The feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated on September 8, belongs on the list of the Twelve Major Feasts of the Byzantine rite liturgical year (cf. Gospel of Sinai, 715 A.D.) We usually do not celebrate the birthday of the Saints, but rather their “birthday to heaven,” that is, the anniversary of their death , considered as the beginning of their blessed life with God. Nevertheless, there are two exceptions, the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, since we commemorate not only their birthday to heaven, but also their nativity, their coming to this earth . Continue reading
Pilgrimage Time
Summer 2019: What do we need? Fewer rainy days and damaging storms? Less bickering and competition among our civic leaders so they could work together for good and effective government? More people to come to church? Crime and violence to be gone? Peace throughout the world? Healing and health for those who are suffering? Healing the pain of broken relationships? This list could go on and on, and these are but a few of the ills with which we struggle in this time in which we live.
However imperfect we think our lives may be with questions such as these, this is the gift of time that God has given to each of us in which to live every day as best we can. In recognizing this, we pray to Him in thanksgiving, for help, healing, peace, consolation, etc. We pray personally, communally at the Divine Liturgy and at special times, places or occasions. One such special time, place and occasion is, of course, the annual Pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at Mt. St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
This coming Labor Day weekend will be the 85th time that the hierarchy, clergy, monastics and faithful people will have gathered to give glory to God and to honor His Mother as Our Lady of Perpetual Help. They come to pray, receive the mysteries of healing, and to Continue reading
“Mary, Cause of Our Joy”
85th Pilgrimage at Mount St. Macrina set for Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 The 85th Annual Pilgrimage in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help will be held Aug. 31 to Sept. 1 at Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa. … Continue reading
Sisters of St. Basil the Great attend XI General Chapter in Rome
The Sisters of the Order of Saint Basil the Great held their XI General Chapter in Rome, Italy July 8 to 19. The opening Divine Liturgy was held at St. Peter’s Basilica at the altar of St. Basil which has … Continue reading
Fly like an Eagle
Shawn Anthony Dirda Jr. received the Eagle Scout Rank in the presence of 90 relatives and friends in a dignified ceremony June 9 at St. Nicholas in Brownsville, Pa. An honor guard procession of scouts from Pack #635, which included … Continue reading
Beat ’em Bucs!
Altar Servers Cheer for Pirates on “Faith and Fun day” Rain, rain, go away. Come again another day That may need to become the new official motto of “Faith and Fun Day.” But an evening Pittsburgh rain shower didn’t dull … Continue reading
WORLD NEWS (Catholic News Service)
Read the latest world news as reported by Catholic News Service. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today.
- Worn marble steps of Holy Stairs to be uncovered for public to climb
- At memorial Mass, CRS remembers four employees who died in plane crash
- Update: After attacks, New Zealand bishops tell Muslims: 'We hold you in prayer'
- Researcher: Difference between 'considering leaving' and 'leaving' church
- Head of African youth network: Listen to young people on ecology
- Update: Amid call for boycott of Lenten appeals, some see harm to poor, needy
- South Carolina Catholic school given national award for 'full inclusion'
- For Lent, Irish Catholics urged to abandon 'weapons of mass distraction'
- Update: Judge sentences Cardinal Pell to six years in prison on abuse charges
- CLINIC says South Sudan TPS extension should have included new arrivals
- Encore: USCCB publishes revised translation of rite for blessing holy oils
- Actress calls her deafness 'a gift'; remembers Catholic school as 'family'
- Update: Four CRS staffers, humanitarian workers aboard Ethiopian jet that crashed
- Benedictine abbot leads pope, curial officials in Lenten retreat
- Pope meets top leaders of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Group's immigrant solidarity project 'not about politics,' organizers say
