The Catholic Sun

For many Catholics, Advent means the glow of candles, a penance service at the parish and celebrations centered on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Family gatherings with loved ones, decorating the Christmas tree and wrapping gifts make it a festive season that spreads warmth and joy. For inmates at Kingman Correctional Facility, the dark days of December are a different story. Marianne Meyer and Ray Martin of St. Mary’s Parish in Kingman have been visiting inmates housed at the prison during the last six months, praying with inmates, bringing them the Eucharist and encouraging them.

Dr. Beverly Thomas remembers the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visiting her house in Selma when she was a child — her mother was a first cousin of the famed Civil Rights leader. “I remember him. He had a couple little speeches for the community to pull everything together before the march,” she said, recalling the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches. “My mom took us with her when they had the community gatherings. He was such a very nice, gentle soul, but at the same time he was determined to get equality among the people and bring everyone together.”

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican Museums has launched an initiative to give visitors -- online and in person -- a "backstage" peek into the secrets, curiosities and insights discovered by their art restorers. When cleaning, repairing and analyzing major works of art up close or with X-rays or infrared radiation, experts often find unexpected and hidden details. The new yearlong initiative lets visitors learn more about some of the discoveries and view details concealed or hard to see in some 36 masterpieces.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Millions of pilgrims flock to Rome every 25 years to mark a Holy Year, or jubilee, the Catholic Church's more modern celebration of an ancient Jewish practice of forgiveness. And through partnerships with prisons and incarcerated persons, the Vatican hopes to show those visitors that the spirit of forgiveness remains front and center of the church's long tradition of celebrating Holy Years.

Have you ever encountered a pregnant woman during the season of advent? At first you may notice her big belly, waddling walk and, perhaps,...

PHOENIX --- There was a sense of anticipation beyond the coming celebration of Jesus’ birth at the Diocese’s mother church Sunday. Parishioners of Ss. Simon and Jude were still getting settled with the news nearly a month ago that the Cathedral Rector, the Very Rev. Fernando Camou is leaving next month. Saturday afternoon, they learned Bishop John P. Dolan has named Fr. Matt Henry, the current parochial vicar of St. Mary’s Basilica, to succeed him.

Program helps previously incarcerated integrate into the community Cottonwood, Ariz. - Catholic Charities Community Services recently expanded its re-entry housing program in the Northern...

After several years serving with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in California, Sister Adele O’Sullivan is back full-time at Circle the City,...

Kevin Bronson from Topeka, Kan., was attending the last day of a career and technical education conference at the Phoenix Convention Center on Dec....

I am embarrassed to say I approach Christmas with a bit of dread. It is NOT my favorite season. As a mom with kids at home, Christmas means there is so much more to do. Kids are home from school. The schedule is discombobulated. My life seems out of balance. I strive to do more (baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping, entertaining -- oh my) and yet seem to have less time to do it. My son’s words and the orientation of his heart are what I want this year. I want to be excited about Christmas - just because of Jesus.