'Slight' sickness keeps Pope Francis close to home, Vatican says

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis did not attend a scheduled meeting with Rome priests Thursday morning due to a “slight indisposition,” a Vatican spokesman said.
Archbishop Naumann calls Senate rejection of pro-life bills 'appalling'

WASHINGTON — By blocking two pro-life bills from going to the floor of the U.S. Senate for a vote, senators "failed to advance two critical human rights reforms that most Americans strongly support," the chairman of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee said late Feb. 25.
Decades of trips to St. Rose Church on foot

Most days for more than six decades, Connie Manning walked purposefully for two-and-a-half blocks to St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northeast Portland. Whether marshaling her six children to the school, treading thoughtfully to parish council meetings, marching to Legion of Mary gatherings, skipping to book club, or strolling to her beloved Mass — she proceeded with joyful confidence.
Shut off cellphone, open Bible for Lent, pope tells faithful

VATICAN CITY — Lent is a time to remove all distractions and bitterness from one's life in order to better hear God and those who suffer silently and need help, Pope Francis said.
Senate fails to pass two pro-life bills on same day

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Feb. 25 failed to pass two pro-life bills to protect unborn babies who can feel pain, and babies who survive abortion attempts.

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Local

Decades of trips to St. Rose Church on foot

Most days for more than six decades, Connie Manning walked purposefully for two-and-a-half blocks to St. Rose of Lima Parish in Northeast Portland. Whether marshaling her six children to the school, treading thoughtfully to parish council meetings, marching to Legion of Mary gatherings, skipping to book club, or strolling to her beloved Mass — she proceeded with joyful confidence. READ MORE>>
Support continues for Tanzanian project

When retired Oregon educator Bertha Haas first visited Tanzania in 2003 as a Maryknoll lay missioner, she was dismayed to find that children with disabilities were excluded from public education and that there were few options for the families raising the youngsters. READ MORE>>

Parish and School

Valley Catholic team advances to national Future City competition

BEAVERTON — For the second consecutive year, a team from Valley Catholic Middle School will advance to the national Future City competition in Washington, D.C. The team departed Feb. 14, and the results of the competition were to be decided Feb. 18.

Pope Francis and Vatican

'Slight' sickness keeps Pope Francis close to home, Vatican says

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis did not attend a scheduled meeting with Rome priests Thursday morning due to a “slight indisposition,” a Vatican spokesman said.

Living Faith

Vatican approval affirms pastoral care for those who believe

While church officials wait to see the ultimate shape of ongoing Marian apparitions at Medjugorje, Pope Francis last spring gave the green light for official pilgrimages to the site in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Religious thanked for living kingdom values

Nation and World

Archbishop Naumann calls Senate rejection of pro-life bills 'appalling'

WASHINGTON — By blocking two pro-life bills from going to the floor of the U.S. Senate for a vote, senators "failed to advance two critical human rights reforms that most Americans strongly support," the chairman of the U.S. bishops' pro-life committee said late Feb. 25.

Arts and Entertainment

Burden

NEW YORK (CNS) — The rough atmosphere of writer-director Andrew Heckler's drama "Burden" (101 Studios) makes it anything but a family film.

Viewpoints

They’re here

Young men packed St. Stephen Church to kneel side by side at the Rorate Mass, line up for confession, and be challenged by the speakers at the recent men’s conference.

Once a homeless mother, she’s now a super-volunteer

Brittney Sparks believes in the small Catholic nonprofit that helped her onto a path of faith and stability

Archbishop tells Vincentians: ‘Be the face of Christ’

TIGARD — Earlier in the day, Cyndi Kelly of St. Henry Parish in Gresham had paid a hotel bill for a woman just out of surgery.

Oregon woman shares her journey from spiritual crisis to consecrated virginity

In one of the oldest rites of the church, Miriam Marston will be consecrated to God — “mystically espoused to Christ and dedicated to the service of the church,” according to the Code of Canon Law.

Friday night at the monastery

Monthly young adult evening retreats at Mount Angel Abbey include prayer, monastic hospitality, learning about faith and sips of Benedictine brew

Music on the hilltop

ST. BENEDICT — In Damian Hall at the seminary here, Myrna Keough leads Deacon Raymond Philip Napuli through a practice of a Gregorian chant, Ave Verum Corpus. Keough sits at her piano tapping out the notes and reassessing the key in which the chant should be sung at the upcoming Mass of candidacy. Napuli stands behind her, gripping the sides of his music stand, gently following along with the music. He will chant the music with the rest of the seminary choir in a few short weeks.

Archbishop Sample's Column

Through Christ, repairing our relationship with creation

Most Rev. Alexander Sample

I love the outdoors, and the pristine and clean environment of much of Oregon, both east and west of the Cascades. The times that I can mountain bike in Forest Park, muddy or dry, are moments to cherish. I have hiked in the Columbia River Gorge and fished for salmon in the Multnomah Channel. (Yes, I caught a big one.) I have even floated the wild and scenic Rogue River.