Report of
the United States National Coordination Council
Of the Union
of Catholic Apostolate – January 2015
The
Variation and Growth of the UAC in the USA Over the Past Three Years
The UAC in
the United States is comprised of 10 Local Coordination Councils. The councils
are located in the following areas, the Upper Mid-West, (Wisconsin 3 LCC’s), the
Northeastern area (New Jersey 3 LCC’s, New York 2 LCC’s), and the mid-Atlantic area
(Maryland 2 LCC’s). Wisconsin’s membership has remained stable. New York has
admitted two new members and New Jersey has remained stable. Maryland is
showing some signs of renewed growth and currently has 5 new member candidates.
Our LCC’s are supported by the Priests and Brothers of the Immaculate
Conception and Mother of God Provinces and the Sisters of the Immaculate
Conception Province
The Areas
of Pastoral and Apostolic Mission of the
UAC and the Diverse Forms of Apostolic Commitment of the Members
The LCC’s in
the United States are involved in various forms of apostolic outreach programs.
Members are engaged in ministering to the poor, the mentally challenged and providing
support for children with serious and sometimes fatal illnesses. The purchasing
by UAC members of coats, hats and gloves for poor inner city children is one example
of outreach under taken this winter. Visiting Veteran’s Hospitals to read,
write letters, converse or just watch television with the patients is another.
Members visit with abused women and children in shelters, work in soup kitchens
and are involved in various apostolic ministries in their respective dioceses.
UAC members are active in their parishes as special ministers of the Eucharist
at Mass, visiting hospitals and shut-ins at home to pray and serve the
Eucharist. They serve on parish councils are active in their church choirs, volunteer
as lectors, ushers, RCIA catechists and cantors. Many volunteer in the daily
life of their parishes by transporting the elderly who can no longer drive to
church; to help them shop and provide transportation to parish members for
medical visits.
The members
of the Core Communities of the UAC are present in the United States in two
provinces, three delagatures, and one special local community of priests and
brothers, a province of the CSAC and a province of the Missionary Sisters. They are engaged in parishes, retreat work,
education, evangelization, health care, and domestic and international
missions.
The
Horizons, Prospects and Perspectives of the National Coordination Council in
the United States
Church
attendance is a problem we all are facing. We are enthused by work of the New
Evangelization and its potential to renew the spiritual life of Catholics, both
active ones and inactive ones as well as draw others into greater engagement in
the life of faith. The Catholic
Apostolate Center, a ministry of the Immaculate Conception Province of the
priests and brothers, is working directly in this area at the national and
diocesan levels of the United States and also assists the UAC in the
English-speaking world through its web-based resources and publications. The Center also provides presentations and
retreats at their location, but does these activities and missions at the
diocesan and parish levels, and online.
Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. is the Director of this Center.
A new Local
Coordination Council is being formed in the state of Michigan by one of our NCC
members Fr. Noel O’Conner, SAC. Father O’Connor currently has four to six
active Catholic men and women who are working with him in this endeavor.
Our outlook
for the future is very positive; our hope is that collaborating in the Church’s
work of the New Evangelization, particularly by assisting active Catholics in
becoming apostles so that they can bring people back to active life in
parishes. Those who are formed in this
way are perfect potential members the UAC.
Robert
H. Gay
President
USNCC/UAC
December
06, 2014
