"Not even a priest to chat with," sang the Italian singer-songwriter, Adriano Celentano. Fifty years later, this verse turned out to be prophetic for thousands of Italian parishes who are now faced with fewer than ever priests, all with busier schedules. Churchgoers have a hard time reaching them, saying they are ‘distant’. Official figures show that over the last three decades, the number of priests in Italy has been reduced 16 percent, while their average age has increased.

When the convert-cardinal, Blessed John Henry Newman, is canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, it will be the culmination of a remarkable religious odyssey stretching back over two centuries.

In his native Britain, Newman (1801-1890) will be the first confessor, or non-martyr, saint proclaimed for more than 600 years, honored for achievements in life rather than death. It will also be a crowning moment for worldwide devotees of a man widely seen as an architect of the modern church.

Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry and some 50 bishops of the Eastern-rite Syro-Malabar Church are in Rome for the canonization of Blessed Mariam Thresia, the fourth saint from the Church based in India's Kerala state.

Blessed Mariam Thresia, founder of the Holy Family Congregation, will be canonized on Oct. 13 along with four other Blessed people.

"Preparations for the canonization have reached the final stage in the Vatican," said church spokesman Father Antony Thalachelloor.

The call for the laity’s greater participation in the “creation of new ministries, which respond to the needs of the Amazonian peoples” is also part of a Synodal perspective: the Church “must be creative” by proposing a multi-faceted ministry among the Indians and the peoples of the forest, reported “Vatican News” this morning on the 5th General Congregation of the Synod for Amazonia.

Joined with the cry of the Earth and of indigenous peoples, is the cry of so many communities scattered across a vast territory who are asking for the Eucharist and the other Sacraments.

“The devil hates everything beautiful and the bells are specifically used to draw attention to the divine worship of God.”

“The devil hates bells,” a deacon involved in the deliverance ministry recently told my husband and me. He is actually our daughter’s father-in-law, so it was just a casual conversation—or at least for us.

When Ronald Reagan launched full diplomatic relations between the U.S. and the Vatican 35 years ago, his idea, which proved correct, was that Pope John Paul II would be a reliable ally against Communism. John Paul nevertheless needled the Americans on other fronts, and ever since the relationship between the world’s preeminent hard and soft powers always has been a mixed bag.

One of the serious diseases prevalent in the world and the Arab homeland is "comfort addiction". To verify this all you need is walk down the street to see the coffee shops’ regulars and measure the number of hours they spend there.

The Church celebrates the feast day of Jerome, the great saint and Doctor of Aquile who became Jerome of Bethlehem and the Bible.

His life provides us with lessons of love emanating from a soul on fire with the light of the Savior, the Light, who came into this world. Jerome ‘s personality and temperament tested the patience of many of his contemporaries. But in his humility and with a heart of gold, he became worthy of their forgiveness and understanding.

Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader celebrated Holy Mass in Smakiyeh, southern Jordan, on Sunday September 29, marking the Feast of Archangel Michael, the patron of Smakiyeh. The Mass was concelebrated by parish priest Fr. Ibrahim Naffa’, Fr. Yousef Rizeq, and Deacon Za’al Hijazeen in the presence of a large number of believers.