News
Pope names bishop for Albany Diocese; Rockville Centre to get auxiliary
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard of Albany, N.Y., and named Msgr. Edward B. Scharfenberger, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y., to succeed him.
Ukrainian church leader asks for prayers to resolve national crisis
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, Ukraine, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, capped a weeklong visit to the United States by asking all people of goodwill to join Ukrainian Catholics in prayer to resolve the ongoing political crisis in Ukraine.
Thumbnail bios of the men who will become cardinals Feb. 22
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Here is some brief biographical information about each of the 19 churchmen Pope Francis will induct into the College of Cardinals Feb. 22.
Puerto Rican sainthood candidate known for piety, drive to teach poor
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (CNS) -- To the average Puerto Rican, born and raised in the country, the figure of "el maestro Rafael" (Rafael the teacher) was a fleeting reference in a grade school lesson.
Miami Catholic hopes app will help people ‘fall in love with the Mass’
As a young man, Dan Gonzalez drifted from the church and stopped attending Mass. As he learned about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist, his life's work caught fire: explaining the meaning and value of the Catholic Mass to the young.
Massachusetts abbey now producing only Trappist ale outside Europe
The new Belgian-style ale, brewed by Trappist monks in Massachusetts, sold out in liquor stores in two hours, and demand for more is heavy. After covering living expenses of the monks and maintenance of the grounds, all profits from the sale of the ale will be donated to charity.
Teens invited to theology of the body workshop in Chester County
St. Peter Parish in West Brandywine is hosting a weekend workshop Feb. 22-23 to help teens learn about their own bodies, issues of sexual morality and how people are uniquely created for greatness.
Philippine program brings boats to fishermen, jobs to carpenters
Fishing villages along the Philippine island of Leyte's Pacific coast saw their livelihoods destroyed by Typhoon Haiyan Nov. 8 as it smashed almost everything in its path, fishing boats included. A pilot program is providing new boats with motors -- an upgrade from rowing with oars -- and the local jobs to build the boats.
Mass, even with the pope, isn’t a tourist activity; it’s God’s time
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- An invitation to attend Pope Francis' early morning Mass is a hot ticket in Rome, but the pope said the Mass -- in his residence or anywhere else -- isn't an event, but a time for entering into the mystery of God.
Pope urges Sri Lankans to reconcile, accepts invitation to visit
Meeting a group of pilgrims from Sri Lanka, Pope Francis said he knew that cooperating with former adversaries in the country's recently ended civil war "was not easy," but was "the only path that gives hope for the future." When he asked the pilgrims to share with him some of their songs, the choirs and dancers were happy to comply.