Local
Barb Herzog applies glue and seeds as she continues to fill every part of this Divine Mercy image March 13 at her parish, St. Peter in Forest Lake. She expects to enter this image in the crop art competition at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, which will run from Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

Crop artist seeks to bring truth, beauty and goodness to the Minnesota State Fair

When Barb Herzog decided last year to create a crop art picture of the Divine Mercy image for the Minnesota State Fair, she said one of her first ideas was to make the rays emanating from Jesus’ heart stand out by using jewel-toned decorative corn.
Nation + World
Jessie Buckley, winner of the Oscar for best actress for "Hamnet," poses in the Oscars photo room at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles March 15, 2026.

St. Patrick’s Day celebration twist: Catholic Irish actress brings pro-life message to Oscars stage

On March 17, as the world's 80 million people of Irish descent celebrate Ireland's national patron St. Patrick -- a Briton who brought Christianity to the island in 432 -- the Irish convent school that gave the world Oscar-winning actress Jessie Buckley is brimming with pride.
More
Jessie Buckley, winner of the Oscar for best actress for "Hamnet," poses in the Oscars photo room at the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles March 15, 2026.

St. Patrick’s Day celebration twist: Catholic Irish actress brings pro-life message to Oscars stage

On March 17, as the world's 80 million people of Irish descent celebrate Ireland's national patron St. Patrick -- a Briton who brought Christianity to the island in 432 -- the Irish convent school that gave the world Oscar-winning actress Jessie Buckley is brimming with pride.
New York Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks blesses the congregation as he processes at the end of the St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City March 17, 2026.

Archbishop Hicks celebrates his first St. Patrick’s Day Parade Mass at namesake cathedral

With standing-room only at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks of New York noted it was his first time presiding over the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade Mass, which kicks off the city’s celebration.
Barb Herzog applies glue and seeds as she continues to fill every part of this Divine Mercy image March 13 at her parish, St. Peter in Forest Lake. She expects to enter this image in the crop art competition at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon Heights, which will run from Aug. 27 through Labor Day, Sept. 7.

Crop artist seeks to bring truth, beauty and goodness to the Minnesota State Fair

When Barb Herzog decided last year to create a crop art picture of the Divine Mercy image for the Minnesota State Fair, she said one of her first ideas was to make the rays emanating from Jesus’ heart stand out by using jewel-toned decorative corn.
A sled dog team awaits the signal to go at the 54th annual Iditarod Trail start line in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, on March 7, 2026. The crowd of spectators lining the street included a pilgrimage group with the Napa Institute.

As Iditarod kicks off, pilgrims find missionary spirit is the Church in Alaska’s North Star

A group of pilgrims with the Napa Institute attended presentations, dined with bishops, flew over the mountain Alaskans call Denali and attended the Iditarod start in Anchorage to discover Alaska's missionary spirit.
Archbishop Gabriele G. Caccia, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, participates in the closing procession during the chrism Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City April 15, 2025. Archbishop Caccia, outgoing permanent observer of the Holy See and newly named papal nuncio to the U.S., delivered a statement at the United Nations affirming the Catholic Church's opposition to surrogacy as an affront to human dignity.

Archbishop Caccia at UN: Surrogacy violates rights, dignity of both women and children

The practice of surrogacy violates the dignity and rights of both women and children, while tearing at family bonds, said the Vatican's top diplomat to the United Nations.
A bugler plays taps at the graveside services following the burial of Notre Dame alumni coach Lou Holtz March 16, 2026, on the University of Notre Dame campus in South Bend, Ind. Holtz was a field artillery officer in the U.S. Army Reserve following his 1959 graduation from Kent State. Holtz, a legendary college football coach and devout Catholic who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1988 National Championship, died March 4 at age 89.

A life well coached: Lou Holtz remembered for faith, family and football

One by one, inside the University of Notre Dame's Basilica of the Sacred Heart March 16, a flock of priests gently patted the pall atop the casket as they descended from the altar following the funeral Mass for legendary football coach Lou Holtz.
Catholic speaker and writer Patty Breen McNeil, who is also director of Mission Services for Trinity Health in Muskegon, Mich., is pictured in an undated photo. "I think 'Amoris Laetitia' was opening the door. I think we have to still walk through the door," said Breen McNeil.

At 10, ‘Amoris Laetitia’ still shapes landscape for marriage, family ministries

In the decade since Pope Francis issued a wide-ranging document on pastoral care for the family, the Catholic Church in the U.S. has leaned into ministries that address often hidden suffering, including infertility, child loss and domestic violence, according to an expert who assists the U.S. bishops on marriage and family ministry.
Kathy Mertz

Why I Am Catholic — Kathy Mertz

I grew up in a Catholic home. My parents and grandparents were respected leaders in the Church. My siblings and I went to Catholic grade school. We attended Mass every school day. We learned our prayers and prayed before each meal and before we went to bed. In May, we had processions in the backyard, with “Mary songs” and lilac bouquets to honor Mary, and we re-enacted Mass in the living room all year round.
Displaced people with belongings sit next to tents in Beirut March 16, 2026, following an escalation of aerial attacks between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S. and Israel-Iran war.

Christians in Holy Land face further despair, suffering, Latin Patriarchate official says

As retaliatory strikes from Iran, as well as from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, continued, people in the Holy Land -- especially Christians -- face a dire present and an uncertain future.
Gethsemane

Turn to the Father instead

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the darkness in the world. Seeing so much strife and so many problems, we can feel powerless to fix things. Even in our families we can grow despondent over the struggles of loved ones we can’t fix ourselves. As Christians, it’s especially disheartening to see so many people reject God or ignore him as if he has nothing to do with their lives. And then there’s the struggle within — our own inner tensions as we wrestle with personal sin and the sufferings life has presented that can bring worry, anger and exhaustion.
Faith
Hendrick ter Brugghen's painting "The Crucifixion with the Virgin and St. John" is seen in this undated handout photo.

What is the Christlike way to suffer?

The Gospel of Matthew tells us: "(About) three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?' which means, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Mt 27:46). This saying of the Lord raises the question of how the Lord inwardly related to the Father amid suffering. By implication, it raises the question of how you and I should relate to God amid our sufferings too. What is the Christlike way to suffer?

Refreshing the weary spirit

Commentary
Gethsemane

Turn to the Father instead

It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the darkness in the world. Seeing so much strife and so many problems, we can feel powerless to fix things. Even in our families we can grow despondent over the struggles of loved ones we can’t fix ourselves. As Christians, it’s especially disheartening to see so many people reject God or ignore him as if he has nothing to do with their lives. And then there’s the struggle within — our own inner tensions as we wrestle with personal sin and the sufferings life has presented that can bring worry, anger and exhaustion.

Recommit to Lent

Why I am Catholic
Practicing Catholic

Before You Go!

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Keep up to date with what’s going on in the Catholic world