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Why do priests wear violet vestments during Lent?

By Philip Kosloski | Aleteia

During the penitential season of Lent, it has become a custom for priests of the Roman Rite to wear vestments of the color violet. This is a tradition that was gradually adopted, as initially priests only wore the color white.

The use of colors changed over time, but eventually was standardized in the Roman Rite.

Rare Exposition of 
St. Francis of Assisi’s Remains Draws Worldwide Attention

From EWTN News Nightly

Earlier this year, Pope Leo XIV announced that the faithful who visit Franciscan churches, make pilgrimages, or live out the spirit of Saint Francis through prayer and charity may receive a plenary indulgence this year. Now, as pilgrims travel to Assisi, that call to spiritual renewal is drawing global attention. The mortal remains of Saint Francis of Assisi are being publicly displayed for nearly an entire month. This extraordinary exposition marks a rare moment in Church history.

SACRAMENTS 101:
Anointing of the Sick (who it's for)

From Busted Halo: Who can receive the Anointing of the Sick? How often? Where is it done? These questions and more are answered in this edition of "Sacraments 101," a web video series geared for those who'd like an introduction or refresher course on these important, tangible Catholic experiences of God.

The Final Sense The Human Body Loses Before Death, According To Science

By Elias Nash | Newsbreak

Life's greatest mystery is what happens when it ends. Throughout all of human history, people have been pondering the experience of death, and from culture to culture, everyone has their own theory about what happens when we take life's final bow. Scientists are no exception to this trend, as extensive research has been done to find out what it feels like to die, both from a physical and mental standpoint. Of course, the dead can't share their experiences with us, but many people who have had near-death experiences report a common theme. They feel like their life is escaping through the loss of sensory perception, and a growing body of research suggests that the one sense that lingers the longest is hearing.

Repentance and Revival
(feat. Sr. Josephine Garrett)

Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN invites listeners to seek God's mercy in areas where they have fallen short and need healing, and to experience Christ's healing love in the Eucharist. She also calls each of the 60,000 persons in Lucas Oil Stadium (and YOU at home!), regardless of state of life, to repent in hope and joy. After all, our healing begins with our repentance!

How to Make a Good Confession? Step-By-Step from a Catholic Priest

Struggling with what to say in the confessional or feeling nervous about going to confession? In this video, Fr. Magat walks you step-by-step through how to make a good confession, including how to examine your conscience, what to say to the priest, and how to truly receive God's mercy with confidence and peace.

Satan is gaslighting you. Make him stop.

By Tom Hoopes | Aleteia

One way to look at Lent — and the Christian life in general — is to see it as a major showdown between you and the narcissist who has been gaslighting you. 

As you decide what to do in your spiritual life, think of it as a process of standing up for yourself at last.

With Sorrow, We Announce the Passing of Gwendolyn Summers

We give thanks for the life of Gwendolyn Faye Summers, a devoted woman of faith, family, and service. A resident of Harrisburg, she served more than 30 years with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and was known for her professionalism and kindness.

Faith was the foundation of her life. A member of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Harrisburg, she served as a CCD educator and parish leader. In 1986, she founded and became Coordinator of the Black Catholic Apostolate for the Diocese of Harrisburg, where she worked tirelessly to uplift African-American Catholics through evangelization, leadership development, cultural celebration, and advocacy for justice.

Gwen was also a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a guiding presence to countless families and young people. Her legacy of faith, courage, and compassion will continue to inspire all who knew her.

A Life That Was a Sermon: Honoring the Legacy of Sister Mary Felicia Avila, OSP

In loving memory of Sister Mary Felicia, the heartfelt words shared by her great-niece, Dee Dee Crawford, at her Funeral Service beautifully reflected a life of quiet strength and enduring faith. Though only a few family members were present, they were surrounded by her beloved Oblate Sisters of Providence, friends, and companions in ministry—an unmistakable testament to the life she lived and the love she inspired.

“Legacy is not what you leave for people; it’s what you leave in people.” Sister Felicia’s legacy is rich, deep, and alive. In simple moments—making sweet treats in the kitchen, sharing laughter during visits, delighting in everyday joys—she made others feel seen and cherished. She did not seek recognition; her life itself was her sermon. Through prayer, humility, and steadfast service, she showed what it means to belong fully to God.

Her faith was powerful and personal. During a season of deep heartbreak when her great niece was told she could not have children, Sister Felicia responded with a prayer to St. Anne, the patron saint of childless couples. Today, that family is blessed with two sons—a living witness to her faithful intercession and unwavering trust in God.



Sister Felicia represented a generation of women whose faith was steady and whose impact was far-reaching. Her legacy lives on in two sacred spaces: her family and her faith community. The prayers she prayed continue to bear fruit, echoing in the lives she shaped.



We trust she heard the words promised to the faithful servant: “Well done.” Rest well, Sister Felicia. Your life shaped our past, strengthens our present, and will guide our future. Your legacy lives on in us.

Pope Leo to tour four African countries in first major overseas trip of 2026

By Joshua McElwee | MSN.com

Photo By ⁠Edgar Beltrán, The Pillar, via Wikimedia Commons.

VATICAN CITY, Feb 25 (Reuters) - Pope Leo will visit four countries across Africa from April 13-23, the Vatican announced on Wednesday, with the pontiff making his first major overseas trip in 2026 to the continent where the Catholic Church is growing fastest.

Preventive war?

Vatican speaks out on Iran, “spiral of violence”

I.Media | Aleteia

The efforts made since the creation of the United Nations in 1945 “seem to have been in vain,” protested Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. He was speaking in an interview given on March 4, 2026, to Andrea Tornielli, editorial director of Vatican Media, on the fifth day of the war in Iran.

As the Middle East goes up in flames following Israeli and American strikes on Iran and the conflict spreads to the Gulf countries and Lebanon, he reiterates the Holy See's unwavering position in favor of multilateralism and the resolution of conflicts through diplomatic means.

Meet the artist behind the 47 paintings supporting Sister Thea Bowman’s cause for canonization

By Francesca Pollio Fenton | EWTN News

Nearly 30 years ago, Brother Mickey McGrath, OSFS, an award-winning artist, found himself in a hospital room as his father battled colon cancer. One afternoon he came across a magazine and in it was the last interview with Servant of God Sister Thea Bowman — an African American woman who challenged the Church in the 20th century to confront its history of racial exclusion and to embrace Black Catholics through her work as a scholar, teacher, and speaker.

Building Bridges: Celebrating Black Alumni and University Community

Keynote by Dr. Victor McCrary, B.A. 1978, CUA’s Vice Provost for National Security Innovation

Alumni know that the community you build as part of The Catholic University of America is unparalleled. Our black alumni, students, faculty, and staff certainly recognized that as they gathered on campus on Feb. 26 for the Building Bridges Reception, an event hosted by the Advancement team to honor Black alumni, build community among Black alumni and students, and inspire greater connection between alumni and current Catholic University initiatives. 

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

OF ST. AUGUSTINE, FL

Black Catholic Commission expands mission, membership and outreach

By Lilla Ross | Estebana


The diocesan Black Catholic Commission, established in 1987 by Bishop John J. Snyder, has undergone a renewal aimed at broadening its reach and strengthening its role across the Diocese of St. Augustine.

The Federated Colored Catholics of America

From the Center for Research on Global Catholicism (CRGC) and the St. Louis Catholic Archives Collection (SCAC)

In 1917, Dr. Thomas Wyatt Turner, a biology professor at the Hampton Institute in Virginia and a member of the NAACP, began holding ad hoc meetings of Black Catholics in his home to begin addressing the problem of racial inequalities within the American Catholic Church. During these meetings, Turner would facilitate conversations about ways in which to combat racial discrimination within the Church. In 1924, Turner would formally organize the group, calling it the Federated Colored Catholics of the United States.

UPCOMING WEBINAR

Tues., March 10
7:30-9:00 PM EST

Bridging the Gap: Healing Black Generational Trauma

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!

The Saint Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal presents a Lenten Retreat

Who is God; Who am I?

Msgr. Rossetti and the St. Michael Center will be offering a Virtual Lenten Retreat on Saturday March 14, 2026  from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm EDT. Cost is $25.00, fee waived for those who cannot afford to pay.

Msgr. Rossetti will give talks on healing, spiritual warfare, answer questions, and pray deliverance and healing prayers over all present.

UPCOMING WEBINAR

Wed., March 18
at 12 PM EST

Cathechesis From an Africentric Perspective: A Cultural Fattening House

UPCOMING WEBINAR

Thurs., Apr 16 at 6 PM EST

Worship Leading to Justice

Presented by Dr. Kimberly Lymore

Prayer for Peace in the Middle East

Lord God, we turn to you in these trying hours when conflict is a daily reality for our sisters and brothers in Israel and Palestine. We promise you to work to our utmost for peace and reconciliation in the region. But we know we cannot do it alone. We very much need the strength of your presence in our midst if we are to overcome the obstacles before us. So our prayer at this moment is that you add your support to our efforts, that you show yourself as a tower of strength in those moments when the barriers seem impassable. Together we can become beacons of hope for just and peaceful societies in the land so very dear to the peoples of your covenant. Amen.

–Reverend John T. Pawlikowski, OSM Catholic Theological Union

10 Journaling Prompts for Better Mental Health

From Mental Health First Aid

In a world that moves quickly and demands constant attention, it’s easy for thoughts and emotions to build up without anywhere to go. Journaling for your mental health is a gentle, low-stakes way to slow down, process experiences and reconnect with yourself.

By mindfully putting thoughts into words, you create a space to pause, reflect and better understand what you are thinking and feeling.

Watch the trailer for the documentary, "Fertile Soil Africa", a production of Children's Rosary.

Travel to rural Africa with Children's Rosary founder, Blythe Kaufman, her husband, and her three children. Together they visit Children's Rosary prayer groups among the Maasai and Kamba tribes, witnessing the fruits of prayer in the spiritual lives of children and the profound healing effect it has had on their families and communities.

The Josephites are committed to serving the youth of the Catholic Church

For more than 155 years, the Saint Joseph Society of the Sacred Heart — known as the Josephites — have faithfully served African American communities across the United States, proclaiming the Gospel and building up the next generation of leaders.

Our commitment to youth is rooted in faith, education, mentorship, and opportunity. From parish life and faith formation to leadership development and cultural affirmation, the Josephites walk with young people as they discover their God-given gifts and purpose. We believe investing in youth is investing in the future of the Church.

Watch to learn how we are nurturing faith, empowering voices, and strengthening communities.

The African American Catholic Youth Bible

Saint Mary’s Press, in collaboration with The Josephite Pastoral Center, presents The African American Catholic Youth Bible®—a Catholic Bible designed especially for youth from an African American perspective. Featuring inspirational Black art, reflections on Scripture, highlights from African American Catholic history, and stories of holy men and women, it speaks directly to the faith and experiences of African American youth. The Bible uses the text of the New American Bible, Revised Edition.

The National Black Catholic Seminarians Association (NBCSA) continues to play a vital role in supporting and forming Black Catholic men discerning the priesthood across the United States. Rooted in faith, fraternity, and cultural identity, the Association provides a strong network of spiritual encouragement, academic support, and brotherhood for seminarians as they prepare to serve the Church. Through prayer, dialogue, and national gatherings, the NBCSA fosters leadership grounded in the rich heritage and lived experience of Black Catholics.

At the helm of this important work is Mr. James Johnson IV, current president of the NBCSA. With dedication and clarity of vision, Mr. Johnson helps guide the Association’s mission to uplift seminarians and