Five years ago, the Holy Father sent an Easter message to Rome and to the World. It is a message of hope. It is a message of love. It is a message for you. Happy, blessed season of Easter! Dear brothers and sisters in Rome and throughout the world, Happy Easter! What a joy it is […]
I once had the opportunity of meeting a professional physical trainer at a coffee and donuts gathering after Mass. Now, the irony of meeting a professional trainer at coffee and donuts was not lost on me. I did take the opportunity to ask him about his work, and I learned from him.
People come to church bearing gifts. They come to us, made in the image and likeness of God. That is gift enough. But wait … there’s more:they bring to us their gifts, their talents, their time, and treasure.They entrust to us those that they love most in this world, and ask only that we love […]
And just like that, Lent is upon us! If you’re looking for some suggestions for how to live this Lent, Kevin Cotter from FOCUS selected some tips from Pope Francis. Maybe some (or all) of these will help direct your Lenten practices this year.
In November of 1791, Archbishop John Carroll wrote a beautiful prayer for our country. This November, as our country prepares for a transition in government, we pause for prayer. And we pause to give thanks! Let us recall the words of our first bishop and hold our country in prayer.
I always enjoy reading something from Michael White’s perspective. Here is his take on people pleasing -a trap we all fall into- versus leadership. Enjoy! Be challenged! People Pleasing vs. Leadership By Michael White I knew an enthusiastic pastor who came to a church that was brimming with potential. He had terrific ideas and couldn’t […]
Corresponds to Questions 14-17 and 20 of the survey. When we experience something wonderful, something life-changing, when we have met someone who has changed our whole world, it is natural that we want to share it. And so it is with our Catholic faith.
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 […]
Sometimes it’s only in silence that our hearts can hear most clearly what’s being said. Last week, news from Paris began streaming across our TV screens, smart phones, and tablets. In the midst of TV news anchors updating us on the latest developments, politicians shouting for retaliation, reporters reading the terrorists’ messages, it was the […]
“Behold, I make all things new.” (Rev. 21:5) Clearly, we serve a God who is about transformation. It is this transformation that is the stuff that dreams are made of for Pope Francis: “I dream of a ‘missionary option,’ that is, a missionary impulse capable of TRANSFORMING everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of […]
Picture this. It is the morning hour of 6:00 o’clock. God’s children were nestled all snug in their beds, or preparing for a morning jog through the streets of Philadelphia, or having prayer time… whatever you would normally be doing at a hotel when you are attending the World Meeting of Families. Anyway, a voice […]
Years ago, I was at the retreat house where Fr. Art Valenzano was assigned. He and I were chatting when we heard a raised voice. A chaperone was really lighting into a young person who had broken a window by playing ball in the house. The young person was going to be sent home. The […]