Nation
Liturgy, immigration, marriage among issues at USCCB spring meeting
Officials join in the opening prayers at the start of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' spring meeting in San Antonio June 17. Pictured from left is Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., vice president; Chicago Cardinal Francis E. George, president; Msgr. David Malloy, general secretary, and parliamentarian Henry M. Robert III.
Local
Living the Faith: Sheila Farley
By Donis Tracy
Pilot Correspondent
MILTON -- It isn’t a big parish; it’s isn’t a burgeoning parish. But every day as Sheila Farley walks to her parish, St. Pius Tenth Parish in Milton, to open its doors she knows it is her parish.
Local
From Cardinal Seán’s blog
On Thursday (June 11), the Feast Day of St. Barnabas the Apostle, we had a Mass at the Pastoral Center with something of a missionary theme.
St. Barnabas, like St. Paul, was a great missionary to the gentiles and, at the Mass on his feast day, we honored two men for their missionary service. It was a wonderful celebration of the commitment to the Mission ‘‘Ad Gentes’’ of the Catholics of the Archdiocese of Boston.
Nation
Economic tailspin causing children to find life a lot tougher
By Dennis Sadowski
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- When the economy tanks, as the country has experienced for the last 18 months, children bear some of the toughest burdens because of increased family stress and cuts in programs that help kids thrive, according to an annual study of child well-being.
Nation
Bishops support Bishop D’Arcy’s ’pastoral concern’ for Notre Dame
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Meeting in executive session in San Antonio, the U.S. bishops expressed "appreciation and support" for Bishop John M. D'Arcy of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., especially for "his pastoral concern" for the University of Notre Dame.
Nation
Bishops clarify ’ambiguities’ in 2002 Catholic-Jewish document
By Nancy Frazier O'Brien
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The "ambiguities" in a 7-year-old document from Catholic and Jewish dialogue partners are continuing to cause confusion, two committees of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said in a June 18 note.
Nation
Washington archbishop leads prayer service after tragic subway crash
By Richard Szczepanowski
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- One day after the deadliest accident in the history of Washington's Metro subway system, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl gathered with Metro employees to pray for those who died or were injured in the incident.
World
Pope opens Year for Priests, says they must witness God’s compassion
By John Thavis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Formally opening the Year for Priests, Pope Benedict urged all priests to strive for holiness and said the ordained ministry was indispensable for the church and the world.
World
Pope Pius XII promoter says Jewish pressure an obstacle to sainthood
By Sarah Delaney
ROME (CNS) -- A top proponent of the beatification of Pope Pius XII said Pope Benedict XVI has not moved the cause forward because Jewish groups have warned it would permanently damage Catholic-Jewish relations.
World
Pope visits tomb of St. Padre Pio, asks priests to imitate him
By Catholic News Service
SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO, Italy (CNS) -- St. Padre Pio's devotion to the Eucharist, the hours he spent in the confessional and his concrete care for the sick make him a model all priests should try to imitate, Pope Benedict XVI said.
World
Canadian bishops find no wrongdoing by aid agency’s Mexican partners
By Michael Swan
TORONTO (CNS) -- The Mexican partners of the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace were imprudent when they signed a statement on human rights sent to the United Nations, but Canada's bishops have found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the aid agency or its partners, said the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Local
Local service marks opening of Year for Priests
By Donis Tracy
Pilot Correspondent
EAST BOSTON -- On June 19, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, the Church opened the Year for Priests. The theme for the priestly year is “Faithfulness of Christ, Faithfulness of Priests.”
Opinion
Forever faith-ful
Jaymie Stuart Wolfe
My mom was -- and is -- a pretty consistent disciplinarian. Because she lives with us, my kids have heard a lot of the same phrases she used to say when she was raising me. “Finish what you start.” “Put things away as you go along.” “When you get up in the morning and your feet hit the floor, turn around and make your bed.” Some of what she repeats has fallen on less than listening ears. But her simple synopsis of what it takes to be a decent human being will probably stick with our children the way it has with me. “Two things,” she used to say as she held up two fingers. “Only two things. I want to you be nice, and hardworking.” “Nice” and “hardworking” sometimes switched order, but they were always the bottom line. All the rest, at least in her view, would probably follow if you possessed those two qualities.
Opinion
Year for Priests offers chance for renewal
Father Robert L. Connors
Thirty-eight years ago as I began my first assignment at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls, I balanced my nervousness and naivete with enthusiasm and energy. I was a new “curate,” but the warm welcome from the people propelled me forward into a priesthood that has been filled with incredible highs and difficult lows. Truly, it is the consistent support from the people and my fellow priests that has supported my ministry and made it a great blessing in my life. Through all the varied assignments and challenging experiences over those years, nothing could have prepared me, or any priest, for the trauma that has touched the Church over the past several years. The “crisis” has forever changed how people view the priest. Often subtle, the difference seems to pervade a lot of our interaction. It is sad, of course, because the majority of priests love their priesthood, respect parishioners and are trying to do the best they can to fulfill the call to ministry they answered so many years ago. Gratefully, I am happy to note that the “positive” responses far out-weigh the “negative” ones, but priests silently and gently carry that baggage. We don’t want to be on top of the pedestal -- it’s so rewarding to do ministry with you; but we don’t want to be under it either. As the years pass by, I know that a new hope, new openness and new opportunities for growth between priests and people will be a welcomed grace.
Opinion
One year ends after another begins
Dwight G. Duncan
We are accustomed to ending one year and beginning another at the end of December, not June. Of course, as Catholics our liturgical year ends around the end of November, and starts with the first Sunday of Advent. Jews, of course, celebrate Rosh Hashanah, their New Year’s, in September or thereabouts. And usually we wait until one year is over before beginning another. But last week, on June 19, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, Pope Benedict inaugurated a Year of the Priesthood. And next week, Monday, June 29, the Feast of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul, the Year of St. Paul comes to an end. The change of years comes at the end of June this year, with ten days of overlap! One Year of the P molts into another Year of the P.
Opinion
PED mess redux, ad nauseam
Clark Booth
And so now it is clear that baseball’s worst fears are slowly but quite certainly being realized with a steady and relentless drip. Nor is there much doubt that the dreaded worst case scenario will soon follow, probably in the form of a deluge.
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