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Catholic News Agency
Over 400 men in U.S. to be ordained in 2025; most felt called to priesthood by age 16

By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 17, 2025 / 14:03 pm More than 400 men will be ordained to the priesthood in the U.S. this year, and on average they began to consider becoming a priest at just 16 years old, according to an annual CARA survey. The Center for Applied …
Holy Week plays in the Philippines depict passion of Jesus Christ: Faith on the streets

By Valerie Joy Escalona Manila, Philippines, Apr 18, 2025 / 08:00 am Every Holy Week, streets across the Philippines transform into open-air stages for one of the country’s most unique and deeply rooted Catholic traditions: the “Senákulo,” a dramatic reenactment of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This age-old …
Here’s how to pray the official novena to soon-to-be saint Carlo Acutis

By Francesca Pollio Fenton CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2025 / 14:34 pm Blessed Carlo Acutis, the gaming teenager who had a deep love for Christ in the Eucharist, is about to become the Catholic Church’s first millennial saint. Acutis will be canonized during the Church’s Jubilee for Teenagers on April 27 …
Catholic students pray, assist others amid mass shooting at Florida State University

By Daniel Payne CNA Staff, Apr 17, 2025 / 15:31 pm Catholic students at Florida State University have been praying and assisting their fellow Seminoles amid a deadly mass shooting at the campus on Thursday, a ministry leader there told CNA. As of early Thursday evening two people had died and …
What are the Good Friday Reproaches?

By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Mar 29, 2024 / 08:00 am The Good Friday liturgy commemorates the apex of Christ’s passion with a remembrance of his crucifixion and death at Calvary. The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as the “Improperia” or “Popule Meus” (“My people”), coming …
Ecumenical expert: ‘No theological reasons to celebrate Easter on different dates’

By Victoria Cardiel Vatican City, Apr 16, 2025 / 15:27 pm Father Frans Bouwen, a missionary with the African Missionary Society — better known as the White Fathers for the color of their habit — and one of the most renowned Catholic voices in ecumenical dialogue, holds that “there are no …
Initiative aims to boost Catholic priest vocations by shifting narrative on the priesthood

By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Apr 16, 2025 / 07:00 am A new initiative is trying to shift the narrative on the Catholic priesthood by shining light on stories of heroic virtue, courage, and selfless acts from modern-day priests and bishops in an effort to strengthen the appeal of …
Divine Mercy novena begins on Good Friday

By CNA Staff Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 29, 2024 / 04:00 am Pope Francis has called God’s mercy “an abyss beyond our comprehension.” “God’s mercy can make even the driest land become a garden, can restore life to dry bones (Ez 37:1-14),” he said in his very first Easter “urbi et …
Record number of adult baptisms in France shows surge among youth

By AC Wimmer CNA Newsroom, Apr 12, 2025 / 11:30 am France’s Catholic Church will welcome more than 10,384 adult catechumens at Easter this year, marking a 45% increase from 2024 figures, according to data released by the French Bishops’ Conference. The French report reveals the highest numbers ever recorded since the survey …
Surge in adults entering Church in England this Easter prompted by internet, tradition

By Heather Tomlinson London, England, Apr 14, 2025 / 06:00 am This Easter Vigil, the Catholic Church in England is expecting a decade-high surge of new entrants to the faith. There is anecdotal evidence of a particular increase in young men, who say their interest was sparked initially by Catholic apologists …