by John Stegeman Based on the Combined Rite of Election and Calling to Continuing Conversion this year, 1,096 people intend to proceed to the Sacraments of Initiation. It will mark the highest number of people joining the local Church in more than 15 years. Of the total, 556 are catechumens …

Join us live from St. Peter’s Square for Easter Sunday Mass, presided over by Pope Leo XIV, followed by the traditional Urbi et Orbi Blessing from the Central Loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. Easter Sunday Mass celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord, the heart of the Christian faith and the …

The Holy Father carried the cross at the Roman amphitheater on Good Friday, the first time a pope has done so in several years. Pope Leo XIV carries the cross during the Via Crucis at the Colosseum in Rome, Friday, April 3, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News By Veronica Giacometti …

A traditional, religious Easter (Pascha) basket is assembled by lining a wicker basket with a white, often embroidered, cloth to hold foods blessed for Easter Sunday. It features paska bread, eggs (pysanky), butter (often lamb-shaped), meats (sausage/ham), cheese, salt, horseradish, and a white candle, covered in cloth. Prepare the Basket …

Mary Magdalene and the red egg is one of the most beloved Easter traditions in many Christian cultures. It’s a powerful legend that connects the message of the Easter with a simple symbol of new life. The Tradition Explained According to Christian tradition, after the Resurrection of Jesus, Mary Magdalene …

On Good Friday, we encounter not only the suffering of Jesus, but also the lives of those who stood near the Cross. Three men—very different in background and circumstance—met Jesus in His final hours. Each encounter became a moment of grace, repentance, and transformation. Saint Dismas — The Good Thief …

As the Church mourns, Catholics are also called to solemnly observe this holy day.   Credit: Lars Hallstrom/Shutterstock By Francesca Pollio Fenton April 3, 2026 at 4:00 AM ET Good Friday is considered for many one of the holiest days of the liturgical year. Part of the Triduum, Good Friday is …

The Good Friday Reproaches are a series of antiphons, known also as “Popule Meus” (“My People”), and come from the opening lines of the Latin text of the recitation. Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti bows in prayer during the liturgy of the Lord’s passion on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, in St. …

by Deacon Michael Trimpe In my career as a forensic scientist at the Hamilton County Coroner’s Crime Laboratory, I often thought of the pain and suffering our Lord Jesus Christ experienced during His Passion. We know His manner of death was authorized by Pontius Pilate to be crucifixion. But what …