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CORPUS is a faith community affirming an inclusive priesthood rooted in a reformed and renewed Church.
CORPUS, celebrating forty-two years of service to the people of God, is one of the oldest reform groups in the Catholic Church, and is active in reform movements both in the U.S. and abroad. We are committed to working for a renewed priesthood of married and single men and women dedicated to serving God through the Community of Believers.
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
WITH DISCOMFORT ...At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, So that you may live deep within your heart.
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
To shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war. So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them And to turn their pain into JOY.
- Benedictine Sr. Ruth Fox
Results of the 2017 Survey of CORPUS Membership
To provide guidelines for the Planning Committee (set up by the Executive Council in July 2016) a survey of the 404 members of CORPUS was sent out – via Constant Contact on May 15 and in CORPUS REPORTS in the July / August issue. By the August 15 deadline, the written and electronic responses were in; the former to Bob Walden, and the latter to Joe Cece. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Bob, the Planning Committee chair, for spearheading and coordinating the survey – a monumental task, willingly assumed knowing he was adding to his many other responsibilities just before he would be stepping down from the E.C. We owe similar gratitude to Joe Cece for designing the electronic survey and for compiling all the responses to Part I of the survey (demographic data, ministerial activity, vision and goals, etc.) and to Part II (“Discernment” for the future of CORPUS).
What follows are the data compiled by them. They represent the partial but valid “sensus fidelium” of CORPUS, and will be used by the Planning Committee in developing the three-year plan for our future. May the responses of others prompt you to think further on these matters and share any additional thoughts with us.
Click here to download/open the Membership Survey (Part I)
Click here to download/open the Discernment Results (Part II)
Thank you for your ongoing involvement and commitment to our mission.
The Executive Committee
International Priests Statistics
Get the facts on what is happening globally to the number of priests, parishes, deacons, lay ministers, etc.
Provided to FutureChurch by Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
Click here.....
Dreams Change, But They Should Never Die
Dreams Change, But They Should Never Die
by Hank Mattimore
Many moons ago, when I was a young man studying to be a priest, my dreams were as big as the highest mountain, as deep as the oceans. In my youthful zeal, I was ready to bring the word of God to all nations.
When I was finally ordained a priest and assigned to our mission in Japan, I recall flying over Tokyo, Seeing the bright lights of the city down below I thought to myself how privileged I was to be chosen to bring Christianity to this heretofore "pagan nation."
A half century later, I find it difficult to relate to the vision of this young man, burning with Christian zeal who dreamt of converting this nation of well over a million people to my religious beliefs. I have long since discovered that showing love and respect to others as they are is ultimately wiser and more effective than trying to convert them.
The latest statistics on the US priest's shortage 1976-2016
The latest statistics on the US priest's shortage
Courtesy of Future Church
How many priests, religious and deacons in your diocese?
Gilbert Cruz
REST IN PEACE
Gilbert R. Cruz, born in San Antonio, Texas, departed to be with the Lord at the age of 88. He was the loving husband of Patricia and dedicated father to his two sons, Andres Antonio, and his wife Abby, and Miguel Luis. He now joins his parents, Gilbert and Lottie Cruz, in eternal rest.
He attended Central Catholic High School followed by Assumption Seminary and served the Archdiocese of San Antonio. During his ministry, he attended Catholic University of America, Washington, DC and was certified in hospital chaplaincy services in 1962. He was elected as President of the Catholic Chaplains in Texas Hospitals and served as chaplain at the San Antonio State Hospital. In 1969 his request to move beyond ministry to engage in higher studies was approved by the Vatican. By 1972 he had completed BA and MA degrees at St. Mary's University. In 1974 he earned a Ph.D. in American History from St. Louis University. His career as a professor in higher education began by teaching at Our Lady of the Lake University. In 1970 he accepted a position with the University of Texas PanAm (PanAm University). During his tenure he was designated a Fulbright Scholar assigned to Colombia.
Gregory Baum
REST IN PEACE
Gregory Baum, influential theologian of Vatican II era, dies at 94
by Heidi Schlumpf
Gregory Baum, who as a theological expert at the Second Vatican Council was one of the drafters of the conciliar document Nostra Aetate, the Declaration on the Relation of the Church with Non-Christian Religions, which repudiated anti-Semitism, died Oct. 18 in Montreal at the age of 94. He also contributed to Unitatis Redintegratio, the Decree on Ecumenism, which launched the ecumenical movement after Vatican II.
He was one of few remaining periti (theological experts) from Vatican II and is remembered as one of the most influential — and sometimes controversial — theologians in North America from that era.
"Gregory Baum was a giant and one of the major forces at Vatican II."
— Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Mary Ann Hinsdale
A former Augustinian priest, Baum served the church as a theologian, sociologist, professor, author, journalist and advocate for interreligious dialogue, liberation theology and more progressive sexual ethics.
"Gregory Baum was a giant and one of the major forces at Vatican II," said Immaculate Heart of Mary Sr. Mary Ann Hinsdale, associate professor of theology at Boston College. Baum directed her dissertation at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto in the 1980s and was the subject of a collection of honorary essays Hinsdale co-edited.
Hinsdale called him "prophetic" and "a wisdom figure."
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