More resources to use.
October Memorare & Marian Prayers
A Room at the Inn? looks in depth at the root causes of the housing crisis and offers solidarity with anyone experiencing homelessness. The dignity which, as Catholics, we recognise in every person, must be reflected in the reality of life in our society.
Key findings of A Room at the Inn? are:
Please see the following link to the full text in pdf of A Room at the Inn?
Bishops-pastoral-letter-on-Housing-and-Homelessness-A-Room-at-the-Inn
A great example for us all is the life and teaching of Mother Theresa now a Saint.
She experienced a second calling in her life and chose to go and work with the poorest of the poor.
Watch this video of her story.
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Pope Francis encourages us to live the Beatitudes. He says
“The Beatitudes are like a Christian’s identity card. So, if anyone asks: ‘What must one do to be a good Christian?’, the answer is clear. We have to do, each in our own way, what Jesus told us in the Sermon on the Mount. In the Beatitudes, we find a portrait of the Master, which we are called to reflect in our daily lives. The word ‘happy’ or ‘blessed’ thus becomes a synonym for ‘holy’. It expresses the fact that those faithful to God and his word, by their self-giving, gain true happiness.” {GE, 63-4)
Living these are a true challenge for us all. Pope Francis continues
“If I encounter a person sleeping outdoors on a cold night, I can view him or her as an annoyance, an idler, an obstacle in my path, a troubling sight, a problem for politicians to sort out, or even a piece of refuse cluttering a public space. Or I can respond with faith and charity and see in this person a human being with a dignity identical to my own, a creature infinitely loved by the Father, an image of God, a brother or sister redeemed by Jesus Christ. That is what it is to be a Christian! ” (GE, 98)
My good friend Aidan Donaldson has recently written about the new Beatitudes mentioned by Pope Francis in Sweden
In his own beatitudes, he tells us that this is what this path to happiness and holiness looks like:
(Beatitudes announced by Pope Francis in Sweden 2016)
For more on this read “The Beatitudes of Pope Francis, A manifesto for the modern Christian ” By Dr Aidan Donaldson Published by Veritas 9781 84730 850 4
The Bishops of the world are meeting in Rome this month with Pope Francis together with observers to discuss the theme of Young People, Faith and vocational discernment. Archbishop Eamon and Bishop Donal McKeown are attending this month long synod.
.Pope Francis noted: “The theme, an expression of the pastoral care of the Church for the young, is consistent with the results of the recent Synod assemblies on the family and with the content of the post-Synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia. Its aim is to accompany the young on their existential journey to maturity so that, through a process of discernment, they discover their plan for life and realize it with joy, opening up to the encounter with God and with human beings, and actively participating in the edification of the Church and of society.”
This video explains what the synod is all about.
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In October 2018 Catholic Bishops from around the world will meet in Rome to focus on how the church helps, guides and accompanies young people as they grow in faith and discern the part they can play in shaping the future of the Church.
The participants will take part in a Synod of Bishops meeting in the Vatican to discuss and debate the subject in question. In 2018 the theme is: Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment. It is the fifteenth Ordinary General Assembley of the Synod of Bishops.
Ahead of the Synod, a preliminary outline document called a Lineamenta is prepared and distributed to all concerned for comment. Based on the responses to this, a working document – the Instrumentum Laboris – is released globally and acts as the basis for discussions at the Synod.
When gathered in Rome, the assembly examines the proposals, or propositiones, put forward by members and passes those that receive approval to Pope Francis. The Pope uses these as a guide for a post-synodal apostolic exhortation – a papal document often written following a synodal gathering of bishops.
The final version of the preparatory Working Paper for this synod is attached here. Young people from all over the World met with Pope Francis and this document has been drawn up to form the basis of the work at the October Synod.
Download and read this doc.
This document was drafted by the young adults who participated in the Pre-Synod Gathering in Rome and was presented to Pope Francis on Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018.
Irish Episcopal Conference discusses Synod.
Synod of Bishops in Rome on Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment
From today until 28 October Pope Francis will host a Synod of Bishops in Rome on the theme: ‘Youth, faith and vocational discernment’.
The Synod is an assembly of bishops from around the world, gathered with the Holy Father, to share their wisdom and experiences in the common pursuit of pastoral solutions which have a universal validity and application. Taking place every three years, this will be the 15th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, the President of the Bishops’ Conference and Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry, chair of the Council for Pastoral Renewal and Adult Faith Development, are representing the Irish bishops at the Synod.
As part of the preparations for the Synod, bishops met with representatives of youth ministry from around the country to discuss key themes arising from a web-based consultation which they undertook with young people. This involved feedback from 2,500 respondents.
Arising from this information, bishops noted positive examples and obstacles facing young people regarding their faith and growing up in the contemporary world, such as:
– young people face many challenges including peer pressure, mental health issues and from social media;
– young people are passionate about justice, equality and fairness, and desire to be listened to even when their opinions are not in line with Church teaching;
– many young people want to learn, experience and have a greater role in their faith, but sometimes struggle in achieving this; and
– the positive experiences of chaplaincy services, pilgrimages and other dedicated national and international youth encounter events.
As they reflected on the importance of this year’s theme for the contemporary Church, and on the responsibility placed upon the Synod Fathers, bishops asked the faithful to join with them by praying the Prayer for the Synod by Pope Francis.
Lord Jesus in journeying towards the Synod,
your Church turns her attention to all the young people in the world.
We pray that they might boldly
take charge of their lives,
aim for the most beautiful and profound things of life
and always keep their hearts unencumbered.
Accompanied by wise and generous guides,
help them respond to the call
you make to each of them,
to realize a proper plan of life
and achieve happiness.
Keep their hearts open to dreaming great dreams
and make them concerned for the good of others.
Like the Beloved Disciple,
may they stand at the foot of the Cross,
to receive your Mother as a gift from You.
May they be witnesses to your Resurrection
and be aware that you are at their side
as they joyously proclaim you as Lord.
Amen.