Special thanks to those who submitted nominations for this year's St. John XXIII Awards. The AUSCP Leadership Team has selected the following as recipients: Fr. Harry Bury and Gayle Uebelhor.

Fr. Harry, ordained for the Archdiocese of Minneapolis in 1955, joined AUSCP in 2016, and has participated in the Working

Group on Nonviolence. Those who know him say that he is a humble, compassionate priest, grounded in the Word of God and committed to the tenets articulated in the documents of Vatican II.

Harry has put himself “on the line” for what he believes in and for what he holds that the Church must be about for the sake of peace and justice, so that all people may live in dignity. In 2018, at 88 years of age, Harry founded Twin Cities Nonviolent (TCNV), Its mission is to reduce violence in all its forms; increase awareness and engagement in nonviolent policies and practices; bring together local community organizations, including nonprofits, religious institutions, educational institutions, and government agencies; and dismantle the structures and systems that lead to violence throughout the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis and beyond. Thank you, Harry!

Gayle Uebelhor is a familiar figure to all who have attended the AUSCP asssemblies. He guided the Mundelein retreat of

the Founding Fathers of AUSCP, so he played a major role in the founding of AUSCP and has been involved in its development throughout its ten years of existence. He has facilitated most of the AUSCP assemblies, assisting in the preparatory work needed prior to the Assembly, along with guiding the processes needed for consideration of proposals and prioritizing the work of AUSCP for the long haul.

Gayle used his professional management consultant skills to the benefit of AUSCP, making him a key figure in our success. Gayle recently retired and his presence is greatly missed by the Leadership Team. Thank you, Gayle!

A new webinar series is in the works! Fr. Bob Bonnot, AUSCP Executive Director, is reviewing all of the presentations given at the past AUSCP Assemblies and is developing a webinar on each Assembly. Each webinar will include excerpts from the main presentations, followed by time for questions and discussion. Fr. Bob says, Our aim is to give viewers an opportunity to refresh your grasp of our Assembly themes during our first decade -- and to reflect on them as we look forward to our second decade of service to God’s Priestly People.

Fr. Kevin Clinton, a past chair of the AUSCP Leadership Team, is assisting with this project. The series will run on Mondays, 3-4:30 PM EDT, beginning on Monday, April 12th. Registration will be available soon.

Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, recently wrote a new piece calling on Congress to pass the Every Child Deserves a Family Act, a bill promoting the best interests of all children in the foster care and adoption system by ending discrimination against LGBTQ+ and religious minority youth, foster parents, and families. You can read her piece here: Honor John Lewis by Upholding the Dignity of All Children and Families.

Please consider showing your support by signing onto this faith letter in support of the Every Child Deserves a Family Act. Individual faith leaders can sign on here and faith organizations can sign on here. NETWORK will provide the letter to your Representative and Senators.

Together, we can help increase the access of all children to affirming, loving and stable homes.

All AUSCP Priest members, Associates, and Friends are invited to join us for the 2021 Annual Assembly in Minneapolis, June 21-24. See below for further details. Until April 30, registration is $480 online or by check. After April 30 - $500.

Scholarships available: Special scholarships are being offered to those who have been ordined ten years or less. The scholarships will include the Assembly registration fee and three nights at the hotel (June 21,22,23). Scholarships are also available for others in need of assistance. These scholarships include up to half of the registration fee as needed. Please call the office for more information: 872-205-5862.

Other Assembly Notes: If you wish to share a hotel room, or to connect with someone who is driving to the Assembly, contact the office: office@auscp.org.

AUSCP member Fr. Robert Wilhelm, age 88, (Diocese of Toledo) died on March 11, 2021. Ordained in 1959, he ministered at

various parishes in Toledo and was the founding pastor of the Community of the Risen Christ in Toledo in 1972. Since 2005, he served as chaplain for the Sylvania Franciscan Sisters. He cherished his time with his many loyal ongoing study groups, and his longstanding priest support group.

His many parishoners will remember him as Father Wilhelm, a warm and caring priest. But to those in his inner circle (of which there are hundreds), he'll be remembered as Father Bob -- leader, intellectual, teacher, counselor, comforter, cook, host, friend, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, and great-uncle.

*If you are aware of any AUSCP member who has died recently, please inform the AUSCP office. Thank you!

We don't want to lose you! All AUSCP members were asked to renew in the month of January for the calendar year. The 482 who have renewed have made us jump for joy! Thank you! If you haven't already renewed, please do so now.

Membership dues for Priest-members and Associates are $60 per year. Friends may still join with or without a donation.

Our goal is to reach $150,000 from 500 donors. We met our goal for number of donors at 516 donors who have given a total of $119,088. Thank you for whatever support you are able to offer! We are counting on your generosity to help us move forward.

Click on the MLK photo to donate online!

AUSCP Upcoming Webinars

Please register for the webinars that are of interest to you and we will send you the Zoom link. All webinars are free at the present time. The next webinars are listed below. You can register for any of the webinars by clicking HERE.

Webinar topics - If you have suggestions for future webinar topics, please send them to Fr. Bob Bonnot: auscpbonnot@gmail.com

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Wednesdays, 4:00 - 5:00 PM EST, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14 - DIVINE DESIGN: The Cooperatist Alternative to Competition; A Catholic Vision for Society and the Church

Divine Design explores how Catholic Social Teaching on cooperation opens contemporary possibilities for church minstry. Current ideologies are not designed to promote the Kingdon of God understood as the common good - where "there is made available to everyone everything necessary for a truly human life" (Pastoral Constitution, art. 26)...God wants society ordered "as a community and not as a competing crowd." (Cardinal Bernardine)

PRESENTER: Joseph Torma, Ph.D., a university professor who has been involved in issues of social justice and ministry for fifty ears. His inspiration is derived from the Catholic Worker Movement in Rochester, NY, and in Alliance, OH. He has been a trainer of parish social action committees, a field education director at St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester NY, and the director of an Institute for Justice and Peace at Walsh University in North Canton OH. This background has given him insights to share with parishes, diocesan and national level organizations, and academic conferences. He is married with four grown boys.

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Other Workshops/Activities that might be of interest to you:

Celebrating the 100^th Birthday of Daniel Berrigan:
A Retreat Session on the Life and Writings of Daniel Berrigan
Saturday, May 8, 2021 - With Rev. John Dear

Sunday, May 9th, marks the 100^th anniversary of the birthday of legendary peacemaker, Fr. Daniel Berrigan, who was John Dear’s lifelong friend and mentor. On Saturday May 8^th, John will share reflections on Dan’s life, writings, and challenges for us today, and encourage us to take up anew where Daniel Berrigan left off.

This online zoom session will start at 2:00 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. PST, May 8; and last three hours with a short break. The cost is $40.

https://beatitudescenter.org/programs/#daniel-berrigan

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The following past webinars are available for viewing:

Choosing Peace: Vision and Practice

Caring for People and Our Planet: Living Laudato Si - Ecological Justice and Ecologically sinful Footprints, Part 2

Race Superiority and Fascism: Is Fascism a Threat in and to the U.S.? Is the current U.S. struggle with racism and white superiority laying the ground for a Fascist future?

SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Celebrating Dorothy Day’s 40^th Anniversary

God's Own Vintage - Dr. Marc DelMonico - January 11, 2021

Ban the Nukes, Feed the Hungry

All 7 Caste discussion videos are posted on Vimeo:

https://vimeo.com/user130704160

Catholic Social Teaching Series - 4 sessions by Dr. Joe Holland

Devine Design Series - by Dr. Joe Toma

(Sessions 1,2,3)

Register for: The 10th ANNUAL AUSCP ASSEMBLY

Minneapolis, MN: JUNE 21-24, 2021

Where do we go from here?

2021 Retreat Day will be led by Jan Michael Joncas.

Speakers include: Michael Sean Winters, Dr. Shannen Dee Williams, and Bishop William Wack

Contemplative Reflector: Sr. Margie Klein, SSND

Assembly Registration: $480 if received by April 30, 2021 (Online or by check); $500 after April 30.

For the safety of all, Assembly participants must be fully vaccinated.

Click HERE to register!

For room reservations, use the Hilton Link on the AUSCP website, or contact the DoubleTree by Hilton directly at 952-835-7800. Rooms are $119 per night (Standard Room, single or double occupancy) if booked by May 20^th. Limited availability; rate available three days before and after the Assembly.

For links to articles of interest on various topics, visit the AUSCP Facebook page

For more information and photos, visit the AUSCP website at: AUSCP - HOME