UPDATED: Puerto Rico reels under successive earthquakes; Catholic church damaged

At least one person has died and one Catholic Church was destroyed by the latest of a series of earthquakes to rock Puerto Rico.

Violence in the name of God is blasphemy,’ USCCB president says

Decrying the acts of religious violence that have taken place during the Christmas season, the president of the U.S. bishops declared: “Violence in the name of God is blasphemy

Stories About Equality that Gave Us Hope in 2019

Many immigrants share a growing fear of deportation amid the Trump administration’s crackdown. In a sign of unity and support, Catholic bishops recently elected Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles, a pastor to many immigrant communities, as their leader.

2019: The Year in Review Around the World

Pope Francis has named Father William J. Muhm and Father Joseph L. Coffey as auxiliary bishops for the U.S. Archdiocese for the Military Services. Bishop Muhm, 61, is a priest of the Archdiocese of New York and since December has served as administrator of Most Precious Blood parish in Walden. He has served as a U.S. Navy chaplain, retiring with the rank of captain last year. Bishop Coffey, 58, is a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia who has served since 2001 as a U.S. Navy chaplain, holding the rank of captain. Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio, who heads the military archdiocese, ordained the new bishops March 25 in the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

Catholic publications join in naming people of the year

With the close of 2019, Catholic publications joined the trend in naming people of the year by identifying Catholics who made a particular impact over the past 12 months.

Archbishop Gomez: the good materialism of Christmas

Pope Francis gave us an early Christmas gift with “Admirabile Signum” (“Enchanting Image”), his little letter on the ancient custom of setting up Nativity scenes as a way to prepare for the birth of Jesus.

Archbishop José Gomez Brings Vision Fixed on Jesus’ Call to Be Saints

Archbishop José Gomez, the nation’s first Latino American bishop to lead the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, comes into the job at a testing time — facing the continuing fallout from the McCarrick scandal and other aspects of the clergy abuse scandal, as well as the ongoing challenge of preaching the Gospel in a polarized and ever-more-secular American society.

Looking for peace in the hustle and bustle? Get this book on the Rosary

In one of his Christmas sermons, St. John Henry Newman speaks of Christmas as “a time for innocence and purity and gentleness and mildness and contentment and peace.” In this season, he says, we are reminded that Christ comes to us “in all serenity and peace.”

CATHOLIC FILIPINOS CELEBRATE IN JOYFUL ANTICIPATION FOR SIMBANG GABI KICK-OFF

The biggest Filipino Christmas Mass in Los Angeles continues to get bigger and brighter each year.

Over 100 parishes and thousands of Filipinos kicked off Simbang Gabi at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

“Masaya masaya ginagawa narin every year — I’m so happy this is being held every year,” said Vilma Guiang of St Brendan Church.