OSV News

The discovery of a Byzantine-period church in the northern Negev, with wall art displaying ships, opens a window to the world of Christian pilgrims visiting the Holy Land 1,500 years ago, according to the Israel Antiquities Authority.

Father Rob Cole was dismissed effective June 12 from St. John the Apostle Parish in Virginia Beach by Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond.

The launch of a mental health initiative by the U.S. bishops last year has "received a lot of traction," according to one of its leaders.

Saulos Chilima, 51, died alongside nine others, including the former first lady Shanil Dzimbiri, aboard a military aircraft.

A national gathering will explore how Black Catholics can "embrace the gifts" they bring to the church, particularly to the Mass, according to organizers.

"Padre Jorge," as locals refer to him, is remembered fondly. "He used to come here to be with us often," according to Nipo Chan, an elderly guest of the soup kitchen whose parents came as immigrants from Japan before World War II.

Michael R. Lovell, 57, president of Marquette University, died June 9 in Italy while on a Jesuit formation pilgrimage with members of the Society of Jesus and the Jesuit university's board of trustees.

On June 11 — at a breakfast before the annual spring meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Louisville, Kentucky — Pax Christi received the inaugural Dorothy Day Peacemaker Award from the Dorothy Day Guild. 

Pope Francis once again renewed his call for a cease-fire in Gaza following the rescue of four hostages that led to what officials in Gaza said was the killing of more than 270 Palestinians in an Israeli rescue operation that one European Union diplomat deemed a "massacre."
 

New Zealand's retired archbishop of Wellington has been cleared to return to ministry following a Vatican inquiry into an historical abuse complaint.

Catholic activist Jimmy Lai's trial on charges of violating a Chinese-imposed national security law is nearing the 100-day mark. He is the highest-profile Hong Kong resident to be tried under the law, and his case is considered a landmark case.

In a case involving parental preferences, a "congregation preference" and hiring decisions at two Catholic preschools, a federal judge in Denver ruled June 4 that Colorado's government violated state law by excluding those preschools from participating in the state's universal preschool program.

Arizona voters in November will consider a measure to make unauthorized crossings of the state's international border a state crime separate from a federal one after state lawmakers approved its inclusion on the general election ballot.

Catholic immigration advocates expressed concern about the impact Biden's order could have on asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

André Denis, a retired Quebec superior court judge mandated by Pope Francis to investigate accusations of sexual abuse made against Cardinal Gérald C. Lacroix, Archbishop of Quebec, has said he found no evidence to support the accusations. But Denis noted the investigation's conclusion was significantly impacted by the accuser's refusal to participate — something which could change in the future — leaving the cardinal in the meantime feeling like he was "fighting a ghost."

Mexico's bishops congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum, who overwhelmingly won Mexico's presidential election to become the country's first female president — a historic accomplishment overshadowed by the killing of candidates and questions over the future of the country's democratic institutions.
 

A Kenyan bishop urged young Catholics to act together to care for the environment and protect it, as he led the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa in marking its 10th birthday.

The largest wildlife crossing in the world — the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing — has just begun construction in Agoura Hills, California, some 30 miles west of Los Angeles.

The U.S. Catholic bishops' latest annual report on child and youth protection shows abuse allegations are down, while safe environment protocols have taken root in the church — but guarding against complacency about abuse prevention is critical, as is providing ongoing support for survivors.