William Hemsworth's Blog, page 28

The Saint John XXIII Foundation Announces a New Way to Support Its Ministry

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mr. Joseph Starshak, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, is happy to announce the creation of Permanent Named Endowed Funds, a new way to support the Foundation’s Endowment.

The Saint John XXIII Foundation now offers supporters the opportunity to establish named endowed funds within the General Endowed Fund that perpetually support the practice of the faith of Catholics in the Armed Forces, Catholic patients in the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers, and Catholic United States government personnel serving outside of the United States.

When advocating for this new avenue of giving, John Schlageter, Executive Director, said, “supporting the General Endowed Fund is the least restrictive and most impactful way to support the ministry of this Foundation, because it allows the Board of Directors to respond annually to the greatest needs of the Foundation’s beneficiaries.”

This summer the Foundation secured its first Permanent Named Endowed Fund, the Faith to Forces Fund, with a gift of $500,000 from two generous donors. 

Creating a Permanent Named Endowed Fund in your name, the name of a loved one, or in honor of a cause that you want to celebrate, establishes a legacy that ensures support to ministries you specify for years to come. All Permanent Named Endowed Funds are invested in the Foundation’s investment portfolio and a percentage of the annual income is distributed to support the intended beneficiary. 

Much like the Co-sponsored Seminarian Scholarships, a Permanent Named Endowed Fund can be created with a gift or pledge of $50,000.00 or through your estate. Families can establish a named fund with an initial gift, and grow the fund over time through additional gifts. All Named Funds are open for public contribution.

Possibilities for donor-designated Permanent Named Endowed Funds include annually underwriting the Evangelization and Youth Ministry, the costs associated with the travel for pastoral visits of the Archbishop and the Auxiliary Bishops, the preservation of sacramental records, or underwriting the Vocations Office. Other opportunities exist and can be crafted to meet the needs of the beneficiary according to the wishes of the donor.

To learn more about how you can support or create a Permanent Named Endowed Fund, please contact Mr. John Schlageter, Executive Director, at: (202) 230-4316 or ExecDtr@stjohnxxiiifoundation.org.

Without Me You Can Do Nothing

The first thing that stands out about the wedding feast of the Lamb, the eternal Eucharist of Heaven (Matthew 22:1-14), is the fact that its choice foods do not spoil; last forever; and without need to be reheated, they are continually delicious. This is a mere human way of introducing us to the most unfamiliar […]

Without Me You Can Do Nothing

Pope at Audience: St. Josephine Bakhita’s life reveals God’s grace

During his weekly General Audience, Pope Francis continues his catechesis series dedicated to apostolic zeal, applauding St. Josephine Bakhita, whose life revealed the power of God’s grace to transform lives, and appeals for prayers for Sudan.

Pope at Audience: St. Josephine Bakhita’s life reveals God’s grace

Catholic U.S. Military Families Spend Holiday Weekend on Retreat

DAHLONEGA, GA — More than 20 U.S. Military families spent part of the Columbus Day weekend on the tranquil shores of Camp Hidden Lake in northern Georgia, engaged in outdoor fun, prayer, reflection, dialogue, fellowship, and celebration of the Eucharist. The families took part in a Catholic Military Family Camp co-sponsored by the Evangelization Office of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), and Life Teen, a Eucharist-centered movement and non-profit organization, founded in 1985, to lead teenagers and their families into a deeper relationship with Christ and His Church. Life Teen is focused in particular on providing meaningful Catholic teaching and youth ministry for young people in middle school through high school. The goal of Life Teen, according to its website at lifeteen.com, “is to provide a safe and fun place for youth to find a solid Catholic community, get answers to their questions, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way.”

Camp Hidden Lake in Dahlonega, GA, owned and operated by Life Teen, is a retreat spot where parish youth groups from all over the country come together for a quality camping experience in a safe, secluded setting, complete with dormitories, meeting spaces, and activity stations such as a climbing wall and high-ropes koala course. Twenty-two military families participated in the Oct. 6-8 Catholic Military Family Camp, including 10 from the Air Force, nine from the Army, one from the Space Force, one from the Marines, and one from the Navy. Life Teen missionaries facilitated activities such as canoeing and hiking under the theme, “Real Presence”—the belief that Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of consecrated bread and wine in the Holy Eucharist.

Dr. Mark Moitoza, Th.D., D. Min., AMS Vice-Chancellor for Evangelization, said military families can especially benefit from leisure time together in a rustic environment exploring and celebrating their Catholic faith. “The tempo of family life can be busy,” he said. “Responsibilities in the military contribute additional demands. Finding time to focus on family in the midst of varied schedules is essential.” Dr. Moitoza is one of two speakers who gave presentations at the Catholic Military Family Camp. Life Teen President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Randy Raus spoke to the group on Saturday evening; Dr. Moitoza spoke before a closing Mass on Sunday morning.

Dr. Moitoza said the timing of the holiday weekend camp coincides with larger discussions now taking place in the Church at large. “The Church, through the Synod, is exploring how we walk together in the journey of faith,” he said. “This is a key question for families too. Focused on the Real Presence of Jesus in Eucharist, families in the military are reminded that in times of struggle and in times of joy the Lord is always close to them. This is a needed reminder for those serving far from home and their relatives. Taking time to recall the importance of the commitment to daily prayer and participation in the life of the Church reinvigorates the dynamic of family life.”

The Catholic Military Family Camp was funded by a combination of charitable gifts from Life Teen donors and a registration fee charged to each participating family. The registration fee was $150 per family, regardless of family size. The funding covered meals, all activities, and lodging for the weekend. The hope is, the AMS and Life Teen will make the Catholic Military Family Camp a recurring event, but Dr. Moitoza said much will depend on whether sufficient donor support can be found to continue the initiative. For more information contact the AMS Office of Evangelization at (202) 719-3600 or visit milarch.org/evangelization.

This information was provided by the Archdiocese for Military Services. Learn more at www.milarch.org.

Pope Francis calls for immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

By Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 11, 2023 / 06:13 am Pope Francis appealed for the immediate release of more than 100 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza on Wednesday and expressed concern for the safety of Palestinian civilians living in the Gaza Strip. “I pray for those families who saw a feast day […]

Pope Francis calls for immediate release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

Two 12-year-olds identified as vandals in Massachusetts church fire

Investigators also determined that a water jug had been removed from the sacristy and was used to attempt to put out the fire. The suspects had lit votive candles at the front of the church and left used matches littered near them, police said. Additionally, police said that items were taken from the church’s food […]

Two 12-year-olds identified as vandals in Massachusetts church fire

Pilgrimage for the Sea Services Celebrates Attendance Revival After Pandemic

EMMITSBURG, MD – The Sisters and Daughters of Charity, devoted to the care of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, welcomed more than 400 visitors on Sunday, Oct. 1, for the annual Pilgrimage for the Sea Services. Organizers say the registered attendance of 411 is the most since the COVID pandemic. “I’m very, very pleased,” said Sponsoring Committee Chairman Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.). “We had a large crowd. That’s delightful.” Mr. Rob Judge, Executive Director of the Shrine, said the Pilgrimage, which has been celebrated nearly every year since 1977, reached record annual attendance of 450 to 500 before the pandemic, “but COVID really took it down, so this is a kind of re-birth.” Adding to the sense of renewal was the return of a sit-down dinner for pilgrims, served again this year for the first time since 2019. For the past three years, the sisters have instead distributed take-home meals. The 2023 Pilgrimage came at a busy time at the Seton Shrine, just a week after the sisters opened a $4 million museum and visitors center that showcases in immersive and interactive ways the life and legacy of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton—a Catholic convert and America’s first native-born saint.

His Excellency, the Most Reverend F. Richard Spencer, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), was the principal celebrant and homilist for the 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Mass, which was broadcast live on EWTN. Bishop Spencer noted we have terms of endearment and “nicknames” for some of our most beloved saints. For example, we refer to our Blessed Mother variously as Mary, Queen of Peace; Mary, the Sorrowful Mother; Mary, Our Hope; and by many other titles. Likewise, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), founder of the Sisters of Charity in the United States in 1809 and an early leader in U.S. Catholic education, is known as “Patroness of the Sea Services,” so fashioned in the 1970s by the late former U.S. Navy Chief of Chaplains and future New York Archbishop John Cardinal O’Connor, because her two sons by marriage, born prior to the death of her husband and before her entry into religious life, were both seafarers: William Seton served in the U.S. Navy for 17 years from 1817 to 1834 before resigning his commission as lieutenant; Richard Seton was a civilian seafarer who died in 1823 of a fever contracted on a voyage to Africa.

“All of these titles are supportive of intercessory prayer,” Bishop Spencer noted. “The history and power of intercessory prayer can be found in the Old Testament as far back as the first Book of Kings, Chapter Two, where King Solomon named his mother as queen and said he would never deny her requests. Jesus, a thousand years later, would be very much familiar with this Old Testament story and would no doubt give his own mother the same honor…. Mary prepared the world during that first Advent period for the birth of Jesus.  Now, two-thousand years later, we are experiencing a second advent period as Mary prepares the world for the Second Coming of Christ.  And while we wait, we, the disciples, carry on the works of mercy, forgiveness, and love.  And so, just as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton did with her various ministry initiatives that gained her titles, we are challenged to acknowledge our role in God’s plan by name as ‘sons and daughters of God’. And seafarers in particular can see in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Patroness of the Sea Services, someone through whom we can implore Almighty God with intercessory prayer for our safety and salvation.” 

The Pilgrimage for the Sea Services is co-sponsored each year on the first Sunday in October by the Seton Shrine and the AMS to pray for those who serve at sea in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and Public Health Service. The Sea Services Pilgrimage Sponsoring Committee is chaired by retired Admiral and Mrs. Fallon and co-chaired by retired U.S. Navy Captain and Mrs. Daniel D. Thompson. “The purpose of it is to welcome members of the sea services and their families,” Admiral Fallon said, “to come up here in this beautiful shrine and to together appeal to Mother Seton to continue to intercede on our behalf—all those members of the sea services—with the Lord, that our people will be safe and their families will be taken care of while they’re gone. So it’s really pretty simple. It’s really a supplication for our Patroness to keep a watchful eye on those that are serving these days.”

The mid-afternoon Mass opened ceremoniously with Presentation of the Colors and singing of the National Anthem. The Knights of Columbus provided ushers. Sister Mary Catherine Conway of the Daughters of Charity (DC) welcomed the pilgrims, whose ranks included active-duty and retired seafarers, as well as members of other military branches, and their families. Among the pilgrims was Ms. Trudy Murtaugh, whose husband served 20 years in the U.S. Air Force. Ms. Murtaugh said she makes the pilgrimage every year. “I’m so grateful to the military,” she said. “Since I’ve been part of it I know what that’s like and for the families also as well and it’s wonderful to see the young people who are training to be in the military, all that they go through and all the commitment that they make. I appreciate that so much.” Two other pilgrims, retired U.S. Navy Commander and sponsoring committee member Fred Beverly and his wife Sherry, said the event has become a family tradition. The U.S. Naval Academy alumnus said “I did a career in the Navy. I was third generation in the Navy and our son is a Marine. So everything comes together for us here.”

Concelebrating with Bishop Spencer were Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, along with other priests with deacons assisting at the altar. Catholics from the U.S. Naval Academy animated the liturgy with sacred song under the direction of Mr. Monte Maxwell. After his homily, Bishop Spencer went to the communion rail where he blessed a tray full of Mother Seton medals, provided by the Shrine and presented for the blessing by Admiral and Mrs. Fallon. Each medal displays an image of Mother Seton on the obverse and an anchor on the reverse. The medals, worn by members of the Sponsoring Committee, are also available free to the public. To request a medal please contact the Seton Shrine at (301) 447-6606 or setonshrine.org/contact-seton-shrine.

The song of praise after communion was the Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” sung with an additional verse:

Midshipmen of our own Navy

Saint Elizabeth Ann’s sons served at sea;

She prayed for them both day and night

That God would guide them with His light;

Oh, Mother Seton, hear my plea,

As you did for them, now pray for me. Amen

Next year’s Pilgrimage for the Sea Services is set for 3:30 p.m. (EDST) on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Seton Shrine, 339 South Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg, MD, 21727. The public is invited. News coverage is welcome.

This information was provided from the Archdiocese For Military Services.

The Errors Of The Prosperity Gospel

Yesterday I was honored to be a guest of Gary Michuta his Hands On Apologetics radio program. Gary’s show airs Monday-Friday at 1PM EST on Virgin Most Powerful Radio. The complete show is below.

U.S. bishops launch mental health campaign with special novena, discussions

The Novena for Mental Health, which starts on Oct. 10, is offered “in solidarity with those suffering from mental health challenges as well as health care professionals, family, and friends who are caring for people in need.” The novena has a “Pray, Learn, Act” structure that, the bishops hope, will inspire more prayer, reflection, and […]

U.S. bishops launch mental health campaign with special novena, discussions

Filioque

One of the original issues that divided the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church was the “Filioque.” Is it still the major point of contention between East and West that it once was? Concerning the infamous conflict over the Filioque, it doesn’t appear to be the stumbling block that it once was. In 1995 the […]

Filioque