Pope Francis: Disabled people are not in humanity’s minor ‘leagues’

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, Dec 3, 2019 / 10:03 am (CNA).- Pope Francis said Tuesday that disabled people make important contributions to humanity, and called discrimination against them a sin. The pope added that disabled people are not members of humanity’s minor “leagues.” “We are called to recognize in …
Norbertine Fathers in California launch digital Advent calendar

Orange, Calif., Dec 1, 2019 / 02:11 pm (CNA).- A religious order in southern California is kicking off Advent with a digital calendar that allows Catholics to go more in-depth as they prepare for the Christmas season. The virtual calendar was launched on the first Sunday of Advent by the …
Sensory-Friendly Christmas Mass A Christmas Service for all.

Dayton, OH: St. Henry Catholic Church in conjunction with the Office for Respect Life Ministries for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will be providing a Sensory-Friendly Mass on Christmas Day at 11:30am. This service will be perfect for any person who struggles with the crowds, noise, sights, and smells of the …
Update: Work on Wisconsin farm prepared slain brother for service in Guatemala
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Christian Bro By Sam Lucero GREEN BAY, Wis. (CNS) — Before donning the habit of a Christian Brother in 1962, Brother James Miller wore the bib overalls of a Wisconsin farm boy. While in his green work clothes, repairing a wall outside of the Casa Indigena De …
Church seeks what is best for those who are wounded, pope says
IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The sacrament of marriage cannot be "improvised," but must be prepared for, nourished and supported throughout the couple’s journey, Pope Francis said. Christian couples also must be helped to pursue their "particular vocation to become missionary disciples as spouses, …
Pope saddened by deadly protests in Iraq
IMAGE: CNS photo/Alaa al-Marjani, Reuters By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said he was concerned and saddened following two months of protests in Iraq that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of people. "I pray for the dead and the wounded; I am close to their …
Pope writes Apostolic Letter on the significance of the Christmas crèche

Pope Francis has written an Apostolic Letter on the meaning and importance of the nativity scene. He signed the Letter during his visit on Sunday afternoon to the Italian town of Greccio. By Vatican News Greccio is the mountain village where Saint Francis of Assisi created the first crib scene …
Call me ‘Father’: Pope’s priestly vocation is his favorite gift
IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy of Maria Elena Bergoglio via Reuters By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In Caravaggio’s painting of Matthew, the sinful tax collector being called by Jesus to "Follow me," Pope Francis sees the same unexpected, grace-filled moment found in his own call to the priesthood. A 17-year-old …
Daca and Our Future, From the desk of Archbishop José Gomez

From the desk of Archbishop José Gomez: On Nov. 12, the U.S. Supreme Court will review several appeals court rulings that have blocked President Donald Trump’s 2017 order ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Established by President Barack Obama’s executive order in 2012, DACA provides protections from …
Hope and Dejection Collide at Lebanon Correctional Institution

Composer and pianist Eric Genuis played hope and grace into existence before a crowd of more than 50 inmates at Lebanon Correctional Institution on Oct. 23. The concert, organized by Marty Arlinghaus, director of prison ministry for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, was part of Genuis’ “Concerts for Hope” series. Genuis …