June 24, 2013, Volume VII, Number 25

FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Cyril of Alexandria – Thursday, June 27, 2013Feast of Saint Irenaeus – Friday, June 28, 2013

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul – Saturday, June 29, 2013YEAR OF FAITH - Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013

http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Question of the WeekFor Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, June 30, 2013 “I will follow you wherever you go.” What hesitations might you express before proclaiming such a testimonial? Do you find any exceptions to this statement? What freedom do you find in making such an assertion? How does the commitment to follow the person and message of Jesus contribute to your freedom?

NCCL News

2013 Peter’s Pence Collection: Be Pilgrims of Charity

The Peter's Pence Collection gives each of us the opportunity to be a pilgrim of charity around the world. Our gifts to this annual Collection help the Holy Father strengthen dioceses, religious orders, and struggling communities of faith. More information about Peter’s Pence can be found at http://www.usccb.org/catholic-giving/opportunities-for-giving/peters-pence/collection/index.cfm.

There are many places around the globe where the Church struggles to be a visible sign of charity, but thankfully, the Holy Father is the pilgrim of charity for Catholics everywhere. In regions where Catholics are persecuted for their faith and in nations overloaded with refugees

and victims of war and natural disasters, the works done by the Holy Father help the Church extend charity to those most in need.

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Catechetical Sunday – September 15, 2013

This year, the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 15, 2013, and will focus on the theme Open the Door of Faith. Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday

is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

As in past years, NCCL will sell printed copies of prayer cards, family commitment cards, posters, and certificates in English and Spanish. Check the NCCL website www.NCCL.org for ddmore information on ordering your Catechetical Sunday materials. This year’s reflection journal was edited by Michele Harris and the reflections were written by nine different NCCL members. The reflection book is entitled WELCOME! Open the Door – Pass through the gate – Seek the Christ. Sample pages from each of the writers are available on the NCCL Homepage (www.NCCL.org).

The 2013 NCCL pin represents the theme for Catechetical Sunday "Open the Door of Faith" with a beautiful 3 dimensional effect. The all metal pin is outlined in the same gold as the cross. The Alpha and Omega from the Catechetical Sunday logo are imprinted on the shiny copper doors that open to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ hanging on a gold cross in a brushed copper room. The doors break through the gold outline to enhance the theme, Open the Door of Faith. The Spirit of God in each of us is the agent of the new

evangelization and inspires each of us to open our heats and to go forth as catechist and teacher. Help your organization and order your materials from NCCL. Actual pin size is 7/8 inch.

CL Weekly features several pieces each week from June 3 – September 16.

This week we feature a:

Teaching Aid by by Petroc Willey, BD, STL, PhD, PhD (Lateran), Dean of Research, Maryvale Institute in England, Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization. The title of his piece is The Catechism: A Symphony of Faith and can be downloaded from http://tiny.cc/y9bvxw.

Parish Resource by Rev. John R. Nuelle, MS, PHL, STL, Executive Director, United States Catholic Missions Association. His piece The Mission of Evangelization in the World Today, which would make an excellent parish bulletin insert, can be downloaded from http://tiny.cc/bhcvxw.

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You can download the complete list of FREE Resources which can also be found at http://tiny.cc/263uxw. Be sure to order your Catechetical Sunday materials from NCCL (www.NCCL.org).

NCCL and the Catechesis in Preaching Research Initiative – NCCL Exclusive

How’s the preaching in your parish? What difference does the Sunday homily make in the discipleship of your people? The bishops’ new document on preaching, Preaching the Mystery of Faith: the Sunday Homily, recommends a turn toward catechetical preaching. At this juncture, we are looking for you, as catechetical leaders, to lend your voice to the direction that homiletics will take. At the NCCL conference in Cleveland, many folks offered their insights and experience through four focus groups and a preliminary paper survey.

NOW: The final survey, adapted and furthered by the input from the conference, is now available online to all of the NCCL membership. Please participate fully so that the voice of catechetical leaders is heard, by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/the-NCCL-Catechesis-in-Preaching-Research-Initiative

The survey will be open for eight more days, so please respond today. Please do not share the weblink with those outside of the catechetical community. This is an NCCL exclusive survey.

N.B. If you participated in the preliminary paper survey at the conference, please also now contribute online – some of the questions have been strengthened and altered as a result of your input. Thanks! We would also like for your data to be included with the overall responses.

Thank you for willingness to give your voice to this valuable project.

HELP! Echo the Promise – Challenge $2650! – Within the Next 7 Days!

After an appeal at the Awards Luncheon by Treasurer Joanie McKeown, those present contributed $2650 to the Echo the Promise campaign. This campaign is solely for the professional development of NCCL members. Half of what is collected goes into a restricted endowment account and once it reaches $100,000, proceeds from the money can be distributed. In the meantime, the other half of the money is available for use by the

Constituency Forums.

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Your challenge is to meet or beat the $2650 that was raised at the annual conference Echo the Promise kick-off and to do it by June 30, 2013. That gives us less than a month. To make it easier, you can donate online by going to the homepage of our website (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Echo the Promise logo. Join Michele Harris who donated this week.

We need your help. There is only one week left and we need to raise $2000 to match the donors at the NCCL Conference. Please join the following people who have already contributed since the campaign was kicked off at the 77th annual conference.

Leisa AnslingerCeleste ArbuckleSr. Bernadette M. BachoBishop Leonard BlairJulie BlevinsMark BuckleyTeri BurnsConnie Calmer-AndersonSara & Randy CareyBeth CartnerMary Fran CassidySr. Caroline CervenyPatricia ClementRonald E. CochranAnne ComeauxCatherine CornueLori DahlhoffLorraine S. DelucaSr. Connie DerbyPattie DoughertyNancy H. FerrariCheryl Fournier

Colleen GerkeMichele HarrisKathy Ann HigginsGreg JacksonBrigid JohnsonJo Ann JonesSr. Ann Marie KanusekJim KemnaKristina KrimmLinda LewisJoanie MckeownChris MalmevikSr. Mary Caroline MarchalKris MaurerEla MilewskaBill & Marilyn MillerLee NagelTerri NausiedaCarol & Monroe NicholsKaren PesekGary PokornyBryan Reising

Peter RiesMary Ann RonanSr. Kieran SawyerJanet SchaefflerWendy ScherbartJeanne SchrempfDeborah ScopacasaKathy ShannonTherese StahlCindy StisoCarol StoneLinda StrykerMichelle TomshachCris VillapandoMary Jo WaggonerAnna Marie ZalarFrank J. Zolvinski

Blue notes Conference DonorsBlack notes Challenge Donors

John J. Boucher Leaves His Position in the Diocese of Trenton

John has informed us that with economic restructuring of the Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization in the Diocese of Trenton, the position of Associate Director of Evangelization has been downsized. His last day with the diocese will be June 28, 2013. He writes, “Thank you for your generous participation in the ministries, courses, workshops and events that I have been part of over these many years. Thank you for your love for Jesus Christ and the Church of Trenton. I have grown through knowing you and serving with you.”

His wife Therese and he are looking forward to moving back to their home town in Worcester, MA, in August. He requests we pray for them during this time of transition. Until Thursday, John

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can be reached at jbouch@dioceseoftrenton.org or 609-406-7400, Ext. 5590. John and Therese were our first recipients of the Diocesan New Wineskins Award.

 

Church as One Body: Pope Francis’ Continuing Catechesis on the Creed

Continuing his series of weekly talks on the nature of the Church, Pope Francis spoke to his midday audience on June 19 about the Church as the Body of Christ. “The image of the body helps us to understand this deep bond between Church and Christ,” the Pope said. The image also should be a reminder that as members of the Church we must allow Christ to work through us, he added, noting that “being part of the Church means being united to Christ and receiving from him the divine life that makes us to

live as Christians.”

Membership in this body, the Pope continued, can mean playing different roles. Citing the words of St. Paul, he observed that the body has many different parts. “There is no dull uniformity but the richness of the gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes,” he said.

However, membership in one body presumes unity, the Pope said, “and it also means learning to overcome selfishness and divisions.” He spoke about the importance of remaining in union with the Pope and the diocesan bishop, and avoiding conflicts with other members of the Church. “How much damage is caused to the Church by divisions among Christians, by being apart, by narrow interests!” the Pope lamented. “The divisions among us, but also the divisions between the communities: evangelical Christians, Orthodox Christians, Catholic Christians: why are we divided?” He urged the faithful to pray and work for unity. The full article can be found at http://www.visnews-en.blogspot.com/2013/06/general-audience-how-can-we-have-unity.html.

Obama names former CRS head ambassador to the Vatican

President Barack Obama has nominated Ken Hackett, the humanitarian who served as president of Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services for 18 years, as the next U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.

Hackett, 66, served the worldwide relief organization for 40 years, directing its efforts in more than 100 countries around the world until 2011. He gained a reputation as a man who cared about the Catholic Church and its directives and possessed diplomatic skills.

Bishop Denis J. Madden, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and a former Catholic Relief Services board member, called the appointment “great news.” Hackett “has so many skills applicable to this job,” Madden said. “He has traveled all over the world and worked with [Vatican representatives], bishops and general consuls in all those places, and he has dealt successfully with plenty of sticky situations.”

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“We’re thrilled at the decision,” said Sean Caine, a spokesman for the archdiocese. It “makes a lot of sense, given the diplomatic skills he had to have as CRS president and the fact that he’s universally respected within the church.” Bishop Madden added, "He'll represent our government well, and in a way that will do honor to the church," the bishop said. "It's a great thing for CRS, for the church and for Baltimore."

Pope Calls For 'Revolutionaries' to Change Hearts by Sharing God's Love

Christians are called to be revolutionaries, changing the world one heart at a time, Pope Francis said. "A Christian who is not a revolutionary today isn't a Christian," the pope said during the annual Rome diocesan convention that quickly turned into a rally for evangelization and care of the poor. Speaking for 30 minutes without a prepared text, Pope Francis repeatedly called upon Rome's Catholics to take seriously their responsibility to bring God's love and the promise

of salvation to the poor, the sad and the suffering.

The revolution started 2,000 years ago by Jesus, who accepted death in order to save humanity, is the longest lasting revolution in history and the one with the greatest impact on the world because it focused not on territory or power, but on changing human hearts, the pope said. The grace of Christ, he said, gives people "a heart that loves, a heart that suffers, a heart that rejoices with others, a heart full of tenderness for those who bear the wounds of life and feel like they are on the periphery of society."

"Love is the greatest force for transforming reality because it breaks down the walls of selfishness and fills the chasms that keep people far from one another," he said. "We who have the joy of knowing that we are not orphans, that we have a Father," cannot be indifferent to those yearning for love and for hope, he said. "With your witness, with your smile," you need to let others know that the same Father loves them, too.

"In the Gospel there's the beautiful passage about the shepherd who realizes that one of his sheep is missing and he leaves the 99 to go out and find the one," Pope Francis said. "But, brothers and sisters, we have only one. We're missing 99! We must go out and find them." It is tempting to take the easy path, "staying home with that one little sheep, combing it, caressing it," he said. However, the pope added, "the Lord wants us to be shepherds, not hairdressers to sheep."

A parish community that stays on the church grounds with active members talking only with active members "is a sterile community," he said. Pope Francis said he knows it is difficult to have the patience and courage to go out and share the faith, but that is what every Christian is called to do. Christians should not be surprised when they get disappointed about the results of their efforts, but they must recognize that the devil is behind their discouragement. "Every day the devil sows in our hearts seeds of pessimism and bitterness."

Each Catholic has an obligation to witness to Gospel joy in their families, neighborhoods, workplaces and schools, he said, but they must remember that the poor are the first to need and deserve the good news and concrete expressions of Christian love and charity. You can read the

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full article at http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1302636.htm.

The Collegeville Institute Seminars

The Collegeville Institute Seminars are an interdisciplinary, ecumenical, collaborative initiative designed to gather researchers and practitioners to explore important issues facing today’s Christian communities.

Through conversation, study, and research, the Seminars seek to draw from the wisdom and experiences of experts in different fields and disciplines in order to create resources for congregations, seminaries, universities, and other places of ministry. By paying close attention to the lived realities of Christian faith, the Seminars’ work serves people in both the academy and the church.

Here is their invitation. I was impressed with their blog which is entitled Insights. I encourage you to take the time as you might find a vocation issue that interests you.

We invite you to learn more about each of the Seminars, questions we are pursuing, our conversation partners, and our ongoing work with congregations on vocation, including video narratives of vocation. See our blog, Insights (http://collegevilleinstitute.org/the-seminars/insights/), for more information. We also welcome your feedback and comments at seminars@collegevilleinstitute.org.

Generously funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., the Seminars are a project of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research, located at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The Seminars are directed by Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor at Saint John’s School of Theology.

St. Joseph to be Included in Eucharistic Prayers

The name of St. Joseph will soon be included in all of the Eucharistic Prayers regularly used in the Latin rite. The Congregation for Divine Worship has issued a decree calling for the inclusion of St. Joseph in Eucharistic Prayers II, III, and IV. St. Joseph is already mentioned in Eucharistic Prayer I, the Roman Canon, as mandated by Blessed John XXIII.

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The decree from the Congregation for Divine Worship, formally dated May 1 (the feast of St. Joseph the Worker), provides the Latin wording for references to St. Joseph, which will follow immediately after mention of the Virgin Mary in the Eucharistic Prayers. The Vatican will soon provide official translations in other languages.

The Vatican decree--signed by Cardinal Antonio Canizares Llovera and Archbishop Arthur Roche, the prefect and secretary of the Congregation, respectively— notes that after Pope John XXIII added the name of St. Joseph to the Roman Canon, there were petitions from the faithful asking that St. Joseph also be named in the other Eucharistic prayers. These petitions, the decree said, had the support of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis; the latter approved the new mandate. You can read the Text of decree from Congregation for Divine Worship

(http://www.wdtprs.com/images2/13_06_17_Joseph_decree_lr.jpg)

The USCCB provided the text of the new prayers, which are shown below. Eucharistic Prayer I has not been changed, since St. Joseph was added to it in the 1960s. New additions are bolded.

Eucharistic Prayer IIHave mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints

Eucharistic Prayer IIIso that we may obtain an inheritance with your elect, especially with the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, with your blessed Apostles and glorious Martyrs(with Saint N.: the Saint of the day or Patron Saint)and with all the Saints

Eucharistic Prayer IVthat we may enter into a heavenly inheritance with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with blessed Joseph, her Spouse, and with your Apostles and Saints in your kingdom.

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Diverse Origins: The Nation’s 14 Largest Hispanic-Origin Groups

The nation’s Latino population is diverse. Represented among the 51.9 million Latinos in the United States are individuals who trace their heritage to more than 20 Spanish-speaking nations worldwide. But one group—Mexicans—dominates the nation’s Latino population.

In 2011, nearly two-thirds (64.6%) of U.S. Hispanics, or 33.5 million, traced their family origins to Mexico, according to Pew Research Center tabulations of the 2011 American Community Survey (ACS). By comparison, Puerto Ricans, the nation’s second largest Hispanic-origin group, number about 5 million and make up 9.5% of the total Hispanic population in the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Following Mexicans and Puerto Ricans are Salvadorans, Cubans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians, Spaniards, Hondurans, Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Nicaraguans, Venezuelans and Argentineans. Together these 14 groups make up 95% of the U.S. Hispanic population. Among them, six Hispanic origin groups have populations greater than 1 million.

Second miracle moves beloved Catholic pope toward sainthood

Pope John Paul II has moved a step closer to sainthood. A Vatican official says a commission of theologians approved a miracle attributed to his intercession, clearing a key hurdle. The case now goes to a commission of cardinals and then Pope Francis. John Paul’s canonization is possible in autumn to coincide with the 35th anniversary of his election, though the official said Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to reveal details about the case that it may be too soon.

The Polish-born pope has been on the fast track for sainthood ever since retired Pope Benedict XVI waived the traditional five-year waiting period and allowed the investigation into his life and virtues to begin just weeks after his 2005 death. John Paul was beatified in 2011.

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National Certification for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

NCCL has nationally certified one parish catechetical leader, Deborah Scopacasa, with others at the candidacy level. While the Alliance is working on a video that features all five member organizations, I wanted to share this video from the NFCYM as the thoughts and ideas expressed can be applied to parish catechetical leaders as well. It’s less than five (5) minutes and will give you some reasons why it’s

important for you to consider national certification. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eQbQdve2eY.

Pope Francis: The First 100 Days

There have been a plethora of writers, from both the Catholic and the public news media, who have assessed what we know about Pope Francis and his agenda from his first 100 days. Rather than choose any of these writers, the Knights of Columbus in their monthly magazine, “Columbia presents just a sampling of the pope’s words during the first months of his pontificate.” They have grouped the chosen quotes under these topics: On Following Christ, On the Christian Life, On Grace and Forgiveness, On the Truth of Man, On Evangelization, On Ministry and Service, and On Courage. You can form your own opinion as you read the chosen quotes by going to http://www.kofc.org/en/columbia/detail/2013_06_quotable_pope.html.

Catholics, Lutherans Jointly to Mark Reformation Anniversary

Senior Roman Catholic and Lutheran officials announced they would mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017 as a shared event rather than highlight the clash that split Western Christianity. The 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 Theses, the doctrinal challenge that launched the Protestant Reformation, will be the first centenary celebration in the age of ecumenism, globalization and the secularization of Western societies.

The Vatican and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) presented a report in Geneva admitting both were guilty of harming Christian unity in the past and describing a growing consensus between the two churches in recent decades. "The awareness is dawning on Lutherans and Catholics that the struggle of the 16th century is over," the report said. "The reasons for mutually condemning each other's faith have fallen by the wayside."

They now agree belief in Jesus unites them despite lingering differences, it said, and inspires them to cooperate more closely to proclaim the Gospel in increasingly pluralistic societies."This is a very important step in a healing process which we all need and we are all praying for," LWF General Secretary Martin Junge said. "The division of the church is something we cannot

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celebrate but we can see what is positive and try to find ways towards the future together," said Cardinal Kurt Koch, head of the Vatican's department to promote Christian unity.

Catholics and Lutherans began seeking theological common ground after the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council. They took a major step forward in 1999 by agreeing a common view on justification, the doctrine at the core of their 16th century dispute. At issue was whether Christians attained eternal salvation by faith alone or also by doing good works.

Both sides admitted in the 93-page report that they had often ridiculed each other's teachings in the past, sinning against the eighth commandment which bars giving false witness. To read the complete article, go to http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/17/us-vatican-lutheran-reformation-idUSBRE95G0LP20130617.

Pope: "Hypocrites Dont Have the Intelligence to Find God"

Pope Francis strongly condemned hypocrisy during his homily at Mass. Reflecting on Christ’s words in the Gospel of St. Matthew, the Holy Father compared the behavior of the scribes and

Pharisees with the Jesus’ instruction on the proper manner to behave when giving alms and praying. In their hypocrisy, the Pope said, the Pharisees “don’t have the intelligence to find God, to explain God with understanding, and so prevent themselves and others from entering into the Kingdom of God.”

“Jesus says: ‘You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to others.’ They are ethicists without goodness, they do not know what goodness is. But they are ethicists, aren’t they? ‘You have to do this, and this, and this . . .’ They fill you with precepts, but without goodness.

Pope Francis also noted another form of hypocrisy: those who use Christian piety to elevate themselves. “The Lord speaks about fasting, about prayer, about almsgiving: the three pillars of Christian piety, of interior conversion, that the Church proposes to us all in Lent,” the Holy Father said. “There are even hypocrites along this path, who make a show of fasting, of giving alms, of praying. I think that when hypocrisy reaches this point in the relation with God, we are coming very close to the sin against the Holy Spirit. These do not know beauty, they do not know love, these do not know the truth: they are small, cowardly.”

The 76 year old Pontiff also spoke candidly on hypocrisy within the Church and “how bad it makes all of us.” Pope Francis told the faithful that it is important to look at the example of the publican mentioned in the Gospel who prayed: “Have mercy on me, O Lord, a sinner.” The Holy Father concluded, “This is the prayer we should say every day, knowing that we are sinners but with concrete sins, not theoretical [sin].”

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“But all of us also have grace, the grace that comes from Jesus Christ: the grace of joy; the grace of magnanimity, of largesse. Hypocrites do not know what joy is, what largesse is, what magnanimity is.”

Sipping Lemonade : Dear Mom With a Prenatal Down Syndrome Diagnosis

Lauren Warner is a wife, writer, Texan and mama to 3 little ones. “I started this blog, http://sippinglemonade.com/, when my daughter was born with Down syndrome. Since then, this little space has become a place to celebrate all of life's little adventures.” - See more at http://sippinglemonade.com/

In her “letter” to the mom who has just received a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, Lauren adds, “And so it is with you.” And then the pivotal sentence of her

letter.

“But let me tell you — from one mother to another — those facts are not what it means to have a child with Down syndrome.”

And that is the remainder of her message—how what the mom will have been told will not necessarily apply to her child, but more importantly what those numbers and statistics and “facts” will have missed.

You can read her essay at http://sippinglemonade.com/dear-mom-with-a-prenatal-down-syndrome-diagnosis

Sharia Law in a Compassionate Society: Why Most Indonesians Want Sharia

This is an interesting and helpful commentary by Jennie S. Bev, author and syndicated columnist for “The Global Viewpoint” in Forbes Indonesia and the op-ed section of The Jakarta Post, on a recent Pew Research Report and some of its findings. The Executive Summary is available at http://tiny.cc/lqf3yw. Here are her opening paragraphs and a graph from the Report.

A Pew Research Center report titled The World’s Muslims: Religion, Politics, and Society published last month caused a stir in Indonesian media as it concluded that 72 percent of Muslim Indonesians, including women, prefer the implementation of sharia. The survey included 1,880 Indonesians in 19 provinces. So, what does the survey indicate?

The fact that a high percentage of Indonesians welcomed the implementation of sharia should not be alarming, considering the semantic differences in the use of the term sharia among Indonesians. These Pew survey results should not be taken as a sign of Indonesian society’s approval for what is often stereotyped as a legal system that enforces harsh

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corporal punishment, a strict Islamic dress code, and the public classification of non-Muslims.

Islam as a religion, a legal system, a culture, and a lifestyle means many things to many people. One person’s definition of sharia is not identical to another’s, even amongst scholars and religious leaders.

Pew: Third of Americans Now Own Tablets

Some 34% of U.S. adults now own a tablet computer, like an iPad, Samsung Galaxy or Amazon Kindle Fire, according to the latest numbers from the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

The number of Americans acquiring tablets is exploding. Just a year ago, only 18% owned tablets, according to Pew. In May 2010, just a month after the release of the iPad, about 3% owned tablets. (See chart below.)

According to Pew, certain demographic groups are more likely to own tablets:

– Those living in households earning at least $75,000 per year (56%), compared with lower income brackets

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– Adults ages 35-44 (49%), compared with younger and older adults– College graduates (49%), compared with adults with lower levels of education

The explosive growth of tablet ownership makes it solidly the second-most popular mobile e-reading device in the country, after smartphones. A little over half of U.S. adults now own smartphones. According to Pew data from late 2012, about one in five Americans owns a dedicated e-reader. This could affect how your deliver adult faith formation.

Pope Francis: "The Key To Prayer Is to Feel Loved by the Father"

When one prays, the Pope said, “we don't pray my Father, but our Father because we are not an only child, none of us are”. God the Father he continued, is a God who is very close to us and is not an anonymous of cosmic God.”

Regarding the prayer of the “Our Father” that Jesus taught to His disciples, the Holy Father explained that Christ also gives advice on how to pray. The Gospel of St. Matthew states: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” The Pope

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commented on Christ´s words, saying that "prayer is not a magical thing, there is no magic with prayer."

“Someone once told me that when he went to a "witch doctor" they said a lot of words to heal him. But that is pagan,” Pope Francis said. “Jesus teaches us that we should not turn to Him with so many words because He knows everything. The first word is ‘Father’; this is the key of prayer. Without saying, without feeling, that word you cannot pray".

"Father is a strong word but it opens the door,” the Pope stressed. “At the time of sacrifice, Isaac realized that something was wrong because he was missing a sheep, but he trusted his father and confided his worries to his father’s heart. “The key of every prayer is to feel loved by a father.” Pope Francis also emphasized the prayer´s focus on communion among all. The prayer states Our Father and not My Father, he said, “because I

am not an only child, none of us are, and if I cannot be a brother, I can hardly become a child of the Father, because He is a Father to all.”

Concluding his homily, the Holy Father stated that Our Father is a calling for the faithful to forgive others as God forgives us our sins. While acknowledging the difficulty in forgiving one's enemies, Pope Francis said that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, gives us the strength from the heart. “Today,” the Pope concluded, “we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us to say 'Father' and to be able to say 'our', and thus make peace with all our enemies."

Our Father, Who Art on Earth: The Lord's Prayer for Believers and Unbelievers

His poetic writing offers credence to his titles of priest, professor and acclaimed poet. This goes beyond the line by line distillation but he brings in other writers, cultural significance and references to both Old and New Testaments. It’s ideal for lectio divina and suggests that the author has engaged in this practice quite often in writing this book. You can order Our Father, Who Art on Earth: The Lord's Prayer for Believers and Unbelievers from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Prayer: Our Deepest Longing

The latest research indicates that engaged Catholics pray on a daily basis. This book might be a good way to encourage someone to take the next step. The book is divided into five sections.

1. Why Pray? Illustrates the purposes and benefits of prayer for ourselves, as well as for the broader Catholic community and even the world.

2. Why Is It so Hard? Notes how our contemporary culture conspires against taking time out for solitude and prayer, and how our own ego—with its fears, restlessness, and

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narcissism—can work against developing a deeper relationship with God through prayer.

3. What Is Prayer? Outlines the two basic types of prayer, that is, affective (personal) and priestly (for the world). This section also notes the many ways or methods for each type of prayer, such as meditation, contemplation, the divine office, the Mass, and Scripture.

4. Sticking with It When It Gets Hard. This section covers the development of mature prayer, discussing ways to pray in times of boredom, disillusionment, crisis, helplessness, or after a loved one’s death.

5. Mysticism. Here we learn about this increasingly popular form of intimate relationship with God.

There will be a leader’s guide for this book, making it an ideal resource for use with prayer groups, small faith. You can order Prayer: Our Deepest Longing from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours

For the average Catholic in the pew, there is little understanding about the Liturgy of the Hours and rarely does an invitation to participate on a Sunday afternoon include the insights that are contained in this book. This book walks you through the history, the purpose, and the benefits of adopting this most efficacious spiritual/religious habit. Daria has one of the most comprehensive lists of resources for praying the Liturgy of the Hours (LOTH) that I have come across; printed options, on-line options, smartphone/tablet options, replete with

all the sources, estimated prices and web addresses. The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours can be ordered form the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Dear God, I Don't Get It

This is an interesting book that I feel many 10-12 year olds would enjoy; I know I did. In full disclosure this story takes place in Bismarck, ND where I grew up and I have been to all the places mentioned in the book which might have made it more intriguing to me. I did appreciate that the book grapples with the issue of

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prayer and how God listens and answers or doesn’t answer them. However, this is what one mother wrote about the effect of the book on her son.

My 11 year old son absolutely LOVED this book. He read this book TWICE in just a few days’ time. In his own words, "The book is AWESOME and I LOVE it! Every time I read it I get worried for Aaron. Fantastic....Enriching....Hilarious!" …Shortly after reading the book, my son jumped out of our car at the store to help a lady put her groceries in her car. Since he had never done that before, I asked why he did it. He said it was because it reminded him of the book!

You can order Dear God, I Don't Get It from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Superman Takes A Deliberate Christ-Like Turn In New Film

The movie, Man of Steel, is chock-full of messianic imagery and the Warner Bros. publicity machine is pitching directly to a Christian audience. Warner Bros. has used a clever marketing strategy to sell movie tickets to Christian audiences. This includes a special Christian-themed trailer, holding screenings for clergy and creating a website complete with sermons to help pastors teach positive messages from the film if they find themselves with writer's block on Saturday evening. The 3 ½ minute piece ends with the question, “Is it OK to compare Superman to Jesus?” Here’s the website with sermon outlines http://manofsteelresources.com/

and here is the link to the radio program.http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=194330396&m=194332654.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving: Friendship and Loyalty

Opera meets pop when 17-year-old Jonathan and 16-year-old Charlotte sing together.

Jonathan & Charlotte performing The Prayer live on the Britain's Got Talent Final 12th May 2012.

Charice & The Canadian Tenors Perform a Heavenly Version of The Prayer

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"The Prayer" is a beautiful song and many people have performed it, but when Charice and the Canadian Tenors come together to sing, something magical happens.

Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBz-94idmQg

Stephen Colbert Remembers His Mother's Gifts of Faith, Gratitude, and Family

Stephen Colbert's moving tribute to his mother Lorna has touched many of us this week. It is very touching and if your mom is still living, might prompt a visit or phone call. Not to be overlooked are his insights into his mother's Roman Catholic faith and her deeply held values. Find it at http://tinyurl.com/ks5ydja.

"She knew more than her share of tragedy — losing her brother and her husband and three of her sons. But her love for her family and her faith in God somehow gave her the strength not only to go on but to love life without bitterness, and to instill in all of us a gratitude for every day we have together."

At the close of the show, Colbert gave his mom one last tribute, fake fainting like she taught him. Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=qPJfpvw9Ubo.

How Wonder Works

This is an interesting essay from Aeon by Jesse Prinz. He provides an interesting perspective on the relationship of art, science and religion. While he does view religion from a pragmatic viewpoint, he does acknowledge the importance of its role in art and wonder. He shares two interesting experiments and offers an insight into the relationship between Fear of the Lord and Awe and Wonder. You can read the 2600 word essay at http://tiny.cc/p162yw.

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

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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?

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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.

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

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