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Weekend Bulletin
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| November 1 - November 2, 2025 | Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls) |
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On October 22nd people of faith across the nation gathered in solidarity to participate in an action called "One Church, One Family: Catholic Public Witness for Immigrants." Spearheaded by Jesuit West Province, Catholic organizations, groups, parishes, and individuals across the country organized in efforts to publicly stand in solidarity with immigrants. Actions included vigils outside of immigration offices and detention centers, prayer services at the sites of immigration arrests, rosaries recited as individuals reported for immigration court hearings, Masses and private prayer.
All Catholics and people of goodwill across the nation are invited to join in a second day of action on November 13th, the feast day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, universal patroness of immigrants. To learn more and join an action in your area, visit the One Church, One Family website.
Thank you to the organizers of One Church, One Family, for giving each of us the opportunity to stand in solidarity and holy courage!
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November 2, 2025 | All Souls Day
Today Philip Farah invites us to explore the Church’s complicity in the erasure of the Palestinian genocide; engage how we avoid the genocide of Palestinians; and embody non-complicity with a contemplative exercise and the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace.
"On this All Souls Day, I can think of nothing more befitting the occasion than to recall the powerful sermon entitled “Christ in the Rubble, a Liturgy of Lament, delivered on Christmas Eve, 2023, by Palestinian Pastor, Reverend Doctor Munther Isaac in his Bethlehem church. In this sermon, which soon went viral, he said: 'We look and see [Jesus] in every [Palestinian] child killed and pulled from under the rubble [in Gaza.] While the world continues to reject the children of Gaza, Jesus says: 'just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me'…"
Born and raised in East Jerusalem, Dr. Philip Farah is a Palestinian Christian who came to the US in 1978 at the age of 27. He has lived, studied, and worked in several countries in the Middle East. A founding member of the Palestinian Christian Alliance for Peace (2012), Dr. Farah has spoken widely on Middle East peace and justice issues and his writings have appeared in several publications. He has been hosted on several local and national news programs, such as NPR’s On Point and Democracy Now! Philip has relatives in Gaza some of whom were among the victims of the ongoing genocidal war against the Palestinians. He recently retired after a thirty-five year career as a public sector economist.
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November 1, 2025
Preaching for the Solemnity of All Saints, Elvira Ramirez offers a reflection on living our call to holiness through our own gifts and circumstances:
"Today, let us reflect on the particular gifts we have received and on the circumstances of our daily lives that invite us to mercy, love, justice, peace, and to holiness."
Elvira Ramirez is executive director of Maryknoll Lay Missioners. She previously served as the executive director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Stockton, California for 15 years. And from 1982 until 1993 she served as a Maryknoll sister, primarily working with youth and young adults in Tanzania.
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November 2, 2025
Preaching for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls), Marie Philomène Péan, D.Min. invites us to trust that in God we are held, we are loved, and we are home:
"As a nurse, a chaplain, and a pastoral associate, I have sat beside people as they took their final breath. I have held hands, whispered prayers, and witnessed something sacred: death is not the end. It is a passage. And Jesus walks with us through it."
Marie Philomène Péan, D.Min., is a seasoned pastoral leader, spiritual director, and community builder whose ministry spans continents and cultures. Originally from Haiti, she brings a multilingual and multicultural lens to her work, speaking Haitian Creole, French, English, and conversational Spanish. Philomène holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Andover Newton Theological School and is a Board-Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains.
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| Upcoming FutureChurch Program |
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| The Spirit Still Speaks: New Voices for Reform |
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November 19, 2025 at 6:00pm ET via Zoom
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Join FutureChurch for “The Spirit Still Speaks: New Voices for Reform” – a powerful conversation with a panel of young thinkers and activists who are doing their part to shape the future of the Church. Katie Gordon, Maxwell Kuzma, Medene Presley, and Yunuen Trujillo will share their experiences, insights, and hopes for a more just, inclusive, and Spirit-led Church. Guided by moderator Shannon K. Evans, this dialogue will highlight the voices of a new generation of reformers who are challenging the status quo and calling the Church to deeper faithfulness, courage, and commitment to the gospel.
About our panel:
Shannon K. Evans is the spirituality and culture editor at National Catholic Reporter and the author of the books The Mystics Would Like a Word, Feminist Prayers for My Daughter, and Rewilding Motherhood. With interest in ecofeminism, social change and contemplative practice, Shannon leads workshops and retreats across the country that spark curiosity and compassion. She and her family make their home in central Iowa.
Katie Gordon is a spiritual seeker inspired by monastic tradition. She is the Coordinator of Monasteries of the Heart, an online movement that translates Benedictine wisdom for contemporary seekers. Katie is often experimenting with new ways of co-creating community outside of traditional religious forms, including her previous projects like Nuns & Nones and the Formation Project. She is most inspired by Benedict as a model of “living otherwise” today, and writes about this and more on her Substack, Following the Monastic Impulse.
Maxwell Kuzma is a writer, advocate, and podcast host exploring what it means to be transgender, Catholic, and committed to justice. A columnist for National Catholic Reporter and board member of DignityUSA, he centers LGBTQ+ voices in the Church and reimagines Catholic theology through a liberatory lens. He has been interviewed by press such as the NYTimes and BBC on queer and trans Catholic identity, church reform, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Medene J.R. Presley is from Sacramento, CA; born and raised in the Afro-Pentecostal Christian tradition, but in 2018, was received into the Catholic Church while studying in seminary. He holds a Bachelors of Psychology from William Jessup University; a Masters of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology, and is currently pursuing a second Masters in Clinical Psychology at Loyola Marymount University. Medene researches the integration of psychology and theology, moral/practical theology, and pastoral counseling. He is the co-founder of the God Talk with Medene and James podcast. Moreover, he is a religious educator, campus minister, and community service director at a private Catholic high school in Los Angeles.
Yunuen Trujillo is a lay minister, faith-based community organizer, and immigration attorney. With over 15 years of experience in young adult ministry, she currently serves as the Religious Formation Coordinator (Spanish) for the Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Yunuen has worked with L.A. Voice PICO, a faith-based organization focused on creating a society that reflects the dignity of all, advocating for immigration reform, criminal justice reform, and increased resources for education. She is a board member of New Ways Ministry and FutureChurch. Yunuen is also the author of LGBT Catholics: A Guide to Inclusive Ministry, published in English and Spanish by Paulist Press.
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| Pentecost Project- NEW Highlight! |
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| Dorothea Project Brings Catholic Social Teaching to Life |
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With the fire of Pentecost and emboldened by the Holy Spirit, we at FutureChurch are engaging in a new project to recognize and celebrate communities that are embodying the mission of Pentecost. Over the next several months, we will continue highlighting communities that have been emboldened to live the Gospel in new and creative ways. Today we introduce you to Dorothea Project.
Article Excerpt:
Heartbroken by the treatment of migrants and immigrants in the United States and compelled by her Catholic faith, in Spring of this year social worker, activist, and mom Katie Holler knew she couldn’t stay silent. Though not certain how her efforts would unfold, Katie knew that she was being called to speak out on behalf of the marginalized. “I felt that I couldn’t not do something,” said Katie, and “I didn’t want the Catholic Church to be complicit or to be silent in the way that immigrants, migrants, refugees are being treated.”
Continue Reading...
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| Join the Dorothea Project in a Call to Action! |
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The Dorothea Project has launched a campaign focused on updating the USCCB's "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship" guide. They are encouraging the USCCB to fully rewrite the guide based on clear, compassionate, and comprehensive Catholic Social Teaching principles (something they have discussed doing for the last few presidential elections).
They are calling upon the Bishops to discuss and approve this effort during their upcoming November gathering to allow for plenty of time for writing and dissemination before the next major election. They believe that a guide based on comprehensive Church teaching that is shared widely by Bishops and priests can help move hearts and move Catholics into action in defense of all vulnerable people.
Here is the link to Dorothea Project's template letter- you can use this letter and add your own information to send to your Bishop. If you choose to use this template with The Dorothea Project referenced, please refrain from changing the language. You are welcome to write your own letter if you prefer.
Here is the link to a call script version of the letter- you can use this to call and leave a message for your Bishop if you have already sent him a letter previously and would like to take a new step.
After you have done your outreach, please fill out the form linked below to help the folks at the Dorothea Project keep track of who hears from them!
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| Association of Pittsburgh Priests | November 3rd at 7:00pm ET | via Zoom |
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| "How to Stand in Solidarity with Migrants and Asylum Seekers" with Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ |
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All are invited to register to hear Sr. Norma Pimentel, MJ speak on “How to Stand in Solidarity with Migrants and Asylum Seekers” on Mon, Nov. 3, 2025 at 7 PM virtually via Zoom. Sr. Norma is a Mexican-American sister of the Missionaries of Jesus and Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley in the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas. As a voice for immigrant families, she reminds us that immigrants are not numbers but human beings who should be respected and treated with dignity. The event is sponsored by the Association of Pittsburgh Priests.
Register here.
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| Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion | November 11th at 4:00pm ET | via Zoom |
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| LGBTQ+ Catholic Ministry: Future Trajectories with Prof. Ish Ruíz and Guests |
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The Center for LGBTQ & Gender Studies in Religion invites you to a Lavender Lunch, which will feature a distinguished panel of leaders from various LGBTQ+ ministry organizations, including Outreach, New Ways Ministry, Dignity USA, and the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative LGBT Initiative.
Panelists will offer reflections on their respective ministries, highlighting the unique challenges they have encountered as well as the opportunities that lie ahead for advancing LGBTQ+ ministry within the Catholic context. The panelists include: Francis DeBernardo, Marianne Duddy-Burke, Michael J. O’Loughlin, and Sabina Marroquin.
Following the panel presentations, attendees will participate in a collective discussion facilitated by Dr. Ish Ruíz, Coordinator of the CLGS Catholic Roundtable. This discussion will focus on the practical dimensions of Catholic LGBTQ+ ministry in today’s evolving ecclesial and political landscape.
Register here.
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| New Resource! | Julie Henkener | Available Now! |
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| Women Give Voice to Wisdom: Praying Lectio-Visio Divina |
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Inspired by Mary Magdalene, Women Give Voice to Wisdom pairs spiritual words of wisdom from women across the ages with original artwork that can be used for prayer/meditation. Simply sitting with the artwork and quotes helps us slow down and develop a meditative approach to our journey toward wholeness. Instructions are also given for a prayer method that combines the ancient practice of lectio divina with a visual element: visio divina. Standing at the intersection of wisdom, feminism, and contemplative Christian spirituality, this book calls you to hear the voice of Sophia Holy Wisdom and to respond to Her in your heart.
Julie Henkener is a writer and artist who leads workshops on praying with images. With BS and MS degrees in engineering, Julie retired after working for over 30 years at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. She now lives in Denver with her husband Andy Hong and their dog Ellie. You can connect with her and find her blog at www.juliehenkener.com.
Purchase here.
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| We seek changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership. |
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FutureChurch is a national 501(c)(3) organization and your contribution is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
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