Beer and pretzels: the ‘official beverage and food’ of Lent February 28, 2020By George P. Matysek Jr. Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Lent, Local News, News While beer and pretzels might be most closely associated with oom-pah music, polka dancing and Oktoberfests, they have a much older and more spiritual pedigree as the “official beverage and food of Lent,” according to Father William Saunders.
Pakistani woman who fled to Canada seeks political asylum in France February 27, 2020By Simon Caldwell Filed Under: News, World News The Catholic mother, who spent nearly a decade on death row in Pakistan after she was falsely accused of blasphemy against Islam, wants to live closer to French writer Anne-Isabelle Tollet, who was influential in her fight for freedom and helped her to write her autobiography, “Enfin Libre” (Finally Free).
Leap year’s extra day has a Catholic origin February 27, 2020By Donis Tracy Filed Under: Feature, News, Uncategorized, World News Did you know the present system of calculating the leap years was designed around fixing the date of Easter?
Intellectually disabled L’Arche members react to news of Vanier abuse February 27, 2020By Michael Swan Filed Under: News, World News For the adults with disabilities who are the core members of L’Arche, news that Jean Vanier sexually abused six women over a 35-year period hit particularly hard.
What it means to be marked on Ash Wednesday February 26, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Lent, Local News, News Ash Wednesday may be the one day of the year where observant Catholics are most visible to the rest of the public.
Shut off cellphone, open Bible for Lent, pope tells faithful February 26, 2020By Carol Glatz Filed Under: Bible, Feature, Lent, News, Vatican, Video, World News Lent is a time to remove all distractions and bitterness from one’s life in order to better hear God and those who suffer silently and need help, Pope Francis said.
A comeback for confession? Baltimore priests working to revive reconciliation February 25, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Baltimore Basilica, Feature, Lent, Local News, News Some priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore are pushing back against empty confessionals in novel ways. It’s time for confession to make a comeback, they say.
Northern Italian dioceses take drastic measures against coronavirus February 25, 2020By Cindy Wooden Filed Under: Coronavirus, News, World News With the biggest two days of celebration and costume parades left, the famous pre-Lenten “Carnevale” of Venice was canceled as were Ash Wednesday services and even funeral Masses throughout the diocese.
High court to examine religious liberty, foster care by same-sex couples February 25, 2020By Carol Zimmermann Filed Under: News, World News The U.S. Supreme Court announced Feb. 24 that in its next term it will examine if the city of Philadelphia can exclude a Catholic social services agency from the city’s foster care program because the agency will not accept same-sex couples as foster parents.
Maryland March for Life puts focus on debate over assisted suicide bills February 25, 2020By Tim Swift Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Respect Life Hundreds of people rallied through the streets of Annapolis Feb. 24 for the annual Maryland March for Life, urging more state-level restrictions on abortion and opposing a bill that would make doctor-assisted suicide legal in the state.
Pope recognizes miracle in sainthood cause of young tech whiz February 25, 2020By Junno Arocho Esteves Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News Pope Francis formally recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who the pope has said is a role model for young men and women today.
‘V Encuentro’ looks at training Hispanic Catholic leaders February 25, 2020By Miguel Vivanco Filed Under: Feature, Hispanic Ministry, Local News, News More than 100 Hispanic Catholic leaders – responsible for implementing the conclusions from the V Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry – accepted the challenge of working on the training of new missionary disciples who will be making up the Hispanic leadership over the next three decades.
