Here’s something unusual: a secular newspaper writing about a significant move in local Catholic worship: As Christians around the world mark the birth of Christ in Bethlehem this Christmas season, many Madison-area Catholics are learning more about the profound role of the tabernacle in their parishes. Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino has directed priests to move the tabernacle to a prominent spot at the center of the sanctuary at all diocesan churches. The directive was announced at an annual gathering... Read more

My homily for Midnight Mass in 2007, reposted here along with my prayerful good wishes to all who visit these pages. Merry Christmas! May His light show us the way! + Like a lot of people of a certain age, I remember well the first time I heard this gospel proclaimed – and it wasn’t in church. It was in my parent’s den, in Rockville, Maryland, watching an 18-inch Philco black and white TV. The person proclaiming the gospel wasn’t a... Read more

From Reuters:  One Catholic parish in Germany tore out its pews to make space for refugees. Franciscan monks near Rome took a family into their hilltop convent. But in northern Italy, a rural priest faced hostility when he asked his flock to shelter Muslims. Four months after Pope Francis appealed to the parishes and religious communities of Europe to each take in one family of refugees, the response is decidedly mixed. Arms have opened wide in some places but indifference,... Read more

CNS visited a refugee camp for displaced Iraqi Christians in Erbil, Iraq for a look at what this season is like in that corner of the world. This video—which also spotlights some of the projects and programs funded by my agency, Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA)—gives a poignant glimpse. You can also read more here.  As we prayerfully recall the Holy Family during this season of grace, remember the homeless families of the Middle East, seeking sanctuary and security and... Read more

From Richmond, Kentucky:  It was author George Whitman who wrote “Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise.” Just two days before Christmas, a Richmond priest decided to pay it forward and became an angel himself to several people. Father Jim Sichko, the pastor of St. Mark Church, took on a new role in downtown Lexington. In hand-me-down clothing, he transformed into a homeless man. Holding a sign that read, “Will you help? Give/Receive,” the pastor begged for change... Read more

Politico calls it a “Mass,” though that’s misleading. It’s an Episcopal liturgy. Details:  Donald Trump’s family will attend Christmas Eve mass on Thursday in Palm Beach, Florida, his campaign has confirmed. The entire Trump family plans to attend the 10:30 p.m. services at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. Trump married his third and current wife, Melania, at the church in 2005. Trump often spends the holidays at his residence at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach. On New Year’s Eve, Trump will... Read more

If you’ve never heard of David Willcocks, chances are you have heard his musical arrangements for Christmas, which have come to define the season for generations around the world. An appreciation: At 3pm on Christmas Eve, millions of radios around the world will be tuned to the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Chapel in Cambridge in time to hear the pure voice of a single boy chorister singing one of the hardest solos of the church... Read more

In a televised address yesterday, King Abdullah II had some warm words for Christians marking Christmas. The report from The Jordan Times:   His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday congratulated the nation on the occasions of Prophet Mohammad’s birthday and Christmas, calling on both Muslims and Christians to embrace the values of compassion and tolerance shared by the two faiths. Following is the full text of the King’s address, which was broadcast live on Jordan TV Tuesday night: In the... Read more

Details:  The landmark conviction of a Roman Catholic church official imprisoned over his handling of priest sexual abuse complaints was overturned Tuesday for the second time. The state Superior Court ruling awarded a new trial to Monsignor William Lynn, who has been on a legal roller coaster since his 2012 trial on child endangerment charges. The appeals court said the trial judge erred in allowing weeks of testimony from 21 other accusers to show how the Archdiocese of Philadelphia handled... Read more