By Greg Hartman The Catholic Telegraph This time of year offers many chances to grow in faith. Here are suggested Family Life activities for December and the surrounding time.

Staff Report The 27th national collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious will be held December 13-14 in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The annual, parish-based appeal is coordinated by the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) in Washington and benefits more than 35,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests.

Staff Report Thanksgiving Day was instituted by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to praise God for the blessings he has granted to our nation. While the holiday’s origins aren’t Catholic, the very act of the Mass itself is in part an offering of thanksgiving to God. In 1968 the U.S. …

Staff Report With Thanksgiving Day approaching, The Catholic Telegraph invited its followers on Facebook and Twitter to share what they’re thankful for using the hashtag #GratefulCatholicCincy. #GratefulCatholicCincy Tweets As soon as the invitation went out on Wednesday morning, the official Twitter account of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati (@CatholicCincy) began sharing …

Staff Report The Archdiocese of Cincinnati, in union with the Catholic Church around the world, will celebrate members of religious orders and others in consecrated life during the Year of Consecrated Life called by Pope Francis from Nov. 30, 2014 to Feb. 2, 2016. In addition to parish-wide observances, there …

Staff Report Below are news and notes from around the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Bishop Fenwick students embrace homelessness awareness, gather food Forty students, representing all four grade levels, participated in Fenwick High School‘s Shantytown.

Staff Report A popular Christmas activity in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is the University of Dayton’s annual display of 200-plus Nativity scenes. Now residents in the archdiocese’s southern parts will have a chance to experience some of those creches without making the drive. The Cathedral of St. Peter in Chains …

Staff Report Roughly 450 youth, 100 chaperones, 65 parents and 35 volunteers took part in “CHOSEN: Called to be More” at Good Shepherd Nov. 8. The four-and-a-half-hour youth rally included Mass, exposition, music and talks led by NET Ministries. Parents present attended a separate session designed just for them.

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio will not be forced to shut down a Cincinnati abortion clinic after the Ohio Department of Health granted the abortion provider a variance, allowing it to remain open despite not having a written transfer agreement with a local hospital. …

Staff Report Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the nation will take up collections this weekend for the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. Today’s Throwback Thursday heralds the announcement of said campaign in 1969, but under a different name. The Nov. 6, 1969 edition of The Catholic Telegraph announced …