2016-09-30T17:02:27-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

Details: The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland opened Thursday in downtown Belfast, unleashing angry protests on the street and uniting Catholic and Protestant politicians in calls to investigate the new facility. The clinic, run by the British family planning charity Marie Stopes, will be permitted to provide abortions only in exceptional circumstances to women less than nine weeks pregnant. But the opening caught Northern Ireland’s socially conservative politicians off guard, and they vowed to launch an investigation... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

 Earlier reports were incorrect. UPDATE: The diocese today released a statement: Contrary to reports in the media, Mercy Gilbert Medical Center has not been stripped of its Catholic status. The hospital is in the process of renewing its status and ensuring its compliance with the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. This renewal process was necessary following the corporate reorganization of its parent company in January. Thursday, the diocese published the following online: On January 23, 2012,... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

Just when you thought this contrivance had been done to death, somebody finds a new and delightful way to bring a little joy into everyday life. This first popped up on YouTube last summer, but since we have a while into the Hallelujah! flash mobs start up again, let’s indulge ourselves, shall we? This comes from a Spanish bank, which notes: On the 130th anniversary of the founding of Banco Sabadell we wanted to pay homage to our city by... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

This piece by Franciscan friar and blogger Daniel Horan, OFM (“Dating God”) offers some answers that may surprise people: In 1990 the now-late Jesuit scholar of English literature and philosophy, Walter Ong, S.J., wrote an essay for America magazine that responded to the perennial question for educators in Catholic institutions of higher education: How does such a school incorporate this nebulous concept “catholic identity” into its mission in a tangible way? Ong’s contribution was to look at the meaning of... Read more

2015-03-13T16:54:11-04:00

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:54 pm   By

As most of you know, today the Holy Father formally declared a number of new saints, including two from New York, Mother Marianne Cope and Kateri Tekakwitha. I think it is a special and unexpected grace that Kateri was declared a saint during our parish centennial.  She is literally a part of this church. If you look at the reredos, the wall behind our altar, you see the large painted panels. There’s Jesus in the center of course, surrounded by... Read more

2012-10-20T05:06:32-04:00

Last updated on: October 20, 2012 at 5:06 am   By

As most of you know, today the Holy Father formally declared a number of new saints, including two from New York, Mother Marianne Cope and Kateri Tekakwitha. I think it is a special and unexpected grace that Kateri was declared a saint during our parish centennial.  She is literally a part of this church. If you look at the reredos, the wall behind our altar, you see the large painted panels. There’s Jesus in the center of course, surrounded by... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

From his stellar remarks last night at the Al Smith Dinner: Here we are: in an atmosphere of civility and humor, hosted by a Church which claims that “joy is the infallible sign of God’s presence;” men and women; young and old; of every ethnic and racial background; Democrats, Republicans, and Independents; Catholics, Christians, Jews, Latter-Day Saints, people of no particular creed; people of wealth, yes, but some folks as well who barely get by; guests from Westchester and the... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

Details:  Variety reports that Win Win director Tom McCarthy is directing an untitled drama about the reporters at the Boston Globe who uncovered the original conspiracy to keep these deeds quiet. Not exactly lighthearted material to help close out the week, but since it’s the “story behind the story” that’s being put in the spotlight here, it should be more interesting than just another damning exposé.   The story will follow Michael Rezendes, Sacha Pfeiffer, Matt Carroll, Walter “Robby” Robinson, Ben Bradlee Jr. and Marty... Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

What does it take to become a saint?  The video below from CNS offers some answers. It features interviews with the two people whose healings were recognized as the miracles needed for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha and Blessed Marianne Cope. Take a look. Read more

2016-09-30T17:02:29-04:00

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:02 pm   By

Every now and then, when folks hear where I work, they go…”Huh?” We like to say that  Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) is one of the best-kept secrets of the Catholic Church. Well, to try and spread the word, this year we’ve produced our first-ever online multimedia Annual Report, packed with information, photos and videos that help to tell the story of CNEWA.  I’m pleased and proud to share it here. Take a moment and look around; check out... Read more

Follow Us!
Browse Our Archives
TRENDING AT PATHEOS Catholic
IRS Decision Impacting Church Endorsements
Tears that Point to Heaven
God Gives A Warning As An Invitation To...
A Garden, A Kitchen, A Heaven, A Hell
The Parable of the Good Schismatic Heretic
Trump and Epstein: 18 Question-Raising Facts
view all Catholic blogs