I Give, Therefore I Am

by | Dec 20, 2021 | Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Christmas, Outreach, Sacredness of All Life

A must-read Christmas story from Vatican News A file photo from the Good News Ministries archive STORIES WORLD UNITED STATES PRISONS Dale Recinella, the former Wall Street finance lawyer who assists prisoners on death row in Florida together with his wife Susan, shares his experience with a non-profit organization in Tallahassee assisting homeless people with mental issues. By Dale S. Recinella Decades ago, in the streets of Tallahassee, Florida’s capital city, the itinerant mentally ill taught me many important lessons about our shared humanity. I had never intended to get involved with the social security administration and the mentally ill on the streets of Tallahassee. My wife and I were simply trying to be alert to the suffering of human beings in our city and especially in the vicinity of our center-city apartment. While still working part-time in the Tallahassee branch office of a Florida law firm, I am becoming experienced in street ministry. God’s vehicle for this development was Good News Ministries, a non-profit organization founded by a small group of former corporate businessmen. What they all share is the fact that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has radically interfered with their self-seeking secular careers. So, when I meet this group...

George Bailey Still Teaches Us: ‘Our Father in Heaven Is There to Help the Hopeless’

by | Dec 20, 2021 | a current event, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Christmas, Faith, Films, God's Mercy

From The National Catholic Register ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ turns 75 but the story remains timeless. Henry Travers as guardian angel Clarence Odbody, after rescuing George Bailey played by James Stewart. (photo: Public domain) Joseph Pronechen FeaturesDecember 19, 2021 Before Jimmy Stewart portrayed George Bailey, his guardian angel surely watched over him as he was flying harrowing combat missions in World War II. When Stewart was leaving for Air Force duty as a B-24 bomber pilot, his father slipped a copy of Psalm 91 into his uniform pocket, telling his son to pray it often — assuring him it would help him get through the war safely. This simple incident made its way into Stewart biographies along with the poignant prayer:  “You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day. … Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come. … For God commands the angels to guard you in all your ways. … With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. … Whoever clings to me I will deliver; whoever knows my name I will set...

“Courageous, the Salesians!” Pope Francis receives organizers and artists of the 2021 Vatican Christmas Concert

by | Dec 17, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam!, Christmas, Christmas Joy!, Christmas Season Music, Pope Francis, Salesians of Don Bosco, SDB

15 December 2021 Photo ©: Vatican Media  (ANS – Vatican City) – This morning, Wednesday, December 15, Pope Francis received the promoters, organizers and artists of the Christmas Concert at the Vatican in audience, a concert sponsored by the Congregation for Catholic Education, and whose proceeds will be donated to the Pontifical Foundation “Scholas Occurrentes” and the Salesian Mission Office “Missioni Don Bosco” in Turin. Participating for the Salesians were: the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and Fr Daniel Antúnez, President of “Missioni Don Bosco”, together with Fr Simon Zakerian, Rector of the work of Al Fidar, in Lebanon, and Fr Danijel Vidović, in charge of reception at the Mother House of the Salesians in Turin. “Christmas invites us to fix our gaze on the event that brought God’s tenderness to the world – a word that I emphasize, tenderness, we miss so much – and so it aroused and continues to arouse joy and hope. Tenderness, joy, hope: sentiments and attitudes that you artists also know how to revive and spread with your talents. Thank you,” began the Pontiff, immediately creating an atmosphere of great openness with the audience. Then, after recalling the expressions of tenderness present in daily life (the...

Vatican hosting ‘100 Nativity Scenes’ exhibition in St Peter’s Square

by | Dec 8, 2021 | a current event, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Christmas, Christmas Joy!

The ‘100 Presepi’ in St Peter’s Square  (Robin Gomes) VATICAN VATICAN CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION The ‘100 Presepi ‘ exhibition will be inaugurated on December 5 by Mgr Rino Fisichella President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization By Vatican News staff writer For the fourth year running, the Vatican is hosting the ‘100 Nativity Scenes’  International Exhibition (Mostra dei 100 Presepi), bringing together over 100 cribs from across the world depicting the Nativity of the Lord. The exhibition, which has become a traditional feature in the Christmas calendar of events in Rome, is being held under the colonnade of St Peter’s Square, from 5 December 2021 until 9 January 2022. As in the 2020 edition, the popular exhibition has been moved outdoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inauguration on 5 December  It will be inaugurated on Sunday afternoon at  4:00 p.m., by Archbishop Rino Fisichella,  President of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, in the presence of some members of the Dicastery and of the Ambassador of the Republic of China to the Holy See Mr. Matthew Shieh-Ming Lee with his staff. During the inauguration, artists of the Yang Yu Lin Dance...