By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service  VATICAN CITY — Asking prayers for his May 24-26 trip to the Holy Land, Pope Francis said his visit to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories would be “strictly religious.”

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Just three years after their order was approved by Pope Leo XII, the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo (C.S.) made their way to Cincinnati. A priest of the order, popularly referred to as Scalabrinians after their founder Bishop Giovanna Battista Scalabrini, helped found Sacred …

Staff Report The 2014 Festival Season kicked off May 16-18 in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati with five parishes hosting festivals. The Catholic Telegraph’s 2014 Festival Guide will be updated each week to show the coming festivals for that weekend, along with an interactive map showing their locations.

By Carol Glatz Catholic News Service  LOURDES, France— It looked like any other military parade with bands playing, flags waving and thousands of men and women marching in colorful uniforms decorated with medals and ribbons.

By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr ordained Father Brian William Phelps and Father James Joseph Riehle. to the priesthood before a packed cathedral May 17.

Staff Report Summer doesn’t officially start until June 21 this year, but the onset of church festival season is a sure sign summer is on the way. The first Catholic Church festivals of the season in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati open up this weekend (May 15-17) beginning Friday night.

CNS Reports God makes no one struggle with life’s challenges alone, pope says VATICAN CITY (CNS) — God is always by our side, never giving us more than we can handle, Pope Francis said. The countless women and men who stand tall through enormous difficulties, pain and especially persecution, are …

CNS Reports Appeals court stays Texas execution over claim of mental disability AUSTIN, Texas (CNS) — An execution scheduled for May 13 in Huntsville was stayed by a federal appeals court in New Orleans two hours before Robert James Campbell was set to be put to death.

Editor’s Note: Deacon Brian Phelps and Deacon James J. Riehle will be ordained priests for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati on May 17. Read the profile on Deacon Riehle here. By John Stegeman The Catholic Telegraph Sometimes priestly vocation stories begin with a major moment or experience wherein the man called to be …

By Malea Hargett Catholic News Service  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas took center stage in the same-sex marriage debate May 9 when a state judge overturned a 10-year constitutional amendment that banned same-sex unions in the state.