Vatican slams excessive speculation in financial markets

'Speculation in food prices is a scandal which seriously compromises access to food on the part of the poorest members'

'Don’t try to prevent your son or daughter from selecting this vocation...'

ON A WING AND A PRAYER
 Sabu Aruthottiyil of King Jesus Ministries, Kerala, India, is one my of favourite evangelists who regularly comes on Shalom TV, a Christian charismatic channel. He recently spoke succinctly and pithily about the vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life. In a nutshell, his message was “don’t try to prevent your son or daughter from selecting the vocation to the priesthood or religious life.”

Many people claim to be in Church but have only one foot inside

  Who offers the best critique of the Catholic Church? It’s none other than Pope Francis himself. He never misses an opportunity to punch holes in the ivory towers in the church. He calls a spade a spade and comes down on the misdemeanors and felonies in the church.

Bulgaria beggar donates thousands to church, treated as saint

Vessela Sergueva, AFP

  SOFIA: A 100-year-old beggar in a threadbare coat, "Grandpa" Dobri, is already celebrated as a saint in Bulgaria - a symbol of goodness in a country ravaged by poverty and corruption.

You’re not your kid’s friend or master... you’re just a guardian of this gift from God. By Simmy Joshy

CHRISTIAN WAY OF PARENTING

 “My daughter is like a friend to me,” my friend once told me. “We’re friends. I don’t treat her as a daughter.”
  Fine. But there’s something beyond all that. You must be a guardian of your kid. This principle must come first. Friendship and other things can come later.

This’s no bamboozlement… it’s the sacrifice by Jesus

Sheena George

  Rev Fr John Koovakunnel is an unassuming Catholic priest, young and unpretentious to the core. Born and brought up in Pune, which is around 150 kms south-east of Mumbai, Rev Fr John is a Catholic theologian in the making and fully engrossed in prayers, church services and related activities. His parting sermon at Little Flower Church, Nerul, near Mumbai, gave me new insights into the Holy Mass. Even as I was writing this piece he would have already moved to his new parish of Panvel, near Mumbai.

The Science of the Saints: Dr Scott Hahn’s treatise again

 Dr Scott Hahn, evangelical Protestant who converted to the Catholic Church and chronicled his journey to Catholicism in the famous book ‘Rome Sweet Home’, is undoubtedly an inspiring writer and speaker.

Pope Francis says papal retirements could become normal, favours celibacy for priests but "door open to change"

Pope Francis says papal retirements could become normal in Church

REUTERS, ROME, MAY 27: Pope Francis said on Monday he would be open to retiring eventually like his predecessor, Benedict XVI, instead of ruling for life, adding that the concept of a "pope emeritus" could someday become normal in the Church.

Pictures -- Pope Francis in Jerusalem

‘They live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived…’

 On Saturday, May 24, I had a chance to attend the funeral service of an old neighbour in Mumbai. “When we live we never realize that we’re going to die. We realize about the reality of death only at the end stage,” the priest said, quoting the words of my late neighbour who was suffering from cancer.

Pictures -- Pope's visit to the Holy Land