May 7, 2006

As many of you know Fr. Bob and I spent the better part of three days last week at the Annual Convocation of all priests and Pastoral Administrators from our Diocese. It is mandated by our bishop but it is always a time for growth, prayer and socializing. Apart from this gathering there are some of our brothers and sisters in ministry spread out over our 12 counties whom we would rarely see. One interesting side note - we now have with us 17 Pastoral Administrators - Deacons, Religious Sisters and lay folks who are leaders of parishes where there is no priest pastor. This represents more than 10% of all parishes. Also, 50% of our parishes are now in some form of clustering - and less than 50% of our parishes are "stand alone" parishes like ours. This speaks volumes about changes and challenges we face - along with the church all across our country.

The focus of our convocation this year was End of Life and Stem Cell Issues. I'd have to say that it was one of the very best gatherings we've had and most informative.

Our speakers included: Dr. Robert McCann, M.D., Professor of Medicine at the U of R and chief of Medicine at Highland Hospital, Dr. Thomas A. Shannon, Ph.D., Bio-ethicist and Goodwin-Philpott Eminent scholar at Auburn University, Fr. Richard Fragomeni, Professor of Liturgy and Preaching at Catholic Theological University in Chicago.

Pastoral responses to some of these biomedical ethics were highlighted recently by the Terry Schiavo case and by the debate over stem cell research. Our speakers gave a very balanced approach relying on both good science and solid Catholic Theology. I really believe that some events in recent years have tended to distort our long and balanced theology around death and dying. We always taught that extraordinary means were not necessary simply to prolong biological functions. We champion the sacredness of life but we also believe in life eternal. In one of our Prefaces at the Funeral Mass we pray - "Life is changed not ended." Acknowledging the limits of even the most sophisticated medical advances a wise physician once said that "we care always and cure sometimes".

Peace,
Fr. Chuck