If you’re going to be in DC at the beginning of April and like to rub elbows with politicians, then you might be interested in the 3rd annual National Catholic Prayer Breakfast. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin, will be the keynote speaker. EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo and Fr. Paul McDermott, OP, who is in charge of school reconstruction in New Orleans, will also be speakers. Scott Hahn and Fr. Benedict Groeschel will give talks after the breakfast. You get all this for the low, low price of $100 (or $55 for the Friday night reception and $60 for the Saturday breakfast).
I’m still unclear on the point. Where does my $100 go? From what I found on the web site it goes to support future breakfasts. Sounds like a bit of a tautology. And the mission of the breakfast?
We have created the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in response to the call of Pope John Paul the Great for a “New Evangelization, new in order, methods and expression.” We gather from across the United States of America for worship and fellowship. We gather to thank Our Lord for his abundant blessings upon this Land. We reaffirm our faith in Him and renew our dedication to this great Republic. We commit ourselves to providing for our brothers and sisters who are the most vulnerable in society, and we commit our country to the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
I’m not sure how a group of well-heeled Catholics getting together to hob-nob and listen to speeches actually advances the New Evangelization. Hey, I’m not against the concept, but I haven’t been able to find anything that tells my why I should care about this event. After all, I can go to Mass at my parish on Sunday morning and head over to Brother’s Deli in downtown Salem for breakfast afterward. Total cost: about $10. The rest of the $90 could be sent to Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity who I know will use it wisely.
