Mission

Having come to know Jesus through the Scriptures and in the Eucharist, Catholics are called to share with others the hope and joy that come from faith and that endure even when life gets difficult, Pope Francis said.

Refreshingly free of the usual objectionable ingredients, this generally appealing Evangelically-flavored look back at a somewhat surprising chapter in Baby Boomer history is doctrinally dodgy but ethically uplifting.

“The love for people’s Catholic faith and their Catholic identity abounds in the meetings. It’s so present, and it underlies everything,” said Julia McStravog, a theologian and co-coordinator of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ team for the continental phase of the synod.

More than 60,000 members of the movement filled St. Peter’s Square to overflowing Oct. 15 as they celebrated with Pope Francis the 100th anniversary of the birth of Father Luigi Giussani, the movement’s founder.

Maryknoll priest Dan Ohmann inspired Liz Mach and Dianne Mistelske to mission work in Tanzania.

“We cannot stress this enough: Our lives find their meaning and purpose in Jesus Christ. Nothing else explains who we are, why we are alive and what we should be living for.”

Second in a series of reflections by U.S. bishops on the themes and goals of this synod.

The Philadelphia Archdiocese will hold a number of in-person and online listening sessions in the coming weeks as part of preparations for the 2023 world Synod of Bishops on synodality.