Synod document is to aid discussion, not be Church teaching, cardinal says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Brazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes said the working document for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon is not official Church teaching, but rather a way for bishops to listen to the local Churches’ concerns.

A model of courage and faith

How far would a person go to follow the truth? This is the story of Blessed John Henry Newman — soon to be saint — who will be canonized by Pope Francis at the Vatican Oct. 13.

Without Holy Spirit, preaching becomes proselytizing, pope says

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — A person who claims to preach the Gospel by convincing people of their beliefs in Jesus is not evangelizing, but proselytizing, Pope Francis said.

Phoenix trio among 31 seminarians ordained deacons in Rome

Three Phoenix seminarians knelt at the Altar of the Chair of St. Peter in Rome Oct. 3 as a U.S. bishop ordained them and 28 others deacons in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter.

U.S. officials seek greater cooperation with Vatican on religious freedom

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Promoting religious freedom, providing humanitarian assistance and fighting human trafficking are three major issues the Vatican and the U.S. administration agree on and on which they will continue to coordinate efforts, panelists said at a joint symposium.

Tikuna deacon prepares to become first priest from Amazonian tribe

NAZARETH, Colombia (CNS) — On a Sunday morning, Dcn. Ferney Pereira was leading a prayer service in this small village’s Catholic church.

Pope opens Missionary Month with call to share joy, hope, talents

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God wants everyone to take a risk to share with others the gifts He has given to them — their life, talents and His love, Pope Francis said.

Catholic university breaks ground for $100 million health sciences campus in Phoenix

Creighton University, an Omaha, Nebraska-based Jesuit university that has operated a health sciences program in Phoenix for more than a decade, formally broke ground for a new $100 million, 180,000 square-foot health sciences campus in a major expansion of the area’s only Catholic medical school.

Pope declares special Sunday each year dedicated to word of God

With this apostolic letter, the pope "invites us to hold the word of God in our hands every day as much as possible so that it becomes our prayer" and a greater part of one's lived experience, he said.

Three new dioceses carved out of Archdiocese of Mexico

What remains of the old Archdiocese of Mexico will contain the metropolitan cathedral and Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Population will shrink by 3.6 million.