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18+ min ago (431+ words) BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) " The Buffalo Catholic Diocese is amplifying calls for compassion for immigrants through a pastoral letter drawing on more than 130 years of Catholic social teaching. Bishop Michael Fisher's letter reinforces a message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops calling to end "de-humanizing rhetoric" and violence against immigrants. "Jesus himself was an immigrant," Father Mark Noonan, pastor of the Orleans Niagara East Catholic Community, said. The letter, distributed to priests across the Buffalo Diocese, reinstates a message delivered in mid-November from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. In their statement, the bishops said, "to our immigrant brothers and sisters, we stand with you in your suffering since when one member suffers, all suffer." Pope Leo recently responded to the effort, saying, "I think we have to look for ways of treating people humanely, treating people with the dignity…...

19+ min ago (1167+ words) Pope Leo XIV addresses a gathering of bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and pastoral workers at the Our Lady of Lebanon basilica in Harissa, Lebanon on Monday. BEIRUT, Lebanon " Pope Leo XIV celebrated Lebanon's tradition of interfaith coexistence Monday as a beacon of hope for a conflict-torn region, as he asked for "the divine gift of peace" alongside the country's Christian and Muslim religious leaders. Leo received a raucous, ululating welcome from the crowds and a sincere welcome from its spiritual leaders on his first full day in Lebanon, where billboards with his image dotted highways around the capital. Thousands of ordinary Lebanese braved a steady rain in the morning to line his motorcade route, some throwing flower petals and rice on his car in a gesture of welcome. History's first American pope is on his maiden papal voyage, and it…...

20+ min ago (417+ words) The Jaguars star has embraced his faith The rookie season of Travis Hunter, the Jacksonville Jaguars' standout wide receiver and defensive back, has been notable for more than just his athletic prowess. Off the field, Hunter has experienced a profound personal transformation, one that was influenced strongly by his wife, Leanna Lenee. Her own spiritual journey seems to have inspired Hunter to embrace faith in a way that has now become a defining part of his life. In a memorable moment last month, Hunter was baptized at Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, just hours before a game against the Seattle Seahawks. The event, shared on social media and witnessed by fellow church members, marked a turning point in Hunter's life. On his Instagram, he wrote, "It's Sunday. It's God's day. I've been planning to go get baptized for a minute....

30+ min ago (263+ words) Festivals News: December marks the end of the Gregorian year with shorter days and longer nights, a time for resolutions and cherishing memories. The month is rich wi According to Gregorian Calendar, December month is the last month of the year but not according to Hindu Calendar The days are short and nights are long as December has started and this is the month of freezing winters This month is for making new year resolutions, setting new goals and time to cherish the past memories that you have spent with your loved ones In the month of December, there are so many observances which will be celebrated with immense devotion The day started with Mokshada Ekadashi and Guruvayur Ekadashi Annapurna Jayanti, Dattatreya Jayanti and Margashirsha Purnima Vrat wil also be observed In the last week, Mandala Puja, Banada Ashtami and…...

35+ min ago (151+ words) When I can't make it to church, due to having to work on a Sunday, I feel closer to God because I go to the cafe's Sunday evening church service instead," Gambino said. He's on staff at the Crossing Cafe and plans to be a part of the young adult initiative in the future. He's full of life and recently ran a half-marathon whose pledges were given back to the Crossing Cafe as a donation. Volunteers shared that some of the best memories in Warren are made there. The cafe serves economical meals that support a tight budget or provide the perfect place for an inexpensive first date. The caf" strongly reinforces unity and combating isolation. Coming up, the cafe will hold its annual Soup and Pie Fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., during the Christmas Parade and Walk, Friday, Dec. 5....

35+ min ago (589+ words) Thousands of Lebanese faithful were making their way to Beirut's waterfront ahead of Pope Leo XIV's mass on Tuesday morning, the highlight of the Catholic leader's visit to the capital expected to draw huge crowds. Before the service the pope was to pray at the site of a catastrophic port explosion on the final day of his Lebanon visit. The pontiff arrived from Turkey on Sunday on his inaugural visit abroad as pope and brought a message of hope, particularly to young people in Lebanon, whose faith in their beleaguered country has dwindled. His trip has been a welcome distraction in a nation still reeling from a war last year between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, with many fearing renewed hostilities. Pope Leo's first stop on Tuesday was at a psychiatric hospital run by nuns near the capital, where he…...

37+ min ago (543+ words) ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 788 Pope Leo XIV was set to offer a silent prayer at the site of the August 2020 Beirut port explosion as he wraps up his first foreign trip to Turkey and Lebanon on Tuesday. He was also expected to meet with relatives of some of the 218 victims of the blast. The explosion tore through Beirut and did billions of dollars in damage after hundreds of tons of ammonium nitrate detonated in a warehouse. No official has been convicted in a judicial investigation that has been repeatedly obstructed, angering Lebanese for whom the blast was just the latest crisis after decades of corruption and financial crimes. When he arrived in Lebanon on Sunday, Leo urged the country's political leaders to pursue the truth as a means of peace and reconciliation in the country. The pontiff carried a message…...

38+ min ago (512+ words) Thousands of Lebanese faithful were making their way to Beirut's waterfront ahead of Pope Leo XIV's mass on Tuesday morning, the highlight of the Catholic leader's visit to the capital expected to draw huge crowds. Before the service the pope was to pray at the site of a catastrophic port explosion on the final day of his Lebanon visit. The pontiff arrived from Turkey on Sunday on his inaugural visit abroad as pope and brought a message of hope, particularly to young people in Lebanon, whose faith in their beleaguered country has dwindled. His trip has been a welcome distraction in a nation still reeling from a war last year between Israel and militant group Hezbollah, with many fearing renewed hostilities. Pope Leo's first stop on Tuesday was at a psychiatric hospital run by nuns near the capital, where he…...

46+ min ago (377+ words) Although the main focus of Sojourner Truth Ministries has been combatting food insecurity by providing meals for those who show up at their door, they are also working toward revamping and re-opening the House of Hope program which was forced to close due to financial unsustainability. According to Pastor Angelique Labadie-Cihanowyz, executive director, there "was not a way to continue it, so it was a financial black hole." The House of Hope is located in a renovated house on Center Street. It originally opened just before the COVID pandemic hit, as a place for homeless women to work toward sustainability in a program undergirded by faith. "It was just unfortunate timing with COVID and other forces," Labadie-Cihanowyz said. Currently there are no residents as the ministry makes changes to the program to require that participants contribute financially. "We're expecting that…...

46+ min ago (862+ words) On a trip to South Africa last year, where she is originally from, Stephanie Shover said that she and her husband, Luke, saw a need for theological education literacy, so they prayed for missionaries to be called to address those needs. "God was like, I want you guys to go, so we're back in Williamsport, raising our support to go to South Africa," Shover said. During the time she and her husband have to raise support for their sojourn in the foreign mission field, Stephanie is working at a local mission, Sojourner Truth Ministries. "Sojourner's is more than just a soup kitchen," Shover said. "We get people from all walks of life, and new needs present themselves every day," she said, adding that it is important to be proactive in meeting those needs. She shared about a woman who came…...