By Patricia Zapor Catholic News Service HAVANA (CNS) — The Catholic Church that Pope Benedict XVI will visit March 26-28 is, to put it simply, more. Since Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1998, the church is more unified, more public, more likely to work with the government in accomplishing specific goals, more involved in ...read more

Lent is a period of reflection, a moment all Catholics might use to look at their life and the relationship they have with God. You might ask yourself if you are doing your normal prayer just because your Church asks you to do it. Are you really living your faith? Try to look at everything ...read more

The Archbishop of Edmonton is a familiar presence on Salt + Light — since 2008, S+L has televised the “Nothing More Beautiful” catechesis events at his cathedral. Archbishop Richard Smith’s national influence further grew in fall 2011 when he was elected president of the Canadian bishops’ conference. In this half-hour interview, Archbishop Smith speaks about ...read more

Published below is the full homily of Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, as delivered during vespers with Pope Benedict XVI at the Basilica of St. Gregory on the Caelian Hill in Rome on March 10. Your Holiness, Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: It is a privilege to stand here, where my predecessors stood in ...read more

At the Canadian Catholic Youth Ministry Network conference, I caught up with Clay Imoo, Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Clay shared news about exciting initiatives coming out of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, his thoughts on the New Evangelization and some of the challenges of ministering ...read more

Andrew Santos had the chance to sit down with Laurie Friesen, Youth Director for the Ukrainian Eparchy of Saskatoon, at the 2012 Canadian Catholic Youth Ministry Network Conference in Ottawa, Ont. Nearly 300 Youth Ministers and Archdiocesan Youth Directors from across Canada gathered in Ottawa for this bi-annual event. ...read more

Below is Pope Benedict’s homily, as delivered at the Basilica of San Gregorio al Celio during vespers in Rome. On March 10 he presided at vespers, along with Archbishop Rowan Williams of Canterbury, leader of the Anglican Church. Your Grace, Dear Brother Bishops and Priests, Dear Monks and Nuns of Camaldoli, Dear Brothers and Sisters, ...read more

At first impact the phrase “the Cuban Church” sounds like an oxymoron, or a misnomer and thoughts of an underground catholic presence might spring to mind. That might have been true at some point. However, Pope Benedict XVI’s planned visit to the Island nation later this month shows that is not the case today, and ...read more

On the first night of the 2012 Canadian Catholic Youth Ministry Network Conference, a multitude of youth ministers, lay pastoral associates, archdiocesan youth directors, and university chaplains gathered in St. Patrick’s Basilica in downtown Ottawa.  This conference, that happens every two years, was held at the Ottawa Marriott hotel. Nearly 300 people gathered together to ...read more

We are about halfway through lent already, the point at which many people begin to think “why did give up chocolate?” or “why did I decide to get up earlier to pray before I start my day?” It’s also the point when many people feel the need for more spiritual nourishment in order to get ...read more