Call To Holiness

The US Bishops have called for everyone to participate in the National Day of Prayer for Peace in our Communities on September 9th (USCCB).  Moving video from the Diocese of Burlington, Vermont

PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITIES

Let us pray . . . O Lord our God, in your mercy and kindness, no thought of ours is left unnoticed, no desire or concern ignored. You have proven that blessings abound when we fall on our knees in prayer, and so we turn to you in our hour of need. Surrounded by violence and cries for justice, we hear your voice telling us what is required . . . “Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mi 6:8). Fill us with your mercy so that we, in turn, may be merciful to others. Strip away pride, suspicion, and racism so that we may seek peace and justice in our communities. Strengthen our hearts so that they beat only to the rhythm of your holy will. Flood our path with your light as we walk humbly toward a future filled with encounter and unity. Be with us, O Lord, in our efforts, for only by the prompting of your grace can we progress toward virtue. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

USCCB – Prayer Card

Let us all pray for peace today!

Pax Et Bonum,

John

Top Catholic Tweets for September 9th

• Papal Tweet:  “What a great gift the Lord has given us in teaching us to forgive and in this way to touch the Father’s mercy!” (Pope Francis, September 6, 2016)
• Resources for National Day of Prayer for Peace in our Community – September 9th (USCCB) ow.ly/L12930411Xo
• 5 Ways You Can Cultivate Peace and Work for Racial Justice (to go forth – USCCB) ow.ly/vRoN3042zjk
• Help save the sacred site of St. Katherine Drexel in Virginia (Belmead on the James) ow.ly/PKSV303QdM3
• Pope Francis makes surprise stop at Vatican unveiling of Our Lady of Aparecida (CNA) ow.ly/ipTI303RUES
• Labor Day Statement 2016 USCCB – Archbishop Thomas Wenski ow.ly/Nkry303Ujp4
• The Saint Who Could Fly: The Astonishing Life of St. Joseph of Cupertino (ChurchPOP) ow.ly/TRyg303Uoc0
• Murdered nun in Haiti incarnated the spirit of Mother Teresa (Crux) ow.ly/Rwuj303WfF5
• DC Padres | Priests and Seminarians | Baseball Team (Archdiocese of Washington) ow.ly/6lQZ303WqTZ
• Sad News: Health care system will remove names of saints from hospitals (Deacon Greg Kandra – Aleteia) ow.ly/eHE3303Xwpy
• What are human-animal chimeras, and why are they problematic? (CNA) ow.ly/mp0u303XIei
• Concert Across America to End Gun Violence – September 25th ow.ly/Vw0d303XIxF
• After devastating earthquake, Norcia Monks begin to rebuild (Catholic World Report) ow.ly/95zs303Z7g2
• 21 Catholic Women Doing Wonderful Things for God (CatholicLink) ow.ly/GHOd30406uY
• Kenyan churches, mosques painted yellow to symbolize tolerance (Crux) ow.ly/uQZR304146Q
• Franciscan Media has done a nice job rebuilding their NEW WordPress website. franciscanmedia.org
• Pope Francis to Benedictines: Monasteries are oases of God’s mercy (News.va/Vatican Radio) ow.ly/Bpsp3041cpw
• 5 Warning signs of a toxic faith (Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP – Aleteia.org) ow.ly/DATX3041qb8
• Vatican newspaper praises ‘Star Trek’ on 50th anniversary (Crux) ow.ly/hzZ23043qII

Jubilee of Mercy

• Pope meets with workers of mercy at Jubilee for Volunteers (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/uVnK303RCRw
• Canonization of Mother Teresa (MercyHour) ow.ly/Fxq8303SnOC
• Calendar for Jubilee of Mercy: Jubilee for prisoners, canonizations among pope’s upcoming events (CNS) ow.ly/IaDw303XJTA
• Pope calls on faithful to be instruments of God’s mercy (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/cbko303Zdze
• Pope Francis’ video for Jubilee of Mercy: For a more human society – September 2016 ow.ly/vmvB303Ul6R

The Pope Video  – For a more human society – September 2016 (Apostleship of Prayer)

A ‘Rule’ for modern life –  Benedictine Abbot Primate Notker Wolf explains how the Rule of St. Benedict can be incorporated into modern life to bring busy people peace. (CNS)

Top Catholic Tweets are compiled weekly by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/).  John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ . 

Pope Francis’ “Friday of Mercy” visit to the Pope John XXIII Community safe house to meet 20 women freed from forced prostitution.

Lots of news to share from this past week including sections on the Olympics in Rio and the Jubilee of Mercy.  May you have a blessed week ahead!

Pax Et Bonum,

John

Top Catholic Tweets for August 19th

• Papal Tweet: “Through the cross we can touch God’s mercy and be touched by that mercy!” (Pope Francis, August 17th)
• Next synod likely to focus on ordaining married men (Crux) ow.ly/b1KO303b3C0
• Expert on communication: Pope Francis acts in full accordance with his values (Rome Reports) ow.ly/8fDy303bz0D
• Learning to advocate for the voiceless (CNS) ow.ly/uAT2303bzeh
• Former prostitutes get special visit from Pope Francis (CNA) ow.ly/wJc7303cNsj
• The Deadliest Forest Fire in U.S. History was No Match for The Blessed Virgin Mary (Catholic365.com) ow.ly/McRw303dGqX
• Pope prays for massacre victims in the DR Congo on Feast of the Assumption of Mary (CNA) ow.ly/ZVP5303f2cH
• Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. urges Catholics not to vote ‘on autopilot’ (CNA) ow.ly/fliv303g08L
• US Lutherans approve agreement with Catholic Church (CRUX) ow.ly/qDyI303itvs
• The ‘field hospital’ saint – St. Teresa of Calcutta (CNS)  – VIDEO
• Pope issues motu proprio on new Laity, Family, and Life dicastery (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/Ldk1303jVas
• Violence in Milwaukee unrest ‘a self-inflicted wound,’ says archbishop (NCR) ow.ly/55mt303jYN6
• 10 tips for college freshmen: Staying connected to your faith (National Catholic Reporter) ow.ly/tJFv303kRf0
• Louisiana flooding displaces 20,000, Baton Rouge churches call for volunteers (NCR) ow.ly/uorA303kTAL
• In rare two-page editorial, America magazine endorses women deacons (Deacon Greg Kandra – Aleteia) ow.ly/Z0PD303l0Pp
• El Salvador kicks off jubilee year to honor Oscar Romero (Crux) ow.ly/sJft303lUZ3
• NEW Book: The Catholic Mom’s Prayer Companion launched (joyalive.net) ow.ly/b7sS303lVHS
• How To Boost Participation In A New Young Adult Ministry – podcast + Young Adult Ministry in a Box (Busted Halo) ow.ly/6zUW303mdBV
• Bishops designate Wisconsin site of Marian apparitions as National Shrine (OSV) ow.ly/zt1Y303mdYY
• Pax Christi USA members meet in Baltimore and help in cleanup (Catholic Review) ow.ly/8nzu303mlQY
• Catholic school blesses, thanks members of Chicago Police Department (The Leaven) ow.ly/YFjw303mozP
• New Leadership at Our Sunday Visitor – congrats to Greg Willits (Christian Newswire) ow.ly/AZHJ303mr3u
• Major Apparitions of St. Joseph Are Approved (NC Register) ow.ly/xj94303nm9R
• Pope Francis to visit Assisi, again (Crux) ow.ly/CtWW303mMyT
• Care for Creation:  God’s creation in Norway (Michael Fletcher) vimeo.com/178300706
• Unexpected women: the voices of daring and defiant Catholics (US Catholic) ow.ly/oit3303n50k
• Priest in Syria: There is a real genocide against Christians (Rome Reports) ow.ly/R8hQ303ng5D
• Prayers for Peace in Syria:  Aleppo Archbishop: ‘Enough is enough’ (Our Sunday Visitor)  Story Link
•  Aleppo’s Suffering Captured in Haunting Image of Syrian Boy (America) Story Link

His face bloodied and completely covered in dust, the little boy sits quietly, staring ahead, dazed and shocked after an apparent air strike in the Syrian city of Aleppo.  Alone in an ambulance, the boy – identified by doctors as five-year-old Omran Daqneesh – tries to wipe the blood off his head, unaware of the injury he has sustained. (Rueters)

Olympics in Rio

• Usain Bolt, His Catholic Faith, and His Miraculous Medal (EpicPew) ow.ly/gPmF303fxik
• How did Rio’s “Christ the Redeemer” statue get there? (Aleteia.org) ow.ly/WFXL303jWd9
• Olympic runner who helped fallen competitor finds inspiration in God (CNA) ow.ly/GOKx303lUBl

Jubilee of Mercy

• The Catholic Americas come together for the Year of Mercy (CNA) ow.ly/j5QX303dFSI
• Papal pizza? Rome’s homeless get a special treat from Francis (CNA) ow.ly/XKD8303kS4d
• The mathematics of mercy – Pope Francis sees a lesson in Jesus’ miracles (CNA) ow.ly/XgVn303lUOE
• Mercy for the Poor and Marginalized (MercyHour) ow.ly/Tjra303n0gm

Top Catholic Tweets are compiled by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/).  John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ .  

World Youth Day saints: St. John Paul II and St. Faustina

Prayers that all the pilgrims have an inspiring trip to World Youth Day in Krakow Poland.  This has been a very busy week for world news and much to pray for around the globe.  May you have a blessed week ahead!

Pax Et Bonum,

John

Top Catholic Tweets for July 22nd

• Papal Tweet: “Let us remember the elderly and the sick who in the summer months are often more alone and can be in difficulty.” (Pope Francis, July 17th)
• You Can Make a Difference for the Church in Africa (USCCB) ow.ly/uwEC302kaCP
• Nun and sister of original ‘Ghostbusters’ star says acting is preaching (Crux) ow.ly/X1Oo302jtWv
• Praise Moments: The Boy Messiah (Barb Szyszkiewicz, O.F.S. – CatholicMom.com) ow.ly/FVny302jqM3
• Statement from Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/TSYg302luVZ
• Racial healing with police sought in Baton Rouge (CNS) ow.ly/ZkzP302rOIc
• Healing racial divides starts with dialogue, black bishops say (CNS) ow.ly/fosJ302mTNT
• USCCB President calls for dialogue, peace (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/P95W302qB30
• USCCB President Calls for National Day of Prayer on Sept. 9th – Feast of St. Peter Claver (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/PSwf302v7YS
• How Do You Solve the Problem of Violence? A Commentary on Superheroes (Monsignor Charles Pope – ADW) ow.ly/seug302oauY
• Unknown Canadian Franciscan on road to sainthood (America) ow.ly/apwM302pluh
• American doctor reports on dire situation in Aleppo, Syria (Aleteia.org) ow.ly/m6eE302pp5j
• Schedule of Pope Francis’ Pilgrimage at the Portiuncula on August 4th (US Franciscans) ow.ly/TwzM302qx46
• Why Starbucks and McDonald’s are blocking porn from their WiFi (CNA) ow.ly/wej1302qGzM
• Update– Petition · Saving St. Katherine Drexel’s Sacred Site: Belmead in Peril: Help Save A National Treasure ow.ly/E2fR302qKZL
• Former Our Sunday Visitor publisher named CNS director, editor-in-chief (CNS) ow.ly/G72o302qOXJ
• Nuns on the Bus campaign pushes social justice issues at party conventions (America) ow.ly/oOpd302qXPG
• Baptism at sea – refugee child born during boat rescue (CNA) ow.ly/7W0U302rNQx
• Tour de France, Catholic Style (Diana Von Glahn – NCRegister) ow.ly/Mbc9302rOny
• Vatican ratchets up defense of pope’s family document (AP/Crux) ow.ly/ySJW302sQj1
• Surfer-priest shares his incredible journey: from dropout to drug-addict to priesthood (Rome Reports) ow.ly/YzuX302rPqZ

Fr. Daniel Callaway – the surfing priest

World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland (July 25-31 – Official Website +App)

• Poland visit will be inspired by mercy, pope says (CNS) ow.ly/jbqW302r0rr
• Krakow 2016 will be the most international World Youth Day with pilgrims coming from 187 countries (Crux) ow.ly/EVFu302rR3j
• Catechetical youth site “Mercy Centre” aims to share mercy at World Youth Day (CNA) ow.ly/SgGl302qBjX
• Divine Mercy in Poland: Nuns dance on beach to promote World Youth Day (UPI) ow.ly/P3ea302jnoh
• WYD pilgrims to receive a social doctrine app from the Pope (CNA) ow.ly/pA3E302u1pR
• The powerful witness of Iraqi young people at World Youth Day (CNA) ow.ly/8yYI302u3LF
• Pilgrim cheat sheet for World Youth Day in Krakow (CNS) ow.ly/QNw0302u30B
• Shrine dedicated to John Paul II in Poland finished just in time for World Youth Day (Rome Reports) ow.ly/3o5e302k4Qc

Jubilee of Mercy

• What does mercy look like through the eyes of another person? (USCCB) ow.ly/PiEj302k3u5
• Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls (MercyHour) ow.ly/nez2302pmxT
• Skip Rodgers – Ride for Hope and Mercy (OneBillionStories.com) ow.ly/b3iF302tFDD

Top Catholic Tweets are compiled by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/).  John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ .  

Pray for France

• Pope Francis on Nice attack: condemns blind violence (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/sBIl302h799
• Thousands #PrayForNice after deadly attack in Nice, France + social media reactions (CBS News) ow.ly/ZARF302gnSR
• Prayers for France: The horror in Nice; 75 dead, at least 100 injured (Elizabeth Scalia – Aleteia) ow.ly/crOg302gnJy

Praying that the Together 2016 gathering on the National Mall in Washington, DC this Saturday is both peaceful, healing, and inspiring for the 1 Million people expected to attend.  Pope Francis has endorsed this event and encouraging people to join in prayer and support. “Together 2016 is the day our generation will meet on the National Mall to come together around Jesus in unified prayer, worship, and a call for catalytic change. We’re coming together with as many people as possible who believe Jesus changes everything.” (from Together 2016 website).  For those visiting DC, you may also want to visit the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land for the 3rd Annual Festival of the Holy Land from 11am-5pm.  Lots of news to share from this past week, and have special sections on:  Jubilee of Mercy, World Youth Day and Pokemon for Evangelization — may you have a blessed week ahead!

Pax Et Bonum,

John

Top Catholic Tweets for July 15th

• Papal Tweet: “Vacations offer a time to rest and to restore the spirit, especially through a more quiet reading of the Gospels.” (Pope Francis, July 10th)
• USCCB president says violence calls for ‘moment of national reflection’ (CNS) ow.ly/NYjP3024D0a
• Be healers in a hurting world, Catholic bishops say after shootings (CNA) ow.ly/U6hN3025bcX
• Speech for National Healing: President Obama’s Speech From the Dallas Memorial Service (TIME) ow.ly/FXla302cCbG
• How beeswax candles opened up my eyes to the beauty of the Mass (Aleteia) ow.ly/1oh83024CJA
• America’s National Tribute to St. John Paul II (NC Register) ow.ly/aUxl3027MBA
• American journalist Greg Burke to Succeed Father Lombardi as Vatican Spokesman (NCRegister) ow.ly/ipOA3028Oz4
• US bishops call for legal protection of doctors who won’t perform abortions (CNA) ow.ly/Hp95302ahDH
• Victory! House passes the Conscience Protection Act (CatholicVote) ow.ly/6VSA302dTsr
• “Do not be afraid, God is with you,” Father Michael Perry, O.F.M. Minister General (Christian Media Center) ow.ly/Vj8b302ateD
• Lombardi clarifies comments on liturgy [Ad Orientum] by Cardinal Sarah (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/vkH1302czp0
• What’s the oldest continuously operating library in the world? St. Catherine’s Monastery of Sinai (Aleteia) ow.ly/sYkZ302cCDA
• Pope aims to relaunch dialogue with the ‘Sunni Vatican’ (Crux/CNS) ow.ly/nfS1302dArq
• Man Who Attempted To Assassinate Pope John Paul Wants To Become A Priest (uCatholic) ow.ly/2WDc302cZU0
• Nun who stood up to Billy the Kid to be subject of TV series (The Seattle Times) ow.ly/GuGB302cHLt
• New website and tv commercials target millennial Catholics –catholicscomehome.org (CNA) ow.ly/O99w302dNAp
• The last Puritan statesman and the 2016 conventions (George Weigel – Catholic World Report) ow.ly/I7Kz302dKwi
• Crazy, Holy, Love: The Mad Monk Who Built a Cathedral By Hand (NCRegister) ow.ly/SItf302fpBM
• Institute of Catholic Culture launches a NEW website – Catholic Adult Education – For Free! ow.ly/zrMz302fK0y
• Fascinating: researchers uncover rare mosaic of Noah’s ark in ancient synagogue (Aleteia) ow.ly/o1IF302fLdZ
• South African bishops call for an end to media censorship crisis (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/sNRT302fQ3p
• Full Agenda of the Pope’s trip to Georgia and Azerbaijan – Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 (Rome Reports) ow.ly/BSAm302fQc5
• 50 children are abducted and recruited into armed groups each month in Iraq (Rome Reports) ow.ly/Dwxm302g1hE
• Check out this great conversation with the Geekpriest, @FatherRoderick (Encounter – CatholicTV) https://youtu.be/fCFpBjPrC88
• She’s the first woman to ever hold this position at the Vatican (CNA) ow.ly/WI2w302g1PH

Jubilee of Mercy

• “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” (MercyHour) ow.ly/QkgM302fYhO
• Incredible Story: Friend of Fulton Sheen, Alcoholic, Priest of Mercy (Brandon Vogt) ow.ly/aYdc302cFxt
• Mobile Mercy: Mobile medical unit from Vatican hits Rome’s peripheries to help poor (CNS) ow.ly/5lmg302fPMS
• “Click To Pray” app aims to unite the world in prayer (Aleteia.org) ow.ly/wRiS302dKWg

Pope Francis embraces a child as he meets the disabled during his general audience in Paul VI hall at the Vatican

World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland – July 25-31

• World Youth Day official website & App – Krakow July 25-31, 2016 worldyouthday.com
• Pilgrims to take sharpened social media strategies to World Youth Day (CNS) ow.ly/nK2F302cDVC
• Letter to the Youth for World Youth Day 2016 (US Franciscans) ow.ly/4UGA302dfso
• Kraków in the Capital July 30th – a festival for young adults in DC (Cardinal Donald Wuerl -ADW) ow.ly/zfoO302d0av

Pokemon and Evangelization

• Come for Jigglypuff, stay for Jesus: Church in the age of Pokémon Go (The Washington Post) ow.ly/JAkM302dSq9
• How To Become a Master Pokevangelist (ProjectYM) ow.ly/UImJ302dPNC
• Why your church, art, and water towers are Pokemon Go gyms and Pokestops (GamesRadar+) ow.ly/6oBb302cXeO

Satire and Memes about Pokemon Go were widespread on the internet this past week.

Monks ridding pokemon from Conception Abbey

Top Catholic Tweets are compiled by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/).  John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church.  John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ .