The recent election of Pope Leo XVI has certainly caused a stir within the Church and throughout the world.
Elected to the papacy as the 267th successor of St. Peter on May 8, this Augustinian Friar originally from Chicago, became the first pope from the United States in history.
According to a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center, a multiyear decline in Christianity in the United States seems to have leveled off, but the same survey notes that the Catholic Church is experiencing the greatest net losses of believers compared to other religions.
Our diocesan vocations office reports that at least five young men have applied to enter the seminary this fall and that several young women are in the process of entering Religious Life or seeking to become consecrated virgins.
Several years ago, Bishop Donald J. Hying did something similar when he introduced the “four Holy Habits” to help foster an awareness of God’s presence and encourage us to strive for holiness.
At the heart of this jubilant time is Easter Sunday, a day brimming with the joy of the Risen Lord, which also begins the Easter Octave — eight days of unbroken celebration, each treated as though they are one and the same day.
As we come to the end of our Lenten journey and enter Holy Week, the readings for Palm Sunday center around the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, reminding us of the transformative power of His sacrificial love.
As we continue our Lenten journey into the Fourth Sunday of Lent, our readings for Mass offer lessons about God’s mercy and love which call us to reconcile with Him and with one another.
As we continue our Lenten journey into the Second Sunday of Lent, our readings for Mass highlight the presence of God in our lives and remind us of the glory to come.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us encourage all grandparents to assist their grandchildren to “set their hope in God” (Ps 78:7) in intentional and loving ways.
During the Jubilee Year of Hope — as with all jubilee years — the lay faithful are encouraged to participate in some sort of pilgrimage.
