Local
In this photo, a World Mission rosary made by a group at St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake. TIM MONTGOMERY | FOR THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Gichitwaa Kateri 1st stop of local World Mission rosary pilgrimage

The Center for Mission, which supports the archdiocese’s missionary outreach, is helping to organize the monthly prayer pilgrimage at churches “where there is a larger presence of parishioners representative of one of the five regions of the World Mission rosary,” according to the event webpage.

Celebrating religious jubilees

Nation + World
During a papal audience at the Vatican June 24, 2026, former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski presents Pope Leo XIV with “the Ball” -- from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.

How a baseball rosary found its way to Pope Leo XIV

About two weeks after what he calls the most surreal moment of his life, Kevin Workman remains in awe.
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During a papal audience at the Vatican June 24, 2026, former White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski presents Pope Leo XIV with “the Ball” -- from the final out of Game 1 of the 2005 World Series.

How a baseball rosary found its way to Pope Leo XIV

About two weeks after what he calls the most surreal moment of his life, Kevin Workman remains in awe.
Susan Mulheron

Archdiocesan chancellor explains SSPX schism

The Society of St. Pius X has been in the spotlight recently for ordaining four bishops July 1 in Switzerland without the permission of Pope Leo XIV, which resulted in the excommunication of those four bishops plus two others involved in the consecration, as well as the extension of the excommunication to clergy and laity who formally adhere to the schism of the society.
In this photo, a World Mission rosary made by a group at St. Mary of the Lake in White Bear Lake. TIM MONTGOMERY | FOR THE CATHOLIC SPIRIT

Gichitwaa Kateri 1st stop of local World Mission rosary pilgrimage

The Center for Mission, which supports the archdiocese’s missionary outreach, is helping to organize the monthly prayer pilgrimage at churches “where there is a larger presence of parishioners representative of one of the five regions of the World Mission rosary,” according to the event webpage.
Bishop Michael Izen

Bishop Izen reflects on the virtues learned through playing sports

In light of Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for the month of June — for the values of sports — Auxiliary Bishop Michael Izen recently reflected on how athletics can foster virtue, discipline and community.
Parable of the sower

Is our spiritual witness bearing fruit?

This Sunday we will consider Matthew 13:1-23 and the famous parable of the sower. Hopefully you will get to hear the full version read at Mass and not the shorter option of Matthew 13:1-9! It is a rich Gospel and requires little explanation, as Jesus clarifies in verses 10-23.
Flag of the United States on St Patrick's Cathedral among Midtown skyscrapers, Manhattan, New York

How a German theologian can help us be better Americans

The 250th anniversary of America’s birth has been a fantastic occasion to celebrate great American traditions, from fireworks to hotdog eating contests.
Trail in the woods

Following the voice of the Holy Spirit in our head, heart and soul

My pastor, Father Peter Williams at St. Ambrose in Woodbury, shared in a homily recently a sentence from a book he was reading that stated there are no plotlines in life. Like breadcrumbs in the Grimms’ fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel, we do not have a pre-ordained path we can follow and arrive at our destination, whatever that may be. We must live one day at a time. But where does that bring us if we have no sure plan for our lives?
Jim Caviezel portrays Christ with his cross in a scene from the movie "The Passion of the Christ." Nearly 20 years after Mel Gibson's film hit theaters, there are rumblings that a sequel focusing on Jesus Christ's resurrection is now in the works.

Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’ to return to theaters

In anticipation of the May 2027 release of Mel Gibson's "The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One," its 2004 predecessor, "The Passion of the Christ," will return to theaters Sept. 10-17. The film is being distributed jointly by Lionsgate and Fathom Entertainment.
Catherine Laga'aia stars as Moana in a scene from the movie "Moana." The OSV News classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Moana — PG (A-II)

Why be satisfied with an animated success when a live-action re-working of the same tale might also be a hit at the box office? That's a question that seems to be on the minds of the folks at the Mouse House these days, and so, after several other examples in recent years, we get the musical adventure "Moana" (Disney).
Preparations are underway in Norway to open a canonization cause for the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sigrid Undset, Bishop Fredrik Hansen of Oslo, Norway, announced July 8, 2026. Undset is pictured in an undated portrait.

Cause for novelist Sigrid Undset’s canonization expected to open in fall

Preparations are underway in Norway to open a canonization cause for the Nobel Prize-winning novelist Sigrid Undset, Bishop Fredrik Hansen of Oslo announced July 8.
Students from Seton Hall Prep in West Orange, N.J., take a cooking class with students at Academy360 in Livingston during a Spectrum Big Brothers gathering in an undated photo. Launched in 2007, Spectrum Big Brothers was created as a rare opportunity for Seton Hall Prep's students to form genuine relationships with teens and young adults with autism.

‘Culture of encounter’: NJ school’s program builds friendships between students, autistic peers

Jack Aker's face lights up at the thought of his friend David, an autistic student he met last year as part of Seton Hall Preparatory School's Spectrum Big Brothers program.
Faith
Parable of the sower

Is our spiritual witness bearing fruit?

This Sunday we will consider Matthew 13:1-23 and the famous parable of the sower. Hopefully you will get to hear the full version read at Mass and not the shorter option of Matthew 13:1-9! It is a rich Gospel and requires little explanation, as Jesus clarifies in verses 10-23.

‘Fear no one’

Commentary
Flag of the United States on St Patrick's Cathedral among Midtown skyscrapers, Manhattan, New York

How a German theologian can help us be better Americans

The 250th anniversary of America’s birth has been a fantastic occasion to celebrate great American traditions, from fireworks to hotdog eating contests.

Remember the future

Why I am Catholic
Practicing Catholic

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