Vatican City, 6 February 2014 (VIS) – We publish below the full text of the message the Holy Father has sent to the young people preparing for the 29th World Youth Day 2014, which will take as its theme: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Dear Young Friends, ...read more

Sister Marianne Cope (formerly Barbara Koob) was born January 23, 1838 and baptized the following day in what is now Hessen, West Germany. The young Sister Marianne worked as a teacher and hospital administrator in New York. In 1870, she was elected superior of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse. Seven years later she became second ...read more

By Elizabeth Krump “Keep the youth close to you: they will keep you young and faithful.” These are telling words that Blessed John Paul II shared with Fr. Thomas Rosica in the later days of his pontificate. John Paul II had a great love for all young people, until the very end of his life. There ...read more

Below is the full text of the catechesis by Maria Voce, leader of the Focolare Movement, as delivered on Day 2 of the 2012 International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland. Communion in one Baptism Ten years ago I visited Ireland for the first time. I came to be with a dear friend, Lieta Betoño, who ...read more

The following is the full text of the catechesis talk given by Brother Alois, Prior of the Taizé Community, at the Internation Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland in 2012 Passion for the Unity of the Body of Christ Presented by Brother Alois, Prior of the Taizé Community The Christ of Communion The first day of this ...read more

2013 has come to an end and so it’s time for our year-end-review. What are the highlights of this past year? What were the top news stories? What stands out the most in your mind? What’s your favourite Pope Francis moment? Join Deacon Pedro and our panel of S+L Producers, Cheridan, Alicia and Sebastian as ...read more

There are few Toronto Catholics (especially those who frequent the downtown core) who aren’t well-acquainted with St. Michael’s Choir School. They’re a regular feature at St. Michael’s Cathedral. It’s a rare treat though to interview them, and I was glad to have an opportunity to speak with the Choir’s talented conductors and singers on the ...read more

After leading the crowds in Saint Peter’s Square in praying the Angelus, the Pope expressed spiritual closeness to the Church in North America, which is celebrating the 350th anniversary of its first parish: Notre-Dame de Québec. The full translation of his words about the Quebec celebrations are as as follows: “We unite ourselves spiritually to ...read more

What does it mean to be a missionary? This is the question that participants are asking at the Missionary Congress of the Americas in Maracaibo, Venezuela. How would you answer this question? ...read more

Cardinal Fernando Filoni is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the congregation of the curia responsible for the transmission and dissemination of the faith throughout the whole world, in particular the coordination and guidance the Church’s diverse missionary efforts and initiatives. Some may know it by its former title, the Sacred ...read more