Netflix’s ‘Train Dreams’ captures the beauty of an ordinary life December 3, 2025By Katie Yoder OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews “Train Dreams” presents the ordinary, little life of its protagonist as quiet, quick, easy to miss, and yet extraordinary. Based on a novella with the same name by Denis Johnson, “Train Dreams” follows Grainier (Joel Edgerton), a taciturn logger and railroad worker in the Pacific Northwest, as he experiences love and loss.
Ukraine’s religious leaders warn Russia will attack Europe if not halted, held accountable December 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, War in Ukraine, World News As Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians accompany U.S.-brokered peace talks that as of Dec. 3 produced no breakthrough, Ukraine’s religious leaders warn that failure to halt Russia and hold it accountable will expand the war to Europe.
Unity, dialogue, respect: On first trip, pope highlights paths to peace December 3, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Spending time with Catholics, other Christian leaders and top Muslim clerics in Turkey Nov. 27-Nov. 30 and Lebanon Nov. 30-Dec. 2, the pope made formal speeches about how believing in God as the father of all means recognizing one another as brothers and sisters.
Buffalo bishop calls nation, Christians to ‘do better’ in upholding migrants’ dignity December 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News A New York state bishop, who is a Baltimore native, has echoed a recent call from the nation’s Catholic bishops to respect God-given human dignity, regardless of immigration status.
Artist helps transform blight to beauty throughout Baltimore area December 3, 2025By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Local News, News As the clang of passing light-rail trains filled the air, Erin Meye concentrated on touching up a large mural she had completed a few weeks earlier outside Options@328, a pro-life pregnancy resource center in Baltimore that shares a wall with Planned Parenthood.
Books for Christmas 2025 December 3, 2025By George Weigel Syndicated Columnist Filed Under: Books, Commentary, The Catholic Difference Surveys indicate that reading books is dropping precipitously across all age groups. This is a tragedy in itself; it’s also a social disaster, as a post-literate society risks becoming a post-rational society. All the more reason, then, to consider giving books for Christmas: books that entertain, inform, and open new horizons of understanding.
Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon December 3, 2025By John Mulderig OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.
Question Corner: Do Catholics give things up for Advent? December 3, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Question Corner Catholics aren’t required to “give anything up” for Advent. And even while the practice of taking on an additional, personal Lenten penance is a well-established and praiseworthy custom, Catholics technically aren’t required to do anything extra for Lent beyond the usual fasting and abstinence from meat (see Canon 1251 of the Code of Canon Law).
Situation in Gaza remains ‘critical’ despite peace plan, say Catholic leaders December 3, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News As Pope Leo XIV urged in Turkey Nov. 27 that “the future of humanity is at stake” with ongoing conflict in the Middle East and days after a United Nations Security Council endorsement of a U.S.-backed peace plan, Catholic leaders warn that conditions in Gaza remain grave, especially as winter approaches.
Pope Leo is first pontiff to go to St. Charbel’s tomb; visit is source of ‘great joy’ for Lebanon December 3, 2025By Isabella H. de Carvalho OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, Vatican, World News On the second leg of his apostolic journey that took him to Lebanon, Pope Leo XIV prayed at the tomb of St. Charbel on Dec. 1.
That’s No Coincidence December 2, 2025By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Advent, Blog, Commentary, Open Window I never would have thought those two things would happen on the same day.
Supreme Court weighs appeal from New Jersey faith-based pregnancy centers December 2, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, Respect Life, Supreme Court, World News The Supreme Court on Dec. 2 heard oral arguments in an appeal from a group of faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey challenging an investigation by that state’s attorney general alleging they misled people about their services and seeking information about their donors.
