Latin Mass, Evan Almighty and the Internet

By Wally Arida
Published June 28, 2007


Dear Friends:

What a busy week it has been for us. We've been working diligently on many new things to further improve your favorite Catholic lifestyle magazine. And thanks to your support, we are today the fastest growing Catholic lifestyle magazine in the United States.

Every week through ParishWorld.net more and more people are discovering that evangelization and Catechization indeed happens via the internet. We've learned that Catholics everywhere really hunger for things Catholic and - in our own little way - we've been blessed to be in the position to provide it . Please CLICK HERE to see our mission at ParishWorld.net and to view our editorial policy.

And we've also been busy adding more new parishes to our ParishWorld family. This week we welcome to our fold St. Denis in Diamond Bar, CA; St. Madeleine in Pomona, CA; St. Lorenzo Ruiz in Walnut, CA; St. Thomas Korean Catholic Community in Anaheim, CA; and St. Anthony in San Jacinto, CA. We will announce even more parish additions in the coming weeks.

The Tridentine Mass, Marriage and internet evangelization are our top three story clusters this week. We kick things off with the announcement today from the Vatican that Pope Benedict has relaxed the restrictions for the celebration of the the Latin Mass. This has been a very sensitive and polarizing topic among many Catholics so we feel it necessary to clarify that the Pope did not decree that the Tridentine Mass will replace the current liturgical rite. CLICK HERE to see exactly what he said. There is a deeper issue here. And "Benedict and the Mass" offers an in-depth look at all the attention this topic has generated.

The Internet and its role in Christian evangelization continues to be discussed widely as we lead off with this story, "The Internet as a Source of Grace." We also bring you "God’sSpace," the story of how the Marist Brothers - a religious order struggling to fill its dwindling ranks - turned to the internet for answers. And if like most people you handle email on a daily basis, we bring you "Seven steps to better e-mail management," helpful hints to help you whip your in-box into shape.

This being the tail end of the month of June, we continue with our series on weddings, marriages and relationships with our burning question: "Can a Catholic marry a non-Catholic in a Catholic ceremony?" In the state of Massachussetts, the Catholic Church announced this week a state-wide iniitiative to promote Marriage. Also, "What Have You Done for Your Marriage Today" is the question the US Bishops ask everyday Catholics in a series of radio and TV spots aimed to promote the sacramental element of Marriage. And we talk about "The In-Laws" and why an essential part of being married is working out a healthy relationship with them.

There is an undeniable resurgence of the Catholic faith in the United States as more and more faithful flock to our Sunday Masses. But why are some churches more filled than others? In "We are still faithful," is is opined that Relevance keeps the church pews filled today. It's about Gospel living, meaningful worship and challenging parishioners to think about "why we do what we do." Want another indication that faith is really surging in the U.S.? Recent studies show that the Pro-Life position is showing a steady rise among U.S. voters.

Every Sunday we recite the Apostles' Creed, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” But what does this really mean in our faith? Read the complete explanation here. We also bring you "You are my God," a powerful video on Eucharistic Adoration, featuring Fr. Stan Fortuna.

Last week, we preached about it. Well, the issue seems to be quite universal as Philippine bishops this week also decided to address the issue of wearing modest attires during Sunday Masses in all of their parishes. And, if you are a Christian soldier, or know one who is, you might like to know that MTV is doing a documentary on the lives of Christian servicemen in our armed forces and are looking to feature people like yourselves. CLICK HERE to see how you can be a part of the documentary.

"Arms and spirits high," announces that this week marks the 40th anniversary of charismatic Catholic praise. Check out the story. We also have word from the 2008 World Youth Day in Sidney that participant numbers are surging. And if you're an aspiring young filmmaker, The 2007 Outside da Box Youth Ministry Video Challenge may be just for you. CLICK HERE to see how you can join the contest.

"39 Ways to Live, and Not Merely Exist" is a great litany of things that let you live a bountiful and blessed life. You have to read it. And if you haven't seen "Evan Almighty," Sr. Rose Pacatte of the Pauline Sisters offers you an "Evan Almighty Study Guide for Catholic Christians" to share with your family and friends. This is a wonderful family movie and it debuted last week at number one. Watch it with your entire family.

And how was your week? Have a great and blessed new week.

Keep the faith. Peace.

Wally Arida
Publisher and Editor-in-chief