As a young seminarian serving at St. Agnes of Bohemia parish in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, I came to appreciate many customs and traditions that I had never heard of as the son of an Irish immigrant. One of these customs was la mordida or “the bite.” This custom is …

By Kate Quiñones CNA Staff, Oct 20, 2025 / 06:00 am As a competitive figure skater growing up, Rachael Popcak Isaac experienced firsthand the pressure that comes with competitive sports. Now as a devout Catholic and a professional counselor she has launched a new program for athletes inspired by St. John …

Little is known about the Blessed Virgin Mary’s parents. Neither Joachim nor his wife, Anne, is mentioned in the Scriptures. They are, however, referenced in extra- Biblical sources like the Protoevangelium of James, a non- canonical text of unknown authorship that originated in the second century. This text is not …

By Francesca Pollio Fenton , Courtney Mares Vatican City, Oct 18, 2025 / 06:00 am Pope Leo XIV canonized seven new saints on Sunday including an Italian lawyer who renounced Satanism and became “an apostle of the rosary,” a martyred Armenian archbishop, and a Venezuelan considered the “doctor of the poor.” The canonizations, …

Dayton, OH — The Council for American Private Education (CAPE) announced today that Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School (CJ) is Ohio’s only private school to receive the 2025 CAPE Blue Ribbon School Award, formally the 2025 National Blue Ribbon School Award, having met the U.S. Department of Education’s criteria for …

by Mary Farrow Denver, Colo., Oct 30, 2021 / 15:00 pm For years, Cecilia Cunningham and her husband took their children trick-or-treating in their then-suburban Philadelphia neighborhood. “It was the kind of neighborhood outside of Philadelphia where everybody knew each other, and it was a really fun neighborhood thing,” Cunningham …

by Laura Curran Janet and Rob (not their real names) entered our doors in a state of complete shock, having learned only hours ago that their 16-year-old daughter was pregnant. Angry, disappointed, and overwhelmed, they were grieving the loss of the idyllic future they had envisioned for their daughter. Every …

Note: This article is part of an ongoing series on Pope St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body.” For some time now, we have been walking through Pope John Paul II’s meditations known as Theology of the Body (TOB). Before going on with our reflections, it might be helpful …

As Catholics, we all have a sense that it would be a very good thing for youth to practice chastity at least as often as they practice choreographed TikTok dances. But how do we talk to them about it in a compelling way? Well, as a Chastity Educator, finding an …

In the heart of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, God is writing a beautiful story of hope, faith, and love through the ministry of Mater Filius Queen City. Rooted in the timeless truth that every life is precious, this apostolate provides a safe and nurturing home for brave pregnant women who …