Rev. Jesse Jackson dies at 84; Catholic leaders praise civil rights leader’s work for justice February 19, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Obituaries, World News Catholic leaders were among those who praised the legacy of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister and prominent civil rights leader, who died Feb. 17. He was 84.
Deacon Jack Ames, Project Rachel volunteer and educator, dies at 74 February 12, 2026By Jay Sorgi Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Deacon John “Jack” Ames Jr., who helped the healing pathway of hundreds of people who have endured the post-abortion journey and who served in ministry at St. Agnes in Catonsville, died Feb. 8. He was 74.
Oblate Sister M. Felicia Avila, who ministered at St. Ambrose, dies at 89 February 10, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Consecrated Life, Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass for Oblate Sister of Providence M. Felicia Avila will be offered at 11 a.m. Feb. 13 at the Oblate Sisters of Providence motherhouse chapel in Arbutus. Sister Felecia, whose more than 60 years of ministry included serving at St. Ambrose Parish in Park Heights, died Feb. 2. She was 89.
Exploring Catherine O’Hara’s Catholic roots February 4, 2026By Kurt Jensen OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Movie & Television Reviews, Obituaries Catholic faith was not part of comedian Catherine O’Hara’s public-facing work and personality.
Sister Joan Elias, leader in Catholic education, dies at 94 February 4, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass for Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart Sister Joan Elias will be offered at 10 a.m. Feb. 7 at Redeemer Sisters’ Chapel in Huntingdon Valley, Pa. Sister Joan died Jan. 27. She was 94.
Deacon Lee Benson, who ministered in Harford County, dies at 73 February 3, 2026By Kurt Jensen Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: deacons, Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries Deacon Lee Ashby Benson III, who served St. Ignatius Parish in Hickory as an influential, joyful figure for nearly two decades, died Jan. 23.
Jesuit Father Vincent de Paul Alagia dies at 99 January 30, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries In the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Father Alagia served as a retreat director at Manresa-on-Severn in Annapolis and led many Marriage Encounter retreats through 1977. He served in pastoral ministry while residing at the St. Claude La Colombière Jesuit Community in Baltimore (2011–16), where he returned in 2025.
Sister Sigrid Simlik, former teacher in Baltimore, dies at 97 January 29, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Consecrated Life, Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass will be offered Feb. 12 in Wisconsin for Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa Sigrid Simlik, who died Jan. 23. Sister Sigrid, a former teacher at St. Rose of Lima School in Brookland, was 97.
A silent life behind three popes: Farewell to Angelo Gugel, the iconic papal butler January 22, 2026By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, Obituaries, Vatican, World News Five cardinals bid their farewell Jan. 17 to Angelo Gugel, the pontifical butler and witness to modern papal history, who stood silently behind St. John Paul II for nearly three decades, and contributed to saving the pope on the day of the assasination attempt.
John L. Allen Jr.: A Man for All Seasons, at a Roman Table January 22, 2026By Ines San Martin OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Journalism, Obituaries John Allen never believed journalism was about winning arguments or pleasing audiences. He believed it was about fidelity — to facts, to sources, to context and ultimately to readers.
Crux editor, veteran Vatican journalist John Allen loses battle with cancer January 22, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Journalism, News, Obituaries, Vatican, World News John Allen, the editor-in-chief of Crux whose decades-long career in journalism defined him as one of the authoritative voices on the Vatican and the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 61.
Father Zanardini, top missionary anthropologist among Indigenous groups, dies in Paraguay at 83 January 21, 2026By Eduardo Campos Lima OSV News Filed Under: Missions, News, Obituaries, World News Salesian Father Giuseppe Zanardini, an Italian-born priest and scholar who profoundly shaped the study of Indigenous anthropology in Paraguay, died on Jan. 19 at age 83, the South American country’s Salesian congregation announced.
