New Orleans Prelate Recalls Murdered Priest as ‘Beloved Pastor’

After a coroner confirmed that Father Otis Young, Jr. was one of two dead bodies found near his parish earlier this week, the Archbishop of New Orleans on Nov. 30 remembered the retired priest of St. Peter Catholic Church in Covington, La., as a “beloved pastor.”

The Need for All of US to Be Giftgivers to Charities

I cannot remember when I became very interested in what philosophers, theologians and spiritual authors said about the mystery of love. Many years ago, it just seemed to happen that everything I taught or wrote was in some way or other related to the mystery of love. Quickly I learned that not only was the mystery of love a topic that greatly interested me but that it was a topic that seemed to interest just about everyone. Early on I learned that every person needed to be loved. This was the way we found ourselves as creatures of God. This was the way God created us. 

Honor Mother Mary on Immaculate Conception

As Catholics, there is no single individual to whom we give more honor than the Blessed Virgin Mary. Since the early Church, the clear teaching in our doctrine is that, from the moment of her conception in the womb of Saint Ann, her mother, Mary was freed from the stain of Original Sin, so that she could be the spotless, sinless vessel to carry the Son of God made flesh, Our Lord Jesus Christ. Mary herself is the Immaculate Conception. 

Mother and Father of Migrants: Lessons Learned from Saints

Two saints who walked with migrants at the beginning of the last century can teach us today how we can accompany today’s new migrants on their journey to a new life. Both St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and St. Giovanni Battista Scalabrini have been called the Mother or Father of migrants — St. Cabrini when she was canonized and St. Scalabrini when he was beatified. Titles can be deceptive, however; when someone is called mother or father it goes well beyond a simple appellation. Rather, it is a term of endearment and respect. 

Scouting & My Eagle Scout Project

Over the course of a decade being a Scout, I’ve met many people, earned close to 40 merit badges, and accumulated hundreds of hours of community service. 

Senate Passes Respect for Marriage Act; Bill Now Heads to House

Ahead of the U.S. Senate’s Nov. 29 61-to-36 vote approving the Respect for Marriage Act, the chairmen of two U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ committees reiterated the bishops’ ” firm opposition” to the “misnamed” measure legalizing same-sex marriage.