Religious Formation Conference

09/08/2026

Our presence must become a testimony of .
- Fr. Anselmo Ricardo Ribeiro, SVD

09/08/2026

It’s wonderful being back at CTU for today’s meeting. Excited for another semester of connection, community, & growth!

09/08/2026

When we view the everyday as an rather than a drudgery to make it through, we have already succeeded in elevating our everydays, and when such a practice becomes habituated, more moments are savored each and every day. -Shannon Ables

09/07/2026

We join others in prayer for Fr. Jose Alexander Gaitan Montes, CMF, who died yesterday. May his family, congregation, ministry partners, & friends find solace in a life well lived.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Fr. Jose Alexander Gaitan Montes, CMF, who died yesterday.

Fr. Gaitán gave himself fully to serving migrants in Newark, New Jersey, walking alongside those detained at the Delaney Hall detention center. He poured out his heart for all those who felt overlooked and forgotten, following his vocation, hearing confessions, celebrating Mass, offering Communion, and bringing donations of food, clothing, Bibles, and rosaries to those who needed them most.

Please join us in praying for the eternal rest of Fr. Gaitán, CMF, for his family and for all those he served and the lives he touched.

09/07/2026

"While the weekend presents a welcome holiday during an often stressful time of year, we must not let the weekend pass without seriously considering the state of work in our country and the role our church has to play in supporting workers."

The church "is not always the exemplary employer" regarding workers' rights and Catholic doctrine, Aimee Shelide Mayer writes. "The U.S. bishops' 1986 pastoral letter, 'Economic Justice for All,' named this directly."

09/07/2026

“May our rest become an act of , , and with all who labor.”

“For the good of our being,
we rest. We rest.”

This Labor Day, reflect on David Bjorlin’s words that invite us to embrace rest not only for ourselves, but for our neighbors and all creation. May our rest become an act of gratitude, restoration, and solidarity with all who labor.

“For the good of our being,
we rest. We rest.”

09/06/2026

We belong to one another.

Ashley Kitisya preaches for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Find her full video and text at https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/09062026

09/06/2026

Morning Blessing

May something ordinary
catch your attention today:
a bird singing on a wire,
harmony of rustling leaves,
a stranger's kind smile.
May you remember how much
life hides in plain sight.
Let beauty interrupt your hurry.
Let laughter loosen what
has become too serious.
And let the day surprise you
with its generosity.
✍️ Rivers in the Ocean ❤
🎨 Vesna Delevska

Morning Blessing

May something ordinary
catch your attention today:
a bird singing on a wire,
harmony of rustling leaves,
a stranger's kind smile.
May you remember how much
life hides in plain sight.
Let beauty interrupt your hurry.
Let laughter loosen what
has become too serious.
And let the day surprise you
with its generosity.
✍️ Rivers in the Ocean

09/05/2026

🎉Congratulations, Sisters Erin and Silvana!

“𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 ‘𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧;’ Erin and Silvana are received more deeply into the life of the Community...𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 ‘𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫,’ and they also receive the Mercy cross, the outward symbols of a public identity as Sisters of Mercy and women religious in the Catholic Church.”

😍 We are thrilled to share that 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐀𝐫é𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐨 and 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐡 were received as novices on Saturday, August 29, in the chapel of McAuley Convent in Merion, Pennsylvania! 😍

Erin (pictured second from left) entered the Sisters of Mercy on September 15, 2024, with a celebration in Philadelphia. Silvana (pictured center) entered the following week, on September 22, with a celebration in Savannah, Georgia. 👏

Sister Mary Kay Dobrovolny (pictured left), the coordinator for New Membership, explained: “𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞 ‘𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧;’ Erin and Silvana are received more deeply into the life of the Community...𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 ‘𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫,’ and they also receive the Mercy cross, the outward symbols of a public identity as Sisters of Mercy and women religious in the Catholic Church.” 💜

🙏 Please continue to pray for our newest sisters, Silvana and Erin, as they continue their journey in Mercy. 🙏

🥰 To learn more about the process to become a Sister of Mercy, visit: https://sistersofmercy.org/ways-to-get-involved/become-a-sister/

09/05/2026

🕊️ You will find your way.

The Chirp - Natural Life - give love laugh