Issue 70
May 30, 2015
From the Director's Desk
 

"The gift of the Holy Spirit has been bestowed upon the Church and upon each one of us, so that we may live lives of genuine faith and active charity, that we may sow the seeds of reconciliation and peace." - Pope Francis (Homily for the Solemnity of Pentecost, 2015)

 

When do we see the action of the Holy Spirit in our lives?  Sometimes, I believe, we wait for something very, very dramatic and, more often than not, will be disappointed.  Instead, do we acknowledge the Holy Spirit inviting us to greater authenticity in word and deed through faith and charity?  It can be easier to remain behind locked doors, comfortable and unchallenged, instead of going into a world that needs our presence and witness.

 

The work of evangelization is both the work of the baptized and the work of the Holy Spirit! Our work at the Catholic Apostolate Center is meant to help all of the baptized live as apostles of Christ in the Church and in the world. Over the last three and a half years of our existence, our team at the Center has often taken note of the action of the Holy Spirit moving us into new and different possibilities. Our resources from podcasts to an e-book, from resource pages to webinars, from sponsorship of collaborative conferences and seminars to affiliations with the USCCB, dioceses, national Catholic organizations, and academic institutions are all designed to assist active Catholics with greater collaboration with one another and the Holy Spirit in order to live as apostles of Christ. 


Thank you for your support of our ministry and know that you are in our prayers!

May the Charity of Christ urge us on!

In God, the Infinite Love,
Fr. Frank
In This Issue
Catholic Apostolate Center Podcasts

The Catholic Apostolate Center is pleased to present our latest offering of faith-based resources. This series of podcasts  is hosted by Center Collaborator, George Jin. In each of these 3 minute audio clips, our Director, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., offers insights on a variety of topics such as Catholic social teaching, marriage and family, vocational discernment, the new evangelization and much more! 

Short enough to listen to while you're on the go, these podcasts are a great resource to share with family, friends and even colleagues. To access the podcast simply click the link below. 

The Catholic Apostolate Center extends a special thanks to Jonathan Kirby and fellow musicians from The Catholic University of America's Benjamin T. Rome School of Music for composing and recording "Guardian of Truth," the music heard at the start of each podcast!
USCCB
Catholic Apostolate Center Sponsors Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit 

The Catholic Apostolate Center is pleased to be a sponsor of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth's Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit in St. Louis, MO on June 7-8. It is a gathering of diocesan bishops and invited pastoral leaders from across the United States to mark the 10th anniversary of the bishops' statement "Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord", and to discuss the role of lay ecclesial ministry since then and moving forward.

Center Director Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. will not only be a participant at the summit, but also has been asked to give a presentation entitled, "Co-Responsibility for the New Evangelization". To find out more about the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Summit, please click here for more information.
Campus Ministry Leadership Institute

The Campus Ministry Leadership Institute is a gathering of campus ministers and student leaders from colleges and universities  around the country who participate in an intensive five-day training and working institute. It is grounded in the US Bishops' Pastoral Letter, Empowered by the Spirit, and is designed to produce effective leaders who are collaborative and able to develop and implement Catholic faith formation and service programs on their campuses.

The Catholic Apostolate Center is pleased to continue sponsorship of the institute this year.  CMLI will be held at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM from June 16-21. Center Advisor and USCCB Assistant Director for Higher Education, Barbara McCrabb and Program Manager Jonathan Sitko will be present and engage with campus ministry and student leaders in their endeavors at the institute.

The Center has also partnered with the USCCB on the website Empowered Campus Ministry. The website provides resources, blog posts, webinars, and other online services to campus ministers across the country. It serves as a place for campus ministers outside the institute to learn and share their experiences. To find out more about Empowered Campus Ministry, please click the link below.

Catholic Volunteer Network

Catholic Volunteer Network promotes full-time domestic and international faith-based long term service opportunities. Offering resources for prospective, current, and former volunteers, Catholic Volunteer Network offers for those interested or engaged in long term service a great opportunity to grow in faith and skills. 

The Catholic Apostolate Center is pleased to have Catholic Volunteer Network as an affiliate. Please view their What's Next Notebook, if you or someone you know is finishing their long term service. Also view and subscribe to their Staying Connected Newsletter, offering advice and guidance for alumni volunteers.

   
The Catholic Apostolate Center is pleased to present its newly released E-book, Ad Infinitum: Reflections from the Bloggers of the Catholic Apostolate Center. A project many years in the making, this E-book is a selection from the hundreds of posts that have appeared on the Catholic Apostolate Center's Ad Infinitum blog since its inception. 

The E-book is divided into five sections, each group offering a different perspective on the faith. You will find suggestions on how to live a life akin to the Apostles, receive lessons from the saints, and much more! We encourage you to download this E-book and share it with your family, friends and colleagues. 
From the Ad Infinitum Blog

Pentecost as a Personal Confirmation
by Dana Edwards
Volunteer, Good Shepherd Catholic Church
(Originally published June 5, 2014)

We celebrate Pentecost 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. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "....the Church is sent to announce, bear witness, make present, and spread the mystery of the communion of the Holy Trinity" (CCC 738). 

Catholic Apostolate Center Director featured on EWTN News Nightly

Catholic Apostolate Center Director, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. was recently featured on EWTN News Nightly discussing the impact Pope Francis has had on social media, particularly Twitter. Click the link below to view this segment: