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Catholic Extension is encouraging young filmmakers to celebrate an "Extension Day" of their own choosing and to film the encounters as part of a video contest sponsored by Catholic Extension. The contest is called "Make Some Noise!" and will award multiple prizes of up to $1,000 for the ministry of the winner's choice and the opportunity to have the winning videos seen by Pope Francis. Extension Day is meant to be a day dedicated to extending the gifts of the Catholic faith through acts of prayer, service or philanthropy. And, because Catholic Extension's mission is to build the church in areas where challenges are great and resources are scarce, part of the intent is that acts extend beyond the typical boundaries of a parish or youth group or similar organization. Videos submitted for the contest should be less than two minutes long, explain the activity chosen for Extension Day, and complete the sentence: "Our Extension Day is extending the church's presence by ..." Videos do not need to be polished; they can be recorded on whatever is available.

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Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
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The twelve apostles chosen by Jesus formed the bedrock of the early Church , and their Catholic identity is deeply rooted in their direct relationship with Christ and the mission He entrusted to them. The Catechism of the Catholic Church highlights this foundational role, stating that Jesus "instituted the Twelve as 'the seeds of the new Israel and the beginning of the sacred hierarchy'" ( CCC 860 ). These men were not simply followers; they were handpicked by Jesus, lived intimately with Him, witnessed His miracles and teachings firsthand, and were specifically commissioned to preach the Gospel to all nations ( Matthew 28:19-20 ). Their unique position as eyewitnesses to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and their reception of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, established them as the authoritative leaders of the nascent Church, a reality echoed in the writings of early Church Fathers like Ignatius of Antioch, who emphasized the apostles' authority as repre...
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