On The Pastoral Front - Why Catholic?

December 2010

Celebrating Our Faith Why Catholic? Training on the Sacraments

Sr. Maureen and Bishop Estabrook with participants at the August 2010 WC? Training in San Diego.

August 2010 Murphy Canyon Chapel Center San Diego, CA

San Diego folks at Murphy Canyon and Naval Base

San Diego hosted yet another Why Catholic? training weekend in August this year. We had a great weekend with 31 participants – the most ever at this site! There were five bases present: Joint Base Lewis McChord, San Diego Naval Base, Murphy Canyon Chapel Community, Pendleton USMC, and Ft. Meade. Bishop Joe Estabrook was with us again and what a blessing it is to have him share on the weekend. All the bases

reported that their groups are doing very well and in many cases they are growing in numbers. They have experienced an increase in their confidence in leading prayer; some folks are now leading prayer in other groups to which they belong; are now more comfortable about answering questions about what Why Catholic? is all about. They are reaching out to others in the larger community – going to people’s houses to lead prayer (Rosary) in the case of a death or illness; someone in the group helped another with resume writing and that person got a job. The quote of the weekend: “Before Why Catholic? life was good, after Why Catholic? life is very good!”

What participants said about the training experience...

“I’m very appreciative always of Bishop Estabrook’s presence and sharing of his knowledge of the world.”

“The fellowship that happened daily – it was a great mix of people.”

“Both Bishop Estabrook and Sr. Maureen were great! Thank you both!”

“The Emmaus Walk with another participant was wonderful – I’ve found a new friend. God works in mysterious ways.”

“Thank you, Sr. Maureen for the most wonderful spiritual experience. Wish we could learn to run the retreats as well as you do!”

October 2010 AMR Chapel Center, Honolulu, HI My time in Hawaii was wonderful as always, I also had the opportunity to speak to two MCCW groups – one at Schofield Barracks and the other at AMR Chapel. The schedule for both days was the same. We began with Mass at 9 am followed by the meeting. My topic was The Word of God in Your Life. After some input I explained about RENEW International, the Why Catholic? process, the importance of small communities and what faith sharing is all about. This was followed by an experience of faith-sharing using Sunday’s gospel as found in PRAYERTIME. The feedback was positive they really appreciated this form of sharing.

There is one large group here at AMR with a steady attendance of about 20 participants. They found their last book to be the best so far and maybe that is because this was their second year together. They believe they are a welcoming parish as evidenced from the feedback they receive which is always positive from folks who PCS from this community. They shared that people who come to Why Catholic? experience a greater sense of knowing and owning their faith.

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On the Pastoral Front (December 2010)

THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST The Eucharist is celebrated at the altar, which is the table of the Lord, at which the Church, Christ’s body, renews the meal he shared with his disciples the night before he died; at which the Church recognizes the presence of the risen Lord in the breaking of bread, as experienced by the disciples on the day of the resurrection (Luke 24:30-31); and in which the Church looks forward to sharing in the banquet feast of the Lamb (Apocalypse 7:16).

Until now present in the assembly and present in the priest, the Body of Christ, head and members, now makes Christ present under

the sacramental signs of bread and wine.

The Eucharist is structured around the fourfold action so clearly given in the Gospels and by Paul (see below): • the Lord Jesus took some bread, • and thanked God for it • and broke it • and gave it.

So now the Church • takes bread (the preparation of the gifts) • thanks God for it (eucharistic prayer) • breaks it (fraction) • and gives it (communion).

The fourfold structure of the Eucharist At the Last Supper

First miracle of the loaves

Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and the three synoptic Gospels clearly express the simple but fundamental fourfold structure of the Eucharist:

Matthew 14: 13-21 Jesus took. . . said the blessing; breaking the loaves he handed them to the disciples who gave them to the crowds.

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Jesus took bread

Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22: 19; 1 Cor 11 :23

2a

He blessed it

Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22

2b

He gave thanks

Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24

3

He broke it

Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22: 19; 1 Cor 11 :23

4

He gave it

Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19; 1 Cor 11:26

In the Narratives of Feeding the Crowds We find this same structure present in the accounts of what is sometimes known as “the multiplication of the loaves” or “the miracle of the loaves.”

These accounts are found in the Synoptic Gospels as follows: On the Pastoral Front (December 2010)

Mark 6:30-44 Jesus took. . . said the blessing; then he broke the loaves and handed them to his disciples to distribute among the people.

Luke 9:10-17 Jesus took the loaves. . . said the blessing over them; then he broke them and handed them to the disciples to distribute among the crowd.

Second miracle of the loaves Matthew 15:32-39 Jesus took... and he gave thanks and broke them and handed them to the disciples who gave them to the crowds.

Mark 8:1-10 Jesus took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and handed them to his disciples to distribute.

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Germany Begins Why Catholic?

November 2010 Wiesbaden Entertainment Center Wiesbaden, Germany

Bishop Rick Spencer has been a valuable help

since last May contacting many Chaplains from different installations in Germany. This training was quite a success with 40 participants present from Wiesbaden, Heidelberg, Kaiserslautern, Illesheim and Ansbach. The community at Wiesbaden did a superb job at hosting us – thank you again! This will be the first of our trainings for them as they begin the four book cycle of Why Catholic?

What participants said about the training experience...

“I picked up a few new ways of communicating the ‘same old’ theology.”

Life in Christ How We Live Our Faith Our next training will provide a basic theological grounding in how we, as Catholics, live out the moral and ethical implication of our faith.

• for U.S. Bases January 7-9, 2011 Murphy Canyon Chapel Center • for Bases in Germany May 6-8, 2011 Wiesbaden Chapel Center Wiesbaden, Germany Please let Sr. Maureen know as soon as possible how many from your base will attend which site.

Do you know of any bases in your area that would like to do Why Catholic?

Can you help us sign up more bases?

Please contact: Sr. Maureen Colleary - MaureenC@renewintl.org for more information. Thanks for your help.

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“The materials for this presentation were clear and laid out in an understandable way.”

“The examples used were fantastic – made it very relatable to me.”

“From the beginning of the gathering, I felt welcomed – thank you.”

“The experience was excellent and I learned so much and enjoyed the camaraderie of the group.”

“I love faith sharing and this always helps me to understand my faith more.”

All content (text, photographs, and design) of this Newsletter © 2010 RENEW International.

For further information about the Why Catholic? process for the Military, please contact Sr. Maureen Colleary, FSP at: RENEW International 1232 George Street, Plainfield, NJ 07062-1717 Tel: 908-769-5400 x 121 Fax: 908-769-5660 Email: MaureenC@renewintl.org

On the Pastoral Front (December 2010)