Latest news with #CatholicDioceseofRichmond
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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Catholic Diocese of Richmond mourns passing of Pope Francis
RICHMOND (WAVY) – and the Catholic Diocese of Richmond are mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis, who suffered from chronic lung disease, passed away Monday morning at the age of 88. He made his last public appearance Easter Sunday, where he blessed thousands gathered in St. Peter's Square. Complete Coverage: The Passing of Pope Francis Bishop Knestout will offer Mass Monday at noon at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. The diocese said all are welcome. Bishop Knestout released the following statement after learning of the Pope's passing. 'Along with the faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, I mourn the passing of Pope Francis with great sadness and offer prayers to Our Lord for the happy repose of his soul. As I reflect on his pontificate, I marvel at the way each Holy Father makes a unique imprint on the papacy and the Catholic Church. Pope Francis' charisms were his simple, conversational style, and his charitable efforts in reaching out to those on the peripheries – the poor, vulnerable, and alienated. His emphasis on synodality has taught us that by listening attentively to one another, we can love as Christ in a fractured and polarized world. I was blessed to meet Pope Francis three times – most recently in Rome last October during a pilgrimage made by the parishioners of the Basilica of St. Andrew, Roanoke. During each of our encounters, the pope greeted me with a gentle, friendly smile, and just a few words in English: 'Pray for me!' I assured him then of our prayers. We continue to pray now for this devoted shepherd of the Church. We commend his soul to the care of Christ, the Good Shepherd. Guided by Pope Francis' pastoral example, may the Church continually make progress in charity, imitating more perfectly Christ's merciful love in all we think, say, and do.' Bishop Barry C. Knestout In 2015, Pope Francis made a visit to the United States. WAVY News 10 traveled to DC for his trip there. Many from Hampton Roads will never forget the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Links to video reports from WAVY's 2015 coverage of Pope Francis' visit to DC: Pope Francis arrives in USVa. Beach family has close connection with Pope's latest Saint Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Yahoo
Virginia student's suspension for not reporting classmate with bullet sooner is 'appalling,' judge says
A Virginia Beach, Virginia, judge said it was "appalling" that a school suspended a 6th grader for waiting too long to report that another student had brought a bullet to class. The judge ruled Monday in favor of the child's mother, Rachel Wigand, after she sued St. John the Apostle Catholic School for breaching its contract when administrators suspended her son in September for a day and a half. The child, who was identified in the lawsuit as A.W., received the same suspension as the student who allegedly brought the bullet to class. "A suspension on a child's academic record is permanent. When you're enrolling children in subsequent educational places, they ask you that question: has your kid ever been suspended? What happened to her child was so absurd," said attorney Tim Anderson, who represented Wigand. "It wasn't fair that the mom was going to have to answer that question, yes, for the remainder of this child's academic career," he said. The child was in class, preparing to take a standardized test, when another student pulled out a bullet and showed it to him. Anderson previously told NBC News said the child took the test, which lasted about an hour and a half, went to another class, and then told the principal. It was about two hours between the child seeing the bullet and him alerting the principal, Anderson said. School administrators called the police, and officers found the bullet in the student's bag, according to Anderson. Judge Vivian Henderson said to see the child punished for trying to do the right thing was "appalling, for a lack of a better word, for this court." "Especially in an environment where ... younger and younger kids are being forced to make adult-like decisions without clear boundaries or parameters," Henderson said in a recording of Monday's hearing provided to NBC News by Anderson. She said "the unfortunate victim in this matter" was Wigand's son. An attorney for the school had said in closing arguments that it is written in the school's handbook and in the tuition contract that St. John the Apostle has the right to impose "a more or less severe form of discipline." The attorney also argued that it is stressed in school that safety incidents need to be reported immediately. The attorney said the decision to send Wigand's son home "was clearly harping back on that lesson and trying to impose a lesson of 'Hey, this is why it's important.'" Anderson said the school could have put the child in detention or imposed another type of in-school disciplinary action. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond said while it disagrees with the court's decision, it respects the legal process. "Our focus continues to be providing enriching and Christ-centered learning experiences for our students, and we are hopeful this conclusion will bring all parties involved an opportunity to move forward," a spokesperson said in a statement. Wigand previously told NBC News that her son had wanted to stay anonymous when reporting the incident, but the school took that away when he was suspended. Anderson said Tuesday the child has been bullied since the incident, and Wigand plans on enrolling him and her other children in a new school. This article was originally published on
NBC News
08-04-2025
- NBC News
Virginia student's suspension for not reporting classmate with bullet sooner is 'appalling,' judge says
A Virginia Beach, Virginia, judge said it was "appalling" that a school suspended a 6th grader for waiting too long to report that another student had brought a bullet to class. The judge ruled Monday in favor of the child's mother, Rachel Wigand, after she sued St. John the Apostle Catholic School for breaching its contract when administrators suspended her son in September for a day and a half. The child, who was identified in the lawsuit as A.W., received the same suspension as the student who allegedly brought the bullet to class. "A suspension on a child's academic record is permanent. When you're enrolling children in subsequent educational places, they ask you that question: has your kid ever been suspended? What happened to her child was so absurd," said attorney Tim Anderson, who represented Wigand. "It wasn't fair that the mom was going to have to answer that question, yes, for the remainder of this child's academic career," he said. The child was in class, preparing to take a standardized test, when another student pulled out a bullet and showed it to him. Anderson previously told NBC News said the child took the test, which lasted about an hour and a half, went to another class, and then told the principal. It was about two hours between the child seeing the bullet and him alerting the principal, Anderson said. School administrators called the police, and officers found the bullet in the student's bag, according to Anderson. Judge Vivian Henderson said to see the child punished for trying to do the right thing was "appalling, for a lack of a better word, for this court." "Especially in an environment where ... younger and younger kids are being forced to make adult-like decisions without clear boundaries or parameters," Henderson said in a recording of Monday's hearing provided to NBC News by Anderson. She said "the unfortunate victim in this matter" was Wigand's son. An attorney for the school had said in closing arguments that it is written in the school's handbook and in the tuition contract that St. John the Apostle has the right to impose "a more or less severe form of discipline." The attorney also argued that it is stressed in school that safety incidents need to be reported immediately. The attorney said the decision to send Wigand's son home "was clearly harping back on that lesson and trying to impose a lesson of 'Hey, this is why it's important.'" Anderson said the school could have put the child in detention or imposed another type of in-school disciplinary action. The Catholic Diocese of Richmond said while it disagrees with the court's decision, it respects the legal process. "Our focus continues to be providing enriching and Christ-centered learning experiences for our students, and we are hopeful this conclusion will bring all parties involved an opportunity to move forward," a spokesperson said in a statement. Wigand previously told NBC News that her son had wanted to stay anonymous when reporting the incident, but the school took that away when he was suspended. Anderson said Tuesday the child has been bullied since the incident, and Wigand plans on enrolling him and her other children in a new school.
