BMA exhibition highlights how Matisse reimagined the Stations of the Cross Sister Kathleen Haughey, S.N.D.de.N., dies at 94 Jerusalem patriarchate cancels Palm Sunday procession, postpones chrism Mass amid war Universal health coverage is not a luxury but ‘a moral imperative,’ pope says Belgian bishop says he will ‘make every effort’ to ordain married men by 2028 Local News BMA exhibition highlights how Matisse reimagined the Stations of the Cross George P. Matysek Jr. March 25, 2026 In spare black-and-white lines – almost graffiti-like in their directness – Matisse grouped all 14 Stations together in an expansive mural more than six feet tall. Sister Kathleen Haughey, S.N.D.de.N., dies at 94 Catholic Review Staff March 24, 2026 A funeral Mass for Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Kathleen Patricia Haughey was offered March 3 at Our Lady Queen Chapel in Ipswich, Mass. Sister Kathleen died Feb. 22. She was 94. Family members of Cardinal Shehan share memories of beloved uncle Katie V. Jones March 23, 2026 Bill Baird, former chief financial officer for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, shared photos of his grand-uncle, including one of Cardinal Shehan presenting him with his diploma from what is now Loyola Blakefield in Towson. Radio Interview: Faith and America’s pastime – ‘Baseball: Beyond Belief’ Catholic Review Staff March 23, 2026 Catholic Review Editor and Host Chris Gunty speaks with filmmaker John Scheinfeld, writer and director of the new documentary Baseball Beyond Belief. Inspired by John Sexton’s bestselling book “Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game,” the film explores how faith, ritual, doubt, and community shape both spiritual life and baseball fandom. More Local News World News The miracle of a living kidney donor: Virginia man realizes the power of persistent prayer Ann M. Augherton March 25, 2026 He was put on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. More than 94,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, according to national data. Many never receive one. Via Crucis: The final Holy Week journey of Pope Francis Junno Arocho Esteves March 25, 2026 Following his release from Gemelli Hospital in March 2025, Pope Francis was prescribed two months of rest by doctors to recover after five weeks of hospitalization. Outside of a few brief appearances, it was widely expected that the pope would be seen little during Holy Week. Air Canada crash shows ‘fragility of life,’ call to compassion, says Archbishop Hicks Gina Christian March 24, 2026 The fatal crash of an Air Canada jet at New York’s La Guardia airport is a reminder of “the fragility of life,” and the call to “care for one another with compassion,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks. Vatican diplomat decries ‘eugenic’ termination of Down syndrome pregnancies Deborah Castellano Lubov March 24, 2026 A Vatican diplomat in Geneva issued a call for greater commitment to the defense of the dignity and rights of people with Down syndrome, decrying the current “discriminatory and eugenic practices” related to prenatal screening. More World News Commentary The Donatist comeback George Weigel March 25, 2026 The strange, Donatist parallelism between the SSPX leadership and the German Synodal Path illustrates what’s come to be called the “horseshoe effect:” in a moment of cultural turbulence, social fragmentation, and political dysfunction like our own, the extremes of left and right bend toward each other rather than occupying two ends of a linear spectrum. Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder? Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez March 25, 2026 Father Flanagan is an icon of the power of diaconal identity. It both shows us and makes effective now the power of Christ the Servant. Where Father Flanagan saw pain, he rushed in and embraced the child of God who suffered. When he saw injustice, he spoke out eloquently and forcefully called others to greater charity in Christ. Question Corner: Does holy water ‘absolve’ us from venial sin? Jenna Marie Cooper March 25, 2026 With respect to holy water in particular, St. Thomas Aquinas specifically identifies the “sprinkling of holy water” as a means for the remission of venial sin in question 87, article 3 of the “Third Part” of his work the “Summa Theologica.” Why does the Annunciation loom so large in Catholicism? Elizabeth Scalia March 23, 2026 The Annunciation is the full-on proof of Augustine’s words: “God created us without us, but he will not save us without us.” Just as God’s own Word of assent was necessary for the creation and sustained expansion of the universe, Mary’s “yes” was necessary to its salvation. What I have done and what I have failed to do Rita Buettner March 23, 2026 I’m on a quest to attend 226 Masses during 2026. So, back at the end of January, I decided to try to go to Mass every day of February. February is the shortest month, so I thought maybe I would have a chance at hitting that goal. But going every day is a real challenge for me, and I didn’t pull it off. I missed five days out of the… More Commentary Featured Video Bill Baird, the great-nephew of the late Cardinal Lawrence Shehan, 12th Archbishop of Baltimore, speaks on his late uncle’s legacy and fond family memories during a talk on what would have been Cardinal Shehan’s 128th birthday, March 18th, at the Cardinal Shehan School in Baltimore.
BMA exhibition highlights how Matisse reimagined the Stations of the Cross George P. Matysek Jr. March 25, 2026 In spare black-and-white lines – almost graffiti-like in their directness – Matisse grouped all 14 Stations together in an expansive mural more than six feet tall.
Sister Kathleen Haughey, S.N.D.de.N., dies at 94 Catholic Review Staff March 24, 2026 A funeral Mass for Sister of Notre Dame de Namur Kathleen Patricia Haughey was offered March 3 at Our Lady Queen Chapel in Ipswich, Mass. Sister Kathleen died Feb. 22. She was 94.
Family members of Cardinal Shehan share memories of beloved uncle Katie V. Jones March 23, 2026 Bill Baird, former chief financial officer for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, shared photos of his grand-uncle, including one of Cardinal Shehan presenting him with his diploma from what is now Loyola Blakefield in Towson.
Radio Interview: Faith and America’s pastime – ‘Baseball: Beyond Belief’ Catholic Review Staff March 23, 2026 Catholic Review Editor and Host Chris Gunty speaks with filmmaker John Scheinfeld, writer and director of the new documentary Baseball Beyond Belief. Inspired by John Sexton’s bestselling book “Baseball as a Road to God: Seeing Beyond the Game,” the film explores how faith, ritual, doubt, and community shape both spiritual life and baseball fandom.
The miracle of a living kidney donor: Virginia man realizes the power of persistent prayer Ann M. Augherton March 25, 2026 He was put on a waiting list for a kidney transplant. More than 94,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney transplant, according to national data. Many never receive one.
Via Crucis: The final Holy Week journey of Pope Francis Junno Arocho Esteves March 25, 2026 Following his release from Gemelli Hospital in March 2025, Pope Francis was prescribed two months of rest by doctors to recover after five weeks of hospitalization. Outside of a few brief appearances, it was widely expected that the pope would be seen little during Holy Week.
Air Canada crash shows ‘fragility of life,’ call to compassion, says Archbishop Hicks Gina Christian March 24, 2026 The fatal crash of an Air Canada jet at New York’s La Guardia airport is a reminder of “the fragility of life,” and the call to “care for one another with compassion,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks.
Vatican diplomat decries ‘eugenic’ termination of Down syndrome pregnancies Deborah Castellano Lubov March 24, 2026 A Vatican diplomat in Geneva issued a call for greater commitment to the defense of the dignity and rights of people with Down syndrome, decrying the current “discriminatory and eugenic practices” related to prenatal screening.
The Donatist comeback George Weigel March 25, 2026 The strange, Donatist parallelism between the SSPX leadership and the German Synodal Path illustrates what’s come to be called the “horseshoe effect:” in a moment of cultural turbulence, social fragmentation, and political dysfunction like our own, the extremes of left and right bend toward each other rather than occupying two ends of a linear spectrum.
Who was Venerable Father Flanagan, Boys Town founder? Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez March 25, 2026 Father Flanagan is an icon of the power of diaconal identity. It both shows us and makes effective now the power of Christ the Servant. Where Father Flanagan saw pain, he rushed in and embraced the child of God who suffered. When he saw injustice, he spoke out eloquently and forcefully called others to greater charity in Christ.
Question Corner: Does holy water ‘absolve’ us from venial sin? Jenna Marie Cooper March 25, 2026 With respect to holy water in particular, St. Thomas Aquinas specifically identifies the “sprinkling of holy water” as a means for the remission of venial sin in question 87, article 3 of the “Third Part” of his work the “Summa Theologica.”
Why does the Annunciation loom so large in Catholicism? Elizabeth Scalia March 23, 2026 The Annunciation is the full-on proof of Augustine’s words: “God created us without us, but he will not save us without us.” Just as God’s own Word of assent was necessary for the creation and sustained expansion of the universe, Mary’s “yes” was necessary to its salvation.
What I have done and what I have failed to do Rita Buettner March 23, 2026 I’m on a quest to attend 226 Masses during 2026. So, back at the end of January, I decided to try to go to Mass every day of February. February is the shortest month, so I thought maybe I would have a chance at hitting that goal. But going every day is a real challenge for me, and I didn’t pull it off. I missed five days out of the…
