This article is part of a series from Father Earl Fernandes exploring Families of Parishes. Click the links below to find other articles in the series. The Church as the Family of God Families of Parishes as Evangelizing Communities Being a Synodal Church Synodality Walking with Christ, The Holy Spirit …

by CNA Staff Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 27, 2021 / 11:30 am Cardinal Blase Cupich has issued a new policy for the Archdiocese of Chicago that curtails the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and other sacraments in Latin using liturgical books that pre-Vatican II. Under the policy, which takes …

by Katie Yoder Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 28, 2021 / 03:00 am The Holy Innocents did not know Jesus, but they died in his place. Dec. 28 marks the feast of these baby boys who are, today, recognized as the first martyrs and pro-life patron saints. Their story appears in the Gospel …

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 26, 2021 / 04:10 am On the Feast of the Holy Family, Pope Francis encouraged married couples to rely on the strength of Christ and his graces as they weather the storms of life together. In a letter to spouses Dec. 26, Pope Francis wrote that …

by Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 26, 2021 / 06:50 am Pope Francis on Sunday sent his condolences for the death of retired Anglican Archbishop and anti-apartheid leader Desmond Tutu. Tutu, who fought for an end to racial segregation in his native South Africa, died Dec. 26 at the age …

by Joe Bukuras Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 25, 2021 / 09:00 am Venerable Fulton Sheen once said that in order to understand the meaning of Christmas, two philosophies of life must first be considered. One philosophy, Sheen said in one of his many television monologues, is that of man who …

by Kate Olivera Denver Newsroom, Dec 25, 2021 / 15:00 pm The coronavirus pandemic has suspended efforts to save the Chapel of the Snows at McMurdo Station, the hub of the U.S. Antarctic Program. But one Catholic who regularly serves at the station has said he hopes the chapel has …

Just after Christmas, the Catholic Church remembers its first martyr, and one of its first deacons, Saint Stephen. Roman Catholics celebrate his feast Dec. 26, while Eastern Catholics honor him one day later. In the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke praises St. Stephen as “a man full of faith …

The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “The desire for God is written in the human heart.” During these past weeks of Advent, we have prepared our hearts to welcome Christ. It is Christ alone who satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart, and we celebrate His …

by Pope Francis Vatican City, Dec 25, 2021 / 04:50 am On Christmas Day 2021, Pope Francis delivered his “Urbi et Orbi” address and blessing from the central balcony overlooking St. Peter’s Square. The following is the full text of the pope’s Christmas message. Dear brothers and sisters, Happy Christmas! …