In 2018 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued their pastoral letter on racism, “Open Wide Your Hearts.” The document called people to have an enduring love for people of different backgrounds.
“Racism still profoundly affects our culture, and it has no place in the Christian heart … what is needed is a genuine conversion of heart, a conversion that will compel change …” the bishops wrote.
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The story of Pentecost in Acts places Mary the mother of God in the upper room with the disciples. Scripture passages from Acts 1 and 2 affirm the presence of Mary at the beginning of the church’s ministry after the death and resurrection of Christ. We read the passage from Acts 2 during the 50-day paschal celebration of unbounded Easter joy in the liturgical calendar.
This year, the liturgical calendar placed Easter just before May, a month dotted with Marian feast days and heralded by Paul VI as “a month [during] which the piety of the faithful has long [been] dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God.” That month, we also saw the election of Pope Leo XIV as the successor to Pope Francis.
The new Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation will fall under the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.
WASHINGTON – The Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved the transition of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism into a permanent subcommittee of the Conference on September 9. The new Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation will fall under the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, whose mandate includes Catholic social teaching on issues of domestic concern such as poverty, housing, the environment, criminal justice, and other challenges that often have a disproportionate impact on communities of color.
Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, president of the USCCB, noted the significance of the move as affirmation of the bishops’ ongoing commitment to addressing the sin of racism. Referencing the bishops’ 2018 pastoral letter against racism, Open Wide Our Hearts, he said, “The Subcommittee for the Promotion of Racial Justice and Reconciliation continues the important work of the temporary ad hoc committee. As we call for a genuine conversion of heart that will compel change at both individual and institutional levels, I invite all Catholics to join us as we carry forward this work to recognize and uphold the inherent dignity of every person made in the image and likeness of God.”
On the 2nd Thursday of the month beginning in October and going through May we will offer trainings on Zoom from 7:00 to 8:30pm on various topics. These sessions will be led by a mix of local and national youth ministry leaders and panelists. Register today and mark your calendars!
Meeting Dates and Topics:
October 9 Myths Debunked! with the archdiocesan Faith Formation & Missionary Discipleship team
November 13 Getting Parents on Board with Deacon Nathan Gunn
December 11 Relating to Young People with Liz Cotrupi
January 8 Putting Relationships before Catechesis
February 12 Music and Youth Ministry with The Vigil Project
March 12 Bring Your Questions! with Fr. Denis Nakkeeran
April 9 Ministering to Youth of Various Cultures
May 14 Your Health as a Minister with Mike Drahos
Meeting Time: 7:00-8:30pm
Please register at this link!
The November 2025 edition of Word of Life is available in English and Spanish.
Previous issues are available at respectlife.org/word-of-life-archive.
November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month. This is a great opportunity to highlight end-of-life topics including hospice, palliative care, and more.
A listing of available resources, in English and Spanish, can be found online using the link below.
