BLOG: Fr. Raphael Ma, CR
Conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity January 25, 2015 At 5:30 this evening (Rome time) in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the walls, Pope Francis presided at the celebration of Second Vespers for the Solemnity of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. This ceremony formally concludes the Week of Prayer ...read more
Last week I said that everyone gets called. But sometimes we don’t recognize it, because we’re distracted or ‘cause we’re not expecting it. But the call comes and looking at Scripture helps us recognize the Call when it comes. First you have an encounter with Christ; an encounter with the Divine; then comes a calling. And ...read more
Here is some of what’s been making headlines in the church across Canada: The week of prayer for Christian unity is upon us once again. Here’s a rundown of events and prayer services happening across the country. In Winnipeg, the archdiocese is getting into the fight against drugs, setting up a ministry for people struggling ...read more
It’s a familiar story, religious women doing exceptional works and for the most part going unnoticed.  But that’s about to change. Thanks to a $900 000 dollar grant from the Conrad Hilton Foundation. The Loyola Institute for Ministry will use the grant to help Catholic sisters in the U.S. and Africa build their social media ...read more
Pope Francis’ second Asian voyage ended the way all of his trips have ended: with an extensive press conference on board the return flight and flurry of headlines – some accurate, some not. The voyage also delivered unscripted moments typical of the Jesuit pope. Twice Pope Francis ditched his prepared text to speak off the ...read more
Read the message of His Holiness Pope Francis from Pontifical Council for Social Communications on the 49th World Communications Day: the importance of the family as ‘environment in which we learn to communicate’. Pontifical Council for Social Communications  49th World Communications Day 2015 Message of His Holiness Pope Francis The family is a subject of profound ...read more
For those who watched or witnessed the recent papal visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines, it’s impossible not to have noticed the involvement of Manila’s archbishop, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. Tagle is easily the most popular Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and not just among Filipinos. He’s been likened to Pope Francis, in wide ...read more
Below is the prepared text of the homily Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley delivered at the March for Life Vigil Mass celebrated at the Basilica of the immaculate Conception in Washignton D.C. Jan. 21, 2015. There is a popular diner near the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. One of the items on the menu is called ...read more
The recent extraordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the theme “Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization” will be remembered as a milestone in the history of the Church. At this world gathering of Catholic Church leaders Synod, Pope Francis invited the universal Church to journey together and reflect on ...read more
Today on Perspectives, Pope Francis holds his first General Audience following his Apostolic Journey to Asia, a number of new appointments at the Vatican and a look ahead at upcoming Salt and Light events. ...read more