Honoring closing chapters

Mary and Patty Hawk serenade CTA Nebraska with accompaniment by Rod Dirks, 2016

In recent years, a handful of long-time CTA chapters have closed. The list includes our Nebraska chapter, which stood its ground against the reactionary Archbishop Bruskewitz as he issued his canonically illegal blanket excommunication; our Western Washington chapter, which organized annual regional gatherings for many years and helped create the model of a multi-city regional chapter; and our Southwest Florida chapter, which welcomed popular Catholic reform speakers and stood in steadfast solidarity with the local labor movement through support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

CTA is grateful for the many chapters that have come and gone over the years. While it's often sad to see a long-time chapter fade, it's important to remember that a chapter closure is not a failure. When members move on to a new phase in their lives, they carry their time with CTA into new projects, into their families, churches, communities, or workplaces. A group or project doesn’t need to last forever to create meaningful change. 

CTA Western Washington on retreat

We are also grateful to the elders who have recently retired after leading stalwart chapters for many years, sometimes even decades. We are a member-led organization, and this is one of our strengths: our autonomous chapters organize projects that meet the needs of their communities. We believe the Catholic Church must be member-led, too. 

Catholicism is changing. CTA is changing, too, and not only because people are growing older. Catholics of all generations are changing the way they relate to our faith, to each other, and to God. We are committed to helping our members find new ways to form chapters and support their communities on the basis of our liberating Catholic faith. Several chapters have re-started in recent years, other long-standing chapters remain active and energized, and our 2021 Local Re/Generators are crafting grassroots projects in their communities. As we say goodbye to some of our chapters, we honor the history of our movement — and leave space for new life to emerge.