News
El Nino-spawned storms take lives, wreak havoc in U.S., U.K., Latin America
Pope Francis called on Christians to pray for victims of several natural disasters that have hit parts of the United States, Great Britain and Paraguay. In 13 U.S. states recently, 35 people were killed by tornadoes and floods.
B.V.M. Parish’s sermons in art show divine mercy at work
Four parishioner-artists at the Darby parish expressed what the Year of Mercy means to them. Now anyone worshiping at the Delaware County church can use the art works to deepen their devotion and live with mercy.
Pope Francis has not broken with St. John Paul’s teachings, Polish archbishop says
Ahead of the pope's visit to Poland for World Youth Day next July, Poland's Catholic primate spoke about the church in his country, where Catholics make up 90 percent of the population and account for a quarter of priestly vocations in Europe.
St. Joseph/St. Robert School performs Nativity play
Students from the Catholic school in Warrington performed "Silent, Holy Night," telling the story of the birth of Jesus through Scripture readings and songs.
Homeless people who died on streets remembered in prayer
The longest night of the year, Dec. 21, can feel even longer for men and women living on the streets, so for 25 years the day has also marked the nationwide Homeless Persons' Memorial Day. One service in Green Bay featured Catholics and Buddhists joined in remembrance of the dead.
At Christmas, Maronite Catholics recall births of Jesus and Muhammad
In Beirut, Lebanese Cardinal Bechara Rai urged Christians and Muslims to work to preserve peaceful coexistence, and he called for more help for refugees. Today there are about 500,000 Palestinians in Lebanon, plus 1.5 million Syrian refugees.
Parishioners of closed Massachusetts parish plan appeal to U.S. Supreme Court
St. Francis Cabrini Parish was one of 65 closed by the Boston Archdiocese in 2004. After 11 years of 24-hour prayer vigils and legal appeals of the closure denied by the Vatican and every state court, the nation's highest court may hear a last appeal.
Only mercy can free humanity from evil, pope says
Some 50,000 people heard the Christmas message of Pope Francis at the Vatican Dec. 25. Victims of terrorism, as well as new peace accords, were in the pope's thoughts and prayers. "All sadness has been banished, for the Child Jesus brings true comfort to every heart," he said.
Families open to God learn joy and forgiveness, pope says
The joy of families "is the result of the deep harmony between people, who savor the beauty of being together, of supporting each other on life's journey," Pope Francis said. He suggested mothers and fathers bless their children at the start and end of each day with the sign of the cross.
Msgr. Lynn’s conviction overturned, court calls for new trial
Pennsylvania Superior Court said Dec. 22 that trial evidence of decades of clergy sexual abuse predating the tenure of the former archdiocesan clergy official unfairly prejudiced the jury that convicted him in 2012.