Pope Francis has told leaders of women’s religious orders that their vocation — to be spiritual “mothers not spinsters” — can be fulfilled only in harmony with the faith and teachings of the Church. “Your vocation is a fundamental charism for the Church’s journey and it isn’t possible that a consecrated woman or man might Read more
When I first started reporting for my story “Resurrection,” I was hoping to understand what seemed like a straightforward question: Who wants to become a priest in 2012? After all, a man who decides to become a priest is choosing a profession at a time when its public reputation has never been lower. Fifty years Read more
Sister Sesilia Ioane, from Samoa, is leader of the Sisters of Nazareth community at Nazareth House in Wynnum, Queensland. She says that young people seem to think that “nuns are not quite human.” It’s clear that such young people have not heard her wonderful laugh, nor seen the remarkable work she does with the elderly Read more
Every Catholic should become a “new evangeliser”, the president of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation has told a conference in Sydney. Being an evangeliser, said Archbishop Rino Fisichella, is a vocation “born on the very day of our baptism and it is a vocation to every believer in Christ to make of himself or Read more
Every year, hundreds of young Catholic women graduate from universities, graduate programs in religion, divinity schools and seminaries. Many of them go on to be theologians, chaplains, nonprofit leaders, advocates, activists and social workers doing outreach with the homeless, the incarcerated and victims of domestic violence. Their work is not only high-risk, it is often Read more
Eve reputedly led Adam into temptation with an apple. Now an enterprising Irish Catholic priest has designed an Apple app designed at leading men into the priesthood. Fr Paddy Rushe’s new “Vocations” app is billed as the first of its kind in the world and is available to download free from the Apple iPhone app Read more