Pope marks 800th anniversary of Nativity scene, asks prayers for Holy Land December 11, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Advent, Christmas, Feature, News, Vatican, World News Away in a cave near Greccio, Italy, St. Francis of Assisi had the first Nativity scene — a live one — staged for the faithful on Christmas Eve in 1223. A 15th-century fresco now decorating the cave inspired the Nativity scene erected in St. Peter’s Square for the 800th anniversary celebrations.
Nebraska priest dies after attack during apparent rectory break-in December 11, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, World News A Nebraska priest has died after being attacked in the rectory of his parish in the early morning before he was to celebrate Mass for the Second Sunday of Advent.
Country star Craig Morgan shares his journey of faith to becoming Catholic December 11, 2023By Katie Peterson OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News Country start Craig Morgan grew up in various Christian denominations, predominantly Baptist and, for a time, Presbyterian. But there were some things that didn’t sit quite right with him until he began studying the Catholic faith.
YDisciple launches evangelization resources in Spanish to reach U.S. youth December 11, 2023By Marietha Góngora V. OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Hispanic Ministry, News, World News, Youth Ministry In November, NET Ministries, a Minnesota-based Catholic youth ministry that has been inspiring and forming young people to live their faith for decades, announced that it was expanding its outreach to Hispanic youth through its YDisciple project.
Marie Miller takes music and faith to new level in ‘Woman’ December 10, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, Feature, News, World News A young singer-songwriter in Nashville, Tenn., is taking her music — and her faith — to a new level with her latest release.
As Eastern, Latin Catholics discover each other’s richness, their bond grows December 10, 2023By Kiki Hayden OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News While Pope Francis has been giving prominent roles to Eastern Catholic leaders in the Synod on Synodality, which recently concluded its first session in Rome, the bond between the 23 Eastern Catholic churches and the Latin Church also grows at the local level
Pope gives Philadelphia three new auxiliary bishops known for humble, ‘zealous hearts’ December 8, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, News, Vatican, World News The Archdiocese of Philadelphia is welcoming three new auxiliary bishops — all of whom, as Philadelphia priests, are already home.
Pope asks Mary to watch over Ukrainians, Palestinians, Israelis December 8, 2023By Justin McLellan Catholic News Service Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Mary’s conception, free from original sin, shows that the destiny of humanity lies in life, brotherhood, harmony and peace rather than death, hate, conflict and war, Pope Francis said on the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Nothing is impossible for God, not even peace in Ukraine, pope says December 8, 2023By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News Pope Francis asked Catholics around the world to join him in entrusting to Mary “the universal desire for peace, especially for the martyred Ukraine, which is suffering so much.”
Russia bans Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Catholic ministries in occupied region of Ukraine December 8, 2023By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, War in Ukraine, World News Russian occupation authorities have banned the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church and other Catholic ministries in occupied areas of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to the church’s main communications office in Kyiv.
Senate Republicans block Ukraine-Israel emergency aid over border, raising Catholic concerns December 8, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, U.S. Congress, War in Ukraine, World News Senate Republicans Dec. 6 blocked an emergency spending bill to provide billions of dollars in wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel while calling for strict new policies at the U.S.-Mexico border opposed by some Catholic immigration advocates.
Texas judge grants exception to state abortion ban December 8, 2023By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News A Texas judge ruled Dec. 7 in favor of a pregnant mother who sued the state to seek an exemption to its abortion ban after she argued that continuing with her pregnancy would endanger her life and future fertility.
