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From the Director's Desk
 "Wherever I shall be, I intend to imagine myself to be together with all the creatures in the Cenacle in Jerusalem where the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. I shall remind myself to renew this desire often. As the Apostles were there with Mary, so will I be in spirit with the most beloved Mother and Jesus. As they are my special intercessors, I am confident that they will help me and all other creatures to receive the abundance of the Holy Spirit"
-St. Vincent Pallotti (OOCC X, 86).
One of the signature moments of Pope Francis' recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land was the Mass that he celebrated in the Cenacle or Upper Room in Jerusalem. Tradition holds the Cenacle as the location of the Last Supper and the place where Mary, the Apostles, and the other disciples spent time in prayer and community prior to the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. On this Feast of Mary, Queen of Apostles, on this eve of Pentecost, we are called to dwell in the Cenacle as a place of encounter with one another and with the Holy Spirit. The Cenacle is not a place where one stays, though. We are sent forth out into the world that needs to encounter Jesus Christ, a world in need of transformation. Pope Francis in his homily in the Cenacle reminds us of this mission of which all of us are called to be a part:
"From here the Church goes forth, impelled by the life-giving breath of the Spirit. Gathered in prayer with the Mother of Jesus, the Church lives in constant expectation of a renewed outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Send forth your Spirit, Lord, and renew the face of the earth (cf. Ps 104:30)!"
Reflecting on the Cenacle, St. Vincent Pallotti came to believe that all are called to take up the mission of Jesus Christ and live as apostles, sent forth to preach the Good News and bring healing to a broken and suffering world.
We are not alone in this task. Mary, Queen of Apostles intercedes for us, witnesses discipleship of Christ for us, and gives us a mother's care. The Holy Spirit permeates all that we do and calls us back to the Cenacle, to the table of the Lord in the Eucharist, to worship and fellowship with the community of faith, in order to be sent forth once again. Instituted in the Cenacle of Jerusalem, the Eucharist sustains us, nourishes us, and moves us out into the world "glorifying the Lord by our lives" ("Dismissal", Roman Missal).
May the Charity of Christ urge us on!
Mary, Queen of Apostles, pray for us!
In God, the Infinite Love,
Fr. Frank
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Announcing our Newest Webinar!
A major theme for Pope Francis is the call to missionary discipleship. Join the Catholic Apostolate Center and Jill Rauh (pictured right), Assistant Director for Education & Outreach of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Justice, Peace & Human Development, to reflect on what it means, in the words of the Holy Father, to "go out as ones sent" and to "never tire of working for a more just world, marked by greater solidarity!" To help us, we will explore the Two Feet of Love in Action, a model used for decades by the U.S. Catholic bishops to describe two distinct, but complementary ways, we can respond to the Gospel call to put love in action.
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Featured Affiliate: Campus Ministry Leadership Institute
 The first session of the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute (CMLI) is taking place at John Carroll University in University Heights, Ohio this week. The Institute is co-sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Catholic Apostolate Center, and Catholic Extension. Our Director, Fr. Frank, and our Program and Operations Manager, Alex Boucher, are present at this session. The second session will be held in San Antonio, Texas in late June. During the Institute, the participants reflect on the the six aspects of campus ministry as found in the U.S. Bishops' document, Empowered by the Spirit. Teams of campus ministers and students from campus ministry programs around the country participate in the Institute.
 | Campus Ministry teams hard at work during
CMLI 2014 at John Carroll University |
These teams come with an idea for a project that will enhance their campus ministry programs and assist the campus community in deepening its relationship with Christ and his Church. The teams move through a collaborative process of program design that leads them from idea to vision, then on to goals and objectives, and finally, to a detailed plan. The Center in collaboration with the USCCB has developed a special web-based forum and resource center for CMLI called EmpoweredCampusMinistry.org. The Catholic Apostolate Center is honored to be in this partnership with our nation's bishops, preparing not only today's generation of campus leaders, but leaders of our Church for many years to come.
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Feast of Mary, Queen of Apostles
Feast Day:
Saturday before Pentecost
Quote:
"The perfect example of this type of spiritual and apostolic life is the most Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles, who while leading the life common to all here on earth, one filled with family concerns and labors, was always intimately united with her Son and in an entirely unique way cooperated in the work of the Savior...All should devoutly venerate her and commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care."
-Apostolicam Actuositatem
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 2
Patroness of:
Catholic Apostolate Center
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We are Disciples and Apostles - We are the #New Evangelization
Join our Director, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., in one of the newest additions to our YouTube channel, "We are Disciples and Apostles - We are the #NewEvangelization." Here Fr. Frank explores questions such as "What does it mean to be an apostle?", "What is the New Evangelization?" and "How can I witness faith to those who I encounter each day?" This presentation was originally recorded at the Catholic Leadership Conference held on the campus of The Catholic University of America and co-sponsored by the Catholic Apostolate Center.
 | "We are Disciples and Apostles -- We are the #NewEvangelization."
Rev. Frank Donio, S.A.C. |
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Prayer and Catechesis Resources
 "For me prayer is a surge of the heart, it is a simple look towards heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." -St. Therese of Lisieux We encourage you to visit our special webpage dedicated to resources on Prayer and Catechesis. These include links to the Bible, Divine Office, Catechism of the Catholic Church, many different reflections and the documents from the Second Vatican Council. All of these resources provide great opportunities to dig deeper into your faith and to make prayer a strong pillar of your relationship with Christ.
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From the Ad Infinitum Blog...
"Pentecost As A Personal Confirmation"
by Dana Edwards
We celebrate Pentecost on June 8th, 50 days after Easter, to commemorate the Holy Spirit's descent on Christ's disciples after his Ascension. We are, in many ways, celebrating the birthday of the Church and our individual commitments to God.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to share our faith, to have the ability to open our hearts in understanding one another and God's message. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, fortitude, piety and fear of the Lord), we become fully alive in our personal relationship with God so we can give better witness to his message.
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Catholic Apostolate Center
A Ministry of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottines) Copyright © 2014. All Rights Reserved.
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