News
Manayunk’s old church seeing renewal, along with its congregation
St. John the Baptist Parish has come through a merger in fine fashion, with more than half the parishioners aged 21-35, and a multi-year renovation of the century-old church underway.
No change to church guidelines on sexual abuse, Vatican says
UPDATED - A spokesman said a French priest's report for new bishops had been misinterpreted by media, and the Vatican's guidelines for bishops to cooperate with civil authorities -- also the U.S. bishops' policy -- remain in force.
School visit day in Willow Grove
Queen of Angels School will host a visitation day on Wednesday, Feb. 17 with a presentation and tours
Mexican pilgrims hope papal visit will bring much-needed change
With anticipation growing in the streets of Mexico City for Pope Francis' visit, a group of local pilgrims found time to thank their "mother" and prayed that it would give their country a spiritual awakening.
Little kids learn what Lent is all about
Young children in the Child Care program of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish in Limerick received ashes on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, plus a friendly instruction from the pastor, Father Paul Brandt.
Cookies, sombrero and a shoe shine: Even reporters give pope gifts
His flight to Cuba Feb. 12 had a unique moment. Noel Diaz, who lives in Los Angeles and was covering the trip for ESNE -- a Catholic radio and television network -- asked the pope if he could shine his shoes "in memory of all those people who struggle daily to put bread on their tables."
Mexican prison riot leaves 49 dead on day before pope arrives
A prison riot in the northern Mexican city of Monterrey has claimed 52 lives, offering another example of the problems plaguing Mexico's prison system and casting a pall over the arrival of Pope Francis in the country.
Surge in Zika virus rekindles abortion debate in Brazil
The president of the Brazilian bishops' conference criticized a proposal by the U.N. Human Rights Commission that countries allow abortion in cases in which the mother was infected with the Zika virus.
Texas cardinal discusses transformative power of Eucharist at congress
"When you're a disciple in the presence of the Eucharist, something happens to you. You're transformed. ... Body broken, blood poured out."
Pope pushes ‘door of mercy’ wider, sends missionaries to local parishes
Their special mission, he has said, is to be a living witness of God's closeness and love -- to knock on the doors of people's hearts and let God into their lives, especially those who have become distant from the church.