IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Holy Spirit gives Christians the courage and the strength needed to engage in a loving dialogue with God that is like the dialogue of a child with his or her father, Pope Francis said. "Do not forget …

Father Pivonka assumes top pastoral and leadership duties immediately STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—In a unanimous decision, the Board of Trustees of Franciscan University of Steubenville elected Father David Pivonka, TOR, as the school’s seventh president on May 21. He succeeds Father Sean O. Sheridan, TOR, who has served as president since 2013. …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Andres Martinez Casares, Reuters By David Agren TAPACHULA, Mexico (CNS) — Sister Bertha Lopez was buying 55-pound sacks of rice, when the cashier asked: "Where do they want the rice? For Guatemala or for whom?" Sister Bertha informed the cashier, "We’re buying it to feed our migrant brothers" …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Bob Roller By Jacob Comello WASHINGTON (CNS) — Upon hearing the word "mission," most Catholics visualize hospitals or schools run by nuns or other prelates in poor areas of the world, or small, tightknit parish communities in areas where Catholicism is still an alien or marginalized religion. But …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Any time money changes hands, there is a potential for financial misconduct, but the leaders of the Vatican’s Financial Information Authority said the Holy See has made enormous strides in reducing its risks. Rene Brulhart and Tommaso Di Ruzza, respectively …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy of Father Edwin Banos By Rhina Guidos WASHINGTON (CNS) — Thousands attended the May 20 funeral of a Salvadoran priest found by his parishioners in what some presume is a gang killing. Parishioners found Father Cecilio Perez Cruz, a 35-year-old priest and pastor of San Jose La …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis told the bishops of Italy that he was disappointed that so many of their dioceses had yet to implement the reforms he ordered to make the marriage annulment process quicker, more pastoral and less expensive. "I am …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Jaclyn Lippelmann, Catholic Standard By Julie Asher HYATTSVILLE, Md. (CNS) — Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory will have a lot of things on his plate when he becomes the newest leader of the influential archdiocese situated in the nation’s capital: the sexual abuse roiling the Catholic Church, the tense …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Mohamed Azakir, Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis condemned food waste, saying throwing away food is like throwing away people. "Waste reveals an indifference toward things and toward those who go without," he said May 18. "To throw food away means to throw people …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Lucy Nicholson, Reuters By WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic immigration advocates raised concerns about a proposal from President Donald Trump that would reshape U.S. immigration policy to incorporate a "merit-based" system that prioritizes high-skilled workers over those with family already in the country. Advocates’ concerns about the Trump plan, …