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Survivors of clergy abuse spoke out recently about their experience and how it is still affecting them. Those who spoke voiced their frustration and disappointment about the delay in action. Many feel as though action is moving too slow and that the NCR must act quicker. The President of NCR agreed that what was proposed in order to fix this issue was not perfect, he insisted that they are doing everything they can as quickly as they can. Some people feel as though politics are being put of faith, but the NCR insists that they are simply trying to prevent future harm and make the most efficient, effective, and long-lasting solution possible.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/survivors-who-addressed-us-bishops-disappointed-delay-sex-abuse-proposals

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"Review: What life is like outside the cloister"

Years before writing this article, author Gregory Hills spoke with a Trappist monk in Kentucky about the cloistered life and received an interesting response.  Hills explained that he was envious of the time the monk had to pray, and, in response, the monk expressed a similar envy toward him, wishing for the opportunities for spiritual development with families and friends that common men had.  In the monastery, he lived out the strict rules established in St Benedict’s Rule.  Although it is a set of guidelines designed for monastic life, others can still learn from it, as Judith Valente author of what the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community explains.  She seeks to live out the precepts of Rule in her own life and shows that the book has wisdom for those living in the modern world also.  She discovered that this religious text is not just a set of unimportant rules.  In her review, Valente explores the 22 chapters of Rule and writes a reflection on each, highlighting the ways in which people can use aspects of Benedict’s work in the real world.  As she came to understand, the main message of Rule was to live a balanced and meaningful life, attentive and caring for others and recognizing our own flaws.  Overall, we can still learn from this text the importance of mindfulness and awareness of our neighbors and God’s presence in our lives.

Source: America: The Jesuit Review, Gregory Hills
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/12/28/review-what-life-outside-cloister

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Love means never turning away from someone in need, pope says

Pope Francis talked about how "love means never turning away from someone in need." He talked about how every christian is called to try to reflect God's love and compassion in the world. He also said, “Think about this: God takes the first step, he has compassion and mercy, but many times our attitude is indifference.” People often think only about themselves and not about others that is an example of an indifference attitude. Being indifferent doesn't mean you are evil. It just means you are sort of selfish. We need to focus on living with compassion and mercy not with indifference.

https://cnstopstories.com/2019/01/08/love-means-never-turning-away-from-someone-in-need-pope-says/

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Ever since we were younger the number 666 has always been associated with the devil. This idea is first mentioned in the New Testament's Book of Revelation which says, “One who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six." Many people believe the reason why it is this number because it falls short of 7 which in the bible means wholeness. The author of this article did some research and learned that if you take the Greek version of the Roman emperor Nero(emperor when the book of revelation was written) and translate it to Hebrew(letters have numeric value), then you will come up with the number 666. The important lesson of this article is that there are a lot of symbols in the bible that relate to a certain time period and the number 666 is most likely associated to the emperor Nero, who was a kind of a beastly person.
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201309/what-666-bible-27901

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https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201312/did-jesus-have-brothers-and-sisters-28224
Did Jesus have Brothers and Sisters?
Theologians have wondered and often debated about whether Jesus had any brothers or sisters. All of the four evangelists have made some mention to Jesus having siblings. In Luke for example,  “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you". In Mark, “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are his sisters here with us?” (6:3). Those are just a few examples of Jesus' possible siblings being mentioned. This may seem to be clear evidence, however, theologians wonder if these siblings are meant figuratively or literally. Also, these brothers and sisters of Jesus may be his cousins as well. The Church may never know for sure, but this topic will always keep them wondering.

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Pope Francis: Serve the sick with generosity
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-serve-the-sick-with-generosity-51042
"To serve the poor and sick in a generous manner is a powerful form of evangelization," Pope Francis said Tuesday in a message for the upcoming World Day of the Sick. The theme of this year's message comes from Matthew 10:8: "you received without payment; give without payment." The pope noted that one person who exemplified self-gift, especially in service of the sick, is St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, who "helps us understand that our only criterion of action must be selfless love for every human being, without distinction of language, culture, ethnicity or religion." Pope Francis said that when thinking of the sick or infirm, it is good to remember that every person, at birth, is reliant on his or her parents to survive, and remains in need of the help of others in some manner at every stage of life.

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Pope Francis celebrated mass on the Epiphany, he said Christians are called to imitate the Magi: "They do not debate; they set out. They do not stop to look, but enter the house of Jesus. They do not put themselves at the center, but bow down before the one who is the center. They do not remain glued to their plans, but are prepared to take other routes." which shows how we shouldn't disobey Jesus but instead you should follow Jesus. He also talked of how the Magi gave Jesus gifts, and how we must not forget during the holiday season, to be grateful and offer a gift to Jesus.

Our Sunday Visitor
https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Article/TabId/535/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/27384/Seek-Jesus-adore-him-serve-him-and-others-pope-says-on-Epiphany.aspx

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How Churches can Protect Undocumented Immigrants
“St. Francis of Assisi cared for the poor and rejected,” Father Tom Smith says. “We welcome people who are sick and coming from out of town to get care. And we welcome refugees and asylum seekers as well.” Father Tom Smith took in undocumented immigrants, Taborda and his son, where they live in the Church. Taborda, before ICE came for him, was an honest man with an honest family. He payed his taxes and volunteered at the Red Cross driving emergency vehicles to help with disaster relief. The Community is also trying to help him out. They are trying to meet with an immigration lawyer to help his situation.  “I’m not trying to flaunt the government,” he adds. “That’s not the intention. We are here to assist a man who wants to stay here to support his son.” But Father Tom knows that if ICE came, there wasn't legally anything he could do.

https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201811/how-churches-can-protect-undocumented-immigrants-31552

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Pope Francis pays sends his prayers to the bishop of Hong Kong who recently passed away of liver failure. Bishop Yeug Ming-cheung was 73 years old and died January 3rd. There will be a Mass held in his memory in Hong Kong on January 10 and 11. Ming-cheung was ordained a priest in 1978 and served in the diocese over a decade. In the Pope's personal letter to the diocese of Hong Kong, he said "United with them in prayerful thanksgiving for Bishop Yeung's years of priestly and episcopal ministry, His Holiness commends his soul to our heavenly Father's merciful love."

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Review: What life is like outside the cloister

Years before writing this article, author Gregory Hills spoke with a Trappist monk in Kentucky about the cloistered life and received an interesting response.  Hills explained that he was envious of the time the monk had to pray, and, in response, the monk expressed a similar envy toward him, wishing for the opportunities for spiritual development with families and friends that common men had.  In the monastery, he lived out the strict rules established in St Benedict’s Rule.  Although it is a set of guidelines designed for monastic life, others can still learn from it, as Judith Valente author of what the Rule of St. Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning, and Community explains.  She seeks to live out the precepts of Rule in her own life and shows that the book has wisdom for those living in the modern world also.  She discovered that this religious text is not just a set of unimportant rules.  In her review, Valente explores the 22 chapters of Rule and writes a reflection on each, highlighting the ways in which people can use aspects of Benedict’s work in the real world.  As she came to understand, the main message of Rule was to live a balanced and meaningful life, attentive and caring for others and recognizing our own flaws.  Overall, we can still learn from this text the importance of mindfulness and awareness of our neighbors and God’s presence in our lives.

Source: America: The Jesuit Review, Gregory Hills
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/12/28/review-what-life-outside-cloister

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In Melrose, MN, on January 1 St. Mary's Parish held an outdoor bilingual mass and site blessing. These exciting events were done on the grounds that a new Church is to be built on.  St. Mary's Parish is planning on being rebuilt after a devastating fire heavily damaged it. The bilingual mass helped the Church's congregation to come together again after the fire, and feel like a community again. The site blessing also helped everyone put the safety of the new Church to be built in the hands of God. To protect the Church from another fire and to protect the congregation as a whole.

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016.

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016. https://t.co/U4L9wzgWbJ

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016. pic.twitter.com/U4L9wzgWbJ
— The Central Minnesota Catholic (@CentralMNCath) September 9, 2018

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016. https://t.co/U4L9wzgWbJ

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016. https://t.co/U4L9wzgWbJ

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St. Mary's Parish in Melrose, MN celebrated an outdoor bilingual Mass and site blessing Sept. 9 on the land where it is planning to build a new church. Fire heavily damaged the existing church building in March 2016.

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Survivors of clergy abuse spoke out recently about their experience and how it is still affecting them. Those who spoke voiced their frustration and disappointment about the delay in action. Many feel as though action is moving too slow and that the NCR must act quicker. The President of NCR agreed that what was proposed in order to fix this issue was not perfect, he insisted that they are doing everything they can as quickly as they can. Some people feel as though politics are being put of faith, but the NCR insists that they are simply trying to prevent future harm and make the most efficient, effective, and long-lasting solution possible.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/survivors-who-addressed-us-bishops-disappointed-delay-sex-abuse-proposals

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Representations, metaphors, allusions, all of these things directly relate to one subject one would not typically think of.
Mickey Mouse.
What exactly does this human like mouse represent, what is the intent behind the figure head outside of children's entertainment? According to this article, Mickey Mouse serves as an ambiguous allusion to represent american society. Mickey and his never ending grin remain constant on the outside even though on the inside of that facade there is a completely different person on the inside, similar to america. America has the ability to put up facades, and very good ones at that, that present America to outsiders as some kind of never affected country, always free, always safe, always pristine, perfect, and good. On the inside however in opposition to the "moral vacuum" that Mickey represents, there are varying people within this costume all very different. All in all, Mickey can serve as an allusion for many things, but his never gloomy personality has become a mirror for the American Society..

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The Beatification of James Miller and Michael Giedrojc

Br. James Miller was martyred in 1982 in Guatemala. Pope Francis has approved the beatification of this man who sacrificed his life for Jesus. It’s wonderful to hear about the process to become a saint, new role models to hear about and sources of hope in Christ. He also approved the beatification of Michael Giedrojc. He was born in Lithuania around 1420 and died around 1485 in Krakow, Poland.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/wisconsin-native-and-guatemalan-martyr-br-james-miller-to-be-beatified-88464

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Ethiopia's first female president welcomed by bishops

BY  CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE

Ethiopia's bishops welcomed the first female president of the nation,  Sahle-Work Zewde, with open warms. They said that they are glad that women are having a large part in the development of the country. Zewde has already done a lot for the country and has been in many diplomatic positions. The Ethiopian Catholic Church believes that Zewde will be a wonderful leader for the country and that she will further strengthen the nation. The Church has been an advocate for women rights and has done a lot for education for girls. Now that there is a woman president, they believe more girls will be inspired to strive for greatness. Already, the country has elected their first female Supreme Court president, Meaza Ashenafi.
https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/28377-ethiopia-s-first-female-president-welcomed-by-bishops

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Let hope move you to action
Written by: Jessie Bazan

She will never forget the time hope showed up sporting a pair of geriatric shoes. As Jessie stood slightly hunched over on a trail of asphalt. On her left was a small-town harbor and to her right was a city park. Jessie watched as a woman and her geriatric shoes scuffled and labored for each step. Jessie was sure she was aching. This woman was a Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania, and believed that neighborhood peace is possible. This woman embodied her hope by showing up, walker and all. Hope moves the body to places where the heart is called. It has always been that way.

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Let Hope Move you to Action

Hope is found even in the darkest of times. Though this world can often seem sad and hopeless, we know that the coming and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ will always be enough for us to keep persevering. Hope is not always obvious and the fight to keep it can often be an uphill battle. But God did not make our lives perfect or easy, he made us so that we as Christians could keep the hope alive. This article is calling us to let hope be our flame burning deep inside us. It calls for us to never let it be extinguished and to let it call us to action.

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I'll never forget the time hope showed up sporting a pair of geriatric shoes.

She stood slightly hunched over on a trail of asphalt one gray evening. To her left was a small-town harbor where gentle waves lapped against a few docked boats. To her right sat a city park that had echoed its share of gunshots in recent months. Dozens of people convened in the park that night to walk silently in the name of peace. Most were young and able-bodied thinking nothing of moving a mile in quiet protest. But toward the back of the pack was an older woman for whom mobility was not a given.

I watched as this woman and her geriatric shoes shuffled and labored for each step. The heels of her walker grinded against the pavement. I'm sure her feet ached. And still, she showed up.

This Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania believed that neighborhood peace is possible. She embodied her hope by showing up, walker and all.

Hope moves the body to places where the heart is called. It's always been that way. A loving mother birthed hope into this world some 2,000 years ago and wrapped him in swaddling clothes. Jesus Christ-our divine brother-with fingers and feet and a heart that beats for all embodied hope. Baptized into this legacy, we are called to continue the bringing of hope by being ourselves. We embody hope simply by showing up.

Think of all the places and people that have longed for hope since the time of Jesus and the myriad ways hope manifests in the ordinary. Back then hope showed up to a tax collector's house for dinner. Today hope shows up to a grieving neighbor's porch with a casserole. Then hope showed up beside a hemorrhaging woman in a crowd. Today hope shows up beside a sick friend stuck in the hospital. Then hope showed up enraged at the temple. Today hope shows up determined, with protest signs at refugee detention centers.

Time and again hope shows up in the cracks of our broken world ready to heal.

Do you see hope? Are you hope?

It can be hard to spot hope in the thick of injustice. Another black man shot dead in the street. A Mexican mom caged along the border. Too many limping along without jobs or access to good health care. Too many facing abuse or neglect. Evil makes it easy to wonder if hope truly does exist. Not so long ago people crucified hope and sentenced hope to death. Many today keep trying to nail shut the coffin.

But we know the truth: Hope always wins.

Hope rose on the third day and lives on in the hands and hearts of people everywhere and always. Good, ordinary people show up with their walkers to march for peace. Hope does not make pain any less real. Hope gives us reason to keep going. It lights a fire in the deepest core of our beings, reminding us that better days will dawn.

Soon, purple cloth and festive wreathes will adorn churches around the world. The season of Advent is a season of awaiting the hope who showed up on the floor of a lowly stable and went on to save the world. Jesus Christ, our fully human God, graced the daily with the divine. How will each of us embody that legacy? Where will you show up?

This article also appears in the November 2018 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 83, No. 11, page 10).

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Time and again hope shows up in the cracks of our broken world ready to heal.

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Light in the Darkness
There is a priest who refers to priesthood as a fraternity. He says that the fraternity felt broken after 3 priest engaged in sexual abuse. The focus was on the priests who did these horrible acts for 3 months. This priest was in awe of the horrible thing that had happened and prays regularly for the victims. He struggled with giving seminars and continuing to be a happy priest. He started to question why such horrible things had happened. How could someone hurt a child? Sexual abuse is becoming more and more common in the Church with more cases in Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. Overall, sexual abuse in the church needs to come to an end and more priests should recognize and look out for their peers.

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"Welcome to the greatest fraternity in the world." Those were the handwritten words inscribed on a card given to me from a brother priest on the day of my ordination to the priesthood 30 years ago. Through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit I was now a priest of Jesus Christ and a member of a unique fraternity. But shortly after I was ordained, that sense of fraternity was broken by the actions of three priests from our presbyterate who engaged in clergy sexual abuse. All three were removed from their assignments and stripped of the Roman collar.

For many months the dark misdeeds of these brothers were the focus of major news on television and newsprint. As the victims struggled with trying to find healing and justice, virtually all of us priests, especially those new to priesthood, found ourselves broken and disillusioned. It was not easy to wear a Roman collar at that time - or go out in public. What was to have been the best of times became, for so many of us young priests, the worst of times.

In the meantime, more cases would unfold not just in our diocese but throughout the nation, wreaking havoc on innocent lives, causing great damage to the priesthood and priestly fraternity, and leading the faithful to a crisis of trust. The fallout from these heinous acts reached its peak in Boston in 2002. The problem now was more than just a matter of perpetrators abusing children. Church officials did not respond adequately to these problems.

At that time, I was charged with the task of being the rector of the seminary and director of vocations. This was a very challenging time to promote vocations to the priesthood, let alone encourage men on the road to priesthood. The best advertisement for priesthood always has been a happy priest. There were few happy priests as we all tried to come to terms with this earthquake and the many aftershocks that followed. For some of us it became even more difficult as classmates, friends and even the priests who baptized us were removed from ministry because of allegations of abuse. Some of us had to step in and fill the shoes of those who were removed. And in the midst of all that was happening we still, amid the heaviness of our hearts, had to show up and be Christ to others.

From these events many questions emerged in the minds of priests - for example, how could anyone hurt an innocent child? What would possess anyone to do such a thing? How could our brothers betray such a sacred trust? What possibly can we do in our corner of the world to restore trust? What do people perceive of me in my priesthood?

Those same questions surfaced again in August of this year with the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing the history of clergy sexual abuse in the dioceses of Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Previous reports were released a few years ago for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown chronicling many incidents of hurt to children and young people by clergy.

But with this voluminous grand jury report, it wasn't only questions that emerged. Shortly after its release, feelings of disillusionment, anger and rage were prevalent. Many of us clergy became the target of these emotions. In my parish alone, my assistants and I were called predators by a passing motorist. Emails were sent to us laced in strong anger. There were at least two prank phone calls denigrating the priesthood. Some people expressed their anger by withholding their offertory collection. A few people called the rectory to say that they would be leaving the Church.

Needless to say, virtually anyone who has read this report, understandably, is angry. The stories are unsettling and sick beyond words. The anger is not just limited to the direction of the perpetrators. It includes Church leadership in the form of the hierarchy. This anger also is directed at anyone who wears a Roman collar or works for the Church. I know of one instance in which one priest was out to dinner with parishioners and a party entering the restaurant refused to sit next to the priest. They said: "I can't sit here. He is a priest."

Someone once taught me that feelings are never wrong; they need to be expressed. I know that for many Catholics today in Pennsylvania and beyond, they need to express their anger and hurt. What follows are some thoughts to help deal with the anger of the faithful and begin the process of healing in the light of clergy sexual abuse.

BE PRESENT TO THE FLOCK

The first Sunday following the release of the grand jury report, I told my assistant priests, along with our seminarian, that we need to be present before and after holy Mass to greet our faithful. We cannot hide behind what happened. We need to own it and do everything we can to allow our people to vent and begin the process of healing.

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TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

A few weeks before the release of the report, I began acknowledging the forthcoming report. The Sunday after it was released, which happened to be the 100th anniversary of our parish, I spoke before the Mass about the report. The purpose of speaking is not to attempt to rationalize or explain away such deviant and reprehensible behavior, but to acknowledge it.

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TURN TO SCRIPTURE

At a time when there seemingly are few words, we need to turn to sacred Scripture. I began my statement by quoting the Letter of James when he says: "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (1:2-4). The release of the report has no doubt shaken the faith of many laity and clergy. This is a trial of epic proportion.

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KEEP THE VICTIMS FIRST

The report now gives a voice to the victims who for many years have suffered in silence. Their suffering is all the more real. It is now known. The victims need our prayers and support. There should be an intention in the universal prayer every Sunday for their healing.

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ALLOW THE FAITHFUL TO HAVE THEIR OWN FEELINGS

I personally experienced a wide range of emotions from the faithful. We cannot tell anyone how to feel. But it is important that we allow them to feel and not be threatened by it. One parishioner emailed and said he wanted a town hall meeting or public forum. I resisted this because I did not want to gather a bunch of angry people into one room. I invited him to come and see me personally to express his feelings. He embraced it.

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BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR OWN FEELINGS

It is important that we take a moment and share our own personal disillusionment as priests in brothers who failed us and the priesthood. Their egregious acts have forever impacted innocent lives and undermined the work of many good and holy priests. More and more, as these stories become public, they have made it hard for the faithful to trust in us.

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NAME THE GREATEST TEMPTATION OF THE MOMENT

There is nothing the devil wants more than to separate the Body of Christ and break it apart. In spite of the sadness and disillusionment, we need to invite people to remain in the Church and in a relationship with Jesus. When we flee, the Evil One wins. We cannot allow evil to win.

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ACKNOWLEDGE THE DISCLOSURE OF 'THE FAMILY SECRET'

Family secrets are terrible. When they are released, they can cause great hurt and despair. While we must never accept such behavior, we nonetheless need to recognize this evil and do everything we can to keep it out in the open. As such, we need to demand transparency in all of these matters. We need to resist the temptation to live in darkness, for we are "children of the light" (1 Thes 5:5).

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REMIND THE FAITHFUL WHY WE BELIEVE AND TO COME TO HOLY MASS

We all need to be reminded that our faith as Catholics is not in a bishop, priest or deacon. Nor is our faith in the building in which we worship. Our faith is in Jesus Christ. There are many places to look at a time such as this, but we need to look to God. The prophet Micah says it best when he says, "But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for God my savior; my God will hear me!" (Mi 7:7). We pray and come to holy Mass because of our relationship with Jesus.

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SEIZE THE MOMENT

While it may seem like the most difficult time to be Catholic - and even to be a priest - there is no more urgent or opportune time. This is our moment to stand up for the Faith and to deepen our relationship with Jesus. To follow Jesus is to not be a person of despair or doom and gloom, but to be a person of hope.

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LOOK FOR THE GOOD

St. Paul tells us, "Where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more" (Rom 5:20). Every cloud has a silver lining. In the days after the release of the grand jury report, there were so many affirmations of faith and messages from the faithful. One parishioner, who was deeply wounded by all of this news, sent an email of encouragement to me quoting Corrie ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who helped many Jews escape the Nazis during the Holocaust. In the darkness of her prison cell, she said, "There is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still." We need to trust that God's love will prevail.

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PRAY FOR HEALING

A week after the release of the report, at our parish we held a prayer service of faith, healing and strength for our faithful. It coincided with the feast of St. Pius X, an exemplary priest whose motto was "to renew all things in Christ." In that service we prayed for healing among all victims and the faithful, and for a renewal for the Church, knowing that only Jesus can move us beyond the darkness of sin into the light of grace.

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BEHOLD THE VESSEL OF GRACE WHICH IS THE CHURCH

In the aftermath of this report, it was humbling to see that so many, even in their heartache, came to church to receive the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist and Marriage. At the same time, people were calling from our local health care institutions for the anointing of the sick. Families also were calling to arrange a funeral liturgy for their loved ones. Although human, the Church remains holy and a sacrament of salvation.

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PROFESS THE FAITH

Every Sunday we lead our faithful in the profession of faith. This profession acknowledges our belief in the Triune God and "the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." During the crisis in 2002 I found great heart in listening to the faithful profess their faith in God and the Church. It saved me then and it is just as life-saving now.

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Walking Our Journeys

In the face of this storm, it is imperative that we not dismiss our own feelings. I don't know of a time in my 30 years as a priest when I ever have felt so hurt, pained and embarrassed. And yet, by no means should any of us make this tragedy about ourselves. Nor should we be embarrassed to be a priest. In 2002, I remember my brother saying to me: "Dave, don't you ever be embarrassed to be a priest. This is your calling." Nonetheless, as human beings we cannot deny the feelings of hurt, betrayal, disillusionment, anger and rage that we might be feeling. A lay colleague of mine said, "Father, we have to allow ourselves to feel the pain before the healing can begin." It does not feel good right now, but we are men of hope who look forward to the new day.

As priests, whether we are secular or religious, we belong to a fraternity that transcends time and place. That sense of fraternity is critical at this time. None of us can continue this journey alone, otherwise we set ourselves up for failure. It is just as important that we do not forget our family and friends.

About a week after the release of the Pennsylvania grand jury report, I received a letter from a lay colleague who sent the same letter to every priest she knew or had worked with throughout our diocese. She wrote: "Please do not walk this journey alone. Turn to your friends and family to talk. Take the support from your staffs and others you trust who offer. Go for long walks in the woods or on the golf course. Watch a lot of funny movies. ... And when you pray, know that we are with you, holding you in our hearts and enfolding you in God's love, asking for both peace and joy as you continue to trust you have been called and his grace is sufficient for today and every day."

Through our priesthood we are bearers of that grace. Our faithful need that grace now more than ever before. They also need us to embrace this heavy cross in a spirit of hope. I realize that for some of us it may be very tempting to flee right now, inasmuch as we are walking through a deep and dark valley that engenders fear, doubt and shame.

Elijah reached a point in his journey when he wanted to give up. We may find ourselves echoing the words of Elijah: "This is enough, O Lord" (1 Kgs 19:4). Like Elijah, we may just want to find that broom tree and just go to sleep and pretend none of this is happening. But the journey continues.

The early disciples faced similar struggles. Some of them left the circle of Jesus. They simply did not have the heart for it. Having watched some of his followers leave, Jesus asks the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon responds: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God" (Jn 6:67-69).

As tough as this time is for us as priests, there is no other place to be than with Jesus. It just so happens that we find ourselves at the foot of the cross. I think we all know, though, that the story does not end there. There will be new life. The Church will become more holy. And by God's grace we will all become more and more trusting in the Lord Jesus and, please God, more holy and faith-filled priests who never lose sight of our belief that we continue to belong to the greatest fraternity in the world.

FATHER DAVID J. BONNAR, editor of The Priest, is a pastor of 14 years in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, where he has served in numerous roles. To share your thoughts on this article or any others, follow The Priest on Twitter@PriestMagazine and like us on Facebook.

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"Welcome to the greatest fraternity in the world." Those were the handwritten words inscribed on a card given to me from a brother priest on the day of my ordination to the priesthood 30 years ago. Through the imposition of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit I was now a priest of Jesus Christ and a member of a unique fraternity.

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Pope focuses on 'good politics' for 2019 World Peace Day message
http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/pope-focuses-on-good-politics-for-2019-world-peace-day-message.cfm
The world will not have peace without people having mutual trust and respecting each other's word, the Vatican said as it announced Pope Francis' 2019 World Peace Day message would focus on "good politics." "Good politics is at the service of peace" will be the theme for the Jan. 1 commemoration and for the message Pope Francis will write for the occasion, said a Vatican communique published November 6, the day midterm elections were being held in the US to determine the political makeup of Congress for the next two years as well as a number of posts for state governors and city mayors. The pope's full message for World Peace Day, traditionally released by the Vatican in mid-December, is sent, through Vatican diplomats, the the leaders of nations around the world. The Vatican said Pope Francis' message will underline how political responsibility belongs to all citizens, especially those given the mandate "to protect and to govern."

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7 Simple Lessons in Humility for Your Everyday Life
This article is about 7 ways to practice being more humble in your everyday life. It is very helpful for those who want to grow in the virtue of humility. The first example is about being patient with people who aren't in a rush. The next example is to clean up someone else's mess. It might not be your responsibility, but your responsibility is to set an example for those who need to clean. The next 2 examples are about just letting things happen the way they are supposed to. We have to learn that not everything goes our way. The last example is my favorite which is about not spreading gossip and keeping things to yourself. It isn't important to let everyone know everything about your life.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/7-simple-lessons-in-humility-for-your-everyday-life

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Many people are questioning the idea of praying to the souls of their loved ones living and resting their lives in purgatory. People wonder if you have to pray differently? In a special manner? Personally? Secretly? Well if you have any of these questions the Our Sunday Visitor magazine is offering free E-books called "How And Why To Pray For The Souls in Purgatory". This magazine is helping people questioning their faith and their versions of prayer and giving them resources to guide themselves through the rough patch in their faith.

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.

https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK

#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.

https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK

#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory https://t.co/I9njuBxENe

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory pic.twitter.com/I9njuBxENe
— Our Sunday Visitor (@OSV) November 6, 2018

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.

https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK

#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory https://t.co/I9njuBxENe

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.

https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK

#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory https://t.co/I9njuBxENe

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Have you ever wondered why we pray for the souls in Purgatory? 🤔 Download our free guide to learn why and how to pray for them.

https://t.co/KTJv54jaAK

#purgatory #pray #soulsinpurgatory

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Migrants from El Salvador have left behind virtually everything to escape a country full of violence and corruption. Many have only the things on their backs as they take a journey as far north as their bodies will allow them, some of which are elderly caring for the young, some as young as 1 risk this long journey to freedom. This article describes the items that are carried on the backs of the travelers. A woman by the name of Delcey Reyes, an 18 year old, who is not only traveling with her 2 year old son, but carries a child within herself as well, is making this journey. She carries a majority of things for her young children sacrificing her own items in order to care for her children. Many others who have the same hope to reach the United States carry very little. The goal is to carry as much as possible in the most efficient way possible. All in all these people are not only risking their lives to escape horrible conditions of life, but they are doing it to protect those they love at the risk of being denied entry to the United States.

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The Circular Letter of St. Guido Maria Conforti by Xavier Missionaries USA
https://www.xaverianmissionaries.org/circularletters/#.W-DIqJNKg2x
St. Guido Maria Conforti is the founder of the Xaverian Missionaries which was created more than 120 years ago. One of the goals for the missionaries is to spread the love of Christ all across the globe. In efforts to succeed this goal and to keep motivating the missionaries, St. Guido made eight special letters. Letter number one and three state that you should keep Jesus at the forefront of your thoughts and activities, and that you should be satisfied with what he has given you. The second letter reiterates the Bible when stating that God is always here for us, so we should trust in him. Letter number four and five declare that a rule for the missionaries is to devote themselves to God, to be there when he calls on them, and to realize that they have been chosen by God to act as his apostles. The sixth and seventh letter focus in specifically on the missionaries, and they state that St. Guido is coming to see them and to personally thank them for their work as missionaries. The final letter states that St. Guido hopes that the missionaries will forever walk in God's footsteps and follow his will for the world. All of these letters were factors that unified and blessed the Xaverian Missionaries from 120 years ago until today.

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Your vote isn't enough. It will take a lot more to change deep American values
By Bryan Vincent for America: The Jesuit Review
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2017/07/14/your-vote-isnt-enough-it-will-take-lot-more-change-deep-american-values
Elections are important, but cultural values can also powerfully influence a nation. Paying attention to cultural values does not mean ignoring politics, but instead using your values to justify your politics. People and their opinions are not always going to change overnight, but if you know that what you are fighting for is right, it is important to keep fighting. We have to talk to people and understand them, instead of just shoving our beliefs down their throats. If our country keeps going down the road of texting while driving, illegal gun and drug trades, irresponsible investing, and excessive consumption that we are on, we will not be able to sustain it. We have to fight to make our world a better place for ourselves, God, our nation, and the future generations.

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"Why the Sign of Peace Means More Now Than Ever"

Often times, our society is divided by the many political and social issues that fill our country. These issues divide not just strangers, but friends and families. When the author of this article went to mass during a time where there was a lot of controversy among people, he entered the church with a sense of hopelessness and with the country's problems weighing him down. However, during the Sign of Peace, he saw what would be a rare sight out in society. People were reaching out to each other without asking questions or making accusations. There was nothing to divide each other, because at that moment, they all were looking at each other through God's eyes. This brought him to the realization that not only is the Sign of Peace a great and important part of the mass, but it is a reminder that peace between people is achievable and within reach.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/why-the-sign-of-peace-means-more-now-than-ever

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"In Pittsburgh, Muslims are eager to join Jews in fight against immigrant hate"

After the recent shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pennsylvania, people of all religions and cultures have united to help the victims. Among these are Muslims. After the Jummah (Friday) prayers at one mosque, leaders requested that people attend a night service at a synagogue to honor those affected by the shooting, especially 97-year-old Rose Mallinger, whose funeral took place an hour before the request. Although Jew and Muslims struggle in the Middle East over the lands of Palestine and Israel, those in the United States still band together to do good. Both share the common struggle of those who demonize immigrants, nativists who believe that the Jews are trying to replace whites with immigrants, "invading" America.  This situation is particularly disturbing to Jewish elders who remember a similar situation in Nazi Germany.  In the meantime, Muslims in Pittsburgh have raised about $232,000 and offered their protection to their Jewish neighbors, proving that, while politics tend to divide people, faith unites.

Source: Religious News Service, Yonat Shimron
https://religionnews.com/2018/11/02/in-pittsburgh-muslims-are-eager-to-join-jews-in-fight-against-immigrant-hate/

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"In northeastern Kenya, Catholic priest finds, rescues vulnerable children"
Source: Religious News Service, America Magazine
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/11/01/northeastern-kenya-catholic-priest-finds-rescues-vulnerable-children-0

As of last year, Father Francis Riwa of Kenya has rescued hundreds of Kenyan children from streets, homes, and early marriages. He has also founded several Catholic churches and schools in the predominantly Muslim northern Kenya, and he always motivates his rescuees to receive an education. Many of those who have been affected by Father Riwa have been inspired to become teachers or enter the convent/priesthood. They believe in giving back to God, the one who had saved them. Almost daily, Father Riwa and his team donate food, blankets, clothing, etc. to the St. Rita Catholic Church and visit rural villages to encourage young girls to go to school rather than marry. Currently, Father Francis Riwa has been focusing on helping children with HIV and those suffering from AIDS. Many fellow priests and bishops commend Father Riwa's actions of helping the poor, for he "is doing what the Catholic Church teaches and even what Jesus Christ taught about."

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An archbishop in Johannesburg, South Africa has began to recognize the abusive priests in the diocese. He is personally taking charge of this issue and ordering that all priests who have been accused of sexually assaulting minors be excommunicated from the church immediately. He is now taking his findings further and discussing canon law with many of his peers and the other objectives to automatic excommunication from the church. He is persuading his fellow archbishops to determine and pronounce the sexual abuse of minors as an automatic excommunication punishment by the Church.

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The archbishop of Johannesburg, South Africa, has called for the immediate excommunication of Catholic priests who have sexually abused minors. Archbishop Buti J. Tlhagale was preaching at the ordination of four priests in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg on Oct. 27.

The archbishop said that in canon law the "procurement of abortion by a priest, or with the assistance of a priest, brings about an automatic excommunication latae sententiae to the priest." He said also that if a priest gets married while still under his vows, this too brings about automatic excommunication.

Latae sententiae is the Latin phrase used in church law meaning that a sentence is triggered by the action itself. It applies automatically when a serious church law has been contravened.

"Perhaps the abuse of minors by a priest, considering its moral gravity...ought to be considered as an automatic excommunication. In other words, when a priest is found to have abused a child, that should be included in the list of those acts that bring about automatic excommunication," he said.

"There is palpable outrage against the Catholic Church hierarchy for its complicity, its silence and its cover-ups. For siding [with] and hiding perpetrators at the expense of victims."

The ordination was taking place against the backdrop of the trial in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, of a 58-year-old evangelical televangelist, Pastor Timothy Omotoso. "Your ordination, gentlemen, to the priesthood, takes place against this unhappy background. These are difficult times," the archbishop said.

Mr. Omotoso is accused of the rape of one women and trafficking more than 30 girls and women in South Africa.

"It is a false consolation to argue that child abuse does not only happen in the Catholic Church," the archbishop said. "Child abuse should simply not happen."

The archbishop reminded the four ordinands, the Revs. Abel Maluleke, Oupa Matseke, Sefako Santawana and Boshom Mpetsheni, of the "hard saying of the Gospel of Mark [18:6]: 'Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he was thrown into the sea.'

"We restore the church's good name by our own lifestyle, by our own fidelity and simple honesty," he said. "Our own moral lapses, our own lives, regrettably marked by broken vows and broken promises, should not dissuade you from making a genuine effort to live up to expectations. To strive in earnest to be the other Christ who brings hope to the people of God."

The sexual abuse of a minor, among the accusations against Mr. Omotoso, "brings to the fore the raw feelings of anger, of outrage, of bitterness, of frustration, of hatred, even of self-hatred," Archbishop Tlhagale said, "desires of retaliation, [feelings] of betrayal, of disloyalty, of unfaithfulness, of cover-ups, of a sinister abuse of power and deception."

Archbishop Tlhagale said that when such cases hit the front pages of newspapers, many people cannot help thinking about the Catholic Church and its plethora of scandals of child sexual abuse across the world. "There is palpable outrage against the Catholic Church hierarchy for its complicity, its silence and its cover-ups. For siding [with] and hiding perpetrators at the expense of victims."

The archbishop said that the question is: "Who can be trusted?"

"You have a duty to restore the good name of the Catholic Church currently in tatters because of the revelations of scandal after scandal."

The ongoing revelations of child sex abuse by clergy across the world-most notably in Chile, the United States and Australia, but also in South Africa-have put the Catholic Church in the spotlight again. In July, an U.S. archbishop, Theodore McCarrick, resigned from the College of Cardinals. He was the first cardinal in the history of the church to resign from that body because of allegations of sexual abuse.

Across the world people have expressed outrage, not only at the abuse itself but at the fact that authorities in the church-bishops and religious superiors-have not dealt properly with many of the perpetrators of abuse. There has been a lack of accountability and transparency. Some bishops who covered up abuse or abused minors themselves remained in place for years. At worst, some like Archbishop McCarrick were promoted to higher office in the church.

"As you enter the Catholic priesthood, you must be prepared, dear friends, to carry the burden and the stigma of the moral failure of [the] Catholic priests," Archbishop Tlhagale said to the ordinands.

"The halo of the Catholic priesthood has been broken. The church is castigated because it appears to have claimed to have a 'holier than thou' attitude. We priests claim to be the other Christ. We have set the bar high but fail lamentably to live up to that moral standard, that moral ideal, hence the merciless and the harsh criticism," Archbishop Tlhagale said.

In October, Pope Francis defrocked two Chilean bishops over child sex abuse claims. The Vatican said that this decision could not be appealed.

Archbishop Tlhagale said that the abuse crisis has caused some people to leave the church. He said to the ordinands: "You have a duty to restore the good name of the Catholic Church currently in tatters because of the revelations of scandal after scandal."

The archbishop also lamented the state of South Africa. He said that it was visibly "under siege on a number of fronts." He said that thousands of young people were deeply disillusioned with life and that many communities are frustrated by the broken promises concerning the lack of houses, electricity, water and decent sanitation. "Their dignity is being trampled underfoot just like in the old apartheid days. Their anger is palpable as they resort to destroying public facilities in order to make their voice heard."

He condemned "defrauding the state, greed, self-enrichment [and] corruption," saying that these ills point to the fact that there is something fundamentally wrong in the state of South Africa.

He told the four new priests that if they were to initiate any reforms within the church, they must start with themselves first. He said that they must become credible and genuinely honest pastors and shepherds.

He told them that they have a "moral duty, at least, not to make matters worse than they already are."

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South African Archbishop: Excommunicate abuser priests

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"There is palpable outrage against the Catholic Church hierarchy for its complicity, its silence and its cover-ups. For siding [with] and hiding perpetrators at the expense of victims."

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Five nuns kidnapped in southern Nigeria

Five nuns were abducted by gunmen in Nigeria's Delta state on Thursday. The nuns are all members of the Order of the Missionary of Martha are Mary. They were kidnapped on October 25. while returning from a burial. They were taken near Agbor, 25 miles west of Isseleuku. The nuns were in a vehicle which the kidnappers shot at. Also five priests have been kidnapped in Delta state this year.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/five-nuns-kidnapped-in-southern-nigeria-52142

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What is 666 in the Bible?

Ever since we were younger the number 666 has always been associated with the devil. This idea is first mentioned in the New Testament's Book of Revelation which says, “One who understands can calculate the number of the beast, for it is a number that stands for a person. His number is six hundred and sixty-six." Many people believe the reason why it is this number because it falls short of 7 which in the bible means wholeness. The author of this article did some research and learned that if you take the Greek version of the Roman emperor Nero(emperor when the book of revelation was written) and translate it to Hebrew(letters have numeric value), then you will come up with the number 666. The important lesson of this article is that there are a lot of symbols in the bible that relate to a certain time period and the number 666 is most likely associated to the emperor Nero, who was a kind of beastly person.
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201309/what-666-bible-27901

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Trappist Father Keating, leading figure in centering prayer, dies at 95
One of the leading priests who teaches us the art of prayer has recently passed. Although, his teachings will continue on forever. After the burning down of his original monastery, Father Keating was forced to relocate. In the new monastery he learned to focus on God and pray to Him without using words. He emphasizes the importance of silence in prayer and the serenity that it will bring. He spoke worldwide about his discoveries and gave many homilies on the importance of a centered prayer. He even created books that would help people follow the prayerful way that he chose. His acts of kindness, like teaching this technique to prisoners, will forever live on. He continues to show us the best prayer is prayer with thoughts.

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SPENCER, Mass. - A funeral Mass will be celebrated Nov. 3 at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer for Trappist Father Thomas Keating, a leading figure in the ce

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Fake news?
The Catholic Church was quick to dispel false gospel preaching from a church in the Ivory Coast. This priest preached that through donations of both financial and material goods, God rewards those most heavily answering their heavenly wishes. It was said by the Catholic church that they "will never endorse such ideas" and they are strongly against the belief that God will take favor in those who have more to give. They stand in the corner preaching that this is wrong, and was preached outside of the church. The representatives believe that these evangelizers, such as televangelists are quickly gaining a foothold in the beliefs of other and needs to be discredited before chaos ensues.

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U.S. Catholic leaders call for compassion and dignity for migrant ‘caravan’

As U.S. Catholic leaders urged compassion and a solution to a possible collision over migration at the border that respects human dignity, Pentagon officials said today that the number of military troops deployed to the southern border could be in the thousands, not hundreds. This may be as big as 5,000 troops. But the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops pushed back against rising anti-migrant rhetoric in a joint statement the same day issued with Catholic Charities USA and Catholic Relief Services. “While nations have the right to protect their borders, this right comes with responsibilities: governments must enforce laws proportionately, treat all people humanely, and provide due process,” they said.T he U.S. church leaders added that “seeking asylum is not a crime.”

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/29/us-catholic-leaders-call-compassion-and-dignity-migrant-caravan

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On October 28, Pope Francis asked for forgiveness from all young people in the Church. He said that he wanted to apologize for not listening to young ideas but instead talking over the things young people thought. Pope Francis believes that the heart of the Church should be going out and representing the Church in serving the community, which is what many young leaders of the Church who are often overlooked. Francis is calling us to be neighbors to one another, and work together for the common good of the Church.

http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/pope-apologizes-to-young-people-who-have-felt-ignored-by-the-churc.cfm

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On October 27, 2018, there was a horrific shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. There were 11 fatalities and 6 injuries. Too many lives lost due to blatant racism. Cardinal Daniel N. Dinardo of Galveston condemned the violence and calls for public officials to “confront the plague of gun violence”. Pope Francis, on October 28, also prayed for those affected by this violence. He prays: “mya the Lord help us extinguish the fires of hatred that develop in our society”. The gunman has been identified by as 46 year-old man named Robert Bowers.
http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/usccb-president-condemns-shooting-at-synagogue-and-all-acts-of-hate.cfm

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Where Do the Sacraments Come From?
US Catholic By: David A. Pitt
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201810/where-do-sacraments-come-31539
Most people know the sacraments as the seven which Catholics are taught throughout their religious lives. However, there weren't always seven. When meeting with Lutherans, the Roman Catholics could have chosen as many or few sacraments as they wanted, and decided on seven. The Lutherans decided only to have two, which are Baptism and the Eucharist. Overall, it doesn't matter how many sacraments there are, but rather what they are. Sacraments can be viewed numerous ways. First, they can be seen as a sign of God's grace and forgiveness. Secondly, they are also effective signs of God's redeeming work. Finally, they can also be seen as a unification between heaven and earth. Either way you view it, sacraments are a way for people to become closer to God.

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Does the Soul Ever Die?

Many people are confused about the question whether the soul dies or if only the earthly body does. Soul signifies the "spiritual principle in humanity." The Greeks frequently put emphasis on the fact that the soul needs to escape the body. This isn't what Catholics believe, however. As Catholics, we believe that the body and soul work together during human life, and therefore we need to treat our bodies respectfully. The soul is immortal, and it is a necessary part of us. Although it separates from the body when one dies, it is believed to reunite with the body at the final resurrection.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/does-the-soul-ever-die

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Pope apologizes to young people who have felt ignored by the church
http://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/pope-apologizes-to-young-people-who-have-felt-ignored-by-the-churc.cfm
Speaking on behalf of all adult Catholics, Pope Francis formally closed the Synod of Bishops by asking young people for forgiveness. "Forgive us if often we have no listened to you; if, instead of opening our hearts, we have filled your ears. As Christ's church, we want to listen to you with love" because young people's lives are precious in God's eyes and "in our eyes, too," the pope said in his homily on October 28th. The Mass, celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica, closed a month-long synod on young people, faith and vocational discernment. The pope thanked the 300 synod members, experts, observers and ecumenical delegates for working in communion, with frankness and with the desire to serve God's people. Living the faith and sharing it with the world, especially with young people, entails going out to those in need, listening, being close to them and bearing witness to Jesus' liberating message of salvation, Pope Francis said.

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Synod document: Listen to, support, guide, include young people
The Synod of Bishops says that the Catholic Church should listen to young people and take them seriously. They should realize that they are also full members of the Church and guide them to live out their faith. The focus of the final document from the synod was on improving ways to support young Catholics. There was not only an emphasis on listening to young people, but also on listening to all people and including everyone in the Catholic Church. Bishops say they have heard from many young people that they need a change in "pastoral practice". The Church needs to guide young Catholics to help them stay on their path to God. Young Catholics however must also commit time an patience into their relationship with God.

https://cnstopstories.com/2018/10/27/synod-document-listen-to-support-guide-include-young-people/

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"Where is our regard for the sanctity of life in Yemen?"

Source: Religious News Service, America Magazine, Joshua Heavin
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/26/where-our-regard-sanctity-life-yemen

A Saudi-led war effort in Yemen, which the United States helps aid, has killed many of the country's innocent children. Not only have school buses been bombed by air forces that were supplied by the U.S., killing dozens of children, but 14 million Yemeni people are now at risk of starvation. Additionally, in Yemen, there are 10,000 cases of cholera per week; clean drinking water has become scarce; and the country's medical system is on the verge of collapse. The United States' desire for Saudi oil and a friend in the tumultuous Middle East has caused the U.S. to overlook the terrible human rights violations by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Ultimately, the United States has the power to end the war in Yemen, but they would potentially be losing economic and national security. Jesus once said that the most important commandment was to love God and one's neighbor, but the United States must consider who there neighbor is. Is it really Saudi Arabia, who causes death, famine, poverty, and destruction to Yemeni children and citizens?

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"On a Hero’s Journey: Where Christianity and Nerd Culture Collide"
In this article, author Jennifer Schlameuss-Perry explains her connection to both nerd culture and her faith.  Even as a child, these were the two most important pieces of her life.  In her recent book, "Comic Con Christianity," she describes the parallels between these two very different topics.  A major point in both is the concept of destiny.  All people are destined to be heroes.  Everyone has their own special powers and is alive for an important purpose.  Justice is another key point.  Much like the iconic characters in books and movies, Christians are called to work towards equality, to jump into danger to save the innocent.  Self-sacrifice is another leading factor.  Heroes risk their lives for others just as Jesus gave up his life for us.  We are all called to take up our crosses and do our part.  This leads to internal struggle, another parallel.  The desire to be good is often diluted by temptations.  However, in the end, the most important facet of both worlds is hope, which leads us to make change.  Overall, many lessons can be learned from nerd culture and applied to Christianity, deepening our faith and giving us motivation to live it in our everyday lives.

Source: Busted Halo, Jennifer Schlameuss-Perry
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/on-a-heros-journey-where-christianity-and-nerd-culture-collide

Busted Ha

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Catholic Woman Speak network calls for church reform, focus on women

In Rome delegates gathered and there is a long synod of bishops that will hear from women's voices inside their Vatican meeting hall. There is a situation Tina Beattie wants to fix even if it is from the other side of the town. On October 1, Beattie and several colleagues hosted a symposium of mostly catholic women's voices at the Pontifical University Antonianum. This event was an official launch of a new book Visions and Vocations, a collection of theological and personal reflections by catholic women. The book contributes from more than 60 women and girls from all different countries. All the girls differ in age from 14 to 85. This book was meant to talk about current crises facing the church.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/theology/catholic-women-speak-network-calls-church-reform-focus-women

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Caritas on the frontlines during current Ebola outbreak in Congo
The outbreak on Ebola is happening once again with over 100 people dead. The Catholic Church has took note of the suffering and has sent charity workers to help in any way that they can. Although it is hard to do anything for families/victims of Ebola, volunteers can offer prayers and company to those enduring this pain. Volunteers also become involved in campaigns that teach the people in Africa more about sanitation. Because of the major outbreak, information is crucial for the survival of Africans. Helpers have hosted meetings, done radio announcements, and even visited the people of Africa to spread awareness about cleanliness. Overall, the outbreak has scarred many victims around the Congo, but will further spread beyond the Congo if more action does not take place.

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YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon - Caritas Congo says an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country is worrying, after at least 211 cases have been recorded with at least 135 people dead from the disease.

The Catholic charity has taken a leading role in fighting against the disease.

Emmanuel Mbuna Badjonga of Caritas Congo told Crux that the organization has been involved in community mobilization and hygiene and sanitation campaigns to reduce the risks.

"Sensitization is based on the rules of hygiene that need to be observed against Ebola. We have put up several billboards and organized several conferences with community leaders, professional groups - traders, transporters, teachers, priests, pastors etc. - and we make use of community radios to reach out to the public with messages against Ebola. Sensitization messages from the country's bishops are read in churches," Badjonga explained.

Badjonga said the epidemic continues to spread: Although no new cases have been found in the northern Ituri province for several weeks, the disease has spread south, including in the violence-torn North Kivu province.

Now there is a concern the disease might go beyond Congo's borders.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said his organization was "very concerned about the potential for the virus to spread into Uganda, but also into Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi. We are working very closely with those governments on operational readiness for Ebola."

Badjonga said Caritas also offers material assistance to those already infected. But concern that the disease could continue to spread has been rising, as the public shows resistance to the health campaign.

"Some people refuse to believe that Ebola is a disease that can be treated in hospital and prefer to consult witch doctors or traditional practitioners. There are even some who don't believe that Ebola exists and that it can be contracted by simple contact with infected persons. These people don't take any hygiene and sanitation measures," he said.

Badjonga said such resistance, coupled with high population mobility, has been driving the spread of the epidemic.

While the first case of the virus was recorded in the locality of Mabalako in Ituri province, the Epidemiology Center was moved recently to Beni, about 20 miles away.

Badjonga worries that this could further worsen the spread of the virus, given that Beni has deep ties with the very populated towns of Butembo, Bunia, Goma and Kisangani.

The country's refugee crisis could further exacerbate the spread of the disease. North Kivu and Ituri are home to over a million refugees and internally displaced people and their movement through and out of the provinces.

In addition, the rising insecurity in the Congo means that humanitarian teams can't be deployed to affected areas.

ADF-NALU rebels with origins in Uganda recently attacked the town of Beni, making the deployment of medical and humanitarian teams nearly impossible.

In a tweet, Dr. Peter Salama, the WHO's deputy director-general of emergency preparedness and response said: "With each new violent incident in northeast DRC, the community loses further trust, protests and further violence limit our access, and more cases and contacts are lost to follow-up. This vicious cycle increases the risk of Ebola spreading."

Personnel from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who have been stationed in the Democratic Republic of Congo to help control the ongoing Ebola outbreak have been pulled back from the worst impacted areas due to safety concerns, according to CNN.

"They are not in any hot spots," CNN cites an unnamed official as saying.

WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic has attributed the recent spike in cases to the "challenges faced by the response team."

"For a couple of days we were not able to function really, and in the last couple of weeks we could not function at 100 percent," he said.

"The recent spike in violent incidents makes the response more difficult and increases the risk of spread not only in the DRC but also in neighboring countries," Jasarevic said.

Ebola causes fever, severe headache and in some cases hemorrhaging. It kills about half of those infected, but fatality rates in individual outbreaks have varied from 25 percent to 90 percent.

The current outbreak is the second in the Democratic Republic of Congo this year. The first ran from May to July and killed 33 people out of the 54 reported cases. The deadly virus was first discovered in the area in 1976, and the current outbreak marks the tenth to hit the country.

According to figures compiled by the European Commission there have been 1,056 reported cases and 756 deaths from the disease in that time, not including the current outbreak.

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Caritas on the frontlines during current Ebola outbreak in Congo

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YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon - Caritas Congo says an ongoing Ebola outbreak in the country is worrying, after at least 211 cases have been recorded with at least 135 people dead from the disease. The Catholic charity has taken a leading role in fighting against the disease.

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Nuns are going on a 21-state bus tour to call attention to the 2017 Tax Cut and the Jobs Act. They are doing this because these have impacts on social services and local communities. It’s called the Tax Justice Truth Tour. The people on the tour fear this endangers many families because of reduced federal spending, especially those who have low income. The tour is 54 stops beginning in Santa Monica, California and ending in Palm Beach, Florida and the participants are ready for America to hear their voice.

://www.catholicnews.com/services/englishnews/2018/nuns-on-the-bus-21-state-tour-stirs-support-for-responsible-programs.cfm

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Having kids won’t doom your country, says #PostcardsForMacron creator
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/having-kids-wont-doom-your-country-says-postcardsformacron-creator-70068
The idea that high fertility rates are a barrier to economic success is a contemporarymyth, Catholic University of America economics professor, mother of eight, and viral hashtag creator Dr. Catherine Pakaluk told CNA. Pakaluk started the viral #PostcardsForMacron in response to French President Emanuel Macron's comment at a Gates Foundation event. Macron suggested that educated women would not choose to have a large number of children if they had a choice. While Pakaluk thinks the comment was taken partly out of context, and tried to give Macron the benefit of the doubt, she still thought it was ridiculous. Women like herself who chose to have many children face a "pejorative attitude" from other people about their decisions to have lots of children. Pakaluk theorized that Macron's views were similar to those of the Gates Foundation, which considers population growth to be a barrier to economic growth.

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After New York Limousine Crash, Priest urges Families to put Trust in Jesus

A limousine crash in Schoharie has taken the lives of 20 people. Peter Rose says that this has changed "our lives, our community," forever. The community would support and continue to support one another in this time of troubles. At the funeral Mass for the victims at St. Stanislaus Church in Amsterdam, about 800 people filled the pews. Boxes of tissues were placed in each pew. Prayer intentions mentioned the victims, their families, and the first responders.  "And that, my brothers and sisters, is what you and I are doing here this afternoon: We are putting all of our hope, all of our faith and all of our trust in Jesus," Father DeMartinis said.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/10/19/after-new-york-limousine-crash-priest-urges-families-put-trust-jesus

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"It's my church, too"
This informative article takes us into the life of a couple Catholic lives who have recently passed away. It discusses the issue of people giving up on the Church and abandoning it. Though the author of the article is not calling people who abandon their church wrong or sinful, he is encouraging the reader to not give up on the Church even if there are things you don't particularly like about. The author's wife educated herself to become a church leader in order to restore her church rather than leave and never look back. Ultimately, this article is calling for change to the Church, but also asking the laypeople to not give up although there seems to be issues we need to address.

https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201810/its-my-church-too-31528

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As the debate continues, weather or not the victims of the church should be given damages for their suffering, a Chilean court payed damages worth $650,000 to a trio of men who were abused by Priest Fernando Karadima. Chile's supreme court had considered "what steps to take" when It came to the abuse within the church. This payment has been the first payment towards the victims and aimed towards the Roman Catholic church, and is prompting a shift in which the victims are receiving justice and depicting that abuse is unacceptable. By doing this Chile's court system has caused the church to reevaluate how they are responding to these horrific scandals.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/chilean-court-rules-archdiocese-liable-covering-karadima-sex-abuse

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Currently, there is an Ebola outbreak in Congo with 135 people dead. The Catholic charity has been doing everything they can to help the victims. They are involved with the communities sanitation campaigns. They try to do as much as they can to inform the public about the disease by making posters, talking over the radio, and having bishops inform their congregation. The major concern is that they think that the disease is going to spread outside of Congo's borders.
https://cruxnow.com/church-in-africa/2018/10/23/caritas-on-the-frontlines-during-current-ebola-outbreak-in-congo/

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"Tomie dePaola’s books help us find the sacred in stories of service and stillness"

84-year-old Tomie dePaola has written and illustrated more than 250 books. His bright illustrations evoke a sense of welcome and comfort. DePaola was raised Catholic and has illustrated many Catholic children's books. His newest book, Quiet, invites readers to meditate and simply slow down. Its message helps people to deal with the distractions in today's society. All of his stories offer beautiful messages of faith and love that help children connect with God at a young age and remind others of the mission of God.
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/10/09/tomie-depaolas-books-help-us-find-sacred-stories-service-and-stillness

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Cardinals: L. G. B. T. issues part of youth synod discussion
By Michael J. O'Loughlin for America the Jesuit Review
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/10/20/cardinals-lgbt-issues-part-youth-synod-discussion
Overall, young people are generally much more accepting of many things, the LGBTQ+ community being no exception. Adults are generally much more judgmental and reluctant to accept people who are not straight and cis-gendered. Because officials in the Catholic Church are all adults, LGBTQ+ people are finding it much harder to be accepted in the Church community. A United States archbishop even stated once that "L. G. B. T. Catholics" are not real. However, many other archbishops are urging adults to be more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community in their churches and families. Cardinal John Ribat of Paupa New Guinea also encouraged church leaders to address LGBTQ+ people in their preferred way and understand that they want to be heard, recognized, accepted, and respected. Another archbishop also suggested that LGBTQ+ Catholics should not be singled out or pictured as being less worth than anyone else.

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Synapses of the Soul By Sophia Carozza http://www.patheos.com/blogs/synapsesofthesoul/2018/10/thoughts-and-prayers/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBCP-CAT&utm_content=October2018
The phrase, "My thoughts and prayers are with you" is commonly used to show and give empathy to someone who has just experienced something traumatic. However, this phrase simply checks a cognitive box and nothing more. The first main problem with this phrase is that it categorizes thoughts and prayers together. Prayers are like a magical tool that people can use to talk to God and it "open their hearts to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit". Even though thoughts are kind, they do nothing compared to prayers. The second main problem is that this phrase makes you take no action. For example, when there are major floods in communities, people need all the help they can get. People not in the community end up using this phrase rather than donating to a fund to help rebuild the community, or heading down to the area themselves to help. Overall, thoughts and prayers are both great things, but people overlook the power of prayer compared to thought and often end up taking no action.

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After the American Academy of Family Physicians took a neutral position on assisted suicide Catholic doctors are speaking up and voicing their opinions against assisted suicide. Many doctor's goals are to do anything and everything in the best interests of their patient. So if their patient wants to die, and does not want to suffer through the intense hardships their disease would put them through at the end of their life they would help them using assisted suicide. While many Catholic doctors argue against this practice because in the Catholic faith suicide is a sin. Overall this is a controversial topic between Catholic and non-catholic doctors.

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.- The American Academy of Family Physicians has taken a neutral position on assisted suicide and will lobby the American Medical Association to do the same, drawing criticism from Catholics but praise from assisted suicide advocates.

Leaders of the physicians' academy gathered for its Congress of Delegates, which met Oct. 8-10 in New Orleans, approved the resolution of "engaged neutrality," MedPage Today reports.

The organization represents over 130,000 doctors across the U.S. and is the second-largest constituent body within the AMA.

The resolution passed by a two-thirds vote, which is required for votes that differ from AMA ethical policies, the physicians' academy said.

The resolution called on the medical academy to reject use of the phrases "assisted suicide" or "physician-assisted suicide" in its formal communications and directed the academy's delegation to the AMA to promote similar action in that association's governing body.

Dr. Michael Munger, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, said his group took a neutral position so it can advocate on the matter at future meetings of the American Medical Association's House of Delegates. Munger said family physicians are "well-positioned to counsel patients on end-of-life care" and added "we are engaged in creating change in the best interest of our patients."

The American Medical Association's code of ethics rejects physician-assisted suicide as "fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer." Such a practice would be "difficult or impossible to control" and would "pose serious societal risks."

"Instead of engaging in assisted suicide, physicians must aggressively respond to the needs of patients at the end of life," it adds.

Critical of the AAFP's move was Dr. Barbara Golder, M.D., a board member of the Catholic Medical Association and editor-in-chief of its Linacre Quarterly, who said the move was "very, very disappointing" but should not necessarily be considered a full victory for backers of assisted suicide.

"Some people will want to look on this as a great achievement in terms of advancing physician-assisted suicide, and it certainly puts us on a slippery slope, but I think it's also important to recognize that the AAFP did not endorse it," Golder told CNA.

"That tells me that even within their own organization there's a great deal of discussion and there's got to be a fairly significant group of physicians within that group itself that understands the dangers of physician-assisted suicide and how it runs contrary to medicine as practiced."

Backers of assisted suicide, such as the group formerly known as the Hemlock Society, welcomed the change and saw it as grounds for more.

"I believe many AMA constituent societies will follow suit, so it is only a matter of time before the AMA does as well," said Dr. David Grube, national medical director of the pro-assisted suicide group Compassion and Choices and a former delegate within the physicians' academy.

In response, Golder facetiously wondered whether Grube has a crystal ball to see the future.

"I don't know that it's 'just a matter of time'," she said. "Certainly, it's a worrisome idea that medicine would shift from healing to killing. That's a fundamental change the likes of which medicine has not encountered, at least in our lifetimes.

"When we find medicine going away from healing towards killing, we in the past have been very repulsed by it. Now suddenly we are not," she added, warning that it is potentially a "tremendous slippery slope."

For Golder, assisted suicide is against natural law and "the Catholic notion that life ought to be respected from conception to natural death."

Golder said opponents of assisted suicide should consider joining medical groups and "being vocal." She suggested doctors can leverage their patients, because they "have a voice in this as well."

"The whole point of associations like this is to serve doctors and their patients," she said. For Golder, assisted suicide disrupts the doctor-patient relationship because it means "as well as an agent of healing, the doctor can also be an agent of death."

Advocacy and awareness-raising about good palliative care are also needed "so that physician-assisted suicide doesn't look like an attractive alternative to people who are alone, in great pain, don't have anybody to care for them," added Golder.

Dr. Peter T. Morrow, M.D., president of the Catholic Medical Association, said the move ran contrary to "the medical communities' historical and long-standing opposition against physician-assisted suicide."

"It is in direct violation of the 'do no harm' Hippocratic Oath," Morrow said in an Oct. 17 statement. "We at the CMA are dedicated to preserving life from conception to natural death and will continue to remain staunchly opposed to any form of assisted suicide. It goes against natural law."

The Catholic Medical Association has over 2,300 healthcare professionals in 104 local guilds across the U.S. Several of its members had testified against doctor-assisted suicide at AMA's last House of Delegates meeting in June.

The AMA has about 240,000 members in the U.S., with membership including medical doctors, doctors of osteopathic medicine, and medical students. Its 2018 interim meeting will be held in National Harbor, Maryland this November.

The group's House of Delegates, meeting in Chicago in June, narrowly voted not to accept a report recommending that they continue their stance of opposing physician assisted suicide. About 56 percent of delegates voted for the report to undergo further review.

At the time, Morrow said that decision was "hugely disappointing."

Golder told CNA that the AMA "has so far held the line, saying assisted suicide is not appropriate, and we congratulate them for that."

The seven states of California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, plus the District of Columbia, have legalized assisted suicide.

Other AAFP resolutions included a failed vote in support of an elective abortion ban from 20 weeks into gestational age. The body passed resolutions opposing "fetal personhood" language. It recommended that medication abortion drug Mifeprex be removed from the Food and Drug Administration's requirements for Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy. Such restrictions create an unnecessary burden on physicians who want to offer medication abortion, backers of the decision said.

The delegates passed a resolution calling on the academy to create educational materials about institutional racism and segregated care within the health care system as a cause of racial disparities in patient outcomes.

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Neutrality on assisted suicide is the wrong prescription, Catholic doctors say

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The American Academy of Family Physicians has taken a neutral position on assisted suicide and will lobby the American Medical Association to do the same, drawing criticism from Catholics but praise from assisted suicide advocates. Leaders of the physicians' academy gathered for its Congress of Delegates, which met Oct.

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"Response to sexual abuse crisis tops agenda for USCCB fall meting"
At the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, bishops had to deal with endless revelations of allegations of abuse. Most of these referred to past incidents. Bishops all over the nation have to deal with state attorneys general opening investigations about abuse allegations. The USCCB has not opened a discussion on how to handle these charges. Bishops'  had outlined actions to address the abuse crisis and they were instructed to come up with ways to put restrictions in bishops who were removed from the Church for sexual abuse allegations.  Representatives of the USCCB meet every March and September to address problems like these.
https://cnstopstories.com/2018/10/21/response-to-sexual-abuse-crisis-tops-agenda-for-usccb-fall-meeting/

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"Spanish Jesuit to be Beatified"
Source: Religious News Service, Jesuits
http://jesuits.org/news-detail?TN=NEWS-20181011125922USA

On October 20th, the Catholic Church beautified Spanish Jesuit Father Tiburcio Arnaiz Munoz (1865-1926). In his priesthood, he promptly responded to issues within the Church; started new projects and persevered in them; and brought people together from all different backgrounds to help the poor. In Malaga, Spain, Fr. Arnaiz frequently visited the incarcerated, tended to the sick, and played with the street children. He also promoted the urgent need of a good education and helped open schools, a Catholic library, and a system for distributing medicines and the construction of houses for people in need. Fr. Arnaiz was considered an energetic, strong, and determined priest with an undying love for Jesus Christ, as well as a dear friend to many. In 1922, Fr. Arnaiz and Maria Isabel Gonzalez del Valle Sarandeses founded the Obra de las Misioneras de las Doctrinas Rurales, an association of consecrated laywomen dedicated to evangelizing the poor. Fr. Arnaiz was recognized as the "apostle of the city" of Malaga, Spain, and people today still visit his tomb in the Church of the Sacred Heart.

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"More church crosses demolished in China"
In the past months, Pope Francis has taken steps to improving the relationship and communication between the Vatican and China. On September 21, the two parties signed a provisional agreement. This sought to resolve issues such as the appointment of bishops in China. However, since the signing, tension towards Catholics has increased in China. Many provinces have made efforts to remove public Christian symbols. One church, which was in the process of hosting a local pilgrimage, was ordered to remove the structures or face a fine.  At the Luoyang Catholic Church in Henan, officials demolished two cross at 2:00 in the morning. A video clip was taken in which a woman can be seen crying over the scene and another beating an official's vehicle with a stick. Another demolition occurred on October 11, in which local communist officials dispatched workers to destroy the cross on a bell tower and wall at Wenzhou City. Although the recent agreement sought to improve relations with China, many fear that these recent acts will become increasingly more destructive.

Sources: UCA News, Hong Kong
https://www.ucanews.com/news/more-church-crosses-demolished-in-china/83677

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https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/17/how-can-we-get-beyond-battle-sexes#
How can we get beyond the battle of the sexes?
By Simcha Fisher for America the Jesuit Review
With the Kavanaugh scandal going around, a Catholic website, alongside with many other political figures, have spoken about how it is a dangerous time for men in America. "Fathers, sons, brothers and husbands are in terrible danger of having their lives shredded just because women feel like shredding men's lives." Women have also commented on their rage during this time, though we have far more reason to be furious. Although the false portrayal of the rapist as a victim is a massive problem, it is only a small piece of the big picture. When we pit one gender against another it demands instability. While conservatives have long argued that traditional gender roles of men being the strong protector and women being the submissive housewife will lead to peace and happiness, liberals have equally argued that tolerance and rejection of prejudice will be equally, if not more, beneficial. People become so set in their ways that we cling to our own ideologies and refuse to listen to both sides of a story. Essentially, what this all boils down to is that although we have different beliefs as to the way the world should work, the biggest thing we should focus on is treating each other with kindness, compassion, and respect. Without these values, we will crumble as a society.

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The Russian Orthodox Patriarchate of Moscow, led by Bartholomew I, spilt from the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. The leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church claim the spilt because the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople because it was “lawless and canonically void.” Metropolitan Hilarion, leader of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, is hoping “common sense will prevail and that the Constantinople Patriarchate will change its relations to existing church reality.”
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/in-major-break-over-ukraine-russian-orthodox-church-splits-from-constantinople-60326

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"The Examen with Fr. James Martin, S.J.: Reading Luke, the gospel of prayer"

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/10/15/examen-fr-james-martin-sj-reading-luke-gospel-prayer

"Luke's Gospel includes some of the most memorable narratives in the entire New Testament: The Prodigal Son, the Lost Sheep, and The Good Samaritan." Luke focuses on marginalized people and highlights the role of women more than the Synoptics, that is, Mark, Matthew, and Luke. Most of us receive our Gospel narratives, from readings at Sunday Mass or daily mass. When we read the Gospel all the way through, start to end we can understand the sense not only of Jesus's life, but also of who Jesus was for the writer of this particular Gospel and the community he is writing for. So this month try to read Luke's Gospel and see where it leads you in prayer. The Gospel of Luke is called The Gospel of Prayer, because of all the many times it portrays Jesus.

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"Limosuine crash 'heartbreaking, gut-wrenching' for New York community" https://cnstopstories.com/2018/10/11/limousine-crash-heartbreaking-gut-wrenching-for-new-york-community/
Catholic funerals were held for many victims of the limousine crash in suburban New York recently in honor members of Albany Diocese. Amanda Halse, server at a restaurant a senior living community and her boyfriend, Gregory Reeves, who attended St. Mary's institute for elementary school. Along with him two other victims,  Shane McGowan and Erin Vertucci McGowan, also attended St. Mary's. The two were just recently married in St. Mary's church. The school paid tribute to their former students on October 9 and they will also soon be mentioned in a liturgy. "A funeral Mass was celebrated for eight of the victims Oct. 13 at St. Stanislaus Church in Amsterdam and for Cushing the same day at St. Mary’s Church, also in Amsterdam. The funeral Mass for the McGowans was being celebrated Oct. 15 also at St. Mary’s." A few words used to describe this tragedy a priest well known in their community are "overwhelming, heart-breaking, and gut-wrenching."

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"Catholic leaders welcome Pepfar reauthorization in Congress"

Source: Religious News Service, America Magazine, Catholic News Service
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/15/catholic-leaders-welcome-pepfar-reauthorization-congress

PEPFAR, or the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was recently reauthorized by Congress. PEPFAR has helped save millions of lives around the world and has prevented millions of new infections for fifteen years. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for Military Services and Sean Callahan, the president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, applauded the congressional committees and stated that PEPFAR ensures U.S. leadership in the campaign against HIV, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The U.S. Bishops' Overseas Relief and Development Agency has received funding under PEPFAR since 2004. The program supports services like providing free antiviral medicines, supporting families devastated by AIDS, and after-school programs for children whose parents died from the disease. Because of PEPFAR, the number of deaths each year caused by AIDS and other serious diseases has been reduced to one third since 2002 in the countries where the Global Fund invests. Hopefully, this re-authorization keeps the program in place for another five years.

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Why the Christian call to justice supersedes the legal order
As Americans, following the law has been burned into our brains since we were born. Although, scripture teachings show that it is possible to put aside the law perform acts with dignity and mercy. There are differences between laws and just laws. Some laws fail to keep in mind everyone they may be affecting. Unjust laws repress the human dignity of the citizens. We as Americans reduce law and justice to use the laws how we wish to. The impacts of slavery and segregation were lawful, but unjust. There are many other situations where laws are used as harmful ways to hurt others, but the scripture says we should go against those laws to live how God would want us to.

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Abiding by the law is a preeminent American value, yet a fixation with the letter of the law is often used to perpetuate injustice. Scripture says that law is important but also warns against a narrow focus on law at the expense of dignity or mercy. In one of his more scandalous moments, Jesus breaks religious law when he heals the sick on the Sabbath. According to Deuteronomy, the legal punishment for a woman caught in adultery was death. But Jesus intervenes on behalf of the woman caught in adultery. "She broke the law" was not all that mattered.

A just law is one that upholds human dignity and is directed at the common good. For St. Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, laws that fail to do so are unjust and improper. An unjust law is not binding upon Christian consciences. Movements for justice often invoke this basic Christian tradition challenging unjust laws and structures. During the violent and repressive military dictatorship in El Salvador, Oscar Romero urged members of the police and military to disobey unjust orders and stop the repression. Preaching days before his assassination, Romero reminded the faithful, "The law has to be at the service of human dignity and not focused on legal details that so often can trample people's honor." Any law that dehumanizes or violates human dignity is unjust.

In contrast, American culture often reduces law and justice so that colloquially legal and just are used interchangeably. This is perhaps most evident and dangerous with regard to immigration and racial justice. After a parish panel on immigration I sat on last year, an older man charged toward the table furious. "How dare you malign Martin Luther King Jr. and suggest he advocated breaking the law! He would never have broken the law," he insisted.

Conflating law and justice requires ignoring history. Slavery and segregation were legal but they were never just. In his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" King reminded his critics that "everything Hitler did in Germany was legal" and it was illegal to "aid and comfort" a Jewish person in Hitler's Germany. King broke unjust laws and organized others to do so as well. Civil disobedience as practiced by King exemplifies a deep respect for rule of law while refusing to idolize a particular legal system. Laws matter, but they must be just in both form and application.

King noticed the greatest opposition to dismantling unjust laws often comes from those "more devoted to order than to justice" and those who have a "shallow understanding" of the situation. Family histories of immigration are one example of how a shallow understanding by people of good will impedes justice and prioritizes the status quo over justice. Today's immigrants are pitted against earlier "good immigrants" who came the "right way" and followed the law.

In 1848 my ancestors Timothy and Margaret Clarke, newlyweds from Ireland, boarded a boat for the United States, fleeing poverty and famine. They are the quintessential example of "the right way" invoked in today's public debate. However, if my ancestors were subject to today's immigration laws, they would have died in Ireland or migrated illegally. Of the millions of Irish immigrants who arrived in the United States during the 19th century, 95 percent would be denied legal entry based upon today's laws.

Today individuals wait years, sometimes decades, in the legal process to join family members. For those fleeing violence, persecution, and poverty, there are no good options. Everyone agrees the current system is broken, yet political will to create a just system continues to elude the nation. As Christians, we are called to distinguish between what is legal and what is just, to challenge unjust laws, and to prioritize dignity over order.

This article also appears in the October 2018 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 83, No. 10, page 10).

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Why the Christian call to justice supersedes the legal order

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Abiding by the law is a preeminent American value, yet a fixation with the letter of the law is often used to perpetuate injustice. Scripture says that law is important but also warns against a narrow focus on law at the expense of dignity or mercy.

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Throughout Hurricane Michael Pensacola, Florida was hit with 13 deaths and up to one million people without power. The Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee originally focused on prayer to get through this difficult time, but eventually decided to move into action. To take action the diocese encouraged people through their website to donate items needed for victims and those whose lives were upended. They also encouraged money donations along with the other items survivors were in need of. With all of these other donations the Diocese was asking for they also continued to ask for prayers.

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PENSACOLA, Fla. (CNS) -- In the wake of Hurricane Michael, which left 13 known dead and more than 1 million without power two days after it ravaged the Florida panhandle, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, whose territory was smack in the path of the Category 4 storm, is moving from prayer to action.

The diocesan website still urged prayer for the hurricane's victims, quoting two verses form Psalm 107, and also encouraged people to donate much-needed items to those whose lives were upended by Michael.

In conjunction with Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, the diocese is accepting cash donations at https://bit.ly/1kRR0Er.

Goods urgently needed include water, tarps, nonperishable food items, cleaning supplies and gloves, pet supplies, and baby food and diapers. The diocesan pastoral center in Pensacola was accepting these items through Oct. 15, while St. Mary Church in Fort Walton Beach was conducting a weekend collection for those items Oct. 13-14.

"So many people have lost everything: homes, property and even their livelihood. The scenes of destruction are heart-wrenching, knowing that when we see a place where there once was a house, a family used to live there and are now homeless," Bishop William A. Wack of Pensacola-Tallahassee said in an Oct. 12 letter to the diocese.

"So many people have lost everything: homes, property and even their livelihood. The scenes of destruction are heart-wrenching," Bishop William A. Wack said.

He said the priests and employees of the diocese have been accounted for and "personal injury seems to have been kept to a minimum given the size of the storm." Some church buildings, parish halls, rectories, schools and other buildings may be a total loss, but the damage was still being assessed, he added.

Insurance will help with the rebuilding but it will be a long-term recovery project, Bishop Wack said. "But I know that we will come together and do what we need to pull through this."

He asked those who are able to donate supplies or funds to help with the recovery. In the meantime, the bishop said, the diocese was working hard to arrange temporary places to celebrate the upcoming weekend Masses to accommodate parishioners whose church buildings are lost or have been deemed unsafe. "Obviously, if it is not safe -- or possible -- to attend Mass on a Sunday, you are not obligated to go. Your safety is most important," Bishop Wack said.

Hurricane Michael retained hurricane-force winds up to 200 miles inland as it tore through Georgia before dumping heavy, windy rains onto North and South Carolina and part of southern Virginia before heading back out to the Atlantic Ocean.

Seven of the deaths were in Virginia, which Gov. Ralph Northam declared a disaster area before the storm hit. One firefighter died while on an emergency call, while the others had reportedly drowned.

Four deaths occurred in one Florida county, including a man who was killed when a tree crashed through his home. An 11-year-old Georgia girl was killed when the hurricane's high winds tore away a carport and sent it smashing into a modular home where the girl was visiting her grandparents.

An early estimate of losses from the hurricane was set at $4.5 billion by CoreLogic, based on the replacement cost of the houses and other building that would be in the storm's path. The company's numbers do not include flood damage.

Catholic Charities USA is a member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and is a "trusted source" by the Federal Emergency Management Administration, where people can make contributions. The homepage of its website, https://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org, has a link to make donations to assist hurricane victims.

It is the first time on record that a hurricane of this intensity had hit the Florida panhandle. Those who surveyed the damage to the towns in Michael's path said the destruction appeared to them to be more like that from a tornado, as building after building had been flattened.

While a Florida military base in the hurricane's trajectory was evacuated and its planes flown hundreds of miles away, prisoners were not evacuated, and many of the region's poor people found they had nowhere to go until it was too late to get out.

As the hurricane neared, the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese posted a prayer to St. Michael on its website.

The hurricane rose in intensity quickly before hitting landfall Oct. 10. Those who stayed behind may have expected Michael to remain a tropical depression. However, fueled by abnormally warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, it rose from a tropical depression to a Category 2 hurricane Oct. 9, before gaining Category 4 status early Oct. 10.

As the hurricane neared, the Pensacola-Tallahassee Diocese posted a prayer to St. Michael on its website.

"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil," the prayer says. "May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and you, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast down to hell Satan and the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."

In his Oct. 12 letter Bishop Wack told the faithful of his diocese: "Please know that you are in my prayers. I am asking that St. Michael the Archangel -- co-patron of our diocese -- intercede for us and help us in this critical time."

He added: "This is God's church and he will make it possible for us to continue to practice our faith, serve one another and serve him."

The Diocese of Venice, well south of the storm, had done likewise with a "Hurricane Prayer" that was first posted on the diocesan website, then which migrated to Twitter and retweeted.

"O God, master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude. You are still the Master of land and sea," the prayer begins.

"We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control: the Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land, and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season we turn to you, O loving Father," it says.

"Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, our beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son on our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem, where a stormless eternity awaits us. Amen."

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Florida diocese moves from prayer to action in wake of Hurricane Michael

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In the wake of Hurricane Michael, which left 13 known dead and more than 1 million without power two days after it ravaged the Florida panhandle, the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, whose territory was smack in the path of the Category 4 storm, is moving from prayer to action.

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https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/what-is-the-significance-of-mountains-in-the-bible
Busted Halo
By: Joe Paprocki
Did you know that mountains and hills are mentioned in the Bible more than 500 times? For being mentioned that much in the Scripture, the readers understand that they must have more meaning than just happening to be a nearby geographical feature. Before and even a little after Christ, people believed that the higher you were to the sky, the closer you were to God in heaven. What better place then a mountain to try to reach God? Many people in the Bible, including Moses, Noah, Jesus, and even God, have appeared on mountains. Instead of them just being tall hunks of rock and ground, they also act as symbols. For example, Mount Sinai is a symbol of God's covenant with Israel because that is where Moses received the ten commandments. Mount Sinai and many more mountains and hills within the Bible are geographical features which can help historians locate where events from within Scripture might have taken place, but they also act as symbols of the great deeds and acts which God has done for humanity.

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Faith changes, faith grows, faith never remains the same because every decision we make affects how we view our God. Although recently, events in the church have shook our faith in humanity, the Church, and God. Several people within the church have vocalized their disappointment in the church and in their faith, and resorted to considering leaving their faith. People are struggling with how to live with the church, their sins and others sins in order to remain faithful. All in all this article depicts the struggle that people go through in order to love both the church and God, and how people are considering walking away from their faith.
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201809/why-i-cant-blame-ones-who-walk-away-31509

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"Religions that do not pursue peace are a contradiction, Pope says"

Pope Francis has recently publicly declared that religions, although meant to build bridges, sometimes contradict themselves by doing the opposite and not pursuing peace. In a written letter to an annual gathering of religious and cultural leaders from all over the world, Pope Francis said, "Our differences, therefore, must not pit us one against the other; the heart of a true believer seeks to open paths of communion always and everywhere." A meeting called the "Bridges of Peace" was organized by the lay Community of Sant'Egidio in Rome. This meeting served as an opportunity to create connections and new ideas and to overcome conflicts and brutalities.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-chronicles/religions-do-not-pursue-peace-are-contradiction-pope-says

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The Highs, Lows and Distractions of the Vatican Synod on Young People
Cardinal Donald Wuerl had been under criticism for his management of clergy sexual abuse while he was bishop of Pittsburgh in the 1980s and 1990s. On October 12, the pope reluctantly accepted the resignation of Wuerl as archbishop of Washington, D.C. The Sex Abuse scandal is not officially the subject of the synod. The bishops acknowledge the poor handling of the crisis. The topics will be fully treated in Rome at the February meeting of the presidents of bishop's conferences. The people voting at the synod are all men, while women were chanting outside wanting to have a say. They chanted, "Knock, knock. Who's there? More than half the church."

https://religionnews.com/2018/10/12/the-highs-lows-and-distractions-of-the-vatican-synod-on-young-people/

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Bridgeport bishop says lifelong 'path of beauty' began with his parents

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/bridgeport-bishop-says-lifelong-path-of-beauty-began-with-his-parents-36369
Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut, is a delegate to the 2018 Synod of Bishops. He told CNA that his own youth was shaped by the lessons of his parents. He talked about his father and how he had a third-grade education. He didn't speak English very well, but his father always spoke about integrity and respect. Caggiano also talked about how his mother was a saint. He said beauty “was the engagement of the heart in faith. It was the piety. It was the gentility. It was-- the house itself-- you knew the seasons of the Church’s year in my house. It was the ritual. It was the traditions that we had. In my mind, all of that is wrapped up in beauty. The conveyance of meaning apart from that written word-- that’s beauty. And that was my mom.” During Caggiano's synod speech he talked about how beauty is an important way to evangelize young people who "wonder whether or not they are lovable or loved."

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Florida diocese moves from prayer to action in wake of Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Michael left 13 people dead and more than 1 million without power without power. The diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, which was the path where the storm hit is moving from praying to getting into action. They urge people to pray and to donate items to those whose lives were affected by hurricane Michael. The priests and employees of the diocese are working hard to come together and get supplies and funds for those who need it. The diocese is looking for places to have weekend Masses for those who still want to attend a mass. Most church buildings are lost or are really unsafe. The archdiocese posted a prayer to St. Michael on their website. "St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil," the prayer says. "May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and you, O prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast down to hell Satan and the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen." They encourage people to pray this for victims in this critical time.
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/15/florida-diocese-moves-prayer-action-wake-hurricane-michael

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El Salvador Celebrates his first saint, whose legacy continues
By David Agren for Catholic News Service
https://cnstopstories.com/2018/10/14/el-salvador-celebrates-its-first-saint-whose-legacy-continues/
During the Vatican session on October 14, very early in the morning in El Salvador, the population gathered outside the cathedral to watch the ceremony on a big screen. St. Romero was shot on March 24, 1980, while celebrating mass. He is well remembered for his work with the poor and promotion of peaceful lives. He is the first person from El Salvador to become a saint. Even though he is not alive anymore, he is still a venerated and respected leader of the church. His words are still quoted today. St. Romero was very prevalent when the country of El Salvador was about to go into a civil war during the 1980s. He was the archbishop of the capital, so he helped the poor and voiced people's requests.

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"What Is the Significance of Mountains in the Bible?"

Mountains appear more than 500 times in the Bible, from the Great Flood in Genesis to the Transfiguration of Jesus. Although they are common in the landscapes of the various stories, they also have a deeper meaning. Mountains symbolize closeness to God, and God often reveals himself on mountaintops. For instance, He gives Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and Jesus preaches the Beatitudes at the Sermon on the Mount. The mountains are also the setting for Jesus' temptation, many of His healings, and His Transfiguration. During the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah, who had also encountered God on a mountaintop, appear with Jesus.  Concluding this article was an interesting chart of the significant mountains in the Bible and their elevations. From highest to lowest, the mountains ranked as follows: Mount Ararat, Mount Sinai, the Mount of Olives, Mount Zion, Mount Tabor, Mount Carmel, and the mountain of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Mountains are not only a detail about a given Bible story's setting, but a symbol of God's presence and revelation.

Source: Busted Halo, Ministry Resources, Joe Paprocki
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/what-is-the-significance-of-mountains-in-the-bible

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October 14, 2018 at Cathedral Basilica St. Louis there is a Mass that celebrates medical professionals. it is called a "white mass" and it is to celebrate everything that doctors and nurses do for us. God reminds us to thank those who dedicate their lives to helping others and one occupation that does this without question is any occupation in medicine. This service will be led by Reverend Mark S. Rivituso. Mass will begin at 10:00 AM.

https://twitter.com/archstl/status/1050102898628198400

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The "Mass" Exodus
Exodus is a movement of people who leave Mass as soon as Communion is over. Like leaving a movie 10-15 minutes before it ends because you know there are credits coming. It's pointless. 40-70 minutes a week is a pretty small time commitment. So, if you are thinking about leaving mass after communion, what's the hurry? It's only 10 more minutes.

https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/the-mass-exodus

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This week, the South Korean president's office declared that they will give an invitation to the pope that invites him to visit North Korea. The  president of South Korea will be meeting the pope on October 18th at the Vatican. The night before the meeting, Cardinal Pietro Parolin will lead a Mass for peace on the Korean peninsula in the St. Peter's Basilica. Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea, will be attending the mass. The president's office has said that Kim Jong Un has said that himself and his country will offer a "fervent welcome" to the pope if he visits North Korea. President Moon wants the pope and Kim Jong Un to meet because he thinks it will bring peace to the Korean Peninsula.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/reports-president-will-pass-along-invitation-pope-visit-north-korea

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What will it take to redeem the soul of America?
As recent news has shown, the faith in America is going down. Many immigrants are still being separated from their families at the border. Children that are so young are traumatized after being taken away from their mothers. Many people are now angered by the presidents accepting of white immigrants over brown-skinned immigrants. This article tells us how racism deeply affects the soul. The lack of empathy for people of other races is growing very prevalent in America today. The negative view over others shows the failing values one may have. Having a "revolution in values" would be beneficial to those who still have prejudice towards other races. We should be able to discuss the issues and find a more efficient way to change the minds of those who still believe in racial superiority.

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This biblical wisdom comes to mind as I ponder the state of our nation. I write this reflection in the immediate aftermath of the policy of separating families at our nation's border with Mexico. Although that practice was subsequently changed in light of outrage and protest, the damage was already done and is likely to be profound. Such early childhood trauma is not reversed as easily as it is perpetrated. The psychic scars will be, without doubt, long lasting.

But the wounds to the families torn asunder are not the only injuries that need attention. We as a nation have been deeply wounded and traumatized as well. We are a country that has ripped families apart in the belief that brown-skinned refugees fleeing persecution and death are "infestations," in the words of our president.

I mention the color of these families deliberately, for it is no accident that white families have not been separated. Nor have immigrants from European countries "like Norway," to quote President Trump, been labeled as originating from countries of excrement.

Something catastrophic is happening in our country. These events at our border-and the vile, cruel, and racist rhetoric that lead to them-reveal a deep malady at the core of America. A coldness. A callousness. A soul-warping disease. For racism is a soul sickness.

There are many ways to understand racism, but at its deepest level, racism is a sickness, a profound warping of the human spirit that enables human beings to be indifferent to their darker sisters and brothers. In the words of one of my colleagues, "The real meaning of race comes down largely to this: Is this someone I should care about? "

Race in America has become a spiritual cataract that limits our vision and determines who is beyond the reach of our concern or interest. Racism today is revealed not only in verbal taunts and slurs, and not only in the scourge of killings of unarmed black men. Racism today is revealed in a lack of empathy and profound indifference, that is, the pervasive lack of concern and the social callousness of the majority of society to the horrors and scandals that are unfolding in our midst.

It is also revealed in the complicit cooperation of so many ordinary people who enable, enforce, carry out, or approve of manifestly unjust policies, or who by their silence allow such things to happen without comment.

The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. declared that his mission, and the goal of the civil rights movement, was "to redeem the soul of America." He was engaged in something far deeper than simply promoting changes in segregation laws or challenging social practices, as important as these strategies were. Such laws and practices were merely the external signs of a much deeper reality that needed to be addressed for the sake of social justice. The ultimate goal was the moral and spiritual transformation of the nation.

His insight was that communities as well as individuals have souls, deeply held values and beliefs that motivate their collective practices. He was convinced that without such deep soul work, without what he called a "revolution in values," the racism of the past would simply mutate and take different forms and expression.

King's perspective describes the urgent challenge before us in light of this past summer's events: Who are we as a nation? What do we really stand for? Will we have the courage to expose the demon of racism within and demand that we live according to another vision? Why do we fear those who are different? Our future as a nation depends upon our willingness to face-and answer-such questions. And upon the ability of our church's leaders to help us address them.

This article also appears in the September 2018 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. 83, No. 9, page 10).

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What will it take to redeem the soul of America?

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"Without a vision, the people perish" (Prov. 29:18). This biblical wisdom comes to mind as I ponder the state of our nation. I write this reflection in the immediate aftermath of the policy of separating families at our nation's border with Mexico.

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Pope Francis and the Youth
https://twitter.com/CatholicNewsSvc/status/1049503719966920705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Elist%3AEcclestonLinda%3Ain_the_know%7Ctwcon%5Etimelinechrome&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmoodle.visitationacademy.org%2Fcourse%2Fview.php%3Fid%3D407
Catholic News Service

On October 6, Pope Francis met with representatives for the youth of the Catholic Church and was surprised by their questions about living the beatitudes. In our Church right now, Pope Francis states how the church can be seen not following something they teach, which is very hypocritical. However, the Pope reinforces the fact that we as a church need to make living out the beatitudes in our lives a consistency. Pope Francis sees the rocky path of scandal which the church is falling down, and assures the youth that there is no excuse for what is occurring, but it is being fixed to the best of its abilities.

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Seasonal Effective Disorder

Currently, Oregon is majorly suffering from seasonal effective disorder. Many people are feeling gloomy and other are suffering clinical depression. They are feeling this way because of the weather changes and the shorter days.  Oregon emergency rooms report that there is a surge in mental health in fall and winter. "There are no magic potions, said Father Ray Carey, an Archdiocese of Portland priest and a clinical psychologist. “The regular anti-depression strategies make the most sense,” Father Carey said. “Plenty of exercise, good regular sleep, portion control at the table, and as much daylight as possible.”

https://catholicsentinel.org/Content/News/Local/Article/Shorter-days-gray-skies-can-pour-on-the-gloom/2/35/36480

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Can the Catholic church be bought and sold?

The power and influence that money has is unimaginable, but is it really that unimaginable that the church can be bought and sold to save their reputation? A mist sexual misconduct allegations floating around the church, the church has been debating weather or not to pay back the victims for the emotional and physical scars left behind.  This has caused much uproar in the church because critical sources see this as the church paying off their debts in order to restore their name. What is your opinion?
https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/distinctly-catholic/lay-led-reform-raises-question-can-catholic-church-be-bought

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Harassment at a Pro-Life march
At a Toronto Pro-Life march, a man was harassing Pro-Life marchers and kicked a particular girl for having the opinion that they do. The girl kicked in the shoulder was Marie-Claire Bissonnette. This particular woman and the man, Jordan Hunt, had a brief encounter and a disagreement over Pro-Choice vs Pro-Life and a specific situation pertaining to the debate. No matter your opinion, physical violence is never appropriate in voicing it. Jordan Hunt had been arrested before for assault at another Pro-Life march in August. He was also fired from his job for assault. Basically no one should be violent in voicing their opinion no matter what you believe or how strong this belief is.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/canadian-man-arrested-after-roundhouse-kicking-female-pro-life-demonstrator-17540

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"On Writing Odes: Taking Time to Celebrate"

With bad news constantly flooding our news streams and daily lives, it can be very beneficial to take the time to appreciate the good things in life. One way to do this is through an ode. An ode is “a formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and often celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea." According to Tania Runyan, the author of this article, writing odes can be a freeing form of self-expression and a easy way to celebrate the good things in life.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/goodletters/2018/10/on-writing-odes-taking-time-to-celebrate/ utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_ campaign=FBCPCAT&utm_ content=October2018

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Mercy, love can heal wounded marriages, pope says
Gods wants couples to live their lives together faithfully says Pope Francis. The Pope reflected on a Sunday Gospel reading from St. Mark where a Pharisee tests Jesus by asking it is okay for a husband to divorce his wife. Jesus replied " What God has joined together, no human being must separate". Marriage is a union between man and woman and it implies fidelity. The Pope says that when we see couples in troubled marriages, we are called to be present with love, charity, and mercy. We need to help lead these wounded and lost heart back to God.
https://cnstopstories.com/2018/10/08/mercy-love-can-heal-wounded-marriages-pope-says/

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Cadinal Ouellet: Vigano in 'open and scandalous rebellion' against Pope Francis
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-ouellet-vigano-in-open-and-scandalous-rebellion-against-pope-francis-53755
The Vatican's prefect for the Congregation for Bishops released a letter Sunday morning refuting charges Pope Francis lifted sanctions against former cardinal Theodore McCarrick, and saying that charges made by a former Vatican ambassador are an "unjustified attack" on the pope "cannot come from the Spirit of God." The letter, released by the Vatican press office, was written in response to two letters from Vigano, the former Vatican ambassador to the US, which charged that the Vatican had ignored reports from him and others about sexual immorality on the part of McCarrick for several years, until Pope Benedict XVI imposed "sanctions on McCarrick's minitry in 2009 or 2010. Vigano alleged that Pope Francis lifted the restrictions on McCarrick's ministry after his election to the papacy, and that McCarrick became an adviser to the pope. He then called for the pope to resign.

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New York Priest Wrote Notre Dame's Famed 'Victory March' Fight Song
Father Sean Connolly for Catholic New York
http://www.cny.org/stories/new-york-priest-wrote-notre-dames-famed-victory-march-fight-song,17923

The University of Notre Dame is well known for its palpable Catholic culture. It also has arguably one of the best fight songs of all time. It was written by Father Michael J. Shea of the Archdiocese of New York. He wrote it, along with his brother, John, in an attempt to create a better fight song than that of Notre Dame's rival, the University of Michigan. It debuted in a Protestant church in the brothers' hometown. It first made it publicly to Notre Dame's campus on Easter Sunday morning in 1909 in the famed Golden Dome. John Shea returned to his Massachusetts home town to work as a state senator before passing in 1965. Michael taught at Notre Dame for five years before studing and joining priesthood.

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"A new kindergarten breathes life into a devastated Iraq community"
Source: Religious News Service, America Magazine, Kevin Clarke
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/04/new-kindergarten-breathes-life-devastated-iraq-community

On August 7th, 2014, ISIS stormed the Christian city of Qaraqosh, Iraq. They destroyed homes, stores, churches, and much more. Luckily, about 200,000 families across the Nineveh Plains were able to escape either on foot or by cars and trucks. Most families fled to the north or went to Europe, the United States, or Australia. However, after 3 years of ISIS members' squatting in the city's abandoned houses, Qaraqosh has finally started to rebuild. Finally rid of ISIS in their city, many Qaraqosh citizens have come back and have been trying to return to daily life. However, not all Qaraqosh citizens will return in fear that ISIS will come again. Nevertheless, today, many shops, homes, and restaurants have been restored, as well as a new kindergarten. This kindergarten is sponsored by the Jesuit Refugee Service and is located by a low-income family apartment complex, which is supported by the Syriac Catholic Church. The city of Qaraqosh is 17 months in to their two-year plan of the city's restoration. However, Father George Jahola of the Church Supreme Board for the Reconstruction of Baghdeda worries that the city will not continue to progress without the needed funding.

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"Doctor who recites Bible and Quran verses before surgery wins UN award for aiding refugees"
On October 1, Dr. Evan Atar Adaha was awarded the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 2018 Nansen Award in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Atar is a surgeon at the Maban Referral Hospital in South Sudan's Upper Nile State. As a Roman Catholic himself, he knows the importance of faith. Before every surgery he performs, he recites verses either from the Quran or Bible and offers a short prayer according to the patient's faith. He feels that we are "all one family" and it is his duty to provide medical service to the people fleeing from war and persecution in Sudan and South Sudan, where he was originally from. Over the years, Atar has faced endless struggles in his work. Originally, he had opened a health center in the Blue Nile State, but was forced to relocate because of violence from the civil war. He fled to Maban, where his hospital is today. With the help of the UNHCR and Samaritan's Purse, the hospital has been able to grow.  However, Atar still faces many problems. He lacks the equipment and personnel he needs, and looting and kidnapping are common.  His recent award, however, presented him with $150,000 to put towards his project.  Hopefully, with this help, he will be able to strengthen his organization, providing healthcare for even more people.

Source: Religious News Service, Fredrick Nzwili
https://religionnews.com/2018/10/05/franklin-graham/

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Sr. Yudith Pereira works with the religious Jesus and Mary has been working in Rome and villages throughout South Sudan. She is a project manager for the initiative Solidarity of South Sudan and helps run programs that include different projects in education, health training, and pastoral initiatives. After South Sudan split from Sudan in 2011 thousands of people have been displaced, and famine has been declared. All responding bishops were called to support the country's churches, and luckily Sr. Yudith Pereira is helping with the pastoral initiatives.

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Religious of Jesus and Mary Sr. Yudith Pereira interacts with some children on a visit to South Sudan. (Provided photo)

The work of Religious of Jesus and Mary Sr. Yudith Pereira has taken her from her native Madrid to an office in Rome and villages throughout South Sudan. As project manager of the initiative Solidarity with South Sudan, Pereira helps run the program that includes projects in education, health training and pastoral initiatives.

Since South Sudan's founding after its split from Sudan in 2011, traces of civil war still devastate this new country: Child soldiers are recruited, millions are displaced, and famine has been declared. Roughly 100,000 people face starvation in South Sudan, according to the United Nations, making it the world's first famine in six years.

It is in this chaos that Solidarity has stepped in with health and educational programs.

Throughout Yambio, Malakal, Rumbek, Agok and other locations in South Sudan, Solidarity runs English-language courses for teachers, most of whom only have a few years of primary education under their belts, as well as college training courses. The group also manages and runs the Catholic Health Training Institute on behalf of the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference, with its students going through clinical placement in hospitals and health delivery clinical settings.

And, responding to the bishops' call for support in regard to the country's churches, the program also helps form pastoral leaders and host peacebuilding workshops.

As the assistant executive director of Solidarity with South Sudan, Pereira - who works in the Rome headquarters - has a background in agricultural engineering, specialized in rural development and building.

She spoke with Global Sisters Report about her daily work, the country's needs and her spirituality in the face of suffering.
Tell me about when you felt called to religious life.
I lived a normal life, studying in school and thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. My family was Catholic, so that always played a big role in my life - the concepts of service, volunteering, going on retreats. So volunteering was always very important to me; it was never an empty gesture.

I had a boyfriend, but even then I knew it was important to pay attention to what God was telling me. I was at a Jesuit retreat when it just popped into my head, and I thought, 'No, no, no. I already know what my life will look like and what I want to do.' But in the end, I had to consider it simply because I was restless ever since the idea popped up.

So I thought, 'OK, I'll give it a try, and if I don't like it, I can at least say I tried and get it out of my head.' But at 18, I discovered that this really was God speaking to me and that the call could lead to a very happy, purpose-filled life, stronger than any other path I could have chosen.

Quite simple in retrospect, but it was a challenge at the time. My family didn't agree with the decision - they said I was too young, I didn't have a college education yet, I needed to be more financially established, etc. But I was so incredibly happy to have discovered this path, so I said, 'I'm doing it anyway.' Now that I have nieces around that age, I realize how young I was to make such a decision.

Pereira, left, attended the CLAR conference in Panama City, March 13-15, to showcase Solidarity with South Sudan's work. (GSR photo / Soli Salgado)
Describe your daily work.
It's in two parts: one is in my office in Rome, where I network with foundations or network with persons who are interested in helping us. We have sisters in Rome, for example, who are interested in our project in South Sudan and want to go, so I help facilitate the process that decides who can go and work there. I also do a lot of administrative work with charities that help fund our work, I supervise fundraising. That's the kind of stuff I do remotely.

But I also go to South Sudan about twice a year. I visit with communities, see how the projects are doing, meet with directors, and stay updated with how they're doing and what they want to accomplish.
What do the women religious do in South Sudan?
There are both women and men religious, actually, and their projects are integrated, too, which might surprise some. In the beginning, this was an answer to calls from bishops, and general superiors considered how they could respond. They thought about a school or hospital, though they realized it would be very demanding to work on formation for teachers, as there were none in the area, as well as nurses.

The bishops were also asking that we provide formation for catechesis, missionaries that could carry on our work once we've left, and, because of the civil unrest, hold workshops regarding peacebuilding, reconciliation and trauma treatment. The same religious who work with the locals experience trauma, so it's also meant for lay leaders and clergy.
Why South Sudan?
When bishops had asked for missionary work in South Sudan, it still wasn't a country, but the people were still about to be expelled from the north to the south. So people would arrive in the south without anything, and a whole population was left in need. That's where the church stepped in to help.

Religious of Jesus and Mary Sr. Yudith Pereira. (Provided photo)
What are some challenges in South Sudan?
First and foremost, peace, peace and political stability, of which there is none. With 2 million people displaced, 90 percent living in poverty, hunger - it's hard to live that way. We need to help them create an identity for themselves: that they learn their history, their stories of revenge, their tribal mentality, and for the leaders of their villages to generate confidence among their people, that their villages are important and different. We also need to help form individuals to become leaders and take on tomorrow. It's a young country, with close to 70 percent of the population being younger than 15. There's no shortage of challenges.
What have you learned about yourself since you began this work?
I would say 'mission' in place of 'work.' Though I work in an office, it really is a mission.

In the face of so much suffering and misery, at first, it was hard for me to understand salvation. Why are so many people suffering? I remember the first days of my first trip, when I went to Malakal, a city with extreme poverty, and thinking how there is a sea of people who need help, and we are just a drop. I thought of the words of Oscar Romero, as we celebrated, I think, the 30th anniversary of his death: that pain and suffering of one people is the salvation of another. It's a mystery, but I try to understand it and recognize it.

I've learned firsthand that working together gets results. To live that, to see congregations mix, nationalities mix, all toward the same goals and a common mission - to see unity working in the flesh is a unique and moving experience.
How do you see the Holy Spirit in your mission?
I think the entire project is because of the Holy Spirit. Without it, there would be nothing. Those who collaborate are willing to give up money and time and being with their loved ones for this, but what they receive in exchange is grace, and that's the Holy Spirit. With the pope we have, I've learned that the Holy Spirit is an example of how we can work together, leaving the walls of our institutions and live out our religious life creatively, and I think it's an example of hope. Many sects of religious life dream about doing different things together, not alone. And I think the Spirit is what inspires that path and unity.

[Soli Salgado is a staff writer for Global Sisters Report. Her email address is ssalgado@ncronline.org. Follow her on Twitter @soli_salgado.]

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Q & A with Sr. Yudith Pereira, bringing health care, education and peacebuilding to South Sudan

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The work of Religious of Jesus and Mary Sr. Yudith Pereira has taken her from her native Madrid to an office in Rome and villages throughout South Sudan. As project manager of the initiative Solidarity with South Sudan, Pereira helps run the program that includes projects in education, health training and pastoral initiatives.

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The people in the Carolina's are still being affected by the hurricane that recently hit them and 27 parishes in the Raleigh Diocese have been damaged. Some churches can't resume Mass for a while. Local Catholic Charities are all helping as much as they can. The priests are praying every day for people who were infected by the hurricane. We should all help by praying for the people who were effected and that they are safe.
https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Article/TabId/535/ArtMID/13567/ArticleID/26728/North-Carolina-parishes-still-coping-with-Florence-waters-.aspx

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https://www.ncronline.org/news/accountability/catholics-believe-god-dont-believe-us-archbishop-wenski-says

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https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/judge-rules-lawsuit-against-faith-based-adoption-agencies-can-continue-91785

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The Bishop of Italy offered to care for 140 immigrants when the government didn't. Parishes around the area will be housing and caring for them. This has been a problem for the past 5 years. Although the church is involved in some politics it decided to care for the people and not worry about the government side of things. Most of the immigrants rescued where young men fleeing  Eritrea.

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Recently Pope Francis responded to the Pennsylvania grand jury report saying how the sexual abuse of 1,000 children was shameful. After 70 years of the Church not acknowledging the sexual abuse. The Pope  released the first ever statement from the Vatican that directly addresses the problem instead of generalizing it. Many believe that change is coming because of the actions being put into place.

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Princess Alexandra of Hanover removed from the line of succession

Princess Alexandra of Hanover, who’s a member of the royal family of Monaco, has been removed from the British line of succession after converting to Catholicism. The British monarch is the head of the Church of England (Anglican faith). Because of this rule that the head of the church must be Anglican, Catholics are obviously not allowed to obtain the throne. Catholics have been banned from the British throne since the Act of Settlement in 1701.
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/monegasque-princess-removed-from-british-line-of-succession-for-becoming-catholic-84839

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Pope Francis said that the Catholic Church must reach out to couples living together without being married. Most of the pope's prepared remarks focused on the importance of improving marriage preparation programs. This includes basic catechesis about the church, the sacraments, salvation and God's design for humanity. Marriage preparation cannot consist only of a few meetings, the pope said. Marriage preparation and ministry to couples, he said, "is a vast, complex and delicate apostolic field in which it is necessary to dedicate energy and enthusiasm with an intent to promote the Gospel of the family and of life."

https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-chronicles/reach-out-unmarried-couples-support-newlyweds-pope-urges

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Catholic agencies aid victims of Indonesia earthquake, tsunami

Catholic aid agencies were helping many victims of the earthquake tsunami that hit the island of Sulawesi. These natural disasters killed about 800 people and they expect the death toll to rise. Yenni Suryani, who is the country manager for the Catholic relief Services, said that is hard to help the victims because the airport, roads, and phone towers are damaged. The Catholic aid agencies are helping the people of Sulawesi and the parishes and churches that were destroyed. Pope Francis said a prayer for the victims and the deceased on September 30.
https://www.catholicregister.org/home/international/item/28116-catholic-agencies-aid-victims-of-indonesia-earthquake-tsunami

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"Little Women": What Louisa May Alcott's classic can teach us about female empowerment
https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/09/28/little-women-what-louisa-may-alcotts-classic-can-teach-us-about-female
America: The Jesuit Review
Elizabeth Grace Matthew

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a classic for a reason: it puts women into a different role than they usually had during the time period. Whereas most other books had women portray a subservient housewife or a damsel in distress, this novel portrays women solving their own problems and thinking for themselves. The novel manages to empower the women while also keeping religious cores in the story, something else that hadn't really been done. Alcott's novel  gives women a voice and a spirit without stripping them of their spirituality. Little Women also addresses courting without forcing the leading ladies to downplay themselves to earn a man's favor. The book also talks about the beauty of a good marriage because in a healthy relationship, both people can learn and grow together. Motherhood is also a topic covered in the novel. Motherhood is a gift and teaches women how to nurture and care, as well as remain stern and firm when need be. Little Women timelessly addresses many controversial issues today and empowers women while doing so.

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The Examen with Fr. James Martin, S.J: When you can't explain prayer

St. Ignatius Loyola was the founder of the Jesuits and he often had a hard time describing what happened in his prayers. In his prayer journal, he described prayer as "an experiencing that cannot be explained. St. Ignatius also described it as "a wonderful depth of reverence that I find impossible to explain." There are many experiences that can happen during prayer when you close you eyes and go through the emotions, memories, desires, feelings, and words and images, it is hard to describe what happens on the inside. That's ok you don't need to be able to describe what happens when you pray and just because you can't explain it doesn't mean that it's not real.

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2018/10/01/examen-fr-james-martin-sj-when-you-cant-explain-prayer

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Yes, democratic socialism is compatible with Catholic social teaching

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/10/01/yes-democratic-socialism-compatible-catholic-social-teaching
With many new faces running for political positions, this article tackles the topic of democratic socialism and if it can in fact be compatible with Catholic teachings. In short, yes it can, but many reasons were given to justify this simple answer. The Catholic church says that four criteria must be met in order for ideas stated politically to correlate with Catholic teachings. These four questions would be; people over markets, people over labor, people over profit, and subsidiarity. The pope spoke on the market saying it must be for the good of the people, and the market is made allow humanity and its work to flourish and serve others. As for labor, we must show respect to all classes. Success is not defined by money, it is defined by hard work and what is being done to better serve God. This also correlates with people over profit. Low-wage earners deserve just as much respect and dignity as high-wage earners do.  the first papal encyclical of Catholic social teaching in 1891 requested protection of workers, so that they are not victimized by persons working above such as their boss. Subsidiarity means that the needs of the people should be met by the government when feasible. This article says that democratic socialists have their eyes on the bigger picture and may sometimes dismiss the little problems.