Philippine soldiers use a crane to lift three Balangiga Bells off crates during a turnover ceremony Dec. 11 at Villamor Air Base near Manila. After more than a century, the United States government has returned the three church bells swiped by American forces as war booty from the central Philippine town of Balangiga in 1901. (CNS photo/Rolex Dela Pena, EPA)

U.S. returns church bells to Philippines after more than 100 years

Posted by - December 16, 2018

MANILA, Philippines (CNS) — After more than a century, the United States government has returned three church bells swiped by American forces as war booty from the central Philippine town of Balangiga. Ucanews.com reported that, after years of repeated demands for their return, the bells were brought home aboard a U.S. military plane Dec. 11.

Read More
A firefighter places a wreath on a tall statue of Mary overlooking the Spanish Steps in Rome Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. Rome's firefighters have observed the tradition every year since 1857. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Marking feast day, pope asks Mary’s care of families seeking refuge

Posted by - December 16, 2018

ROME (CNS) — In the heart of Rome, near streets of fancy shops already blinged out for Christmas shopping, Pope Francis prayed for Romans struggling to survive and for families in the city and around the world who face the same lack of welcome that Mary and Joseph experienced. The pope concluded his public celebration

Read More

Study shows young adults leaving church start down that path at age 13

Posted by - December 16, 2018

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (CNS) — To find Catholics who have left the church, start looking at the faces in the pews, according to a recent report. A 2018 study on young adults leaving the Catholic Church found people stopped identifying as Catholics at a median age of 13, long before they ceased attending a parish.

Read More
Pope Francis waves as he leads the Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's Square Dec. 9 at the Vatican. (CNS photo/Riccardo Antimiani, EPA)

Pope: Prepare for Christ’s birth by recognizing mistakes, sowing peace

Posted by - December 16, 2018

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Advent is a time for people to think about what they can change about themselves so that they can sow the seeds of peace, justice and fraternity in their daily lives, Pope Francis said. The Advent season is a call for personal conversion, “humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities, our failure”

Read More
Pali Ike Ayuyu led the congregation during the candle light tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Concepcion on Saturday, December 8th at Mt. Carmel Cathedral.

DCK celebrates Immaculate Concepcion

Posted by - December 16, 2018

Occasional breeze blows inside Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church to the delight of the crowd which packed the Cathedral despite the afternoon heat. They were there to honor Our Lady, the Immaculate Concepcion. This annual celebration has already been part of the local tradition of the diocese that no matter the circumstances, the faithful

Read More

Be Transformed This advent!

Posted by - December 16, 2018

It is so easy to become caught in the trap of considering some people as “winners” and others as “losers.” It has become such a common way of talking, even if it is meant only as a joke, that we hardly think of it anymore. As president of Caritas Internationalis, the global federation of national

Read More

LOVE-SIGHTED

Posted by - December 16, 2018

Someone shared the story about a husband who introduced his family to his guests at a party. After introducing his two sons and two daughters-in-law, he said; “ and of course, here is my beautiful wife, she is the Law.” Does your computer or cellphone control you? God had gifted us with wonderful social media

Read More

On toxic faith

Posted by - December 16, 2018

The cable news channels have been running a series of specials on Jonestown. I was trying to figure out why the topic was so popular suddenly, when one of the specials mentioned that this was the 40th anniversary of the event. On November 18, 1978 US Congressman Dan Ryan was visiting Jonestown, a religious compound

Read More

III DAMENGGUN ADBIENTU

Posted by - December 16, 2018

FINE’NA NA TINAITAI                                                                      Zep 3, 14-18 Un tinaitai ginin i Lepblun i Prufeta as Zephaniah  Fanéssalåo gi minaguf, O hagan Sion! fanmaguf mangånta, O Israhet! Fanmaguf yan todu i kurason-miyu, ni hagan Hirusalen! Esta Ha na’suha i Saina i kundenasion kontra hamyu, Ha bira tåtti i inimigun-miyu; I Rai Israhet, i Saina, gaigi gi

Read More
2018 NMI’s Mock Trial Knights: The official 2018 National High School Mock Trial Championship team photo of Mount Carmel School’s Mock Trial Knights, who represented the Northern Marianas at the national competition.

MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL TO HOLD INVITATIONAL MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION

Posted by - December 16, 2018

Mount Carmel School announced recently that it will host the island’s first ever invitational mock trial competition early next year. Invitations to the competition have been extended to all public and private middle schools and high schools in the CNMI. School president and mock trial coach, Galvin Deleon Guerrero, hopes the competition will help students

Read More