When I was doing full-time parish ministry, one of my favorite activities was performing Baptisms. I put the word in the plural, for I hardly ever baptized one baby at a time, but usually ten […]
CNA Staff, Sep 8, 2020 / 04:30 pm (CNA).- September 8 marks the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. For the faithful in Cuba – and other Hispanic countries – Mary is also venerated on this day under the title Our Lady of Charity of … […]
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 8, 2020 / 03:38 pm (CNA).-
The Bishop of St. Catharines, Ontario is pleading for thieves to return the consecrated Host after the tabernacle was stolen from the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral on Tuesday.
Bishop Gerard Bergie of St. Catharines pleaded for the two people who took the tabernacle to return it, along with its contents, in an interview Tuesday afternoon with Canadian station NewsTalk 610 CKTB.
“The tabernacle can be replaced. It’s the contents (…) that is what is so precious to us. That’s what’s irreplaceable,” said Bergie, adding that he hopes that no harm is done to the Blessed Sacrament.
He hopes that the person or persons who took the tabernacle “realize it’s not of any monetary value, and be able to return it to us.”
“No questions asked, if they return it,” he said.
The tabernacle is made of steel, but has two bronze-colored doors, said the bishop. Bergie suspected that perhaps the thieves thought the tabernacle was made of gold, or perhaps had a more nefarious intent with stealing the hosts.
“Who knows what goes through the minds of these people,” he said.
Video footage captured two people, believed to be a man and a woman, breaking into the cathedral at approximately 4:30 a.m. Sept. 8. As it was dark, the footage is “kind of grainy” and it has been difficult to determine a clear image of the suspects, he said.
Many people have taken to loitering near the cathedral in recent months, Bergie explained.
“Even yesterday, the man that’s our caretaker said he noticed two fellas that were staying around all day, outside sleeping and eating,” he said. “I don’t know if they’re involved, it’s hard to tell,” said Bergie.
Fr. Donald Lizzotti, rector of the cathedral, told CNA that he believed the thieves had previously cased the cathedral to determine how to steal the tabernacle.
“And they came back later and actually pried the cover, which is over the old metal tabernacle,” he said. “They pried that off and put it on the floor. They took brass doors off of that,” and then finally took the entire tabernacle off of the altar.
He told CNA that the police were unable to find fingerprints and they believe the thieves had wiped the scene clean.
Lizzotti said that the diocese had contacted scrap yards in the area and informed them about the theft, and that they know what to look for.
St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral was hit by numerous instances of theft and vandalism during its renovations in 2019, including the theft of bronze and copper lampposts almost exactly one year ago.
Lizzotti told CNA that he does not think the theft of the tabernacle is related to the Sept. 10, 2019 theft, as the perpetrator was arrested after attempting to sell the metal to a scrapyard. That theft was what prompted the cathedral to install numerous security cameras inside and outside the building.
Extra steps have now been taken to ensure there are no more break-ins.
“We’ve now secured the one doorway that they got into,” said Lizzotti. “We’ve actually made it completely secure by putting crossbars across the two doors. So they can’t pry the doors unless they rip the wood completely out.”
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 8, 2020 / 03:10 pm (CNA).- The Archdiocese of the Military Services, USA is hoping the U.S. Navy will reconsider its decision to terminate its contracts with Catholic priests in the San Diego area as a cost-saving measure.
“For some time now, Archbishop Timothy Broglio has been engaged with the Navy Chief of Chaplains and has been trying to meet with those responsible for the decision,” a spokesperson for the archdiocese told CNA Sept. 8.
“The savings from cancelling these contracts amounts to $250,000,” said the spokesperson, which is “approximately 0.000156% of the Navy budget.”
With the move not to renew contracts with non-military Catholic priests, Catholics living at Naval Base Coronado, NSA Monterey, and Naval Base Ventura County will be left with no priest to celebrate Mass on-base. The priests were notified in mid-August that they would not have their contracts renewed.
Priests assigned to overseas bases and ships will keep their roles, and priests under contract at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake and Marine Corps Recruit Depot will continue to celebrate Mass on-base as there is no off-base option for Mass.
The Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, questioned the move to end the contracts given the number of Catholic serving in the Navy.
“It is difficult to fathom how the First Amendment rights of the largest faith group in the Navy can be compromised for such an insignificant sum. The Archbishop hopes that the Navy will reconsider the decision,” said the statement.
The three bases are served by civilian Catholic priests as there are not enough Catholic chaplains in the Navy to handle the spiritual needs of Catholics on those bases. Protestant services, which are done by military chaplains on active duty, will not be affected by this change.
Brian O’Rourke, a Navy Region Southwest spokesman, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that military chaplains would help people find new congregations off-base.
“We know change can be difficult for our existing on-base congregations, but ask for understanding, patience and support from those faithful civilians and retirees who, in their heart of hearts, want what is best for our uniformed service members and their families,” O’Rourke said to the Union-Tribune.
“The Navy’s religious ministries priority is reaching and ministering to our largest demographic — active duty Sailors and Marines in the 18-25 year-old range,” said O’Rourke. “To meet that mission, the Navy has had to make the difficult decision to discontinue most contracted ministry services.”
CNA Staff, Sep 8, 2020 / 03:01 pm (CNA).-
The Bishop of Rochester said Thursday that news of the death of Daniel Prude, who died after being arrested in the upstate New York city in March, is a source of sorrow, and a reminder of the Christian … […]
CNA Staff, Sep 8, 2020 / 02:01 pm (CNA).- The Bishop of Peoria last week permitted priests in his diocese to distribute Communion on the tongue, as the Archdiocese of Chicago and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois have been doing.
“While…I… […]
Vatican City, Sep 8, 2020 / 01:30 pm (CNA).- The Vatican has decreed that Fr. Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan, founder of the Salvatorians, will be beatified May 15, 2021, at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Cardinal Angelo Becciu,… […]
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Sep 8, 2020 / 12:30 pm (CNA).- As the Senate is expected to consider a pared-down coronavirus relief package this week, the U.S. bishops’ conference is calling for immediate and substantial aid.
The head of the U.S. bi… […]
Rome, Italy, Sep 8, 2020 / 11:30 am (CNA).- According to a longtime missionary in Africa, Fr. Martin Lasarte, one of the biggest threats to Christianity in Europe is the secularism of the culture entering into the Church.
According to Lasarte, &… […]
Rome, Italy, Sep 8, 2020 / 10:30 am (CNA).- Under the nearly 2,000-year-old dome of Rome’s Pantheon and above the relics of early Christian martyrs, the melodies of Johann Sebastian Bach and other composers are being played on the organ this mont… […]
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