Latest News and Upcoming Events

Jesuits Ask Congress to Pass Immigration Reform

On June 4, 2010, t he Provincials of the Society of Jesus in the United States, wrote to the members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives. In their letter, they asked that Congress take immediate action to effect comprehensive immigration reform in the US. To read the whole letter, click here.

USCCB Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation

In May 2010, the USCCB Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church convened a two-day gathering of Catholic leadership from among the many cultures and races that constitute U.S. Church membership today. The Catholic Cultural Diversity Network Convocation created an atmosphere of dialogue and collegiality by providing opportunities for leaders to exchange hopes, dreams and challenges. In the spirit of Encuentro 2000, the Convocation opened minds and hearts to the evangelizing potential of the Church's rich and growing diversity. Click here for resources for various groups.

New Auxiliary Bishop Announced

We are pleased to announce that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has accepted the resignation of Auxiliary Bishop Robert P. Maginnis and has named Monsignor John J. McIntyre as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  Bishop Elect McIntyre will be ordained August 6, on the Solemnity of the Transfiguration of our Lord, in the Cathedral Basilica  of SS. Peter and Paul.  Thank you Bishop Robert P. Maginnis for your years of dedicated service!  Congratulations Bishop Elect John J. McIntyre!

Catholic Bishops Answer Tough Questions About Immigration

The following two articles provide the view of Catholic Bishops on the immigration debate. The first article is entitled Answering Tough Questions about Immigration and is an interview with Bishop John C. Wester of Salt Lake City, the chairman of the US Bishops' Committee on Migration. In a second article here, the same Bishop explains why our nation needs to reform the current broken immigration system.

BISHOPS LAUNCH NATIONAL WEBSITE TO PROMOTE VOCATIONS TO PRIESTHOOD AND CONSECRATED LIFE

‘ForYourVocation.org’ offers resources for people in discernment
Includes info for parents, teachers, catechists, vocation directors
Efforts respond to Pope Benedict XVI’s call to use social media

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Bishops’ Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations is initiating a new website on April 25 to be a resource for both laity and clergy in the promotion of vocations. The launch date is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations and Good Shepherd Sunday.
The site has two goals:
To help individuals hear and respond to the call by God to the priesthood or consecrated life, and
To educate all Catholics on the importance of encouraging others through prayer and activities to promote vocations.  
The Vocations Website can be found at www.ForYourVocation.org. A Spanish-language site will be available this fall at www.PorTuVocación.org.
Site elements include discernment resources for men and women, respectively, aids for promoting a vocation culture within the home, and a range of tools for educators, youth leaders and vocation directors including prayers, videos, best practices, lesson plans and vocation awareness programs.
 In response to Pope Benedict XVI’s 2010 Theme for the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, Witness Awakens Vocations, the site also hosts videos of priests and religious men and women giving witness to their vocations, as well as testimonies from family members. 

ForYourVocation.org exemplifies the Vatican’s embrace of new communications media. In his message for the 44th World Day of Communications, Pope Benedict XVI challenges clergy to employ the “latest generation of audiovisual resources (images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites)” to put the media “ever more effectively at the service of the Word.”
The launch of the site will be promoted through social media forums. Facebook users can become “eVangelizers” for the cause. By becoming an eVangelizer, one can connect others to the Website’s blog posts. 
            Dioceses and organizations may link to ForYourVocation.org by following the instructions at http://foryourvocation.org/web-resources.cfm.

March 21, 2010:

March on Washington for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

*For more pictures from this event click HERE*