THE CALENDAR IS OUR CATECHISM
May
 
Much of what we learn about our faith is wrapped within the calendar. We can learn much of our catechism by paying attention to specific religious and secular dates on the calendar and the liturgy and prayers that surround them.
 
Below are May's opportunities for catechesis and witness: Attend an event or connect a Work of Mercy with a special day in our faith and lives.
 
May is the Month of Mary, Our Lady of Good Counsel
Counsel the Doubtful  

May is Mental Illness Awareness Month
Comfort the Afflicted  

May 1 St. Joseph the Worker: Patron Saint of Workers
Counsel the Doubtful  

Friday May 4: 27th Annual Tobin Lecture: Sharing the Journey with Our Most Vulnerable Sisters and Brothers: On the plight of migrants and refugees
 
Why You Want to Attend: "...Every human being must be permitted to migrate to other countries and to take up residence there. The fact that he is a citizen of a particular state does not deprive him of membership to the human family, nor of citizenship in the universal society, the common, world-wide fellowship of men" (Pope St. John Paul II, Address to the New World Congress on the Pastoral Care of Immigrants, 1985).
 
Sunday May 6: Human Trafficking Silent Prayer Vigil
Why You Want to Attend: The movement of people across boundaries is part of a collective human experience. There is an element of this experience that must be eradicated: the trafficking of human beings through the use of fraud, force, and coercion for the purpose of forced prostitution or forced labor. (USCCB)
 
Monday May 7: Archdiocesan Parish Social Ministry Spring Quarterly Meeting
Why You Want to Attend: "Jesus did not say: 'One of you go', but 'All of you go': we are sent together. Dear young friends, be aware of the companionship of the whole Church and also the communion of the saints on this mission. When we face challenges together, then we are strong, we discover resources we did not know we had. Jesus did not call the Apostles to live in isolation, he called them to form a group, a community." Pope Francis
 
May 12 World Fair Trade Day
Comfort the Afflicted  

May 15 St. Isidore: Patron of Farmers
Feed the Hungry  

May 15 St. Dymphna: Patroness of Those Experiencing Mental Illness
Comfort the Afflicted  

May 15 International Day of Families
Forgive Offenses  
 
May 28 Memorial Day
Pray for the Living and the Dead  

May 30 St. Joan of Arc: Patroness of Military Personnel
Pray for the Living and the Dead