Holiness is open to everyone and does not consist of a few heroic gestures but of many small acts of daily love, Pope Francis told 45,000 people gathered at the Vatican last week. The reason for the massive outdoor gathering was the pope’s official proclamation of 10 new saints. It was the Catholic Church’s first Read more
Pope Francis will canonise seven new saints in Rome next 15 May. One of them will be Lazarus Devasahayam, the first Indian layperson to be so recognised by the Catholic Church. The Vatican announced the date yesterday after the green light for the canonization was given on 3 May during the ordinary public consistory. Charles Read more
Brother Richie Fernando was a 26 year-old Jesuit seminarian from the Philippines when in 1996 he died protecting his Cambodian students from a hand grenade. He is now on the road to sainthood, thanks to a norm issued by Pope Francis this summer that opens the door to canonisation for those who have “voluntarily and Read more
The Sisters of Compassion and the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference have announced the first Sunday of October as a day of celebration for the Venerable Suzanne Aubert. Suzanne Aubert was the founder of the Sisters of Compassion, New Zealand’s only home grown order of Sisters. In 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference supported Read more
Mother Teresa of Kolkata will to be canonised by Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday. And Auckland Bishop Patrick Dunn will lead commemorations as part of the 11am mass on Sunday at St Patrick’s Cathedral. More than a thousand people are expected to attend the Auckland Sunday morning commemoration. People of many faiths Read more
An Italian-born nun who confronted Billy the Kid, calmed angry mobs and helped open New Mexico territory hospitals and schools faced her first test for the long road to sainthood on Tuesday. Supporters and researchers presented their case before the Archdiocese of Santa Fe at a ceremonial “first inquiry” in Albuquerque on why Sister Blandina Read more
Pope Benedict XVI canonized seven new saints on Sunday. In his homily, the pope praised each of the seven new saints as examples for the entire church. They “lived their lives in total consecration to God and in generous service to their brothers,” the pope said. The canonization coincided with the Synod of Bishops on Read more
The Catholic Church will canonize seven new saints on Sunday, October 21, in St. Peter’s Square. Among the new saints, two come from the United States, Blessed Marianne Cope of Molokai and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. Mother Marianne (Barbara Koob, 1838-1918) was born in Germany and grew up in Utica, New York. She joined the Sisters Read more