A major organ build in Virginia highlights the 'multidisciplinary' art of church organ-making

The new gallery organ sits under construction at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond, Virginia. / Credit: Alexa EdlundCNA Staff, May 29, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA)."Much longer than any of us." That's how long Anne Kenny-Urban says the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart's newly installed organ will last. Kenny-Urban, a board member of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart Foundation in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, is part of the huge team of administrators and advocates that have spent nearly a decade planning and executing the replacement of the cathedral's more-than-century-old gallery organ. The instrument was installed shortly after the cathedral was completed in 1906. Built by the John Brown Company of Wilmington, Delaware, it was reportedly the largest in the country at the time. Over the course of nearly 120 years, it received countless repairs, renovations, and upgrades in order to keep it running, including a complete rebuild in 1940 and a major renova...

Pope Francis opens new catechetical cycle on Holy Spirt's role in salvation

Pope Francis greets pilgrims as he arrives at his general audience on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaRome Newsroom, May 29, 2024 / 09:22 am (CNA).Pope Francis on Wednesday opened a new catechetical series during his weekly general audience, focusing on the theme of creation across history and the role of the Holy Spirit in the story of salvation. Titled "The Spirit and the Bride: The Holy Spirit Guides God's People Toward Jesus Our Hope," the new cycle will unfold across three main themes: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and "the time of the Church." "The Spirit of God, who in the beginning transformed chaos into cosmos, is at work to bring about this transformation in every person," the pope said during the general audience held May 29 in St. Peter's Square.Pope Francis blesses a toddler during his general audience on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Credit: Vatican MediaThe ...

A new player in post-secondary Catholic education: San Damiano College for the Trades

San Damiano College for the Trades, which is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class in the fall of 2025, is geared toward young men and will be located on the former Springfield, Illinois, campus of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross. / Credit: San Damiano College for the TradesAnn Arbor, Michigan, May 29, 2024 / 15:30 pm (CNA).The founding of San Damiano College for the Trades responds to a call from Springfield, Illinois, Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki to set a new path for Catholic education in the diocese and broader United States.The new college, which is currently accepting applications for its inaugural class in the fall of 2025, is geared toward young men and will be located on the former Springfield, Illinois, campus of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, who operated the St. James Trade School there from 1928 to 1972.According to a press release from San Damiano, the Norbertine order of priests and brothers, which have a priory on campus, wi...

U.S. bishops' synod synthesis reveals desire for greater unity, evangelization

Pope Francis among the delegates of the Synod on Synodality held in October 2023. / Credit: Vatican MediaCNA Staff, May 29, 2024 / 17:23 pm (CNA).A synthesis of feedback received from 35,000 U.S. Catholics as part of the ongoing Synod on Synodality reveals that amid political and theological polarization, many lay Catholics desire unity, both among themselves and among the clergy.In addition, participants in synodal listening sessions acknowledged that the synodal process has unearthed tensions in the Church, in which some said they "were challenged by the Church's "indecisiveness," by "lack of reverence," and by the perception that the Church is "changing the traditional methods." But other participants also expressed concern that some people, including those who identify as LGBT, "feel hurt by the Church and are not willing to come back."  "This document reflects the sense that there exists among Catholics in the United States a deep desire to rebuild and strengthen our ...

Nuncio in Kenya: Church in Europe is losing 'its inner compass'

Archbishop Hubertus van Megen celebrates the episcopal consecration of Father John Kiplimo Lelei as auxiliary bishop of Kenya's Diocese of Eldoret on May 25, 2024. / Credit: Diocese of Eldoret, KenyaACI Africa, May 29, 2024 / 16:00 pm (CNA).The Church in Africa, which for many years was considered a missionary territory, has evolved and is growing "stronger" compared with the Church in Europe, which seems to have "weakened," according to the representative of the Holy Father in Kenya.Archbishop Hubertus van Megen, who was preaching during the episcopal consecration of Father John Kiplimo Lelei as auxiliary bishop of Kenya's Diocese of Eldoret, highlighted some of the weaknesses of the Church in Europe, which he said reflect an orientation toward secularism.Van Megen cited the president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, on the progress of the Chu...

Corpus Christi: 30,000 people expected to turn out for festival in Bolivia stadium 

After a four-year hiatus, the Corpus Christi festival is returning on Thursday, May 30, 2024, to Gilberto Parada Stadium in the town of Montero, Bolivia, where it is expected to draw the attendance of approximately 30,000 people, as in previous years. / Credit: Our Lady of Mercy parish in Montero, BoliviaACI Prensa Staff, May 28, 2024 / 15:20 pm (CNA).After a four-year hiatus, the Corpus Christi festival is returning this year to Gilberto Parada Stadium in the town of Montero, Bolivia, where it is expected to draw the attendance of approximately 30,000 people, as in previous years.The festival is scheduled to take place on Thursday, May 30. Entertainment will be provided by more than 500 students from local schools who are preparing outfits and choreography as part of the occasion.Members of the Congregation of Conventual Franciscans of the Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Montero are in charge of the festival and have high hopes that this year the stadium will be filled to capacity...

Vatican apologizes after pope's derogatory remark on gay men in Catholic seminaries

Pope Francis waves to pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square for his Wednesday general audience on May 22, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Vatican MediaRome Newsroom, May 28, 2024 / 12:35 pm (CNA).The Vatican on Tuesday issued an apology after Pope Francis' use of an offensive word in Italian regarding seminarians who identify as gay.Matteo Bruni, the Holy See spokesman, said in Tuesday's press statement that the Holy Father was "aware of the articles recently published about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops" of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI).Italian media reported that Pope Francis had met with the CEI on May 20 in the Vatican's Synodal Hall. At that meeting the pope was asked about the admission of declared gay men to the seminary. Telling the bishops that gay men should not be admitted to priestly formation, the pope argued "there is too much 'frociaggine' in seminaries," a slur translated as "faggotry" or "faggotness." Bruni told jour...

From Hinduism to Catholicism: How Blessed Carlo Acutis inspired a man to convert

Rajesh Mohur pictured with Carlo Acutis on the day of his confirmation. / Credit: Photo courtesy of Ignatius PressRome Newsroom, May 27, 2024 / 07:00 am (CNA).On May 23, Pope Francis recognized a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Carlo Acutis, paving the way for him to become the first millennial saint.The Italian computer-coding teenager who died of cancer in 2006 is known for his great devotion to the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. His witness inspired his own parents to return to practicing the Catholic faith and his Hindu au pair to convert and be baptized.The following is an adapted excerpt from the book "Blessed Carlo Acutis: A Saint in Sneakers" by CNA Rome Correspondent Courtney Mares.Blessed Carlo Acutis inspired the son of a Brahman Hindu priest to be baptized as a Catholic through the young boy's joyful witness to Jesus' presence in the Eucharist and his love for the poor.In an interview, Rajesh Mohur shared the story of his spiritual journe...

No reason to be cynical about celebrity conversions, Bishop Barron and others say

Russell Brand, Candace Owens, and Shia LeBeouf. / Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; Jason Davis/Getty Images; and Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesAnn Arbor, Michigan, May 27, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).The phenomenon of celebrity conversions to the faith has taken center stage, especially on social media, and they have been widely welcomed by prominent Catholic clergy and commentators.Going viral on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms has been news about popular actors and political activists, among others, who have joined the Catholic faith or otherwise announced their conversions to Christianity.Their ranks include actor Shia LaBeouf, who was raised by a Jewish mother but entered the Catholic Church in 2023 and was confirmed by Bishop Robert Barron. LaBeouf, 37, played the title character in "Padre Pio," the 2022 movie about the famed Italian friar who received the stigmata. Political commentator and media personality Candace Ow...

6 easy activities to help children understand Memorial Day

Flags for Memorial Day in the United States of America. / Credit: ShutterstockNational Catholic Register, May 27, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).Memorial Day marks the cultural beginning of summer in the United States, and in the midst of all the fun of the three-day weekend, it's easy for kids to think of this holiday as representing nothing more than the end of school and the beginning of barbecue and pool party season. So here are some ideas that gently introduce children to the deeper meaning of Memorial Day.1. Create a memorial flower boat.This is an easy but beautiful craft that uses materials that you probably have lying around the house. Though it is based on the Navy's tradition of floating flowers out into the ocean to recall sailors whose lives were lost at sea, it could be used to honor fallen soldiers from any branch of the military.2. Write a letter to a soldier.Talk to your children about what our men and women in uniform do for our country, then have them write a letter ...