Ellen made a $5,000 annual tithe gift to her parish, $2,500 to her parish’s endowment, lowered her taxable income, avoided higher Medicare premiums and satisfied half of her required minimum distribution for the year—all in one fell swoop. And all without having to itemize.

Last month, we focused upon polarization and polarized thinking. As promised, this month we are focusing upon teachings of the Church: no salvation outside the Church, and the necessity of baptism.

Catholic schools across central and southern Indiana are now well into their new academic year. My wife Cindy and I are now old enough as parents that we only have our two youngest sons still in school. But although Catholic schools may not play as large a role in our family’s life as it did when all five of our boys were students at the same time, our appreciation of the help they offer us as parents has only increased through the years.

En su mensaje para la IX Jornada Mundial de los Pobres, celebrada el 16 de noviembre, el papa León XIV escribe: “El pobre puede convertirse en testigo de una esperanza fuerte y fiable, precisamente porque la profesa en una condición de vida precaria, marcada por privaciones, fragilidad y marginación. No confía en las seguridades del poder o del tener; al contrario, las sufre y con frecuencia es víctima de ellas. Su esperanza sólo puede reposar en otro lugar.”

In his message for the Ninth Day of Prayer for the Poor on Nov. 16, Pope Leo XIV writes, “The poor can be witnesses to a strong and steadfast hope, precisely because they embody it in the midst of uncertainty, poverty, instability and marginalization. They cannot rely on the security of power and possessions; on the contrary, they are at their mercy and often victims of them. Their hope must necessarily be sought elsewhere.”

“The life of every human being is sacred as the creation of God, and is of infinite value because he created each person, including the unborn child.” —St. Teresa of Calcutta

La carta que publiqué recientemente, titulada “Paz y unidad: Reflexión pastoral” aborda los principios de la doctrina social católica que son esenciales para alcanzar estas metas.

“Peace and Unity: A Pastoral Reflection” addresses principles of Catholic social teaching that are essential to the achievement of peace and unity.

In recent years, it has become increasingly popular for people from around the world to walk all or a part of the Camino de Santiago, or “Way of St. James,” a pilgrimage path that leads to the tomb of St. James at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northwestern Spain.

At first, the statement made by Dominican Father Patrick Hyde seems a bit haughty: “The future of every parish in the archdiocese and beyond is impacted by the ministry we do at St. Paul Catholic Center.” But the words are not his own.

For centuries, Catholic attorneys, judges and other legal professionals have gathered to worship in the fall at the start of a court’s term, which traditionally began at that time of year.

(One in a continuing series of stories about “Pilgrims of Hope” in the archdiocese) On that beautiful day, while savoring his favorite joy, John Bannister never expected to be begging God for help, even pleading to end his life.

Franciscan Sister Mary Peter Ruschke and Franciscan Sister Mary Amata Naville professed perpetual vows as members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, Ind., in the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese, during an Aug. 2 Mass in the chapel of the religious community’s motherhouse.

Catholic schools across central and southern Indiana are now well into their new academic year. My wife Cindy and I are now old enough as parents that we only have our two youngest sons still in school. But although Catholic schools may not play as large a role in our family’s life as it did when all five of our boys were students at the same time, our appreciation of the help they offer us as parents has only increased through the years.

Pope Leo XIV is an experienced pastor, foreign missionary and Vatican official. All of these diverse experiences, skills and talents inform his new responsibilities as the successor of St. Peter, the chief teacher and pastor of the universal Church. But Pope Leo was also formed as an Augustinian, and the influence of St. Augustine can be seen in everything our new pope says and does.

When the new academic year began at Marian University in Indianapolis last month, a big change happened in the life of the community there. A member of Marian’s faculty who had been an integral part of the university for 40 years was no longer walking across its campus, meeting with students in and out of classrooms, and supporting Marian’s Catholic identity.