Farrell named head of planning for 2015 World Meeting of Families

Donna Farrell, former communications director for the Philadelphia Archdiocese, becomes the executive director of the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. The independent group she leads is planning for a week of events on the family and the possible visit of Pope Francis to the city.

Catholics described as eager to give input as church prepares for synod

BALTIMORE (CNS) -- The extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family, called by Pope Francis for next October, is drawing great interest from everyday Catholics, many of whom are anxious to weigh in on questions the Vatican has sent out in preparation for the session.

Archbishop Chaput’s public calendar, Nov. 11 – Nov. 20, 2013

Monday, Nov. 11 to Thursday, Nov. 14 General meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Baltimore, Md. Friday, Nov. 15 to Wednesday, Nov. 20 Lecture to North and South American Bishops, at the invitation of Pope Francis, on the theme “The New Evangelization: Responsibilities and challenges for the American continent." Mexico City, Mexico

Photo of the day

For about an hour last Saturday evening, during Pope Francis’ meeting with families in St. Peter’s Square, a little boy took over as prefect of the papal household: he helped bring guests up to the pope, he tried to take presents off the pope’s hands, he adjusted the pope’s microphone. He didn’t leave the pope’s side.

An example of a poverty that frees us

One of the things folks admire about Pope Francis is his decision to live simply. Rather than live in private apartments at the Vatican, he has chosen to live in guest quarters, partly because these are closer to other people and it allows him to live in a community, which, as a Jesuit, he values. But as an archbishop and cardinal, he set the same standard of simplicity, rejecting fancy homes and a lifestyle above that of the people he served. In continuing with this tradition, he's setting a beautiful example, not just for other bishops and clergy, but for all of us.

Photo of the day

Pope Francis drinks mate, the traditional Argentine herbal tea, as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 30. The drink was given by a person in the crowd. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

First preach by the way you live

In Rome during November and December 1997, Archbishop Chaput, then of Denver, attended the Special Assembly for America convened by the World Synod of Bishops. He delivered the following comments to the gathered bishops, among them a coadjutor archbishop from Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J.  The two archbishops later discussed these remarks during the synod. And 16 years later, Pope Francis remembered and referenced them in greeting Archbishop Chaput after a general audience at the Vatican. They're presented here as a matter of record. -- CatholicPhilly.com

Comedy of errors: Cardinal’s arrival in New Zealand marked by miscues

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) — A miscommunication between the Vatican and New Zealand church officials resulted in an adventurous arrival for the prelate who coordinates a key commission of cardinals that advises Pope Francis.

The unchanging gift of celibacy

The issue of clerical celibacy is once again in the news when Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Pope Francis' recent choice for the all-important position of Secretary of State, made headlines when he said celibacy represented a discipline, and not a dogma, of the church. Nothing he said was revolutionary, nor merited the headlines suggesting the church was ready to reject the tradition of a celibate clergy.

Fire upon the earth: A Year of Faith, personal conversion and the new evangelization

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Year of Faith Lecture Series, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Wynnewood Oct. 1, 2013 My goal tonight is to speak about personal conversion and the new evangelization, through the lens of the Year of Faith.  And I’d like to do that in three steps.  First, I’ll revisit what a “year of faith” is, and why Pope Benedict felt we needed one.  Second, I’ll talk about Pope Francis and the new spirit he brings to witnessing our faith as a Church.  And third and most important, I’ll speak about what we need to do, and how we need to live, going forward – in other words, how we might share our faith so fully and joyfully that we truly become God’s lumen gentium, God’s “light to the nations.”