Pietro Parolin

RED BANK, N.J. -- Name an emotion and Alex Brown experienced it during the month of November.

“Bah humbug” This famous aphorism belongs to the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge, who made his first appearance as the archetypal Christmas cynic in Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 classic A Christmas Carol.

VATICAN CITY -- The newly completed Tower of the Virgin Mary at Barcelona’s Basilica of the Holy Family stands as a beacon of hope for those who suffer in the world today, Pope Francis said.

Bringing together a trove of newly available documents, the most complete record of how Catholic residential school operators ultimately ended their obligations under the historic 2006 Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement is now online.

MAYFIELD, Ky. -- Mourning, prayer and a resolve to rebuild shattered lives, homes and businesses in Mayfield followed one of the most powerful twisters in U.S. history that leveled the city of 10,000 in western Kentucky overnight Dec. 10.

A successful software engineer turned start-up CEO, Aashni Shah, and women like her, are still pioneers in a male-dominated tech industry.

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Dec. 19 (Year C) Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-45

The Scriptures describe the word of God as alive and active, always on the move and unceasing in activity.

Isn’t it funny that the liturgical year starts with a period of waiting? Every year we get things going, by waiting. We wait for the birth of Christ through the season of Advent. I think this is fascinating and worthy of contemplation. Recently I found a source for such a contemplation in our country’s two official languages.

The hamlet of Downeyville in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region is a very different town from when author and community historian Dan Sullivan grew up there in the 1950s and ’60s.

Advent is upon us once again. It’s a time of hopeful expectation and renewal, a chance to feast upon the mercy and goodness of God who sent His Son to Earth for our salvation.