United Yam – You Never Know

U.S. bishops urge continued immigration protections for Ukrainians, Salvadorans – #Catholic – Catholic bishops warned that uncertainty over immigration protections for Ukrainians and Salvadorans could result in deportations and family disruption if temporary protected status (TPS) lapses.On Oct. 19, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) posted an alert saying Ukrainian TPS beneficiaries would continue to retain protections, including employment authorization, pending an announcement “made at the appropriate time.” The agency posted a similar announcement about El Salvador TPS as a Sept. 9 expiration deadline passed.TPS is an immigration status granted to eligible foreign nationals from designated countries that are deemed unsafe to return to due to ongoing conflict, environmental disasters, or other extraordinary conditions.U.S. bishops said with more than 170,000 Salvadorans and about 100,000 Ukrainians estimated to hold TPS, the administration should “carefully consider conditions in countries of origin and the threats to human life that could come with forcibly repatriating people.” The bishops urged the government to provide meaningful notice about the future of the designations so that families, employers, and communities can plan accordingly, a U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) statement said.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which determines whether to extend or end TPS, said in a statement to EWTN News on Oct. 22 that Ukrainians and Salvadorans with TPS will “retain protection” under the program until the agency announces a final decision on the future of the designations.El Salvador first received TPS in 2001 after devastating earthquakes, and the designation has been repeatedly renewed since then. The U.S. first granted TPS to Ukrainians in April 2022, after Russiaʼs full-scale invasion starting Feb. 24, 2022, made conditions unsafe for many Ukrainians to return home. The United Nations has verified more than 13,000 civilian deaths in Ukraine, while warning the actual toll is likely much higher.Archbishop Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, chair-elect of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, said many Ukrainians relying on TPS in the United States have no home to go back to, according to the USCCB update.“In recent months, DHS terminated TPS designations for various countries, often while existing conditions in those countries make return of large numbers of people unsafe or impractical,” according to a USCCB statement on Sept. 24.The Trump administration has moved to end TPS for people from more than a dozen countries since 2025, and Lebanon TPS is set to end Nov. 27. TPS for Haiti ended July 27.Pathway to legal statusU.S. bishops have continued to support legislative efforts “to provide a pathway to permanent legal status for longtime residents of the United States.” Bishops have supported legislation such as H.R. 1589 that would provide a pathway to permanent residency for certain “dreamers” (those brought to the U.S. illegally as children by family) and other immigrants with temporary protections while expanding access to green cards for some TPS and Deferred Enforced Departure recipients.The bill, sponsored by Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, “would create a long-term solution for those in this situation who have contributed positively to the fabric of American life and have established equities in the country, such as having U.S.-citizen spouses and children, owning businesses, and more,” the USCCB statement said.Another bill (H.R. 10740) introduced in the U.S. House on Oct. 5 would extend temporary protected status for eligible Ukrainians by redesignating protections until July 1, 2029.In April, the House passed legislation, H.R. 1689, that would extend TPS for Haitians for three more years. No legislative efforts have gained traction in the Senate.‘In limbo’Without any formal notice from DHS about the status of El Salvador’s TPS, it has left communities “in limbo,” said Lizbeth Iniguez, immigration attorney at Alba Law in Long Beach, California.“At the moment, we hear a lot of fear, especially in the Salvadoran community … we can only tell them how to prepare,” Iniguez said.David Spicer, USCCB’s policy and engagement director, said Catholic Charities and other Church ministries are seeing growing demand as families lose legal protections and work authorization.“They’re seeing people having to grapple with the loss of the legal protection, their work authorization, families struggling to make ends meet. Then more people turn to Catholic services for things like food and housing assistance,” Spicer said.Uncertainty about TPS status could expose longtime U.S. residents to deportation, family separation, and the loss of work authorization, according to U.S. bishops.“I think Haiti is probably the most serious example of this. It is objectively unsafe for large numbers of people to be forcibly repatriated to Haiti at this time,” Spicer said. “When you consider that this is also a factor in several other countries where they are no longer TPS designations … it really does set up the opportunity, if not the loss of human life, then the harm that could be inflicted on the people.”Spicer said the TPS uncertainty also was “going to hurt employers … they’re having an even harder time because they’ve lost workers who were relying on employment authorization that they had through TPS.”

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Ukrainian and El Salvadoran temporary protected status (TPS) beneficiaries will continue to retain immigration protections, pending an announcement “made at the appropriate time,” the government said.

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Coakley said living in the U.S. has deepened his commitment to advocating for death row inmates and urging the Church and the nation to see the inhumanity of executions carried out in their name.

Supreme Court order leaves federal prison transgender services in place for now – #Catholic – The U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 21 left in place lower-court rulings that require the federal prison system to continue providing transgender-related benefits to inmates.The unsigned order rejected the Bureau of Prison’s petition to reverse rulings from both the U.S. district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted the government’s request.The high court’s decision means that the bureau may not implement a policy passed in February that forbids the use of hormone therapy on prisoners who believe themselves to be the opposite sex. The rule also forbids “social accommodations” including wigs and makeup.The suit against the Bureau of Prisons was brought by several inmates who identify as transgender.LGBT-related policy at federal prisons has been in flux following President Donald Trump’s 2024 election. Earlier that year, the Biden Justice Department had signaled that prisons throughout the United States must provide prisoners with transgender-related medical care, including “hormone therapy” and other gender-related requests.Just after taking office in January 2025, on the other hand, Trump issued an executive order that purported to combat “efforts to eradicate the biological reality of sex.” Among the provisions of that order was a directive ordering the Bureau of Prisons to “[revise] its policies concerning medical care” to move away from gender-related provisions.

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have granted the government’s request to reverse the rulings.

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Phobos, it seems, is not long for this universe — at least on the large cosmic timescale. Astronomers have long known that Phobos, the larger and nearer of the two martian moons, is slowly spiraling inward to eventual destruction. The end result won’t be pretty: Phobos will slip closer and closer toward Mars, then strikeContinue reading “Mars’ moon Phobos is destined to become a ring”

The post Mars’ moon Phobos is destined to become a ring appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Neighborhood Children Woefully Unprepared For Local Man Who Chooses Trick Over Treat #BabylonBee – NAPERVILLE, IL — Dozens of neighborhood trick-or-treaters were left completely unprepared Tuesday evening after local resident Burt Ostler unexpectedly opted for "trick" when presented with the classic Halloween ultimatum.

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

NAPERVILLE, IL — Dozens of neighborhood trick-or-treaters were left completely unprepared Tuesday evening after local resident Burt Ostler unexpectedly opted for "trick" when presented with the classic Halloween ultimatum.

Can You Name Each Of These Sacred Relics From 1990s Christianity? #BabylonBee – Brought to you by: Equipping the Persecuted

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Brought to you by: Equipping the Persecuted

5 ways St. John Paul II changed the Catholic Church forever #Catholic You may know that St. John Paul II was the second-longest-serving pope in modern history with 27 years of pontificate, and he was the first non-Italian pontiff since the Dutch Pope Adrian VI in 1523.But did you know that he also changed the Catholic Church forever during those 27 years? Here are five ways he did that:1. He helped bring about the 1989 fall of communism in Eastern Europe.The pope’s official biographer, George Weigel, who for decades chronicled the pope’s engagement with civic leaders, noted that the way Pope John Paul II influenced the political landscape was enormous. His political influence is seen best in the way his engagement with world leaders assisted the downfall of the U.S.S.R.Just days before President Ronald Reagan called on Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down” the Berlin Wall, he met with the pope. According to historian and author Paul Kengor, Reagan went so far as to call Pope John Paul II his “best friend,” opining that no one knew his soul better than the Polish pontiff who had also suffered an assassination attempt and carried the burden of world leadership.In the course of 38 official visits and 738 audiences and meetings held with heads of state, John Paul II influenced civic leaders around the world in this epic battle with a regime that would ultimately be responsible for the deaths of more than 30 million people.“He thought of himself as the universal pastor of the Catholic Church, dealing with sovereign political actors who were as subject to the universal moral law as anybody else,” Weigel said.“He was willing to be a risk-taker, but he also appreciated that prudence is the greatest of political virtues. And I think he was quite respected by world political leaders because of his transparent integrity. His essential attitude toward these men and women was: How can I help you? What can I do to help?”More than anything, John Paul II understood his role primarily as a spiritual leader.According to Weigel, the pope’s primary impact on the world of affairs was his central role in creating the revolution of conscience that began in Poland and swept across Eastern Europe. This revolution of conscience inspired the nonviolent revolution of 1989 and the collapse of communism in Central and Eastern Europe, an astounding political achievement.2. He beatified and canonized more saints than any predecessor, making holiness more accessible to ordinary people.One of John Paul II’s most enduring legacies is the huge number of saints he recognized. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies, during which he proclaimed 1,338 blesseds, and celebrated 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. That is more than the combined tally of his predecessors over the five centuries before.Mother Teresa of Calcutta is perhaps the best-known contemporary of John Paul II who is now officially a saint, but the first saint of the new millennium and one especially dear to John Paul II was St. Faustina Kowalska, the fellow Polish native who received the message of divine mercy.“Sister Faustina’s canonization has a particular eloquence: By this act I intend today to pass this message on to the new millennium,” he said in the homily of her canonization. “I pass it on to all people, so that they will learn to know ever better the true face of God and the true face of their brethren.”St. Pier Giorgio Frassati, whom Pope John Paul II beatified in 1990 and nicknamed the “Man of the Beatitudes,” is another popular saint elevated by the Polish pope who loved to recognize the holiness of simple persons living the call to holiness with extraordinary fidelity. At the time of his death, the 24-year-old Italian was simply a student with no extraordinary accomplishments. But his love for Christ in the Eucharist and in the poor was elevated by John Paul II as heroic and worthy of imitation. Frassati was canonized Sept. 7, 2025, by Pope Leo XIV.It bears noting that Pope Francis would later surpass John Paul II when he proclaimed 800 Italian martyrs as saints in a single day.3. He transformed the papal travel schedule.John Paul II visited some 129 countries during his pontificate — more countries than any other pope had visited up to that point.He also created World Youth Days in 1985 and presided over 19 of them as pope.Weigel said John Paul II understood that the pope must be present to the people of the Church, wherever they are.“He chose to do it by these extensive travels, which he insisted were not travels, they were pilgrimages,” Weigel said.“This was the successor of Peter, on pilgrimage to various parts of the world, of the Church. And that’s why these pilgrimages were always built around liturgical events, prayer, adoration of the holy Eucharist, ecumenical and interreligious gatherings — all of this was part of a pilgrimage experience.”In the latter half of the 20th century — a time of enormous social change and upheaval — John Paul II’s extensive travels and proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth were just what the world needed, Weigel said.4. He made extraordinary contributions to Church teaching.John Paul II was a scholar who promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992, reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law during his pontificate, and authored 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 11 apostolic constitutions, and 45 apostolic letters.This is why Weigel said the Church has only begun to unpack what he calls the “magisterium” of John Paul II, in the form of his writings and his intellectual influence.For example, John Paul’s theology of the body remains enormously influential in the United States and throughout the world, though Weigel said even this has yet to be unpacked.5. He gave new life to the Catholic Church in Africa.John Paul II’s legendary evangelical fervor took fire in Africa.He had a particular friendship with Beninese Cardinal Bernardin Gantin and visited Africa many times. His visits would inspire a generation of JPII Catholics in Africa as well as other parts of the globe.“John Paul II was fascinated by Africa; he saw African Christianity as living, a kind of New Testament experience of the freshness of the Gospel, and he was very eager to support that, and lift it up,” Gantin said.“It was very interesting that during the two synods on marriage and the family in 2014 and 2015, some of the strongest defenses of the Church’s classic understanding of marriage and family came from African bishops. Some of whom are first-, second-generation Christians, deeply formed in the image of John Paul II, whom they regard as a model bishop,” Gantin said.“I think wherever you look around the world Church, the living parts of the Church are those that have accepted the magisterium … as the authentic interpretation of Vatican II. And the dying parts of the Church, the moribund parts of the Church are those parts that have ignored that magisterium.”John Paul II’s influence in Africa and around the globe transformed the world. It also forever transformed the Church.This story was first published on Oct. 22, 2021, and was updated Oct. 22, 2024, and again on Oct. 22, 2026.

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

St. John Paul II was the second-longest-serving pope in modern history with 27 years of pontificate and the first non-Italian pontiff to be elected since Pope Adrian VI in 1523.

Picture of the day

Desert elephant (Loxodonta africana) spraying sand on herself while guarding her sleeping baby. She has covered the baby with a branch. In Damaraland, Namibia
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam October 22, 2026October 22, 2026

Picture of the day

Desert elephant (Loxodonta africana) spraying sand on herself while guarding her sleeping baby. She has covered the baby with a branch. In Damaraland, Namibia

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

NASA astronaut and Expedition 75 flight engineer Jessica Watkins works inside the Kibo laboratory module’s Life Science Glovebox, safely mixing living cell samples with a bioink and then filling a special cartridge with the cell‑ink mixture.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 22, 2026

Oh, St. John Paul, from the window of heaven, grant us your blessing! Bless the church that you loved and served and guided, courageously leading it along the paths of the world in order to bring Jesus to everyone and everyone to Jesus. Bless the young, who were your great passion. Help them dream again, help them look up high again to find the light that illuminates the paths of life here on earth.

May you bless families, bless each family! You warned of Satan’s assault against this …

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

More than 1,000 spend a day at ‘Mary’s Shrine’ in Washington, D.C. for triennial pilgrimage #Catholic –

Boarding buses as early as 6 a.m., more than 1,000 pilgrims from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. traveled to Washington, D.C. to spend the day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Oct. 17. Affectionately known as “Mary’s Shrine,” the pilgrimage to the basilica is a triennial diocesan event, with the last one held in 2023.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the daylong event, which included a crowning of an image of the Blessed Mother, the opportunity for confessions, a catechetical presentation, multilingual recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Mass. Priests from all three counties of the diocese led 17 bus groups. Father Michael Rodak, diocesan director of pilgrimages and pastor of St. Jude the Apostle Parish in Hardyston, coordinated the buses and an overnight trip in which about 100 pilgrims participated.

Father Jared Brogan, diocesan director of worship and pastor of St. Brendan and St. George Parish in Clifton, organized the liturgical events of the day.

The Marian-themed pilgrimage allowed diocesan visitors to see more than 80 chapels dedicated to the Blessed Mother. Some of the chapels are dedicated to Marian titles such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Miraculous Medal.

The apses in the basilica’s Great Upper Church retell the life of Jesus through the mysteries of the rosary depicted through mosaics. The basilica’s Trinity Dome, the central and largest dome of the National Shrine, is another visual highlight.

In the Lower Church, confessions were held for pilgrims seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There were also catechetical talks led by Father Yojaneider Garcia, pastor of Resurrection Parish in Randolph and diocesan director of the Catechetical Office and Faith Formation. The basilica also remembers the many Americans who have helped shape the Catholic Church in the United States in its Hall of American Saints.

BEACON PHOTOS | CECILE PAGLIARULO

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– Boarding buses as early as 6 a.m., more than 1,000 pilgrims from the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. traveled to Washington, D.C. to spend the day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Oct. 17. Affectionately known as “Mary’s Shrine,” the pilgrimage to the basilica is a triennial diocesan event, with the last one held in 2023. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney led the daylong event, which included a crowning of an image of the Blessed Mother, the opportunity for confessions, a catechetical presentation, multilingual recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and Mass. Priests from all three

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 22, 2026

The measure, supported by Catholic bishops, allows clergy to reverse their decision to opt out of Social Security and Medicare.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 22, 2026

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
3:14-21

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine,
by the power at work within us,
to him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

From the Gospel according to Luke
12:49-53

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing!
There is a baptism with which I must be baptized,
and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished!
Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth?
No, I tell you, but rather division.
From now on a household of five will be divided,
three against two and two against three;
a father will be divided against his son
and a son against his father,
a mother against her daughter
and a daughter against her mother,
a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

Today’s Gospel presents us with a demanding text (cf. Lk 12:49-53), in which Jesus uses strong images and great frankness to teach his disciples that his mission, and even that of his followers, is not a “bed of roses”, but a “sign of contradiction” (cf. Lk 2:34).

In this way, the Lord anticipates what he will have to face in Jerusalem when he will be opposed, arrested, insulted, beaten, crucified; when his message of love and justice will be rejected. (…)

All of this reminds us that being or doing good does not always receive a positive response. On the contrary, because its beauty at times annoys those who do not welcome it, one can end up encountering harsh opposition, even insolence and oppression. Acting in truth has its cost, because there are those in the world who choose lies, and the devil, who takes advantage of the situation, often seeks to block the actions of good people.

Jesus, however, invites us with his help not to give in and conform ourselves to this mentality, but to continue to act for our good and the good of all, even those who make us suffer. He invites us not to respond to insolence with vengeance, but to remain faithful to the truth in love. (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 17 August 2025)

This Texas Drive Winds Through a Remote Desert Canyon With Mountain Views and a Stop at a Hidden Hot Springs Resort #Travel Here’s how to take on Pinto Canyon Road, one of the most gorgeous drives in the Lone Star State.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 22, 2026

Here’s how to take on Pinto Canyon Road, one of the most gorgeous drives in the Lone Star State.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Denies Trump Emergency Appeal to Restrict Transgender Surgeries for Inmates – Thomas, Alito Dissent – The US Supreme Court on Wednesday, in an unsigned order, denied the Trump Administration’s emergency appeal to restrict transgender surgeries for prison inmates.
The post BREAKING: Supreme Court Denies Trump Emergency Appeal to Restrict Transgender Surgeries for Inmates – Thomas, Alito Dissent appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday, in an unsigned order, denied the Trump Administration’s emergency appeal to restrict transgender surgeries for prison inmates.

The post BREAKING: Supreme Court Denies Trump Emergency Appeal to Restrict Transgender Surgeries for Inmates – Thomas, Alito Dissent appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Married Virginia Man Allegedly Ties Wife to Chair in Their Basement So He Can Watch Football Game by Himself – A football fan apparently took his devotion to an extremely disturbing level earlier this month and is now facing criminal charges.
The post Married Virginia Man Allegedly Ties Wife to Chair in Their Basement So He Can Watch Football Game by Himself appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

A football fan apparently took his devotion to an extremely disturbing level earlier this month and is now facing criminal charges.

The post Married Virginia Man Allegedly Ties Wife to Chair in Their Basement So He Can Watch Football Game by Himself appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Chaldean Catholics from around the world gather with patriarch at the Vatican – #Catholic – Hundreds of Chaldean Catholics from Iraq and diaspora communities around the world gathered at the Vatican last week, joining Patriarch Paul III Nona for Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 15. Celebrated according to the Chaldean rite, the Mass filled St. Peter’s Basilica with prayers and chants in Aramaic, bringing the traditions of the ancient Chaldean Church to the heart of Catholicism. The occasion expressed the unity of the Catholic Church across its different rites and traditions.The celebration followed a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Oct. 14, during which Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, acting on behalf of Pope Leo XIV, publicly affirmed the ecclesiastical communion the pope granted to Nona following his election as patriarch of Baghdad of the Chaldeans in April.

Chaldean Catholics gather Oct. 15, 2026, at the Vatican, expressing the unity of the Catholic Church across its different rites and traditions. | Credit: Romy Haber

For a community scattered across continents, the gathering was also an opportunity for Chaldean Catholics to come together in prayer, celebrate a shared heritage, and reflect on the challenges facing Chaldeans both in their homeland and abroad.“This was a beautiful, spiritual, and historic day for all of us — one that we are going to cherish for the rest of our lives,” Father Fawaz Kako, a Chaldean priest serving in the United States, told EWTN News. “It is such a blessing to come together in one place, under one holy Catholic Church.”For Kako, the faith of earlier generations, particularly those who suffered martyrdom, continues to sustain Chaldeans wherever they live. “Our connection to our Church is about more than just language. It is deeply rooted in Christ and in all the martyrs who gave themselves to him and whom we look to,” he said.“Those who came before us shed their blood for Jesus. Today, we see that as a source of strength, something we can cling to as we continue to follow Christ.”

Patriarch Paul III Nona celebrates Mass with hundreds of Chaldean Catholics in St. Peter’s Basilica on Oct. 15, 2026. Nona is the Chaldean Catholic patriarch of Baghdad, serving as the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church. | Credit: Romy Haber

Preserving that identity far from the homeland presents its own difficulties. Father Christopher Somo, another Chaldean priest serving in the United States, described the pressure that smaller communities face within the societies where they have settled. “When you go to another culture, there’s a temptation to let your culture become diluted in the midst of a larger and more powerful culture,” he said. At the same time, Somo stressed that the Church faces the challenge of preserving its presence and heritage in Iraq after many years of persecution.Father Albert Hisham, a Chaldean priest based in Iraq, described how successive waves of violence, particularly since 2003, had driven Christians to leave. He recalled church bombings, the kidnapping and killing of clergy and other Christians, and the Islamic State group’s expulsion of Christians from Mosul and villages in the Nineveh Plain. “This has led our people, our Chaldean faithful, to almost lose confidence in the possibility of remaining in Iraq, which deeply saddens us,” Hisham said. He also estimated that more than 1 million Christians had emigrated over the past two or three decades. Yet leaving Iraq has not necessarily brought an end to their longing for home.For those abroad, Hisham said, the desire to return remains, but the difficulties of resettling prevent many from acting on it. “There are many Christians who find it very difficult to return to Iraq after settling in countries abroad,” he stressed. Kako also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding a permanent return, even among those who maintain close ties with their homeland. “We always travel back home and visit. But we are also very well established in the diaspora,” he said. “It all depends on how peaceful that region will be.”Hisham said Patriarch Nona has emphasized that encouraging Christians to return must be accompanied by practical measures to help them rebuild their lives. These include housing, employment, and opportunities for investment. “There must be job opportunities for Christians to return; otherwise, the invitation alone is not enough,” he said.

Hundreds of Chaldean Catholics gather at St. Peterʼs Basilica in Rome for Mass on Oct. 15, 2026. | Credit: Romy Haber

While the question of return remains unresolved, communities abroad continue to support those in Iraq. Father Mahir Murad, a Chaldean priest serving in Australia, described efforts that range from raising funds to advocating for their protection.“In Australia, we’re doing a lot of lobbying with members of Parliament about how we can keep our people safe, what we can do to protect them, and how we can help them leave the country if we can,” he said.Parish communities also collect donations and send financial assistance to people back home, he added. Murad acknowledged the difficult choices involved in supporting both those who wish to remain and those who feel they must leave. He expressed a desire to preserve the community’s presence in its homeland while respecting the needs of people who fear for their safety.“We are the indigenous people of Iraq. We want our people to stay, but to feel protected also,” he said. “For those who want to leave because they feel persecuted, we want to help them leave the country.” Nevertheless, Murad said he hopes peace will allow more Chaldeans to return.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

Chaldean Catholics from around the world gathered with their patriarch at the Vatican Faith, Reunion and the Hope of Return: Chaldean Catholics Gather at the Vatican

Italian PM Meloni Announces Measures to Combat Violent Riots and Looting: Half of the 330 People Arrested and Detained Are of ‘Foreign Background’ (Video) – While French President Emmanuel Macron, unsurprisingly, chose to blame his fellow French citizens for the violent Islamo-Marxist riots tearing through his country and spreading across Europe.
The post Italian PM Meloni Announces Measures to Combat Violent Riots and Looting: Half of the 330 People Arrested and Detained Are of ‘Foreign Background’ (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

While French President Emmanuel Macron, unsurprisingly, chose to blame his fellow French citizens for the violent Islamo-Marxist riots tearing through his country and spreading across Europe.

The post Italian PM Meloni Announces Measures to Combat Violent Riots and Looting: Half of the 330 People Arrested and Detained Are of ‘Foreign Background’ (Video) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

Paterson rector hailed for inspiring hope and supporting children #Catholic –

The community of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., beamed with pride on Oct. 18 as Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh presented the Key to the City to Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector, for “being a champion for children and a beacon of hope for Paterson.” The mayor made the presentation that day at the end of the 11:30 a.m. Mass.

Msgr. Sylva has served as rector of St. John’s, the mother church of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., for about eight years. He also serves as diocesan vicar for special projects. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed him to the Dicastery for Evangelization at the Holy See, reflecting his commitment to evangelization.

Under Msgr. Sylva’s leadership, St. John’s has expanded its outreach to children. The cathedral established Compostela, a faith-filled after-school and catechetical program for K- 8; Young Prophets youth ministry; a Special Needs Ministry with a monthly Mass; and a Cathedral Summer Camp. It’s active music ministry includes a Children’s Choir. St. John’s also welcomed KIPP Paterson Elementary Prep, a K-4 public charter school housed in its Catechetical and Educational Building.

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St. John’s holds Bethlehem in Paterson, a major holiday outreach and gift-giving program that transforms the cathedral area, also known as the Block of Mercy, into a festive setting to share the spirit of Christmas. The cathedral has also expanded its social justice ministries and outreach to Hispanic Catholics among many other initiatives.

After the Mass, Mayor Sayegh called Msgr. Sylva “an MVP: Most Valuable Priest,” on social media.

“He’s also a champion for children, especially our youth at the Paterson Prep School and the Young Prophets program,” Mayor Sayegh said about Msgr. Sylva. “He’s a credit to our community, and he has been a blessing everywhere he has served, including the Vatican. Please join me in celebrating and congratulating a Mighty Man of God!” he said.

Msgr. Sylva called the Key to the City presentation “a beautiful celebration of our mission here to the children of the city through the school and Compostela. We are blessed.”

In his homily at the Mass before the presentation, Msgr. Sylva thanked all those involved in St. John’s, Compostela, KIPP Paterson Prep, diocesan leadership, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office, and Paterson emergency services and government, including Mayor Sayegh.

“As I receive the key to the City of Paterson, I find myself thinking about the children of this city and about [William] Wordsworth’s beautiful image of those children trailing clouds of glory. What a responsibility and opportunity we have to give our children the keys of beauty, truth, and goodness with which to unlock the gates of heaven. Nothing more merciful than that,” Msgr. Sylva said in his homily. “Mr. Mayor, thank you for presenting us with the key to the City. I promise, we will keep working to place these keys in the hands of our children, for Wordsworth was right: children come into this world trailing clouds of glory. Our responsibility is to make sure that as they grow older, those clouds of glory do not simply disappear into the darkness of the world, but lead them to the eternal Compostela, that heavenly field of stars,” the rector said.

Ordained a priest in 1993, Msgr. Sylva also sits on the Board of the Paterson Prep Charter School as one of its founding members. He also serves as chaplain for the Paterson Police and Fire Departments, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department, and the New York Division of the FBI.

– The community of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., beamed with pride on Oct. 18 as Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh presented the Key to the City to Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector, for “being a champion for children and a beacon of hope for Paterson.” The mayor made the presentation that day at the end of the 11:30 a.m. Mass. Msgr. Sylva has served as rector of St. John’s, the mother church of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., for about eight years. He also serves as diocesan vicar for special projects. In 2023, Pope Francis appointed

‘Exorcist Files’ priest sues Catholic commentators who questioned his credentials – #Catholic – A prominent priest who hosts a popular podcast about exorcisms is suing two lay Catholic commentators for defamation, alleging that they falsely told listeners of another podcast that he is not an exorcist. The two commentators are associates of a well-known exorcist, Father Chad Ripperger, who is not a defendant in the lawsuit.Father Carlos Martins, host of “The Exorcist Files” and author of a book with the same title, filed the lawsuit, which is pending, in November 2025 against Jesse Romero (identified in court papers as Jesus O. Romero Jr.) and Kyle Clement. At the time, Romero was the principal host of the podcast “Jesus 911,” while Clement, director of formation and training for a religious society of priests that Ripperger founded, was a guest on Romero’s podcast.The lawsuit also names as a defendant Catholic Resource Center Inc., of Los Angeles, which operates Virgin Most Powerful Radio, the broadcaster of “Jesus 911.” According to Martins’ complaint, Clement made false statements about Martins while appearing on the podcast in November 2024.“Clement asserted that Fr. Martins ‘is not who he says he is’” and that Martins is “opining and talking about things which he does not know,” according to Martins’ complaint, which calls Clement’s statements “false and defamatory” because, it says, “Fr. Martins has functioned as an exorcist and has both the knowledge and experience to perform and speak on exorcism.”“These statements harmed Fr. Martins’ credibility as a religious figure and exorcist and directly affected the sale and reception of ‘The Exorcist Files’ book that was newly released at the time these episodes aired,” states Martins’ complaint, filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. “In addition, these statements caused ‘The Exorcist Files’ to lose advertisers and listeners, which resulted in financial losses.”But Romero and Clement “deny any allegation that they published false or misleading statements” about Martins during the podcasts and maintain that the priest is not an exorcist, according to a formal answer to Martins’ complaint filed in court in September 2026.“It is Defendants[’] strongly held belief that Plaintiff is not an exorcist …,” the defendants state in court papers, questioning Martins’ credentials and describing the priest’s “traveling across the United States to perform exorcisms” as “both improper and out of the ordinary.”Private inquiriesThe statements Clement and Romero made about Martins during three late-2024 “Jesus 911” podcast episodes (Nov. 20, Nov. 27, and Dec. 4) followed inquiries Romero made privately in the summer of 2023.Romero sent Martins an email message Aug. 29, 2023, asking for his “status as an exorcist” while identifying himself as a radio and podcast host and as a “member of the Liber Christo team under Fr Ripperger,” according to an exhibit filed in court by Martins’ lawyer.Liber Christo is an organization founded by Ripperger and Clement for “training priests, deacons and laity in the ministry of liberation” from purported demonic possession.Martins referred Romero to the priest’s website without answering his questions, according to court papers.Romero also solicited an email message from Martins’ religious society, Companions of the Cross, about the priest, to which the society responded.“In answer to your inquiry Fr. Carlos has not been appointed as an exorcist by a particular diocese. His full-time ministry is Treasures of the Church, however, due to his travels, he has been involved in exorcisms with the appropriate permission and or by request of the corresponding bishop,” the society’s email message states.According to court papers, Romero quoted from the email message during a podcast episode released Nov. 27, 2024, but stopped at “Treasures of the Church” and left out the part about Martins receiving “appropriate permission” from diocesan bishops to perform exorcisms.Crossing a line?Romero’s partial quotation of the society’s email message about Martins during the podcast is a flashpoint in the case.On Aug. 21, 2026, U.S. District Judge F. Kay Behm denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss the case, writing that “the court agrees that Plaintiff has the better argument.” The judge highlighted a particular statement that, according to her ruling, Romero made on the podcast about Martins: “I just don’t understand why he’s purporting to be an exorcist when his Order says he’s not.”With that statement, the judge wrote, Romero “appear[s] to have crossed the line between an opinion that Fr. Martins is not an exorcist to statements of fact that the email from his own Order says he is not an exorcist.”The email message from the Companions of the Cross “does not say that Plaintiff is not an exorcist,” the judge wrote.The ruling allowed the lawsuit to proceed but did not determine whether the defendants had defamed Martins.Two weeks later, on Sept. 4, 2026, the defendants in their formal answer to Martins’ complaint acknowledged that “Romero only read a portion of the e-mail in question” during the podcast but described it as a choice the defendants made “consistent with their beliefs” that Martins is not an exorcist.Unspecified damagesMartins is seeking unspecified damages in the lawsuit for harm to his reputation, earning ability, and physical well-being allegedly caused by the podcasters’ statements about him.On the financial side, Martins’ complaint says he had to cancel “worldwide speaking engagements” associated with the publication of his book “The Exorcist Files,” published in November 2024, and that his podcast lost advertisers and listeners.Martins’ complaint says “multiple priests contacted” him following the “Jesus 911” podcasts in November and December 2024 and that “at least one priest advised Fr. Martins that multiple people in his parish were scandalized by the podcasts and asked if Fr. Martins was a fraud.”“Everywhere he goes, he fears people believe him to be a fraud, who is not worthy of the priesthood and not to be trusted as an exorcist,” the complaint states.Martins’ complaint also alleges that he “suffered severe emotional distress, including anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, dread, grief, and a sense of hopelessness,” as well as a brain injury called dendritic atrophy, allegedly caused by emotional distress. The complaint says the injury makes the brain “more susceptible to anxiety and depression.”“Fr. Martins’ cognitive abilities have been permanently diminished because of the Defendants’ conduct,” the complaint states.Neither Martins nor his religious community nor the lawyer representing him in the case could be reached for comment by the time this story was published.Clement and a spokesman for Catholic Resource Center also could not be reached for comment.A spokesman for Romero, who currently hosts “The Jesse Romero Show” podcast, declined an interview request from the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News.“Jesse would welcome an interview after the case is adjudicated and talk about the case from the beginning to end,” said Anita Romero, Jesse Romero’s event coordinator, by email.The defendants’ lawyer, H. William Burdett, declined a request for comment.Ripperger, who, at the request of Denver Archbishop James Golka, has agreed to a one-year moratorium on public speaking and interviews, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday night. The Register attempted to contact him through the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother, known as the Doloran Fathers, a semi-contemplative society of priests he founded in the Archdiocese of Denver.A scheduling conference in the case is set for Oct. 29.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

Father Carlos Martins alleges that two Catholic commentators made false statements about him on a podcast; defendants deny the allegations.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

The pontiff met with participants of the “Holiness in History” conference at the Vatican on Wednesday.

unitedyam October 21, 2026October 21, 2026

In 1892, George Ellery Hale, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Chicago, convinced the university president to acquire two 40-inch telescope lens blanks. With funding from Charles Yerkes, a Chicago mass-transit tycoon looking to refurbish his image, Hale spearheaded the creation of an observatory to house the Great Refractor made with these blanks.Continue reading “Oct. 21, 1897: Yerkes Observatory is dedicated”

The post Oct. 21, 1897: Yerkes Observatory is dedicated appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Picture of the day

Gotland Grand National 2023. Gotland Grand National has long been considered the world’s largest Enduro competition and was first run in 1984.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

Picture of the day

Gotland Grand National 2023. Gotland Grand National has long been considered the world’s largest Enduro competition and was first run in 1984.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has revealed many protostars and stars within the glowing gases of NGC 7129. Hot, atomic hydrogen gas is shown here in the golden region, while cooler, molecular hydrogen gas, shocked by embedded protostars, is represented in red.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 21, 2026

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
3:2-12

Brothers and sisters:
You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace
that was given to me for your benefit,
namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,
as I have written briefly earlier.
When you read this
you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
which was not made known to human beings in other generations
as it has now been revealed
to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,
that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,
and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace
that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.
To me, the very least of all the holy ones, this grace was given,
to preach to the Gentiles the inscrutable riches of Christ,
and to bring to light for all what is the plan of the mystery
hidden from ages past in God who created all things,
so that the manifold wisdom of God
might now be made known through the Church
to the principalities and authorities in the heavens.
This was according to the eternal purpose
that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
in whom we have boldness of speech
and confidence of access through faith in him.

From the Gospel according to Luke
12:39-48

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be sure of this:
if the master of the house had known the hour
when the thief was coming,
he would not have let his house be broken into.
You also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Then Peter said,
“Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?”
And the Lord replied,
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward
whom the master will put in charge of his servants
to distribute the food allowance at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so.
Truly, I say to you, he will put him
in charge of all his property.
But if that servant says to himself,
‘My master is delayed in coming,’
and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants,
to eat and drink and get drunk,
then that servant’s master will come
on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour
and will punish the servant severely
and assign him a place with the unfaithful.
That servant who knew his master’s will
but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will
shall be beaten severely;
and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will
but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating
shall be beaten only lightly.
Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

“Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more”. Jesus said it to his closest disciples, those with whom He stayed the most. And we too have received much from the journey we have made so far; we have been with Jesus and with the Church and, even though the Church is a community with human limitations, we have received a great deal. So, Jesus expects a lot of us. It is a sign of trust, a sign of friendship. He expects a lot because He knows us, and knows that we can do it!

Jesus came to bring fire: the fire of God’s love on earth and the fire of our hearts’ desire. In a certain way, Jesus takes away our peace, if we think of peace as inert calm. This, however, is not true peace. At times we would like to be “left in peace”: for no-one to disturb us, for others not to exist anymore. This is not God’s peace. The peace Jesus brings is like a fire, and it asks a lot of us. It asks us, first of all, to take a stand. Faced with injustice, inequality, where human dignity is trampled underfoot, where the fragile are silenced: take a stand. To hope is to take a stand. To hope is to understand in our hearts and show in our actions that things must not continue as before. This too is the good fire of the Gospel. (Pope Leo XIV, Jubilee Audience, 22 November 2025)

Conference encourages Black Catholic men to lead families, parishes, and communities #Catholic Twenty-four years ago three priests from the Society of the Divine Word and founders of the Bowman Francis Ministry had the idea to bring Black Catholic men together for fellowship, workshops, discussions, and prayer — with the hope that the men would then take what they learned back to their communities and ministries. That dream eventually became an annual conference, and its 24th gathering just took place in Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 15–18.The Fr. Chester P. Smith National Black Catholic Men’s Conference was created by Father Chester P. Smith, Father Charles Smith, and Father Kenneth Hamilton and invites Black Catholic men from across the United States for a weekend of faith, leadership, brotherhood, and cultural reflection.This year’s conference — hosted by the Bowman Francis Ministry, the Society of the Divine Word Missionaries, and the Office of Black Catholic Ministry of the Diocese of Birmingham — had the theme of “The Rock I Stand On,” which aimed to equip participants with the spiritual and life skills needed to take on their roles as protectors and providers.Attendees were able to experience a guided, firsthand look at Birmingham’s role in the Civil Rights movement and engage in meaningful dialogue that connects faith, justice, and social responsibility. The Civil Rights Immersion Tour also included a Harambe Town Hall, which featured notable Birmingham community leaders debating todayʼs social and political climate.Cameron Beatty serves as the conference’s program chair. For him, the conference holds a special place in his heart — Father Chester P. Smith was his godfather.

Participants at the Fr. Chester P. Smith National Black Catholic Men’s Conference, which took place Oct. 15–18, 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama. | Credit: Brent Patterson

Beatty told EWTN News in an interview that he has been attending the conferences since they first started 24 years ago.“I was in high school during the first one and I would be like a reader or an altar server … then I would start leading workshops or doing the youth workshops,” Beatty recalled. “Then it kind of evolved once he [Smith] passed away. [It was] like, ‘Hey, we need somebody to step up and take on some more leadership roles,’ because he would do a lot of the planning and the executing and thatʼs how I got involved in more of a leadership role once he passed.”He added: “We want to make sure that his legacy lives on and his commitment to the ministry lives on, and I am very busy but this is something that Iʼm committed to because I believe in it strongly.”Smith grew up in Chicago’s inner city and made history when he and his identical twin — Father Charles Smith — were ordained priests in 1988, becoming the first pair of African American twins to become priests in the United States. As a priest, he rose to become an international leader in African American ministry and youth outreach.He founded Ambassadors of the Word, a peer group ministry program that fosters youth rites of passage and cross-cultural experiences. And he and his brother developed Boyhood to Manhood, a parish-based program to help young Black men realize their value, get in touch with their spirituality, and train future Church leaders. And he was a co-founder of the Bowman Francis Ministry, which is an outreach organization that evangelizes and ministers to Black Catholics.Smith died on April 8, 2020, at the age of 60. Father Charles Smith is still alive.Beatty called his godfather “an amazing, amazing person.”“We would say they’re [the Smith brothers] the Ying and the Yang,” he shared. “Father Chester was the outgoing one, the boisterous one. He was the one that would go out and do revivals in Black Catholic communities, he would go out and do the Lent services. People from all over the country knew him because they would invite him to their parish as a guest priest or a guest homilist … Father Charles, heʼs a little — and Iʼll say this to his face — heʼs a little bit more reserved. He likes to keep to himself. He can still preach, he can still minister. But, them together were just a powerful force.”Beatty explained that Smith’s great contribution to the Black Catholic community was that he remained “unapologetic” about the cultural aspect found in the identity of being a Black Catholic.A couple of years before Smith passed away, Beatty recalled an instance where Smith gave a powerful message at the men’s conference. While Smith typically never chose to include himself in the list of speakers — he preferred remaining as the planner behind the scenes — that year he decided to preach.“He preached that year and I just had never — Iʼve grown up with him, Iʼve known him my entire life — and Iʼve just never seen him preach that way,” Beatty shared. “He talked about the Promised Land, what does it mean to get to the Promised Land, and you canʼt just show up at the Promised Land, you have to work to get there … You hear it all the time, you hear the Scripture, you hear the reading, but I just had never heard it framed that way so passionately that it just resonated with me.”He added: “I could see after he had preached, he was so drained and exhausted because he put everything, his whole body, his whole spirit, into that message. And I just had never felt that or seen that from him as many times as Iʼve seen him preach. And to me that was just transformative for me, and thatʼs why I commit to this and hope to see the conference go on for many, many years.”

Mass is celebrated during the Fr. Chester P. Smith National Black Catholic Men’s Conference, which took place Oct. 15–18, 2026, in Birmingham, Alabama. | Credit: Brent Patterson

Beatty said he believes a conference like the Fr. Chester P. Smith National Black Catholic Men’s Conference is needed “for folks to feel like they have a strong community.”“Sometimes folks might be going to an African-American parish in their respective city or sometimes theyʼre the only Black family in their parish, given on where they live or practice their Catholicism,” he explained. “So, I think a conference like this gives folks an opportunity to come together with like-minded men … and itʼs an opportunity to have conversations that sometimes they canʼt have in their respective parishes.”Beatty said he hopes that those who attended the conference took away “some energy to go back to their respective communities and still evangelize about what it means to be Catholic, about what it means to be Black and Catholic, about what it means to be a man that is Black and Catholic in terms of the leaders of their family, the leaders in their community, the leaders within their parishes, their churches, and take away some tools in order to enact those types of things of ministering to folks that might not have any idea of what it means to be Christian and to be Catholic.”

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 21, 2026

The national Black Catholic men’s conference took place in Birmingham, Alabama, Oct. 15–18, carrying on the legacy of Father Chester P. Smith.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

Morristown Knights welcome new members #Catholic –

To celebrate Columbus Day, Knights of Columbus George Washington Council 359 in Morristown, N.J. held a CUF (Charity, Unity, Fraternity) ceremony on Oct. 12 to initiate nine new members into the council. Pictured with Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption Parish in Morristown; Past Grand Knight Bill Kostyak (front left), and Chancellor Jim Torney (front right) are: Sean Gallagher, Nicholas Gleichmann, Xhulio Kola, Jack Lee, Logan Lenahan, John Mahoney, Brian Mileo, Stephen Simon, and Matt Sullivan.

Following the ceremony, District Deputy Bill Grant presented the council with the Star Council award (held by Bill Kostyak in photo) in recognition of their many outstanding accomplishments in the 2025-26 Columbian year.

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– To celebrate Columbus Day, Knights of Columbus George Washington Council 359 in Morristown, N.J. held a CUF (Charity, Unity, Fraternity) ceremony on Oct. 12 to initiate nine new members into the council. Pictured with Msgr. John Hart, pastor of Assumption Parish in Morristown; Past Grand Knight Bill Kostyak (front left), and Chancellor Jim Torney (front right) are: Sean Gallagher, Nicholas Gleichmann, Xhulio Kola, Jack Lee, Logan Lenahan, John Mahoney, Brian Mileo, Stephen Simon, and Matt Sullivan. Following the ceremony, District Deputy Bill Grant presented the council with the Star Council award (held by Bill Kostyak in photo) in recognition of

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

Morris Plains Knights earn Star Award #Catholic –

Knights of Columbus Bishop McLaughlin Council 3495 received the Star Award plaque at Tracy Center of St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains, N.J., on Oct. 13. The council’s chaplain, Father Lukasz Wnuk, who is also St. Virgil’s pastor; current Grand Knight Daniel Andretti; and other council brothers accepted the honor. The council is based at St. Virgil’s and has earned Star Council status for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s high honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities.

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– Knights of Columbus Bishop McLaughlin Council 3495 received the Star Award plaque at Tracy Center of St. Virgil Parish in Morris Plains, N.J., on Oct. 13. The council’s chaplain, Father Lukasz Wnuk, who is also St. Virgil’s pastor; current Grand Knight Daniel Andretti; and other council brothers accepted the honor. The council is based at St. Virgil’s and has earned Star Council status for two consecutive years. The Star Council Award is the international organization’s high honor recognizing overall excellence in local council operations, membership growth, insurance promotion, and program activities. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Falling cross that killed priest a punishment from God? A priest reflects #Catholic The death of Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari on Saturday, Oct. 17, which occurred when a cross fell on him while he was celebrating Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, has left Catholics in shock.In response to comments on social media questioning whether the incident was a punishment from God, Father Juan Carlos Vásconez, a priest and rector of St. Josemaría Escrivá Church in Guayaquil, pointed to a passage from the Gospel to explain why it should not be interpreted in that way.In comments to EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Vásconez spoke about the collapse of the tower of Siloam, which resulted in the deaths of 18 people (cf. Luke 13:4-5). He explained that Jesus made it clear that the victims were no more sinful than the other inhabitants of Jerusalem. Rather than assigning them blame, the Lord called everyone to repentance.“In the face of death, there is a message of equality. Life is fragile, and we will all go through that moment,” he said.The priest recalled that Sánchez was very well loved in Guayaquil and noted his piety. In February, he had led a retreat that was attended by other priests.A cross falls during MassFor Vásconez, the circumstances surrounding the Redemptorist priest’s death also invite reflection on the Christian faith.“The Mass is the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary, and it is the greatest thing we Christians have here on earth,” he noted.Vásconez shared in the grief caused by Sánchez’s passing, affirming that even in the midst of a tragedy, the faithful can find strength in God. He also asked for prayers for the Redemptorists and for the community of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, which has lost its parish priest.“I would say that this will serve as a seed, inspiring [more men] to also want to dedicate themselves,” he added, referring to the possibility that the priest’s witness might encourage new vocations.Reviewing safety in churchesVásconez also called for an inspection of objects installed within churches to prevent accidents. He emphasized the need to ensure that crosses and religious images are securely fastened and that items attached to walls and ceilings are also checked.He mentioned that he recently learned of another incident in which a piece of marble detached from a wall. Consequently, he explained that at the church where he serves, they will inspect the ceiling lights to ensure they are securely anchored.“These are safety matters which incidents like this serve as a reminder to pay attention to such things,” he noted.The priest asked for prayers for the parishioners of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and for the Redemptorist family following the death of Sánchez.This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 21, 2026

Father Juan Vásconez said the death of Father Patricio Sánchez resulting from a large cross falling in him should not be interpreted as a punishment but as a call to repent, as we will all die.

U.S. bill would hold Syrian officials accountable for abuses against minorities – #Catholic – Amid reports of ongoing abuses against religious and ethnic groups in Syria, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, R-Pennsylvania, introduced a bill aimed at strengthening accountability for serious human rights abuses and persecution, including those targeting Christians and Alawites. The bill calls for a report identifying Syrian officials suspected of involvement in the abuses and for consideration of targeted sanctions against them.The bill is titled the “Syrian Religious and Ethnic Minorities Protection Act.” It was referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as the House Committees on the Judiciary and Financial Services, for consideration of matters within their respective jurisdictions. On his website, Mackenzie said the measure aims to strengthen congressional oversight, identify those responsible for abuses, and ensure the United States uses the tools available to hold them accountable. He said protecting religious freedom and human rights should remain a priority as Syria builds its future.The bill’s text, which is supported by In Defense of Christians, the American Syriac Union, and the Alawites Association of the United States, cites reports of unlawful detention, ongoing sectarian violence against minorities fueled by hate speech whose perpetrators go unpunished, the abduction of women and minors, mass dismissals from employment, enforced disappearances, intimidation and property seizures, forced displacement, police abuse of authority, government-backed looting, coercion to change religion, and extrajudicial killings.The bill also draws on reports from international organizations, including the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, documenting continued violations of religious freedom and persecution based on religious and ethnic identity. It points to the Syrian transitional authorities’ failure to include minorities in governance and the transition, investigate crimes against them, and prosecute those responsible. It also cites reports that foreign fighters remain in senior positions within state and security institutions.Under the bill, the U.S. secretary of state, in coordination with the director of national intelligence, would be required to submit a report to the relevant committees within 90 days of the bill’s enactment. The report would identify senior Syrian officials and people associated with them who are credibly suspected of participating in, directing, facilitating, or covering up the abuses, and assess whether measures should be imposed against them. Possible measures include blocking property, visa and entry restrictions, financial restrictions, and other actions authorized under U.S. law.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

The bill calls for a report identifying Syrian officials who are suspected of abuses and for consideration of targeted sanctions against them.

From rector in Rome to bishop in England, Stephen Wang embraces new mission of truth and love – #Catholic – Following Pope Leo XIV’s announcement in July, Father Stephen Wang became the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Arundel and Brighton on Oct. 19 at the Cathedral of Our Lady and St. Philip Howard in England.

Bishop Stephen Wang is ordained the sixth bishop of Arundel and Brighton in England on Oct. 19, 2026, after serving as rector of the Venerable English College in Rome. | Credit: ©Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

The milestone event at the cathedral in West Sussex gathered key figures across the community — from Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía, the papal nuncio to Great Britain, to local priests, religious orders, and lay Catholics — alongside representatives from neighboring Christian churches as well as the Muslim, Jewish, and Hindu traditions, all standing together to mark this new chapter for the diocese.Reflecting on his personal faith journey, Wang recalled converting to Catholicism decades prior in Harpenden, England. He shared how an icon given to him by a friend during his youth — inscribed with St. Paul’s reassurance that the Lord is faithful and will bring all things to fulfillment — has continually guided his vocation.

Stephen Wang lies prostrate during his ordination as the sixth bishop of Arundel and Brighton in England on Oct. 19, 2026, after serving as rector of the Venerable English College in Rome. | Credit: ©Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

When addressing the congregation after the ordination Mass, Wang announced his episcopal motto as “Veritas in Caritate,” from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians: “to speak the truth in love.” He said this phrase has inspired his whole priesthood — from his teenage conversion to his time in London when he launched the faith formation program “Sycamore” in 2014 and his appointment in Rome as rector of the Venerable English College (VEC).

Bishop Stephen Wang elevates the host during the consecration at the Mass where he became the sixth bishop of Arundel and Brighton in England on Oct. 19, 2026. | Credit: ©Mazur/cbcew.org.uk

Wang has a deep, multilayered history with the VEC in Rome, having spent time there both as a student and later returning as its rector. From 1992 to 1997, he completed his initial priestly formation at the seminary, earning a licentiate in philosophy from the college alongside a licentiate in fundamental theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. Decades later, he returned to Rome to serve as rector of the VEC from 2021 until 2026, where he oversaw the preparation and formation of the next generation of Catholic priests before stepping down upon his new appointment as the bishop of Arundel and Brighton.In his closing statement, newly ordained Wang said: “It’s not about us, it’s about God, his faithfulness, his love, a beauty that catches us by surprise.”

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

Prior rector of the Venerable English College in Rome, Father Stephen Wang has been appointed the new bishop of Arundel and Brighton.

Rector of pontifical university in Brazil dies in wind-related accident during Arizona visit – #Catholic – The head of a pontifical university in Brazil died during a visit to the U.S. this month after suffering a head injury in Arizona. The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil, announced a memorial Mass in honor of Marist Brother Rogério Renato Mateucci, who died on Oct. 16 after being struck on the head by a piece of roofing at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West home near Scottsdale, Arizona. Mateucci was reportedly part of a walking tour at the historic home when high winds tore part of the roof off of the structure. He allegedly died instantly. The school held the memorial Mass on Oct. 19. The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation said it an announcement that it “[extended] its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones” of Mateucci. The property would be closed until further notice, the foundation said. The Brazilian pontifical university, meanwhile, said it had canceled two days of classes in the wake of Mateucci’s death. Mateucci had been appointed to the rectorship of the university first in 2021. He had previously served as a vice rector there as well as on the school’s board of directors. His death was also mourned at Kent State University in Ohio, where he gave a keynote commencement address in May 2025 in which he called on graduates to take risks “to offer affection and make life easier for those around you.”“May you have the courage to say yes to the life that persists in you,” he told the assembly. Paulo Mussi Augusto, associate vice president for global education at the Ohio school, said Mateucci “spoke and acted with a rare gentleness and had a remarkable ability to listen, always making room for others to be heard.”“As a man of faith, he was steadfast, slow to judge and always willing to give people another chance,” Augusto said. “His legacy will continue to inspire all of us who had the privilege of knowing him.”

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

The Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná in Curitiba, Brazil, held a memorial Mass for Rogério Renato Mateucci after the tragedy.

unitedyam October 20, 2026October 20, 2026

BepiColombo, a joint mission of the European Space Agency and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, launched Oct. 20, 2018. The spacecraft is actually two satellites in one, the Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO), commissioned with investigating one of the least-visited planets in our solar system. To reach its final position,Continue reading “Oct. 20, 2018: BepiColombo launches”

The post Oct. 20, 2018: BepiColombo launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

Picture of the day

Archaeological area of Cantona, Puebla, Mexico

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

The captivating shapes of wind-carved crags called yardangs are revealed in this zoomed-in crop of a broader panorama captured by NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover. Scientists are eager to learn more about how the yardang layer formed.

Exorcist Father Ripperger agrees to 1-year ‘fast’ from public speaking #Catholic Archbishop James Golka of Denver has asked Father Chad Ripperger, a prominent Catholic exorcist whose podcast appearances have reached millions of viewers, to take a yearlong break from public speaking and interviews.Ripperger agreed to the request, according to a statement from Kelly Clark, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Denver, provided to the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and LifeSiteNews and later posted to the archdiocese’s website.“Archbishop Golka recently met with Fr. Chad Ripperger to discuss his ministry and his community, the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother,” Clark said. “During that conversation, the Archbishop asked Fr. Ripperger to consider a one-year fast from public speaking and interviews.”“The time will allow him to devote himself to the Society and to the people it serves,” she continued. “Fr. Ripperger readily agreed. At the end of the year, they will review the arrangement together.”Golka is “grateful for Fr. Ripperger’s priestly service, exorcism ministry, and for the generous spirit in which he received this request,” the statement continued. “We ask the faithful to join us in praying for Fr. Ripperger and for the Society.”LifeSiteNews reported Oct. 19 that Ripperger — who in 2012 founded the Society of the Most Sorrowful Mother (also known as the Doloran Fathers), a semi-contemplative society of priests located in Keenesburg, Colorado, that focuses on spiritual warfare and traditional Catholic liturgy — had canceled several speaking engagements, including one scheduled for the outlet’s 30th anniversary gala in April 2027.The archdiocese’s statement did not clarify whether the request would affect any of his other priestly duties, or whether it was disciplinary in nature.Ripperger has drawn a large audience through appearances on podcasts hosted by Tucker Carlson and Shawn Ryan. In his April interview with Carlson, he spoke about the role of exorcism in the Gospels and what he sees as a decline in belief in the devil among Christians.“A lot of the Christians will just say, ‘Well, I believe in God, but I don’t necessarily believe in the devil,’” Ripperger told Carlson. “Well, then how can you not believe that this is one of the primary missions of Christ, was to save us from them, ultimately?”The nearly two-hour conversation also covered psychology, the nature of demons, and the distinction between supernatural and preternatural phenomena.In his March interview with Ryan, Ripperger took the discussion further, addressing UFOs and alien abductions. He suggested in the four-hour interview that some reported abduction experiences were demonic, saying that if “you strip the veneer of the alien aspect of it off,” what remains is “just demons.”Discussing Jeffrey Epstein’s island, Ripperger said the layout and things he had read online suggested occult involvement, though he acknowledged he could not be certain about everything he had seen.In a later July episode, Ryan gifted him a rifle, prompting Ripperger — who had mentioned in their previous interview that he carries a firearm and that his community has a target range — to respond: “We’ll have to use it later this afternoon.”The archdiocese has not said whether Golka’s request had anything to do with Ripperger’s remarks in either interview.The development comes amid a larger discussion within the Church about how exorcists should approach speaking to larger audiences through podcasts and media.A July Register feature examined this recent trend, in which several priests and experts said these appearances help people learn about the Church’s ministry, while others raised concerns that sensational talk about demons can frighten people and take the focus away from Christ. On June 3, another prominent priest, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, was removed from his role as an exorcist in the Archdiocese of Washington. Rossetti had previously said in a YouTube video that he believes many UFO sightings are demonic in nature.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 20, 2026

The prominent priest agreed to Denver Archbishop James Golka’s request, which the archdiocese says will allow him to focus on his religious community and the people it serves.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
2:12-22

Brothers and sisters:
You were at that time without Christ,
alienated from the community of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise,
without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have become near by the Blood of Christ.

For he is our peace, he made both one
and broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,
abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,
that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,
thus establishing peace,
and might reconcile both with God,
in one Body, through the cross,
putting that enmity to death by it.
He came and preached peace to you who were far off
and peace to those who were near,
for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners,
but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones
and members of the household of God,
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.
Through him the whole structure is held together
and grows into a temple sacred in the Lord;
in him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

From the Gospel according to Luke
12:35-38

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Gird your loins and light your lamps
and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding,
ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.
Blessed are those servants
whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.
Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself,
have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them.
And should he come in the second or third watch
and find them prepared in this way,
blessed are those servants.”

Jesus says: “Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning” (Lk 12: 35). This means living fully in the present by grasping the promise of eternity. Our whole life is a striving for eternal life and we must be ready. A person is ready when he or she is completely given to God and to his or her brothers and sisters. Not when there is applause and success, no, life is much more than that. It is being in the world to the full, in the truth and freedom of the children of God and in the relationship of brotherhood with others. And this intensity of relationship with the Father and with our brothers and sisters is nourished by prayer: prayer allows God to be close to us, it frees us from solitude and infuses hope. Prayer oxygenates life: just as one cannot live without breathing, one cannot be a Christian and live as a Christian, let alone as a consecrated person, without prayer. (Pope Francis, Address to members of the Seculare Institute of Oblate Missionary Cooperators, 20 November 2021)

U.S. bishops name members of AI task force formed in response to encyclical #Catholic The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Task Force on Preserving Human Dignity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence is composed of eight bishops and three academics who will serve as consultants, the USCCB announced Oct. 16.After meeting with AI experts and tech company executives in September, the U.S. bishops announced the creation of the task force as a response to Pope Leo XIV’s urging in his encyclical Magnifica Humanitas to “‘build forms of cooperation’ and cultivate a culture of shared responsibility” concerning the technology. Bishop Oscar Cantù of the Diocese of San José, California, leads the task force.Members include Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago; Archbishop Paul D. Etienne of Seattle; Archbishop Shelton J. Fabre of Louisville, Kentucky; Bishop Barry C. Knestout of Richmond, Virginia; Auxiliary Bishop James Massa of Brooklyn, New York; Bishop Michael F. Olson of Fort Worth, Texas; and Auxiliary Bishop Slawomir Szkredka of Los Angeles.Three academics will serve as consultants to the task force. They include Charles Camosy, professor of moral theology and ethics at The Catholic University of America; Kim Daniels, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University; and Meghan Sullivan, professor of philosophy and director of the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good and Ethics Initiative at the University of Notre Dame.The group’s focus will be to promote “policies and practices that protect human dignity, religious liberty, democratic institutions, workers, families, and vulnerable populations,” according to the USCCB. “The Church enters the conversation on this issue as a teacher rather than a customer,” Olson told EWTN News. “It brings 2,000 years of reflection on human dignity, work, relationships, and truth to this conversation. We will listen carefully to Silicon Valley, but we will not outsource our understanding of the human person to it.”

We will listen carefully to Silicon Valley, but we will not outsource our understanding of the human person to it.”

Bishop Michael OlsonDiocese of Fort Worth, Texas

The Fort Worth Diocese adopted AI policies before the release of Leo’s encyclical that binds both clergy and staff, Olson said. “AI must remain a tool in human hands. It can assist human judgment, but it must never replace it, least of all in the care of souls,” he said. “Nothing from the confessional or spiritual direction may ever be entered into an AI tool,” he said. “Homilies and pastoral counsel must come from a priest’s own prayer and discernment. And decisions about people, such as hiring, discipline, and who receives help, are made by people.”Olson expressed his concern about ways AI has hurt the elderly and people with disabilities through scams, children through “fake” relationships with chatbots, and students, who are “handing off the very work that forms their minds and critical thinking skills” to AI: “If a technology cannot be made safe for our most vulnerable, it is not ready for the market,” he said. Knestout said in an Oct. 19 statement that “AI is already having a profound impact on many aspects of our lives and will continue to develop in the coming years,” and it is Catholics’ “responsibility to protect the dignity of the human person as AI takes root and transforms life around us.”He said Pope Leo’s encyclical “will guide us as we navigate life with AI and face inevitable questions about what it means to be human, created in the image of God.”The U.S. bishops said in the Oct. 16 announcement that “the task force will emphasize that AI must serve human dignity and the common good” and “will maintain constructive and ongoing dialogues with the frontier labs, research organizations, academic centers and other stakeholders across the United States.”“Special attention will be given to helping Church leaders understand both the opportunities and risks posed by AI in areas such as education, communications, employment, healthcare, evangelization, governance, and the protection of children and vulnerable persons,” the bishops wrote.USCCB spokesperson Chieko Noguchi said in September that after their meetings with tech executives and experts, the bishops hoped “to identify ways the Church can contribute to the moral foundation of AI models and steps the companies can take to protect against misuse of their inventions and to guarantee human oversight of the technology.”

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 20, 2026

U.S. bishops formed the task force after meeting with AI experts and executives in September to identify how the Church could help shape the moral foundations of AI.

This Small Georgia Town Is the ‘Gateway to the Golden Isles’—With Historic Squares, Local Shrimp, and Southern Charm #Travel Instead of passing through, stay a while in Brunswick, Georgia.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 20, 2026

Instead of passing through, stay a while in Brunswick, Georgia.

Catholics in Ecuador mourn death of priest struck by falling crucifix during Mass – #Catholic – The Catholic faithful are mourning the death of Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, parish priest of the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Guayaquil, Ecuador, which occurred tragically on Saturday, Oct. 17.The 53-year-old Redemptorist priest passed away after a crucifix mounted on the wall behind the altar fell on him during Mass.The Archdiocese of Guayaquil issued a statement, signed by Cardinal Luis Cabrera, announcing that the priest “has departed for the Father’s House to enjoy His presence and His glory” and expressing that it joins “in prayer for the eternal rest of his soul, while offering its solidarity, affection, and care to the Redemptorist family, as well as to his own family and friends.”In addition, the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and the Archdiocese of Guayaquil celebrated an Oct. 18 evening Mass for the soul of Sánchez at the same Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.Following the news of his passing, many colleagues and members of the faithful took to social media to express their shock and remember the priest.“We thank God for all the good received through Father Patricio Sánchez, who accompanied the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the young women — especially in our communities in Guayaquil — with closeness, love, and pastoral dedication,” the Salesians wrote regarding the priest, who was born in Cuenca.“We are certain that he is already enjoying the presence of God. May the Lord, in His infinite mercy, welcome him into His Kingdom and grant comfort and strength to all of us who mourn his passing,” they added.“May his soul have been received by Almighty God. We are deeply saddened by this situation. Death came upon the priest while he was in the midst of celebrating Holy Mass,” noted Betty Montaño.Mari Pérez expressed her hope “that he is now rejoicing with God,” while adding: “but we must look into what caused this accident — there needs to be greater care taken when positioning religious images.”“For a priest, it is an honor to depart from this world to the Father’s house while celebrating Holy Mass; it is a true reflection of Jesus, who died on the cross. He is now in heaven, enjoying the delights that God had prepared for him beforehand,” remarked Carlos Alberto Pastrello.“Proclaiming Jesus Christ, God calls him into His presence,” María Augusta Guzmanberrezueta remarked.Vicente Sauhing Dávila wrote on the priest’s Facebook page that “the Lord embraced him and took him with Him to His Holy Home. Jesus said: ‘Be prepared, with your lamps burning. You do not know the day or the hour.’”San Lorenzo Parish in Vinces, where Sánchez also served as a parish priest, likewise expressed sorrow at his passing, highlighting his “dedication and pastoral love.” “As a Redemptorist family, we join in prayer for the eternal rest of his soul, and we ask the Lord to grant comfort to his family, his brother priests, and all the faithful who cherish his legacy and memory with gratitude.”This story was first published by EWTN News Español, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

The Catholic faithful are mourning the death at Mass of Father Patricio Alfredo Sánchez Molinari, parish priest of the Perpetuo Socorro Church in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Pope Leo XIV, Chris Pratt come together for new documentary about the tomb of St. Peter – #Catholic – A new documentary is bringing Pope Leo XIV and Hollywood actor Chris Pratt together to dive into the history and archaeological discoveries surrounding the tomb of St. Peter at the Vatican.“Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins” was produced by AF Films in collaboration with Vatican Media and the Fabric of St. Peter to mark the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica, which took place on Nov. 18, 1626.Taking viewers into areas rarely seen by the general public, the film journeys back in time all the way to the Roman necropolis, which has been preserved beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.The documentary brings together documents from the Archives of the Fabric of St. Peter, contributions from Pietro Zander (one of the leading experts on the Vatican Necropolis), images and audio recordings of the popes, and archival footage from renowned epigrapher Margherita Guarducci.Pope Leo appears in the final scenes to talk more about the figure of St. Peter and the significance of his tomb’s presence beneath the famous basilica.Pratt, who is best known for his roles in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Jurassic World,” speaks publicly of his Christian faith and is married to a practicing Catholic. According to Vatican News, he said the experience of making this film deeply moved him and helped him “define my faith.”“What I would like audiences to understand about Peter after watching this documentary is that he was an imperfect man,” Pratt said. “He was a weak man. He was a human being. And I believe we are all broken, imperfect, and weak. But his strength lies in the grace of Jesus and his faith in God. With that strength, through grace and faith, you can be incredibly strong.”He added: “It was an incredible honor to collaborate with Pope Leo and the Vatican on this project. The story of St. Peter is foundational to the Christian faith, and I am deeply grateful for the trust and access I was given to bring his legacy to the screen.”“Pétros Ení” — which refers to a Greek inscription that means “Peter is here” and is found near the apostle’s burial grounds — is scheduled to start its theatrical debut in February 2027, during the first few weeks of Lent.Hallow Studios will be in charge of U.S. and Canada distribution, Bosco Films will handle the distribution in Spain, and Cinépolis +Que Cine will oversee its theatrical release in Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.“When I first saw this film it changed my life. I think it is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. It is an honor to get to partner together on it,” Alex Jones, Hallow CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. “And the fact that it is led by one of our core Hallow partners in Chris and features such a powerful reflection from Pope Leo is just truly extraordinary.”Watch the first trailer for “Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins,” released Oct. 16, below.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

“Pétros Ení — Discovering the Origins” is scheduled to be released in theaters in February 2027.

French bishops appeal for calm as riots and looting sweep France – #Catholic – French bishops have appealed for an end to violence after a weekend of rioting in which public buildings were burned, shops were looted nationwide, and a Lyon interreligious peace march was postponed.“I call on everyone not to be swept up in the spiral of this violence: Our city and our country deserve better than this,” Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, archbishop of Marseille and president of the French bishops' conference, said in an Oct. 18 communiqué.In Marseille, he wrote, “shops were looted, churches broken into, the city hall invaded and damaged, a police station ransacked, and members of the police attacked.” The archdiocese has not said which churches were entered.Archbishop Olivier de Germay of Lyon said in a statement on X that his city “was the scene of clashes, hatred, destruction, and looting that are unacceptable.”“I am well aware that this violence is the sign of a society that is unwell, but I want to state forcefully once again that it is a dead end,” he wrote.Organizers postponed a March for Peace that Lyonʼs Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders had planned for Sunday to mark the 40th anniversary of St. John Paul IIʼs 1986 interreligious day of prayer in Assisi, Italy.No new date has been set.What happenedThe violence broke out Oct. 17 when about 550,000 people marched nationwide in what organizers called a protest against the rising cost of living, according to the Interior Ministry.One labor union put the figure at 800,000, AFP reported.The movement grew out of weeks of high school protests over school conditions, during which several schools were severely damaged by the demonstrators, including in Paris, Nantes, Marseille, and Rouen.

French bishop condemns ‘destructive’ protest violence, urges peaceful dialogue

In Limoges on Saturday, masked mobs broke into the city hall and set it on fire. In Paris, AFP reporters saw groups of young men in balaclavas disconnect security cameras before smashing their way into shops. Paris looting continued Sunday night, Le Figaro reported.Other public buildings were also attacked and torched. In Lyon, the tourist office on Place Bellecour was ransacked and set on fire. In Bordeaux, rioters ransacked the regional prefectʼs residence, and firefighters put out fires at the prefecture building, a bank, and shops, Sud Ouest reported.Nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, the Interior Ministry said. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told France 2 on Monday that authorities took 2,331 people into custody over the weekend, 70% of them adults “very often known to the police and the justice system,” Le Figaro reported. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said about 350 people were arrested in Paris alone on Sunday and overnight.Prosecutors in Toulouse and several other cities said most of the people they held had no previous criminal record.Trump and Vance reactIn reaction to the images of chaos, violence, and looting across France, President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both pointed to immigration.“Western liberals imported the third world into France,” Vance wrote on X.Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday that “the immigration of people from an entirely different world, people with hatred in their hearts, has shattered that once great country,” AFP reported.Nuñez said rioters acted at the instigation of “the ultra-left” and were joined by “opportunistic delinquents,” Le Figaro reported. On Monday, he confirmed security forces had “lost control” at points during the violent riots.On Monday, Macron refused Nuñezʼs resignation, offered the day before, and pointed to “failures of anticipation and intelligence,” Euronews reported. Darmanin said the authorities had “unquestionably failed.”

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

France’s bishops appealed for an end to violence after a weekend of riots in which several buildings burned, shops were looted nationwide, and a Lyon interreligious peace march was postponed.

unitedyam October 19, 2026October 19, 2026

Sometime around the year 1837, a strange object passed an invisible cosmic mile marker: 1,000 astronomical units from the Sun. (One astronomical unit, or AU, is the average Earth-Sun distance.) For more than a century, it continued undetected toward our star. Finally, on Oct. 19, 2017, humans noticed the visitor. That night, a faint, thinContinue reading “Oct. 19, 2017: The discovery of ‘Oumuamua”

The post Oct. 19, 2017: The discovery of ‘Oumuamua appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

Picture of the day

PO boxes at the historic U.S. Post Office in downtown Chico, California. Today is International World Post Day.

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

Faith and tradition unite Peruvians at Paterson Mass #Catholic –

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped the Peruvian community from across the diocese celebrate the feast of Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) during a Spanish Mass on Oct. 11 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., the mother church of the Paterson Diocese.

Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney concelebrated the liturgy with Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. The Children’s Choir sang hymns of praise.

The Peruvian devotion features an outdoor procession through the streets to the Lord and all his miracles. Peruvians carried an image of Jesus Christ that was painted during the 17th century by an unknown African who was taken as an enslaved person from what is now Angola to Peru. The procession also includes an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Peruvian community celebrates Señor de los Milagros every October, on or near the 18th. It is the leading Catholic celebration in Peru, and it features one of the largest processions in the world in the South American country. Its name originated in the 17th century during an earthquake in Lima that destroyed most of the city, leaving only the image standing.

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– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney helped the Peruvian community from across the diocese celebrate the feast of Señor de los Milagros (Lord of Miracles) during a Spanish Mass on Oct. 11 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., the mother church of the Paterson Diocese. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney concelebrated the liturgy with Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. The Children’s Choir sang hymns of praise. The Peruvian devotion features an outdoor procession through the streets to the Lord and all his miracles. Peruvians carried an image of Jesus Christ

Jordan’s Church leaders back bill expanding legal options for Christian families – #Catholic – The Council of Heads of Churches in Jordan welcomed the Cabinet’s approval of a 2026 bill amending the Christian Denominations Councils Law and its referral to Parliament to complete the constitutional process.The proposed changes are expected to allow Christians to address a range of personal status matters under their churches’ laws, including marriage, divorce, wills, and adoption. The council emphasized that the bill reflects agreement among the churches and now awaits completion of the legislative process.In a statement issued Oct. 11, the council expressed appreciation to King Abdullah II, the prime minister, and Cabinet members for their attention to issues affecting Christians in Jordan.The council said the Cabinet’s approval reflects the state’s commitment to protecting the rights of all citizens, respecting their religious traditions, and strengthening citizenship, justice, and equality under the rule of law.It stressed that Christians are not a minority separate from society but an integral part of Jordan’s history, identity, and national development. They are partners in building the country, advancing its progress, and safeguarding its achievements, the council said.The council also emphasized that shared citizenship provides the foundation for equal rights and responsibilities, national unity, and coexistence.The statement concluded by praising the cooperation and agreement among the churches during the drafting process, which produced a unified legal framework for wills, inheritance, and adoption intended to meet Christian families’ needs and aspirations.It urged both chambers of Parliament, the Senate and the House of Representatives, to fulfill their legislative role and approve the bill through the constitutional process so it can take effect.Although the amendments would not establish full, automatic equality between men and women in inheritance, they would give parents greater scope to provide more equitably for sons and daughters through wills. The option of distributing an estate under the Islamic inheritance rules currently in use would remain available to those who prefer it.The proposed amendments would also recognize the right to adopt, giving Christian families who wish to adopt the opportunity to welcome children deprived of family care and provide them with a stable home.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

The proposed changes are expected to allow Christians to address a range of personal status matters under their churches’ laws, including marriage, divorce, wills, and adoption.

Pope leads pilgrims in prayer one day after leaving hospital – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appeared at the window of his private study in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sunday, just one day after being discharged early from the hospital following surgery last Tuesday.The pontiff thanked “all those who have prayed for me in recent days” and expressed “particular gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and all the staff of the Gemelli University Hospital,” where he was treated.“This experience has made me feel a special closeness to all those who are going through illness and experiencing poor health,” Leo said. “Having overcome this delicate phase, as you know, I will now gradually resume my activities, always with Godʼs help and your prayers.”The pope did not mention his planned trip to three countries in South America, scheduled for next month. The Vatican has announced no changes in that plan. The Vatican said last week that Leo had canceled all private audiences through Tuesday Oct. 20.Sunday was the first time the Holy Father had spoken publicly since the operation. The appearance was eagerly awaited by Catholics around the world, who had anxiously followed each new official Vatican bulletin on his medical condition in recent days.According to the official Vatican News outlet, 15,000 people gathered in St. Peter’s Square despite a morning of cloudy skies and intermittent rain in Rome. They were eager to see the pope recovering from surgery and to express their affection for him the day after his release from the hospital.At 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the pontiff left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following his first hospitalization since the beginning of his pontificate, during which surgeons removed a malignant tumor from his right lung. Leo XIV appeared to be in good condition and walked with a steady gait, greeting several patients without showing signs of fatigue.Smiling, the pope stopped to shake hands and speak with patients in the hospital corridors. About 15 minutes after leaving the hospital, the car carrying him entered Vatican City through the Perugino Gate.For now, the pontiff will remain in Rome rather than travel to Castel Gandolfo, where he usually spends periods of rest.A response that exposes hypocrisyDuring his reflection before the Angelus prayer, the pontiff discussed one of Jesus’ best-known teachings: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Leo explained the context in which Jesus originally spoke the words, amid what the evangelist Matthew describes as “a situation of hostility towards Jesus.”“The Pharisees gather together to see how they might catch him in his words,” the pope said, quoting the Gospel account. “They decide to send some people to question him on a controversial matter: ‘Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’”According to Leo XIV, “The Teacher’s response is astute, for it allows him to avoid the trap and exposes the hypocrisy of those who seek to put him to the test.”The Gospel recounts how Jesus asks to see the coin used to pay the tax, a denarius. After receiving it, he delivers the familiar teaching: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”“In Jesus, we contemplate a God who is not afraid of history but comes instead to dwell within it. His Kingdom does not abolish human roles and responsibilities,” the pontiff explained.He emphasized, however, that Godʼs Kingdom “does, however, call us to live without compromise, free from selfish ambitions and unjust motives, seeking above all the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.”Being truthful and free to do goodIn this context, Leo XIV drew attention to the fact that Jesus’ questioners praised him despite their hostile intentions.“In this regard, it is striking that those same people praise Jesus, even though their intentions are far from good,” he observed.The pope recalled the words with which they addressed Jesus: “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality.”Drawing on this passage, Leo XIV invited the faithful to reflect on what it means to live an authentic Christian life.“Dear friends, this is precisely what it means to ‘give to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s’: to be truthful, free from servile fear or hypocrisy, free to do good,” he said.“Let us pray to the Lord to help us live in this way. And let us entrust ourselves to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English. It has been updated at 6:20 am ET to include the pope’s remarks following the Angelus.

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

The pontiff, five days after undergoing surgery for cancer, said he would “gradually resume my activities.”

Priest in Ghana recounts escape from car fire, urges devotion to the rosary – #Catholic – ACCRA, Ghana — A Ghanaian Catholic priest has encouraged devotion to the rosary after recounting his escape from a burning car, which he attributed to the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.In a reflection shared Oct. 14 — during the month dedicated to the traditional Catholic prayer of the rosary — Father David Obeng Paintsil, founder of the Global Rosary Network, recalled becoming trapped in his car while returning from a pastoral assignment 10 years ago. Paintsil said he had led a three-day retreat at the invitation of another priest in a different diocese in Ghana. Before setting out on the return journey to his parish, he prayed the rosary and invited the Blessed Virgin Mary to accompany him.After traveling for more than four hours, he heard an unusual noise from the car. He was about 15 minutes from his destination and stopped to investigate.“I needed to stop and check what was happening,” the priest recalled during his reflection. “As soon as I parked the car and put off the engine, all that I saw was a huge fire. Boom! My car had caught fire.” Paintsil said he tried to get out but found that the doors would not open and his seat belt remained locked.“It was so intense. The doors of the car, as I tried to open them, were locked. My seat belt was locked. And I knew that was the end of my life,” he said.Turning toward the passenger seat, he appealed to Our Lady, whom he had invited to accompany him, asking her to protect him.Paintsil said that before he finished the prayer, the car doors opened and his seat belt was released, allowing him to get out.The fire subsequently engulfed the car, he recalled, preventing him from retrieving his bag.“Here I am. I have my life. And I said, well, God still has a mission for me to accomplish,” he said.Reflecting on his devotion to the rosary, Paintsil said he had acquired it through family prayers and that the Lord had transformed his life in many ways. “The rosary is really a wonderful prayer, a powerful prayer through which we can encounter God,” he said.He encouraged others to pray the rosary, identifying it as a means of bringing people together in worship of God.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

After surviving a life-threatening fire, Father David Obeng Paintsil called the rosary “a really powerful prayer.”

unitedyam October 18, 2026October 18, 2026

Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. October 17: Watch Wild Ducks Tiny Tethys is transiting the disk of Saturn beginning around 9:35 P.M. EDT, most easily visible from the eastern half of the U.S. Saturn is easy to locate in Cetus the Whale — it’s the brightest lightContinue reading “The Sky Today on Sunday, October 18: Another Tethys transit”

The post The Sky Today on Sunday, October 18: Another Tethys transit appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam October 17, 2026October 18, 2026

A reading from the Book of Isaiah
45:1, 4-6

Thus says the LORD to his anointed, Cyrus,
whose right hand I grasp,
subduing nations before him,
and making kings run in his service,
opening doors before him
and leaving the gates unbarred:
For the sake of Jacob, my servant,
of Israel, my chosen one,
I have called you by your name,
giving you a title, though you knew me not.
I am the LORD and there is no other,
there is no God besides me.
It is I who arm you, though you know me not,
so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun
people may know that there is none besides me.
I am the LORD, there is no other.

A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Thessalonians
1:1-5b

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians
in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
grace to you and peace.
We give thanks to God always for all of you,
remembering you in our prayers,
unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love
and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,
before our God and Father,
knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God,
how you were chosen.
For our gospel did not come to you in word alone,
but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

From the Gospel according to Matthew
22:15-21

The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion,
for you do not regard a person’s status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar’s."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."

Jesus replies with a surprising political realism, linked to the theocentrism of the prophetic tradition. The tribute to Caesar must be paid because his image is on the coin; but the human being, every person, carries in him- or herself another image, that of God, and therefore it is to him and to him alone that each one owes his or her existence. The Fathers of the Church, drawing inspiration from the fact that Jesus was referring to the image of the Emperor impressed on the coin of the tribute, interpreted this passage in the light of the fundamental concept of the human being as an image of God, contained in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis. (…)

This word of Jesus is rich in anthropological content and it cannot be reduced only to the political context. The Church, therefore, is not limited to reminding human beings of the right distinction between the sphere of Caesar’s authority and that of God, between the political and religious contexts. The mission of the Church, like that of Christ, is essentially to speak of God, to remember his sovereignty, to remind all, especially Christians who have lost their own identity, of the right of God to what belongs to him, that is, our life. (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, 16 October 2011)

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The Sky Today on Sunday, October 18: Another Tethys transit