Refraining from food is not an end in itself. It points beyond itself, focusing our attention on the reality of God’s presence here and now. By David Gibson Catholic News Service Fasting is a paradox for Christians. It encompasses seemingly contradictory intentions. First, fasting appears to possess a negative quality. It asks us to do […]
Pope: Don’t worry how it’s spent, always give homeless a handout
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — People who don’t give money to the homeless because they think it will be spent on alcohol and not food should ask themselves what guilty pleasures they are secretly spending money on, Pope Francis said. “There are many excuses” to justify why one doesn’t lend a […]
Father John Catoir: My farewell column
As a young college student, I found myself drifting away from the church. I had a thousand questions, and I found institutional religion unappealing. If it were not for a piece of writing that spoke to my heart, by Cardinal John Henry Newman, I don’t know where I’d be today: “God has created me to […]
Father Kenneth Doyle: Why the name change when parishes merge?
QUESTION CORNER Q: Why do names of churches have to change when parishes merge? I understand that they might not want to have a St. Mary’s/St. Joseph’s, but the new names are nothing like what we were used to; they are more complicated and difficult to remember. (Latham, New York) A: Names of churches do […]
Father Eugene Hemrick: Prosperity: The hope of America
THE HUMAN SIDE Everyone loves to hear that we are going to be made prosperous. The reason is found in the derivation of the word “prosperous” coming from the Latin “spes,” meaning hope. Much of America’s future hope is based on people having a reliable job, equitable financial means for living comfortably, access to education […]
Ash Wednesday: Rituals and symbols
One way to prepare ourselves for Lent is to better understand the day that starts it all: Ash Wednesday. The words spoken while ashes are pressed on our foreheads ignite us like the opening gun at a race. We’re off. A pilgrimage has begun. Ash Wednesday is a rally of sorts, to give people encouragement […]
Vatican summit participants vow efforts to stop organ trafficking
By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A Vatican summit on organ trafficking called for greater efforts to prevent the exploitation of those vulnerable to corrupt health professionals and criminal networks making the sale of human organs possible. “We, the undersigned participants of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences summit on organ trafficking, resolve […]
Effie Caldarola: Our refugee family
ON THE JOURNEY On a recent Sunday, I delivered fresh produce to the Syrian refugee family my Catholic community sponsored this year. As I parked outside the apartment building, eager little faces were watching for me from the second-floor window, and soon the three oldest children of the family dashed from the door below to […]
In tragedy, family turns to saints, starts company to share devotion
By Connor Bergeron Catholic News Service ARLINGTON, Va. — Small, colorful plastic Catholic saints can be seen hanging from key chains, zippers and backpacks alongside Hello Kitty and Pokemon. They’re called Tiny Saints, and founders Joe and Colleen Klinker conceived the idea as they explained the death of their stillborn daughter, Melody Paige, to her […]
China, Vatican reach consensus on appointing bishops
By Barb Fraze Catholic News Service WASHINGTON — China and the Vatican have reached consensus on the appointment of bishops, which will lead to the resolution of other outstanding problems, said Hong Kong Cardinal John Tong. “From now on, there will be no more the crisis of a division between the open and underground communities […]
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