Search Results
Global
By Katie Yoder
An Italian priest named Father Charles Vachetta is credited with writing a novena in 1721 to inspire his parishioners during Advent. Today, that novena is known as the “Christmas Novena.” The nine-day prayer begins Dec. 16 and concludes on Christmas Eve. Drawing from the Psalms and Old Testament prophecies foretelling the coming of the Messiah, […]
Global
A historic number of 12.5 million pilgrims visited Our Lady of Guadalupe at her shrine in Mexico City in recent days, authorities have confirmed. In a Dec. 13 statement, the Mexico City Government Secretariat said the Mexican capital “received 12,500,000 pilgrims at the Basilica of Guadalupe.” This number, the agency stated, “broke the record for […]
Local
Leave it to St. Lucy, the patron saint of the blind, to shine a light on the need for food experienced by many families in the diocese. On her feast day, Dec. 13, St. Lucy also was invoked to shine a bright light on the many volunteers who work with Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food […]
Columns
By Sr. Constance Veit
Our motherhouse is located on a large property in a tiny village in rural France. With its old stone buildings, expansive pastures, flower gardens, and shaded pathways, it’s a gorgeously bucolic setting and the most peaceful place I’ve ever been. During the year that I lived there I don’t think I heard a single airplane […]
Columnists
By Mary Beth Bonacci
Several weeks ago, I was invited on short notice to help “fill a table” at a benefit dinner. The theme of the evening was the Roaring ‘20s. (The 1920s, not the current decade, which seems to “roar” decidedly less.) So, I hit the interwebs and found a long sparkly gown to rent for the weekend. […]
Columnists
By Elizabeth Foss
Are you weary today? Does it all just feel like too much? Can you rally just a little? God sees you there, tired and maybe a little lost. He recognizes that you feel alone and abandoned, even if you are actually in the midst of a great number of people. (Moms who are surrounded by […]
Books
By Regina Lordan
The following children’s books are suitable for gift-giving at Christmas. “The Curious Christmas Trail” by Haley Stewart, illustrated by Betsy Wallin. Pauline Books & Media. (Boston, 2022). 80 pp. “The Curious Christmas Trail” has all the makings for an epic — if somewhat unexpected — mystery. The author of an irresistible read, Haley Stewart tells […]
National
By Mark Pattison
WASHINGTON — The Christmas carol “O Holy Night” ranked first in a list of hymns most played in December at Christian churches in the United States. “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night” ranked second and third, respectively. The list was compiled by Pushpay, which offers electronic giving options for churches and their congregants. […]
Columnists
By Russell Shaw
These are not the best of times for Catholic marriage in America. Numbers illustrate the point. According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, in 2020 — when U.S. Catholic population stood at 73 million — Catholic marriages numbered a measly 97,200. But, you say, 2020 was the Year of Covid, the Year […]
Following St. Joseph