At 5:00 pm today, December 31 in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis presides over the first Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, followed Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the the singing of the traditional hymn Te Deum of thanksgiving at the end of calendar year and Eucharistic Benediction. Here is the Holy ...read more

Reflecting on the First Chapter of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on Love in the Family Pope Francis’ recent Apostolic Exhortation on love in the family, Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”), is a treasure trove reflecting the beauty of family life. In his introductory paragraphs the Holy Father uses the image of a “multifaceted gem” ...read more

Two weeks ago,a few of us at Salt and Light went on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. In Galilee, we made our way to the place where the Holy Family’s life began, in Nazareth, where God became incarnate through His mother. It is in this city located in the north ...read more

World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 Released the Official Hymn for September 2015 Event The World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia 2015 released the Official Hymn for the 2015 world meeting of families, held September 22-27 2015, and featuring Pope Francis’ first visit to the United States. The hymn, titled “Sound the Bell of Holy Freedom,” ...read more

I was struck this past June when I read the Instrumentum Laboris, or working document for the 3rd Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will take place from Oct 5-19, 2014. The Synod, or meeting of Bishops, will focus on “pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelisation” which is ...read more

  On Sept. 9, 2014, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia unveiled the official icon and prayer of the World Meeting of Families, to take place in Philadelphia in September of 2015. The unveiling took place at the heart of the Archdiocese, the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul, during the Sunday mass, celebrated and blessed ...read more