Father Jacques E. Fabre, CS, named bishop of Charleston (Holy See Bulletin) The Holy Father has appointed as Bishop of Charleston (USA) the Reverend Fr. Jacques E. Fabre, CS, Member of the Congregation of the Missionaries of San Carlo (Scalabriniani), currently Administrator of the San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Mission in Forest Park in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta…
Polish bishops appeal to Poland to welcome any refugees from Ukraine (Vatican News) As war looms on the eastern border of Ukraine, the President of the Polish bishops is calling on Catholics and people of good will in Poland to welcome Ukrainian refugees seeking shelter from war, while continuing to pray for peace. “Everyone has the right to live in peace and security. Everyone has the right to seek, for themselves and their loved ones, safe living conditions”, Archbishop Stanislaw Gądecki of Poznań wrote in an Appeal issued on Monday. The Polish prelate recalled that “for centuries Poland has been a refuge for those who, respecting Polish culture and law, fled from persecution and hatred”, and that, also in recent years, it has opened its doors to newcomers from Ukraine, “who live among us, work with us, pray in Polish churches, and study in Polish schools”…
Pope hails health care workers as heroes (AP) Pope Francis on Sunday hailed health care workers as heroes for their service every day, not just during the pandemic, asking the public in St. Peter’s Square to join with him in applause. Francis clapped his hands in what he said was a “great thank you” for health workers, including volunteers, who care for the sick. Italy was marking Sunday as a national day to pay tribute to health care workers…
Paul Farmer, pioneer in global health, dies at 62 (The New York Times) Paul Farmer, a physician, anthropologist and humanitarian who gained global acclaim for his work delivering high-quality health care to some of the world’s poorest people, died on Monday on the grounds of a hospital and university he had helped establish in Butaro, Rwanda. He was 62…
FSSP: Pope has given them approval to use 1962 liturgical books (CNA) Pope Francis has issued a decree confirming that the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP) can continue to use the liturgical books in force in 1962, according to the traditionalist group. In a communique published Feb. 21, the FSSP said that Pope Francis met with two members of the priestly fraternity for nearly an hour, a week before he promulgated the decree…
Vatican conference: celibacy fosters holiness in priests (CNS) The requirement that most priests in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church be celibate has theological and spiritual foundations and not only practical motivations, said speakers at an international conference on priesthood. Jesus’ chastity, poverty and obedience were not “incidental or simply functional,” but expressed his total union with God and dedication to the salvation of humanity, Jesuit Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda, a well-known canon lawyer, said Feb. 19 at the Vatican conference. The church has never claimed that celibacy is “intrinsic” to the priesthood, he said, and, in fact, the Eastern Catholic churches have maintained the discipline of having both celibate and married clergy, and the Latin church has welcomed married priests coming from other denominations…
Statue reportedly stolen from San Antonio Catholic church (KSAT.com) The congregation of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church is praying for the return of a sacred statue they believe was stolen last week. Father Jimmy Drennan, pastor of the church located southeast of downtown said they noticed the statue missing Thursday, which puts the alleged theft sometime Wednesday night. The statue is of Jesus, Mary and Joseph and was given to the church four decades ago by Jack and Theresa Fohn, who have since passed away…
