By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — The Lenten journey of conversion requires Christians to rediscover the “deepest truth” about themselves, cast off their masks and take on the courage to live truth, a prominent Carmelite priest told the pope and Vatican officials. In the first days of …

By Doreen Abi Raad Catholic News Service BEIRUT — The Middle East is suffering a “Way of the Cross” that is the greatest tragedy since World War II, Melkite Catholic Patriarch Gregoire III Laham said in a Lenten message about suffering. He said the church, despite its efforts, is having …

Catholic Rural Life of St. Marys and Sidney deaneries is encouraging Catholic farming families in those deaneries to apply for enrollment in the Catholic Century Farms Registry.   Active Catholic families who have farmed and nurtured the same land for 100 years or more are eligible for this distinction. Deadline …

By Mary Bertolini For The Catholic Telegraph  Why would an extremely busy bishop come to the United States just to help a small community celebrate a feast day? When people flee their country, Guatemalan Bishop Alvaro Ramazzini explained recently during a visit to Cincinnati, they take only a bag of …

By Catholic News Service CINCINNATI — Dr. John “Jack” Willke, an obstetrician and a former president of the National Right to Life Committee who is credited with helping shape the pro-life movement, died Feb. 20 at his home in Cincinnati. He was 89. A funeral Mass was to be celebrated …

By Laura Ieraci Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY — A 10th-century Armenian monk has been named among the doctors of the church. Pope Francis approved the designation for St. Gregory of Narek during a meeting Feb. 21 with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. The church …

USCCB WASHINGTON—In the wake of the brutal murders of twenty one Coptic Christians at the hands of the Islamic State (ISIS) in Libya, increased support to protect religious minorities and civilians should be combined with adequate humanitarian assistance and other assets, said the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic …

  By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY  — The head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church invited Pope Francis to visit the war-torn nation, saying it would help bring peace. “It would be a prophetic gesture that would show the power of prayer and Christian solidarity, give us courage …

By Colleen Rowan Catholic News Service BOOMER, W.Va. — As the cleanup of a major train derailment in West Virginia continued, Bishop Michael J. Bransfield of Wheeling-Charleston called for prayers for residents who were evacuated and remained without drinking water. “As the people of this region face yet another water …

By Sarah Anne Carter For The Catholic Telegraph  Renovations made it possible for one 175-year-old church to show the community its building in a close to original state during a recent anniversary celebration. A mural of St. Joseph and Jesus had been hidden behind a drop ceiling at St. Joseph …