RBWords - Volume 27 - Number 6: June 2014
Something to Think About
I have just returned from a conference at Notre Dame
University entitled: “Preaching and the New Evangelization.” There were about 200 participants. Three of the five keynote speakers were
Dominicans – no surprise there! A major
influence in the conference was Pope Francis’ “apostolic exhortation,” “The Joy
of the Gospel” [Evangelii Gaudium]. Two
ideas remain with me. The first was
presented by Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. which characterized the “new
evangelization” as conversation that draws another into the Christian life, or
helps a non-practicing Catholic rediscover the “joy of the gospel” and return
to Catholic life.
The second idea came in the presentation of Fr. Greg
Heille, O.P., from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, where our Dominican
seminarians study. He quoted widely from
“The Joy of the Gospel,” but also from Pope Francis’ Easter Vigil homily,
“Where is your Galilee?” The disciples
who came to the empty tomb were commanded to return to Galilee, which is where
Jesus’ ministry began and they first encountered him. Pope Francis challenges us to discover where
our Galilee is.
Fr. Heille also pointed out that one of the major
sections of “The Joy of the Gospel” is entirely on preaching! This is, of course, of vital interest to us
Dominicans, not to mention the Catholic faithful in the pews who often endure
poor preaching. I urge all my Beloved
Readers to go online and read both the documents I have mentioned. One of them is a bit long – “The Joy of
Gospel” – but worth the effort I assure you, and the Easter Vigil homily is a
gem! It’s Something To Think About!
It Has Been Said
R. B. Words – Vol. 27 – No.
6 – June 2014
Something to think about:
I have just returned from a conference at Notre Dame
University entitled: “Preaching and the New Evangelization.” There were about 200 participants. Three of the five keynote speakers were
Dominicans – no surprise there! A major
influence in the conference was Pope Francis’ “apostolic exhortation,” “The Joy
of the Gospel” [Evangelii Gaudium]. Two
ideas remain with me. The first was
presented by Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. which characterized the “new
evangelization” as conversation that draws another into the Christian life, or
helps a non-practicing Catholic rediscover the “joy of the gospel” and return
to Catholic life.
The second idea came in the presentation of Fr. Greg
Heille, O.P., from Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, where our Dominican
seminarians study. He quoted widely from
“The Joy of the Gospel,” but also from Pope Francis’ Easter Vigil homily,
“Where is your Galilee?” The disciples
who came to the empty tomb were commanded to return to Galilee, which is where
Jesus’ ministry began and they first encountered him. Pope Francis challenges us to discover where
our Galilee is.
Fr. Heille also pointed out that one of the major
sections of “The Joy of the Gospel” is entirely on preaching! This is, of course, of vital interest to us
Dominicans, not to mention the Catholic faithful in the pews who often endure
poor preaching. I urge all my Beloved
Readers to go online and read both the documents I have mentioned. One of them is a bit long – “The Joy of
Gospel” – but worth the effort I assure you, and the Easter Vigil homily is a
gem! It’s Something To Think About!
Schedules and Events -
At the end of May, the last edition of RBWords found me
at our provincial chapter which ended June 5.
We have new leadership and a new vision and much effort lies ahead. I came home tired and was looking forward to
some time off before heading to New Orleans for ordinations to the diaconate
and priesthood for our province and then up to Notre Dame for the preaching
conference. However, the Holy Spirit
intervened in the form of a sudden retreat for some sisters of the Incarnate
Word and Blessed Sacrament down in Victoria, Tx, about two hours south of
here. Their scheduled director had to
cancel at the last minute because of a health problem. Since I had done a daylong retreat last April
down there, the coordinator thought of me and called me. So down I went to Victoria and a successful
retreat experience. I do get opportunities
from time to time because someone cancels a commitment, and it hurts when I
cannot accept because of a conflict! The
ordination ceremonies in New Orleans went well and I was also able to catch up
with some long time friends with whom I often stay when I’m in New
Orleans. The preaching conference, which
I referred to already, was well worthwhile.
Now I’m back in Houston and about to begin another
retreat for some Filipino Dominican sisters at a retreat house out in the
suburbs. After that it will be just
weekend events involving substitute work at the Dominican cloistered nuns’
monastery in Lufkin and the baptism of Isaac Eldon Baker in Baton Rpuge on July
27th.
It has been said:
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has
been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being
confined and from clinging to its own security.
I do not want a Church concerned with being at the center and then ends
by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and
trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and
sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of
friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them,
without meaning and a goal in life.”
Pope Francis: “The Joy of the Gospel,” #40