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AFFIRMING AN INCLUSIVE PRIESTHOOD, ROOTED IN A REFORMED AND RENEWED CHURCH

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Conferences

Information about our upcoming conference and highlights of past conferences. Read more...

Member Services

Continue to walk with us as you have done in the past. We are committed to a new day in our Church. Let us go forward into that new day.
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In Remembrance

We remember with love and gratitude the women and men who contributed to the reform and renewal of Catholic ministry, helping our Church on the road to a truly inclusive priesthood. Read more...

Prayer Requests

You might want to post one of your own prayer request(s) to our Prayer Space. Prayer requests will be reviewed, and will remain posted for two months unless directed to be removed.. Read more...

Welcome to our online community

CORPUS is a faith community affirming an inclusive priesthood rooted in a reformed and renewed Church.

CORPUS, celebrating forty-two years of service to the people of God, is one of the oldest reform groups in the Catholic Church, and is active in reform movements both in the U.S. and abroad. We are committed to working for a renewed priesthood of married and single men and women dedicated to serving God through the Community of Believers.

It's Not Necessarily So

rentobook It's Not Necessarily So: A Senior Priest Separates Faith from Fiction and Makes Sense of Belief
by Fr Richard G Rento
Many of you may remember Dick's keynote address at the 2006 Corpus Conference. His recently published book is getting rave reviews. Read more about it...
"A wise parish priest and educator not only tackles the problems in the institution of the Catholic Church and the dogma of the Catholic faith, but also offers solutions and spiritual insights. Fr. Richard Rento confronts the issue of clergy sexual abuse head on and focuses on many other areas of church dysfunction. Anyone who has ever questioned illogical rules, meaningless ritual or implausible doctrine will find answers in this book. Written in a warm and friendly style the book addresses life-impacting and community-building issues ranging from answered prayers to Gay marriage, from abortion to the meaning of God. Persons who have doubts, fears or misgivings about their faith and/or their relationship with the church will find comfort in these pages. “Nones” and parents of “nones” will appreciate Fr. Rento’s perceptions as will everyone who is searching for meaning in life and a belief system based upon a relationship with the Divine that respects and resonates with the whole person and allows for spiritual growth and maturity."

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Fit for purpose?

Chris McDonnell CT July 22^nd 2016

There has been considerable discussion in recent months regarding the possibility of ordaining women as deacons in the service of the Church. Although there were women deacons in the Early Church, none were allowed within the restoration of the diaconate that came with the Second Council of the Vatican. If we were to ask our communities about the nature of the diaconate, its purpose and function, there would be some very hesitant replies. Maybe it is worth raising a few questions.

There are two broad distinctions that can be drawn; those that see in the diaconate a pastoral and liturgical service, deeply imbedded in the community they serve. Then there are others-including some parish priests-who see them as an added extra that could be dispensed with at no great cost.

Let’s try to explore both arguments.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

A Little Can Go A Long Way
In a culture that is increasingly more fragmented and torn apart, giving ourselves over into His hands, learning to follow Christ, to find God in our daily lives and to truly live the life of discipleship is no easy feat. It is only when we allow our own weaknesses and ordinariness to be transformed by the hand of God, only when we take our "mustard-seen faith" back into our day-to-day struggles that we will be able to enter into the grace-filled living to which people of every age have been called.

Navratil, Gerald

Navratil

Gerald Navratil was born July 26, 1937, in Glen Ullin, North Dakota, the seventh son of Joseph and Catherine (Seeberger) Navratil. He was raised in a very loving family environment on the Navratil farm, and never lost his attachment to farm life.

He attended Assumption Abbey High School in Richardton, North Dakota, where he became a loyal and devoted student at the school under the tutelage of the Benedictine Monks. It was here he cultivated a love of music and theatre, and graduated as valedictorian.

He attended his first two years of college at Assumption Abbey, before entering the Benedictine life as a novice in 1956, completing his undergraduate studies at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, in 1959,and his theological studies at Assumption Abbey where he was ordained a Catholic priest in 1963. He completed a Master's in Political Science from Marquette University in l967. He taught at Assumption Abbey prep school and college from 1964-1970, and served as Academic Dean. He left the clerical life in 1970.

Jerry and Maryellen were married Sept. 8, 1971, at the home of Dr. Del Samson in Bozeman. He completed a Master's in Sociology, teaching in that department until 1973 when he entered the U of M Law School, graduating in 1976. He enjoyed private practice in the Navratil Law Firm until 1990 when he was elected Dawson County Attorney, a position he held for 12 years, until moving to the O'Brien Family farm near Sidney, which he enjoyed restoring, repairing, and improving, and raising chickens. He especially appreciated planting hundreds of trees for future generations. After moving to Sidney he enjoyed serving as City Attorney for Sidney, and the many friendships he made in that capacity.

He was a lifelong Catholic and Democrat. In the latter role he fought long and hard for all the principles that political party stood for – social justice in particular. He ran unsuccessfully for the Montana legislature in 2006. As a Catholic he believed in the inherent goodness of people, and tried to exemplify the Catholic principles which formed his early life. He did his best to serve the community of which he was a part.

He most enjoyed choral singing wherever he lived – at Assumption Abbey, at MSU, U of M, in Glendive (especially the Fractured Follies!) and Pella Lutheran in Sidney. He served as Chair of Community Concerts in Sidney for 5 years, and was instrumental in bringing NPR to Glendive.

In the 1980's he organized a Montana Chapter of CORPUS, an organization of married Catholic priests which created many friendships across Montana.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Maryellen, daughters, Lynn, Heather and Kimberly, and grandchildren, Alexandra Mountzouri and Aleksander Navratil, all of whom he cherished deeply.

Remembrance, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com

Memorials may be made to the Foundation for Community Care, the Audubon Society, or MonDak Heritage Center.

Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle on Mar. 2, 2016

Shelton, Henry

REST IN PEACE

SHELTON, HENRY social justice advocate, community organizer, friend to many and loving husband, father and grandfather died at home surrounded by his family on September 21st at the age of 86. A former priest and inspired by the social gospel, he devoted his life to working to address the issues of poverty and injustice in the state of Rhode Island. Born in Central Falls, he was the son of Catherine (Duffy) and Joseph Shelton and the brother of Rosemarie Wright of Littleton, MA, Catherine Shelton of Central Falls and the late Patrice Shelton. He was the father of four sons and one daughter, Joseph, James, Patrick, Eamon and Caitlin. He was the grandfather of Benjamin, Mathew, Henry, Emmett, Frederic and Felicity, and the husband, companion and friend for over 40 years to Carol Reagan Shelton. Calling hours are from 4-8 PM on Sunday, September 25th at the Keefe Funeral home, 5 Higginson Ave., Lincoln RI. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Jude's Parish in Lincoln, RI at 10 AM on Monday, September 26th. In lieu of flowers, donations in Henry's name to the George Wiley Center, 32 East Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860 will be gratefully appreciated. For online condolences visit www.thekeefefuneralhome.com