A priest of the Diocese of Derry, Fr. Brendan Collins discusses the historic referendum which legalized same-sex marriage in Ireland. How are you going to spend the next five minutes of your time?  You could browse social media or check your email, but how about meeting a fascinating person and learning something relevant that will ...read more

Below is the Vatican-provided translation of Pope Francis’ discourse at the conclusion of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall this afternoon: Dear Beatitudes, Eminences and Excellencies, Dear Brothers and Sisters, I would like first of all to thank the Lord, who has guided our synodal process in these ...read more

Pope Francis’ Address at Commemorative Ceremony for the 50th Anniversary of the Synod of Bishops – FINAL TEXT October 17, 2015 Paul VI Audience Hall – Vatican City Your Beatitudes, Your Eminences, Your Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters, As the Ordinary General Assembly is in full session, this commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the institution of ...read more

Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For October 2015, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Human Trafficking – That human trafficking, the modern form of slavery, may be eradicated. Mission in Asia – That with a missionary spirit the Christian communities of Asia may announce the Gospel to ...read more

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5:7) Dear Young People, We have come to the last stretch of our pilgrimage to Krakow, the place where we will celebrate the 31st World Youth Day next year in the month of July. We are being guided on this long and challenging path by ...read more

On Friday, September 25, 2015, Pope Francis arrived at Ground Zero to participate in an Interreligious Prayer to commemorate the fallen of 9/11. Please see below for the Holy Father’s prepared remarks. Interreligious Meeting Ground Zero Memorial, New York Friday, 25 September 2015 Dear Friends, I feel many different emotions standing here at Ground Zero, ...read more

Below you will find the final address of Pope Francis during the celebration of Vespers at the Cathedral of Havana on Sunday, September 20, 2015. Celebration of Vespers with Priests, Men and Women Religious and Seminarians at the Cathedral of Havana Homily of Pope Francis – FINAL VERSION Cardinal Jaime [Ortega] spoke to us about ...read more

As part of my documentary about women in the Church, this week I followed Sr. Helen Prejean as she she worked to save the life of Richard Glossip, a man on death row in Oklahoma. The week began on a grim note. Richard’s execution was only a few days away and there seemed to be no ...read more

Here is some of what has been making headlines across the country: In light of the numbers of Syrian refugees trying to find a safe home, the Archdiocese of Toronto has launched “Project Hope” to sponsor 100 refugee families. Meanwhile the Archdiocese of Vancouver shares some of their experiences sponsoring Iraqi and Syrian refugee families. ...read more

James W. Foley, the American journalist and war correspondent that was the first American beheaded by ISIS in August, 2014, once said: “Drop a pebble in the water: Just a splash, and it is gone; But there’s half-a-hundred ripples Circling on and on and on, Spreading, spreading from the center, Flowing on out to the ...read more