Sweet Tweets for 4/04/14 — The Good News

Welcome back to Sweet Tweets – after a few weeks off, I’m happy to have John’s great roundup of news we can use from the past week. This is an exciting time for the Church, with us in the thick of Lent, our Bishops so active, “Noah” mania, the Queen and Francis visiting, and the canonization quickly approaching. Sights and sounds and discussions seems to be happening all around us. This week, as you read these bits of news and information, I would challenging you to share a few of them with loved ones via social media. As tuned in as I am to the news of our Church, I’m always surprised at the things I miss and also at the things that others around me haven’t heard or seen. These precious moments are too good to keep to ourselves, so tell a friend this week about something you see here — discuss it around the dinner table, chat with a friend after Mass or share it via Facebook or Twitter.

Thank you to John Clem for making this weekly feature possible!

• Papal Tweet: “Lent is a time to change direction, to respond to the reality of evil and poverty.” (Pope Francis March 31st)
• ALL the 2014 LA Religious Ed Congress’s Videos on Livestream http://ow.ly/uF3c8
• Historic NEWS: Vatican, Anglicans, Muslims sign accord against human trafficking http://ow.ly/uFLiD 
• NEW: Empire of the Cross – Fr. Allan White, O.P. leads us on a journey through the centuries (BlackFriars Media) http://youtu.be/azuPytG4uTk 
• Tech Tips: 10 top tech gadgets and apps for frazzled parents (USA Today) http://ow.ly/uHEV0 
• Video: Priest in communion with homeless (CNS) http://youtu.be/lXFNe2Y67m4 
• John XXIII a representation of goodness, cardinal recounts :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/uHZvf 
• US bishops designate St John Paul II National Shrine :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/uNhuB 
• Canonizations for JPII & John XXIII: Schedule of Events announced at JPII Shrine in Washington DC http://ow.ly/vnOvx 
• Video: Find out how the Vatican is getting ready for the canonization of John Paul II and John XXIII (Rome Reports) http://ow.ly/vevov 
• Archdiocese of Washington launches Redesigned website with focus on the New Evangelization http://www.adw.org/ 
• Video: What Helps Protestants Convert to Catholicism? (#AskFrBarron) http://youtu.be/YTMQf9B2hss 
• Special Section: Best practices for parishes | http://USCatholic.org  http://ow.ly/uKuTW 
• Worldwide Christian persecution a growing trend, report shows :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/uLdR8 
• Obama urged to create religious envoy after papal meeting :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/vmYK4 
• Pope Francis plants virtual olive tree to foster awareness of peace among children (Vatican Radio) http://ow.ly/uMC4F 
• Vatican Library and Japanese firm NTT DATA sign accord for digital archiving project (News.va) http://ow.ly/uNDZY 
• Blog & Video: Fr. Robert Barron’s Word On Fire – Fr. Barron’s 7 Keys to the New Evangelization http://ow.ly/uO5x3 
• Music & Video Trailer — Audrey Assad : O Happy Fault | Free Music Download http://ow.ly/uOeyq 
•  Movie Preview: God’s Not Dead: The Movie (in theaters now) http://ow.ly/uP20z 
• Video & Blog: Ursuline sisters wows an audience | Fr. Z’s Blog http://ow.ly/uPbpj 
• Video: Pope to Mafia: STOP doing Evil! (CNS) http://youtu.be/bM92qwMqpK8 
• Catholic News | Vanier Meets Pope, Talks about Joy, Tenderness, Acceptance | American Catholic http://ow.ly/uQAsq 
• Video Interview :: Bono: Who Is Jesus? (Show2Me) http://ow.ly/uTBIt 
• Vatican launches astronomy class for parish educators :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/uTZOE 
• Is This Relic Really Christ’s Crown of Thorns? | http://CatholicVote.org  http://ow.ly/uU29W 
• Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors: an inside view (Vatican Radio) http://ow.ly/uU5Uk 
• 35th anniversary of the naming of Saint Francis as Patron of Ecology | Ordo Fratrum Minorum http://ow.ly/uUrMK 
• New Children’s Book: Welcome Risen Jesus – by Sarah Reinhard http://SnoringScholar.com  http://ow.ly/uULDm 
• Swift’s A Modest Proposal — comes true! Aborted babies incinerated to heat UK hospitals – Telegraph http://ow.ly/uVaqU 
• Singing Priests win awards: check out FREE download! — Sixtus A Cappella – Sixtus website http://ow.ly/uVlfy 
• Julian’s Gospel: Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich (Catholic mystic & 1st woman to write book in English) http://ow.ly/uVnkR 
• Oldest Surviving Icon of the Annunciation | A Reader’s Guide to Orthodox Icons http://ow.ly/uWwIY 
• Cross Controversy at 9/11 Museum – The Colbert Report – Video Clip | Comedy Central http://ow.ly/uXqjc 
• Contraception mandate case argued at US Supreme Court :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/uXtJ6 
• April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month (USCCB) http://youtu.be/QB8KVFCDCuA 
• Movie Introduction: The Way of St. James — celebrating the 800th Anniv. of St. Francis of Assisi’s Journey http://youtu.be/5rpzSM5X-nY 
• Learn how to take great HDR Vertorama Photography of Your Cathedral (Digital Photography School) http://ow.ly/v0gVG 
• The Catholic Roots of Obama’s Activism – http://NYTimes.com  http://ow.ly/v0qMm 
• U.S. presidents & popes: A look back & a look at meeting between Pope Francis & President Obama | CNS Blog http://ow.ly/v0hWj 
• Photo: Mary’s Other Fiat (Catholic Memes) http://ow.ly/i/51ZIf 
• How Social Media Isolates Us [Video] | Catholic Tech Talk |Catholic Tech Talk http://ow.ly/v0ton 
• Video: Beauty of God in Iceland — Crystalapse (BlueEden) http://youtu.be/RIQqVqQs9Xs 
• Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Cosmos: Filling in the Intellectual Gaps (Fr. Robert Spitzer, S.J.) | Catholic World Report http://ow.ly/v1vCI 
• Pope Francis Holy Land Pilgrimage schedule released (Vatican Radio) http://ow.ly/v329K 
• Pope to Obama: This gift isn’t from the ‘Pope’ but from Jorge Mario Bergoglio (Rome Reports) http://ow.ly/v3Jn5 
• The Top Ten Films About Faith… Streaming Now on Netflix! – Aleteia http://ow.ly/v7bqF 
• Full Documentary: The Francis Factor – (Salt + Light TV) — YouTube http://ow.ly/v7jks 
• The ‘Noah’ Movie Controversies: Questions and Answers | Daily News | http://NCRegister.com  http://ow.ly/v8x3k 
• Video: Pope Francis breaks protocol and goes to public confession before offering sacrament to others (CNS) http://youtu.be/BKHKmEtpWao 
• Catholic Cuisine: Recipes for April ~ Month Dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament http://ow.ly/v9fhj 
• Catholic News | Books Shed LIght on ‘Sacredness of Family Dinner Table’ | American Catholic http://ow.ly/v9J20 
• Lent Reflections with Fr. Robert Barron – Video: What Can The Saints Teach Us About Lent? http://ow.ly/va7Rm 
• Street Level Roma: the Crucified Women – Aleteia http://ow.ly/vawRT 
• Video: Pope Francis held audience w/ Apostolic Movement for the Blind & the Little Mission for the Deaf (CNS) http://youtu.be/e2LLxoDsrgw 
• Cardinal Burke stresses Catholic media’s ‘supreme importance’ :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/vhJhi 
• Pope asks Curia to find ways to implement ‘Joy of Gospel’ in its work (CNS) http://ow.ly/viZ6x 
• Video: Vatican Radio makes its archive digital! (Rome Reports) http://ow.ly/vknAh 
• USCCB Blog: Orthodox Church Highlights Synodality, the Holy Spirit Creating Community (Fr. Ronald Roberson, CSP) http://ow.ly/vjekF 
• Celebrating the dignity of the disabled in a culture that advises aborting them. « Archdiocese of Washington http://ow.ly/vjN2o 
• 12 Stunning Statues of John Paul the Great | http://CatholicVote.org  http://ow.ly/vl1Cg 
• Former president ‘grossly misunderstands’ Catholic teaching :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/vjgKs 
• Video: Pope Francis’ advice to married couples – “sometimes even plates fly” (CNS) http://youtu.be/R9VwSF6N02w 
• Lent Reflections with Fr. Robert Barron — What Are Some Strategies for Defeating Sin? http://ow.ly/vnJHj 
• Kudos to Archdiocese of Washington for developing their own app: CapitalCatholic App in iTunes & Google Play http://ow.ly/vjMwL 
• Movie: Heaven Is For Real | Coming to theaters this Easter — Official Ministry Resource Website http://ow.ly/vn7um 
• Music Video: The Maccabeats – Dror Yikra (He Will Proclaim) Hebrew Song
• 6 Takeaways from Young Catholic America (Billy Kangas – Patheos) http://ow.ly/vo3i9 
• Pope Francis canonizes new Saints (Vatican Radio) http://ow.ly/voJHR 
• Pope, Queen enjoy casual tea during first meeting :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) http://ow.ly/voKDL 
• Photos: Pope Francis meets Queen Elizabeth II (Vatican Radio) http://ow.ly/voL1T 
• New and Notable Books (April 2014) – http://BrandonVogt.com  : http://BrandonVogt.com  http://ow.ly/voLBg 
• Fr. Barron coments on movie “Noah” http://youtu.be/slg8CPwyCAY 
• Meatless Friday: CRS Rice Bowl’s Global Kitchen: Riz National from Haiti with Fr. Leo Patalinghug http://ow.ly/vp9WD 
• Friday is the Feast of St. Isidore of Seville | patron saint of computers and the internet http://ow.ly/vpGLD  http://ow.ly/i/57THv 
• Podcast #039: Saintcast with Dr. Paul Camarata – The Catholics Next Door ow.ly/vqK3z

John Clem is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is currently in formation to join the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John also writes a blog entitled Call To Holiness  (http://www.calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+.