Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Pope John Paul II: Mary, Model of Eucharistic Faith and Love -In a certain sense Mary lived her Eucharistic faith even before the institution of the Eucharist, by the very fact that she offered her virginal womb for the Incarnation of God's Word. The Eucharist, while commemorating the passion and ...

Second Sunday of Advent In the second week of Advent -- in another ancient prayer [taken from the eighth-century Gelasian Sacramentary], we admit that this process [of seeking heavenly things] is far from straightforward and we ask for help with those things that still seem to hold us back and bar our way. We all ...

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA You better watch out. Santa Claus is coming to St. Michaels! On December 17th 9:00-11:00 am, come and enjoy Breakfast with Santa! Pancakes & sausage served from 9-10am. It will be lots of fun!!! Have your photo taken with Santa Claus, enjoy Arts and Crafts & Story time with Santa's ...

March for Life Again Underscores that Being Pro-Life is Not a Fair Weather Commitment by Randy SlyWASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - As a nation, we have now entered the 40th year with Roe vs. Wade on our books. On Monday, thousands of pro-life advocates marched on the streets of Washington, DC to remember the 39th Anniversary of a Supreme Court ruling that set off a free-for-all against the ...

Seven Anglican Parishes in Virginia Lose the Fight to Retain Property by Randy SlyWASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - A Fairfax County Circuit Court ruled yesterday that the seven congregations, who have chosen to leave The Episcopal Church (TEC), must leave their buildings behind. Judge Randy Bellows delivered the decision in a 113-page document that returned control of the ...

Preparing for Lent: Learning to Pray, Love, and Live Our Lives in Communion with God
by Deacon Keith FournierCHESAPEAKE, VA (Catholic Online) - I am frequently asked what I think is the greatest need in the Church today. Because of my work - and much of my writing - people presume how I will answer. They expect me to be what they call "action oriented" and "practical."  My answer is simple. "The ...

Catholic Social Doctrine: Unions and the Common Good
by Andrew M. Greenwell, Esq.CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - Labor unions play a fundamental even indispensable role in the advancing the interests of workers vis-à-vis their employers.  Though--like any human institution--the history of unions shows they are the subject of abuse and misuse, their history also ...

U.S. characterized by fear and poverty, essayist claims
by Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Backing up this claim is the fact that by the end of 2011, the U.S. had elite special operations forces in around 120 of the 192 countries recognized by the United Nations. In addition, the U.S. has military bases in more than half of the world's ...

Proposition 8: Two Federal Judges Decree, Marriage Not Between a Man and a Woman
by Deacon Keith FournierSAN FRANCISCO, CA. (Catholic Online)  - Two Judges of a Three Judge Panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals took it upon themselves to rule from the Bench that marriage is not between a man and a woman. They decreed that the people of California could not affirm by referendum ...

Boko Haram 'raining bombs' on Nigerian town of Kano
by Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The radical Islamist group Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying they acted as their members in Kano have been arrested, persecuted and maltreated."We are responsible for the attack. I am the person who commanded our people to rain ...

Maldives president said he stepped down to avoid bloodshed
by Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Thousands of Nasheed supporters have taken to the streets in protest. Al Jazeera correspondent Steve Chao reporting from the capital island of Male on Wednesday said that up to 3,000 people took part in the protests in support of Nasheed.Police reportedly fired ...