Director's Desk

Near the preserved room of St. Vincent Pallotti in the Generalate of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers) in Rome is a small museum. It contains many personal items of Pallotti. Most are very mundane – his umbrella, hat, shoes, habit, chalice and paten, but in a small glass case there are some things that are unique. Among them is a container with small slips of paper and pieces of wax (see the video “ What is a Saint? ” for more on that) and a notebook with mathematical formulae and assorted notes. Looking more closely, one can see that it is differential calculus. Pallotti was pondering the concept of infinity. He was using mathematics in his ongoing search for God.

Pallotti experienced God as “infinite” and “incomprehensible,” and yet also as “infinite love and mercy.” His intimate experience of God caused him to modify the Ignatian motto of Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (For the Greater Glory of God) to Ad Infinitam Dei Gloriam (For the Infinite Glory of God). Pallotti desired that all experience God as Infinite Love which is why he created the Union of Catholic Apostolate , an association of lay people, clergy, and religious, to assist the missionary efforts of the Church, revive the faith of Catholics, and engage in works of universal charity. Through word and deed, members of the Union could then be witnesses of God who is Infinite Love.

As we celebrate today the feast day of St. Vincent Pallotti, may we be inspired by his life to be bearers of God’s Infinite Love to all those we encounter.

May the Charity of Christ urge us on!

In God, the Infinite Love,

Fr. Frank

Feast of St. Vincent Pallotti

Today, January 22, we invite you to join us as we celebrate the feast day of the Patron of the Catholic Apostolate Center , St. Vincent Pallotti.

St. Vincent Pallotti  was a priest of the Diocese of Rome in the first half of the nineteenth century. St. Vincent encouraged all of the faithful – both clergy, religious, and laity – to become apostles. During his lifetime, Pallotti founded the  Union of Catholic Apostolate , an association of laity people, religious, and clergy to revive faith and rekindle charity in the Church and in the world. He also founded a community of priests and brothers and a community of sisters.

The  Center  produced a short, engaging video detailing an incredible story from the life of St. Vincent Pallotti. This story focuses on holiness and sainthood. Please view and share this video by clicking  here . 

The Center seeks to serve the universal Church by following in the footsteps of St. Vincent's missionary spirit. The Center is a ministry of the  Society of the Catholic Apostolate - Immaculate Conception Province  (Pallottines).

Learn more about the  Union of Catholic Apostolate   by clicking  here .

Visit our  Pallotti Portal  by clicking  here .

World Day of Consecrated Life

The Church celebrates World Day of Consecrated Life on February 2, 2019. Pope St. John Paul II instituted this day in 1997, to pray for all men and women in consecrated life. Those in consecrated life have made a public profession to live poverty, chastity, and obedience in some form of stable community life in the Catholic Church. The Pallottine Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters are examples of communities in consecrated life.

For more information about this day, please visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s webpage by clicking here .

Please join the Center in prayer as we remember all of those in consecrated life, as well as all of those discerning consecrated life. 

Panamá in the Capital

World Youth Day is currently occurring in Panamá. If you are not in Panamá, do not worry, as you can experience World Youth Day in the United States! 

The Catholic Apostolate Center is co-hosting Panamá in the Capital 2019 , alongside the Archdiocese of Baltimore , the Archdiocese of Washington , the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception , Catholic Campus Ministry Association, The Catholic University of America , the Diocese of Arlington , the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston , the Embassy of Panamá , the Saint John Paul lI National Shrine , LaRed National Catholic Network de Pastoral Juvenil Hispana , the Sisters of Bon Secours , and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops .

Panamá in the Capital will occur on January 26, 2019 at The Catholic University of America.

Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center, will be speaking at and the Center will be exhibiting at this great event. Also, Center Blog Editor,  Kate Fowler,  and Center Administrative Associate,  Brian Rhude , will be MC'ing at the St. Vincent Pallotti Stage at the event.

You can learn more by clicking here and can purchase tickets by clicking here . 

9 Days for Life

9 Days for Life is a digital pilgrimage novena sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to pray for the respect and protection of every human being. It concludes today, January 22, which is the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn. Visit the USCCB 9 Days for Life website to join the novena and to access resources by clicking here .

Be sure to use the hashtag #9DaysforLife!

On Thursday, January 17, thousands of Catholics gathered together at the  Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception  in Washington, DC for the annual Vigil Mass for Life. It was a great witness to the power that prayer has in the promotion and defense of the life and dignity of each and every human person. 

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

The International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is underway, and will continue through January 25. This week of prayer has a tradition spanning over 100 years. To learn more from the  USCCB  about this week of prayer, please click  here  .

 

The  Catholic Apostolate Center  is pleased to share our  Christian Unity Resources  with you. By viewing our  resource page , you will have access to podcasts, blogs, Vatican resources, USCCB resources, and various statements and writings from popes on Christian unity and ecumenism.

 

To hear Center Director  Fr. Frank  speak about Christian Unity on the  Son Rise Morning Show , please click  here .

2019 Mid-Atlantic Congress

The  Catholic Apostolate Center  is pleased to have a presence at the  2019 Mid-Atlantic Congress  taking place February 14-16. The  Mid-Atlantic Congress  (MAC) is an annual conference held in Baltimore, Maryland that seeks to bring best practices of Catholic pastoral ministry, administration, faith formation, prayer, and worship to Catholic leaders at the diocesan, parish, and school levels. 

 

Center staff  members will give two different presentations at the  Mid-Atlantic Congress in collaboration with our partners at the Archdiocese of Washington and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

 

Center Staff  will be giving the following presentations: 

Using Social Media and Digital Resources to be Catholic Evangelical Witnesses

What Now? Vocational Discernment and Accompaniment After the 2018 Synod

You can learn more about MAC by visiting their website here .

Recent and Upcoming Activity with the Center

From January 11-13, Fr. Frank was one of three directors for the  Our Lady of Fatima Group at Malvern Retreat House  in Malvern, PA. Nearly 300 men were a part of the retreat weekend. Thank you for your prayers for what was a fruitful experience.

On January 23, Fr. Frank and Center Administrative Associate Brian Rhude will be presenting at St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, on the occasion of Pallotti High’s “Pallotti Week.”

On February 7, the Center is co-hosting with the Catholic University of America’s School for Theology and Religious Studies a conference for high school campus ministers. To learn more,  click here . Fr. Frank will be giving a keynote address on spiritual mentorship.

Fr. Frank will be facilitating a day of discernment and planning for  Bon Secours Young Adults  on February 9.

Lastly, on February 27, Fr. Frank will be facilitating a session on leadership for the New Leaders’ Workshop, for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM).

Preparing for the Feast of St. Vincent Pallotti

"Remember that the Christian life is one of action; not of speech and daydreams. Let there be few words and many deeds, and let them be done well." – St. Vincent Pallotti

Blessings to all as we prepare to celebrate the feast of St. Vincent Pallotti on January 22nd!

Some may ask, “Who is that?” I am glad that you asked. St. Vincent Pallotti and his charism are the reason why the Catholic Apostolate Center exists. He was a priest of the Diocese of Rome in the first half of the nineteenth century. His ministry spanned the poor to popes. It did not matter what a person was, but who the person was, an image and likeness of God, the Infinite Love.

St. Vincent Pallotti (1795-1850), a priest of the Diocese of Rome, founded in 1835 an association of lay people, religious, and clergy called the Union of Catholic Apostolate to assist the Church’s missionary work, revive the faith of Catholics, and engage in universal charity. From that association grew religious communities of men and women, including the Society of the Catholic Apostolate (Pallottine Fathers and Brothers). Pallotti believed that all are called to be apostles of Jesus Christ in the Church and in the world.