Catholics for Active Liturgical Life (CALL) [RG0954.AM]

HISTORY NEBRASKA MANUSCRIPT FINDING AID

RG0954.AM: Catholics for Active Liturgical Life (CALL)

Records: 1981-1993
Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska
Size: 1.0 cu.ft.; 1 box

BACKGROUND NOTE

Catholics for Active Liturgical Life (CALL) organized in October of 1981 in response to the announcement that the Lincoln Diocese would only allow men (installed lectors) to read Scriptures at Mass. Approximately fifty Catholics, representing several Lincoln parishes, attended the first meeting. Those interested in representing their parish volunteered to be on the CALL Steering Committee. The Steering Committee drafted a position paper and eventually drew up articles of incorporation and bylaws.

Throughout the twelve years of CALL’s active presence in the diocese, they published a quarterly newsletter. Always keeping the two main concerns in the forefront (allowing women to read at Mass and allowing lay people to take the Eucharist to the homebound and nursing homes), the newsletter continued to bring other issues of concern to the readers. With the coming of the new Bishop, Fabian Bruskewitz, in May 1992, and the news that women could, with some restrictions, read occasionally at Mass and the installed acolytes could take the Eucharist to the homebound, the members of the Steering Committee decided to cease publication and hoped that other issues would be resolved. CALL officially disbanded in July of 1993.

Some members of CALL later joined Call to Action Nebraska (CTAN). See RG6206.AM for more information.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The collection consists of records relating to Catholics for Active Liturgical Life (CALL), a Lincoln, Nebraska, organization formed in 1981 to address concerns of parishioners in the Lincoln Diocese. The collection includes minutes of meetings, correspondence, position papers, publications, clippings, etc. The materials date from 1981-1993.

INVENTORY

Box 1
Folder

  1. Official documents of CALL (articles of incorporation, bylaws, etc.)
  2. Minutes of CALL meetings, 1981-1993
  3. Minutes of CALL Steering Committee meetings, 1983-1993
  4. History of CALL meetings
  5. Newsletters, 1982-1988
  6. Newsletters, 1989-1993
  7. National Council of Catholic Women statement and reaction of the Lincoln Diocesan Council of Catholic Women
  8. Reaction to CALL in Parish bulletins
  9. Packets sent to various Bishops
  10. Letters from various Bishops
  11. Correspondence with Omaha Archbishop Sheehan
  12. Pastoral bulletins from Bishop Flavin
  13. Pastoral bulletins and correspondence from Bishop Bruskewitz
  14. Conciliation efforts
  15. Press response to conciliation efforts
  16. Miscellaneous correspondence
  17. Nursing home survey
  18. Dismissal of Oblates from Sacred Heart Parish and Hispanic Ministry
  19. Campaign for Human Development Story
  20. Miscellaneous information regarding Diocese and women’s issues
  21. Newspaper clippings

Subject headings:

Catholic Church — Nebraska — Lincoln
Catholicism
Catholics for Active Liturgical Life (CALL)
Catholics — Nebraska — Lincoln
Religion

Revised TMM 10-17-2016; 10-01-2021

Become a Member!

Our members make history happen.

Join Now

You May Also Enjoy

When Fort Robinson had walls, 1875

When Fort Robinson had walls, 1875

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

The Story of Omaha Police Fingerprint Expert Emily Byram

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

Marker Monday: Cather Childhood Home

About History Nebraska
History Nebraska was founded in 1878 as the Nebraska State Historical Society by citizens who recognized Nebraska was going through great changes and they sought to record the stories of both indigenous and immigrant peoples. It was designated a state institution and began receiving funds from the legislature in 1883. Legislation in 1994 changed History Nebraska from a state institution to a state agency. The division is headed by Interim Director and CEO Jill Dolberg. They are assisted by an administrative staff responsible for financial and personnel functions, museum store services, security, and facilities maintenance for History Nebraska.
Explore Nebraska
Discover the real places and people of our past at these History Nebraska sites.

Upcoming Events

View our new and upcoming events to see how you can get involved.

Become a Member

The work we do to discover, preserve, and share Nebraska's history wouldn't be possible without the support of History Nebraska members.

Latest Hall of Fame Inductee

The Nebraska Hall of Fame was established in 1961 to officially recognize prominent Nebraskans.

Listen to our Podcast

Listen to the articles and authors published in the Nebraska History Magazine with our new Nebraska History Podcast.

Nebraska Collections

History Nebraska's mission is to collect, preserve, and open our shared history to all Nebraskans.

Our YouTube Video Collection

Get a closer look at Nebraska's history through your own eyes, with our extensive video collections.

Additional Research Resources

History Nebraska Research and Reference Services help connect you to the material we collect and preserve.

Support History Nebraska
Make a cash donation to help us acquire, preserve, and interpret Nebraska’s history. Gifts to History Nebraska help leave a legacy and may help your taxes, too! Support the work of History Nebraska by donating to the History Nebraska Foundation today.

Volunteers are the heroes of History Nebraska. So much history, so little time! Your work helps us share access to Nebraska’s stories at our museums and sites, the reference room, and online.