Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder? March 25, 2026By Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints Father Flanagan is an icon of the power of diaconal identity. It both shows us and makes effective now the power of Christ the Servant. Where Father Flanagan saw pain, he rushed in and embraced the child of God who suffered. When he saw injustice, he spoke out eloquently and forcefully called others to greater charity in Christ.
Via Crucis: The final Holy Week journey of Pope Francis March 25, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: News, Vatican, World News Following his release from Gemelli Hospital in March 2025, Pope Francis was prescribed two months of rest by doctors to recover after five weeks of hospitalization. Outside of a few brief appearances, it was widely expected that the pope would be seen little during Holy Week.
Question Corner: Does holy water ‘absolve’ us from venial sin? March 25, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner With respect to holy water in particular, St. Thomas Aquinas specifically identifies the “sprinkling of holy water” as a means for the remission of venial sin in question 87, article 3 of the “Third Part” of his work the “Summa Theologica.”
Air Canada crash shows ‘fragility of life,’ call to compassion, says Archbishop Hicks March 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, World News The fatal crash of an Air Canada jet at New York’s La Guardia airport is a reminder of “the fragility of life,” and the call to “care for one another with compassion,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks.
Vatican diplomat decries ‘eugenic’ termination of Down syndrome pregnancies March 24, 2026By Deborah Castellano Lubov Vatican News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, Vatican, World News A Vatican diplomat in Geneva issued a call for greater commitment to the defense of the dignity and rights of people with Down syndrome, decrying the current “discriminatory and eugenic practices” related to prenatal screening.
Sister Kathleen Haughey, S.N.D.de.N., dies at 94 March 24, 2026By Catholic Review Staff Catholic Review Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Obituaries A funeral Mass for Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Kathleen Patricia Haughey was offered March 3 at Our Lady Queen Chapel in Ipswich, Mass. Sister Kathleen died Feb. 22. She was 94.
Jerusalem patriarchate cancels Palm Sunday procession, postpones chrism Mass amid war March 24, 2026By OSV News OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Easter, Feature, News, World News The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said wartime restrictions have forced the cancellation or postponement of key Holy Week observances, urging the faithful to remain united in prayer despite the inability to gather for traditional celebrations.
Universal health coverage is not a luxury but ‘a moral imperative,’ pope says March 24, 2026By OSV News Vatican News Filed Under: Feature, Health Care, News, Vatican, World News Universal health coverage is not “merely a technical goal to be achieved” but is a “moral imperative,” Pope Leo XIV told participants at a conference on health equity.
Eastern Catholic bishops issue ‘cry for peace and justice’ as global conflicts rage March 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, News, War in Ukraine, World News The bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches in the U.S. have issued “a cry for peace and justice,” as they are “anguished” by atrocities and suffering in the nations where their respective communities originated.
Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028 March 24, 2026By Junno Arocho Esteves OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Marriage & Family Life, News, Vocations, World News A Belgian Catholic bishop said he “will make every effort to ordain married men as priests” and expressed his commitment to doing so by 2028.
Illinois advocates warn against effort to enshrine abortion, gender transition in state constitution March 24, 2026By Simone Orendain OSV News Filed Under: News, Respect Life, World News Pro-life advocates on March 19 called on nearly 3,000 marchers at the Illinois State Capitol to oppose a potential amendment that they said would enshrine abortion and gender transitions, including for minors, in the Illinois constitution.
‘Venerable’ Boys Town founder Father Flanagan ‘a model of charity,’ says Omaha archbishop March 24, 2026By Gina Christian OSV News Filed Under: News, Saints, World News, Youth Ministry Nebraska’s Catholic archbishop expressed his joy at the Vatican’s March 23 announcement that Boys Town founder and youth advocate Father Edward Flanagan has been declared “Venerable.”
