Catholic San Francisco

The gratitude that comes from encountering Christ's love and mercy is enough to bring joy and hope to a troubled world, Pope Francis said. "If we are bearers of gratitude, the world itself will become better, even if only a little bit, but that is enough to transmit a bit of hope."

Argentina's Senate approved a bill legalizing abortion 38-29 Dec. 30 after a 12-hour debate as supporters with green handkerchiefs and opponents with blue handkerchiefs awaited their decision in the streets. President Alberto Fernández presented the legislation in November and has promised to sign it into law.

The pope said giving thanks to God after such a year may seem "forced, almost jarring" especially for those who have lost loved ones, have fallen ill or have lost their jobs but urged people to find meaning in the example of the Good Samaritan, who was moved by compassion to care for the stranger.

Pope Francis accepted the resignation of Bishop Gerald R. Barnes, 75, of the Diocese of San Bernardino. Bishop Barnes had led the diocese since 1996. Coadjutor Bishop Alberto Rojas immediately succeeded him as the head of the Southern California diocese.

Jesuit Father Robert Walsh died Oct.24, 2020 at his order’s Sacred Heart Jesuit Center in Los Gatos. Father Walsh served as president of the Jesuits’ St. Ignatius College Preparatory from 2006 to 2012. He was 70 years old.

For four years, Eleuterio "Teyo" Hernandez-Ortiz has worked on a Vermont dairy farm to help support his wife and four daughters in his hometown of San Jose Monteverde in southern Mexico. A local parish decided to practice evangelization by serving migrant workers like him.

Churches were asked to chime their bells at 3 p.m. in an act of mourning for three people who were killed in Nice's Notre Dame Basilica while preparing for morning Mass.

Pope Francis advanced the sainthood causes of five men and four women, including four 20th-century martyrs killed in Brazil, Turkey and Italy.

When it comes to matters of racial justice, there's not a need for the church to say more, but a need for the church to do more, retired Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois recently said.

When one says, "'I cannot pray today. I don't know what to do. I don't feel like it. I am unworthy,' at that moment, you must ask: 'May your prayer, Jesus, be mine,'" the pope said. "And trust that he prays for us. He, at that moment, is before the father praying for us."

The proof of being on a path of conversion and holiness always consists in loving one's neighbor, Pope Francis said.

During this ongoing pandemic, the commitment of health care workers to treat COVID-19 patients even at risk to their own health and lives -- and some have died -- is an illustration of Judeo-Christian values still at work in the larger society, said Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco.

Released Oct. 21, the film gave some people the erroneous impression that Pope Francis approved civil union laws that would equate gay couples to married couples. Pope Francis consistently has said that gay people deserve love, respect and the protection of the law; however, he has insisted marriage can be only between a man and a woman.

In addition to Cardinal-designate Gregory, who will be the first African American cardinal from the United States, the pope chose as cardinal electors two officials of the Roman Curia and bishops from Italy, Rwanda, the Philippines, Chile and Brunei.

A controversial 20-second clip in "Francesco" about civil unions appears to be a re-edit, placing phrases the pope did say in the interview together in an order not found in the original.

Don't miss the Carmelite Sisters of Mother of God Monastery's last jam sale, which began Oct. 15. The sisters will move from their San Rafael monastery March 1, 2020 after 55 years, according to the sisters, because of a lack of new vocations.

The provisional agreement's text, which has never been made public, outlines procedures for ensuring Catholic bishops are elected by the Catholic community in China and approved by the pope before their ordinations and installations, according to news reports at the time.

The family rosary movement began to spread in Bangladesh in the 1950s thanks to Irish Holy Cross priest, Father Patrick Peyton (1902-1992). He is widely known as "the rosary priest" for his lifelong efforts in popularizing rosary prayers around the world.

"Our schools are the privileged places to learn the Gospel. We cannot shy away from the hard questions and conversations our children bring to the classroom," Archbishop Gregory said. "We have to give them the tools to develop their consciences, to grow in compassion and to see with the eyes of faith."