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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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