In November, two Sundays are devoted to prayer for persecuted Christians around world October 18, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News A number of organizations are inviting faithful to pray for persecuted Christians throughout the month of November, as more than 365 million believers in Christ worldwide suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination, according to a 20242023 report by the advocacy group Open Doors.
At home or abroad, mission work involves ‘radical transformation’ in Christ, says US missions expert October 18, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Giving, Missions, News, World News Ahead of World Mission Sunday — which the Catholic Church celebrates on the second to last Sunday in October, and which in 2024 falls on Oct. 20 — OSV News spoke with Kevin Foy, executive director of the United States Catholic Mission Association, on current perspectives and trends in mission work.
Ukrainian pilgrims gather at Lourdes to pray for peace in homeland and in the world October 18, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News As Russia’s war on Ukraine approaches its 11th year, thousands of Ukrainians from all over the world gathered at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France to pray for peace in their homeland and throughout the world.
Wester: Nobel Peace Prize for Japanese atomic bomb survivors ‘fitting’ amid global tensions October 17, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, War in Ukraine, World News The naming of a Japanese atomic bomb survivors group as this year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient is “fitting … during this time of heightened geopolitical tension,” said Archbishop John C. Wester of Santa Fe, N.M., who has traveled to Japan on several peace pilgrimages and also released a 2022 pastoral letter on nuclear disarmament.
Russia blocks Catholic, other religious websites amid war in Ukraine October 14, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, War in Ukraine, World News Amid its war on Ukraine, Russia continues to block a number of external religious websites, social media accounts and apps from several countries, preventing believers of various faiths from accessing information and engaging in dialogue, according to a human rights watch group.
Michigan Catholic bishops say Gov. Whitmer video mocks Eucharist October 14, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Eucharist, Feature, News, social media, World News Michigan’s Catholic bishops have expressed “profound disappointment and offense” after that state’s Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appeared to mock the Eucharist in a social media video posted by feminist author and podcaster Liz Plank.
Faith of children, power of prayer combine in million-strong rosary October 13, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News, Youth Ministry On Oct. 18, Aid to the Church in Need will host its annual “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign, inviting children — as well as families, parishes, catechists and teachers — to join in reciting the rosary that day, pledging their intention to do so at ACN’s dedicated website for the initiative, millionchildrenpraying.org.
New York Archdiocese sells office headquarters for reported $100 million October 11, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Feature, News, World News The Archdiocese of New York has sold its longtime office headquarters, in a move first announced by Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in January.
Archbishop Mésidor: Massacre, ongoing gang violence leave Haitian people ‘exhausted’ October 11, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, World News The metropolitan archbishop of Haiti is speaking out following an Oct. 3 massacre by armed gang members in that nation’s central western region, an attack that killed at least 115 and displaced some 6,000.
Catholic Charities USA launches Hurricane Milton relief fund October 10, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As Hurricane Milton took aim at Florida just days after Hurricane Helene, Catholic Charities USA launched a dedicated disaster relief donation campaign.
Archbishop calls for ‘fervent prayer’ for peace in Holy Land, says ‘compassion is not zero-sum game’ October 10, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has called for “fervent prayer” to end the violence in the Holy Land, as the Israel-Hamas war reached its first year while threatening to expand into a wider regional conflict.
Attack in rectory a ‘turning point’ in faith, says Philadelphia priest October 8, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Uncategorized A Philadelphia priest assaulted in his rectory said the attack marked a “turning point” that forced him “to reflect deeply on life, faith and the forces of evil” — as well as justice and mercy.
