Ordination Class Of 2016: Encouragement, Active Participation In Parish Life, Ministry, Are Key Factors In Discernment Process, Answering The Call - WASHINGTON—The 2016 class of men ordained to the priesthood report that they were, on average, about 17 when they first considered a vocation to the priesthood and encouraged to consider a vocation by an average of four people. Seven in 10 (70 percent) say they were encouraged by a parish priest, as well as friends (48 percent), parishioners (46 percent), and mothers (42 percent). On average, they lived in the diocese or eparchy for which they will be ordained for 15 years before entering seminary. Religious ordinands knew the members of their religious institute an average of five years before entering. The total number of potential ordinands for the class of 2016….Read More
News from the Vatican:
ABP Pierre, new Nuncio to USA: 'Pope's message is the Gospel' - (Vatican Radio) Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the newly-appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the United States of America, says the message of Pope Francis for the American people is the message of the Gospel. Archbishop Christophe Pierre was appointed to the post by the Holy Father on 12 April, having previously served as the Apostolic Nuncio to Haiti, Uganda, and most recently Mexico for nine years.….Read More
News from the Church:
Pope to Teens: Jesus Is the Joy of Your Christian Identity - VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis on Saturday heard the confessions of young people in St. Peter’s Square as part of the weekend’s “Jubilee for Boys and Girls.” Sitting on simple chairs out in the open along with other priests just within the square’s colonnade, the Pope offered the sacrament of reconciliation to 16 boys and girls between 11:30am and 12:45pm, the Vatican Press Office said. More than 150 priests were in the square to hear confessions, according to Vatican Radio. This is not the first time Pope Francis has heard the confessions of pilgrims. Most recently, the Pope took part in a penance service during the March 4 “24 Hours for the Lord.”…Read more