Father Thomas A. Kane, C.S.P. heads the Paulist Reconciliation Ministries, which is hosting its first symposium April 16-17. Registration forms are available for download.

Reconciliation is a desperately needed outreach to the many Catholics still feeling hurt or alienated from the church.

Paulist Reconciliation Ministries is taking a step toward healing by presenting its first symposium titled “The Road to Reconciliation: Theological, Pastoral, and Psychological Dimensions” April 16-17 at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (Brighton Campus).

The symposium will consider reconciliation with a broad brush, according to Father Thomas A. Kane, C.S.P., the director of Paulist Reconciliation Ministries.

“Reconciliation takes many forms in today’s world and church,” he said. “Reaching out to those disaffected, healing those cut off from the church and healing those who have been hurt or abused by the church for any number of reasons. The symposium will examine the healing process from different perspectives in order to enrich not only the conversation but the practice of healing in church for the present and the future.”

“This ministry of reconciliation is not easy,” continued Father Kane. “It is rigorous and often requires great sensitivity – it often means listening to the hurts and pains and staying with someone through what can be a painful process. There are no quick fixes; it takes time to heal.”

The symposium will begin on April 16 at 7 p.m. with a keynote presentation titled, “Reconciliation: Healing the Past or Building the Future?” by Father Robert Schreiter, C.P.P.S., professor of theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and recognized expert in the areas of inculturation and the world mission of the church. .

The Boston College events on April 17 run from 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. Topics this day include: Ritual and Reconciliation; So They may be One: A Catholic Common Ground Dialogue for Church Groups; Toward S-O-B-E-R Race Relations; Laity and Reconciliation: A Question of Restoring Trust; Expanding the Ritual Forms of Reconciliation and Forgiveness; Reconciliation within the Churches; What Does the Bible say about Reconciliation?; Seeing the Image of God in Others; and Reconciliation from a Protestant Perspective.

The symposium ends with a service of Reconciliation on Friday, April 17 at the Paulist Center in downtown Boston. Father John Collins, C.S.P., will be the featured homilist.

“I am hoping the symposium will be a time to reflect on the ministerial issues for the church today,” said Father Kane, “that we will be able to listen to one another and find a way toward a healing ministry, along with compassion for those who have been hurt by the church, and hopefully leave with a renewed enthusiasm for developing new forms of reconciliation ministry within the parish.”

Reconciliation is one of the three main aspects of the Paulist charism that defines and makes the community unique.

“The church in North America has been beset by many issues that require healing,” Father Kane said. “Traditionally Paulists have been sought after ministers of sacramental reconciliation, we have worked in the ministry of divorced and separated Catholics. We continue reaching out to those who are alienated from the church including the sensitive ministry to the gay, lesbian and trans-gendered community; ministry to women who feel cut off from leadership roles within the church, and other issues around social justice, to name a few.”

Interested? Download a registration form.