Two selected as advisors to U.S. bishops

Mrs. Harris, a parishioner of St. Catherine's Church in Middleburgh, is a noted singer/storyteller who performs across the country with her husband, Reggie. She is an at-large member of the council. (The Evangelist was unable to contact Mr. Evers for comment.)

"I am very honored to be a part of NAC," Mrs. Harris told The Evangelist in an interview via e-mail.

Raised in the Presbyterian faith, she remarked that "I have been Roman Catholic for almost 25 years, yet there is always more to learn about our faith tradition."

The NAC gathers 63 Catholics of diverse backgrounds from 13 geographic regions of the U.S. to pray over and discuss the issues the bishops will be facing at their spring and fall general meetings. Mrs. Harris called the gathering "quite a group."

She was invited to apply for NAC membership by Sister Kathleen Turley, RSM, diocesan chancellor for planning and pastoral services. A group of applicants met at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany to decide which two would be the new NAC members; while Mrs. Harris was not chosen as a representative of this region, she was selected to be an at-large member of the council.

The new member attended her first NAC meeting in March. While she was not allowed to discuss the specific issues discussed there, the U.S. bishops have examined a wide variety of issues in the past, including:

* reaction to Sept. 11,

* changes in the liturgy and

* ministry to Catholics of various ethnic and cultural groups.

Mrs. Harris said that materials on the issues are sent to NAC members before each meeting so they can be well-versed in each topic when they meet.

"I am glad," she said, "to feel that my voice and opinions, as well as those of such a diverse group as NAC, are heard and taken into account as the bishops gather to discuss topics on importance to all of us."

(04-11-02) [[In-content Ad]]