This morning the Vatican promoted the cause of American Hospitaller Brother William Gagnon, who died ministering in Vietnam during war: The heroic virtue of the Servant of God William Gagnon, professed Religious of the Hospitaller Order of St John; born in Dover, USA, 16 May 1905 and died in Hô Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), ...

The St. Peter’s Square Christmas tree is reflected in a puddle of slush after a five-minute hail storm hit the Vatican. The storm briefly whitened Rome’s streets, bringing cheer to locals, who rarely see snow. CNS photo/Paul Haring ...

As Canada’s only Catholic Television Network that broadcasts across the nation 24 hours a day seven days a week, we run a fairly tight operation. With 30 or so full time employees, everyone is constantly doing one thing or another. But when it comes to lunch time, there is no messing around. We sit, we ...

A girl sits near Christmas decorations in a basement used as a bomb shelter in Donetsk, Ukraine. CNS photo/Igor Tkachenko, Reuters ...

In this Advent series, Deacon Pedro learns from Judaism as he prepares for the coming of the Messiah. Light is significant in all faith traditions. In the third week, Deacon Pedro and Rabbi Aaron Flanzraich look at the meaning of light in Judaism. ...

Recently, as we prepare for Christmas, I read a reflection that said that we are living times of mercy. It said that we are living the promise that God made to Abraham – this was God’s proposal to our human condition: To give us his mercy. And as a response to God’s promise, Mary said ...

Navy Reserve Petty Officer Jesus Benitez talks with his son, Maddox, after surprising him and his sister, Mia, at St. Joan of Arc School in Aberdeen, Md., Dec. 18, 2014. His children did not know he was able to come home for the holidays. Benitez is in the middle of a yearlong deployment in Djibouti, ...

It has been a big week in the church: the Jubilee for Mercy officially started, holy doors and doors of mercy opened around the world, and we’re gearing up for the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Here is just some of what has been going on across the country this week: Vancouver has ...

Nigerian Christians pray in the grotto of the Church of Nativity on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem, West Bank. CNS photo/Debbie Hill ...

Looking for a great epic novel to read over the Christmas break? This week we speak with Denise Mallett a young and talented author about her novel, The Tree; Gillian Kantor tells us what she learned from her kids this month, Sebastian Gomes speaks with Tony Spence of Catholic News Service on Connect5 and we ...