Blog_Banner.jpg

News

Filter by Archive

The Latest

news_placeholder.svg

What Catholics Can Do to End Racism in America, a Powerful New Edition of the Ave Explores Podcast

Fr. Joshua Johnson and Sr. Josephine Garrett, C.S.F.N., are guests on Friday’s Ave Explores podcast. The two have a candid discussion with host Katie Prejean McGrady on their experiences as black Catholics, why racism is sinful, and how Catholics are called to advocate for change. Johnson and Garrett define racism, prejudice, discrimination, and institutional racism. They also emphasize that saying “I don’t see color,” is not a good thing—we need to see color to identify who is participating in discussions and who is in a position of influence. The two talk about their personal experience of discrimination. A parishioner once thanked Johnson for all that he was bringing to their church and then said, “but you better not bring the hood to our church!” Johnson and Garrett also offer practical suggestions for every Catholic to help combat racism, especially expanding the image of holiness so that it reflects more than white people. Ave Explores: Faith in Action, which runs through July 3, is examining how Catholics can live out the Church’s social teaching in their everyday lives. Sign up to receive emails with new content on the Ave Maria Press website. All content is free. The Ave Explores podcast is available on your favorite platform.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

The Rosary Priest Featured on EWTN's 'They Might Be Saints'

Venerable Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., will be featured on this week’s episode of EWTN’s They Might Be Saints. The program, hosted by “Miracle Hunter” and Ave Maria Press author Michael O’Neill, will premiere at 1:30 p.m. ET June 3—the anniversary of Peyton’s death—with an encore presentation at 11 p.m. June 4. The popular TV series examines the lives of people on the path to sainthood. O’Neill explores Peyton’s miraculous healing from tuberculosis, his remarkable life inspiring millions of families around the world to pray together, and his ongoing cause toward sainthood. Peyton is best known for his message, “The family that prays together stays together,” and for his Rosary rallies throughout the world. He also brought the message of the Rosary and family prayer to radio and television with Hollywood stars such as Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball. Meanwhile, Family Theater Productions, an apostolate of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers and a ministry of Holy Cross Family Ministries, will release the documentary Pray: The Story of Patrick Peyton in October 2020. You can see the trailer here. Find out more about Peyton here.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Ave Author New National Director of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network

Fr. Joseph Laramie, SJ, has been named the US national director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (formerly The Apostleship of Prayer). Laramie is the author of Abide in the Heart of Christ. He served as campus minister at Saint Louis University and has been a spiritual director at White House Retreat, as well as a teacher and director of pastoral ministry at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Laramie replaces Fr. William Blazek, S.J., who had been the director since 2017. When the pandemic passes, Blazek will move to the phase of Jesuit formation known as tertianship, a time of renewal and spiritual training. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is an international ecclesial ministry served by the Jesuits that reaches more than 50 million participants worldwide through its popular website, talks, conferences, radio outreach, publications, and retreats. Each year the Holy Father asks that Christians and non-Christians alike join in praying for his particular intentions on the challenges facing humanity. The regional US–Canadian office can be found at popesprayerusa.net and popesprayercanada.net.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Charles de Foucauld a Step Closer to Sainthood

On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis officially attributed a miracle to the intercession of Blessed Charles de Foucauld, advancing the priest's path to sainthood. Foucauld was born in what is now France in 1858 and died in present-day Algeria in 1916. A former Trappist monk, he was a hermit who evangelized the North African ethnic group the Berbers, learning both their language and culture. Foucauld was killed at his hermitage. According to Vatican News, the official acceptance of the miracle means that Foucauld can be canonized.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Four Ave Authors Win Excellence in Publishing Awards

Four Ave Maria Press authors earned honors in the 2020 Excellence in Publishing Awards from the Association of Catholic Publishers. Macrina Wiederkehr was given second place in the prayer category for her final book, The Flowing Grace of Now. She died in April. In the resources for ministry category, Roy Petitfils was awarded second place for his book Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression. Mary E. Lenaburg won third place in the spirituality category for Be Brave in the Scared. Andres Arango earned third place honors in the Spanish category for Renovacíon Carismática Católica, which is part of the Recursos para el ministerio hispano series. See the complete list of winners on the ACP website.  

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Wiederkehr Described as Joyful, Thoughtful, Wise

Ave Maria Press is sad to announce the passing of beloved author Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., who died early Friday, April 24, 2020. She suffered from an inoperable brain tumor for the past several months. Sr. Wiederkehr was a spiritual guide, popular retreat facilitator, and author who made her home with the monastic community of St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Benedictine traditions of deep listening to the word of God and hospitality toward all of life formed the roots of her writing and retreat ministry. Wiederkehr wrote nine bestselling books, including The Flowing Grace of Now, Seven Sacred Pauses, Abide, Behold Your Life, and The Circle of Life, which she coauthored with her good friend Joyce Rupp. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at a later date. You can read Wiederkehr’s full obituary at dignitymemorial.com. “Although the news that Macrina had died was not unexpected, it was certainly sad and sobering,” said Tom Grady, publisher of Ave Maria Press. “Over the course of more than twenty years, we have had the joy of publishing many of her wise and nourishing books.” On her website, Wiederkehr described herself as creative, restless, joyful, spiritual, forgiving, and loyal. She said she loved morning, good books, good coffee, the earth, movies, and lectio divina, and that she needed words, silence, God, friends, laughter, tears, and questions. “Having the opportunity to work with and know Macrina was both a gift and a joy,” said Amber Elder, who edited Wiederkehr’s final book, The Flowing Grace of Now: Encountering Wisdom through the Weeks of the Year. “Her writing was thoughtful, heartfelt, and full of gentle wisdom; she was even more so.” Rupp spent the past several weeks with Wiederkehr. Rupp pointed out that the last chapter of The Flowing Grace of Now focuses on the reality of death. Wiederkehr quotes the late Irish poet John O’Donohue: “A deathbed is such a special and sacred place: a deathbed is more like an altar than a bed. It is an altar where the flesh and blood of a life is transformed into eternal spirit… We should endeavor to be present there with the most contemplative, priestly grace.” Wiederkehr shared this prayer as well: O Light of Revelation, When dawn shows its face and when the shades of twilight enfold me, may I receive the peace that comes from being in communion with you. You who are a window to the eternal, hold me in your view. Don’t ever let me out of sight. Death will hold no terror for me, sheltered under your wings. May I rest in peace in life and in death.” May God grant her prayer.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Ave Marks First Anniversary of Notre-Dame Cathedral Fire with Educational Series on Catholic Art, Architecture

On April 15, 2019, millions of people from around the world watched in horror as the grand spire of the iconic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris burned to the ground. The Gothic masterpiece, which dates to the twelfth century, became a rallying point for people of all faiths. Millions of dollars were raised for the cathedral’s restoration in the weeks following the fire.  Beginning on Wednesday, the first anniversary of the fire, join Ave Explores: Art and Architecture as Katie Prejean McGrady and a team of experts in the fields of art, architecture, and iconography reflect on the importance of art and beauty to the Catholic faith.  As a preview to this multimedia series, Andrew Petiprin, a fellow of popular culture at Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Institute, appeared on the Ave Explores podcast with host Katie Prejean McGrady to discuss how Catholic art and architecture can lead us to a deeper faith and understanding of the truth. The Ave Explores podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play Music. Here’s some of the content—podcasts, videos, and articles—you’ll find during the four-week art and architecture series: Week 1 considers the importance of beauty in Catholicism with Katie Prejean McGrady, J.D. Childs, Fr. James Phalan, CSC, and Mike Aquilina. Week 2 looks at architecture and art with experts Deacon Andrew DeRouen, Duncan Stroik, Prejean McGrady, Elizabeth Lev, and Christine Valters Paintner. Week 3 offers a diverse look at Catholic creativity with artists Jen Norton and Daniel Mitsui, Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios, Fabiola Garza, an illustrator with Disney, and Anthony D’Ambrosio.  Week 4 will wrap up the series with Emily Jaminet and Ali Hoffman. You’ll also find a variety of resources from virtual museum and cathedral tours, as well as virtual art exhibits on the Ave Maria Press website. Sign up for weekly emails for of Ave Explores content.   Ave Maria Press was founded by Fr. Edward Sorin, CSC, in 1865 and is recognized as a leader in publishing Catholic high school religion textbooks, parish resources, and books on prayer and spirituality. Ave Maria Press is a ministry of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers.

Read More
news_placeholder.svg

Eight Ave Books Finalists for ACP Awards

Winners, including the book of the year, will be announced in early June. Finalists and their category are: Abide in the Heart of Christ by Fr. Joseph Laramie, SJ, in the inspirational category The Flowing Grace of Now by Macrina Wiederkehr, prayer The Crisis of Bad Preaching by Fr. Joshua Whitfield, resources for liturgy ChurchMoney by Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran, resources for ministry Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Roy Petitfils, resources for ministry Renovación Carismática Católica by Andrés Arango, Spanish Be Brave in the Scared by Mary E. Lenaburg, spirituality Live Big, Love Bigger by Kathryn Whitaker, spirituality See a complete list of finalists on the ACP website.

Read More
Filter by Archive
Follow Us
Categories
general