On January 19th, 2014 we will commemorate the World Day of Migrants and Refugees. In advance of this event, Pope Francis has released the full text of his message for the annual event. I think my ears and heart are particularly open to this message of encouragement but also of urgent action. As I type this, I am in Eugene, Oregon and have witnessed firsthand a community that seems to be grappling with issues of homelessness and poverty. Granted, not... Read more
News out from the Pontifical Council for the Laity: Twenty five years after the publication of the apostolic letter Mulieris Dignitatem by Blessed John Paul II, the Pontifical Council for the Laity wishes to reflect again on this document. A quotation from this letter is the theme of the seminar: God entrusts the human being to a woman” (cf. MD,30). It is scheduled to take place in Rome on 10 and 11 October 2013. More on the specific goals of the seminar:... Read more
Over at their website, America Magazine has a terrific roundup of all of the interviews, essays, shows and punditry which followed last week’s publication of the Jesuits’ interview with Pope Francis. If you’d like to catch up on anything you missed, this is the place to go to read all of the “takes” in one centralized location. A question for you: Did you discuss the interview at home, with friends or at your parish this past Sunday? Read more
All too often, we rush past catastrophes half a world away with hardly a thought. We may pause to pray for them in fleeing moments, but quickly we forget, caught up in our daily busyness. I’m not casting any stones here — I’m guilty of feeling horrible when such tragic acts of violence happen but not really doing anything concrete to ask, “Why?” or to become a part of the solution. Today, I ask you to read this article by... Read more
From the Twitter Feed of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate: Spelling out in sad detail the reasons Millennials give for not attending Mass. Number one, “Family responsibilities”, seems to me to be the perfect reason we should ALL be attending Mass every Sunday… Maybe we need to have more confessionals at soccer fields. Follow CARA Parish Surveys on Twitter Read more
With yesterday’s horrific attack on a church in Pakistan, we pray for all in harm’s way, but especially for those Christians being persecuted around the world: PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A pair of suicide bombers detonated their explosives outside a historic church in northwestern Pakistan on Sunday, killing 75 people in the deadliest-ever attack on the country’s Christian minority, officials said. Read the full story Read more
A follow up to yesterday’s post on Pope Francis’ address to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications: Video Link Read more
Just in case you missed it, here’s my amazing editor Elizabeth Scalia (aka “The Anchoress”) engaged in a spirited discussion in reaction to the Pope Francis interview in America Magazine: Video Link Read more
This video shows the remarkable St. Malo, the “Chapel on the Rock” — untouched even in the midst of the recent, horrific flooding in Colorado: My favorite image in the video? The site of the trailhead where Blessed John Paul II visited on August 13, 1993, untouched amidst so much devastation in the area. For more amazing photos of this beautiful place, check out the St. Malo Retreat Center Facebook Page. Read more
I’m a day late, but on September 20, 1919 Venerable Fulton Sheen was ordained to the priesthood in Peoria, IL. Today, I’m happy to share the homily delivered yesterday at Cathedral Convent of the Missionaries of Charity in Peoria, IL by Msgr. Stanley Deptula, Executive Director of the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation: On this day in 1919 — here in our beautiful Cathedral — the young Fulton Sheen was ordained a priest. I am very grateful that Julie brought from the... Read more
Lisa Hendey
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