COLORADO SPRINGS. The recent news from Ukraine would keep most travelers far from eastern Europe, but not Ken Rackers.

Rackers, who is vice present of the board of directors of Catholic Outreach to Northern Ukraine (CONU), visited the wartorn country last October to get a first-hand assessment of the situation and help get the word out regarding the plight of citizens there.

COLORADO SPRINGS. The Diocese of Colorado Springs’ Office of Hispanic Ministry is sponsoring a Eucharistic Congress on Feb. 25 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. 
Speakers will include Father Roylan Recio, Father James Gordon F.S.S.P., and Bishop James Golka. All of the presentations will be in Spanish. 

Last month, we had the opportunity to interview Jesuit Father Joseph Fessio, who was a Ph.D. student of then-Professor Joseph Ratzinger in Germany over 50 years ago.

Father Fessio and Pope Benedict XVI had a successful and fruitful partnership in many ways. Of the 66 books that Pope Benedict wrote throughout his life, most of the English versions were published by Father Fessio’s creation, Ignatius Press. If we were to survey all the writings of this prodigious professor/scholar-pastor/theologian, where would we start?

With the snow lingering on the north side ground, it’s hard to imagine that spring will soon be here.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands. it will become our spiritual drink.

— From the Roman Missal: Preparation of the Gifts.