Catholic charitable organizations hope for generous year-end giving

Catholic charitable and educational organizations around the Phoenix Diocese are hoping taxpayers will remember them as they prepare to celebrate Christmas and the year...

New chapel window depicts faithful woman, honors another

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted blesses a stained glass window depicting St. Gianna Beretta Molla at the Diocesan Pastoral Center’s Virginia G. Piper Chapel, which is dedicated to Blessed John Paul II. Local Catholic Armando Ruiz donated the window in honor of his late wife, Peggy, who died in April.

Catholic missionaries travel through diocese hosting retreats for teens

A team of 12 young adult Catholic missionaries left a mark on teenagers’ souls from four local parishes in recent weeks.

Priests near school shooting quick to offer assistance

NEWTOWN, Conn. — As law enforcement officers tried to piece together the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that left 20 children and seven adults dead, priests from nearby parishes rushed to the scene to comfort families and staff.

Plenary Indulgences for the Year of Faith

The Holy Father has allowed the granting of Plenary indulgences for the faithful during the Year of Faith at places and dates determined by the local bishop. An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain conditions.

Pope launches Twitter account, tweets to more than 1 million followers

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI launched his very own Twitter account, sending a short inaugural message to his more than 1 million...

Pope: Americas need renewed missionary spirit, well-catechized laity

VATICAN CITY — The universal Church needs Catholics in the Americas who are joyful missionaries, well-catechized and faithful to the teachings of the Church, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Community mourns loss of Irish priest

Fr. Joseph Gillespie, known for his deep pastoral commitment and sense of humor, died Nov. 26. He was 87.

Thousands celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe’s uniting love

Thousands joined Auxiliary Bishop Eduardo A. Nevares in celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe during the annual Honor Your Mother event Dec. 8 in downtown Phoenix.

University Cup award affirms Seton’s status as ‘prep’ school

CHANDLER — The University of Arizona awarded Seton Catholic Preparatory High School the 2011-2012 University Cup Award. Since 1929, the University Cup has gone...