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During his ad limina visit in Rome, Bishop George Leo Thomas was interviewed by Christopher Wells of Vatican Radio. As Bishop Thomas notes, the New Evangelization calls all Catholics to live out their baptismal call. [Read more & listen to full interview]... |
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The Diocese of Helena today received information that 18 plaintiffs have been added in an amended complaint against the diocese. The complaint was filed in District Court in Helena today, May 1. The diocese is working with victims’ attorneys and has extended an offer for Bishop George
Thomas to meet with victims individually.
[Read the full statement]... |
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At about 3 a.m. Montana time on April 26, Bishop George Leo Thomas and the other bishops of the P'ortland Province met with the Holy Father. Their meeting with Pope Benedict XVI was part of the Region XII bishops “ad limina” visit to provide “state of the diocese” reports to Rome. Bishop Thomas and the Region XII bishops concelebrated Mass in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica on April 25. [View photos]... |
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Behind the Story brings you an inside look at the 2012 Catholic Youth Coalition Convention in Helena, Mont., April 13-15. [Watch the video]... |
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People who completed the 2010-12 cycle of the Program of Formation for Lay Ministers, or PFLM, were recognized and received certificates on March 24 at St. Ann Parish in Butte. [View the photo album]... |
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Catch the youth spirit with this photo album from the Catholic Youth Coalition Convention, April 13-15, in Helena. 400 youth and adults gathered to be “Of One Heart & Mind” as they shared and grew in their faith. [View the photo album]... |
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For the past 160 years, the Vatican has published a massive book titled “Annuario Pontificio,” which in English is “Pontifical Yearbook.” This 2,500-page volume is largely unknown to the ordinary Catholic, and never will appear on The New York Times bestseller list. [Read more]... |
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Selected articles from The Montana Catholic newspaper are published online each month. This month's issue covers the 2012 CYC Convention, PFLM grads, Guatemala ministry, Chrism Day Mass, and more. [Read this month's issue]... |
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Father Rudy Bullman entered a not guilty plea to charges of possessing child pornography during an April 19 arraignment hearing at the Flathead County District Court.
[Read the article]... |
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The Easter Triduum was celebrated April 5-8. The Triduum begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Thursday evening and extends to the evening of Easter Sunday. During the Easter Vigil, nearly 160 people came into the Church in parishes across the Diocese of Helena. They are among the 550,000 people who join the Church in the U.S. each year.
[View the photo album]... |
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Clergy, deacons, men and women religious and the lay faithful from across the Diocese of Helena gathered at the Cathedral of St. Helena on March 29 for the Chrism Mass. During the Chrism Mass, Bishop George Leo Thomas blessed the holy oils, which will be used in the faith communities throughout the diocese in the administration of the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Holy Orders. [View the photo album]... |
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The Thomas Francis Meagher Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians raised the Irish flag in front of the Montana Capitol on March 16, in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, which was March 17. Music by the Helena-based Shining Thistle Pipe Band accompanied the flag raising. The band also performed in the Capitol Rotunda, and traditional Irish dancing was performed there. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger and Helena Mayor Jim Smith were at the events. [View the photo album]... |
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A deeper look into Musikanten Montana's finale performance of "A Venetian Coronation - 1595" at St. Helena's Cathedral in Helena, Mont. The performance featured Soloists, Gregorian Chant Schola, the Festival Chorus and Orchestra and Organ in a recreation of the April 1595 Mass celebrating the election of Mario Grimani as Doge of the Venetian Republic. [Watch the video]... |
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Four new photo albums have been added to our multimedia section, covering events and parishes in the Diocese of Helena. To view a photo album, click on the title: Where we gather: Churches of the Diocese of Helena (Part 2) | Rite of Election | Scout Sunday | Montana Early Music Festival. |
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The Foundation has announced it is accepting applications for its annual grants program. For FY 2012-13, $25,000 in grant money is available, and individual grants will not exceed $5,000. Visit the Foundation’s website for details on policies, priorities and procedures, as well as the application. The 2011-12 grant recipients are also listed on the Foundation website. |
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Recent print and broadcast commercials have encouraged victims of clergy sexual abuse in Montana to contact plaintiffs’ attorneys. The Diocese of Helena has great interest in providing pastoral care and support for victims of clergy sexual abuse. The Diocese has encouraged victims to come forward for the past 10 years. They can contact the diocese by phone at 406-459-0513 or by e-mail to victimassistant@diocesehelena.org.
[Read the full statement]... |
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This installment of Behind the Story takes you inside an open adoption at Catholic Social Services of Montana. [Watch the video]... |
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Bishop George Leo Thomas speaks to high school and University of Montana students at a recent Question and Answer event at Christ the King Parish in Missoula, Montana. [Watch the video]... |
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"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I write to you concerning an alarming and serious matter that negatively impacts the Church and the United States directly, and that strikes at the fundamental right to religious liberty for all citizens of any faith. The federal government, which claims to be 'of, by, and for the people,' has just dealt a heavy blow to almost a quarter of those people..." [Read more]*... |
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Each year the Diocese of Helena offers Aid to the Needy Grants through the generosity of the Catholic people of our Diocese and their contributions to the Annual Catholic Appeal. It is now time to begin the application process for 2012 grants. To be considered for funding this year, completed applications must be postmarked on or before April 20, 2012. Awards will be announced by the first part of June. [Find out more]... |
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Montana Catholic staff members choose their favorite multimedia stories from 2011. [Watch the video]... |
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In advance of the 2012 elections, the U.S. bishops reaffirmed their 2007 document, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, in this coming election cycle and beyond, as the “continuing teaching of our Bishops’ Conference and our guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy.” The document has been updated with a new introductory note identifying six “current and fundamental problems”...
[Read more at www.usccb.org]... |
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The Diocese of Helena received information this morning that another complaint against the Diocese had been filed. The initial reading of the complaint reveals difficulty in clearly identifying some of the defendants, but it appears the majority were members of religious orders or congregations, rather than the Diocese of Helena. [Read more]... |
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From Feb. 22 to March 1, 2011, Montana Catholic reporter Eric Connolly traveled to the diocesan mission at Santo Tomas la Union in Guatemala. His assignment: to find a way to tell the story of what the diocesan Guatemala Mission is all about. This Behind the Story installment shares what he found. [Watch the video]... |
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"I am aware of the ways in which charity has been and continues to be misconstrued and emptied of meaning, with the consequent risk of being misinterpreted, detached from ethical living and, in any event, undervalued..." [Read more]... |
