Make Jesus the Standard of Christmas
At the time of this writing, my family of seven plus two mutts are in an Airbnb in our own town. Two weeks ago, a small leak in our bathroom turned into the space being gutted from water damage. We were assigned project managers, contractors, and an adjuster to boot. …
Archbishop Coakley anticipates meeting with Trump, Vance
By Tessa Gervasini Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Dec 22, 2025 / 13:07 pm Archbishop Paul Coakley said this week he is looking forward to speaking with President Donald Trump in “the near future.” Coakley, who was elected president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in November, said he has “not had …
The best Christmas movies to watch this year
by CNA Staff CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2021 / 14:14 pm Christmastime is upon us. In the spirit of the holiday, the writers and editors of CNA would like to share some of their favorite Christmas movies — and where you can find them. Merry Christmas and happy viewing! The …
Advent Calendar 2025
November 24. 2025 – January 16. 2026 Marian Library Seeking Shelter Christmas Exhbit 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM ET Marian Library Gallery and Crèche Museum After they were turned away from the inn in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph sought shelter elsewhere. In Nativity sets, different traditions place Jesus’ birth in …
Message from the Holy Land: Peace is not an illusion but a life choice
Violence begets death and destruction, revenge begets hatred and pain. News and pictures from Gaza and other war-torn lands show the physical and moral suffering of the innocent and defenceless. By Ibrahim Faltas * Holy Christmas is approaching. The Advent journey prepares us for the coming of the One who …
The Christmas Truce of 1914: Here’s what really happened
by Jonah McKeown St. Louis, Mo., Dec 25, 2022 / 10:00 am The experience of fighting in “The Great War,” World War I, was marked by brutality and misery on a scale never before seen. The grisly realities of trench warfare had already, in just five months, claimed a million …
St. Francis and the story of the first Nativity scene
by Hannah Brockhaus Rome Newsroom, Dec 23, 2023 / 07:00 am It’s a well-known origin story: how the young and wealthy Francis of Assisi freely abandoned his noble patrimony to serve Christ’s Church as a poor, itinerant preacher. One of the world’s most beloved saints, the founder of the Franciscan …
Cardinal Pizzaballa visits Holy Family Parish in Gaza days before Christmas
By Amira Abuzeid CNA Staff, Dec 19, 2025 / 18:35 pm Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, arrived in Gaza City on Dec. 19 for a pastoral visit to Holy Family Parish, the only Catholic church in the Gaza Strip, just days before Christmas. Accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop William Shomali, the …
Multiple Kansas Catholic schools targeted by apparent bomb hoax
By Daniel Payne CNA Staff, Dec 20, 2025 / 09:00 am Multiple Catholic schools in Kansas were targeted by what were apparently hoax bomb threats this week, according to authorities. Law enforcement agencies in the Kansas City area reported investigating threats at numerous Catholic schools on Dec. 19. The Archdiocese of …
Lord’s Day Reflection: The righteousness of Joseph
As the Church marks the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Abbot Marion Nguyen reflects on the theme “Justice without judgement: the righteousness of Joseph” By Abbot Marion Nguyen As Christmas approaches, the Church places before us the figure of Joseph and names him with a single, arresting title: “a just man.” In an age marked …
