The recent canonization of Saint Damien of Molokai and Saint Jeanne Jugan (Sister Mary of the Cross) gives us the opportunity to reflect on their lives and example this week and next week.

The missionary spirit
The command of Jesus to “go…

Respect Life Sunday, this year celebrated on October 4th is a day set aside for Catholics
in the United States to reflect with gratitude on God’s priceless gift of human life. It is also an
occasion to examine how well we, as…

This week’s title is taken directly from the web site of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and it concerns the upcoming new translations of the Roman Missal, which our priests and faithful will most likely be using within…

On July 7, Pope Benedict XVI published his latest encyclical letter, Caritas in Veritate, “Charity in Truth.” Although this newspaper has already printed a detailed summary of this encyclical and I have made a statement concerning it, it is timely…

This is the traditional weekend for priestly ordinations and First Masses and also a time of year when many of our priests celebrate their anniversaries of ordination. This week, let us reflect on the gift of the priesthood of Jesus…

New draft guidelines for federally funded stem cell research involving the destruction of human embryos, released Friday by the National Institutes of Health, mark a new chapter in divorcing biomedical research from its necessary ethical foundation. Without unconditional respect for…

One of the most beautiful gifts that God has bestowed upon us as creatures made in His image and likeness, is the gift of memory. Only we possess this marvelous ability to remember. We make use of this ability in…

In the context of our continued observance of October as Respect Life Month, this week’s topic reflects the title and contents of the United States Bishops’ document: “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship.” This document complements the teaching of bishops in…

One of the saddest phrases in all of Scripture is spoken by Pontius Pilate. He is questioning Jesus and he knows in his mind and heart that Jesus is innocent. He weakly tries to find a way to release Him…

You may have heard of a book written by the Servant of God, Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. (1904‑1984), titled “With God in Russia” (Ignatius Press, 1997). After his ordination to the priesthood in 1938, Father Ciszek, a Pennsylvania native, served…