NEWS

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians are called to be more like Mary: generous and loving servants of the Lord, Pope Francis said. "Sadly, if we look around us, we realize that the presumption that we can be 'like God,' which led to the first sin, continues to wound our human family," he said, celebrating Mass in St. Peter's Basilica Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis received a new, emission-free, all-electric popemobile from representatives of Mercedes-Benz, the German car manufacturer that has been supplying vehicles for the popes for nearly 100 years."We are overjoyed to be able to fulfill the Holy Father's wish for an electric popemobile and are particularly proud to be able to build the vehicle according to his requirements," Britta Seeger, head of sales and marketing and member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, said in a press release Dec. 4.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The world is in great need of hope, Pope Francis said. "Day by day, let us fill our lives with the gift of hope that God gives us, and through us, let us allow it to reach everyone who is looking for it," the pope said in a video explaining the intention he would like Catholics to pray for during the month of December. The pope's message encouraging prayers "for pilgrims of hope" was released by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network Dec. 3. The network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention each month, and members of the network pray for that intention each day.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Despite the problems and worries in the world, Jesus invites Christians to look toward heaven, trust in his saving love and make room for him in order to find hope again, Pope Francis said. "Sadness is awful," he told visitors gathered in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus Dec. 1, the first Sunday of Advent.

There is a Hebrew term “shalom” which is often translated as “peace” and is spoken as a phrase of greeting and blessing. But it holds a much more profound meaning at its core – it portrays a concept that means “wholeness,” “restoration to fullness” and “completeness.” In Biblical times, if someone stole a loaf of bread from their neighbor, shalom was not simply making things right by replacing one loaf of bread with another. Rather, after taking this step, there would be an active effort on the part of both parties to restore right-relationship and to work together so that everyone had enough bread to go around.  

If you have attended a university, received care in a hospital, grew up going to a Catholic school or have been moved deeply by literature, art or beautiful architecture, it is likely that your life has been impacted by someone with a religious vocation. Priests, nuns, religious sisters, brothers, monks—all share the unique call to give their lives totally to Christ, impacting the Church in a myriad of ways through their unique charisms, or gifts, and wide variety of ministries, apostolates and mission fields. This Sunday, December 8, you will have the opportunity to give back to these men and women who have given so much. The Retirement Fund for Religious, a second collection which has been crucial in supporting religious communities for 38 years, will take place in parishes across the U.S.  

St. Mary's Catholic High School freshman Ava Gonzales kicked the game-winning field goal, a 19-yarder with 46.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Knights a 10-7 victory over Prescott High School in the Arizona Interscholastic Association's 4A flag football state championship on Saturday.  Held at Chandler High School, the win completed a perfect season for No. 1 seeded St. Mary’s at 14-0 under Head Coach Chris Horn.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Using what the Vatican called an "equipollent" or equivalent beatification, Pope Francis recognized as "blessed" a 15th-century Spanish abbess, mystic and preacher. The pope signed decrees in four sainthood causes as well as the beatification declaration Nov. 25 for Blessed Juana de la Cruz, who was born Juana Vázquez Gutiérrez in what is today Numancia La Sagra, Spain. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints said she probably was born May 3, 1481, and fled to the Monastery of Santa Maria de la Cruz in La Ciroleda, joining a group of Third Order Franciscans after her father and uncle promised her in marriage to a local nobleman. She made her religious profession in 1497.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis announced that he will canonize Blesseds Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati next year and that the Vatican will host a world meeting on the rights of the child Feb. 3. The pope will canonize Blessed Acutis April 27, during the Jubilee for Adolescents in Rome April 25-27 and Blessed Frassati during the Jubilee of Young People in Rome July 28-Aug. 3. The pope made the announcement during his general audience in St. Peter's Square Nov. 20, which is World Children's Day.

The pink and violet candles are nestled in their base, ready to be lit on their special Sunday during Advent—hope, peace, joy and love. Each week, we focus on a new theme for the heart, starting with the candle of hope. It’s fitting, as peace and joy aren’t always present in our homes. That’s a reality of living with others and navigating our fallen nature. Yet, we can always strive to remain hopeful.