Pope to Donate Holy Thursday Collection

To Somalia Catholic Relief, from Catholic World News:

The pope, who pointed to the plight of those in Somalia in a speech to the international diplomatic community in January, will preside over the concelebration of the April 5 Mass of the Lord's Supper and will wash the feet of 12 men at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
The monies collected will be donated to the work of Caritas Somalia, the Catholic relief agency in that country.

The conflict in Somalia has deteriorated in recent months, with Ethiopia being drawn into the fighting and the some of worst violence in the last 15 years. Scores of people have reported to have been killed in the Somalia capital, Mogadishu, in the clashes, and thousands have fled the city.

Good Friday and Issues in the Philippines

Good Friday no reason to avoid bath, Catholic church tells Filipinos (there is a belief among some that it is bad luck to do so)

And..

Church frowns on flagellation, crucifixion:

"We are doubtful that these activities outside the parishes are real expressions of Christian faith," Monsignor Pedro Quitorio, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines spokesman, told reporters Monday.

www.KeepBillyDonovan.Com

Gator fans are finally happy with their coaches...http://keepbillydonovan.com/

Champions, Yet Again!

New Auxiliary for Rockville Center

Peter A. Libasci--A Saint Meinrad alumn (as I am...of the college for me).

In the Communion of Saints...

Pope Benedict's homily for the Anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death:

For a long time, he had been preparing himself for this last encounter with Jesus, as the different drafts of his testament show. During long hours in his private chapel, he spoke to Him, abandoning himself totally to His will, entrusting himself to Mary, repeating Totus tuus. Like His divine Master, He lived his agony in prayer.

On the last day of his life, eve of the Sunday of Divine Mercy, he asked to be read the Gospel of John. Assisted by those around him, he wanted to take part in all the prayers of the day and at the Liturgy of the Hours, to make Adoration, to meditate.

The perfume of the Pope's faith and hope and love filled his house, filled St. Peter's Square, filled the Church and spread throughout the whole world. He died praying. Truly, he went to sleep in the Lord. What happened after his death was - to believers - the effect of that fragrance that had reached everyone, near and far, and drew them towards a man whom God had progressively conformed to Christ.

And so we can apply to him the words of the first verse of the Servant of the Lord that we heard in the first Reading: "Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations,..."

And:

Dear brothers and sistes, the Responsorial Psalm has given us words full of faith. In the communion of saints, we seem to hear the voice of of our beloved John Paul II, who from the house of the Father - we can be sure - does not cease to accompany the journey of this Church. "Wait for the Lord with courage; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord. (Ps 26. 13-14).

Anniversary of The Great's Departure and Divine Mercy Novena

St. Faustina recounts that Jesus asked not only for a Feast of Divine Mercy, which the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II declared during his pontificate (and ironically died on two years ago on April 2nd--the Feast is movable, this year will be celebrated on April 15th), but also that Our Lord asked that a novena (nine days of prayer) to be prayed by the faithful starting on Good Friday and ending on the Feast of Divine Mercy (the Second Sunday of Easter).


I explain the history of this novena as well as include the prayers for it in The Church's Most Powerful Novenas. Thankfully, you can now search inside this book to sample not only that novena, but other unique novenas such as Mother Teresa's "express or quick novena"--when you don't have nine days to wait for an answer (like all the novenas in the book the history behind it is also included).


The Divine Mercy Novena is a beautiful way to begin the Easter season by reflecting upon the great love that God has for us, expressed by Jesus on the cross. The prayers dictated to St. Faustina by Jesus--express His love for all of us for whom He died and reminds us that none of us, no matter how far we think we have fallen are outside of the reach of His love, forgiveness--His Mercy.