News
Catholic spokesman defends Egyptian army crackdown against protesters
Egypt's Health Ministry confirmed Aug. 15 that more than 500 protesters and police were killed and more than 3,700 injured when security forces used bulldozers, tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protest camps in Cairo and other cities around the country. A spokesman for Egypt's Catholic Church said Western media had falsified the situation in Egypt by portraying the conflict as political when it mostly concerned violent acts by a small minority of Egypt's 82.5 million inhabitants. Pope Francis led prayers to Mary, queen of peace, calling for calm in the country.
Local Catholics asked to take a hike on autumn pilgrimage to Cathedral
This fall it will be time to lace up some comfortable shoes and start stretching, because on Sunday, Oct. 13 the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will host a Pilgrimage of Faith to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in celebration of the Year of Faith. Parishes from all over the Archdiocese are expected to participate, either by walking to the center city cathedral or taking transportation.
Pilgrimage of Faith sets up sites to organize walk to cathedral
To ease travel along the Oct. 13 Pilgrimage of Faith, several locations within walking distance to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul have been designated as “landing sites.” Participants in the pilgrimage are encouraged to gather at their home parish then travel to one of landing sites and walk to the cathedral. A […]
When migrants arrive, parish volunteers provide rides to Mass, meals
ENFIELD, Conn. (CNS) -- In summertime, tobacco grows practically like a weed under white nets and in open fields throughout the tobacco valley of central Connecticut. Near the end of June, when the plants are about knee-high, migrant workers who have journeyed thousands of miles by bus from Mexico and beyond, or by air from Puerto Rico, start arriving for three-month jobs cultivating the crop on Connecticut farms. And with their arrival, St. Patrick Parish continues its long-standing Hispanic ministry program to cultivate their faith.
Case solved: Father Dowling was mystery priest at accident scene
ST. LOUIS (CNS) -- The identity of a "mystery" priest who prayed with a young woman at the scene of an accident in central Missouri has been solved. The Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., has identified the priest as Father Patrick Dowling, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, who is currently serving in prison ministry and in parish ministry to Spanish-speaking Catholics in the diocese.
‘Faith, family, football’ permeates Steelers team, says Benedictine
LATROBE, Pa. (CNS) -- Ask Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney why his football team has been training at St. Vincent College since 1966, and he says that the campus has the right facilities, it's close to Pittsburgh and "for many reasons, it works well." Then he adds with a laugh, "And it helps that it's the Benedictines."
Detroit’s bankruptcy seen as chance for city to become livable again
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The bankruptcy of Detroit does not mean the city is dead, said Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron. Residents and political leaders certainly are challenged and remain uncertain, the archbishop of Detroit told Catholic News Service. "I would say people are responding with a lot of grit," he said. "Stories about the city being on its death bed are wrong."
Living in car with sons, Detroit woman embodies city’s challenges
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- After three months, Katrina Robinson and her two young sons are getting tired of roaming Detroit's suburbs to find a safe place to sleep. Since May, on the nights when they can't crash with family or friends, the family car is the only shelter Robinson and her two young sons have. The 24-hour big box stores, with bright lighting, security cameras and a decent amount of foot traffic that deters robbers from lurking offer the safest place to bed down for the night.
Pope Francis discovers charismatic movement a gift to the whole church
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During World Youth Day celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, July 23-28, many worshippers in the crowds could be seen swaying from side to side, arms raised in the air, wearing rapt or joyous expressions on their faces. Such scenes, along with on-stage appearances by celebrities such as Father Marcelo Rossi, a mega-church pastor whose records and movies regularly top the charts in his native Brazil, testified to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal's strong influence on the church in Latin America today.
Father Chwieroth, devoted priest in education and parish work, dies at 89
Father Edward J. Chwieroth, 89, a former faculty member at archdiocesan high schools, died Aug. 8.