William Hemsworth's Blog, page 4

Archdiocese Sets New Records for Attendance and Proceeds at 16th Annual Benefit in Nation’s Capital

WASHINGTON, DC – The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), set new records Saturday evening for both attendance and giving at its 16th Annual Benefit. His Excellency, the Most Rev. Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, hosted a record 383 guests at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine in Northeast Washington. The guests, including active-duty and retired senior U.S. Military officers and their spouses, raised $513,000 for the Archdiocese, the largest amount ever collected in the history of the Annual Benefit. The funds will support the AMS ministry, Serving Those Who Serve.

The event opened with a 5:00 p.m. anticipated Sunday Mass in the Redemptor Hominis (Redeemer of Man) Church and concluded with a sit-down dinner in the atrium of the Shrine. At Mass, Archbishop Broglio recognized three members of the AMS family for distinguished service. He announced that the Holy See granted to AMS Chief Financial Officer William Biggs and retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel and AMS supporter Susan L. Malone the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, and he recognized that Pope Francis numbered the Reverend Monsignor Robert R. Cannon, J.C.D. (cand.), former AMS Chancellor, a “Chaplain of His Holiness”.

Among the many supporters present were the Board and several Patrons of the Saint John XXIII Foundation, established to support and perpetuate the ministry of the AMS.

In his homily, Archbishop Broglio reflected on the duty of Catholics to “proclaim the Gospel”:

“We are charged to share what we have received. In fact, that is why we gather, because we believe that what we have learned is vital for all. Our faith is about heaven or hell. Consequently, we want to share the message of salvation so as to open ourselves to the gifts offered and in love to make sure that others also have the opportunity to say ‘yes’ to the invitation….

“…. We preach this message of salvation because we want to share the gift. That’s why we have Team Saint Paul, the Vocations Program, the Military Council of Catholic Women (MCCW), and catechetical initiatives. All serve to make it possible for those served by this Archdiocese to participate in the life of the Church. I am so grateful to all of you who contribute to the realization of this mission. We know that Christ is OUR light, and He will return to give us the fullness of life. The conclusion will always be meeting the Lord who loves us and cares for us….

“…. We gather to encourage one another on the path to the fullness of life and to pray for each other. Those are acts of authentic charity which spur our preparation and increase our zeal to evangelize.”

Watch video of Archbishop Broglio’s homily.

Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Broglio were senior AMS clergy, including Auxiliary Bishops Neal J. Buckon, William (Bill) Muhm, Joseph L. Coffey, and Richard B. Higgins (Ret.). Auxiliary Bishop F. Richard Spencer could not participate this year because he was in Elizabeth, NJ, to concelebrate a funeral Mass for U.S. Army Chaplain Father James B. Collins III (1965-2024), who died on Nov. 5.

Also concelebrating the Annual Benefit Mass were the Rev. Msgr. Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia; Judicial Vicar, the Very Reverend Mark Rutherford, J.C.L., J.C.D. (cand.); Vocations Director Father Marcel Taillon, and retired and active-duty military chaplains. The Rev. Mr. Raymond Goins and the Rev. Mr. Michael Sampson served as Deacons of the Mass, and group of co-sponsored seminarians participated as ministers of the altar.

Col. Anthony Lieto, USA, and Midshipman Alejandro Lozano, USN, served as lectors. Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Craig Mauss, USN, bore gifts to the altar.

It’s not too late to make a gift to the 16th Annual Benefit for the AMS. Donations continue to be gratefully accepted at milarch.org/annual-benefit.

I Am Second Releases Powerful ‘Second Edition’ Film: ‘The Ethan Hallmark Legacy’

PLANO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2024 — Global storytelling organization I Am Second has released its latest ‘Second Edition’ film: The Ethan Hallmark Legacy. This compelling film returns to the Hallmark family, who reflect on how their son Ethan, whose courageous battle with stage 4 neuroblastoma (a rare type of childhood cancer), unexpectedly touched the hearts of thousands through his bold faith.

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In 2014, I Am Second first introduced Ethan’s journey through a short film, Many Are the Wonders, that documented his fight against cancer and the unwavering faith that so powerfully inspired his family and community. Now, I Am Second returns to the Hallmark family to explore how Ethan’s faith and story profoundly impacted countless others during his life and even after his passing.

“You could really see something special in him, and it drew people in,” shares Ethan’s dad, Matt. After sharing about Ethan’s favorite Bible verse, his mother, Rachel, continues, “If that doesn’t blow everybody away… that a 13-year-old can be dying, and he just wants to tell you how good God is – that’s the most powerful thing in the world.”

The follow-up film also unveils the incredible story of how Ethan’s outlook on life impacted a complete stranger during an unexpected encounter—revealing just one of many individuals influenced by Ethan’s words of wisdom, love and faith.

The Ethan Hallmark Legacy captures not just the story of Ethan’s courage but also the ripple effects of his life on those he touched. His legacy is a testament to how God can use even the most painful circumstances to draw people closer to Him.

“We never expected Ethan’s story to go beyond the original film, but the way his life continues to inspire and transform others has been nothing short of miraculous,” said I Am Second Executive Director, John Humphrey. “This follow-up film showcases the far-reaching impact of faith, even in the darkest moments, and reminds us of the power of a single encounter.”

For more information or to view the ‘Second Edition’ film, The Ethan Hallmark Legacy, visit www.iamsecond.com/film/Ethan-Second-Edition.

About I Am Second

I Am Second is a nonprofit launched in 2008 that ignites hope and inspires people to live for God and for others. Its website features written and film-based stories of more than 190 athletes, actors, models, musicians, cultural influencers and everyday people who have stepped in front of the camera and declared, “I Am Second.” For information, visit iamsecond.com.

Laos’ small Catholic community shows resilience despite isolation

Faced with limited communication and government restrictions, Laos’ Catholic community is resilient, driven by local clergy and dedicated laypeople. The head of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Laos and Cambodia calls this steadfast faith a “small miracle.”

Laos’ small Catholic community shows resilience despite isolation

Be Yourself: A Journal For Catholic Boys

It has been a while since I have done a book review and admit that I need to do more. I recently received a copy of Be Yourself: A Journal For Catholic Boys. My 11 year old son was with me when I opened the package and he ran off with it. It drew him in and the contents helped him grow in his faith.

The author of the book in Amy Brooks and she is the founder of Catholics Online and blogs at Prayer Wine Chocolate. Amy did an incredible job of creating reflections that are not only challenging, but engaging. To be honest, the most seasoned Catholic can also benefit from the reflections. The book challenges our boys to become a saint, and challenges them to think about how that can happen. In addition to that, there is great material on how to apply Catholic theology in the real world.

In a world that is in turmoil, this book is a breath of fresh air and will benefit the Catholic boy in your life. Have I mentioned the artwork yet? I realize I didn’t, but it is second to none. This book is well made, has incredible art, and good theology. It checks all the boxes. With Christmas coming up this book will make a great gift for the Catholic boy in your life.

You can purchase this book wherever Catholic books are sold and is published by Our Sunday Visitor.

New Survey from ACS Technologies Reveals Key Ways for Parishes to Make People Feel Welcome

Florence, SC, November 12, 2024— With overall trends showing lower numbers of Mass attendees, Catholic parishes seek to better understand how to improve their outreach strategies, particularly leading up to Christmas, one of two times of the year when Americans are most likely to attend church.  ACS Technologies, a 45-year leader in church management software, market expertise, and data analysis, gleaned key insights from a recent survey aimed at further investigating why self-identifying Catholics consider “warm and friendly encounters” to be highly important when visiting a new parish. 

ACS Technologies examined the theological beliefs of 15,000 Americans with their ground-breaking American Beliefs Study: Religious Preferences and Practices, originally conducted in 2013 and then repeated in 2017 and 2021.  Distilled into a series of nine unique reports, valuable insights revealed changing behaviors and social and moral attitudes and trends within communities of faith.  Data in these reports, namely with regard to the question, “What do you look for when searching for a new parish?” impelled ACS Technologies to conduct a smaller follow-up survey in February 2024 on hospitality alone.

“Christmas is a time that churches usually see an influx in attendance, and it gives us an incredible opportunity to perform outreach initiatives based on reliable data,” said Terry Poplava, General Manager of ACST Catholic, a division of ACS Technologies. “In the American Beliefs Study, newcomers reported that ‘warm and friendly encounters’ were highly important to them. We were specifically interested in the behaviors and circumstances that foster this kind of environment in a parish.”

The follow-up survey conducted this year asked 1,075 American Christians to rate the “warm and friendly” level of a number of different actions.  On a 5-point scale ranging from “Somewhat Warm and Friendly” to “Very Warm and Friendly,” the Catholic sample gave highest scores to the following actions: 1.) someone at the door greeting you with a smile, 2.) seeing a friend in attendance, 3.) someone offering you a seat at Mass, 4.) someone personally inviting you to attend a church (Mass), 5.) hearing all visitors welcomed by a church leader, and 6.) someone personally inviting you to Mass.  

“The most important thing to note when looking at these findings is that most are made by fellow church attendees, showing that the Catholic call to evangelization is quite simple,” Poplava said. “These are practical ways you can evangelize while going about your normal weekly Mass routine.”

In summary, Poplava offers the following suggestions for parishes:

Rethink “Welcome”: a smile and an invitation are a great starting point for many people, but invitation, conversation, and community experiences are more impactful. Be intentional about the way you reach out to those around you at Mass.Build Bridges of Trust: Before a person can fall in love with Christ through the Catholic Church, trust must be established. Creating an intentional plan to reach out to newcomers and follow up with them later will allow them to feel at home at your parish. Communicate Impact: Set clear expectations and goals for parishioners to follow so that growth can be celebrated as a community! Examples of goals would be to encourage parishioners to find one more person to invite to an upcoming event.

Cardinal-designate Bishop Mykola Bychok on his new role

Cardinal-designate Bishop Mykola Bychok has given a humble and uplifting address to the November plenary meeting of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in Sydney. Bishop Mykola, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Sts Peter and Paul, will be made a Cardinal at the Consistory to be held in Rome on December 7.…

Cardinal-designate Bishop Mykola Bychok on his new role

Prospective Catholic U.S. Military Chaplains Mull Vocation at Discernment Retreat

BALTIMORE, MD – November 3-9 is National Vocation Awareness week in the U.S. Catholic Church, a weeklong celebration of promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated life through prayer and education. What better time to hold a retreat for young men discerning the “vocation within a vocation,” not only to priesthood but military chaplaincy?

This past weekend the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), did just that. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., hosted a record 30 prospective chaplains (pictured) for its annual Fall Discernment Retreat, directed by AMS Vocations Director Father Marcel Taillon, at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore whose seminarians and faculty assured a very warm welcome.

“I was inspired by the quantity of retreatants to be sure,” Father Taillon said, “but their maturity and spiritual depth were indeed evident and noteworthy. The future is hopeful.”

Participants in the Oct. 31-Nov. 3 retreat converged on Baltimore from more than two dozen dioceses and military installations throughout the United States, including the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Of the 30 discerners, 22 are already serving in the military but considering taking on the new role, Serving Those Who Serve, providing religious and moral support to fellow service members and their families.

The retreatants included 11 from the Army, four from the Navy, and seven from the Air Force, in addition to eight civilians. Those who discern a call will explore options for putting their military or other careers hold for at least five years of seminary formation, co-sponsored by the AMS and their home dioceses, and upon priestly ordination, another three years of civilian pastoral service meant to give them hands-on experience as spiritual shepherds before they join or re-join the military flock as chaplains.

During the four-day retreat participants prayed together, shared their personal experiences and aspirations in ongoing dialogue, heard talks from Archbishop Broglio, AMS Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, S.T.D., Father Taillon, and other priests, and they enjoyed fellowship over meals and activities. Archbishop Broglio celebrated Mass on Friday evening. Msgr. Frontiero and Father Taillon celebrated Mass on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

In a series of talks:

Msgr. Frontiero spoke on the meaning of discernment;Father Gary R. Studniewski, CH (COL), USA (Ret.), gave a talk called “Witness of a Co-Sponsored Priest and Chaplain,” sharing his own personal experiences as an Army chaplain;Father Matthew Pawlikowski, CH (COL), USA (Ret.), shared “The Story of Father (Emil) Kapaun,” the famous Army chaplain who died a hero’s death in a North Korean POW camp and whose Cause for Canonization is now under review at the Vatican;Father David J. Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN, a U.S. Navy Catholic chaplain recruiter, spoke on the life of a Navy chaplain;Father Taillon spoke on the charism of celibacy;Father Joseph Heisey, CH (LT), USA, gave his “Witness of a Newly Ordained Priest.”

Also participating in the retreat, and on hand to counsel discerners, were the Defense Department’s Catholic chaplain recruiters from all branches of service: Fathers Martin Novitzky, CH (CPT), USA; Jeffrey A. Paveglio, CH (CPT), USA; David J. Hammond, CHC, LCDR, USN; and Nicholas J. Reid, Ch Capt USAF.

The Baltimore gathering is one of two discernment retreats the AMS holds annually in the United States, one on either side of the country. The next will be held April 3-6, 2025, at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, CA. Young men interested in discerning a priestly vocation, and the vocation within a vocation to serve those who serve in the U.S. Military, can find more information at milarch.org/vocations, or may contact the AMS Vocations Office at vocations@milarch.org or (202) 719-3600.

Ascension Announces “The Rosary in a Year” Podcast for 2025

[Exton, PA, October 28, 2024—]

A familiar face from Ascension Presents—Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR—will guide Catholics through a transformative year of prayer. 

Ascension has announced its 4th “In a Year” podcast: The Rosary in a Year (with Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR). On January 1, 2025, daily episodes will be posted to the Ascension App, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Listeners who want to follow along should download the free Prayer Plan available at www.AscensionPress.com/RosaryInAYear. 

Much more than just 365 daily Rosary listen-alongs, Rosary in a Year (RIY) will guide listeners through a deep encounter with every element of the Rosary. From the words of the “Hail Mary” to the Scripture passages describing each mystery, listeners will have their relationship with the Rosary permanently transformed, storing spiritual insights to meditate on for the rest of their lives.

Episodes will go through “6 phases” of deepening prayer and include:

Guided meditations on the prayers of the Rosary (Our Father, Hail Mary, etc)Reflections from the saints (St. Augustine, St. Faustina, St. Thomas Aquinas, and more)Lectio divina – prayerful reflections on the Scriptures underlying each mysteryVisio divina – prayerful reflections on sacred art depicting each mystery

“How beautiful would it be for us if, like many of the great saints, we were just constantly praying the Rosary throughout the day, reflecting on Jesus and Mary and the great mysteries of our salvation?” invites podcast host Fr. Mark-Mary, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR), in the podcast announcement video. 

“To help us fall in love again, to help us be renewed again in our praying of the Rosary, we—myself and the team here at Ascension—have put together the Rosary in a Year podcast. I look forward to this journey with our listeners.”

The Rosary in a Year Prayer Plan

The RIY Prayer Plan can be downloaded for free here. It is the indispensable resource all podcast listeners need to follow along with the podcast. 

The Prayer Plan explains the “6 phases” of deepening prayer, which organize the 365 episodes of RIY:

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Rosary in a Year  Resources for Individuals and Communities

Ascension has developed several resources for individuals and communities who would like to deepen their experience of The Rosary in a Year: 

Free, for everyone—Prayer Plan available hereFree, for everyone—YouTube videos will be available on a new RIY channel in January, similar to those offered for Bible in a Year and Catechism in a YearFor individuals—the  Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide , a 280-page book that accompanies listeners through every single day of RIY. The Guide includes full-color images of the visio divina sacred art, Scripture passages, saint reflections, litanies, and other enrichment material for the 6 phases of the podcastFor individuals—beautiful heirloom Rosaries in three styles, inspired by the CFRs and their devotion to Our Lady of GuadalupeFree, for communities—Rosary in a Year Parish Kit to promote the Rosary in a local parish setting; includes a retractable banner and 250 pew cardsFor communities— How to Pray a Better Rosary , a Rosary booklet priced at $1 for use in parish, school, and community settings 

A Podcast Many Years in the Making

At the close of Bible in a Year’s inaugural season in December 2021, Fr. Mark-Mary released a video with Ascension called “The Rosary in a Year,” which offered a way for individuals to do a “Rosary in a Year” devotion on their own. Fr. Mark-Mary’s other Rosary content on Ascension’s YouTube channel has millions of views – his Rosary pray-along video is the second-most-popular on the channel, and other Rosary content has also amassed hundreds of thousands of views.

Ascension is happy to respond to this strong audience demand for additional Rosary content, and has re-formatted Fr. Mark-Mary’s original Rosary in a Year idea to the full-length Rosary in a Year podcast being launched today.

The 4th “In a Year” Podcast from Ascension

The Rosary in a Year is the 4th “In a Year” offering from Ascension. Previous podcasts have included: 

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)®The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) La Biblia en un Año (con Fray Sergio Serrano, OP) 

At its launch in 2021, The Bible in a Year hit #1 on Apple Podcasts in all categories and repeated the feat in 2022. It was widely acclaimed in both Catholic and secular press and remains the most successful Catholic podcast of all time.

About Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR

Fr. Mark-Mary Ames is the Director of Communications and the Director of Priestly Studies of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (CFR). The primary mission of the CFR community is a wholehearted embracing of Jesus Christ and their Holy Father, St. Francis of Assisi. Through their commitment to prayer and contemplation, the study of Sacred Scripture, fidelity to the Church and the sacraments, their fraternal life, and their generous service to others especially the poor, the CFRs receive the nourishment necessary to live out their lives as sons of St. Francis in the Capuchin tradition.

Fr. Mark-Mary is the host of the Ascension Presents video series The CFRs. He was also the executive producer of the Poco a Poco music album featuring Br. Isaiah, CFR, and is the author of two books from Ascension: Habits for Holiness: Small Steps for Making Big Spiritual Progressand The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God.

About Ascension

Ascension is a multimedia network and the leader in Catholic faith formation and digital content. Over the past 25 years, Ascension has helped nurture the faith of over 20 million Catholics through award-winning books, the chart-topping Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)® podcast, more than 50 unique faith formation programs, and the Ascension Presents media and YouTube platforms.

“Catholic Owned” Aims to Build the New Catholic Economy with App and Christmastide Shopping Guide

Delray Beach, FL, October 29, 2024— Conscientious buying has become almost impossible in today’s consumeristic marketplace. After struggling to find companies that reflect Catholic values, husband and wife team Matteo Onori and Brooke Joiner founded Catholic Owned, a company and digital platform that exclusively promotes businesses owned by faithful Catholics, to help build what they call a “New Catholic Economy.” The Catholic Owned app features a directory of hundreds of businesses owned by Catholics as well as the Catholic Owned Christmastide Shopping Guide launching on November 4, just in time for the holiday season.

“We knew we wanted a way to support businesses being run by Catholics but struggled to identify them. Catholic Owned was born from a desire to support faith-aligned businesses and the families behind them with all of our purchases,” Joiner said. “As Catholics, we wanted to make it easy to support other Catholics.”

The app features a vetted list of hundreds of companies of every kind, including doctors, event services, gift shops, realtors, therapists, financial and insurance, business services, and more. Also included in the app are resources useful to Catholics such as local Mass times, daily readings, and a prayer community. 

“Catholic Owned is all about bringing devout Catholics together– from Christmas shopping to buying for the day-to-day needs of a family. Our Catholic faith is central to every aspect of our lives, and there’s no reason it shouldn’t play a significant role in our purchasing decisions, too,” Joiner said.

Catholic Owned will release their second annual Christmastide Shopping Guide that features a curated list of 37 merchants, each offering exclusive discounts and bonuses.  This year’s 70+ page Guide also includes a robust and visually stunning Liturgical Living Guide to help families live the seasons of Advent and Christmastide with joy. The Guide will drop November 4, just in time to start Christmas shopping. The Shopping Guide is available on any device as a standalone digital magazine flipbook at CatholicOwned.com/christmastide2024 and as an interactive experience within the Catholic Owned app, allowing app users easy and repeated access throughout the season for both their shopping needs and spiritual preparations for the Birth of the Savior.

“We want to inspire and equip the faithful to draw nearer to the Holy Family throughout Advent and Christmastide as they patronize Catholic companies at the time of year we all shop most, making this Christmas a uniquely Catholic experience,” Joiner said. 

Catholic Owned will also release an Eastertide Shopping Guide for Lent that covers liturgical content from Lent through Holy Trinity Sunday and features gift ideas for Easter, sacraments, graduations, and more. 

49th Annual Rosary Celebration Honors Our Lady, Queen of Peace

On Sunday, more than 4,000 devout Catholics congregated in the Phoenix Convention Center to pray the rosary in celebration of Arizona’s 49th Annual Rosary Celebration, a state-wide event with gatherings in multiple cities. This year’s event brought honor to Mary under her title Our Lady Queen of Peace.   “There is no greater advocate for peace…

49th Annual Rosary Celebration Honors Our Lady, Queen of Peace