Catholic News

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279093&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Sep 17, 2024 / 14:45 pm (CNA).

Bishop James Conley of Lincoln, Nebraska, recently urged Catholics to think about how they could "walk with," pray for, and share the Catholic faith with one person over the next year as part of the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival.

In a Sept. 13 column, Conley encouraged Catholics to learn about the resources provided by the U.S. bishops as part of the program "Walk with One," which offers practical steps to help people share the Catholic faith with one person in their life at a time. 

The "Walk with One" program is part of the current phase of the multiyear National Eucharistic Revival, the Year of Mission. The Eucharistic Revival, which began in 2021, aims to deepen and spread devotion to the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ.

"Right now, there is someone in your life whom Jesus longs to call to himself. Who is that person? Who is that one person you know who would be much happier and content in life if he or she only knew and loved Jesus in the Eucharist?" Conley wrote. 

"Obviously, not everyone is called to spread the Gospel in foreign lands, or even to go door-to-door in his or her own community. But I think the Lord is asking each of us to step out of our comfort zone and evangelize one-to-one. Who is that one person for you? Who is that one person you can see yourself walking with over the next six months, year, or more?"

Conley encouraged Catholics to go to the Eucharistic Revival website and download the "Simple Guide," which includes four steps: "identify, intercede, connect, invite."

The steps are as follows:

1) Identify: Prayerfully ask God, "Who is that one person you want me to walk with?"

2) Intercede: As soon as you discern who it is, pray like crazy for that person.

3) Connect: Look for ways to walk, hang out, get coffee with this person — and then listen to this person. Let that person tell you his or her joys, hopes, and struggles, and share yours, too.

4) Invite: Follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit and invite the person to something Catholic (adoration, Bible study, Mass, confession, a talk, to pray the rosary, to listen to a podcast, read a book, or watch a powerful movie, etc.). Then talk about it.

"If you're already down that road 'walking with one,' and need the next step, most parishes are just starting up OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) classes; invite that person to attend, and go with them. You can even attend without them, to better understand the faith yourself," Conley encouraged. 

Reflecting on the National Eucharistic Congress, the milestone Catholic event that attracted more than 50,000 people to Indianapolis in July, Conley said the "public display of faith, love, devotion, joy, and reverence" shown to Jesus in the Eucharist "will continue to bear fruit for decades to come."

"We know that we have been given an amazing gift in the holy Eucharist. Do we allow ourselves to be amazed at such a wondrous gift? We all — myself included — need to pray for an increase in Eucharistic amazement," the bishop wrote. 

"Whenever we receive a truly awesome gift, we naturally want to share it with others. We want to tell others about the gift. We want them to enjoy the gift, too."

Conley noted that in his homily for the conclusion of the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis on July 21, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle preached that "the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a gift and the fulfillment of his mission."

"The cardinal began his homily by saying, 'Jesus is sent to be given by the Father to others, sent to be a gift. He is not sent just to wander around and enjoy himself. He is sent to be given.' In other words, Jesus fulfills his mission from the Father to save the world from sin by giving his life on the cross, while, at the same time, he gives himself to the world in the holy Eucharist, so that he can remain with us on earth until the end of the world. But he remains with us, to be given away," Conley wrote.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279092&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Sep 17, 2024 / 15:20 pm (CNA).

A study by the pro-life group Students for Life of America (SFLA) has identified dozens of U.S. Christian colleges and universities, including multiple Catholic institutions, maintaining "some type of relationship" with the abortion industry, including the abortion giant Planned Parenthood. 

SFLA's Demetree Institute for Pro-Life Advancement said in its 2024 Christian Schools Project report that of the 732 Christian schools it investigated, more than 80 were found to have some sort of connection with Planned Parenthood or another abortion provider.

Those connections included "an internship opportunity that recommended or credited work at Planned Parenthood or another local abortion vendor" as well as linking to Planned Parenthood as a "health resource," a "class resource," or a "volunteer opportunity."

The report counted each factor as an "infraction," assigning grades to the schools based on the number of infractions given to each one. Nearly 30%, or 24, received a "F" rating with four or more infractions, while 15 schools received a "D" rating for three infractions, 20 received "C" for two infractions, and 24 received a "B" grade for one infraction. 

Schools were awarded an "A" grade if they had no infractions, while institutions received an A+ rating if they also offered proof of "a relationship with a local, life-affirming pregnancy help center."

Three Catholic institutions — Boston College, Santa Clara University in California, and St. Elizabeth University in New Jersey — received "F" ratings in the report. St. John Fisher University in New York and University of Detroit Mercy in Michigan, meanwhile, received "D" ratings. 

Among the infractions identified by the report include University of Detroit Mercy listing Planned Parenthood as among "research guides" for students studying "women's and gender studies." 

Santa Clara University, meanwhile, suggests on its website that its health center will make referrals to Planned Parenthood, while the school last year hosted a symposium examining what it described as "anti-abortion and anti-trans laws."

Overall, 17 Catholic institutions were found to have some connection with Planned Parenthood or to otherwise promote the abortion provider or other abortion resources. 

None of the Catholic schools on the list responded to queries from CNA regarding the report's findings.

The Institute for Pro-Life Advancement said that U.S. Christian schools' support for abortion has "increased annually by 10% since 2022" in the wake of Roe v. Wade's repeal by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The institute noted that a dozen schools "removed ties to the abortion industry after initial contact with researchers in 2024."

The study has been run since 2021, during which "54 total connections [with the abortion industry] have been severed," the report said.

Encouragingly, in the most recent report, "Christian schools earning an 'A+' grade by supporting their local pregnancy help center increased by 32%."

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279079&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Newsroom, Sep 16, 2024 / 12:40 pm (CNA).

As the controversial Vatican-China agreement on bishop appointments nears its renewal deadline in October, Pope Francis' recent 12-day apostolic journey through Southeast Asia and Oceania has thrust the Holy See's complex relationship with Beijing into the spotlight.

Regional news outlets, including Singapore's state-affiliated Channel News Asia, have been analyzing the potential implications of improving relations between the Holy See and Beijing. 

The pope's marathon trip, which included stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore, provided ample opportunity for such speculation.

Channel News reported that analysts say "China has shown a favorable stance toward improving relations with the Vatican as this aligns with its broader strategic goals of enhancing its international reputation and countering negative portrayals from the West."

The Singaporean broadcaster, operated by a state-owned conglomerate in a nation with a large ethnically Chinese population, suggested that "warming ties" could affect the Vatican's long-standing diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. It noted that establishing formal relations with China would necessitate severing ties with Taipei in accordance with Beijing's "One China" policy.

George Yeo, former Singapore foreign minister and ex-member of the Vatican Council for the Economy, told Channel News Asia that even if diplomatic recognition shifts to Beijing, "the Church will still have representation in Taiwan." 

Yeo emphasized that from the Vatican's perspective, such a move would not signal a shift from its "One China" policy but rather a return to its historical presence in mainland China.

A 'dress rehearsal' for a potential visit to Beijing?

Other regional media outlets have also weighed in on the implications of the papal visit for Vatican-China relations. 

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post observed: "The Holy See under Francis has gone out of its way to extend overtures to China."

A Bloomberg commentator, published in the Japan Times, even described the apostolic journey as a "dress rehearsal for a potential visit to Beijing."

La Croix International, a Catholic news website, reported that China's ruling elite had closely watched the trip. Theologian Michel Chambon told La Croix: "Beijing has closely observed Pope Francis' trip in Asia, seeking to assess to what extent Pope Francis could contribute to the balance of power, the common good, and the development of the region."

For his part, Pope Francis reiterated a long-standing desire to visit China during his press conference on Friday's flight back to Rome.

Expressing respect and admiration for the country and its ancient culture, the pope told journalists on Sept. 13: "China, for me, is a dream, that is to say that I would like to visit China." 

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279078&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 16, 2024 / 13:15 pm (CNA).

Cardinal Víctor Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will lead a press conference on the "spiritual experience" of Medjugorje this Thursday, Sept. 19, at the Vatican.

The Vatican Press Office informed that at Thursday's press conference on Medjugorje, which will take place at 11:30 a.m. local time, Fernández will be joined by Monsignor Armando Matteo, who serves as secretary to the dicastery's Doctrinal Section, along with Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of the Dicastery for Communication.

The press conference is scheduled to be broadcast live on Vatican News' YouTube page.

Although no additional details about the event have been released, the press conference is being held within the framework of the new "Norms for Proceeding in the Discernment of Alleged Supernatural Phenomena," published in May by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Since then, the Holy See has issued rulings on various alleged Marian apparitions and devotions.

What's happening in Medjugorje?

The alleged Marian apparitions in Medjugorje (Bosnia-Herzegovina) began on June 24, 1981. Six children were said to have been the recipients of the Virgin's messages, of which three say they continue receiving messages daily.

In January 2014, the then-Congregation — now Dicastery — for the Doctrine of the Faith concluded a report requested by Pope Francis who, in November 2013, stated that the Virgin "is not a chief of the post office who would send messages every day," without specifically mentioning Medjugorje.

Summarizing the content of the report, in 2017 Pope Francis indicated that the initial apparitions are something that "must continue to be investigated" while with regard to "presumed current apparitions, the report has its doubts."

On that same occasion, the Holy Father pointed out "people go there and convert. People encounter God, change their lives." This isn't a result of "magic," he said, but is a valid spiritual and pastoral fact that "can't be ignored."  

Earlier that same year, the pontiff had appointed Bishop Henryk Hoser as "special envoy" to Medjugorje. When he died in 2021, he was replaced by Monsignor Aldo Cavalli.

Since May 2019, Pope Francis has officially authorized the organization of pilgrimages to Medjugorje while cautioning that such pilgrimages should avoid "creating confusion or ambiguity under the doctrinal aspect."

In recent years, including 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Pope Francis has also sent messages to youth festivals held at Medjugorje.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279077&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Staff, Sep 16, 2024 / 13:50 pm (CNA).

Edward Slattery, the bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma, passed away at age 84 on Friday following a series of debilitating strokes, diocesan officials said.

"Bishop Slattery was a man of deep faith who knew that death would bring him to his Lord," Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma Bishop David Konderla said in a Saturday statement. "I was blessed to follow in his footsteps in the diocese and will remember him with fondness and prayer."

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Peter Wells, who grew up in Oklahoma and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of Tulsa in 1991, shared that he was "deeply saddened" by Slattery's passing.

"Bishop Slattery will be fondly remembered for his many initiatives in the diocese, his compassion for the poor, and his profound spiritual guidance," Wells said on Saturday. 

"Our heartfelt condolences go out to all those mourning his loss, particularly his family, Bishop David Konderla, the clergy, religious, and faithful of the Diocese of Tulsa. May he rest in peace." 

Slattery was born in Chicago on Aug. 11, 1940, the grandson of Irish immigrants on the maternal and paternal sides of the family. He was the second of seven children, and his family lived in a small apartment with no air conditioning and only one bathroom, according to Tulsa World. 

Slattery was raised Catholic and felt called to the priesthood at a young age. After graduating from Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Slattery earned a bachelor of arts and master of divinity, both from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois. 

He was ordained a priest on April 26, 1966, for the Archdiocese of Chicago, where he served as an associate pastor at St. Jude the Apostle Parish in South Holland until 1971 while obtaining a second master's degree from Loyola University Chicago. 

He served as the vice president of the Catholic Church Extension Society, a funding agency for American home missions, from 1971–1976, and subsequently as president until 1994. 

During his time with the extension society, Slattery was the associate pastor of St. Rose of Lima, an inner-city Hispanic parish on the South Side of Chicago beginning in 1973, and was pastor from 1976 to 1989. 

He was ordained as a bishop on Jan. 6, 1994, by Pope John Paul II and subsequently installed as the Tulsa bishop on Jan. 12. 

As bishop, Slattery oversaw the expansion of Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma in the early 2000s and helped establish an endowment-based tuition assistance program for Catholic families in need in 1999.

He also oversaw a large-scale fundraising effort that raised $17.5 million for the diocese's 25th anniversary in 1998. Slattery worked with the Benedictines to found a new monastery in rural northeastern Oklahoma in the late 1990s and founded the Pastoral Studies Institute in Tulsa. 

"For many years I have appreciated Bishop Slattery as a friend and brother bishop," said Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City. "He welcomed me warmly when I arrived in Oklahoma in 2011 and always encouraged my ministry here. I have appreciated the pastoral leadership he provided in the Diocese of Tulsa and nationally through the work of Catholic Extension, which he guided before coming to Oklahoma."

Pope Francis in 2016 accepted Slattery's resignation, which he submitted at the age of 75 as required by canon law. Slattery continued to serve as bishop emeritus after his resignation until his death last week.

In 2002, Slattery apologized for reinstating Father Kenneth Lewis to ministry in 1995 following allegations against Lewis of sexual misconduct toward young boys. Slattery returned the priest to active ministry after Lewis received psychiatric treatment, a decision Slattery later said he would not have made had he had further information. Lewis himself would eventually be accused again of sexual abuse of a boy in 2001; he would ultimately plead guilty to a felony in connection with that abuse and be sentenced to seven years in prison.

Slattery is survived by his four sisters and one brother. His funeral is set to take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa. 

"I give thanks to God for [Slattery's] many years of faithful service as a priest and bishop, especially his two decades of dedication to the Diocese of Tulsa," Wells said.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279076&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Quito, Ecuador, Sep 16, 2024 / 14:25 pm (CNA).

The 53rd International Eucharistic Congress in Quito, Ecuador, wrapped up on Sunday with the announcement that Sydney will host the next International Eucharistic Congress in 2028.

The announcement was made by Cardinal Baltazar Porras, archbishop emeritus of Caracas, Venezuela, and pontifical legate to this year's International Eucharistic Congress.

As part of the closing Mass in Quito, presided over by Porras, the prelate declared: "In the name and by mandate of Pope Francis, he announces to you that the 54th International Eucharistic Congress will take place in the city of Sydney" in 2028.

Sydney was the site of the 29th International Eucharistic Congress in 1928.

Role of the Eucharist in the Church in Sydney

In a video shown at the event, Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney said he was "delighted to invite you all to our port city in 2028 ... 100 years after Sydney hosted this great event." 

"The history of the Catholic faith in Sydney is in many ways a story of the power of the Eucharist in building the Church of God from humble beginnings," he recalled, noting that "at the beginning of our city's colonial period, in the times when there was no clergy and Catholic worship was prohibited, it was the Blessed Sacrament contained in a pyx in the house of a layman that supported the faithful."

The host, he noted, was left there by Father Jeremiah O'Flynn "before his deportation" and "served as the center of our first Catholic community. There, in a small room in a simple house, men, women, and children gathered to worship the presence of the Lord among them."

'A great occasion of grace'

In a statement to ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner, Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Danny Meagher assured that "we need life in the Church of Sydney to flourish. Archbishop Anthony Fisher, recognizing the importance of the International Eucharistic Congress, hopes that it will be a great success, not only for Sydney and Australia but also for all who participate."

"We hope it will be a great occasion of grace for all attendees so that they return home with a true sense of grace, formed and transformed by what they have learned," he said.

The prelate pointed out that "the challenge for us is to organize a very good International Eucharistic Congress, and I would measure success if we manage to have people's hearts touched and their minds open to the richness of the Eucharist, entering into God."

"Christ gives us his life, introduces us to his paschal mystery, and sends us into the world. Through quality presentations that touch the mind with good theology, and also connect with the heart and spirit through good liturgy and entertainment, we seek to get people truly engaged," he said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279066&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sep 16, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).

The aggressive advocacy of abortion by Democratic Party candidates up and down the ballot this year, coupled with abortion ballot measures in 10 states, is causing pro-life groups across the political spectrum to adjust their tactics as well as expand collaborative efforts. 

At the state level throughout the country, "there are things that we are excited about and others that are very troubling," said Americans United for Life (AUL) Chief Executive Officer John Mize in an interview.

"What we find most troubling are the ballot initiatives that are very deceptive by pro-abortion forces that have caused utter confusion in a vast swath of the American public," Mize indicated.

In view of the current electoral panorama, Mize said his nonpartisan organization is stepping up its partnerships with other groups as part of their common objective to defend preborn lives and defeat pro-abortion measures. For example, he said, AUL has expanded its collaborative efforts with organizations such as CareNet, Heartbeat, Lifeline, and the Vitae Foundation.

Given the magnitude of the challenge the pro-life movement faces this year, National Right to Life (NRL) spokesperson Laura Echevarría said her group also welcomes increased collaborative efforts.

"We tend to be very accepting of other groups that want to work with us on issues. And we look at that commonality and we don't get into other issues," Echevarría observed. 

On the left, Democrats for Life and Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising (PAAU) are two groups that align with most aspects of the Democratic Party's policy agenda yet are vociferously challenging its pro-abortion stance. 

PAUU executive director Caroline Taylor Smith, a Catholic who also volunteers for Democrats for Life, told CNA her pro-life principles are compatible with progressivism. She criticized both the Democratic and Republican parties for their respective stances on abortion. 

"I am very left-leaning and progressive and agree with every progressive value except for abortion. I condemn the idea that progressives have to support child-killing. My worldview is that I'm against violence and oppression against all people. I support liberation for all people. Embryos are preborn people that should be free from violence," she said. 

Smith said that an example of PAAU's pro-life commitment was set by PAAU activist Lauren Handy, 30, who was convicted under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act for occupying the Surgi-Clinic abortuary in Washington, D.C. Handy, who identifies as a "queer Catholic," is now serving a four-year sentence. 

Allied organizations identified by PAUU's Smith also include Pro-Life San Francisco and Rehumanize International. 

Despite their common goals, Mize acknowledged, the groups take different approaches. For example, Mize said he is skeptical about "overly aggressive tactics" such as displaying photos of aborted babies or screaming over bullhorns at women. Such tactics, he said, "add to the trauma that a woman feels when she is making a very difficult and complex decision. There's a better way. And that is to be incremental and focused on providing alternative options to women."

In addition, while Mize said ALU is not opposed to PAAU's work, he said ALU is "more apt to partner with an organization like Democrats for Life, who share a lot of the same values we do in terms of the appropriate process to advance the pro-life cause." There are also organizations like Secular Pro-Life, Mize added.

"Unfortunately, this has become far too political and it's really not," Mize maintains. "It's a moral issue that isn't defined by the politics of the party. It's defined by the morality and character of the person."

Echevarría and Mize agreed that the challenges for all pro-life organizations are only multiplying. Intense political battles, both said, lie in state legislatures and ballot initiatives that threaten to overturn hard-fought limitations on abortion, such as requirements for parental notification and consent.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279061&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

CNA Newsroom, Sep 15, 2024 / 19:48 pm (CNA).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said on Sunday that it was investigating an apparent attempt on former President Donald Trump's life, the second such incident in roughly eight weeks.

"The FBI has responded to West Palm Beach, Florida, and is investigating what appears to be an attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump," the bureau said in a brief news release on Sunday.

Trump was reportedly playing golf at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach when shots were fired on the course. A Secret Service agent had reportedly spotted a gun barrel sticking out of a nearby fence and had engaged with a suspect.

It was unclear on Sunday evening if the suspect had fired any shots. The suspect reportedly attempted to flee the scene but was subsequently apprehended by police on Interstate 95.

Photos on Sunday showed law enforcement cordoning off an area near the golf course after the alleged attempted assassination.

The former president said in an email to his fundraising list shortly after the incident that he was "safe and well."

"My resolve is only stronger after another attempt on my life," he said in a second email on Sunday evening.

Law enforcement reportedly found a rifle with a scope attachment at the scene of the incident on Sunday.

Vice President Kamala Harris, who is currently running against Trump in the 2024 presidential contest, said on Twitter on Sunday that she had been "briefed on reports of gunshots fired near former President Trump and his property in Florida, and I am glad he is safe."

"Violence has no place in America," Harris added.

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279049&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

Rome Newsroom, Sep 15, 2024 / 09:36 am (CNA).

During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis appealed for the release of the remaining Hamas hostages, as he remembered 23-year-old American Hersh Goldberg-Polin and five others whose bodies were recovered by Israeli military in Gaza last month.

"I am praying for the victims and continue to be close to all of the families of the hostages," the pope said on September 15, after praying the traditional Marian prayer.

The bodies of Goldberg-Polin, Ori Danino, Eden Terushalmi, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Carmel Gat were found in a tunnel in Gaza by Israel Defense Forces on Aug. 30. The IDF said postmortems indicate the hostages were killed by two gunmen using two separate weapons on the evening of Aug. 29.

Speaking from a window overlooking St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis recalled meeting Rachel Goldberg, the mother of Goldberg-Polin, together with other family members of Israeli hostages, at the Vatican in November 2023. "I was struck by her humanity. I accompany her in this moment," the pontiff said.

"Cease the conflict in Palestine and Israel, cease the violence, cease the hatred, release the hostages, continue negotiations, and find peace solutions," he added.

Before the Angelus, Pope Francis gave a short reflection on the day's Gospel reading from St. Mark. In the passage, Jesus asks his disciples: "Who do you say that I am?"

"Peter answers on behalf of all the group, saying, 'You are the Christ,'" the pope said. "However, when Jesus starts to talk about the suffering and death that await him, the same Peter objects, and Jesus harshly rebukes him: 'Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men.'"

Francis said this scene prompts us too, to ask ourselves what it means to really know Jesus.

"The words with which Peter responds are 'right,' but his way of thinking has not changed," the pontiff commented. "He still has to change his mindset; he still has to convert. This is an important message for us too."

"Indeed, we too have learned something about God, we know the doctrine, we recite the prayers correctly and, perhaps, we respond well to the question 'Who is Jesus for you?' with some formula we learned at catechism. But are we sure that this means really knowing Jesus?" he said.

The pope underlined that really knowing the Lord means not just knowing something about him but actually following him and having a relationship with him.

Knowing Jesus is a life-changing encounter, he continued. "It changes your way of being, it changes your way of thinking, the relationships you have with your brothers and sisters, your willingness to accept and forgive, the choices you make in life. Everything changes if you have truly come to know Jesus!"

Pope Francis referenced a quotation from the Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was killed for being a Nazi dissident. "What is bothering me incessantly is the question of what Christianity really is, or indeed who Christ really is, for us today," Bonhoeffer wrote, as published in the book, "Letters and Papers from Prison."

"Unfortunately, many people no longer pose themselves this question and remain 'unbothered,' slumbering, even far from God," the pontiff noted.

"Instead, it is important to ask ourselves: do I let myself be bothered, do I ask who Jesus is for me, and what place he occupies in my life? Do I follow Jesus only in word, continuing to have a worldly mentality, or do I set out to follow him, allowing the encounter with him to transform my life?"

Full Article

http://www.myspiritfm.com/News?blogid=Catholic-News&view=post&articleid=279047&link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0

ACI Prensa Staff, Sep 15, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

In an increasingly digital world, many Catholic priests have found social media to be a powerful medium for evangelizing and connecting with hundreds of thousands of people. In light of Hispanic Heritage Month, here's a look at five Hispanic priests who are distinguishing themselves in spreading the Gospel on various platforms.

Father Pedro Núñez: 'Know Your Catholic Faith First'

Father Pedro F. Núñez, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, is a prominent Catholic preacher in the Spanish-speaking world. Born in Cuba, he emigrated to the United States in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 1977. 

For more than three decades, he has produced and hosted several television and radio programs on faith, including "Conozca Primero su Fe Católica" ("Know Your Catholic Faith First") on EWTN; and "A Solas con Jesús" ("Alone with Jesus") on Catholic World Radio.

Núñez is also a prolific author, with books in Spanish such as "Know Your Catholic Faith First" and "150 Stories That Will Change Your Life." He is currently the Hispanic Catholic priest with the most followers on Facebook, with more than 1.9 million followers on his official page. He also has hundreds of thousands more followers on other social media sites.

He travels constantly throughout Latin America and the United States, spreading the Gospel and reaching millions of people.

Father Jorge Obregón: 'New Fire'

A priest of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Jorge Obregón has dedicated his life to the formation of young people in leadership, faith, and values. With a solid academic background, he studied business administration at the Technological Institute in Monterrey, Mexico, and completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Regina Apostolorum in Rome. In addition, he obtained a master's degree in biblical theology from John Paul the Great Catholic University in San Diego.

In 2012, Obregón founded the Search retreat, an innovative spiritual formation program aimed at young people. Then, in 2017, he launched the New Fire platform, a Catholic resource designed to connect and form young people throughout Latin America. This platform invites people to know God, be formed in the truth, and find answers to their existential questions. It offers clear, simple, and in-depth resources that facilitate understanding and provide solid formation. With an attractive approach, it promotes a comprehensive lifestyle and responds to St. John Paul II's call for a new evangelization.

Obregón also participates, along with six other priests of the Legionaries of Christ, in the podcast "¿Qué Haría Jesús?" ("What Would Jesus Do?"), which offers daily reflections on the Gospel.

Currently Obregón resides in Rye, New York, a town outside of New York City, where he continues to carry out his mission.

Father Juan Carlos Vásconez: 'Talking with Jesus'

Father Juan Carlos Vásconez, originally from Quito, Ecuador, is passionate about digital evangelization and spiritual formation. A systems engineer who holds a doctorate in moral theology, he was ordained a priest in 2015. Currently, he works as a chaplain in two educational institutions and leads several digital projects with the aim of bringing people closer to God through social media.

Inspired by Pope Benedict XVI, Vásconez is one of the priests behind the project "Hablar con Jesús" ("Talking with Jesus"), a well-known channel found on different social media such as WhatsApp, YouTube, Spotify, and Telegram, where users can listen to 10-minute meditations every morning "talking with Jesus face-to-face."

Father Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros: 'The Ring Is Forever'

Father Ángel Espinosa de los Monteros, LC, has given more than 4,000 conferences on marriage, family values, and spirituality in various cities in Mexico, the United States, Spain, and South America. He has counseled numerous couples with advice and programs for marital and family growth. He is the author of the Spanish-language book "The Ring Is Forever" and has given more than 20 conferences based on it. Currently, he dedicates all his time to giving conferences and putting on marriage renewal programs in 20 countries.

In recent years, Espinosa has become a viral figure on social media for his simple, empathetic, and joyful way of presenting the Gospel, with millions of views of his videos. He currently has more than 500,000 followers on YouTube, more than 100,000 on TikTok, and more than 200,000 on Instagram.

Father Ignacio Amorós: 'Rebels Wanted'

Born in Madrid, Spain, Father Ignacio Amorós initially had a career as a financial broker, but his life changed radically when he became involved in charitable missions in Madrid and later in Calcutta. This experience took him to Burundi, Africa, where he decided to become a priest and work on missions in a region plagued by civil strife. After his ordination, he dedicated himself to writing books and organizing humanitarian activities around the world, finally settling in Uruguay.

Currently, Amorós leads the digital evangelization project "Se Buscan Rebeldes" ("Rebels Wanted"), which provides Catholic formation on topics relevant to today's society in line with the magisterium of the Catholic Church.

In addition, the priest leads the Spanish-language expansion of Bishop Robert Barron's digital apostolate Word on Fire. This project is aimed at the global Spanish-speaking community in Spain, Latin America, and other regions. With more than 10 years following Barron's evangelizing work, Amorós seeks to bring the mission of Word on Fire to a wider audience.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.

Full Article