Pope Francis, seated at left, begins Palm Sunday Mass at the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 24. Pope Francis celebrated his first Palm Sunday Mass as pope, telling an overflow crowd in St. Peter’s Square that Christ’s death on the cross is a source of eternal consolation and joy. “A Christian […]
It was standing room only when the Spanish-speaking community of Bensonhurst celebrated Palm Sunday at St. Athanasius Church. Pictured is Father Gabriel Toro, coordinator of the neighborhood’s Hispanic apostolate, preaching from the pulpit prior to the outdoors procession. Photo © Torres Photo Studio
by Dennis Sadowski WASHINGTON (CNS) – The needs of poor and vulnerable Americans must remain at the top of the country’s spending priorities as Congress debates the federal budget in the coming weeks, the chairmen of two U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops committees said. Holding firm to earlier stances, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire of Stockton, […]
by Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) – For the good of all people, the care of the poor and the future of the Earth, religions must cooperate in reminding modern men and women that God exists and has a plan for their lives and their behavior, Pope Francis said. “The Catholic Church knows the importance […]
WASHINGTON (CNS) – New proposed regulations governing the contraceptive mandate under the Affordable Care Act continue to violate basic principles of religious freedom, said the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). In comments filed March 20 with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the USCCB raised a series of concerns, among them being […]
The state budget agreement reached by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders increases funding for Catholic and other religious and independent schools by $13.5 million over the governor’s proposed budget released in January. The funds include an additional $9 million in reimbursements for the Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) program, as well as $4.5 million in […]
Alumni from the University of Notre Dame teamed up with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens to renovate St. Rose of Lima Church, Rockaway Beach, which had been damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Over a dozen volunteers aided in the clean-up of the parish’s basement and painted the walls and ceilings with a fresh coat of paint. […]
by Kimberley Kearn Approximately 200 members of St. Mary Star of the Sea and St. Gertrude parish, Far Rockaway, benefitted from a new collaboration, the first of many, between Catholic Migration Services and Catholic Charities. At a public forum in Far Rockaway, Catholic Migration Services (CMS) was on hand to provide legal information and […]
The Jornada movement, a program of spiritual renewal for Hispanic youth, with its spiritual director, Father James Kuroly, far left, welcomed Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio and Father Kevin Abels, diocesan vocations director, during its second annual Vocation Fair. The Jornadistas attended Mass with the bishop, who then reviewed the fair. For more about the Jornada movement, […]
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) – With a warm embrace, a helping hand, shared prayer, a long discussion and lunch together, Pope Francis spent several hours with retired Pope Benedict XVI March 23 at the papal summer villa. Pope Francis gave Pope Benedict an icon of Mary and Jesus that the Russian Orthodox delegation to his […]
