Consultation re: our communication with the Bishops in Brazil
An email has been sent to the Brazilian Bishops Conference regarding their proposal for a Year of the Laity for their country. We have praised them for introducing this idea and let them know that we are taking the concept worldwide. A copy of the letter to Cardinal Farrell has been translated into Portuguese by Don and sent on to:
- Bishop Severino Clasen , President of the Special Commission for the Year of the Laity
- the secretary general of the Brazilian Bishops National Conference
Additionally, the letter to Cardinal Farrell has been mailed along with a copy to Pope Francis and his Advisors. None was sent to Cardinal Pell in light of the sexual abuse accusations against him. A copy was emailed to Rome journalist, Bob Mickens, and to our contact in the Synod, Father John Abruzzese.
This week Don will reach out to Celso, represents the CEBs on the Commission of the Laity, and Daniel, part of GCN, and invite them to be on our next Strategy Team call.
Conference for young people near Jakarta
The conference is scheduled for July 25 through August 2. Martha Heizer, vice-chair of WAC Int’l will participate in these meetings in Indonesia. Paul Hwang is the main organizer. Kochurani, Virginia, and Ashiknaz Khokhar from our Strategy Team will all be participating. CCRI has offered to set up a Zoom meeting with the young people attending and/or to broadcast the presentation for any of the Speakers. Rene will contact Martha to see if she can assist with this.
Approval of introduction to request signing of the Letter to Cardinal Farrell to go out in our newsletter
Everyone has committed to send in their editorial suggestions a.s.a.p. Here are a few notes about what needs improving: Peter is grateful that we are utilizing proper protocol. Include the link to Pope Francis speech in the introduction. The last paragraph should make the point that we’re supporting small faith communities throughout the world. Different regions have different focuses. Interfaith marriages is an issue throughout Asia. The LGBT issue is suppressed there. Just promoting the Year of the Laity is not enough. Unless something happens during that year, it was pointless. Plant the seed to stir the laity. Many people are feeling equally frustrated, disconnected, disillusioned by not hearing more encouragement from the pulpit for the laity to get involved. People with power never want to share it with others. We must help people understand that the silence of the clergy is by design. With these notations, please send in your editorial suggestions on the letter going out in the newsletter. (See 1st attachment)
Continued discussion for gathering a global demand for a Year of the Laity – what has or will each of us do to create this global demand?
Christina sent a copy of the Cardinal Farrell letter to Cardinal John Drew in New Zealand and to three Cardinals from the Ocean a New Guinea area. She also sent it to the new Bishop of Hamilton, Stephen Lowe. No response yet.
Peter sent a copy to Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi through his secretary. She reported that the bishop read the letter. He has sent the letter to the chairman of AMECEA in Africa through the secretary general; to the vice-chancellor of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa; to the principal of Tanganza University College. Christina and Peter will both follow up next week with all of these outreaches.
We encourage all of our Advisors to send the letter out to their contacts who might be influential in creating a global demand for the Year of the Laity. Here is a suggested preface to the Letter:
“Please consider signing this letter we have sent to Cardinal Farrell who heads the Dicastery on the Laity Family and Life: [http://www.catholicchurchreform.org/216/index.php/get-involved/laity-family-and-life/231-join-us-in-signing-a-letter-declaring-the-year-of-the-laity The letter proposes carrying forward to the rest of the Church globally a “Year of the Laity” being undertaken by the bishops of Brazil this coming year. We hope you will join us in supporting this excellent idea for engaging all the people in the work of the Gospel.”
Update from young adult sub-committee
Rachael has 10 young adults ready to answer the questionnaire she has created. Many are not regular Church-goings. So far, she has only women. Attached (2nd attachment) is her copy of the questionnaire. She says we may modify the questions to add or subtract from it or make it more relevant to our various region. Her only request is to maintain research ethics in using the questionnaire. Liz is doing some work with Fr. Chimambo. Brice from Brazil is going to answer the Vatican questionnaire directly. Rachael will share her questionnaire with him and we request that Lula encourage Brice to share Rachael’s questionnaire with others in Brazil.
Fr. Joe suggested to Clyde that people who take the Vatican survey fill out the first page and then, if they want, skip to the end and answer the last two open-ended questions. Joe suggested that we get everyone to respond to the survey – in the Church and outside of it – so that we diversify. Joe also uses the approach of having discussions with some of the SCCs and then they jointly complete the Vatican survey based on the feedback of the group. Be sure to print a copy for themselves.
Peter would like Reena and Rachael to connect with Liz in Nairobi. Any of us may send the open responses directly to Fr. John Abruzzese: ioannes_a@yahoo.com. He serves on the drafting committee and assures us what we send to him will make it into the Instrumentum Laboris.
Ed Schreurs sent this via email suggesting that “he would like to translate it into Dutch and send it to a 1000 grannies to hand it to their dearest grandchild for answering part of it.”
Update from the small faith community’s interconnection committee
There is an intercontinental effort to connect SCCs. (see 3rd attachment). His focus is to see how networking can happen. He and Joe and discussing the content of the networking. He will also be interacting with AMECEA. Include Luis Lugo from Houston, Texas in the next small faith Zoom connection. His email is luislugo@kw.com and his cell phone is 832-723-7441. Let’s set as a goal of actually having a Zoom meeting with small faith groups within the next month.
