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

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

Pope Francis: ‘Be Open to the Newness of the Holy Spirit’

Zenit – By Junno Arocho Esteves – May 20, 2013 Pentecost Mass Draws Hundreds of Thousands to St. Peters Square Over 200,000 people from all over the world gathered in Rome to celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost with Pope Francis on Sunday. The Mass was the concluding event of the two day pilgrimage of ecclesial movements, communities, and lay associations which... » Full post

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News of the Church

Boys Scouts of America lifts ban on openly gay members

Washington D.C., May 23, 2013 / 04:22 pm (CNA).- The Boy Scouts of America has voted in favor of a resolution that lifts the ban on openly gay members but will not allow gay adult troop leaders. Durin. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

US bishops praise immigration bill's advance in senate

Washington D.C., May 23, 2013 / 02:02 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The U.S. bishops welcomed a U.S. Senate committee's passage of a major immigration bill as an “important step,” urging the full senate to. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

US bishops ask government to reassess drone policy

Washington D.C., May 22, 2013 / 05:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- In letters to top government officials, the U.S. bishops' conference urged a public discussion on the use of unmanned targeted killings, also. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

Author finds Catholic themes in Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'

Greenville, S.C., May 22, 2013 / 04:03 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Editor and author Joseph Pearce's new work, “Shakespeare on Love,” sees the Catholic presence in “Romeo and Juliet” and corrects pop. […] » Full Post

Source: CNA Daily News - US |

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Business News

Nikkei Rebounds After Thursday's Tumble

Asian shares were mixed Friday, with the Nikkei rebounding from Thursday's sharp decline, while Australia remained under pressure following China's poor manufacturing data. The Nikkei rose 1.0%. » Full Post

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

UBS to Meet Activist Investor

An activist investor pushing for a breakup of UBS will meet with a top executive of the Swiss bank next week, providing a chance to pitch the financial giant on the idea of shedding its investment ban. […] » Full Post

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

Chinese Data Cast Global Pall

New data suggesting contraction in Chinese manufacturing have cast further doubt about growth in the world's No. 2 economy, hitting markets as investors worry about the implications for the global out. […] » Full Post

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