Year one of Dynamic Catholic Alive focuses on Prayer and the need to develop a consistent practice of prayer and reflection in our lives. A practical way of living that commitment is to participate in either a yearly retreat or one of the many days of recollection and reflection that are organized on an Archdiocesan level. Two of those opportunities are approaching rapidly. The Catholic Men for Christ Conference will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2015 at the Peabody Opera House. This year’s lineup includes George Weigel, Tim Staples, Terry Barber, and our very own Msgr. James J. Ramicciotti. For more information, or to register, go to https://www.catholicmenforchrist.org/2015-conference.html.
Likewise, the Catholic Women for Christ Conference will be held on March 21st, at the St. Charles Convention Center. Keynote speakers are Teresa Tomeo and Brenda Sharman. Go to http://www.catholicwomenforchrist.org/ for registration information.
In light of the events around our Country, Bishop Edward Braxton of Belleville published a Letter called: The Racial Divide in the United States: A Reflection for the World Day of Peace 2015. It is certainly worth the reading and reflection it engenders. It consists of 6 parts:
I. Prologue – an invitation to imagine the country and the Church from a different perspective.
II. A New Awareness of the Racial Divide and a Call to Christian Dialogue: a Christmas challenge to enter the dialogue.
III. Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, John Crawford Ill, Michael Brown, Jr., Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice: An insightful summary of the known facts about their deaths and the international protests that followed.
IV. What we have Seen and Heard: an invitation to reflect upon these events within the context of the Church’s teachings and actions concerning the racial divide in America.
V. Are there really “Minority” Americans and “Minority” Catholics?: an expansion of the dialogue that examines the negative impact of expressions such as “minorities” and “minority groups.
VI. Conclusion: Pray, Listen, Learn, Think, and Act: some specific suggestions of activities that may help bridge the racial divide.
Go to: http://bellevillemessenger.org/2014/12/bishop-braxton-writes-a-letter-on-racial-divide-in-the-united-states/ for the entire document.
(I will return to the “Just One Thing” wellness document next week…)