The Holy Father accepted the resignation of Amarillo Bishop Patrick Zurek, who has reached retirement age.
Ave Maria University, a Catholic liberal arts university in Florida, is opening a new campus at a former monastery in rural Ireland. Learn more in this Catholic education news roundup.
![New film brings to life the Book of Revelation - #Catholic - A new movie titled “The Apocalypse of St. John” brings to life the Book of Revelation. Not only does the film tackle the challenging messages found in Revelation, but it also makes them accessible to a wider audience.Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, the docudrama will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17 after having tremendous success in South America and Latin America.Delacre told EWTN News that he was inspired to make the film because he was a big fan of apocalyptic Hollywood movies growing up.“But of course, being Catholic, I knew that would be somewhat far from the truth, somewhat far from the actual book of Revelation,” he said.He began to dive deeper into the theology of the Book of Revelation because he was “very intrigued” by the symbolism and complex images and explained that what impacted him the most was “how current the topic of Revelation was for our times.”“We are living in a crisis that is global in all aspects of men — like in the moral aspect, there’s a huge crisis, there’s a big crisis in the spiritual aspect, there’s a crisis in the economic aspect, political aspect, all aspects of life. We’re going through a great crisis that is at the same time global,” Delacre said.He added: “Since we are living — well, this is my opinion — the greatest crisis of all time, I think it is very important to give the world the good prophecy that is the Book of Revelation and give it in a Catholic way.”Delacre explained that he worked with many priests, biblical scholars, and theologians to properly depict Revelation and ensured to use language that would be understood by a general audience.
A still from the docudrama “The Apocalypse of St. John,” which will be in theaters Feb. 15–17, 2026. | Credit: Caravel Films
Amid his research into Revelation and creating the film, Delacre said his own faith was impacted in a way that allowed him to view crises in the world “not with desperation but with hope.”“Every time I see a new crisis, I just see something that moves history forwards to the second coming,” he shared.He recalled being in the middle of studying Revelation when his home country of Argentina legalized abortion in 2020. He spoke with a friend of his who is a priest on that day and despite being disappointed by the news, they “couldn’t feel sad because we saw in that another sign that proves that we are closer to the second coming and that Christ is coming soon.”The filmmaker said he hopes audiences will have a similar experience after watching the film in that it will “bring comfort and solace to people who watch the movie in the midst of this crisis we are living [through].”“Also, to teach them that the book of Revelation is not a book of terror, but a book of hope … Just rip off that fear to the book and encourage them to study more of Revelation.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/new-film-brings-to-life-the-book-of-revelation-catholic-a-new-movie-titled-the-apocalypse-of-st-john-brings-to-life-the-book-of-revelation-not-only-does-the-film-tackle-the-ch.jpg)
Written, created, and directed by Simón Delacre, “The Apocalypse of St. John” will air in theaters across the United States Feb. 15–17.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Dragon spacecraft is launched on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission to the International Space Station with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev onboard, Friday, Feb. 13, 2026, from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 mission is the twelfth crew rotation mission of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Program. Meir, Hathaway, Adenot, and Fedyaev launched at 5:15 a.m. EST from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station to begin a mission aboard the orbital outpost.
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![On Valentine’s Day, Boston Archdiocese welcomes marriages into Church with convalidation ceremony - #Catholic - About two dozen couples in the Archdiocese of Boston will have their marriages “brought into the Church” this year, part of a now-yearly tradition there in which husbands and wives can take part in “convalidation” ceremonies. Convalidation offers civilly married husbands and wives the opportunity for a valid Catholic sacramental marriage. The Boston Archdiocese describes the ceremony as “an opportunity for couples married outside of the Catholic Church to enter a marriage covenant in the Catholic tradition, be strengthened by God’s grace, and be supported by his Church.”
Couples celebrate the convalidation of their marriages in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
Liz Cotrupi, the director of family life and ecclesial movements in the archdiocesan evangelization office, told EWTN News that this year’s ceremony will be the third the archdiocese has held in as many years. “We’ve been doing it during National Marriage Week,” she said. “It just so happens that this year it falls on Valentine’s Day, so it’s a little special.”The program arose in Boston when former Regional Bishop Mark O’Connell began offering convalidation ceremonies in the north region of the archdiocese over which he presided. “When he became the vicar general [in 2023], he said, ‘Hey I’ve been doing this regionally in the north region and it’s had some good feedback — what about doing it archdiocesan-wide?’” Cotrupi said. The program has grown ever since. “We’ll probably have 22 to 24 couples this year,” Cotrupi said. The archdiocese has advertised the ceremony in parish bulletins and on social media, she said, and the reaction has been positive. “People are coming out of the woodwork,” she said.
A couple receives convalidation of their marriage by Bishop Mark O’Connell in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
The process is similar, but not identical, to that of preparing couples for marriage. “We’ve learned a lot through this process,” Cotrupi said with a laugh. The archdiocesan canonical affairs office takes part in the marriage preparation, she said, while a priest helps prepare the couple directly. “Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time,” she said. “They will exchange consent, answer the questions, and then exchange rings, which are blessed.”
“Each couple, it’s as if they’re making their vows for the very first time.”
Liz CotrupiDirector of Family Life and Ecclesial Movements, Archdiocese of Boston
The ceremony is not a full Mass, she said, but rather consists of the Liturgy of the Word, the prayers of the faithful, a blessing, and the marriage ceremony itself. The event often has all the trappings of a wedding, she said. “Some brides come dressed in wedding dresses,” she said. Others are dressed more casually. Some families bring their children.
Young guests attend a convalidation ceremony in the Archdiocese of Boston on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. | Credit: Gregory Tracy/Archdiocese of Boston
At times, Cotrupi said, couples forget to bring the required two witnesses to the event, in which case she and archdiocesan Family Life Consultant Emily Elliott have often stood as witnesses. Couples are often given a gift on the day of the ceremony, she said, and afterward they often go out to dinner with family and friends to celebrate. Cotrupi said the usual administrative tasks surrounding the process, like “all the paperwork,” can be “a bit much.” Still, she said, “it’s a joyous occasion.”“We’re so happy to do it for them,” she said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/on-valentines-day-boston-archdiocese-welcomes-marriages-into-church-with-convalidation-ceremony-catholic-about-two-dozen-couples-in-the-archdiocese-of-boston-will-have-their-marriages.jpg)
U.S. — Up-and-coming crime reporter Megan Coolidge said she was excited to hear about the latest gruesome kidnapping case, as it would be a huge boost to her career.
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U.S. — Finally, after decades of obscurity on the subject, a groundbreaking new documentary will reportedly examine the history of World War II.
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Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) young female in Kruger National Park, South Africa.
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Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. February 13: Catch the zodiacal light This Valentine’s Day, the sky is serving up the perfect target: the Heart Nebula (IC 1805) in Cassiopeia the Queen. Best seen in the early evening after dark, there’s no Moon in the sky to interfereContinue reading “The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula)”
The post The Sky Today on Saturday, February 14: A Valentine’s Heart (Nebula) appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Police covered a Range Rover with a tarp as the investigation continued late into the night.
The post BREAKING: Two People Taken Into Custody After SWAT, FBI Raid Tucson Residence Near Nancy Guthrie’s Home .. Police Cover Range Rover with Tarp (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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New York City’s new socialist mayor is already running out of other people’s money.
The post Zohran Mamdani Backtracks on Campaign Promise for Rental Assistance, Claiming it’s too Expensive appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Don’t you love it when CNN is forced to report on reality and admit that things are going well under Trump?
The post CNN Forced to Report That Inflation is Way Down Under Trump: ‘Lowest Annual Rate for Core Since 2021’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreA reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 12:26-32; 13:33-34
Jeroboam thought to himself:
"The kingdom will return to David’s house.
If now this people go up to offer sacrifices
in the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem,
the hearts of this people will return to their master,
Rehoboam, king of Judah,
and they will kill me."
After taking counsel, the king made two calves of gold
and said to the people:
"You have been going up to Jerusalem long enough.
Here is your God, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt."
And he put one in Bethel, the other in Dan.
This led to sin, because the people frequented those calves
in Bethel and in Dan.
He also built temples on the high places
and made priests from among the people who were not Levites.
Jeroboam established a feast in the eighth month
on the fifteenth day of the month
to duplicate in Bethel the pilgrimage feast of Judah,
with sacrifices to the calves he had made;
and he stationed in Bethel priests of the high places he had built.
Jeroboam did not give up his evil ways after this,
but again made priests for the high places
from among the common people.
Whoever desired it was consecrated
and became a priest of the high places.
This was a sin on the part of the house of Jeroboam
for which it was to be cut off and destroyed from the earth.
From the Gospel according to Mark
8:1-10
In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat,
Jesus summoned the disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
because they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
If I send them away hungry to their homes,
they will collapse on the way,
and some of them have come a great distance.”
His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread
to satisfy them here in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
They replied, “Seven.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets.
There were about four thousand people.
He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples
and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
Jesus does not want to act alone, he came to bring the love of God into the world and he wants to spread it in the style of communion, in the style of brotherhood. That is why he immediately forms a community of disciples, which is a missionary community. He trains them straight away for the mission, to go forth.
But pay attention: their purpose is not to socialize, to spend time together, no, their purpose is to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and this is urgent! And it is still urgent today! (…)
These 72 disciples, whom Jesus sent out ahead of him, who were they? Who do they represent? If the Twelve were the Apostles, and also thus represent the Bishops, their successors, these 72 could represent the other ordained ministries, priests and deacons; but more broadly we can think of the other ministries in the Church, of catechists, of the lay faithful who engage in parish missions, of those who work with the sick, with different kinds of disadvantaged and marginalized people; but always as missionaries of the Gospel, with the urgency of the Kingdom that is close at hand. Everyone must be a missionary, everyone can hear that call of Jesus and go forth and proclaim the Kingdom! (Pope Francis, Angelus, 7 July 2013)
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Obituary: Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, former Butler pastor, 81 #Catholic – 
Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.
During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy.
Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in Erie.
On May 20, 1971, Father Hartle was ordained a priest at 26 years old for the Diocese of Erie, Penn. He then discerned a vocation to religious life as a Franciscan and was received into the Order of Friars Minor in 1975, professing first vows one year later. He made his solemn profession in 1979 and served at the St. Francis Retreat Center in Rye Beach, N.H., until 1990.
Father Hartle was then assigned to reside at the St. Francis Friary Novitiate in Brookline, Mass., and continued to offer spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops at various locales.
In 1994, he joined the team at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Andover, Mass.
From 1999 to 2008, Father Hartle was pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J., where his compassionate leadership and pastoral care deeply impacted the parish community.
During his ministry spanning more than five decades, Father Hartle conducted numerous pilgrimages to Italy, helping the faithful connect with their spiritual heritage. He was widely respected for leading retreats and days of recollection focused on Franciscan themes, sharing his wisdom and spiritual insights with all who sought guidance.
Throughout most of his ministry, Father Hartle served as the spiritual assistant for the Poor Clare Nuns of the Holy Name Federation, a ministry to which he dedicated himself since 1989.
In a video recorded a few years ago, Father Hartle summarized his Franciscan vocation in one word: love.
“The Franciscan journey is an adventure in love, falling in love with God and opening yourself up and being receptive to God’s love for you,” he said.
Father Hartle was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Paul (Virginia) Hartle. He is survived by his siblings, Martha Siegel, Gary (Marcia) Hartle, Bruce (Cheryl) Hartle, Emerson Hartle, and David (Stacy) Hartle; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
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– Franciscan Father Thomas Hartle, of St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., died on Feb. 5 while in Aruba. Funeral arrangements have not been announced. During his 49 years as a friar, Father Hartle was known as a compassionate retreat leader and pastor, with a wonderful sense of humor and a deep joy. Born on Christmas Eve, 1944, in Clarion, Penn., Father Hartle came from a large family that included parents Urban and Bessie (née Myers) Hartle and six siblings. He grew up in Pennsylvania and was educated there, including at Immaculate Conception High School in Clarion and Gannon College in
The first season introduced viewers to James Little, a student fresh out of college desperate for a job.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope reveals the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula. This structure of gas and dust was created by a dying, Sun-like star. These newest observations were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3.
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The country’s growing economic and social instability prompts request to delay meeting with Pope Leo XIV.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. February 12: Asteroid Nysa approaches a star This dark, moonless Friday the 13th evening is the perfect time to head out after dark and try to catch a glimpse of the zodiacal light. This ethereal, cone-shaped glow is actually the reflected lightContinue reading “The Sky Today on Friday, February 13: Catch the zodiacal light”
The post The Sky Today on Friday, February 13: Catch the zodiacal light appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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TESERO — Venezuelan cross-country skier Nicolas Claveau-Laviolette was blown off the course on Thursday in what appeared to be a drone strike conducted by the United States military at the direct order of President Donald Trump.
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When reporting on crime, it’s of paramount importance that journalists adhere to a strict code of ethics, which involves using AP-approved inclusionary terms to identify assailants of indeterminate gender. For example, if a person shoots and kills someone, and you can’t readily discern their gender, try identifying them as the most inclusive "gunperson."
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30th St. Moritz Polo World Cup on Snow
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New York City’s new democratic socialist (communist) Mayor Zohran Mamdani was grilled by state lawmakers in Albany this week over plans to fund his agenda by taxing the rich.
The post Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Agenda Runs Into a Brick Wall of Reality as He’s Grilled by NY Lawmakers in Albany (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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David Axelrod, the Chicago Machine Democrat considered the ‘architect’ of Obama’s 2008 presidential run, recently complained on Twitter/X about the rising cost of healthcare premiums under the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare as it’s widely known.
The post Former Obama Adviser David Axelrod Gets Absolutely RIPPED on Social Media for Complaining About Rising Cost of Obamacare appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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CNN’s Kaitlan Collins recently appeared on the Absolutely Not podcast and claimed that she and her network are not biased against Trump and cover him fairly.
The post Kaitlan Collins Claims She and CNN Are Not Biased Against Trump, Cover Him Fairly (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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From visiting glacier lagoons to hiking a volcano, experts recommend how to explore the Nordic country.
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O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
By Saint Ignatius of Loyola
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U.S. parishes and other Catholic groups are expected to participate in the initiative ahead of the Fourth of July.
A reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 11:29-32; 12:19
Jeroboam left Jerusalem,
and the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite met him on the road.
The two were alone in the area,
and the prophet was wearing a new cloak.
Ahijah took off his new cloak,
tore it into twelve pieces, and said to Jeroboam:
“Take ten pieces for yourself;
the LORD, the God of Israel, says:
‘I will tear away the kingdom from Solomon’s grasp
and will give you ten of the tribes.
One tribe shall remain to him for the sake of David my servant,
and of Jerusalem,
the city I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.’”
Israel went into rebellion against David’s house to this day.
From the Gospel according to Mark
7:31-37
Jesus left the district of Tyre
and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee,
into the district of the Decapolis.
And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment
and begged him to lay his hand on him.
He took him off by himself away from the crowd.
He put his finger into the man’s ears
and, spitting, touched his tongue;
then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him,
"Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened!")
And immediately the man’s ears were opened,
his speech impediment was removed,
and he spoke plainly.
He ordered them not to tell anyone.
But the more he ordered them not to,
the more they proclaimed it.
They were exceedingly astonished and they said,
"He has done all things well.
He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."
Brothers and sisters, there is an interior deafness that we can ask Jesus to touch and heal today. It is interior deafness, which is worse than physical deafness, because it is the deafness of the heart. Taken up with haste, by so many things to say and do, we do not find time to stop and listen to those who speak to us. We run the risk of becoming impervious to everything and not making room for those who need to be heard. I am thinking about children, young people, the elderly, the many who do not really need words and sermons, but to be heard. Let us ask ourselves: how is my capacity to listen going? Do I let myself be touched by people’s lives? Do I know how to spend time with those who are close to me in order to listen? This regards all of us, but in a special way also priests. The priest must listen to people, not in a rushed way, but listen and see how he can help, but after having listened. (…) Starting a dialogue often happens not through words but silence, by not insisting, by patiently beginning anew to listen to others, hearing about their struggles and what they carry inside. The healing of the heart begins with listening. Listening. This is what restores the heart. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 5 September 2021)
Read More![Two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, report finds - #Catholic - About two-thirds of aborted babies lost their lives to abortion pills, according to a Feb. 10 report by the National Right to Life.The 2026 “Status of Abortion in the United States” report, an analysis of developments in abortion policy, found that chemical abortions account for 63% of all reported abortions in the U.S. as of 2023.Mail-order pills, which can be shipped into every state, even if they are illegal, make chemical abortion easily accessible. State safeguards designed to protect women — such as required in-person physician visits — can be easily sidestepped.But studies continue to show high rates of negative outcomes for women who take abortion drugs. Chemical abortion has a complication rate four times that of surgical abortion, one study found. According to a 2025 study, 1 in 10 patients had “a serious adverse event” and 6% of patients needed surgery.The Trump administration has pledged to review the dangers of the abortion drug but has not restored safeguards that the Biden administration removed.National Right to Life looks to establish accountability on the state and local level through legislation.“This is a moment of stark contrast in America,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Some states are racing to entrench abortion at any cost, while others are advancing compassionate policies that recognize the humanity of unborn children and provide real support to mothers.”The Abortion Pill Provider Liability and Education (APPLE) Act is “designed to hold abortion-pill providers accountable and give women legal recourse when harmed,” according to the Feb. 10 press release.The report calls the model legislation a “fresh approach.”“The APPLE Act empowers women to sue any party involved in the abortion pill supply chain — prescribers, sellers, manufacturers — when harm occurs,” the report read. “The goal is accountability and transparency.”Dr. Christina Francis, CEO of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said the removal of safeguards around abortion pill prescriptions was “reckless.”“The abortion industry treats abortion pills like casual online purchases, though the reality is that they are far more dangerous,” Francis told EWTN News. “Known complications for women include hemorrhage, severe infection, and the need for emergency surgery.”
Dr. Christina Francis heads the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AAPLOG). | Credit: AAPLOG
“Anyone can order them online — a woman, a minor, even an abuser — with no ID, no pregnancy verification, and zero medical supervision or follow‑up,” she continued.The APPLE Act would ensure a public record of injuries and failures — something currently not in place, as abortion pill complications go underreported.“This report makes clear that while Roe [v. Wade] is gone, the abortion industry has simply shifted tactics — relying heavily on dangerous mail-order pills and legal loopholes to avoid accountability,” Tobias said.“At the same time, we’re seeing encouraging momentum in states working to protect both women and their unborn children,” Tobias continued. “The APPLE Act is one important step toward restoring transparency and responsibility in an industry that has operated for too long without either.”So far, two states — Washington and Ohio — have introduced the APPLE Act.“Because the APPLE Act is fundamentally consumer protection law, it has the potential to gain traction even in states that support abortion,” the report read.“The truth about chemical abortion is becoming harder to ignore,” the report continued.Francis urged the FDA to reinstate the safeguards.“When the FDA recklessly scrapped the last remaining safeguards over these high-risk drugs, it opened the floodgates for extensive harm and abuse of both women and preborn children,” Francis continued. “The result is widespread and reckless distribution of these pills, thousands of preborn lives lost, and more women harmed because they were never given truly informed consent or afforded basic medical care and support.”“This is medical malpractice, and it is time for the FDA to take this situation seriously and do its job by restoring essential safeguards,” she said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/two-thirds-of-aborted-babies-lost-their-lives-to-abortion-pills-report-finds-catholic-about-two-thirds-of-aborted-babies-lost-their-lives-to-abortion-pills-according-to-a-feb-10-report-by-the.jpg)
After a report found that nearly two-thirds of abortions are chemical, advocacy groups are pushing for national and local safeguards against mail-order abortion pill prescriptions.
![More bishops call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic Nearly half a dozen more bishops have joined the growing backlash against the University of Notre Dame over its controversial appointment of an outspoken abortion advocate to lead a university department.Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 issued a statement criticizing the university for appointing global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Three of Rhoades’ fellow bishops quickly backed the prelate’s remarks, voicing support on social media and calling on the university to drop Ostermann’s nomination. On Feb. 12, five more bishops commended Rhoades for his statement and expressed hope that the historic Catholic university would rescind the appointment. Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Wall praised Rhoades for his stance, with the western U.S. prelate offering a quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV: “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest, whether the child in the womb or the old man in his fragility, for both are gifts from God.”TweetSan Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone also thanked Rhoades for “speaking up.” “Holy Mary, Mother of God and Our Lady, pray for the university that bears your name,” Cordileone said. TweetGreen Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken, meanwhile, wrote: “I fully affirm and stand in solidarity with my brother bishop [Rhoades].” He said Rhoades spoke “with clarity, courage, and fidelity to the Church’s mission.”“[L]et us turn with confidence to our Blessed Mother. Our Lady, pray for us! You are our loving Mother — we love you and entrust this to your Immaculate Heart,” Ricken wrote.TweetMadison, Wisconsin, Bishop Donald Hying described Rhoades’ statement as “a profound reflection on human dignity and the culture of life.”Tweet“We pray that all of our educational institutions support Catholic teaching, especially regarding human life,” he said. Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Conley said he “stand[s] in support of Bishop Rhoades” while sharing his concern over the appointment. “Catholic institutions must faithfully reflect the truth of the dignity of every human life in both their mission and their leadership,” he said. TweetThe University of Notre Dame has continued to stand by its appointment of Ostermann, whose post is scheduled to take effect July 1. Rhoades on Feb. 11 said there is “still time [for the university] to make things right.”Ostermann, meanwhile, told the National Catholic Register in January that her role at the school “is to support the diverse research of our scholars and students, not to advance a personal political agenda.”The professor said she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage” and described herself as “inspired by the university’s focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/more-bishops-call-for-notre-dame-to-drop-appointment-of-pro-abortion-professor-catholic-nearly-half-a-dozen-more-bishops-have-joined-the-growing-backlash-against-the-university-of-notre-dame-over-its.jpg "More bishops call for Notre Dame to drop appointment of pro-abortion professor #Catholic Nearly half a dozen more bishops have joined the growing backlash against the University of Notre Dame over its controversial appointment of an outspoken abortion advocate to lead a university department.Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Feb. 11 issued a statement criticizing the university for appointing global affairs Professor Susan Ostermann as director of the school’s Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies.Three of Rhoades’ fellow bishops quickly backed the prelate’s remarks, voicing support on social media and calling on the university to drop Ostermann’s nomination. On Feb. 12, five more bishops commended Rhoades for his statement and expressed hope that the historic Catholic university would rescind the appointment. Gallup, New Mexico, Bishop James Wall praised Rhoades for his stance, with the western U.S. prelate offering a quote attributed to Pope Leo XIV: “We cannot build a just society if we discard the weakest, whether the child in the womb or the old man in his fragility, for both are gifts from God.”TweetSan Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone also thanked Rhoades for “speaking up.” “Holy Mary, Mother of God and Our Lady, pray for the university that bears your name,” Cordileone said. TweetGreen Bay, Wisconsin, Bishop David Ricken, meanwhile, wrote: “I fully affirm and stand in solidarity with my brother bishop [Rhoades].” He said Rhoades spoke “with clarity, courage, and fidelity to the Church’s mission.”“[L]et us turn with confidence to our Blessed Mother. Our Lady, pray for us! You are our loving Mother — we love you and entrust this to your Immaculate Heart,” Ricken wrote.TweetMadison, Wisconsin, Bishop Donald Hying described Rhoades’ statement as “a profound reflection on human dignity and the culture of life.”Tweet“We pray that all of our educational institutions support Catholic teaching, especially regarding human life,” he said. Lincoln, Nebraska, Bishop James Conley said he “stand[s] in support of Bishop Rhoades” while sharing his concern over the appointment. “Catholic institutions must faithfully reflect the truth of the dignity of every human life in both their mission and their leadership,” he said. TweetThe University of Notre Dame has continued to stand by its appointment of Ostermann, whose post is scheduled to take effect July 1. Rhoades on Feb. 11 said there is “still time [for the university] to make things right.”Ostermann, meanwhile, told the National Catholic Register in January that her role at the school “is to support the diverse research of our scholars and students, not to advance a personal political agenda.”The professor said she “respect[s] Notre Dame’s institutional position on the sanctity of life at every stage” and described herself as “inspired by the university’s focus on integral human development, which calls us to promote the dignity and flourishing of every person.”")
The university has endured sustained backlash for nominating the outspoken abortion advocate to lead an academic department.
Obituary: Sister Pauline Gambacorto, of the Sisters of the Church of Paterson, 90 #Catholic – 
A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90.
Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister Gambacorto touched many lives as a teacher and musician. She taught piano and voice. Her voice was captivating; she frequently led songs at Mass. Sister Gambacorto served the Filippini community for 29 years.
In 1978, Sister Gambacorto left the Filippini community and joined the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson in 1986.
Sister Gambacorto was a loving and giving servant of Christ, living to serve the “least among us.” She was always searching for God and ways to serve him. Sister Gambacorto enjoyed knitting and crocheting, donating many newborn caps and blankets to hospitals, churches, and shelters. She was an artist who created greeting cards for family and friends. She was skilled in calligraphy, personally addressing each of the 310 wedding invitations for one of her nieces.
Sister Gambacorto was predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Mary (née Clemente) Gambacorto; her brother, Thomas, and his wife (Theresa) Gambacorto; and her sister, Angelina (née Mills). She is survived by her brother, Dominic, and his wife Janet Gambacorto, of Red Bank, N.J.; her sister, Joann (Keith, deceased) Richardson, of Maryland; and many nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces.
Her niece, Sister Lisa Gambacorto, RSM, will host the Memorial Mass at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J.
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– A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at Mount St. Mary Academy in Watchung, N.J., for Sister Pauline Gambacorto, a member of the Society of Sisters of the Church of Paterson, N.J., since 1986, who died on Feb. 3. She was 90. Born July 6, 1935, in Long Branch, N.J., Sister Gambacorto entered the Religious Teachers of St. Lucy Filippini in Morristown, N.J., in 1949. She received her habit in 1951 and made her final profession in 1952. She taught in many schools throughout New Jersey and New York. Sister
Learn to encourage mental wellness at Pompton Lakes workshop #Catholic – 
The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J.
Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those who might be experiencing these challenges.
Adults of all backgrounds and professions are welcome, including clergy, religious, parish and school staff, catechists, youth and young adult ministers, community leaders, parents, or anyone who supports the mental health of others.
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“The workshop will help people who serve others to recognize those who might be struggling with mental illness and how to direct them to get proper treatment,” said John Cammarata, executive director of St. Paul Inside the Walls Evangelization Center in Madison, N.J., and director of diocesan Youth Ministry. He is coordinating the diocese’s event with Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, the diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney will be present and will give the opening prayer for the workshop.
Four presenters from MHA-NJ will provide real-world examples and simple, actionable guidance to demystify mental health. They will cover a basic understanding of key mental health concepts, early warning signs and symptoms of mental-health challenges to watch for, strategies for offering supportive, non-judgmental conversations, and steps for connecting individuals to appropriate resources when needed.
The workshop will conclude with a question-and-answer period with the MHA-NJ speakers.
The MHA-NJ has a rich history of improving the lives of people with mental illness and substance use disorders. This statewide non-profit organization strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental illness and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services.
St. Mary’s Church has plenty of parking for the “Mental Health Matters” workshop.
To register for free, visit https://rcdop.org/mental-health-matters.
– The Paterson Diocese in New Jersey will host The Mental Health Association of New Jersey (MHA-NJ) for “Mental Health Matters”, an interactive workshop to provide people who work with or accompany others a clear, accessible introduction to mental health in a short, impactful format. The presentation will be on Thursday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes, N.J. Attendees of the workshop will gain clarity with a basic understanding of mental-health challenges such as stress, anxiety, depression, and the impact of trauma. They will learn to be confident in ways to support those
Among the most populous nations, the U.S. ranks first in religious diversity. Singapore is the most religiously diverse country overall, and the U.S. ranks 32nd.
Looking for a sky event this week? Check out our full Sky This Week column. February 11: Ganymede’s shadow, Io cross Jupiter Asteroid 44 Nysa may be just past opposition, but it’s still placed perfectly for evening viewing in Cancer the Crab. Wait until a few hours after sunset, when Cancer is high in the eastern sky,Continue reading “The Sky Today on Thursday, February 12: Asteroid Nysa approaches a star”
The post The Sky Today on Thursday, February 12: Asteroid Nysa approaches a star appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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From left, NASA’s SpaceX Crew-12 crew members – Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev, NASA astronauts Jack Hathaway and Jessica Meir, and ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot – pose next to their mission insignia inside the Astronaut Crew Quarters in the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Feb. 9, 2026.
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Local experts share their top picks in the famous California wine region, from mud baths to special tastings.
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MILAN — In a move designed to boost the level of interest from viewers and athletes alike, the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics introduced an exciting new event in the Septuple Luge competition.
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The Winter Olympics have long labored in the shadows of the Summer Olympics, boring and under-loved. With just half the viewership of the Summer games, the Winter Olympics is in dire need of bold changes. Here are 9 easy fixes to instantly make it more entertaining:
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Southwest view of the Lutheran Fishermen’s Church in Born auf dem Darß, Germany
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The suspect who opened fire on a school in British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon has been identified as biological male 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a transgender ex-student at the school who began transitioning at approximately 12 years old. Notably, this comes just months after a transgender shooter opened fire, shooting through the windows of the church at Annunciation Catholic School as students attended mass during the first week of the school year late last Summer.
The post CONFIRMED: Canada School Shooter who Killed 9, Injured 25 Identified as Transgender Ex-Student Despite Officials’ Attempts to Hide Biological Gender appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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Britain’s wealthiest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe has said the country has been “colonized” by immigrants.
The post Britain’s Wealthiest Man, Manchester United Owner Says U.K. Has Been ‘Colonized’ by Mass Immigration (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The US House of Representatives voted on Wednesday evening to once again pass the SAVE America Act, which will require proof of citizenship and voter ID to vote in federal elections.
The post BREAKING: US House Votes to Pass the SAVE Act to Require Voter ID and Proof of Citizenship in Elections – ONLY 1 Dem Votes Yes appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
Read MoreFather, we beg Your blessing for the Right to Life, the Unborn, the weak, the sick and the old; all who are finding themselves being targets of the vicious culture of death; that our Lord Jesus bless and protect all who stand up for the Christian dignity of persons. That God enlighten those who are traveling down death’s highway by their involvement, in any way, with either the contemporary death culture, selfism, relativeism, or any of the new age errors of our times, that God envelop our …
Read MoreA reading from the First Book of Kings
1 Kings 11:4-13
When Solomon was old his wives had turned his heart to strange gods,
and his heart was not entirely with the LORD, his God,
as the heart of his father David had been.
By adoring Astarte, the goddess of the Sidonians,
and Milcom, the idol of the Ammonites,
Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD;
he did not follow him unreservedly as his father David had done.
Solomon then built a high place to Chemosh, the idol of Moab,
and to Molech, the idol of the Ammonites,
on the hill opposite Jerusalem.
He did the same for all his foreign wives
who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
The LORD, therefore, became angry with Solomon,
because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel,
who had appeared to him twice
(for though the LORD had forbidden him
this very act of following strange gods,
Solomon had not obeyed him).
So the LORD said to Solomon: "Since this is what you want,
and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes
which I enjoined on you,
I will deprive you of the kingdom and give it to your servant.
I will not do this during your lifetime, however,
for the sake of your father David;
it is your son whom I will deprive.
Nor will I take away the whole kingdom.
I will leave your son one tribe for the sake of my servant David
and of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."
From the Gospel according to Mark
7:24-30
Jesus went to the district of Tyre.
He entered a house and wanted no one to know about it,
but he could not escape notice.
Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him.
She came and fell at his feet.
The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth,
and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter.
He said to her, “Let the children be fed first.
For it is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs.”
She replied and said to him,
“Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.”
Then he said to her, “For saying this, you may go.
The demon has gone out of your daughter.”
When the woman went home, she found the child lying in bed
and the demon gone.
That mother shows that she has perceived the goodness of the Most High God present in Jesus who is open to any of His creatures necessities. And this wisdom, filled with trust, touches Jesus’s heart and provokes words of admiration: “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish” (v. 28). What type of faith is great? Great faith is that which brings its own story, marked even by wounds, and brings it to the Lord’s feet asking Him to heal them, to give them meaning.
Each one of us has our own story and it is not always a story “of export”, it is not always a clean story… Many times it is a difficult story, with a lot of pain, many misfortunes and many sins. (…) There are always ugly things in a story, always. Let us go to Jesus, knock on Jesus’s heart and say to Him: “Lord, if You will it, you can heal me!” And we can do this if we always have the face of Jesus before us, if we understand what Christ’s heart is like, what Jesus’s heart is like: a heart that feels compassion, that bears our pains, that bears our sins, our mistakes, our failures. But it is a heart that love us like that, as we are, without make-up. (Pope Francis, Angelus, 16 August 2020)
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At least 10 people are dead, including young teens, and many are wounded in a mass shooting in northern British Columbia, Canada.
Two indexes with 50 companies each that adhere to Catholic social teachings were announced by the Vatican Bank in order to promote ethical Catholic investing.
![China’s Catholic bishops back worship limits, prompting call for Vatican action – #Catholic – The state-sanctioned Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCC) backed the government’s ban on unregistered clergy engaging in pastoral work and using unapproved sites for worship.The BCCC said in a Feb. 4 statement that “religious groups must comply with relevant laws and regulations when conducting religious activities,” describing compliance as a matter of “national and public interest.” The statement aligned with the Chinese Communist Party’s controls over the region.Nina Shea, Hudson Institute senior fellow, called on Pope Leo XIV to summon the Chinese Catholic bishops’ conference for supporting the “suppression of Chinese Catholicism.”“That the heads of these entities are the bishops of Beijing and Shanghai, China’s most important dioceses, is shameful,” she told EWTN News. “Pope Leo should immediately summon them to Rome to review their episcopal authority.”Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controls stipulate that religious activities occur in “registered” religious venues by “certified and registered religious personnel.”Though the bishops noted religious groups may request to carry out their activities in a temporary location with prior permission from the government, no unauthorized clergy may ever preside over such activities for any reason, according to Article 40 of the Regulations on Religious Affairs.Shea, who also directs the Center for Religious Freedom, said: “Supporting the CCP ban on unregistered clergy and churches directly conflicts with Vatican policy.”“[Pope Leo] should disclose the content of the Holy See’s provisional agreement with China and review whether this new Chinese policy constitutes a breach of the agreement’s terms or even of its spirit,” she said.Shea cited a 2007 letter from Pope Benedict XVI to the Chinese Catholic Church in which the late pontiff described the Chinese government’s bid to impose its own structure on the Church in China as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.”Shea said the Vatican’s 2019 pastoral guidance to members of the Chinese Catholic Church affirmed that a cleric had the right to “individually follow one’s conscience on whether to refuse to take the pledge renouncing foreign influence, such as papal influence — a pledge required to register with the state’s Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and its bishops’ conference.”“This new position in support of banning and criminalizing those clergy who refuse to take the pledge renouncing papal authority lays bare these entities as mere party tools for communist control and suppression of Chinese Catholicism,” Shea said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/chinas-catholic-bishops-back-worship-limits-prompting-call-for-vatican-action-catholic-the-state-sanctioned-bishops-conference-of-the-catholic-church-in-china-bccc-backed-the.jpg "China’s Catholic bishops back worship limits, prompting call for Vatican action – #Catholic – The state-sanctioned Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCC) backed the government’s ban on unregistered clergy engaging in pastoral work and using unapproved sites for worship.The BCCC said in a Feb. 4 statement that “religious groups must comply with relevant laws and regulations when conducting religious activities,” describing compliance as a matter of “national and public interest.” The statement aligned with the Chinese Communist Party’s controls over the region.Nina Shea, Hudson Institute senior fellow, called on Pope Leo XIV to summon the Chinese Catholic bishops’ conference for supporting the “suppression of Chinese Catholicism.”“That the heads of these entities are the bishops of Beijing and Shanghai, China’s most important dioceses, is shameful,” she told EWTN News. “Pope Leo should immediately summon them to Rome to review their episcopal authority.”Chinese Communist Party (CCP) controls stipulate that religious activities occur in “registered” religious venues by “certified and registered religious personnel.”Though the bishops noted religious groups may request to carry out their activities in a temporary location with prior permission from the government, no unauthorized clergy may ever preside over such activities for any reason, according to Article 40 of the Regulations on Religious Affairs.Shea, who also directs the Center for Religious Freedom, said: “Supporting the CCP ban on unregistered clergy and churches directly conflicts with Vatican policy.”“[Pope Leo] should disclose the content of the Holy See’s provisional agreement with China and review whether this new Chinese policy constitutes a breach of the agreement’s terms or even of its spirit,” she said.Shea cited a 2007 letter from Pope Benedict XVI to the Chinese Catholic Church in which the late pontiff described the Chinese government’s bid to impose its own structure on the Church in China as “incompatible with Catholic doctrine.”Shea said the Vatican’s 2019 pastoral guidance to members of the Chinese Catholic Church affirmed that a cleric had the right to “individually follow one’s conscience on whether to refuse to take the pledge renouncing foreign influence, such as papal influence — a pledge required to register with the state’s Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and its bishops’ conference.”“This new position in support of banning and criminalizing those clergy who refuse to take the pledge renouncing papal authority lays bare these entities as mere party tools for communist control and suppression of Chinese Catholicism,” Shea said.")
Nina Shea, Hudson Institute senior fellow, called on Pope Leo XIV to summon Chinese bishops to the Vatican for supporting the “suppression of Chinese Catholicism.”
