Christmas joy comes from knowing God loves and saves us, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Christmas approached, St. Peter’s Square was filled with balloons, singing and an incredible variety of Baby Jesus figurines — everything from plastic figures that would fit in a walnut shell to those that were larger-than-life sized. For Pope Francis, …
Retired priest: ‘It’s hard for us to go fishing’
William Cross’s mother wasn’t exactly thrilled when he converted to the Catholic faith. Back then, in 1964, he was a University of Cincinnati student on scholarship to study business administration. “She was very skeptical about my conversion,” he recalls. She was even more adamant, a little over a year later, …
World premiere of St. Maximilian Kolbe Composition at St. Max Parish
As Paul Stanbery was composing “I Maximilian…”a piece in honor of the 75th anniversary of the martyrdom of St. Maximilian Kolbe, he felt an eerie sensation that he was being led to the various elements he used in the tribute. The composition made its debut Oct. 29 on the anniversary …
A pilgrimage with Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
By Patricia McGeever A novena is a devotion consisting of nine days of prayer or service. A pilgrimage is a journey to a sacred place, also a religious devotion. Catholic author Marge Fenelon combines the two practices in her book, Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, A Living Novena, and takes …
Baby Jesus reminds us of painful plight of migrants, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Christmas tree and Nativity scene are symbols of God’s love and hope, reminding us to contemplate the beauty of creation and welcome the marginalized, Pope Francis said. Baby Jesus, whose parents could find no decent shelter and had to …
Second Pro-Life Bill sent to Governor Kasich
By Gail Deibler Finke A second law restricting abortion in Ohio is on Gov. John Kasich’s desk today. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Act would ban abortions after 20 weeks. Like the so-called “Heartbeat Bill,” which reached the governor Wednesday (See our story Here) this legislation passed one state house in the …
John Glenn, American ‘icon,’ astronaut, former U.S. senator, dies at 95
IMAGE: CNS photo/NASA handout via Reuters By COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNS) — Astronaut legend and decorated World War II pilot John H. Glenn, who served for 24 years in the U.S. Senate and inspired young people to pursue careers in sciences and engineering, died Dec. 8. He was 95. Born in …
In Jesuit publications, filmmaker Scorsese talks about his faith
IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano, handout By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — In two long interviews with Jesuit publications, director Martin Scorsese described his new film “Silence” as a major stage in his pilgrimage of faith, a pilgrimage that included flunking out of the minor seminary, investigating other religions and recognizing …
Glenmary priests and brothers visit Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati
By John Stegeman Glenmary Home Missioners Less than 24 hours after an attack on The Ohio State University campus by a self-identified Muslim, a group of priests and brothers from the Cincinnati-based Glenmary Home Missioners entered a mosque to learn more about Islam, the world’s second-largest faith behind Christianity. Though …
Catholics urged to witness faith in public arena as St. Thomas More did
IMAGE: CNS photo/Ashleigh Buyers, Catholic Herald By Michael F. Flach ARLINGTON, Va. (CNS) — Bishop Michael F. Burbidge said that during these unsettling times, Catholics must imitate the witness of St. Thomas More by bringing the joy of the Gospel to the public arena with conviction and love. “We do …