Baptisms in Ireland see dramatic drop of 30% in a decade August 25, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News Baptisms in the Catholic Church in Ireland have fallen by almost a third since 2015, with just one Irish diocese seeing any positive change, a new report shows.
Supreme Court sets date for case over Catholic preschools and Colorado’s ‘universal’ program August 13, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The U.S. Supreme Court set a November date for oral arguments in a case over a clash between Catholic preschools and the state of Colorado over whether those schools can participate in the state’s universal preschool program.
2 apostles of Sacred Heart meet in Denver; thousands venerate St. Margaret Mary Alacoque relics August 10, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News St. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s relics drew pilgrims from across Northern Colorado for prayer, veneration and a historic meeting with Denver’s own apostle of the Sacred Heart and a servant of God, Julia Greeley.
Anniversary of Voting Rights Act time to reflect on participation in democracy, Bishop Garcia says August 7, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The anniversary of the Voting Rights Act is a time to reflect on ways to work together “for a society in which all citizens are able to participate fully and faithfully in our democracy,” Bishop Daniel E. Garcia of Austin, Texas, said in an Aug. 5 statement.
Pope Leo XIV’s August prayer intention is ‘for evangelization in the city’ August 3, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV is inviting Catholics to pray “for evangelization in the city” as his August prayer intention, asking the Lord to accompany millions searching for meaning amid the noise and haste of urban life.
Pope Leo’s meeting with Patti Smith highlights rocker’s Church-adjacent artistry August 1, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News The American singer-songwriter Patti Smith met with Pope Leo XIV July 31 in a private audience at the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace.
Israeli strike damages Christian-run hospital in Gaza July 31, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The Catholic Near East Welfare Association-Pontifical Mission in Lebanon and Syria reported that an Israeli airstrike on a residential apartment directly adjacent to CNEWA-supported Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in the center of Gaza City damaged hospital facilities late July 29.
Pope Leo on his ancestry, and how he’s a ‘pope who happens to be American’ July 30, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV spoke with Tom Llamas of NBC News July 29 about being the first American pope, his diverse ancestry and whether he might be coming to the U.S. soon.
Trump marks 45th anniversary of martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Rother July 29, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News President Donald Trump issued a message July 28 marking the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first American-born martyr to be beatified by the Catholic Church.
US bishops call for nationwide prayer and action amid rising abortion rate July 29, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News The U.S. Catholic bishops issued a nationwide call to prayer and action July 27 over the rising abortion rate and the increased availability of an abortion-inducing drug.
Pope Leo appeals for dialogue, diplomacy, prayers for just peace in Holy Land, Middle East July 27, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV on July 26 renewed his urgent appeals for peace in the Holy Land and across the Middle East during his Angelus address in Castel Gandolfo, expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and calling for an immediate return to dialogue.
Father Marquette: A priest-explorer who mapped the Mississippi July 10, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News The waters of the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan present themselves in beautifully variegated blues. Dark indigo, rich cobalt and bright turquoise greet the passenger ferries as they sail toward the pebbled shoreline of Mackinac Island. As the boats near the docks, the well-kept, sloping green lawn of Marquette Park comes into view.
