Papa Francisco- Misionero de Misericordia y Paz
Pope Francis will begin his Apostolic Journey this Friday at the holiest site in Mexico. Starting off his visit with mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe – visited by millions every year – he is just steps away from the place where Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego.
As a “Missionary of Mercy and Peace” to our southern neighbors, Pope Francis will bring a message of God’s mercy to those most in need. Among his stops he will visit a children’s hospital, an indigenous community and attend a special gathering for families. In a symbolic gesture of closeness to immigrants, the Pope will also visit the fence that separates Mexico from the United States when he is in Ciudad Juárez.
The Holy Father will be based in Mexico City. Each day he will travel from there to different cities and towns: Ecatepec, Tuxtla Gutiérrez, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Morelia and Ciudad Juárez.
Watch coverage via Vatican Television here: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/events/event.dir.html/content/vaticanevents/en/2016/2/12/viaggiomessico.html
For itinerary and other information: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/travels/2016/outside/documents/papa-francesco-messico-2016.html
En Español: http://papafranciscoenmexico.org/
Practice Mercy during Lent
“For all of us, then, the season of Lent in this Jubilee Year is a favorable time to overcome our existential alienation by listening to God’s word and by practicing the works of mercy. In the corporal works of mercy we touch the flesh of Christ in our brothers and sisters who need to be fed, clothed, sheltered, visited; in the spiritual works of mercy – counsel, instruction, forgiveness, admonishment and prayer – we touch more directly our own sinfulness.” – Pope Francis
In addition to other Lenten materials offered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), here are some suggestions for Lenten resources that can help us love God and neighbor.
- Weekly Lent-themed articles on USCCB’s Justice, Peace and Human Development’s ToGoForth.org blog
- Questions to Examine Conscience in Light of Catholic Social Teaching (also available en Español)
- Year of Mercy materials, webinar recording, handout, and reflection
- Discussion guide for Laudato Si’ in English and Spanish-perfect for Lenten faith-sharing groups, especially as Pope Francis prays for care of creation during February.
Finally, CRS’s traditional Rice Bowl program offers daily reflections for every day of Lent, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.
Bulletin Insert Available
The latest edition of Because We Are Catholic is now available. This month’s edition focuses on Catholic schools in California finding innovative ways to bring the blessings of a Catholic education to as many students as possible. The issue follows the California Bishops’ Statement, Our Catholic Schools in California: A Stellar Past, A Robust Future, released in January in conjunction with the start of Catholic Schools Week.
The publication is free and available for parishes to use as bulletin inserts. Because We Are Catholic is issued monthly. A catalog of past issues can be found here.
During the Year of Mercy, the full-color, two-side publication is exploring how Catholics around the state are living out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Previous Year of Mercy related issues include an explanation of what the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy is about and human trafficking. Next month’s will be on immigration and naturalization.
Still Time to Oppose CA’s New Execution Protocols
The California Department of Correction and Rehabilitation is attempting to create new rules and regulations for how the State will execute prisoners.
In the proposal , not only do the regulations limit the inmate’s access to chaplains and spiritual advisors as the execution draws near but – in an effort to make the killing “more humane” – the state proposes switching from a three drug protocol to one drug. The effectiveness of this new single drug protocol is still questionable.
Examine the execution protocols or click here to express your disapproval to CDCR. The deadline is Feb. 22, 2016.
Visit the Catholic Legislative Network at our booth – No. 446 – during the Religious Education Congress. Restorative Justice Ministers will be available next door, at No. 448, to talk about the Chaplaincy programs in California. The Congress is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world. The four-day event is held at the Anaheim Convention Center, Feb. 25-28, and is sponsored by the Los Angeles Office of Religious Education.
On the Web
It’s World Marriage Day on Sunday, Feb. 14, coinciding with St. Valentine’s Day. Join the celebration with ideas from the For Your Marriage, a website that celebrates and promotes the Sacrament of Marriage.
On Ash Wednesday, the Pope commissioned the Missionaries of Mercy whom the Holy Father is sending out to work with dioceses around the world. Learn about them here.
Doritos anyone? Bishop Robert Barron, auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, gives his take on the absurd reaction to a Super Bowl ad.
Feb. 12, 2016
Vol. 9, No. 5