News
After decades, soccer’s elder statesmen still have the fire to coach, teach
At Archbishop Wood, Joe Krantz captured his 400th coaching victory Sept. 3. About six weeks later – Oct. 14 to be exact – St. Joseph’s Preparatory School’s Jim Murray reached coaching victory number 600. Come next fall, both men will be directing their young, impressionable troops from their respective sidelines. Murray and Krantz – both of them respected institutions at their high schools for a combined seven decades -- still possess the heart to keep going.
Special Mass remembers Sandy’s victims, celebrates parish’s resilience
BELLE HARBOR, N.Y. (CNS) -- Joyful prayers, songs and conversation could be heard along the street as the parish community of St. Francis de Sales in Belle Harbor gathered to observe the first anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. Brooklyn Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the main celebrant of a special evening Mass of remembrance and thanksgiving Oct. 26.
Magnificat Day features prayer, reflection, procession through Philadelphia
Magnificat Day, a unique gathering for liturgical prayer, music, inspirational talks and reflection is set for Saturday, Nov. 9, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. While registration is closed for the day-long event, which is sponsored by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Magnificat Foundation, another opportunity for worship is being offered to local Catholics who cannot attend the program at the convention center.
At Mass near John Paul’s tomb, pope focuses on experiencing God’s love
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Surprising pilgrims at Blessed John Paul II's tomb, Pope Francis made an early morning visit to St. Peter's Basilica and celebrated Mass with the mostly Polish pilgrims. More than 100 priests and pilgrims were gathered Oct. 31 at the basilica's Chapel of St. Sebastian for a morning Mass near Blessed John Paul's tomb. Pope Francis arrived unannounced to preside at the liturgy and prayed for the late pope's intercession to help today's Christians be strong, not weak in their faith.
Vatican not worried about possibility U.S. monitored its calls
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican has no evidence its calls were monitored by the U.S. National Security Agency and, even if they were, “we have no concerns about it,” the Vatican spokesman said. Asked about the possibility that the NSA’s electronic eavesdropping program had monitored Vatican calls, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told reporters Oct. […]
Students from dozens of Catholic schools get EITC grants
St. Hubert High School in Northeast Philadelphia hosted business leaders, local politicians and the families of students who benefited from Pennsylvania's Educational Improvement Tax Credit scholarships during a presentation led by Bridge Educational Foundation Monday, Oct. 28. The foundation also announced tuition scholarship awards the following day at St. Anthony of Padua Regional School in South Philadelphia. The scholarships totaled $366,525 for students of the areas.
Photo of the day
For about an hour last Saturday evening, during Pope Francis’ meeting with families in St. Peter’s Square, a little boy took over as prefect of the papal household: he helped bring guests up to the pope, he tried to take presents off the pope’s hands, he adjusted the pope’s microphone. He didn’t leave the pope’s side.
Photo of the day
Pope Francis drinks mate, the traditional Argentine herbal tea, as he arrives to lead his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Oct. 30. The drink was given by a person in the crowd. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Ethiopia’s Catholic leaders see education as key to development, peace
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Ethiopian church leaders are hoping education can help fight some cultural traditions, such as female circumcision and beliefs that epileptic children are possessed. They also hope that by building schools close to villages, parents will feel more secure sending girls to classes, because the proximity will make them less vulnerable to rape and kidnapping.
Central African Republic prelates hope for results from U.N. appeal
Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga of Bangui, Central African Republic, told the U.N. Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review Working Group that his nation was a powder keg, and that since March the rebel coalition Seleka had expanded from 3,500 to 25,000 members, aided by child soldiers and a "constant supply of weapons."