U.S. bishops urge Congress to stop funding abortion and ‘gender transition’ services
By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 31, 2025 / 08:00 am The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) recently sent a letter to federal senators and representatives urging them to defund Planned Parenthood and stop taxpayer money from funding services such as abortions and transgender procedures that “gravely violate human dignity.” Winona-Rochester, …
Pope Francis approves decree to advance sainthood causes of 5 people
By Kristina Millare Vatican City, Mar 31, 2025 / 13:17 pm Pope Francis has advanced five people’s paths to sainthood after approving decrees promulgated by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints on March 28. Blessed Peter To Rot of Papua New Guinea, Blessed Ignatius Shoukrallah Maloyan of Turkey, and …
Pope Francis Prayer Intentions for April 2025
For the use of the new technologies Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.
The Virtue of Noise-Fasting
In the summer of 2017, I attended a 10-day silent retreat—the first of many, with the longest spanning 33 days. This first retreat introduced me to the unmitigated power of God that comes to us in silence. Vivid dreams filled those ten nights, and long-forgotten memories surfaced in daytime prayer—a …
Pew Research: Most Christians raised in the faith hold onto it in adulthood
By Tyler Arnold Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Mar 28, 2025 / 12:45 pm Surveys in about three dozen countries compiled by the Pew Research Center found that most Christians who are raised in the faith hold onto it in adulthood. In fact, in every country surveyed the majority of people who are raised Christian …
Stations in the Spring: Faith in the Fields of Carthagena
Spring is always a time of renewal, which we see in nature as the days get warmer and the grass turns greener. Catholics enter a period of spiritual renewal, often through prayerful meditation, as Lent begins, then culminates in the celebration of new life at Easter. Meditation on our Lord’s …
“Something More” for Others
She was sitting with three other ladies, also in wheelchairs, when I found her at the nursing home. She was over 100 years old. “We can’t do much anymore,” she said about herself and her friends. “I bet you can still pray,” I said. They nodded. “How about an ‘Our …
The Church of Baseball
The 1988 film Bull Durham opens with a voiceover by a main character, Annie Savoy, rhapsodizing about the beauty of baseball. “I believe in the church of baseball,” Annie begins, followed by a rather dubious inventory of gurus and other religions she has tried to follow. After a brief soliloquy …
Brent Suter: Earth MVP
Cincinnati Reds’ pitcher, Brent Suter, drew great fanfare when he returned to his hometown after playing for the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies. Currently in his ninth year with Major League Baseball, the Moeller High School and Harvard University grad finds real joy in playing ball with a “great group …
Field of Hopes and Dreams: How Cincinnati missionaries helped build a ballfield in Venezuela
By Walt Schaefer Missionaries, the Cincinnati Reds, the Venezuelan Air Force. A number of improbable things came together in 1990 to create Davey Concepción Field in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. • Cincinnatian Mike Gable, his wife, Kathy, and their four young sons had been assigned to serve as lay Maryknoll missioners in …
