This NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope Picture of the Month features galaxies in incredible detail that have been warped and multiplied like they’ve stepped into a house of mirrors.
Read More
The Chicago Bears icon, who died on Friday, gave to charities, lectored at Mass, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:22-29
Brothers and sisters:
Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that through faith in Jesus Christ
the promise might be given to those who believe.
Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined for the faith that was to be revealed.
Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.
For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,
heirs according to the promise.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:27-28
While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”
To listen to the Word of God and practise it, are the only two “conditions” established by Jesus for those who want to follow him. Christian life is “simple, simple”. Perhaps we have made it a bit difficult, with so many explanations that nobody understands, but the Christian life is like this: listening to the Word of God and practising it. (…)
Every time we open the Gospel and read a passage and ask ourselves: ‘Is God speaking to me with this, is he saying something to me’?. This means “to listen to the Word of God, to listen with the ears and listen with the heart, to open the heart to God’s Word”. On the other hand, “Jesus’ enemies listened to Jesus’ words but they were close by in order to try and find a mistake, to make him slip up” and make him lose authority. But they never asked themselves: ‘What is God telling me with these words’?. Moreover, the Pontiff added, “God does not speak only to all but he speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each one of us. (…)
The Lord, “always plants his Word”, and in exchange “he asks only for an open heart to listen to it and good will to put it into practise. This is why today’s prayer is that of the Psalm: ‘Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands’, that is, on the path of your Word, so that, with your guidance, I may learn to practice it”. (Pope Francis, Santa Marta, 23 September 2014)
Read More| Picture of the day |
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The tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius (Split, Croatia) as seen from the Vestibule of Diocletian’s Palace.
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Fraudulent online romance, gambling, and cryptocurrency schemes have defrauded people in more than 125 countries, with Americans losing at least $18.2 billion in 2025, according to a new report.
Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes chose Father Eduardo Chávez because of his expertise concerning the “Guadalupan event.”
![Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/emaus-retreat-at-cathedral-fosters-deeper-life-of-evangelization-catholic-linked-arm-in-arm-hand-in-hand-in-sung-prayer-believers-filled-the-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-as-alumni-of-a-retre.jpg "Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]")
Emaús Retreat at cathedral fosters deeper life of evangelization #Catholic – 
Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey.
Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral.
Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community of brothers and sisters who, after the retreat, encounter the presence, grace, love, and mercy of Christ and make the Catholic faith the center of their lives.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“The bishop affirmed that the movement of the Holy Spirit has gifted us the Emaús fellowship,” Deacon Vargas shared. “The bishop emphasized the need not to be afraid and to keep walking together, like the disciples of Emmaus, strengthened by the Word of God,” he said.
The retreat program has touched thousands of New Jerseyans. Its title comes from the story of the road to Emmaus as shared in Luke. In it, Christ draws near to two people taking that road without identifying himself until he breaks bread with them in a Eucharistic expression, following the pattern of the Last Supper.
“Were not our hearts burning [within us] while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?” the two men say about Jesus.
Emaús, a retreat program that began at a parish in 1978 at St. Louis Parish in Miami, came to St. Mary Help of Christians in Paterson, N.J., in 2017 and has spread to 10 parishes in the diocese.
“The idea was to make a retreat for people who didn’t have the chance to go to other retreats,” said Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J., who also helps facilitate Emaús.
Father Villamizar added, “There are some retreats that require some background for the people — a discernment retreat for those thinking about vocations or retreats for couples, married couples. There were other requirements at the time this Emmaus retreat started in Florida. The parish priest wanted to have a retreat for anybody, those who are in the pews, those who are just arriving in the church.”
Through Emaús, men and women hold separate retreats that become deeply personal encounters with the Lord.
“It grew organically here at the cathedral,” said Msgr. Geno Sylva, the rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects. “After the retreat, I started seeing not only that the lives of people who went on the retreat converted and changed, but they became so faithful, not only with being here [on] Sunday, but getting involved in so many other areas of the cathedral’s life. It’s part of my vision for evangelization here at the cathedral,” he said.
Msgr. Sylva credits Deacon Vargas and Father Villamizar with helping expand the retreat, which has become a key outreach tool, inviting people into the faith who have not had that deeper encounter with Christ.
“I have a St. John Paul II, Pope Francis, and Benedict XIV [approach] to New Evangelization. It has to be about going beyond the walls to inviting people to a larger communion and to Sunday Mass,” Msgr. Sylva said.
That invitation often comes from Emaús alums who also help make the retreat happen.
“It started forming what we call now the brotherhoods and the sisterhoods in the different parishes,” Father Villamizar said. “Those who leave the retreat already are the ones who prepare a new retreat and invite new people,” he said.
Those alumni also create regular follow-up opportunities for others who have gone on the retreat to continue the spiritual growth in community with others who know the power of the experience.
“They meet biweekly after the retreat,” Msgr. Sylva said, “and you have to make the retreat to be at those meetings because there’s a real focus on trust and confidentiality at that level of faith sharing.”
Leaders are launching a school with Emaús alums to form disciples who can support the New Evangelization. They aim to bring the fire for Christ that was launched when the Lord approached a pair of people who didn’t initially recognize him — the kind that changes hearts so passionately that they come together on a Friday night for a Mass that fills a cathedral.
“Just like the disciples of Emmaus,” said Deacon Vargas, “we must ask the Lord to stay with us, in our hearts and in our families.”
Click here to find more on Emaús in New Jersey.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
– Linked arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand in sung prayer, believers filled the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist as alumni of a retreat experience that has connected thousands across the Paterson Diocese and throughout New Jersey. Pilgrims who have experienced the powerful Emaús retreat celebrated Christ’s love at a Spanish-language Mass with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on Sept. 25 at the cathedral. Each of them has participated in the three-day, mainly Spanish-language experience, in which Deacon German Vargas from the cathedral has played a major part in infusing the life of faith in the diocese. He calls the “siblinghood” of Emaús a community
Obituary: Franciscan Father Bernard ‘Bernie’ Creighton, 86 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., for Franciscan Father Bernard “Bernie” Creighton, who died Oct. 7. He was 86.
For more than 60 years, Father Creighton devoted his life to service, education, and pastoral ministry. He spent decades supporting the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., an international center for research, publishing, and academia dedicated to studying the Franciscan intellectual tradition, history, and theology.
Father Creighton was born on Dec. 7, 1939, to Stanley and Helen Creighton (née Palizay). He was an only child, and his family ran a milk processing and delivery business in Elmira, N.Y.
The future Franciscan Friar attended Catholic grade school and high school in Elmira, N.Y. In 1961, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from St. Bonaventure University, where he met the friars who inspired his vocation.
As a senior, Father Creighton was chosen to receive the 1961 Mark Hellinger Award, an annual recognition from St. Bonaventure University’s Jandoli School of Communication that honors outstanding academic achievement in journalism. However, Fr. Bernie declined the award for “up-and-coming journalists” because God was calling him to religious life.
Then, in 1991, Father Creighton received the honor he had earned as a college student three decades earlier.
At age 23, Father Creighton entered the Franciscan Order, professing first vows in 1963 and solemn vows in 1966. He was ordained a priest in 1967.
Father Creighton became a trusted source of knowledge about the history and traditions of the Franciscan community after serving from 1968 to 1972 as editor of the Provincial Annals, an archival periodical published by the legacy Holy Name Province.
From 1994 to 2026, Father Creighton served as vicar of the St. Anthony Friary in Butler, N.J., where he faithfully handled the daily needs of the friary community.
Father Creighton is remembered for being approachable, detailed, humble, knowledgeable, and deeply dedicated to others. He embraced the Franciscan ideals of simplicity, hospitality and service, believing that the best part of ministry was working with the people of God and helping them to live in the spirit of the Lord.
Father Creighton is survived by his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe; his cousins, Catherine Creighton Saal (Frank), Eugene Creighton (Patricia), James Creighton, Debbie Creighton, Tom Gilmore, Marilyn Lilly (Bill), James Ripley (Marilyn); and a cousin by marriage, Nancy Levanduski.
Visitation for Father Creighton will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the church.
A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, Oct. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Bonaventure University Chapel in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. Burial will follow at St. Bonaventure Cemetery.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, N.J., for Franciscan Father Bernard “Bernie” Creighton, who died Oct. 7. He was 86. For more than 60 years, Father Creighton devoted his life to service, education, and pastoral ministry. He spent decades supporting the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., an international center for research, publishing, and academia dedicated to studying the Franciscan intellectual tradition, history, and theology. Father Creighton was born on Dec. 7, 1939, to Stanley and Helen Creighton (née
NASA has selected a mission proposal that will peer below a volcanic pit on the Moon to find out whether it opens onto a hidden lava tube — a geologic formation long theorized, but never confirmed on the Moon. The proposal will send a mission to the Marius Hills Pit, a large hole — approximatelyContinue reading “Newly selected NASA mission will hunt for caves on the Moon”
The post Newly selected NASA mission will hunt for caves on the Moon appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
Read More![U.S. Catholic bishops condemn ‘barbaric’ plan to livestream military execution – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s announcement that the military execution of the Fort Hood mass shooter, Nidal Hasan, will be livestreamed for the public to view.“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, said in a statement on Oct. 9.“Our God is the God of life,” he said. “In no way can Hasan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”Coakley quoted Romans 12:17, which commands: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”“The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people,” the archbishop said. “I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”Hasan, a man from Arlington, Virginia, was convicted of murdering 13 people and injuring 32 others in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009, while working as a psychiatrist for the Army. Public witnesses said he screamed “Allahu Akbar” immediately before he began firing. He had email communications with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born al-Qaeda recruiter.On Oct. 2, President Donald Trump approved a military execution via firing squad for Hasan, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. On Oct. 8, Hegseth said in an interview with the news outlet Real Americaʼs Voice that the execution will be livestreamed and later reaffirmed this plan on social media.The announcement of the execution and livestream also faced criticism from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Archbishop Timothy Broglio reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty in a statement to EWTN News.“Catholic teaching about the death penalty is clear,” Broglio said. “Already the Catechism of the Catholic Church, even before its revision by the late Pope Francis, indicated that in a country such as the United States where the means exist to protect society from such criminals, the death penalty was inadmissible.”The archbishop said that now, “the teaching is even clearer and more universal” and cited CCC 2267: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”Broglio added: “Even in the case of the most heinous crimes, the Church begs for clemency.”‘A grotesque display of hatred’The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works closely with the USCCB on efforts to oppose the death penalty, condemned both the decision to execute Hasan and the decision to livestream his death.“Beyond the fact that executions do not deter crime or increase safety, it’s appalling that a public official would try to introduce it as a livestream arcade,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, said in a statement.“It’s been almost a century since our country’s last public execution, and we must not fall into the abyss of such a vengeful practice,” she said. “We undermine our own humanity when we treat another person’s death as something to watch, celebrate, or use for entertainment. It is [reminiscent] of the horrors of lynching in our nation’s past, and would be a grotesque display of hatred witnessed in the public executions of some authoritarian countries today.”Murphy quoted a Sept. 28 address from Pope Leo XIV, in which he said “the greatness of a civilization is not measured by its material achievements, but by the way it cares for, protects, and upholds the human person.”She warned that “we violate human dignity” with every execution “because every person is created in the image of God.” She said “the Church instructs us to not seek cruel retribution, but a justice that holds people accountable without perpetuating the cycle of death.”“What Mr. Hasan did at Fort Hood in 2009 ought not be condoned in any way,” she said. “He inflicted horrible pain and caused terrifying trauma. … But we must not be blinded by bloodlust. The macabre spectacle proposed by Secretary Hegseth is not what our Lord asks of us—it will neither honor victims nor bring healing.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/u-s-catholic-bishops-condemn-barbaric-plan-to-livestream-military-execution-catholic-the-u-s-conference-of-catholic-bishops-usccb-condemned-secretary-of-defense-pete-hegseth.jpg "U.S. Catholic bishops condemn ‘barbaric’ plan to livestream military execution – #Catholic – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) condemned Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s announcement that the military execution of the Fort Hood mass shooter, Nidal Hasan, will be livestreamed for the public to view.“It is with shock and great sorrow that I have learned of the Department of War’s decision to publicly livestream the execution of Nidal Hasan,” Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the USCCB, said in a statement on Oct. 9.“Our God is the God of life,” he said. “In no way can Hasan’s actions be condoned but this decision is a barbaric promotion of a culture of death and must be reconsidered.”Coakley quoted Romans 12:17, which commands: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”“The public execution even of one who has done grave harm will only further undermine the moral fabric of our nation and be a blight on the conscience of its people,” the archbishop said. “I pray for the intercession of Our Lady of Good Counsel that we as a nation may always choose life even in the most trying times and circumstances.”Hasan, a man from Arlington, Virginia, was convicted of murdering 13 people and injuring 32 others in a mass shooting at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas, on Nov. 5, 2009, while working as a psychiatrist for the Army. Public witnesses said he screamed “Allahu Akbar” immediately before he began firing. He had email communications with Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born al-Qaeda recruiter.On Oct. 2, President Donald Trump approved a military execution via firing squad for Hasan, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Dec. 3 at Fort Hood. On Oct. 8, Hegseth said in an interview with the news outlet Real Americaʼs Voice that the execution will be livestreamed and later reaffirmed this plan on social media.The announcement of the execution and livestream also faced criticism from the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. Archbishop Timothy Broglio reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to the death penalty in a statement to EWTN News.“Catholic teaching about the death penalty is clear,” Broglio said. “Already the Catechism of the Catholic Church, even before its revision by the late Pope Francis, indicated that in a country such as the United States where the means exist to protect society from such criminals, the death penalty was inadmissible.”The archbishop said that now, “the teaching is even clearer and more universal” and cited CCC 2267: “Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that ‘the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,’ and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide.”Broglio added: “Even in the case of the most heinous crimes, the Church begs for clemency.”‘A grotesque display of hatred’The Catholic Mobilizing Network, which works closely with the USCCB on efforts to oppose the death penalty, condemned both the decision to execute Hasan and the decision to livestream his death.“Beyond the fact that executions do not deter crime or increase safety, it’s appalling that a public official would try to introduce it as a livestream arcade,” Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of Catholic Mobilizing Network, said in a statement.“It’s been almost a century since our country’s last public execution, and we must not fall into the abyss of such a vengeful practice,” she said. “We undermine our own humanity when we treat another person’s death as something to watch, celebrate, or use for entertainment. It is [reminiscent] of the horrors of lynching in our nation’s past, and would be a grotesque display of hatred witnessed in the public executions of some authoritarian countries today.”Murphy quoted a Sept. 28 address from Pope Leo XIV, in which he said “the greatness of a civilization is not measured by its material achievements, but by the way it cares for, protects, and upholds the human person.”She warned that “we violate human dignity” with every execution “because every person is created in the image of God.” She said “the Church instructs us to not seek cruel retribution, but a justice that holds people accountable without perpetuating the cycle of death.”“What Mr. Hasan did at Fort Hood in 2009 ought not be condoned in any way,” she said. “He inflicted horrible pain and caused terrifying trauma. … But we must not be blinded by bloodlust. The macabre spectacle proposed by Secretary Hegseth is not what our Lord asks of us—it will neither honor victims nor bring healing.”")
The decision to livestream the execution of Fort Hood mass shooter Nidal Hasan faced strong criticism from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
The SpaceX Crew Dragon Freedom spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev aboard in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Angeles, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026.
Read MoreA reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:7-14
Brothers and sisters:
Realize that it is those who have faith
who are children of Abraham.
Scripture, which saw in advance that God
would justify the Gentiles by faith,
foretold the good news to Abraham, saying,
Through you shall all the nations be blessed.
Consequently, those who have faith are blessed
along with Abraham who had faith.
For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse;
for it is written, Cursed be everyone
who does not persevere in doing all the things
written in the book of the law.
And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear,
for the one who is righteous by faith will live.
But the law does not depend on faith;
rather, the one who does these things will live by them.
Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written, Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree,
that the blessing of Abraham might be extended
to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus,
so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:15-26
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said:
“By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons,
he drives out demons.”
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven.
But he knew their thoughts and said to them,
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste
and house will fall against house.
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?
For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons.
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul,
by whom do your own people drive them out?
Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons,
then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace,
his possessions are safe.
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him,
he takes away the armor on which he relied
and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me,
and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When an unclean spirit goes out of someone,
it roams through arid regions searching for rest
but, finding none, it says,
‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’
But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order.
Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits
more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there,
and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.”
The true problem (…) and it is one that we often overlook, is that conversion does not only make us aware of evil so that we can choose the good; it also forces evil to change its tactics, to become more insidious, to find new disguises that will be hard for us to see through. The battle is real. The tempter keeps coming back, disguised, but he comes back. (…)
One of the most helpful virtues to practice in this regard is the virtue of vigilance. Jesus uses a striking example to illustrate the need for vigilance, attentiveness to ourselves and to the Church. He tells us: “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’. When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first” (Lk 11:24-26). Our initial conversion follows a certain pattern: the evil that we acknowledge and try to uproot from our lives does indeed leave us, but we would be naïve to think that it will long be gone. In short order, it comes back under a new guise. Before, it appeared rough and violent, now it shows up as elegant and refined. We need to realize that and once again to unmask it. Let me put it this way: they are “elegant demons”: they enter smoothly, without our even being conscious of them. Only the daily practice of the examination of conscience can enable us to be aware of them. Hence the importance of the examination of conscience, to keep watch over our house. (Pope Francis, Address to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2022)
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The bishops will serve one year as chair-elect and assume the positions in the fall of 2027.
![Archbishop of Dijon, France, asks for prayers for priest who died by suicide – #Catholic – Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, France, asked for prayers for Father Bernard Card, who died by suicide in his Sainte Chantal Parish house on Sunday, Oct. 4.In a letter sent to the faithful of his archdiocese, the prelate wrote of his “astonishment and deep sadness” and said that what happened was “totally unexpected and difficult to understand.”“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord. Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news; for Father Jean-Philippe Nollé, his vicar; and for his family and friends, left desolate by this sudden departure,” the archbishop said.In his letter, the archbishop remembered Card — who had been “deeply affected” some time ago by his brother’s suicide — as “a pastor much appreciated by his parishioners and who moved with ease among his fellow priests, who trusted him.”He added that he was “very involved in the life of the cathedral chapter, regularly participated in the canons' prayer in the archbishopʼs chapel, and enjoyed staying afterward for coffee with the staff. He always took part with interest in the meetings of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.”Looking ahead to Card’s approaching 75th birthday, Hérouard said the two had spoken about the possibility of continuing his mission a little past the usual retirement age. Some had noticed that he seemed “tired lately” and was bothered by insects in his house, but no one thought that was “anything dramatic,” the archbishop wrote.On the archdioceseʼs Facebook page, Michèle Bauchet commented: “This is deeply sad news. [Father] Bernard was a very kind person. He had agreed to officiate at our son-in-lawʼs funeral Mass.” She wrote that he was to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary Mass in 2027. “We are truly shocked. We pray for Jean-Philippe Nollé and all of Bernardʼs family,” she added.The French government declared mental health a national priority for 2025 and 2026. A 2020 study by Mutuelle Saint-Martin and Action Sociale found that 9% of French priests showed a depressive syndrome, 40% had a low sense of personal fulfillment, 7% a high degree of exhaustion, and 2% suffered from severe burnout.The archdiocese has organized several prayer vigils for the priest. The first is Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Chenôve (Chapel of Saint Teresa). Later that same day, another vigil will be held at 3 p.m. in the church of Corcelles-les-Monts.Prayers will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Sainte-Chantal; and on Monday, Oct. 12, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the same location. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., also at Sainte-Chantal.Seek helpIf you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, remember that the Catholic Church offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and someone to talk to and encourages seeking professional help.You can contact helplines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) for your country, or go to your parish, where you will find pastoral support and resources.The Catholic Church teaches that life is a gift from God. The Church accompanies those who suffer with compassion and without judgment, offering hope, prayer, and consolation to the affected families.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/2026/10/archbishop-of-dijon-france-asks-for-prayers-for-priest-who-died-by-suicide-catholic-archbishop-antoine-herouard-of-dijon-france-asked-for-prayers-for-father-bernard-card-who-died-by-suicide.jpg "Archbishop of Dijon, France, asks for prayers for priest who died by suicide – #Catholic – Archbishop Antoine Hérouard of Dijon, France, asked for prayers for Father Bernard Card, who died by suicide in his Sainte Chantal Parish house on Sunday, Oct. 4.In a letter sent to the faithful of his archdiocese, the prelate wrote of his “astonishment and deep sadness” and said that what happened was “totally unexpected and difficult to understand.”“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord. Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news; for Father Jean-Philippe Nollé, his vicar; and for his family and friends, left desolate by this sudden departure,” the archbishop said.In his letter, the archbishop remembered Card — who had been “deeply affected” some time ago by his brother’s suicide — as “a pastor much appreciated by his parishioners and who moved with ease among his fellow priests, who trusted him.”He added that he was “very involved in the life of the cathedral chapter, regularly participated in the canons' prayer in the archbishopʼs chapel, and enjoyed staying afterward for coffee with the staff. He always took part with interest in the meetings of the Diocesan Council for Economic Affairs.”Looking ahead to Card’s approaching 75th birthday, Hérouard said the two had spoken about the possibility of continuing his mission a little past the usual retirement age. Some had noticed that he seemed “tired lately” and was bothered by insects in his house, but no one thought that was “anything dramatic,” the archbishop wrote.On the archdioceseʼs Facebook page, Michèle Bauchet commented: “This is deeply sad news. [Father] Bernard was a very kind person. He had agreed to officiate at our son-in-lawʼs funeral Mass.” She wrote that he was to celebrate her golden wedding anniversary Mass in 2027. “We are truly shocked. We pray for Jean-Philippe Nollé and all of Bernardʼs family,” she added.The French government declared mental health a national priority for 2025 and 2026. A 2020 study by Mutuelle Saint-Martin and Action Sociale found that 9% of French priests showed a depressive syndrome, 40% had a low sense of personal fulfillment, 7% a high degree of exhaustion, and 2% suffered from severe burnout.The archdiocese has organized several prayer vigils for the priest. The first is Thursday, Oct. 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Chenôve (Chapel of Saint Teresa). Later that same day, another vigil will be held at 3 p.m. in the church of Corcelles-les-Monts.Prayers will be held on Friday, Oct. 9, at 6 p.m. at Sainte-Chantal; and on Monday, Oct. 12, from 8:30 to 10 p.m. at the same location. The funeral will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 10 a.m., also at Sainte-Chantal.Seek helpIf you or someone you know is experiencing an emotional crisis or suicidal thoughts, remember that the Catholic Church offers spiritual guidance, prayer, and someone to talk to and encourages seeking professional help.You can contact helplines, such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 in the U.S.) for your country, or go to your parish, where you will find pastoral support and resources.The Catholic Church teaches that life is a gift from God. The Church accompanies those who suffer with compassion and without judgment, offering hope, prayer, and consolation to the affected families.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.")
“Let us entrust him to the merciful love of the Lord,” the archbishop wrote in a letter to the faithful. “Let us pray for his parishioners, shocked by this unexpected news.”
From a North Carolina barrier island to a coastal village on Japan’s Izu Peninsula, travel experts share their top picks.
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The exorcists discussed the importance of sacred music and the “essential” place of the Virgin Mary’s intercession in exorcisms.
Multiple religious objectors are suing the state over its newly instituted assisted suicide regime.
NASA has selected the far-infrared space telescope mission PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) to move to the next stage in its development. PRIMA will be the first in a new mission class and help scientists learn more about the evolution of the universe. PRIMA will carry a 5.9-foot (1.8-meter) mirror, and NASA hopes toContinue reading “Far-infrared telescope PRIMA advances toward 2033 launch”
The post Far-infrared telescope PRIMA advances toward 2033 launch appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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“The death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” the Holy See’s permanent observer to the U.N. said during the 81st General Assembly.
| Picture of the day |
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Ceiling Painted Dome Cupola Angels Fighting Demons in the Vatican Museums. Today is Michaelmas in much of Western Christianity.
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Church leaders call for dialogue over confrontation amid turbulent protests in France #Catholic – 
PARIS (OSV News) — Just days after Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 apostolic visit to France, scenes of unrest have replaced the atmosphere of unity and peace that marked the papal trip.
Riots that began in the Paris region on a small scale Sept. 17 spread nationwide after Sept. 28, forcing closures or disruptions at nearly 900 of France’s 3,700 public high schools by Oct. 6.
“After those … days of serenity, the joy of being together, and peace” during the papal visit, “reality quickly caught up with us,” Bishop Hervé Gosselin of Angoulême commented on Oct. 2 in a conversation with Les Coulisses de l’Info, podcast of the regional daily Charente Libre.
Since the outbreak of protests in Paris, students have been joined nationwide by union and political leaders, as well as hooded rioters, who fired fireworks, smashed windows with cobblestones or set trash cans on fire.
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According to the public radio station France Info, the Ministry of Justice has reported more than 5,000 people taken into police custody, while several hundred police officers have been injured.
Bishop Olivier de Cagny of Évreux said many young people face fears about climate change, unemployment, war and social isolation, but at the same time he called violence “unnecessary.”
“What a contrast between these scenes and those witnessed during the pope’s visit,” he said, urging prayer and renewed dialogue to end the violence.
For Le Figaro Magazine, the pope’s trip in France was therefore “a blessed interlude, a providential truce in these times of anxious gloom,” Guillaume Roquette wrote in the paper Oct. 2.
In the face of erupting violence, Bishop Matthieu Rougé of Nanterre, near Paris, remembered the papal visit as an event freeing “from the triviality and violence that all too often plague contemporary public life.” He said it was a “moment of comfort” for a France that fell into chaos hours after the pope departed from Metz and headed to Rome.
Why the protests erupted
The unrest is primarily economic in nature: The ongoing negotiations over the 2027 budget are expected to be difficult against a backdrop of inflation and soaring gas prices.
Joining the students were also farmers, whom agricultural unions had encouraged to protest following a summer of heat waves in France. The total lack of rain has dangerously strained their finances. But France’s public debt, which has hit a new record high, is making it increasingly difficult to provide the social assistance being demanded.
For Bishop Gosselin, some of the students’ demands are “futile,” such as those concerning their poorly balanced class schedules, but others are “much more profound,” as they are expressing their anxieties about the future, and these, in his opinion, must be heard.
“But violence is a failure,” the bishop insisted. “Under no circumstances can violence be justified.”
St. Denis mayor had welcomed Pope Leo, then joined protesters
The bishop’s remarks were also in response to questions about Saint-Denis Mayor Bally Bagayoko, a Muslim of Malian origin known for his widely publicized affiliation with radical far-left parties, who warmly welcomed the pope upon his arrival for the youth vigil Sept. 25 in Saint-Denis’ national stadium and participated in the vigil.
But since then, Bagayoko has spoken out alongside students, to the point of facing legal action for “alleged acts of incitement to commit a crime.” On Sept. 29, he publicly stated that “violence, at a certain point, can be legitimate,” although he conceded that “whenever it can be avoided, that is better.”
Church leaders in those circumstances have repeatedly called for dialogue over confrontation.
Bishop: Path of dialogue needs to be rediscovered
For Bishop de Cagny, “violence is unnecessary,” even to resolve “entirely legitimate problems,” such as the poor condition of certain school buildings or the shortage of teachers.
“A blockade can be a worthwhile form of protest if it helps open a dialogue,” he emphasized in his conversation with La Croix Oct. 4. “But in the current situation, no one seems to really understand what is happening.”
Bishop de Cagny said, “There is no denying that the world in which young people are growing up may seem frightening to them.” Their future “may seem bleak; climate change is a source of anxiety, as are the prospects of unemployment,” he noted. For the bishop of Evreux, young people are facing an “anxiety-inducing atmosphere,” fueled by wars and amplified by social media.
“Families are sometimes themselves weakened by crises, a lack of communication, and the omnipresence of screens,” Bishop de Clagny also noted, observing that young people are “often left alone to face their anxieties” and “sometimes find it hard to believe that dialogue is truly effective in resolving conflicts.”
“They are confronted with a world they perceive as violent and uncertain, and today, they rebel against this situation,” he added.
For Bishop de Cagny, “this inner violence can simmer beneath the surface, remaining unexpressed, and when an outlet presents itself, as is the case with this mobilization, some rush into it, driven by a sort of fascination with violence, without always fully grasping the consequences.”
“Paradoxically, they do not realize that they themselves resort to violence,” the bishop said.
“In the face of violence, young people especially need to rediscover a path of dialogue. We must pray that this violence will cease.”
Caroline de Sury writes for OSV News from Paris.
– PARIS (OSV News) — Just days after Pope Leo XIV’s Sept. 25-28 apostolic visit to France, scenes of unrest have replaced the atmosphere of unity and peace that marked the papal trip. Riots that began in the Paris region on a small scale Sept. 17 spread nationwide after Sept. 28, forcing closures or disruptions at nearly 900 of France’s 3,700 public high schools by Oct. 6. “After those … days of serenity, the joy of being together, and peace” during the papal visit, “reality quickly caught up with us,” Bishop Hervé Gosselin of Angoulême commented on Oct. 2 in a
World Mission Sunday has ‘borne fruit in my own life,’ says Pope Leo #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — The aim of World Mission Sunday (Oct. 18), established 100 years ago by Pope Pius XI, has “borne fruit in my own life,” said Pope Leo XIV.
The pope reflected on the annual observance in a video message posted by Vatican News to its YouTube channel Oct. 7. A transcript of the message was also published on the Vatican’s website.
In January, Pope Leo XIV announced he had chosen the theme “One in Christ, united in mission” for this year’s celebration, with his message for the day encouraging “the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with joy and zeal in the Holy Spirit.”
Established by Pope Pius XI in 1926 and universally observed by 1927, World Mission Sunday is a dedicated day of “prayer and missionary promotion throughout the Catholic world,” according to its founding decree.
Held on the next-to-last Sunday of October, the observance also includes a collection that serves as the primary financial support for the Pontifical Mission Societies, a worldwide network operating at the service of the pope and consisting of four organizations designated as pontifical by Pope Pius XI in 1922.
The Society for the Propagation of the Faith supports the evangelization efforts of the local church; the Missionary Childhood Association educates children about their part in the church’s missionary outreach; the Society of St. Peter the Apostle trains the next generation of missionary clergy and consecrated religious; and the Pontifical Missionary Union focuses on forming clergy, religious and pastoral leaders more deeply in their role as evangelizers.
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In his video message, Pope Leo said, “Looking back on my youth, I can see how the prayers offered to the Lord of the harvest mysteriously helped prepare my heart to hear Jesus’ call to follow him as an Augustinian missionary.”
The future pope served for years in Peru, a country particularly blessed by missionary priests, said Father Anthony D. Andreassi, a priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Brooklyn, New York, and a researcher for the Pontifical Mission Societies USA.
In an Oct. 5 interview with OSV News, Father Andreassi explained how the 20th century saw an uptick in the number of North American priests, both diocesan and religious, assigned to Latin America, where the Church already had a 500-year presence, but “never enough of a native clergy.”
The Augustinian Order “started sending people into Peru in the 1960s,” said Father Andreassi. “And then, all of a sudden, you see Robert Prevost” — who would eventually become Pope Leo XIV — “there in the 1980s.”
In his video message, Pope Leo said “the prayers and contributions of the faithful encouraged and sustained my missionary work in Peru, as well as that of countless others throughout the world.”
“For this reason, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has supported World Mission Sunday over the years,” he added.
The pope said this year’s theme “invites us to reflect on the fundamental task of nurturing the Church’s unity in following Christ, particularly in our commitment and responsibility to spread the Gospel message of salvation to all people.”
Baptism makes each of the faithful “a member of the Body of Christ” with “a unique role in contributing to Jesus’ saving work.”
“Our Lord calls us to cooperate as one family, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to bring everyone everywhere into a communion of faith in Christ,” said Pope Leo.
He reaffirmed his appeal from his previously released message for the day, urging all to “commit to contributing to the great mission of evangelization — which is always a work of love — according to our own vocation and the gifts we have received.”
Prayers and “practical support” will be “a great help in bringing the Gospel of God’s love to everyone, especially the poorest and those most in need,” said the pope, quoting from his earlier message.
He thanked those who “carry on the legacy of World Mission Sunday” and “support generously the evangelizing mission of the Church throughout the world.”
Gina Christian is a multimedia reporter for OSV News. Follow her on X @GinaJesseReina.
– (OSV News) — The aim of World Mission Sunday (Oct. 18), established 100 years ago by Pope Pius XI, has “borne fruit in my own life,” said Pope Leo XIV. The pope reflected on the annual observance in a video message posted by Vatican News to its YouTube channel Oct. 7. A transcript of the message was also published on the Vatican’s website. In January, Pope Leo XIV announced he had chosen the theme “One in Christ, united in mission” for this year’s celebration, with his message for the day encouraging “the whole Church to continue its missionary journey with
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A visualization of a dark Moon eclipsing the Sun is marked with handwritten notes in this April 6, 2026, screenshot from an Artemis II crew member’s tablet.
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Students protested the university’s handling of alleged sexual assaults involving members of the Chi Phi fraternity in 2024.
A reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians
3:1-5
O stupid Galatians!
Who has bewitched you,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
I want to learn only this from you:
did you receive the Spirit from works of the law,
or from faith in what you heard?
Are you so stupid?
After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now ending with the flesh?
Did you experience so many things in vain?–
if indeed it was in vain.
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you
and works mighty deeds among you
do so from works of the law
or from faith in what you heard?
From the Gospel according to Luke
11:5-13
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,’
and he says in reply from within,
‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.’
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?”
“Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Lk 11:9). With these words, Jesus invites us to turn with trust to the Father for all our needs. (…)
“To ask,” in fact, is to recognize, through poverty, that everything is a gift from the Lord and to give thanks for it. “To seek” is to open oneself, through obedience, to discovering each day the path we must take on the journey towards holiness, following God’s plans. “To knock” is to ask for and to offer the gifts we have received to our brothers and sisters with a chaste heart, striving to love everyone with respect and generosity. (…)
“To ask,” “to seek,” and “to knock” also means reflecting on our own lives, bringing to mind and heart what the Lord has achieved over the years by multiplying talents, strengthening and purifying faith, and fostering generosity and freedom in charity. Sometimes this has been achieved in joyful circumstances, and at other times in ways that are more difficult to understand, perhaps even through the mysterious crucible of suffering. At all times, however, we find ourselves in the embrace of that paternal goodness that characterizes what he does in us and through us, for the good of the Church (cf. Lumen Gentium, 43). (…)
Without him, nothing exists, nothing makes sense, nothing is worthwhile. Your “asking,” “seeking,” and “knocking,” both in prayer and in life, has much to do with this truth. (Pope Leo XIV, Homily, 9 October 2025)
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Justice Amy Coney Barrett speaks at Benedictine College, the Archdiocese of Chicago urges Illinois’ governor to opt in to an education tax program, and more in this week’s education roundup.
The bishop died in a local hospital “surrounded by close family and friends,” current Bishop Emilio Biosca Agüero, OFM Cap, said.
Obituary: Msgr. Robert Carroll, 89 #Catholic – 
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon, N.J., for Msgr. Robert Carroll, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. He was 89.
Bishop James J. Navagh ordained Msgr. Carroll on May 25, 1963.
Msgr. Carroll faithfully served throughout the diocese of Paterson, especially in parochial assignments at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J., St. Brendan Parish in Clifton, N.J., St. Gerard Majella Parish in Paterson, N.J., St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, N.J., St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., and finally at Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Highland Lakes before his retirement in 2016.
Msgr. Carroll also served on the faculty at former Neumann Prep in Wayne, N.J., as the assistant director of vocations; Passaic dean; and spiritual director for both the Morris County Curia of the Legion of Mary and the former Domus Bartimaeus House of Discernment in Boonton, N.J.
Visitation for Msgr. Carroll will occur on Monday, Oct. 12 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima. Priests are invited to concelebrate the funeral Mass. Please bring diocesan vestment.
Interment to follow the Mass at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Newton, N.J.
Condolences may be sent to the attention of the Clergy Personnel Office, 205 Madison Ave., Madison, N.J. 07940
Please keep Msgr. Carroll; his sister-in-law, Denise Carrol; his niece, Amy Carroll; his nephew, Peter Carroll; all of his family and friends; and all of the Priests of the Paterson Diocese in your prayers, especially at the Eucharist.
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– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Church in the Highland Lakes neighborhood of Vernon, N.J., for Msgr. Robert Carroll, a retired priest of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., who died on Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary. He was 89. Bishop James J. Navagh ordained Msgr. Carroll on May 25, 1963. Msgr. Carroll faithfully served throughout the diocese of Paterson, especially in parochial assignments at St. Rose of Lima Parish in East Hanover, N.J., St. Brendan Parish in Clifton, N.J., St. Gerard
“Circumstances of a person’s birth should not determine the respect for one’s inherent God-given dignity or the opportunities an individual is able to access,” Archbishop Christophe El-Kassis said.
The government has debated expanding its medical assistance in dying program for those suffering solely from mental health issues.
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NJCC to voters: Ask Gov. Sherrill to opt in N.J. for students to access federal tax dollars #Catholic – 
Federal tax dollars could soon be applied to education expenses for eligible New Jersey families at no cost to the state – but only if Governor Mikie Sherrill opts in by Jan. 1, 2027.
The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to say “yes” to New Jersey’s participation in the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.
According to the NJCC’s website, if the Governor accepts the program for NJ, it would provide federal tax dollars to New Jersey families for educational assistance. The program would impose no cost to the state, and scholarships would benefit both students attending public and non-public schools. Each state must formally opt in to the FSTC by the new year to receive the benefits.
The Diocese of Trenton’s Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., in his role as chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Catholic Education, advocated for the FSTC as “a transformative opportunity for children across the country.” In a brief message released Oct. 2, he writes, “The Catholic Church teaches that parents are the first and primary educators of our children, and that parents have the obligation of educating their children in the manner best suited for their development and needs. The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will create opportunities for families to access much-needed resources to expand their options for choosing the best tools and learning environment for their children.”
Bishop O’Connell’s full message is available HERE.
As indicated in the Internal Revenue Code Section 25F,taxpayers living in participating states can allocate federal tax dollars already owed – up to $1,700 per individual or $3,400 for married couples – as a nonrefundable tax credit to an approved Scholarship Granting Organization: a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships for K–12 education-related expenses, which is certified by the state. Scholarship Granting Organizations then use those contributions to provide scholarships for tuition, books, fees, supplies, tutoring and other educational services.
“You may have heard this program described as a ‘school voucher’ scheme that will hurt public education, or as a benefit for wealthy families who could already afford private school,” reads the NJCC Action Alert. “Neither is accurate, and we need your voice to help set the record straight. By federal law, scholarships are limited to students from households earning no more than 300% of their area’s median income, keeping the focus on working- and middle-class families.”
These federal tax dollars can make educational choices and support more available and affordable for everyday families with K-12 students. But if New Jersey doesn’t participate, those scholarship donations will go to help students in other states, the Action Alert cites. As of publication, 31 states have opted in or committed to the tax credits; four have declined and two have vetoed. Source: https://eftccredit.com/tools/state-opt-in-tracker.
The Action Alert can be accessed at https://www.votervoice.net/NJCC/Campaigns/139845/Respond.
Advocacy campaign materials and an overview of FSTC can be found at: https://njcatholic.org/education-tax-credit-spread-the-word. https://njcatholic.org/education-tax-credit-overview.
EmmaLee Italia is a contributing editor and writer for The Monitor, the official news publication and website of the Catholic Diocese of Trenton, N.J.
– Federal tax dollars could soon be applied to education expenses for eligible New Jersey families at no cost to the state – but only if Governor Mikie Sherrill opts in by Jan. 1, 2027. The New Jersey Catholic Conference, public policy arm of the bishops of New Jersey, launched an advocacy campaign Oct. 5, featuring dedicated web pages, an Action Alert and a packet of digital and social media graphics and bulletin inserts to be shared throughout the state via Catholic schools, parishes and media outlets. The campaign urges voters to reach out to Governor Sherrill and ask her to
| Picture of the day |
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View of the Basilica Cistern, Istanbul, Turkey. The Basilica Cistern, or Cisterna Basilica is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city. This subterranean cistern was called Basilica because it was located under a large public square, the Stoa Basilica, on the First Hill of Constantinople. The cistern, built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I, provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill, and continued to provide water to the Topkapı Palace after the Ottoman conquest in 1453 and into modern times. Today it is kept with little water, for public access inside the space.
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The Crab Nebula Our first object is the Crab Nebula in Taurus. It’s one of the sky’s most famous objects, and a nice small telescope target. Although the word “nebula” is part of this object’s name, astronomers classify M1 as a supernova remnant. In 1054, a brilliant new star 4 times brighter than Venus appearedContinue reading “Winter observing targets for small telescopes”
The post Winter observing targets for small telescopes appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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MESOPOTAMIA — Having sown his proverbial wild oats, Noah decided that, having turned 500 years old, it was finally time to settle down and start having kids.
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LOS ANGELES, CA — Singer-actress Ariana Grande was excited to make some extra money this fall as she landed the role of a lifetime as a Halloween lawn skeleton, sources confirmed.
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This artist’s concept depicts a possible explanation for the unusual chemical abundances NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope detected in the HS 0209+0832 system: a second-generation planet orbiting the white dwarf star.
Read More![Blessings flow from Christ the King’s newly dedicated fountain #Catholic – On Sept. 18, the Church of Christ the King in the neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., hosted a Welcome Back from Summer Social for its National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars on its bucolic grounds. The fun-filled event featured pony rides, food, ice cream, a petting zoo, and face-painting.
Also, Father Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, took to a small boat to bless the parish’s latest project: a new fountain for its pond.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/blessings-flow-from-christ-the-kings-newly-dedicated-fountain-catholic-on-sept-18-the-church-of-christ-the-king-in-the-neighborhood-of-harding-township-n-j-hosted-a-welcome-back-from.jpg "Blessings flow from Christ the King’s newly dedicated fountain #Catholic – On Sept. 18, the Church of Christ the King in the neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., hosted a Welcome Back from Summer Social for its National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars on its bucolic grounds. The fun-filled event featured pony rides, food, ice cream, a petting zoo, and face-painting.
Also, Father Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, took to a small boat to bless the parish’s latest project: a new fountain for its pond.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.")
Blessings flow from Christ the King’s newly dedicated fountain #Catholic – 
On Sept. 18, the Church of Christ the King in the neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., hosted a Welcome Back from Summer Social for its National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars on its bucolic grounds. The fun-filled event featured pony rides, food, ice cream, a petting zoo, and face-painting.
Also, Father Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, took to a small boat to bless the parish’s latest project: a new fountain for its pond.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– On Sept. 18, the Church of Christ the King in the neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J., hosted a Welcome Back from Summer Social for its National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars on its bucolic grounds. The fun-filled event featured pony rides, food, ice cream, a petting zoo, and face-painting. Also, Father Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, took to a small boat to bless the parish’s latest project: a new fountain for its pond. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
![Hawthorne parish pet blessing features hedgehog and two tortoises #Catholic – St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., hosted a pet blessing on Oct. 4 in its Jubilee Garden.
Father Stephen T. Prisk, pastor of St. Anthony’s and vice-chancellor of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and Father Brendon J. Harfmann, the parish’s parochial vicar, blessed a colorful spectrum of pets, including dogs, cats, a hedgehog, and two tortoises.
The event attracted a wide array of people, including Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, who serve the parish and school.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/hawthorne-parish-pet-blessing-features-hedgehog-and-two-tortoises-catholic-st-anthony-parish-in-hawthorne-n-j-hosted-a-pet-blessing-on-oct-4-in-its-jubilee-garden-father-stephen-t-prisk-pas.jpg "Hawthorne parish pet blessing features hedgehog and two tortoises #Catholic – St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., hosted a pet blessing on Oct. 4 in its Jubilee Garden.
Father Stephen T. Prisk, pastor of St. Anthony’s and vice-chancellor of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and Father Brendon J. Harfmann, the parish’s parochial vicar, blessed a colorful spectrum of pets, including dogs, cats, a hedgehog, and two tortoises.
The event attracted a wide array of people, including Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, who serve the parish and school.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.")
Hawthorne parish pet blessing features hedgehog and two tortoises #Catholic – 
St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., hosted a pet blessing on Oct. 4 in its Jubilee Garden.
Father Stephen T. Prisk, pastor of St. Anthony’s and vice-chancellor of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and Father Brendon J. Harfmann, the parish’s parochial vicar, blessed a colorful spectrum of pets, including dogs, cats, a hedgehog, and two tortoises.
The event attracted a wide array of people, including Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, who serve the parish and school.
BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
– St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., hosted a pet blessing on Oct. 4 in its Jubilee Garden. Father Stephen T. Prisk, pastor of St. Anthony’s and vice-chancellor of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., and Father Brendon J. Harfmann, the parish’s parochial vicar, blessed a colorful spectrum of pets, including dogs, cats, a hedgehog, and two tortoises. The event attracted a wide array of people, including Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, who serve the parish and school. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
“Accountability for grave wrongdoing is necessary, but it does not require the taking of another life,” the bishops wrote.
Bishop Michael Olson said he hopes to “further the culture of life” by urging the company to consider whether it’s violating federal law by mailing abortion pills to pro-life states.
The motto for this year’s pilgrimage was “Mother, in your embrace we recognize each other as brothers and sisters.”
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Francis Halzen, principal investigator of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory and professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Nobel Prize in physics on Oct. 6, 2026. Halzen’s work on high-energy neutrinos has shaped our understanding of the universe’s mysterious and powerful natural particle accelerators. Halzen is theContinue reading “Francis Halzen wins the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics”
The post Francis Halzen wins the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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“This anniversary invites us to remember not only the founding of our nation but also the generations who have helped bring its ideals to life,” said the letter from Colorado Christian leaders.
Boutique stays, buzzy restaurants, and an artisan market have revitalized Roanoke, Virginia.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-how-to-get-there-ROANOKEVA0626-4400a9f7d49a450988b864a3ce258c3a.jpg)
President Trump wrote me a letter on Monday.
The post I Received an Amazing Letter from President Trump on Monday… Here Is What He Said appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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The battle for control of the US house narrowed again this week as Democrats lost ground for the second week in row, according to Rasmussen Reports.
The post BREAKING: Battle for Control of US House Narrows as Wacky Democrats Lose Ground for Second Week in a Row appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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