Two Catholic universities merging (Daily Breeze) Marymount California University, a 53-year-old private Catholic college in Rancho Palos Verdes, could see its name change after officials there agreed to merge with a Florida university, an initiative that, education leaders say, will create more degree programs and internship opportunities for students at both campuses. Marymount California University officials signed an agreement last week to merge with Saint Leo University, a Catholic college in Florida, though the deal still needs approval from a regional governing body and both sides need to work out final details…
Catholic hospital copes with COVID surge (Crux) The scene at Louisiana’s largest hospital in recent weeks is déjà vu to spring 2020: A COVID-19 patient surge, in-person visitations to those patients restricted, elective surgeries paused, inadequate staffing numbers, and not enough beds available to those in need. Father Donatus Ajoko, who has been a chaplain at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge since the pandemic began, said the experience of the whole pandemic “is like somebody is sick and then they’re getting better and then they eventually get worse…”
Pope appeals for Lebanon on first anniversary of Beirut blast (Vatican News) Pope Francis during his weekly General Audience appealed for what he called, “the beloved country of Lebanon.” Addressing pilgrims in the Paul VI hall on Wednesday, the Pope said he was thinking of the country “a year after the terrible port explosion in its capital, Beirut, with its toll of death and destruction. I think above all of the victims and their families, the many injured, and those who lost their homes and livelihoods,” he noted. On 4th August last year an explosion in Beirut, set off by 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, killed more than 200 people and left more than 300,000 displaced…
Exorcist warns about new Converse shoes (CNA) A Catholic exorcist said on Tuesday that a recently-unveiled Converse shoe with a pentagram design could lead to a fascination with the occult. “The danger with these types of things,” Fr. Vincent Lampert told CNA, “is that they create a fascination with evil…”
An Indian priest priest sings an Irish blessing in an Austrian church (Aleteia) Father Sandesh Manuel just dropped this fantastic rendition of “The Blessing” in late July. The tune is marked by impressive performances on both guitar and violin. This new recording of the Dublin-based band The Electrics’ 1997 song “The Blessing”..
