Annual celebration helps parents cope with the loss of their babies
Few among the group were regular churchgoers. But for at least one morning, they participated in the feast of the angels, a liturgical celebration organized by parish staff near what's designated as Infant Loss Remembrance Day in Canada and the United States.
Final report to be a general guide, not hard answers, says cardinal
After nearly three weeks of intense discussion and debate, the Synod of Bishop's final document on the family as aiming to be a reflection of the overall sense of the "mind of the house" and indicate some general pastoral directions, a cardinal said at a Vatican news conference Oct. 22.
Pope Francis shares personal message of humility, new beginnings with inmates
“Unbelievable,” “goosebumps,” “breathtaking,” “ecstatic,” “once in a life time,” “amazing,” “tears to my eyes”: these were some of the words and phrases inmates used to describe their encounters with Pope Francis at the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in northeast Philadelphia Sept. 27.
The deeper synod question: How should church relate to the wider world
The world's bishops agree that Catholic families are the beating heart and busy hands of the church, but the tensions in the synod hall demonstrate that what they don't agree on is a vision of the church and its primary attitude to the world.
Día de los muertos, más que una tradición — Fecha para orar por nuestros...
La celebración del Día de los Muertos es más que una tradición ancestral, dijeron expertos que fueron entrevistados por The Catholic Sun acerca del verdadero significado de tan importante día. El Diácono José Ángel Torres de la Parroquia de San Gregorio, quien además es un estudioso de la cultura hispana, manifestó que el 2 de noviembre es una fecha muy especial en la que los católicos recuerdan a sus fieles difuntos.
Volunteers are at front lines of Europe’s response to refugees
"There has been a wave of solidarity to match the wave of refugees," a Hungarian bishop said.
Churches mum, but activists express hopes, concerns after Canadian elections
OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) — They have written electoral guides, identified national issues, and invited Canadians to vote in the Oct. 19 federal elections, but one day after voters swept Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party to a majority government, most Canadian churches had no official reaction.
Serra’s canonization provides opportunity for dialogue, says speaker
The elevation of Fr. Junípero Serra to sainthood offers important lessons for today’s debates over the treatment of immigrants and other less fortunate people. That was the message of a thoughtful, balanced lecture by author Jeff Campbell on Fr. Serra’s canonization by Pope Francis. The lecture took place Sept. 21 at St. Mary’s Basilica, as part of a week-long celebration surrounding the Franciscan missionary’s canonization. His canonization Sept. 23 was the first to take place in the United States.
Shorter annulment process isn’t about shortcuts, cardinals say
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The reforms to the annulment process introduced by Pope Francis serve only to avoid delays in cases where marriages are clearly not valid, two synod fathers said. Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach of Barcelona, Spain, and Cardinal Wilfrid F. Napier of Durban, South Africa, told journalists at a Vatican news conference Oct. 20 that the new process has safeguards against any improper shortcuts.
New pastoral approach does not change doctrine, Australian archbishop says
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — While Church doctrine must stay unchanged, an Australian archbishop expressed his hope that the Synod of Bishops will the lead the Church to a genuine pastoral approach using a new language of mercy toward families, particularly those in difficult situations.
