To view more press releases, please visit http://ir.wintrust.com/news.aspx?iid=1024452.

To view more press releases, please visit http://ir.wintrust.com/news.aspx?iid=1024452.

To view more press releases, please visit http://ir.wintrust.com/news.aspx?iid=1024452.

Fin24 took to the streets of Cape Town and Johannesburg asking people to share their views on Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speech.

While there's a chance for SA to be downgraded to non-investment grade in November, rating firms may wait for the outcome of the ANC elective conference, says economist Kim Silberman.

With Ramaphosa sworn in as president, the SA public will be watching closely to see if, and when, he reshuffles Jacob Zuma's last Cabinet.

Budget 2018 initiatives to stimulate industrialisation in various sectors of the economy is a welcome issue, says Zweli Mkhize, former ANC treasurer general.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni is delivering his mini budget, just days after being appointed to the post. What his speech live.

By Bishop Arthur Serratelli

A few years ago, Paul Croituru and his young son went out treasure hunting near their native village in Romania. To their surprise, they discovered ancient Greek currency dating back 2,350 years to the time of King Philip II. The 300 silver coins turned out to be counterfeit. The father and son now hold the distinction of having discovered the oldest counterfeit money known thus far.

Counterfeit money has been around as long as money has been around. In fact, some have named the production of counterfeit money “the world's second oldest profession.” During war time, nations often resort to counterfeit money to inflict harm on their enemies. During the Revolutionary War, Great Britain attempted to devalue the continental dollar by flooding the market with shovers (fake dollars). During World War II, the Nazis made prisoners in their camps forge British pounds and American dollars to destabilize their enemies’ economies and destroy them.

Satan constantly attempts to entice individuals into counterfeit religion where the forged currency is believing in God while denying sin. The devil would have everyone forget that sin is a reality. In this way, he can render ineffective in us the work of Christ who came to take away our sins. Failure. Weakness. Mistakes. Psychological pressures. Social customs. All these labels the devil uses to disguise sin. But, sin itself remains a fact.

Science always prides itself on beginning every research project with a fact. True religion, likewise, begins with the fact of sin in the world, original sin and personal sin. “The ancient masters of religion…began with the fact of sin. Whether or not man could be washed in miraculous waters, there was no doubt at any rate that he wanted washing. But certain religious leaders…have begun…to deny the indisputable dirt. Certain new theologians dispute original sin, which is the only part of Christian theology which can really be proved” (G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy). And so can the personal sins of hatred, envy, lust, pride, gluttony and greed likewise be proven.

Even a casual glance at Sacred Scriptures shows that sin taints even God’s greatest heroes and heroines. Adam and Eve lead the procession of sinners. Drunken Noah, untruthful Abraham, adulterous David and Bathsheba, disloyal Peter, and murderous Paul follow. Sin really is not that original. It is the monotonous repetition of the tragedy of Eden: choosing self over God. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jn 1:8).

In the Sacrament of Penance, the Church offers us the gift of a personal encounter with our merciful Lord who forgives our sins. However, many people, and sometimes even faithful Catholics, say that they do not need to go to a priest for confession to have their sins forgiven. Why confess to a priest who is a sinner himself? God will forgive sins without the ministry of priests. Certainly, God can forgive sins when we turn to him and repent. But, he has chosen to offer us his forgiveness through the ministry of the Church. And, for a reason.

Sin is not just between the individual and God. Every sin that we commit offends God and affects others. Every sin harms Christ’s Body, the Church. The act of confession before a priest recognizes the true nature of sin as an offense against God and others. And so, it is through the Church’s priests that God chooses not simply to forgive our sins but to reconcile us to the Church. (cf. Pope Francis, General Audience, November 20, 2013).

So important is confession that some of the holiest priests of the Church have spent hours in the confessional as missionaries of God’s mercy. St. Philip Neri, a busy parish priest in Rome, spent every morning hearing confessions before continuing his work with youth in the afternoon. So famous was St. Jean Vianney in hearing confessions that a new train station had to be built in his town of Ars so that people from all of France could go there to confess to this holy priest. Most recently, St. Padre Pio heard confessions for not less than 18 hours a day. There were always long lines awaiting him.  

During his public ministry, Jesus forgave sins (cf. Mk 2:5; Lk 7:48; Jn 8:1-11). And, then after the Resurrection, he entrusted this ministry of forgiveness to his priests. On Easter Sunday night, “Jesus said to them ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained’” (Jn 20:21-23). In confession, the priest, weak and sinful himself, acts in the name of Jesus and with his authority.  

In going to confession, we approach the priest, one by one, not as group, not as family. We humbly place before him all our own sins. To receive absolution and be forgiven, it is necessary not simply to confess all mortal sins, but also to have a firm purpose of amendment of sinning no more. As difficult as this might be at times, how great the grace! For, when the priest absolves us, we have, as Jesus promised, the certainty that our sins are forgiven. 

After a fire devastates a Bangladesh slum, the OM team distributes food, cooking items, plastic tarps and hope to hurting families.

The fifth daughter of a poor family, one girl thought she would never get an education. But thanks to OM’s new school, she has hope.

Two adults were significantly impacted by learning to read and write in recent adult literacy classes run by OM in Bangladesh.

There is a saying in the property world: find the deal and the money will come, says property investment expert and property wealth coach Andrew Walker.

With 1.6 million customers and 850 000 active accounts and counting, TymeBank's growth in the first year of its launch surpassed its own projections. But can the bank maintain this momentum as the novelty of trying new things wears off for digitally savvy early adopters?

Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) Director Anas Ben Addi today announced that DSHA was awarded $91,722 from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for comprehensive housing counseling services to be performed by three sub-grantees – First State Community Action Agency, NCALL Research, Inc., and YWCA Center for Homeownership. This is the first time DSHA has received funding as an intermediary for comprehensive counseling services from HUD.

DSHA has partnered with the Department of Education (DOE) to offer reduced interest rates on mortgages for teachers in the Delaware Talent Cooperative, a group of high performing educators who have committed to work in schools with a significant proportion of disadvantaged students

The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) has been honored by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada for outstanding financial reporting. DSHA’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report earned a Certificate of Achievement for the twentieth consecutive year.

Downtown revitalization efforts in Wilmington, Dover and Seaford continue to gain momentum, with new projects in all three counties slated to receive funding from Delaware’s Downtown Development Districts program.

$4.5 million in grant funding for 11 projects will leverage $130 million in private investment DOVER, DE — Building on progress in Delaware’s downtowns, Governor Jack Markell and the Delaware State Housing Authority announced on Monday that 11 new downtown revitalization projects in Wilmington, Dover and Seaford will receive $4.5 million in grant funding through […]

Governor Markell announced on Friday that Delaware has effectively ended veteran homelessness, receiving certification last month from the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

$3.6 million in grant funding for 16 projects to leverage $38.6 million in private investment MILFORD – Building on progress in Delaware’s downtowns, Governor Jack Markell and the Delaware State Housing Authority announced on Tuesday that sixteen new downtown revitalization projects in Harrington, Milford, Dover, Smyrna and Wilmington will receive $3.56 million in grant funding […]

DOVER — Nonprofit organizations wanting to develop permanent supportive housing for the homeless or persons with disabilities can now apply for $1 million in federal funding through the Delaware State Housing Authority, DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi announced today. The projects, which may include new construction or rehabilitation, should serve people who are homeless; who […]

DOVER — Two Delaware families are becoming homeowners in central Dover with the purchase of single-family homes constructed by NCALL as part of the Restoring Central Dover initiative. NCALL, the Delaware State Housing Authority, elected officials and other partners and supporters celebrated the project today, part of a multi-pronged approach to homeownership and economic development […]

Disguised in different roles–from rebellious teenagers to homeless people to prostitutes and pimps–community members responsible for the onshore segment of The Agency experience act out the types of least reached people in society.

Ziqi Yin, who will graduate Saturday, May 9 with a degree in marketing and a minor in digital media trends and analytics, has been selected as Smeal’s spring 2020 marketing student marshal.

Each year the Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity presents awards to Penn State students, staff, and faculty who are interested in and have shown a commitment to the Penn State LGBTQ+ community.

Throughout the pandemic Penn State has been active in offering support and advice to all of its students, including those who normally reside off campus.

Penn State University Police and Public Safety  Deputy Chief Tom Sowerby was recently appointed as the commander of a new University-wide Criminal Investigation Unit, to better serve 22 Penn State campuses where University Police and Public Safety provides police services.

University Police and Public Safety Deputy Chief Stephanie Delaney has been appointed as the district commander at the University Park campus, according to UPPS Assistant Vice President Charlie Noffsinger.

Roombas, Echo and Ring Alarm devices, and the Apple Watch Series 5 are all still discounted. There's also a great Nintendo Switch deal that includes $20 in Nintendo eShop credit.

Belkin's smart plug lets you use your smartphone to turn your devices on and off from anywhere, but Bitdefender found some holes in its security. Don't worry, Belkin has fixed the problem.

Starting at $249, Samsung's Galaxy Watch Active 2 offers optional LTE connectivity, enhanced fitness features, and a fashion-forward design for wrists big and small.

Three students received scholarships in industrial and mechanical engineering from the Material Handling Education Foundation for the 2020-21 academic year.

Michael Hillman, L. Robert and Mary L. Kimball Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Penn State, received a NSF CAREER Award to develop new computational methods to simulate fracture.

For Immediate Release                                                                                     Contact: Joseph Smack Wednesday, August 14, 2019                                                                    (302) 633-2501 or 893-8930 (m) Joseph.smack@delaware.gov   Delaware Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services Honored with Two National Awards  Stevenson House Detention Center recognized for reducing confinement & Ferris School best group performance in Kids Got Talent contest  Wilmington – The […]

The 26 pound drone and its cargo fell to the ground after somehow managing to sever its own parachute rope. It landed 150 feet away from a group of children.

The trial, which will be open to residents of Christiansburg, Virginia, offers a glimpse into what kinds of services we can expect from Wing's drone-powered delivery system.

The 63-year-old was found living in a remote cave on the side of a steep cliff.

A Japanese drone startup said on Tuesday it was partnering with Unilever, the owner of Ben & Jerry's, to explore developing an ice cream drone-delivery service in New York.

Penn State Scranton recently donated personal protective equipment (PPE) to two local hospitals, Geisinger Community Medical Center and Commonwealth Health Moses Taylor Hospital, to help them during the growing coronavirus pandemic.

For Penn State Scranton students, the first couple of weeks of remote learning have proven to be a big adjustment — academically and socially. Several campus students shared their initial thoughts regarding the virtual learning experience and being away from the physical campus.

Graduating members of Penn State Scranton’s Lambda Pi Eta Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter received their honor cords recently during a virtual celebration. Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society of the National Communication Association and currently, the only academic honor society at Penn State Scranton.

Team members of AIDSLink Brazil conduct workshops on HIV and AIDS in Zambia.

For OM Brazil, the year started with 10 great reasons to be encouraged and motivated: the arrival of 10 new workers.

The Department of Education has denied 99 percent of applications for public service loan forgiveness under a temporary expanded program funded by Congress, a report finds.

The majority of pediatric hospitalization costs are associated with the room; improvement projects that address room costs could have the most financial impact.

Absa has relinquished the unenviable position as the country’s most expensive bank in Finweek’s annual bank charges study.

Defender Sergio Ramos reckons Bilbao will be party central at UEFA EURO 2020.

On Wednesday, I'll be publishing the 2020 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, so I want to take a few moments today to explain the purpose of those rankings.