Via CNS:  The apostolic nuncio to the United States celebrated Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border Oct. 23 offering prayers to break down the barriers that separate people. Archbishop Christophe Pierre faced the immense steel border fence in Nogales as he and the bishop of Tucson and the bishop of Mexico’s Diocese of Nogales, Sonora, concelebrated the liturgy with people gathered on both sides of the border. The nuncio began the prayer of the faithful with a plea for unity. “Jesus,... Read more

From CNS:  When a choir director and parish priest differ over liturgical music, the choir should follow in good faith the wishes of the priest for the sake of unity, said the papal liturgist. When it comes to celebrating the liturgy, “we should never fight,” Msgr. Guido Marini told choir members, directors and priests. “Otherwise, we distort the very nature” of what the people of God should be doing during the Mass, which is seeking to be “one body before... Read more

The headline-making political activist, war protestor and one-time husband of Jane Fonda died yesterday: Tom Hayden, who burst out of the 1960s counterculture as a radical leader of America’s civil rights and antiwar movements, but rocked the boat more gently later in life with a progressive political agenda as an author and California state legislator, died on Sunday. He was 76. His wife, Barbara Williams, confirmed the death to The Associated Press. Mr. Hayden had been suffering from heart problems... Read more

Details, via CNA:  Seven young women in Kirkuk credit the Virgin Mary for their safety after spending a harrowing eight hours hidden underneath beds while Islamic State group fighters used their room as a hideout during an assault on the city. “The Virgin Mary was with them,” Fr. Roni Momika told CNA Oct. 23. The priest, who ministers in refugee camps of Ankawa, Erbil in northern Iraq, was in cell phone contact with two of the girls while they hid... Read more

I spent Saturday in Nebraska, where I gave a talk to some of the deacons of Omaha and their wives. It was a glorious autumn day, and the welcome couldn’t have been warmer. The experience was enhanced by being able to take a quick look at the church of the parish that was hosting us: St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Fremont, Nebraska. It sits in the middle of what New Yorkers would consider wide open spaces. Most of what you... Read more

This video has gone viral and caused a sensation—and for good reason: A 4-year-old from East Texas has become the latest Internet star after a video of him reciting his ABC’s went viral. Meet Tanner Hemness. Tanner is the son of Katie Hemness and KLTV 7 Anchor Taylor Hemness. He’s also really smart. This summer, his dad taught him the alphabet – but with a twist. Each letter had a biblical verse following it that corresponded to the letter. Just... Read more

Meet the mother of a toddler with Down Syndrome. And see anew what it means to “respect life” during this Respect Life Month. Fittingly, October is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month. From ABC News:  Oakley Peterson, mom of Welles, who has Down syndrome, worked with Jane.com’s #StrongLikeYou series to create a video telling the story of Welles’ birth and the joy he brings to his family. The video has been viewed more than 1 million times on Facebook alone since... Read more

This is starting to get more attention, and it should. In the middle of Respect Life Month, this heartfelt letter from a husband to those who cared for his dying wife is a great testament itself to life—and a stirring and inspiring expression of gratitude. It shows care for the caregivers: As I begin to tell my friends and family about the seven days you treated my wife, Laura Levis, in what turned out to be the last days of her... Read more

From The Catholic Herald:  Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral has shown solidarity with Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, by donating money from its collection boxes to its Catholic neighbor following a break-in on October 6. Representatives from the Catholic cathedral said they were “overwhelmed” by the act of generosity after a significant amount of money had been stolen during the robbery. A statement on the Metropolitan Cathedral’s Facebook page said: “We were overwhelmed this week to receive a very special donation from our close... Read more

From The Catholic Register in Canada: A controversial artwork that a former Montreal mayor ordered destroyed on the eve of the 1976 Olympics because it was disrespectful to the Church has been recast and installed near a historic religious institution in spite of objections from the convent’s superior general. Entitled Croix de Mont Royal, the illuminated giant cross was originally designed 40 years ago by multi-media artist Pierre Ayot as part of an Olympic art exhibit. The fallen cross was... Read more