News
Virus halts Guadalupe processions, but not other ways to safely celebrate feast
The annual huge procession swirling through downtown Houston in honor of the Dec. 12 feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe has been canceled because of the pandemic, organizers said.
As pandemic devastates Latin America, pope prays to St. Juan Diego
Marked the feast day of St. Juan Diego Dec. 9, Pope Francis sought the intercession of the first Indigenous saint of the Americas, "whom Our Lady of Guadalupe chose as her envoy."
Immaculate Conception ‘a spiritual force’ during pandemic, says priest
The Dec. 8 solemnity, marking Mary's divine preservation from original sin, "allows God to prepare us for a new indwelling of his Son" during Christmas amid COVID, said Father Dennis Gill.
Seniors create messages of peace, beauty at Christmas
Older adults served by archdiocesan Catholic Housing and Community Services shared their artistic visions for the holiday in the agency's first-ever Christmas card contest.
New movie on ‘Rosary Priest’ more timely than ever, say local relatives
"Pray: The Story of Father Patrick Peyton" captures both the man and his message, according to Susan and Charles Reynolds of Presentation B.V.M. Parish in Cheltenham.
Trump, Barr urged to stop federal executions, recall God’s mercy during Advent
Federal executions are at odds with Advent as a season "of anticipated redemption" and must be stopped, said the chairmen of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' domestic policy and pro-life committees.
Vatican cardinal says confession by phone likely invalid
Despite the pandemic's limits on many people's ability to celebrate the sacraments, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary confirmed "the probable invalidity of the absolution (of sins) imparted" through electronic means.
Tackling threats to planet demands cooperation, pope tells new ambassadors
The pope told 10 new ambassadors to the Vatican that they are beginning their work "at a time of great challenge facing the entire human family," with "grave threats facing our planet and mortgaging the future of younger generations."
Pope Francis plans to visit Iraq in March
Barring any obstacles caused by the global pandemic, the pope is set to begin international travel again in 2021 for the first time since November 2019. He would be the first pope to visit Iraq and its 400,000 remaining Christians.
Kansas man thanks every doctor, nurse, therapist who helped him beat COVID-19
In June Catholic parishioner John Rathbun began to sleep a lot then developed a cough -- signs that he'd contracted COVID-19. After 35 days in a hospital he finally returned home. Now he's grateful for "all the people who cared for me."