US bishops’ leader rebukes Trump after he threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ Radio Interview: A conversation with local converts Trump threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die’ amid Pope Leo’s call for peace vigil Sermon on the Integrity: Artemis II mission pilot preaches Christ’s command to love on lunar flyby Pope sends Easter greetings to Catholic parish in Gaza amid fear, uncertainty of war Local News Radio Interview: A conversation with local converts Catholic Review Staff April 7, 2026 This Easter marks a remarkable moment in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where more than 1,280 catechumens and candidates entered into full communion with the Catholic Church — a number drawn from those attending formal rites and not including several hundred others welcomed at individual parishes. In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, host Rita Buettner highlights two of these journeys. Parishes get training to be welcoming, but alert to safety Christopher Gunty April 7, 2026 Safety and security start with being welcoming. One of the handouts at the Westminster seminar, “The Power of Hello,” addressed how greeting people who come to the church helps provide a welcoming environment, as well as giving ushers a chance to assess any areas of concern. It’s not meant to create a sense of paranoia, but caution. Father Joseph P. Lacey, S.J., longtime pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, dies at 85 Lisa Harlow April 6, 2026 Jesuit Father Joseph P. Lacey, who spent more than two decades as pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock and 22 years as a missionary in India, died March 28 at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore. He was 85. Sister Mary Gess Kirby, R.S.M., former Mercy High School counselor, dies at 92 Catholic Review Staff April 5, 2026 A funeral Mass for Religious Sister of Mercy Mary Gess Kirby will be offered April 11 at 11 a.m. at Mercy Medical Center’s McAuley Chapel in Baltimore. Sister Gess died March 27. She was 92 and had been a Sister of Mercy for 68 years. More Local News World News US bishops’ leader rebukes Trump after he threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ Kate Scanlon April 7, 2026 President Donald Trump threatened a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not make a deal by 8 p.m. EDT on April 7 — a statement that drew a stark rebuke within hours from the leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops, who invoked Pope Leo XIV’s recent appeals for peace as he called on the president “to step back from the precipice.” Trump threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die’ amid Pope Leo’s call for peace vigil Kate Scanlon April 7, 2026 President Donald Trump threatened a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not make a deal by 8 p.m. EDT on April 7. His comments come as Pope Leo XVI has urgently called for peace and set up a prayer vigil for April 11, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. Sermon on the Integrity: Artemis II mission pilot preaches Christ’s command to love on lunar flyby Gina Christian April 7, 2026 As the astronauts of NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in half a century reached their closest approach to the moon, the team’s pilot reminded the Earth of Jesus Christ’s command to love both God and neighbor. Pope sends Easter greetings to Catholic parish in Gaza amid fear, uncertainty of war Junno Arocho Esteves April 7, 2026 Pope Leo XIV sent Easter greetings to Catholics in Gaza as they celebrate Easter amid the fear and uncertainty of war, said Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish. More World News Commentary Why did Jesus never directly answer whether he was ‘king of the Jews?’ Jenna Marie Cooper April 7, 2026 Jesus never directly answered, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Instead of simply saying “Yes,” full stop, Jesus gave what many consider to be sidestep answers… The Little Girl at the Cross: Our Faith Is Always New Rita Buettner April 5, 2026 When it was her turn, she walked right up to the cross, carefully leaned down very low, and gave the dark wood a kiss. Then she bounced away. An Easter Reflection: Winning with Joy Rita Buettner April 5, 2026 The Easter season is a time for rejoicing—not just for ourselves, but in a way that invites those around us to join in the celebration. Father Isaac Hecker: Father of American evangelization Russell Shaw April 4, 2026 His great goal was the conversion of Protestant America to Catholicism, something he was convinced could happen. After all, he said, in the United States “true religion will find a reception it has in vain looked for elsewhere.” Easter evidence: Why Jesus’ resurrection is trusted as true Sister Anna Marie McGuan April 4, 2026 Because of the evidence of the empty tomb and the encounters of the risen Jesus with the women, the apostles and disciples, and St. Paul, the Church has always believed and preached the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is the moment that definitively changed human history forever. More Commentary Featured Video The Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), home to the largest public collection of Matisse’s work in the world, will open an exhibition March 29 featuring a rare group of preparatory drawings for the artist’s Stations of the Cross. The exhibition runs through June 28 and includes more than 80 drawings that trace the development of the monumental work.
Radio Interview: A conversation with local converts Catholic Review Staff April 7, 2026 This Easter marks a remarkable moment in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, where more than 1,280 catechumens and candidates entered into full communion with the Catholic Church — a number drawn from those attending formal rites and not including several hundred others welcomed at individual parishes. In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, host Rita Buettner highlights two of these journeys.
Parishes get training to be welcoming, but alert to safety Christopher Gunty April 7, 2026 Safety and security start with being welcoming. One of the handouts at the Westminster seminar, “The Power of Hello,” addressed how greeting people who come to the church helps provide a welcoming environment, as well as giving ushers a chance to assess any areas of concern. It’s not meant to create a sense of paranoia, but caution.
Father Joseph P. Lacey, S.J., longtime pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, dies at 85 Lisa Harlow April 6, 2026 Jesuit Father Joseph P. Lacey, who spent more than two decades as pastor of St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock and 22 years as a missionary in India, died March 28 at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore. He was 85.
Sister Mary Gess Kirby, R.S.M., former Mercy High School counselor, dies at 92 Catholic Review Staff April 5, 2026 A funeral Mass for Religious Sister of Mercy Mary Gess Kirby will be offered April 11 at 11 a.m. at Mercy Medical Center’s McAuley Chapel in Baltimore. Sister Gess died March 27. She was 92 and had been a Sister of Mercy for 68 years.
US bishops’ leader rebukes Trump after he threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ Kate Scanlon April 7, 2026 President Donald Trump threatened a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not make a deal by 8 p.m. EDT on April 7 — a statement that drew a stark rebuke within hours from the leader of the U.S. Catholic bishops, who invoked Pope Leo XIV’s recent appeals for peace as he called on the president “to step back from the precipice.”
Trump threatens Iran’s ‘whole civilization will die’ amid Pope Leo’s call for peace vigil Kate Scanlon April 7, 2026 President Donald Trump threatened a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not make a deal by 8 p.m. EDT on April 7. His comments come as Pope Leo XVI has urgently called for peace and set up a prayer vigil for April 11, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday.
Sermon on the Integrity: Artemis II mission pilot preaches Christ’s command to love on lunar flyby Gina Christian April 7, 2026 As the astronauts of NASA’s first crewed lunar flyby in half a century reached their closest approach to the moon, the team’s pilot reminded the Earth of Jesus Christ’s command to love both God and neighbor.
Pope sends Easter greetings to Catholic parish in Gaza amid fear, uncertainty of war Junno Arocho Esteves April 7, 2026 Pope Leo XIV sent Easter greetings to Catholics in Gaza as they celebrate Easter amid the fear and uncertainty of war, said Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Parish.
Why did Jesus never directly answer whether he was ‘king of the Jews?’ Jenna Marie Cooper April 7, 2026 Jesus never directly answered, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Instead of simply saying “Yes,” full stop, Jesus gave what many consider to be sidestep answers…
The Little Girl at the Cross: Our Faith Is Always New Rita Buettner April 5, 2026 When it was her turn, she walked right up to the cross, carefully leaned down very low, and gave the dark wood a kiss. Then she bounced away.
An Easter Reflection: Winning with Joy Rita Buettner April 5, 2026 The Easter season is a time for rejoicing—not just for ourselves, but in a way that invites those around us to join in the celebration.
Father Isaac Hecker: Father of American evangelization Russell Shaw April 4, 2026 His great goal was the conversion of Protestant America to Catholicism, something he was convinced could happen. After all, he said, in the United States “true religion will find a reception it has in vain looked for elsewhere.”
Easter evidence: Why Jesus’ resurrection is trusted as true Sister Anna Marie McGuan April 4, 2026 Because of the evidence of the empty tomb and the encounters of the risen Jesus with the women, the apostles and disciples, and St. Paul, the Church has always believed and preached the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It is the moment that definitively changed human history forever.
