Request for Letters of Support

I saw a story on MSNBC about a priest in Mission Texas trying to fight eminent domain to save land on the Texas-Mexico border, home of historic La Lomita Chapel. I suggest that members write to support him: Rev. Roy Lee Snipes, OMI, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish    Box 1047

Mission, Texas 78572 - 1047 Or olgparish@sbcglobal.net

Also, you may contact the Bishop of Brownsville Texas to support Roy:

Bishop Daniel Fiores 

Diocese of Brownsville 

Box 2279 

Brownsville Texas 78522- 2279.

Thank you!

From AUSCP Member,

Greg Swiderski

To read an article about this situation, click HERE.

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A wall would cause harm to immigrants and refugees, all of whom are equal to us in the eyes of God.

- Cardinal Joseph Tobin

"The Ethics of Trump's Border Wall"

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Registration Links for 2019 Assembly & hotel are now live at:

AUSCP - HOME 

Links to 2018 Assembly Presentations:

Katarina Schuth 

Bishop R. McElroy

Richard Rohr

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Invitation to Become "Friends" of AUSCP

The AUSCP Friends Group now has 162 members. Please take time to invite your friends to join us!  

The majority of those who have become Friends have done so because of a personal invitation from an AUSCP member.

If you would like a flyer with the information on AUSCP Friends to print out or to email to your friends, send a request to: office@uscatholicpriests.org

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Help us continue the important and critical work of the AUSCP with your financial assistance!

You can click below to donate.

Thank you!

Parish Tithing

If your parish tithes its Sunday collection and sends a monthly donation to various places please consider putting the AUSCP on the list of recipients.  Thanks! 

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If you received a reminder about your annual dues, please renew by clicking on the BECOME A MEMBER button below, or send a check to:

 AUSCP

200 St. Francis Avenue, Tiffin, OH 44883-3458

872-205-5862

Consider setting up an auto-renewal on your bank account.

For more information, visit the AUSCP website at: 

AUSCP - HOME 

If you have a problem with your credit card being accepted online, call PayPal at 888-215-5506. When asked to name your problem, say “credit card denied.”

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To access the latest information on immigration reform and Action Alerts, click on the JFI logo below:

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To access information on care of creation and Laudato Si', click below:

Catholic Climate Covenant

Direct link to Homily Resources

New Report on Priesthood & Ministry

An NCR article by Peter Feuerherd (NCR online 2/5/19) draws attention to a Boston College report released in December 2018. The paper, titled "To Serve the People of God: Renewing the Conversation on Priesthood and Ministry," argues that sacramental doctrine is a starting point in transforming seminary formation. First comes baptism, then comes holy orders. The study says that priests today need skills in forming communities and working with all the baptized faithful, particularly women. Further, the report warns against priests placing themselves above laypeople.

You can access the article HERE.

Postcard to All Priests   

A postcard to all priests listed in the Kenedy Directory was sent this past week to invite them to the June Assembly in St. Louis. This is part of an all out effort to expand the awareness and membership of the AUSCP. Please encourage those you know to give serious consideration to joining the AUSCP if they are not already members, and to participate in the June Assembly in St. Louis.

 AUSCP & Contemplation

Contemplation is at the core of AUSCP’s Mission.   Our mission statement sees Contemplation as bridging dialogue with prophetic action. How?

From the start, AUSCP’s Assemblies have encouraged contemplation among us. In our 2013 Seattle Assembly, Doug Doussan led us in dialoguing issues with one another. In our 2015 St. Louis Assembly, Rick Krivanka led us in Appreciative Inquiry. The goal of those experiences was enhancing dialogue among us. In Chicago Sr. Carol Zinn, CSJ, now LCWR’s Executive Director, exercised our imaginations as she led us through Laudato Si` followed by brief periods of guided contemplation.

This year’s AUSCP Assembly will include a strong thread of contemplative dialogue and prayer. Register now to join us in St. Louis!

See below for details of the Assembly.

Register now at: AUSCP - HOME 

In Memoriam - A Founding Father

Martin Donnelly (Diocese of Toledo), a Founding Father of the AUSCP, died on January 27th. Marty was a prophetic voice in central city Toledo and far beyond. His obituary states:  He will always be remembered for his dedication to the poor and furthering social justice causes in the community. You can read his obituary HERE. 

The funeral homily was given by AUSCP Founding Father Tony Gallagher, who began by saying: A giant among us has left us. You can receive a copy of the homily by requesting it from: office@uscatholicpriests.org 

Bringing Care for Creation to Your Ministry

February 19, 2019, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time

A webinar hosted by the Catholic Climate Covenant

Our Church calls upon us to Care for Creation as an interwoven thread of Catholic social teaching.  How can we respond to this call clergy, parish staff, laity, and school teachers?

The Catholic Climate Covenant (CCC) is working with the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP) and the Diocese of Arlington to offer a webinar on initiatives, programs and resources to help parishes, orders, and schools answer the call to care for creation Tuesday, February 19, 2019, from 1:00 - 2:00 ET. 

To register, please click on this link. By registering, you will receive a link to the recording even if you are not able to participate. The recording will be available on the CCC website for future viewing.

Invitation from Gospel Nonviolence Working Group for February 19th

Marie Dennis, co-president of Pax Christi International (www.paxchristi.net), will be online on February 19, 2019, 3 - 4:00 pm ET. Marie was one of the principal organizers of the April 2016 Conference in Rome, co-sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, that produced the Catholic Nonviolence Initiative (https://nonviolencejustpeace.net/).  

Marie edited a book with all the documentation related to the Conference: CHOOSING PEACE: The Catholic Church Returns to Gospel Nonviolence (Orbis, 2018)

 To join the ZOOM conference on Tuesday, February19th at 3:00 PM ET, click on the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/925522127

Dial by your location

        +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

        +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)

Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/eq64jM97O

Meeting ID: 925 522 127

Leadership Team Nominations

We are approaching the time for this year’s nominations to the AUSCP Leadership Team. The elections will take place at the Annual Assembly, June 24-27, in St. Louis.  This year we have one member of the Leadership Team who is eligible for re-election and three who are completing two terms and thus not eligible for re-election. Please consider who has the gifts for serving on the LT and encourage them to discern the possibility of serving. More will be published in a separate bulletin in the near future.

Annual Appeal Monetary Goal Reached!

The Annual Appeal has reached $100,225 from 290 donors. Thank you to all who made this possible! Our goal for this year's appeal was to receive donations from 350 donors for a grand total of $100,000. We are most grateful to all who have donated and still hope to hear from more to reach our goal of 350 donors.

A primary focus for this year is expanding the voice of the AUSCP. Every donation, large or small, helps us toward our goal.

Reduce Your 2019 Assembly Cost by $200 

If you reserve your hotel room soon for the June Assembly in St. Louis, you will see an offer for a Marriott Credit Card. If you have not had a Marriott Credit Card within the last 2 years, you can apply for one and get a $200 credit on the card IF you make a purchase within 3 months. Then if you register for the Assembly online with your card, $200 of that $495 fee will be covered by your credit! (You also get 2 free nights at a Marriott hotel IF you charge $3000 on your Marriott Card within 3 months of getting it.) 

The first year there is no card fee; the second year, a fee of $95. If you wish, you can cancel before the renewal date. Be sure to look at the conditions. If it makes sense to you, AUSCP's 2019 Assembly can be yours at significantly reduced cost.

In Christ with Hope, Joy & all Blessings,  

Bob Bonnot, AUSCP Executive Director

 Amazon Smile

Shop at http://smile.amazon.com/ch/45-3307327 and Amazon donates to Association of Us Catholic Priests. 

Creator Mundi 

A SPECIAL WAY TO SUPPORT AUSCP - VISIT THE CREATOR MUNDI STORE: "Creator Mundi", an exhibitor at our last Assembly, is supporting our mission. The AUSCP receives 12% of your purchase total every time you shop at the Creator Mundi Store, if you use code donateAUSCP  when you place an order. (This is not a discount to the customer.) Click here to order.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

The 8th ANNUAL AUSCP ASSEMBLY

St. Louis, Missouri: JUNE 24-27, 2019

God's Priestly People: The Baptized & the Ordained

Retreat Leader: Fr. Thomas Rosica,  CSB, Monday, June 24,        9:30 AM-2:30 PM

"Go, Repair & Rebuild My Church: Reclaiming the Priesthood of the Faithful"

Speakers:

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archdiocese of Chicago: "Ordination does Not Annihilate Our Baptism"

Richard Gaillardetz, Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology, Boston College:  "To Form a Priestly People - Toward a Non-Clerical Theology of Priesthood"

Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of Rio Grande Valley:   "Today's Leaders in the Church"

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Early Bird Special! 

Register by check by March 31, 2019 and pay $475.

Send check to: AUSCP

200 St. Francis Avenue, Tiffin, OH 44883-3458

 Online cost $495 

Hotel rooms are $115 per night, single or double occupancy, if booked by June 1, 2019. Use the link on the AUSCP website or call 314-423-9700.

(Rate available 3 days before and after Assembly.)

For  links to articles of interest on various topics, visit the AUSCP Facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/AUSCPriests

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

 ©2017 Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP)