CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – Pope Benedict XVI pointed to the Northern Ireland peace process as an example to “other troubled zones of our world” that all conflict can be overcome peacefully. After 30 years of conflict, peace in Northern Ireland was “achieved through widespread international support, determined political resolve on the part of both the...Read More

Like any boy playing baseball, Frank Kolarek dreamed of being in the big leagues and maybe even playing in the All-Star Game.Read More

Recently, I received a lovely book titled “Joy Lasts,” written by the famed art critic Sister Wendy Beckett. It’s my kind of book – 55 pages long with lots of pictures. The pictures, as you may imagine, are of the art work that she is commenting on.Read More

UNITED NATIONS – The poor are disproportionately affected by the environment and are particularly vulnerable to climate change, said Catholic representatives from around the world Sept. 6 at a U.N. conference on climate change. Small groups can adopt good practices to mitigate the adverse impact of climate change and promote human rights, they said in...Read More

Once, the most dreaded question was, “Will you be my bridesmaid?” After all, only a good friend would buy an unflattering, expensive, formal dress, wear it once in front of everyone and then never wear it again. But a trend that’s emerged in the past few years means that bridesmaids actually might be able to...Read More

Any pastoral agent working among Spanish speakers quickly encounters a phenomenon very distinctive of Hispanic religious practice – popular religiosity. Included in this broad category would be processions, novenas, religious plays and even dance.Read More

ROME – Criminals thinking about trafficking women and children for prostitution at the world’s largest sporting events in 2010 will have to face the combined force of hundreds of women’s religious orders.Read More

WASHINGTON – A list of football powerhouses among Catholic colleges in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association would probably start with Notre Dame and end with Boston College.Read More