RECLAIMING VATICAN II: WHAT IT (REALLY) SAID…

by | Nov 9, 2021 | Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, books, Ecclesial News, On Sale

Friends,I am happy to share with you a new book from Word on Fire, Reclaiming Vatican II: What It (Really) Said, What It Means, and How It Calls Us to Renew the Church.The Second Vatican Council was one of the most significant cultural and ecclesiastical events of the twentieth century. Though practically everyone acknowledges its importance, Catholics have been debating its precise meaning and application for the past sixty years. Consequently, the great missionary vision of Vatican II remains largely unrealized.Fr. Blake Britton’s new book, Reclaiming Vatican II, shows how to recover it, primarily by returning to the council’s four major constitutions. Fr. Britton is an able guide, radiant and thoughtful, with an infectious joy and love for the council. He stands on the vanguard of a new generation tasked with finally bringing the council’s vision to fruition.I warmly commend this book to anyone wanting to understand Vatican II, but especially to young Catholics confused about the council and those skeptical about its relevance today: books.wordonfire.org/reclaiming.Peace,+ Bishop Robert...

Meeting on the Global Compact on Education: “Religions and Education”

by | Oct 7, 2021 | a current event, Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Ecclesial News, Ecumenical Dialogue, Education

06 October 2021 Foto © Vatican Media Vatican City, Vatican – October 2021 – On 5 October, Pope Francis chaired the meeting on Education with the participation of representatives of various religions on the theme ” Religions and Education: Towards a Global Pact on Education”. During his speech, the Holy Father Francis highlighted, among other things, education as a global initiative “to rekindle the dedication for and with the young people, renewing the passion for a more open and inclusive education, including patient listening, constructive dialogue and better mutual understanding,” and he invited everyone “to unite efforts in a broad educational alliance, to form mature individuals capable of overcoming division and antagonism, and to restore the fabric of relationships for the sake of a more fraternal humanity.” The Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education on its official website, (https://www.educationglobalcompact.org/en/) has presented three tools in five languages which will make it possible to concretely implement the Education Global Pact: https://www.educationglobalcompact.org/resources/Risorse/vademecum-english.pdf   RELATED ARTICLE(S) Italy – Relaunch Global Educational Pact to safeguard our “common...

Sr. Alessandra Smerilli, FMA, appointed as the Interim Secretary of Dicastery for Human Development

by | Aug 27, 2021 | a current event, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, Ecclesial News, FMA, Salesian News

(ANS – Vatican City) – Pope Francis has appointed Sister Alessandra Smerilli, religious of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), as the Interim Secretary of the Dicastery for Integral Human Development and as a delegate of the Vatican Commission on Covid-19. The appointment, as stated in the publication of the Bulletin of the Press Office of the Holy See yesterday, August 26, 2021, is “to replace Msgr. Bruno Marie Duffé and Fr. Augusto Zampini, respectively as Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the same Dicastery, both of whom have returned to their dioceses.” As stated in the Bulletin, the Holy Father has therefore, arranged that the management team of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission be composed of Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, and Father Fabio Baggio, the Undersecretary of the Migrants and Refugees Section. Born in 1974 in the town of Vasto, Abruzzo, Sister Smerilli has been the Under-secretary of the Dicastery since March 2021 and coordinator of the Economics Taskforce of the Vatican Commission Covid-19. The nun, as secretary, therefore, takes the place of Monsignor Bruno-Marie Duffé, who left the Dicastery in July, while as a delegate of the Taskforce she...

Pope offers assistance to Catholic charity in southern Italy – Vatican News

by | Jul 8, 2021 | Accompaniment, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam and the salvation of souls!, Ecclesial News, Outreach, Salesian News, Salesian Saints, Salesians of Don Bosco

Pope offers assistance to Catholic charity in southern Italy Cardinal Konrad Krajiewski, papal almoner, offers the support of Pope Francis to a local Catholic charity in San Severo in the province of Foggia, southern Italy opening its doors to families in difficulty due to the pandemic. By Giancarlo La Vella “Solidarity spent well” is the slogan of the “Don Felice Canelli” Emporio della Solidarietà Catholic charity promoted by the diocesan Caritas of San Severo, a larger town in the Foggia area, which opened Saturday. All families in difficulty due to the pandemic are able to receive needed assistance. Present at the inauguration was Bishop Giovanni Checchinato of San Severo, Msgr. Francesco Soddu, director of Caritas Italiana, Fr. Andrea Pupilla, director of Caritas of San Severo; the mayor, Francesco Miglio, and Simona Venditti, municipal councillor for Social Policies. Cardinal Konrad Krajiewski, papal almoner, surprised the group with his personal visit to share the Pope’s good wishes and support for the initiative to the joy of all those present. The Church of San Severo is also celebrating one of its own priests, an apostle and friend of the poor, don Felice Canelli, who was recently declared venerable by the Holy See....