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Study guide for “Encountering Pope Francis”

I got this email a couple of days ago from Aidan McAleenan, an Irish priest working in Berkeley, California, who has prepared a lively way of getting people in touch with the style and message of Pope Francis. Many of us will have heard Aidan’s voice on the radio, in the aftermath of the recent terrible tragedy involving young Irish students falling from the balcony in Berkeley. I promised Aidan to put his message on our website…
Aidan McAleenan <ajmcaleenan@gmail.com>
Jul 8, 2015
Dear Pat,
It was a joy to meet you and the other priests at the recent conference of The Association of United States Catholic Priests, to engage in meaningful dialogue with men dedicated to the spirit of Vatican II. As it happens, I was the second to youngest priest present, and I found the conference an amazing experience from Fr. Boyle S.J. through all of the speakers. As you know, I chaired a session on the “Year of Encounter with Pope Francis,”  in which I explained our parish study guide to help with the social justice concerns of our country.  The guide can be used as an educational tool for your parishes preparation for the Papal visit or simply as a means to unpack it. If you can bring it to the attention of readers of your Association of Catholic Priests website, that would be great!
Our seminar is in six sessions:
1: A Journey with Pope Francis  
2: How Our Economy Excludes People  
3: How Our Immigration System Excludes People 
4: How Our Criminal Justice System Excludes People 
5: How Racism Excludes People 
6: To Go Forth In Solidarity
You can go to www.piconetwork.org and click on the community tools.  There you can download in Word each of the six sessions.  Additionally you can download the lesson plans in PowerPoint. There are also video and pictorial resources. My parish was highlighted in the National Catholic Reporter.  I have added it to show you the type of Vatican II parish I help foster.
Peace to all my brothers
Aidan

 

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