This week in The Criterion

The latest edition of The Criterion has been printed and is on its way to subscribers! But with this e-newsletter, you'll get a preview of that issue -- and access to certain stories right now.

The contents of this newsletter are:

• A listing of the full contents of the print edition
• News stories available right now
• Web-only features
• National and world news you may have missed
   

(To view this newsletter online, click here)

December 18, 2015 issue

This is our last e-newsletter until the issue of Jan. 8, 2016.

Full Content Preview

Local stories:

• A Christmas Message from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
  • Mensaje de Navidad del Arzobispo Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.
• Dr. Ray, Archbishop Tobin guest speakers for Catholic radio event in Columbus
• Bishops’ pastoral letter on the poor tops local news stories
• SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral and Saint Meinrad announce Christmas liturgies
• St. Elizabeth/Coleman receives award for a century of service
• Liturgies, opening of doors begin observance of Holy Year of Mercy
• Booklet on Holy Year of Mercy is available on archdiocesan website
• Readers share their favorite Christmas memories
  • Christmas Eve memory shares story of birth, death and resurrection
  • A Christmas gift that is still treasured
  • Husband’s Christmas at sea remembered in book about chaplain
  • Despite distance, spirit of Christmas will always be a family tradition
  • Precious gift is a lasting memory of Dad’s final Christmas with his family
  • ‘The Big Christmas’ and the memories I will cherish forever
  • The coldest, warmest Christmas and what made it so special
  • Spiritual care coordinator, infirm resident Share ‘O Holy Night’ through gift of song
  • Always remember, heat rises, and a Christmas record that still stands
• Parish celebrates 20th annual Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe
• Advent penance services are scheduled at archdiocesan parishes
• Terre Haute Carmelite monastery gives witness to faith, prayer
• Young adults encouraged to use digital media to spread the Good News
• New online publication highlights values of Catholic schools
• The Criterion and Catholic Center are closed from Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 for Christmas holiday
• Official Appointment

Regular local features:

• Rejoice in the Lord: The Lord draws near to us, closer than we think
  • Alégrense en el Señor: El Señor está cerca de nosotros, más de lo que pensamos
• Editorial: Church serves, strives to keep Christian presence in Bethlehem
• From the Editor Emeritus: Medieval Church - 13th century devotion and theology
• Catholic Education Outreach: Faith, joy and love are multiplied, magnified in our schools
• That All May Be One: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity a step toward all being one
• Faith and Family: Have Christ make your heart young again this Christmas
• Reflection: Prayers continue for healing and comfort as Cathedral High School community grieves loss of student and friend
• Letters to the Editor
  • No letters were printed this week
• Events Calendar
  • Archbishop Tobin to speak at Marriage on Tap event on Jan. 9
  • Celebrate Catholic Schools Week with the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 6
  • Archabbey Library Gallery to host exhibit by Benedictine Brother Martin Erspamer
• Obituaries
  • General listing
  • William Marcotte, father of Fathers David and Douglas Marcotte, died on Dec. 13
• My Journey to God: The Christ Child

Catholic News Service:

• Catholic activists, pope say more work needed after climate change pact
• Catholics rally in Indianapolis in support of Paris climate change conference
• Time for forgiveness has begun, pope says as holy doors open worldwide
• Pope Francis: The Church needs this Holy Year of Mercy
• Column: A higher standard than for cats and dogs
• The Sunday Readings: Fourth Sunday of Advent
• Question Corner: Pray for terrorists while supporting action that would stop their violent attacks

FaithAlive!

• Be open to the blessings, challenges of encounters at Christmas
• The Scriptures encourage followers of Jesus to be childlike in their faith

Available Right Now

A Christmas Message from Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.

"In my column for this week, I write about God’s closeness to us. Nowhere is God’s intimacy with us expressed more profoundly than in our celebration of Christmas. Here we see the almighty God, maker of all things visible and invisible, reduced to the most vulnerable of creatures: a little child born in the homelessness and poverty of a manger and surrounded by shepherds and domestic animals. God gave up everything in order to become one with us. You can’t get closer than that. He comes to us, and stays with us, through the gift of his body and blood, which we receive in the holy Eucharist." (Page 1)
Read his message | En español
 

Bishops’ pastoral letter on the poor tops local news stories

A pastoral letter from the bishops of Indiana which called the needs of the poor a priority was voted the top local news story of 2015—followed closely by religious freedom legislation in the state of Indiana, and our local pilgrims’ encounter with Pope Francis during his visit to the U.S. Other stories of note included the biannual National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), the opening of the Holy Year of Mercy, the resettling of a Syrian refugee family against the request of the governor and the elimination of annulment fees in the archdiocese. Following the tradition of other news agencies, The Criterion editorial staff votes each year for the top 10 local stories that were published in our newspaper. (Page 3)
Read our news story
 

Readers share their favorite Christmas memories

Each year, The Criterion asks readers to share some of their favorite Christmas memories. This year, several people responded; you can read their stories at the link below. (Pages 10-11)
Read the Christmas memories

Web-only features

Front Page Image Compilations

We've taken the past five years of Criterion issues from our print edition and made separate compilations of front page images. You can look at 2005-15 and see every front page from that year put into one picture -- kind of a birds-eye view of the year in Catholic news in Indiana.
Go to the feature

National and world news you may have missed...

Here's a sampling of some news stories that ran on our website this past week or so that you may have missed.

Click the headline to see the story:

• In Peace Day message, pope addresses death penalty, debt, migrants
• Group helps memorialize children lost through miscarriage, stillbirths
• Pope advances sainthood causes of Lutheran convert, U.S. missionary in Vietnam
• Pope's visit to border expected to highlight church's outreach to poor
• Vatican releases instruction on identity, mission of religious brothers
• High TV watching, low physical activity bad for both body and brain
• Belgian bishops, pros agree: no euthanasia for 'psychological suffering'
• Catholic schools give high marks to sweeping new federal education law
• Massachusetts highest court denies review of parish protesters' case
• Faith leaders, senators say U.S. must not 'pause' refugee resettlement
• Report: Sisters' numbers shrinking but growing more diverse
• Vatican continues steps to fight serious financial crime, agency says

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