Meeting of Major Superiors Letter from Fr. Joe Nassal

Sep 19, 2016

September 19, 2016
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your prayers during the Meeting of the Major Superiors of the Precious Blood in Rome, September 12-18. There has been a noticeable change in leadership throughout the worldwide congregation. Only five provincials and/or mission directors from the previous Major Superiors meeting in Tanzania in September 2014 were present at this meeting. All the rest of the provincials and mission directors, including our own Brother Daryl Charron of Vietnam, were elected or appointed in the last two years. Br. Daryl is doing very well and sends his regards and prayers to all of you!
We had a full agenda that included an extensive discussion on reimagining our future. We reviewed and revised the policy, Criteria for Reconfiguring a Province or Vicariate that was approved at the C.PP.S. Major Superiors meeting in 2002. We also approved a policy on a member working in the apostolate in another C.PP.S. province, mission, or vicariate; and a procedure for sharing financial resources between C.PP.S. units.
I will have much more to report concerning our gathering in Rome, including information concerning preparation for the Community Life Symposium that will be held next summer in Rome. But today I thank you for your prayerful support and ask that you to keep community leadership in your prayers. Next week in Chicago, September 26-28, the provincials and councils of the Atlantic, Cincinnati, and Kansas City Provinces will be meeting with Fathers Bill Nordenbrock and Emanuele Lupi of the General Curia to discuss the future of the Precious Blood in North America. On September 29, the Cincinnati and Kansas City provincial councils will meet to focus on those areas where we are collaborating, including vocation ministry, formation, and Companions.
As always, we meet in prayer!
With peace,
Fr. Joe Nassal, C.PP.S.
Provincial Director

Lectionary Catechesis: OT 26C, September 25, 2016

Sep 9, 2016

Listening is a special skill that we have to learn. Listening to my own heart or the heart of the world, I will be tempted to eat, drink, and be merry. Listening to the prophets, Moses with the commandments, and most especially to Jesus requires the discipline of prayer and discernment. The rich man does not listen; he fails to hear the cry of the poor. The upshot of the readings is not just about our attention to the poor, but about our listening capacity.
OT 26 C Lectionary Catechesis

Lectionary Catechesis: OT 25C, September 18, 2016

Sep 2, 2016

Part III of the CCC is entitled “Life in Christ”. In two sections of this part, the Church organizes her teachings on Social and Economic Justice: Section I Chapter 2 “The Human Community” and the chapter on the 7th Commandment, “The Shall Not Steal.” Most of the citations for this week’s readings fall within these two sections. For those interested in the current culture wars, and what a Catholic culture is supposed to look like, these are two places to go. You will find that stewardship, prudence, and social justice are key concepts. Several Sundays ago we heard of the sins of Sodom from Ezekiel 16, 49-50.
OT 25 C Lectionary Catechesis

Vocations Reflection: Prayer and Witness

Consider a life of prayer for reconciliation and a life of witness on behalf of those who have no one to hear and help them. This is the life of a Precious Blood priest, sister, brother, volunteer, and companion. The Letter to Timothy urges us toward this life choice. In the Gospel of Luke we are challenged to be good stewards of our treasure and talent. What better way than to serve God and value the lifeblood of the whole human family.
Visit Precious Blood Vocations for more information about living a Precious Blood life.