What am I doing for Lent?
Ash Wednesday arrived and I hadn’t devoted much brainpower to it, to be honest. Late nights with kids, getting up to speed at work and packing to move to a new house ruins my ability to focus this year.
So I was out taking photos of the Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade (even got one of the team’s Catholic kicker wearing ashes!) and asking myself this question. As an introvert, I was also asking myself why I came here with a million other people.
Later that day I found myself interviewing some who knew the victim who died from the Super Bowl parade shooting. By all accounts, Lisa Lopez-Galvan was a devoted Catholic, mother and DJ; joy-filled, the life of the party — the type of person who brings life to a community, not tears it down.
I think this year as part of my Lent I’ll try to more intentionally give time to others, along with the usual prayer and fasting and almsgiving. Even in these small ways, we can bring Christ to our communities, so he can heal the hurt caused by sin.
There are many stories of sin and of grace covered by OSV News this week — read a selection of them below, and find even more on our social media @OSVNews.
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
Meet the U.S. experts the Vatican is consulting for marriage formation advice
The husband-and-wife team – who began their ministry a dozen years ago that today serves almost 90 North American dioceses – are the only North American married couple appointed to such a role with the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
New saint brings Argentine pope and president together
ANALYSIS: María Antonia de San José de Paz Figueroa may be the world’s newest saint, but she is already credited with a political “miracle” in her native Argentina.
Nigeria’s Mass attendance is one of highest in the world — so is its persecution
Nigerian Mass attendance is one of the highest in the world, in a country where thousands of Christians have been targeted and killed in recent years.
Monte Cassino Abbey: Tragic anniversary offers lesson to world at war
The natural and architectural beauty of a land of great significance for Christians all over the world was reduced to ashes 80 years ago when Allied Forces, hellbent on conquering Nazi Germany, bombed Italy’s Monte Cassino Abbey.
Disappeared Ukrainian Catholic priest may be in Russian prison now, says human rights activist
One of two disappeared Ukrainian Greek Catholic priests seized from their Church in Berdiansk in November of 2022 appears to have been illegally transferred to Russia, according to a human rights activist.
House votes to reauthorize Catholic lawmaker’s landmark anti-trafficking effort
The U.S. House on Feb. 13 voted to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, legislation to bolster anti-trafficking programs, for another five years.
Is Communion by intinction permissible and is the devil a being?
QUESTION CORNER: Is Communion by intinction permissible in my parish? Is the devil a being, or is he a metaphor? Canon lawyer Jenna Marie Cooper answers.
After a decade’s work, scholar brings Flannery O’Connor’s unfinished novel to light
“Flannery O’Connor’s Why Do the Heathen Rage? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at a Work in Progress” pairs O’Connor’s fragments with scholar Jessica Hooten Wilson’s commentary on the events and writings that influence them.
‘We’ll be killed’: Ukrainian Catholic Church faces ‘eradication’ if Russia wins, archbishop warns
INTERVIEW: OSV News sat down with Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, recently returned from his latest visit to Ukraine, for his insights on the war.
In response to report, head of Ireland’s Jesuits is ‘ashamed’ of order’s failure to act on abuse
The head of the Jesuits in Ireland has said he is “ashamed” at the order’s failure to confront abuse after the release of a new report revealing 93 complaints of sexual, physical and emotional abuse against a now deceased priest.
Don’t wait too long to baptize your baby
COLUMN: Parents certainly don’t postpone visits to the pediatrician for the bodily health of our treasured new life. Shouldn’t we be eager to have our babies receive these immense spiritual gifts as soon as possible?
