All Saints Parish Homilies and News

Monsignor Hilary Franco to Newsmax: Ash Wednesday Is About Showing Our Faith. Echo report published in NewsMax by Sam Barron: Monsignor Hilary Franco , the adviser for the mission to the Holy See, told Newsmax on Wednesday he was proud to celebrate Ash Wednesday.  Franco said this time of year is a penance as we prepare for Easter and celebrating the resurrection. "It's a kind of a sign of our faith as we go on in the world of today," Franco told " National Report ." "The sign of the cross on our forehead might give us the possibility of showing the world that we still have some kind of a going beyond. That's what we need. And we are reminded of the meaning of this time of Lent." "I feel that it's important for us to understand the real meaning of that cross," Franco said. "It means that I am … sharing whatever we have received from God. I feel that whatever we are today, it's kind of a result of the kind of gifts that God h...

Inspiring Facebook message published by Father James Martin S.J. Thank you for sharing this, Fr. James . Your voice is so welcome during this time when many of us are distressed by the chilling silence of church leaders. (Response by Carlos Sanders) This is so beautiful - both the image and the reflection. God bless Bishop Mariann Budde. She is a hero for our time, and will be numbered among the Saints. (Response by Monica Soule) Thanks to the artist  Fr. William Hart McNichols for this beautiful new image of Bishop Mariann Budde, which he has shared with me.  Here is his reflection on his new painting: "Holy Living Prophet Bishop Mariann" “Now as the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place; and suddenly they came from the sky, a noise like the blowing of a great wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And they saw what was like separate tongues of fire, and one settled on each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, ...

Reverend Richard Rice Obituary My family met Father Rice when he was the pastor of Holy Family Parish in Sanford.  He was a religious leader, an advocate for the Saint Thomas parochial school and a mentor to women religious. Maine has lost a devout priest who helped many people. He was blessed and will be missed. Brunswick - Very Rev. Richard P. Rice, 91, of Ward Circle died Friday, February 21, 2025, at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick. He was born in Biddeford on December 11, 1933, the only child to John and Mary Margaret (O’Brien) Rice. Father Richard Rice first considered the priesthood in sixth grade. He graduated from Cheverus High School in Portland in 1952. While attending college, in 1954, he met with the Most Reverend Daniel J. Feeney who assigned him as a seminarian for the diocese.  After two years of college, he entered St. Paul’s University and Seminary in Ottawa for philosophy and theology studies. On May 21, 1960, Bishop Feeney, ordained Richard a priest of the...

Where to go in France to know St. Joan of Arc (Photos) Published in Aleteia by Alice Alech Stained-glass window honoring St. Joan in Holy Cross Cathedral, Orleans Three key locations to visit if you want to know the young saint who led an army to victory and proved steadfast in her faith. The Hundred Years War (1337-1453) was a dark, distressing time in France when the country was in conflict with the English.  Joan of Arc, a staunch Roman Catholic with no military training, became pivotal, leading the French to a series of surprising victories during 1429 - 1430. Eventually, the French heroine became a saint on May 16, 1920, cannonized by Pope Benedict XV.  Her feast day is May 30. Called by God ✝️ The patron saint of France, St. Joan of Arc is one of the most unusual saints of the Catholic Church. She is idolized not so much for the battles she fought as for her steadfast reverence and devotion to her Catholic beliefs. Called Jeanne d’Arc in French, Joan claimed to hear voi...

February 11, 2025 Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes The Sanctuary of Lourdes is delighted to invite all friends of Lourdes to join us in celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Sanctuary. Take part in a day of worldwide prayer to the Virgin Mary, in communion with pilgrims from across the globe. So, what happened on 11th February 1858? Bernadette, a young girl of 14, went to gather wood near the Grotto of Massabielle. That day, she saw for the first time, a Lady dazzling with light. “I saw a lady dressed in white: she wore a white dress, a white veil, a blue sash with a yellow rose on each foot.” Bernadette made the Sign of the Cross and recited the Rosary with the Lady. When the prayer was over, the Lady suddenly disappeared. This was the first of 18 apparitions that took place in Lourdes: a date that changed the life of the young visionary and that of millions of pilgrims around the world forever. The Virgin Mary, through her presence, made this place a sanctuary of hope, heal...

  My substacks article:  Immigrants in American religious institutions American history was witnessed during the Martin Luther King holiday and the January 20th inauguration ceremonies in Washington DC. Perhaps one of the most newsworthy incident happened in the unexpected place inside the beautiful National Cathedral, where a religious tradition was observed with the newly elected president. Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde led an interfaith service in the National Cathedral. Her message from the pulpit went viral because she left her clerical “comfort zone” for the purpose of including the subject of “mercy” for immigrants into her prepared spiritual message. Bishop’s brave statements spoke truth to power in front of the new American president who was seated in the front pews with other administration leaders. Her message brought to my mind how immigrants have been essential to building the religious infrastructure in American cities. In particular, Maine’s Basilica of Saints...