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San Francisco residents attend Ash Wednesday, pray for Pope Francis

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San Francisco residents attend Ash Wednesday, pray for Pope Francis


Ash Wednesday marked the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection for Catholics worldwide. While many gathered today to receive ashes, a symbol of faith, worshippers in North Beach also lifted up special prayers for Pope Francis, as he remains hospitalized for respiratory complications.

At St. Peter and St. Paul Catholic Church, Father Lam administered ashes to parishioners, continuing a tradition that has persisted for centuries. The custom signifies repentance as the church prepares for its Easter fast.

“We are asking people to do some penance and do some good works, helping others, so we can all go together and prepare ourselves for Easter,” Father Lam said.

However, this year’s Ash Wednesday has a unique significance. The global Catholic community is especially focused on prayers for the pope, who has spent nearly three weeks in the hospital battling respiratory issues.

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“We ask you to pray for his speedy recovery, so that he can resume his duty as the pastor of the whole world,” Father Lam added.

The pope’s illness comes amid concerns over a significant decline in church attendance. A recent 2024 report from the Hartford Archdiocese revealed an 18% drop in Catholic church attendance from 2019 to 2024. This decline has been attributed, in part, to an increasing number of Americans identifying with no religious affiliation.

Despite the trend, some church leaders are optimistic. Frank Lavin, a Eucharist minister, noted a positive shift in attendance at St. Peter and St. Paul.

“It was really great this morning to see so many people in church getting their ashes again. Because it used to be a really big deal to go to church on Ash Wednesday, get ashes, give something up for Lent. So, I feel like the tide is kind of changing,” Lavin said.

The decline in attendance is also linked to ongoing controversies, including the church’s decades-long sexual abuse scandal. Yet, Father Lam remains hopeful about the church’s future.

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“When you look at the human face of the church, we find many faults and many defects and so on, but don’t forget that Jesus Christ is the real leader of the church. So we have to look at the church not only from the human point of view, but also from the divine perspective,” Father Lam said.

It is this divine perspective, he believes, that sustains his commitment to serving his community.



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San Francisco, CA

Women’s volleyball professional team headed to San Francisco

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Women’s volleyball professional team headed to San Francisco


Pro volleyball will soon be coming to San Francisco and this latest team is part of a surge of women’s sports.

League One Volleyball officially launched this year with six teams. Now the league has announced it’s expanding to nine teams, and that one of those expansion teams will be based in the city by the bay.

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Three-time Olympic volleyball medalist Kelsy Robinson Cook is on the ownership team for LOVB San Francisco, bringing professional volleyball to the city. “Can tell you it’s going to be amazing,” said Robinson Cook. “Then, when you bring in the fandom of the Bay Area and SF I think personally it’s going to make for an incredible atmosphere.”

Team ownership said starting a team in the Bay Area is a natural with colleges and universities in the region turning out top talent. “It’s the number one sport for women and girls and I think that just speaks volumes as to where we’re headed, not only in club and college, but professionally,” said Robinson Cook.

Pro women’s volleyball is part of a growing list of professional women’s sports teams calling San Francisco and the Bay Area home.

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The women’s professional baseball league announced plans for a team in San Francisco. Bay FC and the Golden State Valkyries are already proving there is a market for professional women’s sports.

When pro-volleyball was looking to expand, San Francisco was a natural choice. “You’re seeing Bay FC, the Valkyries, the success that they have, and this market loves sports, and they’ve also proven they love women’s sports,” said Robinson Cook.

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San Francisco leaders said the city has already proven that it supports pro-women’s teams, and will welcome professional volleyball. Mayor Daniel Lurie pointed to the city’s rich sports history and enthusiasm to support the home teams. “Now, as we saw with the Valkyries selling out every single home game last year, there is an appetite, there is a fan base, and this new league understands that,” said Mayor Lurie.

At this time, there are still a lot of questions up in the air, including exactly where LOVB San Francisco will play. Organizers say they have a lot of plans in the works to get the team ready to bump, set and spike starting in January 2027.

 

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Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting

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Body cam footage released in South San Francisco police shooting


(KRON) — The South San Francisco Police Department released video Thursday showing what led up to two officers shooting a man who authorities said was armed with a knife.

On December 8 at around 5:10 a.m., police arrived at the 900 block of Sandra Court on the report of a man under the influence of drugs and making threats to kill himself. When officers made contact with the man, identified as 28-year-old Luis Francisco-Manzo, he initially complied with orders, authorities said.

Officer-worn body camera video shows Francisco-Manzo walking toward officers in the entrance hallway of an apartment complex with his arms raised. A small dog barks as officers give repeated commands. Suddenly, Francisco-Manzo appears in the entranceway next to officers as one calls out, “He’s got a knife.”

South San Francisco Police Department officers shot Luis Francisco-Manzo on December 8, 2025. Authorities said Francisco-Manzo charged at officers while armed with a knife. (Photo: South San Francisco Police Department)

Officer Brendan Hart, who has been with SSFPD for eight years, fired a Taser at Francisco-Manzo, but it did not have the intended effect, police said.

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Four gunshots are heard in the body camera video. Police said Officer Hart and Officer Martin Corona were the officers who discharged their weapons. Officer Corona has seven years of law enforcement experience with over four years at SSFPD.

(Photo: South San Francisco Police Department)

Francisco-Manzo was transported to the hospital in critical condition. On Thursday, authorities said he continues to recover in the hospital. No officers were injured in the incident.

The police shooting remains under investigation by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.



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Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash

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Pedestrian killed in San Francisco hit-and-run crash


A hit-and-run crash in San Francisco on Wednesday evening left a pedestrian dead.

Driver fled scene

What we know:

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According to the San Francisco Police Department, the crash happened around 6:05 p.m. in the 5500 block of Mission Street. The driver fled the scene after striking the pedestrian.

The victim died at the scene.

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Officers have not yet provided a description of the suspect vehicle involved in the incident.

No further details were immediately released. 

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