NEWS

Updated 04/24/13

VATICAN CITY - Acknowledging "conflicting reports" about two Orthodox archbishops kidnapped in Syria, Pope Francis prayed for them and for an end to the war in their country.

BOSTON - Even though "the culture of death looms large" today, the light of Christ the Good Shepherd "can expel the darkness and illuminate for us a path that leads to life, to a civilization of solidarity and love," said Boston Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley.

BROOKLYN, N.Y. - There were more questions than answers about the April 15 terror attack on the Boston Marathon in the days following the bombings, even with the FBI's eventual identification of two suspects in the attack.

WASHINGTON - Students at Boston colleges in particular felt the impact of the April 15 Boston Marathon explosions and after the tragedy just down the street from many of these campuses, they gathered to pray for victims, raise funds to support their recovery, and simply to talk and share their grief and disbelief.

TORONTO - The Meera family have endured two wars, ethnic cleansing, religious persecution and a lot of bureaucracy, but with the help of a Catholic parish in Brampton, Ont., the six Iraqi Christian refugees have fought their way into Canada.

CONCORD, ONT. - The Loretto Sisters have a special place in their institute for the Jesuits.

TORONTO - Through a new program at Regis College, Ontario’s Catholic teachers will now have an alternative way to meet their religious education requirements.

Twenty-five women will walk from Montreal to the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa at the end of month to remind Canadians that abortion has had no legal restrictions in this country for the past quarter century.

OTTAWA - Alissa Golob got involved in pro-life activism the old-fashioned way — through snail mail.

TORONTO - Biagio Vinci has been called to serve, in and out of his restaurant.