On May 29, residents of Maria Stein watched flames tear through their town’s centerpiece. We are encouraged to hear that many of its treasures were salvaged, able to inspire the faithful for years to come. One of the jewels in the region’s crown known as the Land of the Cross-Tipped …

“I consider myself young at heart, insofar as I am rooted in Christ,” said Father Isaiah Callan, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Fatima Family of Parishes (OLF) in the Piqua, Troy, Covington, and West Milton communities north of Dayton. To many, his simple joy and depth of faith come …

Where are you going?” Christians today often reflect on these words spoken by the risen Christ to Peter. For young people especially, these words in Latin, Quo Vadis, are about discerning the trajectory of their futures as they ask, “Am I living a life that is centered on Christ?” While …

Spring is always a time of renewal, which we see in nature as the days get warmer and the grass turns greener. Catholics enter a period of spiritual renewal, often through prayerful meditation, as Lent begins, then culminates in the celebration of new life at Easter. Meditation on our Lord’s …

Reaching out to others with love: that sums up the work of the many volunteers who sew projects and donate items to the Wrapped in God’s Love ministry at Holy Angels Church and Sidney Community. “This is a group effort,” said Judy Zimmerman, who helped start the ministry and guides …

STORY BY Matt Hess PHOTO COURTESY Archives of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood, US Province The Land of the Cross-Tipped-Churches is a collection of Catholic churches in the northern part of our archdiocese named for the gold crosses atop their spires. Founded by immigrants who were largely German farmers, …

by Matt Hess The Lord’s final mandate to His disciples before the Ascension was to preach the Gospel to all the world. To do this today, followers of Jesus are called to be communicators, passing on the faith through word and deed. Not everyone is called to this professionally, but …

I remember seeing the star every year as I grew up, after we left our family Christmas party at Grandpa’s house. It was on the dome of the St. Charles Center, a senior living community for Missionaries of the Precious Blood and local lay people. Their simple tradition of placing …

A lot was happening in 1964: the Beatles debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show, Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act and Ford unveiled the Mustang. For Catholics, Vatican II was in its third session and Pope Paul VI traveled to Jerusalem to meet with Patriarch Athenagoras of the …

“Every Christian is called to be a missionary and witness to Christ.” This prompting by Pope Francis might seem like a tall order in western Ohio, but for Sarah Niekamp, a lifelong member of St. Bernard Church in the St. Henry Family of Parishes, the calling to become a missionary …