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Jesus invites us to be one with the Father

Jesus invites us to be one with the Father

Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year C) April 17 (Acts 13:14, 43-52; Psalm 100; Revelation 7:9, 14b-17; John 10:27-30)

There are many ways to relate a series of events, poetic, scientific, artistic and journalistic modes among them. When most people hear the word “history” they think of a straight-forward narration of unvarnished “facts.” Nothing could be farther from the truth. There is no such thing as an unbiased or dispassionate narrator — everyone has a point to make, an axe to grind, an agenda to address or an ideology to advance. This should not really surprise anyone, and there is nothing nefarious or sinister about it. 

Pope Francis embraces Humberto and Claudia Gomez, who are married civilly but not in the church, during a meeting with families at the Victor Manuel Reyna Stadium in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico, Feb. 15. Pope Francis' postsynodal apostolic exhortation on the family, "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), was to be released April 8. The exhortation is the concluding document of the 2014 and 2015 synods of bishops on the family.

Papal exhortation expected to stress broader conception of family

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis’ landmark text on the family, scheduled for release on Friday, is expected to encourage a more open attitude toward the non-nuclear family but contain no change in Church doctrine.

Refugees and migrants sit in front of a Hellenic Coast Guard vessel March 22 following a rescue operation on the Greek island of Lesbos. Pope Francis will go to Lesbos April 16 with Orthodox leaders to highlight the plight of refugees.

Pope to visit Lesbos to highlight plight of refugees

VATICAN CITY - In an effort to highlight the dramatic situation of refugees left in limbo on the Greek island of Lesbos, Pope Francis and other Christian leaders will meet with the migrants April 16.

According to a Belgian writer, "Sadness fills us like a water glass, but a glass can be emptied" unlike fear which has no release valve, says Fr. Rolheiser.

Naming our fear helps us live with it

Fear is the heartbeat of the powerless. So writes Cor de Jonghe. That’s true. We can deal with most everything, except fear. 

Pope Francis greets Lizzy Myers of Mansfield, Ohio, during his general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 6. Myers, who has a disease that is gradually rendering her blind and deaf, met the Pope as part of her "visual bucket list."

Pope blesses eyes of Ohio girl going blind

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis blessed the eyes of an American girl who suffers from a genetic condition that will make her blind, in a visit to the Vatican described as a “miracle” by her father.

Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior of the Society of St. Pius X, is pictured in 2012 at the society's headquarters in Menzingen, Switzerland.

Pope meets head of traditionalist Society of St. Pius X

VATICAN CITY - As discussions continue between Vatican officials and leaders of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X, Pope Francis met at the Vatican with Bishop Bernard Fellay, head of the society.

Pope Francis speaks as he leads a prayer service on the eve of the feast of Divine Mercy in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 2.

Pope asks for new Catholic institutions of mercy, charity

VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis asked Catholic dioceses around the world to set up a permanent memorial of the Year of Mercy by establishing a hospital, home for the aged or school in an under-served area.

Pope Francis joined the photo-sharing site Instagram March 19 using the account "Franciscus." As of April 1 the Pope had more than 2 million followers. This is a screen capture of a post on his page.

Pope breaks record on Instagram

VATICAN CITY - With a simple tap, Pope Francis joined Instagram and quickly set a record for gaining one million followers.

Cardinal Georges Cottier, former theologian of the papal household, died March 31 at the age of 93. He is pictured in a 2015 photo.

Cardinal Cottier, former theologian of papal household, dies

VATICAN CITY - Cardinal Georges Cottier, former theologian of the papal household, died March 31 at the age of 93.

The Vatican is investigating a former children's hospital president and treasurer after rumours that funds from the hospital's foundation were used to help finance the remodelling of a cardinal's apartment.

Vatican confirms investigation into financing of cardinal's apartment

VATICAN CITY - Vatican judicial authorities are investigating the former president and former treasurer of its Bambino Gesu pediatric hospital in a case involving the financing of remodelling work on the Vatican apartment where Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone lives.

Pina De Simone and Francesco Miano, a married couple who participated in the Synod of Bishops on the family, pose for a photo outside the synod hall at the Vatican in this Oct. 14, 2014, file photo. The married couple will participate in an April 8 news conference for the release of Pope Francis' much-anticipated concluding document of the synod.

Pope to release document on the family April 8

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has set April 8 for the release of "Amoris Laetitia" ("The Joy of Love"), Pope Francis' reflection on the family and family life.

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