March 11, 2010 - Parish Schools of Religion3 Minute Roundup
| Call to conversion not about making people feel bad, says pope |
| VATICAN CITY — The Lenten call to conversion is not an attempt to make people feel bad about themselves, but to promote their true good, which is eternal life, Pope Benedict XVI said. Celebrating Mass March 7 at the Rome parish of St. John of the Cross and reciting the Angelus at the Vatican afterward, the pope focused on the day’s Gospel story in which Jesus tells his followers they must convert or they will perish. At the parish, which was founded in 1989, the pope said Lent is “an invitation to the conversion of our lives and to doing appropriate acts of penitence.” The crowd Jesus was addressing in the day’s Gospel story thought that people who met a sudden and violent death were sinners, while the fact that members of Jesus’ audience were still alive meant they had nothing to worry about, the pope said. But Jesus warned them that by not recognizing their own sins and not setting out on the path to conversion, they would not be saved, he said. “During Lent, each one of us is called by God to make a change, thinking and living according to the Gospel, correcting things in our way of praying, acting, working and relating to others,” he said. (CNS) |
| St. Louis seminary exceeds goal in first capital campaign |
| ST. LOUIS — The first capital campaign in the history of St. Louis’ Kenrick-Glennon Seminary exceeded its goal by 21.7 percent, with $60.8 million in pledges. The goal had been set at $50 million to provide repairs, updates and physical improvements to a building that dates to 1931, while increasing its endowment. St. Louis Archbishop Robert J. Carlson, in a letter in the Feb. 26 issue of the St. Louis Review, archdiocesan newspaper, said donations to the “Faith for the Future” campaign are an expression of hope, especially during challenging economic times. The pledges are “a powerful statement of our hope in God’s providence,” he noted. Archbishop Carlson also told the Review that the response to the campaign “shows the people’s belief that we have to form good priests for the future so we can be a eucharistic people.” Frank Cognata, chief development officer of the archdiocese, said the seminary has formed more than 2,700 priests in the past, and the funds will help prepare even more in the future. He said it was especially noteworthy that the campaign was conducted in a down economy and that participation met expectations. More than 2,000 volunteers helped make the campaign possible, with many of them making personal visits to potential donors. (CNS) |
| Religious attacks by media must be rejected, say officials |
| VATICAN CITY — Anti-religious commentary distributed by media outlets can create tensions and incite violence and therefore must be rejected, said Vatican and Muslim representatives. Attacking religion in the mass media especially via satellite television channels must be opposed considering “the dangerous effect” that these broadcasts can have on social cohesion and on peace between religious communities, said a statement issued after the annual meeting of officials from the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and from al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. The Vatican released a copy of the statement to journalists March 2. The Feb. 23-24 meeting in Cairo focused on the role religions can play in either causing or preventing religious violence. The al-Azhar meeting was chaired by Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, president of the pontifical council, and by Sheik Mohammed Abd al-Aziz Wasil, president of al-Azhar’s permanent committee for dialogue with the monotheistic religions. The meeting’s final statement said greater attention must be paid to the fact that manipulating religion or religious beliefs for political or other interests can lead to violence. (CNS) |
Television’s best unexpectedly reflects faith brightly
Sunday, 14 March 2010When discussing religious influences in our lives, there are several common areas: our parents, our parish, our friends and our family all come to mind. Consciously and subconsciously, each strengthens our faith in their own special way.
‘Donut Man’ to visit St. Elizabeth
Sunday, 28 February 2010GRANITE CITY — Rob Evans, known as the Donut Man, and his sidekick Duncan (the Donut) will visit with kids and families at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at St. Elizabeth Church, 2300 Pontoon Road.
No talent is small when it brings joy to others
Sunday, 28 February 2010When you think of talented people, what immediately springs to mind? Pop singers? Artistic prodigies?
When I think of talent, my first thoughts are usually of people like Kelly Clarkson, Dwight Howard and Jeff, my class valedictorian — people who are naturally good at their chosen field.
Life Teen to begin in Metro East area
Sunday, 14 February 2010EDWARDSVILLE — St. Mary Parish in Edwardsville is launching a Life Teen program for high school students beginning with a Life Teen Mass and a Life Night on Sunday, Feb. 21. The Mass, held at St. Mary Church, 1802 Madison St., will be celebrated by Father Tom Meyer, at 6 p.m. Following Mass, a Life Night will be held in the school from 7-9:30 p.m.
Providing for others in the Olympic shadow
Sunday, 14 February 2010For two weeks every two years, the eyes of the world collectively turn and watch one event: the Olympics. It’s a chance to see the world’s best athletes in friendly competition with each other on a global stage.
What we see on television only tells part of the story. Behind the scenes, and only casually mentioned, if at all, are the costs involved in making Olympic dreams come true.
Love greater than trappings of traditional romance
Sunday, 31 January 2010It’s almost time for Valentine’s Day — time for chalky candy hearts, singing telegrams and roses, right?
My friends think about Valentine’s Day in two ways. One group loves it, sends out cards to everyone they know, eats candy hearts by the bushel and takes their significant others out to dinner.
Pitfalls, ethics and finding firsts on the social network
Sunday, 17 January 2010There are many firsts we look forward to while growing up. From our first bike ride without training wheels and our first childhood sleepover to our first date, these are moments we’ll look back on fondly.
Moving beyond waiting for exciting things to happen
Sunday, 03 January 2010This is how most of our stories are told.
In the beginning, everything is static. Then something happens, something that starts the adventure or moves the story forward. Bella Swan meets Edward Cullen. Peter Parker is bitten by a radioactive spider. Hamlet sees his father’s ghost.
A merry little Christmas
Sunday, 20 December 2009Music plays an important part in our lives. Whether we write it, perform it or just listen to it, music has the power to express complex feelings that would otherwise be too difficult to put into words.
Every year in preparation for Christmas we listen to some very powerful music. Within a few minutes of hearing cheer on the radio we’ve run the gamut of holiday emotions.
Hurting us over and over
Sunday, 06 December 2009Why do we do things that hurt us — over and over again?
Ask my cat, Fred.