Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio has written to all pastors and administrators in the diocese asking that they observe Pope Francis’ request to celebrate Sunday, Nov. 19, as the First World Day of the Poor.
International News
Vatican Bans Sale of Cigarettes
Concerned by the damage caused by smoking, Pope Francis has banned the sale of cigarettes in Vatican City State.
‘Mother’, ‘Father’ to be Eliminated From School Admissions Forms
The terms “mother” and “father” will be banned from Catholic schools’ admissions forms in England and Wales following a complaint the terms discriminated against gay and stepparents.
Brooklyn Priest Become Taiwanese Citizen
A Maryknoll missionary priest from Brooklyn who has lived and served in Taiwan for most of the last 54 years joined with elementary school children to sing the Taiwan national anthem during National Day celebrations on Oct. 10.
Book Reaffirms John Paul I Died of Natural Causes
Two women may hold the key to clearing up questions still surrounding the death of Pope John Paul I and to overcoming the first hurdle on his path to canonization.
Walk from Assisi to Rome Is No Roman Holiday
After weeks of navigating difficult terrain, avoiding wild animals and steep cliffs, the devoted pilgrims and hiking enthusiasts who manage to traverse the 155 miles between Assisi and Rome on foot arrive in St. Peter’s Basilica and report a special kind of payoff.
Irish Claim Halloween Tradition Began in their Homeland
An Irish folklife expert says there is evidence that the tradition of carving pumpkins, which is synonymous with Halloween jack-o-lanterns in the U.S., actually began in Ireland.
Mexicans Pray for Deceased On the Dia de los Muertos
by Amy Wise Taylor
BLUFFTON, S.C. (CNS) – When Jennifer Bermejo was growing up in Aguascalientes, Mexico, her family celebrated Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, every year.
News Briefs
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal about an order to remove a Ten Commandments display outside City Hall in Bloomfield, New Mexico. The refusal to hear the case lets the lower court ruling stand.
On the Ground In Puerto Rico
We landed in San Juan exactly at noon on Thursday, Oct. 19. It was one of those flights that could turn you into a praying man – just a long period of turbulence from Queens to Old San Juan. As the plane approached the airport two details stand out – the grayness of the trees and the colors on the roofs. Hurricane Maria had taken away the leaves and the roofs. Naked trees and roofless houses now covered with plastic tarps were the new face of San Juan from the unquiet comfort of my seat on the plane.