It’s Holywins: European Catholics offer a joyful alternative to Halloween October 31, 2025By Katarzyna Szalajko OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Youth Ministry Across Europe, Catholic families are turning Halloween into a celebration of light, life and holiness. Known as “Holywins” — a play on “Holy” and “Halloween” — the movement began in Paris in 2002 and has since spread to Poland, Belgium, Italy, Spain and beyond.
Faith thrives in community, not isolation, pope tells young adults October 31, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Youth Ministry Pope Leo XIV encouraged an international group of young adults to reach out to their peers and invite them to be active members of a parish community rather than trying to live their faith alone.
Brazilian cardinal calls for peace, solidarity with poor after deadly police raid October 31, 2025By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News Brazilian Cardinal Orani João Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro appealed for peace after a police operation targeting a local drug trafficking gang resulted in the deaths of more than a hundred people.
Teaching is ‘great act of love,’ pope tells educators October 31, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Schools, Vatican, World News A human connection of love and care between a teacher and student is a key part of the educational process, Pope Leo XIV said, and one that is even more important at a time when so many students experience fragility.
Vatican announces theme for World Mission Sunday 2026 October 31, 2025By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: Missions, News, World News When the Catholic Church celebrates World Mission Sunday for the 100th time in 2026, it will focus on theme, “One in Christ, united in mission.”
Proclamation of St. Newman as doctor of church signals Catholic revival at Oxford October 31, 2025By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: Colleges, News, Saints, World News When St. John Henry Newman is proclaimed a doctor of the church on Nov. 1, staff and students at his old university will be counting on a boost of confidence for Oxford’s once-excluded Catholics.
Recognition of St. Newman is ecumenical celebration, leaders say October 31, 2025By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Leo XIV’s recognition of St. John Henry Newman as a “doctor of the church” will be an ecumenical celebration, a sign of esteem for the excellence and ongoing relevance of his teaching, first as an Anglican and then as a Roman Catholic, said a key figure in preparing the declaration.
Trump administration sets record-low refugee admission cap, with focus on white South Africans October 30, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Immigration and Migration, News, World News The Trump administration indicated it would restrict the number of refugees it admits annually into the country to 7,500, with most of that number to be white South Africans.
Suspect pleads guilty to murder of Nebraska Catholic priest October 30, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, World News Kierre Williams entered the plea Oct. 28 in Washington County, Nebraska, District Court, admitting to first-degree murder in the 2023 stabbing death of Father Stephen Gutgsell.
Catholic ministries brace for millions of hungry Americans as SNAP deadline looms October 30, 2025By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News With funding for SNAP — the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a major part of the nation’s social safety net — scheduled to lapse Nov. 1 due to the federal government shutdown, that need could stretch many hunger relief ministries, and those they serve, to the limit.
Catholic Charities USA launches national hunger drive in case SNAP runs out Nov. 1 October 30, 2025By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Catholic Charities, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, World News Days before a looming lapse in federal food assistance programs, Catholic Charities USA, the network organization dedicated to carrying out the domestic humanitarian work of the Catholic Church in the United States, announced a national fundraising effort to provide an emergency supply of food to Catholic Charities agencies around the country.
Gen-Z should be known as Gen+ for what they can add to the world, pope says October 30, 2025By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Youth Ministry Young people must take control of technology and “humanize” online spaces to be friendly, creative places — not isolated echo chambers, forms of addiction or ways to escape, Pope Leo XIV said.
