Barbie O'Dowd is a Franco-American journalist and entrepreneur based in Wilmington, NC. Follow her adventures on twitter & instagram @portcitybarbie.
VATICAN CITY- In May, Pope Francis will visit Fatima, Portugal for two days to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Marian apparitions there, according to a Vatican release of his trip itinerary. After visiting Saint Mary Major Basilica before his flight at 2 p.m. May 12, His holiness will then land in Monte Real at an …
Centenary of Fatima Apparitions Brings Pope to Portugal Read More »
ARMAGH, Northern Ireland– Celebrations in Ireland today for the feast of St Patrick emphasized building unity between Protestants and Catholics and remembering all immigrants, including the Irish in the US. On the eve of St Patrick’s Day, Catholic and Protestant cathedrals were both lit up in green to commemorate the feast day. A vigil walk, …
St. Patrick an Example of Unity and Solidarity in This Irish Church Read More »
VATICAN CITY- Before reciting the Angelus on March 5, the first Sunday of Lent, Pope Francis encouraged pilgrims to fight temptations to sin by studying the Word of God as carefully as they study their cell phones. “Someone said: what would happen if we treated the Bible like we treat our cell phone? If we …
Word of God slays evil, says Pope. Check it as often as your cell phone Read More »
In an address Saturday to parish priests being trained on the new annulment procedure, Pope Francis emphasized the importance of marriage preparation and support during the first years. The Pontiff encouraged priests to behave, “In such a way that your faithful recognize you not so much as experts in bureaucratic actions or judicial norms, but as …
Tokyo, Japan — Nearly 12000 people joined together for a beatification ceremony and mass in honor of Justo Takayam Ukon, a Catholic samurai and martyr, held Feb 4 in Osaka. Ukon is the first Samurai warrior to be beatified. Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided over the Mass. Born in …
Samurai Warrior and martyr beatified, to become saint Read More »
On a recent Saturday in a moving ceremony before a large crowd of faithful, in the beautiful church of Saint Catherine of Siena in Wake Forest, Fr Philip Gerard Johnson became a priest in the diocese of Raleigh. A Greensboro, NC native, he was ordained by the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Diocese …
Newly ordained priest shows nothing can stop God’s plans Read More »
Protests from clerics and locals haven’t stopped the opening of a controversial new McDonald’s restaurant in the Vatican. Located approximately the length of a football field away from the Vatican State, less than 100 yards, the restaurant is downstairs in a Vatican-owned building in the Pio Borgo district of Rome. Quickly dubbed “McVatican” by locals, …
McDonalds opens up in the Vatican, Cardinals Not “Lovin’ It” Read More »
BAHIR DAR, ETHIOPIA— Imagine one person lighting the way for 300 to join the Church, with 500 still excitedly awaiting baptism in neighboring communities. That’s exactly what happened in one Ethiopian village today, where 300 new members were joyfully received into the Ethiopian Catholic Church. “The testimony of one young believer and the diligent efforts …
As US Catholics prepare to vote in the US election November 8, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops has created a page on their website dedicated to informing the Catholic vote. While professing Catholics vary widely in their approach to the voting booth, the Church has consistently sent one message: love God, and love others. …
NAIROBI, KENYA- As Christians in a north eastern Kenyan compound slept, militant islamic group al-Shabab launched a violent grenade and gun attack, killing six and injuring an unknown number of others. The incident, part of a series of attacks against Christian communities, was designed to drive Christians and non-sympathetic Muslims away from the area. Many …
CHRISTIANS TARGETED IN ATTACK BY MILITANTS IN KENYA Read More »