The phrase “the calling of the twelve” took a whole new meaning this past weekend when Pope Benedict XVI connected with 12 astronauts on the International Space Station. Catholic News Service takes a look at the conversation. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

A Filet-o-Fish billboard? I couldn’t help but notice that this Lent there was a bit of a ad blitz for McDonald’s Filet-o-Fish sandwich. Coincidence? Or a marketing strategy aimed at Christians who may be turning to their aquatic friends during the penitential season. It’s interesting to note that the sandwich was first introduced for Lent ...read more

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” These words from this Sunday’s gospel are perhaps among the most consoling ones found ...read more

Credit card bill due on Monday? No problem, the world’s going to end on Saturday! At least that’s according to some people. In this week’s Catholic News Service Vatican Report, Rome correspondent Carol Glatz and Rome Bureau Chief John Thavis look at what the Church has to say about the end of the world. To ...read more

If you’ve been paying close attention to the subjects of the past three episodes of Panes of Glory, you would have noticed that we haven’t touched on any windows of women.  Are they in hiding?  Are they not important? For this last episode in the series, be prepared to meet some of the most powerful ...read more

A major study has been released today examining the causes and context of clergy sexual abuse in the United States. The study, begun in 2006, was conducted by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York and initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. USCCB president Archbishop Timoty ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI is calling on the faithful to pray for China. Speaking at today’s General Audience, the Holy Father says because of restrictions and pressures on the Church by China’s communist government “Christ is living his passion” there. He says that Chinese Catholics want unity with the universal Church, and with the Successor of ...read more

Recently while I was working on a project called Enduring Gift: Catholic Education in Ontario I had the privilege of looking through some exceptional archival material. There were documents and images dating from the 1800’s to the present day. It was an interesting experience! I think, like most Catholic high school students I imbibed the ...read more

The Vatican released a document today calling on bishops’ conferences around the world to implement “clear and coordinated procedures” for dealing with clergy sex abuse. Catholic News Service’s Rome correspondent Carol Glatz reports the bishops have one year to adopt the measures. To download Flash Player please click here ...read more

A couple of years ago, New York’s Archbishop Timothy Dolan commented that there isn’t a crisis in priestly vocations, but a crisis in marriage. If we work to create stability in marriage and the family, then vocations will naturally flow from that. Families fostering vocations to the religious and priestly life is one of the ...read more