By Eileen Connelly, OSU The Catholic Telegraph  The recent election of Pope Francis was a joyful occasion for cradle Catholics worldwide, but it was also especially exciting for Londa Thomas, a young wife and mother who is new to Catholicism and will be welcomed into the church at Easter Vigil. …

By Patricia McGeever For The Catholic Telegraph  When the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus pulls into town as it did in March, 120 performers, 40 crew members, 60 souvenir and concessions salespeople, 93 animals and two nuns come with it. More precisely, two Missionary Sisters of the Sacred …

SPRINGFIELD — As part of the Year of Faith, the Springfield Deanery will host a Catholic Celebration of Faith April 11-14. The following events are scheduled: Thursday, April 11: John Angotti Concert, internationally known, Catholic recording artist, Special guest: Richard Carey; Catholic Central High School, 1200 E. High St., Springfield,  7:00 p.m. Friday, April …

Press Release The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati will join Christians throughout the world in celebrating Holy Week, the most sacred time of the Church year, beginning with Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) March 24. The culmination of that week is known as the Triduum — a period of roughly 72 …

By Carol Zimmermann Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A respected Italian journal said Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, a 76-year-old Jesuit, was the cardinal with the second-highest number of votes on each of the four ballots in the 2005 conclave. The journal, Limes, said its report …

By Francis X. Rocca Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Like the rest of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, including the 5,100 bishops and 412,000 priests, the pope exercises what the Catechism of the Catholic Church calls his “baptismal priesthood” by participating in “Christ’s mission as priest, prophet and …

Thousands of Catholics in our archdiocese will come to Mass on Easter Sunday. At least 40 percent of these good people haven’t been to church since Christmas. For their sake and for the sake of all of us who are so pleased to see them, I offer a few instructions …

One thing that both amuses and frightens me about Jesus is His table manners or, better and more honestly put, His table mates. In contrast to the ascetical practices of John the Baptist, Jesus is accused of being “a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners” …

In this Year of Faith, we can celebrate the way the liturgical year is divided. We have two regular seasons (Ordinary Time), two playoffs (Advent and Lent) and the championship games (Christmas and Easter). So while the nation is to be enthralled in March Madness, we are in the teeth …

Question of Faith is a Q&A column by Father Earl Fernandes A reader asks: “I would like to find out how I can get back to good graces in the church and receive Communion. I have been divorced twice. The first marriage was in the church and ended in divorce. …