Pope Francis sprinkles holy water as he celebrates Pentecost Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 9, 2019. (CNS photo/Yara Nardi, Reuters)

Holy Spirit ‘brings order to our frenzy,’ pope says

Posted by - June 14, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a world of conflict and division and a culture of insult, people need to live filled with the Holy Spirit, who is the only one capable of bringing harmony and unity to diversity, Pope Francis said. “Those who live by the Spirit … bring peace where there is discord, concord

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Catholic schools must help parents teach young people that biological sex and gender are naturally fixed at birth and part of God's plan for creation, the Congregation for Catholic Education said June 10. (CNS file photo/Tyler Orsburn)

Gender ideology is opposed to faith, reason, Vatican office says

Posted by - June 14, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic schools must help parents teach young people that biological sex and gender are naturally fixed at birth and part of God’s plan for creation, said the Congregation for Catholic Education. In a document published June 10, the congregation said the Catholic Church and those proposing a looser definition of gender

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Dr. Tom Catena, a Catholic lay missionary from the United States, examines a patient during rounds in late April at the Mother of Mercy Hospital in Gidel, a village in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan. By virtue of their baptism, all Catholics are called to be missionaries, sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus by their actions and their words, Pope Francis said. (CNS photo/Paul Jeffrey)

All Catholics must be missionaries, pope says in message

Posted by - June 14, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — By virtue of their baptism, all Catholics are called to be missionaries, sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus by their actions and their words, Pope Francis said. “The importance of renewing the church’s missionary commitment and giving fresh evangelical impulse to her work of preaching and bringing to the

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Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki of Springfield, Ill., is pictured in a July 11, 2018, photo. Bishop Paprocki declared June 6 that Catholic leaders of the Illinois General Assembly who promoted or voted for the "extreme abortion legislation" that lawmakers passed May 31, 2019, are barred from receiving Communion in churches in his diocese. (CNS photo/courtesy Diocese Springfield)

Bishop bars Illinois Catholic lawmakers who back abortion from Communion

Posted by - June 14, 2019

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (CNS) — Springfield Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki issued a decree June 6 stating that Catholic lawmakers in the Illinois Legislature “who promoted or voted for extreme abortion legislation” cannot receive Communion in churches in his diocese. He specifically named House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, “due to their leadership roles

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Concelebrating a May 30, 2019, Mass in Pittsburgh during the Catholic Legal Immigration Network convening are, from right, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States; Bishop Kevin W. Vann of Orange, Calif., CLINIC board chairman; Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., CLINIC board member; Bishop David A. Zubik of Pittsburgh; and Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, Calif. Members of CLINIC shared stories of success and heartache in their work with immigrants and refugees during the May 29-31 gathering. (CNS photo/Chuck Austin, Pittsburgh Catholic)

CLINIC convening focuses on how to gain justice for immigrants, refugees

Posted by - June 14, 2019

PITTSBURGH (CNS) — Almost every American has a story to tell about how their ancestors came to this country. It’s often a tear-stained tale of hardship, desperation and sacrifice. Similar scenarios are playing out today along the U.S.-Mexico border and other entry points across the land. As with the harrowing stories of generations ago, many

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Church must learn how to speak to young people, pope says

Posted by - June 14, 2019

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Too often when Catholics try to talk to young people about vocational discernment, “it’s as if we were speaking Esperanto to them, because they don’t understand a thing,” Pope Francis said. Bishops, pastors, religious and other adults must learn to speak young people’s language and must avoid exercising undue pressure on

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Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) shoots the ball against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) in game one of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto May 30, 2019. (CNS photo/Gregory Shamus-USA TODAY Sports via Reuters)

Toronto Raptors’ player took a shot at priesthood training

Posted by - June 14, 2019

WASHINGTON (CNS) — When Pascal Siakam was in his young teens attending a minor seminary in Cameroon — and mostly playing soccer in his free time — he likely never imagined he’d be playing in the NBA Finals. Studying for the priesthood, it turned out, was more of his father’s idea, and not a personal

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Parishioners of Kristo Rai perform a song too Fr. Ken during “Missioning Day” last June 2, 2019 at Maturana House of Prayer

Diocese of Chalan Kanoa bids farewell to Fr. Ken as he leaves for retirement

Posted by - June 14, 2019

Saipan forever grateful to one of its beloved ‘fathers’ in faith On a bright Sunday afternoon, on June 2nd, the Mercedarian Sisters and the parishioners of Kristo Rai hosted a party for Fr. Kenneth Hezel, SJ as he prepares to leave the island – this time for good – and retires from active ministry. Most

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This Father’s Day: Remember Our Priests!

Posted by - June 14, 2019

Every year the Vatican issues a list of the “Pope’s monthly prayer intentions” so that all of the Church can be united in praying.  For the month of June 2019, this is the prayer, under the title “The Mode of Life of Priests”: “That priests, through the modesty and humility of their lives, commit themselves

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The Silent Power

Posted by - June 14, 2019

There’s a story about a preacher whose sermons attracted people of all walks of life. In the church was an elderly who was silently praying the rosary at the back pew during his homily. The preacher thanked God for the gift of eloquence in preaching that changed people’s lives. He was very surprised when one

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