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NAIROBI, Kenya (CNS) — The grisly murders of missionary priests and a local priest, a lay volunteer and 40 seminarians in Burundi are the focus of a recently opened investigation into their sainthood cause.

Sixty years after the first Cursillo retreat was held in Phoenix — 10 years before the Diocese of Phoenix was established — thousands of Catholics can trace the roots of a deeper faith in Christ to their shared Cursillo experience.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Thomistic Institute in Washington has launched “Aquinas 101,” a free online video course that instructs interested viewers in the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Describing the Amazon rainforest as “vital for our planet,” Pope Francis joined the region’s bishops in praying for action to extinguish the massive fires burning there.

Bishop installs first rector, spiritual formation director at Nazareth House, a new Phoenix seminary that welcomes and forms seminarians during their first two years of college.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (CNS) — As Planned Parenthood prepares to open Charlotte’s newest abortion facility this summer, pro-life groups are responding by organizing prayer rallies and sidewalk vigils in front of the facility, and by generating awareness of abortion among local Catholics.

CALCUTTA, India (CNS) — Missionaries of Charity nuns in India celebrated the birthday of their order’s founder, St. Teresa of Calcutta, three years after her canonization, breaking a Catholic convention.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — At a time when conflict and division dominate the world’s headlines, people need to know there are a growing number of important initiatives to promote interreligious dialogue and understanding, Pope Francis said.

LIMA, Peru (CNS) — Wildfires raging in Bolivia and Brazil underscore the urgency of the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon that Pope Francis has called for October, said Bishop Eugenio Coter of the apostolic vicariate of Pando in northern Bolivia.

More than 500 religious leaders and groups signed an Aug. 23 letter urging the U.S. president not to go through with plans to possibly end the country's refugee resettlement program.