For sheer numbers, there has never been a decade like the 2010s for saint-making. That’s because Pope Francis canonized over 800 in one go when he declared St. Antonio Primaldo and his 812 companions (martyred in 1480 by an invading Ottoman army in Oranto, southern Italy) saints on May 12, 2013.
The crisis, the kairos moment, the crux of the matter, the hinge of history — none of these are easily discernible, usually. But for Catholics, this last decade has been unusual.
Over 100 families celebrated Jesus’ birthday just a little early at the annual Daughters of St. Paul Baby Jesus Party on Dec. 7.
The following is an edited version of the annual Christmas message from the president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, Archbishop Richard Gagnon of Winnipeg:
This year, as in each and every year, the Green Church Network is wishing one and all a Green Christmas.
You are cordially invited to join the biggest Christmas dinner table in the world … and feed a child for a whole school year at the same time.
As mysterious to the three wise men as the light that appeared in the western heavens, so too is the mystery surrounding these magi who followed that star to Bethlehem and bore gifts for the newborn Jesus.
WASHINGTON -- One of the most beloved Christmas carols of all time is now into its third century.
Lights, camera ... and holiday cheer: The best of Christmas spirit on film
By Sr. Helena Burns, Catholic Register Special
’Tis the season to be jolly, light the Advent wreath (I mean light the candles on the Advent wreath), dive into the amazing daily Advent Scripture readings, send out Christmas cards and newsletters, donate to the Salvation Army, re-gift fruitcake AND … watch a bunch of holiday movies with family and friends!
Christmas was always special in the D’Cruz family — that tends to happen when there are 12 kids — but through the decades they have never let the secular overtake the religious in celebrating the season.
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Over the past 24 years, Carol Howes has seen a lot of teens face Christmas alone in a shelter, wondering where they belong and whether they have a future.
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- Brothers Peter and Eli Hosh grew up knowing that their hometown was not only the place where they went to school and ran down to the corner market for their mother, but the town where Jesus was born.
HAMILTON, Ont. -- At 9 a.m. Sunday morning, Dec. 15, Jen Edmonds was one of 800 volunteers contributing to the complex task of welcoming over 2,000 people to the Hamilton Convention Centre for a formal, sit-down Christmas dinner, a visit with Santa, gifts for every child, coats and mittens for those who need them.
EDMONTON -- A new Nativity scene at Edmonton City Hall has taken the centuries-old Christmas tradition into the realm of computer-generated virtual reality.