Pope’s Ash Wednesday Homily
“Why do we have to return to God? Because there are things that are not well in us, in society, in the Church and we are in need of changing, of turning, of being converted!” Here is a translation of the Pope’s homily from the celebration of the Eucharist today in the Basilica of Saint Sabina, with the rite of blessing and imposition of ashes. * * * “Rend your hearts and not your garments” (Joel 2:13). With these penetrating words of the prophet Joel, the liturgy introduces us today into Lent, indicating the characteristic of this time of grace to be the conversion of heart. The prophetic appeal constitutes a challenge for us all, no one excluded, and reminds us ...

Westminster’s cardinal-elect is on his way to Rome
Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols, was named cardinal by Pope Francis. “The Catholic Church in our countries has always had a profound and loving loyalty to the Holy Father, the Successor of St Peter. This appointment enables me, on behalf of all, to serve the Pope in a direct and prolonged way”, said the designated-cardinal. Born in Crosby, Lancashire, Archbishop Nichols wanted to be a lorry driver when he was still a child before he felt the call to become a priest as a teenager. He studied at the Venerable English College, a Roman Catholic Seminary in Rome. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Liverpool on the 21st of December 1969. Pope John Paul II appointed him auxiliary bishop ...

Shalom Community’s Prayer Campaign: I pray for the Pope!
Shalom Catholic Community has launched a campaign through social media inviting intercessors from all over the world to pray for Pope Francis. The campaign, entitled #IprayForthePope, has already sparked the creativity of many people offering different ways to pray for His Holiness. When the new elected pope approached the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, the whole world was caught by surprise as they faced the first Latin American and Jesuit pope. However, what really kept lingering in the hearts and minds of all the faithful was his first request: “Pray for me”, he said, followed by a meaningful gesture of bowing down in silence. Ever since that day, Pope Francis has constantly asked all the faithful to pray for ...

The founder of Shalom Catholic Community is confirmed in the Pontifical Council
The changes in the Vatican are going on, at this time in the Pontifical Council for the Laity (PCL), which helps the Pope in matters regarding the contribution of the lay people to the life and mission of the Church, individually or through organisations. The Brazilians Dom Joao Braz de Avis, Cardinal and Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of the Consecrated Life and Apostolic Life Societies, and Dom Orani Tempesta, Archbishop of Rio de Janeiro recently designed cardinal, were appointed by Pope Francis for the PCL. Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko continues as the President of the Council and Monsieur Josef Clemens as Secretary. New councillors were nominated, among them: Dom Alberto Taveira Correa, Archbishop of Belem (Brazil); Dom Dominique ...

Don’t miss out and follow @comshalom_en !!!
Dear Brothers and Sisters,Today, Memorial of St. Francis of Sales, patron of writers and journalists, we are launching the twitter @comshalom_en !!! Through this fast communication channel, you can FOLLOW Shalom Catholic Community! Yes, you can follow the tweets of our Founder and our co-founder in English, some news about ‘Shalom’ missions all over the world and so much more about our Spirituality and our evangelizing mission in the world.Don’t miss out and follow @comshalom_en !!!Cristiano Pinheiro International Assistant Shalom Catholic Community

Pope Francis at weekly General Audience: the scandal of division
Pope Francis devoted the catechetical portion of his weekly General Audience on Wednesday to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which this year is dedicated to a question taken from the First Letter to the Corinthians: “Has Christ Been Divided?”. The English-language synthesis, read out after the main reflection delivered by Pope Francis in Italian, said, “We know that Christ has not been divided; yet we must sincerely recognize that our communities continue to experience divisions which are a source of scandal and weaken our witness to the Gospel.” In reproaching the Corinthians for their divisions, Paul reminds them to rejoice in the great spiritual gifts which they have received. His words encourage us to rejoice in the gifts ...

It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with our words, but with our actions.
In his homily at Holy Mass on Monday morning, 20 January, Pope Francis commented on the day’s Readings from the first Book of Samuel (15:16-23) and the Gospel of St Mark (2:18-22). The Holy Father began by noting that both readings help us “to reflect on the word of God” and “on our attitude towards God’s word”. Citing Hebrews, the Pope said that the word of God is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword … discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (4:12-13). Indeed, he said, “the word of God visits us and illumines the state of our heart, of our soul”; it “discerns”. Pope Francis noted that the two readings “speak to us about about the ...