The Arlington Catholic Herald

Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo XIV urges halt to Mideast attacks, return to diplomacy

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Leo XIV urged parties across the Middle East to suspend their attacks and reopen diplomatic negotiations July 26, warning that escalating military operations were endangering civilians and worsening shortages of drinking water and electricity.

7/27/26

Reading Time 4 min

Pope Leo XIV urges halt to Mideast attacks, return to diplomacy

By Victoria Cardiel

7/27/26

Reading Time 4 min

Columns

Pursuit of the kingdom

By Fr. Steven G. Oetjen

A young adult man was thinking about the apostles as he walked to Mass one day. He reflected on how amazing it was that, when Jesus called them, they left everything behind immediately: fishing nets, boats, family, and friends.

7/25/26

Reading Time 3 min

Pursuit of the kingdom

By Fr. Steven G. Oetjen

7/25/26

Reading Time 3 min

Local

Young women step out of their comfort zones at FIAT vocations camp

By Anna Donofrio and Julia DeJak

Teen girls across the diocese learned about the beauty of discernment and religious vocations, and grew in their spiritual lives at the annual diocesan FIAT vocations camp for young women July 19-23.

7/24/26

Reading Time 4 min

Young women step out of their comfort zones at FIAT vocations camp

By Anna Donofrio and Julia DeJak

Teen girls across the diocese learned about the beauty of discernment and religious vocations, and grew in their spiritual lives at the annual diocesan FIAT vocations camp for young women July 19-23.

7/24/26

Reading Time 4 min

National

Ann Teresa O’Neill, whose confirmed miracle led to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, dies at 78

By KATIE V. JONES

Generations of Catholics came to know Ann Teresa O’Neill as the child whose miraculous cure from acute lymphatic leukemia in 1952 helped lead to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint.

7/23/26

Reading Time 3 min

Ann Teresa O’Neill, whose confirmed miracle led to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, dies at 78

By KATIE V. JONES

7/23/26

Reading Time 3 min

Local

Fr. Daniel Spychala, retired diocesan priest, dies at 69

For the Catholic Herald

Father Daniel S. Spychala, a retired diocesan priest who served at multiple parishes, died July 15 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

7/23/26

Reading Time 2 min

Fr. Daniel Spychala, retired diocesan priest, dies at 69

For the Catholic Herald

Father Daniel S. Spychala, a retired diocesan priest who served at multiple parishes, died July 15 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

7/23/26

Reading Time 2 min

National

Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., diocese marks 175 years

Catholic Herald Staff Report

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., capped off a yearlong celebration of 175 years with a special Mass July 19 at the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Charleston July 19.

7/23/26

Reading Time 1 min

Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., diocese marks 175 years

Catholic Herald Staff Report

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., capped off a yearlong celebration of 175 years with a special Mass July 19 at the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Charleston July 19.

7/23/26

Reading Time 1 min

Local

Young women step out of their comfort zones at FIAT vocations camp

By Anna Donofrio and Julia DeJak

Teen girls across the diocese learned about the beauty of discernment and religious vocations, and grew in their spiritual lives at the annual diocesan FIAT vocations camp for young women July 19-23.

7/24/26

Reading Time 4 min

Fr. Daniel Spychala, retired diocesan priest, dies at 69

For the Catholic Herald

Father Daniel S. Spychala, a retired diocesan priest who served at multiple parishes, died July 15 at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington.

7/23/26

Reading Time 2 min

Middle school work camp inspires community service

By JULIA DeJAK

What started off as a post-COVID service project, has amassed into a weeklong work camp trying to help young people get to God.

7/23/26

Reading Time 2 min

Columns

Pursuit of the kingdom

By Fr. Steven Oetjen

Confidence

By Elizabeth Foss

Cohabiting before marriage

By Mary Beth Bonacci

Invitations

By Lucia A. Silecchia

National

Ann Teresa O’Neill, whose confirmed miracle led to the canonization of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, dies at 78

7/23/26

Reading Time 3 min

Wheeling-Charleston, W.Va., diocese marks 175 years

7/23/26

Reading Time 1 min

Arlington guild brings Fr. Capodanno’s witness to national saints exhibit

7/23/26

Reading Time 3 min

US Vice President JD Vance and wife Usha welcome fourth child

7/20/26

Reading Time 3 min

Cardinal O’Malley at Catholic-Orthodox conference: ‘Come together and pray for unity’

7/16/26

Reading Time 4 min

Global

Pope Leo XIV urges halt to Mideast attacks, return to diplomacy

By Victoria Cardiel

7/27/26

Reading Time 4 min

Pope Leo XIV calls for evangelical approach without force or ‘arrogant judgments’

By Victoria Cardiel

Pope Leo XIV warned July 19 against imagining God as “a powerful figure who imposes himself by force, who takes over and dominates, or who arrives triumphantly” and urged Christians to embrace a Gospel-centered approach marked by humility and trust.

7/20/26

Reading Time 3 min

Ferrán Torres, Catholic forward, wins the World Cup for Spain

By Walter Sánchez Silva

Ferrán Torres, Spain’s Catholic forward, secured a 1-0 victory for his team over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, N.J., July 19.

7/20/26

Reading Time 2 min

Venezuela earthquakes damaged 25 churches, archdiocese reports

By Andrés Henríquez

Of the more than 100 churches in the Archdiocese of Caracas, at least 25 sustained damage of varying types and severity following the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela June 24.

7/16/26

Reading Time 2 min

Arts

Movies

An epic tale takes the big screen in ‘The Odyssey’

By Zoey Maraist

Countless stories have been told about the trials and triumphs of war. But far fewer are told about the challenges awaiting the men who survive battle. The most famous is “The Odyssey,” Homer’s epic poem recounting the Trojan War hero’s journey home.

7/23/26

Reading Time 2 min

Art

Pope Leo XIV to launch exhibit on water at the Vatican Library

By Ishmael Adibuah

The exhibit “AQVA Catastrophe and Wonder” will include artwork highlighting a “reflection on water as both a threat and a resource,” according to a July 12 press release from the library.

7/16/26

Reading Time 2 min