In eastern Ukraine, church has ‘returned to catacombs,’ spokesman says
Ukrainian Catholic leaders have warned their church is being driven underground again, a quarter-century after it was re-legalized with the end of communist rule. "In Crimea and eastern Ukraine, we've already effectively returned to the catacombs," said Father Ihor Yatsiv, the church's Kiev-based spokesman.
In Middle East, a year marked by upheaval leaves millions suffering
The story of the Middle East in 2014 is one of war and displacement, broken families and tireless aid workers, and the rise of a new group one scholar referred to as "al-Qaida on steroids." It's a story of populations stretched to the limit, but still welcoming more refugees as neighbors. And it's a tale of religious leaders calling for prayer, meeting for dialogue and urging an end to the violence.
St. Matthew celebrates 75 years as justice-minded parish community
The sheer size of a Catholic community often deters parishioners from gathering as one physical Body in Christ. Not at St. Matthew. The latest bilingual liturgy marked the parish’s 75th anniversary and was the only Mass offered Dec. 14.
Pope Francis credited for urging U.S., Cuba to normalize relations
Pope Francis personally appealed to President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro this year to encourage both leaders to normalize diplomatic relations, a senior Obama administration official said.
Indiana man’s handcrafted Nativity stables reflect stories of faith
Ed Kirschner knows there's one thing he can count on when people visit his small shop where he creates Nativity stables. Before long, the visitors will start sharing stories about Christmases from their past, focusing on memories of the Nativity sets that their parents and grandparents displayed through the years.
Scottsdale priest cares for NFL players’ spiritual well-being
Spiritan Father Phil Evanstock cheers on Notre Dame's Saints and Arizona's Cardinals, but he ensures other Catholic NFL players have the opportunity to attend Mass prior to Sunday's game.
St. Vincent de Paul effort tackles root levels of poverty, changes lives
Sometimes it only takes a little help to make a big difference in someone’s life. Like when one person is willing to journey with you.
Though painful at times, visitation was positive, speakers say
The apostolic visitation of U.S. communities of religious women, though initially met with some resistance, ended up promoting a greater sense of unity in the church and helped the women become more aware of how God is working in their lives, said the prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Vatican report calls U.S. women religious to continued dialogue
A massive, detailed Vatican-ordered investigation of U.S. communities of women religious ended with a call to the women themselves to continue discerning how best to live the Gospel in fidelity to their orders' founding ideals while facing steeply declining numbers and a rapidly aging membership.
#Grateful: Year-end giving makes a world of difference
Loren Froehling walked out of Durango Jail two months ago and right into a brighter future because parked curbside was a job development office on wheels. Making the difference in the life of another person is possible each year through the Arizona Working Poor Tax Credit.
