Bitter Tears in the Season of Easter Joy

From Dan Conway's The Good Steward, May 2013 If God the Father almighty, the Creator of the ordered and good world, cares for all his creatures, why does evil exist? To this question, as pressing as it is unavoidable and as painful as it is mysterious, no quick answer will suffice. Only Christian faith as a whole constitutes the answer to this question. – Catechism of the Catholic Church #309 Here we are celebrating the season of Easter joy and Christ’s victory over sin and death, when all hell breaks loose. Innocent people are murdered or maimed, chaos reigns, and the forces ...

Revitalizing Catholic Schools

Revitalizing Catholic Schools - an O'Meara Ferguson Whitepaper – January 4, 2012 There are many reasons given for the increasing financial challenges facing our Catholic Schools, but few, if any, solutions are provided to give hope. Often, the idea of a healthy, vibrant Catholic school system is considered something of the past. Likewise, most plans for the future of Catholic education are presented in the context of a secularized remake along parameters that risk its very identity—its essential Catholic character. O’Meara Ferguson, Whelan and Conway is committed to assisting the Catholic Church in identifying actionable solutions that will offer lasting, systematic temporal ...

Ad Limina Apostolorum: Bishops of Antilles

Pope John Paul II - May 15 2002 Remember you are first and foremost priests: not corporate executives On Tuesday, 7 May, the Holy Father received the Bishops of the Antilles, for their visit ad limina Apostolorum. The Pope first of all urged the bishops to remember that they are first and foremost priests, not corporate executives. He then spoke of the mission of the laity. "The primary place for the exercise of the lay vocation is the economic, social, political and cultural world. It is in this world that lay people are invited to live their baptismal vocation not as passive ...

Faith, Reason and the University Memories and Reflections

Pope Benedict XVI - September 12, 2006 A print version (PDF) is available here APOSTOLIC JOURNEY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO MÜNCHEN, ALTÖTTING AND REGENSBURG (SEPTEMBER 9-14, 2006) MEETING WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES OF SCIENCE LECTURE OF THE HOLY FATHER Aula Magna of the University of Regensburg Tuesday, 12 September 2006 Your Eminences, Your Magnificences, Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a moving experience for me to be back again in the university and to be able once again to give a lecture at this podium. I think back to those years when, after a pleasant period at the Freisinger Hochschule, I began teaching at the ...

Giving – The Incarnation of One’s Self Donation to Christ: the Authentic Disposition of the Giver

Tertium Quid - Vol. 2, Issue 2 - By Patrick O'Meara - March 1, 2011 (printable version) Fundraising is one of the real challenges faced by pastors and parishioners alike especially during times of economic turmoil. There is always a reluctance to speak about (and equally on the part of parishioners to hear about) fundraising. And yet, on one level we all know that parishes do not run themselves and it takes financial resources to carry out the various ministries and projects of the parish and of course pay the light bill. At a deeper level, the attitude of giving ...

(podcast) The Role of the Laity in Ecclesial Forgiveness

The podcast below was originally presented by Cardinal Stafford on October 21, 2010 during the O'Meara Ferguson annual conference in Chicago. [display_podcast] This article is featured in our newsletter, Tertium Quid - Vol. 1, Issue 7 In this theologically rich and thought provoking reflection on forgiveness, Cardinal Stafford explores the modern emphasis on reconciliation, the truly Christian nature of forgiveness revealed by the Father in Christ and the laity’s role in the ecclesial participation in this forgiveness as an authentic means of Church renewal. There is an intense and broad discussion in the world today about reconciliation. Since the 1960s, truth and ...

O'Meara Ferguson News

Answering God’s Call

The Tidings – Archbishop José H. Gomez – May 24, 2013 The following is adapted from an interview that Archbishop Gomez gave recently to the magazine, The Franciscan Way. How would you describe the state of vocations today? There has been a crisis for some time now in vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. Now, however, that’s true not just of the priesthood... » Full post

Pope: Ask If Your Life Promotes Unity or Division

EWTN News – By David Uebbing – May 22, 2013 The Holy Spirit made it possible for everyone to hear the apostles in their own language on Pentecost, uniting people who were divided, Pope Francis said, calling on Christians to witness to the faith in a way that reconciles and is forgiving. “We should all ask ourselves: ‘how do I let myself be guided by the Holy... » Full post

True Discipleship; Intentional Discipleship

Truth In Love – Bishop Paul D. Etienne – May 21, 2013 Today’s readings are a marvelous combination of Scriptures that have provided much guidance to me over the years, particularly when I was discerning my vocation to the priesthood. The first time the passage from Sirach came to my attention I was a seminarian at the North American College in Rome. I was visiting... » Full post

Oklahoma Archbishop: We Will Walk Together

Zenit – May 21, 2013 Says Jesus’ Invitation to Heavy-Burdened Is Comfort As the death toll remains uncertain in Oklahoma following Monday’s massive tornado, the local archbishop is assuring the Church’s spiritual presence and practical assistance. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City noted that his initial primary concern is for the victims, and... » Full post

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News of the Church

Survey on priests' dislike of Missal may be inaccurate

Hamden, Conn., May 25, 2013 / 04:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A survey of U.S. priests' attitudes towards the new English translation of the Roman Missal showing “widespread skepticism” may be inaccura. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

A Hall of Famer and generous giver

Detroit, Mich., May 25, 2013 / 01:11 pm (CNA).- When a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame is talking, you expect to hear plenty of stories from his days on the playing field. That’s a logical a. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

Ariz. abortion law hoped to win Supreme Court support

Phoenix, Ariz., May 25, 2013 / 06:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against an Arizona law banning abortions after 20 weeks, but backers of the measure are hopefu. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

Hobby Lobby lawyer encouraged by latest hearing

Denver, Colo., May 24, 2013 / 05:04 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The lawyer representing Hobby Lobby and its Christian owners in a lawsuit challenging the federal contraception mandate is heartened following. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

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Business News

Bausch & Lomb Nears Sale for $9 Billion

Bausch & Lomb, which is owned by private-equity firm Warburg Pincus, is nearing a deal to sell itself to generic-drug maker Valeant for about $9 billion. » Full Post

Source: WSJ.com: What's News US |

HKMEx Head Faces Probe

Barry Cheung, chairman of the recently closed Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange and a close ally of Hong Kong's leader, resigned from his public positions, and government officials said he is under police. […] » Full Post

Source: WSJ.com: What's News US |

Exxon in Talks With InterOil

Exxon Mobil is in exclusive talks with InterOil to invest in the latter's gas assets in Papua New Guinea, a move that could cement the impoverished Southeast Asian country's position as a new signific. […] » Full Post

Source: WSJ.com: What's News US |

Google Pushes Into Emerging Markets

Google is deep into an effort to fund, build and help run wireless networks in emerging markets such as sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, a move that could connect a billion or more new people to. […] » Full Post

Source: WSJ.com: What's News US |

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