Armed with guitars, drums, bass and a microphone, two bands comprised of local priests rocked out in the name of the Virgin Mary at a live music venue on The Wharf in Washington’s waterfront neighborhood.

The fourth season of the Biblically-based television series “The Chosen” began streaming, Sunday, June 2. Although all eight episodes of the new season had been released in theaters beginning in February, streaming availability had been delayed — reportedly by legal disputes.

Jesus considers all the baptized to be his friends and will always try to restore them to life and health as he did with his friend Lazarus in the Gospel, Pope Francis wrote.

As the church continues to address sexual abuse cases among clergy and religious, Deacon Steven A. DeMartino, director for safeguarding initiatives for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, recently spoke with OSV News’ Charlie Camosy about the past history of these efforts and the best practices the church now has in place.

Catholics will not positively influence fiscal policy unless they also develop an intricate knowledge of the financial system’s weaknesses and flaws, Pope Francis said.