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NALM News and Notes June – August 2016 Page 1
NALM NEWS AND NOTES June - August 2016
Welcome to the summer edition of the NALM News and Notes, the monthly communication tool of the National Association for Lay Ministry. Every month you will receive a blog-style newsletter, highlighting information that we hope will be useful to you as a lay minister.
A Message from the Chair — Mark Erdosy
“Up, up, and away, my beautiful, my beautiful balloon” wasn’t just a song the 5th Dimension recorded in 1967. It was how Msgr. Ray East began his closing keynote at our Annual Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque, NM. Albuquerque is known as the balloon capital of the world. With that as a backdrop, Albuquerque was the perfect setting for NALM to begin its 40th anniversary celebration that will culminate at our annual conference in May 2017. Our opening keynote speaker, Diana Macalintal, encouraged NALM to be bold and creative and reminded us that we have a long history of being bold and creative. Some examples of our boldness and creativity include:
Assisting in developing the USCCB’s resource, “Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord”
The Emerging Models Project, funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc. and directed by Dr. Marti Jewell. In April 2008, NALM collaborated with several other national organizations to sponsor the National Ministry Summit in Orlando, FL
Developing Certification Standards and competency-based standards.
The Alliance, which is a joint effort of national lay associations where NALM has provided key leadership in its development and ongoing operations. Past Chair Carol Walters serves as the convener of the Alliance.
NALM’s leadership for the USCCB Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit As we move into a yearlong celebration of our 40th Anniversary, our future looks bright thanks to the hard work of so many members who continue make NALM great. As we revisit our mission, vision, and values, examine new ways to be of greater service to the Church and our members, and continue to network with other national organizations, we will continue to boldly and creatively engage the world in a positive way. Paraphrasing the closing line of President Kennedy’s inaugural speech, “Let us go forth to lead the Church we love, asking God’s blessing and God’s help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.” Amen.
Mark
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NALM 2016 Conference SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS: NALM AT 40
Called to Serve, Collaborate, Dream
The NALM 2016 Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Albuquerque, New Mexico was a big success! A number of pieces are shared below to give you a sense of the conference if you were unable to attend and a chance to relive the memories and insights gained if you were in Albuquerque. Enjoy!
2016 Summary ~ The Institute for Lay Ministry Formation Directors The Way of the Apostle: Human Formation through Collaboration was facilitated by Fr. Frank Donio (Director of the Catholic Apostolate Centre and Provincial Rector of the Immaculate Conception Province of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate) and Barbara Humphrey McCrabb (Assistant Director for Higher Education in the Secretariat of Catholic Education at the USCCB). As a collaborative team these dynamic presenters shared from their rich experience of collaboration in ministry and their ongoing learning about the human and spiritual formation needed to assist those in formation to grow in collaboration with God and neighbor. Modelling openness to the Spirit working through their shared ministry, Fr. Frank and Barbara invited participants to share their stories of call with one another and to notice the diverse yet harmonious actions of the Holy Spirit in this openness to one another. READ MORE
2016 Summary ~ The Institute for Parish Life Leaders/Business Managers Fr. Allan Deck, SJ and Cecile Motus facilitated a two-day Intercultural Competency pre-conference workshop at the National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM) conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico in June 2016. Both Fr. Deck and Ms. Motus served in various roles for the Secratriat for Cultural Diversity of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The workshop was built around two documents published through the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity and currently available from the USCCB: 1) Building Intercultural Competence for Ministers; and 2) Best Practices in Shared Parishes, http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/cultural-diversity/. These publications, along with Pope Francis’s more recent teachings, frame cultural diversity in terms of evangelization in that our Catholic culture should be one of ENCOUNTER. READ MORE
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Opening Keynote: The Bold and the Bountiful: A Bird’s-Eye View at 40 Diana Macalintal, Director of Worship for the Diocese of San Jose, CA and Co-founder of TeamRCIA.com
Soaring to new heights gives us a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It also comes with a great responsibility to act upon what we see beyond our usual ground-level perspective. In this fortieth year of bounty, let’s take a bird’s-eye view of lay ministry in our United States church. What has been our landscape so far? What looms on the horizon? And what choices can we make today to inspire others to see the breadth of possibilities ahead? Together let’s celebrate the blessings of what has been and take a bold leap of faith into what the Spirit has in store. Diana Macalintal provided an energetic, uplifting presentation to members as the opening keynote speaker. She used the liturgical dual motion of looking at where we’ve been and where we’re going, as what we do in every liturgy to call to mind how God has been with us and has blessed us, and for that we give praise to God. This calling to mind and remembering, anamnesis, is more than just bringing up memories like looking at old photos. Instead, it is memorial – a kind of remembering that makes present now the mighty deeds that God has done in the past. Little by little, step by step, on this journey to the kingdom, we remember the future. We first have to know who we are today, because how we understand ourselves now shapes how we remember the past. READ MORE
Closing Keynote: Msgr. Ray East Msgr. Ray East from the Archdiocese of Washington DC is a national-known inspirational speaker. He is pastor of St. Therese of Avila parish in southwest Washington, a vibrant African American Catholic community. As his introduction, Msgr. East invited all of us to step into the NALM gondola to the tune of “Up, Up and Away” (The 5th Dimension, 1967) which energized the audience for his presentation. His opening idea of a “TED” talk—Theology, Evangelization, Discipleship –
was the model he chose for his presentation. Using a balloon metaphor, Msgr. East addressed being in Albuquerque, in the midst of the desert, home of the balloon ride, “it’s a great place for introspection and pondering mission” in contrast to Jesus’ view of geography by the sea. Msgr. East encouraged us to work together to sew our balloon, creating those bonds of relationship in ministry. The gospel of Jesus has formed our balloon: faith for justice, richness in diversity, collaboration in ministry and the colors of our balloon come from our life experience of lay ministries. After being sewn together through ministry in the Church, the balloon is wrapped up then taken to the site, Albuquerque, with its special geography - mountains, climate of cool in the morning, stillness before dawn. As we light the fire of the gondola, then air is filled. The fire heats the balloon, it rises, and the
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wind current takes it over, moving it northward. Let out the air, and another current moves it southward. So as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of NALM, where are we after 40 years? Rising and ascending? Moving with the wind of the Holy Spirit? Falling? Honoring the past? READ MORE
NALM Business Meeting – June 3, 2016 The annual NALM Business Meeting began with an organizational overview presented by outgoing Board Chair, Carol Walters. Carol reported the following items:
The 2015/16 Annual Appeal exceeded the budgeted amount by 25%.
Three scholarships for Conference attendance were awarded from the Sister Florita Rodman Scholarship Fund.
After clean-up of the membership roles, there are approximately 600 active members in the organization with the heaviest concentration of membership from states bordering the Great Lakes.
The pilgrimage to the Holy Land was a great success with 26 pilgrims.
Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, NALM will be the first of the Alliance partners to translate the national certification documents pertaining to pastoral associates and parish life coordinators into Spanish.
The NALM website is being completely overhauled, with a new home page now live. Over the course of the upcoming months, all aspects of the website will be modernized and will be optimized for use on mobile devices. The Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership website is now incorporated into the new NALM website, with all documents now available. In addition, the Co-Workers website will be incorporated in the near future.
Carol thanked the Board for its efforts and singled out Maureen Cetera in the NALM office for her dedication and hard work. NALM Treasurer, Kathy Barkdull, presented the Annual Financial Report, highlighting the increases in income from membership and the Annual Appeal. Outgoing Board member, Jerry Tortorella, highlighted the Regional Representatives and Board member, Mark Hoggard, highlighted new initiatives of the Membership Committee designed to increase and retain NALM members. These include automatic renewal of dues for members who pay by credit card and automatic monthly credit card payments of $16.25 for Sustaining Memberships. Development Committee Chair, James Hickey, noted that the 2016/17 Annual Appeal was off to a good start with $5300 collected in donations and pledges so far. The Business Meeting concluded with the commissioning of the 2016/17 Board and Executive Officers:
Nelsa Elias, Diocese of Brooklyn
Carol Walters, Archdiocese of Chicago, Immediate Past Board Chair
David Amico, Diocese of Albany
Linda Cunha-Ricchio, Diocese of San Jose, Board Vice Chair
Mark Erdosy, Marian University, Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Board Chair
Kathy Bardull, Board Treasurer
Mark Hoggard, Diocese of Richmond, Board Secretary
Bridget Klawitter, Archdiocese of Milwaukee
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NALM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE “Up, up and away in our beautiful balloon”
Prior to the annual conference the Development Committee issued a challenge to NALM membership and especially those who attended the conference to become Charter Donors. This challenge was soundly answered by about 30 of our members. Please check out the list of our Charter Donors, those who have climbed aboard our Gondola and are soaring with NALM to new heights.
The 2016 Annual Fund has a goal of $10,000. Thank you to those of you who have made gifts in the amount of $5,300! NALM is already soaring to a new height!
Our Annual Fund drive is now launched successfully! This fall, you will receive the Annual Appeal letter asking the support of EVERY member. Please prayerfully and seriously consider how you can join our Charter Donors in helping NALM to continue soaring. Be a supporting member celebrating NALM’s 40th anniversary! Join us in our Gondola and come soar with us!
2016 CHARTER DONORS David Amico
Barbara Antrom Kathy Barkdull
Cecelia Bennett Jean Bussemeir Maureen Cetera
Linda Cunha-Ricchio Michael Davis Msgr. Ray East
Nelsa Elias Mark Erdosy
Kelly Fanning Nancy Ferrari Kathy Haag
James Hickey Mark Hoggard
Bridget Klawitter Mary Ellen Knuth Sr. Diane Koorie Fr. Joseph Merkt
Susan Cook-Northway Victoria Otto
John Reid William Sadlier
Elizabeth Simcoe Gerald Tortorella Maria Tororella Frank Villaronga
Carol Walters Sr. Rita Wigginton Anita Willoughby
Chrissy Zaker
2016 CONFERENCE: ROVING PHOTOGRAPHER
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SAVE THE DATE!
Join us in Indianapolis, IN, June 1-3, 2017, for NALM's 41st Annual Conference
"Joy on the Journey: Serve. Collaborate. Dream." Come back to the crossroads of America and help NALM close its 40th Anniversary celebration!
Where: Hyatt Regency-Downtown Pre-Conference: begins May 31 Watch the NALM homepage and your email for more information in the coming months!
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, who is called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, "Peace to you," grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples of the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all.
St. Pope John XXIII
NALM News and Notes Submission Procedure We would love to receive your feedback! Do you have a piece of news, committee report, or interesting article that you would like to share with your lay ministry colleagues in the National Association for Lay Ministry? Do you know a NALM member doing something noteworthy in ministry to share with the membership? If so, please submit articles or information by the 22nd of each month to Bridget Klawitter at [email protected].