COREnotes Issue 20

CORE notes

Q U A R T E R L Y

J O U R N A L

O F

Human Dignity and the Beatitudes

T H E

O F F I C E

F O R

C A T E C H E S I S

Laudato Si for Catholic Youth

Protecting the Poor, The Migrant, and the Outcast Resources from Around the Web Special Needs Resources

DVD Review Calendar Graduate Studies S T. T E R E S A o f A V I L A

ISSUE 20 - OCTOBER 2015

Mission We believe that through our ministry we continue the mission of Jesus Christ by enabling the people of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois to develop the gifts given them by the Spirit. In carrying out this mission, we strive to provide resources, service and leadership to all who are part of the educational mission of the Church: religious education, early childhood, elementary and secondary schools, and adult education.

We do this in the spirit of Jesus Christ.

Staff Jonathan F. Sullivan Director of Catechetical Services jsullivan@dio.org Chris Malmevik Associate Director for Catechesis cmalmevik@dio.org Cynthia Gallo Callan Executive Secretary for Catechesis Secretary for Youth and Young Adult Ministries ccallan@dio.org Jean Johnson Superintendent of Catholic Schools jjohnson@dio.org Stacie Reichensperger Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools sreichensperger@dio.org Lori Casson Secretary for School Personnel lcasson@dio.org Kyle Holtgrave Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries kholtgrave@dio.org

We often hear, regarding catechesis, that “we cannot give what we do not have” – meaning that catechists must themselves be faithful disciples if they are to pass on the faith to others. Hearing this again a few weeks ago, I recalled a moving experience illustrating this principle.

Three years ago my family and I found ourselves in an unlikely setting: participating in the Divine Liturgy at St. Raymond’s Maronite Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri. I had attended a Divine Liturgy before (in the Syro-Malabar tradition), so it wasn’t that foreign to me. But I was delighted to experience the way in which the Maronites conduct the Sign of Peace: The person receiving the Sign of Peace puts their hands together at about chest level, as if in prayer. Then the person giving the Sign of Peace places their hands on the outside of the receiver’s hands.

It’s a surprisingly intimate gesture. Even more delightful, however, is that the congregation doesn’t just give the Sign of Peace will-nilly; the priest begins by sharing peace with the ministers in the sanctuary, then (at this parish) to two ushers who have come up to the front of the church. The ushers go down the aisle, giving the sign to the persons sitting at the end of each pew, who then “pass it down” the pew from one person to the next.

The whole effect, at least from my vantage point in the back of the church, was to literally see Christ’s peace spread across the faithful gathered in prayer, from one person to the other. The fact that it began with one person also emphasized the unity of the congregation — this wasn’t just many people wishing peace to each other, but a single peace being passed from person to person.

Faith is like that: it starts with one person who has heard the Good News and shares it with others, who in turn pass it on with excitement and ardor. This is one of the miracles of Christianity: that what started with twelve poor fishermen and sinners spread across continents and oceans. As we undertake another year of faith formation, I would encourage you to pray for your catechists and teachers that they may be inspired to be missionary disciples so that the love of Jesus may continue to spread for person to person across our world.

Feast of Teresa of Avila - October 15 “This is the one portrait of Teresa that is probably the most true to her appearance. It is a copy of an original painting of her in 1576 at the age of 61.

Father Jerome Gracian, being her Superior, caused the original to be made, as he says, ‘to mortify her and because otherwise there would have been no portrait of her at all’, by a lay Brother, Juan de la Miseria, who was but a poor artist. It is said that when the Saint saw it, she said laughingly to the artist, ‘God forgive you, Brother John; after making me go through no one knows what, you have turned me out ugly and blear eyed’.”

Excerpt from Wikipedia - read more at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teresa_of_Ávila

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"It is love alone that gives worth to all things." - St. Teresa of Avila

DVD REVIEW

by Jonathan F. Sullivan

Demystifying the Book of Revelation with Father William Burton, OFM (DVD) Produced by Paraclete Press, 2015, 180 min. $89.95.

In Demystifying the Book of Revelation, Fr. William Burton, OFM, accomplishes a difficult task: unpacking the complex symbolism of apocalyptic literature – and the Book of Revelation in particular – in a manner consistent with Catholic tradition while combatting distorted interpretations that have come to dominate modern Christianity in recent decades.

Through six video segments Fr. Burton carefully lays out the historical and literary background of the Book of Revelation. Significant time is spent discussing the genre of apocalyptic literature in Jewish tradition and making connections between the symbols employed by John of Patmos and the situation of the early Church under Roman rule.

Fr. Burton also spends an entire segment debunking the popular “rapture” theory popularized by fundamentalist Christians and the Left Behind series.

The lecture by Fr. Burton is punctuated with artwork and video illustrations which, while not rising to the quality of other Catholic video series on the market, nevertheless serve the purpose of the material.

The DVD comes packaged with a short discussion guide containing questions for small groups, making the videos easy to use in a parish formation or educational setting.

Recommended for all libraries.

This review originally appeared in the September 2015 issue of Catholic Library World.

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ith the new school year upon us, I have begun to receive calls and emails reaching out for teaching suggestions for special needs and nontraditional learners. I have many resources and options available to assist teachers and catechists. The Special Needs Ministry is designed to help persons with special needs grow in their faith as fully participating members in their parish. The Office of ProLife Activities and Special Ministries supports parishes with meeting Pastoral Statements of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Guidelines for the Celebration of the Sacraments for Persons with Disabilities. The hope is for persons with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health disabilities to be prepared in all aspects of their spiritual growth, including: worship, catechesis, fellowship, prayer, serving God and others; and that persons with special needs are connected with other parishioners as they seek to grow in their faith and spiritual life.

Please feel free to contact me at: Mrs. Karla A. Crews, Associate Director for Special Needs, kcrews@dio.org or call 217-689-8500 ext. 173.

Below are a few helpful websites: The National Catholic Partnership on Disability (National Apostolate for Inclusion Ministry is now part of NCPD). http://www.ncpd.org/ Resources for Inclusive Catechesis; Institute for Pastoral Initiatives http://ipi.udayton.edu The National Catholic Educational Association http://www.ncea.org/ Loyola Press Sacramental Preparation kits and Finding God adaptive programs and materials. http://www.loyolapress.com/faith-formationspecial-needs.htm Welcome and Justice for Persons with Disabilities www.usccb.org/_cs_upload/8104_1.pdf www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/howwe-teach/catechesis/upload/guidelines-forsacraments-disabilities.pdf store.usccb.org/pastoral-statement-on-personswith-disabilities-p/7-362.htm

Free Laudato Si Resources for Catholic Youth

The Center for Ministry Development and the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change have partnered together to produce six gathered youth nights for high school youth on the theme of caring for our common home. Each 90 minute session is intended for high school youth.

Sessions include: •

A Carbon Footprint by Jane Angha

•

A Dream for the World

by Joan Weber

•

Climate Change: Our Church Has Something to Say by Joan Weber

•

Climate Change: Stories of Hope

by Susan Searle

•

Operation Impact by Jane Angha

Resources from Around the Web Six Activities to Help Teach about the Parables: http://www.thereligionteacher.com/parable-activities/ Three Ways to Turn Your Faith Formation Class into a Mini-Retreat: http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress. com/2015/07/three-ways-to-turnyour-faith-formation-class-into-a-miniretreat/ Five Keys to an Incredible Greeters’ Ministry: http://thomrainer. com/2015/07/five-keys-to-an-incredible-greeters-ministry/ Forming Children and Youth for the Mass: http://catechistsjourney.loyolapress.com/tag/forming-children-andyouth-for-the-mass-series/ 5 | COREnotes

Online Graduate Study Opportunities in Ministry and Catechesis With the advent of new media technologies, studying for theology and ministry has gotten easier and easier. Here are three great programs available to lay ministers in our diocese who are looking for advanced study options.

Aquinas Institute of Theology St. Louis, Missouri; www.ai.edu

Aquinas Institute is a Dominican-sponsored graduate school of theology and ministry located in downtown St. Louis. Most classes may be taken on-campus or online. Students from the diocese of Springfield in Illinois receive a substantial tuition discount thanks to a partnering agreement with the school. In addition, scholarships are available from the Office for Catechesis.

Academic Programs • • •

•

Master of Arts (MA) Masters of Arts in Pastoral Studies (MAPS) Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (MAPS) Master of Divinity (MDiv)

• • • • •

Graduate Certificate in Biblical Studies Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Care Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction Graduate Certificate in Thomistic Studies Doctor of Ministry in Preaching (DMin)

Quincy University

Quincy, Illinois; www.quincy.edu Quincy University recently announced the creation of a new online Master of Religious Education.

This 33-credit program involves 10 courses and a culminating experience to integrate classroom learning while tailoring the program to your specific ministerial situation.

Academic Program • Master of Religious Education (MRE)

Augustine Institute

Greenwood Village, Colorado; www.augustineinstitute.org The Augustine Institute offers online graduate courses in theology with an emphasis on preparing lay ministers for the new evangelization.

Academic Programs • Master of Arts in Theology (MA) • Graduate Certificate

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Protecting the Poor, The Migrant and the Outcast

Awakened in the dark of night, Jose’s mother told him to leave and head north to stay with his aunt who lived thousands of miles away in another country. It was not that she wanted him to go—her heart shattered with the very prospect of his departure—but ongoing threats from gangs and drug cartels in the neighborhood where they lived anticipated his death if he stayed. She would join him soon, she promised, for remaining might guarantee her the same fate if they found that she had sent him away.

Driven from their home some three years earlier because of a civil war in her home country, Amina and what remains of her family—her father having been killed in the conflict and her brother long missing—now spend their days

by Todd Scribner, Ph.D. whittling away the time in a dusty refugee camp. Opportunities for intellectual development are limited and professional opportunities scarce. The likelihood Education Outreach Coordinator, Office of Migration Policy and Public of having a life in which Amina's God-given talents can be fully realized remain Affairs United States Conference of bleak if she is to remain trapped in the camp for much longer.

Catholic Bishops

Such stories could be multiplied almost endlessly and told with any number of variations with respect to their details. While different in many ways, what they have in common is that all begin with suffering and many end on the same note. Most of them happen without our knowing or with only a passing nod of concern if known. Lamenting the death of hundreds of refugees who had recently died near the island of Lampedusa, Pope Francis decried the "globalization of indifference," which has conditioned us to become "accustomed to the suffering of others." We, as a Catholic people, he declared more recently, are called to counteract this debilitating tendency and to participate in the Church's mission to spread "throughout the world a culture of acceptance and solidarity, in which no one is seen as useless, out of place or disposable" (Pope Francis, Message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/migration/documents/papa-francesco_20140903_world-migrants-day-2015.html).

The Catholic Church has a long tradition of accompanying migrants in their journey and of providing to them pastoral care and material support needed to start a new life. Beginning in the the mid-nineteenth century, the Catholic bishops of the United States responded to the influx of Irish and German Catholics and, more recently, to large numbers of Latino Catholics who enter the United States and settle down in communities across the country. Following World War II, the Church took up the mantle of refugee resettlement, and in the intervening period, has resettled well over a million people who escaped from war-ravaged countries and other dire situations.

Emigrants landing at Ellis Island, New York

In the process, the Church has developed a vast infrastructure aimed at supporting vulnerable migrant populations. These include Catholic Charities and related resettlement agencies, offices of cultural diversity, and parish ministries of varying kinds. Through advocates, who work with legislators to pass legislation that respects the dignity of migrants, through social workers and other like-minded individuals, who exert long hours to provide a warm welcome, the Church demonstrates a commitment to live in solidarity with the marginalized, the downtrodden, and the vulnerable.

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Such a commitment is not the product of whim or simple self-interest but is rooted in the Scriptural command to welcome the stranger (Mt 25:35), and in the moral teaching of the Church that affirms the inherent dignity of each person and the central role of family in community.

Welcoming the Stranger in Scripture and Catholic Teaching Throughout the Bible, the theme of migration repeatedly emerges and often signifies a turning point in the life of God's people. Abraham and Sarah are called

by God to migrate from the land of Ur to the promised land of Canaan. God tells them "Go forth from your land, your relatives, and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing"(Gn 12:1-2).

In Exodus, Moses leads the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, and for forty years, they lived as wanderers with no homeland of their own.

The Israelites' own migrant experience gave rise to God's command to take special care of the alien: "When analien resides with in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt"(Lv 19:33-34).

The Gospels begin with Matthew's story of Joseph and Mary fleeing to Egypt because the power-hungry King Herod wanted to kill their newborn son, Jesus (Mt 2). Our Savior and his family lived as refugees because their own land was not safe. Reflecting on the flight of the Holy Family, Pope Pius XII proclaimed that they represent an archetype for all refugee families living in the world today (Exsul Familia). The Acts of the Apostles often portray the early Christian com-

munity as a persecuted people who are scattered across the world.

The central role that migration plays in Scripture and the life of the Church has led some theologians to focus on migration as a primary context and source in their thinking, thus giving rise to theologies of migration. A fundamental premise of such theologies rests on the conviction that “God, in Jesus, so loved the world that he migrated into the far and distant country of our broken human existence and laid down his life on a cross so that we could be reconciled to him and migrate back to our homeland with God and enjoy renewed fellowship at all levels of our relationships.” (“Theology in the Age of Migration,” by Dan Groody, National Catholic Reporter, ncronline.org/news/ global/theology-age-migration).

From this perspective, the Church is itself understood as a pilgrim Church in the process of migrating from this world to the next, where we will find communion with God. Such an understanding emphasizes the extent to which our existence here on earth is a process of an ongoing reconciliation with God and with those around us. An emphasis on reconciliation and renewal seeks to counteract the effect of artificial barriers that separate people, including national boundaries, ethnic divisions, and even religious differences.

A Fallen World, Therefore a Divided One Despite the fact that our ultimate goal is communion with God and with those around us, we live in a fallen world, and for as long as we do, artificial barriers that can distort human relations will remain with us. The Church seeks to mitigate the deleterious effects of these realities and instead supports the development of institutions that promote solidarity and respect for human dignity. With respect to the migration phenomenon, one way the Church accomplishes this is

9 | COREnotes

through the abovementioned pastoral structures and parish ministries that welcome migrants into their new land and provide support with integration. A second avenue the Church uses to create a sense of solidarity is through the public policy making process. Teaching documents of the Church have, over the past century, developed a series of moral principles that can help guide the development of migration policy. These principles include the following:

I. Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland.

All persons have the right to find in their own countries the economic, political, and social opportunities to live in dignity and achieve a full life through the use of their God-given gifts. In this context, work that provides a just, living wage is a basic human need.

II. Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families.

The Church recognizes that all the goods of the earth belong to all people. When persons cannot find employment in their country of origin to support themselves and their families, they have a right to find work elsewhere in order to survive. Sovereign nations should provide ways to accommodate this right.

III. Sovereign nations have the right to control their borders.

The Church recognizes the right of sovereign nations to control their territories but rejects such control when it is exerted merely for the purpose of acquiring additional wealth. More powerful economic nations, which have the ability to protect and feed their residents, have a stronger obligation to accommodate migration flows.

IV. Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection.

Those who flee wars and persecution should be protected by the global community. This requires, at a minimum, that migrants have a right to claim refugee status without incarceration and to have their claims fully considered by a competent authority.

V. The human dignity and human rights of undocumented migrants should be respected.

Regardless of their legal status, migrants, like all persons, possess inherent human dignity that should be respected. Often they are subject to punitive laws and harsh treatment from enforcement officers from both receiving and transit countries. Government policies that

October 2015 | 10

respect the basic human rights of the undocumented are necessary. (Strangers no Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope [Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), 2003)

Conclusion "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" In his encyclical Evangelium Vitae, St. John Paul the Great reflects on Cain's words when confronted by God for the murder of his brother and recognizes in Cain's deflection the "tendency for people to refuse to accept responsibility for their brothers and sisters" that is often reflected in a "lack of solidarity toward society's weakest members—such as the elderly, the infirm, immigrants, children" (Pope John Paul II, Encyclical Evangelium Vitae [EV] [Washington, DC: Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV)– USCCB, 1995], no. 8). Are we our brother's keeper? Yes. We are responsible for others as we are called— commanded—to love our neighbor as ourselves (EV, no. 40). This is true not only for the unborn, the sick, and the elderly, but also for the lonely migrant who has nowhere to lay his head and simply needs a little help from someone who cares. Will that someone be you?

Further Reading On "Strangers No Longer": Perspectives on the Historic U.S.–Mexican Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Letter on Migration. Todd Scribner and J. Kevin Appleby, eds. Mahwah: Paulist Press.

Dan Groody, "Theology in the Age of Migration," National Catholic Reporter(September 14, 2009), ncronline. org/news/global/theology-age-migration.

Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope, A Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States, January 22, 2003, www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/ human-life-and-dignity/immigration/strangers-no-longer-together-on-the-journey-of-hope.cfm.

Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non-commercial use.

Excerpt from Pope John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae, copyright © 1995, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV); Pope Francis, Message for the 2015 World Day of Migrants and Refugees, copyright © 2014, LEV. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed.© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Refugee tents at Arbat Transit Camp for Syrian Refugees in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdista - March, 3, 2014 .

11 | COREnotes

Human Dignity

a n d t he B e at i t u des

by Jill Rauh

Assistant Director of Education and Outreach, Secretariat of Justice, Peace and Human Development United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."

Matthew 5:3-12 The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12 and Luke 6:20-26 are at the heart of Jesus' teaching. They describe as "blessed" those who are poor, mourning, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, clean of heart, peacemakers, and persecuted.Who is "blessed" today?

Landlord collecting rent from poor family.

In the 1980s, Sr. Esther Hugues, a Minim Daughter of Mary Immaculate, encountered refugees from Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua who were fleeing violence caused by civil wars and political repression. "I experienced firsthand the deep desire of Central American migrants to find a better, safer life for themselves and their families." Active in the Sanctuary Movement, in which congregations and other religious institutions provided shelter, food, and legal help to these refugees, Sr. Esther recalls, "More than once these persons would share with me that once they saw the cross on our school chapel, their hope was revived, and they knew they would be safe." Blessed are the merciful, indeed!

For the Pontifical Biblical Commission, the Beatitudes are the "synthesis" of Christ's teaching. They describe ways of being and acting that are "fundamental" to followers of Christ (The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct [TBM] [Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV), 2008], no. 47).

The Profile of a "Blessed" Person

What are these fundamental characteristics? What is the profile of a "blessed" person?

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First, those who are poor in spirit (or simply "poor," in the Lucan version of the Beatitudes), "live in a precarious situation." They are "wholly dependent on God" (TBM, no. 47). It is not surprising that Jesus would call the poor blessed. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, those who are most vulnerable, including the widow, orphan, and stranger, are the ones on whom God bestows special care and concern. Who in your community is most vulnerable?

What special care and concern can you share with these "blessed" ones in imitation of God's own tender love?

Next, the afflicted "do not turn in upon themselves but compassionately participate in the necessities and sufferings of others" (TBM, no. 47). Sr. Esther is now elementary principal at Lourdes Catholic School.

Sr. Barbara Mosegur is principal of the high school.

The school is in Nogales, Arizona, near the United States–Mexico border, known by locals as "Ambos Nogales," or "both Nogales." The poverty just across the border is devastating. Sr. Esther and Sr. Barbara engage students to serve at the Comedor, a soup

kitchen on the border for deported migrants. There, students hear firsthand."

The third Beatitude lifts up the meek—those who "do not use violence but respect their neighbors" (TBM, no. 47). Sr. Esther and Sr. Barbara seek to build bridges across borders, cultures, and differences.

One way they do this is by accepting students at the school from both sides of the border. In fact, Sr. Esther, who was born in northern Mexico, first came to the United States on a student visa—to study at

Lourdes Catholic School! She knows firsthand the transformation that happens when students meet their neighbors from across the border. Sr. Esther says, "We instill in [our students] the conviction that for God, there are no borders or other human-made boundaries or distinctions."

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness seek to make God's vision for the world a reality (TBM, no. 47)—where "evil will have been vanquished, justice reinstated, and humanity's craving for life and peace fully satisfied" (TBM, no. 43).

Sr. Barbara engages high school students in the work of the Kino Border Initiative(www.kinoborderinitiative. org) to meet with their congressional representatives to urge just and comprehensive immigration reform, and to organize and participate in events to educate themselves and others about border issues. Children of a merciful God, Sr. Esther says, must always be Next, the merciful "offer active help to the needy and are ready to grant pardon" (TBM, no. 47). "What we hope all of our students experience is that all human beings have the right to basic needs (food, shelter, dignity, just wages), regardless of human-made borders," Sr. Esther says. Yet, the attitude encouraged by the media—and prevalent in the surrounding community—is hostility toward undocumented immigrants, even "xenophobia." But the slow pace of change doesn't discourage her. Instead, it reminds her to imitate God, who is merciful, and to see how his vision is being realized in her students (one commented, "After listening, spending time with, and eating with migrants who have been deported, traveled part of the path they take in the desert, I now see things very differently") and in the many alumni of Lourdes Catholic School who continue to work in service and advocacy.

The peacemakers seek to "maintain and re-establish love-inspired fellowship among human beings" (TBM, no. 47). Through integration of social justice into the school's curriculum and bridge-crossing through service and advocacy, the sisters help students relate to their brothers and sisters on both sides of the border.

Finally, those persecuted for righteousness' sake "remain faithful to the will of God despite the consequent difficulties" (TBM, no. 47). Despite criticism by those unwelcoming toward immigrants, the

13 | COREnotes

sisters persevere, through their work, in bringing "the witness of the Gospel" to a world in need.

Are You Blessed?

Warning! This might shock you: By virtue of our Baptism, we are all called to be blessed! The Beatitudes "express the vocation of the faithful associated with the glory of his Passion and Resurrection; they shed light on the actions and attitudes characteristic of the Christian life; they are the paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulations; they proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured, however dimly, for Christ's disciples; they have begun in the lives of the Virgin Mary and all the saints" (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 2nd ed. [Washington, DC: LEV–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), 2000], no. 1717).

The work of Sr. Esther, Sr. Barbara, and so many other holy men and women is not an "extra" or an "add-on" to what it means to be faithful. It's the call we receive at Baptism. Pope Francis reminds us, "We who are baptized Christians are missionary disciples and we are called to become a living Gospel in the world: with a holy life we will 'flavor' different environments and defend them from decay, as salt does; and we will carry the light of Christ through the witness of genuine charity" (Pope Francis, Angelus, February 9, 2014, w2.vatican. va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2014/documents/papafrancesco_angelus_20140209.html).

At Baptism, we become part of Christ's Body—and then we are sent on his mission.Our Baptism leads to mission in the world. We give expression to our baptismal reality, Pope Benedict XVI writes, "in our daily lives" in "the field" of the world, working to orient work and society towards the Kingdom (Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic ExhortationSacramentum Caritatis [SC] [Washington, DC: LEV–USCCB, 2007], no. 79).

This is a call for everyone, not just priests and religious.

"The baptismal call of Catholics is based on Jesus' commandment to 'Love your neighbor as I have loved you,'" Sr. Esther says. "I've always taught my students that the final exam we will each be given at the end of our life is: 'I was hungry and you gave me food . . . ' (Mt 25:3440)."

For all of us, our communion with one another, membership in Christ's Body, and participation in the Eucharist

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together "leads to a determination to transform unjust structures and to restore respect for the dignity of all men and women, created in God's image and likeness" (SC, no. 89).

This means working to protect the life and dignity of all people—the unborn, immigrants and refugees, persons in poverty, and others who are vulnerable. Living the Kingdom— acting with confidence that God will work through us to make his vision a reality—requires new "blessed" ways of acting. In acting this way, we imitate the life and ministry of Jesus, who showed mercy to the needy, granted pardon to sinners, showed concern for the weak and simple, and healed the sick.

How is God calling you to imitate Jesus' example and live the call of your Baptism? How are you called to be blessed? It begins today.

For more information:

For a more complete treatment of the deepest spiritual meaning of the Beatitudes, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1716-1728.

Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacramentsand-sacramentals/sacraments-and-social-mission.cfm Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for noncommercial use.

Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed.© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, copyright © 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, copyright © 2007, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV);Pontifical Biblical Commission, The Bible and Morality: Biblical Roots of Christian Conduct, copyright © 2008, LEV; Pope Francis, Angelus, February 9, 2014 copyright © 2014, LEV. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

15 | COREnotes

CALENDAR

Community of Religious Educators C.O.R.E

Catholic Pastoral Center, Springfield CORE meeting times: 10am - 2pm

Sunday, November 1

Villa Maria Catholic Life Center - 2:00 pm Unstoppable Catholic Families: with Grace Mazza Urbanski

November 30 - December 11 Pilgrimage of Peace to the Holy Land www.dio.org/missions/mission-trips.html

Thursday, November 12

They’re Here, Now What: Faith Formation and Un-Catechized Children - Rick Barnhart (RCL Benziger)

January 2 - February 15

ACRE Diocesan Parish Assessment

Sunday, January 17

Thursday, January 21 (28 snow date)

King’s House - Belleville 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Through the Doorway: “RCIA Basics” with Todd Williamson & Victoria Tufano

Thursday, March 17

ACRE Diocesan School Assessment

Parish Programming and RCIA with Children Eliot Kapitan (Office for Worship and the Catechumenate)

Young Adult Ministry Brian Miller (Archdiocese of St. Louis) and Kyle Holtgrave (Office for Catechesis)

Thursday, May 19

Business Meeting & Annual Picnic (Location TBA)

February 8-19

Saturday, March 5 Engaging Parents Forming Family Faith by the Center for Ministry Development

May 23-26

80th Annual NCCL Conference and Exposition Jacksonville, Florida

2015 - 2016

Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing make you afraid. All things are passing. God alone never changes. Patience gains all things. If you have God you will want for nothing.

God alone suffices. — St. Teresa, The Bookmark of Teresa of Ávila This work is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.

notes October 2015 - Issue 20

CORE

S t . Te r e s a o f A v i l a

Office for Catechesis 1615 W. Washington • Springfield, IL 62702 - 4757 217.698.8500 ph • 217.698.8620 fax • dio.org/catechesis