REPORT ON THE CCCB ANNUAL FORUM WITH NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

May 30-31, 2003

INTRODUCTION

The Episcopal Commission for Relations with Associations of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity hosted its eighth annual Forum with Associations from May 30-May 31, 2003 at the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity in Ottawa on the theme of Catholic Witness in Today’s World.

The General Objectives of the Annual Forum are: 1) to discuss and make recommendations on a topic that is a priority for the Commission; and 2) to enable the associations to have some time to share their concerns and activities with the Commission and with one another. The Commission has found the Forum to be an effective vehicle for fulfilling its mandate to assure dialogue between the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) and national associations.

Essential elements of the Forum are the times set aside for prayer, meals together, refreshment breaks, the free exchange in both small groups and the Plenary and the concluding Eucharist.

Nineteen associations were invited to the Forum (seven bilingual, five French-language and seven English-language): Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities of Canada, Association des Scouts du Canada, The Canadian Association of the Knights of Columbus, Canadian Association of Ministries Programs, Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry, Canadian Catholic Student Association, The Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association, The Catholic Health Association of Canada, The Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Conférence canadienne des instituts séculiers, Canadian Religious Conference, Foi et lumière, Mouvement des femmes chrétiennes, National Federation of Presbyteral Councils, Catholic Organization for Life and Family, Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace, The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, La Vie montante, Ukrainian Catholic Council of Canada.

INFORMATION SHARING

The associations had introduced themselves in advance of the meeting by providing for circulation to all participants a one page self description which included information such as their mandate, mission, objectives, current priorities or major projects. The self-descriptions of the associations are in a document entitled Who’s Who? which is available from the CCCB Secretariat.

At the opening session of the meeting individual participants introduced themselves in light of the theme by giving an example from their own life of witnessing as a Catholic.

For the participants, personal witness includes:

§ being a “porte parole”, one who carries the word, a spokesperson;

§ service, a way of life, a way of being;

§ standing for something, for certain values, speaking out;

§ blooming where you are planted;

§ being hopeful and faithful;

§ respecting the experience of others;

§ being open to others and to the world;

§ being called to something, being dedicated;

§ guiding one’s children, passing on the gospel values;

§ sharing faith experiences outside our usual circles;

§ responding to questions about working in a Catholic association;

§ showing that we are all loved by God;

§ religious symbols such as a crucifix in a Catholic school or hospital or icons in a government office;

§ trying to see Christ in every person, appreciating how Christ speaks to us through others;

§ prayer, “letting go and letting God”;

§ celebrating the events of people’s lives;

§ being with the poor, with those who have been abused;

§ bringing the love of God to people who are weak or suffering;

§ bringing communion and friendship to the sick;

§ singing in the parish choir;

§ reflecting the joy of being loved by God;

§ listening with patience in the same way that God listens to us;

§ observing the faith of the people;

§ creating beauty, fostering unity, sowing hope, doing everything with joy; and

§ forgetting about ourselves so that the best witness can happen.

INTRODUCTION TO THE THEME

Father William F. Ryan, S.J., a former CCCB General Secretary, and well known thinker on issues of faith, economics and social justice, provided an excellent opening presentation on the theme entitled Catholic Witness in Today’s World: A Context, A World Vision and a Spirituality. The following is a summary of Father Ryan’s presentation; the full text may be found on the CCCB website at www.cccb.ca under the section for the Commission for Relations with Associations.

Father Ryan chose his approach to Catholic witness in today’s globalizing world because it is akin to that used by John, the evangelist, in the Book of Revelation, a central reading in the Easter season, and one that people turn to as a Christian reflection on current affairs in time of crisis. The apocalypse is not a prophecy of the future in time of crisis but rather an offering of sure grounds for hope at times of confusion, when everything seems to be falling apart. This approach was broad and deep enough to transcend and yet include the particular charisms and missions of each of the associations - leaving to them the discussion of specific applications.

Pope John XXIII and the Vatican II Council fostered aggioramento - an opening of the windows of the church, through “a reading of the signs of the times”, that is, a careful listening to and dialoguing with the world in accordance with John’s Gospel: “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son not to judge the world but to save it”. Our task is not to bring God’s Spirit to the world but to discover what that Spirit is already actively doing in the world beyond our church. In that perspective - rather than entering into a lengthy analysis of the present context of the world and the church, Father Ryan gave examples of those who have been engaged in this struggle. These witnesses included: Francis Fukuyama, Thomas Homer-Dixon, Vaclav Havel, Bishop Francis Quinn, Karl Rahner, Farhang Rajee, and Pope John Paul II who tells us we must choose between a culture of life and a culture of death.

Globalization is seen as a growing process of interconnectedness achieved primarily through internet and communications technology whose positive side, though almost limitless, is being overshadowed by its negative fallout in chaos and insecurity, in the growing gap between rich and poor, in ecological destruction, and in very limited democracy. One may take some hope from the dramatic reaction to this negative fallout from globalization on the part of two important groups, the vast new network of NGOs (non-profit organizations) and that of world faiths – the latter, in manifestations that, at times, can frighten us. The latter phenomenon is somewhat muted by the steady erosion of religion and religious values through ideological secularism and neo-liberal marketism in richer countries.

When we look for a compelling world vision, Father Ryan told us that we are helped by those provided by the Quebec Bishops’ “Mission of the Church and Quebec Culture” [1992], and especially by Octagesima Adveniens [#37], where Paul VI gives us a compelling, breathtaking vision of the Spirit at work in us and in all creation building up a new human family and creation.

The presentation explores how a spirituality of discernment and recourse to the core principles and values of Catholic Social Teaching can free us up to have a clear, informed vision for “reading the signs of the times” and finding direction in confused and complex situations. The basic challenge for Catholics is to become, with the help of God’s Spirit, grateful enough, free enough, humble enough, letting go enough to be able to see and read clearly the signs of the times in us and around us. Underlying this exercise of “reading the signs of the times” is a spirituality which seeks to see and find God present and acting in all things. In this existential spirituality there is no running away from the world or other people in order to find God, but rather a constant reaching out to the world, to other faiths, or to other people in order to find God actively at work continuing His creation in and through the men and women of today.

Father Ryan challenged the Church to be a credible witness to a faith that does justice, and to trusting dialogue. He concluded with a suggestion that perhaps the most valuable witness faith communities can bring to a world that is overwhelmed by the technological hubris of powerful elites, is that of humility, of an acceptance of the fragility of all that is human, indeed, of all creation. And we can join our Muslim brothers and sisters is agreeing that our common fundamental enemy is and will be in this age of globalization, ideological secularism, a denial of God, of the transcendent and of all that is sacred.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

In small groups, the participants discussed two questions related to Father Ryan’s presentation. The following are some of the points raised in the discussions.

1. What is your operative world vision in your daily life and prayer?

§ Although the world is experiencing some radical and often disheartening changes today, I try to witness by radiating my strong conviction that, even now, the Kingdom of God is close “at hand”.

§ My “operative” world vision is not so much a vision as a grounding within myself, a sense of being called to a ministry, a sense that God is present within me. Even when I am overburdened, my faith gives me the sense that I am meant to be here and that God is present.

§ Faith, hope and love are key; the rest is simply “moving the furniture”.

§ Being rooted in prayer and listening to where God is calling me, to where God is active in my life.

I rejoice in the fact that the world is not static but is undergoing major changes. This means that people are increasingly asking questions and this is a healthy sign. To ask serious questions of meaning is to bear witness.

In the context of a fast moving world, the challenge is always to simplify and get to the essential, to find the joy.

Young people today seem to have both everything and nothing. The challenge is to search for joy and peace.

To serve those who are sick, wounded or suffering; only God is able to help you do it.

There are three kinds of “light”: those who see, those who make themselves seen and those who help others to see. The role of a Catholic association is to help others to see. In the Middle Ages the symbol for Christ was the sun, Mary was the moon which softly reflected the sun and the world was a field to cultivate.

The vision of the world that inspires me is gratitude. If life and the world are gifts, what am I doing with the time that has been given to me? Daily life, the present moment is important – listening, welcoming, peacemaking.

My operative world vision is of a people in solidarity which results in better and more profound communication.

The world is God’s playground and God has created a beautiful world. At the same time the world is also wounded. Each person is entitled to their place in the sun. The challenge is to treat each person as my brother and sister. The parable of the Good Samaritan requires us to be very concrete.

There is an ambiguity between good and evil in each of us. It is necessary to live with a certain freedom.

My operative vision is trusting in God, the people and groups around me, being aware that I can’t be an expert in or solve everything. This affects my prayer life and makes me more open to the world.

“The glory of God is man fully alive” - to translate this patristic saying promoting authenticity in my relationship with self, my neighbour, and the world at large.

The church in Québec is lively. On the one hand young people lack confidence, yet God is preparing people for the future. It is extraordinary the extent to which young people in Africa and Latin America have things in hand. The challenge is to foster in the name of the gospel confidence, openness, hospitality, and hope.

My operative vision is as a pilgrim in the world who will renew and sanctify the world.

Spirituality helps me have a concrete vision in a rapidly changing and demanding world. It helps me to listen to and support people who are weak or who can’t adapt because they are fragile and to create a climate of trust and hope.

Being aware of the needs, concerns and interests of other individuals and organizations and trying to respond to them in a conciliatory way.

Recognizing the great disparity and difference in the situation of women throughout the world, to resolve to provide more education for women.

The religious consciousness of a people is innate, runs very deep, and is often hidden. We must strive to make this surface at a more conscious level of awareness, much like when Saint Paul attempted to name the “Unknown God” for the Athenians. Our approach must be that of “Le Petit Prince” who said that “On ne voit l’invisible qu’avec le coeur”.

We live in a world of profound transformation. Modern communications make it impossible to hide anything today. We live in a “glass world” where authenticity and transparency become absolutely necessary in order to be a good witness today.

2. How can we become better attuned to where and how the Spirit of the Lord is leading the world and the church today so that we can give truer witness to Christ’s presence among us?

§ The Spirit is present and active in the world. I learn most and become a better witness in my “limit situations” in life, i.e. when I experience my personal vulnerability and shortcomings. The question “Who am I?” is an ongoing struggle, both at the personal level but also on a global scale.

§ By getting in touch with the present society. Religious communities were founded because of the needs of the time. We need to find out what the current needs are and respond to them.

§ Sometimes certain mindsets blind us to looking at needs and how we might respond to them. How do we become free enough to respond?

§ On the one hand, spreading ourselves too thin can be overwhelming and lead to fragmentation. On the other hand, many things happening at once can be a sign of the multitude of ways in which the Spirit is working.

I focus on the many “little things” that happen to us and around us in our daily lives. That is where real witnessing occurs. I always ask myself how this or that little event is going to affect the poor.

Today we are more ready to see the beauty of differences.

By reading the newspapers in our milieux; by not waiting for people to come to our association, by joining other community groups.

The world is characterized by utilitarianism, commercialism and a quest for meaning. We must live this worldly tension, knowing that even here there is still a lot of potential for the individual person today.

Everything that fosters the value of life is open to the Spirit. We should take the time to find and create moments and spaces of peace and act out of love.

We need to listen to people outside our usual circles and craft our statements so that others who may not share our faith can hear them. We should interact with people who have other insights, people of other religions and backgrounds. The Catholic Church does not have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit. As Catholics, we are part of a community, a big diverse family which calls us to build a new world with others.

Real theological hope, by which we are to witness today, is not based on any tangible or empirical signs of encouragement. As Saint Paul says, “If you can ‘see’ it, how can you possibly hope for it? We hope for what is unseen”.

The Holy Spirit is symbolized by wind and fire, which blows, inspires, enlightens and generates heat. To what extent can this be said of me personally? The answer to that question will say much about my ability or lack of ability to witness in today’s world.

We need to live life with full confidence and keep pushing forward. The Spirit is so close, acting all around us. We need only remove the cataracts that blind us.

Sometimes it is difficult to believe in the Spirit. Before the war in Iraq it was as if our prayers were not heard but there has been a strong and unique movement for prayer and peace throughout the world. We need freedom for the human spirit to respond and to make peace among ourselves.

PANEL DISCUSSION – The Heart of Catholic Witness for my Association is…

Four associations made presentations in response to the above noted statement. The following are some of the points made in the presentations and exchange with the participants. All of the presentations showed that the associations are rooted in experience, nourished by faith and open to the world.

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul of Canada – Mr. Marcel Tremblay

No work of charity is foreign to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Its action comprises every form of assistance to promote the dignity and integrity of the person and to redress the causes of poverty. Personal contact by visiting people who are poor is one of the principal characteristics of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.

The Society is recognized and approved by Rome. When members visit people in need they are not only witnesses of their faith but also representatives of the Church. They therefore need the support of the bishops and priests.

Members of the Society meet those who have been rejected, judged, condemned, and who thirst for justice, love and respect. They are often the only ones the poor trust. The Society is not just one more charitable organization; its members are the parish’s pastoral presence to the poor, helping them in the name of Christ. Spirituality is critical because it is faith that leads us to the poor.

More and more families are living at or below the poverty line. Knowing that the principal cause of poverty is a lack of education, the Society has launched a program in Quebec (Opération Bonne Mine – “Looking Good”) for youth to give them equality of opportunity, prevent them from dropping out of school, and to promote self-esteem. The program has three aspects: education, culture and recreation. It provides scholarships and bursaries to help with school expenses, the purchase of musical instruments and sports equipment and to reward personal effort.

In 2001, 10, 500 members helped to better the quality of life of 238, 500 families in Canada which represents about half a million persons.

Association of Catholic Universities and Colleges of Canada – Dr. Roy Bonin

Both the universities and the student populations are not what they used to be. No seminaries are included in the eighteen members of the Association and the student population is very diverse. Another reality is that some Catholic universities teach religious studies instead of theology.

When you have such a diverse population the tendency is to become all things to all people. The biggest problem, however, is not variety which can be a richness but the secularisation of the Catholic university.

It is important to educate people in university as distinct from training them. We would have a better Church if everyone had an adult education in his or her faith. All of the members of the Association have interaction with the wider society through speakers’ programs, institutes, and certificates in Catholic studies. For example, the University of Sudbury has a program called “Ethics for Breakfast” which has many participants who are not Catholics.

Mouvement des femmes chrétiennes – Ms. Jeanne Doucet

In the Movement of Christian Women (MCW) there are three types of action: education, representation and suppléance (“temporary replacement”). The action for education forms members to assume their responsibilities, encourages attention to current events and promotes collective action to address the causes of unsatisfactory situations. Representation involves an intervention with another organization to correct an unsatisfactory situation, e.g. to make an intervention to a city council. The action of suppléance involves doing on a temporary basis a task that would normally be done by another organization, e.g. a funeral reception.

MCW is a movement of Catholic Action that in discerning whether to act in a given situation uses the method of SEE/JUDGE/ACT. It is necessary to first see if there are good reasons for acting, then to judge the situation in light of the gospel and then to act for change.

Like other associations, MFC is in a difficult period with an aging and declining membership. At the end of May it held an orientation congress to reflect on the richness of the movement and to challenge members to adapt to the rhythm of today by adopting a new course. No longer able to function as before, the movement must be inventive and create interesting projects that will stimulate new members. The 23 federations of MCW will hold awareness sessions that will be addressed to a new audience - to women who are outside the usual circle, outside the “sacristies”. Each member was also asked to recruit one new member.

As a Catholic witness in the world today, it is necessary to have hope and to keep going forward. MCW is convinced that the 9000 grass roots members of its movement are able to make a difference in the building of our humanity.

Canadian Catholic Student Association – Ms. Jocelyne Perabo

The most important witness for the Canadian Catholic Student Association (CCSA) is on the campuses where it is represented. It can be very difficult for a young adult to witness, particularly when a large number of universities are rather secular. With the support of campus groups and CCSA, students find the courage and desire to defend their religious beliefs and to share their Catholic faith with their neighbours.

At the local level students witness and make their presence known on campus when they celebrate mass together, attend prayer groups and retreats and many other campus events. The personal witness among the students causes those who were raised Catholic but who are no longer practicing their faith to question and rediscover what the Church means for them.

At the regional level the universities take turns in organizing annual conferences which offer leadership formation, reflection, prayer and workshops on social justice. It is also an occasion for young Catholic adults to have a fun weekend full of music and friendship. At the national level there will be a leadership conference which will form Catholic leaders who will return to witness both at and outside their universities.

At the national and international level CCSA is a member of the International movement of Catholic students known as Pax Romana. In September 2002 Jocelyne Perabo attended the annual meeting in Ghana. As a result of that meeting, CCSA decided that it wished to witness on a larger level and established a new national project of solidarity with Pax Romana Pan African on HIV/AIDS. The project hopes to create a communications and support network to increase awareness of this devastating disease which affects the lives of so many of our African friends. It will give young Catholics a greater presence on our campuses and help us to develop solidarity among our members as a national and international movement.

Members of the Canadian Catholic Student Association are witnesses at the heart of the university sharing their faith, friendship and hope with their comrades.

Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry – Mr. Rick Benson

The heart of Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry are the priests, religious women and laity who are campus ministers and chaplains across Canada on a full-time or part-time basis. All of these ministers represent in some way the early Church leaders: Paul who ministered to those who have no faith; Peter who ministered to those who had some faith but needed encouragement; Mary who was the first to say ‘yes’; Mary Magdalene, so often rejected but a first witness of the risen Christ.

While Catholic colleges are usually more welcoming to Campus Ministry, they are still struggling with their Catholic identity and it is not necessarily easy. There is also confusion in the secular universities where the notion of multi-faith is more like no faith and no one is entitled to pray at Convocations.

Campus ministers minister to students, faculty and staff. With the students they deal with relationships, faith questions, knowledge about the Church, suicides, and social justice. There are many challenges to this ministry with the students, e.g. – clergy sex abuse scandals and the Church’s teaching on sexuality.

Many priests get burned out because campus ministry is an “add on” to other ministries. For lay people, some obstacles are the barriers to leadership in the Church. The strength of Campus ministry is that it involves men and women, clergy, religious and lay people working together. Faith, hope and love are key to having a positive impact.

PANEL DISCUSSION – The heart of Catholic witness for me as a bishop means….

The four members of the Episcopal Commission for Relations with Associations of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Laity responded to the above noted statement. The following are some of the points that were made.

Most Reverend John Boissonneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Toronto

The heart of Catholic witness in the Church has to do with how we witness as apostles because we all share in the testimony of the apostles.

Witness requires involvement of the whole self, a contemplative outlook, reading the signs of the times, and a compassionate heart where we enter into communion with those with whom and to whom we are witnessing.

Most Reverend Roger Ébacher – Archbishop of Gatineau-Hull

It is important to be rooted in biblical values because the central element of witness is Jesus Christ, the faithful witness. And the heart of all witness is The Holy Spirit who makes us remember the witness of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is a witness of: 1) the experience of God – love, tenderness, fidelity; 2) God’s plan for our happiness, and 3) the preferential option for the poor. Ultimately, to witness is to be like Jesus.

Most Reverend Brendan O’Brien – Archbishop of St. John’s

An important element of witnessing is being able to discover where God’s call is in the events and circumstances around us. At the heart of Catholic witness is carrying on the mission of Jesus. What is difficult is to discern where that mission is today.

For example, in Scripture Jesus heals and cures people. The Church really picked up on that by founding hospices in the Middle Ages and establishing hospitals later. What does it mean to witness to the healing ministry of Jesus today? What is important is to be aware of the features of our age and to discern the call of God; to keep the vision but find new ways to implement it according to the times.

Most Reverend André Gaumond, Archbishop of Sherbrooke

A witness is a person whose life and approach to others and the world is such that we are lead to question him or her about the basis of their existence. A witness will guide us to Jesus. Witness is not primarily words but a communication of the whole being.

There is the witness that is intended and the witness that is received. It is up to the Holy Spirit whether the action will be perceived as witnessing, whether the witness will be received and this is very humbling. As a bishop I try to be a man of God and a man of the Church.

Discussion

In an exchange among the four bishops and with the other participants, some of the points that were made are as follows:

§ In a pluralistic world our witness needs to be rooted in Scripture but we also need to show authentically human values so that it can be received by those who share these values if not our faith.

§ Jesus Christ, who is the central element of witness, is God incarnate. The biblical approach therefore humanizes God in Jesus Christ and the Spirit produces the fruit.

§ In Catholic witness the word must be incarnated. While witness is essentially apostolic, like Jesus it also presents the best of human values.

§ In responding to a question about the difference between Catholic and other Christian witness, it was said that our witness is more effective when it is part of a wider Christian witness. There are, however, issues on which that is not yet possible and we have to be faithful to the tradition. Another approach is to speak about the witness of a Catholic rather than Catholic witness. At the same time, we can’t deny that there are certain Catholic characteristics.

§ In responding to a question about the difficulty of getting priests to support the witness of lay people on certain topics, it was noted that there is no difficulty in getting people to help the poor but it is a harder sell if there is a perception that it is about politics. There is also the reality that parish priests have an immense, varied and complex task.

§ There was an exchange about how to use Scripture in light of the reality that quoting Scripture can intimidate or turn off young people, largely because they have little formation in or knowledge of the Bible. One suggestion was that before getting into Scripture a person needs to meet Jesus through the witness of others and their own spiritual hunger. Never start with Scripture; it should come after experience. The person witnessing, however, must be grounded in the Bible and be able to communicate to others the stories and the values. An interesting statistic was mentioned that eighty per cent of people who are illiterate wish to learn to read so that they can read the Bible.

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

In small groups the participants discussed two questions related to the panel discussions. The following are some of the points raised in the discussions.

1. How can I enhance the witness of my association?

Catholic Women’s League of Canada

Through our resolutions and by working on the media to get better known.

Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace

Provide faith formation to our members and staff to reinforce the faith motivation of the work and to be able to communicate that to our overseas partners; reach out to the general public using the new technologies such as electronic billboards in the subway.

Maximize our good fortune of already having some good structures in place (e.g., special Lenten collection).

Canadian Catholic School Trustees’ Association

By using Catholic symbols such as a crucifix or even just a banner when having conventions in secular settings such as a hotel.

Canadian Religious Conference

Make the regions feel comfortable with the new national structure; have a clearer vision of our mission in the Church and Society; form leaders of religious communities; challenge ourselves with audacity on the true values of justice; proclaim Jesus Christ.

Catholic Health Association of Canada

Having finished a year of a national dialogue on the preferred future of Catholic health care, the challenge is how to keep in contact with the people who participated in the dialogue, particularly those who are not our usual members, and how to restructure CHAC to make the ministry of Catholic health care more effective.

Canadian Catholic Campus Ministry

Continue to network and share the vision (we are collaborating more with other groups as a result of the CCCB Forums); connect with other student leaders.

Ukrainian Catholic Council

Raise consciousness among members about witnessing.

La Vie Montante

Forge new contacts and links with other groups; have the bishops address our association periodically, perhaps on the occasion of our annual Congress.

Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities in Canada

Create a greater exchange among the colleges and universities, not only among the teaching staff but also the students.

Canadian Catholic Student Association

By not being afraid to affirm our faith; it is the witness of others that gives us the confidence to speak out.

The Catholic Organization for Life and Family

Be present in the debates before Parliamentary committees, use and promote the publications, bring my own expertise to the development of the documents so that they will be pertinent.

2. How can the bishops encourage this witness?

§ Given the frustration over the lack of nourishment in the parishes, it would be helpful to look at the seminary curriculum and have a greater integration of the social dimension so that the priests can connect with people in the parish.

§ While priests do not have to be experts in all the issues, they should be comfortable with them. It would be helpful to have clergy seminars and provide homily aids on some of the big moral and social issues of the day.

§ Bishops could use the resources that are available to them in the associations and in the parishes. The bishops could take the lead in creating a climate where people would be listened to and we could work on things together.

§ Bishops will be calling on the laity more and more and the laity need faith formation. If we don’t know our Catholic faith, how can we witness? Well trained Catholic leaders are needed as teachers in the Catholic schools and as campus ministers. It was also recognized that faith formation is the responsibility of everyone who has the qualifications not just the bishops.

§ Implement in an integrated way the Action Plan from the Vocations Congress.

§ Meet personally with the leaders of associations in your diocese; encourage the associations, dialogue and collaborate with them and offer financial support, however modest.

§ More chaplains are needed for campus ministry and for the scouts.

§ Encourage Catholics to support projects connected to the faith.

§ The bishops could help the Catholic universities by offering to pay the tuition fees of at least one student from their diocese to attend a Catholic institution.

§ Students and future priests should be encouraged to have an internship with groups like l’Arche or Foi et Lumière. The emphasis here would be on “savoir-être” instead of “savoir-faire”. Moreover, they would taste first-hand the experience of living in an ecumenical and inter-religious environment.

§ The associations within a diocese should come together at least once a year in order to learn from one another and get to know one another better.

REFLECTIONS ON THE DAY – Father William F. Ryan, S.J.

Father Ryan offered his reflections on the proceedings at the end of the Forum. Some of the points he made were as follows:

The spirit of the Forum was good and the Spirit was present. He sensed a strong faith, hope and love among the participants and genuine searching of the heart. It reminded him of the Acts of the Apostles where “we and the Holy Spirit agree to go ahead” rather than seeing everything as being cast in stone or being preoccupied by the Catholic position on everything.