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CATHOLIC NATIVITY TRADITIONS

Many centuries ago, St. Francis of Assisi was the first to make a Christmas creche, or manger, displaying figures depicting... 

by Cathi Douglas 

CHRISTMAS SEASON BRINGS JOY, STRESS FOR SURVIVORS OF NATURAL DISASTERS

MIAMI (CNS) — After spending a week with adults and Catholic school children in the hurricane-impacted Florida Panhandle, one mental... 

by TOM TRACY, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE 

JSERRA RAISES MONEY TO BRING SNOW DAY TRADITION TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST SCHOOL

JSerra Catholic High School raised over $4,000 through their “Movember” fundraiser to gift the young students of St. John the... 

by Nikki Nguyen 

DIOCESE OF ORANGE STRATEGIC PLAN PUBLISHED

The  Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange, led by the Most Rev. Kevin Vann, Bishop of Orange, has published the first-ever... 

by Staff 

STUDY SHOWS YOUNG ADULTS LEAVING CHURCH START DOWN THAT PATH AT AGE 13

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (CNS) — To find Catholics who have left the church, start looking at the faces in the... 

by NICHOLAS WOLFRAM SMITH, CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE 

Local

ALIKE AND DIFFERENT

It’s a pretty popular aphorism today that people are a lot more alike than they are different.  Prof. Scott Alexander…

FOUR FROM DIOCESE OF ORANGE WALK EL CAMINO DE SANTIAGO

The decision to travel halfway around the world and then to walk every day for more than a month, came…

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE IN RESPONSE TO RECENT MEDIA REPORTS

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: The scourge of sexual abuse of minors and others in our society is real…

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Christ Cathedral

SACRED ART COMMISSIONED

The Old Testament begins with the creation of the world. The New Testament begins with the coming of Jesus, the…

UNVEILING THE SHROUD

If there is one individual largely responsible for unveiling the mysteries around the Shroud of Turin in the last 40…

CHRIST CATHEDRAL CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Christ Cathedral is glowing.   The historic structure, set to become the spiritual home of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange,…

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Sports

EYES ON THE PRIZE

Nobody ever doubted Michael Bandy’s work ethic.  His determination to be a better football player and his drive to make…

TRINITY LEAGUE ATHLETE PROFILE: BRIELLE MULLALLY

Brielle Mullally was eight years old when her older sister began playing volleyball for her elementary school team. Mullally would…

PLAYING THE LONG GAME

Chayse Gomez signed her letter-of-intent to attend Oregon State around sunrise on Nov. 14. The senior at Rosary High School…

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Local Headlines

DIOCESE OF ORANGE LEADERS SPEAK AT INFLUENTIAL NOTRE DAME CONFERENCE
A  pair of high-ranking officials from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange were featured speakers during a recent conference at...

THANKSGIVING FOR MARINES
For 29 years, Corpus Christi parish in Aliso Viejo has celebrated Thanksgiving just like most families … with two noteworthy...

AN ALLIANCE OF LOVE WITH GOD
“I, Armando take you, Eloísa, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better,...

Opinion Headlines

WHY WE ASK SAINTS FOR THEIR INTERCESSION
  “I  want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth,” said St. Therese of Lisieux, as noted in...

A CASE FOR PRIESTLY CELIBACY
There is a very bad argument for celibacy which has reared its head throughout the tradition and which is, even...

SENATE HEALTH CARE BILL TAKES AWAY COVERAGE, HURTS THE VULNERABLE
The Affordable Care Act has ushered in seismic changes in access to care and how it is delivered to millions...

National

‘A NIGHT OF WITNESS’ SERVICE RECALLS LIFE, FAITH OF TODAY’S MARTYRS

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Catholic churches throughout the world were bathed in soft red light to honor martyrs and mark the…

CATHOLIC CHARITIES STROVE TO MEET CHALLENGES OF NATURAL DISASTERS

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Hurricane, fire, flood and even earthquake, Catholic Charities agencies did their best to help thousands of their…

VENERATING CURE D’ARS’ RELIC CAN HELP CHURCH ‘HEAL,’ SAYS HEAD OF KNIGHTS

WASHINGTON (CNS) — The incorrupt heart of St. John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, “reminds us God uses…

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National Headlines

FEAST OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION DOES NOT GET WEEKEND DISPENSATION
WASHINGTON — Just last year, Catholics were required to attend separate Masses two days in a row for the Sunday...

‘GREEN BOOK’
NEW YORK (CNS) — “Green Book” (Universal) opens with a singer in the Copacabana nightclub in New York belting out...

AMAZON FOUNDER GIVES $15 MILLION TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES
Washington D.C., Dec 5, 2018 / 03:30 pm (CNA) – Three Catholic charitable organizations were named as winners of $5...

ETHICIST: GENE-EDITING HUMAN EMBRYOS ‘A TRAIN WRECK OF A THING TO DO’
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The revelation in late November that a Chinese researcher had edited genes in human embryos and then...

World

OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: EMPRESS OF THE AMERICAS

Mexico City, Mexico, Dec 11, 2018 / 03:47 pm (CNA/EWTN News) – It would be virtually impossible to travel to…

MARKING FEAST DAY, POPE ASKS MARY’S CARE OF FAMILIES SEEKING REFUGE

ROME (CNS) — In the heart of Rome, near streets of fancy shops already blinged out for Christmas shopping, Pope…

SAINT PROFILE: BLESSED JOHN RUYSBROECK

Blessed John Ruysbroeck served as influential leader in the Devotio Moderna (Modern Devotion). That 14th-century movement brought people both to…

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World Headlines

PRAYER IS A CONSTANT LEARNING EXPERIENCE, POPE SAYS
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Jesus’ way of praying to his father throughout his life is a reminder for Christians that...

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE GOD’S ‘X-RAY,’ POPE FRANCIS SAYS
Vatican City, Nov 28, 2018 / 04:42 am (CNA/EWTN News) – By reflecting on the Ten Commandments, Christians can examine...

EVERYONE’S HOUR WILL COME, SO BE PREPARED FOR JUDGMENT DAY, POPE SAYS
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — People would be wise to think about Judgment Day and wonder what God will see when...

FROM BEACH TO BASILICA: ‘SAND NATIVITY’ BRINGS UNIQUE STYLE TO VATICAN
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — From the beach town of New Smyrna, Florida, just a stone’s throw away from Daytona Beach,...

Education

EIGHTH GRADERS PRESENT FINDINGS ON HOMELESSNESS TO CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Leading up to midterm elections, eighth-grade students at School of Our Lady completed a Social Studies assignment and shared their…

SAINT ANNE SCHOOL RECEIVED A $25,000 GO! PROGRAM GRANT FOR SCIENCE CAMP

Saint Anne School in Santa Ana received a $25,000 grant for Outdoor Education from ECMC Foundation.  Students in sixth, seventh,…

BLESSED SACRAMENT PRESCHOOLERS RECEIVE ROSARIES

Last month, four longtime parishioners of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Westminster made a special visit to the pre-kindergarten class…

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Education Headlines

SMCHS STUDENTS WIN AT INTERNATIONAL MODEL UNITED NATIONS COMPETITION
Eleven juniors from Santa Margarita Catholic High School returned recently from the 37th annual Royal Russell Model United Nations Conference...

SMCHS BLUE AND GOLD FUNDRAISER A SUCCESS
The Santa Margarita Catholic High School community paid homage to its roots on Sept. 29 as a crowd of 545...

SHARING THE KEY TO THE KINGDOM
“Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18  Each year...

DR. DENISE VALADEZ NAMED ASSOCIATE SUPERINTENDENT OF CURRICULUM, SPIRITUALITY AND ACCREDITATION
  A  veteran Catholic educator has joined the Diocese of Orange as associate superintendent of Curriculum, Spirituality and Accreditation.  Dr....