Welcome to the CNS news report for Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016
By VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A jubilee year that does not open people’s wallets to share what they have with others is not a true jubilee, Pope Francis said. “This pope isn’t inventing that,” he insisted. “It’s in the Bible.” At his weekly general audience Feb. 10 in St. Peter’s …
St. Cecilia School in Oakley sees 22 students baptized

A few years ago, according to St. Cecilia Principal Mike Goedde, the Catholic population of his school was roughly 30 percent. That percentage is now 51 percent Catholic. While growing enrollment and changing demographics have played a role, the school and parish have made an intentional effort to be more …
Throwback Thursday: New computers, same mission

Catholic Schools Week has been around since 1974, one year before Apple Inc. started donating Apple 1 computers to schools. Over the years that followed, Catholic schools were often among the leaders in integrating technology in the classroom. By the new millennium, Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati had …
An adventure in citizenship begins for 2016

When you write it down, you put yourself in the game. So says a writing coach who specializes in getting people past writer’s block. We have embarked on one of the great American adventures in citizenship — a presidential election year. As I write this, the Iowa Caucuses are a …
Carolina Panthers linebacker says faith impacts his outlook on life

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers, the team going up against the Denver Broncos in the Feb. 7 Super Bowl, credits his parents and his Catholic faith for making a positive impact on his NFL career and his outlook on life. “I went to a Catholic …
Makeup of mission dioceses reflects U.S. church’s changing demographics
IMAGE: CNS photo/Chaz Muth By Chaz Muth BOISE, Idaho (CNS) — In the 1980s, a wave of migrants from Mexico and other Latin American countries began to settle in Idaho. The agricultural industry made the state a prime location for these immigrants, who could work on the farms and ranches, …
Priests say Mexican prisons have improved, but still have problems
IMAGE: Catholic News Service By David Agren CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico (CNS) — When Father Alberto Melendez began ministering at the prison in this once-violent border city nine years ago, rival gangs ran criminal operations from behind bars. Riots broke out regularly; a 2009 tragedy claimed 20 lives. “There was no …
Pope asks Mexican people for time alone with Our Lady of Guadalupe
IMAGE: CNS photo/David Maung By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a video message one week before his apostolic visit, Pope Francis asked the people of Mexico for some time alone during his visit to pray before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. “I would like to …
Catholic Schools Week Central: 2016

Catholic Schools Week 2016, like the many that came before, is a chance to recognize the hard work of Catholic educators, students and parents who make a difference in education. The CT is highlighting Catholic-school related stories all week long and compiling links here at Catholic Schools Week Central. Catholic Schools …
Catholic Schools Week Mass Dayton and Northern Region [Photos]

Students and staff from the Dayton area and northern parts of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati gathered Feb. 3 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Kettering for the annual Catholic Schools Week Masss. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Binzer was the celebrant. A Catholic Schools Week Mass for the Cincinnati area was celebrated …