The Catholic Connection
August 2016

In This Issue
Archbishop's Tweets

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

August 9 
Listen to a fine summary by Vatican Radio of US Bishops' document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship." 
August 7 
@ArchbishopKurtz: 
Faithful witness can be challenging, but it is the joy and responsibility of all Catholics.
pic.twitter

August 5
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Take another look at 'Amoris Laetitia,' Canadian cardinal urges - Catholic Philly
catholicphilly.com

August 4
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Grateful for an evening at Hurricane Hills w 1972 classmates. (I'm adopted by these KY natives!)
pic.twitter

August 4
@ArchbishopKurtz
It is my joy to share Bishop Frank Caggiano's inspiring homily from World Youth Day @wyd_en. See blog: click here

July 29
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Final Catechesis at Mary, Queen of Poland Church established by St JPII before his papal election in mid-70s.
pic.twitter

July 28
@ArchbishopKurtz:
A great Mass & catechetical morning at St Stanislaus in Tonie, Krak�w - touched by Christ's mercy.
pic.twitter

July 27
@ArchbishopKurtz:
A great Italian lunch w Louisville pilgrims in Krak�w after Mass & Catechesis.
pic.twitter
 
July 27
@ArchbishopKurtz:
usccb.org/news


Archlou Happenings:

Below is a list of upcoming archdiocesan events:

8/14/16 6:30 p.m.
Youth Ministry Celebration Dinner

8/16/16 6:30 p.m.
Honor Thy Children Safe Environment Training Program

8/18/16 7:00 p.m.
Diaconate Discernment

8/18/16 11:00 a.m.
BJ's Brewhouse Fundraiser for Catholic Charities
 
8/23/16 7:00 p.m.
Communion Minister Formation Sessions
(See link for registration)

8/27/16 10:00 a.m.

Confirmation Workshop
(See link for cost/registration)
 
9/1/16 1:30 p.m.
Order of Christian Matrimony - Session for Priests
(See link for registration)

9/10/16 9:00 a.m.
Electronic Recycling Drop Off Day

9/10/16 9:00 a.m.
Foundation for Marriage
(See link for cost/registration)

9/10/16 4:00 p.m.
Conversations with Archbishop Kurtz

9/12/16 1:30 p.m.
Order of Christian Matrimony - General Session
(See link for cost/registration)


Renewing Your Service
Coming Down from the Mountain 
By Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz

The week before last, I participated in World Youth Day (July 26-31) in Krak�w, Poland.  I also was asked to contribute to a series of reflection pieces on World Youth Day called "World Youth Day Wednesdays."  Below is my contribution, entitled "Coming Down from the Mountain," which reflects on the  Transfiguration (celebrated on Saturday, August 6) and how that relates to the experience of the World Youth Day pilgrims as they return from Poland and settle into daily life back home.

"Let us make three tents."  I can almost hear St. Peter's words to Jesus after the uplifting experience on Mount Tabor - that day in which Jesus was transfigured before his eyes, and Moses and Elijah appeared - representing prophecy and the law.  

We use the expression "walking on clouds" to signify being swept up in untold joy.  St. Peter was clearly "walking on clouds!"  We are told that the mystery of the transfiguration in which Jesus glowed as He would after the resurrection - giving a glimpse of what was to come - was so spectacular that St. Peter wanted that experience to go on and on and on. How could he not?

We have been together in Krak�w with youth and young adults from all over the world gathered in faith and joy - with Pope Francis to lead us. How fitting it is that this week our Church calendar celebrates - you guessed it - the Transfiguration of Jesus.  

Unlike the "let down" when we are driving home from a great vacation, this coming down the mountain is about an encounter - an experience of Jesus, of Church, and maybe a bit of a taste of what heaven will be like.

Unlike a vacation where we hope for a soft landing upon our return, here we are hoping that the encounter will make us different ... having brought out the best of us. We hope that our best selves will continue to live and witness to the love and mercy of Jesus.  We have met new friends, we have been catechized, and we have encountered the Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Some advice is in order.  

1. Take some time for solitary reflection and put...Read More
The Work of the People
By Dr. Karen Shadle, Director, Office of Worship 

If you, like me, are active on social media, you've likely fought the urge to completely disconnect from otherwise pleasant friends and family who seem to be getting a little too caught up in the political feeding frenzy that clogs our Facebook and Twitter feeds these days. I do not begrudge activism. I myself am an amateur politico, my "other" degree being in political science and my "other" career ambition being law school.

What I do find distasteful, however, is the demagoguery that declares a particular candidate to be the perfect solution - the revolutionary genius - or, alternately, the very embodiment of evil. Aside from cultivating a harmful dualism, this attitude over-empowers leaders and implicitly absolves everyone else from being agents of goodness and change. Leaders are certainly important. They inspire and facilitate. But they are not the answer. We are the answer.  

We do not wake up on Inauguration Day to a changed world. It is simply not the case. If we want justice, it requires us to treat others justly. If we want peace, we must be peaceful to each other. If we want a culture that values life, we must treat everyone with dignity. No leader can do this for us. This reminds me of a pastor's wise words in a recent homily: "Don't shop around for a more welcoming church. Welcome others right here."  Be an agent of radical hospitality. Culture shifts such as these within institutions require many hands.

This approach to leadership has been on my mind as I have served in my position as Director of Worship. I have been in this role for 191 days, so I am a bit tardy for a traditional "First 100 Days" report, but I would like to share some observations on liturgy, leadership, and ministry in our Archdiocese.

During my first few months, I've been visiting with a lot of people-clergy, other diocesan staff, parish directors of music and worship, and parishioners active in...Read More
Reflections on Being Ordained a Deacon
By Rick Fagan 

The ordination date for the Class of 2016 deacon formation class is set for August 20, 2016 at St. Patrick Parish.  Today, as I write this, it is July 31, and in 20 days, 18 of us will be ordained permanent deacons for our Archdiocese.  It is exactly 11 years to the day, when I was officially retired from the U.S. Army after more than 25 years of service.  As I think back to that time and what I thought I was going to do after retirement, and where I thought Julie and my life - our lives - were headed . . . I did not see this coming.  Being a deacon was not even on my radar screen.  

What I thought was going to happen was that I would have a fulfilling after-the-Army career in the construction industry, we would be active members of our parish community, and Julie and I would continue our work with the Retrouvaille Marriage Ministry.  

God had other plans!

One September weekend, Julie and I were giving a short Retrouvaille presentation at all of the weekend masses at St. Joseph Parish in Bardstown.  It just so happened that the Diaconate Office was holding a deacon information session that afternoon.  We talked to the deacon at the early Mass, and he invited us to come to the session.  At first we said no, because we had a Retrouvaille function to go to that afternoon.  But at the next Mass, when we both heard the "Servant Song" we turned to look at each other.  We were both crying, and we both knew at that very moment that I was going to apply to become a permanent deacon.

I had several career failures after retiring from the Army with six jobs in six years. I cannot say that I was really happy in any of them.  Something was missing in my life, but I did not really know what it was.

Then God intervened.  Along with acceptance into the Permanent
Diaconate Program for the Archdiocese of Louisville, came acceptance as a Facility Maintenance Operations Specialist with the Defense Commissary Agency.  This has actually become a parallel journey of serving the Commissaries and their patrons, who are retired, and active duty military members and serving the people of God at my parish and in the Archdiocese.  

No one in our formation class is the same after the past five years, nor are our wives.  We are all changed for the better. All of us want to be the best deacons we can be, go where God is calling us to go, and do what God is calling us to do.

Five years ago, the formation program gave us a toolbox.  Over the last five years the formation program has been giving us tools to put into the toolbox.  These tools have been designed to help prepare us for the journey, which will start after we get up off of the floor at St. Patrick Parish on August 20.
The Blog Spot

This section will feature local and national blogs that will inspire, teach, and call to action. This month features, Archdiocese of Louisville Family Ministries Blog, a blog intended to be the home for original and referred content relating to family ministries in the Archdiocese of Louisville.  On this blog, you will discover what is new in marriage preparation and enrichment, pastoral care for those in need, counseling and safe environment programs, as well as work to promote the dignity of life.

"When Something Is Important You MAKE the TIME"
By Deacon Stephen Bowling

Okay, I will make a confession here . . . I am a HUGE Star Trek fan.

I have been one since I was so small I can hardly remember, and growing up in the Seventies, Sunday mornings always had two huge events for us every week: 10 a.m. mass at St. Catherine's in New Haven with either Father Paul Russell or Father Jack Caldwell, followed immediately by Captain James T. Kirk as soon as we got home. Both had influences on me, and I can truly say that integrating them has actually been a far easier process than you might imagine.SOMETHING IMPORTANT

I recently confessed of my love for Star Trek to my parishioners at St. Gabriel and let them in on one of the secret ingredients for many of my homilies . . . a dash of Star Trek whenever appropriate, which not surprisingly happens fairly frequently.

If you hear me quote someone with the lead-in of "a wise man once said" it is probably Spock more often than not. It's actually turned into a bit of a running gag now as many parishioners are far more Star Trek savvy than I gave them credit for . . . they usually spot my references now without me having to use any of my code-phrases at all.

And so it is that this practice of mine prompts me once again to steal another Star Trek quote for...Read More

The Catholic Connection is provided by:

 CSALogo

Join Our Mailing List