From the BBC: The American gospel music star Edwin Hawkins has died at his home in California, at the age of 74. The Grammy-winning singer had been suffering from pancreatic cancer, his publicist said. Hawkins was regarded as a pioneer of urban gospel music, blending gospel hymns with secular sound. He is best-known for the 1969 hit Oh Happy Day. The following year the Edwin Hawkins Singers backed Melanie on her top 10 hit Lay Down (Candles in the Rain).... Read more

From CNA:  It started out as a regular Saturday morning for most Hawaiians, including Dallas and Monica Carter and their five children. Monica was getting breakfast ready for the kids before a busy day when the warning blared across smartphone screens throughout the island: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. It was the same kind of warnings Hawaiians are used to receiving for tsunamis and hurricanes – the kind of warning they’re... Read more

The Holy Father made his remarks yesterday during his homily marking the World Day for Migrants and Refugees. An excerpt:  It is not easy to enter into another culture, to put oneself in the shoes of people so different from us, to understand their thoughts and their experiences. As a result we often refuse to encounter the other and raise barriers to defend ourselves. Local communities are sometimes afraid that the newly arrived will disturb the established order, will ‘steal’... Read more

From the Arlington Catholic Herald: The Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship declared St. Mary Church in Alexandria a minor basilica, Bishop Michael F. Burbidge announced to parishioners during Mass Jan. 14. “It is an extraordinary honor to announce that the Holy See has designated St. Mary’s in Old Town to be the newest basilica in the United States. This historic announcement recognizes the important role St. Mary’s has played in the Diocese, the City of Alexandria and even the very founding of... Read more

This arrangement, by Malcom Archer, is my favorite for this particular hymn—building verse by verse to a triumphant conclusion. It’s typically sung during Advent but, with the Gospel this weekend featuring John the Baptist on Jordan’s bank—and Christ passing by— our choir will be doing this one for the communion hymn. The hymn itself dates to the 18th century, and is featured prominently in both Protestant and Catholic hymnals. Taken from the original chant, Jordanis oras praevia, it was adapted by... Read more

Some may remember this story from last year. CNS has an update: In March 2017, Deacon Norm Keller and his wife, Barbara, lost their home in Marietta after a private plane crashed into their front yard and exploded. The fire ravaged the house and the mementos collected during their marriage. The focus quickly turned from the house toward the pilot, who died in the crash. “He was a father and a grandfather, just like me. We pray they are comforted,”... Read more

From St. Louis, this word from Kenrick-Glennon seminary on Facebook: It is with great sorrow that we mourn the death of 14-year-old Brett Haubrich, who died peacefully last night, January 10th, at home and surrounded by his family. We fondly remember the day when, as his wish with the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Brett joined 11 Kenrick-Glennon seminarians in the 2015 Holy Thursday foot washing ceremony as a “Priest for a Day.” Brett’s love for the Eucharist and priesthood as he battled... Read more

This is the video of the week—maybe of the month: A formerly homeless eight-year-old boy and his mother were finally granted Michigan state housing so all he wanted for Christmas was his own bed, and tear jerking video caught the moment he was granted his wish. Daeyrs and his mother Dionna, from Detroit, spent most of the boy’s life living in homeless shelters after the trainee nurse lost her job, and subsequently their home. Once they moved into the state... Read more

This announcement has been circulating online today: Dear Friends of MAGNIFICAT, There is some major news to share with you. It seems hard to believe that the American edition of MAGNIFICAT was first launched almost two decades ago, in December of 1998. I have the honor of being the first editor-in-chief of MAGNIFICAT USA—a post I have held for twenty years. My religious superior has given me a new pastoral assignment, effective before the end of the year. This means... Read more

This gave me a jolt: the school in question is the alma mater of both my sister and my wife. From The Washington Post: Students at an all-girls Catholic high school in Maryland discovered another side to one of their former coaches last week: Gregory Conte, who had also worked as a substitute teacher, maintained strong ties to white nationalists who rallied last summer in Charlottesville. The Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington fired Conte in October. But Conte’s... Read more