At Honduran airport, church workers welcome migrants deported from U.S.

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (CNS) -- Several times a week, Sister Valdete Wilemann helps scores of deported Hondurans -- 36,300 last year -- walk off a U.S. government plane at the airport here. "If I don't see each migrant as my brother or sister, then God is not my father," she said.

A pet’s death forces us to face our mortality

Effie Caldarola's pet golden retriever, Sunny, died after a long life. That made the writer ponder the mystery of human death, and the hope that dead loved ones fall into "the arms of a merciful God."

Reflection on ‘racial divide’ in U.S. is personal for Illinois bishop

Bishop Edward K. Braxton of Belleville, Illinois, who is African-American, said he twice had been the victim of racial profiling and "walking while black." He suggested ways for Catholics to pray and act on ways to bridge the racial gap.

Heading out for an encounter with God

When Christ is "let out" to heal the world, young people might return from the outskirts to the church. Father William Byron assumes they will find a welcome in our parishes.

Cardinal-designate asked for pastoral approach on Eucharist

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (CNS) -- Archbishop John Dew said New Zealand bishops want "to see language in church documents changed so that it's something that gives people hope and support and encouragement."

German bishops think sacraments should be OK for divorced, remarried

Germany's Catholic bishops have published a report detailing their views on marriage and family, suggesting most bishops believe sacraments should be available to divorced and remarried Catholics who do not have an annulment.

The family and social justice

As we begin a new year, Archbishop Charles Chaput writes that the most important first step families can take in building a world of justice, mercy and charity is to pray often and together. Then we must bring Christ into all of our daily routines and interactions, especially when it comes to the poor.

Today’s teaching on the family

See the daily excerpt from the preparatory catechesis for the 2015 World Meeting of Families, “Love is Our Mission: The Family Fully Alive.”

The year in the news: Our top 10 of 2014

Looking back on the year about to close, CatholicPhilly.com published almost 300 local Catholic news stories. Picking the top 10 will omit important stories, but we’ll give it a go, anyway.

Vatican jail cells house protesters at Christmas

The jail cells in the Vatican police barracks were busy over the Christmas holidays.