Soon after the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, I read an excellent article in the British news magazine The Economist that concluded that one thing was certain during the fallout of the massacre: nothing would change in the United States. The author argued that despite the public outcry, nothing would change. Here we are, ten years later, and we continue to face the same unspeakable horror. Earlier today, I watched an interview on television of the father of a beautiful... Read more
During the Easter season we have been hearing from the Acts of the Apostles; a record written by Saint Luke of how the early church expanded as the disciples went out into the whole world. We read how the early Christians owned everything in common, how many died courageously in defense of the faith, and how thousands were baptized at a time after zeal-filled sermons delivered by the apostles. It is easy to mistakenly conclude that everything was rosy and... Read more
Los niños imitan lo que ven – es un hecho indiscutible. Asimismo, un aprendiz aprende de lo que observa al maestro. Independientemente de cuánto conocimiento académico o preparación tenga uno, la experiencia personal es la forma más confiable de transmitir y retener el conocimiento. Los maestros saben que la repetición es clave para que los estudiantes recuerden el material enseñado. Últimamente, he estado viendo videos y documentales en línea sobre orangutanes. Los jóvenes animales aprenden comportamientos observando a sus madres,... Read more
Children imitate what they see. This is an unarguable fact. Likewise, an apprentice or intern learns from what he or she sees. Regardless of how much book knowledge or preparation one has, personal experience is the most reliable manner to transmit and to retain knowledge. Teachers know that repetition is key for students to learn. Lately, I have been watching several online videos and documentaries about orangutangs. The young ones learn behaviors by watching their mothers, and those either in... Read more
Cardinal Wilton Gregory delivered a beautiful and personal homily for the Ordination of Bishop Jacques Fabre, new Bishop of Charleston, South Carolina. He began noting that now Haiti provides a son to be Bishop of South Carolina; a man from a religious community that is missionary at heart. He stressed that the new Bishop will add to the glorious history of this venerable and early American Diocese, which was founded in 1820. He continued by expressing gratitude toward outgoing Bishop... Read more
In August 2019, a Pew Research Center study showed that only one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with the Church that the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ. Sixty-nine percent stated it is symbolic. In addition to this, it was also reported that 60% of observant Catholics who attend Mass weekly accept the Church’s teaching on transubstantiation – meaning, that bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Since concerns were raised in regards to how the... Read more
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
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
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
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In
Mexican Guadalajara Archdiocese to ordain 70 priests
In a historic event, the Cardinal Archbishop Jose Francisco Robles Ortega of Guadalajara, Mexico will ordain seventy men to the Priesthood. It will take place at the Santuario de los Martires in two rounds: thirty-three on Saturday, June 4th and thirty-eight on Sunday, June 5th. The Diocesan Seminary of Guadalajara is known to be one of the largest in the world. In 2018, the Seminary had 1,186 students enrolled. Of that total number, 330 were Theologians. An initial Seminary was... Read more