A picture says a thousand words: Welcome!

Meet Samuel & his family of 12. They’re Congolese but have been living in a refugee camp since 2004. After a 24-hour flight, they arrived safely to Cincinnati today and enjoyed a hot meal of familiar food at Catholic Charities before heading to their new home. Thanks to the more …
Vatican updates guidelines for educating priests
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Catholic Church needs holy, healthy and humble priests and that requires prayers for vocations and the careful selection and training of candidates, said the Congregation for Clergy. Updating 1985 guidelines for preparing men for the Latin-rite priesthood and ensuring …
Pilgrims on horseback pay homage to Mary at Illinois Guadalupe shrine
IMAGE: CNS photo/Karen Callaway, Catholic New World By Joyce Duriga DES PLAINES, Ill. (CNS) — With thick, wet snow falling down and live mariachi music to greet them, around 400 riders on horseback rode up to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Des Plaines Dec. 4 to pay …
Amid the darkness, hold fast to light of hope, pope says
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christian hope is not the same as being optimistic about the future, but is knowing that whatever dark or frightening things are going on in one’s life, God is there offering protection and light, Pope Francis said. Holding his general …
Pro-Life “Heartbeat Bill” Goes to Governor in Late-Night, Lame Duck House Session

By Gail Finke Ohio’s so-called Heartbeat Bill, which would ban abortion after a baby’s heartbeat can be detected, was passed by both state Houses on Tuesday and is now on Gov. John Kasich’s desk. Crafted with the help of many Catholic attorneys and pro-life advocates, including the late Dr. Jack …
Annual Mass honors religious jubilarians

Sisters, brothers and priests from religious communities throughout the archdiocese who are celebrating jubilees in 2016 came together for an annual Mass in their honor at Mount Notre Dame in Cincinnati Oct. 15. Celebrated by Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr, the Mass recognized the faith of the women and men religious …
Annual collection for retired religious held this month

The 29th annual Retirement Fund for Religious collection will be held Dec. 10-11 in most U.S. parishes Coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO, it benefits nearly 33,000 elderly Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests whose communities lack adequate retirement funding. The appeal raised $30.7 million in 2015, …
Panel: Genocide, wars, indifference will make Mideast Christians extinct
IMAGE: EPA By Beth Griffin NEW YORK (CNS) — Christians in the Middle East face extinction because of genocide, wars and international indifference to their plight, according to panelists at a Dec. 5 interfaith forum in New York. A concerted multilateral effort to establish a safe haven for them while …
Vatican commission launches child protection website
IMAGE: CNS By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has launched a beta version of its website in English and has included its template for local guidelines on preventing sexual abuse, resources for a day of prayer for the victims and survivors as well …
A picture says a thousand words: Badin Canned Food Drive

Badin High School students recently helped load the truck with more than 6,500 canned goods headed for St. Raphael’s food bank for the holiday season. Badin averaged more than 10 cans per student, with the sophomores leading the way with 2,048 canned goods donated. Assisting with the load effort were, …