Mary Farrow

Mary Farrow

Mary Farrow worked as a staff writer for Catholic News Agency until 2020. She has a degree in journalism and English education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Articles by Mary Farrow

‘Bodies were everywhere’: Sri Lanka priests recount the horror of Easter attacks

May 7, 2019 / 03:00 am

As Fr. Eranga De-Silva finished celebrating Easter Sunday Mass at his parish in Sri Lanka, he noticed policemen guarding the three entrances to the church.

'Gut-wrenching and heart-warming': Nebraska Catholics count blessings after record floods

Mar 31, 2019 / 15:01 pm

If you ask a Nebraskan how the historic floods over the past few weeks have affected them, they are likely to count their blessings, and to tell you that it could have been worse.

Vintage-style procession photo a snapshot of renewal in Detroit, priest says

Mar 25, 2019 / 15:07 pm

A photo of a religious procession with a circa-1940’s aesthetic recently fascinated Catholics, who shared it on social media and other places around the internet.

What Catholic universities are doing to address the sex abuse crisis

Mar 15, 2019 / 02:01 am

Late last summer, as accusations of abuse against then-cardinal Theodore McCarrick surfaced, a grand jury report from Pennsylvania detailed decades and hundreds of cases of clerical abuse, and dioceses began listing their priests accused of sexual abuse, lay Catholics horrified by the news grasped for something they could do.

Pope Francis signs peace declaration on ‘Human Fraternity’ with Grand Imam

Feb 4, 2019 / 17:08 pm

Catholics, Muslims and all who believe in God must work together to build a culture of love, peace and human fraternity, Pope Francis said in a joint statement he signed with Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of al-Azhar, during an interreligious meeting in Abu Dhabi.

After 25 years, what JP2’s Letter to Families can teach today’s world

Jan 30, 2019 / 04:05 am

25 years ago next week, on Feb. 2, 1994, Pope John Paul II penned his “Letter to Families,” the subject of which was spurred by the United Nations' declaration that 1994 would be the “Year of the Family.”

Sister resigns from Detroit seminary after sex abuse allegations

Jan 18, 2019 / 17:47 pm

Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit announced this week the resignation of Sr. Mary Finn, 84, a long-time faculty member and assistant professor of theology, after allegations surfaced that she had sexual contact with young adult novices under her charge in the 1970s.

What pro-life Ireland can learn from pro-life America

Jan 13, 2019 / 16:18 pm

With the dawn of legal abortion in Ireland, the pro-life movement in the country is beginning a fight that their U.S. counterparts have been engaged in since 1973.

Canadian disability groups: 'Frightening implications' to expanding assisted suicide

Jan 10, 2019 / 15:13 pm

While many disability groups fought the initial push to legalize assisted suicide in Canada three years ago, they are having to fight again as efforts to expand access to assisted suicide to the disabled in the country continue.

Critics slam 'Shout Your Abortion' kids' video as sad, disturbing

Jan 6, 2019 / 16:01 pm

Founder of the pro-abortion campaign “Shout Your Abortion”, Amelia Bonow was featured in a recent kids’ YouTube video to talk abortion with adolescents, telling them that life begins when they decide it does and that abortion is “part of God’s plan.”

Spiritual direction: What is it, who needs it, and why?

Jan 1, 2019 / 07:00 am

Chatting with Lee McDowell is a peaceful experience.

How a priest and teams of homeless people are transforming Detroit

Dec 31, 2018 / 17:01 pm

Many homeless people of Detroit already recognize Father Marko Djonovic’s white Ford Excursion.

Smartphones are driving a rise in teen sexting

Dec 26, 2018 / 18:04 pm

Teen sex may be down, but widespread access to smartphones is driving an increase in teen sexting, recent research has found.

The Siena Option: What one saint did in the face of a troubled Church

Dec 26, 2018 / 05:02 am

When St. Catherine of Siena was alive in the 14th century in what is now Italy, it looked like it was the end of the world.

The life of a hermit: A glimpse inside the little-known state of life

Dec 24, 2018 / 16:01 pm

The word ‘hermit’ might conjure up some strange images, a la John the Baptist living reclusively in the desert, wearing a hair shirt and eating locusts and honey.

'A call from God' - Why these Catholic couples became foster parents

Dec 21, 2018 / 10:30 am

It was a quiet Thanksgiving for Kerry.

A 22 year-old Texan began a Catholic school for Uganda’s deaf children

Dec 19, 2018 / 03:00 am

Rannah Evetts had always wanted to go to Africa. She has no explanation for it, other than that God had planted a deep love of everything Africa in her heart for as long as she can remember.

Full of Grace Cafe: Small-town parish opens thriving coffee shop, community center

Dec 18, 2018 / 04:16 am

When Fr. Josh Johnson arrived as pastor of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church over a year ago, he slept in a room above the choir loft.

Priest who survived major plane crash credits Our Lady of Guadalupe

Dec 12, 2018 / 16:58 pm

For Father Esequiel Sanchez, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe brings up terrifying memories - and a huge reason to be thankful.

Our Lady of Guadalupe: Empress of the Americas

Dec 11, 2018 / 15:47 pm

It would be virtually impossible to travel to Mexico without seeing the colorful, star-cloaked, evil-crushing image of Our Lady of Guadalupe on street corners, in private homes, on restaurant walls, and certainly in church chapels.