WASHINGTON—The U.S. needs “a long-term coherent strategy for recovery,
development and poverty reduction in Haiti,” helping Haiti rebuild and
get back to the path of long-term sustainable development, said the
chair of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace
in a January 26 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner, Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Ron Kirk. Learn more.
WASHINGTON—The U.S. bishops congratulated President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American elected President of the United States, and called the event “historic” and coming at a difficult time. "Our country is confronting many uncertainties," the bishops said. "We pray that you will use the powers of your office to meet them with a special concern to defend the most vulnerable among us and heal the divisions in our country and our world. We stand ready to work with you in defense and support of the life and dignity of every human person." Learn More.
BALTIMORE—Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), voiced hope for the Obama Administration but pointed to possible obstacles to our desired unity, in a Nov. 12 statement at the end of the annual fall assembly of the USCCB. Learn More.
JESUIT FATHER Allan Deck, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity, emphasized the importance of developing a ritual that “helps Latino Catholics celebrate their cultural heritage and build new bridges to other Catholics in their communities.” Father Deck cited joint survey by the Pew Hispanic Project and the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life in April 2007 that reported that approximately one-third of all Catholics in the United States are now Latinos, and projected that the Latino share will increase. Father Deck said the quinceañeraritual will be one of “many resources Latinos can use to preserve both Catholic and cultural identity.” Learn More.
MOBILE, AL - The Spring Hill College Board of Trustees has announced the election of Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J. 57, as the 38th president of Spring Hill College. Fr. Salmi begins his term on June 1, 2009. Rev. Gregory F. Lucey, S.J. announced that date for his retirement after 12 years as the college's president. Fr. Salmi is currently serving as vice president for student affairs at Loyola University Chicago, a position he has held since 2002. Learn More.
THE CHURCH SUPPORT FELLOWSHIP is comprised of lay and professional men and women members of various age groups whom are recognized by the organization as Community Leaders. The organization and its members take pride in supporting and maintaining Christian principles as are approved by The Holy Catholic Church. The mission of this organization is to help raise funds for catholic seminarian education as well as promote the Christian tradition. In addition the Fellowship observes nine general rules by which they perform their service to their church and communities. Learn More.
WASHINGTON— This July, an historic convocation will gather family life, social justice, and respect life leaders together with physicians and ethicists to discuss new ways to promote human life and dignity. Entitled “Life, Justice & Family: Partners in the New Evangelization,” the convocation will take up John Paul II’s call for creativity and deeper unity in crafting a “new evangelization—new in ardor, methods and expression.” Open to the public, the three-day convocation begins on Friday, July 25, 2008, the fortieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI’s encyclical on the openness of spouses to new life. Learn More..
A NEW BOOK (A Civilization of Love) by Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, being published exactly three weeks before Pope Benedict XVI's arrival in the United States, provides insights into the themes the pope is likely to stress and provides a practical guide for Catholics who want to help change the culture in this presidential election year and beyond. Learn More..
TWENTY-THREE JESUIT COLLEGES and universities have been named to the
2008 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The
Honor Roll included 635 colleges and universities in the United States
and Puerto Rico. Nineteen Jesuit schools were named to the Honor Roll,
and four more were named with distinction. Learn More.
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY is a dynamic and ever-evolving practice that has great relevance in the twenty-first century. In Ignatian Humanism,
author Ronald Modras explains the importance of a sixteenth-century
spirituality in a post-modern world and reveals the impact Renaissance
humanism had on Ignatian spirituality and the Society of Jesus. In
this vividly written and meticulously researched book, Modras explores
the life of St. Ignatius of Loyola, his founding of the Society of
Jesus, and the development of the Spiritual Exercises. He also outlines
the characteristics of Renaissance humanism and its influence on
Ignatian spirituality and the Jesuits. This impact is made tangible in
five compelling biographies of Jesuit heroes and humanists: Matteo
Ricci, Frederic Spee, Karl Rahner, Pierre Theilard de Chardin, and
Pedro Arrupe. Learn More.
MOBILE,
AL - The Spring Hill College Board of Trustees has announced the
election of Rev. Richard P. Salmi, S.J. 57, as the 38th president of
Spring Hill College. Fr. Salmi begins his term on June 1, 2009. Rev.
Gregory F. Lucey, S.J. announced that date for his retirement after 12
years as the college's president. Fr. Salmi is currently serving as
vice president for student affairs at Loyola University Chicago, a
position he has held since 2002. Learn More.
THE TEEN WITH LOW SELF-ESTEEM
finds him or herself particularly vulnerable to the pressure that peers
will so often apply to them. Their self-esteem (or lack thereof) will
in many cases ensure that they cannot properly combat this pressure.
Take for example, a teenager with low self-esteem that belongs to a
group of friends. This teen’s self-esteem may very well be contingent
upon how he or she feels that the group views them. Unfortunately,
without the foundation of positive regard for oneself, the teenager
finds him or herself being in the unenviable position of constantly
trying to prove themselves to the other members. The lines between what
is right and wrong may become blurred as the teenager with low
self-esteem may find themselves doing things that they otherwise would
not have done just to gain the approval of the group. For the most
part, the focus here is on legal activities such as dressing a certain
way, hanging out with certain people as opposed to hanging out with
others, or behaving in a certain way that is acceptable according to
the group. However, there are cases in which the teen with low
self-esteem will participate in illegal activities just to gain further
acceptance. Learn More.
THE
CHURCH SUPPORT FELLOWSHIP is comprised of lay and professional men and
women members of various age groups whom are recognized by the
organization as Community Leaders. The organization and its members
take pride in supporting and maintaining Christian principles as are
approved by The Holy Catholic Church. The mission of this organization
is to help raise funds for catholic seminarian education as well as
promote the Christian tradition. In addition the Fellowship observes
nine general rules by which they perform their service to their church
and communities. Learn More.