Parish News

Pope’s straight talk to Rome officials causes political storm
Jan 11 2008
VATICAN CITY – In an apparent rebuke to Rome government officials, Pope Benedict XVI criticized what he called “very serious degradation” in areas of the city and the surrounding region.

Archbishop says he will speak to Bush about Sermon
Jan 09 2008
JERUSALEM – A Catholic archbishop scheduled to accompany U.S. President George W. Bush on a tour of the Mount of Beatitudes said he would talk to him about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount.

Christians in troubled Indian mining city hide faith for rights
Jan 06 2008
KOLAR GOLD FIELDS, India – A statue of Jesus stands surrounded by idols and portraits of Hindu deities in a tailoring shop, just one way some “dalits,” or members of low castes, try to hide their Christian identity.

Shanghai bishop asks Catholics to intensify evangelization
Jan 05 2008
SHANGHAI, China – Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian of Shanghai has asked his flock to intensify evangelization efforts to mark this year’s 400th anniversary of the introduction of Catholicism to Shanghai.

Ex-British Prime Minister received into Catholic Church
Dec 26 2007
LONDON – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair became a Catholic during a private ceremony in London. Mr. Blair, previously an Anglican, was received into full communion with the Catholic Church by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor of Westminster. Mr. Blair was sponsored at the Mass of reception by his wife, Cherie, a Catholic.

Young adult ministry shifts focus
Dec 25 2007
The Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is shifting from a focus on young adult programs to an approach they hope will infuse young adults throughout parish life.

Young adult ministry shifts focus
Dec 19 2007
The Division of Youth and Young Adult Ministry is shifting from a focus on young adult programs to an approach they hope will infuse young adults throughout parish life.

Biblical diary by Chinese Catholics goes into second print
Dec 15 2007
MACAU – A biblical diary with scriptural reflections by Chinese Catholics went into its second print run in less than a month.

Dioceses sell property, reduce staffs to pay settlements
Dec 12 2007
WASHINGTON – The clergy sex abuse scandal continued to have a major financial impact on U.S. Catholic dioceses in 2007 as multimillion-dollar settlements were reached with abuse victims and dioceses funded their share by selling church property, reducing staff and, in at least one case, soliciting contributions from priests and lay Catholics.

God remains source of comfort in shooting tragedy
Dec 10 2007
OMAHA, Neb. – In a time of great sadness and pain, God remains present as a source of comfort, an Omaha priest said in his homily at a Dec. 6 prayer service for the victims of shootings the day before at one of the city’s shopping malls.

Catholic students help survivors of cyclone in Bangladesh
Dec 08 2007
DHAKA, Bangladesh – After a day of trudging through the debris of wrecked homes handing out relief coupons to survivors of the recent cyclone, the president of the Bangladesh Catholic Students’ Movement was tired.

Myanmar’s bishops: Cut down on parties, focus on peace
Dec 06 2007
YANGON, Myanmar – Bishops in Myanmar have called on Catholics to cut down on external celebrations of Advent and Christmas this year and focus on promoting peace and development.

Details on papal Mass tickets likely not ready for weeks
Dec 01 2007
WASHINGTON – To answer the question that is increasingly being asked of officials with the archdioceses of Washington and New York – and pretty much anyone else who works for the Catholic Church in the region – you can’t yet get tickets to any events during Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to those cities in April.

Pope expresses hope for Annapolis peace conference
Nov 26 2007
VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI said he hoped the U.S.-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis, Md., would help Palestinians and Israelis reach a “just and definitive solution.”

Lawsuit with Jesuits settled for $50 million
Nov 21 2007
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – The attorney for plaintiffs in more than 100 claims of clergy sex abuse announced Nov. 18 a $50 million settlement with the Society of Jesus for cases involving more than a dozen Jesuits posted in Alaska between 1961 and 1987.