Last year, when Fr. Thomas Rosica first gathered the S+L team around the conference table to share thoughts in anticipation of the upcoming Synod on the New Evangelization, I never expected that Sebastian Gomes and I would be charged with putting together a series about it! At the time, it was a Jeremiah moment for ...read more

Pope Francis poses with youths during a meeting with young people from the northern Italian diocese of Piacenza-Bobbio in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Aug. 28.  CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano ...read more

Homily of Pope Francis for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Castel Gandolfo, August 15, 2013 Dear Brothers and Sisters! At the end of its Constitution on the Church, the Second Vatican Council left us a very beautiful meditation on Mary Most Holy. Let me just recall the words referring ...read more

At the 131st Supreme Convention of the Knights of Columbus, Most. Rev. Gerard Cyprien Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, inaugurated the Marian Prayer Program in honour of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of the Basilica Cathedral of Notre-­Dame de Quebec. Below are his remarks presenting the Prayer Program, August 7, 2013 Bonjour ...read more

I don’t want to run to the Cross. I want to run from the Cross. And today, the Monday after WYD the Cross beckons me. Today, exhausted, after a week of 16-hour days, I complained to Jesus that I had to do all the work by myself. Actually, I didn’t even complain to Jesus; I ...read more

“In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are ...read more

This post was submitted by Warren Schmidt, CSB. As October draws to a close, I offer a few reflections on the association of the month of October with Mary. The historical roots of October as a month of Mary are unclear. Some attribute the association between October and Mary to the devotion to Our Lady ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI is known to have a special place in his heart for young people. Following his meeting with government officials, he delivered an address to young people gathered on the square in front of the Maronite Patriarchate at Bkerke. Published below is a copy of his official text. Your Beatitude, Brother Bishops, Dear ...read more

Listed below is an official greeting from Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper. In the Canadian Church, we celebrate the feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary today. As Christians around the world celebrate Assumption Day, I am delighted to extend my heartfelt greetings to all Canadians observing this blessed occasion. The feast day ...read more

Just as the faithful of Vancouver have a pilgrimage to celebrate the feast of Assumption, Catholics in Edmonton have their own shrine to visit on this feast. The Skaro shrine, located 80 km northeast of Edmonton, was built at the turn of the 20th century by residents of the Polish settlement there. In 1904 residents ...read more