Jesus is presented to Simeon by Mary and Joseph at the temple in this 19th century painting Simeon the Righteous by Alexey Yegorov.

God's Word on Sunday: Faith carves path to immortality

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Dec. 27 (Year B) Genesis 15:1-6; 17:3b-5; 15-16; 21:1-7; Psalm 105; Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19; Luke 2:22-40

After we leave this Earth, will we be remembered? And if we will be remembered, what form will that memory take?

    Solar panels are seen on the roof of the Paul VI audience hall at the Vatican in this Dec. 1, 2010, file photo. In a videomessage, Pope Francis told the Virtual Climate Ambition Summit that Vatican City is aiming for net zero carbon emissions.

    Vatican aims for net-zero emissions

    VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis pledged Vatican City State would achieve net-zero carbon emissions before the year 2050, and he urged everyone in the world to be part of a new culture of care for others and the planet.

      A nurse holds a vial of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at University Hospital in Coventry, England, Dec. 8, 2020, the first day of the largest immunization program in British history.

      Vatican will offer Pfizer COVID vaccine to employees

      VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican health service will begin vaccinating employees and Vatican citizens against COVID-19 using the Pfizer vaccine, the director of the Vatican health service told Vatican News.

        A painting by Gerard van Honthorst: King David Playing the Harp.

        God's Word on Sunday: God’s faithful love is unconditional

        Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 20 (Year B) 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38

        David wanted to do something spectacular for God. He proposed building a house for God — a temple — but God was not interested. David was shocked, and even Nathan the prophet was caught unawares.

          Mary Marrocco: A first step into centre of the universe

          Mary Marrocco: A first step into centre of the universe

          How difficult it is to get out of the centre of the universe. And how painful to find our way there.

            The original image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

            Guadalupe devotion rising for Indigenous

            The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not some distant, colourful, Mexican tradition for former New Brunswick Lieutenant Governor Graydon Nicholas.

              Pope Francis prays at the base of a tall Marian statue overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome Dec. 8, 2002, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The pope prayed at the statue shortly before the Rome firefighters' traditional early morning event in honor of the Immaculate Conception.

              Say 'no' to sin, 'yes' to grace, Pope Francis says on Immaculate Conception feast

              VATICAN CITY - Mary's Immaculate Conception offers a glimpse to the promised life for all Christians who open their hearts to God and his grace, Pope Francis said.

                Statues of Mary, the child Jesus and St. Joseph are seen at St. Mary Josefa Parish in Rome Feb. 19, 2017. In a Dec. 8 apostolic letter, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus.

                Pope Francis proclaims year dedicated to St. Joseph

                VATICAN CITY - Marking the 150th anniversary of St. Joseph being declared patron of the universal church, Pope Francis proclaimed a yearlong celebration dedicated to the foster father of Jesus.

                  Carmelo Barbagallo, president of the Vatican's Supervisory and Financial Information Authority, poses in a July 2, 2020, photo. Pope Francis has approved a new statute for the Vatican's financial watchdog agency to improve independence and oversight powers.

                  Pope Francis approves changes for Vatican's financial watchdog agency

                  VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis approved new changes to the Vatican's financial watchdog agency concerning its internal governance, hiring procedures and its role as a "supervisory" body.

                    A priest hears confession inside the cathedral in Valencia, Spain, May 19, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview Dec. 5 with the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, said confession by phone is still most likely invalid.

                    Cardinal upholds 'probable invalidity' of confession by phone

                    VATICAN CITY - Even though the world is facing a pandemic that may limit many people's ability to celebrate the sacraments, particularly those people who are in isolation, quarantining or hospitalized with COVID-19, confession by phone is still most likely invalid, said Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary.

                      Pope Francis greets Iraqi President Barham Salih at the Vatican Jan. 25, 2020. The Vatican has confirmed Pope Francis will visit Iraq March 5-8.

                      Pope Francis plans to visit Iraq in March

                      VATICAN CITY - Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, Pope Francis is set to begin international travel again in 2021 by visiting Iraq in March, which would make him the first pope to visit this nation.

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