The Fourth Sunday of Easter is also called Good Shepherd Sunday since the gospel every year focuses on Jesus, the Good Shepherd.  For the past 58 years, the Church has called us to observe a World Day of Prayer for Vocations on the Fourth Sunday of Easter.  Specifically, this day calls us to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, consecrated or religious life.  The purpose of World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill our Lord’s instruction to, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send […]

As I’m sure you know from ongoing news reports, so many countries throughout Africa face many economic and social hurdles brought on by crushing national debt, epidemics, severe poverty and political unrest. In spite of these many challenges – or, perhaps, because of them – the Catholic faith is flourishing throughout the continent. Over the years, I’ve had several occasions to travel to Africa to visit with family or friends or missionaries from the Philadelphia area who minister there. While visiting my cousins who lived in Durban, South Africa, […]