Catholic Coalition on Preaching: National Preaching Conference

by Rev. Eugene F. Lauer

Mission Statement of the CCOP: The Catholic Coalition on Preaching recognizes the primary importance of preaching in the Catholic Church and seeks to promote and energize quality preaching in the United States.

When preparing for its first National Conference on Preaching in 1993, the Steering Committee of the Catholic Coalition on Preaching (CCOP) met with a great number of consultants in the preaching field. We will always remember the exhortation of Sr. Teresita Weind, SSNdeN, in one of those consultations: "K this is going to be a real conference on preaching, I hope that we're going to do a lot of preaching in it."

We do indeed. There are at least five major preaching events in the CCOP's conferences. A comment by a freelance NY journalist at the '93 Conference in Chicago confirmed the wisdom of doing a lot of preaching at the conferences: "I've heard enough good preaching in these past three days to carry me through the rest of the year." Listening to good preaching, sharing experiences of successful preaching, becoming acquainted with new preaching methods, engaging in discussions with experienced preachers and teachers of preaching, discovering programs and methodologies that one can "take home" to the local churches ­­ this is the "stuff" of which the CCOP National Conferences are made.

The next National Conference on Preaching, the CCOP's third, will be held in Cincinnati on September 2124, 1997. The conference theme is "Enkindle in us the Fire...," a focus on renewing a passion for the preaching ministry in the United States. It is most fitting that the "dean" of Catholic preaching in the U.S., Walter Burghardt, S.J., will give the first keynote address. (Walter was recently named one of the "twelve most effective preachers in the English­speaking world," according to the results of Baylor University's two year survey.) Through his "Preaching the Just Word" movement, he has attempted to enkindle a "fire in the belly" for preaching social justice. His topic will be: "Our Motivation to Preach: How Do We Keep the Fire Burning Within Us?"

Mary Catherine Hilkert, O.P., associate professor of theology at Notre Dame, will give the second keynote based on her recent book, Naming Grace. She maintains that one of the primary tasks of the preacher is to help the hearers recognize and nurture the graced moments, the touches of the Divine, that are already present in their lived experiences. Her keynote address is entitled: "Naming Grace: Preaching as an Act of Identifying the God Who is Already There."

Fourteen Special Interest Sessions will be offered at the conference. Marlene Halpin, O.P., will give some insights about "Preaching to Children." J. Glenn Murray, S.J., will explain how the Diocese of Cleveland is attempting to develop the preaching ministry through its "Diocesan Program for Promoting Preaching." Lay preacher Patricia Baumer will share her experiences in organizing this ministry in her session on " Initiating Programs of Lay Preaching." "A Special Relationship: Liturgical Music and Preaching" will be analyzed by well­known liturgical musician, Michael Joncas. The ten other Special Interest Sessions will include topics like "An Assessment Method for Preachers," "An Effective Use of Storytelling in Preaching," " Preaching to a Multi cultural Community," "Spirituality of the Preacher," "A Communications Method for Preparing a Homily," as well as sessions which will provide the opportunity for ongoing dialogue with the two keynote speakers.

CCOP hopes to influence the entire U.S. Church to acknowledge the primary importance of the preaching ministry in the overall mission of the Church

The Catholic Coalition on Preaching was formed in 1990 at a series of meetings in Washington, D.C., convened by Dominican Father John Burke, director of the National Institute for the Word of God. Ten national organizations took part in those founding sessions. Since then, the CCOP has grown to include sixteen member organizations. Many more will probably be added by the time of the third National Conference. All seminaries and theological schools in the U.S. have recently been invited to join.

The Coalition underwent a major reorganization in November of 1996, elected new officers and set broader goals. Franciscan Father Francis Tebbe was elected president and Dominican Sister Elizabeth Schaefer, vice­president. CCOP plans to broaden its activities beyond a biannual conference, and will begin to sponsor regional conferences, provide workshops for specific needs and perhaps set up preaching clusters in various regions throughout the country.

The ultimate goal of CCOP? It is not simply to help to improve Catholic preaching in the U.S., although this is certainly a major focus of the organization. More than this, CCOP hopes to influence the entire U.S. Church to acknowledge the primary importance of the preaching ministry in the overall mission of the Church.

Can we fashion an atmosphere in which, when the doorbell of the rectory rings and someone asks to see the pastor, the receptionist will no longer say, "No, he's not busy ­­ he's just working on his Sunday homily." Will we actually be able to provide an environment for preachers that will allow them to take quality time to prepare to preach and not feel guilty about the possibility that they may be neglecting "more important needs" in ministry! Join us at the third National Conference this Fall in Cincinnati, and help to make this dream into a reality.

The Reverend Eugene Lauer is a priest of the Diocese of Pittsburgh. H'e served as president of the CCOP from 199~1996. Fr. Lauer is currently on duty outside of his diocese serving as Director of The Center for Continuing Formation in Ministry at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.

NOCERCC MINISTRY

GIVING VOICE TO THE ENERGY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS IN THIS COUNTRY based on an interview with The Reverend Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M., President of NOCERCC

Mission Statement for NOCERCC: The National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy (NCERCC) is a network of diocesan and religious directors of presbyteral continuing education / formation. By keeping abreast of contemporary pastoral needs ant movements, and by sponsoring research on issues and concerns of the presbyterate, NOCERCC seeks to educate its constituencies, promote the ongoing formation of the presbyters, and motivate them toward more effective ministry in the Church.

Certainly an issue dedicated to organizations which directly promote and support the ministry of preaching must include a look into the ministry of the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy' But how exactly does the ministry of NOCERCC approach Christ's mission of preaching the Good News? Let's take a look at an organization which is vital not only to the presbyterate of our Church, but also vital to our entire Church.

NOCERCC, as its mission statement reveals, is a network of diocesan and religious directors of presbyteral continuing education and formation. National in its scope, NOCERCC strives to serve these directors in their work with the presbyterates of dioceses and of religious congregations. By continuing to maintain its long heritage and sound tradition of placing priority on person-to­person networking relationships, NOCERCC seeks to provide ways for the exchange of ideas, programs, models and information to facilitate the work of the local directors. Through its mission and ministry, NOCERCC is giving voice to the energy and life of priests in this country.

Background

In February 1973, the National Federation of Priest Councils called together Directors of Continuing Education at the University of Notre Dame. It was at this gathering that NOCERCC was founded. NOCERCC is the only national organization solely concerned with the continuing education and formation of the presbyterate of the Catholic Church in the United States.

Currently, the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy has 151 of the 176 dioceses, 1 Ukranian diocese and 66 religious provinces as full members. In addition, over 100 institutions, organizations and individuals are associate and affiliate members.

Structure

NOCERCC has its national office in Chicago with a network of directors who in turn have direct contact with the presbyterates of dioceses and religious congregations. The NOCERCC Board of Directors consists of representatives from thirteen regions of the country, two religious priests, and the three members of the Executive Committee (which consists of the President, Vice­President, and Secretary/Treasurer). The national office in Chicago is served by two full-time staff persons, the Executive Director, and an Administrative Assistant. Though the simplicity of the structure of NOCERCC is definitely noted as a strength, such a structure leads NOCERCC to depend heavily on its directors for the contact with the presbyterate of the country. The importance of the role of the directors has also been emphasized by one member who said, "It is very important that each director do his or her own PR to all priests and parishes in his or her diocese or religious community. We need to tell people who we are and what we offer."

The directors are appointed by their bishops or religious superiors. In general, the directors reflect and represent their constituents, and bring to NOCERCC issues that need to be addressed for the presbyterates of their dioceses or religious congregations.

The Challenge of NOCERCC

To speak of the challenge of NOCERCC, we must first speak of the challenges to the presbyterate with whom they are dealing. The presbyterate of the Church today is facing many different challenges, some of which certainly arise from the decline in priestly vocations. Priests are being asked to fulfill many diverse functions, and are in turn, functioning in many different roles at one time. Their needs are therefore varied, diverse, and continuous, with the ongoing challenge of being prepared for what they encounter in their everyday ministries. From all of this arises the questions that most priests are asking themselves daily: "How can I find time? How do I divide my time, delegate my responsibilities, empower others, so that I might find the time to do things which are important to me ­ such as preaching?"

Priests are being asked to fulfill many diverse functions, and are in turn functioning in many different roles at one time. Their needs are therefore varied, diverse, and continuous, with the ongoing challenge of being prepared for what they encounter in their everyday ministries.

NOCERCC attempts to deal with such issues and concerns. Ironically, the priests who are filling the role of directors for NOCERCC come directly from such a position that they too are functioning in many different capacities. Rarely is the case that the priest's only job is as a director of continuing education in a diocese or religious congregation. The more common situation is that the same priest is also assigned to a parish, an institution, a chaplaincy, or some other ministry, and therefore has many additional obligations and responsibilities.

How exactly is NOCERCC attempting to answer such demanding and challenging questions and provide the support system that the presbyterate desperately needs? Let's take a look further into NOCERCC, specifically at some of the programs which they offer to directors of continuing education and formation for implementation in dioceses and religious congregations.

Current Programs and Projects

An exciting and revitalizing program created by NOCERCC is a convocation entitled Renewing Priestly Identity. The three day convocation, designed for the bishop and priests of a diocese, or the provincial and members of a community, is administered directly by NOCERCC. The facilitators of the convocation are two trained NOCERCC members. Through presentations, reflections, and dialogue, participants are able to get in touch with their own images of priesthood and with those of other priests, be more accepting of a richer variety of images, experience a deeper meaning of priesthood, and have a greater sense of self­esteem and belonging to the priesthood. Because of this time together, the bishop and priests, or the provincial and community members, are enabled to speak with each other more openly and frankly. The convocation also allows them to be able to share ideas about priesthood, to experience a renewed sense of their evangelical mission, and to have more energy as well as a deeper vitality in their life and ministry.

Another project currently underway began with a conversation between NOCERCC and the Seminary Department of NCEA on yet another issue of critical importance facing the presbyterate today ­ how to work toward a more comprehensive priestly formation. From that meeting came the possibility of enhancing mentoring programs that are in place as well as examining why priests leave during the first five years after ordination. In addition, NOCERCC is exploring the idea of designing curricula for the major transition moments in the life of a priest. Consistency is needed between the formation and education received in the seminary and the actual day to day life of the priest. An established curricula could help make the transition between seminary formation and life after ordination smoother and more effective, as well as address the concerns of the priests as they arise.

The most recent project of NOCERCC, soon to be available for distribution, is a print and video resource entitled Priestly Relationships: Freedom through Boundaries. This valuable resource is designed to help priests grow in their understanding of intimacy, sexuality, and boundary issues. Consisting of two articles (to be used as preparatory materials), a 30 minute video and a program guide, this resource addresses ministerial and social situations with priests in six vignettes. NOCERCC believes that this resource can be a proactive response to an educational need among thousands of priests, bishops and seminarians. Likewise, Freedom through Boundaries will help priests deepen their self-knowledge and assist them in forming healthy relationships with others.

The programs and projects of NOCERCC are used to promote the ongoing formation of the presbyterate, and because of the varied needs of the presbyterate, the programs must be diverse in themselves. In addition to those programs mentioned at length, NOCERCC has also done many other programs, such as preaching workshops and the Shepherd's Care Project, which examines the role of the pastor.

The issues and concerns which exist for the presbyterate cannot be ignored or pushed aside, precisely because they directly affect their ministry, and in fact, the Church as a whole

Continued in Part 2...