The Valley Catholic Online

PILGRIMS AT LOURDES
gather for Mass, in this
file photo, in the
grotto of the
Sanctuaries of Our Lady
of Lourdes in Lourdes,
France, Feb. 10, 2008.
(CNS photo/Nancy
Wiechec)

Members of the San Jose location of the Order of Malta are planning a special diocesan celebration of the World Day of the Sick, Sat., Feb. 13, 11 a.m. at Santa Teresa Church, San Jose.
This will be the fifth annual diocesan celebration sponsored by the Order of Malta of the Day of the Sick which, since 1992, has been designated worldwide by the Vatican as an opportunity to give special attention to those who are sick. [more]

Haiti Earthquake Support and Relief Efforts

Jan 19 2010

The Diocese of San Jose mourns for the victims of the Haiti Earthquake. There will be special collections January 16 - 17 to provide emergency supplies and relief needs to the people of Haiti. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people affected by the devastation of the earthquake.

The Catholic community in the United States is reaching out to our brothers and sisters in Haiti [more]

New Superintendent reflects on visits to local Catholic schools, some challenges

Roberta Ward Jan 19 2010

Kathy Almazol

“Catholic Schools: Dividends for Life” is the theme for 2010 Catholic Schools Week, Jan. 31 – Feb. 6, observed throughout the U.S., sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In the Diocese of San Jose, Kathy Almazol, in her first year as Superintendent of Education, reflected on her recent visits to the 30 Catholic elementary and six high schools in the diocese.
“I am a total advocate for children,” she said. “It was easy to be a principal for 20 years because I feel that children are at the center of all decisions we make. It’s how I do everything.” [more]

Exonerated death row inmate says he never gave up on God

Jan 19 2010

EXONERATED – Former
Illinois death row
inmate Randy Steidl of
Paris, Ill., talks about
his wrongful conviction
and his lengthy
incarceration during a
program at the
Archbishop O’Meara
Catholic Center

INDIANAPOLIS (CNS) — Seventeen years, three months and three weeks. That’s how long wrongfully convicted Illinois death-row inmate Randy Steidl was incarcerated at the Danville Correctional Facility while awaiting execution for two murders he did not commit.
Steidl is one of 139 former death-row inmates throughout the U.S. who have been found innocent of murder charges and released from prison since 1972. [more]

Pope Benedict delivers ‘Urbi et Orbi’ message on Christmas Day 2009

Jan 19 2010

POPE BENEDICT XVI waves to the crowd during his
Christmas “urbi et orbi” – to the city and to
the world – message and blessing, Dec. 25. (CNS
photo/Paul Haring)

VATICAN CITY (CNS)—On Christmas Day, the pope delivered his message and blessing “Urbi et Orbi” — to the city of Rome and to the world — from the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. He prayed for peace in world trouble spots like the Holy Land, Iraq, Sri Lanka and the Democratic Republic of Congo. [more]

Vatican to decide fate of woman who knocked down pope at Christmas Mass

Jan 19 2010

ATTACKER – Undated photo
shows Italian-Swiss
national Susanna Maiolo,
25, who was arrested and
taken to a medical
facility after jumping a
barricade in St. Peter’s
Basilica, lunging toward
the pope an

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican will decide how to proceed with the young woman responsible for knocking down Pope Benedict XVI during Christmas Eve Mass only after it reviews medical and Vatican security reports, said Vatican spokesmen.
Critical to the prosecutor’s decision will be the doctors’ evaluation concerning the woman’s mental state and whether or not she was “of sound mind,” Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, told Catholic News Service Dec. 28. The prosecutor will also take into consideration eyewitness accounts, he said. [more]