Reconcile with God, resurrect hope in others, pope urges at Easter
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden and Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Easter is a feast of hope, a celebration of God’s mercy and a call to pray for and assist all who suffer, Pope Francis said before giving his solemn blessing “urbi et orbi” (to the city …
Vatican: Pope Benedict is frail, but his mind remains ‘perfectly lucid’
IMAGE: CNS/EPA By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although retired Pope Benedict XVI is growing more frail, there are no particular concerns or worries regarding his health, a Vatican spokesman said. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, issued a statement March 25 following an interview with Archbishop …
Franciscan sister says there was ‘no limit’ to Joe Garagiola’s generosity
IMAGE: CNS photo/Rick Scuteri, Reuters By PHOENIX (CNS) — Baseball legend and popular sports broadcaster Joe Garagiola, who died March 23 at age 90, recounted in a Catholic News Service interview 20 years ago how St. Peter Mission School in the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix claimed his …
Pope to refugees: Despite differences, all people are God’s children
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Junno Arocho Esteves ROME (CNS) — In a moving gesture of brotherhood and peace, Pope Francis washed the feet of several refugees, including Muslims, Hindus and Copts. Gestures, like Jesus washing the feet of his disciples, “speak louder than words,” he said during the Holy Thursday …
Pope makes ‘mercy Friday’ visit to elderly, infirm
By ROME (CNS) — As part of his personal observance of the Year of Mercy, Pope Francis made an unannounced, “private” visit to a retirement home and to a group home for people in a persistent vegetative state, the Vatican said. The visits to the 33 residents of the Bruno …
Pope: Priests can be blinded by complex theology, ‘bubbly’ spirituality
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Priests must identify with people who are excluded and not be blinded by complex theology, an excessively “bubbly” and watered-down spirituality, and worldliness that is more and more accessible in the digital age, Pope Francis said. Priests can also …
Crowd outside Supreme Court rallies against federal contraceptive mandate
IMAGE: CNS photo/Joshua Roberts, Reuters By Kurt Jensen WASHINGTON (CNS) — In the end, the women religious decided it would be good to sing after all. That wasn’t on the agenda for the sunny 90-minute rally in front of the Supreme Court March 23 in support of the plaintiffs in …
The sacred triduum: Holy Thursday through Easter
The Paschal Triduum is a three-day period beginning with Holy Thursday evening and culminating in the celebration of Easter. According to the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, the Triduum, which means three days, goes from Thursday evening with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper until Evening Prayer on …
Tradition of “praying the steps” continues in 2016
Each year countless people come from all across the region to “pray the steps” at Holy Cross-Immaculata church in Mount Adams. The parish put out the following press release this week to assist those interested in participating in the experience. For Immediate Release March 23, 2016 On Good Friday, March …
Throwback (Holy) Thursday: Clergy gather at Chrism Mass
In every diocese around the globe this week, a Chrism Mass was (or today will be) celebrated. At this Mass, priests, deacons, religious and laity all gather with their bishop, generally at his cathedral, where he will bless the holy oils that will be used throughout his diocese for the coming …
