By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — Ash Wednesday seems to offer contradictory messages. The Gospel reading for the day is about not doing public acts of piety but the very act of getting ashes — and walking around with them — is pretty public. This becomes even less of a …

IMAGE: CNS/Reuters By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When Pope Francis affirms basic Christian principles, he is not singling out one person or nation, but he definitely is not excluding them either. The ongoing global migration and refugee crisis is a case in point. The United States is not …

By Jeanne Hunt Have you ever had a hunch about something? A hunch is a gut feeling that you have to do something or make a certain choice. Hunches have very little to do with rational analysis of a situation and more to do with a feeling that we know …

IMAGE: CNS/Dennis Sadowski By Dennis Sadowski MODESTO, Calif. (CNS) — The push for sanctuary was on a lot of minds at the U.S. Regional World Meeting of Popular Movements. Concerns about President Donald Trump’s intention to deport millions of unauthorized immigrants rose throughout the Feb. 16-19 gathering of more than …

By Gail Finke Those who missed it – and that includes nearly everyone in the tristate – are in luck. The presentations from the Thomas More College Institute for Religious Liberty symposium last weekend will be available to watch on the college’s website in March. The two-day even was Institute’s …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Humanity’s greed and selfishness can turn creation into a sad and desolate world instead of the sign of God’s love that it was meant to be, Pope Francis said. Human beings are often tempted to view creation as “a …

IMAGE: CNS/Dennis Sadowski By Dennis Sadowski MODESTO, Calif. (CNS) — Affirming that all human life is sacred and all people are “protagonists of their future,” more than 600 grass-roots leaders echoed the call of a U.S. bishop to disrupt practices that cause oppression and violate human dignity. The leaders attending …

By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Whenever one is tempted to use the church for pursuing personal ambitions or to be arrogant, pray to feel ashamed, Pope Francis said. When the competitive bug strikes, reflect whether one can “see my Lord on the cross” and still be capable of …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden ROME (CNS) — A practical first step toward holiness — as well as for assuring peace in one’s family and in the world — is to pray for a person who has caused offense or harm, Pope Francis said. “Are you merciful toward the …

Mount Notre Dame High School held its Beautiful Lengths event on Friday, February 10th. A total of 124 girls participated in this event. This hair will be used to make free real-hair wigs for cancer patients across the United States who are going through hair loss. It takes 8-15 ponytails …