The great communicator and soon to be beatified Pope John Paul II now has YouTube and Facebook pages. Technology is the friend of a saint and a Church.
The CNA story
Pope John Paul II’s YouTube page
Pope John Paul II’s Facebook page
Patrick Madrid speaking in NYC March 18 & 19
The Siena Forum for Faith and Culture will be hosting Patrick Madrid -of EWTN fame– at the Church of Saint Catherine of Siena (NYC) this
coming weekend!
We are delighted to have Patrick with us for the the weekend!
Madrid’s talks are very promising as I believe that they will open
new doors to knowing Christ, loving the Church, and spreading the Good News
that Christ is risen from the dead! For those who ask the questions, “Can an educated person
be Catholic?” Or, “Why be Catholic?”, Madrid’s talks will give good
answers. Even for those of us who are consider life-long Catholics Patrick
Madrid will be helpful.
new doors to knowing Christ, loving the Church, and spreading the Good News
that Christ is risen from the dead! For those who ask the questions, “Can an educated person
be Catholic?” Or, “Why be Catholic?”, Madrid’s talks will give good
answers. Even for those of us who are consider life-long Catholics Patrick
Madrid will be helpful.
The Church of Saint Catherine of Siena is
pleased to host Patrick Madrid for a 2-day seminar based on his
book Search and Rescue: How You Can Help People Come Home to the
Church.
pleased to host Patrick Madrid for a 2-day seminar based on his
book Search and Rescue: How You Can Help People Come Home to the
Church.
Continue reading Patrick Madrid speaking in NYC March 18 & 19
Where is the inequality in love?
“Those who are unequal in their capacity to give can
be equal in the love within their hearts.”
Pope Saint Leo the Great
Chiara Lubich, the 3rd anniversary of meeting the Lord
Today’s the 3rd anniversary of death of Chiara Lubich, the Trent-born founder of Focolare.
Let’s pray for her eternal rest and for the Focolare movement.
BTW, 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of Focolare coming to the USA. Big events are planned …
New Roman Misssal –pre-order now
The English speaking world will begin to pray the new translation of the Roman Missal (2002) on the First Sunday of Advent.
Various publishers are offering the opportunity–with discounts– on a pre-order of a copy of the Roman Missal. Four US publishers are noted here:
Charitable work and the common fund: 2 wings of the Christian witness
I always look for evidence –that is, I am looking for light on a situation that may not be very clear for me– i.e., for the reality, the truth and beauty of a vigorous Catholic life by seeing if people are willing to live the Gospel. We do our best given the graces we’ve received and our own open hearts. I find myself in need to know that others belief that that the promises (and extraordinary claims) of Christ are true and are lived. Novel, right? Not really. We Catholics have been concerned for the welfare of others since the time Jesus and because our Christianity has its roots in Judaism, even before Jesus. Just read the Old Testament and dig into the narrative there. But it is Jesus gives a new lens by which to see life and to live differently today by the fact of the Paschal Mystery (His life, death, resurrection and ascension).
When one follows the lay ecclesial movement of Communion and Liberation (CL) you quickly find out that you belong to a group of friends larger than oneself and that we aim to care for the needs (the faith, education, culture, social assistance) of others. The idea is rooted in what we read int he Acts of the Apostles and various letters of Saint Paul. Our doing good is not just another forum of activism. It is based on the Savior’s life and example.
Here are two points made by Father Julián Carrón, President of the Fraternity of Communion and Liberation and the successor of Father Luigi Giussani, to flesh out these two wings of our companionship –either as Catholics who live their life only in the parish, and for those who belong to a group like CL.
Continue reading Charitable work and the common fund: 2 wings of the Christian witness
Boston’s Charity’s Appeal
I love this picture. Don’t you?
JPII Generation says thanks to their hero
Headline Bistro is collecting testimony on the ways in which Pope John Paul II has been influential in our lives. The so-called “JPII Generation” is a powerfully impacted by the life, ministry and teaching of this giant of Catholicism.
If you can form your response tightly, the Headline Bistro folks are looking for 500 words on why you are thankful to Pope John Paul II.
Pope John Paul II will be beatified on 1 May 2011.
Can Lent help restore joy?
Lent is perplexing to so many. Just look at the confusion on so many people’s faces as they approach the priest giving ashes. They come to church to begin something but I sense many people have not a clue what to do, why and to what end. For example: ask the “average Catholic” what it means to pray, fast and give alms. Duck, you may get a robust answer, but you may get something that is way underwhelming, even moralist and abstract. Most answers you garner will say not be too consistent with Scripture and the Liturgy; moreover, it will have nothing to do with one’s humanity. Let’s deal with fasting. In today‘s reading from the Prophet Isaiah (58:1-9) we hear from God about what he expects of fasting:
Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Kurt Koch to meet Kyril I
Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch will be going to Moscow this weekend to meet Patriarch Kyril and Russian Orthodox Church leaders.
Cardinal Koch is the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, a position he’s held since July 2010; he created a cardinal in November 2010. Patriarch Kyril I was elected head of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2009.