Wanting to Fix People

About All that Catholic Money: How the Church Serves the World, By the Numbers

This post is from ChurchPop.com. See it in its original form here.

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Jesus, Matthew 25.40

The Catholic Church does more to serve those in need than any other private organization in the world.

From Agenzia Fides, here are some numbers that represent at least a part of what the Church does (as of 2014):

Africa
Primary schools: 36,613 Secondary schools: 12,060
Hospitals: 1,298
Dispensaries: 5,256
Leprosy centers: 229
Homes for the elderly: 632
Orphanages: 1,398
Marriage counseling centers: 1,728

Asia
Primary schools: 16,097
Secondary schools: 10,450
Hospitals: 1,137
Dispensaries: 3,760
Leprosy centers: 322
Homes for the elderly: 2,520
Orphanages: 3,980
Marriage counseling centers: 933

The Americas
Primary schools: 23,195
Secondary schools: 10,965
Hospitals: 1,493
Dispensaries: 5,137
Leprosy centers: 72
Homes for the elderly: 3,815
Orphanages: 2,418
Marriage counseling centers: 5,636

Europe
Primary schools: 15,884
Secondary schools: 9,633
Hospitals: 1,039
Dispensaries: 2,637
Leprosy centers: 21
Homes for the elderly: 8,200
Orphanages: 2,194
Marriage counseling centers: 6,173

Oceania
Primary schools: 3,456
Secondary schools: 675
Hospitals: 200
Dispensaries: 532
Leprosy centers: 4
Homes for the elderly: 537
Orphanages: 134
Marriage counseling centers: 274

Shifting Into a New Relationship

There will be conflict and arguments in relationships; it’s inevitable. But, we don’t have to let those situations cause irreparable damage. In this video, Fr. Mike Schmitz explains how conflict can help a couple move forward together. The key is to reassure each other that you’re both on the same team, and that you both have the same goal in mind—even though you may sometimes disagree when it comes to how to get there.

Saint Videos from Camp

Meet some of the saints we featured at Catholic Junior High Camp by watching the videos below filmed in a Carpool Karaoke-style a la James Corden.

12 Students Reveal What It’s Like Being Catholic in School These Days

 

This article is from ChurchPop.com. See it in its original form here.

Schools are where the next generation is formed.

Sometimes, negative things happen there but there is so much positive going on as well. I wanted to know how being Catholic positively affected students’ lives, so I asked them.

I offered a free student planner to the best response to a simple question: “What is different about you at school because you are Catholic?”

Here are the best 12 responses I got from high school and college students – just the age we often lose hope – and I’ll reveal who won at the end.

“My Catholic faith is the reason I am still in college. After wanting to give up numerous times and having gone down a wrong path in the past, my faith is the reason I have persevered so far, and why I feel at peace about the future.”
Dominique C., College Senior

“The thing most people notice is when I pray over my food at lunch. I’ve been praying over my food my whole life at home, but it took time for me to muster up the courage to make the sign of the cross in front of my peers.”
Almira M., grade 12

“I receive so much support and encouragement from my Confirmation sponsor, who is a priest. When I was thinking about what I’d like to study and do, he advised me to not look for a job or career, but to seek out my vocation instead. That really stuck with me.”
Michael H., grade 11

“Being Catholic at school means working hard to glorify God. It means offering up studying and waking up early to pray. Most importantly being a Catholic student means seeing my campus as a mission field to bring the Gospel message to each and every student.”
Patrick P., College Sophomore

“Every Thursday night, when most of the kids at my secular public university head downtown to drink and party, because I am Catholic, my friends and I head to the Catholic Center and have an hour of Adoration and fellowship.”
John B., College Junior

“Because I am Catholic I am able to share my faith with the crucifix I wear around my neck. People are able to come to me and ask questions – mainly Catholics who know I am a convert and am knowledgeable.”
Seth B., grade 11

“I’ve been very open about my Catholic faith this past year and everyone knows me now as the ‘Catholic’ one. It’s been really amazing because since I have that identity people have asked me questions about the faith, and I’ve even been able to get one girl interested in becoming Catholic.”
Alexandra M., grade 12

“I am involved in a few different faith based organizations, my roommate and I go to mass every Sunday and other holy days, and I’ve often explained the reason behind different Catholic holidays to classmates. As a science major, everything I learn makes me more amazed at what God is capable of.”
Rebecca P., College Junior

“I make daily mass, weekly confession & adoration, & evangelization opportunities priorities in my busy school & sorority schedule. I recently decided to ditch the underage drinking to better exhibit my faith & show others that there is another lifestyle choice that brings about true freedom, joy, & virtuous friendships.”
Hanna B., College Sophomore

“I try to remember the work that I do (probably lesson plans next semester for student teaching), despite all the stress, and no matter how unimportant it may seem can be for the greater glory of God if I unite my prayers works joys and sufferings with Him daily.”
Madeline, College Senior

“Being Catholic should not be like wearing a mask, it has become a part of who I am and who I am striving to become (a saint). I learned to forgive those who push me around and defend my faith when asked questions such as, why do you confess to a priest? Isn’t he just a man? Why do you people eat the body, are you cannibals? I learned that abortion is not ok and that being called a Catholic Church girl is a great compliment.”
Lovita V., College Freshman

And the winner is…

“One thing about have found compelling in my first year at Stephen F. Austin State University is my spiritual peace, specifically during finals. I would find myself in Adoration during study breaks seeking knowledge and guidance during rough times. Being Catholic gives me this opportunities and I cherish it.”
Alex C., College Sophomore

Alex won a free S2S: Student to Saint planner for the best response! A few of the responses above also deserved a planner too but I only had 1 planner.

A Letter to the Young Catholic Alone at Mass

This article comes from Ruth Baker at Catholic-Link.org.

Dear Young Catholic,

Just because you should be doing something doesn’t make it easy, nor does it mean you should have to do it alone and unsupported. There are times when being Catholic can be tough, when you feel like you are the only person in the entire world who believes what you believe and when the expectations placed on you are enormous and impossible. There are times when going against the grain of society is simply exhausting, faith is confusing, and sanctity doesn’t seem to have its own reward.

Maybe your faith is a massive struggle right now. Maybe you cannot see the relevance of it in your life. Maybe everything in your life is going well, but faith feels like an obligation. Or maybe things recently have been crashing down around you and God seems distant, cold and silent. Maybe anger and hurt cloud everything and you cannot see your future. Or perhaps you know that your faith means everything to you, but the price you pay for it is bigger than you ever imagined it to be and there is no one beside you to support you or encourage you.

Perhaps all you feel is self-judgement for the times when you made mistakes. Perhaps you are tired of explaining yourself, or of having to walk away from relationships when you refuse to compromise your self-worth. Maybe you have experienced so much rejection because of being a Catholic that you have nothing left to give anyone else. Perhaps you long for friends who share your faith, who understand who you are and why you believe these things. Maybe you wish you had someone to go to Mass with, to pray with, to explain your doubts and difficulties to. Maybe you are exhausted of defending the one thing that gives you so much joy.

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Total Sexual Freedom

4,392,486,580 hours have been wasted on viewing pornography (source: world's largest porn website yearly tally). Let that sink in for a moment...FOUR. BILLION. HOURS.

That's at least 459,232 years. Modern man (homo sapiens) started walking the earth roughly 200,000 years ago.

Who do you think is at the top of the top 10 nations watching pornography? You guessed it: USA.

How do we end and abolish the so-called "rape culture", sex trafficking, child pornography, abuse against women, etc etc? We cut the addiction at the source. ‪#‎PornKillsLove‬ ‪#‎PornKillsRelationships‬ ‪#‎PornKillsFamilies‬ ‪#‎PornKillsMarriages‬

Will I ever find "the one?"

Lady Gaga Thanks Priest for “Beautiful Homily” About the Eucharist on Facebook

From ChurchPop.com

Lady Gaga thanked a priest on her Facebook page for his “beautiful homily as always,” saying she was “so moved today.”

What moved her so much? She says the priest said “the Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but the food that God gives us.”

The priest’s words are a reference to a line from Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 47: “The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.”

In an accompanying photo, she is standing next to the priest and holding what appears to be a Bible, as well as to have either a cross necklace or a rosary in her shirt pocket.

Lady Gaga is one of the most followed celebrities on social media, with 61.6 million Likes on her Facebook page and 59 million followers on Twitter. As a music artist and performer, she is known for her raunchy style and promotion of sexual perversion.

Born as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, she was raised in a Catholic family and attended an all-girls Catholic school through high school. Although her music has often promoted and celebrated things contrary to the Catholic faith, it’s not clear what her religious beliefs and practices are currently.

Thank you Father Duffell for a beautiful homily as always and lunch at my pop's restaurant. 
I was so moved today when you said.. "The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but the food that God gives us." - Father Duffell, Blessed Sacrament Church 
Nourishment. .

Aren't All Churches the Same?