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Wednesday, March 19
Solemnity St. Joseph the spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster-father of Jesus
From Catholic Culture
St. Joseph was probably born in Bethlehem and probably died in Nazareth. His important mission in God's plan of salvation was "to legally insert Jesus Christ into the line of David from whom, according to the prophets, the Messiah would be born, and to act as his father and guardian". Read more...
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"To always be close to Jesus, that's my life plan"
-- Blessed Carlo Acutis
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The Stories of Three Blesseds That May One Day be Saints
Blessed Carlo Acutis -- To be Canonized on April 27, 2025
Photo by Unknown, used under the Fair Use Law as this newsletter is not for profit and issued as an educational instrument.
Biographical Information from Little Flower Parish
Carlo Acutis, a Catholic Italian teenager who died in 2006, will be beatified Oct. 10 in Assisi. Acutis, a gamer and computer programmer who loved soccer and the Eucharist, has been the subject of interest around the world. Pope Francis referred to Carlo as a model of holiness in a digital age. Carlo’s life should teach today's young people how to properly use and enjoy technology, including the internet and social media.
Read more...
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Blessed Anna Maria Taigi
Photo by Waerfelu - Own work, CC BY 3.0
Biographical information taken from “Wife, Mother and Mystic” by Albert Bessieres, S.J., and found on the website: Mystics of the Church
Blessed Anna Maria lends us a beautiful example of what it means to live a life of total self-giving as a wife, mother and friend of Our Lord. Describing her life as a young wife, one source states “Chaste in morals, attached to her wifely duties, Anna-Maria yet lived more for the world than for God.” However, an increasing sense of spiritual disturbance began to mingle with Anna's frivolities and worldliness. One day she went to the Basilica of St. Peter's. There was a great throng... The jostling of the crowd threw her against one Father Angelo, a Servite. He had never seen the young woman before, but he heard an interior voice say: "Notice that woman, for I will one day confide her to your care and you will work for her transformation. She shall sanctify herself, for I have chosen her to become a saint." Read more...
| | | Photo by DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 | | |
Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi
Biographical Information From Wikipedia
Tansi was born in September 1903, in an area of Nigeria under the control of the Royal Niger Company (RNC). The RNC maintained a trading outpost in Aguleri, purchasing palm oil from local farmers to sell abroad. Relations between the local population and the foreign company were often strained. Michael's father, Tabansi of Igbezunu, was once taken hostage by the Royal Niger Company and later released.
Michael was the oldest son. His name Iwene meant 'let malice not kill'. His parents were poor farmers; they were not Christian. His mother was sentenced to death by a medicine man because he decided she was responsible for the deaths of several youngsters in the village. After her death from swallowing poison, Iwene's father married again. He and his second wife had four boys and one girl.
Read more...
| | | Cardinal Wilton Gregory, apostolic administrator of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, celebrates the Eucharistic Prayer during the dedication Mass for the new chapel at the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center at Howard University on Feb. 27, 2025. (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada, used with permission of the Catholic Standard) | |
New chapel dedicated for Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center at Howard University
By Nicole Olea | Catholic Standard
On Feb. 27, the Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Student Center in the LeDroit Park neighborhood near Howard University celebrated the dedication of its new chapel, marking a milestone for the Catholic community at the campus. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, apostolic administrator of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, was the principal celebrant of the Mass, and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop emeritus of Washington, served as the principal concelebrant.
Read more...
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Exorcist: Change Your Prayer Life Now
Fr. Chad Ripperger, an exorcist, discusses why you need to beef up your prayer life right now, how you can do it practically, something you are probably not doing right now in your prayer life you need to do, and how you can lose the spiritual battle if you are not consistent and disciplined.
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You may have heard of Focus Ministries, but what do they do?
Focus Ministries forms Catholic missionaries rooted in Church teaching, prayer, Scripture and evangelization. "We go out into the world, invite people into a joyful life with Christ, and walk with them as they grow in faith. FOCUS brings the hope and joy of the gospel to them — meeting them in friendship, inviting them into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and walking with them as they pursue lives of virtue and excellence. "
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FOCUS
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Photo by RDNE Stock project, on Pexels
Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”
| | Check out the list of campuses that FOCUS ministers to, or the parishes that include FOCUS missionaries. | | One FOCUS Missionary's Story: Kami Belliard | | This video, Kami's Story, initially aired at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana on the final day, July 24, 2024. Video produced by Lux Lab Video Marketing. Used with permission. | | |
Plaque Honoring Bishop Fernand Cheri Unveiled in Cathedral
The Cathedral of New Orleans has installed a plaque memorializing Bishop Fernand Cheri, who passed away in 2023. The memorial is located near the statue of St. Joseph, to the right of the altar.
Born on January 28, 1952, in New Orleans, Bishop Cheri was educated at Epiphany Elementary, St. John Prep, and St. Joseph Seminary College. He earned a Master of Divinity from Notre Dame Seminary and a Master of Theology from Xavier University’s Institute for Black Catholic Studies. After his ordination in 1978, he served as pastor of St. Francis de Sales and later joined the Franciscan Order, focusing on campus ministry at Quincy University. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans in 2015 and also served as Administrator of St. Peter Claver Parish.
Known for his love of music and public speaking, Bishop Cheri made significant contributions to various Catholic organizations and was a leader in Black Catholic initiatives. His new plaque ensures that his legacy will live on in the community.
Based on Facebook post from St. Louis Cathedral - Cathedral-Basilica of St. Louis King of France in New Orleans, LA
| | Bishop Cheri was the homilist at Congress XII in 2017 (NBCC Photo). Pictured as well is the plaque, image from St. Louis Cathedral Facebook post. | | |
Is your parish a "Thriving Parish?"
Is your parish thriving and full of life? If not, don’t worry—it has the potential to be! Explore how you can bring energy and vibrancy to your faith community!
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Every parish strives to be a vibrant community where faith flourishes and believers encounter Jesus through word and sacrament. However, parishes face challenges in living out this mission.
To respond to today's challenges, each parish can find its unique path to thriving as a community of faith. The Pathways toward a Thriving Parish Project helps parishes across the country create these paths and fulfill our Catholic mission in the modern world.
| | The parish is where the Church lives – it is the heart of our Church... | | Bishop Edward K. Braxton was ordained a priest on May 13, 1970, and became a bishop on May 17, 1995, in St. Louis. Bishop Braxton studied at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and earned multiple degrees at St. Mary of the Lake Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois. He pursued further studies at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, earning a Ph.D. and an S.T.D. in Systematic Theology. Returning to Chicago, he served as an Associate Pastor while pursuing a Post Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Chicago (Photo from the Diocese of Belleville). | | |
“The Transfiguration: Pope Francis Living in the Valley”
Homily by His Excellency,
The Most Reverend Edward K. Braxton, Ph.D., S.T.D.
Diocese of Belleville
March 16, 2025, St. Luke Parish, Belleville
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
Jorge Mario Cardinal Bergoglio, Metropolitan Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina was 76, and he did not look forward to the long flight to Rome for the conclave to elect the successor of Pope Benedict XVI, who had shocked to world by being the first Roman Pontiff to renounce the Chair of Peter since Pope Gregory XII in 598 years. Since he had already submitted his letter of resignation to the Holy Father, the Cardinal almost didn’t go. Then, the world was shocked again when on March 13, 2013, Cardinal Bergoglio was elected the 266th Successor of St. Peter as Bishop of Rome, the first pope not born in Europe in over 1200 years and the first Jesuit pope ever. He continued to shock the world by choosing the name Francis, deciding not to live in the Apostolic Palace, and by announcing that his pontificate would be brief. “I will serve you for 2 or 3 years and then I will be off to the house of the Father.”
Read more...
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Secretariat of Justice and Peace Releases Lenten Bulletin
Bulletin contains these stories:
Lent: A Journey Together in Hope and Solidarity
"One way in which we can walk together this Lent is by supporting the poor and vulnerable around the world."
Stations of the Cross for Overcoming Racism
"How can we open our hearts during the season of Lent to the persistent sin of racism and the call to help overcome it?"
Protecting the Health of the Most Vulnerable
"Medicaid provides care for nearly 80 million low-income people, and its lifesaving benefits risk being cut in the upcoming budget reconciliation package."
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Black Gospel Archive fills gaps in gospel music history
Heard on All Things Considered
By Molly-Jo Tilton
Over the past two decades, Baylor University's Black Gospel Archive has collected and digitized more than 60,000 gospel songs, making it one of the largest digital gospel collections in the world.
The archive focuses on records from the "golden era of gospel music," roughly 1945-1980. It also houses important artifacts like recorded sermons, concert announcements and sheet music, to preserve the history of Black gospel culture.
Now, thanks to a new grant, the archive will expand its collection to include oral histories as well.
"It is the music that endured," gospel historian Bob Darden says. He served as the lead researcher for the archive until his retirement in 2023.
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Christ at the Center
Podcast by Rev. Raymond Harris
Father Raymond Harris is a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He has served in parochial, university chaplaincy, seminary formation, and canon law ministries. He serves as the Pastor of Holy Family Parish in Randallstown. This podcast includes homilies, and Bible Study presentations.
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"Immigrant families like me need support of the community when coming to a new community, and LOH helped me find ways to better myself."
— Sofia Aubourg, Community Member
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Life of Hope serves the youth and immigrants in Brooklyn NY
Founded in 2006, Life of Hope is a multifaceted organization that positively impacts the lives of youth and immigrant families in a manner that reflects both their identity and needs through innovative programs and services while providing a wider, more robust array of opportunities. It's mission is to be the central hub of hope, access, critical resources, and prosperity for youth and immigrant families in Central Brooklyn.
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Read a Classic and Grow Spiritually
The Imitation of Christ
"The Imitation of Christ," written by Thomas à Kempis, is a Christian devotional book first composed in Latin between approximately 1418 and 1427. It serves as a handbook for spiritual life, stemming from the Devotio Moderna movement, of which Kempis was a member. This work is considered one of the most widely read devotional texts, second only to the Bible, and it is regarded as a classic of Christian devotion. Its popularity was immediate, as it was printed 745 times before 1650. Aside from the Bible, no other book has been translated into as many languages as "The Imitation of Christ."
The text is divided into four books, each providing detailed spiritual instructions: "Helpful Counsels for the Spiritual Life," "Directives for the Interior Life," "On Interior Consolation," and "On the Blessed Sacrament."
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NEED HELP 'UNPACKING' YOUR CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE?
Ignatius Press Offers Study Bible Booklets to Help You Better Understand the Bible
From the Old Testament to the Gospels, Study Bible Booklets are available for most of the books of the Bible.
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The Sister Bea Jeffries, SBS, Black Catholic Formation Program
The Spring Semester begins April 2025. Registration is now open!
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Looking for Specific Iconography?
Al Sauls - Iconographer
Al Sauls is a Houston-based artist and iconographer whose narrative work incorporates aspects of early Byzantium, Catholic imagery, and traditional portraiture.
Al Sauls’ work reveals a tying together of these elements from his past with contemporary references seen in everyday life. He explains the importance of narrative in his work. Getting most of his imagery from stories in the Bible and Christian texts.
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