Pope Leo XIV urges confirmation candidates to ask Holy Spirit for gift of perseverance May 20, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Pope Leo XIV has encouraged young Catholics preparing to receive the sacrament of confirmation to ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of perseverance, warning that too many young people “disappear from the parish” after receiving the sacrament.
Baltimore Chrism Mass draws 1,400 to witness to ‘liberating power of God’ March 31, 2026By Christopher Gunty Catholic Review Filed Under: Archbishop's Ministry, Easter, Feature, Local News, News, Worship & Sacraments The five men who will be ordained to the priesthood in June each had a special role in the chrism Mass March 30 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. Three carried the oils that would be blessed in the Mass, one preached the Gospel and another assisted Archbishop William E. Lori at the altar.
Pope calls on French bishops to find solution to divisive liturgy debates March 26, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Pope Leo XIV lamented the divisions surrounding the celebration of the Latin Mass and called on the French bishops’ conference to find solutions that include those attached to the old form of Mass.
What are the three holy oils? March 22, 2026By D.D. Emmons OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Easter, Worship & Sacraments The Church makes use of three holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of the catechumens and the holy chrism oil. The first two are blessed, and the bishop consecrates the third, ordinarily during the annual chrism Mass. Each has a distinctive purpose in the Church.
Former astrologer rediscovers Catholic roots, will enter full communion with Church at Easter March 21, 2026By Daniel Meloy Detroit Catholic Filed Under: News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Molly Curtis was always a spiritual person, reading the Bible, studying other religious texts, finding wisdom in Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. But while she found wisdom, she didn’t find peace.
‘People are hungry for the Lord,’ says catechist as record numbers prepare to join Church March 20, 2026By D. Hunter Reardon The Catholic Virginian Filed Under: Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments After the Rite of Election, the catechumens are called “the elect” until they are baptized at the Easter Vigil Mass.
Easter boom: U.S. dioceses say rise in new Catholics may point to regional ‘revivals’ March 19, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Easter, Feature, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments While the religiously unaffiliated are on the rise globally, something curious is also happening: Some dioceses have reported significant upticks in adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church this Easter.
Pope Leo XIV meets with authors of book on Latin Mass in U.S. March 6, 2026By Courtney Mares OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News, Worship & Sacraments Pope Leo XIV met two sociologists on March 5 who have co-authored a book on Catholics who attend the traditional Latin Mass in the United States.
From Foreheads to Crowns: How Ash Wednesday looks different worldwide February 17, 2026By Josephine Peterson Catholic News Service Filed Under: Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Catholics going to Mass on Ash Wednesday will leave church marked, but whether the ashes appear as a bold cross on the forehead or sprinkled atop the head depends largely on where in the world they worship.
‘Remember you are dust’: Why people fill the pew on Ash Wednesday February 17, 2026By Kimberly Heatherington OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Lent, News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Why do so many people make an extra effort to get to church on Ash Wednesday — the first of Lent’s 40 days — when it is not a holy day of obligation, and they are not required to receive ashes?
Latin Mass supporters say SSPX controversy has ‘thrown a hand grenade’ into TLM debate February 16, 2026By Jonathan Luxmoore OSV News Filed Under: News, World News, Worship & Sacraments Supporters of the traditional Latin Mass have urged Catholics not to confuse their movement with the more controversial Society of St. Pius X, commonly referred to as SSPX, whose leaders currently risk excommunication by threatening to ordain their own bishops.
French priest hears confessions while riding chairlift in the Alps February 15, 2026By Caroline de Sury OSV News Filed Under: News, Sports, World News, Worship & Sacraments Father Geoffroy Génin is a 69-year-old French priest whose appearance is sometimes unusual. Tall and slim, he has the look of an athlete. Once a week, he can be seen on the ski slopes, in the heart of a magnificent snow-covered valley in the Alps.
