A dream of Bethlehem community: A house for the poor in village where St. Francis staged first Nativity December 23, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, News, World News For almost 30 years, Father Miroslaw Tosza, a priest of the Diocese of Sosnowiec in southern Poland, has lived in the Betlejem (Bethlehem) community in Jaworzno — a house shared by people who have lost jobs, families, homes, health, sobriety and, very often, trust in anyone at all. Now, he dreams of establishing a retreat house for his poor in Greccio.
In leaving CEO post, Curtis Martin says he’ll remain on board, ‘stay on mission’ with FOCUS December 23, 2025By Katie Yoder OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, News, World News In announcing he was stepping down as CEO of FOCUS, an organization that ministers to tens of thousands of students and parishioners, founder Curtis Martin said he will continue to serve the board and “stay on mission with you all.”
2025 homicide victims to be remembered at prayer vigil in Baltimore December 23, 2025By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, Local News, News A coalition of public, private and faith-based partners will gather Dec. 29, 6 p.m., in Southwest Baltimore for a one-hour evening prayer vigil sponsored by the Archdiocese of Baltimore to remember the lives lost to homicide this year and plead for an end to violence.
Cardinal Pizzaballa: Gaza’s Christians long to rebuild life after two years of war December 22, 2025By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, World News People have a deep desire to return to their lives despite the dire and complex situation in Gaza following two years of war, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, said at an annual Christmas press conference on Dec. 22.
New archbishop of Krakow tells faithful that without them he ‘doesn’t make sense’ December 22, 2025By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, World News Entering the centuries-old Royal Wawel Cathedral in Kraków on Dec. 20, Cardinal Grzegorz Rys opened a new chapter of one of the oldest archdioceses in Catholic Poland, telling the faithful that without them he “doesn’t make sense.”
All children kidnapped from Nigeria Catholic school will be home for Christmas December 22, 2025By Fredrick Nzwili OSV News Filed Under: News, Religious Freedom, World News Catholics in northwestern Nigeria are celebrating just days before Christmas, as the last group of students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri has been freed.
Pope thanks priests, encourages them to share responsibilities with laity December 22, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, Vocations, World News At a time when so much pressure and so many demands are placed on priests, they should find support, freedom and relief in recognizing the gifts of laypeople and collaborating with them, Pope Leo XIV said.
Curia must reflect ‘new humanity,’ founded on love, solidarity, pope says December 22, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, Vocations, World News The cardinals, bishops, priests, religious and laypeople who work in the Roman Curia are called to be a “sign of a new humanity,” founded on mutual love and solidarity, not selfishness and individualism, Pope Leo XIV said.
Pope names vicar general Diocese of Austin, Texas, as bishop of Tucson December 22, 2025By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV has appointed Father James A. Misko, vicar general and moderator of the curia for the Diocese of Austin, Texas, as the bishop of Tucson, Arizona.
Pray for peace in front of the Nativity scene, pope asks children December 22, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV asked children to pray in front of their Nativity scenes this Christmas and, especially, to pray “that all the world’s children may live in peace.”
Radio Interview: Inside the diaconate December 22, 2025By Catholic Review Staff Filed Under: CR Radio, deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Radio Interview, Vocations On this episode of Catholic Review Radio, George Matysek explores the diaconate from its apostolic origins to its modern-day expression. The program begins with Father Michael Foppiano, pastor of St. Mark in Fallston and director of the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who addresses common misunderstandings about permanent and transitional deacons, explains their liturgical role at Mass and outlines the formation process for men discerning this vocation.
Cherished Nativity sets display true meaning of Christmas December 22, 2025By Katie V. Jones OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, Local News, News The Nativity scene – Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus – is a Christmas image found worldwide. Big or small, carved from wood, sculpted from stone or knitted from yarn, the crèche represents the true meaning of the holiday.
