The exotic appeal of mission work has a timeless attraction for many. But when Jesus Youth volunteer Sid Jose, an accountant, was selected to travel to a PNG mission, at first he had his doubts.
The blind leading the blind
Matthew 15:10-28: There are a number of lessons from today’s reading. The first is that there is a need for total trust and confidence that Jesus really does care for us.
The Pope of surprises flies East
It a quarter of a century since a Pope visited the Korean peninsula. Pope Francis' five-day visit creates a chance to preach reconciliation between North and South Korea, as well a rare opportunity for dialogue with China, writes AP.
Marvellous marbles of early Christian tombs
A visit to the Museum Paleocristiano of the Vatican Museums includes a collection of marble coffins and inscriptions of the early Christians. The collection is considered the world's largest of its type, as this video from EWTN reveals.
God amid the noise and haste
Modern life is a tale of constant distractions, but our preoccupation with the ordinary business of our lives can so easily rob us of a relationship with the divine and eternal, as Fr Ron Rolheiser writes.
WW1 Centenary: The Last Absolution
Richard Moth, Bishop of the UK Armed Forces, offers this poignant reflection on a World War One artwork, and on the importance of prayer in the most difficult circumstances of human life.
The very Devil of a bad idea
Call him what you like - Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Beelzebub (to Christians), Ha-Satan (in Jewish scripture) and Shaitan (in Islamic tradition), the Devil has through the ages and across civilisations been a compelling and charismatic presence.
This month sees the close, with a Mass at St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney, of the 175th anniversary year of the Sisters of Charity in Australia. Sr Annette Cunliffe, Sisters of Charity Congregational Leader, reflects on the past year.
Guy Consolomagno, who glories in the title of the Papal astronomer, is a Jesuit brother who has just won the Carl Sagan Medal, given in honour of one of the great agnostics of modern science. Read on...
Nadine Gordimer: A most unexpected activist
Jewish, schooled in a convent... a writer who became a politician and activist thanks to her lived experience of apartheid in her home country... Nadine Gordimer's was a life right out of the box, as Nicholas Collura writes.
A Perth 23-year-old recently took the first steps to becoming a Dominican priest. Matthew Biddle interviewed Br Reginal Mary for The Record and filed this report.
Monday marks 100 years since the outbreak of World War I... the Great War, the War to end all wars. Leading American Catholic writer, George Weigel, turns his mind to the subject in this essay for First Things.
The Gospel for this Sunday - Matthew 14: 13-21 - is one of the best-known stories of the New Testament, and speaks of faith in the infinite nature of God's nurturing love.
The Jews who recognise Jesus as the Messiah
Jews and Palestinians are the focus of the current strife in the Holy Land. But along with Arab Christians, there is another group referred to as 'the Living Stones.' As the region slides into turmoil, this documentary looks at Messianic Jews.
It's Gauci with a 'c,' not Gaudi with a 'd.' But like his near namesake from Barcelona, Franciscan Fr Alberto Gauci has a passion to build. He works on works in Honduras, reports David Agren for the Catholic News Service.
Ireland's 'best writer' gone to God
Dermot Healy has set forth across the waters as the send-off for this acclaimed Irish poet brought to mind a line from one of his poems, A Funeral: 'shovels work like oars, rowing the dead man from this world.'
Two thousand years ago, the region gave birth to the Prince of Peace. Today it is mired in a seemingly intractable conflict. How did this come to be, and what is the fighting all about?
Smut protest victory, Archbishop Coleridge says 'kill the pain, not the patient,' Mercy Sister reconised by ACU, Nick Kyrgios from Catholic college to tennis sensation, Fr Bill McCarthy, New QLD Vinnies leader.
New plane disaster, protections for migrants, youngest nation faces catastrophe, fresh start for Order of St Camillus, Church reaffirms desire for unity with Anglicans, Knights of Columbus, prayers of abducted JRS director.
Best of the Pope Cup
A collection from the Latin Times of the best memes, Tweets, jokes, pictures and more from the week that saw our Argentine Pope and German Pope Emeritus both have their home nations reach football's World Cup final.