At Mass, have you noticed there are words which the priest says very quietly? Sometimes you don’t even hear them, only seeing his lips move. (And some … Read More
Author Archives: Patricia Kasten
Mary, Mary, dressed in blue
Have you ever wondered why Mary wears blue? Yes, many images of the Blessed Mother show her in white: Our Lady of Fatima is robed in white, … Read More
Pope issues new norms on mandatory abuse reporting, bishop accountability
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis has revised and clarified norms and procedures for holding bishops and religious superiors accountable in protecting minors as well as in protecting … Read More
How old are the bells of Notre Dame?
Remember Victor Hugo’s Quasimodo swinging the great bells of Notre Dame? Many feared that, like the deaf fictional bell ringer, none of us would ever hear the … Read More
Fasting until the Easter Vigil
Have you ever been so excited that you couldn’t eat? Maybe you came home on school break, or had been away in the service and wanted that … Read More
Pontius Pilate, a saint?
Did you ever think of Pontius Pilate as a saint? On the third Sunday of Lent, many of us heard the Gospel about the Roman prefect (the … Read More
Where Christ fell seven times
How many times did Jesus fall on the way to the cross? If you said “three,” you know your Stations of the Cross. The Stations of the … Read More
Not just for funerals
On the Fourth Sunday of Lent, those parishes with catechumens in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) are encouraged to use the Sunday readings for … Read More
Vandals, arsonists target French Catholic churches
MANCHESTER, England — Vandals and arsonists have targeted French churches in a wave of attacks that has lasted nearly two months. More than 10 churches have been … Read More
Becoming a seafarers’ chaplain was not exactly his retirement plan
DELTA, British Columbia — A few years ago, Deacon Dileep Athaide could never have guessed he’d become a frequent visitor on the immense coal and container ships … Read More
