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May 2017

May 28

Italian nun runs thrifty wedding dress service with donated gowns

May 28, 2017

UMBRIA, Italy – Italian brides are finding wedding dresses at an unusual spot hidden in the Umbrian hills, where they are able to pick out their special gown – all for the cost of a donation.

Doctors said Chilean mom would die, but miracle credited to Spanish priest

May 28, 2017

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chileans call it the Chilean miracle.

Vatican stargazers look for divine inspiration

May 28, 2017

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – In a forgotten corner of the pope's sprawling summer estate at Castel Gandolfo in the hills outside Rome, an unusual group of astronomers and cosmologists looks to the heavens for divine inspiration.

Geography and geometry: New cardinals fit Pope's formula for faith

May 28, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis, who described himself as coming from "the ends of the earth," continues to go to the far reaches of the globe to seek those who will advise him and possibly elect the next Pope.

May 29

Pope's homily: Learn the language of the Holy Spirit

May 29, 2017

Pope Francis has urged Christians to engage with the Holy Spirit, and to open their hearts to the Spirit before taking important decisions.

Pope spends day in Genoa talking jobs, witness, migration

May 29, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Condemning an economy that encourages speculation more than entrepreneurship, warning priests and religious that they share responsibility for the vocations crisis and telling young people they are right to be puzzled by nations that close their doors to people fleeing persecution, Pope Francis spent a busy day in Genoa.

Former papal spokesman helps Salt + Light mark 15th anniversary

May 29, 2017

TORONTO – If the news seems to be shouting at you and your Facebook feed is crowded with takedown artists, Fr. Frederico Lombardi has an alternative media diet you might want to consider.

Trudeau asks Pope to apologize in Canada for residential schools

May 29, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he asked Pope Francis to help Canadians "move forward on a real reconciliation" with the country's Indigenous people "by issuing an apology" on behalf of the Catholic Church for its role in harming their communities.

May 30

Pope's homily: Shepherds are not the centre of the Church

May 30, 2017

The true shepherd knows how to step down from his church, because he knows that he is not at the center of history, but is a free man who has served without compromises and without taking control of his flock. That was Pope Francis’ message during his homily at Mass celebrated on Tuesday in the Vatican’s Santa Marta residence.

Bishops in south Philippines support 'temporary' martial law in wake of violence

May 30, 2017

MANILA, Philippines – Catholic bishops in the southern Philippines supported the declaration of martial law in Mindanao following an attempt by a band of gunmen claiming to be Islamic militants to seize a city in the region.

One in the Spirit: Catholics, Pentecostals celebrate Pentecost with Pope

May 30, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis' very public friendship with and overtures to Pentecostal and evangelical leaders is a high-profile reflection of a relationship that already existed at the grass roots between Catholic charismatics and some of their Spirit-filled neighbours, leaders of the renewal said.

Vatican: Pope won't be visiting South Sudan in 2017

May 30, 2017

VATICAN CITY – Vatican spokesman Greg Burke confirmed that while Pope Francis had voiced his desire to travel to South Sudan for an ecumenical visit alongside Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby, it won’t be happening this year.

Oregon Catholic father of four killed trying to protect fellow passengers

May 30, 2017

PORTLAND, Ore. – On a crowded Portland commuter train May 26, a selfless Catholic father of four stepped forward to calm a tense situation. He was that kind of guy.

Battle for a living wage is a key to Church’s drive for social justice

May 30, 2017

Even as the Ontario government moved to enact new labour laws and increase the minimum wage to $15, experts agree there is no quick fix to protecting workers from the threat of poverty.

Catholics optimistic following Scheer victory

May 30, 2017

OTTAWA – The Conservative Party has elected a staunch pro-life Catholic to lead them into the next federal election, but what happens when Andrew Scheer’s faith confronts the pragmatism of politics remains an open question.

Friends of Catholic education take their case to Ontario politicians

May 30, 2017

Friends and Advocates for Catholic Education made their collective presence known May 29 at Queen's Park during the group's annual lobby day appearance.

Cardinal Collins to make case for Bishop Michael Power’s sainthood

May 30, 2017

Cardinal Thomas Collins believes the Archdiocese of Toronto’s founding bishop was a martyr and is a saint. On the occasion of the archdiocese’s 175th anniversary, Collins announced he plans to begin the process that could make it official.

May 31

Montreal's Irish protest sale of ‘sacred’ land to Hydro-Quebec

May 31, 2017

MONTREAL – Hundreds of Montrealers ended a solemn march on May 28 by placing thousands of small white wooden crosses around a 28-tonne black stone that marks the mass grave of 6,000 Irish famine refugees who died 170 years ago.

Indian politician suggests ransom fund for kidnapped priest in Yemen

May 31, 2017

NEW DELHI, India – A member of India’s Legislative Assembly is encouraging the Church to raise money for the release of kidnapped priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, claiming a need for concrete action beyond prayer.

Kidnapped Filipino priest pleads for help in video

May 31, 2017

MARAWI, Philippines – A week after Islamist militants kidnapped some 240 Catholics in the Philippines, a video has surfaced online showing one of the hostages, Fr. Chito Suganob, calling for the government to halt their military offensive in the city.