Religious News Service Photographs

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About this Collection

Conceived by journalist Louis Minsky (1909-1957), Religious News Service (RNS) was established in 1934 as an affiliated but independently managed agency of the National Conference of Jews and Christians (later the National Conference of Christians and Jews), and was dedicated to providing authoritative and bias-free news about religion and ethics to both the secular and religious press. This collection contains photographs documenting Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, and Jewish groups. Coverage of Protestants (especially mainline Protestants) and Catholics constitutes the bulk of the images. View the collection guide to learn more. Digitization of some of the images in this collection made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Featured image: Father James Groppi, the civil rights activist priest from Milwaukee, and militant leader Rennie Davis are taken into custody during an anti war demonstration a block from the White House.

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Title:
15,000 witness historical pontifical Mass.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: #C-4706 15,000 WITNESS HISTORIC PONTIFICAL MASS BOSTON -- In one of the most colorful religious spectacles ever held in New England, 15,000 Catholics kneel in Boston Garden here during the celebration of a Pontifical Mass that highlighted the eighth national congress of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. The Most Rev. Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic delegate to the United States, was celebrant of the Mass, while Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, delivered the sermon in which he scored the UN for failing to open its General Assembly with a prayer for divine guidance. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EMAC-BOS-BS-10E6-C)
Creator:
MacDonald, Earl L. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Confraternity of Christian Doctrine--Congresses., Confraternity of Christian Doctrine., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Boston Garden (Boston, Mass.)
Topics:
Congresses and conventions--Massachusetts--Boston., Mass.
Geographic subjects:
Boston (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:360523
Title:
Cardinal dedicated Poland to Virgin Mary.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: CARDINAL DEDICATES POLAND TO VIRGIN MARY #C-4658 CZESTOCHOWA, Poland -- August Cardinal Hlond, Primate of Poland, officiates at a religious demonstration outside the famous monastery of Jasna Gora here, renewing the historic dedication of this country to the Virgin Mary. An impressive crowd of 700,000 pilgrims poured into this village from all parts of Poland, many in cattle cars and trucks, others arriving on foot, to renew vows of loyalty first made by King Yan Kazimierz in 1663. The pilgrimage included the largest recorded gathering of Catholic clergy, among whom were forty-two bishops led by Cardinal Hlond and Adam Cardinal Sapieha, Archbishop of Cracow. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EZ-WAR-BS-10C-6-C)
Creator:
Zaugg, Ernest. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Cult., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Bishops., Klasztor Paulinów (Częstochowa, Poland), Hlond, August, 1881-1948.
Topics:
Mass., Christian patron saints--Poland., Bishops--Poland--Częstochowa., Pilgrims and pilgrimages--Poland--Częstochowa.
Geographic subjects:
Częstochowa (Poland)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:360514
Title:
700,000 pilgrims dedicate Poland to Virgin Mary.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: 700,000 PILGRIMS DEDICATE POLAND TO VIRGIN MARY #C-4657 CZESTOCHOWA, Poland -- Seven hundred thousand Polish Catholics provide an impressive religious demonstration as they gather here, outside the famous monastery of Jasna Gora, to participate in the dedication of their country to the Virgin Mary. August Cardinal Hlond, Primate of Poland, and Adam Cardinal Sapieha, Archbishop of Cracow, celebrated the Mass at which formal consecration took place, asking the Virgin to “give this Polish land, saturated in blood and tears, a tranquil and honorable existence in truth, justice, and freedom.” Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EZ-WAR-BS-10C-6-C)
Creator:
Zaugg, Ernest. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Cult., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Bishops., Klasztor Paulinów (Częstochowa, Poland), Hlond, August, 1881-1948., Sapieha, Adam Stefan, 1867-1951.
Topics:
Mass., Christian patron saints--Poland., Bishops--Poland--Częstochowa., Pilgrims and pilgrimages--Poland--Częstochowa.
Geographic subjects:
Częstochowa (Poland)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:360513
Title:
700,000 pilgrims dedicate Poland to Virgin Mary.
Description:
Includes handwritten notation in Polish.
Creator:
Zaugg, Ernest. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Cult., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
Mass., Christian patron saints--Poland., Pilgrims and pilgrimages--Poland--Częstochowa.
Geographic subjects:
Częstochowa (Poland)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:360395
Title:
"Irish Travelers" return to Memphis.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: ‘IRISH TRAVELERS’ RETURN TO MEMPHIS #c-3443 MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- For 75 years bands of roving horse traders traveled through the South, descendants of Irish who had emigrated from County Mayo in the early 1800s. Although they were commonly referred to as gypsies, the more enlightened Southerners called them “Irish Travelers.” Each year they came to Memphis for one day to hold their weddings and funerals. Although the advent of the automobile saw many of them leave the road, they still follow the business of horse trading throughout many towns of the South -- and gather in Memphis once a year. Here five couples kneel before the altar of St. Thomas church in a quintuple wedding. The five couples are (left to right): John J. Riley and Ann Theresa Carroll; James Carroll and Ann Theresa Riley; John Costello and Marie Costello (no relation); John Costello, a first cousin of the previous John Costello, and Mary Marie Carroll; Thomas Nelson and Betty Riley. Youngest attendant at the wedding was eight-month-old “Red” Nelson. The oldest was his great-grandfather, 87-year-old “Red” Nelson, a son of one of the original immigrants. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (WIN-MEM-MES-5A-6-C)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Clergy.
Topics:
Irish Travellers (Nomadic people)--Tennessee--Memphis., Marriage service--Tennessee--Memphis., Irish Travellers (Nomadic people)--Marriage customs and rites., Marriage customs and rites--Tennessee--Memphis., Mass., Clergy--Tennessee--Memphis., Weddings--Tennessee--Memphis.
Geographic subjects:
Memphis (Tenn.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359560
Title:
Cardinal Hutchinson conferring pallium to Archbishop Vehr of Denver.
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Stritch, Samuel Alphonsus, 1887-1958., Vehr, Uban John., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Denver, Colo.)
Topics:
Pallium., Bishops--Colorado--Denver., Rites and ceremonies--Colorado--Denver., Mass.
Geographic subjects:
Denver (Colo.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359450
Title:
Cardinal Hutchinson conferring pallium to Archbishop Vehr of Denver.
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Bishops., Stritch, Samuel Alphonsus, 1887-1958., Vehr, Uban John., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Denver, Colo.)
Topics:
Pallium., Bishops--Colorado--Denver., Rites and ceremonies--Colorado--Denver., Mass.
Geographic subjects:
Denver (Colo.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359448
Title:
Maundy Thursday.
Description:
Text transcribed from notations on envelope: 3442 Maundy Thursday The Pope kneels in prayer Bergh
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sistine Chapel (Vatican Palace, Vatican City), Pius XII, Pope, 1876-1958.
Topics:
Mass., Popes., Maundy Thursday--Vatican City., Holy Week--Vatican City., Prayer--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359413
Title:
Maundy Thursday.
Description:
Text transcribed from notations on envelope: 3441 Maundy Thursday Mass in Sistine Chapel Bergh
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Sistine Chapel (Vatican Palace, Vatican City), Pius XII, Pope, 1876-1958.
Topics:
Mass., Popes., Maundy Thursday--Vatican City., Holy Week--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:359412
Title:
In memoriam: red vestments for martyrs.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: PC-29923 IN MEMORIAM: RED VESTMENTS FOR MARTYRS SAN FRANCISCO -- Typical of hundreds of churches across the United States was this scene in San Francisco. On Sunday, Sept. 22, the nation’s churchgoers joined in memorial services for four Negro girls who died when a bomb blasted a Negro Baptist church in Birmingham. Here, at St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic church, the more than 2,500 attending services overflowed the building. They fell to their knees on the sidewalk during a Mass offered for the dead children. The priest wore vestments in the “red of martyrdom” instead of the black of mourning. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (W-NY-9D-63-W)
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., St. Dominic’s Church (San Francisco, Calif.), Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Memorial service., Mass.
Geographic subjects:
San Francisco (Calif.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358130
Title:
Special Marian Week ceremonies.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-29759 SPECIAL MARIAN WEEK CEREMONIES STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. -- Marian Week, a special time of prayer and penance, drew great throngs to the Marian Seminary near Stockbridge, Mass. Top photo shows part of the great crowd of 3,000 at the field Mass opening the Week at the Shrine of the Mercy of God. Below, following a candlelight procession, worshippers hold candles as they listen to a sermon. Marian Fathers have conducted the program annually for ten years; average attendance is slightly over 10,000. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (LA-GB-8D-63-W)
Creator:
Aigner, Lucien. (photographer)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Marian Fathers., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Devotion to., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Shrines--Massachusetts--Stockbridge.
Topics:
Mass., Christian shrines--Massachusetts--Stockbridge.
Geographic subjects:
Stockbridge (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:358038
Title:
Special Marian Week ceremonies.
Creator:
Aigner, Lucien. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Marian Fathers., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Customs and practices., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Devotion to., Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint--Shrines--Massachusetts--Stockbridge.
Topics:
Mass., Christian shrines--Massachusetts--Stockbridge.
Geographic subjects:
Stockbridge (Mass.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357956
Title:
They thought of Birmingham.
Creator:
Wide World Photos, Inc. (author)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., St. Dominic’s Church (San Francisco, Calif.), Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
16th Street Baptist Church Bombing, Birmingham, Ala., 1963., Memorial service., Mass.
Geographic subjects:
San Francisco (Calif.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357754
Title:
Raising the Host.
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Clergy., Catholic Church--Liturgy.
Topics:
Clergy., Lord's Supper., Mass.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357348
Title:
Ordination of a priest.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: ORDINATION OF A PRIEST #1509 At the offertory each ordinand presents a lighted candle to the bishop. From then on they all say prayers of Mass aloud with the bishop. Shown kneeling besides them are their sponsors, wearing white surplices. After his communion, each new priest takes a draught of wine. Later the priests recite “Apostles’ Creed” together, and Bishop again lays on his hands and says, “Receive the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven them; whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” At this point each priest makes a promise of obedience, and the bishop solemnly blesses them all together. (No. 6 of a series) Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (DOT-U-NY-JOG-2C-6-C-D)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Clergy., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Topics:
Ordination--Catholic Church., Rites and ceremonies--New York (State)--Syracuse., Clergy--Office., Mass., Clergy--New York (State)--Syracuse.
Geographic subjects:
Syracuse (N.Y.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357323
Title:
Ordination of a priest.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: ORDINATION OF A PRIEST #1506 Following laying on of hands, the bishop talks on dignity of priesthood, then invests each deacon with the chasuble. The bishop invokes the blessing of God and while the “Veni, Creator Spiritus” is song, he anoints the palms of the hands of the future priests with Oil of the Catechumens. Oil symbolizes the priestly and royal power of Christ. The bishop also delivers to each a chalice and paten, saying, “Receive the power to celebrate Mass both for the living and the dead in the name of the Lord.” (No. 4 of a series) Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (DOT-U-NY-JOG-2C-6-C-D)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Clergy., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Syracuse, N.Y.), Foery, Walter Andrew.
Topics:
Ordination--Catholic Church., Rites and ceremonies--New York (State)--Syracuse., Bishops--New York (State)--Syracuse., Mass., Clergy--Office., Holy oils.
Geographic subjects:
Syracuse (N.Y.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357320
Title:
Ordination of a priest.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: ORDINATION OF A PRIEST #1504 The priests-to-be prostrate themselves before the altar as a mark of their submission to the call to Holy Orders. At the same time, the Bishop invokes the power of the saints to intercede for them. Just prior to the prostration, after the gradual of the Mass, the Bishop charges the people to denounce any unworthy candidate and admonishes the deacons themselves. (No. 2 of a series) Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (DOT-U-NY-JOG-2C-6-CD)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Clergy., Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Syracuse, N.Y.)
Topics:
Ordination--Catholic Church., Rites and ceremonies--New York (State)--Syracuse., Bishops--New York (State)--Syracuse., Mass., Clergy--Office.
Geographic subjects:
Syracuse (N.Y.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:357319
Title:
Czech Catholics make pilgrimage to Lidice.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: CZECH CATHOLICS MAKE PILGRIMAGE TO LIDICE #1133 LIDICE -- Monsignor Alois Tylinek, of St. Wenceslas Roman Catholic Church in Prague, addresses pilgrims gathered at an open air Mass on the site of Lidice, destroyed by the Germans in reprisal for the killing Reinhardt Heydrich, Nazi Protector of Bohemia. Msgr. Tylinek, an active political figure, is vice-Mayor of Prague. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (EZ-PR-TFD-11-30-5)
Creator:
Zaugg, Ernest. (photographer)
Subject names:
Catholic Church--Clergy., Tylínek, Alois., Catholic Church--Liturgy., Heydrich, Reinhard, 1904-1942--Assassination., Religious News Service--Archives.
Topics:
Lidice Massacre, Lidice, Czech Republic, 1942., World War, 1939-1945--Atrocities--Czech Republic., Mass., Clergy--Czech Republic--Lidice., Clergy--Czechoslovakia.
Geographic subjects:
Lidice (Czech Republic), Czechoslovakia.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356859
Title:
First Mass celebrated in the newly completed St. Stephen's church Winooski, Vermont.
Description:
Text transcribed from notes on envelope: 4 prints Put one in Cath Mass 9/19/51 SS Sam Silbert - Don’t destroy envelope.
Subject names:
Catholic Church--Liturgy., Religious News Service--Archives.
Topics:
Mass.
Geographic subjects:
Winooski (Vt.)
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356851
Title:
Paul VI gives tiara to world's poor.
Description:
Text transcribed from caption: C-31819 PAUL VI GIVES TIARA TO WORLD’S POOR VATICAN CITY -- Pope Paul VI places his diamond-studded papal tiara on an altar as an offering for the world’s poor while attending a solemn Concelebrated Mass in the Byzantine Rite before Fathers of the Vatican Council in St. Peter’s Basilica. With him (left) is Archbishop Enrico Dante, papal master of ceremonies. At right, Melkite Rite Patriarch Maximos IV Saigh of Antioch and all the Orient kisses cross held by the Pope. The patriarch officiated at the Mass with 12 bishops and archimandrites. The beehive-shaped crown donated by the Pope is made of silver, with three gold coronets set with diamonds, sapphires and rubies. It had been presented to him on his coronation by the faithful of the Milan See where he had served as archbishop for five years. Valued by some at $80,000 the crown was to be sold at public auction and the proceeds given to the poor. Credit Must Read: RELIGIOUS NEWS SERVICE PHOTO (K-11C-64-NAB)
Creator:
Keystone (Rome, Italy) (publisher)
Subject names:
Religious News Service--Archives., Paul VI, Pope, 1897-1978., Vatican Council (2nd : 1962-1965 : Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano), Catholic Church--Byzantine rite--Liturgy., Catholic Church--Bishops., Maximos IV, Patriarch of Antioch, 1878-1967., Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano.
Topics:
Popes., Mass., Bishops--Vatican City., Crosses--Vatican City.
Geographic subjects:
Vatican City.
URL:
https://digital.history.pcusa.org/islandora/object/islandora:356559

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