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A Message From the National Director - June 18, 2008
Prayerful greetings! Many times - and this has been the case in recent months - we have witnessed the devastation wrought by natural disasters among our brothers and sisters in the Missions. Well, in just the past week, we have seen similar events here at home, particularly these days in the Midwest. Nancy Eisbach of our mission family in the Archdiocese of Dubuque relayed information about local conditions there:
“As you probably know, Iowa has seen the worst of Mother Nature, and she has not been very good to any of us. We have seen tornadoes and total destruction of our towns and parishes. Then the flooding has been unbelievable. Fourteen of our churches have been affected and several have been almost destroyed.”
She goes on to add, “Please pray for all of us here in the Archdiocese of Dubuque and in the whole state of Iowa.”
Since the start of the devastation, all of us in this "one family in mission" have been praying - for her, for our brother and sister directors and staff in Pontifical Mission Societies offices in Iowa and throughout the Midwest. And we will continue to hold in prayer all who suffer here at home and throughout the world, and all who respond to that suffering, offering the hope-filled message of our Lord's Resurrection in the midst of a Good Friday reality.
Rev. Msgr. John E. Kozar
National Director Pontifical Mission Societies
in the United States
photo by CNS/Nancy Wiechec
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Learn More...
http://www.themissionreport.org
http://youtube.com/pmsusa
Youth Day: A Renewed Pentecost
July 7, 2008
Before the daily Angelus on July 6, Pope Benedict XVI spoke of his forthcoming trip to Sydney, Australia, for the 23rd World Youth Day, recalling how "over past months the 'Cross of Youth' has been carried across all Oceania, and in Sydney it will once more stand as silent witness to the covenant between the Lord Jesus Christ and the new generations.”
The Holy Father described the 23rd World Youth Day as "a renewed Pentecost," because "for a year Christian communities have been preparing themselves in accordance with the indications I gave in my message on the theme: 'You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.'" This promise of Jesus to His disciples following the Resurrection, "always retains its validity and importance for the Church," said the Pope.
"The Holy Spirit, which we hope for and welcome in prayer, infuses believers with the capacity to be witnesses to Jesus and to His Gospel. Blowing into the sails of the Church, the divine Spirit encourages her 'to put out into the deep,' ever and anew, generation after generation, so as to carry to everyone the good news of God's love, fully revealed in Jesus Christ." "I am certain that Catholics from all corners of the earth will join me and the young people gathered in Sydney, calling upon the Holy Spirit to inundate hearts with inner light, with love for God and for neighbor, with the courage to introduce Jesus' eternal message into the various languages and cultures."
July 2, 2008
Pontifical Mission Societies Featured on Local Television Program
Sandy Bertini, HCA Coordinator, Arlington, appeared on the television program, “Catholic Life” on June 12, 2008. The show airs on Channel 10 on Fairfax County Public Access Television through the Cox cable network. The weekly series has John Buckreis as host / director, with an audience of some 45,000 viewers. Bertini spoke about the work of the Pontifical Mission Societies, particularly HCA, and also discussed the 100th anniversary this year of "mission independence" for the Church in the United States. To view the program, click here. |
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