On Mission

In this episode of On Mission, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., Kate Fowler, Chris Pierno, and special guest, Joseph Basalla, as they discuss the history of liturgical vestments and the evolution of the garments worn by priests and deacons.

In the liturgical calendar, the color for each day corresponds to that day's main liturgical celebration, even though Optional Memorials (perhaps with a different color) might be chosen instead.  The four main colors shown are:

White – Christmas Time and Easter Time; celebrations of the Lord (except of his Passion), of Mary, of the Angels, and of Saints who were not Martyrs; solemnities of the Most Holy Trinity (Sun. after Pentecost), of All Saints (Nov. 1), and of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (June 24); feasts of the Conversion of St. Paul (Jan. 25), of the Chair of St. Peter (Feb. 22), and of St. John (Dec. 27); also permitted in the United States at Masses for the Dead

Red – Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Pentecost Sunday; celebrations of the Lord's Passion, of Apostles, and of Evangelists; celebrations of Martyrs

Green – Ordinary Time

Violet – Advent and Lent; Masses for the Dead

Other liturgical colors not represented on this calendar include rose (Third Sun. of Advent and Fourth Sun. of Lent), black (Masses for the Dead), and gold or silver (permitted in the United States for more solemn occasions).

Related Episodes:

Palm Sunday

Pope Benedict XVI

14 Holy Helpers

Shrines

Resources:

Vocational Discernment

Blogs about Liturgy

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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 Fr. Jim Sabak, O.F.M., Director of Worship for the Diocese of Raleigh, North Carolina, to discuss the Easter Vigil Liturgy, the Vigil's symbolism, and Easter traditions. 

The rubrics of the Missale Romanum remind us that this "mother of all vigils" is the "greatest and most noble of all solemnities and it is to be unique in every single Church" ( Missale Romanum, "Rubrics for the Easter Vigil" (EV), no.2). On this holy night, the Church keeps watch, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting his return in glory. It is the turning point of the Triduum, the Passover of the new covenant, which marks Christ's passage from death to life. Therefore, the Easter Vigil does not correspond to the usual Saturday evening Mass and its character is unique in the cycle of the liturgical year.

The Vigil, by its very nature, "ought to take place at night" (EV, no. 3). It is not begun before nightfall 1 and should end before daybreak on Easter Sunday. The celebration of the Easter Vigil takes the place of the Office of Readings (EV, no. 5).

The role of the deacon assisting the priest is highlighted in the new Missale, although it is noted that in his absence his duties may be exercised by the priest celebrant himself or by a concelebrant (EV, no. 6).

For more resources about Easter, please visit the Lent and Easter Resource page. 

Click here to learn more about Fr. Jim Sabak's book, Vigilemus et Oremus. 

Read blog posts about the Easter Vigil and the Easter Season

Related On Mission Episodes:

Music

The Diaconate

Pam Sunday

Baptism

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• 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.

In this episode of On Mission, Chris Pierno, Amy Cardin, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C., are joined by Jonathan Sitko, Director of Programs at the Catholic Apostolate Center, to discuss podcasts and how they are an important evangelization medium in the 21st century.

Podcasts are one of the most popular media outlets and the Church capitalizes on the number of people consuming podcasts. Throughout time, the Church has used the current technology to reach people and help them come to know Christ more fully and enrich their spiritual life. Faith and spirituality podcast consumption makes up a large number of podcasts. The Church is able to share homilies, reflections, and scripture studies, which allow people to come together as a community. There is a podcast for everyone.

Related Episodes:

Pop Culture and Catholic Expression

Music

Media

Social Media

Resources:

Click here for resources on New Evangelization

Catholic Media

Social Media Crash Course

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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., 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.

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.

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

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., 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.

Follow us:

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• Apple Podcasts
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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.

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.

Follow us:

• The Catholic Apostolate Center
• The Center's podcast website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify

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.