So many voices compete for our attention

 

We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill & Our Mission: to see the baptized who live in SoNoGo worship in SoNoGo 

Saint Patrick Catholic Parish

The Catholic Church Explained

Father Gregory Ashe was the founding pastor of St. Patrick’s parish, beginning in 1921 and serving until 1925 when he was replaced by Father Thomas Healy, the parish’s second pastor, and first Augustinian.  Father Ashe eventually returned to Buffalo, New York to serve in parish work.  He died there in 1934.  Father Healy served as pastor of St. Patrick’s for a year and a half, after which he returned to Pennsylvania. He died a short time later in January 1927 at the age of 54.  Both Fathers Ashe and Healy were born in Ireland. The 1920s were good to San Diego and the community of North Park.  Businesses were thriving, new arrivals spurred development, and optimism was high.  Under Father Daley’s guidance, the parish decided to commit to the construction of a magnificent structure, Romanesque in style, using the best architecture and artistry available.  Frank Hope was contracted as the architect and the M.H. Golden company did the construction.  The contract was signed on October 15th, 1928, and work began almost immediately.  Amazingly, the church, the present structure, was finished by Easter Sunday, 1929, in just about six months, but it wasn’t dedicated until September 1929.  The cost of the structure was $37,000, and with all the interior additions the cost of the project was around $60,000.  Father Daley and the parishioners of St. Patrick’s were justifiably proud of their accomplishments.  The next step would be the construction of a school, and it probably would have gone forward but for one obstacle: the stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression.

“he must become the last of all and the servant of all.”

 

The Good Shepherd’s madness is mercy

 

The rise of online gambling is affecting all of us

Russell Moore on how the rise of online gambling is affecting our culture, our children, and our churches.

Young Christian influencers under the Communist regime in Cuba are taking to social media to call for freedom. But their activism comes with real risks.

A new study has found that among Gen Z, young women are increasingly outpacing their male counterparts in claiming no religious affiliation.

Behind the Story

From CT contributor Hannah Herrera: I first heard about @el4tico, a social media account created by two Christians that speaks out against Cuba’s authoritarian government, through a contact from a previous story. There’s an online resistance movement, she told me, and "people are saying most of them are Christian, but you’d have to investigate to find out."

So I did, and she was right. These influencers, some of them as young as 20 years old, are facing all kinds of risks—imprisonment, exile, fines, threats—but they refuse to back down.

The article came with challenges. The sources and I had to be creative on how—and when—we communicated. One contact was in the process of fleeing to Spain for political exile. Other contacts frequently had no internet access due to rolling blackouts or targeted cell service cutoffs.

Additionally, I reported the article in Spanish and wrote it in English, which requires constant switching between different mental train tracks. There are some words—and even entire concepts—that exist in Spanish and not in English, which were difficult to concisely translate. Thankfully, my editors were a great help, and I’m glad readers will get to hear the story of these Christians’ bravery and conviction.

In Other News

President Donald Trump read 2 Chronicles 7:14 as part of a Bible-reading marathon event. Christianity Today covered how that passage was the top-searched-for Bible verse of the 2016 presidential election. Thousands of Christians are still protesting the passing earlier this month of a harsher anti-conversion law by government officials in Chhattisgarh state. The area is one of the hotbeds in India for violence against Christians. Andy Riemersma used to dream of playing in the NBA. Now, he’s a hip-hop artist, pastor, and chaplain to players in the Noblesville Boom.

Today in Christian History

April 23, 1538: John Calvin and William Farel (whom Calvin was assisting) are banished from Geneva. The day before, Easter Sunday, both had refused to administer communion, saying the city was too full of vice to partake. Three years later, Calvin returned to the city he would forever be associated with.

Poetry communicates another way of being in the world Q&A with Shane McCrae

How poetry can help kids -- and all of us -- practice lament By Amy Peterson

Pauli Murray lived between and ahead Q&A with Betsy West and Julie Cohen

Mary Oliver and other poets can help us perceive -- and protect -- the natural world Q&A with Debra Dean Murphy

White America’s Republican drift

White America’s Republican drift
ARC: White Christians didn’t get replaced — they changed their minds

 

A TPUSA tour stop triggered a pro-LGBTQ event at Baylor. Then came the Baptist blowback.
Religion News Service: In response to the ‘All Are Neighbors’ event, the Baptist General Convention of Texas will revisit its relationship with the Christian university.

 

Trump reads from Bible in Oval Office in taped message for Christian group
The Guardian: The reciting of an Old Testament passage comes days after a clash with the pope and posting an AI image of himself as Jesus.

 

What do Britain’s derelict churches say about our health and happiness?
The Guardian: Half of the most important buildings in the UK are churches and, even when congregations fall away, they are vital community hubs.

 

The moral asymmetry in the war on Iran
Religion News Service: Since 2018, it is the U.S. whose actions have been belligerent and framed by communications that often include invectives and sweeping threats.

A new generation of priests takes shape in the United States

French government deploys police against pro-life movements

ZENIT Staff

At the heart of the current climate lies a deeper question: whether the constitutionalization of abortion has resolved the ethical debate or merely shifted it into new arenas

Is the Vatican investigating the validity of Benedict XVI’s resignation? The truth behind a confirmation by the Vatican Tribunal

Valentina di Giorgio

The case originates from a formal petition submitted on 6 June 2024 by Andrea Cionci, supported by lawyer Roberto Tieghi and accompanied by numerous signatures. The request asked the Vatican Tribunal to examine the validity of Benedict XVI’s decision to resign the Petrine ministry

Mexican bishops warn of a nation at risk: violence, the Cristero War, and the World Cup

Enrique Villegas

One of the more historically resonant aspects of the message is its reference to the centenary of the persecution of Catholics during the Cristero War, which began in 1926. Rather than invoking this memory as a source of division, the bishops propose it as an opportunity for reflection and learning

When the pastor’s voice is stolen: Digital fraud using AI targets the Church in Latin America

ZENIT Staff

The warning, issued by the Honduran Episcopal Conference on 11 April, leaves no room for ambiguity. No Catholic bishop or priest in the country is engaged in selling medicines, furniture, or any commercial goods online

Thomas More Society Settlement Establishes Landmark Religious Liberty Protections for Coast Guard

ZENIT Staff

Agreement rewrites religious accommodation rules service-wide, mandates command-level training and requires public reporting of outcomes

Jesus Christ AI: This Is the God “Transformed” Into Artificial Intelligence That Already Exists and Aims to Redefine the Religious Experience

Jorge Enrique Mújica

At the center of the controversy is a feature introduced in December 2025, just days before Christmas, which offers users the possibility of engaging in voice or video conversations with an AI-generated figure inspired visually by a popular television portrayal of Jesus (The Chosen) and trained on the King James Bible

Israeli soldier vandalizes a crucifix in Lebanon: Israel responds, and so do the polls

ZENIT Staff

The Israeli Defense Forces acknowledged that the soldier involved was operating in southern Lebanon and described the act as incompatible with military values. An investigation has been opened, with assurances that appropriate disciplinary measures will follow

Pope Francis’ Last Words Are Published One Year After His Death

Rafael Llanes

The gesture encapsulates the Pontiff’s personality: approachable, humble, and attentive to those around him. The author considers it a synthesis of his way of living the priestly ministry with direct, informal interactions.

Dates and Locations Announced for Mass Events with Pope Leo XIV in Spain

ZENIT Staff

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate a great Prayer Vigil with young people and three great Masses during his Apostolic Journey to Spain. Registration forms are now open for participation in these first confirmed events on the Pope’s agenda. Registration can be done through the official website of the trip: conelpapa.es.

Israeli Army Replaces Crucifix Destroyed in Lebanon and Sentences Involved Soldiers to 30 Days in Prison

ZENIT Staff

The military response was swift and unusually explicit. Following an internal investigation, the army israeli concluded that the conduct of those involved “completely deviated” from its ethical standards. The soldier who carried out the act, along with another who documented it, was removed from combat

Between Cross and Power: Persecution, Propaganda, and the Cost of Faith in Russian-Controlled Territories

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Two episodes, distinct in geography but closely linked in context, illustrate a pattern that is drawing increasing concern among observers of religious freedom: the death in custody of a Christian blogger in Russia, and the seizure of a Catholic church in occupied Ukraine during one of the most sacred moments of the Christian calendar

Germany: Defying Rome, Cardinal Marx Officially Announces Blessings for Same-Sex Couples

Joachin Meisner Hertz

By proposing structured ceremonies and embedding them within diocesan pastoral planning, the guidelines exceed the parameters outlined by the Holy See

A new generation of priests takes shape in the United States: data, trends and the quiet strength of vocation 2026

Tim Daniels

One of the clearest findings concerns the type of priesthood being embraced. A large majority—81 percent—are preparing for diocesan ministry, while 19 percent belong to religious institutes

Colombian President Harasses Catholic Priest Live on Air for Speaking Out Against Communism

ZENIT Staff

At the center of the storm is President Gustavo Petro, who, during a recent cabinet meeting, publicly rebuked a priest from the Parish of the Holy Family in Bogotá

The deconstruction narrative has a rage problem

AME Church clergy could recover $44M more in retirement scandal settlement
Religion News Service: “We still have defendants who are fighting, and we have more work to do, but this is a major step forward in this litigation,” said lawyers involved in the case.

 

The deconstruction narrative has a rage problem. Taylor Tomlinson has the antidote.
Religion News Service: You cannot be a humorless deconstructionist on a comedy stage.

 

How Islamophobic rhetoric leaves an impact on the mental health of Muslim Americans
The Conversation: Research consistently shows that negative portrayals of Muslims shape public attitudes toward Muslims and can lead to increased discrimination, hate crimes and psychological consequences.

 

What types of news do Americans seek out or happen to come across?
Pew Research Cetner: A growing share of Americans say they mostly get news because they happen to come across it, not because they’re actively seeking it out.

 

Trump support drops in Utah, driven by religious voters
Deseret News: A new Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by Morning Consult shows that more than half (54%) of Utah voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance, outweighing the 44% of voters who said they approve.

U.S. dioceses observe Child Abuse Prevention Month

U.S. dioceses observe Child Abuse Prevention Month Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Virginia, urged vigilance in child protection, and Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago posted a video message about the month's observance on behalf of U.S. bishops.

Bishop urges ‘return to Christian values’ after shooting at Mexican pyramid In response to a shooting at a Mexican archeological site that left two dead and 13 injured, Bishop Guillermo Escobar urged people to look to Jesus Christ and return to Christian values.

PHOTOS: Pope Leo XIV visits Equatorial Guinea as Africa visit draws to a close The Holy Father has already visited Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola as part of his papal visit to the continent. Catholic Charities launches ad campaign to ‘love your neighbor’ through volunteer work Volunteers are "the backbone of the work of the Catholic Charities network across the country," said CCUSA Vice President for Communications Kevin Brennan.

Devotees flock to shrine of ‘the Lady who calls’ in Philippines for coronation centenary On April 22, millions of pilgrims will be in Pangasinan, Philippines, marking the centenary of the canonical coronation of the image of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary of Manaoag.

covenantchurchsd 04.19.2026

We call this SoNoGo - South Park-North Park-Golden Hill & Our Mission: to see the baptized who live in SoNoGo worship in SoNoGo 

Covenant Presbyterian Church

What is the Evangelical Presbyterian Church?

Covenant Church at 30th & Howard  is a Christian church in the tradition of the Protestant Reformation and allied with the EPC [The Evangelical Presbyterian Church] We believe the Scriptures to be the infallible Word of God and our final authority in faith and practice, and we find the historic creeds of the early church (the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed) to be vital expressions of the most important tenets of the global church universal. When the EPC started in 1981, we determined that we would not disagree on the basic essentials of the Christian faith, but on anything that was not essential—such as the issue of ordaining women as officers or practicing charismatic gifts—we would give each other liberty. Above all, we committed ourselves to loving each other and not engaging in quarrels and strife. The result is that when we get together in our regional and national meetings, we spend most of our time in worship and fellowship and almost none in arguing with each other.