10.07.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:55 pm by admin
Challenging and widely reported document promoting an authentic Catholic identity for today’s Church.
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue has written Fit for Mission? Church to foster and promote an authentic Catholic identity among the men, women and children of the 21st century, to enable them to resist the pressures to compromise, even abandon, the truths of the Catholic faith.
To that end the Bishop offers practical guidance on how to correctly interpret and live out the teachings of the Second Vatican Council, through challenging the common misinterpretations of the key Council documents on Liturgy, Revelation, the Church, and the Church in the world.
He takes an unflinching look at the hard questions that have arisen since the close of the Second Vatican Council, convinced that if we regain the Catholic sense of balancing change with continuity, the life of parishes will be energised by the gifts of the Holy Spirit given at the Council.
This expanded edition draws on Pope Benedict XVI’s addresses and homilies in 2008 at World Youth Day and during his apostolic journey to France; also the writings of John Henry Newman, and others. Fit for Mission? Church is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Fit for Mission? Schools (2008) - also available from the Catholic Truth Society (Do 779).
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue is the Bishop of Lancaster, former Rector of Allen Hall Seminary (1985-90), and Administrator of Westminster Cathedral (1990-1993).
AVAILABLE FROM 10TH OCTOBER 2008. ADVANCE ORDERS CAN BE PLACED NOW.
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Posted in Uncategorized at 12:50 pm by admin
Cardinal Praises Bishop O’Donoghue’s Teaching of Social Doctrine.
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue’s recently published teaching document, Fit for Mission? Church, has received the commendation of Cardinal Renato Martino, the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.
This follows the strong support already received from the Congregation for the Clergy that recommended the bishop’s document as ‘an effective, practical instrument for advancing the much heralded New Evangelisation’.
Cardinal Martino praises Fit for Mission? Church for being ‘very well put together, incorporating all of the main elements of Catholic social thought.’ He goes on to recommend it as a resource for the wider Church, writing, ‘I am confident that it will be a useful and helpful resource to the local Church of Lancaster and beyond. Congratulations and many blessings upon your ministry as shepherd and teacher.
’Bishop Patrick comments: ‘I am particularly pleased that Fit for Mission? Church has won the approval of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, because it has the responsibility in the Church to deepen the social doctrine of the Church, and make it more widely known and applied by both parishes and individuals. A passionate and effective concern for social justice must be an essential aspect of any renewal of the Church.’
News of the Cardinal’s letter coincides with the Diocese of Lancaster’s announcement that the Catholic Truth Society is to publish an expanded edition of Fit for Mission? Church on the 17th October 2008. This new, second edition comes only 7 weeks after the release of the first edition by the diocese, such has been the popularity of the bishop’s book.
As well as drawing on Pope Benedict XVI’s homilies and addresses at World Youth Day 2008 and his apostolic journey to France in September, the CTS expanded edition include three new sections:
Venerable John Henry Newman – Prophet of the Second Vatican Council : This new section examines Cardinal Newman’s prophetic insight into the challenges posed to the Church by a militant, secularist political establishment.T
he Battleground of Conscience: This section considers the wide-spread misinterpretation of the Second Vatican Council’s understanding of conscience. Bishop Patrick argues that the Council did not promote the self-assertive autonomy of conscience, but the formation of conscience in the light of doctrine.
Anti-Catholicism – The Last Acceptable Prejudice: In this section Bishop Patrick expresses his concern about the growing anti-Catholicism and Christianophobia he sees in modern British society. He reflects on his experience of being summoned to defend Church teaching by the Commons Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families.
Bishop Patrick comments: ‘I am very grateful to the Catholic Truth Society for giving me the opportunity to further develop my thinking about the renewal of the Church, and bringing Fit for Mission? Church to a wider-audience.’
The Catholic Truth Society’s expanded edition of Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue’s Fit for Mission? Church is now available to order from http://www.cts-online.org.uk/. 020 7640 0042 £8.95 / $16.56
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09.24.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:13 am by admin
Congregation for Clergy’s swift and ringing endorsement of Fit for Mission? -Church and defence of Fit for Mission? - Schools
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue is delighted to announce that the Congregation for the Clergy – with remarkable speed – have written to commend his latest document, Fit for Mission? Church. Just over three weeks after the release of the document on the 27th August, Archbishop Mauro Piacenza, Secretary of the Congregation has written not only to praise Fit for Mission? Church but to give the Congregation’s reaction to the stormy reception of Bishop Patrick’s earlier document, Fit for Mission? Schools.
Fit for Mission? Church
Archbishop Mauro Piacenza recommends Fit for Mission? Church as providing
‘an effective, practical instrument for advancing the much heralded New Evangelisation. If this renewal of the Faith is to take root, it cannot remain a mere “slogan” but must be woven into the web of contemporary culture. Fit for Mission? Church gives much needed indication as to the means of accomplishing this great mission of the Church.’
As the Congregation tasked with the responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Bishop Patrick is particularly pleased with their commendation of his document’s use of this invaluable synthesis of the Church’s Faith,
‘The latest document in the series, Fit for Mission? Church, is hewn from the same rich vein as Fit for Mission? Schools, namely the Traditions of the Church as expressed in the Second Vatican Council and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.’
Fit for Mission? Schools1
The Congregation also expresses its amazement at the controversial reaction to Bishop Patrick’s Fit for Mission? Schools, and strongly supports his right as an individual bishop to speak out on Catholic education:
‘It is still somewhat amazed at the reaction the text provoked as it was both an appropriate and legitimate exercise of Episcopal authority by a Successor of the Apostles charged by God , and by the Church, to ensure that the Faith is transmitted correctly and in its entirety, to the People of God entrusted to his care. You were simply doing your duty in this regard’.
Archbishop Piacenza goes on to support the purpose of Fit for Mission? Schools, to cultivate an authentic Catholic ethos in schools that is capable of resisting the growing pressures to compromise the teachings of the Church. The Congregation also reveals that Bishop Patrick’s assessment of the state of Catholic education in this country is in accord with correspondence received by the Congregation from the Faithful of England and Wales over many years.
‘It should go without saying that Catholic schools, as one of the primary vehicles for this ongoing task, must be imbued with a Catholic ethos that is real and not simply imaginary. Your Lordship has realistically faced a situation that has been an oft repeated theme over many years, by the Faithful of your country in their correspondence with this Congregation. The Dicastery again lauds you for your courageous action.’
Bishop Patrick comments;
‘I am very moved by the strong support my Fit for Mission? documents have received from one of the most senior Congregations of the Holy See. During the controversy caused by Fit for Mission? Schools I was heartened by the support I received from the Dicasteries and bishops around the world, priests and from ordinary Faithful from many countries. I get the sense that the Congregation shares the same sense of urgency that informs Fit for Mission? Church. We must immediately establish a systematic, creative and exciting programme of education in the fullness of the Faith, on the scale of the Counter-Reformation, engaging clergy, teachers, politicians, artists, theologians, musicians, architects, web designers, and many more. It is my hope that people will see the Fit for Mission? documents as a road map to help the Church in England and Wales face this challenge.’
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Posted in Uncategorized at 11:05 am by admin
Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue’s essential guide to being a Catholic today
The Diocese of Lancaster published Bishop Patrick O’Donoghue’s powerful new book, Fit for Mission? Church on Wednesday 27th August. Bishop O’Donoghue has written Fit for Mission? Church to foster and promote an authentic and confident Catholic identity among the men, women and children of the 21st century, to enable them to resist the pressures to compromise, even abandon, the truths of the Catholic faith.
Nine months in preparation, Fit for Mission? Church presents Bishop Patrick’s first considered response to the sixteenth month consultation process examining the sacramental and missionary life of all the 108 parishes of the Diocese of Lancaster.
In the same straight forward and honest style as his Vatican-acclaimed teaching document, Fit for Mission? Schools, his latest ongoing formation document highlights good things that are going on in the life of the Church, points out where things have gone wrong, and offers practical suggestions on how to uphold and strengthen our Catholic identity.
Bishop Patrick takes an unflinching look at the hard questions that have arisen since the close of the Second Vatican Council. One of the over-arching questions the Bishop raises is, ‘Why has the post-conciliar period been a time of both faithful implementation and brazen dissent in the life of the Church; a time of confidence and communion, but also of confusion and discord?’
Fit for Mission? Church examines the correct interpretation of the Second Vatican Council through returning to the eye-witnesses of the Council as a way of counter-balancing a pervasive misreading of documents that fuels confusion and dissent. The Bishop is convinced that many Catholics have forgotten that Pope John XXIII’s intention in convening the Second Vatican Council was to renew the life of the Church through sensitively balancing change necessary to meet the pastoral needs of the modern world with the life-giving continuity of doctrinal, moral and liturgical truths.
Losing touch with the original intention behind the Second Vatican Council has resulted in many clergy and laity forgetting what it means to be Catholic. In the hard-hitting section, ‘Have we forgotten what it is to be Catholic?’, Bishop Patrick reminds his readers of the essential requirements to be an authentic, practicing Roman Catholic.
Furthermore, Bishop Patrick takes the four Constitutions of the Council as the structure to examine the life and mission of the Church today. They are the four keys to unlock the true understanding and implementation of the Council.
Here are some highlights from the document:
Key One: Liturgy“Liturgy is not primarily about creating the experience of community, it should be about adoration of God. The Constitution on the liturgy envisaged the renewal of the liturgy as entailing careful changes that facilitated the active participation of the laity balanced with preserving what is essential to the tradition of the Church.
The Council Fathers never envisaged a totally vernacular liturgy, but quite specifically decided that the Mass should contain both Latin and the vernacular. However, much that the Council wanted to preserve has, until recently, been in danger of being forgotten. It is time that we remembered that we are part of the Latin-rite Catholic Church. This is our heritage, this is our culture.” (pp 33-42)
Key Two: Revelation
“The acceptance of the validity of modern methods of studying the Bible by the Church has undoubtedly enriched our knowledge of Scripture; but at the same time it has not been without risks of misuse by some theologians, casting shadows across the lives of the faithful through – among other things – irresponsible and inauthentic catechesis.
As your bishop, I am concerned that those in positions of responsibility pass on a full and complete exposition of Catholic doctrine. The Constitution on Divine Revelation and the Catechism of the Catholic Church sets up a series of checks and balances that should be used by theologians in studying scripture and by the faithful to judge the authenticity of sensational claims and media-hyped speculations.” (pp 43-54)
Key Three: The Church
“We have witnessed over the past forty years a growing crisis in the Catholic understanding or self-identity of the Church. This crisis about the identity of the Church is at the root of all the other crises that face us. Many no longer have a Catholic understanding of the Church, as a body willed by Christ. Many no longer consider the Catholic Church unique, but just view her as one church among many churches.
What needs to happen is for catechesis to take hold of the heart and imagination of thousands across the diocese. If people see catechesis as another word for attaining a deeper relationship, deeper personal knowledge, a deeper communion with Jesus, the passion, the fire would catch in many hearts. True catechesis is profoundly personal and transforming, through which the Church awakens in our souls!” (pp 55-64)
Key Four: The Church in the Modern World
“Loving our Neighbour has Political Implications. We can’t call ourselves Catholic and then simply stand by while migrants get mistreated, or the poor get robbed, or unborn children get killed. The Catholic faith is always personal, but never private. If our faith is real, then it will bear fruit in our public decisions and behaviours, including our political choices. So can a Catholic in good conscience vote and campaign for a political candidate who supports and promotes abortion and/ or euthanasia or promotes a cut in international aid?
My personal answer to this question is: I can’t and I won’t. But I do know some serious Catholics — people whom I admire on a whole range of issues — who will vote and campaign for MPs who hold all kinds of positions that are against the teachings of the Church. I know that they do sincerely struggle with their party’s position on, say, abortion or stem-cell research, and it causes them real pain. More importantly: They don’t keep quiet about it! They re-double their efforts to bring about reform of their party’s position.” (pp 65-78)
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06.25.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 10:49 am by admin
12th June 2008
My dear people,
Today, I received with great delight the long-awaited Final Proposals of the extensive Fit for Mission Parishes Review. This report marks the end of an extensive consultation. First, let me, on behalf of the Diocese; thank the Review Team and Core Group for their commitment to this painstaking undertaking over a period of 18 months. I marvel at their generosity and perseverance.
Theirs was a gigantic task but they stuck with it for 18 months. Our sincere thanks and congratulations, too, to our parishes, deaneries and individuals who have contributed so positively to this review. Here we had consultation at every level throughout the Diocese and where it did not happen it was due entirely to resistance at parish or deanery level.
What we have achieved is something quite remarkable – a Mission Review that has combined an honest evaluation of our sacramental and mission priorities with a courageous vision of the future shape of the Diocese in the years ahead. Again, this Review was about mission and how we are to strengthen the communication of the Faith today. It was not all about the linking and merging of parishes though inevitably this will happen. What is of real concern is the prayer-life of our parishes, schools and homes and the living out of the faith with confidence. At the very heart of the mission of the Church is our being gathered together in Christ and being sent out as witnesses to Him and leading others to Him. For as the Prophet Jeremiah reminds us; The Lord is at our side as a mighty hero for we have committed our cause to Him. Today’s psalm teaches us that with His help we will never fail for the Lord listens to the needy. We can only do this under the power of the Holy Spirit. We need not be afraid.
Now I must take time to study the proposals and pray about them before taking my own recommendations based on my consideration of The Final Proposals to the Diocesan Council of Priests. My first task, guided by the Council, is to make decisions about the future of those parishes identified as requiring immediate action.
You know my programme over the next couple of months – Australia (World Youth Day Festival with the Holy Father), Lourdes (Diocesan Pilgrimage) and then a much-needed holiday. So there will be little time for an examination of these important proposals until early September. Perhaps we should be looking for a date in late October or early November for an initial meeting with the Council of Priests about the first round of implementations. I am bound to consult fully with the Council before making any final decisions.
Meanwhile, please continue to keep Fit for Mission to the forefront of your prayers and I ask again for your help in the work of mission; also support in the implementation of the changes when they are finally agreed – the future will demand of us great generosity, courage and sacrifice. In this year when we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes, I ask our Diocesan Patroness to help and intercede for us in the weeks and months ahead.
With every good wish and prayer,Bishop Patrick O’Donohue
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Posted in Uncategorized at 10:40 am by admin
12th June 2008
My dear people,
Today, I received with great delight the long-awaited Final Proposals of the extensive Fit for Mission Parishes Review. This report marks the end of an extensive consultation. First, let me, on behalf of the Diocese; thank the Review Team and Core Group for their commitment to this painstaking undertaking over a period of 18 months. I marvel at their generosity and perseverance.
Theirs was a gigantic task but they stuck with it for 18 months. Our sincere thanks and congratulations, too, to our parishes, deaneries and individuals who have contributed so positively to this review. Here we had consultation at every level throughout the Diocese and where it did not happen it was due entirely to resistance at parish or deanery level.
What we have achieved is something quite remarkable – a Mission Review that has combined an honest evaluation of our sacramental and mission priorities with a courageous vision of the future shape of the Diocese in the years ahead. Again, this Review was about mission and how we are to strengthen the communication of the Faith today. It was not all about the linking and merging of parishes though inevitably this will happen. What is of real concern is the prayer-life of our parishes, schools and homes and the living out of the faith with confidence. At the very heart of the mission of the Church is our being gathered together in Christ and being sent out as witnesses to Him and leading others to Him. For as the Prophet Jeremiah reminds us; The Lord is at our side as a mighty hero for we have committed our cause to Him. Today’s psalm teaches us that with His help we will never fail for the Lord listens to the needy. We can only do this under the power of the Holy Spirit. We need not be afraid.
Now I must take time to study the proposals and pray about them before taking my own recommendations based on my consideration of The Final Proposals to the Diocesan Council of Priests. My first task, guided by the Council, is to make decisions about the future of those parishes identified as requiring immediate action.
You know my programme over the next couple of months – Australia (World Youth Day Festival with the Holy Father), Lourdes (Diocesan Pilgrimage) and then a much-needed holiday. So there will be little time for an examination of these important proposals until early September. Perhaps we should be looking for a date in late October or early November for an initial meeting with the Council of Priests about the first round of implementations. I am bound to consult fully with the Council before making any final decisions.
Meanwhile, please continue to keep Fit for Mission to the forefront of your prayers and I ask again for your help in the work of mission; also support in the implementation of the changes when they are finally agreed – the future will demand of us great generosity, courage and sacrifice. In this year when we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Lourdes, I ask our Diocesan Patroness to help and intercede for us in the weeks and months ahead.
With every good wish and prayer,
Bishop Patrick O’Donohue
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06.13.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:21 am by admin
Fit for Mission? - The Final Proposals are published in the links to the right of this page
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Posted in Uncategorized at 11:19 am by admin
Dear Friends,
After 16 months of prayer, consultation and planning
on 12 June the Core Group was pleased to present to
Bishop O’Donoghue and Bishop Campbell the Final
Proposals.
This considerable document will now be
studied and prayed about very closely by the Bishops
before their recommendations are brought to the
Council of Priests sometime in the Autumn.
Although the document which is a report to the
Bishops, is far too big to post to every parish, it is
attached here for downloading and printing.
As the parish aspect of Fit for Mission now closes we
want to express a huge thank you to everyone for your
prayers, generosity, cooperation and imagination.
Yours sincerely,
The Mission Review Team and its Core Group
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06.07.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:24 pm by admin
At their final meeting of 5 June the Core Group:
- Gave final approval to the the Draft Implementation Handbook (which requires further work) to be presented to Bishop O’Donoghue and Bishop Campbell on 12 June
- Gave final approval to The Final Proposals to be presented to Bishop O’Donoghue and Bishop Campbell on 12 June
- Confirmed final arrangements for the presentation of both documents to both Bishops on 12 June
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