1. Rev. W. Shawn McKnight, S.T.D. Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations

2. www.usccb.org/priestlyformation

4.  Pope Benedict XVI called for improved homilies  Sacramentum Caritatis  Verbum Domini  Formal Statement approved at the November 2012 Plenary Assembly  Directed to priests, deacons & those involved with the initial and ongoing formation of clergy  Expands upon Fulfilled in Your Hearing  Explicit encouragement for doctrinal & catechetical preaching  Addresses challenges for the homilist in our present context:  Growing social diversity & polarization  Secularism  Commercialism/Individualism  Largely uncatechized assembly

5. “The Church’s rich theological, doctrinal and catechetical tradition must therefore properly inform the preaching task in its liturgical setting, for Jesus Christ must be proclaimed in a new way and with new urgency.”

6.  CCLV Conference for teachers of homiletics  June 24-25, 2013  at Notre Dame  no cost for registration  free use of air- conditioned residence rooms on campus.

7.  Youth involvement in Church is critical for vocations;  Low encouragement reported from youth/young adult/ campus ministers;  Underrepresentation of Hispanic/Latinos and strong representation of Asians.  Trending younger still; average 34.6, median 31  27% have college debt; average $21,125, median $18,000

8. PERCENTAGE OF HISPANICS BY GENERATION

9.  Consultation held at the USCCB in June 2011  15 psychologists, seminary & diocesan officials, canon & civil lawyers  Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: Use of Psychology in Admissions Chapter 3: The Process of Admissions Chapter 4: Record Retention & Other Legal Concerns Glossary: Definition of Terms

10.  First chapter on the use of psychology in the admissions process under review  Chapters on the process for admissions, canonical and legal concerns, and glossary of terms still to come.

11.  Program of Priestly Formation, 5 th edition, expires December 2015  Consultation has begun with key constituencies  NCDVD  NACS  MATS  FSSD  Rectors  Preliminary review of the PPF  Request for Rectors to review the current PPF, 290-367  Identify norms that need emendation, if any  Highlight difficult norms for which special resources should be made available

13. 2011:Catholic Social Teaching Formation / Intercultural Competency Training 2012:Formation for Evangelization & Catechesis 2013:Liturgical & Spiritual Formation 2014:Homiletic & Pastoral Formation 2015:Admissions & Human Formation Annual Surveys of Priestly Formation

14. Guidelines for Receiving Pastoral Ministers in the United States, Revised Edition (USCCB Publication, 2003). Seminar on Policy & Procedure for the Reception of International Clergy & Seminarians, Parresia Project, NCEA & Sacred Heart Institute, Huntington, NY April 24-26, 2013. Welcoming, Screening and Preparing International Clergy & Seminarians, St. John Vianney Center & CCLV, San Diego, CA, June 10, 2013.

15. Request from USCCB Communications Suggest 1 or 2 men in 2013 ordination class who could write a 500-600 word blog on their dreams for the priesthood. What do they see themselves doing and include a bit about their own background. Send a simple e-mail to Sr. Mary Ann Walsh (mwalsh@usccb.org) giving the seminarian’s name, a bit of interesting background, and the seminarian’s e-mail address. Submit information by February 8.