From the Bishops of England and Wales, via The Catholic Herald: The bishops of England and Wales have composed a novena prayer to support single people seeking a spouse ahead of St Valentine’s Day. The 3rd-century saint’s day is celebrated on February 14, which falls on Sunday, and he is patron of love, young people and happy marriages. Bishop Mark O’Toole of Plymouth, who coordinates the work of Catholic mission in England and Wales, said: “St Valentine’s Day can be... Read more
This Sunday we find ourselves with Jesus as he concludes his 40 days in the desert. Given the weather right now, 40 days in the desert sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? Among other things, this gospel, coming just five days into Lent, is a kind of lesson and guide: if we think these 40 days are hard on us, look at what Jesus did for 40 days—and how God’s word, and intense prayer, and sheer willpower, led Christ to conquer temptation. I... Read more
Details: Coffee is not exactly Thomas Rusert’s cup of tea. Nevertheless, every Thursday morning Pastor Thomas indulges himself in a steaming cup of java at local coffee houses. “I’m a tea drinker all the other days of the week,” said Thomas, the associate pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. “I’m a weirdly patterned person.” It does seem a bit unusual – akin to a vegetarian ordering tofu at a barbecue joint. But it turns the pastor’s weekly... Read more
From Vatican Radio: Pope Francis has a fortnightly telephone appointment with a youth prison in Buenos Aires, where he speaks to the young people incarcerated there. The head of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, revealed this during a press conference in Mexico City on Friday. When asked about the prison riot at Topo Chico prison in Monterrey, Mexico, which left 49 people dead, Fr. Lombardi said the event had “troubled the heart” of Pope Francis. Pope Francis is... Read more
Boom! From The Miscellany: The Diocese of Charleston now has 35 more ministers dedicated to sharing the Gospel and serving the faithful. Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone ordained 17 men to the permanent diaconate at Holy Spirit Church on Johns Island on Jan. 30, and another 18 at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Simpsonville on Feb. 6. The remarkably large group was the first class of deacons to be ordained in the diocese in nine years. They received the sacrament after... Read more
The press release, from the USCCB: Archbishop Blase J. Cupich of Chicago will serve as the first Catholic co-chair of a new National Catholic-Muslim Dialogue, sponsored by the Committee on Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Archbishop Cupich’s tenure as dialogue co-chair will begin January 1, 2017. The bishops’ ecumenical and interreligious committee has co-sponsored three regional Catholic-Muslim dialogues for over two decades. Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of Springfield, Massachusetts, chair of the committee,... Read more
From AP, on board the plane to Cuba with the pope: Popes always receive gifts on their foreign visits, and Francis is no different, getting a sombrero, some chocolate chip cookies and a single white rose, which has significance for him. But Noel Diaz’s gift as the pope was flying to Cuba and Mexico was particularly heartfelt. Diaz runs a Catholic TV station in Los Angeles that covers migration issues closely. He told the pope that as a child growing... Read more
From Crux: Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of Springfield used the occasion of Ash Wednesday to mark Pope Francis’ Jubilee of Mercy by apologizing to and seeking reconciliation with Catholics in Western Massachusetts. Rozanski, sent from Baltimore to lead the 217,000-member diocese in 2014, said that ongoing fallout from the clergy sexual abuse scandal, shuttered and merged churches, and less than welcoming parishes have caused a rupture between the Church and some of the faithful. He says he is seeking forgiveness.... Read more
From The New York Times: Donald J. Trump has a message for Pope Francis ahead of the pope’s trip to pray with migrants along the Mexican border: You don’t get it. The pope is planning to go to the Rio Grande next week while on a visit to Mexico. He plans to offer prayer and show solidarity with suffering refugees. Mr. Trump does not approve. In an interview with the Fox Business Network on Thursday, the Republican presidential candidate, who... Read more
Three years ago today, this statement was issued: Dear Brothers, I have convoked you to this Consistory, not only for the three canonizations, but also to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this... Read more
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