Catholic Courier

01/25/2025

Jubilee volunteers of all ages and nationalities have become a mainstay along the boulevard leading up to St. Peter’s Square since the start of the Holy Year. For Craig and Laura Shlattmann — a married couple of Jubilee volunteers from Tacoma, Washington — participating in the current Holy Year has been 25 years in the making.

Learn more about the Shlattmanns and the jubilee volunteer program here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/jubilee-volunteers-lead-pilgrims-through-holy-door/

01/24/2025

Today, Jan. 24, is the feast day of Saint Francis de Sales, patron of the Catholic press.

During his ministry to re-evangelize the Chablais region of France, he devised a system of publishing, posting in public places or leaving door-to-door sheets and posters, expounding the individual truths of faith in a simple and effective way.

01/23/2025

Rochester Catholic Schools will celebrate Catholic Schools Week Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2025, with a variety of special activities.

Find a list of the events and activities planned for the week here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/variety-of-activities-planned-to-celebrate-catholic-schools-week/

01/21/2025

The pope offered his “cordial greetings and the assurance of my prayers that Almighty God will grant you wisdom, strength and protection in the exercise of your high duties,” in a message marking Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States Jan. 20.

Learn more here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/pope-to-trump-may-us-prosper-shun-all-hatred-discrimination/

01/19/2025

Find an answer to the question "How do I find the right words to pray?" and other common questions about prayer in this beginner's guide to prayer for Catholics. ⁠
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Look for it in the Worship & Faith section of the Courier website: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/a-beginners-guide-to-prayer-for-catholics/

01/18/2025

Courier blogger Leonor Rivera shares how memories of her family's annual summer visits to a Catholic family camp, Camp Koinonia, bring her comfort and hope.

Read it here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/familys-stargazing-brought-them-closer-to-god-each-other/

01/17/2025

A Spanish Mass honoring Our Lady of Altagracia, protectoress of the Dominican Republic, will be celebrated Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. at Holy Apostles Church. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the first time the community gathered for this celebration.

Find out more here: https://en.elmensajerorochester.com/faith/dominicans-marks-30-years-of-honoring-our-lady-of-altagracia/

01/17/2025

Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed 2025 budget, released Jan. 14, has drawn a mixed reaction from the New York State Catholic Conference.⁠
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Read more in the Courier's Local News section: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/catholic-conference-criticizes-abortion-funding-in-ny-budget/

01/16/2025

St. Marianne Cope Parish will hold a Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration for the entire community tonight, Jan. 16. The free event begins at 7 p.m.

2061 E. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta, NY 14467.

For more details on this and other events, visit catholiccourier.com/calendar

OSV News photo/ Tyler Orsburn, CNS

01/14/2025

Rochester's Saint Peter's Kitchen last year served more than 150,000 lunches, its signature program, and that's not the only way the ministry assists the needy.

Learn more about St. Peter's Kitchen's needs and how it benefits from the annual Catholic Courier/Catholic Charities Christmas Appeal here:

At St. Peter’s Kitchen in Rochester, impoverished area residents are able to access meals as well as a variety of other services.

01/14/2025

Pope Francis began working on the book with Italian editor Carlo Musso in 2019 with the understanding it would be published only after his death, but the Holy Year 2025 and its focus on hope led him to permit the early release of “this precious legacy,” according to the book's Italian publisher.

The memoir is available today, Jan. 14, in the United States, where it is published by Random House. Learn more here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/pope-francis-memoir-to-be-published-in-january/

01/13/2025

In the Diocese of Rochester, evening prayer vigils will be held Jan. 23 at Rochester's Sacred Heart Cathedral and at Immaculate Conception Church in Ithaca in unity with dioceses and archdioceses around the country for the National Prayer for Life to pray for the sanctity of all human life.

01/12/2025

Did you know? You can find Scripture reflections for each Sunday's readings in the Worship & Faith section of the Courier's website.

For the reflection for Jan. 12, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, click here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/scripture-reflection-for-jan-12-2025-feast-of-the-baptism-of-the-lord/

01/10/2025

The New York State Catholic Conference is praising Gov. Kathy Hochul for her proposed expansion of the state’s child tax credit that would more than double the current rate for many Empire State families.⁠
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Read the news update, via OSV News, here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/ny-catholic-conference-praises-plans-to-expand-child-tax-credit/

01/09/2025

Irondequoit’s Saint Kateri Parish presented a Festival of Lessons and Carols Dec. 22 at St. Margaret Mary Church. Members of the parish read from Scripture while carols were sung by the parish choir. The parish’s parochial vicar, Father Aaron Kelly, played the organ and piano during the service.

📸: Gina Capellazzi/Catholic Courier

Find the full gallery here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/irondequoit-parish-presents-festival-of-lessons-and-carols/

01/08/2025

Families took part in a Three King’s Day Celebration Dec. 29 at the Roc Holiday Village. Presented by the Puerto Rican Festival of Rochester, Inc., the event featured music and an array of crafting activities.

📷: Wilmarie Vélez (left), a member of the Puerto Rican Festival committee, reads a Three Kings story to children. Photo by Greg Francis for El Mensajero.

See the full photo gallery at https://en.elmensajerorochester.com/multimedia/three-kings-day-celebrated-with-music-and-crafts/

01/07/2025

While demand for services at Rochester's St. Joseph's Pantry, which serves the neighborhood around Sacred Heart Cathedral, has doubled since 2021, the availability of food and donations is down.

Learn more at https://catholiccourier.com/articles/appeal-helps-rochester-ministry-provide-families-with-meals/

Donations to the appeal are accepted through February.

Joseph’s Place, a food pantry ministry of Rochester’s Sacred Heart Cathedral, has seen an increased need in the neighborhood.

01/06/2025

Sister of St. Joseph Mary Ann Sutera (formerly Sister Philip Neri), who spent 35 years as an educator before becoming a recreation therapist at St. Ann’s Home, died Dec. 14, 2024. She was 77 years old.

Learn more here: https://catholiccourier.com/articles/sister-mary-ann-sutera-ssj-educator-therapist/