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Diocesan Educational Leadership and Administration: Pastoral, Ecclesial and Effective Bishop Blase Cupich 2

Introduction Looking at the Whole: A Task Necessary for One Who Has Responsibility for the Details

The Present Context 1. New Evangelization - Faith as Transformative Encounter 2. The Francis Effect – Recovery of a Christian Epistemology 4

Four Points of Direction for Pastoral, Ecclesial and Effective Leadership and Administration 1. Taps Tradition as a Resource 2. Appreciates the Unique Opportunities of the Present Moment 3. Is Realistic about Breakdowns 4. Pursues the Goal of Communion Concluding Remarks and Questions 5

1. New Evangelization – Faith as Transformative Encounter “Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.” ~Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“Evangelization… should not be seen primarily as a communication of doctrine or even of a ‘message’. It means introducing people to a blessed and liberating union with the Lord Jesus, who lives in the community that cherishes His memory and invokes His spirit. To evangelize… is never a matter of mere words. It is an invitation to others to enter the community of the disciples and to participate in the new consciousness that disciples alone can bring.” Cardinal Avery Dulles 7

1. New Evangelization – Faith as Transformative Encounter A Fresh Understanding of the Resurrection of Christ as It Relates to the Eucharist Christ is always exercising his priestly ministry, but in the Eucharist He makes present his victory and triumph over death. Sacrosanctum Concilium 6 and 7.

2. The Francis Effect – Recovery of a Christian Epistemology A distinction between conceptualization and appropriation. Life as a journey.

SUMMARY STATEMENT Catechesis, preaching and passing on the faith must not only be about educating the members of our communities in the content of our tradition. This is important, but it must equally be about developing their spiritual sensitivity to the ways God manifests his presence and action in the world.

Schooling people in the ways of ongoing discernment produces a greater receptivity to the tradition of the church and at the same time creates the freedom that will make them more responsive to the will of God throughout their lives. This balance is in keeping with the Lord’s great commission: “Go teach AND make disciples.”

What does this present context suggest are the key elements for an approach to administration and leadership in the Church today that is ecclesial, pastoral and effective?

1. Taps Tradition as a Resource “Tradition means giving votes to the most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant dictatorship of those who merely happen to be alive at this time.

Democracy objects to people being disqualified by the accident of birth; Tradition objects to their being disqualified by the accident of their death. Democracy tells us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he cleans our stable; Tradition asks us not to neglect a good man’s opinion, even if he is our father.” G.K. Chesterton

Example of the formation of the Gospels Tradition is a Handing On which implies a connectedness with the past, the present among ourselves and the future Leadership and Administration has a chance of being ecclesial, pastoral and effective if the starting point is an awareness that we minister in a continuum, within a tradition.

The Blessing of Each Day Self Confidence Making a Difference God’s Work

The World Is NOT Flat (pace Thomas Friedman)

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Breaks Offer Breaks SSlow Down FFresh Perspective NNew Opportunities

1. What does leadership look like that aims not just at unity but communion, which involves mutual self sharing, sacrifice and sharing? 2. What does administration look like that aims at keeping in balance the needs of all, especially those at the margins? 3. Are people growing? Are they moving away from the natural tendency of isolation and developing the internal freedom to love? 20

 Each Element is Important – not just in isolation but as they relate to each other  The Eucharist As Paradigm of the Whole  Jesus Took Break  Blessed It  Broke It  Gave It To His Disciples 21

Understand: Everywhere is the Chapel and those we serve make it sacred. 22

“What we have loved, others will love and we will teach them how.” ~ William Wordsworth 23

QUESTIONS???

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