Scottsdale couple receive Church’s highest honor for laity

SCOTTSDALE — Friends, family and dignitaries from around the diocese packed into St. Bernadette Church June 29 to witness Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted bestow the universal Church’s highest honor for the laity on one of the parish’s founding couples.

Convocation delegates sent home to imitate Jesus in reaching the margins

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS) — Jesus took a few loaves and fishes and turned them into a feast for thousands, offering the Church an example of faith in action, Cardinal Daniel N. DiNardo of Galveston-Houston said in sending 3,500 delegates home from the “Convocation of Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America.”

Final founding member of Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit takes vows

It was a pivotal day for the "public association of the faithful."

Church ministry delivers 100th welcome basket to formerly homeless veteran

The gifts comprise a St. Joseph's Basket filled with toiletries, kitchen essentials and more.

Trailer released for Father Rother documentary

OKLAHOMA CITY (CNS) — The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City has released a three-minute trailer to a forthcoming documentary on Fr. Stanley Rother, a U.S. priest who worked in Guatemala for 14 years until he was brutally murdered in 1981.

Cardinal Pell, professing innocence, will face charges in Australia

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Proclaiming his innocence after being charged with sexual abuse, Australian Cardinal George Pell said, “I’m looking forward finally to having my day in court.”

Goodwin fire grows as does evacuation orders

Mandatory evacuation notices included roughly 100 families who regularly attend Mass at St. Joseph Mission along AZ-69 in Mayer. That entire passageway between I-17 and SR-169 remains closed.

Pope: Christians fight evil with love, sacrifice, never with violence

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are called to detach themselves from power, reject violence and sacrifice themselves for God and others out of love, Pope Francis said.

Young men of Loyola Academy reach out to refugees [VIDEO]

Loyola Academy, a Jesuit junior high school on Brophy College Preparatory's campus, has students sending postcards of hope to displaced children around the world through Any Refugee.

Court says church school can’t be barred from state funds for playground

WASHINGTON (CNS) — In a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court June 26 said a Lutheran preschool should not be excluded from a state grant program to refurbish its playground surface just because it is a religious entity.