Pastoral Formation Monthly Update
What's buzzin' in Pastoral Formation?
From the desk of Sr. Kathy...
Dear Friends:
Happy May and Happy Spring! We have decided to give our monthly Buzz News a more organized look. In each edition, we will have “global, national and local” news about Church happenings. Since we discussed Catholic Social Teaching in Formation for Mission and Ministry this year, we will be including a section on “Social Justice” in the monthly report. Last, we will be including a “factoid” section and a “Book of the Month” section. I hope you like the new format and that you find it helpful in your ministry.
Please note that I have included more Certified Spiritual Directors on my web link:
https://sccatholic.org/spiritual-directors-south-carolina
While traveling in the state, many people have inquired about spiritual direction with questions such as what is it? How often does one go? Is there a fee? Is it like counseling? All of the answers can be found on my web link:
https://sccatholic.org/spiritual-direction
Peace,
Sr. Kathy Adamski, OSF
GLOBAL NEWS
"Walking in Holiness with Pope Francis" Available Now!
As an accompaniment to the Holy Father's recent Apostolic Exhortation, Twenty Third Publications offers this newly released pamphlet. To order, visit http://www.twentythirdpublications.com/wainhowipofr.html
"The Lord addresses this call of holiness to each of us, the call he also addresses personally, to you: Be holy, for I am holy."
“Let yourself be transformed!” These heartening words sum up Pope Francis' message in Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad). The good news is that holiness is for all of us. In pastoral and even poetic language, Pope Francis urges us to allow the Spirit to fill us with courage and strength so that we may live our lives following the example of Jesus. To serve others is holy work, and Pope Francis assures us that it can also be joy-filled. These thirty days of reflections take Pope Francis' words and lay a path for our journey out of ourselves and into the sainthood that God wishes for us. A wonderful way to share Pope Francis' message with your own parish community.
NATIONAL NEWS
Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month. Three Catholic bishops join other faith leaders to urge the House of Representatives to pass a law protecting faith-based adoption and foster care agencies from religious discrimination. Capitol Hill Correspondent Jason Calvi speaks with Hillary Byrnes, Assistant General Counsel to the Committee for Religious Liberty at the USCCB. (Cut and paste the following link in your browser – 2:51 minutes) usccb.org
LOCAL NEWS
Poverty Factor Training
Wednesday, June 13 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This leadership opportunity, supported by The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina and facilitated by Resource Solutions, is for all community members who want a deeper understanding of generational poverty and how it impacts the people we serve.
Register here or by clicking the image below. Your $25 includes the workshop and lunch. Share with nonprofit leaders, teachers, nurses, first responders, students, or anyone who works with the community.
Welcome Monsignor Droze
Welcome – Bienvenidos to Msgr. D. Anthony Droze, recently installed as Vicar General with duties primarily at the Chancery in Charleston and sacramental duties at our Cathedral. Msgr. Droze joins Msgr. Richard Harris as the second Vicar General assisting Bishop Guglielmone with his many responsibilities across our large state of South Carolina. Msgr. Droze was born in Berkeley County, SC, and he attended the College of Charleston. He was ordained on December 13, 1985 by Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler. Most recently, Msgr. Droze comes to us from Our Lady Star of the Sea where he was pastor from 2010 to the present. He also served at Our Lady of the Hills in Columbia, St. Mary’s, Greenville and in Gloverville, SC. May the Lord continue to bless Msgr. Droze in his new duties.
Good Shepherd Retreat
Church of the Nativity in Charleston
April 21, 2018
St. Benedict Womens Retreat
FACTOID
Seminarians in the United States
430 US SEMINARIANS SCHEDULED FOR ORDINATION
21 REPORTED BY THE JESUITS, THE MOST OF ANY ORDER
Race and Ethnicity
White Hispanic Asian Black Other
US Catholic Population 59% 34% 3% 3% 2%
Ordinands 2018 65% 20% 11% 2% 2%
Postulants and Novices 67% 17% 9% 3% 11%
Among US Catholics under 30, 52% are Hispanic as of 2016
National Origin
Born in US Most Common Birthplaces Outside US
Ordinands 2018 70% Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, Columbia
Postulants and Novices 2017 79% Vietnam, Mexico
Seminarians 2017-2018 87% Mexico, Vietnam
The typical foreign-born ordinand came to live in the US 12 years ago at the age of 23.
Age
The median age of priests scheduled to be ordained in 2018 is 33. The youngest is 25; the oldest is 70. Average age at which ordinands first considered becoming a priest: 17
Religious Institute Entries (2017)
No Entrants…………………………………70%
One Entrant…………………………………14%
At least Two Entrants………………………16%
America April 30, 2018
CATHOLIC SOCIAL JUSTICE NEWS
President Signs Bill to Curb Human Trafficking
On February 27, the House passed HR 1865, the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA). Less than one month later, the Senate passed a companion bill, the Stop Enabling Sex Trafficking Act (SESTA) by an overwhelming majority of 97-2. On April 11, President Trump signed the bill into law. Many thanks to the hard work of anti-trafficking advocates, including US Catholic Sisters Against Human Trafficking, websites such as backpage.com will be held accountable when they knowingly facilitate sex trafficking online.
FOSTA-SESTA allows victims at both the federal and state levels from website companies that have knowingly profited from their exploitation. Websites will no longer be able to escape liability by hiding behind section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. In fact, Backpage.com has already been indicted on 93 counts of alleged federal crimes, including promoting prostitution and money laundering. (www.sosf.org)
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Faith On The Avenue: Religion On A City Street by Katie Day
Germantown Avenue cuts through Philadelphia for eight and a half miles, from the affluent neighborhood of Chestnut Hill through the high crime section known as "the Badlands." The congregations along this route range from the wealthiest to the poorest populations in Philadelphia. Some congregants are immigrants who find safety and support in close fellowship, while others are long-time residents whose congregations work actively to provide social services. Cities undergo constant change, and their congregations change with them. As Day observes, some congregations have sprung up in former commercial strips, harboring new arrivals and recreating a sense of home, and others form an anchor for a neighborhood across generations, providing a connection to the past and a hope of stability for the future.
Drawing on years of research, in-depth interviews with religious leaders and congregants, and a wealth of demographic data, Day demonstrates the powerful influence cities exert on their congregations, and the surprising and important impact congregations have on their urban environments.
Office of Pastoral Formation
Email: kadamski@charlestondiocese.org
Website: https://sccatholic.org/pastoral-formation
Location: 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC, USA
Phone: 843.261.0498