News
‘Black mass’ outcry leads to cancellation, prayers
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (CNS) -- A Harvard University student group's plan to conduct a satanic ritual "black mass" May 12 on campus brought a public outcry, leading to its formal cancellation and an apparently impromptu off-campus version of the event, as well as a well-attended alternative Catholic holy hour.
Vatican archbishop: Buon giorno Philadelphia!
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia of the Pontifical Council for the Family toured the city’s historic sites – including the possible site of a Mass with Pope Francis – in a visit to help plan next year’s World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
New rural police force in Mexico faces distrust from priests, community
MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Father Andres Larios once supported the highly effective self-defense groups, which formed to fight off drug cartels carrying out various crimes in the western state of Michoacan.
Letters to Irish priest reveal Jackie Kennedy’s struggles with faith
DUBLIN (CNS) -- Newly released letters between former U.S. first lady Jacqueline Kennedy and a Dublin-based priest reveal Kennedy's struggles to keep her faith after her husband's assassination.
Be meek, open to joy, newness offered by the Holy Spirit, pope says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians who are too serious and gloomy have the Holy Spirit missing from their lives, Pope Francis said.
‘Unsafe, unstable’ Pottstown church closed
The main roof timbers of Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown are failing, causing "structurally unstable conditions" and leading to the church's temporary closure last week. The 115-year-old church has been a worship site of St. Aloysius Parish since 2004.
Young adults invited to overnight retreat
Malvern Retreat House's annual retreat May 30-31 for men and women in their 20s and 30s, single and married, will focus on the new evangelization and parish revitalization.
Immaculata University offers 4-day spirituality series
"Summer Spirituality Days" offers workshops -- including one by CatholicPhilly.com columnist Michelle Francl-Donnay -- for spiritual reflection on the Immaculata campus in June.
Harvard student group’s ‘black mass’ plan spurs outcry on, off campus
Father Michael E. Drea, the senior Catholic chaplain at Harvard, condemned the event and invited the Catholic community of the university to a Eucharistic holy hour and benediction at a church near the campus at the same time as the event May 12.
Future of evangelization is here, and it’s on the Internet, priest says
Oblate Father Thomas Dailey, a communications professor, told a group of lay people and clergy May 9 about the task of spreading the faith in a culture where the computer is always on, people are always in touch and their knowledge is “in the cloud.”