April 20: St. Agnes of Montepulciano
St. Agnes of Montepulciano was born in 13th-century Tuscany. At the age of six, Agnes began trying to convince her parents to allow her to join a convent. She was finally admitted to the Dominican convent at Montepulciano at age nine despite it generally being against Church law to allow …
Pope Francis appoints Montana priest as coadjutor bishop of Great Falls-Billings diocese
by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Apr 19, 2022 / 04:50 am Pope Francis has named a priest of Helena, Mont., Father Jeffrey Fleming, coadjutor bishop of the state’s other diocese, Great Falls-Billings. Fleming, 56, has been Chancellor and moderator of the Curia of western Montana’s Diocese of Helena since 2020. …
Pope Francis tells 80,000 teens to ask Our Lady for courage to do God’s will
by Courtney Mares Vatican City, Apr 19, 2022 / 05:30 am Pope Francis urged 80,000 teenagers gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Monday to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary to find the courage to say yes to God’s will. “May Our Lady, the mother who was almost your age …
Burger King in Spain apologizes, pulls offensive Holy Week ads
by Diego Lopez Marina Lima, Peru, Apr 18, 2022 / 14:59 pm The fast-food chain Burger King in Spain has withdrawn and apologized for an offensive ad campaign that sparked outrage among Catholics during Holy Week. “We apologize to all those who have felt offended by our campaign aimed at …
April 19: Blessed James Oldo
James Oldo experienced a radical conversion that led him to become a Franciscan tertiary, and later a priest. He was born in 1364 into a rich family in Lodi, Italy. He married at a young age, and he and his wife both led a very self-indulgent lifesyle. One day, a …
Church Bells: The Soundtrack of Faith
Perhaps the most subtle advertisement that a neighborhood has a faith community is the church bells ringing. It’s not in your face like a commercial or billboard, but the message is clear: We’re here and you’re welcome to join us. If you’ve heard a church bell ring in greater Cincinnati …
Connecting Seniors Ignatian Volunteer Corps with those in Need.
by Patricia McGeever Although Steve Hatke’s career as an electrical engineer did not prepare him to work with people experiencing homelessness, he has dedicated his retirement to helping those looking for a chance to change their lives. “For me, it was a huge step out of my comfort zone because …
The World Echoes with God’s Existence
Some of my greatest experiences of peace came when wandering the woods as a child. My backyard was a lovely forest that boasted of nothing extraordinary. The foliage towered above my small frame when I hiked steep hills, grabbing rocks and branches so I could pull myself along. The environment …
Earth Connection: Sisters of Charity Teach Girls About Spirituality & Sustainability
Area Girl Scouts of all ages have been learning about our relationship to God’s creation and how to care for it through the fun and educational programs at EarthConnection (EC). Directed by Sister Caroljean Willie, SC, EarthConnection is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati and a center …
Full text of Pope Francis’ Urbi et Orbi blessing 2022
by Pope Francis Vatican City, Apr 17, 2022 / 04:45 am On Easter Sunday 2022, Pope Francis gave the traditional Urbi et Orbi benediction from the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. “Urbi et Orbi” means “To the City [of Rome] and to the World.” It is a special apostolic blessing given by …
