Tornado devastates northern St. Louis, other Midwest communities
By Jonah McKeown St. Louis, Mo., May 19, 2025 / 16:07 pm A mile-wide tornado tore through the northern part of St. Louis on Friday, causing over $1.6 billion in damage and leaving at least five people dead, including a woman who was killed when the steeple of a Christian church …
Pope Leo XIV appeals for end to hostilities in Gaza in first general audience
By Hannah Brockhaus , Kristina Millare Vatican City, May 21, 2025 / 08:05 am Pope Leo XIV in the first general audience of his pontificate on Wednesday appealed for an end to hostilities in Gaza and for the entrance of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. Speaking before tens of thousands of attendees …
McNicholas High School Names New President: Robert Noll, III
May 20, 2025 The following is a letter from McNicholas Board of Limited Jurisdiction Chair, Rick Oberschmidt. Dear Members and Friends of the McNicholas Community, It is with great joy and gratitude to God, on behalf of the Board of Limited Jurisdiction and the Presidential Search Committee, to welcome Mr. Robert Noll, III …
Leo XIV names Cardinal Reina chancellor of John Paul II marriage and family institute in Rome
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, May 20, 2025 / 10:43 am Pope Leo XIV, in one of his first personnel appointments, on Monday named Cardinal Baldassare Reina grand chancellor of the Pontifical Theological Institute John Paul II for Marriage and the Family, replacing Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who turned 80 on April …
Chicago to celebrate election of Pope Leo XIV with Mass at White Sox stadium
By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, May 19, 2025 / 15:04 pm The Archdiocese of Chicago will host a celebration at Rate Field, the home of the Chicago White Sox, on June 14 to honor Pope Leo XIV, according to a statement released by the archdiocese. The public is invited to attend the …
My Plan and God’s Plan
One of the things Pope Francis has said that I have always appreciated is, “God has a sense of humor.” That has certainly been evident throughout my life. There has often been my plan and God’s plan … with the latter always prevailing! I grew up the fourth of six …
50 Years a Priest
Early Years Dennis Marian Schnurr was born in Sheldon, IA, on June 21, 1948 and grew up in Hospers, IA. He studied for the priesthood at the North American College and the Gregorian University, both in Rome, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City on July …
Patriarch Pizzaballa: ‘We cannot afford the luxury of giving up’
Joining his appeal for peace with the Pope’s, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, calls on the Christian community to “do everything possible to bring help” to those suffering in Gaza. By Kielce Gussie Peace was once again the word of the day on Sunday, May 18. Cardinal …
Pope Leo XIV meets U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio
By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, May 19, 2025 / 06:52 am Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the papal library on Monday morning. Details of the meeting were not released, but the Americans later spoke with …
Saint Celestine V, Pope, a unique papal election
Celestine is a saint who will always be remembered for the unique manner in which he was elected Pope, for his spectacular incompetence in that office, and for the distinction of being the first pontiff ever to have resigned. Pietro di Murrone was born in born 1215 in the Neapolitan province …
