It was a wonderful week as I travelled to Washington, D.C. for the opening of the Doors of Mercy at St. Matthews Cathedral and at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. These events were filled with hope, joy, and mercy, and you could feel the energy in the crowds that this will be a very meaningful Jubilee Year of Mercy. It was an honor to meet the National Minister of the Secular Franciscan Order, Jan Parker, O.F.S., who just began her leadership and know she will do a great job in the coming years. Jan and I attended the Vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception with the Opening of the Doors of Mercy at St. Matthews Cathedral, with beautiful service including the singing of the Hymn of the Jubilee Year of Mercy (in link below). Following is a video from Cardinal Donald Weurl on the Jubilee of Mercy.
Jan Parker, O.F.S. at the Door of Mercy at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, D.C. (photo John Clem, O.F.S.)
There were so many stories this week to share and have added special sections on the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Advent & Christmas, and Care for Creation. There is much to pray for in this world sorely in need of God’s mercy. May you have a blessed week and Holy Year of Mercy!
John
Top Catholic Tweets for December 11th
- Papal Tweet: May the Jubilee of Mercy bring us all closer to God’s goodness and love! (Pope Francis Dec. 8th)
- #FultonFridays: The Joy of Giving (The Catholic Gentleman) ow.ly/VtZK4
- Eight must-follow Catholic Twitter accounts (Rome Reports) youtu.be/TwNFwo37Bow
- What’s hidden in the smartphone of a refugee? A documentary has the answer… (Rome Reports) youtu.be/wpY18m12KIk
- Gun Control is a Pro-Life Issue (James Martin, S.J. – America) ow.ly/VxGuK
- Repost: Pedro Reyes Turns Guns Into Musical Instruments & Shovels (Huffington Post/AP) ow.ly/Vx7aq
- Homeless, poor get star treatment at Vatican movie premiere (CRUX) ow.ly/Vx83w
- What Is the Difference Between a Friar, a Monk and a Priest? (Aleteia) ow.ly/Vzn1Z
- Mary’s Immaculate Conception Is Fitting as Well as Faithful to Scripture (Monsignor Charles Pope – ADW) ow.ly/VBqhu
- Papal gift from Orthodox leader marks Joint Declaration anniversary (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VBu6u
- Defying the governor, Indianapolis archbishop takes in Syrian refugees (CRUX) ow.ly/VDuhB
- While Trump Spews Hate, These Muslims Just Raised $100,000 for San Bernardino Victims (U.S. Uncut) ow.ly/VFaDe
- When Mary Condemned Abortion in an Apparition: Our Lady of Laus (ChurchPOP) ow.ly/VFk8R
- A Carved Stone Block Upends Assumptions About Ancient Judaism (NY Times) ow.ly/VFC1S
- Catholic Nun on Killing Deer: ‘I Always Pray the Rosary in My Tree Stand’ (CNSnews) ow.ly/VGfa7
- US Sisters’ Numbers Decline But Diversity Rises (America) ow.ly/VGg9c
- Ad Gentes 50th Anniversary (Archdiocese of St. Louis) youtu.be/L19_ursriCk
- Tough, funny and fearless: A bold new take on women saints – NEW book by Maria Morera Johnson (CNA) ow.ly/VIgdp
- 100 Questions that Jesus asked and YOU should answer (Monsignor Charles Pope – Archdiocese of Washington) ow.ly/VIkz2
- Vatican Issues New Document on Catholic-Jewish Relations (Deacon Greg Kandra – Aleteia) ow.ly/VIwJn
- Orthodox Rabbis issue groundbreaking statement on Christianity (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VIQqV
- China’s abuses take spotlight on Human Rights Day (CNA) ow.ly/VKhrL
- Bishop Robert Barron on Our Lady of Guadalupe (Word On Fire) ow.ly/VLbWu
Cardinal Donald Weurl opening the National Door of Mercy at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 2015. (Photo – John Clem, O.F.S.)
Jubilee Year of Mercy
- Follow mercyhour.org to receive daily inspirations & share your prayers & stories during the Year of Mercy
- In Rome or at home, Catholics urged to take part in Year of Mercy (CNS) ow.ly/VvYMJ
- Bury the dead: a work of mercy through the centuries (CNS) ow.ly/Vwmr1
- A tour of the ‘Fonderia Artistica Marinelli’ where the Holy Door of St Peter’s was cast (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/Vx5Ab
- Pope Angelus: The Year of Mercy and the importance of conversion (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VxFYz
- Year of Mercy: “Hesed” – “the loving kindness of the heart of our God.” (News.va) ow.ly/VzhSN
- FULL TEXT: Pope’s Homily for Opening of Jubilee of Mercy (Zenit) ow.ly/VC85J
- Year of Mercy Resources (Pat Gohn) ow.ly/VCarS
- Pope Francis at the opening of the Jubilee: God seeks an encounter with us (Rome Reports) ow.ly/VCaVG
- Pope Francis has just launched a ‘Year of Mercy.’ Here’s what to expect.(Kerry Weber – The Washington Post) ow.ly/VD5n0
- The Jubilee Year of Mercy Hymn “Misericordes sicut Pater” [English: Be Merciful, As Your Father Is] youtu.be/1isSPkn75A4
- Italian farmer creates massive works of art in fields for the Jubilee (Rome Reports)ow.ly/VIb1o
- Jubilee Rituals: of holy doors and holy hammers (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VF0IK
- Bishop Robert Barron’s Top Ten Resources for the Jubilee of Mercy (Word On Fire) ow.ly/VF1My
- Mercy in the Midst of Horror Hits Broadway (Aleteia) ow.ly/VFj7K
- The Best Thing You Can Do in the Year of Mercy (Bishop Robert Barron – Word On Fire) youtu.be/osPHLicHajo
- Year of Mercy (Fr. James Martin, SJ – Catholic Relief Services) youtu.be/0kRYwGgK1b0
- Acts of Mercy: Feeding the Hungry in Diocese of Joliet (Spirit Juice Studios) youtu.be/dzhjoZRsXbo
- Vatican’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital creates Holy Door (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VIajo
- Putting Mercy in Motion: Jesuit Refugee Services launches Global Education Initiative for refugees ow.ly/VJv7Q
- The Year of Mercy in 60 Seconds. In LEGO! (Fr. Roderick Vonhogen) youtu.be/zVuBT1CHEgw
Advent & Christmas
- St. Nicholas Center — Discover the truth about Santa Claus ow.ly/Vx5hh
- The Real Face of Santa Claus (uCatholic) ow.ly/VxFbo
- Advent Nativity Scene Blessing (CNA) ow.ly/Vx5Wp
- Advent Week 2: Prayer (Fr. Greg Friedman, O.F.M. – Holy Land Franciscans) youtu.be/HJOWuxE-7SY
- The Seventh Day of Advent: A Heart Moved By Others (Jessie Tappel – uCatholic) ow.ly/Vx7KH
- Root of Jesse: A Study of the “O Antiphons” (Monsignor Charles Pope – Institute for Catholic Culture) ow.ly/VFMdv
- Why Should We Believe in Sin? –Advent Reflections (Bishop Robert Barron – Word on Fire) youtu.be/her3HwmBGtU
- This Advent Calendar Counts Down to a Jubilee for New York’s Shuttered Churches (America) ow.ly/VH51K
- Why G.K. Chesterton Believed in Santa Claus (Brandon Vogt) ow.ly/VIaPp
- Juniper Boughs, the Donkey and the Holy Family (Margaret Rose Reilly, Obl. O.S.B. -Aleteia) ow.ly/VIW5S
- Music Video: Mary, Did You Know? – Peter Hollens youtu.be/hSfHXWjzqu0
- Recipes for Advent & December ~ Month Dedicated to the Divine Infancy (CatholicCuisine) ow.ly/VFFno
- LIVE Nativity on Capitol Hill (Faith & Action) youtu.be/EoNVUatwJVw
Nativity in front of Supreme Court. photo – NewsBusters
Care for Creation
- Cardinal Turkson: Six ‘doors’ for the Care of Creation (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/Vwm0V
- Pope prays for climate conference in Paris (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VxFqT
- Bangladesh a climate-change test-case as COP21 gets underway in Paris (Global Sisters Report) ow.ly/Vx62G
- Franciscan Presence at COP21 and Beyond + Laudato Si’ guide (Franciscan Action Network) ow.ly/Vzg6T
- Understanding Laudato Si EP 13: “Things Must Change” (Fr. Dan Horan, O.F.M.) youtu.be/fj-a5qVj3nY
- Saint Peter’s Basilica used in art display promoting beauty of nature (CNA) ow.ly/VEZY8
- Full video at Vatican: Illuminating the Vatican (CNS) youtu.be/IAU2zYk4mRk
- An Environmental Message, From and on the Vatican (The New York Times) ow.ly/Vx4Co
- Climate change is focus for Caritas on UN Human Rights Day [Dec. 10th] (Vatican Radio) ow.ly/VIbYG
- Beauty of God’s Creation in Bolivia & Peru – Lands of Wind (Baptiste Lanne) vimeo.com/143512551
- SATIRE: Vatican To Project Microsoft Bubbles Screensaver Onto St. Peter’s Whenever Basilica Not In Use (EOTT) ow.ly/VJgQl
Projections on St. Peter’s Basilica on Dec. 8th — images of God’s Creation from National Geographic.
Top Catholic Tweets are compiled by John Clem, O.F.S. who is the Director and Media Minister at Catholic Web Services (http://catholicws.com/). John is a professed member of the Secular Franciscan Order, and loves to share his talents in faith, technology, and journalism in service to the church. John’s blog is entitled Call To Holiness (http://www.calltoholiness.us/). Follow John on Twitter at @Catholicwebs, on Facebook and at Google+ 
