Ever since World Youth Day 2002, my favourite Scripture passage has been the end of Matthew’s Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20. I think it’s because my middle name is Emmanuel. It means “God with us”. I love that Jesus promises us that he will be with us until the end of time. Today we celebrate a great ...read more

Henrique Cymerman has made a career out of talking to people who technically, should be his enemies. That was exactly why Pope Francis enlisted his help to bring the Israeli and Palestinian presidents together to pray for peace. Cymerman is the middle east correspondent for several news outlets based on the Iberian peninsula, including Spain’s ...read more

Here’s what’s been happening in the church this week: Antigonish is closing two churches due to “population decline”. One of the churches is considered the “mother church” of Sydney, N.S. Meanwhile, the Archdiocese of St. Boniface takes a look at the future of it’s parishes. Catholics in Caledonia, Ontario are waiting to find out why ...read more

Pope Francis met today with a leading newspaper in Barcelona, La Vanguardia, to discuss secessionist movements in Europe. During his interview with the Catalonian newspaper, Pope Francis said he was concerned about everything which has been thrown at poor Pius XII, noting the many Jews he had hidden in the convents of Rome and other ...read more

Carl Hétu National Director of CNEWA Canada sharing stories from the Holy Land. Pope Francis touched the hearts of many people during his last trip to the Holy Land. One of them works for CNEWA in the Jerusalem office. Joseph Harzboun’s family is amongst the 5 families invited to have lunch with Pope Francis. Here ...read more

As France prepared to enter the Second World War, Roger Schutz-Marsauche, a 25 year old Swiss man, inspired by the Gospel ideals of reconciliation and fraternity sought to establish a community of men where kindness of heart and simplicity would be at the centre of everything. What started out as a small group of brothers ...read more

On June 11th we celebrate the feast of St. Barnabas. The Church sees him as an apostle though he was not one of the twelve. We first hear about him in the Acts of the Apostles, where he is given the name Barnabas which means “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4).  And he lived up to ...read more

Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney was born to Irish immigrants on Aug. 12 1852 in Waterbury, Conn. As the eldest of 13 children, six of whom died early in childhood, McGivney began working at the age of 13 in Connecticut’s metal industry. But, with the priesthood resonating in his mind, at the age of 16, ...read more

The President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, delivered remarks to the participants in the Invocation for Peace here at the Vatican on Sunday evening. Below, please find the full text, in English, of President Abbas’ prepared remarks. In the Name of God, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful Your Holiness Pope Francis Your Excellency President Shimon Peres, ...read more

The President of Israel, Shimon Peres, delivered remarks at the Invocation for Peace gathering in the Vatican on Sunday evening. Below, please find the full text, in English, of President Peres’ prepared remarks. Your Holiness Pope Francis, Your Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas, I have come from the Holy City of Jerusalem to thank you for ...read more