USCCB Blog

Five Ways the Catholic Church is Listening to Millennials Right Now

2017-03-30T12:16:00.004-04:00

(CNS/photo/Esteban Biba, EPA) By Bishop Eusebio Elizondo Catholics know that every person is made in the image of God. Everyone is due our respect

The Church’s Teaching on Contraception: Renewed Witness is Needed

2016-09-21T10:37:00.001-04:00

By Bishop David A. Zubik As Pittsburgh pilgrims, there are so many wonderful memories connected with World Youth Day over the years. But one memory stands out, perhaps because it could have been—should have been—a disaster but was anything but! It was my first year as Bishop of Pittsburgh. I was leading a contingent of 600 young people from the

Countdown to World Youth Day: Mercy Amongst Millions

2016-06-27T11:47:00.001-04:00

(CNS photo/Angelo Carconi, EPA) By Bishop Wm. Michael Mulvey One of my favorite prayers during the celebration of the Eucharist is prior to the sign of peace, “Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church.” The faith of the Church is one of the hallmarks of World Youth Day. Especially on those occasions, it is a Church that is young; a Church

Opening Our Hearts to Strengthening Marriages

2016-06-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

By Bishop Richard J. Malone, Bishop of Buffalo Recently, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, offered the following challenge: “But nowadays who is making an effort to strengthen marriages, to help married couples overcome their problems, to assist them in the work of raising children and, in general, to encourage the stability of the marriage bond?” This

Countdown to World Youth Day: A Massive Display of Joy and Faith

2016-06-20T13:00:00.000-04:00

By Bishop Larry Silva, of Honolulu Each time I have had the privilege of being present at the Vigil and Closing Mass of World Youth Day (Sydney, Madrid, and Rio), when millions of young

Countdown to World Youth Day: My First World Youth Day

2016-06-06T12:21:00.001-04:00

By Bishop Nelson J. Perez Auxiliary Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre It has now been over a year and half since I had the privilege and blessing of attending my very first World

Countdown to World Youth Day: How You Can Be Like The Apostles

2016-05-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

Dear kind young friends, I am very happy to share with you some of my reflections on World Youth Day that was began by dear Pope Saint John Paul II in 1986. I had the privilege of being present at six of these beautiful World Celebrations of Catholic Youth. The last World Youth that I attended was in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in 2013. I am planning to be present with all of you at the next

Countdown To World Youth Day: A Life Changing Event

2016-05-23T09:39:00.002-04:00

By Bishop Edgar da Cunha If you read or hear about World Youth Day, you may have an idea of what happens there. If you watch on TV, you may have a better understanding of what takes place

Countdown to World Youth Day: A Bishop's Letter to Pilgrims

2016-05-10T09:20:00.002-04:00

By His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl One of my favorite memories of World Youth Day is of the concluding Mass at Cherry Creek State Park during the Holy Father’s visit to Denver in 1993. The vast expanse of the park was filled with a half million young people. This was the capacity indicated by park officials. The students were clearly filled with

Polite Persecution

2016-04-22T10:26:00.000-04:00

By Bishop Paul D. Etienne Many Americans are surprised to hear that almost half of our country is considered mission territory. In fact, “home mission territory” can be found from Alaska to Louisiana, from Ohio to California. The needs of our mission dioceses vary greatly and the support of the Catholic Home Missions Appeal is vital to providing

Prayer, Meditation, Integration—Ecumenical Reflections for Lent

2016-03-24T11:13:00.000-04:00

By Father John Crossin Prayer is necessary as we integrate our faith and the events of everyday life. This is true of the results of ecumenical conversations. We need to bring these results into our daily prayer, to reflect on these results, and to seek deeper understanding of what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in our conversations with other Christians.