Bloggers Meet in the Vatican: from Catholic News Agency

Vatican gathering of bloggers hailed as a success

By David Kerr

Vatican City, May 2, 2011 / 10:46 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The first ever Vatican sponsored gathering of Catholic bloggers is being hailed as a success by participants.

The conference was hosted by the Pontifical Council for Culture. It drew a large amount of interest with over 750 bloggers applying to attend and over 9 million Google hits on the subject over the past five weeks alone. Logistics determined that only 150 could take part, so organizers held a drawing, deciding who could attend.

At the end of the event, organizer Richard Rouse seemed delighted.

“It went really well. I’m really glad we had this meeting. It was completely uncontrolled and uncontrollable so I’m glad that it’s taken place. I thought the best thing was the meeting face to face of different bloggers. That was great.”

Most bloggers in attendance seemed to feel that the Vatican was genuine when it said it didn’t want to control the Catholic blogosphere. There was also a general welcome for the Vatican’s own attempts to overhaul its online presence. Reservations still remained, however, about the local level.

“At the Vatican level I’ve been assured that they’re there’s no interest in regulating bloggers - and I believe them. These people don’t lie,” says Rome-based Canadian blogger Hilary White of the “Orwell’s Picnic” site.

“What I think is that they (the Vatican) are trying to do today is to send out a message to the national bishops conferences to say ‘let them go, bloggers are here to stay and that they’re going to keep saying things that people don’t want them to say and they’re going to keep looking under rocks that nobody wants them to look under'.”

As the meeting broke up, there was enthusiastic talk of another similar gathering or even more localized versions of the get-together.

Great Lenten Resources at Your Fingertips: Catholic Media Promotion Day

Here's a great opportunity to find something special to help you through your Lenten Journey.


St. Maximilian Kolbe is in Heaven smiling upon us, enjoying the Catholic Media Promotion Day. In the saint's time, he was a master of communications technology and had millions of readers.


Lisa Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com, is helping to promote this grassroots effort. At her website, you'll find dozens of links that can help you throughout your Lenten journey. Whatever you prefer--books, podcasts, blogs, TV shows, and so on--you'll find the best at Lisa's site. Click here to go there now.

Lisa writes:
"This grassroots effort is designed to help spread the word about all of the great work being done in Catholic Media.

"We’ve asked our CatholicMom.com family of contributors to share their favorites, and here are some wonderful suggestions for you to enjoy. In parentheses, you’ll see the names of the contributors who made these recommendations."

The Catholic CyperCommunity is alive and well. You can also find links to Catholic websites, as listed at Kathleen's Catholic by clicking here. Check it out!

Catholics On the Web: We Are Here!!

I've had the luxury over the last few weeks--a few minutes here and there--to search the Web and follow links to find other terrific Catholic blogs and websites. Catholics are everywhere in cyber space.

St. Maximilian Kolbe would be so proud. He was a master of communications technology, bringing the Light of Truth to his people. And I do believe he would have been a leader in this Catholic Internet community as well.

Let's keep you in the loop!

Here is a collection of new links I think you would enjoy. They now appear on my page, Catholic Links for the Family. Visit often and have fun! There are many others links listed there as well.

(Special note: If you have a blog, or know of a blog, you would like included on my links page, please leave a comment with the link. I'll be sure to visit as soon as possible. I'm happy to help promote solid and useful Catholic resources.)

Coffee and Canticles--At Home with the Divine Office

Catholic Writer Daria Sockey talks "about the Liturgy of the Hours, aka Divine Office, aka Breviary, aka Christian Prayer, aka Morning, Evening, Daytime,and Night Prayer, aka Lauds, Vespers, Terce, None, Sext, Vespers, and Compline (with a dash of the Office of Readings, aka Vigils)." Perfect reading and fun for us Catholic geeks!

Mary's Prayer Garden
Living and homeschooling in Australia, Therese says, "Have a prayer request? Email me and I will offer a decade of the rosary for your intentions for a week." Her site is devoted to our prayer need and is also designed to help us in our own prayer journey. You will find plenty of helpful materials on her blog. I asked Therese, "If you are Down Under, then what do you call the US?" She replied, "Well, if I'm Down Under, then you are Up Over!"

A Perpetual Jubilee

Fellow homeschool mom and Catholic writer, Celeste Behe, brings a wonderful levity to her real- life writings. You'll enjoy her wit, honesty, and writings on all sorts of Catholic topics. She is a uniquely talented writer.

The Badger Catholic
"A husband, father of three, Sconnie, Traditional minded Papist, covering local, state, and other issues affecting Catholic Peasants in the region."

Of Sound Mind and Spirit
The blogs subtitle reads: "Where sisters contemplate, reflect, reason and engage in thoughtful perceptions of the changes in our world." Here you will find terrific insights in how to live the Catholic faith in this modern world, including book reviews, political updates, and pro-life issues.

Don't Know Much About the Rosary
A blog by Peggy Bowes, author of "The Rosary Workout".  Her goal is to spread devotion to the Rosary and a love for the Catholic Church. She posts reflections and links on the Rosary mysteries and other related Catholic topics. She also occasionally writes about fitness and health in the context of caring for the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Click here to see this former Air Force Pilot sharing her story on The Journey Home on EWTN.


The United States Conference of Catholic Bishop PDF of Liturgical Year 2011
Here's the complete document from the USCCB's official site.

Praying Through Chaos
Both a mom of three children and a student, this blogger offers some light-hearted insights about her chaotic daily life. Nicely written and designed. A quick visit can brighten your day.

Feminine-Genius: Exploring the Richness of Authentic Femininity
Here is a blog by Genevieve Kineke, author of The Authentic Catholic Woman. Click here to read my book review and to purchase a copy.

The Clay Rosary Girl
Stay at home mom, Sarah, makes terrific rosaries and writes her own blog about living the Catholic faith.

I hope you enjoy! God bless.