Catholic News 2
NEW YORK (AP) -- On a Friday evening almost a year ago, the White House was awash in rainbow-colored lights, celebrating the momentous Supreme Court ruling that led to nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage. Across the country, gays and lesbians embraced and partied and in some cases scrambled to arrange can't-wait-another-day weddings....
The Claretian community in Sri Lanka is actively engaged in helping victims of the floods that hit the country last month. A letter written by the Major Superior of Sri Lanka, Fr. S. Rex Constantine CMF, he stated that the Claretians in Sri Lanka and our Missions are not directly affected by the floods that brought a national disaster to the country. But as Christians they have decided to respond with a sense of urgency and solidarity with some little relief work according to their capacity. They have appointed in the Delegation a team (Claretians Disaster Recovery) to plan and coordinate the Relief and Reconstruction efforts of the Claretians. The team is planning strategies and actions to be of help to the affected people.Many areas of Sri Lanka received over 300 mm of rain from May 10, 2016 that resulted in flooding and significant landslides. 22 districts across the country have been affected by floods, landslides and heavy rain. 92 persons were confirmed dead with...
The Claretian community in Sri Lanka is actively engaged in helping victims of the floods that hit the country last month. A letter written by the Major Superior of Sri Lanka, Fr. S. Rex Constantine CMF, he stated that the Claretians in Sri Lanka and our Missions are not directly affected by the floods that brought a national disaster to the country. But as Christians they have decided to respond with a sense of urgency and solidarity with some little relief work according to their capacity. They have appointed in the Delegation a team (Claretians Disaster Recovery) to plan and coordinate the Relief and Reconstruction efforts of the Claretians. The team is planning strategies and actions to be of help to the affected people.
Many areas of Sri Lanka received over 300 mm of rain from May 10, 2016 that resulted in flooding and significant landslides. 22 districts across the country have been affected by floods, landslides and heavy rain. 92 persons were confirmed dead with another 131 reported as missing. Out of the affected, 319,507 people from 64,308 families have been evacuated to 602 safe locations. About 474 houses are reported to be fully damaged and 3,674 houses partially damage by floods and landslides. As of today 66198 families are residing in 497 camps in 9 districts. (Fides)
Vatican City, Jun 18, 2016 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Church should always value the transformative power of faith-filled laity who are willing to serve the Gospel, Pope Francis said Friday.“We need well-formed lay people, animated by a sincere and clear faith, whose life has been touched by the personal and merciful love of Christ Jesus,” the Pope told a plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity June 17.“We need lay people who take risks, who get their hands dirty, who are not afraid of making mistakes, who go forward. We need lay people with a vision of the future, not confined to the little things of life.”He added that the Church needs lay people who “dare to dream.”Pope Francis said many lay people would willingly and generously serve the Gospel if they were involved and valued by pastors and church institutions.This is part of all Christians’ baptismal vocation, he said.“Baptism makes each one of the lay fait...
Vatican City, Jun 18, 2016 / 06:04 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Church should always value the transformative power of faith-filled laity who are willing to serve the Gospel, Pope Francis said Friday.
“We need well-formed lay people, animated by a sincere and clear faith, whose life has been touched by the personal and merciful love of Christ Jesus,” the Pope told a plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Laity June 17.
“We need lay people who take risks, who get their hands dirty, who are not afraid of making mistakes, who go forward. We need lay people with a vision of the future, not confined to the little things of life.”
He added that the Church needs lay people who “dare to dream.”
Pope Francis said many lay people would willingly and generously serve the Gospel if they were involved and valued by pastors and church institutions.
This is part of all Christians’ baptismal vocation, he said.
“Baptism makes each one of the lay faithful a missionary disciple of the Lord, salt of the earth, light of the world, and leaven that transforms reality from within,” remarked the Pope.
The Second Vatican Council’s mandate aimed to encourage the laity to be increasingly involved in the evangelizing mission of the Church, Pope Francis said, adding that this is not a “delegation” from the Church's hierarchy.
Rather, the lay apostolate is “participation in the salvific mission of the Church” destined by God himself by virtue of Christians’ baptism and confirmation.
He said the Church must be aware of being “the house of the Father where the doors are always wide open to each person, with his or her weary life.”
The Church must be “permanently outgoing” and “an evangelizing community that knows how to take the initiative without fear, to reach out to others, to seek out those who are distant and to reach out to crossroads, to invite in the excluded.”
Pope Francis encouraged those present to look to the distant parts of the world and to the many families in difficulty and in need of mercy.
He reflected on the lay associations that have had a long history as well as the many movements and new communities that have shown great missionary zeal. He said the Pontifical Council for the Laity has observed and assisted these developments, which include an increased role for women in the Church and the institution of World Youth Days.
For Pope Francis, World Youth Days are a “providential gesture” from St. John Paul II and a tool for evangelization of young generations.
He reflected on the history of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, which was established under Blessed Paul VI more than 50 years ago.
It currently is the subject of curial reform efforts and is set to be suppressed, along with the Pontifical Council for the Family, in September, and replaced with a Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life.
Nevertheless, he encouraged the pontifical council to “look anew with hope for the future.”
“Much remains to be done, broadening horizons and accepting the new challenges that reality presents to us,” the Roman Pontiff said.
Vatican City, Jun 18, 2016 / 06:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Recognizing the needs of others is a sign of genuine conversion, which only happens when the heart is ready to be changed by Jesus, Pope Francis said Saturday.“True conversion happens when we welcome the gift of grace,” the Pope said during his catechesis for this month’s Jubilee Year of Mercy audience in St. Peter's Square. “A clear sign of its authenticity is that we recognize the needs of our brothers and sisters, and we are ready to meet them.”In off-the-cuff remarks, the pontiff spoke of the challenge many feel in the face of this need for conversion, and how only Jesus can bring about real change.“How often do we tell ourselves: I must change, I cannot continue like this. On this path, my life will not bear fruit. It will be a useless life, and I will not be happy.”“And Jesus is beside us with hand outstretched,” the pontiff said, and he tells us: “Come to me...
Vatican City, Jun 18, 2016 / 06:10 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Recognizing the needs of others is a sign of genuine conversion, which only happens when the heart is ready to be changed by Jesus, Pope Francis said Saturday.
“True conversion happens when we welcome the gift of grace,” the Pope said during his catechesis for this month’s Jubilee Year of Mercy audience in St. Peter's Square. “A clear sign of its authenticity is that we recognize the needs of our brothers and sisters, and we are ready to meet them.”
In off-the-cuff remarks, the pontiff spoke of the challenge many feel in the face of this need for conversion, and how only Jesus can bring about real change.
“How often do we tell ourselves: I must change, I cannot continue like this. On this path, my life will not bear fruit. It will be a useless life, and I will not be happy.”
“And Jesus is beside us with hand outstretched,” the pontiff said, and he tells us: “Come to me. I will do the work. I will change your heart. I will change your life. I will make you happy.”
Francis challenged the crowds to say out loud whether they really believe that Jesus can bring about this change.
Jesus “invites us to change our lives,” the Pope said. He, with the Holy Spirit, “plants in us the seed of this restlessness in order to change our lives a little bit for the better.”
He challenged the faithful to respond to this invitation of the Lord, and not resist it: “Just open the door, and He will do all the rest. He does everything. But open wide the door so that he can heal us and carry us forward.”
The June 18 gathering in St. Peter's Square was the latest in a series of special audiences for the Holy Year of Mercy, which are being held in addition to the weekly general audiences every Wednesday.
The Jubilee of Mercy is an Extraordinary Holy Year that officially commenced December 8 – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – with the opening of the Holy Door in St. Peter's Basilica. It will close Nov. 20, 2016 with the Solemnity of Christ the King.
Conversion and forgiveness of sins are two aspects of mercy, Pope Francis said during Saturday’s catechesis, which centered especially on the meaning of conversion.
He noted how conversion is present throughout the Bible, and to convert -- according to the prophets -- means to return once again to the Lord.
Jesus’ began his preaching with a call to repent and believe in the Gospel, and insisted on an “interior dimension of conversion” in which the whole person, “heart and mind,” became “a new creature, a new person,” Francis said.
This call to conversion does not come from Jesus’ “judgement of people,” the pontiff continued, but from closeness, and a “sharing of the human condition,” be it on the street, in the home, at meals, etc.
“The mercy toward those who needed to change their lives occurred with his loving presence, involving everyone in his history of salvation,” the Pope said. “Jesus won people over with kindness', with love.”
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Decades ago, an early morning raid at the Stonewall Inn in New York sparked violent protests among gay patrons who fought back after police burst in and tried to arrest them for daring to drink and dance with members of the same sex....
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