A Holy Cross priest has been named by Pope Francis as a “Missionary of Mercy.”
Rev. Joseph Corpora, C.S.C., director of university-school partnerships for the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education, is among 800 priests worldwide selected by the pope to be special confessors and “living signs” of God’s forgiveness during the Holy Year of Mercy.
Fr. Corpora will be among those traveling to Rome to meet with Pope Francis and to be commissioned on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 10) in a celebration at St. Peter’s Basilica.
“I am very excited, grateful and humbled by the Holy Father’s invitation and I hope everyone at Notre Dame will pray for me that I might do some good in spreading the mercy of God by being a person of mercy and compassion.” Fr. Corpora said. “I know something of God’s mercy because my deepest self-definition is that I am a sinner whose sins are forgiven. God has been so merciful to me.”
For more on Fr. Corpora, check out the complete story on the Notre Dame website.
Several Ave Maria Press authors will be participating in the online conference “Faces of Mercy” from Feb. 18-21, 2016, at CatholicConference4Moms.com.
This is the second year for the conference: Last year’s Lenten event generated 27 presentations viewed more than 10,000 times worldwide during the five-day conference. More than 4,000 people registered to attend.
This year’s theme, “Faces of Mercy,” coincides with the Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis.
Ave’s authors and their presentations include:
Karee and Manny Santos, authors of the forthcoming The Four Keys to Everlasting Love (April 8, 2016) will speak on “Mercy in Marriage;”
Lisa Duffy, author of The Catholic Guide to Dating After Divorce, will speak on “Mercy and Forgiveness in the Midst of Divorce;”
Emily Jaminet and Michele Faehnle, authors of the forthcoming Divine Mercy for Moms (Feb. 2, 2016), will speak on “St. Faustina, Apostle of Mercy: Lessons from her Life for Moms;” and
Pat Gohn, author of Blessed, Beautiful, and Bodacious, will speak on “What the World Needs Now is Spiritual Mothers.”
More than twenty popular Catholic voices will speak on a variety of topics. All of the presentations and prayers will be available throughout Lent. There also will be two, live-streamed sessions Saturday. HD videos and MP3 podcasts will be available as well.
Online attendees will be eligible for digital swag bags.
For more information and to register, check out the website at www.CatholicConference4Moms.com, which also includes links to parishes that are offering viewing events.
Ave Maria Press has four new titles to foster spiritual growth during this Lenten season.
Sacred Reading for Lent 2016, Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, Bringing Lent Home with Pope Francis, and Daily Devotions for Lent 2016 are inexpensive, portable devotionals that offer Catholics an opportunity to strengthen their faith through short, daily prayers and meditations.
Sacred Reading for Lent 2016 by the Apostleship of Prayer—“the Pope’s prayer group”—uses a simple, six-step method first developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola that includes daily readings, reflections, and prayer starters with Lenten themes. This devotional provides an easy source for reflection and repentance for all Catholics during the penitential season.
Bringing Lent Home with Pope Francis by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle is the fourth book in her Lenten devotional series, which is designed with families in mind. The book’s daily themes, projects, and reflections encourage communal growth for families through the lens of Pope Francis’s life and message. Other titles from O’Boyle’s Bringing Lent Home series are: Bringing Lent Home with St. John Paul II, Bringing Lent Home with Mother Teresa, and Bringing Lent Home with St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus by the Apostleship of Prayer emphasizes the order’s renowned spirituality as it comes to life in mediations on the touchstone Catholic Lenten devotion, the Stations of the Cross. Recalling the dramatic events of Jesus’ passion and death helps readers enter more fully into the celebration of the Mass that makes these events present in a real way.
Daily Devotions for Lent 2016 is the newest addition to The Living Gospel series, an affordable seasonal guide for busy Catholics. This Lenten season, Charles Paolino, a well-known columnist, preacher, and associate editor at RENEW International, provides a simple five-step daily process for reflection during the solemn season of spiritual growth. Each day offers prayer and reflection focused on the gospel message.
Additional Lenten titles from Ave Maria Press:
Everyone’s Way of the Cross by Clarence Enzler (Also available in Spanish and large print)
The Gift of the Cross: Lenten Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition edited by Rev. Andrew Gawrych, CSC
You Have Redeemed the World: Praying the Stations in the Holy Cross Tradition edited by Revs. Andrew Gawrych, CSC, and Kevin Grove, CSC (Also available in Spanish)
Lent and Holy Week by the Merton Institute for Contemplative Living
Simplifying the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit by Paula Huston
Quantum Grace: Lenten Reflections on Creation and Connectedness by Judy Cannato
John Paul II’s Biblical Way of the Cross by Amy Welborn and Michael Dubruiel
Pope Francis is inviting the world to unite in prayer for his monthly intentions through a new initiative with the Apostleship of Prayer, “the Pope’s prayer group.”
AOP carries the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions on its websites and social media, but the Jesuit prayer ministry began a new monthly video series this week.
You can view the video at ApostleshipofPrayer.org and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thepopevideo (English) and https://www.facebook.com/elvideodelpapa (Spanish).
Each video will focus on a global challenge. This month’s topic is interreligious dialogue. The project is expected to reach thirty-million people in ten languages. “In a world where everything pushes towards fragmentation, opposition, and division, it is more necessary than ever that members of different religions and all peace-loving people mobilize in common cause,” said Rev. Frédéric Fornos, S.J., managing director of the international Apostleship of Prayer. “Each month, Pope Francis asks people everywhere to pray for a challenge that concerns all humanity. Religions must show that they can pray and work together for peace, brotherhood, and solidarity to address the common challenges facing humanity.”
Mercy is “the beating heart of the Gospel,” Pope Francis said in announcing the Holy Year of Mercy earlier this year.
From Dec. 8, 2015, to Nov. 20, 2016, the Holy Father is encouraging all people to spend more time practicing the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy. In their recently released book Intimate Graces, bestselling author and media personality Teresa Tomeo and her husband, Deacon Dominick Pastore, invite couples to enrich their marriages by reciprocating the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
Ave Maria asked the couple to reflect on marriage and the Holy Year of Mercy.
Ave Maria Press: What does the year of mercy mean to you personally?
Teresa Tomeo: For me, it is another beautiful reminder of what mercy really is; a constant call to conversion. We don’t need mercy unless we have fallen short in some way. So it is a huge encouragement to continually try and work on our relationship with God. For marriage, it is another opportunity to bring that same approach to the husband and wife relationship.
Dominick Pastore: It’s a time to remember all that God has done for me in my life and in particular my marriage because of one thing and one thing only—His unconditional love. St. Paul says in Romans 5:8 that “while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” What an awesome act of mercy that I hope I can bring in some way into my marriage.
Ave: How does the message in Intimate Graces embrace what Pope Francis is calling for in this holy year?
Tomeo: While the emphasis of the holy year is not necessarily mercy in marriage, this idea that we are hearing so much about in terms of accompanying one another along the faith journey certainly applies. We, as couples, are supposed to help each other get to Heaven, so this upcoming year is perfect for our putting that into practice with more and more mercy.
Pastore: In his letter introducing the Year of Mercy, the Pope spoke of his desire that the “balm of mercy” may reach all people. We hope that the corporal and spiritual works of mercy we explore in the book will aid in soothing hurting relationships and heal hearts so that marriages can be a witness of God’s mercy already present in the world.
Ave: Are any one of the works of mercy more important in practicing mercy in marriage?
Tomeo: I really think it can change depending on what couples are going through at any given time. Each of the works when looked at through the lenses of marriage can really work to bring couples closer.
Pastore: As Teresa said, I don’t think any one is more important than another, but in any particular marriage there will be ones that resonate more deeply than others; that address areas that could use some attention; or that open hearts and eyes to a new way of looking at one’s marriage.
Ave: What is the first thing that couples can do to bring Jesus into their relationship or to make Him a bigger part of their lives together?
Tomeo: First would be to commit or recommit one's life and marriage to Christ and the teachings of the Church. Second would be to be in His word. Reading the daily Mass readings is an easy, non-threatening way of praying together and bringing God into the marriage. It is something we started years ago and still try to do each morning.
Pastore: I agree totally with Teresa and would add for couples to talk about Jesus and to Him in prayer as a couple. Bring Jesus into the everyday fabric of our lives, not see Him as someone we go and visit for an hour on Sunday. Discuss how Jesus is moving in your life individually and as a couple. What is He asking of you? What are you asking of Him? Questions like these can be very fruitful in our marriages.
Ave: Is there a verse in the Bible that describes your marriage?
Tomeo: Romans 8:28 "all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called to His purpose." God can turn lemons into lemonade. He can and does use our suffering for good. If we hadn't had our crisis we wouldn’t be where we are today in our marriage. Not that God wants us to suffer, but if we turn to him, he can and does use it for good.
Pastore: Teresa stole my answer, but if there is one verse that made a huge difference in turning our marriage around it would be the one she mentioned above, Romans 5:8. Not until we both embraced the beauty and truth of that verse did we start seeing each other through the eyes of Christ and begin helping each other on our journey to heaven as spouses are called to do.
Ave: What else is beneficial for readers to know about the Year of Mercy to strengthen their marriage?
Tomeo: The Church has all kinds of beautiful tools to help us apply mercy starting with Confession. Once we are forgiven, we are or should be more merciful to our spouse. We have an entire year to pray, reflect, and embrace this idea of mercy in all of our relationships, but mercy is really needed in marriages as so many couples are struggling.
Pastore: The other day I saw a sign in my doctor’s office that read: “October is breast cancer awareness month,” except the word “October” was crossed out and replaced with: “Every month.” Every day, month, year is an opportunity to practice the works of mercy in our marriages to help struggling marriages become good marriages and good ones to become great ones.
The hour-long PBS documentary featuring The Congregation of Holy Cross and its apostolates, including Ave Maria Press, is now available to view on YouTube.
Sacred Mission-Civic Duty, which looks at how Holy Cross and its apostolates have been influential to the growth and development of South Bend, Indiana, is part of PBS-affiliate WNIT’s celebration of South Bend’s 150th anniversary.
Ave Maria Press also celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., this year. Ave is actually several weeks older than the city of South Bend.
Thomas Grady, Ave’s publisher, is among those featured in the documentary.
View the video here. Read more about Sacred Mission-Civic Duty here.
Tom Corcoran, coauthor of Rebuilt, will be featured on Telecare TV’s “Good News” program various times throughout the week of Nov. 22.
For viewers not in the greater New York area, the program will run on the Telecare TV website and on YouTube: www.telecaretv.org and https://www.youtube.com/user/TelecareTV/videos.
Corcoran, associate to the pastor of Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland, will be talking about the newest book in the bestselling Rebuilt Parish series, Rebuilding Your Message.
In the new book, Corcoran and Rev. Michael White share dozens of carefully honed strategies to help Catholic parishes establish and sustain excellent communication from the parking lot to the pulpit so they can better proclaim the irresistible and life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rebuilt is the compelling story of Nativity’s rebirth as a parish. Tools for Rebuilding was the follow-up.
The station and online schedule for Corcoran’s interview includes:
9:30 p.m. (Eastern) Sunday, Nov. 22
1:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23
1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24
1:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25
1:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 26
1:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27
1:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28
Click on the "Watch Live Now" button located on the right side of the station’s web page.
Sr. Terry Rickard, O.P., is executive director of RENEW International and author of Daily Devotions for Advent 2015, the newest seasonal reflecting book in the Living Gospel series. We asked her to reflect on the new book and how people can be spiritually renewed during the Advent season.
Ave Maria Press: What makes Daily Devotions for Advent 2015 unique?
Sr. Terry Rickard: I imagined this book as a personal conversation with the reader: one person of faith speaking with another. I tried to weave my real-life faith experiences and observations with the Word of God in a way that would resonate with busy Catholics in today’s world.
Q: How does Daily Devotions for Advent fit into the mission and ministry of RENEW International?
A: The heart of what we do at RENEW is help people connect their faith with everyday life and ultimately to be comfortable sharing their faith with others. This daily reflection format is a wonderful tool for making those connections.
Q: How does Daily Devotions help with spiritual renewal during the Advent season?
A: During this busy season filled with shopping and family obligations, I am happy to help people find a doable and simple way to set aside quiet prayerful time.
Q: How would you recommend people fit prayer into their busy lives?
A: Praying first thing in the morning works best for me, before the demands of my professional ministry and community life begin. However, others might find quiet time at the end of the day. The most important thing is to find 15 minutes that you can commit to.
QL Anything else you think would be helpful to readers?
A: Hopefully, as people read and reflect on how I perceived God at work in my life, they too will be able to find God in the ordinary experiences of their own lives.
Bonus Interview from the World Meeting of Families
