Latest news with #CatholicDioceseof
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Matthew holds celebratory mass after Robert Prevost confirmed as newest Pope
BALLANTYNE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Parishioners around the world are celebrating the newly installed American leader of the Roman Catholic Church — Pope Leo XIV. One of the special masses was Friday night at Saint Matthew in Ballantyne. 'Through the ministry of Peter, you have called me to carry that cross and to be blessed with that mission,' said new American Pope Leo XIV while leading his first mass at the Vatican a day after his election to the papacy. Just like the followers who cheered and greeted the newest bishop of Rome, followers in Charlotte are celebrating as well. 'What so many people find fascinating about what has transpired in the last few days is the power of the holy spirit to blow across this earth to draw us ever closer to one another and to Christ. Are we seizing this moment?' said Bishop Michael Martin. The Pope — originally named Robert Prevost — is sharing a message of love and unity, drawing people closer to Christ through humanity. At Friday night's mass in Ballantyne, Bishop Michael Martin of the Catholic Diocese of Charlotte told parishioners this is the time to recommit themselves to their religion. 'But realizing that you've given me certain gifts to be able to think and understand to agree with or disagree with not so that I can create division, but that I can foster unity. That's why we've been given a shepherd. Leo, Francis, Benedict. John Paul. John Paul. Paul. John… I just don't want to count 266,' Bishop Martin laughed. He left parishioners with Pope Leo's first words. 'Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid. We are meant for this moment,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tips for getting your pool ready for summer
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) – With Memorial Day weekend just a few weeks away and this weekend's expected nice weather, pool owners will start to take the covers off their pools to get them ready for use. But there is more to do than just taking the cover off. 'Water needs to be added to most of the pools is what we've been seeing so far. Then of course, chemically treating that pool, getting it up and running. Cleaning process, being thorough as possible with your cleaning in the spring,' said Lucas Mosher, sales manager at Professional Pool & Spa in Sioux City. Mosher also recommends getting your pool water tested regularly. 'That way if you have a contaminant or something in your pool, we can identify it, remove it so we're not consuming too much chlorine, because it's more and more expensive every year of course.' If you're not a pool owner but are thinking about getting one, whether above ground or below, there may be some expenses you need to consider before you make the jump. Story continues below Top Story: Catholic Diocese of Sioux City comments on first American Pope Crime: Sioux City man sentenced for stealing keys, taking off in car Sports: South Dakota softball advances to Summit League semifinals 'You're going to have reoccurring costs so many years down the road. Replacing pool liners, you're going to be adding water throughout the summer, so you'll see a slight increase in your water bill. You're going to have a pump running outside all the time, you'll see a slight increase in your electric bill as well,' added Mosher. Another thing to consider is tariffs. A lot of pool supplies and chemicals are imported from overseas. Tariffs could affect inventory and costs. 'Some of our parts are backordered and we've been waiting for a little while. For the most part, everything is running on track like it's supposed to. We're just seeing normal business that people get behind shipping stuff and that kind of thing,' Mosher said. Mosher also recommends regular maintenance during the summer like making sure you net the pool, emptying your baskets and making sure there are no clogs in your intake lines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Ex-administrator at Holy Cross Church pleads no contest in $700,000 embezzlement scheme
VERO BEACH – A 72-year-old woman accused of embezzling around $700,000 from Holy Cross Catholic Church is expected to serve a decade in prison as part of a plea deal with the state, according to court papers and a prosecutor. On May 1, Deborah Lynn True, a resident of Frederick, Colorado and a former parish administrator at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach, pleaded no contest to first-degree grand theft after misusing church donations over several years to pay off personal debts, records show. The church is at 500 Iris Lane on Orchid Island. At True's sentencing on July 18, a judge is expected to sentence her to prison for 10 years followed by 20 years of probation. She'll also be ordered to pay the church $697,138.98 in restitution. Assistant State Attorney William Long said May 2 the terms of the plea deal call for Circuit Judge Robert Meadows to order True to pay the restitution in equal monthly installments for the duration of her probation or face being returned to prison. The plea offer Meadows approved during a May 1 hearing came after Long had consulted with Catholic church officials, he said. 'This (plea deal) represented both the state's pursuit of justice and what we thought was a fair sentence, as well as the interest of the victims in this matter,' Long said. Debbie True listens as the Rev. Richard Murphy, of Holy Cross Catholic Church, blesses the new buildings at St. Francis Manor in 2018. Bank account hidden from Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach True was arrested in September 2022 following a Vero Beach police investigation that began in December 2021 after the chief financial officer of the Diocese of Palm Beach reported True and the late Rev. Richard Murphy were suspected "of embezzling over $1 million in funds,' court records show. Murphy was pastor at Holy Cross until he died at age 80 in March 2020. True retired in July 2020 and moved to Jacksonville, then Colorado. The Rev. Richard Murphy (center) blesses the palm crosses that were passed out to members of the congregation before Mass during the Solemn Entrance of Palm Sunday April 1, 2012, at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Vero Beach. Alter girl Gabrielle Diskin holds the holy water. An additional church bank account was discovered after a new pastor and bookkeeper were hired, an arrest affidavit stated. According to police investigators, in 2012 True and Murphy opened a bank account hidden from the Catholic Diocese of Palm Beach, and that nearly $1.5 million of parishioners' donations were fraudulently deposited into the account since 2015. Nearly $550,000 was used to pay True's personal lines of credit, and about $147,000 was deposited into True's personal checking accounts, records show. When police spoke with True via phone, she told investigators she transferred to the church in 1997 with Murphy. They had worked at a Catholic church in Stuart from the mid-1980s until 1997. She told investigators her title at Holy Cross was 'parish administrator' and her job 'included tasks such as scheduling events, human resources, bookkeeping and payroll.' 'She was the only person who would deposit checks received by Holy Cross,' investigators noted. She eventually told investigators she used funds to pay off her personal debt, saying Murphy gave her permission. 'She said she never gave it a thought, that the account was funded by parishioners' donations to Holy Cross,' investigators reported. 'She just looked at it as a gift. She closed the account to protect Murphy.' Police reported Murphy also appeared to benefit from the money, but because of his death a criminal investigation wasn't conducted to identify an amount. Holy Cross Catholic Church on Orchid Island in Vero Beach at 500 Iris Lane off State Road A1A. Left 'holding the bag' True's attorney Andy Metcalf, of Vero Beach on May 2 said she accepted the state's plea offer knowing she faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted at trial. 'Financial crime cases are very difficult as far as sentencing. You can do a lot to mitigate a sentence if you have the money,' he said. 'There's restitution to be paid in this case and that restitution is not available to be paid.' He called the 10-year prison term a 'very harsh punishment for someone that's 72 years old.' 'The tragedy is that the potential codefendant in the case died and left her (True) holding the bag. And there are people that are in sheer denial over that fact,' Metcalf said. 'I don't know the pulse of the parishioners at the church, but I can tell you that the evidence in that case is pretty, pretty clear and it's just unfortunate that she's left to defend herself.' With time off for good behavior, True is expected to serve up to 8 ½ years, he said. 'I think it's tragic. Ms. True has … been very cooperative and at her age it's a catastrophic sentence. But she felt like it was in the best interest of her family and herself and that's why she entered the plea,' Metcalf said. 'It's a difficult set of facts … and I just hope that some of the people that have been pointing fingers will remember the tenets of their religion and that is mercy and forgiveness.' Rail yard: Trains full of trash from Miami-Dade causing a stink in Fort Pierce Financial report: Vero Beach files overdue audit, but still may face sales-tax penalty Long, too, acknowledged that serving 10 years at True's age may sound harsh, but for the State Attorney's Office, 'the primary purpose of prosecution is punishment,' he said. 'It's certainly important to try and make a victim whole, but to steal this amount of money and then not face any consequences or no chance of going prison is not something the State Attorney's Office was ever going to do,' he said. 'Ten years quite frankly, is the minimum she should get for this.' Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of "Uncertain Terms," a true-crime podcast. Reach her at This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Holy Cross Church ex-administrator faces prison for $700K embezzlement
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Local Mass to honor Pope Francis's memory
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) – The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is holding a special Mass to remember Pope Francis tonight. Bishop Bonnar will be saying the Mass, which begins at 7 p.m. in Saint Columba Cathedral. 'It will be a time for us to mourn his loss, to give thanks for his legacy and to pray for God's comfort and consolation for the whole church in this time of transition,' Bonnar said in a video message posted to the Diocese's YouTube page. Representatives from the Mahoning Valley Association of Churches and the local Jewish community are expected to be guests. The Mass will be live streamed on website, as well as the Diocese's website. Check back here for updates on this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hampton Roads resident reflects on death of Pope Francis
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — For many, Pope Francis was more than just the head of the Catholic Church. He was a beacon of hope, someone who showed compassion for all and a pontiff many say will be deeply missed. Pope Francis dies at 88 There was an outpouring of love and remembrance Monday night for Pope Francis, and Virginians are taking the time to reflect. Bishop Barry C. Knestout, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, offered mass Monday for those who wanted to pray and reflect. 'The loss of a pope is always that sadness as someone we know and care about being gone from us,' Knestout said. Catholic Diocese of Richmond mourns passing of Pope Francis In Norfolk, 10 On Your Side spoke to Matthew Francis, a former youth bishop leader in Georgia who said he adored the pope and everything he represented. 'Someone who would always give — I think that he always kept people, the human race first, and for a lot of individuals, religion is a must, and that's a foundation for people,' Francis said. It's a foundation Pope Francis has continued to shape, with some calling him a Catholic church reformer. He spoke against income inequality and the treatment of marginalized people. The pope used his voice up until his death, which came just one day after Resurrection Sunday. He used that voice to bring people together. 'Regardless of what denomination, or whatever it is, or what country or what name, you always put the most high first and that, he stood on,' Francis said. Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport News will host a mass at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. All are welcome to come mourn the Pope and pray. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
