame
How the Eucharist Schools Us for Action
Fr. Tom Reese, SJ
Author and Journalist; senior analyst at Religion News Service, former editor-in-chief of America Magazine
Eucharist for a Synodal Church: Communion, Mission, Participation
Dr. Kim R. Harris
Assistant Professor of African American Thought and Practice, Theology Department, Loyola Marymount University
You Can Tell the World!
Testimony as a Gift We Share from Our Eucharistic Encounter
Registration is available online, or by check.
Send checks to: AUSCP, PO Box 676, Tiffin, OH 44883
Access Registration Form HERE.
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Other Webinars and Activities that might be of interest:
“The Growing Danger of Nuclear War: An Urgent Conversation,”
On Saturday, January 27, 2024, 2-4 pm ET, Pax Christi Massachusetts will present a virtual program entitled “The Growing Danger of Nuclear War: An Urgent Conversation,” with Santa Fe (NM) Archbishop John C. Wester; Dr. Ira Helfand, IPPNW/Back from the Brink; and Marie Dennis, Catholic Nonviolence Initiative/Pax Christi International. The AUSCP is a co-sponsor, and members are encouraged to promote and attend the event.
You can register HERE.
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The Synod & LGBTQ+ People: Towards October 2024
Tuesday, January 30, 2024, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. EST | On Zoom
The Synod on Synodality concludes in October 2024 with a second global assembly. Between now and then, the Vatican has asked Catholics to both deepen and broaden their engagement with the synodal process. To help LGBTQ+ people and allies respond to this invitation, New Ways Ministry is hosting a panel featuring two Synod delegates, Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns and Julia Oseka.
Dr. Bailey Manns and Ms. Oseka will offer insights about how issues of gender and sexuality have been addressed in the Synod so far, and how LGBTQ+ people and allies can continue engaging the Synod in the lead up to this October. See below for the panelists’ bios. Their remarks will be followed by a question and answer period. You are welcome to submit questions in advance via the registration page.
Suggested donation: $15. More if you can, less if not—all are welcome regardless of a donation.
https://www.newwaysministry.
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Salt, Light, and Leaven:
Living Our Faith in a Democracy
Monday, February 5, 7 PM EST – Zoom
Speaker: John Carr, Founder and past director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University
John Carr will offer reflections on the mission of Catholics in public life, the political and ecclesial context, and some directions and dangers in this election year for our nation and Church. This will be followed by involvement of participants. Sponsored by Association of Pittsburgh Priests (APP).
Register at: https://www.
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Retreat: Finding Hope while surrounded by pain.
Retreat for priests, February 6 – 8, 2024, at St. Leo Abbey Retreat Venter in St. Leo Florida. Priests who have attended these retreats in the past have noted they provide an atmosphere which promotes an opportunity for candid discussion, trust, fraternity and prayerful reflection. Opus Bono will cover all the costs of the retreat, including lodging, meals and retreat materials. Some assistance maybe available for those who wish to come but lack the financial ability.
Retreat presenters are Father David Deibel and psychologist Colleen Jewell. More information can be obtained from John Smith, president of Opus Bono:
JohnSmith@opusbono.org, 810-375-2722.