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December 3, 2018

Advent is a time for vigilance, prayer, Pope Francis says

The Christmas tree is seen as Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square at the Vatican Dec. 2. The pope lit an Advent candle as he launched the Christmas campaign, "Candles for Peace in Syria," an initiative of Aid to the Church in Need.
VATICAN – Christians can turn Christmas into a "pagan" or "mundane" holiday by focusing on the gifts and the tree rather than on the birth of Jesus and his promise to come again, Pope Francis said.
Published in Faith
November 29, 2018

Canadian Catholics to start using new French translation of Our Father

A man walks across the "Rosary Bridge" in 2017 at the shrine of Cap-de-la-Madeleine in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. In Canada, the new French translation of the Our Father takes effect Dec. 2.
QUEBEC CITY – French-speaking Canadians will begin using a new translation of the Our Father Dec. 2.
Published in Canada
November 5, 2018

Church on the Street: Friends stand by with help and prayers

Church on the Street: Friends stand by with help and prayers

“I’m going down east to try to be reconciled with my father.” 

Published in Register Columnists
July 30, 2018

U.S. bishops announce nine-week novena ahead of Supreme Court confirmation

Brett Kavanaugh, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and Amy Coney Barrett, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, are among President Donald Trump's potential nominees to replace U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Both Kavanaugh and Barrett are Catholic.
WASHINGTON – A Novena for the Legal Protection of Human Life is being led by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Catholics are being encouraged to take part ahead of the Senate confirmation hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
Published in International
July 16, 2018

Nicaraguan bishops to pray for exorcism as violence continues

Young people mourn over the casket of Gerald Jose Vasquez, a student at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua, during his July 15 wake in Managua. Vasquez was one of two students shot and killed by paramilitary forces when they were seeking refuge in Divine Mercy Catholic Church after being forced from the university they had occupied in protest for more than two months.
MANAGUA, Nicaragua – As attacks on Catholic clergy continue and anti-government protesters are besieged by Nicaraguan police and paramilitaries, the bishops said they would pray an exorcism prayer.
Published in International
June 7, 2018

Speaking Out: My prayer life is an active choice

"Though scheduling and convenience can hinder some from being more contemplative, it all comes down to choice," Monica Sifert writes.

This summer is going to be different than summers in the past. After graduating from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College a few weeks ago, I have struggled to maintain a strong spiritual life without the regularity of a school and work schedule.

Published in YSN: Speaking Out
June 4, 2018

Questioning Faith: Discovering our moments of re-creation

"How do we find re-creation?  We may not even recognize we need it, especially in a society addicted to only doing. Yet the world is teeming with opportunities for re-creation and we can find it in surprisingly many ways," Marrocco writes.

Driving with a young friend, I was not surprised that she had the car window completely down and her face turned towards the breeze on one of these finally-gentle days of spring.  I enjoyed her enjoyment of the sweet fresh air sweeping in. 

Published in Mary Marrocco
May 15, 2018

Vatican issues new rules for communities of contemplative nuns

A nun holds a copy of "Cor Orans," a new instruction for contemplative women religious, during a news conference for its release at the Vatican May 15. The instruction concerns the life, autonomy, supervision and formation of contemplative women religious.
VATICAN – The Vatican released an instruction with new norms for contemplative orders of nuns, encouraging cooperation among their monasteries and outlining procedures for communities left with only a few members.
Published in International
May 9, 2018

Central Africa religious leaders announce three days of prayer

Faithful attend a Mass at St. Savior Catholic Church in Bangui, Central African Republic, in this 2015 file photo. The country's Christian and Muslim leaders designated May 10-12 as days of prayers for peace and reconciliation.
BANGUI, Central African Republic  – Christian and Muslim leaders in the Central African Republic have accused foreign states of complicity in a May 1 gun and grenade attack on a Catholic Mass and announced coordinated prayers for peace and reconciliation in its churches and mosques.
Published in International
April 9, 2018

Holiness means bearing witness in everything we do, being 'saints next door', Pope says

The cover of the English edition of Pope Francis' exhortation, "Gaudete et Exsultate" ("Rejoice and Be Glad"), on the "call to holiness in today's world." Released April 9, 2018.
VATICAN – God calls all Christians to be saints – not plastic statues of saints, but real people who make time for prayer and who show loving care for others in the simplest gestures, Pope Francis said in his new document on holiness.
Published in Faith
April 3, 2018

Charles Lewis: Silence much easier said than done

Cardinal Robert Sarah delivers a talk on silence at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica in Toronto, March 12, 2018.

Many of us were fortunate enough to hear Cardinal Robert Sarah speak at St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica last month. He is truly a holy man and strong voice in a world of banalities. How many people do you know whose cause is silence?

Published in Charles Lewis
March 27, 2018

Saskatoon mom and daughter team up for prayer book

Leah Perrault and daughter Robyn (holding baby brother Atticus) of Holy Family Cathedral Parish in Saskatoon worked together to write a Lenten resource for families entitled Practicing Love. 

SASKATOON – Leah Perrault was already the author of two books when a publisher approached her last summer about writing a family-oriented resource book for Lent.

Published in Arts News
March 22, 2018

Five wounds of Christ: Pope urges recovery of traditional devotion

St. Francis kissing the feet of Christ, from a painting of a crucifix in Arezzo, Italy.
VATICAN – Pope Francis seems to be fixated on the wounds of Christ. And he has suggested that other Catholics might want to be as well.
Published in Faith
March 19, 2018

The crucifix is for contemplation, not decoration, says Pope

Pope Francis blesses with a crucifix during an audience with people who have autism in Paul VI hall at the Vatican Nov. 2014.
VATICAN – On Sunday Pope Francis said that the crucifix is not just something decorative to hang on the wall or wear, it is an important sign of our beliefs – and should be truly looked at and prayed before as the source of our salvation.
Published in Faith
March 16, 2018

Speaking Out: Progress on my Lenten practice

"I was finding it hard to commit to a prayer time because I couldn’t decide whether I should spend it in spiritual reading, praying the rosary, reading Scripture or maybe there was an ideal combination of these devotions that I was missing," Mirjana writes.

As Catholics, we’re challenged to pray daily. Apart from Sunday Mass, there are more possible ways to pray than I can even list, and I find it hard to decide what to focus on. 

Published in YSN: Speaking Out
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