Pope in Bangui: Open the doors of mercy, counter violence with love

Marking the first Sunday of Advent at the Mass with priests, religious, catechists and youths, Pope Francis urged the Catholic community to be committed to helping the country make a new start.

Dec. 5 gathering honors Our Lady of Guadalupe

The event will be filled with color, but above all, with devotion and fervor in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Diocese of Phoenix and of the Americas.

Vatican stamps feature manuscript painting of Holy Family

The special edition stamps are available via the euro and by email to: order.ufn@scv.va. Vatican Observatory stamps are also available.

Advent Season is time of penance to anticipate Christ’s coming

Between the sounds of holiday classics playing on secular radio stations, red coffee cups and “Charlie Brown” specials, it’s easy for Catholics to forget that not only has the Christmas Season not started yet, nor has the season anticipating it, Advent, which begins Sunday, Nov. 29.

Refugees in Lebanon, facing new reality, get help at Catholic-run clinic

While awaiting basic medical treatment, three Iraqi retirees recalled celebrating everything together before the Islamic State seized control of Qaraqosh in August 2014, driving out some 50,000 Christians.

Bury the dead: a work of mercy through the centuries

Offering a Christian funeral and burial to those who would otherwise never have one is among the corporal works of mercy, but arguably the one least spoken of.

Priests’ moms find peace within group

A growing group of moms is finding solidarity with mothers who expereince the same roller coaster of emotions as their children further discern or live a religious vocation.

Pope names Vatican official first bishop of U.S. Anglican ordinariate

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — After consultation with the governing council of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, Pope Francis named Msgr. Steven J. Lopes to be the first bishop of the ordinariate, which serves former Anglicans in the United States and Canada living in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church.

Student Turkey Bowl strikes out hunger

Fellowship, food drives, fellowship, airports and massive meals are traditional parts of the Thanksgiving weekend, but student bowling added a new twist.

Blue Mass honors, thanks first responders

Both inspirational and colorful, the annual “Blue Mass” at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral drew dozens of police officers, firefighters and other law enforcement and emergency personnel, both active and retired. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares presided over the Mass of Thanksgiving for All Emergency Personnel on Nov. 5.