CTA New Mexico??

March-April 1999 newsletter

Editor: John Wheeler, 615 West First, T or C 87901

About This Issue (the print version)

Readers will notice some stylistic differences in this newsletter. This is because this issue incorporates ideas and the compositional efforts of several board members.

About the web version: it's different.

Mission Statement

Revised 2/21/99

CTA New Mexico is (intended to be) an affiliate of Call to Action, a national nonprofit organization of Catholics who embrace the values and principles of the national organization, which are grounded in the Second Vatican Council.

We operate in an egalitarian manner, respectful of divergent points of view. As an inclusive community, we nurture and support one another aware of our need to deepen our spirituality.

We pledge to live justly, love tenderly, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8). Moreover, in answer to Christ's call each of us pledges to bring in the Reign of God by doing justice, and loving our neighbor and ourselves in our daily lives.

We reclaim our responsibility to be Church by being open to renewal, by identifying injustices, and by responding to the 'signs of the times'".

Albuquerque Gathering

Sunday, April 25th, 1999, 2-4 p.m.

There will be a general discussion and prayer gathering on Sunday, April 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Tom and Jane Baechle's home, 7021 Lamar Ave NW, telephone 899-2086.

We will discuss the following article: "Divisions, Dialogue and the Catholicity of the Church". This is from America Magazine, 1/31/98 edition. If you need a copy of the article, please email SPikulaNM@aol.com with your name and address, or call Sharon at 896-2726.

Board to Meet June 5 in T or C

An open meeting of the newly-formed Board of Directors will be held in T or C Saturday June 5 to discuss the future of CTA New Mexico.

Anyone who is interested in this meeting and wants to participate in this discussion is welcome to attend. This may be the only notice which you will receive of this pivotal meeting since the newsletter will not likely be published again until following the meeting. If you would like to attend (and you are encouraged to attend), be aware that we need to know at least 10 days in advance so that suitable meeting space can be made available, and you can be given time and direction information. Input of ideas presented either in person or sent to board members is urged. Details of time and place will be sent or communicated to current board members and others who timely signify a wish to attend. Contact any board member if you have ideas or wish to attend:

Octavia Fellin, 513 East Mesa Ave., Gallup 87301, 863-5304
Mary Phillips, 5764 Leasburg Dr., Las Cruces 88005, 526-5922, johnp@zianet.com
Sharon Pikula, 6098 Cottontail Rd NE, Albuquerque 87125, 896-2726, SPikulaNM@aol.com
Sr. Jacqueline Sailer, PO Box 1531, Deming 88031, 546-7599
Catherine Stewart-Roache, 1108 Mesa Loop, Los Lunas 87031, hermosa@swcp.com
Rev. Mark & Rachel Sutton, 2909 9th St SW, Albuquerque 87107, shinpu56@worldnet.att.net
Marge Werner, 809-2B Country Club Dr, Rio Rancho 87124, 892-0975
John Wheeler, 615 West First St, Truth or Consequences 87901 894-0632

If you are interested, please contact one of these people. You will be told of the precise location in advance of June 5.

CTA: Whither Thou Goest?

It is time for the board to decide the direction of CTA New Mexico. Questions to be considered at the June meeting include ...

Incorporation

Is this the time to register CTA New Mexico as a non-profit organization? If so, what will it mean? How often will there be statewide meetings, local meetings? Is one pre-filing option to encourage people who support the goals of CTA to join the national organization, get their newsletter, and attend a regional or national convention and learn more about the organization? If from this experience, there is enough interest in a local and state organizaton, then file papers in a year or two. Before incorporation, could New Mexicans who already belong to the national organization meet at regional and national meetings and once or twice a year gather in New Mexico for liturgy, support, and networking?

Is a monthly or bimonthly newsletter necessary? Does it duplicate the national newsletter? If one is put out for New Mexico, who will do the work? Could this work be shared? (i.e., each board member volunteering to put out one issue, or a group of three rotating the job)? How often would it be published?

Unique Ministries, Goals and Projects

We have put together a terrfic mission statement. The question to be asked honestly is: What other organizations might be meeting similar spiritual and active (peace and justice) needs of those currently interested in CTA-NM? What would make CTA in NM an organization meeting the unique needs of members? Should we aim at once to schedule a nationally known speaker her (i.e., Joan Chittister)? How about costs? When? Where?

Liturgies

How often do members of either the national or the to-be-formed organization want to join together in prayer and liturgy? Who is willing to facilitate this? Could this also be a rotating task (Rotating in location and personnel)? Would we have liturgical criteria for these services? (i.e., Inclusive languag in song, scripture, and homily; what would be the focus of prayer?

Yes, there are lots of questions; in order to move ahead, or consider new options, they need to be answered ... for now.

Some of them will be ongoing; new ones will arise.

We are people involved in giving birth. Among us are midwives as important to the Church future as those Hebrew midwives were to the birth of Judaism in Egypt millenia ago. Often we focus on Moses (seldom Miriam and Aaron) leading the people out of their slavery. But first, there were midwives. In New Mexico now, we are at this point of the birthing process. Skilled midwives notice what is happening. Sometimes they assist at the birth, sometimes they don't do the delivery at all -- others do.

Christ gave birth to the Church through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Why speak of birthing the Church now? Becuse all of us, and the Church, are in a constant state of dying and of giving birth. Old ways of "being Church" die. For example, we no longer think of confession as a once-in-a-lifetime, deathbead experience. The Church gave birth to a new celebration of Reconciliation. The birthing of this sacramental form took hundreds of years. Each of us assists others in the elemental process of birth and death, both physical and spiritual.

To what are we trying to give birth? An organization? Or rather, a new vital Catholicism reflective of Vatican II reforms for the next millennium?

Think on these things. Call, write, or email one of the board members. Let them know your feelings, and, in particular, whether you would like to join with them on June 5 in Truth or Consequences.

Fr. Paul Schneider, OFM R.I.P.

The Editor is saddened to report that Fr. Paul Schneider, Chaplain of the Felician Convent in Rio Rancho, left us last month for that place beyond the sun where there will be no more weeping or gnashing of teeth and where God makes all things new. Thank you, Fr. Paul, for being such a steadfast supporter of our effort. Please pray for us.

Mission Statement, Revised 2/21/99

Albuquerque Gathering April 25

Board to Meet June 5 in T or C

CTA: Whither Thou Goest?