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January 2018

January 11, 2018

Mudslide victim was Catholic school founder: ‘Roy’s life has been in service to his good, loving and ever-forgiving God’

Tragic news, from the local NBC TV station in Los Angeles: The founder of a...

January 10, 2018

No greater love: Mother with cancer who refused to abort her child dies on Christmas

What a witness. Details: A 43-year-old Catholic nurse in India died on Christmas Day from...

January 10, 2018

‘To God be the glory!’: kidnapped religious sisters in Nigeria freed

You may remember this shocking story from November. The latest: Three Catholic nuns and three...

January 10, 2018

Churches suspend sign of peace to battle flu

From Ireland: Mass-goers are being asked to consider an alternative to the handshake or sign...

January 08, 2018

Praise cheeses: On the road to Wisconsin

I got back last night from scenic (and very cold) Norwich, Connecticut, where I had...

January 06, 2018

Hymn of the Week: ‘We Three Kings’

It may be one of the most familiar songs of the Christmas season, and one...

January 05, 2018

Jim Caviezel’s powerful and impassioned speech to young people

He made an appearance at SLS18 in Chicago this week—promoting his new movie about the...

January 05, 2018

Whoa: the obscure rule that allows some people to ride horses in St. Peter’s

Well now, this is something new (at least to me). I wonder if anyone has...

January 05, 2018

Deacons, remember to add this to your ‘to do’ list for this Sunday

Time for my annual reminder about chanting the date of Easter. From a post I...

January 05, 2018

Being aware of wonder: Homily for Epiphany

I'm heading to snowy Willimantic, CT this afternoon, to the Immaculata Retreat House, where I'll...

January 05, 2018

Who knew? It turns out Roy Moore’s Jewish lawyer is now Christian

One more unexpected twist to a story that made headlines last month: The wife of...

January 04, 2018

The Catholic faith of Rose Marie: ‘God first, others second, and I’m third’

This announcement was posted on Twitter by her daughter: [img attachment="267744" align="aligncenter" size="full" /] Eternal...

January 03, 2018

To life: HGTV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines show off sonogram of new baby

How's this for a great pro-life witness? This is garnering a lot of attention on...

January 03, 2018

Bulletproof pulpits?

Yes, this is a thing: How concerned are churches about security? Recently a Texas church...

January 01, 2018

Putting out into the deep: Deacon receives British Empire Medal for his pastoral service to seafarers

This is great, from The Tablet in London, describing a tremendous honor bestowed "in recognition...

December 2017

December 31, 2017

Pope Francis prints and distributes dramatic photograph from Nagasaki showing ‘fruit of war’

From CNN: Pope Francis is having cards printed and distributed showing a 1945 photo of...

December 31, 2017

Resolve to live in hope: Homily for January 1, Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

From the vault... + About a century ago, the Jesuit poet and priest Gerard Manley...

December 31, 2017

When kids play Mass: ‘The priest does that!!’

Several people have sent me this: a brief clip of two young boys "playing Mass"—and...

December 30, 2017

A family like ours: Homily for December 31, 2017, Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

This Sunday, as we honor the Holy Family, it is tempting for us to think...

December 30, 2017

Hymn of the Week: ‘The Snow Lay on the Ground’

This old English carol is the processional at our parish this weekend. Fittingly, for this...

December 29, 2017

To life: Catholic free clinic opens on site of former Virginia abortion clinic

Details: An unassuming Manassas office park Forestwood Lane once served as a flashpoint in the...

December 29, 2017

An often-overlooked carol of the season: ‘The Friendly Beasts’

This story about the "Prayer of the Donkey" reminded me of a carol from my...

December 29, 2017

Do we have to go to Mass on January 1?

This year, in the United States, no. The USCCB notes on its liturgical calendar: Since...

December 29, 2017

NBC News profiles a sensational ‘choir of angels’: the Dominican Sisters of Ann Arbor

This is a lovely Christmas gift for television viewers, from the NBC Nightly News. Watch...

December 28, 2017

‘Sunday mornings when the people were going to Mass, I would spit on them’—and now he’s a priest

A remarkable and unexpected vocation story: After an anti-clerical childhood and adolescence, filled with hatred...

December 28, 2017

Sarah Silverman talks with Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries

This is surprising and uplifting, from her new Hulu series "I Love You, America." The...

December 28, 2017

How will the new tax law affect charities?

I was wondering about this the other day—and how this could impact the church. Here's...

December 27, 2017

Building something beautiful in South Carolina

My friend Father Gregory West has recently unveiled the stunning designs for the church his...

December 27, 2017

Behold: Jim Gaffigan gives out Holy Communion

Ladies and gentlemen, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion Jim Gaffigan. When was the last time...

December 27, 2017

The Holy Family as refugees? Yes.

There's been some critical commentary over the last couple days, regarding Pope Francis's homily on...