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Do you remember how often Pope Francis called us to serve those in need and to work for justice and peace during his recent visit to the United States? He told us: “None of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice.” He showed us this with his example, too, by visiting the homeless and poor while here. He invited us to reach out to the marginalized and the vulnerable, to have a faith that is public and social. In fact, the Church’s teaching on social justice, that is, Catholic social teaching is central to our faith and a key to our Catholic identity.
Some have called Pope Francis the “Pope of Mercy,” and, indeed, mercy seems to be a constant theme for him. Pope Francis again demonstrated his focus on mercy with the unexpected announcement that the Church will celebrate an extraordinary jubilee Holy Year of Mercy. The Year of Mercy begins this December 8, the day on which Catholics celebrate the Immaculate Conception, and it closes November 20, 2016, the feast of Christ the King. In response to this Year of Mercy, the Church is planning many events all over the world that will hopefully helping us discover over and over God’s mercy i
It is not without reason that on November 29, 1979, Pope John Paul II proclaimed St. Francis of Assisi[1] the patron saint of ecology.[2] But it was not because St. Francis’ statue looks nice in flower gardens and bird baths! Rather, it was because St.
I loved my own experience of Catholics on Call so much in 2012 that they haven’t been able to keep me away from the Partner Conference for the following three years as a way to still be in near proximity to such beautiful liturgies, vibrant speakers, and important conversations. This third year did not disappoint. In fact, it was an excellent culmination to what could potentially be my final year attending the partner conference as I’m finishing up my degree at CTU that keeps me in such close proximity to it.
I first became acquainted with Catholics on Call as a campus minister at UTEP in El Paso. We partnered with religious communities in El Paso to help give scholarships to two or more campus leaders each year so they could participate in the annual Young Adult Conference in Chicago. Our students always came back more enthusiastic about their faith and the persons they met. So I was delighted to take part in this year’s Partners’ Conference as a representative of our Franciscan province which is a supporting partner of Catholics on Call.
Every morning my alarm clock wakes me at 5:45am, and like most college students I pound the snooze button several times before I finally roll out of bed. However, unlike most college students, the first thing I do is toss on a sweatshirt and stumble into the chapel for Morning Prayer. In a tiny, carpeted room I am joined by other pajama-clad women, seated in a semi-circle around the tiny altar and tabernacle. It’s my turn to read.
It is our tradition to send out weekly emails during the season of Lent that help us reflect on different aspects of our faith.
