NEWS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis prayed that Catholics and members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church would recognize the wounds of division they have inflicted on Christ's body, the church, and come to celebrate the faith together.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis called for solidarity and concrete assistance for all those affected by a devastating earthquake in Morocco. At least 2,100 people were killed and more than 2,400 people were injured after an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck central Morocco near Marrakech Sept. 8 after 11 p.m. local time. The World Health Organization estimated more than 300,000 people have been affected in the region.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- God chooses certain people not to exclude others, but always to include everyone by way of the missionary and social outreach of his disciples, Pope Francis said." This is an important warning for our times, in which ever-increasing currents of separation dig ditches and build fences between individuals and between peoples to the detriment of the unity of humanity, which suffers as a result, and of the body of Christ," he said at the Vatican Sept. 7.

A capacity crowd enjoyed the annual Respect Life Luncheon, presented by the Office of Respect Life Ministries for the Diocese of Phoenix, on Friday at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix.  The program included remarks from Bishop John Dolan, a legislative update from Ron Johnson, the executive director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, and the keynote speaker, Fr. Tad Pacholczyk, Ph.D.  In addition, Sr. Bethany Madonna, S.V., provided an update on their mission.

Stephanie Gray has worked at the Aid to Women Center for eight years and recently, found herself in the midst of a hard week. She had encountered women who didn’t seem to want to choose life for their babies and some women who she’d been walking with had pregnancies that ended in miscarriage. Gray was feeling discouragement seeping in when she answered a call at the center. It was a woman who had come to Aid to Women Center a few months ago when she was considering all her options, one of them being to terminate the pregnancy.

Bishop John P. Dolan will begin a series of Masses celebrating the Diocese of Phoenix’s religious orders with a special Mass next month honoring and thanking the Jesuits. Bishop Dolan will celebrate the special Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral at 9 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 17.

PHOENIX- On Saturday August 26th the faithful of the Diocese of Phoenix were taken back in time to the first centuries of Christianity to...

Bishop John Dolan returned Tuesday from his 12-day trip to Africa as a member of the USCCB subcommittee on the “Church in Africa.” Bishop Dolan made visits to Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya to review programs supported by the USCCB, his first-ever trip to Africa.  He was joined by Fritz Zuger, a consultant to the subcommittee, on their three nations visit in Africa.

PHOENIX -- For the family or friends of an individual who dies by suicide, the pain, grief and despair can be devastating. Without a spiritual and emotional support system, the anguish can be compounded with a deep sense of loneliness.

Eduardo and Sara Alvarez had already planned to attend the feast day celebration for Blessed Michael McGivney on Aug. 13 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral in Phoenix. But what was originally meant to celebrate and venerate the founder of the Knights of Columbus became a prayer for his intercession for their son, Eduardo, Jr., who was born premature the previous Monday, Aug. 7, and was still in the NICU.