hand and heart

The recent post office troubles have impacted our regular fundraising efforts. Please consider supporting the Register and Catholic journalism by using one of the methods below:

  • Donate online
  • Donate by e-transfer to accounting@catholicregister.org
  • Donate by telephone: 416-934-3410 ext. 406 or toll-free 1-855-441-4077 ext. 406

News/International

American Bishop Patrick James Byrne became a Korean martyr when he died on a forced march in harsh winter conditions under the watch of communist soldiers.

How an American bishop became a Korean martyr

By

WASHINGTON – Bishop Patrick James Byrne was born in the United States, but he died on a forced march in the harsh Korean snows under the watch of communist soldiers.

Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz of Minsk, Belarus, is seen in Washington March 20.

Archbishop: Belarusians devoted to Fatima, still struggle with secularism

By

WASHINGTON – People in Belarus – a former Soviet republic – have a great devotion to Our Lady of Fatima, and so does the archbishop who leads them.

Ana Maria Araya Venegas from the Parish of Santa Rosa de Lavadero, Chile, displays the rake that helped save her house from recent forest fires in this March 13 photo. Prevention has helped parishes survive worst fires in Chile's history.

Prevention helps parishes survive worst fires in Chile's history

By

SANTA ROSA DE LAVADERO, Chile – Parishioners in this rural town used lessons learned after the 2010 earthquake, as well as teamwork and a dose of faith, to help survive Chile's worst forest fires in history.

Argentine Father Luis Montes visited an Iraqi church destroyed by ISIS and posted his experience on Facebook March 24.

“This is from the devil” – priest visits Iraqi church destroyed by ISIS

By

MOSUL, Iraq – The desolation of a burned Iraqi church left Argentine-born missionary Father Luis Montes with the firm conviction that Satan is at the root of the attacks, and Christians must pray for the conversion of ISIS.

Rebel fighters walk near destroyed buildings in 2016 in Aleppo, Syria. Cardinal Mario Zenari, Syria's apostolic nuncio, says Syria's current situation is a "bloodbath."

Syria is in a “bloodbath,” says the country’s apostolic nuncio

By

ROME, Italy – Six years after the start of the Civil War, Syria's apostolic nuncio said that the country is in a “bloodbath” – a situation so desperate it leaves you with the impression of being in hell.

Internally displaced Somali people are seen outside their shelter after fleeing from drought-stricken regions at a makeshift camp in Baidoa, west of Somalia's capital of Mogadishu, on March 26, 2017.

Terrorist group al-Shabab delivers food relief to drought-stricken Somalia

By

The Somalia-based Islamist militant group al-Shabab is distributing food to drought-stricken residents in southern parts of the war-torn country, as fears of impending famine grow.

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and Mick Mulvaney, Office of Management and Budget director, arrive for a March 23 meeting about the American Health Care Act on Capitol Hill in Washington.

U.S. bishops urge Congress to take bipartisan approach on health care reform

By

WASHINGTON – Now that lawmakers have withdrawn the American Health Care Act, Congress must "seize this moment to create a new spirit of bipartisanship" and make "necessary reforms" in existing health care law to address access, affordability, life and conscience, said three U.S. bishops' committee chairmen.

Despite the presence of the Jangchung Cathedral, the only Catholic Church and one of four official Christian places of worship in Pyongyang, Christian persecution in North Korea is rampant.

French priest pleads for safety of North Korean Christian refugees

By

PARIS – A French Catholic priest working with North Korean refugees in China said conditions have worsened for surviving Christians under the dictatorship of Kim Jong Un and urged the Chinese government to give shelter to fugitives from the communist-ruled country.

Pope Francis greets a child as he visits the Sant' Alessio-Margherita di Savoia Regional Center for the Blind March 31 in Rome.

Pope Francis makes surprise 'Year of Mercy'-style visit

By

VATICAN CITY – Although the Jubilee Year of Mercy has officially ended, Pope Francis today made a surprise “Mercy Friday” visit to a centre for the blind and visually impaired in Rome – showing that he doesn't think works of mercy are just for special occasions – or years.

Bishop Salvador Rangel Mendoza of Chilpancingo-Chilapa said that he had recently met with gang leaders in his area to “promote peace, harmony, dialogue” amid threats against priests.

Mexican bishop meets with gang leaders to protect threatened priests

By

CHILPANCINGO, Mexico – A bishop in Mexico's Guerrero state, which suffers the most from drug- and gang-related violence, recently met with gang leaders in order to protect priests who were receiving death threats.

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks to reporters Jan. 6 in New York. Pence casted a tiebreaking vote in the Senate March 30 to advance a measure allowing states more freedom to avoid funding Planned Parenthood.

Pence casts tiebreaking vote as Senate advances pro-life measure

By

WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence cast the deciding vote in the Senate Thursday (March 30) to advance a measure allowing states to once more have the freedom to avoid funding Planned Parenthood clinics with federal “family planning” grants.

Page 294 of 666