Festividad: 21 de mayo Aunque actualmente México es conocido como un país predominantemente católico, a finales de la década de 1920 experimentó una tremenda agitación en la que se vio implicada la Iglesia y que desembocó en la Guerra Cristera. En 1926, el presidente Plutarco Calles promulgó un decreto ejecutivo por el que se aplicaban los artículos laicistas y anticlericales de la Constitución mexicana de 1917. Un artículo concreto, la Ley Calles, limitaba y reprimía a la Iglesia católica, así como a sus organizaciones. Aunque la resistencia a estas nuevas leyes comenzó de forma pacífica, co ..read more

Knights of Columbus council members in yellow vests handing out Tootsie Rolls after Masses will be a common sight in the coming weeks around the diocese. During the month of April, many councils will hold their annual Campaign for Intellectual Disabilities, commonly known as the Tootsie Roll Drive. Tom Offerdahl, member of Knights of Columbus Bishop Trobec Council 5276, participated in the Campaign for Intellectual Disabilities in 2023 at a Sartell grocery store. Knights of Columbus is a Catholic fraternal service order founded by Fr. Michael J McGivney dedicated to the principles of charity ..read more

By Bert Ghezzi | OSV News I used to make the sign of the cross casually as a nice gesture for beginning and ending my prayers. More than a decade ago, probably nudged by the Holy Spirit, I began to take it more seriously. I began to sign myself more frequently with faith and reverence. I did not think much about it, but after a year I noticed that I seemed to be doing measurably better in my Christian life. I was praying with more passion, resisting my bad inclinations somewhat more effectively and relating to others more kindly. Young people make the sign of the cross on their foreheads durin ..read more

By Valentine Benjamin | OSV News For decades, Nigeria has remained a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking in sub-Saharan Africa, with her citizens making up 6% of immigrants in Libya, where they are commonly traded in open markets, according to a 2021 report from the International Organization for Migration. But a network of Catholic Sisters of St. Louis at the Bakhita Empowerment center, a safehouse in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital, is determined to change this by providing shelter to survivors and conducting education campaigns to prevent others from being vict ..read more

Por Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service El Papa Francisco y su Consejo Internacional de Cardenales continuaron sus discusiones sobre el papel de la mujer en la Iglesia, escuchando a expertas, incluyendo a una profesora que habló sobre cómo la cultura afecta el papel y el estatus de la mujer. El Papa y los nueve miembros del Consejo de Cardenales invitaron a mujeres, incluida una obispa anglicana, a hacer presentaciones en sus reuniones de diciembre y febrero. El Consejo se reunió los días 15 y 16 de abril en la Domus Sanctae Marthae, la residencia del Papa, según informó la oficina de prensa ..read more

By Kurt Jensen | OSV News On the first day of filming for “Irena’s Vow” (Quiver), Sophie Nélisse had to witness a mass hanging. The Canadian actor, 24, has been making movies since childhood. So the scripted summary executions by Nazis — meant to terrorize the population of occupied Poland during World War II — were all in a day’s work. Yet evoking an atrocity was not the problem. Instead, it was the possibility of running afoul of Polish child-labor laws. “We had so many background actors. (But) a lot of the kids had to wrap up in the afternoon,” Nélisse told OSV News. As a result, Nélisse’s ..read more

By Elizabeth Scalia | OSV News In discussing the removal or transfer of a pastor, Canon 1752 reads, ” … prae oculis habita salute animarum, quae in Ecclesia suprema semper lex esse debet” — in English, ” … keeping in mind the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law of the Church.” A pilgrim prays during the closing Mass during World Youth Day at Campo da Graça in Park Tejo in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 6, 2023. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller) The phrase resonates so deeply with me that I lately bring it to every matter of the church and faith I spend time thinking about. I consider th ..read more

By Jaymie Stuart Wolfe | OSV News If there’s one thing we can learn from those who encountered the Risen Lord during the 40 days between his Resurrection and Ascension, it’s this: Seeing Jesus isn’t the same as recognizing him. To Mary Magdalene, distraught at the tomb, Christ looked like the gardener. To the two disillusioned disciples on the road to Emmaus, he was a clueless stranger. To former fishermen returning to Galilee uncertain of what to do next, the Master was just a man hoping to cook breakfast on the shore. This is an American 18th century painting entitled “Christ on the Road to ..read more

By Cindy Wooden | Catholic News Service Pope Francis and his international Council of Cardinals continued their discussions about the role of women in the church, listening to women experts, including a professor who spoke about how culture impacts women’s roles and status. The pope and the nine-member Council of Cardinals invited women, including an Anglican bishop, to make presentations at their meetings in December and in February as well. The council met April 15-16 in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, the pope’s residence, the Vatican press office said. Pope Francis and his international Council ..read more

The Corporate Board of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud has named Aaron Fisk as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective Tuesday, April 16, 2024. St. Cloud Bishop Patrick M. Neary, C.S.C., said, “We are so fortunate to have had a dedicated search team and Corporate Board who ultimately named Aaron Fisk to continue the critical work of Catholic Charities as its new president and CEO. Aaron presents robust professional experience in leadership and a solid educational background in business and law. His gifts and commitment to the longstanding mission of caring for the mo ..read more