THE FOURTH AND FINAL NCPD 2013 KEYNOTE LAUNCHING US INTO HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF THE DISABLED IN THE U.S. CHURCH.............

The last of the four Keynote Addresses delivered at the NCPD Partnership 2013 Convention in Houston, Texas; was given on Sunday morning November 3, by Dr. Peter Murphy, who spoke on the topic of, "Disciples Called To Witness : What Does The New Evangelization Mean To Me ?"  Dr. Murphy is presently the Executive Director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat on Evangelization and Catechesis.  He persuasively and dynamically shared with those of us present how the New Evangelization is about our personal encounters with Jesus The Christ.  He also chronicled how the new Pastoral Letter of the U.S. Bishops, 'Disciples Called To Witness', attests to our need to personalize our relationship to the Risen Jesus within the Community of Believers, Our Families, and in the Everyday Opportunities of the Publics we encounter and interact with daily.  Peter Murphy completed a Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America, and also has Master's Degrees in both Theology and Counseling.  A married father with three sons, He has extensive teaching and educational administrative experience at multiple levels, from being a grade school teacher and residence hall director, an adjunct professor of Theology, and as a College Director of Student Formation and Administrative Faculty, as well as the serving as the Archdiocese of Washington D.C. Director of the Office of Family Life.  I immensely enjoyed and was further enlightened by all four NCPD  '13 Keynote Dr. Murphy;s presentation Addresses and found Dr. Murphy;s presentation to be a perfect summation and most stimulating treatise going forward in advancing the cause of Disability Awareness and Accessibile, Inclusive, Ministry in the lives of those of us who are among the 14 million Disabled Catholics in the USA.  Over the past 35 Years much has been done, and yet still far more remains to be done in parishes and dioceses throughout the country to make the completreness of the, "Full. Active, Conscious", accessible and inclusive presence and participation of Disabled Persons a reality.  How does your own Parish and Diocese stack up in wholistically welcoming and ministering to Disabled Catholics ?.............Father Troy David Powers