Every day during the Advent Season, we will "open a window" on our virtual Advent calendar. Each window will show a meditation or prayer to help you focus on preparing for the birth of Jesus. Spend this time with us reflecting on the type of Church that Jesus would want to call His. Meditate and pray for the healing and renewal of the Church.

Day 8

Day 1 begins here.

The Enigma of Pope Francis
Presented on Friday, October 25, 2013,
at St. Eulalia Parish Hall,
Winchester, Massachusetts
Pope Francis has ushered in a kinder, more pastoral papacy and speaks eloquently of the reforms needed. He encourages us, but his rhetoric has not yet fully matched his actions. Is this the mark of a collegial, pastoral approach or the sad reality of dealing with entrenched bishops and the Vatican Curia? Author and Catholic studies professor Paul Lakeland, Ph.D., has been observing Pope Francis and shares his views in this presentation.

Click here to see the presenation.

Voice of the Faithful® has a closet chock full of VOTF-oriented items and merchandise carrying the VOTF logo. Why not pick up a stocking stuffer or two by using our online order form. Just download it, fill it out, and send it to us with your payment. We'll fill orders received at our office before Dec. 20, but we'll be shipping items via U.S. mail, so be sure to send us your order soon. The earlier you order, the better chance you'll have of receiving your merchandise before Christmas.

Just click here or the banner above to go to our order form.

Christmas is a time of celebration, during which we give gifts to our family and friends. You can also give a gift to VOTF. Simply hit the Amazon button above, or to the right on our home page. When you land at Amazon.com, and make a purchase, a portion will benefit VOTF. Every gift counts! Thank you for the boost.

Christmas blessings!

Pope Francis has issued his first Apostolic Exhortation, "Joy of the Gospel." Evangelii Gaudium expounds on the proclamation of the Gospel in today's world. Click here to read "Joy of the Gospel."

Enjoy a full day of presentations, workshops, prayer, and collegial collaboration at the VOTF 2014 Assembly: Turning Talk into Action. National Catholic Reporter Senior Correspondent John L. Allen, Jr., will be our guest speaker. Six afternoon workshops will help you turn talk into action. Lunch is included in the $80 per person registration fee, and if you register before Dec. 31, you'll be entered in a drawing for a $250 Master Card gift card.

The VOTF 2014 Assembly will take place Saturday, April 5, 2014, 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hartford, Connecticut. If you stay overnight in Hartford, you may make reservations at the Marriiott Harford Downtown, located right next to the convention center, for only $89 per night.

Register online today or download a printable registration form and return to VOTF by mail.

More to come.

Voice of the Faithful® has joined other Church reform organizations sending Pope Francis input for the 2014 Synod on the Family. The Vatican has released the preparatory document for the synod, which includes a questionnaire on family issues. Bishops' conferences have been asked to share it as widely as possible so that input from local sources can be received.

To ensure that your voice is heard at the Vatican, VOTF and other Church reform organizations are sponsoring an online questionnaire you can answer. The questionnaire closely follows the questions asked by the Vatican in the synod's preparatory document.

The online questionaire must be completed by Dec. 15.

Let the Vatican hear your voice. Click here to answer the questionnaire.

NOTE: Some dioceses have posted the Vatican questionnaire online and invited parishioners in those dioceses to complete it. Here's a list of those we know about; some have deadlines as soon as Dec. 1 so check your diocesan site if yours has requested responses:

Bridgeport CT

Cincinnati OH

Davenport (Iowa)

Des Moines IA

Dubuque IA

Harrisburg PA

Philadelphia PA

Pittsburgh PA