Faith

After Hurricane Helene hit in North Carolina, priests were called on for practical and spiritual help as the region was without electricity, water or telecommunications, and crews were gradually clearing roads.

In a summer of firsts, mountain-climbing Benedictine monks of Mount Angel Abbey took to the heights — their locally brewed beer tucked in backpacks — ascending renowned peaks in the Pacific Northwest during the season's brief window of opportunity.

The Franciscan college in New York state will host a two-day gathering on integral ecology and sustainability with a focus on creating a "global vision with local meaning" to care for creation. The free symposium, set to take place both in person and online, will also include several panel discussions, exhibitor displays, prayer and a concluding performance of short plays about climate change, sustainability and climate justice, several of them written and performed by Siena students.

Twelve of 77 parishes in Tucson Diocese have installed solar power systems since 2008. The diocese is in a city that's one of the sunniest in the country. It's also had 92 days above 100 degrees Fahrenheit already this year.
 

The Polish bishops' conference expressed sympathy and prayers and appeals for funds after weekend flooding wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe.

Father Peter Sanen Nguyen Van Hieu, head of Caritas in Hai Phong Diocese, said fishermen, farmers, those who have lost their homes and people with HIV will face significant challenges in the coming months.

Founded in 1999 with Passionist Fr. Thomas Berry, this Vermont community strives to be earth conscious and demonstrate an appreciation and reverence of God's creations.

River flooding forced the temporary closure of the famous grotto at the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France. The shrine complex remained open to visitors. A morning Mass, however, was canceled Sept. 7 at the major Catholic pilgrimage site, which has experienced several major floods in recent years.