Season’s Greetings!
The Season of Creation is drawing near, beginning Sept. 1 with an ecumenical celebration of the Feast of Creation in Christ. We “need to celebrate God’s saving work in creation,” says liturgical theologian Kimberly Belcher, “and to do so together.” Some items this week reflect disunity among Christians, but we celebrate Amy-Jill Levine who is the first Jewish scholar to head the Catholic Biblical Association.
Season of Creation
This spring, the Consultation on Common Texts updated the Revised Common Lectionary: It added the Feast of Creation in Christ on September 1, offering biblical texts and other materials for Orthodox, Western, the World Council of Churches and other. Liturgical theologian Kimberly Belcher participated in the Feast of Creation meetings in Assisi. She was interviewed for the Christian Century.
The Season of Creation is the annual ecumenical period of prayer and action for the environment. It runs from September 1 to October 4 (the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi), uniting Christians worldwide to care for the Earth. Pope Leo sets a “swords to plowshares” theme. From Vatican News.
Violence in the West Bank
Pope Leo XIV: Violence Against Palestinians in West Bank Must Stop. During his Aug. 16 Angelus address at Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff urged a 2-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict. From National Catholic Register.
Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin, in his column, Martini Judaism, says West Bank terrorism is endangering Judaism. “The behavior of some West Bank settlers is not Judaism. It is not Zionism. And it must be stopped.” From Religion News Service.
Catholic bible group picks Jewish president
A Jewish scholar of Jesus makes history as president of the Catholic Biblical Association. Amy-Jill Levine, a New Testament scholar, has had a lifelong fascination with all things Catholic and has devoted her life’s work to understanding Jesus as a first-century Jew. From Religion News Service.
Is Hell losing its power among evangelicals?
Baptist News Global offers analysis of the changing views of Hell in evangelical and denominational thinking. “Hell is no longer the driving force it used to bee” says analyst Cara Meredith.
University life and faith
The Catholic Center at New York University is more than just an inviting space. For many, it’s a way into (or for some students, a return to) the Catholic Church. From the National Catholic Register.
Is the ‘Revival’ of Faith in Gen Z Real? While there are near-record numbers converting to Catholicism in some regions in the US, there’s no conclusive statistical answer. From National Catholic Register.
Xavier University of Louisiana Ranked Among Top HBCUs for Graduate Success. The nation’s only Catholic HBCU, was ranked No. 4 on Forbes’ inaugural Top HBCU list. From Black Catholic Messenger.
Mike Pence joins faculty of Colorado Christian University. From Baptist News Global.
Opinions about ICE and Immigrants
At Baptist News Global, writer Rick Pidcock offers his thinking, beginning with the provocative question: “Would Jesus electrocute children with shock gloves?”
‘We should treat foreigners like Jesus did” says Religion News Service columnist Thomas Reese: “In talking to the Canaanite woman, Jesus sounds like Donald Trump and JD Vance.”
Politics and religion
Abdul El-Sayed could be the first Muslim senator. The 41-year-old Muslim’s victory in the Michigan primary was greeted with pride from Muslims and trepidation by supporters of Israel. Here are 5 religion takeaways from his campaign, from Religion News Service.
In Texas where two-thirds of the adult population identifies as Christian and 45% say religion is “very important” in their life, Candidates Paxton and Talarico are asking voters to choose between two dramatically different views of Christianity. From Religion News Service.
Texas barbecue gets a halal makeover
As anti-Muslim rhetoric rises in Texas, Muslim pitmasters are winning over diners and reshaping one of the state’s most iconic culinary traditions. From Religion News Service.
For whom the bells toll
With three prisoners scheduled for execution, southern churches toll their bells. Faith-based anti-death penalty activists have used the bell-tolling tactic throughout the country in various waves. From Religion News Service.
NCR editorial: Florida executions
“Church anti-death penalty stance hits deaf ears. We’re looking at you, DeSantis.” From National Catholic Reporter.
A Catholic welcome for transgender people
Religion News Service reports “How a trans activist and a priest are creating inclusion in India’s Catholic Church.” It is the first sustained initiative by India’s Catholic Church to minister to and engage with transgender people.
Saying ‘No’ to Freemasonry
Vatican News reports, “Freemasonry Event Affirms Its Incompatibility With Catholicism.” The president of the Pontifical Academy of Theology, Bishop Antonio Staglianò, has reiterated the incompatibility of Catholics belonging to the Masons days after participating in an event organized by the Italian Grand Orient lodge in Milan.
Newly ordained priests
“It’s Always the Holy Spirit,” says the National Catholic Register, inviting readers to “Meet 3 Dioceses Seeing Large Numbers of Priestly Ordinations.” Multiple dioceses throughout the U.S. are bucking national trends and seeing large numbers of men discern into the priesthood.
“They built careers and their own lives. The call to the priesthood came later.” The story, from National Catholic Reporter.
Voting Rights: Keep on keeping on
The Voting Rights Act was signed into law on August 6, 1965. The landmark legislation helped advance equal access to the ballot and strengthened participation in our democracy. In recognition of the six decades since it was enacted, and its continued significance today, Bishop Daniel E. Garcia, encouraged “Recommitment to the Work Which Remains.” From USCCB News.
Scholar: Florida violates First Amendment
Headline: “Florida AG’s threat to Catholic schools ‘clear violation’ of the First Amendment, law scholar says.” From National Catholic Reporter. Florida is demanding that Catholic schools in the Sunshine State adopt religious exemptions to vaccine requirements or risk their ability to participate in the state’s school voucher program”
Deep Dive with Pew Research
“How Americans Are Engaged With News, Politics, Religion and Civic Life.” Mapping how Americans take part in society – or don’t. Rather than falling along a single spectrum, U.S. adults sort into four distinct groups that reflect different patterns of participation:
Garden and Farm
The Pope’s garden in the Vatican Gardens becomes 100% organic.
University of Dayton returns to its roots with campus farm that feeds its Ohio community. From National Catholic Reporter.
Numismatists take note
The Vatican City State Mint has issued a new set of coins to mark Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate and the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi. From National Catholic Reporter.
Encouraging Liturgy of the Hours
Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to embrace the Liturgy of the Hours as a source of spiritual nourishment, saying the church’s public prayer is an antidote to a world shaped by technology, consumerism. From USCCB News.
Justice Bulletin Board
Barbara Molinari Quinby gives praise and gratitude to the parishioners who lead the life, dignity and justice ministries here at Holy Name of Jesus and their teams. Perhaps the listing of parish works and activities will inspire you in your ministry.
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