FletcherFest celebrates young legacy of student killed in shooting at all-school Mass January 14, 2026By Josh McGovern The Catholic Spirit Filed Under: Gun Violence, News, World News The auditorium — which was used to celebrate Mass for nearly five months after an Aug. 27, 2025, shooting during an all-school Mass took the lives of the Merkels’ 8-year-old son, Fletcher, and 10-year-old Harper Moyski — was filled Jan. 10 with Annunciation parents and community members.
‘Many challenges remain’ in making abortion ‘unthinkable,’ says bishop January 14, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Respect Life, World News Bishop Thomas shared his thoughts in a Jan. 13 statement released by the USCCB, ahead of a number of national and local pro-life initiatives held throughout the month.
Amid protests, ICE operations, archbishop prays for community, for family of slain protester January 13, 2026By Rebecca Omastiak The Catholic Spirit Filed Under: Gun Violence, Immigration and Migration, News, World News Acknowledging what he described as “a heaviness in our community these days,” Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis assured Catholics and the Twin Cities community of his continued prayers on Jan. 12.
Supreme Court hears cases on Idaho, West Virginia transgender sports bans January 13, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: News, Sports, Supreme Court, World News The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13 heard oral arguments in two cases concerning state laws requiring student athletes to compete on sports teams that correspond to their biological sex rather than their gender identity.
Historic altar at St. Mark’s monastery in Jerusalem unveiled for first time in 350 years January 13, 2026By Judith Sudilovsky OSV News Filed Under: Arts & Culture, News, World News The historic altar of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Monastery of St. Mark in Jerusalem has been unveiled for the first time in nearly 350 years, following an extensive restoration.
Jubilee set to mark 800th year since St. Francis’ death; saint’s body to be displayed January 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Saints, Vatican, World News Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis may be proclaimed, in which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”
Florida Venezuelans react with hope amid fast-moving developments back home January 13, 2026By Tom Tracy OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, Immigration and Migration, News, World News The ongoing emigration of millions of Venezuelans from their native country is the largest recorded refugee crisis in the Americas. According to The Associated Press, about 8 million people have fled the country since 2014.
Anti-trafficking advocates cite aid cuts, immigration crackdowns as key challenges January 13, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, News, World News As the U.S. marked its annual observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Jan. 11, anti-trafficking advocates told OSV News their work is facing challenges due to funding downturns and fears of reprisal amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns.
New papal staff highlights Christ’s victory over death, papal liturgies office says January 13, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments While Catholics have been accustomed to the famed silver papal staff featuring the suffering of Christ crucified and used by the pontiffs for decades, a new staff, or crosier, used by Pope Leo XIV, emphasized the victory of the risen Christ over death.
Trump scheduled to meet with U.S. bishops’ president at White House January 12, 2026By Kate Scanlon OSV News Filed Under: Bishops, Feature, News, World News President Donald Trump was scheduled to meet with Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Jan. 12, according to the White House schedule.
Venezuelan Nobel laureate Machado asks pope for help in freeing political prisoners January 12, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Caribbean, News, Vatican, World News Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado asked for Pope Leo XIV’s help in securing the release of political prisoners in the country following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Parents can’t wait for children to choose baptism, says pope, baptizing 20 infants in Sistine Chapel January 12, 2026By Paulina Guzik OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Just as we wouldn’t leave newborns without clothes or food, we cannot leave them without faith and baptism, Pope Leo XIV told parents of children he baptized in the splendor and beauty of the Sistine Chapel Jan. 11.
