Catholic sisters throughout Western Pennsylvania are sponsoring a food drive for the poor as part of the global church’s World Day for Consecrated Life. It’s the second time they’ve done this, and last year’s drive brought in more than 13 truckloads of food and more than $2,000 in donations for local food pantries.
The drive is going on now and ends Sunday Feb 3, 2013. Suggested food items are canned vegetables, soups, beans, tuna, pasta (including mac & cheese), rice, baby food, forumula, cereal, peanut butter & jelly or sauces.
A complete list of collection sites and contact information is on the sisters’ web site.

The most recent U.S. ambassador to the Vatican will headline a series of Founders Week talks at Duquesne University on Catholic efforts to promote global peace over the past 50 years. The conference examines the impact of a 1963 encyclical, Pacem in Terris or Peace on Earth, by Blessed Pope John XXIII.
Miguel Diaz, who was ambassador to the Holy See from 2009 to 2012, will speak Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013 at 4 p.m. in the university’s Power Center. His topic is “Pacem in Terris: Exploring the Interpersonal Ordering of God’s Household, Questioning the World’s Disorder and Building Bridges for the Sake of the Common Good.”
Dr. Diaz, a theologian, left the Vatican post last year to teach at the University of Dayton. By coincidence, one of the leading candidates to replace him as ambassador to the Vatican is Nicholas Cafardi, a professor and dean emeritus of the Duquesne University School of Law.
Other Founders Week talks include:
“Celebrating 50 Years of Pacem in Terris: Its Relevance Today and Tomorrow.” The Rev. Kenneth Himes a Franciscan who teaches at Boston College will speak at 3 p.m., Tues. Jan. 29, 2013 in the Power Center, and a panel will respond.
“Catholic Strategies of International Conflict Resolution: Will the Rise of ‘Islamo-Liberals’ Reduce Western-Islamic Hostilities?’ The speaker is Mark Haas, an associate professor of political science at Duquesne and author of “The Clash of Ideologies: Middle Eastern Politics and American Security.” He will speak Wednesday January 30, 2013 at noon in the Africa Room of the Duquesne Union.
“Perspectives on Catholic Peace-building Since Pacem in Terris.” The Rev. Brian Starken, a Spiritan priest who spent 20 years running a refugee camp in war-torn Sierra Leone will speak Thursday, Jan. 31 at noon in the Africa Room of the Duquesne Union.
All events are free and open to everyone.

Pittsburgh Mercy Health System is seeking nurses and other health professionals interested in training to become community health care providers in their congregations.
Last year the Mercy Parish Nurse and Health Ministry Program trained 46 nurses and three health ministers of the Catholic, Protestant and Islamic faiths to become parish nurses. Most were from the greater Pittsburgh area, but some came from as far away as New York.
The training, for which nurses receive continuing education credits, takes place over two weekends, and will be offered three times during 2013. Participants receive training in becoming a health educator, counselor and advocate, and learn how to build support groups and integrate faith with healthy living. The course costs $395 and includes free parking at UPMC Mercy Hospital. Limited scholarships are available.
The first session will be Feb. 15-16 and March 8-9. Other sessions will be held in early June and October. Applications can be downloaded and must be completed at least two weeks prior to the course. Each session is limited to 20 students. For more information contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 412-232-5815.