Stories for week of August 17, 2025

Ordered from most to least recent.

Released Friday, Aug. 22

 UN agency classifies Gaza food crisis as famine
 Christian unity needed in a divided world, Pope writes
 President of Seychelles meets with Pontiff
 Swedish cardinal rebukes SSPX bishop
 Former Chicago cathedral rector cleared of abuse allegation
 Federal court halts enforcement of Texas law on Ten Commandments in public schools
 Catholic Church in Finland has 8 parishes, 120 nationalities
 African Catholic journalists call for regulation of AI
 USCCB urges Trump administration to rescind reinterpretation of HHS benefits
 Independence and peace are precious, Ukraine’s leading Latin-rite bishop says
 Holy See willing to help broker peace in Haiti, Vatican diplomat says
 Pope Leo encourages moral theologians to follow example of St. Alphonsus Liguori
 Vatican newspaper publishes 50,000th edition

Released Thursday, Aug. 21

 Dr. James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, dead at 89
 ‘Hope does not disappoint,’ Pope says in message to Rimini meeting
 Jerusalem patriarch: prayer is the only way to move hearts toward peace
 Trump: ‘I want to try and get to heaven’
 Indian court acquits bishop in abuse-reporting case
 Christian clubs must have equal access to school facilities, federal court rules
 2 years after anti-Christian pogrom, Pakistani bishop says ‘justice has not been done’
 Parish church desecrated, destroyed in Nigeria
 USCCB president announces special collection for Catholic agencies assisting Gaza
 Pope pays tribute to St. Bernard of Clairvaux
 Arson attack on Russian Orthodox monastery in Hebron
 In peace negotiations, remember human rights, Ukrainian Catholic leader urges
 The world ‘desperately needs preventive forgiveness,’ Vatican spokesman says
 Vatican newspaper laments plight of M23 movement’s ‘slaves of war’

Released Wednesday, Aug. 20

 Christ’s love endures through every betrayal, Pope tells audience
 Pope asks prayer, fasting for peace on August 22
 Pontiff to visit Lebanon in November?
 Pope plans Augustinian community in papal apartments
 Chicago priest placed on leave for 3rd time
 Vatican approves patron saints, ember days for 3 Arab nations
 NFP has become ‘key part’ of diocesan marriage preparation programs, USCCB finds
 Caritas deplores wartime atrocities, calls for protection of humanitarian workers
 European Catholic, Orthodox prelates call for peace with creation
 Entrust yourself to Mary to face every uncertainty, Pope writes to mother
 Pope names coadjutor bishop for troubled French diocese
 Pope Leo offers pointed guidance to Amazon region’s bishops
 Gaza parish area not under evacuation order, priest clarifies
 Vatican newspaper hails ‘glimmers of peace’ from meeting between Trump, European leaders

Released Tuesday, Aug. 19

 Pope’s brother tells TV audience of daily calls
 Pope visits Marian shrine outside Rome
 Orthodox prelate draws criticism for friendly meeting with Putin
 Fresno bishop shares diocese’s financial details in marathon bankruptcy hearing
 Federal court rules that prison’s termination of Christian course was likely unconstitutional
 Brutal Islamist attacks on Nigerian town have claimed hundreds of victims in recent months
 Trial set for alleged perpetrators of 2022 Nigerian church massacre
 Reflecting on war, Jerusalem cardinal preaches that the ‘dragon will not prevail’
 Bishop named for troubled Indian diocese
 American Catholic teenagers to hold live virtual conversation with Pope Leo
 Cardinal Parolin, in Burundi, appeals for focus on common good
 Family historian reflects on Pope Leo’s black Catholic roots
 Ukrainian Catholic leader marks 30th anniversary of post-Communist restoration

Released Monday, Aug. 18

 New York archdiocese to unveil massive mural in cathedral
 Alabama diocese places vicar general on leave after report of relationship
 Israel orders evacuation of Gaza parish [updated]
 French archbishop revokes appointment of rapist as chancellor
 Jimmy Lai’s health issues force trial postponement
 At Malawi’s first national Eucharistic congress, delegates call for greater reverence
 Pope Leo: Give the common good first priority in peace negotiations
 Papal prayer for South Asian flood victims
 Live out Christ’s truth despite the cost, Pontiff tells pilgrims
 Burn with ‘fire’ of God’s love, Pope says at Mass and lunch with the poor
 Papal tribute to St. Frances of Rome for her zeal, docility, commitment to Church’s unity
 Recalling Pius XII’s words, Leo XIV entrusts prayers for peace to Mary
 Look at Mary and rediscover hope, Pontiff says at Castel Gandolfo
 ‘Our victory over death begins here and now,’ Pope preaches on feast of Assumption
 The proclamation of Christ must be the center of Church’s social action: papal message to Church in Peru

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Thu26 March
Lent

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Image for Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent

The weekday Masses towards the end of Lent are like a Passion Play. The Gospels, as one scene after the other, show the mounting hatred and growing tension. This is the “Abraham Mass,” telling of the inheritance received through Abraham. The Opening Prayer reminds us of our great inheritance received from Christ.…

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