Nation & World

Msgr. Patrick Sheedy, pastor of Blessed Trinity Parish in Ocala, Fla., leads the Blessed Trinity School assembly in the lighting of the parish Christmas tree in December 2021. Father Pat, as he is best known, shepherds a stewardship-minded parish, which parishioners committed to in 1991. That led to the school being tuition-free three years later, and today Blessed Trinity has more than 100 stewardship opportunities in the parish and out into the community. (OSV News photo/courtesy Msgr. Patrick Sheed)
How a shy Irish farm boy turned Florida pastor led his parish to change countless lives in Uganda
Pope Francis gives his blessing after praying the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican March 3, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Relationship with God should be intimate, not transactional, pope says
Palestinians carry bags of flour they grabbed from an aid truck in Gaza City Feb.19, 2024, near an Israeli checkpoint. Gaza residents face crisis levels of hunger amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. (OSV News photo/Kosay Al Nemer, Reuters)
Church leaders condemn 'wanton attack' at aid site; Israelis demand hostage release
A monstrance containing the Blessed Sacrament is displayed on the altar during a Holy Hour at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City July 13, 2023. The liturgy was hosted by the Sisters of Life during the ongoing National Eucharistic Revival. (OSV News photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
8 things to do during Eucharistic adoration
The gifts of men and women are "fruitful" together, and to erase the difference between men and women "is to erase humanity," Pope Francis said.
Eliminating differences with gender ideology is terrible danger, pope says
Visitors look at a display of 200 relics at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Oratory in Montclair, N.J., Feb. 24, 2024. Nearly 3,500 faithful from as far away as Maine and Maryland waited over two hours to view the relics of Jesus, the Holy Family, various saints, martyrs and blesseds on exhibit. (OSV News photo/Sean Quinn, courtesy Archdiocese of Newark)
Exhibit of 200 relics at New Jersey oratory is a special gift during Lent for many faithful
Children are pictured in a file photo carrying the gifts during their first Communion. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
10 ways to prepare for first Communion day
Pope Francis meets with the bishops of Italy's Emilia Romagna region as they made their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican Feb. 29, 2024. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi of Bologna, president of the Italian bishops' conference, is seen listening as Pope Francis addresses the group. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Pope has full day of appointments after going to hospital for tests
Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind., and Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the synod, are pictured in a combination photo. Cardinal Grech gave a talk Feb. 26, 2024, titled "The Role of the Synodal Bishop" at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, with Bishop Rhoades offering a response. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller/CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Vatican synod chief, bishop share insights into 'synodal bishops' at Notre Dame talk
Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher of the papal household, presents a Lenten meditation for members of the Roman Curia and Vatican employees in the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican Feb. 26, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Woe to those who end up in media 'meat grinder,' papal preacher says
American sociologist Tricia Bruce, president-elect of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, is among six consultors named to the General Secretariat of the Synod Feb. 17, 2024. Of the secretariat's 16 total consultors, 12 are priests, one is a religious sister and three, including Bruce, are laywomen. Most are theologians. (OSV News photo/Saray Taylor-Roman, courtesy Tricia Bruce)
US sociologist who has studied parishes, Catholic movements, women's ministry looks forward to synod role
A screengrab of a new Vatican website dedicated to connecting young people to Rome's papal basilicas is seen on the day of its launch Feb. 22, 2024. (CNS photo/Courtesy Holy See Press Office)
Vatican aims to draw young 'digital pilgrims' to Rome's papal basilicas
This is an updated map showing the four routes of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to the National Eucharistic Congress in 2024. Pilgrims traveling in "Eucharistic caravans" on all four routes will begin their journeys with Pentecost weekend celebrations May 17-18, 2024, leaving May 19. They will all converge on Indianapolis July 16, 2024, the day before the five-day Congress opens. (OSV News illustration/courtesy National Eucharistic Congress) (OSV News photo/courtesy National Eucharistic Congress)
National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to include shrines, secular landmarks, diocesan events
Actors Mark Wahlberg, left, and Jonathan Roumie, right, received ashes from Father Mark-Mary Ames, a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, Feb. 14, 2024. (OSV News photo/courtesy Prevish Marketing)
Friar who said Ash Wednesday Mass for Roumie, Wahlberg shares how to meet God in Lent's 'desert'
"Guadalupe: Mother of Humanity," the latest film from Spanish production company Goya Producciones, will be released in its original version with English subtitles in select U.S. theaters for one week, beginning February 22 (Photo OSV News/courtesy of www.peliculaguadalupe.com).
Documentary about Our Lady of Guadalupe to arrive at select U.S. theaters 
Pope Francis greets visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican to pray the Angelus with Pope Francis Feb. 18, 2024. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
War is pointless, will never solve problems, pope says after Angelus
Andrea Bocelli performs during the World Meeting on Human Fraternity in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican June 10, 2023. Ahead of his Feb. 20, 2024, debut in Baltimore, the acclaimed Catholic tenor said faith is believing in the power of good. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Acclaimed tenor Andrea Bocelli says faith is believing in the power of good
Chalices are seen on display at the International Religious Products and Services Exhibition in Bologna, Italy, Feb. 13, 2024. (CNS photo/Justin McLellan)
Chalices and chasubles: Fair displays industries revolving around religion
Pope Francis holds his crosier as the Gospel is read during his Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome Feb. 14, 2024. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
Pope: During Lent, leave appearances aside and listen to God 
Lisa Lopez-Galvan, second from right, stands with her family in a photo posted to her Facebook account Sept. 26, 2022. Lopez-Galvan, a parishioner of Sacred Heart-Guadalupe Parish in Kansas City, Mo., was killed Feb. 14, 2024, Ash Wednesday, during a mass shooting following the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade. (OSV News screenshot/Facebook)
Catholic mother of 2 killed in Chiefs' Super Bowl parade mass shooting
An aerial view shows the ongoing restoration work at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris July 18, 2023. The cathedral was ravaged by a fire in 2019 that sent its spire crumbling down, and restoration work continues before the whole world will see the cathedral reopen Dec. 8, 2024. (OSV News photo/Pascal Rossignol, Reuters)
Paris Archdiocese reveals how the grandeur of Notre Dame Cathedral's reopening will look
Pope Francis prays during the Mass for the canonization of St. Maria Antonia de Paz Figueroa, known as Mama Antula, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Feb. 11, 2024. She is the first female saint from Argentina. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
Prayer can change people's hearts, pope says at canonization Mass
Dominic Auricchio, a fifth grader at  Holy Trinity School in Westfield, N.J., is pictured in an undated photo with seven religious items he received as Christmas gifts; a military Bible, a crucifix featuring the Stations of the Cross, a rosary, a miraculous medal, a vial of holy water, a chalice made of wood from the Holy Land and an Italian prayer card. Dominic had requested items from the Vatican. The Bible, holy water, rosary beads and crucifix came from the Vatican and were blessed by Pope Francis. (OSV
Items he requested from Vatican at Christmas continue to bring joy to devout fifth grader
A woman is pictured in a file photo receiving ashes during Ash Wednesday Mass. Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine's Day in 2024. (OSV News photo/Marcin Mazur, Catholic Church England Wales)
Catholic experts share tips for navigating Ash Wednesday and Valentine's Day
Kingsley Ben-Adir stars in a scene from the movie “Bob Marley: One Love.” The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may not be suitable for children. (OSV News photo/Chiabella James, Paramount Pictures)
Bob Marley: One Love
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