AUSCP Bi-Weekly E-Bulletin

March 29, 2020

Prayer of the Day

When we fall into the traps of groundless fears, you deliver us.

When an epidemic of worry threatens to overcome us, you protect us. When harmful words are flung at us, you answer our cries for help. Gracious God, we worship you.

When our lives crumble, you urge us to buy hope's fields. When we are tempted by wealth, you point us to those who have nothing but share all. When we are eager to grasp senseless lies, you wrap our hands around God's promises. Servant of the poor, we follow you.

When the world silences our hope, you give us the words to make the good confession of faith. When we have lost our way and can no longer endure the emptiness of our lives, you satisfy us from the abundance of God's grace and joy. Sheltering Spirit, we seek your peace.

God in Community, Holy in One, our Refuge, our Trust, our Hope, we lift our prayer to you as Jesus has taught us, saying, Our Father...

~ written by Thom Shuman, 

posted on Lectionary Liturgies

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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

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Invitation to Become "Friends" of AUSCP

The AUSCP Friends Group now has 204 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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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.”

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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

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Amazon Smile Updated 

Shop at:

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

Assembly Decision & Plans

In the interest of the safety of our members and friends, our planned physically-present 2020 Assembly in MD has been cancelled. Registration fees will be returned. We are, however, working to hold a virtual Assembly using today's media during the same June 22-25 time-frame, addressing the same theme and with, we anticipate, our publicized keynoters. We hope to have those arrangements in place within the next few weeks. Please reserve those dates on your calendars and stand-by until we get this re-organization in place. It will be a national Assembly with all participants staying in place! 

This will be a new way for AUSCP to provide our Members and Friends quality input without the cost of travel, hotels, etc.. We intend to hold to this year's theme and to retain all of our scheduled presenters. We hope even to engage many more of our members than the 300 we had hoped to gather in Baltimore-Washington near the airport. So please stand-by for further information.

 Are You Being Called for Service on the AUSCP Leadership Team?

Have you considered putting your gifts to work with a leadership team that operates effectively by consensus and collaboration? And guarantees that you will experience the comaraderie of supportive AUSCP members? What a wonderful opportunity!

This year’s elections to the AUSCP Leadership Team (LT) will most likely take place online in June. Nominations should be submitted by April 15, 2020. Nomination forms are available from: office@auscp.org. 

You must be a member of AUSCP to apply.

Emmaus Productions Offers: Spiritual Comfort for Troubled Times & Holy Week

Emmaus Productions is offering video and music resources to support families and communities spiritually during this difficult time. They are also offering help for celebrating Holy Week and Easter. You can access their resources HERE.

Commentary on Importance of Communion of Saints at This time

In NCR (March 18), Daniel Horan, ofm, has an article commenting on the importance of our belief in the Communion of Saints during this coronavirus time. He said: At its core, the communion of saints is an affirmation of the empowering, unifying and healing work of the Holy Spirit among all God's people and creation.

The Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, beautifully and succinctly describes the reality of the communion of saints, noting that, "all the faithful, scattered though they be throughout the world, are in communion with each other in the Holy Spirit." A paraphrase of this line also appears in the Roman Missal in Eucharistic Prayer III.

  You can access his full article HERE.

LCWR Resource 

Praying and Reflecting Together Through the Pandemic

Each Monday during the COVID-19 crisis, LCWR is publishing a simple reflection that can be used by individuals or groups. It contains questions to help us be conscious of the transformations taking place as we live through the pandemic. Following each reflection is a suggestion for advocacy.

The first reflection, Welcome All That Arrives, may be downloaded here.

In Memoriam: Recent Deaths

We recently received word that AUSCP member Fr. George Kloster (age 76), Diocese of Charlotte, died on December 24, 2019. Fr. George spent 45 years serving as pastor in seven parishes across North Carolina. Known for his charitable works and devotion to ecumenism, Fr. George served the N.C. Council of Churches in many areas (president 1986-88) and received the Distinguished Service Award in 1991.

An advocate for social justice, Fr. George was awarded the Catholic Charities USA Volunteer of the Year in 2013. Also in 2013, a portion of U.S. 64 in western North Carolina was named the “Rev. George Kloster Highway” to honor his commitment in church, civic and community affairs in Clay and Cherokee counties.

The AUSCP has received word that Fr. George made the AUSCP a beneficiary in his will.

Another AUSCP member, Fr. James Dallen (age 76), Diocese of Salina, KS, died on March 13, 2020. Fr. Jim spent many years teaching at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA. He also worked with the Justice for Priests and Deacons organization. Fr. Jim joined AUSCP in 2013. He participated in the annual assemblies 2014-2017.

May George and Jim rest in God's eternal love.

Revised Plans: 50th Anniversary of Earth Day & 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si'

The Catholic Climate Covenant has revised its resources for planning celebrations of these anniversaries: “Earth Day at 50/Laudato Si’ at 5: An Urgent Appeal for Action”! Originally designed for use in parishes, schools, and religious communities, the revised version is designed for individuals, families, and online groups.

The new version offers prayers, readings, a short video, reflection questions, and suggested actions.

DOWNLOAD EARTH DAY 2020 PROGRAM

Status of Annual Appeal

The Annual Appeal is the main source of income for the AUSCP! This year's goal is $150,000 from 450 donors. Thus far we have received $137,600 from 413 donors. Thank you!! The goal is in sight! Help us reach it!

We need the support of all who believe in furthering the spirit of Vatican II and the agenda of Pope Francis. Thank you for whatever you are able to give! 

Donate online at the AUSCP website or send a check to: AUSCP, 200 St. Francis Avenue, Tiffin, OH 44883-3458.

CANCELLED: Plans for a virtual conference are in the works!

The 9th ANNUAL AUSCP ASSEMBLY

Our Catholic Faith in the Political World

 JUNE 22 - 25, 2020

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 day 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! 

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)