I have been an apologist for Catholic Answers since 2003. When people find out how long I've been with Catholic Answers, they sometimes ask, "What is the most-asked question you receive?" That's easy: Can I go to this wedding? The question has been asked so often, in fact, that in 2007 I created a checklist for laypeople to use to decide for themselves if they could go to a particular wedding. In the years since, that checklist has become one of the most-viewed apologist Q&A's on the Catholic Answers Forums, with over 75,000 views.
Recently we received an update and pictures from Roberta Morency, a Women of Grace® Facilitator in Rhode Island.
Barrington, Rhode Island celebrated its first Women of Grace Foundational Study Graduation in September, 2015! This group of like-minded women from several parishes met once a month for nine months at a beautiful location on the campus of Holy Angels Church. They traveled a common road, exploring their Catholic faith and the incredible gift of womanhood as they were challenged and encouraged to use their feminine gifts to reclaim the culture for Christ. These precious women were individually unique but grew in fellowship and the bond of Sacred Sisterhood though their journey together.
Women of Grace Founder and President Johnnette Benkovic speaks passionately during the 2015 Women of Grace Conference at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grapevine. (Photo by Lance Murray / NTC)
GRAPEVINE -- “The Holy Spirit is illuminating the minds and hearts of the daughters of God to the reality of who they truly are in light of the great gift of their authentic femininity,” said Johnnette Benkovic, Women of Grace founder, during the 2015 Women of Grace National Conference Oct. 23-25 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Grapevine.
A work of art created to raise awareness of post-abortion pain suffered by women has been touching hearts around the world, including that of Pope Francis, thanks to the efforts of the father of a Women of Grace® facilitator from Arizona.
St. Teresa of Avila shows us it is never too late to get serious about our prayer life. Born Dona Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada, Teresa was an active child with a big imagination and great sensitivity of heart. Little Teresa and her brother Roderigo were intrigued by the lives of the saints and the martyrs, and often sought to imitate their holy example.
From the earliest times, the history of the Church is studded with appearances of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One such apparition happened when Our Lady appeared to three shepherd children in the small hamlet of Cova da Iria in Fatima, Portugal.
When we welcomed Pope Francis into our country, I'm sure many of you moms, like me, dreamt of traveling to be with the crowds who were there to celebrate, listen, and pray with the pontiff. Of course, for most of us, it never got further than a fleeting, wishful thought.
Men of Grace: Warriors for the Kingdom, you MUST all watch this and then read "Into the Breach: An Apostolic Exhortation to Catholic Men, my Spiritual Sons in the Diocese of Phoenix" by Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix. It's excellent!
After you watch this, download this document and read it....
I've always loved St. Thérèse of Lisieux. From the time I heard her story as a child in Catholic grade-school, her story and writings have resonated in my soul. So much did I love our "Little Flower" that I composed a prayer card in her honor when I was eight years old, which you can read below.
During his recent speech to Congress, Pope Francis highlighted Dorothy Day, saying, "In these times when social concerns are so important, I cannot fail to mention the Servant of God Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker Movement,” He continued, “Her social activism, her passion for justice and for the cause of the oppressed, were inspired by the Gospel, her faith, and the example of the saints.”
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