Join us in prayer for the intentions entrusted to us by Pope Francis. For December 2015, we join the Holy Father in praying for: Experiencing God’s Mercy – That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving. Families –That families, especially those who suffer, may find in the birth of Jesus a sign of certain ...read more

While we celebrate Pope Francis’ historic visit to Uganda today, I thought I’d share with you this classic image of Pope John Paul II during his apostolic visit to Uganda in 1993. Wonderful, isn’t it? During the 26 and a half years of his pontificate, John Paul II was a pilgrim to 129 different countries ...read more

Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis Mass of the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time Canonization of Four Saints Sunday October 18, 2015 On Sunday, October 18, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated the Canonization Mass of four Saints: Saint Vincent Grossi, Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Saints Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin. Read the full text of his ...read more

“The good Lord gave me a father and a mother more worthy of Heaven than of earth”. Photo: CNS/Paul Haring These words come to us from Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Carmelite nun and youngest daughter of Louis and Zélie Martin. Their names will soon be added to the book of saints next October ...read more

“How’s your married life?” is the question I was most frequently asked after I got married. You read that correctly, I got married two months ago on August 8, 2015. Thanks be to God that the wedding went so smoothly. Thank you to everyone who helped us out on that day. Do you want to ...read more

The first time I heard of Archbishop Oscar Romero was during my Grade 12 religion class. Now, religion was the last class of the day and so there was every reason to just skip it. Something that Mr. Whitebread (no kidding, that was his surname) was all too aware of, and took measures against. His ...read more

“There is something holy about this place, something special. Here we stand on holy ground sanctified by the blood of the martyrs. Here we pray in solidarity with them. These are our Jesuit brothers who gave their lives: willingly, freely – and in love,” says Fr. Steve Leblanc, SJ – Jesuit priest at Martyrs’ Shrine ...read more

On Wednesday, September 23, 2015, Pope Francis celebrated the Canonization Mass of St. Junipero Serra at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Please see below for the full prepared text of his homily. Holy Mass and Canonization of Blessed Junípero Serra Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington ...read more

Say the name Junípero Serra in American church circles and you are likely to get a mixed set of reactions. Some will tell you he is the saintly Franciscan who evangelized what is today the U.S. Others will tell you this is the man who forced the natives to convert by confining them to the ...read more

Memorial: August 20 Considered the last of the Fathers of the Church, St. Bernard of Clairvaux has been celebrated for centuries as a man of great intellect and greater holiness. As is evident in his prolific writings, Bernard was one for whom the Word of God impregnated every aspect of the human experience. He knew ...read more