With the coming of a new year, it is common to look for ways to improve ourselves. While this is great, it’s also important to look for ways to improve the lives of others. In this article, Elizabeth Manneh discusses seven ways to achieve this. Firstly, she says we should be observant, and look for people who are lonely or could benefit from kind gestures. The second way she suggested is to carry yourself with kindness, meaning having a positive attitude and treat everyone with respect. Next, she says we should give our time. This could come in the form of spending time with a friend who you know is struggling, or volunteering to help total strangers for a charity. The fourth way she suggests is to check in with people periodically to let them know you care about them. Another way is to open your home by letting people know that there’s somewhere they can go to find company. Next, she says we should work at putting out skills to good use. We all have talents that we can use to help others. Lastly, she emphasizes the meaning of a handwritten letter or card. Many people will appreciate the time and effort you put into making it. Overall, Manneh shows that simple actions can have large impacts on people, and we can use them to make a difference in someone’s live this year.

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
 

Who were they? What did they do? Were there really three Magi? 

If one were to look for the answers of these questions several of the answers are vague and vary from gospel to gospel. Although the Magi were likely astrologers who came from east of the holy land it is unknown exactly how many of them there were. Mathews Gospel, as well as the New Testament never specifically states that there were three kings. It is commonly assumed that there were three due to the three gifts bestowed onto Christ during his birth, but according to Eastern (Orthodox) Church there are around 12 Magi. These Magi are only referenced in the Revised Standard Version of Matthew as being the “wise men from the East.” As for the precise answer of how many Magi there were, we may never know. 

https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/what-are-magi-anyway

Especially in a culture that places so much emphasis on physical appearance, it can be difficult to appreciate and accept our own insecurities. However, the Bible tells us that we are perfect the way we are. In John 8:23, Jesus tells us that we do not belong to this world. Our human bodies are only temporary, so we should not be hyper-critical of every flaw and imperfection. Psalm 139 tells us that we are wonderfully made. We are all made by and in the image of God, so how can we be any less than perfect? In 2 Corinthians, we are discouraged from focusing too much on our physical ourselves, but centering our thoughts on improving our inner selves because, as we can read in 1 Samuel, God does not see us as mortals do.  He looks into our hearts.  Our bodies are the temples of God, and we all have the Holy Spirit, making us infinitely more valuable than we could ever understand.  We need to accept our insecurities while taking care of our bodies, living a life worthy of the gifts God has bestowed upon us.

Source: Busted Halo, Molly Lauryssens
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/bible-tells-us-body-positive

Source: America Magazine, Religious News Service, Nomaan Merchant -- Associated Press
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/01/11/trump-visits-border-texas-landowners-prepare-wall-fight

The federal government has announced plans to start construction of Trump's wall next month along the Texas--Mexico border. The Rio Grande Valley is one of the busiest areas for illegal border crossings, and the region has become a top priority for the Department of Homeland Security. The government's plans consist of cutting across private land in the Rio Grande Valley, including a 19th century chapel. Late last year, the government sued the Roman Catholic diocese because the chapel would not let U.S. Customs and Border Protection build their "enforcement zone." The diocese responded that the barrier violates Catholic teachings and that it is the church's responsibility to protect migrants. Additionally, many Texan property owners have already hired lawyers to fight the government as they refuse to give up their land. 

Busted Halo

Ann Naffziger

 

There is no evidence in the gospel that the magi were kings, but the tradition may have evolved because Psalm 72 refers to kings rendering tribute and homage to Israel's king. The New Testament also does not state that there were three of them, but the number probably came because of the three gifts that were offered. The term magi originally referred to a group of Persian priests that acted as astrologers, looking to the stars as guides. We don't know their exact place of origin, except that it was east of the Holy Land. The gifts of aromatic gum resins that they brought suggest Arabia or the Syrian Desert as a possible place of origin. 

America: the Jesuit Review

J.D. Long-García

 

Trump argues that undocumented immigrants are a strain on public resources and will drive down jobs and wages. He said that illegal border crossers use children as pawns and noted that a third of women are assaulted on their way through Mexico to the border. Although the number of illegal border crossings have already been going down since 2000, Trump still insists on building the wall. Although Trump mentioned many ways that illegal immigrants are doing wrong, he failed to mention the number of many American families peacefully asking for asylum. This will not be solved by a border wall. The families that ask for asylum usually have to wait an average of 14 to 16 days to be heard by Customs and Border Protection officials. During the time, the families are vulnerable to those that prey on migrants. Some families are kidnapped and held for ransom, robbed, or assaulted. Trump also cited a number of violent crimes in the US involving undocumented immigrants. A California police officer was killed the day after Christmas during a routine traffic stop. A contractor with the Air Force was brutally raped and killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2015. Yet, most crimes in the states are committed by US citizens. In fact, a study by the Cato Institute found that undocumented immigrants were 25% less likely to commit murder than those born in the United States. Trump cannot pull one or two examples and generalize it for the whole population. Their only "crime" is being undocumented.  

Women served as deacons in Europe for about a millennium in a variety of ministerial and sacramental roles, "They anointed ill women; they brought communion to ill women,” said Ms. Zagano. They also participated in baptism, served as treasurers and, in at least one case, participated in an annulment.

A Catholic healthcare network has settled an ACLU lawsuit over transgender surgeries, saying that it has covered these procedures in its employee medical plan since January 2017.  Plaintiffs in the lawsuit said they want Catholic employers to cover minors' transition surgeries as well, though a leading Catholic ethicist says Catholic institutions can't ethically provide these health plan options for anyone. Some say such coverage falls short on Catholic ethical grounds and the medical evidence for the benefits of these surgeries is lacking. In October 2017, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington filed a federal lawsuit against PeaceHealth on behalf of an employee claiming it was "discriminatory and illegal" for the medical plan not to cover a mastectomy and chest reconstruction for a 16-year-old child who identifies as transgender.

America: The Jesuit Review

James Martin, S.J.

 

The Gospels say that John the Baptist was preaching of a baptism for repentance for sins, but Jesus didn't have anything to repent of. The baptism of Jesus is definitely a historical event; Gospel writers would have never invented a story that had Jesus seeming like he needed baptism or putting him in any sort of subordinate position to John, so New Testament scholars say that it is 100% a historical event. A possible explanation of Jesus's baptism could be that he was doing it as a sign that he was on board with John's larger mission. He wanted to take his place with the rest of the Jewish people following John. It was a radical act of humility on Jesus's part. 

Oftentimes, we see going to Mass on Sunday as someth

On January 18^th 2019 a group of teenage boys from Covington Kentucky were given the spotlight. Headlined on national news sources all over the country, these boys were portrayed in a light that could potentially ruin any hope they had for a future. It is unclear what party was in the wrong as several videos have surfaced surrounding the behavior of the boys and weather or not they were provoked by a group of natives during the indigenous people parade. Condemnations from all groups of people come almost 24/7, but opinions have begun to change now that a full view of what happened during the situation has been released. Nick Sandmann recently released a statement fogging the opinions of many on weather or not his intentions were to harm a group of indigenous people or to merely stand his ground in a tense situation. 

People are completely outraged by the slow moving cases against abuse from priests in the church. Torres, an attorney who has served on the Brooklyn Review Board, compared abuse of a child to murder. "When a child is abused by someone they trust … you have mortally wounded the soul and spirit of that child," he said in his presentation. "That is particularly true when the abuser is a priest." He pointed out that survivors are not the bishops' adversaries. "We are your children," he said. "We bear the shame of a crime to which our only contributions were trust, faith and innocence," he said. To Torres, the delay "feels like politics overriding faith," he told NCR. "And we can't have that anymore. The line between good and evil, between right and wrong, is very clear.  When we push politics, we lose track of that."

Recently an article came out that talked about what the pope said when Martin Luther King Jr. died. Martin Luther King Jr. was and still one of the most famous civil rights activist during the civil rights movement. He was fatally shot outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He is still known today for his many great works and inspiring speeches. However, before he was an activist, he was a pastor and was very involved in the church. One day after he was killed, Pope Paul VI came out and said he was “a Christian prophet for racial integration.” Many catholic leaders shared their remorse and informed everyone that they should listen to his words and keep acting with the virtues in mind.

According to author Brian Harper, one of the easiest and most effective ways to evangelize and spread the Good News of Jesus is to lead with a good example. People should know we are Catholic just by our kind actions and good service. We  can embody the Catholic faith by following the actions of Jesus and the saints, and become role models ourselves for people around us. With the right attitude, we can truly live Jesus and spread his Good News every day.
https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/young-voices/evangelizing-example

Busted Halo

Neela Kale

 

St. Paul is called an Apostle, even though he wasn't one of the 12 that Jesus picked. The word apostle comes from a Greek word that means sent ones. Although Jesus specifically picked 12 of his follows to symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel, these 12 were not the only men sent by Jesus. Before the ascension, all disciples were sent forth by Jesus to proclaim salvation to the ends of the Earth. Paul, though not one of Jesus's original companions, considered himself an Apostle sent by Christ. Even though the Church reserved the title Apostle for the 12, Paul was such a pivotal figure in the spread of the gospel that the Church applied the title to him as "the Apostle to the Gentiles."

At a southern Philippine Island, people gathered for a regular Sunday mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. All of the sudden, a bomb went off inside the mass. Police were notified and on their way when another bomb went off outside of the compound. This is obviously a rare terror, but for this Cathedral, bombs have hit it in the past. Islamic state is claiming responsibility. 27 people died, and there are 77 others that are wounded, and prayers are greatly appreciated.

Source: National Catholic Reporter, Religious News Service, Heidi Schlumpf
https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/bishop-stowe-criticizes-trump-urges-broader-pro-life-agenda

Bishop John E. Stowe of Lexington, KY, challenges the narrow view of what it means to be "pro-life." He believes that "Pro-life is about the dignity and reverence for the human person" and that "our reverence for life cannot be limited to life in the womb." Therefore, Bishop Stowe considers President Donald Trump not to be pro-life due to his lack of consistency on issues like racism, immigration, and the environment. Bishop Stowe even commented on the incident with the Covington Catholic High School students at the March for Life, saying that he was "ashamed," for their actions did not coincide with Catholic teachings on dignity and reverence for each person. Bishop Stowe is concerned that the annual March for Life has become too aligned with the Republican Party and the Trump administration.

America: The Jesuit Review

JD Long-Garcia

 

Catholics throughout Mexico come to church this Saturday with a statue of the child Jesus for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or Candlemas. It is celebrated 40 days after Christmas to commemorate the day Mary and Joseph presented the Lord in the temple. In addition to a statue of the child Jesus, some Catholics also bring a statue of the Blessed Mother Mary and pray the rosary. It is also traditional to serve tamales at the celebration of the holiday. On Christmas, the family eats a king cake with a baby Jesus baked inside. Whoever gets the piece with baby Jesus is responsible for making the tamales on February 2. In larger communities, cakes have more than one Jesus figure in the cake so there are multiple hands helping to prepare the tamales. The celebration is called "Candlemas" because the true candle, the true light, is Jesus. They also celebrate the mystery of Mary as the carrier of the light. The holiday also serves as a way to close out the Christmas season.

On February 28, 2014, violence and destruction filled the night in Shuwa, Nigeria. A hospital that the Augustinian Sisters of the Mercy of Jesus congregation had managed for the past 3 decades had been destroyed, and 40 sisters were now homeless. Boko Haram insurgents broke into the hospital after killing stationed security guards and set it afire while throwing grenades and shooting their rifles, trapping two sisters inside. Although all the sisters managed to survive, they had no where to go. A bishop helped to give them shelter and to continue their mission while the violence continued in Shuwa, the insurgents even returning to the hospital to burn the surviving buildings and make sure the sisters hadn't come back to rebuild. Northeastern Nigeria suffered from lack of healthcare, so the sisters' hospital was very much needed back in Shuwa. Despite the people's desperate need for a hospital, the sisters know they can't rebuild their hospital there yet because it would put them in immediate danger and the hospital would most likely get destroyed again. Therefore, they are rebuilding their hospital in Idah, and plan to return to Shuwa when it is safe to do so. In the meantime, they will continue to serve God and carry out their mission in Idah.
https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/after-violence-forced-them-flee-nigerian-sisters-rebuild-ministry-anew-55823

The topic pro-life has become an ever growing concern. A Kentucky bishop stands by his criticism of some abortion activists' support of President Donald Trump, whom he considers "not pro-life" because of a lack of consistency on life issues such as racism, immigration and the environment. In a Jan. 23 Stowe said Trump hats — such as the MAGA (Make America Great Again) ones worn by Covington Catholic High School students — are not pro-life, since they imply support for a president "who denigrates the lives of immigrants, refugees and people from countries that [Trump] describes with indecent words and haphazardly endangers with life-threatening policies." "Pro-life is about the dignity and reverence for the human person," Stowe told NCR, citing Francis' directive to "reach out to those in the margins." That includes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people for Stowe, who sees LGBT people in the church as "certainly marginalized."

https://cruxnow.com/pope-in-uae/2019/02/04/pope-opens-first-ever-trip-to-arabian-peninsula-touting-dialogue-and-peace/

As Francis was headed to the airport, the pontiff’s Twitter account shared a message to his more than 40 million followers saying that he’s visiting the country as a “brother, in order to write a page of dialogue together, and to travel paths of peace together. Pray for me!” Residents of UAE may feel those prayers got an early answer on Sunday, as the pontiff’s arrival brought rain. While that might be considered an annoyance many places, it was seen as a blessing here, where desert conditions and years of drought make fresh water a precious commodity. Knowing that Francis and Prince Nahyan are friends. 

National Catholic Reporter

Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service

 

Pope Francis claimed that a life lived selfishly, corruptly, or filled with hate is a life that is useless, shrivels up, and dies. Life has meaning and value only in giving it in love, in truth, in giving it to others in daily life, in the family. Jesus said that "there has been none greater than John the Baptist" but John knew that the one to follow was Jesus, not himself. The people responsible for John the Baptist's death were either tricked or inspired by the devil in the form of hatred. Hatred is capable of everything. It corrupts and is very hard to escape. If people live only for themselves and to keep their own life safe, then life dies, life withers away, it is useless. We must all remember to be selfless like John the Baptist and let our own selfishness fade away to make room for the love of Christ. 

Prayer may not always lead us to the desire outcome, leaving us to wonder: does God listen to, or even hear, our prayers? The first step to tackling this question is to define prayer. Prayer is a gift from God which we use with humility to express our covenant relationship and honor our communion and unity with him. In some cases, the effects of these prayers are apparent, namely through miracles. However, we do not know God's heart. All we know is that when we pray, we open ourselves up to God completely, and in doing so, we may find that God is not changing his mind, but instead our hearts.  Therefore, the more we pray, the deeper our relationship with God becomes, making us better people more open to grace and love.  So, even if God does not seem to respond to every request we voice, the benefits of prayer are boundless and should be taken advantage of.

Source: Busted Halo, Fr. Steven Bell
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/summer-school-2013-june-12

Source: Patheos, Catholic News Service, Jack Hartjes
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/lostinaoneacrewood/2019/02/08/shrinking-glaciers-sotu-omission-church-expertise/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBCP-CAT&utm_content=February2019

Pope Francis insists that climate change is a scientific, moral, and even theological issue that needs to be tackled. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences (located in Vatican City) has done extensive studies on the shrinking of glaciers, which is harming the planet and people's lives. Billions of people depend on glaciers, whether it be for farming or drinking water. Philippus Wester, Chief Scientist of Water Resources Management at ICIMOD, says that the melting glaciers will increase river flow from 2050 to 2060 with water overrunning their banks and engulfing communities. However, after 2060, river flow will drastically decline. The papal commission's report notes that approximately 2 million people die each year due to causes related to global warming. Pope Francis believes that the Church must make a stand against global warming, for it is the Church's mission to protect the sanctity of life.

Sister Antona Ebo, an African American sister who faced several struggles of discrimination in her times, made a big impact on the civil rights movement. Sister Elba (originally based in Saint Louis) traveled from St. Louis to Selma Alabama in order to "demonstrate in support of black voting rights." She was the only "black nun" in the sisterhood and her presence gained a flabbergasting amount of attention. In a statement to the public, sister Ebo made this speech "I am here because I am a Negro, a nun, a Catholic, and because I want to bear witness.... I’m here today because yesterday [in Saint Louis] I voted." Sister Ebo passed away on November 11th 2017 and made a MONUMENTAL impact on the civil rights movement.

In our lives, it's easy to feel like when we pray, God doesn't even hear us. However, the church has a different opinion. According to the church, prayer is a gift given to us by God, and humility is required to properly use it. This is because humility is used to defend against pride and selfishness. In addition, prayer is a sign of our covenant relationship with God, which is a binding promise. These deep promises require involvement, sacrifice, and commitment. Lastly, praying honors the unity we have with God. We always have to be sure we aren't taking God for granted. With these things in mind, it is safe to say that yes, God does answer our prayers, and that he will always be there for us. Through prayer, our faith and relationship with God grows stronger.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/summer-school-2013-june-12

Praying a ‘Hail Mary’ for the people of Yemen, the pope urged people Feb. 3 to “pray hard, because there are children who are hungry, who are thirsty, who have no medicine, and are in danger of death,” adding that “we take this thought home with us.” Francis said he is following the humanitarian crisis in Yemen with great concern, noting that the people of the country are exhausted by the three-year conflict and the lack of access to food. Francis explained that the world needs the same kind of disciples today. People who are courageous in responding to the Christian vocation. “People who follow the ‘push’ of the Holy Spirit, who sends them to proclaim hope and salvation to the poor and excluded ... people who are open to accepting in themselves the will of the Father and are committed to witnessing it faithfully to others.”

 The crowds of hungry Venezuelans seeking a free meal become bigger each month, as thousands of people flee food shortages, hyperinflation and crime in the South American country, with almost no savings to start their new life abroad. Organizers worry that the situation could get worse if Venezuela's president does not let humanitarian aid into the country.  In Colombia, Catholic charities are doing as much as they can to help Venezuelans who cross into the country for medicine, food and work.

https://angelusnews.com/news/manuel-rueda-83e19308-31d5-4c05-9db6-b210fa662898/churches-at-colombian-border-work-to-help-desperate-venezuelans

On February 12, Pope Francis signed a decree acknowledging the miracle of Blessed John Henry Newman. It involved a law graduate facing complications in her pregnancy, only to recover when praying to Newman.  Newman was an English cardinal, born into the Anglican Church. In 1825, he was ordained an Anglican priest; however, he was a part of the Oxford Movement and was therefore shunned from the Anglican Church. Seeing this, he joined the Catholic Church and became a cardinal in 1879. Since his death, his case for sainthood has been opened. The pope's acknowledgment of his miracle has cleared the way for his canonization. In this same decree, Pope Francis also recognizes the prospect of the sainthood of Cardinal Mindszenty, the head of the Archdiocese of Esztergom in Hungary.  In 1948, we was arrested and tortured by communists who sentenced him to life in prison.  Although he later was released, the cardinal lived out the rest of his days seeking refuge in the US Embassy in Budapest and, later, in Exile in Austria. His "heroic virtues" have earned him the title "venerable," but a case is still being made for his canonization.
Source: National Catholic Reporter, Catholic News Service, Cindy Wooden
https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/sainthood-causes-blessed-newman-cardinal-mindszenty-advance

Busted Halo

Busted Halo Team

 

St. Valentine was a third century Roman priest. During his time, emperor Claudius II banned marriage among young people because he thought that unmarried soldiers fought better than married ones. St. Valentine upheld the Church's teaching that marriage is a sacrament from God and began officiating marriages in secret. When Emperor Claudius found out what Valentine was doing, he threw him into prison and eventually sentenced him to death. Claudius also tried to convert Valentine to a pagan faith, but Valentine refused and shared his testimony of faith with other prisoners instead. While in prison, one of the jailers told Valentine that his daughter was blind. Before being executed, St. Valentine healed the jailer's daughter and restored her sight. St. Valentine was beheaded and declared a martyr of the Church after giving up his life to defend the sacrament of marriage. Historians also believe that the tradition of Valentine's Day love notes may have come from children who passed notes to St. Valentine through the prison bars. 

Parishioners of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Jeffersonville had the idea to set up a "blessings box," a box outside their church that could be filled with nonperishable food items and toiletries that people in need could access. The pastor thought this was a great idea and helped put this plan into action. This box will help provide necessary items to those who struggle to provide them for themselves. The whole community came together to help make this possible. The box is inscribed with the words, "Take what you need, give what you can."
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/02/12/indiana-parish-opens-blessing-box-as-a-gift-to-people-in-need/

https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/birds-passage-shows-origin-drug-trade-colombian-pov
"Birds of Passage" is a newly released film which shows the Colombian view of drug trade, starting at the source. This film follows a wife and her husband living in the far north reaches of Colombia, and how they are a part of the Wayuu clan (which eventually has a lot of ties with Christianity). They start to see "gringos" getting high off of weed and make deals with them for some, opening a door to lead them into a life of drug trafficking. They end up becoming major drug lords in Colombia, and this comes with a cost. They have brought the threats of greed, violence, and rape into their lives.

https://cruxnow.com/february-abuse-summit/2019/02/19/latin-american-cardinals-add-their-voices-to-press-for-abuse-reform/
Cardinal Sergio da Rocha, president of the Brazilian bishops’ conference, said Monday there’s “greater awareness of the seriousness of child abuse, especially when committed by clergy, as well as the need for justice and assistance to victims.”  Da Rocha believes that the clear lines given by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI have helped the Church become more aware of the problem and of the need to take energetic action to overcome clerical sexual abuse and prevent it. He added that he hopes the meeting in the Vatican will offer “more guidance for improving existing initiatives.” 

We live in a culture that doesn’t request love but demands it. We watch movies and hear songs that teach us an unrealistic kind of love. We lose ourselves inside of our own wants and fantasies of what we think love should be. This false reality of love falls short on its promise and delivers a lot of disappointment because real love, the kind we are made for, isn’t what our world tells us it is. Marriage is an example of this because loving is a choice. First Corinthians says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres.” Love also isn't easy. Loving and self-sacrifice go hand in hand which makes the topic so difficult.

Millies begins this article by recalling a question he once asked a 92- year old priest: “What do we look like in the pews from up where you are?" The priest immediately responded that he could always see people thinking about other things, bored with the same old words and gestures of the Mass. Indifference is a serious problem faced by laypeople. Especially with the recent scandals of the Catholic Church, interest and enthusiasm for the organization has waned. People blame the Church for their own lack of fervor and question whether it is really helping them grow in their faith lives. Are people becoming holy because of the Church or in spite of it?  While we can robotically go through the motions of our faith, this will not help us flourish, and our spiritual lives will become "lukewarm."  It is easy to blame this on the traditions of the Catholic Church, but the truth is, we are the ones who can make the change. We need to commit ourselves fully, becoming active citizens, to create a more meaningful, engaging Church.

Source: US Catholic, Steven P. Millies
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201902/has-our-faith-gone-lukewarm-31652?fbclid=IwAR248yxYi67yxSSxBcBRL5zbkDPyjXGFvlTJwSED9-1BSdtTA8yvGgqSorA

That is a question that is begging to be answered. Sister Veronica Openibo, a nun from Nigeria told the bishops who were gathered in Vatican city that "with a heavy heart" she spoke about the disgraceful and scandalous place we find ourselves as a church". Advocating for those who had suffered at the hands of the church Sister Veronica Openibo touched on how the church even allowed such a thing to happen.  She said that we "proclaim the Ten Commandments and parade ourselves as being the custodians of moral standards,” she said. “Hypocrites at times? Yes.” It is time for the church to answer this question before it is eventually too late to fix the repercussions.

 National Catholic Reporter 

Christina Lee Knauss, Catholic News Service 

https://www.ncronline.org/news/quick-reads/workers-furloughed-during-shutdown-grateful-catholic-charities-help 

 

Many people affected by the government shutdown received help from charities in South Carolina. The longest shutdown in US history (from Dec. 22 to Jan 25) caused thousands of federal employees to work without paychecks and others were furloughed. As the shutdown continued, people struggled to pay their bills and buy essentials for their families. In South Carolina, the Catholic Charities' Pee Dee regional office helped the workers of the US Coast Guard station in Georgetown and the Williamsburg Federal Correctional Institute in Salters January 25 by supplying food, bottled water, household items, diapers, baby supplies, and hygiene kits. Forty families were helped in Georgetown. Coast Guard families also received aid from other members of the Georgetown community. Food was the biggest need, so it was sent in. The charities also helped federal workers and their friends pay rent and utility bills. 

ROME - Pope Francis closed a keenly anticipated Vatican summit on clerical sexual abuse Sunday, eliciting disappointment from survivors and reformers for a perceived lack of concreteness in proposed remedies. According to Father Federico Lombardi, former papal spokesman, on Monday the committee that organized the meeting will come together with several Vatican officials to begin discussing the follow-up. According to Lombardi, the Church is committed to “translating into concrete action” the concepts of “responsibility, accountability and transparency.” This will be done with a “collegial spirit,” he said, to “give us the support and encouragement needed to continue to overcome the tendency to hide things and to favor the institution over the persons it must serve.”

https://cruxnow.com/february-abuse-summit/2019/02/24/popes-end-to-anti-abuse-summit-sunday-disappoints-survivors/

There was a study in 2014 that came to the conclusion that many people would rather suffer physical pain than be left alone with only their thoughts for an extended period of time. During this study, individual people were placed in a room with little furniture and had to put away items such as cell phones and even pens and pencils. They were either told to think about whatever they wanted, or to choose from several prompts with things to think about on them. From this experiment, roughly 50% of people who participated said that they didn't like only being able to think, many even saying they were bored. To explore this idea further, a different study gave participants the option to either sit quietly and think or shock themselves with electricity. 67 percent of men and 25 percent of women chose to shock themselves with electricity rather than sit quietly and think. What we can make of these experiments is that people in today's world don't like spending time thinking when there are so much other distractions in our busy lives. With Lent coming up, we should try to distance ourselves from these distractions and instead take the time to self-reflect. Having an open-mind and reflecting on our spiritual lives is very important, especially during Lent, and this experiment serves as a good reminder that we need to take the time sometimes to practice being mindful of ourselves, others, and God.
http://www.osvnews.com/2019/02/20/can-we-welcome-time-alone-with-our-thoughts-this-lent/

As we have all recognized, sexual abuse in the church is becoming more and more popular. Stories and victims are coming out and shedding light on the harsh horrors of what has happened to people. The Vatican has organized many instances that give people the right to have their voice heard. The Vatican has released the schedule, speakers, and a new website for this week’s much-anticipated sex abuse summit, which will focus on episcopal transparency and accountability for the protection of minors. The meetings after would include nine presentations by speakers, video testimonies from sex abuse victims, working group discussions, a penitential liturgy, and a closing Mass with final remarks from Pope Francis. Their goal is to help the bishops understand what to do if they recognize suffering in the church, and how to help the victims. The themes of these discussions have been responsibility, accountability, transparency. All three of those topics are important to recognizing abuse in the church.

A new update has been released about Cardinal Pell, who allegedly abused minors. The verdict was released Dec. 11 in 2018. He had five counts of child sexual abuse. This news, understandably, was very painful for many people who knew and were affected by Cardinal Pell. The statement confirms that Pell has been banned from public ministry. He is also restricted from contact with minors. Pell's sentence is on Wednesday and he is appealing. The church agrees, however, that he has a right to defend his innocence until his final verdict is released.

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/holy-see-issues-statement-on-conviction-appeal-of-cardinal-pell-46914 

Source: Angelus News, Catholic News Service, David Agren
https://angelusnews.com/news/david-agren/the-desert-speaks-faith-communities-gather-at-u-s-mexico-border

From February 25 - 27, bishops from both sides of the U.S. - Mexico border and Catholics working on migration matters convened in El Paso to discuss the implementation of U.S. immigration policies like metering. During the meeting, Bishop Mark J. Seitz held up two pictures of migrant children who had died in U.S. custody. He proclaimed, "We can't allow more tragedies like these. They cannot be repeated." As migrants flee poverty and violence in Central America, the United States has had an increasingly cold response. With President Trump's plans on expanding the building of the border wall, Bishop Seitz refers to the wall as "a great scar across our land, dividing us." For now, parishes on both sides of the border are struggling to serve hundreds of asylum-seekers arriving on a weekly basis and trying to keep them of the streets. On the Mexican side, it could be a couple months or a couple of years of waiting for the petition for asylum.

Religious sisters have very important roles in the world and are sometimes unappreciated. Not only do they help the poor and underprivileged, but they also serve in schools, orphanages, and hospitals. American sisters were the first hospital administrators, childcare advocates, and social workers. They founded schools, hospitals and orphanages when they arrived on the Western frontier. Because we are in National Catholic Sisters Week, it is the perfect time to remember and thank them for all they do for us, and this week can serve as a reminder that we should be grateful for them year-round as well.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/mcnamarasblog/2019/03/national-catholic-sisters-week-2019-an-appreciation.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBCP-CAT&utm_content=March2019

https://angelusnews.com/news/damian-avevor/ghanaian-bishops-seek-prayer-as-nation-celebrates-independence-lent

This year's Lent has special significance because Ash Wednesday, March 6, marks the celebration of Ghana's 62nd anniversary of independence, said the Ghana Bishops' Conference. "We consider this occurrence not just as a mere coincidence or accident of history, but a special moment of grace intended by God as an occasion for sober reflection on our lives as Christians and our contributions to Ghana as citizens of this dear nation of ours," the bishops said.

It is also "a true moment of grace for our church and our nation to pray together in gratitude to God and to seek God's blessings in the days ahead," the bishops said in a Lenten message issued March 2.

The pope appointed new bishops to the dioceses of Memphis and Fresno and a new auxiliary bishop to Los Angeles. The former bishop of Memphis, Bishop Martin D. Holley was controversial in how he handled Tennessee. Bishop Martin D Holley had reassigned around two thirds of the Memphis priests which was not received well by the community. Bishop Joseph Brennan was named the new head of the diocese of Fresno. Bishop Joseph Brennan is replacing Bishop Armando Xavier Ochoa who retired last April at the age of 75. Fr. Alejandro D. Aclan is the new auxiliary bishop. He is a Filipino Catholic so he brings a new perspective and serves as a voice for this group of people in the Church. 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-appoints-bishops-of-memphis-fresno-names-new-auxiliary-for-la-89445

Source: America Magazine, Catholic News Service, Dean Dettloff
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/03/06/trudeau-fights-survive-resignation-ag-distresses-indigenous-people

The scandal involving the Quebec-based multinational engineering firm SNC-Lavalin has caused former Attorney General Ms. Wilson-Raybould to resign from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet. SNC-Lavalin is accused of paying $48 million in bribes to Libyan public officials as well as defrauding various Libyan companies out of almost $130 million. The company hoped to negotiate a hefty fine with the Canadian government as a settlement; however, Ms. Wilson-Raybould wanted to take them to trial. She said she felt pressured to go easy on them, thus, resigning. Catholic deacon Rennie Nahanee of the Squamish Nation spoke up about Ms. Wilson-Raybould's resignation, saying that "Doing the right thing involves sacrifice, loss of status, maybe some shame or blame depending on who you speak to. Jody did the right thing, which honors not only her integrity, but the integrity of Indigenous people in Canada.” Ms. Wilson-Raybould, belonging to the Kwakwaka'wakw Nation, was the sole Indigenous member of Trudeau's cabinet. Indigenous people and organizations have already showed their solidarity with Ms. Wilson-Raybould since she offered her testimony and are angered by the Canadian government's treatment of her. Indigenous peoples all over Canada are now urging for the appointment of more Indigenous people in positions of authority.

Recently, a story came out about a 9-year-old boy named William McLeod who was forced to remove his ashes by his teacher. William lives in Utah, a a predominantly Mormon State, with almost two thirds of the population being members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is actually based in Salt Lake City. On the morning of Ash Wednesday, William went to Mass to receive ashes and proceeded to school. There, his teacher deemed the marking "inappropriate" and forced him to wipe them off in front of his class, despite his explanation of their significance. The boy ran off crying to the school psychologist and Fisher, who William lives with, confronted the teacher about the issue. She was apologetic and offered to reapply the ashes.  Because this would not be a valid option, the Catholic director of education, who happened to be a deacon reapplied the ashes for him.  William's teacher has been placed on administrative leave, but her story acts as a lesson to all of us: be sensitive to differences and learn about other religions, races, and cultures before making judgements.

Source: Joseph Gideon, AP News
https://apnews.com/bf38649028f44f60a32b264e8a5e9a75

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/06/most-dangerous-devil-one-you-cannot-see
Everyone knows the famous story in Luke when Jesus was in the desert, and the Devil showed up. The Devil wanted Jesus to worship him, and Jesus was being tempted to do so. However, Jesus was able to overcome this temptation and do what is right, which is to worship God. In this story, though, the devil and Jesus are talking to one another, and the Devil is actually "present". In other words, when people visualize this scenario, Jesus is there, but the Devil is too, in all of his hell-like clothing with horns and everything. This physical presence of the Devil makes it easier for Jesus to overcome his temptation. Often times, temptation is confusion. People have to make major decisions all the time filled with confusion, and one option may lead to a sin. This is the devil confronting and tempting us! What makes it so much harder to resist is the fact that the Devil is not a physical being right there with us to defeat. Instead, he is inside of us. God's truth is also inside of us, however, and we have the power to turn away from sin and follow and worship his ways.

Although many of us have grown up with fairy tales and bedtime stories depicting the perfect life of getting married and having kids, the Bible says that family life is more than the perfect couple, their 2 kids, and the family dog. Not all people have to have kids or even be married to find happiness in life. Scripture provides a definition of family that is much broader; it includes siblings as well as cousins and even other disciples of Jesus. Through the women in the Bible who are barren, we see that although having children is a blessing, there is nothing wrong with not having any. The Bible doesn't portray infertility as a shortcoming, unlike many people in society today. Scripture serves as an important reminder that not all fairy tale endings have to come from a picture-perfect classic family life.
https://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201803/what-does-bible-say-about-family-31340

In the announcement, made March 5, Francis named Bishop David Prescott Talley, 68, to head the Diocese of Memphis, which has been vacant since October of last year. Talley has served in the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana since November 2016, first as coadjutor bishop and then as bishop after the retirement of Bishop Ronald Herzog in February 2017. Born in Columbus, Georgia in 1950, Talley was raised as a Southern Baptist, but converted to Catholicism at the age of 24 while studying at Auburn University. He became a priest in the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1989 and was appointed to serve as an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese in 2013. He holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. The Memphis diocese was the subject of a Vatican investigation - called an apostolic visitation -  in June 2018. The visitation was prompted by criticism of Holley’s 2017 decision to reassign up to two-thirds of the 60 active priests in the diocese, and his appointment of a Canadian priest, Fr. Clement Machado, as vicar general, moderator of the curia, and chancellor of the Diocese of Memphis.

He had denied he had mismanaged the diocese, and suggested Cardinal Donald Wuerl had played a part in engineering his removal. Holley had previously served as auxiliary bishop to Wuerl in the Archdiocese of Washington, DC.

The March 5 Vatican announcement also named Bishop Joseph Brennan, 64, as the new head of the Diocese of Fresno.

 A school district in Utah has issued an apology after a fourth-grade student was told by a teacher that he must remove the cross from his forehead on Ash Wednesday. William McLeod, a student at Valley View Elementary School in Bountiful, Utah, arrived at school with ashes on his forehead in the shape of a cross, a custom for Catholics at the beginning of the Lenten season.

He told Fox 13 that he was the only pupil with ashes at the school. Other students were curious about them, he said, and he explained the Ash Wednesday custom when they asked. The school has released a statement of apology, saying that the matter is being taken very seriously. Patterson has been placed on administrative leave, and additional disciplinary action is being considered.

“The actions were unacceptable,” district spokesman Chris Williams said, according to the Associated Press. “No student should ever be asked or required to remove an ash cross from his or her forehead.” 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/utah-school-apologizes-after-student-forced-to-remove-lenten-ashes-92683

This past Sunday, March 10th, an Ethiopian plane crashed. The crash killed all 157 passengers that included people from 35 different countries. Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crashed only minutes after departing from an airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Four members of the Catholic relief service died in this crash. Its very unfortunate that such a tragedy occurred. The Church is praying for the victims of this crash and the Catholic Relief service is ready to aid in this situation. 
https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/catholic-missionaries-aid-workers-among-victims-of-ethiopian-plane-crash-83324

Busted Halo

By Mike Hayes

 

Catholics are required to abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and each Friday in Lent. Fish is often used as a substitute for meat. Historically, since about the second century of Christianity, Christians abstained from eating meat on every Friday as a kind of sacrifice and reminder that acknowledged Jesus's sacrifice. Vatican II simplified many Catholic customs and laws. There was too much of an emphasis on sin and sacrifice and some of the practices were rather involved. Many believed that breaking Friday abstinence was a sin so serious it could damn you to hell. The bishops preserved fasting on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays during Lent to help take care of this problem. Some have said the bishops were in cahoots with the fishing industry, but there is little to no evidence to claim that as the truth.

Source: Angelus, Catholic News Service
https://angelusnews.com/news/catholic-news-service/crs-humanitarian-agencies-urge-congress-to-protect-international-aid

On March 11, President Donald Trump proposed to Congress a 24% cut in foreign assistance for the United States' 2020 budget. A day later, Bill O'Keefe, a senior Catholic Relief Services official, urged Congress that "Now was not the time to slash effective, life-saving programs that help create a safer and more secure world." He called for at least $60 billion in foreign humanitarian and development aid due to a time of mass displacement and crises around the world. For example, there are over 68 million people around the world who have been displaced by natural or man-made disasters, including the 3 million Venezuelans who have fled their country. O'Keefe argues that foreign assistance is vital in the United States maintaining its leadership role in responding to global needs. Such global needs include AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, international disasters, migration and refugee crises, etc., which the United States has programs for, and these programs only constitute for 1% of federal spending. Among the Catholic Relief Services' outcry for the United States to maintain/slightly increase their international affairs budget, many other humanitarian organizations and agencies have agreed to this belief as well.

Can a Baby Be Baptized During Lent 

Busted Halo 

By Fr. Dave Dwyer 

https://bustedhalo.com/podcasts/can-baby-baptized-lent 

 

It's not that priests can't baptize babies during lent, but they shouldn't. Lent is considered the desert time leading up to the waters of Baptism at Easter, so as they build up to Easter, priests tend to keep baptism at bay. He compares it to the way that when a couple is preparing from marriage, they abstain from performing the marital act. There are exceptions, though, because Lent is about six weeks long, and there is a great importance placed on baptizing babies in the Catholic church. While baptism isn't forbidden during Lent, it can run contrary to the narrative of Lent. 

Everyone sins at some time in their life. It's part of being human, as we have a natural tendency to rebel. However, as Christians, we see the need to apologize to God for actions we are truly sorry for and make up for these wrongdoings. Penance is often referred to as making little sacrifices for God. One way penance is put into action is during confession, where it is used to lead you on the path of earning forgiveness from God. Although sin has eternal consequences, God tells us that we can be forgiven by him if we are truly sorry. God's mercy is a great gift to us, and penance is a great way to achieve forgiveness.
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/coffeeandcrucifix/2018/06/what-is-the-meaning-of-penance/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FBCP-CAT&utm_content=March2019

Some might answer that question by pointing to God’s omniscience. God knows something we don’t know, or God sees a bigger picture. But I don’t find that answer satisfactory; in my experience in ministry and friendship, it is not comforting to those who suffer or who feel their prayer has not been answered. God does not wave a magic wand and make everything turn out alright. The person who has cancer still dies. The car accident cannot be undone. The person who breaks your heart doesn’t come back. Prayer is about participating in the relationship God offers us. We pray because part of being in relationship is sharing the things that are weighing heaviest on our hearts. Friends or family may already know what I am going through, but I still want to talk about it. They listen and are present to my experience. The same is true of God in prayer.

 Obedience—how it goes against the human grain. We no sooner construct a set of rules or guidelines for the common good than we invent ways to circumvent or break them. Speed limits, tax codes, children’s bedtimes, hospital protocols, all are subject to our disobedience. How much more so, then, do we find ways around fulfilling our promises to God? Some of us take the path of outright effrontery and completely sever ourselves from church-going and faith practices alike. Others do just enough to convince observers that we are people of faith, becoming CINO (Christians In Name Only). And then there are those of us who faithfully attend Sunday worship services and present our offerings while closing our ears and shutting our hearts to God’s true commands. 
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/25/what-does-god-take-delight-our-trust

https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/20/how-can-we-trust-others-our-fallen-world
A lot of things in our present time are negative. Whether it is the effects of social media, people, or the news, everything seems to be going downhill. So how can we trust others? Some of the most reliable people we know, priests, are even being called out for lying. Is there anyone we can trust? Though there are so many negatives, we need to look on the brighter side. There are givers in this world if we look. There are honest people if we look. There are good things in this world if we look for them. Instead, we decide to focus on the negatives and let them go viral. Instead of noticing all of the poor things occurring around us, try to bring the good to light so that we can show attention to that and it would be cool to be good.

Busted Halo
 By Fr. Dave Dwyer

 

Lenten rules are not as strict as they were in the medieval times, but they can still be difficult to observe. However, are there exceptions to Lenten rules. For example, if a family is in mourning and they order meat on a Friday, they may be too overcome with grief to remember the 'no meat on Friday' rule. Father Dave says, “Grief does a lot of things to us, not the least of which is making us forget things like giving up meat for Lent.” It is important to be mindful of individual needs and emotions of the people practicing the religion. It is best to be sensitive to a person's needs while also ensuring the requirements of the Church are met. While everyone should show compassion, understanding, and kindness to the mourners, ministers must make the right choices according to Catholic teaching.

Visio Divina is a form of prayer based off the well known Lectio Divina. Visio Divina is Latin for "divine seeing." To pray using it, you slowly contemplate a photo, piece of artwork, or anything else that visually invites God to speak to us on a deeper level. This type of prayer can be practiced alone or with a group. Just find some inspiration, pay attention to your thoughts and feelings, listen for God’s voice, and respond to Visio Divina. Using this as a tool for praying can create a unique spiritual experience.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/praying-with-your-eyes-how-to-get-started-with-visio-divina

The coming of Lent conjures a complicated set of awakenings in my consciousness that rivals the coming of spring itself. Almost all of them involve food.Our family begins Lent before Ash Wednesday with a sort of Polish Mardi Gras: Pączki Day. Pączki are balls of risen dough, deep-fried in lard (yes, lard) and filled with jelly or cream very much like a Bismarck. They more than put the “fat” into Fat Tuesday.When I married into an Italian family, I discovered the pizzagaina that ends the Lenten season. Pizzagaina is a pie filled with cheeses and salty meats baked into a crust (along with a clipping of a palm from Palm Sunday for good measure). It demands a lengthy preparation that consumes much of Triduum. We eat it after returning home from the Easter Vigil, a slice of pizzagaina with a glass of red wine. The experience gives flesh to the spirit of Easter joy.

https://uscatholic.org/articles/201903/taste-and-see-many-ways-being-christian-31671

Low-income individuals and families in California will be able to receive taxpayer-funded services from a Catholic-backed pro-life health care network, thanks to a federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Services and the end of a rule that required grantees to give abortion counseling. The $1.7 million grant for 2019 will be used to expand services to low income individuals and families in four California counties. The grant could total up to $5.1 million through 2022, provided funds are available, the grantee complies with standards, and the project shows progress.The HHS also announced multiple three-year Tile X grants to seven Planned Parenthood affiliates, with the total running at least $16 million, according to HHS grant listings. The department is cutting grants to some Planned Parenthood affiliates. Four affiliates in Hawaii, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin and Virginia, lost funding. These serve about 40,000 people in their regions.

Source: America Magazine, Catholic News Service, Meinrad Scherer-Emunds
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/04/04/maryknoll-lay-missioner-salvador-works-address-root-causes-emigration

Although El Salvador's murder rate has decreased since 2015-2016, disappearances have increased, and the murder rate still remains high. Larry Parr, with the help of other Maryknoll Lay Missioners, has developed a youth program in Las Delicias, El Salvador, that encourages education and provides a safe space for young people in an attempt to keep them out of gangs and turn them into leaders and role models for their community. Their motto is "'First, God. Second, studies. Third, sports.'" Larry Parr and the Maryknoll Lay Missionaries are trying to combat the statistic of only 40% of Salvadorans graduating from high school and fewer than 10% from college. Although public education is free in El Salvador, most families are often too poor to pay for books or bus fare. Parr said he is concerned about the U.S. plan to cut off aid to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, for he believes the "U.S. aid is crucial to help the Northern Triangle reach their goals of making their countries more safe."

Busted Halo

By Fr. Dave Dwyer

 

Father Dave explains that Christian people have been devoted to Mary since the first couple of decades after Jesus's resurrection, and that devotion persists today. Father Dave says that the Bible is filled with stories of those who intercede to God on behalf of ordinary people. We pray directly to God and talk to God ourselves, but it is also a very common practice to pray for a saint or angel to intercede and petition God with us. People were able to experience a miracle of Jesus because of Mary, and for many people, the accessibility of Mary helps people to grow closer to God.

This article explores the question as to whether or not it is acceptable to leave Mass following communion.  According to the author, the answer is most certainly not.  Mass can be compared to Thanksgiving dinner in many ways.  The point of coming together for the holiday is not just to eat food; you are there to be with the people you love and celebrate tradition.  We would not simply get up and leave before dessert!  In a similar way, going to Mass is not just about us.  We do not simply receive our salvation through the physical consumption of the Eucharist, but we have to join together with the greater Church community.  God doesn't want us to be casual observers in regards to our faith, but active participants who are mindful and serving to others.  By missing the end of Mass, we miss our call to action, our duty to "Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by you life."

Source: US Catholic, Victoria M Tufano
http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201804/it-ok-leave-mass-after-communion-31358

CANBERRA, Australia - Australia’s Catholic population fell by 2.7% between 2011 and 2016, but Catholics are more likely to have a higher education, according to an analysis of census data by the National Center for Pastoral Research.

Analyzing statistics from the country’s 2016 census, the center reported April 4 in its “Social Profile of the Catholic Community in Australia” that members of the Church also were more likely to have been born overseas than five years earlier. The Australian Catholic Church is understanding that culture, social, and personal dimensions of religion is throughout the country. The catholic population was nearly 5.3 million in 2016 compared to 5.4 million in 2011. Catholics comprised 22.6% of the country’s total population in 2016, down from 25.3 percent five years earlier.

states across the country have seen an increase in bills related to abortion, as pro-life advocates seek more success and abortion rights backers fear Supreme Court decisions. Laws limiting abortion as early as 15 weeks into pregnancy have passed in Mississippi and Louisiana. At least six states have approved or are seriously considering legislation barring abortion based on the detection of the baby’s heartbeat, six to eight weeks into pregnancy. “There’s a great deal of interest in laws that protect women from abortion’s harms and risks, and that protects babies in the womb." “For the first time in decades you do not have a majority on the Supreme Court that is committed to seeing abortion as a fundamental right. You have a pro-life majority.”

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/abortion-takes-center-stage-in-state-legislatures-62246

In a recent poll taken on Capitol Hill, workers and employers expressed strong support for paid family leave policies. This includes leave for childbirth, adoption, personal illness, and caring for a sick family member. As of now, there are three bills that have been introduced in Congress in recent weeks. Two are Republican bills, which favor the use of Social Security to provide for leave. Those on leave would be able to access Social Security benefit for 3 months in return for a delay or reduction in retirement benefits. The Democratic bill proposes a small tax on employers and employees to fund leaves. Both call for a continuation during leave of a salary equal to or two-thirds of the existing. Although there are differing views on the process, both Republicans and Democrats have shown overwhelming support of the idea, a program that falls directly in line with Catholic social teaching of a family-centered life. Overall, the advancements and compromises to be made will be beneficial to all people and promote the importance of family.
Source: Catholic News Service, Angelus, Dennis Sadowski
https://angelusnews.com/news/dennis-sadowski/support-for-paid-family-leave-gains-support-but-compromise-needed

Eventually, everyone you know will die. It is an inevitable fact of our world. Every action we perform will be nothing but a memory, and even those will fade out. Although death is a characteristic of our earthly life, Jesus offers us a way to live forever, to receive eternal life with him in heaven. However, this salvation must be earned. Only what we freely give back to God will be able to escape death. Total obedience does not come naturally to humans, so we must work hard to follow the example Jesus sets for us and ask for forgiveness when we sin. If we follow this example, we will receive the gift of salvation with God in heaven.
https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/03/22/how-can-we-turn-our-divided-hearts-god

Busted Halo

Delores Smyth

 

The author explains how when she was young, she was mystified by the purple veils draped over the normally uncovered statues and crosses. She goes on to study the symbolism in Holy Week

Palm branches - people used palms to praise Jesus as he entered Jerusalem, Palms are important symbols in Jewish history as victory over oppressors; we use palms on Palm Sunday to welcome Jesus at the beginning of Holy Week

Time entered- Jesus entered during Passover

Vehicle - Jesus road in on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah's promise of a peacemaking king for Israel

Purple veils- remind us that without Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection, our faith wouldn't exist

Bread and wine- body and blood of Jesus

Holy oils - God's people used olive oil to anoint, consecrate, and heal. Catholic bishops bless three types of holy olive oils that are used during Easter and throughout the year in administration of sacraments

Towel - recalls the washing of the feet at the last supper

Crown of thorns - reminder of the crown of thorns placed on Jesus's head

The cross- originally a tool of torture and death, now a sign of salvation

Fire - Jesus is the light of the world, represents Jesus's power and light

At 6:30 April 15th the Notre Dame Cathedral was engulfed in flames. Smoke billowed high above the structure as one of the iconic spires on the building collapsed. Surviving for over 800 years, this centerpiece of French culture was severely damaged, however, was not destroyed. People nearby cried, several sang songs, and the community was devastated. As for how the fire began, arson was ruled out, as well as terrorism, but as for now the cause is thought to be related to the 6.8 million dollar renovations that were happening on the building.

Steven W. Semes, a professor and director of graduate studies in the Historic Preservation Program at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, said he was as shocked and pained as everyone watching on television as the building burned April 15.

"Like all historic monuments," he said, Notre Dame Cathedral is "the result of hundreds and hundreds of years of development" with an initial idea, a long and labor-intensive construction process, design changes, additions, demolitions and remodeling over and over again as fashions and usages change.

Source: U.S. Catholic, Catholic News Service, Daniel P. Rhodes
http://www.uscatholic.org/articles/201902/its-time-give-church-back-people-literally-31640

Declining membership, estrangement of young people, weakening cultural importance, clergy shortages, and financial crises are just some of the major problems that the Church faces today. As a result, the Archdiocese of Chicago, which is the third largest archdiocese in the U.S., has launched plans to close at least 1/3 of the archdiocesan congregations and as many as 1/2 of its parish schools. These churches are scrambling to sell off its real estate in order to cover its debts, and the country as a whole is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. This gives the Church the opportunity to establish cooperative ownership companies with local residents at redeveloping, vacant, or underused church properties to be used as affordable housing units. This would not only benefit the people of Chicago, but it would establish an ecclesial friendship between the Church and local communities, reconnecting people back to the Church.

Source: The New York Times, American newspaper, Elian Peltier
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/17/world/europe/statues-notre-dame-relics.html

As the Notre-Dame lit up in flames, Rev. Jean-Marc Fournier's job was to try and rescue as many of the ancient church's artwork, artifacts, and relics as possible. However, his main priority was to save the crown of thorns and a statue of Jesus. More than a hundred of the 500 firefighters who responded to the Notre-Dame fire were assigned to assist Father Fournier in his mission as they were all trained in saving its treasures in two exercises last year. Although salvaging the Notre-Dame's treasures was important, Father Fournier kept the safety of his fellow firefighters foremost in his mind as he said that "Artworks can be reproduced, while a human life can't." Father Fournier and his team were ultimately able to save the crown of thorns said to have been worn by Jesus himself, the tunic of Saint Louis, a piece of wood and a nail believed to have been a part of the cross used in Jesus' crucifixion, and various other artworks and icons.

Busted Halo

Mike Hayes

 

The Old Testament is (usually) never read at the Eucharist during the Easter season. This tradition was started by St. Augustine of Hippo in the fourth century based on earlier practices by Cyril of Jerusalem. Instead, the Hebrew Scriptures are replaced by the Acts of the Apostles. The logic is rooted in the practice of looking forward from the Resurrection. It balances the Easter Vigil's looking back on our salvation history. At the Easter Vigil, we draw out the history of our salvation in one night from creation through Abraham, Moses, etc. On weekdays in the Easter season, the Acts of Apostles are read in a pretty much continuous way, completing the whole book by the end of the season. The Second Readings on Sundays come from 1 Peter, 1 John, and Revelations during the years A, B, and C respectively. The Gospel readings are almost exclusively from John. All of the readings this way are done in order to center us on the celebration of the Resurrection and to keep us looking forward from that event into today's time.  

The Old Testament has almost never been read during the Easter season. Rather than reading from the Old Testament, the Act of the Apostles are read from. This is for balance. At the Easter Vigil, there is a long look back at salvation history, so we focus more on looking forward to the Resurrection during the other masses throughout the Easter season. Because Acts of the Apostles is read almost continuously at weekday masses throughout the season, almost the whole book is finished by the end of the season. In addition, the Gospel readings are almost exclusively from John. All of this is to keep the focus during the Easter season on the Resurrection of Jesus.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/why-are-there-no-old-testament-readings-during-the-easter-season

Mexican officials have been impeding migrants traveling through Mexico from reaching the United States border, so Pope Francis decided to take action. He has donated $500,000 to assist these migrants. The money will be distributed "among 27 projects in 16 dioceses and Mexican religious congregations that have asked for help to continue providing housing, food and basic necessities to these brothers and sisters" (Pence). These immigrant numbers are rising, and this donation puts pressure on the United States to figure out what they are going to do with migrants trying to seek asylum in the United States and those trying to get in at the border.

The 2019 American Muslim polls has revealed quite a bit about the prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment. These feelings, called Islamophobia, are sparked largely by media coverage of extremists, a very small percent of the Muslim population. This studies attempts to connect Islamophobia to various idealogical factors. Interestingly, one of the lowest correlations was that of religion. Some of the more closely connected factors were political beliefs, personal experience with Muslims, and knowledge about the religion. In general, Democrats and liberals had lower rates of Islamophobia.  Moreover, those who knew a Muslim personally, especially as a close friend, held a dramatically more positive view of Muslims.  Similarly, people who knew more about the religion, as well as those who were proponents of other minority groups like African Americans and Jews, both had a better opinion of the Muslim community.  Overall, the study shows that the people who have the strongest Islamophobia are usually the ones who know the least.

Source: America Magazine, Religious News Service, Aysha Khan
https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2019/05/02/anti-muslim-hate-driven-politics-not-faith-and-its-preventable-study

“During your stay in Rome, you are called to witness to your faith with joy, so that the many people you meet, especially at the entrances to Vatican City, can be favorably impressed by the spirit in which you do your work", said the pope early on the fourth of may to the Swiss Guard. The pope made sure to mention this prior to the 6th of May which is when the 23 recruits of the Swiss guard will be swearing into their positions. The job is one of "faith and loyalty" which will require the guards to make sure to do their job with care and "experience the dedication, professionalism, and love with which [they] carry out their activity". 

https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope-francis-urges-swiss-guard-to-witness-to-the-joy-of-faith-71235

Busted Halo: Faith Shared Joyfully

Mike Hayes

https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/who-gave-jesus-his-halo 

The halo is an artist's rendering of holiness and nothing more. Halos usually symbolize sainthood in Catholic circles, but in Ancient Greece, they were drawn behind heroes to show more than natural light surrounding them. The first halo in Christian art was given to Jesus and used to represent Christ, rather than just holiness. Artists would frequently paint or depict Jesus prior to his baptism in Jordan without a halo, showing that the halo is a human way of recognizing God in our midst. After the baptism, Jesus was recognized as  the Messiah and therefore depicted with a halo. To make a long story short, the halo is a human invention, not a Godly one.
 

Some people define charism as a special power, some define it as a talent, and others say it is a gift of the Holy Spirit. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines them as “graces of the Holy Spirit which directly or indirectly benefit the Church, ordered as they are to her building up, to the good of men, and to the needs of the world." All religious orders honor God, but each has their own charisms, or special gifts that allow the orders to put their own spins on celebrating religion. As the older members of religious orders die out, the orders are in danger of losing their traditions and special charisms that make them and the way they worship. That is why it is very important today to understand the meaning of charisms.
https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/what-is-a-charism-understanding-our-holy-traditions

Life took a turn for Joseph Creamer when his mother got dementia. People would constantly tell him how his mother is lost to the world and will never be able to enjoy it again, or that her identity was lost. His mother was always a very selfless person. She would always help those who needed it at Church, and just be there for those who had no one to be there for them. It was a defining part of her identity. When she got diagnosed with dementia, one thing that never changed was her love to help others. Even in the nursing home, she would help the fellow residents with their walkers or get in and out of chairs. Dementia has harsh effects on people, but it can never strip them of their defining characteristics.