From seminarian in Nicaragua to priest in Miami: ‘I carry my people and my homeland in my heart’

The Ortega regime’s repression of the Catholic Church could not silence God's call to Cristhian Mendieta. Having fled Nicaragua as a seminarian, the young man was ordained to the priesthood in Miami.

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SIGNIS Africa renews its leadership

SIGNIS Africa, the Catholic association for media practitioners, has ushered in a new board of directors. For the first time since its inception in 2001, women make up the majority of the board. The election took place on the sidelines of the SIGNIS World Congress happening in Kigali, Rwanda, from 03 August to 08 August 2026. Fr Fidele Mutabazi, a Rwandan priest of the Archdiocese of Kigali, was elected new SIGNIS Africa President. Read all source https://www.vaticannews.va/en/africa/news/2026-08/signis-africa-renews-its-leadership.html

Manila’s feast of the Black Nazarene draws 9.6 million devotees

The image of the Black Nazarene moves through dense crowds during the 30-hour procession in Manila, Philippines, on Jan. 9, 2026. | Credit: CBCP News Jan 14, 2026 / 11:15 am (CNA). More than 9.6 million Catholics joined the annual feast of the Black Nazarene, one of Asia’s biggest religious events, seeking miracles and hope on Jan. 9 in the Philippines. In a fiery homily at the fiesta Mass, Bishop Rufino Sescon Jr. of the Diocese of Balanga called on politicians implicated in infrastructure corruption to resign, declaring “shame on you” as devotees braved a record-breaking 30-hour procession through Manila’s streets. This year’s Traslacion — the procession of the glass-encased image of Jesus Nazareno — lasted 30 hours, 50 minutes, and 1 second, from Jan. 9–10, the longest procession ever, according to Police Major Hazel Asilo, spokesperson of the National Capital Region Police Office. Last year’s procession lasted 20 hours and 45 minutes and drew about 8.1 million devotees. De...

The "Thin Veil": Understanding the Communion of Saints

Have you ever walked into a quiet, candle-lit cathedral and felt like you were not actually alone? That is not just your imagination or the architecture playing tricks on your mind. It is a brush with one of the most beautiful and often misunderstood dogmas of the Catholic faith: The Communion of Saints. In our modern, "see it to believe it" world, we often feel isolated, as if our spiritual journey is a solo trek. But the Church teaches that the curtain between Heaven and Earth is much thinner than we think. More Than Just "Dead People" When we talk about the Communion of Saints, we are not just talking about the folks on the prayer cards. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 946-962), this "communion" is a three-part family tree that spans across time and space: 1. The Church Militant: That is us, the pilgrims still on earth, battling temptation and striving for holiness. 2. The Church Suffering: The souls in Purgatory who are being p...

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