This week featured a variety of stories that ranged from West Coast to East Coast, and everywhere in between. In my part of the Midwest, we’re gearing up to watch this weekend’s Super Bowl LIX between the Chiefs and Eagles — which the Kansas City bishop had something to say about. He noted a Super Bowl brings people together across many lines and in ways no other secular event could.
“It supercharges community spirit and common identity in ways that are truly amazing,” said Bishop James V. Johnston of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri.
Below is a selection of this week’s news coverage — you can also listen to top headlines each weekday evening via the OSV Newscast, and find even more stories to read on osvnews.com and @OSVNews on social media.
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
P.S.: Enjoy reading this roundup? Sign up to receive our emails here.
US Sunday Mass attendance back to pre-pandemic levels
Sunday Mass attendance in person at Catholic churches in the U.S. is back to pre-pandemic levels — although just under one quarter of the nation’s Catholics are in the pews on a regular weekly basis. The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University noted in a Feb. 5 post on its Nineteen Sixty-four research blog that Sunday Mass attendance in person has risen to 24% since the declared end of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2023. That rate has held through the first week of 2025.
Attack on priest at Spokane cathedral’s Lourdes service points to mental health needs, says bishop
A man attacked the parochial vicar of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Lourdes in Spokane, Wash., on Feb. 4, during the second night of the cathedral’s Lourdes Novena for Healing. Bishop Thomas Daly, who witnessed the event from a few feet away, said that he feels that the church has a responsibility to follow up with this man and his needs. The attack, he said, “calls attention to both illness on all levels and the importance to heal and ask Mary’s intercession.”
CALIFORNIA: Black Catholics are determined to stay, rebuild in community ravaged by wildfires
ILLINOIS: Exorcist pleads not guilty to battery charge over alleged incident during relics tour
TEXAS: Polka dancing, Hershey’s Kisses and novenas for World Marriage Day
VIRGINIA: Educators awarded for innovative, faith-filled drive to advance Catholic schools
Field of crosses: Immigrant artist’s memorial to DC air disaster victims a call to love
In the days since the tragic crash of American Eagle Flight 5342 late Jan. 29, 67 wooden crosses have been planted in rows on ground across the highway from the end of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Runway 33 — each one representing a victim of the disaster. The memorial was crafted by Dallas-based, self-taught artist Roberto Marquez, who told OSV News that everyone should try to take every opportunity to do something for others. “One thing that we need to nurture,” he said, “is love — and practice it. Practice it — and do more practice.”
PENNSYLVANIA: Archbishop Pérez calls for prayer after medical jet crash in Philadelphia
Trump at National Prayer Breakfast announces new order to investigate ‘anti-Christian’ bias
President Donald Trump said in Feb. 6 remarks to the National Prayer Breakfast he would create a task force led by Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate “anti-Christian” bias in the federal government. In dual remarks at the event, first at the U.S. Capitol and then across town at the Washington Hilton, Trump also said he would establish a presidential commission on religious liberty that “will work tirelessly to uphold this most fundamental right.”
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES: Former CRS chief: USAID closure ‘could actually cause death’
EXECUTIVE ORDER: In 2 days, 2 judges block Trump administration’s effort to end birthright citizenship
NATIONAL BUDGET: Panel: Will new budget priorities and tax policies help or hurt the poor?
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON: Pardoned pro-lifers describe their legal ordeal, what lies ahead for their activism
TITLE IX: President Trump bars biological males from competing in women’s sports
Ski park’s new giant statue of Mary shows ‘deep connection’ to area’s ‘beauty, tranquility’
Skiers at Mount Shasta Ski Park in Northern California now have a new, celestial protector: a 20-foot statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The statue was part of an ambitious vision set by Ray Merlo, who purchased the resort in 2017. Merlo, a devout Catholic, had two main goals: to build a new chairlift to Gray Butte and install the Virgin Mary statue.
Strengthening religious practice could help reverse demographic crisis, says Irish study
A new study from Ireland’s Iona Institute warns that the country’s demographic crisis could worsen due to declining religious practice. The report — titled “Religion, Marriage and Fertility: Shall the Religious Inherit Ireland?” — highlights that religious people tend to have larger families, suggesting that Ireland’s decreasing marriage and fertility rates are linked to religious decline.
GAZA: Ceasefire overshadows Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, pontifical charity says
GREAT BRITAIN: British Catholic high school reeling from the loss of student in stabbing incident
GREAT BRITAIN: Pro-life groups welcome British cardinal’s attack on ‘irresponsible’ assisted suicide bill
IRELAND: ‘Yes, of course!’: Postulator remembers Sister Clare Crockett for her obedience, pure joy
PERU: All Sodalitium-linked movements are ended, Vatican envoy confirms in Peru
PHILIPPINES: Advocacy group launches Philippine database on abuse; cardinal reiterates need for accountability
SWEDEN: Pope Francis, Sweden’s cardinal mourn victims of deadly mass shooting
Pope: Like Mary, respond to God’s love with action
Christians are called to follow Mary’s example by responding to God’s love with action, reaching out to others instead of withdrawing from the world, Pope Francis said. Reflecting on Mary’s visit to her pregnant cousin Elizabeth after learning that she will bring the Messiah into the world, he said that “this young daughter of Israel does not choose to protect herself from the world, does not fear the dangers and judgments of others, but goes out to meet others.” The pope began his general audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall Feb. 5 by apologizing for being unable to read his catechesis due to a lingering cold, and explained that an aide, Msgr. Pierluigi Giroli, would read his prepared text.
CARDINALS: Pope extends terms of dean, subdean of College of Cardinals
FEBRUARY PRAYER INTENTION: Pope prays for church that accompanies young people in discernment
HEALTHCARE: Welcoming a child opens new world of joy, pope tells health workers
JUBILEE: Pope asks Scandinavian Catholics to persevere in evangelization
THEME: Hope chosen as theme to celebrate grandparents and elderly during Jubilee
VATICAN OBSERVATORY: Faith and the final frontier: Jesuit astronomer releases guide to the cosmos
VATICAN SUMMIT: Pope will prepare papal document to help church promote children’s rights
WORLD DAY FOR CONSECRATED LIFE: Religious poverty, chastity, obedience are signs of hope, pope says
Meditating on Christ’s passion with St. Thomas More
SPIRITUAL CLASSICS REVISITED: “The Sadness of Christ” is the last work St. Thomas More ever wrote before being beheaded in 1535 for his opposition to King Henry VIII’s claim to be the supreme head of the church in England. Written during More’s 15-month imprisonment in the Tower of London, it contains meditations likely inspired by his impending martyrdom, but also features simple and practical advice on prayer and living life in view of the final end of eternal salvation.
Papa Francisco: Como María, respondan al amor de Dios con acciones
Reflexionando sobre la visita de María a su prima Isabel, embarazada, tras enterarse de que traerá al Mesías al mundo, dijo que “esta joven hija de Israel no elige protegerse del mundo, no teme los peligros y los juicios de los otros, sino que sale al encuentro de los demás.”. El Papa comenzó su audiencia general en el Aula Pablo VI el 5 de febrero disculpándose por no poder leer su catequesis debido a un resfriado persistente, y explicó que un ayudante, monseñor Pierluigi Giroli, leería su texto preparado.
El arzobispo Pérez hace un llamado a la oración tras el accidente de un jet médico en Filadelfia
El Papa reza por una Iglesia que acompañe a los jóvenes en su discernimiento vocacional
Informe: 20 años de datos muestran que las denuncias de abusos clericales han disminuido en EEUU
La pobreza, la castidad y la obediencia de los religiosos son signos de esperanza, dice el Papa
Nada vale sacrificar la vida de un niño, dice el Papa a los líderes mundiales
“You’re Cordially Invited” (Amazon MGM)
MOVIE REVIEW: Mirthless romantic comedy in which two wedding parties are accidentally double booked at a small island venue that can only handle a single such event at a time. Although the father of one bride (Will Ferrell) and the sister of the other (Reese Witherspoon) initially reach a compromise, the truce rapidly breaks down, leading to mutual acrimony and nasty pranking. OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
