Christmas celebratory again in Holy Land amid ongoing war; patriarch urges pilgrims to return December 5, 2024By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News Christmas this season in the Holy Land will be celebratory, despite ongoing bloodshed and war, the patriarchs of the Holy Land said, as Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa encouraged pilgrims to come back to the birthplace of Jesus.
‘Pilgrims of Hope’: Vatican prepares to welcome millions for Holy Year December 5, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Jubilee 2025, News, Vatican, World News The celebration of a Holy Year every 25 years is an acknowledgment that “the Christian life is a journey calling for moments of greater intensity to encourage and sustain hope as the constant companion that guides our steps toward the goal of our encounter with the Lord Jesus,” Pope Francis wrote.
Charity is more than material support, pope says December 5, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Social Justice, Vatican, World News Charity involves more than offering material aid to those in need; it also calls for a commitment to fostering societal change, Pope Francis said.
Hopkins medical sculptor transforms lives, restores hope with facial prostheses December 5, 2024By George P. Matysek Jr. Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, Health Care, Local News, News He’s worked with patients whose ears were bitten off in dog attacks. He’s seen people whose eyes or ears were lost in accidents or whose flesh was ravaged by aggressive cancers. And he’s helped others born without body parts or who suffered unimaginable gunshot wounds.
Handmade gifts make Christmas presents more meaningful December 5, 2024By Katie V. Jones Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Christmas, Feature, Local News, News Christmas gifts made by hand offer many benefits, artists and crafters say, no matter if they are baked, painted, sewed or melted. They are one-of-a-kind and mean a lot to both the givers and the receivers.
Homilies must be short, about Jesus, inspired by the Spirit, pope says December 4, 2024By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Homilies must be prepared with the help of the Holy Spirit, be shorter than 10 minutes and put the spotlight on the Lord, not oneself, Pope Francis said.
Pope, cardinal advisers discuss collegiality, role of women December 4, 2024By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Synodality, Vatican, World News During two days of meetings, Pope Francis and his closest cardinal advisers discussed the relationship between local churches and other institutional church assemblies, a main topic of discussion to come out of the Synod of Bishops on synodality.
Supreme Court hears challenge to Tennessee’s gender transition ban for minors December 4, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Health Care, News, Supreme Court, World News The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Dec. 4 in a case concerning a challenge to a Tennessee state law banning certain types of medical or surgical gender reassignment procedures for minors who identify as transgender.
Trump to attend Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening ceremonies December 4, 2024By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, News, World News President-elect Donald Trump will attend the upcoming reopening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, he said Dec. 2. The trip will mark his first foreign trip since his election to a second term.
El Salvador archbishop blasts mining law change, says it will cause ‘irrevocable damage’ December 4, 2024By David Agren OSV News Filed Under: Environment, News, Social Justice, World News Catholic leaders in Central America expressed alarm over the idea of repealing a national prohibition on extractive activities in El Salvador — putting the church in opposition to the country’s popular president.
Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas venerated by faithful in Washington during relic’s 3-week U.S. tour December 4, 2024By Paul Macrae Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, World News To a packed St. Dominic Church Nov. 29, Cardinal Wilton D. Gregory of Washington delivered a homily focused on the Catholic tradition of honoring the dead and on the legacy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Ukrainian art therapist helps people traumatized by the war that took her son December 4, 2024By Maryann Gogniat Eidemiller OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, War in Ukraine, World News Artist and psychologist Tetiana Myalkovska of Ukraine used her art therapy techniques to work with children who have special needs and with her country’s traumatized soldiers returning from the conflict when Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.
