Northwest Indiana Catholic | Diocese of Gary

Local Stories

The leading throng of mainly Catholic youth carry a pro-life banner near Monument Circle during the Indiana March for Life on Jan. 22 in Indianapolis. The state march, in its eighth year, is a localized version of the National March for Life, which, since 1974, has brought together millions of concerned Americans who wish to publicly proclaim the Gospel of Life – to establish legal protections for the unborn from abortion and promote a womb-to-tomb respect for human life. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)

Faithful to rally for sanctity of all human life at various events throughout January

Praying for an End to Abortion

Jacob Robert Patrick Kelly Jr. was born to Mattie Tengdin and Jacob Kelley of Crown Point at 1:29 a.m. at Franciscan Health Crown Point, making him the first baby born at the hospital in 2026.

Franciscan Health welcomes first babies of new year

Happy New Year!

Adam White of the Music Ministry at St. Maria Goretti in Dyer, leads children on a musical procession to teach them about movement during the Christmas Vacation Bible Day on Dec. 29. They also sang “Go Tel It On The Mountain,” “Silent Night” and “Joy to the World” to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)

Children celebrate Jesus’ birthday by learning to shine their light

Christmas Vacation Bible Day

Father Ivan Alatorre and Father Jeff Burton filled 500 holy water bottles and then volunteers stuffed Home Blessing Kit bags the week before the Feast of the Epiphany. (Provided photo)

Diocese to celebrate Epiphany with Mass, food and home blessings

The Visit of the Magi

Faithful from across the diocese gather for an indoor procession leading to the baptismal font at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary on Dec. 29 to celebrate the anticipation of the Jubilee Year 2025. The Catholic Church recognizes the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of Our Lord and dioceses around the nation will commence efforts of "great spiritual, ecclesial and social significance in the life of the Church," according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (Anthony D. Alonzo ph

Cathedral will host special solemn vespers to conclude the jubilee year

Hope Continues

The Serra Club made sure that the two Diocese of Gary seminarians studying in Rome had a presence at its annual Seminarian Christmas Party on Dec. 26 at St. Bridget in Hobart. Before they took their places at their dinner tables, cutouts of Gianni DiTola and Ryan Pierce were “greeted” by Father Ivan Alatorre (left) and Deacon Will O’Donnell. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)

Serra Club hosts annual Christmas party to support vocations

Dining with Seminarians

Nation & World

Young Catholics react Jan. 1, 2026, at the SEEK26 conference at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas. oung Catholics and attendees of all ages were invited to embrace the conference's theme inspired by St. Pier Giorgio Frassati: "To the Heights," This year SEEK the Jan. 1-5 conference was being held in Denver, Columbus, Ohio, in addition to Fort Worth. (OSV News photo/Juan Guajardo, courtesy North Texas Catholic)

SEEK 2026 summons youth to draw close to Christ, discover his plan for their lives

Polish pilgrims from Torun: from left, Iwona, Wioletta and Kasia, are seen on a Jan. 6, 2026 photograph on St. Peter's Square, at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Hope. What really visibly stayed with the faithful after the Jan. 6 Epiphany Mass was Pope Leo's urge to keep the church alive. "If we do not reduce our churches to monuments, if our communities are homes, if we stand united and resist the flattery and seduction of those in power, then we will be the generation of a new dawn," the pope said.

As jubilee year ends, the faithful heed Pope Leo's call to keep the church alive

People hold Venezuelan flags as Venezuelans living in Colombia demonstrate in front of of the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Lourdes in Bogota Jan. 4, 2026, for a democratic transition, after the U.S. launched strikes on Venezuela, capturing its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores. (OSV News photo/Sergio Acero, Reuters)

Pope Leo, bishops react to US capture of Maduro with concern for Venezuela