This is what John B says:
“Another option is to take the many sound ministry principles of Life Teen, discard what is incompatible for your parish, and call it whatever you’d like; LifeTeen does not hold the patent for these ideas, they are easily incorporated.”

The key words being: “Call it whatever you’d like…”

You cannot take the name of another organization, and not preach its teachings and claim to be it. You may, however, take the aspects of LifeTeen that you appreciate and value, and use it however you like in your parish, with a different name. It has been done many times, and many positives have come out of amazing programs that have implemented LifeTeen’s ideals and their own.

And in regards to what you said:
“That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.”

Ministry is serving. LifeTeen does nothing but serve the youth of yesterday, today and tomorrow. They serve by their catechisis, their outreach, their worship, their fellowship, and their love. I do not know what kind of ministry you were looking for, but Jesus served, and that is all we are called to do.

This is what John B says:
“Another option is to take the many sound ministry principles of Life Teen, discard what is incompatible for your parish, and call it whatever you’d like; LifeTeen does not hold the patent for these ideas, they are easily incorporated. I beg to differ with respect to implimenting and/or picking and choosing Life Teen material.”

The key words being: “Call it whatever you’d like…”

You cannot take the name of another organization, and not preach its teachings and claim to be it. You may, however, take the aspects of LifeTeen that you appreciate and value, and use it however you like in your parish, with a different name. It has been done many times, and many positives have come out of amazing programs that have implemented LifeTeen’s ideals and their own.

And in regards to what you said:
“That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.”

Ministry is serving. LifeTeen does nothing but serve the youth of yesterday, today and tomorrow. They serve by their catechisis, their outreach, their worship, their fellowship, and their love. I do not know what kind of ministry you were looking for, but Jesus served, and that is all we are called to do.

At the end of this post I will include the webpage for the latest local newpaper that published it’s coverage of the most recent service (Jan.6, 2008) of the Praise and Worship Center. It would seem that Fushek’s congregation is increasing to over 700 attendees. The next service will be on the 13th of Jan.

STATEMENT OF THE DIOCESE OF PHOENIX
Re: The Praise and Worship Center
January 3, 2008

The Praise and Worship Services being led by Dale Fushek, a priest of the Diocese of Phoenix on administrative leave, and Mark Dippre, a priest who left public ministry to enter into a civil marriage and a priest not in good standing, are not endorsed by the Catholic Church. Both of these men have been ordained Catholic priests and ministered in the Diocese of Phoenix. Their actions are not in union with the Catholic Church and may potentially mislead well intentioned Catholics and other members of the Christian faithful. It is important for the faithful to know that both priests are acting contrary to the teachings of the Catholic Church and remain disobedient to directives of the Bishop of Phoenix to whom they pledged obedience and respect when they were ordained to the priesthood.

The Diocese of Phoenix wishes to express its grave concern for Catholics who may be misled or confused by the actions of Dale Fushek and Mark Dippre. Therefore, the Diocese of Phoenix does not endorse the actions of these priests and we encourage Catholics to refrain from attending or supporting the Praise and Worship Center. We remind Catholics that the ultimate form of praise and worship is and always will be the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and we urge them to keep the Mass as the center of their lives. There is no substitution for the graces received at Mass and no prayer more edifying.

http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0104mr-priest0105.html

Paul.

Having said that, there has never been a person who is able to move a congregation and with such passion as FD. His sermons (homilies) touched deep into ones’ spirit. I find his return, a different path he has decided to take not one of ego, but of calling. He has submitted his resignation as a priest and therefore has every right to pursue his interests and talents. Remember, innocent until proven GUILTY, not the other way around. I’m no turnip that has fallen off the turnip truck, naive nor susceptable to brain washing. I’m just a woman on the sidelines waiting to see just what and where FD will take the Praise and Worship Center. Since the Vatican is no longer in his cards. there’s alway Joel Osteen and Dr. Schuller’s Hour of Power he can aspire to. Grace & Blessings…

You said “The reason the Catholic church has endured for 2,000 years (Michele, Nov. 27) is due to the fact that it based much of it its attendance on fear.”

The reason the Catholic Church has “endured” is because Jesus is the head of the Catholic Church. Eph.5
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.

She stands today “due to the fact” that Jesus Himself promises us in Matt.16
[18] And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it.

The truth is (if it endures as you claim because of mans rule) the church would have fallen long ago. She stands today BECAUSE of the head, Jesus Christ. And no matter what we do, His mercy endures. Trust in Jesus Colleen, not man and see as Jesus sees.

Eph 5[25] Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
[26] that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
[27] that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
[28] Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
[29] For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
[30] because we are members of his body.

Love the Church as Christ loves the Church Colleen. Do not give up on His Church, Trust in what Jesus is doing to sanctify and cleanse His bride.

In closing, you said “The Catholic Church wants us to believe that everyone (including priests) should strive for perfection. We can’t be perfect, ”

Again, Trust in Jesus. He perfects the faithful. It is by His grace we ARE being perfected in,with and through Him.Matt.5
[48] You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Phil.3
[12] Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Heb.2
[10] For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Do not become weary Colleen…as St. Paul says in Phil 2 [12] Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; [13] for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The only thing we can do now for (Father) Dale is pray. His accountability is great. Jas.3
[1] Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.

Peace.

(another)Michele

The Catholic Church wants us to believe that everyone (including priests) should strive for perfection. We can’t be perfect, but how we deal wth our imperfections is the key to walking the path that leads us to our mission on this earth. From my experiences with Msgr. Dale, I have always felt that he is a truly spiritual person. He truly wants to help all people. But he’s not perfect and he has made mistakes that he has to deal with for the rest of his life. I went to his mass because he spoke to my heart. He helped me be a better person each week. After he left, I continued to go to mass for about 6 months and realized the Catholic church has nothing for me. I’ve been on my own spiritual quest, listening to my own heart, instead of what the church forces me to believe to be a member.

I have not seen Msgr. Dale since he left St Tims. I regret missing the last meeting, and I will be there this morning.

A devotion to a more bland mass can be just as prideful if it causes us to judge those moved by their emotions. After all, we all know God meets us right where we are at.

As so eloquently stated, we must focus on Our Heavenly Father, and His gift of Himself in the Eucharist. The laws given to us by the Magisterium, including liturgical practices, are ther to keep us in line, so that situations like this, void of all humility on Fr. Dale’s part, can be avoided.

Nevertheless, we know that God does work through sinful people. We must pray that Fr. Dale answers God’s call to humility, which can seeminly be more easily attained by hanging up his preaching robes and bearing his cross humbly. If he succumbs to giving up what he loves most, and dying to himself, perhaps purification could happen here on earth!

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From Amy: Many thanks!

Our parish advertised Life Teen and when the Life Teen organization found out that we were not FULLY implimenting everything in it’s program, we were told to cease and desist using the Life Teen name. Our parish was forced to adopt a new name for our teen program.

That was a business, not a ministry. We chose to drop it.