40th Anniversary

 NOCERCC National Convention

January 28- 31, 2013
Hilton Pasadena Hotel
Pasadena, California

Registration Form

Letter from the President

Mark Your Calendar

Hotel Reservations

Mark your calendar now to be part of this special gathering to celebrate 40 years of championing ongoing formation for priests and presbyterates and to chart a way forward for this ministry so crucial for the church.

We’ve Moved!

As NOCERCC President Rev. Richard Chiola announced on March 30 of this year, the National Office is moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where NOCERCC was incorporated almost forty years ago.  The Chicago office will remain open until Friday, June 29.  As of Monday, July 2, the Baltimore office will be open for business.

Contacting the Baltimore Office

We are doing everything we can to make the transition as seamless as possible for our members and other constituents.  Telephone calls and postal mail directed to the Chicago office will be forwarded to Baltimore.  Our main email address and web address are not changing.
Here’s the contact information for our new office in Baltimore:

NOCERCC National Office
Catholic Community
110 E. West Street
Baltimore MD 21230
email: nocercc@nocercc.org
telephone: 410-978-3676
fax: 410-752-2703
website: www.nocercc.org

 

New Responsibilities for NOCERCC Board

As Fr. Chiola noted in his March 30 message, the restructuring represented by the downsizing of staff and the relocation to Baltimore is intended to assure NOCERCC’s financial recovery in order to sustain its mission to champion lifelong formation for priests and presbyterates.  Until our financial capacity allows for additional staffing, the Board of Directors is assuming direct responsibility for supporting our members and other constituencies with programs and services.
Dianna Berger-Trocher in the Baltimore office will be coordinating timely communications so that Board members can quickly respond to inquiries and provide the programs and services our members and other constituents need.  If you wish to contact a Board member directly, you can email any Board member through the email link on the Leadership page of our website, www.nocercc.org.  If you wish to contact Fr. Chiola, the NOCERCC President, you can also reach him directly by email at rchiola@hotmail.com or by telephone at 217-622-9339.

Thanks to Rev. Patrick Carrion & the Catholic Community of South Baltimore

The new NOCERCC office in Baltimore is provided rent-free through the generosity of the Catholic Community of South Baltimore and its pastor, Rev. Patrick Carrion, who is also NOCERCC’s Secretary-Treasurer.  The Board of Directors wishes to thank Fr. Carrion and the three parishes that make up the Catholic Community of South Baltimore for this extraordinary contribution to NOCERCC’s future.

Jim Alphen
Executive Director, NOCERCC
Through June 30, 2012

Accent Modification Training for International Priests

According to research by Dean R. Hoge, PhD, and Aniedi Okure, O.P., the most common complaint registered by U.S. parishioners about their international priest pastors is the inability to understand their accents (International Priests in America: Challenges and Opportunities. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2006, 51). Saint Meinrad's Institute for Priests and Presbyterates provides accent modification training for international priests serving in the United States. For accent modification training and other programs of ongoing formation for priests and presbyterates,
 visit our website.

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Best Practices in Catholic Church Ministry Performance Management

Best Practices in Catholic Church Ministry Performance Management, edited by Charles E. Zech, director of the Villanova University Center for the Study of Church Management, and recently published by Lexington Books includes a chapter on “Performance Management and Ongoing Formation of Priests” by Jim Alphen, NOCERCC’s executive director. Click here to purchase.

NOCERCC has made arrangements with Lexington Books to offer this book to our members at a 25% discount. Please log in to the member section of our website for further information on purchasing Best Practices in Catholic Church Ministry Performance Management.


 

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Cruise Retreat for Priests

Finding time to take a retreat and get in some vacation is becoming more and more difficult. Why not combine both into a four-night Bahamian cruise?

Saint Meinrad's Institute for Priests and Presbyterates has been hosting cruise retreats for priests for several years. Join us from October 8-12 aboard Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas. Fr. Guerric DeBona, OSB, gives the conferences to help you prepare for preaching Advent.

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In June 2000 the U.S. Catholic bishops unanimously approved The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests and asked NOCERCC to "carry the principles outlined here forward to implementation." Click here for The Basic Plan.
 

If you are interested in a NOCERCC membership, please contact the national office by phone at 410-978-3676 or by email.

Take the first step toward updating your membership online here.  You can pay your membership dues wtih Paypal or mail your payment to the National Office.

Advanced Professional Development for Leaders of Faith-Based Organizations 

Cranaleith Master Seminars, Philadelphia PA

The Master Seminar series is designed for those who lead or facilitate organizations such as communities of vowed religious women or men, religiously sponsored hospitals or educational ministries, local congregations and social service ministries.  The seminar format emphasizes collegial exploration of advanced topics through discussion, reflection and case consultation.

The presenter, Dr. Marisa Guerin, consults to a wide range of nonprofit organizations, in particular Roman Catholic religious communities and ministries.

 

Seminar #1: Exploring the Psychodynamics of Systems

October 9-11, 2012 and February 19-21, 2013

• The power of roles, boundaries and authority in system psychodynamics

• The complexities of decisions, conflict resolution and shared commitments

Seminar #2: Planning and Change for the Spirit-Led
July 10-12, 2012* / July 24-26, 2012* / November 27-29, 2012 / March 5-7, 2013

• Methods and formats for strategic planning in Boards, communities and large and small groups that take their leading from the Spirit

• The rational, emotional, political and spiritual impacts of change

For further information and application forms:

Cranaleith Spiritual Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia
215-934-6206
www.cranaleith.org

Saint Meinrad Offerings

So you're getting a new parochial vicar...
For the experience to be good for everyone -- the new parochial vicar, the parish staff, the parishioners and you, the pastor -- it's important to make some plans before your new parochial vicar arrives.

Here are some ideas for welcoming your newly ordained priest.

Mini-Sabbatical for Priests

If you’re between parish assignments, this may be the perfect time to refresh your spirit and refocus your priorities. Consider taking just four weeks to relax and recharge your spiritual life.

The Stoking the Fire Sabbatical offers a quiet place and a focused program to prepare you for the next challenges of ministry. Join fellow priests in this unique sabbatical experience on the Saint Meinrad campus. You’ll find a mix of activities and recreation, paired with time for reflection and relaxation.

Download the Stoking the Fire Sabbatical brochure

Would you like to make a donation to NOCERCC?