Pope meets priests of Rome, tells them to find strength in vocation

Getting Ready for Lent

Archbishop Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia, reflects on the meaning of Lent and explains the fasting, prayer and almsgiving that Catholic are called to during the six week preparation for Easter.

PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH FOR PRIESTS

St. Joseph's Church - Molokai

Blessed Joseph,
you both saved and served the Word of God,
and the Living Bread come down from heaven.
Look down upon the priests of the Church
which had its origins in the household
over which you presided,
and pray for them --
that they, too, serve perseveringly
the people entrusted to their care --
may teach them faithfully the Word of God,
and break for them daily the Bread of Life.
Strengthen them in faith and in hope,
console them in hardship and disappointment;
and pray your Jesus
to crown their service of Him on earth
with eternal life with Him
in the happiness of heaven for ever. AMEN

Shared by Mary Jane D. who also shared a 30 day Novena to St. Joseph found here

Pope to Seminarians: Don't conform

Honolulu's Bishop Larry Silva Addresses the HHS Recent Mandate: Letter to the faithful

Reprinted with permission of our bishop, His Excellency Bishop Larry Silva, Diocese of Honolulu

LETTER TO THE FAITHFUL

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church in the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be “of, by, and for the people,” has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people — the Catholic population — and to the millions more who are served by the Catholic faithful.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that almost all employers, including Catholic employers, will be forced to offer their employees’ health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs, and contraception. Almost all health insurers will be forced to include those “services” in the health policies they write. And almost all individuals will be forced to buy that coverage as a part of their policies.

In so ruling, the Administration has cast aside the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, denying to Catholics our nation’s first and most fundamental freedom, that of religious liberty. And as a result, unless the rule is overturned, we Catholics will be compelled either to violate our consciences, or to drop health coverage for our employees (and suffer the penalties for doing so). The Administration’s sole concession was to give our institutions one year to comply.

People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust she can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less.

And therefore, I would ask of you two things. First, as a community of faith we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail, and religious liberty may be restored. Without God, we can do nothing; with God, nothing is impossible. Second, I would also recommend visiting www.usccb.org/conscience, to learn more about this severe assault on religious liberty, and how to contact Congress in support of legislation that would reverse the Administration’s decision.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Larry Silva

Bishop of Honolulu

Source: Diocese of Honolulu

Bishop Larry Silva Appoints New Director of Vocations

Hawaii Catholic Herald article can be found here.

The Spiritual Moms would like to say mahalo nui loa to Father Peter for his excellent work while he was the director of vocations. We would also like to say aloha and offer our sincerest congratulations to Father Pascual Abaya, the new director of vocations for the Diocese of Honolulu.

Father Peter Dumag

Father Pascual Abaya

Remember to pray for more vocations!

Shut Up About My Priest

Good blog post from a blog with a very interesting/humorous title read it here.