1+ day, 14+ hour ago (221+ words) YOUNGSTOWN " The Diocese of Youngstown welcomes all to participate in an event for the Hispanic community, which is part of the diocese's growing commitment to Hispanic ministry and provides an opportunity for Hispanics and the wider community to come together to pray, celebrate and learn more about our diverse Catholic cultures. The event will be offered primarily in Spanish, but will be translated as needed for English speakers. St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown will host Mass at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, with the rosary being recited before Mass at 5 p.m. After the rosary, there will be a procession of roses. Diocese officials said the Mass concludes a multi-week effort in which Hispanic families throughout the six-county diocese have been praying the rosary with their families, in the presence of 10 statues that have…...

6+ day, 1+ hour ago (585+ words) " 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2985 Center Road, Poland " 8 to 10 a.m at Wildare Church, 7211 N. Park Ave., Champion " 9 to 11 a.m. at Chestnut Ridge Church of God, 7215 Chestnut Ridge Road, Hubbard BBARD " Local organizations, churches and community members have been spending the past week filling colorful shoeboxes with toys, hygiene items, socks and other items for children worldwide. The effort is part of Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child with today being the last collection day before boxes are shipped from Wildare Church in Champion. Wildare Church volunteers will be loading the boxes into the semi-trailers today. One local collection site was Chestnut Ridge Church of God in Hubbard, The Rev. Robert McFarland, pastor, said they are taking boxes today to Wildare for placement on trucks. The volunteers at the church had items such as stuffed animals, toothbrushes, soccer balls that needed…...

1+ week, 1+ day ago (357+ words) AUSTINTOWN " The scent of marigolds filled the air and bright bursts of color adorned the tables as more than 140 children from the St. Blaise Parish CCD program gathered at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Center Nov. 9 for an art workshop that was also a joyful encounter of faith, culture and community. Leading the celebration were David Labra, musician with the Labra Brothers and coordinator of Youngstown's popular Hola Fest, and Cheri Manners, Spanish teacher and club adviser at Hickory High School. Together, they invited children into a space where faith was not only remembered but made vibrant and alive. "D'a de los Muertos is a celebration of sacred memory," Manners said. "It teaches us that remembrance can be joyful, colorful and deeply reverent." Through stories, music, and hands-on activities, the children discovered how D'a de los Muertos intertwines the…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (329+ words) Samaritan's Purse has collected shoebox gifts filled with toys, school supplies and hygiene items for children around the world as part of Operation Christmas Child. Every year, National Collection Week takes place the third week in November with more than 4,500 dropoff locations open across the country. This year, National Collection Week is today through Monday with dropoff locations in Trumbull and Mahoning counties. Event organizers said since 1993, more than 232 million children in more than 170 countries and territories have received an Operation Christmas Child shoebox. Organizers said shoebox packing is fun for individuals, families and groups. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver these tangible expressions of God's love to children in need. "Children need hope, and they need to know that they are not alone and God loves them. Gift-filled shoeboxes open the door for us…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (265+ words) The alleged incident occurred during a papal audience Oct. 29, at the entrance to St. Peter's Square. The audience that day was dedicated to marking the anniversary of a 1965 declaration on the church's relations with Jews and other non-Christians. The alleged victims were part of an international Jewish delegation attending the papal audience, during which Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed Catholic-Jewish relations and vowed to fight antisemitism. One of the Swiss Guards hissed the phrase "Les Juifs," or "the Jews" in French, as they passed, Govrin said in a written statement. Govrin said her colleague turned to the guard and said, "You said "Les Juifs'," to which the guard replied, "No, I didn't," and "You are lying." He then made "a contemptuous sound of spitting toward us," Govrin said. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said "the Pontifical Swiss Guard has received a report…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (788+ words) YOUNGSTOWN " The spiritual histories of generations of families were celebrated at SS. Peter & Paul Church Nov. 2 during the final Sunday Mass at that location. Appropriately, the date was also All Souls Day, a time of remembrance for family and friends who are no longer with us. Parishioners recalled the numerous baptisms, weddings, festivals and school graduations at the Covington Street church on the city's North Side. The first Mass of the newly-created SS. Peter and Paul Church was on July 2, 1911, in a small house on the corner of Covington and Arlington streets. Local Croatian and Slovenian immigrants gathered from Youngstown and nearby towns to worship. The present brick church on Covington Street was dedicated in 1915. Many of those who attended the last Mass praised their Croatian ancestors who started the church, yet were resigned to its closing. "Both sides of…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (345+ words) The Diocese of Youngstown has issued a decree that calling hours before funerals can no longer take place inside a church building, effective Dec. 1. More families are requesting funeral visitation for loved ones at church rather than at funeral homes. Bishop David Bonnar said the increasing trend can be attributed to several factors, including convenience, cutting cost and making it easier for family and friends to attend all parts of the funeral rites. Over the past year, Bonnar has met with funeral directors, the Diocesan Presbyteral Council and county deans, in hopes of establishing a uniform policy for funeral visitations. Ultimately, with their unanimous support, it has been decided that funeral visitation will no longer be allowed in a church building or church facility. Officials said the structure of the "Order of Christian Funerals" serves as a guide in the…...