The Pope decrees that not only men may be chosen for the washing of the feet in the Liturgy of Holy Thursday. Please see below for the full text of the decree and for a commentary on the decree by Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments: ...read more

Among the many topics discussed in our recent 2015 Year in Review program was the highly anticipated and much debated Synod of Bishops part two, on the vocation and mission of the family today. It was easily the biggest news story in the Catholic world last year, and could very well carry over into 2016. That’s ...read more

Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass on New Year’s Day, the Solemnity of the Mother of God, in St. Peter’s Basilica. Below, please find the full text of the official English translation of his prepared remarks. Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – World Day of Peace, 1 ...read more

Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee of Mercy on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Read the full text of his homily below: Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy December 8,  2015  Dear Brothers and Sisters, In a few moments I will have the joy ...read more

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

As I begin writing this, one week has passed since the series of terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13. I currently live about 6 km from the scene of the worst of the bloodshed of November 13: the Bataclan concert hall where 89 of the 129 deaths occurred. At about 10:15 that evening, I ...read more

Kerry Weber, author of “Mercy in the City,” reflects on the Scriptural roots of the corporal works of mercy. This video is part of a new series of reflections on Scripture from America and the American Bible Society. ...read more

  A religious brother teaches young Cheridan Sanders how to swim; and that having faith means believing in a reality that does not exist, yet. — I grew up in mission territory. ‘South West’, as it was known then, was hot, dry and isolated. Even today it remains one of the least densely populated nations. ...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

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