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October 3, 2014“Year of Consecrated Life events to help laity learn more about religious”, Catholic News Service
In an effort to help lay Catholics gain a deeper understanding of religious life, priests, brothers and women religious intend to open their convents, monasteries, abbeys and religious houses to the public one day next February. “If you’ve ever wondered what a brother or religious sister does all day, you will find out,” said Dominican Sister Marie Bernadette Thompson in announcing the open house scheduled for Feb. 8, 2015.
“Faith on Facebook? Author stresses need for ‘digital missionaries’”, Catholic News Agency
Catholic presence in social media is critical in reaching out to those who are lost or distanced from the Church, said Catholic executive and media expert Scot Landry. “New Media is a great place of encounter,” Landry told CNA in a recent interview. “Pope Francis is calling the Church to reach out to those who are lost in any way. One of the best ways for us to do that today is through being present in new and social media, in ways that allow us to befriend others, establish and deepen relationships, listen to them, and accompany them on their journey.”
“Pope: Use gifts to benefit church, not create division, envy, annoyance”, Catholic News Service
Everyone has a special gift to offer the whole church, just make sure it is used to serve everyone and not to puff up one’s own pride or to create division, Pope Francis said. “It is a gift that God has given to someone not because he or she is a better person than someone else or because she or he deserves it,” the pope said at his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square Oct. 1.
“Woman in top vocations job feels called by God ‘to support his sons’”, Catholic News Service
Rosemary Sullivan firmly believes that God has directed her to serve the church in a special way. For more than a decade, she has played an integral role in cultivating vocations to the priesthood, beginning with a part-time position in her diocese’s vocation office and eventually rising to her current role as executive director of the National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors.
“Boston marks 35 years since Pope St. John Paul II’s visit”, The Boston Pilot
Even as Bostonians hope for a visit to Boston from our current Holy Father, Pope Francis, many recall the visit of the only pope to visit Boston. Pope St. John Paul II visited the U.S. 35 years ago this week, making his first stop on his first pastoral visit to the United States, touching down in Boston on Oct. 1, 1979.
