As part of her prayer chapel blog, Catholic recording artist, author and blogger Susan Bailey has released “Lenten Devotions for Busy People,” a blog containing a daily podcast, a weekly Friday video on the Stations of the Cross, music and reflections. The blog can be found at www.prayerchapel.info.
What makes this blog different? The vast majority of devotions lasts no more than 5-7 minutes, making it a perfect place to pause for busy people. It also explores Lent from the Eastern Catholic perspective.
The idea for the blog came to Susan because of a little-known podcast she heard back in 2006. “I first discovered podcasting during Lent in 2006, and I found this wonderful podcast called “Theosis,” hosted by Fr. Seraphim Beshoner, T.O.R., a history professor at Franciscan University. This little 5 minute per day podcast transformed my Lent.”
“Theosis” is based on the Eastern Church’s tradition of Lent (known to them as Great Lent). The Eastern Catholic Church, which is in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, has 14 liturgical traditions (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches for a complete list) including Melkite and Maronite. Susan was initially interested in “Theosis” because her husband is studying to be a deacon in the Melkite Church.
Pope John Paul II was keenly aware of the Eastern Church and its beautiful traditions and repeatedly challenged the Church as a whole to “breathe with both lungs,” bringing together the West and the East. Fr. Beshoner does a wonderful job of explaining Eastern traditions for Western listeners.
“Lenten Devotions for Busy People” also includes a weekly 5 minute video on the Stations of the Cross, posted each Friday.
Music, other reflections and future surprises will be included.
For more information on the blog, visit www.prayerchapel.info. You can listen to Fr. Seraphim Beshoner’s other podcast, “Catholic: Under the Hood” at www.sqpn.com.
Vocation Discernment DVD to Launch in March
A strong partnership between Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia and Choicez Media – Australia’s largest Catholic media provider, will see the Bishop of Maitland - Newcastle, Bishop Michael Malone, launch a major new vocations DVD initiative in Sydney on March 5.
Entitled, Holding Nothing Back the project is a comprehensive and ultra-modern twodisc package including a documentary style film and seven in-depth interviews with religious and priests from across the nation. Filmed on location during and after World Youth Day, the interviews explore the lives and journeys of some fascinating Australian men and women who have chosen to give all in their radical response to Christ’s invitation to follow Him.
From the stories of a former professional tennis player to builders and hospitality workers the interviews are designed to help young people gain a better understanding of the call to vocation through the stories of those who have wrestled with the very meaning of their existence and the call to serve others in religious life. The short film provides a powerful exploration of the very essence of vocation through narrative and symbolic elements using a top-level production and creative team.
Bishop Malone, commenting on his first review of the program stated, “For the first time I have seen something in the Vocation area which is a balance of wise counsel, best practice and pastoral sensitivity…able to capture the essence of Vocation discernment in provocative and excellent images…well done!”
Choicez Media National Director, Jonathan Doyle states, “Our whole team felt such a sense of privilege to be involved with such an important project with a message we were convinced young people needed to have the chance to hear.”
Entitled, Holding Nothing Back the project is a comprehensive and ultra-modern twodisc package including a documentary style film and seven in-depth interviews with religious and priests from across the nation. Filmed on location during and after World Youth Day, the interviews explore the lives and journeys of some fascinating Australian men and women who have chosen to give all in their radical response to Christ’s invitation to follow Him.
From the stories of a former professional tennis player to builders and hospitality workers the interviews are designed to help young people gain a better understanding of the call to vocation through the stories of those who have wrestled with the very meaning of their existence and the call to serve others in religious life. The short film provides a powerful exploration of the very essence of vocation through narrative and symbolic elements using a top-level production and creative team.
Bishop Malone, commenting on his first review of the program stated, “For the first time I have seen something in the Vocation area which is a balance of wise counsel, best practice and pastoral sensitivity…able to capture the essence of Vocation discernment in provocative and excellent images…well done!”
Choicez Media National Director, Jonathan Doyle states, “Our whole team felt such a sense of privilege to be involved with such an important project with a message we were convinced young people needed to have the chance to hear.”
John Paul II Formulated a "Theology of Communication"
During the launch of a new book from Vatican publisher Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV) today, retired papal theologian Georges Marie Martin Cardinal Cottier, OP, and others asserted that during the course of his 26-year pontificate, John Paul II developed a “theology of communication.”
Joined by renowned journalist Joanna Bogle, educator Sr. Marie Gannon, FMA, and author Dr. Christine A. Mugridge at the official release of Dr. Mugridge and Prof. Gannon’s John Paul II: Development of a Theology of Communications, Cardinal Cottier and the others discussed how this pedagogy had the potential to impact not only ecclesial communications but communications in the media and beyond. The participants agreed that while the seeds of such a theology have always existed throughout Church history, its development only began to bear fruit during Pope John Paul II’s pontificate.
All also concurred that as the world becomes ever more secularized, expanding this development will be crucial if the Church is to succeed in its mission of evangelization.
Cardinal Cottier noted that when it came to communication in any form, the late Holy Father was always very concerned to acknowledge the role of Jesus Christ, Who was not only the creator of words but was Himself the Word.
In her presentation, Mrs. Bogle noted how communication is “a gift from God” in that it is words that “somehow get us to God.”
“For Catholics, word and action, Scripture and sacrament, go together,” she said, “and in a sense one flows from the other.” While she lamented the decline in all forms of communication, and admitted that even the Church has not been immune from its effects, “the Church still holds out to us the exciting recognition that we haven’t yet fulfilled – or even begun to fulfill – all of mankind’s great potential for creativity, wisdom, and beauty” in this regard. And this is precisely because that potential is ultimately born out of Christ, Who “is brought to the world again and again” as the Word made flesh.
“There is indeed a theology of communication,” she concluded, and “I am not sure we have really grasped its fullness yet.”
Dr. Mugridge concurred and noted that the late Pontiff was very keen to emphasize that there was a difference between a study of theology and communications versus a theology of communications. She also explained how, while the Pope never called it such, a theology of communications clearly did develop over the course of his pontificate.
Prof. Gannon observed how she particularly appreciated Pope Wojty³a’s work in this area because it drew on both secular communications as well as the Church’s Magisterium before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council. “This was possible,” she said, “because parallel criteria for principles and methodology in both the ecclesial and the secular field were used for the analysis of material from both fields that are apropos for speaking of a theology of communication.”
The round table was moderated by Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV) Director Don Giuseppe Costa, SDB, and took place at the offices of Vatican Radio.
It was announced at the event that Catholic Word, an American consortium of over a dozen publishers such as Ignatius Press and Ascension Press, will distribute John Paul II: Development of a Theology of Communications in the English-speaking world. This is the first work distributed by Catholic Word on behalf of LEV.
Catholic Word President Carolyn Klika expressed the great hope this new teaching holds for the entire Church. “The Theology of Communication can assist every bishop and parish priest in more effectively reaching his faithful, every teacher in connecting with students, every media outlet in conveying their message, and even impact every human relationship. We are grateful for the opportunity to make this timely and critical title available to the English-speaking world.”
Joined by renowned journalist Joanna Bogle, educator Sr. Marie Gannon, FMA, and author Dr. Christine A. Mugridge at the official release of Dr. Mugridge and Prof. Gannon’s John Paul II: Development of a Theology of Communications, Cardinal Cottier and the others discussed how this pedagogy had the potential to impact not only ecclesial communications but communications in the media and beyond. The participants agreed that while the seeds of such a theology have always existed throughout Church history, its development only began to bear fruit during Pope John Paul II’s pontificate.
All also concurred that as the world becomes ever more secularized, expanding this development will be crucial if the Church is to succeed in its mission of evangelization.
Cardinal Cottier noted that when it came to communication in any form, the late Holy Father was always very concerned to acknowledge the role of Jesus Christ, Who was not only the creator of words but was Himself the Word.
In her presentation, Mrs. Bogle noted how communication is “a gift from God” in that it is words that “somehow get us to God.”
“For Catholics, word and action, Scripture and sacrament, go together,” she said, “and in a sense one flows from the other.” While she lamented the decline in all forms of communication, and admitted that even the Church has not been immune from its effects, “the Church still holds out to us the exciting recognition that we haven’t yet fulfilled – or even begun to fulfill – all of mankind’s great potential for creativity, wisdom, and beauty” in this regard. And this is precisely because that potential is ultimately born out of Christ, Who “is brought to the world again and again” as the Word made flesh.
“There is indeed a theology of communication,” she concluded, and “I am not sure we have really grasped its fullness yet.”
Dr. Mugridge concurred and noted that the late Pontiff was very keen to emphasize that there was a difference between a study of theology and communications versus a theology of communications. She also explained how, while the Pope never called it such, a theology of communications clearly did develop over the course of his pontificate.
Prof. Gannon observed how she particularly appreciated Pope Wojty³a’s work in this area because it drew on both secular communications as well as the Church’s Magisterium before, during, and after the Second Vatican Council. “This was possible,” she said, “because parallel criteria for principles and methodology in both the ecclesial and the secular field were used for the analysis of material from both fields that are apropos for speaking of a theology of communication.”
The round table was moderated by Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV) Director Don Giuseppe Costa, SDB, and took place at the offices of Vatican Radio.
It was announced at the event that Catholic Word, an American consortium of over a dozen publishers such as Ignatius Press and Ascension Press, will distribute John Paul II: Development of a Theology of Communications in the English-speaking world. This is the first work distributed by Catholic Word on behalf of LEV.
Catholic Word President Carolyn Klika expressed the great hope this new teaching holds for the entire Church. “The Theology of Communication can assist every bishop and parish priest in more effectively reaching his faithful, every teacher in connecting with students, every media outlet in conveying their message, and even impact every human relationship. We are grateful for the opportunity to make this timely and critical title available to the English-speaking world.”
Bishops’ For Your Marriage Website Offers Ideas for ‘Cheap’ Dates
With tough economic conditions impacting families, The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) "For Your Marriage" Web site offers ten suggestions for romantic, low-cost dates. From planning an indoor "picnic" to "midnight bowling," the ideas can inspire couples to be creative date planners.
"We came up with these low-cost ideas for time together as well as some articles that focus on family finances, which is a leading cause of marital stress," said Sheila Garcia, associate director of the USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and lead staff for the project.
The "For Your Marriage" Website, located at www.foryourmarriage.org, stands as a key component of the USCCB's multi-year effort to promote the value of married life. The site was launched in June 2007 and now sports a new look and content. The page also is available on the social networking sites Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and the bookmark site, Delicious.
"The new home page has a clean, uncluttered look with photos and headlines that point to the newest content," Garcia said. "We're also using some of the new social media Web sites that are popular ways that people connect."
The updated Website also includes a "toolkit" for Webmasters and others who want to spread the word about resources on www.foryourmarriage.org. The toolkit contains animated banner ads using Adobe Flash programming that automatically updates the ads with new content from the Web site. There are also static ads for other applications.
Another new campaign element are billboards now seen across the country in space donated by outdoor ad companies.
"They're in several major markets including Baltimore, Charleston, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and San Antonio," said Patricia Ryan Garcia, assistant director of the USCCB's Digital Media Office.
Radio and television public service ads also are part of the marriage campaign. The third and newest set of messages was released in December and invites viewers and listeners to visit the Web site.
To date, Nielsen Media Research reports that six "For Your Marriage" TV messages have been broadcast a total of 38,300 times. Mediaguide reports that the seven radio messages aired a total of 155,000 times.
The entire "For Your Marriage" project was made possible through a grant from the Catholic Communication Campaign.
"We came up with these low-cost ideas for time together as well as some articles that focus on family finances, which is a leading cause of marital stress," said Sheila Garcia, associate director of the USCCB Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and lead staff for the project.
The "For Your Marriage" Website, located at www.foryourmarriage.org, stands as a key component of the USCCB's multi-year effort to promote the value of married life. The site was launched in June 2007 and now sports a new look and content. The page also is available on the social networking sites Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and the bookmark site, Delicious.
"The new home page has a clean, uncluttered look with photos and headlines that point to the newest content," Garcia said. "We're also using some of the new social media Web sites that are popular ways that people connect."
The updated Website also includes a "toolkit" for Webmasters and others who want to spread the word about resources on www.foryourmarriage.org. The toolkit contains animated banner ads using Adobe Flash programming that automatically updates the ads with new content from the Web site. There are also static ads for other applications.
Another new campaign element are billboards now seen across the country in space donated by outdoor ad companies.
"They're in several major markets including Baltimore, Charleston, Chicago, Miami, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, and San Antonio," said Patricia Ryan Garcia, assistant director of the USCCB's Digital Media Office.
Radio and television public service ads also are part of the marriage campaign. The third and newest set of messages was released in December and invites viewers and listeners to visit the Web site.
To date, Nielsen Media Research reports that six "For Your Marriage" TV messages have been broadcast a total of 38,300 times. Mediaguide reports that the seven radio messages aired a total of 155,000 times.
The entire "For Your Marriage" project was made possible through a grant from the Catholic Communication Campaign.
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