January 21, 2013, Volume VII, Number 3

FEAST OF SAINT AGNES Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 3rd Monday of JanuaryDay of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children – January 22, 2013

Saint Vincent – January 23, 2013Saint Francis de Sales – January 24, 2013

Conversion of Saint Paul – January 25, 2013Saints Timothy and Titus – January 26, 2013

YEAR OF FAITH - Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Question of the WeekFor the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, January 27, 2013“found the passage where it was written…’Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in or hearing.’” If you were called upon to read the Scriptures, what passage would you look up? What scripture passage might you choose as your “coat of arms”? Is there a passage from Scripture you could put on your tombstone that could be used to describe what you had fulfilled in your life?

NCCL News

Save Me a Place for $309 Extended to January 31, 2013

Some of you missed this announcement last week. Here it is again and I have highlighted the sentence about us extending the deadline because you now can see all the Learning Sessions.

Ann Pinckney, Chair of the 2013 Conference Planning Committee, is pleased to announce that in addition to the themes

for each of the four days of the conference, along with Featured Speakers, you can now view over fifty (50) presenters who will be conducting Learning Sessions (http://www.nccl.us/presentationoverviews/presenters.html) at the conference. Since this information was recently uploaded, the registration price of $309 will be extended till the end of January.

Spiritual Needs Survey: You and Your Parish Are Invited to Participate

Leisa Anslinger (Ideation * Input * Futuristic * Connectedness * Arranger) along with Dobie Moser introduced us to the Engaged and Evangelizing Community with Living Your Strengths by Building Communities of Stewardship and Joy at our annual meeting in Dearborn, Michigan in 2009. Last year, Leisa worked with the DDRE Forum. Now she is about to undertake another project to meet people’s spiritual needs. Lisa plans to weave what she learns from this survey into articles, like the ones

she writes for Catechetical Leader, workshops and web postings. The survey will be open until March 17 and she plans to begin sharing the results after Easter. Read more about this project and how you can participate. You can find all the information you need including the Spiritual Needs Survey at http://catholiclifeandfaith.net/spiritual-needs-survey.

Meeting people’s spiritual needs is foundational to engaging them in deep and living faith. Yet, as I have talked with parish and diocesan leaders about this in the past few years, this seems a consistent challenge. We know, for instance, that the Mass and our sacramental life are vital to people’s spiritual lives. We wonder, however, how to help them grow in appreciation of Christ’s sacramental presence in their daily lives. There are many similar connections we think people may be missing, such as participation in faith formation or in service and outreach. All of these elements of our pastoral life are important, as people become more committed disciples, yet many seem to miss the connections. What are the best practices around all of this? How might we learn from each other?

My proposal: As I have thought about this with many pastors and pastoral staff members, I have come to the conclusion that we could all benefit from learning from our members and from each other. Author Al Winseman of the Gallup Organization suggests that we draw people together in focus groups to hear their spiritual needs and learn how we might best meet those needs within our parish communities. I propose that we do this as leaders together, through a survey that parish leaders may share with their members. The survey will ask people to identify the ways in which their spiritual needs are being met, and will give them an opportunity to share their hopes and dreams with us. Every parish that participates will receive a summary of its members’ responses, and I will share the best practices and hopes with all at the conclusion of the survey process. You may download a copy of the survey via the link to the right.

Share the Survey: The survey is available via the link to the right. I invite you to take the survey now, and to share the link with your parishioners through your bulletin or email. You may also give those who do not have internet access the printed survey. I believe we have much to learn from each other, and hope that you will take this opportunity to contribute to the on-going process of building a more engaging Church! The survey is offered in English and Spanish.

If you would like your parish to participate in this spiritual needs survey between now and March 17, designate a contact person for your parish. Submit his or her name and email address. If you designate a contact person, I will be able to report back to them a summary of your parishioners' responses.

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children – January 22, 2013

January 22 is the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the day established by the Church of penance for abortion, has been formally named as the “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” On this day (or January 23rd when January 22nd falls on a Sunday) your parish, school or religious formation program may celebrate the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life. This Mass, found in our newly-translated Missal, may now be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life.

The relevant change reads: “The liturgical celebrations for this day may be the Mass “For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life? (no. 48/1 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with white vestments, or the Mass “For the Preservation of Peace and Justice? (no. 30 of the Masses and Prayers for Various Needs and Occasions), celebrated with violet vestments.”

Collect for the Mass: God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother's womb; grant, we pray, that we, whom you have made stewards of creation, may remain faithful to this sacred trust and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Annual Appeal: Moving Milieu – FINAL RESULTS $2910 – Thank You

Three people were inadvertently left off our Honor Roll last week. We have highlighted those names and extend our apologies. If you made a contribution and your name is not listed, please

Moving Milieu Milieu

contact our office so we can make the adjustment and provide our members with accurate information. Our total donations for the 2012 Annual Appeal are now $2910. Thanks to all who contributed.

H O N O R R O L L O F A N N U A L A P P E A L D O N O R S

Leisa AnslingerMichael BergerJerry BaumbachMark BuckleyPatricia BurbageTeresa BurnsMary Fran CassidyCaroline Cerveny, SSJJosephine ContentCatherine CornueMaria CovarrubiasJim DeBoyCarol EipersNancy FerrariPam FischerCarol Ann GaddisBrian Garcia-Luense

Dorothy Giloley, SSJElizabeth GirtonBrigid JohnsonJim KemnaDiane KledzikBill & Marilyn MillerRobert McCartyJoan C. McKeownClaire McManusDaniel MulhallLeland NagelCarol & Monroe NicholsTerry M. OdienNeil ParentRhonda F ParentonKaren PesekJeanne C. Pinard

Gary PokornyPeter J. Ries Mary Ann RonanSabrina SchmidtJeanne SchrempfVicki SmithMichael E. SteierLinda StrykerLouAnne SvobodaDaniel ThomasNancy ThompsonMichelle TomshackJames TuckerMike WagnerMike WestenbergFrank J. Zolvinsk

DEALINE EXTENDED for New Wineskins Nominations – January 31 st

With consideration to the busyness of the first weeks of the New Year, the Evangelization Committee of NCCL, which oversees the New Wineskins Awards process, has extended the deadline for award applications until January 31st. If you have (or know of) an innovative and effective evangelization or catechetical ministry in your parish or diocese that you would recommend for consideration, you can access more information and the award

application forms at Diocesan Award (https://nccl.wildapricot.org/awards/dicoese) or Parish Award (https://nccl.wildapricot.org/awards/parish). The parish and diocesan awardees will be recognized at this year’s Annual Conference in Cleveland on May 22, 2013.

Fearing the Stigmata

It’s listed as Learning Session 303 and it features twenty-eight-year-old Matt Weber articulating his own faith journey that brought him to a new understanding of "defending the faith" and motivated him to share his faith pitching a show to Catholic TV that has been successful in sharing a message with

younger Catholics and lapsed Catholics. He concludes his learning session with an examination of graces and simple joys found in everyday life. Weber weaves together the spiritual with the theological and leaves the audience both inspired by and informed on the rising generation of Catholics.

Here’s a link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9RoXwaLg6A to a “virtual book tour” for Matt Weber’s Fearing the Stigmata: Humorously Holy Stories of a Young Catholic's Search for a Culturally Relevant Faith. For the most up-to-date information on the NCCL Conference and Exposition go to www.NCCL.us.

Diocesan Offices ONLY: RCL Benziger Conducts Catechist Formation Survey

Our partner in Echoes of Faith and Echoes of Faith Plus, RCL Benziger is conducting a survey of diocesan offices concerning the state of catechist formation. They request that it be completed by the person in the diocese directly responsible for catechist formation. Only one survey per diocese, please.  The survey is posted on SurveyMonkey at this address: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EchoesSurvey

The survey will remain live until February 5, 2013. We encourage your participation as the results from the survey will be used to determine how to move forward with the Echoes of Faith/Ecos de Fe series. For questions, please contact Dan Mulhall 410-693-7971.

People With Down Syndrome Persecuted, But Pandas Protected?

I read an interesting and somewhat disturbing piece this week by Elizabeth Lev She teaches Christian art and architecture at Duquesne University's Italian campus and University of St. Thomas' Catholic Studies program. She openly admits in her article that she has a 9-year-old son with Down Syndrome. She reflects on “a disturbing sign of the times that the life of a panda

is more desirable and more protected then the life of an unborn human child.” While I knew when prenatal testing for genetic or developmental conditions occurred that an abortion often took place; I was unaware of some of the statistics that Lev presented. “In Switzerland, 87% of all Down Syndrome pregnancies are terminated. In France, 96% of fetuses are aborted following this prenatal diagnosis.”

Even more distressing was a report “from the summer of 2011 when Denmark proudly proclaimed that it would soon be the first Down Syndrome-free nation in the world.” Its official Web site stated:A medical review from 2002 of elective abortions in the UK and the US found that around 92% of all fetuses diagnosed with Down Syndrome were aborted. In Denmark, medical experts estimate the rate of abortions to be even higher. If the current trend continues, it is predicted that the last Down Syndrome baby in Denmark could be born in 2030.

She notes that “Denmark describes its goal as that of a perfect society, and part of this plan is to remove "undesirable citizens" before they can even be born.” She also shares a concern that “a society that decides which citizens are worthy to live and die seems far from perfect.” You can read her full article at http://www.zenit.org/article-36356?l=english. Elizabeth Lev can be reached at lizlev@zenit.org.

Nominate Young Adults To Be Conference Participants

Fostering new professionals into the catechetical ministry is a priority around the nation. The National Conference of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) seeks to encourage young people to consider this ministry through its Young Adult Initiative and its Young Adult Professional Catechetical Minister Scholarship.

The purpose of this Young Adult Initiative is to:

- raise awareness about professional catechetical ministry among young adults who might be discerning ecclesial professional roles

- foster arch/diocesan involvement in bringing forth strong candidates for professional catechetical ministry among young adults

- create an awareness in young adults of the benefits of gathering with NCCL, the professional organization for catechetical leaders which includes parish and diocesan leaders, academic members, and publishers

The purpose of the Young Adult Professional Catechetical Minister Scholarship is to:

- raise awareness about a career as a professional catechetical ministry among young adults who are currently employed in an ecclesial professional catechetical role

- foster arch/diocesan involvement in affirming professional catechetical ministry among young adults employed in the catechetical field

- create an awareness in young adults of the benefits of gathering with NCCL, the professional organization for catechetical leaders which includes parish and diocesan leaders, academic members, and publishers

To nominate candidates, the person’s immediate supervisor should e-mail Mark Buckley (mbuckley@stbedechurch.com) or Michelle Tomshack (mtomshack@dwc.org), NCCL Membership Committee co-chairs. NCCL’s Membership Committee will determine the

awardees and notify them via e-mail no later than March 15, 2013. For specific requirements and application procures, please go to NCCL website (www.NCCL.org) under the News and Events tab.Vatican to Enlist Christian All-Stars to Help Scandal-Ridden Sports

The Pontifical Council for Culture is planning to host an international conference on re-instilling values in sports this spring, inviting representatives from top world governing bodies like FIFA (the International Federation of Association Football), the International Cycling Union and the Italian National Olympic Committee. Instead of sports being an activity that builds important values, respects human dignity and helps shape the whole human person, "it has reduced people to merchandise," he said.

"We want to work with the big sports bodies to give new value to sports" and the upcoming conference -- titled "We Believe in Sports" -- will be one way to get that initiative started, the monsignor said. The council will also have Catholic and Christian athletes in attendance, to give witness to how the worlds of faith and sports can easily come together. He said the council hoped its participant line-up would include two high-profile Christian U.S. sports stars: NFL

quarterback Tim Tebow of the New York Jets, and NBA basketball player Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.

The goal of the conference is two-fold, Msgr. Sanchez de Toca said. First: "to help put healthy values back into sport and counteract the current market logic, because if the current state of affairs continues, all is lost." Second: to help the church see sport as an important resource for future priests, Catholic schools, parishes and catechists.

The former-modern pentathlete-turned-priest said the council also wants to hold a "Race of Faith" -- a 100-meter jog, shuffle or sprint up the Via della Conciliazione toward St. Peter's Square during the gathering. "We want to see lots of cardinals in tracksuits, too," he said.

FREE Professional Development Webinar – THIS Tuesday, January 22

Ave Maria Press, in partnership with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the National Association for Lay Ministry, and National Federation of Priests' Councils presents a series of free, online workshops on

professional development for parish ministers. This webinar Simplifying the Soul: Renewing Lenten Practice offered on Tuesday, January 22 at 3:00 pm EST. You can register at PDW-01.15.2013 (http://tiny.cc/cmanpw). For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars .

Simplifying the Soul: Renewing Lenten Practice  by Paula Huston         Sign up today. Space is limited! 

We often think of Lent as a season of deprivation. We're supposed to "give up" something we love (chocolate, wine, movies) for the next six weeks, though we're never quite sure why. What's more, we can hardly wait until it's over so we can go back to "normal."  But there's another, more spiritually effective way to approach Lent. We can look at it as a special, set-apart time for getting back to what's truly important.

How do we do this? We try letting different things go for a short period--for example, we give up the Internet for a day, we cut up one credit card, we leave our cell phone home--with the goal of getting to know ourselves at a deeper level.  What drives most of what we think about? What motivates us to action? What unconscious habits determine how we live each day? Lenten practices of simplification can help reveal who we really are--while at the same time opening the door to long-term transformation. This webinar offers suggestions for specific Lenten experiments rooted in the spiritual wisdom of the ancient Christian desert fathers and mothers.

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly: Inauguration & Lynching and Forgiveness

There were two parts of the program this week that I believe are worth mentioning. If interested in either of them, you can read/listen to those episodes at

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/category/episodes/current-stories/. Inauguration Perspectives of People of Faith The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; John Garvey, a lawyer and president of Catholic University; and Harold Dean Trulear, professor of theology at the Howard University Divinity School discuss the mood of the country this inauguration weekend and offer their perspectives on the next four years. In 2008, says Bishop Budde, "We saw the president as the one who would bring us together as a country, and what we learned in the first administration is that we were not yet ready to be that country."

Lynching and Forgiveness We report on the shameful history of lynching in America and talk with African Americans who have found ways to forgive. Before the generation of people who remember such events dies off, scholars such as Angela Sims, an assistant professor of ethics and black church studies at the Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, are trying to record eyewitness

accounts. What they are finding is not just graphic photos and consuming hate, but the ability of some of those most affected to set aside their anger.

10 Ways That Technology Can Improve Your Religious Education Session

This FREE webinar, conducted by Victor Valenzuela is offered by Sadlier on Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. EST. What? Use technology in my religion class?

Join Victor Valenzuela as he talks about how technology and media have become so much a part of our everyday lives. It is hard to go through the day without hearing the words; twitter, facebook, internet, web, podcast, blog etc… Yet, Religious Education has yet to catch up with the ubiquitousness of technology. In this workshop, we will discuss the 10 ways media can enhance our Religious Education sessions—each one with a practical application that can be implemented today! In the end, we will see that technology/media is the real “New Evangelization.”

A Certificate of Attendance will be offered to attendees after the Webinar. To register, please go to Register HERE (http://tiny.cc/hd12qw).

Nine Days of Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage

On January 22nd and January 25th our nation will remember the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Since that tragic decision, more than 55 million children's lives have been lost to abortion, and the lives of millions of their parents have been shattered.

As part of the bishops' recent call to prayer, "Nine Days of Prayer, Penance and Pilgrimage" will take place January 19-27, 2013.This time period, focusing on the theme of pilgrimage, includes:

Blessings of pro-life pilgrims (en español)(See page 10, 2012 Respect Life Program Liturgy Guide)

Novena - Sign up for daily emails below, or text "9days" to 99000 to receive it through daily text messages!

Youth and young adult activities ("Pro-Life Profiles" and a middle and high school age video contest)

Closing Eucharistic Holy Hour

March for Life Rally – January 25, 2013

The location this year of the March to Life Rally will be on the National Mall between 7th & 9th Streets, the same place as last year. The rally will begin at 12:00 PM and continue until about 1:30 PM, followed immediately by the March.

Rose DinnerThe Rose Dinner will be held on the evening of January 25, 2013,

the same day as the March for Life. Keynote speaker will be announced as soon as possible. The social hour will begin at 6:00 PM and dinner will be served at 7:00 PM. More information will be posted on our website as soon as it becomes available. Tickets are $85. You can click on the Rose Dinner button in the upper left corner of the home page and follow the links to purchase tickets on line. On-line ticket sales will end mid-day on Wednesday, January 23, 2013. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door for $100. Youth RallyThe MARCH FOR LIFE Youth Rally will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency hotel, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. A speakers schedule and additional information is posted at www.standtrue.com/mflyouthrally. Tickets are not required. There is no cost to participate. Law of Life Summit:The Law of Life Summit "3" will be held on Thursday, January 24, 2013, at the Hyatt Regency hotel, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It is being presented by Ave Maria School of Law in cooperation with the MARCH FOR LIFE Education and Defense Fund. There is no cost to participate but space is limited. Please register at www.LawLife.org.Youth Rally and Mass for Life, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Washington: Friday, January 25, 2013: Go to http://youthrallyandmassforlife.org.National Prayer Vigil, sponsored by the U.S. Conference of Catholic BishopsThursday, January 24, 2013: Go to http://www.usccb.org/about/pro-life-activities/january-roe-events/national-prayer-vigil-for-life-schedule.cfmMarch for Life ConventionInformation will be posted on our website as it becomes available. MARCH FOR LIFE Exhibit Hall: The Exhibit Hall will be located on the lower lobby level of the Hyatt Regency hotel. The hours of operation are 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Thursday, January 24, 2013; and from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and approximately 3:00 PM (following the March) until 6:00 PM on Friday, January 25, 2013. March for Life 5K (January 26, 2013)The inaugural MARCH FOR LIFE 5K will be held at 8:00 AM on Saturday, January 26, 2013 in West Potomac Park, Washington, DC. The event is hosted by the National LIFE Runners Team. Check out related events for more information or go to http://www.marchforlife.org/.

2013-2016 - USCCB STRATEGIC PLAN

The New Evangelization/Journey With Christ: Faith-Worship-Witness has a natural progression that engages the work of the Church and the USCCB in a three-fold

movement during 2013-2016 through a focus on: Church and the USCCB in a three-fold movement during 2013-2016 through a focus on:

1. Faith: Inviting Catholics to a deeper relationship with Christ, and a deeper understanding of and relationship with his Church, and knowledge of the faith.

2. Worship: Inspiring confidence in the gospel and the teachings of the faith expressed in a vibrant community and sacramental life, most intensively in the Eucharist and Penance, but also through Marriage and greater appreciation of the family as the domestic church.

3. Witness: Strengthening of our understanding of the Christian vocation lived through a public witness to Jesus Christ and to the life and dignity of the human person where believers, living out their vocation to be witnesses, affirm the freedom of religion and work to transform society through living and sharing their faith in Jesus Christ and giving recognition to the life and dignity of the human person.

The Bishops Invite You to Join the Diocesan Pastoral Plan (http://tiny.cc/7022qw). You can also read the Strategic/Pastoral Plan (http://tiny.cc/p622qw).

What Faith Means For Families

The Guest Voices for Faith and its Impact on the News in The Washington Post this week were Elizabeth Marquardt, Amy Ziettlow and Charles E. Stokes. The main point of the essay is that “We believe that the evidence proves that churches have not done enough to confront the impact of family breakdown on the spiritual lives of young people. We urge faith leaders to renew

family ministries with an eye to all that we are learning about the religious lives of children of divorce.” An idea that is reinforced by our partnership with Strong Catholic Families, Strong Catholic Youth.

“One important study by Leora E. Lawton and Regina Bures found that Catholic and moderate Protestant children of divorce are more than twice as likely to leave religious practice altogether.” You can read the complete editorial essay at What Faith Means for Families (http://tiny.cc/og73qw). The essay is a result of their report Does the Shape of Families Shape Faith? You can download a PDF version of this 77 page report by clicking on the title or by clicking on http://www.americanvalues.org/pdfs/dl.php?name=SOFSF . You can also read a summary article at Families Shape Faith (http://tiny.cc/hz83qw) that addresses the following questions:

1. Why is this an important issue?2. Does divorce impact a child’s faith?3. Why does divorce impact a child’s faith?4. What is the problem with the church?5. Is there any hope?6. How can the church help?7. Where can I find additional information?

Catholics Unite for New Gun Control Measures

Representatives of a range of national Catholic groups, including those speaking for the country's sisters, brothers, priests and bishops, signed a letter Tuesday calling for stringent new national gun control measures. The 14 Catholic signers are among more than 40 leaders of a range of faith groups organized under the aegis "Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence."

In a letter to congressional representatives Tuesday, the leaders, who include the heads of a number of prominent Protestant, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu groups, write that "no more time can be wasted" following the December shooting in Newtown, Conn. "Gun violence is taking an unacceptable toll on our society, in mass killings and in the constant day-to-day of senseless death," write the signatories, who include Stockton, Calif., Bishop Stephen Blaire, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development. "While we continue to pray for the families and friends of those who died, we must also support our prayers with action. We should do everything possible to keep guns out of the hands of people who may harm themselves or others."

Among action needed to stem gun violence, the leaders propose rules mandating that every person buying a gun pass a criminal background check; that high-capacity weapons and ammunition be banned; and gun trafficking be made a federal crime. Catholic representatives signing the petition in order of signature:

Fr. Larry Snyder, CEO of Catholic Charities USA Daughter of Charity Sr. Carol Keehan, president and CEO of the Catholic Health

Association Kevin Lofton, president and CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives Fred Rotondaro, chairman of the board of Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good James Salt, executive director of Catholics United Missionary Servant Fr. John Edmunds, president of the Conference of Major Superiors of

Men Dominican Sr. Margaret Ormond, on behalf of the leadership team of Dominican Sisters

of Peace Patrick Carolan, executive director of the Franciscan Action Network St. Joseph Sr. Janet Mock, executive director of the Leadership Conference of Women

Religious Good Shepherd Sr. Gayle Lwanga, national coordinator of the National Advocacy Center

of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Social Service Sr. Simone Campbell, executive director of NETWORK

Notre Dame Sr. Patricia Chappell, executive director of Pax Christi USA Mercy Sr. Patricia McDermott, president of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Stockton, Calif., Bishop Stephen Blaire, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on

Domestic Justice and Human DevelopmentTucson Kindness Project (Ben’s Bells) Hangs 1000 Bells Around Newtown

This is how people connect and offer a visible ways of saying that we care, we now you are suffering and we want to offer you hope. It is important that we look for ways to help people connect as the body of Christ. A project that hangs small wind chimes with bells is becoming a healing remedy for grieving communities following tragic mass shootings.

An Arizona mom in mourning started "Ben's Bells" after her little boy passed away from illness. She wanted to say thank-you for the many kindnesses that were shown her, passing it forward so other people would remember how kindness heals.A few years later, the project grew, embraced by a shocked

Tucson community following the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords and thirteen other citizens. Hundreds of volunteers painted, assembled and hung the ceramic wind chimes from random branches, and doorknobs and playgrounds around the city.

Last week Ben's mom, Jeannette Maté, traveled with friends to the location of the latest tragedy, Newtown, Conn., carrying 1,000 bells to distribute to a community in need of smiles. Once unpacked, the group stood in the snow and rang the little bells in solidarity with Tucson bell-ringers marking two years to the day since the Arizona shooting. The chimes were then hung from trees and in doorways along, each with a note that reads: "You have found a Ben's Bell. Take it home, hang it and remember to spread kindness throughout our world."

On the flip side of the tag for these particular bells, a note was added, "This bell symbolizes our connection as a community and the power we each have to change the world by committing to kindness, one interaction at a time. We surround all of those who were affected by the events of Dec. 14 with love and kindness." The love came from other communities too, where people sent their own handmade wind chimes -- mailed from North Carolina, Illinois and Idaho -- to help blanket this town with reminders of solidarity.

One graduate of Newtown High School, Kristin Savopoulos, said her sister found one of the bells on January 9, and called it "amazing". "It was the talk of the town, and changed her spirits." You can read the story at http://newtownbee.com/News/News/2013/01-January/2013-01-09__19-07-23/Ben%E2%80%99s+Bells%3A+Kindness+Chimes+In and you can watch a video at http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/most-popular/bens-bells-hangs-blankets-newtown-with-kindness.html.

Looking for a Summer Institute – Options for 1 or 2 or 4 or 6 Weeks

Longtime member Dr. Thomas Groome recently shared that the Summer Institute at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry offers the opportunity to study with renowned

theological and ministerial scholars in an environment of retreat and renewal over a six-week period in Summer 2013.  Join them for a one-, two-, four-, or six-week program, or begin work on a master of arts degree in pastoral ministry or a post-master's certificate in spiritual formation.

Courses run for one, two, or three week sessions.  For Summer 2013, Session One begins on Monday, June 24 and Session Three ends on Friday, August 2.  You can enroll in a summer-only M.A. degree or enroll as a non-degree student; courses can also be taken for audit - at half the tuition rate.

The Summer Institute attracts students from all over the globe and assembles a world-renowned faculty.  This year's leading lights include Jon Sobrino, Elizabeth Johnson, Sandra Schneiders, Dan Harrington, and the list goes on.  The SI combines these rich academic resources with an experience of Christian community (e.g., excellent daily liturgies) while taking advantage of all that the city of Boston has to offer.  

Generous scholarships are available for students in our degree programs.  Our summer tuition is significantly lower than during the academic year, and summer housing on campus is also very competitive.  Registration begins in April 2013 for both courses and housing.  You can easily register on their website or by regular mail.  If you've any questions, just give them a call between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm any weekday and they will be delighted to help (617-552-6501 or 800-487-1167) or e-mail stmsummer@bc.edu.

A copy of the summer schedule of classes and professors can be found by clicking BC Summer Flyer (http://tiny.cc/drc2qw). For more information, please visit:  www.bc.edu/stmsummer.

Encourage Participation in the 2013 Multi-Media Youth Contest

Calling all religious educators! Materials are now available for the 2013 Multi-Media Youth Contest, sponsored by the USCCB Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) with support from RCL Benziger. This year's theme is "Be a Disciple! Put Two Feet of Love in Action." Educators lead participants through 5 easy steps to learn about U.S. poverty, the Church’s response, and the Two Feet of Love in Action. Youth then create multi-media work of any type (e.g. painting, video, poetry, dance, etc.) and work to educate their peers before submitting their work to the contest. The contest can be facilitated by any diocesan office – for example, the Religious Education, Catholic Schools, Youth Ministry, Social Concerns, or Hispanic Ministry office.

The annual national contest deadline is March 31. Visit the contest materials now in English and Spanish

Quick Fire 2013: Rapid Resources – Nominate Yourself and/or a Colleague

Interested in presenting a Rapid Resources session?

Have you developed an effective program, resource, or other information for your diocese or parish? Have a book or a piece of research you would like to share with your peers? Have an innovative response to a catechetical need?

Then NCCL wants you to present a Rapid Resource session at our 2013 Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.

Quick Fire 2013 is a great way for conference participants to learn new ideas and network with peers. This Rapid Resource gathering consists of four 10 minute sessions. Presenters will give a fast 7 minute presentation to a small group (up to ten people) followed by 3 minutes for discussion. At the end of the ten minutes, presenters will give the group a one-page handout that includes their contact information. People will then move to another Rapid Resource session.

NCCL Committees will also present Rapid Resource sessions so that participants can learn about NCCL's activities and how they can become involved.

To nominate yourself as a Rapid Resource presenter, please complete the Rapid Resource nomination form available on the Home Page of the NCCL website (www.NCCL.org) or you can download and complete the APPLICATION FORM. The Conference Committee will review your submission based on the following criteria:

clarity of description of the content and presentation methods relevance/audience interest, importance, focus presenter's experience, qualifications and expertise

(The review process does not apply to sessions by NCCL committees.)

For Lent, Clergy Members Challenge People to Eat Like Food Stamp Recipients

Wisconsin clergy members are challenging people during the upcoming Lenten season to eat for one week on just $29.07. That’s the average amount allocated to an individual through the state’s

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, according to Wisconsin Faith Voices of Justice, the group issuing the challenge.“While living on a food stamp budget for just a week cannot come close to the struggles encountered by low-income families week after week and month after month, it does provide those who take the challenge with a new perspective and greater understanding,” the group said in a statement.

4th Annual NCCL Conference Scholarshipin memory of the life and ministry of

Sister Maria de la Cruz Aymes, SH for

Diocesan Leadersserving

Catechesis with Hispanics Through the Generosity of

Information about the Scholarship process along with an application can be found on the NCCL website. Go to the News & Events tab on the NCCL homepage (www.NCCL.org) and click on Scholarships. Application deadline, including all support documentation, must be received no later than midnight, Thursday, January 31, 2013.

Carl & Janaan Scholarship for Couples in MinistryAny NCCL member whose spouse is also involved in church ministry is eligible to apply for this scholarship. This is a scholarship that is based both on the couple’s catechetical ministry and their collaborative commitment to serve the church. The scholarship provides free registration for one NCCL member and spouse to attend the NCCL national conference and meeting. Applicants are requested to share how they creatively help their catechists address the six tasks of catechesis and what working together has done for them and their faith life. For more information and an application go to the News and Events tab on the NCCL homepage (www.NCCL.org) and click on Scholarships.

6 Habits of Highly Empathetic People

According to new research, empathy is a habit we can cultivate to improve the quality of our own lives. But what is empathy? And how can you expand your own empathetic potential? In the January issue of YES! Magazine, Roman Krznaric addresses this issue and admits that “the word empathy … is now on the lips of scientists and business leaders, education experts and political

activists.” Furthermore, he declares that “The 21st century should become the Age of Empathy, when we discover ourselves by becoming interested in the lives of others.”

Here are the six habits Krznaric proposes. They can be extremely helpful as we encounter and welcome a diverse group of parents and families into our faith community and our religious education/faith formation programs and processes. If you desire to read more, please go to http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1.

Habit 1: Talk with strangers Habit 2: Challenge prejudices and discover commonalities Habit 3: Try another person’s life Habit 4: Listen hard—and open up Habit 5: Inspire mass action and social change Habit 6: Develop an ambitious imagination

FREE Professional Development Webinar – Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Ave Maria Press, in partnership with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership, the National Association for Lay Ministry, and National Federation of Priests' Councils presents a series of free, online workshops on

professional development for parish ministers. This webinar What Are You Craving in 2013? Five Ways to Restore Sanity and Serenity to Your Relationship with Food is offered on Tuesday, February 5 at 3:00 pm EST. You can register at PDW-02.05.2013 (http://tinyurl.com/b5wdvmy). For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariapress.com/webinars . What Are You Craving in 2013? Five Ways to Restore Sanity and Serenity to Your Relationship with Food with Mary DeTurris Poust.        Sign up today. Space is limited! 

It’s the start of a new year, a time when most of us reflect on our lives and set some goals. But are we approaching our resolutions from the wrong perspective? Maybe dropping ten pounds has less to do with the food we eat and more to do with the messages we play in our heads and the holes

waiting to be filled in our hearts.

Based on her latest book from Ave Maria Press, Cravings: A Catholic Wrestles with Food, Self-Image, and God, author Mary DeTurris Poust explores the undeniable connection between physical and spiritual nourishment. So often what feels like hunger for food is really a hunger for something much deeper, a craving for the kind of fullness that only God can provide. Food becomes a way to fill the voids, but it never truly satisfies. The result is an endless cycle of weight problems, eating issues, and untapped spiritual potential. Join Mary on a path toward wholeness, and discover a place of balance, peace, and self-acceptance. That’s a resolution worth making!

Lent in a Year of Faith: How to Proclaim the Gospel with Power-February 12

Loyola Press, A Jesuit Ministry, offers you A Webinar for the New Evangelization that will be facilitated by Joe Paprocki, DMin. Joe is

an author, a speaker, and a catechist in the Archdiocese of Chicago with over 30 years of experience in pastoral ministry. Joe Paprocki, national consultant for faith formation at Loyola Press, has written numerous books, including the best-selling The Catechist's Toolbox: How to Thrive as a Religious Education Teacher and A Well-Built Faith: A Catholic's Guide to Knowing and Sharing What We Believe. He is also the host of the blog Catechist's Journey. This FREE webinar will be offered on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00

p.m. (CST).Lent is a time for us to renew our baptismal commitment to follow Jesus and to proclaim the Good News to others. This experience is heightened

by taking place during a Year of Faith. In this Webinar, Joe Paprocki, DMin, will identify the focus of Lent and how, during this Year of Faith, it presents us with a unique opportunity to learn how to proclaim the Gospel in such a way as to transform lives. Joe will identify 9 key strategies for proclaiming the Gospel for the New Evangelization. You can register for this FREE webinar by going to Lent with Joe Paprocki (http://tiny.cc/e9b4qw).

The Golden Rule Sweepstakes

What does the Golden Rule mean to you? In the SpiritClips original short film “The Golden Rule” children of various religions from all over the globe share their personal interpretations of the Golden

Rule and unite to create a rainbow mosaic. You and your family can create drawings and "Like" us on Facebook for a chance to win a Roku Streaming player and other great prizes! For more information and to watch the video, please go to http://goldenrule.spiritclips.com/video.

The Golden Rule

A nameless boy and his grandfather discuss the meaning of the Golden Rule, its universality, and ways to practice it. Grandfather points out that many religions and cultures, from Christianity to Hinduism to the Shawnee tribe, have their own variations, and he quotes six examples. The boy wonders what the world would be like if more people practiced the Rule, and Grandfather explains that "It begins with you." The pages are beautifully textured with layers of paint and fascinating detail. Beasts and deities of the world's

religions float in the background, as if part of the boy's and the grandfather's imaginations. You can purchase The Golden Rule.

I Have a Dream

This book is an annotated version of Dr. King's speech in concert with Kadir Nelson's soulful artwork. In reality, the book pairs the words of the last third of the speech with Caldecott Honoree, a Robert F. Sibert Medal and a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, Nelson's outstanding illustrations. This book also comes with a CD that has Dr. King's complete speech on it AND the entire speech is printed at the end of this book as well. You can purchase I Have a Dream (Book & CD).

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is a picture book and it doesn’t have a lot of words which helps younger children. YO can read a variety of complaints about some of the illustrations but I still believe the book is worthwhile and I really appreciate the last line,

“His big words are alive for us today.” You can order Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

NEW Pope Benedict XVI Titles For Lent and the Year of Faith

Jesus Christ Through the Eyes of Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI, addresses believers, helping them to "think" the faith and to live it by presenting the foundations of the faith in an organic manner. He wants to make God visible in the human face of Christ and encourages all of us to intensify our efforts to seek God and become closer to him. You can order Jesus Christ from USCCB at (http://tiny.cc/d232qw).

The Person in Prayer Christian prayer, which Jesus taught and which the Church continues to teach, strengthens our relationship with God, whom we are able to approach in depth and intimacy. In this resource from the Catecheses series, Pope Benedict XVI shows how prayer has sustained culturally diverse people of faith throughout the years and how it continues to refine our sense of direction and focus. You can order Person in Prayer from USCCB at (http://tiny.cc/t732qw).

A Wisdom Story from People for Others , a blog of Paul Brian Campbell, SJ

It was a cold December night in West Orange, New Jersey. Thomas Edison’s factory was humming with activity. Work was proceeding on a variety of fronts as the great inventor was trying to turn more of his dreams into practical realities. Edison’s plant, made of concrete and steel, was deemed “fireproof.” As you may have already guessed, it wasn’t!

On that frigid night in 1914, the sky was lit up by a sensational blaze that had burst through the plant roof. Edison’s 24-year-old son, Charles, made a frenzied search for his famous inventor-father. When he finally found him, he was watching the fire. His white hair was blowing in the wind. His face was illuminated by the leaping flames. “My heart ached for him,” said Charles. “Here he was, 67 years old, and everything he

had worked for was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, ‘Charles! Where’s your

mother?’ When I told him I didn’t know, he said, ‘Find her! Bring her here! She’ll never see anything like this as long as she lives.’”

Next morning, Mr. Edison looked at the ruins of his factory and said this of his loss: “There’s value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew.”

Knowing Jesus and His Message – Conociendo a Jesus y su Mensaje

This is an excellent resource. Immediately following the Learning Session on this resource at the NCCL Conference and Exposition in San Diego, the NCCL Bookstore sold over twenty (20) copies of the book in English and Spanish.

Based on the protocol used to evaluate elementary religion series, the book used fifteen standards for Pre-K and K

through Grades 7 & 8. Included with the binder is a CD with all the materials available for duplication. This is an ideal help for any elementary catechist regardless of the series you might be using. Check out the following and use the Order Form.

PREFACE - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/nysql) EXPLANATION - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/xuvw8) Standards - Explained (http://tiny.cc/65wmc) Normas y Fundamentos (http://tiny.cc/zfrg2) ORDER FORM - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/9j0mb)

Looking For A Good Book?

Stop by the NCCL Bookstore. Purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, and other products on Amazon through the NCCL Bookstore (http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20) helps support this valuable online ministry.

If you are an on-line shopper and you frequent Amazon.com, please enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore as the organization benefits from every purchase you make. It’s an ideal way to support our ministry. Just go to our Home page (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Store tab or click on http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20 and it will take you directly to our bookstore. It doesn’t matter what you buy, as long as you enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore, we get a percentage of your purchases.

We are just building our bookstore and adding titles every day, so if you have any suggestions for books you believe should be available through our bookstore, please drop NCCL a note. All books mentioned in CL Weekly are available at the NCCL Bookstore.

Feedback/Comments should be addressed to: lnagel@nccl.org