Monday, June 30, 2014

A BUSY DAY AT THE SUPREME COURT AND THE WHITE HOUSE..............

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) and the President of the United States (POTUS) had a momentous day on this 30th of June, as they announced significant decisions.  The nine Justices of the Supreme rendered their judgment on the final two cases they undertook for the 2013-2014 Session of the Nation's highest Court of Law.  In two contentious, politically philosophical, conservatives versus liberals 5-4 split Decisions, with the 5 Republican appointed Justices prevailing over the 4 Democratic appointed Justices determined that small family owned businesses with religious convictions opposed to Contraception may choose to opt out of paying for birth control for their employees, as mandated by the Affordable Care Act national health care program frequently referred to as Obamacare.  In the other Decision the Justices Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Thomas, AcDlito, again lined up in the majority; with Justices Bader-Ginsburg, Breyer, SotoMayor, and Kagen, dissenting, decided that some public employee union workers are not required to pay certain union dues involuntarily.  At the White House President Obama announced his choice as the new Secretary of Veterans Affairs to join his Cabinet.  Bob McDonald, the former CEO of Proctor & Gamble, a who served as a younger man as a U,S. Army Captain is the nominee.  When confirmed he will take charge of addressing and reforming the Veterans Affairs hospitals scandal.  As summer unfolds so will the reactions and redirection brought about by the decisions  made today by both the POTUS and the SCOTUS..............fr.tdp

Sunday, June 29, 2014

THE SUNDAY SOLEMNITY OF SAINTS PETER AND PAUL..............

Having presided and preached at the 9:30am Mass at Sacred Heart this morning, the focus of my Homily on this Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, was to underscore their effectiveness as Apostles after they embraced Jesus The Christ fearlessly and faithfully.  Despite Peter's denials of knowing and following Jesus before the Paschal Mystery was fulfilled, Jesus proclaims him to be the Rock and primatial Leader of the Church accepting Peter's confession of Faith in Jesus as the Christ of Salvation.  Paul's assiduous scholarly and learned fidelity to Judaism made him a persecutor of the first Christians, until his extraordinary conversion made him one of the most extensive missionaries to the Gentiles in all of  Christian History.  We too, in the Third Millennium of Catholic-Christianity are baptized and believing Disciples of the Lord Jesus, are called and commissioned to be Fearless, Faith-filled, Evangelists and Missionaries of Jesus The Christ.  Embracing the spirit of Sts. Peter and Paul, who will you be a bearer of the Good News  to today and in the days ahead ?  How will you choose to share the Mission of Redemption with them ?  It is a responsibility you and me and every Christian has been chosen to bring to fulfillment..............Father Troy David

Saturday, June 28, 2014

PERMANENT DIACONATE ORDINATION DAY IN SACRAMENTO..............

Twenty new Permanent Deacons will be ordained for ministry in the Sacramento Diocese today in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament at 11am.  Three of the Deacons and their wives and families are former parishioners of mine in Yreka, Citrus Heights, and the Arden Arcade area of Sacramento.  They are Timothy Louie, Mark Hronicek, and Paul Friedrich.  I look forward to concelebrating their  Diaconate Ordination Mass as they are welcomed into the Order of Deacons..............fr.tdp










Friday, June 27, 2014

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS..............

One of the universal devotions of Catholic-Christians is veneration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, sign of the Love of Jesus The Christ for Humankind.  God is Love and the Heart of Jesus is the vessel of Divine Love that we as Christian Disciples can identify with and relate to as human beings who feel, share, and experience, the power of love in our lives.  As we commemorate today the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, may the enthronement of God's Love take center place in our lives, not  only today but everyday in increasing ways.  My thoughts and prayers today are particularly with the People of God in Sacred Heart Parish here in East Sacramento.  I am truly blessed  with their solidarity and support for my priestly ministry, during the twenty seven months I have been involuntarily exiled without a ministry assignment or parish placement.  May the kindness and acceptance you have shown me be blessed by the Love of Jesus' Sacred Heart and serve as an enlightenment to others who make my right leg below the knee amputation a pre-emption of my priesthood rather than choosing to empower my continuing in assigned, full time, active ministry of God's People here in my native diocese.  "O Sacred Heart, my hope lies deep in You"..............fr.tdp

Thursday, June 26, 2014

EVANGELIZING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT THE GREATER NEED FOR DISABILITY MINISTRY - PART TWO..............

Today I continue my blogging about Evangelizing the Catholic Church in the United States regarding increasing the necessity of Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, in the second of three consecutive Thursday columns.  On  June 19th I blogged about the U.S. Bishops 1978 Pastoral Statement.  Next Thursday, July 3rd my focus will be some of ways dioceses and parishes in the USA are providing Disability Ministry.  Today I am blogging about the National Catholic Partnership for Disability - NCPD, the developing and coordinating ministry that emerged in 1982 from the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs.

For the past thirty two years, building on the foundation of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) 1978 Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities, the  organization that emerged from the vision shared in the Bishops' Statement, the National Catholic Partnership for Disability (NCPD) has coordinated and developed training and leadership in ministering to the 14 million American Catholics who are disabled - "physically, intellectually, sensory, mentally, or emotionally".  The NCPD provides training, resources, and networking, to dioceses and  parishes throughout the country working with diocesan disability ministry directors and an array of other ministry partners to, "promote and defend the culture of life, upholding the dignity of every human person." The NCPD  achieves this by sharing with dioceses and parishes in the USA, "the best practices and resources being developed and utilized," to bring necessary and vital Disability Ministry into more effective existence in the Catholic Church.

The NCPD is trailblazing in Disability Ministry in the U.S. Catholic Church by means of the, "Catechesis, Ministry Specific resources, various Ministry Models, Spirituality, and Building Awareness," the National  Catholic Partnership for Disability provides for the U.S. Catholic Church. As my three Disability Ministry blog column series is an Evangelization project, I will concentrate primarily on the 'Building Awareness' aspect of their efforts.  In building awareness and sensitivity in ministering to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, the NCPD proclaims that, "attitudes are one of the biggest challenges faced by people with disabilities."  These attitudes are manifested in the 'Power of Language', in the 'Stigma', in 'What's in a Word and Words', in Dignity', and in 'Love'.

The language we use  in speaking about and doing ministry to and with the disabled, the NCPD advises us has an affect on our listeners.  We must avoid stigmatizing disabled persons by our use of prejudicial, insensitive, or outdated, words about persons with special needs. Take care to use Person First Language in discussing persons with disabilities, referring to them for example first by name - Troy, and then if necessary, - my friend with a below the knee amputee; rather than saying, - my amputated friend, with or without referring to me by name.  Avoid victimizing disabled persons by the use of words such as being, "afflicted" or, "suffering from whatever physical, intellectual, sensory, emotional, or mental, condition they are contending with.  Speaking of the disabled as being afflicted or suffering makes it seem their entire lives are dominated and determined solely by their disability, when  in truth  their special need does not always adversely affect and interfere with their daily lives.  Making fun of, or the name calling of disabled persons  is inappropriate at all times and must never be used or tolerated; including jokes and stories that only stigmatize and mischaracterize the disability and denigrate the human dignity of special needs persons.  Telling persons with disabilities they are, "a burden" to others, or that they will have to prove they are not, 'disqualified' from ministry, presence, or participation, in the Catholic Church, is grossly unjust.  The NCPD has much to teach us about this, including in the Parish Resource Guide they published in 2003, "Opening Doors of Welcome and Justice to Parishioners".

The National Catholic Partnership for Disability continues to promote and expand the horizons of Disability Ministry in the U.S. Catholic Church and I am pleased as a life long physically disabled person and a twenty seven year Catholic priest of the Sacramento Diocese, to be teamed with them in bringing about greater enlightenment about, and empowerment for, the 14 million  of us who are Catholics and have Special Needs in the United States.  It was privilege to attend their Partnership '13 Convention October 31- November 2, 2013 in Houston Texas.  I am further blessed to have made my initial visit to the NCPD headquarters on June 13, 2014 in Washington, D.C.  I eagerly look forward to partnering with them over the next several years as I study, research, and then write a doctoral thesis on the Greater Need for Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in the Catholic Church in the USA.  "Faith, Giftedness, Partnership".  These are the themes, the mission, and the accessible, inclusive, and empowering, Catholic ministry the NCPD, which I have evangelized you about today, strives ever more fervently to assure the Catholic-Christian right and opportunity of Catholics requiring Disability Ministry in the United States.Please reflect on what I have written and respond with your comments right here on my blog, or on Facebook.  Thank you for your assistance with my D.Min Evangelization project. .............Father Troy David Powers






Wednesday, June 25, 2014

HAVE YOU COMMENTED ON MY JULY 19TH DISABILITY MINISTRY BLOG COLUMN ?..............

Tomorrow, Thursday June 26th, I will present the second of three Thursday blog columns on the greater need for wholistic Disability Ministry in the Catholic Church of the United States.  I invite you to read it and respond with your reflections as this is a part of my final exam project in the New Evangelization class at the Catholic University of America and  my studies for a Doctor of Ministry degree.  I also continue to welcome your comments on my July 19th blog column on the unconditional imperative for Catholic Ministry to Persons with Disabilities  and Special Needs. Thank you for taking part in this project with me as I strive to advocate for and advance the right of the 14 million Catholics in the United States who are disabled to be welcomed to being present and participating with the Catholic Church with full accessibility, inclusiveness and empowerment..............Fr.  Troy

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

FEARLESSLY BEING PROPHETIC ABOUT JESUS THE CHRIST..............

John the Baptist who testified to Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Visitation she made to her also pregnant cousin Elizabeth, was himself a special child from the moment of his conception.  To be born in six months following the Visitation as the only son of a very elderly and barren couple, when John leapt in his mother's womb when Mary and Elizabeth greeted  each other, he was acknowledging the special, prophetic, mission of his cousin.  John as a  contemporary of Jesus grew in wisdom and holiness and when the appointed time came thirty years later, he was chosen by God the Father and imbued by the Holy Spirit with the privilege to become the last of the Prophets raised up to proclaim the Coming of the Messiah of God's Chosen People.  John heralded the imminent arrival of the Christ by boldly preaching Repentance and Baptizing sinners with water.  When Jesus presented Himself for baptism by John, he reluctantly consented because he believed Jesus to be the long awaited Messiah, and acclaimed Him to  be the perfect Lamb of God and forgiver of sins.  John the Baptist was God's Prophet in proclaiming the Christ. He did so without fear of the martyrdom he would suffer as a result.  We too, as Followers of Jesus The Christ as our Messiah and the Redeemer of Humankind are meant to be prophetic voices in furthering the Mission of  reconciling sinners and building up the coming of God's Kingdom.  How are you and I being prophets of the Lord Jesus in the present moment.  Pray and ponder that you will hear and answer the invitation to become an unconditional prophetic voice for Jesus as we follow Him daily..............fr.tdp

Monday, June 23, 2014

ORDINARY TIME, ORDINARY PEOPLE..............

Having returned to what is liturgically designated by Catholic-Christians as Ordinary Time for the next five months, with the high seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, complete for the Year of Our Lord 2014 - we spend the majority of the Liturgical Year living out the everyday events of life having  been graced by the pinnacle experiences of the Lord Jesus and God's Chosen People in Salvation History, we put flesh on the bones of our own Faith  experiences by taking our beliefs and practices as  Followers of Jesus The Christ into all aspects of our individual and interpersonal relationships at home, work, school, social activities, as well as in and with the Community of Believers.  We fulfill the significance and meaning of Ordinary Time by fervently reflecting the Gospel Values we profess, throughout all 52 weeks of the year in fidelity to our Discipleship.  How are you witnessing as Ordinary People of God as we return to the rest of Ordinary Time for this year ?..............fr.tdp

Sunday, June 22, 2014

THE EUCHARIST MAKES US THE BREAD OF LIFE FOR OTHERS..............

Christians have celebrated the Holy Eucharist on Sunday from the occurrence of the Resurrection of Jesus more than two thousand years ago to this present moment. Many Catholics celebrate the Eucharist daily as an even more profound share in the Paschal Mystery of Jesus' Passion, Death, and Resurrection.  Our Catholic-Christian belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist Vatican Two proclaimed as the, "source and summit" of our Faith.  Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi.  It  is a Eucharistic liturgical feast that crowns and highlights the weekly and daily celebrations of the Mass.  It is one more  opportunity to affirm our Living Faith in the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior as the Bread  of Life and Cup of Salvation that feeds us spiritually and sacramentally, and allows us to become the Bread of Life for others - especially the poor, the ill, infirm, disabled, elderly, marginalized, or alienated. Who will you be the Body and Blood of Christ for today and this week, as you feed others with the Real Presence you have received in the Eucharist ?..............Father Troy David

Saturday, June 21, 2014

LIVING FAITH IN THE SPIRIT, THE TRINITY, AND THE EUCHARIST..............

As we settle back into the long term of  Ordinary Time for 2014, the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the  central Mystery of the Holy Trinity of God, and the source and summit of our Catholic-Christian Faith - the Sacrament of the Eucharist, stand before us as driving forces of the Discipleship we profess and follow everyday, be they ordinary or solemn days of Living our Faith in Jesus The Christ.  How are you going to be a fervent reflector of Pentecost, the Triune God, and the Body and Blood of Christ , in your daily, ordinary, lives moving forward through the months of Ordinary Time liturgically just ahead ?  A commitment to praying, worshipping, and ministering in and with your local Community of Believers is the ideal way to Faithfully Witness to being wholehearted Catholic-Christians in season and out of season..............fr.tdp

Friday, June 20, 2014

HOW WELL DID I BEGIN EVANGELIZING ABOUT DISABILITY MINISTRY YESTERDAY ?..............

I will appreciate your taking the time to respond to the blog column I shared here yesterday entitled, "Evangelizing The Catholic Church in the United States About The Greater Need For Disability Ministry".   It was the first of a three blog column series on Thursday through July 3rd, that form a part of my final examination project for the New Evangelization class for the Doctor of Ministry degree program I am enrolled in with the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Your responses to three these columns are an imperative component of my completion of the class project.  Thank you caring enough about the topic and the study I am doing to share your  comments about it.  In the spirit of  welcoming Accessibility, Inclusion, Empowerment, for Ministry to and with Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in the Catholic Church of the United States..............Rev. Fr. Troy David Powers

Thursday, June 19, 2014

EVANGELIZING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES ABOUT THE GREATER NEED FOR DISABILITY MINISTRY PART ONE..............

The following is the first of three columns on the next three consecutive Thursdays (June 19th, 26th July 3rd). I will be blogging in these columns on the need for a more comprehensive implementation of Ministry to Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs, by the Catholic Church in parishes and dioceses of the United States.  Please read, reflect, and respond to them, by posting your comments on my blog by Monday July 7th.  Thank you.  This is a project for my final exam in the New Evangelization class at the Catholic University of America, that is part of the Doctor of Ministry degree program I am studying for currently..............Father Troy David Powers

The Catholic Church believes in and teaches the sanctity of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death.  Respect for Life is at the heart of the morality we profess and practice as faithful Disciples of Jesus the Christ. The Catholic Moral Life calls us personally and communally to respect and reverence the inherent dignity of the human person.  Therefore, the Church Jesus founded as the Body of Christ in the World must be welcoming and inviting of every person who wants to be present and to participate in the Catholic Church.  That is true in regards to my particular focus for evangelizing you - the greater need for Disability Ministry in the Catholic Church of the United States.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (U.S.C.C.B.) were groundbreaking and  prophetic in publishing a 1978 Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities.  The U.S. Bishops Pastoral Statement on Disability Ministry predated by a dozen years the Americans with Disabilities Act, (A.D.A.) which became the federal law of the land in 1990.  The 1978 Bishops Statement is morally driven and based on the Gospel Values of Jesus' inclusive and healing Ministry.  Jesus embraced the sick, the diseased, and the disabled.  He reached out to them with welcoming and compassion.

Just as, "concern for people with disabilities was one of the prominent notes of Jesus' earthly ministry" (USCCB Pastoral Statement 1978 paragraph 4) so too must our response and ministry to persons with disabilities and special needs, be selflessly free of indifference, insensitivity, prejudice, and discrimination.  ..."Recognizing that individuals with disabilities have a claim to our respect because they are persons, because they have a share in the one  redemption of Christ, and because they contribute to our society by their activity within it", (Pastoral Statement 1978 paragraph 11) we must do more than, "affirm" their rights, we must "advocate" with and for the disabled, as the requirement of, "every individual and organization in the Church... for "justice"... in meeting their personal and social needs".

The wholeness of the Catholic Church in the United States and throughout the World is achieved individually and collectively only with he acceptance, welcome, presence and participation. of all persons, especially those among us who have disabilities or special needs. Their desire and Christian right to the Church  being  accessible, inclusive, and empowering, of their, "full, active, and conscious", presence and participation is a given priority of both Jesus' Ministry and the Pastoral Statement of the U.S. Bishops.  The summation of the 1978 Statement found in paragraph 33 evangelizes us about this call to action very aptly : "People with disabilities are not looking for pity.  They seek to serve the community and enjoy their full baptismal rights as members of the Church.  Our interactions with them can and should be an affirmation of our faith.  There can be no separate Church for people with disabilities.  We are one flock that serves a single shepherd".

Why then after three dozen years since the U.S. Bishops Pastoral Statement on Ministry to Persons with Disabilities, are we still struggling to get dioceses and parishes to  embrace and implement it ?  Next Thursday June 26th, I will blog about the first and most fervent fruit to be derived from the 1978 Pastoral Statement - The National Catholic Partnership for Disability (NCPD) and the yeoman, cutting edge, work they have been doing since 1982, in bringing Ministry to those with Disabilities and Special Needs ever more into existence in the Catholic Church of the United States..............fr.tdp

Please take time to share with me your response to this blog column by posting a comment.  Thank You.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

POPE FRANCIS SPEAKS OF THE CHURCH AS OUR MOTHER AND FAMILY..............

Beginning a new catechetical series of talks at his Wednesday General Audience today, Pope Francis spoke of our relationship to the Church to that of a child to their mother and family members.  Our belief in the Church as the Body of Christ and People of God, gives us an intimate and  interpersonal relationship with the Family of Catholic-Christian Faith as followers of the Lord Jesus in intentional and active Discipleship..............fr.tdp

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

PLEASE READ REFLECT ON AND RESPOND TO THIS THURSDAY'S BLOG COLUMN ON DISABILITY MINISTRY..............

My final examination project for the Catholic University class in the New Evangelization is in my focused topic of Disability Ministry in the Catholic Church in the United States.  I will be evangelizing American Catholics about the greater need for accessible, inclusive, empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in our parishes and dioceses, with three introductory overview blog columns.  I will be posting them this Thursday June 19th, next Thursday June 26th, and the following Thursday July 3rd.  I am asking you to read them, reflect on them, and respond to them, by  posting a comment measuring my effectiveness in advocating for Disability Ministry in the Catholic Church.  Thank you for choosing to assist me in this project..............Fr.  Troy David

Monday, June 16, 2014

RETURNING TO FIVE WEEKS MORE WEEKS OF ONLINE D.MIN STUDIES FOR COHORT ONE..............

Back from the two week Summer Residency of the Doctor of Ministry degree program at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., the first year cohort continues online for an additional five weeks.  Between now and July 20th, reading, reflecting, writing, and the completion of papers, projects, including final examinations will come to culmination.  So its back to study and work on the classes of the New Evangelization; Caring Conversations; and Spirituality in the Workplace; proceed and crescendo to completion..............fr.tdp

Sunday, June 15, 2014

AFFIRMING OUR BELIEF IN THE HOLY TRINITY PRESIDING @ THE 9:30 AM SACHEART PARISH MASS TODAY..............

Having returned from Washington D.C. after two weeks there last night, I will be presiding and preaching at the 9:30am Trinity Sunday Mass in the Sacred Heart Parish School Gymnasium this morning.  This will be only the fifth Mass and just the eighth time I have preached publicly. since being thrust into Mercy McMahon Terrace as an unenlightened response to my below the knee right leg amputation.  I am grateful to Msgr. Walton Sacred Heart's Pastor, for the opportunity to celebrate public Sunday Masses during the next few weeks.  With the announcement today that another priest has been appointed full time Parochial Vicar of Sacred Heart Parish effective July 10th, my informal, unofficial, priestly  ministry at SacHeart seems to be  drawing to a close.  I will miss it especially given the continuing ambivalence and indecisiveness of Diocesan Administration to provide me with a rectory placement and parish ministry assignment for the weekly celebration of Mass and Sacraments (as well as Adult Faith Formation) - the basic components of presbyteral ministry of a Catholic Priest.  I renew my invocation of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, that the affirmation of Faith in the dignity of the human person will supplant the Fear and insensitivity of my being a Disabled Priest of Jesus Christ in my native Diocese of Sacramento..............Fr.  Troy David

Saturday, June 14, 2014

CUA SUMMER RESIDENCY YEAR ONE DONE SACRAMENTO HERE I COME..............

Last night several of the other D.Min students  invited me to go with them to Dupont Circle in Northwest Washington.  We took the Metro from the Brookland Station and then went to the James Hoban Irish Pub for dinner.  James Hoban was a native of Ireland, an architect by profession, and designed The White House.  This morning I take an accessible taxi to Reagan National Airport for the flight home to Sacramento.  Our summer residency is done, but five more weeks of classes remain for Cohort One, through July 20th..............fr.tdp

Friday, June 13, 2014

LAST CLASSES OF D.MIN SUMMER RESIDENCY COHORT ONE @ CUA..............

One last  round of classes were held this morning, then a closing luncheon of Summer Residency Cohort 2014.  The Evangelization and Caring Conversations classes were in McGivney Hall, a video lecture for Spirituality in the Workplace took the place of class, and I spent the hour before lunch in the office of the National Catholic Partnership for Disability (NCPD) meeting with staff member Bob Ullman.  The Closing Luncheon and the Blessing of the 3rd Year Students, who now embark on the final research and writing phase of their theses, was held in the Przbyla Student Center on campus..............fr.tdp

Thursday, June 12, 2014

TWO MORE SEMINARS ABOUT HOW TO PROCEED IN COMPLETING THE D. MIN DEGREE PROCESS..............

Two additional special seminars today on procedures to be followed and library resources available to us in completion of the D.Min degree, thesis, and presentation of our terminal process..............fr.tdp

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

EVANGELIZATION GUEST PRESENTER, CARING CONVERSATIONS CLIENT ROLEPLAY, IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS..............

Today our New Evangelization  class had a guest presenter.  Reverend FranK Disiano, CSP, author of two of the books we have read in this course, spoke  to us on his insights and experiences of the New Evangelization and the Catholic Church in the United States need to effectualize it further.  In our Caring Conversations class we observed and responded to more roleplays and I had the role of a counselor for the first time.   Our Ignatian Spirituality class considered the Rules of Discernment from  Ignatius of Loyola,  as written about by Dean Brackley..............fr.tdp

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

THREE CLASSES AND A SOCIAL @ THE HOUSE OF OUR 'EVANGELIZATION' PROFESSOR..............

New Evangelization, Caring Conversations classes with Drs. DeLillio and Rossetti this morning, and Spirituality in the Workplace with Dr. McCormack this afternoon are on today's schedule.  Then at 5pm, those of us in the first year cohort have been invited over to the house of Fr. DeLillio and our classmate, Fr. Michael Newman, who is also an Oblate of St. Francis DeSales, for an evening of refreshments and pasta with  homemade sauce, zestfully prepared by the professor.  I eagerly look forward to what is sounding like a great night of sharing, socializing, and bonding..............fr.tdp

Monday, June 9, 2014

UKRANIAN RITE MORNING IN A BASILICA CHAPEL WITH THE UNIVERSITY DEAN..............

This morning as we begin the second week of our D.Min degree formation experience of Summer Cohort 2014, we will go into the lower level of the Basilica for a 9am for a Morning Prayer celebration of the Ukranian Rite.  It will be led by Reverend Father Mark Morozowich, S.E.O.D., the Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at CUA, who is a Ukranian Rite Catholic Priest, of the Eparchy (similar to a diocese) of Parma, Ohio.  He will hold a one hour question  and answer discussion with us following Morning Prayer..............fr.tdp

Sunday, June 8, 2014

PENTECOST SUNDAY MASS IN THE BASILICA OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION @ CUA IN WASHINGTON D.C. ..............

The Sunday morning Masses at the  National Shrine of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception at he entrance of CUA, are at 7:30am-9am-10:30am-12noon.  I plan on attending either the 9 o'clock or 10:30am Mass, once I probe a way out of the Theological College, given the  Administrative Offices internal door I have been using is locked over the weekend, in order to access the ramp for my powerchair outside the building.  "Come Holy Spirit, Come ! and fill this Pentecost Sunday "day of rest" and worship, with your Fire, Love, and  Grace.  A Glorious 50th and Final Day of Easter 2014, from Washington, D.C. ..............Father Troy David Powers

Saturday, June 7, 2014

WEEK ONE OF CUA D.MIN SUMMER RESIDENCY IN REVIEW..............

An eventful interpersonal. spiritual. social. academic, and liturgical, first week it has been of the summer residency in the Doctor of Ministry course at the Catholic University of America in the District of Columbia it has been.  It has rolled out gradually allowing us as students to really get to know each other, not just as first year cohort members, but with the second and third year cohort students as well.  The D.Min students as a whole group, are friendly, caring,  interactive, and sharing persons.  I admire and appreciate their natural desire to make this experience as accessible and inclusive for me given my disability as they can be.  I will blog more about the affirmative and welcome experience it is making our time together here these two  weeks, as it proceeds..............fr.tdp

Friday, June 6, 2014

SUMMER COHORT DAY 5 - HISPANIC MINISTRY PART 2 AND A NEW EVANGELIZATION PROJECT MEETING VWITH THE PROFESSOR..............

After 9am Mass at T.C., we will go across the street to CUA for part two of our Hispanic Ministry seminar with Sr. Dr. Guadalupe, focused on a Boston College study by a Dr. Ospina, on Hispanic Ministry in parishes of the United States.  It is the most recent survey completed in the past year plus of statistics and findings as to the presence and practice of Ministry to and with Hispanic peoples.  The seminar is scheduled from 9:45am-2pm in the Pryz Center.  Then at 3pm I will have a thirty minute meeting with Dr. DeLillio to discuss my proposal for my New Evangelization final exam project.  The outline is to be presented in class next week and researched, written. and submitted, online for the five weeks of Cohort 2014 remaining June 16th - July 20.  I will be discussing with him my ideas and his about a project on Evangelizing on Disability Ministry..............fr.tdp

Thursday, June 5, 2014

CUA DAY 4 - LECTOR @ MASS, "REBUILT", MORE ROLEPLAYS, AND IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY..............

I volunteered to be the Lector this morning at our 8:15am Mass in the Theological College 1st Floor Chapel.  Then in our New Evangelization class with Fr. Dr. DeLillio, we discussed the book, "Rebuilt", by White and Corcoran, about a NE impacted model of parish a short distance from here in Maryland, and how this experience of implementing the New Evangelization might work in our own parishes and parochial settings. That was followed by our Caring Conversations class with Msgr. Dr. Rossetti, and  two more client/counselor roleplays. In about an hour it is back to McGivney Hall on campus, for our Spirituality in the Workplace class with Deacon Dr. McCormack, for a discussion on the Two Standards St. Ignatius Loyola teaches us in the experiencing and understanding of the Spiritual Exercises..............Fr.  Troy

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

MORNING PRAYER, HISPANIC MINISTRY, AFTERNOON MASS..............

Today we will begin our day at CUA with Morning Prayer followed by part one of a seminar on Hispanic Ministry presented by Sister Guadalupe Ramirez, who completed her D.Min degree here last year at age 66, and is now teaching at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio, Texas.  This will be followed by a mid-afternoon Mass.  The entire session will take place in the Great Room on the 3rd Floor Pryzbyla Student Center on campus, from 8:30am -3pm..............fr.tdp

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

MORNING MASS DAY 2 IN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE CHAPEL AND THREE CLASSES IN MCGIVNEY HALL @ CUA..............

We had Morning  Mass at 8:15am in the Main Chapel of the Theological College, across the  street  from CUA, followed by classes in McGivney Hall on the University campus, two in the morning, one after lunch, as reading and preparing to start researching in the campus libraries for projects and papers due between now and July 20th..............fr.tdp

Monday, June 2, 2014

THE SUMMER RESIDENCY FOR THE D.MIN PROGRAM'S OPENING ORIENTATION, MASS, AND MEETINGS WITH THE PROFESSORS..............

Day 1 of our Summer Residency CUA D.Min program started officially at 8:30 am with Hospitality as we met and introduced ourselves to fellow students, our professors, and other faculty and staff, then an Orientation led by the University Dean and others as a Welcome / Overview and walk through the Introductory Information folder.  This was followed by Mass in Caldwell Hall Chapel.  Following Mass, the Orientation continued, with Lunch and then thirty minute class meetings with each of our three professors, in the Pryzbyla Center. The formal day wrapped up at  2:15 pm.  This evening I will have to decide on a scenario to present tomorrow morning as a simulated client speaking to a simulated counselor in a Caring Conversations roleplay..............fr.tdp

Sunday, June 1, 2014

THE ASCENSION OF JESUS AND MY ARRIVAL FOR SUMMER COHORT ONE @ CUA IN DC..............

Between last Thursday and today Catholic-Christians around the World have celebrated the Ascension of the Glorified and Resurrected Lord Jesus to the Right Hand of the Heavenly Father.  This Solemnity of the Ascension has brought md via a redeye flight to our Nation's Capital, the District of Columbia, where I will be residing for the next two weeks. I am here doing the first year summer cohort for the Doctor of Ministry program at the Catholic University of America in Washington SouthEast.  During these two weeks of the Summer Residency course studies, I am living at the Theological College across the street from CUA.  From the Master Calendar Msgr. Michael Clay sent us it looks and sounds like a resourceful two weeks ahead.  I am thrilled to be here and  to meet the students and professors I have been studying online with since March 31st..............Father Troy

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

I AM GLAD YOU ARE HERE VISITING MY BLOG, "INSIGHTS INTO LIFE AND FAITH BY FATHER TROY DAVID POWERS"

ENJOY READING MY REFLECTIONS ON CURRENT AND HISTORICAL CIRCUMSTANCES FACING THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN THE WORLD.

TELL YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS TO JOIN YOU HERE.

GRATEFULLY YOURS,

REVEREND FATHER TROY POWERS

Followers

Blog Archive