Showing posts with label Pope Benedict. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pope Benedict. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Vocations Holy Hour Tonight

On this 150th anniversary of the death of the patron of all priests, St. John Marie Vianney, Most Holy Trinity Church in Wallingford will host a Hour Hour for Vocations.

What: Holy Hour for Vocations
When: Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 7 p.m.
Where: Most Holy Trinity Church, 84 North Colony Street [Route 5] in Wallingford, CT

You are invited to join in celebrating this Year of the Priest by praying in front of the great gift our priests bring us everyday: Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. Join in the prayer to ask God to send more shepherds to tend the flock. The monstrance to be used, seen above, is the National Vocations Monstrance blessed by Pope John Paul II. This prayer service will also allow people the time to follow Pope Benedict's call to pray for all priests. (Find out about receiving a Plenary Indulgence at this site.)

Archbishop Henry Mansell says, "This is a wonderful way to celebrate the Feast of St. John Vianney, Patron of Priests across the world, as we move into the Year for Priests. The Holy Hour is an excellent opportunity to pray for more vocations to the priesthood. We are very encouraged here in the Archdiocese of Hartford with the recent and significant increase in the number of our seminarians, but of course we still hope for more. I would encourage as many parishioners as possible to participate in this Holy Hour on August 4 and to continue your prayers for our priests and for many men to answer the call to the priesthood."

All are invited to the church hall for refreshment after Adoration. A panel of priests and parishioners will also share testimonies about the gift of priesthood.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

The Great Silence: Vatican Ambassador Confirmation Hearing

President Obama’s Vatican ambassador appointee had his confirmation hearing today. From a quick search of the Internet, it looks like this hearing is not drawing much attention from the media. We were able to find just a few blog entries about the hearing, including this one from the Washington Times.

According to Times religion editor Julia Duin, Diaz gave a brief prepared speech. During the session, Senator Bob Casey asked Diaz about the recent meeting between the Pope and the President. Diaz’s answer gives us some more insight into the conversations of the two leaders, more than was originally released. Diaz said the President and Pope talked about outreach to Muslims, Middle Eastern peace, Cuba, the political situation in Honduras, and the Pope’s encyclicals on bioethics and abortion. After the hearing, Duin and one other reporter tried to interview Diaz. He only said he was very proud to be nominated. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee may vote on the appointee next Tuesday. The full Senate will also need to approve the appointment.

In May, Catholic News Service offered this article on the appointment of Diaz, a theology professor from Collegeville, Minnesota.

(Updated on Thursday: Other news organizations are now reporting on this hearing. According to the Times blog entry, only two reporters tried interviewing Diaz. That leads me to think most of the stories are gathering their information from the Times or the other reporter who tried talking to Diaz.)

Friday, July 17, 2009

WJMJ Religious Headlines

Pope Undergoes Surgery for Wrist Fracture

Court Upholds Ban on Passing Out Bibles in School

Much more headlines to come. Listen to WJMJ Catholic Radio on 88.9 in Hartford, 93.1 in Hamden, and 107.1 in New Haven. WJMJ Religious News airs weekdays at 8:25, 11:25, 2:25, and 4:25. Don't forget ABC News and Connecticut news are on the hour.

Updated:

Pope Smiling, Arm In Cast

Enrollment Decline at Catholic Schools

Only 33% of Scientists Believe in God

Legion to Take Over College

Confession: An Oil Change for the Soul

Pro-Soccer Players: Faith on Shirt Debate

Friday, July 10, 2009

Environmental Stewardship

This weekend on Crossroads Magazine, we are devoting our show to energy and the environment. Tune in to learn about a proposal to turn garbage into gas. See how junk becomes art. Learn how the sun can power your home.

In addition, we will feature a report about global warming. We spoke to Yale Professor Dr. Ellen Thomas, who studies microscopic organisms in the Long Island Sound. In her research, she finds evidence that the sea is rising. These findings lead her to argue the world is warming.
To help protect the environment, many Catholics, including the Pope and the U.S. Bishops, are urging good environmental stewardship. Learn more about what some individuals and parishes are doing to chip in. Watch Crossroads Magazine this Saturday.

For more information on Church pronouncements on the environment, check on the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change website.

U.S. Bishops' Letter on climate change is here.

Catholics are pledging to do things to reduce their carbon footprints. Many, including Hartford's Archbishop Henry Mansell, are joining the Catholic Climate Covenant. You can join by taking the St. Francis Pledge. You can find out more and make the pledge here.

For people or parishes who want to get involved in the Archdiocese of Hartford, you can contact Jennie Graustein or Lynn Campbell at the Office of Urban Affairs at 203-777-7279.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Pope Approves Healing of Mass. Deacon by Newman


Pope Benedict XVI has approved a miracle in Massachusetts: the sudden healing of a Massachusetts deacon who suffered from a severe spinal disease. The miracle is attributed to Cardinal John Henry Newman, a 19th century English Catholic convert from Anglicanism. The Holy Father authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to publish decrees declaring miracles, martyrdom or heroic virtue for twelve deceased Catholics who are on the path to sainthood, including Cardinal Newman.

The healed deacon is Jack Sullivan. He shared his story over the weekend with inmates from Plymouth County Jail. He says he was studying to become a deacon, when the crippling pain interrupted the studies. He prayed to Cardinal Newman after seeing a show about him on the Eternal World Television Network. The pain left, but then returned a year later. The deacon prayed once again. He then felt a tremendous warmth and tingling. After this experience, Deacon Jack was healed of the spinal problem. He says the Cardinal "is always a part of me." He hopes to serve at the Beatification Mass.

You can read more here.

Official Vatican Announcement here.

Monday, June 22, 2009

WJMJ Religious Headlines

Massachusetts Deacon Healed by NewmanCardinals of the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints have approved a miracle in Massachusetts. Deacon Jack Sullivan of the Archdiocese of Boston suffered from a severe spinal disorder. He prayed to Cardinal Newman, and was subsequently cured in August 2001. Deacon Sullivan tells the London Times he feels "awe and immense gratitude" to God and Newman. He says without the miracle, he would never have been able to complete studies to become a permanent deacon. While the cardinals approved the miracle at their June meeting, the Pope has the final say on this case. Cardinal Newman was a well known 19th century writer and priest. He converted to Catholicism after serving as an Anglican minister.

Other Headlines:

Friday, April 24, 2009

WJMJ News Headlines

Massachusetts Deacon Healed by Newman


A miracle in Massachusetts means Cardinal John Henry Newman is one step closer to sainthood. London’s Daily Telegraph reports Vatican consulters have approved a miraculous healing of a 69-year-old Marshfield, Massachusetts Catholic Deacon who was suffering from a severe disorder of the spine. The disease caused him to be “bent double.” After praying to Cardinal Newman, the deacon was healed. Pope Benedict XVI can now name Newman a Blessed. There is no word on when or where that will take place. Newman was an Anglican scholar who converted to Catholicism in the 19th century.