Christmas ‘hijacked’ by consumerist mentality, pope says December 23, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News While Christmas has become a universal holiday, even for many nonbelievers, its celebration always should focus on the reality that God sent his son into the world to save humanity, Pope Francis said.
Chalk Talk: Epiphany door blessing is symbol of hope in 2021 December 23, 2020By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News, Schools The blessing involves taking simple chalk, usually blessed by a parish priest, and scrawling doorways with symbolic numbers and letters – this year, “20+C+M+B+21.”
Region’s bishops urge Trump to stop planned federal execution of Maryland man December 22, 2020By Tim Swift Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life The prelates of the Maryland Catholic Conference have written to President Donald Trump, urging him to not move forward with the planned federal execution of a Maryland man next month.
Two Vatican cardinals test positive for COVID-19; one hospitalized December 22, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, Vatican, World News Two top Vatican officials — Cardinal Konrad Krajewski and Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello — have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, Italian media reported, and a Vatican source confirmed.
Nativity light-sound show projected on U.S. cathedral called joyful, hopeful December 22, 2020By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, World News The gentle and hopeful show came as the nation grapples with COVID-19, stark political divisions and racial tensions brought by the death of George Floyd.
Bicentennial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s death to be marked with special events Jan. 4 December 22, 2020By Patricia Zapor Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News It’s not what was intended a year ago, but the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the death of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Jan. 4 could well be bigger than might have been possible before the COVID-19 pandemic curtailed in-person events and made people comfortable with online gatherings.
Holy Family Parish brings Christmas cheer to Baltimore’s northwest suburbs December 21, 2020By Kevin J. Parks Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, Local News, News In a normal Christmas, the charity drive helps about 60 families. With COVID-19 increasing the number of households in need, this year it helped nearly 80, and directed a query from Rockville to local resources in Montgomery County.
RADIO INTERVIEW: Christmas Joy with Father John Catoir December 21, 2020By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Advent, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview On the Dec. 20 episode of Catholic Review Radio, Christopher Gunty interviews Father John Catoir, the longtime host of the TV show, “Christopher Closeup.”
Vatican: Without alternatives, current COVID-19 vaccines are morally acceptable December 21, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Coronavirus, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The Vatican’s doctrinal office said that when alternative vaccines are not available, it is morally acceptable to receive COVID-19 vaccines developed or tested using cell lines originating from aborted fetuses.
New Year’s Eve service at St. Ignatius Parish goes virtual December 21, 2020By Mary K. Tilghman Catholic Review Filed Under: Christmas, Coronavirus, Feature, Local News, News Prayers, blessings and reflections from Baltimore-area religious and civic leaders, filmed in their own houses of worship and offices, have been gathered, for one last look at 2020 before stepping into 2021.
Frankincense’s future: Ancient gift endangered, risks depletion December 18, 2020By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A study published last year in the journal, Nature Sustainability, predicted frankincense resin production will be halved in the next 20 years.
Christmas is sign of God’s preferential love for the poor, cardinal says December 18, 2020By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Reaching out to and helping the poor “is to imitate God; it is to make oneself small out of love in order to raise up the other,” the preacher of the papal household told Pope Francis, officials of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees.
