Faith & Parish

The principal of St. Mary Catholic School in the town shattered by an April 17 explosion said two days later that classes would resume Monday, partly to help return a sense of normalcy to the community.

Ericka Sammon told Catholic News Service that the school day Monday would start with a prayer service. Otherwise, she said, "when the students want to talk about it, we'll let them," and counseling would be made available, if appropriate.

The primary goal for teachers was to give students, indeed everyone, the feeling of normal life resuming, Sammon said.

By his sheer "simplicity of life," Pope Francis has set a new tone for the Roman Curia, African Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, told NCR April 10 in an interview in Washington.

Declaring concern "that all of the factors involved in this decision have not been represented in their entirety, and thus may be misunderstood," Gonzaga University has announced it will review denial of official student club status to a Knights of Columbus campus organization.

Gonzaga University president Thayne McCulloh "is personally conducting the review," according to Mary Joan Hahn, the school's director of community and public relations.

The conferences, held by The Catholic University of America and Georgetown University, celebrate the 50th anniversary of the encyclical on peace and justice.

A seminary rector in Nebraska will succeed Archbishop Samuel Aquila in Fargo, N.D. Aquila was named to head the Denver archdiocese last year.