RIO DE JANEIRO – The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro has launched a process aimed at putting a Brazilian girl on the path to sainthood. Archbishop Orani Tempesta and Vatican representatives told reporters Friday that they had begun the process to beatify Odette Vidal de Oliveira, who was 9 when she died of […]

Saturday Meditation workshop, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a combination of Zen meditation and bioenergetic body movement led by David Jordan, LCPC. Held at Heart Opening Yoga, 227 Congress St., Portland. There is a sliding fee scale ranging from $45 to $75. Call Jordan at 657-4640 for details or to register. Holy Grounds Coffee House, […]

Her voice, her presence are here in words I have hijacked from some old letters — letters written by my mother and saved against the ruination of the years. Perusing them, I was struck by my sensing I could hear her speaking as if she were there beside me. Mother’s use of language often reflected […]

New Year’s resolution. No, not another diet. I’m not exactly sure what to resolve, but I like to write, so I enroll in an eight-week writing class, starting the first week of January. Maybe a resolution will unearth itself there. On the first day, when it’s my turn to check in, I say I have […]

BRAINTREE, Mass. – The Archdiocese of Boston on Thursday announced the first phase of an overhaul that aims to strengthen parishes for a region-wide push to refill empty pews. The restructuring will organize the archdiocese’s 288 parishes into 135 clusters, called collaboratives, that will share clergy, buildings and resources. The archdiocese, among the largest in […]

Saturday Helping domestic abuse victims, 9:30 to 11 a.m., information, awareness and networking workshop for clergy and staff, adults and teenagers. Program offered by Peacemakers, a group dedicated to creating peace in the home, and Family Crisis Services of Greater Portland. Free, with light refreshments after the workshop. Snow date is Jan. 19. South Gorham […]

Sunday Shape Note Singing, 1 to 4 p.m., at The New Church, 302 Stevens Ave., Portland. Free, and all are welcome to participate. Song books are available on loan. Connected Catholics, 1:30 p.m., luncheon with ordering from the menu. Mediterranean Grill, 10 School St., Freeport. Call Ellie at 846-4524 for more information. “United in Song […]

JERUSALEM – A trove of ancient manuscripts in Hebrew characters rescued from caves in a Taliban stronghold in northern Afghanistan is providing the first physical evidence of a Jewish community that thrived there a thousand years ago. On Thursday Israel’s National Library unveiled the cache of recently purchased documents that run the gamut of life […]