Catholics on Guam recall highlights, excitement of pope’s visit in 1981
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Agana By Tony C. Diaz ALTAMONT, N.Y. (CNS) — Father Joseph Girzone, who became far more prominent in retirement than during active ministry because of his “Joshua” series of novels, died Nov. 29 at St. Peter’s Hospice Inn in in Altamont. He was 85. A …
Every Saturday, the Mercy Bus brings lapsed Catholics to confession
IMAGE: CNS photo/Simon Caldwell By Simon Caldwell BURNLEY, England (CNS) — A diocese in England is using a double-decker bus as a venue for priests to hear the confessions of people who have stopped going to church. The Mercy Bus is touring the Diocese of Salford during Lent in an …
Head of Ukrainian Catholic Church consoled by pope’s words
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church said he was consoled by Pope Francis’ words of understanding and tenderness after he expressed the disappointment of Ukrainians with a joint declaration signed by the pope and the Russian Orthodox patriarch. The pope’s …
Climate deal must be transformative, papal envoy tells leaders in Paris
IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Heads of state discussing carbon emission limits must create a global and “transformative” agreement built on justice, solidarity and fairness, a papal representative told the U.N. climate conference in Paris. Pope Francis has said “it would be tragic” if special interests “manipulated information” …
Father Endres named dean of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary
A post to the institution’s website on Monday announced that Father David Endres will succeed Father Earl Fernandes as dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary. “I am happy to announce that I am appointing Father David Endres as dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount …
Pope: Being Christian is doing God’s will, not just talking the talk
IMAGE: CNS photo/Angelo Carconi, EPA By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — For a Christian, talk is cheap; the faith requires concretely doing God’s will and serving the least as well as those around you, Pope Francis said at his morning Mass. “God is concrete” and so is the Christian …
Diocese of Toledo closes Catholic Chronicle as part of budget cuts
Update: The Toledo Diocese will cease publishing its newspaper, close its related website, end production of a weekly televised Mass and reduce spending at the diocesan pastoral center by 20 percent to plug a budget deficit. “We must be committed to cease our practice of deficit spending,” Bishop Daniel E. …
Bishop challenges Catholics to combat ‘ugly tide of anti-Islamic bigotry’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Denis Grasska, The Southern Cross By Denis Grasska SAN DIEGO (CNS) — San Diego Bishop Robert W. McElroy is challenging U.S. Catholics to take an active role in combating “the scourge of anti-Islamic prejudice.” “We are witnessing in the United States a new nativism, which the American Catholic …
Pope says he was surprised by crowds, joy in Africa
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Joyce Duriga ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT FROM AFRICA (CNS) — Pope Francis told reporters he is well aware that God is a god of surprises, but he had not been prepared for what a surprise his first visit to Africa would be. Obviously tired, but equally …
On eve of U.N. climate summit, Catholics join in calls for change
IMAGE: CNS photo/Simone Orendain By John Mulderig PARIS (CNS) — Hundreds of thousands of people in at least 150 countries around the world demanded action on climate change on the eve of a U.N. conference that aimed to find agreement on greenhouse gas emissions. Heads of state traveled to Paris …