by David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) – Archbishop Terrence Prendergast of Ottawa, Ontario, recalled once having a parish that needed a new furnace and was considering hiring a youth pastor. The parishioners raised $90,000 in three weeks for the furnace but failed to find funds for the youth pastor, figuring there were few young people […]
International News
Pope to the Americas: Keep Missionary Spirit
by David Agren MEXICO CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis once again called for Catholics to adopt a missionary mindset and make mission the priority of all pastoral activities. The pope, speaking from the Vatican via video to an audience of clergy, religious and laity at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, […]
Pope Francis MD
Pope Francis holds up a box of “spiritual medicine” after praying the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican Nov. 17. The box contained a rosary, a Divine Mercy holy card and a medicinal-style instruction sheet. The pope said the rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet are “a spiritual […]
Relics of St. Peter to Be Venerated As Year of Faith Comes to an End
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – For the first time, bones traditionally believed to be relics of St. Peter the Apostle will be displayed for public veneration in St. Peter’s Square Nov. 24, at a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis to conclude the Year of Faith. Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New […]
Aid to Philippines
MANILA, Philippines (CNS) – International and local groups were poised to get aid to the worst-hit areas of the typhoon-stricken central Philippines, but the challenges of getting help to communities growing desperate for food and water went beyond just making sure roads were clear. For the Jesuits who wanted to help, security was the priority. […]
US Bishops Meet – Cardinal Dolan Warns About Persecution Of the Church Around the World
by Dennis Sadowski BALTIMORE (CNS) – New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan called upon his brother bishops to champion the cause of people around the world being persecuted because of their faith even as the bishops continue to prevent what he described as infringements upon religious practice in the U.S. In his final address as […]
Vatican to Distribute Questionnaire For Synod on Marriage and Family
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Bishops around the world are being asked to take a realistic look at the situation of families under their care and at how effective pastoral and educational programs have been at promoting Church teaching on sexuality, marriage and family life. The preparatory document for the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the […]
Papal Envoy to US Issues Clarification on Medjugorje
WASHINGTON (CNS) – The Vatican ambassador to the U.S. has reminded U.S. Catholics that the Vatican has not recognized alleged Marian apparitions in Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina, as authentic. Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, apostolic nuncio, wrote to Msgr. Ronny Jenkins, general secretary of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and told him the reminder came as one […]
Women See Church as Open to Inclusiveness
After private meetings with prefects of Vatican congregations and presidents of pontifical councils in late October, six Catholic women philanthropists came away hopeful and encouraged, because they felt an openness to including more women in advisory and other roles in the Catholic Church. Kerry Robinson, executive director of the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, […]
Pope Francis Will Create His First Cardinals in February
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Pope Francis will create his first cardinals during a consistory Feb. 22, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter. The pope also is expected to use the occasion “to have a meeting with the cardinals for consultations” immediately before the ceremony, as retired Pope Benedict XVI did in the run-up […]