Government and faith based charities

This is a section from an article written by Lisa Miller from Newsweek.

"Council members were able to agree that the constitutional separation of church and state is foundational and that recipients of government money be more clearly informed about what that means in terms of their activities—at the federal and at the local level. Most interesting, the task force asked the president to revise language that bars religious groups receiving federal aid from "inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction and proselytizing" saying the word "inherently" allowed too much room for misunderstanding. "Explicitly," they said, would be a better word choice.

The task force was also able to agree that protecting the religious identities of religious institutions is crucial. They disagreed over things like whether a religious organization receiving government aid could perform social services in a room containing religious symbols, and whether churches receiving government money should be required to set up a separate corporation for those funds. In a political environment of gridlock and frustration, the clarity of these agreements—and even of the disagreements—is welcome."

Another iPhone commercial

Here's another iPhone parody commercial. enjoy.

Catholic iPod/iPhone Comerical

Now this is so cool!!! I would love to get an iPod for this, and whomever made this applications, THANK YOU!!!!!

This is a great way to show how we can integrate our faith with technology. Maybe this information age isn't as bad as it seems, so long as we don't forget about Christ.

These days can be hard for us Catholics. So many different views and ideas are out there, and many of them clash (or maybe crash is a better word -- like car crash) directly with the Catholic faith. We need something to help us find out what we believe, and how to line it up with what others believe and come out with the truth.

I was given this book for confirmation. It is all apologetics: the art of defending ones faith and providing reasons for it. I thought it would be helpful, plus the name of the book is tremendous: Did Adam and Eve have Belly Buttons? It consists of 2oo questions (yes, the title is one of the questions) which the author, Matthew Pinto, has been asked over his years as an apologist. I will post a few of these questions over the coming weeks. I'll bounce around the book, which covers a wide variety of topics.

Question #1

"Is there really a God?"

A. Yes. God is the ultimate reality. He is actually holding all things in existence. If God stopped doing so, we would cease to exist but He would continue to exist.

We know God exists through revelation (Scripture and Sacred Tradition) and our intellects (reflecting on the world God made). In the Bible, God reveals: "I Am, Who Am" (Ex. 3:14) and "I am the Alpha and Omega," (Rev. 1:8) which means He is the beginning and the end of all things. Lastly, God has some harsh words for those who deny He exists: "The fool says in his heart that there is no God" (Psalm 14:1).

Saint of the Day

St. David

Feastday: March 1

According to tradition, St. David was the son of King Sant of South Wales and St. Non. He was ordained a priest and later studied under St. Paulinus. Later, he was involved in missionary work and founded a number of monasteries. The monastery he founded at Menevia in Southwestern Wales was noted for extreme asceticism. David and his monks drank neither wine nor beer - only water - while putting in a full day of heavy manual labor and intense study. Around the year 550, David attended a synod at Brevi in Cardiganshire. His contributions at the synod are said to have been the major cause for his election as primate of the Cambrian Church. He was reportedly consecrated archbishop by the patriarch of Jerusalem while on a visit to the Holy Land. He also is said to have invoked a council that ended the last vestiges of Pelagianism. David died at his monastery in Menevia around the year 589, and his cult was approved in 1120 by Pope Callistus II. He is revered as the patron of Wales. Undoubtedly, St. David was endowed with substantial qualities of spiritual leadership. What is more, many monasteries flourished as a result of his leadership and good example. His staunch adherence to monastic piety bespeaks a fine example for modern Christians seeking order and form in their prayer life. His feast day is March 1.

Salesian Enter New Zealand

The Salesians are now in 131 countries, the latest one now being New Zealand. Read the following article taken from E-Service (a Salesian news letter). We pray for them as well as their work, that it may be fruitful and bring many to Christ.

(MASSEY, New Zealand, February 20) Confreres often just assume that there has been a Salesian presence in New Zealand for many years, and have been surprised to hear that there has not been -- until now! Perhaps they confuse Australians and New Zealanders, as others confuse Canadians and Americans. Salesians have now established their first official presence in the sovereign nation of New Zealand, or Aotearoa (“The Long White Cloud”) as many of its indigenous and Pacifican immigrant inhabitants prefer to call it -- for indeed this is one of the “good reasons” for the Salesian presence.

The founding presence of the Salesians in New Zealand opened its doors to the faithful of the parish at Massey, an outer suburb of Auckland, on the first Sunday of February. Three Salesians have been assigned to this new work: Fr. James Adayadiel, a missionary in the Australia-Pacific presence for many years, and a founding figure in our work in Samoa, is the pastor. He is assisted by Fr. Mika Leilua, a Samoan priest, and Fr. Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, a missionary on loan from the East Africa Province.

There are two churches in the parish: one is in Massey itself (St. Paul’s), and another at nearly Ranui (St. Malachy’s). The faithful come from all parts of the world, but especially Samoa (and other islands in the Pacific), India, and Asia. We have begun our work in the parish, immediately establishing close contact with all the already established groups. Fr. Mathew has already set up contact with the young, and is a regular presence in the parish school.

On February 13 the Salesians celebrat-ed the feast of Don Bosco. We were not “in charge” for Sunday, January 31, so we shifted the celebration to this day. Past pupils and friends of the Salesians from Australia, Hong Kong, India, the Philippines, and other places formed a community of about 50 people at a Mass celebrated by Fr. Raphel Lobo, a former Salesian from the Bombay Province.

The Australia-Pacific presence rejoices in this encouraging new start of Don Bosco’s mission among the people of New Zealand. The people are already asking for information about Don Bosco, his Salesians, and the Salesian work.

Salesian E-Service February 25, 2010

Fr. Mario's memorial

On February 22, 2010 the pre-novices went to the Port of Newark to attend the Memorial Mass for Fr. Mario Balbi, S.D.B. Fr. Mario passed away 1 year ago on February 23, 2010. In attendance were men and women who work at the Port. The celebrant of the Mass was The Most Rev. Edgar Moreira da Cunha, D.D., Auxiliary Bishop of Newark.

The pre-novices were asked to become the music and choir for the celebration upon their arrival. So with just moments to prepare the pre-novices managed to put together an opening song, Mass Parts, and a closing song. The closing song was “Friend of the Young and the Poor” by Fr. Stephen Schenck, S.D.B. The pre-novices thought that it would be a fitting touch to play a song about Don Bosco to pay tribute to Fr. Mario.

After the Mass all were invited outside for a “special surprise.” This special surprise was the unveiling of a street sign. The street outside of the port chapel, Stella Maris, was named in honor of Fr. Mario. The name of the street is Fr. Mario Balbi Way. Bishop da Cunha said that we can look at this not only as the entrance to the chapel, but as a way to model ourselves in the way we live our lives. Citing that Fr. Mario is an excellent person for all to model their lives after.