By Daniel Payne Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Aug 31, 2023 / 11:55 am Pope Francis this week confirmed the appointment of a Pittsburgh priest as the bishop of a Byzantine Catholic eparchy serving several midwestern U.S. states, the Vatican announced Thursday. In its regular update of resignations and appointments, the Holy See …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — “Joy” is not a word people usually associate with strict fasting and penance — unless they are Eastern-rite Catholics. In the Eastern church, the penitential period that prepares believers to celebrate Easter, is called “Great Lent,” and its prayers invite the …