BURNING QUESTION OF THE WEEK: "When Catholics talk about the Real Presence of Christ, what are they talking about? How many other forms of Christ's presence in our midst can you think of?" Share your comments with us.
We have a wonderful collection of stories for you this week beginning with a priest who spends a lot of time on the road as he services the spiritual needs of four parishes every weekend - in both the US and Canada! It seems Major League Baseball has found the Catholic faithful as "Faith Nights" prove to be a winner for both camps. And surprise, surprise! Young people are for the first time spending more time looking at internet sites than watching TV.
Read the story of several youth volunteers who rediscover their faith as they work side by side Catholic nuns in the poorest sections of Tijuana, Mexico. We also bring you the awesome story of a teen who decided to spend nine months on a mission trip to preach the Catholic faith to young people across America and "to see where I am with God."
Pope Benedict urged adults and parents this week to renew and deepen their faith in Christ so they can become better examples and teachers to their children. As the 5th World Meeting of the Families opened in Valencia, Spain, he hoped that the meeting will lead to transmission of the faith to future generations. The synod of bishops held in the Vatican last October on “the Eucharist, source and summit of the Church’s life and mission” will soon finalize its results and Pope Benedict is expected to write the final chapter. When he reflected on the life of the Apostle John, the Pope said that "to be a disciple of Christ means to be his close friend. "
And in contrast to his predecessor John Paul II, Pope Benedict this week seemed to hold a tougher line in the Catholic Church dialogue with Islam. While suggestions were made also this week by a prominent Egyptian Muslim that the Blessed Virgin Mary could be the figure who brings Christians and Muslims together.
We bring you an article that helps us to better understand the the sacrament of "Anointing of the Sick." And the US Bishops present "A Pastoral Response to Domestic Violence Against Women." It's very thoughtful reading.
Catholic-related events were buzzing all over the world this week. In Mexico, Felipe Calderon - a conservative Catholic- has won a narrow election and is posed to bring that nation back into the folds of the Church. In India, nuns of Mother Teresa's order were arrested under the statutes of the country's new anti-conversion laws as they visited a hospital to help its poorest patients. While in San Diego, CA, the 42-foot Mt. Soledad Cross which was ordered removed by a previous court order was given a reprieve by the US Supreme Court.
Despite the increase in the number of bibles in circulation in Europe today, knowledge of the Scriptures and the Church seems to remain weak in that continent. And to give new insight into what the Catholic Church knew and did as Europe saw the rise of Nazism in Germany and the Spanish Civil War, Pope Benedict has decided to open all Vatican archives from 1922 to 1939.
In life issues, did you know there are now close to 3 million babies who have been born through In-vitro fertilization? This raises some serious concerns about its ethical implications. And remember Terri Chiavo? Her family continues on with her fight againts Euthanasia.
"What is the point of Catholic schools?" This incisive article explains it quite well. At the Boston College, the nation's first graduate program to train priests, nuns, and laypersons who manage Catholic parishes and organizations will be launched.
Get Inspired! "The Yellow Shirt" will touch your hearts. "LET SOME THINGS NOT CHANGE" by Bo Sanchez is a warm testimonial to parents' love for their children. And see how a chance e-mail helped bring help and rosaries to U.S. troops in Iraq.
Have a great and blessed weekend. God bless.
Keep the faith. Peace.
Wally Arida
Publisher and Editor in Chief
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