Xt3

Congratulations Holy Father

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Holy Father's ordination to the Priesthood, the World Youth Day office asked a group of priests to pass on their congratulations in many languages - representing the priests of the world!

A Week in the Life of a Priest

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a Catholic priest? People have many different ideas about the priesthood - highly revered, considered peculiar, disregarded as irrelevant or simply misunderstood. Come inside the intriguing world of a priest's daily life as we walk with him through his unusual, challenging and moving ministry. Prepare to be uplifted and surprised!

Fr Tony Percy: Theology of the Body and its link to Vocations

Fr Tony Percy talks to a group of Parish Vocations Coordinators on Theology of the body and how understanding the Church's teaching on sexuality can help young people choose their vocation.

Joseph Ratzinger's Happiest Day

Today - 29 June 2011 - Pope Benedict XVI will be celebrating the "high point of his life" as he marks the 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination. Joseph Ratzinger was ordained at age 24, together with his brother Georg, and more than 40 candidates, at the cathedral of Freising, near Munich, by Cardinal Michael von Faulhaber.

……

Cardinal Pell Discusses the New Roman Missal

When Catholics throughout the English-speaking world begin to use the new translation of the Roman Missal for the first time, they will notice a change at the beginning of Mass in one of the most familiar dialogues of the sacred liturgy...

Iraqi Sister Founding Religious Order to Serve Boston's Spiritually Poor

Iraqi Sister Olga Yaqob is beginning a women's religious order in the Boston archdiocese this year, to carry out the Church's mission to evangelize. “Our main spirituality will focus on Jesus, and then carry His presence out into the world,” Sr. Olga of the Eucharist told CNA on June 21. “I have seen a lot of spiritual poverty in our country – people who are spiritually hungry,” she said. “They don't know what kind of loving Father we have, what kind of beautiful faith our Catholic Church has.”

The Story Behind Joseph Ratzinger's Vocation

In his autobiography, then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, explained how the most important day of his life, was the day he was ordained. It was June 29, 1951. On that day, Cardinal von Faulhaber of Munich ordained the Raztinger brothers in the Cathedral of Freising. Georg was 27 years old. Joseph,24. His family was very religious, so their parents weren't really surprised by their decision. Watch this video for the story behind Joseph Ratzinger's vocation!

Seminarians Want to be 'Part of the Solution' in Addressing Abuse Issue

Most of them weren't born yet when the events occurred that came to define the U.S. crisis of sexual abuse by priests. But for men who entered the seminary in the past decade, a point of commonality seems to be that they want to prove that priests are good people.

……

Pope Calls for a Revival of Priestly Vocations

The Pope was welcomed by thousands of faithful during his Sunday visit to San Marino. During a two hour Mass, the Pope celebrated the feast of the Holy Trinity by stressing that the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are based on love. As the small republic faces several challenges of the modern world, the Pope called for a revival of priestly vocations and special consecration, to strengthen faith and morality.

……

Nearly 20,000 Priests Expected to Attend World Youth Day

Nearly 20,000 priests are expected to accompany the young people attending World Youth Day 2011 in August, announced Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco of Madrid, Spain.

……