News
Marriage advice: Make time for each other, especially at Christmas
Several groups said statistics show what seems innocent -- spending less time together -- increasingly is leading to breakups in relationships.
Suds and solidarity: Buying Benedictine beer helps rebuild basilica
The monks have not been able to brew beer since before the summer quake, but in a newsletter to supporters in mid-December, they reported that bottles shipped earlier to the United States are available for Christmas gift giving.
Pope remembers Opus Dei head as ‘paternal and generous’ witness
Pope Francis expressed condolences to the members of Opus Dei following the death of Bishop Javier Echevarria, who led the prelature for over 20 years.
Fathers key to strong family and society, writer tells Serra Club
Members of the club that prays and works to promote vocations heard a speaker reflect on fatherhood and warn of the societal dangers when children grow up without a father. Almost half of those kids will live in poverty.
Villa Joseph Marie students dance for 10 hours, raise $89K to fight child cancer
Students of the Bucks County girls' high school wore out shoe leather all year by gathering donations from the community ahead of the dance-a-thon last Friday night. The money they raised blew away last year's total of $12,000.
Pope writes to Syrian president, pleading for peace and aid corridors
UPDATED - Pope Francis urged Syrian President Bashar Assad to do everything possible to end the war in his country, to protect civilians and to ensure humanitarian agencies can deliver emergency aid to the people.
Four churches to close in Philadelphia, Montgomery and Chester counties
The churches, which mostly had been worship sites of merged parishes, include St. Augustine, Bridgeport; Assumption B.V.M., West Grove; and St. Therese and St. Madeleine Sophie, both in Philadelphia’s Mount Airy section.
Give flesh to the Gospel like Mary did, pope says on Guadalupe feast
"To look at the Guadalupana is to remember that the presence of the Lord always passes through those who manage to make his word flesh, who seek to embody the life of God within themselves, becoming living signs of his mercy," Pope Francis said.
Self-centeredness is first obstacle to becoming a good priest, pope says
"How can I notice Christ if I only look at myself?" he asked. "How can I experience the beauty of the church if my only concern is to save myself, my energy and get out of every situation unscathed?"
Alabama man executed after Supreme Court denied stay
The Supreme Court did not offer an explanation for any of the orders it issued in his case. In November, it granted a last-minute hold to stop another Alabama man's death sentence but gave no reason there either.