Listening: It’s not a fast-paced game of ping pong, pope tells Curia December 21, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News Officials of the Roman Curia must learn how to really listen to others, not treating a discussion as a game of “ping pong” where everything another says is met with a speedy and automatic response, Pope Francis said.
Good, hidden deeds are a service to the church, pope tells employees December 21, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Like God’s decision to be born in a manger tucked away from the world, good deeds done in silence can express God’s love wherever they are performed, Pope Francis said.
‘Beware of reading too much too quickly’ into same-sex blessings document, say global bishops December 21, 2023By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, World News While several Western European bishops praised the Dec. 18 declaration of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on blessing same-sex couples as “a major breakthrough in pastoral care,” reactions elsewhere have been mixed, with African bishops offering explainers for “confused” faithful or banning same-sex blessings.
Baltimore’s Black and Hispanic Catholic choirs inspire unity and joy December 21, 2023By Adriana Montes Catholic Review Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Black Catholic Ministry, Feature, Hispanic Ministry, Local News, News, Our Faith in Action The archdiocese introduced two distinctive ensembles, each representing significant communities and emphasizing unity among Catholics while celebrating the church’s rich diversity – the Black Catholic Mass Choir and the Hispanic/Latino Archdiocesan Choir.
Small fire at St. Mary in Annapolis won’t affect Christmas services December 20, 2023By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News All is well at St. Mary Church in Annapolis after a small fire in the late morning of Dec. 20 caused minor damage to the second floor of the parish’s three-story rectory.
Monsignor FitzGerald, noted for ministry to seafarers, dies at 82 December 20, 2023By Kurt Jensen Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Bridge Collapse, Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Monsignor John Louis FitzGerald, a Baltimore native and former military chaplain who in 2003 established Apostleship of the Sea, a worldwide ministry for seafarers, for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, died Dec. 16. He was 82.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul groups’ personal charity shows neighbors ‘this is Christmas’ December 20, 2023By Robert Alan Glover OSV News Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, World News A dedicated group of Catholic — and non-Catholic — volunteers is showing how the Christmas joy of helping the less fortunate lasts all year round.
In times of darkness, faith is all you have, says Cardinal Pizzaballa December 20, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News While faith cannot change anything in moments of great darkness such as the one Israelis and Palestinians are currently living through in the Israeli-Hamas war, it can, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa said, create “a small light” which will give “orientation.”
Pope: Gifts and parties are OK, but don’t forget Jesus at Christmas December 20, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Exchanging Christmas gifts and organizing holiday parties are all well and good, but Christians should contemplate the scene of Jesus’ birth to recover what is truly important during the Christmas season, Pope Francis said.
Prayer vigil puts spotlight on those mourning during season of joy December 20, 2023By Gerry Jackson Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Gun Violence, Local News, News, Our Faith in Action A coalition of religious and community-service groups in Southwest Baltimore plans to continue its anti-violence conversation with a prayer vigil and walk two days after Christmas.
New Texas law criminalizing unauthorized migrants’ entry into state called inhumane December 19, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, signed an immigration bill into law Dec. 18 that makes it a state crime for unauthorized migrants to cross into Texas from Mexico. Catholic organizations including the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops have opposed the legislation.
‘We have nothing except our church — faith is stronger than war,’ says young Gaza Christian December 19, 2023By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News The world has become small and dangerous for the 600 Palestinian Gaza Christians sheltering at the Holy Family Parish church compound in Gaza City almost since the start of the Israeli-Hamas war Oct. 7.
