Catholic Pastoral Theology

1. Catholic Pastoral Theology Bill Huebsch Institute for Pastoral Studies Loyola University of Chicago

2. Pastoral Accompaniment • The attitudes, words, and actions of the parish priest and pastoral workers. • How the parish programs are organized to assist parishioners. • Accompaniment in Faith Formation • The voice or presence of the parish in the wider community, how it is seen and heard.

3. Attitude really matters For all pastoral leaders • We tend to resent people • Or give up on them • For being absent • Or breaking the rules • We tend to label people • “They’re unchurched” • “They don’t support the parish” • We are often personally offended

4. Attitude really matters For all pastoral leaders • A journey of their own • God is acting in their lives • A loving touch from you may be all that is needed to open that up • A sense of reverence for the mystery • New attitude: I am Jesus to them

5. Attitude really matters For all pastoral leaders • The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment” JoG 169 • which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other • Our attitude: Love but do not condemn • Pray that you will be filled with love • Be like the father of the prodigal son

7. Your language For all pastoral leaders • Don’t become the “elder brother” • How you speak to those • Living outside our rules • Or beneath our norms • Instead of judging or condemning • Compassion, mercy, and hope • Your words: loving and kind

8. For many (most?) of you • A welcome relief • You no longer have to “throw the book” at people who have suffered • Freely offer them love and your open heart • Welcome them in Jesus’ name

9. Reconciliation For parish priests • Into the confessional • People trust they will be heard and loved • An environment of welcome • Become known as a compassionate confessor • Rather than a strict judge of others’ sins

10. This may change For parish priests • The form of Reconciliation • communal celebrations • challenge people to embrace God’s love and forgiveness • “safety” from judgement • How we invite people to private confession • As accompaniment toward holiness

11. The crowds For parish priests • How you address the parish in your homilies • How you address crowds of “flower people” • Christmas, Easter, • Funerals, Weddings • Offer God’s unconditional love to them

12. People in irregular situations For all pastoral leaders • See them anew • God is acting in their lives • They may not hear their own conscience • Or know they are forgiven • Gradually moving toward God • Honor the mystery in that • But do not judge

13. Don’t jump to conclusions • Don’t assume the 2nd marriage is adultery • It very well may not be • Even without an annulment • Instead, • listen to the whole story • hope & comfort • discern the voice of God in their conscience • guide them to the tribunal if possible

14. Black or white thinking For all pastoral leaders • You may begin to see that it’s not • inside or outside the church • with or not with God • Catholic or non-Catholic • We are all God’s children • The poor aren’t the “Catholic poor” • The environment isn’t “where Catholics live” • When is someone “part of the church”?

15. Parish Plan for Accompaniment

16. A program of accompaniment • Would offer each parishioner access to a personal accompanist • Not everyone wants this, of course • But for those who do, it’s a great gift

17. An accompanying parish • A program for accompaniment • Train your team • Announce it with enthusiasm • Include the youth • This cannot be piecemeal • The team and parish priest must all sign on • Be an accompanying parish

18. Training • Renew personal faith • Both friendship with Jesus • As well as Catholic faith • Understand the Call to Holiness • Know what the Church teaches • Learn to speak about it in plain English • Have at hand the ability to help others understand it

19. Our Catholic Life • The whole Catechism in plain English • With a good index • And an Imprimatur • Learn how to explain what we teach in terms people can understand

20. Training • What to do in complex situations • Suicide • Abuse • Violence • Community resources to draw on • The connection to the sacrament of reconciliation Some things must be reported

21. This is all a variation on what you’re doing now The benefit is the added dimensions of theological reflection and discernment

22. Forming conscience Avoid either of two extremes

23. Overly church-law-centered • We form our conscience only to be in accord with church teaching • We may never reach any other conclusion • No matter what our conscience tells us • Humans in relationship to law • Rigidity – turning people away • We become “remote controlled” by the church (Pope Francis’ term)

24. Overly self-centered • Where we try to justify any decision • “Anything goes…” • Without adequate prayer and discernment • Without regard for church law, custom, and practice • Lax – people lose their bearing • Not within our tradition as Catholics

25. Balanced Christ-centered • Discernment • In a prayerful and serious way • We stand before the Lord’s Cross • Responding to the call to die to ourselves • Often with the help of an Accompanist • We listen for the voice of Christ • The restless heart seeking God

26. In sum For all pastoral leaders • The attitudes, words, and actions • Of the parish priest and pastoral team • Make all the difference in the world. • You have all the permission you need to be merciful and compassionate

27. Henri Nouwen • To pray means to stop expecting from God the same small-mindedness which you discover in yourself. • You see yourself as forgiven • You are a healed healer

28. Nouwen • At that moment, conversion occurs, the restoration of the true relationship. • You act in God’s name • In whose name do you fail to forgive? • In whose name do you exclude? • In whose name do you condemn them?

29. Pastoral Accompaniment • The attitudes, words, and actions of the parish priest and pastoral workers. • How the parish programs are organized to assist parishioners. • Accompaniment in Faith Formation • The voice or presence of the parish in the wider community, how it is seen and heard.

30. Parish tools for accompaniment www.ArtofAccompaniment.com • How do folks encounter Christ? • Parish based retreats • Faith sharing at every meeting • Baptism prep • Also, post-baptism up to the first sacraments • Confirmation prep • Accompanying parents to play their role

31. Accompaniment www.ArtofAccompaniment.com • Faith formation • Coaching young parents • Helping them become the primary teachers • Don’t replace them with a program • But accompany them • Offer them assurance and affirmation

32. Accompaniment www.ArtofAccompaniment.com • Pastoral care • Reaching out well beyond our borders • The needs of ecumenical households • Marriage prep • A relationship that doesn’t end at the wedding • Requires that we listen to them carefully • Help them discern God’s voice

33. Free or inexpensive resources For all pastoral leaders ArtofAccompaniment.com

34. Pastoral Accompaniment • The attitudes, words, and actions of the parish priest and pastoral workers. • How the parish programs are organized to assist parishioners. • Accompaniment in Faith Formation • The voice or presence of the parish in the wider community, how it is seen and heard.

35. The “voice” of the parish For all pastoral leaders • Sit down with a team • Talk through the elements of parish life • What is your front door like? • Who meets a guest or visitor? • Who answers the phone or email? • How accessible are you and your team? • Is your parish warm and inviting? • Or cold and scary? It takes a team for this. The parish priest cannot usually do it alone.

36. The “voice” of the parish For all pastoral leaders • What is “the voice” of the parish? • In the signs that welcome & direct folks? • In the homily? • In the announcements and written material? • On the web? • Language creates reality • What are you saying?

37. Personal Accompaniment • The help that family members or friends intend to give each other. • The mutual help that spouses or good friends give each other. • Accidental, short-term accompaniment.

38. Household life • Married to someone without faith (or religion) • Parents who are old or dying • A job change or loss • Life changes as we age • Tough financial times • The in-laws! Or the kids! Or the neighbors! • The ups and downs of life

39. Short- term • Accidental meetings • In which God works through you • Keep your attitude strong: • God is acting through you to touch others • God is also acting in their lives • Be ready!

40. Remedial work For all pastoral leaders • In the past: a bit closed and rigid • Doors were not always perceived to be “open” • People did not feel they would be heard • Their own journey of faith was not trusted • We tended to judge “insiders” vs “outsiders” • The Holy Father is calling us to fix this • How?

41. Remedial work For all pastoral leaders • Step 1: Decide as a parish to do this • The parish priest is crucial • Step 2: Ask for a little training • Shape a method and a plan • Step 3: Make this a public matter in the parish

42. Remedial work For all pastoral leaders • Step 4: • Send current active parishioners home • to tell their kids and siblings • that the church still loves them. • Tell them our hearts are open to them. • We are ready to accompany them • Without first condemning them.

43. How to Invite & Welcome www.ArtofAccompaniment.com • An e-Resource kit • Fully reproducible • Tools to give your active people to help them reach out to others • “How to Speak about your Faith without Annoying Others” • “We are the People of God, and you’re part of the family!” • FREE!

44. How to Invite & Welcome • Your ambassadors are your active parishioners • Their mission is to their own family & friends • You give them permission • And you make sure your door is open! • If not, people will step forward • but quickly run away!

45. What does it mean to “Open your Doors” • New attitude of mercy & accompaniment • Translated into • The actions of the pastoral leaders • The voice of the parish • Your people will have to trust that if their family member or friend comes to your door, that you will welcome them • That you will trust God’s action in their lives

46. How to Invite & Welcome For all pastoral leaders ArtofAccompaniment.com

47. For sins in the past • Forgiveness • Moving onward… • God does not lead us into darkness • Selfishness or Sin • These are times when tender love is vital

48. In conclusion Jesus: The Chief Accompanist

49. The road to Emmaus (Luke 24) • He allowed them to speak from their hearts • He heard their whole story • His questions were open ended • He doesn’t try to “solve their problems” • Jesus does not merely affirm the disciples • He challenges them. • He calls them “foolish” and “slow of heart.”

50. The road to Emmaus (Luke 24) • Jesus sounds fairly harsh here, but apparently it wasn’t too much • Spoiler alert: • They will still ask him to stay for dinner • Accompaniment should also help people see that Jesus stays with them and death/darkness don’t have the final say.