Pastoral Formation Monthly Update
What's buzzin' in Pastoral Formation?
From the desk of Sr. Kathy Adamski, OSF...
Dear Friends:
The month of November was always a special time for me. I guess the Lord had my vocation in mind ever since I was a young child. On Thanksgiving morning, my parents would send me to mass to pray for our family, as well as our friends. Dad would be helping Mom get the bird ready, including making the stuffing, and all else that was necessary. As I returned from holy mass, my parents were just about finished and all got ready for the Adamski side of the family to arrive. Soon the aromas of the day lingered throughout the house, and I couldn’t wait to eat!
I remember most especially my parents on All Saints and All Souls Days. They were wonderful parents to my brother and me. As we come together wherever we spend this Thanksgiving, may each of us be grateful to God for loving us unconditionally and giving us all good gifts. Let us also remember those who have no food or shelter and may the generosity of others, and perhaps ourselves, enable them to share God's bounty.
Please note that I have added a Formation for Mission and Ministry Seminar on the Meyers Briggs at St James Church in Conway on November 28 due to Hurricane Florence as well as changed a date in February, 2018 in the Columbia Deanery. If you missed your cluster group, please feel free to attend any of the upcoming sessions. I have found that with almost 250 taking the MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) about 51% have NEVER taken it before.
I ask each parish to register your office staff by emailing Cathy Roche at cathy@charlestondiocese.org or calling her at 843.261.0504 a week before so that we have correct numbers of inventories, workbooks and can also inform the host parishes for food preparations. You will find the second semester schedule listed in this update.
In this Buzz News, I have included brief happenings in the church and our regular monthly features. I pray that all in our great state of South Carolina be blessed this year.
Peace and all good,
Sister Kathy Adamski, OSF
Manager of Pastoral Formation
A Family Prayer
Gracious and Loving God;
We thank You for food and remember the hungry.
We thank You for health and remember the sick.
We thank You for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank You for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances stir us to service
that Your gifts to us may be used for others.
Amen
Four Pillars of Formation
Can you name the "Four Pillars of Formation" using just the first initial? Which area have you been working on in order to grow in Christian maturity?
GLOBAL NEWS
Archbishop Charles Scicluna
On November 13, His Holiness, Pope Francis, appointed Archbishop Scicluna of Malta to deal with all matters relating to the abuse crisis, suggesting his determination to deal decisively with the scandal. The Archbishop has long been the face of the Catholic Church in the fight to eliminate the sexual abuse of minors and vulnerable adults. He enjoys enormous credibility among both survivors and bishops worldwide for his work in this field. Let us continually pray that the healing hand of Jesus will bring comfort and relief to all victims and their families.
Photo Credit to timesofmalta.com
World Aids Day
Join others in the world and pray for those with HIV and AIDS on December 1st that increased access to treatment and prevention services will be available for those most vulnerable, especially the unborn.
NATIONAL NEWS
USCCB Fall General Assembly
Acknowledging that he was disappointed by the Vatican's decision to block a vote on sex abuse reform measures, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said on November 14, 2018 he nonetheless sees a hopeful future for the Church in the United States.
In the closing statement of the USCCB’s Fall General Assembly Nov. 14, the president of the conference focused on the upcoming meeting of bishops’ conference presidents in Rome, and hopes that the discussions there among representatives of the global Church will assist with the continued “eradication” of sexual abuse in the Church.
DiNardo offered praise for the various abuse victim testimony and abuse experts throughout the week, saying that they had given him direction and “such good counsel in these last few days.”
In the wake of the allegations against Archbishop Theodore McCarrick, DiNardo reiterated how over the summer, the bishops committed themselves to three goals: an investigation of the claims against McCarrick, developing an easier way to report abuse, and developing a means of holding bishops accountable. “We are on course to accomplish these goals,” DiNardo told the crowd of bishops.
Catholic News Agency (Baltimore, Md., Nov 14, 2018)
LOCAL NEWS
Diocesan Stewardship Conference A Success!
On November 8, 2018, our Diocesan Stewardship Conference was held in Charleston at our beautiful Pastoral Center. Kudos to Carrie Mummert, Director and Assistant Director, Amanda Kepshire of Stewardship for the Diocese for a well-planned, successful day!
In the morning, we heard from Eric McArdle, President of Catholic Stewardship Consultants and Fr. Gary Kastl. Eric spoke about practical elements of a stewardship-based parish and Fr. Gary presented examples of stewardship parishes from the three parishes he ministered at as a young priest. Both were dynamic speakers.
Of course, I think most attendees would agree that our afternoon speaker, Katie Conner, attorney and mother of nine, stole our hearts as she described her faith, her spouse's faith, and that of her children, as well as how they live out their call to be a stewardship family.
All speakers had much to share, and I was glad that I was invited to attend. Be sure to check out the talks on the Office of Stewardship Website soon!
Collaborative Ministry Iniative
The first weekend in November was a great time for those religious sisters who minister in the state of South Carolina, as well as a few from North Carolina, to see what happens at the Collaborative Ministry Initiative sponsored by the foundation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Augustine of Cleveland, Ohio.
The Sisters of Charity Foundation serves the unmet needs of children, families and communities in South Carolina through a variety of programs, grant opportunities, collaborative ventures, education and training for nonprofit organizations. As part of this foundation, the sisters wanted to reach the many sisters who minister in the state but whom often times do not see or talk to each other.
In 2004, the Collaboration for Ministry Initiative (CMI) was formed as an annual conference which gathers sisters, staff of the foundation, and guest speakers. Our own Bishop Guglielmone comes to give the sisters a state of the union address regarding the Church in South Carolina and celebrate mass.
The theme for this year was Pilgrimage to Happiness: Discipleship Along a Moonlit Path with Sister Clare D'Auria, OSF from Aston, PA as the speaker. Sister Clare shared how we each go through various stages of life and how we grow in Christian Maturity. She used the thoughts of one of the great spiritual writers of our time: Fr. Ron Rolheiser. The books referenced were: The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire. Each sister received a copy of the second book. The gathering is a blessed event and one which is appreciated very much by the sisters from various religious communities. This year was the 14th annual event with hopes that it will continue for many years into the future.
Year IV Formation for Mission and Ministry Program Second Semester Schedule
BEAUFORT DEANERY
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
St. Gregory the Great, Bluffton
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: St. Peters, Beaufort, St. Francis by the Sea, Holy Family; any mission church members
CHARLESTON DEANERY
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Christ Our King, Mount Pleasant
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: St. Benedict, St. Clare of Assisi, Stella Maris
Thursday, January 24, 2019
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Immaculate Conception, Goose Creek
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: St. John the Beloved, St. Theresa Little Flower, St. Philip Benizi
Tuesday, February 5, 2019
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
DOC Assembly Hall, Charleston
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: Blessed Sacrament, Nativity, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist,
St. Mary of Annunciation, St. Patrick
COLUMBIA DEANERY
Thursday, February 7, 2019
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
St. Joseph, Columbia
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: St. Peters, St. Thomas Moore at USC, St. Martin de Porres,
St. John Neumann, Catholic Community of Sumter, Transfiguration, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Mary-Our Lady of Hope
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
8:30 am – 1:30 pm
Corpus Christi, Lexington
Lunch Provided
Parishes in this Session: Our Lady of the Hills, Our Lady of the Lake, St. John of the Cross, St. Theresa, Holy Trinity
October 30, 2018
Faith Formation Webinar
St. Mary Help of Christians Church, Aiken, South Carolina
October 23, 2018
Sacred Heart Church Retreat
Pinehurtst, North Carolina
BOOK OF THE MONTH
Migrants and Refugees: Witnesses to Hope
Pope Francis looks at the pressing witness needed in response to the growing occurrence of human migration.
Just Released!
Visiting the Elderly A Guide for Ministers of Care by Linda Dayler
By Twenty-Third Publications. 32 pps. Bulk pricing available
FACTOIDS
Families and Addiction
It's estimated that one in four children in the United States (or approximately 18.25 million children) live in a family with a parent who is addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Did You KNow?
In wealthy San Francisco, treatment of homeless draws UN condemnation. You can read more here: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/in-wealthy-san-francisco-treatment-of-homeless-draws-un-condemnation-38902
Office of Pastoral Formation
Email: kadamski@charlestondiocese.org
Website: www.charlestondiocese.org
Location: 901 Orange Grove Road, Charleston, SC, USA
Phone: 843.261.0498