IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A delegation of U.S. bishops and laypeople came to Rome to share with Pope Francis and Vatican officials the joyful experiences and valuable recommendations that came out of last year’s Fifth National Encuentro. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul Haring By SYDNEY (CNS) — Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sexual abuse offenses, has lodged an application with Australia’s High Court to appeal his guilty verdict. The application to the country’s highest court is Cardinal Pell’s last avenue of …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis said giving fragments of St. Peter’s bones to the head of the church founded by Peter’s brother, St. Andrew, was meant to be a reminder and encouragement of the journey toward Christian unity. In a letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, Pope Francis …

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will finally fulfill his desire to be a missionary to Japan when he visits the country, as well as Thailand, Nov. 20-26, the Vatican announced. Pope Francis will leave Rome Nov. 19, arriving in Thailand for a visit Nov. 20-23, said Matteo Bruni, director …

The Grand Bahama cruise ship stands ready Sept. 12, 2019, at the port in Palm Beach, Fla., awaiting its second Bahamas humanitarian cruise. It was set to sail Sept. 14 to deliver supplies and first responders to the Bahamas, before returning to Florida with more Hurricane Dorian evacuees. (CNS photo/Tom Tracy)
MIAMI (CNS) — A second Florida-to-Bahamas round-trip humanitarian cruise was set to sail the weekend of Sept. 14, weather-permitting, carrying supplies, transport specialty personnel, power generators and volunteers. The previous week, the Grand Bahama cruise ship arrived at its home port in West Palm Beach with some 1,100 Bahamian storm …

MARIA STEIN, Ohio (September 12, 2019) – On Sunday, September 22 the Maria Stein Shrine will host the 4th annual Heritage Day Celebration from 1pm-5pm. The family friendly event offers FREE ACTIVITIES including quilt and tractors shows, Tim Nealeigh as the Weaver, free live music by Danny Schneible, Shrine scavenger …

IMAGE: CNS illustration/Emily Thompson By Brian Fraga The Catholic Church in the United States has spent a staggering amount of money — close to $4 billion in the past 20 years — to investigate, adjudicate and prevent clergy sex abuse, and to compensate victims for the harm they’ve suffered. And …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Sentencing someone to life in prison without the possibility of parole is "not the solution to problems, but a problem to solve," Pope Francis told Italian prison guards, prison chaplains and officials from the Ministry of Justice. "If you …

IMAGE: CNS photo/Vatican Media By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Praising the fidelity of Eastern Catholics, Pope Francis also urged them to be more active in the search for Christian unity, especially unity with their Orthodox counterparts. In heaven, he said, "the Lord will not seek an account of …

After reading a book on will power, Fr. Mike discovered an important lesson when it comes to how we handle spiritual setbacks. So let’s not give up when we fall into sin, but keep our eyes on heaven and God’s grace and live accordingly.