Lent begins in the Land of Jesus
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent in the Holy Land: local Christians are preparing to live this season intensely.
Celibate missionary life in Nazareth
Celibate life is a concrete way of loving.
Jesus was not laid in a manger by accident
When the child Jesus was born, his mother Mary laid him in a manger (Lk 2:7). The word “manger” comes from the Latin word munducare which means “to eat.” A manger or crib is a wooden or stone feeding trough or food box that holds hay for larger farm animals like cattle, horses, and donkeys. Mangers were located wherever livestock were kept, places like stables, corrals, or caves. Farmers were sure to keep their mangers well-supplied with fodder at all times so the animals would never go hungry. The cattle can walk up to a manger at any time, and then spend long, leisure hours chomping away, chewing and slowly re-chewing their cud.
How can I invite someone back to church at Christmas?
Bells are ringing. The trees are glistening. Everything is covered in snow. All seems right with the world during the Christmas season. But what if your friend or family member is missing out on the best part of Christmas – Christ? Here are a few ideas to help bring them back to church during this special time.
Feast of the Holy Innocents: 2,000 years later we still remember the pain their mothers felt
Thirty-four years ago I sat beside a hospital bed with its tubes dangling, pumps silent, all attempts at life support shut down, as I held my child, my 22-month-old son, cradling him in my arms as I watched the last flicker of his life ebb away. He died from drowning. But you, you mothers of the Holy Innocents, you whose babies, your young sons, perhaps your 22-month-olds, there you were cradling your children, bloody from the stab wounds inflicted by the soldiers. I think of you and I wonder.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in Nazareth
In Nazareth the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary started early with a mass held inside of the grotto of the annunciation, the place in where the Gospel passage of this feast was held. Fr. Bruno Varriano (OFM), rector and guardian of the Basilica of the Annunciation, presided the mass and […]
The glory of God is man fully alive
From October 22nd to 23rd at Saint Anthony’s parish in Cambridge, the Shalom Catholic Community held its second annual “Fully Alive” retreat, a Life in the Spirit Seminar. Father Walter Carreiro, who was influential in bringing Shalom missionaries to the United States, generously opened Saint Anthony’s parish hall for the retreat’s use. There were over 40 registrants, an exciting increase in numbers from Shalom’s debut last year.
Church, mission, poverty and Evangelization through the world, the topics of Shalom International Youth Congress in Rome
During the Shalom International Youth Congress, the talk in the afternoon received special guests to speak about very important topics in today’s young people lives. Vitor Aragão, Life Community missionary and responsible for the Youth Advisory of Shalom Community, and Teresa Maria from the Mission of Toulon, France, were leading the moment. To talk about […]
Shalom Community made a pilgrimage for the Canonization of Fátima Siblings
On Saturday 13th the Church was celebrating the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Shalom Catholic mission in Portugal, Setubal, was there! Jackson and Ana Lucia missionaries of Shalom Community, told us how they lived this moment. Shalom Life and Covenant Community members was in Fatima with people from Shalom Work […]
Jim Caviezel takes on wide slate of topics in fascinating new interview
Actor Jim Caviezel has starred in Hollywood hits from “The Count of Monte Cristo” to “The Thin Red Line.” But he is best known for playing Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” an experience that he says affected him very deeply and spiritually. In a new interview, Caviezel talks about the importance […]