Pope Francis recalled that when the Christian message first arrived, “You received the joy of the Gospel: the good news that God so loved us that he gave his Son for us. And this joy is evident in your people.”

The youth ministry of Mary Help of Christians Parish and the archdiocese's minor seminary have been helping distribute rice meals to the needy as part of the project's expansion.

Village chief Luzviminda "Kap Ida" Dayanda and treasurer Albert Orlina were reportedly shot dead by gunmen in Guinobatan Sept. 21 while heading home after a meeting at the town hall.

Cardinal Tagle, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, was tested for the virus Sept. 7 before flying from Rome to Manila for the celebration of his mother’s 90th birthday. But arriving at the airport Sept. 10, he tested positive and was required to quarantine.

In a collection of nine essays, Jia Tolentino writes about a range of topics, including the advent of our internet culture, the modern wedding industry, megachurch evangelical Christianity, market-driven feminism and college rape culture.

The festivities already began at Mary Queen Catholic Church in Friendswood, Texas, Jan. 4. Other celebrations occur throughout January.