Catholic Review Editor Christopher Gunty talks with two authors whose books feature literal and spiritual trailblazers.
Feature
Over 20,000 permanent deacons serve church, but death, retirement bring overall number down
The nation’s Catholic permanent deacons were estimated to number more than 20,000 in 2024 — but “as is the case with priests in the United States, there are not enough new permanent deacons being ordained to make up for the numbers who are retiring from active ministry and dying each year,” according to a new report.
Future priest from Congo has a heart of service
Faith has been a vibrant part of Deacon Ilanga’s 46 years of life. It all began in his childhood with his mother bringing him and his eight siblings – five sisters and three brothers – to daily and Sunday Masses as a family. With the church being a five-minute walk from home, Deacon Ilanga was also involved in ministries such as singing in the choir and being an altar server.
Minnesota lawmaker who once taught Catholic Sunday school shot and killed in apparent ‘politically motivated assassination’
Democratic State Rep. Melissa Hortman, who once taught Sunday school at St. Timothy in Blaine, Minn., and was a speaker of the Minnesota House, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early June 14 in what Gov. Tim Walz said “appears to be a politically motivated assassination.”
A pending element of tackling the abuse crisis: transparency
While much was done during Pope Francis’ pontificate to tackle the global abuse crisis — a crisis moving at differing speeds in the church, depending on the country — one significant element is still pending and left for Pope Leo XIV to implement. That element is transparency.
Pope sets Sept. 7 for joint canonization of Blesseds Acutis and Frassati
Pope Leo XIV will canonize Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati together Sept. 7, the Vatican announced.
As revival’s Year of Mission draws to close, organizers look back — and ahead
In the same way that a relationship with Christ is not about something but someone, the organizers of the National Eucharistic Revival will tell you that their movement is not just something faithful Catholics do, but something that they are — a grace from God, stirring up the hearts of his people.
Pew: Christianity up in sub-Saharan Africa, down worldwide due to those leaving the faith
Sub-Saharan Africa has replaced Europe as the locus for the world’s Christians, due to both higher birthrates and Western Europe’s “widespread Christian disaffiliation” — with Christians declining as a share of the world’s population due to adherents leaving the faith, according to new research by the Pew Research Center.
Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him
In an interview with OSV News, Louis Prevost said that it was more than just Robert being “the baby of the family. … There was an air about him. I mean the spirit coming out of his physical body as he grew older.”
Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies
A funeral Mass for School Sister of Notre Dame Joan Marie Minella was offered May 30 at Villa Assumpta in Towson. Sister Joan died May 9, just a few days shy of turning 90.
Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts
At a time when federal funding cuts are straining the services of charitable organizations across the region, Archbishop William E. Lori offered a message of hope and solidarity during a special “Mass for the Preservation of Peace and Justice” celebrated June 11 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.
Incoming superior general of Oblate Sisters of Providence outlines priorities
When Sister Marcia Hall was elected in April as the next superior general of the Baltimore-based Oblate Sisters of Providence, the nation’s oldest functioning Black Catholic religious order, she would have to wait for her new administration to meet to prioritize goals for their four-year tenure.