Why Catholic philanthropy? The broad variety of organizations to which NCCF’s trustees have approved distributions over the past twenty-three years suggests to some that our concept of Catholic philanthropy exceeds the bounds of ‘being Catholic’. Our reply, of course, is that the distributions we make…
Category: Advancing the Kingdom
from or toward?
For my siblings and me Independence Day is a dual celebration, the birth of our nation and the birth of our mother, Josephine. So, we are doubly grateful for this holiday, for the blessings we have enjoyed as a nation and as a family. The…
…..the warp of algorithms and woof of ethics…….
If they make an effort to review it readers will find the attached report both constructive and provocative. Translated from its Italian by James Crowley, the Dean of NCCF’s trustees, it chronicles the February 3rd interview between Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia and Davide Maniscalco, respectively the…
Pentecost to Parousia
Antelucan. Today an esteemed colleague shared this new word with me. I reciprocated with one I had recently discovered: Aphotic. His is preferable. It is Pentecost Sunday. We are reminded that the Church – founded two millennia ago by our Lord and inspired by his…
...mysterious symbiosis...
(The following remarks were offered earlier this month as an introduction to NCCF’s first webinar) NCCF was incorporated in Delaware over twenty years ago and was co-founded by the Raskob Foundation and twenty other groups consisting of religious Orders and organizations. It was inspired by…
What did he write?
Pericope adulterae is the term used to refer to the passage in St. John’s Gospel where the Pharisees present Jesus with the woman ‘caught in adultery’ and ask him if, according to Mosaic law, she should be stoned (Jn. 7:53 – 8:11). After writing something…
Progressive v. Progressive
Generally regarded as a logophile my mother had a particular fascination for contranyms. She delighted in the fact that words such a sanction, dust, dress, and overlook could mean their opposites. Even so she instructed my siblings and me (or in today’s untutored grammar ‘my…
Modern day Knights
Members of a certain generation will recall fondly childhood tales of King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable. These Arthurian romances recount the awakening within the royal realm of the revolutionary understanding that ‘might’ does not make ‘right’. Rather the reverse had to be…
A mustard seed among the sandalwood
The last ‘Advancing the Kingdom’ article featured the boundless outreach of the Archdiocese of the Military. In a similar vein a significant number of the donor advised funds administered by the National Catholic Community Foundation also benefit overseas endeavors and exemplify the international philanthropic outreach…
A boundless archdiocese
Today when one hears the term ‘field Mass’ what come to mind are liturgical events whose congregants are so numerous no enclosed edifice can contain them, such as papal Masses in stadiums or town squares. However, readers old enough to remember World War II films…