Incorruptible bodies attract attention. Recent images of a dead nun’s body in Missouri have created a buzz online, amid reports that the religious sister’s body may be incorruptible. Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster, OSB, was the foundress of the Benedictine Sisters of Mary, Queen of the Apostles. She died in 2019. When the abbey community at Gower Read more
A Texas bishop has issued dismissal threats against an entire monastery of Carmelite nuns as he investigates sexual misconduct allegations by their superior. The Carmelite Monastery of the Most Holy Trinity, located in Arlington, Texas, is embroiled in a conflict with Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth. Olson claims to be investigating allegations of sexual Read more
Offering spiritual direction to teachers could transform Catholic school communities. That’s leading religious education scholar Associate Professor Michael Buchanan’s opinion. Schools have become a more diverse workforce. This has led many learning communities to introduce formation opportunities. These enable all teachers to participate in enhancing the Catholic school’s mission. Buchanan (pictured) said a growing number Read more
Hastings charity Thermals for Children surprised a group of young Cyclone Gabrielle survivors with a swag of unexpected gifts last week. With the Hastings Catholic Parish support, the charity fundraises and supplies local schools with hundreds of bundles of thermals and track pants each winter. This year the parish have raised more than $26,000 for Read more
Russia has reacted positively to the Pope’s Ukraine peace initiative. There are no immediate plans for a Vatican mission to Moscow, however. The Russian Foreign Ministry’s statement about the peace initiative was Moscow’s first public acknowledgement of the pope’s overtures. It followed the Vatican’s weekend announcement that Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (pictured), has been suggested Read more
The arson at the Palmerston North Cathedral shows the local Church as resilient people who can adapt to change. This is good because change is the only constant in life. If we had planned sharing churches, there would have been a riot. Instead, we have shown that we can move easily between churches, although everyone Read more
The Diocese of Steubenville, Ohio, became the centre of controversy last year when Bishop Jeff Monforton announced to his priests in October that the diocese would be merged with the neighbouring Diocese of Columbus, Priests of the diocese pushed back on the plan, arguing that they had not been consulted, and eventually, a planned USCCB Read more
Pope Francis has entrusted Cardinal Matteo Zuppi (pictured) to head the Russia and Ukraine peace mission on behalf of the Vatican, the Holy See press office said on Saturday. Zuppi is a prominent Italian cardinal known for his close association with the pontiff. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni announced the development on Saturday, revealing that the Read more
Anthropologist Fr Gerald Arbuckle SM (left, pictured with ACU Chancellor, the Honourable Martin Daubney AM KC,) has been awarded Australian Catholic University’s top honour. He is now a Doctor of the University; this is the highest honour a university can bestow. His honorary degree citation says Arbuckle’s doctorate recognises his “contribution to the academic tradition Read more
In a historic move, Pope Francis has added 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs to the Roman Martyrology, an official list of martyrs and saints. Not since 5th century have Catholic and Coptic Churches shared saints. The 21 non-Catholic Christians (20 Egyptians and one Ghanaian) who were beheaded by Islamic militants in Libya will have their feast Read more