Prelates reveal how a priest becomes a bishop

After a long, confidential selection process, Pope Francis chose Bishop Mark Hagemoen

Father Mark Hagemoen (in purple) sings with a group of priests during Mass before his episcopal ordination Dec. 15. The apostolic nuncio, the Holy See, and various bishops examined the clergyman's qualities before he was appointed a bishop. Agnieszka Krawczynski / The B.C. Catholic.

While celebrating the installation of a brother bishop, some prelates paused to explain the behind-the-scenes of the selection process and why they think Bishop Hagemoen is a good fit for the job. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.


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Hundreds of churches will be shutting their doors in the Netherlands, report says

A deacon blesses a dog at Sacred Heart Church in Schiedam, Netherlands, Oct. 4. With many church buildings being shut, blessings like this may have to go outdoors. CNS photo / Jerry Lampen, Reuters.

Hundreds of Catholic churches in the Netherlands will likely fall into disuse by 2018, according to a recent report by a group aimed at protecting Dutch religious heritage buildings. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.

St. John Cathedral plans to spend $10 million

A tourist takes a photograph in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem after UNESCO declared the church an endangered World Heritage sites to expedite funding for repairs. Unfortunately there is no UNESCU funding for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Saint John, which is old by Canadian standards, but only a fraction of the age of the Church of the Nativity. CNS photo / Ammar Awad, Reuters.

In Saint John, N.B., restoring the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception is as much about preserving the local heritage as it is about saving a church. For full story see The B.C. Catholic website.