THOUSANDS JOINING CHURCH
AT EASTER IN US
WASHINGTON, D.C., APRIL 15, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Tens of thousands of new Catholics are expected to join the Church at Easter, including a former Planned Parenthood director and seven members of the same family. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) released the statistics of those expected to join the Church based on participation in the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion, a step in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults that takes place at the beginning of Lent.
Among those preparing to enter the Church is Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood clinic director and author of “Unplanned.”
In an interview with ZENIT last month, Johnson explained, “The day I left Planned Parenthood, I was embraced by the loving arms of the people who had prayed for me for years, most of whom are Catholic.”
She continued: “After attending some various Catholic parishes, I fell in love with the liturgy and found myself wanting to learn more and more each day.
“I found myself in awe of the devotion that my Catholic friends had that I didn’t, and I knew I wanted that same devotion myself. Doug and I decided we want to be a part of what the Catholic Church stands for and we have found such purpose through the Church.”
Johnson and her family will join the Church with 911 others in the Diocese of Austin, Texas.
James and Michelle House, formerly Episcopalian, will enter full communion with the Catholic Church in the San Francisco Archdiocese. The following week, five of their children will also be received into the Church.
Thousands of new Catholics are expected in the archdioceses nationwide: 1,600 in New York; 811 in Philadelphia; 1,100 in Washington; more than 1,000 in Seattle; 875 in Portland, Oregon; 1,100 in Cincinnati, Ohio; 2,490 in Galveston-Houston, Texas; 1,912 in Atlanta; 504 in Louisville, Kentucky; 613 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and 643 in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The numbers in smaller dioceses reflect “the vitality” of the Church in the Midwest, South and Southeast regions of the country, the USCCB reported.
On Monday, the bishops’ conference will begin featuring conversion stories from around the country on its media blog page.
Others preparing to enter the Church include an African woman who was raised Muslim, a marine set for deployment in June, and a secretary at the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire who has been sharing her conversion story online.
Cheryl Sickle, who works in the Office of Worship and Sacraments in Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia, observed, “Each year, some of the most touching moments at the Rite of Election include the emotions expressed.”
“We see faces full of joy as catechumens and candidates alike realize the bigger picture of their decision to join the Church,” she said.
Sickle continued: “We see the smiles of proud grandparents as their young grandchildren painstakingly sign the Book of the Elect, and the overwhelming emotions of wives or husbands, brought to tears, whose spouses are converting to the Roman Catholic faith after years of marriage.
“We see physically challenged people with a look of determination as they slowly and resolutely process forward, and the bond of belonging on the faces of a family who welcome into their midst and into their faith a newly-adopted son or daughter of a different ethnicity. It is a one-time rite, but the RCIA formation behind it lasts — and changes — a lifetime.”
(USCCB Media Blog: http://usccbmedia.blogspot.com/)
THESIS DEFENSE
From: Marilia Coutinho <marilia.coutinho@usj.edu.mo>
Date: Wed, Apr 13, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Subject: MScED oral defense – April 18 – 20
Dear All,
Please be informed that there will be the following Master Dissertation oral examination:
MScED
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| Student Name |
Chen Xin Wang, John |
| Student No. |
T162252 |
| Degree |
Master of Science in Education |
| Title of Examination |
MORAL VALUES IN EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY OF ONE CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL IN MACAU |
| Date of Examination & Time |
April – 20 at 4:pm |
| Venue |
A 29 NAPE1 |
| Examination Panel |
Chairperson: Professor José Alves
Examiner: Professor Ana Correia
Supervisor: Professor Vincent Davis |
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The examination is a public event, therefore All are welcome!
Thank you for your attention.
Marilia Coutinho
Graduate School
ASSISTANT OF THE MASTER OF THE ORDER
VISITS ST. DOMINIC’S
Fr. Vincent Lu, OP, the Socius or assistant of the Master of the Order for the Asia Pacific Region visited our St. Dominic’s Priory on April 12-13, 2011. He came to break Bread, share table and conversation with all the members of our Dominican Convent. He also had an open dialogue with our 17 theology students. Our Fr Provincial, Javier Gonzalez, OP, accompanied him to Macau from Hong Kong, where Fr. Vincent visited our two Dominican houses there.
Fr Vincent showed a keen interest for our work and mission. In his homily during the Mass he presided he told us that initially he was a member of our Province of Our Lady of the Rosary, before the Vietnam Province became an autonomous Province. He underlined the importance and relevance in the Dominican Order of our missionary Province, and he encouraged us to continue being faithful to our fore-fathers and to the many martyrs our Province has given to the Order and to the Church.
It was a short, sweet and pleasant visit of our brother Vincent, member of the Province of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Vietnam. Fr. Vincent promised us another visit – this time, a longer one – to our Convent. Many, many thanks father for visiting us, and we joyfully expect your next visit. May you have a fruitful journeying through our Dominican missions in the Asia Pacific Region! And May our Queen of Martyrs and of the Rosary bless us all!
Fr. Vincent Lu is conversing with Holy Rosary province young brothers
Fr. Vincent Lu is celebrating the mass
ST. DOMINIC’S PRIORY NEW WEBPAGE
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Go out to the whole world; proclaim
the Gospel to all creation†(Mk 16:15)
Some months ago, in 2010, St. Dominic’s Priory inaugurated quietly a new webpage: www.dominicansmacau.org It is a simple page that wishes to share with others the life, mission and work of the members of the Dominican community – students of theology, formators, educators, teachers and preachers.
Macao-Dominicans’ webpage is structured into different sections, including at present the following: Bulletin Board, About Us, News, Preaching, Spirituality, Message of Hope, and Gallery Archive.
As we continue the journey of life, we hope to add other sections to include more stories, reflections, news on our life, interests, and loves.
St. Dominic’s Priory is a Dominican community composed at present of twenty three (23) brothers from different countries: seventeen (17) simply professed students of theology, and six (6) Dominican priests dedicated to formation, education, teaching and preaching.
We invite our brothers and sisters to visit us, and, perhaps, share with us their story and stories. We are deeply grateful for your visit, your understanding, and your kindness. We also need your prayers to go on – slowly, but firmly and joyfully. Indeed, tomorrow will be better, if we begin today! God bless us all! (FGB)
