You govern your creation, O God,
and bring it to perfection by the work of our hands.
Hear the prayers of your people who ask for work
that will enhance their human dignity
and promote the upbuilding of your kingdom.
Enable them to provide for those confided to their care
either by family ties or by charity we owe to one another
for the betterment of human life.
We ask this blessing in the name of Jesus
who laboured with his own hands while he lived on earth.
Amen.
Read More![Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/vatican-diplomat-says-moscow-mission-focused-on-peace-despite-no-concrete-breakthrough-catholic-archbishop-paul-richard-gallagher-said-diplomacy-remains-a-possible-path-toward-ending-the-war-in-u.jpg "Vatican diplomat says Moscow mission focused on peace despite no concrete breakthrough – #Catholic – Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after high-level talks in Moscow produced no concrete breakthrough.Gallagher, the Vatican’s secretary for relations with states and international organizations, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and other officials during an Aug. 24–28 visit to Russia.“We went to Moscow to speak of peace, to encourage souls troubled by war, and to say ‘Have courage, embrace the path of peace, have the hope of believing in a better day,” Gallagher said in an interview with Vatican News published Sunday. “And I believe that essentially this was our message.”Gallagher met with Lavrov during the first day of his visit, although he was not received by Russian President Vladimir Putin. After more than an hour of talks, the two appeared before reporters, with the Vatican diplomat reiterating Pope Leo XIV’s appeal for an end to the war in Ukraine.“The Holy See does not enter into the details of the negotiations, nor does it propose technical solutions, because this is the direct responsibility of the belligerent parties,” Gallagher said in the subsequent Vatican News interview.“The Holy See, instead, recalls this responsibility and invites them to show goodwill in order to seriously begin a dialogue,” he continued. “And it does so by addressing both the Russian Federation and Ukraine, as well as other countries, asking that no effort be spared to create spaces for dialogue.”A ‘difficult’ dialogueGallagher acknowledged that discussing peace in Russia means engaging in “a difficult dialogue.”“The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be to restore relations: There are many victims, many open wounds,” he said. “But we know very well that, historically, all conflicts, all wars end with a negotiation, with an agreement, and then one begins to restore relations between the former belligerents.”“In this sense, diplomacy offers and promises a possible solution,” Gallagher said. “This is also what we, as a Church, have the responsibility and the duty to proclaim.”Gallagher and Lavrov also discussed possible humanitarian initiatives and the situation of children affected by the war. The Holy See expressed its willingness to continue offering spiritual, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance.“This dimension is fundamental and, in this area, the Holy See is already offering its contribution, a commitment that so far has been greatly appreciated,” Gallagher said.“The Holy Father himself, before I left, told me: We must insist on the humanitarian dimension. And that is what we did,” he added.“We hope that Cardinal [Matteo] Zuppi’s peace mission will continue and that he will be able to return promptly to Moscow, also in order to be a witness to what the local Church and the Catholic communities are doing.”Zuppi traveled to Moscow in 2023 and 2024 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for peace. His mission included humanitarian efforts concerning Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.Outreach to the Russian Orthodox ChurchGallagher also visited Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior, one of the city’s most prominent Orthodox landmarks.There he was received by Igor Yakimchuk, deputy chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations. Gallagher also met with Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, who heads the department.The talks covered issues of common concern and were intended to keep channels of communication open between the Holy See and the Russian Orthodox Church at a particularly sensitive moment for the region.Relations between the two churches have been severely strained since Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill publicly supported Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Meeting Russia’s Catholic minorityGallagher devoted the final day of his visit to Russia’s small Catholic community.Catholics make up a tiny minority in the country, with roughly 800,000 faithful among a population of more than 146 million — about 0.5%. The Church is organized into four dioceses centered on the Archdiocese of the Mother of God at Moscow.During his stay, Gallagher celebrated Mass at Moscow’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and met with priests, religious men and women, and the country’s Catholic bishops.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.")
The Vatican’s equivalent of a foreign minister said diplomacy remains a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine after talks with Russian officials and Church leaders in Moscow.
Before the trial of Lindsay Clancy, everyone thought postpartum depression was a myth. But now society as a whole understands that the sudden drop in hormones after a woman has a baby really can cause intense sadness, anxiety, and disastrous historical events.
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HELL — The Prince of Darkness admitted he may have made a big mistake, as Satan reportedly wondered if he had gone too far when he orchestrated the modern feminist movement.
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Is this a ‘good time’ to offer a peaceful, prayerful and public witness on behalf of human life? #Catholic – 
“TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…”
Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation
The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026.
The signing of “S2260” and the coverage that it has received in the media have caused some concern for those who advocate on behalf of the recognition of the dignity and value of every human life from the moment of conception and who offer support for women contemplating abortion.
I was very grateful for an article written by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton and Mr. James King, executive director of the New Jersey Catholic Conference (NJCC), published in the Trenton Monitor on Aug. 25, 2026. The article states:
“… Since the Governor signed S2260, several reports and media accounts have circulated claiming that the new law makes it illegal to hold protests or prayer vigils outside abortion facilities. That characterization is too broad. The law does not prohibit peaceful pro-life advocacy simply because it occurs outside a reproductive health care facility. Rather, it prohibits particular forms of conduct — such as physical obstruction, intimidation, threats, coercion, or property damage — when the statutory requirements are met.
This distinction is important. Peaceful prayer, peaceful protest, and respectful sidewalk counseling are not, by themselves, prohibited by S2260. At the same time, pro-life individuals and organizations must ensure that their activities do not cross the lines established by the new law or by other applicable federal, state, and local laws …”
I encourage you to read the full article, “S2260 and pro-life activities in New Jersey.”
Most readers of this column are aware that, for the past three years, on the First Saturday of each month, I celebrate a “Respect Life” Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church in Morristown and, after Mass, lead a peaceful, prayerful procession to a “Planned Parenthood” facility (office building), located a few blocks from the Church. Once we reach the facility, we pray the Rosary, making sure that we are on public property, standing on the sidewalk, and making sure that there is room on the sidewalk for pedestrians to pass. We do not engage in any way with anyone entering or exiting the facility.
For the priests, religious sisters and brothers, deacons and seminarians, and anywhere from 60 to 80 parishioners of St. Margaret’s and other women and men of good will and of all ages, who participate in the procession and prayer, we hope that our public witness will communicate to all who pass by that we believe that every human life is a precious gift from God, that life begins at conception and that, without judgement, we are prepared to assist and support any Mom (and Dad) who may be struggling to say “yes” to the gift of life that they have received.
Since Gov. Sherrill signed S2260 into law and possibly impacted by some of the way the law has been interpreted by some of the media reports and coverage, we have received inquiries asking if the new law will impact the monthly prayerful procession and witness. I have been encouraged by the guidance I have received from Jim King and the NJCC, from legal counsel and, perhaps especially from Mr. King and Bishop O’Connell’s article, which concludes with these words:
“The Catholic Church’s commitment to protecting human life at every stage from conception to natural death remains unchanged, and we continue to oppose policies, legislation and laws, including S2260, that expands access to abortion or otherwise conflicts with the Catholic Church’s teaching on the dignity of the human person. That said, our Catholic pro-life witness should always be carried out peacefully, respectfully and in a charitable manner, ensuring our advocacy remains both faithful and effective.”
The NJCC, with legal counsel, has produced a “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQ) document to help our understanding of this new law, S2260, and to clarify the activities that it prohibits, as well as the activities that it allows or does not prohibit.
So, I believe that, yes, this is (still) a “good time” to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of human life. I believe it is a very good time to continue to offer our witness and also to consider the ways in which we engage in “public discourse” and with those who disagree with us. Unfortunately, although they often had good intentions, there have been times (in past decades) when those who have advocated on behalf of life, especially in front of abortion clinics, have not always acted in a “peaceful, respectful, and charitable manner.”
For anyone who has concerns about the manner in which we witness on behalf of life at our monthly prayerful procession and witness in Morristown, I would encourage you to come by and “see for yourself” (See above flyer for details). I am confident that we are not only well within our “legal rights,” but that we are doing everything we can to offer our witness in a gentle, prayerful, and loving way.
I also take this opportunity to remind readers (or let you know) that for the third consecutive year, we will have a New Jersey State Mass and March for Life on Thursday, Oct. 8. The state Mass and March for Life is another way for us to offer a peaceful, prayerful, and public witness on behalf of life to our governor and elected leaders and to all people, respectfully inviting them to consider what we believe, such as the beliefs expressed 250 years ago by our nation’s founders: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness…” – The Declaration of Independence.
The good that is accomplished by prayerful witness on behalf of life is a result of the power of God’s grace. St. Paul encourages us, “Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). United in the power of the Holy Spirit, we remain constant in prayer. We pray that the gift of the Lord’s grace will speak to every human heart so that all people may rejoice in the fullness of life he promises.
– “TRENTON – Governor Mikie Sherrill today signed legislation strengthening protections for patients seeking and healthcare professionals providing reproductive healthcare services in New Jersey. The legislation also expands New Jersey’s existing Shield Law protections to include gender-affirming care, protecting patients and providers from malicious out-of-state legal actions…” Governor Sherrill Signs Legislation BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY The description above is from the “Official (Web) Site of the State of New Jersey,” from a post on Aug. 20, 2026, announcing Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s signing of a “new” State Law, S2260/A2218, that had been passed by the State Senate and State Assembly on June 30, 2026. The signing of “S2260”
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Hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) in flight in Mato Grosso, Brazil
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![Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/wendell-berry-agrarian-writer-who-envisioned-a-world-redeemed-only-by-love-dies-at-92-catholic-wendell-berry-the-prolific-american-author-whose-work-spanned-decades-and-who-s-scaled.jpg "Wendell Berry, agrarian writer who envisioned a world ‘redeemed only by love,’ dies at 92 – #Catholic – Wendell Berry, the prolific American author whose work spanned decades and who spent his career urging Americans to pursue a simpler, more virtuous life, died on Aug. 31, his family said. His daughter Mary confirmed his passing via the New York Times. His cause of death was not immediately known; the Kentucky-born writer was 92 years old. A writer of fiction, poetry, and essays, Berry was known for his advocacy of rural life, for urging readers to develop a close connection to farming and food, and for calling for the care of the environment. His work united a broad cross-section of the American public from liberal environmentalists to Christian homesteaders to local food advocates to conservative conservationists. Born in Louisville on Aug. 5, 1934, Berry studied English at the University of Kentucky and writing at Stanford University. He taught English at the University of Kentucky for several years and also taught at New York University. From 1965 until his death he lived and worked at his farm, Lane’s Landing, in Henry County, Kentucky. His politics were broad and diverse. He was famously critical of big business and corporations and was a fierce detractor of coal companies. He was opposed to the death penalty, at one point urging his home state to abolish it entirely. Amid the racial and cultural disputes of 2020, he sued the University of Kentucky in order to prevent the removal of a purportedly racially offensive mural there — though he said he was pained by the knowledge that his ancestors “established themselves here by killing or driving out the original possessors” and that “people were once bought and sold here by my people.” Berry was awarded the National Humanities Medal by President Barack Obama in 2012. Throughout his career he remained devoted to both the natural world and to the small farm — a philosophy, he said in 2002, that meant he had “spent [his] life on two losing sides.” He urged advocates to reconcile both the need to preserve the natural world and the need to support the human beings that are an indelible part of the world. “The question we must deal with is not whether the domestic and the wild are separate or can be separated; it is how, in the human economy, their indissoluble and necessary connection can be properly maintained,” he wrote.Baptized a Baptist, Berry remained distant from organized religion, calling himself at one point a “forest Christian.” Yet his work and his advocacy attracted large numbers of Christians, including Catholics. Writing in America Magazine in 2017, the Catholic writer Anna Keating said that his unique philosophy “can prove helpful to Catholics, serving as an antidote to the many ills of our time.”He also briefly partnered with the Catholic St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky, to launch the Berry Farming Program, though the college closed in 2016. He wrote that he “[took] literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world.” “I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love,” he said. Though well traveled and revered as a national American sage, Berry was a strong proponent of localism. He consistently called on Americans to turn to community and mutual help to address societal problems and conflicts. He lamented the destruction of much of the rural way of life that he had seen take place over his lifetime, though he expressed optimism for its revitalization. Reflecting in 1988 on the potential “renewal of the rural communities” around the country, he wrote that such a renewal “would have to be a revival accomplished mainly by the community itself.”“It would have to be done not from the outside by the instruction of visiting experts,” he wrote, “but from the inside by the ancient rule of neighborliness, by the love of precious things, and by the wish to be at home.”")
The Kentucky-born author extolled the virtues of simple living and urged Americans to reject modern consumerism and destructive agriculture.
Why does the daily moonrise time change by as much as 60 minutes from the previous day, and as little as 30 minutes during the same month? Jim WakefieldBend, Oregon It depends on how far the Moon dips below the horizon from one day to the next. Our satellite moves, on average, 13.2° per dayContinue reading “Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day?”
The post Why doesn’t the moonrise time change by the same amount of time each day? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope on board is seen transiting the sun during launch from Launch Complex 39A, Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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California has seen a mass exodus of companies from their state in recent years due to ridiculously high taxes, burdensome regulations, and the draconian lock down policies of Gavin Newsom during Covid-19.
The post SO DUMB: California Now Planning to Force Companies to Disclose ‘Historic Links to Slavery’ appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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With the midterm elections approaching, you would think that Democrats would want to campaign with the last two members of their party to occupy the White House.
The post HOW CURIOUS: Democrats Sure Don’t Want to Campaign With Joe Biden and Kamala Harris appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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New footage shows the moment that FBI agents swarmed former Democrat Rep.
The post WATCH: Video Shows Moment FBI Agents Swarmed Swalwell and Seized His Electronic Devices at San Francisco Airport appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
2:10b-16
Brothers and sisters:
The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
Among men, who knows what pertains to the man
except his spirit that is within?
Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
so that we may understand the things freely given us by God.
And we speak about them not with words taught by human wisdom,
but with words taught by the Spirit,
describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms.
Now the natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God,
for to him it is foolishness, and he cannot understand it,
because it is judged spiritually.
The one who is spiritual, however, can judge everything
but is not subject to judgment by anyone.
For ?who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to counsel him??
But we have the mind of Christ.
From the Gospel according to Luke
4:31-37
Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath,
and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
?What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are?the Holy One of God!?
Jesus rebuked him and said, ?Be quiet! Come out of him!?
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
?What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out.?
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
Jesus not only drives demons out of people, freeing them from the worst slavery, but prevents the demons themselves from revealing his identity. And he insists on this "secret" because what is at stake is the success of his very mission, on which our salvation depends. Indeed, he knows that to liberate humanity from the dominion of sin he will have to be sacrificed on the Cross as the true Paschal Lamb. The devil, for his part, seeks to dissuade him so as to divert him instead toward the human logic of a powerful and successful Messiah. The Cross of Christ will be the devil’s ruin, and this is why Jesus always taught his disciples that in order to enter into his glory he must suffer much, he must be rejected, condemned and crucified (cf. Lk 24: 26), for suffering is an integral part of his mission. Jesus suffered and died on the Cross for love. On close consideration, it was in this way that he gave meaning to our suffering, a meaning that many men and women of every age have understood and made their own, experiencing profound tranquillity even in the bitterness of harsh physical and moral trials. (Pope Benedict XVI – Angelus, 1st February 2009)
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The cardinal praised Pope Benedict’s 2007 decision to allow the faithful greater access to the Latin Mass but called Pope Francis’ 2021 decision to restrict it neither “sensible” nor “respectful.”
The bishops discussed the pastoral challenges facing the Church in North America as a whole and concelebrated a Mass on Aug. 30 in the Cuernavaca, Mexico, cathedral.
The Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism has been tapped by the Government of Israel as part of its latest outreach to American Catholics.
Archbishop Josafá Menezes da Silva directed that the use of AI must always conform to reality and the truth regarding a person’s appearance, voice, and statements.
As Caritas Nepal is running community kitchens and sourcing body bags, a second emergency, winter, is approaching.
Try and try and try as they may, scientists have yet to explain one of spaceflight’s most painfully enduring mysteries: Why do astronauts get constipated? After examining blood samples from 52 astronauts, they may have found an answer. To learn more about how spaceflight affects digestion, researchers from the University of Copenhagen, working with NASA,Continue reading “Why do astronauts get constipated?”
The post Why do astronauts get constipated? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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SBB Ce 6/8 II 14253 “crocodile” electric locomotive with the Gotthard mountain route experience train 31066 Lavorgo – Erstfeld crosses the lower Wattingen bridge near Wassen, Switzerland.
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Obituary: Deacon Frank Puglia, 91 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91.
Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the parish hall.
In 2001, Deacon Puglia and his wife Patricia, who predeceased him, moved to Mount Arlington, N.J., and he was then assigned to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Flanders, where he actively ministered until a few years ago.
Deacon Puglia also served as the chaplain for the Catholic Chaplain’s Office at Morristown Medical Center, performing pre-op ministry, starting in 1988. At St. Elizabeth’s, he was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Parish Advisory Board.
The wake for Deacon Puglia will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1, from 2 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William J. Leber Funeral Home in Chester, N.J. His Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.
Please keep Deacon Puglia, his late wife, Patricia, and their family in your prayers.
– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in the Flanders neighborhood of Mount Olive Township, N.J., for Deacon Frank Puglia, a longtime permanent deacon serving the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Aug. 26. He was 91. Deacon Puglia was ordained in 1989 by the late Bishop Frank J. Rodimer and ministered for 13 years at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J. While there, he served on the Home and School Association and the 25th Anniversary Committee and chaired the building of the
Sept. 26 Mass to honor first two Filipino saints #Catholic – 
Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be followed by a Filipino fellowship.
For more than 15 years, the DCCFM has celebrated the Filipino Saints Celebration, one of the major annual gatherings of the diocesan Filipino Catholic community, in September.
For many years, the celebration was traditionally held at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. When Deacon Elmer Maximo became president of the DCCFM, the commission began bringing the celebration to different parishes throughout the diocese, particularly those with a strong and active Filipino Catholic presence. This has allowed more parish communities to participate while highlighting the Filipino community’s important contribution to the life and mission of the local Church.
Adding to the beauty and cultural character of the celebration, participants are encouraged to come in traditional Filipino attire — the Barong Tagalog for men and the Baro’t Saya for women. These traditional garments are a visible expression of the Filipino heritage and remind Filipinos that their culture and Catholic faith are gifts they joyfully share with the wider Church.
The fellowship reflects the joyful Filipino tradition of a fiesta, where faith, family, friendship, and hospitality come together. We will share a variety of traditional Filipino dishes.
Traditionally, the celebration is also supported by a Hermana and/or Hermano, individuals or families who generously sponsor and assist with the celebration. Their generosity reflects the Filipino spirit of paglilingkod and bayanihan —serving God and the community together with joyful and grateful hearts.
More than a cultural gathering, the Filipino Saints Celebration is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of the participants’ Filipino Catholic heritage and to be inspired by the courageous witness of San Lorenzo Ruiz and San Pedro Calungsod. Through their example, Filipino Catholics are reminded that holiness is possible in every generation and that, wherever Filipinos may be, we are called to remain faithful witnesses of Christ and His Church.
– Filipino Catholics from the Paterson Diocese, N.J., will gather for the annual Filipino Saints Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26, at Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Church in the Cedar Knolls neighborhood of Hanover Township, N.J., beginning with Mass at 11 a.m. The event honors San Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod de Cebu, the first Filipino saints. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will celebrate the Mass, which will be concelebrated by the diocese’s Filipino priests, including Father Vidal Gonzales, pastor of Notre Dame and diocesan consultant/adviser for the Diocesan Commission for Catholic Filipino Ministries (DCCFM). The Mass will be
A reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers and sisters,
proclaiming the mystery of God,
I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation
were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom
but on the power of God.
From the Gospel according to Luke
4:16-30
Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll,
he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
?Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.?
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
They also asked, ?Is this not the son of Joseph??
He said to them, ?Surely you will quote me this proverb,
?Physician, cure yourself,? and say, ?Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.??
And he said,
?Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.?
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong.
But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
That day, in Nazareth, Jesus confronted His interlocutors with a choice about His identity and mission. No one in the synagogue could help but wonder: is He only the carpenter’s son who arrogates to Himself a role that does not belong to Him, or is He truly the Messiah, sent by God to save the people from sin and all evil?
The Evangelist tells us that the Nazarenes failed to recognize the Lord’s anointed one in Jesus. They thought they knew Him too well, and this, instead of facilitating the opening of their minds and hearts, prevented them from doing so, like a veil obscuring the light.
Sisters and brothers, this event, with the due analogies, also happens for us today. We too are challenged by the presence and words of Jesus; we too are called to recognize in Him the Son of God, our Saviour. But it may happen to us, as it did to His countrymen, to think that we already know Him, that we already know everything about Him, that we have grown up with Him, in school, in the parish, in catechism, in a country with a Catholic culture… And so, for us too, He is a Person who is close, indeed perhaps even ?too? close.
But let us try to ask ourselves: do we sense the unique authority with which Jesus of Nazareth speaks? Do we recognize that He is the bearer of a proclamation of salvation (?)? And I, do I feel in need of this salvation? Do I feel that I too am in some way poor, imprisoned, blind, oppressed? Then, only then, ?the year of grace? will be for me! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 26 January 2025)
Read MoreThe third member of NASA’s space shuttle program, Discovery had a fraught journey to its launch. First, a test in June of 1984 found a flaw in the thermal shield; then a launch scheduled for later the same month was delayed due to a computer failure. Attempt No. 2 was halted only four seconds beforeContinue reading “Aug. 30, 1984: Space Shuttle Discovery launches”
The post Aug. 30, 1984: Space Shuttle Discovery launches appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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A regional government’s minister of culture highlighted the cause for beatification of Queen Isabella during a meeting with Archbishop Luis Argüello, president of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.
The pontiff said believers should speak honestly to God in moments of confusion while humbly accepting his ways.
As part of a formation program, the secretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Evangelization urged priests to take time away from ministry to sustain their physical and mental health.
![Hope for broken marriages: One couple’s story #Catholic On April 7, 2009, Mariela Villanueva landed in Venezuela convinced that she was going to end her marriage. Five years had passed since her husband, Harold Figueras, had left his family in Peru and rebuilt his life in another country. She carried with her the pain of a long separation and the resolve to sign the divorce papers. He had with him a written list of all the grievances he intended to unleash the moment he saw her.Nothing happened the way either of them had imagined.They arranged to meet on a Wednesday at 3 p.m., the Hour of Mercy, at the very spot where they had courted years before. When Mariela appeared, Harold frantically searched for the sheet of paper containing his complaints. It had vanished.“I was expecting a war. She opened her arms to embrace me, and I realized that I was the only one who wanted to fight,” Harold recalled in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. Mariela said she made that gesture because she had already begun a process of conversion and was holding onto one last hope.That embrace did not immediately restore the marriage, however. It would still be nearly a month before he ended the other relationship he was in and decided to return to his family. But on that day, they both attest, Jesus won the first great battle.
Harold and Mariela in front of Lima Cathedral. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
A marriage marked by woundednessHarold and Mariela met in 1998 at the Venezuelan College of Engineers. He worked in systems; she was a young lawyer running a legal consultation firm with dozens of professionals under her supervision.While Mariela had grown up in a Catholic family and frequently prayed the rosary, Harold was completely indifferent to the faith.“I used to make fun of priests. For me, getting married in the Church was simply a matter of fulfilling a social formality,” he admitted.They were married in a civil ceremony and on Sept. 2, 2000, received the sacrament at marriage at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Barranco, Peru. However, they acknowledged that they came to the altar without truly understanding the meaning of the vocation of marriage.“We began our life together without God at the center. That was the first major mistake,” Harold explained.Over the years, deep-seated wounds began to surface: abandonment, loneliness, pride, an inability to communicate, and unrealistic expectations about love. Venezuela’s economic crisis further aggravated the situation. Harold traveled constantly between the two countries until, one day, he simply stopped coming back.Mariela was left alone in Lima with her young daughter.
Recent photo of Harold and Mariela with their three daughters in Lima, Peru. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
‘Mom, teach me to pray’Paradoxically, the restoration did not begin when Harold changed. It began when Mariela got down on her knees.Estranged from the Church and filled with resentment, the young mother had abandoned the practice of her faith after being hurt by a bad experience at a parish. Everything changed thanks to an unexpected request from her 7-year-old daughter: “Mom, grandma says you know how to pray. Teach me the rosary.”Mariela agreed, more out of a sense of obligation than anything else. Shortly after that, her daughter insisted on making her first Communion and said something that pierced her mother’s heart: “You know what it’s like to have Jesus in your heart… so why don’t you [go to Communion]?”Those words led Mariela back to the confessional.From then on, she began a routine that would change her life: daily Mass before work, Eucharistic adoration at midday, and the rosary every night with her daughter.“I was looking for God to change my husband. The Lord ended up changing me,” she related.
Harold and Mariela with members of the Peruvian Catholic movement “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
‘Look at me’During Eucharistic adoration, an experience occurred that would, years later, give its name to the retreat the couple now leads as part of the Peruvian Catholic movement “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family.”Mariela was praying, seeing herself as the victim in her story: “Lord, look at me. Look at how good I am. Look at what he did to me.”Then, she raised her eyes toward the monstrance.“I no longer saw the monstrance. I saw Jesus, wounded and bloodied. And he said to me only: ‘Look at me.’”In that moment, she experienced a personal encounter with Jesus. She began to recall her own sins from childhood and realized that, for years, she had been unable to recognize her own wounds.“I realized that God wasn’t going to ask me about Harold’s sins. He was going to ask me how much I loved my husband within the sacrament.”Her prayer changed completely, and she no longer asked for Harold to return. She only prayed: “Lord, bring him back to you.”
Mariela Villanueva. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Mariela Villanueva
The hell of the occultWhile Mariela was deepening her prayer life, Harold was heading down a completely opposite path.Seeking better financial prospects, he began consulting tarot cards. Next came syncretist Santería practices, and finally Palería, a witchcraft practice involving human remains and animal sacrifices.“I entered a dark room containing skeletal remains. I felt an indescribable fear, yet I kept looking for answers where they weren’t to be found,” Harold recalled.Amid that emptiness, he began to notice something strange. Mariela kept calling him, but no longer to get him back. One afternoon, in a mocking tone, he asked her: “What’s wrong? Don’t you need me anymore?”Her answer baffled him.“No. Whatʼs going on is that I have someone here who loves me.”Harold thought she had another romantic partner, but today he knows his wife was speaking of Christ himself.
Harold Figueras. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras
Welcomed back with loveAfter that encounter with his wife in Venezuela, Harold eventually returned to Peru.He admitted he was terrified of facing Mariela’s family and above all, their daughter. He imagined reproaches, humiliation, and rejection. Yet, he found exactly the opposite.“They all hugged me as if I had just stepped out to buy bread,” he recounted.A few days later, he accompanied Mariela to the Oblate Fathers’ church in the Barranco neighborhood of Lima. He had no thought of even going inside. He was standing near the doorway when, as he tells it, he felt an inner impulse that led him straight to the confessional.“I told the priest: ‘Father, I’ve been separated from my wife for five years, and I don’t know why I’ve come back.’”The priest invited him to attend a spiritual retreat. It was there that Harold experienced his own conversion.Before the Blessed Sacrament, after resisting for hours, Harold looked up: “I no longer saw the monstrance. I saw two honey-colored eyes that pierced my heart. I began to weep as I never had in my life.”From that moment on, he abandoned the occult and began a journey of faith that continues to this day.An ongoing miracleMore than 15 years have passed since that reconciliation.Harold and Mariela maintain that the true miracle was not simply living together again but discovering that marriage is a daily path to holiness.“Restoring the marriage takes your whole life. It doesn’t stop when the husband returns. It begins there,” Mariela said.
Harold and Mariela today. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
That experience gave rise to the “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family” movement, an initiative that supports spouses who are separated or on the verge of divorce. The path they propose begins with oneʼs own conversion rather than an attempt to change oneʼs spouse.Those who come to the mission begin with what’s called “Mary’s Workshop,” a preparation for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that focuses on the sacrament of marriage. There, the aim is for each person to acknowledge his or her own wounds and receive the tools to discern how to handle their issues as a family.However, Harold and Mariela noted that not all journeys end the same way. Some married couples manage to reunite, while others go their separate ways, including through the process of a declaration of nullity. What remains, they maintain, is the call to conversion and to seek God’s will.“The Lord wants us to be holy,” Mariela explained. She said that even when a person goes through a process different from what she or he hoped for, suffering can become an opportunity to draw closer to Christ and offer that pain for the holiness of the Church.Today, when they look back, the couple no longer see themselves as the same people who had separated. Mariela describes Harold as a man more committed to knowing Godʼs love and capable of giving of himself to his family.For his part, he acknowledged that the woman he reunited with after five years was no longer the same one he had left behind.
The Figueras Villanueva family today. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
For this reason, their testimony does not aim to offer a formula for restoring a lost marriage. It is, above all, the story of two people who discovered that, before asking God to change the other person, they had to allow themselves to be transformed by him.“Many people come saying, ‘I want my husband to come back.’ We tell them: First, let Jesus return to the center of your heart,” Harold explained.Their message to couples in crisis stems from that experience: Don’t hide your wounds, don’t let shame defeat you, and don’t confuse restoration with a simple return to the life you had before.For as they discovered that Wednesday afternoon in 2009, some marital battles are not won by defeating the other person but by allowing oneself to be conquered by God’s merciful love.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.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/hope-for-broken-marriages-one-couples-story-catholic-on-april-7-2009-mariela-villanueva-landed-in-venezuela-convinced-that-she-was-going-to-end-her-marriage-five-years-had-passed-since-h.jpg "Hope for broken marriages: One couple’s story #Catholic On April 7, 2009, Mariela Villanueva landed in Venezuela convinced that she was going to end her marriage. Five years had passed since her husband, Harold Figueras, had left his family in Peru and rebuilt his life in another country. She carried with her the pain of a long separation and the resolve to sign the divorce papers. He had with him a written list of all the grievances he intended to unleash the moment he saw her.Nothing happened the way either of them had imagined.They arranged to meet on a Wednesday at 3 p.m., the Hour of Mercy, at the very spot where they had courted years before. When Mariela appeared, Harold frantically searched for the sheet of paper containing his complaints. It had vanished.“I was expecting a war. She opened her arms to embrace me, and I realized that I was the only one who wanted to fight,” Harold recalled in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. Mariela said she made that gesture because she had already begun a process of conversion and was holding onto one last hope.That embrace did not immediately restore the marriage, however. It would still be nearly a month before he ended the other relationship he was in and decided to return to his family. But on that day, they both attest, Jesus won the first great battle.
Harold and Mariela in front of Lima Cathedral. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
A marriage marked by woundednessHarold and Mariela met in 1998 at the Venezuelan College of Engineers. He worked in systems; she was a young lawyer running a legal consultation firm with dozens of professionals under her supervision.While Mariela had grown up in a Catholic family and frequently prayed the rosary, Harold was completely indifferent to the faith.“I used to make fun of priests. For me, getting married in the Church was simply a matter of fulfilling a social formality,” he admitted.They were married in a civil ceremony and on Sept. 2, 2000, received the sacrament at marriage at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Barranco, Peru. However, they acknowledged that they came to the altar without truly understanding the meaning of the vocation of marriage.“We began our life together without God at the center. That was the first major mistake,” Harold explained.Over the years, deep-seated wounds began to surface: abandonment, loneliness, pride, an inability to communicate, and unrealistic expectations about love. Venezuela’s economic crisis further aggravated the situation. Harold traveled constantly between the two countries until, one day, he simply stopped coming back.Mariela was left alone in Lima with her young daughter.
Recent photo of Harold and Mariela with their three daughters in Lima, Peru. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
‘Mom, teach me to pray’Paradoxically, the restoration did not begin when Harold changed. It began when Mariela got down on her knees.Estranged from the Church and filled with resentment, the young mother had abandoned the practice of her faith after being hurt by a bad experience at a parish. Everything changed thanks to an unexpected request from her 7-year-old daughter: “Mom, grandma says you know how to pray. Teach me the rosary.”Mariela agreed, more out of a sense of obligation than anything else. Shortly after that, her daughter insisted on making her first Communion and said something that pierced her mother’s heart: “You know what it’s like to have Jesus in your heart… so why don’t you [go to Communion]?”Those words led Mariela back to the confessional.From then on, she began a routine that would change her life: daily Mass before work, Eucharistic adoration at midday, and the rosary every night with her daughter.“I was looking for God to change my husband. The Lord ended up changing me,” she related.
Harold and Mariela with members of the Peruvian Catholic movement “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family.” | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
‘Look at me’During Eucharistic adoration, an experience occurred that would, years later, give its name to the retreat the couple now leads as part of the Peruvian Catholic movement “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family.”Mariela was praying, seeing herself as the victim in her story: “Lord, look at me. Look at how good I am. Look at what he did to me.”Then, she raised her eyes toward the monstrance.“I no longer saw the monstrance. I saw Jesus, wounded and bloodied. And he said to me only: ‘Look at me.’”In that moment, she experienced a personal encounter with Jesus. She began to recall her own sins from childhood and realized that, for years, she had been unable to recognize her own wounds.“I realized that God wasn’t going to ask me about Harold’s sins. He was going to ask me how much I loved my husband within the sacrament.”Her prayer changed completely, and she no longer asked for Harold to return. She only prayed: “Lord, bring him back to you.”
Mariela Villanueva. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Mariela Villanueva
The hell of the occultWhile Mariela was deepening her prayer life, Harold was heading down a completely opposite path.Seeking better financial prospects, he began consulting tarot cards. Next came syncretist Santería practices, and finally Palería, a witchcraft practice involving human remains and animal sacrifices.“I entered a dark room containing skeletal remains. I felt an indescribable fear, yet I kept looking for answers where they weren’t to be found,” Harold recalled.Amid that emptiness, he began to notice something strange. Mariela kept calling him, but no longer to get him back. One afternoon, in a mocking tone, he asked her: “What’s wrong? Don’t you need me anymore?”Her answer baffled him.“No. Whatʼs going on is that I have someone here who loves me.”Harold thought she had another romantic partner, but today he knows his wife was speaking of Christ himself.
Harold Figueras. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras
Welcomed back with loveAfter that encounter with his wife in Venezuela, Harold eventually returned to Peru.He admitted he was terrified of facing Mariela’s family and above all, their daughter. He imagined reproaches, humiliation, and rejection. Yet, he found exactly the opposite.“They all hugged me as if I had just stepped out to buy bread,” he recounted.A few days later, he accompanied Mariela to the Oblate Fathers’ church in the Barranco neighborhood of Lima. He had no thought of even going inside. He was standing near the doorway when, as he tells it, he felt an inner impulse that led him straight to the confessional.“I told the priest: ‘Father, I’ve been separated from my wife for five years, and I don’t know why I’ve come back.’”The priest invited him to attend a spiritual retreat. It was there that Harold experienced his own conversion.Before the Blessed Sacrament, after resisting for hours, Harold looked up: “I no longer saw the monstrance. I saw two honey-colored eyes that pierced my heart. I began to weep as I never had in my life.”From that moment on, he abandoned the occult and began a journey of faith that continues to this day.An ongoing miracleMore than 15 years have passed since that reconciliation.Harold and Mariela maintain that the true miracle was not simply living together again but discovering that marriage is a daily path to holiness.“Restoring the marriage takes your whole life. It doesn’t stop when the husband returns. It begins there,” Mariela said.
Harold and Mariela today. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
That experience gave rise to the “Jesus and Mary Are Restoring My Family” movement, an initiative that supports spouses who are separated or on the verge of divorce. The path they propose begins with oneʼs own conversion rather than an attempt to change oneʼs spouse.Those who come to the mission begin with what’s called “Mary’s Workshop,” a preparation for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary that focuses on the sacrament of marriage. There, the aim is for each person to acknowledge his or her own wounds and receive the tools to discern how to handle their issues as a family.However, Harold and Mariela noted that not all journeys end the same way. Some married couples manage to reunite, while others go their separate ways, including through the process of a declaration of nullity. What remains, they maintain, is the call to conversion and to seek God’s will.“The Lord wants us to be holy,” Mariela explained. She said that even when a person goes through a process different from what she or he hoped for, suffering can become an opportunity to draw closer to Christ and offer that pain for the holiness of the Church.Today, when they look back, the couple no longer see themselves as the same people who had separated. Mariela describes Harold as a man more committed to knowing Godʼs love and capable of giving of himself to his family.For his part, he acknowledged that the woman he reunited with after five years was no longer the same one he had left behind.
The Figueras Villanueva family today. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Harold Figueras and Mariela Villanueva
For this reason, their testimony does not aim to offer a formula for restoring a lost marriage. It is, above all, the story of two people who discovered that, before asking God to change the other person, they had to allow themselves to be transformed by him.“Many people come saying, ‘I want my husband to come back.’ We tell them: First, let Jesus return to the center of your heart,” Harold explained.Their message to couples in crisis stems from that experience: Don’t hide your wounds, don’t let shame defeat you, and don’t confuse restoration with a simple return to the life you had before.For as they discovered that Wednesday afternoon in 2009, some marital battles are not won by defeating the other person but by allowing oneself to be conquered by God’s merciful love.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.")
Starting out their marriage without God at the center, the couple became estranged and the husband left, but things began to change when their daughter asked her mom, “Teach me to pray.”
| Picture of the day |
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Acro paraglider shows off infinity tumbling, the most spectacular aerobatics maneuver that exist in paragliding
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NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, encapsulated in its payload fairing, travels to the SpaceX hangar at Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.
Read MoreA reading from the Book of Jeremiah
20:7-9
You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped;
you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.
All the day I am an object of laughter;
everyone mocks me.
Whenever I speak, I must cry out,
violence and outrage is my message;
the word of the LORD has brought me
derision and reproach all the day.
I say to myself, I will not mention him,
I will speak in his name no more.
But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart,
imprisoned in my bones;
I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans
12:1-2
I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God,
to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,
holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship.
Do not conform yourselves to this age
but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that you may discern what is the will of God,
what is good and pleasing and perfect.
From the Gospel according to Matthew
16:21-27
Jesus began to show his disciples
that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly
from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.
Then Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him,
"God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you."
He turned and said to Peter,
"Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Then Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory,
and then he will repay all according to his conduct."
Always, today too, the temptation is that of wanting to follow a Christ without the cross, on the contrary, of teaching God which is the right path (?). But Jesus reminds us that his way is the way of love, and that there is no true love without self sacrifice. We are called to not let ourselves be absorbed by the vision of this world, but to be ever more aware of the need and of the effort for we Christians to walk against the current and uphill.
Jesus completes his proposal with words that express a great and ever valid wisdom, because they challenge the egocentric mentality and behaviour. He exhorts: ?whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it (v. 25). This paradox contains the golden rule that God inscribed in the human nature created in Christ: the rule that only love gives meaning and happiness to life. To spend one?s own talents, one?s energy and one?s time only to save, protect and fulfil oneself, in reality leads to losing oneself, i.e. to a sad and barren existence. Instead let us live for the Lord and base our life on love, as Jesus did: we will be able to savour authentic joy, and our life will not be barren; it will be fruitful. (?)
May Mary Most Holy, who followed Jesus up to Calvary, accompany us too and help us not to be afraid of the cross, but with Jesus nailed [to it], not a cross without Jesus, the Cross with Jesus, which is the cross of suffering for love of God and of our brothers and sisters, because this suffering, by the grace of Christ, bears the fruit of resurrection. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 3 September 2017)
Read More
The Holy Father was the first pope to travel across the waters of the lake in the 400-year-long history of Castel Gandolfo as a papal summer residence, according to the Vatican.
Such restrictions on federal funding are made “without any compelling government interest,” the Justice Department said in a memorandum opinion.
![Pope Leo XIV says Eastern synods can remove patriarchs for serious reasons – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 29 said bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches can remove their patriarchs when assembled in synod, though the Holy Father said the pope must still give his assent to the proposal. The pope made the declaration in an apostolic letter issued motu proprio titled Mutua Concordia. The letter modified canons 106 and 126 of the Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium. The pope in the letter said the “mutual concord” between the head of an Eastern Church and the church’s bishops “is the soul of communion of the Eastern ecclesiastical hierarchy.” If the “sacred bond” between the two “were to be irreparably compromised, this would constitute a grave wound requiring a remedy,” the pope said. In such situations, the bishops in question “must be able to exercise canonical authority” to remedy the crisis.Synods will thus have the power to “[remove] their own Patriarch from office for a grave cause,” the pope said. Such a procedure would still guarantee the patriarch in question “a full defense before the synod,” the pope noted.The pope, however, will retain “the sole concession of consent to the synodal decision,” Leo wrote. That provision will ensure “that the full freedom of the Fathers in expressing their choice is guaranteed, sheltered from any possible internal or external undue pressure.”The order comes into effect “immediately,” Leo wrote in the letter. In June Leo emphasized the “great gift” the Eastern Catholic Churches offer to the Universal Church, which he said is “often unaware of the diverse ecclesial traditions within its ranks.”“The Christian East can only be preserved if it is understood: to lose that understanding is to impoverish the Church,” the pope told the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches at the time.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/pope-leo-xiv-says-eastern-synods-can-remove-patriarchs-for-serious-reasons-catholic-pope-leo-xiv-on-aug-29-said-bishops-of-the-eastern-catholic-churches-can-remove-their-patriarchs-when-assemble-scaled.jpg "Pope Leo XIV says Eastern synods can remove patriarchs for serious reasons – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV on Aug. 29 said bishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches can remove their patriarchs when assembled in synod, though the Holy Father said the pope must still give his assent to the proposal. The pope made the declaration in an apostolic letter issued motu proprio titled Mutua Concordia. The letter modified canons 106 and 126 of the Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum Orientalium. The pope in the letter said the “mutual concord” between the head of an Eastern Church and the church’s bishops “is the soul of communion of the Eastern ecclesiastical hierarchy.” If the “sacred bond” between the two “were to be irreparably compromised, this would constitute a grave wound requiring a remedy,” the pope said. In such situations, the bishops in question “must be able to exercise canonical authority” to remedy the crisis.Synods will thus have the power to “[remove] their own Patriarch from office for a grave cause,” the pope said. Such a procedure would still guarantee the patriarch in question “a full defense before the synod,” the pope noted.The pope, however, will retain “the sole concession of consent to the synodal decision,” Leo wrote. That provision will ensure “that the full freedom of the Fathers in expressing their choice is guaranteed, sheltered from any possible internal or external undue pressure.”The order comes into effect “immediately,” Leo wrote in the letter. In June Leo emphasized the “great gift” the Eastern Catholic Churches offer to the Universal Church, which he said is “often unaware of the diverse ecclesial traditions within its ranks.”“The Christian East can only be preserved if it is understood: to lose that understanding is to impoverish the Church,” the pope told the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches at the time.")
The pope made the declaration in an apostolic letter issued motu proprio titled Mutua Concordia.
A new biography traces Cardinal Sigitas Tamkevičius’ imprisonment by the KGB and his decades leading Lithuania’s underground Catholic resistance to Soviet persecution.
The annual camping event welcomes dads and sons for a mission to grow closer, strengthen their relationships through challenges and reflections, and partake in faith-filled adventures.
Bask in the seasonal splendor of Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut without having to keep your eyes on the road.
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. August 28: Vesta stands still You may have heard of Epsilon (ε) Lyrae, the famous Double Double star in the constellation Lyra, but it’s not the only fascinating pair this constellation holds. Tonight, let’s check out another multi-star system in the Lyre:Continue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, August 29: Double star Zeta Lyrae”
The post The Sky Today on Saturday, August 29: Double star Zeta Lyrae appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More| Picture of the day |
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Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland
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Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney’s Schedule: September, 2026 #Catholic – 
| 9/2 | Wed.,1:30 p.m. Priest meeting – St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison. |
| 9/3 | Thu., 7 p.m. DMA kick-off meeting with pastors and Lay Appeal chairpeople – All Saints Academy, Parsippany. |
| 9/4 | Fri., 4:30 p.m. Newer Religious Gathering – Mary Help of Christians, North Haledon. |
| 9/5 | Sat., 8 a.m. Mass for Life & Procession – St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, Morristown; 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Confirmation – Holy Trinity Parish, Passaic. |
| 9/6 | Sun., 12:30 p.m. St. Therese Parish, Paterson. |
| 9/8 | Tue., 10 a.m. Solemn vows – Discalced Carmelites, Morristown. |
| 9/9 | Wed., 10:30 a.m. Tri-County Scholarship Fund visit – St. Gerard Majella School, Paterson. |
| 9/10 | Thu., 7 p.m. September 11 Memorial Mass – St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC. |
| 9/11 | Fri., 9:30 a.m. Mass – All Saints Academy, Parsippany; 11:30 a.m. Staff Mass – St. Paul’s Inside the Walls, Madison, commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the terrorist attacks; 7 p.m. Confirmation – St. Pius X Parish, Montville. |
| 9/12 | Sat., 10:30 a.m. Confirmation – Our Lady of the Magnificat Parish, Kinnelon; 2 p.m. Mass and Eucharistic Procession for Altar Servers Day – St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison; 4 p.m. Installation Mass of Father Manuel Cuellar – St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Parish, Paterson, St. Bonaventure Church, Paterson. |
| 9/13 | Sun., 10:30 a.m. Mass and the Rite of Veneration over the first-class relic of St. Carlo Acutis – Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Wayne. |
| 9/14 | Mon., 1 p.m. Dean’s meeting. |
| 9/15 | Tue., 12 p.m. Retired Priests’ Autumn Lunch – St. Ann’s Parish, Parsipany; 6 p.m. Confirmation – Corpus Christi Parish, Chatham. |
| 9/16 | Wed., 12 p.m. Mass celebrating Hispanic heritage – St. Joseph’s Health, Paterson. |
| 9/17 | Thu. Pastoral Care of Immigrant Communities – Villanova Cabrini Campus, Radnor, Pa. |
| 9/18–21 | Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Chalco, Mexico. |
| 9/22 | Tue., 7 p.m. Confirmation – St. Anthony Parish, Hawthorne. |
| 9/23 | Wed., 10:30 a.m. Mass and profession of vows – Chapel of Sisters of Christian Charity, Mendham. |
| 9/25 | Fri., 9:30 a.m. Mass – DePaul Catholic High School, Wayne; 7 p.m. Diocesan Emmaus Mass – the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Paterson. |
| 9/26 | Sat., 11 a.m. Filipino Martyrs’ Mass – Notre Dame of Mount Carmel Parish, Cedar Knolls; 1 p.m. Invocation – the Memorial for the Fallen from the global war on terror, County College of Morris, Randolph; 5 p.m. Mass – St. Mary Parish, Denville, for their 100th anniversary celebration. |
| 9/27 | Sun., 4 p.m. Confirmation – St. Gerard Majella Parish, Paterson. |
| 9/28 | Mon., 1 p.m. Presbyteral Council. |
| 9/29 | Tue., 9:20 a.m. Mass – Villa Walsh Academy, Morristown. |
| 9/30 | Wed., 6 p.m. Governor Thomas Kean Leadership Award Gala – Battello, Jersey City. |
– 9/2 Wed.,1:30 p.m. Priest meeting – St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison. 9/3 Thu., 7 p.m. DMA kick-off meeting with pastors and Lay Appeal chairpeople – All Saints Academy, Parsippany. 9/4 Fri., 4:30 p.m. Newer Religious Gathering – Mary Help of Christians, North Haledon. 9/5 Sat., 8 a.m. Mass for Life & Procession – St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, Morristown; 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Confirmation – Holy Trinity Parish, Passaic. 9/6 Sun., 12:30 p.m. St. Therese Parish, Paterson. 9/8 Tue., 10 a.m. Solemn vows – Discalced Carmelites, Morristown. 9/9 Wed., 10:30 a.m. Tri-County Scholarship Fund visit – St. Gerard
President Donald J. Trump awarded NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor on Aug. 28, 2026, at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Read MoreA reading from the First Letter of St. Paul to Corinthians
1:26-31
Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters.
Not many of you were wise by human standards,
not many were powerful,
not many were of noble birth.
Rather, God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise,
and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,
and God chose the lowly and despised of the world,
those who count for nothing,
to reduce to nothing those who are something,
so that no human being might boast before God.
It is due to him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who became for us wisdom from God,
as well as righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,
so that, as it is written,
Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord.
From the Gospel according to Mark
6:17-29
Herod was the one who had John the Baptist
arrested and bound in prison
on account of Herodias,
the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
John had said to Herod,
?It is not lawful for you to have your brother?s wife.?
Herodias harbored a grudge against him
and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.
Herod feared John,
knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,
and kept him in custody.
When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,
yet he liked to listen to him.
She had an opportunity one day when Herod,
on his birthday,
gave a banquet for his courtiers,
his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.
Herodias? own daughter came in
and performed a dance that
delighted Herod and his guests.
The king said to the girl,
?Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.?
He even swore many things to her,
?I will grant you whatever you ask of me,
even to half of my kingdom.?
She went out and said to her mother,
?What shall I ask for??
She replied, ?The head of John the Baptist.?
The girl hurried back to the king?s presence
and made her request,
?I want you to give me at once
on a platter the head of John the Baptist.?
The king was deeply distressed,
but because of his oaths and the guests
he did not wish to break his word to her.
So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders
to bring back his head.
He went off and beheaded him in the prison.
He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.
The girl in turn gave it to her mother.
When his disciples heard about it,
they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
As his last act the Baptist witnessed with his blood to faithfulness to God?s commandments, without giving in or withdrawing, carrying out his mission to the very end. (?)
We see this great figure, this force in the Passion, in resistance to the powerful. We wonder: what gave birth to this life, to this interiority so strong, so upright, so consistent, spent so totally for God in preparing the way for Jesus? The answer is simple: it was born from the relationship with God, from prayer, which was the thread that guided him throughout his existence. (?)
Celebrating the martyrdom of St John the Baptist reminds us too, Christians of this time, that with love for Christ, for his words and for the Truth, we cannot stoop to compromises. The Truth is Truth; there are no compromises. Christian life demands, so to speak, the ?martyrdom? of daily fidelity to the Gospel, the courage, that is, to let Christ grow within us and let him be the One who guides our thought and our actions. However, this can happen in our life only if we have a solid relationship with God. Prayer is not time wasted, it does not take away time from our activities, even apostolic activities, but exactly the opposite is true: only if we are able to have a faithful, constant and trusting life of prayer will God himself give us the ability and strength to live happily and serenely, to surmount difficulties and to witness courageously to him. St John the Baptist, intercede for us, that we may be ever able to preserve the primacy of God in our life. (Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, 29 August 2012)
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A student challenges a 2004 Supreme Court decision, the Diocese of Scranton reopens its seminary, and Benedictine College names a speaker for its library dedication in this week’s education roundup.
Vietnamese youth drawn to the TLM, Holy Land priests highlight plight of Christian community, Philippine dioceses call for end of mining agreement, and more in this week’s world news roundup.
Beyond The Beacon podcast 117: How serving in Alaska transformed Father Kamil’s life #Catholic – 
Father Kamil Kiszka likened serving in Alaska to a priceless two-year retreat, during which he came away more peaceful and balanced. Father Kiszka returns to the podcast to talk about this unique full-time missionary experience in the Land of the Midnight Sun and what might be next for him. The conversation is moved along by Father Kiszka’s collection of photographs from Alaska. (Watch the video version of the podcast to see the photographs.)
Host Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney reflects on our call to be missionary disciples wherever we are.
Bishop Sweeney also reflects on the life of Father Rafael Ciro, who took his life one year ago, and a Memorial Mass scheduled the day this episode was recorded. He also mentions the feast days of St. Monica (Aug. 27) and her son St. Augustine (Aug. 28).
Listen to the episode here, or on any major podcast platform, or watch it on Bishop Sweeney’s YouTube channel.
– Father Kamil Kiszka likened serving in Alaska to a priceless two-year retreat, during which he came away more peaceful and balanced. Father Kiszka returns to the podcast to talk about this unique full-time missionary experience in the Land of the Midnight Sun and what might be next for him. The conversation is moved along by Father Kiszka’s collection of photographs from Alaska. (Watch the video version of the podcast to see the photographs.) Host Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney reflects on our call to be missionary disciples wherever we are. Bishop Sweeney also reflects on the life of Father Rafael Ciro, who took
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