Extension magazine - Summer 2023

22 INSPIRE
Cover Story
Extension | Summer 2023 23
T
HIS PAST APRIL, Catholic
Extension was delighted to
gather with more than 60 women
faith leaders in Rome for a private
audience with Pope Francis.
The women included religious
and lay leaders from across the
United States who are doing
extraordinary ministry among the
poor, vulnerable and suffering
in our society. The delegation
was led by our chancellor,
Cardinal Blase Cupich; our
vice chancellor, Bishop Gerald
Kicanas; and our president,
Father Jack Wall. The meeting
occurred on a very historic day
in which the Vatican announced
that, for the first time, women
and laypeople would be allowed
to vote alongside bishops at the
Synod on Synodality in October
2023. The announcement was
yet another important step to
affirm and highlight the vital
role that women and indeed all
laypeople play in the life of the
Church, especially in regard to
the care of the marginalized and
voiceless of our society.
As our meeting got started,
Cardinal Cupich offered the
following introduction to the
Holy Father on behalf of Catholic
Extension.
Cardinal Cupich’s
remarks to the pope
Holy Father, good morning!
Thank you for receiving us,
the leaders and guests of
Catholic Extension Society. This
pontifical organization works
with missionary dioceses to build
vibrant Catholic faith communities
among the poor in the poorest
regions of the United States. In
addition to being in missionary
dioceses of the United States, we
are also in Cuba, reconstructing
churches. And we are helping
the bishops in Puerto Rico, who
are receiving grants from the U.S.
federal government to rebuild
churches and schools following
three natural disasters.
You can see that we have
brought with us religious sisters
who are helping in our missionary
dioceses, and in particular Sister
Norma Pimentel, whom you already
know. She will receive today
the Spirit of Francis Award from
Catholic Extension, in recognition
of her efforts to make a Church
that acts as a field hospital and for
her service to migrants.
In the name of all of us here,
we give you thanks, Holy Father,
for the inspiration that you give to
our missionary activity and to the
ministry that we offer to those in
need. We hope that our visit gives
you an idea of how we are all trying
to adopt and put into practice
the concept of a “poor Church
for the poor.” We feel blessed to
be living in these times of your
Petrine ministry. We assure you
of our prayers, and we ask your
blessing of our work. Holy Father,
many thanks!
Pope Francis’
complete remarks to
Catholic Extension
Dear friends, I offer a cordial
welcome to all of you
from the Catholic Extension
Society who have gathered
this week in Rome. Your presence
gives me the opportunity
to express my heartfelt gratitude
for your efforts in providing assistance
to missionary dioceses, particularly
in the United States, and
in caring for the needs of the poor
and vulnerable. I thank you, too,
for your valuable contributions to
the rebuilding of the Church and
the broader society in Puerto Rico,
following the various hurricanes
and earthquakes which brought
such devastation to the island in
recent years. As well, I congratulate
Sister Norma Pimentel, the
Pope Francis greets Cardinal Blase Cupich,
Catholic Extension’s chancellor, as Father Jack
Wall, president of Catholic Extension, looks on
with women faith leaders in our delegation.
PHOTO VATICAN MEDIA
recipient of the Spirit of Francis
Award, for her service to the many
men, women and children arriving
at the southern border of the
United States in search of a better
future. It is a joy for me also to
recognize the presence of leaders
from culturally diverse groups
that the Catholic Extension Society
supports.
In striving to build up the Body
of Christ, the Church (cf. Eph 4:12),
by giving a voice to those who are
frequently voiceless, you bear witness
to the God-given dignity of
every person. This is particularly
important at the present time, as
the entire Church is undertaking
a journey together on the path of
synodality. Listening to and including
the experiences and perspectives
of all, especially those on the
margins of society, enriches the
Church’s life and ministry. For the
Church is like a rich tapestry, made
up of many individual threads that
come from various peoples, languages
and cultures, yet woven
into a unity by the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, the Spirit creates unity by
harmonizing the multiplicity of
the members of the Body of Christ
and the diversity of their gifts. In
this regard, I am pleased to know
of your concern to place those
who are often victims of today’s
“throwaway culture” at the heart
of the Church’s pastoral activity; in
this way, their voices can be heard
and all can benefit.
Dear friends, I encourage you
as well to continue to express
“God’s style” in the work that you
do. God’s style is never distant,
detached or indifferent. Instead,
it is one of closeness, compassion
and tender love. It is my hope that
your service will always reflect
these qualities, showing that God
draws near to our lives, that He is
moved to compassion for those
in difficult situations, and that His
love calls us to be in relationship
with Him and to see our neighbor
as truly a brother and sister. The
Church, therefore, remains grateful
for every expression of fraternal
charity and care shown to all who
are in need, for in this way, God’s
loving mercy becomes visible and
the fabric of society is strengthened
and renewed.
Once again, I express my gratitude
for your commitment to the
Church, and I offer my prayerful
best wishes for your work. Upon
you, your families and all whom
you serve, I invoke the Lord’s
blessings of wisdom and strength,
and I ask you please to remember
to pray for me. Thank you.