Quote
“It’s a chance for them to gather together at a Mass as a family and to interact with each other and then break bread together. … They’re united in their Catholicism. It’s a chance they don’t otherwise have during the season.” | Ray McKenna, founder and president of Catholic Athletes for Christ, which helped to organize the NFL Scouting Combine Mass Feb. 22 in Indianapolis. More than 100 Catholic NFL team officials, including head coaches, gathered for Mass and a meal amid the hustle and bustle of the NFL Scouting Combine, which analyzes draft-eligible college football players. (Catholic News Service)
In brief
Showing off the shroud
VATICAN CITY — The Archdiocese of Turin, custodian of the Shroud of Turin, has announced that the shroud, venerated by many as the burial cloth of Christ, will be on public display April 19-June 24, 2015.
The archdiocese said the 67-day display will be the longest period of time that the 14-foot-by-4-foot linen cloth has ever been available for public viewing. That will allow more faithful to see it and also will make it easier for Pope Francis to schedule the visit he has said he wants to make. (Catholic News Service)
Saints under 35
Lifelong missionary
Blessed Adilio Daronch’s faith never wavered throughout his brief life, which ended at just age 16 at the hands of revolutionaries in Brazil. He and his mentor were declared martyrs by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, 82 years after their deaths.
Adilio was born in 1908 in a municipality in Brazil. As a child he was close to one priest, Father Gonzalez, and would join him on arduous pastoral visits. Then in school, where he was a devoted altar server, Adilio came under the wings of the school’s founder, Father Manuel.
In 1924 Adilio joined Father Manuel on a missionary journey to visit Teutonic colonies in a Brazilian forest — an area teeming with extremists. The pair traveled to the area despite raising the suspicions of revolutionaries and receiving warnings from locals. Father Manuel and Adilio ultimately fell victim to a trap set up in the forest, where they were tied to separate trees and shot; their bodies were found days later, untouched by any animals. (www.vatican.va)
