8 ways to live a merciful life January 11, 2025By Lorene Hanley Duquin OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Disaster Relief We tend to think of “mercy” as compassion or sympathy, but the word has a much deeper meaning. It is more than feeling sorry for someone. Having mercy means that we enter into the other person’s suffering.
Los Angeles fire victims grieve lost homes, church: ‘It’s too much’ January 10, 2025By Pablo Kay OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News Sam Laganà and his wife were among the dozens of Corpus Christi parishioners at a special Mass celebrated by Archbishop José H. Gomez at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to pray for those affected by the fires raging through parts of Los Angeles County.
In Pacific Palisades, paradise lost January 10, 2025By Greg Erlandson OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Disaster Relief Like marauders galloping out of the foothills, the flames swept down on the community that liked to call itself a village, as if its boutique shops and restaurants somehow protected it from a harsher world.
L.A. deacon, parishioners save church from Eaton Fire with a hose January 10, 2025By Pablo Kay OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As he drove frantically past charred buildings along the smoky streets of Altadena in his SUV early on the morning of Jan. 8, Deacon José Luis Díaz had one prayer on his mind: God, please spare my church.
Seeing Passionist retreat house badly damaged by L.A. fire is ‘heartbreaking,’ director says January 10, 2025By Mike Cisneros OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News The Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre was badly damaged by the Eaton Fire, according to Passionist Father Febin Barose, retreat center director.
Catholic parishes offer shelter, relief to evacuated families near LA fires January 9, 2025By Pablo Kay OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News Several Catholic parishes opened their doors to families evacuated from their homes as wind-driven fires continued to burn through parts of Los Angeles County Jan. 8.
Catholics rally to aid Los Angeles wildfire victims January 9, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News As deadly wildfires ravage Los Angeles, Catholics are mobilizing to help those impacted.
L.A. Palisades Fire destroys Corpus Christi Catholic Church, damages school January 9, 2025By Pablo Kay OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News A church in Pacific Palisades appeared to be destroyed and more than 60 Catholic schools were closed as several major fires in the Los Angeles area burned overnight into Jan.8.
Biden cancels final foreign trip, including papal audience, amid California wildfires January 9, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, Feature, News, Vatican, World News President Joe Biden has canceled his upcoming trip to Italy, including an audience with Pope Francis, in order to “remain focused on directing the full federal response” in the wake of the devastating wildfires raging in California, the White House said.
Catholic agency ‘will follow’ Lebanon’s displaced ‘wherever they settle’ after ceasefire December 3, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Disaster Relief, Feature, News, World News The head of a Catholic humanitarian agency in Lebanon told OSV News the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire appears to be intact, as he and his team vow to assist those displaced by the conflict “wherever they settle.”
Bishops’ plenary, Mass and cardinal’s visit focus on flood devastation, solidarity in Spain November 21, 2024By José Calderero de Aldecoa OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, World News The archbishop of Valencia presided over Mass celebrated by the Spanish bishops in the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid Nov. 19 to pray for all those affected by the tragic end-of-October floods in Valencia, Albacete and Cuenca, where over 200 people lost their lives.
Archbishop Pérez: Cubans are ‘suffering immense hardships’ and ‘need our help’ November 19, 2024By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Disaster Relief, News, Vatican, World News After back-to-back natural disasters in recent weeks, the Cuban people “are suffering immense hardships and … need our help,” said Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia.
