Columbian Military Man-Turned Priest & 8th Grade Vocational Call Amongst Stories Told in Special Magazine Issued By CatholicTV

Columbian Military Man-Turned Priest & 8^th Grade Vocational Call Amongst Stories Told in Special Magazine Issued By CatholicTV as Year For Priests Concludes

For the month of June, CatholicTV has issued a special digital version of its free monthly magazine. The special issue is over 40 pages longer than the regular print issue and is filled with extraordinary and ordinary stories about priests, their callings, and their ministry.

The digital magazine also discusses and explains basic Catholicism by answering such questions as “How can the Pope be infallible if he is only a man?” and “Why do I have to confess my sins to a priest to be forgiven?”

The CatholicTV digital magazine is available to read now at http://www.catholictv.com/catholic-magazine.aspx

A subscription to the CatholicTV print magazine is free and interested parties may subscribe at http://www.catholictv.com/magazine/subscribe.aspx

As of June 2010, the longer, digital version of the CatholicTV monthly magazine will be available at CatholicTV.com. CatholicTV has online viewers in over 140 countries and the digital magazine was created largely to make it available to subscribers across the globe. The digital magazine is also appealing to environmental enthusiasts who want to minimize paper usage.

The longer, digital version of the magazine includes stories written by Catholics from dioceses all across the U.S.

Some of the stories in the June digital magazine, which honors the Year For Priests, include:

Fr. Jhon Guarnizao, Pastor of St. John the Baptist Parish in Crescent City, Florida- He was once in the Columbian military and has a special place in his heart for the poor

Fr. Justin Kerber, C.P- Passionist priest who felt the call to the priesthood at a young age and begged his parents to let him enter the Passionists when he completed the 8th grade. He has celebrated Mass every day for the last 37 years except for one (surgical emergency)

And many other stories…

National Vocation Awareness Week To Be Celebrated on CatholicTV With Special Guests and Programming

During the week of January 10-16th, CatholicTV will celebrate National Vocation Awareness Week with special programming including the appearance of Vocations Directors and promoters on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day” and special programming promoting vocations.

On January 8th, Father Jack Butler, S.J., Director of Vocations for the New England Province of Jesuits will appear on the live program “This is the Day” at 10:30AM Eastern.

On January 12th, Brother Tony Stephens, C.P.M,Vocation Director of the Fathers of Mercy will appear on the live program “This is the Day” at 10:30AM Eastern.

On January 15th, Brothers Jewel and Joseph Aytona, C.P.M., co-founders of Family Vocation Ministries, will appear on “This is the Day” also at 10:30AM Eastern.

Jerry Usher, the founder of Vocation Boom! was interviewed on “This is the Day” on January 1st regarding the vocations initiative. His interview can be seen now at http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72&videoID=158

Steve and Joni Abdalla, the creators of dolls which are meant to promote openness to vocations, were also interviewed on “This is the Day” on January 5th. Their interview is viewable at http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72&videoID=45

Each week, CatholicTV promotes Catholic vocations through a special television programming block called “The Call”. “The Call” highlights various religious orders and explores all church vocations including consecrated life and marriage. “The Call” airs each week at the following times (Eastern): Tuesday, 12:30 PM; Wednesday 6:00 AM; Friday 9:00AM; Sunday 11:30PM

During the week of January 10-16th , a program focusing on the vocation of the priesthood will air during “The Call” programming block.

More information on “The Call” is available at: http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=145

The observance of National Vocation Awareness Week (NVAW) began in 1976 when the Bishops’ Conference designated the 28th Sunday of the year as the beginning of NVAW. In 1997 this celebration was moved to coincide with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord since his baptism initiated his public ministry.

Jesuit and Fathers of Mercy Vocation Directors to Appear on CatholicTV

In the continuing spirit of Vocation Awareness Week, CatholicTV will feature 2 different Vocation Directors on the CatholicTV live talk show “This is the Day”. Fr. Jack Butler (pictured above), Director of Vocations for the New England Province of the Jesuits will appear on January 8th, while Fr. Tony Stephens, Vocation Director of the Fathers of Mercy will appear on January 12th.

“This is the Day” streams live at CatholicTV.com and is also viewable on CatholicTV where available, to find out what channel in your area please visit: http://www.catholictv.com/schedule/where-to-watch.aspx. The show will air live during the above dates at 10:30AM ET, will rebroadcast at 8PM the same day, and will also be added to the CatholicTV.com archives.

Jack Butler, S.J. also works as a campus minister at Boston College, where there is a center for vocational discernment called Manresa. The primary purpose of Manresa

House is to promote vocations to the Catholic Church. Every person has a specific call from God, whether it is priestly, religious, married or single life. Manresa hosts vocational discernment weekend visits to help students discover their vocation. College president Fr. William Leahy, SJ, also holds monthly discussion groups for those considering ministerial priesthood.

Fr. Jack Butler grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and entered the Society of Jesus in 1991. Fr. Butler is trained in counseling and has worked in prison ministry, hospitals treatment centers, the education apostolate, and formation within the Society.

Fr. Tony Stephens, C.P.M. was born in 1976 and is a native of Angelus, Kansas. In 1999, Fr. Tony graduated from Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. Discerning a call to religious life and the priesthood, he joined the Fathers of Mercy in 2000. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained a priest in 2005.

Father Tony Stephens

The Society of Jesus a.k.a. the “Jesuits” is the largest male religious order in the Catholic Church, with over 18,000 members. The founder of the Jesuits was St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy was founded in 1808, originally under the title of "the Missionaries of France." It is now an exclusively American community, headquartered in Kentucky. The primary apostolate of the Fathers of Mercy is to conduct parish missions and retreats in an effort to re-evangelize and revitalize the faith of those who hear.

These episodes of “This is the Day” will be available on the site’s archives starting the same night of the broadcast day. All videos at the website are viewable in full-screen. Paste this URL into your browser in order to access the “This is the Day” video archives. http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72

Creator of ‘Matrix’ Vocations Poster To Be Interviewed on CatholicTV

On November 17, Missy Scarlett, the designer of several “Year For Priests” posters will appear on the CatholicTV live talk show “This is the Day”. One of Missy’s best-known works is a vocations poster depicting a young, hip, priest in clerical robes which appears similar to the all-black outfit worn by “Neo” the character played by actor Keanu Reeves in the film “The Matrix". The black and white poster sold more than 1800 copies and was well-received by young people.

Missy “chose to be true to my artistic visions as a homage to God….the source of all creation”. She also says that “God has awakened me with a passion that lies in the heart-felt goal of creating art that has glorifying purpose and meaning behind it. My hope is that people will be affected by these works, and have a rejuvenated faith…” Missy also produced a poster to encourage people to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation, it’s title is “Think Inside the Box”. Her creativity and enthusiasm for the sacraments has inspired people of all ages.

After the success of the Matrix-style vocations poster, Missy was asked to produce a poster for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis which shows a mosaic of Jesus crucified. Upon closer inspection, one can see that the mosaic is made up of individual portraits of every priest in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.

More information on Missy Scarlett and her works is available at www.truescarlett.com

Missy Scarlett‘s interview can be seen on Tuesday, November 17th live at 10:30AM (EST) on CatholicTV where available (rebroadcast at 8PM). The show will also be streamed simultaneously at www.CatholicTV.com and will be available on the site’s archives starting Tuesday night. All videos at the website are viewable in full-screen. Paste this URL into your browser in order to access the “This is the Day” video archives. http://www.CatholicTV.org/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72