My Dear Friends in Christ, On November 19, the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, Pope Francis is instituting a new tradition for our Church: a World Day of the Poor.  In his inaugural message for this occasion, the Holy Father announced, “This new World Day should become a powerful appeal …

Q: The Catechism defines hell as “eternal separation from God” (1035). However, it says that at the last judgment “before [Jesus] will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another. . .  And [some] will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” …

A gathering focused on the spirit of encounter and dialogue took place Sept. 9 (the feasts of St. Peter Claver and Blessed Frederic Ozanam) at the Athenaeum of Ohio. “Together in Christ: Saying ‘Yes’ to Missionary Discipleship” brought together immigrants, the formerly incarcerated, women who have faced crisis pregnancies, victims …

The (four) Petersburg Parishes participated in the Wapakoneta Halloween Parade on October 19. The theme for their float was “Jesus Christ: Making Saints Out of Every Day Sinners.” The four Petersburg Parishes are Immaculate Conception Botkins, St. John Fryburg, St. Joseph Wapakoneta, and St. Lawrence Rhine.

During the week of October 30th through November 2nd, more photos of the Pilgrimage to Lourdes and Fatima will be posted. For the story Fatima and Abroad, click here

The archdiocese is blessed to have a number of women and men currently in various stages of formation with area religious communities. Meet some of them here:   Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati First Professed Sister Tracy Kemme: (Home parish:  St. John Neumann) In her third year of temporary profession …

New building needed to house growing numbers of future priests Groundbreaking Nov. 2 at 88-year-old Mt. Washington campus By Colleen Kammer (from our print edition) Groundbreaking ceremonies for a major expansion of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West will take place Nov. 2 at the Mount Washington institution as …

The following testimonies are excerpted from “Tracing Your Catholic Roots” second edition, published in 1990 and 2007 by the Office of African-American Catholic Ministries for National Black Catholic History Month.  A shorter version appeared in our print edition. In the seminary when boys live together, sleep, work, play and pray …

Retired priest Rob Waller, an avid flag enthusiast, designed a flag for retired priests living in West Milton. Featured in our print edition, the flag combines symbols of the priesthood with traditional flag design. Here is more about the project from Father Waller: Melchizedek Village, named after the first priest …