News and notes from around the Catholic world as collected by The Catholic Register.

Hundreds of thousands of Polish Catholics gathered along their country’s border Oct. 7 to pray for peace, as well as for the future and salvation of Poland and the world. The event, entitled “Rosary at the Borders,” was organized by a lay movement called the Solo Dios Basta Foundation (God Alone Suffices). It was supported by the Polish Bishop’s Conference and was sponsored by several state-owned companies. Approximately 90 per cent of the country identifies as Catholic.

According to The New York Times, participants gathered for prayer at 320 churches near the border of Poland as well as in 4,000 designated prayer zones. The prayer took place on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which also commemorates the anni-versary of the Battle of Lepanto, during which Mary, through the prayer of the rosary, is credited for a key victory against the Ottoman Empire.

CHURCH ‘SHAKEN’: The Catholic Church in Australia has been “shaken to the core” over the abuse scandal and is facing the biggest crisis in its history, the Archbishop of Brisbane has said.

Mark Coleridge, vice-president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, was speaking Oct. 9 after visiting Rome with fellow Australian bishops for talks about the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse crisis which has been the focus of an Australian royal commission.

The scandal widened when police in June charged Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican treasurer and former Archbishop of Sydney, with historic sexual offences. Pell has taken a leave of absence while he seeks to clear his name.

RECTOR LEAVES: The Legionaries of Christ pledged its ongoing commitment to reform as it released information about a former rector who has publicly acknowledged being the father of two children.

Legionaries’ Fr. Oscar Turrion, who has served as rector of the order’s seminary in Rome since 2014, informed his superiors of “his intention to leave priestly ministry” in light of the revela-tions, the order said in a statement Oct. 6.

Turrion, who also released his own letter describing the affair, offered his apologies and asked for prayers.

AGENCIES GUIDE: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto has published a 24-page booklet listing social service agencies to help parishes respond to families in need.

Cardinal Thomas Collins specifically links the booklet, titled Outreach in Justice and Love: A Social Services Resource, with his hopes for parishes to develop comprehensive pastoral plans.

For a copy, call (416) 934-3401. 

Hundreds of thousands of Polish Catholics gathered along their country’s border Oct. 7 to pray for peace, as well as for the future and salvation of Poland and the world. The event, entitled “Rosary at the Borders,” was organized by a lay movement called the Solo Dios Basta Foundation (God Alone Suffices). It was supported by the Polish Bishop’s Conference and was sponsored by several state-owned companies. Approximately 90 per cent of the country identifies as Catholic.

According to The New York Times, participants gathered for prayer at 320 churches near the border of Poland as well as in 4,000 designated prayer zones. The prayer took place on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, which also commemorates the anni-versary of the Battle of Lepanto, during which Mary, through the prayer of the rosary, is credited for a key victory against the Ottoman Empire.

CHURCH ‘SHAKEN’: The Catholic Church in Australia has been “shaken to the core” over the abuse scandal and is facing the biggest crisis in its history, the Archbishop of Brisbane has said.

Mark Coleridge, vice-president of the Australian Bishops’ Conference, was speaking Oct. 9 after visiting Rome with fellow Australian bishops for talks about the fallout of the clerical sexual abuse crisis which has been the focus of an Australian royal commission.

The scandal widened when police in June charged Cardinal George Pell, the Vatican treasurer and former Archbishop of Sydney, with historic sexual offences. Pell has taken a leave of absence while he seeks to clear his name.

RECTOR LEAVES: The Legionaries of Christ pledged its ongoing commitment to reform as it released information about a former rector who has publicly acknowledged being the father of two children.

Legionaries’ Fr. Oscar Turrion, who has served as rector of the order’s seminary in Rome since 2014, informed his superiors of “his intention to leave priestly ministry” in light of the revela-tions, the order said in a statement Oct. 6.

Turrion, who also released his own letter describing the affair, offered his apologies and asked for prayers.

AGENCIES GUIDE: Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Toronto has published a 24-page booklet listing social service agencies to help parishes respond to families in need.

Cardinal Thomas Collins specifically links the booklet, titled Outreach in Justice and Love: A Social Services Resource, with his hopes for parishes to develop comprehensive pastoral plans.

For a copy, call (416) 934-3401. 

Thousands of people joined the Life Chain peaceful protest against abortion on Oct. 1 at more than 200 street corners across Canada.

The Catholic Register is pleased to introduce our new Youth Speak News team for 2017-2018. These 12 young people were selected from a very qualified number of applicants to The Register’s successful YSN program.