News from Saint Ferdinand and Beyond

- What's Happening
  - In our Parish
    
    Bl. Solanus Casey Devotion
    Hurricane Harvey Relief
  - Around the World
    
    News from Saint Ferdinand and Beyond
Word on Fire
Catholic News Service
Rome Reports
Whispers in the Loggia
- USCCB President Suffers Stroke – As Bench VP, Gomez Given The Reins
  
  Having soldiered through this last year carrying an unprecedented double burden – the daily life of a booming 1.8 million-member archdiocese (one currently under civil investigation) and the elected...
- "Primates of the Gaols" – Pell’s Sentencing for Abuse Caps “Dark Age” for Red Hats
  
  Due to a couple milestones on the horizon, the 21st century was already bound to be a moment of reflection on the long history of the College of Cardinals: coming years bring both the 1,000th...
- In "Almost Heaven," The Hammer Falls – With Rome's Consent, WV Probe Ends With Bishop's Suspension
  
  As the leadership of the US bishops inches toward a partial embrace of Cardinal Blase Cupich’s “metropolitan proposal” for investigating allegations against prelates, the lone test-case for the...
- At Graceland, "Taz"-mania – Capping US Hat Trick, Pope Sends "Whirlwind" To Memphis
  
  (Updated with presser video.) Moving quickly to remedy the damage of a disastrous tenure that left West Tennessee's Catholic community wounded and reeling, the Pope has unleashed the most potent...
- Well, folks, intense as these last 10 days have been, if only that was everything on the plate.... Alas, it isn't. Indeed, there's more to come – some of which you can probably guess, some of which...
- In Australia, Another Scandal First – A Cardinal Behind Bars... and Out of the Vatican
  
  At least to some degree, the church's reckoning with sexual abuse by clergy has now stretched across 35 years. Yet even for all its tumult, the long journey has never seen anything like these last...
- "The Reflection of the Wrath of God" – In Summit's Last Word, Pope's "Concrete" Pledge Put To Test
  
  Facing what'll irrevocably be seen as a defining moment of his six-year reign, the Pope's closing speech to the abuse summit he designed stacked out at nearly 3,200 words (not including the...

Catholic News Service
- In Syria, Caritas works to promote understanding among neighbors
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Muhammad Hamed, Reuters By Dale Gavlak RAMTHA, Jordan (CNS) -- As Syria's civil war enters its ninth year, citizens in and outside the country find themselves in limbo. Catholic and...
- Cardinal Parolin celebrates 150th anniversary of children's hospital
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican-owned Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital in Rome is a sign of the Catholic Church's commitment to caring for and...
- Counselors offer 'loving sources of hope' for women seeking abortions
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Natalie Hoefer, The Cr By Natalie Hoefer INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) -- Two women stood near the busy road on a chilly February morning in Indianapolis. A steady, penetrating mist -- and...
- For Chaldeans who fled Iraq, New Zealand attacks brought back memories
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy NZ Catholic By Michael Otto AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CNS) -- The St. Addai Chaldean Catholic community in suburban Auckland felt the impact of the Christchurch mosque killings...
- Pope leads pilgrims in prayer for victims of mosque attack
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called on Christians to unite in prayer for the victims of two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand...
- Pope encourages South Sudan peace process, hopes to visit
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As the process to implement a peace accord in South Sudan continues, Pope Francis met March 16 with South Sudanese President Salva...
- Worn marble steps of Holy Stairs to be uncovered for public to climb
  
  IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- For the first time in 300 years, the marble steps of the Holy Stairs will be free from the thick wooden panels installed in 1723 to...
National Catholic Register
- How to Start a Family Rosary
  
  By Sherry Antonetti | The goal of Lent is to grow in holiness, which is possible only if we aren’t in our own way. That’s why we engage in these forty days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For...
- Cardinal Barbarin Remains Archbishop, Takes Leave of Absence
  
  By Hannah Brockhaus/CNA | VATICAN CITY — French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin will remain the archbishop of Lyon, the Vatican announced Tuesday. According to a statement released by the Holy See Press...
- China’s President Xi Jinping Unlikely to Meet Pope Francis During Rome Trip
  
  By Edward Pentin | The leader of communist China arrives in Rome on Thursday, his first visit to Italy since the historic agreement last September between Beijing and the Holy See, but a papal...
- St. Joseph’s Apparition in the United States
  
  By Joseph Pronechen | This year marks the 60th anniversary of St. Joseph appearing to a nun in Ohio during March, 1958. He appeared during the continuing apparitions of the Blessed Mother under...
- St. Joseph — A Gentle Saint With a Powerful Trust in God
  
  By Theresa Doyle-Nelson | Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy...
- St. Joseph, ‘Terror of Demons’, is a Powerful Man Indeed
  
  By Patti Armstrong | The Power of St. Joseph How much attention to you give to the man who was the earthly adoptive father and protector of Jesus, and the virtuous husband to Mary? Imagine how...
- Fathers Know Best? Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s Surprising Animated Dads
  
  By Steven D. Greydanus | Right now the two most exciting names in American animation are Phil Lord and Chris Miller. From their breakout film Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 10 years ago and their..
News from the Vatican
- Pope Francis refuses resignation of French cardinal convicted of cover-up
  
  French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon said Pope Francis would not accept his resignation following his conviction for covering up clerical sexual abuse, so he has decided to step aside...
- Pope: Imitate God by being merciful to others
  
  The season of Lent is a time for Christians to reflect on and practice the mercy of God toward others and not waste away sitting in judgment of others, Pope Francis said.
- French cardinal, convicted of abuse cover-up, meets pope
  
  As he announced he would do after he was convicted of covering up sexual abuse committed by a priest, French Cardinal Philippe Barbarin of Lyon met Pope Francis March 18 to hand in his resignation.
- Pope leads pilgrims in prayer for victims of mosque attack
  
  Pope Francis called on Christians to unite in prayer for the victims of two mosque attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, that left 50 people dead and dozens wounded in one of the worst mass shootings...
- Corruption is a devastating cancer harming society, pope says
  
  The constant temptation and cancer of corruption is one of the most devastating illnesses to befall society, Pope Francis said.