catholicPittsburgh.org

It is with great anticipation that we announce this year’s speaker’s series planned by the Association of Pittsburgh Priests (APP). Because of the positive response from previous years, we have decided to increase the series from three speakers to four this year. We invite you to put them on your calendar and attend all four if you can and invite others who are interested to join you.

Our first talk will be held on Wednesday, August 12 with Joshua McElwee, Vatican Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter. He is a graduate of Catholic University and the winner of numerous awards. His title is, “What Can We Expect of the Synod on the Family?” The challenges to family life around the world led Pope Francis to call a Synod, a special worldwide meeting of Catholic Bishops. The focus of the current Synod begun last fall and continuing this fall accentuates the complexities of promoting and supporting family life in the 21st Century. Two questions that McElwee will address in August are: “Will the bishops find common ground on these important issues and can Church tradition evolve as a living tradition?”

The second talk in the series will be given by Roy Bourgeois. His talk is entitled: “My Journey from Silence to Solidarity: The Struggle for Justice and Equality”. It will be presented on Tuesday, September 1. Bourgeois will share his personal faith journey from Vietnam to Maryknoll and priesthood, to ministry with the poor in Bolivia. Returning to the U.S. Roy became an outspoken critic of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America. In 1990 he founded the School of the America’s Watch for which he has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2012 he spoke publicly in favor of ordination of women to the Catholic priesthood, which led to his expulsion from Maryknoll and the priesthood. Bourgeois has spoken in Pittsburgh several times with the most recent visit sponsored by the PA Call to Action Chapter that recognized him for his continuous prophetic witness to Gospel values.

On Wednesday, October 7, Dr. Daniel Scheid, from the Theology Department at Duquesne University, will speak on: “Laudato Sii (Be Praised): On the Care of Our Common Home”, Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment. Scheid will explore various themes of Pope Francis’ groundbreaking encyclical. Drawing on his namesake, St. Francis, Pope Francis underscores that care for the Earth, “our common home”, is not marginal to the Christian vocation, but central. In Providence, God’s plan indicates an “integral ecology” that calls all to be protectors of creation and of each person. Scheid will also highlight the main themes and propose directions for future development of Catholic ecological teaching.

The final talk will be given by St. Joseph Sister Kathy Sherman from La Grange, Illinois. She is a musician-composer, a gifted singer, liturgist and a Director of Spiritual Formation. Her talk is entitled: “Love Cannot be Silenced: Our Message and Our Mission” and will be offered on November 12. Our world/planet is crying out for healing, hope and communion. The evening will invite reflection on the gift and challenge of incarnating the Love of God at this moment in history. As disciples, in community, we give witness to the Gospel by proclaiming to the world that “love cannot be silenced.” Reflection will include Scripture, story, and original music by Sherman, who began writing music and lyrics in 1966 and has published at least fourteen CD’s. As an example, her song, Language of the Heart, addresses the images of families affected by the Vietnam War and reaches across boundaries to reconcile and interconnect divisions.

All the talks will be held at Kearns Spirituality Center, 9000 Babcock Blvd. in Allison Park behind the Motherhouse of the Sisters of Divine Providence from 7 – 9 PM. To RSVP, call 412.366.1124 or contact kearns@cdpsisters.org. The fee is $20. per talk; or $65.for the series.

For further information contact John Oesterle @ 412-232-7512.