Archive for December 22, 2024

A young girl hangs an ornament on the Christmas tree inside the Church of the Holy Family in Gaza.?w=200&h=150

By Marinella Bandini

PHOTOS: Gaza Catholic parish prepares for second Christmas under war

As Christmas approaches, the Latin Church of the Holy Family in Gaza is alive with activity as the people at... Read more

Widows who are members of the Widows of Prayer gather together in community in various parts of the country. The group is headquartered in the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and has grown since its founding in 1994 from five widows to 60, with eight candidates currently in discernment.?w=200&h=150

By Kate Quiñones

Widows of Prayer: How women who have lost their husbands are keeping the faith

The Diocese of Columbus, Ohio, has approved the establishment of an Order of Widows, a private association of the faithful. Read more

Altar servers.?w=200&h=150

By Tyler Arnold

Sri Lankan cardinal mandates male-only altar servers in Colombo Archdiocese

Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith explained that he issued the order because, he said, serving as an altar server can be a... Read more

Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer and gives an address from the chapel of Casa Santa Marta on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024, at the Vatican. The pope delivered his marks indoors due to the intense cold, combined with cold symptoms that have manifested in recent days, the Holy See Press Office said.?w=200&h=150

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis at Sunday Angelus before Christmas: ‘No child is ever a mistake’

Pope Francis emphasized that “no child is ever a mistake” during his last Angelus address before Christmas Day. Read more

Pope Francis delivers his Angelus address via a video livestream from his Casa Santa Marta residence within the Vatican due to a cold on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.?w=200&h=150

By Kristina Millare

Pope Francis calls for ‘ceasefire on all war fronts’ at Christmas

“May the weapons be silenced and Christmas carols resound!” Pope Francis insisted on Sunday. Read more