WASHINGTON (CNS) – A bipartisan invitation to Pope Francis to address a joint session of Congress if he comes to the U.S. in 2015 recognizes “the importance of the qualities” the pontiff embodies that resonate with people around the globe, said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington. Those qualities include “a desire for peace, care […]
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Pope Says He Doesn’t Like Doing Paperwork
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The thing Pope Francis dislikes most about his job as pontiff is the paperwork, he told residents of an Argentine slum in which he used to minister. “Paperwork, office work, it’s the thing I always struggled with,” the pope said in response to the question, “What’s the thing you like least […]
Education Tax Credit Support Gains Momentum
Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio joined with Cardinal Timothy Dolan and major labor leaders to push for passage of a law that would permit an Education Investment Tax Credit.
Islamist Rebels Free Nuns Kidnapped in Syrian War
by Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUIT (CNS) – The release of at least 12 Greek Orthodox nuns who were abducted in Syria in December was an answer to prayers, said regional Catholic officials. Melkite Patriarch Gregoire III Laham said March 10 that he felt “a wave of joy” along with “thousands and thousands” of other people […]
St. Mary Magdalene Church Ready to Rise from Ashes
After three and a half years of waiting, the parishioners of St. Mary Magdalene, Springfield Gardens, can finally rejoice and be glad. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, parishioners received bittersweet news that their beloved church building was demolished. On Oct. 28, 2010, the interior and some of the exterior of the church were destroyed by a […]
Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade (slideshow)
Donal O’Sullivan served as grand marshal of the 39th annual Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Rockaway Beach, March 1. O’Sullivan is the president and co-owner of Navillus Contracting, which has been working to rebuild the peninsula in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. The daylong celebration began with a Mass for peace and justice […]
Relics Remain Unique Way to Meet the Saints (with slideshow)
by Marie Elena Giossi Sacred relics have long been venerated in the Church as symbols of holiness, channels of inspiration and sources of healing; local Catholics sought all three when more than 150 relics and holy objects visited the diocese in late February. As part of an ongoing North American tour, Treasures of the Church, […]
Jerusalem Trip Was Key for ‘Jesus’ Book
by Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) – Jesuit Father James Martin today has a hard time believing that he initially turned down a suggestion to go to Jerusalem as source material for his newest book, “Jesus: A Pilgrimage.” “Initially, I didn’t want to go because I thought my own mental images of Gospel passages and stories […]
Latin American Leaders Praise Francis’ First Year
by Lise Alves SAO PAULO (CNS) – Many Latin American Church leaders, who in the past have felt excluded from the decisions made at the highest echelons of the Church, expressed appreciation for the perspective Pope Francis has taken to the Vatican. “There is (now) a greater understanding of the Latin American church,” said Bishop […]
Benedict: Resignation Was Perfectly Valid
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In a letter to an Italian journalist, retired Pope Benedict XVI said questions about the validity of his resignation are “absurd.” “There is absolutely no doubt regarding the validity of my renunciation of the Petrine ministry,” the retired pope wrote in a letter to Andrea Tornielli, a Vatican […]