A Season of Joy
December 2018
More than The Record
This article originally appeared in  Impacts: A Blog of the Office of Mission Advancement .
By Jessica Able, Reporter

You can often find me at Santa Fe Grill on S. Third Street on Tuesdays at lunchtime. The midday break is a welcome respite amidst what is typically a hectic day in the office.

The weekly habit began years ago with colleagues in the news department at  The Record . It’s become more than a habit, a routine really. Many people, myself included, are creatures of habit.

That’s one of the things I love about my job. Each week is exactly the same and yet completely different. Certain events must take place on specific days (e.g., writing and editing) given the nature of a weekly publication schedule. And yet, the subject matter of stories can vary widely from week to week.

As a reporter at  The Record , I am able to visit parishes, schools, and organizations throughout the 24 counties in the Archdiocese of Louisville. There, I may meet excited students celebrating a Blue Ribbon award or dedicated women religious caring for God’s creation or faithful Catholics serving the poor and hungry.

It is the mission of  The Record  to communicate the good news of Jesus Christ to the people of Central Kentucky. We approach each issue of  The Record  with this simple statement in mind.

For me, it is a privilege to meet the people of the Archdiocese and be trusted to tell their stories. Whether I’m reporting on the bicentennial of the oldest Catholic Church in Meade County (Hello Saint Theresa!) or listening to a group of Hispanic youth express their fears about the hateful rhetoric directed towards migrants, I’m in awe of the powerful stories shared with me.

I try to bring compassion and thoughtfulness to each story I write. Through the words we print in  The Record  each Thursday, we hope to convey the work done in God’s name by our Catholic brothers and sisters.

I’m often asked what “beat” I cover, a typical question for a journalist. With a small staff, each of us wears many hats and are able to report on a broad spectrum of the news, an aspect I love. I’m constantly learning and researching topics, whether it’s how solar panels work, details of a heart bypass story, or legislative issues facing the Kentucky General Assembly.

Catholic journalists have a specific responsibility to uphold the truth and to “encourage Catholics to carry out their baptismal calls to reach out to others in Christ’s name,” as stated in our editorial policies.

In an address to communication professionals earlier this year at the Vatican, Pope Francis asked journalists and others who work in the media to promote a “journalism of peace.” He said a “journalism of peace” is at the service of all people especially those who have no voice. That is what we try to do at  The Record  each week.

The Record  newspaper has served the Catholic community in the Archdiocese of Louisville for 139 years. It’s an honor to be a part of that legacy of storytelling.

Jessica Able has been a reporter at  The Record  newspaper since 2011. She and her husband, Dan, have two children, Caroline and Joshua, and are parishioners at Saint Agnes Church.
Archbishop Kurtz's Christmas Message
The Witness of Childlike Joy: Faith Club
By Maureen Grisanti Larison

More than 30 years ago, a bold initiative began in the Archdiocese of Louisville that continues to flourish today. It was a grassroots effort by parents of some very special young adults to include their grown children more actively in parish life. They began a group called the “Faith Club” that brought together individuals from multiple parishes to nurture faith in Christ and to build community. That initial effort has blossomed into five different groups with a total of more than 70 members.
 
Faith Club members meet monthly to learn more about their Catholic faith, make new friends, socialize, and engage in service activities. There are Faith Clubs meeting at Church of the Ascension, Flaget Center, Holy Family, Our Lady of Lourdes, and Saint Francis of Assisi. The five smaller groups join together for three major events each year.
The Faith Clubs exist to meet the catechetical needs of adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. The Office of Faith Formation staff and many dedicated volunteer leaders work together to support the group members. 
 
It has been my privilege to coordinate these groups for several years, and I admit that I’m in awe of each and every person. If you want to see unconditional love and acceptance, visit a Faith Club meeting. You will find a welcome unlike any other! The Faith Club folks are open, generous, curious, and above all, yes, faithful.
 
When they gather for Mass during the annual Lenten retreat day, the experience of community and love of God is overwhelming. There is prayer, song, and ritual just like at any liturgy, but the level of enthusiasm is astounding. Their prayers are heartfelt and childlike; they trust that God is listening and will answer. They offer an incredible witness of faith to the whole Church. Simplicity and joy are hallmarks of the groups. Unlike some meetings which become bogged down in petty details, the Faith Club gatherings move from one activity to the next in a positive and energetic atmosphere.
 
One of the original goals of the Faith Club was to promote greater inclusion of adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities in all parishes. That goal has not been attained fully. We need to examine each of our parishes to look for ways to encourage the involvement of all members. One way to raise awareness might be to volunteer with a Faith Club group. You may find yourself transformed!
 
Maureen Grisanti Larison is the Consultant for Faith Formation and Initiation for the Office of Faith Formation. For more information on Faith Clubs, please contact Maureen at mlarison@archlou.org or (502) 636-0296, ext. 1269.
Archbishop's Tweets
Follow @ArchbishopKurtz on Twitter for more of his tweets.

December 6
@ArchbishopKurtz:
This evening we taped Christmas morn’s Mass of the Air at beautiful Ursuline Chapel - St Aloysius Choir singing.

December 5
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Super evening with the Faith Club at Flaget Center - anticipating the Season of Christmas.

December 5
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Archbishop lauds Little Flower for inclusion of parishioners with disabilities | Toledo Blade

November 27
@ArchbishopKurtz:
Brisk AM walk in Covington along Ohio at foot of famous Roebling Bridge into Cincinnati.
Upcoming Events
Resources & Recommendations
This month, we're highlighting some helpful and timely resources for Catholics throughout the Archdiocese. We encourage you to check out the resources below.

Sexual Abuse
Archbishop Kurtz has now released six issues of his “Leadership Briefing” on the topic of sexual abuse. He has prepared the Archbishop’s Leadership Briefing to keep archdiocesan leaders informed of important developments in the Church, especially in light of the Church’s response to sexual abuse. To read these, go here .

Conversations with Archbishop Kurtz
For the December episode of Conversations with Archbishop Kurtz , Chancellor Dr. Brian Reynolds and Archbishop Kurtz discuss Archbishop’s pastoral letter: The Soul of the Parish: Being Led by the Holy Spirit Alive in Our Midst , and Archbishop presents his 2018 Advent/Christmas message. Archbishop also welcomes guests Deacon Greg Beavin and Father George Illikkal, C.M.I., of Saint Theresa, Rhodelia and Saint Mary Magdalen, Paynesville Parishes, as well as the archdiocesan facilitator who worked with these parishes, Laura Zoeller, to talk about the experience of parish discernment at Saint Mary Magdalen and Saint Theresa. 

Conversations airs on the Faith Channel (Spectrum channels 19 and digital channel 279) on Tues. at 7 p.m., Wed. at 10 a.m., Fri. at 7 p.m., and Sat. at 4 p.m. It is on radio stations WLCR 1040 AM, Breadbox Media, and WLHN 95.3 FM in Meade County. You may download Conversations for no charge through iTunes. Conversations also is available on Bardstown Cable Channel 19 (BRTV) at 7 p.m. on the first two Monday nights of the month and on Bardstown’s PLG TV on Tuesday afternoons at 4 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Conversations is online here .

Days of Human Dignity
Pope Francis issued an invitation in September of 2017 to “Share the Journey” with the millions of migrants around the world. As one way to “Share the Journey,” the Archdiocese of Louisville observes “Days of Human Dignity” beginning with National Migration Week in January. In addition to immigration and migration, these days focus on issues of human dignity such as racial justice and equality, the dignity and sanctity of human life, and gun violence. For more information, click here . Several events are coming up:

Celebration of National Migration Week Prayer Service, Thursday, January 10, 6:30 p.m., Cathedral of the Assumption

Walk for Life, Friday, January 18, 4:30 p.m., Cathedral of the Assumption

Pro-Life Mass, Sunday, January 20, 3:00 p.m., Saint Martin of Tours Parish, Louisville

Celebration in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Monday, January 21, 10:00 a.m., Cathedral of the Assumption

Catholics at the Capitol (a session with Kentucky legislators to discuss issues of concern to the Church), Monday, January 28, 7:00 p.m., Holy Family Church (Saffin Center)
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