On Sunday we were preparing to welcome some 850 new Catholics to the Church when the weather turned nasty: we canceled the ceremonies, which normally are events of great joy. The sanctuary overflows with the participants, each full of anticipation. They look forward to Easter and being received into full communion at the Easter Vigil....Read More

There’s a new sheriff in town. How we want him to succeed! Father John Hurley, a Paulist Priest, heads the newly formed Department of Evangelization.Read More

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference said it was horrified at the intimidation of doctors and teachers by striking protesters and at the neglect of patients and pupils during an intensifying public sector strike.Read More

VATICAN CITY – During a 90-minute question-and-answer session with pastors from the Diocese of Rome, Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the priests to face challenges with trust that God’s love will have the last word. The pope’s remarks were punctuated by applause and laughter, including his own, as he responded Feb. 22 to questions about youth...Read More

ANNAPOLIS – Making their voices heard in the state capital, nearly 600 Catholics converged on Annapolis Feb. 19 to spend their Presidents Day holiday learning about important legislative issues and lobbying lawmakers on prolife, social justice and educational concerns. Sponsored by the Maryland Catholic Conference, the event began with legislative briefings at St. Mary’s High...Read More

Tony Magliano (CR, Aug. 5) questions the morality of the mass killing of so many in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There is a moral question in killing so many civilians; can that be resolved outside the context of what was happening at that time?Read More

Suppose you were to go to the sacrament of reconciliation, to confession, and after confessing your sins, the priest would say something such as, “For your penance I want you to travel to a distant city. This journey will involve long lines of traffic. When you arrive, you will stay in crowded conditions, and often...Read More

Lent is a time of prayer, a time of penance and a time for sacrificing to draw closer to Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice, said Father James Farmer, pastor of St. Ursula, Parkville, while sitting in his corner office reflecting on how his parishioners and Catholics everywhere can make the most out of the Lenten...Read More