CUSA Jubilee Prayer

Dear Lord, here is a new day you have given us to love you and help others love you as well.* Thank you for giving us this day, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of CUSA. You used two weak-bodied souls to bring CUSA to the United States, joining them in friendship and prayer. May our weakness continue to be a steady avenue of strength for our members and for the Church. St. Paul says that you use the weak things of the world to strengthen your kingdom. May we continue to be a strong source of mutual support as we continue to share with one another. Bless all our members, our priests, office staff, and our Board of Directors. Grant eternal rest to Mrs. Brunner, our foundress, and to all the CUSANs who have gone before us. May we one day join them in praising you for all eternity, you who life and reign as one God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Anna Marie Sopko CUSA member and former administrator

* This is opening line of the CUSA morning offering, as translated from the French by CUSA co-founder Laure Brunner in 1947.

Dear members and friends of CUSA, A privilege that comes with being president of RENEW International is my association with CUSA. This apostolate epitomizes to me the meaning of the word “catholic”— universal, all-embracing, inclusive.

RENEW has published faith-sharing books in many languages and dialects, in large print for readers with poor vision, in Braille, and on audio disks. In other words, RENEW International has tried to extend its ministry to as many people as possible, regardless of their origins or their physical challenges.

That’s as it should be in the Catholic Church. In that sense, the new relationship between RENEW and CUSA is fitting, because CUSA includes men and women in an apostolate that affirms that, even if they are restricted physically, they are no less a part of the Body of Christ or the whole human family. Our goal is to invite more and more people into the CUSA community to share companionship and prayer and know that they are not alone.

On its 75th Jubilee, CUSA has received the blessing of Pope Francis who, throughout his pontificate, has stressed that “Jesus’ mission is to reveal the Father’s love to everyone.” That’s our mission, too, in CUSA and RENEW, and I am privileged and humbled to share it with you.

Sincerely yours, in Christ’s name,

G. Gregory Tobin President and Publisher RENEW International