July 1, 2013, Volume VII, Number 26

FEAST OF BLESSED JUNIPERO SERRA Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary TimeFeast of Saint Thomas - Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Saint Anthony Zaccaria and Saint Elizabeth of Portugal – July 5Feast of Saint Maria Goretti – Saturday, July 6, 2013

YEAR OF FAITH - Oct. 11, 2012, through Nov. 24, 2013http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html

Question of the WeekFor Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 7, 2013“’If only I can…I shall be cured.’ …’Your faith has saved you.’” How often have you begun your prayer with “If only you…”? Know that the “woman suffering hemorrhages” began with “If only I”. Do you recognize the difference? Do you start your prayers with the depth of your faith or are you trying to strike a bargain with God? How deep is your faith? When you pray for rain do you carry an umbrella?

NCCL News

Happy Fourth of July – Independence Day (USA)

LEADER: God of our ancestors in this land, God of all nations and peoples, God who still calls us to be agents of liberty and justice for all, we thank you for this service of all our people who have died defending the ideals of this nation. With gratefulness, we pray:ALL: God bless America, land that I love.LEADER: Jesus Christ, who invited all who were heavily burdened to come to you, bless all the people in this land whose lives say with Lady Liberty “Bring me your tired and your poor.” Withe gratefulness for these witnesses of care, we give you thanks and we pray:ALL: God bless America, land that I love.LEADER: Spirit of Wisdom, whose insight is freely given, guide our leaders and our nation’s people to discern and remove oppression of our own people and of all peoples. We ask that true liberty and justice for all come soon in our land as we pray:ALL: God bless America, land that I love.

from Blessing Rites for Christian Lives by Shawn Madigan, CSJ

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Catechetical Sunday – September 15, 2013

This year, the Church will celebrate Catechetical Sunday on September 15, 2013, and will focus on the theme Open the Door of Faith. Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role that each person plays, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday

is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith.

As in past years, NCCL will sell printed copies of prayer cards, family commitment cards, posters, and certificates in English and Spanish. Check the NCCL website www.NCCL.org for ddmore information on ordering your Catechetical Sunday materials. This year’s reflection journal was edited by Michele Harris and the reflections were written by nine different NCCL members. The reflection book is entitled WELCOME! Open the Door – Pass through the gate – Seek the Christ. Sample pages from each of the writers are available on the NCCL Homepage (www.NCCL.org).

The 2013 NCCL pin represents the theme for Catechetical Sunday "Open the Door of Faith" with a beautiful 3 dimensional effect. The all metal pin is outlined in the same gold as the cross. The Alpha and Omega from the Catechetical Sunday logo are imprinted on the shiny copper doors that open to our Redeemer, Jesus Christ hanging on a gold cross in a brushed copper room. The doors break through the gold outline to enhance the theme, Open the Door of Faith. The Spirit of God in each of us

is the agent of the new evangelization and inspires each of us to open our heats and to go forth as catechist and teacher. Help your organization and order your materials from NCCL. Actual pin size is 7/8 inch.

CL Weekly features several pieces each week from June 3 – September 16.

This week we feature a:

Teaching Aid by Brian Garcia-Luense, Mdiv, Associate Director, Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. His work is entitled The Church: A Sacrament of Salvation and can be downloaded from http://tiny.cc/axcvxw.

Parish Resource by Jem Sullivan, PhD, Adjunct Faculty, Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. Her piece, Renewing the Dialogue Between Faith and Reason: Engaging Academics and Artists, would make an excellent parish bulletin insert and can be downloaded at http://tiny.cc/z3cvxw.

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Family Resource by Jeannine Marino, JCL, Assistant Director, Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Her resource is entitled What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? and can be downloaded at http://tiny.cc/z9cvxw.

Reprintable Promotion Tool (For the Pastor) and written by Sr. Angela Erevia, MCDP (Missionary Catechist of Divine Providence), Director of Hispanic Ministry, Diocese of Dodge City, Kansas. Simply titled For the Pastor, this piece can also be downloaded from http://tiny.cc/7yevxw and should be shared with your pastor.

You can download the complete list of FREE Resources which can also be found at http://tiny.cc/263uxw. Be sure to order your Catechetical Sunday materials from NCCL (www.NCCL.org).

NCCL and the Catechesis in Preaching Research Initiative – NCCL Exclusive

How’s the preaching in your parish? What difference does the Sunday homily make in the discipleship of your people? The bishops’ new document on preaching, Preaching the Mystery of Faith: the Sunday Homily, recommends a turn toward catechetical preaching. At this juncture, we are looking for you, as catechetical leaders, to lend your voice to the direction that homiletics will take. At the NCCL conference in Cleveland, many folks offered their insights and experience through four focus groups and a preliminary paper survey.

NOW: The final survey, adapted and furthered by the input from the conference, is now available online to all of the NCCL membership. Please participate fully so that the voice of catechetical leaders is heard, by following this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/the-NCCL-Catechesis-in-Preaching-Research-Initiative

Today is the last day the survey will be open, so please respond before midnight (PDT) tonight. Please do not share the weblink with those outside of the catechetical community. This is an NCCL exclusive survey.

N.B. If you participated in the preliminary paper survey at the conference, please also now contribute online – some of the questions have been strengthened and altered as a result of your input. Thanks! We would also like for your data to be included with the overall responses.

Thank you for willingness to give your voice to this valuable project.

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Echo the Promise – Challenge $2650! – Today is the Last Day!

After an appeal at the Awards Luncheon by Treasurer Joanie McKeown, those present contributed $2650 to the Echo the Promise campaign. This campaign is solely for the professional development of NCCL members. Half of what is collected goes into a restricted endowment account and once it reaches $100,000, proceeds from the money can distributed. In the meantime, the other half of the money is available for use by the

Constituency Forums.

Your challenge is to meet or beat the $2650 that was raised at the annual conference Echo the Promise kick-off and to do it by June 30, 2013. That gives us less than a month. To make it easier, you can donate online by going to the homepage of our website (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Echo the Promise logo. Thank you to Al Weilbaecher, Catherine Snyder, Carole Eipers, Pat Burbage, Linda Buckley, Dr. Gerard F. Baumbach, and Rhonda Parenton for their generous donations this week.

Papal Intentions for July

General Intention: That World Youth Day in Brazil may encourage all young Christians to become disciples and missionaries of the Gospel.

Mission Intention: That throughout Asia doors may open to messengers of the Gospel.

Catechism Made Into Video

The Catechism of the Catholic Church has been made into a video production in an effort to explain and share the teachings of the Christian faith in a modern-day format. The project is comprised of 2,500 minutes of Ultra High Definition Quality video. It is divided into 70 episodes, each 30 minutes long, for the Catechism itself, and 70 ten-minute segments for the Compendium : Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The entire work will be published in four volumes following the structure of the Catechism and Compendium, accompanied by text and images with a video. Every episode will feature a globally renowned figure from areas ranging from culture, science, the arts, sports, movies and music, to economy and finance, who "act out" the text of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church video, because of the universal nature of its message, was shot in the five continents to document the many expressions of man’s faith. The entire work can be booked online starting September 2013 onwards. CrossinMedia Group and the Vatican Publishing House will present the multilingual edition of the Compendium of the Catechism of

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the Catholic Church video in November 2013, at the end of the Year of Faith, and will publish the precious edition (4 books + video).   

Be 'Living Stones' of the Church: Pope Francis’ Continuing Catechesis on the Creed

Continuing his catechesis on the Creed, Pope Francis spoke on the Church as the temple of the Holy Spirit. The image of the temple, he said, conjured images of the great Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem which enshrined the Ark of the Covenant.

“Within the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant, a sign of God's presence among the people, and inside the Ark were the Tablets of the Law, the manna and the rod of Aaron, a reminder that God

had always been in the history of his people, had always been with them on their journey, always directed their stride – and the Temple recalls this story,” the Holy Father said. “We, too, when we go to the temple, must remember this story – my story – the story of each one of us – of how Jesus encountered me, of how he walked with me, how Jesus loves and blesses me.”

“…We are the living stones of God,” the Holy Father continued, “profoundly united to Christ, who is the rock of support, and among ourselves. What then, does this mean? It means that we are the Temple – the Church, but, us, living – we are Church, we are [the] living temple, and within us, when we are together, there is the Holy Spirit, who helps us grow as Church. We are not isolated, we are People of God – and this is the Church: People of God.”

The Holy Father went onto say that the gifts of the Holy Spirit contributes a variety and a richness to everyone that makes the Church not a “weave of things and interests” but rather a collection of “living stones” in the Temple of the Holy Spirit. This, he exclaimed “tells us that no one is useless in the Church – no one is useless in the Church! – and should anyone chance to say, some one of you, ‘Get home with you, you’re useless!’ that is not true.” Upon saying this, the Holy Father’s words were met with thunderous applause from the faithful gathered in the Square.

“No one is useless in the Church. We are all needed in order to build this temple. No one is secondary: “Ah, I am the most important one in the Church!” No! We are all equal in the eyes of God. But, one of you might say, “Mr. Pope, sir, you are not equal to us.” But I am just like each of you. We are all equal. We are all brothers and sisters. No one is anonymous: all form and build the Church. Nevertheless, it also invites us to reflect on the fact that the Temple wants the brick of our Christian life that something is wanting in the beauty of the Church.”

Concluding his address, Pope Francis called on the faithful to be joyful, lively Christians so as to be united with Christ, who is “the cornerstone, the stone of support for all of our lives and the life of the Church.”

Federation of Catechesis with Hispanics

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In April 2013, the NCCL Board of Directors approved the application of the Forum of Catechesis with Hispanics to become the Federation of Catechesis with Hispanics (FCH). Their first official meeting as a federation took place at the NCCL Annual Conference and Exposition in Cleveland. A draft of those minutes, including the election results can be found on the NCCL website (www.nccl.org) under About NCCL and Federations or you can simply click on https://nccl.wildapricot.org/Resources/Documents/About%20NCCL/FCH/2013%20FCH%20Conference%20Minutes%20May%2019%2013.doc

Living Wage Essential to Society, Foundational Part of Catholic Teaching

A discussion of workers' wages is a good starting point for fixing the U.S. economy, said the chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development in testimony, June 25, before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "We can begin the process of fixing our economy by returning the worker to the center of economic life," said Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, California, in his testimony. "One of the best ways to do that is with decent jobs that pay just wages, thereby honoring human dignity and restoring hope to workers and families. Increasing the minimum wage to a level that reflects the real

economic reality faced by families today would go far in building an economy worthy of the humans that operate in it."

Bishop Blaire said the Working Poor Families Project recently reported that there were 10.4 million low-income working families in 2011, including 23.5 million children. "Work should be a ladder out of poverty for families, it should not trap them in poverty," said Bishop Blaire. "Yet this is where we find ourselves – a growing number of families are working but do not make enough to live in dignity. It is a scandal that the richest country world has allowed over 23 million children in working poor families to become the norm."

Bishop Blaire cited statistics from the Congressional Budget Office, which reported last year that the average income of the wealthiest one percent of Americans has increased 275 percent over the last 30 years. The income of the poorest 20 percent, on average, increased by less than 20 percent, despite an increase in worker productivity over the same time.

Bishop Blaire quoted Catholic teaching from Popes Leo XIII, John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis, on the rights and dignity of workers. "A just wage confirms the dignity of the worker," said Bishop Blaire. "And conversely, a wage that does not even allow a worker to support a family or meet basic human needs tears her down and demeans her dignity. The worker becomes just another commodity."

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More information on the hearing and Bishop Blaire's testimony is available online: www.help.senate.gov/hearings/hearing/?id=6edc1440-5056-a032-52fa-28728f8b3947. . .

35 Archbishops to Get Pallium

Pope Francis will impose the pallium upon 35 metropolitan archbishops in this year's ceremony on 29 June, the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. Four of the archbishops are from the United States. To read all the names, please go to http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/35-archbishops-to-get-pallium?utm_campaign=dailyhtml&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dispatch. They are:

1. Archbishop Salvatore Joseph Cordileone of San Francisco, California2. Archbishop Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., of Indianapolis, Indiana3. Archbishop Alexander King Sample of Portland in Oregon4. Archbishop Michael Owen Jackels of Dubuque, Iowa

Pope Francis : Don't Be Afraid to Go Against the Current

Pope Francis said the faithful are called to follow the example of the martyrs in losing their lives for Christ, even if they do not suffer violence for their faith. “Both in the past and today, in many

parts of the world there are martyrs, both men and women, who are imprisoned or killed for the sole reason of being Christian,” he said, noting that there are more martyrs dying violent deaths in modern times than in the early centuries of the Church.

“But there is also the daily martyrdom, which does not result in death but is also a loss of life for Christ.” This “daily martyrdom” consists of people “doing their duty with love, according to the logic of Jesus,” said the pontiff from the window of the Apostolic Palace to those gathered in St. Peter’s Square. Pope Francis stressed that there are fathers and mothers who put their faith into practice concretely by devoting their lives to the good of their families each day. Pope Francis entreated everyone, particularly young people, to “have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.”

The Problem with Being Nice and Judging Not

This is an interesting piece by Father James V. Schall, S.J. that could lead to a great discussion. It also could play a role when helping someone understand what it means to have an informed conscience. Here are his opening four paragraphs. If you care to read more, please go to http://www.catholicpulse.com/cp/en/columnists/schall/061213.html.

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Plato warns us that we can convince ourselves that we are fully trained thinkers whereas we are but beginners. To think rationally takes time and insight. We need first the experience of family, work, and experience of human living. We need the discipline of grammar and syntax. Thinking can mean whatever goes on in anybody’s head. What it more properly means is the logical and ordered arrangement of thoughts based on the principle of contradiction that leads to certainty and consistency of argument and statement of it.

Another study I saw took account of changes in word usage. What words do people use in ordinary speech over time? Over the past several decades, words have become more individualistic and less communal. Indeed, the corruption of the meaning of words themselves is a major issue. George Orwell suspected that this corruption, in which words were used to hide what was actually going on, was a major tool of all absolutist governments. If “democracy” comes again to mean whatever the majority wants (that was its original Greek meaning), then it is all over. If there is nothing behind democracy but democracy, nothing prevents it from enacting what is wrong into democratic “rights” and “laws.” We can have democratic tyrannies if we allow words to lose their meanings and if we allow “rights” to mean whatever we want them to mean.

We can, then, lie to ourselves through our use of words. President Obama, for instance, addressed the national conference of Planned Parenthood recently. He cleverly did not once mention by exact name what “business” that organization is in. He used every word he could think of to hide the fact that he was praising an organization because it facilitated a significant percentage of the abortions in this country.

Words can be used to hide meanings of words. Technically, words cannot lie, but words can be used for the purpose of deception by deliberately not calling things what they truly are. We can also think that we are actually thinking when we really have not undergone the difficult discipline of learning how to think rationally, and thinking rationally itself necessarily requires that we use words accurately.

Supreme Court Decisions on Marriage: 'Tragic Day for Marriage and our Nation,' 

The U.S. Supreme Court decisions June 26 striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act and refusing to rule on the merits of a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 mark a “tragic day for marriage and our nation,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chair of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. Yu can read the statement at http://www.usccb.org/news/2013/13-126.cfm.

Curia Officials to View Documentary on Evangelization Synod

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Canada's Salt and Light Television premiered its latest documentary "Go and Teach: Inside the Synod on the New Evangelization" during a special viewing by the Roman Curia last Wednesday. The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) brought about a revived sense of apostolic fraternity and collegiality among the world’s Bishops, which eventually led to

Pope Paul VI establishing the permanent Synod of Bishops.

In October 2012, fifty years after the opening of Vatican II, the 13th Ordinary Synod of Bishops was held under Pope Benedict XVI to discuss the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith. For the first time two young journalists (Salt and Light producers Sebastian Gomes and Charles Le Bourgeois) were allowed inside the Synod to document the entire experience, working closely with a camera crew from Rome Reports and the Vatican Television Centre.

"Go and Teach" is a dynamic documentary that tells the story of the Catholic Church's effort to find its identity and live out its mission in the complex global reality of the 21st century. This 55-minute film offers many poignant interviews with the protagonists and participants in the October 2012 Synod, and tells the story of the Synod against the backdrop of the Second Vatican Council.  The documentary will air on Canada's national Catholic television network in September 2013.

Copies of the documentary will be made available to Synod participants thorough the generosity of Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. For further information, please contact Fr. Thomas Rosica, C.S.B., CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation. He is at the Vatican from June 24-30, 2013 and can be reached at rosica@saltandlighttv.org

The Catholic Nun Who Changed the US Debate on the Death Penalty Forev er

It’s hard to believe it has been 20 years ago since the publication of Sister Helen Prejean’s Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account Of The Death Penalty In The United States, which documents Prejean’s experiences with a death row inmate that took place 30 years ago. Prejean became a pen pal for a man on death row in Louisiana, eventually meeting him in person, becoming his spiritual advisor, and spending his final hours with him before witnessing his execution in 1984.  You can read what Amy Goodman had to say at http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/20/dead-man-walking-capital-punishment.

Here are the closing paragraphs from Elizabeth Lefevbre’s blog for US Catholic. You can find her piece at http://tiny.cc/9e38yw.

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And yet 20 years later, 30 years after the beginning of Prejean’s work at the forefront against capital punishment, the United States remains the only industrialized nation with capital punishment. As we go forward, it is important to remember that at the heart of Catholicism is the belief that there is inherent human dignity in each and every person—including people who have committed horrible crimes.

As Prejean said of the first time she visited her dead row pen pal in person: “When I saw his face, it was so human, it blew me away. I got a realization then, no matter what he had done...he is worth more than the worst thing he ever did. And the journey began from there.”

Graduate Religious Education Program

Felician College offers a completely online Graduate Religious Education program at a heavily discounted price for those involved in the Church ministry! Their next Cohort begins in early September. Choose from among three options; Masters in Religious Education (33 credits), Graduate Certificate in Religious Education (18 credits), and for those with a Masters

Degree in Theology or related field, a Post-Masters Certificate in Religious Education (18 credits).

The core curriculum of Felician’s Online Graduate Programs in Religious Education adheres to the elements expressed in, “Elements of Pastoral Formation” from, Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord.  Each course integrates online lectures, threaded discussions, scholarly research, practical projects, theological reflection, and application to Religious Educational/Faith Formation ministry across the life span. 

Though fully online, it is a dynamic and highly interactive program with faculty and students forming online learning communities.  The student body is a rich mix of laity and clergy in a variety of Church ministries from around the United States and abroad.  Full-time faculty who hold doctorates, are practicing Catholics, have experience in Church ministry, and received the Mandatum teach the courses.  Hospitality is a Felician charism and the professors are involved in each student’s scholarly and ministerial journey. 

As part of Felician’s commitment to serve the wider Church community we offer a 50% ministerial discount for clergy, vowed religious, and qualified laypersons in either paid or volunteer ministry. For additional information visit their web page or apply now!. 

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Jesus the Evangelist: A Gospel Guide to the New Evangelization

Allan F. Wright’s goal in writing this book is to help readers "to develop the mind of Christ and an evangelizing mind-set so that we may bear fruit

that will last." In Part One Wright describes common misconceptions about evangelization among Catholics.

Part One, Chapter Five is an example of Wright's ability to expand on Scripture to prompt new insights and connect them to the call to evangelize. The passage is John 5: 1-9, in which Jesus engages with a sick man lying near a healing pool. The author explains a bit about the pool, portrays a scene of "perhaps ten blind people, twenty lame people, and dozens more who were sick from various diseases" gathered at the pool. The game was to make it into the water as it began to stir. Jesus asks the man if he wants to be well; the man says no one will help him into the pool. Jesus commands the man to pick up his mat and walk, and the miracle occurs.

Wright's observations relating this story to the new evangelization begin with the question "What is your pool?" You can order Jesus the Evangelist: A Gospel Guide to the New Evangelization from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Answer Your Call: Reclaim God's Purpose for Faith, Family, and Work

This book is divided into three parts, which include six ways we lose sight of God's Presence in our lives; four ways we lose touch with our God-given gifts; and how to reconnect in our faith life, family life, and work life. One of the most beneficial, eye-opening, and humbling sections were the three self-audits of faith, family, and

purpose. You can order Answer Your Call: Reclaim God's Purpose for Faith, Family, and Work from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Walking the Disciple's Path:

I like it that she begins every chapter with a scriptural passage and then an Imagine and Reflect piece before she unfolds her thoughts. Each chapter

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concludes with questions and a ritual. Gwen Costello writes, “"Woven in faith and love and rich with wit and wisdom, Walking the Disciple's Path invites us to reawaken our religious imagination to explore the Gospels in deeper and more meaningful ways.” Loughlan Sofield feels “She helps our 'hearts respond to our reflections' in ways that lead to action." You can order Walking the Disciple's Path: Eight Steps That Will Change Your Life and the World from the NCCL Amazon Bookstore.

Like Lady Liberty, May We Always Be Proud to Lift High the Torch of Freedom

Speaking about the Fortnight for Freedom, Cardinal Dolan closed his remarks with these words. “We must never forget the power of the American promise, which was passed on to us by our ancestors, and which we hold in trust for generations to come. And, like Lady Liberty, may we always be proud to lift high the torch of freedom and hope to those who yearn for it today. For Cardinal Dolan’s full reflection, please go to http://cardinaldolan.org/index.php/fortnight-for-freedom/.

Happy Fourth of July – United States of America

1 Girl Nation - National Anthem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17lfpzPRy-c

Pledge of Allegiance – Red Skeleton

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZBTyTWOZCM

America the Beautiful – Ray Charles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOvA-Hn4_ZM

God Bless America

Charice Pempengco’s powerful rendition of God Bless America singing live at a Martin Luther King event. Listen and watch athttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7mtrS6UADM

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Putting Up the Flag http://puttinguptheflag.com/    

Urgent Need for Prayer, Education and Action in Defense of Religious Freedom

Here are several excerpts from Cardinal Wuerl’s blog on the first day of the Fortnight for Freedom. If you care to read his complete column, please go to http://cardinalsblog.adw.org/2013/06/fortnight-for-freedom-2/#sthash.NlmLV24N.dpuf

The need for prayer, education and action in defense of religious freedom is all the more urgent this summer. In the coming days, the Supreme Court is expected to issue its rulings in cases involving the possible redefinition of marriage, and on Aug. 1, the Obama administration’s ”HHS mandate” is scheduled to go

into effect for most religious non-profits, a measure that first of all gives the government the power to define religious ministries and also would force Catholic institutions to violate Church teaching on the dignity of all human life in order to provide health insurance coverage for their employees.

As faithful Catholics and as loyal Americans, we can learn from the witness of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More. …This bishop and layman show us that defending our religious freedom is the work of all of us – bishops and priests whose role is to teach, to lead and to sanctify their flock, and the laity whose task is the evangelization and sanctification of the temporal order. They showed what it means to act prayerfully in defense of our God-given freedom to believe in and live by the teachings of our faith.

A Blessed 4th of July

President George Washington wrote a prayer addressed to "O most glorious God, in Jesus

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Christ" and ended it with this: "Let me live according to those holy rules which thou hast this day prescribed in Thy Holy Word. Direct me to the true object, Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life. Bless O Lord all the people of this land."

President Thomas Jefferson: "God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis — a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever."

President James Madison: "Religion is the basis and foundation of government. We have staked the whole future of American civilization not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government; upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."

President Andrew Jackson: "I nightly offer up my prayers to the throne of grace for the health and safety of you all, and that we ought all to rely with confidence on the promise of our dear Redeemer, and give Him our hearts. This is all He requires and all that we can do, and if we sincerely do this, we are sure of salvation through His atonement."

Patrick Henry: "It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, property, and freedom of worship here."

President Abraham Lincoln: "The ways of God are mysterious and profound beyond all comprehension. 'Who by searching can find Him out?' God only knows the issue of this business. He has destroyed nations from the map of history for their sins. Nevertheless, my hopes prevail generally above my fears for our Republic. The times are dark, the spirits of ruin are abroad in all their power, and the mercy of God alone can save us."

President Grover Cleveland: "All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purist patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship."

President Woodrow Wilson: "America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of the Holy Scriptures."

President Dwight Eisenhower: "Without God, there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Begin is the first — the most basic — expression of Americanism. Thus, the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus With God's help, it will continue to be."

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Thoughts from Mia

Dear my everybodies! I bets you have been extra, special worried about me, because I have not been able to paw an article for such a long time. Well I had big problems and consternations, but now I am better.

It happened like this. One day when Mia Papa and I were having a chat, he mentioned a “spot” on his arm. He said he was worried, but maybe it would just go away if he ignored it. Wells I

told him, “no worries;” my friend Gilbert the Dalmatian, he’s gots the spots all over him, and he is just fine.

Well even though Mia Papa thinks I am the smartest-most of all dogs, he finally decided go to a doctor and get what is called “a second opinion”. I went along and waited patiently in the back seat of the car. When he came out his face looked all kind of funny like. I gave him a quick nudge with my nose and said, “Sooooo?”

Then Mia Papa made me all scary in my tummy, cause the Doctor said things like “oh my” and “hmmmm” and “you’d better not tell Mia because you will make her feel all scary in her tummy.” Well I am not positive about that last one.

Turns out spots on a Dalmatian are a good thing; spots on a human are not. So Mia Papa had to go back and the doctor cutted the spots away and then said “Phew, just in time!”

Now that my tummy is all better I can tell you this I learned. Humans have a little voice inside of them which comes from God’s big Holy Spirit. Listen to that Voice. The Voice helps you live the bestest way and know right from wrong, the Voice helps you think up great ideas and the Voice helps you figure out what spots or lumps, bumps and other icky things need to be checked out. Do not listen to any medical advice from your dog, kitty-cat or bird.

And for the seconds thing. If you discover you have a sickly, you will feel all scared in your tummy, and I know what I am barking about. Tell Jesus about your scary because Jesus is bigger than any scary, that ever was and He’ll help you feel better. Then tell your family and friends too. They are happy to listen, or maybe even have a little cry with you. They will hold your paw all the way through everything.

And my bestest advice, live happy like. There are times when the things that are wrong with you get all cured up, and you can dance around shouting “Hooray Jesus, I thank you that I am better.” But there are other times that something not so good is going to stick to you. It’s not fair and you don’t deserve it, but trying to be happy does make things better. That’s why I try to be extra bouncy, even when my hip is hurting; and then everyone looks at me and says “Oh look at bouncy Mia, she is so cute, I think I should give her a treat.”

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P.S. With all this extra summer sunshine be careful when you go outside. Wears your hat, or put on lotion or just sit in the shade. I don’t want any other human in my parish family getting spots – spots is for dogs.

Welcome Home: I’m Coming Home Now

It’s a T-Mobile ad but it feels so good. It’s not the USA but I believe it is what every country wants to have its citizens feel when they come back home. Watch arriving passengers be given a welcome home to remember at Heathrow Terminal 5. You can watch this three (3) minute video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NB3NPNM4xgo.

Don’t Forget Walter Bonam’s Request

Whenever you read a book that you believe would be of interest to another catechetical leader, remember that “Amazon and Barnes & Noble both give online customers the option of clicking to notify the publisher of a given book that they would like to have it available in e-book form.” Walter can only read books in e-book form. He’s a colleague in ministry and an NCCL member. Please do your part. Initial request appeared in CL Weekly for January 14, 2013. Diocesan newspaper story available at

http://clarionherald.info/clarion/index.php/parks-home/402-life-changing-event-has-brought-its-own-miracles.

Knowing Jesus and His Message – Conociendo a Jesus y su Mensaje

This is an excellent resource. Immediately following the Learning Session on this resource at the NCCL Conference and Exposition in San Diego, the NCCL Bookstore sold over twenty (20) copies of the book in English and Spanish.

Based on the protocol used to evaluate elementary religion series, the book used

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fifteen standards for Pre-K and K through Grades 7 & 8. Included with the binder is a CD with all the materials available for duplication. This is an ideal help for any elementary catechist regardless of the series you might be using. Check out the following and use the Order Form.

PREFACE - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/nysql) EXPLANATION - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/xuvw8) Standards - Explained (http://tiny.cc/65wmc) Normas y Fundamentos (http://tiny.cc/zfrg2) ORDER FORM - Knowing Jesus and His Message (http://tiny.cc/9j0mb)

Looking For A Good Book?

Stop by the NCCL Bookstore. Purchasing books, CDs, DVDs, and other products on Amazon through the NCCL Bookstore (http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20) helps support this valuable online ministry.

If you are an on-line shopper and you frequent Amazon.com, please enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore as the organization benefits from every purchase you make. It’s an ideal way to support our ministry. Just go to our Home page (www.NCCL.org) and click on the Store tab or click on http://astore.amazon.com/natioconfefor-20 and it will take you directly to our bookstore. It doesn’t matter what you buy, as long as you enter through the NCCL Amazon Bookstore, we get a percentage of your purchases.

We are just building our bookstore and adding titles every day, so if you have any suggestions for books you believe should be available through our bookstore, please drop NCCL a note. All books mentioned in CL Weekly are available at the NCCL Bookstore.

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