On a recent journey to Italy, photojournalist Alan Edgecomb visited the Baptistery of St John, Florence, or the Battistero di San Giovanni. He shares his thoughts on the remarkable historical splendour. I did not know anything about a Baptistery until I arrived in Florence and discovered the elaborate sacred space called – a baptistery. These were built near a cathedral ... Read More »
LAST Christmas was a first for me. At that time, I was living in Rome and studying at the Gregorian University, so, as that very special season approached, I found myself far from home. I faced a dilemma. It was technically possible for me to return home for Christmas, but the long distance, the high cost and the fact that ... Read More »
IT took me awhile to come to the realisation of how simple my life really is now, and to accept that the simple life I lead is just as it was when I was a child. For, as I did then, so it is now – I live in the now – the present is all there is. In being ... Read More »
THERE’S something glaringly obvious about this time of isolation and closure. The day, or night for that matter, we find ourselves stepping over the threshold of our parish churches will be as glorious as the resurrection itself. While every Sunday Mass is the renewal of the Paschal Mystery, returning to our churches, in the full light of what we do ... Read More »
By Dave Jorna THROUGHOUT this time of uncertainty and craziness from COVID-19, I have been seeing so many people online coming up with new and creative ways to connect everybody virtually. Whether it be virtual workouts, dance lessons or online teaching, there are people working really hard to bring peopling together so we can stay socially connected even while we’re ... Read More »
THE Catholic Church has a long tradition of calling on saints and praying for their intercession in sickness and difficult times. This plea for saintly help for protection from disease and healing was particularly evident when the bubonic plague, or Black Death, spread throughout Europe in the 14th century killing one-third of the population. At the time, in many cities ... Read More »
THROUGHOUT the world, engaged couples are reeling in shock. Meticulously planned weddings are unravelling amid the various lock-down policies. The disappointment is crushing and the change in plans come with very real financial consequences. Some couples fear their deposits will be forfeited and others are struggling to find available venues for later dates when – hopefully – this all settles ... Read More »
IT’S a whole new world. Not sure about you but my collective household was pleased to turn the calendar to a new month this week. We don’t mind all this extra togetherness in today’s new world but we’d collectively decided that March went on for what seemed like an eternity and by the time the calendar clicked over, it could’ve ... Read More »
This is a column by Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez published online on March 24 in Angelus, the media arm of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. LENT is always a desert journey that we make with Jesus, who fasted and was tested in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights. The prophet Hosea says the Lord leads his ... Read More »
The Catholic Leader Keeping Faith with You
