IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Cindy Wooden and Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus is the risen shepherd who takes upon his shoulders “our brothers and sisters crushed by evil in all its varied forms,” Pope Francis said before giving his solemn Easter blessing. With tens of thousands of …

By Julie Asher WASHINGTON (CNS) — A grass-roots effort calling on Catholic churches around the world to celebrate a special Mass on the May 8 birthday of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen could see its goal of 1,000 Masses soon reached. As of April 13, close to 900 churches …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Margie Legowsk By Rhina Guidos SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (CNS) — Far from the Easter baskets and dresses, the pastel-colored candy and the White House Easter egg roll, Washington resident Margie Legowski found herself anticipating her second Easter season surrounded by some of the most impoverished masses …

IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring By Carol Glatz VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus came to the world not just to teach, but to radically change human hearts that have hardened from sin, the preacher of the papal household said during a service commemorating Christ’s death on the cross. “A heart of stone …

By Chaz Muth WASHINGTON (CNS) — As U.S. Catholics prepared for Easter, the hierarchy of the church used the symbol of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as a path to bring peace to society’s troubled spots. In cities across the country, the Good Friday Way of the Cross has …

IMAGE: CNS photo/courtesy Archdiocese of Chicago By Chaz Muth WASHINGTON (CNS) — As U.S. Catholics prepared for Easter, the hierarchy of the church used the symbol of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ as a path to bring peace to society’s troubled spots. In cities across the country, the Good …

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the U.S. Supreme Court looks at a Lutheran preschool playground case April 19, it will go far beyond settling a schoolyard squabble and step into religious liberty turf. At issue in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer is if the state of Missouri can exclude …

By Carol Zimmermann WASHINGTON (CNS) — When the U.S. Supreme Court looks at a Lutheran preschool playground case April 19, it will go far beyond settling a schoolyard squabble and step into religious liberty turf. At issue in Trinity Lutheran v. Comer is if the state of Missouri can exclude …

By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a gesture of service toward marginalized people, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 inmates, including three women and a man who is converting from Islam to Catholicism. Although in Jesus’ time, washing the feet of one’s guests was performed by …

IMAGE: CNS photo/L’Osservatore Romano By Junno Arocho Esteves VATICAN CITY (CNS) — In a gesture of service toward marginalized people, Pope Francis washed the feet of 12 inmates, including three women and a man who is converting from Islam to Catholicism. Although in Jesus’ time, washing the feet of one’s …