Sometimes we use the name of an animal to describe a person’s personality, or one of their actions – for example: “he ate like a horse” or “she is a snake” or “don’t be a chicken, go for it!” or “what a pig.” We immediately know what these animal descriptions mean. In today’s Gospel passage from Saint John, Jesus refers to us his disciples as His sheep who faithfully hear his voice. Now, in normal, every-day language, nobody really wants... Read more
About ninety Vocation Directors from throughout the United States have gathered at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, New York to discuss the upcoming changes that will affect priestly formation throughout the world. Father Luke Ballman, a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and Executive Director of USCCB Secretariat for Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations (CCLV) opened the gathering by providing an overview of the upcoming changes. On December 2016, Pope Francis issued new universal norms for priestly formation, the third such... Read more
From April to August 2022, the relics of Saint Bernadette will tour the United States for the first time, bringing the grace of Lourdes to parishes across the country. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is organizing the pilgrimage of the relics in partnership with the Conference of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, North American Volunteers, Hospitalité of Miami and the Order of Malta. Last week, the Relics arrived to my Parish in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The... Read more
El 27 de marzo de 2020, el Papa Francisco ascendió lentamente y solitario la larga rampa de piedra que comunica la Plaza San Pedro con las majestuosas puertas de entrada a la Basílica Vaticana. Usualmente llena de miles de peregrinos cuando el Santo Padre está presente, esta noche atípica encontró a la Plaza San Pedro con solo un puñado de curiosos bajo paraguas mientras lluvia caía y empapaba no solo al Papa, sino también al histórico crucifijo de la Iglesia... Read more
On March 27th, 2020, Pope Francis ascended slowly and alone the long stone ramp that leads from Saint Peter Square to the majestic front doors of the Vatican Basilica. Usually filled with thousands of pilgrims whenever the Pope is present, this atypical night found Saint Peter Square with only a handful of curious bystanders under umbrellas as rain fell and soaked not only the Holy Father, but also the historic crucifix from the Church of Saint Marcellus which was carried... Read more
Pope Francis has been invited to visit the nation of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelensky, the mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klitschko, the Major Archbishop of the Greek Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, and Ukraine’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Andriy Yurash. While flying to Rome after his Apostolic Visit to the island nation of Malta recently, the Pope was asked by a reporter if he is considering these invitations. He replied, “Yes, it is on the table,” without providing any... Read more
Father Tom Powers worked in Rome at one of the Congregations while I attended the Pontifical North American College in the 2010s. Today, he was named the 24th rector of my Alma Mater. Rome initially did not select one of the candidates presented by the Board of Governors of the College, and asked for the opinion of Cardinals and Archbishops of the United States. The process has now concluded with the selection of Monsignor Thomas Powers. The Seminary issued the... Read more
Cuando era niño, recuerdo preguntarle a mi mamá durante la Misa justo antes de la comunión, ¿“se le acaban las hostias al Padre?” Me respondió de manera rápida y bastante callada, “no, nunca se le acaban.” Mi mente de niño escuchó estas palabras con gran incredulidad y admiración. ¡Al sacerdote nunca se le acaban las hostias! ¡Dios debe colocarlas milagrosamente! En mi pensar, me imaginaba a ángeles depositando más hostias en el ciborio asegurándose de que haya siempre suficientes. Aunque... Read more
We are all familiar with the Parable of the Prodigal Son. There is a risk whenever we hear this Parable proclaimed, or any other well-known Parable, that we stop listening closely as soon as we recognize the passage. So I have a test question: At what moment was the younger son forgiven by the Father? Was it when he made the decision to return to his father’s house? Or was it when the Father embraced the son and kissed him? ... Read more
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Message from Committee on Pro-Life Activities
Archbishop William E. Lori of Baltimore, Chairman of the US Bishop’s Committee on Pro-Life Activities issued the statement below. The news have been reporting much on the leaked document that anticipates the reversal of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, yet nothing changes for the Catholic Church. We continue to support women and unborn children, we continue to bear witness to the dignity every human being. Here is the statement: The leak related to the U.S. Supreme Court case... Read more