Parishes get training to be welcoming, but alert to safety April 7, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News 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 April 6, 2026By Lisa Harlow Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries 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 April 5, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Local News, News, Obituaries 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.
Trump threatens strikes on Iranian infrastructure same day Pope Leo appeals for peace April 5, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News President Donald Trump on Easter threatened major strikes on Iran’s energy and transportation infrastructure if its leaders do not cooperate with his demand to open the Strait of Hormuz.
‘The power with which Christ rose is entirely nonviolent,’ pope says in Easter peace message April 5, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Speaking from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica on Easter, Pope Leo XIV delivered a passionate appeal for peace, declaring that the power of the risen Christ is “entirely nonviolent” and calling on world leaders to lay down their weapons and choose dialogue over domination.
The Little Girl at the Cross: Our Faith Is Always New April 5, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window 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.
At Easter Mass, Pope Leo proclaims Resurrection conquers ‘the power of death’ April 5, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV offered Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square Sunday proclaiming that with Christ’s resurrection “death has been conquered forever” and “no longer has power over us.”
An Easter Reflection: Winning with Joy April 5, 2026By Rita Buettner Catholic Review Filed Under: Blog, Commentary, Easter, Open Window 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.
Archbishop Broglio: War in Iran likely not justified under Catholic teaching on legitimate defense April 4, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services questioned the legitimacy of America’s war in Iran, arguing that the war is likely not justified under Catholic teaching on legitimate defense by military means, sometimes called just war theory.
Pope: Don’t be paralyzed by mistrust, fear; be catalyzed by Christ to build peace April 4, 2026By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News God’s love is stronger than any evil, capable of “driving out hatred” and “bringing down the mighty,” Pope Leo XIV said.
At Colosseum, pope carries the cross, leading thousands in Good Friday prayer for suffering world April 4, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Inside the ancient arena of the Roman Empire that crucified Christ, Pope Leo XIV carried the cross through the darkness of night on Good Friday at Rome’s Colosseum, leading about 30,000 in prayer for the sufferings of the modern world.
Father Isaac Hecker: Father of American evangelization April 4, 2026By Russell Shaw OSV News Filed Under: America's 250th anniversary, Commentary, Evangelization 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.”
