Pope asks prison community to compose Via Crucis meditations
IMAGE: CNS photo/Alessandro Bianchi, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has asked the prisoners, guards and the chaplain of a northern Italian prison to write this year’s Way of the Cross meditations. In a letter published in the Italian newspaper Il Mattino di Padova March …
Pope urges priests to tend to sick, health care workers during epidemic
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis prayed that priests would find the courage to visit those who are sick and offer accompaniment to health care professionals and volunteers working during the coronavirus epidemic. During a live broadcast of his daily morning Mass, Pope …
Vatican closes museums, beefs up measures to stop virus spread
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vatican has instituted new measures and closures to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. In addition to urging employees to work from home if possible and providing family leave for workers with minors at home due to …
Catholics organize to defeat advance of assisted suicide bill in Indiana
IMAGE: CNS photo/Laura Ieraci By Laura Ieraci WHITING, Ind. (CNS) — Catholics in Northwest Indiana are organizing to raise awareness about the ongoing efforts in the state Legislature to legalize assisted suicide. "The assisted suicide and euthanasia lobby is patient," Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition, who …
Pope prays for coronavirus victims at live broadcast of morning Mass
IMAGE: CNS screenshot from Vatican Media video By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — During a live broadcast of his daily morning Mass, Pope Francis prayed for victims of the coronavirus epidemic and the many health care workers fighting its spread. The pope said he offered the Mass for …
Pope chooses ‘synodality’ as theme for 2022 synod
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has decided the next world Synod of Bishops at the Vatican, which will take place in October 2022, will have the theme: "For a synodal church: Communion, participation and mission." The Vatican announced the choice of "synodality" …
Did you Know: Holy Cross-Immaculata Church
by Gail Finke There is a piece of the True Cross at Holy Cross-Immaculata in Mt. Adams. It is available for veneration on a side altar in the main church on Good Friday – see it when you pray the steps! Is the relic of the True Cross real? While …
After leading ‘virtual’ Angelus, pope blesses crowd in St. Peter’s Square
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis did not recite the Sunday Angelus from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square March 8, but he did go to the window to wave and to bless the pilgrims who showed up anyway. The …
Today’s Video: How to Start Strong and Stay Strong
We’re beginning the second full week of Lent. We started new, a new adventure: even in the Archdiocese, the season of spring is changing our landscape. Yet, things can get bogged down, the hard work becomes task, and the excitement fades. In Today’s Video, Father Mike Schmitz looks at How …
Poll: Fewer U.S. Catholics see Christian persecution as an urgent issue
IMAGE: CNS photo/Dinuka Liyanawatte, Reuters By NEW YORK (CNS) — Over half of U.S. Catholics are "very concerned" about global Christian persecution, but this group accounts for 52% of Catholics today, compared to 58% in winter 2019 — a decline of more than 10%, according to a new poll. It …