Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila speaks to the crowd during a Feb. 18 protest against plans to reimpose the death penalty, promote contraceptives and intensify the drug war at the Walk for Life in Manila. (CNS photo/Romeo Ranoco, Reuters)

With passage in House, Philippines poised to reinstate death penalty

Posted by - March 11, 2017

The Philippines stands poised to reinstate the death penalty after it was put on hold 11 years ago. The church in the Philippines, which has grown more vocal in recent months, continues to oppose the measure that passed the Philippine House on the third and final reading March 7 and is widely expected to move

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Almsgiving: Lenten practice gives chance to ‘be generous with the poor’

Posted by - March 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Although the word almsgiving does not come up much in regular conversation, Catholics hear it plenty during Lent since it is one of the three pillars of the church’s Lenten practices along with prayer and fasting. Although the three practices work together, almsgiving can sometimes get the short shrift because people might

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Church leaders: Support communities facing fear during Lent and beyond

Posted by - March 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Recalling that Pope Benedict XVI once said that those who live with hope live differently, Auxiliary Bishop Mario E. Dorsonville of Washington said faith communities have a lot to offer immigrant, refugee and other communities currently experiencing fear. From prayers, hope, friendship, advocacy and assistance, “I think that faith communities are going

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Fasting: Lent’s spiritual practice creates space for prayer

Posted by - March 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) — There is no getting around fasting during Lent. Not only is it one of the three pillars of spiritual practice along with prayer and almsgiving, but it also bookends the period of preparation for Easter. Fasting and abstinence is required of adult Catholics, ages 18-59, at the start of Lent on Ash

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Pope Francis addresses priests of the Diocese of Rome during a meeting at the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome March 2. The Vatican said Pope Francis spent about 45 minutes hearing confessions, offering the sacrament to a dozen priests before beginning his talk. (CNS photo/L'Osservatore Romano, handout)

Parishes, online tools, quiet times can take Lenten prayer up a notch

Posted by - March 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Prayer, one of the three pillars of Lenten discipline, along with fasting and almsgiving, seems to get the biggest boost during Lent. Spiritual leaders note that Catholics are most likely praying already and that Lent is a time to make this act even more intentional — to pray more or in a

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Bishops say U.S. must address needs of immigrants, show compassion

Posted by - March 11, 2017

WASHINGTON (CNS) — While one Catholic archbishop was urging a fix to the country’s immigration laws before a Catholic crowd, another was pleading with the government not to separate mothers from their children while in immigration detention, and yet another, a cardinal, was accompanying a grandfather to an appointment that could have resulted in his

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II DAMENGGUN KUARESMA

Posted by - March 9, 2017

FINE’NA NA TINAITAI gn 12, 1-4a Un tinaitai ginin i Lepblun Genesis Ilek-ña i Saina as Abram: “Huyung ya un hånåo ginin i tanu’ i mamparentes-mu yan ginin i gima’ tatå-mu para guatu gi un tånu’ ni para bai Hu fa’nu’i håo. Bai Hu na’huyung ginin hagu un dångkulu na nasion, ya bai Hu bendisi

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Fast, Pray, Give — Karidat Version

Posted by - March 9, 2017

Fast: -Skip a meal, in solidarity with the hungry -Refrain from “extras” and drop the extra dollars or pennies into the Sunday collection baskets -Forgo “screen time.” Offer it up for people in prison who are often bored -Skip a favorite activity or hobby in honor of those who have restricted personal freedom -Fast from

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Newly inducted members of Mount Carmel School’s Sacred Heart Chapter of the National Honor Society gather with Bishop Ryan Jimenez (front, second from right), keynote speaker, Dr. Amanda Borja Hughes (front, far left), and school officials.

16 Students Inducted Into MCS National Honor Society

Posted by - March 9, 2017

16 HIGH SCHOOL students were inducted into Mount Carmel School’s Sacred Heart Chapter of the National Honor Society in a ceremony held this past week at Mount Carmel Cathedral. The inductees were selected by a faculty council that reviewed applications from Sophomores and upper-classmen who had maintained a grade point average of 3.0 and had

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Reflection on Evil and Sin Part 2

Posted by - March 9, 2017

Another understanding encountered in the Talmud draws on two images.   The first is the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil; and the second is the serpent who tricked Eve and Adam into eating of the fruit of the Tree. Adam and Eve are forbidden to eat the fruit of the tree. As the

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