Author Archive
‘Tis the season, and Bethlehem businesses hope for a merry one
IMAGE: CNS photo/Debbie Hill By Judith Sudilovsky BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) — Even the Christmas decorations seem more cheerful this year in Bethlehem. A new display of Santa’s reindeer and sleigh were about to alight at the main traffic circle on Manger Street, and a big white Christmas tree made …
New center shows church’s ongoing commitment to immigrants, says bishop
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Catholic Charities By Rose Ybarra MCALLEN, Texas (CNS) — Blessing the ground for a new respite center in McAllen is a sign of the Catholic Church’s commitment to be available and helpful to immigrant families, who “are enduring many, many tragic situations in their lives,” said Brownsville …
Despite distance, Iraqi Christians keep the spirit of Christmas alive
IMAGE: CNS/Oscar Durand By Oscar Durand ISTANBUL (CNS) — Sami Dankha, his three brothers and their families used to kick off Christmas celebrations by attending a packed Christmas Eve Mass at St. Thomas Church in Baghdad. Wearing brand new clothes and sporting fresh haircuts, they would spend the night chatting, …
Helping others realize their potential is good business, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis pleaded with a group of billionaires to take seriously their personal obligation to share their resources and make a real commitment to doing business in a way that helps other people realize their potential, too. The global economic …
Pope recognizes martyrdom of Oklahoma priest killed in Guatemala
IMAGE: CNS By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has recognized the martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, making him the first martyr born in the United States. The Vatican made the announcement Dec. 2. The recognition of his martyrdom clears the way for his …
Syriac Catholic patriarch ‘horrified’ after seeing Iraqi ‘ghost towns’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Thaier Al-Sudani, Reuters By Doreen Abi Raad BEIRUT (CNS) — The Syriac Catholic patriarch said he was horrified to see widespread devastation and what he called “ghost towns” during a recent visit to northern Iraq. Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan wrote in an email to Catholic News Service …
Some fleeing scene of wildfires describe it as escaping ‘gates of hell’
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Tennessee Highway Patrol, handout via Reuters By Bill Brewer PIGEON FORGE, Tenn. (CNS) — St. Mary’s Catholic Church was at ground zero in the wildfires that devastated parts of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Nov. 28, and while flames reached to within yards of the tourist city church, …
Paper’s 1941 war edition expressed faith, patriotism of island Catholics
IMAGE: CNS photo/Catholic Herald By Patrick Downes HONOLULU (CNS) — “Our beloved country is at war. Our peaceful shores have been ruthlessly attacked, and all citizens are called upon to unite their efforts toward that peace for which we have all prayed, that peace which the world cannot give, and …
USCCB leaders seek prayers for migrants, refugees on Guadalupe feast
IMAGE: CNS photo/David Maung By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Prayer services and special Masses will be held in many dioceses across the country as the U.S. Catholic Church has asked that the Dec. 12 feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe be a day of prayer with a focus on migrants and …
Priest-historian: 75 years later, Pearl Harbor ‘such a powerful event’
IMAGE: CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz By Mark Pattison WASHINGTON (CNS) — A Catholic military chaplain and historian says the attack on Pearl Harbor, even 75 years later, continues to rivet the attention of Americans because it is “such a powerful event.” As the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack …