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 ...
(video) Archdiocese of Chicago: A Success Story
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coCmOV_NDN0 The Chicago Story reflects on the “surprising success” of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s 2000-2003 Millennium Campaign, Sharing Christ’s Gifts. Why surprising? As Cardinal Francis George and several of his pastors and lay leaders tell the story, there was reluctance on the part of many to do an archdiocesan-wide campaign. Many were not familiar with the principles of Christian stewardship that made this campaign about so much more than just fundraising. Some feared that the economic challenges of that time would prevent the Archdiocese from achieving its ambitious $200 million goal. But the Millennium Campaign was a dramatic success. Thousands of people ...
O'Meara Ferguson News
Catholic News Agency – By Benjamin Mann – January 27, 2012 Vatican City, Jan 27, 2012 / (CNA/EWTN News) – The upcoming 2012-2013 “Year of Faith” seeks to awaken humanity at a critical moment, Pope Benedict XVI said as he addressed the Church’s highest doctrinal office on Jan. 27. “In vast areas of the earth the faith risks being extinguished, like... » Full post
Reuters – January 26, 2012 Jan 26 (Reuters) – Moody’s Investors Service has assigned an A1 initial rating to The Catholic Bishop of Chicago’s (IL) proposed private placement under exemption of 4(2) of Rule 144A of $151.5 million of Senior Unsecured Notes, Series 2012 to a limited number of qualified institutional buyers and accredited investors. Although... » Full post
Catholic News Service – By Carol Glatz – January 25, 2012 VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Evangelization must never be a marginal concern for the church, Pope Benedict XVI said. From bishops to religious and the lay community, “All elements of the great mosaic of the church must feel themselves strongly called on by the Lord’s mandate to preach the Gospel,... » Full post
Catholic News Service – By Francis X. Rocca – January 20, 2012 VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A day after Pope Benedict XVI warned visiting U.S. bishops about the threat of “radical secularism” to American moral values, Washington Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl reflected on the implications of the pope’s remarks, giving special emphasis to the role of Catholic... » Full post
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News of the Church
Days after HHS mandate, White House honors Catholic educators
Washington D.C., Jan 27, 2012 / 05:51 am (CNA).- Despite the White House’s recent effort to honor people committed to Catholic education, analysts are cautioning about seeing the gesture as an appre. […] » Full PostSource: CNA Daily News - US |
Pittsburgh bishop: contraception mandate tells Catholics ‘To hell with you!’
Pittsburgh, Pa., Jan 27, 2012 / 03:15 am (CNA).- The new federal contraception mandate is “like a slap in the face” that says “To Hell with you!” to Catholics and religious freedom, Bishop Dav. […] » Full PostSource: CNA Daily News - US |
Archbishop Dolan says Obama administration 'treats pregnancy as disease'
New York City, N.Y., Jan 27, 2012 / 12:45 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Cardinal-designate Timothy M. Dolan, head of the U.S. bishops' conference, says the Obama administration has revoked the religious freedo. […] » Full PostSource: CNA Daily News - US |
Cardinal Wuerl thinks Church can win contraception fight
Rome, Italy, Jan 26, 2012 / 01:51 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C. believes that the Church can win its fight against the Obama administration’s contraception mandate if it takes. […] » Full PostSource: CNA Daily News - US |
Business News
St. Joe Pares Back Florida Vision
St. Joe signaled that it is again scaling back its development plans in Florida, an indication that efforts to turn the state's Northern Gulf Coast into a cluster of luxury second-home communities hav. […] » Full PostSource: WSJ.com: What's News US |
U.S. Raps 'Damaging' China Policies
U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sharply criticized China's state-led economic system, the latest salvo in an escalating trade conflict between the two countries. » Full PostSource: WSJ.com: What's News US |
As Economy Posts Growth, Worry Lingers
The U.S. economy grew at its fastest pace in 18 months in the fourth quarter, but underlying weak demand pointed to slower growth in coming months. » Full PostSource: WSJ.com: What's News US |
Athens, Creditors Close In on Debt Deal
—Greece and its private-sector creditors appeared to edge closer Friday to an agreement over a €100 billion ($131 billion) debt writedown on government bonds. » Full PostSource: WSJ.com: What's News US |
Market News
Dueling Ghosts of Past Economic Calamities
The IMF is clearly not satisfied with the current state of affairs in Europe. Not only has the global "agency" reduced growth forecasts across the board, it is predicting a global contraction absent c. […] » Full PostSource: RealClearMarkets |
Fed's Pledge Cracks Dollar's Foundation
The following commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet's guest contributor program, which is separate from the company's news coverage. With its announceme. […] » Full PostSource: RealClearMarkets |
President Obama's Capital Gains Tax Envy
In his State of the Union Address Tuesday evening, President Obama repeated his call for tax increases on high income earners-even though some of these same tax increases failed to get through Congres. […] » Full PostSource: RealClearMarkets |
How to Grow Jobs Without Growing the Deficit
Good news: economic activity is picking up. Not so good news: economic growth remains anemic and the pace of job creation too slow to make a meaningful dent in the unemployment rate. And there are pot. […] » Full PostSource: RealClearMarkets |

