December 2, 2013, Volume VII, Number 48

FEAST OF BLESSED RAFAL CHYLINSKIMonday of the First Week of Advent, December 2, 2013

Feast of Saint Francis Xavier – Tuesday, December 3, 2013Feast of Saint John Damascene – Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Feast of Saint Nicholas – Friday, December 6, 2013Feast of Saint Ambrose – Saturday, December 7, 2013

Question of the WeekFor the Second Sunday of Advent, December 8, 2013“Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.” What can be found in your harvest of repentance? What will your harvest yield? Is your basket full of prayer and good deeds? Will forgiveness and mercy be plentiful? Will there be more than a sprinkling of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy? Will there be an abundance of virtue – both theological and the cardinal?

Collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious– December 7 & 8

NCCL News

Papal Intentions for December

General: That children who are victims of abandonment or violence may find the love and protection they need.

Mission: That Christians, enlightened by the Word incarnate, may prepare humanity for the Savior’s coming.

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Saint Louis – the Site of NCCL 2014

Take a ride with Jonathan Sullivan and check out this video Meet Me in St. Louis.

For more information on the speakers, hotel and the conference itself, go to www.NCCL.us.

Save Me a Place NOW!

Synopsis of the Apostolic Exhortation 'Evangelii Gaudium'

The following is a brief synopsis created by Zenit.org of Evangelii Gaudium, the first Apostolic Exhortation written by Pope Francis. You are encouraged to read the entire document which can be downloaded as a PDF from the Vatican website. Please click here for the Evangelii Gaudium. Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor-at-large of National Review Online and a nationally syndicated columnist, examines Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation "Evangelli Gaudium" ("The Joy of the Gospel") and looks beyond the headlines and sound bites to the true depths of the Holy Father's message: We must say "yes" to Christ so that we are renewed by our encounter with Him and thereby bring His light to all the corners of the world. Read Kathryn’s examination at Catholic Pulse .

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The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Thus begins the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, by which Pope Francis develops the theme of the proclamation of the Gospel in the contemporary world, drawn from, among other sources, the contribution of the work of the Synod held in the Vatican, from 7 to 28 October 2012, on the theme The new evangelization for the transmission of the faith. I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come (1). It is a heartfelt appeal to all baptized persons to bring Christ’s love to

others, permanently in a state of mission (25), conquering the great danger in today’s world, that of an individualist desolation and anguish (2).

The Pope invites the reader to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, finding new avenues and new paths of creativity, without enclosing Jesus in dull categories (11). There is a need for a pastoral and missionary conversion, which cannot leave things as they presently are (25) and a renewal of ecclesiastical structures to enable them to become more mission-oriented (27). The Pontiff also considers a conversion of the papacy to help make this ministry more faithful to the meaning which Jesus Christ wished to give it and to the present needs of evangelization. The

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hope that the Episcopal Conferences might contribute to the concrete realization of the collegial spirit, he states, has not been fully realized (32). A sound decentralization is necessary (16). In this renewal, the Church should not be afraid to re-examine certain customs not directly connected to the heart of the Gospel, even some of which have deep historical roots (43).

A sign of Gods openness is that our church doors should always be open so that those who seek God will not find a closed door; nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason. The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness (47). He repeats that he prefers a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church concerned with being at the centre and then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us it is the fact that many of our brothers and sisters are living without the friendship of Jesus Christ (49).

The Pope indicates the temptations which affect pastoral workers (77): individualism, a crisis of identity and a cooling of fervor (78). The greatest threat of all is the grey pragmatism of the daily life of the Church, in which all appears to proceed normally, which in reality faith is wearing down (83). He warns against defeatism (84), urging Christians to be signs of hope (86), bringing about a revolution of tenderness (88). It is necessary to seek refuge from the spirituality of well-being detached from responsibility for our brothers and sisters (90) and to vanquish the spiritual worldliness that consists of seeking not the Lords glory but human glory and well-being (93). The Pope speaks of the many who feel superior to others because they remain intransigently faithful to a particular Catholic style from the past whereby instead of evangelizing, one analyses and classifies others (94). And those who have an ostentatious preoccupation for the liturgy, for doctrine and for the Church’s prestige, but without any concern that the Gospel have a real impact on the needs of the people (95). This is a tremendous corruption disguised as a good God save us from a worldly Church with superficial spiritual and pastoral trappings! (97).

He appeals to ecclesial communities not to fall prey to envy and jealousy: How many wars take place within the people of God and in our different communities! (98). Whom are we going to evangelize if this is the way we act? (100). He highlights the need to promote the growth of the responsibility of the laity, often kept away from decision-making by an excessive clericalism (102). He adds that there is a need for still broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church, in particular in the various settings where important decisions are made (103). Demands that the legitimate rights of women be respected cannot be lightly evaded (104). The young should exercise greater leadership (106). With regard to the scarcity of vocations in many places, he emphasizes that seminaries cannot accept candidates on the basis of any motivation whatsoever (107).

With regard to the theme of inculturation, he remarks that Christianity does not have simply one cultural expression and that the face of the Church is varied (116). We cannot demand that peoples of every continent, in expressing their Christian faith, imitate modes of expression which European nations developed at a particular moment of their history (118). The Pope reiterates that underlying popular piety is an active evangelizing power (126) and encourages the research of theologians, reminding them however that the Church and theology exist to evangelize and urges them not to be content with a desk-bound theology (133).

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He focuses somewhat meticulously, on the homily, since many concerns have been expressed about this important ministry and we cannot simply ignore them (135). The homily should be brief and avoid taking on the semblance of a speech or a lecture (138); it should be a heart-to-heart communication and avoid purely moralistic or doctrinaire preaching (142). He highlights the importance of preparation: a preacher who does not prepare is not spiritual; he is dishonest and irresponsible (145). Preaching should always be positive in order always to offer hope and does not leave us trapped in negativity (159). The approach to the proclamation of the Gospel should have positive characteristics: approachability, readiness for dialogue, patience, a warmth and welcome, which is non-judgmental (165).

In relation to the challenges of the contemporary world, the Pope denounces the current economic system as unjust at its root (59). Such an economy kills because the law of the survival of the fittest prevails. The current culture of the disposable has created something new: the excluded are not the exploited but the outcast, the leftovers (53). A new tyranny is thus born, invisible and often virtual, of an autonomy of the market in which financial speculation and widespread corruption and self-serving tax-evasion reign (56). He also denounces attacks on religious freedom and the new persecutions directed against Christians. In many places the problem is more that of widespread indifference and relativism (61). The family, the Pope continues, is experiencing a profound cultural crisis. Reiterating the indispensable contribution of marriage to society (66), he underlines that the individualism of our postmodern and globalized era favors a lifestyle which distorts family bonds (67).

He re-emphasizes the profound connection between evangelization and human advancement (178) and the right of pastors to offer opinions on all that affects people’s lives (182). No one can demand that religion should be relegated to the inner sanctum of personal life, without a right to offer an opinion on events affecting society. He quotes John Paul II, who said that the Church cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice (183). For the Church, the option for the poor is primarily a theological category rather than a sociological one. This is why I want a Church that is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us (198). As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved no solution will be found for this worlds problems (202). Politics, although often denigrated, he affirms, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity. I beg the Lord to grant us more politicians who are genuinely disturbed by the lives of the poor! (205). He adds an admonition: Any Church community, if it believes it can forget about the poor, runs the risk of breaking down.

The Pope urges care for the weakest members of society: the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned and migrants, for whom the Pope exhorts a generous openness (210). He speaks about the victims of trafficking and new forms of slavery: This infamous network of crime is now well established in our cities, and many people have blood on their hands as a result of their comfortable and silent complicity (211). Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence (212). Among the vulnerable for whom the Church wishes to care with particular love and concern are unborn children, the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays efforts are made to deny them their human dignity (213). The Church cannot be expected to change her position on this question it is not progressive to try to resolve problems by eliminating a human life (214). The Pope makes an appeal for respect for all creation: we are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live (216).

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With regard to the theme of peace, the Pope affirms that a prophetic voice must be raised against attempts at false reconciliation to silence or appease the poor, while others refuse to renounce their privileges (218). For the construction of a society in peace, justice and fraternity he indicates four principles (221): Time is greater than space (222) means working slowly but surely, without being obsessed with immediate results (223). Unity prevails over conflict (226) means a diversified and life-giving unity (228). Realities are more important than ideas (231) means avoiding reducing politics or faith to rhetoric (232). The whole is greater than the part means bringing together globalization and localization (234).

Evangelization also involves the path of dialogue, the Pope continues, which opens the Church to collaboration with all political, social, religious and cultural spheres (238). Ecumenism is an indispensable path to evangelization. Mutual enrichment is important: we can learn so much from one another! For example in the dialogue with our Orthodox brothers and sisters, we Catholics have the opportunity to learn more about the meaning of Episcopal collegiality and their experience of synodality (246); dialogue and friendship with the children of Israel are part of the life of Jesus disciples (248); interreligious dialogue, which must be conducted clear and joyful in one’s own identity, is a necessary condition for peace in the world and does not obscure evangelization (250-251); in our times, our relationship with the followers of Islam has taken on great importance (252). The Pope humbly entreats those countries of Islamic tradition to guarantee religious freedom to Christians, also in light of the freedom which followers of Islam enjoy in Western countries! Faced with disconcerting episodes of violent fundamentalism he urges us to avoid hateful generalizations, for authentic Islam and the proper reading of the Koran are opposed to every form of violence (253). And against the attempt to private religions in some contexts, he affirms that the respect due to the agnostic or non-believing minority should not be arbitrarily imposed in a way that silences the convictions of the believing majority or ignores the wealth of religious traditions (255). He then repeats the importance of dialogue and alliance between believers and non-believers (257).

The final chapter is dedicated to spirit-filled evangelizers, who are those who are fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit and who have the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel with boldness (parrhesía) in every time and place, even when it meets with opposition (259). These are evangelizers who pray and work (262), in the knowledge that mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people (268): Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others (270). He explains: In our dealings with the world, we are told to give reasons for our hope, but not as an enemy who critiques and condemns (271). Only the person who feels happiness in seeking the good of others, in desiring their happiness, can be a missionary (272); if I can help at least one person to have a better life, that already justifies the offering of my life (274). The Pope urges us not to be discouraged before failure or scarce results, since fruitfulness is often invisible, elusive and unquantifiable; we must know only that our commitment is necessary (279). The exhortation concludes with a prayer to Mary, Mother of Evangelization. There is a Marian style to the Church’s work of evangelization. Whenever we look to Mary, we come to believe once again in the revolutionary nature of love and tenderness (288).

The final paragraph (288) concludes with this prayer to Mary, the model of evangelization.

Mary, Virgin and Mother,you who, moved by the Holy Spirit,

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welcomed the word of lifein the depths of your humble faith:as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One,help us to say our own “yes”to the urgent call, as pressing as ever,to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ’s presence, you brought joy to John the Baptist,making him exult in the womb of his mother.Brimming over with joy,you sang of the great things done by God.Standing at the foot of the crosswith unyielding faith,you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection, and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spiritso that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardor born of the resurrection,that we may bring to all the Gospel of lifewhich triumphs over death.Give us a holy courage to seek new paths,that the gift of unfading beautymay reach every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation,Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast,pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are, that she may never be closed in on herself or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

Star of the new evangelization, help us to bear radiant witness to communion,service, ardent and generous faith,justice and love of the poor,that the joy of the Gospelmay reach to the ends of the earth,illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel,wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us.

Amen. Alleluia! (288)

Responding to "The Joy of the Gospel"

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From the Editors of America magazine. “On Nov. 26, 2013, Pope Francis issued "Evangelii Gaudium" or ‘The Joy of the Gospel,’ his first extensive piece of writing as pope.

Below is a round up of news coverage and reflections on the apostolic exhortation.”

PODCAST: "The Francis Factor," November 27 America's Washington Front columnist John Carr analyzes Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation "Evangelii Gaudium."

"The Dignity of the Vulnerable," In All Things, Meghan J. Clark, November 27 “'I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting, and dirty because it has been out in the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and clinging to its own security' (49). Thus "Evangelium Gaudium" places the work of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development and Catholic Relief Services at the center of the church’s evangelization."

"On Our Pilgrim Way," In All Things, Amanda C. Osheim, November 27 "Through dialogue and each other we discern our personal and communal response to God. Francis indicates that all the baptized are “missionary disciples” and “agents of evangelization” (No. 120). Our graced response is our collective responsibility."

"Francis on the 'Joy of the Gospel'" : Pope lays out his vision for an evangelical church, Catholic News Service. November 26 "Pope Francis' voice is unmistakable in the 50,000-word document's relatively relaxed style—he writes that an "evangelizer must never look like someone who has just come back from a funeral!"—and its emphasis on some of his signature themes, including the dangers of economic globalization and "spiritual worldliness.""

"A New Vision for the Church ," In All Things, James Martin, S.J., November 26 "It seems that with each new homily, address, interview, general audience message and letter, Pope Francis is challenging himself—and us—with three questions, each of which flows naturally from the other: First, Why not look at things from a new perspective? Second, Why not be open to doing things in a new way?  And third, Why not have a new vision for the church?"

"Making All Things New and Beginning Again ," In All Things, Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., November 26 "One of the things most striking to me about "Evangelii Gaudium is what Pope Francis says about the contemporary phrase “the new evangelization.” Rather than emphasizing that evangelization, as such, needs to be made

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new, he redirects our attention to ourselves as individuals and a church to see that weare the ones who need to be made new or, as the pope’s namesake said eight-hundred-years before, it is we who need to begin again to serve the Lord God."

"Recasting the New Evangelization Framework in Light of the Poor : Early Highlights and Analysis of Evangellii Gaudium," Kevin Ahern (Daily Theology) "Whereas earlier texts on the new evangelization focused primarily on the problems posed by secularism, sexual immorality and the “dechristianization of Europe,” Francis hits hard on economic inequalities throughout the world. For him, it seems that it is economic inequality—not secularization—that is the major issue that the church is called to address."

VIDEO : Key points of "Evangellii Gaudium," Catholic News Service.

NCCL Annual Appeal Kick-Off – National Focus on Catechesis with Hispanics

2013 

Insuring that Catechesis with Hispanics is a National Priority

2013 was a momentous year for the recognition of catechesis with Hispanics within NCCL. With the acceptance of FCH as the first federation within NCCL, there was a recognition among other national organizations that FCH was the authentic voice for catechesis with Hispanics. As a result, an invitation to sit on the Planning Committee of Encuentro 2016 was offered by an official of USCCB. The NCCL Board of Directors met with María del Mar Muñoz-Visoso, executive director of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church, USCCB, who was also featured as the keynote for the FCH Pre-Conference in Cleveland, to understand the vision of the office and undertake a systemic collaborative approach in support of its goals.

NCCL applauds the work of diocesan offices and regional organizations that have promoted and advocated for catechesis with Hispanics. It is these pioneer efforts that have appropriately helped to move the needs of catechesis with Hispanics to the top of many agendas. NCCL, in conjunction with its Federation of Catechesis with Hispanics (FCH), seeks to insure that catechesis with Hispanics is a national priority. Understanding the importance of embracing the Church’s mission to welcome and serve the ever growing Hispanic population within the ranks of the American Catholic Church, NCCL seeks to raise funds to support participation in this aspect of our mission. Monies raised in the 2013 Annual Appeal will be dedicated to a national agenda that prioritizes the mission of catechesis with Hispanics in the following endeavors.

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Accept the invitation for two seats on the Planning Committee for Encuentro 2016 and assume the costs associated with full participation.

Attain membership in (National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors of Hispanic Ministry (NCADDHM), whose 2-fold nature incorporates catechesis, and to secure presentation spots at their annual conference, while inviting their participation in NCCL.

Promote Intercultural Competencies as essential in the competencies of nationally certified lay ecclesial ministers.

Initiate the assemblage and promotion of a group of experts to serve the national catechetical community in the area of catechesis with Hispanics.

GOAL: $6000

You can contribute on-line or by downloading and completing the Donation Form. Help us reach our goal before the end of 2013.

French Jesuit Priest Peter Faber To Be Made A Saint In December

Pierre Faber, a “Reformed” Jesuit priest whom Francis sees as a model figure, is to be proclaimed as saint before Christmas. The process followed for Faber’s canonization is called “equivalent canonization”. This is when the Pope omits the judicial process and ceremonies involved and orders a servant of God to be venerated in the Universal Church, when such a saint has been from a remote period the object of veneration, when his heroic virtues (or martyrdom) and miracles are related by reliable historians, and the fame of his miraculous intercession is uninterrupted. “Examples of this in recent history include John Paul II,

who decreed 3 such canonizations, Benedict XVI who decreed 1, the last of which was that of Angela da Foligno, confirmed last 9 October by Pope Francis,” Avvenire writes.

The process for his cause in the Congregation for the Causes of Saints is complete and now all that remains is for Francis to issue the Bull of Canonization that will proclaim the first companion of St. Ignatius a saint, extending the cult of the soon-to-be-saint to the Universal Church. Read more at Pierre Faber.

Pope Dedicates 2015 "Year of Consecrated Life"

Emphasizing the importance of the religious vocation, Pope Francis announced that the year 2015 will be dedicated to Consecrated Life. During the 82nd General Assembly of the Union of Superior Generals, the first questions to the Pope dealt with the mission and identity of consecrated life. “A radical approach is required of all Christians, but religious persons are called upon to follow the Lord in a special way: They are men

and woman who can awaken the world,” the Pope said.  

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“Consecrated life is prophecy. God asks us to fly the nest and to be sent to the frontiers of the world, avoiding the temptation to 'domesticate' them. This is the most concrete way of imitating the Lord.” While acknowledging that vocations in young Churches are “bearing fruit”, the Holy Father also stated that the Church itself must re-evaluate its “inculturation of charism.”

Citing the example of the Servant of God Matteo Ricci, Pope Francis told participants that the Church must ask “forgiveness for, and looking with shame upon, apostolic failures caused by misunderstandings in this field.” Ricci, a 17th century Jesuit priest, was one of the founders of the Jesuit Mission in China. “Intercultural dialogue must press for the introduction persons of various cultures, expressing different ways of living charism, in the governance of religious institutes,” the Pope stressed.

Regarding the formation of religious, the Holy Father called on the Union of Superior Generals to avoid all forms of hypocrisy and clericalism. Formation, he said, is not a watch dog but rather, “an artisanal craft.” “It’s aim is to form religious persons with a tender heart, not acid, not like vinegar. We are all sinners, but not corrupt. Sinners are to be accepted, but not the corrupt,” he said.

Before concluding the meeting, the Holy Father thanked participants for their years of service to the Church and announced 2015 as a Year dedicated to Consecrated Life. “Thank you for what you do and for your spirit of faith and your service,” he said. “Thank you for your witness and also for the humiliations through which you have had to pass.”

Pope Lauds Courageous Choices Of Modern Martyrs

In his daily homily, Pope Francis spoke of the faithfulness of God, highlighting the importance of trusting him with one’s life, and praising those who maintain this trust despite grave persecutions. “We think of so many mothers, of so many fathers of families, that everyday make definitive choices to go forward with their family, with their children,” the Pope expressed; adding that “this is a treasure for the Church.”

The Pope first spoke of the faith of the young Jewish men in the Book of Daniel who were slaves of King Nebuchadnezzar and who remained faithful to the Lord despite the king’s threats to kill them. Afterwards, he recalled how Jesus praised the trust of the poor widow in the Gospel who gave two small coins as an offering, saying that “those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

“Both of them - the widow and the youth - have risked something,” noted the Pontiff, “in their risk they chose the Lord, with a big heart, without personal interest, without pettiness.”

“They did not have a stingy attitude,” he stated, emphasizing that “the Lord, the Lord is everything. The Lord is God and they entrusted themselves to the Lord.” Making this act of trust was not done “out of a - permit me the word - fanatical intention, no,” explained the Pope, saying that instead, “They did it for a different reason: they have trusted, because they know the Lord is faithful.”

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Choosing to be faithful, the Pope continued, is equally important in both smallest and the most difficult situations, highlighting how throughout the history of the Church we see that there are “men, women, old, young, that make this choice.” Martyrs “live in our time,” he stressed, adding that “they are an example for us, and their example encourages us to commit all our lives for the treasure of the Church.” They afford us “Courage to go forward in our Christian life, in normal situations, common to all of us, of everyday and even in extreme situations.”

FREE Professional Development Webinar – THIS Tuesday, December 3, 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

is offered on Tuesday, December 3 at 3:00 pm EDT. You can register at PDW-12-3-2013. For a complete listing of professional development webinars in this series, please visit www.avemariaprss.com/webinars .

Tools for Rebuilding Your Parish

Presented by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran,Authors of Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter and Tools for Rebuilding: 75 Really, Really Practical Ways to Make Your Parish

BetterDate: December 3, 2013

Time: 3:00 p.m. EST

The process of rebuilding a parish often requires some very practical tools to make a church function smoothly. Little things can become big things and major distractions if we do not manage them correctly.

In this webinar, Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran, bestselling authors of Rebuilt and the new

book Tools for Rebuilding, will share some of the important tools that have been most instrumental in the transformation of their parish.

Additional Advent Resources

America Magazine is offering daily Scripture reflections from Dec. 1 until Christmas Eve, which will feature commentary by America staff members,

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including Jesuit Fathers James Martin and Raymond Schroth and Jesuit scholastic Luke Hansen. Sign up to receive the reflections by text or email.

Ignatian Resources for Advent – A listing of some online Advent resources in the tradition of Ignatian spirituality.

This simple and beautifully illustrated 2013 Advent Calendar, designed by Thomas Mousin and Merry Waters, provides a scripture reading to reflect on for each day of the season. You can also find more free Advent resources from ECF Vital Practices by clicking here.

Advent Activities - Jared Dees from Ave Maria’s The Religion Teacher indicates that “The Internet is loaded with advent activities of all sorts and kids. Check out the following links to help guide your way. Here are some general advent activity hubs on the web. These pages have other great resources to check out.” Some are repeats from last week and many others are new.

Top 5 Advent Songs – Last year Edward Hoyt published a piece on Faithworks for CRS on the Top Five Advent songs, but it was too late to publish, so here it is, if for no other reason, than for your own Advent reflection.

I once read liner notes to a Bob Marley album suggesting that “Waiting in Vain” was really about loving the wait.  Advent is full of that sort of paradox, when the special joy we have in knowing our waiting will not be in vain butts up against the zeal of the rush to Christmas and the accompanying wallpaper of Christmas music from mid-November on.  What is our rush, but a lack of faith — as if Christmas will get away from us if we don’t chase it down.

What to do?  Well, choosing our own playlist is a start, but the zeitgeist generally offers  us a total of about two Advent songs — “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Gabriel’s Message” (aka “The Angel Gabriel”).  Both are gorgeous and profound and rich parts of our church history, but a playlist of two will only take you so far. Here are some other songs to round out your Advent playlist.

“Halena Hesus” is a lilting and uplifting Filipino Advent song that will make for good company while preparing your home for Christmastime, gift wrapping — it captures the small joy of knowing the real joy is

coming.

“Advent Song” by Christine and John McIntosh is a neo-traditional chant that can accompany your prayer and meditation, speaking deeply to our longing in the darkness.

Need something to sing along to in traffic? Try “Waiting for Our Lord to Come” — a reassuring folk song with all vocals and instrumentation done here by Carrie Allwine.

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In the evening, as the early darkness shrouds your neighborhood and defiant candles start appearing in windows, we recommend “A A Reflective Time”

Need a cheerful song to sing at church on Guadete Sunday. Hurry up and teach your choir How Cheering is the Christian's Hope.

“How Cheering Is the Christian’s Hope.”How cheering is the Christian’s hope,While toiling here below!It buoys us up while passing throughThis wilderness of woe.It buoys us up while passing throughThis wilderness of woe.It points us to a land of rest,Where saints with Christ will reign;Where we shall meet the loved of earth,And never part again.Where we shall meet the loved of earth,And never part again.Fly, lingering moments, fly, O fly;Dear Savior, quickly come!We long to see Thee as Thou art,And reach that blissful shore.We long to see Thee as Thou art,And reach that blissful shore.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

On December 12, we honor Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of the Americas. Sadlier invites you to download a FREE prayer service and poster activity and celebrate this special day with your students.

Religious Americans Give More, New Study Finds

The more important religion is to a person, the more likely that person is to give to a charity of any kind, according to new research recently released. Among Americans who claim a

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religious affiliation, the study said, 65 percent give to charity. Among those who do not identify a religious creed, 56 percent make charitable gifts.

About 75 percent of people who frequently attend religious services gave to congregations, and 60 percent gave to religious charities or nonreligious ones. By comparison, fewer than half of people who said they didn’t attend faith services regularly supported any charity, even a secular one.

Among the findings:

• American households donated a median $375 to congregations, $150 to religiously identified nonprofits, and $250 to secular charities in 2012.

• Black Protestants, followed by Roman Catholics and Jews, were the most likely to give out of the desire to help the needy.

• The three most popular charitable causes for all households regardless of religious affiliation were, in descending order: basic social services, “combined purpose” organizations (like United Way), and health care.

The study also looked at how much money went not only to congregations but also to charities with religious identities but secular missions. It shows that religious giving is sweeping: Forty-one percent of all charitable gifts from households last year went to congregations, while 32 percent went to other nonprofits with a religious identity and 27 percent went to secular charities. The results of that piece of the study have an 8 percent margin of error. Learn more about Connected to Give: Faith Communities.

Six Habits of Highly Grateful People

Gratitude (and its sibling, appreciation) is the mental tool we use to remind ourselves of the good stuff. Jeremy Adam Smith, Web Editor of the Greater Good Science Center and a 2013 fellow with the Institute for Justice and Journalism, wrote this article. Here are some highlighted excerpts. If you care to read the full article, please go to Six Habits of Highly Grateful People.

1. Once in a while, they think about death and loss - when Araceli Friasa and colleagues asked people to visualize their own deaths, their gratitude measurably increased. Similarly, when Minkyung Koo and colleagues asked people to envision the sudden disappearance of their romantic partners from their lives, they became more grateful to their partners.

2. They take the time to smell the roses - Loyola University psychologist Fred Bryant finds that savoring positive experiences makes them stickier in your brain, and increases their benefits to your psyche—and the key, he argues, is expressing gratitude for the experience. That’s one of the ways appreciation and gratitude go hand in hand.

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3. They take the good things as gifts, not birthrights - The antidote to entitlement, argues Emmons, is to see that we did not create ourselves—we were created, if not by evolution, then by God; or if not by God, then by our parents. Likewise, we are never truly self-sufficient. Humans need other people to grow our food and heal our injuries; we need love, and for that we need family, partners, friends, and pets.

4. They’re grateful to people, not just things - Saying thanks to my son might make him happier and it can strengthen our emotional bond. Thanking the guy who makes my coffee can strengthen social bonds—in part by deepening our understanding of how we’re interconnected with other people. Saying ‘thank you’ to a person, your brain registers that something good has happened and that you are more richly enmeshed in a meaningful social community.

5. They mention the pancakes - The richest thank you’s will acknowledge intentions (“the pancakes you make when you see I’m hungry”) and costs (“you massage my feet after work even when you’re really tired”), and they’ll describe the value of benefits received (“you give me hugs when I’m sad so that I’ll feel better”).

6. They thank outside the box - We’re graduating from Basic to Advanced Gratitude, so pay attention. And since I myself am still working on Basic, I’ll turn once again to Dr. Emmons for guidance: “It’s easy to feel grateful for the good things. No one ‘feels’ grateful that he or she has lost a job or a home or good health or has taken a devastating hit on his or her retirement portfolio.” In such moments, he says, gratitude becomes a critical cognitive process—a way of thinking about the world that can help us turn disaster into a stepping stone. If we’re willing and able to look, he argues, we can find a reason to feel grateful even to people who have harmed us.

Tablet and Smartphone Boot Camp for Middle School Parents

Writing for GREATER GOOD: The Science of a Meaningful Life, Christine Carter writes about her belief “that tech devices are dramatically affecting our kids’ normal social, sexual, intellectual, and emotional development.” Her greatest concern is “how uninvolved we parents tend to be in the online lives of our middle schoolers.” Comparing the use of these devices (smartphones, tablets, and computers) to learning to drive a car. “Middle schoolers are not old enough (or developmentally ready) to have as much freedom online as they often do these days. . . . they need to know the rules.”

She suggests that “If your middle schooler seems to be spending more time on Facebook or texting than she is in-person with her friends, this boot camp is for you. Here are excerpts from her crash course. If you desire to read the complete article, please go to Technologies Boot Camp.

Step 1: Make it clear which SPACES are appropriate for device and computer use.

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Just because we can take a laptop into the bathroom does not mean that this is an appropriate thing to do. These are the places where it is typically NOT OKAY to use a computer, tablet, or smartphone:

● The car, unless it is planned for a long road trip● Bedrooms and bathrooms. If you think your middle schooler is mature enough to have a computer in his or her bedroom, read Catherine Steriner-Adair’s book The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age. This means that kids do homework in our house in public spaces, not in their bedrooms.)● Public spaces where others can overhear a conversation, like restaurants, school, or any place where someone is helping you, like in a check-out line at a store

Step 2: Identify appropriate TIMES to be on a device.

For example, here are some times when it is NOT appropriate in our household to be texting, snapchatting, Facebooking, playing an electronic game, emailing, etc:

● While they are doing homework. The ability to FOCUS (you know, do just one thing at a time) is a core life-skill that more and more of our kids are failing to develop.● During meals. Daily family meals actually ARE important to kids’ development● During bedtime routines. In the evening all devices can be set to their “do not disturb” setting and put in their chargers (iPhones and iPads can be set to do this automatically) a half hour before bedtime.

Step 3: Make it clear what is private, and what is not.

Here is the biggest ever newsflash for most seventh and eighth graders: They are not entitled to privacy in their texts, emails, Facebook or Instagram posts, etc. The computers, phones, and tablets they use are, in fact, owned by their school or their parents.

As such, schools and parents are accountable for everything that happens on them. Why? Two reasons. First, because everything that kids do online is much more public and permanent than they typically think. Make it clear what is private (their journal, for example, or their bedroom) and what is not: all online communications. The second reason that middle-schoolers are not entitled to privacy online is that kids usually behave differently—and by that I mean better—when they know that they are being watched by adults.

So collect your middle-schooler’s passwords, and USE THEM. Log in and read their posts and texts. (See Step 4 if you see something you don’t like.)

Step 4: Teach kids to seek help when things go awry—and have a plan yourself as a parent when they do.

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Inevitably, our kids will be spammed, flamed, and even bullied online or via email. And they may make major mistakes themselves that have deep consequences. First, be clear about what you see as bad online behavior, and establish clear consequences should that bad behavior come from your child.

Second, teach them that their how they respond when something goes wrong usually matters a lot, so their first response should be to get help from you or their school. Establish an “amnesty” policy with them so they feel they can seek adult help repairing any damage.

If you aren’t sure how you’ll respond when things go wrong, take the time to read the last couple of chapters of Steiner-Adair’s The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age. 

Step 5: Actively teach kids to use their devices and social media accounts as a force for good.

On balance these technologies are good. They represent progress, not the death and destruction of our youth. But kids need to be taught how to use these sophisticated tools to make them happier, and to make the world a better place. (For ideas about how to do that, see this post about How to use Facebook to Increase Your Happiness.)

Perhaps this goes without saying, but kids will do what we do, not what we tell them to do, so the most important part of this boot camp is probably modeling these behaviors. When we text our work colleagues during dinner, we teach our family that work is more important than them. When we check Facebook during a red light in the car, we teach our kids that boredom is intolerable, and that it is safe to be online while driving.

What is Gratitude?

Robert Emmons, perhaps the world’s leading scientific expert on gratitude, argues that gratitude has two key components. In a Greater Good essay, “Why Gratitude Is Good,” he lists the two components. If you care to read the entire essay, please go to What is Gratitude?

“First, it’s an affirmation of goodness. We affirm that there are good things in the world, gifts and benefits we’ve received.”In the second part of gratitude, he explains, “we recognize that the sources of this goodness are outside of ourselves. … We acknowledge that other people—or even higher powers, if you’re of a spiritual mindset—gave us many gifts, big and small, to help us achieve the goodness in our lives.”

GRATEFUL: A Love Song to the World

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Musicians Nimo Patel and Daniel Nahmod brought together dozens of people from around the world to create this beautiful, heart-opening melody. Inspired by the 21-Day Gratitude Challenge, the song is a celebration of our spirit and all that is a blessing in life. For the 21 Days, over 11,000 participants from 118 countries learned that “gratefulness” is a habit cultivated consciously and a muscle built over time. As a famous

Roman, Cicero, once said, “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” This soul-stirring music video, created within a week by a team of volunteers, shines the light on all the small things that make up the beautiful fabric of our lives. Watch/listen to Grateful For It All.

Shooting The Vaults Of Heaven

Craning your neck up to admire the ornate roofs of churches and cathedrals can be back-breaking work. But one photographer has made the experience a whole lot easier by creating panoramic shots that showcase the rich religious architecture across the world. Richard Silver, from Brooklyn, New York, travels around the world taking stunning photos since he gave up his job as a stockbroker and pursued the hobby full-time.

He has become an expert creating the awe-inspiring photos which features houses of worship including place such as New York, Mexico City, Budapest, Krakow, Cape Town and Goa. 'Being fascinated with the amount of work taken to decorate the ceilings of a church I came up with the notion to try and capture the ceiling photographically. It took me a few tries to figure out mechanically how to take the shots but now I have it down to a science.'

To create them Mr. Silver ensures that he finds the right spot to capture the building in all its glory for the 180 degree shot. It takes between six and 10 photographs to complete the masterpiece, which he expertly blends together in his studio using Photoshop. A programme called Lightroom allows him to bring out the vivid colours and detail of the stained glass windows. You can view some of his work at Exquisite Church Ceilings. You can visit Mr. Silver's website at www.richardsilverphoto.com

This Sick Little Boy Gets the Most Heartwarming Tribute

Antonio is a sick little boy. But, for one night, he was a movie star! See what his family and friends did to make him feel like the hero he really is! Watch Stand Up Antonio and Take a Bow.

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The Innovation of Loneliness

This is an interesting take on what social media is dong to us. Feel free to disagree but it did cause me to pause and think, especially since I have been wondering how it has become so important to be available 24/7. Watch The Innovation of Loneliness.

Fifth-Grade Football Team Stands Up For Bullied Waterboy

Earlier this month 6-year-old Danny Keefe, waterboy for the Bridgewater Badgers D5 Peewee football team, was bullied at school for wearing suits to class, and teased about his speech impediment. When his teammates heard about the bullying, they rallied around Danny and created 'Danny Appreciation Day'. Instead of ambushing the bully, they rallied for the victim. On

November 20th, the entire 'Band of Brothers' dressed up in suit and tie in support of Danny. Danny called it, 'the best day ever'. Check out Band of Brothers .

Angels Sing

Angels Sing is a family film about the power of Christmas to tie people together across generations. The star-studded cast includes

Harry Connick, Jr., Connie Britton, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson! It explores the important themes of spirit, joy and giving. Parish Publishing has worked with the team at Angels Sing to put together a group of free resources to help you create a discussion about Christmas in a new and different way. Please feel free to share Faith Sharing Resources ! Here’s the trailer for Angels Sing movie. You can purchase the Angels Sing DVD from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Christmas for a Dollar

America is in the midst of the Great Depression, and the Kamp family is struggling to get by. When the Kamp’s father William scrapes together a dollar in coins to use only for Christmas gifts, everything begins to change. As each member of the comes up with a special gift that costs little or no

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money to be given to another member of the family, the Kamps soon begin to see many of their dearest wishes come true.

You can order Christmas for a Dollar from Paulist Press.

Planning Ahead – Son of God Opens February 28, 2014

In the great commission we are all asked to share the Gospel... "Go into the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." As you may know, Mark and Roma responded to that call by making "The Bible" series and now have a brand new feature film to share with the world called Son of God. The movie is coming to theaters February 28, 2014. Watch the official trailer of Son of God. Cardinal Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington DC, writes "Son of

God is an engaging and compelling presentation of the story of Jesus, the Son of God among us. It is a joy to watch this film bring alive the pages of the gospel and help us see what those who lived at the time of Jesus experienced." The Official Website is www.SonofGodMovie.com

Interreligious Prayer

I have had the opportunity over the last few weeks to participate in, as well as listen to, several public services that invited different spiritual persons to lead those gathered in an invocation, a blessing before meals, or a benediction. In these pluralistic settings, I have often sensed the pain of exclusion rather than inclusion when the leaders of prayer invoked their God. Listening to the ceremony in Dallas on November 22, I felt proud when Bishop Kevin J. Farrell of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, led the invocation. The same inclusivity was expressed by a retired Protestant minister in the benediction.

As Thanksgiving approached and interreligious prayer services were announced, I wondered if there was any guidance for people who found

themselves called upon to lead prayer in an interreligious encounter. A dinner conversation led me to a book by Paulist Father Thomas Ryan. His book should be on any spiritual leader’s book shelf whose responsibilities include what Fr. Ryan calls the four different forms of interreligious prayer: “‘just being there,’ multireligious prayer, integrative religious prayer, and leadership of prayer at a multifaith gathering.” This book is extremely practical and helpful. You can purchase Interreligious Prayer: A Christian Guide from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

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The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call

In The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call, Ralph Martin explains:• It's not just a churchy buzzword• It's not just for priests and missionaries to carry out• YOU and every individual Catholic play a role• It is literally a matter of life or death for everyone in your life• And… it's not as hard as you thinkYou can purchase The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call

from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Edition

These simple to use exercises include worksheets, memory games, Bible studies, and more. They require little preparation and are designed to supplement any catechetical text or program for children in grades 1 through 8.

You can order 100 Activities Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Edition from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution

This book is FILLED with statistics, stories, and information about what is happening to Christians throughout the world. The persecution of Christians is increasing and it is important that we recognize what is happening because it is often under reported by the press. This is the opening paragraph from the Introduction.

"This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early twenty-first century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even

happening: the global war on Christians. We're not talking about a metaphorical 'war on religion' in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it's okay to erect a nativity scene on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment, and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence."

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You can purchase The Global War on Christians: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Anti-Christian Persecution from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Gifts of the Heart

I am a Patricia Polacco fan. She swears her stories are true which you can accept that “all stories are true and some of them actually happened.” Nevertheless, they teach fine lessons and her artwork is wonderful.

This is reminiscent of one of my favorite Christmas books that she wrote, AN Orange for Frankie. You can purchase Gifts of the Heart from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore. Don’t forget to check out all the Children’s Christmas

books.

The Miracle of St. Nicholas

This book is both a parable about the incarnation as well as a true picture of lie in Russia over 70 years ago. The iconographic illustrations are nearly divine, originally painted using egg tempra (the paint which is traditionally used for iconic art), they evoke a sense of the Russian Orthodox.

You can purchase The Miracle of St. Nicholas from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Other books on Saint Nicholas

The Baker's Dozen The Legend of Saint Nicholas Saint Nicholas The Legend of St. Nicholas Aaron Shepard, Wen... Demi Julie Stiegemeyer,... Dandi Daley Mackal...

A Phenomenal Llama: A Tall Christmas Tale for Children of All Ages

This is a story that makes one think that Christmas is more than the reindeer and Santa, or the same annual Christmas pageant as is presented each year. It takes a llama to explain that every person, every creature is a part of a far greater plan as God sent his Son on that first Christmas morning. "O" plays a big role in unveiling the wonder of that first Christmas night. You can

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purchase A Phenomenal Llama: A Tall Christmas Tale for Children of All Ages from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber

Christmas From Heaven conveys the historical significance of Lt. Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet blockaded Berlin. Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" or "The Candy Bomber." Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen's small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to the German children in a bombed-out city but to all those

who yearned for freedom. It showed everyone in the midst of a war what the true spirit of Christmas looks like.

With the addition of a DVD recording, you get to choose between either simply reading the wonderful book, Christmas From Heaven or watching it being narrated by Tom Brokaw along with musical accompaniment from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. You can order Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber [With CD (Audio)] from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

An Angel's Christmas

“The Angel’s Christmas” is the story of the true meaning of Christmas. An awkward young angel named Simon discovers his special gift while finding a meaningful place among the other angels.  As Simon retells the story they all know so well he also finds his place in the greatest story of all time.

You can purchase An Angel's Christmas from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

A Little Humor – Kyds Explaining Thanksgiving

After celebrating Thanksgiving with their families, these children explained what the holiday was all about. Enjoy The Story of . . . Thanksgiving.

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20 Things We Should Really Say More Often

Kid President shares 20 things we should really be saying more in our lives. Not only would we feel better, but we'd make others feel better, too. Try some of these out yourself.

Here is 20 Things We Should Say More Often.

Don’t Forget Walter Bonam’s Request

Whenever you read a book that you believe would be of interest to another catechetical leader, remember that “Amazon and Barnes & Noble both give online customers the option of clicking to notify the publisher of a given book that they would like to have it available in e-book form.” Walter can only read books in e-book form. He’s a colleague in ministry and an NCCL member. Please do your part. Initial request appeared in CL Weekly for January 14, 2013. Diocesan newspaper story available at

http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/parks-home/402-life-changing-event-has-brought-its-own-miracles.

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 Cleveland, the NCCL Bookstore sold over fifteen (15) 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)

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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.

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“FOLLOW” us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NCCLonline – What’s going on in your catechetical environment?

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Closing Thoughts

With Thanksgiving over and Christmas approaching, this video about reunions seems appropriate. The sentiment is real and the search might be worthwhile. The India-Pakistan partition in 1947 separated many friends and families overnight. A granddaughter in India decides to surprise her grandfather on his birthday by reuniting him with his childhood friend (who is now in Pakistan)

after over 6 decades of separation, with a little help from Google Search. Check it out at Reunion.

Blessed John Henry Newman, The Great 19th Century English Cardinal And Teacher

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They watch for Christ who are sensitive, eager, apprehensive in mind,who are awake, alive, quick-sighted, zealous in honoring him,who look for him in all that happens, and who would not be surprised,who would not be over-agitated or overwhelmed,if they found that he was coming at once…This then is to watch: to be detached from what is present,and to live in what is unseen;to live in the thought of Christ as he came once,and as he will come again; to desire his second coming,from our affectionate and grateful remembrance of his first.

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