The Fire On May 29, 2025, a fire ravaged St. John the Baptist Church in Maria Stein, OH. Exactly one year later, the space where the Church sat for more than a century lies empty. Dozens of community members gathered on the property in prayer, led by their pastor, …

By Teresa Phillips The Saintly Seven: Black Catholics on the Path to Sainthood Last month, we introduced the Saintly Seven—the seven current African American candidates for canonization. In April 2026, the Archdiocesan Anti-Racism Task Force hosted the first of eight monthly events that will highlight one of those seven candidates. …

In his book The Purpose-Driven Life, Rick Warren shares this thought: “True humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; it’s thinking of yourself less.” In my late teens and early 20s, I was not the person God was calling me to be. If I could go back in time and give …

By Ishmael Adibuah·Vatican Bureau Papal encyclicals are a powerful way the pope shapes global debates and articulates Church doctrine, but how should Catholics understand them? With the announcement of Pope Leo XIVʼs first papal encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas: “On the Protection of Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” there is much …

By Esperanza Gallon As we continue learning about the Saintly Seven, we are enlightened and encouraged by their examples. Venerable Augustus Tolton’s extraordinary life gives hope to the faithful amid serious societal trials. Fr. Tolton’s life is a “rags-to-riches” story, albeit not in the classic way. While born into slavery …

In 1891, Pope Leo XIII issued a groundbreaking encyclical letter called Rerum Novarum—the “New Things.” In that letter, Pope Leo applied 1900 years of the development of Catholic theology to the moral, social, economic, and political crises and challenges caused by the industrial revolution of the nineteenth century. Thus did …

By Michelle Wirth Smith Each May, as the Church celebrates graduations, ordinations, and new beginnings, we’re reminded that growth often starts in quiet, unseen ways. The Story of the Hickey Family In the late 19th century, five brothers became priests: William (1880), Edward (1883), Charles (1886), John (1887), and George …

Listen to Archbishop Casey give his homily to at the 2026 priest ordination:   Today we are pleased to ordain nine men to serve as priests of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Through the sacrament of Holy Orders, these men will become diocesan priests, serving the people of the various communities …

By Jonah McKeown Pope Leo XIII was known for his engagement with the profound social changes of the industrial revolution, especially through his 1891 encyclical, Rerum Novarum. His successor Pope Leo XIV chose his papal name, in part, because of his desire to address what he has called the next “industrial revolution” …

“Relying on the help of the Lord God and of our Savior Jesus Christ, we choose these men, our brothers, for the Order of the Priesthood.” These words rang out through the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter in Chains in Cincinnati this morning as nine men stood side by side …