University of Notre Dame Australia Assistant Dean and Lecturer in Old Testament Dr Lawrence Pang writes that although Ash Wednesday is not mentioned in scripture, it has deep biblical roots and gives us the nourishment we need for spiritual growth.

The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis will today participate in a meeting hosted by the United Nations to mark the first International Day of Human Fraternity. According to a statement published on 1 February by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Holy Father will take part in the 4 February virtual event, which will be hosted in Abu Dhabi by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the crown prince.

The Sunday of the Word of God, instituted by Pope Francis in 2019, is meant to encourage all Catholics to know the Sacred Scriptures and their central role in the life of the church and the Christian faith.

The Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments note on the “distribution of ashes in time of pandemic” was published on 12 January and directs priests to say “the prayer for blessing the ashes” and then sprinkle “the ashes with holy water, without saying anything”.

A catechist always must teach what the church teaches and that includes the vision and teachings of the Second Vatican Council. It must focus on leading people to a personal relationship with Christ and building a community of believers where the talents of each person are valued and where all go out to share the Gospel and serve the poor, Pope Francis said.

Seventy years have passed since cunning understudy Anne Baxter usurped glamorous star Bette Davis in “All About Eve.” Now, with “The White Tiger” (Netflix), comes a grittier, ethically unmoored take on ambition and deceit set in modern-day India.

In 2021 – 900 years after the first Norbertines made their first profession in the Valley of Prémontré – communities all over the world will be celebrating the inspiration of St Norbert, who started out as a frivolous and worldly cleric but was changed by God’s grace into a powerful preacher and an important reformer of the Church during the early 12th century.

Following, in alphabetical order, are capsule reviews of the Top 10 movies overall and eight of the best family films of 2020 as selected by the Media Review Office of Catholic News Service.

Catholic Health Australia and the Australian Catholic University have joined forced to host a major online forum to discuss how solidarity and cooperation are key to dealing with the challenges of COVID-19.

In the age of instant communications and fake news, journalists – like everyone else – need to recover the practice of going out and verifying information before they share it, Pope Francis said. By Cindy Wooden.