A simple guide to Holy Week March 26, 2026By Heidi Busse OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Lent During this special time, we enter into the passion of Christ — his Crucifixion, death and Resurrection — through liturgical celebration and personal conversion.
Jerusalem patriarchate cancels Palm Sunday procession, postpones chrism Mass amid war March 24, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, Feature, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said wartime restrictions have forced the cancellation or postponement of key Holy Week observances, urging the faithful to remain united in prayer despite the inability to gather for traditional celebrations.
Custody of the Holy Land: Prayer continues at Holy Sepulchre amid ‘time of trial,’ restricted access March 23, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, News, World News The Church of the Holy Sepulcher remains a place of continuous prayer despite restricted access to the faithful, according to a statement released March 21 by the Custody of the Holy Land, which also said uncertainty persists over upcoming Holy Week and Easter celebrations.
What are the three holy oils? March 22, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Worship & Sacraments The Church makes use of three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the holy chrism oil. The first two are blessed, and the bishop consecrates the third, ordinarily during the annual chrism Mass. Each has a distinctive purpose in the Church.
Easter boom: U.S. dioceses say rise in new Catholics may point to regional ‘revivals’ March 19, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments While the religiously unaffiliated are on the rise globally, something curious is also happening: Some dioceses have reported significant upticks in adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church this Easter.
Question Corner: What are my Easter duties? April 30, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Question Corner In broad terms, “the Easter duty” usually refers to a fully initiated Catholic’s obligation to make a good sacramental confession and receive holy Communion every year around the time of Easter.
Walking the Emmaus road as a family April 21, 2025By Laura Kelly Fanucci OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter The road to Emmaus reminds us that Christ goes with us everywhere, walking and talking among us: in our conversations and debates, in ordinary meals and sacred liturgies, in journeys near and far. Our hearts burn within us, too, whenever we realize he has been right next to us all along.
Pope on Easter: Jesus’ resurrection makes Christians pilgrims of hope April 20, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News The hope Christians have is not a sign of avoiding reality but of trusting in the power of God to defeat sin and death as the resurrection of Jesus clearly shows, Pope Francis wrote in his Easter message.
Beyond the veil April 20, 2025By Scott P. Richert OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter As we leave the 40 days of Lent behind us and once again boldly shout “Alleluia!” in the joy of Christ’s Resurrection, may we make a conscious effort this Easter season to set aside our childish literal-mindedness and search for the symbols in our lives that allow us a glimpse beyond the veil of this material world to the kingdom that is both yet to come and, in Christ, already here.
Christ’s light breaks through world’s darkness, pope says in vigil message April 19, 2025By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, Vatican, World News As the lights of St. Peter’s Basilica were extinguished and silence settled through the sprawling interior, a single flame — the paschal candle — pierced through the gloom, representing the light of the risen Christ which “quietly shines forth, even though we are in darkness,” Pope Francis said.
Rice Bowl a call to ‘stand in solidarity with global family,’ CRS says April 19, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Giving, News, World News With Easter celebrations hours away, the U.S. bishops’ humanitarian agency is urging the faithful to “stand in solidarity with our global family” by turning in their Lenten Rice Bowl contributions.
A basket filled with faith: Eastern Europe Easter tradition explained April 19, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter Holy Saturday is one of those days when the church, though liturgically silent, speaks volumes through signs.
