By Victoria Cardiel Vatican City, May 28, 2025 / 07:00 am Pope Leo XIV is now granting apostolic blessings to the faithful around the world, a spiritual gesture that can be officially requested through the Vatican’s Apostolic Almoner’s Office. These blessings, printed on parchment, are a well-established tradition in the Catholic Church …

When navigating the wild world of vocational discernment, there seem to be two prevailing strategies. One approach is to keep a meticulous regimen: swiping between dating apps and convent contact pages with disciplined rigor until God’s plan becomes plain. The other is to sit back and prayerfully wait for the …

St. Phillip Neri said, “The best preparation for prayer is to read the lives of the saints … quietly and with recollection a little at a time. And to pause whenever you feel your heart touched with devotion.” Word on Fire’s new collection of sermons, commentaries, biographies, and other writings …

One of the things Pope Francis has said that I have always appreciated is, “God has a sense of humor.” That has certainly been evident throughout my life. There has often been my plan and God’s plan … with the latter always prevailing! I grew up the fourth of six …

Early Years Dennis Marian Schnurr was born in Sheldon, IA, on June 21, 1948 and grew up in Hospers, IA. He studied for the priesthood at the North American College and the Gregorian University, both in Rome, and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sioux City on July …

By Hannah Brockhaus Vatican City, May 19, 2025 / 06:52 am Pope Leo XIV held a private meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the papal library on Monday morning. Details of the meeting were not released, but the Americans later spoke with …

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati joyfully celebrated the ordination of two new priests on Saturday May 17, 2025. The men were ordained to the priesthood for service to God and the Church. Archbishop Robert G. Casey celebrated the Mass. Within the course of the ordination rite, the archbishop invoked the authority …

Explore the traditions of this joyous time in pictures This article first appeared online in May 2018. Tradition of the first blessing Waiting to receive a blessing from a new priest is a longstanding ordination day tradition. After Mass, the new priests are greeted by their former seminary classmates, who …

Deacon Adam Lewis is well aware of the mystery in his vocational story. Preparing for his ordination to the priesthood on May 17 with Deacon Kevin LeMelle, Deacon Lewis noted wryly, “There are people who have been in seminary longer than I’ve been Catholic.” Raised in a Christian household, Lewis …

I know my pastor well, for a parishioner. My husband and I were friends with him years before he came to our church. Father Anthony’s sense of humor is clever; he keeps a clean house and an even cleaner office; he’s grounded and compassionate; and he’s a movie buff with …