William Hemsworth's Blog, page 13

Pat Flynn Debunks Naturalism: Insights from ‘The Best Argument for God’

Join us as Pat Flynn, esteemed philosopher, writer, and podcaster, delves into his transformative journey from philosophical naturalism to classical theism in our enlightening discussion on ‘The Best Argument for God.’ Exploring themes from his latest book, Pat shares personal anecdotes and rigorous philosophic insights that challenge naturalism and compellingly argue for the existence of God. From addressing the problem of evil to dissecting naturalism’s explanatory gaps, this conversation is packed with intellectual rigor and profound revelations. Whether you’re a seasoned philosopher, a curious skeptic, or someone exploring theological perspectives, this video promises a deep dive into some of theology’s most pressing questions. Pat’s articulate discourse not only debunks common atheistic views but also illuminates the path toward a more comprehensive understanding of theism’s explanatory power over naturalistic interpretations. I highly recommend checking out Pat Flynn’s new book for a more detailed exploration of these topics. Join us in this fascinating journey to uncover the philosophical underpinnings that support the existence of a higher power. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more thought-provoking content!

ACST Catholic Introduces Revolutionary Service to Assess Parish Ministry and Parishioner Discipleship

Florence, SC, May 7, 2024 — ACST Catholic, a leading provider of technology solutions for Catholic parishes and dioceses, has launched The Discipleship Indicator, a powerful new service that enables Catholic parishes to build or strengthen ministries to help form intentional disciples. This innovative resource has been developed to serve parishes in forming and activating disciples for evangelization.

Developed by a team of industry experts, this service combines a unique survey instrument with expert facilitation to help parish leaders measure ministry effectiveness and understand where parishioners are on their journey as disciples. At the same time, it will enable respondents to self-evaluate their walk with Christ and consider where they would like to go next with the help of the parish. Unlike other church survey tools, The Discipleship Indicator features only 20 questions, allowing users a brief and simplified experience.

“At ACST Catholic, we understand the importance of helping parishes create meaningful experiences and opportunities for an encounter with Christ,” said Terry Poplava, General Manager of ACST Catholic. “But unless parishes understand the current state of the spiritual health of their community, it can be a challenge to know what ministries to change or prioritize. The Discipleship Indicator is a powerful service to understand more than participation by asking parishioners for prayerful reflection on their personal faith, along with how well the parish is equipping them for discipleship.”

The Discipleship Indicator reveals key indicators of an individual’s level of discipleship in brief, easy-to-answer questions covering topics such as personal faith, challenges, parish experiences, and aspirations for spiritual growth. The responses provide critical insights for parish leadership: 

Is our parish changing lives?Is our parish enabling a personal relationship with Christ?Are we helping equip our parishioners to deepen their faith?Are we seeing growth in missionary discipleship?

As church attendance decreases, fewer Catholics celebrate the sacraments, and parish size shrinks, it has become even more important to understand where people are on their spiritual journey and address specific parish needs through customized outreach. Insights from parishioner reflection can equip leadership to re-engage with parishioners by addressing specific needs in areas like prayer, stewardship, service, catechesis, Mass, and the sacraments. 

“The data collected from The Discipleship Indicator allows parishes to evaluate the state of their ministries to fulfill the call to make missionary disciples and encourage each member to actively embrace their role in advancing the mission of the Church,” Poplava said. “ACST Catholic offers customized support each step of the way to churches using The Discipleship Indicator to ensure a robust picture of insights and observations.” 

Saint John XXIII Foundation Celebrates Patrons at Annual Patrons’ Reception

SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday, May 2, the Saint John XXIII Foundation hosted its second annual Patrons’ Reception in San Antonio, TX, to honor and recognize those generous faithful who have joined the Foundation in its mission to nourish the faith of Catholics in the Armed Forces and Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Centers by contributing as Patrons.

The evening began with the Celebration of Mass at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church. The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, USA, served as principal celebrant and homilist.  Concelebrants included the Most Rev. Gustavo Garcia-Siller, M.Sp.S, Archbishop of San Antonio, the Most Rev. Michael Pfeifer, Bishop Emeritus of San Angelo, the Most Rev. Richard B. Higgins, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), and the Rev. Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., AMS Vicar General, along with many current and retired Catholic chaplains and local clergy. 

Surrounded by the beautiful downtown Riverwalk of San Antonio, the Knights of Columbus opened the Mass with a color corps procession. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller welcomed those in attendance to San Antonio and offered personal greetings to Archbishop Broglio. In his opening remarks, Archbishop Garcia-Siller noted that, as President of the United States Conference of Catholics Bishops (USCCB), Archbishop Broglio represents all of the Bishops of the United States, and he offered his personal welcome to him. 

After Mass, guests walked across the street to the Hotel Valencia Riverwalk for the Patrons’ Reception.

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Mr. John Schlageter, Executive Director of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, kicked off the evening’s program by thanking the local Host committee and the staff from the Archdiocese of San Antonio for their gracious welcome and support.  Mr. Schlageter then thanked the Event Sponsors and those who turned out in support of the Foundation.

The Board of Directors then introduced the Resolution of the Board, naming Archbishop Broglio as the “Founding Patron of the Saint John XXIII Foundation”. Mr. Mark Chopko, Corporate Secretary, read the Resolution of the Board to those present. The honor recognizes Archbishop Broglio’s immeasurable impact on the lives of the faithful in the AMS as well as his work in the creation and formation of the Saint John XXIII Foundation.

After expressing his gratitude for the growth of the Foundation, Archbishop Broglio formally accepted the honor.  He reflected: “I am deeply grateful to the Board of the Saint John XXIII Foundation for its gesture to bestow the honor of Founding Patron of the Foundation. It is unmerited, but deeply appreciated. As a diplomat I received several honors for various reasons. Sometimes it was sufficient to be in the right place at the right time. This designation, however, touches my heart.”

His Excellency in turn recognized those Patrons in attendance by presenting them with the Patron’s medal and thanking them for their generous support. Eighteen faithful men and women were welcomed into the Patrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation.

Mr. Schlageter closed out the ceremony by announcing that two new funds have been created in conjunction with the reception: The Faith to Forces Permanent Named Endowed Fund​​, which will allow the Foundation to respond to the most pressing needs of the AMS and its affiliated ministries; and the Father Vincent R. Capodanno Co-Sponsored Seminarian Endowed Scholarship, which will annually underwrite the education and formation of one co-sponsored seminarian in perpetuity. 

Today we celebrate an extraordinary 22-year-old modern saint

Certain saints capture our hearts in a special way, helping us see that we can follow their example and become saints too. One of these, for many young people, is Blessed Alessandra Sabattini, who died 40 years ago on May 2, with the liturgical celebration of her feast falling on May 4. Sabattini was a […]

Today we celebrate an extraordinary 22-year-old modern saint

Pope’s May Prayer Intention: For the formation of men and women religious

Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of May: For the formation of men and women religious and for seminarians. In his video message, the Pope emphasises the ongoing development of their vocations through grace, prayer, community, and witness to the Gospel. This May, Pope Francis has invited us to offer our…

Pope’s May Prayer Intention: For the formation of men and women religious

Saint John XXIII Foundation Announces Creation of a New Endowed Scholarship

WASHINGTON, DC — Joseph Starshak, Chair of the  Board of Directors of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, is pleased to announce the creation of the Father Vincent R. Capodanno Co-Sponsored Seminarian Endowed Scholarship.

The scholarship was created with a generous founding gift of $75,000. The donors chose to honor the life and legacy of service of Father Vincent Robert Capodanno, the Maryknoll Missionary tragically killed in action while faithfully serving as a Navy chaplain during the Vietnam War. In addition to posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor in 1969, Lieutenant Capodanno’s legacy and sacrifice has been honored through several chapels, scholarships, schools, and organizations.  His Cause for Canonization is ongoing.  

Lead donors for the scholarship are the husband-and-wife team of Douglas Oldmixon and Jo-Dee Benson. Doug retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after serving three combat tours, and Jo-Dee is former VP and Chief Culture Officer for Cirrus Logic, Inc. Together, for many years, they have served the Texas State Council Knights of Columbus, and Doug served a term as the Texas State Deputy from 2016 to 2018.   

“We see this step as a natural continuation of the support provided from 2016 to 2020 by the Texas Women’s Project to the AMS Co-Sponsored Seminarian scholarship program,” Ms. Benson said. “Our goal was to focus attention on the need for Catholic priests to serve as military chaplains and we received a tremendously positive response. The need is even more pressing today and we are privileged to continue our efforts through this new scholarship in honor of Father Capodanno.”  

The couple urges all Catholics with a connection to the military to consider a gift to the Father Capodanno Endowed Scholarship to support future Catholic Chaplains inspired by Father Capodanno’s example of love and courage.

Lt. Col. Oldmixon added, “Father Capodanno is a model of the selfless dedication and loving care a military chaplain offers to service members in the most extreme circumstances – even to the point of the ultimate sacrifice – an imitation of Jesus Christ. We’ve personally experienced the importance of this vocation and the challenges of a shortage of Catholic chaplains, and we pray for Father Capodanno’s intercession to inspire more men to accept the call to this special ministry.”

The Father Vincent R. Capodanno Co-Sponsored Seminarian Endowed Scholarship is now among the 23 endowed Co-Sponsored Seminarian Scholarship funds of the Saint John XXIII Foundation. The funds annually support the education and formation of co-sponsored seminarians, who will serve as future Catholic military chaplains. A Named Co-Sponsored Seminarian Scholarship Fund can be created with a gift of $50,000. Once the fund reaches $500,000, it fully underwrites the annual costs associated with the education and formation of one co-sponsored seminarian in perpetuity.

In recognition of their generous gift and creation of the Father Vincent R. Capodanno Co-Sponsored Seminarian Endowed Scholarship, the Saint John XXIII Foundation will recognize Douglas Oldmixon, Lt Col, USAFR (Ret.) and Jo-Dee Benson as Patrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation during the 2024 Patrons Reception in San Antonio next month. The couple is also serving on the Reception Host Committee, and look forward to meeting their fellow Patrons and the other faithful supporters of the Saint John XXIII Foundation.

Cause for canonization opened for young Polish lay missionary killed in Bolivia

Who was Helena Kmiec? Servant of God Helena Agnieszka Kmiec was born on Feb. 9, 1991, in Krakow. She was the second daughter of Jan Kmiec and Agnieszka Bejska. Her mother died just a few weeks after she was born. Her father later married Barbara Zając, and Kmiec was raised “in a home full of […]

Cause for canonization opened for young Polish lay missionary killed in Bolivia

Sunday Mass Readings

Sunday, April 28 Fifth Sunday of Easter Roman Ordinary calendar St. Louis de Montfort, St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962) Acts of the Apostles 9,26-31. When he (Saul) arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him […]

Sunday Mass Readings

Church Joyfully Welcomes U.S. Navy Chaplain Candidate as Newly Ordained Transitional Deacon

BOCA RATON, FL — The Reverend Mr. Jacob Christian Gwynn, LTJG, USNR, a candidate for the Catholic priesthood and United States Military chaplaincy, was ordained a transitional deacon on Saturday, April 13, for the Diocese of Venice, FL. The new deacon is on track to be ordained a priest next year and hopes eventually to serve as a Catholic chaplain in the U.S. Navy, providing pastoral care to Catholics in the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and their families with endorsement and faculties from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS).

The Rev. Mr. Gwynn received his diaconal ordination at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Boca Raton through the laying of hands and the prayer of consecration invoking the Holy Spirit by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach. AMS Auxiliary Bishop Joseph L. Coffey concelebrated the 11:00 a.m. ordination Mass, where nine other seminarians from dioceses throughout the Sunshine State were also ordained deacons.

Among those in attendance were the Rev. Mr. Gwynn’s parents, a sister and husband, a niece and nephew, and many friends.  A younger brother could not attend because he is participating in training exercises with the U.S. Army.

The Rev. Mr. Gwynn, 26, was born and raised in Palmetto, FL, graduating from Palmetto High School in 2016. In 2020 he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami before entering St. Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach where he is currently working on a Master of Divinity Degree. Upon priestly ordination he will provide civilian pastoral care in his home Diocese of Venice for five years before going on active duty under its co-sponsored seminarian agreement with the AMS.

The Rev. Mr. Gwynn said his religious vocation is a lifelong dream. “As a child, one of my earliest aspirations was to become a priest,” he said. “While in middle and high school, I wanted to pursue other options but the call to the priesthood was always there. One of my mentors from a young age was Monsignor Joseph Ferraro, a retired priest who served as a Navy Chaplain who inspired me to pursue my path to not only the priesthood but also the Navy Chaplaincy.”

The Rev. Mr. Gwynn, who joined the Navy’s Chaplain Candidate Officer Program in 2021 during his first year of theology study at St. Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary, has spent two summers in Navy training attending Officer Development School (ODS) and taking part in chaplain basic leadership training. Commenting on his diaconal ordination, the new deacon said, “My heart is still overflowing with the graces received at ordination. The theme that was said many times on my day of ordination continues to resound in my heart today: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.’ (Ps 118:24). I am eternally grateful for the call to serve the Lord and His people through the ministry of the diaconate and eventually as a priest!”

The eventual service of the Rev. Mr. Gwynn and other Catholic chaplain candidates is greatly anticipated by the Navy, which, like all other branches of the U.S. Military, continues to suffer a chronic shortage of Catholic chaplains. Currently, the Navy has only 38 priests on active duty and just 23 in the Reserve, serving a large Catholic population of more than 85,000 Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and their families, spread worldwide.

Understanding Our Shepherd

“I am the Good Shepherd.” This simple, yet most powerful statement, reveals the uniqueness of Jesus’ shepherding. Compelled by the realism imposed by life itself, we do not want to dwell on the fact that in countries where there are real shepherds, they raise sheep for profit. The most benevolent aspect of such profit is […]

Understanding Our Shepherd