Catholic Fire

Via CNA : Catholic Familyland, the 950 - acre center in Southeastern Ohio, will host its 20th annual international "Totus Tuus Consecrate Them in Truth" Family Conference this month. The theme of the Sept. 14-16 conference is, “The Eucharist, Family, and Presence". Cardinal Francis Arinze will deliver the conference keynote address and hold a question-and-answer session with conference participants. "The goal of this event is to highlight the importance of teaching our children the faith and to strengthen familial relationships,” said Jerry Coniker, who co-founded Catholic Familyland with his late wife Gwen. Other conference speakers include Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, Kimberly Hahn, and Fr. Kevin Barrett. The Apostolate for Family Consecration was founded in 1975. Its goal is to sanctify and consecrate families in the truths of the Catholic faith, using the modern means of social communications. It also operates Catholic Familyland, a family retreat center, and th...

The following is taken from my notes on Father Benedict Groeschel's talk on August 4, 2007, at the Midwest Catholic Family Conference in Wichita, Kansas. Photos of that event can be viewed online here. The 1940's in this country was known as "The Golden Age." It was a very idealistic time, when America was strong and the media defended and supported family life and virtuous living. There were wonderful films such as Mrs. Miniver and How Green was My Valley. The most popular people in the movies in those days were Catholic priests in such films as The Bells of St. Mary's, Going My Way, Keys to the Kingdom, Knute Rockne, All America, The Miracle of the Bells, etc. There were filmmakers like David O. Selznick and Louis B. Mayer, who created films that represented the values and the morals of the American people. America was strong and patriotism was valued then. People displayed flags in their windows and placed gold stars on the flags, representing a loved one who h...