Something to Read

I want to recommend as a must read, the transcript of Mary Hess's talk at the CTS meeting at Notre Dame, May of 2009. Her discussion of Authority, Authenticity and Agency in the Web 2.0 and Social media worlds provides valuable insights for our ministry. She also discusses the changes in the publishing world and its impact on our programs. You will find the article here: www.luthersem.edu/mhess/HessPaper.pdf

Thanks to Caroline Cerveny, SSJ for the link to this article.

I want to recommend that you find a copy of the June 25th 2009 issue of "Origins" and read the article by Terrence W Tilley. The Title of the article is, "Three Impasses in Christology." Tilley's discussion of impasses and stalemates is an interesting conversation. The way we address impasses and stalemates has a direct impact on catechesis. I especially like the emphasis he gives to staying at the table. A tactic he says he learned from his Marianist friends at the University of Dayton.

Anne Emails from the Board Meeting

We are in the thick of our meeting in DC. I honestly thought the agenda would be one that we could finish in good time. However, I have found that there are a variety of topics that need further discussion. Yesterday we looked at a technology piece and had a great discussion. We hope to have a recommendation on that piece in July.

Today we visited the NCCL offices and made random calls to our members. We received valuable input from our members and will incorporate that input into the rest of our meeting. There were also a few membership issues that we grappled with and Russell Peterson, Tom Quinlan, and Michele Harris will finish the piece and bring it back to the board in July.

Currently we are involved in a discussion on the forums lead by Chela Gonzales. We hope to also talk about committees tonight............
Tomorrow we are visiting the USCCB with Michael Steier.

More later!
Anne

Pictures from Board Meeting In DC

Anne Roat, NCCL President sent these pictures from the Board's meeting in Washington. From the looks of things the meetings are going well.

Thomas Berry, CP

I received this information from the people at Loyola Institute for Ministry regarding Thomas Berry, CP.

We want to inform you of the death of Thomas Berry, CP, Ph.D., on June 1, 2009. Thomas died in Greensboro, North Carolina, where he was born 94 years ago, the third of thirteen children.

Thomas left a unique and rich legacy to those of us who follow him in time -- the sense of Creation as God's first and ultimate self-disclosure -- the need to remember that the first article of our Creed is belief in God, Creator of Heaven and Earth -- the reminder that the natural world evokes our earliest and deepest experience of beauty, intimacy, and imagination, those attributes which dispose us to the world of the sacred and distinguish us from other life forms.

Thomas received an honorary doctorate from Loyola in 1994. He responded to this in his customary, self-deflecting way, "I want to thank this University for being the first Catholic university to bestow such an honor on one whose primary commitment is the natural world."

Thomas returned to LIM and Loyola annually over the next ten years, offering workshops and lectures, all of which have been sent to the archive established at Harvard University to house his massive literary and video legacy.

His wisdom and presence suffuse our LIM/LIMEX curricula. And it was under his tutelage that the Religion and Ecology Focus Area was developed.

Thus we at Loyola and particularly the community of the Institute for Ministry are indebted to this scholar/teacher who identified himself as geologian, or student of Earth. May he rest in peace and may his work prosper through the creative efforts of those legions who bear his influence in their minds and hearts and carry it forward into the Great Work of the 21st century. www.thomasberry.org


On behalf to the Loyola Institute for Ministry,

OSV Acquires Harcourt Religion Publishers

Our Sunday Visitor announced today its acquisition of Harcourt Religion Publishers (a division of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. This brings together two of the nation’s leading Catholic publishing groups. Terms of the transaction were undisclosed. Read the press release here. For more information visit the web site here.

Let us Know What You Think

We would like to conduct an informal evaluation of this year's FORUM. Please share your input by sharing a comment (or you can also e-mail one of us). We purposely kept the EVALUATION questions short:

1. What was most beneficial for you about this year's DDRE FORUM?
2. What key insight did you take with you from this time together?
3. What one thing would you change about this gathering?

Thanks for your support and sharing,
Rebecca Titford: rtitford@mobilearchdiocese.0rg ,
Mark Nuerhing: mnuehring@dow.org ,
Elizabeth Field: efield@camdendiocese.org

Young American Losing their Religion

This story from ABC news has some relevance for our ministry. I would find it interesting to have a discussion about this story. Young Americans Losing Their Religion.

I wonder how the discussion might change if the research was built around faith and religion.

Leadership Elected in Dearborn

NCCL Membership elected new officers during our 2009 gathering in Dearborn, Michigan. Anne Roat was elected President; Kathy Kleinlein, Treasurer; Russell Peterson, Vice President; and Joanie McKeown, Secretary. Bryan Reising was elected by the Diocesan Directors Forum to serve along with Elizabeth Field and Rebecca Titford as Animator.

We also want to thank, Mary Ann Ronan, David Loftus, Lorraine DeLuca, and Janet Schaeffler for their three years of service as President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. We appreciate the time, effort and leadership you gave to NCCL and the membership. Thank You.

Mary McCollough (Updated 5/4/08)

I learned yesterday morning that Mary McCollough, Sales Manager from Harcourt Religion died suddenly Wednesday night. According to Matt Sumers she died of a brain aneurysm. I know Harcourt is preparing to send out information with contact information and the like. Mary was in Houston at NCCL and at the Ministry Summit she has been a good friend of MINK as well. I'll be keeping Mary's family and Harcourt and her catechetical friends in my prayers.

From Lee's weekly news letter:

Mary was a sales manager for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Religion Publishers and a longstanding member of NCCL. She had a zest for life and a warmth that radiated wherever she went. Prayers are always welcome and according to Diane Lampitt, President of the company .

Don

New Board Members Discerned

At the 72nd Annual Convocation 3 new board members were discerned:
Thank you and congratulations to
Peter Ries of Lansing
Anne Roat of Lafayette in Indiana
and Michele Harris of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Salisbury, Maryland.

Harry Dudley Leaves the Board

According to an email from NCCL President Mary Ann Ronan Harry Dudley has resigned from NCCL's Board of Directors. Harry indicated the needs of his new diocesan staff and parish catechetical leaders are showing him that he needs to focus his time and energy with them. NCCL will miss Harry's wisdom, insights, and commitment. I want to thank Harry for all he has given to NCCL and to the ministry. I've enjoyed working with Harry over the years. In honor of Harry, I must say, "This particular blog post represents the opinion of its author and only its author." Thanks Harry.

Mary Ann announced that Jim Tucker will complete Harry's term on the Board. Jim brings a wealth of NCCL experience and many gifts to the board. I'm convinced Jim will do a good job at this critical time in the life of NCCL. We appreciate Jim's willingness to share his time and talent with the membership.

Don

Carl J. Pfeifer

Sunday, July 15, 2007
Carl J. Pfeifer

Pfeifer, Carl J. 78, of 1045 Rockdale Rd. Dubuque, formerly of 1620 N. Quebec Street, Arlington, Virginia, died of Alzheimers at 1:05 am, Thursday July 12 2007, at Stonehill Care Center. His body was donated to the Deeded Body Program at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.Services: A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Cascade, Iowa at 10:00 A.M. on July 28, 2007 with Rev. Neil J. Manternach officiating. Concelebrating is Rev. Douglas Loecke, Rev. Msgr. Albert Manternach & Rev. Carl J. Manternach. Eulogy will be given by Angela Barbieri. Relatives and friends may call after 9:00A.M. at the church. The Reiff Funeral Home in Cascade is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on June 22, 1929, in St. Louis, MO., son of Carl and Emma (Heine) Pfeifer. He was a member of the Society of Jesus, Missouri Province, for twenty-nine years. On November 20, 1976 he married Janaan Manternach, a former Dubuque Franciscan at Holy Trinity Church in Georgetown, DC. Carl was a prolific writer of religion textbooks, and single title books on catechetics, theology, prayer, meditation, and the saints. He also wrote numerous articles for journals, newspapers, and newsletters. He co-authored with his wife the trend setting religion series, LIFE, LOVE, JOY. It dramatically changed how Catholic children are taught religion.

He was widely known as a lecturer on catechetics and religious education throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Guam, and Central America. He taught summer sessions at both The Catholic University of America, and St. Michael's College in Winooski, Vermont. He also taught courses at Theological College in Washington, D.C. and St. Mary's Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland.

Carl and his wife, Janaan, were presented the prestigious annual award from the National Conference of Catechetical Leadership recognizing their long and illustrious contribution to catechetical ministry. They were the first married couple to receive this award. They were also honored by the National Association of Parish Catechetical Directors with the Emmaus Award for Excellence In Catechesis. This award was given to them because of their international reputation and contribution to the field of Catholic catechesis through writing, publishing and teaching. He was an avid photographer. For several years he wrote a weekly photo-meditation which appeared in many Diocesan newspapers. They also became a book titled "Photomeditations" His photos were exhibited in galleries in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland. He was a pioneer in introducing photos of everyday life experience into religion textbooks.

Carl is survived by his wife, Janaan, his brother, Richard (Rosemary) Pfeifer, three brothers-in-law, Thomas (Helen) Manternach, Donald (Anita) Manternach, Richard Ripple; two sisters-in-law, Grace Miller and Janice Manternach; four godchildren, Angela Barbieri, Miguel Barbieri, Edward Jeep and Emily Jeep Klingaman; two honorary, grandchildren, Jake and Hannah Verrips; numerous nieces and nephews including a special nephew, Carl Gerard (Jerry) Pfeifer and his wife, Charlene, who loved their Uncle Carl in many simple and cherishing ways.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his father and mother-in-law, Jacob and Anita Takes Manternach; three sisters-in-laws, Janet Manternach Ripple, Luann Vaske Manternach and Cecilia Lucas Manternach; two brothers-in-law, Orland (Bub) Manternach, and Donald Jacob Manternach (in infancy); a niece, Amy Manternach Kurt and a niece-in-law, Cathy Kimm Manternach.

Memorials may be given in his name to Stonehill Care Center, the Missouri Province Jesuits (St. Louis), the Sisters of St. Francis (Dubuque, Iowa), Hospice of Dubuque or to a charity of your choice. His family would like to thank Dr. Osamah Khatib, the aides, nurses, and others who lovingly cared for him at Stonehill and for the staff of Hospice of Dubuque who ably helped him in his final act of living. Online condolences may be left for the family at www. reiffuneralhomeinc.com.

Published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch from 7/15/2007 - 7/16/2007.

Presidents

During the Sadlier Dinner at the 2007 NCCL Conference nine past presidents of NCCL were gathered to help WH Sadlier honor Neil Parent. Following the dinner "The Nine" were photographed with Mary Ann the current President of NCCL. What a group we are.

Don

Neil Parent Executive Director NCCL Retires.

Neil Parent, Executive Director of NCCL
1990 -- 2007
Neil retires from his position as Executive Director, a position he held for 17 years.

A Final Thought

James O’Toole says in Leading Change.

In complex, democratic settings, effective leadership will entail the factors and dimensions of vision, trust, listening, authenticity, integrity, hope, and, especially, addressing the true needs of followers. Without these factors, the likelihood of overcoming the ever‑present resistance to change is all but nil. If this is correct, what is required to guide effective change is not contingency theory but, rather, a new philosophy of leadership that is always and at all times focused on enlisting the hearts and minds of followers through inclusion and participation. Such a philosophy must be rooted in the most fundamental of moral principles: respect for people.

Don

The Dialogue

I received the following notice in an email from NCCL President Mary Ann Ronan.
Mary Ann said,

After sharing respective organizational values and identifying other important issues, the boards moved to establish a planning committee of two persons from each organization, assisted by up to two outside helper/facilitators. The boards stipulated that the planning committee would be in place by the end of April and would submit a design recommendation to their respective executive committees by September. If the design is acceptable to the executive committees, it would then go to the full boards at their fall meetings for consideration and possible further action.

A Statement on the Meeting of NCEA and NCCL Boards of Directors

On March 19, 2007, the boards of directors of NCEA and NCCL met together at the offices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC, at the invitation of Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl in his capacity as Chair of the USCCB Committee on Catechesis. Archbishop Wuerl envisioned the event as a catalyst in the organizations? ongoing dialogue process to resolve issues of overlapping missions, membership and services.

Archbishop Wuerl identified two major outcomes for the meeting. First, each board would identify and share values that it deemed constitutive to any new entity that might emerge out of the dialogue process. Second, the boards would establish a joint planning committee to try and conceptualize a new organization that could serve both parish-based and school-based catechetical leaders more effectively than the current two-organization arrangement.

After sharing respective organizational values and identifying other important issues, the boards moved to establish a planning committee of two persons from each organization, assisted by up to two outside helper/facilitators. The boards stipulated that the planning committee would be in place by the end of April and would submit a design recommendation to their respective executive committees by September. If the design is acceptable to the executive committees, it would then go to the full boards at their fall meetings for consideration and possible further action.

Karen Ristau Neil Parent
President, NCEA Executive Director, NCCL

March 30, 2007

Posted by Don

The beauty of Spring in Nebraska

I know Nebraska is not the only place receiving snow on the 5th of April but I couldn't resist posting this picture. This flower, from our flower bed in North Platte, speaks of the hope we celebrate during the Triduum and the Easter season. Here is the flower on April 3rd. I wish all catechetical leaders a blessed Easter.
Peace,
Don

NCCL/NCEA Dialogue

From NCCL's "E-News"

NCCL/NCEA Dialogue

The boards of directors of NCCL and NCEA (National Catholic Educational Association) met at the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) offices March 19, at the request of Committee on Catechesis Chair, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl of Washington. The purpose of the meeting was to engage the two boards more directly in the dialogue process, which has been underway for more than two years. NCCL and NCEA have been discussing how best to serve catechetical leaders given their sometimes overlapping missions, members and services. The NCCL board will use the occasion of the forthcoming annual conference in Columbus, Ohio, to apprise NCCL members of the results of that meeting.

Udpade on Diocesan Directors' Forum

The Diocesan Directors' Forum invites all diocesan directors to its annual gathering, which this year has two parts:

Part one addresses the Forum's structure and projects, specifically:
1) An information-gathering process on membership, the role and terms of the Animating Team, mission of the Forum, etc.
2) Reports on current projects
3) Identification of future projects.

Part two allows a choice of 4 discussion opportunities:
1) National Standards
2) Creating a Safe Environment
3) Catechist Formation
4) Open Discussion

Looking forward to seeing you in Columbus

Don