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May 2016

May 26

St. John XXIII's aide, oldest member College of Cardinals, dies at 100

May 26, 2016

VATICAN CITY – The former secretary to a saint and the oldest member of the College of Cardinals died May 26 at the age of 100.

Time to rethink role of women in Church

May 26, 2016

Does anybody today believe men are intellectually superior to women because of their gender? The question is not about the intelligence of an individual man or woman, but collectively. Simply put: if you have the Y chromosome does it make you smarter?

Text from Corups Christi mass

May 26, 2016

Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass being celebrated on the steps of Rome's cathedral Basilica of St. John Lateran on Thursday, to mark the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Our Lord. Below, please find the full text of the Holy Father's prepared remarks, in their official English translation.

May 27

Canada’s abortion laws are misguided

May 27, 2016

Justin Trudeau’s Liberals captivated Canadians during last year’s election campaign with its vision to create a new Canada — a humanitarian Canada focused on making the world a more optimistic and equal place. But in its good-natured desire for rapid change, the government’s efforts to protect the dignity of the human person have been misguided.

Mexican people cry out for social change

May 27, 2016

TORONTO – Mexico is ready for social change. The problem is that no one can agree on where to start, said Miguel Alvarez Gandara.

Canadian Holocaust survivor tells story of his lucky escape in new memoir

May 27, 2016

AURORA, ONT. – When a gang of pretty high school girls spot 87-year-old Max Eisen they all shout “Max!” and shuffle over for a hug and a chat with the man who showed them the inside of Auschwitz last summer.

Archbishop Prigione, first nuncio to Mexico, dies in Italy

May 27, 2016

ROME – An Italian archbishop who served as the first apostolic nuncio to Mexico died May 27 at the age of 94.

Deacons gather in Rome, share reflections on ministry, challenges

May 27, 2016

ROME – Thousands of permanent deacons and their wives began their Year of Mercy celebration by cutting straight to the heart of what it means to be a deacon, how the ministry impacts their families and the challenge of explaining their vocation to others, including bishops and priests.

May 28

Lebanese leaders hope pope-imam meeting leads to new relationships

May 28, 2016

BEIRUT – Lebanese leaders in Muslim-Christian dialogue said they hoped Pope Francis' meeting with Ahmad el-Tayeb, grand imam of al-Azhar University, would lead to new relationships.

New Polish saint calls people to 'contemplate God's mercy,' bishops say

May 28, 2016

WARSAW, Poland – The founder of the first Polish male religious order, who will be canonized in Rome June 5, calls people "to contemplate God's mercy and proclaim that God's heart is open to all," said Poland's bishops.

In Lebanon, Muslims and Christians visit Marian shrine at Harissa

May 28, 2016

HARISSA, Lebanon – High on a summit overlooking the Mediterranean, Our Lady of Lebanon stands majestically with her arms outstretched, welcoming her children.

May 29

Review: Paul Martin Sr. biography gives Catholic politician recognition he rarely received

May 29, 2016

If Paul Martin Sr. had won the 1948 Liberal leadership convention instead of Louis St. Laurent, the Martins, not the Trudeaus, may well have been the first father and son to lead the country.

Woodworker creates ministry building caskets out of reclaimed lumber

May 29, 2016

FRONT ROYAL, Va. – Above the hum of the table saw, one story was told, then another.

Venezuelans fight hunger, fear civil unrest

May 29, 2016

BARQUISIMETO, Venezuela – Under other circumstances, Jonny Lopez might have been happy that he was losing weight.

May 30

Ignore the church schedule and serve the people, pope tells deacons

May 30, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Deacons are called to be servants who set aside their own self-serving plans and are generous with their lives, Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis tells Internet celebrities to take 'path of optimism and hope'

May 30, 2016

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis is already a celebrity and an internet sensation in his own right, so it was perhaps no surprise that he had words of wisdom for some of YouTube’s top stars in a meeting over the weekend — and that a few Hollywood A-listers were also lining up for a photo-op.

Nine men complete journey to permanent diaconate in Toronto

May 30, 2016

In Paul McCourt’s working world it’s all about effective, efficient solutions. He builds software applications for banks and insurance companies — applying technology to the tasks of moving, sharing and securing information.

To Deacons: ‘you are called to serve, not to be self-serving’

May 30, 2016

Pope Francis on Sunday told Deacons from across the globe that they must be generous with their lives and with their time.

Cardinal Lacroix warns of euthanasia dangers

May 30, 2016

OTTAWA – With the June 6 deadline fast approaching for the federal government to come up with a law around assisted suicide, Canada’s Catholic Primate has issued a challenge to all people of good will who know someone reaching the end stages of life.

Spina bifida no obstacle to call to serve for St. Catharines’ priest

May 30, 2016

None of Fr. Trevor Plug’s seminary professors is quite willing to say Plug is the first man to be ordained a priest in a wheelchair, but then none of them could find any precedents either.