Vatican unveils agenda for global family summit marking ‘Amoris Laetitia’ anniversary #Catholic – 
(OSV News) — The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families.
Pope Francis’ issued his post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the pastoral care of families. It was published after the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family.
The Oct. 7-14 gathering is intended “to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today,” not only in light of “Amoris Laetitia” but also “taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches.”
The Vatican described the initiative as part of an ongoing process of “pastoral conversion,” emphasizing renewed evangelization rooted in lived experience.
Participants are expected to reflect on how families themselves contribute to the Church’s mission, not only as recipients of pastoral care but as active agents of evangelization. The framework — dated July 3 and released July 6 by the Vatican — said that families embody the Gospel in “daily relationships, choices, fragility and hope,” and calls for continued openness to renewal, asking for “the courage to persevere on this path,” while “always welcoming the Gospel anew in the joy of being able to proclaim it to all.”
The meeting will include listening sessions, the sharing of concrete pastoral experiences, and dialogue with experts. Its goal is to discern “the direction in which the Holy Spirit is leading us today,” while recognizing and supporting what is already being lived out in families and local Church communities. The themes are divided into five daily sessions by the organizers of the family summit.
Families today: reality, beauty and challenges
The first topic discussed will be “Families today: reality, beauty and challenges” — aimed at “discerning the signs of the times through the experience of families and the Church’s pastoral commitment today.”
This part aims at “attentive listening to the concrete lives of families and to the experience of those who accompany them, recognizing together both the beauty of love as it takes shape in daily life and the fragilities that often affect it.”
The Vatican listed “precarious employment and housing, illness, the challenges of raising children, emotional loneliness, and the care of family members with disabilities, the elderly, or those who are not self-sufficient,” as challenges that families face today.
Among questions asked during the session will be: “How do the transformations of our time affect the experience of love between man and woman, generation of life, care, the transmission of the faith, and the mission of the Church?”
Young people and the discovery of the vocation to marriage
The second day will be focused on the young people “and the discovery of the vocation to marriage” and is aimed at “listening to young people and accompanying them in discovering the value of marriage.”
“In many parts of the world, young people live in contexts in which confidence in the possibility of building a stable marital and family project has weakened due to economic, social and cultural factors,” the Vatican said, pointing out that the meeting will address several challenges connected to upbringing of young people in families.
One of them is what “language, experiences, and educational and spiritual pathways help children, adolescents and young people today to recognize the value of marriage?” with the other asking “What witness can couples and families offer?” and how can they contribute to “accompanying young people in their emotional, relational and sexual growth?”
Pope Leo XIV, traveling to Spain June 6-12, encouraged young people to not be afraid to marry.
After one of the young men on the stage mentioned he was a newlywed, Pope Leo went visibly off the cuff to urge young people to “not be afraid of marriage. Do not be afraid of forming a family!”
Married life. The first years of marriage: a decisive time
Listening to and accompanying couples “in the early years of married life and at every stage of life” is a third-day topic of the discussion — titled “Married life. The first years of marriage: a decisive time.”
“The experience of couples in the first years of married life calls for particular attention,” the Vatican said. “This is an especially important phase for strengthening the marital bond and facing together the changes that accompany the beginning of family life, such as the birth of children and the challenge of balancing family and work, while discovering ever new meanings of conjugal and family love.”
The Vatican noted in their preparatory note that “it is during these early years that many of the human and spiritual resources are cultivated that will help spouses navigate the different seasons of family life.”
Looking at this stage of marriage bears weight as according to Pew Research Center, 4 in 10 divorces occur in the first decade of marriage, with 16% of couples divorcing in the first four years, and 24% between the fifth and ninth year of marriage.
The Vatican announced that in that phase of the discussion, some of the questions asked will be: “What forms of accompaniment are most effective in supporting couples, particularly during the first years of married life?” as well as “How can spouses be helped to recognize and develop their relational, spiritual, generative and parental resources?”and “Which experiences demonstrate the fruitfulness of networks of families capable of supporting one another and, in turn, becoming a source of accompaniment and witness for others?”
— In the difficulties of life: accompanying and supporting —
“Walking with families in complex situations” is the fourth stage of discussion, titled “In the difficulties of life: accompanying and supporting.”
“Particular attention is directed to couples and families who, at every stage of married life, encounter relational, social or spiritual difficulties, situations in which the Gospel is called to draw ever closer,” the July 6 release said.
“Failure, fragility, the gap between the ideal and reality, and the complexity of life situations also become places in which the work of God’s grace may be recognized and where persons can be accompanied with respect, patience and hope,” the Vatican said.
In this fourth day of the family summit designed around “Amoris Laetitia,” participants will be asking “What steps have been taken to support those living in situations of fragility or difficulty?” as well as “What forms of resistance continue to emerge?”
The discussion will also draw on the ways Christian communities can be built “in which those who have experienced suffering, abandonment, separation and divorce may truly feel listened to, involved and co-responsible.”
Christian families as subjects of the Church’s mission
The last day of the discussions will be focused on “Christian families as subjects of the Church’s mission” and will discuss the theme of “Embracing conjugal and family love as an impetus for mission.”
“Spouses know well that one never ceases to learn the languages of love, day after day,” the Vatican said.
“Within Christian communities, couples have a distinctive way of responding to the common vocation to love. In a rapidly changing world, the contribution of families to the Church’s mission is more necessary than ever in fostering an ‘apprenticeship in enduring love,’ with the benefits this brings to personal, ecclesial and social life.”
The framework said that “Despite the challenges posed by the pace of contemporary life, families remain the primary setting in which the faith is handed on to new generations, therefore participants will ask “How can the experience of couples and families be valued as a place of human, spiritual, ecclesial and social growth?” and “How can the contribution of families to the Church’s evangelizing mission and to the pastoral conversion of Christian communities be recognized and supported?”
The pope made the announcement about the meeting on the feast of St. Joseph, saying that he was convening the meeting “in light of the changes that continue to impact families … in an effort to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today, in light of Amoris Laetitia and taking into account what is currently being done in the local Churches.”
“I entrust this journey to the intercession of Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family of Nazareth,” he added.
Paulina Guzik is international editor for OSV News. Follow her on X @Guzik_Paulina.
– (OSV News) — The Vatican has released the framework for a fall meeting with the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and presidents of bishops’ conferences, marking the 10th anniversary of “Amoris Laetitia” and focusing on the Church’s pastoral approach to families. Pope Francis’ issued his post-synodal apostolic exhortation on the pastoral care of families. It was published after the 2014 and 2015 Synods on the Family. The Oct. 7-14 gathering is intended “to proceed, in mutual listening, to a synodal discernment on the steps to be taken in order to proclaim the Gospel to families today,” not only in light
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![World Cup scores with Paterson clergy celebrating global unity #Catholic - The calendars of clergy in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., are typically set to their sacramental ministry. But this summer, some diocesan clergy have also been setting aside time for the FIFA World Cup 2026 soccer. They see direct analogies between the game and the Body of Christ.
One of these priests, Father Frank Lennie, chaplain at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, N.J., sometimes wears a kilt to games.
Venues around the United States are hosting World Cup matches, including at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which will hold the finals on July 19. Father Lennie often wore a Team USA jersey as he watched World Cup matches at home or at a local establishments before Belgium eliminated the team in the men’s soccer tournament’s round of 16.
“I was hoping they would do a little more than what they did, but they had a successful World Cup — nothing to complain about,” Father Lennie said.
Meanwhile, Father Daniel O’Mullane, pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Boonton, N.J., had Team USA in his heart but still rooted for his birthplace, England, through the quarterfinal round.
“I am an American citizen, but I was born and raised in England, and it’s just like your first love,” said Father O’Mullane, who also supports perennial Premier League contender Liverpool. “I don’t think that there’s really anything compelling about giving up my first love as it relates to football [as soccer is known elsewhere],” he said.
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During his priestly formation in Rome, Father O’Mullane played for the Pontifical North American College soccer team, the Martyrs, where he was a standout forward in the famous Clericus Cup.
Father Lennie wore traditional Scottish attire when he took in a World Cup tune-up match with team of his ancestry at the New York Red Bulls’ home stadium in Harrison, N.J. He kept his auxiliary membership of the Tartan Army when Scotland played in its first World Cup in 28 years before getting eliminated.
“I was kilted up, and singing the ‘Flower of Scotland’ with everybody, which was pretty emotional for me,” Father Lennie said. “I’m not 100-percent Scottish, but it’s what I identify the most as because my name is Scottish.”
Father Lennie is semi-reluctantly joining Father O’Mullane in rooting for England, Scotland’s archrival, in the knockout rounds.
The priests aren’t alone in their love of soccer and the World Cup. Deacon Luis Carlos Mendez of St. Christopher Parish in Parsippany, N.J., proudly traveled to Toronto in Canada to support Panama when it played Ghana in the preliminary rounds.
Neither Father Lennie nor Father O’Mullane had that opportunity, but as they watch a World Cup match or a Red Bulls match at their stadium in Harrison, they find parallels between the game they love and the faith they live and evangelize as priests.
“The game has its own particular beauty. That’s probably the best place to explore it as it relates to the things of God,” Father O’Mullane said. He noted that a soccer team can achieve greatness when its different parts work together like the Body of Christ. “God wants us to celebrate the particular inherent beauty of what we’re able to witness and participate in,” he said.
Father Lennie was moved by how Scotland’s “Tartan Army” embraced opponents such as Brazil during pregame parties in Miami’s South Beach, and how Americans have adopted visiting teams as their own, such as Kansans adopting Algeria. He said the World Cup in North America has fostered a sense of togetherness between strangers, welcoming the visitor as one’s own as Christ teaches.
“There’s a lot to celebrate there, whether it’s the skill of particular people, watching teams come together or celebrating how well-received America has been by the various populations traveling to the country and how grateful they are,” Father Lennie said. “There was a lot of pressure and a lot of false narratives before the World Cup about what was going to happen with all these different people coming to America, but I think those have been found out to be not true,” he said.
O’Mullane still holds out hope for England winning its first World Cup title since 1966, even as his parish celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 19 at a location just 27 miles away from the site of the World Cup final.
“The day at the parish culminates with 11 a.m. Mass and a picnic until 3 p.m. I said to everybody, ‘There should be enough time to go to the picnic and get home in time to watch England win the World Cup,’” Father O’Mullane said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/world-cup-scores-with-paterson-clergy-celebrating-global-unity-catholic-the-calendars-of-clergy-in-the-paterson-diocese-n-j-are-typically-set-to-their-sacramental-ministry-but-this-summer-some.jpg)
![Northern Ireland launches inquiry into mother and baby homes with landmark bill – #Catholic – Northern Ireland has passed legislation to establish an inquiry-and-redress scheme concerning mother and baby institutions, which were prevalent in the country from 1922 until 1995. The bill was first introduced in June 2025 and completed its final stage on June 30 of this year. The inquiry will investigate issues raised in the Truth Recovery Independent Report, which was also published this week.Both the report and the bill focus on institutions that for over 60 years housed unmarried pregnant women who were sent to the homes by a variety of authorities — welfare, priests, family members — to have their babies. The children born there were typically adopted or sent to baby homes, while some returned home with their mothers. Over 15,000 women and girls are estimated to have passed through mother and baby homes, as well as Magdalene laundries — institutions in both the north and south of Ireland operated by Catholic religious orders in which thousands of women and girls were confined and forced to perform unpaid hard labor. The last one closed in 1996.The Truth Recovery Independent Panel report was commissioned to gather evidence in a nonconfrontational setting and includes the testimonies of over 300 survivors. Seventy recommendations were made, including the specific investigation of “Sister Z,“ a nun at the Good Shepherd Sisters-run Marianvale Mother and Baby Home in Newry, County Down, for sexual abuse.The report highlights serious systemic failures of the state to exercise oversight in Magdalene laundries and other homes. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Within their walls, women and girls were stripped of dignity, silenced, and shamed. Their children, now adults, are still living with that impact today, carrying unanswered questions and loss.” Conor Brogan, who was born at Marianvale and placed for adoption as an infant, told EWTN News that the bill and the public inquiry are incredibly significant because they were developed with survivors' input.“It has survivors at the forefront, and that is something that victims and survivors have campaigned for for a long time,” he said. “It is a massive step in the right direction to clearly understand where accountability lies and to ensure that those who are accountable are seen in the public eye as such.”He continued: “Girls and women who went into these institutions were publicly shamed. It was barbaric in terms of how they were treated. Institutions themselves didnʼt exist in a vacuum. Society was, in those days, very ‘puritan,’ and the whole facilitation of these institutions was by the broader society. There isnʼt a single case of a mother or baby being connected to one of these institutions without some form of government involvement. They all played a part in it.”Brogan’s birth mother, Geraldine, now deceased, was a resident at Marianvale. He was born there in February 1969 and adopted several weeks later. He says of the redress scheme: “For my mother itʼs getting back to lifting the shame off her shoulders. In todayʼs society, where shame doesnʼt exist, I think education and support for young girls who find themselves in this situation is the biggest legacy that could come out of it.”Brogan was reunited with Geraldine in his 30s, and he said they established a good relationship. “She had never talked to anybody about it — not her own sisters and brothers. Her children didnʼt know about it. Her spouse did. The trauma that was associated with that weighed heavily on her,” he said.Geraldine’s time in the Good Shepherd home from November 1968 to April 1969 was too painful for her to ever talk about to Brogan. “That was very hard for her to even sort of go near it at all. She just couldnʼt; it was too painful, too raw, even after all those years, 35 to 40 years later, she couldnʼt. She just said it wasnʼt very nice and didnʼt want to elaborate. Meeting me and having me in her life went some way to, to sort of easing that trauma; I donʼt think it ever fully healed the wound.”Brogan always knew he was adopted and describes a happy childhood with his adoptive family. He told EWTN News that he, as a child, returned to visit the nuns in Marianvale with his adoptive parents. His brother and sister, also adopted, were born there too. “There was the convent at the front, but there were other smaller outbuildings around the back, where, looking back now, I realize that’s where the women and girls were quartered.”He recalled his dad putting money in the collection box there. “I have clear memories of that visit, but I had absolutely no understanding of the other side of it. The trauma of the birth mothers, knowing that youʼre giving up your baby as soon as itʼs born, of the baby being taken away, and then after that, I think, is the most impactful on peopleʼs lives.”Brogan also embarked on a different journey to make contact with his birth father’s family. Unaware that he had a biological son who had been adopted, his biological father died in 1982. Brogan said of both journeys: “You donʼt know where youʼre going to end up. You donʼt know if youʼre going to have an open door, a closed door, or visit a graveyard. When I found my fatherʼs family, the connection was fantastic. I did visit his grave, and that was quite tough. The realization that I would never meet my father.”“I have met every sort of combination a survivor has gone through,” he said. “So, whether that’s a birth mother never able to meet her child, or one who found their child, but the child, now an adult, didnʼt want to have a relationship, and vice versa. Where the mother has locked that away, doesnʼt want it disturbed, hasnʼt told her family, and really doesnʼt want to acknowledge that it happened.”He added: “I feel incredibly fortunate [that] Iʼm able to talk about it; Iʼm able to talk with others about it. And, you know, if my talking can help one other person, then itʼs worth it.”He explained that “everybody will automatically think, ‘Oh, the Catholic Church is at fault again,’ but there were more accounts of women from a Protestant background who went through institutions than from a Catholic background. I think thatʼs important to state because the number of people who have come forward from the Protestant community is significantly less than the Catholic community. And I think there has to be some level of outreach to those people who feel that they canʼt come forward.”Brogan said that beginning this journey was difficult. “But for me to have a better understanding of who I am, and where I came from, itʼs very, very important. And to be able to spend some level of time with my birth mother, and get an understanding of her and what she went through and everything else was pretty priceless.”In a statement dated July 8 following the publication of the Truth Recovery Independent Report, the Good Shepherd Sisters said: “We respect the courage and strength of all who have come to share their experiences and have contributed to this research. We deeply regret the pain and hurt women in our care experienced, as outlined in their testimony to the panel.”The statement continued: “We also acknowledge the women who expressed their appreciation to the Sisters they met while in our care in the past, even when they reflect on a time of deep crisis in their lives. We will continue to fully cooperate with the impending work of the public inquiry.”](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/northern-ireland-launches-inquiry-into-mother-and-baby-homes-with-landmark-bill-catholic-northern-ireland-has-passed-legislation-to-establish-an-inquiry-and-redress-scheme-concerning-mother-and-b.jpg "Northern Ireland launches inquiry into mother and baby homes with landmark bill – #Catholic – Northern Ireland has passed legislation to establish an inquiry-and-redress scheme concerning mother and baby institutions, which were prevalent in the country from 1922 until 1995. The bill was first introduced in June 2025 and completed its final stage on June 30 of this year. The inquiry will investigate issues raised in the Truth Recovery Independent Report, which was also published this week.Both the report and the bill focus on institutions that for over 60 years housed unmarried pregnant women who were sent to the homes by a variety of authorities — welfare, priests, family members — to have their babies. The children born there were typically adopted or sent to baby homes, while some returned home with their mothers. Over 15,000 women and girls are estimated to have passed through mother and baby homes, as well as Magdalene laundries — institutions in both the north and south of Ireland operated by Catholic religious orders in which thousands of women and girls were confined and forced to perform unpaid hard labor. The last one closed in 1996.The Truth Recovery Independent Panel report was commissioned to gather evidence in a nonconfrontational setting and includes the testimonies of over 300 survivors. Seventy recommendations were made, including the specific investigation of “Sister Z,“ a nun at the Good Shepherd Sisters-run Marianvale Mother and Baby Home in Newry, County Down, for sexual abuse.The report highlights serious systemic failures of the state to exercise oversight in Magdalene laundries and other homes. Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Within their walls, women and girls were stripped of dignity, silenced, and shamed. Their children, now adults, are still living with that impact today, carrying unanswered questions and loss.” Conor Brogan, who was born at Marianvale and placed for adoption as an infant, told EWTN News that the bill and the public inquiry are incredibly significant because they were developed with survivors' input.“It has survivors at the forefront, and that is something that victims and survivors have campaigned for for a long time,” he said. “It is a massive step in the right direction to clearly understand where accountability lies and to ensure that those who are accountable are seen in the public eye as such.”He continued: “Girls and women who went into these institutions were publicly shamed. It was barbaric in terms of how they were treated. Institutions themselves didnʼt exist in a vacuum. Society was, in those days, very ‘puritan,’ and the whole facilitation of these institutions was by the broader society. There isnʼt a single case of a mother or baby being connected to one of these institutions without some form of government involvement. They all played a part in it.”Brogan’s birth mother, Geraldine, now deceased, was a resident at Marianvale. He was born there in February 1969 and adopted several weeks later. He says of the redress scheme: “For my mother itʼs getting back to lifting the shame off her shoulders. In todayʼs society, where shame doesnʼt exist, I think education and support for young girls who find themselves in this situation is the biggest legacy that could come out of it.”Brogan was reunited with Geraldine in his 30s, and he said they established a good relationship. “She had never talked to anybody about it — not her own sisters and brothers. Her children didnʼt know about it. Her spouse did. The trauma that was associated with that weighed heavily on her,” he said.Geraldine’s time in the Good Shepherd home from November 1968 to April 1969 was too painful for her to ever talk about to Brogan. “That was very hard for her to even sort of go near it at all. She just couldnʼt; it was too painful, too raw, even after all those years, 35 to 40 years later, she couldnʼt. She just said it wasnʼt very nice and didnʼt want to elaborate. Meeting me and having me in her life went some way to, to sort of easing that trauma; I donʼt think it ever fully healed the wound.”Brogan always knew he was adopted and describes a happy childhood with his adoptive family. He told EWTN News that he, as a child, returned to visit the nuns in Marianvale with his adoptive parents. His brother and sister, also adopted, were born there too. “There was the convent at the front, but there were other smaller outbuildings around the back, where, looking back now, I realize that’s where the women and girls were quartered.”He recalled his dad putting money in the collection box there. “I have clear memories of that visit, but I had absolutely no understanding of the other side of it. The trauma of the birth mothers, knowing that youʼre giving up your baby as soon as itʼs born, of the baby being taken away, and then after that, I think, is the most impactful on peopleʼs lives.”Brogan also embarked on a different journey to make contact with his birth father’s family. Unaware that he had a biological son who had been adopted, his biological father died in 1982. Brogan said of both journeys: “You donʼt know where youʼre going to end up. You donʼt know if youʼre going to have an open door, a closed door, or visit a graveyard. When I found my fatherʼs family, the connection was fantastic. I did visit his grave, and that was quite tough. The realization that I would never meet my father.”“I have met every sort of combination a survivor has gone through,” he said. “So, whether that’s a birth mother never able to meet her child, or one who found their child, but the child, now an adult, didnʼt want to have a relationship, and vice versa. Where the mother has locked that away, doesnʼt want it disturbed, hasnʼt told her family, and really doesnʼt want to acknowledge that it happened.”He added: “I feel incredibly fortunate [that] Iʼm able to talk about it; Iʼm able to talk with others about it. And, you know, if my talking can help one other person, then itʼs worth it.”He explained that “everybody will automatically think, ‘Oh, the Catholic Church is at fault again,’ but there were more accounts of women from a Protestant background who went through institutions than from a Catholic background. I think thatʼs important to state because the number of people who have come forward from the Protestant community is significantly less than the Catholic community. And I think there has to be some level of outreach to those people who feel that they canʼt come forward.”Brogan said that beginning this journey was difficult. “But for me to have a better understanding of who I am, and where I came from, itʼs very, very important. And to be able to spend some level of time with my birth mother, and get an understanding of her and what she went through and everything else was pretty priceless.”In a statement dated July 8 following the publication of the Truth Recovery Independent Report, the Good Shepherd Sisters said: “We respect the courage and strength of all who have come to share their experiences and have contributed to this research. We deeply regret the pain and hurt women in our care experienced, as outlined in their testimony to the panel.”The statement continued: “We also acknowledge the women who expressed their appreciation to the Sisters they met while in our care in the past, even when they reflect on a time of deep crisis in their lives. We will continue to fully cooperate with the impending work of the public inquiry.”")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/TAL-kiawah-island-SOUTHISLANDS0225-a94af9dc91824295a41ce25f66275855.jpg)
![Discover St. Francis through Jubilee Year pilgrimages and prayer opportunities #Catholic - Faithful near and far are invited to draw inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi and gain a plenary indulgence by making prayerful pilgrimages to any of five designated St. Francis-related parishes in the Paterson Diocese, N.J., until Jan. 10, 2027.
On Jan. 10, 2026, Pope Leo XVI decreed that the Universal Church would commemorate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death, which ends next Jan. 10. The decree also provides for a special plenary indulgence for parishes associated with the saint. A plenary indulgence is remission of temporal punishment that may remain after sacramental confession.
On April 29, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney issued a decree designating the five parishes in the diocese where pilgrims are able to avail themselves of a plenary indulgence.
These parishes are St. Francis of Assisi in the Haskell neighborhood of Wanaque, N.J.; St. Mary’s Parish in Pompton Lakes, N.J.; St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Butler, N.J.; St. Clare Parish in Clifton, N.J., and St. John Kanty Parish in the Athenia neighborhood of Clifton.
St. Francis of Assisi is known for his ministry to the poor and underprivileged, his care for nature and animals, his promotion of peace, and his founding of the Franciscan order, one of the largest in the Church. The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe founded many parishes in the diocese, especially in Passaic County.
“The Holy Father notes that in an age known for strife, division, and interminable wars, the life of St. Francis of Assisi, ‘continues to point to the authentic source of peace.’ We profess that the source of all peace is Jesus Christ, the Son of God,” Bishop Sweeney wrote in the local decree.
Some of these parishes are also planning St. Francis-related events. Check their websites, bulletins, and social media, or call them, for Mass and confession times and special event schedules if not already listed below.
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In his Jan. 10, 2026, decree, Pope Leo wrote, “May this Year of St. Francis urge us all, each according to our own possibilities, to imitate the Poverello of Assisi… [and] to mold ourselves as much as possible on the model of Christ…May the hope that saw us as pilgrims now be transformed into zeal and fervor of active charity.”
Pilgrims seeking a plenary indulgence have the opportunity to “experience the divine mercy of God,” said Father Jared Brogan, director of the diocesan Worship Office and pastor of St. Brendan/St. George Parish in Clifton. He helped coordinate the pilgrimages under the leadership of Salesian Sister Theresa Lee, diocesan chancellor and delegate for religious.
To gain the plenary indulgence, pilgrims must show detachment from sin, receive the Eucharist, go to confession, pray for the Holy Father’s intentions and recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Creed. Those unable to travel due to illness or caregiving responsibilities may obtain the indulgence by offering their suffering to God.
Each designated parish in the diocese is connected to St. Francis. St. Francis is the only parish in the diocese currently named for the saint. St. Mary’s is one of two remaining parishes in the diocese founded by the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The other is St. Anthony’s, which also has a friary.
In addition, St. Clare’s is named after St. Clare, a devoted spiritual student, close confidante, and first female follower of St. Francis. St. John Kanty, which serves a Polish community, is administered by the Conventual Franciscan Friars.
Franciscan Father John Aherne, pastor of St. Mary’s, is pleased that the parish was selected as a Jubilee pilgrimage site.
“The Jubilee Year is a way for St. Mary’s to highlight its identity as a Franciscan community and engage with the community,” Father John Aherne said. He noted that the parish has been holding a full schedule of St. Francis-related events. “As Franciscans, we endeavor to bring peace and unity to a world fraught with violence and division and cherish and protect the beauty of the world and humanity,” Father Aherne said.
During the Jubilee Year, Bishop Sweeney will visit St. Francis for the annual Religious Jubilee Mass on Saturday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. All attendees will have an opportunity for an indulgence. In addition, it’s anticipated that the bishop will return on Sunday, Oct. 4, the Feast of St. Francis, for confirmations.
St. Francis Parish is expecting the arrival of a new, larger statue of the saint from Italy for outside the church. The parish also has a first-class relic of St. Francis for veneration, said Father Greg Golba, St. Francis’ pastor.
“St. Francis of Assisi was friendly to everyone and everything: people, nature, and animals. During this Jubilee Year, pilgrims can receive important graces from God by praying for people through the intercession of St. Francis,” Father Golba said.
Diocesan St. Francis of Assisi pilgrimage parishes
St. Francis of Assisi Parish
868 Ringwood Ave., Haskell, N.J. 07420
Phone: (973) 835-0480
Email: stfrancis@optonline.net
Website: stfrancishaskell.org
Daily Mass:
Monday: 8 a.m.
Tuesday: 8 a.m.
Wednesday: noon
Thursday: 8 a.m.
Friday: 8 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 4:30 to 5 p.m. or upon request
St. Mary’s Parish
31 Pompton Ave., Pompton Lakes, N.J. 07442
Phone: 973-835-0374
Email: smc@stmarys-pompton.org
Website: stmarys-pompton.org
Mass times:
Saturday: 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 8:45 a.m. in Spanish (also livestreamed), 9 a.m. in the Carnevale Center, 10:30 a.m. (also livestreamed), noon
Monday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Tuesday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed)
Wednesday: 8 a.m. (also livestreamed) and 7 p.m. in Spanish (also livestreamed)
Thursday: 8 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Friday: 8 p.m. (also livestreamed)
Saturday: 9 a.m. Liturgy of the Word with Communion in the Prayer Room
Confession:
Thursday: 4 to 5 p.m. or by appointment
St. Anthony of Padua Parish
65 Bartholdi Ave., Butler, N.J.
Phone: 973-838-0031
Email: bleck@saopp.org
Website: saopp.org
Masses:
Saturday 5 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 12:30 p.m. in Spanish
Weekdays: 7:30 a.m. and Saturday: 8 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 8:30 to 9 a.m. after the 8 a.m. Mass or by appointment
St. Clare Parish
69 Allwood Rd., Clifton, N.J. 07014
Phone: 973-777-9313
Email: office@saintclarenj.com
Website: saintclarenj.com
Mass times:
Saturday: 4 p.m.
Sunday: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Weekdays: 8:30 a.m.
Confession:
Saturday: 3 to 3:30 p.m. or by appointment
St. John Kanty Parish
49 Speer Ave., Clifton, N.J. 07013
Parish Office: 973-779-4102
Website: saintjohnkanty.org
Masses:
Saturday Vigil: 5 p.m. in English
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. in English, 10 a.m. in Polish, noon in English and 7 p.m. in Polish
Weekend Mass:
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 7 a.m. in English, 8 a.m. in Polish
Wednesday and Friday: 7 a.m. in English and 7 p.m. in Polish
Saturday: 8 a.m. in English
First Friday: 7 p.m. in Polish
Confession:
Saturday: from 4 to 4:45 p.m., daily before morning Masses or by appointment](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/discover-st-francis-through-jubilee-year-pilgrimages-and-prayer-opportunities-catholic-faithful-near-and-far-are-invited-to-draw-inspiration-from-st-francis-of-assisi-and-gain-a-plenary-indulgenc.jpg)
![Corruption in Pakistan’s courts hits poor Christians hardest, report finds – #Catholic – A new report by leading human rights groups says entrenched corruption throughout Pakistanʼs criminal justice system disproportionately harms the countryʼs poorest religious minorities, particularly Christians accused under its controversial blasphemy laws.The study — titled “Under the Bench: Mapping Corruption Risks in Pakistanʼs Justice System” — was released July 8 by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).“Ethnic and religious minorities continue to face rampant discrimination in Pakistan — issues that are compounded by the fact that they also come from low-income communities,” the report states.“Many of the victims in cases targeting Christians, for example, are sanitation workers or daily laborers, meaning that their resources to pay legal representation with necessary social and political connections or to pay bribes are very limited, if not absent, in effect widening the gap in access to justice.”The report is based on 30 interviews conducted by FIDH and HRCP in February and March with lawyers, journalists, civil society activists, academics, and judges.Several interviewees said anti-minority and anti-poor bias was evident in the language used by some judges in their rulings.Bribes and stalled trialsIts findings echo those of a 2025 report by Human Rights Watch, which said blasphemy accusations were increasingly being used for financial gain, with some police officials allegedly demanding bribes from victims to avoid the registration of false first information reports.The report also cited figures from the National Commission for Human Rights, a government human rights body, showing a sharp increase in blasphemy prosecutions. It said 767 people were detained on blasphemy charges as of July 25, 2024, compared with 213 in 2023, 64 in 2022, nine in 2021, and 11 in 2020.Behram Francis, legal adviser for the Catholic bishops' National Commission for Justice and Peace, said the findings matched what he has seen on the ground.“Police start dealing with families of blasphemy victims after an accusation is made and the case is publicized. Given the security risk, sensitivity, and public sentiment associated, the usual bribe rate in such cases starts from at least 50,000 rupees [$180],” Francis told EWTN News.“Trials in lower courts can drag on for years, and the victim continues suffering in prison, as the accuser can easily get the next hearing postponed by paying 15,000 rupees to the court reader. Our lawyers usually encounter prejudice against Christians during trials.”Concerns in the courtroomRiaz Anjum, president of the Christian Lawyers Association of Pakistan, said procedural delays and intimidation inside courtrooms remained among the biggest obstacles to defending Christians accused of blasphemy.“These cases are often not listed in the regular cause list, forcing us to file separate applications just to obtain a hearing,” Anjum told EWTN News.“Muslim lawyers sometimes openly threaten us in front of judges and mobilize madrassa students outside courtrooms. The risk of external pressure and mob intimidation influencing judicial proceedings remains very high.”Pakistan ranked 123rd out of 143 countries in the World Justice Projectʼs 2025 Rule of Law Index for absence of corruption, placing it second from the bottom in its regional rankings.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/corruption-in-pakistans-courts-hits-poor-christians-hardest-report-finds-catholic-a-new-report-by-leading-human-rights-groups-says-entrenched-corruption-throughout-pakistancabcs-crimi-scaled.jpg "Corruption in Pakistan’s courts hits poor Christians hardest, report finds – #Catholic – A new report by leading human rights groups says entrenched corruption throughout Pakistanʼs criminal justice system disproportionately harms the countryʼs poorest religious minorities, particularly Christians accused under its controversial blasphemy laws.The study — titled “Under the Bench: Mapping Corruption Risks in Pakistanʼs Justice System” — was released July 8 by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).“Ethnic and religious minorities continue to face rampant discrimination in Pakistan — issues that are compounded by the fact that they also come from low-income communities,” the report states.“Many of the victims in cases targeting Christians, for example, are sanitation workers or daily laborers, meaning that their resources to pay legal representation with necessary social and political connections or to pay bribes are very limited, if not absent, in effect widening the gap in access to justice.”The report is based on 30 interviews conducted by FIDH and HRCP in February and March with lawyers, journalists, civil society activists, academics, and judges.Several interviewees said anti-minority and anti-poor bias was evident in the language used by some judges in their rulings.Bribes and stalled trialsIts findings echo those of a 2025 report by Human Rights Watch, which said blasphemy accusations were increasingly being used for financial gain, with some police officials allegedly demanding bribes from victims to avoid the registration of false first information reports.The report also cited figures from the National Commission for Human Rights, a government human rights body, showing a sharp increase in blasphemy prosecutions. It said 767 people were detained on blasphemy charges as of July 25, 2024, compared with 213 in 2023, 64 in 2022, nine in 2021, and 11 in 2020.Behram Francis, legal adviser for the Catholic bishops' National Commission for Justice and Peace, said the findings matched what he has seen on the ground.“Police start dealing with families of blasphemy victims after an accusation is made and the case is publicized. Given the security risk, sensitivity, and public sentiment associated, the usual bribe rate in such cases starts from at least 50,000 rupees [$180],” Francis told EWTN News.“Trials in lower courts can drag on for years, and the victim continues suffering in prison, as the accuser can easily get the next hearing postponed by paying 15,000 rupees to the court reader. Our lawyers usually encounter prejudice against Christians during trials.”Concerns in the courtroomRiaz Anjum, president of the Christian Lawyers Association of Pakistan, said procedural delays and intimidation inside courtrooms remained among the biggest obstacles to defending Christians accused of blasphemy.“These cases are often not listed in the regular cause list, forcing us to file separate applications just to obtain a hearing,” Anjum told EWTN News.“Muslim lawyers sometimes openly threaten us in front of judges and mobilize madrassa students outside courtrooms. The risk of external pressure and mob intimidation influencing judicial proceedings remains very high.”Pakistan ranked 123rd out of 143 countries in the World Justice Projectʼs 2025 Rule of Law Index for absence of corruption, placing it second from the bottom in its regional rankings.")
![Canonization cause for Mother Angelica’s spiritual mentor, Rhoda Wise, reaches next step #Catholic The canonization cause for Servant of God Rhoda Wise crossed another hurdle after formal documents that outline her life, heroic virtues, and holiness were submitted to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.Wise — who was born in 1888 in Cadiz, Ohio, and died in 1948 in Canton, Ohio — was a laywoman and a mystic who received visions of Jesus Christ and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1939, she reported a miraculous healing of her stomach cancer and a wound that doctors told her was incurable.She was raised Protestant but was introduced to Catholicism by religious sisters during her hospital stay, where she developed a strong devotion to the rosary and St. Thérèse.After news of the miracle spread, hundreds of people visited her home weekly, with whom she would pray. Hundreds of those who visited her home both during and after her lifetime reported miraculous, unexplained healings, including EWTN Founder Mother Angelica, who developed a close friendship with Wise after being healed of a stomach ailment.Wise also had a visible stigmata — which resembles the wounds Christ had at the Crucifixion — that appeared on her body from noon until 3 p.m. for two and a half years, from 1942 to 1945.On July 7, Father John Sheridan — liaison between the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Rhoda Wise House in Canton, Ohio — announced that the Vatican had received the formal “positio,” which is a collection of documents that details the holiness of her life and makes the case for why Pope Leo XIV should consider her beatification.Valentina Culurgioni, the postulator tasked with preparing the document, gave the paperwork to the dicastery several months ago, but it was first announced by Sheridan during the Diocese of Youngstown’s annual Mass for the cause of beatification of Wise.Following the Mass, Sheridan delivered the news to the faithful gathered by reading a letter he received from Culurgioni.“Testimonies of healings and graces received through the intercession of Rhoda Wise continue to arrive at the shrine, which testify [to] her growing reputation of holiness and signs, and I would like to entrust to all of you two prayer intentions for this year, related to the progress of the cause in the Vatican,” Culurgioni wrote in the letter.“First, that all the experts — historians and theologians — who will be called upon to study and evaluate the ‘positio’ may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit in their valuable and delicate work,” she added. “Second, that among all the reports of graces and healings we receive, suitable cases may be identified for investigation as alleged miracles.”“Do not stop praying to God, asking for the spiritual or material graces you need through the intercession of Rhoda, and continue to share and bear witness to the wonders of his powerful love in your lives,” Culurgioni wrote.Next stepsRyan Schweitzer, assistant director of the Rhoda Wise House and Grotto, told EWTN News that the next step is the dicastery’s review of the “positio,” which includes evaluations by theologians, historians, and Catholic hierarchy. The dicastery will provide its conclusions to the Holy Father, who will determine whether to beatify her and grant her the title “venerable.”He said there’s no real estimate for the timeline of this process but asked Catholics to “continue to pray for Rhoda’s intercession and continue to pray for her beatification.”Schweitzer called the news of this development “exciting.” He said if Leo elevates her status to “venerable,” “that’s a very small group of individuals on their pathway to canonization.” He said that would increase her visibility and “Our Lord can utilize that visibility and knowledge of Rhoda to pray for her intercession.”Rhoda Wise’s legacyThe Rhoda Wise House and Grotto continues to host visitors and frequently receives reports of miraculous healings on a regular basis, now nearly 80 years after her death.According to Schweitzer, hundreds of people still visit Wise’s home weekly, many of whom come “because they’re seeking healing,” whether that be physical, mental, or spiritual. He said many of the visitors come because “they heard that something happened to a friend, some healing” and some visitors return to share stories of their healing.Wise had a strong friendship with Mother Angelica — then Rita Rizzo — when she was just 19 years old, before entering religious life. Schweitzer noted that Rizzo “suffered from a really debilitating stomach ailment,” and her mother took her to see Wise.Rizzo began praying a nine-day novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux with Wise and continued to pray it each day until its conclusion, at which point she was healed of her ailment. Schweitzer said this experience served as “a catalyst to become serious about her spiritual life” and Rizzo became close friends with Wise, who served as a mentor to her.Schweitzer said one of the most important things to know about Wise is that she was “a very humble housewife,” a person who is “not someone who is unreachable” for the average person.“She really reflects troubles that many people today are associated with,” Schweitzer said.](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/canonization-cause-for-mother-angelicas-spiritual-mentor-rhoda-wise-reaches-next-step-catholic-the-canonization-cause-for-servant-of-god-rhoda-wise-crossed-another-hurdle-after-formal-docu.jpg "Canonization cause for Mother Angelica’s spiritual mentor, Rhoda Wise, reaches next step #Catholic The canonization cause for Servant of God Rhoda Wise crossed another hurdle after formal documents that outline her life, heroic virtues, and holiness were submitted to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.Wise — who was born in 1888 in Cadiz, Ohio, and died in 1948 in Canton, Ohio — was a laywoman and a mystic who received visions of Jesus Christ and St. Thérèse of Lisieux. In 1939, she reported a miraculous healing of her stomach cancer and a wound that doctors told her was incurable.She was raised Protestant but was introduced to Catholicism by religious sisters during her hospital stay, where she developed a strong devotion to the rosary and St. Thérèse.After news of the miracle spread, hundreds of people visited her home weekly, with whom she would pray. Hundreds of those who visited her home both during and after her lifetime reported miraculous, unexplained healings, including EWTN Founder Mother Angelica, who developed a close friendship with Wise after being healed of a stomach ailment.Wise also had a visible stigmata — which resembles the wounds Christ had at the Crucifixion — that appeared on her body from noon until 3 p.m. for two and a half years, from 1942 to 1945.On July 7, Father John Sheridan — liaison between the Diocese of Youngstown, Ohio, and the Rhoda Wise House in Canton, Ohio — announced that the Vatican had received the formal “positio,” which is a collection of documents that details the holiness of her life and makes the case for why Pope Leo XIV should consider her beatification.Valentina Culurgioni, the postulator tasked with preparing the document, gave the paperwork to the dicastery several months ago, but it was first announced by Sheridan during the Diocese of Youngstown’s annual Mass for the cause of beatification of Wise.Following the Mass, Sheridan delivered the news to the faithful gathered by reading a letter he received from Culurgioni.“Testimonies of healings and graces received through the intercession of Rhoda Wise continue to arrive at the shrine, which testify [to] her growing reputation of holiness and signs, and I would like to entrust to all of you two prayer intentions for this year, related to the progress of the cause in the Vatican,” Culurgioni wrote in the letter.“First, that all the experts — historians and theologians — who will be called upon to study and evaluate the ‘positio’ may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit in their valuable and delicate work,” she added. “Second, that among all the reports of graces and healings we receive, suitable cases may be identified for investigation as alleged miracles.”“Do not stop praying to God, asking for the spiritual or material graces you need through the intercession of Rhoda, and continue to share and bear witness to the wonders of his powerful love in your lives,” Culurgioni wrote.Next stepsRyan Schweitzer, assistant director of the Rhoda Wise House and Grotto, told EWTN News that the next step is the dicastery’s review of the “positio,” which includes evaluations by theologians, historians, and Catholic hierarchy. The dicastery will provide its conclusions to the Holy Father, who will determine whether to beatify her and grant her the title “venerable.”He said there’s no real estimate for the timeline of this process but asked Catholics to “continue to pray for Rhoda’s intercession and continue to pray for her beatification.”Schweitzer called the news of this development “exciting.” He said if Leo elevates her status to “venerable,” “that’s a very small group of individuals on their pathway to canonization.” He said that would increase her visibility and “Our Lord can utilize that visibility and knowledge of Rhoda to pray for her intercession.”Rhoda Wise’s legacyThe Rhoda Wise House and Grotto continues to host visitors and frequently receives reports of miraculous healings on a regular basis, now nearly 80 years after her death.According to Schweitzer, hundreds of people still visit Wise’s home weekly, many of whom come “because they’re seeking healing,” whether that be physical, mental, or spiritual. He said many of the visitors come because “they heard that something happened to a friend, some healing” and some visitors return to share stories of their healing.Wise had a strong friendship with Mother Angelica — then Rita Rizzo — when she was just 19 years old, before entering religious life. Schweitzer noted that Rizzo “suffered from a really debilitating stomach ailment,” and her mother took her to see Wise.Rizzo began praying a nine-day novena to St. Thérèse of Lisieux with Wise and continued to pray it each day until its conclusion, at which point she was healed of her ailment. Schweitzer said this experience served as “a catalyst to become serious about her spiritual life” and Rizzo became close friends with Wise, who served as a mentor to her.Schweitzer said one of the most important things to know about Wise is that she was “a very humble housewife,” a person who is “not someone who is unreachable” for the average person.“She really reflects troubles that many people today are associated with,” Schweitzer said.")
![Earthquake survivor in Venezuela: ‘The Miraculous Medal saved me’ #Catholic In Playa Grande, a neighborhood in the city of La Guaira, Venezuela, Kamar Galíndez was on the top floor of Chipi’s Beach Hotel, preparing to start his daily workout in the gym, unaware that his life was about to change forever.It was Wednesday, June 24, the feast day of St. John the Baptist and a national holiday commemorating the anniversary of the decisive Battle of Carabobo. At 6:05 p.m., the peaceful atmosphere created by the stunning ocean view from the top of the hotel was shattered by the thunderous violence of two consecutive earthquakes that took everyone by surprise, sowing anguish and confusion.Speaking with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, Galíndez, a 53-year-old lawyer, recalled how the heavy gym machines began moving from one side to the other, much like an air hockey puck. Disaster struck within seconds.“The floor split, and immediately I saw half the building tilting forward while the section I was in collapsed straight down; I felt my feet were no longer standing on anything, and the next thing [I knew], I was trapped in the rubble,” he recounted.
Remains of Chipi’s Beach Hotel in Playa Grande, from which Kamar Galíndez managed to come out alive. | Credit: Andrés Henríquez/EWTN News
Faced with imminent death: ‘Lord, have mercy!’Galíndez recounted that the only thing he managed to do was to seek protection beside a nearby wall. As he felt the building collapsing, what came to his mind was the image of the Lord Jesus as he first appeared to St. Faustina Kowalska on Feb. 22, 1931.“I remember thinking of the merciful Christ and praying, ‘Lord, have mercy,’” he said, on the verge of tears. “The next thing was feeling the building collapse because with that violent shaking, I kept saying, ‘It’s going to fall,’ and of course, it did.”Galíndez never lost consciousness. He said he felt every blow but that “amid the shock and fear, physical sensations become secondary.” Once the confusion of the collapse subsided, he realized he was alive, though his body was completely buried in the rubble and pinned by a massive beam crushing his chest.He couldn’t breathe properly. His head had not been buried, and through that immense mountain of twisted metal, bricks, and earth, he could see the sky, still lit by the last rays of the evening sun. All around, the desperate screams of other people trapped in the rubble could be heard.Galíndez wiped his face and tried to move to free himself. Then he realized his left arm was broken: “A lot of desperation, a lot of fear” is what he recalled feeling, yet amid the suffering, he didn’t hesitate to entrust himself to God’s protection.“Then I prayed to stay calm. What I did was to pray a lot: ‘OK, Father God, help me get out of here. Keep me calm’ was the first thing I prayed. ‘Keep me calm and tell me what I need to do,’” he recounted.He signaled for help as best he could. He said he has no idea how long he was underneath the rubble, but he knows it “felt like an eternity.” Finally, a man who had climbed the mountain of debris helped him break free.‘The Miraculous Medal saved me’Galíndez made his way down the remains of the collapsed building on his own. Upon realizing the magnitude of the tragedy, which claimed thousands of lives in a split second, he is positive that emerging virtually unharmed was a miracle, one he attributes to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, to whom he has always been devoted.“I was wearing a small chain with a crucifix and a tiny medal of the Miraculous Virgin. Among the things I lost track of, the chain broke, though, of course, I hadnʼt noticed it at the time,” he recalled.On his way to his home, which was also completely destroyed, a couple of young people helped Galíndez with first aid. While they were tending to him, he became aware of one of those small miracles that holds profound meaning for someone with sincere faith.He asked the young people to help him put his watch into one of the pockets of his shorts, as he needed to remove it to hold his fractured arm still. And then, the inexplicable happened.“I was wearing shorts with a small zippered pocket, and when I looked — don’t ask me where from, don’t ask me how — a piece of the chain and the Miraculous Medal were caught inside.”"Of course, I told the boy: ‘Please, put that little medal away for me too, because that was what saved me,’” he said. “I havenʼt the slightest doubt.”“Absolutely, absolutely,” he replied when asked if he truly believes his life is a miracle obtained through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
The Miraculous Medal that Kamar Galíndez wore around his neck, which broke during the collapse and later appeared — inexplicably — in the pocket of his shorts. | Credit: Andrés Henríquez/EWTN News
Many people didn’t make it out of what was left of the hotel. For Galíndez, having survived is the work of the mercy of God, who listened to his pleas in every instant and granted him his request for a reason he still does not know.“In the greatest adversity, you begin to see it in terms of what is most basic, because the most basic thing becomes impossible. When the most basic thing is impossible and you manage to do it anyway, you say: ‘Only God can do that,’” he reflected.“There is a God who looks after you in that moment, attending to what you are asking of him and what you need. From freeing up an arm or reminding you of his presence by leaving a small medal hanging from your [shorts],” he said. He then emphasized what he considers most important following his harrowing experience: "I have the greatest gift God [my dear] Father gave me, which is life.”Galíndez said he feels deeply grateful to be alive. For him, what happened serves as a humbling reminder that what we have comes from the will and mercy of God, who does not abandon his people; who does not abandon Venezuelans, especially during times of greatest suffering.At the time of publication, the official death toll in Venezuela from the double earthquake has risen to 3,535, while the number of injured has reached 16,740. Estimates by independent organizations indicate that tens of thousands of people are still missing.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/2026/07/earthquake-survivor-in-venezuela-the-miraculous-medal-saved-me-catholic-in-playa-grande-a-neighborhood-in-the-city-of-la-guaira-venezuela-kamar-galindez-was-on-the-top-floor-of.jpg)
![Faithful proclaim right to life in Morristown July Fourth #Catholic - Catholics from the Paterson Diocese and beyond gathered with Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney on the morning of July 4, Independence Day, to promote an unborn child’s inalienable right to life for his Monthly Mass and Procession for Life at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J.
Participants joined their fellow U.S. citizens in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, which establishes everyone’s unalienable rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Small American flags lined the sides of the main aisle in St. Margaret Church during the 8 p.m. Mass with Bishop Sweeney, which marked the start of the monthly event.
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Before the procession, Bishop Sweeney celebrated Mass at St. Margaret’s. Father Duberney Villamizar, pastor of St. Margaret’s, concelebrated, and Deacon Tim Holden assisted.
Afterward, the faithful walked in a rosary procession down Speedwell Avenue to Planned Parenthood, where they prayed for an end to abortion. Many carried pro-life signs. They then returned to St. Margaret’s and prayed before the Blessed Sacrament.
Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney holds the event on the first Saturday of each month starting at 8 a.m. at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Morristown, N.J. All are welcome.
BEACON PHOTOS | JESSICA MARTINEZ
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/faithful-proclaim-right-to-life-in-morristown-july-fourth-catholic-catholics-from-the-paterson-diocese-and-beyond-gathered-with-bishop-kevin-j-sweeney-on-the-morning-of-july-4-independence-day-t.jpg)
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![Mendham teens return from life-changing mission trip to Appalachia #Catholic - Forty-six teenagers and 22 adult chaperones from St. Joseph Catholic Parish in Mendham, N.J., recently returned from a weeklong mission trip to Paintsville, Ky., where they participated in St. Joseph’s 18th annual Teen Appalachia Mission Trip from June 21 to 27.
Partnering with Good Neighbors, Inc., a Paintsville-based nonprofit, the group completed critical home repair projects for families in need. The organization serves working families who do not qualify for government assistance, connecting them with volunteer groups, such as the St. Joseph mission team. In exchange for home repairs, participating families commit to financial literacy training and are encouraged to “pay it forward” by helping others in their community.
This year’s projects included repairing roofs, constructing home additions, installing drywall, replacing flooring, and completing other essential improvements that enhanced the safety, comfort, and stability of local homes.
While the physical work made an immediate impact, the mission also focused on building meaningful relationships. Volunteers shared meals, conversations, and time with the families they served, creating connections that extended beyond the construction projects.
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“This trip gives our teens the opportunity to build meaningful relationships while living out our God-given call to serve our sisters and brothers in need,” Mark Tosso, youth director at St. Joseph’s said. “It strengthens the sense of community within our parish and creates lasting connections with the wonderful families we meet in Kentucky.”
Avery Draeger, a junior at Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, N.J., said, “Throughout this experience, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude and purpose.”
“In Paintsville, I felt that I strengthened my relationship with God, my peers, and the family and community in which we were helping. Giving these families back a sense of security to return to a safer home was an opportunity of a lifetime,” Draeger said.
Max Cirillo, a junior at Delbarton School, also in Morristown, agrees.
‘My experience on the mission gave me the opportunity to reflect internally and externally, form new relationships with peers and the families we were helping, and to grow in my faith with God, all while gaining an appreciation for the little things that are taken for granted every day. It was incredible!” Cirillo said.
“The Appalachia mission is truly one of a kind,” adds Mendham senior Max Krolikiewicz. “The lessons that we learn on the trip are truly something that I will remember forever. I feel that I build so many bonds with new people while strengthening my bonds with those I have already built. The strongest bond that I have built is my relationship with the Lord. There are so many ways that he is felt and seen in the work that we do, and it really has helped me to go beyond my faith and continue to want to pursue it.”
And it was not just the teens on the trip that benefitted, said parent chaperone and trip director Scott Cirillo of Mendham.
“The opportunity to be part of this mission on behalf of St Joseph’s is a privilege. It fills my bucket every year. Our time together and the work we do for deserving families in Paintsville, Ky., is grounded in our faith and knowledge that the Holy Spirit has brought us there to share the gifts God has given us. The overwhelming gratitude and response from the families we serve that we were an answer to their prayers says it all,” Cirillo said.
[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]](https://unitedyam.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mendham-teens-return-from-life-changing-mission-trip-to-appalachia-catholic-forty-six-teenagers-and-22-adult-chaperones-from-st-joseph-catholic-parish-in-mendham-n-j-recently-returned-from-a-we.jpg)
