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Easter 1997 Cont...
Feedback
What is the response to the hard work and dedication of NOCERCC to continuing education of the presbyterate of the United States? Most definitely, the response is overwhelmingly positive. In fact, the most typical question asked of NOCERCC by the priests and directors after a program such as the convocation on Renewing Priestly Identity, is "What's Next?". Such a response shows that there is a definite need of the presbyterate for these types of programs and reflection amidst their busy schedules and demanding lifestyle. 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.
The Challenge that Remains
The National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy has a big task ahead of it. NOCERCC seeks to make the national office in Chicago an information networking center. Though NOCERCC depends on the directors for their hard work, dedication, and creativity, it seeks to help them in any way possible to achieve their goals. Currently NOCERCC provides information through printed materials, resources, and gatherings of the membership. The annual convention is an excellent resource in itself not only for networking but also for reenergizing the directors. But more programming is always necessary to achieve the goals of NOCERCC. In this regard, Fr. Tebbe, who is both President of NOCERCC and President of the Catholic Coalition on Preaching (CCOP), sees that the connection between the two organizations is in their goals, namely, to sponsor programs and workshops to promote quality preaching for implementation in the various dioceses and religious congregations. This is one way that the two organizations together can directly aid the presbyterate in their challenging task of evangelization!
The challenge of NOCERCC in the future is the same challenge of the present. While the needs of the presbyterate, the diocese, and the religious congregation are continual, measured, and longterm, the NOCERCC director's role is immediate, intense, and temporary. Bridging these two realities for the strengthening of the presbyterate is the true challenge, but remains a challenge which is constantly being addressed by NOCERCC.
The Reverend Francis S. Tebbe, O.F.M., current/y serves as the President
of NOGERCC and the President of CCOP. He is also the Vice President for Planning
and Mission Effectiveness at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. For more
information on NOCERCC, please contact the NOCERCC National Office, 1337 West
Ohio Street, Chicago, Illinois 606226490; 312.226. le90; fax 312.829.8915.
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From
the Director's Desk ...
Dear Friends in
Christ,
Twentyfive years
ago, the National Institute for the Word of God came into being as a result of
the first National Congress on the Word of God celebrated at the Basilica of the
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. I still vividly
remember my queasy stomach when I went into the office of the President of the
Catholic University of America, Clarence Walton, with my colleague, dear friend,
and now Associate Director of the National Institute, Bill Graham. We went in to
ask President Walton to sponsor the first congress. As far as we have been able
to determine, the '72 Congress was the firstever Congress in the long history
of the Church to celebrate the power of God's word. So many told us that we were
crazy and that two people could not change the way the Church looked at
preaching.
We were convinced,
however, that although preaching was the primary ministry of priests in theory,
it was far from that in practice. Bishops and priests needed the opportunity to
focus on the ministry in order to appreciate the precious charge God had given
us: Proclaim the Good News to all creation!
To our great delight,
President Walton readily agreed to sponsor the event and with his backing we
were able to secure other sponsors like the Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception itself as well as Serra International and many
generous Catholic lay persons. From that first moment, we knew that God was with
us and that He would bring to fulfillment the dream that He had put into our
hearts.
Now, twentyfive
years later, we are able to see the great fruits of the first congress. This
September 21--24 in Cincinnati we will be celebrating the latest in a long
series of national conferences on preaching. How appropriate the theme for this
conference: Enkindle in us the fire! The fire of faith in the heart of the
preacher, by the power of God, enkindles the fire of faith in the hearts of the
preacher's listeners. As the old Latin adage has it, Cor ad Cor loquitur. Heart
speaks to heart! And the Word of God given fiery birth in the heart of the
preacher makes the gospel resound with power in the heart of those to whom the
Word is addressed. The truth of this claim is the fact that every renewal of the
Church in history takes place as a result of the renewal of preaching. Indeed,
it is not an exaggeration to say that during the turmoil of the evolving
European civilization from the fall of Rome until the Middle Ages, the Church
survived and flourished only because of preaching.
I was personally so
moved by that first congress that for the next twenty years I devoted myself
exclusively to preaching missions and retreats and conducting workshops and
seminars on preaching throughout the United States, Canada, and more recently
even Europe and the South Pacific. Because preaching is a difficult and
demanding art, I returned to teaching preaching at the Dominican House of
Studies in Washington, DC to make my small contribution to the training of
future preachers for the Church.
Throughout all these
years, you the readers of this GoodNews Letter have made it possible for
the Institute to continue its wideranging activities on behalf of preaching
through your prayers and generous financial contributions. Preaching is truly
the work of the whole Church, and just like soldiers on the front line need
extended supply lines to support them in battle, so too preachers need the
support of the whole people of God to be able to preach the Word of God.
Our present Holy
Father, John Paul II, has done much to reemphasize the importance of preaching
;n contemporary society. Indeed, in his letter Tertio Millennio he says:
Everything ought to
focus on the primary objective of the Jubilee: the strengthening of faith and of
the witness of Christians. It is therefore necessary to inspire in all the
faithful a true longing for holiness, a deep desire for conversion and personal
renewal.... Tertio Millennio Adveniente, November 10, 1994, #42.
In this he follows the
great tradition of his predecessor, Paul Vl, who wrote to the National Congress
on Evangelization which the Institute sponsored in 1977 saying that he looked
forward "to seeing sound programs in evangelization being fostered, through
the grace of God, as a concrete result of the Congress." Such results of
the Congress have been the 1982 National Ecumenical Symposium on Preaching and
the 1993 National Conference on Sunday Preaching.
I hope that all of our
readers who are so devoted to the preaching ministry both as active preachers
and as boosters for preaching will join us at the Cincinnati Conference which
will be a fitting celebration of the Twentyfifth Anniversary of the Institute.
And to all of you, our
deepest thanks from everyone in the Institute for your continued support and
encouragement.
Sincerely in Jesus,
Risen and Lord,
John Burke, OP
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SURVEY
Our
next issue of The GoodNews Letter, due out this summer, will focus on Lay
Preaching.
We
would appreciate any response to the following questions to understand better
the experience that our readers have with lay preaching.
1. Have you: (please
check all that apply)
Actively preached in your parish? _______
Had the experience of
hearing the preaching of a lay person? ________
2. If you have preached or do so regularly, for what reason did you or do you?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. If you preach on a
continuing basis as a lay preacher, what type of training or educational
background did you receive to enable you to preach?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. If you have had the
occasion of hearing a lay person preach or have this occasion on a continual
basis, what value does this experience have for you?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please
send all responses to The National Institute for the Word of God, Attn.: Lori
Brower, by June 10, 1997.
Your
input is appreciated.
What God has said
isn't only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword His word
can cut through our spirits and sours and through our joints and marrow, until
it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts: Hebrews 4:12
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WE
RECOMMEND...
The Beginners' Guide
to Bible Sharing: Volume I by Father John Burke, OP. Volume I gives a basic
introduction to the process of Bible sharing through a carefully designed series
of units to lead you easily and confidently into the great mysteries revealed by
the Holy Bible. Beginners' Guide is now available at the reduced rate of $9 per
copy prepaid directly from the National Institute for the Word of God. (BrownRoe,
1984).
The Homilist's Guide
to Scripture, Theology, and Canon Law by Father John Burke, OP and Father Thomas
P. Doyle, OP. This book draws on all contemporary documents including the Code
of Canon Law to guide ordinary ministers of preaching: bishops, priests and
deacons. Homilist's Guide is available from the National Institute for the Word
of God for the price of $12.95 per copy. (Pueblo, 1987).
Companion to the
Prayer of Christians: Reflections and Personal Prayers by Father John Burke, OP.
This companion book to the "Prayer of Christians" or the Divine
Office, provides a distinct focus for each psalm and connects the meaning of the
psalm with our personal lives. This Companion will help you understand the
psalms and see their relevance to your daily life, and, with such a perspective,
it will carry you through even the greatest trials with hope. Available from the
National Institute for the Word of God for the price of $6.95 per copy.
(Liturgical Press, 1 995).
Preaching the Just
Word by Father Walter J. Burghardt, SJ. In this book, Father Burghardt discusses
why we must apply biblical justice not merely legal justice to matters
concerning the poor, the oppressed and the marginalized. Father Burghardt
advises other preachers that their sermons need not provide answers to the
problems, but should instead sensitize awareness of social issues and show their
religious importance. Preaching the Just Word is available from Liturgy Training
Publications for the price of $22.50 per copy.
Making Good Preaching
Better: A Step-by- Step Guido to Scripture-Based, PeopleCentered Preaching by
Alvin C. Rueter, Ph.D. Dr. Rueter is a Lutheran pastor of thirtythree years
tenure. Based on his long experience as pastor and homiletics teacher, he has
written a book for teachers to help them in their demanding task of forming
preachers. Although writing from the Lutheran tradition, he is also sensitive to
the Catholic traditions of preaching. Retired, he now teaches homiletics at St.
John's Seminary, Collegeville, MN, and also in the Permanent Diaconate Program
for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis. Making Good Preaching Better is now
available from The Liturgical Press for the price of $19.95 per copy.
(Liturgical Press, 1997).
Pope John Paul II's
Vision for the Third Millennium a publication of the Charismatic Renewal
Services of Long Island, Inc. A compendium of preparation aids for the Jubilee
Year 2000, this publication is quite useful and motivating in this challenging
time of proclaiming the truth of God's love and presence. This publication can
be obtained by calling 516.952.7400 and the cost is S2 per copy with substantial
bulk prices available.
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Heavenly
Father,
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NEWSBRIEFS
If you would like a
brochure for the 1997 National Conference on Preaching, please call or send your
name, address, and telephone number to:
Conference Services by Loretta Reif
PO
Box 5084
Rockford,
IL 61125
(815}
3992150
The 1997 celebration
of World Communications Day will be observed on May 18, in recognition of the
value of the media to communicate the Good News of Jesus. Pope John Paul 11 has
chosen the theme for the celebration to be, "Communicating Jesus: The Way,
the Truth and the Life."
The
14th Annual National Conference of the National Council for Catholic
Evangelization (NCCE) will take place from June 11 14, 1997 in Bloomington,
MN. The theme of the conference will be "Together We Walk With Jesus."
For more information, please call or contact: NCCE
PO Box 1260
South
Holland, IL 604731260
1
800786NCCE
The
Secretariat for the Third Millennium and the Jubilee Year 2000 has published the
first issue of its newsletter Jubilee 2000. The newsletter will be published six
times yearly and will contain information and resources for the Church's
preparations for the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000. For subscription
information, please contact:
Third Millennium/Jubilee Year 2000
3211
Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
www.nccbuscc.org/jubilee
The National Institute for the Word of God and 7he GoodNews Letter are on
the World Wide Web!! Come visit us at our address: http://niwg.op.org/niwg/ and
find Fr. John Burke at burkeop@aol.com
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both
our vital ministry and publication of The GoodNews Letter.
Please
send your taxdeductihle contribution today!
Yes,
Father Burke, I want to help! Enclosed is my gift of:
AssocisteBenefactor ______$100. Or more
AssociateSponsor
______$50-$99
AssociatePatron
______$25-$49
AssociateFamily
______$15-$20
Associate
______$10
Name
__________________________________
Address
________________________________
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___________________
State _________ Zip
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Please
make checks payable to:
The
National Institute for the Word of God
487
Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington,
DC 20017
We are sincerely
grateful to those of you who have supported our ministry over the last 25 years.
Thank you.
The GoodNews Letter is
published three times a year by The National Institute for the Word of God.
Story suggestions, news items, and correspondence are welcome and may be
forwarded to the Editor.
Easter, 1997
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