“Like a virgin”: can a song be redeemed?
After winning the Italian edition of “The Voice”, Sister Cristina Scuccia was already an internet sensation around the world. Now, she just released her first single called “Like a Virgin”. Yes, you got it right, it is a cover of one of Madonna’s most famous and iconic hits. The song was composed by Tom Kelly and Billy Steinberg also famous for other songs such as “True Colors” and “Eternal Flame”. Before reflecting upon this daring single release some curious facts behind the mentioned song are important to enlighten the subject. The idea of the song came as Steinberg was driving his pickup truck and thinking about his personal experience of a devastating relationship he had and finally meeting someone new ...

Rejoice Boat Party: Evangelization over water!
“Rejoice in the Lord always, I repeat: rejoice!” That was the verse that inspired Shalom Community’s annual Boat Party in London. The event is a way to offer an opportunity for people to experience a party where human values, virtues, friendhsip and Christian joy can be celebrated. The party takes place on River Thames and for four hours people can enjoy London’s most beautiful landmarks. The party begins with a moment of prayer and a priest’s blessing. Throughout the night, among music, joy and sightseeing, members of Shalom Work have the chance to share their faith and invite others to participate in one of Shalom’s prayer groups or other activities. It is a great opportunity to evangelize! Here are some ...

Pope: recognize your sins and be transformed by Christ
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Thursday reflected on the transforming grace of God’s Word and invited Christians to recognize their sins and let themselves be transformed by their encounter with Christ. Listen to the report by Linda Bordoni: The Pope was addressing the faithful gathered for morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta. During his homily, Pope Francis reflected on the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians which reads: “If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God”. Paul – he said – is telling us that it is the power of God’s Word that brings ...

Pope Francis: the mother Church embraces persecuted Iraqis
At the General Audience Wednesday, Pope Francis told Arabic speaking pilgrims and “particularly those from Iraq,” that “like all mothers,” the Church accompanies her needy children.  She “raises up the fallen child, heals his wounds, seeks the lost… and defends those who are defenseless and persecuted.”  The Pope assured “especially these last of you, the defenseless and persecuted, that you are in the heart of the Church; the Church suffers with you and is proud of you; you are her strength and the concrete and authentic witness of her message of salvation, of forgiveness and love.  I embrace all of you, all of you.  May the Lord bless you and protect you!” (From archive of Vatican Radio)

Pray for Peace: An invitation to all people.
The Cardinal of Toronto Sir Thomas Collins is inviting us all to gather together and pray for Peace. He will host an interfaith Prayer service at St. Paul’s Basilica 83 Power St. – Toronto  – Sunday September 7 at 3:00 pm “United we stand, divided we fall” This is the 11th hour, the Cardinal remind us that  “we need to put aside our differences and stand on the gap for our brothers and sisters who are suffering.” Let us storm Heaven with our united prayers.  

Shalom Community: 4 seminarians will become deacons next week.
Next week, on August 25, 2014, Shalom Catholic Community in  Brazil will be welcoming 4 new deacons. After a long time of preparation and discernment the seminarians Célio Lourenço da Silva, Cledison Reis Lima, Livandro Nonato C. D. Monteiro and Rômulo Bezerra de Castro, who are members of the life community, will receive from His Eminence Bishop Jose Antonio Aparecido Jose Marques, the first step of the Holy Orders. The Ordination will take place at Fortaleza’s Cathedral at 6:30 pm, local time. Currently Shalom Catholic Community has 13 priests who are members of life community and 10 priests who are members of covenant community.

Pope tells bishops to be guardians of memory and hope
Pope Francis told Korean Bishops to be guardians of memory and guardians of hope. Speaking to his brother bishops on the first day of his apostolic journey to the Republic of Korea, Pope Francis recalled the seeds sown by Korean martyrs which, he said, “brought forth an abundant harvest of grace in this land”, and called on them to guard the hope of the Gospel by “keeping alive the flame of holiness, fraternal charity and missionary zeal within the Church’s communion.” The Church in Korea, the Pope said, is esteemed for its role in the spiritual and cultural life of the nation and its strong missionary impulse, and – he continued – “being guardians of memory means more than remembering ...

Pontifical Council speaks out against terror in name of religion
The Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue has issued a statement deploring the upsurge in violence in Iraq, calling on religious leaders, those involved in interfaith dialogue and on all men and women of good will, to unequivocally condemn terror in the name of religion. The Council also calls on religious leaders “to exercise their influence with the authorities to end these crimes, to punish those who commit them and to reestablish the rule of law throughout the land, ensuring the return home of those who have been displaced.” Below please find the English translation of the original French text: The whole world has witnessed with incredulity what is now called the “Restoration of the Caliphate,” which had been abolished on ...

Thomas Cardinal Collins releases statement concerning Christians in Iraq.
On August 7th, 2014, His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, release the following statement concerning the persecution of Christians and minority groups in Iraq. Statement from Cardinal Thomas Collins, Archbishop of Toronto re: Iraqi Christians August 7, 2014 Far away from the comfort of our television screens, tablets and newspapers, a tragedy continues to unfold in Iraq. Islamist extremists, intent on eliminating any trace of Christianity, have cast out tens of thousands of Christians, a people with an almost 2,000-year history in the region. Shortly after I began my mission as Archbishop of Toronto, 7 years ago, the Archbishop of Mosul visited me and shared his hopes for caring for his community. He wanted to build a little ...

Rescued By Love
By: Daiana Barboza There is this new song by Sia, which is called “Swing from the Chandelier” and up until this moment I did not bother to pay attention to the lyrics. So I took the time and looked them up to understand the song better. The song brought back so many memories from a past life that I no longer belong to. Memories, which make up part of a past that continues to hurt, because there are wounds that have left scars that re-open and bleed. The lyrics go as follows: “party girls don’t get hurt, when will I learn? I push it down, push it down. Im the one for a good time call, phone’s blowing up, ringing my ...