Year of eating cactus fruit: Drought causes extreme hunger in Madagascar
IMAGE: CNS photo/Shiraaz Mohamed, EPA By Bronwen Dachs CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) — Hunger levels are so severe in drought-ridden southern Madagascar that many people in remote villages have eaten almost nothing but cactus fruit for up to four years, said a Catholic Relief Services official. Eating this fruit …
Fr. David Endres – Question of Faith – December 2016

My mother is in her mid-80s and would like to know if viewing Mass on television fulfills her obligation to attend weekend Mass. Getting to church is not easy for her, but she drives herself to the grocery and to get her hair done. She also has children that would …
Sulpicians mark 225 years of training men to be priests
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Will Kirk By Christopher Gunty BALTIMORE (CNS) — In October 1791, five men began studies for the priesthood at the first seminary in the United States, just a couple years after the Diocese of Baltimore was established as the first in the country in 1789. At the …
For Cuban exiles, painful memories mix with relief at Castro’s death
IMAGE: CNS photo/Tom Tracy By Ana Rodriguez-Soto MIAMI (CNS) — While many celebrated loudly on the streets, the death of Fidel Castro triggered a more subdued reaction among the Cuban exiles who attended the noon Mass Nov. 26 at the National Shrine of Our Lady Charity. “Today is a day …
Grace, not money, must guide financial choices of religious, pope says
By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Just as “the habit does not make the monk,” taking a vow of poverty does not automatically mean a consecrated person lives with a detachment from material things and in solidarity with the poor, Pope Francis said. In fact, “the hypocrisy of consecrated …
As Vatican Christmas tree goes up, pope’s Christmas schedule released
IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As a towering spruce tree was erected in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican released Pope Francis’ liturgy schedule for Advent, Christmas and the month of January. The 82-feet-tall Christmas tree arrived in the square Nov. 24. According to the papal calendar released by …
45 OHIO SCHOOLS AND 460 TEACHERS RECEIVE GOVERNOR’S THOMAS EDISON AWARDS

The Ohio Academy of Science today selected 45 Ohio schools and 460 teachers to receive Governor’s Thomas Edison Awards for Excellence in STEM Education for their accomplishments during the 2015-2016 school year. Each school will receive a special Governor’s Award certificate, and each teacher will receive a complementary membership to …
Pope asks scientists to find solutions, declare rules to save planet
IMAGE: CNS/L’Osservatore Romano By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Humanity does not own God’s gift of creation and has no right to pillage it, Pope Francis said. “We are not custodians of a museum and its masterpieces that we have to dust off every morning, but rather collaborators in …
CEMETERY MAGAZINE HONORS GATE OF HEAVEN

Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, a ministry of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, was one of three runners-up for the annual ACE (American Cemetery Excellence) award from American Cemetery & Cremation magazine. “This year’s three runners-up stood out not only for their performance, professionalism and innovation,” the magazine wrote, “but …
Fair Trade Sale offers global shopping close to home

Gift-giving will bless both family and friends, as well as families around the world, for shoppers at the annual Fair Trade Sale Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the University of Dayton’s River Campus, 1700 S. Patterson Blvd., across from the Carillon Historic Park in Dayton. Beautiful …