The Archdiocese of Boston is advertising an upcoming symposium on adolescent catechesis. The poster proclaims that the speakers will enlighten and inspire those in attendance to “effectively transform adolescent catechesis and evangelization in the United States.” Pastoral associates, DRE’s coaches, and publishers are invited, along with a host of others who come in professional contact with teens. Absent from the list is parents. So, this raises a question: How can the archdiocese expect to effectively “transform” adolescent catechesis without parents?

The archdiocesan contact person, whose name and phone number are listed on the poster, said that not including parents on the list was, “clearly an oversight”. I suggest that it is not clearly an oversight, but a reflection of a worldview and an attitude that has been prevalent in this archdiocese for decades now. The attitude is one of fundamental distrust of parents and disrespect for marriage. It leads to the faulty conviction that academic credentials and occupational titles are fundamentally necessary for catechesis. It strips parents of their God-given role. The message has been: Hand over your kids and we’ll educate them for you. It’s time to ask: Have the children been educated by catechists? Has the faith been passed down by these programs?

The Catechism states, “‘The role of parents in education is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide an adequate substitute.’ The right and duty of parents to educate their children are primordial and inalienable.”

I hope that the symposium on adolescent catechesis recognizes, in the content it delivers, the critical role parents play in the development of their children. Unfortunately, this recognition is absent in the promotional materials.

For an very special read, try the Biography of Fr Augustine Tolton, the first black priest in the US. He was from my home Diosese of springfielg Ill.

A recent Saint (2002) is St. Josaphine Bakhita, A former Slave from Dufar province in Sudan. One day when she was dieing later in her life, some asked “how are you today”, she replied: I am as the Master wills.”

Perhaps we should remember the many Saints of color during this month also.

Jim

~Hannah

Please know that I have prayed for the happy repose of the souls of Fathers Marvin Justi and Robert Tyrrell. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to do so.

The election of a black president does mark an important advance in our culture’s evolution away from the racism that was so strong here historically.

Perhaps this is true. Yet abortion, as we know, adversely effects, in this country, the black community more than any other group. In this sense, it could be argued that the recent election marks an major step backward in our evolution away from racism.

Regarding the recent election, Dr. Alveda King said:

“The battle for equal rights has reached a major milestone, but Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream of full equality remains just a dream as long as unborn children continue to be treated no better than property.

“We must pray with persistence and love that, in God’s time, what is now deemed unthinkable will become reality – that all our brothers in sisters, from conception to natural death, will be protected in law and welcomed in society.”

“The elections are over. The pro-life battle begins anew.”

God bless you.

Hello, I am a student of student Saint Paul School in Hingham, Massachusetts. I greatly enjoyed your blog this week, it was wonderful! You sure travel a lot, you must love going to different places in the world, especially Rome! Well, i will look forward to your next blog.

~Marissa~

I really enjoyed your post on your visit to Fontbonne Academy. It was really nice to see everyone gathered together and singing. And it’s also inspiring to see they meet once monthly.

Thank you,
~Caroline

Ernie Bragiel