| Picture of the day |
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Jaguar (Panthera onca) drinking from the river in Mato Grosso, Brazil
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Shortly after Artemis II splashdown on April 10, 2026, U.S. Navy divers captured underwater imagery of the Orion spacecraft’s heat shield.
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On average each day, over the last 100 years in mission territories, the Church has seen more than 9,000 people becoming Catholic, two priestly ordinations, and five women taking vows as religious.
The 71-year-old pope had been admitted last Tuesday and underwent surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.
The Catholic Church has 407,421 priests, 425 more than the previous year. Africa and Asia are driving this growth, while Europe recorded another decline.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Katie Zacharia was reportedly fired from her role as White House Press Secretary despite lying about her qualifications and being awful at her job.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump faced heavy criticism on Friday for replacing White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia with Jessica Rabbit.
Read MoreLooking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. October 16: Tethys and its shadow transit Still visible for several hours after sunset is the Wild Duck Cluster (M11), a young grouping of stars also cataloged as NGC 6705. Located in Scutum the Shield, the cluster is still 40° high inContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, October 17: Watch Wild Ducks”
The post The Sky Today on Saturday, October 17: Watch Wild Ducks appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read MoreLoving God, I thank you for the gift of life you gave and continue to give to me and to all of us.
Merciful God, I ask your pardon and forgiveness for my own failure and the failure of all people to respect and foster all forms of life in our universe.
Gracious God, I pray that with your grace, I and all people will reverence, protect, and promote all life and that we will be especially sensitive to the life of the unborn, the abused, neglected, disabled, and the elderly. I pray, too, …
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Beyond the famous European cities, these destinations have ample attractions of their own.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/rothenburg-ob-der-tauber-germany-EUROSMTOWN0821-372a1037693a4abb9b5885da0a4067c0.jpg)
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
1:15-23
Brothers and sisters:
Hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus
and of your love for all the holy ones,
I do not cease giving thanks for you,
remembering you in my prayers,
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation
resulting in knowledge of him.
May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,
that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,
what are the riches of glory
in his inheritance among the holy ones,
and what is the surpassing greatness of his power
for us who believe,
in accord with the exercise of his great might,
which he worked in Christ,
raising him from the dead
and seating him at his right hand in the heavens,
far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,
and every name that is named
not only in this age but also in the one to come.
And he put all things beneath his feet
and gave him as head over all things to the Church,
which is his Body,
the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.
From the Gospel according to Luke
12:8-12
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you,
everyone who acknowledges me before others
the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God.
But whoever denies me before others
will be denied before the angels of God.
“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will not be forgiven.
When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities,
do not worry about how or what your defense will be
or about what you are to say.
For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.”
The Consoler, the Holy Spirit, will be with the Apostles; when Christ will no longer be on earth, the Spirit will be present during the long periods of affliction that will last for centuries (cf. Jn 16:17). The Spirit will therefore be with the Church and within the Church, especially in times of struggle and persecution, as Jesus Himself promises the Apostles in the words recorded in the Synoptic Gospels: “And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Lk 12:11-13; cf. Mk 13:11): “for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you” (Mt 10). These words refer to the tribulations endured by the Apostles and by the Christians of the communities they founded and led; but they also refer to all those who, wherever they may be on earth, throughout the ages, will have to suffer for Christ. And in truth, there are many who, throughout the ages, including in recent times, have experienced this help from the Holy Spirit. And they know, and can bear witness, to the joy of the spiritual victory which the Holy Spirit has granted them to achieve. The entire Church today knows this, and bears witness to it. (Saint John Paul II, General Audience, 13 March 1991)
Read More![Pequannock prayer deepens faith with evening of worship, prayer #Catholic – On Oct. 8, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined about 120 parishioners of Our Lady of Good Council (OLGC) in the Pompton Plains neighborhood of Pequannock, N.J., for an evening of worship and prayer. The bishop celebrated a Mass in the church, followed by an outdoor rosary procession around the parking lot.
The event was organized by the parish’s Rosary Altar Society, which Father Darwin Lastra, pastor of OLGC, founded several years ago. Jennifer Nardone, president of the society, coordinated the event with a team of members.
The Rosary Altar Society invites someone to speak for its monthly meetings and for the annual Mass and rosary event in October. Bishop Sweeney also participated last year.
For the Mass, Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant and homilist. Father Lastra concelebrated the liturgy, assisted by Deacon Marc Marin of OLGC. The bishop spoke about aspects of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life and encouraged the congregants to pray the rosary. He made some remarks in Spanish for the parish’s growing Hispanic community.
After Mass, parish men carried a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the church and around the parking lot to five stations, where participants stopped to pray each of the five mysteries of the rosary.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/pequannock-prayer-deepens-faith-with-evening-of-worship-prayer-catholic-on-oct-8-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-joined-about-120-parishioners-of-our-lady-of-good-council-olgc-in-the-pompton-plains-ne.jpg "Pequannock prayer deepens faith with evening of worship, prayer #Catholic – On Oct. 8, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined about 120 parishioners of Our Lady of Good Council (OLGC) in the Pompton Plains neighborhood of Pequannock, N.J., for an evening of worship and prayer. The bishop celebrated a Mass in the church, followed by an outdoor rosary procession around the parking lot.
The event was organized by the parish’s Rosary Altar Society, which Father Darwin Lastra, pastor of OLGC, founded several years ago. Jennifer Nardone, president of the society, coordinated the event with a team of members.
The Rosary Altar Society invites someone to speak for its monthly meetings and for the annual Mass and rosary event in October. Bishop Sweeney also participated last year.
For the Mass, Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant and homilist. Father Lastra concelebrated the liturgy, assisted by Deacon Marc Marin of OLGC. The bishop spoke about aspects of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life and encouraged the congregants to pray the rosary. He made some remarks in Spanish for the parish’s growing Hispanic community.
After Mass, parish men carried a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the church and around the parking lot to five stations, where participants stopped to pray each of the five mysteries of the rosary.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.")
Pequannock prayer deepens faith with evening of worship, prayer #Catholic – 
On Oct. 8, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined about 120 parishioners of Our Lady of Good Council (OLGC) in the Pompton Plains neighborhood of Pequannock, N.J., for an evening of worship and prayer. The bishop celebrated a Mass in the church, followed by an outdoor rosary procession around the parking lot.
The event was organized by the parish’s Rosary Altar Society, which Father Darwin Lastra, pastor of OLGC, founded several years ago. Jennifer Nardone, president of the society, coordinated the event with a team of members.
The Rosary Altar Society invites someone to speak for its monthly meetings and for the annual Mass and rosary event in October. Bishop Sweeney also participated last year.
For the Mass, Bishop Sweeney was the main celebrant and homilist. Father Lastra concelebrated the liturgy, assisted by Deacon Marc Marin of OLGC. The bishop spoke about aspects of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s life and encouraged the congregants to pray the rosary. He made some remarks in Spanish for the parish’s growing Hispanic community.
After Mass, parish men carried a statue of Our Lady of Fatima from the church and around the parking lot to five stations, where participants stopped to pray each of the five mysteries of the rosary.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– On Oct. 8, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney joined about 120 parishioners of Our Lady of Good Council (OLGC) in the Pompton Plains neighborhood of Pequannock, N.J., for an evening of worship and prayer. The bishop celebrated a Mass in the church, followed by an outdoor rosary procession around the parking lot. The event was organized by the parish’s Rosary Altar Society, which Father Darwin Lastra, pastor of OLGC, founded several years ago. Jennifer Nardone, president of the society, coordinated the event with a team of members. The Rosary Altar Society invites someone to speak for its monthly meetings and for
The new trailer already has over 1 million views on YouTube in the 24 hours since its release.
Rockaway Rosary Rally celebrates faith and Marian devotion #Catholic – 
About 100 faithful gathered at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J., on Oct. 10 for a prayerful Rosary Rally honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Month of the Holy Rosary.
The gathering brought together parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus and neighboring parishes, including St. Cecilia, also in Rockaway; St. Peter the Apostle in Parsippany, N.J. St. Joseph in Lincoln Park, N.J., and Our Lady of Mercy in the Whippany neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J.
Officers and members of the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM)also participated, reflecting a beautiful spirit of unity, faith, and devotion to the Blessed Mother.
The rally was led by Deacon Elmer Maximo, president of DCCFM, with Maryann Lim-Atienza as this year’s rosary captain. The faithful prayerfully meditated on all four sets of mysteries of the rosary—the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious—offering prayers for the protection, dignity, and respect of every human life, from conception to natural death.
After the rally, participants gathered for a lunch reception and fellowship, sharing food, friendship, and the joy of belonging to one community of faith. The gathering provided a meaningful opportunity to strengthen bonds among parishioners, neighboring Catholic communities, and DCCFM members.
The faithful concluded the day, renewed in their devotion to Our Blessed Mother and strengthened in their commitment to live and share the Gospel of Life.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– About 100 faithful gathered at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Rockaway, N.J., on Oct. 10 for a prayerful Rosary Rally honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Month of the Holy Rosary. The gathering brought together parishioners from Sacred Heart of Jesus and neighboring parishes, including St. Cecilia, also in Rockaway; St. Peter the Apostle in Parsippany, N.J. St. Joseph in Lincoln Park, N.J., and Our Lady of Mercy in the Whippany neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J. Officers and members of the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM)also participated, reflecting a beautiful spirit of unity, faith, and devotion
The Department of Homeland Security insisted ICE officers are “heroes,” enforcing the law.
The exhaust plumes of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft are seen illuminated by sunlight against the predawn sky during the launch of NASA’s SpaceX CRS-35 mission, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, as seen from Cocoa Beach, Florida. The light makes the plumes look like a jellyfish in the sky.
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| Picture of the day |
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Coturnix coromandelica (Rain Quail) in Bhigwan, Maharashtra, India.
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The always great Victor Davis Hanson recently appeared on the Sean Hannity show and talked about the apparent shift in some of the midterm races that seems to be benefiting Republicans.
The post Victor Davis Hanson Talks About Shifting Midterms and GOP Momentum: ‘Something’s Definitely Going On’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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(Note: Thank you for supporting businesses like the one presenting a sponsored message below and working with them through the links below which benefits Gateway Pundit.
The post The Peptide Secret Big Pharma Has Been Sitting On – And Why You Finally Don’t Need a Needle to Get It appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Despite threats of violence and restrictions placed on some Christian communities, the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Nigeria is encouragging missionaries to be unafraid.
The certificate program seeks to provide formation for people who can spread knowledge about the Guadalupe event.
![Bishops urge prayer as they continue abortion referendum fights in 4 states – #Catholic – Catholic bishops across four states are asking for prayers as they continue to rally the faithful ahead of ballot initiative votes that would reshape abortion policies in their states. “Tell your readership how important it is to be praying for the dioceses that are facing this, what I would describe as a very diabolical initiative,” Las Vegas Archbishop George Leo Thomas told EWTN News.On Nov. 3, the public in three states will vote on referendums to establish a “right” to abortion: Nevada, Virginia, and Idaho. In Missouri, people will vote on a pro-life referendum that would repeal the state’s constitutional right to abortion. Bishops in each state have advocated against abortion for months. In many cases, this includes statements on the referendums, flyers, and prayer cards at parishes, and asking priests to teach congregations about the sanctity of life. In some cases, it extends to calls for fasting and efforts to register voters and get them to the polls.American bishops do not endorse political candidates. Yet, bishops have advocated for or against specific ballot initiatives when Church teachings, such as the sanctity of life, are implicated.Nevada bishops wage ‘uphill battle’The bishops in Nevada are waging what Thomas called “an uphill battle” to defeat a referendum to establish “a fundamental right to abortion” in the state constitution.In Nevada, amendments need a majority vote via referendum in two consecutive elections. In the last statewide election in 2024, the referendum won support from 64% of voters. Another majority this year would complete the process.Thomas said he and Diocese of Reno Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg have worked closely to align their messaging and strategy to defeat the amendment. This includes printed material offered to parishes, created by the Nevada Catholic Conference, and a planned full-page advertisement for newspapers in Las Vegas and Reno.Both bishops wrote pastoral letters labeling the referendum dangerous. Thomas instructed priests in his archdiocese to read it aloud at Mass for Respect Life Sunday on Oct. 4.“Unborn children have no voice and cannot defend themselves,” he wrote in the letter, available in both English and Spanish. “As Catholics, our faith requires us to protect the inherent dignity of every human life and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”Thomas said every priest is obligated to “very clearly and lucidly teach Catholic social and moral teaching in his community,” noting each life is created in the image of God “from conception until natural death.”Although the referendum allows the state to restrict abortion access after fetal viability, which is the point at which a child can survive outside the womb, the proposal’s definition says this is determined by the “treating health care practitioner," who is often the abortion doctor. It states abortion access extends through the ninth month of pregnancy if needed to “protect the life or health” of the mother, but the measure does not separately define “health.”Current Nevada law prohibits abortion 26 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. The archbishop said the referendum extends abortion rights through “potentially the ninth month of pregnancy,” though courts have not ruled on that interpretation.The referendum would extend abortion access to “all individuals,” which Thomas argued would eliminate parental notification laws for minors who seek abortion. The referendum permits abortion by “a qualified health care practitioner” and does not specify a “physician.”“It’s another very serious and damaging expansion of an already liberal law,” the archbishop said.Virginia bishops push voter registrationThe two dioceses in Virginia — Arlington and Richmond — are battling a similar referendum to enshrine “a fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” which includes “abortion care,” in their state constitution, which would be adopted with a majority vote.Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond penned a letter instructing Catholics of their “sacred duty to form our consciences prayerfully and correctly, and to vote NO” on the abortion referendum and a separate referendum that would enshrine same-sex marriage in the constitution, which was read aloud at parishes throughout the commonwealth.Burbidge called Catholics to pray and fast ahead of the vote, and his diocese is operating the Catholics Vote No campaign and encouraging the diocesan faithful to sign on to a pledge to vote no on both referendums.Amy McInerny, director of Respect Life at the Diocese of Arlington’s Office of Marriage, Family, and Respect Life, told EWTN News: “Some demons are only driven out by prayer and fasting,” citing Christ’s words in Matthew 17.The dioceses, working through the Virginia Catholic Conference, published prayer cards for “protection from the extreme abortion amendment” and “an end to the grave evil of abortion” for parishes. They provided parishes with flyers about the referendum and abortion laws in the state, along with a flyer containing voter registration information.“These two ballot questions are moral issues,” McInerny said.Some parishes are actively registering Catholics to vote and holding voter registration drives. McInerny said there’s a strong effort to “turn out the vote,” and the Arlington Diocese encourages parishes to “check in with their homebound and those who are in nursing homes” and college students “who might need help to get absentee ballots.”The referendum would allow some abortion restrictions in the third trimester, but not if abortion is necessary to protect “the life or physical or mental health.” It does not define this standard, leaving it to the discretion of the physician, who is often the abortion doctor. The legal right to abortion is extended to “every individual” and not just adults.McInerny said the language essentially allows abortion “even for healthy babies, up until birth,” though courts have not ruled on that interpretation, and “will include minor girls,” which jeopardizes parental consent laws. She said it would create “a safe space for groomers and predators and traffickers who want to prey on our girls.”Virginia law allows abortion access through the 26th week of pregnancy.Idaho’s ‘most important issue’ until NovemberDiocese of Boise Bishop Peter Christensen is actively engaging with parish priests to ensure pro-life messaging is heard regularly at Mass throughout his diocese, which covers the entire state, ahead of its vote on an abortion referendum.Unlike Virginia and Nevada, the referendum in Idaho would change state law rather than amend the constitution. It would supersede the current state law, which prohibits most abortion access, and create a right to “reproductive freedom,” which includes “abortion.”“This is the most important issue for all of us until November,” Christian Welp, director of diocesan projects, told EWTN News.Welp said the diocese provided a package to every priest offering guidelines on pro-life messaging in homilies and prayer intentions ahead of the vote. It includes prayer cards, which priests are asked to read at every daily and Sunday Mass. The bishop also wrote a letter, which was read aloud at Mass throughout the diocese.“By coming together as a family in prayer, raising awareness, and taking meaningful action, we can make a powerful difference in responding to this anti-life, anti-family initiative by advocating for the protection of the most vulnerable members of our society,” Christensen wrote.The referendum would allow lawmakers to restrict abortion at the point of fetal viability, which is determined by the physician, who is often the abortion doctor, but cannot restrict late-term abortion if there is a medical emergency. It would also extend abortion rights to “every person,” not just adults.Welp said the referendum “allows for abortion up to viability, but then redefines viability,” saying the language could allow abortions “well into the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.” He said the extension of this right to every person would include minors and effectively “does away with parental consent.”“Even if youʼre pro-choice, this goes too far,” Welp said. “This is too extreme.”Missouri seeks to reverse trendMissouri is the only state in which voters will be presented with a pro-life referendum, which would repeal the state’s constitutional right to abortion that was adopted via referendum in 2024 with support from 51.6% of voters.“It has been a major focus of all four dioceses and of all four bishops,” Kathleen Lavery, communications director of the Missouri Catholic Conference — which represents the state’s dioceses — told EWTN News.Lavery said the dioceses are working toward “trying to pass [the] amendment.” The referendum itself would not ban abortions or set a week-based limit but rather allow lawmakers to pass laws to restrict it in most cases. It would only prevent laws that ban abortion in cases of incest or rape within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or in medical emergencies at any point in pregnancy.The conference provided printed material, signs, and palm cards for parishes, and a webpage to “help people educate themselves about the amendment,” she said. Speakers from diocesan Respect Life offices are speaking at the end of Mass and visiting Catholic events, such as Knights of Columbus gatherings.All four bishops unified on the message early, putting out a joint statement that the dignity of the human person is “threatened by the pro-abortion amendment passed in 2024.” They called for Catholics “and all people of good will” to join in prayer and fasting for the referendum’s success.“We have put together information for our priests as well to help them educate the faithful,” Lavery said.She noted there are “get out the vote” efforts at the parish level and said: “This amendment’s really going to come down to which side can activate its base and get people to the polls.”“I’m very cautiously optimistic,” Lavery said. “I think we have a very good chance of winning this.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/bishops-urge-prayer-as-they-continue-abortion-referendum-fights-in-4-states-catholic-catholic-bishops-across-four-states-are-asking-for-prayers-as-they-continue-to-rally-the-faithful-ahead-of-bal.jpg "Bishops urge prayer as they continue abortion referendum fights in 4 states – #Catholic – Catholic bishops across four states are asking for prayers as they continue to rally the faithful ahead of ballot initiative votes that would reshape abortion policies in their states. “Tell your readership how important it is to be praying for the dioceses that are facing this, what I would describe as a very diabolical initiative,” Las Vegas Archbishop George Leo Thomas told EWTN News.On Nov. 3, the public in three states will vote on referendums to establish a “right” to abortion: Nevada, Virginia, and Idaho. In Missouri, people will vote on a pro-life referendum that would repeal the state’s constitutional right to abortion. Bishops in each state have advocated against abortion for months. In many cases, this includes statements on the referendums, flyers, and prayer cards at parishes, and asking priests to teach congregations about the sanctity of life. In some cases, it extends to calls for fasting and efforts to register voters and get them to the polls.American bishops do not endorse political candidates. Yet, bishops have advocated for or against specific ballot initiatives when Church teachings, such as the sanctity of life, are implicated.Nevada bishops wage ‘uphill battle’The bishops in Nevada are waging what Thomas called “an uphill battle” to defeat a referendum to establish “a fundamental right to abortion” in the state constitution.In Nevada, amendments need a majority vote via referendum in two consecutive elections. In the last statewide election in 2024, the referendum won support from 64% of voters. Another majority this year would complete the process.Thomas said he and Diocese of Reno Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg have worked closely to align their messaging and strategy to defeat the amendment. This includes printed material offered to parishes, created by the Nevada Catholic Conference, and a planned full-page advertisement for newspapers in Las Vegas and Reno.Both bishops wrote pastoral letters labeling the referendum dangerous. Thomas instructed priests in his archdiocese to read it aloud at Mass for Respect Life Sunday on Oct. 4.“Unborn children have no voice and cannot defend themselves,” he wrote in the letter, available in both English and Spanish. “As Catholics, our faith requires us to protect the inherent dignity of every human life and to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”Thomas said every priest is obligated to “very clearly and lucidly teach Catholic social and moral teaching in his community,” noting each life is created in the image of God “from conception until natural death.”Although the referendum allows the state to restrict abortion access after fetal viability, which is the point at which a child can survive outside the womb, the proposal’s definition says this is determined by the “treating health care practitioner,\" who is often the abortion doctor. It states abortion access extends through the ninth month of pregnancy if needed to “protect the life or health” of the mother, but the measure does not separately define “health.”Current Nevada law prohibits abortion 26 weeks after the woman’s last menstrual period. The archbishop said the referendum extends abortion rights through “potentially the ninth month of pregnancy,” though courts have not ruled on that interpretation.The referendum would extend abortion access to “all individuals,” which Thomas argued would eliminate parental notification laws for minors who seek abortion. The referendum permits abortion by “a qualified health care practitioner” and does not specify a “physician.”“It’s another very serious and damaging expansion of an already liberal law,” the archbishop said.Virginia bishops push voter registrationThe two dioceses in Virginia — Arlington and Richmond — are battling a similar referendum to enshrine “a fundamental right to reproductive freedom,” which includes “abortion care,” in their state constitution, which would be adopted with a majority vote.Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington and Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond penned a letter instructing Catholics of their “sacred duty to form our consciences prayerfully and correctly, and to vote NO” on the abortion referendum and a separate referendum that would enshrine same-sex marriage in the constitution, which was read aloud at parishes throughout the commonwealth.Burbidge called Catholics to pray and fast ahead of the vote, and his diocese is operating the Catholics Vote No campaign and encouraging the diocesan faithful to sign on to a pledge to vote no on both referendums.Amy McInerny, director of Respect Life at the Diocese of Arlington’s Office of Marriage, Family, and Respect Life, told EWTN News: “Some demons are only driven out by prayer and fasting,” citing Christ’s words in Matthew 17.The dioceses, working through the Virginia Catholic Conference, published prayer cards for “protection from the extreme abortion amendment” and “an end to the grave evil of abortion” for parishes. They provided parishes with flyers about the referendum and abortion laws in the state, along with a flyer containing voter registration information.“These two ballot questions are moral issues,” McInerny said.Some parishes are actively registering Catholics to vote and holding voter registration drives. McInerny said there’s a strong effort to “turn out the vote,” and the Arlington Diocese encourages parishes to “check in with their homebound and those who are in nursing homes” and college students “who might need help to get absentee ballots.”The referendum would allow some abortion restrictions in the third trimester, but not if abortion is necessary to protect “the life or physical or mental health.” It does not define this standard, leaving it to the discretion of the physician, who is often the abortion doctor. The legal right to abortion is extended to “every individual” and not just adults.McInerny said the language essentially allows abortion “even for healthy babies, up until birth,” though courts have not ruled on that interpretation, and “will include minor girls,” which jeopardizes parental consent laws. She said it would create “a safe space for groomers and predators and traffickers who want to prey on our girls.”Virginia law allows abortion access through the 26th week of pregnancy.Idaho’s ‘most important issue’ until NovemberDiocese of Boise Bishop Peter Christensen is actively engaging with parish priests to ensure pro-life messaging is heard regularly at Mass throughout his diocese, which covers the entire state, ahead of its vote on an abortion referendum.Unlike Virginia and Nevada, the referendum in Idaho would change state law rather than amend the constitution. It would supersede the current state law, which prohibits most abortion access, and create a right to “reproductive freedom,” which includes “abortion.”“This is the most important issue for all of us until November,” Christian Welp, director of diocesan projects, told EWTN News.Welp said the diocese provided a package to every priest offering guidelines on pro-life messaging in homilies and prayer intentions ahead of the vote. It includes prayer cards, which priests are asked to read at every daily and Sunday Mass. The bishop also wrote a letter, which was read aloud at Mass throughout the diocese.“By coming together as a family in prayer, raising awareness, and taking meaningful action, we can make a powerful difference in responding to this anti-life, anti-family initiative by advocating for the protection of the most vulnerable members of our society,” Christensen wrote.The referendum would allow lawmakers to restrict abortion at the point of fetal viability, which is determined by the physician, who is often the abortion doctor, but cannot restrict late-term abortion if there is a medical emergency. It would also extend abortion rights to “every person,” not just adults.Welp said the referendum “allows for abortion up to viability, but then redefines viability,” saying the language could allow abortions “well into the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy.” He said the extension of this right to every person would include minors and effectively “does away with parental consent.”“Even if youʼre pro-choice, this goes too far,” Welp said. “This is too extreme.”Missouri seeks to reverse trendMissouri is the only state in which voters will be presented with a pro-life referendum, which would repeal the state’s constitutional right to abortion that was adopted via referendum in 2024 with support from 51.6% of voters.“It has been a major focus of all four dioceses and of all four bishops,” Kathleen Lavery, communications director of the Missouri Catholic Conference — which represents the state’s dioceses — told EWTN News.Lavery said the dioceses are working toward “trying to pass [the] amendment.” The referendum itself would not ban abortions or set a week-based limit but rather allow lawmakers to pass laws to restrict it in most cases. It would only prevent laws that ban abortion in cases of incest or rape within the first 12 weeks of pregnancy or in medical emergencies at any point in pregnancy.The conference provided printed material, signs, and palm cards for parishes, and a webpage to “help people educate themselves about the amendment,” she said. Speakers from diocesan Respect Life offices are speaking at the end of Mass and visiting Catholic events, such as Knights of Columbus gatherings.All four bishops unified on the message early, putting out a joint statement that the dignity of the human person is “threatened by the pro-abortion amendment passed in 2024.” They called for Catholics “and all people of good will” to join in prayer and fasting for the referendum’s success.“We have put together information for our priests as well to help them educate the faithful,” Lavery said.She noted there are “get out the vote” efforts at the parish level and said: “This amendment’s really going to come down to which side can activate its base and get people to the polls.”“I’m very cautiously optimistic,” Lavery said. “I think we have a very good chance of winning this.”")
Bishops and priests remain active in Nevada, Virginia, Idaho, and Missouri, as they prepare Catholics to vote on referendums that could reshape abortion policies in their states.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. October 15: Double crater Messier Late this evening for much of the U.S., Saturn’s small moon Tethys transits the ringed planet’s disk along with its shadow. It’s the best-timed such event all month for U.S. observers, beginning shortly after midnight EDT (so,Continue reading “The Sky Today on Friday, October 16: Tethys and its shadow transit”
The post The Sky Today on Friday, October 16: Tethys and its shadow transit appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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The USCCB president called on Catholics to exercise their “right and responsibility” to vote while advocacy organization CatholicVote issued state voter guides.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
1:11-14
Brothers and sisters:
In Christ we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
In him you also, who have heard the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,
which is the first installment of our inheritance
toward redemption as God’s possession, to the praise of his glory.
From the Gospel according to Luke
12:1-7
At that time:
So many people were crowding together
that they were trampling one another underfoot.
Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples,
“Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees.
“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed,
nor secret that will not be known.
Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness
will be heard in the light,
and what you have whispered behind closed doors
will be proclaimed on the housetops.
I tell you, my friends,
do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but after that can do no more.
I shall show you whom to fear.
Be afraid of the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna;
yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one.
Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins?
Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.
Even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
Do not be afraid.
You are worth more than many sparrows.”
Jesus sends the disciples out on their mission and (…) he draws a parallel between what we hear “in private,” namely, what is in the secret of our hearts, and what we are called to proclaim to everyone. He reminds us that proclaiming the Gospel is first and foremost a sharing of a personal encounter with him, which is unique to each of us.
The strength of any apostolate, in fact — beyond techniques and tools — comes from the work of the Holy Spirit within us and from the authenticity of our response. Saint Thomas Aquinas spoke of preaching as passing on to others what we have contemplated: “contemplata aliis tradere” (cf. Summa Theologiae, III, q. 40, a. 1, ad 2). (…)
Now, just as then, it is a challenge to remain faithful to Jesus’ teachings and to proclaim his word: to respond to hatred with love, to arrogance with meekness, and to discouragement with perseverance. For this reason, we must deepen the roots of our faith and our mission in an intimate relationship with him (cf. Francis, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 8). This gives us the strength not to despair, but to continue to share with everyone, in every circumstance, his message of hope, love and peace. The world greatly needs it! (Pope Leo XIV, Angelus, 21 June 2026)
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Chicago students send Pope Leo a White Sox care package after cancer surgery #Catholic – 
(Vatican News) — As Pope Leo XIV recovers from lung cancer surgery in the hospital, a group of students from his hometown of Chicago are sending him a care package with get-well cards and a Chicago White Sox blanket.
Local media outlets reported Oct. 14 that students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy were planning to send the pope items including get-well cards and a Chicago White Sox blanket.
The students are part of Team 14, a student group named after Pope Leo XIV at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy. The group gained attention last year after organizing a mock conclave that went viral on social media, and several students later traveled to Rome to meet Pope Leo in person.
The roughly 40-member group regularly gathers for prayer and service projects, including food drives for people in need.
“It feels nice to wish (the pope) well because he’s like a close friend and I was really sad when I heard when he was sick,” Ines Martins, one of the sixth-grade students who met the pope, said, according to ABC7 Chicago.
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“Dear Pope Leo. We hope you feel better. We are all praying for you and the doctors that are helping you,” student Sawyer Nolot said.
Another student, Catherine Esser, wrote in her card to the pope, “Get well soon and go White Sox.”
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery at Gemelli Hospital on Oct. 13, during which doctors removed the lower lobe of his right lung.
The Holy See Press Office said in a statement on Oct. 14 that the pope had undergone scheduled blood tests and chest X-ray, which confirmed that his postoperative recovery is progressing normally.
A version of this story was originally published by Vatican News and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.
– (Vatican News) — As Pope Leo XIV recovers from lung cancer surgery in the hospital, a group of students from his hometown of Chicago are sending him a care package with get-well cards and a Chicago White Sox blanket. Local media outlets reported Oct. 14 that students at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy were planning to send the pope items including get-well cards and a Chicago White Sox blanket. The students are part of Team 14, a student group named after Pope Leo XIV at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Academy. The group gained attention last year after organizing
Astronomers have used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory to break down the cause of a remarkable formation of radio waves they have nicknamed the “Treble Clef” because its distinct shape strongly resembles the musical symbol.
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Bishops conclude Vatican family meeting as Pope Leo XIV recovers in hospital #Catholic – 
VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — The Vatican meeting of the world’s bishops’ conference presidents and the heads of Eastern Catholic churches marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” concluded on the evening of Oct. 14 with prayers for Pope Leo XIV’s recovery from lung cancer surgery.
Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, a consultant to the General Secretariat of the Synod who helped to organize the meeting, said Oct. 14 that “accompaniment” was one of the key words in the week’s discussions of marriage and family.
Reflecting on the significance of the experience at the event’s final press conference, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, the archbishop of Malta, said that he is bringing with him from this meeting “a renewed commitment to put the family at the center of the Church’s pastoral mission.”
“‘Amoris Laetitia’ 10 years ago stimulated, provoked, an invitation for pastoral conversion, an attitude of listening to families, before judging, and also discerning situations with … open hearts, seeking the will of God, but also facilitating the meeting with God’s mercy,” Archbishop Scicluna said.
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In the closing session of the Vatican family summit, participants listened to a presentation of the meeting’s synthesis report. Due to the personal request of Pope Leo prior to his surgery, the meeting’s final synthesis report will not be made public until the pope has had time to personally review it. Father Costa said that the pope requested to postpone the meeting’s final report, noting that Pope Leo “wanted to listen to it and be able to offer his own word on it himself.”
“I will read the fruits of your work and discussions, and offer my reflections in due course,” Pope Leo wrote in a brief message to the participants signed on the day of his surgery.
“I encourage you to begin to share with your Episcopal Conferences and Dioceses what you have lived and received, and to continue proclaiming the Gospel with families, drawing on the richness of ‘Amoris Laetitia,’” the pope said.
The bishops, patriarchs, families and experts taking part in the meeting on marriage and family in Paul VI Hall met for more than 42 hours of discussions over the course of Oct. 7 to 14 on topics ranging from cohabitation of young couples to influencers on social media portraying “traditional” families, often referred to as “trad wife” culture.
The topic of annulments, as well as Communion for the divorced and remarried, also came up on Oct. 12, the day that participants devoted to discussing how best to accompany and support families in the difficulties of life, which was overshadowed by Pope Leo’s shocking announcement the day prior that he would be undergoing surgery.
Addressing participants that morning, U.S. theologian Julie Hanlon Rubio said, “In preparing for this intervention, I heard heartbreaking stories. One person told me of his elderly mother suffering from dementia who, when offered Eucharist at Mass, shouted, ‘No!,’ and covered her mouth, because one thing she remembered was that, because her husband of 50 years had been previously married, she was not worthy to receive the Body of Christ,” according to remarks posted on the meeting’s website.
“The Church can offer a challenging vision of marriage as intimate partnership oriented to love and justice that does not require perfection,” she added. “Whether they are single or married, with or without children; whether they are divorced, widowed, or remarried, we can meet them at the door with open arms, tell them that theirs is a challenging and necessary vocation, and assure them they are not alone.”
Earlier in the weeklong meeting, delegates reflected on the delicate first years of married life, a point Pope Francis emphasized in his post-synodal apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia.”
In his address on Oct. 10, Cardinal José Cobo Cano of Madrid warned that the Church should “consider whether we prepared couples more for a wedding ceremony than for married life.”
“The issue is not merely a matter of reviewing contents. It is a question of whether our pastoral care is organized primarily around the planned wedding ceremony or around the human, faith-based and vocation journeys we are called to accompany,” he said.
He also emphasized the need for pastors to be present at significant moments in the first years of marriage “without necessarily turning this accompaniment into a continuous program of meetings.”
“The sacrament has been celebrated, but now the spouses must learn to build and put roots in their married life. They must build a ‘we’ without erasing the ‘I’ and the ‘you,’” Cardinal Cobo said.
Following the intense work during the first days of the meeting, Oct. 11 was scheduled as a recess. However, Pope Leo’s surgery announcement during his Sunday Angelus address shifted the pre-programmed schedule and shocked the participants.
Reconvening on Oct. 12, while under the weight of Pope Leo’s impending surgery, the bishops and patriarchs reflected on the challenges faced by families in difficult situations.
“Amoris Laetitia invited us to give priority to listening, to avoid judging too quickly, and to allow ourselves to be surprised by the action of God’s grace in people’s lives,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life, said in the day’s opening address.
Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan described ministering to families affected by extreme hardships, noting that the “fragility of many families is not produced only by personal choices.”
“Family life can also be wounded by poverty, migration, violence, addiction, imprisonment, injustice and precarious work. These realities can severely limit people’s freedom and their capacity even to approximate the Christian ideal of family life,” Cardinal David said in a video presentation.
Reflecting on the declining numbers of baptisms and marriages, Hanlon highlighted Pope Francis’ call for a pastoral accompaniment that “is ever ready to understand, forgive, accompany, hope, and, above all, integrate.”
“In an era when influencers on social media show off their seemingly perfect ‘traditional’ families complete with homemade bread and chickens, Francis’ integration of weakness is crucial,” Hanlon said.
In the afternoon, before continuing with reports on group discussions, Cardinal Farrell and Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, released a statement confirming that, because of Pope Leo’s surgery, the synthesis report would not be made public; instead, they would present the report and relevant texts to him after his convalescence.
“We will then proceed according to his instructions,” the cardinals said.
On the meeting’s final day of plenary sessions and group work, Oct. 13, the assembly sent a message to Pope Leo ahead of his surgery in the afternoon, expressing their closeness, affection and prayers for his health.
“We are grateful to you for having wanted this Meeting and for encouraging us to listen to families and to the journeys of our Churches. As we continue our work, we feel your closeness and carry with us your concern for families throughout the world,” the message read.
The day’s discussions focused on Christian families and their significance in the Church’s mission. In his address, Tanzanian Cardinal Protase Rugambwa of Tabora highlighted the need for couples and families to take “on a more active role in the formation of seminarians, deacons, and other pastoral workers.”
“The involvement of families as active subjects of pastoral action is supported very much by the concrete experiences they have gained as faithful and committed Christians, which can be utilized not only in their struggle to support the growth of the Church’s mission but also in shaping the formation of those who are called to accompany them,” Cardinal Rugambwa said.
Pope Leo had been an active participant in the Vatican meeting up until he was admitted to the hospital. During the meeting’s closing Mass the morning following the pope’s surgery, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle read aloud a homily that had been prepared by the pope prior to the operation.
Cameroonian Archbishop Andrew Nkea of Bamenda, one of the bishops participating in the meeting, told OSV News that despite the pope’s absence on the meeting’s final days, those present in the assembly “were not discouraged, but we were very, very strongly united with him in prayer.”
“Every morning before we started the meeting, we prayed for his health and for his quick recovery,” he said. “It really didn’t affect the meeting in the sense that it didn’t kill our spirits, because we have hope in God and trust in his healing power. But at the same time, we missed him in the meeting.”
“We thank God that it was an early discovery,” Archbishop Nkea said. “So, we are hoping that he will recover very fast, and he will get back to his duties because the whole world is waiting for him to get well.”
Courtney Mares is Vatican editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @catholicourtney. Junno Arocho Esteves is an international correspondent for OSV News. Follow him on X @jae_journalist. Paulina Guzik, international editor for OSV News, contributed to this report.
– VATICAN CITY (OSV News) — The Vatican meeting of the world’s bishops’ conference presidents and the heads of Eastern Catholic churches marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” concluded on the evening of Oct. 14 with prayers for Pope Leo XIV’s recovery from lung cancer surgery. Jesuit Father Giacomo Costa, a consultant to the General Secretariat of the Synod who helped to organize the meeting, said Oct. 14 that “accompaniment” was one of the key words in the week’s discussions of marriage and family. Reflecting on the significance of the experience at the event’s final press conference, Archbishop Charles Scicluna,
Picture of the day Berries from a Mahonia aquifolium shrub. Focus stack of 19 photos. #ImageOfTheDay
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Berries from a Mahonia aquifolium shrub. Focus stack of 19 photos.
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The New England state recently passed a law that effectively removes all limits on abortion.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. October 14: Io covers Callisto An hour after sunset this evening, you’ll find the waxing crescent Moon low in the southwest, hanging above the back of Scorpius and just off the spout of Sagittarius’ Teapot. Zoom in with a telescope on MareContinue reading “The Sky Today on Thursday, October 15: Double crater Messier”
The post The Sky Today on Thursday, October 15: Double crater Messier appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis #Catholic Representatives of the American Lung Association and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) discussed possible underlying causes of Pope Leo XIVʼs lung cancer and potential treatment options.Dr. Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, and Dr. Juanita Mora, spokesperson for the American Lung Association, appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Oct. 14 to discuss the Holy Father’s health following surgery. The Oct. 13 surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said McGovern, a CMA member. He said “treatments can be varying depending on the size,” and can involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation in addition to the surgical removal of the lower part of the lung.The type of ongoing treatment the pope receives will depend on the results of a pathology test, which will reveal the stage of the cancer and whether it is contained or has spread to other areas, McGovern said.The pathology test “usually takes a couple of days,” or sometimes even longer, he said, but noted that because the patient is the Holy Father, “I would expect the pathology would be available a lot sooner than usual.”“In the best of all possible worlds, if it is contained, then going forward, as far as treatment, itʼs a CT scan every six months and then after about two or three years, a year thereafter. And that would be the treatment, and that would be the ideal setting for the Holy Father,” he said.Mora, a Catholic who is also from Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown, said if the Holy Father’s pathology report reveals that the cancer has not spread, the survival rate is 80% to 90%. A spread would determine “whether he will get chemotherapy, radiotherapy or whether he will need actual immunotherapy thatʼs geared exactly to the biomarkers of the tumor that turn positive.” Mora said the Holy Father is “someone who is active,” playing tennis and staying in shape. “He’s a 71-year-old healthy, strong man. This is what Pope Leo has going for him,” she said. “We know that heʼs going to be at higher risk for some viral respiratory infections,” she said. “So, it is important for him to get his Covid-19 vaccine, his flu vaccine, and his RSV vaccine for those that are eligible.”In terms of travel, Mora said his doctors may determine he needs anticoagulation, or blood thinners, “so that heʼs at less risk of developing any clots, especially with the long flight that he has, [as well as] all the respiratory virus infections.”By the numbers: Impact of lung cancer“One person is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.5 minutes,” Mora said. “In the United States, we lose 238,000 people a year due to lung cancer. And itʼs the No. 1 cause of mortality from cancer in both men and women in the United States.”In addition to smoking, Mora highlighted several other causes of lung cancer, including radon gas, “a colorless, odorless gas that can seep in through cracks in our ground, in our home, or through cracks in walls,” ozone pollution, and particle contamination.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/catholic-lung-cancer-specialists-weigh-in-on-pope-leo-xivs-diagnosis-catholic-representatives-of-the-american-lung-association-and-the-catholic-medical-association-cma-discussed-possible-u.png "Catholic lung cancer specialists weigh in on Pope Leo XIV’s diagnosis #Catholic Representatives of the American Lung Association and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) discussed possible underlying causes of Pope Leo XIVʼs lung cancer and potential treatment options.Dr. Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, and Dr. Juanita Mora, spokesperson for the American Lung Association, appeared on “EWTN News Nightly” on Oct. 14 to discuss the Holy Father’s health following surgery. The Oct. 13 surgery involved the removal of the lower lobe of his right lung and confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said McGovern, a CMA member. He said “treatments can be varying depending on the size,” and can involve chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation in addition to the surgical removal of the lower part of the lung.The type of ongoing treatment the pope receives will depend on the results of a pathology test, which will reveal the stage of the cancer and whether it is contained or has spread to other areas, McGovern said.The pathology test “usually takes a couple of days,” or sometimes even longer, he said, but noted that because the patient is the Holy Father, “I would expect the pathology would be available a lot sooner than usual.”“In the best of all possible worlds, if it is contained, then going forward, as far as treatment, itʼs a CT scan every six months and then after about two or three years, a year thereafter. And that would be the treatment, and that would be the ideal setting for the Holy Father,” he said.Mora, a Catholic who is also from Chicago, Pope Leo’s hometown, said if the Holy Father’s pathology report reveals that the cancer has not spread, the survival rate is 80% to 90%. A spread would determine “whether he will get chemotherapy, radiotherapy or whether he will need actual immunotherapy thatʼs geared exactly to the biomarkers of the tumor that turn positive.” Mora said the Holy Father is “someone who is active,” playing tennis and staying in shape. “He’s a 71-year-old healthy, strong man. This is what Pope Leo has going for him,” she said. “We know that heʼs going to be at higher risk for some viral respiratory infections,” she said. “So, it is important for him to get his Covid-19 vaccine, his flu vaccine, and his RSV vaccine for those that are eligible.”In terms of travel, Mora said his doctors may determine he needs anticoagulation, or blood thinners, “so that heʼs at less risk of developing any clots, especially with the long flight that he has, [as well as] all the respiratory virus infections.”By the numbers: Impact of lung cancer“One person is diagnosed with lung cancer every 2.5 minutes,” Mora said. “In the United States, we lose 238,000 people a year due to lung cancer. And itʼs the No. 1 cause of mortality from cancer in both men and women in the United States.”In addition to smoking, Mora highlighted several other causes of lung cancer, including radon gas, “a colorless, odorless gas that can seep in through cracks in our ground, in our home, or through cracks in walls,” ozone pollution, and particle contamination.")
“It is the most common cause of lung cancer in smokers and nonsmokers,” said Jeff McGovern, a pulmonologist, about Pope Leo’s diagnosis.
![Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit.
St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church.
Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation.
“It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said.
Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating.
For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis.
In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.”
“St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins
when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/wanaque-parish-honors-patron-on-feast-of-st-francis-catholic-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-visited-st-francis-of-assisi-in-the-haskell-neighborhood-of-wanaque-n-j-on-oct-4-to-celebrate-the-parish.jpg "Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic – Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit.
St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church.
Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation.
“It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said.
Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating.
For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis.
In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.”
“St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins
when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.")
Wanaque parish honors patron on Feast of St. Francis #Catholic – 
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit.
St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church.
Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main celebrant and homilist. In honor of the Feast of St. Francis, the parish offered refreshments after the weekend Masses. Outside the church stands a new statue, crafted by artisans in Italy and flown to the United States, made possible by a parishioner’s donation.
“It was wonderful to welcome Bishop Sweeney for the Feast of St. Francis. He spoke about how St. Francis is dedicated to others, nature, to God, to the poor, to the Church, and bestowed the Gifts of the Holy Spirit upon our confirmandi,” Father Golba said.
Bishop Sweeney visited St. Francis on Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. to commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus (his passing from earthly life to eternal life with God). It was part of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., celebrations for the 800th anniversary, the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, which the universal Church is commemorating.
For the anniversary year, faithful are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims can avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton. Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions, and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Click here for a list of Masses and confessions at pilgrimage sites in the Diocese of Paterson for the Year of St. Francis.
In a recent bulletin reflection, Father Golba wrote that St. Francis “remains one of the most beloved saints in the history of Christianity.”
“St. Francis shows us that holiness does not require us to become famous or powerful. Holiness begins
when we allow Christ to transform our hearts, Francis became great not because he sought greatness, but because he became small before God and available to others,” Father Golba wrote.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J., on Oct. 4 to celebrate the parish’s popular patron saint on his feast day, with a well-attended Mass. The bishop also confirmed 11 people — 10 youths and an adult —during his visit. St. Francis is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor, concelebrated the Mass with Bishop Sweeney, serving as main
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
1:1-10
Paul, an Apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
to the holy ones who are in Ephesus
and faithful in Christ Jesus:
grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,
as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,
to be holy and without blemish before him.
In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,
in accord with the favor of his will,
for the praise of the glory of his grace
that he granted us in the beloved.
In Christ we have redemption by his Blood,
the forgiveness of transgressions,
in accord with the riches of his grace that he lavished upon us.
In all wisdom and insight, he has made known to us
the mystery of his will in accord with his favor
that he set forth in him as a plan for the fullness of times,
to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:47-54
The Lord said:
“Woe to you who build the memorials of the prophets
whom your fathers killed.
Consequently, you bear witness and give consent
to the deeds of your ancestors,
for they killed them and you do the building.
Therefore, the wisdom of God said,
‘I will send to them prophets and Apostles;
some of them they will kill and persecute’
in order that this generation might be charged
with the blood of all the prophets
shed since the foundation of the world,
from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah
who died between the altar and the temple building.
Yes, I tell you, this generation will be charged with their blood!
Woe to you, scholars of the law!
You have taken away the key of knowledge.
You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter.”
When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees
began to act with hostility toward him
and to interrogate him about many things,
for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say.
This taking away the ability to understand God’s revelation, to understand the heart of God, to understand God’s salvation—the key to knowledge—we can say that it represents a serious oversight. The gratuitousness of salvation is forgotten; the closeness of God is forgotten, and the mercy of God is forgotten. And those who forget the gratuitousness of salvation, the closeness of God, and the mercy of God, have taken away the key to knowledge. (…)
This happens even today. The Pharisees, the doctors of the law, are not just figures of those times; even today, there are many. This is why it is necessary to pray for us shepherds. To pray, so that we do not lose the key to knowledge and do not close the door to ourselves and to the people who want to enter. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 19 October 2017)
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The document “A Call for Christian Compassion and Wisdom in the Immigration Debate” is the product of the Evangelical-Catholic Dialogue on Immigration.
The massive, five-hour procession in honor of Our Lady of Nazareth begins and ends with a Mass and features pilgrims fulfilling vows for favors granted
![Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic – In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie.
During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.”
Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.”
The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.”
Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.”
Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/children-with-disabilities-reveal-beautiful-diversity-catholic-in-1983-cubby-lahood-was-pregnant-with-her-first-child-and-wanted-to-work-from-home-she-decided-to-offer-daycare-f.webp "Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic – In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie.
During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.”
Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.”
The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.”
Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.”
Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org")
Children with disabilities reveal ‘beautiful diversity’ #Catholic – 
In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie.
During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to understand how we are all created in the image and likeness of God, no matter what we look like, what we sound like, if we can walk, if we can’t walk, how we eat, if we’re fed through a tube, or if we’re able to use our hands. Just being able to experience the beautiful diversity of the human person was such a gift to me as a child. And now that Natalie and I’s children get to experience that as well, it’s just incredible.”
Natalie didn’t get to know Joe until 10 years ago, but she had already developed her own passion for helping vulnerable human beings through volunteer work in the U.S. and Thailand. She said, “That instilled in me the importance of being able to be a compassionate presence for anyone in the world. The deepest desire of the human heart is to know that we’re not alone, that we’re loved by God and those around us, and to know that we have someone to accompany us.”
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
When Natalie met Joe, he was the first person whose values and experiences reflected her own, so they immediately connected. Joe recalled, “We were engaged, and my mom had just died at age 58 after a years-long battle with ovarian and breast cancer. We knew how important this work was to all the families we serve, but we also knew that there were going to be many more families in the years to come and…they can live very isolated lives. We decided that we wanted to [run St. Joseph’s House] for our family, for their families, and to make it part of our greater community, which we have tried to do here in Hyattsville, Maryland.”
The “kids” at St. Joseph’s House range in age from five to 21, and the community they have found there is making a profound difference. Natalie said, “Many are with us, and with each other, for years of their childhood and adolescence. To see a nonverbal autistic child walk into our home and light up with a smile and know…where their friends are…where they know they’re known and loved and…they can come and be themselves, is beautiful to be a part of.”
Joe hopes that through their efforts at St. Joseph’s House—and through interviews like this—society will be more embracing of families dealing with disabilities. He concluded, “[Don’t] be afraid, if you see someone with a disability at the playground or at school, to treat them like a normal child and befriend them, or talk to their parents because it can be very isolating. I feel like that’s our mission at St. Joseph’s House: to help get kids and families out in the world so there can be encounters and real relationships made. We hope that’s what we do in our community, and we hope that that can happen in other communities as well.”
Tony Rossi is director of communications for The Christophers. For free copies of the Christopher News Note We Belong To Each Other, write: The Christophers, 264 West 40th St., Room 603, New York, N.Y. 10018; or e-mail: mail@christophers.org
– In 1983, Cubby LaHood was pregnant with her first child and wanted to work from home. She decided to offer daycare for children with disabilities because that’s what she had experience doing. Cubby and her husband Dan came to name their ministry St. Joseph’s House and raised their own kids there, including Joe, who now runs St. Joseph’s House with his wife Natalie. During a “Christopher Closeup” interview, Joe explained, “When you’re a child growing up in this environment, you adapt to what is around you…I was given so many gifts from the kids, in terms of being able to
Three NASA-supported small spacecraft, shown along with many commercial payloads, before being encapsulated in a SpaceX Falcon 9. The rocket launched the payloads into low-Earth orbit at 11:32 a.m. PDT Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, as part of the company’s Transporter-18 mission from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
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The University of Dayton announced its first woman president, while Catholic high schools in Cleveland and Omaha launched career development programs in this week’s roundup of Catholic education news.
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Twin mills (front: green mill, 1856; rear: red mill or Schoof’s mill, 1706), Greetsiel, Krummhörn, Lower Saxony, Germany
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. October 13: Vesta at opposition Observers in the U.S. Midwest and farther west have a great opportunity this morning to watch one Galilean moon pass in front of another. Io crosses in front of Callisto, occulting it from our point of viewContinue reading “The Sky Today on Wednesday, October 14: Io covers Callisto”
The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, October 14: Io covers Callisto appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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The survey found that a narrow plurality of Catholics prefer Democrats in the midterm elections as Catholic approval of President Donald Trump continues to plummet.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
5:18-25
Brothers and sisters:
If you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are obvious:
immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy,
outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness,
dissensions, factions, occasions of envy,
drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.
I warn you, as I warned you before,
that those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, generosity,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh
with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:42-46
The Lord said:
“Woe to you Pharisees!
You pay tithes of mint and of rue and of every garden herb,
but you pay no attention to judgment and to love for God.
These you should have done, without overlooking the others.
Woe to you Pharisees!
You love the seat of honor in synagogues
and greetings in marketplaces.
Woe to you!
You are like unseen graves over which people unknowingly walk.”
Then one of the scholars of the law said to him in reply,
“Teacher, by saying this you are insulting us too.”
And he said, “Woe also to you scholars of the law!
You impose on people burdens hard to carry,
but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them.”
These people who were “ideological” had reduced the Law, the doctrine, to an ideology: “you have to do this, and this, and this…” A religion of prescriptions, and thus they took away the Holy Spirit’s freedom. And the people who followed them were rigid people, people who did not feel comfortable, they did not know the joy of the Gospel. The way of following Jesus to perfection was through rigidity: “You have to do this, this, this, and this”. These people, these doctors, “manipulated” the consciences of the faithful, or they made them become rigid, or they would go away. (…)
The Spirit of God is not where there is rigidity, because the Spirit of God is liberty. And these people wanted to force these passages, taking away liberty from the Spirit of God and the gratuitousness of the redemption: “to be justified you have to do this, this, this, and this…”. Justification is freely given. Jesus’s death and resurrection are gratuitous. You do not pay for it, it cannot be purchased: it is a gift! (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 15 May 2020)
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As Pope Leo XIV recovers from lung cancer surgery, meet St. Peregrine Laziosi, the Servite priest healed the night before his amputation and now patron of cancer patients.
![Brazil archbishop receives presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in ‘institutional visit’ – #Catholic – The archbishop of the Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa, received on Oct. 8 Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, candidate for president, and his running mate, Congressman Alfredo Gaspar, both of the Liberal Party, for what the archdiocese described as an “institutional visit.”According to the Archdiocese of Brasília, “the meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and dialogue, providing an opportunity to reflect on issues of interest to the Church and Brazilian society.”The archdiocese also reported on its social media that among the topics discussed were “freedom of religion and conscience, respect for the legitimate secularism of the state, the protection of human life and the family, the promotion of social justice, the fight against poverty and inequality; in addition to the importance of collaboration between public authorities and religious institutions in initiatives aimed at the common good.”During the visit, the cardinal gave Bolsonaro, who is Protestant, a copy of a Bible and a small statue of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil. “The senator was presented with a copy of the Jerusalem Bible and a replica of the image of Our Lady of Aparecida. Both gifts are among the items customarily presented to officials on certain occasions or during institutional visits, as part of [archdiocesan] protocol,” the Archdiocese of Brasília’s communications department told ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News.This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/brazil-archbishop-receives-presidential-candidate-flavio-bolsonaro-in-institutional-visit-catholic-the-archbishop-of-the-brazils-capital-brasilia-cardinal-paulo-cezar.jpg "Brazil archbishop receives presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro in ‘institutional visit’ – #Catholic – The archbishop of the Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, Cardinal Paulo Cezar Costa, received on Oct. 8 Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, candidate for president, and his running mate, Congressman Alfredo Gaspar, both of the Liberal Party, for what the archdiocese described as an “institutional visit.”According to the Archdiocese of Brasília, “the meeting took place in an atmosphere of cordiality and dialogue, providing an opportunity to reflect on issues of interest to the Church and Brazilian society.”The archdiocese also reported on its social media that among the topics discussed were “freedom of religion and conscience, respect for the legitimate secularism of the state, the protection of human life and the family, the promotion of social justice, the fight against poverty and inequality; in addition to the importance of collaboration between public authorities and religious institutions in initiatives aimed at the common good.”During the visit, the cardinal gave Bolsonaro, who is Protestant, a copy of a Bible and a small statue of Our Lady of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil. “The senator was presented with a copy of the Jerusalem Bible and a replica of the image of Our Lady of Aparecida. Both gifts are among the items customarily presented to officials on certain occasions or during institutional visits, as part of [archdiocesan] protocol,” the Archdiocese of Brasília’s communications department told ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News.This story was first published by ACI Digital, the Portuguese-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.")
The cardinal, senator, and congressman met on the basis of church-state relationships and discussed issues such as protecting human life, social justice, poverty, and the common good.
