Catholic Review

Every mom — and everyone who was ever a kid — remembers the occasional chaos of school mornings, grabbing breakfast, homework, lunch bags, negotiating who gets the bathroom next. catholicreview.org/how-thoughts-a… #Commentary #Blog #FaithBlog

Maybe because my birthday came during summer vacation, I don’t remember ever having a birthday party with friends – except one year. I’m not sure where my mother got the idea, but one January she decided to throw me a party for my half-birthday. catholicreview.org/a-big-birthday/ #Commentary #Blog #FaithBlog @OpenWindow_CR

⚽🙏 What Do Faith and the World Cup Final Have in Common? More Than You'd Think. As Spain and Argentina prepare to face off July 19 for the World Cup title, Catholic faith runs through both sides: 🇪🇸 Spain — Coach Luis de la Fuente is known as much for his devotion as his tactics. Spanish bishops have publicly praised his witness, pointing to his devotion to the Holy Christ of the Expiration in Seville. Striker Ferran Torres has spoken openly about the strength his faith gives him. 🇦🇷 Argentina — Before every match, the team sets up a small prayer altar centered on Our Lady of Luján, Argentina's patroness. Lionel Messi's boots were even blessed at her basilica before the tournament began. After clinching the final, Messi said simply: "I am grateful for everything he has given me." ⚽ Even the tournament itself has Catholic roots — the World Cup was founded in 1928 by French Catholic Jules Rimet, inspired by the social teaching of Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. Two historically Catholic nations, one trophy, and a lot of prayer. Who are you cheering for? 👇 📖 Full story: catholicreview.org/faith-joins-fo… #WorldCupFinal #SpainVsArgentina #CatholicFaith #FIFAWorldCup2026

Why be satisfied with an animated success when a live-action re-working of the same tale might also be a hit at the box office? And so, we get the musical adventure #Moana @OSVNews rating is A-II — adults & adolescents MPA rating is PG catholicreview.org/movie-review-m… #MovieReview #Film

It was a summer afternoon along the Narragansett shoreline in New England. A young Ecuadorian immigrant had gone fishing with a friend. The sea was unusually rough, and powerful waves crashed against the rocks where they stood casting their lines. catholicreview.org/a-miracle-at-s… #commentary #Blog #FaithBlog #Immigration

🎻 Who Are the Hillbilly Thomists — And Why Is Baltimore Buzzing About Their July 29 Show? They're a bluegrass/folk band made up entirely of Dominican friars — and they're playing Baltimore for the very first time. The Hillbilly Thomists bring a mix of bluegrass, folk, gospel and original songs to Ss. Philip and James in Charles Village on July 29 at 7 p.m. Expect a night of "whooping and hollering," courtesy of frontman Father Justin Bolger, a Maryland native who once toured the country professionally before entering the Dominican order. "You can expect very artistically beautiful music," says Father Michael Weibley, pastor of Ss. Philip and James. "It will be a fun, family-friendly evening of coming together and enjoying good music." Tickets are moving fast — the church expects to fill all 400 seats. And every ticket supports friars studying at the Dominican House of Studies. 📍 Ss. Philip and James, 2801 N. Charles St., Baltimore 🗓️ July 29, 7 p.m. 🎟️ Get your tickets before they're gone! Read more here: catholicreview.org/hillbilly-thom… #LocalNews #Music #Live #Concert #BaltimoreEvents #CharlesVillage

Why is it that when the SSPX says Mass, it’s only illicit, but now going to confession with them would be not only illicit but also invalid? catholicreview.org/question-corne… #QuestionCorner #AskACatholic #CatholicQA #Commentary #Blog #FaithBlog

Francisco Bocel remembers the night three assassins forced him to bring them to Father Stanley Rother. Bocel shared how he still carries that traumatic moment with him — one of many being featured — in an upcoming #documentary on the life of the slain priest. catholicreview.org/new-documentar… #film #WorldNews

#France’s bishops are strongly criticizing a “radical choice” made by French lawmakers to legalize “assisted dying.” catholicreview.org/french-bishops… #RespectLife #WorldNews

Catholics and immigrant advocacy groups have expressed solidarity and offered prayers in the aftermath of two fatal shootings by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers within less than a week. catholicreview.org/catholics-offe… #Immigration #WorldNews #GunViolence

A nearly full audience filled St. Louis Church’s social hall in Clarksville July 9 to hear Matthew Spalding, dean of Hillsdale College’s Graduate School of Government, make a case for falling back in love with America through its founding document. catholicreview.org/howard-county-… #250thAnniversary #LocalNews

Sister Kathleen Marie, who was also a longtime professor of communications and drama at Notre Dame of Maryland, died June 10 at Stella Maris in Timonium. She was 101. catholicreview.org/sister-kathlee… #Obit #Obituaries #Colleges #LocalNews

Father J. Collin Poston is back at St. Bartholomew — and it almost didn't happen this way. Back in February, his secretary noticed he didn't look right on a routine drive to an eye appointment. That instinct led to an ER visit, and doctors found he was hours from going septic. Emergency surgery followed, then two weeks in the hospital and a long recovery. He returned to his Manchester parish this Holy Week to applause from a community that never stopped praying for him. "I could have died, but I'm here," he said. "So I guess that means God has a good plan for me." catholicreview.org/the-drive-that… #LocalNews #WesternVicariate @FrCollinPoston

The Archdiocese of Baltimore will host its annual gun buyback event Aug. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Westside Shopping Center, 2413 Frederick Ave., Baltimore. Donors will receive funds for up to two guns surrendered, though individuals may donate as many weapons as they want. A total of 1,056 guns were collected over the past three year. catholicreview.org/archdiocese-of… #GunViolence #LocalNews

During his July 15 confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche took questions from senators on issues ranging from objections to the way the Department of Justice handled the release of the Epstein files to the way it has approached state challenges to a policy permitting distribution of mifepristone by mail. catholicreview.org/senators-press… #RespectLife #WorldNews

Twin #earthquakes in #Venezuela have left nearly 5,000 people dead, according to government officials, triggering a massive mobilization of humanitarian aid organizations. catholicreview.org/death-toll-in-… #WorldNews

Franciscans in the United States urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to help stop increased attacks against Christians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. catholicreview.org/us-franciscans… #MiddleEastConflict #WorldNews

As African #bishops continue to back #PopeLeoXIV over the excommunication of the Society of St. Pius X, known as SSPX, the traditionalist group in Kenya rejected the schismatic tag as it moved to assure followers of its Roman Catholic identity. catholicreview.org/after-vaticans… #Vatican #WorldNews

#AI is everywhere, but not everyone understands it. In this episode of Catholic Review Radio, Christopher Gunty explores with Taylor Black the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, its cultural and ethical impacts, and the Catholic perspective on technology. Black is director of AI and Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft. Discover how AI is shaping society, the importance of human dignity, and what the future holds. The conversation talks about the significance of Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas in the context of AI and technological shifts. Other key topics are the balance between technological advancement and environmental sustainability and the role of AI in developing nations and concerns around inequality. Black also discusses the ethical considerations and the importance of maintaining human relationships in the age of AI, and makes some predictions for the next few years in AI development and its societal integration. Listen to the #podcast here: catholicreview.org/radio-intervie…

Father Graham died July 5 at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh. He was 79. catholicreview.org/capuchin-franc… #Obit #Obituaries #rip #LocalNews