GRECCIO, Italy – Pope Francis issued an apostolic letter in December on the meaning and importance of nativity scenes, calling for this “wonderful sign” to be more widely displayed in family homes and public places throughout the world.

OKLAHOMA CITY – More than 1,000 Catholic faithful gathered Dec. 7 in downtown Oklahoma City for the archdiocese’s Vision 2030 Archdiocesan Convocation that featured the release of Archbishop Coakley’s 10-year pastoral plan for missionary discipleship, presentations from several national Catholic leaders and consecration of the archdiocese to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

OKARCHE – This Christmas season, The Center of Family Love is looking for people who want to share in the holiday spirit overflowing from adults living with disabilities. Whether it is through a monetary donation, volunteering time, donating an item on a resident’s Christmas Wish List or donating an item from the organizational Amazon Smile Wish List, The Center of Family Love is asking for your support.

The “One Church, Many Disciples” campaign was a two-year effort where 107 parishes and missions across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City participated. Each parish and mission raised money for the campaign, with some of the funds returning for local improvements.

Reverend George Kroupa, a religious from the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales, came to the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa in 1940 from Vienna, Austria. His order was targeted as a threat by the Nazi regime that occupied Austria. Seeing the handwriting on the wall, Father Kroupa escaped with Father Fanguar, Father Strasser and Father Novak at first to Philadelphia and then to Oklahoma City

This is part of a series to introduce the seminarians of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.

While most of the letters in the New Testament are directed to either a community or a specific person, there are some that have no specific audience in mind. These seven letters inspired by God seem to be addressed to all the baptized in the Church. Since they are for all and have a universal application among the believers, they have been referred to as the Catholic letters.

Si bien la mayoría de las cartas en el Nuevo Testamento están dirigidas a una comunidad o una persona específica, hay algunas que no tienen una audiencia específica en mente. Estas siete cartas inspiradas por Dios parecen estar dirigidas a todos los bautizados en la Iglesia. Como son para todos y tienen una aplicación universal entre los creyentes, se les conoce como las Cartas Católicas.

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The Catholic faithful across the United States are being invited to pray for Pope Francis as he celebrates 50 years as a priest.

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican unveiled the Nativity scene and lit the Christmas tree with energy-saving lights in St. Peter's Square during a late afternoon ceremony Dec. 5.