St. Kateri Tekakawitha to be celebrated

St. Ignatius Church in Ignacio will celebrate the feast of St. Kateri Tekakawitha at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at 15449 Colorado Highway 172.

St. Kateri was the first Native American to be canonized as a saint. Everyone is invited.

For more information, visit www.stignatiuschurch-ignacio.com.

Pope Francis offers hope to prisoners in Bolivia

SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia – Pope Francis urged inmates at Bolivia’s notoriously violent Palmasola prison to not despair Friday as he wrapped up his visit to Bolivia with a message of hope and solidarity for those caught up in Bolivia’s corrupt law-enforcement system.

Francis greeted the inmates one by one, clasping their hands and kissing their children, and then listened intently as a few prisoners told the stories of how they ended up at Palmasola. They spoke of their lives of poverty and the “judicial terrorism” and abuse of power that let the wealthy bribe their way to freedom while the poor languished in prison.

In his comments, Francis acknowledged the wretched conditions that the inmates face: overcrowding, the slow pace of justice, violence and few opportunities for education or rehabilitation. He said those need to be addressed by Bolivian institutions.

Founder of Mormon women’s group resigns

SALT LAKE CITY – The founder of a Mormon women’s group who was excommunicated last year is stepping down from the organization.

Kate Kelly resigned earlier this month from the executive board of Ordain Women.

Chairwoman Debra Jenson said that Kelly has earned a chance to move forward and focus on other causes, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.

Ordain Women was founded in 2013 to push for women to be allowed in the all-male lay clergy. The group previously staged demonstrations outside two church conferences in Salt Lake City, drawing criticism from church leaders.

Herald Staff and Associated Press