United Yam – You Never Know

Top Advisor Ted Goodman Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle –
Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani.
The post Top Advisor Ted Goodman Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani.

The post Top Advisor Ted Goodman Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Barack Obama Complains About ‘Politicization’ of DOJ — Then Encourages Stephen Colbert to Run For President! (VIDEO) –
Former President Barack Obama is complaining about the “politicization” of the Department of Justice, a topic about which he himself is very well versed.
The post Barack Obama Complains About ‘Politicization’ of DOJ — Then Encourages Stephen Colbert to Run For President! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Former President Barack Obama speaking in an interview, dressed in a suit, with a thoughtful expression in a well-lit setting.

Former President Barack Obama is complaining about the “politicization” of the Department of Justice, a topic about which he himself is very well versed.

The post Barack Obama Complains About ‘Politicization’ of DOJ — Then Encourages Stephen Colbert to Run For President! (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Reporting from Nigeria: Nigerian Christian Funeral Attacked by Fulani Islamists –
On the night of April 5, a Christian village called Nding, located in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Nigeria, came under attack by Fulani extremists.
The post Reporting from Nigeria: Nigerian Christian Funeral Attacked by Fulani Islamists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

Crowd of people engaged in an outdoor event on a grassy field, with structures visible in the background under a cloudy sky.

On the night of April 5, a Christian village called Nding, located in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Nigeria, came under attack by Fulani extremists.

The post Reporting from Nigeria: Nigerian Christian Funeral Attacked by Fulani Islamists appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 6, 2026May 6, 2026

O heavenly Father, Almighty God, we humbly beseech Thee to bless and sanctify this house and all who dwell therein and everything else in it, and do Thou vouchsafe to fill it with all good things; grant to them, O Lord, the abundance of heavenly blessings and from the richness of the earth every substance necessary for life, and finally direct their desires to the fruits of Thy mercy. At our entrance, therefore, deign to bless and sanctify this house as Thou didst deign to bless the house of …

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A newly discovered object may be a key to unlocking the true nature of a mysterious class of sources that astronomers have found in the early universe in recent years.

$Researchers name moth species after Pope Leo XIV #Catholic Researchers have named a moth species “Pyralis papaleonei,” or “Pope Leo moth," in honor of the Holy Father.“The new species is dedicated to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV,” authors Peter Huemer, Lauri Kaila, and Andreas H. Segerer wrote in a research article on the species. “The pontiff is a strong advocate of climate and environmental protection, and we hope that his voice may serve as an example for humanity.”In the journal, Nota Lepidopterologica, the entomologists said the species was discovered on the Mediterranean island of Crete. It is a medium-sized species with a 2-centimeter wingspan, gold spots, and prominent white bands.“Furthermore, due to its distinctive coloration and overall appearance, the new species belongs to a group of Pyralidae whose species names refer to high secular or ecclesiastical offices including Pyralis regalis, Pyralis imperialis, Pyralis princeps, and Pyralis cardinalis,” they wrote.Butterflies are often named after external characteristics, geographical locations, or in honor of distinguished individuals, according to a press release from Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum, or the Tyrolean State Museum, located in Innsbruck, Austria. Pyralis papaleonei species. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Tyrolean State Museum Within the Pyralis genus, a different tradition has emerged. As early as 1775, Austrian naturalists and Jesuits Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller described the first species of the group as Pyralis regalis, or "royal,” due to its coloration.This prompted similar names including Pyralis princeps and Pyralis cardinalis, which belong to the superfamily Pyraloidea comprised of 16,000 described species worldwide.In the Old Testament (Genesis 2), Adam is instructed to name all animals. According to the museum, this led to the action of taxonomy — the science of classifying, naming, and categorizing organisms — to often be considered, “in the biblical sense, the oldest task of humankind.” According to Huemer, head of studies at the Tyrolean State Museum, the naming process is more than a scientific act but a symbolic gesture. For the Pope Leo moth, it is an appeal to the head of the Catholic Church and to draw attention to humanityʼs central responsibility for the preservation of creation.“We are facing a global biodiversity crisis, yet only a fraction of the world’s species has been scientifically documented,” Huemer said in a statement. “Effective conservation of biodiversity requires that species are first recognized, described, and named.”Huemer’s call echoes the pope’s "call for conversion” at a 2025 international conference on climate justice, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si’.“It is only by returning to the heart that a true ecological conversion can take place,” the Holy Father said. “We must shift from collecting data to caring, and from environmental discourse to an ecological conversion that transforms both personal and communal lifestyles."$

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“The pontiff is a strong advocate of climate and environmental protection, and we hope that his voice may serve as an example for humanity,” researchers wrote.

These Tiny Cabins Are Oregon’s First Dark Sky-approved Stay—Giving You Easy Access to 2.5 Million Acres of Night Skies #Travel Antelope Basecamp will act as a gateway to the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

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Antelope Basecamp will act as a gateway to the world’s largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary.

India’s state elections deliver split verdict for Christian community #Catholic The results of staggered elections in four key Indian states held in April have drawn diverse reactions from the Christian community following the May 4 counting of the votes.While the poll outcomes from the two southern states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have been soothing for Christians, the results from West Bengal and Assam in eastern and northeastern India have come as frustrating for Christian communities.Kerala: A ‘clear verdict’ against propagandaIn the southern Christian heartland of Kerala, the ruling communist alliance was decimated to 35 seats while the opposition Congress-led alliance won 102 seats in the 140-member assembly of Kerala, a state of 35 million people, 18% of whom are Christian.“The result has shown that the people cannot be misled by propaganda and they have given a clear verdict against it,” Father Thomas Tharayil, deputy secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council, told EWTN News on May 6.The remark came against the backdrop of anti-Christian propaganda by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with prominent Christians in the BJP even attacking Church leaders for the Churchʼs protest against the draconian amendment to the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act.Christians in Kerala were relieved after four prominent Christians who had allied with the BJP lost the polls despite making much noise against church leadership: P.C. George, a seven-time Kerala legislator; his son Shone George; federal Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian; and Anoop Antony, son of veteran Congress party leader and former Kerala chief minister A.K. Antony.Half a dozen other Christian candidates the BJP fielded in Christian pockets under its lotus symbol also lost, while the party won just three seats with its Hindu candidates.Tamil Nadu: A ‘genuinely historic’ TVK upsetIn neighboring Tamil Nadu, with a population of 77 million, the new political party TVK (Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam — Victory Party of Tamil Nadu), founded by Catholic actor Joseph Vijay, stunned the Dravidian parties that had held power for nearly six decades between them.Under Vijayʼs leadership, the TVK he founded in 2024 won 108 of the 234 seats in the state legislature, with the ruling DMK reduced to 73 and the opposition AIADMK left with 53 seats.Describing the TVK victory that stunned even poll forecasts as “genuinely historic,” Father Charles Antony, editor of the Catholic fortnightly New Leader based in Chennai, told EWTN News: “Vijayʼs victory is real, consequential, and disruptive [of the] bipolar politics” in the state, which has more than 5 million Christians.“He visited churches, temples, and mosques alike during the campaign, successfully projecting himself as a leader for all communities. This secular messaging helped his party distance itself from identity-based polarization,” he added.While Vijay is “Catholic,” Antony emphasized that “his Christian identity is incidental to his politics. Attacks from the BJP [on his Christian identity] with ‘minority’ tag against him, paradoxically, may have helped consolidate minority votes.”West Bengal: ‘A terrible result many had feared’The likely outcome in West Bengal — the state bordering Bangladesh — had been the subject of much conjecture even before voting, due to the controversial, hurried action of the Election Commission of India that disenfranchised more than 9 million, or 12%, of its 76 million voters under a Special Intensive Revision of the voter list.The Trinamool Congress, which had ruled the state since 2011 across three consecutive terms, lost the election badly — as many had feared — winning a mere 80 seats while the BJP captured power in the state for the first time, with 205 seats in the 294-seat state assembly.“This is a terrible result many had feared,” Sunil Lucas, former president of Signis India, told EWTN News, while prominent Church leaders declined to comment on the results that bring the Hindu nationalist BJP to power in West Bengal — with Kolkata as its capital — for the first time.“Decoding BJPʼs Bengal sweep: 77 seats won in 2021 retained, 129 wrested from TMC,” Indian Express summed up the results, which were flayed by the ruling party and the opposition parties other than the BJP.On May 5, the national news channel NDTV carried a similar report with graphic details on how the ruling Trinamool Congress party “performed in seats with high voter deletions.” In constituencies where more than 25,000 voters had been disenfranchised, the BJP had won 95 of 147 seats, the report pointed out.Assam: ‘Democracy becomes a failure’In Assam state in the northeast, the BJP improved its tally with allies to 102 of the stateʼs 126 seats, securing a third consecutive term.“When the ruling party with over two-thirds majority has no member of the minorities in the legislature, democracy becomes a failure,” Allen Brooks, a Catholic and spokesperson for the ecumenical Assam Christian Forum, told EWTN News.While none of the 82 BJP winners are from the Muslim community, which accounts for 34% of Assamʼs population, Brooks also lamented that “there is not a single Christian in the Assam Assembly now, though Christians account for 3.7%” of the stateʼs 31 million people.Commenting on the election results, Cardinal Anthony Poola, president of the Catholic Bishops' conference of India, in a May 6 statement said: “The true measure of a vibrant democracy lies not just in the successful conduct of elections but in the steadfast commitment of elected leaders to serve the most vulnerable. We urge the new governments to work hand-in-hand with all institutions to build a more just, inclusive, and equitable India.”This story was updated at 12:29 p.m. ET on May 6, 2026, to include Cardinal Anthony Poolaʼs statement.

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Christian leaders welcomed the Kerala and Tamil Nadu outcomes but voiced alarm at the BJP’s historic sweep of West Bengal and a third-term win in Assam.

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Dutch astronomer Willem de Sitter, born May 6, 1872, studied mathematics and physics at the University of Groningen, developing an interest in astronomy there and furthering it with work at Cape Observatory in South Africa. In 1908, he was appointed professor of astronomy at Leiden University, becoming the director of the Leiden Observatory in 1919.Continue reading “May 6, 1872: The birth of Willem de Sitter”

The post May 6, 1872: The birth of Willem de Sitter appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

Pope Leo XIV appoints Jesuit priest as bishop of Honolulu – #Catholic – Pope Leo XIV appointed Father Michael T. Castori, SJ, as the new bishop of Honolulu on May 6. He is a member of the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits.The pontiff accepted the resignation of Bishop Clarence R. Silva, 76, who has led the diocese since 2005.According to a press release from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Castori was born on Oct. 21, 1960, in Sacramento, California. He was ordained to the priesthood on June 13, 1998.Castori has earned several academic degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in classics from Harvard University in 1982, a master of divinity degree from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in 1998, and a doctorate in Near Eastern religions from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2008. He also received a licentiate in sacred theology from Fordham University in 2009.He has held several teaching roles, including as an assistant professor at Santa Clara University and the Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines.His pastoral experience includes service as chaplain to the Tongan Catholic communities in northern California and to San Quentin State Prison.Before being appointed to Honolulu, he served as the rector of the Arrupe Jesuit Residence in Seattle.

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Father Michael T. Castori, SJ, was appointed the sixth bishop of the U.S. diocese.

Psychological distress in priests: Causes, warning signs, and how to address it – #Catholic – Psychological distress significantly affects priests, who may find themselves exposed to situations involving stress, anxiety, and emotional burnout due to the nature of their mission, said Father Wenceslao Vial, a priest and physician.His remarks in an interview with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, come against a backdrop of growing concerns about mental health issues within the clergy. In April, Filipino Cardinal José Advíncula warned that “almost 1 in 5 priests in the Philippines suffers from psychological distress” and urged that mental health be prioritized in order to sustain pastoral ministry.Vial, a professor of psychology and spiritual life in the theology department of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, emphasized that this problem should come as no surprise, as it is part of a broader reality.“In many countries and not just among priests, people suffer from psychological distress,” he said, noting that “nearly 30% of the adult population suffers from some form of psychological pathology” and that anxiety "affects roughly 25% of the general population.”Warning signs: When to be concernedVial stressed the importance of identifying warning signs. According to the specialist, the first sign of a mental health issue is often “a continuously and excessively negative emotional state: fear, sadness, distress, anger, and persistent negative thoughts.”He further warned that these signs must be taken seriously when they persist over time: “When you observe a person who is overly anxious, overly insecure, or overly sad for a period that has already lasted, for instance, a couple of weeks, that’s a warning sign that requires attention.”Otherwise, he cautioned, the situation may get worse: “If not addressed, the alarm itself turns into a fire. The person ends up getting burned."Regarding treatment, Vial emphasized the importance of a proper diagnosis: “The first step is to make a diagnosis … to give a name to the difficulties.” He explained that it is not enough to treat the symptoms; rather, it is necessary to get to the root causes.Likewise, he issued a clear call to seek out specialists: “You shouldn’t be afraid of health professionals — psychologists, psychiatrists, and doctors.”Burnout: A common risk among priestsAmong the most common problems he sees in priests is burnout, or what he calls the “disillusioned Good Samaritan syndrome,” which he described as “a state of exhaustion” linked to constantly serving others.“It occurs in people who work by serving others, by giving of themselves to others,” he explained, noting that it affects not only priests but also doctors, teachers, and mothers.A particularly relevant aspect is its root cause: “Often, it is not brought about by overwork but rather by service work that has lost its sense of purpose.”Shared responsibility in the ChurchVial emphasized that caring for mental health is not solely an individual responsibility. “When problems arise in a diocese, the bishop must take the time to see what is happening,” he said, noting that both personal and institutional factors are typically involved.Among these, he cited “excessive perfectionism,” “insecurity,” and “unhealed wounds” but also situations such as “leaving the priest excessively isolated” or “burdening him with too many responsibilities without providing support.”“That is why it is a collaborative effort,” he emphasized.Vial highlighted the importance of the support provided by the laity. “All of us in the Church must pray for our priests … and look out for our pastors,” he said. They are “the ones entrusted with leading us to heaven and bringing heaven down to earth.”This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.

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Father Wenceslao Vial, a physician and professor, explained that psychological distress is common in society and also affects priests, and warning signs should be heeded and professional help sought.

Notre Dame Cathedral’s stained-glass dispute enters new legal phase – #Catholic – The long-running controversy over the replacement of six 19th-century stained-glass windows at Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral appears to be entering a new — and potentially decisive — phase.On April 20, the permit to remove and replace the windows in one of the nave’s southern chapels, designed under Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the architect behind Notre Dame’s iconic spire, was publicly posted on the cathedral’s railings, triggering an almost immediate legal response. The heritage preservation group “Sites et Monuments,” which watched helplessly as scaffolding was erected on April 27, announced that it would file an urgent legal appeal before the Paris Administrative Court targeting the authorization itself.The plan to replace these windows with contemporary creations by French artist Claire Tabouret — unveiled to the public at the Grand Palais late last year — has drawn unusually broad opposition over the past two years, from heritage experts to Catholic figures.A battle over the cathedral’s identityIncluded among the main arguments against the project are that the Viollet-le-Duc windows belong to the cathedral’s 19th-century restoration and that introducing contemporary works in the nave would disrupt its balance. The proposed designs have themselves been criticized as overly figurative for the nave. For many, removing windows that survived the 2019 blaze — and have since been cleaned and restored — runs counter to the logic of the restoration itself. Critics also point to the estimated cost of the project, around 4 million euros (about .7 million), as disproportionate, given broader heritage needs. The project has also faced opposition from France’s National Commission for Heritage and Architecture, which issued a negative opinion in July 2024.For the president of Sites et Monuments, Julien Lacaze, the issue touches the core of heritage protection. “The question is whether the Viollet-le-Duc windows that are to be removed have artistic and historical value or not,” he said in an interview with Famille Chrétienne. “Viollet-le-Duc was not simply a restorer; he was a creator in the full sense. What matters is his vision of the Middle Ages and the freedom with which he approached it.”The association had already filed a previous legal challenge last year, contesting the authority of the public body overseeing Notre Dame’s restoration to remove the windows. That case is still under appeal, while the new action goes directly to the substance of the decision. To support its legal efforts, Sites et Monuments has also launched a crowdfunding campaign.Beyond the courtroom, the backlash continues to grow across France, with more than 340,000 people having signed a petition calling for the preservation of the Viollet-le-Duc windows.The scale of public opposition has done little to slow the project, which many see as a reflection of President Emmanuel Macron’s desire to leave a contemporary mark on the restored cathedral — a vision already tested after the 2019 fire, when his proposal to replace the spire with a modern design was ultimately set aside after intense controversy. Critics now see the stained-glass project as a renewed attempt to leave his mark on the monument.More broadly, the controversy points to a deeper divide over how the past should be treated — preserved as an inherited whole or reinterpreted through contemporary artistic choices. Supporters of the project argue that historic monuments must remain open to new forms of expression; Tabouret, who designed the controversial windows in question, has warned against “freezing” a monument in time.Priest’s call to protestWhile Paris Archbishop Laurent Ulrich has approved the current project, a position echoed by some within the Church who see contemporary art as a legitimate expression within historic monuments, the proposal is not enjoying unanimous support within Catholic ranks.One of the most outspoken voices in recent days has been Father Michel Viot, a Paris-based priest who has called for a peaceful public protest. In a message on social media, he said that Catholics in Paris, across France and abroad — particularly those who contributed to the cathedral’s restoration — should be “warned of the day hands are laid on the windows.” He urged them to gather on-site either with rosaries, or simply “to pray or protest,” all to “demand respect for the law.” He denounced what he described as an arbitrary decision and an attack on beauty that, in his words, serves a “culture of death.”The fact that the works were authorized despite repeated negative opinions from heritage authorities has reinforced the perception of a top-down initiative driven primarily by political considerations — a perception that has since ignited a broader wave of outrage across social media.For now, all eyes turn to the administrative court, where the fate of the project may soon be tested.This story was first published by the National Catholic Register, the sister partner of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

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Controversy surrounding the decision to replace some of Notre Dame’s historic windows with a contemporary design has escalated to legal action and calls for peaceful protests.

Democrats Clarify Everyone Is A Nazi Except The Guy With Nazi Tattoo #BabylonBee – U.S. — Members of the Democratic Party from across the nation issued a statement clarifying that everyone is an evil Nazi except that one guy running for Senate in Maine who has a Nazi tattoo.

unitedyam May 6, 2026

U.S. — Members of the Democratic Party from across the nation issued a statement clarifying that everyone is an evil Nazi except that one guy running for Senate in Maine who has a Nazi tattoo.

Compassionate Federal Judge Rules Assassin Should Get One More Shot To Kill Trump #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a landmark decision to compensate for what was described as "mistreatment" he suffered in jail, would-be assassin Cole Allen was granted one more chance to try to kill President Donald Trump.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a landmark decision to compensate for what was described as "mistreatment" he suffered in jail, would-be assassin Cole Allen was granted one more chance to try to kill President Donald Trump.

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Picture of the day

Blunt-headed burrowing frog (Glyphoglossus molossus). Hua Hin District, Thailand.

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Joy abounds in Harding as 16 youth are confirmed #Catholic –

On April 28, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited Christ the King Parish in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J. to celebrate a Mass. He also confirmed 16 parish youth. Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, concelebrated the liturgy with Bishop Sweeney.

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BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– On April 28, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney visited Christ the King Parish in the New Vernon neighborhood of Harding Township, N.J. to celebrate a Mass. He also confirmed 16 parish youth. Brian Sullivan, pastor of Christ the King, concelebrated the liturgy with Bishop Sweeney. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 6, 2026

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 15:1-6

Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers,
“Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice,
you cannot be saved.”
Because there arose no little dissension and debate
by Paul and Barnabas with them,
it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others
should go up to Jerusalem to the Apostles and presbyters
about this question.
They were sent on their journey by the Church,
and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria
telling of the conversion of the Gentiles,
and brought great joy to all the brethren.
When they arrived in Jerusalem,
they were welcomed by the Church,
as well as by the Apostles and the presbyters,
and they reported what God had done with them.
But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers
stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them
and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”

The Apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.

From the Gospel according to John
15:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.
You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.
Remain in me, as I remain in you.
Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own
unless it remains on the vine,
so neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me
will be thrown out like a branch and wither;
people will gather them and throw them into a fire
and they will be burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.
By this is my Father glorified,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”

Today the Gospel offers us the moment in which Jesus introduces himself as the true vine and invites us to abide in him so as to bear much fruit (cf. Jn 15:1-8). The vine is a plant whose branches form the whole; and the branches are only fruitful insofar as they are joined with the vine. This relationship is the secret of Christian life and John the Evangelist expresses this with the word ‘abide’, which is repeated seven times in today’s passage. “Abide in me”, says the Lord; abide in the Lord. It means abiding in the Lord in order to find the courage to step outside of ourselves, from our comfort zone, from our limited and protected spaces, in order to cast ourselves into the open sea of the needs of others and to give a wide range to our Christian witness in the world. This courage to step outside ourselves and to advance the needs of others is born from faith in the Risen Lord and from the certainty that his Spirit accompanies our history. One of the ripest fruits that springs from communion with Christ is, in fact, the commitment to charity for our neighbour, loving brothers and sisters with self-sacrifice, to the point of the final consequences, as Jesus loved us. (Pope Francis, Regina Caeli, 29 April 2018)

United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day –
UAE under fire, again.
The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Flames and smoke erupt from a burning structure, highlighting the intensity of the fire in a dark environment.

UAE under fire, again.

The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) –
Video surveillance has emerged showing footage of two worthless human beings assaulting an elderly man in far-left Seattle for no particular reason, as the mayor whines about such footage.
The post HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Three individuals on a city sidewalk at night, with one person appearing to hold an object, near a nail salon sign.

Video surveillance has emerged showing footage of two worthless human beings assaulting an elderly man in far-left Seattle for no particular reason, as the mayor whines about such footage.

The post HORROR: Two Thugs Brutally Assault Helpless 77-year-old Man on the Streets of Seattle – One Remains at Large While the Other is Released from Jail (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts –
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter and would-be Trump assassin on Tuesday was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, Fox News reported.
The post JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Police officers respond to a situation involving a man lying on the floor in a public space, highlighting a tense moment during an intervention.

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooter and would-be Trump assassin on Tuesday was indicted by a grand jury on four counts, Fox News reported.

The post JUST IN: WHCD Shooter and Would-Be Trump Assassin Cole Allen Indicted by Grand Jury on Four Counts appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Hezbollah supporters allegedly launch digital campaign targeting Maronite patriarch #Catholic Hezbollah supporters have reportedly used AI-generated manipulated images to target Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite patriarch of Antioch and All the East. The patriarch described the digital attack on him as “a war of words, not freedom of opinion, but a worrying decline in the standards of language and values, and a violation of human dignity that no one has the right to infringe upon, regardless of its source or form.”The digital attack involved the circulation of altered images portraying the patriarch in mocking and degrading ways.Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate, argued that the campaign is neither spontaneous nor ambiguous in its intent. “It is both intimidation and sectarian provocation, and it is deliberate,” she said.

Jowelle M. Howayeck, a Lebanese civic activist and 2022 parliamentary candidate. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Jowelle M. Howayeck

For Howayeck, the timing is not accidental. She links the campaign to a broader political context in which Hezbollah is “losing political ground,” prompting what she describes as a predictable shift in strategy: “Divert attention from the core issue and construct a new confrontation that can be framed as a symbolic victory.”In her view, “this is not political engagement. It is crisis management through fear, distraction, and division.”The campaign, she added, also reflects a deepening rupture between Hezbollah and the Christian community.Digital confrontations of this kind are not new in Lebanon’s political landscape, but they carry particular risks in a country built on a fragile and strained social contract. The patriarch himself has been targeted before "because the patriarch represents a form of authority that cannot be coerced or absorbed: moral legitimacy anchored in national identity," Howayeck said. "Whenever his positions align with state sovereignty, they expose a structural contradiction within the opposing project.”

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Hezbollah supporters have reportedly used AI-generated manipulated images to attack Cardinal Bechara Boutros al-Rai, the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.

I’ve Lived in Florida for 35 Years—These Are My Favorite Affordable Beach Vacation Destinations in the State #Travel A longtime local shares the best places to enjoy powdery white sands, water sports, and beach bars—without the high price tags.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

A longtime local shares the best places to enjoy powdery white sands, water sports, and beach bars—without the high price tags.

Outrage grows over alleged bulldozing of Catholic monastery and school in Lebanon #Catholic In southern Lebanon, the village of Yaroun has drawn widespread attention after images and video circulated showing the demolition, allegedly by Israeli forces, of a monastery and Catholic school belonging to the Salvatorian Sisters.Yarounʼs mayor, Adib Ajaka, rejected claims by the Israeli army that it did not know the buildings were religious places, and the Council of Melkite Greek Catholic Bishops in Lebanon urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations “to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions, citing in particular the village of Yaroun,” according to the Associated Press.Speaking to ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, Ajaka clarified that some media outlets have been recirculating images of a destroyed church as if they were from the latest incident, but the church itself had already been targeted multiple times since 2024. He stressed that the most recent incident concerns the demolition of the monastery and the school.Responding to the Israeli army’s claim that “there were no indications that it was a religious building,” Ajaqa rejected the statement as unconvincing, noting that the site was clearly identifiable, bearing a cross and a statue of the Virgin Mary. He also pointed out that the church had been targeted previously and that footage from 2024 showed the deliberate destruction of a statue of St. George.

Adib Ajaka, mayor of the village of Yaroun, is pictured with the apostolic nuncio to Lebanon, Archbishop Paolo Borgia. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Adib Ajaka

Ajaka said images published by Israel showing the diocese and a nearby clinic were used to suggest that the monastery had not been destroyed, but in reality they referred to a separate building housing a clinic run by the Order of Malta. He suggested that the presence of the organization’s flag may have contributed to it being spared so far. According to Ajaka, the bulldozing operations took place after the ceasefire came into effect. At first, residents did not grasp the scale of what was happening, as they remained in contact with nearby towns such as Rmeish and Ain Ebel, where no strikes or shelling had been reported from Yaroun. This created the impression that the village had not been directly targeted. It later became clear, however, that what had taken place was not bombardment but the widespread bulldozing of homes.Yaroun is home to about 60 Melkite Catholic families — all of whom fled at the outbreak of the war in 2024. Seventeen families returned during the initial ceasefire period, but many others were unable to do so due to the destruction of their homes. Today, residents remain unable to return, scattered between rented accommodations, monasteries, and relatives’ homes, while some have relocated to nearby Christian villages in the south.Ajaka noted that assistance to residents has so far been limited, emphasizing that the most urgent need is direct financial support to help cover rent. At the same time, he expressed gratitude for the support provided by the Vatican and for the continued efforts of the apostolic nuncio through regular visits and follow-up on the situation of displaced families.

The historic stone presented to Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Lebanon in December 2025. | Credit: Rumi Al-Haber/ACI MENA

He also recalled that during the pope’s visit to Lebanon in December 2025, a historic stone from the village church dating back to 1872, engraved with an image of St. George, was presented to him in the hope of drawing attention to Yaroun and its people.Today, the fate of this stone remains unknown, as the church has been destroyed and residents are unable to return to see what remains. Ajaka stressed that the destroyed homes of the Catholic families there are over a century old and are purely civilian properties.Church vandalism across LebanonThe alleged demolitions in Yaroun come amid recent and varied incidents of church vandalism in Lebanon, with multiple places of worship targeted and their contents deliberately damaged. Among them, the Church of Mar Shalita in Qobeiyat was stormed and vandalized. And in Ajaltoun, the Church of Our Lady was targeted, with intruders stealing items, destroying furniture, and leaving bullets scattered on the floor.Taken together, these incidents reflect a broader climate in which Lebanese Christians increasingly feel under pressure, facing different forms of intimidation and attack from multiple actors.This story was first published by ACI MENA, the Arabic-language sister service of EWTN News, and has been adapted by EWTN News English.

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The mayor of Yaroun, a village in southern Lebanon, and the Melkite Greek Catholic bishops have reacted to the alleged demolition of a monastery and school by Israeli forces.

Hubble Spots a Starry Spiral – This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the glittering spiral galaxy NGC 3137, located 53 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump).

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This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the glittering spiral galaxy NGC 3137, located 53 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump).

Legionaries leader rebuilds vocation after Maciel scandal: Pain ‘opened our eyes’ – #Catholic – Can a religious congregation survive after its founder turns out to have been a sexual abuser and a liar who lived a double life for years? The Legionaries of Christ have spent 20 years answering that question with actions.They were pioneers in publishing the cases of their abusive priests — an unprecedented step in consecrated life — and in submitting 80 years of a dark history to public scrutiny. Today, they are an ecclesial reference point for transparency. Now, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, 51, the new general director elected in February, speaks with ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, about the road that still lies ahead.It is a path of expiation that began in 2006 but reached a turning point in 2019 with the publication of the “1941–2019 Report,” the first of its kind to include all cases from the congregation’s founding to the present day and throughout the world. Since then, it has been updated each year through the “Truth, Justice, and Healing” reports.“Since we began facing this reality, although it was very painful, it also opened our eyes: There was a lot of work to do,” Gutiérrez López said. “In recent years we have been working hard to meet standards, following the documents issued by the Church, collaborating with canonical and civil authorities. We have been putting a certain order in place so we can attend to and respond to the needs of victims and provide comprehensive care in different areas.”

Father Carlos Gutiérrez López at the Legionaries of Christ headquarters in Rome. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

His priestly vocation, marked by the wound left by MacielHis own vocational story was marked by the scandal that shook the congregation because of its founder, Mexican priest Marcial Maciel, who was responsible for extremely serious sexual abuse. Gutiérrez López was ordained a priest in 2009, just as the magnitude of Maciel’s crimes was coming to light: Maciel had sexually abused dozens of minors over several decades and had lived, as the Vatican confirmed in 2010, “a life devoid of scruples and genuine religious sentiment.”“It was definitely something very strong, something that left all of us very perplexed, frightened, and also disillusioned,” he said in an interview with ACI Prensa. “And that meant for me a very deep process of reflection in which I had to ask why I was giving my life to God and also the question: Why remain here?”Maciel died in 2008 without acknowledging his crimes or asking for forgiveness, even though a Vatican investigative commission had already revealed his criminal activity beyond any doubt.After the scandal, Gutiérrez López explained, the figure of the founder ceased to be a reference point: “Definitely, the founder is no longer a spiritual reference point, a moral reference point for us. And for me, that reference point, I saw, had always been Our Lord Jesus Christ, whom we seek to imitate and with whom we also seek to have that personal relationship.”Benedict XVI saw the light that was in themDespite all the evil committed by the founder, Benedict XVI never failed to recognize in the Legionaries of Christ “a healthy community” made up of “young people who want to serve the faith with enthusiasm,” as the pontiff himself emphasized in the book-length interview with Peter Seewald “Light of the World.”From the beginning, the Vatican established that the congregation’s review should be built around three fundamental axes: the redefinition of its charism or spirituality; the review of the exercise of authority — whose abusive control of consciences allowed Maciel to live a double life for years — and the guarantee of adequate formation for seminarians and priests. In addition, to complete the long process of purification, a constant dialogue was opened with victims inside and outside the Legion.“The Church accompanied us throughout a whole process of renewal. We reviewed constitutions, we reviewed many of the norms we had been living in the congregation, the style of apostolate we carried out — in short, it was an entire review that lasted many years,” Gutiérrez López said.For many Legionary seminarians and priests, the support of the Church was decisive; like a “mother,” the Church “showed the way,” he emphasized.“Seeing how the Legion was responding, I said: Well, I also want to help the Church with my priesthood to move this congregation forward, because the congregation can also contribute and give much to the Church in evangelization. In the end, we are here to serve God Our Lord, in the Church, and in this call that he made to me. As I have gone step by step, I have felt very happy, and that has also been my experience,” he said.First meeting with Pope Leo XIVDuring the audience the Legionaries had with Pope Leo XIV in February, the pontiff returned to several key points of the deep renewal they have carried out in fidelity to the Church. For example, he emphasized to them that authority in the Church must be lived as fraternal and spiritual service, not as a form of domination.For the Mexican priest, this is a demanding but profoundly evangelical ideal.“Yes, I really liked that part of the audience,” Gutiérrez López said.

Pope Leo XIV with the former superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father John Connor. | Credit: Vatican Media

He especially highlighted the moment when the pope invited the Legionaries to approach people “with a respectful and compassionate gaze,” aware that every encounter means entering “a sacred space.”Drawing on his own experience as a superior and as territorial director in northern Mexico and Colombia, Gutiérrez López said he has always been clear that authority is above all a service: “For my brothers, I am offering them a service. … What they share with me is something sacred, and I have to respect that sacredness,” he said.Gutiérrez López is not naive. He knows well that many people may wonder how it is possible to separate the deplorable actions of the founder, who was responsible for so many crimes, from the charism that the Legionaries of Christ embody today.“It is a valid question,” he said.In this regard, he noted that it was the Church herself that “from the beginning,” when she asked the Legionaries to “review our constitutions,” placed the fundamental question before them: “What is your charism? What is the charism and the contribution that the Legion makes?”“The charism, I believe, is something we have been discovering, and it is nothing other than forming apostles to transmit the love of Christ, to form apostles and also send them to evangelize the world and help the Church in this evangelization,” he said.According to the congregation’s statistics, updated as of Dec. 31, 2025, the Legionaries of Christ have 1,327 members worldwide, including 52 religious with perpetual vows and 151 with temporary vows.Despite the wounds of the past, they continue to attract vocations: Currently, 250 minor seminarians are being formed in vocational centers, reflecting the continued weight of initial formation within the congregation.The Legionaries of Christ belong to Regnum Christi, which also includes the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi, with 479 consecrated women in 53 communities around the world; the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi, with 47 lay consecrated men in eight communities; and lay members: 21,712 lay young people and adults older than 16 and 14,353 lay members younger than 16.

The new superior general of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, speaks with ACI Prensa in an interview. | Credit: Daniel Ibañez/EWTN News

In Regnum Christi’s educational work — 139 schools and 14 universities — 153,219 students are being educated.The new general director explained that one of the keys to eradicating abuse from within the congregation has been swiftly applying standards for the protection of minors and vulnerable adults in the 23 countries where it is present.“In recent years we have been very strict in applying these standards and in perfecting them so they can be lived well. In each of the countries where we are working, we have sought to have the necessary teams that can respond, made up of professionals. These are things that we priests cannot do alone. We need specialists — psychologists, lawyers, and so on — to help us truly be very serious in complying with these standards,” he said.An engineer-priest with broad international experienceAffable and approachable, Gutiérrez López is used to moving in international settings. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum as well as industrial and systems engineering at the Monterrey Institute of Technology. He also holds a master’s degree in psychology from Divine Mercy University in the United States.He has carried out his ministry in Chile, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, and Mexico.“It has been a great richness to have that experience, to be in contact with different cultures, to know the needs of each country, to learn to listen, to adapt to what a society and a culture are like, to understand them in order to offer and bring them the message that leads to the Church, which is knowing Christ and living one’s faith,” he said.“I believe that has also been personally enriching, now that my Legionary brothers have elected me to this role, so that I can respond and accompany the different territories,” he added.Until his election as general director, he served as territorial director of northern Mexico, a region deeply wounded by violence, poverty, organized crime, and migration flows toward the United States. The Legionaries also try to be a balm for migrants — many of them deportees — amid their suffering.“The whole situation of migrants and organized crime truly causes suffering for many families affected by this reality. What we seek, above all, is to form young people and families, to instill values in them, precisely so they can begin to change their social environment,” he said.In this context, he explained that alongside the private schools the congregation operates in cities in northern Mexico, there are also the Mano Amiga schools, intended for families with limited resources and supported through subsidies and scholarships.The goal is to offer these children an education that will allow them to enter a profession and pursue university studies — “a way to change the destiny of their lives, open horizons for them, and, above all, form them in values so they can transform their environment.”With his election at the most recent general chapter, the Legionaries of Christ have entrusted Gutiérrez López with the task of continuing the congregation’s process of renewal and strengthening its evangelizing service, with special attention to the existential peripheries.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.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Father Carlos Gutiérrez López, the new general director of the Legionaries of Christ, speaks about transparency, renewal, and the long road of healing after the crimes of founder Marcial Maciel.

Families of Pakistan church bombing victims call delayed compensation ‘mockery of justice’ – #Catholic – LAHORE, Pakistan — Catholic groups have joined victims of one of Pakistanʼs deadliest church attacks in voicing concern over delayed compensation, even as authorities begin disbursing aid more than 12 years later in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.The reactions followed a May 2 ceremony by the provincial Department of Endowments, Hajj, Religious and Minority Affairs, which distributed checks to 37 victims from minority communities affected by terrorism in the province bordering Afghanistan.The beneficiaries included 11 widows, 24 orphaned children, and two persons with disabilities, who received payments ranging from 1 million to 2 million rupees (,588 to ,175).Some recipients were linked to All Saints Church, where at least 96 people were killed and more than 150 injured in twin suicide bombings on Sept. 22, 2013.Among them was Zubair Zafar, who lost his father in the attack claimed by a faction of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.Now working as an office assistant at the civil secretariat, Zafar said he plans to use the 2 million rupees to support his siblings' education and arrange his younger sisterʼs marriage.“I wanted to join the military, but I could not leave my family as the eldest of five children,” he said. “I started working after my grade 12 exams to support my mother, who works as a kitchen in-charge at an orphanage run by the Peshawar Diocese of the Church of Pakistan.”He said government officials, in their speeches, promised laptops, scholarships, and profit-sharing from minority funds for widows and orphans. “Given the pace, we have little hope,” he added.Delayed disbursementsWhile provincial governments in Sindh and Punjab provided compensation ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 rupees to victims soon after the attack, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government delayed disbursements despite court interventions and repeated appeals.Frustration deepened after the Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the Auqaf Department converted an earlier 200 million rupee compensation package earmarked for Christian victims into a broader endowment fund for minorities, a move families say diluted targeted relief.On April 1, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi approved increasing the fundʼs allocation from 200 million to 400 million rupees and directed authorities to expedite payments.But survivors say the process remains opaque and slow.Khuram Yaqoob Sahotra, who lost his right eye in the blast, returned from the distribution ceremony disheartened.“I was told the compensation would be given before July 1. I expected the checks the same day. Now we are told to wait again for approval,” he said.The 40-year-old father of three, a former school clerk who lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic, still carries ball bearings lodged in his spine.“Doctors have advised me against lifting heavy objects. I cannot sit or stand for long periods,” he said, adding that his extended family now supports him.He continues to undergo treatment for complications related to his artificial eye. “Initially, support came from across the country, but it later dried up. Now there is no clear plan. There is no transparency,” he said.Habib Khan, additional secretary of the Auqaf Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said at least 100 more minority victims would receive compensation this month.“The data is being verified. Those with incomplete documents are being contacted. No one will be left out,” he said, declining to comment on the prolonged delay.‘A mockery of justice’Rights advocates say the payments come too late for many families.The Cecil and Iris Chaudhry Foundation, a Catholic charity that provided vocational training to 80 orphaned girls and widowed mothers after the attack, said many victims died over the years due to inadequate medical care and financial hardship.“More than a decade has passed, during which many injured victims lost their lives and families lost their sole breadwinners,” said Michelle Chaudhry, president of the foundation. “Disbursing funds in installments now amounts to a mockery of justice.”She urged the government to release full compensation in a single payment “with dignity and respect.”All Saints ChurchBuilt in 1883 inside Peshawarʼs Kohati Gate, All Saints Church is widely regarded as Pakistanʼs only church designed in a mosque-inspired architectural style, with domes, minaret-like towers, and Persian and Pashto biblical inscriptions. The Christian community rebuilt it at a cost of 4 million rupees (,349) without government support.Peshawar remains on the front line of militancy in Pakistan.In 2022, Church of Pakistan lay pastor William Siraj, 70, was shot dead and another pastor injured after Sunday prayers at Shaheedan (Martyrs)-e-All Saints Church in Peshawar.In 2016, security forces foiled a suicide attack on a Christian neighborhood in the cityʼs Warsak area after four suicide bombers attempted to enter the colony.

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More than 12 years after twin suicide bombings at All Saints Church in Peshawar, survivors say government aid is too little and too late.

Catholics in Sweden receive rare electoral guidance on life issues – #Catholic – STOCKHOLM — The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm has published a document urging Catholics and “all people of goodwill” to engage actively in Swedenʼs general elections on Sept. 13 in what observers describe as a notable intervention in a largely secular Nordic political climate.The text presents political participation as a legitimate expression of Christian responsibility while encouraging the faithful to be informed, take part in public life, and vote in line with the principles of Catholic social teaching.Distinguishing between moral absolutes and matters of prudenceThe documentʼs approach rests on a crucial distinction between two categories of values. On matters of “practical wisdom,” including policy issues such as the economy, climate, crime, and migration, the document acknowledges legitimate disagreement among believers. Democracy, it explains, functions as “not a community of opinion but a system for the peaceful resolution of conflicts of values.” On these contested issues, Catholics are encouraged to apply principles such as solidarity, subsidiarity, and the common good while ultimately retaining freedom of judgment.However, the document takes a different stance on what it identifies as nonnegotiable moral issues. It asserts that “every human beingʼs right to life from conception to natural death” constitutes a foundational “absolute value,” describing abortion and euthanasia as “serious violations of human dignity.”The timing of this moral clarity is significant. In Sweden, several political parties have proposed a constitutional amendment to guarantee access to abortion. Because constitutional changes in Sweden require approval by two successive parliaments with a general election in between, the proposalʼs future depends on whether the next Riksdag maintains support. If adopted, the amendment could take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. Simultaneously, the government is modernizing the nationʼs abortion framework by updating its language, adding advances in abortion procedures, and expanding access to at-home chemical abortion.

Young people pose at a youth pro-life event organized by the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of the Diocese of Stockholm

While acknowledging that abortion enjoys broad political support across parties, the document frames euthanasia as a still contested issue, positioning it as part of a wider cultural struggle against what Church teaching describes as a “culture of death.”A careful balance between conviction and pluralismDespite these firm moral positions, the document concludes with a call for restraint and pluralism among believers. It cautions against equating any particular political stance with Catholicism itself, noting that “two equally good Catholics, who have allowed their practical wisdom to be guided equally by faith, may and can therefore arrive at entirely different party-political conclusions in all fields of practical wisdom.” This nuanced approach reflects an attempt to guide conscience without dictating votes.EWTN News spoke to Father Thomas Idergard, SJ, chairman of the commission. He framed the document as a response to a recurring pastoral need rather than a political intervention. “With elections approaching, the faithful request some guidance on how to apply faith in their choices as voters,” he explained. Beyond pastoral concern, he noted a broader social rationale: Christians must be equipped with the “necessary tools to participate in public life,” doing so in a way that employs “secular language and secular arguments for universality” while remaining transparent about faith as a “driving force.”Idergard said the documentʼs framework for discernment operates in two stages. “The first step considers the effect my vote will have on legislation in matters regarding absolute values,” particularly those concerning life and death, “where faith binds the conscience.” The second step, he added, “considers all issues for practical wisdom where faith informs,” while allowing room for personal and secular judgment.Within this framework, Idergard identified euthanasia as the primary pro-life issue where voters may have tangible impact in the next parliamentary term, noting that “there are different positions among the political parties” across the spectrum that could influence legislation. Regarding abortion, by contrast, “all are on the same line,” he observed, a reality that highlights the documentʼs significance in a political landscape where the issue has achieved unusual consensus.Idergard said the document does not signal a new direction for the Catholic Church in Sweden but rather reflects an ongoing commitment. “The Catholic Church in Sweden has always been visibly active on pro-life issues,” he noted, citing initiatives such as the annual “Respect for Life Sunday.”A bold voice in secular SwedenBenedicta Lindberg, secretary-general of Respekt, the pro-life organization of the Catholic Diocese of Stockholm, described her reaction to the document as reflecting “a significant and, in the Swedish context, a rather bold step.” She pointed to the countryʼs political and cultural landscape, where abortion is widely regarded as a settled matter beyond political contestation.

Attendees listen to a presentation at a Respekt event on the beginning of life in Sweden. | Credit: Photo courtesy of Respekt

Lindberg noted that Swedish Cardinal Anders Arborelius had observed in 2024 that no parliamentary parties currently seek to challenge what is commonly referred to as a “right” to abortion in any substantial way. This consensus, she suggested, has contributed to hesitation among Swedish Catholics to engage visibly in party politics.“Issuing such a document in an election year is meaningful because it makes a distinctly Catholic voice more visible in public debate,” Lindberg said. She added that the guidance “could help encourage a more visible pro-life presence, although probably not a mass political movement in the short term.”The documentʼs release arrives as Swedish society confronts fundamental questions about the scope of abortion access and the legal status of euthanasia. By grounding its argument in Catholic social teaching while respecting democratic pluralism, the Diocese of Stockholm has attempted to offer guidance that is both morally clear and pastorally sensitive, a balance that may prove instructive for Catholic communities navigating secular political contexts elsewhere in Europe and beyond.

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The Diocese of Stockholm’s justice and peace commission published a document urging Catholics to consider candidates’ positions on abortion and euthanasia.

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In 1961, amidst the tensions of the Space Race, NASA made an unpopular choice: Concerned with booster issues during a January test flight with a chimpanzee, the agency chose to run additional tests without human astronauts. Project Mercury, the American push for space success in the face of strong competition from the Soviets, had beenContinue reading “May 5, 1961: The first American in space”

The post May 5, 1961: The first American in space appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

The first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV #Catholic - ‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’
“In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.’”
Pope Leo XIV’s motto and coat of arms
Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on May 8, 2025? Do you remember when you heard that “there’s white smoke,” that a new Pope had been elected? Do you remember when they announced his name (in Latin), “Cardinal Robert Prevost”? An AMERICAN Pope!! Could it be? Do you remember hearing that he had chosen the name “Leo XIV”?

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

Do you remember his first words (to the Church and to the World): “Peace be with all of you!
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock.
I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you! Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s first speech as Pope Leo XIV
I was in my office at the Diocesan Center. Someone had the coverage on a screen in the Conference Room, and employees were going in and out, waiting for the announcement. “An American Pope (from Chicago)!!” There was great joy as we heard the news and when he (finally) came out on the balcony.
I felt blessed and grateful that I would be able to share the joy and excitement at two Masses that afternoon and evening. I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Elias Lorenzo, of the Archdiocese of Newark, at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, “… to mark the start of renovations to Several Sources Shelters’ original home for pregnant women in Ramsey. The facility has been renamed Kathy’s House, after Kathy DiFiore, Several Sources’ founder.”
Providentially, on the evening of May 8, 2025, I was scheduled to celebrate Confirmation at the Parish of St. Peter, the Apostle in Parsippany – what a joy to be able to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Confirmation at a parish dedicated to the “first Pope” just a few hours after the Church and the world received the 267th Pope, in the line of St. Peter.
As we look forward to the first Anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election and we look back at the first year of his Pontificate, there is so much that we can discuss, reflect upon, and for which we can be grateful.
In my own prayer and reflection, I wonder if we have given sufficient thought and consideration to his motto and his choice of name? As I wrote this column, I was happy to find the article and quote (cited above), which recounts Cardinal Prevost commenting on his “episcopal motto” – the motto he chose when he was named as a bishop (and which he kept when elected as Pope). We have seen and heard Pope Leo XIV striving to promote unity, peace, and communion.
In a world which seems to be more and more divided and in our Church that struggles to find and live the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Jn. 17:20-21, I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us a Holy Father who will do all that he can to bring unity to the Church and to the human family. I believe that we have been blessed by his efforts, words, and ministry during this past year, especially as he calls us to pray and work for peace and unity. He continually invites us to reflect on the words and message of his motto, “In the one Christ, we are one.”
I would like to take a slightly different approach in offering my thoughts on the Holy Father’s choice of a name, Leo XIV. When I searched online to find Pope Leo’s comments on why he chose the name, I found it interesting that the first entry I found was a Vatican post on “X” (formerly known as Twitter):
Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name: “… I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” https://x.com/VaticanNews/status/1921186921838997935
Since the Holy Father mentions “the field of artificial intelligence…”, I thought I would go to that “field” and see how Google’s AI would “respond” to the request for: “A 2-page summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.”
Here’s the response I received:
• • •
The first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV (elected Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, 2025) has been defined by his status as the first American-born pope and a pastoral style rooted in his decades of missionary work in Peru. His initial year focused on unity, Marian devotion, and addressing modern social challenges like artificial intelligence and migration. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Election and Immediate Impact

A Historic “First”: Elected on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first North American pontiff.
The Choice of Name: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, specifically referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. This choice signaled a focus on Catholic social teaching in the face of a “new industrial revolution” driven by AI.
Inaugural Message: From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first public words were “Peace be with all of you!” He emphasized a “Jesus-centric” approach, focusing on Christ’s identity rather than papal authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Key Pastoral and Diplomatic Moments

International Travels:

Turkey (November 2025): His first international trip included a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, marking a significant moment for interreligious dialogue.
Lebanon: He visited Beirut to console families affected by the 2020 explosion and celebrated Mass for roughly 150,000 people, urging the nation to be a “prophetic sign of peace”.

Advocacy for Peace and Dignity:

Ukraine and Gaza: Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine—meeting with President Zelenskyy three times—and offered public prayers for those suffering in Gaza.
Migration: Drawing on his missionary background, he has advocated for the humane treatment of immigrants and criticized economic systems that marginalize the poor.

First Priestly Ordination: On May 11, 2025, he performed his first ordinations, emphasizing that priests must be “credible” witnesses to rebuild a “wounded Church”. [1, 2, 3]

Vision for the Church

Synodality and Reform: Observers noted continuity with Pope Francis’s emphasis on synodality (walking together) while detecting a more centrist doctrinal tone.
Engagement with Modernity: In his Wednesday General Audiences, he began a new series of catechises dedicated to rereading the documents of the Second Vatican Council to ensure their content is understood directly rather than through interpretations.
Social Justice: He has maintained a strong pro-life stance while backing death penalty abolitionists and condemning war and aggressive nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Would you like to explore specific encyclicals he has released or more details on his appointments to the Vatican’s central administration?
• • •
Not bad!! In some sense, this is a good summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. One danger of AI may be the temptation to think that this summary even begins to truly describe the meaning, significance, and impact of who Pope Leo XIV is as the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Let us again consider his words describing why he chose “Leo XIV”: In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”
Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church in “offering everyone the treasury of her social teaching… (and in) the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

The first anniversary of the election of Pope Leo XIV #Catholic –

‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’

“In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for me, promoting unity and communion is fundamental.’”

Pope Leo XIV’s motto and coat of arms

Do you remember where you were and what you were doing on May 8, 2025? Do you remember when you heard that “there’s white smoke,” that a new Pope had been elected? Do you remember when they announced his name (in Latin), “Cardinal Robert Prevost”? An AMERICAN Pope!! Could it be? Do you remember hearing that he had chosen the name “Leo XIV”?

BISHOP KEVIN J. SWEENEY

Do you remember his first words (to the Church and to the World): “Peace be with all of you!
Dearest brothers and sisters, this is the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for God’s flock.

I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families, and all people, wherever they are, all of the people, all over the earth. Peace be with you! Transcript of Cardinal Robert Prevost’s first speech as Pope Leo XIV

I was in my office at the Diocesan Center. Someone had the coverage on a screen in the Conference Room, and employees were going in and out, waiting for the announcement. “An American Pope (from Chicago)!!” There was great joy as we heard the news and when he (finally) came out on the balcony.

I felt blessed and grateful that I would be able to share the joy and excitement at two Masses that afternoon and evening. I concelebrated Mass with Bishop Elias Lorenzo, of the Archdiocese of Newark, at St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, “… to mark the start of renovations to Several Sources Shelters’ original home for pregnant women in Ramsey. The facility has been renamed Kathy’s House, after Kathy DiFiore, Several Sources’ founder.”

Providentially, on the evening of May 8, 2025, I was scheduled to celebrate Confirmation at the Parish of St. Peter, the Apostle in Parsippany – what a joy to be able to celebrate Mass and the Sacrament of Confirmation at a parish dedicated to the “first Pope” just a few hours after the Church and the world received the 267th Pope, in the line of St. Peter.

As we look forward to the first Anniversary of Pope Leo XIV’s election and we look back at the first year of his Pontificate, there is so much that we can discuss, reflect upon, and for which we can be grateful.

In my own prayer and reflection, I wonder if we have given sufficient thought and consideration to his motto and his choice of name? As I wrote this column, I was happy to find the article and quote (cited above), which recounts Cardinal Prevost commenting on his “episcopal motto” – the motto he chose when he was named as a bishop (and which he kept when elected as Pope). We have seen and heard Pope Leo XIV striving to promote unity, peace, and communion.

In a world which seems to be more and more divided and in our Church that struggles to find and live the unity that Jesus prayed for at the Last Supper: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.” Jn. 17:20-21, I believe that the Holy Spirit has given us a Holy Father who will do all that he can to bring unity to the Church and to the human family. I believe that we have been blessed by his efforts, words, and ministry during this past year, especially as he calls us to pray and work for peace and unity. He continually invites us to reflect on the words and message of his motto, “In the one Christ, we are one.”

I would like to take a slightly different approach in offering my thoughts on the Holy Father’s choice of a name, Leo XIV. When I searched online to find Pope Leo’s comments on why he chose the name, I found it interesting that the first entry I found was a Vatican post on “X” (formerly known as Twitter):

Pope Leo XIV explains his choice of name: “… I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.” https://x.com/VaticanNews/status/1921186921838997935

Since the Holy Father mentions “the field of artificial intelligence…”, I thought I would go to that “field” and see how Google’s AI would “respond” to the request for: “A 2-page summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV.”

Here’s the response I received:

• • •

The first year of the pontificate of Pope Leo XIV (elected Robert Francis Prevost on May 8, 2025) has been defined by his status as the first American-born pope and a pastoral style rooted in his decades of missionary work in Peru. His initial year focused on unity, Marian devotion, and addressing modern social challenges like artificial intelligence and migration. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Election and Immediate Impact

A Historic “First”: Elected on May 8, 2025, after four rounds of voting, Chicago-born Robert Francis Prevost became the 267th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its first North American pontiff.
The Choice of Name: He chose the name Leo XIV to honor Pope Leo XIII, specifically referencing the 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. This choice signaled a focus on Catholic social teaching in the face of a “new industrial revolution” driven by AI.
Inaugural Message: From the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, his first public words were “Peace be with all of you!” He emphasized a “Jesus-centric” approach, focusing on Christ’s identity rather than papal authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Key Pastoral and Diplomatic Moments

International Travels:
- Turkey (November 2025): His first international trip included a visit to the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, marking a significant moment for interreligious dialogue.
- Lebanon: He visited Beirut to console families affected by the 2020 explosion and celebrated Mass for roughly 150,000 people, urging the nation to be a “prophetic sign of peace”.
Advocacy for Peace and Dignity:
- Ukraine and Gaza: Leo XIV has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Ukraine—meeting with President Zelenskyy three times—and offered public prayers for those suffering in Gaza.
- Migration: Drawing on his missionary background, he has advocated for the humane treatment of immigrants and criticized economic systems that marginalize the poor.
First Priestly Ordination: On May 11, 2025, he performed his first ordinations, emphasizing that priests must be “credible” witnesses to rebuild a “wounded Church”. [1, 2, 3]

Vision for the Church

Synodality and Reform: Observers noted continuity with Pope Francis’s emphasis on synodality (walking together) while detecting a more centrist doctrinal tone.
Engagement with Modernity: In his Wednesday General Audiences, he began a new series of catechises dedicated to rereading the documents of the Second Vatican Council to ensure their content is understood directly rather than through interpretations.
Social Justice: He has maintained a strong pro-life stance while backing death penalty abolitionists and condemning war and aggressive nationalism. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

Would you like to explore specific encyclicals he has released or more details on his appointments to the Vatican’s central administration?

• • •

Not bad!! In some sense, this is a good summary of the highlights and significant moments of the first year of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. One danger of AI may be the temptation to think that this summary even begins to truly describe the meaning, significance, and impact of who Pope Leo XIV is as the “Vicar of Christ” on earth. Let us again consider his words describing why he chose “Leo XIV”: In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defence of human dignity, justice and labour.”

Let us continue to pray for Pope Leo XIV as he leads the Church in “offering everyone the treasury of her social teaching… (and in) the defense of human dignity, justice, and labor.”

– ‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’ “In a 2023 interview with Vatican News’ Tiziana Campisi, then-Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost spoke about the significance of this motto: ‘As can be seen from my episcopal motto, unity and communion are truly part of the charism of the Order of St. Augustine, and also of my way of acting and thinking,’ he said. ‘I believe it is very important to promote communion in the Church, and we know well that communion, participation, and mission are the three key words of the Synod. So, as an Augustinian, for

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Guardian Mass honors first responders who made ‘ultimate sacrifice’ #Catholic –

First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year.

The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass took place last May, honoring law enforcement and their families. The Guardian Mass now includes fire, EMS, emergency communications, management, and their families, as well as law enforcement.

During the Mass, the congregation also remembered the lives lost in or as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This year, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of those tragic events.

The Mass honored guardians who died last year, including Lt. Peter E. Bruncati, SFC, William A. Casey, Sgt. Lee E. Hendrickson, SPC, Steven C. Tiboni, SFC, and Sean W. Acker of the New Jersey State Police, and Firefighter Howard Bennett of the Camden Fire Department.

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In his homily, Bishop Sweeney thanked first responders for their “patience, professionalism, training, and dedication, each day.”

“We thank and honor you today. We admire your courage and your willingness to sacrifice, placing yourself in the line of fire” — and often in harm’s way — during domestic disputes, shootings, and fires, Bishop Sweeney said. “Our Lord Jesus said, ‘There’s no greater love than this: to lay down your life for your friends.’ You do this not only for friends but for anyone in need,” he said.

In addition, Bishop Sweeney thanked the commitment and sacrifices made by the spouses, parents, children, and other family members of first responders.

An honor guard consisting of first responders carried American flags into St. John’s during the Mass’s opening procession. First responders, families of fallen officers, and chaplains also joined the liturgy. Later, bagpipers played “Amazing Grace” in remembrance of the fallen officers.

At the end of Mass, Msgr. Geno Sylva, rector of St. John’s and diocesan vicar for special projects, thanked everyone who helped plan and assist with the Guardian Mass. He was also a member of the planning committee and a concelebrating priest. Msgr. Sylva also serves as a chaplain for first responders.

In his remarks, Msgr. Geno also thanked first responders, especially in Paterson, “for being heroes to us.”

“You make things better. You’ve done this by saying ‘yes’ to us, to people, and to the common good,” Msgr. Sylva said. “At times, in your daily lives, maybe what you signed up for is not what you expected. But it’s important for us to remember that our God is not found in expectations. He is found when we face reality in faith, hope, and love,” the priest said.

BEACON PHOTOS | JOE GIGLI

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org]

– First responders are “guardian angels in uniforms, who lead us to safety, protect us, and are willing to sacrifice to keep us safe,” Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney proclaimed during the inaugural Guardian Mass on May 2 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J. The bishop celebrated the Mass and led churchgoers in honoring, praying for, and thanking all first responders, their families, and guardians who lost their lives in the past year. The first Guardian Mass was held last Saturday, establishing a new tradition in the Diocese of Paterson, N.J. The 25th and final Blue Mass

Jumping The Shark: ‘The Chosen’ Criticized For Planning To Kill Off Main Character Only To Resurrect Him Next Episode #BabylonBee – U.S. — Fans of the hit faith-based series The Chosen were left reeling this week after showrunners were accused of "blatantly jumping the shark" by planning to kill off the show’s main character in one episode, only to bring Him back to life in the very next one.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

U.S. — Fans of the hit faith-based series The Chosen were left reeling this week after showrunners were accused of "blatantly jumping the shark" by planning to kill off the show’s main character in one episode, only to bring Him back to life in the very next one.

Coder Displaced By A.I. Told He Should Just ‘Learn To Mine Coal’ #BabylonBee – PORTLAND, OR — After losing his coding job to artificial intelligence, local man Roger Garrison was told by political pundits that he should instead learn to mine coal.

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

PORTLAND, OR — After losing his coding job to artificial intelligence, local man Roger Garrison was told by political pundits that he should instead learn to mine coal.

Picture of the day

Euganean Hills are a group of hills of volcanic origin that rise to heights of 300 to 600 m in Veneto, Italy.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam May 5, 2026May 5, 2026

Picture of the day

Euganean Hills are a group of hills of volcanic origin that rise to heights of 300 to 600 m in Veneto, Italy.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 5, 2026

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 14:19-28

In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.

After they had proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples.

From the Gospel according to John
14:27-31a

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me."

The peace Jesus gives to us at Easter is not the peace that follows the strategies of the world, which believes it can obtain it through force, by conquest and with various forms of imposition. This peace, in reality, is only an interval between wars: we are well aware of this. The peace of the Lord follows the way of meekness and mildness: it is taking responsibility for others. Indeed, Christ took on himself our evil, sin and our death. He took all of this upon himself. In this way he freed us. He paid for us. His peace is not the fruit of some compromise, but rather is born of self-giving. This meek and courageous peace, though, is difficult to accept. (…) Before his final Passover, Jesus says to his disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn 14:27). Yes, because while worldly power leaves only destruction and death in its wake (…), his peace builds up history, starting from the heart of every person who welcomes it. Easter is therefore the true feast of God and humanity, because the peace that Christ gained on the cross in giving himself is distributed to us. Therefore, the Risen Christ, on Easter Day, appears to the disciples, and how does he greet them? “Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19-21). This is the greeting of Christ victorious, the Risen Christ. (Pope Francis, General audience, 13 April 2022)

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 6, 2026

St. Philip Prep holds May Crowning on May 1 #Catholic –

St. Philip Preparatory School in Clifton, N.J. held its May Crowning at its First Friday Mass on Friday, May 1, which also marked the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Father Emerson Francisco, parochial vicar of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, was main celebrant of the Mass. Two second grade students crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother assisted by Father David Monteleone, pastor of St. Philip.

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PHOTOS | CECILE PAGLIARULO

[See image gallery at beaconnj.org] – St. Philip Preparatory School in Clifton, N.J. held its May Crowning at its First Friday Mass on Friday, May 1, which also marked the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. Father Emerson Francisco, parochial vicar of St. Philip the Apostle Parish, was main celebrant of the Mass. Two second grade students crowned the statue of the Blessed Mother assisted by Father David Monteleone, pastor of St. Philip. Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter. PHOTOS | CECILE PAGLIARULO

Catholic community in shock after terrorists torch historic church in Mozambique #Catholic MAPUTO, Mozambique — The bishop of Mozambique’s Catholic Diocese of Pemba has expressed sorrow following a terrorist attack that destroyed the historic St. Louis de Montfort Parish in Cabo Delgado province, saying the local community “remains in shock” after the assault.In a message sent to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International, a Catholic charity foundation that supports the suffering Church all over the world, on May 1, Bishop António Juliasse Ferreira Sandramo said the parish in Meza, northern Mozambique, was completely burned down during an attack carried out by insurgents on April 30.“The terrorists arrived around 4 p.m. and entered the parish of St. Louis of Montfort, a symbol, since 1946, of the Catholic presence in the region,” the bishop said.He added: “The parish was attacked and completely burned down by the insurgents. The scene was one of terror: Houses and infrastructure destroyed, the historic parish reduced to rubble.”According to Sandramo, civilians were captured during the attack and forced to listen to hate speeches delivered by the assailants.The Cameroonian missionaries serving the parish were not present at the time of the attack and are safe.“The missionaries are safe, but the community remains in shock,” the bishop said.The Catholic Church leader appealed for international solidarity with the victims of violence in Cabo Delgado, where Islamist insurgency has persisted for nearly nine years.“We ask for attention and solidarity with the victims of Meza. For almost nine years now, chapels and churches have been burned in the Diocese of Pemba,” the bishop said.Despite the destruction, he expressed hope and resilience among the Christian faithful.“But the faith of this people of God will never be burned; it is rebuilt daily!” he emphasized.According to ACN, the church building, which dates back to colonial times, was vandalized and reduced to ashes. The attack is the latest in a series of assaults attributed to militants linked to the Islamic State in Mozambique.During a December 2025 visit to Mozambique by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Sandramo shared the extent of the devastation caused by the insurgency in Cabo Delgado.“More than 300 Catholics were killed, most by decapitation,” the bishop said at the time, referring to catechists, parish animators, and ordinary faithful.He also reported that since the insurgency began in October 2017, at least 117 churches and chapels had been destroyed in the Pemba Diocese, including 23 in 2025 alone. The destruction of St. Louis de Montfort Parish adds to that toll.Parolin visited Cabo Delgado during his Dec. 5–10 trip to Mozambique, where he met victims and heard testimonies from communities affected by the violence.This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa, and has been adapted by EWTN News.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

The bishop of the Pemba Diocese in northern Mozambique has expressed sadness and solidarity with victims of violence in a region where Islamist insurgency has persisted for nearly nine years.

$Canadian priest offered euthanasia twice while recovering from hip fracture #Catholic A priest from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, recovering from a hip fracture at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) said he was twice offered assisted death by healthcare staff who knew he was a priest and opposed to euthanasia — a practice critics say is growing as medical professionals are increasingly encouraged to initiate such conversations.“There are some things you just don’t talk about to some people,” said Father Larry Holland, who has completed studies in healthcare chaplaincy in addition to serving at numerous parishes in the Archdiocese of Vancouver.He described his reaction when a doctor brought up the option of medical aid in dying (MAID) should his condition deteriorate. “I think I was very shocked,” he said. “It is such a sensitive subject.”Holland, 79, is currently convalescing at VGH after suffering a hip fracture from a fall in his bathroom on Christmas Day. He spoke to The B.C. Catholic about the offers of MAID from two healthcare professionals, despite their knowing he was a Catholic priest.Holland said he wasn’t dying then or now and that the doctor’s mention of MAID left him “kind of silent” for a moment. The doctor then raised the subject again, saying it’s “something they have to discuss with someone who’s been given a terminal diagnosis.”Holland recalled telling the doctor he was morally opposed to euthanasia. The doctor explained that “he just wanted to make sure that, if a [terminal] diagnosis came up or not … I knew of the different services I had access to.”Weeks later, a second offer of MAID came from a nurse who the priest said seemed uncomfortable raising the topic and was likely doing so out of compassion because of the pain he was enduring.“It’s a false compassion, really,” he said.A spokesman for Vancouver Coastal Health, which operates VGH, told The B.C. Catholic in an email that “staff may consider bringing up MAID based on their clinical judgment, provided they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to do so.”Staff are also “responsible for answering questions when patients bring up the topic of MAID,” the spokesman said.The two incidents arise as Canada approaches 100,000 assisted dying deaths.Father Larry Lynn, the archdiocese’s pro-life chaplain, said he was shocked to hear about Holland’s case.“This must surely be among the most appalling examples of Canada’s coercive and insensitive euthanasia regime,” Lynn said in an interview.He said it’s disturbing that a healthcare provider suggests euthanasia with any patient, and particularly when the patient is a consecrated religious known to be morally opposed. “It places the medical practitioner into the role of the devil, tempting a vulnerable person into mortal sin.”He’s equally troubled that Canadian euthanasia providers aren’t ruling out initiating discussions with Roman Catholics about MAID. In a document titled “Bringing up Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) as a Clinical Care Option,” the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers recommends against assuming patients oppose MAID because of their faith.The document says: “Healthcare professionals may draw incorrect assumptions about a person’s views on MAID; e.g., they may assume that a patient objects to MAID because she is a Roman Catholic nun, and yet Roman Catholic nuns and others dedicated to a faith-based way of life have requested MAID.” The booklet does not provide a source for the information.An updated version published in March removes the Catholic reference but gives the same advice regarding people of a “faith community” and even those of “strong faith.”Lynn called it “diabolical” to use a nun as an example for overcoming a patient’s moral objections.The booklet reflects a recent trend of encouraging healthcare personnel to initiate MAID discussions with patients. In November 2025, The B.C. Catholic reported on a little-known 2023 Health Canada document urging health authorities and professional bodies to adopt “practice standards” requiring doctors and nurse practitioners to raise MAID with certain patients.The MAID assessors and providers document similarly says physicians and nurse practitioners involved in care planning and consent processes “have a professional obligation to initiate a discussion about MAID if a patient might be eligible for MAID.” However, Health Canada does not have the authority to require provinces or health authorities to adopt such guidelines and The B.C. Catholic found no evidence of any public agency or professional body in British Columbia doing so.Amanda Achtman, creator of the anti-euthanasia project Dying to Meet You and ethics director of Canadian Physicians for Life, said initiating MAID discussions in a medical setting is a form of coercion that attacks patients’ deepest convictions when they’re vulnerable. To “torment” someone who has deeply held beliefs with an offer of MAID is “an attack on their identity,” Achtman said.Holland admitted he was in so much pain that he could “feel the temptation” to accept MAID. “It’s a human reaction. We always look for the easy way out.”Conservative member of Parliament Garnett Genuis has introduced Bill C-260, An Act to Prevent Coercion of Persons Not Seeking Medical Assistance in Dying, which would prohibit federal employees from proactively offering or recommending MAID. The bill resulted from incidents of bureaucrats such as veterans counselors trying to steer vulnerable people toward assisted dying.The Alberta government introduced legislation in March that would restrict regulated health professionals from providing information about MAID to their patients unless the patient brings it up. The Safeguards for Last Resort Termination of Life Act would also restrict the public display of MAID information, such as posters, within healthcare facilities.The bill is worth supporting, said Achtman, who lives in Calgary. “Simply being offered euthanasia already kills the person, because it defeats and deflates their sense of self-worth and value.”The unwanted initiation of MAID discussions in Canada made international headlines in March after Achtman shared the story of an 84-year-old woman, Miriam Lancaster, who went to VGH last year for severe back pain. She said the first doctor she spoke with in the emergency room raised MAID before any diagnostic work had been done. Lancaster’s daughter was present and confirmed the incident, adding her mother eventually responded to rehabilitation and rest.The Catholic chaplain at VGH, Father Ronald Sequeira, said it’s a constant struggle to help suffering patients not lose hope. He said he tries to offer them “some kind of encouragement and comfort,” but many give up.“The moment you lose hope, the devil comes in, in different personalities, and says, ‘Do you want MAID? I don’t want people to suffer.’”Patients often don’t realize that suffering is redemptive, he said. “God makes us more pure, more strong, through the suffering when we offer it up,” Sequeira said. “So we give hope — help them not to lose hope.”Holland said turning down an offer of death opens one to new experiences. Even enduring pain “can encourage growth,” he said. “It can motivate you, it can open up new worlds, new vistas, new opportunities,” including enriched relationships.He said he is sharing his story in the hope it will help others. “I went through it; you can go through it, too.”This story was first published in The B.C. Catholic and is reprinted here with permission and adaptations.$

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

A Vancouver priest says he was twice offered assisted death by hospital medical staff who knew he was a priest and opposed to euthanasia — a practice critics say is growing.

JUST IN: Driver Plows Car Into a Market Crowd in the German City of Leipzig – At Least Two Dead and Several Injured –
Another day, another massacre in Europe.
The post JUST IN: Driver Plows Car Into a Market Crowd in the German City of Leipzig – At Least Two Dead and Several Injured appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Emergency responders at the scene of a serious accident involving a damaged car and debris on the ground.

Another day, another massacre in Europe.

The post JUST IN: Driver Plows Car Into a Market Crowd in the German City of Leipzig – At Least Two Dead and Several Injured appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Top Advisor Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle and Hospitalization –
Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani.
The post Top Advisor Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle and Hospitalization appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani.

The post Top Advisor Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle and Hospitalization appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Taxpayer-Funded Texas Waterpark Announces “MUSLIMS ONLY” Day – Will Require “Dress in Accordance with Islamic Values” and Serve Only Halal-Slaughtered Meat –
A taxpayer-funded waterpark in a Texas city has sparked online fury after announcing they would openly discriminate against non-Muslims to celebrate an Islamic holiday.
The post Taxpayer-Funded Texas Waterpark Announces “MUSLIMS ONLY” Day – Will Require “Dress in Accordance with Islamic Values” and Serve Only Halal-Slaughtered Meat appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Indoor water park featuring a large water slide, pool area, and seating under blue umbrellas in a spacious, glass-roofed environment.

A taxpayer-funded waterpark in a Texas city has sparked online fury after announcing they would openly discriminate against non-Muslims to celebrate an Islamic holiday.

The post Taxpayer-Funded Texas Waterpark Announces “MUSLIMS ONLY” Day – Will Require “Dress in Accordance with Islamic Values” and Serve Only Halal-Slaughtered Meat appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This 2,200-mile Train Ride Is the Most Scenic in the Northern U.S.—and It Passes an Iconic National Park #Travel The long-distance train route from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest passes city skylines, national parks, lakes, small towns, and more.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

The long-distance train route from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest passes city skylines, national parks, lakes, small towns, and more.

Pope Leo to visit a much more secularized Spain since Pope Benedict’s World Youth Day in 2011 – #Catholic – Pope Benedict XVI drew more than a million young people to World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, an event that left its mark on an entire generation. Fifteen years later, Spain is preparing to welcome a new pontiff, Leo XIV, in a profoundly different religious landscape.Over this period, the faith and religious practice of Spanish society have undergone significant changes. Ahead of the popeʼs upcoming visit in June, two experts reflected on this development and the spiritual reality that Leo XIV will encounter upon his arrival in Spain.A less religious societyRafael Ruiz Andrés, a professor who holds a doctorate in sociology from the Complutense University of Madrid, explained to ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News, that Benedict XVI arrived in Spain during what he called “the third wave of secularization” since the beginning of the 21st century.He noted that in today’s society and especially among young people, this secularization has accelerated and intensified: “Undoubtedly, we are in a less religious society,” he stated.According to the latest data released by the Pluralism and Coexistence Foundation in its 2025 Barometer on Religion and Beliefs in Spain, nearly half of all Spaniards (42%) no longer identify with any religion, while the percentage of religious individuals — predominantly Catholic — stands at around 50% to 56%.Ruiz noted that just a few decades ago, the majority of the Spanish population identified as Catholic, a fact that in his view also underscores “our sense of secularization.” Nevertheless, he emphasized that half the population still represents a significant number of people.

Pope Benedict XVI greets the crowd at World Youth Day on Aug. 18, 2026, in Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media

Catholic youth in 2011 and todayThough there are currently fewer young Catholics than in 2011, Ruiz emphasized that among the youth of 2026, there are signs "that Catholicism once again interests and challenges them.”Reflecting this trend are the findings of the “Young Spaniards 2026” report by the SM Foundation, which reveals an increase in the importance young people attach to religion: 38.4% state that it is “quite or very important” in their lives.The number of young people who identify as Catholic has also grown notably: In 2020, it stood at 31.6%, and by 2025, it had risen to 45%.Bishop Emeritus César Augusto Franco Martínez of Segovia was responsible for coordinating Pope Benedict XVI’s World Youth Day as well as writing the lyrics for the hymn “Firmes en la Fe” (“Firm in the Faith”), which was composed for the event.The prelate noted the similarities between the two generations. “They are young people who wish to live happily, who desire to achieve the goals they may have set for themselves, and who possess faith,” he said in a conversation with ACI Prensa.Reflecting on young people’s faith, the prelate alluded to World Youth Day (WYD) in Lisbon in 2023: “There, I thought that even though time has passed, it seems that young people have not changed.”“In Lisbon, too, there were a million and a half young people, and their conduct, their dedication, generosity, and joy was truly spectacular,” he said.Young people living out their faith without inhibitionsRuiz said the Catholic youth of 15 years ago were marked by polarization surrounding debates on sexual and reproductive rights, abortion, or same-sex marriage legislation. “One could say that at that time the Church had a more marginalized position with respect to young people.”“I believe that the young person of 2026 is, generally speaking, less inhibited when discussing their faith and religiosity with their peers. The current generation takes being Catholic more naturally. It has become more normalized and, consequently, is also more visible,” he noted.He also emphasized that the phenomena of youth apostolates such as Hakuna, Effetá, and their extensive impact on social media “point to that increased visibility in 2026 compared to 2011.”Ultimately, he stated that although the number of young Catholics in 2026 is lower than in 2011, “a new dialogue is now opening up between the Catholic Church and Spanish youth, one that moves beyond those polarizations and is in fact fostered by the very context of secularity.”

Pope Benedict XVI arrives at World Youth Day on Aug. 18, 2011, in Spain. | Credit: Vatican Media

Ruiz emphasized that religion continues to be “a very important issue” in Spain as well as tradition, culture, spirituality, and the search for meaning — elements that have not disappeared despite secularization.The professor also said that secularization in Spain “is not an inevitable destiny.”Catholic ‘awakening’ needs maturity and depthAccording to the bishop emeritus of Segovia, today’s youth are marked by a “tsunami” culture; that is, “they seek to live somewhat through their senses, through whatever impacts them immediately, enjoying the present day without harboring many expectations for tomorrow, even though the future also worries them.”“Faith,” he added, “is not a fleeting sentiment that is here today and gone tomorrow; faith is something far more profound; it is entering into a relationship with Christ in a vital, existential way. This requires depth, requires personal engagement, requires prayer, requires living in community, and not letting oneself be carried away solely by trends that may end up being more or less passing.”He said that many young people express their religious yearnings, even if they do not know how to articulate them or put them into practice. “We also live in a multicultural and multireligious society … many say they believe in God, yet they also believe in reincarnation and in other trends coming from Asia.”The prelate emphasized that man “is a religious being by nature, even if he denies it, because imprinted within his very being is a yearning for transcendence that only God could have put there: a yearning for the infinite, for boundless happiness, for beauty, and for truth; and that’s something that young people have.”He also pointed to the increase in adult baptisms: “It’s a phenomenon that must be examined closely, without allowing oneself to be carried away by facile slogans.”A message of hope for Spanish youthRuiz emphasized that Pope Leo XIV’s visit to Spain could serve as a “compass for Catholicism in Spain.” He highlighted in particular the pope’s trip to the Canary Islands as a gesture of solidarity with the migration situation in the country: “The social dimension is one of the challenges facing certain sectors of the Church,” he noted.He emphasized that the pope’s dialogue with contemporary society will differ from the one maintained by Benedict XVI. “I believe it will be post-secular in nature, that of a religious leader belonging to a denomination of immense significance in our country, yet one who speaks to a diverse, pluralistic society and who offers a vital message capable of being heard by audiences wider than the Church itself."He said he hopes his visit will “encourage young people and everyone to follow Christ with fidelity and to love the Church without prejudice, despite the failings that we Christians may have.”“For me, this is a trip filled with hope, and I am certain that it will encourage us to be better Christians and to live in today’s world as witnesses to the Gospel,” he added.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.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Two experts analyze the state of the Catholic faith among Spanish youth today, noting that while Spain is increasingly secularized, the faith is growing among young people.

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What would Earth be like if there were no Moon? Peter Allen RhodesNorth Bellmore, New York Without the Moon, Earth’s geology, biology, and climate — as well as human philosophy — would be different in many significant ways. If Earth had no Moon, the postulated origin of the Moon through a collision between the proto-EarthContinue reading “What would Earth be like if there were no Moon?”

The post What would Earth be like if there were no Moon? appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.

unitedyam May 4, 2026May 4, 2026

Paterson hits record, sending letters to seminarians through Knights #Catholic –

Seminarian John Peter Zappe sometimes feels discouraged by challenging classes and assignments, asking himself, “Why am I doing this?”

Recently, Zappe, a seminarian of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., received several faith-filled letters and cards of encouragement in his studies from local Catholic children. Among these, Nina L., of the religious education program at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Parish in Wayne, N.J., wrote one of these moving and inspiring letter.

“Congratulations as you begin this sacred journey into the priesthood,” Nina wrote to Zappe, 27. He is finishing his second year of theology studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South Orange, N.J. She continued, “Becoming a priest takes great courage, trust, and compassion. I hope that you will be filled with strength, comfort in prayer, and joy that your work will be making a difference in other people’s lives. May God bless you always.”

In March, as part of this ongoing support, Zappe and the diocese’s nine other seminarians received stacks of children’s letters of support, prayers, and appreciation, including from Nina A., courtesy of the Seminarian Letter Project, an annual initiative of the N.J. State Council of the Knights of Columbus.

“These days, it’s nice to get physical letters from students who write that they are praying for you, a man who is studying in seminary and is planning to go into the priesthood. The answer to ‘Why am I doing this?” is them: these young people of God, who are waiting for me to serve them in the future,” said Zappe, who emphasized that he also finds encouragement from other sources, especially from God in prayer. Additionally, he noted, “It’s also great to see that by writing these letters, the children are thinking about their own vocations.”

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This year, the Paterson Diocese set a record by sending more letters and cards to seminarians than ever before. Students in religious-education programs from four parishes provided over 100 pieces of encouragement. Statewide, Catholic school students also participated, according to John Tirado, the council’s faith director who has overseen the Project for 25 years.

In one letter, Linda, also of the Paterson Diocese, sought to motivate the seminarians by writing, “You got this and God’s got you.” Younger children drew cartoon crosses and angels on their cards.

Participating from the Paterson Diocese were: Father Joseph A. Cassidy, Council 6100 in the Budd Lake neighborhood of Mount Olive, N.J.; St. John Vianney Council 12649 in the Stockholm neighborhood of Hardyston, N.J.; John Fitzgerald Kennedy Council 5486 in Lincoln Park, N.J.; and IHM Council 10206 in Wayne. These councils will be recognized at the State Knights’ convention in Wildwood, N.J., in May, Tirado said.

Throughout the state, local Knights’ council Project chairmen coordinate the letter-writing efforts with their Catholic schools and religious education programs. Tirado collects them and forwards them to each diocese. For the Paterson Diocese seminarians, the letters were delivered from the Vocations Office at the annual Chrism Mass on March 31 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J.

“The letters are fresh, inspiring, thoughtful, and honest. They are surprising in their depth, and the children’s thinking about the church and vocations. It’s a spiritual gift the seminarians respond to. You don’t get that with Artificial Intelligence,” said Tirado. He noted that their insights get deeper with each successive grade level. “They are also thinking about the men who will be there for them and their families when they get older,” he said.

This year marked the first time the Hardyston and Mount Olive councils participated. The St. John Vianney Council serves St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in the Oak Ridge neighborhood of Jefferson, N.J., and St. John Vianney Parish in Hardyston.

Summing up the project’s impact, Joseph Tarallo, St. John Vianney’s grand knight and Project chairman, said, “The letters brighten the seminarians’ day. If we don’t encourage our seminarians, we won’t have priests. Writing a letter to them is easy to do. The kids enjoy it,” he said.

– Seminarian John Peter Zappe sometimes feels discouraged by challenging classes and assignments, asking himself, “Why am I doing this?” Recently, Zappe, a seminarian of the Paterson Diocese, N.J., received several faith-filled letters and cards of encouragement in his studies from local Catholic children. Among these, Nina L., of the religious education program at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Parish in Wayne, N.J., wrote one of these moving and inspiring letter. “Congratulations as you begin this sacred journey into the priesthood,” Nina wrote to Zappe, 27. He is finishing his second year of theology studies at Immaculate Conception Seminary in South

Ethics and Public Policy Center at 50: A part of America’s ‘secret sauce’ – #Catholic – WASHINGTON — As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC) is also celebrating an auspicious anniversary this year: its 50th.Several hundred supporters of this uniquely ecumenical think tank, which explicitly engages on pressing public policy questions within the context of the country’s historic Judeo-Christian moral framework, celebrated the milestone at an April 30 gala at the cavernous National Building Museum.The event was headlined by New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, a Catholic, as keynote speaker. In an interview with EWTN News just prior to the event, Douthat credited the EPPC for both its success and resilience in “maintaining a place for a serious religious conservativism in American political discourse.”Douthat contrasted the influence of EPPC’s scholars and the American experience with that of Western Europe, which he said suffers severely from a “suffocating secular-liberal, social and cultural liberal consensus in which religious arguments don’t find any purchase and in which ethical norms are all basically utilitarian, in which abortion and increasingly euthanasia are sort of taken for granted.”For his part, EPPC President Ryan Anderson, also a Catholic, told EWTN News the think tank is part of the “secret sauce” of a country whose founders, such as President John Adams, firmly held that “our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."Citing the U.S. Declaration of Independence during his speech to the assembly, Anderson said EPPC stands for “the proposition that all men are created equal, that we’re endowed by our Creator with inalienable rights, and that amongst these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Current EPPC President Ryan Anderson (at right end) is pictured here with former EPPC presidents (from left to right) George Weigel, Elliott Abrams, and Ed Whelan. | Credit: Photo courtesy of EPPC/Rui Barros Photography

“Our guiding lights 50 years ago remain the same today: the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, the natural law tradition, Western Civilization in general, and the American constitutional order in particular,” Anderson said.Anderson pointed out that as the country celebrates its 250th and EPPC its 50th, “EPPC is needed now more than ever, to bear witness to the truth about the human person.”He said EPPC conducts its work in an “intentionally ecumenical way” as a community of Jewish, Protestant, and Catholic scholars “developing and deploying the Jewish and Christian traditions to contemporary questions of law, culture, and politics.”As they do in the country at large, Catholic scholars and related initiatives play a major role in the EPPC’s work. The institution runs ongoing programs in fields including bioethics, technology and human flourishing, and Catholic studies, and runs the Catholic Women’s Forum, the Person and Identity Project, and the Life and Family Initiative, among others.In addition to Anderson, Catholic scholars who continue to occupy leadership roles at the EPPC include two of the institution’s former presidents, George Weigel and Ed Whelan, along with Mary Hasson, Stephen White, O. Carter Snead, Noelle Mering, Aaron Kheriaty, Theresa Farnan, Mary FioRito, Francis Maier, Jennifer Bryson, and Clare Morell, among others.

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Several hundred supporters gathered to celebrate the ecumenical think tank that engages on public policy questions within the context of America’s historic Judeo-Christian moral framework.

Trump Scraps Plans For Presidential Library In Favor Of Constructing A Presidential Truckasaurus #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s the custom of every president to build a presidential library, but President Donald Trump has announced he is going to buck that convention.

unitedyam May 3, 2026May 3, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s the custom of every president to build a presidential library, but President Donald Trump has announced he is going to buck that convention.

Emotional Passengers Board Final Spirit Airlines Flight For One Last All-Out Brawl #BabylonBee – FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — In a touching tribute to one of America’s most formative chapters in air travel, dozens of emotional passengers gathered at the gate to board the final scheduled flight of Spirit Airlines, preparing themselves for one last, glorious, no-holds-barred midair brawl.

unitedyam May 3, 2026May 3, 2026

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — In a touching tribute to one of America’s most formative chapters in air travel, dozens of emotional passengers gathered at the gate to board the final scheduled flight of Spirit Airlines, preparing themselves for one last, glorious, no-holds-barred midair brawl.

Picture of the day

Pig heads in a market. Today is the Feast of Saint Mark. According to legend, ninth century Venetian sailors smuggled Saint Mark’s relics out of Muslim-controlled Alexandria by covering them with pork.
#ImageOfTheDay

unitedyam May 3, 2026May 3, 2026

Picture of the day

Pig heads in a market. Today is the Feast of Saint Mark. According to legend, ninth century Venetian sailors smuggled Saint Mark’s relics out of Muslim-controlled Alexandria by covering them with pork.

unitedyam May 3, 2026May 4, 2026

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 14:5-18

There was an attempt in Iconium
by both the Gentiles and the Jews,
together with their leaders,
to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.
They realized it,
and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe
and to the surrounding countryside,
where they continued to proclaim the Good News.

At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth,
who had never walked.
He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him,
saw that he had the faith to be healed,
and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.”
He jumped up and began to walk about.
When the crowds saw what Paul had done,
they cried out in Lycaonian,
“The gods have come down to us in human form.”
They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,”
because he was the chief speaker.
And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city,
brought oxen and garlands to the gates,
for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.

The Apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments
when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,
“Men, why are you doing this?
We are of the same nature as you, human beings.
We proclaim to you good news
that you should turn from these idols to the living God,
who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.
In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;
yet, in bestowing his goodness,
he did not leave himself without witness,
for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons,
and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”
Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds
from offering sacrifice to them.

From the Gospel according to John
14:21-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Whoever has my commandments and observes them
is the one who loves me.
Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”
Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him,
“Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us
and not to the world?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.
Whoever does not love me does not keep my words;
yet the word you hear is not mine
but that of the Father who sent me.

“I have told you this while I am with you.
The Advocate, the Holy Spirit
whom the Father will send in my name —
he will teach you everything
and remind you of all that I told you.”

Jesus says in today’s Gospel: “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him” (v. 21). So, love introduces us to the knowledge of Jesus, thanks to the action of this “Advocate” that Jesus sent, that is, the Holy Spirit. Love for God and neighbour is the greatest commandment of the Gospel. The Lord today calls us to respond generously to the Gospel’s call to love, placing God at the centre of our lives and dedicating ourselves to the service of our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need of support and consolation. If ever there is an attitude that is never easy, even for a Christian community, it is precisely how to love oneself, to love after the Lord’s example and with his grace. (…) We have to learn the art of loving every day. Listen to this: every day we must learn the art of loving; every day we must patiently follow the school of Christ. Every day we must forgive and look to Jesus, and do this with the help of this “Advocate”, of this Counsellor whom Jesus has sent to us that is the Holy Spirit. (Pope Francis, Regina Caeli, 21 May 2017)

unitedyam May 3, 2026May 3, 2026

Obituary: Deacon David S. McCaffrey Jr., former Paterson Diocesan permanent deacon, 83 #Catholic –

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Michael Church in Annandale, Va., for Deacon David S. McCaffrey Jr., who died at home on April 27, surrounded by his family. He was 83.

Deacon McCaffrey was a permanent deacon at St. Michael Church in Annandale until his death. He previously served as a deacon at St. Mary Parish in Denville, N.J., in the Paterson Diocese.

Born in 1942 to David and Marie McCaffrey, Deacon McCaffrey was raised in Bloomfield, N.J. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Bloomfield and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, N.J.

Then, from 1960 to 1967, Deacon McCaffrey attended the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Ind., where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in science and a doctorate in chemical engineering.

During his time at Notre Dame, Deacon McCaffrey served in the Navy ROTC, which led to two years of service in the U.S. Navy after graduation. While in the Navy, he taught chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy.

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Following his time in the Navy, Deacon McCaffrey spent 36 years as a chemical engineer with Esso (now ExxonMobil), specializing in synthetic fuels, environmental protection, and technology sales and licensing.

In 1967, Deacon McCaffrey married his wife, Carol. Over the next 58 years, they shared a faith-filled marriage. Together, they also raised their four children in Denville.

On June 10, 1989, Deacon McCaffrey was ordained a permanent deacon of the Paterson Diocese. He served St. Mary Parish in Denville from his ordination until 2000.

Deacon McCaffrey and his wife then moved to northern Virginia, where he served as a deacon at St. Michael Church until his death. There, he led the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults and, with Carol, assisted local Teams of Our Lady groups, an international ministry devoted to strengthening Christian marriages.

Deacon McCaffrey is survived by his wife, Carol; his sister, Mary Rose; his children, Marie (David), Eileen, Theresa (Greg), and David (Kim); and 10 grandchildren: Maia, Judson, Brent, Corey, Toby, Bria, Peter, Clara, Daniel, and Matthew.

Visitation for Deacon McCaffrey will be held Sunday, May 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, Va., followed by his Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, May 4, at 10 a.m. at St. Michael Church in Annandale, Va.

– A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, May 4, at 10 a.m., at St. Michael Church in Annandale, Va., for Deacon David S. McCaffrey Jr., who died at home on April 27, surrounded by his family. He was 83. Deacon McCaffrey was a permanent deacon at St. Michael Church in Annandale until his death. He previously served as a deacon at St. Mary Parish in Denville, N.J., in the Paterson Diocese. Born in 1942 to David and Marie McCaffrey, Deacon McCaffrey was raised in Bloomfield, N.J. He attended St. Thomas the Apostle School in Bloomfield and St.

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Top Advisor Ted Goodman Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle – Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani. The post Top Advisor Ted Goodman Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Unlocking the Mystery of X-ray Dots – A newly discovered object may be a key to unlocking the true nature of a mysterious class of sources that astronomers have found in the early universe in recent years.

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May 6, 1872: The birth of Willem de Sitter

Democrats Clarify Everyone Is A Nazi Except The Guy With Nazi Tattoo #BabylonBee – U.S. — Members of the Democratic Party from across the nation issued a statement clarifying that everyone is an evil Nazi except that one guy running for Senate in Maine who has a Nazi tattoo.

Picture of the day Blunt-headed burrowing frog (Glyphoglossus molossus). Hua Hin District, Thailand. #ImageOfTheDay

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United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day – UAE under fire, again. The post United Arab Emirates Says Iran Launched New Drone and Missile Attacks for the Second Consecutive Day appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

I’ve Lived in Florida for 35 Years—These Are My Favorite Affordable Beach Vacation Destinations in the State #Travel A longtime local shares the best places to enjoy powdery white sands, water sports, and beach bars—without the high price tags.

Hubble Spots a Starry Spiral – This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image features the glittering spiral galaxy NGC 3137, located 53 million light-years away in the constellation Antlia (the Air Pump).

May 5, 1961: The first American in space

‘In Illo uno unum’ – ‘In the one Christ we are one’

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Coder Displaced By A.I. Told He Should Just ‘Learn To Mine Coal’ #BabylonBee – PORTLAND, OR — After losing his coding job to artificial intelligence, local man Roger Garrison was told by political pundits that he should instead learn to mine coal.

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Top Advisor Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle and Hospitalization – Please continue to pray for Rudy Giuliani. The post Top Advisor Provides Critical Update to Rudy Giuliani’s Health Battle and Hospitalization appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

This 2,200-mile Train Ride Is the Most Scenic in the Northern U.S.—and It Passes an Iconic National Park #Travel The long-distance train route from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest passes city skylines, national parks, lakes, small towns, and more.

What would Earth be like if there were no Moon?

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Trump Scraps Plans For Presidential Library In Favor Of Constructing A Presidential Truckasaurus #BabylonBee – WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s the custom of every president to build a presidential library, but President Donald Trump has announced he is going to buck that convention.

Picture of the day Pig heads in a market. Today is the Feast of Saint Mark. According to legend, ninth century Venetian sailors smuggled Saint Mark’s relics out of Muslim-controlled Alexandria by covering them with pork. #ImageOfTheDay

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