In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Amy Cardin, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., are joined by Sarah Harrigan, Assistant Director of Administration at the Catholic Apostolate Center, to discuss faith formation in their adolescent years.

The adolescent years are formational in a child’s faith journey. During this time a child may come to understand their faith as a significant part of their life and that they belong in the faith community. Youth group gives adolescents the opportunity to learn their faith and have faith experiences that help the faith take deep root. Having a common faith among young people allows the adolescents to bond on a deeper level and pilgrimages allow for tangible faith experiences that can help the faith feel real in adolescents lives, which may help the young people to feel as though they belong.

Related Episodes:

Parents Introducing the Faith to Young Children

Talking to Children About Suffering

Fatherhood: Teenagers and Young Adults

Resources:

Click here for resources on New Evangelization

Synod on Young People

World Youth Day 2023

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Amy Cardin, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., discuss how social media offers us an opportunity to spread positivity and Christ’s good news.

Social media offers plenty of opportunities to communicate with people all over the world. With that opportunity one can use it to evangelize and spread peace in our lives. Sometimes social media content lacks charity, so when we engage on social media we must be mindful that there are real people on the other side of the screen and that our posts can be seen by anyone. We can ask ourselves: what if this post is the only one that someone sees, how does that reflect Christ’s message? Some ways to promote Christ on social media: post Bible verses; share Sacramental milestones (e.g. Baptism, Communion, etc.); a current religious book you’re reading.

Related Episodes:

Engaging Those Who are not Connected with the Church

Mental Health and Spirituality

Social Media

Resources:

Click here for more social media resources.

Click here for Catholic Media resources

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Amy Cardin, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., discuss the peace that Christmas offers and how we are called to bring that peace into our lives throughout the entirety of the year.

Christmas is the most wonderful time of year, people are most joyful and can be extra generous. However, there is no reason why generosity and peace cannot be brought into our lives in the entirety of the year. As Christians, Christ--the Prince of Peace--gives us his peace in our relationship with him so that we can share his message and his peace with all whom we encounter.

Related Episodes:

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God and the Christmas Season

Advent Resources

Pilgrimages

Resources:

Click here for Advent and Christmas resources.

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Kate Fowler, Chris Pierno, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. are joined by Emily Lomnitzer, a professional vocalist and diocesan youth choir director, to discuss the role of Sacred Music in Liturgy and personal prayer.

Sacred music, or religious music, is music that is set apart from daily use and is used in the various rites and liturgies in the Church, such as Mass. It has been used in the Church's liturgical celebration for centuries. It is an integral part of the worship and sacrifice taken place during the Mass. It has been said, "he who sings, prays twice." Some examples of sacred music may include: the Ave Maria, the Magnificat, Te Deum, the Gloria, Salve Regina, among others. Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina is a famous composer of sacred music from the late Renaissance period and the Missa Papae Marcelli is one of his most renowned pieces.

Read Catholic Apostolate Center Blogs about music.

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Brian Rhude, Project Coordinator for the Catholic Apostolate Center, joins Chris Pierno and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to discuss the Solemnity of Mary and Christmas Season celebrations.

View Advent resources provided by the Catholic Apostolate Center. The season of Advent is the Church’s liturgical season of preparation for Christmas. It is often referred to as “the Little Lent”. Advent begins on the Sunday closest to the feast of St. Andrew, November 30th, and continues for four weeks and concludes with midnight Mass on Christmas. Families prepare for Christmas in advent in a variety of ways, such as setting up and Advent wreath on the dining room table or using a Jesse tree. One can also use the season to go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance and observe silence as a means of preparing for Christmas. 

Notes: 

Christmas Blogs

Advent Blogs

Advent Resources

On Mission: Advent Resources

On Mission: The Feasts of Advent

On Mission: Advent

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Kate Fowler, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., discuss practical ways that parents and educators can share the Catholic Faith with young children on a daily basis.

Some practical ways may include daily and routine opportunities of prayer, for example, before meals and before bed, utilize holy water on a periodic basis, start every morning with a hymn. One can introduce the Faith to even their youngest children by incorporating the Faith into everyday family experiences through the rhythms of the Liturgical Year, the Sacraments, Sunday Mass, personal witness, and daily prayers as well as the importance of community support--the village--and the particular witness of the Saints as one raises children.

Related Episodes:

Parents Introducing the Faith to Their Young Children

Talking to Children About Suffering

Mary as Mother of the Church and Mothers as Our Primary Teachers

Family as the Domestic Church

Resources:

Click here to visit the Center’s Marriage and Family resource page.

Click here to visit the Prayer & Catechesis resource page on the Center’s website.

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Kate Fowler, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., are joined by Monica Thom Konschnik, Director of Administration at the Catholic Apostolate Center, to discuss a forthcoming eformation resource designed for leaders within the Catholic Church of short-term service immersion experiences.

At one point in a leader’s journey, they were following and being formed by another. The purpose of this formation program is to provide leaders of of short-term service immersion experiences with a retreat-like opportunity to pray and reflect on 1) their own encounter with Christ, 2) their own experience of accompaniment by Christ, 3) formation of a community in Christ, and 4) their own experience of being sent on mission by Christ.

This eformation resources is done in collaboration with the Catholic Apostolate Center and Catholic Volunteer Network. Catholic Volunteer Network fosters and promotes full-time domestic and international faith-based volunteer service opportunities for people of all ages, backgrounds, and skills. As the leading membership organization of Christian volunteer and mission programs, we support and enhance the work of our members through volunteer recruitment, training and resources, networking opportunities, and advocacy.

Related Episodes:

Lay Missioners

eFormation

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Corporal Works of Mercy

Resources:

Living as Missionary Disciples Resources

Lay Ministry and Apostolate Resources

Art of Accompaniment Resources

To view the Catholic Apostolate Center’s online course catalogue click here.

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Follow us:

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Kate Fowler, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., are joined by Deacon Mark Krejci, the Director of the Diaconate for the Diocese of Crookston, Minnesota, to discuss the diaconate and its role within the Church.

The word deacon means “servant”. The diaconate has its origins in the Old Testament with Ancient Israel and one of the first deacons of the Church was St. Stephen in the first century. Jesus modeled the deacon when he washed the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper. The deacon's ministry has three dimensions: liturgy, word and service. At the liturgy, he assists the bishop and priests. At the Mass, the deacon proclaims the Gospel, may be invited to preach the homily, and assists at the altar. A deacon is meant to proclaim the Gospel in every area of his life. All are called to do the same in their own particular Vocation in life.

On Mission Episodes with Deacon Mark:

Parish Evangelization

Engaging Those Who Are Not Connected with the Church

Related Episodes:

Liturgical Vestments

Discernment

Resources:

Living as Missionary Disciples Resources

Vocational Discernment Resources

Lay Ministry and Apostolate Resources

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Follow us:

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Kate Fowler, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., are joined by Leonard Wathen, Director of Religious Education at St. Aloysius Church in Leonardtown, Maryland, to discuss faith formation within the parish and how to overcome various challenges.

Faith Formation primarily focuses on deepening initial conversion to faith. It incorporates the catechetical, liturgical, and pastoral ministries. Because it is a form of evangelization, Faith Formation is a lifelong process. Six tasks through which catechesis seeks to achieve its endeavours include: knowledge of the faith, liturgical education, moral formation, formation in prayer and methods of prayer, education for community life and missionary initiation. Parents are the primary educators of their children and parents must be involved and model the Faith for their children to follow.

Leonard Wathen is the Director of Religious Education at St. Aloysius Church. He holds a master's degree in theology from Christendom College and an Advanced Apostolic Catechetical Diploma from the Holy See. He is the author of three books - Who Do You Say That I Am?: Scriptural Reflections on Becoming a Disciple of Jesus, Follow Me: Scriptural Reflections on Living as a Disciple of Jesus, and Remain in Me: Scriptural Reflections on Growing as a Disciple of Jesus. Leonard is a Secular Carmelite in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secular Community in Port Tobacco, Maryland.

Leonard and his wife, Nicole are natives of St. Mary's County and live in Callaway with their four children.

Resources:

Living as Missionary Disciples Resources

Catechesis Resources

New Evangelization Resources

Lay Ministry and Apostolate Resources

Related On Mission Episodes:

Church Management

Parish Pastoral Councils

Parish Evangelization

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Follow us:

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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Kate Fowler, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., and Jonathan Sitko discuss stewardship in relation to the Church, the parish, and daily life. The group also discusses how we are called to be stewards of God’s gifts and to use these gifts to serve and bless the community around us. 

The biblical concept of stewardship is first seen when Jesus tells the parable of talents and our responsibility to use them well (Matthew 25:14-30). The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s (USCCB) definition of stewardship is: “As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

The four pillars of stewardship in the Catholic Church are: hospitality, prayer, formation, and service. You can learn more about stewardship in the USCCB Living as Missionary Disciples video series here.

Notes:

Living as Missionary Disciples Resources

Video Series

Stewardship Video

Related On Mission Episodes:

Church Management

Parish Pastoral Councils

Parish Evangelization

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•  

On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Follow us:

• The Catholic Apostolate Center
• The Center's podcast website
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On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank’s weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.