VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis will celebrate a special Mass with the poor and people who assist them Nov. 19, the first World Day of the Poor. After the 2015-16 Year of Mercy, the pope established the day to encourage new initiatives fostering encounter, friendship, solidarity and concrete assistance to the poor. Pope Francis
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Often overlooked amid issues of grief and loss in Catholic families after the death of a loved one is that thousands of parishes across the United States have their own parish cemetery. The Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, alone has 125 parish cemeteries. The majority of these cemeteries were established when the parish,
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (CNS) — Not only are cemeteries — and Catholic cemeteries in particular — a trove of history about the people who are interred there, but two in the state of Virginia show they can have their own moment in the spotlight. The cemetery at St. Mary Parish in Alexandria is the oldest Catholic
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians can find hope even at the hour of death, which faith teaches is not a closed door but a wide-open passage to a new life with Christ, Pope Francis said. While all men and women are “small and helpless in front of the mystery of death,” Jesus’ victory over death
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu, Philippines, died Oct. 18 at the age of 86 after a series of health complications. In a telegram to Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu, Pope Francis expressed his condolences and “profound gratitude for the late cardinal’s untiring and devoted service to the church.” The pope also
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When a friend’s beloved dog died, Adrian Cruz dug a grave, prepared a box, cleaned the dog and helped bury the animal in a way that helped his grieving friend mourn the loss of her pet. Earlier the same day, Cruz, a Catholic mortician, tried to comfort an acquaintance who was
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Christians are never pessimistic, resigned or weak, thinking life is an unstoppable train careening out of control, Pope Francis said. Throughout history, every day is seen as a gift from God and “every morning is a blank page that Christians start writing on” with their good works and charity, he said
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis has invited Christian and non-Christian young people from around the world to a meeting in preparation for the Synod of Bishops on youth in 2018. Before concluding his weekly general audience, the pope said the March 19-24, 2018, pre-synod meeting will be an opportunity for the church to listen
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Real hope lies in the proclamation of Jesus’ death and resurrection, not just with one’s words but also in deeds, Pope Francis said. Christians are called to be witnesses of the resurrection through “their way of welcoming, smiling and loving” instead of just “repeating memorized lines,” the pope said Oct. 4
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The Shrine of the Most Holy Redeemer — a white stucco church just off the Las Vegas Strip and dwarfed by giant hotels, casinos and flashing neon lights — has long been a spiritual oasis for tourists. The church, with a statue of Jesus, his arms outstretched, near its entrance, became a
