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NFPC NEWS
NFPC-commissioned priests’ study underway
 The NFPC has commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to conduct research on the needs, interests, beliefs and practices of priests in the United States today. Building on the work published in 2003 as Evolving Visions of the Priesthood: Changes from Vatican II to the Turn of the New Century by Dean Hoge (d. 2008) and Jacqueline Wenger, this study is the fourth in a series of studies on priestly life and ministry that began in the 1970s. CARA is surveying a national sample of diocesan and religious priests and will conduct focus groups and interviews with selected priests. The study will culminate in a book that will highlight the trends in priestly life and ministry over the past 40 years as well as explore emerging issues such as the effect on priests of the shortage of clergy, pastoring multiple parishes, international priests, parish life coordinators, increasing lay involvement in parish life and the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Funding for the study has been secured from an anonymous donor.
For further information call Sister Mary Bendyna, RSM at CARA: (202) 687-0839. E-mail: bendynam@georgetown.edu.
NFPC Program Survey
 NFPC Program Survey – to access our program survey go to our homepage at: www.nfpc.org.
Two New Publications on Priests’ Retirement Issues
The NFPC is making available online two new publications on diocesan priests retirement issues sponsored by Laity in Support of Retired Priests (LSRP).
 The first publication is the CARA Special Report (Spring 2009), which an executive summary of a study conducted by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) – cara.georgetown.edu - for LSRP. This study assesses the knowledge, perceptions, experiences, needs and concerns of approximately 3,500 active and 1,500 retired diocesan priests about retirement. Click here CARA Special Report.
The second publication is A National Compilation and Analysis of Retired Diocesan Priests Pension and Benefit Plans as Reported in the Survey of The Laborer Is Worthy of His Hire (NFPC, 2008 edition) by Bill Daly, Surveys Director for the National Association of Church Personnel Directors (NACPA). Click here for A National Compilation report. 
LSRP is a non-profit organization incorporated in 2007 based in Venice, Florida. For more information on LSRP, visit: www.lsrpinc.org .
Available now exclusively through the National Federation of Priests' Councils
 A poster of an original icon of “Christ the High Priest” created by Marek Czarnecki to commemorate the Year for Priests - June 19, 2009 - June 14, 2010.
The poster - 18” x 24” - is $15.00 plus shipping and handling. (Quantity pricing is available) The poster is suitable for framing. To order online click here. Or for quantity pricing, call toll free: 1-888-271-NFPC [6372].
The NFPC gratefully acknowledges iconographer, Marek Czarnecki of Seraphic Restorations - www.seraphicrestorations.com - of Meriden, Connecticut who has given the US Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations rights to use the icon of Christ the High Priest during the Year for Priests. We are also grateful for permission from the USCCB and Mr. Czarnecki to make this poster of the icon available to the faithful. For more information about the icon, access www.usccb.org/yearforpriests/icon/shtml.
NFPC now offers Standards for Excellence® publications
Two resources from the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management Standards of Excellence Program are now available from the NFPC:
 Standards for Excellence® An Ethics and Accountability Code for Catholic Dioceses
$5.00 |
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 Standards for Excellence® An Ethics and Accountability Code for Catholic Parishes
$5.00 |
Two more books from the Emerging Models of Pastoral Leadership Project series are now available from the NFPC:
 Pastoring Multiple Parishes:
An Emerging Model of Pastoral Leadership
– Mark Mogilka and Kate Wiskus
$11.95 |
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 Parish Life Coordinators:
Profile of an Emerging Ministry
– Kathy Hendricks
$11.95 |
The Upper Room Contact Information
 The Upper Room: A Support Service for Priests & Brothers
Web site: http://www.theupperroomcrisishotline.org. Tel: 1-888-808-8724
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