>>>See my previous post on this subject. It should get interesting!
Thursday August 19, 2010
New Orleans Archbishop Responds to Obama Speech at Xavier University
By Kathleen Gilbert
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana, August 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The archbishop of New Orleans has responded to the decision of Xavier University, a Catholic institution in his diocese, to host President Obama for a speech commemorating the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on August 29.
Archdiocesan spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey told LifeSiteNews.com that she spoke directly with Archbishop Gregory Aymond regarding the affair, and that the prelate stated he had not been consulted nor invited to the campus event. At the time of the Obama event Aymond will be participating in an Interfaith Prayer Service at St. Louis Cathedral to pray for the continued rebuilding of the region devastated by the storm.
Comiskey said, however, that the archbishop “did note … that this is not a political speech, but one that is a gesture of compassion for and solidarity with the people of New Orleans and Xavier University of New Orleans is often used by the mayor and public officials for such events."
Bishop Aymond, as bishop of Austin, Texas, was an early critic of the University of Notre Dame's decision to host President Obama as the school's commencement speaker and recipient of an honorary law degree in May 2009. At the time Aymond expressed "great disappointment and sadness" at the honor bestowed upon the pro-abortion president.
"In my opinion, it is very clear that in this case the University of Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity in giving this award and their leadership needs our prayerful support," wrote Aymond in a diocesan column.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Breaking "Mass" News; the date is set!
This is indeed Catholic breaking news; the translation of the Roman Missal, which means changes in the prayers and responses at Mass are set to begin on November 27, 2011. That's 15 months away. Get ready for many orientation sessions and practices; and of course some disgruntled Catholics and some overy ecstatic Catholics.
See my previous posts about this subject under liturgy and mass in my index on the left side of this page. Here is the full story:
USCCB News Release
10-149
August 20, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cardinal George Announces Vatican Approval of New Roman Missal English-Language Translation, Implementation Set for First Sunday of Advent 2011
U.S. Adaptations to Mass Prayers Also Approved
Parish Education Efforts Urged To Precede Implementation
Resources Available Through USCCB
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that the full text of the English-language translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, has been issued for the dioceses of the United States of America.
The text was approved by the Vatican, and the approval was accompanied by a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llovera Antonio CaƱizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Congregation also provided guidelines for publication.
In addition, on July 24, the Vatican gave approval for several adaptations, including additional prayers for the Penitential Act at Mass and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises on Easter Sunday. Also approved are texts of prayers for feasts specific to the United States such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and the observances of feasts for saints such as Damien of Molokai, Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Vatican also approved the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, which can be celebrated on January 22.
Cardinal George announced receipt of the documents in an August 20 letter to the U.S. Bishops and issued a decree of proclamation that states that “The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.”
The date of implementation was chosen to allow publishers time to prepare texts and parishes and dioceses to educate parishioners.
“We can now move forward and continue with our important catechetical efforts as we prepare the text for publication,” Cardinal George said.
In the coming weeks, staff of the bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship will prepare the text for publication and collaborate with the staff of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which will assist Bishops’ Conferences in bringing the text to publication. In particular, ICEL has been preparing the chant settings of the texts of the Missal for use in the celebration of the Mass. Once all necessary elements have been incorporated into the text and the preliminary layout is complete, the final text will go to the publishers to produce the ritual text, catechetical resources and participation aids for use in the Liturgy.
Receipt of the text marks the start of proximate preparation for Roman Missal implementation. Before first use of the new text in Advent 2011, pastors are urged to use resources available to prepare parishioners. Some already have been in use; others are being released now. They include the Parish Guide for the Implementation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, and Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ, a multi-media DVD resource produced by ICEL in collaboration with English-language Conferences of Bishops. Both will be available from the USCCB. Information on resources can be found at www.usccb.org/romanmissal
Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, Chair of the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, voiced gratitude for the approval.
“I am happy that after years of preparation, we now have a text that, when introduced late next year, will enable the ongoing renewal of the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in our parishes,” he said. Msgr. Anthony Sherman, Director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship of the USCCB noted, “A great effort to produce the new Roman Missal for the United States, along with the other necessary resources, has begun. Even as that work is underway a full–scale catechesis about the Liturgy and the new Roman Missal should be taking place in parishes, so that when the time comes, everyone will be ready.”
See my previous posts about this subject under liturgy and mass in my index on the left side of this page. Here is the full story:
USCCB News Release
10-149
August 20, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cardinal George Announces Vatican Approval of New Roman Missal English-Language Translation, Implementation Set for First Sunday of Advent 2011
U.S. Adaptations to Mass Prayers Also Approved
Parish Education Efforts Urged To Precede Implementation
Resources Available Through USCCB
WASHINGTON—Cardinal Francis George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has announced that the full text of the English-language translation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, has been issued for the dioceses of the United States of America.
The text was approved by the Vatican, and the approval was accompanied by a June 23 letter from Cardinal Llovera Antonio CaƱizares, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. The Congregation also provided guidelines for publication.
In addition, on July 24, the Vatican gave approval for several adaptations, including additional prayers for the Penitential Act at Mass and the Renewal of Baptismal Promises on Easter Sunday. Also approved are texts of prayers for feasts specific to the United States such as Thanksgiving, Independence Day and the observances of feasts for saints such as Damien of Molokai, Katharine Drexel, and Elizabeth Ann Seton. The Vatican also approved the Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, which can be celebrated on January 22.
Cardinal George announced receipt of the documents in an August 20 letter to the U.S. Bishops and issued a decree of proclamation that states that “The use of the third edition of the Roman Missal enters into use in the dioceses of the United States of America as of the First Sunday of Advent, November 27, 2011. From that date forward, no other edition of the Roman Missal may be used in the dioceses of the United States of America.”
The date of implementation was chosen to allow publishers time to prepare texts and parishes and dioceses to educate parishioners.
“We can now move forward and continue with our important catechetical efforts as we prepare the text for publication,” Cardinal George said.
In the coming weeks, staff of the bishops’ Secretariat of Divine Worship will prepare the text for publication and collaborate with the staff of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy (ICEL), which will assist Bishops’ Conferences in bringing the text to publication. In particular, ICEL has been preparing the chant settings of the texts of the Missal for use in the celebration of the Mass. Once all necessary elements have been incorporated into the text and the preliminary layout is complete, the final text will go to the publishers to produce the ritual text, catechetical resources and participation aids for use in the Liturgy.
Receipt of the text marks the start of proximate preparation for Roman Missal implementation. Before first use of the new text in Advent 2011, pastors are urged to use resources available to prepare parishioners. Some already have been in use; others are being released now. They include the Parish Guide for the Implementation of the Roman Missal, Third Edition, and Become One Body, One Spirit in Christ, a multi-media DVD resource produced by ICEL in collaboration with English-language Conferences of Bishops. Both will be available from the USCCB. Information on resources can be found at www.usccb.org/romanmissal
Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, New Jersey, Chair of the Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship, voiced gratitude for the approval.
“I am happy that after years of preparation, we now have a text that, when introduced late next year, will enable the ongoing renewal of the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy in our parishes,” he said. Msgr. Anthony Sherman, Director of the Secretariat for Divine Worship of the USCCB noted, “A great effort to produce the new Roman Missal for the United States, along with the other necessary resources, has begun. Even as that work is underway a full–scale catechesis about the Liturgy and the new Roman Missal should be taking place in parishes, so that when the time comes, everyone will be ready.”
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Being a Catholic Man
>>>Very good article; too good not to copy and paste here. Giving full credit below to the author. 8 great tips for Catholic men:
Posted by Randy Hain
Mr. Randy Hain is the Managing Partner of Bell Oaks Executive Search in Atlanta. He is the Business Manager and Senior Editor for The Integrated Catholic Life which he co-founded with Deacon Mike Bickerstaff in 2010. Randy is a co-founder of the Atlanta Catholic Business Conference and leads the St. Peter Chanel Business Association Ministry. A convert to the Catholic Faith in 2006, Randy and his wife have been married for 15 years and have two sons.
Posted by Randy Hain • August 11, 2010
I had a recent epiphany as I was preparing myself for Reconciliation and realized that I was about to confess many of the same sins I have been struggling with for years. I have made progress in some areas, but feel that I am going backwards in others. Didn’t Einstein once say that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?”
I spoke with a few Catholic brothers the next day and they readily confirmed facing the same problem: we all struggle to break out of repetitive sinful behaviors and avoid self-created obstacles to drawing closer to Christ. We also agreed that we desire a closer relationship with Him, we all want to get to Heaven with our families and we all want to be devout in the practice of our Catholic faith. So where do we slip up? Why do we fall short?
I don’t often write specifically for a male audience, but I believe our gender has some particular and unique challenges to staying on the right path. I hope to offer some useful insight which will help you, me and other Catholic men be more aware of these self-created challenges and take the necessary steps to overcome them. Let me start by listing a few general observations about men which may be uncomfortable to read and acknowledge:
•We often struggle with humility and let our pride and egos get in the way.
•We like to be in control.
•We can be stubborn and inflexible to change.
•Our identities are often wrapped up in our careers.
•We struggle to ask others (especially the Lord) for help.
•We are often inclined to action when reflection and discernment are more appropriate.
•We are usually uncomfortable with open displays of emotion (ours and others).
•We may be overly concerned about the opinions of others (What will our buddies think?).
My wife would say this list accurately describes me! What would your wife or girlfriend say about you? Do these observations resonate with you? My intent is not to make any of us feel bad, but to illustrate some of the obstacles between us and Christ. OK, we have acknowledged the problem…now what? Let’s explore how to get on the right path and stay there.
Over the years since my conversion into the Church, I have become increasingly self-aware about my shortcomings and how they negatively impact the practice of my faith. Knowing my challenges is only half of the equation-I must be willing to address them (remember that guys are inclined towards action!). Before we begin, let’s examine what we know for certain-we have a goal (Heaven), a road map (Scripture and Tradition), examples to follow (the Saints), leadership (the Pope, Bishops, Priests and Deacons), clear teaching authority (the Magisterium of the Church), help along the way (the Sacraments) and we have Divine guidance (the Holy Spirit). It is obvious that we have the tools and resources we need.
Let’s consider how we can make progress and stay on the right path. I don’t know about you, but if I can’t form the solution to a problem into an actionable and achievable goal, I will often struggle. Here is a list of eight practical actions I am working on which I hope you find to be helpful:
1.Surrender. We have to surrender on an ongoing basis to Christ for His will to be done in our lives. Guys, we are not in charge…as much as we want to be! St. Ignatius of Loyola once said: “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.”
2.Pray. Work on developing a daily prayer routine with the goal of at least an hour a day devoted to prayer. Sound difficult? Think about how much TV we watch a day. Consider how much time we spend in our cars each day and how much time we devote to exercise. We have more than enough time for prayer if we plan for it, schedule it and commit to it. Pray the Morning Offering or other prayer before you leave home-10 minutes, Rosary in your car or while exercising-20 minutes, Daily Jesuit Examen-15 minutes, Prayer with all meals-5 minutes, Prayer with our children and spouse-10 minutes. Add it up-we just did an hour of prayer.
3.Become passionate about the Eucharist. Want to fully experience Christ and be closer to Him? Seek out the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist in daily Mass when possible and spend quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration every week. St. Francis de Sales once said: "When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence."
4.Go to Reconciliation more frequently-OK, we are hopefully praying and asking for God’s help with our burdens, but we are still saddled with the sins we commit daily. Go to your Priest and partake of this wonderful gift we Catholics enjoy, but may not utilize enough-the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Commit to going once a month. A thorough examination of conscience and honest confession will lift your spirit and keep you on the right path!
5.Accept and Study our Faith. Accepting the teaching of our Church is necessary, but so is the knowledge that our full understanding may take time. Trust that two millennia of Church teaching is probably much more reliable than what you or I might conjure up on our own. Go to a parish bible study, take apologetics classes, read the bible and catechism, and read great Catholic authors like Peter Kreeft, Don DeMarco, Scott Hahn, Francis Fernandez, G.K. Chesterton, Fr. Groeschel, Fr. Spitzer, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.
6.Practice Detachment. Let’s ask ourselves if we really need “it”, what ever “it” is. Let go of the material things that are in the way of our prayer lives, church attendance, charitable giving, friendships, volunteering and certainly our relationships with Christ. The Catechism (2556) says, “Detachment from riches is necessary for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.”
7.Understand our True Vocation. For those of us blessed to be married and have children, we must recognize that helping our families get to Heaven and being good husbands and fathers (and not our business careers) is our real vocation. It is so easy to allow our family to serve our work (my issue many years ago) instead of having our work serve our family…and in turn, our family to serve the Lord.
8.Be Courageous. Christians are meant to stand out, not blend in. Blending in speaks to conforming and making sacrifices so our faith becomes part of the mainstream…and we need to fight it! We live in difficult, trying times. Families are under attack, our children are at risk, many people are blind to the need to respect and value all life and atheists are one of the fastest growing groups in the world. We have an opportunity to be beacons of light and good examples of Christ’s redeeming love. We will be judged one day on the fruits of our apostolate and hope to hear Jesus say the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
This list may look like a lot of hard work, but the real challenge is to practice these actions not as a bunch of new “to-dos,” but as part of a broader, unifying approach to a balanced and meaningful life that places Christ first in all areas of our lives. I simply want to encourage all of us to remember that we are called to lead lives of holiness and we are made for Heaven, not this world. As Catholic men, we have a responsibility to be strong fathers and husbands, leaders in our parishes, good stewards in the community and humble followers of our Lord. Look to the example of St. Joseph, Patron Saint of fathers and the Universal Church for his obedience, humility, selflessness, courage and the love he showed to Mary and Jesus. If we can emulate St. Joseph even a little each day, we will be that much closer to becoming the men we are called to be.
Posted by Randy Hain
Mr. Randy Hain is the Managing Partner of Bell Oaks Executive Search in Atlanta. He is the Business Manager and Senior Editor for The Integrated Catholic Life which he co-founded with Deacon Mike Bickerstaff in 2010. Randy is a co-founder of the Atlanta Catholic Business Conference and leads the St. Peter Chanel Business Association Ministry. A convert to the Catholic Faith in 2006, Randy and his wife have been married for 15 years and have two sons.
Posted by Randy Hain • August 11, 2010
I had a recent epiphany as I was preparing myself for Reconciliation and realized that I was about to confess many of the same sins I have been struggling with for years. I have made progress in some areas, but feel that I am going backwards in others. Didn’t Einstein once say that the definition of insanity is “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?”
I spoke with a few Catholic brothers the next day and they readily confirmed facing the same problem: we all struggle to break out of repetitive sinful behaviors and avoid self-created obstacles to drawing closer to Christ. We also agreed that we desire a closer relationship with Him, we all want to get to Heaven with our families and we all want to be devout in the practice of our Catholic faith. So where do we slip up? Why do we fall short?
I don’t often write specifically for a male audience, but I believe our gender has some particular and unique challenges to staying on the right path. I hope to offer some useful insight which will help you, me and other Catholic men be more aware of these self-created challenges and take the necessary steps to overcome them. Let me start by listing a few general observations about men which may be uncomfortable to read and acknowledge:
•We often struggle with humility and let our pride and egos get in the way.
•We like to be in control.
•We can be stubborn and inflexible to change.
•Our identities are often wrapped up in our careers.
•We struggle to ask others (especially the Lord) for help.
•We are often inclined to action when reflection and discernment are more appropriate.
•We are usually uncomfortable with open displays of emotion (ours and others).
•We may be overly concerned about the opinions of others (What will our buddies think?).
My wife would say this list accurately describes me! What would your wife or girlfriend say about you? Do these observations resonate with you? My intent is not to make any of us feel bad, but to illustrate some of the obstacles between us and Christ. OK, we have acknowledged the problem…now what? Let’s explore how to get on the right path and stay there.
Over the years since my conversion into the Church, I have become increasingly self-aware about my shortcomings and how they negatively impact the practice of my faith. Knowing my challenges is only half of the equation-I must be willing to address them (remember that guys are inclined towards action!). Before we begin, let’s examine what we know for certain-we have a goal (Heaven), a road map (Scripture and Tradition), examples to follow (the Saints), leadership (the Pope, Bishops, Priests and Deacons), clear teaching authority (the Magisterium of the Church), help along the way (the Sacraments) and we have Divine guidance (the Holy Spirit). It is obvious that we have the tools and resources we need.
Let’s consider how we can make progress and stay on the right path. I don’t know about you, but if I can’t form the solution to a problem into an actionable and achievable goal, I will often struggle. Here is a list of eight practical actions I am working on which I hope you find to be helpful:
1.Surrender. We have to surrender on an ongoing basis to Christ for His will to be done in our lives. Guys, we are not in charge…as much as we want to be! St. Ignatius of Loyola once said: “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.”
2.Pray. Work on developing a daily prayer routine with the goal of at least an hour a day devoted to prayer. Sound difficult? Think about how much TV we watch a day. Consider how much time we spend in our cars each day and how much time we devote to exercise. We have more than enough time for prayer if we plan for it, schedule it and commit to it. Pray the Morning Offering or other prayer before you leave home-10 minutes, Rosary in your car or while exercising-20 minutes, Daily Jesuit Examen-15 minutes, Prayer with all meals-5 minutes, Prayer with our children and spouse-10 minutes. Add it up-we just did an hour of prayer.
3.Become passionate about the Eucharist. Want to fully experience Christ and be closer to Him? Seek out the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist in daily Mass when possible and spend quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration every week. St. Francis de Sales once said: "When you have received Him, stir up your heart to do Him homage; speak to Him about your spiritual life, gazing upon Him in your soul where He is present for your happiness; welcome Him as warmly as possible, and behave outwardly in such a way that your actions may give proof to all of His Presence."
4.Go to Reconciliation more frequently-OK, we are hopefully praying and asking for God’s help with our burdens, but we are still saddled with the sins we commit daily. Go to your Priest and partake of this wonderful gift we Catholics enjoy, but may not utilize enough-the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Commit to going once a month. A thorough examination of conscience and honest confession will lift your spirit and keep you on the right path!
5.Accept and Study our Faith. Accepting the teaching of our Church is necessary, but so is the knowledge that our full understanding may take time. Trust that two millennia of Church teaching is probably much more reliable than what you or I might conjure up on our own. Go to a parish bible study, take apologetics classes, read the bible and catechism, and read great Catholic authors like Peter Kreeft, Don DeMarco, Scott Hahn, Francis Fernandez, G.K. Chesterton, Fr. Groeschel, Fr. Spitzer, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II.
6.Practice Detachment. Let’s ask ourselves if we really need “it”, what ever “it” is. Let go of the material things that are in the way of our prayer lives, church attendance, charitable giving, friendships, volunteering and certainly our relationships with Christ. The Catechism (2556) says, “Detachment from riches is necessary for entering the Kingdom of Heaven.”
7.Understand our True Vocation. For those of us blessed to be married and have children, we must recognize that helping our families get to Heaven and being good husbands and fathers (and not our business careers) is our real vocation. It is so easy to allow our family to serve our work (my issue many years ago) instead of having our work serve our family…and in turn, our family to serve the Lord.
8.Be Courageous. Christians are meant to stand out, not blend in. Blending in speaks to conforming and making sacrifices so our faith becomes part of the mainstream…and we need to fight it! We live in difficult, trying times. Families are under attack, our children are at risk, many people are blind to the need to respect and value all life and atheists are one of the fastest growing groups in the world. We have an opportunity to be beacons of light and good examples of Christ’s redeeming love. We will be judged one day on the fruits of our apostolate and hope to hear Jesus say the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
This list may look like a lot of hard work, but the real challenge is to practice these actions not as a bunch of new “to-dos,” but as part of a broader, unifying approach to a balanced and meaningful life that places Christ first in all areas of our lives. I simply want to encourage all of us to remember that we are called to lead lives of holiness and we are made for Heaven, not this world. As Catholic men, we have a responsibility to be strong fathers and husbands, leaders in our parishes, good stewards in the community and humble followers of our Lord. Look to the example of St. Joseph, Patron Saint of fathers and the Universal Church for his obedience, humility, selflessness, courage and the love he showed to Mary and Jesus. If we can emulate St. Joseph even a little each day, we will be that much closer to becoming the men we are called to be.
The Memorare
In recognition of St. Bernard of Clairvaux:
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
St. Bernard, dahlin!
Tomorrow is the feast of St. Bernard and you have to be from these neck of the woods to understand the title of my post. For those uninitiated, St. Bernard is one of the civil parishes(counties) in the New Orleans area and most from there have a distictive accent. The community in that parish is also the community that absorbed a devastating blow from Katrina and endured direct impacts from the oil spill. But I digress...
St. Bernard was born in 1090 and entered the monastery in 1112. He was involved in starting a monastery that was eventually named Clairvaux. St. Bernard became a very influential spiritual leader and defended the legitimacy of the papacy against heretics. His preaching was eloquent and his spirituality admired by all. He was often called upon to defend the Church, to settle disputes between governments and leaders and brought many to the faith.
St. Bernard was particularly devoted to the Infant Jesus and the Blessed Mother and is credited with the Marian prayer the Memorare. He died on August 20th in 1153 and was declared a saint in 1174 and a doctor of the Church in 1830; considered among the last of the Fathers of the Church.
One more local note that only many locals will get; I beleive St. Bernard may have been the patron saint of the great Buddy Diliberto, which may indirectly make St. Bernard a great fan of the New Orleans Saints! Just saying...
St. Bernard was born in 1090 and entered the monastery in 1112. He was involved in starting a monastery that was eventually named Clairvaux. St. Bernard became a very influential spiritual leader and defended the legitimacy of the papacy against heretics. His preaching was eloquent and his spirituality admired by all. He was often called upon to defend the Church, to settle disputes between governments and leaders and brought many to the faith.
St. Bernard was particularly devoted to the Infant Jesus and the Blessed Mother and is credited with the Marian prayer the Memorare. He died on August 20th in 1153 and was declared a saint in 1174 and a doctor of the Church in 1830; considered among the last of the Fathers of the Church.
One more local note that only many locals will get; I beleive St. Bernard may have been the patron saint of the great Buddy Diliberto, which may indirectly make St. Bernard a great fan of the New Orleans Saints! Just saying...
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Good news for Northshore (New Orleans) Catholics
>>>This is a good news story for the Archdiocese that I'm priviledged to serve and have lived in all my life. Because of demographic trends and the post Katrina reality, the Northshore communities of New Orleans are growing and so is the Catholic population. While a vast majority are transplanted New Orleanians there is a trend in America that Catholicism is enjoying a boost in non-traditional Catholic areas. When I moved over here 15 years ago I ignorantly asked my wife do you think we will find a strong Catholic influence. What I did not know! The Northshore boasts the largest Catholic parish in the archdiocese if not the state, Our Lady of the Lake in Mandeville; over 6500 families, a well run and very respected Catholic Seminary College at St. Joseph's Abbey a.k.a. St. Benedict's Seminary, four Catholic High Schools and robust Catholic ministries. Our area also has the newest, start from scratch parish, Most Holy Trinity which has been around now for 5 or 6 years. When Wendy and I joined St. Jane de Chantal Parish in rural Abita Springs we were one of a little over 300 registered families (1996) and now we have well over 1,300 families. So the article below is truy good news:
Archdiocese of New Orleans will open office in St. Tammany
Published: Sunday, August 08, 2010, 7:00 AM
Ron Thibodeaux, The Times-Picayune
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is planning to elevate its profile in St. Tammany Parish by creating an administrative center to better serve its booming north shore flock.
I wanted to raise the question of whether we as a Catholic church were meeting all the needs of the people on the north shore,' Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
The plan to create a free-standing office apart from an existing church parish represents a rare move for the archdiocese, which long has been based on Walmsley Avenue in New Orleans and covers eight civil parishes in southeastern Louisiana.
“We would like to have on the north shore a building that says ‘Archdiocese of New Orleans’ for our offices, our departments and ministries to have a place to meet,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
A specific location has not yet been determined. Church officials will begin meeting later this month with representatives of the archdiocese’s various departments and services to determine specific needs and projected uses for a St. Tammany
headquarters, and planning will proceed from there, Aymond said.
Long a hotbed of suburban growth, St. Tammany Parish has 91,382 Catholics in 15 church parishes, archdiocesan spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey McDonald said. Just to its north, rural, sparsely populated Washington Parish is home to 18,172 Catholics.
Combined, St. Tammany and Washington parishes account for more than 23 percent of the estimated 471,700 Catholics in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Among the many issues vying for his attention since he became archbishop almost a year ago, Aymond said he has been particularly aware of the active and ever-growing Catholic community in St. Tammany Parish, with its geographical buffer imposed by Lake Pontchartrain and its conservative, suburban outlook that complements but nonetheless differs from that of some other parts of the archdiocese.
It’s appropriate for the archdiocese to “have a visible presence there that will bespeak the large number of Catholics that are there’’ and minister to those church members as effectively as possible, the archbishop said.
“This month, we will be meeting with departments like Catholic schools, religious education, Catholic Charities, marriage tribunal -- we’re just starting with those departments but we will do that with all of our departments eventually -- and saying, what services are you offering on the north shore, what more could you do on the north shore and how could you utilize a building on the north shore,” Aymond said.
Aymond, the 14th archbishop of New Orleans and the first native New Orleanian, was one of several associate bishops in the archdiocese until he was named bishop of Austin, Texas, in 2000.
“Before I left 10 years ago, the north shore was developing and continuing to grow and develop,” he said. “In the last 10 years, it has boomed and developed even more. I sort of knew that, being away and kind of keeping up with New Orleans, but as I got around the archdiocese, it was very, very clear to me that the north shore has just gone through incredible growth and in my estimation has handled it well, better than I’ve seen in some other communities.
“One of the things I realized almost immediately when I got back was, because of the growth, I wanted to raise the question of whether we as a Catholic church were meeting all the needs of the people on the north shore.”
With that in mind, he has held occasional meetings with several priests from across the north shore to address specific, important issues.
“We have met twice already and are meeting again at the end of this month,” Aymond said. “Our question is, based on the growth that has taken place, where will the growth continue? Where should we be looking at property for the future? What are we doing well as a church? How well are we serving the Catholics on the north shore? What is it that we can do better? Are we really keeping up with the growth?
“We have realized that those are questions that we are still drawing for the answers.”
Archdiocese of New Orleans will open office in St. Tammany
Published: Sunday, August 08, 2010, 7:00 AM
Ron Thibodeaux, The Times-Picayune
The Archdiocese of New Orleans is planning to elevate its profile in St. Tammany Parish by creating an administrative center to better serve its booming north shore flock.
I wanted to raise the question of whether we as a Catholic church were meeting all the needs of the people on the north shore,' Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
The plan to create a free-standing office apart from an existing church parish represents a rare move for the archdiocese, which long has been based on Walmsley Avenue in New Orleans and covers eight civil parishes in southeastern Louisiana.
“We would like to have on the north shore a building that says ‘Archdiocese of New Orleans’ for our offices, our departments and ministries to have a place to meet,” Archbishop Gregory Aymond said.
A specific location has not yet been determined. Church officials will begin meeting later this month with representatives of the archdiocese’s various departments and services to determine specific needs and projected uses for a St. Tammany
headquarters, and planning will proceed from there, Aymond said.
Long a hotbed of suburban growth, St. Tammany Parish has 91,382 Catholics in 15 church parishes, archdiocesan spokeswoman Sarah Comiskey McDonald said. Just to its north, rural, sparsely populated Washington Parish is home to 18,172 Catholics.
Combined, St. Tammany and Washington parishes account for more than 23 percent of the estimated 471,700 Catholics in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
Among the many issues vying for his attention since he became archbishop almost a year ago, Aymond said he has been particularly aware of the active and ever-growing Catholic community in St. Tammany Parish, with its geographical buffer imposed by Lake Pontchartrain and its conservative, suburban outlook that complements but nonetheless differs from that of some other parts of the archdiocese.
It’s appropriate for the archdiocese to “have a visible presence there that will bespeak the large number of Catholics that are there’’ and minister to those church members as effectively as possible, the archbishop said.
“This month, we will be meeting with departments like Catholic schools, religious education, Catholic Charities, marriage tribunal -- we’re just starting with those departments but we will do that with all of our departments eventually -- and saying, what services are you offering on the north shore, what more could you do on the north shore and how could you utilize a building on the north shore,” Aymond said.
Aymond, the 14th archbishop of New Orleans and the first native New Orleanian, was one of several associate bishops in the archdiocese until he was named bishop of Austin, Texas, in 2000.
“Before I left 10 years ago, the north shore was developing and continuing to grow and develop,” he said. “In the last 10 years, it has boomed and developed even more. I sort of knew that, being away and kind of keeping up with New Orleans, but as I got around the archdiocese, it was very, very clear to me that the north shore has just gone through incredible growth and in my estimation has handled it well, better than I’ve seen in some other communities.
“One of the things I realized almost immediately when I got back was, because of the growth, I wanted to raise the question of whether we as a Catholic church were meeting all the needs of the people on the north shore.”
With that in mind, he has held occasional meetings with several priests from across the north shore to address specific, important issues.
“We have met twice already and are meeting again at the end of this month,” Aymond said. “Our question is, based on the growth that has taken place, where will the growth continue? Where should we be looking at property for the future? What are we doing well as a church? How well are we serving the Catholics on the north shore? What is it that we can do better? Are we really keeping up with the growth?
“We have realized that those are questions that we are still drawing for the answers.”
Talk about some Catholic influence
Perhaps it's these still long, hot summer days, late August, dreaming of cooler weather that I am thinking out loud. So today I realized that this is the feast of St. Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great and, according to legend, the one who found the relics of the true cross that Jesus was crucified. Pretty impressive stuff and another great witness to help us focus on Christ.
But this feast helped me to remember that St. Helena is among a list of saints and other Catholic celebrations for which many Louisiana parishes (counties) are named for. Yes, we are the only state in the union that has parishes, not counties. From just my own recall let's look at the influence of the Catholic Church in naming civil parishes:
Ascension Parish Assumption Parish St. Bernard Parish St. Charles Parish St. Helena Parish St. James Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish St. Landry St. Martin Parish St. Mary Parish!
Very impressive; 10 of the 64 parishes distictly named from Catholic teaching.
Now I live in St. Tammany civil parish but this is no saint. Legend is the name is derived from an Indian chief named Tamanend from the Delaware tribes who was most famous in the area of Philadelphia, Pa. But this great Indian was not a saint of the Catholic Church.
I'm not going to do the research, at least for now, but I wonder how many states have so many counties named after all things Catholic?
But this feast helped me to remember that St. Helena is among a list of saints and other Catholic celebrations for which many Louisiana parishes (counties) are named for. Yes, we are the only state in the union that has parishes, not counties. From just my own recall let's look at the influence of the Catholic Church in naming civil parishes:
Ascension Parish Assumption Parish St. Bernard Parish St. Charles Parish St. Helena Parish St. James Parish
St. John the Baptist Parish St. Landry St. Martin Parish St. Mary Parish!
Very impressive; 10 of the 64 parishes distictly named from Catholic teaching.
Now I live in St. Tammany civil parish but this is no saint. Legend is the name is derived from an Indian chief named Tamanend from the Delaware tribes who was most famous in the area of Philadelphia, Pa. But this great Indian was not a saint of the Catholic Church.
I'm not going to do the research, at least for now, but I wonder how many states have so many counties named after all things Catholic?
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Katrina, a Catholic University and Obama; watch this one
>>>I wonder how this will play out over the next 2 weeks. The 5th anniversary of Katrina is a big deal down here and the President of the United States should be invited because the office is bigger than the man. The dilema of utilizing Xavier is quite a conundrum. Xavier is indeed Catholic and the issue of a pro-choice politician is very real. Then you have the story of Xavier University which has been resilient in it's comeback post-Katrina. Stay tuned for more on this one.
Catholic Xavier University to Host Speech From Pro-Abortion President Obama
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 17, 2010
New Orleans, LA (LifeNews.com) -- Xavier University, a Catholic college, will host a speech on August 29 by pro-abortion President Barack Obama. The speech will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina but the college is coming under fire because it violates a request from the nation's Catholic bishops.
“We are pleased and grateful that the President has decided to include a visit to the Xavier University campus as part of his visit to New Orleans on August 29 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," Xavier President Dr. Norman Francis said, according to WDSU.
"Obama will get to see firsthand why we are so proud of the progress we have made here at Xavier during the five years since Katrina, not only restoring our campus but expanding our facilities and services since then in order to fulfill our mission established 85 years ago," he added.
But the Cardinal Newman Society, a watchdog for Catholic colleges and universities, is not pleased.
“U.S. bishops' policy is clear,” it said in a statement to LifeSite. “No Catholic institution should provide an honor or platform to a public opponent of fundamental Catholic teachings. This is most important at a university that is dedicated to seeking and teaching the truth, and which embraces the Catholic faith.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a policy in June 2004 that addresses pro-abortion politicians as well as colleges giving a platform to pro-abortion speakers.
The statement makes it clear that Catholic colleges should not allow abortion advocates to have a platform to speak to students or be honored with special awards and degrees.
"Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions," the bishops say.
But that didn't stop the University of Notre Dame from inviting Obama to give the college's commencement address and bestowing an honorary degree upon him.
“Last year President Obama used his platform at the University of Notre Dame to reiterate his support for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Xavier University is willingly inviting the same scandal,” CNS said.
Xavier University already hosted Obama in 2006 and gave him an honorary degree and allowed him to give its commencement address.
Catholic Xavier University to Host Speech From Pro-Abortion President Obama
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
August 17, 2010
New Orleans, LA (LifeNews.com) -- Xavier University, a Catholic college, will host a speech on August 29 by pro-abortion President Barack Obama. The speech will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina but the college is coming under fire because it violates a request from the nation's Catholic bishops.
“We are pleased and grateful that the President has decided to include a visit to the Xavier University campus as part of his visit to New Orleans on August 29 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina," Xavier President Dr. Norman Francis said, according to WDSU.
"Obama will get to see firsthand why we are so proud of the progress we have made here at Xavier during the five years since Katrina, not only restoring our campus but expanding our facilities and services since then in order to fulfill our mission established 85 years ago," he added.
But the Cardinal Newman Society, a watchdog for Catholic colleges and universities, is not pleased.
“U.S. bishops' policy is clear,” it said in a statement to LifeSite. “No Catholic institution should provide an honor or platform to a public opponent of fundamental Catholic teachings. This is most important at a university that is dedicated to seeking and teaching the truth, and which embraces the Catholic faith.”
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted a policy in June 2004 that addresses pro-abortion politicians as well as colleges giving a platform to pro-abortion speakers.
The statement makes it clear that Catholic colleges should not allow abortion advocates to have a platform to speak to students or be honored with special awards and degrees.
"Catholic institutions should not honor those who act in defiance of our fundamental moral principles. They should not be given awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions," the bishops say.
But that didn't stop the University of Notre Dame from inviting Obama to give the college's commencement address and bestowing an honorary degree upon him.
“Last year President Obama used his platform at the University of Notre Dame to reiterate his support for abortion and embryonic stem cell research. Xavier University is willingly inviting the same scandal,” CNS said.
Xavier University already hosted Obama in 2006 and gave him an honorary degree and allowed him to give its commencement address.
Monday, August 16, 2010
A King who knew what matters most
In times like these would this be great; a king, a ruler, a secular leader who lives for God, defends the Church and governs accordingly. Today we honor the life of St. Stephen of Hungary who was crowned king after his baptism into the Catholic Church. He ruled for nearly 40 years in Hungary and enacted laws that brought peace and prosperity to his people while seeking the overall welfare of his subjects, particularly the poor and needy. Under his rule, he collaborated with the Catholic Church in founding many dioceses.
In one of St. Stephen's letters he urged his son to honor the royal crown you must maintain the Catholic and apostolic faith with diligence and care being an example for those under your rule and the clergy as well. He went on to urge his son to be patient with everyone, not just the powerful but especially the weak. He urged humility in this life that God may raise you up in the next.
Imagine if you can, a political leader that rules with Christian values and urges faithfulness to the Church.
Oh my, will we ever see this kind of faithfulness and service from a politician or leader in our lifetime?
In one of St. Stephen's letters he urged his son to honor the royal crown you must maintain the Catholic and apostolic faith with diligence and care being an example for those under your rule and the clergy as well. He went on to urge his son to be patient with everyone, not just the powerful but especially the weak. He urged humility in this life that God may raise you up in the next.
Imagine if you can, a political leader that rules with Christian values and urges faithfulness to the Church.
Oh my, will we ever see this kind of faithfulness and service from a politician or leader in our lifetime?
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