A "Pray On This" moment from our mission advocate, Msgr. John Enzler: Today in Rome an ancient ritual will begin once again. When a pope dies his "office" is vacated. This vacancy is described as a sede vacante. The cardinals of the Church gather to choose a successor not just to Francis but to St. Peter. By law only those cardinals who have not yet marked their 80th birthday are allowed to fulfill their cardinalatial responsibility: to elect a new pope. The formal meetings to vote on a successor of St. Peter are called a conclave (perhaps you have seen the popular movie “Conclave”). 138 cardinals are eligible to vote at this time, and the man who is chosen as the next Archbishop of Rome and the universal shepherd of the Church – the pope – must garner two-thirds plus one vote to be chosen. During these days, it is our responsibility as members of the Church to pray for the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as the cardinals vote. Come Holy Spirit, enliven the Church with your choice as the new pope. (fb)

At Catholic Charities DC, case management is an integral and carefully planned part of many of the agency’s programs. Working together, a client and a case manager develop a plan that includes goals for the client, typically in the areas of housing, education, and mental and physical wellness. Case management is “the way in to really understand what a person is going through,” said one program director. Read about how case management has helped our clients: (fb)