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15 May 2011 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

As a preacher and perhaps a pastor, you know a little something about shepherding. Examine that role: Do my sheep know me? Can I call my sheep by name? How confident am I that I'm leading them toward God and green pastures? What more could I do to make myself worthy to lead them? Who shepherds me in my work? Do I trust that person? What could I, he/she, or we do together to improve our relationship? Do I really believe Christ knows my name? When do I hear him calling me?

pastor sheep Trust

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Brazilian rancher convicted of nun’s murder

18 Apr 2010 - Preaching the News for Sunday

The psalmist expresses gratitude this Sunday that the Lord "did not let my enemies rejoice over me." A court in Brazil has sentenced a rancher to 30 years in prison for ordering the murder in 2005 of U.S.-born nun Dorothy Stang over a land dispute. Stang had lived for decades in the Amazon region advocating for the rural poor and opposing deforestation. The much-delayed process of convicting her killers became a test of Brazil's ability to tackle widespread impunity from such crimes in the region. Vitalmiro Moura, 39, was given the maximum sentence Monday after a jury in the Amazon port city of Belem found him guilty of hiring a gunman to kill 73-year-old Stang. A member of the Sisters of Notre de Namur, Stang was born in Dayton, Ohio but was naturalized as a Brazilian citizen and devoted nearly 40 years of her life to helping landless peasants threatened by loggers and ranchers. Locals affectionately called her "the angel of the Amazon." Moura had received the same sentence previously but it was overturned in 2008, a decision Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had called a "stain" on Brazil's image abroad. A retrial was ordered after it was determined that jurors had ignored evidence pointing to Moura's guilt in reaching their verdict. Stang's murder became a symbol of the often-violent conflicts over natural resources in the vast Amazon region. The Land Pastoral Commission, which monitors conflicts over land in Brazil, says 365 people were murdered in such disputes between 1999 and 2008. Commission spokeswoman Cristiane Passos welcomed the judgment but said the government and justice system need to pay more attention to violent conflicts over land as the problem still claims many lives. "It's still far from the end of the violence," Passos said. Source: An article by Peter Murphy for Reuters and dorothystang.org

murder dorothy stang brazil land amazon vitalmiro moura sisters of notre de namur land pastoral commission cristiane passos

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Your mission, should you choose to accept it

28 Apr 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

As this Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles demonstrates, Paul and Barnabas were the quintessential evangelizing missionaries, logging thousands of rugged miles in their tireless effort to bring the good news to new lands and peoples. Pope Francis wants the same missionary spirit to permeate the church today. “Mission” he notes, “is key to ministry.“A church that does not go out of itself, sooner or later, sickens from the stale air of closed rooms,” he said in a letter to his fellow Argentinean bishops gathering in the city of Pilar for an assembly he would have led had he not been chosen to lead the worldwide church.Pastoral ministry should always be missionary and its ministers must be courageous evangelizers not afraid to go out "into the deep," the outskirts of existence, to bring the "sweet and comforting joy" of faith to people today, the pope said.Pope Francis went on to concede that at times, like anyone else, in going out the church risks running into accidents. But he added “I prefer a thousand times over a church of accidents than a sick church.”Francis said that the church typically suffers from being self-referential, of only looking to and relying on itself. He spoke of a “narcissism that leads to a routine spirituality and convoluted clericalism” and prevents people from experiencing the sweet and comforting joy of evangelization.The pope concluded his letter with a special greeting to the Argentinean people and a fraternal embrace for his fellow bishops, asking them to pray so that “I do not grow proud and always know how to listen to what God wants and not what I want.”Homily hint: Pastors worldwide report positive responses from their congregations to the pope's refreshing candor and warmth. Might the church be experiencing a moment of new opportunity, a time for a renewed sense of mission and outreach within our own communities and, in the spirit of Paul and Barnabas, beyond? Source: An article by Emer McCarthy for Vatican Radio

church Pope Francis ministry mission catholic church pastoral ministry

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Pastors hope to shepherd young people from crime

06 Oct 2013 - Preaching the News for Sunday

God gives us "a spirit . . . of power and love and self-control,” says the reading from 2 Timothy this Sunday. Leaders of the black community of Montgomery, Alabama, working with the police department and local churches, hope to inculcate those values in troubled youth by way of Operation Good Shepherd, a publicly funded Christian outreach ministry that puts Christian pastors on crime scenes to counsel and pray with victims and witnesses.Police claim the program is a way to regain trust in the community, but there's another motive, which they openly acknowledge: They believe a stronger sense of religious faith and the values associated with religion will reduce crime.Billy Irvin, a popular Christian radio preacher, took the pulpit at Montgomery's City Hall to kick off the program in late August. He talked about a documentary he had recently seen about young, wild elephants running amok which were tamed by an older elephant.“Once the older elephant was introduced to the pack, the younger elephants had somebody to look up to,” Irvin told the crowd. “They had someone to guide them. And that's what our youth needs: someone to guide them. Without that, how will they know about moral structure?”So far this year 39 people have been murdered in Montgomery, the vast majority of them black. With a population of only 200,000, those numbers make Montgomery among the most violent cities per capita in the country. If the pace keeps up, 2013 will be the city’s most violent year in four decades.“What we want to do is combine the religious community and the Montgomery Police Department and we want to unite those as one,” said Cpl. David Hicks during an interview on Irvin's Christian radio program. But it’s not entirely clear that the program is legal from the constitutional perspective of separation of church and state.When asked why he thinks a program like Operation Good Shepherd could work, Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Murphy said he didn't know but hoped it would. “Look, I'm not a criminologist. But if we can sow some seeds today, we might see the fruits tomorrow. It may not be soon. Might be a few years down the line. But just like we lost our moral foundation years ago and are now feeling the effects, we can sow the seeds for tomorrow.”Homily hint: Though the causes of crime are many and complex, more than a few young people have turned their lives around after being exposed to the Good News in one form or another. Sometimes they only need something bigger to believe in that brings meaning and purpose to their lives. Be a bearer of Good News. Source: An article by Ray Downs for The Atlantic

crime operation good shepherd montgomery alabama pastors billy irvin david hicks kevin murphy

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Cast out caste mentality, pope urges prelates

22 Feb 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus stretches out his hand to heal an outcast—the man with leprosy. In a powerful sermon based on this gospel last Sunday, Pope Francis signaled his desire to push ahead with historic reforms, saying the Roman Catholic Church must be open and welcoming, whatever the costs. Preaching to a group of Catholic church leaders including 20 newly installed cardinals, Francis also warned the hierarchy not to be “a closed caste” but to lead in reaching out to all who are rejected by society and the church. Homily hint: The Rev. Thomas Rosica, a Canadian priest who works with the Vatican communications office, tweeted that “more than anything I’ve heard from (the pope) today’s homily is his mission statement.” Consider quoting from the pope’s groundbreaking homily in your own sermon and posting the entire text on your parish website. For more information on Pope Francis’ homily, see: Full Text of Pope Francis' Homily at Mass with Cardinals; Pope Francis to church: Don’t be a closed caste or afraid of outcasts.

Pope Francis pastoral outreach marginalized

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Homily stories

01 Feb 2009 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

In 1989, in the months leading up to the 40th anniversary of the communist regime in East Germany, a Lutheran pastor in the city of Leipzig began preaching at a peace vigil in the city’s Nicolaikirche. With every passing week, more people came to the vigil, and eventually attendance reached into the thousands. When the week of the anniversary arrived, tens of thousands came from all over East Germany to hold a candlelight vigil and hear the pastor, who, aptly, was named Christian Fuhrer (fuhrer, of course, means “leader” in German). It was risky business. Only six months before, the Chinese government had turned tanks loose on pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. But it was also only four weeks before the fall of the Berlin Wall. Writing in the Dominican Central newsletter about these events, Father Greg Heille, O.P. commented, “Circumstances had been ripe for one pastor’s preaching to tip the scales of history.” The story of this courageous pastor echoes what the gospel says of Jesus. His words carried weight. He spoke with authority. Not only what he said but the way he spoke and his very presence lent a persuasiveness to his words.

Authors Joel Schorn

berlin wall Peace vigil pastor Lutheran

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Exploring the word

25 Oct 2009 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Bartimaeus is that rare recipient of a miracle who immediately becomes a disciple of Jesus. Immediately, of course, is a favorite Marcan word. Things happen at once in this gospel or not at all. The urgency is not simply symptomatic of the breathlessness with which Mark tells his story. He convinces us that discipleship won’t wait. Make your decision and come away at once! Bartimaeus follows Jesus up the road—”on the way” in some translations, the Way being a code word for the Christian journey. Mary Magdalene, relieved of seven demons, does the same in Luke’s gospel. But most folks cleansed, cured, restored, and raised up in gospel stories simply return to their families and their routines. We can’t blame them. There’s a life interrupted they’ve been longing for, and it’s a powerful lure. Jesus acknowledges this impulse when he pronounces Bartimaeus healed by his own faith: “Be on your way!” Jesus bids him generously. Bartimaeus determines at once that “his way” is now the way of Jesus. Wherever you go, I shall go, he says with his feet. The story of Bartimaeus is special to pastoral ministers because it’s an off-the-charts success. Here’s a guy who seeks healing, receives his sight, and winds up with more clarity than most people who were never so deprived. He sees well enough to know which way to go, and that’s a lot. This week, as we honor those in pastoral ministry within the church, we cheer those on who offer this opportunity to many in ways that may seem less dramatic but are nonetheless life-transforming. Bartimaeus forever cries out from the side of the road, and pastoral caregivers are the ones who answer that call in Jesus’ name. Pastoral care is an opaque term to those who still think the priest-pastor does everything. Defined as “the self-realizing activity of the church’s shepherding concern” doesn’t inch us much toward clarification. The definition I prefer comes from Richard McBride: Pastoral ministry isn’t only about communicating theological principles but about applying them to concrete and changing circumstances. It’s where the rubber meets the road in the life of the church, where gospel values encounter real-life stories. It’s where you and I meet Bartimaeus at the side of the road and answer his cry. It’s not enough to dive in and catechize the poor fellow. First, we have to ask the prescient question: “In the name of Jesus, what do you want?” That makes the pastoral person distinct from the social worker. It’s what makes the Catholic hospital different from General Hospital, or the Catholic Worker more than a soup kitchen. Pastoral care is what we offer when we respond to the world’s need not from our limited compassion but through the depths of the heart of Christ. Related scripture links Garments and their significance: Mark 2:21; 5:25-30; 6:56; 9:3; 11:7-8; 13:16; 15:20, 24 Salvation by faith: 5:23, 28, 34, 36 Blind man gradually restored: Mark 8:22-26 Failure of the disciples: Mark 9:18-19, 28-29 Disciples cannot see: Mark 10:35-45 Catechism links Faith: CCC 185-202; 222-227; 548; 1814-1816; 2616; 2666-2668

Authors Alice Camille

following jesus follow Journey pastoral ministry

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Exploring the word

23 Oct 2016 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Does anybody know what we celebrate this week? By “we” I mean Americans of every faith tradition, not just Catholics. It’s Pastoral Care Week! There’s no crepe to hang for this event, no special foods to prepare or rituals to enact. Still, the fact that so many people—clergy and laity together of every creed—bring a spiritual presence and values to those in need is worth an annual acknowledgement. Since 1985, Pastoral Care Week honors hospital and prison chaplains, military spiritual advisors and school counselors, nurses and hospice workers, long-term care facility employees and average folks caring for vulnerable family members—all making sure that God’s compassion and tender care is experienced in the flesh. Our parishioners who bring Communion to the sick or visit relatives whose mobility is limited might be included here too. If you’re on that long list of caring people, you should take a bow. As the American population gets greyer thanks to longer lives and better medicine, the number of people needing pastoral care is only going to grow. When you count up the percentage of Americans in the military (more than 2 million active members and 22 million vets), the incarcerated (1.6 million), those in hospice (1.5 million), or in hospitals and care facilities (900,000 and 700,000 respectively), you see the tip of the iceberg of those receiving some sort of pastoral support annually. That doesn’t count the rest of us who have taken, are taking, and will take primary responsibility for family members, neighbors, and friends for short durations or for the long haul. The face of pastoral care is all of us. How do we do this? How do the strong take responsibility for the weak, and the morally upright for those spiritually at risk? We might suspect it goes against the genetic code: Didn’t Darwin say life is a matter of survival of the fittest? This leads us to imagine that perhaps only the so-called superior creature should survive and leave the vulnerable and imperfect ones to their fate. In fact, Darwin himself made clear that life is only possible precisely because each generation makes sacrifices for the last and the next, and one creature is willing to make room for the needs of another. Interdependence is the natural design of things. By caring for the little, the lowly, the lonely, and the lost, we all become stronger and more human. As Paul says, he competes well, fights his fight, finishes his race—but never alone. God stands by him and gives Paul the strength to accomplish all that he does. Caregivers know that it’s by God’s grace alone that we fulfill our beautiful, vital, humane and holy ministry. Related scripture links Tax collectors paired with sinners: Matt. 9:9-13, 11:19; 18:17, 21:31-32; Mark 2:13-17; Luke 5:27-32; 7:34; 15:1 God knows the human heart: 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9; Matt. 12:25; Luke 16:15; John 2:24; Acts 1:24, 15:8 Saul the Pharisee: Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-6; 22:3-5 Christians vis-à-vis Paul the convert: Acts 9:10-14, 20-22, 26-29 Catching fish: Matt. 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18; Luke 5:1-11 Catechism links Sinners are forgiven: CCC 1443 Humility: CCC 525-526; 559; 724; 2540; 2559; 2628; 2631; 2706; 2713

Authors Alice Camille

pastoral care week caregivers interdependence

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Simplify the message

Short essays about observed trends in Roman Catholic life - Pastoral trends

The challenge for pastoral leaders is not lack of imagination, but the need to control it. Too many ideas and focal points become a hopeless, meaningless collage. Pastoral leadership needs to come back to the same themes again and again, getting out the same messages if they are to have any impact. Religious leaders are good at one-on-one interactions, but this is not how the ordinary Catholic interacts with church leaders. A preacher or presider might be at the same Mass only every other Sunday, sometimes less. Parishioners might attend only once or twice a month, and those who do attend might be distracted or focused on something entirely different from the message conveyed in words and ritual. Parents who attend school meetings or religious education meetings come together only a few times a year, or only once a year. Most Catholics hear messages infrequently, and the medium is very often the message. How many articles in the parish bulletin come back to a common theme? Or are they simply random, more or less reflecting the calendar and generic liturgical themes? Parish organizations, social activities, devotional groups, and other gatherings can be challenged to talk up one or two themes over a long period of time. The challenge for pastoral imagination, then, is not having too little imagination, but having too much. The most successful pastors are often the most accidental—those whose strategic vision just happens to coincide with the needs and orientation of the faith community. Often pastors do too much and see too many possibilities and nuances. They can learn much from those accidental successes by limiting and simplifying the message. © 2005, Bryan Froehle.

Authors Bryan Froehle

pastoral leadership

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Featured Exploring the Word

27 Oct 2024 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle B

Bartimaeus is that rare recipient of a miracle who immediately becomes a disciple of Jesus. Immediately, of course, is a favorite Marcan word. Things happen at once in this gospel or not at all. The urgency is not simply symptomatic of the breathlessness with which Mark tells his story. He convinces us that discipleship won’t wait. Make your decision and come away at once! Bartimaeus follows Jesus up the road—”on the way” in some translations, the way being a code word for the Christian journey. Mary Magdalene, relieved of seven demons, does the same in Luke’s gospel. But most folks cleansed, cured, restored, and raised up in gospel stories simply return to their families and their routines. We can’t blame them. There’s a life interrupted they’ve been longing for, and it’s a powerful lure. Jesus acknowledges this impulse when he pronounces Bartimaeus healed by his own faith: “Be on your way!” Jesus bids him generously. Bartimaeus determines at once that “his way” is now the way of Jesus. Wherever you go, I shall go, he says with his feet. The story of Bartimaeus is special to pastoral ministers because it’s an off-the-charts success. Here’s a guy who seeks healing, receives his sight, and winds up with more clarity than most people who were never so deprived. He sees well enough to know which way to go, and that’s a lot. This week, as we honor those in pastoral ministry within the church, we cheer those on who offer this opportunity to many in ways that may seem less dramatic but are nonetheless life-transforming. Bartimaeus forever cries out from the side of the road, and pastoral caregivers are the ones who answer that call in Jesus’ name. Pastoral care is an opaque term to those who still think the priest-pastor does everything. Defined as “the self-realizing activity of the church’s shepherding concern” doesn’t inch us much toward clarification. The definition I prefer comes from Richard McBride: Pastoral ministry isn’t only about communicating theological principles but about applying them to concrete and changing circumstances. It’s where the rubber meets the road in the life of the church, where gospel values encounter real-life stories. It’s where you and I meet Bartimaeus at the side of the road and answer his cry. It’s not enough to dive in and catechize the poor fellow. First, we have to ask the prescient question: “In the name of Jesus, what do you want?” That makes the pastoral person distinct from the social worker. It’s what makes the Catholic hospital different from General Hospital, or the Catholic Worker more than a soup kitchen. Pastoral care is what we offer when we respond to the world’s need not from our limited compassion but through the depths of the heart of Christ. Related scripture links Garments and their significance: Mark 2:21; 5:25-30; 6:56; 9:3; 11:7-8; 13:16; 15:20, 24 Salvation by faith: 5:23, 28, 34, 36 Blind man gradually restored: Mark 8:22-26 Failure of the disciples: Mark 9:18-19, 28-29 Disciples cannot see: Mark 10:35-45 Catechism links Faith: CCC 185-202; 222-227; 548; 1814-1816; 2616; 2666-2668 Adapted from a previously published Exploring the word.

Authors Alice Camille

bartimaeus discipleship christian journey pastoral care pastoral ministry

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