Amazon Forest

Loving God, the Amazon is on fire!..

We pray that in Your mercy, You will forgive us

For our way of life, for we have created the markets

For beef, timber and minerals taken from the Amazon...

Oh God, Your mercy is infinite

And only Your power can save us from choosing destruction.

Grant us Your grace to turn to better and kinder ways of living.

Rain down your love to heal the scorched earth and its inhabitants.

May Your love, justice and peace reign for all creation always.

In the name of Your son, Jesus the Christ we pray. Amen.

Excerpt - "Prayer for the Burning Amazon Forest" by Colm Holmes of We Are Church International

************

Links to 2019 Assembly Presentations: 

Dr. Richard Gaillardetz 

Sr. Norma Pimentel

Cardinal Blase Cupich (text only)

Links to 2018 Assembly Presentations: 

Katarina Schuth 

Bishop R. McElroy

Richard Rohr

*******

Invitation to Become "Friends" of AUSCP

The AUSCP Friends Group now has 188 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

**********

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! 

*****

Membership Renewal

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.”

******

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

 ********

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

Catholic Climate Covenant

Direct link to Homily Resources

************

Creator Mundi 

"Creator Mundi" supports 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. Click here to order.

Amazon Smile Updated 

Shop at:

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

Superb Lineup for 2020 Assembly!

Our Catholic Faith in the Political World

Maritime Conference Center (MCC), June 22-25, 2020

The AUSCP 9th Annual Assembly will take place at the Maritime Conference Center in Linthicum Heights, MD (near BWI and Amtrak). The current Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Christophe Pierre, has accepted an invitation to preside and preach at the 2020 AUSCP Assembly Mass on June 24th.

Speakers for the 2020 Assembly include Archbishop John Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe; John Carr, Founder & Director of Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown Univesity; Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, former Executive Director of the Catholic Health Association.

In addition, Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Executive Director of LCWR, will lead the retreat on Monday, June 22nd, and Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK, will serve as a contemplative reflector during the Assembly. You won't want to miss this superb lineup! Details for Registration will be sent soon.

Annual Appeal Launched!

Each year in October the AUSCP begins its Annual Appeal. This year the appeal mailing was sent out on October 11th to coincide with the feastday of Pope St. John XXIII and the opening date of the Second Vatican Council in 1962.

The Annual Appeal is the main source of income for the AUSCP! Last year 357 donors gave a total of $127,500. This year's goal is $150,000 from 450 donors. We need the support of all who believe in furthering the spirit of Vatican II and the agenda of Pope Francis. If you know any persons who are possible supporters of the AUSCP, please approach them for a donation. Or, notify the office and we will send an appeal letter to them. Send the name and address to: office@uscatholicpriests.org.

Thank you for whatever support you are able to offer! We are counting on your generosity to help us move forward.

      Good Resource for Clergy 

AUSCP member Tom Vandenberg, Archdiocese of Seattle, has published a book on marriage titled: Rediscoverning a Pearl of Great Price – to help clergy better support marriage and married couples, to awaken couples to the specialness of their sacred vocation, to inspire those preparing for marriage, to build enthusiasm for those in the ministry of marriage prep. Tom says, "Marriage deserves to be proclaimed, not just defended!" The book is available from Amazon and AbeBooks.

Amazon Synod Reports

FutureChurch is sending daily reports on the progress of the Amazon Synod in Rome. Deb Rose-Milevec, Executive Director, is there and shares some interesting insights each day. You can access the reports from FutureChurch at: www.futurechurch.org. 

Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director of NETWORK, is quoted in the Day 2 report of FutureChurch: Some might want us to believe that our vows of obedience would keep us from speaking up. However, we know from our study of obedience in the Benedictine tradition that obedience is to listen with the ears of our heart and then act on what we hear. This listening leads me today to say that silence is not an option. The experiences of our sisters and brothers whom we serve need to have us speak of our lived experience. We are the witnesses on this new Pentecost for our people and our earth. The Spirit calls us to speak against all forms of exploitation whether in the Church or in civil society. 

Advocating for Women's Right to Vote at the Amazon Synod and Future Synods

At the opening press conference for the Amazon Synod, the head of the Synod office, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, confirmed that women religious will not be voting at the Synod. There are 33 women among the 265 Synod participants. Ten of them are women religious from the International Union of Superiors General and none will be voting. This is the case even though Pope Francis has made an exception for a non-ordained male religious (who is not a superior) to vote.

Synods are meant to be places where the whole People of God gather to share wisdom equally. This continued discrimination must end. 

Please sign the petition urging our bishops to open the door to women voting at the synod.

Prophetic Action! 

The AUSCP Working Group on Immigration has representation at the border this weekend. Greg Barras, chair of the AUSCP Leadership Team, is participating in the workshop and rally in El Paso. A Public Action took place on Saturday, October 12th, at a port of entry. 

All are invited to continue joining in prayer and solidarity with those who are suffering at the border and elsewhere. 

 You can find more information at: www.hopeborder.org. 

Season of Creation, September 1 - October 27 

Pope Francis calls on us to sign the Laudato Si’ Pledge

Following the 2nd Anniversary of his historic environmental encyclical, Pope Francis endorsed the Laudato Si’ Pledge campaign, which was also supported by many other Church leaders. Through the Pledge, the Global Catholic Climate Movement aims to mobilize at least 1 million Catholics to become directly engaged in turning Laudato Si into action to care for the planet.

Answering Pope Francis’ urgent call in Laudato Si, I pledge to:

• Pray for and with creation
• Live more simply
• Advocate to protect our common home.

SIGN THE PLEDGE NOW

Bridge Dialogues 

The AUSCP Working Group on Clericalism recommends that you download and read the document “Confronting the Systemic Dysfunction of Clericalism” by clicking HERE. Strategies for discussing and addressing clericalism in local faith communities can be found at bridgedialogues.org. The information provided is the work of VOTF, Future Church and AUSCP.

Updated Addresses Needed 

We need your help to keep our records current! If you have moved recently, please send your new contact information to the AUSCP at: office@uscatholicpriests.org.

Our database is only as accurate as the information we receive from you. Thanks!

SAVE the DATE!

The 9th ANNUAL AUSCP ASSEMBLY

Our Catholic Faith in the Political World

Maritime Conference Center (MCC)

(Near BWI and Amtrak Station)

Baltimore-Washington: JUNE 22 - 25, 2020

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)