Pope Francis wrote about encountering Christ and the joy of evangelizing, a church that goes forth, not hiding or shrinking from challenges, but embracing them in openness and love to all.

Advent prepares us for Jesus’ coming at Christmas and for his coming into our lives afresh. And no one knows how to get ready to welcome Christ better than the saints.

Make Advent loving and fun, with your focus on Jesus.

The richness of 40 distinct voices lifts the soul upward, but also outward.

What the pro-life movement in general, and unfortunately even the church, has not done is to campaign convincingly for what replaces the “safety net” of abortion in the voters’ minds.

Abstaining from meat is still the U.S. bishops’ stated preference for how Catholics should observe Fridays.

The diocesan chancery office would have access to maps of parish territorial boundaries, and would also be familiar with any “quirks” of local sacramental record-keeping.

I went outside, slipped into the driver’s seat, and glanced up to discover that the windshield was covered. Instead of the frost I’m used to seeing, however, the glass was enveloped in a beautiful, delicate pattern of ice.

Sometimes when we’re planning the Thanksgiving menu, someone will say, “But of course, it’s not about the food.” It’s about being together. Yes, yes, naturally. But the food stories tell us so much about the traditions and the people we love.

The newly redesigned Elizabeth Ann Seton museum has much to offer any pilgrim.