While we in the United States were devastated by the recent shooting of 11 people at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, there has also been continuing violence in the Holy Land.
A Catholic News Service (CNS) article published on October 29 said Holy Land Church leaders expressed concern in the wake of recent incidents involving the Christian community.
Catholic News Service posted a photo of a Pittsburgh Steelers fan displaying a sign October 28 to honor the victims of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue before the game between Pittsburgh and the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
The sign said, “Hatred can’t weaken a city of steel.” It pointed to the killing of at least 11 people and the wounding of six others, including four police officers, during the October 27 shooting at the synagogue.
The official name for individuals who meet the general requirements of the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act is DREAMers.
However, I think we could call them dreamers in the regular sense, because they are young people who dream of staying in the United States and becoming citizens of this country.
In 2012, a policy called the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program — popularly known as DACA — was implemented under the Obama administration. It gave young people — mostly 15 to 30 years of age — a temporary reprieve from deportation and the authorization to be employed in our country.
Most people think of February as the month of Groundhog Day, the Super Bowl, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. Sometimes Lent begins in February, although this year it starts later with Ash Wednesday on March 5.
However, those of us involved in Catholic newspapers observe February as Catholic Press Month. …
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Even though most of us can’t be in Rio De Janeiro this week, we can still join Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of young people in prayer as they gather for World Youth Day (WYD).
As a “friend” of WYD on Facebook, I’ve been receiving updates and countdowns to the big event for many months. I almost feel like I’m making the trip myself!
I would encourage interested persons to follow WYD on its Facebook Page (World Youth Day Rio 2013). Of course, the Catholic Herald’s own Facebook Page (Madison Catholic Herald) as well as our website (www.madisoncatholicherald.org) and Twitter (@CHMadison) will be carrying coverage of WYD. Our website will include updates from Catholic News Service in English as well as in Spanish.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope (Romans 15:13).
It’s his smile. That’s what we have noticed especially about our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. His smile literally lights up St. Peter’s Square — and that’s a big place!
It’s not that our previous popes haven’t exuded happiness. They did show us joy, too. But Pope Francis has been unusually open in approaching people, walking right up to them in the crowds, touching people and picking up children (I’m sure his security staff is pretty nervous at times).
I think his joy his contagious. People have been responding to him in person and have been enjoying watching videos. Catholic News Service has posted some wonderful videos of Pope Francis interacting with people of all ages. Some of these videos can be found on the Catholic Herald website (www.madisoncatholicherald.org) on the home page. If you haven’t watched these videos, I encourage you to take a look. You will come away smiling.
To the editor:
In the January 26 issue of the Catholic Herald, there was an article from the Catholic News Service, “Pope warns of U.S. threat to freedom, conscience.” The pope called on the Church in America, including lay people, to render “public moral witness on crucial social issues.”
He spoke of Catholic politicians’ “personal responsibility to offer public witness to their faith, especially with regard to the great moral issues of our time,” which he identified as: “respect for God’s gift of life, the protection of human dignity, and the promotion of authentic human rights.”
