Pope receives letters from ICE detainees, pastoral workers in Chicago Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, dead at 96, remembered for her faith, defense of human dignity Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterms Serving vulnerable pregnant and parenting women is ‘heroic’ work, says USCCB pro-life chair Notre Dame residence rector cleared of anonymous online abuse allegations Local News Catholic Charities names chief strategy officer Catholic Review Staff October 29, 2026 Catholic Charities of Baltimore announced Oct. 29 that Annemarie Reilly will serve as the agency’s chief strategy officer, a newly created position. Genealogist helps families uncover their past Jenna Mattern October 29, 2026 Tammy Mellema is more than just the office administrator at New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore. She’s the “detective of the dead.” Her nickname, coined by a fellow colleague, comes from her longtime passion for genealogy, the study of family history, ancestry and lineages over generations. Maryland priest recounts stories of ghosts and the unexplained Jenna Mattern October 27, 2026 Such tales prove nothing, but as Catholics prepare to pray for the dead on All Souls’ Day, they point toward what the Church believes about death: the soul never ceases to exist, the bond between the living and the dead is not broken, and the living can still pray for those who have gone before. Where the dead speak Katie V. Jones October 26, 2026 As dusk fell on the mountains surrounding the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg Oct. 9, a wise old woman standing outside of the shrine’s cemetery warned those who passed to “listen closely.” More Local News World News Pope receives letters from ICE detainees, pastoral workers in Chicago Carol Glatz October 30, 2026 Pope Leo XIV received letters and messages from individuals detained in a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) processing facility near Chicago and from Catholics active in providing immigrants and refugees with spiritual and pastoral support. Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, dead at 96, remembered for her faith, defense of human dignity Gina Christian October 30, 2026 Catholics are remembering civil rights leader Dolores Huerta as a woman whose faith inspired her lifelong mission of service. Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterms Gina Christian October 30, 2026 Pope Leo XIV has submitted his vote by mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed. Serving vulnerable pregnant and parenting women is ‘heroic’ work, says USCCB pro-life chair OSV News October 30, 2026 The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities expressed gratitude Oct. 27 “for all those who work to provide necessary resources to women, babies, and families during pregnancy and beyond.” More World News Commentary Question Corner: How does someone become an exorcist today? Jenna Marie Cooper October 29, 2026 Q: I heard that in the old days, seminarians were instituted as exorcists as part of “minor orders.” How does someone become an exorcist today? Is there some sort of special ceremony or liturgy? Saint Friends Rita Buettner October 29, 2026 Every year as the new year begins, I use a random generator online to pick a saint for the year. The idea is to have a saint to learn about and maybe turn to in the days ahead. Some years, I’ve been matched with a saint I already knew. Often, though, it’s a saint I know less about, which is always an adventure. This year, I was matched with St. John Vianney. A prayer basket for the month of All Souls Rita Buettner October 28, 2026 Every year, as we start November, I fill our prayer basket with slips of paper. Each one has the name of someone we know who has died. Blaming Autumn: Unjust cranks in this excellent season of wonder Elizabeth Scalia October 27, 2026 Lately, instead of greeting the day with “thank you, Lord, that I get to have another one!” I rise with a cranky growl, mentally grousing at God and giving the saints a bit of Irish lip, too. Autumn, my favorite season, is partly to blame. I tell myself that I’m cranky because what delights me in October — sharp air, warm sweaters and breathtaking foliage — will disappear so swiftly into dreary November. A trip to St. Rita’s Shrine Rita Buettner October 22, 2026 It was a beautiful day—a day of friendship and prayer, a day of peace and discovery, and a day when we connected more deeply with a saint who is so beloved by so many. More Commentary Featured Video The Knights of Columbus hosted its annual Coats for Kids event at Cardinal Shehan School in Northwood Oct. 5, 2026. Hundreds of students from three schools received brand new winter coats for free.
Catholic Charities names chief strategy officer Catholic Review Staff October 29, 2026 Catholic Charities of Baltimore announced Oct. 29 that Annemarie Reilly will serve as the agency’s chief strategy officer, a newly created position.
Genealogist helps families uncover their past Jenna Mattern October 29, 2026 Tammy Mellema is more than just the office administrator at New Cathedral Cemetery in Baltimore. She’s the “detective of the dead.” Her nickname, coined by a fellow colleague, comes from her longtime passion for genealogy, the study of family history, ancestry and lineages over generations.
Maryland priest recounts stories of ghosts and the unexplained Jenna Mattern October 27, 2026 Such tales prove nothing, but as Catholics prepare to pray for the dead on All Souls’ Day, they point toward what the Church believes about death: the soul never ceases to exist, the bond between the living and the dead is not broken, and the living can still pray for those who have gone before.
Where the dead speak Katie V. Jones October 26, 2026 As dusk fell on the mountains surrounding the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg Oct. 9, a wise old woman standing outside of the shrine’s cemetery warned those who passed to “listen closely.”
Pope receives letters from ICE detainees, pastoral workers in Chicago Carol Glatz October 30, 2026 Pope Leo XIV received letters and messages from individuals detained in a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) processing facility near Chicago and from Catholics active in providing immigrants and refugees with spiritual and pastoral support.
Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, dead at 96, remembered for her faith, defense of human dignity Gina Christian October 30, 2026 Catholics are remembering civil rights leader Dolores Huerta as a woman whose faith inspired her lifelong mission of service.
Vatican confirms Pope Leo XIV voted by mail in Illinois midterms Gina Christian October 30, 2026 Pope Leo XIV has submitted his vote by mail-in ballot for the upcoming Illinois midterm elections, the Vatican confirmed.
Serving vulnerable pregnant and parenting women is ‘heroic’ work, says USCCB pro-life chair OSV News October 30, 2026 The chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities expressed gratitude Oct. 27 “for all those who work to provide necessary resources to women, babies, and families during pregnancy and beyond.”
Question Corner: How does someone become an exorcist today? Jenna Marie Cooper October 29, 2026 Q: I heard that in the old days, seminarians were instituted as exorcists as part of “minor orders.” How does someone become an exorcist today? Is there some sort of special ceremony or liturgy?
Saint Friends Rita Buettner October 29, 2026 Every year as the new year begins, I use a random generator online to pick a saint for the year. The idea is to have a saint to learn about and maybe turn to in the days ahead. Some years, I’ve been matched with a saint I already knew. Often, though, it’s a saint I know less about, which is always an adventure. This year, I was matched with St. John Vianney.
A prayer basket for the month of All Souls Rita Buettner October 28, 2026 Every year, as we start November, I fill our prayer basket with slips of paper. Each one has the name of someone we know who has died.
Blaming Autumn: Unjust cranks in this excellent season of wonder Elizabeth Scalia October 27, 2026 Lately, instead of greeting the day with “thank you, Lord, that I get to have another one!” I rise with a cranky growl, mentally grousing at God and giving the saints a bit of Irish lip, too. Autumn, my favorite season, is partly to blame. I tell myself that I’m cranky because what delights me in October — sharp air, warm sweaters and breathtaking foliage — will disappear so swiftly into dreary November.
A trip to St. Rita’s Shrine Rita Buettner October 22, 2026 It was a beautiful day—a day of friendship and prayer, a day of peace and discovery, and a day when we connected more deeply with a saint who is so beloved by so many.
