The business of being Church is not an easy one. I discovered this while working for the WYD2002 office. I have said on numerous occasions that this amazing experience was a great blessing for me and for my family. One of the blessings is that I got to see the best of the Church. At ...read more

On Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI responded to the terror attacks in Norway that killed 76. In his message after praying the Angelus, he reiterated his “heartfelt appeal to abandon forever the ways of violence and to shun the logic of evil”. Bishop Pierre Morissette, president of the Canadian episcopal conference, released the following statement today, ...read more

Since I have started to take my Catholic faith seriously, there are two things that stand out the strongest in my spiritual journey: the experience of sin and the experience of mercy. Something that has always perplexed me about the lives of the Saints is that they were always convinced of their own misery and ...read more

The so-called staycation is becoming a popular option for many. It’s considerably more affordable to spend a week off in your own home, enjoying cultural activities you’ve never made time for or completing long-neglected household tasks. And doesn’t a morning spent reading the newspaper at the neighbourhood café sound more relaxing than preparing for travel? ...read more

World Youth Day 2011 is coming up soon! In August, an enormous group of people is going to travel to the beautiful city of Madrid.  Among the pilgrims we will see young people, priests, religious, pastoral ministers and, of course, Pope Benedict XVI. [singlepic id=51 w=320 h=240 float=right] Though I will not be going to ...read more

“Let us begin!” The phrase is a fitting conclusion to the press conference introducing Archbishop Charles Chaput as the new leader of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Catholic News Service’s John Thavis offers the details on today’s significant appointment. You can also view Salt + Light CEO Fr. Thomas Rosica’s Witness interview with the Archbishop here. ...read more

Pope Benedict deplores the manner in which the Catholic Church in China is being treated by Chinese officials. [singlepic id=50 w=320 float=right]That from a Vatican statement regarding last Thursday’s illicit Episcopal ordination of Fr. Joseph Huang Bingzhang (we first wrote about the ordination last week). The ordination was conducted through the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Patriotic ...read more

The Vatican has established diplomatic ties with a predominantly Muslim nation, and the Pope appeals for humanitarian aid to Somalia. Catholic News Service Rome Bureau Chief John Thavis reports. ...read more

After being in the red for the last few years, Vatican finances are back in the black — but a decrease in donations by the faithful means a mixed financial picture for the Vatican. Catholic News Service Rome Bureau Chief John Thavis and Rome correspondent Cindy Wooden report investments and tourism can play a role ...read more

He took the art scene by storm and it’s never quite been the same since. Michaelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio’s art, like his character, resists comparison. Last month, I had the opportunity to witness twelve pieces Caravaggio left behind. From June 17th to September 11th, the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa is hosting 58 works ...read more