With over forty-five years of experience providing leadership for ongoing formation of priests and presbyterates, NOCERCC offers a variety of programs and resources for dioceses, religious communities, parishes, schools, and other organizations.
Cultivating Unity is a pastoral initiative of NOCERCC, the National Organization for Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy, in partnership with CARA , the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University, to foster the unity of priests and bishops, in response to The Basic Plan for the Ongoing Formation of Priests, promulgated by the Catholic bishops of the United States in 2000. Cultivating Unity is intended to be a transformational process engaging the entire diocesan presbyterate with its bishop in frank and faith-centered dialogue leading to a common rededication to priestly ministry. More information.
How can you preach and minister to parish communities that include traditional aging Catholics, middle-age parents and techno-savvy youth and young adults? Each of these groups has a very different view of life and the Church—as well different expectations of the parish.
Ministering across the Generations draws upon groundbreaking research on generational differences in U.S.society and applies that research to ministry situations. The program helps participants to see that each generation of Catholics is different because each grew up in a different era of Church. These differing experiences led them to have very different understandings of the Church and parish life.
Using interactive presentation style that engages participants, the program addresses these issues:
Priests, other parish staff members, and parish volunteers can all benefit greatly from this program. Ministering across the Generations is facilitated by Dominic Perri, who serves as a faculty member for NOCERCC’s Cultivating Unity initiative. Dominic works throughout the United Stateswith dioceses, religious communities, parishes, and national Church organizations.
For more information on Ministering Across the Generations, contact the NOCERCC National Office by email at nocercc@nocercc.org or by telephone at 410-978-3676.
One of the great challenges facing presbyterates throughout the United States is the differences that exist among priestly generations. Young, middle-age, and older priests differ over issues of ecclesiology, theology, and even the role of the priest. These differences challenge the morale and unity of the presbyterate as well as its ministerial effectiveness. Attempts at promoting dialogue often serve simply to heighten the tension as groups entrench in their positions.
Priests and presbyterates need a new level of understanding to help them come to a better appreciation of their differences. Priestly Generations in Dialogue begins with a presentation of groundbreaking research on generational differences in U.S. society, applies that research to priestly generations, and provides each generational cohort—pre-Vatican II, Vatican II, post-Vatican II, and Jubilee era—the opportunity to share their unique experience.
The program is facilitated by Dominic Perri, who serves as a faculty member for NOCERCC's Cultivating Unity initiative. Dominic facilitates diocesan convocations and offers programs throughout the United States for dioceses, religious communities, parishes, and national Church organizations.
For more information on Priestly Generations in Dialogue, contact the NOCERCC National Office by email at nocercc@nocercc.org or by telephone at 410-978-3676.
The community that gathers Sunday after Sunday comes together to offer God praise and thanksgiving, or at least to await a word that will give a meaning to their lives and enable them to celebrate Eucharist. What the preacher can do best of all at this time and in this place is to enable this community to celebrate by offering them a word in which they can recognize their own concerns and God’s concern for them (p. 8).