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Issue 80
December 8, 2015
Year of Mercy Portal

P ope Francis has announced an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its center the mercy of God. It is a Holy Year of Mercy which commences today on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will conclude on Sunday, 20 November 2016, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

As the press conference on May 5th stated, the logo  "represents a summa theologiae of the theme of mercy and the motto which accompanies it. The motto Merciful Like the Father (taken from the Gospel of Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure (cfr. Lk 6:37-38)."

Pope Francis continues, saying in the Bull of Indiction, "In this Jubilee Year, may the Church echo the word of God that resounds strong and clear as a message and a sign of pardon, strength, aid, and love. May she never tire of extending mercy, and be ever patient in offering compassion and comfort. May the Church become the voice of every man and woman, and repeat confidently without end: 'Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old'" (MV 25).

Learn more about the Jubilee of Mercy
In This Issue
Advent Resources

Make this Advent season one of deeper prayer and reflection. The Catholic Apostolate Center invites you to visit our Advent Resource page, filled with resources from sites such as the USCCB, Salt and Light TV, Catholic News Service, the Archdiocese of Washington, and much more!

Deepen your Advent journey here .
Advent Reflection Guide

The Catholic Volunteer Network (CVN) and Catholic Apostolate Center present to you the 2015 Advent Guide. 

This guide offers prayers, reflections, and service suggestions from several current and former CVN volunteers corresponding to each Sunday's Gospel. Each week focuses on one of the four pillars of faith-based service: Community, Social Justice, Simple Living, and Spirituality. The Advent Guide concludes with a reflection from our  Social Media Coordinator, Kate Flannery

Click here to check out this great resource for the Advent season!
Upcoming Eve nts

2016 Mid-Atlantic Congress for Catholic Leaders

February 4-6, 2016
Baltimore, MD



The Catholic Apostolate Center is a Platinum Sponsor of the 2016 Mid-Atlantic Congress. The Mid-Atlantic Congress for Pastoral Leadership is an annual conference held in Baltimore, Maryland that seeks to bring best practices of Catholic pastoral ministry, catechesis, prayer and worship to pastoral leaders at the diocesan, parish and school levels. The Center will be hosting a Collaborative Connections networking session on Thursday evening. Join the  Catholic Apostolate Center for refreshments and conversation with other ministry leaders! 

Center staff will be exhibiting, as well as presenting on:
  • Co-responsible Evangelization
  • Leadership, the New Evangelization and Pope Francis
  • Youth and Young Adults as Witness in the Age of Pope Francis
   
Click here to sign up and learn more. 
Ad Infinitum Blog
by Victor David
 
"Mary, the Immaculate Conception, is the prime example of total abandonment to God's love - she is truly free... Because she lived in complete openness to the Lord's will, Mary did not choose sin, but rather, chose God."

Click here to read more of this blog post on the Immaculate Conception. 
Support the Catholic Apostolate Center

Just 24% of Catholics in the U.S. say they attend Mass at least once a week - down by almost half since 1974 *

We are working to answer God's call to revive faith throughout the United States and around the world. Now more than ever, our programs and partnerships that seek to energize the New Evangelization need your support. Help us answer the call today by making a financial contribution to our ministry.

Thank you in advance for your support!


Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

December 8, 2015
In 1854, Pius IX solemnly proclaimed: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instant of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin."

Prayer:
Father, The image of the Virgin is found in your Church. Mary had a faith that your Spirit prepared and a love that never knew sin,  for you kept her sinless from the first moment of h er conception.  Trace in our actions the lines of her love,  in our hearts her readiness of faith. Prepare once again a world for your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

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