Northwest Indiana Catholic | Diocese of Gary

Local Stories

At St. Patrick parish's vigil Mass on Saturday, April 26, youth received a special blessing as part of the Catholic Church's celebration of the Jubilee for Teens. Father Jon Plavcan, pastor, preached on the life of Blessed Carlo Acutis, who he said "did not waste time," but rather loved others as he served the Eucharistic Lord. Those gathered at the Chesterton church had the opportunity to venerate a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis. (Anthony D. Alonzo Photo)

Jubilee for Teens Mass-goers hear of Blessed Carlo Acutis’ example

Father Ted Mauch leads a Holy Hour on Divine Mercy Sunday at St. John the Evangelist in St. John.

Confession, adoration, praise and worship reveal the mercy of Jesus

Bishop Robert J. McClory accepts the offertory gifts from Nataly Garcia of St. Mary in East Chicago and Cinthia Ortiz Lopez of St. Margaret Mary in Hammond, at the annual Mass for People with Disabilities on April 27 at the Cathedral of the Holy Angels in Gary. Not pictured is gift bearer Angela Darrol of Our Lady of Sorrows in Valparaiso. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)

Diocesan Mass provides opportunity for joyful serving

Melissa Meyer, director of Hospital Development for Life Line Stem Cell, explained at the Donate Life Remembrance hosted by Franciscan Health Crown Point on April 22 that the program to collect stem blood and stem cords from mothers after birth that began at that very hospital has now expanded to include 32 hospitals that provide that needed tissue to burn victims and others. Seated at her right is Father Tony Janik, O.F.M., director of Spiritual Care Services at the hospital, who offered an opening prayer

Donor remembrance honors the heroes who gave life to others

Sister M. Petra Nielsen, vice president of mission integration for Franciscan Health’s Northern Division, shares a laugh with her younger brother, James Nielsen and the Rev. Tony Janik during a recent reunion in the St. James Chapel at Franciscan Health Crown Point.

Franciscan Health Crown Point priest reunites with preemie he baptized 49 years ago

Zachary Dotson stands near the welcome booth of St. Joseph church in downtown Hammond on April 16. The Elect is set to formally join the Catholic Church on Easter Vigil, April 19, and said his early interest in the faith, then years of agnosticism have opened to his Holy Spirit-filled journey into the Church and a "completely different outlook" to life. (Anthony D. Alonzo photo)

Hammond native fulfilled in the Catholic faith he missed as a youth

Nation & World

White smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on March 13, 2013, at the Vatican, signaling that Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis, was elected the 266th Roman Catholic pontiff. The cardinals will meet again on May 7, 2025, to elect a successor to Pope Francis, who died April 21. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Where – and when – to watch for white smoke

Then-Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory leads a special liturgy in renewing the consecration of the U.S. to the care of our Blessed Mother at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington May 1, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (OSV News photo/Tyler Orsburn)

May 1 marks 5th anniversary of consecrating US to Mary as COVID declared a pandemic

The conclave to elect a new pope, scheduled to begin May 7, is governed by two texts: a rule book and a prayer book.

How the conclave works: It's guided by a rule book and a prayer book