Padre Pio: 13 facts about St. Pio of Pietrelcina to know and share – #Catholic – One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here’s a look at 13 facts about St. Pio’s life and faith.1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion.4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessional. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.The saint once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis.From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil. In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world.As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension of his personality.”8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.A doctor examining the saint’s body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray.10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.12. He established a hospital.Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization. He celebrated Mass the day before his death.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.
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Padre Pio: 13 facts about St. Pio of Pietrelcina to know and share – #Catholic – One of the most popular Catholic saints of the 20th century, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, commonly known as Padre Pio, was a Capuchin Franciscan friar, priest, and mystic. His tomb can be found in the Sanctuary of St. Mary Our Lady of Grace in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom about prayer and peace, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.As the Church celebrates his feast day on Sept. 23, here’s a look at 13 facts about St. Pio’s life and faith.1. Padre Pio was only 5 years old when he expressed a strong desire to serve God.Born Francesco Forgione on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy, he served as an altar boy at his local parish. At the early age of 5, he consecrated himself to Jesus. By the age of 10, his family looked to see how he could become a Capuchin friar.2. Padre Pio was only 15 when he entered the Capuchin Friars Minor as a novice.Being a young teenager, Francesco was given the name Pio or Pius when he entered as a novice. He professed his solemn vows three years later. No stranger to suffering amid frail health throughout much of his studies, he was ordained a priest in 1910. He ascended the Gargano mountains to the rural friary outside of San Giovanni Rotondo in 1916. He remained there for more than 50 years, until his death on Sept. 23, 1968.3. St. Pio received the visible wounds of Christ known as the stigmata, just like St. Francis of Assisi.On Sept. 20, 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata while praying in a church. The wounds remained visible on his body for the rest of his life. The wounds were on his hands, feet, and side, corresponding to the wounds suffered by Jesus during his crucifixion.4. The blood from his stigmata smelled of floral perfume.Referred to as the “odor of sanctity,” the blood that came from Padre Pio’s wounds is said to have smelled like perfume or as having a floral aroma. The trait has also been exhibited by other saints who manifested stigmata markings.5. Padre Pio heard confessions 12 to 15 hours a day.While listening to confessions, the saint would smell flowers as sins were confessed. Some penitents waited two weeks just to visit him in the confessional. Padre Pio could also read the hearts of penitents, reminding them of sins that were forgotten or omitted.The saint once said: “Confession is the soul’s bath. You must go at least once a week. I do not want souls to stay away from confession more than a week. Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week, and you will see that it needs dusting again!”6. Padre Pio suffered attacks from the devil on a consistent basis.From a young age, Padre Pio was blessed with heavenly visions, but he also experienced spiritual warfare, including attacks of the devil. In a book written by Father Gabriele Amorth on Padre Pio, the famous exorcist of Rome said: “The great and constant struggle in the life of the saint was against the enemies of God and souls, those demons who sought to capture his soul.”Amorth continued: “The devil appeared to him under many different forms: as a big black cat, wild and threatening, or as a repulsive animal, in the clear intention to frighten him; under the appearance of naked and provocative young girls who danced obscene dances, obviously to test the chastity of the young priest. However, the worst was when the devil took on the appearance of his spiritual director, or posed as Jesus, the Virgin Mary, or St. Francis.”7. He had the gift of bilocation, meaning that he could be in more than one place at a time.Multiple eyewitness accounts attest to the ability of Padre Pio to be in multiple places at once. Fellow friars remember seeing him in prayer outside when they knew he was still in his room. Some accounts come from others who claim to have seen him on different continents all over the world.As to how Padre Pio experienced such feats, the closest he ever came to an explanation of bilocation was to say that it occurred “by an extension of his personality.”8. A sighting of a “flying friar” kept war planes from bombing Padre Pio’s town during World War II.Among the most remarkable of the documented cases of bilocation was Padre Pio’s appearance in the air over San Giovanni Rotondo during World War II. While southern Italy remained in Nazi hands, American bombers were given the job of attacking the city of San Giovanni Rotondo. However, when they appeared over the city and prepared to unload their munitions, a brown-robed friar appeared before their aircraft. All attempts to release the bombs failed. In this way, Padre Pio kept his promise to the citizens that their town would be spared. Later on, when an American airbase was established at Foggia a few miles away, one of the pilots of the incident visited the friary and found, to his surprise, the friar he had seen in the air that day over San Giovanni.9. Before dying at the age of 81, all his wounds healed without scars, just as he had foretold they would 50 years prior.A doctor examining the saint’s body who was present when he was dying observed that the wounds of the stigmata were completely healed, without any trace or scar. Padre Pio’s body was placed in a coffin in the church of the monastery to allow pilgrims to visit and pray.10. Pilgrims can visit the rooms in which Padre Pio lived.All the cells where Padre Pio lived in Italy have been outfitted with vintage furnishings to make them look exactly like they were in the early 20th century. Each site also boasts a small museum with relics and artifacts from his life.11. Many miracles have been attributed to Padre Pio.Several miracles have been attributed to the saint’s intercession, including the story of Gemma di Giorgio, a little girl who visited Padre Pio. Born blind without pupils in either eye, she miraculously regained her sight after visiting him. One truly miraculous factor about her healing was that, although she could see, she still lacked pupils. Another miracle was chronicled on EWTN.12. He established a hospital.Living a life of suffering, made difficult by physical pain and sickness, Padre Pio was able to build a hospital with the help of generous sponsors. Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, which means “Home for the Relief of the Suffering,” was inaugurated on May 5, 1956. The hospital sits atop a hill overlooking San Giovanni Rotondo. Starting with only about 250 beds and just enough equipment, the hospital is now known for its state-of-the-art facilities and services.13. Even before his death on Sept. 23, 1968, Padre Pio reportedly spent his last moments in prayer.Beatified in 1999, St. Padre Pio was canonized on June 16, 2002, by the late St. John Paul II. He is known among Catholics as St. Pio of Pietrelcina. More than 500,000 attended his canonization. He celebrated Mass the day before his death.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted and updated by EWTN News.

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Padre Pio is known for his deep wisdom, his stigmata, miraculous reports of his bilocation, being physically attacked by the devil, and mastering the spiritual life.

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Sri Lanka jails 15 for up to 260 years over Easter Sunday church bombings – #Catholic – Sri Lanka’s High Court has sentenced 15 men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The convictions are the first directly tied to the attacks on three churches and three hotels that killed 279 people.A three-judge bench in Colombo delivered the verdict Sept. 22 after a nearly five-year trial involving 23,270 charges, LiCAS.news reported. Fourteen defendants were convicted on all counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nine were acquitted, while a 15th was convicted on some counts. The court also ordered the confiscation of the convicts’ property.According to the sentencing list published by Sri Lanka Mirror, one defendant received 260 years, four received 240 years, five received 220 years, and five received 200 years. Prosecutors identified Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher, as the ringleader who supported the suicide bombers, and he received 220 years.The dead included 45 foreign nationals, among them five U.S. citizens, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, director of mass communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, welcomed the ruling but said those convicted “represented only one part of the case,” Newswire reported. He also called for scrutiny of whether intelligence and security officials had enough information to prevent the attacks.“Finally, we have justice,” Fernando told Agence France-Presse. “It has taken a long time to get to this point.”Church presses for a full accountingFor years, the Church has pressed to identify those who ordered the attacks. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo called the 2020 release of several suspects “sad and unfortunate,” and Pope Francis urged Sri Lankan authorities in 2022 to clarify “definitively who was responsible.”In February 2026, police arrested former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, and the archdiocese asked that the investigation proceed “unhindered from any quarters.” Sallay denies the allegations.In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defense secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for failing to act on intelligence warnings. In August, Ranjith said the Church “cannot support capital punishment because it violates human dignity,” Radio Veritas Asia reported.In 2025, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints added the 167 Catholics killed in the bombings to its list of “Witnesses of Faith.”
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Sri Lanka jails 15 for up to 260 years over Easter Sunday church bombings – #Catholic – Sri Lanka’s High Court has sentenced 15 men to prison terms of 200 to 260 years for their roles in the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings. The convictions are the first directly tied to the attacks on three churches and three hotels that killed 279 people.A three-judge bench in Colombo delivered the verdict Sept. 22 after a nearly five-year trial involving 23,270 charges, LiCAS.news reported. Fourteen defendants were convicted on all counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, and possession of firearms and explosives under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Nine were acquitted, while a 15th was convicted on some counts. The court also ordered the confiscation of the convicts’ property.According to the sentencing list published by Sri Lanka Mirror, one defendant received 260 years, four received 240 years, five received 220 years, and five received 200 years. Prosecutors identified Mohamed Naufar, an Islamist preacher, as the ringleader who supported the suicide bombers, and he received 220 years.The dead included 45 foreign nationals, among them five U.S. citizens, according to the U.S. Justice Department.Father Jude Krishantha Fernando, director of mass communications for the Archdiocese of Colombo, welcomed the ruling but said those convicted “represented only one part of the case,” Newswire reported. He also called for scrutiny of whether intelligence and security officials had enough information to prevent the attacks.“Finally, we have justice,” Fernando told Agence France-Presse. “It has taken a long time to get to this point.”Church presses for a full accountingFor years, the Church has pressed to identify those who ordered the attacks. Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith of Colombo called the 2020 release of several suspects “sad and unfortunate,” and Pope Francis urged Sri Lankan authorities in 2022 to clarify “definitively who was responsible.”In February 2026, police arrested former intelligence chief Suresh Sallay, and the archdiocese asked that the investigation proceed “unhindered from any quarters.” Sallay denies the allegations.In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundara and former defense secretary Hemasiri Fernando were sentenced to death for failing to act on intelligence warnings. In August, Ranjith said the Church “cannot support capital punishment because it violates human dignity,” Radio Veritas Asia reported.In 2025, the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints added the 167 Catholics killed in the bombings to its list of “Witnesses of Faith.”

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The Archdiocese of Colombo welcomed the ruling but said those convicted are only part of the case, as a separate probe into alleged state links continues.

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Pope calls for protection of migrant minors: It is everyone’s responsibility – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appealed on Wednesday to “everyone’s sense of responsibility” to protect migrant and refugee minors, stressing that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable and often endure “unspeakable suffering.”“Children and teenagers are the most vulnerable,” he said at the end of his weekly general audience, recalling that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 27.Following his catechesis in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff noted that many minors endure “unspeakable suffering: violence, torture, exploitation, traumatic conditions, and it is not uncommon for them to lose their lives along migration routes.”In light of this reality, he called for ensuring the protection and support of young migrants.“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility: Let us all feel a sense of involvement in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and supported,” Leo XIV urged.The Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees each year to raise awareness about the situation of displaced persons and to promote initiatives of welcome, integration, and accompaniment, with particular attention to those in the most vulnerable circumstances.In his message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, titled “Even Just One of These Children,” Pope Leo XIV insisted that “public and private institutions are obliged to place the protection and dignity of every migrant child and adolescent at the center” of their efforts.Progress is not opposed to Christian faithIn his catechesis, the pope challenged the “prejudice” that portrays scientific and technological progress as being opposed to the Christian faith and warned of the “tragedy of atheistic humanism” described by French Jesuit Cardinal Henri de Lubac.“In post-Christian humanisms, the human being and God are mistakenly presented as rivals: In order to assert his knowledge, his freedom, and his progress, man would have to emancipate himself from God. Ultimately, however, by denying the relationship with God, one also loses the possibility of affirming the transcendent value of the human person,” the pontiff said in St. Peter’s Square.According to Leo, this interpretation “has brought about a change in the way contemporary man views the world, compared with previous ages,” opening the door to a “prejudice” that prevails especially in that part of Western culture that has lost its reference to Christian revelation.As part of his reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Holy Father invited the faithful to ask: “What is the value of human activity in the world, and therefore of technical, social, and scientific progress?”“Created in the image and likeness of God, the human being is the agent of progress. With freedom and intelligence, he increases his knowledge, thereby advancing society as a whole,” he explained.Pope Leo XIV also said: “Humanity — and with it work, progress, and the autonomy of created realities — is not absorbed or nullified by the encounter with God but rather taken up in its entirety, continuing to be, in Christ, free and active: Indeed, it is in him that it finds full truth and freedom.”Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the square, the pope said: “Christians, like everyone else, are involved in building the city of man, striving towards the end of all things and the encounter with God, and reminding those with whom they share the adventure of progress, science, and life of this ultimate purpose.”He added, however, that earthly progress must be clearly distinguished from the development of Christ’s kingdom.“Finally, let us recall that in order to become authentic human progress — that is, progress for the whole person and for all people — technical and scientific progress must be inspired and guided by charity. Only in this way can it always be placed in the service of human dignity and promote the living conditions of all, especially the most disadvantaged,” the pope concluded.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope calls for protection of migrant minors: It is everyone’s responsibility – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appealed on Wednesday to “everyone’s sense of responsibility” to protect migrant and refugee minors, stressing that children and teenagers are the most vulnerable and often endure “unspeakable suffering.”“Children and teenagers are the most vulnerable,” he said at the end of his weekly general audience, recalling that the World Day of Migrants and Refugees will be celebrated on Sunday, Sept. 27.Following his catechesis in St. Peter’s Square, the pontiff noted that many minors endure “unspeakable suffering: violence, torture, exploitation, traumatic conditions, and it is not uncommon for them to lose their lives along migration routes.”In light of this reality, he called for ensuring the protection and support of young migrants.“I appeal to everyone’s sense of responsibility: Let us all feel a sense of involvement in the lives of these young people, who must always be protected and supported,” Leo XIV urged.The Church celebrates the World Day of Migrants and Refugees each year to raise awareness about the situation of displaced persons and to promote initiatives of welcome, integration, and accompaniment, with particular attention to those in the most vulnerable circumstances.In his message for this year’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, titled “Even Just One of These Children,” Pope Leo XIV insisted that “public and private institutions are obliged to place the protection and dignity of every migrant child and adolescent at the center” of their efforts.Progress is not opposed to Christian faithIn his catechesis, the pope challenged the “prejudice” that portrays scientific and technological progress as being opposed to the Christian faith and warned of the “tragedy of atheistic humanism” described by French Jesuit Cardinal Henri de Lubac.“In post-Christian humanisms, the human being and God are mistakenly presented as rivals: In order to assert his knowledge, his freedom, and his progress, man would have to emancipate himself from God. Ultimately, however, by denying the relationship with God, one also loses the possibility of affirming the transcendent value of the human person,” the pontiff said in St. Peter’s Square.According to Leo, this interpretation “has brought about a change in the way contemporary man views the world, compared with previous ages,” opening the door to a “prejudice” that prevails especially in that part of Western culture that has lost its reference to Christian revelation.As part of his reflections on the Second Vatican Council’s pastoral constitution Gaudium et Spes, the Holy Father invited the faithful to ask: “What is the value of human activity in the world, and therefore of technical, social, and scientific progress?”“Created in the image and likeness of God, the human being is the agent of progress. With freedom and intelligence, he increases his knowledge, thereby advancing society as a whole,” he explained.Pope Leo XIV also said: “Humanity — and with it work, progress, and the autonomy of created realities — is not absorbed or nullified by the encounter with God but rather taken up in its entirety, continuing to be, in Christ, free and active: Indeed, it is in him that it finds full truth and freedom.”Addressing the pilgrims gathered in the square, the pope said: “Christians, like everyone else, are involved in building the city of man, striving towards the end of all things and the encounter with God, and reminding those with whom they share the adventure of progress, science, and life of this ultimate purpose.”He added, however, that earthly progress must be clearly distinguished from the development of Christ’s kingdom.“Finally, let us recall that in order to become authentic human progress — that is, progress for the whole person and for all people — technical and scientific progress must be inspired and guided by charity. Only in this way can it always be placed in the service of human dignity and promote the living conditions of all, especially the most disadvantaged,” the pope concluded.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The pope’s appeal followed a reflection on how human progress finds full truth and freedom in an encounter with God.

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The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 22: The autumnal equinox The bright Moon stands prominently in Aquarius the Water-bearer this evening, quickly waxing toward Full. Swing your scope up toward Earth’s lone satellite tonight and focus in on a point just east of the terminator dividing nightContinue reading “The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma”

The post The Sky Today on Wednesday, September 23: Around Reiner Gamma appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear, priest says #Catholic The recent murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández in the Mexican state of Hidalgo has once again drawn attention to the violence plaguing the country and has renewed concerns over how organized crime acts with impunity. De la Cruz, 48, the parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found dead on a road in the Lolotla district on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17, Francisco Ángel Fernández Hasbun, chief of staff for the Hidalgo state attorney generalʼs office, stated in a video that the agency is “conducting the appropriate investigations.”According to local media, the priestʼs body was found with gunshot wounds near a pickup truck, accompanied by a placard bearing a message whose content has not been disclosed by the authorities. The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has demanded a “thorough investigation” of the case, while Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of the Diocese of Huejutla lamented “the alarming situation of violence being experienced in our country.”Around 600 people marched for peace in Huejutla on Sunday, Sept. 20, and attended a Mass for De la Cruz. During the homily, Acosta called for “a culture of peace and reconciliation,” asking for the crime to be solved and urging that "neither this event nor the other crimes that have wounded our Mexican nation be allowed to go unpunished.”On the afternoon of Sept. 21, Acosta and Fernández met and delivered a brief joint statement.Fernández said important information regarding the case was provided during the meeting and said the two believe the case will resolve quickly, noting the Church’s collaboration with the authorities during the inquiries.‘The telltale signs of organized crime’According to the Catholic Multimedia Center, a group that documents violence against Church members in Mexico, four priests have been murdered so far during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in office. The total number of priests murdered since 1990 exceeds 60.The center’s director, priest and journalist Father Omar Sotelo, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the murder “bears the telltale signs of organized crime.”Sotelo noted that “extortion and threats against priests in the country are an ongoing reality.” He noted that, among those recorded and analyzed by the group, “more than 80% of cases remain unsolved,” including the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, archbishop of Guadalajara, a case that stands as “a monument to impunity.”In a 2016 Facebook video, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, then-archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara and Posadas’ successor, declared the murder “a crime by the state, perpetrated by the Federal Judicial Police.” He even named Rodolfo León Aragón, then-director of the police, as the one behind the murder, who Sandoval said probably got his orders from then-Attorney General Jorge Carpizo, whose death in 2012 ended the investigation. ‘This could happen to us, too’Julieta Appendini, director of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Mexico, told ACI Prensa “it is important not to view these murders merely as isolated criminal acts.”The impact of a crime against a priest “goes far beyond the loss of an individual,” she said, noting that “the priest often has a very close presence in the life of the community: He knows the families, ministers to the sick, listens to people’s problems, celebrates the sacraments, and can also serve as a figure of trust and mediation.”“When he is murdered, the community loses someone who fulfilled many of those roles, and an even greater sense of fear and helplessness can take hold.”She warned that the murder could serve as a warning to other priests: ‘This could happen to us, too.’” The faithful attend the Mass celebrated on Sept. 20, 2026, in Santa Cruz, Huejutla, in memory of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández. | Credit: Father Domingo Porfirio Cruz/Diocese of Huejutla ‘The goal is to sow fear’“The goal is to sow fear,” Sotelo said. The community of Huejutla “is afraid; they have already told us so.”Despite this, he affirmed that, “the clergy of Huejutla will continue working and carrying out their pastoral mission just as they are doing now.”According to Sotelo, this type of murder demonstrates “the ruthless power” of organized crime in the country, “where, regrettably, the authorities have been ineffective in managing the situation and ensuring the safety of the Mexican people.”Appendini pointed out that “a priest working in a community affected by violence does not merely celebrate the sacraments. Often, he is one of the individuals who remains when others have had to leave; he ministers to the families, listens to the victims, defends the vulnerable, and can become a voice denouncing these acts of violence.”“That can place him in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis those seeking to control territory or impose silence,” she said.Appendini noted that ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report “points to threats, extortion, murders, assaults, and pressure to remain silent directed at priests and other religious leaders in Mexico.”However, she clarified that “not every attack on a priest is necessarily motivated by an intent to attack religion. In Mexico, violence can be linked to territorial control, drug trafficking, extortion, or land disputes.”Religious freedom “comes into play when a person is put at risk precisely for carrying out their mission and ministering to their community,” she said.‘We must not normalize these situations’“Fear also has consequences for religious freedom,” Appendini warned, noting that “a person may legally have the right to practice their faith, but if doing so publicly, serving their community, or speaking out against violence puts him in danger, then that right is not being fully exercised.”“That is why, at ACN, we believe we must not normalize these situations or reduce them merely to statistics. When a priest who serves his community is threatened or murdered, we must also ask ourselves what is happening to that community and to the freedom of the people living there,” she noted.Sotelo acknowledged that, in both his priestly ministry and his work as a journalist, “we sometimes feel fear; we know that at any moment we could even lose our lives for speaking about these kinds of circumstances.”However, he affirmed that “God is with us, the Master Jesus is with us, and in the face of that, we have no choice but to continue carrying out our pastoral work as a priest, a journalist, as a reporter.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Priest’s murder in Mexico may be warning to sow fear, priest says #Catholic The recent murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández in the Mexican state of Hidalgo has once again drawn attention to the violence plaguing the country and has renewed concerns over how organized crime acts with impunity. De la Cruz, 48, the parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found dead on a road in the Lolotla district on Sept. 15. On Sept. 17, Francisco Ángel Fernández Hasbun, chief of staff for the Hidalgo state attorney generalʼs office, stated in a video that the agency is “conducting the appropriate investigations.”According to local media, the priestʼs body was found with gunshot wounds near a pickup truck, accompanied by a placard bearing a message whose content has not been disclosed by the authorities. The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) has demanded a “thorough investigation” of the case, while Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of the Diocese of Huejutla lamented “the alarming situation of violence being experienced in our country.”Around 600 people marched for peace in Huejutla on Sunday, Sept. 20, and attended a Mass for De la Cruz. During the homily, Acosta called for “a culture of peace and reconciliation,” asking for the crime to be solved and urging that "neither this event nor the other crimes that have wounded our Mexican nation be allowed to go unpunished.”On the afternoon of Sept. 21, Acosta and Fernández met and delivered a brief joint statement.Fernández said important information regarding the case was provided during the meeting and said the two believe the case will resolve quickly, noting the Church’s collaboration with the authorities during the inquiries.‘The telltale signs of organized crime’According to the Catholic Multimedia Center, a group that documents violence against Church members in Mexico, four priests have been murdered so far during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s term in office. The total number of priests murdered since 1990 exceeds 60.The center’s director, priest and journalist Father Omar Sotelo, told ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that the murder “bears the telltale signs of organized crime.”Sotelo noted that “extortion and threats against priests in the country are an ongoing reality.” He noted that, among those recorded and analyzed by the group, “more than 80% of cases remain unsolved,” including the 1993 murder of Cardinal Juan Jesús Posadas Ocampo, archbishop of Guadalajara, a case that stands as “a monument to impunity.”In a 2016 Facebook video, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, then-archbishop emeritus of Guadalajara and Posadas’ successor, declared the murder “a crime by the state, perpetrated by the Federal Judicial Police.” He even named Rodolfo León Aragón, then-director of the police, as the one behind the murder, who Sandoval said probably got his orders from then-Attorney General Jorge Carpizo, whose death in 2012 ended the investigation. ‘This could happen to us, too’Julieta Appendini, director of the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Mexico, told ACI Prensa “it is important not to view these murders merely as isolated criminal acts.”The impact of a crime against a priest “goes far beyond the loss of an individual,” she said, noting that “the priest often has a very close presence in the life of the community: He knows the families, ministers to the sick, listens to people’s problems, celebrates the sacraments, and can also serve as a figure of trust and mediation.”“When he is murdered, the community loses someone who fulfilled many of those roles, and an even greater sense of fear and helplessness can take hold.”She warned that the murder could serve as a warning to other priests: ‘This could happen to us, too.’” The faithful attend the Mass celebrated on Sept. 20, 2026, in Santa Cruz, Huejutla, in memory of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández. | Credit: Father Domingo Porfirio Cruz/Diocese of Huejutla ‘The goal is to sow fear’“The goal is to sow fear,” Sotelo said. The community of Huejutla “is afraid; they have already told us so.”Despite this, he affirmed that, “the clergy of Huejutla will continue working and carrying out their pastoral mission just as they are doing now.”According to Sotelo, this type of murder demonstrates “the ruthless power” of organized crime in the country, “where, regrettably, the authorities have been ineffective in managing the situation and ensuring the safety of the Mexican people.”Appendini pointed out that “a priest working in a community affected by violence does not merely celebrate the sacraments. Often, he is one of the individuals who remains when others have had to leave; he ministers to the families, listens to the victims, defends the vulnerable, and can become a voice denouncing these acts of violence.”“That can place him in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis those seeking to control territory or impose silence,” she said.Appendini noted that ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom Report “points to threats, extortion, murders, assaults, and pressure to remain silent directed at priests and other religious leaders in Mexico.”However, she clarified that “not every attack on a priest is necessarily motivated by an intent to attack religion. In Mexico, violence can be linked to territorial control, drug trafficking, extortion, or land disputes.”Religious freedom “comes into play when a person is put at risk precisely for carrying out their mission and ministering to their community,” she said.‘We must not normalize these situations’“Fear also has consequences for religious freedom,” Appendini warned, noting that “a person may legally have the right to practice their faith, but if doing so publicly, serving their community, or speaking out against violence puts him in danger, then that right is not being fully exercised.”“That is why, at ACN, we believe we must not normalize these situations or reduce them merely to statistics. When a priest who serves his community is threatened or murdered, we must also ask ourselves what is happening to that community and to the freedom of the people living there,” she noted.Sotelo acknowledged that, in both his priestly ministry and his work as a journalist, “we sometimes feel fear; we know that at any moment we could even lose our lives for speaking about these kinds of circumstances.”However, he affirmed that “God is with us, the Master Jesus is with us, and in the face of that, we have no choice but to continue carrying out our pastoral work as a priest, a journalist, as a reporter.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The Sept. 15 murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández was likely perpetrated by organized crime and is not an isolated incident but forms part of a pattern of fear and intimidation.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 23 September 2026 – A reading from the Book of Proverbs 30:5-9 Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Add nothing to his words, lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver. Two things I ask of you, deny them not to me before I die: Put falsehood and lying far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches; provide me only with the food I need; Lest, being full, I deny you, saying, "Who is the LORD?" Or, being in want, I steal, and profane the name of my God.From the Gospel according to Luke 9:1-6 Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them." Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.There is no going without staying : before sending the disciples forth on mission, Christ — the Gospel says — “calls them to himself” (cf. Mt 10:1). The proclamation is born from the encounter with the Lord; every Christian activity, especially the mission, begins from there. Not from what is learnt in an academy. No, no! It begins from the encounter with the Lord. Witnessing him, in fact, means radiating him; but, if we do not receive his light, we will be extinguished; if we do not spend time with him, we will bear ourselves instead of him — I am bringing myself and not him — and it will all be in vain. So only those who remain with him can bring the Gospel of Jesus. Anyone who does not remain with him cannot bear the Gospel. He will bring ideas, but not the Gospel. Equally, however, there is no staying without going. In fact, following Christ is not an inward-looking fact: without proclamation, without service, without mission, the relationship with Jesus does not grow. (…) In other words: we have a gift, so we are called to make a gift of ourselves; we have received a gift and our vocation is to make a gift of ourselves to others; there is in us the joy of being children of God, it must be shared with our brothers and sisters who do not yet know it! This is the reason for the proclamation. Going forth and bringing the joy of what we have received. (…) This is how one should proclaim: by showing Jesus rather than talking about Jesus. And how do we show Jesus? With our witness. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 15 February 2023)

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A reading from the Book of Proverbs
30:5-9

Every word of God is tested;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
Add nothing to his words,
lest he reprove you, and you will be exposed as a deceiver.

Two things I ask of you,
deny them not to me before I die:
Put falsehood and lying far from me,
give me neither poverty nor riches;
provide me only with the food I need;
Lest, being full, I deny you,
saying, "Who is the LORD?"
Or, being in want, I steal,
and profane the name of my God.

From the Gospel according to Luke
9:1-6

Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases,
and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.
He said to them, "Take nothing for the journey,
neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money,
and let no one take a second tunic.
Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.
And as for those who do not welcome you,
when you leave that town,
shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them."
Then they set out and went from village to village
proclaiming the Good News and curing diseases everywhere.

There is no going without staying : before sending the disciples forth on mission, Christ — the Gospel says — “calls them to himself” (cf. Mt 10:1). The proclamation is born from the encounter with the Lord; every Christian activity, especially the mission, begins from there. Not from what is learnt in an academy. No, no! It begins from the encounter with the Lord. Witnessing him, in fact, means radiating him; but, if we do not receive his light, we will be extinguished; if we do not spend time with him, we will bear ourselves instead of him — I am bringing myself and not him — and it will all be in vain. So only those who remain with him can bring the Gospel of Jesus. Anyone who does not remain with him cannot bear the Gospel. He will bring ideas, but not the Gospel. Equally, however, there is no staying without going. In fact, following Christ is not an inward-looking fact: without proclamation, without service, without mission, the relationship with Jesus does not grow. (…) In other words: we have a gift, so we are called to make a gift of ourselves; we have received a gift and our vocation is to make a gift of ourselves to others; there is in us the joy of being children of God, it must be shared with our brothers and sisters who do not yet know it! This is the reason for the proclamation. Going forth and bringing the joy of what we have received. (…) This is how one should proclaim: by showing Jesus rather than talking about Jesus. And how do we show Jesus? With our witness. (Pope Francis, General Audience, 15 February 2023)

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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic – If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J. The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends. Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives. “The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said. Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said. Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said. “The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said. Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84. The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended. After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.” In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic – If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J. The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends. Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives. “The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said. Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said. Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said. “The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said. Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84. The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended. After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.” In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said. BEACON PHOTOS | MATTHEW GIGLI [See image gallery at beaconnj.org] Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

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Venerable Fulton Sheen’s powerful messages still resonate with audiences #Catholic –

If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ.

Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church in the Convent Station neighborhood of Morris Township, N.J.

The well-attended presentation in Morris County occurred less than a week before Venerable Sheen is beatified this Thursday, Sept. 24, at a Mass at The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Mo. At that time, he will be designated as “blessed.” During his life, the nationally known TV and radio evangelist, author, and speaker traveled from his New York City residence to the Paterson Diocese, N.J., many times to give presentations and visit family and friends.

Fulton J. Sheen’s family overjoyed about his beatification

Long before digital media, Venerable Sheen transformed religious communications. Starting in the 1930s, he rose to fame, touching the lives of millions with the Catholic Hour radio show and, even more lives in the 1950s, with his popular TV program, Life is Worth Living. He also authored 73 books and countless pamphlets and essays explaining how the tenets of the Catholic faith enrich lives.

“The archbishop’s magnetic personality and presentations quickly drew an estimated 30 million viewers each week [to the TV show]. Jews, Protestants, Catholics and skeptics tuned in, quickly making him a household name,” Bunson said. The archbishop often beat his TV competitors on Sunday nights using little more than his engaging presentation, direct and into the camera, a corny joke, and writings on a chalkboard, he said. “It shows us [Catholic evangelizers] how to speak truth with clarity and charity. He possessed a variability to explain profound truths in language ordinary people could understand,” Bunson said.

Even today, Venerable Sheen reminds Catholics that no matter their walk of life, they are all called to be evangelists of the Gospel and to become saints, said Bunson, also a prominent Catholic historian, author, and theologian. In the modern age, Venerable Sheen has cultivated a huge following among Gen Z, he said.

Venerable Sheen’s “dramatic gestures or actual illustrations, and stories, were not entertainment for their own sake.” Instead, they were tools placed in the service of God’s truth, not to make himself famous. In accepting his Emmy award in 1952, he quipped, “I feel it is time I pay tribute to my four writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,” Bunson said.

“The archbishop understood that people are not searching for theories. They’re searching for meaning, forgiveness, truth, love, mercy, and hope. Christianity answers that search to a person,” said Bunson, adding Venerable Sheen spoke about the beauty of life and faith as well as the demands of the Gospel. “He challenged people to examine their consciousness and warned against materialism, pride, sexual immorality, indifference, resentment, and worship of social. The archbishop reminded his listeners that a person can gain the whole world and still lose their soul,” he said.

Venerable Sheen also staunchly promoted the pro-life cause long before legalized abortion and was a prophet of the Eucharistic revival. He also taught at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was national director of the Society of the Propagation of the Faith, and served as bishop of Rochester, N.Y. He died in 1979 at 84.

The New Jersey Area Order of Malta, a lay religious order of the Church that seeks to glorify God through work with the sick and the poor and witness of the Catholic faith, sponsored the presentation. Christine Myers of the Order of Malta served as master of ceremonies. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney and members of Venerable Sheen’s family attended.

After Bunson’s talk, the bishop told the crowd, “Thank God for Archbishop Sheen’s ministry, and we look forward to his beatification next Thursday.”

In his presentation, Bunson said, “The archbishop reminds us that the salvation of souls must remain our priority. Evangelization, however, can also take place through a microphone, television camera, classroom, a newspaper, conversation, in an ordinary home, or anyone who lives,” Bunson said.

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– If he were alive today, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen might be lighting up social media — like TikTok, Facebook, and X — with his simple, engaging lessons and stories about how to live a fulfilling life in Christ. Matthew E. Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTNNews, said that Venerable Sheen, one of the 20th Century’s most influential Catholic evangelists, would already have attracted “millions of followers” on digital platforms by now. On the night of Sept. 16, Bunson made that assertion during his talk, “The Life and Beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen,” at St. Thomas More Church

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Bishop sees Pope Leo’s visit as bringing a ‘spiritual springtime’ to Uruguay #Catholic The president of the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Milton Tróccoli, said the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV scheduled for Nov. 6–8 will awaken a “spiritual springtime” in the country. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the season of spring is also just beginning in Uruguay. “The pope’s visit will be a renewal of faith; many people may sometimes have a faith that is a bit dormant, or they are very practicing Catholics who will come and listen attentively to the message the pope will bring to us,” the bishop stated in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News, following his Sept. 18 meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican.“I believe it will bring about a renewal, a kind of spiritual springtime, for all of Uruguay,” Tróccoli emphasized.Uruguay’s bishops were in Rome last week for their ad limina visit to the Vatican, a trip that included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The bishops of Uruguay conclude their ad limina visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026, with a meeting with the pope. The visit included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. | Credit: Vatican Media The pope received them for an hour and shared one of his primary concerns: how to transmit the Gospel.“Today, we see a sort of breakdown in the transmission of the Gospel, especially within the family. We can no longer take for granted that families are the ones encouraging their children or teenagers to attend church or receive the sacraments; indeed, the number of child baptisms in Uruguay has dropped significantly,” the Uruguayan prelate noted.However, he noted that much like in other secularized countries such as France, Uruguay is also experiencing an unprecedented phenomenon: a rise in young adults seeking Christian initiation.“Baptisms for adults are on the rise, specifically young adults requesting the sacrament of baptism and the full process of Christian initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. For us, this is very encouraging,” he commented.An increasingly secularized countryUruguay is often described as one of the most secularized countries in Latin America. For instance, it is the only country in the region where Holy Week is not recognized by the government; instead, it was renamed “Tourism Week” by law in 1919.According to data from the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, in a country of barely 3 million inhabitants, approximately 35% of the population identifies as Catholic. Within that group, according to Tróccoli, “we can say that approximately 10% attend Mass every Sunday or frequently receive the sacraments.” The Uruguayan bishops present the pope with a book featuring 80 Catholic churches across the country with images by Julio Testoni and stories compiled by Miguel Ángel Álvarez Montero, titled “Architecture, Art, and Heritage in the Churches of Uruguay,” during their visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media There are also “many who call themselves believers without a religion, that is, without institutional affiliation, who believe in God but do not belong to any specific religion; this is a group that has been growing in recent years.”He also noted that approximately “40% of the population currently falls into this category, while others declare themselves agnostic or nonbelievers.”In this context, evangelization constitutes, according to the bishop, “a very great challenge.” The local Church considers Uruguay “a mission country where we must proclaim the Gospel extensively.”“We must place strong emphasis on the initial proclamation of the Gospel, while the Church also works extensively through various social and human development initiatives, naturally bringing the Gospel and acting out of faith in Jesus Christ, and working for the common good, though these efforts often go unnoticed,” Tróccoli explained.Drug trafficking, childhood poverty, and suicidesDuring his meeting with the Uruguayan bishops, Leo XIV showed interest in learning firsthand about the countryʼs social situation.Tróccoli lamented the extent of “social fragmentation” and the fact that Uruguay is “a society tending toward polarization, just as our world is polarized.”He also noted the issue of “rising violence stemming from drug trafficking, something we were not accustomed to experiencing. Well, perhaps the rate is very low compared to other countries, but for our society, it is something new and something that deeply affects families."The bishop also highlighted concerns regarding children living in poverty and the rise in youth suicides, issues he linked to “a lack of a more transcendent perspective.”“The number of suicides, especially among young people, represents a high percentage, the highest in Latin America. This deeply questions and challenges us as a Church,” he stated.For the Uruguayan Church, this reality presents the challenge of proclaiming a message of hope. “We must do a better job of proclaiming the Gospel so that it can offer hope, give meaning to life, and provide reasons, truth, for living, growing, and developing as a person.”A visit marked by devotion to the Virgin of the 33The visit of the Uruguayan bishops to the Vatican took place less than two months before the apostolic journey with which Pope Leo XIV will begin his Latin American tour. A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Uruguayan bishops on Sept. 18, 2026, provided an opportunity to present the Holy Father with a document containing messages from citizens across Uruguay, sent in anticipation of his arrival in the country on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media The pontiff will arrive in Latin America on Nov. 6, lead an event in Montevideo, and meet with President Yamandú Orsi. The following day, he will travel to Paysandú and subsequently return to Montevideo to visit various charitable works of the Church and celebrate a Mass at Centenario Stadium.On Sunday, Nov. 8, before departing for Argentina, he will celebrate the Mass of the Virgin of the 33, Uruguay’s national patroness, in the city of Florida.The National Shrine of the Virgin of the 33 is located there, situated about 60 miles from Montevideo. Indeed, the coincidence of dates with the countryʼs principal Marian celebration was one of the factors influencing Leo XIVʼs decision to begin his tour of Latin America there.The feast of the Virgin of the 33 is celebrated every Nov. 8, although the national pilgrimage traditionally takes place on the second Sunday of the month. In 2026, the two dates coincide, and the pope did not want to miss the occasion.“For us, it is truly a tremendous gift that the pope could come at this time, especially since it coincides with the feast of the Virgin of the 33, who is the patroness of Uruguay, and the national pilgrimage. The feast day of the Virgin falls on Nov. 8, which is a Sunday this year, and the pope himself will celebrate the Eucharist,” Tróccoli explained.Memories of St. John Paul IIThe Uruguayan bishops presented the pope with two books featuring images of various churches from across the country. They also gave him a collection of letters and drawings prepared by both the faithful and nonbelievers.Leo XIV has never visited Uruguay. However, some Uruguayans knew him when he was still Father Robert Prevost. During his time as superior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he traveled to Argentina on several occasions, where he met Uruguayan Augustinians.However, memories of St. John Paul II’s visits remain very much alive among Uruguayan Catholics. The Polish pontiff visited the country twice — in 1987 and 1988 — at a particularly significant time of democratic consolidation following the military dictatorship.Tróccoli said he believes the visit of Leo XIV could have a similar impact. “It created a sense of unity not only within the country but also a resurgence of faith and personal devotion. We saw an immediate increase, for instance, in the number of people attending Mass or drawing closer to the faith,” the prelate noted.In this regard, he said he believes Pope Leo XIV’s visit will awaken “the most genuine aspects of the search for faith and of religious sentiment, and from there, more people will want to draw closer.”The president of the bishops' conference also stated that the trip will mark a turning point for Uruguayan society: “It will be a visit filled with hope. The pope isn’t going to come just for some people; he comes for everyone, and everyone is also invited to feel part of this celebration of encountering him.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Bishop sees Pope Leo’s visit as bringing a ‘spiritual springtime’ to Uruguay #Catholic The president of the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Milton Tróccoli, said the apostolic visit of Pope Leo XIV scheduled for Nov. 6–8 will awaken a “spiritual springtime” in the country. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, the season of spring is also just beginning in Uruguay. “The pope’s visit will be a renewal of faith; many people may sometimes have a faith that is a bit dormant, or they are very practicing Catholics who will come and listen attentively to the message the pope will bring to us,” the bishop stated in an interview with “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News, following his Sept. 18 meeting with the pontiff at the Vatican.“I believe it will bring about a renewal, a kind of spiritual springtime, for all of Uruguay,” Tróccoli emphasized.Uruguay’s bishops were in Rome last week for their ad limina visit to the Vatican, a trip that included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The bishops of Uruguay conclude their ad limina visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026, with a meeting with the pope. The visit included various meetings at the dicasteries of the Roman Curia. | Credit: Vatican Media The pope received them for an hour and shared one of his primary concerns: how to transmit the Gospel.“Today, we see a sort of breakdown in the transmission of the Gospel, especially within the family. We can no longer take for granted that families are the ones encouraging their children or teenagers to attend church or receive the sacraments; indeed, the number of child baptisms in Uruguay has dropped significantly,” the Uruguayan prelate noted.However, he noted that much like in other secularized countries such as France, Uruguay is also experiencing an unprecedented phenomenon: a rise in young adults seeking Christian initiation.“Baptisms for adults are on the rise, specifically young adults requesting the sacrament of baptism and the full process of Christian initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist. For us, this is very encouraging,” he commented.An increasingly secularized countryUruguay is often described as one of the most secularized countries in Latin America. For instance, it is the only country in the region where Holy Week is not recognized by the government; instead, it was renamed “Tourism Week” by law in 1919.According to data from the Uruguayan Bishops’ Conference, in a country of barely 3 million inhabitants, approximately 35% of the population identifies as Catholic. Within that group, according to Tróccoli, “we can say that approximately 10% attend Mass every Sunday or frequently receive the sacraments.” The Uruguayan bishops present the pope with a book featuring 80 Catholic churches across the country with images by Julio Testoni and stories compiled by Miguel Ángel Álvarez Montero, titled “Architecture, Art, and Heritage in the Churches of Uruguay,” during their visit to the Vatican on Sept. 18, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media There are also “many who call themselves believers without a religion, that is, without institutional affiliation, who believe in God but do not belong to any specific religion; this is a group that has been growing in recent years.”He also noted that approximately “40% of the population currently falls into this category, while others declare themselves agnostic or nonbelievers.”In this context, evangelization constitutes, according to the bishop, “a very great challenge.” The local Church considers Uruguay “a mission country where we must proclaim the Gospel extensively.”“We must place strong emphasis on the initial proclamation of the Gospel, while the Church also works extensively through various social and human development initiatives, naturally bringing the Gospel and acting out of faith in Jesus Christ, and working for the common good, though these efforts often go unnoticed,” Tróccoli explained.Drug trafficking, childhood poverty, and suicidesDuring his meeting with the Uruguayan bishops, Leo XIV showed interest in learning firsthand about the countryʼs social situation.Tróccoli lamented the extent of “social fragmentation” and the fact that Uruguay is “a society tending toward polarization, just as our world is polarized.”He also noted the issue of “rising violence stemming from drug trafficking, something we were not accustomed to experiencing. Well, perhaps the rate is very low compared to other countries, but for our society, it is something new and something that deeply affects families."The bishop also highlighted concerns regarding children living in poverty and the rise in youth suicides, issues he linked to “a lack of a more transcendent perspective.”“The number of suicides, especially among young people, represents a high percentage, the highest in Latin America. This deeply questions and challenges us as a Church,” he stated.For the Uruguayan Church, this reality presents the challenge of proclaiming a message of hope. “We must do a better job of proclaiming the Gospel so that it can offer hope, give meaning to life, and provide reasons, truth, for living, growing, and developing as a person.”A visit marked by devotion to the Virgin of the 33The visit of the Uruguayan bishops to the Vatican took place less than two months before the apostolic journey with which Pope Leo XIV will begin his Latin American tour. A meeting between Pope Leo XIV and Uruguayan bishops on Sept. 18, 2026, provided an opportunity to present the Holy Father with a document containing messages from citizens across Uruguay, sent in anticipation of his arrival in the country on Nov. 6, 2026. | Credit: Vatican Media The pontiff will arrive in Latin America on Nov. 6, lead an event in Montevideo, and meet with President Yamandú Orsi. The following day, he will travel to Paysandú and subsequently return to Montevideo to visit various charitable works of the Church and celebrate a Mass at Centenario Stadium.On Sunday, Nov. 8, before departing for Argentina, he will celebrate the Mass of the Virgin of the 33, Uruguay’s national patroness, in the city of Florida.The National Shrine of the Virgin of the 33 is located there, situated about 60 miles from Montevideo. Indeed, the coincidence of dates with the countryʼs principal Marian celebration was one of the factors influencing Leo XIVʼs decision to begin his tour of Latin America there.The feast of the Virgin of the 33 is celebrated every Nov. 8, although the national pilgrimage traditionally takes place on the second Sunday of the month. In 2026, the two dates coincide, and the pope did not want to miss the occasion.“For us, it is truly a tremendous gift that the pope could come at this time, especially since it coincides with the feast of the Virgin of the 33, who is the patroness of Uruguay, and the national pilgrimage. The feast day of the Virgin falls on Nov. 8, which is a Sunday this year, and the pope himself will celebrate the Eucharist,” Tróccoli explained.Memories of St. John Paul IIThe Uruguayan bishops presented the pope with two books featuring images of various churches from across the country. They also gave him a collection of letters and drawings prepared by both the faithful and nonbelievers.Leo XIV has never visited Uruguay. However, some Uruguayans knew him when he was still Father Robert Prevost. During his time as superior general of the Order of St. Augustine, he traveled to Argentina on several occasions, where he met Uruguayan Augustinians.However, memories of St. John Paul II’s visits remain very much alive among Uruguayan Catholics. The Polish pontiff visited the country twice — in 1987 and 1988 — at a particularly significant time of democratic consolidation following the military dictatorship.Tróccoli said he believes the visit of Leo XIV could have a similar impact. “It created a sense of unity not only within the country but also a resurgence of faith and personal devotion. We saw an immediate increase, for instance, in the number of people attending Mass or drawing closer to the faith,” the prelate noted.In this regard, he said he believes Pope Leo XIV’s visit will awaken “the most genuine aspects of the search for faith and of religious sentiment, and from there, more people will want to draw closer.”The president of the bishops' conference also stated that the trip will mark a turning point for Uruguayan society: “It will be a visit filled with hope. The pope isn’t going to come just for some people; he comes for everyone, and everyone is also invited to feel part of this celebration of encountering him.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Although church attendance is low and the society is quite s quite secularized, the president of Uruguay’s bishops’ conference believes Pope Leo’s visit will give a boost to the country’s spiritual renewal.

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What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic – “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife. In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome. In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying. While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity. Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others. This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone. In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life. A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this. For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself. Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another. The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace. What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  
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What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic – “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife. In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome. In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity. Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying. While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity. Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others. This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone. In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life. A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this. For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself. Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another. The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace. What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts. Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.  

unitedyam

What the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees means for us #Catholic –

“For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees)

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I was blessed to travel this past weekend on a brief, four-day pilgrimage to Mexico — you can see pictures, reflections, and more information here. This pilgrimage, however, gave me the opportunity to reflect on how many of our human vulnerabilities intersect with some of our present-day social difficulties and, regrettably, sometimes strife.

In my reflection these days, I noted that moving through a place that we do not know well always makes us feel a little insecure to some degree. When we appreciate that, in one way or another, we are all vulnerable in our travels, we can expand our horizons toward welcome.

In welcoming the vulnerable or the displaced, we are in the company of the Lord. The Lord’s presence is reassuring and empowering of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to remove obstacles from one another’s path so we can travel safely. These gifts we use along the way are poured forth by the Holy Spirit as the virtues of faith, hope, and charity.

Even the briefest of pilgrimages, or travel, calls to mind the image of life as a journey. While some travel is for pleasure and adventure, other kinds of travel can be anxiety-inducing, and for some, wearying.

While I do not travel often, I do so enough to witness the experience of many “frequent flyers” who are constantly in transit for work or other responsibilities that keep them on the move. There is nothing pleasurable about that kind of ceaseless trek. When a long journey is made alone, it can also enhance the feeling of weariness and sometimes lead to a sense of insecurity.

Whether the road is short or long, by God’s plan, we are on a journey through this life to the next. While in transit, so to speak, the Lord gives us the mission of caring for one another. The companions we meet on life’s journey, as on any journey, determine whether our travel is a joyful adventure or tedious crawl. Even on the most arduous journey, we can learn and pass the time more profitably when we share conversation that begins with openness to others.

This short pilgrimage of mine, which included time in Mexico City at the foot of the Tepeyac Hill, where the Blessed Virgin appeared to the simple peasant and now the first canonized saint of the Americas, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, is a blessing. You can feel the Blessed Mother’s continuing embrace of all of her children at this Basilica Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. So many feel drawn to this shrine of Our Lady because of her reassuring maternal love that leads us to her Son. The Blessed Mother encourages us to be worthy disciples of her Son. Our goal to be faithful disciples is, in itself, a journey and one never made alone.

In first reaching out to Saint Juan Diego at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary provided yet another sign of God’s special love for the poor and the marginalized. That embrace continues. On this particular pilgrimage, we also walked in the footsteps of the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz, who is in the process of beatification and perhaps, one day, canonization. Father Schwartz founded the Sisters of Mary and the World Villages for Children Girlstown and Boystown and other orphanages for children who have no place to call “home.” Girlstowns and Boystowns provide places of safety and joy for so many boys and girls who have no safety net in life.

A few days before I left for the pilgrimage, one of our priests sent me some information on the upcoming (Sunday, Sept. 27) 112th World Day for Migrants and Refugees. I guess I had “missed” a notification, especially from the USCCB. The priest also shared information from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) about the 45th annual “National Migration Week,” sponsored by the Church in the United States, which will already have started but hopefully not finished by the time you are reading this.

For more information, see: National Migration Week to Focus on the Presence of Christ within Each Migrant Child. Very often, we can get lost in statistics when we discuss complex issues like immigration. The message of the Virgin Mary at Tepeyac and the example of Father Schwartz highlight our need to approach one another as companions on this life’s journey. In this way, we are more likely to open our hearts to understanding by seeking solutions that are durable, humane, and welcoming. When we welcome the poor and vulnerable with a generous response, we are embracing the Lord himself.

Pilgrims know that their destinations in this world are never final. We are “citizens of heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Our human condition means that each one of us is vulnerable along the way. The example of the Blessed Mother, who said to Saint Juan Diego, “Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” is a challenge to us all to have the courage to magnify the power of God’s presence through our love for one another.

The concrete acts of mercy by the Venerable Father Aloysius Schwartz demonstrate what a vision based on the absolute dignity of the human person, especially children, can produce: compassion and love multiplied by the power of God’s grace.

What can we do to help obtain dignity and safety for those involved in the tumultuous process of migration? First, we can pray for migrants and refugees themselves and pray for just laws and policies that reflect human dignity and love founded on justice. We can also welcome the stranger where and when we can. Recalling that we are all passing through this world, we can commit to making our shared journey more peaceful through care, compassion, and generous hospitality born of the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts.

Reminding us that in welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV exhorts us to open our hearts to vulnerable migrants and refugees so we are witnesses to the divine truth of our faith that “love can overcome indifference.” In recognizing this special week dedicated to Migrants and Refugees, we recommit ourselves to our commitment to make room on our own journeys for the displaced and vulnerable.

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

 

– “For this 112th World Day (of Migrants and Refugees), the theme ‘Even just one of these children,’ draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed them, and to the Lord’s promise that ‘whoever receives one such child in my name receives me’ (Mk. 9:37).” (From the first paragraph of Pope Leo XIV’s message. See: Message of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees) BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY I had thought that I may not be writing a column this week, because I

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Notre Dame theologian John Cavadini to receive 2026 Ratzinger Prize – #Catholic – John Cavadini, a professor of patristic theology at the University of Notre Dame, will receive the 2026 Ratzinger Prize.The Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI announced Cavadini as the winner of the prestigious award at a press briefing in Rome on Sept. 22. The foundation also said Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini on Dec. 19 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.Present to announce the winner on Sept. 22 at the Holy See Press Office were Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, and Pierluca Azzaro, secretary of the foundation.Cavadini will also be the third faculty member from the University of Notre Dame to receive the award, following Cyril O’Regan (2024) and Jesuit Father Brian E. Daley (2012). Since the award was established in 2011, the university has had the most winners of any institution.In a press release from the foundation, Cavadini expressed gratitude for the award, saying he sought to conduct his theology “as a man of the Church and, at the same time, as a man of academia.”The unique contributions of American theologiansCavadini has been affiliated with the University of Notre Dame since joining its faculty of theology in 1990. He also served as the director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life from 2000–2026.His research and teaching have focused on the theology of St. Augustine, an influential figure of the patristic era.Regoli praised Cavadini’s work for the “rigor of his theologicalpublications, his commitment and zeal in university teaching.” Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines of Tuesday’s press conference, he noted the unique contributions of theologians hailing from the United States. Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, speaks to EWTN News at the Holy See Press Office in Rome on Sept. 22, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News “Undoubtedly, the cultural debates in the United States of America do not concern only America; they are followed around the rest of the world,” Regoli told EWTN News. “Our cultural traditions have been more influenced by the thought of the United States of America, and for this reason it is important to look toward the Anglo-Saxon world, because in the different fields of science it has taken on a leadership role for several decades.”The renewed interest in the theology of Joseph RatzingerThe 2026 Ratzinger Prize is part of numerous initiatives to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who was later elected Pope Benedict XVI, in 2027. Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano Regoli also noted the renewed academic interest worldwide in Ratzinger’s life and theological legacy ahead of the anniversary year.“The legacy of Ratzinger speaks for itself,” Regoli told journalists on the sidelines.“If we look around us at an international level, even in recent years, Ratzinger chairs have been born everywhere: in Europe, in the United States, in Latin America, and in Africa. Many doctoral theses on him, books on him, or his books continue to be edited; they are numerous, and even for the centenary, many more will come out,” Regoli added.One of the foundation’s focuses during the anniversary year will be Ratzinger’s legacy in Africa, with Azzaro telling EWTN News that, as pope, Ratzinger “strongly believed that Africa had the spiritual reserves necessary for the West to flourish again.”
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Notre Dame theologian John Cavadini to receive 2026 Ratzinger Prize – #Catholic – John Cavadini, a professor of patristic theology at the University of Notre Dame, will receive the 2026 Ratzinger Prize.The Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI announced Cavadini as the winner of the prestigious award at a press briefing in Rome on Sept. 22. The foundation also said Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini on Dec. 19 at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.Present to announce the winner on Sept. 22 at the Holy See Press Office were Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, and Pierluca Azzaro, secretary of the foundation.Cavadini will also be the third faculty member from the University of Notre Dame to receive the award, following Cyril O’Regan (2024) and Jesuit Father Brian E. Daley (2012). Since the award was established in 2011, the university has had the most winners of any institution.In a press release from the foundation, Cavadini expressed gratitude for the award, saying he sought to conduct his theology “as a man of the Church and, at the same time, as a man of academia.”The unique contributions of American theologiansCavadini has been affiliated with the University of Notre Dame since joining its faculty of theology in 1990. He also served as the director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life from 2000–2026.His research and teaching have focused on the theology of St. Augustine, an influential figure of the patristic era.Regoli praised Cavadini’s work for the “rigor of his theologicalpublications, his commitment and zeal in university teaching.” Speaking to EWTN News on the sidelines of Tuesday’s press conference, he noted the unique contributions of theologians hailing from the United States. Father Roberto Regoli, president of the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger-Benedict XVI, speaks to EWTN News at the Holy See Press Office in Rome on Sept. 22, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News “Undoubtedly, the cultural debates in the United States of America do not concern only America; they are followed around the rest of the world,” Regoli told EWTN News. “Our cultural traditions have been more influenced by the thought of the United States of America, and for this reason it is important to look toward the Anglo-Saxon world, because in the different fields of science it has taken on a leadership role for several decades.”The renewed interest in the theology of Joseph RatzingerThe 2026 Ratzinger Prize is part of numerous initiatives to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Ratzinger, who was later elected Pope Benedict XVI, in 2027. Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: L’Osservatore Romano Regoli also noted the renewed academic interest worldwide in Ratzinger’s life and theological legacy ahead of the anniversary year.“The legacy of Ratzinger speaks for itself,” Regoli told journalists on the sidelines.“If we look around us at an international level, even in recent years, Ratzinger chairs have been born everywhere: in Europe, in the United States, in Latin America, and in Africa. Many doctoral theses on him, books on him, or his books continue to be edited; they are numerous, and even for the centenary, many more will come out,” Regoli added.One of the foundation’s focuses during the anniversary year will be Ratzinger’s legacy in Africa, with Azzaro telling EWTN News that, as pope, Ratzinger “strongly believed that Africa had the spiritual reserves necessary for the West to flourish again.”

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Pope Leo XIV will present the award to Cavadini at the Vatican on Dec. 19.

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Pope Leo XIV, in France, will bring Catholic social teaching to a secular Europe – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday, where across four days in three cities he will proclaim Catholic teaching to the heart of secular Europe on matters that include end-of-life questions, immigration, and artificial intelligence.The visit “will truly be a moment in which Leo’s project of making the Church’s social doctrine better known can take shape,” said Father Patrick Valdrini, a former rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris.France is statistically more secular than it was in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit to the country. The latest data on religious identity in France, in 2019-2020, found that 51% of adults in France say they have no religious affiliation, an 8% increase from a decade before. While 29% of the population identifies as Catholic, the survey found only 8% say they go to Church regularly, according to the Institut National D’Etudes Démographiques.Yet according to Cyprien Viet, a journalist with the French agency I.Media, the country has become more open to Catholicism in recent years. The reasons for this shift include sympathy for Christianity following attacks on churches and the 2016 killing by Islamist terrorists of Father Jacques Hamel, enhanced appreciation for France’s Christian heritage after the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and gratitude for the Church’s charitable service during the COVID-19 pandemic.More recently, “Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence [Magnifica Humanitas] has had a fairly strong impact in France, and people recognize that there is a need to explore these issues more deeply. The pope is helping greatly in providing points of reference,” Viet said.The challenge of laïcitéDuring his Sept. 25–28 visits to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will draw wide attention, not least because of France’s tradition of “laïcité,” a strict legal separation of Church and state.This policy has always involved a certain distrust, even hostility, toward the idea that faith can contribute something good to society, Valdrini said.“The concept of ‘laïcité’ emerged especially during the French Revolution, rooted in the view that religion hinders freedom and reason, that it is something burdensome rather than liberating,” he said.Among the most sensitive issues that the pope is expected to address are end-of-life questions. France legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia this summer, becoming the fifth European country to do so after Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain. In addition, Switzerland and Austria permit assisted suicide. Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering. It differs from assisted dying, in which the patient takes life-ending drugs himself, under a physician’s guidance. Both practices are prohibited by Catholic teaching. Francis X. Rocca, Vatican editor of EWTN News, interviews Charles Personnaz, French ambassador to the Holy See, at his offices in Rome on Sept. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News Charles Personnaz, France’s ambassador to the Holy See, says he expects the pope to speak out on the issue but to leave the political debate to the French bishops, who were already outspoken in their vigorous condemnation of the euthanasia bill before it passed in July.“I think the pope will certainly repeat what is the Catholic doctrine: the preservation of life from the beginning to … the natural end,” the ambassador said. “But he will also leave to … the French Catholic Church the debate with the political parties in France and the institutions. That is the subsidiarity that is at the heart of Catholic doctrine as well.”A message about human dignityOn a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Leo is expected to deliver a message about the inherent dignity of every human person, even when suffering from illness or disability.Meeting and praying with the sick and vulnerable at one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, the Holy Father will give a concrete sign of faith in the value of every human life.At the shrine he will also meet privately with victims of abuse in the Catholic Church in France and with the country’s bishops. The Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. | Credit: Christian Pablo Inglize/Shutterstock Leo is expected to address the global challenges posed by artificial intelligence when he speaks at the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in Paris on Sept. 25. On his last day, he will reflect on interreligious dialogue and the future of Europe at meetings in Metz.The pope’s visit to a migrant integration center run by the Archdiocese of Paris will touch on one of the most volatile political issues in Europe and beyond, and one closely tied to next year’s presidential election in France, in which the anti-immigration politician Marine Le Pen is the current frontrunner.Personnaz said he expects the pope’s comments on immigration to be well received, calling the pontiff’s previous statements on the topic “very balanced” with a focus on the responsibility of nations to help people stay in their homeland.State visit or apostolic journey?Pope Francis visited France three times during his pontificate, but Leo will be making the first state visit by a pope to France since Benedict XVI’s apostolic journey in 2008.The French Catholic newspaper La Croix has reported that the Holy See has refused some requests by the government, including a proposal that President Emmanuel Macron accompany the pontiff into Notre-Dame Cathedral for a prayer service on Sept. 25. The Holy See Press Office and the Élysée Palace, the official residence and office of the French president, did not respond to requests for comment on the report. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. | Credit: Mistervlad/Shutterstock According to Valdrini, Leo is following in the tradition of St. Paul VI, who sought to emphasize the pastoral character of his travel — the visit to a local Church by the successor of Peter — rather than his role as a head of state.“It will still be a state visit, and there will be official ceremonies, but it is clear that the pope wanted to emphasize, as previous popes did, this [apostolic] dimension of the journey,” Valdrini said.Catholicism growsDespite a lack of religious practice in France, enthusiasm for Pope Leo’s visit is high, as demonstrated by the response to his events with the public in France’s capital.Adolescents and young adults have snapped up tickets for a prayer vigil in the 81,000-seat Stade de France and an open-air Mass in Place de la Concorde. Paris’ largest public square may draw some of the biggest crowds of his pontificate thus far, with 600,000 people expected to fill the square and a nearly two-mile stretch of avenue connecting to the Arc de Triomphe. This enthusiasm is also reflected in an atypical outpouring of donations to the dioceses to cover organizational costs.Leo will address France’s Catholics at a critical juncture in their history, as they welcome rising numbers of converts. He is likely to encourage the nation traditionally known as “the eldest daughter of the Church” to rediscover her Catholic roots.This Easter, France recorded more than 20,000 adult and adolescent baptisms, a 20% increase from the already record-high number in 2025, which saw a 45% increase from 2024 figures.The phenomenon has prompted the bishops of Île de France, the ecclesiastical region that includes the Archdiocese of Paris, to convene a special council on how to respond to the huge influx of Catholic converts.“Today people have not inherited their faith … and so they are kind of ignorant about the Catholic heritage,” Personnaz said. “But when they discover it, they have no prejudices about it. And in a world where the youth are searching for a sense to [their] life, the Catholic proposal remains very interesting.”Francis X. Rocca and Victoria Cardiel contributed to this report.
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Pope Leo XIV, in France, will bring Catholic social teaching to a secular Europe – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV flies to France on Friday, where across four days in three cities he will proclaim Catholic teaching to the heart of secular Europe on matters that include end-of-life questions, immigration, and artificial intelligence.The visit “will truly be a moment in which Leo’s project of making the Church’s social doctrine better known can take shape,” said Father Patrick Valdrini, a former rector of the Institut Catholique de Paris.France is statistically more secular than it was in 2008, when Pope Benedict XVI made a pastoral visit to the country. The latest data on religious identity in France, in 2019-2020, found that 51% of adults in France say they have no religious affiliation, an 8% increase from a decade before. While 29% of the population identifies as Catholic, the survey found only 8% say they go to Church regularly, according to the Institut National D’Etudes Démographiques.Yet according to Cyprien Viet, a journalist with the French agency I.Media, the country has become more open to Catholicism in recent years. The reasons for this shift include sympathy for Christianity following attacks on churches and the 2016 killing by Islamist terrorists of Father Jacques Hamel, enhanced appreciation for France’s Christian heritage after the 2019 burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, and gratitude for the Church’s charitable service during the COVID-19 pandemic.More recently, “Pope Leo’s encyclical on artificial intelligence [Magnifica Humanitas] has had a fairly strong impact in France, and people recognize that there is a need to explore these issues more deeply. The pope is helping greatly in providing points of reference,” Viet said.The challenge of laïcitéDuring his Sept. 25–28 visits to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will draw wide attention, not least because of France’s tradition of “laïcité,” a strict legal separation of Church and state.This policy has always involved a certain distrust, even hostility, toward the idea that faith can contribute something good to society, Valdrini said.“The concept of ‘laïcité’ emerged especially during the French Revolution, rooted in the view that religion hinders freedom and reason, that it is something burdensome rather than liberating,” he said.Among the most sensitive issues that the pope is expected to address are end-of-life questions. France legalized assisted suicide and euthanasia this summer, becoming the fifth European country to do so after Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Spain. In addition, Switzerland and Austria permit assisted suicide. Euthanasia is the intentional ending of a person’s life to relieve suffering. It differs from assisted dying, in which the patient takes life-ending drugs himself, under a physician’s guidance. Both practices are prohibited by Catholic teaching. Francis X. Rocca, Vatican editor of EWTN News, interviews Charles Personnaz, French ambassador to the Holy See, at his offices in Rome on Sept. 10, 2026. | Credit: Daniel Ibanez/EWTN News Charles Personnaz, France’s ambassador to the Holy See, says he expects the pope to speak out on the issue but to leave the political debate to the French bishops, who were already outspoken in their vigorous condemnation of the euthanasia bill before it passed in July.“I think the pope will certainly repeat what is the Catholic doctrine: the preservation of life from the beginning to … the natural end,” the ambassador said. “But he will also leave to … the French Catholic Church the debate with the political parties in France and the institutions. That is the subsidiarity that is at the heart of Catholic doctrine as well.”A message about human dignityOn a visit to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Pope Leo is expected to deliver a message about the inherent dignity of every human person, even when suffering from illness or disability.Meeting and praying with the sick and vulnerable at one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world, the Holy Father will give a concrete sign of faith in the value of every human life.At the shrine he will also meet privately with victims of abuse in the Catholic Church in France and with the country’s bishops. The Massabielle Grotto in Lourdes, France. | Credit: Christian Pablo Inglize/Shutterstock Leo is expected to address the global challenges posed by artificial intelligence when he speaks at the headquarters of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, in Paris on Sept. 25. On his last day, he will reflect on interreligious dialogue and the future of Europe at meetings in Metz.The pope’s visit to a migrant integration center run by the Archdiocese of Paris will touch on one of the most volatile political issues in Europe and beyond, and one closely tied to next year’s presidential election in France, in which the anti-immigration politician Marine Le Pen is the current frontrunner.Personnaz said he expects the pope’s comments on immigration to be well received, calling the pontiff’s previous statements on the topic “very balanced” with a focus on the responsibility of nations to help people stay in their homeland.State visit or apostolic journey?Pope Francis visited France three times during his pontificate, but Leo will be making the first state visit by a pope to France since Benedict XVI’s apostolic journey in 2008.The French Catholic newspaper La Croix has reported that the Holy See has refused some requests by the government, including a proposal that President Emmanuel Macron accompany the pontiff into Notre-Dame Cathedral for a prayer service on Sept. 25. The Holy See Press Office and the Élysée Palace, the official residence and office of the French president, did not respond to requests for comment on the report. Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. | Credit: Mistervlad/Shutterstock According to Valdrini, Leo is following in the tradition of St. Paul VI, who sought to emphasize the pastoral character of his travel — the visit to a local Church by the successor of Peter — rather than his role as a head of state.“It will still be a state visit, and there will be official ceremonies, but it is clear that the pope wanted to emphasize, as previous popes did, this [apostolic] dimension of the journey,” Valdrini said.Catholicism growsDespite a lack of religious practice in France, enthusiasm for Pope Leo’s visit is high, as demonstrated by the response to his events with the public in France’s capital.Adolescents and young adults have snapped up tickets for a prayer vigil in the 81,000-seat Stade de France and an open-air Mass in Place de la Concorde. Paris’ largest public square may draw some of the biggest crowds of his pontificate thus far, with 600,000 people expected to fill the square and a nearly two-mile stretch of avenue connecting to the Arc de Triomphe. This enthusiasm is also reflected in an atypical outpouring of donations to the dioceses to cover organizational costs.Leo will address France’s Catholics at a critical juncture in their history, as they welcome rising numbers of converts. He is likely to encourage the nation traditionally known as “the eldest daughter of the Church” to rediscover her Catholic roots.This Easter, France recorded more than 20,000 adult and adolescent baptisms, a 20% increase from the already record-high number in 2025, which saw a 45% increase from 2024 figures.The phenomenon has prompted the bishops of Île de France, the ecclesiastical region that includes the Archdiocese of Paris, to convene a special council on how to respond to the huge influx of Catholic converts.“Today people have not inherited their faith … and so they are kind of ignorant about the Catholic heritage,” Personnaz said. “But when they discover it, they have no prejudices about it. And in a world where the youth are searching for a sense to [their] life, the Catholic proposal remains very interesting.”Francis X. Rocca and Victoria Cardiel contributed to this report.

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During his Sept. 25–28 visit to Paris, Lourdes, and Metz, Leo’s approach to sharing the Catholic Church’s teaching on political and social issues will be highly watched.

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Fragments of medieval Gospel of St. Mark-turned-relic reunited after 7 centuries – #Catholic – For the first time in seven centuries, Aquileia, a city in northeastern Italy with a fascinating past, has reunited the three scattered fragments of a sixth-century manuscript that for centuries was venerated as if it were the Gospel written by St. Markʼs own hand.The author of the Gospel that bears his name was St. Peter’s interpreter and secretary. He followed the apostle to Rome, where he witnessed his preaching in the homes of the first followers of Christ, who dared to defy the Roman Empire’s laws governing worship.St. Mark carefully recorded every courageous word of that early catechesis, and his notes became a firsthand source for the story of Jesus’ life.Today, Aquileia, a small town of just over 3,000 inhabitants, treasures St. Mark’s memory as the founder of one of the most flourishing Christian communities of the Middle Ages. The Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi After the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the city, situated at the crossroads of East and West and serving as a bridge between the Mediterranean world and Slavic culture, became a center for the spread of Christianity into Central Europe and the Balkans.By the fifth century, it had even been honored with the title of apostolic city, and its bishop held the rank of patriarch. That privilege was reserved only for dioceses that traced their origins to the preaching of an apostle.“We preserve extraordinary medieval frescoes in the basilica depicting St. Mark arriving here to found the city’s first Christian community. That is why we believe he truly came to Aquileia,” Aquileia tour guide Anna Sairu told “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.The codex that became a relicOne of the principal witnesses to this tradition is the “Codex Forojuliensis,” also known as the “Cividale Gospel Book.” The sixth-century manuscript, written in uncial script, the calligraphy reserved for sacred texts, originally contained all four Gospels in St. Jerome’s Latin translation.Scholars believe it was most likely produced in Ravenna, Italy. From there it arrived in Aquileia during the second half of the ninth century, where it was authenticated by the signature of Theodemar, patriarch of Aquileia.The presence of the codex strengthened the tradition linking St. Mark to the evangelization of the region. Its significance became so great that in 827 the Synod of Mantua recognized Aquileia’s ecclesiastical supremacy over Grado.Venice looked with suspicion on the growing religious prestige of its neighbor. Just a year later, in 828, Venetian merchants brought the relics attributed to the evangelist from Alexandria to the city on the lagoon. In doing so, “The Most Serene Republic” of Venice gained a patron of apostolic rank and strengthened the religious and political foundations of its power. Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The fragmented GospelBetween the 12th and 13th centuries, the seven quires — folded sheets of paper stitched into booklets — containing the Gospel of Mark were separated from the rest of the codex, rebound independently, and covered with an elaborate gilded silver binding that transformed the book into an object of veneration resembling a reliquary.From that point on, the manuscript ceased to be viewed as merely an ancient copy and began to be regarded as an autograph written by St. Mark himself. Medieval inventories of the Patriarchal Treasury of Aquileia reflect this belief.“The Gospel was fragmented when it was removed from the Gospel book containing all four Gospels and began to be regarded as an autograph of the evangelist himself. This is connected to the tradition that St. Mark evangelized this region of Italy, Aquileia, and its surrounding territory. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Gospel of Mark acquired a life of its own and came to be regarded as an extraordinary relic,” Cristiano Tiussi, director of the Aquileia Foundation and curator of the exhibition, told “EWTN Noticias.”The emperor who wanted a piece of St. MarkThe fame of the supposed authentic Gospel of St. Mark quickly spread across Europe. In 1354, while traveling to Rome to receive the imperial crown, Charles IV of Luxembourg stopped in Aquileia. At the time, his half-brother, Nicholas of Luxembourg, served as patriarch there. Gilded silver cover that helped transform the medieval Codex of the Gospel of St. Mark into an object of veneration similar to a reliquary. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The emperor requested part of the revered manuscript and received two of the seven quires that comprised the Gospel of Mark. Those pages were taken to Prague, where they were deposited in St. Vitus Cathedral alongside the relics of St. Wenceslaus. Over the centuries, they became the oldest written document preserved in Czech libraries.The exhibition even displays the original documents recording Charles IV’s request to the patriarch of Aquileia.“Possessing part of the Gospel of St. Mark meant owning not only a religious relic but also a symbol of prestige, legitimacy, and power,” Tiussi noted.The conquest of VeniceThe remainder of the manuscript remained in Aquileia until May 30, 1420, when Doge Tommaso Mocenigo conquered the city. Venice then claimed the remaining fragments, arguing that they belonged beside the evangelist’s tomb in the Basilica of St. Mark.Their transfer symbolized Aquileia’s definitive incorporation into the Venetian sphere.The gesture also carried an unmistakable political significance. If Venice had claimed custody of the evangelist’s body since 828, it now also acquired part of the manuscript believed by tradition to have been written by his hand.As a result, the Gospel of Mark became permanently divided among the cities of Cividale del Friuli, Venice, and Prague.For the manuscript itself, however, the consequences proved devastating. Humidity from the Venetian lagoon gradually damaged the pages until they became almost illegible. Today, those remnants are preserved in a reliquary display case within the Treasury of St. Mark. One of the fragments of the sixth-century manuscript venerated as a relic, attributed to the authorship of the Evangelist St. Mark. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi A medieval FacebookThe exhibition offers visitors a second surprise. Before it was dismantled, the manuscript served as a “Liber Vitae,” or “Book of the Living.” More than 1,500 names were entered into its pages by people who wished to be remembered in the prayers of the monastic community that safeguarded the codex.“This is one of the features that makes this Gospel book exceptional. In Italy, we know of only two Carolingian-era ‘libri vitae.’ This is one of them. These inscriptions, written in a hand different from the original uncial script, were initially simple liturgical annotations. They are notes written on the Gospel between the seventh and eighth centuries indicating which passages should be read during particular periods of the year or providing other instructions for the book’s liturgical use,” said Luca Villa, another curator of the exhibition.Beginning in the second half of the ninth century, the names of benefactors, nobles, pilgrims, and distinguished visitors were added.Among them were figures as notable as Emperor Louis II the Younger and his wife Engelberga, the Moravian prince Svatopluk, and envoys from the newly Christianized Kingdom of Bulgaria.“There are more than 1,500 important figures who wrote their names in the Gospel, not merely to leave a record of themselves but because they believed that by doing so they would share in the liturgical celebrations every time the book was used in the church where it was kept,” Villa told “EWTN Noticias.”For historians, these lists provide an extraordinary window into medieval Europe. They reveal a network of contacts, pilgrimages, and cultural exchanges linking distant regions centuries before the emergence of modern nation-states.A European storyNow, for the first time in roughly 700 years, the three surviving portions of the Gospel have been reunited. Fresco of St. Mark in the Basilica of Aquileia. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The quires preserved in Prague have left the Czech Republic for the first time. The fragments kept in Venice have temporarily departed St. Mark’s Basilica. Together with the pages preserved in Friuli, they reconstruct a story that had remained fragmented since the Middle Ages.Czech curator Martina Dlabajová said she believes the reunion also symbolizes the very essence of Europe.“What is beautiful is that, while acknowledging that each fragment has had a different history and followed a different path, by bringing them together we have chosen to embrace that shared history. That is why the exhibition’s title speaks of ‘Seven Centuries, Three Fragments, One European Story,’ because the three fragments never ceased to be part of a common narrative, and that narrative is a European one,” she explained.“I also like to emphasize that Europe itself should recognize differences, accept that distinct histories exist, and understand that those different histories from various countries enrich our shared history,” she added in comments to “EWTN Noticias.” An information booklet for the exhibit “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” open to visitors until April 25, 2027. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” will remain open through April 2027. Due to the fragility of the parchment, however, restrictions are necessary. The original manuscripts will be on display only during the exhibition’s first six weeks. They will then be replaced by high-resolution digital reproductions.This report was made possible thanks to the support of the Aquileia Foundation.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Fragments of medieval Gospel of St. Mark-turned-relic reunited after 7 centuries – #Catholic – For the first time in seven centuries, Aquileia, a city in northeastern Italy with a fascinating past, has reunited the three scattered fragments of a sixth-century manuscript that for centuries was venerated as if it were the Gospel written by St. Markʼs own hand.The author of the Gospel that bears his name was St. Peter’s interpreter and secretary. He followed the apostle to Rome, where he witnessed his preaching in the homes of the first followers of Christ, who dared to defy the Roman Empire’s laws governing worship.St. Mark carefully recorded every courageous word of that early catechesis, and his notes became a firsthand source for the story of Jesus’ life.Today, Aquileia, a small town of just over 3,000 inhabitants, treasures St. Mark’s memory as the founder of one of the most flourishing Christian communities of the Middle Ages. The Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi After the Edict of Milan in A.D. 313, the city, situated at the crossroads of East and West and serving as a bridge between the Mediterranean world and Slavic culture, became a center for the spread of Christianity into Central Europe and the Balkans.By the fifth century, it had even been honored with the title of apostolic city, and its bishop held the rank of patriarch. That privilege was reserved only for dioceses that traced their origins to the preaching of an apostle.“We preserve extraordinary medieval frescoes in the basilica depicting St. Mark arriving here to found the city’s first Christian community. That is why we believe he truly came to Aquileia,” Aquileia tour guide Anna Sairu told “EWTN Noticias,” the Spanish-language broadcast edition of EWTN News.The codex that became a relicOne of the principal witnesses to this tradition is the “Codex Forojuliensis,” also known as the “Cividale Gospel Book.” The sixth-century manuscript, written in uncial script, the calligraphy reserved for sacred texts, originally contained all four Gospels in St. Jerome’s Latin translation.Scholars believe it was most likely produced in Ravenna, Italy. From there it arrived in Aquileia during the second half of the ninth century, where it was authenticated by the signature of Theodemar, patriarch of Aquileia.The presence of the codex strengthened the tradition linking St. Mark to the evangelization of the region. Its significance became so great that in 827 the Synod of Mantua recognized Aquileia’s ecclesiastical supremacy over Grado.Venice looked with suspicion on the growing religious prestige of its neighbor. Just a year later, in 828, Venetian merchants brought the relics attributed to the evangelist from Alexandria to the city on the lagoon. In doing so, “The Most Serene Republic” of Venice gained a patron of apostolic rank and strengthened the religious and political foundations of its power. Basilica of Aquileia, home to the largest and best preserved early Christian mosaic in the Western world. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The fragmented GospelBetween the 12th and 13th centuries, the seven quires — folded sheets of paper stitched into booklets — containing the Gospel of Mark were separated from the rest of the codex, rebound independently, and covered with an elaborate gilded silver binding that transformed the book into an object of veneration resembling a reliquary.From that point on, the manuscript ceased to be viewed as merely an ancient copy and began to be regarded as an autograph written by St. Mark himself. Medieval inventories of the Patriarchal Treasury of Aquileia reflect this belief.“The Gospel was fragmented when it was removed from the Gospel book containing all four Gospels and began to be regarded as an autograph of the evangelist himself. This is connected to the tradition that St. Mark evangelized this region of Italy, Aquileia, and its surrounding territory. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the Gospel of Mark acquired a life of its own and came to be regarded as an extraordinary relic,” Cristiano Tiussi, director of the Aquileia Foundation and curator of the exhibition, told “EWTN Noticias.”The emperor who wanted a piece of St. MarkThe fame of the supposed authentic Gospel of St. Mark quickly spread across Europe. In 1354, while traveling to Rome to receive the imperial crown, Charles IV of Luxembourg stopped in Aquileia. At the time, his half-brother, Nicholas of Luxembourg, served as patriarch there. Gilded silver cover that helped transform the medieval Codex of the Gospel of St. Mark into an object of veneration similar to a reliquary. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The emperor requested part of the revered manuscript and received two of the seven quires that comprised the Gospel of Mark. Those pages were taken to Prague, where they were deposited in St. Vitus Cathedral alongside the relics of St. Wenceslaus. Over the centuries, they became the oldest written document preserved in Czech libraries.The exhibition even displays the original documents recording Charles IV’s request to the patriarch of Aquileia.“Possessing part of the Gospel of St. Mark meant owning not only a religious relic but also a symbol of prestige, legitimacy, and power,” Tiussi noted.The conquest of VeniceThe remainder of the manuscript remained in Aquileia until May 30, 1420, when Doge Tommaso Mocenigo conquered the city. Venice then claimed the remaining fragments, arguing that they belonged beside the evangelist’s tomb in the Basilica of St. Mark.Their transfer symbolized Aquileia’s definitive incorporation into the Venetian sphere.The gesture also carried an unmistakable political significance. If Venice had claimed custody of the evangelist’s body since 828, it now also acquired part of the manuscript believed by tradition to have been written by his hand.As a result, the Gospel of Mark became permanently divided among the cities of Cividale del Friuli, Venice, and Prague.For the manuscript itself, however, the consequences proved devastating. Humidity from the Venetian lagoon gradually damaged the pages until they became almost illegible. Today, those remnants are preserved in a reliquary display case within the Treasury of St. Mark. One of the fragments of the sixth-century manuscript venerated as a relic, attributed to the authorship of the Evangelist St. Mark. | Credit: Courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi A medieval FacebookThe exhibition offers visitors a second surprise. Before it was dismantled, the manuscript served as a “Liber Vitae,” or “Book of the Living.” More than 1,500 names were entered into its pages by people who wished to be remembered in the prayers of the monastic community that safeguarded the codex.“This is one of the features that makes this Gospel book exceptional. In Italy, we know of only two Carolingian-era ‘libri vitae.’ This is one of them. These inscriptions, written in a hand different from the original uncial script, were initially simple liturgical annotations. They are notes written on the Gospel between the seventh and eighth centuries indicating which passages should be read during particular periods of the year or providing other instructions for the book’s liturgical use,” said Luca Villa, another curator of the exhibition.Beginning in the second half of the ninth century, the names of benefactors, nobles, pilgrims, and distinguished visitors were added.Among them were figures as notable as Emperor Louis II the Younger and his wife Engelberga, the Moravian prince Svatopluk, and envoys from the newly Christianized Kingdom of Bulgaria.“There are more than 1,500 important figures who wrote their names in the Gospel, not merely to leave a record of themselves but because they believed that by doing so they would share in the liturgical celebrations every time the book was used in the church where it was kept,” Villa told “EWTN Noticias.”For historians, these lists provide an extraordinary window into medieval Europe. They reveal a network of contacts, pilgrimages, and cultural exchanges linking distant regions centuries before the emergence of modern nation-states.A European storyNow, for the first time in roughly 700 years, the three surviving portions of the Gospel have been reunited. Fresco of St. Mark in the Basilica of Aquileia. | Credit: Victoria Cardiel/EWTN News The quires preserved in Prague have left the Czech Republic for the first time. The fragments kept in Venice have temporarily departed St. Mark’s Basilica. Together with the pages preserved in Friuli, they reconstruct a story that had remained fragmented since the Middle Ages.Czech curator Martina Dlabajová said she believes the reunion also symbolizes the very essence of Europe.“What is beautiful is that, while acknowledging that each fragment has had a different history and followed a different path, by bringing them together we have chosen to embrace that shared history. That is why the exhibition’s title speaks of ‘Seven Centuries, Three Fragments, One European Story,’ because the three fragments never ceased to be part of a common narrative, and that narrative is a European one,” she explained.“I also like to emphasize that Europe itself should recognize differences, accept that distinct histories exist, and understand that those different histories from various countries enrich our shared history,” she added in comments to “EWTN Noticias.” An information booklet for the exhibit “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” open to visitors until April 25, 2027. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Tseng Kuang Yi The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” will remain open through April 2027. Due to the fragility of the parchment, however, restrictions are necessary. The original manuscripts will be on display only during the exhibition’s first six weeks. They will then be replaced by high-resolution digital reproductions.This report was made possible thanks to the support of the Aquileia Foundation.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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The exhibition, “The Gospel of Mark: Seven Centuries. Three Fragments. One European Story,” has made it possible to view the original sixth-century manuscripts once venerated as relics.

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A bubble adrift

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Riccardo Maffioli from Albizzate, Varese, Italy The Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7 or PN Ju 1), a little-studied planetary nebula in Cygnus near the better-known Crescent Nebula, is the shell cast off by a dying Sun-like star. Its near-perfect sphere, roughly 4′ across was only discovered in 2008; its faintness and position against other emissionContinue reading “A bubble adrift”

The post A bubble adrift appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Trump Revokes Grima Wormtongue’s Press Credentials #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the latest escalation of his administration’s ongoing feud with the mainstream media, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the White House had revoked the press credentials of longtime CNN correspondent Gríma Wormtongue.
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Trump Revokes Grima Wormtongue’s Press Credentials #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the latest escalation of his administration’s ongoing feud with the mainstream media, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the White House had revoked the press credentials of longtime CNN correspondent Gríma Wormtongue.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In the latest escalation of his administration’s ongoing feud with the mainstream media, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the White House had revoked the press credentials of longtime CNN correspondent Gríma Wormtongue.

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RFK Jr. Teams Up With Starbucks To Introduce New Beef Tallow Spice Frappuccino #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he was teaming up with Starbucks to create a bold new Beef Tallow Spice Frappuccino as a healthier fall option for consumers.
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RFK Jr. Teams Up With Starbucks To Introduce New Beef Tallow Spice Frappuccino #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he was teaming up with Starbucks to create a bold new Beef Tallow Spice Frappuccino as a healthier fall option for consumers.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he was teaming up with Starbucks to create a bold new Beef Tallow Spice Frappuccino as a healthier fall option for consumers.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 22 September 2026 – A reading from the Book Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13 Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it. All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart– the tillage of the wicked is sin. The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty. Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares. The soul of the wicked man desires evil; his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes. When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser; when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge. The just man appraises the house of the wicked: there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin. He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.From the Gospel according to Luke 8:19-21 The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers  are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”Jesus continued speaking with the people, and He loved the people and loved the crowd, so much so that He said, “These who follow me, that vast crowd, are my mother and my brothers; they are these”. And He explained: [They are] those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. These are the two conditions for following Jesus: listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice. This is Christian life, nothing more. Simple, simple. (…) Every time we do this – we open the Gospel and read a passage, and ask ourselves: “Is God speaking to me with this, is He saying something to me? And if He is saying something, what is He saying?” – this is listening to the Word of God, listening to it with our ears and listening to it with our hearts. Opening our hearts to the Word of God. Jesus’ enemies listened to His words, but they stayed close to Him to try and find a mistake, to trip Him up, and to undermine His authority. Yet they never asked themselves: “What is God saying to me in this Word?” And God does not speak merely to everyone: yes, He speaks to everyone, but He speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each and every one of us. (…) The Lord sows His Word, always; He merely asks for an open heart to hear it and a willingness to put it into practice. Let us therefore make today’s prayer that of the Psalm: “Lead me in the path of thy commandments”, that is, the path of Your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to put it into practice. (Pope Francis, Homily of 23 September 2014)

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A reading from the Book Proverbs
21:1-6, 10-13

Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.

To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.

The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.

Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.

When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.

From the Gospel according to Luke
8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers 
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Jesus continued speaking with the people, and He loved the people and loved the crowd, so much so that He said, “These who follow me, that vast crowd, are my mother and my brothers; they are these”. And He explained: [They are] those who listen to the Word of God and put it into practice. These are the two conditions for following Jesus: listening to the Word of God and putting it into practice. This is Christian life, nothing more. Simple, simple. (…) Every time we do this – we open the Gospel and read a passage, and ask ourselves: “Is God speaking to me with this, is He saying something to me? And if He is saying something, what is He saying?” – this is listening to the Word of God, listening to it with our ears and listening to it with our hearts. Opening our hearts to the Word of God. Jesus’ enemies listened to His words, but they stayed close to Him to try and find a mistake, to trip Him up, and to undermine His authority. Yet they never asked themselves: “What is God saying to me in this Word?” And God does not speak merely to everyone: yes, He speaks to everyone, but He speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each and every one of us. (…) The Lord sows His Word, always; He merely asks for an open heart to hear it and a willingness to put it into practice. Let us therefore make today’s prayer that of the Psalm: “Lead me in the path of thy commandments”, that is, the path of Your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to put it into practice. (Pope Francis, Homily of 23 September 2014)

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Vatican group to discuss AI, human dignity with world leaders at UN General Assembly #Catholic A Vatican-led organization is meeting with world leaders on artificial intelligence, human dignity, the common good, and other aspects of Catholic social teaching on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week.The “Borgo Dialogues,” organized by the Vatican-run Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, began on Sept. 20 and will continue until Sept. 23 in New York, in conjunction with the U.N. meeting.According to a news release, the gathering will focus on the question “What are we building, for whom, and who will inherit it?” The invitation-only meetings include leaders in business, finance, academia, faith, healthcare, sports, civil society, and international institutions.“The Borgo Dialogues represent an invitation to courageous leadership rooted in listening, encounter and shared responsibility,” Cardinal Fabio Baggio, director general of the Laudato Si’ Center and founder of the Borgo Dialogues, said in a statement.“At a moment when many institutions face growing fragmentation and distrust, we need spaces where leaders can engage difficult questions honestly, build trust across differences and commit themselves to actions that uphold human dignity and advance the common good,” he said.The Borgo Dialogues initiative began in June with a meeting at the Vatican. It is inspired by papal teachings contained in Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.According to the news release, the main focus of the talks is AI and work transformation, healthcare and human dignity, sustainable development, systems-level change across industries, and the evolving responsibilities of leaders navigating an increasingly interconnected world.The news release states there is a shared commitment to designing technologies, institutions, and systems that recognize the inherent dignity of each person, with a focus on those who are most vulnerable.“The world’s most urgent challenges require relationships that rise above institutions and ideologies,” said Father Daniel G. Groody, CSC, a member of the Laudato Si’ Center’s General Council.“The Borgo Dialogues create a distinctive environment where intellectual rigor, moral purpose and practical leadership come together, helping diverse leaders transform reflection into responsibility and ideas into action,” said Groody, who is also the vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame.The inaugural Borgo Dialogues were held in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, Vatican State, from June 17–19. It included more than 80 participants. The Laudato Si’ Center is expected to present proposals to the World Economic Forum based on the discussions.The 81st U.N. General Assembly began on Sept. 8 in New York. General debate meetings begin on Sept. 22 and end on Sept. 28.
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Vatican group to discuss AI, human dignity with world leaders at UN General Assembly #Catholic A Vatican-led organization is meeting with world leaders on artificial intelligence, human dignity, the common good, and other aspects of Catholic social teaching on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week.The “Borgo Dialogues,” organized by the Vatican-run Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, began on Sept. 20 and will continue until Sept. 23 in New York, in conjunction with the U.N. meeting.According to a news release, the gathering will focus on the question “What are we building, for whom, and who will inherit it?” The invitation-only meetings include leaders in business, finance, academia, faith, healthcare, sports, civil society, and international institutions.“The Borgo Dialogues represent an invitation to courageous leadership rooted in listening, encounter and shared responsibility,” Cardinal Fabio Baggio, director general of the Laudato Si’ Center and founder of the Borgo Dialogues, said in a statement.“At a moment when many institutions face growing fragmentation and distrust, we need spaces where leaders can engage difficult questions honestly, build trust across differences and commit themselves to actions that uphold human dignity and advance the common good,” he said.The Borgo Dialogues initiative began in June with a meeting at the Vatican. It is inspired by papal teachings contained in Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti and Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.According to the news release, the main focus of the talks is AI and work transformation, healthcare and human dignity, sustainable development, systems-level change across industries, and the evolving responsibilities of leaders navigating an increasingly interconnected world.The news release states there is a shared commitment to designing technologies, institutions, and systems that recognize the inherent dignity of each person, with a focus on those who are most vulnerable.“The world’s most urgent challenges require relationships that rise above institutions and ideologies,” said Father Daniel G. Groody, CSC, a member of the Laudato Si’ Center’s General Council.“The Borgo Dialogues create a distinctive environment where intellectual rigor, moral purpose and practical leadership come together, helping diverse leaders transform reflection into responsibility and ideas into action,” said Groody, who is also the vice president and associate provost for undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame.The inaugural Borgo Dialogues were held in the Pontifical Gardens of Castel Gandolfo, Vatican State, from June 17–19. It included more than 80 participants. The Laudato Si’ Center is expected to present proposals to the World Economic Forum based on the discussions.The 81st U.N. General Assembly began on Sept. 8 in New York. General debate meetings begin on Sept. 22 and end on Sept. 28.

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The discussion focuses on the question “What are we building, for whom, and who will inherit it?”

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EWTN News’ Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi crowned as Polish speech champion #Catholic Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi, a Polish correspondent for EWTN News and a longtime Vatican affairs expert, was crowned Poland’s speech champion on Sept. 19.She received the honor at the 26th edition of the Master of Polish Speech (Mistrz Mowy Polskiej) Social Program awards ceremony in Ostrowiec, Poland. The prestigious award was decided by a nationwide poll in Poland, with the winner selected by text votes. Among those in attendance were Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Ostrowiec Mayor Artur Łakomiec.The award “Master of Polish Speech Vox Populi” was established in 2000 as a nationwide initiative to promote the Polish language and culture. Wolińska-Riedi, who joined EWTN News as a Vatican correspondent in 2024, described the award as recognition of the valuable contributions of Poles living in the diaspora.“I did not think they would think about me,” Wolińska-Riedi told EWTN News. “Usually, the winners are important and very famous actors and journalists from Poland, hosts of different Polish programs, and scientists and so on. To be recognized after having spent so many years abroad in Rome as a journalist was an honor.” Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi reports during Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Uganda, Sept. 6–9, 2024. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi Wolińska-Riedi joined the EWTN News Vatican Bureau after spending more than 20 years living and working inside Vatican City. After completing her doctorate in Church studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, she continued to serve there as the Polish correspondent in Italy for Telewizja Polska, the oldest and largest Polish television network. She has also translated works from Polish to Italian and Latin for the Roman Rota, the Church’s highest court of appeals.While living in Vatican City, where she is also a citizen by marriage, she developed a close friendship with St. John Paul II, who was Polish.Speaking to EWTN News, she acknowledged the challenges of staying connected to her native Poland while living and working abroad in another language. She also said that while receiving the award was a profound honor, her greatest honor is being a proud mother of two daughters who speak Polish.“My two daughters have grown up really with the Polish language, and Iʼm very proud of it,” she said.
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EWTN News’ Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi crowned as Polish speech champion #Catholic Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi, a Polish correspondent for EWTN News and a longtime Vatican affairs expert, was crowned Poland’s speech champion on Sept. 19.She received the honor at the 26th edition of the Master of Polish Speech (Mistrz Mowy Polskiej) Social Program awards ceremony in Ostrowiec, Poland. The prestigious award was decided by a nationwide poll in Poland, with the winner selected by text votes. Among those in attendance were Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and Ostrowiec Mayor Artur Łakomiec.The award “Master of Polish Speech Vox Populi” was established in 2000 as a nationwide initiative to promote the Polish language and culture. Wolińska-Riedi, who joined EWTN News as a Vatican correspondent in 2024, described the award as recognition of the valuable contributions of Poles living in the diaspora.“I did not think they would think about me,” Wolińska-Riedi told EWTN News. “Usually, the winners are important and very famous actors and journalists from Poland, hosts of different Polish programs, and scientists and so on. To be recognized after having spent so many years abroad in Rome as a journalist was an honor.” Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi reports during Pope Francis’ apostolic journey to Uganda, Sept. 6–9, 2024. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Magdalena Wolińska-Riedi Wolińska-Riedi joined the EWTN News Vatican Bureau after spending more than 20 years living and working inside Vatican City. After completing her doctorate in Church studies from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, she continued to serve there as the Polish correspondent in Italy for Telewizja Polska, the oldest and largest Polish television network. She has also translated works from Polish to Italian and Latin for the Roman Rota, the Church’s highest court of appeals.While living in Vatican City, where she is also a citizen by marriage, she developed a close friendship with St. John Paul II, who was Polish.Speaking to EWTN News, she acknowledged the challenges of staying connected to her native Poland while living and working abroad in another language. She also said that while receiving the award was a profound honor, her greatest honor is being a proud mother of two daughters who speak Polish.“My two daughters have grown up really with the Polish language, and Iʼm very proud of it,” she said.

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The longtime Vatican journalist and writer received the award in Ostrowiec, Poland, on Sept. 21.

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Catholic Church in U.S. to focus National Migration Week on migrant children – #Catholic – The situations faced by migrant and refugee children will be the focus of the U.S. Catholic Churchʼs 2026 National Migration Week, addressing the same concerns expressed by Pope Leo XIV in his message for this yearʼs World Day of Migrants and Refugees.National Migration Week will begin on Monday, Sept. 21, and conclude on Sunday, Sept. 27, the day the Catholic Church observes the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.On its website, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that in solidarity with the pontiff, it will adopt the theme “Even One of These Little Ones,” the same theme chosen by Leo XIV for the global observance.In his message, Leo XIV explains that this theme “draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed to them, and to the Lord’s promise that “whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.’”The chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, Bishop Brendan Cahill, noted that the Catholic Church, “in this country and beyond has a long, inspiring history of caring for migrant and refugee children.”In the United States, this history spans “from the days of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and her sisters sheltering many orphaned immigrant children when few others looked their way to today’s diocesan charities providing them and their families with vital support,” he noted.The Italian saint and her sisters arrived in New York in 1889, where they encountered a very harsh pastoral reality among European immigrants. Yet, despite the difficulties, the sisters managed to open an orphanage, a home for themselves, and a school for the children.Cahill expressed his gratitude to law enforcement officers, social workers, pastoral staff, and caregivers who look after the safety and well-being of migrant and refugee minors.However, he added, “[a]s we see protections for this population being undermined in various ways, including prolonged stays in detention and decreased access to legal representation, we urge governments and communities to ensure a high level of care rooted in their God-given human dignity.”“This requires promoting family unity and reunification whenever possible,” he said.Therefore, the USCCB invited the nation’s Catholics amid “heightened social tensions regarding immigration” to reflect “on how our faith is calling us to respond to this most vulnerable group.”Toward this end, the bishops’ conference is encouraging “dioceses, parishes, schools, and organizations nationwide to mark this observance with prayer, educational programs, pastoral outreach and support for migration-related ministries.”For its part, the USCCB’s Secretariat of Migration will host a webinar on Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. ET featuring “several expert panelists who will highlight some of the key implications of this yearʼs theme."“These experts will shed light on both the international and domestic dynamics facing children in the context of migration,” the bishops’ conference explained.Those interested in participating in the webinar may register at this link.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Catholic Church in U.S. to focus National Migration Week on migrant children – #Catholic – The situations faced by migrant and refugee children will be the focus of the U.S. Catholic Churchʼs 2026 National Migration Week, addressing the same concerns expressed by Pope Leo XIV in his message for this yearʼs World Day of Migrants and Refugees.National Migration Week will begin on Monday, Sept. 21, and conclude on Sunday, Sept. 27, the day the Catholic Church observes the 112th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.On its website, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) announced that in solidarity with the pontiff, it will adopt the theme “Even One of These Little Ones,” the same theme chosen by Leo XIV for the global observance.In his message, Leo XIV explains that this theme “draws our attention to the minors directly involved in the experience of migration and flight, to the care owed to them, and to the Lord’s promise that “whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.’”The chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, Bishop Brendan Cahill, noted that the Catholic Church, “in this country and beyond has a long, inspiring history of caring for migrant and refugee children.”In the United States, this history spans “from the days of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and her sisters sheltering many orphaned immigrant children when few others looked their way to today’s diocesan charities providing them and their families with vital support,” he noted.The Italian saint and her sisters arrived in New York in 1889, where they encountered a very harsh pastoral reality among European immigrants. Yet, despite the difficulties, the sisters managed to open an orphanage, a home for themselves, and a school for the children.Cahill expressed his gratitude to law enforcement officers, social workers, pastoral staff, and caregivers who look after the safety and well-being of migrant and refugee minors.However, he added, “[a]s we see protections for this population being undermined in various ways, including prolonged stays in detention and decreased access to legal representation, we urge governments and communities to ensure a high level of care rooted in their God-given human dignity.”“This requires promoting family unity and reunification whenever possible,” he said.Therefore, the USCCB invited the nation’s Catholics amid “heightened social tensions regarding immigration” to reflect “on how our faith is calling us to respond to this most vulnerable group.”Toward this end, the bishops’ conference is encouraging “dioceses, parishes, schools, and organizations nationwide to mark this observance with prayer, educational programs, pastoral outreach and support for migration-related ministries.”For its part, the USCCB’s Secretariat of Migration will host a webinar on Sept. 23 at 2 p.m. ET featuring “several expert panelists who will highlight some of the key implications of this yearʼs theme."“These experts will shed light on both the international and domestic dynamics facing children in the context of migration,” the bishops’ conference explained.Those interested in participating in the webinar may register at this link.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Following Pope Leo’s lead and building on the legacy of St. Frances Cabrini, who opened orphanages among the migrant population, U.S. bishops are drawing attention to the needs of migrant children.

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Catholics worldwide invited to join Global Rosary for Peace – #Catholic – Catholics around the world are invited to join in prayer for the Global Rosary for Peace taking place on Oct. 22, the feast of St. John Paul II.The event is an international prayer initiative that aims to bring together families, parishes, schools, religious communities, and individuals from around the world in response to Pope Leo XIV’s call for the Church to pray the rosary for peace.The Global Rosary for Peace is organized by Holy Cross Family Ministries and is part of its efforts to strengthen family prayer and encourage the faithful to pray the rosary. The initiative received the pope’s blessing last year and over 67,000 people prayed the rosary live during the first global event.Father Fred Jenga, CSC, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries (HCFM), told EWTN News that the first Global Rosary for Peace was created due to several global crises taking place and the need for prayer.“There is always some kind of global crisis that is going on that really calls us to pray more,” he said. “Last year it was all the conflicts that were everywhere. Some of them have sort of died down a little bit but we still have more going on as well in this very year that we are in. So we are just picking up from where we left off. So that we invite people again to pray more.”Currently, over 95,000 people have signed up to take part in this year’s live, global rosary.HCFM was founded by Venerable Patrick Peyton, an Irish-born Catholic priest who was known as the “rosary priest” and for his famous phrase “a family that prays together stays together.”With this at the core of its ministry, HCFM desires to “bring God back into the life of families because we know when God is at the center of the families, especially through prayer, regular prayer, God changes the chemistry in those families because God is love, God is kindness,” Jenga explained.“God created our families. And they will be restless and weak and all over the place until they allow [God] to be the center,” he said.Jenga also spoke about the importance of praying the rosary specifically.“When we pray the rosary on a family level, the heart of the rosary is the mysteries of the rosary, and those mysteries speak to every human season that you can think about,” he shared. “We go through joy, we go through sorrow, we go through mission, we go through celebration or glory. So there you have a set of mysteries that you can pray with through any season that youʼre talking about.”The priest also pointed out that when we look at the saints, nearly all of them share two characteristics: a love for the Eucharist and a love for the rosary.“So, in their path to sanctity, these are the two rails that they ran on. And if we also desire the same kind of sanctity and strength in our families, right there is really a formula for us that we can be able to employ to help ourselves as a family and also to help ourselves as individuals,” Jenga said.He added: “We’re at a time of need in our world right now. There are too many conflicts that are going on and we need a favor for global peace, and the rosary is one of those prayers that weʼre turning to because even throughout history, every time there was a global crisis, the Church, even our Blessed Mother, if she appeared, she asked us to pray the rosary.”For those who participate in the Global Rosary for Peace, Jenga said he hopes they are “able to renew their belief in the power of prayer.”“Secondly, this can be a jumping-off point for them to get started, in smaller ways, praying in their own families and for the needs in their families, but also keep praying for our world at this time.”To take part and register for the Global Rosary of Peace visit https://hcfm.org/pray-for-peace/.
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Catholics worldwide invited to join Global Rosary for Peace – #Catholic – Catholics around the world are invited to join in prayer for the Global Rosary for Peace taking place on Oct. 22, the feast of St. John Paul II.The event is an international prayer initiative that aims to bring together families, parishes, schools, religious communities, and individuals from around the world in response to Pope Leo XIV’s call for the Church to pray the rosary for peace.The Global Rosary for Peace is organized by Holy Cross Family Ministries and is part of its efforts to strengthen family prayer and encourage the faithful to pray the rosary. The initiative received the pope’s blessing last year and over 67,000 people prayed the rosary live during the first global event.Father Fred Jenga, CSC, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries (HCFM), told EWTN News that the first Global Rosary for Peace was created due to several global crises taking place and the need for prayer.“There is always some kind of global crisis that is going on that really calls us to pray more,” he said. “Last year it was all the conflicts that were everywhere. Some of them have sort of died down a little bit but we still have more going on as well in this very year that we are in. So we are just picking up from where we left off. So that we invite people again to pray more.”Currently, over 95,000 people have signed up to take part in this year’s live, global rosary.HCFM was founded by Venerable Patrick Peyton, an Irish-born Catholic priest who was known as the “rosary priest” and for his famous phrase “a family that prays together stays together.”With this at the core of its ministry, HCFM desires to “bring God back into the life of families because we know when God is at the center of the families, especially through prayer, regular prayer, God changes the chemistry in those families because God is love, God is kindness,” Jenga explained.“God created our families. And they will be restless and weak and all over the place until they allow [God] to be the center,” he said.Jenga also spoke about the importance of praying the rosary specifically.“When we pray the rosary on a family level, the heart of the rosary is the mysteries of the rosary, and those mysteries speak to every human season that you can think about,” he shared. “We go through joy, we go through sorrow, we go through mission, we go through celebration or glory. So there you have a set of mysteries that you can pray with through any season that youʼre talking about.”The priest also pointed out that when we look at the saints, nearly all of them share two characteristics: a love for the Eucharist and a love for the rosary.“So, in their path to sanctity, these are the two rails that they ran on. And if we also desire the same kind of sanctity and strength in our families, right there is really a formula for us that we can be able to employ to help ourselves as a family and also to help ourselves as individuals,” Jenga said.He added: “We’re at a time of need in our world right now. There are too many conflicts that are going on and we need a favor for global peace, and the rosary is one of those prayers that weʼre turning to because even throughout history, every time there was a global crisis, the Church, even our Blessed Mother, if she appeared, she asked us to pray the rosary.”For those who participate in the Global Rosary for Peace, Jenga said he hopes they are “able to renew their belief in the power of prayer.”“Secondly, this can be a jumping-off point for them to get started, in smaller ways, praying in their own families and for the needs in their families, but also keep praying for our world at this time.”To take part and register for the Global Rosary of Peace visit https://hcfm.org/pray-for-peace/.

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The Global Rosary for Peace will take place Oct. 22, the feast of St. John Paul II.

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EWTN News explains: What does a diocese do when a priest is accused of misconduct? – #Catholic – News headlines in recent years have periodically reported on Catholic priests accused of various types of misconduct, including financial crimes and sexual abuse, among other allegations. Much of the public will only be aware of the beginning and the end of such controversies — when a clergyman is accused of a misdeed and when he is ultimately either found guilty of it or cleared of any wrongdoing. But U.S. dioceses have complex and at times lengthy ways of addressing such allegations — processes that ensure both a full treatment of the alleged misconduct and the rights of priests to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. ‘The smoke of truth’Monsignor William King, JCD, serves as an assistant professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America. His academic expertise includes the study of both canon and civil law as well as the study of “temporal goods” such as Church finance and corporate structure. King told EWTN News that bishops who receive allegations of wrongdoing against priests must first determine if there is sufficient credibility to the allegations, a principle he said in canon law is known as “fumus veritatis,” or “the smoke of truth.”“It’s not proof [of the allegations] in any way,” King said, “but if there’s sufficient suspicion that it might be truth, then the bishop would accept that allegation” and launch what is known as a “prior investigation” meant to gather facts. Amid the start of the process, King said, a bishop may or may not remove the priest from ministry if he “felt that it was necessary for any of several reasons.” After that he would appoint an investigator, who may or may not be a priest, to lead the inquiry. “That person is bound to secrecy so as to protect the reputation of the priest, and any of the accusers and witnesses,” King said. Such an investigator has “pretty broad powers” to ask questions of, and seek evidence from, those connected to the case. After that process, he or she would bring the results to the bishop.The prelate would likely then speak to his canon law experts. He may also talk with mental health experts and could potentially order the priest to submit to a psychological assessment. “That’s not uncommon, and depending on the nature of the allegations, it might be appropriate,” King said.After the fact-finding and consultation process, the bishop will decide whether or not to move forward with a criminal or penal process. In some cases, the ordinary may opt instead for a “penal remedy.““It could be a warning or rebuke, or a ‘penal precept’ — a formal document that prohibits the priest from undertaking certain actions or doing certain things,” King said. A precept, he said, can be used even in cases where no crime is committed, to ensure that the actions that led to the controversy are not repeated.If a penal process is instigated, the preferred method for most bishops is to convene a tribunal; in some cases, a prelate may opt for a less formal “administrative process.” Either option involves the calling of witnesses, testimony from both the accuser and the accused, and the collection of additional evidence. Tribunals are usually overseen by three judges, King said; they must be priests, and "they would typically be brought in from other dioceses.”Tribunals are meant to determine both whether a priest committed a crime, King said, as well as whether or not the crime itself is “fully imputable” to the priest. Sexual abuse allegations: Rome must be notifiedThe process is largely the same whether the allegations involve claims of administrative or professional misconduct or if they involve accusations of sexual abuse, King said. However, allegations against a priest of abuse of a minor are “reserved to the Holy See,” he said. In those cases, following the results of a preliminary investigation, a bishop is obligated to send a summary of the case, including the evidence, to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, specifically its special disciplinary section. “[The dicastery] will review that and instruct the bishop as to what type of process should be followed — administrative or judicial,” King said.“When the bishop sends the initial dossier or file over, most of the time he will make a recommendation” as to which process should be followed, King said. A bishop in certain cases may recommend “no process, or another remedy or way of addressing the situation.”The dicastery “will take that into consideration. But ultimately, they make the determination, and the bishop is bound to follow their direction,” King said.The Vatican can approve or reject a diocese’s decision if the matter is reserved to Rome, King said. In all other cases, it is resolved domestically either via administrative process or tribunal.A priest, King said, can appeal a diocese’s decision to the Roman Rota if he wishes.
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EWTN News explains: What does a diocese do when a priest is accused of misconduct? – #Catholic – News headlines in recent years have periodically reported on Catholic priests accused of various types of misconduct, including financial crimes and sexual abuse, among other allegations. Much of the public will only be aware of the beginning and the end of such controversies — when a clergyman is accused of a misdeed and when he is ultimately either found guilty of it or cleared of any wrongdoing. But U.S. dioceses have complex and at times lengthy ways of addressing such allegations — processes that ensure both a full treatment of the alleged misconduct and the rights of priests to be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. ‘The smoke of truth’Monsignor William King, JCD, serves as an assistant professor of canon law at The Catholic University of America. His academic expertise includes the study of both canon and civil law as well as the study of “temporal goods” such as Church finance and corporate structure. King told EWTN News that bishops who receive allegations of wrongdoing against priests must first determine if there is sufficient credibility to the allegations, a principle he said in canon law is known as “fumus veritatis,” or “the smoke of truth.”“It’s not proof [of the allegations] in any way,” King said, “but if there’s sufficient suspicion that it might be truth, then the bishop would accept that allegation” and launch what is known as a “prior investigation” meant to gather facts. Amid the start of the process, King said, a bishop may or may not remove the priest from ministry if he “felt that it was necessary for any of several reasons.” After that he would appoint an investigator, who may or may not be a priest, to lead the inquiry. “That person is bound to secrecy so as to protect the reputation of the priest, and any of the accusers and witnesses,” King said. Such an investigator has “pretty broad powers” to ask questions of, and seek evidence from, those connected to the case. After that process, he or she would bring the results to the bishop.The prelate would likely then speak to his canon law experts. He may also talk with mental health experts and could potentially order the priest to submit to a psychological assessment. “That’s not uncommon, and depending on the nature of the allegations, it might be appropriate,” King said.After the fact-finding and consultation process, the bishop will decide whether or not to move forward with a criminal or penal process. In some cases, the ordinary may opt instead for a “penal remedy.““It could be a warning or rebuke, or a ‘penal precept’ — a formal document that prohibits the priest from undertaking certain actions or doing certain things,” King said. A precept, he said, can be used even in cases where no crime is committed, to ensure that the actions that led to the controversy are not repeated.If a penal process is instigated, the preferred method for most bishops is to convene a tribunal; in some cases, a prelate may opt for a less formal “administrative process.” Either option involves the calling of witnesses, testimony from both the accuser and the accused, and the collection of additional evidence. Tribunals are usually overseen by three judges, King said; they must be priests, and "they would typically be brought in from other dioceses.”Tribunals are meant to determine both whether a priest committed a crime, King said, as well as whether or not the crime itself is “fully imputable” to the priest. Sexual abuse allegations: Rome must be notifiedThe process is largely the same whether the allegations involve claims of administrative or professional misconduct or if they involve accusations of sexual abuse, King said. However, allegations against a priest of abuse of a minor are “reserved to the Holy See,” he said. In those cases, following the results of a preliminary investigation, a bishop is obligated to send a summary of the case, including the evidence, to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, specifically its special disciplinary section. “[The dicastery] will review that and instruct the bishop as to what type of process should be followed — administrative or judicial,” King said.“When the bishop sends the initial dossier or file over, most of the time he will make a recommendation” as to which process should be followed, King said. A bishop in certain cases may recommend “no process, or another remedy or way of addressing the situation.”The dicastery “will take that into consideration. But ultimately, they make the determination, and the bishop is bound to follow their direction,” King said.The Vatican can approve or reject a diocese’s decision if the matter is reserved to Rome, King said. In all other cases, it is resolved domestically either via administrative process or tribunal.A priest, King said, can appeal a diocese’s decision to the Roman Rota if he wishes.

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A diocesan bishop will usually undertake a lengthy investigation and administrative process when responding to misconduct or abuse allegations.

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The Sky Today on Monday, September 21: Saturn passes a field star

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 20: Juno’s movement Rising around 7:30 P.M. local daylight time, Saturn reaches an altitude above 40° in the southeast by local midnight. Visible to the naked eye, it is the brightest point of light in this region of the sky, sittingContinue reading “The Sky Today on Monday, September 21: Saturn passes a field star”

The post The Sky Today on Monday, September 21: Saturn passes a field star appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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BREAKING TRAGEDY: 27-Yr-Old Son Of Supermodel Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber Has Died – The 27-year-old model Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her entrepreneur husband Rande Gerber, has died. The post BREAKING TRAGEDY: 27-Yr-Old Son Of Supermodel Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber Has Died appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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BREAKING TRAGEDY: 27-Yr-Old Son Of Supermodel Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber Has Died – The 27-year-old model Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her entrepreneur husband Rande Gerber, has died. The post BREAKING TRAGEDY: 27-Yr-Old Son Of Supermodel Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber Has Died appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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The 27-year-old model Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford and her entrepreneur husband Rande Gerber, has died.

The post BREAKING TRAGEDY: 27-Yr-Old Son Of Supermodel Cindy Crawford and Randy Gerber Has Died appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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President Trump Practices His Swing with Golf Star Bryson DeChambeau (VIDEO) – President Trump on Sunday posted a video of himself practicing his golf swing with golf star Bryson DeChambeau. The post President Trump Practices His Swing with Golf Star Bryson DeChambeau (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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President Trump Practices His Swing with Golf Star Bryson DeChambeau (VIDEO) – President Trump on Sunday posted a video of himself practicing his golf swing with golf star Bryson DeChambeau. The post President Trump Practices His Swing with Golf Star Bryson DeChambeau (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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President Trump on Sunday posted a video of himself practicing his golf swing with golf star Bryson DeChambeau.

The post President Trump Practices His Swing with Golf Star Bryson DeChambeau (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Look Who Else is Cozying Up to Gaza Reporter Who Hid Atrocities to Protect Terrorists – The Gateway Pundit reported on Motaz Azaiza, a reporter from Gaza who documented life in Gaza following the Palestinian raid on southern Egypt on October 7th and the murder of 1,200 Jews, including young adults at a concert targeted by the barbarians. The post Look Who Else is Cozying Up to Gaza Reporter Who Hid Atrocities to Protect Terrorists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Look Who Else is Cozying Up to Gaza Reporter Who Hid Atrocities to Protect Terrorists – The Gateway Pundit reported on Motaz Azaiza, a reporter from Gaza who documented life in Gaza following the Palestinian raid on southern Egypt on October 7th and the murder of 1,200 Jews, including young adults at a concert targeted by the barbarians. The post Look Who Else is Cozying Up to Gaza Reporter Who Hid Atrocities to Protect Terrorists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam

The Gateway Pundit reported on Motaz Azaiza, a reporter from Gaza who documented life in Gaza following the Palestinian raid on southern Egypt on October 7th and the murder of 1,200 Jews, including young adults at a concert targeted by the barbarians.

The post Look Who Else is Cozying Up to Gaza Reporter Who Hid Atrocities to Protect Terrorists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Gospel and Word of the Day – 21 September 2026 – A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13 Brothers and sisters: I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ. From the Gospel according to Matthew 9:9-13 As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" He heard this and said, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.""I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings" (Hos 6: 6). It is a key word, one of those that bring us into the heart of Sacred Scripture. The context in which Jesus makes it his own is the calling of Matthew, a "publican" by profession, in other words a tax collector for the Roman imperial authority: for this reason the Jews considered him a public sinner. Having called Matthew precisely when he was sitting at his tax counter – this scene is vividly depicted in a very famous painting by Caravaggio -, Jesus took his disciples to Matthew’s home and sat at the table together with other publicans. To the scandalized Pharisees he answered: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mt 9: 12-13). Here, the Evangelist Matthew, ever attentive to the link between the Old and New Testaments, puts Hosea’s prophecy on Jesus’ lips: "Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’". (…) God’s words have come down to us, through the Gospels, as a synthesis of the entire Christian message: true religion consists in love of God and neighbour. This is what gives value to worship and to the practice of the precepts. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 8 giugno 2008)    

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A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians
4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 

From the Gospel according to Matthew
9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

"I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings" (Hos 6: 6). It is a key word, one of those that bring us into the heart of Sacred Scripture. The context in which Jesus makes it his own is the calling of Matthew, a "publican" by profession, in other words a tax collector for the Roman imperial authority: for this reason the Jews considered him a public sinner. Having called Matthew precisely when he was sitting at his tax counter – this scene is vividly depicted in a very famous painting by Caravaggio -, Jesus took his disciples to Matthew’s home and sat at the table together with other publicans. To the scandalized Pharisees he answered: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mt 9: 12-13). Here, the Evangelist Matthew, ever attentive to the link between the Old and New Testaments, puts Hosea’s prophecy on Jesus’ lips: "Go and learn what this means, "I desire mercy, and not sacrifice’". (…) God’s words have come down to us, through the Gospels, as a synthesis of the entire Christian message: true religion consists in love of God and neighbour. This is what gives value to worship and to the practice of the precepts. (Pope Benedict XVI, Angelus, 8 giugno 2008)

 

 

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Pope Leo XIV appeals for international aid as Somalia crisis deepens – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.After reciting the Angelus on Sept. 20, the pope said: “With great concern, I am following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in certain areas of Somalia, where acts of violence and extreme weather events are exacerbating the already precarious living conditions of the population, particularly of women and children.”“I hope for the generous involvement of the international community, so that our brothers and sisters may not lack the necessary assistance,” he added.According to UNICEF, about 4.8 million people in Somalia need urgent humanitarian assistance, including some 3 million children. The U.N. agency has also warned that about 1.9 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, including nearly half a million experiencing severe acute malnutrition.The pope also used his remarks after the Angelus to emphasize the importance of historical memory.He sent his blessing to residents of Pescantina, near Verona, who gathered Sunday at a monument honoring those who were deported and held prisoner during World War II.Leo said the commemoration should serve “to emphasize that we must not forget, but rather learn from history so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”God’s plans are greater than human calculationsBefore the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the day’s Gospel account of the laborers called to work in the vineyard, some for the entire day, others for only a few hours and still others near the end of the day.Drawing on the prophet Isaiah, Leo said that God’s ways exceed human expectations.“God’s plans are infinitely greater — and, let us say, more ‘human’— than those that we men and women, marked by sin, can conceive or bring to fruition,” he said.The pope recalled Isaiah’s invitation to turn away from sin and return to the Lord, saying “the prophet’s call, which is more relevant than ever, is that we abandon our warped ways and return to the Lord, who is mercy and forgiveness.”Turning to the Gospel parable, Leo said its central moment comes when the vineyard owner pays the workers. Although he keeps the agreement made with those hired first, the owner also gives the same payment to those who arrived later.“Jesus’ parables describe the newness of what God has in store for us; yet they also reveal the resistance we generally offer to a more generous justice and greater love,” the pope said.Leo drew particular attention to the landowner’s instruction that the workers be paid “beginning with the last and then going to the first.”“The negative reaction of those who had worked all day, then, could easily have been avoided; it was intentional, however, because the revelation of God’s goodness is for everyone, not just for a few,” he said.The pope said the parable also challenges those who see themselves as having earned their place or accomplishments.“God has different ways and fresh ideas even for those who consider themselves to be first and believe they have earned what they have, that they deserved the results they have achieved,” he said.Leo concluded that God’s mercy moves beyond calculations based solely on merit and reward.“Instead, we all gain joy, wisdom and a better future when the law of love interrupts that of calculation, when the experience of mercy broadens that of merit, and when the gift of peace suspends rivalries and brings us closer together in gratitude,” he said.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Pope Leo XIV appeals for international aid as Somalia crisis deepens – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on Sunday appealed for greater international assistance to Somalia, where violence and extreme weather are worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis, particularly for women and children.After reciting the Angelus on Sept. 20, the pope said: “With great concern, I am following the humanitarian crisis unfolding in certain areas of Somalia, where acts of violence and extreme weather events are exacerbating the already precarious living conditions of the population, particularly of women and children.”“I hope for the generous involvement of the international community, so that our brothers and sisters may not lack the necessary assistance,” he added.According to UNICEF, about 4.8 million people in Somalia need urgent humanitarian assistance, including some 3 million children. The U.N. agency has also warned that about 1.9 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, including nearly half a million experiencing severe acute malnutrition.The pope also used his remarks after the Angelus to emphasize the importance of historical memory.He sent his blessing to residents of Pescantina, near Verona, who gathered Sunday at a monument honoring those who were deported and held prisoner during World War II.Leo said the commemoration should serve “to emphasize that we must not forget, but rather learn from history so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past.”God’s plans are greater than human calculationsBefore the Angelus, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the day’s Gospel account of the laborers called to work in the vineyard, some for the entire day, others for only a few hours and still others near the end of the day.Drawing on the prophet Isaiah, Leo said that God’s ways exceed human expectations.“God’s plans are infinitely greater — and, let us say, more ‘human’— than those that we men and women, marked by sin, can conceive or bring to fruition,” he said.The pope recalled Isaiah’s invitation to turn away from sin and return to the Lord, saying “the prophet’s call, which is more relevant than ever, is that we abandon our warped ways and return to the Lord, who is mercy and forgiveness.”Turning to the Gospel parable, Leo said its central moment comes when the vineyard owner pays the workers. Although he keeps the agreement made with those hired first, the owner also gives the same payment to those who arrived later.“Jesus’ parables describe the newness of what God has in store for us; yet they also reveal the resistance we generally offer to a more generous justice and greater love,” the pope said.Leo drew particular attention to the landowner’s instruction that the workers be paid “beginning with the last and then going to the first.”“The negative reaction of those who had worked all day, then, could easily have been avoided; it was intentional, however, because the revelation of God’s goodness is for everyone, not just for a few,” he said.The pope said the parable also challenges those who see themselves as having earned their place or accomplishments.“God has different ways and fresh ideas even for those who consider themselves to be first and believe they have earned what they have, that they deserved the results they have achieved,” he said.Leo concluded that God’s mercy moves beyond calculations based solely on merit and reward.“Instead, we all gain joy, wisdom and a better future when the law of love interrupts that of calculation, when the experience of mercy broadens that of merit, and when the gift of peace suspends rivalries and brings us closer together in gratitude,” he said.This story was first published in two parts by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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In his Sunday Angelus catechesis, the pontiff reflected on the parable of the vineyard workers, saying God’s generosity overturns human calculations of merit and reward.

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The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches: Ancient traditions in communion with Rome – #Catholic – When the Catholic Church is mentioned, many think exclusively of the Latin Church, to which the vast majority of the worldʼs Catholics belong. However, the Catholic Church is actually composed of 24 “sui iuris” or autonomous Churches: the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, which are heirs to the ancient Christian traditions of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and India.These Churches have preserved their own liturgical languages, spiritualities, disciplines, and forms of ecclesiastical organization. Some celebrate the liturgy in Arabic, Syriac, Geʼez, Coptic, Armenian, or Church Slavonic. Others maintain traditions that date back to the early communities founded by the apostles.All of them are in full communion with the pope, the successor of St. Peter and head of the worldwide Catholic Church.One Church, many traditionsThe Eastern Catholic Churches stem from five major liturgical traditions: Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean, and Byzantine. Each possesses its own theological, spiritual, and cultural heritage, developed over centuries within vastly different historical contexts.Among them are well-known Churches such as the Maronite Church of Lebanon, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar Church of India, and the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt. Many exist as minorities in countries where Islam or Orthodox Churches predominate, and several have endured persecution, war, or mass emigration.Governance through synodsOne of the most distinctive characteristics of these Churches is their internal organization. Unlike the practice often found in the Latin Church, many Eastern Churches operate through a robust synodal system.Each Church is structured around a synod of bishops, which serves as the primary governing body. This body legislates on numerous aspects of ecclesial life, makes pastoral decisions, and participates in the election of new bishops. In patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Churches, the synod even elects the patriarch or major archbishop, an election that must subsequently be recognized or confirmed in accordance with norms established by Rome.Pope Leo XIV has recently reformed the canon law governing Eastern patriarchal Churches to address a legal gap that hindered the resolution of internal conflicts. Through a motu proprio the pontiff granted greater autonomy to the bishops, enabling them to convene a synod independently of the patriarch and to seek his removal with a two-thirds majority vote, a measure that remains subject to the popeʼs final approval.The 23 Eastern ChurchesAlexandrian traditionCoptic Catholic ChurchThe Coptic Catholic Church has its roots in the ancient Church of Alexandria, founded according to tradition by St. Mark the Evangelist. It is primarily present in Egypt and uses the Alexandrian rite in the Coptic and Arabic languages.It entered into full communion with Rome in the 18th century and is headed by the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria. Interestingly, the Coptic language used in the liturgy represents the final historical stage of the language of ancient pharaonic Egypt, making this Church the direct heir to a cultural tradition spanning more than 3,000 years. Pope Leo XIV with representatives of the Coptic Church in St. Peter’s Square. | Credit: Vatican Media Ethiopian Catholic ChurchThe Ethiopian Catholic Church arose from communities of the Ge’ez tradition that reestablished full communion with the Holy See. It is present primarily in Ethiopia and celebrates the liturgy according to the Ethiopian Alexandrian rite, which is characterized by strong biblical symbolism and numerous distinctive traditions. It primarily uses the Ge’ez language in its liturgy and is distinguished by the integration of African cultural elements into ecclesial life. An interesting feature is that many of its celebrations include traditional instruments such as drums and sistrums, a practice uncommon in other Catholic Churches.Eritrean Catholic ChurchEstablished as a “sui iuris” metropolitan church in 2015 by Pope Francis, the Eritrean Catholic Church brings together Catholics of the Alexandrian tradition in Eritrea. It shares the use of the Ge’ez rite with the Ethiopian Church, although it possesses its own hierarchy.It represents a significant portion of the countryʼs Catholics and is notable for the vitality of its vocations and its strong Eastern liturgical identity. It is one of the youngest Eastern Catholic Churches from an institutional standpoint, even though its Christian roots date back to the early centuries.Armenian TraditionArmenian Catholic ChurchThe Armenian Catholic Church follows the liturgical and spiritual tradition of the Armenian people, the first kingdom to officially adopt Christianity in the year 301. It gradually entered into communion with Rome starting in the Middle Ages and is currently led by the patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians. Its liturgy, traditionally celebrated in Classical Armenian, preserves unique elements derived from ancient Armenian traditions. A notable feature is the use of a curtain that is drawn and opened at specific moments during the liturgy, a custom inherited from early Christianity.Antiochene Tradition (West Syriac)Maronite ChurchThe Maronite Church is the only Eastern Catholic Church that has never broken communion with Rome. Its origins trace back to the communities gathered around St. Maron in Syria and Lebanon.It is headed by the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and follows the West Antiochene rite, retaining the liturgical use of Syriac alongside Arabic and other modern languages. Many liturgical texts contain words in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, giving its celebrations a particularly evocative character. Lebanese Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, leader of the Maronite Catholic Church, delivers a homily during the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 9, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media Syriac Catholic ChurchThe Syriac Catholic Church originated from groups within the Syriac Orthodox Church that entered into communion with Rome during the 17th and 18th centuries. It preserves the spiritual and liturgical heritage of the ancient Syriac tradition of Antioch. It is headed by the patriarch of Antioch of the Syriacs and celebrates the liturgy in West Syriac and in the vernacular languages ​​of its faithful. Its hymns and prayers retain very ancient expressions of Semitic Christianity that have scarcely changed since the early centuries.Syro-Malankara Catholic ChurchThe Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its origins to the Christian community of Kerala, India, which is historically linked to the West Syriac tradition. In 1930, a group led by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios entered into communion with Rome. Today, it is a major archiepiscopal church that combines the Antiochene liturgical heritage with Indian cultural traditions. During certain important celebrations, the faithful participate in processions featuring ceremonial umbrellas and floral decorations characteristic of Indian culture.Chaldean tradition (East Syriac)Chaldean Catholic ChurchThe Chaldean Catholic Church originates from the ancient Church of the East and has its primary historical center in Mesopotamia, particularly in present-day Iraq. It entered into communion with Rome during the 16th and 17th centuries and is led by the patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans.It employs the Chaldean rite and preserves the liturgical use of Eastern Aramaic, a language closely related to the one spoken by Jesus. Its communities maintain some of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, in territories evangelized as early as the first centuries.Syro-Malabar Catholic ChurchThe Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches. It traces its roots to the so-called St. Thomas Christians of India, who, according to tradition, were evangelized by the apostle.It follows the East Syriac liturgical tradition and has been raised to the rank of a major archiepiscopal church. It currently has millions of faithful, both in India and in the diaspora. It is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world, surpassed only by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church. | Credit: Syro-Malabar Church Byzantine traditionAlbanian Catholic ChurchThe Albanian Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite is a small Eastern Catholic Church found primarily in Albania. It arose from communities that adopted the Byzantine tradition while maintaining communion with Rome. Although small in number, it stands as an important testament to the religious diversity of the Balkans. Its history was marked by severe religious persecution under the Albanian communist regime, one of the harshest of the 20th century.Belarusian Catholic ChurchThe Belarusian Catholic Church follows the Slavic Byzantine tradition and traces its origins to the Union of Brest of 1596. Over the centuries, it endured persecution and long periods of institutional disappearance. Today, it exists primarily in small communities both within and outside Belarus. For decades, it survived mainly thanks to groups of emigrants scattered across Europe and the Americas.Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in BulgariaThe Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholic community in Bulgaria emerged in the 19th century, when a group of Bulgarian Christians sought communion with Rome while retaining the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical and spiritual tradition. A pivotal moment occurred in 1861 with the reception of Archimandrite Joseph Sokolsky into the Catholic Church and his episcopal consecration by Pope Pius IX.Today, Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in Bulgaria comprise the Eparchy of St. John XXIII of Sofia, established in 2019 when the former apostolic exarchate was raised to the rank of eparchy. They preserve the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical tradition, celebrating the Divine Liturgy primarily in Bulgarian and Church Slavonic.At the same time, the Catholic Church in Bulgaria also includes the Latin dioceses of Sofia and Plovdiv-Nikópolis. Thus, Bulgaria is a particularly interesting example of the coexistence of Latin and Byzantine-Slavic traditions within the same jurisdiction.Greek Catholic ChurchThe Greek Catholic Church consists of communities of the Byzantine tradition located in Greece that are historically linked to communion with Rome. It preserves the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and other forms characteristic of the Byzantine heritage. Situated in a country where the vast majority of Christians belong to the Orthodox Church, it constitutes a small but significant minority.Hungarian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Hungarian Greek Catholic Church arose from Byzantine-rite communities established in the Kingdom of Hungary. It uses Hungarian in its liturgy and was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan “sui iuris” Church in 2015. It was one of the first Eastern Churches to widely introduce a modern language, Hungarian, into its liturgical celebrations.Italo-Albanian ChurchThe Italo-Albanian Church brings together communities of Albanian origin established in southern Italy and Sicily between the 15th and 16th centuries. It faithfully preserves the Byzantine tradition and has never lost communion with Rome. The Monastery of Grottaferrata, founded in 1004 near Rome, remains the only territorial Byzantine monastery in Italy today.Macedonian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Macedonian Greek Catholic Church is composed of the Byzantine-rite Catholics of North Macedonia. It originated from movements seeking union with Rome during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is one of the smallest Eastern Catholic Churches.Melkite Greek Catholic ChurchThe Melkite Greek Catholic Church originated in 1724 following a schism within the Patriarchate of Antioch. It has a significant presence around the world, including in Lebanon, Syria, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, and Palestine. Its patriarch holds the title of Melkite patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. It is the only Catholic Church whose patriarch simultaneously holds these three great historical patriarchal titles of the East. St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in Córdoba, Argentina. | Credit: Córdoba Municipal Tourism Romanian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Romanian Greek Catholic Church arose through the union of part of the Romanian Orthodox Church with Rome in the late 17th century. It suffered severe persecution under the communist regime, which declared it illegal shortly after coming to power in 1948 until its demise in 1989. Seven of its bishops, who died during the communist persecution, were beatified by Pope Francis in 2019.Russian Greek Catholic Church This Church of the Byzantine Rite consists of small communities that preserve the Russian liturgical tradition in communion with the Holy See. It originated in the early 20th century and endured terrible Soviet persecution. Currently, it lacks a fully developed hierarchy, and many of its faithful live in the diaspora.Ruthenian ChurchThe Ruthenian Church has its roots in the Union of Uzhhorod of 1646 and is historically linked to the peoples of the Carpathians. It is present primarily in Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. In North America, it developed such a strong distinct identity that it has its own metropolitan see in Pittsburgh.Slovak Greek Catholic ChurchThe Slovak Greek Catholic Church shares its origins with the Ruthenian tradition and was restored following the communist persecutions of the 20th century.In 2008, it was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan “sui iuris” church. Among its best-known martyrs are Bishops Pavel Peter Gojdič and Vasiľ Hopko, canonized for their fidelity during the communist persecution.Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of all the Eastern Catholic Churches. It originated with the Union of Brest in 1596 and endured intense persecution during the Soviet era. It is led by a major archbishop based in Kyiv and has millions of faithful worldwide. For more than 40 years of communist persecution, it was the largest underground Catholic Church in the world. Pope Leo XIV greets Sviatoslav Shevchuk, primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. | Credit: Vatican Media Croatian and Serbian Greek Catholic Church (Eparchy of Križevci)The Eparchy of Križevci brings together Catholics of the Byzantine tradition from Croatia, Serbia, and other territories of the former Yugoslavia. Established in 1777, it serves the faithful of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Services in its parishes are celebrated in Croatian, Church Slavonic, Ruthenian, and other local languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Balkans.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches: Ancient traditions in communion with Rome – #Catholic – When the Catholic Church is mentioned, many think exclusively of the Latin Church, to which the vast majority of the worldʼs Catholics belong. However, the Catholic Church is actually composed of 24 “sui iuris” or autonomous Churches: the Latin Church and 23 Eastern Catholic Churches, which are heirs to the ancient Christian traditions of the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa, and India.These Churches have preserved their own liturgical languages, spiritualities, disciplines, and forms of ecclesiastical organization. Some celebrate the liturgy in Arabic, Syriac, Geʼez, Coptic, Armenian, or Church Slavonic. Others maintain traditions that date back to the early communities founded by the apostles.All of them are in full communion with the pope, the successor of St. Peter and head of the worldwide Catholic Church.One Church, many traditionsThe Eastern Catholic Churches stem from five major liturgical traditions: Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean, and Byzantine. Each possesses its own theological, spiritual, and cultural heritage, developed over centuries within vastly different historical contexts.Among them are well-known Churches such as the Maronite Church of Lebanon, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Syro-Malabar Church of India, and the Coptic Catholic Church of Egypt. Many exist as minorities in countries where Islam or Orthodox Churches predominate, and several have endured persecution, war, or mass emigration.Governance through synodsOne of the most distinctive characteristics of these Churches is their internal organization. Unlike the practice often found in the Latin Church, many Eastern Churches operate through a robust synodal system.Each Church is structured around a synod of bishops, which serves as the primary governing body. This body legislates on numerous aspects of ecclesial life, makes pastoral decisions, and participates in the election of new bishops. In patriarchal and major archiepiscopal Churches, the synod even elects the patriarch or major archbishop, an election that must subsequently be recognized or confirmed in accordance with norms established by Rome.Pope Leo XIV has recently reformed the canon law governing Eastern patriarchal Churches to address a legal gap that hindered the resolution of internal conflicts. Through a motu proprio the pontiff granted greater autonomy to the bishops, enabling them to convene a synod independently of the patriarch and to seek his removal with a two-thirds majority vote, a measure that remains subject to the popeʼs final approval.The 23 Eastern ChurchesAlexandrian traditionCoptic Catholic ChurchThe Coptic Catholic Church has its roots in the ancient Church of Alexandria, founded according to tradition by St. Mark the Evangelist. It is primarily present in Egypt and uses the Alexandrian rite in the Coptic and Arabic languages.It entered into full communion with Rome in the 18th century and is headed by the Coptic patriarch of Alexandria. Interestingly, the Coptic language used in the liturgy represents the final historical stage of the language of ancient pharaonic Egypt, making this Church the direct heir to a cultural tradition spanning more than 3,000 years. Pope Leo XIV with representatives of the Coptic Church in St. Peter’s Square. | Credit: Vatican Media Ethiopian Catholic ChurchThe Ethiopian Catholic Church arose from communities of the Ge’ez tradition that reestablished full communion with the Holy See. It is present primarily in Ethiopia and celebrates the liturgy according to the Ethiopian Alexandrian rite, which is characterized by strong biblical symbolism and numerous distinctive traditions. It primarily uses the Ge’ez language in its liturgy and is distinguished by the integration of African cultural elements into ecclesial life. An interesting feature is that many of its celebrations include traditional instruments such as drums and sistrums, a practice uncommon in other Catholic Churches.Eritrean Catholic ChurchEstablished as a “sui iuris” metropolitan church in 2015 by Pope Francis, the Eritrean Catholic Church brings together Catholics of the Alexandrian tradition in Eritrea. It shares the use of the Ge’ez rite with the Ethiopian Church, although it possesses its own hierarchy.It represents a significant portion of the countryʼs Catholics and is notable for the vitality of its vocations and its strong Eastern liturgical identity. It is one of the youngest Eastern Catholic Churches from an institutional standpoint, even though its Christian roots date back to the early centuries.Armenian TraditionArmenian Catholic ChurchThe Armenian Catholic Church follows the liturgical and spiritual tradition of the Armenian people, the first kingdom to officially adopt Christianity in the year 301. It gradually entered into communion with Rome starting in the Middle Ages and is currently led by the patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenians. Its liturgy, traditionally celebrated in Classical Armenian, preserves unique elements derived from ancient Armenian traditions. A notable feature is the use of a curtain that is drawn and opened at specific moments during the liturgy, a custom inherited from early Christianity.Antiochene Tradition (West Syriac)Maronite ChurchThe Maronite Church is the only Eastern Catholic Church that has never broken communion with Rome. Its origins trace back to the communities gathered around St. Maron in Syria and Lebanon.It is headed by the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and follows the West Antiochene rite, retaining the liturgical use of Syriac alongside Arabic and other modern languages. Many liturgical texts contain words in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, giving its celebrations a particularly evocative character. Lebanese Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, leader of the Maronite Catholic Church, delivers a homily during the Synod on Synodality on Oct. 9, 2023. | Credit: Vatican Media Syriac Catholic ChurchThe Syriac Catholic Church originated from groups within the Syriac Orthodox Church that entered into communion with Rome during the 17th and 18th centuries. It preserves the spiritual and liturgical heritage of the ancient Syriac tradition of Antioch. It is headed by the patriarch of Antioch of the Syriacs and celebrates the liturgy in West Syriac and in the vernacular languages ​​of its faithful. Its hymns and prayers retain very ancient expressions of Semitic Christianity that have scarcely changed since the early centuries.Syro-Malankara Catholic ChurchThe Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its origins to the Christian community of Kerala, India, which is historically linked to the West Syriac tradition. In 1930, a group led by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios entered into communion with Rome. Today, it is a major archiepiscopal church that combines the Antiochene liturgical heritage with Indian cultural traditions. During certain important celebrations, the faithful participate in processions featuring ceremonial umbrellas and floral decorations characteristic of Indian culture.Chaldean tradition (East Syriac)Chaldean Catholic ChurchThe Chaldean Catholic Church originates from the ancient Church of the East and has its primary historical center in Mesopotamia, particularly in present-day Iraq. It entered into communion with Rome during the 16th and 17th centuries and is led by the patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans.It employs the Chaldean rite and preserves the liturgical use of Eastern Aramaic, a language closely related to the one spoken by Jesus. Its communities maintain some of the oldest Christian traditions in the world, in territories evangelized as early as the first centuries.Syro-Malabar Catholic ChurchThe Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is one of the largest Eastern Catholic Churches. It traces its roots to the so-called St. Thomas Christians of India, who, according to tradition, were evangelized by the apostle.It follows the East Syriac liturgical tradition and has been raised to the rank of a major archiepiscopal church. It currently has millions of faithful, both in India and in the diaspora. It is the second-largest Eastern Catholic Church in the world, surpassed only by the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil of the Syro-Malabar Church. | Credit: Syro-Malabar Church Byzantine traditionAlbanian Catholic ChurchThe Albanian Catholic Church of the Byzantine rite is a small Eastern Catholic Church found primarily in Albania. It arose from communities that adopted the Byzantine tradition while maintaining communion with Rome. Although small in number, it stands as an important testament to the religious diversity of the Balkans. Its history was marked by severe religious persecution under the Albanian communist regime, one of the harshest of the 20th century.Belarusian Catholic ChurchThe Belarusian Catholic Church follows the Slavic Byzantine tradition and traces its origins to the Union of Brest of 1596. Over the centuries, it endured persecution and long periods of institutional disappearance. Today, it exists primarily in small communities both within and outside Belarus. For decades, it survived mainly thanks to groups of emigrants scattered across Europe and the Americas.Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in BulgariaThe Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholic community in Bulgaria emerged in the 19th century, when a group of Bulgarian Christians sought communion with Rome while retaining the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical and spiritual tradition. A pivotal moment occurred in 1861 with the reception of Archimandrite Joseph Sokolsky into the Catholic Church and his episcopal consecration by Pope Pius IX.Today, Byzantine-Slavic Rite Catholics in Bulgaria comprise the Eparchy of St. John XXIII of Sofia, established in 2019 when the former apostolic exarchate was raised to the rank of eparchy. They preserve the Byzantine-Slavic liturgical tradition, celebrating the Divine Liturgy primarily in Bulgarian and Church Slavonic.At the same time, the Catholic Church in Bulgaria also includes the Latin dioceses of Sofia and Plovdiv-Nikópolis. Thus, Bulgaria is a particularly interesting example of the coexistence of Latin and Byzantine-Slavic traditions within the same jurisdiction.Greek Catholic ChurchThe Greek Catholic Church consists of communities of the Byzantine tradition located in Greece that are historically linked to communion with Rome. It preserves the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and other forms characteristic of the Byzantine heritage. Situated in a country where the vast majority of Christians belong to the Orthodox Church, it constitutes a small but significant minority.Hungarian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Hungarian Greek Catholic Church arose from Byzantine-rite communities established in the Kingdom of Hungary. It uses Hungarian in its liturgy and was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan “sui iuris” Church in 2015. It was one of the first Eastern Churches to widely introduce a modern language, Hungarian, into its liturgical celebrations.Italo-Albanian ChurchThe Italo-Albanian Church brings together communities of Albanian origin established in southern Italy and Sicily between the 15th and 16th centuries. It faithfully preserves the Byzantine tradition and has never lost communion with Rome. The Monastery of Grottaferrata, founded in 1004 near Rome, remains the only territorial Byzantine monastery in Italy today.Macedonian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Macedonian Greek Catholic Church is composed of the Byzantine-rite Catholics of North Macedonia. It originated from movements seeking union with Rome during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is one of the smallest Eastern Catholic Churches.Melkite Greek Catholic ChurchThe Melkite Greek Catholic Church originated in 1724 following a schism within the Patriarchate of Antioch. It has a significant presence around the world, including in Lebanon, Syria, Brazil, Argentina, Israel, and Palestine. Its patriarch holds the title of Melkite patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem. It is the only Catholic Church whose patriarch simultaneously holds these three great historical patriarchal titles of the East. St. George Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in Córdoba, Argentina. | Credit: Córdoba Municipal Tourism Romanian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Romanian Greek Catholic Church arose through the union of part of the Romanian Orthodox Church with Rome in the late 17th century. It suffered severe persecution under the communist regime, which declared it illegal shortly after coming to power in 1948 until its demise in 1989. Seven of its bishops, who died during the communist persecution, were beatified by Pope Francis in 2019.Russian Greek Catholic Church This Church of the Byzantine Rite consists of small communities that preserve the Russian liturgical tradition in communion with the Holy See. It originated in the early 20th century and endured terrible Soviet persecution. Currently, it lacks a fully developed hierarchy, and many of its faithful live in the diaspora.Ruthenian ChurchThe Ruthenian Church has its roots in the Union of Uzhhorod of 1646 and is historically linked to the peoples of the Carpathians. It is present primarily in Slovakia, Ukraine, and the United States. In North America, it developed such a strong distinct identity that it has its own metropolitan see in Pittsburgh.Slovak Greek Catholic ChurchThe Slovak Greek Catholic Church shares its origins with the Ruthenian tradition and was restored following the communist persecutions of the 20th century.In 2008, it was elevated to the rank of a metropolitan “sui iuris” church. Among its best-known martyrs are Bishops Pavel Peter Gojdič and Vasiľ Hopko, canonized for their fidelity during the communist persecution.Ukrainian Greek Catholic ChurchThe Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church is the largest of all the Eastern Catholic Churches. It originated with the Union of Brest in 1596 and endured intense persecution during the Soviet era. It is led by a major archbishop based in Kyiv and has millions of faithful worldwide. For more than 40 years of communist persecution, it was the largest underground Catholic Church in the world. Pope Leo XIV greets Sviatoslav Shevchuk, primate of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. | Credit: Vatican Media Croatian and Serbian Greek Catholic Church (Eparchy of Križevci)The Eparchy of Križevci brings together Catholics of the Byzantine tradition from Croatia, Serbia, and other territories of the former Yugoslavia. Established in 1777, it serves the faithful of diverse ethnic and linguistic backgrounds. Services in its parishes are celebrated in Croatian, Church Slavonic, Ruthenian, and other local languages, reflecting the cultural diversity of the Balkans.This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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While the Catholic Church is often viewed from a Latin rite prism, it also includes 23 Eastern Churches that are in full communion as part of the one Catholic fold.

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Lebanese faithful to walk to St. Charbel’s shrine in prayer for Christians in country’s south – #Catholic – In southern Lebanon, the story of Christian villages is not defined only by the destruction and isolation left by war but also by a deeply rooted presence and a determination to remain.Rmeich, Ain Ebel, Debel, and other border towns continue to be home to families who have chosen not to leave their land despite the dangers and hardships they face.In support of these communities, a prayer walk will take place Sept. 26 from Byblos to Annaya, home to the shrine of St. Charbel, carrying the intentions of Christians who continue to remain in the south, turning the journey into an act of solidarity and hope.Anthony Jarjour, a native of Rmeich and organizer of the initiative, told ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, that “the goal of the walk is to unite our prayers and offer them for the Christians who remain steadfast in the south.”“Sometimes we feel that the state has abandoned us and that some people are unaware that families are still living there, in the border villages, safeguarding the country’s borders simply through their continued presence,” he said.This is not the first time Jarjour has organized a pilgrimage of this kind. Last year, he walked approximately 112 miles from Rmeich to Annaya, offering the journey for those who had died in traffic accidents. Anthony Jarjour and fellow pilgrims at the St. Charbel Shrine in Lebanon in 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Anthony Jarjour This year, because of road closures, he will begin his own journey Tuesday, Sept. 22, from Tyre, covering approximately 93 miles before reaching Annaya on Saturday to take part in the conclusion of the pilgrimage.Explaining why Annaya was chosen as the final destination, Jarjour said: “I have a personal experience with St. Charbel, and I felt his presence during the previous walk. I believe he always protects us through Our Lord Jesus. As for Annaya, it needs no introduction.”He said the pilgrimage is being organized in cooperation with several organizations and local authorities, including the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya and the municipalities of Byblos and Annaya. Lebanon’s Civil Defense and Red Cross will provide support and assistance along the route.Jarjour has served his hometown of Rmeich and other communities along the border through volunteer work with the Red Cross, Caritas, and Civil Defense, taking part in field operations and helping residents during difficult circumstances. However, he wanted to add a spiritual dimension to that service. Through the pilgrimage, he seeks to turn every step into a prayer for peace and for those who continue to remain in southern Lebanon.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
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Lebanese faithful to walk to St. Charbel’s shrine in prayer for Christians in country’s south – #Catholic – In southern Lebanon, the story of Christian villages is not defined only by the destruction and isolation left by war but also by a deeply rooted presence and a determination to remain.Rmeich, Ain Ebel, Debel, and other border towns continue to be home to families who have chosen not to leave their land despite the dangers and hardships they face.In support of these communities, a prayer walk will take place Sept. 26 from Byblos to Annaya, home to the shrine of St. Charbel, carrying the intentions of Christians who continue to remain in the south, turning the journey into an act of solidarity and hope.Anthony Jarjour, a native of Rmeich and organizer of the initiative, told ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, that “the goal of the walk is to unite our prayers and offer them for the Christians who remain steadfast in the south.”“Sometimes we feel that the state has abandoned us and that some people are unaware that families are still living there, in the border villages, safeguarding the country’s borders simply through their continued presence,” he said.This is not the first time Jarjour has organized a pilgrimage of this kind. Last year, he walked approximately 112 miles from Rmeich to Annaya, offering the journey for those who had died in traffic accidents. Anthony Jarjour and fellow pilgrims at the St. Charbel Shrine in Lebanon in 2026. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Anthony Jarjour This year, because of road closures, he will begin his own journey Tuesday, Sept. 22, from Tyre, covering approximately 93 miles before reaching Annaya on Saturday to take part in the conclusion of the pilgrimage.Explaining why Annaya was chosen as the final destination, Jarjour said: “I have a personal experience with St. Charbel, and I felt his presence during the previous walk. I believe he always protects us through Our Lord Jesus. As for Annaya, it needs no introduction.”He said the pilgrimage is being organized in cooperation with several organizations and local authorities, including the Monastery of St. Maron in Annaya and the municipalities of Byblos and Annaya. Lebanon’s Civil Defense and Red Cross will provide support and assistance along the route.Jarjour has served his hometown of Rmeich and other communities along the border through volunteer work with the Red Cross, Caritas, and Civil Defense, taking part in field operations and helping residents during difficult circumstances. However, he wanted to add a spiritual dimension to that service. Through the pilgrimage, he seeks to turn every step into a prayer for peace and for those who continue to remain in southern Lebanon.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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A prayer pilgrimage from Byblos to Annaya aims to offer solidarity and hope to Christians in southern Lebanon.

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The Sky Today on Sunday, September 20: Juno’s movement

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 19: Mars meets Pollux Now is the best time to catch 145-mile-wide 3 Juno as it passes through a random collection of 9th- and 10th-magnitude stars. Now located in far southern Aquila near its border with Sagittarius, Juno glows at magnitude 9.6.Continue reading “The Sky Today on Sunday, September 20: Juno’s movement”

The post The Sky Today on Sunday, September 20: Juno’s movement appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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Archbishop Lori tells women religious: ‘The Church looks to you with hope’ #Catholic Baltimore Archbishop William Lori this week praised an assembly of women religious major superiors for their witness of “evangelical poverty,” with the prelate noting the outsized influence that women religious have had on American society over the past 250 years. “You and those who came before you have taught our children, tended to the sick, welcomed immigrants, accompanied the dying, consoled the brokenhearted, and proclaimed Christ where no one else was willing to go,” the archbishop told the major superiors on Sept. 18 in Florissant, Missouri.“For that, the Church gives thanks. But gratitude alone is not enough. The Church also looks to you with hope,” he said. The archbishop spoke at the 2026 National Assembly of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the theme of which was: “250 Years of Freedom: Daughters of the Church from One Generation to the Next.”The council comprises major superiors and vicars from 112 religious communities around the U.S. The group describes its national assembly as “the springboard for collaboration, participation, and dialogue among members” which “promotes unity among the major superiors that gives witness to the joy of religious life.”Addressing the gathering as the keynote speaker, Lori acknowledged the assembly’s recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The U.S. has been instrumental in advancing religious freedom and human dignity across the world, the archbishop argued. He noted that most histories of the founding of the U.S. focus on the Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others. But “the American experiment would have looked very different” without the contributions of “thousands and thousands of women religious,” he said.“Who welcomed wave after wave of immigrants? Who cared for the victims of epidemics when others fled? Who taught generations of children not simply arithmetic and grammar, but honesty, sacrifice, discipline, and love of God?” he said. Women religious “changed the nation because they first allowed Christ to change them,” the archbishop said. He noted the “paradox” in which those who take vows of poverty “enriched countless communities” and those who “renounced worldly ambition” often “exercised the greatest influence upon society.” “The world struggles to understand this paradox,” Lori said. “The Gospel does not.” Women religious have historically both upheld the ideals of America while challenging it when it “falls short of the Gospel,” Lori said. He cited the witness of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s “evangelical poverty” as she carried out the founding of schools, hospitals and orphanages around the world. And he further pointed to the work of Servant of God Sister Mary Thea Bowman, praising her for her “profoundly Catholic way” of confronting racism while evangelizing about the love of Christ. Urging the women religious to pursue “an ever-new embrace of the heart of your vocation,” Lori told the assembly: “The world needs women who have been seized by Christ.”“It needs women whose lives bear unmistakable witness to the truth that God is real, that holiness is possible, that sacrifice is fruitful, and that love poured out in communion with Christ can transform the world,” he said.
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Archbishop Lori tells women religious: ‘The Church looks to you with hope’ #Catholic Baltimore Archbishop William Lori this week praised an assembly of women religious major superiors for their witness of “evangelical poverty,” with the prelate noting the outsized influence that women religious have had on American society over the past 250 years. “You and those who came before you have taught our children, tended to the sick, welcomed immigrants, accompanied the dying, consoled the brokenhearted, and proclaimed Christ where no one else was willing to go,” the archbishop told the major superiors on Sept. 18 in Florissant, Missouri.“For that, the Church gives thanks. But gratitude alone is not enough. The Church also looks to you with hope,” he said. The archbishop spoke at the 2026 National Assembly of the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious, the theme of which was: “250 Years of Freedom: Daughters of the Church from One Generation to the Next.”The council comprises major superiors and vicars from 112 religious communities around the U.S. The group describes its national assembly as “the springboard for collaboration, participation, and dialogue among members” which “promotes unity among the major superiors that gives witness to the joy of religious life.”Addressing the gathering as the keynote speaker, Lori acknowledged the assembly’s recognition of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The U.S. has been instrumental in advancing religious freedom and human dignity across the world, the archbishop argued. He noted that most histories of the founding of the U.S. focus on the Founding Fathers such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others. But “the American experiment would have looked very different” without the contributions of “thousands and thousands of women religious,” he said.“Who welcomed wave after wave of immigrants? Who cared for the victims of epidemics when others fled? Who taught generations of children not simply arithmetic and grammar, but honesty, sacrifice, discipline, and love of God?” he said. Women religious “changed the nation because they first allowed Christ to change them,” the archbishop said. He noted the “paradox” in which those who take vows of poverty “enriched countless communities” and those who “renounced worldly ambition” often “exercised the greatest influence upon society.” “The world struggles to understand this paradox,” Lori said. “The Gospel does not.” Women religious have historically both upheld the ideals of America while challenging it when it “falls short of the Gospel,” Lori said. He cited the witness of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini’s “evangelical poverty” as she carried out the founding of schools, hospitals and orphanages around the world. And he further pointed to the work of Servant of God Sister Mary Thea Bowman, praising her for her “profoundly Catholic way” of confronting racism while evangelizing about the love of Christ. Urging the women religious to pursue “an ever-new embrace of the heart of your vocation,” Lori told the assembly: “The world needs women who have been seized by Christ.”“It needs women whose lives bear unmistakable witness to the truth that God is real, that holiness is possible, that sacrifice is fruitful, and that love poured out in communion with Christ can transform the world,” he said.

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The Baltimore archbishop gave the keynote address to the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious meeting in Missouri.

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Ahead of Yom Kippur, U.S. bishops highlight ‘deep spiritual bonds’ between Catholics, Jews #Catholic The U.S. bishops this week underscored the “deep spiritual bonds” between Catholics and Jews and the need to build “genuine friendship and understanding” between the two religious groups, with the message coming ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The holy day for Jews involves fasting and atonement and is held in late September or early October. In 2026 it begins at sunset on Sept. 20 and ends by nightfall on Sept. 21. In a video message released Sept. 18, Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ ecumenical committee, noted that the Jewish holiday “invites a searching examination of the year that has passed and a commitment to the year ahead.” “At the heart of this observance is the recognition that our relationships with God and with one another call us continually to reflection, repentance, and renewal to consider how we can live more faithfully and more generously,” he said. The relationship between Catholics and Jews, Bambera said, is “not simply a matter of dialogue” but rather is “rooted in the deep spiritual bonds” between the two ancient religions. He noted the shared patrimony between the two faiths as well as the scriptural texts that both share. Building “genuine friendship and understanding” between the two religions “matters so deeply,” he said. Bambera further noted the need to “reject anti-Semitism in all its forms.” Catholics, he said, are called to opposite that form of hatred as well as to deepen their understanding of Judaism and Jewish people. The prelate cited the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra aetate, which in part refuted the practice of antisemitism “at any time and by anyone” and which stressed the links between the ancient Jewish faith and the origins of Christianity. Interreligious dialogue “is not merely an exchange of ideas” but rather “creates friendships, builds trust, and helps us recognize our responsibilities toward one another,” Bambera said.The bishop concluded the video by wishing Jewish viewers “Gmar Chatima Tov,” a traditional greeting during the Yom Kippur season.
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Ahead of Yom Kippur, U.S. bishops highlight ‘deep spiritual bonds’ between Catholics, Jews #Catholic The U.S. bishops this week underscored the “deep spiritual bonds” between Catholics and Jews and the need to build “genuine friendship and understanding” between the two religious groups, with the message coming ahead of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. The holy day for Jews involves fasting and atonement and is held in late September or early October. In 2026 it begins at sunset on Sept. 20 and ends by nightfall on Sept. 21. In a video message released Sept. 18, Scranton Bishop Joseph Bambera, who chairs the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ ecumenical committee, noted that the Jewish holiday “invites a searching examination of the year that has passed and a commitment to the year ahead.” “At the heart of this observance is the recognition that our relationships with God and with one another call us continually to reflection, repentance, and renewal to consider how we can live more faithfully and more generously,” he said. The relationship between Catholics and Jews, Bambera said, is “not simply a matter of dialogue” but rather is “rooted in the deep spiritual bonds” between the two ancient religions. He noted the shared patrimony between the two faiths as well as the scriptural texts that both share. Building “genuine friendship and understanding” between the two religions “matters so deeply,” he said. Bambera further noted the need to “reject anti-Semitism in all its forms.” Catholics, he said, are called to opposite that form of hatred as well as to deepen their understanding of Judaism and Jewish people. The prelate cited the Second Vatican Council’s declaration Nostra aetate, which in part refuted the practice of antisemitism “at any time and by anyone” and which stressed the links between the ancient Jewish faith and the origins of Christianity. Interreligious dialogue “is not merely an exchange of ideas” but rather “creates friendships, builds trust, and helps us recognize our responsibilities toward one another,” Bambera said.The bishop concluded the video by wishing Jewish viewers “Gmar Chatima Tov,” a traditional greeting during the Yom Kippur season.

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The holy day for Jews involves fasting and atonement and is held in late September or early October.

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Brighten lives of those in need through Diocesan Ministries Appeal #Catholic – This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need. The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester. For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal Chairperson will speak at Mass, encouraging participation in the 2026 DMA. The In-Pew Commitment Weekend will be Oct. 24 and 25. At that time, the pastor in each parish will play Bishop Sweeney’s DMA video or his audio homily at all Masses and lead the In-Pew process. Last year, through the generosity of the faithful, the Appeal raised almost .7 million in pledges with almost .3 million in parish rebates. In a video to promote the 2026 DMA, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Good Samaritan “that we are called to go to those who are in need to help our brothers and sisters who are most in need.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “Your support of the Appeal helps us…serve as Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and I hope that you’ll be able to make a gift or a pledge to our annual appeal, and truly be a Good Samaritan,” Bishop Sweeney said in the video. Last year will be the final allocation of DMA funds for a three-year, 0,000 grant for the complete renovation of Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., at 0,000 annually, said Tim Potter, diocesan development director. “The food pantry assists thousands of people each month, and the building needed to be retrofitted to expand space for food and clothing,” Potter said. “The new layout also allows for space for people needing emergency services as well as English as a Second Language and computer classes. The incredible generosity of the faithful helped make this possible,” he said. In addition to the usual support for Catholic Charities’ work, this year’s DMA is also funding the At-Risk Youth program in Paterson and providing funds to purchase a handicapped-accessible van to support the important work of the Department for Persons with Disabilities of Catholic Charities, Potter said. The largest percentage of Appeal funds supports Catholic Charities. The agency reaches out to give help and hope to people in poverty with programs such as food pantries in each of the diocese’s three counties and emergency housing and homelessness prevention. Catholic Charities also has programs that aid at-risk youth, people with physical and developmental disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, veterans, and men and women battling addiction through the agency’s Straight and Narrow substance treatment program in Paterson. The DMA also helps seminarians preparing for a lifetime of service to the Church by funding their education, as well as retired priests who have faithfully served the diocese for decades. The DMA supports priests’ extraordinary healthcare needs as well as Nazareth Village, the diocesan priests’ retirement residence in Chester, N.J. The generous support of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal has made it possible to provide a faith-filled, excellent Catholic education to students in economically challenged urban areas — a mission that continues to thrive. Through the Parish Rebate program, half of the amount received over the parish goal is returned to parishes for their own needs. Last year’s Appeal returned almost .3 million directly to parishes. Potter said the Appeal theme, “Be A Good Samaritan,” is “a reminder that we are called to care for our neighbors in need. The Diocesan Ministries Appeal is a concrete way to make that happen. When you give to the Appeal, you are truly transforming lives.” There are ways to give to DMA: • One-time gift or pledges paid over several months with reminders sent for your convenience. • Credit card contributions- see information on your pledge card or call 973-777-8818, ext. 263 for details. • Online gifts- go to www.2026appeal.org andfollow instructions for pledging. • Recurring monthly gift– visit www.2026appeal.org and choose the Recurring Gift Option that will help people in need now and in the future. You can discontinue your recurring gift at any time. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 263. • Gifts can also be made through stocks, matching gifts, and/or an IRA. The EIN is 22-1493174. Make donations under the organization name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Contact Aimee Landestoy at 973-777-8818 ext. 282 after you make your gift so we can credit your donation properly.  
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Brighten lives of those in need through Diocesan Ministries Appeal #Catholic – This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need. The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester. For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal Chairperson will speak at Mass, encouraging participation in the 2026 DMA. The In-Pew Commitment Weekend will be Oct. 24 and 25. At that time, the pastor in each parish will play Bishop Sweeney’s DMA video or his audio homily at all Masses and lead the In-Pew process. Last year, through the generosity of the faithful, the Appeal raised almost $5.7 million in pledges with almost $1.3 million in parish rebates. In a video to promote the 2026 DMA, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Good Samaritan “that we are called to go to those who are in need to help our brothers and sisters who are most in need.” Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. “Your support of the Appeal helps us…serve as Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and I hope that you’ll be able to make a gift or a pledge to our annual appeal, and truly be a Good Samaritan,” Bishop Sweeney said in the video. Last year will be the final allocation of DMA funds for a three-year, $600,000 grant for the complete renovation of Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., at $200,000 annually, said Tim Potter, diocesan development director. “The food pantry assists thousands of people each month, and the building needed to be retrofitted to expand space for food and clothing,” Potter said. “The new layout also allows for space for people needing emergency services as well as English as a Second Language and computer classes. The incredible generosity of the faithful helped make this possible,” he said. In addition to the usual support for Catholic Charities’ work, this year’s DMA is also funding the At-Risk Youth program in Paterson and providing funds to purchase a handicapped-accessible van to support the important work of the Department for Persons with Disabilities of Catholic Charities, Potter said. The largest percentage of Appeal funds supports Catholic Charities. The agency reaches out to give help and hope to people in poverty with programs such as food pantries in each of the diocese’s three counties and emergency housing and homelessness prevention. Catholic Charities also has programs that aid at-risk youth, people with physical and developmental disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, veterans, and men and women battling addiction through the agency’s Straight and Narrow substance treatment program in Paterson. The DMA also helps seminarians preparing for a lifetime of service to the Church by funding their education, as well as retired priests who have faithfully served the diocese for decades. The DMA supports priests’ extraordinary healthcare needs as well as Nazareth Village, the diocesan priests’ retirement residence in Chester, N.J. The generous support of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal has made it possible to provide a faith-filled, excellent Catholic education to students in economically challenged urban areas — a mission that continues to thrive. Through the Parish Rebate program, half of the amount received over the parish goal is returned to parishes for their own needs. Last year’s Appeal returned almost $1.3 million directly to parishes. Potter said the Appeal theme, “Be A Good Samaritan,” is “a reminder that we are called to care for our neighbors in need. The Diocesan Ministries Appeal is a concrete way to make that happen. When you give to the Appeal, you are truly transforming lives.” There are ways to give to DMA: • One-time gift or pledges paid over several months with reminders sent for your convenience. • Credit card contributions- see information on your pledge card or call 973-777-8818, ext. 263 for details. • Online gifts- go to www.2026appeal.org andfollow instructions for pledging. • Recurring monthly gift– visit www.2026appeal.org and choose the Recurring Gift Option that will help people in need now and in the future. You can discontinue your recurring gift at any time. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 263. • Gifts can also be made through stocks, matching gifts, and/or an IRA. The EIN is 22-1493174. Make donations under the organization name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Contact Aimee Landestoy at 973-777-8818 ext. 282 after you make your gift so we can credit your donation properly.  

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Brighten lives of those in need through Diocesan Ministries Appeal #Catholic –

This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need.

The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester.

For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal Chairperson will speak at Mass, encouraging participation in the 2026 DMA. The In-Pew Commitment Weekend will be Oct. 24 and 25. At that time, the pastor in each parish will play Bishop Sweeney’s DMA video or his audio homily at all Masses and lead the In-Pew process.

Last year, through the generosity of the faithful, the Appeal raised almost $5.7 million in pledges with almost $1.3 million in parish rebates.

In a video to promote the 2026 DMA, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney said Jesus teaches us through the Parable of the Good Samaritan “that we are called to go to those who are in need to help our brothers and sisters who are most in need.”

Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

“Your support of the Appeal helps us…serve as Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you for your prayerful consideration, and I hope that you’ll be able to make a gift or a pledge to our annual appeal, and truly be a Good Samaritan,” Bishop Sweeney said in the video.

Last year will be the final allocation of DMA funds for a three-year, $600,000 grant for the complete renovation of Father English Food Pantry in Paterson, N.J., at $200,000 annually, said Tim Potter, diocesan development director.

“The food pantry assists thousands of people each month, and the building needed to be retrofitted to expand space for food and clothing,” Potter said. “The new layout also allows for space for people needing emergency services as well as English as a Second Language and computer classes. The incredible generosity of the faithful helped make this possible,” he said.

In addition to the usual support for Catholic Charities’ work, this year’s DMA is also funding the At-Risk Youth program in Paterson and providing funds to purchase a handicapped-accessible van to support the important work of the Department for Persons with Disabilities of Catholic Charities, Potter said.

The largest percentage of Appeal funds supports Catholic Charities. The agency reaches out to give help and hope to people in poverty with programs such as food pantries in each of the diocese’s three counties and emergency housing and homelessness prevention.

Catholic Charities also has programs that aid at-risk youth, people with physical and developmental disabilities, people with HIV/AIDS, senior citizens, veterans, and men and women battling addiction through the agency’s Straight and Narrow substance treatment program in Paterson.

The DMA also helps seminarians preparing for a lifetime of service to the Church by funding their education, as well as retired priests who have faithfully served the diocese for decades. The DMA supports priests’ extraordinary healthcare needs as well as Nazareth Village, the diocesan priests’ retirement residence in Chester, N.J.

The generous support of the Diocesan Ministries Appeal has made it possible to provide a faith-filled, excellent Catholic education to students in economically challenged urban areas — a mission that continues to thrive.

Through the Parish Rebate program, half of the amount received over the parish goal is returned to parishes for their own needs. Last year’s Appeal returned almost $1.3 million directly to parishes.

Potter said the Appeal theme, “Be A Good Samaritan,” is “a reminder that we are called to care for our neighbors in need. The Diocesan Ministries Appeal is a concrete way to make that happen. When you give to the Appeal, you are truly transforming lives.”

There are ways to give to DMA:

• One-time gift or pledges paid over several months with reminders sent for your convenience.

• Credit card contributions- see information on your pledge card or call 973-777-8818, ext. 263 for details.

• Online gifts- go to www.2026appeal.org andfollow instructions for pledging.

• Recurring monthly gift– visit www.2026appeal.org and choose the Recurring Gift Option that will help people in need now and in the future. You can discontinue your recurring gift at any time. For more information, call 973-777-8818, ext. 263.

• Gifts can also be made through stocks, matching gifts, and/or an IRA. The EIN is 22-1493174. Make donations under the organization name: Roman Catholic Diocese of Paterson. Contact Aimee Landestoy at 973-777-8818 ext. 282 after you make your gift so we can credit your donation properly.

 

– This weekend, Sept. 19 to 20, the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will commence its 2026 Diocesan Ministries Appeal (DMA) in parishes, inviting local faithful to “Be a Good Samaritan” — the theme for this year’s Appeal — in supporting the good works of the Church of Paterson for those in most need. The annual DMA helps fund ministries that serve the poor, sick, and needy through diocesan Catholic Charities; city school students; educational needs for diocesan seminarians; and priests’ healthcare, including support for Nazareth Village, the diocesan home for retired priests in Chester. For the Kick-Off Weekend, each parish’s Lay Appeal

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Christian leaders unite against chemical abortion #Catholic In a declaration led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, Christian leaders are calling on lawmakers to ban the abortion drug mifepristone.Drafted by a group of more than 30 pastors from around the U.S., the Declaration for Life with Christian Leaders supports pro-life legislation, condemns chemical abortion, and affirms the dignity of unborn children from conception. The four-page declaration has been signed by 100 faith leaders from Missouri as well as 50,000 citizens.“This Declaration for Life, written by pastors, is calling on everyday Christians across America to stand for life and confront the scourge of chemical abortion,” Hawley stated.“It is the first duty of the Church to defend human dignity where it is denied,” the declaration says.Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council, a national Christian political advocacy group, has been outspoken in his support of the declaration, criticizing the Republican Party’s recent silence on abortion.“There are Republican members of Congress and state leaders who continue to champion the unborn, but the Republican Party has gone all but silent on the issue of life,” Perkins stated. “The strong pro-life language that was a part of the GOP platform for decades was removed, and little is said about abortion.”“We are called to defend the defenseless and speak for those whose voices have been silenced,” Perkins said.South Korean bishops oppose abortion pillSouth Korean Catholic bishops are opposing the government’s expansion of abortion pill use, calling it a "disregard for life.”In response to South Korea’s announcement that it will allow the use of abortion pills through nine weeks of pregnancy, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) released a statement opposing the move.“The CBCK voices deep concerns as this measure would only institutionalize abortion in an ‘orderly’ manner, without changing its fundamental nature, while allowing a disregard for life to be more deeply rooted in our society,” the bishops stated.“We eagerly ask the government and the National Assembly to deeply contemplate this and choose a path that both protects life while practically helping women,” the bishops continued.Students for Life launches campus campaign showing human cost of abortionA fall campaign titled “Abortion Victims: Every Abortion Has a Human Cost” by the pro-life group Students for Life of America (SFLA) will span 150 college campuses across the United States.Educational displays will highlight the victims of abortion and what abortion procedures look like.The campaign began Sept. 8, near the one-year anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10, 2025.“The goal is to continue his legacy of bringing the fight for free speech and the sanctity of life to college campuses across the nation,” the group said.“So many people are harmed by abortion, most notably preborn children,” said SFLA Vice President of Field Programs Reagan Barklage. “Millions of children lose their lives every year at the hands of physicians betraying their oath to uphold life, and so many others experience forced abortions in trafficking and abuse. This tour tells their stories — and why we must act to keep others from suffering the same fate.”EPA to test drinking water for pharmaceuticalsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new study of drinking water that will screen for pharmaceutical pollutants.Pro-life groups have been calling on the EPA to test for water pollution caused by abortion drugs. The EPA had previously said it would investigate.Missourians split on abortion, poll findsAn August poll found narrow margins in public opinion on an amendment that would protect unborn children in Missouri.In November, Missourians can vote on whether to repeal a 2024 pro-abortion amendment. In its place, a new amendment would protect unborn babies except those conceived by rape or incest, or in medical emergencies.The Missouri polls found that 44% opposed the pro-life amendment and 43% supported it, while 13% were unsure.The poll by SLU/YouGov was conducted Aug. 13–24 and had a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.When polled in February, 50% of Missourians were in favor of reinstating the pro-life amendment.California passes bill requiring community colleges to provide abortionsA California bill that would require community colleges to provide medical abortions is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.The bill, which the California Senate passed with a 61-17 vote, would require community colleges with medical centers to offer chemical abortion drugs beginning Jan. 1, 2029. Newsom, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill.Wisconsin bishops denounce Planned Parenthood lawsuit seeking to overturn abortion safeguardsWisconsin bishops are opposing a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to overturn laws protecting women and unborn children.The lawsuit, filed in Dane County, argues that two Wisconsin laws violate the state constitution. One law requires a 24-hour wait period between requesting an abortion and receiving one; the other law maintains that only licensed physicians can provide abortions.Abortion in Wisconsin is legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization. “These commonsense laws provide critical protection and medical safeguards for Wisconsin’s women and their children,” the statement by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference read. “The suit aims to eliminate these laws not for patient safety, but for profit and expediency. No woman should be rushed into an abortion. When human life is on the line, every moment counts.”Idaho Supreme Court adjusts abortion amendment language following lawsuitThe Idaho Supreme Court overwrote a pro-abortion group’s objection to amendment language in a recent decision.The court approved revised ballot statements for Proposition 1, an abortion amendment set to be voted on this November that would create a “right” to abortion.The decision approves a clarification of the meaning of fetal viability and adds a more specific description of how a yes vote would be in support of “codifying a statutory reproductive right to freedom and privacy.”Idahoans United for Women and Families, a pro-abortion group advocating for the abortion amendment, had filed a lawsuit over the language and objected to the newly revised statements.
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Christian leaders unite against chemical abortion #Catholic In a declaration led by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, Christian leaders are calling on lawmakers to ban the abortion drug mifepristone.Drafted by a group of more than 30 pastors from around the U.S., the Declaration for Life with Christian Leaders supports pro-life legislation, condemns chemical abortion, and affirms the dignity of unborn children from conception. The four-page declaration has been signed by 100 faith leaders from Missouri as well as 50,000 citizens.“This Declaration for Life, written by pastors, is calling on everyday Christians across America to stand for life and confront the scourge of chemical abortion,” Hawley stated.“It is the first duty of the Church to defend human dignity where it is denied,” the declaration says.Tony Perkins, who heads the Family Research Council, a national Christian political advocacy group, has been outspoken in his support of the declaration, criticizing the Republican Party’s recent silence on abortion.“There are Republican members of Congress and state leaders who continue to champion the unborn, but the Republican Party has gone all but silent on the issue of life,” Perkins stated. “The strong pro-life language that was a part of the GOP platform for decades was removed, and little is said about abortion.”“We are called to defend the defenseless and speak for those whose voices have been silenced,” Perkins said.South Korean bishops oppose abortion pillSouth Korean Catholic bishops are opposing the government’s expansion of abortion pill use, calling it a "disregard for life.”In response to South Korea’s announcement that it will allow the use of abortion pills through nine weeks of pregnancy, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea (CBCK) released a statement opposing the move.“The CBCK voices deep concerns as this measure would only institutionalize abortion in an ‘orderly’ manner, without changing its fundamental nature, while allowing a disregard for life to be more deeply rooted in our society,” the bishops stated.“We eagerly ask the government and the National Assembly to deeply contemplate this and choose a path that both protects life while practically helping women,” the bishops continued.Students for Life launches campus campaign showing human cost of abortionA fall campaign titled “Abortion Victims: Every Abortion Has a Human Cost” by the pro-life group Students for Life of America (SFLA) will span 150 college campuses across the United States.Educational displays will highlight the victims of abortion and what abortion procedures look like.The campaign began Sept. 8, near the one-year anniversary of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10, 2025.“The goal is to continue his legacy of bringing the fight for free speech and the sanctity of life to college campuses across the nation,” the group said.“So many people are harmed by abortion, most notably preborn children,” said SFLA Vice President of Field Programs Reagan Barklage. “Millions of children lose their lives every year at the hands of physicians betraying their oath to uphold life, and so many others experience forced abortions in trafficking and abuse. This tour tells their stories — and why we must act to keep others from suffering the same fate.”EPA to test drinking water for pharmaceuticalsThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new study of drinking water that will screen for pharmaceutical pollutants.Pro-life groups have been calling on the EPA to test for water pollution caused by abortion drugs. The EPA had previously said it would investigate.Missourians split on abortion, poll findsAn August poll found narrow margins in public opinion on an amendment that would protect unborn children in Missouri.In November, Missourians can vote on whether to repeal a 2024 pro-abortion amendment. In its place, a new amendment would protect unborn babies except those conceived by rape or incest, or in medical emergencies.The Missouri polls found that 44% opposed the pro-life amendment and 43% supported it, while 13% were unsure.The poll by SLU/YouGov was conducted Aug. 13–24 and had a margin of error of about 4 percentage points.When polled in February, 50% of Missourians were in favor of reinstating the pro-life amendment.California passes bill requiring community colleges to provide abortionsA California bill that would require community colleges to provide medical abortions is heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.The bill, which the California Senate passed with a 61-17 vote, would require community colleges with medical centers to offer chemical abortion drugs beginning Jan. 1, 2029. Newsom, a Democrat, is expected to sign the bill.Wisconsin bishops denounce Planned Parenthood lawsuit seeking to overturn abortion safeguardsWisconsin bishops are opposing a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to overturn laws protecting women and unborn children.The lawsuit, filed in Dane County, argues that two Wisconsin laws violate the state constitution. One law requires a 24-hour wait period between requesting an abortion and receiving one; the other law maintains that only licensed physicians can provide abortions.Abortion in Wisconsin is legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization. “These commonsense laws provide critical protection and medical safeguards for Wisconsin’s women and their children,” the statement by the Wisconsin Catholic Conference read. “The suit aims to eliminate these laws not for patient safety, but for profit and expediency. No woman should be rushed into an abortion. When human life is on the line, every moment counts.”Idaho Supreme Court adjusts abortion amendment language following lawsuitThe Idaho Supreme Court overwrote a pro-abortion group’s objection to amendment language in a recent decision.The court approved revised ballot statements for Proposition 1, an abortion amendment set to be voted on this November that would create a “right” to abortion.The decision approves a clarification of the meaning of fetal viability and adds a more specific description of how a yes vote would be in support of “codifying a statutory reproductive right to freedom and privacy.”Idahoans United for Women and Families, a pro-abortion group advocating for the abortion amendment, had filed a lawsuit over the language and objected to the newly revised statements.

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Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

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Nigeria’s bishops designate Dec. 8 as national day of prayer and fasting for upcoming elections #Catholic OSOGBO, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have designated Dec. 8 as a National Day of Prayer and fasting for the success of the country’s 2027 general elections, calling on Nigerians to prepare spiritually for the polls.In a statement issued at the end of their 2026 second plenary assembly held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in the Diocese of Osogbo, the bishops urged stakeholders to work toward elections that are “free, fair and credible.”“We announce that 8 December 2026 will be observed as a special national day for prayer and fasting for the success of the elections,” the bishops said in the statement following their Sept. 10–18 plenary assembly.They encouraged eligible voters to participate in the elections and elect leaders who are qualified to serve while urging citizens to make their choices according to their consciences.“We encourage eligible voters to come out en masse to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences,” the bishops said in the statement that their president, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, signed.The CBCN also urged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with its pastoral letter on the forthcoming elections and follow the provisions and guidelines contained in the document.As part of preparations for the polls, the bishops called on dioceses and parishes across the country to organize civic education and voter mobilization activities alongside end-of-month fasting and prayer.They further encouraged the faithful to participate in rosary processions from October to December, linking the spiritual activities with preparations for the elections.The bishops also addressed the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), urging politicians and other users to deploy emerging technologies responsibly and ethically, particularly in the context of the forthcoming elections.“As a vehicle for evangelization, we enjoin all to use it to transform data into knowledge and insights for greater value,” they said while calling on political actors to exercise responsibility in their use of technology and AI.The bishops said technology is closely linked to human freedom and autonomy but cautioned that its use must remain guided by ethical considerations.“Technology is not inherently evil or antagonistic to humanity, but it is never neutral,” they said, referencing Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.They also raised concern over what they described as the growing challenge of neo-paganism in Nigeria, particularly among young people, which they attributed partly to economic hardship, cultural revival, and inadequate Christian formation.The bishops observed that modern forms of neo-paganism spread rapidly through internet culture, media, and books, and called on pastoral agents to make greater use of digital platforms in evangelization and catechesis.“We encourage pastoral agents to intentionally incorporate the use of digital spaces, social media, and online catechesis in teaching the truth of the Gospel,” they said.They also called for what they described as healthy inculturation that respects positive elements of African cultural heritage while maintaining the foundational teachings of Christianity.On education, the bishops described access to quality education as essential for human development and the peaceful integration of Nigeria’s diverse communities and cultures.They said the Catholic Church remains committed to education and ready to collaborate with the government in providing quality learning opportunities while urging authorities to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to fund education.“We, therefore, urge governments to embrace their constitutional responsibility of funding education,” they said, adding that children in public, private, and mission schools should have access to free education, particularly at primary and secondary levels.They further called for policies that promote the development of the human person and contribute to the country’s overall development.The bishops also expressed concern over a bill before the National Assembly that, according to them, could affect churches, mosques, schools, and humanitarian organizations involved in assisting vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.They said provisions requiring the registration of foreign aid resources and giving authorities powers to supervise their use could create challenges for organizations providing critical assistance.The bishops particularly raised concern about provisions that would allow authorities to deny or refuse renewal of an organization’s registration if its activities are considered not to be in the “national interest,” arguing that such provisions could give government officials broad discretionary powers.They further said the proposed legislation could create additional bureaucracy, duplicate existing regulations, and increase government control over civic organizations.“Non-profit organizations and Incorporated Trustees including churches, mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws,” they said.The bishops consequently called on the National Assembly and the federal government not to proceed with the bill, citing concerns over freedom of association, religion, thought, and conscience as well as its potential implications for the wider development of Nigerians.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.
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Nigeria’s bishops designate Dec. 8 as national day of prayer and fasting for upcoming elections #Catholic OSOGBO, Nigeria — Members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) have designated Dec. 8 as a National Day of Prayer and fasting for the success of the country’s 2027 general elections, calling on Nigerians to prepare spiritually for the polls.In a statement issued at the end of their 2026 second plenary assembly held at Our Lady and St. Kizito Pastoral Centre in the Diocese of Osogbo, the bishops urged stakeholders to work toward elections that are “free, fair and credible.”“We announce that 8 December 2026 will be observed as a special national day for prayer and fasting for the success of the elections,” the bishops said in the statement following their Sept. 10–18 plenary assembly.They encouraged eligible voters to participate in the elections and elect leaders who are qualified to serve while urging citizens to make their choices according to their consciences.“We encourage eligible voters to come out en masse to vote qualified people into offices and in line with their good consciences,” the bishops said in the statement that their president, Archbishop Matthew Man-Oso Ndagoso, signed.The CBCN also urged Nigerians to familiarize themselves with its pastoral letter on the forthcoming elections and follow the provisions and guidelines contained in the document.As part of preparations for the polls, the bishops called on dioceses and parishes across the country to organize civic education and voter mobilization activities alongside end-of-month fasting and prayer.They further encouraged the faithful to participate in rosary processions from October to December, linking the spiritual activities with preparations for the elections.The bishops also addressed the role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI), urging politicians and other users to deploy emerging technologies responsibly and ethically, particularly in the context of the forthcoming elections.“As a vehicle for evangelization, we enjoin all to use it to transform data into knowledge and insights for greater value,” they said while calling on political actors to exercise responsibility in their use of technology and AI.The bishops said technology is closely linked to human freedom and autonomy but cautioned that its use must remain guided by ethical considerations.“Technology is not inherently evil or antagonistic to humanity, but it is never neutral,” they said, referencing Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.They also raised concern over what they described as the growing challenge of neo-paganism in Nigeria, particularly among young people, which they attributed partly to economic hardship, cultural revival, and inadequate Christian formation.The bishops observed that modern forms of neo-paganism spread rapidly through internet culture, media, and books, and called on pastoral agents to make greater use of digital platforms in evangelization and catechesis.“We encourage pastoral agents to intentionally incorporate the use of digital spaces, social media, and online catechesis in teaching the truth of the Gospel,” they said.They also called for what they described as healthy inculturation that respects positive elements of African cultural heritage while maintaining the foundational teachings of Christianity.On education, the bishops described access to quality education as essential for human development and the peaceful integration of Nigeria’s diverse communities and cultures.They said the Catholic Church remains committed to education and ready to collaborate with the government in providing quality learning opportunities while urging authorities to fulfill their constitutional responsibility to fund education.“We, therefore, urge governments to embrace their constitutional responsibility of funding education,” they said, adding that children in public, private, and mission schools should have access to free education, particularly at primary and secondary levels.They further called for policies that promote the development of the human person and contribute to the country’s overall development.The bishops also expressed concern over a bill before the National Assembly that, according to them, could affect churches, mosques, schools, and humanitarian organizations involved in assisting vulnerable and conflict-affected communities.They said provisions requiring the registration of foreign aid resources and giving authorities powers to supervise their use could create challenges for organizations providing critical assistance.The bishops particularly raised concern about provisions that would allow authorities to deny or refuse renewal of an organization’s registration if its activities are considered not to be in the “national interest,” arguing that such provisions could give government officials broad discretionary powers.They further said the proposed legislation could create additional bureaucracy, duplicate existing regulations, and increase government control over civic organizations.“Non-profit organizations and Incorporated Trustees including churches, mosques, other religious bodies, and humanitarian groups are already strictly regulated by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and some other extant laws,” they said.The bishops consequently called on the National Assembly and the federal government not to proceed with the bill, citing concerns over freedom of association, religion, thought, and conscience as well as its potential implications for the wider development of Nigerians.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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The Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria has called for prayer and fasting on December 8 for the success of the country’s general elections, calling on Nigerians to prepare spiritually for the polls.

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From ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ to Catholic content creator: John Sansone’s journey of faith – #Catholic – In 2025, John Sansone made his television debut when he appeared on Fox’s reality dating show “Farmer Wants a Wife” as one of the farmers in search of love. Today, he has traded in the television screen for cellphone screens as a Catholic content creator.Sansone, 27, was born and raised in a Catholic family. He and his five siblings grew up in St. Louis, where their faith played an important role in their daily lives.“Catholicism was ingrained in just about every aspect of my childhood and my life growing up,” Sansone told EWTN News in an interview. “We were taught from a very young age that faith was extremely important. It came right before family and then two before hard work.”He added: “We had a little prayer corner in every house that weʼve lived in that had a picture of Jesus and then right underneath was a kneeler and then a bunch of little pamphlets — prayer cards or funerals of loved ones, and things like that.”Sansone was taught hard work on his family’s 170-acre soy, corn, and wheat farm located on his great-grandfather’s land. It was here that he learned about farm life.Fast forward to 2024 and Sansone’s mother and sisters were watching Season 2 of “Farmer Wants a Wife,” a reality dating series that follows farmers as they search for love among a group of women willing to leave city life behind for a chance at a relationship and life on the farm. The show combines romance with the realities of rural life, as the farmers and contestants get to know one another with the possibility of building a future together.“They were constantly telling me to come watch it and see an episode and things like that and I just kept saying, ‘No, not interested,’” he recalled.Then Sansone received a direct message (DM) on Instagram from the creators of the show. After thinking about it and speaking to his family about it, he decided to take part in the show.“Realistically, the motivation for me to actually entertain that DM and to ultimately go on the show was, hey, this is a fun, random, once in a lifetime thing. I can make the most of it … and perhaps even find a wife,” he said.Despite Sansone not finding a wife on the show, he reflected that it “reinforced his faith.”“There were no Catholics in my group. I was the only one … I think what it really did is reinforced my faith a little bit because we would have these faith-based conversations on the show and we would have conversations about our beliefs and things like that and it kind of forced me to reconcile with myself what I actually did believe. So I would say that in doing that it reinforced my faith,” he shared.Coming off the show and once it aired, Sansone began to gain a following on social media. He explained that he came to the realization one day that he “didn’t do anything to earn it.”“All of this kind of fame and publicity, I would say in air quotes, is not something that I earned,” he said. “So, my way of paying back that opportunity, that was obviously a gift from God, was to use my platform to promote my faith.”Sansone, who goes by @notjohnsansone on Instagram, has 109,000 followers on the platform and uses his growing social media platform to share approachable Catholic content, often drawing from his own experiences to encourage others in their faith. His posts touch on Catholic teachings, prayer, and the realities of striving for holiness while acknowledging the imperfections and struggles of everyday life.Instagram post“The social media world is not the friendliest spot for that type of thing,” he said. “So, my way of doing it and my strategy is more so kind of to subtly incorporate that into everyday things and make it a relatable thing that people who donʼt understand the faith or maybe didnʼt grow up in it, itʼs something for them to relate to.”Thanks to his content creating, Sansone admitted that it has “forced me to improve my faith” and has “strengthened it.”“Iʼve met a lot of interesting people through it [social media]. People who are much stronger in their faith, know a lot more about the Catholic Church and her history,” he added. “And in being around them, I think Iʼve forced myself to kind of become better at my faith.”Sansone’s content creation recently took him to Peoria, Illinois, ahead of the beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen alongside a large group of other Catholic content creators. He called the experience “incredible” and that he also “learned a lot about my faith and it kind of made me realize how far I needed to go still.”Reflecting on Sheen’s life and how his legacy can inspire Catholic content creators, Sansone said: “I think what was great about him is that a lot of his messages were, yes, based in the Catholic faith, but they were more relatable to an everyday person. You didnʼt have to be Catholic to utilize his messages and apply them to your own life. I feel like thatʼs one important thing that a lot of Catholic content creators can do. Itʼs what I try to do.”As for what he hopes viewers of his content take away from it, Sansone emphasized that he wants “people to understand Catholicism for what it really is.”
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From ‘Farmer Wants a Wife’ to Catholic content creator: John Sansone’s journey of faith – #Catholic – In 2025, John Sansone made his television debut when he appeared on Fox’s reality dating show “Farmer Wants a Wife” as one of the farmers in search of love. Today, he has traded in the television screen for cellphone screens as a Catholic content creator.Sansone, 27, was born and raised in a Catholic family. He and his five siblings grew up in St. Louis, where their faith played an important role in their daily lives.“Catholicism was ingrained in just about every aspect of my childhood and my life growing up,” Sansone told EWTN News in an interview. “We were taught from a very young age that faith was extremely important. It came right before family and then two before hard work.”He added: “We had a little prayer corner in every house that weʼve lived in that had a picture of Jesus and then right underneath was a kneeler and then a bunch of little pamphlets — prayer cards or funerals of loved ones, and things like that.”Sansone was taught hard work on his family’s 170-acre soy, corn, and wheat farm located on his great-grandfather’s land. It was here that he learned about farm life.Fast forward to 2024 and Sansone’s mother and sisters were watching Season 2 of “Farmer Wants a Wife,” a reality dating series that follows farmers as they search for love among a group of women willing to leave city life behind for a chance at a relationship and life on the farm. The show combines romance with the realities of rural life, as the farmers and contestants get to know one another with the possibility of building a future together.“They were constantly telling me to come watch it and see an episode and things like that and I just kept saying, ‘No, not interested,’” he recalled.Then Sansone received a direct message (DM) on Instagram from the creators of the show. After thinking about it and speaking to his family about it, he decided to take part in the show.“Realistically, the motivation for me to actually entertain that DM and to ultimately go on the show was, hey, this is a fun, random, once in a lifetime thing. I can make the most of it … and perhaps even find a wife,” he said.Despite Sansone not finding a wife on the show, he reflected that it “reinforced his faith.”“There were no Catholics in my group. I was the only one … I think what it really did is reinforced my faith a little bit because we would have these faith-based conversations on the show and we would have conversations about our beliefs and things like that and it kind of forced me to reconcile with myself what I actually did believe. So I would say that in doing that it reinforced my faith,” he shared.Coming off the show and once it aired, Sansone began to gain a following on social media. He explained that he came to the realization one day that he “didn’t do anything to earn it.”“All of this kind of fame and publicity, I would say in air quotes, is not something that I earned,” he said. “So, my way of paying back that opportunity, that was obviously a gift from God, was to use my platform to promote my faith.”Sansone, who goes by @notjohnsansone on Instagram, has 109,000 followers on the platform and uses his growing social media platform to share approachable Catholic content, often drawing from his own experiences to encourage others in their faith. His posts touch on Catholic teachings, prayer, and the realities of striving for holiness while acknowledging the imperfections and struggles of everyday life.Instagram post“The social media world is not the friendliest spot for that type of thing,” he said. “So, my way of doing it and my strategy is more so kind of to subtly incorporate that into everyday things and make it a relatable thing that people who donʼt understand the faith or maybe didnʼt grow up in it, itʼs something for them to relate to.”Thanks to his content creating, Sansone admitted that it has “forced me to improve my faith” and has “strengthened it.”“Iʼve met a lot of interesting people through it [social media]. People who are much stronger in their faith, know a lot more about the Catholic Church and her history,” he added. “And in being around them, I think Iʼve forced myself to kind of become better at my faith.”Sansone’s content creation recently took him to Peoria, Illinois, ahead of the beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen alongside a large group of other Catholic content creators. He called the experience “incredible” and that he also “learned a lot about my faith and it kind of made me realize how far I needed to go still.”Reflecting on Sheen’s life and how his legacy can inspire Catholic content creators, Sansone said: “I think what was great about him is that a lot of his messages were, yes, based in the Catholic faith, but they were more relatable to an everyday person. You didnʼt have to be Catholic to utilize his messages and apply them to your own life. I feel like thatʼs one important thing that a lot of Catholic content creators can do. Itʼs what I try to do.”As for what he hopes viewers of his content take away from it, Sansone emphasized that he wants “people to understand Catholicism for what it really is.”

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After appearing on “Farmer Wants a Wife,” John Sansone is using his growing social media platform to share relatable Catholic content and encourage others in their faith.

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How a special needs ministry is bringing families back to the Church – #Catholic – “I vividly remember driving home with tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the feeling that our young Catholic family had been excluded simply because our son experiences the world differently.”These are the words of Sarah Taylor, a Catholic mother of three whose 9-year-old son, Reid, was excluded from parish activities because of his autism.“As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see my child denied opportunities to participate in the very community where we sought belonging, acceptance, and spiritual growth,” Taylor told EWTN News.Reid was asked to leave sacramental preparation classes and Vacation Bible School because the parish couldn’t accommodate his special needs. His mother described this as “devastating” — but she decided to do something about it.“In the days that followed, I felt a wide range of emotions — sadness, frustration, disappointment, and a fierce determination to advocate for greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities within the Catholic Church,” Taylor said. “My husband and I knew that something needed to change, not only for our son, but for other families who might face similar barriers.”Taylor reached out to her home diocese of Baton Rouge, who put them in contact with the All Are Welcome ministry. Through the ministry, she and her family found genuine, “life-changing” acceptance.“We were welcomed not despite Reidʼs autism, but with an understanding that his differences are part of who he is,” Taylor said. “That sense of acceptance was life-changing for our entire family.”“The ministry has also strengthened our faith journey in unexpected ways,” Taylor said. “During a time when we felt hurt and disconnected from the Church, the kindness, compassion, and support we received reminded us of what it truly means to be the body of Christ. Through the ministry, we experienced the love and inclusion that Jesus demonstrated throughout his ministry.”An estimated 1 in 4 people have a disability, according to 2022 CDC data. About 3.2% of children — 1 in 31 children — have autism. But ministries designed for inclusivity can be hard to find.Jodi Devore, who has three children with autism, founded All Are Welcome along with another Catholic mom, Edda Dupaquier, after having similar experiences. The Catholic special needs support ministry began as a backyard rosary group and has since expanded throughout the diocese.“As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire,” Devore said of the backyard rosary group. “We didnʼt want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else. Jodi Devore with her husband and three children. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jodi Devore “As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire,” Devore said of the backyard rosary group. “We didnʼt want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else.The ministry has had a powerful impact on the diocese.“Weʼve watched families return to Mass after years away. Children have received sacraments,” Devore said. “Parents who once felt alone have found a community that truly understands them. Most importantly, weʼve witnessed families rediscover that they have a place in the life of the Catholic Church.”“Our hope has always been simple: that every individual with special and exceptional needs — and every parent, sibling, and caregiver who walks beside them — would know they are not just welcome in the Church, but that they are an essential part of the body of Christ,” Devore said.Running to the altar: Sensory-friendly MassesMass is a key area where families with children with disabilities can feel excluded — but it’s one of the most important parts of being Catholic. Sensory-friendly Masses — designed for people with special needs like autism — are “one of the most meaningful parts of our ministry,” according to Devore.These Masses feature lower lighting, softer music, and shorter and more literal homilies. Adoration at a family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “Families know they can move around as needed without fear of judgment,” Devore explained. “Most importantly, everyone gets Jesus.”Before and after Mass, the environment is full of excitement and beauty, according to Devore.“Children and adults with disabilities often run to the altar with joy. They arenʼt afraid. They arenʼt worried about doing something wrong. Theyʼre simply drawn to Christ,” Devore said. “Every time I see it, Iʼm reminded thatʼs what the Church should feel like — a place where people are free to run toward Jesus.”Attending Mass can be incredibly challenging for families with children with special needs.“For many families, Sunday morning isnʼt as simple as getting everyone dressed and going to Mass,” Devore said. “Sometimes the clothes are too itchy. The smell of incense can be overwhelming. The music may be painfully loud. Sitting still for an hour can feel impossible. A child may need to move, vocalize, or leave the pew altogether.”“As a parent, youʼre doing everything you can to help your child, but at the same time youʼre painfully aware of every glance, every stare, and every whispered comment around you,” Devore said.“What hurts most isnʼt the noise or the outbursts. Itʼs the feeling that you and your child, your family, donʼt belong in the very place where you should feel most at home,” Devore said.Taylor explained how children with autism may behave differently during Mass, but that doesn’t make them any less reverent.“As a mother of a child with autism, my hope is that every member of the Catholic Church understands how important it is to welcome individuals with disabilities into the Mass — not just occasionally, but as a natural and expected part of parish life,” Taylor said.“A child may wear noise-canceling headphones to manage the sounds of a crowded church,” Taylor said. “They may flap their hands when they are excited, rock back and forth for comfort, stim during the homily, or carry a beloved dinosaur up with them when they receive Communion. These behaviors are not distractions; they are part of how that child experiences and navigates the world. They do not lessen the reverence of their worship or the sincerity of their faith.” At an All Are Welcome family retreat, there are activities for kids as well as opportunities for moms, dads, and kids to share about their experiences. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “The Catholic Church is meant to be a home for everyone,” Taylor continued. “When individuals with disabilities are present at Mass, they are not interrupting the community — they are enriching it. Their presence reminds us that Godʼs love is not reserved for those who fit a certain mold. It is for all of his children.”“What matters most is not whether a child sits perfectly still, remains silent, or follows every social expectation,” Taylor said. “What matters is that they are there. They are present. They are experiencing Jesus in the way they are able. They are witnessing the miracle of the Eucharist and participating in the life of the Church.”“Our differences are not obstacles to Godʼs love; they are reflections of the beautiful diversity of his creation,” Taylor said. “If we truly believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, then every person deserves to be welcomed, valued, and embraced within our faith communities. A child with headphones, flapping hands, or a dinosaur in hand belongs at the Lordʼs table just as much as anyone else. And the Church is stronger, more compassionate, and more Christ-like because they are there.” Edda Dupaquier, center, prays during Eucharistic adoration at a family retreat at St. John Activity Center. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome. “These children of ours, they make the ground holy,” said Dupaquier, who helps lead the ministry alongside Devore and Deacon Randall Waguespack. “And they make us better people with more virtues, with more patience, with more understanding — capable of loving in ways that we weren’t sure that we could love.”Coming home: Communities transformedThe ministry has helped bring families back into the Church; most importantly, it has made the Church feel like home.Devore and her family experienced feeling “like outsiders in our own Church.”“Not because people were intentionally unkind, but because many simply didnʼt understand what they were seeing,” Devore explained. “Over time, that judgment becomes exhausting, and for many families, it leads them to quietly stop coming.”But Devore said the ministry has given her “hope.”“Iʼve watched parishioners grow in understanding, volunteers embrace these families with incredible love, and parents finally take a deep breath because they know they donʼt have to apologize for their child simply being who God created them to be,” Devore said.The All Are Welcome ministry hosts family retreats, support groups, and helps support persons with disabilities in participating in the liturgy, not only through sensory-friendly Masses but also through active lay participation. Left to right: Edda Dupaquier, Deacon Randall Waguespack, and Jodi Devore lead the All Are Welcome ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome Jodi Devore and Edda Dupaquier hug at a family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “Weʼre also passionate about meaningful participation in the liturgy. Individuals with disabilities serve as altar servers, proclaim the readings when theyʼre able, bring forward the gifts, and participate in the Mass in visible and meaningful ways. They arenʼt simply attending church — theyʼre helping lead the worship of the Church,” Devore said.Through the ministry, Devore has seen transformation not only of families but also of parishes.“The greatest transformation weʼve witnessed isnʼt just that families return to Mass. Itʼs that they begin to believe they belong there,” Devore said.“Parishioners begin seeing gifts instead of limitations. Entire parish communities are transformed because they discover that these families arenʼt guests in the Church — theyʼre an essential part of it,” Devore said.“Weʼve seen families return to Mass after years away,” Devore said. “Weʼve celebrated children receiving the Eucharist when their parents once thought it might never happen. Weʼve watched parish communities discover the incredible gifts these individuals bring to the Church.”“Our greatest hope is that one day no family will wonder whether thereʼs a place for them in the Catholic Church,” Devore said. “We want every individual, regardless of ability, to know Christ, receive the sacraments, discover their God-given gifts, and live a life rooted in faith.” Attendees at the All Are Welcome family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome Understanding disability: Seeing as Christ seesDevore and Taylor encouraged people to be accepting of people with special needs, sharing what they believe is most important for others to understand about disability.“Families affected by disability often face barriers that many people never think about,” Devore said.“I would want people to understand that no two children with disabilities are alike,” Taylor said. “My son may communicate differently, process information differently, or respond to situations in ways that others do not immediately understand, but those differences do not diminish his value, his intelligence, or his desire to belong. Like every child, he wants to be accepted, included, and loved for who he is.”It’s not about big gestures, but more about the small moments, according to Taylor. “Simple acts of patience, understanding, and inclusion can make an enormous difference for our families,” she said.But acceptance is also about how other people “see.”“Perhaps most importantly, I would want people to move beyond seeing the disability and instead see the child: see their unique gifts, their personality, their sense of humor, their faith, their kindness, and their potential,” Taylor said.“I would simply ask people to see one another through the eyes of Christ,” Devore said. “If you see a child making unexpected noises at Mass, an adult who communicates differently, or a family that seems overwhelmed, donʼt assume they donʼt care or donʼt want to be there.”“More often than not, theyʼre doing everything they can just to be present,” Devore continued. “A smile. An invitation. Sitting beside them instead of moving away. Those simple acts of kindness can change someoneʼs entire experience of the Church.”
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How a special needs ministry is bringing families back to the Church – #Catholic – “I vividly remember driving home with tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed by the feeling that our young Catholic family had been excluded simply because our son experiences the world differently.”These are the words of Sarah Taylor, a Catholic mother of three whose 9-year-old son, Reid, was excluded from parish activities because of his autism.“As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see my child denied opportunities to participate in the very community where we sought belonging, acceptance, and spiritual growth,” Taylor told EWTN News.Reid was asked to leave sacramental preparation classes and Vacation Bible School because the parish couldn’t accommodate his special needs. His mother described this as “devastating” — but she decided to do something about it.“In the days that followed, I felt a wide range of emotions — sadness, frustration, disappointment, and a fierce determination to advocate for greater inclusion of individuals with disabilities within the Catholic Church,” Taylor said. “My husband and I knew that something needed to change, not only for our son, but for other families who might face similar barriers.”Taylor reached out to her home diocese of Baton Rouge, who put them in contact with the All Are Welcome ministry. Through the ministry, she and her family found genuine, “life-changing” acceptance.“We were welcomed not despite Reidʼs autism, but with an understanding that his differences are part of who he is,” Taylor said. “That sense of acceptance was life-changing for our entire family.”“The ministry has also strengthened our faith journey in unexpected ways,” Taylor said. “During a time when we felt hurt and disconnected from the Church, the kindness, compassion, and support we received reminded us of what it truly means to be the body of Christ. Through the ministry, we experienced the love and inclusion that Jesus demonstrated throughout his ministry.”An estimated 1 in 4 people have a disability, according to 2022 CDC data. About 3.2% of children — 1 in 31 children — have autism. But ministries designed for inclusivity can be hard to find.Jodi Devore, who has three children with autism, founded All Are Welcome along with another Catholic mom, Edda Dupaquier, after having similar experiences. The Catholic special needs support ministry began as a backyard rosary group and has since expanded throughout the diocese.“As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire,” Devore said of the backyard rosary group. “We didnʼt want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else. Jodi Devore with her husband and three children. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jodi Devore “As we prayed and shared our stories, we realized we all carried the same desire,” Devore said of the backyard rosary group. “We didnʼt want a ministry beside the Church — we wanted our families to fully belong within the Church. We wanted our children to know Christ, receive the sacraments, build genuine friendships, and participate fully in parish life alongside everyone else.The ministry has had a powerful impact on the diocese.“Weʼve watched families return to Mass after years away. Children have received sacraments,” Devore said. “Parents who once felt alone have found a community that truly understands them. Most importantly, weʼve witnessed families rediscover that they have a place in the life of the Catholic Church.”“Our hope has always been simple: that every individual with special and exceptional needs — and every parent, sibling, and caregiver who walks beside them — would know they are not just welcome in the Church, but that they are an essential part of the body of Christ,” Devore said.Running to the altar: Sensory-friendly MassesMass is a key area where families with children with disabilities can feel excluded — but it’s one of the most important parts of being Catholic. Sensory-friendly Masses — designed for people with special needs like autism — are “one of the most meaningful parts of our ministry,” according to Devore.These Masses feature lower lighting, softer music, and shorter and more literal homilies. Adoration at a family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “Families know they can move around as needed without fear of judgment,” Devore explained. “Most importantly, everyone gets Jesus.”Before and after Mass, the environment is full of excitement and beauty, according to Devore.“Children and adults with disabilities often run to the altar with joy. They arenʼt afraid. They arenʼt worried about doing something wrong. Theyʼre simply drawn to Christ,” Devore said. “Every time I see it, Iʼm reminded thatʼs what the Church should feel like — a place where people are free to run toward Jesus.”Attending Mass can be incredibly challenging for families with children with special needs.“For many families, Sunday morning isnʼt as simple as getting everyone dressed and going to Mass,” Devore said. “Sometimes the clothes are too itchy. The smell of incense can be overwhelming. The music may be painfully loud. Sitting still for an hour can feel impossible. A child may need to move, vocalize, or leave the pew altogether.”“As a parent, youʼre doing everything you can to help your child, but at the same time youʼre painfully aware of every glance, every stare, and every whispered comment around you,” Devore said.“What hurts most isnʼt the noise or the outbursts. Itʼs the feeling that you and your child, your family, donʼt belong in the very place where you should feel most at home,” Devore said.Taylor explained how children with autism may behave differently during Mass, but that doesn’t make them any less reverent.“As a mother of a child with autism, my hope is that every member of the Catholic Church understands how important it is to welcome individuals with disabilities into the Mass — not just occasionally, but as a natural and expected part of parish life,” Taylor said.“A child may wear noise-canceling headphones to manage the sounds of a crowded church,” Taylor said. “They may flap their hands when they are excited, rock back and forth for comfort, stim during the homily, or carry a beloved dinosaur up with them when they receive Communion. These behaviors are not distractions; they are part of how that child experiences and navigates the world. They do not lessen the reverence of their worship or the sincerity of their faith.” At an All Are Welcome family retreat, there are activities for kids as well as opportunities for moms, dads, and kids to share about their experiences. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “The Catholic Church is meant to be a home for everyone,” Taylor continued. “When individuals with disabilities are present at Mass, they are not interrupting the community — they are enriching it. Their presence reminds us that Godʼs love is not reserved for those who fit a certain mold. It is for all of his children.”“What matters most is not whether a child sits perfectly still, remains silent, or follows every social expectation,” Taylor said. “What matters is that they are there. They are present. They are experiencing Jesus in the way they are able. They are witnessing the miracle of the Eucharist and participating in the life of the Church.”“Our differences are not obstacles to Godʼs love; they are reflections of the beautiful diversity of his creation,” Taylor said. “If we truly believe that every person is made in the image and likeness of God, then every person deserves to be welcomed, valued, and embraced within our faith communities. A child with headphones, flapping hands, or a dinosaur in hand belongs at the Lordʼs table just as much as anyone else. And the Church is stronger, more compassionate, and more Christ-like because they are there.” Edda Dupaquier, center, prays during Eucharistic adoration at a family retreat at St. John Activity Center. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome. “These children of ours, they make the ground holy,” said Dupaquier, who helps lead the ministry alongside Devore and Deacon Randall Waguespack. “And they make us better people with more virtues, with more patience, with more understanding — capable of loving in ways that we weren’t sure that we could love.”Coming home: Communities transformedThe ministry has helped bring families back into the Church; most importantly, it has made the Church feel like home.Devore and her family experienced feeling “like outsiders in our own Church.”“Not because people were intentionally unkind, but because many simply didnʼt understand what they were seeing,” Devore explained. “Over time, that judgment becomes exhausting, and for many families, it leads them to quietly stop coming.”But Devore said the ministry has given her “hope.”“Iʼve watched parishioners grow in understanding, volunteers embrace these families with incredible love, and parents finally take a deep breath because they know they donʼt have to apologize for their child simply being who God created them to be,” Devore said.The All Are Welcome ministry hosts family retreats, support groups, and helps support persons with disabilities in participating in the liturgy, not only through sensory-friendly Masses but also through active lay participation. Left to right: Edda Dupaquier, Deacon Randall Waguespack, and Jodi Devore lead the All Are Welcome ministry in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome Jodi Devore and Edda Dupaquier hug at a family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome “Weʼre also passionate about meaningful participation in the liturgy. Individuals with disabilities serve as altar servers, proclaim the readings when theyʼre able, bring forward the gifts, and participate in the Mass in visible and meaningful ways. They arenʼt simply attending church — theyʼre helping lead the worship of the Church,” Devore said.Through the ministry, Devore has seen transformation not only of families but also of parishes.“The greatest transformation weʼve witnessed isnʼt just that families return to Mass. Itʼs that they begin to believe they belong there,” Devore said.“Parishioners begin seeing gifts instead of limitations. Entire parish communities are transformed because they discover that these families arenʼt guests in the Church — theyʼre an essential part of it,” Devore said.“Weʼve seen families return to Mass after years away,” Devore said. “Weʼve celebrated children receiving the Eucharist when their parents once thought it might never happen. Weʼve watched parish communities discover the incredible gifts these individuals bring to the Church.”“Our greatest hope is that one day no family will wonder whether thereʼs a place for them in the Catholic Church,” Devore said. “We want every individual, regardless of ability, to know Christ, receive the sacraments, discover their God-given gifts, and live a life rooted in faith.” Attendees at the All Are Welcome family retreat. | Credit: Photo courtesy of All Are Welcome Understanding disability: Seeing as Christ seesDevore and Taylor encouraged people to be accepting of people with special needs, sharing what they believe is most important for others to understand about disability.“Families affected by disability often face barriers that many people never think about,” Devore said.“I would want people to understand that no two children with disabilities are alike,” Taylor said. “My son may communicate differently, process information differently, or respond to situations in ways that others do not immediately understand, but those differences do not diminish his value, his intelligence, or his desire to belong. Like every child, he wants to be accepted, included, and loved for who he is.”It’s not about big gestures, but more about the small moments, according to Taylor. “Simple acts of patience, understanding, and inclusion can make an enormous difference for our families,” she said.But acceptance is also about how other people “see.”“Perhaps most importantly, I would want people to move beyond seeing the disability and instead see the child: see their unique gifts, their personality, their sense of humor, their faith, their kindness, and their potential,” Taylor said.“I would simply ask people to see one another through the eyes of Christ,” Devore said. “If you see a child making unexpected noises at Mass, an adult who communicates differently, or a family that seems overwhelmed, donʼt assume they donʼt care or donʼt want to be there.”“More often than not, theyʼre doing everything they can just to be present,” Devore continued. “A smile. An invitation. Sitting beside them instead of moving away. Those simple acts of kindness can change someoneʼs entire experience of the Church.”

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Two Louisiana Catholic moms with special-needs kids felt isolated so they founded a support ministry that has since transformed communities and brought families back to Mass.

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The Sky Today on Saturday, September 19: Mars meets Pollux

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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column.  September 18: The Lizard’s brightest cluster Mars passed 6° due south of Pollux in Gemini at midnight on the 18th, and they now rise together in the early-morning sky. An hour before sunrise, the heads of Gemini have reached an altitude ofContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, September 19: Mars meets Pollux”

The post The Sky Today on Saturday, September 19: Mars meets Pollux appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

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