2016
#BreakingNews Nun Dies trying to Save Girls from Earthquake in Ecuador - RIP Sr. Clare
Irish Sister Died Trying to Save Young Girls in Ecuador Earthquake - Aid Agencies Struggle to Deal with Devastation
Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese,
20 Apr 2016
20 Apr 2016
Virtually nothing remains of thousands of communities following the earthquake
Rescuers are still searching through rubble for survivors of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake although they believe there is little hope of finding many of those still missing. The government and aid agencies expect the death toll to rise as the devastation is slowly cleared.
It was the country's most powerful quake in decades, which hit the Pacific coastline. Numerous high intensity after shocks also hit the area.
The hardiest-hit area was the coastal Manabi province and the cities of Manta, :Portoviejo and Pedernales which is a tourist destination.
Apart from homes, hotels, shopping malls, bridges and roadways buckled and collapsed.
It will take a long time to clear the rubble and wreckage
Sr Clare and another Irish nun had been teaching guitar and singing when five young postulants, who were entering the religious order, when the earthquake struck. Sr Clare was trying to get the young girls to safety down a staircase. Despite her quick efforts the stairway began to collapse when the quake hit. The building collapsed on top of them.
Family and friends in Derry, Ireland said Sr Clare was very much a fun loving girl who loved karaoke. However at just 17, during a trip to the order's headquarters in Spain, she said; "I could become really famous and rich, or I could stay here and pray to God that I made the right decision".
Sr Clare stayed and more recently found herself in Ecuador working at a school teaching 400 children from the local area.
Sr Clare, seated, loved to sing and often entertained the school children she taught.
There are long queues for essential supplies such as bottled water, food and blankets.
Reconstruction costs are expected to be huge - when they eventually begin.
There are a number of aid organisations contributing to the Ecuador earthquake relief. However if you would like to know more about Sr Clare's order and the Missionary Groups of the Home of the Mother who are coming together to help the Sisters in the devastated area where Sr Clare was based, to by food, medicine, mattresses and goods for families in the area click here
Shared from Archdiocese of Sydney
#Quote to SHARE by Mother Teresa "If you judge people, you have no time to love them"
Mother Teresa "If you judge people, you have no time to love them"
#Breaking Cardinal Dolan signs process for Canonization of Dorothy Day - OFFICIAL Release
For Immediate Release
April 19, 2016
PRESS RELEASE
Cardinal Dolan Announces New Stage in Dorothy Day Canonization Process
The Cause for Dorothy Day’s possible eventual beatification and canonization moved into a new phase today as Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, opened the canonical Inquiry on the life of the Catholic Worker movement founder, gathering evidence to determine if Dorothy Day lived a life of “heroic virtue” in the eyes of the Church.
The Archdiocese, which is sponsoring her cause, will gather the evidence and present it to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Saints and Pope Francis. After carefully examining the information presented, the Congregation and Pope Francis will determine if she will be elevated from “Servant of God,” to “Venerable,” and become eligible for beatification and ultimately canonization.
Dorothy Day founded the Catholic Worker Movement with Peter Maurin in 1933 in New York City, following her conversion to Catholicism in 1927. Its “houses of hospitality” minister directly to people living in poverty and operate in over 120 places in the United States, and as far away as New Zealand. In addition to providing food and shelter to those in need, members of the Catholic Worker movement publish community newspapers and websites as well as publically promote nonviolence in response to social concerns. Catholic worker houses accept no government funds—a tradition established by Day and maintained to the present. Dorothy Day remained active in the Catholic Worker movement until her death in New York at the age of 83 in 1980.
A few years after her death, the Claretian fathers began collecting materials for an eventual canonization effort. In 2000, at the request of Cardinal John O’Connor, the Vatican provided its nihil obstat, naming Dorothy Day “Servant of God” and opening the canonization process. Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo was named “postulator” or chief advocate for the Cause of Canonization. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops provided its formal endorsement in 2012, and the Cause moves today into a new stage with the establishment of a canonical Inquiry.
Msgr. Mustaciuolo, said, “Beginning next week, we will begin interviewing eyewitnesses — people who had firsthand experience of Dorothy Day — in all about fifty. Together, their memories stretch all the way back to the 1940’s.”
He added that in the coming months, Cardinal Dolan will also appoint a historical commission that will issue a report placing Day’s life in historical context and review her unpublished writings. Theological experts appointed by the Cardinal will review her published writings—two readers for each publication—with an eye toward doctrine and morals.
“This will require a team effort,” stated George B. Horton, liaison for the Dorothy Day Guild. “Dorothy Day created or inspired dozens of houses of hospitality throughout the English-speaking world, but she was also a journalist who published The Catholic Worker newspaper. Her articles in that paper alone total over 3,000 pages. Add her books and other publications and we will probably surpass 8,000 pages of manuscripts.”
Interviews will begin next week and will extend throughout 2016. Those too frail to travel will be interviewed in their home dioceses, some as far away as Europe. Because many of the eyewitnesses still live in voluntary poverty, caring for the poor, the Archdiocese will assist with airfare and lodging for those requesting assistance.
To learn more about Dorothy Day, the Guild, and ways to help forward her cause,
please visit: www.dorothydayguild.org .
Shared from Archdiocese of NY
#PopeFrancis “Your faith has saved you” #Audience - FULL TEXT - Video
Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning!
Today, we wish to reflect on an aspect of mercy well represented by the passage of Luke’s Gospel, which we heard. It is an event that happened to Jesus while He was the guest of a Pharisee called Simon. The latter wished to invite Jesus to his home because he had heard speak well of him as a great prophet. While they were sitting at lunch, a woman came in, known by all in the city as a sinner. Without saying a word, she fell down at Jesus’ feet, weeping. Her tears bathed Jesus’ feet and she dried them with her hair, then she kissed them and anointed them with perfumed ointment, which she had brought with her.
Striking is the contrast between the two figures: that of Simon, the zealous servant of the Law, and that of the anonymous sinful woman. While the former judged others on the basis of their appearance, with her gestures the latter expressed her heart sincerely. Although having invited Jesus, Simon does not want to commit himself or involve his life with the Master. The woman, on the contrary, entrusts herself fully to Him with love and veneration. The Pharisee cannot conceive that Jesus lets Himself be “contaminated” by sinners, that is how they thought. He thought that if was really a prophet, He should recognize them and keep them at a distance, so as not to be stained, as if they were lepers.
This attitude is typical of a certain way of understanding religion, and it is motivated by the fact that God and sin are radically opposed. However, the Word of God teaches how to distinguish between sin and the sinner: one must not descend to compromises with sin, while sinners – that is, all of us! – are like the sick that are cured, and to cure them the doctor must come close to them, visit and touch them. And, of course, to be cured, the sick person must admit that he is in need of a doctor!
Between the Pharisee and the sinful woman, Jesus aligns Himself with the latter. Free of prejudices that impede mercy from being expressed, the Master lets her be. He, the Holy One of God, lets Himself be touched by her without fear of being contaminated. Jesus is free because He is close to God who is a Merciful Father. Therefore, by entering in relation with the sinful woman, Jesus puts an end to that condition of isolation to which the merciless judgment of the Pharisee and of his fellow citizens, who insulted her, condemned her: “Your sins are forgiven” (v. 48). So the woman can now go “in peace.” The Lord saw the sincerity of her faith and of her conversion, therefore, He proclaimed before everyone: “Your faith has saved you” (v. 50). On one hand, the hypocrisy of the Doctors of the Law, on the other, the humility and sincerity of the woman. All of us are sinners, but we often fall into the temptation of hypocrisy, of believing ourselves better than others and we say: “Look at your sin …” Instead, we should all look at our sin, our falls, our mistakes and look at the Lord. This is the line of salvation: the relationship between “I” a sinner and the Lord. If I consider myself just, this relationship of salvation does not happen.
At this point, even greater astonishment assails all the table companions: “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (v. 49). Jesus does not give an explicit answer, but the sinful woman’s conversion is before the eyes of all and demonstrates that in Him shines the power of God’s mercy, capable of transforming hearts.
The sinful woman shows us the bond between faith, love and gratitude. “Many sins” were forgiven her, therefore, she loves much; “instead, he who is forgiven little, loves little” (v. 47). Simon himself must admit that he loves more to whom more has been condoned. God has enclosed all in the same mystery of mercy and, from this love, which always precedes us, we all learn to love. As Saint Paul recalls: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished upon us” (Ephesians 1:7-8). In this text, the term “grace” is practically a synonym of mercy, and is said to be “lavish,” that is, beyond our expectation, because God’s salvific plan acts for each one of us.
Dear brothers, let us be grateful for the gift of faith; we thank the Lord for His very great and unmerited love! Let us allow the love of Christ to be poured into us: the disciple draws from this love and is founded on it; everyone can be nourished and fed by this love. Thus, in the grateful love that we in turn pour on our brothers, in our homes, in the family, in the society, the Lord’s mercy is communicated to all.
In Italian
I give a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. I am happy to receive with particular affection the faithful of the dioceses of Pesaro, Biella, Nicosia and Ozieri, accompanied by their respective Bishops, Monsignor Coccia, Monsignor Mana, Monsignor Muratore and Monsignor Melis: I hope that your Jubilee pilgrimage will awaken in you the desire to become increasingly witnesses of mercy and render your communities rich with the dynamism of the faith and a missionary spirit.
I greet the doctors taking part in the European Congress ”Pain Therapy and Palliative Care”; the pilgrimage of the Apostolic Movement; the Religious of the Union of Major Superiors of Italy and the Foundation “Let Us Help Them to Live” of Terni.
A particular greeting goes to the young people, the sick and the newlyweds. Tomorrow we remember Saint Anselm of Aosta, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. May his example of life drive you, dear young people, especially you youngsters of Aversa and of Ascoli Piceno, to see in the merciful Jesus the true Teacher of life; may His intercession obtain for you, dear sick, the serenity and peace present in the mystery of the cross; and may His Doctrine be an encouragement for you, dear newlyweds, to become educators of your children with the wisdom of the heart.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]
The Holy Father’s Appeal
Ukraine’s population has been suffering for some time the consequences of an armed conflict, forgotten by many. As you know, I have invited the Church in Europe to support the initiative announced by me to support this humanitarian emergency. I thank ahead of time all those that will contribute generously to the initiative, which will take place next Sunday, April 24.
[Original text: Italian] [Translation by ZENIT]Today's Mass Readings and Video : Wed. April 20, 2016
Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 281
Reading 1ACTS 12:24—13:5A
The word of God continued to spread and grow.
After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission,
they returned to Jerusalem,
taking with them John, who is called Mark.
Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers:
Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene,
Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said,
“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul
for the work to which I have called them.”
Then, completing their fasting and prayer,
they laid hands on them and sent them off.
So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit,
went down to Seleucia
and from there sailed to Cyprus.
When they arrived in Salamis,
they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
Responsorial PsalmPS 67:2-3, 5, 6 AND 8
R. (4) O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 8:12
R. Alleluia, alleluia.I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said,
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
“Whoever believes in me believes not only in me
but also in the one who sent me,
and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me.
I came into the world as light,
so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness.
And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them,
I do not condemn him,
for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.
Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words
has something to judge him: the word that I spoke,
it will condemn him on the last day,
because I did not speak on my own,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak.
And I know that his commandment is eternal life.
So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
Saint April 20 : St. Agnes of Montepulciano : #Nun and #Foundress
St. Agnes of Montepulciano
NUN AND FOUNDRESS
Feast: April 20
Information:
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Born in the neighbourhood of Montepulciano in Tuscany about 1268; died there 1317. At the age of nine years she entered a monastery. Four years later she was commissioned by Pope Nicholas IV to assist in the foundation of a monastery at Proceno, and became its prioress at the age of fifteen. At the entreaty of the citizens of her native town, she established (1298) the celebrated convent of Dominican nuns at Montepulciano which she governed until the time of her death. She was canonized by Benedict XIII in 1726. Her feast is celebrated on 20 April.
(Taken from Catholic Encyclopedia)
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#BreakingNews #ProLife Religious Leaders unite against Assisted Suicide in Canada
Canadian religious leaders call on Government to protect the vulnerable, improve palliative care and protect freedom of conscience
OTTAWA – At a news conference today on Parliament Hill, representatives of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, The Canadian Council of Imams, The Salvation Army and Jewish communities, as well as a hematologist - oncologist from the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur, Montreal, expressed their opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide, and their concerns regarding proposed legislation on "physician-assisted dying." "We stand together today, leaders within our respective faith communities – Jewish, Muslim and Christian – to express our grave concern over the decriminalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia. We believe that any action intended to end human life is morally and ethically wrong." The principal concerns relate to the protection of vulnerable persons, conscience protection for healthcare workers and healthcare facilities, as well as the lack of availability of quality palliative care for all Canadians.
"Our churches, synagogues and mosques are committed to comfort and care for those who are dying and their families," they said. "Together, with our diverse communities of faith, we are determined to work to alleviate human suffering in every form but never by intentionally eliminating those who suffer." The religious leaders called on the Government instead to provide palliative care, support services for people with psychiatric illness and supports for the disabled.
Addressing the fundamental right of conscience for healthcare workers and facilities such as hospices, nursing homes and hospitals, the speakers asked "for the same protection that has been provided to these facilities in every foreign jurisdiction in the world that has legalized euthanasia/assisted suicide; that is, never to force hospitals, nursing homes, hospices and other care facilities to go against their mission and values, which are their institutional conscience." Because there is no reference to conscience rights in the draft legislation, "it appears that the federal government is leaving this issue to the provinces and territories for consideration." The religious leaders insisted "those protections are vital not only for the fundamental human rights of healthcare professionals; not only for the integrity of the medical profession; they are vital to maintaining the sanctity of life as an enduring Canadian value. That value continues to define us whatever legislation is adopted as law."
Speaking at the news conference were : Mr. Bruce Clemenger, President of The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada; Imam Sikander Hashmi, Canadian Council of Imams; Commissioner Susan McMillan, The Salvation Army; Rabbi Dr. Reuven P. Bulka, C.M., Congregation Machzikei Hadas, Ottawa; Dr. Caroline Girouard, MD, FRCPC, a hematologist - oncologist at the Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur, Montreal, and Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Montreal; and His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Toronto, representing both the CCCB and also the Coalition for HealthCARE and Conscience. (USCCB Release)
Link to the video archives on CPAC
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