News
Sister Ann Muriel Ronan, S.S.J., dies at 96
After growing up in New York City she entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1944. She ministered in six dioceses; in the Philadelphia area, at Mount St. Joseph Academy, Flourtown and Little Flower High School, Philadelphia.
Sister Madeline Florence Sarli, S.S.J., dies at 76
A sister of St. Joseph, Chestnut Hill since 1964, she ministered in the archdioceses of Newark and Philadelphia and the dioceses of Metuchen and Trenton.
Pope prays for peace in Ukraine as Russia moves troops to border
With Russia amassing thousands of soldiers and heavy weapons on its border with Ukraine, Pope Francis prayed for peace in the region. As an aside, he said that it "saddens me greatly: more weapons were produced this year than last year."
Pope: Through Mary, Latin America can move toward renewal
Festive music, dancing and prayers in honor of Mary echoed through St. Peter's Square as hundreds celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Some reenacted the moment when in 1531 St. Juan Diego revealed the miraculous image of Mary.
Mourning in Kentucky: Resolve to rebuild follows tornadoes
One of the most powerful twisters in U.S. history leveled Mayfield, a city of 10,000 in western Kentucky overnight Dec. 10, as numerous other tornadoes ravaged Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas and Missouri, leveling entire communities.
Vatican releases text for installing catechists, explains ministry
Catholic men and women formally installed in the new ministry of catechist, instituted by Pope Francis seven months ago, are not simply religious education teachers but represent a new, formal office and vocation in the church.
Synod official apologizes to gay Catholics, encourages their participation
LGBTQ Catholics, "who once again felt left out," are more than welcome to participate in the discernment and discussion process leading up to the world Synod of Bishops in 2023, a synod official said, apologizing to New Ways Ministry.
Mourners recall Dole as ‘genuine’ American hero who loved his country
World War II veteran and U.S. senator Bob Dole, and his "Greatest Generation," represented a "God-fearing ... and can-do attitude that defined America," said former Sen. Sam Brownback. "His death represents the end of an American era."
Father Donald Cozzens, who challenged clericalism, dies at 82
The Cleveland priest and seminary rector spent more than 20 years writing on issues he believed church officials needed to address including transparency in decision-making, welcoming women into a wider roles and renewing church structure.
Christmas is time for sharing, not commercialism, pope says
"Let us not live a fake, commercial Christmas! Let us allow ourselves to be enveloped by God's closeness, by the Christmas atmosphere that art, music, songs and traditions bring to our heart," Pope Francis said Dec. 10.