Blessed John Paul II biographer to visit Valley Jan. 26

George Weigel, who penned a best-selling biography of Blessed John Paul II, will speak Jan. 26 at Xavier College Preparatory’s Center for the Performing Arts. His appearance will raise funds for the John Paul II Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture.

More security isn’t answer to prevent shootings, say Catholic educators

In the wake of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Catholic education officials have primarily focused on providing administrators with the resources they need for teachers and parents to help students cope with the horrific tragedy.

New Catholic store opens in Phoenix

It has only been about two months since The Little Church Store made its debut in the Arcadia neighborhood of East Phoenix. Located at 4747 E. Thomas Road, Suite B, the cozy, eclectic store boasts handcrafted items by Arizona artists.

‘Sacramental sense’ of priest’s response after shooting called powerful

The "sacramental sense" of a Catholic pastor's outreach after the horrific violence that took place at a Connecticut elementary school "has brought the Church to bear in the most intimate and powerful way," said the director of communications for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Conn.

Irish government announces plans to legalize abortion, with limits

DUBLIN (CNS) -- The Irish government has announced plans to legalize abortion in limited circumstances, but Minister for Health James Reilly insisted his plans will take "full account of the equal right to life of the unborn child."

What can we even say about December’s massacre at Newtown, Conn.?

Adam Lanza murdered his mother, forced his way into a school, and killed 20 children and six adults before killing himself. There was a depressing familiarity to it.

‘Incarnate of the Virgin Mary’: Church prepares to celebrate Christmas

The Christmas season begins with the Dec. 24 evening vigil commemorating the birth of Christ and ends with the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Jan. 13.

School fundraisers get creative

Students at Catholic schools around the Phoenix Diocese walked, jogged, read and computed their way toward fundraising goals last month. At St. Mary-Basha in Chandler, students took part in the fourth annual ‘Eaglethon’ Nov. 16, bringing in $106,000 which combined with sponsors’ gifts brought the total to $132,000.

‘No words’ can describe shock, sadness after shooting, says priest

Msgr. Robert Weiss, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown, was at Sandy Hook Elementary School almost immediately after the horrific shooting Dec. 14.

Our Faith: The Incarnation: ‘God with us’

The Incarnation is a result of an incomprehensible love God has for each and every one of us, and we recite this belief when we pray the Nicene Creed: “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.”