What If Every Weekend Were Like Christmas?

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So you just completed your Christmas liturgies, one of the two biggest and busiest times of the year at your parish. It was special to be sure, putting your best foot forward to make a great experience both for your regulars and for the hundreds of people you might only see once or twice a year. Hopefully, you saw it as a way to get those twice-a-year folks back next week and God willing, all year long. A superb opportunity for evangelization! Read more

Mission Matters: Dec. 29th, 2015

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This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: a video with the Archbishop for the Year of Mercy, MAC Worship program, Jan. 1 and Epiphany celebrations; plus this Thursday’s Blog post.

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Christmas: A Welcome Opportunity for All

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It is finally Christmas!  The day we have been preparing for since the first day of Advent. For many of us in Church ministry, Christmas celebrations are bustling and busy, full of extra Masses and duties that may make us forget the first quiet Christmas when our Lord came into the world so intimately as the baby Jesus. Often our faithful parishioners look at the Christmas Masses with frustration, having to arrive much earlier for a seat with pues overflowing with those “flower Catholics.” But what an opportunity Christmas is! Read more

Mission Matters: Dec. 22nd, 2015

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On behalf of the Department of Evangelization and the Office of Pastoral Planning, we want to wish you and yours a very blessed and happy Christmas! Read more

A Last-Minute Thought for Your Christmas Wish List

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Now that you have received this post and are going down these lines, I know my prayers were heard.

Since we are all preparing for one of the most important holidays of the year, you could’ve easily ignored this blog post. Yet, here you are, and I cannot resist the urge to share some thoughts with you. Time is of the essence! Read more

Mission Matters: Dec. 15th, 2015

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This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Eight Holy Doors; Jubilee Celebrations; Guadalupe Documentary; Amazing Parish Webinar; MAC Spanish program and Transitions: We are happy to announce a new Director of Marriage and Family Life; plus this Thursday’s Blog post.

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Entering the Year of Mercy (plus 54 ideas for celebrating it)

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The Year of Mercy began this week, on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Catholic Center employees were invited to spend that day, or at least part of that day, with agencies dedicated to one or more of the corporal works of mercy. On Tuesday, we had members of our staff dispersed at various Catholic Charities agencies, outreach services to persons with disabilities, and a number of other places. It was a great gift for me to spend a few hours with the Saint Vincent de Paul Society at Resurrection in Ellicott City. Read more

Mission Matters: Dec. 8th, 2015

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This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Jubilee Year of Mercy; Resources for Pastoral Ministry; Singing Priest and Cathechesis Track at MAC; plus this Thursday’s Blog post.

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Charity in Truth: Archbishop Lori’s Reflection on the Jubilee of Mercy

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The Jubilee of Mercy begins tomorrow, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, because that feast of Mary’s innocence takes us back to the very beginning and reminds us that when we rebelled against God at the dawn of human history God did not wish to leave us in our sins.

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Mission Matters: Dec. 1st, 2015

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This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Jubilee Year of Mercy begins next week; United Nations Climate Change Summit; Responses to Pastoral Planning Survey; Family Faith Resources; ASL Mass; Camp GLOW Christmas Party; Advent Sermon and Catechetical Formation Day at MAC. Plus, this Thursday’s Blog post from Archbishop Lori.

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