The Feb. 23 ordination Mass at the Vatican was the culmination of a three-day Holy Year celebration that drew thousands of deacons, plus their wives and others, from more than 100 countries to Rome for communal prayer, discussion and celebration of the diaconate.
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With mentors and Holy Spirit, marriage catechumenate model bears fruit
The Witness to Love approach challenges couples to engage with church teaching and what being married means. It also involves close accompaniment by a practicing Catholic mentor couple — of their own choosing — who shares the couple’s journey to the altar and provides them a “lifeline” of support beyond the wedding day.
Pope has respiratory ‘crisis,’ doctors say ‘prognosis reserved’
Pope Francis experienced “an asthmatic respiratory crisis of prolonged magnitude, which also required the use of oxygen at high flows” Feb. 22, said the daily medical bulletin released by the Vatican.
U.S.-based evangelization project prepares people to become Jesus’ 73rd disciple
For every disciple to truly become “the salt of the earth and the light of the world” — that is the goal of “I Am the 73rd,” an evangelization initiative of El Sembrador-Nueva Evangelización, a Catholic network also known as ESNE.
Coalition aims to have an active prison ministry in all U.S. dioceses, get more laity involved
Those who accompany the incarcerated have said there is a lot to do in ministering to a population that has committed crimes and had to live with the consequences of those actions.
Bishops, Catholic leaders continue to speak out against Trump immigration changes
Catholic bishops, clergy and religious across the nation continue to weigh in on the Trump administration’s sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy, stressing the need to respect human dignity amid efforts to address immigration challenges.
Ukrainians need to be comforted ‘in their pain,’ chaplains say as war enters fourth year
As the war in Ukraine reaches the tragic threshold of three years, OSV News is profiling Catholics who have become quiet heroes of help, perseverance and faith amid the nightmare of a full-scale Russian invasion.
Pope’s chronic lung condition plus infection are serious, doctor says
While Pope Francis’ life is not in immediate danger, the level of multiple infections in his lungs means he is not completely “out of danger,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of medical and surgical sciences at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
Despite health challenges, pope has ‘unique’ presence, cardinal says
Despite his illness, Pope Francis’ “great desire is to at least complete the Jubilee, the holy year dedicated to hope that he feels is his great moment,” a cardinal told an Italian newspaper.
Ukraine’s major archbishop makes Jubilee visit to U.S.: ‘Solidarity keeps us standing’
Hope in Christ and that God’s truth will prevail amid Russia’s war on Ukraine was the message that Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, the patriarchal head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, shared time and again during his Feb. 15-21 Jubilee Year pastoral visit to the United States.
HHS issues new ‘sex-based definitions’ following Trump executive orders
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Feb. 19 it has started to send out guidance on “clear sex-based definitions” to government agencies, outside organizations and the public.
Pope continues showing ‘slight’ improvement, Vatican says
On his sixth full day in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, “the Holy Father’s clinical condition is improving slightly,” the Vatican said.