Scholar, pastor: German pope defies easy caricature
Feb 17 2008
VATICAN CITY – Americans will soon have their first close-up encounter with Pope Benedict XVI, a figure who, in the minds of many, is still coming into focus.
Some view him as a vigilant pastor, one who has used virtually every medium possible – books and speeches, sermons and encyclicals – to guide Catholics back to the essential message of Jesus and the Gospel.
In Gaza, electricity–or lack thereof–powers daily activities
Feb 12 2008
JERUSALEM – The first question friends in the Gaza Strip ask each other when they meet these days is, “Do you have electricity?”
“Three days a week we have no electricity for eight hours straight, depending on the area,” said Omar Shaban, project manager for the Gaza office of the U.S. bishops’ Catholic Relief Services. He said people no longer greet each other with “How are you?”
Bless me, Father, for I have sinned
Feb 12 2008
Where did it all start? Is it a Church invention?
The Church’s role in the forgiveness of sins is based on the very words of the Lord to Peter and on a separate occasion to the Apostles: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Jesus confirmed this gift as one of the first fruits of His Resurrection. Following the Crucifixion, the Apostles were locked in the upper room filled with fear, confusion and doubt. Suddenly, on the evening of the Resurrection, Jesus appeared in their midst with the greeting, “Peace be with you.” Jesus offered them His peace, forgiveness and reconciliation and then, the grace and ability to pass this gift along: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”
Lourdes bishop says Mary sought devotion to Jesus
Feb 11 2008
LOURDES, France – Mary did not seek devotion from St. Bernadette Soubirous and Catholics but instead sought devotion to Jesus and the Eucharist, said Bishop Jacques Perrier of Tarbes and Lourdes.
Bishop urges Catholics to study about St. Paul
Jan 28 2008
WILMINGTON, Del. – In a pastoral letter on “Celebrating the Year of St. Paul,” Bishop Michael A. Saltarelli of Wilmington has called on the faithful in his diocese to discern “how best to study, pray and celebrate the life, inspired writing, spirituality and missionary spirit of St. Paul.”
New presbyteral council meets
Jan 23 2008
A consultative body of priests known as the presbyteral council has been formed to serve as a key advisory group to Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien. The 36-member council, required by the Code of Canon Law, is composed of 17 elected members, 15 appointed members and four ex officio members.
Archdiocese names new development director
Jan 23 2008
Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien has named Patrick Madden the new executive director of development for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Mr. Madden, a parishioner of St. Augustine in Elkridge, succeeds Tom Sonni, who served in the same post from 1995-2007.
New superior urges Jesuits to strengthen service to poor
Jan 21 2008
ROME – Spanish-born Father Adolfo Nicolas, the newly elected superior general of the Jesuits, called on the more than 19,000 members of his order to strengthen their service to the poor and those excluded from the benefits of economic globalization.
Archdiocese to participate in March for Life
Jan 11 2008
Hundreds of Catholics from the Archdiocese of Baltimore will be among the more than 100,000 people expected to converge on Washington, D.C. for the 35th annual March for Life Jan. 22.