Perhaps the largest U.S. assembly of those dedicated to carrying out the social ministry and teaching of the church, the biennial Catholic Social Ministry Gathering takes place Jan. 25-28 in Washington, a day after the national March for Life.

Celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Pope Francis reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s willingness to accept a proposal for a common date for celebrating Easter in the West and the East.

Because of the quiet and heroic intervention of a Polish priest, Andrew Jampoler’s life was saved just as it began. Jampoler, 83, feels a strong debt of gratitude to Father Jozef Czapran who protected him as an infant in Eastern Poland by providing lifesaving papers for him and his family.

Ahead of national Catholic Schools Week 2025 (Jan. 26-Feb. 1), OSV News spoke with Mary Pat Donoghue, executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat of Catholic Education, for her thoughts on the state of Catholic education in the nation.

Before the millions of pilgrims expected to come to Rome during the Holy Year 2025 cross through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, they will be met by smiling faces and lime green jackets.