Catholic Pastoral Theology

1. Catholic Pastoral Theology Bill Huebsch Institute for Pastoral Studies Loyola University of Chicago

2. In your parish Who are the people that struggle the most to be a full part of the church? Who has simply “given up on us” and gone their own way?

3. Catholic Pastoral Theology The invitation from Pope Francis in The Joy of the Gospel

4. The invitation • I invite all Christians in this very moment to experience “a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ” (#3). • No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since “no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord.”

5. Turn your heart • The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; • whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is there already, waiting for us with open arms. • Let me say this once more: God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy. (#3)

6. You have been shown mercy • Remember your sins • Not in order to live a negative life • But in order to be able to recall the miracle of forgiveness • You have been forgiven • Why would you hold someone else’s sins against them?

7. Turn your heart • Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; • in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. • I need you. Save me once again, Lord. • Take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.

8. How do we “turn our hearts” • Love for one another • Sharing our own inner selves • Speaking words of forgiveness & comfort • Pause • Just pause and turn your heart to him • The energy of love is very near to you • Simply BE in his presence

9. We want for all Catholics #1 To know Jesus in this intimate way To walk with him as a friend To love the church, the body of Christ

10. We want for all Catholics #2 To be aware of their sins so they will know about God’s mercy They are forgiven. Period.

11. Introduction to Pastoral Theology Accompaniment & Theological Reflection

12. Theology • We study it to understand it • Doctrine and dogma • Canon law • Moral theology • Scripture studies • Church history

13. Pastoral theology • We study it to enact it • Religious ed • Liturgy • Pastoral care • Church leadership • Youth ministry • Lifelong faith formation • Pastoral accompaniment It’s an ACTION

14. Pastoral • Our purpose is to help people • Grow in intimacy with Jesus • & love the Church • Find their way through the muddles which life presents • Not the sole task of the clergy • Lay people have a key role to oplay

15. Pastoral Ministry History 325 1517 Today Reformation Under Constantine Jesus Gregory the Great Lateran Councils Council of Trent The Founding Period Vatican II: Not only hierarchy The People of God Pastoral Ministry Lay & clergy together Return to style of Jesus Conscience returns Pope Francis Accompaniment Mercy Jesus Pastoral Ministry: Personal Accompaniment Mercy vs Law Early Church Lay ministry Personal Servant leaders Church became “legal” Clergy raised in rank to civil leaders Privilege and power Sacramental system for pastoral ministry Ministry: the business of the clergy Lay people: spectators Minimum “obligations” – the threat of Hell

16. Pastoral Strategy • Pope Francis sees accompaniment • As the key strategy • In order to achieve all the other pastoral goals • This includes the care of the environment and the poor

17. What is accompaniment? Accompanist

18. Forms of Accompaniment • Pastoral • How we organize the parish • How the parish presents itself • Individual • People seeking guidance • Family and Friends • Informal most of the time • Even accidental sometimes

19. Individual

20. God is still speaking • We begin with this tremendous and amazing reality: • God is speaking to us individually • Through scripture & liturgy of course • But also: • Nature & beauty, music & art • The embrace of a loved one • The quiet of our hearts

21. The Church in Modern World #16 Our Catechism #1776 • Deep within our conscience we discover a law which we have not laid upon ourselves but which we must obey. • Its voice, ever calling us to love and to do what is good and to avoid evil, sounds in our hearts at the right moment.... • For we have in our heart a law inscribed by God.... • Our conscience is our most secret core and our sanctuary. There we are alone with God whose voice echoes in our depths.

22. Our Catechism #1785 • In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path, • we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. • We must also examine our conscience before the Lord's Cross. • We are assisted by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, • aided by the witness or advice of others • and guided by the authoritative teaching of the Church.

23. We want for all Catholics #3 We want every Catholic to form and learn to follow his or her conscience

24. God is still speaking But sometimes we need help to discern God’s voice. That’s where an accompanist helps

25. An accompanist • Helps others hear the voice of God as it echoes in the depths of his or her conscience • With reverence for how God may be leading this person • Fully aware of the mysterious ways of God • Such accompaniment happens at “God’s speed” (not at our own demanding pace)

26. We want for all Catholics #4 We want every Catholic to have access to an accompanist

27. Who can be an Accompanist? • Only those who are ready to do the theological reflection that is needed • Not everyone is ready • You cannot insist on following church teaching literally • You must be close to Jesus • You must know the Lord’s cross

28. How do you prepare? • The accompanist must • Be in Christ • Turn your heart to him as Pope Francis suggests • Learn to listen to God’s voice • Trust that God is in each person’s life • Allow God time to work…

29. How do you prepare? • Being in Christ • Means that we be persons of constant prayer • We must be contemplatives • Mystics • This is slow theology • We must “take off our shoes” • We are in the presence of Mystery

30. Mystery • The mystery we face in accompaniment • is not one of confusion or a lack of knowledge or insufficient revelation. • It is a mystery of depth. • We simply cannot plumb the mystery of God.

31. How do you prepare? • You cannot cling too tightly to your beliefs and prejudices • Such “certitude” curtails your ability to truly listen to God • God is full of surprises and mystery • What are your prejudices?

32. Your beliefs • The poor are lazy and dirty • A mother’s place is in the home • Immigrants only cause problems • The church can’t welcome everyone • Divorce is always wrong • Gay people are all promiscuous • God is angry with sinners

33. Your beliefs • Certitude undercuts God’s mystery • Self-assurance about what you believe and know closes down your ability to truly hear others • It’s one thing to be faithful • It’s another to be arrogant about your faith or beliefs

34. Your beliefs • Pray for openness to what God may be asking of this person • Pray for trust in God’s mystery • Pray to allow God to surprise you • Each person is called by God in unique and sacred ways…

35. Don’t fear • Each case is about a person before God • You are not changing church teaching because you offer a particular bit of mercy • Your address is to each person • Not to the rest of the church • Each person is your subject • What is God asking of her or him in this situation? • How can you help him or her discern that?

36. For our parishioners • Every parish priest • Lay people in each parish • Volunteers working with the youth • People for each other • A community of accompanists

37. For all Catholics #5 We want Catholics to learn how and be willing to accompany one another

38. When someone sees… • Gossip • Stealing • Cheating on taxes • Meanness or bullying • Lies • Drugs and alcohol • Dangerous behavior

39. What should they do? • Condone – we go along with it, • Laughing with them • Letting the evil be • Condemn – we judge them and throw the law at them • Acting as though we are always innocent • Throwing stones instead of mercy

40. A third option • Accompany each other • Learn how to speak up • Without becoming “judges” • Asking each other about values • About who gets hurt or isolated • Yes, you can teach this to your people

41. How is accompaniment done? What is the method? 6 easy steps

42. Quick look at the 6 steps • Make yourself available • Invite the seeker to tell their story • Listen carefully • Inquire and nudge just a little • Help them discern what God is asking of them • Help them reach a decision

43. Let’s review… How does this work in real life?

44. The 1st Step • Make yourself available • Let it be widely know that all are welcome • That no one will be judged or punished • That each one’s story is valuable • Become known as the place where people are safe to talk

45. The 2nd Step Step 1 • Someone (the seeker) • Comes to see you (the accompanist) • In the school or among the parents • Formal or informal • Invite them to tell their story • Listen with “the ears of God” • Clarify only a little • Don’t interfere with their story

46. The 3rd Step • Listen • Don’t judge them • Or at least temper your judgments • Don’t throw verses of Scripture at them • Don’t quote the Catechism • Let them talk

47. As an accompanist • God is working in this person’s life • It’s a mystery • Learn to trust that • And even to remove your sandals in reverence • This takes us to the 4th step

48. The 4th Step • The Art of Sacred Inquiry • Gently nudge • with open questions • help the seeker clarify his or her heart • Don’t be intrusive • And allow for God’s time • This may take many weeks or longer

49. A 3-part sacred inquiry The 4th Step • Friendship with Jesus • In the heart • The call to holiness • Which is to practice self-giving love • The teachings of the Church • Our collected and shared wisdom • The “way” to Jesus and holiness

50. Fundamental orientation Friendship with Jesus • Without this orientation toward God • You can’t accompany this person to do discernment • Your goal is to know what God is asking • If you aren’t listening • How can you hear?