News

Father Mike Schmitz Urges Catholics To ‘Get Back In The Game’

Basketball legends aren’t celebrated for never fouling but for their prowess on the court. In a parallel fashion, notable saints are remembered not for being sinless but for their fervor and dedication, said Father Mike Schmitz to an audience of around 1,000 at a Plymouth seminar.

Popular for his podcast series such as “The Bible in a Year,” Father Mike was a recent guest in a monthly talk series organized by the Detroit Archdiocese. He emphasized the tendency of Christians to overly focus on their past missteps rather than the broader spiritual journey.

Father Schmitz, hailing from Duluth, Minnesota’s Diocese, highlighted the difference between playing defensively out of fear versus playing aggressively to win in one’s spiritual journey. He emphasized that the aim isn’t flawlessness but to find and fulfill our purpose in God’s grand design.

He posed a thought exercise: when questioned at heaven’s gates about their worthiness to enter, what would one reply? While many might cite their good deeds, Father Schmitz believes the most fitting answer is simply “Jesus,” underlining the principle that entrance to heaven isn’t about merit but grace.

Father Schmitz expanded on the significance of Christ’s sacrifice, urging believers to both be grateful and utilize the divine gifts, particularly by nurturing the cardinal virtues.

Detailing these virtues – justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude – Father Schmitz shared insights into their importance in the Christian life. Justice, he said, is about acknowledging our indebtedness to God, while temperance helps regulate our interactions with worldly gifts. Prudence, unrelated to demeanor or fashion, is about clarity of life’s ultimate goal. Father Schmitz further linked prudence to priorities and the alignment of actions with life’s main objectives.

He humorously termed fortitude as “fourth-ti-tude” and described it as the courage to uphold righteousness in adversity. It’s the backbone supporting all virtues, especially when tested.

While these virtues guide Christians, it’s God’s grace that provides salvation. Father Schmitz concluded by reminding believers that while they may stumble in their journey, they always have the opportunity and divine support to begin anew.

News

Christian Reformed Church Lists Its US Grand Rapids HQ For Sale

Photo credit Google Maps

The office in Grand Rapids has been the denomination’s hub for over six and a half decades.

Grand Rapids, Michigan — Last week, the North American Christian Reformed Church made a decision to put its Grand Rapids office up for sale.

Having its U.S. main office at the intersection of 28th and Kalamazoo for over six decades, the church has supported over 1,000 congregations throughout the continent, with many located in West Michigan.

The deteriorating state of the building, coupled with the aspiration for a “smaller, more decentralized and flexible ministry structure”, led to the selling decision, as shared in an announcement.

“Its ongoing maintenance is becoming financially unsustainable,” Dan DeKam, director of U.S. Ministry Operations, said in a statement. “It is time for a new shape.”

The challenges of the 2020 COVID-19 crisis “pushed the staff to adopt varied work methods,” said Zachary King, the CRCNA’s general secretary.

This operational change underscored that the vast space of the current office was no longer a necessity.

Currently, in their pursuit of “flexibility for the future”, the church is on the lookout for a more compact and versatile office environment.

News

Entrepreneurial Catholic Nun Engages Young People Via Film-Making

Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun from Mumbai’s western region, combined her love for movies and learning. She crafted a 7-minute narrative film using just a mobile device in a span of two days, aiming to unite today’s youth through her faith-inspired cinematic work.

In Mumbai’s western region, Sister Josefina Albuquerque, a Catholic nun, embarked on a cinematic journey targeting contemporary youth.

Her talent is showcased in a compelling seven-minute narrative film, crafted using only a mobile device over a mere two-day period.

A member of the Religious of Jesus and Mary Congregation, Sister Josefina serves as the principal of St. Agnes High School in Byculla, Mumbai. While she excels in the education field, her heart also beats for cinema. While her strength wasn’t in scriptwriting, she had an eye for the visual storytelling.

The enforced quiet of the Covid-19 lockdown allowed her to hone filmmaking and editing techniques.

Her fascination grew with the tribal communities of Aarey forest during a visit. This inspired her to film the documentary, “Under the Banyan Tree: A Journey to Inner Truth.” The documentary narrates the tale of an engineer who forgoes urban luxuries to reside in Mumbai’s Aarey forest, teaching locals to pursue their true purpose by advocating for their rights.

For her portrayal of tribal life in the Aarey forest, Sr. Josefina earned high praise for her directorial prowess.

“As someone in charge of youth ministry in my religious community, I observed that our youth invest most of their time on social media. I believed I would only reach them by fortifying oneself with media and digital studies. That’s the moment I decided that I needed to enroll in a professional filmmaking course,” said Sr. Josefina, in an interview with Vatican News.

Besides her role as a principal, she is now attending the Filmmaking Program at St. Paul’s Communication Centre in Bandra, Mumbai. This venture ignited her desire to create a cinematic portrayal of children’s lives.

She crafted a film titled “D for Dumbo” with a modest budget at St. John the Evangelist School in Marol, Andheri, Mumbai. The story revolves around Sam, a young fourth-grader ridiculed for his slower math recall. Yet, when faced with a creative challenge by a different teacher, the boy, often labelled the ‘class dumbo’, surpasses his peers.

The film earned top honors from St. Paul’s Institute in Bandra, Mumbai. Bollywood legend Naseeruddin Shah presented the award to Sr. Josefina. Currently, “D for Dumbo” is set to feature in the upcoming ALP International Film Festival online.

News

The Pope Lands In Mongolia, Paying Tribute To Its Deep Cultural Roots

The flight of ITA Airways, bearing Pope Francis to Mongolia, touched down a little before 10 am local time. Onboard, the Pope described Mongolia as a vast “land of silence,” emphasizing the deep sensory experience it offers, during a conversation with journalists post-departure on Thursday evening.

Upon landing at the Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, he was greeted by Monsignor Fernando Duarte Barros Reis, the acting head of Mongolia’s Apostolic Nunciature. Additionally, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Holy See, Ms. Davaasuren Gerelmaa, alongside representatives from both the Church and the state, met him on the airstrip.

The State Honour Guard of Mongolia, dressed in their traditional red, blue, and yellow uniforms with metal helmets reminiscent of historic Mongolian warriors, stood in formation to honor his arrival.