WORKSHOP | THE SCRIPTURES: LIVING SOURCE OF HOPE

As Christians, we believe the Scriptures are God's living word given to us to sustain our faith in every age of our human history. So once again, in this 21st century, we turn to the Scriptures to find the inspiration, strength and especially the HOPE we need to sustain us in our daily lives, particularly in times of doubt, struggle, and suffering. And in this year dedicated to consecrated life, we look to the scriptures for the hope we need to face the challenges and questions that confront religious life today. Let us together open our minds and hearts to God's voice and presence speaking to us through the lives of the women and men we encounter in the scriptures in order to re- vitalize, nurture and strengthen our hope.

Mary Schneiders, OP, PhD is a Dominican Sister of Hope (Ossining, NY.) For the past 21 years, she has been a fulltime staff member of Berakah Spirituality and Retreat Center in Pittsfield, NH (formerly Berakah Renewal Center) where she teaches courses in Scripture, Theology and Spirituality, and journeys with people in spiritual direction. Prior to that Sr. Mary taught theology and Scripture at Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, NY for 11 years. She offers retreats and workshops at many retreat centers, parishes, and women’s groups throughout the US. Sr. Mary has an MA in Religious Studies from Providence College in Providence, RI, and a PhD in Theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

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WEBINAR | RELIGIOUS FORMATION: NAMING THE PRESENT MOMENT

As we enter a new year, what is our present moment in terms of the issues we face within religious formation? What are our underlying assumptions about our world and our church? Where does our hope lie? In 2021 and beyond, what should be our agenda moving forward? This webinar is an an exercise in naming and explores our response as believers in Christ’s Good News. 

Webinar with Ronald Rohlheiser, OMI

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Authenticity, Vocation, & the Risk of Faith: Hopes and Challenges for the Synod on Young People

On September 20 and 21 the RFC participated in the Catholics on Call Partner Conference at Catholic Theological Union. The theme of the Partner Conference and the presentation was entitled, "Authenticity, Vocation & the Risk of Faith: Hopes and Challenges for the Synod On Young People." Fr. Dan Horan, OFM gave an overview of the preparatory materials that have been assembled for the Synod. To access the recorded video of the presentations (part 1 and 2), click:

Part 1

Part 2 

Religious Life Encountering Synodality

Pope Francis is asking every person to look deeply at how the people of God are experiencing ourselves as church and to ask what the Spirit is calling us to as church into the future. The call to members of consecrated life to participate in this process was specifically mentioned in the SYNOD 2023 PREPARATORY DOCUMENT. Additionally, each congregation has received an invitation from the USG (Union of Superiors General) and UISG (International Union of Superiors General) to participate and offer their perspectives.

Discussion with Professor Rafael Luciani and Sr. Maria Cimperman. Professor Luciani, Theology faculty at Boston College, is a member of the Theological Commission for the Synodality process. Sr. Maria, Theological Ethics faculty and Director of the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life, has been named by the UISG and USG to a four-person commission which created a process for congregations and who will encounter the responses from religious congregations and offer a synthesis for the Synod on Synodality.

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InFormation 1996 No. 2 : Cultural Diversity Parts 2 & 3, by Peter Phan

InFormation Bulletins - InFormation 1996 No.2 Mar-Apr

"Inculturation affects all aspects of church life and culture. In this section I would like to explore how cultural pluralism impacted upon the fourth "self," namely, self-theologizing, in the United States."


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Cover image InFormation 1996 Number 2 March-April
Author: 
Phan, Peter C., Ph.D.

InFormation 1996 No. 1 : Cultural Diversity Part 1, by Peter Phan

InFormation Bulletins - InFormation 1996 No.1 Jan-Feb

"Lastly, if and when the local church has achieved sufficient autonomy from the "sending church," both institutionally and intellectually, and its members, both lay and clerical, have taken over the task of evangelizing not only individuals but their own culture as such, then inculturation, properly speaking, begins to take place. Then the third level of culture is engaged with, that is, the level at which the different meanings attached to the building blocks of culture are integrated together into a cultural system resulting in a world view."


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Cover image InFormation 1996 Number 1 January-February
Author: 
Phan, Peter C., Ph.D.

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