From behind prison walls to the heart of family life, or even through meals served from a food truck by friars, the Gospel is at work in ways both profound and practical — a reminder that Christ calls us to serve Him in our neighbor.
OSV News had stories on these and more this week: Find a sampling of stories below, and on osvnews.com and at @OSVNews on social media. You can also catch up on the news each weekday by listening to the OSV Newscast.
Megan Marley
Digital Editor
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Using food truck to help LA fire victims ’round one,’ says priest; Capuchins’ outreach continues
When recent wildfires forced the Capuchin Franciscan friars in Los Angeles to evacuate, they took refuge at the Pasadena Convention Center with hundreds of others. There, they quickly realized the need for food and mobilized their “Capuchin Family Kitchen” food truck to serve meals.
NEWFOUNDLAND: Dolan: Flight diverted, grounded in Canada shows ‘Jesus is in charge, not us’
NEW JERSEY: New abortion clinic trial in New Jersey involves a hermit, a friar and two laypeople
NEW YORK: Notre Dame’s restoration architect shares love letter to cathedral with New York crowd
PENNSYLVANIA: Ukraine’s major archbishop makes Jubilee visit to US: ‘Solidarity keeps us standing’
WASHINGTON, D.C.: He’s made history as first African American to be cardinal, archbishop of Washington
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Florida priest, a 30-year Air Force veteran, named auxiliary for US military archdiocese
10-state National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to include procession at Iowa’s ‘Field of Dreams’
The 2025 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage will begin in Indianapolis May 18 and travel through 10 states before reaching Los Angeles June 22. The 3,300-mile St. Katharine Drexel Route has stops planned in 20 dioceses and four Eastern Catholic eparchies across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
HHS issues new ‘sex-based definitions’ following Trump executive orders
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Feb. 19 it has started to send out guidance on “clear sex-based definitions” to government agencies, outside organizations and the public. The department stated in its announcement that its new guidance “recognizes there are only two sexes: male and female.”
IVF ANALYSIS: Trump’s IVF order fuels mass destruction of human embryos, not birth rate
IN VITRO FERTILIZATION: Trump orders expanded access to IVF, a practice contrary to Catholic teaching
MUNICH: Vance shines global spotlight on case of British army vet prosecuted for silent prayer
REFUGEES: Bishops sue Trump administration, say halting refugee resettlement funds will cause harm
In talk on euthanasia, pro-life attorney raises concerns over organ donor registry programs
Organ donor registry programs typically offered during state driver’s license renewals might seem like a straight-forward and noble choice but should require greater awareness of pitfalls.
Coalition aims to have an active prison ministry in all US dioceses, get more laity involved
A recent survey revealed many dioceses have prison ministries, but few know who’s involved. An online-based coalition aims to inform and form more laity in this ministry.
HISTORY: Meet the Sister of Charity making sure Catholics ‘never forget’ the Holocaust
MARRIAGE FORMATION: With mentors and the Holy Spirit, marriage catechumenate model bears fruit
Israel devastated by ‘macabre’ return of child hostages’ bodies as ceasefire holds
Israel has identified three of the bodies of hostages returned Feb. 20 but said the body of Shiri Bibas — mother of two red-headed boys who became a symbol of Israeli hostage suffering, both confirmed dead — was not returned as promised by Hamas, sparking outrage throughout the country.
ENGLAND: British pro-lifers urge church to speak out in wake of nation’s worst public abortion scandal
CANADA: Canada gets new bishops for dioceses in Alberta, Quebec
CONGO: As rebels in Congo take Bukavu, church leaders decry violence, disrespect for international law
KENYA: African church organizations ‘devastated’ amid USAID shutdown, call for dialogue on program cuts
MYANMAR: Thousands in Myanmar village gather at funeral to mourn slain priest
ROME: Catholics worldwide unite in prayer for pope’s health
Basílicas, iglesias y santuarios en todo EEUU son lugares de peregrinación para el Jubileo 2025
Católicos de todo el mundo se están embarcando en peregrinaciones para conmemorar el Año Jubilar de la Esperanza. Muchas personas viajarán a Roma para visitar las cuatro basílicas mayores y atravesar sus Puertas Santas para obtener la indulgencia plenaria. Sin embargo, aquellos que no pueden viajar a Roma, pueden participar en este Jubileo viajando a uno de los numerosos lugares de peregrinación del Año Jubilar en todo el país. En Estados Unidos, los obispos han estado designando iglesias, catedrales, santuarios, monasterios u otros lugares religiosos como “lugares de peregrinación jubilar”.
Pope’s chronic lung condition plus infection are serious, doctor says
While Pope Francis’ life is not in immediate danger, the level of multiple infections in his lungs means he is not completely “out of danger,” said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, director of medical and surgical sciences at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, to reporters in the hospital atrium Feb. 21.
CZERNY: Vatican cardinal heads to Lebanon to express pope’s solidarity, prayers
JUBILEE: Pope calls artists to be ‘custodians of the beatitudes’ during Jubilee
VATICAN CITY STATE: Pope appoints religious sister to run Vatican City State
WEDNESDAY AUDIENCE: Vatican releases audience text pope prepared before hospitalization
Catholic social scientists are shaping the public conversation around marriage and family
CATHOLIC IN AMERICA: Three Catholic social scientists discuss their counter-cultural findings about marriage and family. Listen to the podcast episodes here.
FAITH FORMATION: What is Catholic social teaching?
INTERVIEW: Mom and historian Nadya Williams explores the role of mothers, human dignity and modern society
QUESTION CORNER: Why can’t the church offer a completely gluten free host?
“I’m Still Here” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Resilience under political repression is personified by an indomitable matriarch in this inspiring adaptation of Marcelo Paiva’s 2015 memoir recounting how his family survived the worst years of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
The post Week in Review | Feb. 21, 2025 first appeared on OSV News.
